PMT DB
PMT DB
Dan Campbell on Grit, the Lions Climb, and a Contentious Mount Rushmore
Grit Week 2023 has officially arrived, and it started exactly where it should: Buffalo. After a pilgrimage to Wingnutz to see Ed and Alicia, the vibe was set for the eighth installment of the grittiest week in sports. Big Cat and PFT are back on the RV, hauling Max and Memes from New York to Chicago in a throwback rust belt tour that feels like the early days of the show.
Before the heavy hitters arrived, Jake Marsh phoned in from his Korn Ferry Tour broadcast debut. While the broadcast went well, Jake had to address his specific choice of words regarding a "shot of a lifetime" for a player who ended up losing the tournament. More importantly, he addressed the palpable on-air tension with his partner.
Jake MarshMy broadcast partner Kirk Triplett is not a nice person when the cameras are rolling
He [Kirk Triplett] is just not a nice person when the cameras are rolling. But I don't think that's any earth shattering news. Like he would admit that too. That's just who He is. And I've accepted that. But I'm proud of myself for not letting him walk all over me.
The Spirit of Grit
There is no one better to christen Grit Week than Detroit Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell. He is the physical embodiment of the week, though he did shock everyone by mentioning he tries to stop cursing every morning before inevitably failing by 10:00 AM. Dan Campbell talked about the "climb" the Lions are on and how the identity of the team is built on overcoming adversity. He also cleared up some confusion regarding his "one ass cheek and three toes" quote from Hard Knocks, clarifying that he was referring to himself being at a disadvantage and still winning, not beating up a disabled person.
Dan CampbellFootball is the greatest sport you can possibly play
Don't ever disrespect this game because it is, in my opinion, it's the greatest sport that you can possibly play, man. ... It's a team sport, man. You, there's blood, there's sweat, there's tears. ... Everybody's gotta be going the same way to have success. ... We owe it as players, coaches, anybody that's associated with to give it everything you've got. 'cause it is an unbelievable game.
Dan Campbell shared the story of his interview with Brian Daboll where he was literally smashing chairs and running routes around a conference table until he was dripping sweat. He also confirmed that he did indeed literally bury the game tape from a particularly bad loss to the Eagles. Beyond the intensity, we learned that the man is a human furnace.
Dan Campbell55 degrees is the ideal sleeping temperature
On the road. If, if I can get it. I mean, normally the lowest you can get is 55. Right. In a hotel. Right. But I got it at 55. ... man, if I could, I would [go into the forties].
Football is Back (Almost)
As training camps ramp up, the news cycle is finally spinning. The guys looked at the disaster in Indy between Jim Irsay and Jonathan Taylor, which has devolved into a standoff involving trade requests and disputed back injuries. PFT doesn't see a scenario where the star back stays away forever.
PFT CommenterJonathan Taylor will eventually play for the Colts this season
Taylor demanded a trade afterwards and then the Colts now have him on a technicality basically saying, you better actually play for us. We're not gonna trade you... He will play. Yes. I think he will come and play.
In the NFC North, Aaron Rodgers is making headlines for defending Nathaniel Hackett against Sean Payton’s comments. Rodgers also revealed his favorite Christopher Nolan film is *The Prestige*, a pick that Hank vigorously defended as a non-coy, elite selection.
Hank'The Prestige' is one of the best movies of all time
Prestige is one of the best movies of all time. ... It's a phenomenal [movie]. ... Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman are rival magicians. Great twist, great turns, great female cast. ... That's not being coy. That's just like, it's a phenomenal [movie].
Big Cat is already looking ahead to the Super Bowl, and despite his history of being burned by hype, he’s ready to plant his flag in Baltimore after seeing training camp highlights.
Big CatThe Ravens will win the Super Bowl
I see a play like that. I'm like, Raven Super Bowl. Yes I have. I have the Ravens for the Super Bowl. I've bought into the hype. It won't burn me at all.
Who's Back and Mount Rushmore Mayhem
Who's Back covered everything from Calvin Ridley looking like a track star to the return of aliens in the public consciousness. Hank has taken the recent congressional hearings to heart, adopting a nihilistic view of the future that involves skipping the whole "starting a family" thing.
HankI don't want to start a family because aliens will likely kill us all within five years
I like thinking that aliens are real because then it really is like there's no reason to do anything. 'cause like within five years, like the aliens are gonna just come up and fuck us off. ... Like starting a family. It's like, I don't wanna, I don't wanna have kids like aliens are gonna come and kill 'em all. Yeah. Like, I'm just gonna, I'm just gonna keep doing my thing.
Billy Football countered with his own theory that the extraterrestrials aren't from space at all, but are actually lurking in the deep sea.
Billy FootballAliens likely live at the bottom of the ocean
I think the aliens are from Earth, bro. ... I think they're from the bottom of the Ocean. ... The earth is really large and we haven't really investigated most of the oceans.
To wrap things up, the guys tackled the Mount Rushmore of Recurring Guests. It was a segment designed to hurt feelings and ruin relationships. Between Ryan Whitney, Ryan Russillo, Jerry O'Connell, and Blake Griffin, the board was stacked with legends, but Billy managed to derail the draft by taking Stingray Steve and Lenny Dykstra with his early picks.
To close the show, Big Cat introduced a new Grit Week tradition involving a random name generator and a Bic razor. After Hank refused to put his beard on the line, Big Cat's own name came up, meaning the mustache is returning for the rest of the tour.
It’s going to be a long, itchy week on the RV.
