Entertainment

TERRY SET TO RETIRE

TERRY Bradshaw’s getting ready to throw in the Terrible Towel.

Bradshaw said yesterday that he expects to retire from TV when his contract with Fox runs out in 2011.

“I think in three years it may just be my time,” Bradshaw, a four-time Super Bowl champion with the Steelers, told The Post. “I see the energy and the enthusiasm these young guys have, and I think it’s time to hang it up.”

Bradshaw’s retirement plans appeared to catch Fox Sports officials by surprise. They said the network believes he can be convinced to stay past the end of his current contract.

Bradshaw, who turned 59 last September, has been at Fox since 1994. He is featured with Curt Menefee, Howie Long and Jimmy Johnson before kickoff and provides analysis during halftime.

“I think I am going to leave it to the young guys,” Bradshaw said. “I see them out there chomping at the bit, and when my contract runs out with Fox, I will be 63, and I think my run will be over.”

Bradshaw mentioned the possibility of Giants defensive end Michael Strahan taking his place.

“The joke around the office is that Strahan will jump right in when I decide to quit,” Bradshaw said. “NBC has their Tiki (Barber), and Fox can have their Michael.

“They would need someone like that who was funny, because Howie and, to some extent, Jimmy are quite serious . . . I love those guys – they are my best friends – which is why the show works so well.”

Strahan contemplated retirement before this season to enter a career in broadcasting, but he returned to the Giants.

Bradshaw, a Hall of Fame quarterback, began as a game analyst for CBS. He was famous as being one of the best big-game quarterbacks in the game.