Takes

Kinnick Stadium is one of the hardest places to play in the Big Ten

It's great in Kinnick. You know, they're right there behind me, literally found in the front row of Kinnick. I mean, they are awesome. I mean, they are on you from the minute you walk in. It is pretty darn good.

Success for Northwestern means winning the Big Ten West

We can't control that [Rose Bowls], but we got to win the West.

Colin Kaepernick will not get an NFL job this year

No, I don't think he's [Kaepernick] going to get a job this year.

Bill Belichick could make any player good

I think Bill Belichick probably make anyone good.

The NFL eliminated Color Rush Thursdays as a direct shot at Pardon My Take

I might be a narcissist. I might be an egomaniac. But it's hard for me to think this isn't a direct shot. They had one card in the battle against Pardon My Take, and that was the Color Rush. Besides that, we had all the leverage. And guess what? They came at us hard. Quite literally the darkest day in NFL history.

The fact that Andrew Luck isn't healthy proves that books are officially junk science

He says that he's been reading a lot as part of his rehab. Nerd. So he's been reading a lot of books and nurturing himself with literature. The fact that he hasn't gotten better means that books are officially junk science, right? If that's his treatment course.

The opiate epidemic is much more harmful to the NFL player culture than marijuana

I do believe in the fact that the opiate epidemic is much more harmful to the player culture than marijuana would ever be. The continuation of them pumping players with opiates rather than finding some alternative is what is problematic to me.

NFL Draft prospects must understand they are CEOs of Fortune 500 companies

You've got to understand for the next, you know, four or five months, this is locked in time... You are going to be the CEO of a Fortune 500 company, essentially. I never looked at it that way. Of course, I see it completely different now, and that's the way you have to look at it. You are the head of a foundation, of an organization, and you can be for a long period of time.

Josh Rosen thinks like LeBron James

He thinks like LeBron James thinks. He does. He loves football. He wants to be the best quarterback to have ever played, and what goes with that is most likely being in the biggest market, which could be the New York Giants. And that allows him for so many other business. He wants to be all that.

Sam Bradford will lead the league in completion percentage next year

Tune in next year when Sam Bradford leads the league in completion percentage. After he's been traded for two first-round picks to the Jets.

The Patriots will draft Donte DiVincenzo with the 31st pick

I think DiVincenzo's still going to be on the draft board when the Patriots pick at 31. Yes, so he might get snatched up.

Drew Brees will have to play for several more years because he lost $8 million to a fraud jeweler

My cool throne is the New Orleans Saints. ... They're on my cool throne because Drew Brees is going to have to play for another couple years. Because it turns out he lost $8 million to a fraud jeweler.

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.

Rob Gronkowski is increasingly likely to be traded because he's tired of Bill Belichick

The report is that the Patriots, the chances of them trading Rob Gronkowski are increasing because Gronk is tired of the... mental fatigue and physical anguish of playing football under Bill Belichick. ... I think the Gronkowski thing is real. ... Rob Gronkowski, he wants to have fun.

Tom Brady would lose his shit if the Patriots traded Rob Gronkowski

If he loses Gronk, Brady can't be far behind. If they were to trade Gronk, I think Brady would lose his shit.

Baker Mayfield screen-grabbing negative tweets is a baby back bitch move

Baker Mayfield apparently is screen grabbing everything that's ever been said about him negatively. Sounds like a baby back bitch move that Kevin Durant does.

The Los Angeles Rams are going to suck and miss the playoffs despite their talent

I think the Rams are going to suck. They have too much talent... They're a surefire lock to win the NFC West, possibly go to the Super Bowl. They're going to miss the playoffs.

Odell Beckham Jr. will be traded to the Rams

Mark my words. I think he might actually go out to L.A. Yeah. Because, like you said, they're becoming a super team.

Jared Goff will be the NFL MVP next year

Jared Goff, MVP candidate, he was probably the MVP of the league last year. And he will definitely be the MVP of the league next year.

I can throw a football 80 yards

I mean, probably, like, right around 80 yards. ... [The 92-yard rumor] was completely fake news.

Jon Gruden will wear a 'Make Football Great Again' hat within the next year

I think at some point in the next year, John Gruden will wear a hat, make football great again.

Physical wide receivers are harder to cover than fast ones

I think a wide receiver, that's physical [is harder]. Just for the simple fact, they could push you everywhere, but you're not allowed to touch them at all.

Deion Sanders is the best cornerback in NFL history

Who is the best cornerback in the history of the NFL? Deion Sanders, Jason Sehorn? I'm going with Deion Sanders.

Sam Darnold's draft stock improved because he threw in the rain during his pro day

Are you nervous that Sam Darnold could throw in the rain? ... There actually were articles written that was the rainy weather. Did the rainy weather help Sam Darnold's draft stock? I think absolutely.

The Jason Pierre-Paul trade to the Buccaneers is not a blockbuster

Do you think that JPP is worth blockbuster trade when tweeted? Because Adam Schefter said JPP getting traded to the Bucs is a blockbuster trade. ... I think four years ago it definitely would have been.

Aaron Rodgers is not overrated for only having one Super Bowl ring

I don't think people should throw trash about him because, first of all, he's one of the greatest quarterback. He's going to finish there his career. One of the greatest I ever played a game. And bro, at the end of the day, winning a Super Bowl is not an easy thing to do. The longest you win one, you're good.

I chose retirement to avoid moving my family for a one-year deal

It's going to be a one year deal. So it's probably going to only be for six months. And then I'm going to move back to Nebraska... If I was going to play, I felt like it was going to be me being a little bit selfish because it's been about me the last 10 years. So maybe it's time to be about my family a little bit more.

The Cleveland Browns should draft Saquon Barkley #1 overall so they don't have to choose their own quarterback

If I'm the Browns, I would definitely take Saquon Barkley number one overall, because that way they make the decision for you as to what quarterback you're going to take... They take [Sam] Darnold. It's like, well, I got to take [Josh] Rosen. I got to take [Baker] Mayfield.

Josh Allen will throw the ball 90 yards at his Pro Day.

At his pro day, [Josh Allen] will probably throw the ball 90 yards. No joke. I'm not kidding. He'll throw it 90 yards. Just wait. I promise you. I'll bet a car on it. He will throw the ball 90 yards.

Jimmy Graham is over the hill and past his prime.

I think Jimmy Graham's over the hill. I'll sit on that take, and I'll probably be wrong, but I'm happy to say it.

Jon Gruden is a fun coach and person if you have the right mindset.

If you have a problem with John Gruden, that's about your mindset. You have a post-1999 mindset, and you need a flashback. [To me] he is a fun guy.

Kirk Cousins is just a more reliable version of Case Keenum

The Vikings have decided that they wanted to upgrade from Case Keenum to maybe a more reliable Case Keenum. Kirk Cousins is not that much different... lightning in a bottle Case Keenum, I think is the same as Kirk Cousins.

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].

Sam Bradford is a walking cryptocurrency

I think he's [Sam Bradford] actually just a cryptocurrency. I think he's like his own Bitcoin. I've been buying a lot of Sam Bradford coins, so I'm going to be rich someday.

The Chicago Bears are officially back

I think the Bears might be back. Yeah, I think the Bears are on their way back. Open up. Tell you what, they have their number one wide receiver coming back, Kevin White. And now they've got AR-15.

Jordy Nelson is Bill Belichick's wet dream

I'm more interested about Jordy Nelson because if he's still capable of playing how he played two years ago before he got injured, he is Bill Belichick's wet dream. Belichick is going to send in a SWAT team to just kidnap him.

Reggie Bush is still the 2005 Heisman winner despite the vacated trophy

Reggie Bush was the Heisman that year. That's my guy. But he's still the Heisman in my book.

College athletes should get paid because they put their bodies on the line to raise money for universities

Yes, they should get paid. I mean, they're putting their body on the line. They're doing all of the above and raising money and putting money in your pocket. I mean, you should do something, especially for the guys that get hurt.

My NFL career would have been much different with a coach other than Jeff Fisher

Definitely, definitely [it would have gone differently with a different coach]. I don't put nothing on Coach Fish. He had a little bit of something to do with it. But, I mean, I always put myself and blame myself.

Jeff Fisher lied to the media about why he pulled me from the 2010 Steelers game

He pulls me... and he talking about the reason why he pulled me because I miss a meeting. Like coach, you knew why I missed the meeting. It was Steve McNair kids. Pop just passed away. He knew that I took the kids to school that morning to have breakfast with the kids, told him that. And he's told the media something different, like no Vince miss meeting. Like, how can you go out and say that to the media when you knew what i was doing and you granted me to do it?

Jarvis Landry and Josh Gordon are the best wide receiver duo in the NFL

I saw somebody on Twitter say Jarvis Landry and Josh Gordon are probably the best wide receiver duo in the NFL, and I would agree with that if it wasn't the Browns. There's just something about the uniform that will make both of them – their powers combined is the opposite of synergy. It makes them suck more.

The Seahawks will miss the playoffs for the first time in seven years

The Seahawks are going to miss the playoff for the first time in like seven years. Because they have no backfield anymore.

The 49ers are going to be trash next year

49ers are going to be trash. That's my hot take. I think window is closed. No more glory hole.

Russell Wilson is a top seven quarterback

Russ Wilson is still, I don't want to get in the offseason elite question, but I would say he's top seven quarterback.

Johnny Manziel's football comeback is for real

I talk to Johnny [Manziel] once a week, and I truly believe, like, you know, this is it. You know, it's a whole comeback season movement is a great movement... Nothing would be doper to see Johnny come back to the National Football League and just tear stuff up.

Kirk Cousins is the perfect fit for the Denver Broncos

I just feel like Denver is just a perfect fit for Kirk [Cousins]. Not only just from my point of view, but if you just sit down and you look at it, it really doesn't get any better than that.

I have about 10 years left in the NFL

I probably got, like, 10 more [years]... I probably got, like, six or, like, seven, like, real years in me. Then the last three, I just steal. Just go to, like, just pass rush on third down.

Shaquem Griffin will translate successfully to the NFL

He's already proven that he can play. He's been playing football his whole entire life... He already has the measurables. He's already shown that he's gonna play that is gonna translate over into the National Football League... you definitely want a guy like that on your team.

Russell Wilson is the hardest quarterback to play against

Probably Russell Wilson... Just because he just breaks up the plays and you never get a hand on him? Yeah, he don't get tired, man. He run left, right, left, right... with Russell Wilson, he's trying to take the distance every single time.

Ed Hochuli's retirement is a major blow to the NFL's masculinity

My hot seat is NFL's masculinity. Ed Hochuli retired. He's gone. There's going to be no more giant arms coming at you every Sunday, so I don't know what NFL's going to do. They need someone to fill the void of just a jacked, jacked ref.