Stephen A. Smith (Photo via ESPN)
Stephen Smith is making it clear that he did not support ESPN’s decision to fire former NFL quarterback and analyst Robert Griffin III. In a candid discussion on Griffin’s podcast, Out of Pocket with RGIII, Smith expressed his disagreement with the move and voiced his admiration for Griffin’s on-air talent.

“I didn’t want you gone. I said that too,” Smith told Griffin. Despite his influence at the network, even Smith’s voice wasn’t enough to keep Griffin on board. The ESPN veteran went further, revealing that some at the network “didn’t like” Griffin, a factor that may have played a role in his exit.

Smith Stands Firm On Griffin’s Talent

Stephen Smith and Robert Griffin (Photo By Kirby Lee-Imagn Images)
During the podcast, Smith didn’t praise Griffin’s work on First Take and beyond. “At First Take, you did a hell of a job,” Smith said. He also acknowledged Griffin’s skill as an on-air personality, saying, “I think you are a talent on the airwaves. I don’t know why others haven’t gobbled you up.”

However, Smith pointed out that internal dynamics at ESPN may have contributed to Griffin’s dismissal. “People at ESPN didn’t like you, bro,” Smith stated bluntly. He emphasized that while he valued Griffin’s contributions, he didn’t have the authority to save his position. “Just because I’m the executive producer of First Take doesn’t mean that I get to keep you on the show,” he explained.

Griffin, a Heisman Trophy winner and former Washington Commanders quarterback, had been a fixture on ESPN’s football coverage, providing analysis for college and pro games. Since his departure, he has yet to land with another network.

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Stephen Smith’s remarks add another layer to the conversation surrounding ESPN’s ongoing talent cuts. While the network recently secured a massive $100 million deal for Smith, Griffin’s exit signals that financial decisions continue to reshape the sports media landscape. Whether Griffin finds a new broadcasting home remains to be seen, but with Smith’s endorsement, his future in media may not be over.

Everyone Is Calling For ESPN To Fire Stephen A. Smith

Stephen A. Smith and Molly Qerim on ESPN (Photo via Twitter)
USC superstar Juju Watkins will miss the rest of March Madness after suffering a devastating ACL injury.

The 2025 NCAA women’s basketball tournament landscape changed dramatically on Monday night when No. 1 seed USC lost its star guard to a season-ending knee injury during its emotional win against No. 9 Mississippi State.

The prospect of a showdown between two of college basketball’s biggest stars, Watkins and UConn guard Paige Bueckers, was easily a main talking point heading into the tournament.

Now that Watkins is out, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith made no secret of how easy things have gotten for UConn.

He addressed the unfortunate circumstance on his show FIRST TAKE.

During Tuesday’s episode of First Take, ESPN moderator Molly Qerim asked WNBA star Napheesa Collier if she’s feeling good about UConn’s chances this March.

Before she could say anything, Smith chimed in with a crazy comment about JuJu Watkins.

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“You should be feeling good now,” Smith said. “JuJu got hurt.”

Fans were disgusted:

“I find myself asking every year why this man still has the platform he does,” one fan said.

“gross as fuck, he shouldn’t have a job,” a second fan stated.

“I want him deplatformed,” a third fan said of his comment on JuJu Watkins.

“He’s such a f–king weirdo. LeBron should’ve beat his ass right there on the spot 😭,” a fourth fan added.

“athlete’s gotta stop going on this show. Dude has consistently shown he’s a terrible human,” a final fan said.

JuJu Watkins Has A Long Road To Recovery

JuJu Watkins (Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images)
USC women’s basketball star JuJu Watkins was left screaming in agony after appearing to suffer a serious right knee injury in the first quarter of the Trojans’ Second Round game.

Watkins suffered a torn ACL during her team’s 96-59 win over No. 9 seed Mississippi State in the second round of the 2025 Women’s NCAA Tournament.

Watkins is likely to be out for nine months, which means she will miss a large part of the 2025 season.