Stephen A. Smith, Pat McAfee Reportedly Got Heated With Each Other In Explosive ESPN Phone Call

We've got more (alleged) in-fighting over at the World Wide (Woke) Leader. 

According to the New York Post, Stephen A. Smith and Pat McAfee apparently got very heated last month during a phone conversation, with McAfee at one point calling SAS "a motherf--ker."

The dispute, according to The Post, arose from creative differences involving a yet-to-be-announced project that Stephen A. Smith is executive producing through his own production company, Mr. SAS Productions. 

The project will air on ESPN. How McAfee is/was involved remains unclear, but things apparently got so bad that Smith even banned the ex-NFL punter from appearing on First Take …

… for about five minutes. 

The fellas apparently worked things out, according to The Post, and everything is ham & eggs once again. 

"The Post reached out, both sides indicated that their animosity has been resolved," the outlet wrote Thursday. "McAfee said he wasn’t aware of any ban and Smith insisted there never was one. 

"An ESPN spokesperson declined to comment on the matter."

Pat McAfee continues to ruffle feathers at ESPN

Phew. Now that I know Pat McAfee and Stephen A. Smith are back on speaking terms, I can sleep tonight. 

Seriously, though, has anyone come to ESPN in the history of time and rocked the boat more than Pat McAfee? I don't think so. Guy has the folks up there sweating each and every day. 

It all started with the Aaron Rodgers drama earlier this year, followed by Pat calling out his bosses at ESPN live on air – something he again did just recently – and now this. 

What a battle of heavyweights, too. 

In one corner, you have Stephen A. Smith – arguably ESPN's most well-known talent. In the other, you have Pat McAfee – a relative newcomer to the World Wide leader but someone who is incredibly powerful, and, frankly, doesn't give a crap what anyone thinks. 

Battle Royale, baby. 

"I have nothing but love for Stephen A.," McAfee told The Post in a text message. "I think I’m still welcome on ‘First Take’? I was scheduled through football season to join on Tuesdays, hopefully next year that’ll happen as well."

"Pat McAfee and I have no issue and the notion that he’d be banned from ‘First Take’ is B.S," Smith told The Post in an email. 

"We are No.1 and he has absolutely contributed to us remaining No.1. McAfee was asked to come on each Tuesday through the Super Bowl and he did just that, kicking ass each time he came on the air."

Is that true? I have no idea. I don't watch First Take. There isn't enough money in the world to make me do that. 

Speaking of money, there is another layer to this …

Don't forget, Stephen A. Smith told OutKick's Clay Travis back in December that he "absolutely" deserved to be the highest paid person at ESPN. 

For those keeping count at home, he is … not. He's close, though!

Smith currently makes $12 million a year, behind Joe Buck at $15 million, Pat McAfee at $17 million, and Troy Aikman at $18 million.

No clue if that's why the two fellas started yelling at each other over the phone, but it probably doesn't help. 

That's a whole lot of ego for one phone call.