Overview of NFL Preview With Chris Long, Seth Wickersham, Jed York’s Escapade, Deshaun Named Starter + Mt Rushmore Of Non Ball Sport Items
This episode of Pardon My Take was a packed Camp Barstool installment centered on NFL preseason storylines, a bizarre Jed York arrest controversy, Deshaun Watson being named the Browns’ starter, and two strong interviews with Chris Long and Seth Wickersham. The crew also did a Mount Rushmore draft of “non-ball sports items,” debated new NFL rivalry jerseys, and closed with the usual “Guys on Chicks” mailbag.
Major NFL News and Storylines
Jed York arrest discussion
- The show opened with a long, comedic breakdown of the reported arrest involving 49ers owner Jed York in Ohio for allegedly soliciting a prostitute and possession of “criminal tools.”
- The hosts joked about Ohio’s terminology, the optics of a billionaire NFL owner ending up in a trailer park, and whether the league would discipline an owner for this kind of behavior.
- They contrasted it with Robert Kraft’s past prostitution-related incident, noting the differences in circumstances and how the NFL generally handles owner scandals.
- They also discussed whether there could be more to the story and how much the team or league actually cares versus other owners caring about embarrassment.
Deshaun Watson named Browns starter
- The Browns officially naming Deshaun Watson the starter led to a lengthy debate about how bleak the situation is for Cleveland.
- The hosts highlighted how awkward it is that Browns owner Jimmy Haslam previously called the Watson trade a “swing and a miss,” yet Watson is still the starting quarterback.
- They argued Watson is no longer playing at a high level and cited a stat showing it has been years since his last 300-yard passing game.
- The broader point: Cleveland is stuck with an expensive, underperforming quarterback room and may end up cycling to Shadour Sanders sooner than expected.
NFL jerseys and uniform fatigue
- The crew reacted to the newly released NFL rivalry jerseys for the AFC South and NFC North.
- Their main complaint was not that the jerseys were awful, but that the league keeps overdoing alternate uniforms for historic rivalries that don’t need them.
- They preferred the NFL stick to iconic looks and save experimental jerseys for less established matchups.
Interview: Chris Long
Chris Long joined the show to talk football, coaching changes, roster building, and the upcoming season.
Key themes from the conversation
- Football is back: Chris said he’s excited for the season but also admitted that, as a football guy, he understands the annual offseason dread and countdown content.
- Defensive coordinator changes: He explained how new defensive systems can make early-season play messy, especially for younger players and front-seven guys who have to learn new alignments, fronts, and pressure packages.
- Scheme vs. player fit: Chris emphasized that many teams look better or worse depending on whether the system matches the personnel.
- Jalen Hurts: He said Hurts has earned respect with his playoff and Super Bowl performances, but also acknowledged that the passing game floor needs to rise this year.
- Browns/Deshaun: He was blunt that Watson is no longer producing at an acceptable level and that Cleveland fans are in a bad spot.
- Teams to watch: Chris was positive on the Bills, Texans, Rams, Cowboys, Ravens, Bengals, and much of the NFC North, while noting the AFC is loaded.
- Chargers and Steelers: He said he keeps falling for the Chargers but remains cautious, and that the Steelers could be decent but aren’t automatic contenders.
- Bears stadium politics: He also weighed in on the Bears’ ongoing stadium debate, noting how owners and the league care more about leverage, money, and stadium deals than fans do.
Interview: Seth Wickersham
Seth Wickersham came on to discuss his new book, Beyond That Hill, and reflect on his reporting career.
Book and career reflections
- Seth described the book as a collection of his biggest stories, almost like a “greatest hits” package.
- He talked about how he rarely looks back at his work once it’s published, so assembling the book forced him to reflect on his career.
- He also joked about writing for readers who can find the stories online, but said the collection still felt special.
Major reporting topics discussed
- Dan Snyder / Washington Commanders:
- Seth and Don Van Natta’s reporting helped expose Snyder’s misconduct and political maneuvering.
- He explained how Snyder tried to intimidate the league and used a “blackmail PowerPoint” strategy against NFL power brokers.
- NFL owner power dynamics:
- He noted that owners rarely vote against each other unless money is directly at stake.
- The real power in the NFL often belongs to Roger Goodell, who manages owners rather than just taking orders from them.
- Tom Brady / Bill Belichick:
- Seth discussed the long, complicated breakup between Brady and Belichick and how Brady’s competitiveness shaped his career.
- He said Brady had an almost unnatural internal drive and no off switch.
- Belichick’s post-Patriots career was framed as one of the strangest final chapters for a legendary coach.
- How reporting works:
- He described the process of confirming stories through multiple sources, phone calls, and “shoe-leather” reporting.
- He also answered questions about PR people, getting people on the record, and the thrill of turning fragments into a full story.
- Favorite chapter:
- Seth singled out the chapter on Alex Honnold as especially memorable and said it gave a rare look at a truly obsessive, singular person.
Mount Rushmore: Non-Ball Sports Items
The crew drafted their favorite “non-ball sports items,” which turned into a mix of obvious essentials and weirdly specific picks.
Notable picks included
- Baseball bat
- Football helmet
- Basketball hoop
- Golf clubs
- Baseball glove / mitt
- Three-point line
- Receiver gloves
- Jerseys
- Swimming pool
- Race car
- Smelling salts
- Theragun
General consensus
- They treated items like the three-point line and jerseys as foundational parts of sports culture.
- The draft ended up being less about strict definitions and more about iconic gear and objects that make sports feel like sports.
Hot Seat / Cool Throne Highlights
Hot seat topics
- The SEC’s posture on certain football-related behavior: the joke was that the conference condemned something but didn’t really do anything about it.
- Good Good / Callaway ad controversy: the crew mocked the overreaction to a bad golf ad, calling it silly rather than scandalous.
- LeBron James: one segment joked about a new financial report involving a $300 million loan tied to LeBron and Guggenheim-related entities.
Cool throne topics
- Padres’ new ownership: the new owner’s energetic “we’re going to win” press conference got a shoutout.
- The Army: they discussed an Army reenlistment incentive that gives soldiers four days off to play the new Grand Theft Auto.
- Cal Raleigh and Luka Doncic:
- Cal Raleigh’s three-homer night was celebrated.
- Luka’s apparent weight loss was also noted.
Guys on Chicks
The segment ended with relationship and everyday-life questions, including:
- Whether falling asleep on the toilet after drinking is a concern.
- A funny but slightly questionable family tradition of doing LeBron’s chalk toss after sneezing.
- A question about why guys constantly practice golf swings, with the answer basically being: golfers can’t stop thinking about golf.
Closing Takeaways
- The episode was a strong blend of camp-style hangout energy, NFL previewing, and chaotic Barstool humor.
- The biggest football takeaways were concern over Cleveland, optimism for several contenders, and skepticism about new uniforms and owner scandals.
- Chris Long provided sharp, informed football analysis, while Seth Wickersham gave a deeper look into NFL power, legacy, and reporting.