CBS, ESPN, Fox and NBC all "want a chance to convince" Broncos QB Peyton Manning to "work as a studio or game analyst," according to sources cited by John Ourand in this week's SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL. CBS Sports Chair Sean McManus said, "If and when Peyton decides he wants to pursue a career in broadcasting, we will contact him. We’ll certainly have a conversation" (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 2/15 issue). In N.Y., Bob Raissman wrote, "The only way a network suit gets a bang for the bucks Manning will command is to make him a featured game analyst on a No. 1 team." Manning would likely "become a third man in the booth, unless some executive wants to totally stir the pot and demote the current No. 1 analyst in favor of Manning" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 2/14). Manning has been the center of controversy surrounding an alleged sexual assault from '96 that resurfaced this past weekend (THE DAILY).
SOLID PICKUP: THEBIGLEAD.com's Jason McIntyre sited sources as saying that recently retired NFLer Charles Woodson "is joining" ESPN's "Sunday NFL Countdown" next season. Sources said that ESPN "is expected to make an announcement later this month" (THEBIGLEAD.com, 2/12). In Tampa, Tom Jones writes Woodson "seems like a sharp guy, and as long as he can cut his player ties, it should be a good hire." It is "worth the gamble." He "joins a panel with Tom Jackson, Mike Ditka and Cris Carter," who are HOFers, but "haven't played football in forever." It is "important to get at least one player who has just played the game" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 2/15).
RUN IT BACK? In Charlotte, Scott Fowler wrote he does not expect the Panthers to play the Broncos in the Thursday night opener of the '16 season. The opener "traditionally gets a huge TV number no matter who the opponent is, so using the Panthers chip right there doesn’t make much sense for schedule-makers." Fowler: "I bet the Panthers and Denver will ultimately play a Sunday night game at Mile High Stadium later in the season" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 2/13). But SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL's Lefton, Ourand & Kaplan write a Super Bowl rematch "should be a no-brainer to kick off" the season on NBC. The NFL also is "considering staging an AFC championship rematch between the Patriots and Broncos to open the season." Sources said that the Super Bowl rematch is "more likely, as CBS likely will fight harder to keep the marquee Patriots-Broncos game than Fox will for a Panthers-Broncos rematch that does not have Manning," should he retire. Since '12, the league has "put the highly rated Patriots-Broncos game on 'Sunday Night Football' every other year," with NBC carrying it last year (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 2/15 issue).
