Reilly bolts SI for ESPN

Big doings at the Worldwide Leader.

According to our friends at The Big Lead, longtime Sports Illustrated columnist Rick Reilly is leaving the magazine and going to ESPN.

It's unclear what Reilly's role at ESPN will be, but as TBL speculates it could include a reporting gig on the sports net's new newsmagazine "E:60." Perhaps ESPN sees Reilly as "E:60's" answer to Frank Deford, the senior contributing writer for SI who is also a regular contributor to HBO's "Real Sports With Bryant Gumbel."

Whatever role ESPN envisions for Reilly, this is a major get.