Stephen A. Smith mocked for his outfit choice and contract talks by ESPN co-star Kimberley A. Martin in brutal take

FIRST Take guest Kimberley A. Martin didn’t hold back on analyst Stephen A. Smith after his most recent flashy outfit.

Stephen A. wore a bright pink blazer during Wednesday’s episode of First Take , and Martin tore it apart during Thursday’s episode of Get Up.

ESPN/Get Up

ESPN/First Take

Martin and the crew of Get Up were discussing a Dallas Cowboys take that Stephen A. had on the previous day’s episode of First Take when she took aim at his outfit.

Instead of dissecting his argument, she just went straight for his attire.

“The nerve of that suit jacket being as loud as it is,” Martin said.

“Love Stephen A, but he is way off base.”

After she went after his outfit, Martin took aim at Stephen A.’s ongoing contract negotiations with ESPN.

“If anybody should understand the importance of leverage, it is him,” she said.

“It’s what the market says your value is.”

It is no secret that Stephen A. is in the middle of contract negotiations with ESPN,

The network recently offered him a five-year, $90 million contract, according to Puck News .

However, the $18 million per year contract seemingly isn’t enough for Stephen A., who is seeking a value of $25 million per year.

Sports journalist and reporter James Andrew Miller shared how he thinks Stephen A. is approaching his negotiations on the SI Media with Jimmy Traina podcast .

“Stephen A.’s deal is coming up,” Miller said.

“In fact, I think there have been preliminary talks already that have started.

“He’s looking for a big, big number, and I also feel, given the content world, he doesn’t even have to have another offer from one entity for that big number.

First Take viewing figures

First Take went from strength to strength under the guidance of Stephen A. Smith and Molly Qerim last year.

The weekday ESPN debate show averaged 496,000 viewers in 2023 – making it the most-watched year in program history.

Its December average of 611,000 was a 24% year-on-year increase compared to 2022.

The show also reported more than 250 million views on YouTube.

First Take was helped by the addition of Shannon Sharpe alongside Smith and Qerim after he left Fox Sports’ Undisputed.

“I think what ESPN is up against is the possibility that WME could go out and create an architecture where Stephen A. has a podcast, a this, a deal with this, a deal with that, whatever, and at the end of the day, it’s $20 million a year.”

Stephen A. has been a part of ESPN for over 20 years now, and it is hard to imagine the network parting ways with him.

While they struggle to find a deal, it is possible that other networks could attempt to swoop in and match the figure that Stephen A. is looking for.

“I do believe there are enough possibilities that Stephen A. can get outside of ESPN and even outside an exclusive deal with another network that could make him very happy and very rich,” Miller said.

ESPN/First Take