Exes can be exip Bayless as a team.
Shannon Sharp, who left his position with Bayless on FS1’s “Undisputed” in June, could join ESPN’s “First Take” as a contributor alongside former Bayless host Stephen A. Smith, according to Front Office Sports.
The Hall of Famer, 55, told USA Today it would be “fantastic” if he joined Smith, and teased an announcement about his future in the coming days.
Joining ESPN would give Sharpe a larger TV audience than the one he shared with Bayless on FS1 — 421,000 viewers to 154,000 — and allow him to continue his “Club Shay Shay” podcast, which has 1.23 million subscribers on YouTube.
However, it would be a part-time role as Smith would prefer a panel of rotating co-hosts to a permanent host.
Longtime Smith host Max Kellerman was recently fired by ESPN, though their on-and-off TV relationship ended in 2021.
Smith responded to the report of working with Sharpe on Twitter, which caused the former NFL star to trend on Twitter — and hit back.
“Look for me on Friday, people! Smith wrote, I will go over all the things I need to address.
“Whatcha tackle on Friday? I have some free time so don’t hesitate 2 [FaceTime] Sharp replied.
It was all fun, though.
“I found out why I am popular. I think some people know more than I do. That was the first time I’d heard of it, Sharpe told USA Today.
“Since finding out I was so into it, I’ve continued to play with Stephen A, because he’s making an announcement on Friday. I was like, “Okay, I want to hear the announcement you’re making.”
Having Sharpe aboard The Worldwide Leader — even as a shareholder — could raise some eyebrows in more skeptical ways after ESPN laid off about 20 on-air personalities as parent company Disney sought to cut costs.
