Stephen A. Smith has found himself in an unexpected debate regarding the popularity of his show, First Take, particularly after a recent interaction with promising quarterback Drake Maye. The situation arose when Maye, responding to Cam Newton’s characterization of the New England Patriots as “fool’s gold,” admitted he was unaware of the segment where Newton made his comments. This led Smith to label Maye a liar during a recent broadcast, emphasizing that as an athlete, he should be familiar with such a widely viewed show.
Smith expressed his frustration passionately, stating, “He’s also a liar…don’t tell me you’re an athlete and you don’t know that Cam Newton is on this show. You’re lying.” His remarks highlighted the importance he places on First Take being recognized as a significant platform for sports discussions.
In a light-hearted follow-up, Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel addressed Smith’s comments during his weekly appearance on WEEI’s The Greg Hill Show. After the Titans secured a victory against the Cincinnati Bengals, Hill jokingly suggested that Vrabel could put First Take on in the weight room, particularly for Maye. In response, Vrabel noted that he was unsure if the TVs in their weight room even functioned and seemed skeptical about Smith’s claim regarding the show’s ratings. “Is it? I find that hard to believe. It’s not the SportsCenter that I grew up with,” he stated, reminiscing about a time when SportsCenter dominated morning sports programming.
While Smith often champions First Take’s ratings and claims it as the number one morning sports show on television, Vrabel’s comments reveal lingering skepticism among some in the sports community about its prominence. Despite First Take’s consistent performance against competitors on networks like FS1, it seems that both Maye and Vrabel are yet to be completely convinced of the show’s status.
As the landscape of sports media continues to evolve, First Take remains a central player in shaping discussions and engaging audiences. The exchange serves as a reminder of the varied perspectives that exist even among influential figures in sports, highlighting both the show’s reach and the ongoing conversation about its impact in the world of sports journalism.