Michelle Beadle Leaving ESPN for NBC?

Sports by Brooks first reported on Thursday that Beadle would be leaving ESPN to work in a variety of roles at NBC. She will initially work at NBC Sports, possibly for the network's Olympics coverage, before eventually evolving into a co-host role at Access Hollywood.

Beadle texted The Big Lead's Jason McIntrye to say that the report is inaccurate, but many have believed that the high-energy blonde was interested in leaving Bristol, Conn. for a new opportunity. It's long been speculated that she was interested in getting involved with more entertainment in sports, which would fit in to her rumored new role at NBC.

Another rumored reason for Beadle's uneasiness in signing a long-term deal was her co-host Colin Cowherd's future at the network. The Big Lead reported that Cowherd would eventually be leaving SportsNation to have his own television show at ESPN and Beadle was reportedly worried about being saddled with a co-host that she didn't have good chemistry with.

An ESPN spokesman told Fangs Bites that the organization is still in talks with Beadle.

Beadle is one of three big ESPN personalities that have expiring contracts. Sports by Brooks also reported this week that ESPN had negotiated an extension with one of them, Scott Van Pelt. Van Pelt currently serves as a SportsCenter anchor and a host of a daily radio show and was heavily pursued by NBC Sports and other television networks.

The other free agent is college football sideline reporter Erin Andrews.