ESPN viewers threaten to ‘change the channel’ and fume at ‘tired’ debate as Stephen A. Smith told ‘find new topics’

FIRST Take analyst Stephen A. Smith is known for his love of trolling Dallas Cowboys fans – but it seems viewers are growing tired of the bit.

It seems to some viewers that Stephen A. discusses the Cowboys virtually every day on the ESPN debate show.

ESPN

ESPN

ESPN

Despite numerous storylines in the NFL , the First Take crew continued talking about the Cowboys on Thursday, with the topic: “Should Dak [Prescott] want out of Dallas?”

Stephen A. and fellow guests spoke about the subject at length in an approximately 18-minute segment.

“I will run into Dak Prescott in the very near foreseeable future,” Stephen A. said.

“If he asks what I’m about to say, I will tell him to his face, and that is this.

“Dak Prescott probably would need to leave Dallas, but Jerry Jones also should consider wanting him to.

“At some point in time, you got to produce. You got to show up, and it has to be in the postseason.”

But many fans took to social media to express their boredom and dismay about the Cowboys being a feature of the show once again.

“The Cowboys stuff is getting so tired. I change the channel at this point,” one fan said.

“Stop talking about the Cowboys! My god, it’s like a daily segment on this show anymore. Find new topics,” another fan complained.

“[First Take] dislikes cowboys so much, yet continues to limelight them even in negative talk,” a third fan noted.

“I bet they can’t go one show without bringing them up. Such a joke of a cast.”

A fourth fan added, “Dak Prescott lives rent free in [Stephen A. Smith’s] head.

“Only thing he talks about. He dedicates his entire show to the Cowboys!! LOL.”

Stephen A. recently disclosed why he loves talking about the Cowboys so much.

“Their fans are the disgusting, nauseating fanbase that gets on my last damn nerves,” he told USA Today .

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 Dallas Cowboys fans are born delusional.

“I don’t think there is anything that’s really sane about them.”

He made a point of noting that the insults are “all in fun.”

Stephen A. revealed he has received some pushback from Cowboys fans when he has met them in person.

“I had an old Black lady in her 70s come up and punch me in the arm like I was Felix Unger from the Odd Couple,” he recalled.

“[She said], you leave my Dallas Cowboys alone. It was adorable; what are you going to say?”

ESPN/ First Take