Agent denies report that Chris Berman is retiring

Maybe the reports of Chris Berman retiring are not true after all.

Earlier Thursday evening, The Big Lead reported that Berman’s contract with ESPN will expire after the upcoming NFL season, and that the longtime anchor will retire afterwards. However, Berman’s agent had a very strong response to the report.

Berman’s agent told the New York Times’ Richard Sandomir that Berman is not retiring.

Chris Berman's agent denies retirement report:"Chris is NOT retiring. Loves what he's doing too much and is too young to hang 'em up."

— Richard Sandomir (@RichSandomir) May 27, 2016

Berman's agent adds, on retirement report: "Perhaps people with an agenda put it out there."

— Richard Sandomir (@RichSandomir) May 27, 2016

If you read between the lines, it seems that Berman’s agent is implying ESPN does not want to bring Berman back after his contract expires and is trying to ready the public for that information. And what agenda might they have? They might want him to retire rather than go elsewhere so they can send him off with a celebratory farewell similar to Kobe Bryant’s retirement tour.

Even though he has been at ESPN seemingly forever — since 1979 — Berman is only 61 and perhaps feels he can work for much longer. ESPN may want him to retire because he has caused some embarrassment for the company and cost them money with his sexual harassment suit.