Rob Parker: ESPN reaction to ‘cornball’ comment ‘made me out to be the worst guy in the world’

In response to his controversial comments about Robert Griffin III more than a decade ago, Rob Parker believes ESPN overreacted.

Nearly 13 years ago, First Take discussed Griffin telling USA Today that he refuses to be defined by his race. Parker opened the segment by asking if Griffin was “a brother or a cornball brother” while questioning the quarterback for having white fiancé and speculating about his political opinions.

Griffin has since told Stephen A. Smith those comments from Parker have followed him throughout his entire career. Despite the long-lasting effect that his comments had, Parker still disagrees with ESPN’s response. Parker recently joined Etan Thomas on The Rematch Show where he discussed the now 13-year-old controversy.

“I worked at ESPN for eight years, never been called to the principal’s office, never been in trouble at all,” Parker said. “I thought they overreacted. I thought it was a lot. I thought we could have come back the next day, had that conversation, put people on who want to push back on me, have me further explain my point of view on why I said what I said. But they instead ran from it and made me out to be the worst guy in the world. I just accepted it and moved on. They didn’t want to renew my contract, it’s fine.”

Shortly after the comment about Griffin, Parker was handed a 30-day suspension by ESPN. That suspension bled into the expiration of Parker’s contract, which ESPN then opted not to renew. It seems likely that Parker’s comment about Griffin played into that decision.

Parker had been a regular contributor to First Take and other studio shows at the network for nearly a decade. Additionally, ESPN launched a Saturday edition of First Take featuring Parker just days before the controversial discussion about Griffin. It’s hard to imagine ESPN debuting a Saturday edition of First Take with Parker if they had no interest in renewing his contract the following month.

The reaction by ESPN also showed how they felt about the talent. If someone else made that comment about Griffin, ESPN may have opted to go the route of letting them come back the next day with people who want to push back on the polarizing take. But after Parker caused a firestorm through racial stereotypes, ESPN decided to move on.