Takes

Taylor Heinicke is just 'a guy' rather than a long-term franchise starter

I may have spoke slightly too soon on saying Taylor Heinicke is our guy. He's a guy. I think he's gone to—he's definitely a guy and he's there and he can be the guy, but a lot of times he's just not the guy.

The Washington Football Team exploited Sean Taylor's death to distract from front office scandals

If they literally were exploiting Sean Taylor's death, the one player that I care about... to get the stank off of their front office, that's a new low. And I think they were. I might be out.

Ryan Fitzpatrick will take the starting job back from Taylor Heinicke as soon as he's healthy

I think we also, the last couple of weeks, we've answered the question. If Ryan Fitzpatrick gets healthy, I think he has his job back.

Sam Darnold is definitely not fixed

The idea that Sam Darnold was fixed because he left the Jets is just insane. He was bad again today... Breaking news: he's not fixed.

The Panthers are not actually good; they are just 'frisky'

I think we can officially say that the Panthers are not going to be good. They could be frisky... but they're not good.

The Ravens are a legitimate, very good team (and not frauds)

I actually—I've talked about the Ravens being frauds in the past. I'm not going to say that this year. I think the Ravens are a legit, very, very good team. And they are in that like group of... super bowl contenders in the AFC.

The Broncos' 3-0 start was fraudulent because they only beat bad teams

The Broncos are... the biggest fraud start of the season. They beat the Giants, the Jags and the Jets. And we all kind of like, 'Ooh, maybe.' ... No, no, no.

Vic Fangio is likely in his final season as the Broncos head coach

I also think we might be on Vic watch. Vic Fangio is probably on his last season.

Tony Romo is no longer a top-tier announcer

That's probably if like in 20 years when they write the book about Pardon My Take, I think that like us being the first to say Tony Romo not that good. That'd be a big one.

Trevon Diggs will not reach 10 interceptions this season

I feel like in the next couple of weeks, he's probably not going to get above 10 interceptions on the year. The opportunity—at some point they just have to stop throwing to his side of the field.

The Green Bay Packers will not win the Super Bowl because Aaron Rodgers doesn't win championships anymore

I don't think that the Packers can be in [Super Bowl contenders] unfortunately... because Aaron Rodgers, he doesn't win championships.

Coach Ed Orgeron will return as a 'full-time interim coach' for hire

Next time any program needs an interim head coach, he should be interim for hire. He should be a full-time interim coach.

Florida QB Anthony Richardson is Cam Newton 2.0 and a 2022 Heisman candidate

Florida's quarterback that they put in second [Anthony Richardson] is Cam Newton 2.0, yes. He's on my big board for Heisman next year.

I was rooting for the Patriots over Tom Brady and the Bucs

I was rooting for the Pats [over the Bucs]. I mean, my guy [Brady] gets a little sensitive sometimes. He's my best friend, and... I don't think he probably would [say I am his best friend] anymore [because I didn't root for him].

The 49ers are my second favorite team and I love Kyle Shanahan

I'm rooting for the Niners number two. Big Niners guy. I like the Niners. I like [Kyle] Shanahan. I think he's a good coach. I like the defense. I like [George] Kittle, even though he's hurt right now. I grew up loving the 49ers.

Antonio Brown is still performing at a freakish, electric level

Antonio Brown adds to the offense... it's just crazy. He looks electric. I mean, he stays in shape. I was around him for two weeks and got to know him a little bit and he eats, breathes, and lives football and taking care of his body. He's a freak. He's still performing at a very, very high level.

I am selling all my Jalen Hurts stock

He drifts in the most unproductive angles. He runs backwards into the sideline and tries to throw the ball away. He's had a couple games where he's played well. I'm not buying Jalen Hurts. If he's a stock, I think I'm selling all my stocks that I have in Jalen Hurts.

Jalen Hurts is Mr. Right Now, not Mr. Right

I think I'm sticking with what I said on Monday is that [Jalen Hurts] is Mr. Right Now, not Mr. Right.

Bill Belichick told me it's okay to criticize the Patriots in the media

[Belichick] goes, like, if you have to motherfuck us, you can motherfuck us. He was telling me to do my job. It felt like a mafia meeting. It was cool.

Mac Jones has very impressive pocket awareness for a young quarterback

What I'm most impressed about with Mac [Jones] is his ability to sidestep a guy in the pocket, step up, keep his eyes downfield... and be able to deliver a ball. Those are things that you don't see very often from younger quarterbacks. That calm, cool, collect in his pocket awareness. He's not mobile by any means, but his ability to move in the pocket... he's got a good foundation going.

Mac Jones has the best ecosystem of all rookie quarterbacks

I definitely think [Mac Jones'] ecosystem was the best out of all the rookies that are entering the league this year. Just as far as... how the team is built, the money that they spent, and the defense that they have and the coaches that they have, you know those guys are going to be there for a while. It's a stability there. Usually when you get a fresh quarterback, you're getting a fresh coach, a new play caller.

The Chiefs need to abandon the video game plays and use methodical drives

The Chiefs are built differently this year. They're a little banged up on defense... and they have this stigma that every time they're going to go out the offense, they're going to do a video game play. They need to have a little more long, methodical-type drive. Make the easy play. Sometimes you've got to make the easy pass.

The Bills are the #1 team in the league right now

My current BCS rankings have the Cardinals and the Bills, one and two. [But] the fun fact about the Bills, they have double the point differential than the second team not named the Cardinals... The Bills are plus 108. They are fucking killing people. We can agree. Bills should be at the top.

The Cowboys -3.5 at the Patriots is my favorite bet of the week

My favorite favorite is Cowboys, minus three and a half at the Patriots... I like the Cowboys in this one. Patriots are going to have a long Sunday. I've been looking at the rat lines for the last few weeks and just betting the square side of the rat lines. And it's been a pretty successful strategy for me so far.

The Browns will beat the Cardinals and hand them their first loss

My favorite favorite is the Browns, minus three... I also just think the Cardinals are due for – they've been flirting with it. They're due for a loss, and they're due for the Browns to run the ball down their throat. I do think the Browns are going to beat them. I think the Browns are going to man up on them.

The Bears will cover +4.5 against the Packers

I actually think the Bears might win, but Bears plus 4.5... I have a feeling their defense is playing well... By the end of the week, I'm like, we're going to fucking win this game. Jalen Johnson's going to lock down Davante Adams. If the Bears win this game, they are now officially a borderline playoff team.

The NFL has figured out Geno Smith

I think the league might have figured out Geno Smith, Big Cat. On that last drive [last week]... I think the blueprint's out there for how to shut him down. The Steelers defense is going to show up.

The Raiders will bounce back because Rich Bisaccia is a classic football guy

I am all in on this Rich Bisaccia guy... Crying about your men and your opportunities, that's football guy stuff. I think they're gonna bounce back here for a couple weeks and it's gonna be a few weeks before they fall back to earth. I think they're gonna get something out of this guy. I'm all in.

Arrowhead is the loudest stadium in the world because of me

I'm the one that helped bring two Guinness World Records for crowd noise, Arrowhead Stadium. It's the current Guinness World Record for crowd noise, 142.2 decibels. We're the loudest stadium, not only in the NFL, but the world. I brought that to Kansas City with my friends. I got Guinness. I got the Chiefs. I set it all up.

Never plan a Saturday night dinner for a bachelor party

The biggest tip I always give is don't plan a dinner for Saturday night. That's the dumbest thing ever. It's like a tranquilizer dart to your face. You drink all day Saturday, and then you have this... big steak dinner on Saturday night, and then there's just no party afterwards because it's like, holy shit, we drank all day, then we ate a big meal. Who wants to go out after that?

The Red Sox are a team of destiny and are going to the World Series

Red Sox, Team of Destiny. I think they're going deep in Socktober. They're going to the World Series. They have something about them that is going to... I don't know what it is.

NFL commissioners should be considered a protected class

NFL commissioners, it's a protected class. Look it up, Big Cat... Roger Goodell, when he saw it, like, okay, the first email got leaked on Friday... He also insulted Roger Goodell and called him gay. Fire that motherfucker right now.

Mark Davis should be the interim head coach of the Raiders

Mark Davis should be the coach. Give us Mark Davis as the coach of the Raiders today. Why not? [Al Davis] did it. His dad did it. He would be awesome.

All NFL kickers are synced up in their misses

We had another missed kick. They're all synced up. It was perfect that Rodrigo Blankenship just ended... He did that on purpose for every kicker because then they brought up how many missed kicks were made. And you're like, I don't even remember half of these missed kicks.

I would bet against the Raiders if Deuce Gruden left the staff

Can you really, I don't know, your dad leaves? [Big Cat]: No, I think you've got to stick around. Deuce is probably the one. For the guy's nutrition... Imagine the gains that get lost if Deuce leaves. [PFT Commenter]: Yeah, that'd be bad. He's got to stick around. I would definitely bet against the Raiders if Deuce left at this point.

The Chiefs should trade Patrick Mahomes

A lot of people around the league, league circles, are saying the story out of Kansas City is that the Chiefs should trade Patrick Mahomes. They're saying that a lot of willing partners out there... Washington football team would be one, probably. But if I'm a Chiefs fan, man, I'll tell you, I'd run that guy out of town on a rail.

Caleb Williams will be the best quarterback in all of college football

Caleb Williams is like Oklahoma is so unfair that they have a backup who is better than their starter who's now going to be like the best quarterback in all of college football. And they're like, oh, yeah, let's just put this guy in.

Tyler Linderbaum is a first-round pick and the most compelling center to watch in football

Iowa is the first football team that I've ever watched where I can't take my eyes off the center. Tyler Linderbaum. I'm giving you that name right now... This dude, he's going to be first round pick. I would take him as high as it gets. I'm in love with watching... this dude just murders people. He destroys people.

Cincinnati will only make the CFP if no one-loss Power 5 team exists

The details are... it has to be Cincinnati will get into the college football playoff over a one-loss Power 5 team. So one loss. It can't be two losses... I just know how the college football playoff works and the bias that happens.

The 2021 Oklahoma Sooners are the 'best frauds of all time'

I actually think that Oklahoma, I think that they're frauds, but they might be the best frauds of all time. They might just continue to win these games that they should lose.

Ben Simmons will face an all-time 'boo-fest' upon his return to Philadelphia

Ben Simmons has arrived in Philadelphia, took a COVID-19 test as required by NBA protocol... I love going to a good boo-fest. Going to the Sixers' first game, I might have to figure out, talk to Tick Pick and get out there. So perfect that it's Philly... Philly's going to roast him.

The PMT flags are S-tier man cave/tailgate decor

These Pardon My Take flags... those are real nice. We've got a bunch of different colors so you know, tailgate, man cave... [Hank]: Put it on your car. Hang it in your front yard... [PFT]: You drape the flag over. Especially if you have like, let everyone know. If you got a cabin or a beach house.

You cannot be a diehard fan of two rival teams from the same city

I agree with this premise, by the way. If you are a diehard fan of one team from your hometown, you can't be a diehard fan of the equal and opposite team from that hometown... if you're John Cusack and you grew up in Chicago... he's a guy that should only be able to pick one of those two teams.

Defensive football is about hustle and hitting, not X's and O's

Defensive football, Big Cat, is not necessarily about X's and O's. Playing defense is about hustle, it's about effort, and it's about hitting people. As long as 11 people are doing that, we can stop people. It really doesn't matter from a scheme standpoint having a great scheme.

Justin Herbert is currently the best-playing quarterback in the NFL

Who is the quarterback you think is playing the best right this second? [Booger]: Justin Herbert. I don't think it's close. We paid so much attention to his personality that we overlooked his talent. And the Miami Dolphins did so much that they took Tua in front of him. How about them apples?

Trey Lance is not ready to start in the NFL

Trey Lance is not ready. And what I mean by not ready... you got to make really good decisions. You got to take care of the football and you have to give your, you have to give your team or put your team in the best position to win... the game is moving too fast for him.

Urban Meyer has lost the trust of the Jaguars locker room and cannot recover it

Is there any way he can get back the trust in that locker room? [Booger]: No, I don't think so. I don't think Urban can... not only did you leave us, you went to the bar and you got a female that's not your wife and she's twerking on you... as a head coach, you just can't do that. That's the only thing I would say. You just can't do that.

Spencer Rattler will never start another game for Oklahoma barring injury

Spencer Rattler, to your point, I don't think Spencer Rattler is going to start another game at Oklahoma barring injury over the next couple of years. Caleb Williams came in and galvanized the team. So if Lincoln [Riley] stood in front of the team and said, hey, we're going back to Spencer, he would lose every player in there.

The Super Bowl will be the Buccaneers versus the Bills

Week five Super Bowl prediction. I am still, I'm going to be a homer. I am going Tampa versus Buffalo.

Signing Blake Bortles will change the entire culture of the Seahawks

Following Russell Wilson's injury, the Seahawks are working out the boat. Blake Bortles. Yes, yes, Blake. Oh, my God. I love it... You bring him in to change the whole culture. You bring him in with a contract already signed.