‘Don’t belittle me’ – Colleague defends Peter Schrager after broadcaster apologises for heated on-air exchange

NFL analysts Peter Schrager and Ryan Clark did not hold back, and the fallout has continued.

The ESPN Get Up studio crew – which also included Dan Orlovsky, Tedy Bruschi and Mike Greenberg – were involved in an animated debate over CeeDee Lamb‘s performance in the Dallas Cowboys 24-20 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

Lamb had seven catches for a game-high 110 yards which was the 22nd game of his career in which he had 100-plus receiving yards.

But he also had a ‘shocking’ three drops in the contest – almost half the total he had for the entirety of the 2024 campaign (seven) including two in the fourth quarter that unfortunately brought an end to Dallas’ bid for a comeback victory.

Following the chaotic yet close encounter, perhaps closer than many had envisioned with the Eagles being the reigning Super Bowl champions, Lamb shouldered the blame for his team’s loss.

“Man, that’s terrible,” he said. “Honestly, I feel like I can’t point no finger at anybody else…I need to catch the damn ball.”

Chaos ensued on Get Up

On Get Up, Schrager – who only joined ESPN back in April – was defending Lamb’s performance, using Eagles receiver A.J. Brown, who was targeted just once for eight yards by quarterback Jalen Hurts, to do so.

Then, former NFL defensive back Clark chimed in and said: “You know what you wake up saying, though? A.J. Brown’s team is 1-0.”

He then took aim at Schrager’s take and got personal in the words he spoken next.

“But the thing is this though,” Clark said before pausing. “And, we shouldn’t do this on TV and so I apologize if people think this is rude, that’s the non-player in you.”

“No stop,” Schrager interjected.

“I’m not looking at fantasy football. Ryan, don’t belittle me like that, I can come and say as three ex-players are saying one thing, and give an alternative perspective that maybe CeeDee Lamb did play well.”

X/ @awfulannouncing

X/ @awfulannouncing

Getty

Clark responded immediately, and did not hold back: “What I need you to do is to not get mad and let me finish for one. It wasn’t about you, it was going to be about me. I can’t speak for CeeDee Lamb. I’m speaking for me.

“If I go out and I have 12 tackles and I get two interceptions, and then there’s a run late in the game that I miss a tackle and the other team wins the game, I’m not talking to my family on the way home.

“They’re not calling me as I’m walking to the car. My wife is telling people – because we’ve been through it before – you do not speak if he doesn’t speak.”

But Clark just went on and on – he couldn’t stop himself.

“I’m not saying that CeeDee Lamb can’t play,” he continued. “I’m not saying that you’re wrong for defending him. I’m talking from the perspective that I know CeeDee Lamb feels.

“That’s why I prefaced it by saying, ‘This is not about you. I’m not trying to be rude.’ I’m not saying you don’t understand, but what I’m saying is I fully understand.”

Former colleague jumps to Schrager’s support

Clark’s targeted outburst at Schrager was not well-received by Good Morning Football host Jamie Erdahl.

Getty

Getty

Erdahl and Schrager are colleagues from their time together at GMFB, and she had no hesitation in jumping to his support on X (formerly Twitter).

“You’re that dude, @PSchrags. Learned something about the NFL from you every single day. That’s the ultimate defining standard of knowledge and expertise for me – do I learn something from you? Yeah? Cool. You’re good in my book,” she wrote.

This isn’t the first time that Clark has been involved in heated exchange both on and off air, and it certainly won’t be the last time either.

In July he was involved in a feud with ex-NFL quarterback, newly turned ESPN analyst Cam Newton over his quarterback picks for the 2025 season.

However, after his spat with Schrager on air, he issued a public apology to his colleague.

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“Today, I had an interaction with my colleague @PSchrags both on and off the air that I regret,” Clark wrote on X. “I have apologized to Peter and taken accountability with ESPN leadership.

“I value working with Peter and look forward to this season. My focus will remain on professionalism, teamwork, and being a better teammate moving forward.”

The opening weekend of the 2025 NFL season hasn’t even concluded yet, and with a plethora of more football to come, it was important to nip the exchange in the bud and move forward, together.

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