India, July 22 -- Pat McAfee has responded to the criticism surrounding ESPN's latest wave of layoffs after some fans linked the network's job cuts to reports of his lucrative new contract. ESPN recently parted ways with several high-profile personalities, including Ryan Clark, Tom Pelissero, Cam Newton, and Karl Ravech, prompting widespread debate across the sports media industry. The timing of the layoffs, alongside reports that McAfee is nearing a contract worth around $60 million annually, fueled speculation and backlash on social media.

Addressing the issue during Tuesday's episode of The Pat McAfee Show, McAfee said he was saddened by the departures and emphasized that he should not be blamed for the network's decisions. He acknowl...