Overview of PMS 2.0 1555
This episode was a fast-moving Monday sports roundup centered on the day’s biggest headlines: Aaron Rodgers officially signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers, a heated debate over Shams Charania leaking the NBA MVP news, the PGA Championship win by England’s Aaron Rai, and previews of a huge night in the NHL and NBA playoffs. The crew also spent a lot of time on guest interviews, including Mike Tirico, Adam Schefter, and Eric Johnson, while weaving in plenty of side topics like country music, banana ball, MMA, and a very Pat McAfee-style detour into aliens.
Biggest Sports Headlines
Aaron Rodgers officially joins the Steelers
- Schefter confirmed Rodgers signed a one-year deal worth around $22–23 million, with incentives up to $25 million.
- Rodgers was back in Pittsburgh and already at OTAs, which the show framed as a big sign of commitment.
- The Steelers appear to believe Rodgers gives them the best chance to win now, even if the move also creates questions about the future of the quarterback room.
- The crew discussed how the organization seemed to expect this move more than the fanbase did.
NBA MVP leak controversy: Shams Charania
- The show devoted a long segment to Shams Charania breaking the Shai Gilgeous-Alexander MVP news before the official announcement.
- Blake Griffin’s criticism of the leak became a running joke, but Shams defended his position:
- If he gets confirmed news, his job is to report it.
- He said he vets the information and feels a responsibility to publish it.
- The crew also revisited the larger issue of insider culture in sports media and whether “breaking” news this way is fair game.
Giannis trade speculation
- Schefter and Shams both addressed the ongoing possibility that Giannis Antetokounmpo could be moved, with teams like the Celtics, Heat, Knicks, Lakers, and Timberwolves mentioned as potential suitors.
- The conversation emphasized that Milwaukee is still gauging whether it has the right package and whether Giannis truly wants a change.
Patrick Mahomes injury update
- Schefter said Mahomes is ahead of schedule and tracking toward being ready for the season opener.
- The discussion focused on the fact that, even if he plays early, he may not be fully himself right away after a significant knee injury.
Malik Nabers injury update
- Schefter flagged concern over Malik Nabers having a second surgery to clean up scar tissue.
- The crew discussed the reality of scar tissue in rehabs and why a second procedure is usually not ideal, even if it’s ultimately precautionary.
NBA Playoff Preview and Reactions
Thunder vs. Spurs
- Mike Tirico previewed Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals, calling it a matchup of two elite, young, deep teams.
- The show framed the series as:
- Wembanyama vs. SGA
- Unicorn vs. MVP
- Future of the league on display
- SGA was described as being in a historic run:
- Back-to-back MVPs
- Elite efficiency
- A rare place in NBA history alongside the all-time greats
Pistons-Cavs reaction
- The crew was blunt that Detroit’s Game 7 loss was a disappointment and that Cleveland looked dominant.
- The Cavs’ win was presented as a major moment for Donovan Mitchell and the franchise.
- Mike the Miz sent in a video joking about Detroit’s collapse and hyping Cleveland’s next round.
Knicks and the East
- There was brief talk about the Knicks and the conference finals path, with Shams noting OG Anunoby should be ready for Game 1.
NHL Playoff Talk
Canadiens vs. Sabres Game 7
- The show treated the NHL Game 7 as the night’s other major event.
- Eric Johnson joined to break down the series and explained why:
- Montreal’s power play could be the difference
- Home ice hasn’t been as important this postseason as people expect
- Buffalo has been shaky at home
- Johnson liked Montreal’s chances, citing:
- Jake Allen/goalie play after losses
- The Canadiens’ strong road form
- Power-play opportunities as a key live-betting angle
John Tortorella and the media fine
- Johnson gave a player’s perspective on the controversy around Torts refusing media availability, saying he understood both sides.
- He described Tortorella as intense, direct, and old-school, with a style that calls players out in front of the whole team.
Hockey details and culture
- Johnson also gave fun behind-the-scenes insight into:
- Custom stick curves
- Nicknames in hockey culture
- His own “Big Horny” nickname from a coach
- Why star players like Sidney Crosby use different stick setups
PGA Championship Recap
Aaron Rai wins
- The crew celebrated Aaron Rai winning the PGA Championship, correcting the transcript’s “Aaron Rye.”
- Rai’s win was highlighted as historic:
- First Englishman in 107 years to win a major
- The show liked the Sunday tension even though some players complained about the course setup.
- Rai’s two-glove style became a talking point, with several people admitting they might try it themselves.
Course and tournament notes
- The course was described as extremely difficult, especially on Sunday.
- The crew wanted more movement and scoring swings, but still enjoyed Rai’s clutch finish.
Mike Tirico Interview Highlights
- Tirico was excellent throughout the segment and praised the Thunder-Spurs matchup as a series people have wanted for a long time.
- He pointed out:
- Oklahoma City has been ahead of schedule
- San Antonio has the kind of young, explosive star that can change a series
- He explained why Wembanyama’s physical style matters and why SGA’s MVP-level production is historically rare.
- Tirico also chatted about:
- Golf equipment and putters
- The idea of “message sent, reply” in playoff basketball
- The energy of big-game broadcasts
Eric Johnson Interview Highlights
- Johnson joined fresh from a Cabo golf trip and joked his golf game is “like my abs: they’re there, you just can’t see them.”
- He previewed the rest of the NHL playoffs, especially:
- Colorado vs. Vegas
- Goaltending as the biggest series swing factor
- He also touched on:
- His love for horse racing
- Ownership/breeding horses
- The adrenaline of watching one of his horses win a race
Other Fun Topics and Sidebars
Country music and the ACM Awards
- The crew spent a lot of time recapping the Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas.
- They loved the energy from:
- Riley Green
- Shaboozey
- Cody Johnson
- Bublé
- Red Clay Strays
- There was a lot of talk about how fun and weirdly sports-adjacent country music events feel.
Banana Ball and other “fun sports”
- The show loved Banana Ball, praising the production, music, fan interaction, and the fact that it’s a real event even if it feels like a circus.
- Jesse Cole’s approach got a ton of praise.
MMA and combat sports
- They also recapped a Netflix/MVP fight night:
- Ronda Rousey dominated quickly
- Mike Perry beat Nate Diaz
- Francis Ngannou returned and looked terrifying as usual
- There was mention of a separate influencer/combat card with Johnny Manziel, but much of it was played for laughs.
Aliens detour
- In typical McAfee-show fashion, the conversation veered into aliens, the “Nordic” and “reptilian” species, and whether sports fans should worry about extraterrestrials entering the league.
Key Takeaways
- Aaron Rodgers to the Steelers was the biggest NFL story of the day.
- Shams Charania defended his decision to leak the MVP winner early.
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander vs. Victor Wembanyama is being framed as a potential long-term NBA rivalry.
- Aaron Rai’s PGA Championship win was the feel-good golf story of the weekend.
- Montreal vs. Buffalo and Colorado vs. Vegas were the hockey matchups to watch.
- The episode blended serious sports news with the show’s usual mix of chaos, humor, and off-the-wall side conversations.