Ex-NFL star-turned analyst Emmanuel Acho has slammed ‘cowardly’ TV executives in the wake of Ryan Clark’s shock departure from ESPN.
It emerged on Monday that Clark discovered he was being laid off from ESPN while he was in the middle of taping ‘NFL Live.’
According to The Athletic, Clark – who had been with the network for more than a decade – did not finish the program after hearing the news.
Acho, who was last year fired from Fox Sports, vented his frustration at Clark’s exit and the way TV stars are treated by their bosses.
‘More often than not, executives are cowards,’ the retired linebacker said. ‘Former athletes, we’re used to tough information. Just tell it to us!
‘[We’ve been] cut before, [we’ve had] broken bones before, had surgeries before. Ryan Clark notably couldn’t play a game in Denver, Colorado, because he had [an autoimmune disease]… we’re used to tough things! Just tell us!’
Ryan Clark reportedly discovered he was being laid off by ESPN while he was taping ‘NFL Live’
The 46-year-old former NFL star had been with the network for more than a decade
Acho added: ‘Firing a man during his show that he’s helped bring an Emmy award is wild! Why did they say they did it? Because they didn’t want him to find out on social media.
‘So you fire him during a show and pull him during the last 10 minutes of a segment? Last year, when I got fired… we found out on social media.’
The Athletic later reported that ESPN initially planned to inform Clark on Tuesday morning that he was being let go. However, ESPN is said to have feared the story would leak before then.
Clark, who was reportedly making more than $2million a year at ESPN, had been expected to play a key role in the network’s coverage of Super Bowl LXI next season.
But the former safety has been embroiled in a number of high-profile controversies in recent years after clashing with the likes of Robert Griffin III.
‘Note for anybody that wants to get into sports television – start to create your own show, so you can’t be fired,’ Acho continued. ‘Incubate yourself from being fired from an executive.
‘Because here’s the most fascinating dichotomy of everything. Once you get good, you will become so good that you become too expensive to afford. And networks can only afford so many great talent[s].’
Acho then namechecked ESPN stars including Pat McAfee and Stephen A. Smith. ‘They’re getting the big money for doing daily shows on ESPN… if you get so good, there comes a point they can’t afford you,’ he added.
According to The Athletic, ESPN is set to lay off a number of on-air stars – both at its main network and at sister platform, NFL Network.
