ESPN analyst Bart Scott has been slammed on social media for joking about Dallas Cowboys star Trevon Diggs tearing his Achilles and having his season ended.
Scott was discussing the news about Diggs with Stephen A. Smith and Ryan Clark on Friday’s First Take, especially on how it may dent the Cowboy’s Super Bowl hopes after two impressive wins to start the season.
‘This is a major, major blow for Dallas and like Stephen. A always says “Just wait, something bad always happens”,’ Scott said, referring to Smith’s cynicism of the Cowboys in previous seasons.
But Scott’s attempt at a smart ending to his comments backfired immediately, with both Smith and Clark shooting him down.
‘No, don’t start that, don’t start that,’ Clark called out, before Stephen A. intervened.
ESPN analyst Bart Scott joked about Trevon Diggs getting hurt – and fellow analysts Stephen A. Smith (left) and Ryan Clark (right) were equally unimpressed
‘Let me tell you, first of all, I wouldn’t do that right now in all seriousness,’ Smith said in a sombre tone.
‘This is a season -ending injury, I’m certainly not going to joke about that with Trevon Diggs, my brother.’
Diggs was hurt in practice on Thursday with the Cowboys, a day after his 25th birthday and the injury is a massive blow for Dallas.
Scott’s remark was picked up by fans watching Friday’s First Take and many took to social media to criticize him. But the angriest response came from Micah Parsons, a teammate of Diggs with the Cowboys.
‘Wtf?? He ole hating a** old head!! Lame asf!! This why I really don’t like talking to dudes in the media!!’ Parsons said.
‘As a former player you are a lame asf bro! Just facts joking bout a man trying to feed his family and building a legacy! ESPN gotta stop letting corn balls on tv!!’
A fan, meanwhile, write on X: ‘Serious respect to Stephen A and Ryan Clark for shutting this down right away. Really insensitive and gross from Bart Scott here,’ one fan wrote.
Another said: ‘With all the cuts ESPN did it is beyond me how Bart Scott made the team.’
A different viewer wrote: ‘Bart Scott joking about Trevon Diggs’ injury is insane work. Most these guys on the big networks are so bad, it’s unreal.’
Diggs even reportedly missed his own birthday party because of the injury – he was reportedly set to watch Beyonce at the AT&T Stadium in Dallas on Thursday night, where she was on tour.
The Cowboys are in Arizona on Sunday night to play the Cardinals after opening the season with two commanding wins over both New York teams.
Scott himself played in the NFL for 11 seasons as a linebacker. He was at the Baltimore Ravens from 2002 until 2008 and then spent three years with the New York Jets from 2009.
He retired in 2013 and has worked as an analyst ever since.
