Shannon Sharpe has made a massive announcement regarding his ESPN future following the $50 million lawsuit recently filed against him.
The former NFL tight end, a three-time Super Bowl winner and Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee, is facing serious rape allegations, with his lawyer having already admitted that he offered $10 million as part of an attempted settlement deal.
His accuser, Gabriella Zuniga, is going for five times that instead, having levied some disturbing claims against Sharpe.
The 56-year-old made his regular appearances on ESPN’s ‘First Take’ this week, joining the show on Monday, the day the news dropped, and the following day. However, he will not be back next week as he has announced that he is stepping aside amid the allegations.
“My statement is found here and this is the truth. The relationship in question was 100% consensual,” he wrote in a statement on his social media pages.
“At this juncture I am electing to step aside temporarily from my ESPN duties.”
Shannon Sharpe Is Planning To Return To ESPN Later This Year
While it might be hard for fans to believe that this was Sharpe’s decision, he also indicated that he plans to return for the NFL preseason later this year.
“I will be devoting this time to my family, and responding and dealing with these false and disruptive allegations set against me. I plan to return to ESPN at the start of the NFL preseason” he added.
Sharpe makes a reported $6.5 million yearly with ESPN, having landed softly following his departure from FS1. But it appears that’s now in jeopardy following said lawsuit.
The former TE was also said to be set for a $100 million podcast deal, with Front Office Sports disclosing as much earlier this month. As to whether that has been compromised too remains to be seen.
