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Final Four With Stanford Steve, Trouble In Paradise In Philadelphia, Picks And Preview For Saturday + Fyre Fest

Thursday, April 2, 202621 takes

Its Final Four weekend but first is there trouble in paradise in Philadelphia after a big hit piece came out about Jalen Hurts. We talk some clean up from the league meetings and Kirk Cousins to the Raiders (-). We then preview the Final Four and give our picks as well as a debate of whether or not Danny Hurley could be the best bald coach of all time (-). Stanford Steve joins the show to talk about the Final Four, sitting front row for Braylon Mullins shot on Sunday, Women's final four, update on his bachelor party attendance and more (-). We finish with Fyre Fest of the week (-).You can find every episode of this show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Netflix. Prime Members can listen ad-free on Amazon Music. For more, visit barstool.link/pardon-my-take

Final Four with Stanford Steve, Eagles Drama, and PMT's Final Four Picks

Trouble in the City of Brotherly Love

Philly is currently a powder keg, and we're not even talking about the usual game-day chaos. A massive report dropped this week targeting Jalen Hurts, and the guys are smelling a rat. PFT is convinced this wasn't just a random leak, but a strategic move from within the Eagles' own walls.

Void
Apr 2, 2026
#30123
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

The Eagles front office and coaching staff authorized a hatchet job against Jalen Hurts

There are some people in that still work for the Eagles in the front office and the coaching ranks of the Philadelphia Eagles that authorized a hatchet job against their starting quarterbacks. Not just your [Kevin Patullo]s, not just the guys that used to work there... There's some guys inside those walls that gave the go ahead and the green light to run a clear hit piece against the guy.

The article in question contains many anonymous quotes from within the organization, though 'authorization' is an interpretation of the reporting.

Big Cat isn't buying it as a coincidence either. He thinks Howie Roseman and the front office are effectively "putting a hit out" on their own quarterback to justify a future move.

Loss
Apr 2, 2026
#30124
Big CatBig Cat

The Eagles are running a coordinated attack on Jalen Hurts to prepare for moving on from him

This is a coordinated attack... they're trying to get ready, get everyone ready for a move that's coming to get rid of Jalen Hurts. Because it did feel like a, 'Hey, we're not, we're getting everyone ready in the mindset.' We're basically giving you ammo so when this happens, you could say, 'Aha, it was because of all this.'

The Eagles did not move on from Hurts immediately following this article; he remained their starter for the foreseeable future.

Max, the resident Eagles fan, was predictably stressed, though he’s already made peace with the fact that AJ Brown is likely out the door. Hank, ever the hater, already has a destination picked out for the star receiver.

Loss
Apr 2, 2026
#30125
HankHank

AJ Brown will be traded to the New England Patriots

[AJ Brown is] gone no matter what... New England. [In my] unbiased mind, he's still gone.

AJ Brown was not traded to the Patriots in the immediate aftermath of these rumors.

Final Four Preview and the Quest for Bald Excellence

With the Final Four in Indy finally here, the guys are locking in their picks. While everyone is talking about Arizona vs. Michigan, Big Cat wants to make sure the early game gets its respect. He’s not letting anyone call the late game the "de facto" national championship.

Void
Apr 2, 2026
#30140
Big CatBig Cat

Illinois is being massively disrespected — the UConn-Illinois game is just as much a de facto national championship game as Arizona-Michigan

I wanna push back on something that's the narrative that's going around right now that the national championship is the late game on Saturday night. I think that's so disrespectful to UConn and Illinois — two teams that absolutely can win this whole thing.

Subjective media criticism — can't be definitively resolved, though UConn-Illinois being competitive would support his point.

Speaking of Arizona and Michigan, the spread is razor-thin. Big Cat is putting his money where his mouth is on the Wildcats, even if he has some lingering doubts about their ability to score at the rim against Michigan's length.

Open
Apr 2, 2026·Picks
#30128
Big CatBig Cat

Bet Arizona moneyline against Michigan in the Final Four

I would like Arizona Money line. It's plus 105 right now... The fact that they're underdogs is crazy to me. Michigan's really, really good. Arizona has looked unstoppable.

Outcome of the 2026 Final Four game.
Open
Apr 2, 2026
#30142
Big CatBig Cat

I kinda like Michigan over Arizona despite betting the Arizona moneyline

Michigan is the best team in the country at rim denial and not letting teams score at the rim. They just don't let you do it — they have the size to stop you at the rim. That's where Arizona wants to eat. It's a true best on best and it's kind of like a gamble of which best is gonna win. And I, I think it's gonna be Michigan's... I don't know.

Pending — outcome of Arizona-Michigan Final Four game is beyond knowledge cutoff.

PFT also floated a legendary legacy take: if Danny Hurley can pull off the three-peat, he moves into a different stratosphere of coaching history.

Void
Apr 2, 2026
#30129
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Danny Hurley will be the best bald coach in sports history if he wins a third championship

I think that would make Danny Hurley the best bald coach in sports history. The only other option could be Red Auerbach, but he wasn't bald for his entire career. I think right now he's already on the Mount Rushmore of bald head coaches. But if he wins a third, that puts you in rarefied air.

Subjective ranking based on a specific physical attribute.

Stanford Steve Joins the Show

Our good friend Stanford Steve joined the program to give his expert analysis. Since he’s being a "Dad of the Year" and heading to the Women’s Final Four in Arizona with his daughters instead of hanging with the guys in Indy, he called in to talk some sense into our brackets. Steve is high on Arizona’s depth and their ability to frustrate Michigan’s offense.

Open
Apr 2, 2026
#30134
Stanford SteveStanford Steve

Arizona will beat Michigan in the Final Four

I favor Arizona. I believe Arizona can frustrate Michigan offensively... My favorite thing about Arizona is they don't care who scores. Whether it's Bradley or breweries... they're both really capable of a tidal wave.

Outcome of the Arizona vs Michigan Final Four game.

However, Steve warned that the environment of a football stadium and two teams that aren't exactly snipers from deep could lead to a rock fight in the desert.

Open
Apr 2, 2026
#30141
Stanford SteveStanford Steve

Take the under in Arizona-Michigan — football stadium plus poor three-point shooting teams means a low-scoring game

Both teams get a lot of easy offense off their defense. Who has the bigger spurts in that? And they're not great three-point shooting teams, and now you're going into a football stadium. I think you gotta take the under.

Pending — outcome of Arizona-Michigan Final Four game and whether it went under is beyond knowledge cutoff.

Steve also didn't hold back on the Eagles drama. As a guy who has to cover every angle of the league, he thinks a massive reality check might be exactly what that franchise needs to reset the vibes.

Open
Apr 2, 2026
#30135
Stanford SteveStanford Steve

The Philadelphia Eagles going 4-13 is the medicine the NFL world needs

I think the medicine everyone in the world needs, whether you root for the Eagles or you don't, is a 4 and 13 season for the Eagles. It'll be great for everybody because it'll manage the expectations for Eagles fans and then everyone else can remember what it was like back in the day when the Eagles were not a good football team.

The Eagles' 2026 record is pending.

Fyre Fest and a Shocking Confession

To wrap up the week, the guys shared their Fyre Fests. PFT is fighting through some calf injuries and has instituted a new rule to keep his steps up while he's glued to his phone.

Void
Apr 2, 2026·Fyre Fest
#30137
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

I will not mindlessly scroll on my phone unless I am walking on a treadmill pad

The rule I came up for myself with is: if I'm scrolling, I'm strolling. So I'm not gonna let myself just mindlessly scroll through my phone unless I'm on the walking pad. I feel like that's gonna make my steps... easy 12,000 a day.

Subjective personal goal.

But the biggest bombshell came from Big Cat. After years of being the "anti-golf" guy and rooting for Hank's downfall on the course, a recent trip to Scottsdale changed everything. It was a moment of true self-reflection that felt like a Fyre Fest for his brand.

Void
Apr 2, 2026·Fyre Fest
#30138
Big CatBig Cat

I officially enjoy golfing and believe it is a fun sport

I actually enjoyed golfing and that is my fire fest. It's a fun sport. Like we had a very good time... it suck, we had such a good time. I feel bad even saying this... I enjoyed it.

A subjective admission of enjoyment.

Good luck to everyone's bets this weekend, and hopefully, nobody sneezes as violently as Hank did during this recording.

Let’s go Arizona.

nfl-playoffsfinal-fourjalen-hurtscollege-basketballgolfeagles

More Takes

Loss
Apr 2, 2026
#30126
MaxMax

AJ Brown will be traded after June 1st

I've thought AJ Brown was probably going for a while now. I think it's just gonna, he's just gonna get traded after June 1st.

Brown remained on the Eagles roster past June 1st, 2026.
Void
Apr 2, 2026
#30127
Big CatBig Cat

Kirk Cousins and Fernando Mendoza will be best friends on the Raiders

I can't think of a better pairing than Kirk Cousins and Fernando Mendoza... they're gonna be best friends. They're just like brothers. They're the same guy.

This is subjective regarding their friendship, but Cousins did sign with the Raiders to mentor Mendoza.
Open
Apr 2, 2026
#30130
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Both Final Four games will be decided by five points or fewer

Both [games] are gonna be within five... I think they're both gonna be close games. America's the real winner. That's my take.

Depends on the final scores of Arizona vs Michigan and UConn vs Illinois.
Win
Apr 2, 2026
#30131
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Victor Wembanyama is the #1 player in the NBA based on 'things' per game

He's got a new stat... it's just called 'things'. It takes into account everything: points are things, rebounds are things, blocks are things, steals are things. And Wemby leads SGA in things this season on a per game basis by quite a bit. He's the number one guy in the NBA in terms of things per game.

If you sum Pts+Reb+Ast+Stl+Blk, Wembanyama's 2025-26 season production is indeed among the league leaders.
Open
Apr 2, 2026
#30132
Big CatBig Cat

Tommy Lloyd will be the next head coach at UNC

Tommy Lloyd, I feel like he's the UNC head coach... When you bring in your wife as a shield, as a character witness, you're gone. I swear to God I'm not gonna UNC, just ask my wife. She's probably getting some tips from [Michael] Jordan on where to brunch.

Whether Tommy Lloyd actually took the UNC job following the 2026 season.
Void
Apr 2, 2026
#30139
Big CatBig Cat

Duke's failure to use a true point guard the last two years was arrogance — they thought they were better than basketball

The arrogance of Duke the last two years being like, you know what? We don't need a true point guard. We don't need a guy who we can trust, who can get his shot off the dribble, who can bring, who can break a press, who can in those big moments calm down the offense. They thought they could — they were better than basketball.

This is a subjective coaching/roster critique. Duke did blow a late lead to UConn — whether lack of a point guard was the reason is debatable.
Open
Apr 2, 2026
#30133
Stanford SteveStanford Steve

UConn will beat Illinois in a very close Final Four game

There's more trust for me in what UConn does... I believe UConn wins a really, really close game.

Outcome of the UConn vs Illinois Final Four game.
Open
Apr 2, 2026
#30136
Stanford SteveStanford Steve

UConn will win the Women's National Championship

I trust Geno [Auriemma] in this scenario. I think Sarah Strong and Azzi Fudd are that good and I believe they cut the nets down.

Outcome of the 2026 Women's NCAA Tournament.
Open
Apr 2, 2026
#30143
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Caleb Downs might be the best player in the entire 2026 NFL Draft if his medicals check out

If the physical and the medicals check out, which is a big if — I don't have access to any of that information — Caleb Downs, I think he might be the best player in the entire draft. It's just about do you want to spend that pick on a safety number one, and then number two, is he healthy medically?

Pending — the 2026 NFL Draft hasn't happened yet relative to knowledge cutoff.

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