New L.A. Rams QB2 Jimmy Garoppolo has a provocative nickname, at least on ESPN’s First Take. The show’s lead sports reporter/analyst, Steven A. Smith, seems to revel in calling him “Porn Star Jimmy“. Why?
Steven A. Smith and First Take
Steven A. Smith is a sports television personality, sports radio host, and sports journalist. He is the featured contributor/commentator on ESPN’s First Take. (He has also written for the Philadelphia Enquirer.)
First Take is a popular sports talk television program. Over the years, both the show and Smith have been involved in a few controversies, mostly concerning perceived sensationalism.
Jimmy Garopollo: New QB2 for the L.A. Rams
March 15, 2024 was a noteworthy day in L.A. Rams history. On that date, first-ballot Hall of Famer Aaron Donald surprisingly announced his retirement. Also on that date, the Rams signed Garoppolo.
Not too long ago, Garoppolo was the franchise quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers and “the highest-paid player in the league.”
Garoppolo played college ball for Eastern Illinois University, where, in 2013, he received the Walter Payton Award, as the top FCS (Football Championship Subdivision) player. (Cooper Kupp received the award in 2015.)
The New England Patriots selected Garoppolo in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft. He was Tom Brady’s backup from 2014 through the beginning of the 2017 season. He started two games in the 2016 season when Brady was suspended as a result of Deflategate.
In the middle of the 2017 season, the Patriots traded Garoppolo to the 49ers in exchange for a second-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. He became the 49ers starting quarterback that season.
The 49ers quickly came to view Garoppolo as their franchise quarterback. In February 2018, they signed him to a five-year $137.5 million deal. At that time, it was the largest contract in NFL history on an annual basis.
Garoppolo played for the 49ers through the 2022 season. During his tenure with the 49ers, he was often injured. He played only three games in the 2018 season and only six games in the 2020 season.
However, during the 2019 season, Garoppolo started all 16 regular season games and led the 49ers to a 13-3 record, and then led the team to the Super Bowl. His fellow NFL players ranked him 43rd on the list of the Top 100 Players of 2019.
He led the 49ers to the 2021 NFC Championship game against the L.A. Rams, but threw a costly interception at the end of the game, which the Rams won.
Garoppolo started ten games for the 49ers in 2022, with a 7-3 record. After he went down with a foot injury in Week 13, Brock Purdy took over as the team’s QB1.
In March 2023, Garoppolo signed a three-year $67.5 million contract with the Las Vegas Raiders. After only six starts, in which the Raiders were 3-3, Garoppolo was benched, and the Raiders began starting Aidan O’Connell.
In February, 2024, the NFL announced a suspension of Garoppolo for the first two games of the 2024 NFL season, due to a violation the league’s performance-enhancing drug policy. The violation resulted from Garoppolo “using a prescribed medication without having a valid Therapeutic Use Exemption.”
Then, on March 13, 2024, the Raiders released Garoppolo. The Rams scooped up the veteran QB two days later, signing him to a one-year contract.
As reported by ESPN:
“The Las Vegas Raiders released Garoppolo on Wednesday, just one season after he signed a three-year, $72.75 million contract with the franchise.
“He is suspended for the first two games of the 2024 season for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing drug policy. The violation was said to be related to Garoppolo using a prescribed medication without having a valid therapeutic use exemption from the NFL….
“The Rams were reminded of the importance of a backup quarterback last season when Stafford injured his thumb and missed the Rams’ Week 9 game against the Green Bay Packers. Without Stafford — and with quarterback Brett Rypien starting the game — Los Angeles only scored three points in the loss….
“The Rams have had several high draft picks as their backup quarterback in the past two seasons: Baker Mayfield in 2022, Carson Wentz in 2023 and now Garoppolo.
“Los Angeles drafted quarterback Stetson Bennett to back up Stafford, but he missed the 2023 season on the reserve/non-football illness list. In January, Rams head coach Sean McVay said it was too early to know whether Bennett would be with Los Angeles next season.”
In the 63 regular games in which Garoppolo has started over the course of his NFL career, he has an impressive 43-20 record. And, in the six postseason games in which he has started, he has a 4-2 record.
Nevertheless, here’s how Sports Illustrated | All 49ers Fan Nation characterizes Garoppolo’s current status:
“For a few years, he was one of the winningest quarterbacks in the NFL despite a decidedly modest skill set. Now he’s a backup quarterback who isn’t even competing for a starting role. He’s a professional clipboard holder, and he’s only 32.”
“Pornstar Jimmy”
To most, Garopollo’s nickname is “Jimmy G.” But not to Steven A. Smith.
As reported by the New York Post in August 2023:
“Stephen A. Smith claims to know a lot about Jimmy Garoppolo’s alleged past with multiple porn stars.
“The ESPN personality hashed up the Raiders quarterback’s off-the-field rendezvous during a recent installment of First Take….
“’First of all, let’s understand who Jimmy Garoppolo is,’ Smith said. ‘He’s a damn good quarterback when he’s playing but it’s rare that he plays. He spends more time in an infirmary than on a football field, some would argue, OK. If [he] ain’t doing that[,] he’s with porn stars on Melrose in California.
“That’s when First Take host Molly Qerim chimed in.
“‘That happened one time,’ she said, to which Smith replied: ‘That you know of. I happen[] to know a little more than that. That’s why I called him ‘Porn Star Jimmy.’
“Meanwhile, NFL analysts Dan Orlovsky and Kimberley A. Martin[,] [who were on the show with Smith and Qerim,] doubled over laughing.”
