Takes

Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks need to break up

The difference this time is Giannis just outright said it... he's basically saying, I don't know what's gonna happen with me and the organization. They just need to break up. He's the best player in Bucks franchise history... I think it's time. You gotta just do it. Get draft picks and move on.

I kinda like Michigan over Arizona despite betting the Arizona moneyline

Michigan is the best team in the country at rim denial and not letting teams score at the rim. They just don't let you do it — they have the size to stop you at the rim. That's where Arizona wants to eat. It's a true best on best and it's kind of like a gamble of which best is gonna win. And I, I think it's gonna be Michigan's... I don't know.

The Philadelphia Eagles going 4-13 is the medicine the NFL world needs

I think the medicine everyone in the world needs, whether you root for the Eagles or you don't, is a 4 and 13 season for the Eagles. It'll be great for everybody because it'll manage the expectations for Eagles fans and then everyone else can remember what it was like back in the day when the Eagles were not a good football team.

Caleb Downs might be the best player in the entire 2026 NFL Draft if his medicals check out

If the physical and the medicals check out, which is a big if — I don't have access to any of that information — Caleb Downs, I think he might be the best player in the entire draft. It's just about do you want to spend that pick on a safety number one, and then number two, is he healthy medically?

The investigation into the 49ers substation being a health risk is not over yet

My who's back is first the 49ers substation because John Lynch came out and said that they hired an independent scientist... he basically said it was a big nothing burger. I feel like we're not gonna, this isn't the end of the story. Especially with the fact that he said that with nothing burger. Is that a scientifical?

I would take Darius Acuff as a top five pick in the NBA Draft

I would take him top five personally. If you watch him play basketball and you don't think that he can't just own a franchise, be like, 'Hey, here you go, it's your franchise, you're gonna have fun.' He's that good.

Mark Pope is on the hot seat at Kentucky after this tournament performance

Mark Pope on the hot seat. I think he is. I mean, I think they're gonna bring him back. I think he's safe for this year, but I think he's going into next year. Seat is warm.

Hubert Davis probably needs to be fired after UNC's historic meltdown against VCU

UNC blowing the biggest lead in first round history to VCU... Hubert Davis probably needs to be fired. Hubert's not gonna be a good magically come back next year and be a good coach.

St. John's deserves a better seed than Kansas

St. John's, the argument could be made that they should have gotten a, a, a better seed than Kansas.

Purdue is facing a 'Final Four or bust' season

It's Purdue's best chance to win a national title. Yeah, it's a final four bust season. I believe in Purdue.

Geno Smith is still a capable starter despite his poor reputation on the Jets

Geno Smith can still play. He beat the Patriots last year. Bad year, I don't know what we're talking about. I think it's a good deal. I just don't know why people say Kevin O'Connell could fix him but because he signs with the Jets, people say he won't be good.

The Panthers were right to overpay for Jaelan Phillips

The Panthers getting Jaelan Phillips, even though it was a lot of money, I feel like you gotta do it. Cap went up and I feel like you have to do those type of moves, especially when you are a playoff team from last year. Your defense was a problem... I'd be like, oh, Howie's interested? I'll give him more money.

A veteran center like Tyler Linderbaum is the perfect move for a rookie quarterback

I actually really like the Linderbaum Raiders signing... when you have a center that's seen those looks, that knows how to go into a game plan, knows how to communicate, not only just calms the quarterback down, it calms the entire offensive line and offense down. It takes so much off the quarterback's plate... Now I don't have to worry about who the Mike is.

The Giants overpaid for Won'Dale Robinson's replaceable skillset

The Won'Dale Robinson deal was a little rich for me because that was just a 'he knows Brian Daboll's system'... I just think he has a very replaceable skillset. A slot-only type of guy... I'd rather them gone for Romeo Doubs who's still out there.

The Eagles are at a crossroads as a franchise and essentially broke in free agency

The Eagles are kind of... they're not broke, but they're cash strapped because of just their contracts right now. And it's just, they're not doing anything. They're really just sitting on their hands. And that's just, they're at a huge crossroads as a franchise.

Kenneth Walker is the explosive weapon the Chiefs offense has been missing

They've needed this for like three years now. Pacheco did a fine job, but Pacheco wasn't this... Patrick Mahomes had more explosive scrambles last year than the running backs had gains of 12 or more yards. Now they get a guy that can hit home runs. Kenneth Walker can create something out of nothing.

The Commanders overpaid for Odafe Oweh based on a Jesse Minter-inflated sack total

He had the sixth highest pressure rate once he joined the Chargers... I will say though, that's with Jesse Minter coaching him. And that's with Jesse Minter dialing up plays that led to some unblocked pressures... It's a pretty penny. That's a lot of money to throw at him.

The Celtics are completely back with Jayson Tatum returning to form

He looks so good. The Celtics looks so good. They're, they're so back. Missoula is such a good coach. And he's not forcing it and like trying to take over. 'cause when your team's already second on the east, you don't need to come back and be a superstar.

I love the DJ Moore trade for the Bears because it clears cap space for Max Crosby or Tyler Linderbaum

I love this trade because you clear up money. [DJ Moore's] got a big pretty hefty contract so you clear up money to maybe go get a Max Crosby or a Linderbaum. You get a pick and you make the bet that Luther Burden and Rome Odunze are gonna be taking leaps forward.

Mac Jones is the definitive 'Next Sam Darnold'

I think Mac Jones is the next Sam Darnold... I like Mac Jones [as] one.

Duke is the best team in the country and it would be an all-time failure if they don't win the title

This is the best team in the country. It would be an all time epic failure if Duke doesn't win the national title. They are the first time I believe that a team has reached plus 40 in Ken Palm since 1999. Duke... This team has it all.

If Duke loses this year, they will be a dynasty of chokers

If they lose this year, that would without question be the best two year... they'd be a dynasty of chokers. Like back to back all time choking losses in the NCAA tournament. I hope that doesn't happen, PFT. We would've never seen anything close to this before.

College basketball has five absolutely dominant teams this year

We have five, you could even maybe go to six, just absolutely dominant teams. Michigan, UConn, Duke, Arizona, and Florida that are playing at such an insane level.

Arkansas is playing great basketball and John Calipari making the Final Four would be a fantastic tournament storyline

Arkansas has been playing some really good basketball. They lost that game in double overtime to Alabama where they basically ran out of guys. But since then, they've won five of six now... Cal [Calipari] in the Final Four would be great. Fucking great.

Miami should release Tua and eat the record $99 million cap hit all at once

I think they probably just have to wind up releasing [Tua]. And the question is, how do you wanna take your medicine? You wanna take it all at once. One year. 99.1 million. The largest cap hit in NFL history. You wanna spread it out, make him post June one... I would just take all my medicine all at once. If it were me.

Malik Willis is the 'crown jewel' and top free agent quarterback available this year

Only one of them is going to get Malik Willis. And Malik Willis is the top free agent quarterback this year. The crown jewel. I just think it's a tough year to be in the quarterback market and it's hard to predict how that's gonna shake out when there aren't a whole lot of options out there.

Brandon Aubrey is worth a contract in the $12-14 million range as a major offensive weapon

I could argue that that guy's worth 12 million. 14 million. Like you're paying running backs 12, 13, 14 million on the open market. You get past midfield, you got three points in the bank. That's it. To me, he's a major weapon.

Heat 2 will be a 'disgusting' (great) film starring Christian Bale and Leonardo DiCaprio

My Cool Throne: Heat 2. Christian Bale. Leonardo DiCaprio. Disgusting film. Hell yes. I trust Jake Hamilton. He reported it. Christian Bale, Leo DiCaprio, Heat 2. I'm in. Awesome.

Eagles OC Liam Coen is a massive upgrade and the locker room is fully bought in

The Eagles OC [Liam Coen]... I called around and I heard amazing things about him. And then the players heard about it. And then, so now everyone's all-in on this guy. I'm excited to see what this does.

Joe Burrow is unhappy in Cincinnati because the team is not doing enough to win

Joe's not happy and we know that. He's frustrated that they stink and that they're not doing enough to improve the roster. The defense has been trashed for a few years here. I don't believe the Bengals are gonna trade Joe Burrow, but I want to pay attention to if Joe starts voicing 'I don't wanna be here anymore'.

Florida is the scariest team in the country if they can hit three-pointers

Florida, I took Florida 19 to one. 'cause I honestly think Florida is in that spot where if they can just find a way to hit a little bit more consistently from three in the tournament, they are the scariest team in the tournament.

I would never sell my Will Campbell stock despite his bad Super Bowl

Will Campbell definitely did not have a good Super Bowl. He had a bad, bad game. Yeah. Probably pretty embarrassed... but I'm not, I'm not selling my Will Campbell stock of which I own a lot.

The Indiana Pacers won the trade deadline by adding Ivica Zubac while maintaining a path to a top-four pick

I look at the Pacers, you know, like you add a top five center in [Zubac]... you clean up some of your cap stuff, you bring in a top center who's gonna make you a little different... and then you have a chance at the top four pick here... I like what they did because they were doing something long-term while also making sure that they're tanking.

The Clippers made a smart pivot trading James Harden for Darius Garland

I like what the Clippers did... I don't think Darius Garland is this bad. He's a two-time all star. He's 26 years old... when he was right, he was terrific. And Harden... fourth trade request in six years. So the Clippers very quickly on the fly... you'll look at the Garland thing and go, man, they were able to land a player like that for Harden.

The Knicks' usage of Karl-Anthony Towns is becoming a real issue

The Knicks, as much fun as they are... the imperfections with them. The cat [KAT] stuff here... He's now sixth in minutes in the fourth quarter for the Knicks... since January 1st. So you're seeing his minutes decline... Mitchell Robinson's so good... I wonder if [Thibodeau] like bails on Kat in specific matchups? 'Cause he's already starting to do it in the regular season.

The Phoenix Suns' inability to execute in clutch time is a fatal flaw for their playoff hopes

When you watch [the Suns] close games that are tight, it's awful. They're 21st in clutch offense... that is the most like truthful number of a team when I watch them play because they get stuck... it feels like a fatal flaw for them.

The Wizards fleeced the Mavericks in the Anthony Davis trade

I think that this is a great trade for the Wizards. I do. I think this was an absolute fleecing of the Dallas Mavericks... The two first round picks aren't really two first round picks. We didn't give up two first round picks. We gave out one that's protected that we're gonna keep. And then there's another one that could end up being like the 30th pick.

The Todd Monken hire feels pre-botched for the Browns - Ravens fans think it's a home run for the Browns as a Ravens fan

It feels maybe pre-botched, and I don't mean to disparage Todd Monken, but if you ask any Ravens fan what they think about this hire, they think it's an absolute home run for the Browns. As a Ravens fan.

Deshaun Watson having a comeback is the final boss of 'who's the next Sam Darnold'

With all the discourse around Sam Darnold quarterback reclamation projects, it's actually kind of cool to see Darnold being in the Super Bowl. Teams are gonna be like, who's the next Sam Darnold? I found myself this morning thinking about like, what if Deshaun Watson's just good again? What if he's just good? That might be the final boss of who's the next Sam Darnold.

LeBron James should go back to Cleveland to finish his career

I do think he should go back to Cleveland. I think he should finish it there. They still love him. The tribute videos, it's still home. He should go back to Cleveland.

Jalen Hurts plays his own game regardless of the designed offense - the Eagles OC hire won't be someone with other options

There's a certain amount of frustration within the coaching staff and within the locker room because they designed the offense, they designed the plays, they call the plays. And then when it's time to go out there, Jalen Hurts the quarterback plays his game. Whoever the Eagles hire to be the offensive coordinator is not gonna be a guy who has other choices.

PFT Commenter is done dunking forever - retiring from attempting to dunk

My fire fest. I don't think I'm gonna dunk again. I think I'm gonna have to learn how to play below the rim. So I'm calling it quits on attempting to dunk anymore in my future.

Carson Beck is an 'okay' quarterback but his lack of NFL potential is unclear

Carson Beck, I think he's an okay quarterback, but not, you know, he's been in these... he's an okay quarterback. [The three losses for Miami this year], four of them came on an interception when they had a chance to win the game.

This has to be Al Michaels' last year

I do think this has to be Al Michaels' last year. Next year has to be. I would appreciate if Al Michaels would do a retirement tour. If he was like, this is it, I would not complain about him at all because he is a legend of the game.

The winner of the Bills vs. Jaguars game will be the most dangerous 'watch out' team in the playoffs.

The team who wins this game, like, that's the watch out team. Because I do think the Jags are very, very good. And it's just... Josh Allen is the ultimate 'doesn't matter, he could just be Superman' guy in these playoffs.

Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers are a dangerous 'watch out' team in the playoffs due to their defense and running game.

Aaron Rodgers to me makes them watch out. Because you just get into a playoff game, you play great defense, you run the football, you win the line of scrimmage... He's the kind of guy that can take advantage of it. So I'd be super careful with Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers.

The NFL should stop giving 'charity' playoff spots to inferior teams that win 'Mickey Mouse' divisions like the 2025 Panthers

Why are we giving out charity playoff spots to teams like the Panthers? They win a Mickey Mouse division, they're clearly inferior. They have zero chance to win the Super Bowl. It ruins the playoffs. ... It becomes a safety issue for the Carolina Panthers.

The Patriots' elite offense will offset any defensive challenge the Chargers present in the Wild Card round

I think our great offense can offset any great defense. ... I would rather be going up against a great defense with a great offense than having to go up against a fantastic offense with a okay defense. ... Justin Herbert in the playoffs [is a] big pick guy. He's gotta prove it.

Drake May should win Most Improved Player and maybe MVP

Drake May wins the sophomore quarterback rankings. Drake May is—should we say our as a podcast—Most Improved Player of the year. Slash sophomore of the year.

Michigan got a major head coaching upgrade with Kyle Whittingham

It's bullshit that Michigan just like backed into one of the best coaches in college... Kyle Whittingham, that was, he's such a good coach. Michigan got a major upgraded head coaching... he's always had good teams at Utah. I think he's going to, with Michigan's money and recruiting, he's gonna win.