nbcsports
ESPNs clunky rollout of the latest round of layoffs, which included a long list of recognizable names, came at a time when ESPN is reportedly closing in on paying Pat McAfee $60 million per year.
That juxtaposition (triple word score) has created an obvious slew of whats-wrong-with-this-picture? complaints.
McAfee addressed the pink-slip elephant in the room during his show on Tuesday.
We hate any time this happens, McAfee said, via Brendon Kleen of Awful Announcing.
Obviously this is terrible.
We dont like that.
But we are very honored that we are still partnered with ESPN and Disney for the good of sport and the future.
McAfee nevertheless acknowledged the connection that is being made between ESPN not having the money to keep some employees while having more than enough cash to further break the bank for his weekday show and other assignments.
The first time we licensed the show through ESPN, one of these happened, we got blamed, McAfee said.
OK, OK.
Thank you.
I feel like you dont fully understand budgets and where things are coming from, but I do appreciate that.
This time, were getting blamed as well.
Which I guess I can understand, but I mean, theres billions and billions of dollars in these companies, and hard decisions have to get made.
And we dont like any of them, and we hope were an asset to the company going forward.
Heres the basic reality at any company in any industry.
The money is there for the people they want.
For those they dont, certain opportunities arise (such as, in this case, the acquisition of NFL Network) to purge the ones they used to like but no longer do.
It happens throughout American business.
And its driven by management.
Currently, McAfee is one of the favorite sons in the eyes of those who have their hands on the wheel.
And thats managements prerogative.
The other reality is that managements prerogative can, and will, change.
The only true job security is indispensability.
For now, guys like McAfee and Stephen A.
Smith have it.
But the basic truth is that were all replaceable.
In time, well all be replaced.
The only question is whether we walk away by choice, were gently nudged, or we get a two-handed shove.
The only protection against that comes from, to use the technical term, owning your own shit.
McAfee owns his daily platform.
If/when the ESPN run ends, hell go elsewhere or hell take the operation independent, again.