This comes in the middle of the Olympics when sports media news usually is slim. Well, CBS has chosen to break some news. The NFL Today is shaking up its lineup. Dan Marino and Shannon Sharpe have been let go. Marino had been with CBS for 12 seasons, Sharpe for ten. Now both will be looking for new gigs.
Former Kansas City and Atlanta tight end Tony Gonzalez has been signed to join CBS for the 2014 season. In addition to the NFL Today, Gonzalez will make appearances on CBS Sports Network’s That Other Pregame Show and Showtime’s Inside the NFL.
Sports Business Daily’s John Ourand reports that CBS is looking to sign one more analyst to join Gonzalez at the NFL Today.
Host James Brown, Bill Cowher and Boomer Esiason will remain at the show.
Here’s the CBS announcement which includes a statement on letting Marino and Sharpe go.
TONY GONZALEZ JOINS CBS SPORTS AS NFL ANALYST
Gonzalez to Provide Analysis Across Multiple CBS Sports Platforms Including THE NFL TODAY, INSIDE THE NFL and THAT OTHER PREGAME SHOW
Former Kansas City Chiefs and Atlanta Falcons All-Pro tight end Tony Gonzalez joins CBS Sports as an analyst for the CBS Television Network’s NFL pre-game show, THE NFL TODAY, and will contribute across multiple CBS platforms including INSIDE THE NFL on SHOWTIME and CBS Sports Network’s Sunday pre-game show, THAT OTHER PREGAME SHOW (TOPS). The announcement was made today by Sean McManus, Chairman, CBS Sports.
“Having just stepped off the playing field, Tony brings a fresh and insightful perspective,” said McManus. “As a future Hall of Famer, we are excited for him to share his knowledge, experiences and opinions with our viewers. Tony was one of the most respected and hardworking players in the NFL and a tremendous teammate. We look forward to him bringing these attributes to CBS Sports.”
Tony will join James Brown, Bill Cowher and Boomer Esiason on THE NFL TODAY.
“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,” added McManus. “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.”
Gonzalez’s NFL career spanned 17 years, 12 with Kansas City after being their first–round pick in 1997, and five with Atlanta before his retirement in 2013. He is the NFL’s all–time leader in touchdowns (111) and yards (15,127) by a tight end. He also is the NFL’s all–time leader in consecutive starts (120) and Pro-Bowl appearances (14) by a tight end, and ranks second overall among all players in catches with 1,325. Known for his strength and durability, Gonzalez missed only two games during his 17-year career.
Gonzalez attended University of California, where he played football and basketball and majored in Communications. During his junior season he recorded 46 receptions for 699 yards and five touchdowns, earning him first-team All-Pac 10 and first-team All-America honors. That year he also helped lead the California basketball team to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Championship, averaging 6.8 points and 5.4 rebounds.
Gonzalez started his television career as host of the local television show, “Chiefs Locker Room,” and went on to appear on numerous national programs. He also is an author, writing two books, and entrepreneur, developing multi-media programs that celebrate and advocate sports for children in an educational format.
Tony and his wife, October, reside in his hometown of Huntington Beach, Calif. with their children.
Sharpe tweeted that he was sad to go after ten years on the NFL Today.
I will not be a part of the Nfl today on CBS this fall. Although sadden and disappointed, I'm grateful of 10 yrs I was.
— shannon sharpe (@ShannonSharpe) February 18, 2014
The Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson says Marino did not want to leave CBS.
To be clear, this was a CBS decision to drop Marino and Sharpe. Marino did not want to leave an attractive job.
— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) February 18, 2014
While the NFL Today show crew was pretty decent, its ratings were way behind Fox NFL Sunday and CBS felt now was the time to shake up the panel. Esiason and Cowher remain as strong analysts and Sharpe had been improving over the last two seasons.
It would not be surprising to see Sharpe join his brother Sterling on NFL Network and Marino make a move to another broadcasting gig.
