Overview of PMS 2.0 1597 - Ohio State Head Coach Ryan Day, Chris Olave, Chuck Pagano, Ian Rapoport, Darius Butler, & AJ Hawk
This episode was a classic Pardon My Take / Pat McAfee Show-style preseason mashup: heavy on NFL training camp storylines, Hall of Fame Game anticipation, and rapid-fire interviews with major guests. The crew celebrated football’s return while bouncing between college football, NFL roster battles, major contract news, and some unfiltered side tangents — including AJ Hawk’s bee colony saga and a surprise latest NFL signing.
Main Football Themes
Hall of Fame Game hype
- The show centered on the upcoming Hall of Fame Game between the Panthers and Cardinals.
- The crew framed it as the true kickoff to football season, with plenty of jokes about preseason overreactions, player props, and “football being back.”
- There was a recurring emphasis that the game matters less for the scoreboard and more for:
- roster battles
- first live reps
- highlight-worthy flashes from young players
Training camp storylines across the league
- The hosts discussed how camps are generating nonstop content, with a few standout themes:
- rookies flashing early
- quarterback competitions
- vibes and chemistry inside locker rooms
- injury risk and how quickly preseason momentum can change
Featured Interviews and Takeaways
Ryan Day on Ohio State’s No. 1 ranking and culture
Ryan Day joined to talk about Ohio State entering the season ranked No. 1 and how he views that as both an honor and a trap.
Key points from Day:
- Preseason rankings mean less now because college football rosters change so much year to year.
- Ohio State’s 2026 team has real continuity on offense, including:
- Julian Sayin
- Jeremiah Smith
- Brandon Inniss
- a veteran offensive line
- He stressed the importance of:
- building a “tribe”
- creating a shared purpose
- staying focused through the full season, not just September
- Day repeatedly stressed that championship teams are built through relationships, trust, and consistency.
Defensive turnover and reload
- Ohio State lost several key defensive leaders, so Day highlighted how the staff used the portal to patch holes.
- He pointed to returning players expected to step up, including:
- Kenyatta Jackson
- Peyton Pierce
- Jaylen McClain
- Jermaine Matthews
- He also praised the additions and experience brought in via coaching staff hires like Matt Patricia and Arthur Smith.
Big-picture message
- Day made it clear that Ohio State’s standard is title-or-bust.
- The team must start fast, especially with a huge Week 2 matchup at Texas.
- He said the goal is to be better at the end of the season than at the beginning and to handle the post-Thanksgiving playoff stretch more effectively.
Chris Olave on the Saints’ momentum and Tyler Shough
Chris Olave came on to discuss his new deal, the Saints’ rising expectations, and the evolution of the offense.
Key points from Olave:
- The Saints are “building” and believe they have the right mix of young, motivated players.
- He credited head coach Kellen Moore for bringing consistent offensive success wherever he’s coached.
- Olave praised Tyler Shough as:
- mature
- prepared
- a strong leader beyond his years
- He also emphasized the offense’s depth, mentioning:
- Juwan Johnson
- Taysom Hill? (not directly emphasized, but offense depth was discussed broadly)
- Jordan Tyson
- Vele
- Travis Etienne / “ETN”
- Alvin Kamara
- Kendre Miller
- He said the vibe in New Orleans is strong and the fan base becomes especially electric when the team is winning.
Chuck Pagano on camp intensity, quarterbacks, and the Colts
Chuck Pagano returned to the show and delivered one of the episode’s most insightful segments.
Camp philosophy
- Pagano said coaches are trying to keep training camp:
- competitive
- but not combative
- He explained that joint practices are often more valuable than preseason games because they allow controlled, specific evaluation.
- He noted that the first joint practices are usually where the real tone gets set.
Ravens, Colts, and defensive identity
- He praised the Ravens’ defense, especially:
- Zay Flowers
- Kyle Hamilton
- Malaki Starks
- Marlon Humphrey
- Nate Wiggins
- Chidobe Awuzie
- Roquan Smith
- Calais Campbell
- He also discussed the Colts and Daniel Jones, calling his full participation after injury a huge sign for the team.
- Pagano said quarterback health is everything:
- if the QB is available, there’s hope
- if not, the season can unravel fast
Andrew Luck tangent
- Pagano reflected on Andrew Luck and said coaching/mentoring young players was always part of Luck’s vision for life after football.
- He suggested Luck being around college football is in line with his personality and long-term interests.
Ian Rapoport on QB competitions in Minnesota and Cleveland
Rapoport joined from Vikings camp and described the quarterback battle there as a genuine competition.
Vikings QB situation
- He said the battle between J.J. McCarthy and Kirk Cousins?
- The transcript clearly intended J.J. McCarthy vs. the veteran option, but the name in the conversation appears garbled; the point was that the competition is real and unresolved.
- His core message:
- this is not a fake competition
- the team may not know the starter until late in camp or the preseason
- He also explained that the Vikings are trying to build a roster to fit Kevin O’Connell’s scheme and Brian Flores’ defense.
Browns QB battle
- Rapoport also said the Browns have a real competition brewing.
- He noted:
- Deshaun Watson appears ahead in operation/preparation
- Shedeur Sanders is making plays and gaining attention
- He framed Cleveland as another camp where the quarterback situation could shift quickly.
Major NFL News and Roster/Contract Updates
Stefon Diggs to Washington
One of the biggest news drops of the episode:
- Stefon Diggs is signing with the Washington Commanders.
- The crew saw this as a major boost for Jayden Daniels and Washington’s offense.
- They noted Diggs gives Washington:
- a proven veteran target
- a strong complement to Terry McLaurin
- a stabilizing presence for a young QB
Darnell Wright extension in Chicago
- The Bears signed Darnell Wright to a massive extension.
- The crew treated it as a big sign that Chicago believes in:
- its offensive line
- its young quarterback
- Ben Johnson’s long-term plan
- They highlighted how valuable elite tackles are becoming in the NFL market.
Running Debate: Who Wins the NFC South?
The crew spent a long stretch debating the NFC South, and the answers were split.
Arguments for the Panthers
- Strong vibes
- Bryce Young’s confidence and growth
- Dave Canales and Dan Morgan building in the right direction
- defensive pieces like:
- Derrick Brown
- Jaycee Horn
- Mike Jackson
- The argument that Carolina finished strong and may carry that momentum forward
Arguments for the Buccaneers
- Best roster in the division
- Baker Mayfield on a revenge tour
- Chris Godwin and other veteran weapons
- belief that Baker can win while playing with a chip on his shoulder
Arguments for the Saints
- Late-season momentum
- strong offensive personnel
- belief in Kellen Moore
- confidence that Tyler Shough can stabilize the offense
Final leaning
- The panel ended up split, with multiple switches during the debate.
- The ultimate takeaway: the NFC South feels wide open and likely to stay chaotic.
AJ Hawk’s Bee Saga
This became one of the episode’s funniest recurring side stories.
What happened
- AJ Hawk has been tending a bee colony.
- The original queen apparently died because she wasn’t producing enough.
- AJ replaced her with a Russian queen bee, saying she’s more cold-weather hardy and better suited for Ohio.
The crew’s reaction
- The hosts treated it like a full “bee coup.”
- They joked that AJ had failed as a beekeeper and that his queen was “murdered” by the hive.
- AJ insisted this is standard process and defended the move as necessary to save the colony.
Why it mattered
- The bee story was used as a comedic mirror to football leadership:
- if the “queen” doesn’t produce, the system moves on
- same with teams, quarterbacks, and coaches
Memorable Bits and Quotes
A few recurring themes and lines
- “Football is back.”
- “You can’t buy a championship” — a recurring joke during the Dodgers/baseball tangent.
- Ryan Day’s “tribe” explanation for Ohio State culture.
- Chuck Pagano’s point about being “competitive but not combative.”
- The bee jokes escalating into full “queen bee” political commentary.
- The show repeatedly circled back to the idea that vibes matter, especially in the NFL.
Bottom Line
This episode was mostly about the official return of football season:
- the Hall of Fame Game
- big-name training camp storylines
- Ryan Day discussing Ohio State’s title expectations
- Chris Olave explaining why the Saints are optimistic
- Chuck Pagano giving real coach-level insight
- Ian Rapoport confirming that the Vikings and Browns QB battles are legit
- Stefon Diggs to Washington as a major roster move
It was also classic McAfee chaos: equal parts analysis, banter, and absurd side quests.