ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith went in on New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye after the second-year playmaker responded to Cam Newton’s remarks about the AFC East team.
In the aftermath of the Pats’ Week 11 win over the New York Jets, Newton said the Patriots looked like “fool’s gold,” noting that they had beaten “scrubs” on their way to a 9-2 record and the No.1 seed in the AFC.
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On Wednesday, Maye had a WEEI interview. He responded to Newton’s remarks by saying NFL analysts often make comments for entertainment, adding that everybody was entitled to their opinions.
“I don’t even know what show he’s on,” Maye said of Newton. “I think they get paid to make remarks and make certain comments. So, I just worry about what people in our organization think, and worry about we think and what my teammates think. People are going to have different opinions. I’m just going out there on Sunday and worrying about ourselves.”
Smith responded to Maye on Thursday, calling the quarterback a liar, while bringing up his show’s popularity.
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“He’s also a s a liar,” Smith said. “He’s also a liar. ‘Pardon the Interruption’ is the number one show on ESPN, spanning 20-plus (years). ‘First Take’ is the number one morning show, 13 years and counting. April will be 14 years. Don’t tell me you a athlete and you don’t know that. Don’t tell me you an athlete and you don’t know that Cam Newton ain’t on this show. You lying.”
"[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." – Stephen A. Smith pic.twitter.com/kaxxptSMpY
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) November 20, 2025
Newton hasn’t been the only First Take talent to engage in back-and-forth with other people. LeBron James approached Smith during a Los Angeles Lakers game last season to tell him to stop talking about his son, Bronny James.
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At the start of the 2025 WNBA season, Ryan Clark engaged in a heated social media exchange with Robert Griffin III over the Angel Reese-Caitlin Clark rivalry. Despite not playing the strongest teams in the league, the Patriots have made strides this campaign.
You don’t have this type of success without paying close attention to details and studying opponents thoroughly every week. Perhaps that’s the reason Maye doesn’t know where Newton appears.
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