Yet, within hours of the report about Buck's deal, industry chatter suggested that ESPN and Aikman were not close to an agreement.This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners.If you sign up or place a wager, FOX News may be compensated.
This content was created by a team that works independently from the FOX newsroom.This week, Aikman addressed the situation — along with a reported confrontation between him and Buck during Monday Night Football — and said ESPN has not engaged in any contract negotiations with him.His deal expires in May 2027, after the Super Bowl in February that he will call.CLICK HERE FOR MORE OUTKICK SPORTS COVERAGEAikman suggested that leaving ESPN now appears to be the most likely outcome."It just seems to be where they’re going," he said on KTCK The Ticket in Dallas.Joe Buck and Troy Aikman look on before a game between the Dallas Cowboys and Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC Wild Card playoff game at Raymond James Stadium on Jan.
16, 2023, in Tampa, Fla.(Getty Images)As of publication, there is still plenty of mystery surrounding why ESPN wouldn't want to keep Aikman.
Yes, he's expensive.His current deal pays him around $18 million per year.
ESPN, however, is paying others more, including Buck, Stephen A.Smith and Pat McAfee.As the lead NFL analyst for Monday Night Football and ESPN's first Super Bowl this February, there is an argument that Aikman is the most valuable member of that group.One industry-wide theory is that Buck wants a new partner.
At the very least, Buck signing an extension before Aikman proves he is willing to work with someone else.He also apparently wasn't interested in using his leverage to ensure that he and Aikman remained together.Sources close to Buck have denied this.Another theory is that ESPN wants Peyton and Eli Manning in the booth and views this as its opportunity.
However, unless the Mannings have privately agreed to such a move, which seems unlikely, pairing them with Buck ...