Report: Adam Schefter to Leave NFL Network for ESPN

Pro Football Talk is reporting that when his current deal expires later this year, NFL Network's lead reporter Adam Schefter will jump to ESPN.

If true, Schefter's loss would hurt the NFL Network a lot more than he would help ESPN. At ESPN, Schefter would join a staff that already has Chris Mortensen, John Clayton, Michael Smith, Len Pasquarelli and at least seven NFL bloggers. But with the NFL Network, Schefter has been the star insider--the network's go-to man on any story requiring intensive reporting, much like Jay Glazer at Fox.

That approach paid off for the NFL in many ways--they got the same reporting credibility out of Schefter that ESPN spent to hire a multitude of reporters, but by putting all their eggs in one basket, they also are left in a much more difficult situation than ESPN would be if any one of their reporters left.

If there is someone at NFL Network who could step up and try to fill Schefter's shoes, it's Steve Wyche, an ex-newspaper reporter who has filled a reporting role for NFL.com and the NFL Network. But for a network that hans't gotten a lot of good news in recent months, losing Schefter would be a big loss.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

4-16-2009 @ 12:08AM

gshort3011 said...

So what, he seemed a little too creepy for me.

4-16-2009 @ 12:24AM

ajinthematrix8 said...

Shefter is the most reliable reporter in the NFL. That would be a huge loss for NFLN. Shefter has so many connections that players will text him to figure out what is going on. I did think it was odd that he hadnt been on total access since march though. If he doesnt cover the draft next week i think i'll go back to watching it on ESPN

4-16-2009 @ 12:53AM

Adam said...

He's the best thing NFLN has. They better do whatever they can to keep him. Moving into the chaos of ESPN will just dilute everything he brings to the table.

4-16-2009 @ 1:14AM

rodevos1 said...

Well is it safe to say Florio isn't leaving his own website anytime soon? lmao Ya gotta admire a guy who likes to see himself in print on a lame football message board.

4-16-2009 @ 9:29AM

StigmA said...

well who's to say he's contacts don't shut him off when he gets to ESPN and is no longer working for the NFL? this could be a huge disaster to him too if people still favor goon number 1, 2, 3, 4, & 5 @ espn and then he's left with items like.... "where will the punter from the houston texans be going this offseason?"