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Keyshawn Johnson is headed to mornings on ESPN Radio as part of a shake-up that could leave Mike Golic without a chair, The Post has learned. ESPN and Johnson are in agreement on a contract, according to sources, that will directly impact the current morning team of Trey Wingo’s and Golic Sr.’s ESPN’s futures. Johnson’s …
Keyshawn Johnson is headed to mornings on ESPN Radio as part of a shake-up that could leave Mike Golic without a chair, The Post has learned.
ESPN and Johnson are in agreement on a contract, according to sources, that will directly impact the current morning team of Trey Wingo’s and Golic Sr.’s ESPN’s futures.
Johnson’s partner or partners are still undetermined. He’s expected to begin in mid-August, but that is not yet known and could be impacted by the pandemic.
ESPN declined comment.
Both Wingo and Golic have contracts that end at the conclusion of this year, according to sources. The third member of the Golic and Wingo morning team is Mike Golic Jr.
Golic Jr. is under contract past this year and is expected to remain on a revamped lineup, likely in the afternoon or evenings.
Meanwhile, Golic’s old radio partner, Mike Greenberg, is moving closer to an early afternoon slot to add to his TV duties as the host of “Get Up.”
Network executives have discussed slicing an hour off of the Dan Le Batard program that currently runs from 10-1 p.m., according to sources, and having Greenberg work 12-2 p.m., but Le Batard, who has two years remaining on his deal, may still hold onto his full three hours with Greenberg moving into a 1-3 p.m. It is undetermined.
At the end of April, The Post reported ESPN’s interest in returning Greenberg to radio where he and Golic had a very successful nearly two decade run in the mornings. The site Outkick has mentioned the Greenberg-ESPN Radio deal was getting closer earlier this week.
Hovering over all ESPN’s moves is the pandemic that has already impacted the network’s plans. ESPN and its parent company, Disney, have been affected greatly and, though there has been a hope that July would be a turning point, the renewed infection rate around the country may cause ESPN to kick more decisions further down the summer.
With the Disney parks unopened and sports mostly on hold, the company has been tighter in its contract negotiations.
While major sports could soon come back on ESPN’s air with a vigor, there is still a worry that everything could be shut down, which is why ESPN is going as slow as possible with decisions on radio and its “Monday Night Football” booth.
The tighter pockets have limited some of ESPN’s options. ESPN has considered someone like Pat McAfee for a radio show, according to sources. However, he is under contract with Westwood One and makes money on YouTube, so talks didn’t get far.
Instead, McAfee is in discussions for an expanded deal with FanDuel, according to sources, that will leverage his betting bent. This is an industry trend, to team with a wagering platform, that Barstool has led.
Meanwhile, Johnson has hosted a show on ESPN LA, but will move east for the new national program. As for Johnson’s partner(s), that is still up in the air. Max Kellerman has been mentioned, but at this point that seems unlikely with ESPN prioritizing Kellerman’s role on First Take.
Besides Golic Jr., Jason Fitz — who currently hosts First Take, My Take — is under contract and could be considered with Johnson or may end up in the afternoons, where Will Cain is exiting for Fox News/Fox Nation.
ESPN New York’s Peter Rosenberg and Chris Carlin are two names that have been mentioned for mornings, as well. Rosenberg would be a bit more complicated because, besides his Michael Kay duties, he is already on a morning show with Hot 97. Hot 97 owns a station option on Rosenberg’s contract for next year.
The ESPN Radio shakeup is in progress. Johnson is in, Greenberg is likely and Golic Sr. and Wingo have futures in doubt.
Quick Click: YES is hosting a charity event for the Joe Torre Foundation in which Michael Kay will lead a roundtable discussion on Sunday at 8 p.m. It will feature Torre, Bobby Valentine and David Cone among others.
Clicker Books: You miss baseball? Papa Clicker has two books for you. Mitchell Nathanson’s “Bouton (The Life of a baseball original) receives 4.55 rating out of 5 as it will appeal to old timer’s memories and, for younger folks, it shows Bouton’s impact on today’s culture. Meanwhile “24 (Life Stories and Lessons from the Say Hey Kid) by Willie Mays and John Shea gives an inside look of Mays’ life, including his relationship with presidents, Barry Bonds Sr. and Jr. and Jackie Robinson It receives 4.3 out of 5 clickers.
