Stephen A. Smith Confronts ESPN Over Ryan Clark Firing After 11 Years as Layoffs Spread
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jul 22
Stephen A. Smith Confronts ESPN Over Ryan Clark Firing After 11 Years as Layoffs Spread
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jul 22
Summary
Stephen A. Smith said he directly told ESPN executives he opposed firing Ryan Clark, calling the analyst "arguably the best NFL analyst in America" and saying no layoff hit him harder personally.
Ryan Clark was pulled from "NFL Live" on Monday before ESPN planned to notify him Tuesday, after inquiries about the impending story prompted executives to act so he would not learn of it on social media.
Smith said ESPN asked for his view before making the move, but his plea to keep Clark was overruled by what he described as Disney-driven financial and business pressures.
Clark, a former Super Bowl champion who joined ESPN in 2015, is leaving after more than 11 years with the network as Smith warned more layoffs were expected by day's end.