Outkick founder Clay Travis didn’t hold back on Ryan Clark after the ESPN analyst claimed Lamar Jackson deserves the NFL MVP award over Josh Allen because he has “evolved” what it means to be a black quarterback.
On Friday, the panel on ESPN’s marquee show First Take discussed the MVP race in which Clark praised Jackson for surpassing Michael Vick by quarterback for most rushing yards.
However, Outkick’s Bobby Burack wrote about it how Clark claimed the Ravens star changed the position while being the “most underrated QB in the NFL” as a panel of black analysts nodded along.
Travis reposted their story on X and called out Clark for his approach to the MVP debate.
“Ryan Clark is basically Carlton without the great dance moves or likability,” he said. ‘He is desperately insecure and uses race as a shield to mask his own terrible insecurities. It’s honestly sad to see.”
“His bosses are mostly white dudes and are terrified of being called racist for firing him, so they keep him working even though he’s not very talented and doesn’t offer anything of any particular value,” Travis continued.
Clay Travis accused ESPN NFL analyst Ryan Clark of using race to ‘mask his insecurities’
Travis launched an online attack on Clark following his entry into the NFL MVP race on Friday morning
“Was there a time when race had a negative impact on your success in America? Yes. Was Ryan Clark an adult at that time? No. Now he is trading on the legacy of racism to stay in work,” he added. ‘Once again sad to see. ESPN should be better than this. Sports should do that.”
The two-time MVP has the upper hand over Allen in most metrics this season. Jackson has more passing yards (3,955-3,549), passing touchdowns (39-26) and rushing yards (852-514).
While the Buffalo Bills quarterback only has the highest total in rushing touchdowns, 11-4, ESPN Bet has Allen favored to win the award at -225.
In addition to his previous admissions, Clark also alluded to Steve Nash winning two NBA MVPs when “Kobe Bryant was the best player in the league.”
Travis wasn’t the only sports media personality to take aim at Clark and ESPN after Friday’s First Take.
After Burack compared the Jackson-Allen debate to the conversations between Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark earlier this year, Jason Whitlock chimed in with an NBA comparison.
“You forgot Jokic versus Embiid,” he said. ‘I’m not sure the conversations would be much different if you added color. They all fear being labeled a sellout or racist on social media.
“You manipulate the convos with a weak (least informed, least credible person on the panel) host who lives in fear of social media backlash and then you let nature (the social media matrix) control the convo,” continued Whitlock. “You can’t have a rough conversation if the host thinks tweets and messages break bones.” M