Came across this Op-Ed type piece written by Jim Brady, Public Editor over at ESPN. In it he states the difference between analysts and journalists and acknowledges the bias that analysts sometimes have.

“Our reporters and columnists are independent journalists, and we think it’s important that they maintain their objectivity,” said Patrick Stiegman, ESPN’s vice president & editorial director for digital and print media. “When we hire former players, coaches and front-office executives as analysts, they clearly come with associations with teams and sports, and often remain connected to those teams. And in some cases, the connection is exactly the value they can bring us as analysts.”

At this point, ESPN has acknowledged the bias of some of their employees that the site doesn't need a new forum every couple days calling it out.