Manning met with Pitaro and Schell in Denver last week to discuss the "MNF" jobGETTY IMAGES
Peyton Manning continues to be ESPN's "first choice to replace Jason Witten" in the "MNF" booth as an analyst, but the chance of that happening "remains a Hail Mary," according to Andrew Marchand of the N.Y. POST. ESPN President Jimmy Pitaro and Exec VP/Content Connor Schell "did hold a meeting with Manning in Denver last week," and Manning has "yet to turn down the opportunity." But there is "no evidence yet that Manning will say yes to ESPN." In order to take the job, Manning would "likely need everything to line up right, which it doesn't appear to with MNF." Sources said that Manning is "just figuring out if he wants to go into broadcasting." Sources added that Manning has "developed a relationship with Pitaro" through his ESPN+ show, "Detail." There have also been "talks about other projects with ESPN for Manning" (N.Y. POST, 3/21). THE RINGER's Bryan Curtis wrote Manning is "valuable to ESPN" because he is "one of the more interesting stories in TV right now." ESPN is "exhuming ABC Sports," which is "slowly coming back." There is "chatter that Disney wants to put NFL games on ABC when the rights come up for bidding -- a package that Manning could be a part of." Curtis: "If you're going to rebuild a network sports division, you need stars -- 'faces' of the networks. Manning is a star" (THERINGER.com, 3/20).
