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Washington Redskins Quarterback Alex Smith and Scott Zolak

Wednesday, January 31, 201820 takes

We are live from Vandy Moss in Minneapolis. Alex Smith has been traded and the NFL has lost its mind. Super Bowl storyline update and Bill Belichick stole everyone's breath with his plane fedora. Blake Griffin is going to Detroit and DeAndre Jordan may be being stalked by Steve Ballmer. (-) Hot Seat/Cool Throne included Russia and male breast reduction (-). Washington Redskins QB Alex Smith joins the show to talk about his career in the NFL, silencing the haters, what it was like being on a SB team he wasn't starting for, the burden of the Number 1 pick, and what Andy Reid smells like (-). Patriots Radio analyst and former QB Scott Zolak joins the show to talk about being a Bill Belichick whisperer, his twitter game, and how he made a song famous at Patriots games (-). Segments include Hurt or Injured for Kevin Love (:!2-), Sabermetrics for Brett Favre's pregame speech for the Eagles (-) and As a white guy the Indians are changing their logo (-).

Alex Smith and Scott Zolak on Trades, Belichick's Fedora, and Super Bowl Prep

We are live from Vandy Moss in Minneapolis, and the NFL landscape has officially shifted on its axis. Right as the show starts, news breaks that the Kansas City Chiefs have traded Alex Smith to the Washington Redskins for a massive haul of guaranteed cash. PFT, as a lifelong fan of the R-words, is already processing the trauma of Dan Snyder getting into the Crown Royal and overpaying for an aging veteran.

Void
Jan 31, 2018
#12811
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Alex Smith is the most Redskins quarterback of all time

Alex Smith is the most Redskins quarterback of all time. He hasn't played a snap, but he is the perfect R-Words quarterback. He is a watercolor version of Brad Johnson. He is more John Beck than John Beck is. He is like Colt McCoy on the world's worst steroids.

While subjective, Alex Smith did have a successful but brief run in Washington before a career-altering injury, similar to the mixed success of other QBs mentioned.

Big Cat thinks the trade market is officially broken, especially with the Jaguars sticking by Blake Bortles. This panic from the rest of the league has created a very specific new reality where certain veterans are suddenly the most coveted assets on the board.

Loss
Jan 31, 2018
#28827
Big CatBig Cat

Jay Cutler is now the top prize in the NFL quarterback free agent market

Basically every NFL team, because guess who is now the bell of the ball? Mr. Jay Cutler. Because everyone's getting their franchise quarterbacks. Jacksonville got theirs. Washington got theirs. Who's going to get Jay Cutler?

Cutler did not become the 'bell of the ball'; he retired and moved into reality TV/broadcasting after the 2017 season with the Dolphins.

Hot Seat and Cool Throne

Hot Seat/Cool Throne hits on the absolute state of Big Ten football and the return of Nebraska. Scott Frost is out here trying to change the culture by quite literally breaking his players' bodies, which PFT finds incredibly encouraging for the future of the program.

Loss
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Nebraska is back because Scott Frost is hospitalizing players with Rabdo

Nebraska is back. Nebraska is back in a very, very big way. Scott Frost just implemented his conditioning program at Nebraska. And he got two players were hospitalized... with Rabdo, which means they're building up some muscles out there. That's a culture change.

Hot TakeCFBFireSarcastic
Scott Frost's tenure at Nebraska was a failure; he never had a winning season and was eventually fired. The program did not 'come back' under him.

Meanwhile, the NBA is in a state of flux after the Pistons landed Blake Griffin. Big Cat isn't buying the hype that this makes Detroit a contender, instead seeing them settling into a very specific tier of Eastern Conference purgatory.

Push
Jan 31, 2018
#12813
Big CatBig Cat

The Pistons will be the best mediocre team in the NBA following the Blake Griffin trade

The Pistons are basically like, we are going to be the best mediocre team in the NBA. Drummond and Blake are not going to play defense. We're going to give you the five seed for the next ten years of your career in the East, and then you're going to lose to the Celtics and the Cavs.

The Pistons made the playoffs once with Griffin (as an 8 seed) and were largely mediocre to bad before trading him away and entering a full rebuild.

Big Cat also takes a moment to acknowledge the Houston Rockets and James Harden's 60-point triple-double. He’s starting to think they might actually have the juice to give the Warriors a run, provided the stars align.

Loss
Big CatBig Cat

The Rockets can take down the Warriors if they stay hot and the Celtics steal one on the road

I am officially saying, as of this date, January 31st, I'm a believer that the Rockets, if they get hot for a couple games... Hank was explaining how the Celtics can beat the Warriors in the NBA Finals... you just win two games and then you just get lucky for two games... I'm a believer if they get hot at the right time, they're going to take down the Warriors.

The Rockets took the Warriors to 7 games in the WCF but famously missed 27 straight threes and lost.

Alex Smith on the Trade and the Number 1 Pick

New Redskins quarterback Alex Smith joins the show for an exclusive first interview since the trade news dropped. He handles the "check-down" jokes with grace, explaining that his job is just being a point guard for playmakers. He gets real about the psychological toll of being the first overall pick and how that label follows you into every room and onto every field.

Void
Jan 31, 2018
#28830
Alex SmithAlex Smith

Being the number one overall pick is a psychological burden for a young player

Being the number one pick, the, the, the weight I carried around, the expectations... I walked around with it everywhere I went... it kind of, you know, a little bit, yeah, it kind of took, you know, kind of digging myself that hole.

This is a personal reflection on his own mental state.

Smith also offers some perspective on why some young quarterbacks struggle depending on who is calling the shots. He notes that defensive-minded head coaches often create a cycle of instability that can stunt a passer's growth.

Void
Jan 31, 2018
#12816
Alex SmithAlex Smith

Stability is much harder for a young quarterback when playing for a defensive head coach

As a quarterback, that's the big difference, I think, between playing for a defensive head coach and an offensive head coach. As a defensive head coach, as great as it can be, you're still constantly – if you do well, your coordinator's leaving. And so the stability is always in question there.

This is a widely accepted view among NFL analysts, as successful offensive coordinators under defensive HCs are frequently poached for head coaching roles.

Looking forward, Big Cat asks Smith for a scouting report on Matt Nagy, the new Bears head coach. Smith is all-in on the hire and expects big things for the future of the position in Chicago.

Loss
Jan 31, 2018
#12818
Alex SmithAlex Smith

Mitchell Trubisky is going to light it up in the NFL under Matt Nagy

Matt [Nagy] is killer. I mean, I think Mitchell Trubisky's going to light it up. I think he's going to love it. I think they're going to do a bunch, put him in great situations. A lot of RPOs. I think he's a decent athlete, right? Do some fun stuff with him. Oh, yeah. We're going to have fun.

Trubisky had one good year in 2018 (making the Pro Bowl) but overall failed to live up to expectations, was benched, and Nagy was eventually fired. Trubisky did not 'light it up' long term.

Scott Zolak: The Belichick Whisperer

Patriots radio analyst and recurring favorite Scott Zolak stops by the van to talk about the genius of Bill Belichick and the reality of the "friction" within the Patriots organization. While the media paints it as a civil war, Zoe thinks it’s just the natural byproduct of three massive egos driving a winning machine.

Win
Jan 31, 2018
#12819
Scott ZolakScott Zolak

There is legitimate truth to the reported friction between Bill Belichick, Robert Kraft, and Tom Brady

Oh, there's definitely something true there. Just a little something there. Absolutely. There's something there. And I think there's always been something there from day one. I think it starts from all of them... when you have egos... it makes you dominate. It makes you want more.

While the extent was debated, subsequent books (like 'The Dynasty' by Jeff Benedict) and Brady's eventual departure to Tampa Bay confirmed deep-seated tension between the trio.

Zolak doesn't see the dynasty ending anytime soon, either. He gives us the over/under on how many years the Bill and Tom show has left in the tank, and it’s bad news for the rest of the AFC East.

Win
Jan 31, 2018
#12820
Scott ZolakScott Zolak

Bill Belichick will coach the Patriots for at least three more years

Bill will coach the Patriots. I think at least three. Three to four.

Belichick coached the Patriots through the 2023 season, which was six more seasons after this prediction.
Win
Jan 31, 2018
#12821
Scott ZolakScott Zolak

Tom Brady will play at least two more seasons after this one

And I think Tom's going to play another two after this. I think he kind of has to based on the moves they've made.

Brady played five more seasons after this (two with NE, three with TB), retiring after the 2022 season.

We also got Zoe's take on the coaching carousel. While Matt Patricia is heading to Detroit, Zoe thinks he actually landed in the most favorable spot of all the former Belichick disciples because of the roster construction.

Loss
Jan 31, 2018
#12822
Scott ZolakScott Zolak

Matt Patricia has the ideal head coaching job among recent Patriots departures

Patricia's got the ideal job, I think, out of any of them. They got a franchise quarterback. So, the offense is already taken care of. You go in there, you fix the defense. Now, all of a sudden, you got a competitive game because the Bears stink.

Matt Patricia was a failure in Detroit, posting a 13-29-1 record before being fired. Mike Vrabel, by contrast, had several winning seasons and playoff runs with the Titans.

Before letting him go, Zolak admits that while Brady is the GOAT, there is one other quarterback in the league who might actually have a better natural toolbox when you look at the raw physical stats.

Void
Jan 31, 2018
#12823
Scott ZolakScott Zolak

Aaron Rodgers is a better 'tools' quarterback than Tom Brady

Technically speaking, Aaron Rodgers is a better quarterback. I agree with that. If you're talking about the tools, Aaron Rodgers' arm is off the charts and his ability to move is off the charts. That's just a fact. If you're starting a football team, your better chance is to take Rodgers and build around him because of his pure, raw physical talent.

This is a subjective debate that continues to split fans and analysts.

To wrap things up, we hit a quick Hurt or Injured for Kevin Love's hand and a special "As a White Guy" segment on the Cleveland Indians retiring Chief Wahoo. PFT manages to find a way to make the logo debate about the military, which is exactly why he's the best in the business.

Void
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Supporting the Chief Wahoo logo is actually anti-military because it represents stolen valor

Take a good look at Chief Wahoo because Chief Wahoo has one feather in his cap, right? And he's going around by Chief. This is stolen valor... that I word, is stealing valor from proper Chiefs. So if you support Chief Wahoo, then in reality, you're actually anti-military.

This is a satirical logic exercise and cannot be factually proven or disproven.

Bill Belichick’s airport fedora might be the most intimidating thing the Eagles see all week.

nflsuper-bowlwashington-redskinsnew-england-patriotsblake-griffinnba

More Takes

Void
Jan 31, 2018
#28828
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Robert Griffin III is to blame for the Redskins' current quarterback predicament

If Robert Griffin had done a better job mentoring Kirk Cousins, then they would never have wanted to let Kirk go, and they would have extended him already, and they wouldn't be stuck in this position.

This is a satirical opinion that can't be factually proven; it's a humorous reach.
Win
Jan 31, 2018
#12812
Big CatBig Cat

To beat the Patriots, the quarterback needs to look like a mouth-breathing moron

To beat the Patriots, you have to look like a mouth-breathing moron. Eli Manning, he has put the book out on how to beat the Patriots. Nick Foles had that going when he had the weird glasses. Then he cleaned up, and you're like, this guy actually looks not bad.

Hot TakeFootballHotSarcastic
Nick Foles, who many would consider a 'doofy' or unlikely hero, actually did go on to beat the Patriots in this very Super Bowl (LII).
Void
Jan 31, 2018
#28829
Alex SmithAlex Smith

The NFL needs more players who are 'sensitive' and can't take a joke

I like – I think the NFL needs more of that... like, nobody likes sensitive people. You know what I'm saying? Like, if you can't make fun of somebody.

This is a subjective opinion about league culture.
Void
Jan 31, 2018
#12817
Alex SmithAlex Smith

Rain is the worst weather for a quarterback, even worse than snow

Rain's the worst. Like dumping rain. Like if it were 40 degrees and raining and windy, that's the worst. I'll take snow over rain. Snow's actually fun.

General consensus among QBs is that moisture from rain makes the ball much harder to grip than cold or dry snow.
Loss
Jan 31, 2018
#12824
Scott ZolakScott Zolak

The Patriots will beat the Eagles by 14 to 17 points in the Super Bowl

I got them by 14 to 17. Finally, we will get a Patriot Super Bowl in the fourth quarter to where I can kick back, relax, and start looking for a location of the post-game party.

The Eagles beat the Patriots 41-33 in a game that came down to the final play. Zolak was completely wrong on both the winner and the margin.
Loss
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Kevin Love is faking his broken hand just like he faked his mysterious flu

I think Kevin Love is actually better at defense with a broken hand. Why do you have to sit out with a broken hand?... He essentially has the flu for his hand right now, and he's milking it. Yeah, I'd say that you're just hurt.

Hot TakeBasketballHotSarcastic
Love actually had a fractured left hand that required surgery; he wasn't faking.

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