Witten's first and only year alongside Joe Tessitore and Booger McFarland was not well receivedESPN IMAGES
Following Jason Witten's decision to leave the "MNF" booth and return to the Cowboys, media columnists across the country are offering their thoughts on how ESPN should proceed with its Monday night crew moving forward, and also taking a final look back at Witten's time on air. In N.Y., Bob Raissman wrote instead of "chasing the next great 'star,' or going outside the box," ESPN should "stay in-house, scan its roster of voices, and go with 'home grown' mouths." It is "time for ESPN to go gimmick free" and make “MNF” be "all about football and nothing but football." Raissman suggests a completely new booth of Steve Levy and Brian Griese. Levy has a "dry sense of humor and a big game voice." Griese "brings original insight to the mike," and his contacts around the NFL "run deep." If ESPN's search for its next "MNF" analyst is "all about the hunt to find the next Tony Romo, don’t hold your breath" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 3/3).
WHO COULD IT BE? NBCSPORTS.com's Peter King writes ESPN is likely to "throw sick money" at Peyton Manning in an effort to lure him to the "MNF" booth. If he is not interested, then "maybe Matt Hasselbeck" could be an option. The net's Louis Riddick "really wants the job and would be good at it." When asked about the position, he said, "I would crush that role. I would love it. Love every second of it" (NBCSPORTS.com, 3/4). In Chicago, Phil Rosenthal's top choice is also Riddick, who has "shown a keen knack for NFL analysis." He "probably should have gotten" the "MNF" role last year (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 3/3).
GREAT ESCAPE: SPORTING NEWS' Michael McCarthy wrote the "smartest decision" Witten made during his "brief TV career was ending it." It would have been "difficult, if not impossible, for Witten to escape his harshest critics on social media" (SPORTINGNEWS.com, 3/2). NBCSPORTS.com's King speculates that Witten "figured at some point that the gig just wasn’t for him" (NBCSPORTS.com, 3/4). In Dallas, Tim Cowlishaw wrote, "I don't blame Witten for coming back since he seemed nearly as out of place in the 'MNF' booth as Dennis Miller" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 3/2). In Jacksonville, Gene Frenette wrote Witten’s struggles in the booth "certainly played a part in him returning" to the Cowboys. Nobody leaves a "coveted TV gig after one season, unless ESPN is nudging him, to play football for maybe one more year" (FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, 3/2).
THE TAKEAWAY: NBCSPORTS.com's King wrote for retired athletes transitioning to TV, there is "nothing wrong with working for a local or regional sports network for a couple of years and honing your craft." It provides opportunity to be "seen" and "scouted." King: "Not many players walk off the field and ascend to the top spot in TV and shine immediately, the way Tony Romo did" (NBCSPORTS.com, 3/4).
