Ryan Clark apologizes for questioning Peter Schrager's credentials as 'non-player'

Following their interaction Friday morning on Get Up, ESPN’s Ryan Clark apologized to Peter Schrager. During the discussion, the former Pittsburgh Steelers star appeared to call out Schrager as a “non-player” while evaluating CeeDee Lamb’s performance in Thursday night’s opener.

Lamb had an up-and-down night in the Dallas Cowboys’ loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. While he put together impressive numbers in the box score, he also had some costly drops. During the conversation, Schrager focused on the positives while Clark shared his view of the situation “as a player.”

Clark expressed his regret for the tense moment with Schrager, which he said also included an off-air interaction. He said he apologized and spoke with higher-ups at ESPN about the situation, taking “accountability” for his remarks.

“Today, I had an interaction with my colleague @PSchrags both on and off the air that I regret,” Clark wrote on X. “I have apologized to Peter and taken accountability with ESPN leadership. I value working with Peter and look forward to this season. My focus will remain on professionalism, teamwork, and being a better teammate moving forward.”

As Schrager focused on the positives of Lamb’s performance, Clark said that was the “non-player” in the NFL analyst for looking at it from that standpoint. Schrager then told Clark not to “belittle” him, stating he was offering a differing viewpoint from the former players on the desk – Ryan Clark, Tedy Bruschi and Dan Orlovsky.

“What I need you to do is to not get mad and let me finish for one,” Clark responded. “It wasn’t about you, it was going to be about me. I can’t speak for CeeDee Lamb. I’m speaking for me.

“If I go out and I have 12 tackles and I get two interceptions, and then there’s a run late in the game that I miss a tackle and the other team wins the game, I’m not talking to my family on the way home. They’re not calling me as I’m walking to the car. My wife is telling people – because we’ve been through it before – you do not speak if he doesn’t speak.”

Lamb finished the night as the Cowboys’ leading receiver, totaling seven receptions out of 13 targets for 110 yards. But the drops loomed large as Dallas came up short in its comeback attempt against the defending champions, meaning the franchise starts the year 0-1.