Franklin, 68, told Game On! in a telephone interview from Austin, Texas, that he had filed a lawsuit against ESPN for wrongful termination. He declined to comment on how much he's seeking in damages or details of the lawsuit.

Franklin, who had worked for ESPN for 23 years, allegedly called Edwards “sweet baby” and an obscenity during a production meeting for a radio broadcast of the Jan. 1 Fiesta Bowl between Oklahoma and Connecticut. After ESPN pulled him off the radio broadcast, Franklin issued an apology saying in a statement: “I said some things I shouldn't have and am sorry. I deserved to be taken off the Fiesta Bowl.”

ESPN fired him Jan. 4.

In October 2005, ESPN reprimanded Franklin for an incident with sideline reporter Holly Rowe during a Notre Dame-Purdue game telecast. Franklin criticized Rowe's game analysis and called her “sweetheart” on the air.

Franklin had specialized in Big 12 football and basketball broadcasts for ESPN. He provided play-by-play for “Big Monday” basketball broadcasts involving the Big Eight and Big 12 from 1992 to 2009.