CBS announced Tuesday that Tony Gonzalez is the newest commentator on The NFL Today, and Shannon Sharpe and Dan Marino won’t return. Unsurprisingly, Sharpe isn’t thrilled about that.
Sharpe told Mike Klis of the Denver Post that he would have liked to stay on CBS, but he appreciates the network hiring him after he retired from playing in 2003.
“There’s no way I would ever complain,” Sharpe said. “Am I sad and disappointed? Absolutely. But I’m grateful for the 10 years they did give me. They gave me the opportunity when I had no broadcasting experience. So I’m forever grateful what they did for me. I’ll be fine.”
Sharpe said he could simply retire, but he expects to return to television somewhere.
“I’m going to work because I want to not because I have to. I can be a little more picky,” he said. “I don’t have to rush into anything because I’m under no financial strain or obligation. I’m going to weigh all my options.”
Sharpe is good enough on TV that he’ll surely find work, but there probably won’t be any options that come with as big a platform as Sharpe had at CBS.