Title: ESPN Offers Stephen A. Smith $18 Million per Year in Contract Negotiations

In the midst of ongoing contract negotiations, ESPN has reportedly offered sports pundit Stephen A. Smith a lucrative deal to keep him on board. With one year left on his current contract, Smith is seeking a significant increase in salary, aiming for a "monster payday."

According to John Ourand of Puck Magazine, ESPN's initial offer to Smith is a staggering $18 million per year for a duration of five years. The network is making efforts to retain the popular host of First Take, as his contract nears its expiration date. However, it remains to be seen if this offer will be enough to convince Smith to stay with ESPN.

Sources close to the negotiations have suggested that Smith's desired figure is as high as $25 million per year. Michael McCarthy of SI Media recently spoke about the possibility of Smith exploring opportunities outside of ESPN, stating that there are numerous possibilities for the successful pundit to secure lucrative deals through other avenues such as podcasts, endorsements, and content partnerships.

With Smith's market value and influence in the content world, ESPN is facing the challenge of meeting his escalating salary expectations. While it is unknown whether ESPN will increase its offer to Smith by a few million, there is also speculation as to whether Smith would be willing to compromise his desired $25 million figure.

Negotiations between ESPN and Smith have become a game of numbers, as both parties seek a mutually beneficial agreement. The outcome of these discussions will determine if Smith remains with ESPN or explores potential opportunities outside of the network.

In other sports media news, the 500th episode of the SI Media Podcast, hosted by Jimmy Traina, dropped on Thursday. The episode featured an interview with Derek Jeter, who discussed his foray into broadcasting, memorable moments from his career, and his views on social media. Traina also discussed the world of podcasting and shared his weekly "Traina Thoughts" segment with guest Sal Licata.

Meanwhile, Boston Celtics center Al Horford made a statement during the team's championship parade by wearing a T-shirt that paid tribute to Tom Brady's famously festive display at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Super Bowl parade in 2021. Horford's lighthearted gesture attracted attention and added an entertaining touch to the celebration.

As negotiations continue and the sports media landscape evolves, the fate of Stephen A. Smith's future at ESPN hangs in the balance. Fans and industry insiders eagerly await updates on the contract discussions and whether ESPN will meet Smith's lofty salary expectations.