Chris Berman's contract with ESPN expires in a few months and he may be allowed to depart the network for the NFL Network or Directv, according to various NFL insiders.
Berman, whose tenure with the behemoth sports broadcast system began in 1979 has other potential employers throwing opportunities his way and no firm extension with ESPN says Sportsbybrooks.com and thebiglead.com.
Leaving the Worldwide Leader,("WWL") so to speak, limits his scope to one sport, and it looks like it might just be football - and we all know Berman is about size and scope.
His voice, his delivery, his schtick and his 6'5" body, Slim Fast diet or no Slim Fast diet render him the biggest presence on any set he shares with other sports personalities.
Leaving aside the critiques of his style, my interest is piqued by the potential for him to rejoin and over shadow the current stars of their respective sports networks: Rich Eisen at the NFL Network and Dan Patrick at Directv's 101 Channel.
Both of these men are former colleagues of Berman at ESPN and from their references to him when they banter with each other during the course of Patrick's daily radio program, it is apparent they aren't Boomer's biggest fans. Then again he was the top dog there and perhaps wasn't as gracious about it all as he might have been.
But if the rumors about Berman's pursuit by either of the other networks is true, the potential to overshadow Patrick and Eisen exists unless he is restricted to particular duties that never intersect with theirs. I find that hard to imagine.
Also on notice is Andrew Siciliano who has competently handled the chores every NFL Sunday for Directv's Red Zone Channel which surfs from game to game to pick up the action inside the 20 yard line and more.
Adding Berman to any of those networks sports packages could be dicey for the men who have carved out their niche independent of the WWL. But Berman's fan appeal and "Q" rating would be hard to turn down for networks that only hope to make a dent in ESPN's sports broadcasting domination.
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Comments
Why exactly do you say that Berman was the top dog when Patrick and Eisen were there? Berman was a one trick pony, who, while on the top of his game for a stint, has certainly isn't what he once was. Additionally, Dan Patrick carried ESPN, not just through football season (though, as we've seen on Football Night in America, Dan't better than Berman at football), but year round. I'm really just not sure where you're coming from, and don't think either guy has any reason, whatsoever, to be concerned with Berman's next move.
Todd: his status was more a result of his activities on behalf of the network who conferred star status on him. That according to an insider who has known Berman and what he did since he arrived at ESPN to build the brand as well as the number of cable operators who bought the content.
Fair enough, Paula. While Berman isn't my preference over the likes of many other ESPN personalities, past or present, I appreciate your reply and insider perspective.
Berman should just fade away
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