NBC declined ESPN’s request to discuss a trade to send football play-by-play voice Al Michaels to ESPN, the New York Post reported.
Last week, the Post reported that ESPN wanted to reshape its “Monday Night Football” broadcast booth by pairing the respected Michaels with Peyton Manning, after CBS locked up Tony Romo, ESPN’s first choice for a color commentator, with a new long-term contract.
Michaels has two years remaining on his deal with NBC to lead the “Sunday Night Football” booth, so ESPN looked into initiating trade talks, the way major sports teams would do.
It wouldn’t have been the first time Michaels was traded. The now-75-year-old used to be the voice of “Monday Night Football” for ABC for 20 years, but in 2006 Disney traded Michaels to NBC Universal in exchange for the rights to the cartoon Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, a famous precursor to Mickey Mouse that Disney wanted to own again.
For now, Michaels will continue to call “Sunday Night Football” with partner Cris Collinsworth, with Mike Tirico (another former ESPN employee) essentially waiting in the wings. ESPN may stick with its current broadcast team of Joe Tessitore and Booger McFarland or continue to seek an upgrade for the booth.
• Adam Zielonka can be reached at azielonka@washingtontimes.com.
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