NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport was reportedly confronted by another top NFL insider at a Starbucks in Indianapolis on Tuesday.
Ian Rapoport is among the many NFL insiders and reporters in Indianapolis to cover the Scouting Combine that runs from Thursday to Sunday. However, Rapoport got more than he bargained for after paying what he thought would be a casual visit to Starbucks.
On Tuesday evening, popular sports media PFT Commenter (real name Eric Sollenberger) said he heard of “a serious big time media confrontation” involving two insiders that forced NFL security to step in.
Afterward, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk heard through sources that the confrontation involved Ian Rapoport and Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz. Apparently, the latter had an issue with Rapoport pouring cold water over his report about Tom Brady hosting Matthew Stafford at his home in Montana.
More from Florio:
“Per multiple sources who witnessed the interaction, Jordan Schultz of Fox and Ian Rapport of NFL Media engaged in a verbal altercation on Wednesday afternoon at the Starbucks at the JW Marriott in Indianapolis. Schultz, we’re told, accosted Rapoport…
We’re told that Rapoport was talking to an agent. Schultz approached Rapoport and said, “We need to talk.” (Or specific words to that effect.) Rapoport replied, we’re told, “We don’t need to talk.” (Or specific words to that effect.)”
Apparently, Schultz told Rapoport, “If you have anything to say it to me, say it to my f**king face and twice threatened they’d “have a f**king problem” if the issue continued. NFL security was informed of the incident.
Below, you can see a) Schultz’s report about Brady (the Las Vegas Raiders’ minority owner) meeting with Stafford, who’s been linked to the Raiders in trade rumors, b) Ian Rapoport shutting it down and c) Schultz firing back at Rapoport:
Ian Rapoport Declined To Comment On The Matter
Speaking to Pro Football Talk after the confrontation, Schultz said the altercation “lasted a little over a minute” and denied using any swear words.
Rapoport declined to speak to Pro Football Talk on the reported confrontation. We’ll see on Thursday if he decides to provide further comment. Still, it’ll also be interesting to see if any repercussions await Schultz by NFL security.
