ESPN’s Laura Rutledge will miss part of the football season due to maternity leave; NFL analyst Mark Schlereth says he has a new deal with Fox Sports; Panthers TE Greg Olsen could be headed back to the broadcast booth; ESPN has scheduled a five-hour NBA free agency special for next Sunday.
Rutledge to miss part of football season
ESPN broadcaster Laura Rutledge will miss part of the upcoming college football season due to maternity leave, she announced Friday. In her announcement, she said she plans to work the start and end of the season. According to The Big Lead, Marty Smith will fill in for her as host of SEC Network’s SEC Nation during her absence. [Laura Rutledge/Twitter 6.21; The Big Lead 6.23]
Schlereth says he has new Fox deal
Fox Sports NFL analyst Mark Schlereth agreed to a three-year contract extension earlier this month, turning down what he termed a “generous offer” to return to ESPN, he said on his Twitter account Saturday. Schlereth has been with Fox since 2017 after previously working for ESPN from 2001-17. He said he chose to remain with Fox, rather than return to ESPN, because of his desire to continue calling games. [Mark Schlereth/Twitter 6.22]
Fox wants Olsen for Week 7 guest gig
Fox Sports is gauging whether Carolina Panthers TE Greg Olsen can serve as a guest analyst during his team’s Week 7 bye week, the New York Post reported Thursday. Olsen worked a game for FOX during the 2017 season, though he was on injured reserve at the time. [NYP 6.19]
ESPN to air five-hour “The Jump” special to mark free agency
ESPN2 will televise a five-hour edition of “The Jump” next Sunday, the first day of NBA free agency. The special will begin at 5 PM ET, one hour before free agency officially begins, and run until 10 PM. Additional “The Jump” free agency specials will then air on July 1 from 8-9 PM and July 2 and 3 from 7-8 PM. [ESPN PR 6.21]
