ESPN star Mina Kimes accuses Stephen A Smith of 'double standard' in Dak Prescott debate
ESPN star Mina Kimes accuses Stephen A Smith of 'double standard' in Dak Prescott debate
Joseph McBrideThu, October 1, 2026 at 11:17 PM UTC
0
Mina Kimes called out Stephen A. Smith for his comments on Dak Prescott -Credit:Getty Images
ESPN analyst Mina Kimes has called out Stephen A Smith for his "double standards" toward Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, following criticism over how this season has started.
The Cowboys are 1-2 to start the season, with the lone win coming against the Washington Commanders in Week 2. Prescott opened up emotionally about his late mom after securing the victory, becoming the franchise leader in passing touchdowns.
Weeks 1 and 3 were less successful for the Cowboys, losing to the New York Giants before a dramatic ending against the Baltimore Ravens in Brazil. Dallas has since traded for Joey Porter Jr. to improve the defense, and Kimes called out Smith on ESPN for pinning the losses on Prescott.
• Urban Meyer calls for ban after crude celebration in front of Donald Trump
• Furious Spike Lee restrained in Yankees suite during ugly confrontation with fan
Prescott has been the starting quarterback for the Cowboys since 2016, but has a 2-5 postseason record in his NFL career, reaching the playoffs in just five of his 10 seasons. The Cowboys have shown Prescott a lot of faith and made him the highest-paid NFL player at one stage.
Another sloppy start by the Cowboys was pinned on Prescott by ESPN's Smith, but Kimes joined First Take on Thursday to challenge him. "Stephen, I am also a big fan. I also watch you on TV all the time. I also watched the show First Take, and I have for years," she said.
Advertisement
"And I have seen you, with my own two eyes and ears, make the opposite case for Joe Burrow. 'Oh, that awful defense in Cincinnati is the only reason why Joseph Burrow isn't in the playoffs and making Super Bowl runs.'
"I feel this is a double standard for this quarterback compared to others who are saddled with awful defenses. The question isn't just what happened in that one game. It's if the Cowboys falter, who deserves the most blame? So we're speaking holistically about this football team.
"It is so obviously going to be the defense. Yes. If this team doesn't make it to the playoffs, they don't make a run, I don't think anyone on earth is going to suspect anything other than the defense.
"The organization deserves also some blame for the construction of said defense and the coaching job. But it is so clearly that side of the ball that is the problem with this football team."
Prescott is under pressure to lead Dallas to the playoffs
Smith quietly waited for Kimes to finish her segment, but was eager to respond and didn't hold back. "So let me just get this straight, Mina," he said. "I mean, listen, I'll come on NFL Live and ask you, too, if that's going to make you remember this question.
"My question to you is this. If there are a litany of instances, if there are a litany of instances where Dallas gives up 25 or they give up 30, and the Dallas Cowboys offense is in the same position that they were in against Baltimore, and they don't close the deal on numerous occasions, you're trying to tell me all anybody's going to think about is the fact that the defense was trash and the defense gave up 25 to 30 points?
"Nobody's going to think about, 'Wait a minute, I got this high-powered offense. I got this prolific offense.' The point is, there's an expectation that comes with this offense having to make up for a deficiency, a glaring deficiency, that they know they have.
"And I'm going to tell you this right now. I can assure you this. Jerry Jones feels that way. Jerry Jones feel like, 'I'm paying these brothers some money now to make up for this stuff.' I can promise you that's what he's thinking. I ain't making it up."
Source: “AOL Sports”
