Why Stephen A. Smith torched Texans HC DeMeco Ryans over controversial comments

DEMECO ON BLAST

Why Stephen A. Smith torched Texans HC DeMeco Ryans over controversial comments
Stephen A. Smith is not having it. Composite Getty Image.

This week on First Take, Stephen A. Smith and the rest of the panel react to DeMeco Ryans' comments following Azeez Al-Shaair's controversial hit on Trevor Lawrence.

Smith labels Ryans' thoughts on the controversial play and aftermath as “Stupid” because the suspension had yet to be handed down when Ryans spoke on the matter.

Smith also made the case that every player on the field was justified to retaliate against Al-Shaair because of the severity of the hit on Lawrence.

The entire panel agreed that Ryans would want the same response from his players if CJ Stroud took a hit like Lawrence.

Is he right? And how much responsibility should be on the quarterbacks to protect themselves by sliding early?

Be sure to watch the video above and see where you come out on this.

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The Angels beat the Astros, 3-0. Composite Getty Image.

José Soriano and two relievers combined for a two-hitter and Oswald Peraza hit his first home run since a trade from the Yankees to lead the Los Angeles Angels to a 3-0 win over the Houston Astros on Sunday.

Soriano (10-9) allowed one hit and struck out eight in seven innings. Luis García allowed one hit in a scoreless eighth and Kenley Jansen threw a perfect ninth for his 25th save.

There were two outs in the fifth when Peraza connected off Hunter Brown (10-7) into the bullpen in right-center field to put the Angels up 1-0. His homer comes after his two-run single in the ninth inning Saturday helped Los Angeles to a 4-1 victory that snapped a three-game skid.

Yoan Moncada walked to start the eighth and scored on Mike Trout’s double that bounced off the wall in center field to make it 2-0. Taylor Ward walked before Luis Rengifo reached and Trout scored on an error by Lance McCullers Jr. when the pitcher overthrew first base.

Yordan Alvarez singled with no outs in the first and Soriano walked a batter in the second and sixth innings. The Astros didn’t get another hit until Ramón Urías doubled with one out in the eighth inning. Los Angeles outfielder Taylor Ward was injured trying to make a catch on that hit when he crashed face-first into the metal scoreboard in left field.

He was carted off the field holding a towel to the right side of his face. He was taken to a hospital by ambulance where interim manager Ray Montgomery said he would receive stitches to close the cut and be evaluated.

Brown allowed three hits and a run with five strikeouts in six innings. McCullers Jr. allowed three hits and two runs in his first relief appearance since 2018.

Key moment

The home run by Peraza.

Key stat

It’s the fifth time the Astros have been shut out this month.

Up next

LHP Yusei Kikuchi (6-9, 3.68 ERA) will start for Los Angeles in the series finale Monday against RHP Luis Garcia, who’ll make his return after sitting out since May 2023 recovering from Tommy John surgery.

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