First Take star Chris ‘Mad Dog’ Russo looks smart and slick as he leaves ESPN studio after thanking Stephen A. Smith

CHRIS “Mad Dog” Russo was pictured looking dapper after praising Stephen A. Smith for boosting his career.

The regular First Take guest, 64, wore a grey blazer, blue slacks, and blue tie as he left the ESPN studios.

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Smith is a polarizing figure thanks to his lengthy rants on a number of topics.

But Russo is a huge fan of his colleague.

“Yeah, it’s tricky, and I love him,” Russo said on The Dan Patrick Show .

“Stephen A. – he’s a big factor… He’s the reason why I’ve had this little renaissance, and he’s been great to me, so I don’t want to hear it from my fans.

“But, let’s face it, you and I are doing sports talk; it’s a different kind of audience.”

Russo subsequently claimed that fans of his Mad Dog radio show and First Take viewers won’t necessarily cross over.

“I don’t know if the TV fans listen to the radio, and I don’t know if the radio fans watch the TV,” he commented.

Russo went on to break down how he felt he was able to contribute “to the diversity and versatility of TV sports talk” on First Take.

He cited a recent example where ESPN allowed him a minute of airtime to discuss Pittsburgh Pirates rookie sensation Paul Skenes’ first ninth inning pitched during their 2-1 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals .

“How many times – you would know better than anybody – would ESPN want to do something on Paul Skenes in the morning in the middle of July with football training camps and all that?” Russo asked.

“Never a chance. So, I feel like I made a little contribution. It made me feel good. I take my little wins.”

As for his radio show, Russo recently signed a new three-year extension with SiriusXM .

Speaking to Patrick, Russo noted that by the time this extension ends, he will have been with the network for 19 years.

Smith returned from a three-week break on Monday, only to reveal his comeback would be brief .

'You're seeing it reversed'

MOLLY Qerim was forced to cut off a Stephen A. Smith rant on First Take and spare his blushes.

Appearing virtually, Smith began to scold Chris “Mad Dog” Russo for apparently sitting in his seat in studio.

“Now I’m here in South Beach,” Smith said, “So I never usually have a frown on my face.

“But what the hell are those seating arrangements?

“Why are you Tim Legler not sitting in my chair? Why is that man, Mad Dog Russo, in my chair?!”

But Qerim intervened and said, “You’re seeing it reversed.”

Smith realized his error and was left red-faced.

“The video is reversed,” backtracked a red-faced Smith, “They promised me they would fix that.”

Upon his return to the show’s New York studio, Smith explained that he had opted to “take a break, from my break, to come in and break people’s emotions and feelings.”

“It’s only gonna be a few days, then I’m disappearing again,” he added.

Smith’s comeback ultimately lasted three days.

First Take called on ESPN sports betting analyst Joe Fortenbaugh and sports analyst Kimberly A. Martin to join the program alongside Molly Qerim Thursday.

During the show, Fortenbaugh turned heads with a take on the Baltimore Ravens and their star quarterback Lamar Jackson .

“The Ravens are the (Philadelphia) 76ers of the NFL,” he said.

Fortenbaugh added that there’s no pressure on Jackson to win a Super Bowl because “after six seasons, this is who he is.”

First Take viewers were impressed with the efforts of mustache-sporting host Fortenbaugh.