The Dan Patrick Show

Hour 3 – Mahomes Voluntary Pay Cut, Mid-Weak-Major
February 18, 2026

Overview

In this lively third hour, guest hosts Steve Covino, Rich Davis, and their crew fill in for Dan Patrick. They blend sports news and passionate debate, focusing on Patrick Mahomes' major contract restructuring with the Chiefs, and launch into their signature “Midweek Major” segment—rating the week’s biggest (and not-so-big) pop culture and sports stories. The discussion is sprinkled with humor, nostalgic banter, and audience interaction, making for an engaging listen for sports fans and pop culture aficionados alike.

Key Discussion Points

1. Baseball’s Salary Cap Debate

(03:39–06:43)

• Caller Mike in LA kicks off with a quick take on MLB's salary cap and how it really serves owners, not competitive balance.
  • “Salary cap has absolutely nothing to do with competitive balance and everything to do with owners dividing profits.” (Mike, 04:14)
• The crew riffs on big spenders vs. small market teams, using the Mets and Dodgers as prime examples.
  • “Spending money doesn’t always work. I’m a Mets fan. We’ve done that for years. You can’t buy chemistry.” (Rich Davis, 05:42)

2. Prolonged Sports Windows, Superstar Longevity, and Mahomes' Future

(12:21–22:29)

• After “Big Mike’s Words of Wisdom” (see below), the show pivots to the NFL and Patrick Mahomes’ contract restructuring, which frees up $43.5 million in cap space for the Chiefs.
• The central debate: Are the Chiefs’ glory days already behind them, or will Mahomes' sacrifice and new weapons keep them competing annually like Brady’s Patriots and Montana’s 49ers?
  • “The NFL has proven to be a league that changes quickly, but it’s still Patrick Mahomes.” (Steve Covino, 15:07)
  • “For the most part, elite Hall of Fame guys make the playoffs every year. Is that a crazy statement?” (Rich Davis, 16:35)
• The guys discuss how injuries, roster churn, and rising AFC competition (Chargers, Raiders, Broncos) might mean the Chiefs’ dominance could ebb sooner than fans expect.
• Audience engagement: Call for listener opinions—are KC still the team to beat?

Notable Quote:

"Spending on the right people is winning, and the Dodgers are doing it."
— Steve Covino (06:31)

3. Big Mike’s Words of Wisdom Segment

(10:21–12:08)

• Weekly bit where “Big Mike” delivers a motivational quote:
  • “Sacrifice hurts because the thing feels good, but growth happens precisely in that discomfort.” (Big Mike, 11:00)
• Listeners who can recite the phrase verbatim win show prizes.
  • Damon from Ohio nails it, winning a prize pack (20:13).

4. Pop Culture Banter—Celebrity Birthdays & Nostalgia

(07:06–09:39)

• The team enjoys guessing the ages of John Travolta and Vanna White, sidetracking into 1980s childhood nostalgia and humorous stories about Vanna.
• Also recognize Dr. Dre's 61st birthday, noting the passage of time for iconic figures.

Memorable Moment:

“Vanna White was on our show, and I was feeling a little under the weather, and she was rubbing my thigh, bro. Rubbing the thigh.”
— Steve Covino (08:09)

Segment Breakdown with Timestamps

Mid-Week Major Segment:

(29:50–39:08) Sammy, in his “fill-in host” role, tosses out recent sports/pop culture headlines for the guys to declare “midweek” (meh) or “major” (must-watch):

• Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano Fight on Netflix
  Major: Both women coming out of retirement, playing into the trend of spectacle fights promoted by Jake Paul & Netflix.

  • “This is a fight that should have, could have, and may have happened years ago ... finally, we’re getting it.” (Steve Covino, 31:39)
  • “I guarantee it’ll break some type of female fight record for sure.” (Rich Davis, 33:18)

• Olympian Eileen Gu Competes for China, Faces Criticism Mid: Born in San Francisco, Gu represents China; the team agrees she’s within the rules, story overblown.

  • “It’s as simple as that.” (Steve Covino, 34:36)

• Tiger Woods Eyes Masters Return at 50
  Major: Even casual fans dial in when Tiger’s on the course.

  • “Tiger Woods related is major. ... Only so many GOATs in this world. If he’s gonna participate one more time ... I want to root for him hard.” (Steve Covino, 35:48)

• Lindsey Vonn Suffers Injury, Loses Dog
  Major: The crew expresses genuine sympathy for Vonn’s devastating combo of injury and her dog's death.

  • “Losing a pet is always the toughest. As they say, when it rains, it pours.” (Steve Covino, 37:43)

Additional Fun/Energy

• The show is filled with laughter, recurring jokes (“Can I buy a D?”—Wheel of Fortune innuendo), quick-witted exchanges, and inside jokes about family, hair products for dads, and more.

  • “I think our dad’s generation ... they comb their hair after the shower and it just dries.” (Rich Davis, 44:03)

• Invites audience engagement: Calls, live chat, and social media activity (06:43; 11:30; 51:10).

Sidebars

• Banters about collectibles as investments: The hosts note Logan Paul selling a rare Pokémon card for over $16M (46:27–48:35).
• Rumor Watch: A brief rumor segment about Kirk Cousins possibly reuniting with the Vikings, lightly debated but left open-ended (48:51–51:10).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “You can’t buy chemistry. It’s buying the right people.” — Rich Davis (05:42)
• “Sacrifice hurts because the thing feels good, but growth happens precisely in that discomfort.” — Big Mike (11:00)
• “For the most part, elite hall-of-fame guys make the playoffs every year. Is that a crazy statement?” — Rich Davis (16:35)
• On Logan Paul & Pokémon: “He bought a card for 5 million, 5 plus million. And they sold it for 16 plus million, let alone a stupid Pokémon card.” — Steve Covino (47:14)
• “If you watched Man in the Arena ... you realize that that early Patriots team he won with, I don’t think there was like one common roster member from the later Brady team.” — Rich Davis (19:04)

Closing

The hour blends hardcore sports talk (Mahomes’ contract, NFL dynasties), universal pop culture themes (Tiger Woods, Rousey-Carano), and plenty of jokes and banter. Key takeaways include the ever-volatile state of NFL success, the questionable staying power of sports dynasties, and the feel-good value of growth—both literal and figurative. Covino & Rich’s engaging energy keeps the discussion light but thoughtful—perfect for sports fans and casual listeners alike.

Suggested Listening

• [Midweek Major Segment - 29:50]
• [Big Mike’s Words of Wisdom - 10:21]
• [Mahomes Contract & Chiefs Dynasty Debate - 12:21–22:29]
• [Pop Culture Banter, Birthdays - 07:06–09:39]