The Purge Continues: ESPN Sacrifices John Clayton

PFT – ESPN has let go of yet another longtime NFL reporter. John Clayton, who has covered the NFL for ESPN for 23 years, has been laid off, according to Sporting News. Clayton’s ESPN Radio show in Seattle will remain in place, as the local ESPN Radio affiliates are not actually owned by ESPN. But he is done covering the league for ESPN on television and on ESPN.com. ESPN is laying off about 100 employees. Clayton joins a list of many laid-off ESPN workers who are recognizable to NFL fans, a list that also includes Adam Caplan, Andrew Brandt, Trent Dilfer, Ed Werder, Britt McHenry, Ashley Fox and Paul Kuharsky.

WOW. Wait, not really. When you toss aside longtime, respected journalists the likes of Jayson Stark, Adam Caplan, and many others like yesterday’s garbage, I suppose anyone can be on the chopping block. At least Clayton still has his Mom and Metallica to fall back on. Now the real question is how long is this storm going to last? We all know the big shot talent like SVP, Stephen A. Smith, and Papi will all be protected. I think? Then again if John Clayton gets axed, I suppose nobody is safe. But, hey, at least Chip Kelly is now employed at ESPN. Nothing like bringing on proven winning talent that’s done the damn thing before.

I guess when you’re becoming to sports what MTV became to music these things are gonna happen. They don’t even need to get back to the glory days, just get back to basics. Or just the lovable Sportscenter commercials. #MakeESPNAdequateAgain