ESPN
As the years go by and Stephen A. Smith exerts increasing influence on First Take and ESPN at large, the network has become increasingly drama oriented, with its network stars manufacturing controversy and calling it sports content.
It’s why basketball fans have been loving the NBA broadcasts put on by NBC and Prime Video this year, as they actually focus on the sport, and not the personalities commentating on it.
Despite fans clearly wanting more serious analysis in their sports media coverage, Stephen A. Smith continues to swing in the opposite direction as he increasingly presents himself as something of a WWE character within the world of sports, routinely calling others out on the mic just like wrestlers would.
The latest example of this came earlier this week when Smith called New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye a “liar” for claiming to not know what show Cam Newton works for.
“[Drake Maye] is a liar… First Take is the number one morning show..don’t tell me you a athlete and you don’t know that. Don’t tell me you a athlete and you don’t know that Cam Newton is on this show. You lying”, Smith said on Thursday.
Sports world torches Stephen A. Smith for calling Drake Maye a “liar” for saying he doesn’t know what show Cam Newton works for
Smith’s comments were swiftly rejected, however, as there were dozens upon dozens of massively viral tweets ripping Stephen A. Smith and co. for the delusional hubris they displayed, with many pointing out that First Take‘s rating as likely a result of it being played in gyms, waiting rooms, hotels, and soon.
If they took this show off gym and hotel TV’s it would have 0 weekly viewers https://t.co/RlwfvO9QBT
— Edge (@SomethingEra2) November 20, 2025
I bet ESPN could replace first take with two guys sitting at a desk cracking jokes and talking through highlights for an hour and replay that three times between 6-9 am and viewership would spike. https://t.co/4JcjajKyZj
— Jeff Bell (@4WhomJBellTolls) November 20, 2025
“Bunch of grown men getting upset at Drake Maye not watching their s—– tv show lmao.”
“Stephen A can’t fathom that many actively avoid the brain rot he calls content.”
“The ego to assume an NFL QB is wasting his time not only watching First Take, but memorizing the cast, is absolutely wild.”
“Many active players do not pay attention to 99.99% of sports media. Stephen A. convincing himself he’s a central figure within sports leagues is… something.”
“Drake Maye is a 23 year old. I promise you he is not sitting down every morning and watching First Take. No one under 45 is… I’ve never met anyone who sits down at a TV and watches ESPN. We only know who these guys are because we like making fun of how dumb they sound on the internet.”
lol yea man. We are just out here watching morning talk shows during the week at work. https://t.co/FNTWL9w1kQ
— Geoff Schwartz (@geoffschwartz) November 20, 2025
ESPN is a bad product. https://t.co/jMsDmTtZce
— Lindsay Patterson (@LndsPatterson) November 20, 2025
Maye and the Patriots will take their 9-2 record into a Week 12 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.