Overview of Pardon My Take
This episode covered a full slate of sports and show-business topics, with the biggest focus on the MLB trade deadline, the return of football via Hard Knocks, and a controversial QB tier list. The crew also did a classic Mount Rushmore draft of the best places to get drunk that aren’t bars, ran through hot seat/cool throne, and closed with FAQs and behind-the-scenes show talk.
MLB Trade Deadline With Jeff Passan
Jeff Passan joined to break down a busy and aggressive deadline across MLB, with the conversation centered on who improved, who overpaid, and how the looming labor situation may be affecting team behavior.
Key takeaways
- The deadline was unusually active: Passan said deadline day alone featured a massive volume of trades, which is part of why baseball’s deadline remains the most entertaining in sports.
- Teams are prioritizing value over perfect fits: Clubs are willing to overpay in an inefficient market if the return helps them right now.
- The Dodgers factor was a major talking point: The crew discussed whether MLB teams are effectively letting Los Angeles separate itself from the field, though Passan pushed back on the idea of organized collusion.
- The future CBA/possible lockout is looming: Passan said the uncertainty around the next labor fight is absolutely influencing how teams think about long-term value.
- Trade deadline philosophy: The discussion repeatedly returned to the idea that front offices are choosing between “win now” and “protect the future,” with the show clearly favoring aggressive win-now moves.
Notable team reactions
- Cubs: Seen as winners for adding multiple arms and pushing in.
- Phillies: Mixed reaction — they added help, but the crew felt it may not have been enough.
- Rays, Yankees, Padres, Red Sox, Orioles, Pirates: Each got a detailed breakdown of how their moves fit broader team goals.
- Tigers/Skubal situation: A major part of the interview focused on why Tarik Skubal wasn’t moved and whether the timing of the deal suggested strategy or something more conspiratorial.
- Orioles: Viewed as taking a step back after dealing away a cornerstone piece.
- Pirates: Passan liked their bullpen additions and noted that their rotation velocity remains elite.
Hard Knocks Episode 1: Football Is Back
The episode opened with the crew saying they only watch the first Hard Knocks episode every year, but that episode is enough to make it feel like football season again.
Main observations
- Mike McDonald comes off as human and a little awkward, which the guys liked.
- His son yelling “football” over and over was the standout moment.
- The show captured the usual football camp vibes: pads cracking, grass, speeches, and the soundtrack that signals the season is back.
- Super Bowl rings got roasted for being too large and impractical.
- They joked that this may be the only Hard Knocks episode they watch all year.
QB Tier List Debate
The crew spent a long time reacting to The Athletic’s quarterback tiers, which are based on votes from coaches and executives.
What stood out
- Tier 1 featured:
- Patrick Mahomes
- Josh Allen
- Matthew Stafford
- Joe Burrow
- The biggest debate was whether Lamar Jackson should be in Tier 1 too.
- Tier 2 was described as very large and full of talented but inconsistent or still-proving-it quarterbacks.
- Jalen Hurts sparked the strongest disagreement; the crew felt his résumé deserved more respect.
- Other notable placements discussed:
- Dak Prescott’s rise
- Drake Maye’s placement
- Bryce Young’s improvement
- CJ Stroud’s drop
- Aaron Rodgers at 19
- Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders in the lower tiers
- Tyler Shough being placed high enough that the crew took it as a sign of optimism about him
Oldie’s off-the-cuff QB rankings
Oldie gave a completely instinct-based top 10, which was half serious, half chaos:
- Baker Mayfield
- Lamar Jackson
- Josh Allen
- Jaden Daniels
- Caleb Williams
- Jalen Hurts
- Drake Maye
- J.J. McCarthy
- Dak Prescott
- Aaron Rodgers
Mount Rushmore: Best Places to Get Drunk That Aren’t a Bar
This was one of the more universally strong Mount Rushmore drafts of the episode.
Core picks discussed
- Wedding
- Tailgating
- Golf course
- Sporting event
- Backyard barbecue
- Boat
- Concert
- Beach
- House party
- Casino
- Championship parade
- Plane
Honorable mentions / near misses
- Airport
- Camping
- Basement
- Rooftop
- Pool
- Party bus / limo
- Garage
- Block party
- Street festival
- Men’s softball game
- Work
Running jokes
- There was confusion over a pick labeled “plane,” which turned into a joke about whether it meant an airplane or a flat piece of ground.
- The crew debated whether some picks were too close to bars to count.
- They also joked that casino drinking is the smartest move if you avoid gambling.
Hot Seat / Cool Throne
Hot seats
- ESPN: Aaron Rodgers took shots at ESPN for not covering certain stories, and the network’s “no comment” response was mocked.
- John Rahm / LIV Golf: The crew debated the reported equity/value structure and whether LIV could eventually become a valuable asset or collapse into bankruptcy.
- 49ers “substation” discourse: The show joked about the team’s injury-related social media controversy and the ominous fan obsession with the electrical substation in the background.
- Hank: Caught a little heat because of the ongoing “fart of the year” conversation and other show-related bits.
- Memes: For jokingly predicting an earthquake and then seeing a warning from California’s top earthquake expert soon after.
- Clay Thompson: Got into it online with Kevin Durant and didn’t like being referred to by his full government name.
Cool thrones
- Carrie Underwood / Sunday Night Football: Her return to the SNF anthem got a mixed response, but the crew still treated it as a big football-season signifier.
- The Bears: Darnell Wright’s extension was framed as a good organizational move.
- Cleveland / WNBA fans: The WNBA expansion team in Cleveland was treated as a win for the city.
FAQs and Show-Behind-the-Scenes Talk
The closing segment was very “PMT”: a mix of listener questions, self-aware banter, and inside-baseball show mechanics.
Topics covered
- Whether winning or losing makes a better show: The crew said a bad Max loss can create great content.
- Why they “save it for the show” but still talk too much beforehand: They admitted there’s a lot of pre-show chilling.
- Coach/player guests vs. media guests: They debated which type of guest they’d rather keep interviewing if forced to choose.
- How they book guests: Big Cat explained that he usually just goes for it and isn’t afraid of awkwardness.
- Who they still want on the show: PCA was mentioned as a likely future guest.
- What Big Cat wears: A listener asked why he wore a football jersey on a random Tuesday. The answer was basically:
- it was a new jersey
- he had been in a jersey mindset
- his first choice got ruined when Blake threw up on it
- Can grown men wear jerseys? The crew jokingly argued about it, but ultimately treated it as fair game.
Book Promo / Final Notes
The episode repeatedly promoted the upcoming book and the ability to order signed copies from Anderson Bookshop. They also reminded listeners that the show had a lot more football and baseball content coming soon, with the season clearly shifting from summer mode into football mode.