Rendell soon joining NBC News

Politico reported yesterday that Rendell was close to signing with MSNBC, for which he would become a "regular political contributor for the 2012 campaign cycle," according to Politico's David Catanese. We're told Rendell could be used on other NBC News broadcasts, too.

An NBC News spokeswoman declined comment yesterday.

"I'm doing it mostly because I want to continue to participate in the public dialogue and speeches and television are the best venues to do that," the former governor told Catanese. Rendell was in D.C. yesterday and did not return our request for comment by deadline.

The People Paper's Chris Brennan reported in November that Rendell was being represented by the William Morris Endeavor Entertainment agency in Beverly Hills and was looking for a TV gig.

Rendell, who does a postgame show for Comcast SportsNet after every Eagles game, spent hours appearing on cable-news programs before and after the Nov. 2 general election.

Of course with Comcast taking over NBC, people speculated that the cable behemoth, whose No. 2 exec is Rendell's longtime friend and former deputy mayor David L. Cohen, had something to do with Rendell's being hired by NBC News.

"Comcast is not involved in any hiring decisions at NBC News since the deal has not yet closed," said Comcast spokesman John Demming.

Meanwhile, Rendell is returning to his former law firm Ballard Spahr.

Click here to read more from our column in Tuesday's Daily News.