Weeks after learning it wouldn’t be able to trade for Al Michaels ESPN has learned the other half of its dream team booth for Monday Night Football isn’t coming to Bristol either. Peyton Manning officially turned down the network’s overtures and will not be calling games in 2020.
There is a lot that is unknown regarding ESPN’s plans for Monday Night Football. It was reported that Manning could receive an offer in the neighborhood of $20 million per year, but no concrete figures were ever released. Manning and his agent Sandy Montag declined to comment on the negotiations.
And what about the fate of the current broadcast booth? ESPN has not commented on what will happen with Joe Tessitore and Booger McFarland.
Andrew Marchand of The New York Post speculates that ESPN may wait until 2021 to assemble a Monday Night Football dream team. It is possible by then that future Hall of Fame QBs Phillip Rivers and Drew Brees would have retired. Major play-by-play names like Ian Eagle and Kevin Burkhardt could also be on the market at that time.
