PMT DB
PMT DB
Sean Salisbury on Houston, NFL Quarterbacks, and the ESPN Locker Room
The quarterback bubble is officially making a cha-ching sound as Matthew Stafford just reset the market with a massive extension in Detroit. While the guaranteed money is eye-popping, Big Cat and PFT are more interested in the immediate backlash that comes with being the highest-paid guy in the league.
Big CatMatthew Stafford is officially on the hot seat after signing his new contract
I love when a quarterback gets a new deal because they are officially, speaking of hot seat cool throne, they are officially on the hot seat because now it's joke season on Matthew Stafford. We saw it with Joe Flacco. We saw it with Jay Cutler. Matt Stafford has probably a year... and every interception he throws comes a tweet, wow, $86 million for this?
It’s the classic NFL paradox where a team is forced to pay a guy top-tier money just to keep the lights on, even if the ceiling feels firmly established. Big Cat has a very specific hierarchy for where Stafford fits in the league landscape.
Big CatMatthew Stafford is the best of the 'sucky' quarterbacks
I actually always say Matt Stafford, you know my two categories of quarterbacks. It's guys who can win you a Super Bowl and then guys who suck. And Matt Stafford is the best sucky quarterback.
While the Lions had to do the deal under duress to avoid starting a guy off the street, the expectations for a Super Bowl run remain a point of contention among the hosts.
Big CatThe Lions will never win a Super Bowl with Matthew Stafford as their quarterback
I think it's the smart thing to do [signing Stafford], but I also don't think the Lions are going to win a Super Bowl with Matt Stafford. The NFL is so weird like this. You can make a decision that's the right decision while also still knowing ultimately it's not a good thing.
In a rare moment of optimism for Detroit, PFT is actually buying the hype on what this contract means for the Lions' postseason prospects over the next few seasons.
PFT CommenterMatthew Stafford will lead the Lions to at least one NFC Championship game in the next four years
Matt Stafford over under NFC Championship appearances in the next four years on his contract, 0.5? Over. Really? Yeah, over. Wow. So then that would be a success in my mind.
Hot Seat and a Very Cool Throne
Hot Seat is podcasters because Jim Harbaugh is launching his own show, which means he’ll likely be more prepared than anyone in the history of the medium. Meanwhile, the Cool Throne belongs to a controversial topic after the Game of Thrones finale: incest. PFT has some thoughts on how the legal system should handle specifically attractive family members.
PFT CommenterIncest should be legal if the people involved are attractive enough
There should be a rule against making incest illegal if you're hot enough... every time that you see purebred dog, guess what? That dog's got a shitload of incest in its lineage. If you're above like a nine... you should be allowed to commit incest because those are good genes you got going on.
LeBron James is also on the Hot Seat after being challenged to a foot race by world-renowned nerd Malcolm Gladwell. Big Cat thinks the king might actually be in trouble if he accepts the challenge, mainly because nerds have spent their entire lives developing track speed while running away from guys like LeBron.
Big CatMalcolm Gladwell would probably beat LeBron James in a long-distance foot race
LeBron got challenged by Malcolm Gladwell to a foot race... These fucking nerds, all they do is they go and find the biggest alpha on the block... they're like, hey, I'll challenge you to this sport that's not a sport and we'll make it really long distance so you get super tired. And I honestly can see Malcolm Gladwell winning. Nerds are always faster because they have to run from their bullies from a young age.
Sean Salisbury on Houston and the QB Class
Former NFL quarterback Sean Salisbury joined the show from Houston to provide a boots-on-the-ground look at the devastation from Hurricane Harvey. He didn't hold back on the situation at Joel Osteen’s megachurch, where he personally went to see if the doors were actually locked to those in need.
Big CatJoel Osteen only opened his church to hurricane victims because of social media backlash
And it wouldn't have happened [Joel Osteen opening his church] without the backlash. So it did help... If you are a member of the clergy, and you are fabulously, fabulously rich, there's something that feels off about that.
Once the talk shifted to the gridiron, Salisbury broke down the upcoming crop of college signal-callers. He is exceptionally high on Sam Darnold, even suggesting that the USC star has the "it tangible" that separates the greats from the average starters.
Sean SalisburySam Darnold will be the best quarterback USC has ever had
He'll be the best quarterback we've ever had there [USC]. I'm serious... I think he's going to be the best college and NFL quarterback USC's ever had.
He also weighed in on the crosstown rival Josh Rosen and Oklahoma State’s Mason Rudolph, projecting both as serious NFL talents despite the different ways they carry themselves on and off the field.
Sean SalisburyMason Rudolph will be a first-round NFL draft pick
I think right now of the sneaky quarterbacks who are going to be into the first round by the time the season ends, I think Mason Rudolph is going to be a guy that we look at and say, ah, okay, with the 16th pick of the draft, somebody takes Mason Rudolph.
Salisbury also discussed the mentality required to survive the NFL. He believes you can't baby young quarterbacks like Mitchell Trubisky or Deshaun Watson because you need to know immediately if they can handle the mental toll of the professional game.
Sean SalisburyNFL teams must start rookie quarterbacks early to find out if they have the 'balls of a burglar'
Don't I want to find out early if my guy's got the balls of a burglar? Because if he can't handle getting hit around and throwing picks... then I don't want him three years from now because that's a character flaw. I want a quarterback that when the dog pees on your leg, your girlfriend likes the other quarterback... and the crowd's booing you... can you pull yourself out of that and win?
Mount Rushmore of Toys and Closing Segments
The guys got nostalgic with a Mount Rushmore of Toys. PFT went with the "gritty" childhood staples like a red kickball, a hose, and a cardboard box. Hank countered with Legos and Bop It, while Big Cat rounded things out with the Super Soaker and the classic over-the-door mini hoop.
In a quick Embrace Debate, the guys analyzed the semantics of Dwyane Wade and LeBron James "going to dinner" versus "meeting for dinner." PFT remains convinced that the intimacy of "going" together suggests a massive NBA shift is on the horizon.
PFT CommenterDwayne Wade and LeBron James are definitely planning a team-up because they are 'going' to dinner
I would say that going to dinner is more intimate than meeting for dinner. Because going to dinner implies that you're going there... Every time you go to dinner, you have to meet somebody for dinner. But every time you meet for dinner, you're not necessarily going to dinner together. I think the act of going is way, way more intimate than just meeting... Not just friends. You don't just go to dinner.
Finally, the show wrapped with a tribute to the king of not caring, Jay Cutler, who admitted he did zero prep work for his brief broadcasting stint before the Dolphins called.
Remember to donate to the Red Cross for Houston relief if you can.
