When we left Tuesday, speculation about Dan Patrick leaving ESPN was turning from a whisper to a roar. For us, it’s what our contacts over at the four-letter weren’t saying: nobody would give us a straight answer. They either hadn’t heard or they couldn’t say. Which led us to believe Patrick was gone. It also sort of makes us wonder if Patrick’s agent planted the Price is Right rumors to fuel interest in the anchor. We do remain somewhat skeptical, though, because ESPN hands USA Today any meaningful scoop (not due to a relationship, but simply because the McPaper has the largest readership audience in the United States), and we found nothing about the announcement in that rag today. We’re guessing it’ll happen Monday, when the world returns to work.

Other outlets, though, have chimed in. Sports at Random is certain Patrick was leaving, and the Chicago Tribune (that’s for the shoutout!) has advanced the story by saying industry insiders claim Patrick is 90 percent gone.

Either way, the Dan Patrick brand is strong, and he’ll definitely have his opportunities. In the 1990s, he was Mr. ESPN, but in recent years, more boisterous self-promoting assclowns have dominated the landscape, with screamers like Stephen A. Smith and Chris Berman doing everything humanly possible to make people take notice of them. Though not all feelings toward him are positive, at least he hasn’t resorted to shouting in order to be heard.

Here’s where it gets interesting: let’s say Fox Sports wants to seriously make a push at ESPN on the tube. Even though it’s an incredible uphill climb, and probably impossible, wouldn’t you spend the big bucks to grab Patrick? Just food for thought. Oh, and one last thing – should Patrick leave, ESPN will be looking to fill that last page in the Magazine every two weeks, so get your resumes ready.

[Larry Brown Sports has even more from the radio world pointing to Patrick's departure.]

ESPN could lose Dan Patrick (Chicago Tribune)