Pardon My Take — NFL Preview with Pete Prisco & Michael Irvin, Mt Rushmore Duel + Listener Takes on the 2025 Season

Podcast: Pardon My Take (Barstool Sports)
Date: September 3, 2025
Hosts: Big Cat, PFT Commenter
Guests: Pete Prisco (CBS Sports), Michael Irvin (Hall of Fame WR)

Episode Overview

This episode delivers the official "Pardon My Take" 2025 NFL Preview. Big Cat, PFT, and the PMT crew run through hot takes, bold predictions, and wacky hypotheticals as they head into kickoff week. Guests Pete Prisco and Michael Irvin offer league-wide insight, NFL nostalgia, and tales from the 90s Cowboys dynasty. The show features the annual Mt. Rushmore duel, listener and panelist “worst case scenarios," and picks for MVP, Super Bowl, and more. Classic PMT chaos and energy all the way through.

Table of Contents

1. Season Kickoff Hype & Panel’s Worst-Case Scenarios
2. MVP, Least Improved, Comeback Player, and Super Bowl Picks
3. Hot Seat/Cool Throne Segment
4. Mt Rushmore Duel
5. NFL Mega-Preview with Pete Prisco
6. Michael Irvin Interview - Cowboys Doc & Wild Stories
7. Listener Questions & Closing Bits

1. Season Kickoff Hype & Panel’s Worst-Case Scenarios

(Starts ~04:22)

• The PMT crew bursts with anticipation for the new NFL season. Football degeneracy is at an all-time high.
• Each panelist shares their worst-case scenario for their favorite team—a tradition of preseason dread:
  • Hank (Patriots): Over-hyped, starter cuts hurt, rookie QB (Drake Maye) gets hurt, team could be bottom of division.
    • “I've realized, like, our roster is still not great, and if we get a…Drake Maye injury early...we could be just, you know, bottom of the division.” — Hank (05:42)
  • Big Cat (Bears): Caleb Williams is bad; Bears are doomed if their #1 pick is a bust.
    • "It's that Caleb is dog shit…even if the defense is bad, but Caleb looks good, you can fix that.” — Big Cat (07:25)
  • Memes (Commanders): Jaden Daniels' knee explodes; or, he regresses into oblivion; or, starts dating, gets unfocused, then knee explodes.
    • “Every Sunday when I watch him get hit…I think about, like, good God, it looks like his knee's about to explode." — Memes (10:05)
  • Zach (Buccaneers): Baker Mayfield injury; or, nightmare scenario is Saquon Barkley powers the Eagles to the Super Bowl.
  • Max (Eagles): Jaden Daniels turns into Patrick Mahomes and torments the division for 15 years; or, Philly's secondary is a disaster.
  • General PMT Anxiety: Jets become accidentally “mid” – win just enough games to miss both the playoffs and top draft picks.
    • "The Jets winning too many games might be the worst thing that can happen to you.” — Memes (16:38)

Memorable Quote

• “If Caleb was dog shit, I think they would still play him another year…I think they always give guys that draft that high three years." — PFT Commenter (17:45)

2. MVP, Least Improved, Comeback Player, and Super Bowl Picks

(Starts ~19:24)

MVP Picks

• Joe Burrow: Big Cat, Hank
  • “Joe Burrow is my pick.” — Big Cat (19:24)
• Lamar Jackson: Memes
• Jalen Hurts: Max
• Baker Mayfield: Zach

Least Improved Player Picks

• Jaden Daniels: Hank, Max
• Kyler Murray: Big Cat
• Bryce Young: Memes
• Aaron Rodgers: Zach
• Patrick Mahomes, Najee Harris, Sam Darnold: Honorable mentions and trolling

Notable PMT Philosophy:
“Award for least improved is very funny — coming back from sucking.” — PFT Commenter (28:22)

Comeback Player of the Year

• Carson Wentz (Vikings dream scenario): Max
• Dak Prescott: Big Cat (“I think he’ll put up numbers, Cowboys still stink, triggering debate if he's top 5.”)
• Trevor Lawrence: Hank
• Tua Tagovailoa: Memes
• Nick Chubb: Zach

Super Bowl Picks

• Green Bay Packers (with Parsons): Hank
  • “I think the Packers are gonna be filthy.” (19:49)
• Detroit Lions: PFT Commenter
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Zach (bold)
• Denver Broncos: Max
• Rams, Ravens, Bengals: All receive hype as dark horses

3. Hot Seat/Cool Throne Segment

(Starts ~35:33)

• Hank: Hot Seat - Team Europe/Ryder Cup (intense USA/Europe golf rivalry); Cool Throne - Max Johnson (UNC football drama/NFL legacy debates)
• PFT/Memes: Fantasy draft/division drama (Jerry O’Connell sets controversial draft orders)
  • “I actually would rather not have the first pick in a fantasy draft. I think that sucks." – PFT (39:58)
• Running joke: Short shorts and lottery ball luck—simmering tension as some producers still haven’t “got it” in months.

4. Mt Rushmore Duel

(Starts ~55:38)

• Multi-team, multi-round draft — classic PMT chaos
• Best picks:
  • People You’d Switch Lives With: Leonardo DiCaprio, Timothy Chalamet, Josh Allen, Dave Portnoy, Scotty Scheffler, Shohei Ohtani, MySpace Tom
  • Inventions: Light Bulb, iPhone, The Wheel, Football, Ice Cream, The Internet, Xbox
  • Laws You’d Make If Lawmaker for a Day: Day After Super Bowl = Holiday, 4-Day Work Week, No Taxes, Jail for microwaving seafood at work, Release all Epstein files, Universal Healthcare, Legalize Prostitution, TV commercials must be at same volume as shows.

Memorable Cliff Notes

• Ardently debated what qualifies as a “top invention” (electricity, football, cotton gin, cocaine all got mentions).
• Max and Memes repeatedly panic and self-sabotage (“Panic pick!” — Max).
• Lengthy “honorable mentions” riffing reveals the true PMT brain trust: billionaire troll options, obscure musicians, European work weeks.

5. NFL Mega-Preview with Pete Prisco

(Starts ~84:06)

AFC East

• Bills: “Should run away with it. Easiest first-place schedule ever. 13-14 wins realistic.” — Pete Prisco (85:20)
• Dolphins: “I don't like that team at all…big changes coming.” — Pete (85:20)
• Patriots: “Drake May is the guy long-term, but they’re a year away.”
• Jets: “You gotta gimmick up stuff for [Justin Fields] to run. 8-9 wins possible w/ defense, but QB limitations real.” (123:00)

AFC South

• Texans = defensive upside BUT “offensive line could be a disaster.”
• Titans = Cam Ward is interesting, but roster is thin (“Look to the future”)
• Colts = Daniel Jones “not capable of putting it on his right arm”; not a playoff team.

AFC West

• Chiefs = “Mahomes will look like himself again. Offensive line is a major upgrade — this is a new look team.” (91:37)
• Broncos = second in division, Payton will make Bo Nix better, defense is elite.
• Raiders = “Might win five games” (94:00)
• Chargers = Herbert is not the problem; injuries (Rashawn Slater) and defense are.

AFC North

• Ravens: “Edge rusher is the main weakness. Still, my pick to win division.”
• Bengals: “If defense is 17th or better, they’re a true contender.” — Pete (99:02)
• Steelers: “They didn't run the ball last year. If they don't this year, it’ll be a long season.”
• Browns: Dylan Gabriel > Shedeur Sanders as backup; Flacco stays starter til at least week 5.

NFC East

• Eagles: “Depth is the main problem, but still best in division.”
• Cowboys: “Great offense—will score. Defense without Parsons (traded) is big issue.”
  • “I think they're going to score a lot of points...Prescott...and you add Pickens to balance the field.” — Pete (105:08)
• Commanders: “Jaden Daniels—MVP possible, but needs to process reads faster."
  • “Only scratched the surface as a passer.” — Pete (106:26)
• Giants: “Jackson Dart likely to start before season ends.”

NFC North

• Packers: “They were my SB pick before Parsons trade. Jordan Love was playing hurt. This is a loaded, young, dangerous team.” (113:19)
• Lions: “I worry more than last year — lost OL starters, new coordinators, defensive questions.” (117:26)
• Vikings: “Question is J.J. McCarthy. If he’s good, they’re legit. If not, house of cards.” (109:17)
• Bears: “Year away, but I like them week one. Ben Johnson will get the best out of Caleb Williams eventually—just not yet.” (111:51)

NFC South & West

• Bucks: “Super Bowl sleeper! All offense returns, defense faster, huge on Tampa.” (118:25)
• Falcons: #2 in division, but OL issuess.
• Panthers: Not a believer.
• 49ers: “Stars win — most star-laden group in NFC. If healthy, division is theirs.” (120:10)
• Seahawks: “Will be okay but don’t trust Darnold in big moments.”
• Rams: “High on Rams…if Stafford stays healthy. But can his back hold up?”
• Cardinals: “Murray has to show something—big year.”
• Giants: “Jackson Dart will start soon, pass rush keeps games close.”

AFC/NFC Championship/Super Bowl (Pete's picks)

• AFC:“Bills over Chiefs”
• NFC:“Green Bay over Philly”
• Super Bowl: Bills beat Packers. “Buffalo party like never before.” — Pete Prisco (127:48)

Awards

• OROY: Genti
• DROY: Abdul Carter
• COY: McDermott
• MVP: Jordan Love
• Least Improved: CJ Stroud
• Comeback Player: McCaffrey

6. Michael Irvin Interview – Cowboys Doc & Wild Stories

(Starts ~135:34)

• Reflects on 90s Cowboys: “Damn, the 90s were great, man.” — Michael Irvin (136:19)
• Barry Switzer vs. Jimmy Johnson: Subtle shift from militaristic (Jimmy) to “grown man” hands-off (Barry), leading to “some men do it, some don't.”
• Signing Deion Sanders: No jealousy—team felt completing a “Florida triplet.” Jerry Jones made stars feel part of process, not left out.
  • “Jerry sat down with every one of us...you don't need my thoughts, go get that done.” — Irvin (140:38)
• The Famous White House: Mafia-level omertà, still won’t talk details 30 years on.
  • “That’s like that mafia stuff right there.” — Irvin (145:07)
• Life after Dynasty: Candid about struggles after neck injury; switching “addictions” from football to partying.
  • “What I was doing really was switching addictions.” — Irvin (169:03)
• Attempted Hit on His Life: Details harrowing case where a jealous husband put out a hit (served 2 yrs). Irvin visited, apologized in jail.
  • “I had to make my peace with him. If he had enough to do it that one time, two years sitting down may make him want to do it again.” — Irvin (158:06)
• On Modern Cowboys: Emphasizes “skill is not enough—need collective will.”
  • “Only football families win Super Bowls, not just football teams.” — Irvin (159:31)
• On current Cowboys’ wideouts: CD Lamb and Pickens can coexist. Compares to the 90s division of labor with Rocket Ismail.
  • “CD catches 78 passes 20 and in…George going over the top.”
• Classic Irvin: Tales of showing up late after wild off-seasons, lawyer should have tried a “it was my birthday” defense, honest about post-retirement substance struggles.

7. Listener Questions & Closing Bits

(Starts ~172:02)

• PMT closes out with classic bits:
  • Outlandish NFL overtime fixes (“no downs, play until TD, least time wins”).
  • European “Ultra Bowl” hypothetical—would NFL Euro ever match up?
  • How much would you pay to see your team win a Super Bowl? (“If I had Ellison money, Wisconsin would have a $200 million roster every year.” — Big Cat)
  • Sunday routine tips for 10+ hour football binge.

Lottery Ball Drama

• Zach finally gets the ball, memes' misery continues—“Oh for 294.”
  • “Every ball has their day.” — Zach

Notable Quotes (with Timestamps)

• “If Caleb was dog shit, I think they would still play him another year…I think they always give guys that draft that high three years."
  — PFT Commenter (17:45)

• “Damn, the 90s were great, man. Not just the Cowboys. The whole everything, you know, economy was going good, everybody living good. It was a lot of fun, you know.”
  — Michael Irvin (136:19)

• "Bills run away with it. Their schedule is as favorable as any first place team has ever had."
  — Pete Prisco (85:20)

• “What I was doing really was switching addictions.”
  — Michael Irvin (169:03)

• "Justin Herbert's not the problem with the Chargers, he just isn't."
  — Pete Prisco (96:57)

Memorable PMT Moments

• Max panicking live during the Mt Rushmore draft – “I panicked!” (61:54)
• Michael Irvin describing transitioning the White House from hotels to a rented mansion: “Ding, ding, ding—that’s rent on a house!” (148:59)
• Epic acronym-laden, inside-joke-filled riffing on inventions, European workweeks, and nine-year fantasy streaks.
• Pete Prisco: “Kelsey? We pay too much attention to Kelsey. He’s more name than game at this point." (125:07)

Final Notes

This episode is a quintessential PMT NFL preview: sharp football takes, guest expertise, off-the-wall comedy, and 90 minutes of glorious football guy energy. The takeaways? The Bills are for real, the Bears and Commanders “could be a year away," the Cowboys’ past was way, way crazier than you remember, and there's no such thing as too many Super Bowl futures.

For diehards and casual fans alike: this is THE episode to kick off the 2025 NFL season.