Joe Theismann

The marriage lasted less than three years. They had no children. But when their divorce settlement was finalized in April, after a year of messy negotiations, former Washington Redskins quarterback Joe Theismann was ordered to pay his second wife close to $1 million of marital property and $3,500 a month in alimony. The Theismann ruling captured headlines, not only because of the famous name but for the amounts involved.

Less than a day after his team's epic collapse Sunday ? blowing a three-touchdown lead to Philadelphia in the last half-quarter ? New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning called a rare players-only meeting to regroup his squad for a run at the playoffs. That starts with a huge game Sunday at Green Bay. The typically soft-spoken Manning (Eli doesn't have the commanding presence of his big brother, Peyton) didn't reveal to reporters what he said to his teammates, but explained it this way: "A lot of it is you just man up for your mistakes, you take responsibility, you put it behind you and you look forward to the situation.

What's new with Joe Theismann today? Any codicils in his contract that we aren't aware of? Is the payout greater for making the squad, or for promising not to show up? How about his insurance policy? Any rider in there pertaining to frequent flyer miles while attempting a bicoastal recovery? It's tough keeping track of Theismann these days. Who do you call for the status report: his multiple agents, Lloyd's of London, People magazine or the Journal of the American Medical Association?

Joe Theismann has a brief but memorable part in "The Blind Side," a soon-to-be-released movie depicting the remarkable story of Baltimore Ravens left tackle Michael Oher . The heartwarming movie, which hits theaters Nov. 20, runs two hours, eight minutes -- all but two minutes of which Theismann plans to watch. The Washington Redskins great might want to get popcorn at the beginning, because the story opens with actual footage of his gruesome, career-ending injury in 1985, when his lower leg snapped under the weight of a tackle by the Giants' Lawrence Taylor . "I will never -- and I say this to you unequivocally -- I will never look at it again," said Theismann, who watched a replay of the injury four years ago, at a reporter's request, as part of a 20th anniversary story.

The scene made an enduring impression on Monday night football fans. A wrenching encounter with some of his opponents had put quarterback Joe Theismann on the ground with a broken leg. And now the stretcher bearers were coming out--along with another quarterback, Jay Schroeder, who headed not for the huddle but for Theismann. Leaning over his stricken teammate, Schroeder said: "We're gonna get this one for you, Joe." And they did.

Al Michaels will move over to ESPN as the play-by-play announcer on "Monday Night Football" when the cable network takes over the series from its sister Disney network ABC in 2006. Michaels will be joined in the booth by commentator Joe Theismann, with Suzy Kolber and Michele Tafoya working the sidelines. Theismann is a member of ESPN's team that announces Sunday night NFL games.

Joe Theismann has a brief but memorable part in "The Blind Side," a soon-to-be-released movie depicting the remarkable story of Baltimore Ravens left tackle Michael Oher . The heartwarming movie, which hits theaters Nov. 20, runs two hours, eight minutes -- all but two minutes of which Theismann plans to watch. The Washington Redskins great might want to get popcorn at the beginning, because the story opens with actual footage of his gruesome, career-ending injury in 1985, when his lower leg snapped under the weight of a tackle by the Giants' Lawrence Taylor . "I will never -- and I say this to you unequivocally -- I will never look at it again," said Theismann, who watched a replay of the injury four years ago, at a reporter's request, as part of a 20th anniversary story.

Joe Theismann, former Washington Redskins quarterback, will become ESPN's commentator on NFL games this fall. Theismann had worked with CBS the past two seasons.

"I'm 53. I can still play. I don't know understand why I haven't got a phone call, I swear." Joe Theismann, ESPN football analyst and former Washington Redskin quaterback.

Is this the weekend the Detroit Lions finally win again? After 19 consecutive defeats, the Lions face a team they appear to match up favorably against -- the 1-1 Washington Redskins, who struggled mightily to beat the St. Louis Rams last Sunday, 9-7. Former Redskins quarterback Joe Theismann said on Sirius NFL Radio last week that he thinks Washington is ripe for an upset. "What scares me is going into Detroit," Theismann said. "I know how tough it is. The one thing that isn't bad in Detroit is the fans.

Joe Theismann will not be back as a commentator on ESPN's "Monday Night Football," according to sources. He is expected to be replaced by Ron Jaworski. ESPN declined comment, but sources indicated Theismann is not being fired and will be offered another high-profile football commentating job at ESPN. The former Washington Redskins quarterback began working as an NFL commentator for ESPN on Sunday nights in 1988.

Three weeks of this team of announcers is more than enough to make any "Monday Night Football" fan long for anyone else. Dierdorf, O.J., anyone but these bozos who fill the air with a constant barrage of mostly meaningless blather. Joe Theismann is more adept at this than he ever was at throwing the down and out. With the Saints leading, 20-3, he comes to the rescue of those of us who are numerically challenged by advising us that the Falcons will now have to score three times if they are going to win this game.

ESPN called an audible Wednesday, naming Mike Tirico, Joe Theismann and Tony Kornheiser as its "Monday Night Football" announcing team, 5 1/2 months after saying it would be Al Michaels and Theismann. Michaels, who declined to comment, apparently is headed for NBC to rejoin John Madden, his partner for the last four seasons on ABC's "Monday Night Football." Madden signed with NBC in June.

Al Michaels will move over to ESPN as the play-by-play announcer on "Monday Night Football" when the cable network takes over the series from its sister Disney network ABC in 2006. Michaels will be joined in the booth by commentator Joe Theismann, with Suzy Kolber and Michele Tafoya working the sidelines. Theismann is a member of ESPN's team that announces Sunday night NFL games.

"I'm 53. I can still play. I don't know understand why I haven't got a phone call, I swear." Joe Theismann, ESPN football analyst and former Washington Redskin quaterback.

Can you imagine being stuck in an elevator for an hour with John Madden, Joe Theismann, Jim Fox and Joe Morgan? You'd probably end up deaf, but you'd really be smart. WALLY WIDHOLM Los Angeles

The marriage lasted less than three years. They had no children. But when their divorce settlement was finalized in April, after a year of messy negotiations, former Washington Redskins quarterback Joe Theismann was ordered to pay his second wife close to $1 million of marital property and $3,500 a month in alimony. The Theismann ruling captured headlines, not only because of the famous name but for the amounts involved.