You Can Bet on Peyton Manning’s MNF Salary – Over/Under Set at $19.5 Million
- ESPN is reportedly talking to Peyton Manning about joining the Monday Night Football broadcast team
- The network failed to lure Tony Romo, who elected to sign a record $17-million-per-year deal to stay at CBS
- Get all the odds and insight into who will win the “Battle of the Broadcast Booths” in the story below
The “Battle of the Broadcast Booths” heated up this week with reports that ESPN is looking to bring Peyton Manning on board as part of the 2002 Monday Night Football team. The move comes in the wake of Tony Romo’s record-setting deal to stay with CBS, which will reportedly pay him in excess of $17 million per season.
Reports have suggested that ESPN is preparing to offer Manning, a five-time NFL MVP, upwards of $20 million per year, which would make him the highest paid sports analyst in television history.
But the odds favor Manning netting a little less money. Sportsbooks have listed the over/under on Manning’s ESPN annual salary at $19.5 million with the under heavily favored at -200.
Peyton Manning’s Monday Night Football Salary Odds
| Over/Under | Odds |
|---|---|
| OVER $19.5 million | +150 |
| UNDER $19.5 million | -200 |
Odds taken on March 11, 2020.
Manning in Demand
Manning has been in demand by NFL broadcasters since retiring following the 2015 campaign. The 43-year-old has remained in the public eye since leaving the gridiron, appearing in countless TV commercials, as well as making appearances on such programs as ESPN Sunday NFL Countdown and E:60 before hosting a football-themed documentary series on ESPN+ called Peyton’s Paces.
Watching Peyton Manning’s incredible professionalism and preparation in filming this was definitely a highlight of my career. He’s a natural for TV! https://t.co/BkTzX0kDKv
— Tim Flynn (@Tim_Flynn) September 30, 2019
Manning has avoided making a move to the broadcast booth since ending his playing days, a decision motivated by his reticence to call games featuring his younger brother Eli.
However, with the long-time New York Giants pivot announcing his retirement at the end of this past season, the door is now open for Peyton to venture into broadcasting.
Indeed, the odds of Manning making the leap to the MNF broadcast booth have shortened dramatically in recent days, improving to -120 after lagging at +155 just a week ago.
ESPN Comes Up Short in Pursuit of Romo
It is important to note that Manning was not necessarily ESPN’s first choice to take over as an analyst on Monday Night Football. Tony Romo has emerged as a sensation since joining the CBS NFL broadcast team following his retirement as an NFL player following the 2016 season.
Breaking: Tony Romo and CBS have agreed to a deal that will make him the highest NFL analyst in TV history in a deal that will pay him around $17 million per season, according to sources.
Story up shortly.
— Andrew Marchand (@AndrewMarchand) February 29, 2020
The former Dallas Cowboys passer was an immediate hit with NFL fans after joining CBS in time for the 2017 NFL season. The 13-year NFL veteran dazzled viewers with his uncanny ability to call plays on the field before they happened, quickly fueling a debate over whether he is the greatest sports analyst in TV history.
While Romo was heavily courted by ESPN, he ultimately elected to remain with CBS, which has made him by far the highest paid sports analyst in TV history.
Odds Manning Joins Monday Night Football Broadcast in 2020
| Color | Odds |
|---|---|
| Yes | -120 |
| No | -120 |
Romo Raising the Broadcast Booth Bar
Indeed, Romo has raised the bar substantially for NFL analysts, and it remains to be seen whether Manning is up to the task. Considered one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time following a 17-year career that featured two Super Bowl victories and countless league and team records, there is no denying Manning’s legendary status as a player.
However, making the transition to the broadcast booth is often harder than it looks.
Romostradamus on the game's biggest stage. ?@tonyromo's best moments from the #SBLIII booth! pic.twitter.com/KXfZR4HHVR
— NFL (@NFL) February 4, 2019
Among the former NFL stars that went on to have rather undistinguished careers in the broadcast booth are Ray Lewis, Joe Namath, OJ Simpson, and Dan Fouts. With his image already established as a folksy, likeable guy, with a deep understanding of the game, Manning is likely to avoid crashing and burning Dennis Miller-style.
But while plenty of value exists in wagering on Manning to make his MNF broadcast debut next season, he will likely have to prove his worth before out-earning the now legendary Romo-stradamus.
Picks: Manning joins MNF broadcast team (-120); Salary UNDER $19.5 million (-200)
Daniel has been writing about sports and sports betting for over 23 years. The seasoned pro has contributed to the likes of Sports Illustrated, Sportsnet, NESN, Bleacher Report, OddsShark, the Globe and Mail, and The Nation magazine.
