Pardon My Take – Episode Summary

Podcast: Pardon My Take
Date: October 24, 2025
Hosts: Big Cat & PFT Commenter (Barstool Sports)
Main Guest: Zack Martin (Future Hall of Fame Dallas Cowboys Guard)

Overview

This episode of Pardon My Take was packed with signature banter, sports analysis, and topical controversy. The show featured 9-time Pro Bowl and 7-time All-Pro guard Zack Martin in studio, wide-ranging NFL Week 8 picks and previews, a deep dive into a breaking NBA gambling scandal, a discussion of Carson Wentz’s painful Thursday Night Football debacle, and the always-chaotic “Fyre Fest of the Week.” The episode also included spirited debate about gambling, running back rankings, play-calling mishaps, and the deeply unappreciated nature of offensive line play.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Thursday Night Football: Carson Wentz’s Collapse

• Theme: Sympathy for much-maligned QB Carson Wentz after a brutal performance.
  • "After watching Thursday Night Football, I can officially say I feel bad for Carson Wentz." – Big Cat (03:11)
  • Wentz speculated to have a dislocated shoulder or labrum, struggled to stay in the game, looked in pain and defeated on the bench.
  • The hosts marvel at how often he gets sacked—“one of the most sackable QBs”—and break down his tendency to turtle rather than escape sacks.
  • Vikings, who have played the easiest schedule so far, now have the hardest stretch coming up.
  • Soft-benching QB J.J. McCarthy discussed as likely.

Timestamp: 02:51–08:15

2. Chargers’ Resurgence and Betting Outlook

• Key players like Joe Alt returning make the Chargers look like a new team, able to run the ball (207 yds rushing).
• Discussion whether it’s worth a flier to take the Chargers at long Super Bowl odds given their upcoming favorable schedule.
  • “When they're healthy... there are still a very good football team.” – PFT (08:49)

Timestamp: 08:15–09:01

3. NBA Gambling Scandal: Legality, Mafia, and Alleged X-ray Tables

• Breaking News: Widespread NBA gambling and poker scandal involving players Terry Rozier and Chauncey Billups.
  • Zach Onto, the show's legal expert, anticipates news will get bigger: “I think there's going to be a lot more guys ... Not looking good.” (09:37)
  • Reports of “X-ray table” tech used for cheating, automatic shufflers, and mafia involvement.
  • Debated whether legal sports gambling caused or simply exposed the scandal; acknowledged legal betting makes tracking prop betting easier.
  • Discussion of sweeping consequences, possible lifetime bans, and Adam Silver’s potential responses.
  • The social fallout for Italian Americans and mafia stereotypes is lampooned.

Memorable Quotes:

• “If the X-ray table situation is true—scumbag behavior.” – Zach Onto (09:54)
• “Windhorst said the NBA has been trying to sweep this under the rug.” – PFT (11:49)
• “I think you’d have to be a world class idiot to be on an NBA roster gambling $20k on your props.” – Big Cat (12:53)

Timestamp: 09:01–23:04

4. World Series and MLB Banter

• Marlins Man texts, offers to call from the World Series.
• Hosts give World Series picks (most on Dodgers) and discuss Toronto’s “different” 7th inning stretch ("Okay Blue Jays, Let's Play Ball").
• Notable banter about celebrity fans, city spirit, and the vibe for international baseball.

Timestamp: 23:20–27:06

5. NFL Week 8 Picks & Preview

Trends and Betting Nuggets:

• NFC domination over AFC against the spread (26–12 so far).
  • “If it’s going poorly, you become a fan of your division. If it’s really poorly, your conference.” – Big Cat (31:43)
• National Tight End Day is this week – last year, 15 tight ends scored.

Highlighted Games

• Dolphins at Falcons ("Soft Benching" Season)
  • Tua’s struggles (multiple INTs, possibly too short to see linebackers), Falcons’ RBs set to have a field day.
  • Introduction of “soft benching”—a discussed trend where QBs sit for ambiguous "injuries."
  • “You gotta know when to walk away from the table.” – The hosts, re: Wentz and Tua (05:25)
• Jets at Bengals
  • Dread and dysfunction for Jets: Owner Woody Johnson publicly calls out the QB; Justin Fields in the “not your fault” zone; total chaos over QB choice (Tyrod Taylor day-to-day).
  • “He basically doing the Robin Williams ‘not your fault’ in Good Will Hunting every single day after every game.” – Big Cat (40:21)
• Browns at Patriots
  • Patriots hype train; Browns characterized as best "good bad team"; rookie QBs and offense inefficiency discussed.
• Eagles vs Giants
  • Max anxious after their last matchup; A.J. Brown’s enigmatic dissatisfaction (“using me, but not using me”); Jalen Hurts’ relentless coach-speak (“Control the things you can and move forward.” – Jalen Hurts, 58:22).
  • The show's running “fortune cookie or Jalen Hurts quote” segment.

Timestamp (Week 8 games throughout): 27:34–75:30 (interspersed with ads/banter)

6. Running Back Rankings—Fan Outrage and Philosophy

• Bijan Robinson’s missed tackles highlighted, fans angered when omitted from “top RB” discussions.
  • Hosts poke fun at how their spur-of-the-moment rankings always miss someone obvious.

Timestamp: 36:39–38:40

7. Offensive Line Play, Holds, and Sacks—The Zack Martin Interview

Main themes:

• Zack Martin described being a day-one AWL (“AWLs know we’ll miss a really obvious name—gotcha.” – PFT, 38:14).
• Fascinating details of Cowboys culture: Jerry Jones negotiations, McCarthy’s infamous “watermelon smashing,” and inside stories on Romo, Dak, and practice hijinks.
• On having just seven accepted holding calls in 11 seasons: “I could just get out of terrible situations.” – Zack Martin (139:31)
• The human side of O-line play, his favorite battles, and the satisfaction of wearing teams down with the same run play.
• Notably, he’s never touched the ball in 11 years of NFL play except for fumble recoveries, and his “Pinstripe Bowl MVP” trophy lies at the bottom of a lake.

Memorable Quotes:

• “I do not have [the MVP trophy] anymore. It is at the bottom of a lake. Not intentionally.” – Zack Martin (121:08)
• On Dak: “Guys in that building play for that guy ... he is the absolute best.” (134:02)
• “When things are rolling down there [in Dallas], it’s great. It’s those dog days when you’re losing… everyone’s on edge.” (131:21)

Timestamp: 118:36–173:36

8. Fyre Fest of the Week

• Hank: The “vibes” are bad—end of golf season, days are short, “winter is coming,” Chicago bracing for the coldest winter in 30 years.
• PFT & Big Cat: Realizing they’re physically breaking down from football season and excessive ice cream after getting roasted in a recent video.
• Zach Onto: Kicked out mid-season from a fantasy football league, claims due to a “corrupt commissioner” after an injury lineup snafu (189:19). Outrage and group therapy from the hosts.

Memorable Moments:

• “I might actually move to Hawaii. If Hank misses one second of a London game, we all have to move back.” – Big Cat/PFT (179:22)
• “We all say things we don’t mean…” – Zach Onto, on blaming the office ice cream machine for weight gain (184:04)

Timestamp: 175:01–194:31

Notable Quotes & Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |-----------|-----------------|--------| | 03:11 | Big Cat | “After watching Thursday Night Football, I can officially say I feel bad for Carson Wentz.” | | 09:54 | Zach Onto | “Official statement: really not looking good. And if the X-ray table situation is true — scumbag behavior.” | | 11:49 | PFT Commenter | “Windhorst said the NBA has been trying to sweep this under the rug.” | | 12:53 | Big Cat | “I think you’d have to be a world class idiot to be on an NBA roster… and gamble your props.” | | 31:43 | Big Cat | “If it’s going poorly, you become a fan of your division. If it’s going really poorly, you just become a fan of your conference.” | | 58:22 | Jalen Hurts | “Control the things you can and move forward.” | | 103:35 | Big Cat | “Permission to put on my tinfoil hat?” |

Timestamps – Important Segments

• Thursday Night Football/Carson Wentz: 02:51–08:15
• NBA Gambling Scandal & Legal Fallout: 09:01–23:04
• World Series Banter & Picks: 23:20–27:06
• NFL Week 8 Picks (various games): 27:34–75:30
• Running Back Rankings & Audience Outrage: 36:39–38:40
• Zack Martin Interview: 118:36–173:36
• Fyre Fest of the Week: 175:01–194:31

Tone & Style

The episode embodies Pardon My Take’s blend of irreverent sports humor (laced with inside jokes for “AWLs”), sharp topical commentary, and surprisingly astute football analysis—railing against “low IQ” sports takes and leveraging their rapport for unpredictable, enjoyable radio.

For listeners:
Whether or not you’ve tuned in, this episode gives a window into NFL culture (from Hall of Fame O-line play to the state of gambling in locker rooms), provides actionable fantasy betting trends, and showcases why PMT’s chemistry—equal parts “loudest and most correct sports takes,” self-mockery, and audience closeness—is so enduring.