Stephen A. Smith has officially weighed in on Shannon Sharpe’s impending departure from Fox Sports after he reportedly negotiated his buyout.
Stephen A. Smith doesn’t know what the future holds for Shannon Sharpe, but “the bosses at ESPN know” he’d welcome him onto “First Take.”
Smith and Bayless starred on First Take from 2012 to ’16 before Bayless left for Fox Sports 1 and his current show, Undisputed. Now, his new and soon-to-be old partner might end up on his old show on ESPN.
“I don’t know what his plans are. I don’t know what he’s trying to pursue. I don’t know what he’s after,” Smith said. “But if Shannon Sharpe needs me, I’m happy to be here for him. And if that included him wanting to come on ‘First Take,’ the bosses at ESPN know that is something I would support.”
Smith speaking on Sharpe comes days after a New York Post report indicated that the long-time co-host of FS1’s “Undisputed” had reached a buyout agreement to exit his contract with Fox Sports. The report added there was “public friction” between Sharpe and co-host Skip Bayless that may have played a part in his decision to leave the company.
The on-air tension was noticed by fans when they spoke about Tom Brady and in the wake of Damar Hamlin collapsing on the field. Sharpe was particularly angered over that tweet as he skipped the “Undisputed” episode the next day. He grew more incensed when Bayless interrupted him while he tried to explain his absence to the audience after he returned.
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The end was clearly near, but we just did not realize it was coming this soon.
Sharpe has experience on “First Take” as he filled in for Smith at times when Bayless was Smith’s co-host. That’s part of the reason he was tabbed to team up with Bayless at FS1.
The 54-year-old hasn’t yet given any indication of what’s next for him.
