AN OLSEN WIN
Carolina tight end excels on Fox in a bye-week cameo, positions self for TV future
WITH HIS impressive performance on the GiantsCardinals broadcast Sunday, Greg Olsen is even better positioned in what could be a very active NFL TV free agency this winter.
Olsen, the Panthers’ Pro Bowl tight end, used his bye week to call the game on Fox and showed real potential to be a TV staple for years to come.
He showed a naturalness and a willingness to share opinions that will put him in play for network jobs if he chooses to retire after this season.
Olsen could be part of a very interesting NFL TV free-agency class that may be headed by Tony Romo. Romo could surpass John Madden’s record of $8 million per season, as ESPN could make a major play for him for “Monday Night Football.” CBS has the right to match any offer.
If Philip Rivers or Drew Brees retire, there would be networks interested, though it is not clear if either wants to get into the business. Olsen had tryouts for ESPN’s “Monday Night Football” and Fox’s “Thursday Night Football” in the past.
For Olsen, his next stop in broadcasting could be with Fox on the XFL. This would provide Olsen more reps, if he chooses to retire from playing, on his pathway to being an NFL game analyst beginning next season. Fox and Olsen haven’t had talks about the XFL yet, but they are expected to shortly.
The Post previously reported that Fox’s lead XFL team will consist of Curt Menefee and Joel Klatt. For its No. 2 team, Fox is hoping to pair an up-and-coming play-by-player with someone it could potentially groom for Sundays in the fall.
Fox and CBS lack depth among their NFL game analysts. Neither network has an heir apparent to its lead game analysts, Romo or Troy Aikman. Fox’s No. 2, Charles Davis, does a strong job, but doesn’t have the big name or personality that you would normally associate with the next booth up
BS’ No. 2 team has Dan Fouts, who came with previous credentials having done “Monday Night Football.” Fouts, 68, would be an unlikely choice if Romo left.
Kurt Warner, whom ESPN passed over for the failed Jason Witten experiment on MNF last year, is a name that could be considered, while CBS also has another former Monday Night TV and radio analyst in Boomer Esiason sitting in its studio. Matt Hasselbeck, an ESPN NFL studio analyst who is doing college games, could be in play for NFL game analyst jobs.
Olsen is an intriguing wild card because, though CBS found grand success with Romo as a rookie No. 1, the more prudent route for future lead analysts is working their way up the ranks, which is why doing XFL games could make sense. Aikman called games for NFL Europe, while NBC’s Cris Collinsworth had to climb many rungs of the ladder before reaching the top.
Olsen, though, added to his market value Sunday. While Olsen was working with a pro in Kenny Albert, Olsen showed natural instincts that led to spontaneous moments that demonstrated he could probably excel with many others, too.
When the Cardinals’ Kyler Murray ran out of bounds to stop the clock with a little more than two minutes to go, Olsen did not hold back or make excuses for his fellow player.
“Stay in bounds,” Olsen said. “Oh my God, why would he do that?”
This was raw, on target and what any knowledgeable fan would be thinking as they watched. Since it came from a former Pro Bowl tight end it had even more weight.
It is almost definitely not the last we’ll hear from Olsen in an NFL booth. The question now is: How high will he go?