ESPN allowing Troy Aikman to walk away from Joe Buck booth would make no sense | Bobby Burack

When Joe Buck signed a $100 million extension with ESPN, the natural assumption around the industry was that Troy Aikman would soon follow.

Buck and Aikman have worked together for 25 years, first at Fox and at ESPN since 2022.

They are often regarded as the best broadcast booth in sports.

Yet, within hours of the report about Buck's deal, industry chatter suggested that ESPN and Aikman were not close to an agreement.

This week, Aikman addressed the situation — along with a reported confrontation between him and Buck during Monday Night Football — and said ESPN has not engaged in any contract negotiations with him.

His deal expires in May 2027, after the Super Bowl in February that he will call.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE OUTKICK SPORTS COVERAGE Aikman suggested that leaving ESPN now appears to be the most likely outcome.

"It just seems to be where they’re going," he said on KTCK The Ticket in Dallas.

As of publication, there is still plenty of mystery surrounding why ESPN wouldn't want to keep Aikman.

Yes, he's expensive.

His current deal pays him around $18 million per year.

ESPN, however, is paying others more, including Buck, Stephen A.

Smith and Pat McAfee.

As the lead NFL analyst for Monday Night Football and ESPN's first Super Bowl this February, there is an argument that Aikman is the most valuable member of that group.