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Big Cat
Hey, pardon my take listeners. You can find every episode on Apple podcasts, Spotify or YouTube Prime. Members can listen ad free on Amazon Music. Hey, this is Fran from Chicks in the Office. YPB Abercrombie's active line just dropped a ton of new things for the new year to build your routine around YPB's newest fabric. Studio Flex is buttery, soft and perfect for your studio girl lifestyle. It comes in leggings, tops, these amazing skort dresses is I'll be wearing YPB Studio Flex to my next yoga class. I'm not someone who sets resolutions, so I love that YPB by Abercrombie is made to bring your personal best all year long. Add YPB to your routine. Shop online or in store on today's part of my take. We are back in studio. The boys are back. We have our good friend Mike Florio on the show talking some coaches firings. Open, open positions, who's going where. Great talk with him. A couple conspiracies as well. We are going to talk college football playoffs. Then we have our weekend Preview for week 18 and then we'll finish with some fyre fest before we do that. DraftKings it's the most wonderful time of the year for getting in on all the hoops, football and hockey action at DraftKings Sportsbook. In the season of giving, we're being gifted college football and basketball, pro football and basketball and pro hockey too. Almost 24 7. So many games every day. So many opportunities to place your first bet. Try betting on something simple like picking a team to win. Go to the DraftKings sportsbook app and place your bet. And here's a gift for all new customers. Bet $5 to get 150 in bonus bets if your bet wins. Download the DraftKings sportsbook app and use code TAKE. That's code TAKE for new customers to get 150 in bonus bets if your bet wins when you bet just five bucks. Happy holidays from DraftKings. The crown is yours. Gambling problem. Call 1-800-Gambler in New York, call 877-8-Hopeny or text hopeny 467-369 in Connecticut. Help is available for problem gambling. Call 888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org Please play responsibly on behalf of Boothill Casino and Resort in Kansas, 21 and over. Age and eligibility varies by jurisdiction. Void in Ontario. Bet must win to receive Reward. Bonus bets expire 160. For additional terms and responsible gaming resources, see DKNG Co FTBall. Okay, let's go. Welcome to part of my take presented by DraftKings. Download the DraftKings sports for cap. Use code TAKE. That's code TAKE for new customers to get 150 in bonus bets. If your bet wins when you bet just five bucks. Happy holidays from DraftKings. The crown is yours. Today is Friday, January 3rd, and the SEC is dead.
PFT Commenter
So is buys.
Big Cat
Buys are dead.
PFT Commenter
Buys are dead.
Big Cat
Buys are dead.
PFT Commenter
Rest first. Rust has been settled.
Big Cat
The SEC is dead. We have three Big Ten teams in a Big 12 team in the. In the semifinals. Yeah.
PFT Commenter
Texas represent the Big 12.
Big Cat
Yep.
PFT Commenter
What a Big 12 matchup that was.
Big Cat
Notre Dame is. Is. Is a honorary Big Ten team. But yeah, we had. Listen, this was the college football. I. I know that not every game. The Boise State. Penn State game wasn't super thrilling, but it was actually a pretty close game.
PFT Commenter
It started out bad.
Big Cat
Yeah. It was in doubt for 50 minutes and the Rose bowl was a shit kicking by Ohio State. But man, Texas, Arizona State was an instant classic. Notre Dame, Georgia had some good drama. College football might be back. Should we talk about each game?
PFT Commenter
Yeah.
Big Cat
Boise, Penn State. Let's start there, Max. Penn State wins. It got a little Andy Kotelniki. Some of his play calling was very frustrating if you're a Penn State fan, because it did feel like Penn State could just run the ball down their throat if they wanted to. And they're like, nah, let's just. Let's bomb this on third and short.
PFT Commenter
At the start of the game. It just seemed like they could big boy him all day.
Big Cat
Yeah.
PFT Commenter
And then there was some little boy ass play for Max.
Big Cat
Yes. Some little boy ass play.
Max
A lot of drop. A lot of drop passes. K. Tron Allen could have run. He could have run for like 190 yards in that game if they really tried to. And that's what most Penn State fans, I think, were wanting for most of the game. But whatever. It got a little like. It never got like, nervous nervous, but it got like, why aren't we beating the fuck out of this team? Nervous.
Big Cat
Never.
PFT Commenter
It never got to the point where it became a big game.
Max
Correct.
Big Cat
No. Yeah. Penn State is in semifinals.
Max
That it was a big game because, you know, emotions in the game.
Big Cat
I'm getting mad and I'm like, that happens to you. Yeah.
PFT Commenter
Between the lines, things happen. Shout out Tyler Crow. Low man trophy winner. Got a touchdown.
Big Cat
Yes.
PFT Commenter
All the haters out there that said that he wasn't worthy. Suck my dick.
Big Cat
He got a touchdown in the college football Quarterfinals. And as for Boise, I mean this is the part of like it was very clear that they had to play a perfect game to win that game. Just by like the, the matchups in the trenches. I actually thought, like, I know there was a lot of memes going around about Ash and Genti. I thought he was like, there was a bunch of times where he got the ball and it would have been a loss or a yard and he found a way to get like 4 or 5 yards. And like, I didn't walk away from that game being like Ashton Genti got like they were keying in on him, basically saying, you can't beat us with the pass. And he still had a couple runs where I was like, holy shit. How did they not bring him down?
PFT Commenter
Yeah, he was shaking off a lot of tackles, but nothing. They, they bottled him up a little bit. They didn't let him because he's had halves like that before where he's not really breaking anything. But then he gets his like 70 yard touchdown.
Big Cat
Right. And I also, I mean the end of the game was. That was a little, that was a little sad by Boise State where they were just trying to get him the record instead. I mean, I know they were down. What were they down? 17. And I know they were like, there's probably no chance but running on first down with two and a half minutes left.
PFT Commenter
Yeah, it didn't make sense.
Big Cat
Was a little sad. It was a little sad. They had no urgency to try to cover the spread for the people.
PFT Commenter
And then so that game happens. Then we wake up on New Year's Day and we, we tune in to Arizona State, Texas, and we thought that just all the college football games were going to be bad.
Big Cat
Yes.
PFT Commenter
In the first half it just seemed like there was no chance. Was the first two offensive plays that Texas had went for six.
Big Cat
Well, no, they got a, they had a punt return.
PFT Commenter
Yeah.
Big Cat
So they had, they had the deep. They had like a, their, their first play from Scrooge was like a 50 yard pass, then a touchdown. And then they had the punt return who was 140 or 143 almost instantly. And we're like, fuck, this sucks. And then Arizona State, Kenny D. And the boys, I mean that was. Scatterbo was like he was puking. He was. Looked like he got bottled up in the first half and then he just did everything.
PFT Commenter
That's when he woke up was after he puked.
Big Cat
He caught a 60 yard pass. He threw a PA. A touch, a touchdown pass. He ran for 102 touchdowns.
PFT Commenter
The sideline reporter Said that he was. He was throwing up profusely on the sidelines. And then the announcers were speculating, well, maybe it's because he hasn't had to play into the fourth quarter a lot recently. Some other people were speculating, well, it is New Year's Day. Who knows what happened last night? Whatever happened, he got better after he puked, which was great. And on that touchdown pass that he threw, did you know that that's not the pass that he was supposed to throw?
Big Cat
I can't. I can believe it.
PFT Commenter
It was designed to be a pass back to the quarterback. And he said, fuck it. I'm going deep.
Big Cat
I mean, he. Arizona State, the way that game started, I've never seen worse body language from a team. Like, you had guys yelling at each other, pushing each other, and then they just kept on crawling back. And like, if you actually look at the stats of that game, Arizona State played better than Texas. Like, they had more yards. They were. They kept on getting to the red zone. Texas just. I don't know what it is, but their. Their defense is so good. And their offense just goes into these dry spells that are like, what. What's happening right now?
PFT Commenter
They got lucky that they ended up. So there was the. The targeting call that confused America.
Big Cat
Yeah.
PFT Commenter
Because nobody knows what targeting is.
Big Cat
No one knows that. No, that was targeted. I feel like.
PFT Commenter
I feel like the rule was created so that the refs have an opportunity to impact a game one way or the other.
Big Cat
Yeah.
PFT Commenter
Where, like, if they. If you want it to be targeting, you can say, okay, that's targeting. This guy's ejected.
Big Cat
Yeah.
PFT Commenter
If you don't want it to be, then you can say no. And everyone's like, well, okay, I guess I don't know what targeting is.
Big Cat
Yeah.
PFT Commenter
Because it's so weird. But the way that it's written, he was defenseless. I think he did lead with the crowd of his helmet.
Big Cat
Yeah.
PFT Commenter
It was like it was above the face mask.
Big Cat
They ended up being face mask to face mask, but it looked like he led with the crowd.
PFT Commenter
Yeah, but ball don't lie. They don't get kick at the end. Shout out to the Arizona State ball girls that walked right in front of the kicker.
Big Cat
Well, and also Sark with one of the weirdest decisions ever to be like, hey, my kicker who just missed a kick, has the biggest kick of his life. I'm going to make him stare into my eyes while I, like, hold his head and tell him everything's gonna be okay. That felt like it might have rattled.
PFT Commenter
So I think that the, the reinforcement was so positive beforehand that the kicker didn't have any fear in him. You have to be a little bit afraid of your rights. Right? Like, kickers were mental midgets. Can we say that?
Big Cat
Yeah.
PFT Commenter
Mental. You, you need to have the. Oh, I'm probably going to get killed by my head coach if I don't make this kick.
Big Cat
Yeah. And Stark was just like doing the. I love you, man. Whatever you do here, we're proud of you. You're Bert Auburn. His face pissed me off.
PFT Commenter
Berts.
Big Cat
Yeah. And his hair.
PFT Commenter
His hair.
Big Cat
Yeah.
PFT Commenter
I got a lot of people saying the hair is too much for kick. I don't disagree.
Big Cat
Yeah.
PFT Commenter
You don't want to stand out at all.
Big Cat
No, you got to be just. You gotta not have any idea, like.
PFT Commenter
Point to the sideline, random creative face.
Big Cat
Okay.
PFT Commenter
Skinny white guy.
Big Cat
Yeah.
PFT Commenter
That's what we're looking for.
Big Cat
And, but Arizona State. Yeah. Like, I wish they had won that game. They balled their ass off.
PFT Commenter
Texas got bailed out with that, that touchdown pass in overtime.
Big Cat
Yeah.
PFT Commenter
That was a Greg Williams special.
Big Cat
Yeah.
PFT Commenter
The zero blitz, was it 4th and 5th, 4th and 13, I think.
Big Cat
Yeah.
PFT Commenter
Don't really understand the play call. I guess they're just like, let's go win it. Let's be aggressive.
Big Cat
And I like, I still think Texas is good. I still, like, I think they'll, their defense can, can give Ohio State some problems. But I just wanted, I wanted Arizona State to win that game so bad.
PFT Commenter
They got to use Isaiah Bond a little bit. Yeah, I know he's coming back from something, but they got to use him a little bit more. Scatter boo. This guy. I fucking love this guy. Yeah, I love, I love him so much. Sean Payton probably will use a first round pick on him because he's like that. That is my new Taysom Hill.
Big Cat
Yeah.
PFT Commenter
That's everything I need out of the guy. He was so fun to watch. He was like, michael, I'll stop. Mixed with John Coon running people over in the backfield. So fun.
Big Cat
He's so fun. He's. He's an electric college football player. He's going to be. I mean, this is a loaded draft for running backs. And then we had the Rose bowl where Ohio State basically played a perfect half of football. That first half was one of the best halves of football I've ever watched by one team. Jeremiah Smith is. I don't know what Oregon, what they spent their bye week doing, but it wasn't scheming up a way to stop Jeremiah Smith.
PFT Commenter
We're Going to make him beat us.
Big Cat
Yeah. And he beat him.
PFT Commenter
Okay.
Big Cat
And he beat him.
PFT Commenter
He beat him. He beat him. By the time most of America started watching the game.
Big Cat
Yeah. And then Dan Lanning. We had a sad punt from Dan Lanning. It was just. That was. That was. Ohio State is just a team on a mission right now. I don't know what else you can say, like they are. As long as they don't have to play Michigan, they are the best team in the country.
PFT Commenter
Do you think Michigan is rooting for Ohio State at this point?
Big Cat
I think if you're a Michigan fan and Michigan fans can chime in and let us know. I think what Michigan fans are rooting for is for Ohio State to get to the national championship and then lose in tragic fashion. Yeah, I think that's probably what they're rooting for because they don't. Because, like, I know the whole. If they win, we could say, well, we beat them. It still is a national title. So I think they want them to get as far as possible and then choke at the end if you. Okay, so like Ryan Day choke.
PFT Commenter
If you're a Michigan fan drawing this up, you want them to get to the national championship and then maybe lose to Penn State.
Big Cat
Yeah, yeah. Or Notre Dame even. Like. Yeah, just be like, Michigan fans would.
PFT Commenter
Would rather Penn State win the national championship than Notre Dame.
Big Cat
Probably. Yes. No, that's. That's a toss up.
PFT Commenter
I don't know, because I. I know Notre Dame's not in the big. They're not in the big. They are, but they're rivalry from.
Big Cat
Yeah, but they. I mean, Michigan and Penn State play almost every year. Notre Dame and Michigan haven't. They. They stopped the rivalry. They haven't played in years.
PFT Commenter
I think they'd rather see Penn State.
Big Cat
I. I think they. I don't know if they would know because Michigan could also be like, oh, Penn State, the Big Ten is the best. Is the best conference. You know, if Penn State wins at all, they're the best conference.
PFT Commenter
That's what I'm saying.
Big Cat
Oh, yeah.
PFT Commenter
I'm saying that they'd rather be State.
Big Cat
Yeah.
PFT Commenter
Maybe beat osu.
Big Cat
I mean, it's. I think it's. You could ask a Michigan fan, they give you a different answer. Yeah, they don't like Notre Dame, but I also think they don't like Penn State. But what are you going to say, Max?
Max
Should we ask Jack?
Big Cat
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Get checking here.
Max
Resident. Resident Michigan fan.
Big Cat
Yeah.
PFT Commenter
So. Yeah, it's.
Big Cat
He's so young, though. I feel like he doesn't even remember Notre Dame and Michigan playing.
PFT Commenter
But it's an added bonus every time Ohio State wins an important game that Michigan gets to be like, yeah. Ever since we beat him.
Big Cat
Yeah. Yeah. Also you to your side. It might be better for James Franklin to like beat Ryan Day. So it's like Ryan Day's brain is fully broken.
PFT Commenter
Then Ryan Day becomes James Franklin.
Big Cat
Yeah. Jack, our resident Michigan fan, one of our behind the scenes guys does a great job. Jack, as a Michigan fan, if it was, what are you rooting for? For Ohio State in the. In this. In this College football playoff.
Hank
So I'm different.
PFT Commenter
I don't want them to win.
Big Cat
Right. Well, I. What I said was I think most Michigan fans are rooting for them to get to the title and then lose in tragic fashion. Yeah, that would be hilarious. Yeah. And then if you were playing Penn State, would you rather Penn State or Notre Dame beat them? Penn State for sure. You'd rather Penn State beat them.
Hank
Yeah.
Big Cat
Okay.
Hank
That would just be even funnier.
Big Cat
Yeah. As a funny factor, not as a hate Notre Dame factor.
Hank
I mean, I also kind of hate.
Big Cat
Notre Dame as well. You guys are kind of the same. Michigan and Notre Dame.
PFT Commenter
Don't tell them that.
Big Cat
Yeah. How?
PFT Commenter
Well, you are the same.
Big Cat
Yeah.
PFT Commenter
You just refuse to. It's like Ravens and Steelers, they hate each other so much and they refuse to admit that they're the same team.
Big Cat
They love to talk about football from the 1940s. I mean, Notre Dame is like the biggest fraud of all time. Okay. I mean, until last year, that was literally you.
PFT Commenter
Who have you guys beaten in national championships besides the most recent one?
Big Cat
Yeah. You guys are the same. It's fine.
PFT Commenter
It's okay. I mean, congratulations, you are national champion right now. Thank you. Not taking that away from you.
Big Cat
Thank you.
PFT Commenter
We support Connor Stallions.
Big Cat
Okay, so you want Penn State to beat Ohio State in a tragic fashion for Ohio State. You just want Ryan Day to. I was saying the best outcome for Michigan is Ryan Day to have like a full blown Ryan Day meltdown in the national championship.
Hank
Yeah, that would be.
Big Cat
That would be the greatest thing ever.
PFT Commenter
Yeah. If he loses the natty to a guy who is known for losing big games, that would be. That would be the best out.
Big Cat
Yeah.
PFT Commenter
Right?
Hank
Yeah, that would be hilarious.
Big Cat
Yeah. Okay. Thank you, Jack. And then. Yeah, I mean, the Georgia. Notre Dame game, Notre Dame just out muscled Georgia, which was kind of shocking. Although Georgia obviously on their backup quarterback, who I wouldn't say pocket presence is his. Is his strength.
PFT Commenter
It's not also blocking for their Backup quarterback strength.
Big Cat
Yeah, the whole, the whole left side felt like it was. It was a problem. But we also had the emergence of anti hero for Georgia. What's his name? Parker Jones.
PFT Commenter
I believe it was Parker Jones.
Big Cat
Parker Jones who.
PFT Commenter
Number 39 who got it.
Big Cat
Who ended up not mattering because they lost by 13 or. Yeah.
PFT Commenter
And also they made the field goal.
Big Cat
They did make the field goal. But you. They would have had first and goal Parker Jones walk on cornerback got in the way of a ref. 15 yard penalty memes. You're a Georgia fan.
Hank
Yep.
Big Cat
What were you thinking about Parker Jones at that point? We were watching with the sound off, but it was just like, wait, what happened? I thought we were inside the 10 and then it was just Parker Jones. Parker Jones everywhere. Still intern? Yeah. No, I mean Parker Jones is going to be an awesome pharmaceutical sales rep in like three years.
PFT Commenter
Maybe not anymore.
Big Cat
I don't know. I mean it's. Yeah, his. That sucks so bad for him because like I was joking that, you know, even if you're a walk on or you're, you know, you never play a snap for Georgia to live the rest of your life being like, yeah, I was on Kirby Smarts Georgia teams. And he would have been able to say that. And then someone would be like, hey, what's your name? Like, oh, I'm Parker. Parker Jones. Like, wait a second. I remember that.
PFT Commenter
I thought it was mean that they showed him at the end of the game.
Big Cat
They showed him so much.
PFT Commenter
Everyone had kind of moved on from him a little bit. And then to put them back on the screen on the national broadcast, that felt. That was targeting.
Big Cat
That was targeting. That was absolutely targeting. So Penn State. Notre Dame. Max, how are you feeling? I feel good.
Max
Notre Dame. I feel like Penn State and Notre Dame have kind of looked now. Notre Dame just had a very impressive win. I don't know. Their offense, their offense is so bland. Their defense is elite. Their defense is shown to be elite. If Drew Aller can have a good game, get hot Kolineki. But like, this is the sort of game where we're not going to be able to like shove it down their throats.
Big Cat
Right.
Max
So Colonecki will have to kind of do a little bit of the. I think he's going to have to do some fuck shit.
Big Cat
Yeah, he's going to have to do some fuck shit. He's going to have to get creative.
Max
Yes, he's going to have to get creative in this game. And if he does, I like Penn State's chances. I like that they're dogs. I like that they're dogs in this game.
Big Cat
As of right now.
Max
As of right now, they're one and a half point dogs.
Big Cat
Opened his dogs.
Max
Open his dogs. It'll be a good game. It'll be a good game. I think. I think I like the under. I'll say that.
Big Cat
Yeah. Okay.
Max
I hope Abdul Carter played. I mean, Abdul Carter put out, like, the Darth Vader video, saying that he.
Big Cat
Was loading up to what happened with him, his shoulder.
Max
It was insane that they just weren't talking about it. Yeah, they just weren't.
Big Cat
He just went off and they. And they showed him adjusting in the pads and then it was just like. That was it.
Max
He's the best player on the field. He is going to be a top five pick in the draft. And. And he just didn't play for three quarters of the game and they just didn't say a thing. And nobody knew what was going on.
Big Cat
Yeah.
Max
So if Abdul Carter plays, I like her.
PFT Commenter
So tell me about this Darth Vader video.
Max
So I didn't know anything about this video. I had some super. Connor Griffin, resident Star wars nerd. Star wars nerd and Penn State super, super, super fan, explains zipped up his.
Big Cat
Fly and then came that.
Max
It's a scene from Star wars where Darth Vader goes into this healing chamber.
Big Cat
Okay.
Max
And then he gets healthy super fast and, like, gets super jacked and powerful.
PFT Commenter
And then Darth Vader ends up winning in the end. Right.
Max
I don't. I'm not a Star wars guy.
PFT Commenter
Okay. That's probably an important part to look up.
Max
I'm not. I'm not a Star wars guy.
Big Cat
Hank.
PFT Commenter
Does he win?
Big Cat
Yeah.
Memes
I mean, he made up his relationship with his son. Oh, that was a good father.
Big Cat
Okay.
PFT Commenter
And his hand was fine. Yeah. No, no, no, no. Well, what happened?
Memes
Got cut off by a lightsaber.
Big Cat
Oh, no.
PFT Commenter
A lightsaber saber.
Big Cat
Oh, no. So he's gonna. Abdul Kar is going to play a whole game without a hand.
PFT Commenter
Yeah, that's what it sounds like. Where does baby Yoda factor into this?
Memes
He doesn't.
Big Cat
Wait, did he even post a video? It looks like a picture. It's just a picture. So.
PFT Commenter
Yeah, he posted a picture of Darth Vader right before Darth Vader died.
Max
I. I'm not a Star wars guy.
Big Cat
So you. You be. If you have to be a Star wars guy to know the difference between a picture and a video.
Max
The same premise. It's a meme. Sometimes memes are pictures, sometimes memes are videos. You know, whatever. Tomato.
PFT Commenter
So he's going to do something that is unregulated, that will heal him extra fast and then he's going to.
Max
I don't know. Star wars videos are big.
PFT Commenter
I'm just trying to figure.
Max
All I know is that he's. That it seems like he. He's getting super healthy and super jacked.
Big Cat
Super jacked. Super healthy, Hank. That's sick.
Max
All right, good. That's my analysis.
PFT Commenter
Max. If it makes a difference to you, I will be rooting for you.
Max
Love that.
Big Cat
I think I'm gonna bet on Penn State. I think bet on Penn State and Ohio State. It should be a good stream. Ohio State is what I want just because whichever. Whichever coach loses is just very funny. Yeah, that is a very funny. Like you can just go whichever you want it. No, I mean James Frank losing to Ohio State when he gets a cakewalk, you know, to. To the final.
Max
But if you beat Notre Dame to go. To go to the national championship, that's a big win.
Big Cat
I agree. But then if you lose to Ohio State yet again, it's like you can't. He can't beat Ohio State. But you.
Max
But Penn State fans won't be mad in that.
PFT Commenter
In that scenario, if you get to a Natty and you lose, if you literally.
Big Cat
If it just keeps proving that you can't. There he would be I think 1 in 11 maybe against Ohio State.
PFT Commenter
Yeah. To any.
Max
He won the one.
PFT Commenter
If you lost anybody else, it wouldn't be as bad.
Big Cat
Yeah, I don't know.
Max
I like this, but this is the game. Like they. They got it.
Big Cat
This is the big game.
Max
This is the big game. This is the big game.
Big Cat
This is a big game. And then everything else is gravy. You don't care.
Max
Yeah, I think it would. It would be funnier if Ryan Day lost than it would be.
Big Cat
I agree.
Max
Franklin lost.
Big Cat
Ryan Day losing in the national championship and it getting so far in this season that they can't fire him would be very funny. But Ohio State also looks insanely like they look their two wins now against Tennessee and Oregon. Yeah.
Max
No, they look unstoppable.
Big Cat
Absolutely. Like lights out. Just the best team they. They have by far. If you receded right now, they are the. They are the one seed by far.
PFT Commenter
And you can just imagine them winning and Jack Sawyer getting on stage and crying and screaming for about seven minutes nonstop.
Big Cat
Right? Yeah.
PFT Commenter
Like that feels like something that could very easily happen.
Big Cat
Yeah. And then hopefully a reporter would be like congrats on the Natty. But what do you think about the Flag that Michigan put in the 50 yard line. Yeah.
PFT Commenter
That. That counts as a Mission Michigan national championship since they own that stadium.
Big Cat
Right? Yeah. Yeah. Should, should Jeremiah Smith declare for the draft like I.
PFT Commenter
A year and a quarter from now?
Big Cat
It's crazy. He's so goddamn good. I. It's, it's bullshit. He should do the Maurice CL being like, I'm ready now.
PFT Commenter
He is ready right now.
Big Cat
Yeah.
PFT Commenter
They showed the graphic in the first half of comparing him to like it was to and Julio Jones.
Memes
Right?
Big Cat
Yeah.
PFT Commenter
I was like, come on, let's. Let's pump the brakes a little bit. And then you watch him play and you're like, yeah, I, I can see it.
Big Cat
He's got another two years.
Memes
The most humble player he's ever seen.
Big Cat
Ever. Yeah, him and Ryan Williams. There's two, two dudes that we're going to get to watch in college football for the next two years.
PFT Commenter
Yeah.
Big Cat
Just insane. Okay, let's do NFL Week 18.
PFT Commenter
Also. I love Caleb Downs. Yeah, that guy's awesome.
Big Cat
Yeah. I mean Ohio State's just really good at football and they just. As long as they don't have to play Michigan because even their other loss to Oregon, you can ex like losing by one or two. Whatever it was. Oregon on the road is not like a crazy loss.
PFT Commenter
Yeah.
Big Cat
It's just losing at home as a 18 point favorite. That, that is a crazy.
PFT Commenter
Because they wanted to become Michigan, beat Michigan. Like I said, like if they, if they had played their game, they should have beaten the out of.
Big Cat
Oh, yeah. Yeah. Absolutely. Okay. Let's do Week 18 in the NFL. We got a lot to talk about before we do that. Game time. Football season is here. We can't wait to get out to some games with the help of game Time, the official ticketing partner of Barstool Sports. You know how much we love game time. And now with their brand new game Time picks feature, they're making it even easier to get to a game. Game Time picks filters out the fluff to show you only incredible deals on great seeds so you don't have to waste time searching through thousands of tickets. We're looking at the Lions Vikings Sunday night football.
Memes
Save the best for last. Gonna be an all time environment. Lions fans need to bring everything they have. I'm seeing you can get in for 370 and I'm looking at a super deal right now for 505.
Big Cat
Okay. So get there. Try to get the one seed. If you're a Lions fan, say what's up to Sprinkles. Yeah. Home atmosphere if you're a Vikings fan trying to get the one seed, go to the Game Time Pick Steel for great seats, just pull up your chosen event. Turn on the GT Pick setting at the top of the screen to browse the best local Game Time Picks deals near you on your GameTime app homepage. What are you waiting for? Gonna go get those tickets? If you are Lions or Vikings fan, download the Game Time app today. Use code PMT to easily score great deals. The New Game Time Picks what time is it? Game Time we're also brought to you by our friends at the Farmer's Dog this New year. Healthy habits don't only apply to humans. Give your dog a fresh start too. The Farmer's dog makes feeding real healthy dog food easy and convenient and your dog will absolutely love it. The pre portioned meals are personalized for your dog's needs, which makes it simple to help your dog reach and maintain a healthy weight. If you've ever thought about making the switch, now is the time. I know Stella is a farmer's dog. So is Blake. It's made from human grade real meat and veggies that are gently cooked with the safety and quality standards of human food. Even the best traditional dry and wet dog food options are highly processed and because pet food is very loosely regulated, you can use much lower quality ingredients than they claim to. It doesn't matter if your dog is young or old, it's always the right time to begin investing in their health. That means more happy, healthy and full years together. Get 50% off your first box of fresh healthy food at the farmersdog.compmt plus you get free shipping. Just go to the farmersdog.compmt to get 50% off. That's the farmersdog.compmt okay boys, week eight in the NFL we had Pro bowl by the way. Congrats. PFT Jaden Daniels Pro Bowler Pepsi Rookie.
PFT Commenter
Of the Week as well.
Big Cat
Pepsi Rookie of the Week did you have any Pro Bowlers? Yeah, I had one. Jalen Johnson. Yep, that's pretty sick. Max. You guys had a lot. Ravens had a shitload memes. Do you have a Pro Bowler? Nope.
PFT Commenter
None.
Big Cat
We got some reserves.00. And Sam Darnold made his first Pro bowl which by the way solidifies 2018 draft was insane. It's the year for everyone in the 2018. I mean there was already some like incredible players, but the renaissance of some of these guys. Just a reminder, the 2018 draft Baker Mayfield went one Saquon Barkley two Sam Darnold three so one two, three pretty much had career years. Four was Denzel Ward. He's been to four Pro Bowls. Bradley Chubb, Quentin Nelson, Josh Allen, roquan Smith, Mike McGlinchey, and then Josh Rose. But really we should just make Lamar 32. He was 10.
PFT Commenter
Yeah, no, it was a good draft.
Big Cat
Really good draft. So eight out of the 10 first rounders or first picks in the 20 or sorry, the first eight picks in the 2018 draft had been to at least one Pro Bowl.
PFT Commenter
Now I'm interested to see who actually ends up playing in the Pro bowl because that's when things get fucked up. When you start getting a bunch of guys that get put on the team at the very last minute. What reserves do you have? Memes.
Hank
I believe.
Big Cat
Quinn Williams, Garrett Wilson, Xavier Gibson, Irv Charles. Oh shit. That's a lot of reserves. But there's like second reserve, third reserve. There's tears. Okay. Yeah, but that sounds like a lot of reserves. Yeah, we, we lead the league in almost Pro Bowls. Oh, nice.
PFT Commenter
So Patrick Mahomes, is he in the Pro Bowl?
Big Cat
He is not.
PFT Commenter
That's weird. Yeah, because he's the best quarterback in football.
Big Cat
I don't think that Patrick Mahomes cares at all. He.
PFT Commenter
I think he. This is probably a good thing for him.
Big Cat
Yeah, I mean he was, he's going to probably play in the Super Bowl.
PFT Commenter
He was not going to go to the Pro bowl anyways, so. But, but now you give the Chiefs a tiny bit of ammunition. Like, look, Patrick Mahomes wasn't a Pro Bowler.
Big Cat
Yeah, that's.
PFT Commenter
That's the opposite of what the rest of the NF needs out of him.
Big Cat
It's also, you know, you've fully made it when, if you try to like say, haha, Patrick Mahomes is in the Pro bowl, you're like, well that's okay, dude.
PFT Commenter
Yeah, I don't care.
Big Cat
Super Bowls.
PFT Commenter
Yeah, it really doesn't matter.
Big Cat
Who cares? Okay, let's do games by the way, this week. So. So at the end of the preview we'll do our picks. Memes and Hank are safe, so they're not going to pick. It's between me, PFT and Max. And the deal is PFT and I both have 18, I believe, and Max has 16. So under normal, Max would have to go 20 and we'd both have to go 02 for a tie. And we're not going to do a tiebreaker this year. If we tie, if anyone ties, they have to go to the bachelor party together. So if like Max and I tie, we're both going, which I think would be better for content and pfd. And I have graciously given Max an extra pick. So he's going to get three picks and we get two picks.
PFT Commenter
He's getting. Yeah. The easiest road to the championship.
Big Cat
So that means that any combination of Max going. If Max goes three and oh and PFT and I both go one and one, all three of us are going to go. If, if either PFT and I go oh, and two and Max goes two and one, then we would go. So Max, you got to at least win two. You got to at least get two out of three and hope for us to suck.
Max
Yeah.
Big Cat
Because if either of us goes two and oh, we're automatically safe.
PFT Commenter
Have we figured out what bachelor party we're gonna go on?
Big Cat
No, that's a whole other process. That's a whole other process.
Max
I have so many weddings this summer.
Big Cat
Oh, well, sounds like you're gonna have another bachelor. Unless you go three and oh, and one of us goes oh and two, then you're safe. Would that, that would be a hell of a. I mean, Davis Mills that year still Davis Mills.
Max
So many hot dogs.
Big Cat
So many hot dogs. Okay, let's get to the games. First game Saturday, which I'll just say it. I don't understand why the NFL did the scheduling this way. The cheat. The, the Steelers in the Bengals should have played first because Browns at Ravens. Ravens minus 20 over under is 41. If the Ravens win this game, they win the AFC north and the Steelers have nothing to play for.
PFT Commenter
So they have absolutely. They don't have seating to play for in that case. I thought they did.
Big Cat
I guess they would with the Chargers.
PFT Commenter
But because it would be a pretty big seating deal then, right? Because. Yeah, I mean, you, you would much rather.
Big Cat
You would. Yeah.
PFT Commenter
You want to avoid the Ravens.
Big Cat
You would want to avoid the Ravens. But still, like, the AFC north will be decided. I, I, it didn't.
PFT Commenter
But that no to, to me, that makes a massive difference.
Big Cat
But it makes so much more sense for them to just go first.
PFT Commenter
I, yeah, it probably does.
Big Cat
Why wouldn't they have just gone first?
PFT Commenter
It probably does. I think you probably wanted to get Joe Burrow and the Steel. It's a, it's a much like more impactful game in terms of driving viewers. So you want that in prime time.
Big Cat
Right. But it would have been like them going first being like if they win, they get to, they can win the AFC North.
PFT Commenter
I think they want that in the afternoon slate because I think, I do think the Steelers have a lot to play for.
Big Cat
Yeah, no, they definitely do. Because playing home playoff game is a lot.
PFT Commenter
Home playoff game is a lot. But also avoiding the Ravens in the first round is a lot. And then I. At least we're getting the Bengals on Saturday so that we can see the outcome of their game before we see.
Big Cat
Yeah, I like that part.
PFT Commenter
Has a big swing.
Big Cat
All right, so. So the Ravens. So it's going to be Bailey Zappi, I believe for the Browns, but also maybe still dtr, which is so sad.
PFT Commenter
Yeah, we've got a lot of those this weekend. A lot of like really, really depressing two headed monster and. Yeah, so we're. Mike might get a combination of both DTR and Bailey Zappy. Bailey Zappy, who's been there for how long?
Big Cat
The year?
PFT Commenter
The whole year?
Big Cat
Maybe not the whole year.
PFT Commenter
I don't think so.
Big Cat
Half the year.
PFT Commenter
Jameis emergency quarterback.
Big Cat
Oh, yeah. It can't be the whole year because he was probably. Unless he was on practice, I believe desean went down and then they signed. Then they signed Bailey Zappy. Got it. Yeah. He was on the Chiefs before that on the Chiefs practice squad. Damn. Bailey's happy. Was so close to a ring.
PFT Commenter
That would been tough. Yeah. So one thing to watch for in this game. Lamar Jackson might break the single season quarterback rating record.
Big Cat
Correct.
PFT Commenter
So he's right behind Aaron Rodgers from 2011.
Big Cat
Yep.
PFT Commenter
So maybe, maybe Lamar just plays a half, gets out of there.
Big Cat
Yeah. And we also.
PFT Commenter
20 points is a lot.
Big Cat
Yeah, yeah, we have. It is a lot. But the Browns are really, really bad. Miles Garrett I do think will be playing hard that he, he is never as good as Myles Garrett is. He's never led the NFL in sacks and a Cleveland Brown has never done that.
PFT Commenter
So he also said.
Big Cat
Tied right now for. With Trey Hendrickson.
PFT Commenter
He said they want to play spoiler.
Big Cat
They want to play spoiler. Which. Yeah, okay. Yeah, play spoiler.
PFT Commenter
You know, it'd be nice if they scored like maybe 17 points. That would be nice for the defense. Yeah, right.
Big Cat
Yeah.
PFT Commenter
In their last three games, how many, how many points do you think the Browns have scored in three games?
Big Cat
Not many.
PFT Commenter
16.
Big Cat
Yeah. I mean DTR in his five starts has scored 37 total.
PFT Commenter
Yeah.
Big Cat
So it's, it's not, it's not looking good. Also, here's a fun fact from Paul Hembo in the Browns Owen 16 season in 2017, they never were more than a 13 and a half point underdog and they're a 20 point underdog in this game. Also Derek Henry incentives, if he gets one touchdown. He breaks Jamal Lewis's record for the franchise record. And he also gets $500,000.
PFT Commenter
That's huge.
Big Cat
And he also is 217 yards away from 2000, which he would be the old player to get 2000 rushing. Garage.
PFT Commenter
That's huge. I. I read somewhere. I forget who posted this, but this is the 40th quarterback that the Browns have started since 1999.
Big Cat
Oh, man.
PFT Commenter
With Bailey Zappy.
Big Cat
Oh, man.
PFT Commenter
Yeah.
Big Cat
That's tough. Okay. Yeah. I mean, this is kind of a one eye game.
PFT Commenter
It's football.
Big Cat
Yeah. It's a Saturday afternoon one eye game.
PFT Commenter
This is. This is the last week of the NFL season. Your team is playing this weekend.
Big Cat
Yeah.
PFT Commenter
For a lot of people, it's going to be your last chance to watch your team play, which this is big.
Big Cat
Ah, I'm so excited to not see my team play anymore.
PFT Commenter
Okay.
Big Cat
Like, the playoffs are going to be great because I don't have to watch my team. I think Browns fans probably are in the same boat. I get that.
PFT Commenter
But there's something different about an NFL Sunday where you know what you have to do and you know that you have to put on that brown jersey. The face paint.
Big Cat
Yeah.
PFT Commenter
You know, you have to do. You have to do the whole. It's a. It's a tradition. It's a ritual.
Big Cat
Yeah.
PFT Commenter
This is your last Sunday of that ritual that you get to experience until maybe late August.
Big Cat
Yeah. Okay. Bengals at Steelers. Steelers minus 2 over under 48. I don't know what's going on with the Steelers. Mike Tomlin allegedly corrected the he hit the elephant in the room talk with. I think it's Cam Sutton is what people are guessing. But also maybe Minka and also maybe Patrick Queen is the guy that everyone keeps talking about who's missing assignments.
PFT Commenter
Yeah.
Big Cat
Also, did you see George Pickens video from the locker room?
PFT Commenter
I did not see that one.
Big Cat
Okay, so this is kind of perfect for. Can you actually pull it up, Max? George Pickens talking about Russell Wilson and him being not being on the same page. This is a perfect, like, it's a perfect example of where the Steelers are right now as a team because they've been taking on water, they've been playing real teams and they've been losing, and it doesn't feel like the vibes are super high. Yeah. Here we go. Here's the video. This George Pickens being asked about being on the same page with Russell Wilson. Seemed like you and Russ weren't on the same page in that interception against the Chiefs. How does that Happen. And what do you guys do to address it?
PFT Commenter
You said, me and Russell isn't on the same page.
Big Cat
Yeah, well, that's what he said.
PFT Commenter
That's what he said.
Big Cat
Yeah. Or is that what you said? That's what he said. How do you just address that? You know what? So they weren't on the same page even.
PFT Commenter
You know what? Mike Tomlin, coach of the year, right there, what I just saw from George Pickens, that's growth. But he, he physically took his sheisty, pulled it up over his mouth. He's like, I can't. I want to say a lot of things right now. Coach told me, don't say anything. And he just, he physically restrained himself talking.
Big Cat
But that video, but that video is so funny because it's a reporter saying, what do you think about not being on the same page as Russell Wilson? And he's like, wait, he said that? Or you said that? Is like, no, Russ said that. And he's like, oh, shit, I didn't even know Russ said that. Proving that they're not on the same page.
PFT Commenter
They weren't on the same page on that one play.
Big Cat
Or. Or in the follow up interview.
PFT Commenter
In the follow up.
Big Cat
Yeah. Yeah. Because if they were on the same page in the follow up interviews, they both would have known they weren't on the same page. George Pickens thinks they were on the same page. Russell Wilson does not.
PFT Commenter
I just appreciate George moving forward.
Big Cat
Yeah. Okay. For this game as well. Joe Burrow could become only the fourth player ever to get 5,000 yards passing and 45 touchdowns in a season. So he needs 359 yards and three touchdowns. The other three player, four players. So it'd be the fifth, actually of all time. The other four players are Patrick Mahomes in 2018, Peyton Manning in 2013, Drew Brees in 2011, and Dan Marino in 1984. And it made me realize we don't put enough respect on our good, dear friend, recurring guest Dan Marino. Because him having 5,084 yards and 48 touchdowns in 1984 when the game was not a passing game is fucking insane. That's an insane statistical seat. Like, think about it. Joe Burrow is having a career year and he still needs to do some work to get to what Dan Marino did. And the league is completely different.
PFT Commenter
All four of the.
Big Cat
The other three that I mentioned all happened in the last 13 years. And Dan Marino did it fucking 40 years ago. Yeah.
PFT Commenter
You could still basically interfere with receivers.
Big Cat
Yeah.
PFT Commenter
You could hit the shit out of the quarterback five seconds after they threw the pass.
Big Cat
Teams just tried to run the ball. Yeah, they tried to establish the run over and over. I looked it up. So after he did that in 1984, it took 15 years until someone had over 40 touchdown passes in a season not named Dan Marino because he actually did it again two years later. 44 touchdown passes. Kurt Warner in 1999, and it took 22 years for someone else to eclipse 5,000 yards. And Drew Brees. And it's 21 years, I think, until when Brady broke the touchdown record, his touchdown record in 2007. So it's like more respect on Dan Marino that that's just an absolute anomaly of, like, basically, you picked a stat line from today's NFL and you just stuck it right in the middle of the 80s, and you're like, yup, that's what Dan Marino did.
PFT Commenter
Yeah, it's pretty crazy to imagine.
Big Cat
It's nuts.
PFT Commenter
And. And what Joe Burrow's done this year has been awesome. I can't. I can't wait for this game because I think that no matter what, the Steelers are going to play very, very hard. The Bengals, when they try their very hardest, they might end up losing in heartbreaking fashion, but it's going to be a crazy game.
Big Cat
Yeah. Yeah. No, it's going to be a great game. And I.
PFT Commenter
We get it. We get Renegade in a night game. We get the terrible towels going double Renegade, maybe. Double Renegade, Yeah. Joey Porter Jr. Trying not to interfere with people. It's going to be great.
Big Cat
It's going to be great. It's going to be great. Okay, on to Sunday. Commanders of cowboys. Cowboys plus six over unders 44. How we feel? BFT. You got to win this game to avoid the Eagles.
PFT Commenter
Doesn't matter. We play who, we got to beat good teams in the playoffs.
Big Cat
Okay, that's.
PFT Commenter
That's what I'm looking at right now.
Big Cat
Max, have you fully come to grips with the seating?
Max
Yeah, I'm onto the Packers.
Big Cat
Okay. Okay.
Max
I'm ready for the packers.
PFT Commenter
Because you're trying to duck the Commanders. It's okay.
Big Cat
I'll play.
PFT Commenter
I'll play you. I want Max. But the reality is.
Max
We'll see what Mike Florio said about that. When we get to that, we got.
PFT Commenter
To take care of business.
Max
Number one thing he said was, as long as you don't play the Eagles.
PFT Commenter
Okay, Mike Flor knows ball. We'll get. Who am I to argue?
Big Cat
Yeah, we'll get to it.
Max
We'll get to it. But that's what he said.
PFT Commenter
Okay. All right, so Max, I want to beat the Cowboys because I want to win every game that I'm in, regardless of opponent. Also, 4 and 2 in the division in those parentheses next to your record looks a lot better than three and three in the division. So that's what I'm hoping for. And I'm hoping to stay healthy. Yeah, just stay healthy.
Big Cat
This game made me think of. There's a lot of, especially with the 12 team playoff and the new wild card and Major league baseball people complaining about, you know, the, the playing game. In the NBA, too many teams make the playoffs. Imagine if we only had six seeds this year. Yeah, that would. Well, actually it would be awesome if you win this game because then the packers would be out, but still like you would basically be eliminating a team that has 11. 12 win team.
PFT Commenter
Yeah, 12 wins. Two teams tied at that one would get left out. And then in the NFC, like anything can happen as far as the road goes. If we win this game, we get the six seed. We could play at the Rams, we could play at the Bucks. You don't know. And then once the receding starts to happen, we talked about a dream scenario.
Big Cat
Crazy.
PFT Commenter
We'll have to wait for that. That conversation. Yeah, I'd like to beat the Cowboys. You always want to beat the Cowboys. But to me the most intriguing part of this game is. Is Mike McCarthy and what happens afterwards.
Big Cat
Yeah. Yeah. Also, Ezekiel Elliott went for the saddest release ever. I don't know if you guys saw this, but Jerry Jones released Ezekiel 8 out of respect and appreciation for Zeke so he'd have a chance on a playoff team. He did not get claimed and I don't know if anyone will sign him.
PFT Commenter
Yeah, I don't know. I don't know what really the expectation, the ideal scenario for him is to stay on the Cowboys and to keep getting these lifetime achievement touchdowns from the Cowboys when they get the ball at the one yard line. Yeah, like here you go, Zeke, who, I guess you can have a touchdown.
Big Cat
Who would even, who would even sign him?
PFT Commenter
Maybe the one team that I've heard that would make any bit of sense would be the Chargers.
Big Cat
I was gonna say Chargers because they're.
PFT Commenter
Banged up at that position.
Big Cat
J.K. dobbins is back. But.
PFT Commenter
Yeah, but besides that, I don't know why. I don't know why any team would really.
Big Cat
Let him be a Raven. Sure, fuck it, let it be a Raven.
PFT Commenter
Get him on the Chiefs.
Big Cat
Let him spell Derek Henry.
PFT Commenter
If Andy Reid is trying to win a Super bowl on expert mode, get Ezekiel back there and Give him meaningful carries.
Big Cat
Ezekiel Elliott back there and in me and what's his name? Who's the.
PFT Commenter
Carson Steele.
Big Cat
No, the guy who. Who drops all the balls.
PFT Commenter
Oh, Kadari Stone.
Big Cat
Yeah. Canary Stoney.
PFT Commenter
Bring him back.
Big Cat
Yeah. Let's get it going. But, yeah, I, I feel like the Cowboys could be a little live, but it's really just. It's not about the Cowboys. More like, is there any emotional letdown to such an incredible Sunday night, which was incredible. Like, that was, you know, clinching the playoffs, winning at home, the Jaden Daniels insane drive to end the game? I still think the commanders will win, but that would be my only argument for it.
PFT Commenter
I hope so. I hope we win. I think that we're gonna win. I'd like to see Luke McCaffrey get a touchdown, too. I went back through all the film. He was my all 22 project this week. The stuff he does without the ball.
Big Cat
Did you hear on Sunday night Football that they. They did say Marshawn Lattimore played well? He did Eagles.
PFT Commenter
He did play well.
Big Cat
Collinsworth did say that.
PFT Commenter
He did you listen. Obviously you don't want Past interferences are not good, but they don't always tell the whole story.
Big Cat
Yeah.
PFT Commenter
But yeah. Luke, get. Get Luke a touchdown, will you?
Big Cat
While watching, the first guy to help.
PFT Commenter
Up a teammate, too.
Big Cat
Yeah. While watching this game, will you be. If you lose this game, will you be like, Will you be upset? Will you be like, shit, Eagles.
PFT Commenter
I think it only it matters how we lose the game. If we lose with no injuries and we don't look just terrible.
Big Cat
Yeah.
PFT Commenter
Then I'll be like, listen, I, I'll take the Eagles. You play who you play.
Big Cat
Because Hank and memes. I, I. You guys agree? We. We want to see Eagles Commanders. Yeah. Yeah. For the show. You play every aws nodding their head right now. Yeah.
PFT Commenter
I want to beat good teams. That's the thing about me Big cat, is I want to beat the best.
Big Cat
Yeah. Max wants the easiest path possible. Also, his quarterback still in concussion protocol.
PFT Commenter
That's very true. Well, Tanner McKee.
Big Cat
Tanner McKee.
PFT Commenter
I. I'm okay. Can I amend this? I don't want. I want zero part of playing Tanner McKee in the playoffs. I don't want that guy. Cause that guy, He's. He's different.
Big Cat
Three for four, two touchdowns.
PFT Commenter
Yeah.
Big Cat
All right. Bears at Packers. Packers plus 10 over under 41. LaFleur said he's playing everyone. The Bears haven't won a road game on a Sunday since. And want to take a guess?
PFT Commenter
20, 21.
Big Cat
Yes. Week what? Week 15 at Seattle. Nick Foles was the quarterback. 20 Sunday road games in a row. They have lost Sunday. They've won some shocking. They won some Thursday night road games. They've won, I think a Monday night road game. They have not won a Sunday road game since 2021 and they won't win this game. So we'll just go into 2025 being like, we haven't won a road game on a Sunday.
PFT Commenter
So it's going to be bear weather though, which is also Packer weather.
Big Cat
No, it's more bear weather.
PFT Commenter
So it's going to be like low 20s, maybe some snow.
Big Cat
Just get me out of this season. I don't really want to watch this game.
PFT Commenter
What, what if you beat the packers though?
Big Cat
We're not going to beat the Packers. Packers are going to embarrass us. They're going to laugh at us and then we're going to hire Brian Flores and I'm going to kill myself.
Memes
That's a bad thing, you think?
Big Cat
Yeah.
PFT Commenter
Would he kill himself?
Big Cat
No. Hope Floors would not want me to die. Yeah. With. Well, let me ask you this, Hank. Has Brian Flores ever coached a young quarterback and how did it go if he did?
Memes
They had a couple, what, two nine one seasons back to back.
Big Cat
Two in the Dolphins. I don't.
PFT Commenter
I think they had.
Big Cat
Well, he put in Brian Fitzpatrick over.
PFT Commenter
To a. Yeah, well, I can also chalk that up to Brian Flores being part of Bill Belichick's tentacles where he would just, he would farm out his assistant coaches to go destroy another team. And so he probably loved a team in the division getting absolutely creamed by Brian Flores.
Big Cat
Let me put it this way.
Memes
9 and 8, 10 and 6, 5 and 11.
Big Cat
Which one of those 10 and 6 was with Tua? Yeah, that might know. That was, I think the year that they, they, he like wouldn't play Tua.
Memes
2019, they were 5 and 11 and then 10 and 6 and 9 and 8.
Big Cat
I would rather have. I'm going to say something crazy right now, actually. I don't think it's that crazy. I'd much rather have, if given the choice Mike McCarthy over Brian Flores.
PFT Commenter
Just because you don't think that Brian Flores is one of these coaches that goes to his second job and he's like, I learned a lot of stuff from my first job, like, namely, don't make your young quarterback hate you.
Big Cat
I think TUA started nine games, nine games that season. I think Brian Flores could be a very good head coach with a well established quarterback in place.
PFT Commenter
Okay. But he'd probably. He'd probably have to hire a guy whose only job is to take care of Caleb.
Big Cat
I just don't want a defensive coach and I don't. I want Ben Johnson. And then all the reports are out that Ryan Poles is trying to softly push the team away from Ben Johnson because Ben Johnson would then softly push Ryan Poles away from the team. It's the height of dysfunction. We're going to talk about it with Florida Florio. It's. It's the worst. Brian Flores would be a disaster.
PFT Commenter
I. I don't know that he would, though. Yeah, he wasn't. Okay. Yes, he alienated Tua, but Hank just said 10 wins.
Big Cat
Tua did not start that whole season.
PFT Commenter
10 wins without Tua. Mike McDaniel would love that.
Big Cat
Yeah, I just.
PFT Commenter
You get to a start for nine games, you win 10.
Big Cat
He. I just don't. I don't want it. I don't want it. You.
Memes
But you did say you wanted Mike McCarthy.
Big Cat
I said if given. If you made me choose between the two, I don't want Mike McCarthy either. If you said you have to take One of the two, I would take Mike McCarthy.
PFT Commenter
Mike McCarthy is a good coach.
Big Cat
He's won a Super Bowl. Yeah, I do not want either, just for the record, but if you said you have to take one or the other, I would take Mike McCarthy. I mean, he's. He's coached a young. He coached a young Aaron Rodgers. He coached the transition between Farvan Aaron Rodgers. Like, that was. I mean, that was a difficult transition. When Brett Favre decided to come back.
PFT Commenter
After retiring, he also can't beat the Packers.
Big Cat
That's. Well, no, he.
PFT Commenter
He can beat the packers as the Cowboys coach.
Big Cat
No, as the end of his time with the packers, he beat the packers all the time.
PFT Commenter
That's true. He's got a lot of experience beating the packers, being in football games where the packers lose.
Big Cat
Yeah, right. Yeah, he's beaten the packers many, many times.
PFT Commenter
So right now The packers have 108 wins against the Bears. It's tied all time for the most victories by one team over another team. You know who you're tied with?
Big Cat
They've been playing for a long time.
PFT Commenter
You know who you're tied with, though?
Big Cat
Who?
PFT Commenter
Me. The Giants beating. Oh, the Redskins football team commanders.
Big Cat
So we'll. We'll have that record.
PFT Commenter
Yeah. Passing of the torch game.
Big Cat
I've been playing a long time, and it's been a long time of getting our faces just smashed in. Hank. Bill's Patriots. Bills of patriots. Patriots plus two and a half over under 37 and a half. What are we thinking for this game?
Memes
I think that what you said the other day about Mayo coaching for his job and leaving on the line is, is what's going to happen. I think I can speak from most, if not all Patriots fans that we would rather see Drake May not play. Give us a little Joe Milton action and hopefully we lose the game. But it just feels like one that they're going to win and we're gonna lose, you know, some great draft picks.
Big Cat
Yeah.
PFT Commenter
As a result.
Big Cat
And he's gonna try to save his job. Yeah.
PFT Commenter
The Joe Milton coming out game.
Memes
No, I don't think he's gonna play. I think I, I wish it was the Drake May coming out of the game game for Joe Milton but I think today they announced Drake May as a starter. So that's that dream is dead.
PFT Commenter
Well, Josh is starting too.
Big Cat
Yeah.
PFT Commenter
But that's mostly so that he can continue the streak because he is available to play.
Big Cat
Yeah.
PFT Commenter
So he's gonna try to start. How many series you think for Josh? 2.
Big Cat
2. Here's the, here's what I'm mo. I, I, I do think the Patriots are going to find a way to win this game because I think the Bills are going to pack it in.
Memes
Bills are a good team though. They got good backups. Like they're, they're well coached. Like hopefully they, you know, they're, they're focused on the playoffs and so hopefully their whole team is kind of locked in, in like playoff mode. And the Patriots are just like get the season over with and, and that's how it plays out. But I, I feel like they're gonna, Patriots are gonna win.
Big Cat
Fun fact about the Bills and I guess it's depends on. Well, no, right now it stands they're the only team to beat two 14 win teams in a season. And if the Lions win against the Vikings, they'll be the only team to beat two 15 win teams in a season.
PFT Commenter
Oh, that's pretty cool.
Big Cat
Pretty crazy. Also like imagine if the Lions win and it's like hey they, that was their two, their two wins or two of their wins against the two best teams one seeds.
PFT Commenter
Yeah. And they could get 14 wins which would be the most for the Bills in franchise history.
Big Cat
Yep. Here's the big thing that we have to figure out for this game, boys. And I don't even know if it'll be listed. Maybe is there for touchdown scores? Is there other listed Sometimes it's probably not up.
Memes
I haven't seen no touchdown.
Big Cat
So The Bills have 13 different touchdown scores, reception touchdowns. This year the record is 14. And the bills have talked about it, how they're like, they see this as a team award and they're excited and they want to break this record. Zach Davidson is the name that I found. He is the backup. Backup tight end. And Reggie Gilliam, those are the two guys that could conceivably catch in. Like, there might be. It might be an offensive line.
PFT Commenter
Yeah, I was thinking of one in particular. Dawkins.
Big Cat
Yeah.
PFT Commenter
Does he have one this year?
Big Cat
I don't think so. But this does. I mean, doesn't it? Like, there was a report that they've been actively talking about. Like, this would be a really cool record to get as a team. We got to figure out who that touchdown is going to be.
PFT Commenter
To Dawkins, anytime touchdown is that list.
Big Cat
I don't think that's what we listed. I think we have our best shot at doing offensive players and just spraying against. Like, I think they're going to try to get this. I think they're going to try to figure out a way to get someone to catch. Maybe it's.
Memes
Mitch scored already.
Big Cat
Oh, he did? Fuck. What about.
PFT Commenter
Has Josh got a receiving touchdown?
Big Cat
Josh does.
PFT Commenter
He does.
Big Cat
Yes.
Memes
Pass it to himself.
Big Cat
Yep.
PFT Commenter
Oh, shit.
Big Cat
Yeah. So we have to figure out who that's going to be. Yeah. I looked through it today. Yeah. Zach Davidson has three games played in one reception this year, no touchdowns. And Reggie Gilliam as well. I. Because, like, everyone else has scored for them, so it's crazy. Like, they've just had every single guy score a touchdown. We just have to figure out who it's going to be.
PFT Commenter
Oh, wait, maybe.
Big Cat
What? Dawkins hasn't scored.
Max
None of the props are out yet, so.
Big Cat
Yeah.
PFT Commenter
Yeah. What about Demar?
Big Cat
I feel like if you put him on the field, everyone's gonna be like, that's going to be a touchdown to Demar, right?
PFT Commenter
Yeah, probably.
Big Cat
Why is he out there? Okay, so that was more. More to come on that. We got to figure that out.
PFT Commenter
Demar out there is a decoy, and then he trips and falls down and.
Big Cat
Reggie Gilliam and the whole defense is.
PFT Commenter
Like, oh, my God, is he okay?
Big Cat
Yeah.
PFT Commenter
Touchdown pass to Reggie Gilliam.
Big Cat
Reggie Gilliam.
PFT Commenter
Okay, got it.
Big Cat
I'm rooting for Reggie Gilliam. That would be fun.
PFT Commenter
Gilliam softly with his song.
Big Cat
Reggie Gilliam would be a very fun touchdown. Okay, let's see. Next game, Giants and Eagles. Eagles minus three over. Under 37 and a half. Pft. Saquon is. Is kind Of a.
Memes
For this.
Big Cat
Huh?
Memes
No touchdown for Dion Dawkins is here.
Big Cat
Okay.
PFT Commenter
No touchdown. Okay. For not asking for the rock.
Big Cat
Yeah.
PFT Commenter
So if I was sacred, if I was Saquon Bark, I demand. Here's what I would say. I would march straight into Nick Sirianni's office and I would say, coach, I want to play. I want to play for my teammates. I want to play most of all, though. For the game. Yeah, for the game. Because I respect the game so much and it's such a meaningful record.
Big Cat
If you don't respect the game, the game won't respect you back.
PFT Commenter
That's a good point. And also, you're not. You're not going to tell me that Saquon doesn't have any feelings towards the Giants, like, going for the record against his own team that didn't want him. Like, either this is a Saquon problem, which Max just told me that it's not, or it's a Nick Sirianni problem.
Big Cat
Yeah.
PFT Commenter
Nick Sirianni is like, clearly, I don't have any. The game means nothing to me.
Big Cat
Yeah.
PFT Commenter
Records mean not. History means nothing to me.
Big Cat
Yeah. And it's just like. I mean, I saw Dan Campbell playing all the stars against the 49ers. That's culture.
PFT Commenter
Yeah. You play to win the game.
Big Cat
Yeah. And then. And the Eagles are just like, no, we're not going to play Saquon.
PFT Commenter
Yeah. You play to win the game.
Max
About winning Super Bowl.
PFT Commenter
Herm Edwards.
Big Cat
Culture, Max.
PFT Commenter
Culture.
Max
Super Bowl.
Big Cat
Culture. Culture. Super Bowl.
PFT Commenter
It's not. It's not about. It's not about.
Max
Yes, it is.
PFT Commenter
Saquon. It's not about Saquon.
Big Cat
It's about the culture.
PFT Commenter
The offensive line.
Big Cat
Yeah.
PFT Commenter
Have been able to tell their kids and their grandkids, hey, I blocked for that guy that set the all time record.
Max
And you still can say it.
PFT Commenter
And Siriani.
Big Cat
I mean, Max, deep down, you know this is coward. This is chicken, you guys. You know, it's chicken.
Max
Would you rather see you two looked at each other? It was like you planned this conversation. Like, it was like, I. We're gonna find a way to. With Max.
PFT Commenter
It's called being in Lux.
Big Cat
Yeah.
PFT Commenter
It's called being football guy with your teammate.
Max
Football guys. Making sure you're in the best situation to win a Super Bowl.
PFT Commenter
Big cat.
Max
You guys know anything about that?
PFT Commenter
I'm Lane Johnson right now. Okay. And. And we. We looked at each other. We said, we want to play.
Big Cat
Yeah. Give me the rock.
PFT Commenter
We both want to play.
Big Cat
Give me the rock.
Max
You're not playing.
Hank
Either.
PFT Commenter
And then Sirianni up in the boot.
Big Cat
What?
Max
The linemen aren't playing.
Big Cat
I know. I would say, give me the rock. I want to get this record.
Max
We haven't had a week. We haven't had a buy since week five.
Big Cat
Oh, football too hard for you, Max? See, it's too hard for you. I would. I would be like, give me the rock, Nick.
Max
You would love to be in a situation where you can rest your starters going into playoffs.
Big Cat
You do realize no matter which way they decided, we would have just spun it to get you. Yeah. At this point, if he had started, we would have been like, that's the dumbest decision you could ever.
PFT Commenter
Risking injury.
Big Cat
They care about records over. Over a Super Bowl.
Max
Yep. That's. I feel like we've had this exact conversation the other way.
Big Cat
Keep falling for it. No, I actually do feel bad for Saquon. He said afterwards, he was like, yeah, it was hard, like telling my dad because he was like. My dad was like, this is our name with a hollowed record. But it's the right decision. It is.
Max
I would. I would feel worse if he didn't get into the 2000.
Big Cat
Yeah.
Max
The 2000 yard club, no matter what, is still like an elite group of running backs in history that have got there.
Hank
It's.
Max
It's hard to do. He still got. He still got that mark.
PFT Commenter
And he did it in. In the correct amount of games too.
Big Cat
Yeah.
Max
Correct.
Big Cat
Yeah.
Max
So I'm not. I Like, he still has that from this season. No one can take that away.
Big Cat
He had an all time season.
Max
But we got to win a shoe. But we're trying to win a Super Bowl. We're trying to win a Super Bowl. And what. I cannot. Could you imagine if any. If him or any of the.
Big Cat
No, you would be.
Max
Because that's the thing. You're risking six guys.
Big Cat
Yeah.
PFT Commenter
But Max, what do you think about rest versus rust? I know that's been a topic of discussion recently.
Max
Right now we need rest.
PFT Commenter
Yeah, but you saw what happened in college football playoff buys. Okay.
Max
You need. You haven't had a buy in 15 weeks. That's not right math, but.
PFT Commenter
Well, you already have. You already have the buy.
Max
What?
PFT Commenter
This is just more rest.
Big Cat
Well, if you play the Commanders, you have to buy.
PFT Commenter
That's true.
Max
That's not true. That is incorrect. That is incorrect. Tanner McKee. This game is about Tanner McKee.
Big Cat
Tanner McKee. Are you a little worried now that Jalen Hurts is still in concussion protocol?
Max
Oh, that. Yes, that. Yes.
Big Cat
Yeah, I'd say yes, but like that's not something you can just cheat your way out of, but you can just.
Max
Like, stay in concussion protocol.
Big Cat
No.
Max
Tell me how concussion protocol works.
Big Cat
I'll tell you how concussion protocol works. Jalen hurts. Can't do any, like, physical activity when he's in concussion protocol. He doesn't want to be in concussion protocol anymore.
Max
He'll be out by the beginning of next week.
PFT Commenter
I think Max is right. I think he will be too.
Big Cat
I do, too. But I'm just saying, it's not like concussion. Quan Brisker went into concussion protocol. I haven't seen him since.
Max
Thumbs up.
Big Cat
Thumbs up.
Max
Did Quan Brisker give a thumbs up after the hit?
Big Cat
No, and he's going to concuss a lot. But I'm just saying concussion protocol is the one injury where you can't be like, I'm good to go, and they give you the test and you fail it, and they're like, no, you can't play.
Max
I would be more comfortable if he wasn't in concussion protocol.
Big Cat
That's true.
Max
However, I'm not. My panic meter of that is like, a three.
Big Cat
Okay.
PFT Commenter
Yeah. Well, one good thing about him is if there's a guy that has a history of being a starting quarterback that's no longer the starting quarterback supporting the new guy, it's probably Jalen Hurts.
Big Cat
Mm. And if there's a history of a team being able to have a backup quarterback go win a Super bowl, it's the Philadelphia Eagles.
PFT Commenter
That's true.
Max
It's true.
PFT Commenter
But I think he'll be okay.
Big Cat
Oh, my God. Imagine if they make a Statue for Tanner McKee.
Max
Tanner McKay.
PFT Commenter
We're just skipping over Kenny. Is Kenny. Is he out this weekend?
Max
Yeah, Kenny's not playing. Hurt his ribs.
PFT Commenter
So who's your backup?
Max
Ian Book.
PFT Commenter
Oh, yeah, that's right. That's nice, right?
Max
That's. Yep. Ian Book.
PFT Commenter
Yep.
Big Cat
Yeah. He hasn't progressed enough to be at practice. I mean, he would definitely want to be at practice. Like, he can't be in practice, so.
Max
But next week, he wants to be at practice.
Big Cat
Okay. Listen, I hope that's true. I want to see Jalen Hurts play in the playoffs. I don't.
PFT Commenter
Same.
Big Cat
I just know that, like, the concussion protocol is the one thing you can't be like. Like, it's not like, a bum ankle where you're like, I don't care.
Max
I'm going Monday.
Big Cat
Monday.
Max
If he's not practicing on Monday, then I'm nervous. But, like, this week, because I don't get. I don't get how you get out of concussion protocol.
Big Cat
You have to pass a test.
Max
But, like, what does that mean? Could he just be like, oh, yeah, I'm not going to pass the test today?
PFT Commenter
You could. Yeah, I think you could flunk the test intentionally.
Max
Just be like, I'm not.
Big Cat
And then I guess you could. And then be like, that would make no sense because you. Why you would. He still would want to go to practice.
Max
Why just, like, take the week off?
Big Cat
Yeah, just walk through with the team and, like, be able to, like, get your lifts in and he can't get.
Max
His lifts, but, like, he probably doesn't.
Big Cat
Lift a lot right now.
PFT Commenter
No, him and Saquon, they don't really score much. I don't know. The thumbs up, though. What if he just gives a thumbs up again? Two thumbs up.
Max
Two thumbs up.
PFT Commenter
Two thumbs up. Then you're out.
Max
And Monday, I'm giving. Because this week is like, it's not a real week of practice. Like, they're not. They're preparing for next week.
PFT Commenter
Has anybody asked AJ Brown what he thinks about him still being in concussion protocol? No, I would like to see that question asked.
Big Cat
Yeah.
Max
A.J. brown also not Pro bowl, so he's probably mad about that. Jordan Mylata not being Pro bowl is bullshit. Number one ranked. Number one ranked player in all of offense in the NFL this year.
PFT Commenter
The number one offensive player in the.
Max
NFL according to Pff.
PFT Commenter
Okay.
Max
Number one ranked offensive player.
PFT Commenter
Ahead of Saquon.
Max
Ahead of Saquon.
PFT Commenter
So Saquon system running back.
Big Cat
I hope we're not good tackle. I hope we're not having this discussion about the concussion protocol next week.
Max
I. I agree.
PFT Commenter
I don't think that Philly fans will understand.
Big Cat
No, he doesn't. Yeah. Max literally doesn't understand. He's like, what do you mean?
PFT Commenter
I just. Knowing Philadelphia as a city, your starting quarterback has not been cleared to return to practice the week of a playoff game. That is not going to go well.
Max
This isn't the week of a playoff game.
PFT Commenter
I'm saying next week.
Max
Oh, yes, next week. That would be a big, big, big, big issue.
PFT Commenter
Big issue.
Big Cat
By the way, I was thinking about it because Saquon Barkley obviously went over 2,000 yards. Adrian Peterson almost broke Eric Dickerson's record in 2012. That is another one where, similar to Dan Marino, he deserves more credit because he had one of the worst quarterbacks of all time in Christian Ponder. And his number one weapon was Percy Harvard.
PFT Commenter
Terrible quarterback.
Big Cat
They just. They could load the box. Adrian Peterson just ran right through him.
PFT Commenter
Yep.
Big Cat
So.
PFT Commenter
And he should have gotten that record too.
Big Cat
Yeah, he did. He should have.
PFT Commenter
He was so close.
Big Cat
So, so close. What? Hank, what happened? Jerry. Oh, you're watching. Jerry. Sorry. Is that the one? No. Oh, is it coming up?
Memes
No.
Big Cat
Oh, it's behind.
PFT Commenter
Close.
Memes
No, I thought it was close.
Big Cat
Got it. Okay. Texans Titans, Titans -1 1 1/2 over under 37i. The Titans are wearing the Oilers throwbacks. That's it. It.
PFT Commenter
I hate. That's so sad.
Big Cat
So sad.
PFT Commenter
It's so sad. Need the Texans just stomp them for that. But I don't know. I don't know. I feel like this might be. Oh, Jerry.
Big Cat
No, that was the one.
PFT Commenter
We got the two headed monster of Will Levis and Mason Rudolph. You don't know how to game plan for that. No, you absolutely don't.
Big Cat
And. And I believe the Texans are not going to play a lot of guys. Right.
PFT Commenter
I. I think D'Amico said that they're going to play the starters just because they looked so bad in their last game.
Big Cat
Got it.
PFT Commenter
So it's like if the. I think it goes based off how the first drive looks.
Big Cat
Got it.
PFT Commenter
If they have a good first drive on offense, then they'll probably take the starters out. Good first stop on defense. Okay. Get off the field.
Big Cat
We also have incentives. Tony Pollard, 83 yards. He gets 250,000.
PFT Commenter
Okay.
Big Cat
That's possible. But that we should just do an incentives parlay for the touchdowns especially.
PFT Commenter
Yeah, I've got. I've got one that I'm looking at later. One guy. This is a huge weekend for one guy in particular.
Big Cat
Okay. All right, let's. In this game. Yeah. Do we have no. Let's not.
PFT Commenter
No Real analysis on this game? Yeah. I, I hope that the Titans lose so that they can be 2 and. What is it? 2 and 15 against the spread.
Big Cat
Yeah. Yeah. Panthers and Falcons this game also. I mean, the Falcons, obviously, if they win and the Bucks lose, they're in. I don't think the Bucks are going to lose. So the Falcons are just. They're hoping and praying.
PFT Commenter
They're just thinking about last week. Thinking about timeouts.
Big Cat
Yep.
PFT Commenter
So the good news is if you're the Falcons, Raheem Moore still has a timeout left. Over.
Big Cat
Yep. So he gets four to start the game.
PFT Commenter
That's a good advantage. Yeah. Just.
Big Cat
It's.
PFT Commenter
You're just going to spend this entire game being like, fuck, we should have won that game.
Big Cat
Yeah. Yeah. And you could have been in the playoffs. You could have won this one last week. Won this week, been in the playoffs with Michael Penix would have been awesome for them, but instead, no, I don't.
PFT Commenter
Hate the Panthers in this game. Was it eight points?
Big Cat
Their defense is so banged up.
PFT Commenter
Defense is bad.
Big Cat
Yeah.
PFT Commenter
Eight points. It's a lot.
Big Cat
Yeah.
PFT Commenter
Miles Sanders legacy game.
Big Cat
Oh, okay.
PFT Commenter
This is for his legacy in Carolina.
Big Cat
I like that. I like that. Here's another depressing game. Jaguars are Colts, Colts minus 5 over under 44. The Anthony, Anthony Richardson fallout has been a little ugly. Obviously McAfee had his long tweet, which I actually thought was like, well said, where he was just like, you guys. I. I tried to say that the culture was not good in this locker room and everyone said that I was being a hater. Turns out the culture is not good at that locker room. And there was a report they were. So this is, I think, from the athletic. They're trying to hold Richardson accountable, which is understandable. But then the guy they put in wasn't the guy either, talking about Flacco. So when they went back to AR at that point, it's like, okay, but what are we doing? That really affected the team. And then multiple players met with Richardson privately to tell him he wasn't meeting the standard. And it sounds like everyone's been trying to. He's been late to. To meetings and stuff like that. It's a mess. Fire Chris Ballard and. And try to figure it out from there.
PFT Commenter
Yeah. So we're not gonna preview Jags games, though, because we said no, it was the Colts. That was a Colts preview. We do have Colts tickets to give away to somebody.
Big Cat
Oh, God.
PFT Commenter
So what for the J game, what should it be?
Big Cat
Portals? Jerseys.
PFT Commenter
If you have. If you have a Bortle.
Big Cat
Yeah.
PFT Commenter
If you're a Jaguars fan that is planning on going to this game.
Big Cat
Yeah, yeah, absolutely. Because the Colts fans, you. You shouldn't want to go to this game. This is suppressing.
PFT Commenter
Yeah.
Big Cat
Yeah. Okay. Saints at Bucks hit up.
PFT Commenter
Pardon my meme.
Big Cat
Yeah.
PFT Commenter
At. Pardon my meme. If you're a Jags fan in Indy this weekend and you want two tickets.
Big Cat
Yeah. All right. Saints at Bucks. Bucks minus 14 over under 43 and a half. We do have some incentives in this game. So this game I think the Bucks are going to win. Saints are walking corpse. They just want this season to end. So Mike Evans is. Gets $3 million if he catches five passes and 85 more yards. That's a lot of money.
PFT Commenter
Yeah.
Big Cat
Also Baker in his contract, and remember, Baker had that whole, like, that terrible thing where like, he got kind of robbed of a lot of his money. So I mean he obviously is doing fine, but it's not like got stolen by.
PFT Commenter
It's got financial advice.
Big Cat
Yeah. So Baker has 5 incentives in his contract, each worth half a million dollars. He gets paid if he finishes the season in the top 10 in the league or top five in the NFC in any of these categories. Passer rating, touchdown passes, passing yards, completion percentage, or yards per pass attempt. Through. Through the. Through 17 games. He's like third or fourth in all of these.
PFT Commenter
Yeah.
Big Cat
So he. That's another two and a half million dollars. Yeah.
PFT Commenter
It's big.
Big Cat
You could get.
PFT Commenter
It's big. And also with those 85 yards for Mike Evans, then he would get to a thousand yards for the 11th straight season.
Big Cat
Every season he's been in the NFL.
PFT Commenter
Jerry Rice tie his record. Pretty good record to have.
Big Cat
Mike Evans is a certified first ballot hall of Famer. That's. That deserves more respect. Is getting close to top five wide receiver of all time. Yeah.
PFT Commenter
So here's the real question about this game. The Saints, they should want their season to be over.
Big Cat
Yeah.
PFT Commenter
But they're planning on maybe bringing back all their starters. Yeah, I saw like Derek Carr. I saw that might play as of right now. And we're taping this. He might play. Kamara might play. They're doing a simulated game which I think is also known as practice. If you're an interim coach, you call it sounds more badass.
Big Cat
Something that Jalen Hurts can't do right now.
PFT Commenter
That's very true. Chris Olavi might return. I don't know why.
Big Cat
That's crazy. He's out of concussion protocol before Jalen Hurts.
PFT Commenter
Yeah, apparently so. I don't know if these guys are going to play yet because we don't have the final word on it, but it seems like they want to play their best players.
Big Cat
Why are you pointing like that?
Hank
Focus.
PFT Commenter
Focus on him.
Max
He's just looking at me. I'll look at. Look at your co host.
PFT Commenter
Chris Olavi got two concussions and he's out of concussion protocol. Maybe.
Big Cat
Yeah. That's crazy.
PFT Commenter
It is kind of wild, but yeah. I don't know why the Saints are doing this. What's the upside?
Big Cat
Yeah, it makes no sense. It makes no sense.
PFT Commenter
Also the Saints, I feel like when they play at the Bucks, they typically play pretty hard.
Big Cat
Yeah.
PFT Commenter
Pretty well.
Big Cat
Yeah. They don't like each other.
PFT Commenter
No.
Big Cat
That's for sure. What were you gonna say, memes? MVS also needs one touchdown for 250K. Okay. So that might happen. By the way, the looking at you reminded me I forgot to tell this story that I read an article today. Chris Boswell made the Pro bowl, and he was talking about his career, and he said that when he was first on the Steelers, that James Harrison would, in practice, stand over the kicks and say, if you miss this kick, you fucking kicker, you got to wash my back in the shower. And then he would. He said that they would sit in team meetings and James Harrison would just, like, be sitting, like, a couple rows over and just be staring at Chris Boswell the entire time.
PFT Commenter
See, this is. That's what kickers need. You don't need this lovey dovey from Stark.
Big Cat
You better. You're gonna have to wash my back in the shower.
PFT Commenter
And that's a big back, too.
Big Cat
Yeah, it's a huge bag.
PFT Commenter
Take a long time.
Big Cat
Oh, I just love the idea of James Harrison just not listening to anything Mike Tomlin's saying and just staring at Chris Boswell instead.
PFT Commenter
You little.
Big Cat
Yeah. Better make this kick.
PFT Commenter
All right, so. Max earmuffs. So if I'm being real, I would like for the. For the Bucks to win and for the packers to lose this weekend, because I feel like the Bucks is probably my best road.
Big Cat
Yeah, the Bucks. Fun fact about the Bucks. I don't think they. I think they've beaten only one team over 500.
PFT Commenter
And that would be us.
Big Cat
No, at the time. I'm saying.
PFT Commenter
Oh, at the time. Well, we were.
Big Cat
It might have been the.
PFT Commenter
We were at 500. We were. Oh, and. Oh, they beat the Detroit Lions, right?
Big Cat
Yeah. Let me see this. When is it? Maybe it's in their last.
Max
They also beat the Eagles.
Big Cat
Was that when we. When was that? So that's. That's just wrong.
Max
I'm just wrong about maybe the Lions and I'm just wrong.
Big Cat
Just couldn't be more wrong about that. That stat. I'm looking. I'm looking up their schedule to maybe save myself a little, but I. Early reports are that that was very wrong. I don't know. This is the time of year where it's like, I just see a tweet and I'm just like, oh, that's interesting.
PFT Commenter
Yeah, you could lie about anything.
Big Cat
They beat you week one.
PFT Commenter
Yep.
Big Cat
That doesn't count.
PFT Commenter
0 and 0.
Big Cat
500 over 500 is the. Is the thing. They did beat the Lions. They were the Eagles.
Max
What were your record at that time? We were 2 and 1.
Big Cat
Okay, here's what it is, and I probably just read it too fast. I believe since September, they have not beaten the team over 500.
PFT Commenter
Okay.
Big Cat
Wins have been the Saints, the Giants, the Panthers, the Raiders, the Chargers will be the one team. That's where it is. Since September, they've beaten one team more.500. And the Panthers again.
PFT Commenter
Okay. Yeah, I'll take that.
Big Cat
I mean, they had a tough early schedule. I think they're a good team.
PFT Commenter
September is basically the. The post preseason.
Big Cat
Yeah.
PFT Commenter
Not even real regular season.
Big Cat
Yeah.
PFT Commenter
If you were team X, though, hypothetical Team X in the NFC and you had to pick who you wanted to play in the playoffs, would you rather play at the Rams, the Bucks, or the Eagles?
Big Cat
Team X. I would Rather play Rams 1, Bucks 2, Eagles 3.
PFT Commenter
You'd rather play the Rams?
Big Cat
I would.
Memes
I think it'd be Bucks, Rams, Eagles.
PFT Commenter
I agree. For team X. I'm not a believer.
Memes
In the Rams championship experience, though.
PFT Commenter
I'm a believer in Sean McVeigh's coaching ability.
Big Cat
Yeah, yeah, Yeah, I guess that probably makes sense. The Bucks, probably. I mean, they've only beaten one team over.500 this entire year.
PFT Commenter
Yeah.
Big Cat
So, yeah, that makes sense. Okay. Yeah, I'll go with that. Got Bucks, Rams, Eagles, and now. So you need the Bucks to what? Lose?
PFT Commenter
No, no. Bucks. Bucks. Win.
Big Cat
Win.
PFT Commenter
I got the playoff simulator pulled up right here. We need the Bucks to win, and then we need to. We need to win.
Big Cat
Okay, got it. And then it'll be you versus Stephen J.
PFT Commenter
Which I. I've lost to him before.
Big Cat
Yeah.
PFT Commenter
It's not a. A pleasant experience. Oh, and then I think we would also need the Seahawks to beat the Rams.
Big Cat
Got it. For that to happen, which should happen because the Rams are sitting. Everyone.
PFT Commenter
Could happen.
Big Cat
Okay. Afternoon, Chiefs of Broncos. This is the big one.
PFT Commenter
It is everything. It all hinges. This is the hinge game.
Big Cat
Carson Wentz controls the fate of Sunday.
PFT Commenter
I can think of no worst fate. If you had to pick one guy in the NFL for everybody else's enjoyment to be pinned on. Yep, he's the last. Yep, he's dead last.
Big Cat
Dead last. Dtr.
PFT Commenter
Dtr. We've got. We got Bo Nix, who beat up Patrick Mahomes in the Pro bowl this year. And the Broncos obviously have everything to play for. The Chiefs, the only thing they have to play for is to just be like, yeah, we're the fucking Chiefs.
Big Cat
Yeah, I. I kind of like the Chiefs in this game. There's so much pressure on the Broncos. I mean, and maybe not to win it outright, but ten and a half. Like. Like, there's just so much pressure on the Broncos. And you have Carson Wentz, who had the reports, like, hey, look, I. This. These are. These are Moments that I have to like, cherish and take advantage of because I don't know how many I'm going to have. Like, he's going to try to play his best, which that could be a problem.
PFT Commenter
You know what? I'll say this. It's way more entertaining that we get Carson Wentz in a try your very best game than it would be if we had Bailey Zappy, Right?
Big Cat
Absolutely.
PFT Commenter
Because you're either going to get something spectacular from Carson Wentz or are you going to get like the most awkward looking like a deer on a frozen over pond.
Big Cat
Yeah.
PFT Commenter
From Carson Wentz.
Big Cat
From Carson Wentz. Yeah. Yeah. There's just so much pressure on the Broncos. Like you just can't up. You're. You're. You're playing the backups. You can't up. And they might up.
PFT Commenter
But if the Chiefs win, then everything else gets way more exciting.
Big Cat
That's absolutely true. That's absolutely true. It's. It. All right, let's do the game. The next game. Dolphins, Jets. Listen, I know Dolphins fans are upset because I saw it. They're a little upset that we've discounted Dolphins. Here's my thing on the Dolphins. And I said a lot of nice things about Damari. I remember those things I said about Dan Marino and Brian Flores. And Brian Flores said a lot of. Well, no, I actually said nice things about tua. No, I said nice things for Dolphins fans. Will back up everything I said about Brian Forrest.
PFT Commenter
True.
Big Cat
If the Dolphins could get in the playoffs and I could guarantee the two was healthy and they could play in a dome, I'd be interested in watching a Dolphins playoff game. If the Dolphins get in the playoffs and it's not TUA and it's going to Buffalo. Seen it.
PFT Commenter
We're actually helping out Dolphins fans here. The meanest thing you could hope for is to get to the playoffs, make the trip to Buffalo. Super cold Bills win by 35 points.
Big Cat
Yeah, and I guess I know that with Skyler Thompson, you only lost by three in that same setting, but I just, I can't do the Dolphins in a cold weather playoff game again. I just, I want really good playoff games. What happened last year in Kansas City was just a total quit where it's like that was a waste of our Saturday night. Remember we started watching the Telemundo.
PFT Commenter
Yeah. What are they?
Big Cat
I just, I. I'm sorry, Dolphins fans. If you gave me a choice, Broncos, Dolphins or Bengals. In the playoffs, it's Broncos and Bengals way ahead of the Dolphins.
PFT Commenter
It does.
Big Cat
It's something new. Well, it's not new for the Bengals. Something new for the Broncos, and it's an insane, explosive offense for the Bengals.
PFT Commenter
Yeah. But I can understand if you're. If you're a Dolphins fan, you would rather get into the playoffs. I get that. Especially after a season that looked as lost as this season did many times over, where it felt like the sky was falling all the time for the Dolphins. If you can turn a sky is fallen season into a playoff berth, that's a pretty cool thing.
Big Cat
All right.
PFT Commenter
But we're just thinking. We're trying to protect Dolphins fans.
Big Cat
Yeah.
PFT Commenter
You don't. You know what would happen if you went up and you saw. You saw daddy and Josh Allen hung four touchdowns on you and the game was over in the second quarter?
Big Cat
Yeah, I. I'm. I'm going. I'm rooting against the Dolphins to make the playoffs. If the Dolphins somehow make the playoffs, I will be the first on Sunday night when we're taping the show to say that was an insane season by the Dolphins to put it all back together for Mike Retainer to keep the team going and find a way to get into a playoffs where you thought it was completely lost after two got concussed. All. All credit to the Dolphins, like, they would be deserving, and it would be. It would be nuts because they were dead. They were dead in the water, you know, six weeks into the season. But I'm not gonna root for you on Sunday.
PFT Commenter
It would also answer the. The question that we had about Mike McDaniel when he first got the job, like, how can he do in a season where everything goes to.
Big Cat
He's done pretty well.
PFT Commenter
He's done okay.
Big Cat
Yeah. No, no, The Dolphins have done pretty well in this season. And so they're going up against the Jets. Memes, congratulations on interviewing Lewis Riddick and Ron Rivera for GM and coach.
PFT Commenter
I love these posts, by the way, that the official team accounts put out, like, after they've concluded it. They're usually sponsored posts, too.
Big Cat
Yeah.
PFT Commenter
It's like we've just interviewed Ron Rivera. Sponsored by Bose.
Big Cat
I thought of a positive for Ron Rivera. Okay.
PFT Commenter
Great guy.
Big Cat
We know him. I have his phone number. He's an owner killer.
PFT Commenter
Oh, that is true. Yes.
Big Cat
So his final two years of the Panthers. Oh, I want Ron Rivera. Yeah, he sold the team. And then the final is last two seasons of the Commanders.
PFT Commenter
How many?
Big Cat
He was there for three.
PFT Commenter
Yeah, yeah, that's true.
Big Cat
And then they. Damn, that's a good spin zone.
PFT Commenter
That'd be a positive. He's such a He's such a good person that he ends up making the bad owners be like, hey, we got it. We got to get out of here. We've seen how good a person should be.
Big Cat
Yeah.
PFT Commenter
And we're just not that.
Big Cat
He's a nice guy. Good podcast. Very good podcast. Guest. Guest. Very nice guy. Memes. Which A or B? Sad stat for the Jets. B B would be. The jets have gone nine straight years without an offensive player in The Pro Bowl 2015, Brandon Marshall.
PFT Commenter
That. There's no way that's true. There's no way that's true. We had a wide receiver, but it.
Big Cat
Was technically special teams. I don't think that counts.
PFT Commenter
Is that true?
Big Cat
Andre Roberts. That's a long time. Okay, you want a.
PFT Commenter
Sure.
Big Cat
Greg Joseph is now the kicker for the Jets. The jets have more kickers this year than wins.
PFT Commenter
All right.
Big Cat
Positive. It's their fifth kicker. There's also a stat that the jets signed five players from the Commanders, which would line up for Ron Rivera getting the job.
PFT Commenter
Who they sign.
Big Cat
I'll have to pull up the tweet, but it was Greg Joseph. They signed a D lineman, a cornerback.
PFT Commenter
So Ron was getting his players in there ahead of time.
Hank
Yeah.
PFT Commenter
To learn the playbook from a different coach. And then they're getting them in. Yeah. Just to learn the culture and the environment. Is this Aaron Rodgers last game for the New York Jets Memes? I believe so.
Big Cat
And then in the final act, I.
PFT Commenter
Think they're going to get him killed because we.
Big Cat
Oh, my God. Our right guard. It was dnp. And Morgan Moses, who the right tackle was also a D, not DNP today. So if we don't have either of them o lose out, Aaron Rodgers might get sacked a thousand times.
PFT Commenter
Okay.
Big Cat
Yeah. I mean, it doesn't feel like Aaron Rodgers. He says he's no darkness retreat this year, so that's good. He's gonna lock in.
PFT Commenter
Yeah. It's been the best two years of his life.
Big Cat
Yeah, it's gonna be fine.
PFT Commenter
I guess. It's been a cool year. You got paid a lot of money for not working.
Big Cat
Yes. You're sucked.
PFT Commenter
Yeah. But no, last year, I'm saying, yeah, he was injured, but I mean, if you get paid, how. What? 20 million, 30 million to not work? That's a pretty good year.
Big Cat
Yeah, it's a really good year. By the way, we'll have more with the Aaron Rodgers stuff, with Florio, who actually has some good insight. Don't give it all away, Max. This time you're about to.
Max
Not just the.
PFT Commenter
That one part.
Big Cat
Okay. Chargers at Raiders. Raiders plus four and a half Chargers. If the Steelers lose, the Chargers are going to want to win this game because they would play the Texans and get up to the five seed. I feel like there's a correlated parlay in there. Maybe take Bengals and Chargers, because if the first leg hits, that line will probably go a little higher because the Chargers will have more incentive to play. The Steelers win. The Chargers will have nothing to play for. Correct.
PFT Commenter
If the Steelers win. Let me pull up the playoff machine again here.
Big Cat
I believe they have nothing to play for because they beat the Broncos twice this year.
Memes
The Good Vibes Fun parlay, which is Jets, Chiefs, Bengals. Moneyline is 17 to 1.
Big Cat
Whoa.
Memes
17 and a half to 1.
Big Cat
Wait, say it again.
Memes
Jets, Chiefs, Bengals.
Big Cat
Not the hungry dog.
Memes
That's not the hungry dog. I was just. But for.
Big Cat
Oh. Because the Bengals are favorites. Yeah. Yeah. Will there be a hungry dog?
PFT Commenter
Steelers win and the Chargers would be. They get the six seed.
Big Cat
Yeah.
PFT Commenter
No matter what.
Big Cat
Yeah. So just watch that. That will be important.
PFT Commenter
Yeah. I don't think that Harbaugh is capable of playing any activity where he's not trying to win. That's not the. The object of it. So I feel like they're going to go out there and. And compete. I'm gonna try to win the game.
Big Cat
I wouldn't be shocked if, like, the Steelers win this game, the game on Saturday night, and then, like, the Chargers medical staff is like, tells all the guys, like, just say you're injured to start the game because otherwise there's no harbor.
PFT Commenter
I mean, Harbaugh literally did say we're attacking it with an enthusiasm unknown to mankind.
Big Cat
Yeah, yeah.
PFT Commenter
But hasn't he said that before about things?
Big Cat
Everything?
PFT Commenter
It's just like every time he says that it's unknown to mankind. Because this week it's even more enthusiastic.
Big Cat
Correct. He just keeps bumping up the enthusiasm. Also incentive. Watch. J.K. dobbins 58 rushing yards for 150K. That's got to be so awesome to go into a game being like, if I do this, like, if I catch one touchdown pass, I get a half a million dollars.
PFT Commenter
Yeah.
Big Cat
That's awesome.
PFT Commenter
And I feel like all their teammates are rooting for them to make money.
Big Cat
Yeah.
PFT Commenter
It's not their money. You want your boys to get paid?
Big Cat
Yeah, absolutely. All right. Seahawks at rams. Rams minus six and a half over under 38 and a half.
PFT Commenter
Gino, this is my incentive special.
Big Cat
Yeah. 185 yards passing gets $2 million.
PFT Commenter
So not only that. Yeah, yeah. That's. That's scratching the surface. Big cap. Buckle up. Smith gets 2 million bucks if the Seahawks finish with the 10th win. Okay, he gets 2 million if he gets 4,282 yards. That's the one where he's. He's 185 away. And he also gets 2 million bucks if he finishes with a completion percentage better than 69.75. Right now he's at 70.23.
Big Cat
Whoa.
PFT Commenter
So Geno Smith could make $6 million.
Big Cat
Wait, so this is not only Geno Smith, but this is also dump offs?
PFT Commenter
Yeah.
Big Cat
Okay.
PFT Commenter
Yeah.
Big Cat
Charbonnet catches.
PFT Commenter
Charbonnet catches.
Big Cat
Walker see out still.
PFT Commenter
Yeah.
Big Cat
But. Yeah. Okay, we gotta go. We gotta go crazy on Gino.
PFT Commenter
Gino. Gino's gonna listen. Gino, wait.
Big Cat
What was the second one you said? So it's the 10 wins, the yards. 10 wins, and then completion.
PFT Commenter
He needs. He needs 185 yards.
Big Cat
Yep.
PFT Commenter
And then he needs to win, and then he has to finish with a completion percentage better than 69.75. Right now he's just above 70.
Max
Wow.
PFT Commenter
So if he finishes this game at 69, that might be enough to bring it down. Yeah, I don't know. I'm not. I'm not a math guy.
Big Cat
What are you doing, Max?
Max
Sorry, that caught my eye.
PFT Commenter
He needs to be safe. He's got to get, I don't know, 69.75% is what the number is. If he. Would it drop him down beneath that. If he finished this game at 69.
Max
It would, for the record. Also, I saw something that popped up on my Twitter that said bears eyeing head profiled heirs. I high. Oh, my God. Bears eye high profile coaches for head coaching role. And it was about Mike McCarthy.
Big Cat
And then the first tweet in it, it was just mine saying, stop this, which should have told you to stop this. So this is our Geno game.
PFT Commenter
This is our Geno game.
Big Cat
Okay.
PFT Commenter
I think we got to unload the clip on Geno Smith.
Big Cat
I agree.
PFT Commenter
Nobody's ever believed in Geno Smith more than us.
Big Cat
Yes. And Jimmy G starting for the Rams.
PFT Commenter
Jimmy G. Who's a winner.
Big Cat
He is a winner. He went to a Super Bowl.
PFT Commenter
He wins football games.
Big Cat
Yep. Went to actually multiple super bowl, technically.
PFT Commenter
Maybe the funniest outcome would be if Jimmy G went out there and just lit it up and then to see what team would then overpay Jimmy Garoppolo to be a quarterback for them next season.
Big Cat
I feel like if you're Jimmy Garoppolo, even if someone tries to overpay you it's like, dude, being the backup in Sean. Sean, like being around Sean McVeigh. Just do that.
PFT Commenter
Yeah.
Big Cat
Just be there. And also, Matthew Stafford's like the toughest guy ever.
PFT Commenter
Yeah.
Big Cat
So.
PFT Commenter
So your job. Good job is pretty safe.
Big Cat
Yeah, it's a Good job. Okay. 49ers at Cardinals, wrapping up the afternoon slate. Big question here is Josh Dobbs. Can you have a revenge game if you've played for eight teams?
Memes
No.
Big Cat
Okay. I thought so soft to have a revenge game in that scenario. And also, every stop you made, I think was like the team being like, we're gonna give Josh Dobbs a shot.
PFT Commenter
The first team that got rid of you. So if it's the Steelers. Yeah, I think you can have that revenge game.
Big Cat
Yeah. Also, KYLER Murray is 50 rushing yards and one rushing TD away from 750,000. So that should be in there.
PFT Commenter
Yeah. And really nothing. There's no difference made in this game if you're the 49ers, if you win or lose. Really?
Big Cat
No.
PFT Commenter
Josh Dobbs, you're going to be picking right around 11.
Big Cat
Yeah. No. My notes for this game were the incentives, and then it was. We need to just keep hammering. It starts right now. Today's January 3, 2025. I know he's got a lot of years left, but George Kittle should be in Canton. He is the fourth tight end all time to have 4,000 yard seasons. Fourth all time. So Kelsey has seven of them, Gronk has four, Whitney has four, Kittle has four.
PFT Commenter
Yeah. Put him in. Put him in a gold.
Big Cat
George Kittle should be in a Jordan in a gold jacket. We'll start working on a PowerPoint. But he's an absolute monster.
PFT Commenter
You know what?
Big Cat
This season's been bad, but he's been great.
PFT Commenter
I'll say this. If. If Kittle, when he gets into the hall of Fame.
Big Cat
Yep.
PFT Commenter
We'll make our own bust of George Kittle.
Big Cat
Yes.
PFT Commenter
To keep in this studio.
Big Cat
Yes, absolutely.
PFT Commenter
And we'll say Greg Kittle.
Big Cat
Yeah. And we'll make it bigger than the Canton one. Yeah.
PFT Commenter
It looks sweet.
Big Cat
Double the size.
PFT Commenter
His hair, his flow will be better. Whatever hairstyle he wants in it.
Big Cat
The mohawk will be incredible.
PFT Commenter
You name it.
Big Cat
He's a Hall of Famer. Start. Start referring to him as George Kittle. Hall of Famer. Yeah.
PFT Commenter
Do you think that the Cardinals try extra hard in this game to put up points because the last half of the season has been so disappointing?
Big Cat
Try maybe.
Hank
Yeah.
PFT Commenter
Is that. Is that Jake Marsh?
Big Cat
Yeah, that is Jake Marsh.
PFT Commenter
Our darling Jake.
Big Cat
Jerry, we're Doing a good job of watching this Jerry stream. Being distracted while we're podcasting.
PFT Commenter
Also, Jake. Jake being on TV reminded me with college football with the playoffs on. I would like to see Jake Marsh calling college football next year. Yeah, I feel like. I feel like a lot of people. People would.
Big Cat
Yeah.
PFT Commenter
So if you're a big so and so out there, hire Jake.
Big Cat
Oh, actually, I. I talked to Jake this morning and I. I meant to tell him. When he listens to this Jake, text me your predictions for time slots for the playoff games.
PFT Commenter
Yeah.
Big Cat
On Sunday.
PFT Commenter
Although we did do that like five weeks ago.
Big Cat
Yeah. But I want to see his. Because he takes a lot of pride.
PFT Commenter
And he usually nails him.
Big Cat
Yeah. Well, except that one. Like all of them wrong. Was devastated. Okay. Last game, the big game. Vikings at Lions. Lions minus two and a half over under 56 and a half.
PFT Commenter
Maybe the best game of the NFL season is the last game.
Big Cat
I'm so excited for this game. Did you see Vikings OC Wes Phillips said Sam Darnold is a guy's guy type of guy.
PFT Commenter
I saw that. Yeah. Guy's guy type of guy. That's a football guy.
Big Cat
That is.
PFT Commenter
I think that's. We've been looking for the way to describe a football guy for eight years. A guy's guy type of guy. Yeah, that's a football guy.
Big Cat
I don't know how the Lions defense is going to hold up. Although Alex Anzalone did return to practice, so that's good. I don't. I just don't know. I don't know how. I think the Lions offense will continue to be elite, but that defense is just. It's tough.
PFT Commenter
I don't think Dan Campbell's gonna punt.
Big Cat
I. I honestly don't. Don't either.
PFT Commenter
I don't think that he is this. So this game.
Big Cat
I think Kevin O'Connell might not punt.
PFT Commenter
They. That would be awesome. Right before the game. Gentleman's agreement.
Big Cat
Because, like, why would you want to give it back to the Lions offense?
PFT Commenter
Yeah. Neither one of us will punt.
Big Cat
And. And you know, if you're the Vikings, what. What's the point? Like, there's got to be a better chance on fourth down that you're going to get a first down against the Lions defense than stopping the Lions from scoring on the way back.
PFT Commenter
Yeah. Maybe the best way is like punt till Jack Fox. Boom. One down there. Who's also. He made the Pro bowl. Which is crazy.
Big Cat
Yeah.
PFT Commenter
That the Lions punter, of all people.
Big Cat
Yeah.
PFT Commenter
Made the Pro bowl. Let them return it for a touchdown. So you Just get the ball right back.
Big Cat
Yeah.
PFT Commenter
That's kind of like a turnover.
Big Cat
Yeah, exactly.
PFT Commenter
And then you just go for two.
Big Cat
Yeah. So this game is going to be awesome. I don't, I honestly don't know, Eileen. Lions, just because of the home crowd and like playing with that edge, but the Vikings are just really good. Yeah.
PFT Commenter
So it's in this game. It's the most combined wins of any regular season game in NFL history.
Big Cat
Yeah. But. So I didn't realize this. There's only been eight teams total in NFL history to have 15 wins in a season. So one of these teams is going to be the ninth team. And it's the fact that it's happening, obviously with 17 games is a little bit easier, but this will be the, this year we'll have two teams with 15 wins no matter what. Unless they tie, I guess.
PFT Commenter
Yep.
Big Cat
But yeah, the, the 15 win list is short. Only eight teams. It's the 84, Niners 85, Bears 98, Vikings 04, Steelers 07, Patriots 11, Packers 15, Panthers 24, Chiefs. And then the winner of this game. So pretty cool. Also, do you know the Dan Campbell has more wins this season than Matt Patricia did in two and a half seasons?
PFT Commenter
I did know that. Yeah.
Big Cat
Yeah, it's pretty crazy.
PFT Commenter
Again, great job by the Patriots sending your coaches out like little dandelion seeds floating through the wind to just go poison other NFL franchises.
Big Cat
We didn't talk about it because it was Monday Night Football. We didn't have a show on Wednesday. I, I understand people being like, Dan Campbell's an idiot for playing everyone. I had no problem with it because again, Dan Campbell is as consistent as consistent gets. And he said it before the game. He's like, I'm going to get ahead of it. So when you guys rip me, this is the plan. Like, I just think that that's just what his culture is and it's just balls to the wall all the time.
PFT Commenter
I think there's something to be said too, for guys that are stepping into positions on defense to just get them in games more.
Big Cat
Yeah.
PFT Commenter
And not going to, they're not going to get better unless they play.
Big Cat
And the Lions are still on that climb up. If the Lions win the super bowl this year, I would expect Dan Campbell to, to. To maybe be a little bit different next year if they, if given that same exact spot. It's like, hey, we've been there, done that. But they're still on that hunger climb up where that game meant something to them personally, because that's where they lost last Year. And. Yeah, I just. Dan Campbell does everything. He telegraphs what he's going to do. He's going to be insanely aggressive at all times. And I think everyone in that locker room buys in, and that's all that matters.
PFT Commenter
Whoever loses this game is going to be the best fifth seed, the best wild card team of all time.
Big Cat
Yeah. And it's. I mean, it's. It's brutal. The consequences of losing this, to have to go on the road immediately.
PFT Commenter
Well, if. Imagine that you're the Bucks or the Rams, you're just sitting there. We want our division. Oh, fuck. The Detroit Lions.
Big Cat
Who would you want?
PFT Commenter
Well, if I'm the Bucks, I think I would rather have the Detroit Lions because we beat them in September.
Big Cat
But then if you're the Rams, you'd rather have the Vikings as you beat them also.
PFT Commenter
Yeah.
Big Cat
Yeah, I guess that makes sense.
Memes
I feel like whoever. If these teams meet up again in the NFC Championship, whoever loses is going to win.
Big Cat
Oh, I like that. I like that.
PFT Commenter
So not the end of the world. If you lose this game.
Big Cat
That's like my.
Memes
Unless it's the Eagles. Like, unless that team loses and you have to go play. Like, if you're playing in a dome. I think the Lions could easily win in Minnesota if they have to go to Philadelphia.
Big Cat
Yeah.
Memes
Maybe a little different story.
Big Cat
That. That's like my. I wish we could find out who the MVP is before the Ravens and Bills potentially play in the playoffs. Because I would take whoever lost the MVP to win that game. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Picks. Time.
PFT Commenter
Let's do it.
Big Cat
So, Max, you get three PFT and I get to reminder. PFT and I are two points up on Max. We have 18. Max has 16. If there are any ties, the tied people go to the bachelor party together. Max, you want to go first?
Max
I am. I am. Yes. Right.
Big Cat
Well, yeah. I think you have first pick.
Max
I have first pick.
Big Cat
What would your first pick be?
Max
Should I say or should Hank?
Memes
Max.
Max
No, you say Seahawks minus six and a half.
Big Cat
Ooh, bad pick.
Max
Geno Smith.
PFT Commenter
Jimmy G. Terrible pick. Max.
Big Cat
Jimmy G. Forgot about.
Max
Needs to win the game for $2 million.
PFT Commenter
That was the first. That was my number one that I sent over.
Big Cat
Okay.
PFT Commenter
I'm going to take the Vikings and the Lions over. I wrote down the wrong number here, but what is the over on that game?
Big Cat
56 and a half.
PFT Commenter
56 and a half.
Memes
PFT has had 42 and a half.
PFT Commenter
I have it at 42 and a half.
Big Cat
Oh, I love it at 42.
PFT Commenter
Yeah.
Big Cat
Holy. Yeah. That's Great.
PFT Commenter
I just. That's the fun over.
Big Cat
Yeah. Okay. I'm going to take. Do I take my top two technically, Hank? Yeah. Oh, I do.
Memes
Well, no.
Big Cat
Well, not to. I'll. I'll take my second one in. Another one. But it's not going against anyone else.
Memes
Correct.
Big Cat
All right, I'm gonna. You know, I'll take my top two. Stick my guns. Top two. Bengals minus two. And the Panthers. Falcons over 48.
PFT Commenter
I got the opposite side. I got the Steelers plus two.
Max
So then I have my next two. Right, Hank? Yeah, I have the Bengals. Steelers over 48.
Big Cat
Whoa. Ugh.
Max
And the.
Big Cat
What did Memes just say?
Max
He said, don't do it. No, I'm not going to do it. I switched. I told. I told. I told Memes. I told Memes I was going to take the jets, but I'm switching it to Saints. Bucks over 43 and a half. The. What's it called? The incentives game.
PFT Commenter
Incentives. Yeah.
Big Cat
I like that. That was on my list. Okay, so wait, what are your three picks?
PFT Commenter
Max?
Max
I have the Seahawks minus six and a half.
Memes
That over in Bengal. Steelers is. Is a disgusting pick.
Hank
Why?
Memes
Because the Steelers might not be, like, playing, I guess. I mean.
PFT Commenter
No, they're gonna play.
Max
They're gonna play. And the Bengals defense, I guess.
Memes
Yeah, there's a lot of. There's a lot of points. There's a lot of points.
Max
And the Bengals are. The Bengals are playing for their lives.
Big Cat
All right, say it again.
Memes
Take it back.
Max
Bengals, Steelers over 48.
Big Cat
Okay.
Max
Saints Bucks over 43 and a half and Seahawks minus six.
Big Cat
So it could come down to that because my. My two games are. Will be done by the. By the late slate. Your two games will be.
PFT Commenter
I got the late.
Big Cat
Oh, you have the late, late one. So we have. Yeah, that would be great.
Max
It could really come down to that.
Big Cat
Yeah. If Max goes 30 and PFT needs a win.
Max
I thought. I thought I wasn't the Buck Saints. I thought I wasn't going to get.
Big Cat
I had that on my list. It just wasn't top two.
PFT Commenter
Can't believe number three Hawks, Max.
Max
Well, that one is just. I saw the Gino need. If Gino wins the game, they get. He gets $2 million. Yeah, they like. They're. They have to win that game for him.
Big Cat
Yeah. All right, so should we do our TD parlay? Can we put the Seahawks in our TD parlay? Why not? Yeah, why not?
PFT Commenter
Seahawks Moneyline.
Big Cat
Yeah. All right, fine. We won't. Max. Okay, let's. Let's get some. You know what? I'll Do Kyler Murray because he gets that 500,000 if he scores a rushing touchdown.
PFT Commenter
Okay. I like that.
Big Cat
Ma. Hank, Conviction.
Memes
Jackson, Smith, Najigba.
Big Cat
Okay.
PFT Commenter
All right.
Big Cat
Pft. Do a. Do a Vikings, Lions.
PFT Commenter
I'm trying to think of pretty much anybody in this game should score. In theory.
Big Cat
In theory, everyone should score.
PFT Commenter
All right, we'll go. We'll go. Jefferson.
Big Cat
Okay. What are the odds on what we just put out there?
Max
I don't know if all those score TD scores are out yet.
Big Cat
Okay. But those should be pretty good odds with. With Kyler Murray, right? Yeah. Okay. All right, let's finish up before we get to Mike Florio, by the way, DraftKings. Go to DraftKings and bet all of our TD parlays and our picks. Every day is game day. DraftKings sportsbook. And now through the end of the year, it's extra special. All customers will get a special daily promo every single day from profit boosts, odd boost, no sweat bets, and more. There's something for everyone. Download the DraftKings sportsbook app now. Use code TAKE. That's code TAKE. And take advantage of special daily promotion promotions only on DraftKings. The crown is yours. Gambling problem. Call 1-800-GAMBLER 800-327-550 or visit gambling helplinema.org in Massachusetts. In New York, call 8778-HOPE NY or text hopeny467-369. Please gamble responsibly in Connecticut. Call 888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org or visit mdgamblinghelp.org in Maryland, 21 and over and present in most states 18 and over in Washington, D.C. kentucky, New Hampshire or Wyoming. Offer void in Ontario. Void where prohibited. Eligibility restrictions apply. Terms@sportsbook draftkings.com promos on behalf of Boot Hill Casino and Resort in Kansas. One plus promotion per day promotion. Sport eligibility and requirements vary. Ends 12 hours, 31 minutes and 24 seconds. Sponsored by DraftKings. Okay, time for fantasy fuckboys before we get to Mike Florio.
PFT Commenter
Fantasy boys.
Big Cat
Last of the year.
Memes
If you're still playing fantasy or a loser.
Big Cat
I got all my. I got four leagues going. Week 18. My top.
Memes
My style is six packs. Yeah, six packs. Super Bowl. Six packs on the way.
PFT Commenter
We got it.
Big Cat
Yeah.
Memes
January time. Time to lock in. Get in the gym. Get that six pack going. My cinema.
Big Cat
Six packs. Six packs.
Memes
Dry January.
Big Cat
Love it.
PFT Commenter
You're doing pretty much dry January.
Memes
I'm doing fresh fry January.
Big Cat
January.
PFT Commenter
I like that. So you can drink some. Some beers On Fridays.
Big Cat
Yeah. Okay. Love it.
PFT Commenter
Or if it's your birthday.
Big Cat
Yeah.
Memes
For my birthday. Which it's not, but maybe if it's.
PFT Commenter
Somebody'S birthday, then you can drink.
Big Cat
Deal. Got it.
PFT Commenter
Okay.
Big Cat
Deal. Love it. Or love it.
PFT Commenter
Football is on TV too. You can drink beers that.
Big Cat
Deal.
Memes
My sleepers. Jumpsuits things are so comfortable, you could sleep in them. I got a nice velour one on. Good to be back in the seats. Amazing, boys. Yeah.
Big Cat
Hell, yeah.
PFT Commenter
Looking good. Boys are looking.
Memes
Italians and jumpsuits.
Big Cat
It just. Oh, yeah.
PFT Commenter
Feels right.
Big Cat
Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah.
PFT Commenter
Hey, it's Johnny Puglisi.
Big Cat
What's up, Johnny?
PFT Commenter
What's up? My Johnny B. My starter. I was gonna start jumpsuits because it is.
Big Cat
Oh, hell yeah. Right.
PFT Commenter
So we're all zipped up here, boys. Looking good. What is that, Italian?
Big Cat
It's Sergio Tachini.
PFT Commenter
That's nice. I like the jumpsuit. Solves a lot of problems. My sitting. Sitting my. I'm sitting the Cleveland Browns because they're so boring. I can't stand this. Get him out of my face. Just send the rest of the season. I just don't show up on Sundays, guys.
Big Cat
Come on.
PFT Commenter
And then. Or Saturday. This week was subjected to an extra day at Cleveland Browns. My sleeper is. Is pornhub. Pornhub is sleeping. If you're in like a third of the United States because it's now officially banned in 33 of states in the United States right now. Oh, you can't log on without an.
Big Cat
ID to whack off for those people.
Memes
To go to sleep.
PFT Commenter
Government.
Big Cat
Government.
PFT Commenter
Putting the. The wet sticky hands into your cell phones. Get them off. Get them off.
Big Cat
There my. That's. What's up. What's up? It's Freddy. Freddy Alfredo.
PFT Commenter
Hey, Freddy.
Big Cat
My stardom is health because I'm two days in. No candy in. In January.
PFT Commenter
Love that.
Big Cat
What do we think about that, boys? No candy or ice cream in January. No sweets. No sweets, no sugars in January. We're doing baby steps. What about your birthday? Whoa. Gotta have cake.
Max
What about donuts on Saturday?
Big Cat
Gonna buy them for my kids.
PFT Commenter
What about if there's football? No bites.
Big Cat
Maybe just take out donuts. Donuts on Saturday count. That doesn't count. What about when you order $40 worth of candy? Not gonna do that.
PFT Commenter
What about dessert?
Big Cat
Not gonna do that.
Memes
If you have a bad day.
Big Cat
Game only donuts on Saturday. And cake on my birthday. That's it.
Memes
What if you're on a cold streak?
Big Cat
Not gonna happen. Already happened.
PFT Commenter
What if you're really hungry?
Big Cat
Two days in. All right. My situm is Mr. Beast. So he kind of did a thing. Did you guys see that? No.
PFT Commenter
No.
Big Cat
Proposed to his guma, but he used the caption. So I kind of did a thing. That's some chick stuff, bro. That's a. That's some chick stuff.
PFT Commenter
Some personal news.
Big Cat
Yeah. Yeah.
PFT Commenter
Put a ring on it.
Big Cat
So I kind of did a thing. And then my sleeper is Geno Smith.
PFT Commenter
Good sleeper.
Big Cat
I think he's gonna have a big game. Yeah. Did you guys see this? I. Listen. Cool. But doing so. So. So I kind of did a thing. That's a. That's. That's a chick Instagram hashtag. Right.
PFT Commenter
I did a thing. And then what's the emo.
Big Cat
Or we did a thing. Yeah, we had.
PFT Commenter
Well, he said, I kind of did a thing. Making all about himself. Yeah.
Big Cat
Mrs.
PFT Commenter
Beast, you should be respected, too. You were part of the process.
Big Cat
White boy Rick, I think, had a funny tree. He was talking about. One of the funniest phenomenons on Instagram for engagements is the chicks in the comments. Best friends who want to be like, I knew before everyone else, and will comment, like, finally, or like. Like, I've been holding it in forever. Like, I. I was.
PFT Commenter
I was so happy when you told me.
Big Cat
Yeah, right. Yeah. Just being like, I knew before everyone else. Just want to let everyone know.
PFT Commenter
Wait, go back to the picture of the hand.
Big Cat
He could have done better with the ring.
PFT Commenter
With a ring size.
Big Cat
Yeah. I agree. You know what he should have done is he should have had his. He should have been like, hey, my girlfriend, I'd like to propose to you. Here's an African diamond mine. I'm gonna give you 24 days to find the biggest diamond you can get.
PFT Commenter
Yeah. Or if he goes, he just puts it on a live stream. The. The more hours you can last without saying a word. Yeah, the diamond gets bigger.
Big Cat
Yeah. Great. If he Beastified it.
PFT Commenter
Yeah.
Big Cat
So he kind of did a thing.
Max
Why are they all just wearing his merch?
Big Cat
Also, this is the most staged picture ever. That wasn't a. That wasn't a candid.
PFT Commenter
You don't think that was at the moment?
Big Cat
Congrats to him, though. Looks very happy.
PFT Commenter
I did see somebody when Jeremy Reeves got engaged after. After Sunday Night Football last last week.
Big Cat
Yeah.
PFT Commenter
I saw somebody that was saying, like, I would never in a million years get down on my knee to propose to a woman.
Big Cat
Yeah, I saw that.
PFT Commenter
That's a bad way to start off a relationship, putting yourself beneath the woman. That's. Honestly, fellas, is it gay to Propose?
Big Cat
Sounds like it.
PFT Commenter
I think it might be.
Big Cat
What a take. What a take. Okay, let's get to Mike Florio before.
PFT Commenter
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Big Cat
Okay. We now welcome on one of our best friends in the whole world. It is the CEO of Pro Football Talk. Also author all his books. Amazon 99 cents for the entire year. It's Mike Florio. Mike, we wanted to have you on because it feels like there's a lot. It's like almost a precursor to what will be Black Monday soon, in a matter of days. There's a lot going on in the league. I don't know where we. You know what, let's start.
PFT Commenter
I got, I got one real quick for him because Mike is a big J journalist. We know that, we respect him despite the fact that Memes tries to slander him all the time. We always have your back, Mike. But how can you claim to be neutral if you show up on a national sports podcast wearing a Minnesota Viking shirt? Why do. First question, why do you hate the Detroit Lions?
Hank
Yeah, that's a good question. That's well done. I wear what they send me. If the Lions want to send me something, I'll wear it. I've gotten stuff from the Buccaneers, I've gotten stuff from the Eagles. Now this week, I don't know if I had something the Lions. I'm not sure that I would wear it. I used to wrestle with this idea that we have to appear neutral at all times. But over time I've realized that from Greeny to you, Tom, I don't know who. Berman. Berman loves the Bills.
PFT Commenter
What an honor to be included in that group.
Hank
Yeah, but people, people don't shy away from whatever it is that drew them to the NFL in the first place. We're not Rob Low. We didn't start following the NFL because we're fans of the NFL. We all had a team and mine is very deep seated, 50 plus years. I saw those purple helmets. I didn't know what the thing on the side was, but I loved it. I love Chuck Foreman. I love Fran Tarkenton. So the rare good years take me back to when I was like 9 or 10 years old.
Big Cat
Well, they have, they, they are having an incredible year, obviously that game on Sunday night against the Lions to decide the one seed. But the question I have for you, and I think you probably have more intel than we do, what are the Vikings going to do with Sam Darnold?
Hank
The Vikings would tell you they'll make their decision when they have to, and that sounds like a smart ass remark, but they don't have to do anything for now and they always have the franchise tag available. If they would try to work out some sort of deal with now, at one point I thought they would let him go see what else is out there because there aren't a lot of teams that will be definitely looking for a new starter and would pay someone starter money on the open market. Also, I think there's a general sense that Sam Darnold's performance, at least as of a few weeks ago, might have been artificially boosted by Kevin O'Connell and that you can't replicate that with another team. But something happened, I'd say in the second half of the game against the Cardinals where Darnold accessed a higher level of performance. And when you HEAR what Kevin O'Connell says, when you see that video where they went nuts and dumped water all over him after the win against the packers, they can't let him out of the building. Jason Garrett turned to me at one point, I think even before that game and said that you can't let this guy leave. Everybody's looking for a franchise quarterback. When you have a guy who's playing like a franchise quarterback, you can't let him leave. They can figure out whatever they're going to do with J.J. mcCarthy. If they have to franchise tag him, so be it. If they can work out a contract, so be it. But you can't let him go when he's, when he's gotten as good as he's gotten in his first year in the system because he'll be even better next year.
Big Cat
Yeah. Do you think there's a chance that they would potentially trade JJ McCarthy? Especially because this quarterback class feels like one of those quarterback classes where obviously teams are going to talk themselves into a few guys, but it's not maybe like last year where there was five or six guys that went in the top 15. So is there a chance they trade JJ McCarthy?
Hank
I think all options will be on the table if and when they decide Sam Darnold is the guy. He's only 27.
Big Cat
I know it feels like he's been.
Hank
Around forever and he turns 28 next June. So this is a guy you could have for five, seven, ten years. And you drafted J.J. mcCarthy because you're looking for A franchise quarterback and then one kind of stumbled into your lap. So if there's a team out there that's willing to make the Vikings an offer that they won't refuse, then, then you. You do it. If it gives you opportunities to get young players, cheap players, high draft picks, if you can do that, then it's easy to justify. And look at what the 49ers did. They gladly threw Trey Lance overboard because they stumbled into Brock Purdy and you know, there's no one to blame. Shit happens. Yeah, we stumbled into Brock Purdy and he's so good that we can't let him go. We can't bench him. We can't go with Trey Lance. So they give Trey Lance away for nothing in comparison to what they gave up to get him. And I think the Vikings get a hell of a lot more for JJ McCarthy than the 49ers got for Trey Lance, if that's what they decide to do. Or they could just play it out a couple years. Yeah, you could let Darnold be the starter for two more years, let McCarthy learn for a total of three years, and then flip to McCarthy at the appropriate time. What would that be? 20, 27? McCarthy becomes the starter. That's another option that I think is on the table.
PFT Commenter
Yeah, I don't know why they would get rid of him right now unless the team came in and offered a high first round pick form. Outside of that, I don't get why the Vikings would move on.
Hank
And there's an argument out there that the Vikings should tag and trade Sam Darnold and just go with McCarthy. But the big unknown with McCarthy is we don't. We don't know if he can play. Yeah, he's like any other unscratched lottery ticket at this point. We know Darnold can play. We don't know that McCarthy can. So it becomes dangerous to move on from Darnold and hand the ball to McCarthy. Although I think O'Connell would do a pretty good job of getting the most out of McCarthy if he had to.
PFT Commenter
Yeah, I agree with that. So you mentioned Trey Lance. Is there any chance that Trey Lance gets meaningful minutes this weekend?
Hank
Isn't it weird that they. They just refuse to use him? At one point I thought it was a. A bizarre sort of, we don't want people to realize how good he is so we can sign him back to be the backup next year, but at some point it's just ridiculous. Yeah, you just put the guy out there. His contract expires after this season. He's going to be a free agent. And I mean, Cooper Rush hasn't been bad, and Cooper Rush has a good one loss record. But it's just odd to me that Trey Lance hasn't been able to earn playing time. And I don't know what the Cowboys ultimate motivation is. And, and, you know, who knows what they're going to do. And I think Jerry Jones loves the fact that we don't know what they're going to do. And, and we talk about what they're going to do, whether it's about Trey Lance, whether It's about Mike McCarthy, whether it's about anything. He just wants to give us things to talk about.
Big Cat
Yeah.
PFT Commenter
Yeah. So with Mike McCarthy, I mean, people have been talking about, like, getting him fired. Mike McCarthy is. His contract expires. So after the end of the season, what does that process look like? Or are they going to start negotiating? Or are they going to just be like, do you think they'll just say, hey, Mike, nature ran its course, Good luck, Godspeed, see you around.
Hank
Jerry Jones has said that it's something that will be a topic next week, and they love to take over the news cycle if they can. I could see Jerry Jones dropping his decision on Mike McCarthy during a playoff game or right before a playoff game. Remember the Dak Prescott contract? The news of that hit during the pregame shows before the first Sunday of the regular season. He knows how to commandeer the news cycle. And I think at some point next week, we'll find out whether or not McCarthy's coming back. But because that contract expires, Mike McCarthy, if he wants to. When you think about everything Jerry Jones has put him through, forcing him to coach out his contract, saying, I think people work better if they're under pressure, and all the other crap that he's had to deal with. Wouldn't it be great if somebody else was interested in Mike McCarthy and he just said to Jerry Jones, I don't want your job. Go find somebody else. And. And Jerry would like at least the dance, at least the drama, because he loves it when the Cowboys are able to consume our attention even in a year when they're horrible. Not horrible, but they're worse than they were expected to be. They're still commanding our attention. But McCarthy will be a free agent and could go anywhere he wants.
PFT Commenter
When does he hit free agency? When is his contract expired?
Hank
They draft the contracts so that they usually expire in free February or something like that. I can't imagine he wouldn't be available to talk to other teams right away that he. That he would need some sort of dispensation from the league. But because it happens so rarely. It's a great question, and I'm going to make a mental note to find out exactly when. We assume it's after the game, but that's a good question. Your instincts are.
Big Cat
Good question.
PFT Commenter
Yeah.
Hank
You're making me proud of the Internet, son. 2025. But I just. I assume that he's free and clear, but he might not be because these contracts are written to expire at a certain date, usually after the regular season ends. And he may be. He may be strapped. If the Cowboys want to play hardball.
PFT Commenter
I feel like it would be after the Super Bowl, Right. Like, in the event that the Cowboys had made the super bowl this year. You don't want to lose your coach in January, but you could also do the.
Big Cat
You could do.
Hank
If you're done. If you're done. Obviously, if you're still alive, he's not going to get hired out from under you in the playoffs.
Big Cat
Right.
Hank
But when you're done, does it end then? Or is there some artificial buffer that gives the Cowboys exclusive negotiating rights while all the other jobs fill up? It's like, hey, sorry, Mike, there's no other jobs out there for you. You got to take our offer.
Big Cat
Yeah.
PFT Commenter
So you're just going to have to go into the office and just kind of sit in his room and just wait. Wait for Jerry to call him into his office.
Big Cat
Hope someone talks to him. Yeah. Mike, I hate to bring up my Bears because they're so goddamn bad, but this recent report is making me very nervous, and I want you to tell me it's not true. I heard through the grapevine or I saw it on online, and who knows that Ryan Polls is trying to softly push the Bears away from potentially hiring Ben Johnson because Ben Johnson would kick out Ryan Polls. And it looks like Ryan Polls might try to hire Brian Flores, who was a teammate of Ryan Polls at Boston College for a year, which would be the death of Caleb Williams. If Brian Flores. I mean, what he did to Tua. What's going on? What. What the fuck is going on? Why can't they just do something right and just be like, hey, we have a clean slate. Get rid of Ryan Polls. Let a coach come in. Let him bring the person that he wants to bring in, have them both lockstep for once. For once, have it be clean and everyone going in the same direction.
Hank
Right after they fired Matt Eber Fluis, I started poking around to figure out what the Bears would be doing, where they'd be looking, what their focus would be be would become. And I was told in no uncertain terms their number one objective is to get the most out of Caleb Williams over the long haul. They view him as a franchise quarterback. They just need to get the most out of him. And the person I spoke to caused that, caused me to say so you're getting an offensive guy. You got to get an offensive guy. Because otherwise you get a defensive coach who hires an offensive coordinator, things start going well, the offense coordinator says see you later. I'm going to go be a head coach somewhere else. Find another offensive coordinator to get the most out of Caleb Williams. You want to Sean Payton, Drew Brees situation. I was told they're not closing any doors when it comes to which side of the ball the coach comes from. But yeah, offensive coach seems to be the, the message that, that the Bears are sending as it relates to this desire to get the most out of Williams. But these palace intrigue questions are real. We've seen them before. And Ryan polls isn't going to want to hire the guy that's going to eventually push him out the door door. He doesn't want a guy that he's not going to be on the same page with who's going to come in, have success and try to take over. And it's critical that the GM and the head coach be on the same page. They should have equal accountability. There should be no avenue for the GM to try to undermine the coach if things are going poorly. No avenue for the coach to undermine the gm. And that's unfortunate. If, if that's true and I saw that as well. If Ryan Pauls is going to be disinclined to go after Ben Johnson because he wants to protect his own turf. That's when you have to ask the tough question, do we just hit the reset button here? But they won Clean sweep.
Big Cat
That's what a real organization would do. But they won't like it's such an awkward to have a GM who's on the hot seat interviewing for a coach. Like it makes no sense. Why can't they? I know the answer why. But like the, the, the most logical thing is if, if you have even doubts about Ryan polls, just get rid of them right now. Make it. It's the same as Matty refuse last year when you kept him even though there was doubts and you could have gotten Harbaugh or someone else. Like just do the right thing. Otherwise you're going to get a Coach and then fire the GM in a year, and then it's going to be the whole thing again.
Hank
Well, what's harder to find a good GM or a good head coach? What's more important, a good GM or a good head coach?
PFT Commenter
I actually don't know.
Big Cat
I don't know. The.
PFT Commenter
I honestly.
Hank
It's a good coach. I think a good coach. Coach goes a long way toward making up for bad personnel decisions. Look at Bill Belichick. Look at. He was such a good coach, he was able to make up for shitty personnel decisions that he made.
Big Cat
But. But the real answer is, and I kind of agree, I would lean towards coach. But the real answer is a coach in a GM who work well together.
Hank
Right?
Big Cat
That's the real answer. It's the two guys who are going to be working and their vision is the same because you can't have a GM who's got a one vision for the team and a coach who's got a different like that will never work. And that's what the Bears are going to end up doing.
Hank
Well. And that's why I think Bill Belichick ultimately had no one interested in him. Because even if he comes back without final say over personnel, okay, fine. This GM, who's 30 years younger than him is going to draft a guy that Belichick doesn't want. So Belichick is going to put him at the bottom of the depth chart. There's a lot of ways that the coach and the GM can butt heads if they don't have a shared vision for the players they need, the systems they run, and equal accountability. So we either both fail or we both succeed.
Big Cat
Right?
Hank
So look, if. If there's any truth to an idea that Ben Johnson wants to make a power play on the way through the door, or he'll make one once he gets some wins, and that creates hesitation. If there's anything other than making the Bears as good as they can be that's influencing these decisions, that's a sign of a dysfunctional team because as you said years ago, and I use it all the time, and I attribute it to as much as I can. Dysfunctional teams do dysfunctional things every time.
Big Cat
Every time they get a chance. All right, so the current openings. We know the current openings, the Saints, the Bears, the Jets. What other openings are there going to be come Black Monday? Who. Who is. Who is you're hearing right now is. Is gone.
Hank
You know, there isn't like a clear, obvious list of. Of definite openings. We've been waiting for Jacksonville ever since their bye week, and it felt like it was a done deal going into the bye week for whatever reason, Shot Khan, the owner of the team. Didn't fire Doug Peterson then, but it was such a bad season. Can't imagine him coming back for another year, especially after Colin in late August said, this is the best team the Jaguars have ever compiled. How do you live with that statement and say, oh, it's fine that we were 4 and 13 or whatever the record is? So I think Jacksonville's at the top of the list. New England is one to watch, although I think Gerard Mayo is going to get another year. Devin McCourty was on PFT Live on Tuesday, and he spent some time around that team this year, and he got the impression that guys in the building aren't sure what's going to happen. So if Gerard Mayo is safe, he hasn't gotten the memo yet. And I don't know what the Patriots are thinking there, but they could decide, in theory, they could decide to just rip the band aid off and move on after one year and try to hire somebody like a Brian Flores, whose ship seemingly will be coming in this year. Whether it's Chicago, whether it's New England, whether it's somewhere else, the other ones that would stand out. And I'm running through the divisions in my mind here. We look at the Giants as a place where. How can you justify doing nothing if you're John Marrow when they had one of the worst seasons in franchise history. What a way to celebrate your 100th anniversary as an organization with your franchise record, longest losing streak. If they lose on Sunday, it'll be the record for the most losses in a season. And those are. Those are the big ones. The Colts are another one that I think has come onto the radar screen recently. And I was asking someone today who's among the pool of candidates to take these jobs, and the message I got is there's always a few surprises.
Big Cat
Right.
Hank
And that's got me wondering what people on the inside who are in the process of being, you know, interviewed at some point, whether they might know about where things are going to pop open. But we see it every year. It's a surprise when there isn't a surprise.
Big Cat
Yeah.
Hank
Opening during that hiring cycle.
PFT Commenter
All right, so the two other teams that you didn't mention, one is the Arizona Cardinals. Is there any chance that they move on from Gannon there? And then the second is the Raiders is ap.
Hank
I didn't mention the Raiders, and I should have because it feels like something's going to happen in Las Vegas. But you have to factor in the owner. And Mark Davis tolerated losing football under Jon Gruden because Jon Gruden was his buddy. And if Antonio Pierce is now Mark Davis's buddy, Mark Davis will tolerate losing football because there's multiple ways to define success as an NFL team. One is how much money are you making? And the Raiders are making more money than they ever have before because they're in Las Vegas, they got that prime market and they're making a ton of money. Stadium's always full, even if it's not Raiders fans. So I don't know what his tolerance is for being perpetually a non contender. If it's high, if it's higher than it seems, then Antonio Pierce is out after one year. But that one is weird, especially when you throw in the Tom Brady influence or lack thereof. And when will Tom Brady be more involved? And Mark Davis says we're not going to bother him while he's still working for Fox. And they've got the Super Bowl. So that one is just kind of got a weird vibe to it because you don't know what the owner really wants. With the Cardinals, you look at 105 years. They've never had a coach longer than six seasons. They've had two guys, Jim Hannifan and Ken Wisenhunt made it six seasons. Nobody else made it that long. Gannon's got two years. This year was a disappointment relative to how they started. I think he gets one more year. But that's the thing with these jobs. You always have to factor in ownership because it's one group, typically one person making the decision. And you can have, you know, 10 people make 10 different decisions with the same set of facts.
Big Cat
Yeah.
PFT Commenter
What I love about you, Mike, is you've been all over the Tom Brady rules. So like every time there's a seeming conflict of interest, I feel like I hear it from you. So what's the latest on that? What, what was he allowed to do last week that he shouldn't have been allowed to do?
Hank
Well, he's one of the voters. Uh huh. Thank you.
PFT Commenter
No, it's.
Big Cat
You're on top of it.
PFT Commenter
You're an important voice because nobody else is doing it.
Hank
We live in a time where standards don't matter anymore and just do whatever you want to do, you know, just. It, it doesn't care. Nobody cares. But when you think about this, the idea that any owner of an NFL team would have a vote on league wide awards, it's preposterous. It would never even be a conversation. It would, it's. No one would ever even have the guts to suggest it. And with Tom Brady, what I can't understand is, is He like the NFL's version of Michael Scott who has no self awareness whatsoever or is he hyper aware of the fact that he can do whatever the fuck he wants and he's going to do it?
PFT Commenter
I think, I think that one probably that.
Big Cat
Yeah.
Hank
But there's a chance he just kind of. He just kind of. You know, nobody ever tells me no, so I'm just going to do whatever I want to do. And I never stopped to think that there might be some ramifications here that are a bad look for me.
PFT Commenter
Yeah, I mean the conflict of interest thing is interesting because everybody, we all have our biases. You're wearing a Minnesota Vikings shirt right now.
Big Cat
Good point.
PFT Commenter
But we still allow you one thing.
Hank
It's one thing to be a fan of a team and set that aside when it's time to do the right thing. It's another thing to have a fiduciary duty to that team as a part owner who holds 10% of the equity. It's impossible. You know, when I practice law, there are two types of conflict of interest.
Big Cat
But you practice law.
Hank
Shut up. I mean, if I just say it without the setup, people will think, what the fuck does this guy know? Shut up about the legal system. There are certain conflicts of interest that can be waived once the client understands what they are. And then there are some that just cannot be waived. And the idea that an owner would be voting on league wide awards, that seems to be a non wavable inherent conflict of interest. And I think after the season the AP will find a way to clean it up. I think it just fell through the cracks and it wasn't until last week that they were like, oh shit, he still has a vote and he's officially an owner now.
PFT Commenter
Yeah, I mean, I'm a part owner of the Green Bay packers, but I'm still right. I'm right down the middle. When we talk.
Hank
When you buy about 300,000 more shares.
Big Cat
Mike, is there a team? So we talked about all the openings, we think, and you alluded to it like there's always. Could be a surprise. Last year, Pete Carroll was a little bit of a surprise.
Hank
Yeah, big surprise.
Big Cat
Right. So is there a team that you're maybe even heard a little bit of rumblings where it's like they don't know what they're going to do?
Hank
It's not a matter of rumblings. It's just a matter of feel and it's a matter of what patterns have we seen in the past, you know, and it also depends on how the playoffs go. Yeah, if the and I don't want to turn this into a bigger thing than it would be, but you know, there have been occasions in the past where maybe it's run its course between the Ravens and John Harbaugh. And there's been rumblings in the past at times that maybe it's time for a fresh start for everyone. If they go one and done in the playoffs this year, would that vibe return? I wouldn't rule it out. Last year, Mike Tomlin, there was a lot of what's he going to do? And we reported at the time that, that he wasn't going to make any decisions until their playoff run was over. And when it ended, he made a pretty quick decision to come back. If they go one and out again, does he continue to renew his vows with the Steelers? I. I don't know. There isn't the same noise this year as there was last year. But you just never know when everything's going to align. And it's, it's either the guy wants out or, or the team wants to make a change. And there's only so many years that I think a guy can make it. It's amazing how long Harbaugh and Tomlin have been where they are in today's NFL.
Big Cat
Yeah.
Hank
And sometimes you can just make the argument for both sides that it makes sense to have a fresh start. And I'm not saying it's going to happen. I'm just saying that's how surprises happen. Because things go on behind the scenes unrelated to losses, unrelated to failed performance. That, that caused people to say we just need to do something else here.
PFT Commenter
What about the Cleveland Browns? We, we both love Stefanski. We think he's a great coach. Things have been very weird in Cleveland this season. It's just been a weird year. Like I don't, I don't know what type of decision making was going on behind the scenes, how they were determining who the starting quarterback was going to be week to week. But is there any chance that Stefanski gets the ax?
Hank
My read on the Brown situation is pretty simple. A couple of years ago, what was it, 2022, they got into the DeSean Watson pursuit. There were four teams and credit to the Texans. They took a situation where a guy hadn't played football in a year and they created a four team competition for his services and they like pre qualified them for the loan when you're buying a house. Like you had to tell us ahead of time what you're going to give us in trade. And we have to say it's okay. And once we know it's okay, we'll let the four of you figure it out with the Sean Watson as to where he's going to go. And it was the Browns, the Panthers, the Saints and the Falcons. And once it got out that the Browns were involved, that destroyed their relationship with Baker Mayfield. And then DeSean Watson said to the Browns before any of the teams, I'm not interested in you. So I think that's the moment that ownership said, forget it, we're going to make this guy an offer that there's no way he's going to say no to it. Five years, 46 million per year, fully guaranteed. And they've been working to justify that horrible contract and trade three first round picks plus three other picks given up. Worst trade and sign deal in NFL history. When you factor in what they gave up, what those guys could have been and the money that's tied their hands and the salary cap issues, I just think it's been stubbornness that's kept Deshaun Watson under center. And I think Jimmy Haslam, who's I believe at the root of it the owner of the team, I think he's, he's sufficiently flexible to realize it's not the fault of Andrew Barry the GM or Kevin Stefanski the head coach. They were just doing what Jimmy Haslam wanted them to do. That that's happened before and it doesn't insulate people when it's time for folks to get fired. But Haslam's already indicated back in December that he's not going to change coach or gm. That's not binding. But the Browns are kind of off that radar screen because of the things Haslam had said. But dysfunctional teams do dysfunctional things. And maybe Jimmy Haslam wakes up one day next week and says, screw it, I'm going to get a clean sweep here and start over.
Big Cat
And, and I mean Stefanski I feel like would get a job right away. I mean he's, he's a phenomenal coach. He's a two time coach of the year. Like he took the Browns to playoffs the first time in forever. I just, he's been, he's been put in a situation that I don't think is fair to him.
Hank
Yeah, I don't know that it would be the same as if like a Mike Tomlin got fired. I think if Mike Tomlin would ever get fired or leave Pittsburgh, they'd be lining up out the door to try to hire Mike Tomlin. But two time coach of the year, you're right, that's a misleading award. Coach of the year just means you're the head coach of the team that surprised us the most. It's a surprise. So let's make him coach of the year. But still to to do well amid the dysfunction that is the Cleveland Browns is impressive.
Big Cat
Yeah. Where's Mike Frable going to coach next year? Cause it feels like he has. Maybe not by his own choosing because I probably think, I think he probably wanted a job last year. But what's happened in this year off is he's basically got. Every team has been linked to him in some way and it feels like he will be at the top of the list. He and Ben Johnson to pick wherever they want to go.
Hank
That's been the vibe for about a month now that the two no brainers who will have options to coach next year are Ben Johnson and Mike Vrabel. Beyond that we just don't know how it's going to shake out. And Vrabel has been linked to the Raiders because once Tom Brady is done with his season and he's whispering into Mark Davis's ear, Vrabel is the guy that Brady would want because they're friends and it goes back years. There's a point Sims has made and I think he's right. I think Vrabel would be perfect for one of the New York teams because Rabel's got the right personality to deal with the New York fans and the New York media. It's almost like Parcell's where he just doesn't fuck around. And, and he, and he can, he can be abrasive in a charming way. That's how Parcells was like. He, he'd say things that were hostile but it was kind of funny. And I think Vrabel would be good if he wants to subject himself to that. I don't know. Do you want to subject yourself to being the head coach of the Jets? Do you want to be the head coach of the Giants? I don't know. But I think a guy like Vrabel, and there aren't many guys like this, he would do well in that market. And I think both of those teams need to be considering very seriously trying to make a run at variable because that may be exactly what they need to stabilize things in the eyes of the media and the eyes of the fans.
PFT Commenter
Has he lost weight this offseason? So he's less intimidating.
Hank
Well, who. Who was it that. Wasn't that one of those justifications for firing him at Tennessee? It was some weird shit like that. Again, dysfunctional teams do dysfunctional things. I think Brian Callahan could be done in Tennessee just because look at how erratic they've been and look at the rash decisions they've made in Nashville with head coaches. They never should have fired Mike Vrabel, but I think Vrabel offended the owner in some way. And, hey, that's the reality of working for a mom and pop shop, multi billion dollar football operation that's run like a family food truck. Yeah, not just that one.
Big Cat
No. I mean, the Bears are the same way where they would. I don't think they'd hire Mike Vrabel because he. He's too much of an Alpha. And George McCaskey would have to, like, hide under his desk every time he.
Hank
Walked down the hall.
PFT Commenter
I think you're right about him in the New York market, though, because he has a way of. He'll be like, a little bit hostile, but it'll still give you good copy as a reporter.
Big Cat
Yeah.
PFT Commenter
Like, the headlines will be funny and entertaining.
Big Cat
And he wouldn't be bothered by it.
PFT Commenter
Yeah, he wouldn't be bothered by it either.
Big Cat
Yeah.
PFT Commenter
We've made him an offer if he wants to come to Chicago. We offered. What was it? Wednesdays. On part of my take.
Big Cat
Wednesdays and part of my take to.
PFT Commenter
Do an exclusive interview.
Big Cat
Hank is his butler. Yep.
PFT Commenter
We've got. We've given him a lot of options. So Chicago is in play for Mike Vrabel right now.
Big Cat
Hey. Actually, this just popped my head. I hope this is not going to be the case, but our colleague John Gruden. Is there anyone who's kicking the tires on that? I. Now, obviously, if Gruden wants to take a job, I would. I'd be very happy for him, but I selfishly want him to stay at Barstool.
Hank
His name has been on the fringes of the chatter for two months now. Here's the reality, though. Set aside the emails and it's been three years and we've seen people come back from worse than the emails. And I'm not justifying it. I'm just saying the passage of time causes things to dissipate. He still has active litigation against the NFL and Goodell. So what you have. And we talked about the Browns earlier when they made that big contract offer to Deshaun Watson. It pissed everyone off because now we got to have more guaranteed contracts for quarterbacks there's still an arbitration that's looming or pending over not giving players guaranteed contracts, thanks to what the Browns did. If you hire Gruden, you're going to have some pissed off people at 345 Park Avenue, headlined by the guy that runs the show, whose name's on every football. So you better be damn sure that this is something that's going to work, because there's going to be blowback one way or the other. And maybe they settle the case beforehand, I don't know. But it's. It's a lot there. And this is the other side of it, too. And I love Gruden. I love Gruden. But when you start looking at his. His history as a coach, sounds like.
Big Cat
You don't love Gruden.
Hank
Okay. I've defended him vehemently in this litigation.
Big Cat
It sounds. Put your gun up, Max. Go ahead. Continue. But it sounds like you're about to say something that. Pft. Put your. Gonna. Go ahead.
Hank
Hey, hey. Just. Just let me say this. Look at his regular season win percentage. Compare it to Jeff Fisher's. That's all I'm saying.
Big Cat
Also, great head coach. Another gun.
PFT Commenter
Listen.
Big Cat
And.
Hank
And compare Mike McCarthy's win loss percentage.
Big Cat
Fat. That's the difference. Fat.
Hank
All right.
Big Cat
Okay.
PFT Commenter
So you're saying, actually, I mean, a guy that has a pending lawsuit against the NFL would be a perfect fit for the Raiders.
Big Cat
Yeah.
Hank
Well, maybe he could be a Raiders. Wouldn't it be something if. If Mark Davis hired him back?
Big Cat
Yeah.
Hank
Let me just say this, too, because I don't think people understand this in this age of legalized gambling, somebody decided five games into a season in 2021 to peel off emails and to weaponize them to get Jon Gruden fired. Forget about whether it was right or wrong. Somebody with the integrity of a season, five games into it. I mean, if you had a futures bet on the Raiders to make the playoffs, although they did win the super bowl, whatever the case may be, they're always so big on the integrity of the season. Somebody connected to the NFL, and not many people had access to those emails, specifically said, I want this guy out five games in. And that's something that I hope his lawsuit goes forward and we find out who did it, because I think there's a lot of accountability there that may never be properly meted out and hashed out, because that's as wrong as it gets as it relates to the overall integrity of a given football season. To take out a team's head coach five games into it.
PFT Commenter
If you were a betting man, would you say that there would be good odds on somebody who's named rhymed with. With Spruce Fallon that was behind the leaking of that email?
Hank
I don't know that it was him. I don't know. Because, look, the accusation is it was the league and that Goodell was part of it. And until we get a chance to see how the lawsuit plays out, we won't know. It shouldn't be hard to recreate who it was that took those emails and sent them to the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal with the clear goal of taking out Gruden. It could have been Dan Snyder. It could have been Roger Goodell. I don't know that Bruce Allen even had access to those emails by then, you know, because what happened was they had the investigation. What's her name? Beth Wilkinson. She did her investigation. They had the emails. Somebody who had access to those 600,000 documents, found those, removed those, leaked those and took out Gruden.
Big Cat
Mike. I forgot the question I was going to ask.
PFT Commenter
Mike.
Big Cat
Fuck. Wait, hold on.
PFT Commenter
I got. I got a good one. I got a good one. Let me know because I'm ready to fire.
Hank
You're getting old. 50 this year.
Big Cat
Shut the up. You're like 85 years old. Go. Pft.
PFT Commenter
Mike, did you want to wish us happy birthday month?
Hank
Happy birthday month.
Big Cat
Thank you.
Hank
Happy birthday month. How is it that big cat's gonna be 50 but you're only gonna be 40? I don't understand how that works.
PFT Commenter
It's crazy. It's weird.
Big Cat
Yeah.
PFT Commenter
You agent dad years.
Big Cat
Mike, you're short. You got a short face, Mike. You got a short face.
PFT Commenter
I. I have. I have a real question for you. You. You talked about playoff teams. Sometimes there's a disappointment in the playoffs and a team decides to move on. Last year there was a lot of buzz around the Philadelphia Eagles. If. If it's like a bad loss. I'm not saying that. I'm not saying Sirian's had a bad season. He's had a very good season. In fact, he's a great guy. And. And he's a good friend to Max.
Big Cat
Yeah, but a bad loss.
PFT Commenter
But if he has a real bad loss, like a blowout, like the packers roll in there and he, like, cries at halftime. They forget how to hike and tries to fight Matt LaFleur, you know, and it's embarrassing. And they lose by 30, 40 points.
Big Cat
Yeah.
PFT Commenter
You think there's any chance that Philadelphia moves on from them?
Hank
They had a real bad loss last year, though, and before they had the real bad loss to Tampa Bay, 32 to 9 in the wild card round. They lost all those games down the stretch, but for what? Was it the Christmas Day game against the Giants? They lost all their games after starting 10 and 1, and it didn't happen then. Remember that shot of Jeff Lurie sitting in the suite? Who could forget Tampa Bay? It was like this perfect combination of rage and amazement and confusion all in one. And we were waiting to see whether or not they'd fire him and try to go after Bill Belichick. It didn't happen then. I think they've been good enough now that even if they get blown off the field and do you really think I'm one of the most talented teams out there? I. I can't imagine that happening. But. But there's just enough weirdness that happens with Sirianni. You know, the stuff with Zach Ertz, given the fans, the business after the Browns game. What else? There was some. There was a clip after one of the games where, like, he was trying to talk to somebody on the sidelines. They were, like, openly ignoring him. Like, there's just enough weird there that makes you wonder how sustainable it is. But then you look at the record. That's the thing. You look at the record. He's damn good. Is there. Is there a situation where they're good despite him and they'd be even better with somebody else? I don't think Jeffrey Lori wants to, you know, roll those dice.
Big Cat
Yeah, I've. Remember my question, Mike, after LeBron said that the NBA owns Christmas Day. How many games are we going to get on Christmas Day next year?
Hank
It's going to be. It's going to be a continuous loop. It's going to be all day Christmas Eve and all day Christmas Day. Look, the numbers speak for themselves. And I don't know what the numbers would have been if the two games on Netflix had been on broadcast TV. Would they have hit 30 million? Would they had been 35 minutes? We got 38.9 or 39.8 million who watched Giants, Cowboys, a shit Thanksgiving game in that middle window. These were real games. Steelers, Chiefs, real game. Ravens, Texans. I mean, until they started playing at real Game. If those would have been on regular tv, the numbers would have been even worse. And the NFL went easy on them. They didn't play on New Year's on Christmas Eve, and they didn't play a great A game on Christmas night. I think the bottom line is Christmas football is here to stay. Whatever day of the week. Jerry Jones made it clear last week we already knew they're going to play whenever Christmas is. Wednesday is the hardest day to pull it off. The other days they're going to do it. Here's the question I have, because in the past, when Christmas lands on a Sunday, they play the bulk of the games on Saturday. I wonder if the next time Christmas lands on a Sunday and it's not for like another 10 years, will they just say it? We're doing our regular schedule on Sunday. We're, Everybody's in the pool. It's Christmas, it's a Sunday. We're not going to shy away from that. We're going to completely and totally own it.
Big Cat
That would rock.
PFT Commenter
That would. Yeah, maybe. I, I feel like they'd probably stick to the Saturday, though.
Big Cat
They would probably split it evenly.
PFT Commenter
Yeah, because you want it to be like appointment television for certain games on Christmas. Otherwise.
Hank
Or it's just your full blown schedule. Think about it. Your full blown schedule on a day when everybody is, is home and everybody's looking for something to do. Let's tune into red zone. Let's flip on this game. Let's go. I mean, the numbers could go through the roof in comparison to what they ordinarily are, but it's not like until 2033 or something like that. So, you know, some of us will be dead by then.
Big Cat
Do you think Goodell, like sees that from LeBron, is like, oh, okay, like, get ready, get ready to learn. Like Cowboys, Eagles, Bill's Chiefs, like, we're going to fucking drop the hammer next year.
Hank
I think it's like the, the old line from Mad Men when Jon Ham says, I don't even think about you.
Big Cat
Okay.
Hank
I think that's his reaction.
PFT Commenter
Yeah, but I think he, he would say that, but I think he really does think about the NBA. He wants to just twist that knife that they put on streaming. So he couldn't even change the channel. Yeah, you couldn't even, you couldn't even flip over to the NBA games.
Hank
Yeah. And, and it's going to keep getting bigger and bigger. I mean, the NFL is by far the biggest attraction in the United States and they want to make it global. It's a hundred year thing will definitely be dead by the time it comes to full bloom. But you know, there would have been a time when people would have laughed at the idea of football overtaking baseball in the United States. And I'm sure deep down they'd love to overtake soccer one of these days. That'll probably never happen, but I would have said the same thing in the 70s about baseball and football.
PFT Commenter
Yeah, crazy. So, all right, playoffs coming up. What teams do you think can win the Super Bowl?
Hank
Well, the Eagles, the Lions, the Chiefs, the Bills, the Ravens.
Big Cat
The answer is every team that gets in the playoffs.
Hank
No. Well, yeah. I mean, technically, right?
PFT Commenter
Chip in a chair. You've seen wild. You've seen wild card teams one before, Mike.
Hank
Fine. I know, but it feels like. It feels like there's a cluster of teams that.
Big Cat
Yeah, no, you're right. Keep going. Sorry, I just had to throw that in there.
Hank
You know, I've dealt with you for so.
Big Cat
Yeah, I know, I know.
Hank
Smart asset that doesn't even register anymore. There's no dominant team. The Lions had some dominant wins earlier in the year. They beat the Jaguars, like 52 to 6. They blew the Cowboys off the field. But since Thanksgiving when the Bears almost forced overtime. Remember that game when the Bears liked up the timeouts?
Big Cat
They're tough to deal with.
Hank
They've been in close games pretty much every week since then. There is no team that's just going to show up and kick your ass like the 85 bears. There's nothing close to that. So, I mean, you're gonna have chief fans.
PFT Commenter
I'm trying to help you out, Mike, because you're gonna get a lot of. From Chiefs fans.
Hank
But they don't. But they don't blow anybody out. The win over the Steelers was the most impressive win of the year by 19 points.
Big Cat
But all they gotta do is win one game to get to the Super Bowl.
Hank
Two.
Big Cat
Well, I mean, they're. No, no, I have no, I. I'll say right now they're in the AFC championship game. Him.
Hank
But what if the Bengals show up?
Big Cat
I don't think they're worried about the Bengals. The Bengals are not a good football team. Joe Burrow in that offense is phenomenal and out of this world. Their defense is trash. The fact that they need not not only to win, but they need two other games to go their way, doesn't that tell you what type of team they've had as a season?
Hank
Oh, absolutely. But also Joe Burrow, like transforms into a next level superhero in the playoffs. Roll around and he's gone toe to toe with Patrick Mahomes multiple times. He's the only active player, only active quarterback who has beaten the Chiefs in the postseason. It really is amazing though. And the Chief's history and you know, like Mahomes doesn't make the Pro bowl, which is laughable at one level, but you look at the numbers this year, and you can see why he didn't. But his worst outcome since he became a starter in 2018 is losing in overtime of the AFC championship. That's his floor. I mean, for a lot of teams, they haven't even done that for the Vikings since 1976. Their best case scenario is losing in overtime in the NFC championship once.
Big Cat
Yeah.
Hank
Mahomes has done it twice. That's his worst outcome. It's uncanny. So I agree it's going to be very hard to go into Arrowhead Stadium and win, but they're not dominating people. That's the point. There's no one that's just showing up and kicking your ass each and every week.
PFT Commenter
But here's the thing. The teams that they would have to play would be either the Bengals, the Dolphins or maybe the Steelers, right?
Big Cat
Yeah. Or possibly the Chargers.
PFT Commenter
And so Broncos or Chargers. Possibly the Broncos. Yeah. I feel like, you know, the real matchup is them against the Bills or them against the Ravens.
Big Cat
Correct.
Hank
I agree with you completely. And they might work it in a way that they avoid both of them. Maybe the Bills and Ravens end up playing each other in the divisional round. So they only have to play one of them.
PFT Commenter
Mike, give me a pass because I just want to fantasize.
Big Cat
Well, they, they definitely won't have to play both of them. Oh, I guess if the Steelers win.
Hank
Definitely they could end up drawing the Ravens in the division.
Big Cat
So you think Bailey Zappy is going to beat Lamar Jackson?
Hank
Well, no.
PFT Commenter
Was it 17 and a half points.
Hank
That would up the last act of a clear tank? Yeah, it would be win with Bailey.
Big Cat
Zappy because I do think the Browns, Browns are like very live to get the 11 pick. I, I don't think it's crazy for the Browns to lose, the Titans to win and the Patriots to win. The Browns have the 1 pick, but.
Hank
Yeah, the Browns want it.
Big Cat
Yeah.
Hank
The other teams, they don't care. The Browns, organizationally, top to bottom, they want it. And they've done a good job of positioning themselves for it. So you're right. You're right. They win the division, they won't meet in the divisional round. And it would be. If the Ravens win and the Bills win in the wild card round, they'll end up playing each other in, in the divisional round and the Chiefs will get the lowest team left. You're right.
PFT Commenter
Mike, can I just fantasize. Just give me, talk me through this. What is the, what is the path that the Commanders could make it to the Super Bowl?
Hank
Well, if you can Avoid the Eagles, which is doable. I want the Eagles crazy. It's not crazy. I mean, you, you can, you win and you don't have to go to Philadelphia. You're going to go to LA or Tampa. Right. Jaden Daniels, it feels like he's busted through the rookie wall. There was a period of time where he was either hurt or he's fatigued. Lately he's been phenomenal. MVP Chance.
PFT Commenter
He had some interceptions, though. Don't forget about the interceptions.
Hank
Well, it's all right. They're doing better than anyone expected. And they fought through that lull that they slipped into. They slipped into a spot where it's like, okay, the chariots turned back into a pumpkin. It's over for the commanders. They came out the other side of it and they've been winning. And a team like that can be dangerous when, when you get to the playoffs and you're on house money and you don't give a shit and you just go out and play and you have confidence that you can make it happen. And Jaden Daniels has been, you know, better than anybody expected. When we were at the scouting combine and we were meeting with defensive players and we asked as many of them as we could remember to ask, who's the best guy you ever faced in college? The SEC guys all said without hesitation, jaden Daniels. Because he's there and then he's gone. And we've seen it, We've seen it come to fruition. So with a guy like Jaden Daniels, because when we see low seeds in the past make a deep run, the common denominator for those teams is to have a great quarterback. And even though he's a rookie, he's already in that list of great quarterbacks.
Big Cat
Yeah, okay. Yeah, they can make some noise.
PFT Commenter
I think they can make.
Big Cat
Stay away from the Eagles. Stay away from the.
PFT Commenter
Make some noise. If the packers take out the Eagles in the first round, we beat the Bucks, weird stuff starts to happen. It's not going to happen this year, but I just want to, I want to think about it. Because, you know, there's a way that.
Hank
The team that loses on Sunday night only has one road game in the playoffs. Because those wild card teams could go in. You get the packers at the Eagles, the Packers could win. You get the, the commanders at the Bucks or the Rams, they could win. And then the five seed wins at the four seed. All of a sudden the teams left are 1, 5, 6 and 7, the five seeds hosting a divisional round game. And if the, the, the seven seed upends the Vikings of the Lions.
PFT Commenter
Yeah.
Hank
Five seeds hosting the NFC championship or.
PFT Commenter
The six seed hosts the NFC championship.
Hank
That could happen.
PFT Commenter
That's the path. That is the path right there. Okay, cool. Packers commanders at ral. John.
Big Cat
Yeah, that's it. And I'll be. I'll. I'll wear your Sam Howell jersey. Yeah, yeah, I'll get into that. All right, Mike. Mike. Last question, by the way. Everyone go to Amazon and buy Mike's book. 99 cents.
Hank
Make sure you say the ebook. The print Edition is at 99 cents. Paper ain't free. My e. That was my New Year's resolution. My first one in 21 years, because I want to encourage people to read. People view reading as a chore. They view it as work.
Big Cat
You do.
Hank
I send you all my books. You never read them because you view it as work. You have association to school, Mike. And you don't want to do it.
Big Cat
Mike.
Hank
I'm trying to get people to read.
Big Cat
Mike.
Hank
In 2025.
Big Cat
Mike. I. I not only didn't read it, I have even taken out of the package.
Hank
Yeah, there you go.
PFT Commenter
I've got it right behind me. I read the COVID every day.
Big Cat
I think it's a great book.
Hank
Thank you.
Big Cat
Because my friend made it.
Hank
Yeah.
Big Cat
So I. And everyone. You know what? I. Pitch me real quick. No, no, no, no, no, no. Pitch me. One of my New Year's resolutions is to read a book this year. Pitch me on your book.
Hank
Okay. Father of Mine is a mobtail set.
Big Cat
Just kidding.
Hank
I'm not reading West Virginia in the. All right. My fantasy team.
PFT Commenter
Oh, we finished in. In third place this year.
Big Cat
Yeah.
PFT Commenter
Yeah.
Big Cat
We're a big fantasy podcast now.
PFT Commenter
We are Jerry OConnell's talk. Actually, we might fire Jerry O'Connell and have his wife do it next year. Yeah, I feel like she'd be good.
Big Cat
Please do buy Mike's book. I'm gonna. You know what? I'm gonna read two books this year, and one of them is gonna be Father of Mine.
Hank
Well, read Father of Mine in the sequel. Once you finish Father of Mine, you'll want to read the next.
Big Cat
Sign me up for another.
PFT Commenter
Wait, so what's the sequel?
Hank
The sequel? Son of Mine.
PFT Commenter
So it's basically like the Old Testament. The New Testament. Testament.
Hank
Exactly.
Big Cat
All right.
PFT Commenter
The new.
Hank
I'm doing the next one, which I guess is essentially Revelation.
PFT Commenter
Scientology.
Big Cat
Everclear. You ever heard of that band Father of Mine? Great song.
Hank
Yeah, it's a great title. Titles aren't protected by copyright law. You know how I learned that?
Big Cat
How?
PFT Commenter
Part of my taste.
Big Cat
I. But I think there is some rules, because we tried to make a book that's. That was just a New York Times bestseller was the title.
Hank
That's good.
Big Cat
No, you can't.
Hank
That's really good.
PFT Commenter
You can't do that, can you? Mike, as a lawyer, could we name our book a New York Times bestseller by John Grisham?
Hank
I think that would be. I think that would probably be pushing the limits of the law. That would. That would require. What do they call that? It's a case of first impression all the way to the Supreme Court. All over the world would be studying it.
PFT Commenter
Yeah. Harry Potter 9.
Big Cat
Yeah. All right. But last question. Rollback question. RHOB A C, K.com promo code. Take 20% off your first purchase. Q, zips, polos, hoodies, joggers, shorts. Roback.com promo code. Take. Give us one. One Florio story. We're working. Oh, you know what? Actually, we didn't. I don't know why we didn't do this. What's gonna happen with Aaron Rodgers in the Jets?
Hank
I think Aaron Rodgers doesn't want to come back to the jets, but he wants them to be the ones that break up with him. He's been needling Woody Johnson. Every time he's on McAfee show, he says some snarky thing about Woody Johnson. Now I might be fired by a teenager. I think he wants them to end it, and then he'll see if anyone out there really wants him. And if no one does, he's decided to retire. But if somebody that he deems worthy of his services wants him. And I'm fascinated by the possibility of him going to Pittsburgh. Remember that video of him and Mike Tomlin kind of making googly eyes at each other and. Yeah, not. You know, it's that. Like that Sopranos gift where they're. You know, it's. It's. Christopher and Patsy are doing this. I. I feel like that tracks with what the Steelers are currently doing at quarterback, which is, we don't know how to develop one. Let's just go find a veteran and plug him in. But if he finds a team that wants him and he wants to play for them, then he'll play for another team next year and he'll use the jets not wanting him as motivation, even though I. He says it, but I don't believe that he wants to play for the jets and he knows what a show it is there.
Big Cat
Aaron Rodgers and George Pickens.
PFT Commenter
That would be fun.
Big Cat
They don't speak the same language.
PFT Commenter
That would Be so fun. He said it's the best two years of his life though, in New York.
Big Cat
Yeah.
Hank
Yeah. Which tells you his priorities are completely out of whack. They were horrible. He was injured all the last year. They were horrible this year. How does that become the best year of your life? When you won a Super bowl and you're a four time mvp?
Big Cat
I think it's just something you say.
PFT Commenter
He's hung out with a lot of friends.
Big Cat
Yeah. You just say it.
Hank
What about great people?
Big Cat
Here's a crazy one. And we'll end with this because we got to go watch Notre Dame in Georgia. If Brock Purdy's elbows kind of up, Aaron Rodgers finishes where the team that should have drafted him.
Hank
No, no, kid.
Big Cat
Why not?
Hank
I guarantee that won't happen.
Big Cat
Why?
Hank
I, I, I'll just say this. There are more than a few people around the league who have figured out Aaron Ross Rogers and want nothing to do with him.
PFT Commenter
Oh, oh, oh. Trouble in paradise. Kyle doesn't like Aaron.
Hank
Oh, I didn't say that. I just said there's more than a few people who, who know that, you know, I, I don't. Look, I'm, I got enough, we got.
Big Cat
Him in this spot. Okay?
Hank
Enough problems, you know, but I think that, I think there's a lot of coaches for whom it would be a hard sell and you better be damn confident that you can coexist with this guy and it's not going to completely, you know, up your life and get you fired five weeks into the season like it did.
Big Cat
Robert Sala, chad's hire.
PFT Commenter
Mike McCarthy. Mike McCarthy. Aaron reunite.
Big Cat
We're an Aaron Rodgers podcast. I don't know if you knew that.
PFT Commenter
You know who, you know who Kyle does like a lot? Kirk Cousins. What's gonna happen with Kirk? What are the possibilities for Kirk Cousins?
Big Cat
I know where, I know where he's gonna go.
Hank
Here, here's what I think.
PFT Commenter
Heaven.
Big Cat
Well, he's gonna go to heaven. Let me throw this one out there for you, Mike. Real quick. Before you say Vikings trade JJ McCarthy for a second round pick and then they need a backup quarterback.
Hank
No, look, there aren't many guys who, once they've been the highest paid player in the NFL who voluntarily accept being a backup. Flacco is like the only guy that's ever done that. Usually it's, hey, if I can no longer start, see you later, I'm out of here. I'm going to go count my money. The thing with Cousins, and this is why I think Rodgers might have a future. But Cousins Won't. Both had the torn Achilles. Both have less mobility than they used to have. Then again, Cousins never had much. Roger still throws it 40 yards on a. On a dime with the flick of a wrist. Look at Cousins. He's got like. He's got to, like, muster every ounce of energy in his body from his toes to his fingertips to try to throw the football. And his body eventually rebelled against him this year because he was compensating for the torn Achilles tendon. So I just. It just got to the point where I just can't do it anymore. And I've talked to people who said, you know what? There's a chance. It just never comes back for him. He could be done.
PFT Commenter
But he still gets paid next year.
Big Cat
Yeah, he does.
Hank
He gets paid next year. He gets 27 and a half million next year. He made 62 and a half million this year. He gets 27 and a half Million next year. Regardless of what happens with the Falcons. The only way he'd lose it is if he'd retire. And he'd be stupid to retire. You force him to cut you and you take your 27 and a half million.
PFT Commenter
Yeah.
Big Cat
For Kirk. All right, Mike, thank you as always. Can't wait to see you super bowl week. You're the best every time.
Hank
And I never even hear from you super bowl week. So.
Big Cat
Because you get up at like you get up to ass crack of dawn to do your show with Phil Sims.
Hank
Where are we this year? It's. It's central time zone, so it won't be ask. It won't be quite the ass crack of dawn.
Big Cat
Yeah. All right. Well, if you need a guest, pft and I are more than welcome to. Come on.
Hank
You can't get in. You can't get in the building.
PFT Commenter
We have ways.
Big Cat
Listen, Gruden room get us in. NFL loves him.
PFT Commenter
I might just dress up as Mike Florio. We get a whole bunch of Flor.
Hank
I rotate him in and out.
PFT Commenter
We'll. We'll all go as Floros.
Big Cat
Yeah. All right, Mike, thank you. As always, you're the best.
Hank
Thanks, guys. Happy new year.
PFT Commenter
It's soup season. We're going to get cold. This next week is going to be pretty cold all across the country. It's perfect. Time to crack open some soup, get involved with soup season. Taste up. Today's episode of Part of my take is brought to you by Campbell's Chunky Soup. It's the soup that eats like a meal. When you think chunky, you got to think of players like Frank Ragnow Montez Sweat. Will Anderson, Chop Robinson, Trent Williams. Jason Kelsey. It's soup season. You know that they're eating Campbell's soup. It's their favorite. It's our favorite too. I love soup because it warms you up from the inside out. But even guys like Jason Kelsey can't compare to the go to. Like chunky steak and potato. It's packed with great ingredients. Keeps me going strong. I mean, soup every single day all winter long. During soup season, you can find me with a big bowl of Campbell's chunky soup. Chunky takes satisfaction to the max this soup season. Grab a can of Campbell's chunky today.
Big Cat
Okay. Fire fest of the week. Wrapping it up. Short week, boys. Hank, by the way, Danny Woodhead's chair. Yeah.
Memes
Nice little addition to the studio.
Big Cat
Yeah.
Memes
It's got a new rug.
PFT Commenter
How's it smell?
Memes
It smells good. Smells fine.
PFT Commenter
We used to smoke heaters in that van all the time.
Memes
Corn cob pipes.
Big Cat
Oh, yeah. So that was rv.
PFT Commenter
Yeah, that was when the rv, the sewage tank overflowed and so.
Big Cat
And we didn't have the heat and.
PFT Commenter
We didn't have air fresheners, so we figured two birds, one stone.
Big Cat
Yeah.
PFT Commenter
Smoke corn cob pipes.
Big Cat
Yeah.
Memes
My firefighters was just. When I moved, I mean, there's not. Not a lot going on. I got my bag back. Or it's. Oh, I think I got my bag back. Yeah, I found it. They're shipping it back.
PFT Commenter
Okay. So it's not back yet, but it is your bag.
Memes
Yeah, they've confirmed my bag. So I think that that was a good, good, good vibes. Going into the week. I just regret. When I moved to Chicago, I think I threw away like 25 jumpsuits.
Big Cat
Oh, yeah.
Memes
Because I think jumpsuit January was kind of over. We kind of. I feel like it's had some new life. I'm excited to do it again. But yeah, I was looking today and I was like, I have like three. When I. At one point, I had upwards of 40.
PFT Commenter
Because jumpsuits, they're the first thing to go because they take up so much room.
Big Cat
Right.
PFT Commenter
So if you got to thin out the closet a little bit. See you. But that said, jumpsuit January rocks and does I feel more energized than I have in a long time by jumpsuit.
Big Cat
I'm energized. I will hit a wall where I'll just have to throw on some real pants at one point in a couple weeks. But I'll then get back to the jumpsuit. My kids were like, why are you dressed like that today because I, I, I do look a little ridiculous. But that's, you know, I'm comfortable. I feel comfortable.
PFT Commenter
Kid sounds like he's got some anti Italian bias.
Big Cat
It might. Well, he's Italian, so he shouldn't.
PFT Commenter
Hates himself.
Big Cat
So you got rid of all the jumpsuits? You buy more?
Memes
I bought a couple more. Although I ordered some two weeks ago and they're nowhere to be found.
Big Cat
I like. So I have some of these. The Sergio Ticcini I like. Just wearing sweatpants in a matching sweatshirt. That, that one makes me feel a little more athletic. This one makes me feel like I just want to eat.
PFT Commenter
I loaded up on the one pieces this year and so I've got a bunch of these ones that just have. It's a one piece. It's a one. It's got the zipper down the middle of it, which is very convenient for if you're a 6 year old and getting dressed.
Big Cat
Yeah, but you're wearing jammies.
PFT Commenter
Yeah, I'm wearing jammies. But the problem is with these, if you go to the bathroom, how do you.
Memes
Problem?
PFT Commenter
Yeah, it's a big problem when you go to the bathroom.
Big Cat
Yeah.
PFT Commenter
I have to wrap it around my waist and, and hold the front of it against my stomach if I'm going number two.
Big Cat
Got it.
Memes
I just want all I was trying to find. It's not easy to find velour jumpsuits. Yeah, those are the, that's the pinnacle.
Big Cat
You gotta get Cheis Cheney's. They're expensive, but they're worth it because they're comfortable as hell. Okay. Pft.
PFT Commenter
My fire fest is. I've honestly had a pretty good week. Things are going well.
Big Cat
Yeah.
PFT Commenter
It's a new year. 2025 new year, new me. I've resolved I'm gonna get 1% better every single day. And if you get 1% better every day, you end up like 37 times better.
Big Cat
There you go.
PFT Commenter
By math, I saw somebody say that online. So every day I'm just trying to. I guess that might be my fire fest is it's hard to find ways to get 1% better every day.
Big Cat
There's no way I could find 1%.
PFT Commenter
Just 1%. That's all you gotta do. I also, I went to the Winter Classic, which was. It was cool to go to. Great concert by the Smashing Pumpkins at Wrigley Field. Great concert by Chance the Rapper. Besides that, what you don't realize when you go to the Winter Classic is when you're looking down at a hockey game. That's Almost at eye level.
Big Cat
Yeah.
PFT Commenter
It's hard to see a lot of hockey.
Big Cat
It's not. Turns out Wrigley Field has done a really good job of putting on baseball games for a very long time.
PFT Commenter
Not other sports, not hockey. And I missed the flyover at it. Oh, I was. I was coming back from getting beers. Oh, and four.
Hank
18.
Big Cat
How could you.
PFT Commenter
Four warthogs. Buzz the tower. This is a big disappointment.
Big Cat
How could you.
PFT Commenter
Big disappointment.
Big Cat
How could you miss the flyer support?
PFT Commenter
Yeah.
Big Cat
Yeah. I don't really have a fire festival then. I mean, I was. I'm good to be. I'm happy to be back with the boys because I was on vacation with my kids, and when you got three little kids under six, it ain't vacation. It's just trying to figure out a way to make them happy, which they were. I went to Great Wolf Lodge.
PFT Commenter
Oh, nice.
Big Cat
In Scottsdale. That was cool.
PFT Commenter
It's a great place.
Big Cat
Yeah. I watched my. My daughter, my middle child go down the Same small slide 300 times in a row.
PFT Commenter
Did you take him to Houston's?
Big Cat
I didn't take him to Houston's. I should have gone to Houston.
PFT Commenter
Family restaurant.
Big Cat
Family restaurant. Great organization. Unbelievable salad. Max, how was your week with the foot?
Max
I was all over the place. I went to the wedding. The wedding was very fun.
Big Cat
Did you dance?
Max
I did.
Hank
I didn't.
Max
I sat for, like, two minutes at that wedding.
Big Cat
Oh, my God.
Max
Killing me at the end of it. I'm. I'm fucking up this.
Hank
This.
Max
I'm gonna go back to this doctor in three weeks, and he's like, somehow this is worse than when it was when you first came in here. What have you been doing? Yeah, I. I've been. I was riding bikes down in South Carolina.
Big Cat
Yeah.
PFT Commenter
Max, this is not good. It's not good, buddy.
Big Cat
So you're just pretending you don't. You don't have a broken foot?
Hank
He's just.
PFT Commenter
Like, he said, I probably won't need surgery, so I can. Now I can really bang it up.
Max
No, I mean, it's travel. What are you supposed to do?
Big Cat
Yeah. Does it hurt more?
PFT Commenter
Maybe not ride bikes?
Big Cat
No, because PFT did this where he. Remember when we went to the Cubs playoff game and then a Bears game, and you're. You were like, we walked way too much. Your foot, like, got purple.
PFT Commenter
Well, we picked up a wheelchair at Walgreens, I think, for the Bears game.
Big Cat
Yeah.
PFT Commenter
I was like, I don't want people to keep having to push me around. I'll just walk. I got a boot. It'll be fine. And then I walked on it a bunch and then went back to the doctor. He's like, yeah, you do need surgery.
Max
Yeah, that's not going to happen to me.
PFT Commenter
I didn't. I. I also didn't ride bikes. Maybe riding bikes is good for riding bikes.
Max
Was. I was worried about the riding of the bikes. It was.
Big Cat
Well, yeah, you got a broken foot, you idiot.
Max
No, but it's not. I don't got a broken leg. Yeah, and you're not. It's not like you're putting up. I wasn't standing on the bike.
PFT Commenter
Yeah, but did the bike ever lean to the side of your broken foot and you had to put your foot down?
Max
No, that. I, I. It was, you know, it was nice. You know, I was biking around, like, a neighborhood and stuff, so it wasn't. It wasn't strenuous biking.
Big Cat
Yeah. Yeah. How memes. How was your break? How you feeling? It was good. I ate so much. A lot of tortellini with crumbled sausage.
Hank
It was so good.
Big Cat
Wait, how many times did you eat that? Like four times. Oh, okay. It was. I. I just wanted.
Max
I have a. I have a request.
Big Cat
Yeah.
Max
I want us to do. Because January, we do free lunches here.
Big Cat
Yeah.
Max
I want the free lunches in December.
PFT Commenter
Oh, okay.
Big Cat
Okay.
Max
Hank, don't shake your head at me. No, because there's so much 10. It's like you. You get back, and you don't want to eat food all the time, and now we just have unlimited supply of food just staring you in the face every day.
Big Cat
Request tonight. January in Chicago sucks. You know what's awesome? When you wake up every day and you're like, I don't have to think about what's for lunch because it just gets delivered. That's the whole point of it. It's. It's to boost the morale in the office in January.
PFT Commenter
Also, Max, you have two weeks of vacation in December. Would you rather have two weeks of. Of food?
Big Cat
Good point.
PFT Commenter
Four weeks of food.
Big Cat
Also eat less, but it's just staring.
Max
You in the face.
Memes
Other fact, calories in, calories out.
Max
I know, I know, but I can't do calories out right now, Max.
Big Cat
You know what? I'm actually.
Max
I was. I was getting my steps.
Big Cat
You're right.
PFT Commenter
What am I saying, Max? There's always, like, a salad option.
Big Cat
Yeah, there was a salad.
Max
I ate. I didn't eat unhealthy today. It's just every time I went back, I was like, oh, I'll get a piece.
Big Cat
You know, you you know, you're in the. You know, you're in. In the boat with. Right now. You're in the boat with Nicky Smokes. The only two people who've ever complained about free, free lunch is for January.
Max
Completely different.
Big Cat
It's the best.
Max
Completely different.
Big Cat
Hey, would you not agree? It's one of the best things easily, like, morale wise.
Max
You aren't guys that are like, all right, January, time to lock in on my.
Big Cat
No. Because I do that all 12 months that just don't eat sugar like me. Except for donuts and cake on your birthday.
PFT Commenter
You don't like the free lunches because it's. You're afraid that you'll eat too much.
Hank
Correct.
PFT Commenter
Nikki Smokes doesn't like them because he somehow never has an appetite.
Big Cat
Right. And he also just wants to get drunk one random night with everyone who we see every single day and then.
PFT Commenter
Probably make decisions that would get him fired.
Big Cat
Correct. Also facts. Here's the good news, Max. We're also. I've added at some point this month, I think probably maybe third week of January, we're going to do tan week. I'm going to get a tanning bed in here.
PFT Commenter
Calling it 10.
Big Cat
Yeah. We're all going to get tan, and it's going to look so bad.
Max
I'm in.
Big Cat
Yeah. This entire office just looking like we should spray tan. That's fine.
PFT Commenter
Yeah, spray tan.
Max
Spray tans would be way.
PFT Commenter
Otherwise everyone's just gonna be burned.
Big Cat
Yeah, but I'm cool with what I. I want everyone in this office to be as tan as fucking possible. I love that in the middle of January we just all look hot. This.
Max
That sounds great.
PFT Commenter
Okay, Pug, how was your week? Week was good, Pug.
Hank
A lot of too much driving around. I'm ready to chill out.
PFT Commenter
Oh, you've been mobile. Very. Pug's been cruising.
Hank
Yes.
Big Cat
Where are you driving down? New Jersey. Oh, Garden State Parkway.
PFT Commenter
You see drones this morning saw a couple drones.
Big Cat
Yes.
PFT Commenter
What do they look like? Kind of look like they're lit up green and red.
Big Cat
They kind of look like little airplanes. And so drones, they look like planes.
PFT Commenter
Sounds like you're describing planes.
Big Cat
It's the good aliens.
PFT Commenter
Okay.
Big Cat
Yeah, that's true. It's good. Alien also has in. Pug.
PFT Commenter
Pug, you have a. Was it a $2,500 free bet?
Big Cat
Yeah.
PFT Commenter
Oh, yeah. Was it, Hank? How much did we split?
Big Cat
No, 10 grand.
PFT Commenter
It was. So you have a $5,000 free bet, then.
Big Cat
Oh, wow. I didn't know.
PFT Commenter
I didn't know was that much because Hank And I split it, right?
Big Cat
Yeah. So, Pug, what are you gonna bet? I don't know. It's a lot of pressure off to think about it. Okay, Pug. All right. First numbers of the new year memes. Have you ever gotten this? Nobody has this year. Three. Oh, okay.
Memes
Seven.
Big Cat
You're going three. What was your. What was your number last time?
Max
11.
PFT Commenter
I think it was three. Yeah, I think I hit on three.
Big Cat
No, you hit on two.
PFT Commenter
I hit on two. Yeah. I can't keep track.
Big Cat
No, no, no.
PFT Commenter
I've gotten lottery ball so many times. Times.
Hank
You won on two.
Big Cat
You one on two.
PFT Commenter
94P.
Big Cat
What? 78.
PFT Commenter
I'll go 56.
Big Cat
44. That was Jack. 21. That was Shane. Oh. Oh, it's nine. I saw single digit memes.
PFT Commenter
I thought.
Big Cat
I thought that was it. That would have. That would have to win the first of the year. And then you all year. You can be like, have you guys gotten it this year? But damn that. You know what? Let's do one more because we. We missed Wednesday show. This one's official. All right.
Memes
3, 7, 20.
PFT Commenter
11.
Max
79. 20.
PFT Commenter
Huh? You heard me.
Hank
94.
Big Cat
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Pardon My Take Episode Summary: Mike Florio, College Football Playoffs, Week 18 Picks And Preview And Fyre Fest of The Week
Release Date: January 3, 2025
Hosts: Big Cat & PFT Commenter
In this episode of "Pardon My Take," Big Cat and PFT Commenter dive deep into the latest happenings in the world of sports, focusing primarily on the College Football Playoffs, Week 18 NFL predictions, and intriguing stories surrounding various teams. The episode also features their regular segment, "Fyre Fest of The Week," where they highlight notable events and performances in the sports arena.
Guest Appearance: Mike Florio
The hosts are joined by their good friend Mike Florio, who provides expert insights into the current state of the College Football Playoffs. They discuss recent upsets, standout performances, and potential future matchups.
Semifinal Highlights (03:16 - 05:03)
Key Performances and Upsets (05:00 - 11:19)
Controversial Plays and Decisions (08:12 - 10:54)
Playoff Predictions and Player Highlights (11:16 - 17:52)
The conversation shifts to the final week of the NFL regular season, where Big Cat, PFT Commenter, and their co-host Max discuss potential outcomes, game strategies, and key player performances.
Browns vs. Ravens (30:26 - 33:05)
Commanders vs. Cowboys (39:40 - 44:28)
Bears vs. Packers (44:28 - 56:07)
Giants vs. Eagles (56:07 - 66:04)
Additional Games (66:04 - 100:43)
In their signature segment, Big Cat and PFT Commenter highlight standout events and performances from the past week, adding humor and unique perspectives.
Notable Mentions (101:00 - 102:00)
Fan Interactions and Personal Stories (102:00 - 104:00)
The episode concludes with an in-depth conversation with Mike Florio, CEO of Pro Football Talk, who provides insider information and expert opinions on pressing NFL topics.
Coaching Changes and Team Dynamics (107:32 - 123:46)
NFL Playoffs and Super Bowl Predictions (123:46 - 151:53)
Controversies and Ethical Considerations (151:53 - 158:49)
This episode of "Pardon My Take" offers a comprehensive analysis of the College Football Playoffs and Week 18 NFL games, enriched by expert insights from Mike Florio. The hosts blend humor with in-depth sports commentary, providing listeners with both entertainment and valuable information to navigate the exciting culmination of the football season.
Notable Quotes:
"Pardon My Take" continues to deliver engaging and insightful discussions on the latest sports events. Whether you're a die-hard fan or a casual follower, this episode provides valuable perspectives on pivotal games and behind-the-scenes dynamics shaping the future of college and professional football.
For more episodes, visit Barstool Sports' Pardon My Take available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and ad-free for Prime Members on Amazon Music.