CFB With Andy Staples, Lions TE Sam LaPorta, Rays In The WS, Commanders Lose To The Niners Plus Listener FAQ’s

Summary of CFB With Andy Staples, Lions TE Sam LaPorta, Rays In The WS, Commanders Lose To The Niners Plus Listener FAQ’s

by Barstool Sports

2h 42m•October 21, 2026
Listen to Episode

Overview of Pardon My Take with Barstool Sports

This episode is a wide-ranging sports recap centered on a wild college football weekend, the Lions’ Sam LaPorta interview, MLB playoff talk, Monday Night Football, and listener FAQ bits. The hosts react to chaos across the sports world: a huge Saturday in college football with surprise losses, a fun World Series matchup on the horizon, the 49ers’ win over Washington, and the ongoing Jalen Hurts blood-clot reporting confusion. They also hit on NBA opening night, hot-seat/cool-throne topics, and a few classic internet/taking-your-shots-with-everyone segments.

Major Sports Talk and Reactions

College football chaos with Andy Staples

  • Andy Staples breaks down one of the wildest college football Saturdays in recent memory.
  • Biggest themes:
    • Multiple ranked teams lost or survived in dramatic fashion.
    • Ohio State’s path gets shakier if Julian Sayin is out or limited.
    • Texas and Arch Manning continue to raise questions about quarterback play and offensive direction.
    • BYU’s big win over Notre Dame significantly boosts the Big 12’s playoff case.
  • The conversation leans heavily into playoff scenarios:
    • The SEC could realistically send multiple teams, but the field is still volatile.
    • The expanded playoff format is viewed as good for access, but possibly bad for the “every Saturday is do-or-die” feel.
    • Notre Dame’s margin for error is shrinking, especially with the Miami game looming.

MLB playoff talk

  • The hosts are excited about the World Series setup and talk through the “first-time champs” angle.
  • They praise how the teams’ analytical front offices and style of play make for a fun, chess-match kind of series.
  • There’s also a long discussion about the pace of a home run trot and whether players should be allowed to celebrate more, with a joking proposal for a time limit on how long it takes to round the bases.

Monday Night Football: 49ers vs. Commanders

  • The 49ers are treated as the clear class of the NFC and likely the best team in football.
  • Brock Purdy gets serious MVP buzz.
  • Fred Warner and the San Francisco defense are praised for closing out the game.
  • Washington’s near-collapse leads to a heated debate about:
    • Dan Quinn’s clock management and leadership.
    • Jaden Daniels’ fourth-down mistake and overall brilliance vs. occasional brain farts.
    • Whether Washington’s coaching staff is holding Daniels back or just making the same kinds of mistakes fans have seen for years.
  • The hosts also discuss the emotional whiplash of the Commanders playing well enough to almost win, then losing in a way that feels deeply familiar.

Jalen Hurts and the Eagles blood-clot story

  • There’s a long, skeptical discussion about the conflicting reports around Jalen Hurts being advised not to sleep, then later playing and practicing.
  • The hosts speculate that the Eagles were trying to manage optics and protect themselves.
  • The most likely explanation they settle on:
    • A doctor probably cleared Hurts to play with risks explained.
    • Hurts wanted to play.
    • The reporting around it got messy fast.
  • They stress that they’re not doctors and don’t fully understand blood clots, but they clearly think something was off in the communication.

Interview Highlights

Andy Staples: college football chaos and playoff futures

  • Staples is excellent on the state of the sport:
    • Texas has real issues beyond just Arch Manning.
    • Sarkisian may need to give up play-calling.
    • The SEC, Big Ten, Big 12, and ACC all have messy playoff pictures.
    • BYU’s win matters not just for BYU, but for the entire Big 12’s credibility.
  • He also talks about:
    • Whether Oregon State, New Mexico, or JMU could steal a playoff spot from the Group of Five / outside-the-power-conference race.
    • The weirdness of expanded playoff selection and how much chaos still exists in college football.
    • The beauty of the sport being “broken,” which is part of why it’s so entertaining.

Sam LaPorta: tight end life in Detroit

  • LaPorta is relaxed, funny, and very football-savvy.
  • Topics covered:
    • His bye week and the value of actual rest.
    • His cat Lulu, an outdoor hunter that sounds like an absolute menace.
    • Why Iowa keeps producing NFL tight ends.
    • How Dan Campbell coaches tight ends especially hard because he was one himself.
    • Detroit’s aggressive, fourth-down-heavy identity.
    • Recovering from back surgery and feeling physically good again.
    • Jared Goff’s “diva” side in the building vs. his toughness on game day.
    • The Jameer Gibbs / Jameson Williams speed dynamic.
    • Blocking in a highly efficient Lions offense.
    • The Lions’ confidence in using strange, creative plays.
    • His contract situation, which he handles professionally through his agent.
  • He also jokes about:
    • Being the best current Italian NFL player.
    • Wanting to represent Italy in Olympic flag football.
    • His pregame waffle ritual.

Recurring Bits, Hot Seat/Cool Throne, and Listener FAQ’s

Hot seat / cool throne

  • Hot seat:
    • Troy Aikman and Joe Buck after awkward booth vibes.
    • Twitter “injury doctors,” including a mock-retirement of one who gets mocked for wild speculation.
    • Card collectors after a FedEx-style heist of graded cards.
  • Cool throne:
    • Jay-Z booking himself for the halftime show through his own NFL entertainment deal.
    • The NBA being back.
    • Some light praise/banter around other sports-news topics.

Listener FAQ / show-life questions

  • The hosts answer questions about:
    • How much sleep they get during football season.
    • Pre-show rituals and how much of their job is just hanging out and talking before recording.
    • How many interviews get shelved and why.
    • Their general workflow and how much of the show is organic conversation versus actual prep.
  • The FAQ segment reinforces the show’s usual vibe:
    • It’s mostly friends hanging out, talking sports, and joking around until it’s time to record.

Key Takeaways

  • College football is in peak chaos mode, with playoff implications shifting weekly.
  • The expanded playoff is both exciting and controversial, depending on how much you value regular-season urgency.
  • The 49ers look like the NFC standard, with Brock Purdy playing like an MVP.
  • The Commanders are still a frustrating mix of talent, mistakes, and coaching questions.
  • Sam LaPorta is a perfect PMT guest: smart, funny, and happy to go deep on football details.
  • The episode is classic PMT: sports analysis, jokes, tangents, and a healthy amount of chaos.