Skip Bayless is staying right where he is at.
The former ESPN personality who left the company a few years ago was reportedly being courted into coming back to team up with Stephen A. Smith again.
According to The Post, not only did that fail, but it helped Bayless ink a huge new contract with Fox.
“ESPN made a full-court press to reunite Skip Bayless with Stephen A. Smith, The Post has learned.
The duo would have done a daily ESPN+ show together, while being splashed over ESPN, including weekly spots on “Monday Night Football’s” halftime show.
After lengthy negotiations, it culminated in Fox Sports retaining Bayless with a four-year, $32 million contract, according to sources.”
Smith was said to be the driving force in ESPN’s recruitment of Bayless. It was back in August when ESPN offered the 69-year-old a four-year deal in the $30 million range.
“There is disagreement among sources of ESPN’s best offer, as sources had it as high as $31 million and as low as $26.5 million. The desire, though, was unquestioned.”
The Post added that “Bayless and FS1 are in the early planning stage of a potential second daily show for the afternoons.” He is expected to be a solo act for the program.
Click on ‘Follow Us’ and get notified of the most viral NFL stories via Google! Follow Us
His partner, Shannon Sharpe, has his contract coming up in July. Hopefully, they make another good decision and bring him back aboard.
