Redskins coach Jay Gruden responded to ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith’s comments about the Redskins having a "loser’s mentality" for showing excitement after beating the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday and mocking them for being NFC East defending champions. Smith told them to "shut the hell up."

"I like our guys being confident," Gruden said at his press conference Wednesday. "I like them being upbeat and excited about winning football games. As far as being NFC East defending champs, we are, and I’m proud of that and our guys are proud of that. And it’s something we have to defend."

Defensive end Chris Baker reacted to Smith’s comments on Twitter on Tuesday, and Smith said he would "deal" with him on First Take. Gruden noted he doesn’t want his team to get into arguments with the media because they "can’t win" them.

"I know Stephen does a good job with what he does, but he doesn’t know our team, he doesn’t know our coaches, he doesn’t know our fan base and for him to call us all losers is out of line by him," Gruden continued.

"We do take it personally — you have to if people call you out like that."

Gruden defended his team, arguing Smith doesn’t know the work his players or staff put in. He also said like "most of these media things do," he hopes this feud blows over shortly.

"[It] bothers me because he’s calling my guys that," Gruden said. "If he wants to call me that, that’s fine, but when he starts talking about the players and the staff and the ownership and the people that have worked so hard in this building, it bothers you."

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