ESPN Decides Trent Dilfer Is Not Good Anymore, Expected To Part Ways With NFL Analyst
By Matt Dolloff, CBS Boston
BOSTON (CBS) -- The purge of talent at ESPN continues, and the latest name to be shown the door might satisfy Patriots fans: the network is expected to part ways with longtime NFL analyst and former quarterback Trent Dilfer, according to Bob Raissman of the New York Daily News.
Raissman reports that "NFL TV sources" informed him that Dilfer is "likely headed out the door" at ESPN and that "money is the issue" as far as the reasons for his reported dismissal.
Dilfer is particularly notorious in the New England area for his scathing post-game rant against the Patriots after they took a 41-14 shellacking in Kansas City in 2014. Dilfer infamously said after that game on the Patriots: "Let's face it, they're not good anymore," also calling them a "weak team" that got "bullied" by the Chiefs. He's also known for this profound piece of football wisdom: "You cannot lose games in the NFL and still win."
The Patriots, of course, dismissed the whole notion of being weak by bouncing back big-time the week after the Kansas City loss and going on to win Super Bowl XLIX. Dilfer's "They're not good anymore" still ranks among the biggest showings of disrespect against an NFL franchise that's used to it by now.
Despite the incendiary (and, ultimately, laughably wrong) comments, Dilfer spent the next year atoning for them. He admitted on-air that it was a "knee-jerk" reaction. He even defended the Patriots' legacy against the controversy-mongering, bad-opinion-having Cris Carter when debating DeflateGate - and this particular back-and-forth took place in the postgame show right after Super Bowl.
It's unclear whether Dilfer's reported ouster is a firing, resignation, or mutual parting of ways - it's only being reported that Dilfer is "likely headed out the door." But, whatever you call it, Patriots fans who never forgave Dilfer will likely celebrate this move as something of a victory over ESPN. The network may still consider Dilfer a fine analyst, but in terms of his paychecks, he may not have been good for business anymore.
Dilfer has already denied that he's leaving ESPN to join the San Francisco 49ers, but given his experience as both an NFL quarterback and analyst, he would likely land a new gig relatively quickly. Wherever he ends up, he's probably done trying to bury the Patriots as long as Bill Belichick and Tom Brady are around.
Matt Dolloff is a writer for CBSBostonSports.com. His opinions do not necessarily reflect that of CBS or 98.5 The Sports Hub. Have a news tip or comment for Matt? Follow him on Twitter @mattdolloff and email him at mdolloff@985thesportshub.com.
