Interview Only: Hall of Famer Cris Carter. No Ring, Ryan Day Must Go. Discuss NFL MVP Race.

Summary

The Stephen A. Smith Show Episode: Interview Only: Hall of Famer Cris Carter. No Ring, Ryan Day Must Go. Discuss NFL MVP Race
Release Date: December 3, 2024

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Summary:

In this compelling episode of The Stephen A. Smith Show, host Stephen A. Smith engages in a candid and insightful conversation with Hall of Famer Cris Carter. The discussion traverses a range of topics, including recent college football rivalries, coaching performance critiques, and analyses of current NFL team dynamics and MVP contenders. Below is a structured breakdown of the key segments covered during the interview.

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I. Introduction and Recent Ohio State vs. Michigan Game

Timestamp: [01:02]

Stephen A. Smith opens the episode by welcoming Cris Carter, highlighting his illustrious career as one of the greatest wide receivers in NFL history. However, the conversation quickly pivots to a recent and heated Ohio State versus Michigan game, emphasizing the intense rivalry and the aftermath that unfolded.

Key Points:

• Flag Planting Incident: Carter addresses the chaotic scenes following Ohio State's loss to Michigan, including flag planting and resulting altercations.
• Generational Differences: He attributes the unrest to a new generation's heightened sensitivity and lack of sportsmanship compared to previous eras.

Notable Quote:

Chris Carter: "This brother went to Ohio State. [...] The biggest issue... a damn melee broke out after the game..." ([01:55])

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II. Criticism of Ohio State Coach Ryan Day

Timestamp: [03:15]

The conversation intensifies as Stephen questions Carter about Ohio State’s head coach Ryan Day, particularly focusing on the team's recent struggles against Michigan.

Key Points:

• Poor Record Against Michigan: Ohio State has lost four consecutive games to Michigan, a significant decline for a program historically dominant in the rivalry.
• Call for Accountability: Carter asserts that Ryan Day's position should be in jeopardy given the team's inability to secure victories against key rivals despite having top-tier talent.
• Historical Comparisons: Carter references past Ohio State coaches who faced scrutiny despite having successful seasons, drawing parallels to Ryan Day's current situation.

Notable Quotes:

Chris Carter: "If your number one goal is to come to an operation and beat someone [...] your job should be on the line." ([05:55])

Stephen A. Smith: "Am I interpreting this right?... that Ryan Day should be fired?" ([07:38])

Chris Carter: "Yes. If you go one and four against Michigan... your job should be in question at Ohio State." ([07:55])

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III. Transition to NFL: Team Performances and Coaching

Timestamp: [08:59]

Shifting focus to the NFL, the discussion delves into team performances, coaching strategies, and potential shifts in coaching positions.

Key Points:

• Detroit Lions vs. Philadelphia Eagles: Carter praises the Detroit Lions for their strategic play-calling and defensive prowess, arguing they are outperforming the Eagles despite public perception.
• Coaching Evaluations: The conversation critiques Chicago Bears' former offensive coordinator Eva Fluster and debates whether Ben Johnson, currently with the Lions, is a better fit for head coaching positions compared to others like Cliff Kingsbury or Kellen Moore.
• Super Bowl Predictions: Carter predicts a showdown between the Detroit Lions and Kansas City Chiefs, highlighting Lions' balanced offense and robust defense as championship contenders.

Notable Quotes:

Chris Carter: "Detroit Lions to me are still a little bit ahead of the Philadelphia Eagles in the outstanding season that they're having." ([09:17])

Stephen A. Smith: "Is Ben Johnson a better candidate for the head coaching job in Chicago next season rather than Cliff Kingsbury...?" ([10:14])

Chris Carter: "Ben Johnson is the number one candidate. [...] Your program in the same way the Philadelphia weakened the New York Giants." ([11:26])

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IV. Discussion on AFC and NFC Super Bowl Prospects

Timestamp: [12:26]

The dialogue transitions to broader NFL playoff implications, analyzing team potentials from both the AFC and NFC.

Key Points:

• Buffalo Bills vs. Kansas City Chiefs: While Stephen leans towards the Bills, Carter maintains confidence in the Chiefs, citing Buffalo's tactical prowess despite environmental challenges.
• Other Contenders: Both hosts discuss the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers, noting their offensive strengths and defensive capabilities that make them viable Super Bowl contenders.
• MVP Race: The episode touches upon the ongoing NFL MVP race, dismissing Lamar Jackson as a favorite in favor of other emerging talents.

Notable Quotes:

Chris Carter: "Philadelphia's defense to me is what puts them at the elite level. [...] their defense is way better than people are giving them credit for." ([12:56])

Stephen A. Smith: "I don't like what I'm seeing from Kansas City's defense over the last four or five weeks..." ([14:11])

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V. Conclusion

Timestamp: [16:55]

As the episode draws to a close, Stephen asks Carter to select his top AFC and NFC teams projected to reach the Super Bowl following week 12.

Key Points:

• Super Bowl Pick: Carter confidently selects the Detroit Lions versus the Kansas City Chiefs, praising the Lions' balanced team dynamics and Chiefs' championship pedigree.
• Final Remarks: Both hosts exchange respectful critiques and affirmations, wrapping up the discussion with mutual appreciation for the insights shared.

Notable Quote:

Chris Carter: "Detroit Lions versus Kansas City for a chance to three peak. That's what I'm going with." ([16:55])

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Conclusion:

This episode of The Stephen A. Smith Show offers a thorough and engaging exploration of current college and professional football landscapes. Cris Carter provides expert analysis on coaching performances, team strategies, and playoff prospects, enriched by his extensive experience as a Hall of Fame wide receiver. Listeners gain valuable perspectives on the implications of recent games, the future of coaching leadership, and the ever-evolving NFL MVP race.

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Transcript

[Greg Rosenthal]

Are you still quoting 30 year old movies? Have you said cool beans in the past 90 days? Do you think Discover isn't widely accepted? If this sounds like you, you're stuck in the past. Discover is accepted at 99% of places that take credit cards nationwide. And every time you make a purchase with your card, you automatically earn cash back. Welcome to the now it pays to Discover. Learn [e-mail] credit card based on the February 2024 Nielsen report. What's up everyone? It's Greg Rosenthal and I'm teaming up with the King of Spring, Daniel Jeremiah. He requires me to say that we're going to be bringing you 40s and free agents, the only podcast you'll need this NFL draft season. From DJs mock drafts to my top 101, free agents will have it covered for you with all new episodes every Thursday keeping you up to date as we head to the NFL Draft. Listen to 40s and free agents starting on March 6th on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Stephen A. Smith]

My next guest is a Hall of Famer, a wide receiver extraordinaire, one of the greatest wide receivers in the history of the National Football League. All he did was catch touchdowns. That's all he did. But guess what? We ain't gonna start off talking to my boy Chris Carter about that National Football League because this brother went to V Ohio State. This brother watched Ohio State get get beat by Michigan, an average Michigan team this year. I'll get into that in a minute. But the biggest issue. Cece, it is good to see you my brother. Hope you and your family had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Gotta ask you about this whole flag planting situation that developed. A damn melee broke out after the game where cats had to get pepper sprayed and even a cop had to go to the hospital because of the ruckus that took place after your Ohio State Buckeyes lost to Michigan. What do you have to say about that?

[Chris Carter]

Well, for one, I think that this is part of this new generation of kids. They're so offended. They take everything so personal. And this is totally different than the, than the pro game, Stephen, because typically after in college, more guys linger on the field. Typically there's a singing of the fight songs down towards your fan section. If you're on the road, wherever your travel, wherever that section is, the team runs down there, sings the fight song there, right? So in college they're on the field a lot longer. So from administrative standpoint, you have to be able to find people the presidencies universities, these athletic directors, because it's okay for fans to storm the field if they don't have security, but for players participating in it, that. That's totally. That's where I'm lost. Like, you should stay with your teammates, stay with your coaches, and then get to the locker room. What the fans decide to do or the students decide to do, that's totally up to them. At that point, I'm not with them. I'm with my unit. That happens to be the football team. And in college, there's a huge problem as far as security running onto the field. There's more people out there, and if you give a player a flag, he's going to try to plan it. There's. And that's something that is just now recently starting to happen in college football compared to all the other years where you never saw this happen.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Well, I saw it with Baker Mayfield years ago when he beat Ohio State, but that's a different subject for another day. I think the thing that really resonates with me, CeCe, is this. What happened to the sore loser element in all of this? You had 60 minutes to beat Michigan. You had 60 minutes to make sure that they didn't plant. They weren't in a position to plant some flag on your field. But. But you didn't handle your business. So to me, you, Ohio State, you're Florida State, your people like that, and you didn't handle your business. I mean, it comes across as a bit different, that you can't handle losing on that level.

[Chris Carter]

No, absolutely. And whoever wins, to me, within a certain sportsmanship, they deserve to do whatever they want to do. You had 60 minutes to be able to change the game. You didn't change that game. Now, I'm gonna tell you, man, there's guys in the. In the hall of Fame, Michigan guys, that being Charles Woodson, that being, you know, Tom Brady will soon be there. But I'm very friendly with these guys. And I played in three Michigan, Ohio State games, and there were no fights ever broke out afterwards. And there was a greater deal of respect for the players playing. Jim Harbaugh played in all three games I played in. I beat him twice. He once. But there was never any disrespect. Even as we've gone on 40 years afterwards, there's never been any disrespect. So I believe that this generation, which they don't respect anything, I believe that now that waters down the rivalry, because everything that happened after the game has nothing to do with the greatest rivalry. It actually Takes something away from what Michigan accomplished on the field, being a significant 23 and a half point underdog.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Yes.

[Chris Carter]

And they haven't beat a team like this and since 1978.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Cece, you just brought it up. I didn't want to go there because it's after Thanksgiving. I was trying to be nice to you, man. I ain't want to depress you. I didn't want you to start crying on national television. I didn't want you to sit up there and be that kind of miserable because your Ohio State Buckeyes that were 23 and a half point favorites ended up losing this damn game. But I got to get to the coach, Ryan Day. Listen, I'm not going to call for the man's job or anything like that. The man has never lost more than two games in a season. Season in his career. Okay? He's 66 and 10 as a head coach. All right, Never won a national championship, but certainly he's been a big time coach except for when it comes to Michigan. He's lost four straight now to Michigan. And it wasn't Jim Harbaugh coaching the Wolverine Saturday against him, it was Sharon Moore.

[Chris Carter]

And.

[Stephen A. Smith]

And they beat. And they beat Ohio State.

[Chris Carter]

How? As.

[Stephen A. Smith]

As, as, as an AS alumni member. All right, a guy that started Ohio State, how are you feeling about Ryan Day as the head coach of your Buckeyes right now?

[Chris Carter]

Well, I don't feel great because the number one thing to do at Ohio State is to beat Michigan. So if you look at losing four in a row now, I think we had ran off nine in a row before. We lost this four in a row. But, man, we can, we can't even remember that because this four in a row is historic. You know, this is historically one of the most talented teams, but it's. Historically, the seniors are leaving without having any gold pants of beating Michigan. So if your number one goal is to come to an operation and beat someone and you've done that one out of five times, unless you want a national championship. Yeah, your job should be on the line. At Ohio State, the standards are higher. They have the number one roster in college football. They spent $20 million on the collective to be able to put that roster out there. And yes, I know they're missing three offensive linemen, but you don't go into a, a phone booth fight with Michigan when their best players are on their defensive front. Their linebackers were hurting, their secondary was hurting, their corners were hurting. Like, make it attract me. Like we have that kind of talent at Ohio State, you don't want to get into a MMA fight with Michigan. They played the game that Michigan wanted. Michigan got the ball on the two yard line and scored one touchdown. That's it. And you lose that game? Yes. If you lose that game with that roster at home, your job should be in question at Ohio State. Y.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Yes.

[Chris Carter]

Chris Carter said that about Ryan Day. His job should be in question. And if he doesn't win the College Football Playoff, I wouldn't be shocked under the new athletic director who's only been there since the beginning of the season, that if he moved on. This is the same athletic director that bought out Jimbo Fisher with that tremendous buyout at Texas A M. Right. So Ohio State's got more money than you know.

[Stephen A. Smith]

So. So check this out. Am I interpreting this right? Are you saying, Chris Carter, that at this moment it should be in question? That much is a given. That much is clear. That if Ryan Day doesn't win the national championship, he doesn't get to the college football playoffs and they win the national championship this year, that Ryan Day should be fired?

[Chris Carter]

Yes.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Are you saying he should be fired?

[Chris Carter]

Yes. If you go one and four against Michigan, anything else that you do besides win the national championship? My coach at Ohio State, Earl Bruce, went nine and three. A couple seasons they fired him. John Cooper, he had all the Heisman Trophy winners. He had all the big first round draft pick Outland Trophy winners. That era was before, you know, we got to the Urban Meyer and let me tell you a conversation me and Urban Meyer had several years ago. Okay. Before he stepped down at Ohio State. Coach, what kind of team you got? Chris? It's not a matter of what kind of team do I have. We got a program right now that we should win two out of next three, two out of next four national championship teams. And then Ryan Day took over. If you look at the quarterbacks that he's had, if you look at the offensive productivity he's had and lack of them to win the big one but one time and no national championship game. Yes. Your job will be in jeopardy at Ohio State, just like his.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Damn. Okay, Ryan Day on the clock. No question about that. Let's transition to the National Football League. Cece, I saw Baltimore lose a game last night to the Philadelphia Eagles. Did the Baltimore Ravens lose to the best team in football?

[Chris Carter]

No, I'm not going to say that Philadelphia is playing well, but we have to. And you've been beating it in my head the first two months of the season. The Detroit Lions, man, are for real. Like, we need to put some respect on everything that they do. They don't have any question marks from a special team standpoint. Defensively, if you look what Aaron Glenn is doing since Hutchinson got hurt, they're still getting to the passer, they're creating turnovers. I mean, and Ben Johnson, from an offensive mind, if you want to watch exciting play calling, if you want to watch concepts that no other team is doing, and your boy Dan Orlowski, he shows it a lot. He diagrams, he puts the plays up. Phenomenal job. They are the most difficult team to be able to guard in what they're going to do and how he distributes the football. So, yes, Detroit Lions to me are still a little bit ahead of the Philadelphia Eagles in the outstanding season that they're having.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I was going to wait till later to ask this question, but since you brought up Ben Johnson, the offensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions, if you're the Chicago Bears who let go of Eva Fluster, we don't need to pay any attention to that because we both know his ass deserve to be gone. Ain't no question about that. He like I would have made him. I'd have made him pay for his own flight back to Chicago after that loss at Thanksgiving Day. I'm serious. I'd have made him pay for himself. Right. But having said all of that, is Ben Johnson a better candidate for the head coaching job in Chicago next season rather than the Cliff Kingsbury and with the Commanders rather than a Kellen Moore with the Eagles?

[Chris Carter]

Well, number three, I say Kellen Moore, Kellen Moore has no experience as a head coach and I still question some of his offensive coordinator leadership.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Okay.

[Chris Carter]

I do think, I do believe Cliff Kingsbury, you and I talked about that, that he will get a second chance. I do believe that he has come up with a plan B and C on that type of offense because typically in a pass heavy offense and his first couple years in Arizona, he struggled with stream passes, he struggled with protection, some of the same things they struggled with in college football. I think he's worked some of those out. You can see that in Washington, how effective their offense is and the physical presence that Washington has more so than Arizona. But Ben Johnson is the number one candidate. And if you're Kevin Warren, who happens to be one of my good friends, not only are you trying to find a competent candidate, but if I can reconsider someone in the division, if I can take away one of Campbell's lieutenants and Ben and put him over my program and we can, your Program in the same, the same way the Philadelphia weakened the New York Giants. Now they didn't cut Danny Dime. Danny is like a half a penny right now. When they, when they, when they decide not to sign Saquan Philadelphia and their great general manager, they weaken one of the opposition. And if you look at Dan Quinn in Washington as a head coach, what he do, he got a lot of the reserves from the Cowboys that week in the Cowboys. So it's effective, man, when you can take someone away from someone in your division and affect them in a negative way and help your program. Yes, yes, do that immediately.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Is it a two horse race in the NFC or should we be paying attention more significantly not just to your Minnesota Vikings, but dare I say to the Green Bay Packers?

[Chris Carter]

Well, Green Bay, even though they haven't played well offensively, they are still a very, very talented team. And given any given Sunday, man in the playoff, Jalen Hurt doesn't have the type of game Barkley, somehow they forget to give him 15 to 20 touches which we see happen in the playoffs.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Right.

[Chris Carter]

All the time. Then with talented quarterbacks, with talented offensive players which Green Bay and Minnesota have, if they get into a shootout, both these teams, they can match you shot for shot if you get into a shootout. Philadelphia's defense to me is what puts them at the elite level. They're a lot like Kansas City's been the last couple years. People talk about Patrick Mahomes, Kelsey. Their defense is what won them those back to back Super Bowl. So Philadelphia right now, I love the way their defense is, is playing and getting to the quarterback and turning the football over multiple times a game.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Let's transition to the afc. Listen man, I'm looking at the Baltimore Ravens. First of all, I don't want to hear anything more about Lamar Jackson being an mvp, you know, you know, one of the lead. Listen, I love him. I hope he wins. I just don't. I hope he wins the championship, but I don't. I don't want to hear anything about him. MVP being the mvp. Right now they've got five losses on the season. Two of them have come to last place to teams you've lost to Pittsburgh who couldn't score a touchdown, just scored six field goals. Now yesterday you were held to 12 points by the Philadelphia Eagles. I'm looking at the Kansas City Chiefs and the Buffalo Bills being a two horse race in the AFC to that you say what?

[Chris Carter]

Who would argue with you? I mean Buffalo, what they did, man, they get snow every week. You can bank them going all the way to New Orleans. Yeah, I mean, they're the only team in NFL could have played in that snow. But Josh Allen, overall development with the head coach, because they've suffered from January losses, man, like they suffered some end of the season losses. Very, very tough where even they played well. But getting rid of some names that people talk about and just adding more glue players and no one crying for the football every single week, they seem to be better with less. Very seldom you ever see this in the NFL, see get better with less talent than they have been the last several years. And that's what they are doing in Buffalo. And you got to respect that. And if they happen to get home field advantage, hey, man, that thing is real.

[Stephen A. Smith]

No question. But I think, I think Kansas City can handle that. Nobody else in the afc, but I think Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh. I'm still not giving them that kind of love, even though Russell Wilson threw over 400 yards yesterday. But hell, you could probably catch over 200 yards at this stage of your career against that Cincinnati defense. There's something. I don't know what the hell is up with them, but if you're a wide receiver, particularly a step on Diggs, who's out for the year after getting hurt in Houston, or a Gabe Davis who's with the Jacksonville Jaguars, if you're one of those dudes, how are you feeling about looking at Buffalo looking the way that they're looking this year?

[Chris Carter]

Oh, you know the truth. Like you, you know the truth. Gabe went down there and you know he's playing with Trevor Lawrence. He know Trevor Lawrence is, is not that guy. He. He knows that. And even being in Houston, you know, with, with my guy, you know, C.J. stroud, DJs not having the season he had last year and then now having the knee injury, that gives you a different perspective in life. Like, oh, man, I look back on it being like, Josh Allen was that guy. Man, did I now open up my mouth just a little too much. With wide receivers, we gotta, we gotta. We got a propensity to be able to do that on a regular basis from generation to generation. The 70s, 80s, 90s, 2000. And now in 2024, we still got the same thing. So this really affirms Josh Allen and his ability to play with less talent the way Tom Brady had to do and others had to do.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Chris, putting you on the spot, remember, the list is fluid. You got the right to change your mind. But last question to you. If you had to pick a team out of the AFC and out of the nfc to meet in the super bowl right now, following week 12. Who would it be?

[Chris Carter]

I'm going with opening night two years ago, spectacular night in Arrowhead. But this will be in New Orleans, going with the Detroit Lions versus Kansas City for a chance to three peak. That's what I'm going with. Dan Campbell and what he is doing. The sound bites that come out of the locker room, how he responds in in game situation, doesn't look like he's lost like the way he did a couple times last year in the playoff and in the previous years because he's a, he's a different guy. But you can see he's got full command of this team. Man, they got two running backs, got 10 rushing touchdowns. They got a receiver, got 10 touchdowns. Like, man, they can score the football, man, in the elite level. And their defense, typically for a team that's that elite offensively, their defense is way better than people are giving them credit for. That is a championship combination right there.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Well, I would say this to you right now. I would disagree with you on the afc. I think the Buffalo Bills can pull it off because I don't like what I'm seeing from Kansas City's defense over the last four or five weeks or so. They've really trailed off in terms of their third down possessions and what they've allowed QBR against opposing quarterbacks as well. They're one of the worst in the league right now. So I would say right now Buffalo and Detroit, to be quite honest with you. But I reserve the right to change my mind. Cece, appreciate you, bro. I'm glad you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Looking forward to talking to you next week.

[Chris Carter]

All right, I appreciate you, dog.

[Stephen A. Smith]

All right, my man, cc. Always appreciate the knowledge. Always, always, always. Foreign.

[Greg Rosenthal]

What'S up everyone? It's Greg Rosenthal and I'm teaming up with the king of spring, Daniel Jeremiah. He requires me to say that we're going to be bringing you 40s and free agents, the only podcast you'll need this NFL draft season. From DJs mock drafts to my top 101 free agents will have it covered for you with all new episodes every Thursday keeping you up to date as we head to the NFL Draft. Listen to 40s and free agents starting on March 6th on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast.

[Stephen A. Smith]

What's up everyone? Julie Swerbinks here along with former NHL player Nate Thompson.

[Chris Carter]

We're doing a new podcast together. Here we go. The Name Energy Line with Nate and JSB each week we'll get together and talk about hockey life. All topics are fair game, right?

[Stephen A. Smith]

Exactly. And you'll never know who will drop by to join us.

[Chris Carter]

Julie is pretty well connected. She has text threads going that you wouldn't believe.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Listen to Energy Line with Nate and jsb on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts.

[Chris Carter]

Or wherever you get your podcasts.