Latest news with #ESPNFirstTake
New York Post
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Shannon Sharpe quips pockets are lighter after settling bombshell rape lawsuit before ESPN firing
The fallout from Shannon Sharpe's turbulent year has apparently hit his wallet. During Sunday's installment of the 'Nightcap' podcast, the NFL Hall of Famer — who was fired by ESPN on Wednesday, weeks after settling a bombshell $50 million lawsuit that accused him of rape — pressed co-host Chad 'Ochocinco' Johnson to pay him $5,900, including late fees, while comparing him to Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. 'I'll pay you when I get ready,' Sharpe said, mimicking Jones, who is currently engrossed in an ugly contract standoff with All-Pro linebacker Micah Parsons. 'Like you do me. Like you owe me [$]5,900. You basically told me, 'I'mma pay you when I get ready.' Advertisement Johnson hit back with, 'Oh no, I ain't say that.' 4 Shannon Sharpe tells Chad 'Ochocinco' Johnson that he has lighter pockets after settling a $50 million lawsuit in which a Jane Doe accused him of rape last month. YouTube/Nightcap 'Your actions did,' Sharpe said. 'We're coming up on a year. There's a penalty for being late.' Johnson, who wasn't happy about being compared to Jones, vowed to repay Sharpe. Advertisement 'I'm gonna take care of you, baby. I'm not Jerry, I don't like that comparison. Don't do me like that… I got you,' the former wide receiver said. 4 Chad 'Ochocinco' Johnson couldn't contain his laugher when Shannon Sharpe said he has lighter pockets. YouTube/Nightcap 'See, you got it, but I need to get it,' Sharpe replied before looking down at his pockets. 'You know, pockets light right now, Ocho. Pockets light.' Advertisement That's when Johnson got up from his chair because he was laughing so hard. 'That's why I love you,' he said to Sharpe. 'That's what I need. C'mon back home to me. That's what I need. Thank you. That's the Shannon I need … We gon' be alright.' Sharpe did not specifically mention the settlement with his sexual assault accuser. 4 Former NFL player Sterling Sharpe, right, and his brother Shannon Sharpe pose with his bust during an induction ceremony at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, in Canton, Ohio, Saturday, Aug. 2, 2025, in Canton, Ohio. AP Advertisement The three-time Super Bowl champ, 57, overshadowed older brother Sterling Sharpe's Hall of Fame induction in Canton this past weekend, as his ESPN firing dominated headlines less than two weeks after the settlement. During a Wednesday appearance on 'First Take' — the same day news of Sharpe's firing broke — Johnson, 47, said he'll be in the studio for the 2025 NFL season. Sharpe had been off the air for ESPN since April. 4 Shannon Sharpe attends ESPN First Take at Clark Atlanta University on November 8, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. Getty Images Sharpe denied all allegations of coercion or misconduct in a statement through his counsel to The Post. In her complaint, the plaintiff — who is more than 30 years younger than him — alleges Sharpe brutally sexually assaulted her several times at the end of 2024 and the beginning of 2025. Sharpe was sued a day before Front Office Sports reported that he was poised to sign a deal for his 'Club Shay Shay' podcast that would exceed $100 million after his contract with Colin Cowherd's The Volume podcast network expired. He began appearing on 'First Take' in the fall of 2023 following his FS1 exit.
USA Today
16-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Former NFL GM trashes Steelers legend Ben Roethlisberger
In 2027, former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will be eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. And he will go in on the first ballot. Roethlisberger has two Super Bowl Championships, was Rookie of the Year, and led the NFL in passing yards twice. Roethlisberger was almost never the best quarterback in the NFL during his time, primarily because of a guy named Tom Brady who dominated the league. Nevertheless, Roethlisberger is the greatest statistical quarterback in franchise history. But former NFL general manager Mike Tannenbaum decided, while talking on ESPN First Take, to throw some serious disrespect at Roethlisberger in comparing him to some of the top quarterbacks in the NFL. Tannebaum said in a group that included Roethlisberger, Joe Burrow, Jalen Hurts, Justin Herbert and Jordon Love. Tannenbaum said that he wouldn't take Big Ben over either of the other four. "I look at more from a GM perspective of if we were drafting them," Tannenbaum said. "I'll give you Eli Manning in '04, but if Ben Roethlisberger was in a group with Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert, Jalen Hurts, and Jordan Love, I'm not sure I'm taking Ben over any of those guys. And that's where I think '04 is a little top heavy." On paper, we can concede if things continue as they are, Hurts and Burrow could both end up with better careers. They both have incredible talent around them, and organizations are committed to winning with them as the focal point. But for Tannenbaum to lump in Herbert and Love is mind-numbing. Then I remembered, Tannenbaum's most memorable pick as a general manager was quarterback Mark Sanchez, whom he took No. 5 overall in a trade up, so take his quarterback analysis with a grain of salt.
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Stephen A. Smith sends warning to NBA even if Pacers lose Finals
The post Stephen A. Smith sends warning to NBA even if Pacers lose Finals appeared first on ClutchPoints. The Indiana Pacers trail the Oklahoma City Thunder 3-2 heading into Game 6 of the NBA Finals. With Tyrese Haliburton's status in question for Game 6 due to an injury, OKC is in the driver's seat for a series win. Stephen A. Smith is confident in the Pacers' future regardless of the outcome of the 2025 NBA Finals, however. Advertisement 'My biggest takeaway is going to be that the Pacers are not going away,' Smith said on ESPN First Take when asked what his biggest takeaway would be if the Pacers lose Game 6. 'This is not a team that you can look at and (say) 'this year is a fluke' and 'there's no way on earth they will be back in this picture.' (Pascal) Siakam is not going to fade. (Andrew) Nembhard and (Aaron) Nesmith, they're not scrubs who can't play… (Bennedict) Mathurin, I believe in this kid and I believe his promise is there and he will only elevate. Rick Carlisle is too exceptional of a coach to not be in the picture making noise in some capacity. 'The Indiana fanbase clearly is one of the best in America. There is no denying this. And I think that when you couple that with so many question marks that exist within the Eastern Conference… There's so many questions that exist within the Eastern Conference that the Indiana Pacers actually appear to be a very steady franchise on the come up even though they're in the Finals.' The Thunder feature a talented team without question. Oklahoma City has a terrific opportunity to clinch a championship on Thursday night. With that being said, Smith believes the Pacers' future remains bright. As for the short-term outlook, Smith thinks Indiana will force a Game 7. Advertisement 'Even though we might look at OKC and say, 'they're better,' Indiana is not a joke… If they were to lose tonight, and I don't believe they will, I think they're going to force a Game 7, but if they were to lose tonight, I don't think there's anything to hang their heads about… So I think that Indiana has put us on notice that when it comes to the game of basketball you going to have to deal with these brothers in the future. They're not just going to go away,' Smith added. It remains to be seen if the Pacers can establish themselves as a true contender for years to come. With Tyrese Haliburton leading the way, though, Indiana will be a team to closely monitor moving forward. Game 6 is scheduled for 8:30 PM EST on Thursday night in Indiana. Related: Dyson Daniels gets real on Thunder-Pacers NBA Finals Related: Tyrese Haliburton has 'every intention' of battling through injury in Game 6
USA Today
17-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
1 analyst thinks Aaron Rodgers is why the Steelers passed on Shedeur Sanders
1 analyst thinks Aaron Rodgers is why the Steelers passed on Shedeur Sanders It's been three weeks since the 2025 NFL draft ended but ESPN's campaign to turn back time and make quarterback Shedeur Sanders a first-round pick is still going strong. Their latest opportunity to carry the water for Sanders came via ESPN First Take, thanks to Ryan Clark and Stephen A. Smith. And of course, they had to drag the Pittsburgh Steelers into it. Clark even went so far as to say that, based on four rookie minicamp practices, he was right about Sanders and that the Steelers made a mistake passing on him in the first round. Four practices. In shorts. Basically against air. Clark practically sprained his wrist trying to pat himself on the back for nothing. Clark went on to say that even if Sanders had slid all the way to the seventh round, the Steelers wouldn't have drafted him. He sounded very certain of this, but after being asked to elaborate multiple times, he refused to offer any reasoning behind such a strong declaration. The closest he got was to possibly infer that the team knows Aaron Rodgers was coming and said that Rodgers wouldn't want to be the second-most-famous quarterback on the team. And he said it with a straight face.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump Thinks Stephen A. Smith Has a Shot at the Presidency
Donald Trump has put his name down on the list of people who want Stephen A. Smith to run for president. Trump phoned in to a special edition of NewsNation's Cuomo Town Hall Wednesday night that featured a variety of broadcast personalities, including Smith, who earlier this year floated the idea of a presidential run. As the hosts asked Trump if he had any advice for the sports commentator, Smith shook his head and buried his face in his palm. 'I've been pretty good at picking people and picking candidates, and I will tell you I'd love to see him run,' Trump said of Smith, whom he described as a 'good' and 'smart' guy. 'He's got great entertainment skills, which is very important,' Trump said. 'People watch him. You know, a lot of these Democrats I watch [and] I say they have no chance.' In March, Smith expressed confidence that he could beat out other big names being floated as possible Democratic presidential candidates, including former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. 'I make of it that citizens, particularly on the left, are desperate,' he said at the time after polling showed that voters were interested in him running. 'And I mean it when I say it: I think I can beat them all.' A month later, the ESPN First Take host said it was time to 'stop messing around' as he announced that he was no longer ruling out the idea of running for president. 'Hate the thought of being a politician. But sick of this mess,' he said on X. 'So I'm officially leaving all doors open.' In an interview earlier this month with ABC News' This Week, Smith said he changed his mind after elected officials, pundits, billionaires, and even his own pastor all encouraged him to explore a presidential campaign. Smith also told ABC that he was so far unsatisfied with what he had been seeing from Trump. 'This whole tariff war situation is utterly ridiculous,' he said. 'There doesn't appear to be a plan. Let's be very clear about that. It seems to be a bit very haphazard, and you know it's just thrown against the wall to see what will stick. But in the end, you know, what you have to applaud them for is for trying something.'
