Overview of Pardon My Take with Peter Schrager and Cam Skattebo
This episode is a full-on NFL season kickoff special: the crew opens with a wide-ranging season preview, Super Bowl picks, MVP/LVP/least-improved predictions, and plenty of preseason banter before welcoming Peter Schrager for a big-picture league conversation and Giants running back Cam Skattebo for a personality-packed interview. The episode centers on the return of football, with strong opinions on division races, the International Series, the league’s health/safety future, and which teams are poised to surprise or disappoint.
NFL Season Preview and Biggest Predictions
The hosts made their annual picks for division winners, wild cards, Super Bowl teams, and season awards. The board was all over the place, but a few themes stood out:
- A lot of faith in the Bills, Ravens, Eagles, Rams, and Chiefs in different forms.
- Strong skepticism about the Texans, Bengals, Patriots, Chargers, and Cowboys depending on who was talking.
- Several hosts picked bold sleeper teams like the Jets, Broncos, Bears, Saints, Buccaneers, Commanders, Giants, and Steelers.
Super Bowl Picks and Awards
| Host | Super Bowl Pick | MVP | LVP | Least Improved |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memes | Bengals over Rams | Joe Burrow | Kirk Cousins | Drake May |
| Max | Bengals over Lions | Joe Burrow | Travis Kelce | Bryce Young |
| Hank | Patriots over Rams | Drake May | Justin Herbert | Sam Darnold |
| PFT | Bills over Lions | Justin Herbert | Marcus Mariota | Trevor Lawrence |
| Big Cat | Bills over Eagles | Josh Allen | Josh Jacobs | Deshaun Watson |
Notable Division Picks
- Memes: Jets, Jaguars, Broncos, Bengals
- Max: Bills, Ravens, Chiefs, Texans; Cowboys, Lions, Rams, Bucs
- Hank: Patriots, Steelers, Jaguars, Chiefs; Bears, Falcons, Cowboys, Rams
- PFT: Bills, Bengals, Texans, Chargers; Seahawks, Saints, Lions, Commanders
- Big Cat: Bills, Ravens, Broncos, Texans; Eagles, Bears, Bucs, Rams
Hot Seat / Cool Throne
The segment was packed with internet-era sports gossip and absurdity:
Hot Seat
- Hank: Adam Schefter, for reporting around the Christian Gonzalez contract situation; also Alex Earl unfollowing Braxton Berrios.
- PFT: The power in Tallahassee, after a blackout before the FSU game; later, Michigan after Western Michigan formally appealed the result of their game.
- Zach: LSU, amid rumors that Lane Kiffin’s halftime speech was leaked and possible “double agent” vibes.
Cool Throne
- Hank: Rugby / Myles Garrett training with a rugby coach to hit even harder.
- PFT: Umpires on a power trip after a Cardinals-Rockies incident involving hat policing and an ejection.
- Zach: Mike Tomlin playing Minecraft and building his own in-game “Tomlin City.”
- There was also a long, funny detour into DK Metcalf’s Antarctica conspiracy theories.
Peter Schrager Interview: NFL Takes, ESPN Show, and League Trends
Peter Schrager joined to promote his new ESPN show, “Big Day with Peter Schrager,” which launches after Pat McAfee. He described the show as:
- Sports-first and personality-driven
- Built around continuity and inside jokes
- Designed to feel alive, with nostalgia clips, SportsCenter archives, and recurring bits
- A place with “no ego, no assholes”
Schrager’s Biggest Football Opinions
International games and Australia
- He explained the Rams’ approach to the Australia trip: fly in, play, fly out.
- He said Sean McVay believes the short turnaround may actually help versus being stuck there for days.
- He contrasted that with the 49ers, who are treating it like a full NFL road trip and ambassador mission.
Surprise teams
- NFC surprise: Giants
- Schrager thinks the Giants are dramatically improved, citing camp energy, the Greenbrier trip, the defense, and the staff.
- He likes Jaxson Dart and believes the team could be a double-digit win team.
- AFC surprise: Browns
- He believes Cleveland could be “a pain in the ass” and much better than expected.
- He noted the defense and coaching stability, though he stopped short of calling them a true Super Bowl team.
Other league thoughts
- Bengals: He thinks they’re a playoff team.
- Chiefs: He’s curious, not dismissive, and thinks there are real offensive questions.
- Eagles: He’s cautious because of the new offensive setup and first-time play-calling situation.
- Rams: He ultimately picked them as his Super Bowl winner, citing talent, McVay, and the way the roster has been built.
- Ravens: He views them as a major contender and liked the idea of a fresh voice helping them get over the hump.
Schrager’s football philosophy highlights
- He pushed back on constant international expansion and said the NFL risks overexposing its biggest asset.
- He floated the idea of an NFL draft lottery, arguing it would make the league more entertaining and reduce tanking.
- He also brought up the league’s health and safety push, noting the tension between growing the game and preserving player safety and fan trust.
Cam Skattebo Interview: Underdog Story, Physicality, and Confidence
Giants running back Cam Skattebo came off as exactly what the show loves: intense, funny, self-aware, and fully football-obsessed.
Key parts of his story
- He was a zero-star recruit out of high school.
- He took the long route through Sac State and then broke out at Arizona State.
- His Peach Bowl performance, including the memorable sideline puking, became a cult-favorite moment.
What he talked about
- He’s fully recovered and excited to be back after injury.
- He said the pain of not playing is worse than the pain of playing.
- He embraces contact and likes being physical.
- His coach, Brian Daboll/Harbaugh-style energy? — the interview heavily emphasized his relationship with the Giants staff and the team’s physical identity.
- He wants to hit 2,000 rushing yards.
- He thinks the addition of Najee Harris changes the backfield dynamic.
- He and Jameis Winston have a playful pregame vibe, and he also talked about checking on Jaxson Dart in the blue tent.
Fun personal details
- He has three dogs and is very pro-dog.
- He’s done commercials already and has more coming.
- He plays 2K and Apex Legends.
- He’d rather stiff-arm someone than lower his shoulder if he can help it.
- He’s comfortable with the idea that his play style is “infectious” and energizes teammates.
Notable Moments and Takeaways
- The crew spent a lot of time debating the meaning of “least improved” vs. regression, especially with players like Sam Darnold, Drake Maye, and Deshaun Watson.
- The show leaned into the idea that the NFL season is here, and everyone is already emotionally invested in week one.
- There was a funny side conversation about football travel, coach vs. business class, passport day, and Goodell flying coach if he wants global expansion.
- The episode ended with a classic PMT-style mix of sports, absurdity, and chaos, including live reactions to breaking news and a few final off-the-rails tangents.
Bottom Line
This was a strong season-launch episode built around:
- big NFL predictions,
- Schrager’s sharp league analysis,
- Cam Skattebo’s rise as a fan favorite,
- and the show’s usual blend of football knowledge and nonsense.
If you want the short version: football is back, the hosts disagree on almost everything, Schrager likes the Giants and Browns, and Cam Skattebo is built for PMT content.