ESPN was heavily involved in the Tony Romo sweepstakes after he ultimately decided to stay at CBS and cashing in a $180 million contract.
Now, ESPN has their eyes set on another former NFL quarterback.
According to Andrew Marchand of the New York Post, ESPN has turned their attention to Peyton Manning in hopes of having him consider the contract they offered Romo:
As for ESPN, sources have said it has alternative plans as to how it may remodel its “Monday Night Football” booth, which currently consists of Joe Tessitore and Booger McFarland.
The first call is likely to be to Peyton Manning, asking if this is finally the year he wants to try to be an analyst.
With the money Disney was planning to offer Romo and with what Romo is being paid by CBS, Manning would have to listen. If Manning says no, ESPN would have to move to Plan C. ESPN was thinking big with Romo and the Super Bowl, but CBS had the initial foresight to sign Romo — and they refused to let him go.
Romo’s new contract with CBS will pay him around $17 million per season, which is more than double the previous NFL high of $8 million per year that John Madden received more than two decades ago.
Would Peyton turn down an offer like that?
