Stephen A. Smith erupted in frustration on ESPN’s First Take after former Indianapolis Colts center and current analyst Jeff Saturday drew a controversial comparison between Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott and NFL legend Peyton Manning.
During the show, Saturday suggested that Prescott is facing similar scrutiny to what Manning experienced early in his career.
While Prescott has consistently shined in the regular season, his postseason performances have raised doubts – a situation somewhat reminiscent of Manning’s own early struggles in the playoffs, despite eventually winning two Super Bowls.
However, Smith was not buying the comparison at all, responding with visible anger.
“The knock against [Manning] was that he couldn’t beat [Tom] Brady! This man was running the offense,” Smith fired back. “He was calling his own plays… We were like, ‘Anytime you run into Bill Belichick and Tom Brady, you’re going to fall!’
“I’m not saying people didn’t question Manning, but that was the issue. Dak Prescott has never been given that level of responsibility. Am I lying, Jeff?”
Smith didn’t stop there. He went on to emphasize the massive difference in the roles both quarterbacks played in their respective offenses.
“The responsibility that was on Dak Prescott’s shoulders doesn’t come remotely close to the responsibility that was on Peyton Manning’s shoulders! Y’all have got to be kidding me! You can’t say this on national television! You can’t do this, you can’t!”
To clarify, Jeff Saturday spent 13 of his 14 NFL seasons as Manning’s center, giving him a close understanding of the legendary quarterback’s career.
Saturday wasn’t directly comparing the talents of Prescott and Manning – he acknowledged that Manning is undoubtedly the better quarterback. The comparison instead focused on the types of questions and criticisms both players faced regarding their postseason struggles.
Manning, regarded by many as the best regular-season quarterback in NFL history, endured significant playoff frustrations early in his career, much like Prescott has.
Yet Manning also faced the challenge of competing against Brady, widely considered the greatest quarterback of all time, something Prescott hasn’t had to contend with as consistently.
Nevertheless, the criticism Prescott faces for underperforming in the playoffs mirrors what Manning went through. However, no one can deny that Manning had more responsibility on his shoulders than any other quarterback in NFL history.
Saturday’s argument wasn’t lost on some fans, who pointed out that both quarterbacks, at different points in their careers, dealt with mounting pressure to elevate their teams in the postseason.
Manning’s eventual two Super Bowl victories – one with the Colts and another with the Denver Broncos – helped him shake that label.
Now, Prescott has a chance to redefine his own narrative by leading the Cowboys to Super Bowl success. While he’s proven to be a more-than-reliable regular season quarterback, we all know he has to get it done in the playoffs.
Prescott, while undoubtedly talented, hasn’t come close to reaching Manning’s level of greatness.
Dak’s regular season statistics in 2023 were impressive as he led the league with 410 completions, 4,516 passing yards and 36 touchdowns. But the lasting image of him was getting blown out at home by Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers.
That may sound unfair, but hey, life is not fair – especially when you’re the quarterback of the biggest team in all of sports.
Stephen A. Smith’s argument was clear: Manning faced criticism largely because of his battles with Brady and the Patriots dynasty, but he was also in complete charge of his team’s offense. Not only was he the quarterback, he was also the (unofficial) offensive coordinator.
“Dak’s never had to run the entire offense like that. You can’t compare them!” Smith concluded.
What are your thoughts on the whole Manning-Prescott debate?
As for Dak, do you think he will ever be able to get over the hump and deliver a Lombardi Trophy to Dallas???