NFL Hall of Famer Warren Sapp has taken direct aim at Pat McAfee, accusing him of spreading false and exaggerated stories from the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.
During an appearance on Thee Pregame Show on Thursday, Sapp didn’t hold back, dismissing McAfee’s claim that Ohio State quarterback Will Howard was spotted late at night in a downtown Indianapolis parking lot throwing deep balls.
“Stop the lies,” Sapp said, visibly frustrated by what he called McAfee’s wild exaggerations.
Sapp Calls Out McAfee’s ‘Ridiculous’ Story About Howard’s Late-Night Throws
McAfee first shared the now-controversial story on his ESPN show last Friday, claiming that sources told him that Howard was outside at 11 p.m., practicing drop-backs and throwing deep passes in the cold.
Sapp, however, flat-out rejected the idea, pointing out the harsh winter conditions in Indianapolis and how unrealistic the claim sounded.
“They want to make a big stink about [Colorado quarterback] Shedeur [Sanders] not throwing [at the combine], but what about the running back not running? What are we talking about here?” Sapp said, shifting the conversation to the over-analysis of players at the Combine.
Then, he directly addressed McAfee’s comments about Howard:
“And then you hear these wild stories about the quarterback from Ohio State out at the parking lot, throwing the ball. Stop it. Just stop it. Stop the fallacy.”
Sapp doubled down, calling McAfee’s story pure fiction:
“Ain’t nobody out at 11 o’clock throwing no ball in Indianapolis. It’s freezing cold. We’ve all been there in the beginning of February. Ain’t no throwing it outside in no parking lot, Pat McAfee. Stop the lies. C’mon. ‘Well my sources told me, 11 o’clock at night.’ C’mon man, just stop. Just stop. Just stop. I’ve had enough.”
RELATED: ESPN’s Pat McAfee Claims the NFL Disrespected Him
Sapp Calls NFL Combine ‘Diabolical’ for Over-Scrutinizing Players
Sapp didn’t just stop at McAfee—he also called out the entire scouting process at the NFL Combine, saying that players are often over-analyzed to an extreme degree.
“Players getting picked apart at the combine is the most diabolical thing you can go into,” Sapp said.
His frustration stems from the way certain narratives are built around prospects, with exaggerated or false stories potentially affecting their draft stock.
McAfee Denies Any Personal Connection to Will Howard Amid Praise
While McAfee has been one of the loudest supporters of Will Howard, he also addressed accusations that he has a financial stake in Howard’s success.
Last Friday, McAfee firmly denied any connection to Howard’s camp, pushing back on speculation that he was “on Howard’s payroll” due to his continued positive coverage of the quarterback.
“Will Howard is ready to come out here and make a big impression, I believe,” McAfee said on his show.
“I have not talked to Will. I’ve not talked to Will’s people. I don’t know them that well. A lot of people are asking like, ‘Hey, Pat, does Will Howard got you guys on the payroll?’ No.”
McAfee justified his praise for Howard by pointing out that he had witnessed the quarterback shine in person multiple times during the College Football Playoff.
“We just so happened to be at all of these games where he played his best ball. And he’s a big son of a b**. And when you talk about being big, whenever you talk about having moxie, when you talk about being likable, and whenever you talk about being able to put a ball on a dot, it’s like, is that not what we’re looking for in a quarterback?”**
McAfee and Howard’s Growing Connection
McAfee’s involvement in Ohio State’s postseason run has been significant. He covered all four of the Buckeyes’ College Football Playoff games in-person as part of his ESPN Field Pass simulcasts.
Howard, who was named the 2025 CFP National Offensive MVP, even appeared on McAfee’s show the day after winning the national championship.
Given McAfee’s continued support of Howard, some critics—including Sapp—believe his praise may be more personal than objective.
What’s Next in the Sapp-McAfee Feud?
With Sapp openly calling out McAfee for “lying” and McAfee doubling down on his belief in Howard, this situation could escalate further.
- Will McAfee address Sapp’s criticism head-on on his show?
- Will Sapp continue calling out ESPN’s coverage of the NFL Combine?
- Could this impact how McAfee reports on NFL prospects moving forward?
One thing is for sure: Sapp isn’t backing down, and McAfee’s storytelling is under the microscope like never before.