Overview of PMS 2.0 1587 with Pat McAfee
This episode is a fast-moving, sports-heavy roundtable centered on NFL training camp, the Hall of Fame Game, LeBron James rumors, and a few major guest interviews. Pat McAfee and the crew bounce from football betting and roster updates to NBA speculation, then shift into longer conversations with Kendrick Perkins, Cooper Kupp, AJ Hawk, Kirk Herbstreit, and Ian Rapoport. The show blends breaking news, strong opinions, humor, and a lot of personality-driven banter.
Main Topics Covered
NFL preseason and Hall of Fame Game
- The crew discusses the upcoming Hall of Fame Game between the Carolina Panthers and Arizona Cardinals, using it as a sign that football is officially back.
- They note that most key players likely won’t play, so the focus is on backups and fringe quarterbacks.
- Names discussed include:
- Kenny Pickett and Haynes King for Carolina
- Jacoby Brissett, Gardner Minshew, and Carson Beck for Arizona
- The conversation frames the game as a celebration of football history and an early look at camp battles.
LeBron James free-agency speculation
- A major segment revolves around rumors that the Miami Heat may be preparing for a LeBron James announcement.
- The crew debates whether a public press-conference link means anything or if it’s just social-media ineptitude from team staff.
- Kendrick Perkins strongly pushes the idea that Miami is the best fit, especially if LeBron wants:
- warm weather
- golf
- a high-level basketball fit
- a shot to play with elite defenders and a smart system
- Other possible destinations are discussed, including Golden State, Cleveland, Philadelphia, and Indiana, but Perk is firmly on the Miami side.
NFL news and training camp updates
- Sam LaPorta is fully cleared from a herniated disc and expected to be ready for camp, which is big news for the Lions.
- Devonte Wyatt signs a 3-year, $57 million extension with the Packers.
- There’s also discussion of rookie QB contract standoffs, including Fernando Mendoza, with the key issue being signing-bonus structure and payment timing.
- Ian Rapoport later confirms:
- Carson Beck has signed his rookie deal
- Jacoby Brissett is expected to report, even if his deal isn’t finalized yet
- other rookie QBs are expected to get done soon
- Rapoport also mentions possible extensions for top young corners like Devin Witherspoon and Christian Gonzalez, plus ongoing work on other veteran deals.
Guest Highlights
Kendrick Perkins on LeBron, Giannis, and team chemistry
- Perk argues that Miami makes sense for LeBron because of roster fit, weather, and lifestyle.
- He believes Giannis Antetokounmpo would be better as a 1B than a pure alpha if LeBron joins Miami.
- He emphasizes the importance of:
- locker-room chemistry
- veterans learning from elite teammates
- leadership and accountability
- Perk also says Kevin Durant remains the greatest scorer ever, but expects Houston to need more cohesion if it wants to win after trading for him.
Cooper Kupp on his career and new coffee business
- Cooper Kupp reflects on his career arc, saying he always believed in himself but still had to discover what was possible through experience.
- He talks about:
- winning at the NFL’s highest level
- adapting from the Rams to the Seahawks
- culture differences between Sean McVay’s system and Mike Macdonald’s approach
- He explains his coffee brand, Dodo Coffee, saying it uses top-tier beans from places like Brazil and Colombia.
- He jokes about coffee in bean form and discusses how the business is a real family project.
AJ Hawk’s upcoming music project
- AJ Hawk reveals he’s preparing to release an album titled Diary of a Polarizing Figure on August 14.
- He says the songs come from years of notes and personal writing, and the project is full of vulnerability.
- He mentions:
- 13 songs
- no features
- a live performance date in the works
- Pat and AJ joke through the process, but AJ is clearly taking the music seriously and treating it like a real creative outlet.
Kirk Herbstreit on college football, baseball, and soccer
- Herbstreit talks football season coming back and praises the top returner conversation later in the show.
- He weighs in on college football:
- likes Notre Dame
- respects Ohio State
- is cautious about Texas because of the pressure that comes with hype
- thinks Oklahoma could be dangerous with John Mateer and a strong offensive setup
- He also criticizes modern MLB for being too homer-or-strikeout heavy and says the game has lost some of its action and athleticism.
- Herbstreit says the World Cup captivated him far more than expected, especially because of the atmosphere and pageantry.
Ian Rapoport on contracts and camp movement
- Rapoport gives a quick breaking-news update:
- Carson Beck: signed
- Jacoby Brissett: likely reporting soon
- He also discusses how contract issues for rookies often come down to bonus structure and payout timing rather than total salary.
- He adds a detail that the Reds were hanging around the Seahawks’ camp and that Terry Francona was there, which becomes a side joke for Herbstreit.
Notable Segment: Top Punt Returners in NFL History
The crew and AJ Hawk build a “top five-ish” list of the best punt returners ever, separating them from kick returners. Their list includes:
- Tyreek Hill
- Antonio Brown
- Darren Sproles
- Desmond Howard
- A tie/group featuring Deion Sanders, Dante Hall, and Pac-Man Jones
Key takeaways from the list
- Devin Hester is treated as its own category and left off the five because he’s essentially in a class of his own.
- They also mention players who deserve love but didn’t make the final cut, including:
- Brian Mitchell
- Julian Edelman
- Dwayne Bowe-style return contributors?
- The segment emphasizes:
- fearlessness
- field-position value
- how elite returners change the energy of an entire special teams unit
Other Memorable Moments
Special teams and field position
- AJ Hawk and Pat McAfee discuss how special teams can swing games.
- They note that a returner who can house one changes the effort level of the entire coverage unit.
- Pat shares stories from his playing days about returners and coverage schemes.
Social media and team marketing
- The group repeatedly jokes about how bad some team social and digital departments are.
- They argue that many teams hire young social staff without enough oversight, leading to public mistakes like the apparent Heat press-conference link.
Humor and recurring bits
- The episode is full of in-jokes, including:
- “be a friend, tell a friend something nice”
- teasing about “billion-dollar feet” when discussing LeBron’s missing big toe
- constant teasing of Darius Butler, AJ Hawk, and Rapoport
- The show keeps its usual mix of sports analysis and chaotic comedy.
Key Takeaways
- Football is officially ramping up, and the Hall of Fame Game is being treated as the first real marker of the season.
- LeBron rumors are the dominant NBA storyline, with Perk firmly pushing Miami as the best fit.
- NFL contract season is in full swing, with rookie deals and extensions starting to move.
- Cooper Kupp is building a post-football brand with Dodo Coffee while still thinking like a high-level competitor.
- AJ Hawk is turning personal writing into music, and the crew is fully behind the idea.
- Kirk Herbstreit brings a strong perspective on college football, baseball, and the broader sports landscape.
- The punt returner debate becomes a fun deep dive into one of football’s most underappreciated roles.
Recommended Watch-Back Moments
Best segments to revisit
- Kendrick Perkins on LeBron to Miami and Giannis as a co-star
- Cooper Kupp explaining his route from NFL star to coffee entrepreneur
- AJ Hawk discussing his music project and songwriting process
- The punt returner top-five debate
- Kirk Herbstreit on college football pressure, baseball changes, and the World Cup