Stephen A. Smith uses brutal NFL example to justify $100M ESPN contract demand

ESPN's Stephen A. Smith, a prominent figure in sports commentary, is making waves as he approaches contract negotiations.

Likening himself to an NFL quarterback, Smith is often seen leading the charge across various ESPN shows. With his contract set to expire this year, Smith opened up to CNN's Christopher Wallace about his expectations for a lucrative deal.

"Your ESPN contract is up next year and the word on the street is you want something in the range of $100 million for 5 years," Wallace said to Smith. Smith responded by using Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott and his recent new deal to make a brutal example.

"It ain't false. I always want as much money as I can get, I'm not going to apologize to that I'm a capitalist," Smith declared.

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"I would ask, respectfully, pay attention to the industry, see what people are getting paid, see how much money they're making and what they're bringing to the table. Look at their ratings, look at their revenue that they're generating and look at mine.

"Dak Prescott just signed a contract for $240M, he's making $60M a year [and] has won 2 playoff games in 8 years," Smith pointed out. "I've been No. 1 for 12 [years]. I'm In our respective industries, I win. I'm fully aware what I'm worth and I will never apologize to that for anybody."

Smith, who joined ESPN back in 2005 with "Quite Frankly with Stephen A Smith", has since become a staple on First Take, NBA Countdown, the Stephen A. Smith Show, and SportsCenter. ESPN has been trimming the fat by letting go of mid-tier earners like Zach Lowe and Robert Griffin III, while simultaneously spending big money on A-listers like Pat McAfee or juicy media rights deals.

Quarterback Prescott was on track to be a hot free agent in the 2025 NFL offseason. After lengthy summer talks, he signed a staggering four-year, $240 million extension that included a whopping $231 million guaranteed.

Prescott's new deal earns him the title of highest annual average salary in American sports. Despite critiques from some corners, like Smith, the Cowboys QB holds an impressive 75-43 record as a starter and topped the league in touchdown passes last season.

During an appearance on Tuned In with Front Office Sports, Smith chimed in about his own contract, delivering a strong message: "I expect to get paid, and I'm not apologizing for that to anybody," Smith stated. "I'm going to work my tail off. I'm striving to be the best that I can be or put in the hours [to] produce results [to] the best of my ability, and those results are what I'm going to look at to define my worth."