I'm not talking about playing the game in a sense that you are compensating for a lack of all those things you've listed. I'm just saying, in any job or organization you have to play nice if you want to further your career. Once you get some clout and some draw then you can start doing more controversial stuff or shaking things up, but until then you've got to make good decisions. Sam didn't do this. You can't just disassociate with people once something has happened. If people are causing problems and they are associated with you then you have to make statements and disavow publicly.
And now making fun of Joe Rogan regularly and suggesting that he be invited on the show, which he may be anyhow, because Joe may not know or care about what Sam has mocked him about, is more spineless and desperate behavior from Sam.
Sam reminds me a lot of some shitty friends I've had that are really disloyal when it matters, but expect you to give a fuck about them when they need you.