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Split image of Pat McAfee and Adam SchefterPat McAfee and Adam Schefter (Photos via Imagn Images)
Pat McAfee and Adam Schefter are currently not on good terms. That is if a report from The New York Times is to be believed.

According to the outlet, McAfee banned Schefter from his show following the latter snubbing a request from him to appear on ESPN’s ‘The Pat McAfee Show’ in favor of another program on the network back in March.

The report claims that McAfee was unhappy after Schefter chose not to appear on said program because he was already set to appear on a free agency special for ESPN2. Despite the reported ban, Schefter is expected to return to the show this Thursday.

Meanwhile, ESPN has made a statement in which it calls the report a “rumor” while asserting that people are “seemingly obsessed with wanting to see Pat fail on ESPN.”

Schefter has been absent from the show since March, but his rival Ian Rapoport has been a regular.

Neither McAfee nor Schefter has responded to the claim.

Pat McAfee “Thriving” At ESPN, But He’s Also Been At The Center Of Much Controversy

Pat McAfee speaking to an audiencePat McAfee (Photo via Twitter)
Schefter has been with ESPN since 2009, but McAfee is a newcomer, having taken his show to the network as part of an $85 million deal in 2023.

ESPN president of content Burke Magnus told The Times that the former NFL kicker and his show are “thriving” on the network.

“We are very pleased with the partnership,” he said. “That said, in the nearly three years since Pat has brought his show to our platforms, we’ve continuously seen those out there that are seemingly obsessed with wanting to see Pat fail on ESPN.

“This rumor is just the latest example of that. Pat and his show continue to break the mold and reach new audiences, and we look forward to the continued success together.”

McAfee has brought millions of viewers with him, and his presence has benefited ESPN immensely, but he has also been at the center of much controversy.

The former Colts star has had to apologize for calling Caitlin Clark a “white b***h,” while he also feuded with a network exec who has since been let go. ‘The Pat McAfee Show’ was the platform on which Aaron Rodgers suggested that Jimmy Kimmel’s name was in the Epstein Files.

There’s also the Mary Kate Cornett saga, which got McAfee plenty of criticism after he helped spread a fake internet rumor that saw him threatened with potential legal action.

Houston Texans star Azeez Al-Shaair has admitted regrets over his illegal hit to Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence and the ensuing brawl between the teams in a lengthy statement on social media.  

Al-Shaair’s statement comes as his three-game suspension as a result of the incident has ended and he is slated to return to the field for the Texans on Sunday against the Tennessee Titans.

On December 1, an Al-Shaair hit to the head of a sliding and defenseless Lawrence caused chaos in Jacksonville. The defensive back needed to be restrained by several coaches and Lawrence has not played since taking the barbaric contact.

‘While so many jumped at the first opportunity to hop on the false narrative – that l’m a dirty player or bad person – the messages from all who stood by me were the only things keeping me mentally afloat during a time of isolation,’ Al-Shaair said on social media.

‘I’ve learned so much from this entire experience. Seeing myself on video – letting my emotions get the best of me to the point where I completely lost it – was an embarrassing and eye-opening moment for me.’

‘I’ve had to earn everything in my life. I never want to allow anyone to get me to a point where I jeopardize everything that I’ve worked all my life to obtain. That was not the way I want to represent myself or my family and I will continue to learn and grow from that moment.’

Azeez Al-Shaair has admitted regrets over his hit to Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence
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Azeez Al-Shaair has admitted regrets over his hit to Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence

The Texans defensive back was suspended for three games as a result of the hit to Lawrence
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The Texans defensive back was suspended for three games as a result of the hit to Lawrence

Al-Shaair said during his three-game ban, he met with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and other league executives for the first time, taking issue with how he was characterized in the official announcement of his suspension.

The defender said he thought his character and integrity were ‘unjustifiably smeared’ in the release but the meeting with Goodell and others was ‘productive’ and gave him hope it would not happen again.

‘In that conversation – man-to-man – I owned and acknowledged that my actions following my ejection were careless and, in that moment, I didn’t think about the responsibility I have been blessed with to represent the shield,’ Al-Shaair continued.

‘I also stated that the letter, and specifically the language used in the letter, was equally as careless and conveyed that the context of the words used were not a reflection of my character, nor my career, as I have not been warned multiple times for my play on the field.’

Al-Shaair’s hit on Lawrence was not the only controversial incident he was involved in this season.

During the Texans’ game against the Bears in September, he punched Roschon Johnson, who wasn’t even in the game at the time of another sideline confrontation.

Al-Shaair ended his statement by saying his view is that everyone in the league office and on the field are on the same team to represent the NFL in the best nature possible, something he failed to do earlier this month.

‘Lastly, I’ll say that this world is full of negative people who can’t wait to tear you down, but if you move with love and compassion, the seeds of good you planted in others’ lives can grow into the very tree that shades you with comfort and compassion when you need it most,’ Al-Shaair concluded.

‘I am a man of God, I am a leader, a warrior and a lover. I am also a hell of a football player and I’m grateful to be back doing what I love.’