ESPN parts ways with talk show pundit Rob Parker

TV pundit Rob Parker, after making controversial comments on race in relation to Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III, is gone from ESPN.

Parker, who is African American, made those comments on the morning talk show First Take, about Griffin, who is also African American, possibly being a "cornball brother" who is " not really down with the cause."

Says ESPN spokesman Mike Soltys, in a statement: "Rob Parker's contract expired at year's end. Evaluating his work and our needs, including his recent RGIII comments, we decided not to renew his deal."

ESPN had no further comment.

Parker, who had already been suspended for 30 days, suggests in this interview with a Detroit TV station that in an ESPN First Take production meeting his basic points about Griffin were understood to be the "way they were going" on the show and his comments weren't just "off-the-cuff."