"I think ESPN rightly wanted to own and operate and produce RedZone outright because of the galactic popularity of the show. But the NFL, for their reasons, wanted to retain control of the production of RedZone."
Pierce would join the show's panel of co-hosts like Keyshawn Johnson, Michael Irvin, Rachel Nichols, and Richard Sherman alongside primary host Skip Bayless.
“While we set out to pull the curtain back from one of the most intense stretches of our season—two games in five days, as our season unfolded, we recognized we had a bigger story to tell."
"It's his delivery, it's his speech patterns, it's the way he goes about things when he can really be himself, which is what he is, that's what's making him uber successful and a lot of money."
The new company plans to, "be reverential to Deadspin's unique voice...they plan to take a different content approach regarding the site's overall sports coverage."
Reports indicate that negotiations between the NBA and its two existing broadcast partners are about 75% there, with two more potential suitors in the mix.
"I think ESPN rightly wanted to own and operate and produce RedZone outright because of the galactic popularity of the show. But the NFL, for their reasons, wanted to retain control of the production of RedZone."