Maria Taylor definitely does as much at ESPN as Stephen A. Smith.
Her duties include “NBA Countdown”, college football reporter, host of the NCAA Women’s Tournament & some NFL work.
Her contract is July 20th and according to the NY Post, they are at a stalemate.
At one point in negotiations with NBA Finals host and College Football national championship sideline reporter Maria Taylor, 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.
Today, ESPN wants to keep Taylor, but the initial offer is not on the table, according to sources. What she is being offered right now is not known, but it is believed to be in the $2 million-$3 million range.
I would be offended if someone offered me $5 million, I said no and then they came back and offered me $2 million.
That’s going in the wrong direction.
If Taylor chooses to leave ESPN she will be highly sought after. Jemele Hill and Cari Champion have flourished since leaving ESPN, so I have no doubt Taylor would do the same.
Flip the page news video of this story.