Stephen A. Smith points and Pat McAfee looks on in a Cowboys hat.Stephen A. Smith & Pat McAfee (Photos via Getty Images)
Stephen A Smith is looking to secure a huge bag from ESPN next year, and it’s been claimed that he’s using Pat McAfee to help his cause.

Smith is currently on a deal that pays him $12 million a year, which is set to expire next July. According to reports, he’s in line for a significant raise and could earn up to $25 million a year as he’s been keen on becoming the highest-paid personality at The Worldwide Leader in Sports.

Michael McCarthy of Front Office Sports has reported that the ‘First Take’ host is playing the role of the obedient child at the network while McAfee continues to be the delinquent bad boy.

 

Stephen A Smith Is Using Pat McAfee’s Antics To His Advantage

McCarthy cites an anonymous television insider who claims Stephen A. is taking advantage of McCarthy’s prickly relationship with the bosses at ESPN, doing his best to be seen as a team player.

 

“I’ve got to give Stephen A. credit,” the source told McCarthy. “He’s used that McAfee is such a bad team player to his own advantage. 

“He brings on only ESPN people; McAfee brings on Shams [Charania]. That’s the kind of thing Stephen A. Smith would never do. He lets Pat McAfee frustrate the ESPN executives so much, they’re like, ‘F*** it. Stephen A. is a good team player.’”

Stephen A Smith is just as outspoken as McAfee, though he won’t go as far as calling someone a “white b****” on live television. But he knows how to toe the line.

Kenny Smith Plays the Peacemaker as Stephen A. Smith Pens Apology to Kyrie Irving

Fans of the NBA were relieved to see a mutual reconciliation between Draymond Green and Stephen A. Smith. However, Smith’s recent introspection didn’t stop there. This emotional moment also prompted Smith to address another ongoing conflict with Dallas Mavericks star Kyrie Irving.

Smith revealed that his motivation for seeking an apology from Irving came from a private conversation with his long-time friend and former NBA player, Kenny Smith.

“If I think I’m wrong, because I think it’s rare, but I was wrong, and for Kenny Smith to tell me that, it hit home in a big way because we go back more than 30 years. I can count on two fingers how many times he’s thought I was wrong, and so his friendship, his brotherhood means a lot to me. But it also reminded me of the brotherhood of all of those that mentored me and have been there for Kyrie,” he said.

The Timberwolves’ vocal supporter has consistently criticized Kyrie Irving, particularly during Irving’s time with the Brooklyn Nets. His criticisms focused on Irving’s unavailability and perceived lack of commitment to the Nets. They came especially when Irving missed several games due to personal reasons and his refusal to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

What did Kenny Smith tell Stephen A. Smith?

During TNT’s pregame show on Tuesday, ahead of Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals, Kenny Smith shared a behind-the-scenes story about how he helped ease the feud between Stephen A. Smith and Kyrie Irving.

Kenny Smith revealed that he had a private conversation with Stephen A. Smith, which led to the ESPN analyst easing up on his criticism of Kyrie Irving.

“I’ll say it; I wasn’t going to say it. I’ve never said it to Kyrie, but I’ve said it to Stephen A. — because at one time Stephen A. was an advocate about having a battle with this guy — and I had to call Stephen, I’m like, ‘this guy is from our neighborhood,’” Kenny Smith explained.

Kenny Smith went on to describe how he reminded Stephen A. of their shared roots and the people who mentored both of them.

“I named like six people, and I said, ‘Stephen, those people mentored you and mentored him, so when you say something about him you’re actually saying it about us.’ So he understood and they kind of fell back,” he continued.