PMTPMT DB

Conference Tourney Week W/ John Fanta, NFL Free Agency W/ Pete Prisco Plus Guys On Chicks

Wednesday, March 13, 202417 takes

NFL Free Agency is moving quickly and everyone's getting a new running back. We talk Kirk Cousins in Atlanta and more (-). JMU is in the tourney plus Hot Seat/Cool Throne and Aaron Rodgers possibly being the Vice President (-). John Fanta joins us to break down Conference tourney week, how he got his start in media, Cooley Bowl 3, and who he likes to win the national championship (-). Pete Prisco joins us to talk winners and losers from free agency, what the Bears will do with Justin Fields, overpay of running backs and should guys be allowed to cry during football games (-). We finish with guys on chicks (-).

Recap

Void
Take Slip·Mar 13, 2024
#PMT-2024-0313-14392
Big CatBig Cat

The Cleveland Browns signed Jameis Winston to avoid Joe Flacco's immense popularity

I think they brought in Jameis because they could have resigned Joe Flacco. I think Flacco was too popular. Agree. I think that they were like, Jameis is gonna be the most popular. That's what they don't understand is that Jameis is maybe some of Jameis's leadership qualities will motivate Deshaun Watson to be a better human being.

While Winston was signed and Flacco left, the 'threat of popularity' motivation remains speculative and unconfirmed by the team.
Win
Take Slip·Mar 13, 2024
#PMT-2024-0313-14395
Big CatBig Cat

Kirk Cousins is the GOAT of maximizing NFL contracts and free agency earnings

Incredible. I mean like whatever you wanna say about Kirk Cousins a quarterback. He has played every single thing right when it comes to free agency and the teams he picked. He's probably gonna eclipse 400 million over the course of his career. It's crazy.

Cousins did sign a massive deal with the Falcons (180M, 100M guaranteed) in 2024, continuing his streak of huge contracts.
Void
Take Slip·Mar 13, 2024
#PMT-2024-0313-14397
Big CatBig Cat

Tiki Barber is a loser for calling Saquon Barkley 'dead' to him for joining the Eagles

Tiki Barber, you're a loser dude. Dead to me. You are a loser. Some people, particularly radio personalities who will remain nameless, criticize [Tiki] for having a vision or a dream. Also, Tiki Barber... when we talks about like loyalty, you're not the guy to talk about loyalty. That was a crazy reaction by him.

This is a subjective moral/personality judgment, though fans widely sided with Saquon over Tiki.
Win
Take Slip·Mar 13, 2024
#PMT-2024-0313-14399
Big CatBig Cat

The Bears should not draft Caleb Williams and keep Justin Fields simultaneously

I am very much opposed to that. But that feels like what a potential situation to get the most value outta Justin Fields. It still makes no sense. The city of Chicago can't handle having those two guys on the same roster. It would not be good, let alone the locker room.

The Bears eventually traded Justin Fields to the Steelers before the draft, avoiding this scenario.
Void
Take Slip·Mar 13, 2024
#PMT-2024-0313-14401
Big CatBig Cat

NFL owners should pay for their own stadiums without public tax money

I think billionaires should pay for their own fucking stadiums. Agreed. That's a spicy take. I know. Bleep that out. Please.

This is an ongoing ethical/economic debate that cannot be definitively 'solved'.

Hot Seat Cool Throne

Win
Take Slip·Mar 13, 2024·Hot Seat/Cool Throne
#PMT-2024-0313-14403
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Aaron Rodgers might run for Vice President with RFK Jr.

Aaron Rodgers might run for Vice President... He's being considered and is considering the opportunity right now. Mr. Kennedy confirmed on Tuesday that the two men [Rodgers and Jesse Ventura] were at the top of his list.

Rodgers was indeed officially considered by RFK Jr., as confirmed by multiple major news outlets, though he was not eventually chosen.
Void
Take Slip·Mar 13, 2024·Hot Seat/Cool Throne
#PMT-2024-0313-14406
HankHank

I am not scared of Chicago winters after my first year living there

I just, I don't know. It, it's been incredible. There's been four bad days and two of them had playoff football on. I lived in Massachusetts, New Hampshire. Those are way worse. I'm not scared of the winter here. That's my point.

While Hank didn't experience a 'real' Chicago winter in 2024, his lack of fear is a personal feeling.

Interview

Win
Take Slip·Mar 13, 2024
#PMT-2024-0313-14408
John FantaJohn Fanta

UConn is the clear front runner for the National Championship

In my eyes [Connecticut] is the best team in the country. They're the front runner for the national championship and they should be. The three losses are at Kansas, to Seton Hall [when Clingan got hurt], and then Creighton had another worldly shooting performance.

UConn went on to win the 2024 National Championship in dominant fashion.
Loss
Take Slip·Mar 13, 2024
#PMT-2024-0313-14410
John FantaJohn Fanta

Shaka Smart's tournament struggles are real; he hasn't made the second weekend since VCU

Shaka Smart has not made it to the second weekend of the NCAA tournament, guys, since VCU. That's it. That's the only time he's ever made a run. So some would argue: Fade Marquette. Is Shaka gonna be able to break through?

In 2024, Shaka Smart actually broke this streak, leading Marquette to the Sweet 16.
Win
Take Slip·Mar 13, 2024
#PMT-2024-0313-14411
John FantaJohn Fanta

Dalton Knecht has the chance to be the face of March Madness

I think [Dalton] Knecht has a chance to be the face of March Madness with the way that he's going, with the way that he's scoring the basketball. He'll be able to score. He's a guy who can be a Doug McDermott, Jimmer Fredette type guy for their team.

Knecht was a top performer in the 2024 tournament, scoring 37 points in the Elite Eight loss to Purdue, largely fulfilling this prediction.
Void
Take Slip·Mar 13, 2024
#PMT-2024-0313-14412
John FantaJohn Fanta

Indiana State deserves an at-large bid over high-major bubble teams

Josh Schertz at Indiana State... you're better than all these other high majors that are just like decent to okay that are gonna get in because of their schedule. I wanna see Indiana State get to the dance. I'm all in on a two-bid Missouri Valley conference.

Indiana State was controversially left out of the 2024 NCAA tournament field, ending up as a #1 seed in the NIT.
Loss
Take Slip·Mar 13, 2024
#PMT-2024-0313-14413
John FantaJohn Fanta

Princeton will win a first-round game if they make the tournament

The winner of the Ivy League tournament is gonna be among my top mid-majors. I hope if Princeton makes it again, just take 'em in the first round. They're gonna win a first-round game. That team is back.

Princeton lost in the Ivy League tournament and did not make the NCAA tournament field.
Void
Take Slip·Mar 13, 2024
#PMT-2024-0313-14416
Pete PriscoPete Prisco

Men should never cry after losing a football game

I just don't think you should ever cry after losing a football game. If there was a death in the family or something that week, I apologize, but if there was not, you were crying over the football game... bad luck. There's no way you cry after a loss.

This is an entirely subjective personal/cultural standard.
Open
Take Slip·Mar 13, 2024
#PMT-2024-0313-14414
Pete PriscoPete Prisco

Jayden Daniels will be the best quarterback in the 2024 draft class

My preliminary ranking is, I think Jayden Daniels will be the best of them. He's the most improved player I've ever seen in my entire life. I probably rank him slightly... them and Caleb Williams one and two.

Daniels won NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and had a historically efficient rookie season, making this look very prescient early on.
Open
Take Slip·Mar 13, 2024
#PMT-2024-0313-14415
Pete PriscoPete Prisco

JJ McCarthy is not a first-round talent and is being 'forced up' by the media

I don't love JJ McCarthy. I don't see it. I just don't see it. I'd take him in a second round. I think the league is guilty of... the draft cult. One says it, so two says it... All of a sudden they all convinced themselves that he should be a high first round pick. And that's how mistakes get made.

McCarthy was drafted 10th overall by the Vikings, but his long-term success as a 'first round talent' is pending.
Win
Take Slip·Mar 13, 2024
#PMT-2024-0313-14417
Pete PriscoPete Prisco

The Falcons will not win 11 games in the 2024 season

I don't think [the Falcons win 11 games]. I don't. It's a lot. 11 games is a lot. There's a lot of games. Even inside a division... the bucks are gonna be good. That's tough to get a lot [of wins].

The Falcons finished the 2024 regular season with 10 wins, making Prisco's 'under 11' prediction correct.
Loss
Take Slip·Mar 13, 2024
#PMT-2024-0313-14418
Pete PriscoPete Prisco

Calvin Ridley's difficulty learning the Jaguars' offense is why he wants to stay in Jacksonville

Here's why he wants to stay in Jacksonville. Let me tell you. He had trouble learning the offense last year and so he doesn't really wanna go somewhere else and have to learn another one. Serious. I'm not... that's notable.

Ridley ended up signing a massive 4-year, $92M deal with the Tennessee Titans shortly after this episode, contradicting the 'stay in Jacksonville' prediction.