Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady made headlines yet again on Tuesday. He signed a 10-year deal to become an analyst with FOX Sports whenever he decides to retire.
On Altitude Sports Radio 92.5 in Denver, Nate Kreckman and Andy Lindahl reacted to the news of Brady’s $375 million contract and wondered what someone like Peyton Manning would earn if he pursued a full-time career in broadcasting.
“Everybody knows that Peyton Manning would be better than Brady at that role,” Kreckman said. “It’s because he’s an inherently more charismatic and entertaining individual.”
Lindahl said it would become like a normal quarterback negotiation at that point. If Brady is making $37.5 million per season, Manning could start by asking for $40 million. Kreckman countered saying that Manning could make $50 million per season if a network really wanted him.
Whether or not that is a valid point, we will likely never know. ESPN has given Peyton Manning and his Omaha Productions a serious commitment and ultimate flexibility with the ManningCast. It would be hard to imagine Peyton giving that up to become part of a traditional television booth.
Lindahl added that the amount Brady will make is still just a surreal figure.
“I just am shocked, I am shocked, that we’re talking about $37.5 million for a guy to call games,” he said. “That’s not hedging a bet at all. That’s just saying, ‘We’re all in.'”
The duo wondered what would happen if things didn’t work out with Brady in the booth. There are legends of various sports working as analysts, but not all of them are good at the job. There certainly have been guys in NFL broadcast booths who didn’t succeed. Tom Brady will get plenty of time to get it right.
“Could he be any worse than Wayne Gretzky? I don’t think TNT’s getting rid of Wayne Gretzky,” Lindahl said. “Why? Because he’s Wayne Gretzky.”