It was a busy day at ESPN HQ on Tuesday.
Following ESPN’s takeover of NFL Media at the start of the year for an estimated $2 billion, the Worldwide Leader has decided to ring in a series of significant layoffs.
Analyst Ryan Clark was one of the first to be let go this week, finding out during a live broadcast on Monday’s NFL Live show that sparked a backlash over the way ESPN handled the decision.
Further layoffs were announced on Tuesday, including Tom Pelissero, one of NFL Network’s top insiders, as well as legendary broadcaster Karl Ravech and former QB turned First Take contributor, Cam Newton.
Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy was one of the most vocal critics of the network’s decisions, which awkwardly come just weeks after Andrew Marchand of The Athletic reported ESPN talking head Pat McAfee could receive an extension that would pay him upwards of $60 million per year.
J.J. Watt pokes fun at Pat McAfee amid ESPN layoffs
Former NFL star J.J. Watt appeared on McAfee’s eponymous show shortly after the news of the mass layoffs, and couldn’t help but poke fun at the former Indianapolis Colts man over the narrative that his lucrative salary is coming at the expense of other talent.
“Slow, slow news day over there on the ESPN airwaves, huh?” Watt said. “I mean, besides the fact that you’re getting $100 million… Did they keep anybody? Or is everybody fired to pay you? I’m trying to figure that out.”
Both McAfee and ESPN stalwart Stephen A. Smith command exorbitant fees for their services (Smith penned a five-year, $105 million deal to remain with the network at the start of last year), and many believe that if they accepted less, ESPN wouldn’t have to get rid of so many talented hosts and analysts.
However, McAfee fired back at that narrative, claiming his success has nothing to do with the recent wave of layoffs.
“We do not appreciate that,” McAfee replied to Watt. “That is the narrative, and I’m certainly taking it on the shins. The boys and I are very proud of the work that we have done. Thanks.”
“We hate any time this happens. Obviously this is terrible. We don’t like that,” McAfee said. “But we are very honored that we are still partnered with ESPN and Disney for the good of sport and the future.”
“The first time we licensed the show through ESPN, one of these happened, we got blamed,” McAfee went on.
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“OK, OK. Thank you. I feel like you don’t fully understand budgets and where things are coming from, but I do appreciate that. This time, we’re getting blamed as well. Which I guess I can understand, but I mean, there’s billions and billions of dollars in these companies, and hard decisions have to get made. And we don’t like any of them, and we hope we’re an asset to the company going forward.”
Stephen A. Smith strong against Ryan Clark dismissal
Smith also took to his YouTube show on Tuesday, sounding off at ESPN brass for the cuts, especially of close friend Clark.
“My brother Ryan Clark, a person that I consider to be arguably the best NFL analyst in America, is no longer a member of ESPN. And I can’t even tell y’all how much that hurts,” Smith said.
“I am not happy about this decision one bit. The bosses know I’m not happy about this decision. I’ve made that very very clear.
“And over the last few hours, I had to really really refrain,” Smith continued.
“Damn near got blisters on my tongue and my fingers from biting my tongue and biting my fingers from refraining from going after folks when I saw how people were talking about him. I was like, ‘they don’t know him at all’.
“… I just wish that I could have been in enough of an influential or powerful position to prevent his exit from happening.”
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Following the layoffs, ESPN president Jimmy Pitaro addressed employees in a memo shared Tuesday, and obtained by Business Insider.
“Over the past several months, we’ve made significant progress integrating the NFL assets that we acquired into ESPN,” Pitaro began.
“Throughout this process, we have taken the time to carefully evaluate our collective teams, resources and organizational structure to best position us for the future.
“As a result, we had to make some difficult decisions about job impacts that we will be communicating today.
“While most of the job impacts are tied to the acquisition, we will also notify colleagues in other parts of the company today that their positions have been impacted.
“We are committed to treating employees with compassion and respect and to providing support as they navigate this transition
“Even in moments like these, the strength of ESPN comes from our people, our teamwork and our shared mission to serve sports fans.”
