Popular FOX sportscaster Joe Buck may be the man to replace James Brown as the full-time host of the NFL pre-game show this fall. Brown, who was a part of "FOX NFL Sunday" the past few years, moves to CBS' "NFL Today" during the offseason.

Buck is the top play-by-play announcer for Major League Baseball and NFL telecasts on FOX. If Buck is hired for the position, he would likely have to host both the pre-game show and then call the game of the week as well. How would that be possible? If that format is chosen, the FOX pre-game crew, which includes Howie Long, Terry Bradshaw, and Jimmy Johnson, would host the show from the actual stadium. Before the game starts, Buck would head up to the play-by-play booth with colleague Troy Aikman.

"He's one of the options we're considering," said FOX spokesman Dan Bell. "It's still very much and on-going process."

Buck understands that having two roles would be complicated, but he would be up to the challenge.

"It would be a lot of work, but I think it would be manageable," Buck said. "For anybody who does play-by-play, you better have a pretty good feel for what's going on in the league. I like to think I have a bigger focus than just the game I'm doing. It's under the same roof, just a different role if it works out. I think it would be something that could be a lot of fun; however, it's all speculation at this point. If it could work out, I wouldn't be opposed to it. But at this point that's a big 'if.' This is really something that has been brought up recently; certainly, it isn't anything that has been in the works for a long time."

However, Buck does not automatically have the job. Other people at FOX being considered for the role are Jeanne Zelasko, Pam Oliver, Curt Menefee, and Chris Myers. ESPN's John Saunders is also being considered for the job. If one of them were hired instead of Buck, then the pre-game show would still be held in an actual studio.

If Buck is hired, it would likely mean that FOX would negotiate a brand new contract for him. His contract with FOX expires next year, and Buck would like to stay with FOX, as long as they keep MLB as part of their plan.

"I think we're putting first things first and making sure we work on the bigger picture" of a contract, he added. "I want to make sure everything (with baseball) is buttoned up, I don't want to take myself out of any markets. That's kind of why this has all been sitting here and kind of stuck in neutral. Anything I do with Fox beyond this year is still up in the air. I want to be back, I think they want me back. This (added NFL duties) could be a part of it, if they definitely want it and we can agree on it."

On CBS, Brown will replace Greg Gumble, who will be moving back to the play-by-play booth.