Leave it to Stephen A. Smith to drop the hammer on an athlete who blows an opportunity. Especially when it's a second chance.
Upon discussing Ray McDonald's second arrest for domestic violence and subsequent release from the Chicago Bears on Monday, Stephen A. didn't hesitate ripping into the defensive lineman.
"I do not condemn the Bears nor do I think this has blown up in their face," Smith said live on ESPN's First Take a day after McDonald was arrested and dropped by his team. "This is on Ray McDonald. He's the one — this has all blown up in his face. He's the one that cost himself a career. He's the one who has exercised, as far as I'm concerned, stupidity, heinousness and beyond."
McDonald was released by the San Francisco 49ers last December for poor behavior, including a domestic violence arrest stemming from an August incident. The Bears knew the defensive lineman was a gamble — but they rolled the dice on him anyway.
On the morning of May 25, he was arrested for suspicion of domestic violence and child endangerment.
Santa Clara police told ESPN that McDonald "physically assaulted the victim while she was holding a baby."
The Bears responded by immediately letting him go.
"We believe in second chances, but when we signed Ray, we were very clear what our expectations were if he was to remain a Bear," Bears general manager Ryan Pace told ESPN. "He was not able to meet the standard and the decision was made to release him."
It's impossible to feel sorry for someone who has done something like this twice. Stephen A.'s rant was well-deserved here. He ended his scathing comments saying, "You put yourself in this position. No pity! Goodbye!" We agree.
Watch his entire commentary here.
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