Former NFL quarterback Cam Newton signed a contract with ESPN on Thursday as the former MVP will largely be a commentator on ESPN’s morning show “First Take,” alongside Stephen A. Smith and Molly Qerim.
“Cam Newton’s addition to ‘First Take’ brings an electrifying presence, enhancing our roster of top-tier personalities,” said David Roberts, executive vice president at ESPN, in a statement Thursday. “His dynamic charisma, combined with the high-profile debates alongside Stephen A. Smith, will create compelling, must-watch television for fans.”
Newton’s first appearance will be Friday at Tennessee State University as part of the show’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) roadshow. The show airs weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET.
What it means for fans
Win the press release.
That’s the philosophy of network executives charged with staffing national debate shows, whether in sports or politics. If you are going to bring someone in to interact with your permanent cast, you want someone who is immediately known to viewers in addition to being provocative.
Newton provides both. He has been famous for many years, first as an All-America at Auburn and then for his long career as a transformative NFL quarterback. He also has a ton of media reps, including as a podcast host.
He’ll undoubtedly be part of segments that will go viral. Some of those segments will outrage you. Some will delight you. And so it goes in the lust for content. These part-time hires for shows such as “First Take” are rounding errors for Disney as far as salary, so it’s a layup for management if it thinks a personality can juice the debate. — Richard Deitsch, senior media reporter
Required reading
(Photo: Kirby Lee / USA Today Sports)
