• Loading stock data...
Monday, July 14, 2025
exclusive
Media

Julio Jones Interview Becomes Headache for Fox, Shannon Sharpe

  • Jones’ reps at Creative Artists Agency have reached out to Fox, according to a source.
  • Fallout could impact Fox’s NFL broadcast deal, lead to legal consequences for Shannon Sharpe.
Jason Getz/USA TODAY Sports

Shannon Sharpe’s controversial TV interview with Julio Jones has ignited a “massive stink bomb,” said a source, putting a strain on the billion-dollar relationship between Fox Sports and the NFL.

The Atlanta Falcons were blindsided, the same source told Front Office Sports, when Sharpe aired a phone call with Jones on Monday’s “Undisputed” and the star wide receiver all but declared he was done with the team.

It’s unclear whether the 32-year-old Jones, who has been the subject of trade rumors since the 2020 season ended, knew he was live on the air with Sharpe and co-star Skip Bayless. 

The Falcons, according to sources, believe the interview — where Jones told Sharpe “I’m out of there, man” about Atlanta while also dismissing the Dallas Cowboys as a possible destination — undercut their negotiating position as they try to trade the All-Pro wide receiver to another NFL club. 

The team had no advance knowledge or input into the interview. 

Sources said Jones’ reps at Creative Artists Agency have reached out to Fox about the situation. 

“It’s become a huge deal,” said one source.

During an interview on NBC Sports’ PFT Live, Chris Simms told Mike Florio he heard Jones was blindsided too.

“From what I know, from people I know in the NFL, he had no idea he was on the air yesterday,” said Simms. “I found that out from somebody in the know here. Yes, he and his agent were very disappointed after. If that is the case, yes, that’s kind of messed-up by Shannon Sharpe. Listen, I like Shannon Sharpe. He’s got a big mouth like me and all those types of things. But that was not the exactly coolest thing he’s ever done if that’s the way it went down.”

But during a slow news period for the league, former NFL front office executive Mike Lombardi said he believes the media coverage could actually strengthen the negotiating position of Atlanta, which finished last place in the NFC South with a 4-12 record in 2020. 

The Falcons, who haven’t made a playoff appearance since the 2017 season, also fired GM Thomas Dimitroff and head coach Dan Quinn following an 0-5 start last year.

“The thing that makes trades great for the team is to have interest. And there’s interest in Julio,” said Lombardi, co-host of “The GM Shuffle” podcast. “As long as you have competitive interest, they’ll maximize the deal.”

Andrew Brandt, the former Green Bay Packers vice president who now writes the “Sunday Seven” newsletter, said he can’t blame the Falcons for being frustrated.

“The Falcons are not going to be happy with this — and they will express their angst to the NFL,” Brandt said. “Payback’s too strong a word. But they will hope for some kind of stroke down the road.”

The Falcons declined to comment on the record Tuesday. Fox, CAA and the NFL did not return messages left by FOS.

Jones seemingly saying goodbye to the Falcons comes at a crucial inflection point for the team. Only one quarter of NFL teams have the cap space to assume his guaranteed $15.3 million salary, according to CBSSports.com.

Jones signed a three-year, $66 million extension prior to the 2019 season — and $64 million of that guaranteed.

One prominent NFL agent not affiliated with CAA told FOS that Atlanta is now “boxed into a corner” as result of Monday’s segment. 

“He’s a world-class talent regardless of age, health, and contract,” the agent said. “If I’m a team like Green Bay, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Buffalo, Tennessee, Baltimore or Seattle, I’m sending whatever picks I have to Atlanta to get him.”

The fallout could just be starting for Fox, which recently agreed to pay over $2 billion a year for 11 seasons to retain its Sunday afternoon NFL TV package. 

Among potential consequences for Fox:

Blowback: The NFL has its ways of handling its TV partners. The Falcons could quietly seek an on-air apology or some other redress from Fox. If not forthcoming, Fox could end up in the doghouse among the league’s TV partners, which include NBC, CBS, and ESPN.

That could mean less access and cooperation from the team and other NFL clubs. Or, the worst case scenario for an NFL TV partner, the bad blood could lead to poor game matchups.

The New York Times reported in 2013 the NFL “voiced its displeasure” with ESPN’s involvement with PBS’ “Frontline” special on concussions days before the network dropped out of the project. Then-ESPN president John Skipper and the NFL denied the league applied pressure over the production. 

Even though ESPN then paid the most among the league’s NFL TV at $2 billion a year, “MNF” annually got the worst game matchups. It took new ESPN president Jimmy Pitaro and executive vice president Burke Magnus years to repair the frayed relationship.

Legal jeopardy: FS1’s “Undisputed” is produced out of Fox Sports’ studios in Los Angeles. California is a two-party consent state when it comes to capturing a phone conversation like what aired Monday. 

That means both Jones and Sharpe would have to have knowledge the call was being aired/recorded. 

Sharpe could face a misdemeanor charge for violation of California Penal Code Sec. 632, although there’d have to be a complaint filed. This particular misdemeanor carries up to a $2,000 fine and/or a year in jail. 

“It meets every criteria under the penal code,” California-based criminal defense attorney Dod Ghassemkhani said. “It will come down to if Jones wants to pursue it. I doubt he will.”

A spokesperson for the Los Angeles Police Department told FOS Tuesday that no complaint had been filed.

Fox Fallout?: Publicity-wise, Sharpe’s Jones get was a triumph for “Undisputed,” generating massive free media coverage. Even rival ESPN credited “Undisputed” for the Jones scoop on Stephen A. Smith’s “First Take” Tuesday.

Sharpe’s been in negotiations for a contract extension. The interview highlighted his influence and access to today’s stars. Bayless spiked the ball Tuesday, calling “Undisputed” the “hottest” sports show on TV. “You never know what might happen,” crowed Bayless on Twitter. 

But the controversial incident also raises questions how and why Fox producers let Sharpe conduct an interview that could not only put the network in hot water with their most important business partner but legal jeopardy as well.

“It was creative and organic. But it was unprofessional as well,” said another source. “You have to tell someone they’re on TV. And not just at the end of the segment to cover your ass.”

The interview follows the embarrassment in April where NBA superstar Kevin Durant called out Sharpe for repeating a fake quote on-air from Twitter that he never actually said.  

“This is on the production team. The producers have to do their job,” said a source. “Their job is to protect Shannon and Skip. When something like this happens, you go to a commercial and figure it out — before they get in trouble.”

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

exclusive

Cal Raleigh’s $11M Season a Steal As He Slugs His Way Into..

The Mariners star considers himself an everyday guy, while his play isn’t.

NFL’s New Headsets Are Designed to Survive Coach Tantrums

New NFL coaching headsets underwent “extensive drop testing.”
NBC Sports
exclusive

NBC Hiring Ex-Hawks Exec Grant Liffmann As NBA Front Office Insider

Liffmann spent the last three years with Atlanta after covering the Warriors.
DraftKings
exclusive

DraftKings in Talks to Acquire Prediction Market Railbird Exchange

Sportsbooks and prediction markets are becoming increasingly intertwined.

Featured Today

May 31, 2025; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Sydney McLaughin-Levrone (USA) reacts before the women's 100m hurdles during the Grand Slam Track Philadelphia at Franklin Field
exclusive

Track’s New Money Is Running Into Old Problems

The sport’s big-money era has hit some speed bumps in 2025.
Bobbleheads are seen at Vintage Indy Sports, Tuesday, April 29, 2025 in Speedway. The local sports memorabilia store opened recently.
July 12, 2025

Baseball’s Bobbleheads Are the Center of the Collectibles Universe

Baseball’s most important keepsake drives long lines—and big business.
Rimouski, QC - JUNE 1: Final Game of the 2025 Memorial Cup between the Medicine Hats Tigers and the London Knights on June 1, 2025, at the Colisée Financière Sun Life in Rimouski, Qc.
July 11, 2025

CHL Is Facing a ‘Pandora’s Box’ of Questions Amid NCAA Talent Departure

As players defect to college, the Canadian Hockey League won’t cede ground.
Jun 28, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh (29) bats during the game between the Texas Rangers and the Seattle Mariners at Globe Life Field.
July 9, 2025

The Torpedo Bat Business Is Still Going Strong: ‘Here to Stay’

Demand for the oddly shaped bats has stayed strong across the sport.
Paige Bueckers
exclusive
July 8, 2025

Women’s March Madness Expansion Wouldn’t Yield More ESPN Money

ESPN is not required to pay extra if women’s March Madness expands.
Jul 10, 2025; Wimbledon, United Kingdom; Iga Swiatek of Poland at her on court interview after winning her match against Belinda Bencic of Switzerland on day 11 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.
July 10, 2025

Wimbledon Set to Deliver Strong Finals Matchup for ESPN

Novak Djokovic is still in the hunt for his 25th Grand Slam.
Sponsored

Game On: Portfolio Players Stories, Brought to You by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

Dealmaker Jeffrey Kaplan maps the evolution of sports as an asset class
Feb 7, 2025; Storrs, Connecticut, USA; UConn Huskies center Tarris Reed Jr. (5) reacts after his basket against the St. John's Red Storm in the first half at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion.
July 8, 2025

After Decade Apart, ESPN and Big East Rekindle Media Rights Relationship

After a decade-plus apart, the network will stream hundreds of conference events.
Jul 6, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Mexico forward Marcel Ruiz (14) heads the ball in front of United States midfielder Brenden Aaronson (11) in the second half during the 2025 Gold Cup Final at NRG Stadium.
July 7, 2025

USMNT Struggles Still Produce Big Gold Cup Ratings for Fox

The U.S. team’s recent issues culminated in a loss to Mexico.
July 2, 2025

Paramount Settles Trump Suit Ahead of NFL Season, Skydance Merger

The deal likely allows the much larger Skydance merger deal to proceed.
Leo Messi
June 27, 2025

TNT, Club World Cup Ride Messi to Surprisingly Solid Debut Ratings

TNT Sports carries about a third of matches in the U.S.