There are reports of some serious drama in the”Monday Night Football” booth between play-by-play announcer Joe Buck and commentator Troy Aikman, and now broadcaster and NBA legend Charles Barkley is weighing in.
This comes after Buck signed a big extension with ESPN, while Aikman is still in talks with the network, which will broadcast its first Super Bowl next February with the duo in the booth.
Many folks have given their take on the matter, and now we can add the Round Mound of Rebound to the list.
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Broadcaster and NBA legend Charles Barkley gave his thoughts on the friction between “Monday Night Football” partners Joe Buck and Troy Aikman. (Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images)
Barkley joined “Unfiltered” on Philadelphia sports station 97.5 The Fanatic on Wednesday, and he didn’t hide where he was placing the blame.
“I’m very disappointed in Troy Aikman, honestly,” he said, per Awful Announcing. “It’s not Joe Buck’s job to get him a deal. Like, he can’t tell them to give him a deal. Now, if he wants to talk to Joe privately, that’s fine. But why are you mad? They gave Joe a deal. It looks like they don’t want to give you a deal, which they don’t have to give you a deal.
“But you don’t have to drag Joe Buck into it. Like, it ain’t his job.”
Sports commentator and former NFL player Troy Aikman and sports commentator Joe Buck look on prior to a game between the Buffalo Bills and the Denver Broncos at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y., on Nov. 13, 2023. (Getty Images)
This is one damn good point.
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Buck and Aikman have become thought of as a duo, but they’re not joined at the hip.
You can understand why Aikman would be frustrated, but you also can’t fault Buck for signing on the dotted line when they slid a contract worth over $100 million under his nose.
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Barkley noted that the two have been partners for a quarter century, and like many a band or comedy team, maybe they want to take new directions.
Joe Buck and Troy Aikman look on before a game between the Dallas Cowboys and Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC Wild Card playoff game at Raymond James Stadium on Jan. 16, 2023, in Tampa, Fla. (Getty Images)
“They’ve been together 25 years,” Barkley said. “I’m pretty sure they love working together, but maybe they want to go in a different direction.
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“But I don’t understand why you would be mad at Joe Buck. He ain’t negotiating the contract,” he continued. “When he went there first, you didn’t negotiate with him. Remember? He left the network first.”
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Well, the Super Bowl is often good for a little drama, but it’s looking like this season some of that could wind up coming from the booth.