Ryan Clark Trying To Pressure ESPN To Pay Him Like A Top Star As Contract Expires

Ryan Clark's contract with ESPN expired on Monday. Sources say the two sides are in active negotiations that could go either way. 

It's not a lock that Clark remains with ESPN. 

He posted a three-minute video and caption about his contract status on X, calling himself an #UndraftedFreeAgent who deserves more money.

Clark is using social media to drum up pressure on ESPN to meet his demands, which sources say is for significantly more money. 

He hopes ESPN will see his followers call him great and an important figure in the black community and cave.

Clark is billed as an "NFL analyst," the same title for which Mina Kimes signed a $1.7 million a year contract in 2023.

Internally, the network views Clark as the fourth most valuable NFL analyst after Dan Orlovsky, Marcus Spears, and – for PR reasons – Kimes.

Ryan Clark did not respond to a request for comment by OutKick. We will update his story if he does.

Perhaps Clark can leverage the race card and social media to stay with ESPN. But the channel knows he’s replaceable. 

Clark is not much different than most mediocre jocks turned TV pundits.  His schtick is similar to the bevy of other former players who complain about supposed racial biases within the NFL, without ever citing any concrete proof.

Recently, Clark explained that while there are other successful black quarterbacks, none are quite as black as Lamar Jackson. What does that mean?

Let Clark try to explain:

Clark is also a bit of a buffoon. He’s a diva.

He was named in Sage Steele’s lawsuit against ESPN and Disney for refusing to appear on-air with Steele for a scheduled segment because he disagreed with her conservative politics. 

Here was Clay Travis' take on Clark running from Sage:

Ultimately, so few people in sports media move the needle to justify a large salary. There are not many Stephen A. Smiths, Colin Cowherds, and Pat McAfees.

Sure, Clark is more successful than, say, Bomani Jones. But in the end, he's just another guy.

Look for Clark to try to weasel his way to Dan Le Batard's company should ESPN hold firm.