Never in my wildest dreams did I think we'd ever need a thread to track off-season announcer movement, but thanks to Amazon picking up the rights to Thursday night games and trying to make a splash, here we are.

Sounds like Troy Aikman is close to leaving Fox for Monday Night Football. Surely they're not gonna pony up $18+ million a year just to pair him with Steve Levy, right? Does ESPN make a run at Joe Buck?

Sean McVay was rumored to be close to a $20 million/year offer from Amazon before he supposedly re-committed to coaching the Rams. With these dollar amounts being tossed around, sounds like things could get crazy this off-season.

My question is….why? Do people really tune in to watch a game because of who's announcing or because of the teams playing?

Will be nice to have something to keep us busy until the Combine and Draft this off-season, I suppose.

Is TexAgs' favorite broadcaster gonna be the one who finally says yes to all that Amazon money? This dude at the NY Post seems to think so:

Quote:

---

In its search for its "Thursday Night Football" analyst, Amazon has looked for big names, trying to lure Troy Aikman, Sean McVay and John Lynch into the booth when it begins its exclusive coverage this fall.

It failed to land any of them.

…

Now, The Post has learned, Amazon is eyeing the biggest analyst in college football, ESPN's Kirk Herbstreit, for its lead NFL Thursday night game analyst spot.

---

https://nypost.com/2022/02/27/amazon-eyeing-espns-kirk-herbstreit-as-its-top-nfl-analyst/

Would be one of the greatest double-dips of all time if he could keep his ESPN gig and supplement it with $15-$20 million a year from Amazon on the side. He might be crying tears of joy this time.

Herbstriet already seems stretched too thin. His CFB analysis has become much more surface level as he'a gotten older and busier. It's one of the many reasons GameDay has fallen off IMO

Most of the time I have the announcers muted.

I'm guessing ESPN pairs up Aikman with Al Michaels.

Quote:

---

My question is….why? Do people really tune in to watch a game because of who's announcing or because of the teams playing?

---

I'd watch a ManningCast, regardless of who's playing.......otherwise, I base my viewing on who's playing, with little care of who's announcing.

MSFC Aggie said:

---

Quote:

---

My question is….why? Do people really tune in to watch a game because of who's announcing or because of the teams playing?

---

I'd watch a ManningCast, regardless of who's playing.......otherwise, I base my viewing on who's playing, with little care of who's announcing.

---

You bring up a really good point: If ESPN is about to shell out all that money to bring Troy Aikman over to MNF, are they still going to also pay the Mannings to lure viewers away from their primary broadcast?

NEWS: Joe Buck is expected to leave Fox Sports to join ESPN as the new voice of Monday Night Football, The Post has learned. https://t.co/M6Rkr6xyRg

— Andrew Marchand (@AndrewMarchand) March 11, 2022

Amazon is expected to finalize a deal with ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit to be the main analyst for Thursday Night Football, per @peter_king. Amazon had interest in Troy Aikman but he went to MNF. They land on Herbstreit, who will likely continue his ESPN/ABC duties as well.

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) March 7, 2022

Your new Amazon Thursday Night Football booth: pic.twitter.com/VsnunUtr0x

— Front Office Sports (@FOS) March 21, 2022

So is Al Michaels moving exclusively to Amazon, or will he keep his SNF gig too? Seems weird that Troy Aikman said having to work both Thursdays and Sundays was a big reason he was looking to leave FOX, but now 77 year-old Al Michaels is signing up to pull double duty? I can't imagine the dude needs the money bad enough to put himself through that.

Mostly Amazon. Tirico & Collinsworth will do SNF.

Quote:

---

Michaels will still do a game or two for NBC, including its extra NFL playoff game, according to sources.

---

NBC: Mike Tirico & Cris Collinsworth
CBS: Jim Nantz & Tony Romo
ESPN: Joe Buck & Troy Aikman
Amazon: Al Michaels & Kirk Herbstreit

FOX reportedly leaning towards promoting Kevin Burkhardt & Greg Olsen

Ah, that makes sense. And I don't think FOX has any other choice at this point but to promote from within, unless they want to grossly overpay someone else's B-team.

. . . said:

---

Mostly Amazon. Tirico & Collinsworth will do SNF.

Quote:

---

Michaels will still do a game or two for NBC, including its extra NFL playoff game, according to sources.

---

NBC: Mike Tirico & Cris Collinsworth
CBS: Jim Nantz & Tony Romo
ESPN: Joe Buck & Troy Aikman
Amazon: Al Michaels & Kirk Herbstreit

FOX reportedly leaning towards promoting Kevin Burkhardt & Greg Olsen

---

Hmmm imagine that! Not one diversity hire on the announcer panels.

Shoefly! said:

---

. . . said:

---

Mostly Amazon. Tirico & Collinsworth will do SNF.

Quote:

---

Michaels will still do a game or two for NBC, including its extra NFL playoff game, according to sources.

---

NBC: Mike Tirico & Cris Collinsworth
CBS: Jim Nantz & Tony Romo
ESPN: Joe Buck & Troy Aikman
Amazon: Al Michaels & Kirk Herbstreit

FOX reportedly leaning towards promoting Kevin Burkhardt & Greg Olsen

---

Hmmm imagine that! Not one diversity hire on the announcer panels.

---

color me purple Oprah, but Mike Tirico just may be black

Tom Brady joining Fox Sports as lead NFL analyst after he retires! Lachlan Murdoch breaks news on Fox earnings call.

— Joe Flint (@JBFlint) May 10, 2022

Over the course of this long-term agreement, Tom will not only call our biggest NFL games with Kevin Burkhardt, but will also serve as an ambassador for us, particularly with respect to client and promotional initiatives.

— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) May 10, 2022

So 5 years from now? Good to lock him up early

Drew Brees leaving NBC after one year

Does he get to keep the hair?