Bill Simmons is never afraid to share opinions, and lately he has been in hot water with his employers in Bristol. ESPN has suspended Simmons three times throughout his tenure, including in September when the Sports Guy called NFL commissioner Roger Goodell a liar when speaking to the Ray Rice suspension.

On Monday’s BS Report, Simmons talked NFL lines with Cousin Sal. When he got to the Miami Dolphins-Baltimore Ravens game, he mused about the recently re-instated Rice signing with the Dolphins. Then, around the 42-minute mark, Simmons began to talk about Rice’s reinstatement appeal.

“So Sal, it turns out an independent judge…” before elevator music comes on for about three seconds. When the music ends, Cousin Sal says “God I don’t want to be suspended again, go ahead, keep going.”

Simmons continues, “I’m just saying. So that was one part, and then the other part is…” before the elevator music begins again. When the music stops, Sal apologizes for “the listener who just went through four minutes of bleeps.”

The last part of the Rice conversation ends with Simmons saying he doesn’t believe anything needs to be bleeped, right before the music returns for the final time.

If this really is Simmons taking a playful shot at ESPN’s suspension of him over previous podcast comments and poking the bear once more, it’s another interesting turn in his relationship with ESPN.  Simmons’ contract runs out next year, making every little needle like this all the more intriguing.

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About Matt Verderame

Matt Verderame, 26, is a New Yorker who went to school at the frozen tundra of SUNY Oswego. After graduating, Verderame has worked for Gannett and SB Nation among other ventures.