The relationship between Joe Buck And Troy Aikman has been tense for weeks – and perhaps longer – in what appears to be the most detailed report yet regarding their recent tensions.
In a report published Wednesday, a source said Dylan Byers of Puck that Aikman had been “increasingly cold, difficult, short” and “making comments” in the weeks after Buck reached a new contract extension with ESPN. The source characterized the reported argument between Buck and Aikman – first published by Ryan Glasspiegel of Sports at reception last week – because Buck “finally snapped.”
Byers reported that Buck and Aikman’s relationship “has been strained for some time,” citing a source as saying the partnership had suffered “erosion.” It is not known exactly when this deterioration would have started. Buck and Aikman are not only the longest-tenured broadcast duo in NFL history, but had a well-documented friendship that by all accounts extended deeply into their personal lives.
Whatever tension previously existed has apparently escalated into open conflict since news of Buck’s contract extension was reported by André Marchand of Athletics last month. Byers said he spoke to more than a dozen sources about the breakup and characterized Aikman as feeling like Buck, ESPN and even CAA — the agency he and Buck share — had “screwed him.”
According to Byers, Buck and his agent initially contacted ESPN about an anticipated negotiation in May and were informed as part of those discussions that the company might move on from Aikman. That didn’t stop Buck from agreeing to the deal “almost immediately.” Buck was reportedly informed that Aikman could be replaced by Greg Olsen from Fox or by ESPN Kirk Herbstreit, Buck was reportedly “most receptive” to Olsen.
Aikman was not informed of the deal by Buck, president of ESPN Jimmy Pitaro or CAA, according to Byers, leaving him feeling “betrayed.”
Aikman had also requested a quick renegotiation with ESPN, according to the report, but those negotiations broke down after one of his representatives suggested his value was in the range of $30 million a year, compared to the $18 million a year he currently earns. His current contract was concluded at a time when Tony Romo’The $17 million a year was a record figure, but his replacement at Fox, Tom Brady, shortly after, he reset the market with a $38 million/year deal.
According to Byers, Buck apologized to Aikman and the entire “Monday Night Football” production team for last week’s argument before last week’s 49ers-Commanders game, but Aikman did not reciprocate.
The Buck-Aikman relationship drew intense scrutiny in the ESPN “Monday Night Football” booth just months before the first-ever ESPN-produced Super Bowl and the first Super Bowl on the Disney Networks since 2006. That scrutiny clearly extends beyond the sports niche. It is Jean Ourand who usually covers sports media at Puck. Byers’ primary line of business is news media and, for the past year, almost exclusively the internal workings of CBS News. It’s atypical, to say the least, for a reporter who usually covers the news media to talk about ESPN with a lot of sources.
Gn sports
