Madden in, Miller out at ABC's 'Monday Night Football'

NEW YORK -- Boom! Just like that, there's a change on the NFL broadcasting scene.

John Madden is carrying his inimitable mix of enthusiasm, opinions, quirks and analysis to "Monday Night Football," leaving Fox Sports and agreeing to a four-year, $20 million deal with ABC Sports to pair with Al Michaels in a two-man booth.

Dennis Miller -- a comedian known for obscure references not football smarts -- leaves after two seasons and declining ratings. Dan Fouts and Eric Dickerson also were taken off ABC's prime-time NFL broadcasts, while Melissa Stark stays as a sideline reporter.

"I had this opportunity and I wanted to do whatever it took to get it done," the 65-year-old Madden said Thursday. "This is where I want to finish."

Michaels, on "Monday Night Football" since 1986, is Madden's first new boothmate in more than two decades. Madden and Pat Summerall were paired at CBS in 1981, then moved to Fox in 1994, along the way becoming the signature voices of NFL games.

Madden had one year at $7.5 million left on his contract with Fox, but the network agreed to scrap that deal after Madden rejected a three-year, $15 million extension and asked permission to talk to ABC, an industry source told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

Madden and ABC then hammered out a contract worth about $5 million per season, another source said, also on condition of anonymity. It all happened in about six hours Wednesday.

"This is something that came very quickly. I'm numb, but even through the numbness I realize how lucky I am," Madden said.

He'll also work for ESPN, appearing on NFL studio shows and possibly "SportsCenter."

The ratings for "Monday Night Football" have declined seven straight years, including a 9 percent drop this season to a new low of 11.5. Fox's NFL games averaged 10.2, down 4 percent from last season.