Earlier this week, WFAN afternoon host Craig Carton said he believed morning host Boomer Esiason would announce his retirement in the next year. Esiason responded Thursday morning, refuting the report while also making accusations about Carton.
While discussing how long they had been working together on Boomer & Gio, Gregg Giannotti brought up the rumors to his co-host.
“It happens so fast,” Giannotti reflected. “Is that why you’re contemplating retirement?”
“Yeah, I read that,” Esiason said. “I guess Span (Craig Carton) is predicting that I’m retiring next year. You guys ok with that? He just throws crap out there.”
“I read the one article that said Craig having worked with Boomer and he knows the executives there, so there’s probably some truth there because of his connections within the company.”
“Alright. Ok. Big article. ‘I’m retiring’. It gets sent to me and I don’t know where this comes from. Just wanna let you all know I will be signing a five-year extension today and also to let you know, in that new contract, I can leave at 9:00 any day I want. So I’m only working 6:00-9:00 AM, and they’re building me a whole studio out in the Hamptons,” Boomer joked before saying he also asked for a private bathroom and shower to be built at the studio, in addition to a hot tub on the roof.
“Well apparently people are panicking about you potentially leaving,” Giannotti countered. “So now would be the time to ask for all of those demands. You seem annoyed by this.”
“I am annoyed by this,” admitted Esiason. “Spank is working 18 hours a day. He knows not what he says. He’s so tired when he works here and when he comes here. He’s exhausted. I think he’s tired of working with Evan and I can hear that in his voice. The whole group. I think he’s just tired.”
Giannotti questioned his co-host on the comment, noting Carton & Roberts celebrated its two-year anniversary yesterday.
“I can hear it in his voice,” the former NFL quarterback continued. “I can just hear how tired he is and he’s working himself to the bone, which is good. I appreciate the work ethic, I admire it. I think when they go into stuff like that he’s sending a message to Evan. You know what I’m saying?”
“No, I don’t actually,” Giannotti said. “What message is he sending to him?”
“‘I can’t stand working with you. You’re a pain in my ass.’ Is what it sounds like,” said Esiason. “And I don’t know why because Evan’s a great guy and really good at what he does. And Evan is the sports aspect of that show and Craig is the fire-starter. He’s always been the fire-starter and that’s why he’s always been good at what he does.”
Boomer added he believes at the rate Carton is pushing himself he’ll be dead before Boomer retires. He also admitted he cut back on other projects to ensure he would remain sharp and prepared for his WFAN show each morning.
