PTI Podcast Summary

Episode: "Why Did the Clippers Release Chris Paul?"
Date: December 3, 2025
Hosts: Tony Kornheiser & Michael Wilbon
Special Guest: Steve Young

Overview

In this lively episode of PTI, Tony and Wilbon dig into the NBA shocker of the day: the Los Angeles Clippers' abrupt release of Chris Paul. The duo also debates the intrigue around new College Football Playoff rankings, the still-unfilled Penn State coaching job, and Ben Roethlisberger’s suggestion that Mike Tomlin take the role. Hall of Famer Steve Young joins for “Five Good Minutes” for insight on quarterbacks, accountability, and finding joy in football.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. College Football Playoff Rankings Reaction

[00:54–05:11]

• Major Shifts Noted:
  • Ohio State and Indiana top the rankings; Texas A&M falls after loss to Texas; Alabama jumps Notre Dame; Miami remains just outside the crucial spots.
• Wilbon’s Frustrations:
  • Disputes the logic of Notre Dame at 10 and Miami at 12, given head-to-head results:
    "That's got to be reversed at some point. It doesn't have to be reversed today, but it better be reversed if it comes into play. Don't tell me the head to head doesn't count because then I start to doubt your product." – Wilbon [02:13]
• Tony’s Analysis:
  • Predicts the committee is setting up a scenario where a 3-loss Alabama could slide in over a 2-loss Notre Dame, sparking potential outrage from Texas fans:
    "I do think the committee is setting up to get rid of Notre Dame and keep Alabama. I do. I think that’s what they're doing." – Tony [04:45]
  • For Miami vs. Notre Dame, Tony sees the door closing for Miami:
    "12's not going to get in because of conference champions. 12 is not going to get in. So they keep them there. That is a signal that they will not employ the head to head and move Miami over Notre Dame." – Tony [03:49]

2. Penn State’s Coaching Conundrum & Big Ben's Tomlin Take

[05:13–07:44]

• Open Search:
  • Kalani Sitake chooses to stay at BYU, increasing Penn State’s dilemma.
• Roethlisberger’s Suggestion:
  • Ben Roethlisberger suggests it may be time for Mike Tomlin to coach Penn State after years with the Steelers – a suggestion that stuns Tony:
    "Ben Roethlisberger just came out, basically a coach who took him to a Super Bowl, and said, your time’s done. Get outta here... My reaction is wow." – Tony [05:47]
  • Key point: Roethlisberger argues Tomlin would be a great recruiter, despite his pro background.
• Hosts’ Take:
  • Both express affection for Tomlin, but acknowledge the “time for change” in Pittsburgh and at Penn State:
    "It’s just time to do something again... He’s great at it. He’ll be great at it wherever he goes." – Wilbon [07:11]
  • Tony points out Tomlin has stated he’s not interested in college, but Wilbon counters that the era of big salaries and NIL may change that calculus.

3. Clippers Cut Chris Paul: Who’s to Blame?

[07:49–10:46]

• Shocking Move:
  • Clippers release Chris Paul amid a disastrous 5–16 season. Tony wonders if Paul is becoming the scapegoat for deeper problems:
    "Are the Clippers going to somehow scapegoat Chris Paul?..." – Tony [09:16]
• Wilbon’s Perspective:
  • Deeply personal, as Chris Paul is a friend and co-author:
    "Chris Paul is one of the great leaders... Chris is tough... Chris Paul is an old-fashioned, old-school tough guy... He’ll go right at Kawhi Leonard and James Harden and even T. Lou." – Wilbon [08:15]
  • Acknowledges that Paul can clash with veteran teammates, and hears that “his voice is too loud” for this locker room, but questions where the Clippers’ stars’ leadership is.
• On Accountability:
  • Both see blame on Clippers’ stars (Kawhi, Harden), front office, and coaching:
    "They have the oldest team in the league and their best player plays half the time..." – Tony [09:53]
  • Wilbon predicts Paul will land elsewhere—in TV, coaching, or another role—unlike his current teammates:
    "Chris Paul can either do TV, he can coach... a lot of people could use Chris Paul right now, but the Clippers can't." – Wilbon [10:28]

4. Steve Young: “Five Good Minutes”

[13:02–19:29]

Cowboys’ New Dynamic Duo (George Pickens & CeeDee Lamb)

• Steve details the psychological and tactical ripple effect of having two elite receivers:
  "It sinks into [the defense’s] psyche... you have a perceptional, like, benefit, and you actually have a reality benefit. And I think Dak’s going to take advantage." – Steve Young [13:41]
• Cautions that Cowboys’ historic hype rarely translates to post-season success.

Lamar Jackson’s Diminished Game

• Wilbon notices linebackers now catch Lamar; asks Steve if Jackson has lost “the magic.”
  "Last week really were like, he’s diminished physically. You can see it... It’s like you’re just diminished as a player, and you got to get back to health." – Steve Young [15:12]
• Steve worries the Ravens aren’t adapting play-calling to protect Jackson’s health.

Joe Burrow, Joy, and the QB’s Mental Game

• Burrow seeks to recapture the “fun” in football post-injury. Steve waxes philosophical:
  "My dream is that I get to play football the game I love, for money... Joe Montana never threw an incompletion... I love the idea of Joe and Patrick Mahomes as the ultimate... That makes me feel like—aspirational." – Steve Young [16:32]

QB Accountability: The Max Brosmer Play

• Brosmer’s pick-six, blamed on a play call with no blocking—is it his fault or the coaches'?
  "The truest truth... is the ball is in the quarterback’s hands... If you hear mitigation, you’re listening to somebody who’s not gonna win next week. If you’re listening to accountability, truest truth. I bet on that guy." – Steve Young [18:01]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "Don't tell me the head to head doesn't count, because then I start to doubt your product. Your product’s an exhibition, not a competition."
  – Mike Wilbon [02:13]

• "Ben Roethlisberger just came out, basically a coach who took him to a Super Bowl, and said, your time’s done. Get outta here... My reaction is wow."
  – Tony Kornheiser [05:47]

• "Chris Paul is an old-fashioned, old-school tough guy... He’ll go right at Kawhi Leonard and James Harden and even T. Lou."
  – Mike Wilbon [08:15]

• "They stink. They have lost 14 of their last 16 games... They got the oldest team in the league and their best player plays half the time."
  – Tony Kornheiser [09:53]

• "If you hear mitigation, you’re listening to somebody who’s not gonna win next week. If you’re listening to accountability, truest truth. I bet on that guy."
  – Steve Young [18:01]

• Running Joke:

  • Tony riffs on “accountability and mitigation” as the name of a law firm:
    "That sounds like a law firm. Accountability and mitigation." – Tony Kornheiser [19:43]

Timestamps for Crucial Segments

• College Football Playoff Rankings Deep Dive: 00:54–05:11
• Penn State Coaching Speculation & Roethlisberger on Tomlin: 05:13–07:44
• Clippers Release Chris Paul Reaction: 07:49–10:46
• Steve Young Joins for NFL QB Talk: 13:02–19:29

Tone & Takeaways

• The banter remains brisk, with Tony’s dry wit counterbalancing Wilbon’s passion.
• Both hosts show depth—Wilbon’s friendship with Chris Paul adds emotional gravitas to the NBA segment, while Tony’s skepticism over the College Football Playoff committee’s motives is classic PTI.
• Steve Young punctuates the show with quarterback wisdom and memorable, almost poetic, commentary on accountability and joy in sports.

For anyone who missed it:

• The Clippers’ mess is bigger than Chris Paul, whose intensity didn’t mesh with a struggling, veteran-heavy locker room.
• The College Football Playoff may be teeing up controversy by setting Alabama ahead of Notre Dame.
• Ben Roethlisberger’s public nudge at Mike Tomlin’s Steelers exit drew “wow” reactions.
• Steve Young affirms: winners don’t make excuses; quarterbacks must own their outcomes—on the scoreboard and off.

(Skipping ad sections, intros, and outros per instructions.)