Stephen A. Smith is looking for a new deal, and he's comparing himself to NFL starting quarterback Dak Prescott as part of the rationale behind his significant demands.
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The sports media personality has built himself into one of the most viewed talking heads in the industry, so it's understandable that he's looking for a mega-contract. While appearing on Boardroom, Smith gave a candid explanation of why he deserves the bag.
To set the stage, his ESPN contract is up in 2025, which is why the matter was discussed. There have also been rumors that Smith is seeking a five-year, $100 million deal.
Stephen A. Smith has high demands for his next deal, but the ESPN personality also has a case to be made (Shutterstock)
"It ain't false," Smith said when asked about the speculative figure that had been floating around. "I always want as much money as I can get. I'm not going to apologize for that. I'm a capitalist."
He then compared himself to Prescott and, in a way, explain why he's better at what he does than the Cowboys' signal caller.
"Pay attention to the industries, see what people are getting paid, see how much money that they're making and how much they're bringing to the table... Dak Prescott just signed a contract for $240 million. He's making $60 million a year."
What will @stephenasmith's next contract look like? ?"
(?: @CNN) pic.twitter.com/0zwUnAknxY
— Boardroom (@boardroom) October 2, 2024
When the interviewer countered that Prescott is a starting quarterback for America's Team, so the comparison is not warranted, Smith clapped back, "Who has won two playoff games in eight years, I've been No. 1 for 12 [years]."
He finished, "I'm sorry. In our respective industries, I win... I'm fully aware of what I'm worth, and I will never apologize for that."
Smith has had multiple stints with the sports giant ESPN but has remained a constant there since 2012, when he went full-time with "First Take." Earlier this year, it was reported that the network had a five-year, $90 million offer on the table. If that's true, then Smith's hopes of landing a $100 million contract aren't far off.
Say what you want, you have to respect the guy's confidence. It's wild to imagine a sports personality bringing in so much money, but at the same time, he's also brought in a ton of ratings and, in turn, money to ESPN, so his demands - as outlandish as they may be - may have some substance.
What's most funny about this entire thing is the stray that Prescott caught in this whole conversation. Ouch.
