Shannon Sharpe has posted a cryptic update on his future on social media, warning fans to stay tuned to the ‘seeds’ he is planting as he ponders his next move amid a split with his on-air partner, Skip Bayless, whom he co-hosts Fox Sports’ ‘Undisputed’ with.
On Friday, ‘Unc’ Shay Shay’ – three-time Super Bowl winner – shared photos of himself deep in thought while tending to the plants and flowers blooming in the backyard of his Los Angeles home .
“I went to the garden this morning. I took the time to pull some weeds, making room for this season’s flowers to grow,’ the 55-year-old former NFL tight end shared on Instagram.
“Stay tuned to the seed I plant.”
On June 1, it was reported that Fox Sports and Sharpe had agreed to a buyout, ending the sports analyst’s seven-year collaboration with Bayless as a debate partner on “Undisputed.”
FS1’s Shannon Sharpe told fans to “stay tuned to the seeds I’m planting” on Instagram on Friday
Sharpe has reached a buyout deal with Fox Sports to leave Undisputed over the summer
Days later, ex-NFL star and Fox Sports personality Marcellus Willey revealed that Sharpe’s ‘power struggle’ with Bayless led to his exit from one of America’s greatest sports commentators. .
Sharpe has yet to speak about his impending departure. In the latest episode of “Undisputed” on June 2, he opted to keep his rumored exit quiet while appearing on air.
But her social media activity that day seemed to give a hint of what’s to come this summer.
“Their relationship has gradually deteriorated over the past 2 or 3 years because Skip fought to get him on this show, but I feel like Skip couldn’t stand Shannon making it without and that’s when Skip was taking pot shots on the air,” read a tweet that Sharpe liked.
The New York Post quoted “people close to Sharpe” stating that the Pro Football Hall of Famer wanted to have more control over the selection of subjects for the show.
Sharpe liked a tweet suggesting a breakup with undisputed co-host Bayless once happened
Bayless and Sharpe attending the 2016 IAVA Gala at Cipriani 42nd St in November 2016 in New York
Bayless and Sharpe have previously shown notable signs of on-air friction, including after a controversial tweet from Bayless following Damar Hamlin’s collapse during an NFL game between the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals in January. .
Bayless shared on Twitter that the NFL couldn’t postpone the contest due to scheduling issues, despite concerns pouring in on social media about whether Hamlin had survived cardiac arrest on the field.
“No doubt the NFL is considering postponing the remainder of this game – but how? At this end of the season, a game of this magnitude is crucial to the outcome of the regular season…which suddenly seems so out of place,’ Bayless tweeted.
Sharpe was absent from the following day’s episode of “Undisputed”, but when he returned to the air just a day later, he was apparently annoyed by Bayless’ interruptions as he tried to share his own opinions on fear of Hamlin’s health.
Bayless apologized for the insensitivity of his tweet but never deleted it.
“Skip tweeted something, and while I disagree with the tweet, and I hope Skip deletes it,” Sharpe said on Live TV in January, justifying his absence from “Undisputed” to the aftermath of the Hamlin incident, before Bayless intervened.
“Time out,” Bayless said. “I’m not going to take it down, because I stand by what I tweeted.”
Sharpe then replied, “I can’t even finish a monologue without you interrupting me.
Controversial tweet from Bayless upset Sharpe the night of Damar Hamlin’s health scare
Sharpe, second from right, is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, having won three Super Bowls
The pair also faced off in December, when Bayless took it on a personal level by comparing Sharpe’s retirement from the NFL at 35 to that of Tom Brady at 45.
Sharpe hung up his boots after winning three Super Bowls with the Denver Broncos and Baltimore Ravens. He is considered one of the greatest tight ends of all time, ranking third in tight receptions, yards and touchdowns.
Yet his impressive resume is no match for Brady’s, although, of course, the latter played as a quarterback.
“I did what I did! Sharpe told Bayless. ‘You make me feel like a tramp! I’m in the effin’ Hall of Fame. I had three Super Bowls!’
Bayless, often outspoken, replied, “So what? He is much better than you.
ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith said he was ‘not at all surprised’ to learn of Sharpe’s upcoming departure from ‘Undisputed’ and even offered his ‘brother’ a spot in the weekly rotation former pros turned analysts on his show, ‘First Take.’
Michael Irvin, Keyshawn Johnson, Ryan Clark, Dan Orlovsky, Marcus Spears and Damien Woody already appear on Smith’s prime-time show.
“I’m telling you here: if Shannon Sharpe wanted to join this list, there’s no resistance from Stephen A. I have love for Shannon Sharpe,” the 55-year-old said.
Smith previously worked with Bayless on “First Take” from 2012 to 2016.
