Nfl, Espn | featured news

ESPN and Hank Williams Jr. are splitting up for good. Both have announced that, after two decades, Williams will no longer be singing the “Monday Night Football” theme song after controversial remarks he made earlier this week about President Barack Obama and Adolf Hitler.

ESPN pulled Hank Williams Jr.'s classic intro song from its broadcast of Monday night's NFL game after the country singer famous for the line "Are you ready for some football?" used an analogy to Adolf Hitler in discussing President Barack Obama.

Indeed, Walt Disney Co.'s ESPN -- home to "Monday Night Football" -- extended its deal through 2021 for the franchise on Thursday morning. The new deal will cost ESPN an average of $1.9 billion per season, according to a person familiar with the deal. ESPN had been paying about $1.1 billion under its current deal.

It's time to get fired up for the 2011 NFL Draft. The first round of the draft starts tonight at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN. Rounds two and three will resume on Friday at 6 p.m. ET and rounds four through seven will start on Saturday at noon.

ESPN broadcast of the NFL draft has drawn the most viewers ever.