In a radiosphere of barkers, chopping off one mouth only spawns another.
SiriusXM will need to replace Stephen A. Smith, who The Big Lead reports is bringing his early-afternoon show back to ESPN, and Chris Russo is tossing out a predictable name to fill the spot on the “Mad Dog Radio” channel.
“I will say this, I will throw this out there just to have some laughs. And Mike will never do it, but the door is open, anytime,” Russo said Tuesday, inviting his longtime cohort Mike Francesa to make the move.
Speaking on the Bernie (McGuirk) and Sid (Rosenberg) show on WABC, Russo did not comment on Smith’s exit, but did give a ready-to-sign contract offer to his WFAN partner of 19 years.
“When Mike’s contract is up and he is a free agent — and forget our channel here, any channel he wants at SiriusXM — he has a done deal,” said Russo, who worked with Francesa until 2008, when the high-profile, polarizing radio voices divorced.
Francesa’s contract with WFAN expires at the end of 2017, which has the network scrambling to replace an icon and has Francesa fans curious about his next move. The 62-year-old has not dropped many hints about his post-WFAN plans — if he indeed is leaving — but Russo insists Francesa will not give up a pulpit.
“Mike will be able to work,” Russo predicted. “… You think Mike’s going to retire with three little kids at home, in the house all day? Not a [chance].”