The Pat McAfee Show 2.0 – Episode 1507

Franchise Tag Deadline Day, World Baseball Classic Hype, and Mikaela Shiffrin Joins the Show

Date: March 3, 2026
Host: Pat McAfee (A), with AJ Hawk (E), Darius Butler (G), Toxic Table, Tone Digs (C), and guests Jeff Passan (H), 3x Olympic Gold Medalist Mikaela Shiffrin (F), and Adam Schefter (I).

Episode Overview

This episode of The Pat McAfee Show blends NFL franchise tag deadline day discussion, rising World Baseball Classic excitement, exclusive insight from ESPN baseball insider Jeff Passan, and an inspirational interview with skier Mikaela Shiffrin. Plus, Adam Schefter checks in live with up-to-the-moment NFL news, and the crew breaks down the latest on combine rumors, player movement, and more.

Key Topics & Discussion Points

1. NFL Franchise Tag Deadline: Explaining the Stakes

Timestamps: 00:00 – 13:08; 74:37 – 93:47

• Main Points:

  • Pat details what the franchise tag is, its upsides (guaranteed money for the player) and downsides (limits long-term security).
  • Personal story: Getting tagged as a punter, celebrating the payout, and understanding other positions have more risk.
  • Multiple big names up for the tag as the 4pm deadline approaches: Breece Hall (tagged again by the Jets), Kenneth Walker (not tagged by the Seahawks and set for free agency), Daniel Jones (likely to be transition-tagged by the Colts).
  • Adam Schefter joins with live updates. He explains the difference between the franchise and transition tag:

    “Franchise tag basically kills any chance that a player has to move on ... Transition tag, another team could sign Daniel Jones to an offer sheet and the Colts could match.” – Adam Schefter (76:29)

  • The case of Trey Hendrickson and the Bengals gets attention—a complicated relationship finally ending as he heads to market (150:49).
  • Conversation on how the “Super Bowl tax” and cap realities lead teams like Seattle to let stars walk.

• Memorable Quote:

  “Players are getting guaranteed some money, teams are restricting free agency, and hopefully term deals will be struck. We shall see. Guys will be pissed...” – Pat (01:01)

2. World Baseball Classic: Team USA Hype and Behind-the-Scenes

Timestamps: 02:28 – 31:02; 15:14 – 31:02; 120:20 – 126:23

• Main Points:
  • Pat and crew attended Team USA baseball practice—sharing anecdotes about how massive and talented the players are, their camaraderie, and the thrill of watching batting practice.
  • Jeff Passan breaks down why this is the most stacked Team USA roster ever:

    “It is unquestionably the most stacked team. ... When you look at this lineup ... that’s a bunch of 1,2,3 hitters.” – Jeff Passan (16:15)

  • The importance of recruiting Aaron Judge, and how pitching is finally a strength (Logan Webb, Paul Skenes, Tarek Skubal—though Skubal is limited, likely for contract reasons).
  • Behind the scenes: players' pride in the effort, the 10-run and 15-run mercy rule, and MLB’s open-arms approach to McAfee and crew.
  • Passan on WBC: “What it all comes down to, this tournament needs to create moments. ... If they do, it’s got real long-term health and sustainability.” (27:18)
  • Fun moments: Pat’s attempt at pitching (and soreness!) and being coached by legends like Andy Pettitte. “Pitching’s hard, man. ... Everything hurts today.” – Pat (05:49)
  • Banter about possible new traditions, like how to flex gold medals or use them as “belt buckles.”

3. Olympic Inspiration: Mikaela Shiffrin Interview

Timestamps: 45:01 – 65:08

• Main Points:
  • Pat introduces Mikaela Shiffrin as “the greatest alpine slalom skier in history,” and the crew expresses awe at her sustained excellence.
  • Shiffrin explains the grind of professional skiing, being on the circuit from age 15, and racking up wins (“I have 8 or 9 reindeers as race prizes!” – Shiffrin, 47:49).
  • Detailed discussion on the difference between technical and speed events, Mikaela’s rivalry/friendship with Lindsey Vonn, and the depth of Team USA’s women’s ski team.
  • On Beijing 2022 disappointment:

    “It’s that cliché ... you have to have the rain to have the sunshine. ... I would not have gotten to this level without Beijing.” – Mikaela Shiffrin (55:53)

  • Her mental battles: “I had to shut off social media entirely. ... Had my psychologist there, my whole team ... all geared towards putting out my very, very best skiing.” (55:53)
  • Mikaela previews her interest in post-skiing life, including starting her own podcast and exploring what comes next, plus the difficulty of retiring from a lifelong sport.
  • Light-hearted segment brainstorming ways to display her medals (Headband? Belt buckle? “I’ll come back to you for more ideas”—Mikaela, 60:45)

4. NFL Combine Rumors, Draft Scuttlebutt, and Media Literacy

Timestamps: 31:02 – 41:20; 96:38 – 105:27

• Main Points:
  • The crew addresses recent rumors about top draft prospect Caleb Downs’ health, calling out how these reports are often unfounded and how teams or agents might leak misinformation.
  • Reinforces that, according to multiple teams, “there is no significant concern with the knee” (34:00).
  • Darius, Tone Digs, and Pat use the Downs saga to talk about how NFL teams try to manipulate narratives before the draft.
  • Adam Schefter offers insight from the insider’s perspective about how stories get sourced, and how not all leaks come from agents or teams:

    “The point is, stories often and usually don’t come from where people think. Sometimes they do, but more often than not, they don’t.” – Schefter (101:15)

  • Entertaining side-conversations about Pittsburgh’s draft setup (the “Carnegie Science Center” stories), local meteorology legends, and Pittsburgh sandwiches.

5. Other Notable NFL News & Offseason Player Movement

Timestamps: 105:27 – 147:03

• Main Points:
  • Free agency frenzy preview—Schefter will join McAfee’s show for live coverage, with the ESPN department and extra personalities flying in.
  • Discussion of what the QB carousel looks like, especially for the Vikings and Colts (Daniel Jones, Malik Willis, Tua, Kyler, rumors around Aaron Rodgers, etc.).
  • Kenneth Walker’s Super Bowl MVP was let go by the Seahawks (“Tough one to let a Super Bowl MVP walk ... but I trust John Schneider.” – Pat, 93:24)
  • Trey Hendrickson’s long-awaited freedom from the Bengals and the path to a payday.
  • Mike Evans’ likely departure and what he could mean to other contenders.
  • Miscellaneous NFL combine betting, the future of young QBs, the Vikings’ “JJ” (McCarthy) conundrum.
  • New stories break in real-time, e.g., Drew Dalman’s surprising retirement at age 27 from the Bears (157:45).

6. Life, Sports, and Show Culture

Timestamps: Interspersed throughout

• Sports as the Great Unifier: Multiple affirmations that sports—despite flaws—are “the best thing we have, athletes should be celebrated” (67:06).
• Olympics and sports as life-prep:

  “Force your kids to play sports. ... It should be a necessity. ... Buy into your role, deal with people you don’t like to accomplish a goal.” – (70:01)

• Team USA Baseball Hospitality: Pat and the crew relish how warmly they were treated by Team USA and MLB, underscoring how sports’ camaraderie extends even to outsiders.
• Recurring humor and running bits: Yapping (talking), regional food debates, bowling segment banter, and playful brainstorming for new show segments (like the “Thunderdome’s World's Greatest”).

Notable Quotes & Standout Moments

• Passan on Baseball Fandom (18:10):

  “Baseball is a game for everyone. ... You fan the way you want to fan.”

• Shiffrin on Perseverance (55:53):

  “It’s not always going to be gold, gold medals. ... When you’re in the trenches, you just have to keep slugging.”

• Pat on Daniel Jones’ Impact in Indy (168:36):

  “What Daniel Jones did for us, man, he saved an entire football city ... his talent was outrageous.”

• On Sports’ Cultural Value (69:04):

  “What athletes do and what sports can do for societies and communities is just so damn special. … Sports are the greatest.”

Key Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:00–04:00: Franchise Tag deadline explained, Pat’s story
• 06:00–08:30: Team USA baseball camp tales
• 13:08: Jeff Passan joins, state of Team USA
• 16:15: Why Team USA WBC is “most stacked ever”
• 26:33: WBC as the “Olympics” for baseball; sustainability of the event
• 45:01: Mikaela Shiffrin interview begins
• 47:49: “I have eight or nine reindeer.” – Mikaela
• 55:53: Shiffrin on Beijing disappointment and mental health
• 65:08: Break – Adam Schefter segment begins
• 74:37: Shefter live franchise tag/transition tag explainer
• 120:20: Recapping Team USA experience, behind-the-scenes
• 150:49: Trey Hendrickson released into free agency
• 157:45: Bears center Drew Dalman retires at 27
• 168:36: Pat on Daniel Jones’ meaning to the Colts

Summary for Non-Listeners

This episode is a vibrant, fast-moving plunge into “deadlines and dreams” across sports:

• NFL Insiders’ day: Major NFL names get tagged or cut, with Adam Schefter’s live input making the show the hub for up-to-the-minute news and contract intricacies.
• World Baseball Classic excitement: Pat’s first-hand experiences at Team USA camp highlight both the immense talent assembled and America’s revived affection for international baseball, bolstered by commentary from Jeff Passan.
• Mikaela Shiffrin shines: The Olympic legend delivers a candid, inspiring interview about handling expectations, overcoming heartbreak, and loving her sport—all while ribbing the crew about their “yapping.”
• Media smarts: The crew shows how to parse real news from smokescreens around the combine and the draft.
• Culture, community, and fun: Whether they’re breaking down contracts, brainstorming medal uses, or debating bowling alleys, the show’s unfiltered, joyous sports banter is always on display.

If you missed the episode, catch up knowing you’ll get informed, entertained, and reminded why sports matter—on the field and off.