Overview of Pardon My Take
The hosts cover a tense Celtics–76ers matchup, the NFL trade deadline and Kirk Cousins’ return to Minnesota, and the latest college football playoff picture with Tom Fornelli. The episode also features the show’s recurring “Hot Seat/Cool Throne” and “Guys on Chicks” segments, mixing sports analysis with running jokes and listener questions.
Celtics Beat the 76ers in Jaylen Brown’s Revenge Game
Boston beat Philadelphia in Jaylen Brown’s first matchup against his former team. The hosts debated whether Brown’s frustration with the Celtics stems from feeling blindsided by the trade, and whether Jason Tatum knew more about it than Brown did. They acknowledged that no one outside the players and front office knows what happened, but agreed that the tension makes for compelling sports.
The panel also traded jabs over Brown’s pregame interaction with Tatum and the Sixers’ performance. They praised Tyrese Maxey, noted Joel Embiid’s injury scares, and joked that Boston’s three-point shooting makes the Celtics difficult to beat when it’s clicking.
NFL Trade Deadline: Kirk Cousins Returns to Minnesota
The Vikings’ poor Monday night loss to Buffalo put their quarterback problems in sharp relief. Carson Wentz had a historically bad night, and the hosts argued that Minnesota’s offense has been wasting a strong defense. They also criticized coach Kevin O’Connell for the team’s quarterback decisions and for leaving the defense on the field too long.
Minnesota responded by acquiring Kirk Cousins from the Raiders for a third-round pick. The hosts saw Cousins as a significant upgrade who could get the ball to Justin Jefferson and make the Vikings a more serious contender. The deal also clears the way for rookie Fernando Mendoza to take over in Las Vegas.
Other deadline discussion included:
- The Jaguars’ reported first- and second-round price for defensive tackle Jordan Davis. The panel debated whether it was an overpay, while noting that his run-stopping ability could suit Jacksonville’s defense.
- The Chiefs’ addition of receiver Josh Downs and the 49ers’ move for Keenan Allen.
- Secondary help for Buffalo and Detroit, while the Chargers drew criticism for not making more changes.
- The Eagles’ trade strategy: moving Davis for draft capital while keeping other defensive-line options.
- Teams that stood pat, including the Patriots and Bengals, and the decision not to trade Jonathan Taylor or Geno Smith.
The Vikings were the clearest deadline winners in the hosts’ view, with the Eagles and Chiefs also drawing praise.
College Football: Playoff Picture and Tom Fornelli’s Takeaways
The hosts questioned the latest playoff rankings, especially Indiana’s drop after a bye week. They called the committee’s explanations inconsistent and said the rankings would likely become clearer as more games were played.
Tom Fornelli discussed the wider playoff picture and several teams to watch:
- Michigan: Fornelli said the program’s transition under Kyle Whittingham has been disorganized and doubted Whittingham would return next season.
- Ohio State: Ryan Day may face criticism from fans, but Fornelli did not expect him to be fired. He pointed to the team’s reliance on Jeremiah Smith, a freshman quarterback and defensive struggles.
- The Big Ten: Fornelli favored Indiana to win the conference, while identifying Oregon as a possible playoff team with the talent to make a deep run.
- The SEC: Georgia looked like the country’s best team to both the hosts and Fornelli. Alabama, Texas and Tennessee were also viewed as leading playoff contenders, though Tennessee’s offense remained a concern.
- Notre Dame and Miami: Notre Dame won despite injuries, while Miami had to adjust without Malachi Toney. Fornelli said Notre Dame showed depth but had not yet looked as dominant as Georgia.
- Wake Forest and Utah: Fornelli argued that Wake Forest was underrated given its performance, and praised Utah’s consistency, defense and coaching.
The group also debated the announced playoff expansion. They thought a larger field could keep more teams in contention, but might reduce the stakes of rivalry games, conference championships and bowl season.
Hot Seat, Cool Throne, and Other Highlights
The recurring segment covered Airbnb after Jordan Hudson sued over footage of Bill Belichick being recorded and shared by an Airbnb host. The hosts sided with Hudson and criticized the apparent privacy breach, while also joking about Airbnb chores, awkward check-ins and flimsy furniture.
Other topics included Dan Orlovsky joking about his wife’s marijuana use, the future of Kentucky basketball, and Bears fans rallying around an Australian social media user who had posted about feeling like a burden. The hosts welcomed the supportive response and offered the fan tickets to a Bears game. They also discussed Bronny James responding to a courtside heckler and Cooper Flagg eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich during a game.
Guys on Chicks
Listeners asked for advice on dating, football fandom and rec-league basketball. The hosts suggested football questions to test whether a date “knows ball,” including how to explain a balk or a muffed punt. They treated one listener’s boyfriend eating heavily during football Sundays as a possible weekly cheat day. In the final question, a listener asked how to handle a teammate who criticizes another player after a draft; the hosts responded with jokes about team dynamics, coaching and the players’ names.