Stephen A. Smith Responds to $100 Million Contract Negotiation Rumor: ‘I’m Fully Aware of What I’m Worth’

On a recent episode of Who's Talking to Chris Wallace on Max, Stephen A. Smith responded to rumors he asked for $100 million over five years from ESPN when his current contract expires.

As seen in the clip from the episode below, Wallace highlighted that Smith's contract with ESPN is set to finish next year. "The word on the street is that you want something in the range of $100 million for five years... True?" asked Wallace, to which Smith refused to comment on exact numbers but suggested that he's not shy about asking for what he believes he's worth.

"I'm not getting specific as it pertains to numbers, because only a fool discusses his own negotiations while negotiating," he said. "I would ask, respectfully, pay attention to the industry, see what people are getting paid. See how much money they're making and what they're bringing to the table. Dak Prescott just signed a contract for $240 million. He's making $60 million a year."

Wallace interjected to imply that the Dallas Cowboys quarterback, who recently signed the four-year contract Smith mentioned, is in an entirely different conversation. Smith replied that Prescott has won "two playoff games in eight years," while he's "been No. 1 for 12 [years]" in his respective industry.

"I'm sorry, in our respective industries, I win," he continued. "And I'm fully aware of what I'm worth, and I will never apologize to that for anybody."

Prescott's huge deal now makes him the highest-paid athlete in the NFL on a per-year basis. Smith has criticized Prescott multiple times throughout his career. Earlier this year, for instance, he praised Prescott's playing ability through the regular season but said that he folds under pressure when it comes to the playoffs.

"As the playoffs loom, that brother folds like a cheap tent," he said on his eponymous show in June, per Sports Illustrated.