NBC Declines ESPN’s Request to Trade Al Michaels for ‘Monday Night Football’

NBC has rebuffed ESPN’S requests to let host Al Michaels out of his contract so he can join the cable network’s Monday Night Football broadcast.

NBC Sports spokesman Greg Hughes told the New York Post that the network looks “forward to Al completing his contract and calling Sunday Night Football.”

ESPN had hoped that NBC would “trade” the 75-year-old Michaels to them despite the two years left on his contract.

Mike Tirico is already set to begin hosting ESPN’s MNF after Michaels leaves.

ESPN is also looking to bring Peyton Manning into the booth despite the seeming roadblock with Michaels. But the network has not quite yet told current MNF broadcasters Joe Tessitore and Booger McFarland, what their status is with the broadcast.

Still, it is clear that the cable network is looking for significant changes in the booth by reportedly looking over other announcers such as Steve Levy, Louis Riddick, Brian Griese, and Tony Romo. As to the latter, he signed a ten-year, $180 million deal with CBS.

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