Under fire ESPN analyst Dan Orvlosky defends himself after ‘inappropriate’ shoe sniffing with Molly Qerim
Dan Orvlosky has become an ESPN mainstay since retiring from professional football in 2017.
The enigmatic NFL analyst is mostly remembered for running out of the back of his own end zone and being the quarterback for the infamous 2008 Detroit Lions (0-16).
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And now, Orlovsky has added another bizarre episode to his repertoire after sniffing co-host Molly Qerim’s shoe on First Take.
"Are you really sniffing the shoe?" a perplexed Qerim asked Orlovsky as he sniffed her high heel live on-air.
"I just got the shoe and I have tights on. Don’t be weird."
However, it was too late as Stephen A. Smith confirmed: “He just sniffed the shoe.â€
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“I don’t know about you, Dan,†Shannon Sharpe chimed in. “I’ve gotta keep an eye on you.â€
“He might have a foot fetish,†Smith alleged. “Dan might be one of those.â€
The former QB then tried to bring the conversation back to the designer black heels.
“These are like the lazy heels,†Orlovsky stated after holding the shoe for a good while.
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“Would you give me my shoe back?!†Qerim replied before Sharpe swiftly got the show back on track.
How Qerim's footwear came up during a segment about the Cowboys' controversial win over the Lions remains unclear.
However, fans online were in agreement that it was a little weird.
"A little much", one person said. "Maybe needed conversation after this from his VP. We can laugh but I think it made her and probably even her family at home uncomfortable."
"That’s inappropriate,"; a second added.
"For heavens sake… ick," replied a third.
"He's getting weirder by the day on there," a fourth wrote.
Later that day, Orlovsky joined former Colts teammate Pat McAfee on his show to dissect the strange incident.
Orlovsky defended himself saying he didn't have a foot fetish.
"Here's what I don't understand is why everyone is so taken aback: it's the first time she's worn the shoes. Of course they're going to smell totally normal," he told McAfee.
He also revealed the shoes were a gift from Smith and that it's not the first time he's sniffed shoes.
"I smell my kid's shoes once or twice a year," Orlovsky said.
Each to their own.
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