PMT DB
PMT DB
Mike Florio on Hall of Fame Snubs and the Future of Domes
It is a double birthday celebration in the studio as Big Cat turns 41 and PFT prepares to hit the same milestone tomorrow. The guys are firmly in their "don't care" phase of life, which is the perfect energy for the final studio episode before the circus moves to San Francisco for Super Bowl week. While the birthday vibes are high, the football world is busy being weird, starting with the New England Patriots and their unlikely march toward a title.
Hank is riding an all-time high, completely ignoring any red flags surrounding the team. Even with Drake May appearing on the injury report, Hank refuses to let reality dampen his spirits. PFT, on the other hand, is looking at the medical tape with a much more skeptical eye, especially considering May's playing style.
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter is concerned about Drake May's shoulder injury heading into the Super Bowl
That's my concern with a run first quarterback like that. Especially taking shots on your right shoulder, because that's the only position that a guy can't play if he's got a sore right shoulder. He took a shot, got tackled, and then he got up shaking his shoulder out, and then the very next throw he kind of short armed it, went down to the right. And now he's popped up on the injury report.
HankHank dismisses Drake May's shoulder injury and calls Twitter doctors 'fake doctors'
He missed a couple throws. He'll be fine. He's a young buck. All the fake doctors on Twitter are making stuff up, but I'm not concerned about his shoulder. They act like they're in the know. They're just watching the same football that we are.
Beyond the injury report, the big story remains the absolute disaster that was the Hall of Fame voting. Bill Belichick not being a first-ballot lock is the kind of sports bureaucracy that makes your head spin. PFT zeroed in on Bill Polian's role in the process, noting that the legendary hater might have finally overplayed his hand.
PFT CommenterBill Polian's Belichick Hall of Fame snub is an all-time backfire move—he's on the Mount Rushmore of haters
The more I've thought about it, the more I've realized that Bill Polian... what were you doing, dude? You just basically had the whole world... whatever legacy you had is gone. All-time backfire move. He's Mount Rushmore of haters.
The Browns Being the Browns
Cleveland finally found a coach in Todd Monken, but in true Browns fashion, the process involved losing a top-tier defensive coordinator in Jim Schwartz. The guys breaks down how Jimmy Haslam continues to be a thorn in the side of his own franchise's success. Big Cat didn't hold back on where Haslam ranks among the league's owners.
Big CatJimmy Haslam is at the top of the asshole dumbass owners list in the NFL
Jimmy Haslam, this is the problem. It's these fucking owners, man. Your anger should be at Jimmy Haslam and Jimmy Haslam alone. When we do our list of asshole dumbass owners, he's on the top of the list.
PFT CommenterThe Todd Monken hire feels pre-botched for the Browns - Ravens fans think it's a home run for the Browns as a Ravens fan
It feels maybe pre-botched, and I don't mean to disparage Todd Monken, but if you ask any Ravens fan what they think about this hire, they think it's an absolute home run for the Browns. As a Ravens fan.
PFT also floated a theory about the potential for a Deshaun Watson resurgence, comparing it to the current Sam Darnold timeline. If the Seahawks pull off a Super Bowl win, the entire history of the 2018 draft might need a rewrite.
PFT CommenterDeshaun Watson having a comeback is the final boss of 'who's the next Sam Darnold'
With all the discourse around Sam Darnold quarterback reclamation projects, it's actually kind of cool to see Darnold being in the Super Bowl. Teams are gonna be like, who's the next Sam Darnold? I found myself this morning thinking about like, what if Deshaun Watson's just good again? What if he's just good? That might be the final boss of who's the next Sam Darnold.
Big CatIf the Seahawks win the Super Bowl, the 2018 draft becomes the Sam Darnold draft instead of the Josh Allen/Lamar Jackson draft
[PFT]: If the Seahawks win, does that become the Sam Darnold draft? [Big Cat]: I think it might be. I think it would have to become the Sam Darnold draft. I think it might be. Yeah, it might be right.
LeBron's Final Cleveland Curtain Call?
LeBron James returned to Cleveland this week, and the vibes felt different. Between the tribute videos and the throwback jerseys LeBron himself debuted twenty years ago, it felt like the end of an era. Big Cat is convinced that the King is reaching the twilight of his career and should probably look at a homecoming to wrap things up.
Big CatLeBron may have played his last game in Cleveland - his body is finally catching up to him
I think he might be coming to the end here. It feels like his body is finally caught up to him. So this might be last time in Cleveland.
Big CatLeBron James should go back to Cleveland to finish his career
I do think he should go back to Cleveland. I think he should finish it there. They still love him. The tribute videos, it's still home. He should go back to Cleveland.
Mike Florio Joins the Show
Our good friend Mike Florio stopped by to provide some actual insight into the Hall of Fame's convoluted voting process. Florio explained how the new "bucket" system essentially forced voters to choose between legends, leading to the Belichick snub. He argues that the solution is simple: go back to basics.
Mike FlorioThe Hall of Fame needs to go back to the old 80% up-or-down voting system for each finalist
They should have forced the voters to say yes or no on Bill Belichick. And they need to go back to what's the easiest fix here. Go back to the system where the finalists each have an 80% up or down, yes or no vote like it used to be. It's fundamentally unfair.
Big CatThe Hall of Fame voting should be televised
The NFL televises everything. We've made a night out of the schedule release that we already know. Let's televise this thing. Let's make the writers and the voters stand behind their words. Why not?
Things got heated when Florio floated the idea of moving conference championships to neutral-site domes to avoid bad weather. PFT nearly jumped through the mic to defend the honor of outdoor football, arguing that the elements are what make the sport magical. Florio countered with some grim news about the future of NFL stadiums.
PFT CommenterConference championships should not be played at neutral sites - football is an outdoor sport that should be played in the elements
I don't like the idea of doing a neutral site. I think if you get the higher seed you should be rewarded for playing better in the regular season. The snow and the elements and the wind and the cities that the teams are based in is a good addition. If Russia had built a dome, they'd all be speaking German right now. Football is an outdoor sport. Fundamentally, it should be played in the wintertime. It should be played in the elements.
Mike Florio17 NFL teams will be playing in domes within the next 10 years
Seventeen teams are gonna be playing in domes within the next 10 years. The way things are currently going, the Chiefs are moving into a dome.
Before letting him go, Florio gave some credit to Mike Vrabel's coaching style. While many see Vrabel as just a "football guy" meathead, Florio points out that his attention to the fine print—like lollygagging during substitutions to burn the clock—is what makes him elite.
Mike FlorioJalen Hurts plays his own game regardless of the designed offense - the Eagles OC hire won't be someone with other options
There's a certain amount of frustration within the coaching staff and within the locker room because they designed the offense, they designed the plays, they call the plays. And then when it's time to go out there, Jalen Hurts the quarterback plays his game. Whoever the Eagles hire to be the offensive coordinator is not gonna be a guy who has other choices.
Fyre Fest of the Week
Fyre Fest brought some heavy hitters this week. PFT shared the tragic news that his days of playing above the rim are officially over after a calf injury during a three-on-three warm-up.
Mike FlorioThe Eagles' offensive coordinator job is unattractive for coaches with other options due to Jalen Hurts' power
Whoever the Eagles hire to be the offensive coordinator is not gonna be a guy who has other choices. It's gonna be a guy who says, alright, I wanna be an offensive coordinator and this is the place where they want me. It's clearly not great.
Big Cat revealed that he's having vivid stress dreams about running 10Ks in high altitude with Max, while Oldie shared a harrowing tale of almost losing a suitcase full of Canadian candy at airport customs. We also said a final, carbon-monoxide-filled goodbye to Vanny Woodhead as she heads to the Chicago Auto Show for her permanent retirement.
See you in San Francisco, where hopefully PFT finds a motorized scooter that can handle those hills.
