Tag: MNF

Peyton Manning could make more per year with ESPN than he averaged in the NFL

ESPN is willing to give Peyton Manning about $6 million more per season as a commentator than he averaged as an NFL quarterback.

ESPN desperately wants Peyton Manning and the network is willing to pay a premium for his services.

CBS Sports recently reached an agreement with commentator Tony Romo on a contract extension that will pay him around $17 million per year. Manning is now able to use Romo’s contract as leverage and ESPN is willing to top it.

Disney, ESPN’s parent company, is willing to pay Manning $18 million to $20 million per season to call “Monday Night Football” games, according to a report from Michael McCarthy of Front Office Sports.

Manning has met with ESPN executives in recent days, according to McCarthy. The former NFL quarterback already has a working relationship with ESPN — he has hosted two different shows — Detail and Peyton’s Places — on ESPN Plus, a streaming service.

In addition to trying to land Manning, ESPN is also trying to trade for NBC’s Al Michaels. ESPN seems to believe Manning and Michaels could team up to form a dream team that would rival the CBS duo of Romo and Jim Nantz.

If Manning signs with ESPN for $20 million a year, he would be making more per season than he did in all but three of his 18 years in the NFL. In 2015, his final season, Manning made $19 million, according to Spotrac.com. He retired after helping the Broncos win Super Bowl 50 that year.

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ESPN courting Peyton Manning for ‘Monday Night Football’

ESPN has reached out to Peyton Mannig to see if he has any interest in calling NFL games.

Before signing Tony Romo to a contract extension worth more than $17 million per season, CBS Sports tried to convince Peyton Manning to join their broadcast team. Manning wasn’t quick to make a decision so CBS opted to bring back Romo instead.

Now that Romo is unavailable and CBS won’t be courting Manning anymore, ESPN appears set to make another push for the two-time Super Bowl champion.

ESPN has reached out to Manning to gauge his interest in potentially joining Monday Night Football, according to a report from John Ourand of the Sports Business Journal (subscription required for link).

Manning has turned down ESPN in the past but he does have a good working relationship with the network. Manning has hosted two different shows — Detail and Peyton’s Places — on ESPN Plus, a streaming service.

Manning’s experience working with ESPN and Romo resetting the commentator market might convince the former Colts and Broncos quarterback that it’s finally time to join a broadcast booth.

Manning, 43, probably won’t be in any rush to give ESPN a decision.

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Report: NFL eyes flexing games to Monday nights

The NFL could be looking to flex games from Sunday to Monday, per a Sports Business Daily report.

The NFL has asked teams if they would be interested in the league being able to flex games from Sunday to Monday, according to a report from Sports Business Journal.

Much of this will revolve around the future of television agreements with the networks. The deal with ESPN expires following the 2021 season, and CBS, NBC and FOX are up after 2022. Changes would not take place before 2023.

Per Sports Business Daily:

The NFL has asked teams for feedback on the prospect of radically expanding flex scheduling, including the possibility of moving games from Sunday to Monday in mid-season, sources said.

… Even though the NFL has not started formal negotiations with any networks, ESPN has let it be known that it wants to incorporate flexible scheduling as part of a new “Monday Night Football” deal.

The SDB report adds ESPN has told the NFL that it would put “Monday Night Football” back on ABC if it ends up with the rights.

There are other concerns, of course, such as travel and season-ticketholders.

Most clubs’ concerns have centered around road trip logistics and expenses, particularly with any potential flex involving “Monday Night Football.” Flights and hotel rooms would have to be booked for an extra day to account for the unknown, or altered at the last minute, which could become exorbitant.

 

Peyton Manning comments on possibly calling NFL games with brother Eli

There has been speculation that Peyton Manning and his brother Eli could be a good commentator duo for ESPN’s ‘Monday Night Football.’

Tennessee alum Peyton Manning was at the Allen Fieldhouse on Saturday to watch the Volunteers take on Kansas (the Jayhawks won 74-68). During the game, Manning did an interview with ESPN’s Holly Rowe and his brother Eli’s retirement was brought up.

There has been some speculation that Peyton and Eli could be a good commentator duo and Rowe asked Peyton about those rumors.

“Golly, it’d be so hard to get a word in,” Manning said with a big smile. “Eli, we’re always arguing over who’s going to say what. So I’m not sure the two of us would fit in that booth together. But I look forward to doing some fun things with him — in the fall especially — that we haven’t had a chance to do in a long time. He’s at peace so I’m happy about that.”

Peyton and Eli might not end up in a broadcast booth together but it wouldn’t be surprising to see the older brother end up as a commentator at some point. Peyton already has a working relationship with ESPN from his “Peyton’s Places” series, a show that looked back on 100 years of NFL history.

“Peyton’s Places has been a lot of fun to do,” Manning told Rowe. “You get to talk football and nobody hits you in the back, nobody cusses you. It’s a lot more enjoyable, a lot more relaxing. I love the history of the game, it won’t get any bigger than next week’s Super Bowl. It’s been fun to kind of try to tell the history of the NFL the past 100 years.”

Manning, 43, will be eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021.

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NFL Week 15: How to watch, stream, wager Saints vs. Colts

The New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts are ready to kick off their ‘Monday Night Football’ game on ESPN. Here’s everything you need.

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The New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts are making final preparations for Monday night’s game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome: game plans are drawn up, inactive lists have been published, players are warmed up, and fans are filing in to take their seats. The Super Bowl XLIV-winning team is in the building, and will be recognized at halftime.

There’s plenty on the line. The Saints need a win to remain in the race for a top-two playoff seed. The Colts must win to remain relevant in the AFC playoff picture. Neither team is willing to give an inch, and they can’t afford to, despite how differently their seasons have gone. Here’s everything you need to know so that you can tune in:

Game Information

New Orleans Saints (10-3) vs. Indianapolis Colts (6-7)

8:15 p.m. ET, Monday, Dec. 16

Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, La.

Streaming

fuboTV (try it for free)

NFL Game Pass

Television

ESPN

Radio

WWL 870 AM/105.3 FM and local affiliate stations

Betting

BetMGM (Saints by 9.5, over/under at 47.5)

Extras

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Irish in the NFL: Boykin Shines Again in LA Coliseum

Boykin caught 77 passes and 11 touchdowns at Notre Dame but I’ll always remember this block before anything else he did in blue and gold.

With the Baltimore Ravens playing on and owning Monday Night Football this week it meant for a chance for the nation to get a closeup of MVP-frontrunner, Lamar Jackson.  Before we get to the Notre Dame connection to this game let me just say that his meteoric rise to super-stardom makes me incredibly happy to be wrong about what he might be able to do in the NFL.

He’s not only the most exciting player going this season but he’s also got to be the favorite to win the MVP award after doing what he did to the Patriots a couple weeks ago on Sunday Night Football and again for his five touchdown passes and complete domination of the Rams on Monday Night Football.

Now to the Notre Dame side of this game:

Miles Boykin must have a thing for the Los Angeles Coliseum.  In last year’s regular season finale you may remember what he did to spring Tony Jones, Jr. to the end zone to clinch a 12-0 regular season.

Boykin caught 77 passes and 11 touchdowns at Notre Dame but I’ll always remember this block before anything else he did in blue and gold.

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Well, Boykin was at it again Monday night as the Ravens embarrassed the reigning NFC Champs on their home field, 45-6.

It may have been out of hand at this point but its remarkable to me how Boykin’s highlight catch tonight occurs in almost the exact same spot as his block, nearly exactly a year to the day, that sent the Fighting Irish to their first College Football Playoff appearance. (Shoutout to Austin Hough of The Goshen News for pointing that out to me on Twitter).

I also wouldn’t be doing my proper work if I didn’t send mad-praise the way of Ronnie Stanley who has been an absolute monster for the Ravens and is a huge reason their downright nasty rushing attack works as well as it does.

The Ravens now sit at 9-2 on the season and atop the AFC North standings.  Along with Boykin and Stanley, former Notre Dame corner back Bennett Jackson, Jr. is also currently on the Ravens roster.