Erin Andrews taking free-agent plunge
Enlarge By Adam Larkey, AP The versatile Erin Andrews and Maksim Chmerkovskiy were a hit on 'Dancing With the Stars' last month. By Michael McCarthy, USA TODAY
NEW YORK — Pending TV free agent Erin Andrews says she has received multiple job offers from both sports and entertainment shows and networks after her recent turn on ABC's Dancing with the Stars.
Andrews says her preference is to stay in sports once her ESPN contract expires July 1. But she won't "close the door" on entertainment opportunities. DWTS helped her get back on track after her ordeal with peephole video stalker Michael David Barrett, who was sentenced to 2½ years in jail.
Her run to the finals of DWTS, the second most-watched show this season — behind Fox's American Idoland ahead of NBC's Sunday Night Football, says Nielsen — also increased her image and marketability.
"She is one of the top sports personalities in the country," says Michael Norton of Gillette.
The number of suitors calling agent Babette Perry at IMG since DWTS ended has "just been crazy," Andrews says.
"It's actually been surprising. I will be honest: I did this show to get happy. I never thought of what it would do for me in my career. It's crazy."
Her final assignment as ESPN's college sports sideline reporter before her contract expires will be coverage of the College World Series starting Saturday. She says she's weighing everything from hosting to reporting: "I definitely know sports is in there, is in the mix."
Meanwhile, ESPN is "hopeful that Erin will remain," spokesman Josh Krulewitz says.
Comcast's Versus network declined comment on whether it has interest in hiring Andrews.
Perry had nothing to say about Andrews when contacted by USA TODAY.
