Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy is demanding that Stephen A. Smith issue a public apology to New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye after the ESPN commentator labeled the rookie a “liar” during a recent episode of First Take.
Smith’s comments came after Maye said he did not know Cam Newton appeared on First Take. Smith bristled at the idea, arguing that First Take’s long-running success made the claim implausible. The segment quickly went viral, leading Portnoy to weigh in with pointed criticism.
“You don’t call a man a liar. He owes him an apology,” Portnoy said in a video posted to social media.
Portnoy argued that Maye’s comment was harmless and that Smith’s response was disproportionate, especially given the fluid nature of the show’s rotating cast since Skip Bayless departed. Portnoy believes casual sports fans and athletes should not be expected to track every on-air personality associated with ESPN’s flagship debate program.
“First Take since Skip [Bayless] left, it’s been a revolving door,” Portnoy said. “People in, out. Hand to God, I had no idea Cam Newton was on that show. I didn’t know the other guy [Ryan Clark], the Steelers guy who I’m forgetting his name. Who is always apologizing every three seconds. I didn’t know he was on that show. Dan Orlovsky is on that show. I know Stephen A. Smith does First Take, but I got no clue who his partner is at this point. I had absolutely no idea Cam Newton was on it, and didn’t even know Cam Newton worked for ESPN. I thought he did his own gig.”
Smith’s remarks follow a WEEI interview in which Maye, asked about Newton’s comments on the Patriots calling the team “fool’s gold” last week on ESPN. The comments circulated back to head coach Mike Vrabel being asked earlier in the week about them. WEEI host Andy Hart asked about the comments to Drake during an interview on Wednesday.
“Oh no, I don’t even know what show he’s [Newton] on,” Maye told WEEI. “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 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.”
Portnoy then widened his critique of Smith, saying that even among sports fans, awareness of Newton’s current media role is far from universal. He said that context matters when judging Maye, who has spent the early part of his NFL career managing practices, media responsibilities and the pressure of being the Patriots’ potential franchise quarterback.
“I think if you polled 100% of white sports fans, ‘What does Cam Newton do in media?’ 60 to 70% are not going to know,” Portnoy said. “Cam Newton, like really everybody knows Cam Newton is on that show, no f*****g chance.”
Smith has not responded to the commentary made by Portnoy.
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You can excuse most of us white people for not recognizing that’s Cam Newton since he dresses like snidely whiplash and Captain Jack sparrow.