Stephen A Smith was diplomatic, affable and perfectly reasonable on his latest appearance in the Howard Stern Show this week.
Smith chatted about the potential merger between ESPN and the NFL.
“I think it’s feasible, I think it’s plausible, I think it’s something that I don’t think we should be averse to,” Smith admitted.
The oft controversial star anchor perhaps made it more palatable for himself and fellow rowdies but did say that there was still going to be searching questions as and when they arise in the NFL.
“I can’t speak for everyone else. Stephen A. Smith has no concern about that. I’m gonna say what I feel. I’m gonna make sure it’s fact-based.
“More importantly, I’m gonna reach out. I can reach out to Roger Goodell directly…and say, ‘Yo, this is what I’m gonna do, here’s why. This is where I stand.’ And as long as you’re straight up about where you stand, you do your homework, you cultivate your sources and you have that information, then they can try to stop you, but in the end, it’s something that’s very difficult to do.”
It may prove more difficult than he thinks. Two instances spring to mind. Jim Trotter’s contract was not renewed after he criticized the NFL on the NFL Network, while in the MLB Ken Rosenthal’s was not renewed in 2021.
Rosenthal took a dig at MLB commissioner Rob Manfred.
Smith continued, “As a league, you have every right to push back as strongly as you choose if somebody’s opinions and editorials or what have you are not fact-based and they’re just running their mouths in an effort to denigrate you.”
Stern and many fans are not buying the story Smith is selling, but for now everyone must chill, wait for upper management to set precedents and keep on keeping the masses entertained.
