Report: ESPN reaches out to Peyton Manning

Posted by Mike Florio on March 2, 2020, 10:09 PM EST
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With Tony Romo staying at CBS, Peyton Manning once again becomes ESPN’s white whale.

John Ourand of Sports Business Journal reports that ESPN already has reached out to Manning’s camp to see whether he’s finally interested in taking over the lead analyst job on Monday Night Football.

Peyton has resisted ESPN’s past overtures, due in part to the fact that he didn’t want to work games involving his brother, Eli. Now that Eli is retired, that’s obviously not an issue.

And now that CBS has paid Romo $18 million per year after reportedly offering Peyton something in the range of $10 million to $12 million, Manning may want to one-up Romo in order to erase any perception that Romo is somehow more valuable or desirable.

And while ESPN isn’t a three-letter network, which means that the ratings always will be lower, there are persistent rumblings that MNF could be headed back to ABC, which would restore the platform that the game once had.

Whatever Peyton decides, it will be harder to say no this year, because CBS has unlocked a new universe of compensation for A-listers like Peyton.

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27 responses to “Report: ESPN reaches out to Peyton Manning”

  1. Not having Monday Night football on ABC is a complete waste of the product, especially in the cord cutter world.

  2. They could get Peyton, Eli, Archie & Cooper. It would be pretty cool watching games with these guys.

  3. Manning may be reluctant now because he realizes that Romo has set the bar very high. What makes Romo so good is his ability to think on his feet and explain situations in terms the casual viewer understands and he does it quickly, on the fly, with some personality. At best Manning becomes the equal of Romo. At worse he is Whitten v2. Either case is a loss for Manning. He’s better off doing commercials and pre-recorded stuff. It still pays damn good (not that he needs the money) and best of all he doesn’t have to travel constantly so it’s better for the retired/family oriented guy that Manning is.

  4. I don’t see Peyton doing this unless he can select his own PBP announcer. He’ll want someone well-known, well prepared, and comfortable to work with. Peyton may also want to remove some of the non-football elements of the telecast – like the halftime music video – to bring some prestige and respect back to MNF.

    Oh yeah, and a lot of money.

  7. ESPN has promised the NFL that if they retain the MNF package it will air on ABC.

  8. My only concern would be him randomly screaming out “OMAHA” before the snap on some plays.

  10. Manning may want to one-up Romo in order to erase any perception that Romo is somehow more valuable or desirable.
    =============================================

    And this is a classic example of the media fabricating drama.

  11. He pretends to be a singer on his commercials, may as well be a color analyst on a network that pretends to be a sports network!

  12. ESPN – Please make Gus Johnson an offer he can’t refuse. Then give Peyton 20% more than Romo. No Tess. No Booger sideline cart. Make.It.Happen.

  13. What makes Romo so good is his ability to think on his feet and explain situations in terms the casual viewer understands and he does it quickly, on the fly, with some personality.
    —
    Romo also knows when to shut up. Too many of these guys feel the need to fill the air with constant drivel. Let the game be the star of the show.

  14. My only concern would be him randomly screaming out “OMAHA” before the snap on some plays.
    ——————————–
    Myself, I think that would be awesome. I would collapse in laughter.

  15. I don’t understand why people think that Romo is a great analyst. I think he’s another Joe Theismann — a guy who just loves to hear himself talk. Romo is also the biggest homer there is. He should never be allowed to work Cowboys games because he is so biased in favor of them.
    I long for the time of Curt Gowdy, Ray Scott, and Pat Summerall — all great at doing NFL games because they realized the game was the most important thing, not themselves. Romo and his kind think it’s all about showing how smart they are and the games are just secondary.
    If I had my way, I’d put a muzzle on most of the analysts who are doing games today so I wouldn’t have to turn the sound down as often as I do.

  16. 3 hours of Cottonball Mouth Manning every fall Monday Evening???

    NO.

  17. Didn’t really care for Romo as a player, but man Romodomus is an excellent announcer.

    Don’t waste your time with ESPN Peyton!

  18. nyneal says:
    March 3, 2020 at 8:57 am

    I don’t understand why people think that Romo is a great analyst.
    ————————-

    It’s because he actually analyzes the game and let’s you know what is happening.

  19. I think Manning would be very good at this. As good as Romo? Not sure but he’s got the verbal skills and the football knowledge. I think it all comes down to money and if Manning wants to dedicate the time required to do this. We all know he makes a killing doing public speaking.

  20. Romo is the best and I’m an Eagles fan. Peyton could be just as good if not better.

  21. Leave it to the media to try to gin up the comparison game. Who cares what Romo makes?

    As one poster suggested, it would be awesome if Manning came back with more influence on the production elements. Nobody needs to see Genesis halftime show with dudes spittin’ rhymes, floating by with vehicles & poppin’ wheelies. Even my kids thought that was totally put on & stupid.

    If the game stays on ESPN, even more reason to stick with the X’s & the O’s, pre-produced vignette’s or bi-op on a player in the game or historical moment & reviewing gameplan/actual results/next key steps for each team.

    Feed your beasts & stop watering down the show.

  22. Peyton Manning would be great. Yes Romo is terrific but it would be nice to have great play by play and color commentators for all the games. MNF lost its luster many years ago when it went to ESPN and let’s face it Sunday Night football is the marquee game now not Monday Night Football. Manning would help.

  24. He might be great or he might a big disappointment but bigger picture is how messed up a strategy this is for ESPN. They’re losing money big-time as cable continues to decline but they’re willing to throw millions into an announcer even though absolutely NOBODY watches a game based on the commentators. Have you EVER said to yourself: “Wow, this is a putrid matchup but So-and-So in the booth will keep me on the edge of my seat all game long”?

  25. I love this comment in the article…”Whatever Peyton decides, it will be harder to say no this year, because CBS has unlocked a new universe of compensation for A-listers like Peyton.” It is simple proof the Florio looks at everything through the lens of money. Here is some information for you Florio…Peyton is probably set for life from player and endorsement earnings. If you have not paid attention for the last couple of decades, family is very important to the Manning family (all of them). Even though Peyton, and his wife’s, family roots are outside of Colorado they continue to live there. Why…most likely to keep a stable environment for their children. He has pretty much said that many times. Thus, money is probably down on the list regarding whether or not he would take any TV job.

  26. That is the best they can do??? I’ll just mute the game and call it myself. What a joke!!!

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