Another pair of ESPN analysts have found themselves at public odds this week as Stephen A. Smith took exception with Ryan Clark’s social media decorum after the former NFL safety faced harsh backlash for his perspective on Lamar Jackson.
With Jackson compiling one of the most statistically impressive seasons in NFL history and in the hunt for a second-straight MVP award, Clark reflected back on the oft-scrutinized history of dual-threat quarterbacks and hoped that the Ravens dynamo’s overwhelming success will shut down this skepticism for good.
“I want to say it to [Cam Newton]. I want to say it to Randall Cunningham. I want to say it to Russell Wilson, and I want to say it to Michael Vick,”Clark said. “This is the evolution of the position. Without Randall Cunningham having to try to conform and be a pocket passer and also show his athleticism, we don’t get to Michael Vick. And without Michael Vick accepting that and working to become a better passer, working to become a better leader — we don’t get a Cam Newton. And if Cam Newton doesn’t bring the style of play that he had an opportunity to bring from Auburn to the NFL — and win an MVP doing it — we don’t have a Lamar Jackson.”
Clark made these remarks while filling in for Smith as a host on First Take, and his perspective on Jackson prompted a fiery social media discussion about the role of race in evaluating quarterbacks. Smith expressed frustration with Clark not for his opinion, of which the men are in agreement, but for his ultimate decision to delete his message from social media.
“So, I’m pretty ticked off at Ryan Clark deleted his tweet, according to the reports. What you take it done for? You were right,” Smith said. “His point may not have been articulated as perfectly as he would’ve liked and he might’ve left a hole here for someone to at least question it, but his overall point, I firmly understand — and he was right. If Lamar Jackson wins the Super Bowl, that’s going to go a long way to us ever questioning again whether a cat can do it at that position, being a dual-threat — a quarterback that can run…”
In a recent interview, Stephen A. Smith expressed his admiration for his ESPN colleague Dan Orlovsky’s unwavering support for Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson. Smith stated that he wishes more people in the sports media industry would maintain Orlovsky’s perspective on Jackson’s talents and potential.
Orlovsky has been a vocal advocate for Jackson since his college days at Louisville, often defending him against critics who question his abilities as a quarterback. Despite facing scrutiny and skepticism from some analysts, Orlovsky has consistently praised Jackson for his unique skill set and playmaking ability.
Smith commended Orlovsky for staying true to his beliefs and not succumbing to the prevailing narratives surrounding Jackson. He emphasized the importance of having diverse opinions and perspectives in sports media, especially when it comes to evaluating young and emerging talents like Jackson.
As the debate around Jackson continues to evolve, Smith hopes that more analysts will follow Orlovsky’s lead and give credit where credit is due. He believes that Jackson’s success on the field speaks for itself and deserves to be recognized and celebrated by the sports media community.
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