Insider reveals ESPN's approach with Pat McAfee

Diehard fans should stop worrying that Pat McAfee will drastically change his show once it shifts to underneath the ESPN umbrella this fall. 

New York Post sports media columnist Andrew Marchand reported on Monday that ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro and network head of content Burke Magnus "have told McAfee they will be hands-off" regarding the program that became an Internet sensation via YouTube, per sources.

"It is a partnership and McAfee will dip into ESPN’s resources, but ESPN is not looking to change the program," Marchand continued. Marchand noted that "Pitaro has been a big proponent of giving creative platforms to former athletes and letting them run with it." Perhaps the biggest example involves the alternate "Monday Night Football" broadcasts that feature retired quarterbacks Peyton Manning and Eli Manning. 

The former NFL punter is set to move his popular "The Pat McAfee Show" to ESPN this fall via a five-year deal reportedly worth $85M. In an interview last week, McAfee addressed the notion that he "sold out" making the jump to ESPN and insisted "the show is gonna remain the show." He also said he hasn't been told he can only have ESPN personalities on the program beginning later this year. 

Marchand pointed out in a previous piece that NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport is routinely a guest on McAfee's show. 

"ESPN plans to leave McAfee alone in terms of the creative, but help with all the resources that McAfee spoke glowingly about when we DM’d the other day for my column," Marchand added in Monday's article. Marchand also mentioned McAfee agreed "to say the f-word less" once the show moves to ESPN and that the Worldwide Leader will use "bleeps" when necessary. 

Logic suggests McAfee shouldn't struggle too much avoiding such not-safe-for-work language considering he already has experience working on editions of ESPN's "College GameDay" and commentating during WWE shows such as "SmackDown."