Joe Posnanski is Leaving Sports on Earth for NBC Sports
Less than a year after leaving Sports Illustrated for the MLB/USA Today startup Sports on Earth, columnist Joe Posnanski is on the move again: He just agreed to a contract with NBC Sports. I spoke with Posnanski Monday by phone as he struggled with the decision to stay or go, and he tells me via text message this morning, “Rough call … yes, going to NBC. Sad to leave, excited about the opportunity.”
Will Posnanski be used on Sunday Night Football? Will he join Bob Costas on his TV show? All he would say is that he’ll be a “digital voice” at NBC Sports.
Related: Peter King is staying at Sports Illustrated
Related: Book Review: “Paterno” Can’t Detach the Man From the Myth
[Disclaimer: Yes, Big Lead Sports is owned by USA Today Sports, but sources in the industry - many, actually - have been discussing the Posnanski move for weeks.]
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44 Responses to “Joe Posnanski is Leaving Sports on Earth for NBC Sports”
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January 29th, 2013 at 10:26 AM
I like Posnanski. I love the Hall of Fame. But I have to tune him out for a couple of months a year as he puts out at least 20 hall of fame vote pieces. Enough.
January 29th, 2013 at 10:26 AM
Wise choice.
/looked at image
January 29th, 2013 at 10:28 AM
Gotta think he stays if it’s named something other than “Sports On Earth.”
January 29th, 2013 at 10:30 AM
It’s like they sat around and tried to come up with a title more pretentious than Grantland.
January 29th, 2013 at 10:31 AM
Damn. That was fast.
January 29th, 2013 at 10:33 AM
This guy has changed teams more than Kenny Lofton
January 29th, 2013 at 10:33 AM
That’s what she said?
January 29th, 2013 at 10:33 AM
I liked his recent HoF pieces comparing the widely varying standards of BBWAA choices vs. those of the various Veteran’s Committees. The thing I never understood about his column on Sports on Earth was what appeared on that site alone, v. what appeared on his personal blog.
January 29th, 2013 at 10:34 AM
I never understood that name. Grantland is a fantastic name. Now, I don’t read their shit because it’s awful most of the time, but the name is badass. Sports On Earth sounds like a terrible local access TV show.
January 29th, 2013 at 10:34 AM
Will he sound like Robbie the Robot?
January 29th, 2013 at 10:35 AM
This guy has changed teams more than Kenny Lofton
Approaching Joe Smith, Mike Maddux territory.
January 29th, 2013 at 10:35 AM
Wasn’t aware that Tommy Tomlinson was there now. Used to enjoy his work in the Charlotte Observer back in the day.
January 29th, 2013 at 10:37 AM
what the hell is Sports on Earth?
Hope not. That studio crew is bad enough as is.
That’s fine. Out of sight of mind.
January 29th, 2013 at 10:37 AM
My thoughts exactly. I love SoE despite the godawful name, but it really makes the site look bad since he’s getting the hell out of there as fast as he can.
January 29th, 2013 at 10:38 AM
Or if it wasn’t a USA Today property. Seemed to be plenty buried.
January 29th, 2013 at 10:38 AM
I would read an article about how they came up with Sports on Earth. It would have to be filled with incredible corporate douchebaggery. Like adding Poochie to Itchy & Scratchy.
January 29th, 2013 at 10:38 AM
Sports On Earth
Never heard of it. Dumb name.
January 29th, 2013 at 10:39 AM
I like their site when I get around to it, the NFL guy does good work…but the name is terrible, made me think of Better Off Ted whose name did not do it justice
January 29th, 2013 at 10:39 AM
Just looked over at Sports On Earth and one of the lead stories is Leitch complaining about how bad the Super Bowl is to get paid to go cover.
See, new media is just as grating as old!
January 29th, 2013 at 10:39 AM
Maybe he’ll have guest spots with Beads and Briggs on the Crossover!
/never again
January 29th, 2013 at 10:40 AM
Obviously it helps that he’s a UGA boy, but his piece on the SEC title game where inserts himself into it a bit by admitting he was a fan was really good. It was hard to read as a UGA fan myself, but it was good stuff.
January 29th, 2013 at 10:40 AM
I’VE GOT SOURCES PEOPLE!!!1!!
January 29th, 2013 at 10:42 AM
Meh. TV always pays the bills, and if he gets any TV stuff, or gets his hands on more baseball heavy stuff via Costas, I suspect it’s a good move for him.
January 29th, 2013 at 10:44 AM
Wonder how long until MLB network comes calling for him?
January 29th, 2013 at 10:45 AM
Good idea sending the guy who doesn’t really like football all that much to cover the Super Bowl.
January 29th, 2013 at 10:46 AM
He is horrendous on TV and would probably be the first person to say so
January 29th, 2013 at 10:46 AM
Posnanski must have tripled his salary over the past year if he keeps being convinced to move. What else could possibly be motivating him?
January 29th, 2013 at 10:50 AM
What else could possibly be motivating him?
Sports on Earth is failing. He’s smart enough to know when to jump ship. He left the Star before they layed off 90% of their workforce.
January 29th, 2013 at 10:51 AM
What else could possibly be motivating him?
He shows up to the office and his peers have put goofy Joe Paterno cardboard cutouts at his desk along with faux Pulitzers for investigative reporting.
January 29th, 2013 at 10:52 AM
Is it really? Anyone know how Grantland is doing in terms of bringing in its own money? Seems like they have 1,000 writers (all of which need an editor).
January 29th, 2013 at 10:53 AM
TBL – kinda O/T – how much is left on Rick Reilly’s deal at ESPN?
January 29th, 2013 at 10:54 AM
Wait, wasn’t that Homer’s idea?
…
Ah, now I see.
January 29th, 2013 at 10:54 AM
Pretty sure it expires this year. Not sure if he’s re-upped or not, though.
January 29th, 2013 at 10:54 AM
Joe looks amazingly unhealthy in that photo. Some low-carb high protein meals and a few walks, and possibly venturing out in the sunlight, might help him out.
January 29th, 2013 at 10:57 AM
Sports on Earth is failing.
Is it really? Dawg
I have no idea. Just that would be a reason why a write would jump ship.
Also, I read a lot of sports sites and completely forgot Sports on Earth was a thing. Bias on my part.
January 29th, 2013 at 10:59 AM
Joe looks amazingly unhealthy in that photo. Some low-carb high protein meals and a few walks, and possibly venturing out in the sunlight, might help him out.
He has a dish named after him at Governor Stumpys in Brookside.
POSNANSKI’S CHICKEN SPIDINI Strips of chicken, lightly breaded and fire grilled, topped with a fresh tomato pesto marinade, parmesan cheese and parsley, served on a bed of pasta with marinara. A favorite of Joe Posnanski, a local sports writing legend. 12.49
January 29th, 2013 at 11:02 AM
WTF? Breaded chicken that’s grilled? Gross. When you go the breading route you have to pan fry or deep fry.
January 29th, 2013 at 11:02 AM
This is a shame, because for as much complaining as people do about the content here, at ESPN or Grantland or wherever, there’s a good amount of meat-and-potatoes content there.
January 29th, 2013 at 11:05 AM
This is a shame, because for as much complaining as people do about the content here, at ESPN or Grantland or wherever, there’s a good amount of meat-and-potatoes content there.
I’ll throw it in the rotation and give it a whirl. I just can’t stand reading Emo Leitch.
January 29th, 2013 at 11:09 AM
Yeah, I don’t blame you for that, his touchy feely stuff tends to dominate the site, but Mike Tanier, Chuck Culpepper and Matt Brown are all quality. Plus there’s mushy typical columnist stuff like Leigh Montville and Gwen Knapp if you’re into that sort of thing.
January 29th, 2013 at 11:10 AM
Ha Sports on Earth blocked at work due to low reputation rating
January 29th, 2013 at 11:15 AM
Do this right and it’s very good. Called kettle fried chicken.
January 29th, 2013 at 1:01 PM
Mike Tanier is the best NFL writer going right now. If you havent read him, stop thinking up cute, disparaging comments and go check out his work.
January 29th, 2013 at 1:16 PM
I think posnanski is one of the most overhyped writers in the industry. He’s alright but some of his articles are just pure crap.