PTI – “Drama in the Big Apple?” (August 22, 2025)

Hosts: Frank Isola & Pablo Torre (Filling in for Tony Kornheiser & Michael Wilbon)
Theme: Deep dives and sharp takes on NFL and MLB storylines, especially New York sports drama and coaching intrigue, with signature wit and historical context.

Episode Overview

Frank Isola and Pablo Torre step in for Tony and Mike for a lively discussion centered around quarterback drama with the New York Giants, Joe Burrow’s self-assuredness, Bill Belichick’s new life at North Carolina, and the ongoing Red Sox-Yankees rivalry. The episode mixes insider insight, stats, sports history, and trademark banter, making for a wide-ranging and fast-paced sports roundtable.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Giants QB Situation: The Russell Wilson–Jackson Dart Dilemma

• Background: Giants rookie Jackson Dart impresses in the preseason (6 of 12, 81 yards, with 5 dropped passes), but coach Brian Daboll emphasizes he's a work in progress.
• Russell Wilson’s Future: Frank and Pablo liken Wilson to a “bridge QB,” referencing past NFL cases like Matt Flynn/Russell Wilson (Seahawks) and Kurt Warner/Eli Manning (Giants 2004).
  • Quote [01:45, Pablo Torre]: "Russell Wilson should be feeling like what he himself had done when he was a rookie... This is our version of Sam Darnold in Minnesota."
  • The challenging schedule (at Washington, at Dallas, vs. Chiefs) sets Wilson up for fan scrutiny and potential early replacement.
  • Frank’s Prediction [03:18]: "He has a couple of three and outs and the crowd is going to start chanting for Jackson Dart. He's eventually going to play Jackson Dart... Not a very pleasant experience for Russell Wilson."

2. Expectations for Rookie QBs

• NFL history is uneven: Some like Jayden Daniels (2024) start hot; others like Mahomes need time. Frank urges patience, Pablo underscores managing crowd and front office expectations.
  • Pablo [03:48]: "You don't actually want to throw him out there in week one. If you're totally invested in him as the future, you want to protect him and also you want to set him up to succeed."

3. Joe Burrow’s Confidence and the Bengals Ceiling

• Burrow’s Boast: "I'm not sure I would say anyone is playing the position better than I am right now." (per SI)
  • Frank’s Stat-Pack [05:22]: "First in passing yards, first in touchdown passes, third in quarterback rating... the problem is the team that he plays for doesn't do enough defensively..."
• Burrow as a “pure passer" is rare in today’s NFL, surrounded by dual threats like Mahomes and Lamar Jackson.
  • Pablo [07:00]: "He is a true pocket passer... On that level, over 70% completion, I believe 4,700 yards. Yeah. As a pure passer, I believe he probably is the best in the NFL."
  • Both agree: The Bengals’ defense, not Burrow, limits the team’s championship prospects.

4. Bill Belichick's College Football Reinvention

• Belichick at UNC: Transitioning from Patriots legend to Tar Heel coach, Belichick publicly vents about NFL owners and defends his legacy in the wake of a critical Patriots documentary.
  • Quote [08:54, Belichick]: "I've always wanted to be in college football. There's no owner. There's no owner's son."
  • Pablo analyzes Belichick as “litigating a breakup in public,” citing Kraft’s recent comments and the personal tone of the Apple TV+ doc.
  • Frank [10:47]: “It didn’t end well with Tom Brady in New England. It didn’t end well with Bill Belichick... Everyone wants credit... But now look what's happened the last three years. Three. Three straight losing seasons.”
  • Pablo [11:16]: "He doesn't have an owner and an owner's son, but he has a chancellor, he has a board of trustees. You know, Carolina is a basketball school... This is an experiment in which Belichick brings football. What does that mean? What does it cost them? How do they look? And so far, it looks quite petty."

5. Red Sox vs. Yankees: Rivalry Redux

• Who Needs the Series More?
  • Frank [13:58]: Yankees pitching woes and sloppy fielding; “Tonight it's more important for the Yankees... Max Fried is starting for them… 15 innings, 15 earned runs, 24 hits, he's given up. The Yankees need to be better.”
  • Pablo [15:14]: “This was a season that was supposed to make up for not merely that horrific inning, but also the fact that the Yankees are due a World Series. The Yankees are actively expecting a World Series. And now I believe this is the sixth time I fired Aaron Boone in my brain.”
  • Both agree: Stakes are high for New York because of sky-high expectations.

6. NFL Watchability & The Commanders vs. Ravens

• ESPN’s Ben Zolak rates Commanders #1, Ravens #2 for “watchability.”
• Frank trusts the Ravens’ consistency but worries Commanders may "regress to the mean."
  • Pablo [17:26]: "The Commanders… really did overachieve, and they had in Jaden Daniels, the messianic figure who enabled it… The Ravens… once you get through the regular season and it's the postseason, guess who has a giant question mark hanging over his head. Yeah, Lamar Jackson."
  • Both see Ravens as more reliable, but acknowledge pressure and postseason question marks for Lamar.

7. SEC Moves to 9-Game Schedule

• Frank [21:54]: "The conference has voted to expand to a nine game conference schedule starting next season. Each school will play three annual opponents and the remaining six will rotate."
• Pablo highlights the financial motives:
  • Quote [22:32]: "To quote Tony Korniser quoting Don Ohmyer, the answer to all of your questions is money."

8. Rapid Fire “Big Finish”

• Jerry Jones’ TV Dramatics:
  • Frank [22:39]: “Jerry Jones told Michael Irvin that Micah Parsons agent told the Cowboys to stick their offer up there.”
  • Pablo [22:54]: “Jerry is still producing the television show that is his football team.”
• Malik Beasley Cleared in Gambling Investigation:
  • Pablo [23:22]: “My show continues to investigate it. Actually, I think there's a lot more to come.”
• Preseason Games Watch:
  • Pablo [23:45]: "The sound that I'm going to hear from across the country, that is Mina Kimes watching four preseason games in one night."

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Giants QB predicament:
  • [01:45, Pablo Torre]: "Russell Wilson should be feeling like what he himself had done when he was a rookie... This is our version of Sam Darnold in Minnesota."
• Russell Wilson’s Plight:
  • [03:18, Frank Isola]: "He has a couple of three and outs and the crowd is going to start chanting for Jackson Dart. He's eventually going to play Jackson Dart... Not a very pleasant experience for Russell Wilson."
• On Belichick’s college move:
  • [08:54, Bill Belichick via Boston Globe]: "I've always wanted to be in college football. There's no owner. There's no owner's son."
  • [11:16, Pablo Torre]: “…but he has a chancellor, he has a board of trustees… Carolina is a basketball school... so far, it looks quite petty.”
• On the Yankees’ standards:
  • [15:14, Pablo Torre]: “This was a season that was supposed to make up for not merely that horrific inning... the Yankees are due a World Series... it's the sixth time I fired Aaron Boone in my brain.”
• On SEC expansion:
  • [22:32, Pablo Torre]: "The answer to all of your questions is money."
• Jerry Jones Entertainment Value:
  • [22:54, Pablo Torre]: "Jerry is still producing the television show that is his football team."

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Giants QB Drama: 01:10–04:54
• Joe Burrow’s Self-Assessment: 04:54–08:31
• Bill Belichick Reinvention & Documentary Fallout: 08:31–11:51
• Red Sox vs Yankees Stakes: 13:58–16:26
• Ravens vs Commanders Watchability, NFL Trends: 16:26–18:46
• SEC Scheduling & College Football Playoff: 21:54–22:39
• Big Finish – Jerry Jones, Malik Beasley, Preseason: 22:39–23:51

Tone & Style

The episode is steeped in PTI’s familiar blend of smart, brisk debate, historical callbacks, and friendly digs. Frank’s dry, ruminative delivery plays perfectly off Pablo’s energetic, reference-packed riffs, giving this hosting duo a playful but analytical vibe. They freely mix stats, sports psychology, league history, and cultural commentary, making the episode both informative and fun—even without the usual Tony/Mike dynamic.

Perfect For:
Anyone seeking sharp sports insights, historical parallels, and a front-row seat to the ongoing soap operas of the NFL, with a New York flavor and a heavy dose of coaching intrigue.