Sanchez gives ABC and ESPN another big name to tout on the networks' Saturday college football sceneGETTY IMAGES
Mark Sanchez is retiring from the NFL and "heading to ABC/ESPN to be a college football analyst," according to Andrew Marchand of the N.Y. POST. Sanchez' "main job will be in ABC's lead college football studio," where he joins Kevin Negandhi and Jonathan Vilma. Sanchez is "replacing Mack Brown," who left to become North Carolina's football coach. The Sanchez move "adds another big name to the Saturday college football scene" (N.Y. POST, 7/23). YAHOO SPORTS' Frank Schwab writes this is a "role that fits Sanchez well." He is "personable and will be an asset" on ABC's coverage. Schwab: "He should have a long, great career as an analyst" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 7/23). NFL Network’s Peter Schrager noted several former Jets players or coaches -- like Sanchez, Bart Scott, Greg McIlroy and Rex Ryan -- are now in broadcasting. Schrager: "Just shows you the advantage of winning in New York. All those Jets became household names because they won some games and they didn’t win a Super Bowl” (“Good Morning Football,” NFL Network, 7/23).
PATS GOING PLACES: In Massachusetts, Nick O'Malley notes former Patriots LB Rob Ninkovich is joining ESPN as an NFL analyst, where he will "contribute on programs such as 'NFL Live,' 'SportsCenter,' and ESPN Radio." Ninkovich is "set to make his first appearance as part of ESPN's coverage of Patriots training camp on Saturday." Ninkovich is one of a "number of former Patriots to make the jump to the TV side," joining the likes of Willie McGinest, Rodney Harrison, Tedy Bruschi, Randy Moss and Damien Woody. That is "not even counting New England-based analysts" like Troy Brown, Ty Law and Matt Chatham (Springfield REPUBLICAN, 7/23).
