New Report Reveals Reason Why Robert Griffin III Was Fired By ESPN

A surprise report on Thursday, Aug. 15 revealed former Baylor star quarterback and Heisman winner Robert Griffin III was fired by ESPN.

According to Andrew Marchand of " The Athletic , " Griffin along with "NFL Countdown" host Sam Ponder were let go due to financial reasons. Marchand revealed each made seven figures annually, and he provided insight on why the moves made sense.

Ponder hosted "NFL Countdown" but didn't have many other roles throughout the year. That is the kind of schedule typically reserved for superstar commentators such as Joe Buck, Troy Aikman and Peyton Manning, according to Marchand. As for Griffin, the move comes with two years left on his contract. In terms of his NFL coverage, he found himself replaced on "Monday Night Countdown" by former Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce, who retired as a player after this past season.

Marchand also revealed Griffin's "stock has fallen" despite just three years ago giving one of the best auditions both ESPN and Fox Sports had ever seen.

Griffin has yet to publicly comment on his firing, but he took to social media earlier on Thursday with a cryptic post that caught the attention of fans.

"There are people in your circle saying they want you to win, but doing everything they can to make you lose," Griffin wrote . "Don’t be afraid to cut people off when they keep handing you the scissors."

It is unclear what is next for the former Baylor star and No. 2 pick, who won the Heisman for the 2011 season in which he accumulated 4,992 total yards and 47 touchdowns.

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