Kirk Herbstreit may be joining Monday Night Football no matter what happens with the college football season. Plus: Disney is in business with Colin Kaepernick’s production company; the NHL and NHLPA have reached agreement on a CBA extension and return-to-play plan; and more.
Herbstreit could join MNF even if college season is played
ESPN could add college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit to Monday Night Football even if the college season is played as scheduled, the New York Post reported Wednesday. In that scenario, Herbstreit would work both college games and MNF.
Front Office Sports previously reported that ESPN was leaning toward moving Herbstreit and his college partner Chris Fowler to MNF if the college season was canceled or delayed. That remains the case, per the Post.
In the scenario where the college season is played, only Herbstreit would pull “double duty” on college and the NFL. Fowler would remain college-only. [NYP 7.8]
Disney reaches deal with Kaepernick’s production company
ESPN parent company Disney announced Monday that it has entered into a deal with former 49ers QB Colin Kapernick’s production company to develop content for a suite of Disney platforms — including ESPN — focused on issues of race and equality. Among the projects in development are a docuseries about the past five years of Kapernick’s life, a stretch that included his protests of police brutality during the national anthem and eventual ouster from the NFL.
Former ESPN SportsCenter anchor Jemele Hill will be a co-producer on the docuseries. [ESPN PR 7.6]
NHL, NHLPA, reach deal CBA, return plan
The NHL and NHL Players Association reached a deal Monday to extend the league’s collective bargaining agreement through the 2025-26 season and set dates for its planned resumption of the 2019-20 season, pending ratification by both sides. Play would resume August 1 with the start of the expanded Stanley Cup Playoffs. The NHLPA executive board ratified the agreement Tuesday and the full union is set to begin voting Wednesday. [NHL.com 7.6, NHLPA/Twitter 7.7]
Plus: NFL preseason, NBA Countdown, Women’s British Open
NFL Players Association player reps voted last week to recommend the cancellation of this year’s preseason. The league reportedly plans to shorten the preseason slate from four games to two. … ABC is scheduled to televise a two-hour primetime edition of NBA Countdown July 25 previewing the NBA’s planned resumption of play. … The R&A confirmed Tuesday that it plans to hold the Women’s British Open as scheduled, but without spectators, August 20-23. The men’s British Open, which was to take place next week, was canceled altogether. [ESPN.com 7.3, ESPN PR 7.7, LPGA 7.7]
