No beef with Pat McAfee despite reports [Update]

Replace March 9: Stephen A. Smith says there’s no beef between him and fellow ESPN speaking head Pat McAfee.

“There is no such thing as a dispute in anyway. Pat McAfee is my teammate. Pat McAfee and I work collectively on ESPN,” Smith said. “There is no such thing as a banishment from First Take or some other present. He’s greater than welcome to come back on First Take sooner or later and I’m gonna be greater than welcome to come back on his present

“I don’t know what number of occasions I’m gonna need to say this however I’m gonna do this yet another time, not simply counting on a press release or a quote that I issued by ESPN. However I’m going to look into the cameras and say this to you, nationally and globally: I root for my teammates. I root for my colleagues. I don’t root towards anyone. The folks on the market who do which can be idiots. A rising tide lifts all boats.”

ESPN speaking heads Pat McAfee and Stephen A. Smith lately engaged in an explosive telephone name over inventive variations that escalated to the purpose the place the previous Indianapolis Colts punter known as the latter a “motherf*cker,” in keeping with a New York Post unique.

The argument got here from a venture that Smith can be doing on ESPN sooner or later and is government producing the section by his personal manufacturing firm, the Publish reported. After the spat, Smith banned McAfee from showing on his present, First Take sooner or later, in keeping with the report.

McAfee beforehand would seem each Tuesday throughout soccer season to supply commentary however mentioned he was not conscious of a ban, in keeping with the Publish. Smith acknowledged there by no means was one within the first place, per the story.

Either side indicated that their beef had been resolved, the Publish reported.

Each McAfee and Smith have been profitable of their respective reveals for ESPN, bringing in a record-high 496,000 viewers for First Take final yr and 298 million views throughout all platforms for The Pat McAfee Show since being produced by ESPN.

“We’re No.1 and he has completely contributed to us remaining No.1. McAfee was requested to come back on every Tuesday by the Tremendous Bowl and he did simply that, kicking ass every time he got here on the air,” Smith mentioned in an e-mail to the Publish. “If McAfee needs to be on First Take subsequent season, he can be on First Take. I really like winners and McAfee has confirmed he wins — which helps ME win. I don’t know what number of occasions I’ve to inform of us that he’s trail-blazed a path into a brand new period for thus many people. I’m grateful to have him as part of my staff and the ESPN Household. And I’m trying ahead to having him on for years to come back. I sincerely hope that I cannot need to repeat myself on this nonsense once more!”