Chris Russo calls out Stephen A. Smith’s Joe Namath-Aaron Rodgers comparison: ‘Worst take’

Chris “Mad Dog” Russo was barking mad at Stephen A. Smith for what he dubbed as Smith’s “worst take.” 

What drew the ESPN talking head, and former longtime WFAN personality, to say such a thing? 

It was Smith’s comment on Monday’s “First Take” in which he suggested that Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers would surpass Hall of Famer Joe Namath in the hierarchy of franchise greats if he could lead them to a Super Bowl. 

The bold comment was too much for Russo to handle and he went off about it.

“I can’t believe that I’m having my bagel and a banana and I’m putting on ‘First Take’ yesterday and I got the host sitting here comparing Aaron Rodgers to Joe Willie Namath,” Russo said during Tuesday’s show. “I know prior to 1996, maybe a little shaky historically. But this is absurd. That Joe Willie Namath, who was an icon. Who put the AFL on the map! Who guaranteed a Super Bow as an underdog against the Colts and delivered!”

The often excitable “Mad Dog” continued his shock with his voice growing louder and louder. 

“He’s an original New York freakin Jet!” Russo screamed. “Aaron Rodgers, the carpetbagger, who’s all of a sudden at the Tonys, Taylor Swift, Ranger hockey. What do they do in Green Bay? He must have been bored stiff because he’s doing everything here. But now Rodgers…we’re gonna compare him as a Jets fan to Joe Namath?

“He made the AFL and this guy is sitting there comparing, Rodgers is going to be better! What are you kidding me?” 

Namath led the Jets to the franchise’s only Super Bowl title in 1969 in a 16-7 win over the Baltimore Colts. 

Rodgers, who was traded to the Jets in April, took the Packers to the 2011 Super Bowl and defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 31-25. 

Smith had received plenty of pushback when he originally made the comparison on Monday’s program from Molly Qerim and Dan Orlovsky. 

Rodgers has yet to play a single down for the Jets and Gang Green winning a Super Bowl still doesn’t feel imminent. 

“I’ve said dumb things,” Russo said. “That’s as dumb a comment as I’ve ever heard in my life. Comparing him to Joe Willie Namath if you are a Jets fan! … Worst take, I couldn’t believe it.”

Even with Russo chiding him, Smith didn’t backdown from his conviction, pointing to Mark Messier leading the New York Rangers to a Stanley Cup in 1994 as an example of why his comment made sense. 

Smith also used the talent level and media scrutiny that Rodgers faces in New York as another reason why it would make the accomplishment that much grander. 

“If this man pulls this off, I’m telling you, it’s going to be a big freakin deal. And it’s going to be bigger than Joe Namath,” Smith said. “Aaron Rodgers coming to New York, with Patrick Mahomes, with Joe Burrow, with Lamar Jackson, with Josh Allen in the same conference. And he wins a Super Bowl in New York for the first time in over 50 years, I’m telling you it’s going to be a big deal.”