The US Sun

Stephen A. Smith defends Pat McAfee in feud with sports media and claims ESPN co-star was right to speak up

By Jim Sheridan,

7 hours ago

ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith has defended colleague Pat McAfee following the ex-NFL star’s media day outburst.

McAfee got into a back-and-forth with CNBC’s Alex Sherman over “journalistic standards” at the event in Bristol, Connecticut.

The former Indianapolis Colts punter has appeared on ESPN since last September.

He penned an $85 million deal with the network, which saw The Pat McAfee Show take up a plum daytime slot in the ESPN schedule.

McAfee hit back at journalists during last Wednesday’s media day, citing “unfair coverage” of his show, per Deadline .

“I would appreciate it if you would give me and my guys a chance,” McAfee told the assembled media, via the NY Post .

“I think we’re helping out sports media as a whole in the future.

“I think we’re going to get some things wrong and we apologize for that.

“But whenever you’re ripping our s*** and trying to kill us, I think ‘journalistic standards’ certainly is problematic.”

Smith , who has worked with ESPN since 2003, fronts First Take , the debate show that directly precedes McAfee on the schedule.

Speaking on his podcast The Stephen A. Smith Show, the veteran sportscaster weighed in behind his colleague.

“Pat McAfee expressed his opinion about the coverage he was receiving from the media out there,” Smith said .

“I gotta tell you, you can debate delivery, presentation, whatever.

“What you can’t debate is that he made some very valid points.

“Because people have been going at him from Day One, they have been blaming him, and they have been trying to malign the show.

“And him speaking up for himself, I don’t blame him one damn bit – he was right to do so.”

Pat McAfee enjoyed a hugely successful stint before switching to a career in the media.

The talk show star played punter in the NFL for eight seasons from 2009 to 2016.

He was a seventh round NFL Draft pick in 2009 out of West Virginia and spent his entire career with the Indianapolis Colts.

The ex-punter was named to the Pro Bowl in 2014 and 2016, and he was a first team All-Pro in 2014, as well.

McAfee owns the unique NFL record of the highest career net average punting yards with 41.4 yards while his longest ever punt was 74.

McAfee also defended his decision to platform controversial NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers on his show throughout the 2023 season.

“I’ve heard some people say ‘Why’s he letting this guy on? He doesn’t push back,” McAfee said.

“This is one of the best football players of all time.

“[Those interviews] will probably be used in every Aaron Rodgers documentary 10 or 15 years from now.

“I don’t know if that’s journalism or not, in your guys’ eyes, but I think it’s certainly provided something useful for sports fans.”

The Pat McAfee Show airs every weekday on ESPN from midday ET and is also shown on YouTube.