Stephen A. Smith, an ESPN commentator on "First Take," said Wednesday that National Organization for Women president Terry O'Neill was "off her rocker" for calling for NFL commissioner Roger Goodell's resignation in the wake of the Ray Rice domestic violence scandal.
"I'm sorry, I think this woman is off her rocker. I think she's lost her mind," Smith said. "That's right, I said it."
His meltdown came after ESPN's Cari Champion read a statement from O'Neill on the air.
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"The NFL has lost its way," the statement read. "It doesn't have a Ray Rice problem; it has a violence against women problem . . . The only workable solution is for Roger Goodell to resign, and for his successor to appoint an independent investigator with full authority to gather factual data about domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking within the NFL community, and to recommend real and lasting reforms."
Goodell became the focus of the Rice controversy after a law enforcement official claimed that the commissioner saw the elevator knockout video back in April and failed to act on it.
After reading the NOW statement, Champion then turned to cohost Skip Bayless, who said he believes maybe Goodell should resign. That apparently sent Smith over the edge as he began to rant.
"This is the most ridiculous nonsense I've ever heard in my life," he said. "Roger Goodell deserves to lose his job? Why are you acting like he's Ray Rice? Roger Goodell didn't hit Janay Palmer Rice. He hasn't hit any woman. And by the way, the last time I checked, Skip, why are we talking about the NFL as if it's some cesspool for domestic violence? There's a few cases. It's being dealt with."
Smith's comments could land him in hot water with ESPN.
He was suspended back in July after making comments on-air about domestic violence in which he advised women, "Let's make sure we don't do anything to provoke wrong action." He later apologized in a broadcast and on Twitter.
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