Skip Bayless says he has been set free. Bayless posted The Skip Bayless Show, and said this would be his “first unleashed episode.” He also said his content now features, “No more network bosses or “don’ts” or “can’ts.”
Bayless got started and said, “The NFL season is about to start along with my new life. I have never been more excited for a football season and a new beginning. I have waited a long time for this moment. I am finally free. Free to unleash in ways I never have.
“Free to give you every bit of me without boundaries, handcuffs, or fear of suspension. I recently left FS1, an exit I’ve been planning for several months, because I wanted to do this. I wanted to be my own boss, to bet on myself, to break free from the TV networks I’ve worked for, for 35 years.”
Bayless then went on to describe what it has been like working for those networks and what he would often hear from producers and executives.
“For 35 years, I’ve been told, ‘don’t, don’t, don’t. Careful, careful, careful.’ I tiptoe, sidestep, pull punches, protected our quote-unquote network broadcast partners, the leagues whose games my employers televised. Now, no more night before memos saying, ‘no, no, no.’ No more bosses with huge egos and hidden agendas. No more games that have to be played behind closed network doors.
“Now I’m free to be 1,000% me. I’ve often seen things before others do and said things others won’t, but there were always camouflaged limitations and restrictions. No more.
Bayless then went on to say if he was still working for FS1 he would not have been able to talk about Tom Brady’s situation where the NFL will not allow him to be in production meetings because of his potential ownership of the Las Vegas Raiders.
“I say what I see, and now I will do that completely on steroids,” Bayless said. “If Brady goes plain vanilla as an analyst, aw shucks gee whiz, if Brady refuses to criticize a quarterback who obviously deserves it, I will say he’s turning into the Daniel Jones of commentators.
“Now I’m free to write the books I’ve always wanted to write, including one about the wild ride I just had through 20 years of doing daily national TV shows. Now I’m free to shop a controversial screenplay I’ve written that a network employer would not love, trust me. Now I’m free to develop all sorts of other digital shows you will hear about in the very near future. I had memorable runs at ESPN and at Fox, but now I have a great new team around me and am I ever about to unleash on this show…
“Buckle up, here we go.”
