"Max Kellerman almost seems blacker than you": When Terrell Owens confronted Stephen A. Smith on ESPN's First Take over Colin Kaepernick analysis

Arnold
When Terrell Owens confronted Stephen A. Smith on ESPN
When Terrell Owens confronted Stephen A. Smith on ESPN's First Take over Colin Kaepernick analysis (Image Credits - IMAGN/GETTY)

Earlier this week, Max Kellerman hit back at Stephen A. Smith, more than four years after ESPN removed him from the network. Kellerman, who was Smith's debate partner on "First Take" from 2016 to 2021, appeared on "The Bill Simmons" podcast and claimed that his former co-host is simply a "reactor" and has "no hot takes."

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Amid Smith being the talk of the town on social media, there was once an instance in August 2019 when former NFL wideout Terrell Owens also took shots at the analyst on "First Take." During a debate around free agent Colin Kaepernick having his own workout in Atlanta rather than a private, NFL cameras-only affair, Smith said the QB "didn't want to play," but Kellerman explained the off-field situation around the former San Francisco 49ers signal-caller.

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When Owens appeared on the show via a video conference, he slammed Smith for his views on Kaepernick.

“I'm in the streets, Max almost seems blacker than you Stephen A, with his commentary,” Owens said.

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Smith didn't seem to like Owens' jibe and offered a long explanation in response to the claim. Owens said he didn't mean to disrespect Smith, but the two continued their arguments on social media.

What did Max Kellerman say about Stephen A. Smith?

NFL: ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith - Source: Imagn
NFL: ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith - Source: Imagn

During his appearance on "The Bill Simmons" podcast this week, Max Killerman ripped into Stephen A. Smith, suggesting the ESPN analyst's delivery is more important than the message.

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“Stephen A. has no hot takes,” Kellerman said. “Stephen A., almost never, I can’t think of any counter-intuitive conclusions he ever reaches. That’s not his job on the air. His job is to be the big reactor to a counter-intuitive conclusion. Reactor.
"He’s there to hear the crazy conclusion that his partner has come to and actually be the everyman with a loud voice, like ‘You are crazy!'”

Smith has been with ESPN since 2003. He has been a key contributor to "First Take" since April 2012.

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