Earlier this week, a social media back-and-forth unfolded between ESPN NFL analyst Ryan Clark and former ESPN analyst Robert Griffin III, following comments the former Baylor quarterback made regarding his impressions of how Chicago Sky star Angel Reese “hates” Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark. The former Steelers great shared his own perspective on Griffin’s use of the word “hate” during an episode of The Pivot with Fred Taylor, where he argued that, because of Griffin’s marriage to Estonian heptathlete Grete Griffin, who is white, Griffin doesn’t understand the challenges young Black women face.
As a result of Clark’s personal dig, the two traded barbs on social media. Consequently, a firestorm of personal attacks erupted that strayed far from the heart of the original conversation—Caitlin Clark’s foul on Reese. Meanwhile, ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith weighed in on the matter via his Stephen A. Smith Podcast last night, saying there should be no penalty toward Clark for his comments regarding Griffin’s marriage.
“I don’t want to hear s**t about Ryan Clark getting fired,” noted Smith. “Ryan Clark is my colleague; he is my friend and brother. He is a good man and a good brother. There is no way on earth that I would be quiet if he was fired over something like this. I’m not saying he’s right, but this is not a fireable offense.”
Furthermore, Smith went on to say that he doesn’t usually talk about ESPN business, even though he has used his platform several times to discuss matters with personalities at the network. He defended Clark’s comments, saying he had the full right to say what he said about Griffin.
“RGIII clearly is not liked by Ryan Clark,” said Smith. “What Ryan Clark said is not something he usually does. Corny, phony, those are the kinds of things he said about RGIII specifically. That’s what he feels.”
However, regarding the comments made by Clark inserting Griffin’s marriage to Estonian heptathlete Grete Griffin, who is white, Smith stated that those comments were out of bounds.
“I thought he crossed the line when he brought up you RGIII, being married not once but twice to white women. But he don’t like your a*s. That might have had something to do with it,” said Smith. “I’m not condoning him doing that. I’m not condoning him bringing that up. If RC and I had spoke about it in-depth, I would have told him don’t go there. There’s no need for all of that. But I want to emphasize something very important. RGIII, he never attacked your wife. He never attacked your family. He was attacking you, and you know it.”
Following the social media back-and-forth, Griffin stated that the comments made by Ryan Clark toward him gave a bad look to ESPN, the company he used to work for. In response, Smith shot back, defending Clark and his work on the network, saying his comments were never made on ESPN, but instead on his own private outlets.
“Ryan said that on The Pivot. Ryan shows up on Get Up. Ryan shows up on First Take. Ryan shows up on NFL Live. Ryan contributes on Monday Night Countdown. He never mentioned you on any of those places,” explained Smith. “Why, on his podcast, on a spot that he owns and operates, would you ignore that and bring up ESPN? Because you were trying to get him in trouble. You are looking at ESPN for help.”
To date, ESPN has not disciplined nor commented on the matters involving Ryan Clark’s back-and-forth with Robert Griffin III.
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