Skip Bayless: 'I tried everything in my power' to rejoin Stephen A. Smith at ESPN in 2020 before FOX Sports made a suitable contract offer

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Skip Bayless and Stephen A. Smith proved to be a strong duo for ESPN before Bayless left the network to join FOX Sports in 2016. And in a recent podcast interview, Bayless revealed that he almost returned to the global leader to rejoin his long-time partner.

When appearing on Pardon my opinionBayless was asked about the possibility of him and Smith working together again on the same show. He then shared that this almost came about a few years ago before details in his contract made it impossible for the reunion to take place.

“We tried in 2020, that’s what you have to say,” Bayless revealed. “My contract expired after my first four years. So I was there from 2016 to 2020. He tried his best and I tried my best to get back together with him. And (ESPN) made an offer. I wasn't aware that I had a clause at the bottom of the fine print of my contract that was standard for all contracts. I was told I had one at ESPN that I didn't know about.

“And not only did Fox pass, they sweetened the pot. Many thanks to Lachlan Murdoch for this. So they tried to make it more comfortable for me to stay here. But I tried everything in my power to rejoin him because I missed him a lot. No disrespect to Shannon, I had spent four years with Shannon and wanted to go back with Stephen A.”

Skip Bayless continued, noting that the pair made extra efforts to bond after it became clear that a return to ESPN outside of FOX Sports was out of the question.

“ESPN had the second idea of ​​a hybrid show that I would stick with Undisputedhe would stay First recordingbut every afternoon we met for 30 or 45 minutes to do ESPN+, a digital show, together. We tried to make it happen, but there are just too many egos involved on both sides…so it never worked out.”

When Pardon my opinion Co-host PFT Commenter shared that he dreams of Stephen A. Smith and Skip Bayless joining forces once again. However, the former FS1 and ESPN host hasn't finished the book on it happening at some point.

“You never know,” Bayless said.