“For a long time, I’ve been wanting to get off my chest my disgust with this idea that every time something tragic happens, no matter what it may be, that in any way touches sports, there’s a chorus of people saying, ‘you know, this really puts it in perspective.’ Which is a bunch of nonsense, because if that was true, we wouldn’t have to have that perspective adjusted every time the next tragedy occurs. It’s a bunch of nonsense,” Costas told “The Dan Patrick Show” that year. “And what I was trying to say was, that if you want some perspective on this, there are a number of issues related to this that we could begin to talk about and think about. The problem was that I didn’t have enough time to get to many of them. And that, I think, was my mistake, to be quite honest, Dan. A friend of mine in broadcasting pointed this out to me yesterday, and I agree with him. He said, ‘you violated your own rule.’ Because we have had this discussion before: I’ve always said, if you’re going to get into touchy topics, nuanced topics, make sure that you have enough time to flesh them out … or save them for forums where you do. In this particular situation, the timeliness of it was, if you’re going to comment on it at all, it had to be this Sunday.”<doc-sep>After nearly four decades, it appears time for a change. Bob Costas, who has worked at NBC since 1979, is in talks to leave the network before his current contract runs out in 2021, according to New York Post's Andrew Marchand. The 66-year-old Costas has had a reduced role at the network the past few years, including ceding his job as Olympics host to Mike Tirico. "There was a very long period of time when NBC's programming suited my interests and abilities very well, from (late-night talk show) Later, to the news magazines, to baseball, the NBA and the Olympics," Costas told USA Today. "And after deciding on my own to leave the Olympics after having done a dozen of them, you just look around and say, 'What was once a perfect fit no longer fits that description.'" He has been more outspoken about football in recent years, opting against hosting the Super Bowl preview show and noting at a speaking engagement that the game "destroys people's brains." Of course the NFL and NBC have quite the partnership, and that contract runs through 2022. Costas also calls games for MLB Network, and plans to continue doing that. The longtime broadcaster has hopes of still doing "thoughtful discussions, reasonable commentaries and essays," something that could appear on subscription platforms like HBO or Netflix.<doc-sep>Bob Costas is in talks to leave NBC. Only the peacock has served NBC Sports longer. Costas, his representatives and NBC have held discussions that could result in the longtime face of NBC Sports being let out of a contract that currently runs through 2021, a person with knowledge of the conversations told USA TODAY Sports. The person requested anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the discussions. NBC declined to comment on Costas’ potential departure. Costas declined to comment on the specifics but offered some general comments in a pair of brief phone calls with USA TODAY Sports. “There was a very long period of time when NBC’s programming suited my interests and abilities very well, from (late-night talk show) Later, to the news magazines, to baseball, the NBA and the Olympics,” Costas said. “And after deciding on my own to leave the Olympics after having done a dozen of them, you just look around and say, ‘What was once a perfect fit no longer fits that description.’ ” Costas, 66, has worked at NBC since 1979 in starring roles as lead announcer on the Olympics, World Series and Super Bowls. More recently, he took on a sort of emeritus role at NBC Sports — of the sort that Tom Brokaw fills for NBC News — where he is on air mainly for major news events, such as the death of Muhammad Ali. “It would be as if NBC suddenly lost the rights to hockey,” Costas said. “They wouldn’t think any less of Mike Emrick, and he wouldn’t think any less of them, but he’d have to go find a place to do what he does best.” By that, Costas doesn’t mean baseball. He already broadcasts games for the MLB Network. The New York Post, which first reported the talks between Costas and NBC, reported that Costas wants to pursue a journalism show that includes news-making interviews and commentaries, some of which might extend beyond sports. That’s the sort of show that might appeal to pay networks such as HBO and Showtime, or streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon. Costas declined comment on those possibilities, but he is known for outspoken commentary. He spoke at the University of Maryland in 2017 and said of football: “The reality is that this game destroys people’s brains.” The NFL is a business partner with NBC on Sunday Night Football, which has been the top-rated program in prime time for the last seven seasons. Costas was at home Tuesday fighting a head cold. He cited “a great deal of mutual appreciation for everything that I was a part of at NBC for nearly 40 years.” MORE:Bob Costas on the future of football: 'This game destroys people's brains'<doc-sep>
Bob Costas is in talks to negotiate an early exit from his contract at NBC Sports, where he has had a sparse presence on air during the past two years, according to a report published Tuesday by USA Today. An NBC employee for nearly 40 years, Costas’ current deal with NBC runs through 2021. NBC declined to comment while Costas could not immediately be reached for comment. Costas in 2017 announced his retirement from NBC Sports’ Olympics coverage. He has also stopped covering NFL games amid his growing criticism of the toll the game takes on brains and bodies of pro football players. Those decisions have left Costas with little to cover for the Peacock. Costas did not comment on his status at NBC. But he did tell USA Today that he was interested in seeking other opportunities. “There was a very long period of time when NBC’s programming suited my interests and abilities very well, from (hosting the 1988-93 late-night talk show) ‘Later,’ to the news magazines, to baseball, the NBA and the Olympics,” Costas told USA Today. “And after deciding on my own to leave the Olympics after having done a dozen of them, you just look around and say, ‘What was once a perfect fit no longer fits that description.’ ” There’s speculation Costas could be a fit with an interview series for Netflix, HBO or another streaming platform. Costas is a 28-time Emmy winner who is known for his outspoken views and in-depth coverage of sports and its impact on culture.