Nbc Contacted By Montana Reps

In anticipation of his retirement next week, representatives of Joe Montana have contacted NBC Sports to discuss the possibility of the future Hall of Famer joining the Peacock’s NFL broadcast team.

Network sources said the International Management Group, the company representing Montana, only made preliminary inquiries.

“They only talked in generalities,” a source said. “There certainly were no negotiations - not even specifics.”

Ed Markey, an NBC sports spokesman, declined to comment.

Vince Wladika, spokesman for Fox Sports, said that network had no contact with Montana’s people.

A spokesman for Turner Sports, Greg Hughes,

said that network has not been contacted by IMG. “But we certainly would be interested in him,” Hughes said. Turner Sports is looking to make sweeping changes in its pregame and postgame shows and would have plenty of room for Montana.

“I’m sure we’ll throw our hat in the ring,” said ESPN spokesman Chris LaPlaca.

Any network that hired Montana likely would want to use him in a studio role where it not only would get maximum exposure for Montana, but have a marquee personality for its pregame show. Fox, NBC and ESPN studio show lineups are set.

But that doesn’t mean they wouldn’t consider creating a role for Montana if the right financial terms could be reached. ESPN retooled its pregame show last season when it hired Phil Simms at the 11th hour.

Don’t look for a Montana bidding war to break out. “Unless you’re talking about a John Madden, those days are over,” a source said.