Pat McAfee Marvin Harrison Jr. Fanatics Credit: The Pat McAfee Show

Fanatics is suing rookie Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. as part of a dispute between the company and a recent NFL Draft pick over Harrison abiding by a term sheet that Fanatics believes is legally binding.

At the heart of the lawsuit appears to be a report from Pat McAfee, who reported on his show that Harrison had not signed an official contract with Fanatics. McAfee added that Harrison backed out of his arrangement with Fanatics because he could not agree to financial terms with the company after previously partnering with them while at Ohio State.

At the heart of the lawsuit appears to be a report from none other than Pat McAfee, who reported on his show that Harrison had not signed an official contract with Fanatics. McAfee added that Harrison backed out of his arrangement with Fanatics because he could not agree to financial terms with the company after previously partnering with them while at Ohio State.

“Fanatics is allegedly telling some folks they have a deal, they don’t have a deal with Marvin,” McAfee said on May 1 on his show. “Telling other people not to work [with him].”

Harrison Jr. later reposted the video to his personal account.

Fanatics’ lawsuit against Harrison Jr., filed to the New York Supreme Court, alleges that Harrison revealed confidential information to ESPN and calls the clip above “misleading.” The company believes the term sheet Harrison signed is legally binding and accuses Harrison of shopping around Fanatics’ offer to get a better deal from a different company.

Harrison Jr. previously appeared on The Pat McAfee Show when it was live from Columbus during the college football season.

It’s no surprise that McAfee would side with the athlete on a big issue like this, and the elder Harrison played for McAfee’s old team, the Indianapolis Colts. And to be clear, McAfee is not a defendant in the lawsuit. He is merely a middleman whom Fanatics is alleging Harrison’s camp used as a mouthpiece to get its side of the story out.

Elsewhere in sports media, Nightcap host Shannon Sharpe explained why he believes Harrison did sign something official. Otherwise, Sharpe argued, Fanatics would not be emboldened to sue the athlete.

“It’s hard for me to believe that he didn’t sign it, and this company is suing him,” Sharpe argued. “Because it’s going to be easy to prove one way or another.”

 

It’s common for media reports and commentary to be included in lawsuits, and McAfee should be in the clear. As for Harrison Jr., it’s hard to say.

[Tyler Webb on X]

About Brendon Kleen

Brendon is a Media Commentary staff writer at Awful Announcing. He has also covered basketball and sports business at Front Office Sports, SB Nation, Uproxx and more.