02/05/2024

Skip Bayless’ Keyshawn Johnson announcement is in dispute

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Skip Bayless’ Keyshawn Johnson announcement is in dispute

Skip Bayless announced Monday that Keyshawn Johnson would be joining FS1's "Undisputed" in a reboot of the show after Shannon Sharpe left FS1.

Skip Bayless announced Monday that Keyshawn Johnson would be joining FS1's "Undisputed" in a reboot of the show after Shannon Sharpe left FS1.

It’s disputed, The Post has learned.

Skip Bayless announced Monday that Keyshawn Johnson would be joining the Fox Sports 1 show “Undisputed” in a reboot of the program after former co-host Shannon Sharpe left.

Sources, however, said Bayless’ announcement was premature, as ESPN has yet to release Johnson from his contract.

Johnson was among about 20 high-profile talents laid off by ESPN earlier this summer in a round of budgetary cuts.

Nevertheless, his dismissal from ESPN was not like getting released from a football team and immediately becoming an unrestricted free agent.

As The Post previously reported, Johnson was in the second year of a five-year contract worth about $18 million when he was let go.

For him to work in sports media between now and when his contract expires, he would need to reach an agreement with ESPN, and that has not happened yet.

Keyshawn Johnson has not been cleared by ESPN to work at other sports media outlets, sources tell The Post.
Keyshawn Johnson has not been cleared by ESPN to work at other sports media outlets, sources tell The Post.
WireImage

Sharpe left “Undisputed” after the NBA Finals in June and, as The Post reported last week, will appear on ESPN’s “First Take” with Stephen A. Smith — another former Bayless partner — on Mondays and Tuesdays during football season.

“Undisputed,” meanwhile, will become an ensemble show, featuring Bayless.

Contributors will include Richard Sherman, Rachel Nichols, Michael Irvin (a former debate opponent of Smith’s at ESPN) and Lil Wayne.

Skip Bayless announced that Keyshawn Johnson would be joining FS1's 'Undisputed' this September.
Skip Bayless announced that Keyshawn Johnson would be joining FS1’s ‘Undisputed’ this September.
Fox Sports

Johnson may wind up with a role on “Undisputed” — which sources said would be more akin to a regular co-hosting spot than a contributor role — but he would have to get ESPN’s contractual blessing first.

An ESPN spokesperson declined to comment, and a Fox Sports spokesperson could not immediately be reached for comment.

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