PMT DB
PMT DB
Mike Florio on NFL Black Monday, Rodgers to Pittsburgh, and CFP Chaos
The SEC is dead, the bye week is a curse, and college football might actually be back. Big Cat and PFT opened the show reeling from a quarterfinal slate that saw the giants of the SEC fall and the teams with rest looking like they spent their weeks off on a beach rather than in the film room.
PFT CommenterThe SEC is dead and the effectiveness of first-round byes is over in the CFP
The SEC is dead. So is byes. Byes are dead. Byes are dead. Byes are dead. The rest versus rust has been settled. The SEC is dead.
Texas and Arizona State gave us an absolute classic that included Skattebo puking his guts out on the sideline before putting the team on his back. Meanwhile, Ohio State looked like a juggernaut in the Rose Bowl, even if Big Cat remains skeptical of their ability to finish the job if a certain rival from Ann Arbor is anywhere in the vicinity.
Big CatOhio State is the best team in the country as long as they don't have to play Michigan
Ohio State is just a team on a mission right now. I don't know what else you can say. Like they are, as long as they don't have to play Michigan, they are the best team in the country.
The guys also broke down the heartbreaking end for Boise State and the confusing mess that is the targeting rule. PFT remains convinced that the rule exists purely for referee drama, while Big Cat felt for Ashton Jeanty as Boise seemed more concerned with stat-padding than actually covering the spread for the people.
Big CatBoise State's lack of urgency at the end of the Penn State game was sad
The end of the game was a little sad by Boise State where they were just trying to get him [Ashton Jeanty] the record instead. I know they were down 17 and there's probably no chance, but running on first down with two and a half minutes left was a little sad. They had no urgency to try to cover the spread.
Week 18 Picks and the 2018 Renaissance
Looking ahead to the NFL's final regular-season weekend, Big Cat pointed out the sheer insanity of the 2018 draft class. Between Baker Mayfield, Saquon Barkley, and Sam Darnold, the guys who were once considered busts are now the pillars of playoff contenders.
Big CatThe 2018 NFL Draft was one of the most insane classes ever for quarterbacks
2018 draft was insane. It's the year for everyone in the 2018. Baker Mayfield went one, Saquon Barkley two, Sam Darnold three. So 1, 2, 3 pretty much had career years. Eight out of the ten first picks in the 2018 draft have been to at least one Pro Bowl. Pretty good.
Speaking of history, Big Cat wants everyone to put some respect on Dan Marino's name. As Joe Burrow chases 5,000 yards, it's a reminder that Marino did it in an era where you could practically tackle a receiver before the ball arrived.
Big CatDan Marino's 1984 season is an anomaly that deserves more respect
Dan Marino having 5,084 yards and 48 touchdowns in 1984 when the game was not a passing game is fucking insane. That's an insane statistical feat. Joe Burrow's having a career year and he still needs to do some work to get to what Dan Marino did. It's like more respect on Dan Marino.
For the Bears, the vibes are at an all-time low. Big Cat is already bracing for a loss to the Packers to cap off a winless road season, and he's terrified that the organization will pass over a brilliant offensive mind like Ben Johnson for a defensive coach who might alienate Caleb Williams.
Big CatI would rather have Mike McCarthy as my head coach than Brian Flores
I'd much rather have if given a choice, Mike McCarthy over Brian Flores... I think Brian Flores could be a very good head coach with a well established quarterback in place... I just don't want a defensive coach and I don't, I want Ben Johnson.
Mike Florio on the Coaching Carousel
Mike Florio joined the show to provide some adult supervision and insight into the upcoming Black Monday. The biggest topic was the Minnesota Vikings and the Sam Darnold conundrum. Florio was adamant that even with a high-profile rookie waiting in the wings, the Vikings cannot afford to let their current starter walk.
Mike FlorioThe Vikings can't let Sam Darnold leave the building
You can't let this guy leave. Everybody's looking for a franchise quarterback. When you have a guy who's playing like a franchise quarterback, you can't let him leave. They can figure out whatever they're gonna do with JJ McCarthy... but you can't let him go when he's gotten as good as he's gotten.
Florio also touched on the "palace intrigue" in Chicago and the potential for a coaching shakeup in New York. He believes Mike Vrabel is the ultimate fix for the New York media market, while Aaron Rodgers might be looking for a way out of the Jets that doesn't involve him being the one to pull the trigger.
Mike FlorioAaron Rodgers wants the Jets to break up with him, not the other way around
I think Aaron Rodgers doesn't want to come back to the Jets, but he wants them to be the ones that break up with him. He's been needling Woody Johnson... I think he wants them to end it. And then he'll see if anyone out there really wants him.
One of the most intriguing landing spots for Rodgers? The Steel City. Florio thinks the veteran-quarterback-plug-and-play model in Pittsburgh fits Rodgers' current career trajectory perfectly.
Mike FlorioAaron Rodgers to the Steelers is a fascinating possibility
I'm fascinated by the possibility of him going to Pittsburgh. Remember that video of him and Mike Tomlin kinda making googly eyes at each other... I feel like that tracks with what the Steelers are currently doing at quarterback, which is, we don't know how to develop one. Let's just go find a veteran and plug him in.
Fantasy Fuccbois and Jumper January
The show wrapped up with a very cozy edition of Fantasy Fuccbois as the guys officially ushered in Jumper January. Hank is down to his last few velour jumpsuits after his move to Chicago, while PFT is rocking a one-piece that makes bathroom breaks a high-stakes operation.
We finished with Fyre Fest of the week where Max defended his decision to ride a bike with a broken foot and Big Cat lamented the struggle of a Great Wolf Lodge "vacation" with three kids.
Good luck to everyone trying to win their performance incentives this weekend, especially Gino Smith who is one good half away from a massive payday.
PFT CommenterGeno Smith will make $6 million in performance incentives on Sunday
Geno Smith could make $6 million on Sunday. He gets 2 million bucks if the Seahawks finish with a 10th win. He gets 2 million if he gets 4,282 yards—he's 185 away—and he also gets 2 million bucks if he finishes with a completion percentage better than 69.75. Right now he's at 70.23.
Don't forget to buy Mike Florio's ebook for 99 cents so he stops yelling at us for not reading.
