Stephen A. Smith desires Shannon Sharpe on ‘First Take’: ‘Talks are critical’

Stephen A. Smith confirmed he desires Shannon Sharpe.

On Friday, the ESPN “First Take” host addressed the rumors of the transfer with Sharpe, who left Skip Bayless on FS1’s “Undisputed” in June, after Smith teased his Twitter followers in regards to the upcoming information.

“Search for me on Friday, People! I’ll be addressing all of the issues I want to deal with,” he tweeted.

“I’m not going to inform you it’s true, however I’m not going to inform you it’s not,” Smith said slyly on his YouTube channel about Sharpe becoming a member of the present.

“Yeah, the talks are critical. I would like this brother on ‘First Take’… I would like him to have a shinier gentle positioned on him than just a few of the instances we final noticed him,” he continued.

“I’m not throwing shade at him and particularly not my man, Skip Bayless.”

The emotions appear to be mutual, because the Corridor of Fame tight finish informed USA At present it could be “great” to collaborate with Smith whereas hinting at a profession announcement within the upcoming days.

This might be a giant step for Sharpe, 55, coming from the FS1 present that averaged 154,000 viewers.

A possible transfer to “First Take” would allow him to proceed to construct on his podcast “Membership Shay Shay,” which boasts 1.23 million subscribers on YouTube.

The position would seemingly be as a part-time contributor, as Smith likes to have a rotating panel of co-hosts somewhat than a everlasting accomplice.

“I would like Shannon Sharpe on ‘First Take’ and I goal to get him…..I’m hopeful. I’m very hopeful and really assured that finally we shall be asserting earlier than later that he shall be on ‘First Take,’” Smith stated.

Sharpe and Bayless began to have a rocky relationship, notably after Bills safety Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field in opposition to the Bengals this previous season.

Bayless was slammed for a tweet after the collapse however earlier than the sport was canceled saying, “Little doubt the NFL is contemplating suspending the remainder of this sport — however how? This late within the season, a sport of this magnitude is essential to the regular-season final result … which abruptly appears so irrelevant.”

The next morning, Sharpe stayed residence and later expressed he wished for Bayless to delete the tweet.

From that, Smith knew Sharpe wouldn’t be with Bayless for much longer.

“That was the day (Damar Hamlin clip) I knew Shannon can be gone from Undisputed on FS1,” he stated.