"I don't call the shots": Shannon Sharpe says he has nothing to do with ESPN curving Skip Bayless
Shannon Sharpe started his broadcasting career under the wings of Skip Bayless. Now, rumors have started that Sharpe is blocking Bayless from rejoining him at ESPN. However, Sharpe clarified the entire situation.
The former Denver Broncos tight end and Bayless debuted the show, ‘Undisputed,’ on FS1 in 2016. Sharpe left the show in 2023 after falling out with Bayless and joined Skip Bayless’ previous show, ‘First Take,’ on ESPN. Now, it is being reported that Bayless will be out of ‘Undisputed’ as well and might find his way back to ESPN.
However, rumors started swirling that hosts of ‘First Take’ Shannon Sharpe and Stephen A. Smith might be preventing Bayless’ return. On his podcast, ‘Nightcap,’ Sharpe cleared the air.
“I don't make the call at ESPN," said Sharpe. “And Stephen A. said what he said. Look, at the end of the day, ESPN gonna make a call, Shannon don't call no shots at ‘First Take,' I don't. And there's this notion that, ‘Oh Shannon and Stephen A. are causing tension.' I'm like, ‘What kind of tension?’” (2:48 – 3:11)
“I'm hearing this Shannon Sharpe and Stephen A. are causing rumbling. What rumblings? I'm in the box, I go into a room, look into the camera, look down the barrel, that's it.” (5:30 – 5:43)
Shannon Sharpe also stated that he doesn’t even talk to the show's producers, and it is wild to suggest he has that kind of pull at ESPN. Sharpe further clarified that he has no ill will against Bayless and wants him to succeed.
Stephen A. Smith had a different opinion of Skip Bayless than Shannon Sharpe
Unlike Shannon Sharpe, Stephen A. Smith doesn’t want to work with Skip Bayless.
On one hand, Sharpe washed his hands with the entire situation, but Smith dove right into it. He took to his YouTube channel and clarified that he had no intentions of working with Bayless.
“Skip Bayless and Stephen A. Smith, together as partners, working across from each other on a debate show, is over. It's been over,” said Smith. “That is a past that I'll always celebrate and be appreciative of, but that ain't where I'm at now. I got bigger plans for myself that don't include him nor anybody else as a partner.”
Bayless has remained active on his YouTube channel as well but has neither responded to Smith nor Sharpe.