In N.Y., Andrew Marchand notes Keith Hernandez is finalizing a new three-year, approximately $2.4M contract to "continue as an analyst on SNY's Mets games." Hernandez "chose to do a three-year contract" after he just completed a four-year deal. The fact that he chose to do a shorter agreement this time around is "not an indication that Hernandez is thinking this will be his last contract." Hernandez calls 110 games during the season (N.Y. POST, 1/16).
LOOKING AT ALL OPTIONS: ESPN's Adam Schefter reported last week that a non-ESPN network had reached out to Saints QB Drew Brees about a possible position, and the POST's Marchand notes the "bottom line is that if Brees decided to retire, then all the networks, including ESPN, would have interest in him." CBS' Tony Romo is "likely where the first course of business in the NFL TV offseason will begin." Meanwhile, if Brees were to retire, he "could be a Plan B for ESPN or CBS" (N.Y. POST, 1/16).
BAD CHOICE: In Winnipeg, Paul Friesen notes NHL Jets TV analyst Kevin Sawyer had some "tone-deaf comments" during a recent broadcast on TSN. During Jets-Wild on Jan. 4, Sawyer "described, with some glee, what sounded like a junior hockey hazing incident." Sawyer and TSN "declined repeated requests for comment, both last week and again on Monday." There was no apology or "explanation of any kind" (WINNIPEG SUN, 1/16).
LOOKING BACK: MLB Network's Bob Costas discussed his time and exit from NBC, saying after Comcast acquired NBCUniversal in '11, they "immediately" wanted to "sign me to a long-term deal." Costas: "I say, 'Okay, I'll do this. And I'll do three more Olympics. ... I'll do 'Sunday Night Football' though the 2016 season. Then I'll step aside. That was planned." He added, "What I really regret about it ... is the misimpression that some people have that I was angry at NBC or that I was bitter over anything" ("Dan Le Batard Show," ESPN Radio, 1/15).
BECOMING A TREND: THE ESPORTS OBSERVER's Kevin Hitt noted video game event host Malik Forte's departure from the Overwatch League "marks the fifth high-profile member of the on-air talent team to step away from OWL." Forte joins Auguste Massonnat, Christopher Mykles, Erik Lonnquist and Chris Puckett, who have "all departed from the league in the last three weeks" (ESPORTSOBSERVER.com, 1/15).
