ESPN Faces Allegations From Todd McShay Amid NFL Season

“What’s been going on with Mel and I is some petty, petty [expletive],” McShay explained on his show on Friday. “And it’s been going on with Mel and I recently, ever since I started this show. They absolutely have refused to have Mel and I on the air together on any platform.”

The Richmond alum said that the network doesn't want to be reminded of the two's chemistry after breaking them up.

“It’s just the new girlfriend, who’s going to block with their body the opportunity to let the public see the rapport her boyfriend has with the ex,” he continued. “And it’s jealous, petty [expletive] rooted in insecurity. And you say, ‘Why?’ And I ask the same question because it’s ESPN; it’s the Worldwide Leader. We’re just 'The McShay Show.' But some of the richest people I know are also the pettiest and most insecure. You can give them all the jets and the yachts and the mansions in the world, but they just won’t ever be happy or content. Other people’s happiness and security make them crazy because they can never replicate what you have.”

ESPN Replaced Todd McShay With Field Yates

McShay complimented Yates, who the network now pairs with Kiper on "NFL on ESPN." But he also explained that their show is less engaging because Yates is primarily a fantasy football expert, which is a different space.

“In order to make compelling content with Mel, you must challenge Mel,” McShay said. “And in order to challenge Mel, you must be grounded in high-level content and sources and years of perspective. And it needs to be your full-time gig, and it’s just not.”

McShay pointed out that it would've been a similar result had ESPN asked him to appear on fantasy football shows while he worked as a college football sideline reporter and NFL Draft analyst. Yates's football knowledge is up to par, but it's hard to be a top expert in both the fantasy and real-life sides simultaneously. One is based more in quarterback and skill-position player stat predictions, while the other deals with entire organizations and the league at large.

McShay later invited comedian and impressionist Frank Caliendo to break down the 2026 NFL Draft on his show with him in April "since ESPN won't let Kiper come on the show," via his social media.