Dan Patrick Weighs In On Pat McAfee Backlash | SI Media 

Pat addressed the payment to Aaron. He got a big payday and he made it clear that he was gonna spread it around. When fanduel paid Pat he gave his audience over 2 million. He gave his hometown little leagues and schools millions. Anyone criticizing Pat doesn't know him or follow his actions. He is grade A, top shelf human being. I wouldn't upset his fan base either. Bad for business. Keep being you Pat. We love ya. And we know the truth about you. Pat will probably own ESPN one day.

I'm a middle aged woman (so not Pat's target audience) and I just discovered him a month ago and now listen daily while I'm working from home. People are just jealous. Pat is awesome - entertaining, compassionate, funny, and informative.

Why is any of this being questioned? I think Dan is a true professional but the questions asked here are non-starters.

This dude deffintly wanted him to say something about rogers negatively

The “Rodgers making a weekly paid guest appearance criticism,” is such a non story, yet they keep trying to beat a dead horse. Glad Dan didn’t bite on such a ridiculous question.

I went to WVU when Pat was there. It’s an extremely small town and I ended up being at several gatherings where he was. And even back in 2007 and 2008 when he was in college he would have an entire party laughing and being entertained. Everyone knew when Pat showed up there would be entertainment. That part about him has always been the same. And he’s become successful with the same group of friends he had from college. This is just who he is.

Dan is so calm and cool. The other guy kept pushing at air and got nowhere. Who are these “some people” he keeps referring to anyway?

Dan is the GOAT. This is a great example of why.

I find it odd that people expect Pat to push back on things and support THEIR agenda when Pat is just looking for a good time with his friends while they talk sports.

Dan Patrick is amazing... Smart, insightful and always provocative.

Excellent take by Dan. Putting things in the proper perspective. That's why he's the OG Stud

I started watching the college game day show again because of Pat

Dan how long ago was CNN an actual News Network!

Dan is absolutely a class act. I especially love how he didn't follow Jimmy's baiting questioning about Rodgers and his interviews on McAfee's show.

Completely class act response from Dan. Well said across the board.

Great take by Dan. Let Pat run his show like he wants.

The issue is that Pat is successful. He and his team are cutting edge and changing the course for the future. Pat is facing the same issues as Prime. Most don’t like change and will fight it. Most don’t like seeing others success and will fight it. It’s unfortunate that we can’t accept and celebrate the success these folks are having. I’m happy both Pat and Prime are strong and don’t care about all the noise around them. Stay strong and keep moving forward.

Dan Patrick = a living legend

Danny P won't get baited😂 both are absolute legends in different era's.

not the biggest pat fan (he's basically just a Florida man with NFL connections) but the SI guy is what's wrong with "journalism." DP is the man!

Dan was spot on saying there are no more journalist around

I love how much Rodgers triggers people. Its made me like him a lot more.

I like Dan Patrick's response to all of this. He's got the right look on Pat not being a journalist. He's absolutely right.

I would love to see Patty Mac’s reaction to Dan calling him smart. He’s very humble and he would deny that claim immediately 😂

I agree with you Dan, great way to put it!

Push back for corporations against Aaron as the one famous person out there who has the nuts to question authority.

Pat doesn't have ADHD - he is ADHD 😂 I like Pat's show, but I also like Around The NFL with Dan Hanzus - completely opposite energy, yet I like them both

I love Pat. I also love Dan's I don't care attitude on all this.

He is independent. People are mad he has made it without selling himself/voice. Talent are jealous, management and ownership are upset because it threatens their power grip.

honestly without him it will be corny old and dry. he is the only excitement on tht show

Love how Dan went about this very professional good for you Dan

I came to this country when I was 22, I studied in a bi-national school… LATAM country and the United States .. were taught to that this country was a meritocracy… when I got here, and after four decades working, loving what I do, being one of the first women to start an investment banking boutique etc. I realize that there is no real meritocracy in this country… people get really upset when someone who is an outlier, or considered that way, emerges to become successful… I have never understood that part of America… The “old boys net work”. is alive and well in finance, one just has to say I don’t care I will go over it, he should do the same thing in the sports network business… What matters are that he has a public, and the people like him… 0:44

Dan handled this with such grace, other guy seems super salty, tryna get a negative reaction with those questions

Pat is awesome. ESPN is toxic, so there is always going to be controversy with them. With regards to College GameDay, that is an institution, so it will take time for Pat to integrate into that show.

The reason Pat's early fans are upset and leaving is because he boldly stated many times that he can't stand ESPN (much like his audience). He stated he would never join ESPN, and then after having a 9 figure deal from Fan Duel, he does exactly what he said he wouldn't do. He joined ESPN. It isn't complicated. Young sports fans don't like ESPN or Disney. Now, he is owned by the mouse.

Pat McAfee is an amazing talk show host and amazing football player. The only reason people are going after him is because he is successful

Pat is BY A MILE the best thing going in sports media. BY A MILE

Pat McAfee is an absolute living legend. He's amazing.

Pat is a refreshingly entertaining sports personality. If you don't like, don't watch.

I am also old enough to remember Howard, & disliked him.

Well said Dan!

He doesn’t push back because he offers a space to feel comfortable and free. He lets people be who they are

We watched football for the game not Howard Cosell

Jimmy is everything about the media that people are rejecting

Pat is the perfect example of people want to see you do good, but they dont wanna see you better then them

Very levelheaded take. Great stuff

The reason AR goes into the show is that it’s an open medium to say what he wants freely without pushing against it or arguing it. Pats openly said that. He’s also never portrayed himself to be anything close to a journalist. Nor does he have the expertise to debate ARs stances anyways. He’s transparent about these things so taking issue or being surprised is a goofy position honestly. If he held himself out as a journalist or something and then wasn’t pushing back on a bunch of things that he had expertise in that would be one thing but he has literally openly said opposite and openly said that AR isn’t brought on for that type of thing but rather a media forum that’s friendly to let him speak openly as he would like to speak without the host of the show he appears on carrying an agenda to try and trap him or go after him. Pat treats everybody that way which is precisely why so many people participate in his show because he doesn’t carry those agendas and genuinely seeks to provide nothing more then free flowing forum which he has always been up front about and has never wavered on. People just don’t like that because they disagree with the opinions that he allows to be on his platform but the same people wouldn’t have such an issue if the opinions that he handled in that way were ones they agreed with. Pat isn’t the norm, has never tried or pretended to be, and the fact he’s so different is why an ESPN sought to have him involved in their content to begin with. The value he brings is entirely derived from the fact that he isn’t the norm that they could choose over him if they wanted so being upset that he’s different completely misses where a network or sponsor sees value in him in the first place. If it isn’t your cup of tea the solution is to not watch just like every other form of content we have access to when it isn’t something we personally enjoy.

I love that the Pat McAfees and Barstool Sports of the world are challenging legacy media to grow and evolve. It’s great for us, the content consumers.

I think a lot of people turned on him bc he sold his soul to disney. he got big doing the show and doing his own thing with no restrictions, and people flocked to him bc he wasnt espn, then he joined them

Pat McAfee show was much funnier before ESPN.. The censoring takes a lot away from him and his crew.. Besides that part his show is still excellent and he’s going to have an empire by the time he gets to be Dan’s age.

Jimmy trying to find ally to censor Pat? No wonder SI has 490k and Pat millions…and MILLIONS…of subs 🎉

Pat’s awesome. He doesn’t need ESPN, ESPN needs him and he is successful on his own and will be if the show no longer wants him. He’s bigger than CGD.

I am a Pat fan, and Pittsburgh Homer, and asking Dan about this is spot on. In the early days of SC they caught lightning in a bottle with Dan, Rich, Keith, Stuart, and so on, so they are trying to do it again. Pat is for newer generations, I find him and the boys amusing, but do I see him the same way as someone like Dan?.. No, do I care about any of the noise about him?... also No.

The Pat McAfee/Charles Barkley show. If only that could happen

You do you pat. I love the guy!

Go Pat Go..... I grew up late 80s and 90s, Espn connoisseur .... I wish we could have seen the real personalities of the people Dan Patrick worked with.

I like Pat. I suspect there is a lot of jealousy with Pats success

Hate the frat bro energy. He's like 40 😂

I can handle Pat in small doses or clips. Not a fan of them shoe horning him into all the other shows on ESPN.

The only reason why anybody watch this video is because it shows Pat McAfee on it!

I never watched gameday in my life, and never would watch it if it weren’t for Pat McAfee.

There’s actually 0 backlash amongst the people who make these shows popular….the listeners lol……The rival media companies are the only ones mad.

From what I’ve seen, Aaron says what Aaron’s gonna say. Pat doesn’t necessarily contribute when Aaron gets “political”. He’ll laugh and make a comment about getting in trouble, then move on. It’s probably the best sports show on atm too because of things like that

Well said

You guys have such good opinions on this topic. You seem to be Journalists with a capital “J”.

Good show!

The reason Pat doesn’t push back on Aaron Rodgers… is because Aaron Rodgers speaks more truth than 99% of ESPN and Sports Illustrated combined

What an awesome response by Dan Patrick. Class act not chasing click bait

We love Pat and the Boys!!!

Who cares about Pat McAfee ? Unwatchable.

Class act that Dan Patrick. Absolutely love that Dan doesn't have 'hot takes'.

Boils down to envy. And people didn't watch MNF to listen to Cosell.

They call that, contempt prior to investigation 😮

Dan Patrick, very good explanation

I don't think a lot of people are actually watching ESPN Gameday anymore I think Fox is taken over they have a much more informational much more analytical takes.

Pat said multiple times that he paid guests.. said it many times and years n years ago..💯💯💯.. so why is it news now

Some sound comment and perspective from one of the greats whose longevity provides the kind of common sense that is missing in today’s programs.

I enjoy Pat's show, but I will not watch on Tuesdays. On Tuesday the last person I want to see and especially hear is Aaron Rogers. Paying him is sad in my opinion.

Regarding paying Rogers... Um isn't this Sports Entertainment... Do networks not pay people to come on their shows and talk?

The dude gives away money if HE makes a basketball shot. Why is this even a thing?😂

Pat found an incredible energy and a whole different stitch,bless him

Im waiting for the video on the backlash from A.I writers 😂

Dan said it best entertainment. Pats show is great because of his boys. I tune in cuz they’re hilarious. And not for Rodgers but JJ Watt

People being upset about Paying a co-host of the show is wild

Honestly the “paying” people controversy is hilarious. People wanna try and sit on some high chair and expect athletes to just be grateful to come on a show while they make money off said experience. Sounds like the original anti-NIL talking points

Why would Rodgers not get paid to work for pat? Lol this entire situation is ridiculous. He probably deserves more money to be honest. Aaron Rodgers Tuesdays is probably the biggest reason he got they ESPN deal. That and his incredibly funny and intelligent team.

They let folks go that were just as good as McAfee. I'm not a McAfee hater just upset they let go of some really good people but and then turn around and hiring him with big money. That kind of business has always rubbed me the wrong way...

Pat is bigger than ESPN. An entertainer and a journalist. My #1 source for all sports news. More insight than any other sports show out there, how can it not be "journalism" as recognized in 2023. Nobody is reading S.I.

Doesn't matter if you like him or not. He has something no one else on ESPN can compete with. He's real..... for the same reason everyone will watch joe rogan, everyone will watch pat macafee

People are just mad because pat McAfee doesn't do the whole race division routine that ESPN has been stuck in for 7 years

Not a fan of Pat's show and it took a while to get used to him on GameDay, but he's kind of grown on me.

I love Pat. ESPN went looking for Pat McAfee, not the other way around.

Way to putt your balls on the table, Dem dan. As Al Davis once, famously, said.

McAfee is a great wrestling analyst!

Been watching Pat's show since 2019 so seeing so much blowback from the show changing to what it was back in 2019, when it was on Westwood One/DAZN and YT is perplexing. It definitely feels like ESPN's more traditional side of things is trying a bit too hard to push him out when he just got here. You got what you paid for, fellas, dunno what to tell you. FWIW: I did enjoy the old ESPN but when the hot takes outdid the original journalism exponentially in views, it was all but over for journalism in sports with them. They invest in their brand identity now. And Pat was the seemingly perfect fit...until it wasn't.

McAfee doesn't interview Rodgera. He fellates him.

Dan just call McAfee “smart”??

Just like politics! I like Dan ‘s approach I have watched Pats show from the early days, it is entertaining, people are envious

Pat is good for short bursts. He’s like that dude at the dorm or barracks that never stopped talking or making noise. Any longer than 10 minutes and it becomes painfully annoying. So generally the hate is similar to the basis for Tell-Tale Heart.

Love pat . Sick pod