Troy Aikman sees ESPN moving in another direction as contract talks remain absent

Troy Aikman said ESPN’s lack of contract talks has left him with the impression that the network may move in another direction after his deal ends in March. The Monday Night Football analyst said in an interview with Jimmy Traina that he expects to finish the current NFL season, including the Super Bowl broadcast, before becoming a free agent. His comments leave the future of one of ESPN’s broadcast partners unsettled, but do not establish a decision by the network.

Why Aikman expects to become a free agent

Aikman told Traina that he and ESPN had held no talks or negotiations about a new contract. Given when his deal expires, he said he did not think it logical that ESPN would plan to retain him without putting an agreement in place before the Super Bowl year ended. That is Aikman’s reading of the silence, rather than an announcement from ESPN that it will replace him.

Joe Buck’s deal and the reported tension

A separate account has raised questions about Aikman’s partnership with Joe Buck. NBC Sports reported that Ryan Glasspiegel of Front Office Sports had described tension between the two and an argument during the Bills-Rams game on Monday. According to that account, the situation de-escalated and was not apparent during the broadcast. Aikman’s comments to Traina did not address the reported argument, and the account does not establish why ESPN has yet to negotiate with him.

NBC Sports also reported that Buck had received a new five-year ESPN/ABC deal while Aikman had not received one at that point. The different contract positions matter to the future of their on-air partnership, but Aikman’s stated plan is to work through the remaining season. Whether ESPN will make him an offer before his contract expires remains unclear.