Andrew Marchand

Alex Smith joining ESPN as NFL analyst

MLB, Barstool Sports in significant talks to broadcast games

Joe Buck carries 'second dad's' unknown NFL legacy into Hall of Fame

Why NBC is failing to earn gold at the Olympics

How NBC is approaching herculean task of broadcasting fanless Olympics

Nate Burleson is a crossover star to bet on because he is more skilled as a TV performer than he was as a football player.

That is not meant to be disrespectful about his career as an NFL receiver. After all, spending 11 years in the league is impressive. But with the Lions, for example, he was the No. 2 option after Calvin Johnson, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame this past weekend.

On TV, however, Burleson is quickly becoming Megatron. One day, he will likely lead a Super Bowl broadcast.

Burleson was named Wednesday as a host of “CBS This Morning.” He will remain as an analyst on the network’s “The NFL Today,” while adding more duties on Nickelodeon, which is also owned by ViacomCBS.

For good measure, he will still appear on NFL Network every now and then.

Burleson has not yet reached Michael Strahan’s heights. The former Giant is on the more popular “Good Morning America” and “Fox NFL Sunday.” But Burleson has a chance to do more — and maybe even become bigger than Strahan.

CBS, according to sources, already views Burleson as the heir apparent to “The NFL Today” host James Brown. Brown, 70, has given no indication that he plans to retire soon, but when he does, Burleson is expected to step to the lead chair.

That is significant because, besides the weekly show, it would mean Burleson would host a Super Bowl.

Burleson will still be on NFL Network on occasion, but will no longer appear daily on the fun and popular, “Good Morning Football.” He will not be easy to replace.

He called the “GMFB” crew of Peter Schrager, Kyle Brandt and Kay Adams a family. The foursome became early morning friends for viewers.

A couple of names that likely will be considered to replace Burleson on “GMFB” are DeAngelo Hall and Andrew Hawkins, according to sources.

Whoever gets the job will have to be as committed as Burleson and the crew. Morning shows are only for people who truly want to be on TV. Burleson did it, and now is moving to a larger morning stage.

With CBS, Burleson will also do more of the Nickelodeon games that led to such a success during last year’s wild-card showing. Burleson’s authenticity, which shined through on that broadcast, is what will likely make him a morning success.

Burleson had a nice NFL career. One year, he even had 1,000 yards receiving. But he was a possession guy.

The new deal means, however, that on the TV stage, Burleson is a No. 1 option and he just moved to another level.

The Premier League will kick off Friday in its final year of its current contract on NBC. The network has been using the soccer league to increase its Peacock subscriptions, but it will surely have major competition to keep the rights from ESPN+, Paramount+, Amazon Prime Video and network TV. NBC paid a reported $1.3 billion for six years on its current deal.

That number is expected to skyrocket and the desire to continue airing the Premier League was seen as a large reason why NBC did not retain the NHL.

For the subscription platforms, the Premier League is the most valuable among soccer because it is weekly from August through May, meaning subscribers would be retained — probably in most cases — for a whole year.

The Premier League’s depth also is protected from a situation that ESPN finds itself in after Lionel Messi this week left Barcelona to sign with Paris Saint-Germain.

ESPN just signed a long-term deal with La Liga and, if Messi had remained with Barcelona, you can be assured that his face would have been all over ESPN advertising the start of the season. Instead, there is no Messi and much less buzz.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Andrew Marchand

Andrew Marchand

Joe Buck carries 'second dad's' unknown NFL legacy into Hall of Fame

Why NBC is failing to earn gold at the Olympics

How NBC is approaching herculean task of broadcasting fanless Olympics

ESPN may leave local radio business as WFAN dominates

ESPN’s $3 million offer to Maria Taylor may not let her finish NBA Finals

Major League Baseball and Barstool Sports have had significant negotiations about having national midweek games on the site’s platforms, The Post has learned.

The discussions are what Barstool founder Dave Portnoy was referring to last week when he mentioned his company has had talks with “major leagues.”

MLB and Barstool potentially could team up to create a new type of broadcast with a focus on in-game gambling. 

The talks have started recently, and while they have picked up steam, an agreement is not yet a certainty. One source deemed it “50-50.”

MLB and Barstool declined to comment.

Major League Baseball currently has national TV deals with Fox, Turner and ESPN. As part of its new ESPN contract that begins next year, the network dropped regular, non-exclusive Monday and Wednesday games, leaving MLB trying to find a buyer for that inventory. Turner will move its regular season games to Tuesday, from Sunday, beginning next season.

YouTube is a possibility for the midweek national games, as it already has streamed MLB games for three years. Peacock just did a weekend series last month, as well, and is seen as a contender.  

But Barstool sticks out because it has the connection to a younger audience MLB craves and could possibly create buzz with its alternative delivery approach. Barstool would be expected to deliver the games through its website, Instagram and Twitter accounts, among others.

Barstool recently announced that it would be a title sponsor and broadcaster for college football’s Arizona Bowl. The platform is expected to soon sign other deals for live rights.

As is Barstool’s wont, the Arizona Bowl broadcast is not expected to be traditional in its delivery, which could appeal to MLB. 

Noah Garden, MLB’s chief revenue officer, has been wanting baseball to become younger. He has not been shy about expanding into gambling, and he likes the idea of alternative broadcasts.

The “Bettor’s Eye,” a baseball betting-focused show, will be on Monday and the following next three Mondays in its entirety on MLB Network. Previously, segments of the program have run on MLB Network. 

MLB Network, during a few of its games this season, has featured what they termed the “Clubhouse Edition” approach with CC Sabathia, among others, on hand. 

On Tuesday night, MLB Network’s game between the Cubs-Brewers will have Sabathia, Jason Kendall, Matt Vasgersian and Mark DeRosa hanging out.

For Barstool, it is trying to be at the center of the convergence of sports gambling, media and now, potentially, live games.

Barstool’s parent company, Penn National, just bought the Canadian betting app, theScore. It has sports books in several states with the list growing. And now it is moving into live rights. 

There is one major issue that all potential streamers have to overcome to make in-game gambling a reality. The lag time between live action and the stream must be eliminated if betting in-game is to become a reality.

Doing business with Barstool could come with controversy for MLB, as Barstool has been accused of being misogynistic. But Barstool has been embraced by many top major leaguers, including Bryce Harper, making it possibly a popular choice among some players.

If the games are non-exclusive, Barstool probably wouldn’t have to do the production, as it could take feeds from RSNs. Barstool then could produce its own non-traditional, gambling focused broadcast without a play-by-player and analysts. Its relaxed approach could feature Portnoy, Dan (Big Cat) Katz and, for say, a Yankees game, Eric Hubbs, who writes about the team for the site.

If a deal is completed and it is non-exclusive, the games would likely still be broadcast on RSNs, making Barstool’s stream an alternative broadcast. That means local fans who want the traditional approach would not be disrupted.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Andrew Marchand

Andrew Marchand

Why NBC is failing to earn gold at the Olympics

How NBC is approaching herculean task of broadcasting fanless Olympics

ESPN may leave local radio business as WFAN dominates

ESPN’s $3 million offer to Maria Taylor may not let her finish NBA Finals

ESPN, Rachel Nichols and Maria Taylor all look bad in this drama

When the legendary coach George Halas picked his top 11 Chicago Bears of all-time, Joe Buck’s grandfather was among them. In a Chicago Tribune article from 1941, Halas chose two-way threat Joe Lintzenich as one of his backs. 

Lintzenich played only two seasons with the Bears, but he had a lasting impact; especially as a punter. In 1931, at the Polo Grounds against the Giants, Lintzenich booted a 94-yard punt. It stood as an NFL record for decades.

Buck is about to make some history of his own this weekend when he enters the Pro Football Hall of Fame as the Pete Rozelle Award winner, making him and his late father, Jack, the first father-son duo to have received the honor. 

For Joe, this means the world to him, because his dad was his hero. However, his Hall of Fame story is about more than his last name.

Joe Buck is named after the aforementioned Joe Lintzenich, his grandfather on his mother’s side. When Jack Buck was on the road, calling Sunday NFL TV games, “Monday Night Football” on radio and Cardinals baseball games nearly every other day, Lintzenich was more than a grandfather to Joe. 

They would go to see Lintzenich’s St. Louis buddies, attend parades on holidays and, for Joe, the way his late grandfather used to look at him with sheer pride remains inside him to this day, nearly four decades after Lintzenich passed. 

“He was kind of my de facto second dad,” Joe told The Post.

Mother knows best

In December, 1993, when Fox swiped the NFC package from CBS, Fox ended up hiring some CBS executives, including Ed Goren. 

Jack Buck used to work at CBS, and his wife, Carole, was friends with Ed’s wife, Patty. Carole gave Patty a tape of Joe on play-by-play.

“She said, ‘Good, I’ll listen,'” Carole Buck, now 82, recalled. “Then she said, ‘I’m going to take this to Ed.'”

By March of 1994, Joe had an audition, though he had never called a football game before. To practice, Jack had the local CBS affiliate mail a tape of an old Saints game. 

In the living room of their rented house near the Cardinals’ St. Petersburg, Fla. spring training facility, Joe was on play-by-play, while Jack was on color. 

Soon after, Joe flew to Hollywood, nailed the audition and had the job on the spot. 

His first game for Fox was with analyst Tim Green at Soldier Field, calling his grandfather’s Chicago Bears.

It was Joe’s mother, Carole, who taught him football as a child, using Joe’s empty beer can collection, which he said was a common kids collectible in the 1970s. 

When he was 7 or 8 years old, Carole used a Foster’s can to teach him how to throw. Carole would set up the cans in a formation.

“I’d say, ‘Your job is to get through these people and knock them down and score a touchdown,’” Carole said. “And he would look at me and say, ‘But I like them,” I’d say, ‘You are going to have to pretend you don’t like them and hit them.’”

Joe was a good athlete in high school, better at baseball than football. He was a  contributor as a two-way lineman on a 3A Missouri state championship-winning team at St. Louis’ Country Day School, but stopped playing his senior year after he broke his neck when he was on the wrong end of a head-on collision with future Army star running back Mike Mayweather.  

He would heal, and he tried to walk-on at Indiana as a pitcher, but he nearly threw out his arm when the coach said righties needed to hit 95 on the gun and his best gas was 81.

“Knockoff Summerall”

Almost three decades after he arrived, Joe Buck is the undisputed face of Fox Sports, having called 23 World Series to go along with six Super Bowls. On baseball, he began as the voice of the sport, while on football he had to work his way up, albeit quickly.

In 2002, Buck was elevated to the No. 1 NFL seat. He replaced the legendary Pat Summerall, who was part of the greatest NFL broadcast team in history, in Buck’s opinion, with John Madden.

Working with Troy Aikman and Cris Collinsworth, Buck started off a little slow on the No. 1 team.

“I fell into the trap of trying to do a knockoff Summerall,” Buck said.

Joe had gone out of his way to never completely mimic his father’s style, which was an impossibility anyway because he did not have Jack’s distinctive gravelly voice. However, calling football, he could come off a little flat.

“I have to go with my gut”

In 2012, Joe nearly lost his voice altogether, which, as he noted in an autobiography published three years ago, was caused by an addiction to hair plugs, resulting in an operation that went wrong. 

When his voice recovered, Buck changed.

“I said, ‘I’m just going to let it fly,’” said Buck, who suffered from depression after the one-two punch of a divorce and the potential of losing his career. “The exciting moments ,I’m just going to get as excited as I want to get. I’m just going to kind of abandon my old way of thinking.”

While Buck has discovered his own style, he still controls the big moments, using a less-is-more approach.   

Buck thinks his top call was when Plaxico Burress caught Eli Manning’s Super Bowl XLII-winning touchdown against the undefeated Patriots.

“Manning…lobs it…Burress…alone…Touchdown, New York!” 

And then he sat back. This is often Buck’s tact — simple, accurate, letting the pictures tell the story. He still has a hint of Summerall in these moments.

His best pure football call was Stefon Diggs’ 61-yard game-winning touchdown catch on the final play that sent the Vikings to the NFC Championship game with a win over the Saints in 2018.

“Keenum…steps into it…pass is…caught. Diggs! Sideline…Touchdown! Unbelievable! Vikings win it!”

He hasn’t hit them all out, which at his level is noticed. In 2005, he called Randy Moss’ faux mooning of the Green Bay crowd after a playoff touchdown “a disgusting act.”

“I have to live with whatever comes out of my mouth and whatever I’m hit with at the moment,” Buck said. “I don’t ever have an agenda. I just have to go with my gut and whatever comes out. On the one hand, I’m like, ‘Ugh, probably too much.’ On the other hand, I said what I felt. 

“You can’t live your life with regret and do play-by-play. You’d be constantly locked up. There aren’t really any calls that I say, ‘Wow, that was awful.’ That one included. I’m as cringey about it as I am as I am proud of it.”

Matching the call with the moment isn’t always easy. In the Burress Super Bowl game, Buck’s call of the miracle David Tyree catch in the Giants’ win lacked emotion. Buck initially thought Eli Manning was sacked. With Rodney Harrison all over Tyree, Buck wasn’t sure who had the ball. With 100 million people watching, his first thought is he did not want to be wrong.

“You just have to be sure on stages like that that your eyes aren’t lying to you,” Buck said. “I wasn’t 100 percent sure until I saw the replay.”

Aikman’s quarterback

When a player, especially a quarterback, moves from the field to become an NFL game analyst, the routine remains basically the same. He studies the game plan all week and then executes on Sundays.

Aikman — who with Buck represents the longest-running tandem in NFL broadcasting history after Summerall-Madden — looks at Buck that way, confident that his broadcast partner will show up prepared every week, ready to execute.

He’s not going to miss assignments. And, if Aikman does, Buck will adjust so no one notices.

“He knows where I want to go,” Aikman said. “He doesn’t hang me out there. He knows if there is something he wants to say, he’ll say it. He knows if there is something I want to say, I’ll say it.”

While Summerall and Madden may be the greatest NFL duo ever, “Joe and Troy” have become a trusted part of the NFL fabric, an easy Sunday listen.

‘Jeopardy!’

The biggest reason that Joe Buck can be polarizing is because he is on top. When you are doing the World Series every year and the Super Bowl every three, everyone on social media is not going to say how great you are.

From adult daughters he has a strong relationship with, to a second wife, ESPN reporter, Michelle Biesner-Buck, to 3-year-old twin boys to a contract that pays him more than $10 million per year, Buck appears to have it all.

He even guest hosted “Jeopardy!,” which will be on-air next week. 

“It was a blast,” Buck said of the tapings.

At the start, Buck’s connections helped his career lift off quicker than others, which resulted in some backlash. His ability, though, is what keeps landing him opportunities. Could taking over “Jeopardy!” be next?

“I don’t know,” Buck said. “‘Is it something they could see me doing?’ is the better question. That, to me, is the ultimate cross-that-bridge if and when I get there. I just know I walked out of there feeling I represented myself and maybe play-by-play guys across America well because I felt like I handled the pressure of trying to host that show and felt comfortable.”

More than a name

Now, don’t read all of this and think Jack Buck didn’t have a big influence on his son. Joe wanted to be Jack — and that will make his induction all the more meaningful to him — but his mom, Carole, was the one at home. 

Before that, she was on Broadway as an actress. Joe plans to consult with his mom about his speech in Canton.

“She knows what it is like to walk out on the middle of a stage and try to impress somebody and try to be funny and try to deliver,” Joe said. “I learned as much from my mom as I did my dad — probably more from my mom.”

One of the shows Carole appeared in was, “How to Succeed In Business Without Really Trying,” which seems apt for someone whose career has been built upon the perception of that premise.

He attempts to come across like it is very easy, and at times, he makes it appear that way. But those around him know better.

“He’s a tireless worker,” Aikman said. “He’s got such an ease about him that I think they would find that interesting. I think he prides himself on that, but yet he would never talk about that.”

And because of that Buck is a lock for multiple Halls of Fame. But while baseball will come eventually, this weekend, he will enter football’s Hall.

Both Jack Buck and Joe Lintzenich, his dad and his “de facto second dad,” were his heroes. They both served in World War II. They were the men that Joe wanted to be like.

As Carole said, if they could see him enter the Pro Football Hall of Fame, they would both have tears in their eyes and give him that look of pride.

From the start, Joe Buck was bestowed so much to be at the top of sportscasting. But you don’t end up becoming a legend unless you build on what you are given.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Andrew Marchand

Taylor, 34, leaves ESPN just weeks after a year-old private tape of leaked comments were reported by the New York Times in which fellow NBA host/reporter Rachel Nichols’ alleged ESPN gave Taylor the Finals hosting job to make up for what Nichols described as the network’s “crappy longtime record on diversity.”

For NBC, if a contract is completed, Taylor is expected to be part of its forthcoming Olympic coverage that begins in earnest on Friday.

While several sources said Taylor is headed to NBC, nothing is official yet. The top network spokesman is in Japan for the Olympics and did not immediately return messages.

After The Post broke the news of ESPN and Taylor’s failure to reach a new contract agreement, the network’s chairman Jimmy Pitaro and Taylor released a joint statement. Pitaro said, “there is no doubt we will miss Maria,” adding, “While she chose to purse a new opportunity, we are proud of the work we’ve done together.”

Taylor said she was “So thankful to Jimmy and all of my great teammates.” She did not address what is next for her.

If the NBC deal is finalized, she also could be waiting in the on-deck circle to become the host of “Football Night in America,” when Mike Tirico moves to the full-time “Sunday Night” Football play-by-play position in the fall of 2022. It is not fully set that Taylor will replace Tirico, but seems as if it could be a potential fit. Taylor could also have a role on Notre Dame football this season.

The Times’ story on Nichols and Taylor’s situation came just two weeks before Taylor’s contract concluded with ESPN on July 20. ESPN and Taylor made a mini-agreement so she could finish out the Finals on Tuesday.

Now, though, she is expected to go to NBC, leaving ESPN to replace her on “College Football GameDay,” the national championship sideline, NCAA women’s host and her NBA pregame work. 

Sources said Nichols will not be considered to replace Taylor as the Finals’ host.

ESPN tried to keep Taylor, offering a raise from $1 million to the neighborhood of $3 million, according to sources. 

Last year, ESPN made an offer that would have topped Taylor’s salary at near $5 million, but Taylor chose not to negotiate at the time. 

With the pandemic, ESPN has been predominantly cutting salaries, though it just spent big to bring in Peyton and Eli Manning for 10 games a season on an alternative “Monday Night Football” broadcast. 

With NBC and Amazon planning on partnering on Amazon Prime Video’s Thursday Night Football, when it begins in the fall of 2022, Taylor could be part of its exclusive broadcasts as a sideline reporter or a host. No deal is completed with Amazon, though sources say they like Taylor’s work.

After this year, in which NBC has the Super Bowl, Tirico is anticipated to succeed Al Michaels as NBC’s main NFL play-by-player. Michaels’ contract is up after he calls the Super Bowl and he could potentially be Amazon’s lead announcer on its Thursday Night package.

Meanwhile, Nichols was taken off the NBA Finals’ sideline in the aftermath of the reaction to her comments, but has continued to do her afternoon show, “The Jump.”

NBA commissioner Adam Silver questioned why ESPN did not handle the situation earlier, while ESPN has defended its record on diversity, including a memo from its chairman, Jimmy Pitaro, to employees that highlighted the company’s record and stated that Taylor “earned” her position on the FInals.

Now, Taylor is gone from ESPN, while Nichols remains in a diminished role.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Andrew Marchand

Peyton Manning is coming to Monday Night — and he’s bringing his brother, Eli, with him.

Peyton is not fully committing to following Tony Romo into the booth, but Peyton and ESPN have agreed to a contract that will see him participate in 10 alternative “Monday Night Football” broadcasts beginning this season along with Eli, the former Giants quarterback.

The deal is for three years and 30 games. The financials were not disclosed, but they would figure to be in the multiple millions.

On ESPN/ABC, Steve Levy, Louis Riddick Jr. and Brian Griese will handle the traditional broadcasts.

Peyton has been sports TV’s white whale, pursued by most of the NFL networks to be in the booth. ESPN has repeatedly tried to persuade him to join “Monday Night Football” — and he has repeatedly said no. 

Amazon/NBC, the new partnership to broadcast “Thursday Night Football” beginning in 2022-23, have Peyton high on its list to potentially join Al Michaels in the booth, according to sources.

Initially, Peyton and Eli’s production will be on ESPN2 with the chance it also ends up on ESPN+. They will not have to travel to the games, as the “MegaCast” option will originate from a remote locations, where, according to a press release:

“Fans will be treated to a mix of in-the-moment analysis, big picture NFL dialogue, knee-jerk reaction, historical perspective, and more. Peyton and Eli will be joined each week by a to-be-determined host. Iconic and current athletes, as well as celebrities, are expected to appear throughout the season. Fans will never miss any of the action, as a multi-box viewing experience will ensure the game is always visible.”

The Mannings’ version of “MNF” will be on the first three weeks of the season and then seven other weeks of the year. There has been a feeling that Peyton has not wanted to call Tom Brady’s games. The Bucs do not appear on “MNF” any of the first three weeks.

The Giants are on Monday night twice — once against the Bucs and once vs. the Chiefs. ESPN would figure to want the Mannings on these games.

ESPN began its relationship with Manning’s Omaha Productions with his “Peyton’s Places,” which it recently expanded to include other sports, including Eli on college football.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Andrew Marchand

It happened over a range of years in the early 2000s, when Cone tried to leave the mound and retire. Believing he was different from your average retiring player, Cone felt he was grounded, that he was ready for the next stage of life.

Maybe he would go into real estate, or own some restaurants. He took meetings, thinking it would be easy to transform into a businessman.

“I thought I had plenty of interests,” he says.

Ultimately, however, Cone learned that only watching shows about flipping houses was insufficient knowledge to start a real estate company, and eating out wasn’t good enough to run his own joint.

He tried to put together a résumé with his agent and business partner, Andrew Levy. Cone was once so irrational about the whole thing, he didn’t want Levy to go to a Crosby, Stills & Nash concert at the Garden on a Friday evening so Levy could help finish the résumé, not thinking about the fact: Where did he need to desperately send it over the weekend?

“He was in a complete panic,” said Levy, who went to the concert.

They hired a professional résumé writer, but there was only so much that could be done. He had been a ballplayer the previous 16 years.

“I realized I have no job skills and I’m really kind of useless,” Cone says. “I think I underestimated what you go through when you retire. … Your whole identity is wrapped up in being a ballplayer.”

Today, his identity is still with the game. The former Mets and Yankees ace eventually elected to pursue broadcasting after his playing days finally ended, and as a Yankees analyst on the YES Network, the 58-year-old has emerged as maybe the best in the business.

Cone combines the old-school mentality of baseball with the new-school knowledge of analytics. He can be smart and funny. He has mastered what he once did on the mound, changing speeds. YES’s head of production and programming John Filippelli describes him as “unpredictable.”

“He’s as good as there has ever been, in my mind,” Filippelli says.

Cone’s angst has faded, but there is a lingering question: Is there more for him to do in the game?

Two years ago, he interviewed for a job as Yankees pitching coach, and while general manager Brian Cashman told him he didn’t have the necessary technological experience, it is hard to believe — considering Cone’s Cy Young awards, his five All-Star appearances, his five World Series rings, his time as an MLB Players Association rep and his knowledge of sabermetrics — an organization wouldn’t want him to run its team, dugout or pitching staff.

“He could be a general manager, a manager, he could obviously be a coach,” Filippelli says, “There isn’t any aspect of the game that he couldn’t work in and excel.”

Now a broadcasting veteran, Cone really likes the booth — but he is unsure of what he wants.

“Do you think I should take another shot?” Cone asks, turning the tables on a reporter, during lunch near Lincoln Center.

Old school meets new school

In 1993, after Cone signed a three-year, $18 million free-agent contract with the Royals, he pitched to a 3.33 ERA with 191 strikeouts in 254 innings, while the White Sox’s Jack McDowell posted a 3.37 ERA with 158 strikeouts in 256 ²/₃ innings.

The White Sox scored six or more runs in 15 of McDowell’s 34 starts, which helped him finish with a 22-10 record. Cone — who had the benefit of six runs or more in just four of his 34 starts — went 11-14.

A starter’s win-loss record ruled the day then.

Thus, while Cone thought he had one of his best seasons, it wasn’t perceived that way. McDowell picked up the AL Cy Young Award.

Cone began studying the numbers more deeply at that point, and he hasn’t stopped reading sites like FanGraphs to learn.

“Some of the smartest people mathematically are interested in the numbers of baseball,” Cone says. “I think we are lucky for that.”

In a baseball world of old school versus new school, where it feels like you are often asked to pick a side, Cone both endorses the sabermetrics numbers and possesses the “been there, done that” mentality.

“The big buzzword was ‘market inefficiency,’ ” Cone says. “The new market inefficiency is experience, but those guys have been pushed out of the game.”

The Yankees hired a manager in Aaron Boone with no experience on the bench. The pitching coach hired instead of Cone, Matt Blake, never pitched professionally.

That doesn’t mean Blake is unqualified — he worked his way through the system and understands the latest technology — but Cone’s career on World Series mounds would seem like an asset.

“That’s what I thought, that was my argument,” Cone says. “A lot of teams have two pitching coaches. Somebody like a Matt Blake. Somebody like a Mel Stottlemyre, with more experience. That was my approach.

“My argument to [Cashman] was, ‘Why not two? Who do you want talking to Gerrit Cole in the seventh inning of Game 7?’ It’s a credibility thing. Somebody who has been there and done that. It’s been marginalized, that part of the game.”

Cashman says he reached out to Cone for the interview.

“He was in the room for a reason,” Cashman says.

Cashman added he feels like bullpen coach Mike Harkey brings the “been there, done that” experience to the current staff.

Both Cone and Cashman agreed Cone did not have experience with the latest technology, like electronic cameras.

“I hired a manager who had never managed, so it wasn’t a lack of experience from that aspect,” Cashman says. “It was just a lack of intimate personal knowledge of the new toys that exist in this game today, but he was in the room for a reason because he’s open-minded and obviously comes with a lot of experience on the mound.”

Cashman believes there is a place in the game for Cone if he pursues it.

“It just comes down to his interest level and his ability to commit,” Cashman says.

The boss erupts

In 2000, Cone had a largely dreadful year for the Yankees, beyond his high point of forcing Mike Piazza to pop out to end the fifth inning in Game 4 of the Subway Series. A natural next step for him seemed to be working for the start-up YES Network, which was going to launch in 2001.

Filippelli wanted Cone for YES, but Cone was going through a divorce and, of course, had thoughts about becoming a real estate or restaurant entrepreneur. He was not ready to fully commit.

Instead, Cone pitched for the Red Sox in 2001, faring decently with a 9-7 record and a 4.31 ERA and a 104 ERA-plus (4 percent better than league average) in 25 starts. After dabbling with YES in 2002, doing some studio work and not pitching that season, Cone was recruited by Al Leiter and John Franco to rejoin the Mets in 2003 and try one final comeback at age 40.

“That’s when George [Steinbrenner] called me, and he was pissed,” Cone says. “He said, ‘You should stay with the broadcasting. You told me you were done pitching.’ I was like, ‘George, your staff is loaded. You don’t need another pitcher. I have to get it out of my system.’ It probably took me three or four years to get back in good graces and get a job.”

Cone won his first game at Shea Stadium in 2003, throwing five shutout innings against the Expos. His hip then gave out (he had a cortisone shot, and today he has an arthritic hip for his troubles). Cone threw just 18 innings for the season and was done before June.

“That’s when the real panic started to set in,” Cone says.

By 2006 — with Cone still blowing in the post-playing wind and on the outs with The Boss — SNY wanted him. The network’s famed booth could have been “Gary, Keith and Dave” instead of Gary Cohen, Keith Hernandez and Ron Darling. Cone, though, still was not ready to fully commit.

Meanwhile, Filippelli remained persistent in trying to lure him to YES, and eventually the Steinbrenner tension thawed. Cone rejoined YES in 2008, beginning his ascent as an MLB analyst. He is now a mainstay.

Another Chapter?

Filippelli, who has been in the business for nearly half a century and produced six World Series, puts Cone next to Tony Kubek as the best baseball analyst he has ever heard. Filippelli ranks Cone as No. 1 today.

“With total respect to a lot of really great people in our industry, David Cone is the best baseball analyst,” Filippelli says. “He’s totally fearless. He speaks his mind. He’s balanced. He brings all different viewpoints to this thing. He understands the game because he played it. Not only did he play it, he’s a student of it. He was in the forefront of baseball analytics and still is.”

For Cone, it is different than when he tried to quit playing, but you can hear in his voice both passion and apprehension when he talks about being back in uniform.

“Your whole life is based on being a baseball player,” Cone says. “It is a slap in the face when that is not there. It was something I thought I was ready for back then. There was just sort of panic back then. What am I going to do next? Where do I get that rush? Everything we talked about before.

“It is never going to be there. I get a taste of it here and there. Certain broadcasts. You had a nice game there. No scoreboard in broadcasting so we don’t know. It is so subjective.”

Cone has a 9-year-old son with his girlfriend, and he has a 60th birthday just around the corner. ESPN had some interest last year in teaming Cone as a co-analyst with Alex Rodriguez on Sunday nights. YES, of course, thinks the world of him.

But there is still that itch to get back in a dugout or a front office. He is close to the game, but you can tell he may want to be more directly involved with it again.

“It’s now or never,” Cone says.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Andrew Marchand

Taylor is hosting the NBA Finals for ESPN, but her contract runs out on July 20. Game 6 is Tuesday, July 20, while a potential Game 7 is scheduled for next Thursday, July 22.

If Taylor were to leave, ESPN would have the unorthodox scenario of potentially having a different host to end a marquee event than the one who started it.

ESPN could try to see if Taylor would stay through the Finals, even if she decided to go with NBC.

No final decision has been made by Taylor, but one is expected soon.

ESPN has offered Taylor a contract in the neighborhood of $3 million per year, according to sources.

The Post reported a week ago that NBC and Amazon had interest in Taylor and that Taylor could succeed Mike Tirico as the host of “Football Night in America” after this season. Tirico is expected to replace Al Michaels as the main play-by-player on “Sunday Night Football” in 2022-23.

Taylor’s negotiations have yet to heat up with Amazon, however NBC is expected to produce its exclusive Thursday night package that will begin in 2022-23. Sources said the Amazon-NBC contract is likely to be a three-year deal with Amazon having the option to extend it to five.

This would bring over “Sunday Night Football” producer, Fred Gaudelli. The idea is for Michaels, who is in the final year of his NBC contract, to be wooed to be the Amazon play-by-player with a potential run at Peyton Manning as analyst. Taylor could be the sideline reporter, if all goes to plan.

The drama over Taylor’s contract comes on the heels of The New York Times’ story that contained a year-old video of fellow ESPN NBA host/reporter Rachel Nichols saying in a private conversation that she was going to lose her job as host of the NBA Finals because ESPN wanted to rectify its poor record on diversity.

Nichols was removed from her role as a sideline reporter on the Finals after the story.

Taylor has been at ESPN for seven years, rising from the SEC Network to a prominent role on “College Football GameDay,” the sideline reporter on the No. 1 broadcast team, the host of NCAA Women’s Tournament and the host of the NBA Finals. She currently makes $1 million per year.

Last year, ESPN offered Taylor a contract that would have ended with a near $5 million salary its final year. Taylor has sought “Stephen A. Smith money.” Smith has a salary of $8 million per year with an extra $4 million per year production deal for a total of $12 million per in compensation.

ESPN may have the right to match an NBC offer, so it is not clear if Taylor would need ESPN’s permission to work so quickly for NBC. Contracts often have matching rights, though they are seldom used.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Andrew Marchand

Andrew Marchand

ESPN’s $3 million offer to Maria Taylor may not let her finish NBA Finals

ESPN, Rachel Nichols and Maria Taylor all look bad in this drama

Maria Taylor, ESPN facing possible divorce over 'Stephen A. Smith money'

'Embarrassed' Suzyn Waldman frustrated with Yankees' broadcasting situation

Could Amazon be the one to finally land Peyton Manning as an NFL analyst?

As the Mike Francesa Era ended for a second time in the summer of 2020, ESPN New York had finally made major inroads in WFAN’s historic ratings lead. New York felt, more than ever, like a two-sports-radio-station town.

Now, not so much.

WFAN owned the Nielsen Audio spring sports radio book, starting with “Boomer & Gio” in the morning and ending with “Carton & Roberts” in the afternoon. 

The indifference that ESPN has shown to New York’s schedule continues to be a factor, and soon, ESPN in Bristol may bow out of the business aspects of local radio.

There have been serious talks between Craig Karmazin’s Good Karma Brands to take control of both ESPN’s New York and Los Angeles stations, The Post has learned. ESPN and Good Karma already have a similar deal in Chicago.

ESPN would make such a move to reduce the head count on Disney’s books, which is near 40 people. In New York, it would also alleviate some of the massive cost that ESPN pays to Emmis to lease the 98.7 FM signal. 

This would effectively put the local business sales and marketing in Good Karma’s hands, while ESPN would retain oversight of the station’s content, according to sources. 

In essence, what you hear may not be much, or at all, different with Karma involved, but change is afoot.

ESPN’s commitment to radio has waned over the years. It has become apparent it values its long-term podcast business more strongly as compared to its radio platform.

Regardless of who owns the station in New York, the numbers don’t lie that FAN is now back to being the owners of this sports-radio city after Francesa relinquished the title at the end of his reign.

WFAN has also been in transition, but Chris Oliviero, who leads Audacy’s New York stations, has brought stability to the FAN, even as Mark Chernoff, its longtime lead programmer, stepped down. This has left Chernoff’s replacement, Spike Eskin, with a pretty clean slate to work with, only leaving the question of if he will make a change in mid-days, though it rated fine there, as well. Eskin also must still replace John Jastremski’s full-time role, though Sal Licata has already made a good run for the job.

Boomer Esiason and Gregg Giannotti have proven to be the anchors of the station, finishing second in the market, only behind 106.7 Lite FM.

Even when ESPN makes some inroads in the morning — its local show, “DiPietro, Canty & Rothenberg” were fifth from 5-8 a.m. with a 5.1 — the momentum is quickly erased as “Keyshawn, JWill & Zubin” dropped to a 3.6 from 8-10 a.m..

Zubin Mehenti has been out dealing with a medical condition related to diabetes. Alan Hahn has been working as his replacement. 

Mehenti is liked and respected throughout Bristol, but when he comes back he and ESPN may decide it would be better for him to have a more normal schedule, leaving Hahn in the mornings. It already feels like Hahn and Chris Carlin host every ESPN show most days.

Meanwhile, in afternoons, Oliviero’s decision to bring Craig Carton back to afternoons has resulted in better ratings. “Carton & Roberts” beat “The Michael Kay Show.” C&R was third in the market with a 5.7 share, while Kay was seventh (4.1). C&R trailed 97.9 WSKQ and Lite FM.

In middays, Marc Malusis and Maggie Gray had a 5.3 share for third, while the combination of Mike Greenberg and “Bart and Hahn” were eighth (3.2) in the market from 10-2.

TNT NHL roster

For the start of its NHL studio coverage next season, TNT has already signed Wayne Gretzky as it tries to create a show with buzz akin to its highly successful “Inside the NBA.” For the role of host, TNT has shown interest in NBC’s Liam McHugh, according to sources. No deal is done yet, but McHugh could be in the Ernie Johnson seat as the conductor of what will likely be called “Inside the NHL.”

Clicker Books

In the 65 book reviews that Papa Clicker has done, the highest score out of five clickers has been a 4.6 — until now. L. Jon Wertheim’s “Glory Days: The Summer of 1984 and the 90 days that changed Sports and Culture Forever” receives the first 4.65 since the review began. Wertheim ties in Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, ESPN, Hulk Hogan, John McEnroe, Martina Navratilova, Donald Trump, the Olympics, Vince McMahon and Michael Jordan, among others, to make for a great read. In the process, Wertheim has made Clicker Books history.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Andrew Marchand

Sanchez, 34, is the latest ESPNer to move to Fox. Over the past year-and-a-half, Tom Rinaldi, Emmanuel Acho, Adam Amin and Jonathan Vilma have gone to Fox from ESPN.

On Sundays, Sanchez is expected to work with Kevin Kugler, according to sources. Sanchez will be in the spot vacated by Chris Spielman, who left last season to help run the Detroit Lions.

Sanchez, 34, did not make his final decision until late last week, when he informed ESPN officials that he was leaving. He has not yet signed his new contract, but the paperwork is expected to be finished shortly. Sanchez will likely appear on FS1’s weekday programming, as well.

Fox has reimagined its Sunday booths in recent years behind its No. 1 team of Joe Buck and Troy Aikman. This year, Kevin Burkhardt will have a new partner in Greg Olsen. Amin began last season on NFL play-by-play with Mark Schlereth. Vilma joined Kenny Albert last year. Kugler replaced Thom Brennaman.

In limited work on games, Aqib Talib made an impression and could be part of the mix this season.

Sanchez spent eight years in the NFL with his most notable success coming in his first two seasons, as he quarterbacked the Jets in back-to-back AFC Championship appearances.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Andrew Marchand

Smith’s contract is for $12 million per year, according to sources. As The Post previously reported, Smith’s personal salary is $8 million a year — which is correct — but he also has a $4 million-per-year production contract. 

That makes the total compensation of the contract that he signed in late 2019 a five-year, $60 million deal.

The Athletic first tweeted Smith’s $12 million total compensation number. ESPN declined comment.

This has become relevant because Maria Taylor’s contract is up on July 20 and she has been looking for Smith type money. 

The Post reported that ESPN has offered a $3 million-per-year deal. Taylor’s contract runs out the day of a potential Game 6 of the Finals. She currently makes $1 million per year.

Smith’s salary is not necessarily relevant to Taylor as he is mostly an omnipresent opinion-maker, with two daily programs (“First Take” on ESPN & “Stephen A’s World” on ESPN+), besides his many appearances on other platforms, while Taylor is a host and a reporter.

In general, TV opinion-makers are given higher salaries than non-news-breaking reporters and hosts.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Andrew Marchand

Andrew Marchand

ESPN, Rachel Nichols and Maria Taylor all look bad in this drama

Maria Taylor, ESPN facing possible divorce over 'Stephen A. Smith money'

'Embarrassed' Suzyn Waldman frustrated with Yankees' broadcasting situation

Could Amazon be the one to finally land Peyton Manning as an NFL analyst?

Robert Griffin III sparks ESPN-Fox bidding war with all-time audition

After her private and insensitive comments were made public, ESPN’s Rachel Nichols was dropped from the sidelines to start the NBA Finals broadcast.

Now it is unclear whether host Maria Taylor will finish the league’s marquee event. This is despite a lucrative contract offer.

Though it isn’t “Stephen A Smith money,” ESPN has a contract on the table for Taylor in the neighborhood of $3 million per year, The Post has learned.

The deal represents roughly three times more than her current $1 million per year.

Sources said Taylor has interest from both NBC and Amazon, while CBS, Fox and TNT are not involved.

Taylor’s current contract expires in less than two weeks, on July 20, which is the date of a potential Game 6 of the NBA Finals. If a new agreement isn’t reached, it is unclear right now what ESPN and Taylor would do if the Suns-Bucks series extends.

Besides hosting The Finals and “NBA Countdown,” Taylor, 34, is the college football national championship sideline reporter and NCAA Women’s Tournament host. The new deal would expand her role even further, though the specifics are unknown.

During the pandemic, when salaries were beginning to be cut, top-paid talent was asked to take 15 percent pay cuts, and with layoffs on the horizon, ESPN offered Taylor a deal that would have eventually escalated to nearly $5 million in the final year. Taylor turned it down.

The 53-year-old Smith has a salary of nearly $8 million. Taylor has hoped to end up in that neighborhood, according to sources.

Though ESPN is now offering less, the around $3 million per is still a significant raise and comes in the wake of ESPN pruning salaries. For example, longtime quirky “SportsCenter” anchor Kenny Mayne was offered a 61 percent cut from around $1.7 million salary, while MMA personality Ariel Helwani, who was making nearly a half-million, was asked to accept a 5 percent decrease. Both Mayne and Helwani left the company.

Clouding the negotiations is the New York Times article in which Nichols’ nearly year-old private comments were made public.

In them, Nichols said that ESPN may strip away her contractually agreed upon role as the host of The Finals “because [ESPN is] feeling pressure about [its] crappy longtime record on diversity” in the midst of the Black Lives Matter movement.

ESPN executives failed to take any meaningful action over Nichols’ comments, which may have been illegally recorded. The Times story came to light on the eve of The Finals and with Taylor’s current contract winding down.

Since the article, ESPN removed Nichols from the sideline, though her afternoon show “The Jump” was skipped prior to the first game of The Finals. It is back on-the-air now.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver questioned how ESPN dealt with the issue, lamenting the fact that Nichols and Taylor were not brought into a room to hash Nichols’ comments out.

Taylor did not respond to a text message asking for comment. ESPN declined comment.

As is the normal process, Taylor’s representative has reached out to the major networks, but NBC and Amazon are the only known potential landing spots, according to sources.

NBC has the Super Bowl this year, which could create marquee opportunities. Mike Tirico is largely expected to replace Al Michaels as the “Sunday Night Football” play-by-player next season, which would open up the “Sunday Night Football” pregame show host role.

An interesting sidelight to this possibility is that Drew Brees will begin as an NBC NFL pregame analyst this season. Taylor was highly critical of Brees after his comments last year in regards to players not standing for the national anthem.

Amazon, according to sources, has interest in Taylor for its exclusive Thursday night package, which begins in 2022. She could be on the sideline or a host.

For now, she is still under contract to ESPN, but the shot clock is winding down on her current deal, leaving in question of whether she will finish out The Finals.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Andrew Marchand

Andrew Marchand

Maria Taylor, ESPN facing possible divorce over 'Stephen A. Smith money'

'Embarrassed' Suzyn Waldman frustrated with Yankees' broadcasting situation

Could Amazon be the one to finally land Peyton Manning as an NFL analyst?

Robert Griffin III sparks ESPN-Fox bidding war with all-time audition

CBS gives Alex Smith, Mark Sanchez a chance as potential analyst replacement

It is hard to figure out who looks the worst in the whole ESPN-Rachel Nichols-Maria Taylor drama, but let’s give it a whirl.

It starts with ESPN management. The Nichols comments — taped illegally or not — were known for a year throughout the top executive ranks. It was an open wound.

Instead of actually addressing it, they let it linger, trying passive-aggressive Band-Aids until now, after a New York Times story.

The result is Nichols’ ESPN career is in jeopardy and Taylor may follow her out the door.

Even on Tuesday, there was no show of strength from ESPN. First, ESPN took Nichols off the NBA Finals sideline, while initially saying that Nichols would continue to host “The Jump,” her weekday program. Then, “The Jump” did not air. ESPN says it will give “The Jump” a try on Wednesday.

Oh, this is all while a little thing called the NBA Finals is going on.

Nichols, 47, is known as hard-working, political and territorial. These are not uncommon traits at the top of sports TV.

She rose on TV as a sideline reporter, developing strong enough relationships with star players so they all stopped for postgame interviews, which is the main skill for the position.

On Nichols’ daily show, “The Jump,” she had created a well-received meeting place for the NBA. A former newspaper writer, she has now become sort of a part of the league, as much as covering it.

While it is easy to pile on her, she did have a signed contract that said she was the host of the NBA Finals before it was yanked away without much of a reason.

Her private conversation emanated from Florida and was recorded in Connecticut. Both states have two-party consent laws, meaning anyone on a phone line must agree to being taped.

And, while what she said was demeaning, insensitive and hypocritical, her comments seem more like a misdemeanor than a felony.

But ESPN management did her no favors by allowing a wound to become infected, failing to act in any significant way, except appeasing Taylor’s request to not have them appear together on-air. By doing so, ESPN let others control the narrative — and now has completely lost any semblance of it.

While Nichols and Taylor have been rivals, they aren’t that different. Taylor is the superior host, smoother and more polished. But Taylor has proven adroit at working angles, too, to borrow a phrase, in the “snake pit” that is the corporate ESPN.

In her seven years at ESPN, Taylor has been relentlessly promoted. Taylor, 34, has risen to be the college football national championship sideline reporter, the host of the NCAA Women’s Tournament and NBA Finals. She makes $1 million a year, but, as The Post reported last week, her contract is up on July 20 and she hopes to land in the “Stephen A. Smith” neighborhood of $8 million a year. ESPN at one point had a deal that would eventually reach close to $5 million on the table.

NBC could have interest in her to replace Mike Tirico next year as the host of “Football Night in America.” Amazon also likes her work.

Maybe Taylor owes Nichols nothing, but she could have put out this fire, if she had wanted to, as well. Over the past several days, Nichols has publicly said she has tried to talk to Taylor, but Taylor has decided against dialogue.

ESPN’s leaders were too weak to force them into a room and hash it all out as adults. A mistake they all should regret.

“If you need to give her more things to do because you are feeling pressure about your crappy longtime record on diversity — which, by the way, I know personally from the female side of it — like, go for it. Just find it somewhere else. You are not going to find it from me or taking my thing away,” Nichols said on the recording The Times was given.

She added, “I just want them to go somewhere else — it’s in my contract, by the way; this job is in my contract in writing.”

Now, Taylor’s contract is up. She and ESPN have not seen eye-to-eye on the numbers.

ESPN decided to take Nichols’ sideline job away. They already took back her hosting role. The whole mismanagement has put in question whether she will be able to cover the league she loves.

The soap opera has sports media and beyond gawking, it is unsurprising and preventable. From management to Nichols to Taylor, they all could have stopped this out-of-control spiral.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Andrew Marchand

The move was made in the wake of a New York Times report about demeaning comments that Nichols made around a year ago about network host Maria Taylor during a private conversation. Nichols did not realize that the video was being recorded. The video was then disseminated by an ESPN employee.

In her place, the network will have Malika Andrews on the sidelines for the Finals. Nichols will continue to host “The Jump.”

“We believe this is the best decision for all concerned in order to keep the focus on the NBA Finals,” ESPN said in a statement.

In the taped conversation from last July, Nichols said that ESPN might have her relinquish her contractually agreed upon NBA Finals hosting job to Taylor because the network was feeling pressure to be more diverse.

“I wish Maria Taylor all the success in the world — she covers football, she covers basketball,” Nichols said in Disney hotel room, unaware her camera was being recorded back at ESPN’s Bristol headquarters.

“If you need to give her more things to do because you are feeling pressure about your crappy longtime record on diversity — which, by the way, I know personally from the female side of it — like, go for it. Just find it somewhere else. You are not going to find it from me or taking my thing away.”

She added, “I just want them to go somewhere else — it’s in my contract, by the way; this job is in my contract in writing.”

Nichols expressed remorse in the Times’ article that published on Sunday and then opened “The Jump” with another apology Monday.

“So the first thing they teach you in journalism school is don’t be the story. And I don’t plan to break that rule today or distract from a fantastic Finals,” Nichols said on the ESPN program.

“But I also don’t want to let this moment pass without saying how much I respect, how much I value our colleagues here at ESPN. How deeply, deeply sorry I am for disappointing those I hurt, particularly Maria Taylor, and how grateful I am to be part of this outstanding team.”

Nichols is definitely part of the story, but she won’t be covering the Finals.

Meanwhile, the story came out with Taylor’s contract due to expire during the Finals. Last week, The Post reported Taylor, who makes a million dollars per year, has asked for a big increase and desires to be paid in Stephen A. Smith’s $8 million per year range.

A year ago, ESPN had offered a contract that would have eventually reached near $5 million per year towards its conclusion. With ESPN currently cutting salaries, the two sides have been far apart with NBC emerging as a possible destination for Taylor.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Andrew Marchand

The Dallas Cowboys will be the featured team for the third time on “Hard Knocks,” HBO and NFL Films’ behind the scenes training camp show, the NFL announced.

As the program enters its 20th season, the comeback of Dak Prescott will be a main attraction, as well as how Mike McCarthy does in his second year as head coach. Owner Jerry Jones will likely be a focus, as he is with nearly everything that involves the star.

The first episode will run on Tuesday, Aug. 12 at 10 p.m. on HBO. The Cowboys were also spotlighted in 2002 and 2008. 

The Cowboys are the first team to be the main event three times on the program. The Bengals and Rams have been featured twice. The Rams and Chargers split the series last year, giving an inside look at how they were dealing with the pandemic.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Andrew Marchand

Andrew Marchand

'Embarrassed' Suzyn Waldman frustrated with Yankees' broadcasting situation

Could Amazon be the one to finally land Peyton Manning as an NFL analyst?

Robert Griffin III sparks ESPN-Fox bidding war with all-time audition

CBS gives Alex Smith, Mark Sanchez a chance as potential analyst replacement

Ariel Helwani pay-cut offer symbolizes ESPN's startling new reality

At one point in negotiations with NBA Finals host and College Football national championship sideline reporter Maria Taylor, ESPN offered her a raise from her current salary of nearly $1 million per year that would eventually reach almost $5 million, according to sources.

Taylor turned it down.

Taylor, sources said, was hoping to be in the “Stephen A. Smith money” neighborhood, which is near $8 million annually.

But since the initial near $5 million offer was made during last year’s pandemic, the world at ESPN has changed even further. With Disney closely watching the network’s pocketbook, the majority of big earners at ESPN are being asked to take pay cuts.

Some are accepting them, while others, like Kenny Mayne and Ariel Helwani, are leaving. This evolution has quickly become perhaps the biggest current story in sports media.

ESPN looks at its reduction in salary as a market correction. Others in the industry see ESPN devaluing its place as the marquee platform for content creators and hosts.

But, in Taylor, ESPN sees someone it wants to keep. The near $5 million offer was made when ESPN was beginning its reduction of salaries across the board.

Today, ESPN wants to keep Taylor, but the initial offer is not on the table, according to sources. What she is being offered right now is not known, but it is believed to be in the $2 million-$3 million range.

It is a substantial raise, but there is another staring contest going on, and the idea that Taylor and ESPN could divorce cannot be counted out.

Adding to the intrigue, Taylor’s contract is set to expire on or around July 20, and the NBA Finals, if it goes seven games, ends on July 22.

Besides “NBA Countdown” and her college football work, Taylor is the host of the NCAA Women’s Tournament. She also does some NFL work.

ESPN declined comment. Taylor did not return a message.

Taylor, 34, has risen through ESPN, becoming a star at the network. Her ultimate goal, according to sources, is to be the “next Robin Roberts.” A new deal with ESPN could include some appearances on ABC’s “Good Morning America.”

However, it is not clear that Disney — which owns ABC and ESPN — looks upon her as the future of mornings.

Taylor is no doubt talented, but is there another suitor who would value her as much as ESPN/ABC/Disney currently does? Amazon does like Taylor, according to sources, while NBC could potentially be creative. Both could have NFL hosting opportunities in the future, though nothing is currently available and it is unknown if there are any advanced talks.

At a time when ESPN is cutting salaries and letting on-air people go, it is offering her a raise. Will it be enough, especially if it continues to be less than what was once on the table?

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Andrew Marchand

Andrew Marchand

Could Amazon be the one to finally land Peyton Manning as an NFL analyst?

Robert Griffin III sparks ESPN-Fox bidding war with all-time audition

CBS gives Alex Smith, Mark Sanchez a chance as potential analyst replacement

Ariel Helwani pay-cut offer symbolizes ESPN's startling new reality

Amazon pursuing Al Michaels for mega-deal to make him lead NFL voice

Suzyn Waldman was embarrassed. She couldn’t sleep. And the root of it all was that she was in the Bronx, at the Stadium, broadcasting the Yankees-Blue Jays game being played in Buffalo on WFAN.

In the ninth inning Wednesday, when the controversial foul tip-or-no foul tip play with Gary Sanchez behind the plate happened, Waldman was looking down at her notes for a moment – and didn’t see it. That’s the life of calling games off a monitor. 

“I didn’t sleep all night,” Waldman told The Post. “I was really embarrassed.”

This isn’t the only reason why the vaccinated 74-year-old Waldman and 82-year-old John Sterling – and while we are at it, the YES announcers as well – should be on the road soon, but it is a stark example of what is gained by announcers being at the ballpark.

In person, the game is presented better with more details. Anyone in the business and fans should hear it. Bean counters, be damned. 

The issue now is if the Yankees’ radio rights holder, WFAN, will pay for Waldman and Sterling’s hotel and meals on the road. That seems to be basically the only thing stopping Waldman and Sterling from going back to pre-pandemic broadcasting. 

Around MLB, sources with knowledge said there are already 8-12 radio broadcast teams doing full-time or limited travel. More are expected after the All-Star break.

The decision is ultimately up to WFAN’s parent company, Audacy (formerly Entercom).  Audacy also owns the rights to the Mets (WCBS) and 14 teams in total, but for some the announcers are team employees, so the clubs will pay for road travel. 

So, what is the plan for getting the Yankees radio announcers on the road? 

An Audacy spokesman said, “We have nothing on this at this time.” He added that maybe in a few weeks they would have more.

What is the hold up? Audacy wouldn’t say, but it would seem to be money. The question for all media companies broadcasting sports is: do you want to be in the majors, or be cheap?

With stadiums going back to full capacity and with the reporters allowed on the field during pregame, there are no COVID-19 related concerns in the Yankees situation.

The criteria MLB has set for allowing radio announcer crews traveling begins with their clubs having to hit the 85 percent of Tier 1 personnel vaccinated. The announcers must also be vaccinated. The final hurdle, which is not much of one according to sources, is there must be room in the visiting press boxes to accommodate the radio teams. Almost all ballparks already or soon will have space for road broadcasters. 

While the Yankees’ announcers are in position to travel, the Mets’ are not. The Mets, as a team, are not at the 85 percent threshold, so their announcers are ineligible to go on the road.

For the Yankees, Audacy would have to send Sterling, Waldman and producer Jack Maldonado on the road. They stay with the team at nice hotels, but with negotiated rates. 

Let’s say it is $300 per person a night for a three-game series, plus meals. Add it all up, it is around $4,000 per series. So, sell a couple more ads to FanDuel

This is the New York Yankees. We aren’t in Peoria. It is time to have radio announcers on the road, with TV in the on-deck circle. YES said it is “evaluating the situation on all fronts.”

Fox is already at games for its national baseball broadcasts. ESPN will have its “Sunday Night Baseball” crew at Yankee Stadium on July 4.

The Yankees take pride in acting like they are special. They are among the most famous and popular franchises in the world. They didn’t get there by being cheap.

With the pandemic subsiding, it is time to avoid situations like the other night in the Bronx by way of Buffalo.

“It is hard,” Waldman said. “It’s embarrassing.”

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Andrew Marchand

Andrew Marchand

Robert Griffin III sparks ESPN-Fox bidding war with all-time audition

CBS gives Alex Smith, Mark Sanchez a chance as potential analyst replacement

Ariel Helwani pay-cut offer symbolizes ESPN's startling new reality

Amazon pursuing Al Michaels for mega-deal to make him lead NFL voice

Despite athletes' frustration, the media makes fans care more about sports

In NFL TV free agency, there is always one name atop the list. He has been pursued by all and hooked by no one. And now a new player has arrived.

As a top sports TV executive said, “The NFL’s white whale is out there for Amazon.”

That is Peyton Manning.

Manning has a long history of being pursued by TV networks and ultimately saying no. But Amazon Prime Video, with its endless pockets and its exclusive rights to “Thursday Night Football” beginning in 2022-23, could be the next to make a run at him.

Sources said Amazon has grappled with the idea of pursuing Manning as its main analyst. With Amazon potentially teaming with NBC and hiring Al Michaels as its lead play-by-player, they could go with a star combo of Michaels and Manning. It also could offer Manning “Tony Romo money,” as CBS signed Romo to a 10-year, $180 million contract last year.

To be clear, there is no full Amazon pursuit yet of Manning, and there might not be one. Amazon is doing a thorough search and, though it could bring in Michaels and “Sunday Night Football” executive producer Fred Gaudelli on board, that is not yet a done deal.

Amazon, according to sources, has also had talks with Fox about working together, which, in theory, could put Joe Buck and Troy Aikman on Thursday. Fox is in its final season of Thursday night games this year.

While Amazon has not had any substantial co-production talks with CBS, it is also high on Ian Eagle for play-by-play.

But could the 45-year-old Manning – who has already launched Omaha Productions for his many TV projects – finally be ready to try the booth?

Those close to Manning have long emphasized that he won’t just collect a paycheck. His actions have backed this up, as he has always said no to millions.

Amazon could potentially have two of the three things that Manning would desire, if it does the NBC deal. And Manning may be able to help add the third.

With Michaels in the booth and Gaudelli producing, Manning would have the type of marquee combo that would be appealing to him.

While money is not an issue, everyone wants as much as they can get, and Romo has set the bar high. Manning could say he needs to top Romo’s nearly $1 million per game.

The debate over how much announcers impact viewership is a long one, but this case could be a little different.

If Amazon were to have Michaels and Manning, would the NFL really give the new platform a mediocre schedule? Thursday has some limitations because of traveling restrictions and other rules that can water down the matchups. But if it is Michaels and Manning, Amazon would have a marquee.

While Michaels is still very good, there is a question, with his 77th birthday during the upcoming season, as to how much longer he will want to do games. He is in the final season of his NBC contract and Mike Tirico is restless to move out from his backup position to be the No. 1.

Cris Collinsworth can’t be entirely ruled out as Michaels’ partner, and word is Aikman has enjoyed Thursday nights. Amazon does want to put its own stamp on its exclusive broadcasts, which makes the idea of just borrowing a top crew from another network less enticing.

Amazon’s broadcasts will feature a number of feeds that have the potential to be creative as it likely will have gambling and fan-focused feeds, among others. It also has an incumbent team of Hannah Storm and Andrea Kremer.

Amazon could try something fresh and does have CBS’ Nate Burleson on its analyst list. But there is only one Manning.

NFL TV executives have been like Captain Ahab with him. Now, the streamers could be on the hunt.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Andrew Marchand

ESPN has upped its offer after Fox showed heavy interest in Griffin as an NFL and college football analyst. Now both networks are waiting to see whether Griffin will try to play again or retires from the NFL to move into TV. Even if Griffin does decide to play, TV will be waiting for him when he ultimately retires. (Outkick first reported ESPN’s and Fox’s interest in Griffin.) 

The way Griffin, 31, has elevated his status as a potential broadcaster is interesting. Though he does have impressive credentials as a former Heisman Trophy winner and NFL Rookie of the Year who has spent seven seasons in the NFL, he has not had a Peyton Manning-type pro career that makes him a no-brainer atop TV wish lists.

But Griffin really excelled in his auditions for ESPN and Fox. Sources from both networks were blown away by Griffin; some said Griffin’s was among the top tryouts they have ever viewed. 

ESPN’s offer contains a greater volume of opportunities than Fox’s. Griffin would call college games, do some college studio, and talk both college football and NFL on shows such as “Get Up!” during the week, sources said. 

ESPN is pursuing Griffin even as it continues to cut salaries among its top earners.

For Fox, RGIII could do some NFL games as an analyst and also pair with rising star Emmanuel Acho on pre-game, halftime and post-game college football shows on Fox and FS1, sources said. Griffin would also contribute to some of FS1’s weekday studio shows.

CBS also has a potential opening with Rich Gannon being let go, but the network had not had Griffin in for an audition.

Sanchize decision time

Former Jets quarterback and current ESPN analyst Mark Sanchez has an offer from Fox to become an NFL game analyst, The Post has learned. It would be for the position that was vacated when Chris Spielman left to go run the Detroit Lions.

ESPN very much wants to keep Sanchez. He is mostly featured on the Saturday college football studio show on ABC. 

Sanchez also auditioned with CBS, which has not decided whether to replace Gannon. Alex Smith, Sean Lee and Joey Galloway also were in for auditions with CBS.  

SVG to TNT?

Stan Van Gundy, let go by the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday after one season as head coach, would seem to be a no-brainer to return as a game analyst for TNT, which parted ways with Chris Webber prior to the NBA playoffs.

Van Gundy and Ian Eagle were TNT’s top team when they worked together last season.

TNT has favored going with a three-man booth for marquee events such as the All-Star game and the conference finals. The grouping of Eagle and Van Gundy with either Grant Hill or Reggie Miller would make the most sense as its No. 1 team. We could consider Kevin Harlan on play-by-play, but The Clicker’s simple philosophy is go with the best candidate, which is Eagle. 

If TNT went with a two-man booth, I think either Van Gundy or Hill working with Eagle would be a no-doubt success. Hill meshed well with Eagle this season, sounding as if he was having fun when they worked together on NBA games and the NCAA Tournament.

Van Gundy also could join forces with Dan Le Batard’s Meadowlark Media. He has a long-standing relationship with Le Batard’s crew.

Clicker Books

Papa Clicker calls Michael Kay’s “Centerstage (My Most Fascinating interviews from A-Rod to Jay-Z”) an interesting change-of-pace book. Kay turned his YES show into a book, elaborating on the program’s interviews with famous people from sports and beyond. Papa Clicker gives it a very nice 4.5 clickers out of 5.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Andrew Marchand

These are among the questions CBS Sports executives are asking themselves as the network considers adding one of the former quarterbacks.

Recently, CBS held auditions with Smith, ESPNers Sanchez and Joey Galloway, and former Cowboys linebacker Sean Lee, according to sources. 

Smith, who retired earlier this offseason after 16 seasons as a quarterback, also had an audition with Fox and meetings with the NFL Network and ESPN. One person who saw Smith’s audition thought he had “No. 2 or 3 game analyst” potential if he is into it. Sanchez is looked at as someone with a little more personality, who one executive thought could excel in the booth. Galloway has been very solid for ESPN. Lee recently retired from playing.

CBS created an opening when it did not bring back longtime analyst Rich Gannon after the 2020 season. However, the network does not feel as if it has to add someone. CBS already has seven game analysts with Tony Romo, Charles Davis, Trent Green, James Lofton, Adam Archuleta, Tiki Barber and Jay Feely. Gannon was fourth on CBS’ depth chart last year.

Fox, meanwhile, had its No. 5 slot open last year when Chris Spielman left to go run the Detroit Lions. Aqib Talib is likely to receive some more games from Fox, according to sources, but unlikely a full schedule this year. Fox has also tried out Jay Gruden as a game analyst.

Audible for Rodney Harrison and NBC

Rodney Harrison has signed a new deal, believed to be for two years, to continue on NBC’s “Football Night in America,” but his role will change, according to sources. Harrison, a mainstay, will work from game sites beginning this season.

The move is being made with the addition of Drew Brees, who will will join Mike Tirico, Tony Dungy, Chris Simms and Mike Florio in studio for the Sunday Night pregame.

Clicker Books

Before Joe DiMaggio came to prominence, Tony Lazzeri, was one of the first great players of Italian heritage. In “Tony Lazzeri, Yankees Legend and Baseball Pioneer,” by Lawrence Baldassaro, Lazerri’s interesting life, in which he overcame epilepsy to become a part of “Murderers Row” and a Hall of Famer, is examined.

Papa Clicker gives the book a very nice 4.3 out of 5 clickers.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Andrew Marchand

Andrew Marchand

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ESPN executive vice president Norby Williamson is a die-hard Mets fan. When the Wilpons owned the team, they made a habit of finishing second for big time free agents. While it was transparent to anyone paying attention, it allowed them to say:

We tried.

Williamson, with his Mets cap squarely pulled down tight, appears to have done just that in trying just hard enough not to retain Dana White’s nemesis, MMA insider Ariel Helwani.

On UFC, Helwani may be something akin to what Adrian Wojnarowski is on the NBA. Helwani has more than 2 million followers on social media. He is just 38 and popular with his co-workers. He would seem to be a keeper.

But, where ESPN’s business is in relation to retaining many of its on-air personalities, Helwani was worth enough to offer a pay cut. Helwani, who was in the final year of his three-year rookie contract with ESPN, made a salary that approached $500,000.

ESPN initially offered a 10-percent reduction in pay and followed up with a five-percent cut, according to sources. ESPN and Helwani said he could have stayed, but really, how could he in the prime of his career with gambling companies doling out money left and right?

Helwani should do just fine outside of ESPN’s universe and may even top a million. He has had significant talks with the gambling site Action Network. There is an obvious link with Meadowlark, from his relationship with Dan Le Batard and company, dating back to both formerly receiving checks with Mickey Mouse on it.

Helwani will likely end up with a few deals that are with or supported by sports betting platforms.

For ESPN, Helwani’s exit is just as telling regarding the state of its business as Kenny Mayne’s departure. Mayne had been at ESPN for 27 years. Beloved by many for his quirky humor, he was making in the $1.7 million neighborhood to work half the year and ESPN wanted to cut him to around $800,000. With Disney looking over ESPN’s shoulder and after all the recent layoffs, there is still something of a salary cap for the network that once billed itself as the Worldwide Leader.

Meanwhile, White wanted Helwani off ESPN. White has called Helwani a variety of names over the years and has complained to ESPN executives about him. White has made no secret he would like to hurt Helwani’s career.

ESPN definitely does not want it to appear that White has a hand in its decision making, and there is no actual proof that they listened to him. That said, it is weird that an up-and-comer like Helwani wouldn’t be more prioritized, even in ESPN’s current cost-cutting environment where 50 percent cuts, give or take, are being asked of some of the highest earners.

Ultimately, ESPN’s relationship with UFC is transactional. It has been the biggest driver so far for ESPN+, which Disney, ESPN’s parent company, hopes is the future of the network after all the cable cords are cut.

ESPN still has the fights. Helwani will still be talking about MMA all the time on other platforms. In theory, he will still be driving viewers to pay for ESPN+. He just won’t do it on their dime.

There is another baseball analogy for where it all stands. ESPN used to be the Steinbrenner Yankees when it came to signing and retaining sports media’s biggest stars. It got what it wanted.

Now, Helwani was given a Wilpon offer, not a Steinbrenner one. He will likely make much more as a free agent, maybe seven figures, with all the money infused in platforms by sports gambling’s emergence.

This is just the start.

Clicker Books

Papa Clicker says that “Our Team: The Epic Story of Four Men and the World Series that Changed Baseball,” by Luke Epplin, is for anyone who loves baseball and its history. It is the tale of the 1948 world champion Cleveland Indians, focusing on Larry Doby, Satchel Paige, Bob Feller and Bill Veeck. “Our Team” receives a very strong 4.5 out 5 clickers.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Andrew Marchand