James Cook's fumbles put leadership on ESPN's debate agenda
Stephen A. Smith praises Joe Brady, while NBA Today turns to Haliburton and the Pacers' Finals ambitions.
ESPN
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‘THAT'S BEING A LEADER OF MEN!’ 👏 Stephen A. PRAISES Joe Brady | First Take
ESPN's daily viewing is running nearly half above its usual pace, even as its subscriber count stays unchanged. The NFL and House of Highlights are also enjoying elevated daily audiences in its sports-media neighborhood, but ESPN's new-upload conversation has a particular focus: what should happen after a costly turnover?
The most watched of its 15 new uploads is " 'THAT'S BEING A LEADER OF MEN!' 👏 Stephen A. PRAISES Joe Brady | First Take," with nearly 79,000 views. Stephen A. Smith, Jordan Rodgers and Chris "Mad Dog" Russo discuss the Buffalo offensive coordinator's comments about James Cook's fumbles and the consequences for losing possession. From there, the conversation widens to Josh Allen's place among mobile quarterbacks and Cook's standing among running backs.
Viewers have taken that discussion in two directions. Some point to the difficulty of protecting a football while defenders punch at it; others bring Cam Newton and Lamar Jackson into the mobile-quarterback comparison. Accountability and historical memory, all in one comments section.
NBA Today supplies the other substantial new audience, with Malika Andrews joined by Chiney Ogwumike, Bobby Marks and Kendrick Perkins. Their Haliburton discussion considers Indiana's identity and another Finals run, before moving to Kawhi Leonard and Toronto.
Those First Take and NBA Today segments also carry the strongest daily momentum among ESPN's highlighted uploads. J.J. Watt's Pat McAfee Show appearance follows them, taking a longer route through Houston, NFL matchups, Allen's playing style and the MVP discussion.
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What viewers say
Never played a lick of American football in my life, but it must be tough trying to run at speed, being evasive and simultaneously protecting the ball from multiple 250lb+ guys punching at you and the football.
@enareagbor3713See it on YouTubeAnyone out there played running back,with a punch out like that it’s not a fumble how many running backs that would hold on with that punch out very difficult
@serapischristo6583See it on YouTubeLol Stephen A and mad dog crack me up
@BabayagaC22VSee it on YouTube
1 more comment
Everyone a boxer this year with all the punch outs
@HiroNakamuraKRSee it on YouTube
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- Channel
- ESPN
- Subscribers
- 14,600,000
- Channel views, last 7 days
- 28,386,182
- Videos published this week
- 15
- Video published
- October 14, 2026
- Video views so far
- 78,588
The numbers
Here is ESPN's week in views, subscribers and uploads.
💡 Test your knowledge
Which team did Kawhi Leonard help win its first NBA championship in 2019?
Leonard was Finals MVP when Toronto won its first NBA title in 2019.