PMT DB
PMT DB
John Harbaugh and Roquan Smith on Grit, Lamar Jackson, and Ravens Defense
Grit Week is officially in full swing, and the tension on the RV is reaching a boiling point. Before we even got to the football, we had a full-blown Airing of Grievances. Hank spent an hour in the car absolutely fuming because PFT and Big Cat pled the fifth on whether he was sleep-talking. It turns out he said absolutely nothing, but the paranoia was real. Meanwhile, the Commanders camp visit left PFT feeling surprisingly high on the vibes in DC.
Training Camp Reports and National Sports Podcast News
Between the RV drama, the crew actually found time to watch some football. Big Cat is trying to stay mature about the Bears, but the news elsewhere isn't as sunny. The Titans officially waving Treylon Burks sent Big Cat into a tailspin regarding the legacy of the AJ Brown trade.
Big CatThe AJ Brown deal is one of the worst trades ever for the Titans
Treylon Burks got waived, which officially makes the AJ Brown deal one of the worst trades ever. Titans traded AJ Brown to the Eagles. Eagles [made] a Super Bowl with AJ Brown. He also signed a four year extension... I don't think any of [the picks] are on their team anymore.
PFT spent some time with Commanders GM Adam Peters and came away feeling like the Terry McLaurin contract situation might actually have a happy ending. He also has a new favorite sleeper in the backfield that he’s ready to plant his flag on.
PFT CommenterI'm optimistic the Commanders will get a deal done with Terry McLaurin
I got a chance to talk to Adam Peters today for a little bit... I'm optimistic things get done. I did my best. I tried to negotiate with Adam... mainly devolved into me telling him how good Jayden was.
PFT CommenterJako Croskey-Merritt is going to be awesome.
I think the Commanders' rookie running back Jako Croskey-Merritt—he goes by the name Bill, which is pretty cool—Bill is gonna be fucking awesome. Six round pick... He is smooth as fuck... That dude is gonna be good. Adam Peters did tell me like he might be the guy.
Hot Seat/Cool Throne and TV Moms
Hot Seat/Cool Throne featured Bryce Harper going nose-to-nose with Rob Manfred over salary caps. While Big Cat noted that Harper can afford to sit out, he loved the energy of a superstar telling the commissioner to get out of the clubhouse.
Big CatBryce Harper is right that players are willing to lose a whole season over a salary cap.
He's right-ish... [Manfred] is pitching the salary cap right to the players circumventing the MLBPA. And it's their job to hear from the owners and then take that to the rank and file players. And then Harper's like, 'If you're gonna say that, get the fuck out.' Bryce Harper is right. Bryce is right about this... He can afford to lose 162 games. The guys at the top can afford to lose 162 games.
We also checked in on Luka Doncic, who has apparently discovered the wonders of a gluten-free diet and is currently the skinniest he's ever been. PFT, ever the philosopher, suggested we might need an even bigger external threat to fix our own problems.
PFT CommenterLuka Doncic's weight loss makes him the epitome of male fitness.
Luca is skinny. He looks great. He looks awesome. Credit to Nico [Harrison]... He is on the cover of Men's Fitness right now. So he went from being traded because he was too fat to play sports to being the epitome of male fitness. Good for him.
PFT CommenterPlanet Earth needs an alien invasion to unite humanity
I've said that about wars and aliens. I think Planet Earth could use a good alien invasion because we're sick of beating each other up. It would unite us. We're sick of hitting each other. We wanna take out [the aliens].
Mount Rushmore of TV Moms was a battlefield. Picks ranged from the wholesome (Claire Huxtable) to the animated (Marge Simpson) to the dragon-rearing (Daenerys Targaryen). Max nearly lost his mind again, still recovering from the 'Gilmore Girls' accusations from earlier in the week, while Hank and PFT solidified their back-to-back championship run.
John Harbaugh and Roquan Smith
Coach John Harbaugh joined the show for his annual Grit Week check-in. He defined grit with a heavy quote from a World War II survivor—"What doesn't kill me doesn't bother me"—and discussed the evolving genius of Lamar Jackson. Harbaugh remains one of the few coaches who can talk about "the seeds of football" and make you want to run through a brick wall.
John HarbaughGrit is the ability to not care what happens to you and just keep going.
Grit is, I would say, you know it when you see it. It's the ability basically to not care what happens to you and just keep going... What doesn't kill me doesn't bother me. Like think about it—I'm not dead. You can't bother me. You can't get to me. I think that's the definition of grit.
John HarbaughLamar Jackson is getting better in every way and is still only 28
He's getting better in every way. I like to think we all do throughout the course of our life. But as an athlete, at some point in time you do hit that point and starts going the other direction... Lamar is still getting better. He's only 28 years old.
Big Cat brought up his theory that the Ravens are essentially a different team when the lights go down and the uniforms change. Harbaugh didn't disagree, noting that the intimidation factor is a real part of the excellence they chase.
Big CatThe Ravens are invincible when they wear all-black uniforms at night.
Do you have like on the sheet like, 'Hey, we're wearing our all-black uniform, so that's probably worth like a point or two.' Because that's what I think. When I see you guys come out a night game all blacks, it's like yeah, the Ravens are gonna win tonight. It feels like there's an invincibility of you guys when you come out and [wear] that.
Roquan Smith followed up by addressing some anonymous haters who questioned his conditioning last season. Being an All-Pro usually shuts those people up, but Roquan is more focused on the ceiling of this specific defensive unit and the daily nightmare of trying to track down his own quarterback in practice.
Roquan SmithThis Ravens defense has the potential to be the best ever.
I think this right here has the potential to be the best because we haven't done it yet. So it's untapped. So it's about, it's not about what's on paper, it's about what we actually do in person. I'm excited about the opportunity that we're gonna have as a unit because I know there's some damn good dudes on this team.
Roquan SmithSundays are easier than training camp because I don't have to face Lamar Jackson.
Sundays are way easier. Like, and sometimes when this dude, some of the stuff he be doing at practice, I be like, bro, I'm glad I'm not going up against that because nobody else in the league can do what he do... Lamar makes it easier going up against even other dual threat quarterbacks.
We finished up with some FAQs and a look ahead to the Grit Week finale. If the RV makes it through one more day without someone getting left at a rest stop, it'll be a miracle.
Don't let the sleep-talking demons get you, Hank.
