PMT DB
PMT DB
Kirk Herbstreit on CFB Playoff Chaos and the Al Michaels Criticism
The Chicago Bears managed to win an absolute abomination of a football game against the Vikings, and while the rest of America was bleeding from the eyes, Big Cat actually saw some light at the end of the tunnel. It wasn't just about surviving four interceptions from Josh Dobbs; it was about the defense finally having a pulse. Montez Sweat has changed the entire geometry of that unit, and for once, the vibe in Chicago isn't just about draft position.
Big CatThe Bears are no longer a million pieces away from being a good football team
For the first time in a very long time, I'm optimistic about the Chicago Bears and where they're headed because I think you can build off of what they've done defensively... we're no longer just like a million pieces away. We're a few pieces away from being a good football team.
PFT isn't ready to let go of the Passtronaut just yet, despite the four-pick performance. He’s leaning into the theory that the more a quarterback knows about a system, the worse they become. He thinks the secret to NFL success might just be staying in the dark on the playbook.
PFT CommenterJosh Dobbs should not learn the playbook to be a better quarterback
He maybe should just not learn the playbook because... when he was in Arizona, he had been signed to the Cardinals like two weeks before the season started and played well... maybe it's just learning the playbook is too much.
David Tepper and the Panther Problem
Frank Reich is officially out in Carolina, making him the king of back-to-back buyouts. The guys took aim at David Tepper, who seems determined to run his franchise like a toxic hedge fund where everyone is replaceable except the guy making the bad decisions. Big Cat isn't buying the "unanimous" draft pick narrative being pushed by the owner.
Big CatDavid Tepper is aggressively bad and has quickly become the worst owner in the NFL
David Tepper is, I mean, he's so quickly become the worst owner. Dan Snyder leaving helped out a lot. [Tepper] is aggressively bad where he's doing too much. He's the problem. He's like, 'I'm gonna just fix all these problems by micromanaging and firing people.'
The Game and the Death of Normalcy
Ohio State lost to Michigan for the third straight year, and Big Cat thinks this one cuts deeper than the previous two. With the sign-stealing scandal looming over the matchup, the Buckeyes had a chance to invalidate everything Michigan had done over the last three years. Instead, they let an interim coach run it right down their throat.
Big CatThe loss to Michigan was the worst loss for the Ohio State fan base ever
I actually think this might be the worst loss for a fan base ever in Ohio State... If they had won on Saturday, they could have all gone around and said, the only reason you beat us was 'cause you cheated. And the minute you couldn't cheat anymore, all the normalcy has been restored. Now Michigan... gets to be like, you guys cried, you bitched, you moaned, you started investigations and we still just ran the ball down your throat.
Kirk Herbstreit Joins the Show
Our friend Kirk Herbstreit stopped by to navigate the absolute mess that is the current College Football Playoff landscape. With four undefeated teams and potentially more chaos on the way after conference championships, the committee is in a no-win situation. Herbie was blunt about the Florida State situation, arguing that the loss of Jordan Travis has fundamentally changed who they are as a team.
Kirk HerbstreitFlorida State shouldn't automatically be in the playoff just because they are undefeated
The loss of Jordan Travis to me is pretty significant... We live in an era where it's like, okay, they're undefeated, so they're in because they're in a Power five. I just don't do that. I'm really big on the best four teams... If you think Florida State's one of the best teams with Tate Rodemaker, then that's no problem. But I'm just not big on, they're undefeated so we have to put 'em in.
They also got into the Ryan Day discourse. As an Ohio State guy, Herbie isn't calling for Day's head, but he acknowledges that the psychology of the rivalry has flipped. He thinks the solution might be as simple as getting more guys on the roster who actually grew up in the state of Ohio and know what the game means.
Kirk HerbstreitRyan Day definitely has a Michigan problem
He definitely has a Michigan problem... Ohio State lived in Michigan's head for a number of years... and Jim Harbaugh, to his credit... has completely turned this thing around. If I were Ryan Day... I would suggest maybe looking at finding more Ohio guys that qualified to be on the roster to make them appreciate what this game really means.
As for the Heisman, Herbie is currently leaning toward the Bayou. While Bo Nix and Michael Penix Jr. have massive games ahead of them, he thinks the pure playmaking ability of Jayden Daniels is impossible to ignore.
Kirk HerbstreitJayden Daniels should win the Heisman Trophy
I have Jayden Daniels winning... He has been by far, when you think of a Heisman winner and you watch his plays, that's the guy you think of. In my opinion, it should go to the most dynamic playmaker and that player has been Jayden Daniels up to this point.
Before letting him go, Big Cat asked about the constant social media chatter regarding Al Michaels and his supposed lack of energy on Thursday nights. Having a front-row seat to the broadcast every week, Herbie says the criticism is totally misplaced and that Al is just as sharp as ever, even if the games don't always provide the Juice.
Kirk HerbstreitAl Michaels hears the social media criticism and thinks it is bullshit
Al hears it. He disagrees with it... Social media is using those two examples [Jacksonville playoff game and Denver game] to just say Al Michaels hates Thursday night, Al Michaels has lost it... He hears the noise, I don't think he's like 'I'll show them'. He has more of an f-you attitude about it. He thinks it's a bunch of bullshit.
Hot Seat/Cool Throne
Hank is on the Hot Seat for potentially infecting the entire office with a computer virus after trying to download a YouTube to MP3 converter like it's 2007. Meanwhile, Big Cat’s Cool Throne is a specific list of "ideal man" traits that includes not using AirPods and eating lots of steak. The guys also spent some time worrying about the rise of AI, though Big Cat is confident that robots can't replicate his specific brand of being wrong.
Big CatAI will never be able to replace podcasting because it isn't capable of being consistently wrong or stupid enough to replicate human banter
I feel very secure in my job. I don't think that we would ever be able to be taken over by AI. How would they get things wrong all the time? Like don't, don't computers get things right? Can you imagine an AI having a debate about whether or not [something is] a bad take?
Hopefully the Bears win out so we can see how long Big Cat's optimism lasts.
