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STEPHEN A. Smith pressed Dallas Cowboys president Jerry Jones on Dak Prescott during a recent interview.
The First Take star, 56, has made no secret of his disdain for the Cowboys or their quarterback Prescott.
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Nevertheless, Jones recently welcomed Smith to Cowboys HQ for a lengthy one-on-one interview.
No topics were off the table, with the ESPN star pressing Jones, 81, on the Ceedee Lamb contract saga.
He also quizzed the long-time Dallas executive on Prescott’s record.
After Jones claimed that his QB knows how to turn a “hard time into an asset”, Smith asked for proof.
“What evidence is there of that though, Jerry?” he began. “Because I’m thinking about postseason. I know that he’s been absolutely phenomenal in the regular season.
“He wins in September, October, November – the month of December I think his record is 21-8. But then January comes, the record is 4-8.
“And last time I checked, when you started here 36 years ago, it didn’t take you long to get a first ring, then a second ring, and then a third ring inside of four years – and the Dallas Cowboys were loaded with a level of success that we still revere to this very day.
“At what point do you look at your quarterback and say ‘when are you gonna give it to me in January?”
Jones then surprised Smith his answer.
“You’re so good,” he began, with Smith subtly chuckling into his mic. “Because you’ve literally gone through my steps of thinking that I’ve evolved. Not just over the last weeks, months – but over the years.”
As it stands, Prescott is heading towards free agency in March.
Last month, the 31-year-old was asked about whether he wants his contract situation sorted before the season opener.
“I think it says a lot if it is or if it isn’t,” he admitted at the time. “But ‘however’ doesn’t really matter to me, to be honest with you.”
Ahead of Dallas’ season opener against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, an agreement is said to be getting closer.
First Take viewing figures
First Take went from strength to strength under the guidance of Stephen A. Smith and Molly Qerim last year.
The weekday ESPN debate show averaged 496,000 viewers in 2023 – making it the most-watched year in program history.
Its December average of 611,000 was a 24% year-on-year increase compared to 2022.
The show also reported more than 250 million views on YouTube.
First Take was helped by the addition of Shannon Sharpe alongside Smith and Qerim after he left Fox Sports’ Undisputed.
“I’ve never played the game for [money],” Prescott insisted ahead of the new season. “I play the game for the pure love, for the guys in that locker room.
“This game has always brought me something that not a lot of things in life do. That’s the type of peace it does, being out there between the lines with people you share a brotherhood with.
“There is something special about this game of football, and we’re just blessed that money comes with it, and I’m in the position I’m in that we can be having these conversations, but that doesn’t motivate me.”
Earlier this year, Smith let his feelings on the Cowboys be known.
“Cowboys fans are the most disgusting and nauseating fanbase in American history, he raged. “They make me sick.
“And on this particular morning, when you’re sitting there all depressed, I’m happy you’re depressed because this is what you deserve.”
