"NBC's Contingency Plans In Case Of NFL Strike, Trump Presidential Run: Reality On Sunday, Recasting Donald On 'Apprentice'http://www.deadline.com/2011/05/nbcs-contingency-plans-in-case-of-nfl-strike-trump-presidential-run-reality-on-sunday-recasting-donald-on-apprentice/
By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Sunday May 15, 2011 @ 11:50am PDTNBC has both Sunday Night Football and Celebrity Apprentice on its just-revealed schedule for next season despite the NFL football season being in limbo because of the current players lockout and Celebrity Apprentice star Donald Trump mulling a presidential bid. During a conference call today, NBC chairman Bob Greenblatt expressed hope that both football and The Donald will be back but also said that the network is working on contingency plans if that doesn't happen.
"Certainly we’re hoping that he will be back with us," Greenblatt said of Trump. But if he isn't, "we will bring the show back and have someone else at the head of the boardroom table. ... (Celebrity Apprentice) is too strong a franchise for us not to consider that." Greenblatt wouldn't discuss whom they have in mind as a replacement for Trump, only saying that it would be someone who is "confident and galvanizing.""
While I cant prove it I think that is complete BS by NBC. They had a new contract with him, that is why they planned to continue the show. They loved all the free publicity he was creating.