Overview of Pardon My Take
This Monday episode is a full-on preseason ramp-up: the crew opens with the huge MLB headline that Tarik Skubal has been traded to the Dodgers, then uses that as a springboard to argue about competitive balance, deferred money, and whether baseball is headed for a lockout/salary cap fight. From there they hit training camp buzz, a few pop-culture side quests, and wrap with two strong Big Ten Media Days interviews from Oregon head coach Dan Lanning and Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule.
Tarik Skubal to the Dodgers: “Did they ruin baseball?”
Main discussion points
- The Dodgers landing Skubal sparks the episode’s biggest debate:
- It feels unfair, but it’s also a trade, not a free-agent signing.
- The Dodgers can absorb big money and trade prospects because they have financial and organizational depth that smaller-market teams don’t.
- The guys argue that:
- The real problem is not just the Dodgers, but owners who don’t spend.
- Small-market teams like the Pirates and Royals are part of why the sport feels broken.
- This could push public opinion toward supporting a salary cap and, eventually, a lockout.
- They also discuss:
- How the Dodgers are almost unbeatable in long-term roster building.
- Why short playoff series still give other teams a chance.
- The idea that this may be as much about keeping Skubal away from the Brewers as getting him to L.A.
Bigger-picture takeaway
- The episode frames the Skubal trade as a symbol of baseball’s growing imbalance.
- Their prediction: the next CBA fight is going to be ugly, with a lockout feeling increasingly likely.
NFL Training Camp Notes and League Buzz
The Romo/JJ Watt situation
- Tony Romo is out at least for Week 1, with J.J. Watt stepping in.
- The crew wonders if this is the beginning of the end for Romo at CBS.
- They joke that Jerry Jones could become a factor in trying to save him.
Training camp headlines they hit
- 49ers: Deebo Samuel is back, but the roster is still beat up and crowded.
- Chiefs: They dismiss early camp panic around Patrick Mahomes; he’s still “the bad man.”
- Bears: Caleb Williams reportedly looks lighter; Ben Johnson is already leaning into the regression talk.
- Eagles: Jalen Hurts is described as having a big year ahead.
- Browns: More quarterback chaos; they joke that the best QB on the roster might be neither the starter nor the obvious backup.
- Steelers: Fan fight at camp is treated as a welcome sign that football season is close.
- Broncos: Taysom Hill-to-Denver talk gets a laugh because of Sean Payton.
- Cardinals/Panthers Hall of Fame game: They’re excited for the preseason opener and the weird QB carousel.
Guest Interview: Oregon HC Dan Lanning
What stood out
- Lanning is confident but measured: he won’t say “championship or bust,” but he clearly believes Oregon has a title-caliber roster.
- He talks a lot about:
- Building a sustainable program in Eugene.
- The special environment at Oregon and how much the fan base cares.
- His famous motivational speeches and pregame intensity.
- The culture of accountability, family, and player development.
Best stories and themes
- He explains his early career grind:
- Driving through the night for an opportunity at Pitt.
- Teaching elementary PE, then making the job leap with almost no safety net.
- He talks about:
- Writing goals on the mirror, including being a good father and husband.
- Smashing the Washington helmet with a bat as a symbolic halftime reset.
- His relationship with Kirby Smart at Georgia.
- Why he believes motivation is overrated compared to preparation.
- He also gets into:
- Why Oregon’s uniforms and branding matter.
- How he chooses to motivate players.
- The value of relationships and player retention in the portal era.
Notable takeaway
- Lanning’s message is simple: Oregon can absolutely win big, but it’s about daily execution, not slogans.
Guest Interview: Nebraska HC Matt Rhule
Core themes
- Rhule gives a classic “build it the hard way” answer on Nebraska’s progress.
- He says the program is improving year by year and feels like it finally has an older, more battle-tested roster.
- He emphasizes that winning starts with:
- Expecting to win.
- Knowing the DNA of the program.
- Doing the little things every day.
Best stories and insights
- Rhule talks about how every place he’s coached required a different style:
- Temple: physical, tough, line up and hit.
- Baylor: more spread and explosive.
- Nebraska: physicality again, but adapted to the modern game.
- He discusses:
- His “being a man” philosophy: being tough, on time, respectful, and making people around you better.
- His famous sideline energy and why he sometimes looks like he’s losing it.
- Spitting on himself during games because of dehydration and intensity.
- Wearing the “smock”/cage jacket and embracing a regular-guy image.
- The importance of recruiting parents and showing the family side of the program.
- He also shares stories about:
- Deion Dawkins.
- Bull in the ring.
- Using Nebraska’s football history and legends as a guide.
- His new QB and the confidence he brings.
Notable takeaway
- Rhule’s big-picture philosophy is that programs are won by aligning identity, toughness, and consistency — not just hype.
Who’s Back of the Week / Side Stories
Pop culture and sports leftovers
- Wemby is back after Nike drops a new logo.
- Cinema is “back” after a huge box office weekend for The Odyssey and Spider-Man.
- Kendrick Perkins gets highlighted for his NBA takes and a bizarre on-air sound.
- Carl Ravich is jokingly “back” after not really being let go.
- Harrison Bader has one of the wildest weird-injury stories of the year after a scooter accident involving a fire truck.
- J.J. Watt gets a shoutout for helping with Burnley kits.
- Kyle Whittingham makes the guys laugh with a quote about rivalry hatred.
- They also mention:
- Hard Knocks starting Tuesday.
- The Hall of Fame Game.
- Drew Brees’ Hall of Fame class.
- A few fantasy/roster jokes around younger QBs and preseason depth charts.
Mount Rushmore: Worst Places Your Wife/Girlfriend Takes You
The picks
- Shopping
- Court
- Work party where you don’t know anyone
- High school reunion
- Doctor’s office
- Workout class
- Double date with her best friend and a husband you hate
- In-laws’ house
- Into a fight on her behalf
- Pedicure
- Abortion clinic
- Marriage counseling
Best bits from the segment
- The crew argues hard over what counts as a “place.”
- The most contentious pick was “into a fight,” which eventually gets clarified into:
- being dragged into a fight with a stranger on her behalf.
- The overall vibe is classic Mount Rushmore chaos:
- lots of yelling,
- semantic debates,
- and the usual mix of bad faith, logic, and one truly terrible pick after another.
Bottom Line
This episode is basically a bridge from summer chaos into football season:
- baseball’s giant Dodgers problem,
- preseason camp updates,
- two strong coach interviews,
- and a very funny, very contentious Mount Rushmore.
The biggest themes are clear: the Dodgers are a financial monster, college coaches are selling identity and culture, and football season is finally close enough to feel real.