Emmitt Smith's Role With ESPN Gets Reimagined

The signs were all there that Emmit Smith's time mumbling, bumbling, stumbling on ESPN's Sunday NFL Countdown was going to be short-lived, especially when the WWL picked up Cris Carter post-"Inside The NFL", but he's still not completely out of a job. No, Smith has not been banished to some verb conjugation seminar behind a secret wall in Bristol but instead will, according to ESPN's official press release, be on "Sunday morning editions of SportsCenter (8 a.m. and 10 a.m.) where he will offer insight and analysis during NFL segments." It also says that Smith will "continue to travel to the Monday Night Football game site each week for Monday Night Countdown." Notice the emphasis on "travel" and not "actively contribute." Smith has about one year left on his contract with ESPN and he's being given an opportunity to continue his employment in this new role — just with a lower profile. So Sunday morning SportsCenter will be like the Sylvan Learning Center for Smith, as most of the football watching audience will still be asleep. But make no mistake — this is a demotion. As one person involved with the ESPN's NFL crew put it, "This was an obvious decision." Yes. He got debacled. Carter In, Emmitt Out On NFL Sunday Countdown [PFT] Emmitt Smith Still On ESPN But Chris Carter Takes His Place On NFL Countdown [AOL Fanhouse]