Tiki signs 4 year, $10M contract

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http://www.nypost.com/seven/01012007/sport...ew_marchand.htm

TIKI'S $10M TV DEAL

By ANDREW MARCHAND

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January 1, 2007 -- As part of a massive four-year, $10 million contract with Disney, Tiki Barber is expected to work for both ABC News and ESPN, The Post has learned.

 

For ABC, Barber will be on two of its most prominent news programs. The agreement calls for Barber, 31, to work on both Good Morning America and 20/20. His exact position has yet to be fully defined.

 

For ESPN, his role is unknown, but Barber would figure to be a prime candidate if Tony Kornheiser were to decide to leave the Monday Night Football booth. An ESPN spokesman declined comment.

 

By retiring now, Barber relinquished a total of $8.3 million he was owed over the next two years by the Giants.

 

Instead Barber - barring an injury in the playoffs - will leave the game with his health and will make more money in total over the next four years.

 

While the average per year is less, the chance at a long TV career could prove much more lucrative than a few extra NFL paychecks.

 

If Barber ends up on ESPN's NFL broadcasts, he will likely need to make peace with analysts Michael Irvin and Tom Jackson. After Irvin and Jackson questioned Barber when his retirement plans became public, Barber shot back by labeling the duo "idiots."

 

Barber already has plenty of broadcasting experience. His long resume includes co-hosting Fox & Friends on Fox News every Tuesday morning.

 

In that role, Barber impressed network executives with his smoothness.

 

Barber's representative had talks with all the networks, but ABC and ESPN were very aggressive from the moment Barber became available.

 

andrew.marchand@nypost.com

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