Mark Madden: ESPN has fallen drastically far from glory days of The Worldwide Leader

ESPN used to be what it says it is: The Worldwide Leader.

Now? Not even close.

With the New York Jets disintegrating on Aaron Rodgers’ watch, Rodgers and ESPN host Pat McAfee conducted a lengthy discourse about Rodgers appearing to eat his boogers on the sideline. Discussion of the Jets’ failure was shrouded in the sort of hero worship a punter has for a quarterback. (With punter paying quarterback $1 million for his appearances.)

On “College GameDay,” comedian Tony Hinchcliffe rattled off a series of homophobic jokes. Did ESPN cut his mic or go to break and kick Hinchcliffe off the set? No. The bro demographic wouldn’t like that.

Those are pronounced lowlights.

But too much of what’s on ESPN outside of game coverage is terrible. Undue attention gets paid to who’s talking, not what’s said.

What do legends like Dan Patrick and Keith Olbermann think? Or Chris Berman, outlandish by the standard of his day but who now might be seen as the quiet one? Or timeless pros like Bob Ley and Robin Roberts?

There are holdovers from the glory days.

Like “Pardon The Interruption,” the debate show that fathered lots of dumb spinoffs. The legit version of all the imbecility.

Scott Van Pelt, John Buccigross, Linda Cohn and Steve Levy, pure class in any era.

But morning through mid-day on weekdays is an absolute mess. Six hours of nonstop yelling, mugging and fake debate. (Do you really think there just happens to be that much disagreement?)

Mike Greenberg has gone from radio/TV journalist par excellence to jersey-wearing whiny fanboy. On “Get Up,” they dance, smash miniature helmets and throw pancakes. They try to be funny. They’re not.

Stephen A. Smith long since has lapsed into bloated self-parody. Sad because he’s an amazing talent. “First Take” features still more failed humor.

The “Pat McAfee Show” is accurately described by Bill Simmons of The Ringer as “Dukes of Hazzard Live.” It has lots of cussing, is staffed by amateurs and, predictably, has little trace of professionalism. McAfee gets great guests, which is easy when the goal is to be friends with the athletes. It’s organic anti-comedy, which goes unconcealed despite all the war whoops, moans and laughing uproariously at their own jokes.

It’s hard to believe that a higher-up at parent company Disney hasn’t stumbled onto any of the above and wondered, “What the (bleep) are we doing?”

Does it get ratings? Does it bring in revenue? I don’t know or care.

I do know that ESPN used to be the crown jewel of sports media. Now it’s this, something far removed from the original intent.

This version of ESPN is designed for the bro demographic. Not unlike one of the ongoing political campaigns.

If it’s too loud, am I too old? I’ve considered that possibility.

Am I jealous? Nah. Not of this. This is “Idiocracy” goes to the ballpark.

Am I any better? I think so. But even if I’m not, my evaluation is still accurate.

McAfee steers ESPN’s ship. He intimidates the entire company. McAfee got longtime (and powerful) executive Norby Williamson fired. Now everyone treads lightly.

It’s insane that ESPN kowtows to McAfee yet constantly battled Olbermann, who has 10 times the talent and intelligence.

The notion that McAfee owns his show and licenses it to ESPN is no excuse. It airs on ESPN’s networks under the ESPN banner. ESPN is accountable, especially because McAfee pointedly isn’t. Not even after McAfee was obviously drunk on the air when his show went to Ireland.

But since McAfee does own his show (and gets $17 million per year from ESPN to air it), he could make it anything he wants.

What he’s chosen is disappointing. McAfee is smarter than that.

ESPN isn’t. Jason Kelce is in the mix now, upping the ante for beer guzzling and bro-tastic.

It was different when McAfee was mostly on YouTube, just a highly paid social media influencer. But his show’s current incarnation is a blight on sports media’s No. 1 brand.

Some accuse ESPN of being too woke for its own good. But this has nothing to do with woke and everything to do with stupid being peddled as fun.

It’s also got a lot to do with too much air time to fill.

Sports aren’t important enough to be covered 24/7. But my God, how the money rolls in.