SerpApi.Org
ESPN announced another round of layoffs this week with big names such as Ryan Clark and Tom Pelissero getting the boot. But the news of the layoffs comes right on the heels of news of Pat McAfee getting a big-time contract extension, which has a lot of people blaming McAfee for the layoffs.
On Tuesday's edition of The Pat McAfee Show, McAfee took some time to address the layoffs and the accusations against him. McAfee started by saying that he feels terrible about the layoffs but remains "honored" to still be partnered with ESPN and Disney.
“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.”
https://www.youtube.com/live/IanDz7HtaNk?si=X1Zq4gDmCSLXCrhL
The Blame Game
McAfee then addressed the blame he gets for the layoffs. He said that people who say such things "don't fully understand budgets and where things are coming from" but understands why people are mad. He said that hard decisions get made at billion dollar companies and he just hopes he can be "an asset to the company going forward."
“The first time we licensed the show through ESPN, one of these happened, we got blamed,” McAfee said.
“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.”
There's some truth there for sure. McAfee getting a payraise and extension doesn't necessarily correlate directly with ESPN's decisions over who gets to stay or leave.
The anger is more likely directed at a general dislike for McAfee and a feeling that he doesn't deserve the money he's making - which in turn takes resources away from ESPN that they could otherwise spend to retain other talents.
You can't please everybody though and ESPN has made their decision. The network will have to live with the decision based on how the fans respond.
