Stephen A. Smith is a New York Times Bestselling Author, Executive Producer, host of ESPN's First Take, and co-host of NBA Countdown.
He interviews Maryland Governor Wes Moore to discuss the Baltimore Ravens and Washington Commanders football. Lamar Jackson and Jayden Daniels.
Governor Wes Moore, you were featured recently. Congratulations you. You were featured recently in the Times one hundred next issue, and Wiley considered to be a future Democratic presidential candidate. So I know you're focused on Kamala Harris right now, So I won't ask you about that, but I just want you to know I acknowledged it, and.
Congrats to you because you deserve it.
Having said that, I got slightly negative news for you. And here it is the Washington Commanders in Baltimore. Ravens ain't going to the Super bowlster That's not gonna happen. Governor, It's not gonna happen. I mean, I mean, you got you got two good teams. I mean, I gotta admit to you, Dada Daniels's special and Lavin Jackson is that dude. But you can't have both. You can't have both. So if you had to pick one, I'm not gonna ask you to pick. I'm not gonna do that to you. But how are you talking about your two teams in Maryland? Oh, you'll pick, I'll pick.
I listen.
I love the fact that the Commanders are in Maryland. They're an incredibly important part of Prince George's county and important, incredibly important part of our economic future. And let's be clear, Jaden Daniels, I mean, like anybody's thought that this was a flash in the pan, he is not.
And also he's the hardest working person.
I remember I went to training camp and one of the first things that the coaches told me that was that he's the first person there every morning and he's the last person out. Like that kind of hustle, that kind of motor, you can't teach that, and he is showing why the Commanders are.
So excited about him. However, you are not going to find a bigger Ravens fan than me.
And when you talk about special Lamar Jackson, is that dude. I mean, he's twenty seven years old, a two time league MVP, on the path to become the third Dereck Henry is an alien. There is no defense in the NFL that has an answer for him. And not to mention the fact that we're one of the best coach franchises in the entire NFL.
And so listen, I love the.
Fact that the Commanders are The Commanders are probably my favorite NSC team, but it there.
Is no question, and there should be no question. The Ravens are my squad.
And I'm telling you, I actually think there's a real probability that we gonna see the Ravens and the Commanders in New Orleans come this year.
I think you're going a little bit too far there. I think you're going a little bit too far.
I don't think a rookie is getting you to the super Bowl.
I'd be shocked.
I mean, listen, Dan Marino got Miami then in year two, I ain't never never went back.
But Jalen Daniels is special.
But before I let you go, Governor, I gotta tell you something. You do understand that your Baltimore Ravens defense is just violating the legacy and the tradition of the Ravens, right. I mean, you can't stop anybody you gave up because gave up. Believe in the last two minutes about eight times in the last year and a half. You're giving up points that you just lost to Jameis Winston, who hadn't seen him throw the football in two years, and he comes out there looking like Joe Montana. I mean, your defense, Ray Lewis, I'm scared to call him I'm scared to call it.
Suck. What happened? What's going on with the Ravens defense?
You know, you know what I think, Well, one, it's injuries, and but but you can't make excuses about that because in the NFL, injuries are reality and it's next man up, and if you don't have the horses behind him, then you have a real problem. But we don't have depth on our defense and so particularly when it comes to our secondary and so if someone gets knocked out.
You're you're you're really suffering.
But the other big thing is this is that I think there's a heart that matters this. So for example, Roll Quwan Smith, he is, He's a dude. I really think in many ways he is this generation's Ray Lewis, the same way that Kyle Hamilton is this generations and read I think they are really special players on defense. But I tell you one thing that I think I underestimated was losing Patrick Queen when he went to the Steelers. I thought, I was like, listen, you know, Yale, we lose a queen, but we picked up Derek, So we lost the queen, but we got a king.
And that was a cute phrase.
You cannot underestimate the leadership that Patrick Queen brought to that defense, that he brought to that locker room. And uh and and I think that it's showing itself right now. And not to mention the fact that we lost McDonald, We lost our defensive we lost our defensive coordinator. So so you're right, this is not the Baltimore Ravens defense of two thousand, This is not the Baltimore Ravens defense.
Of well wait, this is not the glory day of what we had before.
But we've got to find a way to either stay healthy or stay deep, because that's the key in the NFL. And you need that presence, that that unifying presence that I think Rokwan really helps to take on. But again, we we lost something with with with Queen, and I didn't realize how much we were gonna lose.
I feel you on that, and listen, I like you.
I'm a fan of yous, you know say I mean somewhere down the lot, hopefully you're gonna run for president.
I don't can't pay for people. I can't pay for you.
In a heartbeat, I wouldn't hesitate, but I gotta tell you something right now, I haven't said all of that. Your Ravens are in second place to the Steelers. I just want to I just want to end the interview by telling you that. I just want to end the interview. I tell you said what, I haven't played anybody. Well, listen, you, you you you feel free to reach out to me when the Steelers beat y'all in a few weeks, because that's coming.
You understand that right now. It's all. You ain't gonna beat them twice. You'll lose one. You'll win one, but you're gonna lose one of those games. One of those games.
You do know that I'm inviting you. I'm inviting you to come down to Baltimore to watch that game together and so you can see firsthand, next to me just what a beatdown is gonna look like the Steelers. But I mean, they haven't played anybody.
I'm looking at my schedule. I'm trying to find that schedule. And now I'm assuming you got a sweet because you know what I mean. I can't be sitting in the stands the fans are harassed me. Yes, I can't be sitting in I got I'm sitting with the governor.
I'm assuming I'm gonna have a seat.
But I'm telling you right now, the stealer, I don't know which game, but you're not beating them twice.
They gonna get you one of those times. I'm telling you that right now.
I'm telling you all right, we're gonna keep in touch on that one because y'all gonna get beaten.
Stealers stealing nation. Stand up, the one and Only Governor Wes Moore. Man. I appreciate you so much.
Good luck to you, keep working, keep doing what you've been doing. Is an honor and a privilege to talk to you, so I really appreciate it.
Thank you so much.
God bless you man. Honor's all minds sincerely, thank you.
God bless all the best. My thanks to the one and Only Governor Wes Moore. Election Day twenty twenty four is this Tuesday. Ladies and gentlemen. Whether you vote early or on election day, please make sure your voice is heard. I always tell you the number one provocation for change is going to the polls and voting. If you don't vote, shut up. You don't have anything to say. If you can't even find it within yourself to vote, Remember I said that, Hm,