The Pat McAfee Show 2.0 Episode 1391 - August 19, 2025

Host: AJ Hawk (in for Pat McAfee)
Guests: Daniel Jeremiah, Adam Schefter, Marty Smith, Darius Butler, Tone Diggs, Ty Schmidt, The Toxic Table

Overview

This episode focuses on seismic news in the NFL world just weeks before the season:

• Daniel Jones is named the Indianapolis Colts’ starting quarterback over former top pick Anthony Richardson.
• Adam Schefter shares breaking insight on a looming “ugly divorce” between Micah Parsons and the Dallas Cowboys.
• Daniel Jeremiah joins for deep analysis of preseason standouts, QB battles, under-the-radar teams, and draft outlooks.
• Marty Smith drops in with college football flavor and vivid anecdotes about SEC stories, coaching changes, and legendary athletes.

The crew, including Darius Butler, Tone Diggs, and Ty Schmidt, weave together insider perspectives, player mentality, locker room dynamics, and signature banter throughout.

Key Segments & Discussion Points

1. Daniel Jones Named Colts Starter

Timestamps: 00:00 – 12:14; 69:53 – 79:12; Commentary throughout

• AJ Hawk opens with the news: Daniel Jones, not Anthony Richardson, will start for the Colts. “Football, it's what we do. It's August 19th. Sometimes people think there's not a lot to talk about in the football world, but guess what? There is.” (00:05)
• Darius Butler (Colts alum): Not shocked, but surprised: “AR, I felt like it was probably his job to lose ... But this decision? Made with that in mind, consistency was a big thing for Shane [Steichen] ... Daniel Jones is our guy going forward.” (01:05)
• Tone Diggs: Notes Colts Twitter is outraged, interpreting this as admitting the AR pick was a “waste,” setting back the franchise.
• Further breakdown:
  • Coach Steichen says Jones is QB for the full season, causing fan frustration.
  • The hosts agree: if the team struggles, Richardson will likely get snaps.
  • Parallels to Baker Mayfield, Geno Smith, Sam Darnold—QBs reviving careers in new spots.
  • Locker room dynamics: “It is good ... you hate not really having that direction, not really knowing who your guy is. But now you have to think about AR’s development without game reps.” (10:00)
• Adam Schefter (70:09): The Colts paid Jones serious money; “From the moment Daniel Jones signed, I thought he had a clear cut advantage ... Let's follow the money.”
• Daniel Jeremiah: Not shocked; “He was going to have to be significantly better than Daniel Jones [to win job]. The preseason, I didn't think there was a huge gap ... you could kind of see this swinging towards Daniel Jones.” (12:33)

Notable Quote:
“Daniel Jones is our guy going forward.” – Darius Butler (01:55)

2. Micah Parsons & Cowboys Looming Divorce

Timestamps: 58:56 – 75:23

• Ty Schmidt/AJ Hawk set up: Adam Schefter recently said Parsons and the Cowboys “are headed for an ugly divorce.”
• Schefter (65:27; 66:50):
  • “It feels more likely these sides are headed for a divorce today than they would be for a new deal.”
  • Outlines that Parsons and Dallas haven't talked since March. There’s mutual frustration after Jerry Jones thought he had a “handshake deal” without agent involvement. No contract talks. Parsons requested a trade.
  • Likely scenario: plays on fifth-year option, gets franchise tagged, then traded after the season.
  • “All of a sudden talks restart... My point is, and I could be wrong, I don’t see this getting done. I see this headed in a different direction.” (68:55)
• Panel Reaction: Stunned, referencing how rare it is for Jerry Jones to move on from a cornerstone pass rusher.
• Butler: “There aren’t many people on that list who will be what Micah Parsons has been... pass rushers, they never become available. Not guys like this. So this is wild.”

Notable Quote:
“It feels more likely that these sides are headed for a divorce today than they would be for a new deal.” – Adam Schefter (66:50)

3. Daniel Jeremiah on Preseason, QB Battles, and Breakouts

Timestamps: 12:21 – 35:30; 58:23 – 94:09

Preseason Reality

• “Preseason is a liar ... every single year people take something from the preseason and run with it; then there ends up being absolutely nothing to it.” (13:34)
• “With QBs, you can see: is the game too fast?... Sometimes the stats can be misleading, but the pace and poise matter.” (13:53)

Quarterback Battles

• New Orleans: Tyler Shuck vs. Spencer Rattler. “I’d go with Shuck. I think there’s more to dream on. [They’re] not a playoff team—let’s see what we have.” (19:11)
• New York Giants: Russell Wilson vs. Jackson Dart. “I think this is a year we see more Dart than Wilson.” (20:58)
• Noted the frequency of high-draft QBs finding success in new spots: “We see more of these scenarios... QBs who were once high picks go on to have some level of success elsewhere.” (79:12)

Next QB Draft Class & Top College Names

• “I popped on Sellers ... I was like, holy crud. This dude is impressive ... he’s going to be really exciting to watch.” (22:55)
• “Nuss is just real efficient.”
• Explained why Arch Manning likely stays in college another year.

Under-the-radar NFL Teams

• “Looking over rosters ... who are most improved? New England was up there. But I'll say this about Pittsburgh: that defense could be best in NFL. Darnell Washington could be a Pro Bowl tackle. There’s just not many guys that big that can move like that.” (31:46; 32:34)

Notable Quotes:

• “Preseason is a liar.” – Daniel Jeremiah (13:34)
• “In three years, [Darnell Washington] ... could be a Pro Bowl tackle. Your finances will thank you.” – Daniel Jeremiah (32:37)
• “[Sellers]...big, physical, can drive the ball, creates. I just ... thought this dude ... is going to be really exciting.” – Daniel Jeremiah (22:55)

4. NFL Roster Moves & Trade Chatter

Timestamps throughout Jeremiah & Schefter segments

• Patriots’ rumored big move for a star (Micah Parsons, McLaurin, Hendrickson): “If you’re gonna go big game hunting, you might as well swing for the fences.”
• Hendrickson status: Bengals only move him “if knocked over with an offer,” and he’s been adamant about not playing on his current contract. (81:07)
• Other positional battles: Discussion of Seattle, LA Rams (Stafford’s health), Raiders’ progress and QB room, Saints still searching.

5. College Football & Marty Smith

Timestamps: 87:25 – 105:18

• On building relationships with college athletes who rise to the NFL: “So many of these young men ... had the blessing of building relationships with [me] while they were playing college football. I’m so invested in their success.” (88:12)
• Coaching hot seats: “First time in a long time, we have 16 head coaches returning to the SEC. You look at a guy like Sam Pittman ... It’s winning is the business.” (91:46)
• On Cam Newton’s Auburn legacy: “That guy was ... an alien. ... This jersey retirement is a long time coming. All he did was win the Heisman, win a national championship, do every single thing you can do individually, and put his team on his shoulders.” (94:30)
  • Relays moving story of Cam Newton visiting a young fan battling cancer: “Those are things not championed enough...That’s my personal experience.”
• Auburn QB discussion: Playing all three QBs Week 1 is a sign “they’re really searching. Not good ... The quarterback superpower is self-confidence, and if you're looking over your shoulder, you don't have that.” (97:14; 99:02)

Notable Quote:
“All Cam did was win the Heisman, win a national championship, do every single thing you can do individually, and put his entire team on his shoulders every single Saturday. That guy was ... an alien.” – Marty Smith (94:30)

6. Signature Banter & Light Moments

Timestamps: Scattered throughout, especially 37:00–48:00 and 115:00 on

• The panel riff on Seahawks’ geographic “invisibility” in the national media
• Extended golf discussion celebrating Scottie Scheffler’s historic run—“He loves to work at golf, and it’s his gift from God, but it is not Scotty’s number one light in life.” – Marty Smith (103:13)
• Lamine Yamal, Barcelona prodigy, gets high praise: “Every time he gets the ball on his foot, the defender is fighting for his life, man.” – Tone Diggs (116:17)
• Savannah Bananas talk: “They know how to sell out huge places.”
• Classic inside-jokes about hydration, NFL stretching routines, locker-room wisdom, and “moral victories” in Euchre.

Memorable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• On the Colts’ QB choice:
  “Daniel Jones is our guy going forward.” – Darius Butler (01:55)
• On preseason evaluations:
  “Preseason is a liar.” – Daniel Jeremiah (13:34)
• On the Micah Parsons situation:
  “It feels more likely that these sides are headed for a divorce today than they would be for a new deal.” – Adam Schefter (66:50)
• On Daniel Jones exceeding expectations:
  “There was a higher opinion of Daniel Jones in the coaching community than there was in the public.” – Adam Schefter (79:12)
• On Cam Newton:
  “All he did was win the Heisman, win a national championship, do every single thing you can do individually, and put his entire team on his shoulders every single Saturday. That guy was ... an alien.” – Marty Smith (94:30)
• On the QB battle in Auburn:
  “Going into a first game with three guys that are going to see action? Not good. Not good at all.” – Marty Smith (98:14)
• On the mental side in football:
  “The quarterback superpower is self-confidence. And if you’re looking over your shoulder, you don’t have that.” – Marty Smith (99:02)

Key Timestamps by Topic

• Colts Name Daniel Jones Starter: 00:00 – 12:14, 69:53 – 79:12
• Micah Parsons/Cowboys Divorce Insight: 58:56 – 75:23
• Daniel Jeremiah on Preseason/QB Battles: 12:21 – 44:36; 58:23 – 94:09
• Marty Smith joins (College/SEC): 87:25 – 105:18
• Schefter on Trey Hendrickson/Bengals: 81:07 – 82:45
• Rams/Stafford health: 23:36 – 24:46
• Under-the-Radar Teams: 31:30 – 33:08
• Golf/Scheffler: 102:21 – 113:38
• Savannah Bananas/sports banter: 123:01 – 127:57

Episode Tone & Flow

The discussion is electric but informed, featuring a seamless blend of deep NFL/CFB analysis, veteran locker-room perspective, and the type of loose, relatable fun that defines The Pat McAfee Show. Guests’ expert insights land with authenticity—whether scooping breaking news, dropping technical football wisdom, or sharing moving behind-the-scenes athlete stories. The crew’s camaraderie and chemistry keep it moving, making even heated debates and fan frustration feel grounded and entertaining.

For Listeners Who Missed the Episode

This episode delivers essential NFL insider perspective as season-defining drama unfolds for the Colts and Cowboys, plus everything you need to know about risers, fallers, and potential “next Geno Smith” stories across the league. With the college football season on the horizon, Marty Smith’s stories and perspective offer a perfect bridge from preseason to kickoff.

If you want the story behind the headlines—how big QB decisions are made, why Micah Parsons might really be on the way out, and what locker rooms are like after those decisions—this episode is a must-listen. All the big questions, debated with rare humor and insider candor.