SOURCES: MADDEN TO MNF FOX COLOR MAN HEADED TO ABC.

Byline: Tom Hoffarth Staff Writer

First Pat Summerall. Now John Madden.

Unwilling to accept salary reduction from cost-cutting Fox, Madden was released from his NFL game analyst contract Wednesday with a year remaining, enabling him to make a deal to join ABC's ``Monday Night Football'' this coming season, according to several reports.

Fox was to pay Madden between $7.5 million and $8 million next season. Madden's longtime partner, Summerall, did not have his $2 million contract renewed after the 2001 season, leading to his departure from Fox after the Super Bowl.

Now it appears Madden will follow him out the door. Madden and Summerall had worked as a team for the past 21 seasons, the first 13 of them with CBS. They came to Fox together when the network bought the rights to the NFC, giving Fox instant credibility.

The Miami Herald and USA Today reported that Madden would make $5 million a season for four years working in the ``MNF'' booth with Al Michaels and Dan Fouts. Comedian Dennis Miller would either be given a reduced role or eliminated from the mix. Fouts and Miller have a year left on their ``MNF'' contracts.

USA Today reported on its Web site that the deal with ABC could be announced today. Fox Sports Radio confirmed the reports Wednesday night as well.

Fox lost nearly $400 million on the NFL this past season. The 65-year- old Madden was reportedly offered a contract extension of three years but for less money.

According to Fox sources, Cris Collinsworth will likely be teamed with Joe Buck as the network's No. 1 NFL broadcasting team.