Indianapolis Colts quarterback Matt Ryan (2) walks on the sideline Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023, during a game against the Houston Texans at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Matt Ryan takes CBS job but not retiring from NFL

Matt Ryan is joining CBS Sports as an analyst, but the veteran quarterback isn’t shutting the door on the NFL.

“Excited to join the @NFLonCBS family! Looking forward to breaking down the game this season,” he tweeted Monday morning.

“P.S. – this is not a retirement post”

The Indianapolis Colts released Ryan, the 2016 league MVP, in March after one season. The Colts acquired him last spring in a trade with the Atlanta Falcons, but Ryan was unable to help the team’s longstanding issue at the quarterback position.

Indianapolis is turning to another new option at quarterback — Anthony Richardson, the No. 4 overall pick in 2023.

Ryan, who turns 38 on Wednesday, suffered a shoulder injury in Week 7 and then-coach Frank Reich announced the Colts would bench Ryan in favor of backup Sam Ehlinger for the rest of the season. Ryan got another chance after Reich later was fired and replaced by interim coach Jeff Saturday, but Ryan again lost the starting job — this time to journeyman Nick Foles — in December.

In 12 starts for Indianapolis, Ryan threw for 3,057 yards, 14 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. His 9.9 yards per completion marked a career low.

Still, a team in need of a veteran quarterback could turn to Ryan.

The third overall pick of the 2008 NFL Draft by Atlanta, Ryan has a lofty career resume. He ranks fifth in NFL history in both career pass completions (5,551) and attempts (8,464), seventh in passing yards (62,792) and ninth in touchdown passes (381).

–Field Level Media

Aug 21, 2021; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) smiles on the sidelines during the second quarter against the Tennessee Titans at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Tom Brady not joining FOX until 2024

Tom Brady will take the 2023 football season off, delaying his debut as a FOX Sports analyst until the 2024 season, he said Monday.

Brady, 45, made that announcement on Colin Cowherd’s show on FOX Sports Radio, “The Herd.”

The quarterback, who said last week that he is retiring after 23 NFL seasons, signed a reported 10-year, $375 million deal with FOX before the 2022 season to become its lead analyst. There was no set start date other than post-retirement.

Brady said Monday that he appreciated FOX giving him time to adjust after the 2022 season, which was both professionally and personally trying for the seven-time Super Bowl champ.

Kevin Burkhardt and analyst Greg Olsen, who took over as the top broadcast team when Joe Buck and Troy Aikman left FOX, will call Super Bowl LVII on Sunday.

Brady said he’ll be tuning in.

“I’ll be 50 percent watching the game, and 50 percent listening to those two,” Brady said.

Brady spent 20 seasons with the New England Patriots and three with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He played in 10 Super Bowl games.

–Field Level Media

Jul 30, 2019; Irvine, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams cornerback Aqib Talib (21) during training camp at UC Irvine. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Aqib Talib stepping away from ‘TNF’ after brother’s arrest

Aqib Talib is stepping away from his role of analyst on Amazon’s “Thursday Night Football” in the wake of his brother’s arrest on murder charges.

Talib, 36, told NFL Network on Sunday night that he’s planning to spend time with his family in the aftermath of last week’s shooting death of a youth football coach in Texas.

Talib’s older brother, Yaqub Salik Talib, has been charged with murder in the death of Michael Hickmon.

Aqib Talib, who retired after the 2019 season, was present at the youth game at Lancaster (Texas) Community Park and reportedly was involved in the altercation leading up to the shooting.

Witnesses told WFAA in Dallas that Aqib Talib confronted the game officials. One witness told WFAA that Aqib Talib started the brawl by throwing a punch at Hickmon. Aqib Talib has not been charged in the incident.

Aqib Talib was poised to be part of Amazon’s studio show for the “TNF” broadcasts this season.

Talib had previously worked as a booth analyst for FOX Sports.

–Field Level Media

Jan 1, 2022; Pasadena, California, USA; ESPN broadcaster Kirk Herbstreit during the 2022 Rose Bowl at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Amazon eyes Kirk Herbstreit as top NFL analyst

Amazon is eyeing ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit, the highest-profile analyst in college football, for its top NFL analyst position when the streaming service begins its exclusive Thursday night game coverage in the fall, the New York Post reported Sunday.

Although Herbstreit is under contract to ESPN for about $6 million per year, sources told the Post his deal is written in a way that he would be allowed to work NFL games with another outlet while continuing to do college commentary for ESPN.

ESPN and Amazon both declined comment on the Post’s report.

Herbstreit has provided analysis for ESPN on some NFL games and has a desire to call more games in the league, the Post reported. If Amazon and Herbstreit were to strike a deal, ESPN still would want to employ Herbstreit on some NFL telecasts, sources told the Post.

Amazon has failed to land broadcaster Troy Aikman, San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch and Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay as its Thursday night analyst.

–Field Level Media

Jan 3, 2021; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Washington Football Team quarterback Alex Smith (11) in action against the Philadelphia Eagles during the first quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

ESPN signs Alex Smith to 1-year deal as NFL analyst

Former Pro Bowl quarterback Alex Smith is joining ESPN on a one-year deal as an NFL analyst.

In a move designed to test the waters for both sides, Smith will contribute to SportsCenter, Monday Night Countdown and Sunday NFL Countdown. ESPN announced the move Monday.

“I’m trying to balance this next phase with my family and ESPN was so open to the fact that they were going to kind of design something specifically for me in that sense, where I could get to do a lot of different things, which I wanted,” Smith told The Washington Post. “It was a no-brainer for me.”

Smith, 37, reportedly had tryouts with CBS and FOX to be an in-game booth analyst.

“I met with all the networks and did all the interviews,” Smith told The Kansas City Star. “I kind of just wanted to investigate.”

Smith retired in April after 16 years in the league. He finished his career with Washington, leading the team to the playoffs more than two years after suffering a devastating leg injury in Week 11 of the 2018 season. He required 17 surgeries to save his leg, repair the injury and fight a life-threatening infection.

Smith was named the NFL’s Comeback Player of the Year in 2020 after winning five of his six starts for Washington. He completed 66.7 percent of his passes for 1,582 yards, six touchdowns and eight interceptions.

The No. 1 overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft by San Francisco, Smith was 99-67-1 as a starter in the regular season and passed for 35,650 yards and 199 touchdowns in 174 games with the 49ers (2005-12), Kansas City Chiefs (2013-17) and Washington.

–Field Level Media

Jan 3, 2021; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Washington Football Team quarterback Alex Smith (11) in action against the Philadelphia Eagles during the first quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Alex Smith joins ESPN as NFL analyst

Former Pro Bowl quarterback Alex Smith has joined ESPN as an NFL analyst, the New York Post reported Wednesday.

Smith, 37, will contribute to NFL shows across the network at the outset versus jumping in full time, per the report. The role could grow over time, if both sides agree.

Smith also had tryouts with FOX and CBS to be a game-day booth analyst, but FOX hired Mark Sanchez while CBS elected not to replace Rich Gannon, per the report.

Smith retired in April after 16 years in the league. He finished his career with Washington, leading WFT to the playoffs more than two years after suffering a devastating leg injury in Week 11 of the 2018 season. He required 17 surgeries to save his leg, repair the injury and fight a life-threatening infection.

Smith was named the NFL’s Comeback Player of the Year in 2020 after winning five of his six starts for Washington. He completed 66.7 percent of his passes for 1,582 yards, six touchdowns and eight interceptions.

The No. 1 overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft by San Francisco, Smith was 99-67-1 as a starter and passed for 35,650 yards and 199 touchdowns in 174 games with the 49ers (2005-12), Kansas City Chiefs (2013-17) and Washington.

–Field Level Media

Oct 17, 2020; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Will Muschamp disputes a call against the Auburn Tigers during the second quarter at Williams-Brice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports

Will Muschamp joins Georgia as defensive analyst

Former Florida and South Carolina head coach Will Muschamp has joined Georgia as a defensive analyst, Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart said Wednesday.

It’s an off-field role for Muschamp, said Smart, who played with Muschamp briefly at Georgia in the 1990s. The two have remained longtime friends.

“As of last week we were able to get things completed with Will,” Smart said Wednesday. “He’s already made a lot of strides in terms of helping me, helping our staff. He’ll be able to help coach the coaches.”

Muschamp, 49, was fired by South Carolina in November. He was in his fifth season with the Gamecocks and finished with a 28-30 record. He coached at Florida from 2011-14 and finished 28-21 before being dismissed. He owns a 56-51 overall record.

Muschamp has also been a defensive coordinator at Auburn, Texas and LSU.

Muschamp’s son, Jackson, is a walk-on quarterback at Georgia.

–Field Level Media

Jan 27, 2020; Miami, FL, USA; NFL Network  analyst Deion Sanders during Super Bowl LIV Opening Night at Marlins Park.  Mandatory Credit: Douglas Defelice-USA TODAY Sports

Deion Sanders leaves NFL Network

Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders is leaving NFL Network.

According to multiple reports, Sanders’ contract expired. He had been with the network as an on-air analyst since 2006.

NFL Network’s Head of Communication Alex Riethmiller confirmed the move in a statement.

“Deion has been one of the key figures responsible for the growth of NFL Network,” Riethmiller said. “We thank him for his work and wish him the best in the future.”

Sanders, 53, came under criticism for his recent comments in regard toward players electing to opt out of their respective seasons due to the coronavirus pandemic.

A two-time Super Bowl champion and eight-time Pro Bowl selection, Sanders recorded 53 interceptions during his 14 NFL seasons with the Atlanta Falcons (1989-93), San Francisco 49ers (1994), Dallas Cowboys (1995-99), then-Washington Redskins (2000) and Baltimore Ravens (2004-05).

Sanders was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011.

–Field Level Media