Stephen A. Smith is on a mission to “drain the swamp,” but he’s not talking about politics or Washington, D.C. Instead, the *First Take* star took aim at the New York Giants, comparing their home at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, to a literal swamp. Smith expressed disbelief at the idea of Matthew Stafford leaving the Los Angeles Rams to join the Giants, calling the franchise “moribund,” “pathetic,” and “the modern definition of football purgatory.”
“Why would Matthew Stafford leave SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles to play in a swamp?” Smith ranted, as reported by *Mediaite*. “I drive by it all the time—it’s a swamp. The stench hits you. The only reason he’d go there is for the money. Let’s get that out of the way.”
Smith argued that Stafford, whom he called a top-10 quarterback, deserves better than the Giants. He highlighted Stafford’s impressive resume, including a 5-2 postseason record with the Rams, a Super Bowl title, 15 touchdowns, and just three interceptions in the playoffs. Smith also noted that Stafford led the NFL in game-winning drives and comeback victories last season, trailing only Patrick Mahomes.
“Matthew Stafford is a stud,” Smith emphasized. “But let’s talk numbers. Stafford is set to make $27 million this year, while Dak Prescott is at $60 million, Trevor Lawrence, Joe Burrow, and Jordan Love are at $55 million, Tua Tagovailoa and Jared Goff are at $53 million, and Justin Herbert, Lamar Jackson, and Jalen Hurts are all making over $50 million. Stafford is underpaid for what he brings to the table.”
Smith acknowledged the Rams’ reasoning for potentially moving on from Stafford, given their need to rebuild and manage the salary cap. However, he questioned why Stafford would choose the Giants over other teams. “I get that the Rams might want to figure things out, but Stafford is still a top-10 quarterback,” Smith said. “When I watched the playoffs this year, the Rams were the only team that gave the Eagles a real challenge, and Stafford was a huge part of that.”
In Smith’s eyes, a quarterback of Stafford’s caliber deserves a better environment than the “swamp” of East Rutherford. He made it clear: top-tier quarterbacks shouldn’t be playing in what he considers one of the least appealing destinations in the NFL.
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