Which is kind of funny, since Theismann has always said he was axed from MNF for doing just that: "They told me they were firing me because I talked about football."

Funny how that works. He notes "coincidentally" how that's also happening with current MNF analysts Ron Jaworski and Jon Gruden, who replaced Tony Kornheiser, as MNF coverage this season has dropped its show biz elements to go back to basics: "I see 'Jaws' and Jon get to talk football — and good for them."

And Theismann, saying he's long moved on from MNF, says the show's announcer shuffles are just something to be expected: "When Gruden goes back to football next year they'll just get another one in."

Theismann, hoping to get another NFL TV job, had turned down an ESPN offer to do college games. His Playbook shows air Thursday and Friday nights (6 p.m. ET) and break down game films. As NFLN is now a sort of Class AAA for NFL TV — breaking in rookies and letting vets dropped by bigger networks stay in the game — Theismann will work with ex-Fox analyst Brian Baldinger and Sterling Sharpe, who was at ESPN and NBC.