Drake Maye said he doesn’t know what network Cam Newton is on — Stephen A. Smith lost it and called the rookie a liar live on First Take. Here’s exactly what happened and why the clip is everywhere today.
November 20, 2025 — If you were anywhere near sports Twitter this morning, you already know: Stephen A. Smith just called the Patriots rookie QB Drake Maye a flat-out liar on national television, and the internet lost its mind. The clip has 3.4 million views and counting. I’ve been watching First Take since the Skip Bayless days, and I’ve literally never heard Stephen A. go this hard at a 22-year-old quarterback. Let me break down exactly what went down, why it blew up, and why it actually says more about sports media in 2025 than about Drake Maye himself.
The Exact Moment That Broke the Internet
Today’s segment was supposed to be a normal Patriots debate: Are the 3-8 Pats “fool’s gold” or is Drake Maye the real deal? Cam Newton (new First Take regular) said twice, “We still don’t know who Drake Maye really is.”
Then Stephen A. dropped the bomb:
“Drake Maye is lying! He said he doesn’t even know what network Cam Newton is on! Come on, man! This is First Take — the number one morning show in sports! Ain’t no athlete in America that don’t know Cam Newton is right here!”
“[Drake Maye] is a liar…First Take is the number one morning show..don’t tell me you a athlete and you don’t know that. Don’t tell me you a athlete and you don’t know that Cam Newton is on this show. You lying.” – Stephen A. Smith pic.twitter.com/kaxxptSMpY
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) November 20, 2025
He was yelling so loud the desk was shaking. Ryan Clark tried to calm him down with “Bro, we not doing this,” and Stephen A. just muttered “Whatever…” while staring into the camera like he personally took offense. The clip is pure chaos gold.
Practical tip: Want the unedited version? Skip ESPN’s official post. The best angle is the one from @awfulannouncing — it has the desk mic audio that catches Stephen A. still ranting off-camera.
Where Did This Even Start?
Last week Drake Maye did a radio hit and was asked about Cam Newton criticizing him. His exact answer: “I honestly don’t even know what network he’s on.”
That was it. That one sentence turned into today’s meltdown. I actually re-watched Maye’s interview — the kid sounded polite, not shady. But in 2025 sports media, “I don’t know what network he’s on” translates to “your show is irrelevant and I don’t respect you.”
Why the Reaction Feels So Over-the-Top
Here’s my honest take after a decade of watching these shows:
- First Take ratings are still huge (around 400k live viewers), but almost nobody under 35 watches live anymore — we just wait for the 45-second outrage clip.
- When a player says they don’t know the show exists, it’s basically an existential crisis for the hosts.
- Stephen A. has been screaming “We’re number one!” for years, but today it felt defensive for the first time.
I laughed out loud when someone tweeted “Drake Maye just ratio’d an entire television program.” That’s exactly what happened.
The Best Tweets That Sum It Up
- “Nobody with a job watches First Take live” — 69k likes
- “First Take is The View for unemployed dudes” — 36k likes
- “My barber has ESPN on but the volume is muted… that’s the real First Take demographic” — 22k likes
Was Stephen A. Right or Just Hurt?
Look, he’s technically correct — First Take is the highest-rated morning sports show on cable. But the brutal truth everyone’s pointing out? Most people experience it the same way they experience elevator music: it’s just… there. Airport lounges, barbershops, hospital waiting rooms — ESPN is on, sound is off, nobody’s actually watching.
I stopped watching live years ago. I just wait for the absurd moments to hit my timeline. Today proved that’s exactly how the new generation consumes sports TV.
Question for you: When’s the last time you actually watched First Take live instead of just seeing the clips? Be honest in the comments — I’m genuinely curious where everyone stands in 2025.
Final Thoughts
Drake Maye probably woke up this morning thinking he was having a normal rookie Wednesday. Instead he accidentally exposed the weird fragility of legacy sports debate shows. One polite “I don’t know what network he’s on” turned into a 3.4-million-view meltdown.
Welcome to the new era: the athletes don’t need to watch the shows anymore. The shows need the athletes to keep pretending they matter.
Drop your favorite reaction meme below — the comment section is already legendary today!