Molly Q and Stephen A. continue First Take absence as show prepares for changes

STEPHEN A. SMITH and Molly Qerim were again absent from First Take on Tuesday.

The pair also missed Monday’s show with ESPN making several changes to their broadcasting schedule because of the college football slate.

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On Monday, Shae Cornette and Shannon Sharpe were in the First Take seats alongside Dan Orlovsky, while on Tuesday Domonique Foxworth and Desmond Howard joined Cornette and Sharpe.

It remains unclear why Smith and Qerim were absent from Monday and Tuesday’s shows.

First Take is usually shown at 10am ET on Monday to Friday but will be moved to a different slot on New Year’s Day.

It will be broadcast on ESPN2 as college football dominates the main channel.

It is not yet known if Smith and Qerim will return for the New Year’s Day edition, or if Sharpe/Cornette and another host will be in the hot seats.

The Pat McAfee Show was also a casualty on Tuesday – and will be again on Wednesday.

McAfee is not hosting his usual show, which airs weekdays at 12pm ET, as he will be joining a special edition of College GameDay.

That goes out from 10am ET on New Year’s Day, with ESPN broadcasting three college quarterfinals.

Coverage starts with Arizona State takes on Texas from 1pm ET in the Peach Bowl.

Ohio State then meets Oregon at 5pm ET in the Rose Bowl.

ESPN’s New Year’s Day coverage ends with the Sugar Bowl between Notre Dame and Georgia at 8.45pm ET.

There is also a fourth quarterfinal on New Year’s Eve – Boise State take on Penn State at 7.30pm ET in the Fiesta Bowl.

While Smith was away from the ESPN cameras he did appear on the YouTube with The Stephen A. Smith Show.

And the host was his fiery self hitting back at criticism that Ryan Clark had received for his take on Lamar Jackson.

‘It was a short retirement!’

Jason Kelce didn’t stay retired in the NFL for long.

The former Philadelphia Eagles lineman called it quits after the 2023 season.

But he will be part of ESPN’s coverage on Monday Night Football in 2024.

Kelce will appear on Monday Night Countdown from 6pm-8pm ET every week as well as during the halftime show.

“Turns out, it was a short retirement!” he joked.

“ESPN was a consistent presence in our household growing up and the network helped shape who I am and my love of all sports.

“To now appear on that same screen is a full circle moment.

“And, I mean it’s freaking Monday Night Football! and I’m ready for some football.”

Clark had called Jackson the most underappreciated quarterback in the NFL, but some critics and viewers believed the conversation veered too much into race.

Clark eventually deleted a social media post because of the backlash.

Smith told his one million subscribers: “Personally speaking, I’d like to say that I’m disappointed, but that’s not the word.

“I’m p***ed off. But I’m not pissed off at all of you guys, nor am I pissed off at Ryan Clark for what he said.

“You know what I have a problem with? That he deleted the post.

“Because when cynicism and criticism came in his direction, Ryan Clark, somebody who runs from no one — and I’m certainly not accusing him of running now — I’m mad he deleted the post.

“Now, I know what a lot of people were saying, ‘First of all, Ryan Clark didn’t know what he was talking about because guess what? Patrick Mahomes is a three-time Super Bowl champion…’ He’s a black quarterback and you’re bringing that up?

“That’s really slick on your part. Ladies and gentlemen, Ryan Clark wasn’t wrong – Ryan Clark was right.

“Now, he may have come across as wrong because he gave you an opening to bring up Patrick Mahomes to derail or to squash his point, but that’s not the point I interpreted him saying.

“What he’s talking about is not the Black quarterback, but the Black quarterbacks who have been questioned as to whether or not they should play quarterback.

“Nobody was questioning whether Deshaun Watson was a quarterback. Nobody was questioning whether Patrick Mahomes was a quarterback.

“They were questioning whether Lamar Jackson was a quarterback. They were wondering whether he should consider a different position going into the NFL.

“And it was Lamar Jackson that had to tell them, ‘Nah, I ain’t down with that; I’m a quarterback. And I’m gonna be a quarterback in the NFL. And I’m gonna wreak havoc. And I’m gonna wreck shop. And I’m gonna show you what I bring to the table.’

“That’s what Lamar Jackson said. But they were trying to convince him not to play quarterback.”