Dan Orlovsky is hand-waving all the doom narratives surrounding Shedeur Sanders. The ESPN analyst pushed back against the idea that the Browns are setting up Sanders to fail, as championed by ex-ESPNer Robert Griffin III, especially after Cleveland tapped the fifth-round pick to start its preseason opener Friday despite limited first-team reps. “Will everybody stop … Read more
The National Football League’s deal with Walt Disney in which it will gain an equity stake in ESPN in return for prime media assets is expected to face scrutiny from the U.S. Department of Justice, according to legal experts and industry sources. The agreement, announced late Tuesday, involves Disney’s ESPN acquiring the NFL Network and other media … Read more
Not everyone with the WWE has glowing things to say about ESPN. Former wrestling commentator and current ESPN host Pat McAfee called out some of the mid-level “suits” as bums after the announcement on Wednesday that WWE and the network are teaming up on a deal to broadcast the promotion’s premium live events. “Congrats to … Read more
Could college football be getting the “RedZone” treatment after ESPN’s seismic acquisition of the NFL property? NFL commissioner Roger Goodell opened the door as much Wednesday, hours after the league and ESPN formally announced a deal in which a number of NFL properties, including the beloved Scott Hanson program, would fall under the Worldwide Leader’s … Read more
Mickey Mouse is now clear to make his WrestleMania debut. ESPN and WWE reached a five-year, $1.6 billion agreement that includes exclusive rights to air the wrestling company’s premier live events (PLE) beginning in 2026, according to the Wall Street Journal, as part of the Worldwide Leader’s new direct-to-consumers streaming service launching later this month. … Read more
The fallout from Shannon Sharpe’s turbulent year has apparently hit his wallet. During Sunday’s installment of the “Nightcap” podcast, the NFL Hall of Famer — who was fired by ESPN on Wednesday, weeks after settling a bombshell $50 million lawsuit that accused him of rape — pressed co-host Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson to pay him $5,900, … Read more
Katie Feeney is bringing her 14 million social media followers to ESPN as a sports & lifestyle content creator. The recent Penn State graduate will create content across ESPN’s social and digital channels, as well as make appearances on several studio shows, including “Sunday NFL Countdown,” “Monday Night Countdown” and “College GameDay,’” ESPN said Monday in a press release. … Read more
Stephen A. Smith has hit back at Michelle Obama. The former First Lady took a jab at Smith’s employer, ESPN, name-dropping the longtime host and saying the network’s shows were like watching reality television, namely “The Real Housewives of Atlanta.” “It’s all a sociological study. They think that sports is better reality TV, I’m like, … Read more
As early as next season, NFL Network will have a new look. The network is being acquired by ESPN as part of a blockbuster billion-dollar deal that includes many of the NFL’s top media assets, The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand reported Friday. The report noted that within the ESPN family of programming, NFL Network could wind … Read more
It is no secret that ESPN programming looks a lot different now than it did even 10 or so years ago. A network that constantly flooded viewers with some of the best highlights from the day before has turned into lots of talking-head shows like “First Take,” “Get Up,” “NFL Live” and “The Pat McAfee … Read more
The NFL has reached a colossal pact with ESPN, with the Worldwide Leader poised to acquire some of the league’s premier media assets in a union that could be worth “billions,” The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand reported Friday. Although an official announcement is not anticipated until next week, it is believed “ESPN is expected to have … Read more
Peter Schrager knew it was time to move on. Reflecting on his March departure from NFL Network, where he had co-hosted “Good Morning Football” since 2016, the new ESPN personality said this week on the “SI Media with Jimmy Traina” podcast that once the program relocated from New York to Los Angeles, he started pondering … Read more
Shannon Sharpe doesn’t concern lawyer Tony Buzbee. After the lawsuit was first filed, Sharpe accused the high-profile lawyer, who represented Sharpe’s rape accuser, of “targeting black men.” “I didn’t wake up one morning and say, ‘I want to sue Shannon Sharpe.’ He has no relevance in my life,” Buzbee said in an interview with Esquire … Read more
Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson appears to be lobbying for Shannon Sharpe’s seat on “First Take” after the Pro Football Hall of Famer was fired Wednesday by ESPN just days after settling a bombshell $50 million lawsuit in which a Jane Doe accused him of rape. While promoting EA Sports and popular video game “Madden NFL 26” … Read more
Shannon Sharpe is speaking out after his reported firing by ESPN on Wednesday, saying he’s “at peace” with the axing. After The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand broke the news earlier in the day, the Pro Football Hall of Famer addressed the news on his “Nightcap” podcast. Sharpe said he had known that he was officially done … Read more
Marcus Morris Sr. said he was behind bars for 51 hours and given no food or water after his arrest on Sunday. The 13-year NBA veteran and ESPN analyst was arrested on a felony charge of fraud over allegations that he wrote $260,000 in bad checks to cover gambling markers at two Las Vegas casinos. … Read more
The Shannon Sharpe era is over at ESPN. The Worldwide Leader has severed ties with the Pro Football Hall of Famer, The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand reported Wednesday, days after he settled a bombshell $50 million lawsuit that accused him of rape. Shannon Sharpe is out at ESPN after settling a rape lawsuit. Getty Images Sharpe, … Read more
ESPN might be focusing on America’s team a little too much. And that’s coming from one of the Worldwide Leader’s own. “The Cowboys, they’re not in the big action late,” co-host Michael Wilbon said on “Pardon the Interruption” on Monday while discussing Dallas owner Jerry Jones’ media work at training camp. “They’re not relevant in January. … Read more
Charles Barkley is furious with how he learned TNT lost “Inside the NBA” to ESPN. “I thought TNT, our bosses, did a s–ty job, they did an awful job of keeping us abreast,” said on Monday’s “Pardon My Take” podcast. “We were playing golf during the playoffs and we were reading the internet, finding out … Read more
Dick Vitale didn’t let it on publicly, but the legendary analyst was reportedly “deeply” hurt when ESPN removed him from calling Duke-UNC games in 2015. Vitale had spent 35 years color commentating the storied rivalry, but the network opted to replace him with Jay Bilas, a decision made by then-ESPN president John Skipper. “That really, … Read more