Over the last decade, First Take has become an institution of sorts at ESPN. As reported by Front Office Sports, Skip Bayless may be interested in returning to ESPN to reunite with Stephen A. Smith on the popular morning show once Bayless’ contract with Fox ends in 2020.
One source told Front Office Sports, “They both want to make it happen. I’m just not sure ESPN will hit Fox’s number.”
Another source added, “The way [ESPN] would position this is they’re taking ‘First Take’ to ‘another level.”
They continued, “Nobody thinks Stephen A. and Max are a match made in heaven. Same for Skip and Shannon. Put (Stephen A. and Skip) back together again.”
Recently, reports have indicated that Fox President of National Networks Mark Silverman is looking to control costs at the network moving forward. Meanwhile, ESPN just doled out the richest contract in network history to Stephen A. Smith.
As one executive put it, “The era of modern sports talent is here. The top 1% will make the big money. The middle will go away. And low paying talent will fill out the grid.”
Neither Smith nor Bayless have commented on the report as of yet.
