Cam Newton is set to take on an expanded First Take role following the departure of Shannon Sharpe.
ESPN announced this week that the former NFL MVP has agreed a ‘new multi-year agreement’ with the network to bring his ‘unique perspective’ to the morning show.
He will return on Thursday, August 28 during a live show at Norfolk State University as part of the First Take HBCU fall tour.
Newton will feature alongside the show’s other prominent personalities, which include host Molly Qerim, $100 million man Stephen A. Smith, and Chris ‘Mad Dog’ Russo.
The former Carolina Panthers quarterback began making regular First Take appearances last October and according to a report from Front Office Sports (FOS), ESPN expects to have him on more than once a week moving forward.
However, FOS claim that the situation will remain ‘fluid’ as Newton has other media responsibilities, and the news of his expanded role has split opinion on social media.
“Cam has the speaking talent and the career pedigree to be one of the best sports commentators in the world. Well deserved,” one wrote.
“His shows are already entertaining, to watch him and Stephen A. Smith is gonna be hilarious,” another said.
“Shout out to Cam man, earned that!” a third responded.
Others, however, suggested ESPN’s latest decision ‘blows’ and that Newton has some ‘terrible takes’.
One viewer even suggested they would be ‘avoiding First Take like the plague’ moving forward.
When did Shannon Sharpe leave First Take?
ESPN cut ties with NFL Hall of Famer Sharpe last month, after he settled a lawsuit in which his ex-girlfriend accused him of sexual assault. Sharpe vehemently denied the allegations.
The three-time Super Bowl champion had not made an appearance on the network since April, when the suit was filed, but said at the time that he would return to ESPN at the beginning of the NFL’s training camp.
Sharpe often played the role of a foil for Smith during his First Take appearances.
He revealed on his Nightcap podcast in July that he was ‘at peace’ with his ESPN departure, but hit out at the timing of it.
The former footballer asked the network not to announce his departure until after brother Sterling’s induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Sharpe told his podcast listeners in late July: “To get started, obviously, I’m sure everybody’s heard the news by now that I will not be returning to ESPN.
“I found out this information a little earlier in the week, and really, the only thing I asked was, ‘Guys, could we wait until Monday? My brother’s going into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.’
“I know this coming out will overshadow everything that he’s worked his entire life for.
“And unfortunately, it didn’t happen that way.”
Nightcap co-host lobbied for First Take gig
While Sharpe’s ESPN departure was confirmed last month, FOS also reported that his podcast co-host, Chad Johnson, was ‘lobbying’ to be his replacement.
“I can get used to this for the next six months,” Ocho said during a First Take appearance in which he touted player ratings for the Madden 26 video game.
Host Qerim joked that Johnson should have taken his ‘career aspirations’ up with the boss, and FOS suggested he would have been the perfect man to keep Sharpe’s audience.
“Think about it: ESPN can try to retain Shannon’s audience — without Shannon,” one source told the website.
“If they slide Chad in there, it might appease them when the NFL season really starts. It would be a smart idea.”
Instead, it seems ESPN have gone with Newton, and network executives will no doubt be closely monitoring viewership as the new NFL season gets under way.
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