ESPN star Stephen A. Smith is not happy with New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye after the signal-caller said he did not know which program former NFL quarterback Cam Newton was on.
Maye was asked about Newton’s comments, who said the Patriots’ current record is ‘fool’s gold’ and in doing so, Maye suggested he was unaware of which shows Newton was even a panelist on during the week. Newton joined First Take in February and will continue to be on the show moving forward.
“I don’t even know what show he’s on,” Maye said. “I think they get paid to make remarks and make certain comments.”
Newton praised Maye in his appearance on First Take, but noted that he did not believe in the team at large.
“It has fool’s gold written all over it,” Newton said. “Cubic zirconia. Middle of the mall. And yes, is Drake Maye playing good football? ... Absolutely. The thing I have a problem with is if you keep playing sorry scrubs ... it has one and done written all over it.”
Upon hearing Maye’s comments, Smith became incensed that Maye would not know Newton is a member of the First Take panel, insisting that Maye is a liar for insinuating he does not know about Newton’s work there.
“He’s also a liar,“ Smith said. ”'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 an 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.”
Smith continued his rant for a few minutes, saying that athletes like Maye and Newton have to look out for one another. On top of that, Smith said the quote Newton said was taken out of context in the question, leading to the contentious response from Maye.
“But a professional athlete (Maye) is performing because he’s in his feelings, because somebody (Newton) might’ve critiqued him,” Smith said. “Or some weak (expletive) reporter or pundit or radio (host) gonna ask the question out of context. They misquote Cam because, like Cam said, he was talking about the Patriots, not (Maye). And you’re gonna ask the question. Well, ask it accurately instead of misrepresenting Cam Newton.”
First Take averages well over 400,000 viewers per episode, but has a rotating set of athletes on, and Newton is not on the show every single day.
Newton signed on to replace former commentator Shannon Sharpe. Still, he has been on the show for less than a year, and hosts his own podcast, 4th&1 with Cam Newton*.*
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