Tuesday, May 5, 2026

Ex-ESPN Host Stan Verrett: ‘SportsCenter’ Not What It Was

Week 1 of the NFL season featured four great primetime games, but ratings for Friday night’s Brazil contest seriously underdelivered. FOS columnist Mike McCarthy joins Renee Washington and Ben Horney to weigh in on whether the NFL needs to stay in its Monday/Thursday/Sunday lane, and assess second-year Tom Brady, Eli and Peyton’s ManningCast, and the new age of RedZone that includes commercials.

Plus, longtime SportsCenter host Stan Verrett is launching a new show on Twitch with Neil Everett, his partner on the ESPN desk for the past 15 years. Verrett joins Front Office Sports Today to explain his decision to move from broadcast to live streaming, what caused the massive boom in the creator-led media landscape, and why SportsCenter is out of its heyday.

Also, Backyard Football ’99 relaunches today, Tiger Woods is hitting golf balls again, and the Clippers scandal sees another interesting wrinkle.

Up Next
Sponsored

What Is It Like to Run the Knicks?

Dave Checketts on his time running the Knicks & Jazz, Jordan war…
May 5, 2026

Skip Bayless Is Back on First Take

Skip Bayless rejoins Stephen A. Smith on First Take in a reunion…
May 4, 2026

Michigan’s Blueprint for March Madness

Dusty May on Michigan’s ten million dollar roster, the transfer portal, and…
April 29, 2026