Warren Sharp's NFL Preview, Blake Anderson, and Peter King's Doobie
NFL football is officially back this week, and the energy is peaking even if the preseason was non-existent. Big Cat and PFT opened the show by addressing the most shocking news of the week: Peter King admitting to the internet that he once "did a doobie" with the Doobie Brothers. It is the most Peter King sentence ever constructed, and while the image of him burning one down is haunting, it’s exactly the kind of momentum we needed heading into Week 1.
Before getting to the gridiron, the Bucks are currently on life support in the NBA bubble. Big Cat is fed up with Mike Budenholzer’s rotations, specifically the decision to cap the minutes of an MVP in a must-win scenario.
Mike Budenholzer should be fired on the spot
The quotes that Budenholzer had after they lost game three... I actually think he should be fired on the spot. He was saying that Giannis and Middleton, they're playing 33 to 36 minutes of game, and that's about their ceiling in the playoffs. He's saying about his MVP, right, 36? ... basically admitting his incompetence to the whole world.
The 2020 NFL Preview with Warren Sharp
Warren Sharp joined the show to help everyone get smart before Thursday night’s kickoff. Without a traditional training camp, Warren expects a massive shift in how the first few weeks of the season will look. He pointed back to the 2011 lockout season as the only real comparison, suggesting that defenses are going to be gassed early and often.
Overs will hit at a high rate in the first few weeks of the season
The only thing that we have that's even close to the 2020 preseason and offseason... was the year of the lockout [2011]. ... That season, the first two weeks out the gate, overs went 73%. ... I think by the third and fourth quarters, that's when we're going to see these defenses get worn down a little bit. I think that's one of the bigger things that is going to be evident from having the lack of the preseason games.
When it comes to surprise teams, Warren is high on the Indianapolis Colts, largely due to Frank Reich’s play-calling. However, Big Cat isn't quite as sold on the man under center, questioning if Philip Rivers still has the physical tools to execute that vision.
Philip Rivers is washed and doesn't have an arm anymore
That sounds to me like you don't think Philip Rivers has much of an arm left. Because saying 'I love him as a competitor' is a telltale sign you don't love him as a quarterback anymore.
The Colts will be a surprise team in 2020
I personally think that Frank Reich is one of the most underrated play callers that we have in the NFL. ... They have since gone out, they've got Philip Rivers. ... I think this is a team that a lot of people kind of forgot about. ... I think the thing that we cannot underestimate here is just how good of a coach and a play caller Frank Reich is and why I think he's going to stamp his name on this football team.
Moving to the NFC, the conversation shifted to Mike McCarthy taking the reins in Dallas. Warren believes the transition from Jason Garrett’s conservative approach to McCarthy’s more aggressive passing style will unlock a new level for Dak Prescott and the Cowboys' weapons.
The Cowboys offense will reach a new ceiling under Mike McCarthy
I think that the new coach Mike McCarthy is going to instill a lot more aggressive nature and a lot more passing to this offense. ... We are going from one of the most conservative run-heavy coaches of Jason Garrett to the most aggressive coach in terms of throwing the football down the field in Mike McCarthy. ... I think we're going to see a higher ceiling because they're going to be willing to pass the ball.
On the flip side, the Minnesota Vikings might be heading for a slide. Between losing Stefon Diggs and some serious statistical regression looming, the NFC North could be wider open than people think.
The Vikings will regress due to luck and a lack of training camp
I think the Minnesota Vikings are due for a little bit of regression... Minnesota finished top 10 in like injury luck, fumble recovery luck, field goal luck. ... This is an offseason in particular... [with] a lot of new players that are coming in there. ... Just a bad year to have to incorporate a lot of rookies and expect much out of them given the lack of an offseason.
The Vikings' new stadium crowd noise design has given them the best ATS cover rate since 2016
The architects came in and built that stadium specifically to have a roof on it that would refract the crowd noise back onto the football field. And since they built that stadium [in 2016], they have had the number one best ATS cover rate in the NFL.
Big Cat, ever the gambler, is eyeing one specific Week 1 matchup with a massive amount of confidence. He’s looking at the altitude in Denver and the lack of conditioning for visiting teams as the ultimate edge.
I'm making the biggest bet of my life on the Broncos money line in Week 1
I think I might make my biggest bet of my life on the Broncos week one because I don't understand how with everything that's going on... you can have a team go mile-high and compete week one and not just be absolutely destroyed. And the Broncos are always good in September week one in Denver.
Blake Anderson and the Blake of the Year Race
Actor and comedian Blake Anderson joined the program to talk about his new Hulu series *Woke* and the legacy of *Workaholics*. Blake fits the show's vibe perfectly, discussing his various drunk injuries—specifically fracturing his spine jumping off a roof onto a beer pong table—and his deep love for the Golden State Warriors. He's also officially entered the mix for next year's Blake of the Year.
The Warriors were cool champions and fans who hate them are just petty
A lot of basketball fans, especially nowadays, are so petty... once all the smoke clears people are going to look back and be like, 'Goddamn, those Warriors were some really cool champions.' They were cool, man. That was a great squad.
While *Workaholics* fans are always clamoring for a revival, Blake has a specific vision for when the guys should actually return to the screen together.
Workaholics will be 12 times funnier when we are all 50
We have always been very adamant in saying that Workaholics gets 12 times more funnier when we're all 50 and or like even older and still living together, and I'm just bald on the top of my head. It's just storylines for days.
Talking Tennis and Joe West
Novak Djokovic found himself in hot water after accidentally—but accurately—sniping a line judge in the throat with a tennis ball. While it led to a disqualification, Big Cat and PFT weren't exactly buying the severity of the official's reaction.
The line judge Djokovic hit at the US Open was doing an 'all-time cell job'
She hit the ground. She looked like she was going to die for a sec. That was an all-time cell job by her. I'm not saying that he should have hit her in the neck... but holy shit. Come on lady. That was a cell job.
Tennis players should get a point for hitting a line judge
I think they should just make a new sport where the lines are always live and if you hit a line judge, you get an extra point. ... A dodgeball tennis hybrid. ... I'm saying you should get a point added on.
To wrap things up, the guys discussed Joe West’s latest power move: ejecting Nats GM Mike Rizzo from the stands. Most people hate Joe West’s theatrics, but PMT remains the last bastion of support for the man who truly believes he is the main character of Major League Baseball.
I love Joe West because he thinks he is bigger than baseball
If you can't find the humor in Joe West stopping the game, telephoning up and kicking the GM from the suite out of the game, you got a fucking dump in your pants. ... I'm in favor of Joe West doing whatever the fuck he wants. In fact, I think Joe West has got a little soft in his old age. ... I would like to see more Joe West involved in these games.
If the NFL season is half as chaotic as Peter King’s college years, we are in for a legendary fall.

