Troy Aikman spoke as an analyst who will work for a new corporation next season, but failed to receive public confirmation. So let’s approach this from another angle.
Will we see him share beef breast and potato salad with colleagues at Fox’s next picnic?
“Well,” Aikman said with a sly smile, “if I’m invited as a guest, so can you.”
It looks like Fox will have to find another lead analyst for its NFL broadcasts. After more than two decades in this position, Aikman is ready to leave the network to fulfill this role in ESPN.
“I have a pretty good idea of what will happen to me,” said the former Cowboys quarterback. “There is still a lot of dust that needs to be settled and all this is waiting to happen before final announcements are made.
“But yes, it was an interesting journey. Twenty-one years with Fox, a great 21 years.
“Whatever happens in the end, when everything is said and done, still being a leading analyst for the next five years, is something I’m really proud of because there are a lot of guys coming out of the game,” he continued. . “I think there are a lot of networks that are always looking for the latest and shiny toy. So I’m proud of the way I’ve prepared, the way I’ve worked and the way my work is perceived. “
Reports indicate that Aikman will move to ESPN for a five-year, $ 90 million contract. That’s an average of $ 18 million a year.
His best contract as a player has never averaged more than $ 9.5 million.
“When I retired, I didn’t really know what my future was,” Aikman said. “I knew I would be broadcasting for a year or two and I would know what I wanted to do with myself.
“And now, here, 21 years later, to be in this situation and the salaries to get to where they came from was quite incredible. We had people on the referee’s side, for example, who left the league’s office because they could make more money on TV than they could do with the league.
“Everything looks a little backward, but I’m not complaining about that.”
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/dmn/UHVWOBS66NHUXPBDU52MMPARTM.jpg "Cowboy legend Troy Aikman has almost confirmed his move from Fox to ESPN 1")
Aikman made his comments Monday afternoon at the NorthPark Center, where he and Cowboys legend Roger Staubach attended as honorary co-chairs of the Children’s Cancer Foundation’s 2022 Gala Concert in April. Before the press conference, Candice Crawford Romo passed by the event.
Her husband Tony’s huge contract with CBS shocked the industry and probably laid the groundwork for Aikman’s departure.
Speculation is now focused on who will be paired with Aikman on ESPN. His Fox partner, Joe Buck, has one year left on his contract. But Aikman spoke of their close friendship Monday and hinted that what they provide as a team could be underestimated.
“You know, I think something else can probably be said, and I think it might happen at the right time,” Aikman said. “It simply came to our notice then. But he was a fantastic partner.
“I think he’s the best in the business and there’s nothing I want more than to keep working with him.”
The official announcement will come soon. Just one more question.
What does ESPN serve at its corporate picnic?
“There’s been a lot of talk about what’s going to happen to me, and most of it is pretty accurate,” Aikman said. “But I still can’t make a final statement.”
:no_upscale()/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/dmn/K2UYSFUC4FBYHLONUYB2LX5Z2U.jpg "Cowboy legend Troy Aikman has almost confirmed his move from Fox to ESPN 2")
:no_upscale()/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/dmn/5LVFKRMDHNGCNP3LW3JVAVVIGY.jpg "Cowboy legend Troy Aikman has almost confirmed his move from Fox to ESPN 3")
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