Stephen A. Smith is not happy with Ryan Clark. But why?
It all started with a post Clark eventually deleted from his social media, where he called Lamar Jackson the most underappreciated quarterback in the NFL. The catch? He made this declaration while sitting in Stephen A. Smith’s chair on First Take. And the take in question didn’t sit well with some, sparking a conversation that quickly veered into race, which only amplified the loudest and most ignorant voices on the internet.
Here’s what Clark had to say.
“I want to say it to [Cam Newton]. I want to say it to Randall Cunningham. I want to say it to Russell Wilson, and I want to say it to Michael Vick,” began Clark. “This is the evolution of the position. Without Randall Cunningham having to try to conform and be a pocket passer and also show his athleticism, we don’t get to Michael Vick. And without Michael Vick accepting that and working to become a better passer, working to become a better leader — we don’t get a Cam Newton. And if Cam Newton doesn’t bring the style of play that he had an opportunity to bring from Auburn to the NFL — and win an MVP doing it — we don’t have a Lamar Jackson.
“See, we’ve needed at that position because of all the negativity surrounding whether or not people like [Newton] can play it; we needed each of you to get to this point. And that’s why we need Lamar Jackson to take that next step and hold that Lombardi Trophy, the same way we all cried when Doug Williams did it in the ’80s.”
One of the bigger gripes with Clark’s argument was his leaving out of Patrick Mahomes.
“Personally speaking, I’d like to say that I’m disappointed, but that’s not the word,” said Smith. “I’m pissed off. But I’m not pissed off at all of you guys, nor am I pissed off at Ryan Clark for what he said. You know what I have a problem with? That he deleted the post. Because when cynicism and criticism came in his direction, Ryan Clark, somebody who runs from no one — and I’m certainly not accusing him of running now — I’m mad he deleted the post.
“Now, I know what a lot of people were saying. ‘First of all, Ryan Clark didn’t know what he was talking about because guess what? Patrick Mahomes is a three-time Super Bowl champion…’ He’s a black quarterback and you’re bringing that up? That’s really slick on your part. Ladies and gentlemen, Ryan Clark wasn’t wrong; Ryan Clark was right. Now, he may have come across as wrong because he gave you an opening to bring up Patrick Mahomes to derail or to squash his point, but that’s not the point I interpreted him saying.
“What he’s talking about is not the Black quarterback, but the Black quarterbacks who have been questioned as to whether or not they should play quarterback. Nobody was questioning whether Deshaun Watson was a quarterback. Nobody was questioning whether Patrick Mahomes was a quarterback. They were questioning whether Lamar Jackson was a quarterback. They were wondering whether he should consider a different position going into the NFL.
“And it was Lamar Jackson that had to tell them, ‘Nah, I ain’t down with that; I’m a quarterback. And I’m gonna be a quarterback in the NFL. And I’m gonna wreak havoc. And I’m gonna wreck shop. And I’m gonna show you what I bring to the table.’ That’s what Lamar Jackson said. But they were trying to convince him not to play quarterback.”
Smith continues, opining that the “specter of skepticism and criticism” surrounding Jackson before he was drafted has historically only been directed at Black quarterbacks. Smith pointed out that, unlike their white counterparts, Black quarterbacks have had to fight against doubts about their intellect, ability to read defenses and overall capacity to play the position.
“Where’s the white dude — and If I’m wrong I stand corrected,” said Smith. “But, I don’t recall a white dude coming into the NFL having played the quarterback position in college and they were being dissuaded from entering as a quarterback, because people were accusing of them of not being able to play the position. Don’t get us started on why they were saying that. ‘Cause usually when you have questions about a quarterback, it’s about their ability to throw, or it’s about their ability to be a dual-threat at the position.
“With Black folks back in the day, albeit, there was a question about intellect and the ability to comprehend, decipher an NFL defense and read through your progressions and make the right call and make the right throw… These are the things that were thrown in the questions about Black quarterbacks. And so anytime there was a Black quarterback that was being questioned, as to whether or not they should play the position — that was the first thing that came to people’s mind, because that’s the level of skepticism that has been associated with the Black quarterback — until recently.
“Nobody’s accusing of it being that way now. Time’s have changed and things have drastically improved… That is not what Ryan Clark is talking about, in terms of what I saw him say on First Take… That man talking about Lamar Jackson was simply saying, ‘He’s a dual-threat. His athletic ability is undeniable. His running ability is undeniable. His passing game has improved. He’s done everything right. And now, what everybody and anybody is waiting for is for him to deliver the goods…'”
Essentially Jackson has to answer the call, which is winning a Super Bowl.
“In the event that he does answer the call, Ryan Clark is right,” Smith added. “That should be IT in terms of seeing a dual-threat at the quarterback position with extreme athleticism being questioned as to whether or not they could play the quarterback position. What’s the problem? I see no problem.
“So, I’m pretty ticked off at Ryan Clark deleted his tweet, according to the reports. What you take it done for? You were right. His point may not have been articulated as perfectly as he would’ve liked and he might’ve left a hole here for someone to at least question it, but his overall point, I firmly understand — and he was right. If Lamar Jackson wins the Super Bowl, that’s going to go a long way to us ever questioning again whether a cat can do it at that position, being a dual-threat — a quarterback that can run…
“Ryan Clark is right.”
He might be right, but Smith might not forgive him for deleting the post.
[The Stephen A. Smith Show]