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Grit

The definitive collection of PMT's obsession with grit, grittiness, and the lunch-pail lifestyle. From Grit Week adventures to coaches defining what grit means, from Dellavedova taking charges to Danny Woodhead in the I-formation — this is what it looks like when you're first one in, last one out.

54 takes

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PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

A team of all-star white guys would beat an all-star team of black guys because of 'grit' and 'taking charges.'

Who do you guys think would win, a team of all-star white guys or black guys?... Like I said, a lot of grit on our side. Miles and miles of heart. You guys could just take charges every possession.

Purely hypothetical satirical scenario.
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PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

LeBron James lacks grit because he peaked in high school

LeBron has no grit, but it's not from his own – it's not his own fault... I think that LeBron's just been screwed over. Like I said, the guy peaked in high school and... he was back in, like, 11th, 12th grade being put in the center of the universe.

LeBron went on to win the 2016 Finals in a historic grit-filled performance, effectively debunking the 'no grit' narrative.
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PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Grit has been co-opted and ruined by Harvard researchers and psychologists

I've seen over the past, like two years, the pussification of grit in America. Like grit has been co-opted by Harvard researchers, by doctors, by psychologists... It's people trying to teach grit. People who have like a silver spoon in their mouths, a doctor in front of their name, trying to tell me what it means to be gritty.

This is a philosophical stance on the meaning of a word and its cultural use.
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Big CatBig Cat

Angela Duckworth is just monetizing the fact that untalented people are too dumb to quit

I saw who wrote the study and it was Angela Duckworth Who is the lady that wrote the grit book. She is grit exploitation. She is the big grit industrial complex. Most of us out there learn to appreciate grit because we had to because we lack talent and sports... we're also dumb enough to not quit. So therefore that's a good quality and I'm going to call it grit and she comes along and she's trying to make money off it.

This is a philosophical critique of a psychological theory.
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PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

True 'Football Guys' don't actually poop because their bodies are too efficient

Real football guys, their bodies operate so efficiently that they—first of all, they don't really eat meals because they're just too busy watching film. They eat like a couple granola bars... their bodies are just so efficient at burning everything, converting everything to energy. They just like—they don't crap. It just all goes right into the muscles or the fat... I don't think that Jeff Fisher can crap his pants because I would submit that Jeff Fisher doesn't crap.

Hot TakeLifeScorchingSarcastic
Biologically impossible, though a legendary piece of PMT satire.
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PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

We are not football guys, we are football guy guys

Thinking back on the different football guys that we met with and talked to about grit, I came to the conclusion we're not football guys, me and you. We're not football guys, but we are football guys guys. We love being dudes around football guys.

Subjective self-categorization.
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Danny WoodheadDanny Woodhead

A truly gritty person doesn't want to explain what grit is

I think in all fairness, if you are gritty, you don't want to be the person explaining what it is. You just go out and you do your job every day. And then everyone else can decide if you're gritty or not.

A subjective definition of character traits.
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Jim HarbaughJim Harbaugh

Toughness and grit can be acquired like a callus on the human body

Absolutely, you can improve and become better at toughness. It's a talent, but it can be acquired too. I think of it like building a callus, just like the human body. What a tremendous organism. It actually craves contact... much like conditioning can be improved, so can that callus of toughness and grit also be acquired or improved. You've got a blister. It's soft. It's got fluid in it. It's going to break, but the great thing about it, when it does break, it'll callus over even stronger and harder and better.

While psychological resilience (grit) is a debated topic, the idea that toughness can be improved through exposure to difficulty is a standard coaching tenet.
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John HarbaughJohn Harbaugh

Grit is the ability to not care what happens to you and just keep going.

Grit is, I would say, you know it when you see it. It's the ability basically to not care what happens to you and just keep going... What doesn't kill me doesn't bother me. Like think about it—I'm not dead. You can't bother me. You can't get to me. I think that's the definition of grit.

A personal definition from a head coach is inherently subjective.
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Jim TresselJim Tressel

Grit is more important than athletic ability for a quarterback

That's why I think grit's more important than ability is because Craig Krenzel was not the most talented quarterback in the nation... but he did the one thing that you're supposed to do if you're the quarterback, and that's win every game.

The relative value of intangible traits versus physical talent is a subjective debate in sports.
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Jim TresselJim Tressel

Fullback dives are not gritty; they are essentially a pillow fight

No [fullback dives are not gritty]. Fullback dive is kind of like a pillow fight. You just run up in there. I mean, it's either you get a lot or you get nothing because you don't get any movement. You don't even have enough running start to have a collision in a fullback dive.

This is a humorous subjective opinion from a legendary coach.
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Jim TresselJim Tressel

Year-round training and specialization are 'fouling up' youth sports by preventing kids from developing grit through diverse experiences

I think we've kind of fouled up the whole thing by having all year round soccer, all year round football, all year round basketball... student athletes aren't doing internships because they're so busy training... all of the things that help develop grit, we're just doing them in one direction and in training.

The impact of sports specialization on athlete development is a matter of educational and athletic philosophy.
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Tom CreanTom Crean

Grit is the ability to keep your confidence when your results aren't being met

I think grit is the ability to keep your confidence when your potential is not being met or when the result is not being met in a particular time in life or in a particular moment... When things aren't going well, can you continue to play without being distracted, without letting doubts, without letting the doubters get in and knock you off your game?

This is a subjective definition of a personality trait.
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Andy DaltonAndy Dalton

Grit is an inherent trait you are born with

Grit, I mean, I feel like it's something that you just have to have in you. I wouldn't say it's something that you learn. I think you can adapt to it over time. But I think it's something that you're going to go regardless of the circumstance.

This is a philosophical opinion on personality traits.
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Doug MarroneDoug Marrone

Grit is defined by being relentless and having maniacal work habits

For me it's it's very simple and we talk to our players about all time it's about being relentless. We talk about intensity. We talk about maniacal work habits and going about it, determination, teamwork, all those things, toughness, hardness about ourselves. Those are the things that we describe grit to.

Subjective definition of a personality trait.
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Doug MarroneDoug Marrone

You can hear grit on a football field without seeing it

I think a lot of it for me is really what I hear, meaning when the practice starts and the pads are on, I can hear grit without actually having to see it. And sometimes during the nine-on-seven drills... I'll just kind of close my eyes and listen, you know and say okay was that a good play for grit? Was that a good toughness play?

Subjective coaching philosophy.
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Rich BisacciaRich Bisaccia

Grit is doing what you are supposed to do better than anyone else on the planet

Grit is doing what you're supposed to do when you're supposed to do it the way you're supposed to do it and do it fucking better than anybody else on the planet.

This is a personal philosophy/definition and cannot be proven true or false.
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Ryan FitzpatrickRyan Fitzpatrick

Quarterback 'grit' is taking a big hit and immediately moving to the next play

for a quarterback, I feel like grit is being able to take the big hit and going onto the next play. It's the men looking at you and seeing some qualities that they like. You're kind of getting away from the pretty boy aspect of being a quarterback. Maybe not sliding feet first, but diving head first into the end zone.

This is a subjective definition of a trait.
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Brian DabollBrian Daboll

Grit is defined by guys who don't let failure define them, but refine them

I'd say that guys that never give in, have a lot of toughness, probably have faced some adversity in their life or failure on a practice field and really didn't let failure define them, but more refine them, if you will.

This is a subjective definition of a personality trait.
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KM
Khalil Mack

Grit is being a badass, tough person willing to do anything to help the team win

Oh, man, it's a, it is a badass, tough motherfucker willing to do anything to, to help the team win.

Subjective definition of a personality trait.
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Howie RosemanHowie Roseman

True grit in a football player is defined by how they overcome adversity

Adversity. You know, you wanna see how people are handling adversity, overcoming adversity. And that could be in different areas of life. You know, that could be off the field. That could be on the field. But we know how hard it is to play in the NFL.

This is a subjective organizational philosophy.
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Cam JurgensCam Jurgens

Complaining while doing a difficult job is a form of grit

The more grit you have, sometimes you just have to complain your way through it. But you still do it, right? ... I think it'd be gritty going on vacation and just complaining and hating vacation. That is actually a very gritty thing to do.

Subjective definition of a personality trait.
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Eric MusselmanEric Musselman

You only need grit when you are competing, not 24/7

I think it's all about where you are... If you are between the lines in the Galen Center, you gotta have grit, you know, and then maybe tonight at the Manhattan Beach Pier, you don't really need the grit know. And so it's a, it's all about your environment and where you're at at the time. You know, but you don't need grit 24 7. Right. You just need it when you're competing.

This is a subjective coaching philosophy.
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Eric MusselmanEric Musselman

A basketball roster needs exactly three moxie guys and the rest grit guys to win

I don't think you can have a lot of moxie guys. Okay. So I would say moxie guys three. Okay. Right. And the rest grit. Yeah. And then you're gonna win. I think that's right because If you have too many moxie guys. Everyone, there's only one ball.

This is a matter of coaching opinion and roster strategy.
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Dan QuinnDan Quinn

True confidence only comes after putting in the work, which then allows you to say 'I wish a motherfucker would' on game day.

Preparation [is where] confidence comes from. Like long practices, putting extra training in your conditioning. 'Cause then it's like, I wish a motherfucker would right now. You know, like I am ready. And so you have to go through those tough training readiness to have like a mindset that's gritty.

Subjective coaching philosophy and motivational theory.
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Charles BarkleyCharles Barkley

TJ McConnell is the literal definition of grit

When I see grit, I think about TJ McConnell, like, just like that dude gives you everything he's got. And that's all you can ask for any player.

Evaluating 'grit' is subjective, though McConnell is widely cited for this trait.
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PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Donante DiVincenzo and Matthew Dellavedova are the grittiest backcourt in history

I'm also psyched about the grittiest backcourt, perhaps, in NBA history with Dante DiVincenzo and Matthew Dellavedova. Ooh. Try driving to the hole and not drawing a charge with those two on the court... As owner of the New Zealand Breakers, I am entertaining trade discussions with the Bucks if they'd like to trade Dellavedova.

Subjective claim about 'grittiness'.
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Big CatBig Cat

Matthew Dellavedova is a better player than Kyrie Irving

Deli is better than Kyrie. How does your starting point guard only have four assists when the team scores 124? Kyrie is more worried about his brand than actually winning. I like this really unathletic, scrappy white point guard more than the all-star black point guard.

Kyrie Irving is a Hall of Fame talent; Dellavedova was a role player. This is objectively incorrect in terms of basketball ability.
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PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Matthew Dellavedova signing with the Milwaukee Bucks is the perfect landing spot for his blue-collar style

The Bucks actually have a blue collar stitched on the inside of their jerseys... to show the embodiment of Milwaukee's working class roots. So this is like a perfect, perfect landing spot for [Dellavedova].

Dellavedova did sign with the Bucks in 2016 and fit the gritty role they expected, though his tenure wasn't legendary.
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PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

I am officially a Baltimore Ravens fan because of the Joe Flacco and Danny Woodhead backfield

Danny Woodhead going to the Ravens... Him and Joe Flacco. I think I'm officially a Ravens fan. That's going to be the grittiest, elitist backfield. Grit Leap.

Subjective fan alignment, though he does consistently support Woodhead throughout his career.
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PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Bill Belichick signs white receivers just to confuse Chris Collinsworth

I think that he just signs white receivers and running backs just to confuse Chris Collinsworth. So the announcers have to take another 15 seconds after they get a first down or touchdown to just make sure that they get the guy's name right.

This is a humorous conspiracy theory.
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PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Nick Saban paid Bill Belichick to wear an Alabama shirt to help recruit white wide receivers

I think that Saban paid him to wear the shirt because Saban knows they need to do a better job recruiting the Hunter Renfros of the world... What better way to recruit the, like, scrappy little white wide receivers than have Belichick be the new face of your program?

This is a satirical conspiracy theory.
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HankHank

Julian Edelman is the 4th greatest New England Patriot of all time

In the number four spot... Friend of the program. It's Jules, it's Gronk. Great guy. Jules. Gritty receiver, basically. Fought through seven concussions against the Seahawks. Made a miraculous catch against the Falcons. Super Bowl MVP against the Rams. Wow. Julian Edelman.

Rankings are subjective, but placing Edelman #4 all-time for a franchise with many Hall of Famers is a controversial take among analysts.
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PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Anne Hathaway has a fixation for scouting gritty athletes like OG Anunoby and Danny Woodhead

Anne Hathaway is back. And if you look at the stats. A guy Riggs posted about this OG Anunoby ran into Anne Hathaway Courtside. He was jumping outta bounds to save a ball. Since that moment he's been, he's had 24.3 points per game. Now Anne Hathaway is leaning into it. So she's like posting pictures of OG Anunoby on her Instagram. The one other obscure ish athlete that she's developed a fixation for over her career was Danny Woodhead. She's a massive Danny Woodhead fan.

The connection between Anne Hathaway and Danny Woodhead is a real internet fact, and the OG Anunoby interaction did happen, but the 'scouting fixation' is satirical.
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PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Grit happens when Nick Foles enters a playoff game

Nick Foles, just weird shit, grit happens when Nick Foles comes into the game in the playoffs... Nick Foles might be the best playoff quarterback of all time.

Foles did not play in the 2021 playoffs as Trubisky started the wild card game.
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Richie IncognitoRichie Incognito

Sean McDermott is a gritty, energetic coach who will have the Bills ready to compete

McDermott's a good guy. He's a straight shooter. He's a really gritty guy. You know, the guy has energy. He wants to compete. Everything he says and does, he brings energy to.

McDermott went on to lead the Bills to multiple playoff appearances and turned the franchise around.
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Big CatBig Cat

The Lions and Dan Campbell have successfully built a culture of grit and trenches-first football

I definitely think that there's a culture that you create that starts to represent how you play on the field. And that's what Dan [Campbell] has done. And the reason I like Dan Campbell is... Dan sees it the same way I do from the inside out. You know, you gotta be able to run the football. Well, you gotta focus on the offensive line, you gotta control everything there.

The Lions did indeed build this culture, leading to a successful 2023 season where they won the division and reached the NFC Championship.
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PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Anthony Davis is a scrappy, unheralded player rewarded by LeBron James

My baby brown of the week is Anthony Davis because he agreed to a max contract with the L.A. Lakers. Young king coming up in the world... LeBron has given another scrappy, unheralded player like Anthony Davis a huge contract.

It is a satirical characterization of a superstar.
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Big CatBig Cat

The Panthers will be a scrappy underdog in every game this year

I'm circling the Panthers as my Scrappy Underdog. They're going to be in every game team because Joe Brady's an awesome coach... and Teddy Bridgewater is not going to lose you games.

The 2020 Panthers were notoriously scrappy, with 8 losses by one possession.
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Big CatBig Cat

Northwestern fans need to stop pretending to be a scrappy underdog and act like a good football program.

I just cannot stand Northwestern fans... You can't do the, we're the little engine that could. We're the scrappy underdog. No one cares about Northwestern... Stop pretending like every win is like, oh, my God, we fucking... shock the world and we beat you. You won the Big Ten West two years ago.

Subjective opinion on fan behavior and program identity.
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L. Ron MexicoL. Ron Mexico

Grit Is Undrafted Slow-Twitch Muscle Fibers

This is undrafted slow twitch muscle fibers.

A biological definition of grit. Slow-twitch fibers are associated with endurance, not explosiveness — the perfect metaphor for a lunch-pail guy.
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L. Ron MexicoL. Ron Mexico

Matthew Dellavedova Taking A Charge Is Peak Grit

It's Dellavedova taking a charge.

Delly was the consensus grit icon of mid-2010s NBA. An undrafted Australian who dove on every loose ball and took charges against guys twice his salary.
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L. Ron MexicoL. Ron Mexico

Woodhead In The I-Formation Is What Grit Looks Like

This is Woodhead in the I-formation. This is the coach's son, son.

Danny Woodhead in the I-formation and being the coach's son are two of the purest expressions of grit in American sports. Combined, they are the unified field theory of grit.
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L. Ron MexicoL. Ron Mexico

Woodhead Didn't Go To Harvard But He's A Student Of The Game

Didn't go to Harvard, but a student of the game.

Woodhead attended Chadron State in Nebraska, which is indeed not Harvard. He was known as a high-IQ player.
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PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Grit Week participants should only pack underwear and laptops, buying all other clothes daily from thrift stores

Since it's Grit Week, we got to go out there. We got to scrap. We got to hustle for everything that we earn. So every morning, we're going to go to a thrift store, buy our clothes for that day, depending on the weather.

They followed through on this during the 2016 Grit Week trip.
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Big CatBig Cat

I will eat one hot dog every hour for 24 hours during the grit stream

Big Cat's going to be eating a hot dog one hot dog every single hour. I will go back and forth between buns. I will probably more buns and last but there will definitely be some hours that I Rod... I want to eat 24 hot dogs.

The 24-hour stream happened immediately following this recording, and Big Cat did successfully complete the hot dog challenge.
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PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

I will drink one beer every hour for 24 hours during the grit stream

I have to drink a beer at the top of every hour one deer per hour. I'm still a little bit nervous about that. I don't think I've ever drank 24 beers over that long of a period of time before.

PFT completed the challenge during the 24-hour stream.
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HankHank

Billy Football will not have a six-pack for next year's Grit Week either

I'm not trying to be a hater, but I don't think you'll have a six-pack for next grit week either. [to Billy Football]

Billy admitted in the episode and throughout the following year that he did not achieve a six-pack.
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PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Grit Coins are my own electronic currency and are legal tender in many states

Grit coins... That's my currency that I made my own electronic currency. Well, somebody actually, someone else designed it for me, but yeah, those are actually legal tender in many states.

Fact ClaimBusinessHotSarcastic
Grit Coins were a fictional recurring joke on PFT's blog and never functioned as legal tender in any US state.
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Big CatBig Cat

Buffalo is the number one city in the Grit Power Rankings

I'm ranking Buffalo number one as well. Simply because of the people, they are the best. There's no one better. They were welcoming. They came to up to the bus. They were awesome.

This is a subjective ranking of the hosts' experiences during their first 'Grit Week' tour.
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PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Youngstown, Ohio is likely the grittiest city in the world

Youngstown is like the grittiest city in the world, probably. Home of Boom Boom Mancini. Little known fact about Youngstown there for you.

The definition of 'grittiness' for a city is purely a matter of opinion.
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Rob RyanRob Ryan

Oakland is currently the grittiest city in America

Oakland's pretty damn rough right now, so I'm going to go Oakland.

Subjective ranking of 'grit'.
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Jersey JerryJersey Jerry

Doing spreadsheets so fast that you sweat counts as blue collar work

I don't care if you're just like a little bit out of shape, you're doing spreadsheets. You're doing them really fast. I agree if you're so fast on the computer that it makes you sweat. That's blue collar for sure. A hundred percent.

Subjective classification of labor.
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Ben HerbertBen Herbert

The ShopVac is the most versatile tool out there

The ShopVac is gritty. It is, yeah. Because you don't have to, like, you can, I mean, pretty much anything, you know, you can, you can suck up with ShopVac. I love it. I, you could say I love the, the versatility and I love the grit factor of the shop back.

Subjective preference for a specific cleaning tool.

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