Sports

Skip Bayless replacement plan has Michelle Beadle ‘pissed off’

ESPN appears to have decided on Skip Bayless’ replacement, and not everyone at the network sounds thrilled.

Colin Cowherd, who went from ESPN to Fox Sports, reported on Periscope on Tuesday that Max Kellerman is close to agreeing to a deal to co-host “First Take” with Stephen A. Smith.

Kellerman currently hosts “SportsNation” alongside Michelle Beadle on ESPN in the afternoons. Beadle has had multiple social media run-ins with Smith over his controversial opinions on domestic violence.

According to Cowherd, who was on “SportsNation” with Beadle before Kellerman, she is “pissed off” over the decision.

“It’s a done deal, well, pretty much,” Cowherd said. “Kellerman is leaving for ‘First Take.’ … Beadle likes Kellerman, that’s not going to play well for Beadle, she’s going to be upset. … This stuff is all done. They are like $100,000 apart in the negotiations. He’s leaving ‘SportsNation,’ and Beadle is pissed off.”

It’s unclear if Cowherd is speaking with direct knowledge of Beadle’s feelings or just putting two and two together in the rambling feed that was posted on The Big Lead.

Bayless followed Cowherd from ESPN to Fox Sports for a deal that will reportedly pay him more than $5 million a year.