Fans on social media slammed ESPN’s Chris ‘Mad Dog’ Russo for disrespecting Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson on Wednesday morning’s episode of ‘First Take’.
Russo was one of four people on the desk alongside hosts Stephen A. Smith and Molly Qerim and contributor Kimberly Martin.
In one segment, the panel was discussing whether Jackson was better than Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen.
It was pointed out by Martin that Russo had praised Jackson weeks ago, but this time, he appeared to take Allen’s side.
Russo closed his argument by saying, ‘You can take those two MVPs and you can put them where the sun don’t shine.’
Despite Qerim and Martin pleading with him not to finish that sentence, Russo did so anyway – much to the amusement of Smith, who laughed along.
But fans of Jackson’s weren’t happy – going so far as to demand that Russo be fired for his comments.
The account that posted the video to X, formerly Twitter, said, ‘ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTING and yes Stephen A Smith is smiling and laughing along!!!’
Another user attacked Russo as well as Smith for laughing, saying, ‘This is highly disrespectful and unprofessional. ESPN and [Smith] allow this s**t to happen because it gets them clicks. Don’t ever say [Smith] is on our side, he play both sides to appease to the audience and for his bosses. F*** both of these dudes tbh!!!’
‘Haven’t watched ESPN in over a decade and this is why,’ wrote one fan of the rival Pittsburgh Steelers.
Another user wrote, ‘Yall still watch this s**t @espn take this s**t off TV nun of them know what they be talking about.’
‘People keep putting that rambling moron on tv and I’ll never understand why,’ read another post.
Russo, 68, has been in sports talk radio for years and has developed the occasional bad take across his resume.
Among the many include his take that Shaquille O’Neal was not a top-five center in the history of the NBA – and that Moses Malone was deserving of being on the list over him.
Russo also regularly drew the ire of fans and fellow ESPN panelists whenever he argues professional basketball by citing players who haven’t touched a court in decades.
One time, former ESPN NBA panelist and current Los Angeles Lakers coach JJ Redick called Russo, ‘the absolute worst’.
Last year, Russo famously declared that if the Arizona Diamondbacks came back to win the National League Championship Series over the Philadelphia Phillies, that he would retire from sports talk.
When Arizona completed the comeback to reach their second World Series in franchise history, Russo went back on his promise.
As for Jackson, he is currently second in the league in passing yards and passing touchdowns – behind Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow in both categories. Jackson also has the most rushing yards by a non-running back in the league.
The Ravens (7-4) look to improve their record this week with a trip to Los Angeles to take on the Chargers on Monday Night Football.
