USA TODAY's A.J. Perez reports ESPN's Steve Young has been "mentioned among the potential replacements" for Jon Gruden in the "MNF" booth, but Young "apparently has little interest in the gig." Young said that he "could not manage the heavy travel and time commitment." Young: "If they cut it down to a Monday afternoon arrival and a Tuesday morning departure, I could do it." Perez notes Young currently has a "less time-demanding role" with the net's "Monday Night Countdown" (USA TODAY, 1/12). Meanwhile, ESPN on Friday announced Matt Hasselbeck will be the analyst alongside play-by-play announcer Sean McDonough for the Pro Bowl on Jan. 28 (ESPN). SI.com's Richard Deitsch tweeted this is "absolutely" a "tryout for Monday Night Football for Hasselbeck" (TWITTER.com, 1/12).
CALLED IT: CBS Sports Chair Sean McManus said of his decision to hire Tony Romo as an NFL analyst, "I knew Tony was going to be good, I didn't know he was going to develop quite as fast as he has. ... I didn't think the chemistry with Jim [Nantz] would be quite as instantaneous as it's been. ... It's an easy listen and they are not trying to one-up each other. ... I hope this is a generational move for CBS Sports" (N.Y. POST, 1/12).
MAKING THE TRANSITION: THE ATHLETIC's Thomas Lawrence writes Fox NFL rules analyst Mike Pereira's "career evolution from official to member of the media to voice of the fans has not always been smooth or organic." Pereira "believes he's becoming the educated sounding board of fans as much as anything." Pereira said of his social media presence, "It does make me uncomfortable. On the other hand, I feel like I'm transitioning to some degree away from being an official or in charge of officiating" (THEATHLETIC.com, 1/11).
DOUBLE TAKE: In Orlando, Hal Boedeker wrote NBC will use Super Bowl LII to "bolster 'This Is Us' in several ways." An "original episode" of the drama will air right after the game. Then the show's cast will "appear on a special 'Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon'" from the Orpheum Theater in Minneapolis (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 1/10).
