ESPN has undertaken another round of layoffs, which it says is in response to its acquisition of the NFL Network. Gone are former NFLers Cam Newton, Ryan Clark, Tom Pelissero, and others. In all, about 30 are being let go.
The layoffs, at least according to one analyst, put notable ESPN commentator — and sometime presidential candidate — Stephen A. Smith [pictured above] in the crosshairs for his huge salary.
“Ryan [Clark] has no issue with Stephen A. Smith, so I, by proxy, have no issue with Stephen A. Smith,” Emmanuel Acho, formerly of Fox Sports, said on the Speakeasy podcast. “But Stephen A. Smith could have stopped this. And that’s what’s weird to me about seeing this apology is, Stephen A., you both have enough power to go to the executives and say, ‘I don’t want him to get fired.’ And B, you’ve enough power and fiscal responsibility and freedom to say, ‘I’ll do whatever is in my power to make sure they don’t stop this.’”
In other words, take a pay cut to save others’ asses.
Newton, co-host of Smith’s show “First Take,” said in light of his layoff: “When the news came about, yes, I felt like anybody else would. I didn’t [see it coming]. But that’s not the topic that I want to belabor on. I still left with some things that you can’t pay for. And that’s relationships, that’s connections.”
In 2023, ESPN carried out a previous round of layoffs that included Jeff Van Gundy, Todd McShay, Suzy Kolber, and others, totaling about 20 individuals.
