Pat McAfee assaults ESPN government amid Rodgers, Kimmel struggle

ESPN’s Pat McAfee downside is getting extra sophisticated.

On Friday, the host and former NFL punter publicly attacked longtime ESPN government Norby Williamson, accusing him of “actively trying to sabotage” him by leaking data to reporters.

The New York Post reported on McAfee’s comparatively low scores Thursday, noting “since the inception of McAfee’s show on ESPN in the fall, Stephen A. Smith and ‘First Take’ are handing McAfee a 583,000 viewer lead-in, and McAfee is maintaining just 302,000, which is a 48% drop.”

McAfee implied Williamson might have leaked the concept for the story to New York Publish reporter Andrew Marchand. Marchand declined to remark.

“I believe Norby WIlliamson is the guy who is attempting to sabotage our program,” McAfee stated. “I’m not 100% sure. That is just seemingly the only human that has information and then somehow that information gets leaked, and it’s wrong.”

McAfee did not particularly say what data was mistaken. Through the years, different ESPN expertise have speculated that Williamson has leaked non-public particulars, together with contract data, based on individuals accustomed to the matter. On Friday, former ESPN journalist Jemele Hill posted on social media platform X “I can relate” with regard to McAfee’s feedback about Williamson.

There isn’t any proof Williamson has leaked data. Williamson, who has labored for ESPN for almost 40 years, declined to remark by means of an ESPN spokesperson.

There’s additionally a contingent of ESPN staff who have grumbled about McAfee’s present and his massive contract. McAfee signed a five-year, $85 million contract with ESPN in Might.

ESPN administration values the significance of each McAfee and Williamson and is trying into the small print of why McAfee denigrated an government, based on an individual accustomed to the matter. There isn’t a deliberate suspension for McAfee, and ESPN hopes to discover a path ahead for each Williamson and McAfee, based on an individual accustomed to the matter.

An ESPN spokesperson declined to remark.

Earlier this week, McAfee discovered himself in scorching water for offering a platform for New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers to disparage a fellow Disney worker. Rodgers, a frequent visitor on McAfee’s present, incorrectly urged ABC late-night discuss present host Jimmy Kimmel can be included in court docket paperwork associated to late intercourse felony Jeffrey Epstein. Kimmel fired again Tuesday, tweeting Rodgers’ “reckless words put [his] family in danger.”

McAfee later apologized over the Kimmel feedback.

“I could see exactly why Jimmy Kimmel felt the way he felt, especially with his position,” McAfee stated Wednesday, noting that Rodgers “did go too far.”

ESPN on Friday additionally addressed Rodgers’ feedback about Kimmel.

“Aaron made a dumb and factually inaccurate joke about Jimmy Kimmel. It should never have happened. We all realized that in the moment,” ESPN government Mike Foss told Front Office Sports.

The New York Post previously reported that McAfee has paid Rodgers “millions” to look on his present. The previous MVP and Tremendous Bowl champion, who has made a whole lot of thousands and thousands of {dollars} within the NFL, joined the Jets final 12 months after taking part in for over a decade with the Inexperienced Bay Packers. He missed the season with an Achilles tendon damage.

A consultant for Rodgers did not instantly reply to a request for remark.