PMTPMT DB

Takes

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Take Slip·Jan 18, 2019
#PMT-2019-0118-6803
Big CatBig Cat

Patrick Mahomes has to play a perfect game for the Chiefs to win

[Mahomes] has to basically play his perfect game for the Chiefs to win, and I don't think he's going to play his perfect game... Patrick Mahomes is going to throw an interception that everyone's going to be like, what was that?

Mahomes didn't throw a 'what was that' interception, but the Chiefs lost 37-31. He was very good but Belichick's defense held them scoreless in the first half.
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Take Slip·Jan 11, 2019·Picks
#PMT-2019-0111-13340
Big CatBig Cat

The Eagles will cover +8 and win against the Saints because of Nick Foles

I'm taking the Eagles. I'm taking all the underdogs this week... I feel like eight is too much. And Nick Foles, whatever's going on, I don't know... I just don't know how you can go against whatever the hell is going on with Nick Foles.

The Saints won 20-14. Big Cat won the spread bet (Eagles +8) but was wrong about the outright win.
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Take Slip·Dec 24, 2018
#PMT-2018-1224-15642
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Bill Belichick tricked the world into thinking Rob Gronkowski was unhealthy this year

I think that it's a major stay woke that the greatest trick Bill Belichick ever pulled was convincing the world that Rob Gronkowski was unhealthy this year so he's just been playing possum.

Gronkowski was indeed crucial in the Super Bowl that season, though most analysts agree his physical decline was real, not a ruse.
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Take Slip·Dec 21, 2018·Picks
#PMT-2018-1221-16543
Big CatBig Cat

If the Cowboys are a legitimate NFC contender, they will beat the Bucs by 20+

If the Cowboys are a legitimate NFC contender, they beat the Bucs in this game by 20 plus. They bury Jameis Winston. They do not let him off the mat.

The Cowboys beat the Buccaneers 27-20. While they won, it was only by 7 points, not the 20+ benchmark Big Cat set for a 'legitimate contender'.
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Take Slip·Dec 21, 2018·Picks
#PMT-2018-1221-16545
Big CatBig Cat

The Saints will 'kill' the Steelers

I think the Saints are going to kill the Steelers. The Saints, there's a lot of talk... oh, maybe not so good. They're not looking as great the last few weeks. They're at home. They're going to kill the Steelers. Mike Tomlin versus Sean Payton, enough said.

The Saints won, but it was a close 31-28 game, not a 'killing'.
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Take Slip·Dec 7, 2018
#PMT-2018-1207-1458
Big CatBig Cat

Aaron Rodgers will play his best game of the season to prove Mike McCarthy was the problem

I feel like Aaron Rodgers is going to try to ball out so he can say Mike McCarthy was the problem. Absolutely. That is exactly what's going to go on. He's going to play the best game of the season.

Rodgers played well in a 34-20 win over the Falcons (103.7 rating, 0 INTs), which was one of his better games that season, though 'best' is subjective.
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Take Slip·Dec 3, 2018
#PMT-2018-1203-8546
Mike FlorioMike Florio

Le'Veon Bell will sign with the Jets for more than $17.5 million per year

I think the Jets, the Jets are the team. And I think the over-under is $17.5 million a year, and I'll take the over.

Bell did sign with the Jets, but for $52.5M over 4 years, which is an average of $13.125M per year, well under the $17.5M 'over' Florio took.
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Take Slip·Nov 30, 2018
#PMT-2018-1130-16164
Big CatBig Cat

The Cowboys created the blueprint for beating the Saints

A blueprint on how to beat the Saints... You've got to play at home, so you've got to stay away from New Orleans. You have to have an all-time defensive performance from your defense. You have to have an all-time terrible performance from Drew Brees. You have to have a coach that secretly wants the Cowboys job.

The Saints did lose again in the 2018 playoffs (to the Rams), and the Cowboys' defense remained elite for that season, though the 'blueprint' of Brees playing poorly was more of a fluke than a strategy.
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Take Slip·Nov 26, 2018
#PMT-2018-1126-7196
Sean SalisburySean Salisbury

The Patriots and Saints will meet in the Super Bowl

I picked the Patriots and the Saints in August. And I'm sticking with it. I think the Saints are the best team now... I'm going to stick with the Patriots, and I'm going to stick with the Saints in the Super Bowl.

The Patriots won the Super Bowl, but the Saints lost in the NFC Championship (the infamous 'No-Call' game).
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Take Slip·Nov 19, 2018
#PMT-2018-1119-10053
Big CatBig Cat

Aaron Rodgers might throw the rest of the season to get Mike McCarthy fired

I wouldn't be shocked if Aaron Rodgers throws the rest of the year. [He wants McCarthy to get fired]. He's sick of him.

Rodgers didn't 'throw' the season, but the Packers struggled significantly, and McCarthy was indeed fired mid-season after a loss to the Cardinals in December.
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Take Slip·Nov 14, 2018
#PMT-2018-1114-4672
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

The Rams will have 'super strength' by training at high altitude before returning to sea level

The LA Rams went to Colorado Springs to practice in altitude all week... Will they have super strength by going back down to sea level? Okay, so yes. I was going to say, if there's any other answer, then yes, you're wrong.

While training at altitude has physiological benefits, 'super strength' is a hyperbolic term. The Rams did beat the Chiefs in a high-scoring game following this.
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Take Slip·Nov 5, 2018
#PMT-2018-1105-3029
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Sam Darnold is bad and investors should sell the stock

Sam Darnold. Trash. He's bad. Sell the stock.

Darnold's tenure with the Jets was largely considered a failure, though he revived his career years later.
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Take Slip·Nov 2, 2018
#PMT-2018-1102-19350
Big CatBig Cat

The Raiders are the worst team in the NFL

The Raiders are the worst team in the league. And that is also considering the fact they beat the Browns. But they are the worst team in the league.

The Raiders finished 2018 at 4-12. While they were bottom-tier, the Cardinals (3-13) statistically had a worse record.
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Take Slip·Oct 29, 2018
#PMT-2018-1029-12731
Big CatBig Cat

Kirk Cousins will not win big games for the Vikings

But that's one of those games that if you're a Vikings fan, you have to ask yourself, we paid Kirk Cousins to win those type of games, and Kirk Cousins isn't going to win those type of games. He's not going to win those type of games... Kirk Cousins will not win big games, but he can win enough games to get you in the playoffs.

Cousins eventually won a playoff game against the Saints in 2020, but the narrative of him struggling in big/prime-time games largely persisted throughout his Vikings career.
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#PMT-2018-1029-12734
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

I'm withholding all judgment on Josh Rosen for his rookie year

I'm officially saying this whole year, too early to judge. I learned my lesson from Jared Goff. I like that. What about Sam Darnold? Too early to judge.

While wise to wait, Josh Rosen and Sam Darnold did eventually prove to be busts, so early negative indicators were actually correct.
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Take Slip·Oct 24, 2018
#PMT-2018-1024-8599
Big CatBig Cat

Archie Manning is the Kris Jenner of football

I think Archie Manning is the Kris Jenner of football... He really is. I agree with that. He has made it so that Peyton Manning... when he put his balls on someone's face? That one got erased. The Eli Manning fraud... when he was selling fake jewelry, that one got erased... Archie Manning, he is basically controlling the narrative of the Manning family and getting it to a point where I actually think the Giants ownership is afraid to bench Eli.

While largely satirical, the Manning family does wield significant influence in football circles. Eli was eventually benched for Daniel Jones later in 2019.
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#PMT-2018-1024-8612
Big CatBig Cat

Jerry Jones traded for Amari Cooper because he was drinking Johnny Walker Blue

I do not understand how the Dallas Cowboys gave up a first-round pick for Amari Cooper... Jerry Jones... the reason is Johnny Walker Blue.

While the logic is a joke, Amari Cooper actually performed very well for Dallas initially, making the first-round price tag more palatable than Big Cat predicted.
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Take Slip·Oct 22, 2018
#PMT-2018-1022-19944
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Adam Thielen is the best wide receiver in the NFL right now

Thielen, here's a take. I think Thielen's the best wide receiver in the NFL right now. Boom. I said it.

Thielen was statistically the best for the first half of 2018, but players like Julio Jones and DeAndre Hopkins finished with better overall seasons.
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Take Slip·Oct 19, 2018·Picks
#PMT-2018-1019-2203
Big CatBig Cat

The Bears are officially good if they can beat the Patriots

If the Bears can beat the Patriots, then they're officially good. It's going to be a big test.

The Bears lost to the Patriots 38-31, but they finished 12-4 and won the division, proving they were indeed 'good' even in a loss.
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Take Slip·Oct 12, 2018
#PMT-2018-1012-7987
Big CatBig Cat

The Eagles season is officially saved after beating the Giants

Eagles season is saved. Carson Wentz, there was no QB controversy. But Carson Wentz, Eagles season saved. They're now 3-3, which is essentially like a 10-game lead in the NFC East.

The Eagles finished 9-7 and made the playoffs as a Wild Card, though they didn't win the division.
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Take Slip·Oct 8, 2018
#PMT-2018-1008-2217
Pete PriscoPete Prisco

NFL scoring will go down as defenses catch up to offensive gimmicks

Look what happened today. You know what happens? Everybody catches up with the gimmicks. The gadget plays. Offense is going to rule. Never again will the defense be able to stop them. Look at today. They started to slow them down today... Scoring will go down. It will not stay the same pace.

Scoring did fluctuate, but 2018 remained one of the highest-scoring seasons. Defensive adjustments happened (e.g., Belichick in SB LIII), but high scoring has largely remained the league norm.
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Take Slip·Oct 5, 2018
#PMT-2018-1005-11366
Big CatBig Cat

Andrew Luck is the heir apparent to Eli Manning as the 'dumb quarterback face' of the NFL

Andrew Luck is going to be the new dumb quarterback face. Eli Manning retired after the 2016 season—we've had that hole in the entire NFL. Where is the Eli Manning face? Where is the dumb quarterback face? Andrew Luck, he is the dumb quarterback face. I think he's a very good quarterback... but he does have a dumb face and it shows up in the worst times when he plays football.

Eli Manning didn't actually retire until after the 2019 season, and Andrew Luck retired suddenly before the 2019 season, cutting this 'mantle' short. Luck's 'General Luck' persona and expressions did become a mainstay until his exit.
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Take Slip·Oct 5, 2018
#PMT-2018-1005-11368
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Josh Gordon will be a 'cheat code' for Tom Brady and the Patriots

Josh Gordon, obviously, he's going to be a cheat code. He's going to be the guy that Brady throws it up to, and he's going to catch it nine times out of ten. I'm going to get sick of it. I'm going to be upset at myself for predicting it and ruining my life in advance.

Gordon had a solid stretch in 2018 (720 yards in 11 games) but his career in New England ended prematurely due to suspension and release in 2019. He was productive but not quite the 90% catch-rate cheat code predicted.
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Take Slip·Oct 3, 2018
#PMT-2018-1003-1388
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Showtime Mahomes is a great nickname and it has to stay

[Patrick Mahomes] is Showtime Mahomes. Jason Witten gave him that name, and I think it's got to stay. It's such a bad nickname.

OpinionFootballMildSarcastic
While the nickname didn't really become his primary moniker (Magic Johnson remains the definitive Showtime), the name persists as a secondary label for Mahomes.
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Take Slip·Sep 28, 2018·Picks
#PMT-2018-0928-18094
HankHank

Josh Rosen will be exposed as a fraud against the Seahawks

My pick's going to be the Seahawks, minus three... the Cardinals. Yeah, Josh Rosen's going to throw like four picks... After this week, he'll be exposed.

The Seahawks won 20-17. Rosen didn't throw 4 picks, but his rookie season was disastrous.
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Take Slip·Sep 26, 2018
#PMT-2018-0926-3423
Big CatBig Cat

NFL offenses should stop blocking and let defenders hit the QB to draw 15-yard penalties

I'm actually at the point now where I think if I were a coach in the NFL, I would say to my offensive line, just treat every play like a screen and half of you don't block. And let them get to the quarterback because we'll most likely get 15 yards.

Hot TakeFootballHotSarcastic
While no team ever literally stopped blocking, the 2018 season saw a massive spike in roughing the passer calls that influenced defensive behavior.
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Take Slip·Sep 24, 2018
#PMT-2018-0924-8945
Mike LombardiMike Lombardi

The 2018 Super Bowl will be Rams vs. Chiefs

I think it would be the Rams and the Chiefs, and probably the over would be at 70.

This was nearly the matchup. The Rams made it, and the Chiefs lost the AFC Championship in overtime to the Patriots.
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Take Slip·Sep 24, 2018
#PMT-2018-0924-8942
Mike LombardiMike Lombardi

Dont'a Hightower can no longer play linebacker effectively

Hightower can't run like he used to run. And so he's really a defensive end. He can't play linebacker anymore.

While Hightower did age and slow down, he remained a starting linebacker for the Patriots' Super Bowl LIII winning team later that season.
Push
#PMT-2018-0921-17585
Big CatBig Cat

Eli Manning should just retire already

Fuck Eli Manning. How many times is Eli Manning going to sack himself when I put a little fucking cashola on the Giants in a Sunday night game? Fuck you, Eli Manning. Just retire, you fucking asshole.

Hot TakeFootballHotSarcastic
Eli Manning played one more full season before being benched for Daniel Jones in 2019 and retiring.
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Take Slip·Sep 19, 2018·Picks
#PMT-2018-0919-1474
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Josh Gordon won't succeed in New England if he couldn't in Cleveland

If you can't get your shit together enough to play for the Browns and for the Browns to release you—I think that if you can't get your shit together enough to be able to play on the Browns for six years, then you're probably not going to be able to play for Bill Belichick.

Gordon played 11 games for the Patriots in 2018 but then left the team to focus on mental health before being suspended again. He never achieved long-term stability there.
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Take Slip·Sep 17, 2018
#PMT-2018-0917-9272
Big CatBig Cat

The Buccaneers cannot sit Ryan Fitzpatrick if he wins in Week 3

Ryan Fitzpatrick, if he wins week three, how can they sit him? I don't know what's going on with Ryan Fitzpatrick, but I am ready, much like Case Keenum last year where we had to ask ourselves many times... Ryan Fitzpatrick, if he wins week three, how can they sit him?

Fitzpatrick did start Week 4 even when Winston returned, but he was eventually benched for Winston later in the season after his performance cooled off.
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Take Slip·Sep 10, 2018
#PMT-2018-0910-12674
Willie McGinestWillie McGinest

Tom Brady will play three more years and win one more Super Bowl

Gun to your head, Tom Brady, how many more years does he play? Three. How many more Super Bowls does he win? One.

Brady played 5 more seasons (retired after 2022) and won 2 more Super Bowls (LIII with NE and LV with TB).
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Take Slip·Sep 7, 2018
#PMT-2018-0907-3543
Big CatBig Cat

Matt Ryan stinks

Today is Friday, September 7th and Matt Ryan stinks. Is Matt Ryan hurt? Because he's not good.

While Ryan didn't 'stink' in 2018 (he threw for nearly 5,000 yards), the Falcons went 7-9 and the offense regressed from their Super Bowl form.
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Take Slip·Aug 27, 2018
#PMT-2018-0827-337
Big CatBig Cat

The NFL is trending toward eliminating the preseason in favor of a 19 or 20-game regular season

This is now how it chips away that we're going to maybe go no preseason 19-20 games. Regular season. McVay's doing that, too. McVay benched all his good players. So, I mean, I would be, you know, take away a couple preseason, give us a couple more regular season. I'd be okay with that. Why not? More football that way.

The NFL expanded to a 17-game regular season in 2021 and reduced the preseason to 3 games, proving Big Cat's intuition about the shift correct, though the specific number (19-20) hasn't been reached yet.
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Take Slip·Aug 20, 2018
#PMT-2018-0820-15695
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Betting the over early in the NFL season is a smart move due to the high volume of penalties

What do you think about betting a lot of overs early in the season? ... I talked myself into that big time last night.

In 2018, the first few weeks of the season saw high scoring, but betting strictly based on penalties is a volatile strategy.
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Take Slip·Aug 17, 2018
#PMT-2018-0817-13474
Big CatBig Cat

Jalen Ramsey will have a major, high-profile mistake this season due to 'karma'

I'm saying Jalen Ramsey is going to have a big fuck up in a big game this year. And people are going to have a roast show on Twitter.

Ramsey had a good season individually, but the Jaguars went 5-11 and the hype around him turned to frustration before his eventual trade.
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Take Slip·Aug 13, 2018
#PMT-2018-0813-14981
Peter KingPeter King

Jason Garrett is on a toasty hot seat in Dallas

I'm going to see the Dallas Cowboys in Oxnard, California. [Jason Garrett's hot seat?] I think it's toasty. It's toasty.

Garrett survived the 2018 season but was eventually fired after the 2019 season.
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Take Slip·Aug 8, 2018
#PMT-2018-0808-19382
Joe ThomasJoe Thomas

Hue Jackson will be the face of Hard Knocks because players love him and he has a boatload of personality

I think outside of Bob Wiley, I think Hue Jackson will probably be that next guy that becomes the face of the Browns Hard Knocks because he's got a lot of personality. He loves talking off the cuff. He's very passionate. He really loves his players, and he shows it. Players love him.

While Hue Jackson was featured heavily, he was often seen as ineffectual or mocked by fans following the show, making the 'players love him and he'll be a star' take somewhat questionable in hindsight.
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#PMT-2018-0803-9483
Big CatBig Cat

The new NFL helmet tackling rule is going to kill football

The new helmet rule, the tackling helmet rule, is going to kill football. It's essentially every single hit in the NFL you can be like, is there going to be a flag? There should be a flag every single tackle. So we're kind of screwed.

The NFL did not die, but the rule led to significant confusion and inconsistent officiating for several seasons.
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Take Slip·Aug 1, 2018
#PMT-2018-0801-18398
Big CatBig Cat

Kirk Cousins is going to suck for the Vikings this year.

Kirk Cousins is going to suck this year. The answer is no [on whether he is good enough to get them past where they went a year ago].

Cousins had good stats (4,298 yards, 30 TD, 10 INT), but the Vikings missed the playoffs after making the NFC Championship the year before. 'Suck' is subjective here.
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#PMT-2018-0730-19785
Big CatBig Cat

The 1990s were the last era where professional athletes could be out of shape and still succeed

The 90s were kind of the last era where guys were basically able to just be fat pieces of shit and go to the whole thing... There's some guy who in every single sport we can trace to. Like, who is the guy who's like, I'm actually going to train in the offseason? I'm going to lift weights.

While fitness standards have risen, there are still examples of less-than-fit stars (e.g. Nikola Jokic, Phil Kessel), making 'last era' hyperbolic.
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#PMT-2018-0622-12597
Big CatBig Cat

The Cleveland Browns have found their quarterback in Baker Mayfield

I love Baker Mayfield... he was so calm and cool about it like he didn't get mad he was just like you're a fucking idiot man and so Cleveland I think you found your quarterback.

Mayfield led the Browns to their first playoff win in decades, but was eventually traded after four seasons, making him a short-term solution rather than a franchise cornerstone.
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#PMT-2018-0611-15612
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

The Colts are favorites to finish second in the AFC South behind the Jaguars

the Colts, just in general, are back this year. I think you've got to pencil them in as favorites to come in second in that division behind the Jaguars.

The Colts did finish second in the AFC South, but the Jaguars finished last. The Texans won the division.
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Take Slip·May 23, 2018
#PMT-2018-0523-1997
Bruce AriansBruce Arians

Ben Roethlisberger will play another five years

And I think with Randy Fichtner as the quarterback coach now and coordinator, [Ben Roethlisberger] will play five years.

Roethlisberger played four more seasons, retiring after the 2021 season (January 2022). Close but not quite five full years.
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Take Slip·May 18, 2018
#PMT-2018-0518-8840
Marshall NewhouseMarshall Newhouse

Josh Allen can throw a football 92 yards

He can throw the ball 92 yards. 92s, exactly.

While Josh Allen has one of the strongest arms in NFL history, 92 yards in a game-like or practice setting is a slight hyperbole. He has been recorded throwing 80+ in training camp.
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Take Slip·May 6, 2018
#PMT-2018-0506-19752
Blake GriffinBlake Griffin

Baker Mayfield is a great competitor and will be successful with the Browns

No, [Baker Mayfield] is going to be great. He's, you know what, he's just got this thing about him that... Baker, he's just like a competitor, man. Like, I was happy to see him go number one. If anybody can, like, move forward with the Browns [it's him].

Mayfield had some success with the Browns, including a playoff win, but was eventually traded. His career has been a rollercoaster, making 'great' a stretch, though he found a second wind in Tampa.
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Take Slip·Apr 27, 2018
#PMT-2018-0427-6055
Big CatBig Cat

Baker Mayfield will be a successful quarterback for the Cleveland Browns

I actually think this [Baker Mayfield] is going to work, and I know that's like stepping out on a very, very thin branch saying a Browns quarterback that they drafted really high might actually work, but I like Baker Mayfield. I like him a lot. I think that he is a very, very good quarterback and I like the competitiveness.

Baker Mayfield had initial success with the Browns, leading them to their first playoff win in decades, but was eventually traded after inconsistencies and injuries. He didn't become the long-term franchise savior but was better than most previous Browns QBs.
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#PMT-2018-0418-4014
Big CatBig Cat

The Browns are smokescreening everyone by pretending to like Josh Allen with the #1 pick

Everyone thinks they're going to take Sam Darnold, but they're making a lot of moves for Josh Allen. And everyone says they like Josh Allen, but it's a smokescreen. And they have the first pick.

The Browns actually took Baker Mayfield, making the Allen/Darnold debate irrelevant to the first pick, though Allen was heavily linked to them.
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#PMT-2018-0404-3733
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Josh Rosen's intelligence and outside interests are red flags for NFL teams

I think a red flag has been brought up for Josh Rosen that he's too smart and that he cares too much about things besides football. ... Teams should send scouts to the UCLA library and hang out there, see how many times Josh Rosen comes in... if you're reading more history books than your playbook, then it's going to be a real issue.

OpinionFootballMediumSarcastic
Rosen's draft stock did slip, and his NFL career was notoriously short-lived, with 'personality fit' often cited by analysts.
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Take Slip·Mar 14, 2018
#PMT-2018-0314-17656
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Kirk Cousins is only good enough to take a team exactly where they already were

As somebody who's watched a lot of Kirk Cousins games over the past like five years, he is just good enough to get you exactly where you got last [year].

Cousins led the Vikings to the playoffs several times but never beyond the Divisional round, similar to where the Vikings were pre-signing (NFC Championship).
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