There was a blank space in ESPN’s “Monday Night Football” telecast.
After NFL viewers were inundated with shots of Taylor Swift on NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” while she was in a suite cheering on rumored boyfriend Travis Kelce as the Chiefs beat the Jets, there was nary a direct mention of the songstress on Monday night.
The Big Lead noticed ESPN broadcasters Joe Buck and Troy Aikman teasing the audience with the idea of mentioning Swift late in the fourth quarter as the Seahawks were blowing out the Giants en route to a 24-3 victory at MetLife Stadium.
“You know what this game needs?” Aikman asked Buck.
“Don’t say it,” Buck responded. “Come on. Don’t say it. I’ve been proud of our restraint. All night, and with 5:26 left … you’re gonna say it?”
Aikman, who was laughing out loud throughout the bit, answered, “I don’t know that I have to.”
It was a welcome oversight for die-hard football fans, who had seen Swift on NBC’s broadcast at least 17 times during the game the night before.
Of course, it’s unlikely Buck and Aikman would be able to hold strong if they aired a Chiefs game in which Swift was in attendance.
If Traylor is still an item when the Chiefs host the Eagles on “Monday Night Football” on Nov. 20, perhaps we will get our answer.
Meanwhile, on the ESPN2 “ManningCast” simulcast, Eli Manning joked about how Swift had been at MetLife Stadium the night before but snubbed the Seahawks-Giants contest.
“Is Taylor Swift not at this game?” he asked rhetorically as the seconds were dwindling down in the second quarter. “I thought she goes to MetLife for all the New York games.”
Answered his brother Peyton: “If she was at this game, she left.”