If recent rumors are true, then NFL legend Troy Aikman has a $17 million-plus reason to leave FOX Sports and join ESPN.

As reported earlier, the Dallas Cowboys icon is said to be in “deep negotiations” with ESPN for the lead analyst role on its “Monday Night Football” show. It is a pretty big move since a lot of people are already used to seeing Aikman alongside Joe Buck fore the network's NFL coverage.

While nothing has been confirmed at the time of writing, recent rumors claim that ESPN is ready to pay Aikman to lure him out of the FOX hole. According to Sports Illustrated, the two sides are nearing a deal that will pay the 55-year-old in the range of $17 million per annum through five years.

The deal is not complete, but it is expected to be done soon. Aikman’s contract is reportedly for five years, and is supposed to be near the $17.5 million contract that Tony Romo has with CBS.

This is certainly an interesting development, and it speaks volumes on how much ESPN wants to acquire top talent to improve its NFL coverage. They did have the ManningCast air on Monday Night games this past season, but it wasn't really an analysis show.

Now imagine, perhaps, watching the ManningCast show and Monday Night Football with Troy Aikman leading the way on ESPN in back-to-back days. That will surely be a treat!

For now, NFL fans have to wait for official confirmation before getting too excited.