ESPN is expected to change its No. 2 NFL game-calling team of Chris Fowler, Dan Orlovsky and Louis Riddick Jr. due to its new NFL deal, according to sources briefed on ESPN’s plans.
As part of a potential new booth, Jason Kelce has emerged as a dark horse candidate on the analyst side, according to sources briefed on discussions, while NFL Network’s Kurt Warner is also in the mix. Kelce is a studio analyst on ESPN’s “Monday Night Countdown.”
ESPN’s Dave Pasch and Mike Monaco are contenders to be a part of the new booth as play-by-play announcers. ESPN executives are still sorting out their plans, and other candidates, like Bob Wischusen, could emerge.
As part of its agreements with the NFL, ESPN will no longer have “Monday Night Football” doubleheaders among its seven extra games included in the deal. There is a high likelihood that these seven matchups will be international, which would not allow Fowler, ESPN’s No. 1 college play-by-play announcer, to be regularly available, while also taking Orlovsky and Riddick out of the country for their studio work for a few days. Riddick also calls college football games, while Orlovsky does some college football studio work.
Depending on the schedule, which is at the NFL’s discretion, there is a chance that Fowler, Orlovsky and Riddick could still end up in the mix for a game here and there, but nothing is officially decided as of yet.
ESPN declined to comment.
ESPN’s No. 1 NFL broadcasting team of Joe Buck and Troy Aikman remains as they enter the final seasons of their five-year deals for a total combined value of $165 million. The duo will call ESPN’s first Super Bowl next February.
ESPN officially took over NFL Network this week as part of a series of agreements in which the league took a 10 percent stake in ESPN.
ESPN views NFL Network similarly to the SEC Network, and ESPN is not looking to make major changes in how it is run, evidenced by NFL Network’s executive producer, Charlie Yook, continuing in his position. Yook will now report to ESPN executive vice president Mike McQuade.
ESPN is interested in retaining NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport, whose contract is up at the end of the month, according to the same sources. ESPN will keep the NFL Network’s Draft presentation, led by Rich Eisen, the same for this April.
The initial plans are to have two separate draft shows in the future, but there could be more cross-pollination. However, with the draft just three weeks away, ESPN does not plan to alter its coverage for this year.
Eisen had called many of the NFL Network’s international games with Warner, but does not appear to be a leading candidate to continue in that role. Eisen already has his radio show on ESPN Radio and ESPN’s direct-to-consumer apps.
Warner was a candidate for ESPN’s “Monday Night Football” in the past, but a deal never materialized.
The team of Fowler, Orlovsky and Riddick began together three seasons ago and never fully jelled. They all have other assignments, as Fowler is also ESPN’s lead tennis announcer. Orlovsky is a regular on all of ESPN’s studio shows, including “NFL Live.”
Riddick, who has a player personnel background, was previously on the No. 1 “Monday Night Football” team. He is a featured contributor on ESPN’s draft coverage and studio shows.