ESPN has fired NFL Countdown host Sam Ponder and analyst Robert Griffin III, according to sources familiar with the moves. The athlete Thursday.
The decisions were made for financial reasons as ESPN approaches the end of its fiscal year in late September. Both Ponder and Griffin have made more than seven figures. They were each notified of ESPN’s decision Thursday morning, according to a source familiar with the decision. Griffin and Ponder did not respond to requests for comment. The athleteRequest comment.
Ponder is entering the final season of a three-year deal worth more than $3 million, sources familiar with her contract said. She has only worked in the prestigious role of NFL Countdown, but she has been essentially off the grid for the rest of the year. ESPN typically dedicates those kinds of schedules to stars like Joe Backes, Troy Aikmans and Peyton Mannings.
NFL Live host Laura Rutledge and Get Up’s Mike Greenberg are likely replacements for Ponder.
The Ponder and Griffin buyouts are the only moves ESPN is making at this point, but it could opt to shed more payroll by the end of September. Still, the cuts aren’t expected to be anywhere near the cuts that saw about 20 big names cut in June, including cornerbacks Jeff Van Gundy, Susie Kolber and Jalen Rose.
Griffin, who until last year was seen as a rising star at ESPN, had two years left on his contract. He was originally hired three years ago after receiving interest from Fox Sports and ESPN. At the time, sources at both networks hailed what they called one of the best auditions they had ever seen.
He was widely considered as ESPN’s second college football analyst with Sean McDonough last season, but the job went to Greg McElroy.
ESPN declined to comment.
As his stock has fallen, he has become a prime candidate for release. While his seven-figure annual salary will remain respectable, his role has diminished to the point that ESPN has decided not to retain him.
The first real sign that Griffin was being ousted from the roster came when he was removed from Monday Night Countdown, the main pregame show he had been on for two years. ESPN hired Jason Kelce this preseason to replace Griffin.
Last season, Griffin also served on one of ESPN’s top college broadcast teams, working with player Bob Wisshausen.
Over the years, Fox Sports has shown interest in Griffin. When it sought a successor to Reggie Bush on its pregame “Big Noon Kickoff” show, Griffin was at the top of the list, but it chose another Heisman winner, Mark Ingram II.
Griffin II is very active on social media, engaging in a range of issues, including when ESPN was controversial. Ponder doesn’t have as many social media posts as Griffin, but he has occasionally weighed in on transgender athletes and other politically charged issues.
In 2017, Bonder had the honor of replacing the legendary Chris Berman on Countdown.
Berman, perhaps the most prominent on-air person in the network’s history, stepped aside to make way for Ponder. Ponder had little NFL experience, having worked her way up at ESPN as a mainstay on its popular pregame show, “College Game Day.”
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