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ESPN fires Robert Griffin III, Sam Ponder in cost-cutting moves: Sources
New York Times ^ | Aug. 15, 2024 | Andrew Marchand

Posted on 08/15/2024 4:07:14 PM PDT by george76

Griffin, who as recently as last year had been viewed as a rising star at ESPN, had two years remaining on his deal..

ESPN has fired “Sunday NFL Countdown” host Samantha Ponder and analyst Robert Griffin III,

...

The buyouts of Ponder and Griffin are the only moves ESPN is making at the moment, but it could choose to shed more salary by the end of September. However, the cuts are not expected to be anywhere near the bloodletting in which around 20 big names were let go last June, including stalwarts like Jeff Van Gundy, Suzy Kolber and Jalen Rose.

...

Griffin, who as recently as last year had been viewed as a rising star at ESPN, had two years remaining on his deal. He was hired three years ago after gaining interest from Fox Sports and ESPN. At the time, sources at both networks raved about what they described as one of the best auditions they have ever seen.

He was considered strongly to be ESPN’s No. 2 college football game analyst with Sean McDonough last season, but the job went to Greg McElroy.

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: abc; andrewmarchand; disney; disneyabc; espn; jalenrose; jeffvangundy; media; newyork; newyorkcity; newyorkslimes; newyorktimes; nfl; ponder; rgiii; robertgriffiniii; samanthaponder; seanmcdonough; sports; sundaynflcountdown; suzykolber; transgender; transgenders; woke
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1 posted on 08/15/2024 4:07:14 PM PDT by george76
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To: george76

For those of you who don’t know, both of these people were on the more conservative side of ESPN reporters.


2 posted on 08/15/2024 4:09:45 PM PDT by nickcarraway
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To: nickcarraway

That will give every reason to not watch ESPN. Liberals, by and large, don’t watch sports.


3 posted on 08/15/2024 4:10:42 PM PDT by Jonty30 (Genghis Khan did not have the most descendants. His father had more. )
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To: nickcarraway

Haha, so first on the chopping block!


4 posted on 08/15/2024 4:11:11 PM PDT by Bobbyvotes (I will be voting for Trump/whoever he picks VP in November. If he loses in 2024, country is toast.)
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To: george76

Get rid of the eight grade wannabe dude….macafee or whatever his name is.


5 posted on 08/15/2024 4:11:36 PM PDT by ealgeone
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To: george76

The second woman ESPN fired that spoke up about men in women’s sports.


6 posted on 08/15/2024 4:12:32 PM PDT by Vision (Woke is communism and it has no place in America. Election Reform Now! Obama is an evildoer.)
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To: george76

He has a white wife, which may not please the DEI czar at ESPN.


7 posted on 08/15/2024 4:14:32 PM PDT by montag813
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To: nickcarraway

Ponder yes, RGIII was all over the place. There was no consistency to any of his commentary, social or sports. That said, he’s been getting screwed over at ESPN for awhile now.


8 posted on 08/15/2024 4:14:48 PM PDT by usafa92 (Donald J. Trump, 45th and 47th President of the United States of America!)
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To: george76

Wasn’t he the same guy tweeting support for the olympic boxer


9 posted on 08/15/2024 4:15:39 PM PDT by RummyChick ( )
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To: george76

Reject “woke” and you won’t go broke ESPN.

When will ESPN realize people don’t want a dose of politics when they are trying to relax by watching their favorite sports team play?


10 posted on 08/15/2024 4:15:47 PM PDT by 2001convSVT (Asking questions is your right.)
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To: montag813
He has a white wife, which may not please the DEI czar at ESPN.

RG3 was a likable guy at Baylor and Washington but apparently he became WOKE when he started working at ESPN.

11 posted on 08/15/2024 4:16:10 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican
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To: george76

Article makes zero sense

They fired him “as a cost cutting measure “

But they had to buy out his contract. So how did they supposedly save money


12 posted on 08/15/2024 4:27:59 PM PDT by PGR88
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To: MinorityRepublican
RG3 was a likable guy at Baylor and Washington but apparently he became WOKE when he started working at ESPN.

RGME wore out his welcome in Washington pretty quick, I imagine the same happened at ESPN.
13 posted on 08/15/2024 4:34:45 PM PDT by ratzoe
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To: ratzoe

Yeah he became unreasonably unruly after his idiot, disgraced coach forced him to play on his damaged knee essentially ending his career.


14 posted on 08/15/2024 4:50:15 PM PDT by mn-bush-man
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To: ratzoe
RGME wore out his welcome in Washington pretty quick

That was due to his lack of skills as a NFL QB. He was mobile so that was great for college. But he realized quickly that he got hit hard in the pros if he continued to run with the ball so that was the end of his career.

I didn't hear anything about him about being woke until he became a commentator for ESPN.

15 posted on 08/15/2024 4:55:26 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican
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To: mn-bush-man
Yeah he became unreasonably unruly after his idiot, disgraced coach forced him to play on his damaged knee essentially ending his career.

To be fair, he was never a pocket passer. The only thing he had was his speed. And he was way too skinny.

16 posted on 08/15/2024 4:56:47 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican
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To: MinorityRepublican
"To be fair, he was never a pocket passer. The only thing he had was his speed. And he was way too skinny."

An offensive line would have helped...

17 posted on 08/15/2024 5:02:36 PM PDT by Hatteras
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To: mn-bush-man
Yeah he became unreasonably unruly after his idiot, disgraced coach forced him to play on his damaged knee essentially ending his career.

He chose to return to the field against the wishes of the doc and coaches, there was no forcing. He ended his career, not Shanahan. Not gonna argue the point, you may have the last word.
18 posted on 08/15/2024 5:15:32 PM PDT by ratzoe
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To: george76

When you’re stuck on the sinking Disney ship some are going to thrown overboard.


19 posted on 08/15/2024 5:19:44 PM PDT by xp38
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To: PGR88

The buy out is less than carrying out the full contract. Salary compensation is probably less, while expenses and production costs are eliminated.


20 posted on 08/15/2024 5:20:18 PM PDT by Rockingham
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