No beef with Pat McAfee despite reports [Update]

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

“There is no dispute whatsoever. Pat McAfee is my teammate. Pat McAfee and I work together on ESPN,” Smith stated. “There is no banishment from First Take or any other show. He is more than welcome to come on First Take in the future and I’m gonna be more than welcome to come on his show

“I don’t know how many times I’m gonna have to say this but I’m gonna try this one more time, not just relying on a statement or a quote that I issued through ESPN. But 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 against anybody. The people out there who do that are idiots. A rising tide lifts all boats.”

ESPN speaking heads Pat McAfee and Stephen A. Smith just lately engaged in an explosive cellphone name over artistic variations that escalated to the purpose the place the previous Indianapolis Colts punter referred to as the latter a “motherf*cker,” based on a New York Post unique.

The argument got here from a mission that Smith will likely be doing on ESPN sooner or later and is govt producing the section by way of his personal manufacturing firm, the Post reported. After the spat, Smith banned McAfee from showing on his present, First Take sooner or later, based on the report.

McAfee beforehand would seem each Tuesday throughout soccer season to supply commentary however stated he was not conscious of a ban, based on the Post. Smith said there by no means was one within the first place, per the story.

Both sides indicated that their beef had been resolved, the Post reported.

Both 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 way of ESPN.

“We are No.1 and he has absolutely contributed to us remaining No.1. McAfee was asked to come on each Tuesday through the Super Bowl and he did just that, kicking ass each time he came on the air,” Smith stated in an e-mail to the Post. “If McAfee wants to be on First Take next season, he will be on First Take. I love winners and McAfee has proven he wins — which helps ME win. I don’t know how many times I have to tell folks that he’s trail-blazed a path into a new era for so many of us. I’m grateful to have him as a part of my team and the ESPN Family. And I’m looking forward to having him on for years to come. I sincerely hope that I will not have to repeat myself on this nonsense again!”