Pat McAfee is being accused of taking a slight dig at ESPN colleague Stephen A. Smith over using anonymous sources.
In a recent segment of NFL GameDay, McAfee spoke against using anonymous sources when breaking news in the sports world.
While the practice is common in journalism to protect the sources, McAfee insisted that it should only be a custom in the ‘politics world and the real world.’
‘You need to have anonymous sources for people’s protection and safety, ‘ McAfee said. ‘In sports, no more anonymous sources.’
‘I wanna know who said what. Because whenever something ‘breaks’, I wanna know, was that an agent trying to cook up some stuff? Was that a GM that was maybe a little upset?’
While reviewing the segment, former NFL player Marcellus Wiley believed the remarks were a shot at Smith.
Marcellus Wiley is accusing Pat McAfee of taking a shot at ESPN colleague Stephen A. Smith
McAfee spoke about how the use of anonymous sources in sports reporting should be stopped
‘Once again, another shot over the bow,’ Wiley claimed on his podcast. ‘As Pat McAfee is saying, ‘Hey, this is my throne.’ And Stephen A. Smith saying, ‘I’m number one.’ Let’s see how that goes.’
‘I’m glad that Pat McAfee shot the shot with levity at Stephen A. Smith. But at the same time, it is real,’ Wiley added.
‘Since he called out Stephen A. without saying his name, let’s talk about it. let’s talk about some of the bigger anonymous sources…I think it’s BS too. I think you gotta say your name.’
Wiley cited how Smith infamously shared information from an anonymous source that Boston Celtics star and NBA Finals MVP Jaylen Brown was ‘not liked’ earlier this year.
In response, Brown urged Smith to name his source, to which the First Take host insisted it would be against journalism ethics.
Wiley’s accusation comes as ESPN personalities appear to have a go at each other in recent weeks.
On December 23rd, Smith co-host Shannon Sharpe issued a chilling warning to Kirk Herbstreit after the college football analyst jabbed at First Take while calling the Tennessee-Ohio State game.
‘Imma be a good teammate, Imma let it slide,’ Sharpe said calmly after Smith went on a tirade over the comment. ‘Have [Smith] not taken the route you’ve taken, I would’ve lit their a** up.’
‘Congratulations Ohio State, you won the game,’ he continued. ‘But hey, if we’re gonna be on the same team, if we’re gonna work for the same network, don’t do that.
‘Kirk, Chris Fowler, I promise you, if you ever mention any platform I’m in again… and talk about ‘Wonder what they gonna say,’ in negativity… I promise you, ESPN don’t got enough bosses to keep me off ya’ll for what I’m going to say.’
‘So Imma let ya’ll slide today,’ he repeated. ‘Imma turn it over to D.O. before I get myself in trouble. But don’t play with me.’
