Stephen A. Smith Listed as Favorite Over Derek Carr in Potential Fight
By Eric Rosales in Entertainment
Updated: April 3, 2020 at 6:56 pm EDTPublished:
- ESPN’s First Take Crew’s comments have infuriated Derek Carr
- The Raiders QB has requested a UFC match to fight the show’s “clowns”
- What’s the best bet to make in this unlikely showdown?
Add Derek Carr to the growing list of athletes that have had enough hot takes from the mouths of Stephen A. Smith, Max Kellerman and their show First Take.
This one is the first, in a long time, however, that has infuriated an athlete so much that he’s interested in inflicting real, physical pain to both of them. This is just a level shy of Jim Everett’s “don’t call me Chris again” to a smug Jim Rome.
God, what a great video.
Derek Carr be like… pic.twitter.com/SE6DWr3oP5
— Law Murray 🐦🔥 (@LawMurrayTheNU) January 24, 2019
In the unlikely event that this happens, sportsbooks have gone ahead and put some juice on an encounter between Carr and Stephen A. You may be surprised at the early numbers. Let’s get into this.
Stephen A. Smith vs Derek Carr Fight Odds
| Who Would Win in a Match Between Stephen A. Smith and Derek Carr? | Odds |
|---|---|
| Stephen A. Smith | -130 |
| Derek Carr | -110 |
Carr Livid over Max Kellerman Opinion
So here’s the backstory: We all know the Raiders were bad this year. They stumbled to a 4-12 campaign, which was expected with a talent-depletion thanks to new head honcho Jon Gruden dealing DPOY candidate Khalil Mack and top wide receiver Amari Cooper.
The good part is that the Raiders now have three first-rounders this year, including the No. 4 pick. This week, Gruden was singing the praises of Heisman winning QB Kyler Murray while at the Senior Bowl.
Love this, if you can play you can play…. Jon Gruden: Kyler Murray makes me throw out 'all the prototypes I once h… https://t.co/RyTp9GXMlc via @YouTube
— Chance Houston 15YO – 2027 QB (@cc11houston) January 24, 2019
That’s called putting your franchise QB on alert.
Compounding that was Kellerman, who got on his perch and questioned Carr’s desire to want to lead the Raiders.
Here’s the clip Derek Carr is furious with: https://t.co/xc3NMbWzRt
— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) January 23, 2019
Carr had had enough.
@ufc @danawhite hey how do I challenge a couple of these clowns on tv to a fight? I think we should start a business together. Where pro athletes can challenge some of these people to an octagon fight until they give us an answer…. You don’t know me… stop lying.
— Derek Carr (@derekcarrqb) January 23, 2019
He expanded on his comments later.
Yes..say what you want but don’t question somebodies character as a man if you don’t know them. Our job as NFL athletes is to try and leave the game better for the next generations. So let’s start an octagon business to give some accountability to these kinds of people. 😉😂👊🏼
— Derek Carr (@derekcarrqb) January 23, 2019
Somehow, this fight turned to Stephen A. And if you know one thing, this guy isn’t short on takes.
TRUST me @derekcarrqb you DO NOT want this smoke with @stephenasmith pic.twitter.com/jrMHT6Tatj
— Ryan Cortes (@Ryan_Cortes) January 24, 2019
How is Derek Carr the Long Shot in this One?
The Raiders’ QB is in the prime of his athletic career at age 27, standing 6’3″ and coming in at 215 pounds. Stephen A. Smith is 51 years old! Even if he were to tag Max in, the youngster in this duo is checking in at 45 years of age.
https://twitter.com/Raiderzilla/status/1051622138807894016
Perhaps Carr is getting a bad rap here because of this year’s game against the Seahawks, where video replays shared across the internet showed him in definite distress after taking a hit. Again, Stephen A. had more for him.
What’s the Best Bet Here?
The endless news cycle must be fed takes, and Derek Carr just happened to catch one on the wrong day. I would be beyond stunned if the two ever met in the Octagon, but if they did, I’d bet the underdog in this one.
https://twitter.com/cedie924/status/1088575705766608896
Smith may be able to talk for hours a day, but he couldn’t last two minutes before sucking wind and tapping out in this one. If Carr used his stamina, he’d prevail.
Why in the hell would I do that? I’m 51 years old. https://t.co/97XWWCwtBp
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) January 25, 2019
Alas, it’s going to be all for naught. The latest tweets from Carr all but assured that. Now, he can focus on what really matters: helping the Raiders become a legit franchise again.
Now that that’s over… all love moving forward. Work to do.. Squat day pic.twitter.com/WjSIkJGlDe
— Derek Carr (@derekcarrqb) January 24, 2019
Sports Writer & Editor
Having worked in and around sports since 1997, Eric is truly a knowledgeable expert. The two-time journalism grad specializes in all things NBA and NFL. From TSN.ca to CTV's Olympic Broadcast Consortium, Eric's work has appeared in local and national publications alike.
