LAS VEGAS (AP) — Former NFL star Shannon Sharpe said Thursday he is temporarily stepping away from his ESPN duties while he deals with what he called false allegations in a $50 million civil lawsuit filed against him by a woman who alleges he raped and threatened her.

A statement from Sharpe's lawyer said the relationship was consensual and called the lawsuit a "blatant and cynical attempt to shake down" Sharpe for millions of dollars.

“But I cried when u left because I begged you to put a condom on and not put it in my ass and u didn’t listen,” the woman, who was named by Sharpe’s legal team but is not being identified by The Post, texted him.