PMT DB
PMT DB
Richie Incognito on Bills Mafia, Thursday Night Football, and Hank’s Fight
Football week has finally come to a close, and Big Cat and PFT are recording from the glamorous surroundings of a cigarette lounge at JFK. After a week that saw the guys trek from the Bears-Eagles game to Indy for the Big Ten Championship and finally to the glorious chaos of Buffalo, they’ve seen it all. From Zubaz as far as the eye can see to shots being drank out of athletic equipment, Buffalo didn't disappoint.
The Heartbreak of the Big Ten
The Big Ten Championship game left Big Cat reflecting on the ceiling of programs like Wisconsin. While the Badgers hung tough, the speed of Ohio State eventually took over. Big Cat isn't looking for a rebuild, though. He’d much rather be relevant and losing the big ones than be a complete doormat.
Big CatI would rather root for a team that loses in the big game than one that never makes it
I still think I would take a team that's consistently – I would rather be in the big game and lose the big game than never sniff the big game. I can't imagine being a fan of Vanderbilt football.
There is a certain reality to being a fan of a blue-collar program. You know the identity, but you also know the limitations when you aren't pulling the top-tier talent from the traditional power states.
Big CatWisconsin will never win a national championship because they don't get fast five-star recruits
I'm sticking with what Wisconsin has, even though I know in my heart of hearts they'll never get the fast guys, they'll never get the really good guys, so they'll never win.
NFL Week 13 Reactions
Moving to the NFL, Case Keenum continues to be the story in Minnesota. Despite Mike Zimmer’s best efforts to keep everyone guessing, Keenum has officially become the guy. Big Cat thinks the leash has finally been removed.
Big CatCase Keenum has reached the point where he won't be benched even if he loses a game
Case Keenum has now gotten to the point where if he loses a game, I think he still gets to play the next game. So it's really Case Keenum, we're going to do this.
Meanwhile, the Packers are lurking. With Aaron Rodgers’ return on the horizon, the fear is real for the rest of the NFC North. PFT is already looking at the schedule and seeing the inevitable.
Big CatThe Packers will run the table and make the playoffs when Aaron Rodgers returns
The Packers are definitely – I mean, they're going to run the table. Hey, Aaron Rodgers, remember when you created that? ... Run the table.
In New York, the Ben McAdoo era is reaching a tragic-comic end. The decision to bench Eli Manning for Geno Smith was the final straw for many, and PFT has a very specific theory on what starting Geno does to a head coach's career longevity.
PFT CommenterStarting Geno Smith is a cyanide pill that ends an NFL coaching career in a week
He realized that starting Geno Smith is a suicide machine for coaches. That's just a pill that you pop cyanide. It's like the dude in Bosnia, I have taken poison, should have just stood up and said, I have started Geno Smith. And he's dead within the week. It's over.
Richie Incognito Joins the Show
Pro Bowl offensive lineman Richie Incognito joined the guys in his living room to recap the Bills' loss to the Patriots. Richie didn't hold back on the Gronk late hit, calling it cheap, and gave a peak behind the curtain of what it's like to play for a guy like Sean McDermott who is busy taking away the locker room pool tables to change the culture.
Richie also touched on the sheer absurdity of the NFL schedule, specifically his hatred for the short turnaround of Thursday Night Football.
Richie IncognitoThursday Night Football is garbage and destroys player safety
It's the worst shit ever. It's so stupid. They could take Thursday Night Football and stick it right up their ass. Let's fuck up everybody's preparation. Let's have guys who are hurt playing on four days rest. It's just bullshit, you know?
Beyond the weekly grind, Richie gave some sobering insight into the power dynamics of the league. When asked about the next CBA, he was brutally honest about why the players struggle to get what they want at the negotiating table.
Richie IncognitoNFL players have no leverage in CBA negotiations because they will never strike
I think they're [the owners] going to take us behind the woodshed again. They got us last time. We have no leverage because we'll never strike. They'll lock us out and really kind of just dictate the terms of everything with us.
Despite the loss to New England, Richie is still a believer in this Bills squad. He isn't just hoping for a Wild Card spot; he’s calling his shot for how the season ends.
Richie IncognitoThe Bills will finish 10-6 and make the playoffs
I'll go 10-6. Okay, that's a guarantee to the playoffs. Win a road game in New England. The curse has been broken. Yes, we're coming. You just beat us, but we're coming to your house, Brady.
Before letting him go, Richie gave some fighting advice to Hank for his upcoming Rough and Rowdy bout against Tex. Richie isn't exactly a fan of Tex's tough-guy act in the office.
Richie IncognitoTex can't fight and is a little girl
Tex can't fight. He's a little girl. I love how Tex just goes around the office and punks people just on the whole tough guy kick. ... He tries very hard and it doesn't work.
College Football Playoff Anger
The show wrapped up with the guys getting properly mad about the College Football Playoff committee. Alabama is in, Ohio State is out, and the logic seems to change every fifteen minutes. Big Cat thinks the committee is full of it, but he can't argue with the talent gap.
Big CatAlabama is a better team than Ohio State regardless of the committee's logic
The only thing I care about, I actually have no problem with Alabama being in because I do think that they're a better team than Ohio State. I just think the committee is full of fucking shit. At the end of the day, all that fucking matters is losses and big losses. And if Ohio State doesn't lose by 31 to Iowa, they're in.
As for the actual games, Big Cat is predicting a rough night for Nick Saban once the Crimson Tide actually have to line up against Dabo Swinney's squad.
Big CatClemson is the best team in the country and will crush Alabama in the playoffs
I actually think Clemson's going to win it all. I think they're the best team. I think they're going to whoop the fuck out of Alabama, which is going to be hilarious because then you get the Ohio State fans being like, should have been us to get the whoop the fuck out of Clemson.
If you're looking for Eli Manning this week, just check the middle of the bench.
