Over the weekend, Dan Orlovsky, a former NFL quarterback made his presence felt at the NFL Pro Bowl in Orlando.
He stunned audience and fellow participants alike by scoring the highest on the Precision Passing challenge.
Astonishingly, he put himself in front of CJ Stroud and Baker Mayfield.
.@danorlovsky7 jumped into the Precision Passing challenge at the Pro Bowl and BEAT all active QBs 😎 pic.twitter.com/ots9aQ6nrU
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) February 5, 2024
Mockery ensued aiming at the active players who were overshadowed by Orlovsky’s unexpected prowess.
The underlining notion was undeniable – Dan Orlovsky still had the magic in him.
Back in ESPN’s studio, the clip of Orlovsky’s engaging performance was enjoyed and dissected.
All his coworkers got an opportunity to add a dash of humor when mentioning the ex-NFL quarterback’s athletic exploits.
The narrative unexpectedly shifted gears when ‘First Take’ took center stage. Stephen A. Smith and Chris “Mad Dog” Russo joined the banter, throwing their takes into the mix.
Smith decided to spice things up by humorously suggesting that Orlovsky’s Pro Bowl performance compensated for his career with the unfortunate 0-16 Detroit Lions.
However, Russo chose a different path. Instead of jesting about the past in good spirits, Russo harshly criticized Orlovsky, describing him as a “scrub” during his league days.
“He was a scrub in the NFL! This does not make up for that!”
Chris “Mad Dog” Russo was not impressed with whatever Dan Orlovsky did at some Pro Bowl event last week. pic.twitter.com/jp9qjCKBBK
— Jimmy Traina (@JimmyTraina) February 5, 2024
His comments, coming from a peer, were perceived as unusually harsh and uncalled for.
Mirroring the intensity and thoughtfulness of a quarterback about to initiate a decisive play, Russo didn’t rush into his words.
His contemplative silent moments preceding the outburst saw gears grinding and consequences being weighed.
Dan Orlovsky, not one to take such an unjust blow lying down, retorted, expressing his disappointment in Russo. He branded “Mad Dog’s” comments as “classless.”
“He was a scrub in the NFL! This does not make up for that!”
Chris “Mad Dog” Russo was not impressed with whatever Dan Orlovsky did at some Pro Bowl event last week. pic.twitter.com/jp9qjCKBBK
— Jimmy Traina (@JimmyTraina) February 5, 2024
His strong response echoed his dislike for the unneeded criticism and conveyed a clear message to Russo by standing his ground against such remarks.
