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- On Wednesday afternoon it was reported that College GameDay/NBA Countdown host Maria Taylor was in contentious contract negotiations with ESPN
- During the latest edition of NBA Countdown, Jalen Rose awkwardly urged ESPN to give Taylor a raise on live TV
- Check out more sports coverage at BroBible here.
Jalen Rose has Maria Taylor’s back.
On Wednesday it was reported that Taylor is currently in contract negotiations with ESPN and the two sides appear headed towards a divorce. According to the NY Post’s Andrew Marchand, Taylor, who currently makes $1 million/year, turned down a $5 million/year contract extension from the “Worldwide Leader in Sports” because she wants “Stephen A. Smith” money.
NEW COLUMN: ESPN made Maria Taylor an offer that would've eventually brought her salary to near $5M, she declined it.
Her future at the network is now in limbo.https://t.co/2CcqwmVoc8
— Andrew Marchand (@AndrewMarchand) June 30, 2021
ESPN offered her a raise from her current salary of nearly $1 million per year that would eventually reach almost $5 million, according to sources.
Taylor turned it down.
Taylor, sources said, was hoping to be in the “Stephen A. Smith money” neighborhood, which is near $8 million annually.
Before game 6 of the Clippers-Suns series, Rose openly urged ESPN to give Taylor a raise on live TV during NBA countdown amid reports of her contract negotiations.
Jalen Rose says Maria Taylor needs a raise on NBA countdown amid reports she turned down $5 million/yr contract extension from ESPN https://t.co/k2VZfn1V61
— Gifdsports (@gifdsports) July 1, 2021
Jay Williams: If you’re great at what you do, you deserve the bag and Reggie Jackson deserves it.
Jalen Rose: If that’s the case Maria need a raise, you got an MVP vote, you got a Heisman vote, the most unique talent in the game.
As of now it has been reported that ESPN rescinded their previous $5 million and are now apparently only willing to pay Taylor $2-3 million a year which is about $5-6 million less than what Stephen A. Smith makes.