After seeing Courtney Cronin, First Take fans are calling for ESPN to give the NFL reporter a more prominent role on the network.
Cronin, 33, has been filling in for anchor Stephen A. Smith. In the meantime, the veteran reporter has demonstrated her knowledge in front of a national audience and has had viewers clamoring for more airtime.
While his stay on the show is temporary, Cronin has impressed First Take fans, who are pouring out their praise on social media.
“I’m going to scream this on my death bed, but Andraya Carter should be the NBA lead for ESPN and Courtney Cronin for the NFL,” one user posted on X.
‘Those who know about baseball should not be treated as second-class people while buffoons who spout nonsense without substance are promoted.’
Fans insisted that ESPN’s Chicago Bears reported that Courtney Cronin should get more airtime
Cronin earned some time on the show while Molly Qerim and Stephen A. Smith were away.
“It was great seeing you there! I need you to do it more often, CC,” another added.
“CC = Game-changer,” a third added after Cronin posted a behind-the-scenes photo of the First Take desk.
Molly Qerim returned to the show after a long holiday on Thursday morning and hosted the show alongside Cronin and radio host Harry Douglas.
After holding positions at the NCAA, The Clarion-Ledger and The Mercury News, Cronin joined ESPN in 2017 as a Minnesota Vikings reporter and national radio host. In 2022, she switched her job from the Vikings to the Chicago Bears, while maintaining her position on the airwaves.
Smith, Qerim and NFL Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe are the main hosts of First Take
Smith is in the midst of contract negotiations with ESPN that could earn him $100 million.
While Qerim has returned to the highly-rated morning show, Smith is still on vacation as he waits to renew his contract with the network.
Smith, arguably ESPN’s biggest personality, could become the network’s first player to earn $100 million if he is granted the pay raise he desires.
The first version underwent a massive change less than a year ago when NFL Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe left FS1.
Additionally, other regular analysts on the show include Chris ‘Mad Dog’ Russo, Ryan Clark, Kendrick Perkins and JJ Redick before he accepted the head coaching job for the Los Angeles Lakers.
