Renowned ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith declared who he wants to join his First Take sports show as a host.
The man @ShannonSharpe can pull up with a bottle of Hennessy for all I care.
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) July 21, 2023
I want him on First Take pic.twitter.com/FdL78bnGps
That man is no other than Shannon Sharpe, a TV free agent after leaving his hosting duties on Fox Sports 1's Undisputed with Skip Bayless.
Front Office Sports' Michael McCarthy reported that ESPN wants to add Sharpe as a "high-profile contributor" to join the rotating cast of stars debating Smith on the network's top-rated show.
Smith seemingly confirmed McCarthy's report, saying that ESPN management is already talking and negotiating with Sharpe, but no deal has been made yet.
"I want Shannon Sharpe on First Take, and I aim to get him. We are definitely talking to Shannon Sharpe. The conversations are official. The reports have not been misnomers, or misreports or anything like that," the 55-year-old host said.
Sharpe embarked on a broadcasting career after playing in the NFL for 14 seasons. He is considered one of the best tight ends of all time, winning the Super Bowl thrice and making the First Team All-Pro four times.
He joined FS1's Undisputed in 2016, where he became famous for his debates with Skip Bayless.
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Undisputed still off-air
The sports talk show has been off-air since the end of the 2023 NBA Finals. Fox Sports is reportedly struggling to find a suitable replacement for Sharpe, but it is certain that Bayless will keep his role as lead host.
The network took the planned two-month hiatus to rejuvenate the program for its intended August 28th return.
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