Gonzalez recently speculated in an ESPN interview whether he might leave the door ever so slightly open for a comeback late next season, one that the Atlanta Falcons didn’t seem to reciprocate. They said they were moving on with the assumption that Gonzalez’s playing days were over, and this new broadcasting deal would appear to confirm that. But you’d have to think that CBS required some kind of written guarantee that Gonzalez doesn’t plan to bolt the set in Week 11 if he gets the itch to play again.
“While we welcome Tony, we want to acknowledge Dan Marino and Shannon Sharpe who have contributed greatly to the success of The NFL Today for more than a decade,” McManus said. “Dan and Shannon are true Hall of Famers on the field and in front of the camera. As they pursue other professional opportunities, we thank them for their hard work and dedication and wish them nothing but the best.”
Sharpe, who had been with the network since 2004, had been known as an outspoken talking head on the show, and he added an edge to the discussion, even if his style wasn’t universally loved. He likely will be picked up by another network because of his visibility.
One of the all-time great quarterbacks, Marino had been with CBS since 2002. Cue the talk of him returning to the Miami Dolphins in some form? Marino was named the team’s senior vice president 10 years ago but resigned quickly thereafter, citing that the role was not best for him. Still, a return to the only pro team he has known has been speculated for years.
The well-spoken Gonzalez has appeared to be a natural for such a job, but there will be pressure to be camera-ready very quickly because of this major shakeup on the set.
Article Appeared @http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/shannon-sharpe-dan-marino-tony-gonzalez-major-cbs-173946358–nfl.html