PMT DB
PMT DB
Mike Pereira on NFL Catch Rules, Ed Hochuli’s Biceps, and Olympic Recap
Big Cat is officially verified on Twitter, and he’s not letting anyone forget it. While PFT Commenter and Hank argue that being unverified is actually a sign of journalistic integrity, Big Cat is ready to put the show on his shoulders and carry it into the capital-J journalist stratosphere. This new status didn't stop them from immediately diving into the biggest weekend of the Rio Olympics, starting with Usain Bolt making the 100-meter dash look like a casual jog in the park.
The Bolt and Phelps Dynasty
Usain Bolt won the 100-meter final with a smile on his face, which naturally led to the guys wondering if he could translate that speed to the gridiron. PFT Commenter is convinced that Bolt's speed is so transcendent that a team like the Browns has absolutely nothing to lose by giving him a roster spot.
PFT CommenterUsain Bolt could play in the NFL as a Mike Wallace-type deep threat
I'm just saying we have to have the conversation of whether or not Usain Bolt could play in the NFL... I want to know if Usain Bolt, if you put him in pads, put him in a helmet – Can he take a hit? He wouldn't go across the middle. I already know that about him. He would be like a Mike Wallace type on the outside.
While Bolt was dominating the track, Michael Phelps was wrapping up his legendary career in the pool. Big Cat is ready to crown him the GOAT, though PFT Commenter is a bit more skeptical about the repetitive nature of swimming events.
Big CatMichael Phelps is the all-time best Olympic champion
But it was a great performance. Michael Phelps, all-time best Olympic champion. I think we can safely say that, right?
PFT CommenterI could win an Olympic silver medal in a swimming relay if I was on a team with Michael Phelps, Ryan Lochte, and Connor Dwyer
If you put me with Michael Phelps, Ryan Lochte, and Connor Dwyer, and we do the four-person 200 meters, I think we at least take silver.
They also touched on the sheer absurdity of Olympic broadcasting, specifically Rowdy Gaines’ insane energy levels compared to the basketball announcers who sound like they are narrating from inside a coffin. Big Cat has a theory that swimming only stays relevant because of that artificial hype.
Big CatOlympic swimming is a fringe sport that doesn't deserve the level of excitement it receives from announcers
Anyone who gets that excited for a fringe sport like swimming – You're okay in my book. Like, you either have to go all in and just crazy, crazy, crazy, like Rowdy Gaines, or... [announcers] Basically orgasming for an entire night while he watches the same exact swimming races with just varying distances.
Mike Pereira Joins the Show
Former NFL Vice President of Officiating Mike Pereira joined the show to tackle the impossible question: What is a catch? Mike didn't hold back on his disdain for how replay has over-complicated the game. He argues that we’ve lost the plot by looking at things in frame-by-frame slow motion instead of just trusting the officials' eyes.
Mike PereiraNFL catch rules should be based on common sense rather than slow-motion replay
If common sense dictates that it's a catch, it ought to be a catch. I think one of the issues that has come up in this is that it doesn't belong in replay. This whole judgment area... That's judgment. It's 100% judgment. And replay ought to be based on facts, not judgment.
Mike also gave some incredible behind-the-scenes dirt on the league's most famous officials. When asked about Ed Hochuli, Mike confirmed what we all suspected about those tight shirts and the constant search for a camera.
Mike PereiraEd Hochuli wears extra small jerseys to make his biceps look bigger
I'm saying if you think a guy that buys extra small jerseys and cuts off the ends of them, if you think and does 100 push-ups before he goes out on the field to make them look bigger, if you think that's a show-off, I think it's a show-off.
Mike PereiraNFL officials love officiating at Lambeau Field and Soldier Field but dislike the Oakland Coliseum
Officials, the one thing they get caught up a little bit in is history, which is why they like the Lambeau fields and they like the soldier fields and why they don't like the Oakland Coliseum.
One of the most fascinating parts of the interview was Mike’s breakdown of the 2012 referee lockout. He explained how the infamous "Fail Mary" play in Seattle didn't just ruin a Monday Night Football game; it actually handed the regular officials every bit of leverage they needed to crush the league at the bargaining table.
Mike PereiraThe regular NFL officials 'beat the league' in labor negotiations because the 'Fail Mary' gave them massive leverage
And the second thing is, they beat the league. The officials beat the league. They got more than what the league wanted to pay... because of what happened with the fail Mary play, you know, the thing was saying quickly and beat the league at their own game. They got more money than the league was planning to give. And they got extension of their pension, which the league wanted to bust.
Mount Rushmore of Cheap Booze and Lochte-gate
The guys took a listener suggestion for the Mount Rushmore of cheap booze, which sparked a heated debate over whether Seagram's counts as "cheap" and the proper way to pronounce Franzia. PFT Commenter stood by the "slap the bag" lifestyle with Franzia and the raw violence of Milwaukee’s Best Ice.
Then there was the Ryan Lochte situation. After reports surfaced that Lochte was held at gunpoint in Brazil, the guys tried to help him with some PR 101. PFT Commenter thinks the move is for Lochte to lean into the danger and find a way to monetize his "whatever" attitude toward life-threatening situations.
PFT CommenterRyan Lochte should lean into his gas station incident by getting a gun sponsorship
If I'm Lochte, I think it's pretty simple actually. If I'm Lochte, I get sponsored by a gun company because you're not going to get held up if you've got a gun. I've got like some catchphrases already... Lochte and loaded.
Thoughts and Prayers
The show wrapped up with a heavy heart for the Miami Marlins and Giancarlo Stanton. After Stanton went down with a season-ending injury, the guys realized their previous predictions about the Home Run Derby were unfortunately spot on.
PFT CommenterGiancarlo Stanton's season-ending injury is definitive proof of the Home Run Derby curse
He had the home run derby curse... so we actually predicted this. Not to brag, but we called it. Like a month ago, we said whoever's going to win is going to be out for the rest of the season. So sometimes it's tough to keep track of how right we are all the time.
They also offered thoughts and prayers to the "Beliebers" after Justin Bieber had the audacity to call his fans "fans." PFT Commenter is officially opening the doors to the PMT family for any displaced Bieber fans looking for a new home, promising to never treat them with such disrespect.
If Bob Costas can work out at the gym in full denim, anything is possible.
