The hectic market for NFL free television agency continues to move as Fox Sports has signed All-Pro tight end Greg Olsen to be its future No. 2 analyst for NFL games, The Post has reported.
The contract will make Olsen partner for Kevin Burkhardt after Olsen retires from the NFL. Olsen, 35, was leaving the game for Fox after last season, but a $ 7 million contract and the opportunity to play with Russell Wilson made him change his mind to go to Seattle.
Even after Olsen signed his deal with the Seahawks, Fox Sports executives continued to rush towards him for this season, but they will have to settle for him after he plays his last game.
If Olsen decided to continue playing after this year, Fox would expect it, according to sources.
The move to think ahead is similar to what NBC has done with Drew Brees. The Post previously reported that Brees has an agreement with the network after his retirement from the Saints to call the Notre Dame games and work on NBC’s Sunday night NFL study program with the possibility of one day. succeed Cris Collinsworth at the booth.
In other big moves this offseason, Tony Romo re-signed with CBS for 10 years and $ 180 million in total value, while former Fox No. 2 Charles Davis jumped on CBS to team up with Ian Eagle on the second game of that network of each week. Davis replaced Dan Fouts, whom CBS decided not to re-sign.
For this year, the gap year between Davis’ departure and Olsen’s possible start, Fox has tapped Daryl (Moose) Johnston, a former No. 2 from the network, to be Burkhardt’s partner in his second game. Fox has an extra playoff game this year. Johnston has been informed that Olsen is in the cover circle.
Johnston has been online since 2001. Last year, he worked with Chris Myers. Among others, Fox considered moving Brock Huard from the university game to number 2, according to sources.
While Fox and NBC have made plans for the future, ESPN remains unsolved what it will do this year for its Monday Night booth as it waits to see whether or not college football is played.
If there is no college football this fall, then the network would likely switch its duo from Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit to the NFL for this year.
If there are college games, then Herbstreit could be the analyst for the best ESPN college game on Saturdays and the NFL on Mondays. This is not a done deal and ESPN is considering Louis Riddick, Brian Griese, and Dan Orlovsky as well.
Steve Levy is the main candidate to be the player by game in “Monday Night Football” if Fowler is occupied with the university game.
All streaming moves have been made this year as the networks intensify for upcoming negotiations with the NFL for upcoming television rights. ESPN / Disney / ABC had their eyes on Romo to help gain traction for a Super Bowl race. He also tried to sign Brees before opting for NBC.
Olsen is now off the board. It was awesome last year making a Giants game. He also did his homework while working with Burkhardt on the XFL.
It will start behind Troy Aikman on the Fox depth chart. Aikman is currently the game’s lead analyst on Sunday and Thursday nights.
Olsen makes Fox more contemporary, which is important to NFL executives. It has shown that it has the potential to be very good.
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