The NFL knew what they were getting into when they allowed Pat McAfee to have his very own NFL Draft broadcast.
The former punter-turned-internet personality is unapologetic and lives by his own rules, so he wasn’t going to change his approach just because he was covering the biggest event in the NFL offseason.
If anything, he was going to keep testing the boundaries and going up a notch.
That’s why it wasn’t much of a surprise to see him breaking the unspoken agreement of not tipping draft picks in advance.
McAfee admitted that he had rubbed some people the wrong way during the broadcast, which is why he wasn’t going to directly say who the Miami Dolphins were going to take, but then the entire crew proceeded to give as many hints as possible to reveal that the pick was Chop Robinson.
What are you talking about @BostonConnr 😂
DON’T YOU DO THAT BILL 😂😂#PMSDraftSpectacular pic.twitter.com/mdtKk0tnhu
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) April 26, 2024
Of course, this is exactly what his viewers were hoping for.
Like him or not, McAfee is a master at his craft, and this is what got him all that money from ESPN to begin with.
Also, most insiders share spoilers and tip picks left and right on social media nowadays, so those watching online probably knew the pick beforehand anyway.
Things are changing in the entertainment industry, and sports aren’t exempt from that reality.
Big networks will either have to adapt or perish, and McAfee, while unorthodox, gives the viewers an alternative to the traditional and formal broadcasts, which some think are outdated.
The reality is that he has the NFL right where he wants them, and they’re better off having him as a friend than as a foe.
