ESPN's Chris Berman will not return as the host of "Sunday NFL Countdown," "Monday Night Countdown" and the net's NFL Draft coverage after the '16 NFL season, "coinciding with the end of his current contract," according to Richard Deitsch of SI.com. Sources said that the possibility exists for Berman to "have some sort of broadcasting emeritus role" in '17-18, which "could include working on the network’s NFL postseason or Super Bowl coverage." Berman joined ESPN one month "after the company's inception" in '79, and the '15 season "was his 31st consecutive as studio host" of "Sunday NFL Countdown." Berman "has anchored" ESPN’s NFL Draft telecast since '87 and has taken part in the net's coverage of the event since ’81 (SI.com, 5/26). In N.Y., Bob Raissman notes ESPN's "Countdown" shows are "undergoing a makeover." Keyshawn Johnson "left at the end of last season," while analysts Mike Ditka, Ray Lewis and Cris Carter "were dropped" this offseason. Berman and longtime studio analyst Tom Jackson "are the only incumbents returning" to "Sunday NFL Countdown." ESPN also is "adding Randy Moss and Charles Woodson to the cast" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 5/27).
DON'T COUNT ME OUT: The N.Y. Times' Richard Sandomir reported Berman's agent denied The Big Lead's report that the former "SportsCenter" host is retiring. His agent said, "Chris is NOT retiring. Loves what he's doing too much and is too young to hang 'em up. ... Perhaps people with an agenda put it out there'" (TWITTER.com, 5/26). THE BIG LEAD's Jason McIntyre in the original report noted ESPN "has lavish plans for a send-off that one source said might be akin to the way the Lakers sent Kobe Bryant into retirement." The net is "currently preparing 'summer camp' for its NFL TV team -- which will feature new faces" like Moss, Woodson and Matt Hasselbeck -- and "plans are being hatched for Berman’s send-off" (THEBIGLEAD.com, 5/26).
LARGE LEGACY: In DC, Des Bieler notes there is "little doubting the impact Berman has had on ESPN, helping set the template for its irreverent 'SportsCenter' hosts, and on the greater world of sports television." Berman in '89 "became the first cable-based anchor to win the the National Sportscaster of the Year award, and he went on to be so honored five more times." He was "inducted into the Cable Hall of Fame" last year (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 5/27). In Atlanta, B.J. Bethel wrote Berman's "player nicknames, catchphrases and trademark highlight calls made him a household name and the face of the network in its early days in the 1980s" (AJC.com, 5/26). Fox Sports Radio's Jason Smith wrote, "Say what you want, but ESPN isn't close to what is is now without Chris Berman being a breakout star. Not. Even. Close." Sporting News' Michael McCarthy: "'NFL Primetime' w/ Berman and Tom Jackson still my favorite NFL highlights show all time." NFL Network's Rich Eisen: "Have no idea if Chris Berman news is true. If so, all-time great is leaving stage he helped create. If not, all-time great continuing" (TWITTER.com, 5/26).
