News: Michael Irvin, SVG, RGIII, NFL-CBS

Cleveland, OH - April 29, 2021: Michael Irvin during the 2021 NFL Draft. (Photo by Phil Ellsworth / ESPN Images)

Michael Irvin could be one of ESPN’s replacements for Max Kellerman on “First Take.” Plus: a new, old gig for Stan Van Gundy; a partner for Robert Griffin III; a small shake-up for the NFL on CBS.

Irvin could be one of Smith’s new partners on First Take

ESPN is considering using NFL Network analyst Michael Irvin as a regular sparring partner for Stephen A. Smith on “First Take,” according to Front Office Sports. Irvin, who worked for ESPN from 2003-07 and has made guest appearances on “First Take” in the past, would be part of a rotation of “guest debaters” from both within and outside of the company. Smith’s current partner, Max Kellerman, is being removed from the show (at Smith’s behest, according to the New York Post). [Front Office Sports 8.24]

Stan Van Gundy reportedly heading back to Turner

The New York Post reported Monday that Turner Sports is rehiring former NBA analyst Stan Van Gundy, who was calling games for the company less than a year ago in the NBA “bubble” but departed soon after for an ill-fated coaching stint with the New Orleans Pelicans. Van Gundy, who had a brief stint working for ESPN prior to joining Turner in 2019, will again appear across both TNT and NBA TV.

Per the Post, Turner has yet to decide who will replace Marv Albert as its lead NBA voice and may not make a decision until during the season. [NYP 8.23]

RGIII to work with Mark Jones in debut season

New ESPN college football analyst Robert Griffin III will work alongside play-by-play voice Mark Jones this season, with the duo debuting on the September 4 Texas Tech-Texas game. Jones’ previous partner, Dusty Dvoracek, will now work with Dave Pasch. The since-departed Mike Golic Sr. was Pasch’s partner last season. [ESPN PR]

CBS NFL line-up undergoes small shuffle

CBS announced its NFL broadcast teams on Tuesday, with its no changes to its top teams of Jim Nantz and Tony Romo, Ian Eagle and Charles Davis and Kevin Harlan and Trent Green. With the departure of Rich Gannon, Adam Archuleta will move up the depth chart to work alongside Greg Gumbel. Archuleta’s previous partner Spero Dedes will now work with Jay Feely. Feely’s previous partner Tom McCarthy will now work with Tiki Barber. Barber’s previous partner Beth Mowins has not been assigned a regular partner. [CBS Sports PR]

Kellerman’s move official as ESPN shakes up radio lineup again

Jon Lewis

Jon Lewis has been covering the sports media industry on a daily basis since 2006 as the founder and main writer of Sports Media Watch. You can contact him here or on the social media websites X (Twitter) or Bluesky.

Courtesy: Derek Futterman, Sports Media Watch

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Comments 1

Nate Johnson says:

5 years ago

Let me start off by saying that I’m sure First Take has better ratings than Undisputed. However, numbers don’t always share whether one show is better than another. We know ESPN is a few light years ahead of FS1 and if both shows swap networks, Undisputed would have better ratings than First Take. With that said, if First Take is able to bring in Michael Irvin on a weekly base wether that’s once or twice a week, that will be very huge for the network against their competition. Shannon Sharpe has helped bring substance to his debate show than First Take because Sharpe is an Hall of Famer that give analysis on the sport at an elite level. Not to mention, he can be entertaining as well. There’s a lot of issues with the show, but one big issue is too much Dallas Cowboys talk and a lot of that has to do with his partner across from him.

First Take has always had 2, I’ll just call them, sports debaters that led the show and when they bring a former player/coach on the show they try to over talk them or limit them to being the 3rd guy from a distance (when talking about a football game). Going in a different format that is similar to Undisputed would be very helpful for First Take especially with new blood in Michael Irvin. That would bring the most attention when it comes to Cowboys talk because one is a Legend for them while the other is a public non approval supporter for them. Irvin also will be able to bring expertise to the show beyond what they have had forever, and my suggestions is to have him on the Monday and Friday shows and okay sure talk Cowboys, but cover as much NFL from a broader standpoint on the previous Sunday and upcoming Sunday.

Stan Van Gundy returning to Turner only enhances the depth of in game analysts they already have. I believe now I know why there will be Tuesday TNT basketball until TNF ends. I believe Ian Eagle is the voice of TNF radio. So had he not been able to call games and there’s no Brian Anderson because of baseball, Spero Dedes is next in line to call games. So on opening night, I believe Kevin Harlan and Reggie Miller calls Warriors/Lakers (Reggie lives on the West Coast and Kevin Harlan has called more West Coast games on TNT than any other play-by-play man) and Ian Eagle and maybe Grant Hill will call Nets/Bucks. On the following Thursday, things will be interesting. I do believe Harlan will call one game, but I possibly believe Spero Dedes will call the other. Granted, that Thursday could be a travel day for the NLCS opening the door for Brian Anderson to call a game in Atlanta or San Francisco (both cities has NL teams, both cities currently lead their division). We will see, but plenty of speculations makes it where it will be difficult to forecast who will be the #1 play-by-play man and rather the 2022 AS game gives that away.

But the bottomline to it all is that it took Marv Albert retiring for them to move to Tuesday because the availability might not be there on Thursdays with no Eagle, Anderson having some vacation time (hopefully), and Dedes not being in their top plans.