ESPN is scrapping its national morning radio show featuring Keyshawn Johnson, Jay Williams and Max Kellerman, The NY Post is reporting.
This is part of the restructuring of the company that will include significant on-air layoffs as early as next week, according to sources.
It doesn’t mean that Johnson, Williams or Kellerman will be let go, though Kellerman is in jeopardy as a big-money guy who now is going to be out on radio and has “The Pat McAfee Show” this fall moving into the same time slot as Kellerman’s TV program, “This Just In”
As part of the upcoming layoffs, ESPN is expected to buy out some deals. This is a corporate way of reducing numbers on the books, while still actually paying people the money they are owed.
ESPN could do that, which could grant Johnson free agency and make him a possible sparring partner for Skip Bayless as a replacement for Shannon Sharpe on FS1’s “Undisputed." Johnson lives in Los Angeles, where Fox Sports is located.
ESPN and Johnson would have to negotiate an agreement to allow this possibility to fully play out.
ESPN could also choose to expand Johnson’s NFL role, especially with “Monday Night Countdown” expected to be hit by layoffs.
Johnson is already a regular on ESPN’s daily program, “NFL Live.”
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