All articles tagged with #pat mcafee
Pat McAfee returned to SmackDown, blasted CM Punk, and announced a 25% ticket discount for WrestleMania Saturday. Cody Rhodes clashed with him, while Randy Orton and Jelly Roll set the stage for WrestleMania chaos, with McAfee driving off with Cody Rhodes’s WWE Championship.
Damian Priest criticized WWE's Pat McAfee storyline with Randy Orton on SmackDown, calling it 'sucks' and saying many in the locker room weren’t happy. He argued the PG show could still elevate talent without McAfee’s profanity-laden appearances and questioned the benefit to other wrestlers, noting the storyline felt unnecessary to him.
Pat McAfee’s controversial promos dominate SmackDown as Nick Aldis positions himself as the fan’s voice and teases Roll vs. McAfee; Cody Rhodes defends the crowd while McAfee targets Punk and others, setting up potential conflicts. The show also features Jade Cargill vs. Iyo Sky, Alexa Bliss vs. Bayley, a Danhausen win with Kit Wilson, and Drew McIntyre–style beatdowns, plus Sami Zayn and Trick Williams interactions. The overall feeling is a confusing booking direction, yielding a D+ grade from the recap.
WWE is reworking SmackDown plans following the Pat McAfee storyline, with changes to upcoming episodes’ lineup and segments.
SmackDown from San Jose builds toward WrestleMania 42 with Pat McAfee promising a MASSIVE SURPRISE to buoy the Orton-Cody Rhodes main event, while Rhodes vows to strike back after last week's chair beatdown. The show is expected to feature the debut of Royce Keys, payback angles for Sami Zayn, and various setup segments as WWE pushes multiple WrestleMania storylines including Drew McIntyre vs. Jacob Fatu and several match-builds for the weekend.
Pat McAfee’s SmackDown promo, critical of Mania ticket sales and ratings, reportedly wasn’t written by WWE’s creative team and was influenced by Ari Emanuel; Meltzer notes McAfee may have authored the lines himself with Christian Sowell listed as the writer of record, while Triple H was reportedly unaware of the specifics. Nick Khan was present, and WWE could pivot from previous Mania plans, though a Randy Orton & Pat McAfee vs. Cody Rhodes & Jelly Roll match is still being discussed for Backlash.
ESPN faced backlash after featuring WWE star The Miz on its Masters broadcast alongside longtime reporter Laura Rutledge, with fans accusing the network of degrading the event by spotlighting non-golf celebrities; Augusta National previously denied Pat McAfee a studio spot, and another non-golfer, Jason Kelce, appeared at the Par 3 Contest, prompting further social-media anger about coverage choices.
Pat McAfee’s show turns heated as he presses ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky on why he ranks Ty Simpson above Fernando Mendoza as the top NFL draft quarterback, challenging his reliance on anonymous GM opinions and a tape-versus-traits approach. Orlovsky defends his stance, while McAfee questions the data, citing Mendoza’s college success and pointing out inconsistencies in the arguments (including a disputed Big Ten Championship detail). The segment also touches on agency ties and social-media chatter about payoffs, highlighting how contentious Mendoza vs. Simpson has become ahead of the draft.
Pat McAfee questions the Ravens’ handling of the botched Maxx Crosby trade after Crosby says he didn’t meet the team’s GM during a five-hour visit; Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio adds a conspiracy theory that the Raiders may have orchestrated the debacle to drive Crosby’s interest, a notion that sits alongside the Raiders’ own post-deal statements and ongoing speculation about the failed deal.
Aaron Rodgers said on Pat McAfee that there have been no “progressive conversations” with the Steelers about a 2026 return, with no contract offers or deadlines in place. He’s undecided on playing next season and remains open to talks down the line, but the Steelers have not pressed for a decision and have moved ahead with other options while Rodgers waits to see what comes next in free agency.
The Steelers included Pat McAfee in their vetting of Mike McCarthy, with McAfee praising McCarthy’s preparation and engagement on his show. McCarthy was one of three in-person interview candidates (alongside Anthony Weaver and Brian Flores) and ultimately won the job after leaving the Cowboys; how much McAfee’s input influenced the decision remains unclear.
Pat McAfee surprised Team USA by picking up a $150,000 champagne tab at E11EVEN Miami to celebrate the hockey team’s gold-medal win over Canada, with players seen partying and champagne flowing as McAfee praised the squad in a video; the week also featured a viral Trump call and a White House appearance by some players.
Bills coach Joe Brady said he regrets the way he described wanting Josh Allen to throw a pick during practice on The Pat McAfee Show, stressing he’s a head coach who aims to spur competition for all units; he reaffirmed the regret on the Fitz & Whit podcast, noting the comment didn’t reflect his respect for Allen after Buffalo’s season-ending loss in which Allen committed four turnovers.
Pat McAfee on The Pat McAfee Show floated that President Donald Trump’s planned attendance at the CFP National Championship in Miami could delay kickoff and pregame due to heightened security at Hard Rock Stadium, potentially impacting ESPN’s broadcast; the Indiana–Miami title game is set to start around 7:50 p.m. EST with pregame at 7:30 p.m.
Travis Kelce reacts to Pat McAfee's pregnancy announcement while the Chiefs, struggling at 6-6, prepare for their next game against the Texans, as Kelce continues to excel in his season and personal life.