Stephen A. Smith believes that those who perceive a double standard in ESPN’s treatment of Pat McAfee are being “immature.” The First Take star has a unique relationship with his ESPN counterpart, consistently defending him. Smith has praised McAfee and expressed gratitude for the former Indianapolis Colts punter, acknowledging the impact he’s had on sports media whenever he gets the opportunity. Although the duo might be more significant than the Worldwide Leader itself, they aren’t devoid of occasional disagreements, even if Smith denies reported tensions.
However, what Smith cannot dismiss as a “flat-out lie” is the frustration among his ESPN colleagues regarding the network’s handling of McAfee’s show. The controversies surrounding McAfee, including one involving Aaron Rodgers, have been evident, yet ESPN maintains that it exercises no creative control over The Pat McAfee Show. Notably, McAfee is licensed to the network and appears on College GameDay every Saturday during the college football season, creating a perception of a double standard that has left some colleagues feeling uneasy.
Smith tackled this issue when confronted by CNBC’s Alex Sherman. “No, [I don’t understand the irritation]. I think they’re being immature,” he stated. “I love my colleagues; we have a great team at ESPN, and I’m not speaking against any individual. But, understand the business, Pat McAfee is not an employee of ESPN. They basically bought his product, and they said they leased his show, and it’s his baby — that’s what it is. His stuff is on ESPN, but he is not employed by ESPN. So, if you’re not an employee, you operate under different rules.”
Smith continued, explaining that his own aspirations align more closely with McAfee’s model. “The aspiration, for me, is to be in Pat’s position to a large degree. It’s never going to be the case with First Take, but it’s damn sure going to be the case with everything else if I’m to remain at ESPN because I have other things I want to do. I don’t want to hear from them, ‘Oh, we don’t want this. We don’t want that.’ Just like he doesn’t have to hear that from them. When it comes to First Take, that’s your creative; you retain my services to contribute to that show, and I’ve been fortunate enough to be No. 1 for 13 straight years.” Ultimately, when it comes to other creative aspects, Smith firmly asserts, “that’s his.”
“You see President Trump get into the Gaza situation with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,” Smith elaborated. “They might have one position; I might have another. You’re Trump giving an executive order on transgender athletes participating in women’s sports — they might have one position, and I have another. I’m entitled to that. What I think people at ESPN who are critical of Pat McAfee are missing is that he opened the gates for us to be able to do that. I’m incredibly appreciative of Pat McAfee’s presence on air and what he’s brought to the table. Whether he did so intentionally or not, he has created a wealth of opportunities for many within the business.”
While Smith dismisses the criticism, the surrounding tension about McAfee’s ESPN deal isn’t merely office gossip; it reflects a genuine frustration among colleagues working under different rules. Whether justified or not, McAfee’s distinctive arrangement has generated a ripple effect that ESPN leadership seems willing to overlook, leaving many to perceive it as a clear double standard.
