Stephen A. Smith is supporting his friend Shannon Sharpe following the allegations of sexual assault against the former Baltimore Ravens tight end.
The Baltimore Ravens have experienced an offseason fraught with controversy, and they haven’t helped themselves in managing it. Kicker Justin Tucker is under scrutiny from multiple Baltimore-area massage therapists alleging sexual misconduct, putting pressure on the team’s previously stated zero-tolerance policy, which they have chosen to suspend until the league’s investigation is completed.
In the second round of the NFL Draft, the Ravens once more associated themselves with a player who has significant off-field concerns. Marshall edge rusher Mike Green dropped to the close of Round 2 due to his history. He faced allegations of sexual assault during high school and recognized that Virginia implemented its own zero-tolerance policy. Another allegation arose, and Green soon ended up at Marshall.
Nonetheless, Baltimore either has complete confidence in the truth of Green’s denials or is just placing football above character.
Even the Ravens’ history has been tainted by controversy this offseason. Ex-Baltimore tight end Shannon Sharpe faces allegations of sexual assault, and his ESPN coworker, Stephen A. Smith, promptly came to his defense.
“While I was optimistic that it wouldn’t result in him being taken off the air, I realized it wasn’t going to happen that way since I understand Disney,” Smith stated on “BigBoyTV,” according to Barrett Media. “The court of public perception is what Disney and similar entities focused on.” That’s a more pressing concern, and regrettably, it has been detrimental to him at this specific time.
ESPN issued a statement soon after the allegations emerged, confirming its support for Sharpe’s choice to leave television.
That doesn’t automatically imply Sharpe’s guilt. However, it is unwise to permit an individual facing such intense examination to feature on the network’s well-liked weekday program, and Sharpe might have been requested to withdraw if he hadn’t chosen to do so on his own.
Smith evidently opposes the choice to remove Sharpe from broadcasting and asserts that it is his responsibility as a friend to support Sharpe during the upheaval.
“I understand that the brother claims he’s innocent,” Smith stated. “I trust him.” I understand that he doesn’t easily trust, and that the candid discussions he’s had with me aren’t ones he would share with just anyone. I intend to respect that, and I will ensure he understands, as well as everyone else, that regardless of how events unfold, while I don’t expect him to depend on me, should he ever decide to, I will do anything I can for him as a friend.
Following the accusations from both players, Tucker and Sharpe have firmly rejected the respective allegations.
Kicker Justin Tucker of the Baltimore Ravens