Straight After Skip Bayless’ Decision to Go With $40,000,000 Ex-NFL Star, Shannon Sharpe Joins His Former Arch Nemesis

Pro Football Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe has finally found his next landing spot after his exit from Fox Sports 1 show ‘Undisputed’. After sharing the screen with analyst Skip Bayless for 7 years, Sharpe decided to leave the show in June. Since his exit, Sharpe has been rumored to join the rival morning debate show ‘First Take’ after Stephen A. Smith and Sharpe expressed their interest in working together.

The rumors were supposedly true as Shannon Sharpe will join Stephen A. Smith’s show every Monday and Tuesday during the next NFL season, the New York Post reported. This announcement comes days after Undisputed announced Super Bowl champion Richard Sherman will replace Sharpe on FS1’s morning debate show.

First Take ratings might go through the roof

Undisputed has been on hiatus since Sharpe left the show back in June. FS1 was having a hard time filling the void that Sharpe left as his on-screen chemistry with Skip was palpable. Meanwhile, Stephen A. Smith has pioneered the ‘debate by committee’ approach, bringing in rotating guests like JJ Redick and Chris ‘Mad Dog’ Russo on the show. This approach keeps the opinions diverse and has led to First Take tripling Undisputed in ratings, becoming the No. 1 morning debate show.

With Sharpe’s addition to the show and his much-anticipated return on morning TV, First Take ratings might go through the roof. Sharpe has not been on ESPN since he joined Undisputed in 2016. He was an occasional guest on the show when Skip Bayless and Stephen A. hosted the show together before Skip jumped ships to Fox Sports.

After Sharpe’s exit, Undisputed is trying First Take’s approach

Although FS1 has struck a deal with Richard Sherman to replace Shannon on the show, he will not be available to debate Skip throughout the year. Sherman will make 50-100 appearances on Undisputed in a year, which has led Skip to follow what Stephen A. is doing. Undisputed will be running on a ‘debate by committee’ approach and has already announced the addition of rapper Lil Wayne and Rachel Nichols to the show. Undisputed will return on August 28.

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Skip has a sour history with his new co-host. Skip and Sherman were involved in a heated argument on First Take before 2016, and both fired some personal shots at each other’s careers.

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With Shannon returning on TV to join his arch nemesis and Skip butting heads with Richard Sherman, fans are excited to watch what unfolds in this new era of morning debate shows.