New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye found himself in ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith’s crosshairs Thursday after downplaying criticism from former NFL quarterback Cam Newton.
Newton sparked the exchange Monday on “First Take” by calling the Patriots, who are 9-2 this season and one of the surprise teams in the league, “fool’s gold,” citing their soft schedule and predicting they could be one-and-done in the playoffs.
During his appearance Monday on Boston radio station WEEI, Maye was asked if he had heard Newton’s comments, which Maye brushed off, saying Newton was doing his job.
“I don’t even know what show he’s on,” Maye said. “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 what 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 didn’t like Maye’s comments and decided to address them during Thursday’s episode of “First Take,” saying Maye knew where Newton was working.
“He’s also a liar,” Smith said. “It’s not to brag but ‘Pardon the Interruption’ is the No. 1 show on ESPN spanning two-plus decades. ‘First Take’ is the No. 1 morning show 13 years and counting, and in April, it will be 14 years. Don’t tell me you are an athlete and you don’t know that. Don’t tell me you are an athlete and you don’t know that Cam Newton isn’t on this show. You’re lying.”
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