[sportscurmudgeon]

Beemnseven:

As I understand it, Theismann was the recipient of a real sweetheart deal from ESPN the last time they sat at the negotiating table. According to one report I read, Theismann was getting "over the air network money" (not what Madden or Aikman get but waay more than anyone on cable should hope to get). According to that report, the guy at ESPN who gave him that deal is now gone; that's the guy Danny Boy hired away from ESPN to help him run Six Flags. Isn't that just swell?

I also understand Theismann's deal has two more years on it.

So, Theismann can certainly walk away and ESPN would probably like to save the money because if Theismann walks he won't get paid. But that's not a likely thing for him to do unless one of the networks comes up with a bagload of cash to make that move "financially sensible".

Supposedly, Theismann has been "offered" the college anaylst slot alongside Brent Mussberger on ESPN/ABC games. He doesn't "have to" take that, but if he turns down ESPN's suggestion, he might get a much less attractive offer to consider - - like coverage of the Denny's Pro Bowling Tour on Sunday afternoons opposite NFL games on two of the over the air networks. At some point, he could lose his ability to say "no" and have to take what they give him as his assignment lest he violate some kind of "cooperation clause" in his sweetheart contract.

At the moment, my guess is that he will ultimately get the choice between college game analyst and talking head on one of the myriad ESPN analysis shows related to the NFL. I'm hoping for the studio job because those shows are easier to avoid than a major college football game where he and Brent "Contrived Exuberence" Mussberger could poison the well...