Comedian Frank Caliendo on Thursday tweeted that he would no longer appear on "Fox NFL Sunday" telecasts. Caliendo wrote, "To all my fans who've ben asking-I wont be back atFOX this season.I love those guys,but its time 4 my next venture" (TWITTER.com, 8/2). Caliendo on his Facebook page wrote, "I will not be coming back this season. It was great to be part of the team with Terry and the guys for the last 9 years, but it's time to move on. I have a couple of upcoming ventures that look like they may be pretty cool." PRO FOOTBALL TALK's Mike Florio noted it is "unknown whether FOX will try to replace him" (PROFOOTBALLTALK.com, 8/2). Adweek's Anthony Crupi tweeted, "Frank Caliendo bounced from the NFL on Fox, which means we'll never again have to endure that irrelevant-since-2009 Madden impersonation."
CIRCUS SIDESHOW: In N.Y., Bob Raissman writes the "innocent act" of Jets QB Tim Tebow going shirtless "was turned into one of the more burning issues of our time on sports talk radio." N.Y.-based ESPN 98.7 was "so addicted" to the issue that the station "held a Jets marathon weekend, with two straight days hopelessly devoted to Gang Green." With the "saturation coverage they are receiving, who needs 'Hard Knocks?'" The Jets are "their own reality show in the country’s biggest media market" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 8/3). Meanwhile, Giants QB Eli Manning said of ESPN being at Jets training camp, “Every time you turn on TV, it’s the Jets. ‘SportsCenter’ just camped out at the Jets complex. I think they’re moving everything from Bristol right there to their complex over there" (“The Michael Kay Show,” ESPN Radio N.Y. 1050, 8/2).
JOCKS IN THE BOOTH: In Denver, Lindsay Jones noted former NFLer Ed McCaffrey "will join Dave Logan to call Broncos games on KOA-850 AM radio this season," providing color analysis. McCaffrey replaces former NFLer Brian Griese, who "handled the color commentary for the past two seasons." Griese, meanwhile, is "taking an expanded role in ESPN's college football coverage" (DENVERPOST.com, 7/31)....The BOSTON GLOBE cited a source as saying that former NFLer Scott Zolak will "become the color analyst on Patriots game broadcasts on 98.5 The Sports Hub this season alongside play-by-play announcer Gil Santos, filling the role previously held by Gino Cappelletti" (BOSTON GLOBE, 8/1)....Former NFLer Hines Ward was hired by Pittsburgh-based WPXI-TV "and will host a show this fall" (TRIBLIVE.com, 8/2).
CAPITAL VENTURE: The Redskins and WRC-NBC have agreed to a new two-year deal that will result in more Redskins-themed content on the station's platforms. WRC will continue as the team's flagship station, airing preseason games and five weekly shows on the station's broadcast channel and its NBC Washington Nonstop digital channel (NBCUniversal).
