Pat McAfee had some deliberate words for one of his rival commentators during his opening monologue at the ESPYs.
At the annual sports awards show, the new $85 million ESPN signee and ESPYs host slammed Skip Bayless for some of his most controversial behavior.
“This year, we saw one of the most inspirational things in human history. Ladies and gentlemen, Damar Hamlin is here tonight,” McAfee said to roaring applause.
“We all watched the situation on ‘Monday Night Football’ as Joe Buck and Troy Aikman were trying to navigate the waters and we all at home feared for the absolute worst — and Skip Bayless was like, ‘Get that dead body off the field, we got playoff implications on the line!’ McAfee said mockingly, imitating a Southern drawl and drawing laughter.
“He said it, the tweet’s still up, #deletethetweet Skip, come on,” he continued.
McAfee went on to highlight the Bills training staff, the doctors at the hospital system that treated Hamlin after he collapsed, Hamlin’s teammates and Hamlin himself — calling the Buffalo cornerback an “absolute dog,” before adding one last dig at Bayless.
“I still don’t think Skip should’ve put that tweet out on Damar, I think that was a little insensitive.”
After Hamlin collapsed on the field due to cardiac arrest during a “Monday Night Football” game between the Bengals and Bills in January, Bayless’ puzzling tweet about the game’s importance drew the ire of many athletes and sports personalities.
“No doubt the NFL is considering postponing the rest of this game – but how?” Bayless tweeted as medical personnel took care of Hamlin on the field in Cincinnati.
“This late in the season, a game of this magnitude is crucial to the regular-season outcome … which suddenly seems so irrelevant.”
Bayless later apologized in another tweet, writing, “Nothing is more important than that young man’s health. That was the point of my last tweet. I’m sorry if that was misunderstood but his health is all that matters. Again, everything else is irrelevant. I prayed for him & will continue to.”
McAfee also name-dropped Bayless‘ former co-host on FS1’s “Undisputed,” Shannon Sharpe, referencing a since-dropped lawsuit Brett Favre filed against him and the Hall of Fame tight end for public comments they made about the misspending of welfare money in Mississippi.
“The sports world obviously isn’t perfect… sue us. Don’t actually — shout out Brett Favre. That was for me. And Shannon Sharpe,” McAfee said.
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