Troy Aikman’s relationship with ESPN seems to be deteriorating rapidly, according to a recent report. The former Cowboys quarterback, who transitioned to broadcasting, had a heated altercation with Joe Buck before a “Monday Night Football” game featuring the Bills and Rams on October 12. A report from The Athletic suggests that Aikman also clashed with ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro that same evening.
The situation has reportedly escalated to the point where ESPN is leaning towards supporting Buck over Aikman. This comes after a particularly intense argument in the booth, where Aikman perceived Buck’s lucrative contract extension—signed in September—as a betrayal, especially since Aikman has yet to secure a new deal.
Aikman’s camp feels that Buck is skilled at manipulating situations to his advantage. In this case, Buck’s new six-year, $108 million contract—almost a 20 percent raise from his previous deal—adds to Aikman’s frustration. Meanwhile, the two have been known to work as a pair, which makes the current discord even more complicated.
Feeling sidelined, Aikman has taken offense at Buck’s lack of transparency regarding the contract discussions. Conversely, Buck’s team is reportedly irritated by Aikman’s demands for specific replays during broadcasts, which they believe created disruptions for the production staff.
During their argument, Buck allegedly said to Aikman, “You are not going to f—ing talk to me? I’m not the reason you don’t have a contract.” Aikman responded with, “I just never thought you’d do it to me,” highlighting his disappointment and expressing concerns about the frequent changes in ESPN’s production team for “Monday Night Football.”
According to the report, Buck retorted that the turnover was a result of Aikman’s behavior towards the staff. Furthermore, while Aikman’s representation proposed a return to ESPN at a pay increase similar to Buck’s, the network declined that offer. ESPN, currently focused on reducing expenses, isn’t interested in negotiating with Aikman, especially as tensions rise over his relationship with Buck.
Aikman reportedly regrets not directly discussing with Pitaro his acceptance of a consultant role with the Dolphins, as ESPN was not pleased with the communication surrounding that decision.
The Athletic also states that Greg Olsen is now considered a strong candidate to take over Aikman’s position. Aikman and Buck’s partnership, which began in 2002 at Fox Sports, seems poised to conclude at ESPN following this season, particularly as the network prepares to broadcast the Super Bowl.
