ESPN has fired “Sunday NFL Countdown” host Samantha Ponder and analyst Robert Griffin III, sources briefed on the strikes informed The Athletic on Thursday.
The choices have been made for monetary causes as ESPN nears the conclusion of its fiscal yr on the finish of September, per a supply briefed on the matter. Each Ponder and Griffin made greater than seven figures. Every was knowledgeable of ESPN’s choice Thursday morning, a supply briefed on the choice stated. Neither Griffin nor Ponder responded to The Athletic’s requests for remark, however Griffin referenced the transfer in posts on X.
“Grateful for thus many individuals in my time at ESPN that helped me develop as a result of they’re among the finest within the enterprise. … THANK YOU to everybody who has supported my household by means of my taking part in days and broadcast profession to this point,” he wrote.
Ponder was getting into the ultimate season of a three-year deal value greater than $3 million, sources briefed on her contract stated. She solely labored within the prestigious position of “Sunday NFL Countdown” host and was principally off for the remainder of the yr. ESPN usually reserves a majority of these schedules for the Joe Bucks, Troy Aikmans and Peyton Mannings of its world.
“NFL Dwell” host Laura Rutledge and “Get Up” host Mike Greenberg are potential replacements for Ponder. Greenberg is taken into account the favourite, in keeping with sources briefed on the community’s inside talks.
The buyouts of Ponder and Griffin are the one strikes ESPN is making for the time being, but it surely may select to shed extra wage by the tip of September. Nonetheless, the cuts aren’t anticipated to be wherever close to the bloodletting by which round 20 large names have been let go final June, together with stalwarts like Jeff Van Gundy, Suzy Kolber and Jalen Rose.
Samantha Ponder attends SiriusXM at Tremendous Bowl LVII in February 2023. (Picture: Cindy Ord / Getty Photographs for SiriusXM)
Griffin, who as just lately as final yr had been considered as a rising star at ESPN, had two years remaining on his deal. He was employed three years in the past after gaining curiosity from Fox Sports activities and ESPN. On the time, sources at each networks raved about what they described as among the finest auditions they’ve ever seen.
He was thought-about strongly to be ESPN’s No. 2 faculty soccer recreation analyst with Sean McDonough final season, however the job went to Greg McElroy.
ESPN declined to remark.
Since Griffin’s inventory had fallen, it made him a primary candidate to be let go. Whereas his seven-figure per yr wage will likely be honored, his position had diminished to a degree the place ESPN determined to not preserve him on.
The primary actual signal Griffin was being dropped within the order was when he was faraway from “Monday Evening Countdown,” the place he had been on the prime pregame present for 2 years. ESPN employed Jason Kelce this offseason to exchange Griffin.
Final season, Griffin additionally served on certainly one of ESPN’s high faculty recreation broadcast groups, working with play-by-player Bob Wischusen.
Through the years, Fox Sports activities has proven curiosity in Griffin. When it sought to discover a successor to Reggie Bush on its “Massive Midday Kickoff” pregame present, Griffin was excessive on its record, but it surely went with one other former Heisman winner, Mark Ingram II.
Griffin is lively on social media, chiming in on an array of points, together with when ESPN has had controversies. Ponder doesn’t have the flurry of social media posts like Griffin, however has chimed in at occasions about transgender athletes and different politically charged points.
In 2017, Ponder was given the glory of changing the legendary Chris Berman on “Countdown.”
Berman, maybe essentially the most outstanding on-air particular person within the community’s historical past, stepped apart, making approach for Ponder. She didn’t have a lot NFL expertise, having labored her approach up the ESPN ranks by being a mainstay on its iconic pregame present, “School GameDay.”
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(Picture: Peter Joneleit / Getty Photographs)