Former LSU football star Ryan Clark was among several prominent personalities laid off this week by ESPN, and the Marrero native didn’t take long to go public with his thoughts on the move.
Clark went on The Pivot, a podcast he co-hosts with Fred Taylor and Channing Crowder, and gave his side of the events that led to his departure after 12 years as an analyst at ESPN.
The former Pittsburgh Steelers safety explained that he felt the need to adjust to the expectations of executives during his time at the network, saying that there was at least one person in power at ESPN who didn’t appreciate his contributions.
“What makes me a little bit sad about myself is I did adjust who I was to try to keep my job,” Clark said, adding that he had meetings with executives trying to determine how he could better meet their demands.
“I couldn’t have no beef. I couldn’t respond to disrespect,” Clark said. “I knew for a lack of a better word, I couldn’t be too black. What makes me sad is even in trying to adjust to being more of what certain people wanted, they still fired me.”
While Clark was joined by other prominent figures on the list of those whose time ended at ESPN this week, he rejects the idea that he was simply part of the latest round of layoffs.
“Let me put this to bed – I wasn’t laid off, I was fired,” Clark said.
33-year veteran Karl Ravech, Carolina Panthers legend Cam Newton and NFL insider Tom Pelissero were also among those who lost their jobs at ESPN.
While Clark made it clear that he is displeased with the way ESPN treated him, he didn’t become emotional until he was asked if there was anything he’d change about his time with the network.
“It depends on when you ask me,” said Clark, who began to struggle to get his words out. “Like when I see people in public … they tell me they’re proud of me. They’re proud of the way I represent the community. I wouldn’t change anything because that means the world to me.
“When I go home and this kid, you know, from the West Bank is like so accepted in New Orleans now, like I wouldn’t change that. Never. All I ever wanted is to be accepted and wanted. So yeah, I wouldn’t change that.”
According to The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand, an on-air conflict between Clark and Peter Schrager played a role in the former defensive back’s ouster at the network. During a debate on “Get Up” about the Dallas Cowboys, Clark said Schrager’s perspective on his opinion was “the non-player” in him.
Schrager instantly pushed back on the comment and Clark later apologized.
On The Pivot, Clark indicated the incident was overblown.
“Me and Peter don’t have an issue,” he said. “If you ask him right now after what went on, nobody has been nicer to him.”
