NBC’s Michele Tafoya is taking a pass on Thursday Night Football. In other news, ESPN is dumping Keyshawn Johnson, and Gary Bettman will stick around another six years as NHL commissioner.
Tafoya Not Doing Thursday Night Football
- NBC Sports’ sideline reporter Michele Tafoya will not be part of the network’s Thursday Night Football broadcasts next season, Sports Illustrated reported Monday. The move was at her request so she could spent more time with her family, the same reason she left ESPN’s NBA broadcasts eight years ago. Tafoya will continue to work the Sunday Night Football sidelines. (Sports Illustrated)
ESPN Dumping Keyshawn Johnson
- ESPN will part ways with NFL analyst Keyshawn Johnson at the end of the season, according to another Sports Illustrated report, bringing an end to his nine-season tenure with the network. Johnson’s departure will be the first change to the core Sunday NFL Countdown cast since the addition of Cris Carter in 2008 (Sports Illustrated)
Bettman Gets Extension
- NHL commissioner Gary Bettman signed an extension last September to remain in the position through 2022, he told NHL Network over the All-Star weekend. By the end of the contract, he will have been commissioner for 29 years — just shy of his former boss David Stern‘s 30-year tenure with the NBA. (via ESPN.com)
