Stephen A. Smith on Lamar Jackson Contract: ESPN's Contradictory Fool on Baltimore Ravens Debate

Stephen A. Smith on Lamar Jackson Contract: ESPN's Contradictory Fool on Baltimore Ravens Debate

Is Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens "worth the money''? Fans have earned the right to have emotional takes on this issue, and to even modify their takes depending on the outcomes of Ravens wins and losses.

But should media analysts be held to at least a slightly higher standard? Or, if not that ... should media analysts be obliged to at least remember their conflicting opinions on the same subject as the flip-flop back and forth like a windsock, all in an effort to bloviate their way through a worthless "debate show'' segment?

Stephen A. and Lamar

Enter sports media personality Stephen A. Smith of ESPN, who can be wildly entertaining ... as long as, when it comes to football, he's not taken seriously. As proof we offer a level of naked contraction that, if committed by a fan would draw giggles ...

And that if committed by a serious journalist would draw a reprimand from an editor.

As you can see in the video below, Smith on one day loudly and repeatedly barks, "NO!'' when the question is, "Is Lamar Jackson worth his five-year, $260 million contract. OK. That is an opinion that anyone paying attention is entitled to. But ...

Stephen A. Smith on Lamar Jackson just two weeks apart pic.twitter.com/ar1V6Ek2Z1

— Kevin Oestreicher (@koestreicher34) October 23, 2023

Days later, Smith directly contradicts himself on the issue of whether Jackson is worth the massive contract. In fact, he has the temerity to scold anyone who would dare even ask the question.

"I don't know what this debate was about whether or not he's worth the money,'' Smith said, still barking and even more cocksure. "Of course he's worth the money!''

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Again, that's a fine opinion, too. But Smith, in forgetting which side he's on in the Jackson argument (by the way, Lamar is playing like an MVP candidate), literally insists that the one-sided answer is obvious ... when he himself has, in the span of just days, taken both sides.

Again, if not taken seriously, and especially if we're laughing both with Stephen A. and at him, this is low-brow comedy. But ESPN "doing journalism'' here? In that category, this is about as low as it goes.