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Bruschi is Bristol bound
Posted by Mike Florio on September 7, 2009 2:18 AM ET
When Pats linebacker Tedy Bruschi abruptly retired last Monday -- presumably because he realized that the Turk would soon be asking for his playbook if Bruschi didn't surrender it voluntarily -- we thought for a moment that it was unfortunate Bruschi waited until late August to leave the game, since the hiring season for network talent had ended.
But the hiring season never ends at ESPN, where there seems to be an endless budget for the addition of former football players and coaches.
According to Ian Rapoport of the Boston Herald, Bruschi will be joining ESPN as an in-studio analyst. Bruschi could be making his debut as soon as Thursday.
But just how many former players can ESPN hire as football analysts? And at what point will the music stop with one or more of them unable to find a seat?
Currently, former NFL players and coaches employed by ESPN as NFL analysts include Mike Ditka, Tom Jackson, Keyshawn Johnson, Cris Carter, Jon Gruden, Ron Jaworski, Tim Hasselbeck, Marcellus Wiley, Trent Dilfer, Mike Golic, Qadry Ismail, Matt Millen, Steve Young, Shaun King, Mark Schlereth, Merril Hoge, Eric Allen, Herm Edwards, Darren Woodson, Marty Schottenheimer, James Hasty, Lomas Brown, and now Bruschi.
That's 23, by our count. Enough to field a starting offense and a starting defense, with Ditka serving as the head coach.
Frankly, it's hard not to wonder whether ESPN's goal is quantity not quality. If nothing else, the fact that so many former players and coaches have gotten jobs at ESPN might cause the many other players and coaches who believe broadcasting to be the ideal "money for nothing" career path after the NFL is finished with them to never criticize ESPN, for fear of blowing their shot to work there.
Then again, criticizing ESPN didn't hurt Jon Gruden, but possibly only because he had leverage.
Posted by Mike Florio on September 7, 2009 2:18 AM ET
When Pats linebacker Tedy Bruschi abruptly retired last Monday -- presumably because he realized that the Turk would soon be asking for his playbook if Bruschi didn't surrender it voluntarily -- we thought for a moment that it was unfortunate Bruschi waited until late August to leave the game, since the hiring season for network talent had ended.
But the hiring season never ends at ESPN, where there seems to be an endless budget for the addition of former football players and coaches.
According to Ian Rapoport of the Boston Herald, Bruschi will be joining ESPN as an in-studio analyst. Bruschi could be making his debut as soon as Thursday.
But just how many former players can ESPN hire as football analysts? And at what point will the music stop with one or more of them unable to find a seat?
Currently, former NFL players and coaches employed by ESPN as NFL analysts include Mike Ditka, Tom Jackson, Keyshawn Johnson, Cris Carter, Jon Gruden, Ron Jaworski, Tim Hasselbeck, Marcellus Wiley, Trent Dilfer, Mike Golic, Qadry Ismail, Matt Millen, Steve Young, Shaun King, Mark Schlereth, Merril Hoge, Eric Allen, Herm Edwards, Darren Woodson, Marty Schottenheimer, James Hasty, Lomas Brown, and now Bruschi.
That's 23, by our count. Enough to field a starting offense and a starting defense, with Ditka serving as the head coach.
Frankly, it's hard not to wonder whether ESPN's goal is quantity not quality. If nothing else, the fact that so many former players and coaches have gotten jobs at ESPN might cause the many other players and coaches who believe broadcasting to be the ideal "money for nothing" career path after the NFL is finished with them to never criticize ESPN, for fear of blowing their shot to work there.
Then again, criticizing ESPN didn't hurt Jon Gruden, but possibly only because he had leverage.
