“The Long Game” - Stephen A. Smith vs Pat McAfee: Who’s More Valuable to ESPN? 

One of the reasons people watch Mcafee is because it isn't about politics.

I stopped watching ESPN because of SAS. RU-vid is Gold now

ESPN means nothing anymore

Mcafee has 15 employees to pay. He’s not an employee

Stephen A. makes me change the channel, and I know I'm not the only one.

They have different deals Pat McAfee is getting paid 30 million dollar a year for the production of his show. Meaning he has to pay everyone in on the show the camera people...etc.. He has to divide the 30 million amongst a lot of people, ( he makes the show ESPN just plays it on their channel) Steven A Smith is just and employee at Espn.( Espn produces the whole show Steven A is just the star) So when it comes down to it Steven A Smith makes more money if not way more money then Pat completely different deals.

Steven A is an actor !!

Stephen A Smith is the most prepared? Is this the same guy who doesn't know who's on the Knicks roster? lol

ESPN has no clout now.

Pat is t shirt and Stephen A is suit. More people enjoy the less political conversation. Also, they didn’t mention the BIG names that pat pulls to join his show. One of the biggest women’s athletes in talk right now is Clark and she joked to join weekly. Like cmon Pat by a long shot more valuable.

Shannon Sharpe is keeping Stephen A Smith alive! Shay Shay is the reason i occasionally watch First Take. I watch Pat and Skip Bayless more often for sports content.

PBD, read your comment section. SAS, on Inside the NBA? Your listeners HATE the idea. They don't like or respect SAS. He's just there.

I won't watch ESPN because of Steven a

P-Mac is the face of ESPN now. He is so much easier to listen to and watch

If you do a poll of basketball fans on if Stephan A is a “serious” analyst you’d see that he has no credibility. He is the meme that sport fans refer to when they mention the talking heads on tv. Ask basketball fans if there is more correct, serious, or accurate takes on First take or on Inside the NBA. Poll wouldn’t even be remotely close

For a guy who only averaged 1.5 ppg in college he sure does talk like he knows the game more than the accomplished professionals.

Stepehen A. is a moderate and very good friends with Sean Hannity. He even talks about why blacks might vote Trump. However, he sometimes talk about black issues so now he's consider "Woke" and people say they'll never watch his show again. Absolutely incredible that you can't say anything possible about black people without being considered "Woke".

Pat and Shannon came in and completely changed the dynamics. SAS doesn't come close. But SAS has longevity and that matters.

Face of ESPN?!?😂😂😂😂. Why even discuss this? Cable is dead. I watch guys on RU-vid.

I bet McAfee is getting a huge budget for the rest of his show and his own personal staff. He is effectively getting way more money than Smith. They are giving McAfee a portion of their channel in addition to the money. If Pat leaves he pulls those followers with him and trades money for independence with the chance to grow that money back. Smith is going to make his money but for Pat the sky is the limit. He is the Rogan of sports in terms of popularity and being able to set his own terms.

McAfee is an entrepreneur while Steven A is an employee.

PBD, really? You believe that FOX News would pay 25 million to SAS to be their center/left voice on the network?

I want to make this crystal clear! I AM NOT and NEVER have been a fan of Stephen A Smith. I can’t put my finger on exactly what it is about him that bothers me so much but I can’t sit here and not tell the truth about this situation in my own opinion! He and his agents were asking for 25 million a year and ESPN came in with 18 which is a slap in the face to him! You got guys like Joe Buck and Troy Aikman who only do football broadcasting one game per week making 15 and 18 million per year. Then you got Stephen A who litterally wears like 5 different hats “jobs” at espn! He has first take one of espns most watched show after Pat McAfee, not to mention smith covers all sports, NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL, boxing, UFC, MLS, and not to mention he started off as a journalist coving the NBA and worked his way up to becoming the biggest name in the biggest company in all of sports in that era. Yes these days are different bc of podcasts ect but 15-20 years ago he was doing all this. He got fucked over because he got caught in the middle of signing his old deal and a few years later guys who were well below him when it comes to name recognition and pure talent started getting bigger contracts then him. He has been patiently waiting and has been 100% honest about his plans when his new contract is up that he is “coming for his bag” he congratulated Pat McAfee when he signed his huge deal and said I have nothing but respect for the man bc all he has done is raise my value by getting that bag” i will make a prediction right now, if ESPN doesn’t at min meet him in the middle at let’s say 22.5 million a year ish I believe he will go above there heads to who??? The owners of ESPN which is?? Disney and say hey guys is there some sort of racism going on here at ESPN because I have worked from the ground up put everything into this company for my entire life just to be undervalued when I work 5 separate jobs at espn and by far the hardest worker here but am only being offered the same amount as Joe Buck 15 m and Troy Aikman 18m per year who only have to commentate one game per week meanwhile I am on first take 5 days a week, cover the NBA all season, cover the NFL all season, deal with baseball stuff, not to mention any time there is controversy, I am expected to be the one who put my opinion out about the situation every time risking being canceled or criticized for my opinion? Disney will not risk a lawsuit for being racist because this time it actually looks like that may be the case when it comes to Steven a Smith. I predict he ends up getting 22 million a year minimum if not by Espn by some other company but that is unlikely to have to happen bc espn will pay him!

Pat McAfee has been cleaning up on YT for years, he's a staple in WWE as a performer and a commentator. He's also on College Football Saturdays.! Nobody gives 2 shits about ESPN or SAS.

Steven A Smith doesn't speak on sports with nearly as much substance compared to the others on ESPN shows. He's really just there for entertainment. I'm not going to deny that he's the face of ESPN, but damn.. he deserves that much?

Make no mistake about it, ESPN is paying Pat $85 million to air his progrum, which he still owns.

Stephen A started his RU-vid channel after making a name for himself in the biggest sport platform.. ESPN. Pat McAfee started from the ground up … you need to take into account that.

ESPN just did mass layoffs last year. They would have no issue getting rid of SAS if necessary. That is also why they just hired Shanon Sharpe to ultimately replace SAS if needed.

Valuetainment needs to offer Steven A. a contract.

A lot of people DONT watch ESPN because of Stephan A smith not the other way around

SAS is very hard to listen too! I can't listen to him without being annoyed to the point I don't watch or listen to SAS!

Stephen A gets eyes yes but he’s also one of the reasons why so many ppl stopped watching ESPN, Sportscenter, etc. people are so sick of the argue to argue and shove politics down our throats brand of sports talk that he helped standardize at ESPN. Pats show is what ESPN needs to get back to doing if they ever want to gain lost viewership back. Also…in regards to subscribers, Yes Pat has done it longer on YT but Stephen A has also done sports talk for a whole lot longer. In my opinion, Stephen A already has his audience, not getting new ones but Pat gets new ones every day. So I really don’t think Stephen A’s YT subscribers will get much higher from there. People that want to watch him already know how and where. I’m may be wrong on whether or not he gets many more but I also might not be

Been following Pat, the Boys, and AJ for a couple years..and they just keep going up and up.. ESPN will need Pat more than Pat needs them in my opinion..he might get a better deal elsewhere in a couple years. Man went from Barstool, to Fan Duel, to wherever in between, and now ESPN.

Stephen A has said on the mcafee show that he saw how Pat did the licensing deal and plans to do the same. That gives him full creative control and more money

Future looks bright USA!!!!

ESPN backup plan is not just Pat, it’s also Shannon! You heard it here first!

PBD: "No it's 18 million a year over 5 years, 91 million." Whaaat?! The math doesn't math

Pat's show is making that. Not straight McAfee. Pat's employees still have to get paid and those salaries come out of the contract that ESPN pays.

Pat cuz he’s younger and doesn’t have to raise his voice and choose a side in order to debate. Pat just speaks what he feels and what his real opinion actually is. Authenticity is the way; not the way of Steven A

McAfee is completely different. Not only is he more entertaining than SAS, he's been in the NFL. He built his own gig from scratch. It's all his production, ESPN wanted a piece. Yall are talking out of your ass.

Sas deserves a blank check. ESPN worked that man to the bone for years and made a ton of money off his back. Pay him!

Espn will eventually fire Pat like Fox fired Tucker, so stephen A will win technically, but Pat will become more successful in the long term

Patrick recently referred to Stephen A. as the GOAT sports commentator!!!! I can't take PBD serious!

Simple. ESPN built Stephen A. Pat McAfee built Pat McAfee

I watch First Take every morning.

Stephen A. Smith contributes to just about every show ESPN has, especially when it comes to NBA content.

I started following McAfee during Covid, so 2020. I was one of 36k subs. So, 2.5M in 4 years.

I only watch espn for a game on MNF, NBA and maybe Sunday Night baseball. Other than that, I have business watching espn.

Pat McAfee is down to earth and honest and nice to people, SAS is negative.

What a complete WASTE of money… There are hundreds of youtuber’s with more charisma and sports knowledge than Steven or Pat. Those RU-vidrs and podcasters could be paid a million a year… and they’d be elated.

ESPN must be spreading around the Public Relations money to rehab its image. I will never watch ESPN for any sport. NFW!

Maybe ESPN gave Shannon Sharpe a long term deal is because he is going to replace Steve Smith if he dont accept the offer they offered him

All media has fallen off.

Everyone who was or is the best left. Dan Patrick, Ken Ober.etc. No one wants to be there, so they have to keep someone (Stephen A).

Stephen A is brilliant. He keeps espn relevant. Without him they would have nothing remotely entertaining except Pat. He should as for 25 million and when Pat contract is up he should ask for 30..And so on. That's all they got

Couples minutes in, i already knew who pat was supporting.

I’d bet any amount of money that Steven A has bought o most Half of his Subscribers 😂😂😂😂 it’s so obvious Pat Mac is light years away from the clown 🤡 SAS and he’s so jealous of Pat you know he’s just begging for those subs because Pat can do whatever he hell he wants he’s not controlled by Disney like the 🤡 is

Pat MaCafee also pays the people on his show out of the money he gets paid. So what MaCafee gets is a portion of that yearly salary.

Hate it or not the numbers and audience don’t lie Without Stephen A, Nobody is tuning into ESPN in the daytime

Mcafee is licensing his show to espn so it’s completely different. Pat owns his show and they license it from him so he has all the equity. Stephen a works for espn

Stephen A definitely. I used to be annoyed by him now I like him . He gets both audiences

Lmao TNT doesn't have NBA game rights anymore.

If you buy valutainment merch, ur a goober.

Shannon Sharpe and Pat Mcafee are both currently more valuable to ESPN than Stephen A. Smith. If ESPN were to let Stephen A go and have Sharpe and Mcafee as the faces they would definitely continue at the pace they’re at if not better. A lot of people don’t enjoy ESPN solely because of Stephen A Smiths acting

mcafee is one of the best things to happen to wwe in a long time - great announcer and super fun for the live crowd!

Mcafee has 15 employees, yall dont get it.

There is no way this will not become a racial discussion. Just a reminder, Stephen A. admitted he had Max Kellerman fired because he felt threatened by his skills and knowledge.

Blame Tony Romo and CBS for the outrageous salaries in broadcasting.

So y’all think Stephanie A is the future - bold statement

Couple things. McAfee is on a licensing deal if I'm not mistaken, so the $85 million goes to Pat's company and then he pays his people and covers expenses and runs his whole business with that money. Stephen A is getting salary, so ESPN pays him and pays for the production. Pretty different.

Go Mountaineers!!! Pat is the goat!!! He took care of all his homies when he got that fat check!

Pat M is a football and betting guy - that’s where the money is.

ESPN is the only network that shows hockey!

PBD should go over these comments and revisit this topic after. Lol SAS has turned off a lot of people the past couple of years. Nobody is gonna lose sleep if he leaves, shit more people might tune in 🤷

Stephen A leverage is going to undisputed with skip and shaking the sports world up

They both make millions, AND MILLIONS of dollars

A pat you need to sign SAS to a Contract

Streaming has absolutely zero influence on TV. If you know you can see someone on TV why would you join their channel? Awful comparison and McAfee is struggles on TV. Pat McAfee is not even close to Stephen A. like him or not.

If you did a poll of all sport fans on if the think Stephan A takes are credible I think it would be as credible as US news media. He has lost all his credibility by saying the outrages. He constantly makes crazy claim that always the opposite happens. For example Stephan A’s top 5 players of the nba draft segment. You can go back year after year and see just how bad his takes are declaring that these players will be some of the best ever and they turn out to be bust. And that can happen to anyone once but when you consistently analyze draft players wrong, constantly make picks before the season on how a team will do and the team performs opposite. It’s embarrassing asking for someone who has been watching basketball for 20 years to say the things he says and be as wrong has he is time and time again. TLDR - Stephan A takes are constantly proved wrong and no one takes his takes serious

McAfee owns his show and is basically a partner and employee of ESPN.... Stephen A is strictly an employee... but i think Stephen A deserves to be paid more just because of ALL the other things he does for the network besides First Take

Steven A is not the face of ESPN… i care noting about him. But Pat is entertaining!!!

Pat didn’t lie about his playing career

Pat licenses his show to espn so part of his money goes to actual show production costs.

No one cares about ESPN anymore. I watch my sports news at Barstool Sports..!

Shannon Sharpe is real guy who is going to take over ESPN and his own personal brand is only going up with Club Shay Shay & Nightcap.

I usually agree with Pat but to say Steven A Smith is the best is based on nothing more than opinion. There are a a lot of other people have a different opinion.

Stephen A had a following before his podcast though.. Pat started it from the ground up

I miss the old days, when espn had integrity in thier reporting! Smith is a load mouth who can't control himself! They are trash now! I watch only podcasts for sports info now! As for Macfee he is so far up gudells butt I'm surprised he can even breathe!

Who CARES.... greed and gluttony is why the world is the way it is !

And Pat was great on Sirius XM now that he is on ESPN it’s terrible just like everything else he bent the knee

Pat mcafee is a different situation Bcs he owns his show, allowing him to leverage a great deal

ESPN values SAS more but Pat McAfee is more valuable in today’s environment. ESPN will screw it up as usual.

I tune into Pats show and content… don’t know much about ESPN and don’t watch it outside UFC on the app

We have enough of politics everywhere, we don't need a sports commentator to lecture us about politics, he is not getting paid to do that.

Barkley had his own show and it tanked in 5 monthes

Stephan a Smith has ruined ESPN with his race card pulling all day long . This is why ESPN has lost billions of dollars

Zero chance Barkley gets replaced by Steven A. It would be the death of that show(it’s probably dead already since Turner lost the NBA)

Mcafee is not salaried employee, his show is licensed. not the same comparison.. do some basic research

Pat the " WHAT IF" guy. What if Pat didn't think he was smart

Sooooo are they beefing? Or…