Skip Bayless is reportedly going to want a brand new accomplice.
NFL Corridor of Famer-turned-talking head Shannon Sharpe has reached a contract buyout settlement with Fox Sports activities to finish his seven-year run alongside Bayless on Fox Sports activities 1’s “Skip and Shannon: Undisputed,” according to the New York Post’s Ryan Glasspiegel.
Sharpe’s ultimate present is reportedly anticipated to be after the NBA Finals finish in June. He may even reportedly be taking his “Membership Shay Shay” podcast with him from Fox Sports activities.
The event ends what had been a profitable partnership for Fox Sports activities after it poached Bayless from ESPN’s “First Take’ in 2016 and paired him with Sharpe, beforehand an NFL commentator for CBS. After years of Bayless verbally sparring with Stephen A. Smith on the extremely profitable ESPN2 present, Sharpe supplied a unique voice to counter Bayless in Fox’s personal morning debate present.
That partnership noticed its highs and lows, although. Because the Put up famous, there was some very public friction between Sharpe and Bayless within the fallout of the Damar Hamlin incident, by which the Buffalo Bills security went into cardiac arrest throughout a recreation in January and had to be defibrillated on the field, then taken to the hospital.
Like many others, Sharpe was clearly disturbed by the sight of a younger man practically dying on the sphere. He was additionally apparently incensed by a widely criticized tweet from Bayless asking if the NFL may actually postpone the remainder of the “Monday Evening Soccer” recreation given its timing and stakes.
Sharpe missed the next day’s “Undisputed” episode, then complained about Bayless’ tweet and bickered with the co-host after he interjected:
Lower than half a 12 months later, it seems Sharpe is on his approach out of Fox, whereas Bayless remains on a four-year, $32 million contract he signed in March 2021. It is unclear the place Sharpe goes from right here, although he in all probability will not lack for choices.
Sharpe’s time with Fox has seen him make headlines past the Hamlin incident, comparable to an ugly run-in with the father of Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies and a defamation lawsuit from Brett Favre over his reaction to allegations of welfare misconduct.
