Stephen A. Smith Blasts John Harbaugh Over 'Lie' About Lamar Jackson

ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith didn't hold back in his response to Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh's recent comments about quarterback Lamar Jackson.

On Monday morning's episode of ESPN's "First Take", Smith took Harbaugh to task for his passionate defense of Jackson.

"Respectfully Coach Harbaugh, what the hell are you talking about?" Smith said, expressing his frustration with Harbaugh's remarks.

The controversy began when Harbaugh defended Jackson after the Ravens' first training camp practice on Sunday, addressing criticism about Jackson's inability to secure a Super Bowl appearance.

Despite Jackson's success in the regular season, including winning his second MVP award last year, he has struggled in critical moments, such as during the playoff loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, where the Ravens scored just 10 points as the top seed at home.

Harbaugh dismissed the criticism, emphasizing his belief in Jackson's potential. He even went so far as to state that he envisions Jackson becoming "the greatest quarterback ever to play in the history of the National Football League."

Smith, however, dismissed Harbaugh's comments as an exaggeration.

He argued that there is only one major criticism of Jackson, which is his lack of a Super Bowl appearance.

"I would appreciate it if he doesn't make up narratives, because what he was saying was a lie," Smith remarked.

Smith's comments, along with Harbaugh's strong defense, are likely to fuel Jackson’s drive even further as he seeks to prove himself on the biggest stage.

Related: Nick Saban Made His Opinion of Arch Manning Extremely Clear