Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Steve Smith, Sr. joins the expanding roster of current NFL players making regular appearances on television during the regular season. He’ll be joining ESPN Radio’s Mike & Mike in-studio at selected times on off-days. In addition to his appearances with Mike & Mike, Smith Sr. will contribute to a new digital series called “Draw It Up” in which players will draw up a critical play and explain it.
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Smith’s agent, Kristin Bredes LaFemina of Playbook Inc. tells Awful Announcing that the genesis for him to join ESPN this season began last year when he was hurt with an Achilles injury and could not play. LaFemina said Smith made several media appearances last season including on the NFL Today on CBS, Mike & Mike and ESPN’s coverage of the Super Bowl. His appearance on Mike & Mike and on various ESPN shows marked the first time he had stepped on the ESPN Bristol campus in ten years. “I convinced him to go up there and he had a great time,” La Femina said. “He hopped in a chair and he felt like he was at home.”
LaFemina then said that Smith who is certainly on the back nine of his playing career began thinking about what he will do when he’s finished catching passes and he told her that “I can see myself being in media,” which she said was music to her ears. So there were talks with ESPN during the off-season to make regular appearances during the season.
LaFemina stressed that Smith talked with the Ravens first to make sure they signed off and approved of his trips to ESPN. “We handled it appropriately. (Smith) talked with the Ravens PR department. Steve talked personally to (general manager) Ozzie Newsome and (coach John) Harbaugh and got their blessing,” LeFamina said. She stressed that had Newsome and Harbaugh said no, he would not made the agreement with ESPN.
In the official announcement, Smith said he was thrilled for the chance to be on with ESPN Radio throughout the season:
“I’m excited for and appreciative of this opportunity,” said Smith Sr. “What I love about Mike & Mike is that it’s a well-balanced show, and they talk about a lot of different topics. It’s not just about football or something that aims to be shock-jock radio. I definitely hold Golic and Greeny in high regard, because their programing is thoughtful, measured and entertaining.”
David Roberts, ESPN Audio vice president of Network Content said, “The addition of Steve Smith Sr. will enhance a strong lineup of talent that will further ensure Mike & Mike as the destination for football talk on ESPN Radio and ESPN2.”
Smith’s addition to Mike & Mike during the season is part of a daily lineup of football contributors who will join the show. The other contributors to the ESPN Radio morning show are as follows:
- Mondays – NFL analyst Ryan Clark NFL Front Office Insider Louis Riddick and former NFL wide receiver and ESPN Radio host Tom Waddle;
- Tuesdays – Clark, NFL analyst Herm Edwards and ESPN Radio host and SEC Network contributor Paul Finebaum;
- Wednesdays – Monday Night Football analyst Jon Gruden, college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit, SEC Network analyst Booger McFarland and ESPN Radio host and college football analyst Danny Kanell. ESPN College GameDay host Rece Davis will provide college football rankings updates;
- Thursdays – Former NFL head coach Brian Billick, McFarland and NFL analyst Mark Schlereth;
- Fridays – College football analyst Joey Galloway, ESPN Radio host Mike Golic Jr., NFL analyst Ron Jaworski and NFL Insider Field Yates.
Smith joins current players New York Jets wide receiver Brandon Marshall and Washington Redskins cornerback Josh Norman (who may has yet to inform Jay Gruden about his Fox appearances) who have TV gigs.
