'Stephen A. Smith & Michael Irvin Show' Cowboys Legend To Give ESPN 'Great TV'?

Stephen A. Smith did the (seemingly) unthinkable on the latest edition of his eponymous podcast this week by vouching for a Dallas Cowboy.

The player in question is none other than Michael Irvin, a former receiver who maybe remains a de facto broadcasting free agent after an alleged incident of sexual misconduct led to the three-time Super Bowl champion filing a $100 million to clear his name. The incident caused NFL Network (and ESPN) to remove Irvin from their coverage of the Super Bowl LVII.

Smith made it clear that he'd have no issues working with Irvin on his flagship ESPN program "First Take."

Said Smith: “There’s not much on this planet Earth I would not do for Michael Irvin. That’s my brother. I love him to death and I think he makes great television and I would never ever, ever sit up there and tell anybody that I want anybody more than I want Michael Irvin."

Irvin has been a regular guest on "First Take.'' He was slated to appear during the show's coverage of the aforementioned Super Bowl between Kansas City and Philadelphia but the showing was canceled after the allegations emerged.

Smith, one of the most notorious Cowboys critics in modern sports media - even though Cowboys Nation should know it's all for show - made it clear that he has no control over where Irvin lands, hinting at lingering contract issues between Irvin and NFL Network.

"I don’t know what’s going to happen with him. I don’t know what his situation is. I haven’t spoken to him in a while," Smith said. "It’s just that things that are going on are out of my control. Whether it’s the NFL, it’s the NFL Network, it’s ESPN, I don’t know! I don’t have any control over that, that’s beyond my pay grade.”

Since "First Take"'s prior co-star, Max Kellerman, departed the show, Smith has worked with a range of other analysts and pundits. A favorite among fans to join Smith has been former NFL tight end Shannon Sharpe, who is set to leave his current post at Fox Sports (hosting "Undisputed" alongside the polarizing Skip Bayless) after the conclusion of the NBA Finals.

Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags

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