Play-by-play broadcaster Jon Miller was vacationing in jolly old England when his lawyer phoned with the not-so-jolly news that ESPN had declined to offer him and Joe Morgan new contracts for "Sunday Night Baseball," ending a 21-year run on prime time for the duo.

Miller returned to his Moss Beach home Saturday night and said by phone that he needs time to contemplate ESPN's offer to continue calling the Sunday night games on radio, though he is inclined to say no. That could land Miller in the Giants' broadcast booth on weekends for the first time since joining the team before the 1997 season.

Miller was not definitive about ESPN's radio offer because "it's still being talked about, and I'll hear out their offer," he said. At the same time, he said he is "not likely" to accept.

An expanded role with the Giants needs to be discussed with the team. Miller expects his status to stay on the back burner until the Giants complete negotiations with broadcasters Mike Krukow and Duane Kuiper. Their contracts expired after the 2010 season. Miller has two years left on his.

"At some point, when they're all signed and sealed, I'll see where everything stands," Miller said.

One thing Miller could say with certainty: He has no bitterness toward ESPN for letting him go.

"I never would have expected 21 years when I started," Miller said, adding that he told Morgan after they got the news, "We were in a prime-time slot every Sunday for 21 years. That might be unprecedented in our particular business."

Indeed, Matt Dillon sweet-talked Miss Kitty for one fewer year on "Gunsmoke."

Miller turned 59 in October and acknowledged he might have declined to accept a new ESPN contract if it had been offered. His dual jobs required exhausting travel almost every weekend during a season, often cross-country because the "Worldwide Leader" tends to think of the world as New York and Boston.

Beyond the initial jolt when his lawyer phoned with the news, Miller said he cannot be shocked that ESPN wanted new Sunday night broadcasters amid a larger network overhaul. Current ESPN broadcaster Dan Shulman is expected to replace Miller.

"They're making lots and lots of changes," Miller said. "It's like when a team brings in a new GM. It might not be good for the manager, or if there's a new manager, it might not be good for the coaches."