Brees is expected to start as a game analyst for Notre Dame football upon his retirementGETTY IMAGES
Saints QB Drew Brees is "signing with NBC Sports over ESPN," where he will be "groomed as the potential replacement for Cris Collinsworth on 'Sunday Night Football'" once he retires as a player, according to sources cited by Andrew Marchand of the N.Y. POST. NBC "already has a succession plan for Collinsworth's SNF partner, Al Michaels." After Super Bowl LVI in '22, Mike Tirico is "going to take over full-time for Michaels." When Brees retires from the Saints, he is "expected to start as a game analyst on Notre Dame football and as a studio analyst for 'Football Night in America.'" NBC in its recruitment of Brees "sold him on it being the best place to succeed." The move by NBC has been "made in part to solidify its announcing group as all the networks head into negotiations with the NFL for the next TV rights agreement." ESPN was "thought to be the highest bidder for Brees" in the $6M range, and NBC's offer is "said to be competitive with it" (N.Y. POST, 4/11).
COLLINSWORTH NOT GOING ANYWHERE: NBCSPORTS.com's Peter King reports while it is "possible" Brees is being hired as Collinsworth's heir apparent, the "SNF" analyst job is Collinsworth’s for "as long as he wants it." He "loves his job as much as any person alive, and I doubt he’d want to do anything other than announce football games for a long time." The only way Brees could take that role sooner than later is if Collinsworth "decides to leave the NBC booth, which no one expects." King: "I know how beloved Collinsworth is inside NBC. This deal with Brees was not done to push out Collinsworth" (NBCSPORTS.com, 4/13).
FLUTIE'S ROLE UNCLEAR: In South Bend, Carter Karels wrote it is "unclear" whether Brees' hiring will "change or lead to the termination of the roles of NBC's other on-air talent, such as analyst Doug Flutie." Some Notre Dame fans have "expressed contempt toward Flutie's job as color commentator." Flutie "assumed the role" in '14 and has been joined by Tirico since the '17 season. Chris Simms also "joined the broadcast in a supplemental role last season." Meanwhile, NBC last month "announced the hiring of another on-air talent" in Jac Collinsworth. The '17 Notre Dame graduate is "expected to be involved with Irish football." Former Notre Dame WR Corey Robinson also may "contribute after NBC hired him as a reporter and digital correspondent in January" (SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE, 4/11).
CHARLES IN CHARGE: The POST's Marchand cited sources as saying that analyst Charles Davis is "moving from Fox to CBS to team with Ian Eagle on the network's second team." The move comes after it was reported that CBS "had moved on from Dan Fouts." CBS, which has the Super Bowl next year, has "added an extra playoff game in the expanded format that Eagle and Davis will broadcast." Down the road, Davis "could join CBS' golf coverage, but that is not set" (N.Y. POST, 4/11). In San Diego, Jay Posner noted Fouts "joined CBS for the second time" in '08. He "began his broadcasting career with the network" in '88 and "spent six years there before leaving to become a local sportscaster" in S.F. Fouts then worked at ABC from '97-07, when his "contract was not renewed" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 4/11).
FOX STILL EYEING OLSEN? In Miami, Barry Jackson reported Fox "pursued" Seahawks TE Greg Olsen this past offseason, but Olsen "opted to continue playing." Davis' move "leaves Fox scrambling to find a No. 2 game analyst," but that role is "likely to go to Olsen when he retires" (MIAMI HERALD, 4/11).
