Stephen A. Smith has been an integral part of the ESPN structure for over a decade. His value within the network can be understood by the fact that he signed a $100 million, five-year deal with the network earlier this year.
The money he makes and the time he has spent with ESPN not only make him one of the most well-known faces in sports media, but they also bring SAS a lot of power within the structure. Recently, Pablo Torre detailed the power he holds during an appearance on Joe Budden’s podcast.
Torre labelled him a kingmaker at the network, someone who has the power to decide who gets to be on the show and what their role would be. While talking about Molly Qerim and her sudden departure from the show, Torre stated that SAS is extremely powerful in sports media.
“I think Stephen A. is acutely aware of his VORP [value over replacement player],” Torre said. “He knows, and he’s priced it at $100 million or whatever it is. He’s like, you take me out of that show, you don’t have a show. Everybody else though, pretty much like, just let me be the GM and the player.”
Torre believes that no one else at the network has that kind of control.
“He staffs the show, he picks the players on the team. He is the star of it. That’s his,” Torre added.
Joe Budden asking Pablo Torre about his relationship with Stephen A. Smith and Molly Qerim leaving ESPN First Take. They also talk about Michelle Beadle and her thoughts on Smith doing all the shows and is that a fair assessment since he gets the ratings. Via Joe budden Patreon pic.twitter.com/8zM4HdWiKl
— joebuddenclips/fanpage (@chatnigga101) November 24, 2025
It’s not a revelation because people have been aware of SAS’s influence at ESPN for a long time. However, hearing it from someone who was also a staple at ESPN for over a decade provides a new perspective on the situation.
Stephen A. Smith on Molly Qerim Leaving ESPN
Qerim became a permanent host on First Take in September 2015. A decade later, she resigned from her role at the show. Leaving the show abruptly created a lot of uproar among fans, and many wondered what could’ve been the reason for the same.
It also gave space for theories to float around on possible reasons behind Qerim’s resignation. Amid all the chaos, everyone wanted to know what Stephen A. Smith had to say about the same, as he is the face of the network.
“The details, quite frankly, are none of y’all business,” Smith SAID. “But it’s not as if I know all the details. It was a contract negotiation that was going on. ESPN certainly did not want to lose her. But in the end, she made a decision to walk away from the show effective immediately.”
Smith stated that her resignation came as a shock to him as well. He revealed that he didn’t have any idea that Qerim was contemplating leaving the show. Smith said that he wasn’t happy with her decision, but she will continue to be his friend, and he appreciates everything she has done for the show.
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