New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (9) on the field after the game against the Washington Commanders at MetLife Stadium. East Rutherford MetLife Stadium New Jersey USA (Image via IMAGO)
A month ago, Stephen A. Smith advised Aaron Rodgers to stay away from football and continue with his weekly Pat McAfee Show appearance. And as luck would have it, the veteran quarterback who recently made it back on the New York Jets injured reserve may get the chop from ESPN’s show.
If the network does ban the 40-year-old from contributing to the popular sports show, then it won’t come as a surprise to many. But what is the reason behind all the talk? What did Aaron Rodgers do so that McAfee could possibly lose one of his best guests?
He angered Jimmy Kimmel. Or, to phrase it properly, Rodgers foreshadowed the comedian’s name to appear on the notorious Jeffery Epstein list. Kimmel later issued a warning to sue the Super Bowl winner for trying to damage his reputation.
Patrick Rodgers makes birdie on No. 18 at Sentry
This has led many to believe that ESPN has to step in at some point to resolve the matter between the two colleagues. Yes, that’s right, Rodgers has a partnership in place with McAfee. But how does that make him a colleague of Kimmel? That’s simple to deduce. ESPN is owned by the ABC Network, and Jimmy Kimmel hosts shows under the banner of the same network.
However, a network insider told AJ Perez and Michael McCarthy of Front Office Sports that ESPN president Jimmy Pitaro and Disney CEO Bob Iger are unlikely to poke their noses into the matter just yet. Perez wrote on X,
Have we seen the last of Aaron Rodgers on The Pat McAfee Show? Bob Iger may have to insert himself into this situation given Jimmy Kimmel Live! (ABC) and PMS (ESPN) are both broadcast by Disney properties.
Do Aaron Rodgers and Pat McAfee have a contract in place to appear on the ESPN show?
According to a New York Post article last year, McAfee paid frequent visitors to his show, Aaron Rodgers, and Alabama head coach Nick Saban. The retired punter described those payments as one-off thank-yous.
Aaron Rodgers (Image via Jets X-Factor)
McAfee said last October,
Here’s $450,000; it’s nowhere near enough for what you’ve done for us, and I just give it to him.
You take care of your people.#PMSLive pic.twitter.com/mlw2vHaSVN
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) October 12, 2023
He even indicated that wasn’t the only occasion he sent a check to the four-time NFL MVP. However, the Post article doesn’t mention any contracts. Perhaps when McAfee requested that ESPN allow him to bring Rodgers on the show, his lawyers insisted on episode-by-episode payment for situations similar to Kimmel.
So if any punishment were to be levied, then it has to go through McAfee. It just makes the matter even more complicated.
