PMT DB
PMT DB
Ian Rapoport and Logan Couture on the NFL Draft and Vanny Woodhead
Big Cat and PFT Commenter have successfully navigated Vanny Woodhead, the 1993 conversion van, down to Philadelphia. Despite the van having steering so loose it feels like a suggestion rather than a command, and enough asbestos in the ceiling to make a lawyer salivate, they arrived in one piece for the 2017 NFL Draft. The energy in Philly is tangible, even if it’s mostly just the smell of rain and cheesesteak grease. PFT is a massive fan of the current NFL calendar and how it builds the hype.
PFT CommenterBacking the NFL Draft up an extra month was the smartest thing Roger Goodell ever did
The smartest thing Roger Goodell ever did was backing the draft up another month. That way you get so many more mock drafts and you get so many more takes in. And yes, you're right. The anticipation. I've been walking around with an erection for the last two weeks.
NBA Playoffs and System Coaches
Before getting into the gridiron, the conversation turned to the NBA where Russell Westbrook’s season came to an end. Big Cat was fascinated by the sheer lack of trust Westbrook has in anyone else wearing an OKC jersey.
Big CatRussell Westbrook distrusts his teammates more than any player I've ever seen
I don't think I've ever seen—and don't tell him I said this because he'll get very upset at me—I don't think I've ever seen one player distrust his teammates more than Russell Westbrook. Unbelievable season, but he really was like, these guys fucking suck, and I need to make sure they never get the ball.
While Russ is out, James Harden is still moving on, but PFT is officially off the Beard's bandwagon. Between the Kinesio tape and the way he draws fouls at half-court, the vibe just isn't there anymore.
PFT CommenterI am officially off the James Harden train because of his playing style and Kinesio tape
I just want to say I am officially off the James Harden train. I can't stand that guy. It's the kinesio tape. It's also how he wears his shorts. And it's the thing that he does where he's coming off a screen and he acts like he was shooting the ball at half court the whole time.
They also touched on the Warriors, where Steve Kerr’s absence has led to a very specific observation about why Mike Brown might actually be the guy to lead them to the promised land.
PFT CommenterMike Brown is a better coach for the Warriors than Steve Kerr
Mike Brown is better than Steve Kerr. It's obvious if you watched the first quarter of that game last night. Steve Kerr, as we say on the show, he's a system coach. He only coaches well when he's coaching in his system. So I think that we're going to see him be exposed more and more.
NFL Draft Storylines and Ian Rapoport
As they prepare for Thursday night, the guys laid out the essential storylines to watch: the "high upside" picks, Bill Belichick trading back into the seventh round until he owns the entire thing, and of course, the inevitable shot of a hot girlfriend that causes a collective stir. Big Cat is already prepared to crown a winner of the weekend.
Big CatThe Jaguars will win the 2017 NFL Draft with an A+ grade
The Jaguars won the draft. So I just want to call that right now. My post-draft grades, I don't know how 31 teams do. I know the Jags got an A+. This is the year that they're going to put it all together. They had a great draft.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport joined the show inside the van to give the actual insider perspective. He broke down the Browns' situation at the top of the board, confirming what most people expect from Cleveland at number one.
Ian RapoportThe Browns will draft Myles Garrett with the number one overall pick
They're going to screw it up. I don't know. They can't. I mean, it's going to be Myles Garrett.
When it comes to the quarterbacks, the board is still a bit of a mystery, but Rapoport expects Mitchell Trubisky to be the first name called at that position. He even thinks there is a path for Trubisky to be a day-one starter depending on where he lands.
Ian RapoportMitchell Trubisky will be the first quarterback taken in the 2017 NFL Draft
I would be very surprised if it's not Trubisky [going first among QBs]. That's what it seems like.
Ian RapoportMitchell Trubisky has a chance to start Week 1 for the team that drafts him
I mean, if you think about the rookies who will get picked this year, only, like, let's say the Browns take Trubisky. I think there's a chance he's their starter to open the season.
One of the biggest shockers from the interview was Rapoport mentioning Davis Webb as a potential riser into the first round, noting that some scouts actually preferred his tape at Cal over Jared Goff's.
Ian RapoportDavis Webb could potentially be a first-round pick
Davis Webb. Potentially going in the first round. Some teams really, really like him. Character-wise, he's great. It's interesting. When they study the tape, they say Cal's offense looked better for him than it did for Jared Goff last year.
Rapoport also shared a wild story about Aaron Hernandez once telling him "if you ever fuck me over, I'll kill you," which sounds like a standard Sunday morning for an NFL insider but carries a lot more weight in hindsight. He also provided some insight into the Mike Glennon signing in Chicago, which remains one of the most baffling moves of the offseason.
Ian RapoportNFL free agents view Mike Glennon as a special talent
The weirdest thing for me is that I had free agents... contact me and ask me about [Mike] Glennon and say that they wanted to play with him because they think he is special. ... people reaching out to me and saying Mike Glennon can be special.
Hurt or Injured with Logan Couture
San Jose Sharks star Logan Couture hopped on to participate in the first-ever first-person Hurt or Injured. Logan recently lost a handful of teeth to a puck, and while he’s currently wired shut, he’s still a hockey guy through and through. He gave his thoughts on the NBA's "softness" regarding injuries and offered some rare optimism for the folks in D.C.
Logan CoutureThe Capitals have a great chance to win the Eastern Conference this year
Logan, is it the Caps year? You know what? They've got a great team. We don't really get to see the East as often, obviously. But if there's any team that can do it, I'd say I think so.
Segments and Pat Riley Update
The show wrapped up with some Seeing Red, where Big Cat went after Fred Hoiberg and the Bulls for a lack of adjustments that borders on professional negligence.
Big CatThe Bulls' failure to adjust against the Celtics is embarrassing and lazy coaching
Wade said Bulls didn't make adjustments between game three and four because they just played low energy and didn't need a new game plan. They then lost game four. So Fred Hoiberg just like, yeah, you know what, guys? Low energy, I'm not going to coach. ... Fuck that.
We also got a long-awaited update on Pat Riley. After reports surfaced that Riley once walked out of a therapy session after five minutes and never looked back, PFT has a theory that Riley has transcended human biology altogether.
PFT CommenterPat Riley is an immortal time traveler because he has shut out all human feelings
Here's how I know he's not dead is because you have to have feelings to be alive in the first place. And since he has just shut out all of his feelings, then he can't possibly ever be alive or dead. Therefore, he'll never die. Therefore, he is a time traveler.
To close it out, they tried to get some "locker room talk" going with Lenny, but he was less than thrilled to hear about Pacman Jones’ latest arrest video.
Don't forget to wear your seatbelt, unless you're in Vanny Woodhead, in which case just pray.
