The biggest-picture takeaway from ESPN’s decision to part ways with Ryan Clark is that it opens a seat on the network’s coverage of its first-ever Super Bowl this February.
Clark was one of three analysts on “Monday Night Countdown,” which is expected to serve as ESPN’s official Super Bowl pregame and halftime show. Jason Kelce and Marcus Spears are the other analysts, while Scott Van Pelt is expected to return as host.
From ESPN’s perspective, the timing makes sense. The Super Bowl halftime show could draw more than 140 million viewers. The network could not allow Clark to represent the brand during its biggest broadcast ever, given his history of bigoted remarks.
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So, here are five possible replacements for ESPN:
Kurt Warner
Of the internal candidates, Kurt Warner makes the most sense.
As part of ESPN’s acquisition of NFL Network assets, the company now has access to Warner. He would give the network a Hall of Fame quarterback on the panel, something that has traditionally been a staple of major NFL studio shows.
Troy Aikman is the only other Hall of Fame quarterback on ESPN’s roster, but he’ll be in the booth calling the game.
One logistical hurdle remains. Warner currently serves as the lead analyst for Westwood One’s “Monday Night Football” radio broadcasts, including the Super Bowl.
Sources tell OutKick ESPN could use Warner on the pregame show because he’s already on site each week for the radio broadcast. He would have to step away from his Westwood One duties, however, to serve as ESPN’s halftime analyst.
As WFAN host Craig Carton argued this week, Warner would almost certainly choose television over radio, if he’s able to get out of his contract. Whether that’s possible remains unclear.
Steve Smith Sr.
Steve Smith Sr. is another analyst ESPN inherited from NFL Network.
Interestingly, Smith could also assume some of Clark’s day-to-day responsibilities. Sources say he impressed ESPN decision makers during appearances on “First Take” around the NFL Draft. With the network planning to better separate the guest lineups between “First Take” and “Get Up” this season, Smith could earn a regular role on one or both shows.
That also makes him a logical candidate for “Monday Night Countdown.”
Dan Orlovsky
Dan Orlovsky is ESPN’s best daily NFL analyst and would give the panel a former quarterback.
He’s also the opposite of Ryan Clark in one important respect. Few personalities at ESPN are less likely to drift away from football and into unrelated topics than Orlovsky is. Such decision-making is underrated.
Orlovsky has become one of the network’s more recognizable NFL voices through “NFL Live,” “Get Up,” “First Take,” and “The Pat McAfee Show.”
Scheduling may be the biggest obstacle. Last season, Orlovsky stayed in New York on Mondays for “Get Up” and “First Take” instead of traveling with NFL Live to the Monday Night Football site.
ESPN may decide he’s more valuable anchoring its morning lineup, especially after moving on from Cam Newton. Orlovsky and his representatives could just as easily argue for a schedule that allows him to do both, by moving his morning show responsibilities to later in the week.
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Mina Kimes
To be clear, we’re not suggesting ESPN should choose Mina Kimes as its Super Bowl halftime analyst. We think that would be a mistake.
However, we’d be surprised if her name isn’t, at least, mentioned internally.
Because some critics have predictably accused ESPN of racism for moving on from Clark, it’s possible executives feel pressure to make a symbolic personnel move. Kimes would almost certainly be part of that discussion.
Choosing someone who never played or coached in the NFL for ESPN’s first Super Bowl halftime show, however, would erase much of the goodwill the network has built with football fans over the past few days.
Promote someone from ‘Sunday NFL Countdown’
Another option is simply moving one of ESPN’s Sunday pregame shows to Mondays, be it Randy Moss, Alex Smith, Rex Ryan, and Tedy Bruschi.
Each would be an upgrade over Clark, and by a substantial margin. Moss is the biggest star from his playing career. Bruschi is the strongest television analyst of the four.
Final thought
There’s another possibility worth considering.
Networks carrying the Super Bowl often supplement their studio coverage with active players whose seasons have ended during the postseason. Given how much emphasis ESPN is placing on its first Super Bowl, don’t be surprised if the network adds a major current or recently retired player alongside its existing crew, even if just for the one broadcast.
Names like Matthew Stafford, Jameis Winston, Kirk Cousins, or Joe Flacco come to mind.
Or, perhaps for a one-time appearance, ESPN could pair Jason Kelce with his brother, Travis Kelce, who is expected to retire at the end of the Chiefs’ season.
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