Paul Finebaum doesn’t have a problem when people are critical of him. It comes with the territory.

So earlier this week when Tim Brando called out the SEC Network analyst for being scared of SEC commissioner Greg Sankey on the heels of the league’s announcement of staying with an eight game-conference schedule in 2024, Finebaum just shrugged it off.

“I don’t want to create another headline by going off on Tim,” Finebaum told me when I asked about the comments Friday on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5. “Tim’s had a great career. He’s welcome to his opinion. He chooses to take cheap shots on Twitter. I try to contain what I have to say within the confines of a 4-hour program every day.”

Brando, in an interview with Crain & Company, took a shot at Sankey because he didn’t move ahead with a nine-game conference schedule at the SEC spring meetings in Destin. He also took aim at Finebaum for not wanting to – or having the ability to – call Sankey on the issue because of a perceived bias.

“I couldn’t get over the frothing at the mouth that was going on Finebaum’s show, because Paul couldn’t ask the direct questions either for fear his Bat-phone was going to ring,” Brando said. “So he’s asking all these guys from web sites to tell him what he already knew. And that is the SEC presidents had their hand out wanting more money from ESPN. Why should ESPN pay them more money? They have a $300 million deal… Are you kidding me? Here’s what happened and no one wants to say this: He made that television deal too early.”

Still, Finebaum, who said he doesn’t care what Brando say about him or Sankey, did admit he does have one issue with Brando.

“The thing, I think, that exposes him more than any other aspect of his being is the fact that he can’t handle criticism,” Finebaum said. “Why do I say that? Because if you criticize him on social media, he’ll block you. I don’t believe a public person should do that. … If you are willing to sit behind a microphone or camera, you ought to allow the free flow of information.”

Finebaum admits social media can be far more toxic than the air waves. Of course, when it comes to TV and radio, there is corporate policy and federal law.

“But, for a public person – especially one with a career like he has had – to get into the food fights that he does and to block people on Twitter, I think, speaks for itself.”

Finebaum went on to say that it is “classless and unprofessional” for Brando to call into question his integrity based on corporate partnerships. Yes, ESPN and the SEC Network are partners with the SEC, but, Finebaum said, “we are independent in terms of how we operate.”

“I’ll stand on my reputation and my career,” Finebaum said. “Somebody like him wants to sit at home and punch his phone and make allegations like that? He’s welcome to that.”

Check out the full interview on spotify at WNSP NOW.

Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.