Caleb Williams says he throws away the ball more than any QB to stay out of bad situations — and plans to prove all his haters wrong by bumping his completion percentage to match Peyton, Tom, and Patrick.
Pardon My Take
Caleb Williams says he throws away the ball more than any QB to stay out of bad situations — and plans to prove all his haters wrong by bumping his completion percentage to match Peyton, Tom, and Patrick.
TL;DR
Pardon My Take records live during the USMNT's 2-2 loss to Turkey, then dives into rapid-fire takes on the LaMelo Ball trade, MLB lockout fears, and Caitlin Clark discourse [1] — Big Cat "The trade is bold and no one knows what happens next, which makes Minnesota the most interesting team in the NBA. The core question: can La…" 04:32 . The Mount Rushmore of Household Appliances sparks genuine debate — AC vs. fridge as the true #1 [2] — Caleb Williams "During the season, Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson meet every single day for up to two and a half hours. The trust that fuels those sessions…" 1:02:00 . Chicago Bears QB Caleb Williams talks Madden 27 cover, his 2025 playoff run, and how haters fuel him [3] — Caleb Williams "Big Cat sheepishly asks if the Instagram hearts and slide replies actually come from Caleb — and they do. Williams runs his own page, takes…" 2:09:36 . Fox Sports CFB analyst Joel Klatt discusses voicing College Football 27, the Brennan Sorsby gambling controversy, CFP expansion to 24 teams, and his eight national title contenders. Best takeaway: trust your coach through the 0-2 start.
Pardon My Take covers the live USMNT-Turkey result, rapid-fire takes including LaMelo Ball's trade and MLB lockout fears, the Mount Rushmore of Household Appliances, a full interview with Bears QB Caleb Williams, an interview with Joel Klatt on College Football 27 and CFB governance, and Fyre Fest of the Week.
The rapid-fire segment opens with the LaMelo Ball trade to the Timberwolves, which Big Cat argues solves Anthony Edwards's double-team problem but comes with injury risk. Zach's affection for LaMelo is noted, while PFT points out the irony of trading away the steady Nas Reid who would have been a perfect fit. The Travis Kelce-Taylor Swift MSG wedding discussion draws a distinction between the ceremony and the party — apparently MSG is tacky for a ceremony but fine for a reception. Austin Reeves' $185 million max deal is announced mid-segment, with PFT defending the potentially rich contract. The crew also spars over whether Wendy's prediction that the contract is tradeable for a second-round pick will age well.
Big Cat reads through the alarming details of MLB owners' CBA proposal — hard cap, five-year max contracts, no deferred money — and the crew agrees a lockout seems inevitable with no summer sport to replace baseball. Hank stuns the room by deploying the same 'they haven't won anything' logic against Caitlin Clark discourse that PFT always uses against US soccer, briefly winning the segment before PFT calls it a straw man. The Terrion Arnold kidnapping situation is addressed briefly (anti-kidnapping podcast disclaimers ensue). Brian Kelly taking a Mountain West broadcast role is mocked, though Big Cat allows that a grumpy-coach-who-hates-the-media persona could work — citing Jim Boeheim as the template. The crew also debates whether A-Rod's ownership style drove the Timberwolves to make a splash move.
Sponsored by Microsoft 365 Copilot, the Mount Rushmore is a three-team draft: Hank/Zach vs. PFT vs. Big Cat/Max. Hank's team opens with the refrigerator; PFT counters immediately with air conditioning, calling it possibly the greatest invention of all time. The debate over which is more essential runs for nearly ten minutes, with Hank — who grew up without AC — standing firm that industrial fans suffice, while PFT claims 40 percent of listeners would die without air conditioning. Big Cat and Max take microwave and grill; PFT adds stove and garbage disposal; Hank's team adds dishwasher and vacuum (mocked mercilessly). The air fryer, hot tub, coffee maker, and washer-dryer round out the picks. Big Cat lobbies passionately for a garage fridge as a distinct appliance and is shot down. Microsoft Copilot's picks — fridge, stove, washing machine, vacuum — are revealed at the end, vindicating Hank and cementing the bit.
Big Cat opens by fangirling out about Caleb Williams, who good-naturedly plays along. Williams describes getting the Madden 27 cover call as a childhood dream — he tried to play it cool on the phone and immediately called his closest friends after. He dismisses the Madden curse without hesitation. The conversation shifts to his working relationship with Ben Johnson: during OTAs they meet weekly, but in season, those meetings happen every day for up to two and a half hours. [1] — Caleb Williams "Ben Johnson meetings — 1.5–2.5 hrs/day: During the season, Bears QB Caleb Williams meets one-on-one with head coach Ben Johnson every singl…" 1:03:24 Williams traces the trust built with Johnson specifically to the aftermath of the Bears' 0-2 start, when the coach's calm and direct communication changed the dynamic entirely. The offense itself, he says, didn't click until midway through the season. PFT asks about haters, and Williams delivers one of the episode's best lines: 'I love them. It's my favorite thing.' He defends his low completion percentage by explaining that his intentional throwaway rate is higher than any other QB, and reveals he has researched Peyton, Tom, and Patrick's career numbers as benchmarks.
Big Cat introduces the Brennan Sorsby situation — the Texas Tech QB who was briefly reinstated by a local judge after a gambling suspension — and Klatt does not hold back. He calls it a total disaster, noting it violated one of sports' longest-standing rules (going back to Shoeless Joe and Pete Rose) and that local judges giving favorable rulings to local teams destroys any semblance of rule enforcement. [1] — Joel Klatt "Sorsby's reinstatement by a local Texas judge was a disaster for college football's rule structure. But Klatt sees a silver lining: the cha…" 1:48:20 Crucially, Klatt argues this wasn't uniquely Texas Tech — he believes most programs would act similarly when their own interests are threatened. The silver lining: the chaos has accelerated a Senate bill that could grant antitrust protection to college sports enforcement bodies. Without that protection, Klatt argues, any enforcement entity is toothless. He goes further: he personally believes college football needs to collectively bargain with players, and without a CBA, legal challenges will continue indefinitely. PFT agrees, calling any legislative fix without a CBA mere window dressing.
Hank's Fyre Fest: a routine dental crown appointment reduced him to a tense, tensed-up mess who the dentist had to repeatedly tell to stop tensing. PFT's Fyre Fest: Brandon Aiyuk's relentless social media lobbying to join the Washington Commanders has crossed into stalker territory — PFT now yearns for the mental stability and groundedness of Stefon Diggs. Zach's Fyre Fest: he is moving to a new apartment 800 feet away, has no car, no couch (he's leaving it), and what he calls a 'dolly' is actually an industrial laundry basket with wheels. The crew immediately volunteers a PMT TV episode where all nine of them physically walk his belongings down the street. Big Cat closes with the end of Pug softball season — undefeated in the playoffs, 8-1 on the year, rained out before the semifinals, channeling a Florida State 'we're the champions' energy despite not finishing.
Chapter 1 · 00:00
The rapid-fire segment opens with the LaMelo Ball trade to the Timberwolves, which Big Cat argues solves Anthony Edwards's double-team problem but comes with injury risk. Zach's affection for LaMelo is noted, while PFT points out the irony of trading away the steady Nas Reid who would have been a perfect fit. The Travis Kelce-Taylor Swift MSG wedding discussion draws a distinction between the ceremony and the party — apparently MSG is tacky for a ceremony but fine for a reception. Austin Reeves' $185 million max deal is announced mid-segment, with PFT defending the potentially rich contract. The crew also spars over whether Wendy's prediction that the contract is tradeable for a second-round pick will age well.
The PMT crew records live during the final minutes of the USMNT 2-2 draw with Turkey in a group stage finale that was already meaningless for advancement. The result sparks an immediate argument about whether Hank has ever really supported US soccer — and everyone agrees the real enemy is Bosnia.
The trade is bold and no one knows what happens next, which makes Minnesota the most interesting team in the NBA. The core question: can LaMelo take the double-team pressure off Anthony Edwards the way Nas Reid never could?
LaMelo Ball was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves, with the Charlotte Hornets receiving Nas Reid and a series of pick swaps extending as far as 2030–2032.
Hank insists he has never said anything bad about US soccer — and PFT has receipts spanning two years. The segment escalates into a genuine philosophical disagreement about whether not caring about a sport means actively trying to ruin it for others.
Chapter 2 · 17:56
Big Cat reads through the alarming details of MLB owners' CBA proposal — hard cap, five-year max contracts, no deferred money — and the crew agrees a lockout seems inevitable with no summer sport to replace baseball. Hank stuns the room by deploying the same 'they haven't won anything' logic against Caitlin Clark discourse that PFT always uses against US soccer, briefly winning the segment before PFT calls it a straw man. The Terrion Arnold kidnapping situation is addressed briefly (anti-kidnapping podcast disclaimers ensue). Brian Kelly taking a Mountain West broadcast role is mocked, though Big Cat allows that a grumpy-coach-who-hates-the-media persona could work — citing Jim Boeheim as the template. The crew also debates whether A-Rod's ownership style drove the Timberwolves to make a splash move.
MLB owners proposed a CBA with a hard salary cap, max 5-year contracts for free agents switching teams, and free agency for players 30 or older after just 5 years of service.
Chapter 3 · 30:16
Sponsored by Microsoft 365 Copilot, the Mount Rushmore is a three-team draft: Hank/Zach vs. PFT vs. Big Cat/Max. Hank's team opens with the refrigerator; PFT counters immediately with air conditioning, calling it possibly the greatest invention of all time. The debate over which is more essential runs for nearly ten minutes, with Hank — who grew up without AC — standing firm that industrial fans suffice, while PFT claims 40 percent of listeners would die without air conditioning. Big Cat and Max take microwave and grill; PFT adds stove and garbage disposal; Hank's team adds dishwasher and vacuum (mocked mercilessly). The air fryer, hot tub, coffee maker, and washer-dryer round out the picks. Big Cat lobbies passionately for a garage fridge as a distinct appliance and is shot down. Microsoft Copilot's picks — fridge, stove, washing machine, vacuum — are revealed at the end, vindicating Hank and cementing the bit.
Air conditioning and refrigerator go 1-2, but PFT and Hank can't agree on which is actually more essential. From garbage disposals to air fryers to hot tubs, the segment turns into a 25-minute argument about what makes a house livable — and whether a garage fridge counts.
PFT Commenter claimed that if air conditioning didn't exist, roughly 40 percent of Pardon My Take's listener base would likely die from heat.
Chapter 4 · 57:05
Big Cat opens by fangirling out about Caleb Williams, who good-naturedly plays along. Williams describes getting the Madden 27 cover call as a childhood dream — he tried to play it cool on the phone and immediately called his closest friends after. He dismisses the Madden curse without hesitation. The conversation shifts to his working relationship with Ben Johnson: during OTAs they meet weekly, but in season, those meetings happen every day for up to two and a half hours. [1] — Caleb Williams "Ben Johnson meetings — 1.5–2.5 hrs/day: During the season, Bears QB Caleb Williams meets one-on-one with head coach Ben Johnson every singl…" 1:03:24 Williams traces the trust built with Johnson specifically to the aftermath of the Bears' 0-2 start, when the coach's calm and direct communication changed the dynamic entirely. The offense itself, he says, didn't click until midway through the season. PFT asks about haters, and Williams delivers one of the episode's best lines: 'I love them. It's my favorite thing.' He defends his low completion percentage by explaining that his intentional throwaway rate is higher than any other QB, and reveals he has researched Peyton, Tom, and Patrick's career numbers as benchmarks.
Getting called by EA was a childhood dream Caleb tried to play cool about — then immediately called his closest friends. He doesn't believe in the Madden curse and plans to prove it by the end of the season.
During the season, Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson meet every single day for up to two and a half hours. The trust that fuels those sessions was built specifically in the aftermath of the Bears' 0-2 start — and it changed everything.
During the season, Bears QB Caleb Williams meets one-on-one with head coach Ben Johnson every single day for sessions lasting between 90 minutes and 2 hours 30 minutes.
Caleb Williams says he is more surprised when plays don't work than when they do — that's his baseline. The 4th and 8 to Rome Odunze in the Packers playoff game was 'sick' but not a surprise, because when the ball leaves his hand, he already trusts the outcome.
Caleb Williams says he throws the ball away more than any other QB to keep the Bears in advantageous down-and-distance situations, knowing Ben Johnson will go for it on fourth down.
Chapter 5 · 1:33:55
Big Cat introduces the Brennan Sorsby situation — the Texas Tech QB who was briefly reinstated by a local judge after a gambling suspension — and Klatt does not hold back. He calls it a total disaster, noting it violated one of sports' longest-standing rules (going back to Shoeless Joe and Pete Rose) and that local judges giving favorable rulings to local teams destroys any semblance of rule enforcement. [1] — Joel Klatt "Sorsby's reinstatement by a local Texas judge was a disaster for college football's rule structure. But Klatt sees a silver lining: the cha…" 1:48:20 Crucially, Klatt argues this wasn't uniquely Texas Tech — he believes most programs would act similarly when their own interests are threatened. The silver lining: the chaos has accelerated a Senate bill that could grant antitrust protection to college sports enforcement bodies. Without that protection, Klatt argues, any enforcement entity is toothless. He goes further: he personally believes college football needs to collectively bargain with players, and without a CBA, legal challenges will continue indefinitely. PFT agrees, calling any legislative fix without a CBA mere window dressing.
Caleb Williams researched Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, and Patrick Mahomes and found their average completion percentages range from 62–65%, just 2–3% above his own current mark.
EA Sports asked Klatt to record nearly 90 hours of commentary — about 3,500 to 4,000 individual lines — for College Football 27, with zero AI involvement. Sessions started at 6 AM, three days a week, over roughly six months. It was harder than he ever expected.
Joel Klatt recorded close to 90 hours of commentary lines — roughly 3,500–4,000 individual lines — for EA Sports College Football 27, with zero AI involvement.
Caleb Williams said his trust in Ben Johnson fully crystallized after the Bears' 0-2 start in 2025 based on how Johnson responded to adversity, while the offense itself clicked mid-season.
Sorsby's reinstatement by a local Texas judge was a disaster for college football's rule structure. But Klatt sees a silver lining: the chaos may have finally given Congress the push to pass federal antitrust legislation, giving enforcement bodies actual teeth for the first time.
Joel Klatt argued the Brennan Sorsby gambling case may be the moment that accelerates federal antitrust legislation for college athletics, as enforcement bodies currently have zero teeth without it.
If schools can sign players to 5-year contracts out of high school, the NFL would have to pay a transfer fee to those schools to get the rights — exactly like European soccer. Klatt says this is not far-fetched and might be the only way college football captures value from the players it develops.
Joel Klatt believes the College Football Playoff will eventually expand to 24 teams, though he acknowledges that is too many while also explaining the financial incentives driving the push.
Klatt is in on LSU under Lane Kiffin — a $40 million roster with a proven system that gels fast. Indiana is back with Josh Hoover, and Miami replaces five NFL defensive linemen with five former five-star recruits. The field is wide open.
Joel Klatt named eight teams he believes have a legitimate shot at the 2025 CFB national title: Oregon, Indiana, Ohio State, Texas, Georgia, Notre Dame, Miami, and LSU.
Alabama couldn't run the football last year and now has a brand-new starting QB with no starts. Klatt thinks they'll be undefeated heading into Georgia but will need to survive close games — and was genuinely surprised DeBoer got an extension.
Joel Klatt noted that Notre Dame has the highest season win over-under in college football at 11.5 wins, driven by their extremely soft schedule.
Big Cat sheepishly asks if the Instagram hearts and slide replies actually come from Caleb — and they do. Williams runs his own page, takes all the screenshots, and has been posting Bears memes all season. His dog's account, though, is handled by someone else.
Williams is a 'pump down' guy — Drake, Brent Faiyaz, Adele, Bob Marley before the game. But for the past six or seven years, right before the national anthem, it's always the same song: John Legend's 'Ordinary People.'
Chapter 6 · 2:11:58
Hank's Fyre Fest: a routine dental crown appointment reduced him to a tense, tensed-up mess who the dentist had to repeatedly tell to stop tensing. PFT's Fyre Fest: Brandon Aiyuk's relentless social media lobbying to join the Washington Commanders has crossed into stalker territory — PFT now yearns for the mental stability and groundedness of Stefon Diggs. Zach's Fyre Fest: he is moving to a new apartment 800 feet away, has no car, no couch (he's leaving it), and what he calls a 'dolly' is actually an industrial laundry basket with wheels. The crew immediately volunteers a PMT TV episode where all nine of them physically walk his belongings down the street. Big Cat closes with the end of Pug softball season — undefeated in the playoffs, 8-1 on the year, rained out before the semifinals, channeling a Florida State 'we're the champions' energy despite not finishing.
Caleb Williams listens to John Legend's 'Ordinary People' right before every game as part of a routine he has maintained for six to seven years.
BetterHelp, the world's largest online therapy platform with over 30,000 therapists, has served more than 6 million people globally and holds a 4.9/5 average rating from 1.7 million client reviews.
Hank had a meltdown getting a dental crown at 33 years old. PFT is being love-bombed by Brandon Aiyuk's Commanders ticket sales campaign. And Zach is moving 800 feet to a new apartment, has no car, has no couch, and considers an industrial laundry basket a 'dolly.'
No indexed bits in this chapter.
Caleb Williams says he is more surprised when plays don't work than when they do — that's his baseline. The 4th and 8 to Rome Odunze in the Packers playoff game was 'sick' but not a surprise, because when the ball leaves his hand, he already trusts the outcome.
Sorsby's reinstatement by a local Texas judge was a disaster for college football's rule structure. But Klatt sees a silver lining: the chaos may have finally given Congress the push to pass federal antitrust legislation, giving enforcement bodies actual teeth for the first time.
Air conditioning and refrigerator go 1-2, but PFT and Hank can't agree on which is actually more essential. From garbage disposals to air fryers to hot tubs, the segment turns into a 25-minute argument about what makes a house livable — and whether a garage fridge counts.
This episode
Factual claims made this episode, and whether a source was named.
Caleb Williams throws the ball away more than any other NFL quarterback as a deliberate strategy to maintain advantageous down-and-distance situations.
Elite NFL quarterbacks like Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, and Patrick Mahomes complete between 62 and 65 percent of their passes on average, only 2–3 percentage points above Caleb Williams's current rate.
Joel Klatt recorded close to 90 hours and approximately 3,500 to 4,000 individual commentary lines for EA Sports College Football 27, with no AI-generated lines.
LaMelo Ball's trade to the Timberwolves included Nas Reid going to Charlotte and pick swaps extending as far as 2030 and 2032.
Austin Reeves signed a $185 million max contract with the Los Angeles Lakers.
MLB owners proposed a CBA with a hard salary cap, max 5-year contracts for free agents switching teams, 6-year retention for own players, no deferred contracts, no qualifying offers, and 5-year free agency for players aged 30 or older.
BetterHelp is the world's largest online therapy platform with over 30,000 therapists, has served more than 6 million people globally, and holds a 4.9 out of 5 average rating from over 1.7 million client reviews.
Joel Klatt believes the College Football Playoff will eventually expand to 24 teams.
In a hypothetical 2014-style playoff expansion model, 81 teams would have made at least one CFP appearance.
Notre Dame has the highest season win over-under in college football at 11.5 wins for the 2025 season.
Fernando Mendoza at Indiana threw the most RPO passes in all of college football last year, and Josh Hoover at TCU threw the second most.
Patrice Lumumba's body was dissolved in a vat of acid after his assassination, and only a single tooth was ever recovered.
Pepsi Zero Sugar was preferred by nearly two-thirds of Americans in a nationwide blind taste test.
Caleb Williams has listened to John Legend's 'Ordinary People' immediately before every game for the past six or seven years.
This episode
Chicago Bears starting quarterback and Madden NFL 27 cover athlete, interviewed about his 2025 season, relationship with Ben Johnson, and investment in fruit company Fruitist.
Fox Sports college football analyst and new voice of EA Sports College Football 27, discusses the Sorsby case, CFP expansion, and his eight national title contenders.
Chicago Bears head coach who holds daily 90-minute to 2.5-hour one-on-one meetings with Caleb Williams and became known for removing his shirt at the Wiener Circle after a win.
NBA guard traded from the Charlotte Hornets to the Minnesota Timberwolves, discussed as a potential unlock for Anthony Edwards.
Wide receiver repeatedly posting about wanting to join the Washington Commanders on social media, described by PFT Commenter as 'love bombing' and stalker behavior.
Minnesota Timberwolves star whose frustration with double-teams was the primary motivation for acquiring LaMelo Ball.
Texas Tech quarterback whose gambling-related eligibility suspension was briefly overturned by a local judge before the NFL and governing bodies ultimately upheld the ban, discussed as a governance crisis for college football.
WNBA star discussed in the context of ongoing league controversy around her treatment by opponents and being left off a 30-year anniversary calendar due to sponsorship conflicts.
New LSU head coach whose quick cultural imprint on the program impressed Big Cat during a visit, named as a reason Joel Klatt includes LSU among his CFP title contenders.
Los Angeles Lakers guard who signed a $185 million max contract extension, mentioned during the rapid-fire segment.
NFL franchise whose QB Caleb Williams broke out in the 2025 season, won a playoff game against the Packers, and is the team featured on the Madden NFL 27 cover.
Video game publisher behind Madden NFL 27 and College Football 27, with Caleb Williams as Madden cover athlete and Joel Klatt as the voice of College Football 27.
NBA team that acquired LaMelo Ball in a trade, seen as a potentially chaotic but exciting pairing with Anthony Edwards.
College football program with the highest season win over-under at 11.5 due to a soft schedule, with QB CJ Carr discussed as a potential Heisman dark horse.
College football program under new coach Lane Kiffin that Joel Klatt named as one of his eight national title contenders, citing a $40 million roster and a quarterback-friendly system.
NBA franchise that traded LaMelo Ball to Minnesota, now rebuilding around Kobe White and pick swaps.
Premium berry brand in which Caleb Williams is an investor, known for large high-quality blueberries grown on farms including one in Peru.
College football program Joel Klatt named as a national title contender, noting Josh Hoover's RPO skillset fits Curt Signetti's system perfectly.
NFL team that Brandon Aiyuk has been publicly campaigning to join via social media posts.
Sports betting app and presenting sponsor of Pardon My Take, promoted during the World Cup segment with a sign-up bonus for new customers.
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