ESPN’s Ryan Clark fires back at Kyle Brandt after GMFB analyst fumed Colts over Jeff Saturday’s ’embarrassing’ attitude

KYLE BRANDT has been ticked off by ESPN’s Ryan Clark after he called the Colts’ hiring of Jeff Saturday “embarrassing”.

The 3-5-1 Colts named Saturday as interim head coach after firing Frank Reich last weekend.

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NFL network pundit Brandt took aim at the organization’s decision-making during Tuesday’s Good Morning Football.

Saturday is a fan favorite for the Colts and was a six-time Pro Bowler during his playing career.

But he’s never trained above high school level, and Brandt targeted the decision in an extraordinary rant.

Brant continued GMFB from Munich: “This story is embarrassing.

“I’ve met Jeff Saturday a couple of times and he’s been great and I really respect him as a player and as a member of the media.

“Isn’t he embarrassed to take this job?

Saturday joined ESPN as an analyst in 2013, and Brandt asked the GMFB panel if they thought anyone on the network would criticize the hiring.

He continued, “What are you saying here? Because he’s a high school coach and he’s been on ESPN and yelled on Get Up?

“It’s also an interesting media thing. Because this is an ESPN employee, and I’d be intrigued to hear if anyone at ESPN has anything critical to say about Jeff Saturday in this case.

“Or is it just ‘Oh, we’re happy for Jeff’?

“If I’m the Colts, I’m embarrassed yesterday.”

ESPN analyst Clark – a former Super Bowl winner – earlier this week defended Saturday’s character on air.

But he also criticized the Colts for hiring him before other qualified names and said he didn’t support the appointment.

He explained: “It’s not always nepotism. It’s not always white privilege. Sometimes it’s just the wrong decision.”

While Clark continued to explain Twitter: “I believe in Jeff Saturday’s intelligence and character, not his attitude. There are so many levels. Is it about privilege, race, nepotism, relationship or respect?”

Following Brandt’s comments on GMFB via ESPN, Clark once again took to social media to respond.

He wrote: “Say [Kyle Brandt] Keep talking about the people covering football in your network. We are good here. Be good.”

And Clark continued in another tweet: “It’s about doing our job the way Jeff would do it. We all have the utmost respect for Jeff and who he is as a man and football mind.

“We love our guy, and when you open articles to see people in other places getting their mouths open, sometimes I don’t have enough hops for the high street.”

Former Colts quarterback Peyton Manning has also spoken out about the shock date, which caught everyone – including Pat McAfee – by surprise.

Manning said, “I was surprised. I knew nothing about it.

“I spoke to Jeff. It’s a big challenge. Jeff has all the right stuff, he was the ultimate teammate.

“My locker was right next to him. He’s a characterful guy. He’s a great leader.”

Saturday will take over the Colts for the first time this weekend as they take on the 2-6 Las Vegas Raiders.