The former NFL punter and current host of “The Pat McAfee Show” has been open about his misgivings about some in the sports media world.
The ESPN personality directly called out some of the problematic media and media figures, accusing them of grossly misinterpreting his sports talk show. McAfee made the accusations during the “Worldwide Leader in Sports” annual media day.
McAfee was sitting on a panel with other prominent ESPN hosts, but one question didn't seem to sit well with him.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Pat McAfee stands on the field before the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and Georgia Bulldogs at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 31, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
A reporter asked whether the commentator had discussed “journalistic standards” with his colleagues since moving from YouTube to ESPN, and McAfee initially pressed the reporter for more clarity on what he meant by “journalistic standards” before launching into a scathing critique of the state of sports media.
West Virginia schools cancel classes as Pat McAfee hosts on-campus show ahead of WV vs. Penn State game
“This is the first time sports media has gotten it wrong. ESPN's COVID crisis, was there a doctor on site? How was that?,” McAfee asked. “When you talk about journalism standards, in journalism school…we break news every other day on our show that you'll never see anywhere else. Is it journalism to get people to open up and chat and tell you who they are, is it journalism to interview people who have never spoken anywhere? Is that journalism?”
Pat McAfee during the Raffles NBA All-Star Celebrity Game as part of NBA All-Star Weekend at Lucas Oil Stadium on Friday, February 16, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Catalina Fragoso/NBAE via Getty Images)
The Athletic columnist Andrew Marchand later asked the former Indianapolis Colts player to expand on the most serious misunderstanding he's faced personally.
“My life was put on hold for a time because of what you reported, the way you reported it, what you said, and your sources were purposely shut out of the conversation because of what you were trying to do,” the “College GameDay” analyst said, referring to his reporting feud with former ESPN executive Norby Williamson.
“So I think a lot of misconceptions and misrepresentations have shaped my image of what our show is… Sometimes we can be the worst people on TV, so I'm going to try to not be that in the future.”
Pat McAfee spoke on Thursday about Imane Kheriff's Olympic boxing win over Angela Carini. (Maddy Meyer/Getty Images)
In October 2023, McAfee called Marchand a “traitor” for reporting on the compensation Aaron Rodgers received for appearing on “The Pat McAfee Show.”
“I appreciate the people who are trying to kill me right now over this, but if this is my reputation, so be it,” McAfee said at the time. “That being said, Andrew Marchand is a traitor. That's who he is. He tried to make me look like the bad guy in this, which means you're the bad guy.”
Click here to get the FOX News app
“The Pat McAfee Show” will air from West Virginia University's campus on Friday, the day before the Mountaineers' season opener against the eighth-ranked Penn State Nittany Lions.
Follow Fox News Digital X's sports coverageSubscribe Fox News Sports Huddle Newsletter.
