Former NFL star and outspoken personality Shannon Sharpe is reportedly the favorite to join Skip Bayless on his new show this fall on FOX Sports 1.
In just a couple of months, the world of sports talk will see a big change when Skip Bayless, one-half of the First Take team that “embraces debate” every morning on ESPN 2, will be heading to FOX Sports 1 for his own show that will be similar to his current one.
While he will be leaving the always opinionated Stephen A. Smith behind at the Worldwide Leader, Bayless may have found a replacement who is just as open with telling you what is on his mind.
Reports are that Pro Football Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe has emerged as the leader to join Bayless at his new spot on the dial, according to the Sporting News:
"The three-time Super Bowl champion for the Ravens and Broncos appeared with Bayless as a “First Take” guest host for Smith on May 16 and 17.He has also been a guest on FS1’s “The Herd with Colin Cowherd,” which has given him visibility with Fox Sports executives.“He’s basically been auditioning for Skip — and FS1 — in plain sight,” said one source about Sharpe."
Neither Sharpe’s agent nor anyone from FOX Sports would confirm if the report is true.
Sharpe is no stranger to television, having spent time as a commentator on the CBS pregame show The NFL Today before being let go prior to the 2014 season.
Bayless is the latest former ESPN personality to move to the FOX cable network in an effort to increase their visibility. His show will reportedly go head to head with First Take and lead into the simulcast of Colin Cowherd’s radio show (Cowherd will also be debuting an hour long opinion based show with another former ESPN voice, Jason Whitlock, starting the summer).
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