Earlier this year, Jon Gruden left his $6.5-million-per-year job as an analyst on “Monday Night Football” for a job coaching the Oakland Raiders and a $10 million annual salary.
ESPN is reportedly so eager for Peyton Manning to replace Gruden that the network is willing to offer the two-time Super Bowl winner the same amount of cash the Raiders are paying him. But they’ll have competition, as Fox Sports also plans to offer Manning $10 million to come out of retirement and into the booth for “Thursday Night Football.”
Both networks are apparently sold that Manning will create the same kind of positive buzz that ex-quarterback Tony Romo generated when he joined the top NFL broadcast team for CBS last year.
“Peyton Manning is Tony Romo with a Super Bowl ring,” a source told The Sporting News. “This is a battle for the Midwest. He’s super-popular in the Midwest. He’s got this ‘Aw Shucks,’ thing down pat. The Mannings are the first family of football.”
Despite the lucrative salary, there’s no guarantee Manning will sign with either network as he’s also said to be interested in running a pro team, similar to the way ex-NFLer John Elway is currently in charge of the Broncos.
Manning, 41, may not make a decision anytime soon because, due to the economics of supply and demand, he can afford to wait.
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