The ongoing back-and-forth between Drake Maye and Cam Newton took a sharper turn this week when Stephen A. Smith inserted himself into the conversation. Smith ripped into Maye on First Take, reacting to the quarterback’s casual dismissal of the show and Cam’s analysis.
His fiery response didn’t sit well with everyone, and CBS journalist Ashley Nicole Moss made that clear with a post on social media. A clip of Smith’s response was posted on X by Awful Announcing, and Moss quoted it to share her thoughts.
The CBS journalist called out SAS for thinking the world is tapped into his show and anyone who says anything against his beliefs is trying to stand out. Her comment summed up a growing sentiment that Smith was taking the situation far more personally than necessary.
“this man really thinks the sun rises and sets with this show … it’s fascinating lol,” Moss wrote.
this man really thinks the sun rises and sets with this show … it’s fascinating lol https://t.co/WGThVE3UKt
— Ashley Nicole Moss (@AshNicoleMoss) November 20, 2025
On the show, Stephen A. blasted Maye for saying he didn’t even know what show Cam Newton was on. Smith flatly called Maye a “liar,” insisting it was impossible for an NFL quarterback not to know where Newton appears regularly.
This is nothing new from SAS, he is well known for addressing things in his typical high-pitched voice and gets more animated when he’s challenged. This wasn’t the first time he’s gotten into a verbal battle with an athlete, as well. However, the stance he took against Maye on this subject was, according to many, unnecessary.
He doubled down on the legacy and reach of First Take, arguing that athletes rely on platforms like it for exposure and opportunities. Smith framed Maye’s remark as disrespectful, not just to Newton, but to the show itself, and made it clear he wasn’t letting the comment slide.
The Drake Maye–Cam Newton Back-and-Forth
The entire situation began when Cam Newton questioned the legitimacy of the Patriots’ strong start. While appearing on First Take, he labeled the team’s early success as “fool’s gold,” pointing to their soft schedule.
Newton acknowledged Maye’s solid play but argued the 9–2 record didn’t prove they were true AFC contenders. His comments were firm, but they weren’t personal.
Local Boston radio stations replayed Newton’s remarks and asked Maye for a response. The quarterback didn’t escalate things, but he didn’t hold back either. Maye said he wasn’t bothered by the criticism and noted that analysts “get paid to make remarks.”
He added that he didn’t know what show Newton was on and that he focuses only on the opinions inside the organization.
“I don’t even know what show he’s on,” Maye said in the radio interview. “I think they get paid to make remarks and make certain comments. So, I just worry about what people in our organization think…People are going to have different opinions. I’m just going out there on Sunday and worrying about ourselves.”
Newton later clarified that he stood by his analysis and meant no disrespect. But by then, Maye’s “I don’t know what show he’s on” line had gone viral, giving Stephen A. Smith an opportunity to insert himself in the middle of this back and forth.
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