Stephen A. Smith mocking Lane Johnson for saying he needs to focus on his mental health is one of those moments where sports debate needs to shut the hell up for a minute.
Stephen A.. I read your book. You wrote about watching your own mom battle cancer and what losing her did to you. You’ve openly said you were so depressed afterward that you spent THREE YEARS in therapy and there were times you wished you were dead.
So how are YOU the guy sitting on national TV mocking the timing of Lane Johnson saying he needs to take care of his mental health?
Lane’s mom has been living with lymphoma. Both of his parents have dealt with health issues. He missed time in training camp dealing with family stuff, and back in AUGUST he was already talking about how his kids getting older and his parents’ health had changed his priorities. He said then this would probably be his last season.
This wasn’t Lane waking up because the Eagles are 2-2 and deciding football isn’t fun anymore.
Stephen A. later tried to clarify that his point was about how bad the Eagles’ situation has gotten. Fine. Then make THAT point. Rip the offense. Rip the organization. Talk about what losing Lane does to the team.
Don’t make “I need to focus on my mental health” the punchline or the setup to get there.
Lane Johnson gave that organization 14 years, won two Super Bowls and has been open about his battles with anxiety and depression for YEARS. If his family and his own health need him more than football does right now, he gets to walk away.
Stephen A. of ALL people should’ve understood that.. and shown a hell of a lot more class.
