NFL

ESPN fires 2 hosts over NFL Network sexual harassment suit

The first two hammers have fallen over a lawsuit brought against many NFL Network personalities and executives containing widespread allegations of sexual harassment.

ESPN, the current employer of former NFL Network analysts Donovan McNabb and Eric Davis, fired the two radio hosts Friday after a month-long investigation into their alleged behavior at the old network. McNabb and Davis had been suspended indefinitely since last month, when their names first surfaced in the lawsuit.

Jami Cantor, who worked as a wardrobe stylist at NFL Network from 2006-16, accused a handful of former male colleagues of submitting her to sexually inappropriate behavior in the workplace. McNabb and Davis were just two retired NFL players to be mentioned in the lawsuit; Marshall Faulk, Heath Evans, Warren Sapp and Michael Irvin also were accused of harassing Cantor while serving in analyst roles at the network.

McNabb, according to the lawsuit, sent Cantor sexually explicit messages, including one in which he asked her if she was a “squirter.” He also allegedly hinted at her visiting him after work.

Davis, though mentioned in Cantor’s complaint, faced the most disturbing allegations in the account of a woman who used to work under Cantor.

Erin McParland, who opened up about her experience with harassment at the network after Cantor’s accusations went public, accused Davis of making inappropriate comments and gestures toward her, such as remarking on her flexibility and propositioning her for sex via direct message. McParland also recounted the times he allegedly hugged her and lingered there, the first time rubbing his genitals against her leg and the second grabbing and fondling her butt.

McNabb, best known for his 11 seasons as quarterback of the Eagles, had been at ESPN since 2016, appearing occasionally on “First Take” and co-hosting a show for ESPN Radio during the NFL season. Davis, a two-time Pro Bowl cornerback, had co-hosted a show for ESPN Los Angeles Radio with Marcellus Wiley and Kelvin Washington.