Stephen A. Smith doesn’t have a problem with Chris Canty’s assertion that the Dallas Cowboys should trade Micah Parsons this offseason; rather, it’s the reasoning behind it that he finds troubling. Smith deemed Canty’s belief that trading the star pass-rusher was necessary for the franchise’s culture to be “asinine,” turning the discussion into a topic on Thursday’s episode of First Take.
“That’s the most asinine thing that I’ve ever heard come out of his mouth,” Smith said, criticizing Canty’s reasoning. “I’m not against trading Micah Parsons for assets, but the justification he provided is what I take issue with. You want to trade Micah Parsons because you lack draft capital? That’s understandable. However, proposing that we need to establish culture and implying it’s based on Micah Parsons’ conduct? That’s absurd. How can you talk about culture when the loudest voice is Jerry Jones?”
Smith labeled Canty as “must-listen-to radio,” a statement he didn’t make as a compliment. “You want to listen to him in the morning because he’s going to say some wild things, but often, it’s as ridiculous as what we heard this time. It makes no sense.” Canty, clearly watching the exchange, wasn’t pleased with Smith’s remarks. He tagged the official X account for First Take and his co-hosts, resharing his clip from Unsportsmanlike, coupled with sharp words directed at Smith. “First off, watch your tone when you talk about me,” Canty stated. “Secondly, if you listened to First Take, you’d know that culture is just one of several reasons for considering a trade.”
It’s Day 4 of the NFL offseason and Chris Canty and Stephen A. Smith are having a feud over the Cowboys trading Micah Parsons. https://t.co/zJ9uHnptNa pic.twitter.com/AAJtNC0WwQ
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) February 13, 2025
While Canty has additional reasons for suggesting a trade for Parsons, the real story is the ongoing conflict between him and Smith. They’ve exchanged barbs in recent months, reminiscent of September when Canty labeled Smith “asinine” for his comments about Aaron Rodgers. Despite the apparent tension, both know how to play the media game. Canty has emerged as a compelling ESPN personality and a “take machine,” playing a significant role in driving the morning news cycle. Their heated discussions, while at times resembling professional wrestling, are understood and appreciated by both, showcasing the dynamics of sports talk debate.
