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LeSean McCoy Unsure if Ryan Clark Showing Emotions Are Real Following ESPN Exit

John Mamola
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LeSean McCoy Unsure if Ryan Clark Showing Emotions Are Real Following ESPN Exit

LeSean McCoy doesn’t trust the tears of Ryan Clark following his exit from ESPN. He thinks Ryan Clark might just be chasing clicks and attention.

What We Know: Ryan Clark departed ESPN after 11 years last week, caught up in layoffs tied to the network’s NFL Media merger. On Friday’s episode of his podcast, The Pivot, Clark got emotional discussing the exit. He insisted he was fired, not laid off, and said ESPN used the layoffs as cover. Following the emotional episode, former NFL running back LeSean McCoy said on his Speakeasy podcast that he’s unsure if the emotions shared were real or performative.

What They Said: (All quotes via Speakeasy)

LeSean McCoy unsure to believe Ryan Clark’s tears are real after losing his ESPN job: “I don’t even know if he’s serious or not. I know he’s a like clickbait type dude. You feel what I’m saying? Sometimes, there’s some dudes that are internet people. He’s one of them. It’s something I’m not knowing if it’s serious or not.”

LeSean McCoy believes Ryan Clark does stuff for clickbait and attention: “I’ve been watching for so long, I’m not sure if I could believe it or not. In the social media game, you meet so many people. Is he genuine or not? I think there’s some guys that do things for attention and clickbait. I’m not saying Ryan [Clark] does all the time, but he does a lot of that. So, I don’t know if these tears are real.”

What Remains Unclear: McCoy stopped short of calling Clark a fraud outright. Still, it’s unclear whether his skepticism stems from genuine doubt or in essence doing exactly what he alleges Clark of doing as well. Clark has not responded to McCoy’s commentary.

What It Means: McCoy’s comments keep the Clark story alive beyond ESPN’s walls. They also highlight a broader skepticism toward emotional moments in sports media. As personalities lean into vulnerability on camera, some peers are pushing back. For now, the debate over authenticity versus performance will continue in an age of short attention spans and wider content options.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

YouTube Adding More Tools For Podcasts Including Thumbnails For Shorts

John Mamola
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YouTube Adding More Tools For Podcasts Including Thumbnails For Shorts

YouTube is handing creators the keys to Shorts thumbnails. The move targets podcasters who rely on clips to drive traffic to full episodes.

What We Know: YouTube is rolling out for users of its Partner Program the ability to upload custom thumbnails for Shorts. Additionally, desktop users can pick from three suggested frames, matching a long-form video option. Meanwhile, Ask Studio lets creators generate AI thumbnail concepts through simple prompts, then refine colors and layouts conversationally. YouTube is also rolling out Community-only posts, expanded moderation tools, and post-quoting for fans.

What They Said: Neal Mohan, YouTube CEO (via X): “Custom thumbnails for Shorts are rolling out to all YouTube Partner Program creators. It’s one of the most requested features from YouTube Creators and gives you even more control over how your Shorts are presented. Excited for this one!”

What Remains Unclear: YouTube hasn’t specified a timeline for expanding custom Shorts thumbnails beyond Partner Program members. It’s also unclear how much the AI-generated thumbnails through Ask Studio will vary by content type or channel size. Furthermore, no data has been shared yet on early adoption or engagement lift from these tools.

What It Means: Ultimately, the updates reflect YouTube’s growing focus on podcasts as a core content category. Thumbnails remain a proven driver of click-through rates, so more creative control matters. Meanwhile, the Community expansions suggest YouTube wants engagement to extend well beyond the watch page. Together, these changes push creators toward deeper platform investment.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

Kyle Brandt Departs Contributor Role With CBS Sports’ ‘The NFL Today’

John Mamola
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Kyle Brandt Departs Contributor Role With CBS Sports’ ‘The NFL Today’

Kyle Brandt is closing one chapter at CBS. Five seasons on The NFL Today have come to an end as the Good Morning Football host is likely onto bigger things with ESPN/NFL Network.

What We Know: Brandt joined CBS in 2022, pairing regularly with former Good Morning Football colleague Nate Burleson. There, he built One Shot / Many Takes segment where Brandt provided commentary in a storytelling style of shot. Meanwhile, reports say that Brandt could join multiple ESPN studio shows this season as the network now runs oversight over the NFL Network. Moreover, that fits ESPN’s broader push to fold NFL Network talent into its daily lineup.

What They Said: Kyle Brandt (via X): “Thank you to my friends at The NFL Today on CBS. We say goodbye after 5 years of One Shot / Many Takes. It’s very challenging to do something original on a pregame show, and the creative freedom + production value you gave me was staggering.”

What Remains Unclear: Brandt’s exact ESPN role(s) remains unconfirmed. It’s also unclear whether One Shot / Many Takes continues elsewhere or ends with Brandt’s exit. CBS Sports recently added Kyle Long and Russell Wilson to the desk of the program.

What It Means: Brandt’s exit shows there’s more on the plate with his new bosses at ESPN. Instead of branching off into different networks, ESPN obviously sees a bright future with Brandt under their oversight. As a result, CBS loses a distinctive creative voice from its pregame lineup with a unique content feature that provided a different approach to NFL weekly storytelling. Whether they continue in that model will remain to be seen.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

WFAN’s Evan Roberts: Hall of Fame Induction Scheduling “Not Good for Baseball”

John Mamola
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WFAN’s Evan Roberts: Hall of Fame Induction Scheduling “Not Good for Baseball”

WFAN’s Evan Roberts has a fix for baseball’s forgotten weekend. The WFAN host wants Hall of Fame ceremonies moved from days where games are played during the regular season.

What We Know: Sunday’s induction ceremony in Cooperstown honored Carlos Beltrán, Jeff Kent, and Andruw Jones. It ran directly opposite a full MLB schedule, including the New York Mets. On Monday, Roberts said he split his attention between two televisions. As a result, he argued the event gets buried by the sport it celebrates.

What They Said: (All quotes via WFAN)

Evan Roberts suggestion for the baseball HOF to move their ceremony: “You know what is frustrating about the Hall of Fame? You have these speeches and a celebration of baseball history in the middle of Sunday afternoon baseball games. I had two TVs up. I had the Mets game on one TV, and I had the speeches on the other. It’s not good for baseball to have it kind of hidden away like that.”

Evan Roberts solution for the issue: “It’s in Cooperstown. So, you can’t do it during the winter or even the spring. There are two options to me. MLB All Star Break or a Monday in the regular season when everybody’s off. Whatever you do, have it be an event that people can pay attention to.”

“It’s in Cooperstown. So, you can’t do it during the winter or even the spring. There are two options to me. MLB All Star Break or a Monday in the regular season when everybody’s off. Whatever you do, have it be an event that people can pay attention to.”

What Remains Unclear: Viewership results for Sunday’s ceremony are unknown. Also, whether MLB will take up any suggestions on shifting the ceremony date is unclear.

What It Means: Robert’ comments tap into a broader debate about Cooperstown’s visibility. The NBA and NFL celebrate their hall of fame inductees in the offseason, while the NHL and MLB celebrate theirs during the season. He’s correct in how the ceremony gets overshadowed by a normal day of scheduling, but whether or not baseball choose to shift the dates is unknown.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

Sid Rosenberg: Fox News Forced Griff Jenkins’ Hand After My Fox & Friends Comments

Garrett Searight
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Sid Rosenberg: Fox News Forced Griff Jenkins’ Hand After My Fox & Friends Comments

Sid Rosenberg is questioning Fox News’ handling of his weekend appearance. The radio host says the network directed Griff Jenkins to publicly distance itself from his remarks.

What We Know: Sid Rosenberg appeared on Fox & Friends Weekend Saturday and referred to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani as a “terrorist” and “jihadist,” among other descriptions. After Rosenberg’s comments, Griff Jenkins told viewers that calling someone a terrorist “carries an extremely serious meaning.” He added that the term “should not be used freely.” Then, during Monday‘s Sid & Friends in the Morning on 77 WABC, Rosenberg alleged Fox News instructed Jenkins to deliver those remarks. Rosenberg also claimed he later spoke privately with Jenkins, who allegedly said he did not want to deliver the message that Fox News did not condone Rosenberg’s comments. Fox News hasn’t publicly addressed Rosenberg’s allegations.

What They Said: “I believe that somebody went in Griff’s ear and said, ‘Refute, refute, refute!’ So then he jumped in, and I didn’t really give him the opportunity to because once he started, I went at him right away … I also know that it was Fox News who made Griff Jenkins apologize, not once, but twice. You know Griff didn’t want to do that, even if he disagreed. He didn’t want to do that. But they made him do it.” – Sid Rosenberg

What Remains Unclear: Griff Jenkins hasn’t publicly commented on Rosenberg’s account of their private conversation.

What It Means: The exchange highlights the challenges news organizations face when guests make inflammatory statements on live television. Moreover, the episode underscores how networks often balance opinion-driven programming with editorial standards, especially when language carries significant legal and reputational implications.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

Seven Mountains Flips Bowling Green to 98 Jamz

David Hill
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Seven Mountains Flips Bowling Green to 98 Jamz

Seven Mountains Media has flipped its Bowling Green, Kentucky rock station to “98 Jamz,” a rhythmic throwbacks format. The move concludes The Point’s 16-month run in the market.

What We Know: Seven Mountains Media flipped its rock station at 98.1/98.3/102.7 FM in Bowling Green, Kentucky from “The Point” to “98 Jamz,” a rhythmic throwbacks format. The station completed a weekend stunt featuring hourly format blocks before launching the new branding. The format resurfaces programming that previously aired on 95.9 The Vibe in the market before Seven Mountains acquired the cluster.

Programming Lineup: 98 Jamz features Compass Media Networks’ “DeDe In The Morning” and “Baka Boys” in afternoons. Local talent includes “Big Hamp” in middays (10am–3pm) and R-Dub’s “Sunday Night Slow Jams” from 10pm–12am weekdays, moved from sister CHR 107.1 WUHU. The station includes a commercial-free “60 Minute Flex” at 12pm and “The 2 Minute Promise,” capping commercial breaks at two minutes in non-syndicated slots.

What’s at Stake: The Point lasted 16 months after debuting in March 2025 as a replacement for 98.3 The Edge. The rapid format cycle suggests Seven Mountains is testing whether a throwbacks-anchored R&B/hip-hop position gains traction in the market faster than a traditional rock format.

What It Means:Rhythmic throwbacks as a station format has emerged as a recycling play for midsize operators. Seven Mountains revived a format it already owned the assets for in this market—a cost-efficient move that avoids brand-building from scratch.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

Dan Le Batard: CBS Sports “Could” Use Tony Romo OWI Incident To Cut Ties With Broadcaster

John Mamola
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Dan Le Batard: CBS Sports “Could” Use Tony Romo OWI Incident To Cut Ties With Broadcaster

Tony Romo got arrested for suspicion of OWI (operating while intoxicated) in Milwaukee last week. Dan Le Batard thinks CBS just found its exit ramp if it chooses to use it for the NFL broadcaster.

What We Know: Milwaukee County deputies arrested Romo on July 23 for suspicion of operating while intoxicated. Hours after he played in the Wisconsin Amateur Championship. He faces a court date on September 21, which falls during CBS’ Week 2 NFL slate. Romo has anchored CBS’ lead broadcast alongside Jim Nantz since 2017.. Meanwhile, reports surfaced in 2023 that CBS executives staged an “intervention” over his preparation habits. Following his arrest, Dan Le Batard said that if CBS executives were not happy with Romo’s performance, they could use the OWI as a way to cut ties.

What They Said: (All quotes via The Dan Le Batard Show)

Dan Le Batard says CBS Sports could use Tony Romo’s OWI as an opportunity to cut ties with Romo: “Given that his employers had to stage what was called an intervention to get him to work harder. Now you have an incident like this that doesn’t have the kind of shame that would end someone like Mark Sanchez’s career. It has a shame involved that if you were looking for a reason to get rid of somebody. This kind of publicity is reason enough.”

Dan Le Batard on Tony Romo not advancing as a broadcaster at CBS Sports: “Tony Romo is the first guy I’ve ever heard in the history of sports broadcasting who was so recently in the game and had such fluency for what it is that he was watching that he was impressing everybody by telling you what was going to happen before it happened. There has been nobody in the history of my sports broadcasting watching that has been able to do what Tony Romo did. But the evolution of the game changes so much. Once he lost that parlor trick, almost immediately, what was Tony Romo’s stock started going down with everyone. Including his employers. Who reportedly had an intervention because they didn’t think he was working hard enough at what he was doing.”

What Remains Unclear: CBS has not commented publicly on the arrest. It’s unclear whether Wisconsin’s civil OWI charge, a first offense, changes the network’s calculus.

What It Means: Romo’s arrest is a poor lapse in judgement for the CBS Sports NFL analyst. However, Le Batard’s larger point centers on decline, not scandal. He argued Romo’s early success came from a “parlor trick” of predicting plays, a skill that faded as the game evolved and Romo’s years on the field became more distant. Once that edge disappeared, according to Le Batard, Romo’s standing with viewers, and with his own employers, started slipping. It’s worth noting that CBS Sports was the most viewed network for NFL football coverage during the 2025 season, which includes Nantz and Romo in the booth. Whether or not this incident will become a bigger issue is unknown.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

Nielsen to End Puerto Rico Radio and TV Ratings in December

Garrett Searight
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Nielsen to End Puerto Rico Radio and TV Ratings in December

Nielsen will end radio and television ratings service in Puerto Rico later this year. The move affects a market of roughly 3.2 million residents.

What We Know: Nielsen informed clients that it will discontinue both its audio and television measurement services in Puerto Rico later in 2026. The company has operated on the island for more than 15 years, but subscriber participation has dwindled. Only five companies currently subscribe to Nielsen’s audio ratings service. Moreover, subscribed stations account for only about 20% of total radio listening on the island, limiting the ratings system’s reach and value for advertisers and broadcasters.

The shutdown will leave Puerto Rico without Nielsen’s traditional currency for buying and selling radio and TV advertising. Broadcasters will now need to explore alternative audience measurement options or develop local solutions.

What They Said: “As a global organization, we must continuously evaluate how we deploy our resources across all regions. For over 15 years, we have had the privilege of working with our clients, and we are deeply grateful to them, our local team, partners, and the broader industry community for their commitment. As we carry out this transition, we are fully committed to doing so with care and responsibility — ensuring that the interests of the industry remain supported. We will work alongside local stakeholders throughout this process to facilitate a thoughtful and orderly handover.” -Nielsen statement

What Remains Unclear: Nielsen hasn’t announced a specific shutdown date. The company also hasn’t said whether any local organization will assume measurement responsibilities after the transition.

What It Means: The decision marks a significant shift for Puerto Rico’s media industry. Nielsen ratings have long served as the primary audience currency for radio and television advertising. Without that benchmark, broadcasters may face new challenges demonstrating audience size and value to advertisers, while agencies could struggle to compare stations and television outlets using a consistent measurement standard.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

Mark Simone Inks Multi-Year Contract Extension with 710 WOR

Garrett Searight
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Mark Simone Inks Multi-Year Contract Extension with 710 WOR

Mark Simone will remain a fixture on New York radio for years to come. 710 WOR also expanded his weekday show by one hour.

What We Know: Mark Simone has signed a long-term contract extension with 710 WOR. Beginning with the new agreement, The Mark Simone Show will air weekdays from 9 AM to noon. It previously aired from 10 AM to noon. The lineup change also reshapes the station’s morning schedule. Larry Mendte and Curtis Sliwa will now host Curtis Sliwa and Larry Mendte in the Morning from 6 AM to 9 AM. The revised lineup gives both the morning show and Simone three-hour windows.

What They Said: “I’m not exactly an early riser, so this will take a little getting used to. But the demand for this was overwhelming, from the audience and the advertisers. The first rule of mass media is to give the people what they want, so I’m honored and happy to do it.” – Mark Simone

“Mark Simone is one of the most talented and respected broadcasters in America. His ability to inform, entertain and connect with listeners is unmatched. Expanding his show by an additional hour is a win for our audience, our advertisers and the station.” – 710 WOR Program Director Tom Cuddy

“Mark Simone is ‘Mr. New York’ for a reason. His extraordinary connection with listeners combined with his ability to inform, entertain and engage audiences, has made him one of the most respected voices in talk radio. We’re thrilled to extend our partnership and continue delivering value to listeners, advertisers and 710 WOR.” – iHeartMedia Executive Vice President of Programming Thea Mitchem

What Remains Unclear: Neither 710 WOR nor iHeartMedia disclosed the financial terms or length of Simone’s new contract. The station also hasn’t announced any additional programming changes beyond the adjusted morning schedule.

What It Means: The extension reinforces Simone’s importance to 710 WOR’s lineup while signaling confidence in live local talk radio. Meanwhile, the added hour gives the station more inventory for advertisers. It also creates more time for one of its highest-profile personalities to engage listeners.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

97.5 The Fanatic’s Sean Brace Takes Issue With 94WIP Spike Eskin’s Lebron James Commentary on Social Media

John Mamola
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97.5 The Fanatic’s Sean Brace Takes Issue With 94WIP Spike Eskin’s Lebron James Commentary on Social Media

SportsRadio 94 WIP’s Spike Eskin didn’t hold back on LeBron James signing with the 76ers. 97.5 The Fanatic’s Sean Brace didn’t hold back on Eskin’s reaction going viral.

What We Know: Eskin, host on Sportsradio 94WIP, called LeBron’s signing one of the worst days of his fandom. Something he’s been dreading for weeks on 94WIP’s airwaves. Brace, of 97.5 The Fanatic, then criticized how quickly Eskin’s comments following James’ signing spread across Philadelphia sports media and social media. Brace specifically called out WIP for amplifying the negative reaction to James’ signing with the 76ers. Moreover, Eskin followed up, defending his original comments and denying any motive tied to clicks or likes.

What They Said: Spike Eskin (Friday – SportsRadio 94WIP following LeBron James signing with Philadelphia): “This is one of the worst days I’ve ever had as a Philadelphia 76ers fan. I hate this, every single little tiny bit of it, every bit of it. Now I said if he signed here, the first day would be the best day. We see the tweet every one. They chose us. That’s what we love in Philadelphia. Pick us, pick us, pick us. It’s like ‘Pick Me City, USA.’ He be picked us, but everything after this is going to be intolerable.”

Sean Brace (Friday – via social media and Eskin’s comments posted online): “I hate the fact that that gets amplified. I hate the fact that that is what’s going to be out there. You literally had my station doing somersaults. Not just my station, the whole cluster. WMMR, Matt Corn, everyone’s going absolutely berserk. Emails are firing. We’re the flagship station, but at the end of the day, we’re diehard Philadelphia sports fans. They are not. They suck. Screw them, dude. That is a negative vibe that they are putting out. It will be amplified, and it bothers the hell out of me.”

Spike Eskin (Saturday – via social media): “I just want to clear it up. I did say it. I did believe it. It’s not for clicks. Don’t give a s**t about clicks. The only people who are doing things for clicks, I want to be clear, are the people who are talking about what I said to get likes and clicks. Everybody’s now biggest fan in the whole world and da da da da. So, if you want to look at the people who are doing it for clicks, iy’ss the people talking about me, not me.”

What Remains Unclear: Whether or not this escalation between Brace and Eskin will turn into anything further. Neither talent or station have commented on the back and forth since Saturday.

What It Means: LeBron James signing with the Philadelphia 76ers was easily the biggest story in sports this past weekend. Eskin has been very vocal in his disdain for the concept of James signing with Philadelphia for weeks. However, he didn’t let the moment change his perspective, and that’s a credit to him for standing his ground. Social teams are designed to get reaction from clips, and Brace did exactly that. The engagement online will likely not lead to anything on air, however the dynamic of the conflict is exactly why social teams insist on talent leaning into social media like they do.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

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