Takes

London should host a Super Bowl and it would be a cool event for the sport

The British ambassador of the US is pushing for a Super Bowl in London. I am down for it... I just think London would be a cool city for a Super Bowl. Better than San Francisco. It'd be a cool event, fun week.

Arch Manning is as close to—or maybe even better than—Joe Burrow

Arch [Manning] is as close to or maybe as good as Joe [Burrow] as I've seen. Really. And I've never said that about anybody. I watched his practice, and I'll say this conservatively... Arch is the real deal.

Sports fans will eventually be forced back to cable bundles due to the high cost of streaming

It sucks what they're doing to us as sports fans overall. Where we have to have every subscription, a million different channels... I think the government is gonna try to break 'em up... No, we're going back to cable. Yeah. We have to go back to cable. Yeah. They're gonna bundle 'em.

Joe Burrow will win the NFL MVP this season

NFL MVP this year... I just love Joe Burrow... This guy's close to winning a Triple Crown man past completion, percentage yards, touchdowns. And he gets outta trouble. He is tough as hell and he's such a cool guy, man. If they get a good defense, I'm not saying great if they get a good defense and get off to a good start... look out for Burrow into Bengals.

The Carolina Panthers are a team on the rise in 2025

A team on the rise I think is Carolina... I we're pounding the drum beat Bryce Young... And I did not know I liked him as much as I did. And when you look at his last three or four games, five games, it was impressive. Yeah. I love the additions they've made to their team on defense.

The Buccaneers will win the NFC South and reach the NFC Championship Game

I like the bucks to easily win the south. And I think they're going to the NFC championship game. Don't for, don't forget they kicked Philadelphia's ass last year... This is a good team. Four straight division titles they've won and I think they're gonna be better this year.

The Green Bay Packers will win the NFC this year

I love the Green Bay Packers man. I think they have a lot of depth... Aaron Rogers was 27 when he won his Super Bowl. Favre was 27 when he won his Super Bowl. Jordan loves 32. And my guy Jordan loves gonna be 27 in a couple weeks. I think they have the defense... I like the Packers man.

The Rams will be good this year if Matthew Stafford can stay healthy

I think the Rams are gonna be good this year if Matthew Stafford can stay healthy. But the junk science does make you a little nervous if you're a Rams fan.

I am officially becoming concerned about Matthew Stafford's availability

Sean McVay last year or last week, he said that Matt Stafford could play in a game if we had one this week. And then today, Sean McVay said, I don't know if Matt Stafford could play right now. So Matt Stafford might have gotten injured in the hypothetical game that he could have played last week. I'm thinking about becoming concerned about Matt Stafford.

The Buccaneers at -110 to win the NFC South is a good bet

I think the Tampa Bay Bucks minus one 10 to win the NFC South is a good bet. I like their offense a lot. I know Tristan Wirfs is out for probably four weeks, but he'll be back.

Everyone should bet Joe Burrow to win MVP because the media narrative has already started

I think we all have to bet Joe Burrow, MVP because I've already noticed that the narrative has begun of Joe Burrow for MVP. I think the narrative has already started that this is the year he's going to win MVP.

The Buccaneers will win the NFC at +1300

I would like to take the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to win the conference at plus 1300. We're feeling the same [as Big Cat], you go a little further.

The Patriots will make the playoffs at +120 odds

I'm gonna go with the New England Patriots... to make the playoffs plus one 20. I believe it even more so.

The Jaguars will win the AFC South at 3-to-1 odds

I'm going to do Jags three to one to win the AFC South. One more year of believing in the Jags. Trevor Lawrence was on the show, he got me fired up.

The Ravens will win the Super Bowl at +600

Baltimore Ravens plus 600 to win the Super Bowl. I think this is finally the year. Lamar gets over the hump. I just think this is the year. It's a Ravens free train to the Super Bowl.

Shohei Ohtani cannot win MVP because of the constant controversies surrounding him

I mean it, you can't, if you're the MLB, you can't have Shohei Ohtani with all these controversies being the base of your league. The gambling one, yeah, maybe blame it on the interpreter. Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice. We're about to give this guy his fourth MVP in five years. MLB writers really need to do like justice here because they are the keepers of the game.

The Chiefs will make the playoffs and have a deep run despite their tough division

To be honest, I think it really depends on that offensive line and what happens with Mahomes. But Kelsey's still the man. I think they're still gonna make the playoffs and make a deep run.

The Patriots will be the best team on this podcast

I think we're gonna be the best team on this podcast. I dunno if I've said that yet. [Better than] the Bucks, the Eagles and the Commanders.

I will cut my penis off if Rutgers is ever ranked #1 in football

I said when Greg Schiano was announced as the head coach of Rutgers, that if... Rutgers is ever ranked number one in football, I will cut my penis off. I feel good about that bet, actually.

I will bear-hug and kiss my dad on the lips on the Hall of Fame stage

I will on the stage, man. I'll hold him down. It's five years after you play so he probably won't have enough strength. I will bear hug him and I would kiss him on the lips. A big wet kiss.

The NCAA voting not to expand the tournament is just a way to move the Overton window for next year

They're, they put this out there being like, Hey, we're not gonna do it. Knowing that now it's, it's they moved the Overton window. Where now we're talking about the expansion and next year they're probably gonna let it in.

ESPN will eventually ruin NFL RedZone by adding commercials

There's a decent chance that ESPN fucks us up. ... They won't fuck it up right away because they know people will be upset but they'll eventually fuck it up and they'll slip in some things. ... I don't think they're gonna have commercials right away, but I think that they're gonna have like very intrusive onscreen commercials during the actual play. And I think they're gonna eventually get to commercials.

The Chicago Cubs' 2025 trade deadline was a disaster with no clear plan.

Cubs Trade deadline recap... They got no plan. They got a bunch of rental arms. A super utility man. Which I like that. That's cool... But it feels like Kyle Tucker will not be resigned. The Cubs had, they, they traded a prospect, a really good pro prospect in Cam Smith for Kyle Tucker... And then they did nothing at the trade deadline. And they're holding onto prospects and then they're probably not gonna sign Kyle Tucker... it's a disaster.

We will remain bold on fourth down regardless of game situation or defensive improvements.

We'll be bold still. Like that's who we are. That's how we get down. And you know, kind of referencing, you know, Jayden and Cliff and situations... We're confident with the people that we have that if that's how we want to get down, then like we're ready to do that... There's a boldness with it, but it, you do have to grow in it.

The electric playstyle of my 2021 season is still there and will be seen this year.

When you got your 20, 21 year was insane. That was like the, you know, peak deebo. Is that guy still there? A hundred percent. Is it, is it gonna be this year? Hope so.

I'm optimistic that Terry McLaurin and the Commanders will get a contract extension done.

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... The Cortland Sutton deal that I think makes it more likely Terry's gonna get done because that's less money than Terry's asking for. It would be bad vibes going into the season not having the best player from your team for the last five seasons.

Jako 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.

This 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.

Inside the NBA at ESPN will struggle to maintain its magic if they cut it for SportsCenter

The number one time on our show is after the game. You get like 4 to 5 minutes to shoot the shit. That's the magic. But me and Ernie have talked about it... Are they gonna say 'No guys, y'all got 15 minutes. We gotta go to SportsCenter'?

Pardon My Take will continue until one of the hosts develops a debilitating drug habit

I forget if it was you who said it or or or me, but we said that this podcast will go until one of us develops a debilitating drug habit.

LeBron James and Chris Paul will have a 'retirement off' to ensure they don't retire in the same year

I don't think LeBron wants to retire the same time as Chris Paul. I think they might. I think it might be a retirement off... It's gonna be like, who's gonna retire first? The other person stay an extra year just 'cause they didn't wanna retire the same year as that guy.

Terry McLaurin will settle for a contract of $28 million per year with $53 million guaranteed

I think he'll settle for like 28. That's my official prediction. 28, 3 years. 28 per year... We're going to do 53 million guaranteed. That gets it done.

Scottie Scheffler must stay ranked number one in the world for 10 years to equal Tiger Woods' reign

I think Scotty has to stay ranked number one in the world for the next 10 years to equal Tiger's reign. Tiger Woods was just unreal. It's not going to be the same.

The Chargers need a playoff win for this season to be a success

We need a playoff win. You need a playoff win. We need one bad but last year we had like the easiest schedule in the league and this year it's pretty difficult.

James Wood will be the future face of the MLB

James Wood... many are saying [he is the] future face of this league.

I 125% guarantee Terry McLaurin stays with the Commanders and I will bet my El Camino on it

Terry's coming. Terry's coming. One hundred ten percent. I put my credibility on the line... 125% guarantee it's gonna get done. Max, I'll give you my El Camino if Terry McLaurin goes somewhere else.

LeBron James desperately wants to return to the Cleveland Cavaliers

LeBron's getting a little desperate. Did you guys see the latest? Kobe Altman, the president of the Cleveland Cavaliers, got a contract extension and LeBron James quote tweeted it... He wants to be a Cav so bad.

Paul George will be the biggest bust in Philadelphia sports history

Paul George, Playoff P, Pre-season P has injured himself again... he's probably gonna go down as the biggest bust in Philly history. Him and Andrew Bynum... Ben Simmons... Markelle Fultz. Playoff P is in the running right now for biggest bust.

Scottie Scheffler struggles at the Open because he wants a fair golf course

Scotty does not like it when it's quote unquote unfair. I mean that is the one weird thing about Scotty, like he wants a great shot rewarded and that's just not what links golf's about. This is the one he has not played great at. For Scotty it's trying to lean a little bit more into that world versus 'why is it in that pot bunker?'

I will donate and shave my hair if I win a Super Bowl

I would be thrilled to cut my hair [if I won a Super Bowl]. I'll match. If you do it, I'll match. We all cut our hair. All three of you?... We're circling back to that. I'm interested. I would be thrilled to cut my hair.

The Oklahoma City Thunder will keep drafting role players and only pay their three stars

I think what [the Thunder's] plan is, and it might work, is that they have so many draft picks. They'll just keep drafting and not paying those guys and then pay their three guys. And hope the role players like, hey, you're gonna, you're gonna play well if you get drafted, get paid very little money. But you get to play with three really good players.

The next season of Always Sunny in Philadelphia will be the funniest one in a decade

I think that this season that's coming out today or tomorrow is the funniest season, maybe the funniest season we've ever done. That's a pretty high bar, but definitely the funniest of the last like, decade.

Novak Djokovic will win Wimbledon 2025 but it will be his last major title

I think Novak wins this. Yes. I really do. I think this is, I think this is the last thing. He gets to 25 majors and I think this is the last one he wins. I don't think he can win like a hardcore, he, he can't win the French and then... I don't think like with Sinner and Alcaraz... I don't think he can win a slam outside of Wimbledon anymore.

Klay Thompson playing with Luka Doncic will be like Lob City

I will say this about Klay Thompson. It does feel like if it doesn't work with Luca, he's gonna be in a i, I don't know what, where it would work, because that's just Lob City form.

I will officially retire from broadcasting in two and a half years

Two and a half years, and then I'll be done. I won't be working, yeah. I won't. I'll be strictly Sandler movies and that's it.

Garrett Nussmeier will win the Heisman Trophy

Garrett Nussmeier to win the Heisman. They'll have to vote for [him]... You'll win that bet.

The Gallagher brothers will break up before the Oasis reunion tour finishes

I would be disappointed if they didn't break up during the tour. That means that they've changed. And I want the same Oasis.

The Philadelphia 76ers will win the 2026 NBA Finals

I'm gonna match and double. I'm gonna say they're gonna win the finals. They're gonna win a chip. Love it.

Joey Chestnut would beat Usain Bolt in a mile race if they both had to eat a hot dog first

Usain Bolt has literally never run a mile in his entire life... I think it switches at a mile. I think Joey Chestnut beats him.

LeBron James is actively trying to work his way back to the Cleveland Cavaliers

I don't know, is LeBron, is he trying to work his way back to Cleveland? I think that would be good. Yeah. I would like to see it... he's doing this on purpose to get everyone talking about it and then he's gonna do it. I think he's gonna do it.