Overview of PMS 2.0 Episode 1596
This Football Tuesday edition of Pardon My Take was a fast-moving mix of NFL training camp updates, contract news, college football preseason discussion, baseball business talk, and a big sit-down with Brock Lesnar. The main themes were teams paying their young stars early, the Ravens locking up Zay Flowers, the running back market rising after Bijan Robinson’s new deal, and several teams using camp to build real momentum. The episode also featured strong opinions on the Dodgers’ payroll strategy, a lively college football preview with Kirk Herbstreit, and a retirement-style sendoff from Brock Lesnar after his SummerSlam loss.
NFL Training Camp, Contracts, and Roster News
Big extensions and market movement
- Zay Flowers was discussed as the Ravens’ newest major investment, with the crew praising Baltimore for extending him early as a foundational weapon for Lamar Jackson.
- Bijan Robinson got a massive new deal, and Adam Schefter explained that his contract could help trigger the next wave of running back extensions, especially for Jahmyr Gibbs and potentially Jonathan Taylor.
- The running back market was a major talking point, with the crew noting how much it has risen in a short time.
Schefter’s camp updates
Adam Schefter joined to cover a wide range of NFL stories:
- Vita Vea: Schefter said a trade remains possible if tensions in Tampa Bay continue.
- Baker Mayfield: He described the relationship with Tampa as strained but still potentially salvageable if a deal gets done later.
- Travis Hunter: Schefter said Jacksonville plans to use him on both offense and defense, with cornerback likely his primary role.
- He also gave quick updates on various injuries and camp issues, including a Jets rookie aggravated hernia and A.J. Brown’s finger injury.
Training camp impressions
- Darius Butler and A.J. Hawk both described the Steelers camp as extremely organized, intense, and detail-driven.
- The Steelers’ expectations are clearly high, with Rodgers, Mike Tomlin, T.J. Watt, and Cam Heyward all part of a team that believes it can contend now.
- The crew also highlighted several defensive camp plays, including:
- Sauce Gardner pass breakups
- Caleb Downs thumping a play in Cowboys camp
- Sonny Styles making a standout hit
- Trent McDuffie punching out a catch from Puka Nacua
College Football Preview with Kirk Herbstreit
Kirk Herbstreit joined for a broad preseason look at college football, and the discussion centered on:
- LSU vs. Clemson as a massive early-season opener
- Ohio State entering the season with huge expectations
- Penn State as a possible surprise contender with Matt Campbell arriving
- The changing QB landscape and how veteran quarterbacks can reshape a team quickly
Key takeaways from Herbie
- He believes the sport is loaded with storylines but sees LSU, Ohio State, Penn State, Clemson, and Notre Dame as central teams to watch.
- He stressed that communication, experience, and coaching continuity matter more than ever.
- He also highlighted the transfer portal and new staff hires as major reasons some teams could jump quickly.
- Herbstreit and the crew repeatedly circled back to the idea that college football is about to kick into a new gear.
Baseball Business, Dodgers Dominance, and Red Sox Momentum
Eric Hosmer on the Dodgers and the sport’s economics
Eric Hosmer gave a strong baseball segment focused on:
- The Dodgers’ organizational excellence
- Deferred money and payroll structure
- The larger argument that other teams could copy the Dodgers’ model if they truly wanted to compete
He argued that:
- The Dodgers are not “ruining baseball,” but rather exposing how much better run they are than everyone else.
- Their combination of scouting, development, spending, and contract structuring gives them a massive edge.
- The broader issue in baseball is not just the top spenders, but also the teams that don’t spend enough.
Red Sox and deadline talk
Hosmer and the crew also discussed:
- The Red Sox’s unexpected turnaround
- How Boston’s front office made aggressive trade-deadline moves
- Which teams helped themselves most at the deadline, including the Phillies, Guardians, and Red Sox
- Which teams failed to improve enough, with criticism aimed at the Brewers and Yankees
Brock Lesnar Interview and Retirement-Like Sendoff
Brock Lesnar appeared for one of the episode’s most memorable segments:
- He framed SummerSlam as his final in-ring performance.
- He thanked fans, coaches, and the wrestling business for his career.
- He emphasized the value of hard work, telling kids to stay focused and put in the work if they want big things to happen.
What he said he’s doing next
- Spending more time with his kids
- Supporting his sons’ hockey careers
- Staying involved with his daughter’s Olympic ambitions
- Hunting and living a quieter life
The crew treated it like a true farewell to a once-in-a-generation athlete.
Other Notable Moments and Running Bits
Aaron Rodgers “therapy session”
- A.J. Hawk and the crew discussed Rodgers’ recent comments and said they felt like a genuine emotional release after years of criticism.
- The vibe was that Rodgers clearly still remembers everything that was said about him and used the platform to answer back.
Social media teams under fire
Pat and the crew went off on NFL team social media departments for:
- Posting embarrassing content
- Making players look silly for engagement
- Trying to create content at the expense of actual football people
Birthday and music tease
- The episode ended with a birthday celebration for Evan Fox.
- Pat also teased his upcoming album, saying he’s nearly done and plans to release it soon.
Main Takeaways
- The NFL is in full camp mode, and several teams are paying stars early to lock in their future.
- Running backs are getting paid again, with Bijan Robinson’s deal standing out as a key market reset.
- Travis Hunter appears headed for a real two-way NFL role.
- The Dodgers remain the gold standard in baseball operations, whether people like it or not.
- College football is close, and Herbstreit sees several major storylines building fast.
- Brock Lesnar’s career may be over, and he left with a message about work ethic and gratitude.