By Andrew Marchand
February 22, 2021 | 11:50am | Updated
Rich Gannon is out at CBS after 16 seasons as an NFL TV game analyst, The Post has learned.
Gannon, the former MVP quarterback, will not have his contract renewed in the first move of NFL TV free agency. When contacted by The Post, a CBS spokeswoman confirmed the news.
CBS has not set Gannon’s replacement just yet. The two internal candidates figure to be Adam Archuleta and James Lofton.
Before last season, CBS started to tip its hand on the 55-year-old Gannon when it split him from his longtime partner, Kevin Harlan. While CBS doesn’t officially designate its depth chart, Harlan and Trent Green did the third best game most weeks, while Greg Gumbel and Gannon received the fourth most-watched matchup.
This NFL TV hot stove may not be as flashy compared to last season when CBS locked up Tony Romo in a 10-year, $180 million contract. NBC signed Drew Brees for after he retires as studio and potentially a “Sunday Night Football” game analyst. CBS recruited Charles Davis from Fox to replace Dan Fouts on their second team. Fox anointed Greg Olsen its No. 2 game analyst with Kevin Burkhardt.
Burkhardt and CBS’ Ian Eagle were kept off the market with new deals, which will likely result in less movement.
At the moment, ESPN is sticking with its “Monday Night Football” crew of Steve Levy, Louis Riddick and Brian Griese, while the biggest fish potentially on the market is Jim Nantz. CBS is working toward re-signing Nantz, who has been looking for a deal similar to Romo’s. [Reply]
Originally Posted by KCChiefsFan88:
Nantz is reportedly trying to get Romo-type money from CBS.
If I was CBS, I’d laugh at Nantz’s demands and replace him with Harlan on their #1 announcing team.
Harlan/Romo would be an upgrade.
Same with Harlan/Grant Hill/Bill Raftery for their #1 college basketball announcing team.
And I am sure they can find another stiff to say “Hello friends, a tradition unlike any other” to effectively replace Nantz on their Master’s/golf coverage.
This is my #1 choice as well. Harlan is amazing! [Reply]