Overview
- The exchange happened at Legion Field in Birmingham during a mascots’ 40-yard dash while ESPN’s First Take broadcast from the Magic City Classic.
- Video shows Newton striking and shoving the Alabama A&M Bulldog and saying “Stop playing with me” before the brief scuffle ended.
- Stephen A. Smith and analyst Ryan Clark soon returned to the desk with Newton, offering little on-air acknowledgment of the incident.
- Clips went viral across social media as outlets noted the optics for Newton, who is less than a year into his ESPN contract, per The Sporting News.
- As of late Friday, no disciplinary action or official ESPN statement had been reported, with some coverage recalling a previously reported 2024 altercation involving Newton.