Stephen A. Smith says his bosses at ESPN are currently mulling Shannon Sharpe's "First Take" future ... in the wake of the explosive rape lawsuit that was levied against the ex-NFL star earlier this month.

Shannon Sharpe’s future on ESPN’s “First Take” may be in jeopardy after he was accused of rape and battery. Sharpe’s co-host, Stephen A. Smith, addressed the legal battle on his eponymous podcast Tuesday,

NFL Hall of Famer and current ESPN personality Shannon Sharpe was reportedly named in a lawsuit Sunday alleging he committed sexual assault and battery. TMZ was the first to report that Sharpe was being sued by a woman under the "Jane Doe" pseudonym in Nevada.