free max kellerman. . .
With Stephen A. Smith securing his long-awaited contract extension from ESPN, the Queens native has been eager to step onto a primetime stage within Disney Networks. After missing out on a weeknight hosting gig, Stephen has been working tirelessly behind the scenes to boost his value at the company, especially as Pat McAfee’s influence grows and Shannon Sharpe, when he appears, dominates the morning show. From an outside perspective, Stephen seems to feel threatened by both, as they reportedly earn more while shouldering fewer responsibilities.
Last Tuesday, reports surfaced that ESPN’s Monday Night Football crew had no interest in Stephen joining them, citing concerns about his ability to function as a team player. The MNF team, which includes Joe Buck, Scott Van Pelt, Marcus Spears, Ryan Clark, RGIII, Lisa Salters, Troy Aikman, and Larry Fitzgerald, has distanced itself from Stephen A. Additionally, tensions have been simmering on ESPN’s First Take and other morning shows, with several personalities disliking both Stephen and Shannon for months.
Following the controversial firing of Max Kellerman, some ESPN colleagues expressed disapproval over how he was treated, including Stephen A., who believed the show wasn’t working and contributed to Max’s departure. This decision led to further division between Stephen and other on-air talent who regularly appear on First Take. Interestingly, the same MNF crew reportedly believes Stephen is unaware of how unwelcome he is in their circle.
In my opinion, it might be wiser to invite Shannon Sharpe as an occasional guest on MNF and keep Stephen A. focused on NBA coverage. According to a source who spoke with The U.S. Sun, the MNF crew allegedly laughed at the idea of Stephen joining them, with one insider saying, “There is no way he joins us. He’s not one of us football guys, and he craves all the attention.”
Despite over two decades at ESPN, Stephen A. Smith recently became the network’s highest-paid on-air talent, earning a reported $18 million per year, surpassing even Troy Aikman.
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