Tag: ESPN

Mar 16, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Shannon Sharpe during the second quarter between the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jason Parkhurst-Imagn Images

Shannon Sharpe steps back from ESPN amid sexual assault lawsuit

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Shannon Sharpe announced Thursday he will step away from ESPN as he faces a sexual assault lawsuit, while a report by Front Office Sports uncovered an additional incident in which Sharpe was accused of choking a female colleague at Fox.

Sharpe was the subject of a $50 million lawsuit in Nevada earlier this week, with a woman accusing him of sexually assaulting her, battering her and using his fame to control and subjugate her while they were in a relationship.

“My statement is found here and this is the truth,” Sharpe said Thursday in what appeared to be a screenshot of a text message posted to social media. “The relationship in question was 100% consensual.

“At this juncture I am electing to step aside temporarily from my ESPN duties.

“I will be devoting this time to my family, and responding and dealing with these false and disruptive allegations set against me. I plan to return to ESPN at the start of the NFL preseason.

“I sincerely appreciate the overwhelming and ongoing support I have received from my family, fans, friends and colleagues.”

The Pro Football Hall of Famer began appearing on ESPN’s “First Take” in September 2023. He signed a multi-year contract extension with the company last summer.

Buzbee and his client shared an audio call that is alleged to feature Sharpe threatening to “choke the (expletive) out of” her. The female voice in the call replied, “I don’t wanna be choked,” and the voice purported to be Sharpe said, “Yes, you do. I don’t think you have a choice in the matter.”

Sharpe’s attorney Lanny Davis said his client and the plaintiff were engaged in “a consensual, adult relationship that included role-playing, sexual language and fantasy scenarios.” He also said that Sharpe didn’t mean the words literally.

In a previous statement, Sharpe claimed the lawsuit is filled with “lies, distortions and misrepresentations.” He also took aim at attorney Tony Buzbee, who represents the plaintiff, saying Buzbee “targets” Black men.

Also on Thursday, Front Office Sports reported that when Sharpe worked for Fox as the co-host of FS1’s “Undisputed,” he was accused of choking a female production assistant in the workplace.

Per the report, Sharpe was not sued in the case, and he and Fox settled with the woman for several hundred thousand dollars.

“There was no incident of choking involving Shannon on the FS1 set,” a representative of Sharpe’s said in a statement to Front Office Sports. “On one occasion, he and a few colleagues were involved in some light physical interaction in a playful context. Fox Sports later chose to resolve the matter privately.”

–Field Level Media

The ESPN logo is seen on an electronic display in Times Square in New York City, U.S., August 23, 2017.

Report: ESPN close to NFL Draft rights extension

Posted on | by Field Level Media

ESPN is on the verge of extending its contract for rights to televise the NFL Draft, Front Office Sports reported Thursday.

Terms of a potential new deal were not reported.

The first round of this year’s draft is set to take place Thursday from Green Bay, Wisc., and will air on ESPN for the 46th consecutive year. NFL Network also televises the league’s draft.

The NFL draft has turned into a three-day event with the second and third rounds set to take place Friday, while rounds four through seven are completed Saturday.

The Tennessee Titans have the first overall draft pick and are expected to kick off the festivities by selecting quarterback Cam Ward from Miami.

–Field Level Media

The ESPN logo is seen on an electronic display in Times Square in New York City, U.S., August 23, 2017.

Legendary announcer Mike Patrick dies at age 80

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Longtime NFL “Sunday Night Football” play-by-play announcer Mike Patrick has died. He was 80.

Patrick reportedly died of natural causes on Sunday in Fairfax, Va. The City of Clarksburg, W.Va., Patrick’s hometown, confirmed his death on Tuesday.

Patrick spent 36 years at ESPN from 1982-2018, including 19 seasons (1987-2005) on the NFL Sunday broadcast crew. He called ESPN’s first NFL regular-season broadcast in 1987.

Among Patrick’s color analysts were Joe Theismann and Paul Maguire. Suzy Kolber was the sideline reports for several of those years.

Patrick also handled play-by-play on college football and college basketball broadcasts as well as the College World Series. He was the voice for the Women’s Final Four basketball coverage for 14 seasons (1996-2009).

He often was paired with Dick Vitale on the college basketball duties.

Patrick’s final game for ESPN was the 2017 Liberty Bowl between Iowa State and Memphis.

–Field Level Media

Jan 1, 2025; Pasadena, California, USA; Lee Corso on the ESPN Gameday set at Rose Bowl Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Lee Corso ending four-decade run at ESPN’s ‘GameDay’

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Lee Corso is hanging up his headgear and ending a nearly four-decade broadcasting run with ESPN’s “College GameDay” in August, the network announced Thursday.

Corso, who turns 90 on Aug. 7, has been a host of the college football television staple since 1987. He will make his farewell appearance on Aug. 30.

“My family and I will be forever indebted for the opportunity to be part of ESPN and College GameDay for nearly 40 years,” he said in a statement released by ESPN. “I have a treasure of many friends, fond memories and some unusual experiences to take with me into retirement.”

Corso is perhaps best known for his Saturday pregame headgear picks, donning the helmets or mascot “heads” of the team he predicts will win that day’s marquee matchup. According to ESPN, his picks are 286-144 since he began that segment in October 1996.

“Lee Corso has developed a special connection to generations of fans through his entertaining style and iconic headgear picks,” ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro said. “Lee is one of the most influential and beloved figures in the history of college football and our ESPN team will celebrate his legendary career during his final College GameDay appearance this August.”

Before joining ESPN, Corso was the head coach at Louisville (1969-72), Indiana (1973-82) and Northern Illinois (1984). He compiled a 73-85-6 record, highlighted by the Hoosiers’ win in the 1979 Holiday Bowl.

Corso was the head coach of the USFL’s Orlando Renegades during the 1985 season, finishing 5-13.

Corso, who suffered a stroke in 2009, had limited his travel in recent years.

“ESPN has been exceptionally generous to me, especially these past few years,” Corso said. “They accommodated me and supported me, as did my colleagues in the early days of College GameDay. Special thanks to Kirk Herbstreit for his friendship and encouragement. And lest I forget, the fans … truly a blessing to share this with them. ESPN gave me this wonderful opportunity and provided me the support to ensure success. I am genuinely grateful.”

Herbstreit and Corso have shared the “College GameDay” set since 1996.

“Coach Corso has had an iconic run in broadcasting, and we’re all lucky to have been around to witness it,” Herbstreit said in a statement. “He has taught me so much throughout our time together, and he’s been like a second father to me. It has been my absolute honor to have the best seat in the house to watch Coach put on that mascot head each week.”

Chris Fowler, who hosted the show for 25 years, echoed Herbstreit’s sentiments.

“Lee has been an indelible force in the growth of college football’s popularity,” Fowler told ESPN. “He’s a born entertainer and singular television talent. But at his heart he’ll always be a coach, with an abiding love and respect for the game and the people who play it.”

–Field Level Media

Jan 1, 2025; Pasadena, California, USA; From left: Desmond Howard, Rece Davis, Nick Saban, Pat McAfee, Lee Corso and Kirk Herbstreit on the ESPN Gameday set at Rose Bowl Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Report: Rece Davis spurns Fox offer, to stay with ESPN

Posted on | by Field Level Media

ESPN is retaining longtime “College GameDay” host Rece Davis on a seven-year contract worth “tens of millions” of dollars, The Athletic reported Sunday.

Fox Sports reportedly had made a strong push to hire Davis to host its “Big Noon Kickoff” pregame show, the main competitor to “College GameDay” on college football Saturdays.

Davis, 59, worked as a sports anchor and reporter at a television station in Flint, Mich., from 1993-95 immediately prior to joining ESPN, where he had roles in a variety of coverage areas before becoming the founding host of “College GameDay” in 2005. He also hosts the college basketball version of the show.

The Athletic said he accepted “a slight hometown discount” to stay with ESPN, which will guarantee him lead college football hosting duties until 2032 — the end of the network’s College Football Playoff deal. Per the report, the Fox offer included leading the coverage of the men’s 2026 World Cup and calling college basketball games.

At Fox, Rob Stone hosts “Big Noon Kickoff” alongside a panel that includes Charles Woodson, Brady Quinn, Matt Leinart and Urban Meyer.

Davis’ colleagues at ESPN include Desmond Howard, Kirk Herbstreit, Nick Saban, Lee Corso and Pat McAfee.

–Field Level Media

Feb 6, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; Peter Schrager during Fox Sports media day at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

ESPN announces deal with NFL insider Peter Schrager

Posted on | by Field Level Media

ESPN announced that it has finalized a deal with NFL insider Peter Schrager.

Front Office Sports reported last week that the sides were engaged in “serious talks,” and ESPN made the official announcement Tuesday.

Schrager, 42, is well known for his role as the co-host of “Good Morning Football” on the NFL Network along with his pre-game and sideline work for Fox Sports’ NFL broadcasts. His final day with GMFB was Monday.

Schrager is expected to contribute to numerous programs across the network, including “SportsCenter,” “NFL Live,” Stephen A. Smith’s “First Take,” “The Pat McAfee Show” and “Get Up” with Mike Greenberg. He will also contribute to ESPN’s coverage of the 2025 NFL Draft later this month.

“Peter will have an instant impact at ESPN combining his charismatic style and deep knowledge of the NFL,” ESPN president of content Burke Magnus said in a statement. “His versatility is an asset and will be on display across our shows and platforms as he becomes a signature voice of our NFL coverage. He is a tremendous addition to our roster.”

Schrager began his career writing for ESPN.com before joining FoxSports.com and steadily expanding his role as an NFL insider to include “Good Morning Football.” He has also authored two books: “Strength of a Champion” with former NFL linebacker O.J. Brigance, and the New York Times best seller “Out of the Blue” with former New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz.

Schrager joined for the launch of GMFB in 2016.

“I’m incredibly excited for this amazing opportunity with ESPN,” he said in a statement. “Beyond their fantastic year-round, wall-to-wall, coverage of the NFL, ESPN is personally special to me in that I grew up watching SportsCenter three or four times every morning before school and swore by that NFL Primetime music with Chris Berman and Tom Jackson doing the highlights on Sunday nights.

“I can’t wait to be a part of it all and am thrilled to be joining this incredible team.”

–Field Level Media

Feb 6, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; Peter Schrager during Fox Sports media day at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Report: NFL insider Peter Schrager in ‘serious’ ESPN talks

Posted on | by Field Level Media

NFL insider Peter Schrager is in “serious talks” with ESPN about joining the network, according to a report by Front Office Sports.

Schrager is well known for his role as the co-host of “Good Morning Football” on the NFL Network along with his pre-game and sideline work for Fox Sports’ NFL broadcasts. Although a source told FOS a deal with ESPN has not been finalized, “it’s likely” that he will make the move.

If so, the 42-year-old Schrager is expected to contribute to numerous programs across the network, including “NFL Live,” Stephen A. Smith’s “First Take” and “Get Up” with Mike Greenberg. If a deal is finalized in time, he could also contribute to ESPN’s coverage of next month’s NFL draft.

Whether Schrager would also bring his podcast “The Season” with him has yet to be determined, according to the report.

Schrager began his career writing for ESPN.com before joining FoxSports.com and steadily expanding his role as an NFL insider to include “Good Morning Football.” He has also authored two books: “Strength of a Champion” with former NFL linebacker O.J. Brigance, and the New York Times best seller “Out of the Blue” with former New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz.

–Field Level Media

Jan 17, 2022; Inglewood, California, USA; Randy Moss on the ESPN Monday Night Countdown set before a NFC Wild Card playoff football game between the Los Angeles Rams and the Arizona Cardinals at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Randy Moss returns to ESPN set amid cancer battle

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Pro Football Hall of Fame wide receiver Randy Moss made his return to ESPN on Sunday, joining the “Sunday NFL Countdown” crew in New Orleans amid his battle with cancer.

Moss had been on leave from the weekly pregame show since announcing Dec. 6 that he was taking time away to address a health issue. A week later, he said in an Instagram Live post that he had undergone major surgery to address a cancerous mass found in his bile duct between his liver and pancreas, adding he would follow up with radiation and chemotherapy.

He was welcomed back on Sunday, ahead of Super Bowl LIX, with a video featuring faces from throughout the NFL. Former teammate Tom Brady, wide receivers Justin Jefferson, Jerry Rice, Steve Smith Sr. and Malik Nabers, and ex-coach Bill Belichick were among those wishing him well.

Moss fought off tears after the video as he sat on the ESPN set at the Superdome, flanked by host Mike Greenberg and fellow analysts Rex Ryan, Alex Smith and Tedy Bruschi.

“I couldn’t do it alone,” Moss said after viewing the video.

“It’s been hard, but I got a lot of love and a lot of people believing in me, man, so I’m happy to be here.”

Moss, who turns 48 next week, has been part of ESPN’s “Sunday NFL Countdown” crew since 2016.

“For nearly a decade, Randy has been an invaluable member of the team, consistently elevating ‘Countdown’ with his insight and passion,” the network said in a statement when Moss took his leave of absence. “He has ESPN’s full support, and we look forward to welcoming him back when he is ready.”

Moss was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2018 with 982 receptions for 15,292 yards and 156 touchdowns in 218 games with the Minnesota Vikings (1998-2004, 2010), Oakland Raiders (2005-06), New England Patriots (2007-10), Tennessee Titans (2010) and San Francisco 49ers (2012).

The four-time All-Pro and six-time Pro Bowl selection led the NFL in receiving touchdowns five times, including a single-season record 23 scores with the Patriots in 2007.

–Field Level Media

Oct 5, 2024; Tallahassee, Florida, USA; Clemson Tigers linebacker Wade Woodaz (17) forces a fumble by Florida State Seminoles wide receiver Hykeem Williams (8) during the second half at Doak S. Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Melina Myers-Imagn Images

ESPN picks up option on ACC contract through 2036

Posted on | by Field Level Media

ESPN has agreed to exercise its option to continue broadcasting Atlantic Coast Conference sporting events through 2036, the network reported on Thursday.

ESPN had until Feb. 1 to pick up the option on a 20-year contract it signed in 2016. The deal would have ended after the 2027 season had the network declined to do so.

While the ACC board of directors voted Wednesday, ESPN reported that the conference is working on ways of creating more marquee games in football and men’s basketball. Those “value adds” are expected to help increase a new revenue distribution model as the ACC works toward a settlement with Clemson and Florida State.

Per ESPN, a proposed plan has a percentage of the ACC’s television revenue included in a “brand” fund — with that money going to schools that annually generate the most revenue for the league in football and men’s and women’s basketball.

Should that come to fruition, Clemson and Florida State likely would drop lawsuits that they currently have against the conference. The Tigers and Seminoles are suing the ACC in an attempt to back out of the conference’s grant of rights.

With the grant of rights, which is in effect through 2036, Clemson and Florida State’s media rights are attached to the conference itself.

Per ESPN, multiple athletic directors have said that this also could affect Notre Dame as a means to create additional games against top-tier teams within the conference.

–Field Level Media

Jan 17, 2022; Inglewood, California, USA; Randy Moss on the ESPN Monday Night Countdown set before a NFC Wild Card playoff football game between the Los Angeles Rams and the Arizona Cardinals at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

ESPN’s Randy Moss taking leave for health reasons

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Hall of Fame wide receiver Randy Moss is taking an extended leave of absence from his role as an ESPN NFL analyst to focus on a “personal health challenge,” the network said Friday.

Moss, 47, raised concerns on Sunday in an Instagram post in which he asked fans to pray for him and his family.

Without specifying a particular illness, Moss urged men to get bloodwork and checkups. Viewers had noticed that the whites of his eyes were visibly yellow, a potential sign of jaundice.

“I just ask for all the prayer warriors to put their blessing hands on me and my family through these hard times. People were talking about my eyes last week,” Moss said. “I’m battling something, man, and it’s something internal. Your boy is going to get through it. I got a great team of doctors and got a great family around me.”

Moss has been part of ESPN’s “Sunday NFL Countdown” crew since 2016.

“For nearly a decade, Randy has been an invaluable member of the team, consistently elevating ‘Countdown’ with his insight and passion,” the network said in a statement. “He has ESPN’s full support, and we look forward to welcoming him back when he is ready.”

Moss was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2018 with 982 receptions for 15,292 yards and 156 touchdowns in 218 games with the Minnesota Vikings (1998-2004, 2010), Oakland Raiders (2005-06), New England Patriots (2007-10), Tennessee Titans (2010) and San Francisco 49ers (2012).

The four-time All-Pro and six-time Pro Bowl selection led the NFL in receiving touchdowns five times, including a single-season record 23 scores with the Patriots in 2007.

–Field Level Media