Michael McCarthy
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Articles by Michael McCarthy
Evan Washburn Eyes March Madness for His ‘Instant Film Room’ Original
Every once in a while a sports TV innovation comes along that’s so fresh and addictive, you have to tip your cap. This year, that innovation is Evan Washburn’s “Instant Film Room.” Rather than asking the usual postgame questions, the CBS Sports sideline reporter has been showing NFL quarterbacks like Bryce Young, Aaron Rodgers, and Josh Allen the key play of the game via a portable video monitor. In many cases, it’s the first-time the players see the actual game footage after it’s happened.
Evan Washburn Eyes March Madness for His ‘Instant Film Room’
Arch Manning 2 hours ago ESPN star implores Arch Manning to enter the transfer portal thecomeback.com - Qwame Skinner • 2h "Definitely not at Texas." Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning has had a rough couple of weeks.
Buck, Aikman Avoid the Elephant in the ‘MNF’ Booth Original
During Troy Aikman’s appearance before 49ers–Commanders on Monday Night Countdown, he heaped praise on San Francisco for rewarding loyal players like Brock Purdy and George Kittle with multi-million contract extensions. “Everybody’s getting paid,” noted Aikman. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for him and ESPN.
Troy Aikman–Joe Buck Breakup Looks More Likely Than Ever Original
Tom Cruise has a memorable line in the movie Cocktail. When his character tries to break up with his girlfriend, she says she doesn’t want their relationship to end badly. Cruise replies, “Everything ends badly. Otherwise it wouldn’t end.” That’s how I feel about the possible breakup of ESPN’s Troy Aikman and Joe Buck, the longest-running broadcast duo in NFL TV at 25 years and counting. The duo is poised to call ESPN’s telecast of Super Bowl LXI on Feb. 14.
The Tomlin Effect? NFL Analysts More Blunt Than Ever Original
Mike Tomlin’s outspoken analysis might be rubbing off on other NFL coaches-turned-TV analysts. Since the Super Bowl–winning former Steelers coach debuted on NBC’s Football Night in America this season, I’ve noticed other ex-coaches turned analysts becoming more pointed in their commentary about current coaches and players. For way too long, the de facto TV approach of ex-coaches was to go soft on their brethren.
Could Pat McAfee’s Super Bowl Alt-Cast Be a Monday Night Football Tryout? Original
As Front Office Sports previously reported, ESPN is adding a Pat McAfee-led Field Pass alt-cast to its coverage of Super Bowl LXI. That’s big news on its own, as ESPN throws everything but the kitchen sink at its first-ever Super Bowl telecast on Feb. 14, 2027. But if you ask me, this could be an audition for an even bigger move by McAfee. How about putting the star of The Pat McAfee Show in ESPN’s main Monday Night Football broadcast booth? Far-fetched? Not quite.
It’s Time for NFL Networks to Hire ‘Clock Management’ Specialists Original
The hiring of Mike Pereira as on-air “rules” analyst by Fox Sports revolutionized sports TV back in 2010. In my book, it’s high time for NFL TV partners to add “clock management” analysts to their game telecasts. Commanders coach Dan Quinn’s unforgivable clock management at the end of Sunday’s 27–27 tie with the Giants was the biggest clock blunder in years. By inadvertently letting time run out instead of setting up a game-winning field goal, Quinn snatched a tie from the very jaws of victory.
Sophie Cunningham to Athletic Column Calling for Fever Exit: ‘Suck It’ Original
Sophie Cunningham had a blunt response to a column in The Athletic urging the Indiana Fever to cut her loose this off-season: “Suck it.” On her No Hestitation podcast, Caitlin Clark’s favorite bodyguard fired back at a piece by Athletic columnist Candace Buckner, stating she’s not worth the “circus” she creates around the Fever. Cunningham, an unrestricted free agent, averaged less than 8 points a game this season coming off the bench, noted Buckner.
Stephen A. Smith Ditches the ‘Nopology’ in Lane Johnson Mea Culpa Original
The era of “Nopology” apologies is over. The public isn’t buying them any more. In fact, they tend to backfire. Just ask Stephen A. Smith. Smith tried to put out a simmering fire over his controversial Lane Johnson comments with a contrite statement on Thursday’s edition of First Take. His humble apology came one day after he made light of the Eagles tackle’s decision to retire only four games into the 2026 season to focus on his mental health.
Kenny Albert’s Last-Minute NLDS Fill-In Came Mid-Colonoscopy Prep Original
Kenny Albert has one of the craziest schedules in sports, regularly calling games for the NFL, MLB, NBA, and the NHL. But Albert’s TV ironman abilities were put to the test when he managed to call Game 3 of the NLDS between the Dodgers and Braves, despite prepping for a colonoscopy the next day. Here’s what happened: the 58-year-old Albert had scheduled his colonoscopy for Tuesday morning.
Tony Romo Had an Enormous Impact on NFL TV Original
Tony Romo is history at CBS Sports. But during his nine years as the network’s No. 1 NFL game analyst, the former Cowboys quarterback changed the sports media game forever. The “Romo Effect” will be felt for years to come. Consider: Market reset: When Romo signed his initial three-year deal worth $3 million a year with CBS in 2017, the highest-paid NFL color commentators made single-digit millions. Monday Night Football analyst Jon Gruden was ESPN’s highest-paid employee at $6.5 million a year.
Suzy Kolber Talks ESPN Layoff, ‘Unconventional’ Path to Scripps Original
Suzy Kolber, the longtime ESPN anchor and reporter, has launched a new interview show called The Originals for Scripps Sports Network’s Fast Channel. Kolber spent three decades at ESPN, where she did it all. She covered Disney’s last Super Bowl on ABC in 2006, was part of ESPN’s inaugural team for Monday Night Football, covered the NFL Draft, and hosted Monday Night Countdown from 2015 to 2023.
Michelle Beadle Joining Matthew Berry’s Roku Show Original
Michelle Beadle and Matthew Berry are joining forces. Beadle has been named the cohost of the new Roku show, Pregame with Matthew Berry, Front Office Sports has learned. The new weekday sports talk series will debut on Monday. Produced by Berry’s own Fantasy Life company, the two-hour show will stream live and free on the Roku Sports Channel Monday-Friday from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. ET.
Donald Trump Not Expected to Join ‘College GameDay’ on Saturday Original
Donald Trump is not anticipated to join ESPN’s College GameDay on Saturday, sources tell Front Office Sports. When the White House confirmed Clay Travis’s report that the President planned to attend Saturday’s Tennessee vs. Texas game in Knoxville, many began to speculate about a potential appearance on the iconic pregame show. Trump is friends with Pat McAfee and Nick Saban, and GameDay has become increasingly political, with Senator Ted Cruz (R., Texas) appearing on Sept.
Will Donald Trump Join ESPN’s ‘College GameDay’ on Saturday? Original
For a company that says it wants to avoid the third rail of politics, ESPN keeps finding itself caught in the Culture Wars. The biggest question of the sports weekend is whether President Donald Trump will appear on ESPN’s College GameDay before personally attending the matchup between No. 1 Texas and No. 14 Tennessee in Knoxville on Saturday. It would make sense. Trump is friends with GameDay stars Pat McAfee and Nick Saban.
Stephen A. Smith Once Again Set for Multiple MNF ‘Countdown’ Appearances Original
Stephen A. Smith is returning to ESPN’s Monday Night Countdown. Smith is expected to appear on three or four episodes of the pregame show this season, an ESPN spokesman confirmed to Front Office Sports. On Monday night, Smith made his first appearance of the season with host Scott Van Pelt and castmates Pat McAfee, Marcus Spears, Jason Kelce, and Jason McCourty from Los Angeles before the network’s telecast of Giants-Rams.
Browns’ Todd Monken Wise to Use Mike Tomlin As a Media Motivator Original
“Browns are gonna Browns? Fuck that. OK? The guys took that to heart. Thank you.” That was Browns coach Todd Monken’s mic-drop walkoff moment after his team’s 23–19 upset victory over the Buccaneers in Tampa on Sunday. Good for you, coach. On the surface, Monken was firing back at Mike Tomlin’s snide “Browns is the Browns” crack on NBC’s Football Night in America last week after Cleveland’s lopsided 34–10 Week 1 loss to the Jaguars.
No Troy Aikman–ESPN Extension Imminent Despite Joe Buck Deal Original
As soon as news broke that Joe Buck was signing a $100 million-plus contract extension with ESPN, the phone calls and texts began: What’s up with Troy Aikman? After all, the legendary former Cowboys quarterback has been joined at the hip with Buck since 2002. They spent 20 years as a team at Fox Sports before jumping to ESPN together in 2022. Since taking over at Monday Night Football, their profile and influence have only increased.
Sports Media Winners and Losers From the Football Week
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Sports Media Winners and Losers From the Start of Football Season
Sports Media Winners and Losers From the Start of Football Season Sports Media Winners and Losers From the Start of Football Season Thank the sports Gods—football is back. After a wild first week of NFL action and two weekends of college football, here are some sports media winners and losers: Mike Tomlin: NBC Sports made the biggest hire of the offseason, bringing in Tomlin. The ex-Steelers coach is a natural for TV, with his short, pithy Tomlin-isms.
Mike Tirico Addresses Michael Jordan’s NBC Exit, Hopeful He’ll Return Original
Mike Tirico publicly confirmed Front Office Sports’s report that Michael Jordan is not expected to return to NBC’s basketball coverage this season. But the face and voice of NBC Sports hopes Air Jordan changes his mind and returns as a “special contributor” to the network’s NBA coverage. Expectations were high when NBC announced the six-time NBA champion would join its coverage before the 2025–26 season.
J.J. Watt Wasn’t Better Than Tony Romo—but He Was Good Enough Original
J.J. Watt was not an upgrade over Tony Romo on Sunday afternoon. But he was solid enough that Romo should worry about keeping his $18 million a year job as CBS’s top NFL analyst. Among the many storylines during Week 1 of the new NFL season was Watt stepping into the role of No. 1 game analyst alongside Jim Nantz and Tracy Wolfson. It’s the media opportunity of a lifetime for the 37-year-old Watt, who’s only in the fourth year of his TV career.
How ESPN Will Use Chris Berman in Its Super Bowl Coverage Original
Chris Berman is poised to play a starring role in ESPN’s “Year of the Super Bowl.” Starting on Monday night, the sportscasting legend will begin counting down his 20 favorite Super Bowl plays, memories, and more via a weekly segment surrounding Monday Night Football. Dubbed “Chris Berman’s Super Bowl Top 20,” the series will conclude with his No. 1 pick during the NFL Playoffs in January before ESPN’s telecast of Super Bowl LXI on Feb. 14, 2027.
Mike Tomlin Shines in NBC Sports Debut Original
Forget Myles Garrett or A.J. Brown. In my book, NBC Sports made the NFL’s most consequential move of the off-season by hiring Mike Tomlin for its studio coverage. Tomlin made a sensational regular-season TV debut on Wednesday night during NBC’s season-opening telecast of Seahawks-Patriots. The longtime Steelers coach demonstrated why he was the most desired NFL TV free agent since Tom Brady. The Super Bowl-winning coach was commanding, succinct, incisive.
Skip Bayless and Shannon Sharpe Have Filmed a Reunion Show Original
Shannon Sharpe and Skip Bayless recently filmed a reunion show in the Los Angeles area, Front Office Sports has learned. The show was taped for Sharpe’s popular Club Shay Shay podcast on the Playmaker network. It was not immediately clear whether the show would be a one-off or if there would be regular collaborations. A rep for Playmaker did not respond to a request for comment. Sharpe and Bayless cohosted Undisputed together for nearly seven years on FS1.
Lane Kiffin’s Villain Act Has Made Him College Football’s Biggest Story Original
Like him or loathe him, LSU coach Lane Kiffin is poised to be the sports media story of the college football season. The bad boy of college sports has come a long way from coaching the Florida Atlantic Owls—or from being chewed out as an assistant by Nick Saban at Alabama. Heading into Week 1, most of the buzz was about the Tigers’ first-year coach allegedly skirting the rules by recruiting players who had spent most of the offseason on NFL rosters .
Dianna Russini ‘Absolutely’ Planning Sports Media Comeback Original
Dianna Russini is “absolutely” planning a comeback to sports media, sources tell Front Office Sports. The former senior NFL insider for The Athletic has been in discussions about several new job opportunities, ranging from pro football insider to opinionist/personality, say sources. Russini hasn’t decided on her next play. But with the kickoff of the new pro football season only six days away, the former ESPN reporter is expected to make her move sooner rather than later.
Winners and Losers of NBA’s Draconian Clippers Ruling Original
The NBA’s draconian punishment of the Clippers on Wednesday produced some instant sports media winners and losers. Let’s dive into who’s smiling—and who has egg all over their face: Pablo Torre: There’s no asterisks around that Pulitzer Prize for the award-winning investigative journalist. The year-long investigation by Pablo Torre Finds Out into the Clippers’ byzantine attempts to circumvent the NBA’s salary cap were vindicated by the findings of the law firm Wachtell Lipton Rosen & Katz.
The 2026 NFL Season’s 13 Most Intriguing Media Personalities Original
Our long national nightmare is over. We’re only eight days away from the NFL, the unquestioned king of sports TV sports, returning for the new 2026 season. But before we get to NBC’s telecast of the season-opening Seahawks-Patriots Super Bowl rematch on Sep. 9, let’s dive into the 13 most intriguing on-air personalities heading into the new season: CBS Sports is facing a virtually unprecedented situation heading into the new football season.
Tony Romo Indicates CBS Return and Pleads No Contest to OWI Original
Tony Romo seemed to indicate that he will eventually return to broadcasting at CBS in a statement Tuesday about his recent OWI arrest in Wisconsin. Romo was pulled over on a Milwaukee highway in late July after participating in a nearby golf tournament and charged with OWI.
Kaepernick’s Legacy Lives On as NFL’s Anti-Racism Messaging Continues Original
It’s been 10 years since then-49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick took a seat during the playing of the U.S. national anthem. But a decade after the social justice protest heard round the world, Kaepernick’s presence is still being felt across the NFL—and sports at large. The NFL will again place anti-racism messages across playing fields and player helmets in 2026, Front Office Sports has learned. It will be the seventh straight season the Shield has been out front on social justice messaging.
Bulls Planning Analyst Rotation to Replace Late Stacey King Original
The Bulls are planning to use a rotation of analysts to replace legendary color commentator Stacey King on CHSN telecasts this season, Front Office Sports has learned. King—who won three championships with the franchise in the early 1990s, and called games for the last 19 seasons—died at 59 earlier this year after suffering a fall in his suburban Chicago home. Robbie Hummel is one of the people being considered for the rotation, sources said.
Michael Jordan Not Expected To Return To NBC's NBA Coverage
Michael Jordan is not expected to return to NBC Sports' coverage of the NBA this season.
ESPN Replaces Lead ‘College GameDay’ Producer in Shakeup Original
On the eve of the new college football season, ESPN is shaking up production leadership on College GameDay, Front Office Sports has confirmed. Producer Jim Gaiero is being transferred into a broader role across ESPN’s live events portfolio, sources say. Matthew Garrett, Gaiero’s boss for the past three years as vice president of production, is taking over as executive producer of the venerable college football pregame show.
Michael Jordan Not Expected to Return to NBC’s NBA Coverage Original
Michael Jordan is not expected to return to NBC Sports’s NBA coverage, Front Office Sports has learned. NBC scored a major coup when it landed His Airness as a “special on-air contributor” before the 2025–26 season. It was the first time Air Jordan really talked basketball on TV since ESPN’s landmark 2020 documentary, The Last Dance,about his Bulls dynasty. All six of Jordan’s NBA titles were broadcast on NBC airwaves during the network’s golden era of 1990s basketball coverage.
What We Know So Far About Clay Travis’s New Media Company, Sport & State Original
Clay Travis’s new media company officially launched on Wednesday. As previously reported by Front Office Sports, the digital media platform is called Sport & State. Also as expected, Travis is leaning heavily into live programming and digital podcasts—starting with a video version of The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show. But plenty of unknowns remain. Let’s go under the hood and try to answer some burning questions about the controversial OutKick founder’s latest challenger brand.
Pat McAfee’s ESPN Ascent Continues With ‘Monday Night Countdown’ Original
Pat McAfee’s stock continues to soar at ESPN. The sports media giant announced Wednesday that McAfee will join the cast of the venerable Monday Night Countdown studio show this season. It’s the latest addition to McAfee’s growing ESPN programming portfolio. The former NFL punter hosts his own eponymous weekday show, co-stars on College GameDay, and frequently hosts “Field-Casts” for major college football games televised on ESPN platforms.
Colorado’s ‘Prime Effect’ Is Wearing Off for TV Networks Original
Is the luster fading from coach Deion Sanders’s Colorado for college football TV networks? Following a 3—9 season last year, the Buffaloes might not be as big of an attraction to national broadcasters such as ABC/ESPN, Fox Sports/FS1, and TNT Sports/truTV, sources tell Front Office Sports. Especially if they get off to a slow start in the 2026 season, which kicks off on Sept. 3 at Georgia Tech on ESPN. When Sanders took over for the 2023 season, Colorado quickly became a TV phenomenon.
Modulation of neuronal excitability and plasticity by BHLHE41 conveys lithium non-responsiveness
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Abstract Many bipolar disorder (BD) patients are non-responsive to lithium. The mechanisms underlying lithium (non-)responsiveness are largely unknown. By using gene-set enrichment analysis methods, we found that core clock gene-sets are significantly associated with lithium response. Among the top hits was BHLHE41, a modulator of the molecular clock and homeostatic sleep.
By Marius Stephan, Sergi Papiol, Mingyue Zhang, Jie Song, Niels Jensen, Nirmal Kannaiyan, Rajinder Gupta, Philipp Schüler, Ruofan Li, Michael McCarthy Verified, Eva C. Schulte, Mikael Landén, Peter Falkai, Volker Scheuss, Thomas Schulze Verified, Weiqi Zhang, Moritz J. Rossner, Samuel M. Frommeyer, Helen Haupt, Pia Pickelmann
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Nature
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J.J. Watt’s CBS Rise Could Reshape the NFL Analyst Pecking Order Original
NEW YORK — J.J. Watt never thought he’d go into the media after his NFL career. Now, Watt has the opportunity to become the permanent No. 1 game analyst for CBS Sports. If he ends up with the big microphone, it could reset the chessboard for NFL analysts for years to come. With Tony Romo on indefinite leave following his OWI arrest in Wisconsin, Watt has been temporarily promoted to CBS’s lead NFL team, with play-by-play announcer Jim Nantz and Tracy Wolfson.
MLB Field of Dreams Game Proves Baseball Sells Nostalgia Best Original
They don’t call baseball America’s Pastime for nothing. MLB’s Field of Dreams Game demonstrated, yet again, how no sport employs nostalgia and tradition as powerfully as the grand old game. From Kevin Costner’s stirring narration to the Phillies and Twins players striding out of the cornfields in Dyersville, Iowa, MLB’s third iteration of the Field of Dreams Game was superb entertainment.
Lakers Join Sixers, Knicks, Spurs Atop NBA’s National TV Slate Original
As previously reported by Front Office Sports, LeBron James’s 76ers received the maximum 34 national TV games in the NBA’s new 2026-27 schedule. But King James’s old team in Los Angeles still remains one of the league’s biggest TV draws. Luka Doncic’s Lakers will also play in the maximum of 34 nationally televised/streamed games, along with James’s 76ers, Jalen Brunson’s defending champion Knicks, and Victor Wembanyama’s Spurs.
Jason Benetti Will Call NBA Games for NBC This Season Original
Jason Benetti of NBC Sports will get the chance to mix in some NBA announcing with his MLB coverage this season, Front Office Sports has learned. Benetti, the lead voice of NBC’s Sunday Night Baseball, will handle play-by-play for some regular-season and NBA playoff games during the upcoming season, sources say. The 42-year-old Benetti has hoops experience: He called Game 2 of the 76ers-Celtics Eastern Conference first-round series on Peacock and NBCSN this past year.
Critics Can No Longer Claim ESPN Is ‘Woke’ Original
If you want proof the “woke” era at ESPN is over, all you had to do was watch President Donald Trump’s inaugural Freedom 250 Patriot Games on Tuesday. Here was Pat McAfee, one of ESPN’s biggest stars, personally greeting Trump on the tarmac in Cleveland before traveling to the event at nearby Spire Academy. Disney chief executive officer Josh D’Amaro and ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro also joined McAfee and Trump at the national competition for high school athletes, which was streamed on the ESPN app.
CBS Sports President: ‘No Timetable’ for Romo’s Return Original
NEW YORK — CBS Sports is still “assessing” the Tony Romo situation, with no timetable set for his return. That was the word from CBS Sports president and CEO David Berson at the network’s annual talent press conference previewing the new NFL season. CBS put Romo on indefinite leave after his OWI arrest in his home state of Wisconsin in July. The 46-year-old Romo is due in court on Sept. 21.
Greg Olsen Has the Most to Gain in NFL TV’s Talent Shuffle Original
This will be one of the wildest years in recent sports TV history as Troy Aikman and Joe Buck of ESPN, and Kirk Herbstreit of Amazon Prime Video, enter the final seasons of their current contracts. Lest we forget, Tony Romo’s future at CBS Sports is up in the air after his OWI arrest and the release of an embarrassing police-cam video showing the ex-Cowboys quarterback failing sobriety tests.
Clay Travis to Launch New Sports Media Outfit Before Football Season Original
Clay Travis is building a new sports media site that’s expected to launch before kickoff of the new football season, Front Office Sports has learned. Travis’s syndicated talk radio show, The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show, is expected to play a key role. The show now generates three hours of daily video across digital and YouTube sites. Airing in Rush Limbaugh’s old 12 noon to 3 p.m. ET time slot, Travis and Sexton’s radio show now reaches over 550 stations nationwide.
Troy Aikman and Joe Buck Head Into High-Stakes ESPN Negotiations Original
The most high-stakes sports TV talent negotiation of the year is poised to kick off between Troy Aikman, Joe Buck, and ESPN. ESPN wants to re-up the Monday Night Football duo, whose contracts expire after the 2026 NFL season. If ESPN gets its way, Aikman and Buck will call ESPN’s historic first two Super Bowls after the 2026 and 2030 NFL seasons. But there’s also an intriguing player in the mix: Creative Artists Agency. The powerhouse talent agency now represents both Aikman and Buck, say sources.
NBC to Retain Media Rights to Preakness Stakes Original
After a hard-fought bidding war, NBC Sports is retaining media rights to the Preakness Stakes, Front Office Sports has learned. NBC had been defending its rights to the second leg of racing’s triple crown. The Preakness has drawn interest from possible bidders such as Fox Sports, Netflix and Amazon, say sources. It’s unclear how long the network’s new deal is for. Dan Illman, a spokesman for the Maryland Jockey Club, declined to comment.
Aaron Rodgers Torches ESPN, Fauci, Others on ‘McAfee’ Original
Mister Rodgers’s neighborhood was not a happy place on Monday. Aaron Rodgers took the opportunity of a live interview with The Pat McAfee Show to eviscerate a “cowardly” Anthony Fauci, “gutless” ESPN, and other enemies, real or imagined. This was Michael Corleone at the end of The Godfather settling all family business. It was gonzo but wildly entertaining sports TV. When McAfee & Co. tried to gently steer the 42-year-old football legend to safer topics, he ran right over them.
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