ESPN host Stephen A. Smith on Kaepernick's Activism

ESPN host Stephen A. Smith made headlines earlier this month for saying the Dallas Cowboys should sign Colin Kaepernick, who hasn't played in the NFL for several years. And in a new interview, Smith again invoked Kaepernick's name, arguing that the civil rights activist had been "blackballed."

Kaepernick famously took a knee during the pre-game national anthem to protest racial injustice and inequality across the U.S. Speaking with Esquire, Smith noted that Kaepernick had to pay the consequences for such a bold move.

"I'm a Black man. And as a Black man, you learn from a very, very early age that when white folks catch a cold, Black folks catch pneumonia," he told Esquire. "It's always worse for us. There's always an extra layer that we have to scratch and claw and climb our way up through, to get to where we want to go."

The sports personality added that Kaepernick's protests led to him being unfairly shunned.

"It's not fair, it was not right," Smith said. "Not only did he not violate any laws, not only did he not violate or compromise his rights as an American citizen, he violated no NFL bylaws. We all recognize that."

Still, the way Smith sees it, Kaepernick's scuffling with the NFL likely cost the player. He said those who sue their employer shouldn't be surprised if they're not hired back, adding that "it doesn't work that way" in business.

Smith also opened up to Esquire about his new podcast: Know Mercy with Stephen A. Smith. Calling it a "breath of fresh air," he said the podcast opens the door for him to talk about other, non-sports-related issues like current events, pop culture, politics and entertainment.

The podcast's first episode dropped on Monday and featured rap legend LL Cool J. Other guests will include Snoop Dogg, embattled TV journalist Chris Cuomo and Fox host Sean Hannity.

When asked about political priorities, Smith had two words for Esquire: "common sense." It seems that no one in the political realm wants to compromise these days, he said, yet no governing body has ever received every little thing that it wants.

And even though he'd floated Kaepernick's name as a potential replacement for injured Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, Smith didn't have great things to say about the team's supporters.

"Their fans are a pain in my you-know-what," he told Esquire, later adding: "Let me tell you something, [the Cowboys] don't get on my nerves. It's those damn fans."

Newsweek has reached out to a Smith representative for additional comment.