Is Stephen A. Smith’s Criticism of Lamar Jackson an Overreaction?
Bombastic ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith is the worldwide leader in hot takes, and Lamar Jackson has been the subject of a number of them over the years, both positive and negative.
Predictably, Smith had a blistering take on Jackson after the Ravens blew a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter of a 26-23 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders in their home opener Sunday.
“I’m going to put a lot of it on Lamar Jackson,” Smith said on “First Take.” “Two-time league MVP, and you have a situation where you have a 10-point lead with 12 minutes left, and yet again you can’t hold onto it. And, oh by the way, the Baltimore Ravens for the first time in Lamar Jackson’s career have lost three straight games — the AFC Championship Game and then games one and two of this season. The man hasn’t won his last three starts. When are we going to look at him?
“You got your bag. You got the MVP statue. You the man. Go out there and figure it out. It’s really that simple. Now I’m not saying he has to do it by himself, because we know better than that. But the reality is that the game was there for you to win.”
The Baltimore Banner’s Kyle Goon was less harsh in his assessment of Jackson.
“A week before in Kansas City, Jackson all but donned a cape as he and Isaiah Likely were a toe away from having a chance to tie the game with the defending champions,” Goon wrote. “We know Jackson is capable of greatness. But that version of him wasn’t there in the fourth quarter against the Raiders, and Jackson has to know it.
“As incredible as his across-the-body throw to Zay Flowers was, he missed targets downfield when he had time, like overthrowing Mark Andrews in the second quarter. The two three-and-outs before the final drive were damning for the whole offense, but Jackson bears more weight simply because he’s the best player. … Jackson is not the only…
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