The Rothman (l) decision was made prior to the season, and his new role has not yet been announcedESPN IMAGES
Longtime ESPN VP/Production & "MNF" Producer Jay Rothman "will not return" in his current role next year, according to sources cited by Andrew Marchand of the N.Y. POST. The decision to "move on from Rothman was made prior to the season." ESPN gave Rothman a "new contract at the time," but his next role has "yet to be announced." A new producer "generally likes to have his or her own people in place." Sources said that ESPN higher-ups "hold CBS' lead NFL game producer Jim Rikhoff in high regard." Rikhoff, though, is "under contract with CBS, so that idea is apparently dead." Traditionally, ESPN "looks to promote from within and may turn to its college football crew for its next 'MNF' producer." Meanwhile, if Booger McFarland were taken out of the "MNF" booth, he would be "expected to still have a big role with the network." The money ESPN might offer CBS' Tony Romo to replace McFarland "could get crazy," with six years and $10M-plus per year "seemingly possible." However, CBS "remains the favorite to retain Romo," who is making a little more than $3M this year in the "final season of what is essentially his rookie broadcast deal" (N.Y. POST, 1/8).
TIME FOR SOMETHING NEW? In Chicago, Phil Rosenthal writes it would "bother few if this were the end" of the Joe Tessitore-McFarland era on "MNF." In Tessitore and McFarland's first season on "MNF," current Cowboys TE Jason Witten was "so badly miscast as an analyst with them that it took heat off every other aspect of the show." But "clearly, problems remained in Season 2." ESPN has a "veritable army of football play-by-play announcers from which to choose." Rosenthal: "Why not go with someone who dials up (or down) the enthusiasm as events warrant to better convey what's actually going on?" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 1/8).
