Overview of PMS 2.0 1594 - Feel Good Friday with Adam Schefter, Jeff Passan, Peter Schrager, & AJ Hawk
This episode was a fast-moving, football-heavy Feel Good Friday edition of PMS 2.0, with Pat McAfee and the Toxic Table reacting to training camp buzz, major NFL contract and roster storylines, MLB trade-deadline drama, Big Ten football discourse, and a long, hype-filled preview of WWE SummerSlam. The recurring theme was clear: training camps are delivering highlights, vibes, injuries, contract tension, and enough optimism to fuel every fanbase’s preseason imagination.
NFL Training Camp Storylines
Early camp energy and the Steelers’ upcoming practice
- The show opened with excitement for the Steelers’ camp session in Latrobe, where McAfee’s crew will be broadcasting live on Monday.
- Mike McCarthy’s “we’re going to tackle” comments were framed as a response to criticism that some camps are too soft.
- The group emphasized how much of training camp is about watching for:
- big-money extensions
- injury scares
- one or two splash plays that get fans overreacting online
Saints emerge as a serious NFC South threat
- Adam Schefter and the crew were very high on New Orleans’ direction.
- Chris Olave’s new deal was treated as both deserved and a sign that the Saints are ready to spend and compete.
- The Saints were described as having:
- the best vibes in the NFC South
- a more mature Kellen Moore-led coaching situation
- a strong young QB trajectory
- a favorable schedule
- The panel repeatedly suggested New Orleans could win the division and make a real playoff run.
Buccaneers drama: Baker Mayfield contract tension
- Baker Mayfield’s public comments about contract negotiations were a major topic.
- Schefter explained that Tampa Bay had offered a competitive deal, reportedly around:
- 2 years
- just over $100 million total
- Baker’s issue was framed less as pure money and more about:
- years on the deal
- respect
- feeling undervalued after playing through injuries and carrying the franchise
- The group agreed this could become a fiery, motivating situation for Baker rather than a distraction.
49ers, Browns, Bengals, Bills, and Vikings
- 49ers: Deebo Samuel’s return to San Francisco was portrayed as a smart fit after no stronger market emerged, with questions still lingering around Ricky Pearsall’s health.
- Browns: Deshaun Watson vs. Shedeur Sanders was described as a true camp competition, with no clear answer yet.
- Bengals: Cincinnati’s camp intensity was acknowledged, but Chuck Pagano’s warning about camp injuries got a lot of agreement.
- Bills: CJ Gardner-Johnson’s arrival was celebrated as exactly the kind of “bad guy” edge Buffalo wanted.
- Vikings: The quarterback battle between J.J. McCarthy and Kyler Murray was treated as real, with the panel split between believing in J.J.’s upside and Kyler’s fit in Kevin O’Connell’s offense.
Broncos hype and “vibes”
- Denver’s camp highlight, a one-handed Jaylen Waddle grab, sparked a full-on Broncos Super Bowl conversation.
- The crew also raved about Denver’s brand-new practice facility.
- Bo Nix, Sean Payton, and the team’s defensive talent were all cited as reasons the Broncos might be underappreciated.
Other notable NFL camp notes
- Giants: Big optimism around Malik Nabers, Cam Skattebo, and the overall direction of the offense.
- Jaguars: Liam Coen’s motivational style and Travis Hunter’s early camp buzz were a major talking point.
- Chiefs: Patrick Mahomes looked healthy and explosive in camp, though the crew debated whether Kansas City should limit his preseason exposure.
- Tony Romo/CBS: Schefter confirmed Romo was placed on leave, with J.J. Watt stepping into the top broadcast role for now.
MLB Trade Deadline and Jeff Passan Segment
The Tarik Skubal market and Dodgers anxiety
- Passan framed Tarik Skubal as the biggest possible trade-deadline domino in baseball.
- The Dodgers were discussed as the likely aggressor if Skubal becomes available, which could trigger a massive reaction from the sport’s labor and competitive landscape.
- The point wasn’t just whether the Dodgers would get better, but whether they would become too dominant and further fuel frustration around baseball’s competitive balance.
Other teams to watch
Passan identified several teams that could be busy before the deadline:
- Yankees: looking for catching help, bullpen arms, and bats
- Rays: active on pitching and offensive upgrades
- Red Sox: expected to remain involved
- White Sox: surprisingly active in trade chatter
- Rangers: positioned to add if money allows
- Padres: Mason Miller’s name came up, but the asking price has been a major hurdle
DraftKings home run picks
The crew also made their no-sweat home run picks for the day:
- Tone: CJ Abrams
- AJ: Sal Stewart
- Pat: Bryce Harper
- Ty: Michael Busch
- Gump: Wilson Contreras
College Football, Big Ten Media Days, and Coach Signetti
Curt Cignetti and Indiana’s rise
- The second hour opened with high praise for Indiana coach Curt Cignetti.
- The crew loved his confidence, bluntness, and ability to make Indiana football feel like a real national brand.
- His comments about the Big Ten being the best league in football were a highlight.
- They also praised:
- his player development
- his culture-building
- Indiana’s support infrastructure and donor base
- the rapid transformation of IU football under his leadership
Big Ten vs. SEC tension
- The conversation turned into a broader debate about conference power.
- The crew liked the Big Ten’s recent national-title success and pushed back on SEC-only dominance narratives.
- Cignetti’s swagger was seen as good for the sport because it sharpened the Big Ten-SEC rivalry.
PJ Fleck and Minnesota
- The group also discussed Minnesota’s old “row the boat” identity and how PJ Fleck remains one of college football’s most distinctive motivators.
- The tone was mostly respectful, even if the crew joked about how much of the modern college football business is built on messaging and branding.
WWE SummerSlam Preview and Picks
A huge chunk of the second hour was spent making picks for SummerSlam, which the crew treated as a major event.
Main match predictions and notable picks
- Cody Rhodes vs. CM Punk: mixed opinions, with strong arguments for both
- Brock Lesnar vs. Oba Femi: most of the crew leaned Brock
- Gunther vs. Nick Aldis: strong consensus on Gunther
- Jade Cargill vs. Chelsea Green / ladder-match talk: Jade got a lot of support
- Roman Reigns vs. Seth Rollins: the crew leaned different directions, but Seth got some love for his character work and in-ring style
- Finn Bálor vs. Sami Zayn: varied opinions, but the match was treated as technically strong
- Trick Williams vs. Baron Corbin: Trick got a lot of momentum as a future star
- Danhausen vs. Dominik Mysterio: the crew had fun with this one, with Dom getting respect as a heel
General wrestling takeaways
- The panel clearly enjoys wrestling as an extension of sports entertainment, storyline, and personality.
- The discussion was full of inside jokes, references to old gimmicks, and praise for wrestlers who commit fully to their characters.
Key Takeaways
- Training camp is officially back and dominating the sports conversation.
- The Saints, Broncos, Jaguars, and Giants all came away with positive buzz.
- Baker Mayfield/Tampa Bay is the biggest contract-drama storyline of the day.
- Jeff Passan’s MLB segment centered on Skubal, the Dodgers, and deadline chaos.
- Curt Cignetti continues to be one of the most compelling voices in college football.
- SummerSlam got a full hype treatment, with the crew making bold and sometimes hilarious predictions.
Bottom Line
This was a classic Pat McAfee Friday episode: chaotic, funny, information-heavy, and built around the idea that every camp highlight, contract update, or one-handed catch can change the entire outlook of a season. The show’s biggest message was simple: football is back, the season is taking shape, and there are plenty of teams and storylines already feeling bigger than just “training camp.”