ESPN’s Sunday Night Countdown could have a very different look next season, depending on the contractual situations of several .
In his Sports Clicker newsletter (subscribe here), the New York Post’s Andrew Marchand reports that Randy Moss, Matt Hasselbeck, and Samantha Ponder are nearing the end of their contracts.
This could provide opportunities for the names that are reportedly being pursued for analyst positions during the postseason. Those rumblings figure to gain heat now that the 2021 NFL season is officially finished.
Sean Payton might be better suited for a studio analyst role if he intends to return to coaching after a year off. And though Sean McVay told NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport that he’ll return to the Los Angeles Rams for the 2022 season (his contract runs through 2023), Marchand reports that ESPN definitely wants him as an analyst if he decides to leave coaching after winning Super Bowl LVI. (Pete Carroll was the third name mentioned by ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler in a report last month.)
Both Alex Smith and Robert Griffin III earned praise from critics and fans for their work this past season, and could be up for spots on Sunday NFL Countdown.
Marchand reports that Booger McFarland and Brian Griese also have expiring contracts, which could affect additional shows including NFL Primetime and Monday Night Football, along with ESPN/ABC’s college football coverage.
ESPN could also move some talent from NFL Live, which was revitalized with its new regular crew of Laura Rutledge, Marcus Spearks, Dan Orlovsky, and Mina Kimes. But as Marchand points out, that carries considerable risk. If, for example, the network moved Rutledge to replace Ponder on Sunday, that would diminish a successful daily program which has more appeal with viewers.
One name that could add some sizzle to Sunday NFL Countdown is Ryan Clark, whose profile continues to rise at ESPN and warrants a larger role. In a December interview with The Athletic’s Richard Deitsch, Clark said he wants to be on a Sunday studio show, which he considers the highest-profile job in his profession.
Clark signed an extension with ESPN a year ago and surely doesn’t want to see a popular personality who appears across network programming (Get Up, SportsCenter, First Take, in addition to NFL Live) go elsewhere. Now, the opportunity appears to be available to give him the Sunday studio role he covets.
Ian Casselberry is a sports media columnist for BSM. He has previously written and edited for Awful Announcing, The Comeback, Sports Illustrated, Yahoo Sports, MLive, Bleacher Report, and SB Nation. You can find him on Twitter @iancass or reach him by email at iancass@gmail.com.
