I can't think of a better way to kick off the three-day weekend than with this bit of potentially good news from the New York Post (by way of Dan Shanoff): Is ESPN on the verge of cutting ties with NFL analyst Michael Irvin?Thank you, Lord Jesus. Nobody at ESPN would confirm or deny the report but The Network issued a statement that read, "We are currently in the process of discussing studio assignments for next season." Also, speculation has Bill Parcells joining ESPN though no deal is imminent.
One industry source believes the decision has already been made, and that some at the network view the outspoken Irvin as a ticking time bomb, ready to explode into a public-relations nightmare.
Let's all hope that Irvin has been reassigned to the "Harold Reynolds News Desk." It's easy to make fun of ESPN -- they did bring us "Bonds on Bonds" and "Hustle", after all -- but if Irvin does get canned, credit to the network for finally realizing he adds absolutely nothing to the NFL coverage. What took so long, well, I have no idea.
Sean Salisbury might want to start updating the ol' resume; it looks like the on-air goons have been put on notice.




