Terry Bradshaw doesn’t want to believe that the fight between Troy Aikman and Joe Buck is as nasty as it sounds.
Bradshaw, a former colleague of the broadcast duo at Fox Sports from 2002-22, explained some of the details inside the feud in an interview with Brian Kilmeade of “Fox & Friends.”
“I talked to Buck via text and told him I don’t assume everything I’m reading is correct,” Bradshaw said. “I know Troy Aikman well. They’re both real good friends of mine. I don’t understand. Because Troy has a big contract now, and Joe got a big contract. I don’t want to believe that it’s the money that Buck got that’s got Troy upset because Troy’s making big money.”
Bradshaw added that the two were a package deal when they left Fox for ESPN together, and that the issues are firmly money related.
“(The reporting has been) it’s about money,” Bradshaw revealed. “I find that hard to believe because Troy Aikman is not like that. He’s not like that. My understanding right now is things are okay.”
The out-of-the-booth drama comes while their weekly “Monday Night Football” broadcast have gone without a hiccup.
“I have heard that they were going to go into ESPN together and get a new deal together,” Bradshaw added. “Joe evidently got his before Troy, and that seems to be the rift”
Buck signed a five-year, $108 million deal to remain at ESPN, while Aikman has been in the lurch, hoping to get a new deal.
That seems unlikely now, as The Athletic reported that Aikman’s management went to ESPN for a new contract on par with Buck’s but was rebuffed by the Worldwide Leader.
Buck signing a new contract has upset Aikman, per multiple reports, as he’s been frustrated by Buck taking a new deal without discussing it with him.
“I just never thought you would do it to me,” Aikman reportedly said to Buck before the Bills-Rams clash on Oct. 12.
“I’m not the reason you don’t have a contract,” Buck reportedly replied.
Fox Sports’ Greg Olsen has been the rumored replacement for ESPN as it appears Buck and Aikman are on the last legs of a 25-year partnership.
The 2027 Super Bowl appears likely to be their last game together.