Dan Patrick doesn’t want Pat McAfee replacing Troy Aikman on Monday Night Football. Instead, he believes ESPN should consider Peyton and Eli Manning.
What We Know: Aikman’s five-year, $90 million ESPN deal expires after February’s Super Bowl. Meanwhile, partner Joe Buck already signed a six-year extension worth roughly $108 million. Moreover, reports state that Aikman and ESPN remain far apart in any negotiations. Additionally, Aikman recently put his odds of returning to TV at 50-50. Dan Patrick weighed in on who he thinks would be a good fit in the booth alongside Joe Buck on Monday Night Football.
What They Said: (all quotes via The Dan Patrick Show):
Dan Patrick says ESPN should consider Peyton and Eli Manning to replace Troy Aikman on Monday Night Football: “You [Peyton Manning] want to be part of Omaha Productions. If I’m ESPN, I might have my replacement for Troy Aikman right there, and that’s what my source said. He said, “Don’t count out do they put Peyton in the booth?” And I said, “Do you put Peyton and Eli in the booth?” I keep thinking you’re either going after Travis Kelce to pair him with his brother [Jason Kelce], or why not go after Peyton and Eli [Manning] and put them in the booth?”
Dan Patrick says he would not choose Pat McAfee to replace Troy Aikman on Monday Night Football: “I don’t want [Pat] McAfee in the booth on Monday night. I think he’s too big of a personality from the standpoint of you know kind of a fire starter. I want somebody who’s going to draw attention there, but I think Peyton [Manning] and Eli [Manning] would keep it to football. Pat might make it about other things, and I think that that’s where there would be some trepidation there. I think McAfee has said he has no interest in doing Monday Night Football. But who knows with ESPN.”
What Remains Unclear: Still, a Manning move faces real hurdles. Peyton’s Omaha Productions holds a nine-year ESPN deal through 2034, covering the ManningCast. Whether or not that agreement could be amended for one or both Manning brothers in the booth is unknown.
What It Means: Ultimately, Patrick adds a loud voice to a crowded debate. The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand reports Peyton is ESPN’s top choice, though not the favorite. At the same time, Greg Olsen remains a leading candidate. As for McAfee, he has already said he has no interest in the analyst chair.
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