“Who currently holds the title of the NFL’s best quarterback?” is a question that crosses the minds of every NFL fan. Since Tom Brady departed from the gridiron, discussions among critics and fans have revolved around identifying the league’s top QB. Many names are thrown into the mix, but two names consistently dominate the conversation: Aaron Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes.

With the start of the NFL season, Mahomes showcased his legendary skills in the season opener, and, subsequently, his comparisons to Tom Brady have emerged. However, A-Rod’s opening game is still pending, and his performance will provide insights into his preparedness for the season. But notably, popular sports analyst Stephen A. Smith seems eager to share his opinion on the matter, believing that this particular quarterback possesses inherent greatness.

Stephen A. Smith is cheering for Aaron Rodgers or Patrick Mahomes?

In a recent episode of ESPN’s ‘First Take,’ Stephen A. Smith compared NFL legends Aaron Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes. Known for his candid opinions on the show, Smith declared Aaron Rodgers as the NFL’s current top quarterback. He emphasized that his opinion wasn’t solely based on the outcome of week one, but rather on Rodgers’ long-standing greatness and achievements.

Smith highlighted, “I’m talking about how people are going to talk about him [Aaron Rodgers] because of the level of greatness that he’s exhibited; because he’s a four-time league MVP; because he’s a Super Bowl champion from 2010; and with his greatness years before Patrick Mahomes ever came along.”

Moreover, Smith noted an interesting statistic, saying, “There are 13 quarterbacks in the history of the National Football League who have won multiple Super Bowl champions. Do you know that not a single one of them is considered as a talent better than Aaron Rogers?” Smith also speculated that Rodgers might achieve even greater success with the Jets, given his belief that Rodgers didn’t receive the recognition he deserved with the Green Bay Packers.

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However, it’s worth noting that Smith has previously accused Aaron Rodgers of prioritizing making headlines over winning.

Smith once thought A-Rod was interested in making headlines

Stephen A. Smith, who gave Aaron Rodgers the title of a “bad man,” and is a long-time supporter of Aaron Rodgers, had a notable change of tone in February of this year. The outspoken ESPN personality shifted his perspective during his “First Take” morning talk show. He expressed to his co-host Ryan Clark, “Aaron Rodgers seems more committed to making headlines at this point in his career than he is to winning.”

He continued, “Nobody is bringing that up. I am not accusing the man of going out on the football field and not trying to win.” This conversation revolved around Rodgers and the Packers’ future following his public discussions and retreat from the spotlight, including his retirement and then-trade rumors.

Now, with Rodgers making headlines by joining the Jets before a potential retirement, it will be intriguing to see if he can maintain his status as the NFL’s best quarterback or if Stephen A. Smith will need to revise his stance once again. Moreover, only October 1st will let us know who the best QB is, as in this season, Rodgers and Mahomes will face off against each other on the day.

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