SerpApi.Org
Stephen A. Smith still has a job at ESPN, but despite that, he's been named the "biggest loser" of the company's layoffs.
ESPN had major layoffs on Monday and Tuesday. Some big names, from Ryan Clark to Cam Newton to Bart Scott to David Lloyd to Karl Ravech, were let go by the company. Several decades worth of experience at ESPN are out the door.
Smith, who remains a face of ESPN, hosting "First Take" and appearing across the network's college football, NFL and NBA coverage, was not happy with the company's decision to let go of Clark, a regular guest on his shows.
Smith called out ESPN on his show.
"Ryan Clark, someone I consider to be arguably the best NFL analyst in America, is no longer with ESPN," Smith said. "I can't even tell y'all how much that hurts. He's a man, so he'll handle it the way men do. But I'm going to miss him, and I'm not happy about this decision one bit. The bosses know I'm not happy about this decision. I've made that very, very clear."
Bobby Burack, who covers sports media for Outkick - and actually broke the news of Clark's firing - named Smith among the biggest losers.
Smith among biggest 'losers' of ESPN's layoffs
Burack didn't hold back.
"Biggest winners of the ESPN layoffs: Pat McAfee, Mike Foss," he wrote.
"Biggest loser: -- Stephen A. Smith."
Why is Smith a loser?
He's losing some of his top guests on "First Take" and some of his closest coworkers at the company, in Ryan Clark and Cam Newton, among others.
While ESPN clearly still prioritizes Smith, it's also obvious that the network won't shy away from cutting ties with those close to him.
