Maybe Drew Brees won’t be playing pickleball after all this fall. The former NBC Sports analyst is being eyed by Amazon Prime Video as one of the stars of a “Quarterbacks Only” Megacast of “Thursday Night Football,” said sources.
The alternate “QBs Only” telecast would run for 4-6 weeks in support of Amazon’s main TNF stream with Kirk Herbstreit and Al Michaels.
However, nothing is finalized, said sources. The “QBs Only” is one of “multiple ideas” on the drawing board at Amazon, said sources. There could be as many as three TNF Megcasts running 4-6 games during the 2022 season, said sources.
Much of Amazon’s MegaCast planning hinges around Pat McAfee.
Front Office Sports previously reported Amazon wants the former Indianapolis Colts punter to headline his own alternate telecast.
With his contacts throughout sports and entertainment, Amazon views McAfee as the kind of talent who can attract top-notch guests ala ESPN2’s “ManningCast” with Peyton and Eli Manning.
The 43-year-old Brees lasted only one season as an NFL and college football analyst for NBC. Brees signed his deal with the home of top-rated “Sunday Night Football” while still playing for the New Orleans Saints.
After flopping at NBC, this could be a smart move for Brees to ease his way back into NFL TV. He would be part of a support cast in a support role — and not have to carry the main game telecast. Alternate telecasts such as ESPN “ManningCast” and “KayRodCast” are growing in popularity. With former No. 1 analyst Troy Aikman jumping to ESPN, Brees could also take a game analyst job at Fox Sports.
Who could also appear on a “QBCast? for Amazon?
Amazon has already hired former New York Jets QB Ryan Fitzpatrick. Former Green Bay Packers QB Brett Favre recently told TMZ Sports he’d “consider” broadcasting NFL games for the right price. Ex-Chicago Bears QB Jay Cutler told FOS he’d like another shot at NFL TV. Then there’s the retired Philip Rivers, who some TV executive envision as a latter day “Dandy” Don Meredith.
Since his mutual split with NBC, Brees hasn’t said much about his future except for a tweet partly reading: “I may play football again, I may focus on business and philanthropy, I may train for the pickleball tour, senior golf tour, coach my kids or all of the above. I’ll let you know.”
NBC recently announced former Dallas Cowboys coach Jason Garrett as a new studio analyst on its “Football Night in America” pregame show with Maria Taylor, Tony Dungy, and Chris Simms.
Meanwhile, Amazon has hired an impressive cast for TNF coverage, including Fitzpatrick, Charissa Thompson, Richard Sherman and Pro Football Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez.
The tech giant’s exclusive coverage of TNF kicks off Sep. 15. Amazon declined to comment for this story.
