Woo Hoo!!-Theisman Out at Monday Night Football

[Lawrence]

Theisman out as Monday Night Football analyst

By Neil Best
neilbest@newsday.com

March 25, 2007, 5:56 PM EDT

Joe Theismann is out as a "Monday Night Football" analyst after one season, a person familiar with the decision said Sunday.

Reached on his cell phone, Theismann declined comment "until I fully understand what has taken place" but did not deny the news and hinted that it came as a shock.

Theismann is believed to have been informed Friday. An ESPN spokesman said only "we have nothing to announce."

The likely replacement alongside Mike Tirico and Tony Kornheiser will be Ron Jaworski. He worked one end of a Monday night doubleheader last year and currently is calling Arena League games.

Many critics noted a lack of chemistry between Kornheiser and Theismann in their first season together, but the two believed it improved as the season went on. When Kornheiser said in January he would return to the booth, it was assumed the trio would remain intact.

ESPN apparently believes Jaworski and his sense of humor will be a better fit with Kornheiser.

Theismann, 57, has been an analyst for ESPN since 1988, beginning on the network's Sunday night NFL package. An official announcement of his ouster could come Monday. Copyright 2007 Newsday Inc.