Tag: Pardon My Take

Caleb Williams discusses Wisconsin transfer rumors from 2022 offseason

Caleb Williams discusses Wisconsin transfer rumors from 2022 offseason

It’s time to finally put to rest a story that is more than two years old.

Chicago Bears starting quarterback Caleb Williams, the No. 1 pick of the 2024 NFL draft out of USC, joined the “Pardon My Take” podcast on Thursday. One question from host Dan Katz brought the conversation back to the 2022 offseason: He asked Williams whether he ever truly considered Wisconsin during his transfer process.

Related: 10 bold predictions for Wisconsin’s 2024 football season

A refresher: Williams was a rising star at Oklahoma during the 2021 season. He won the starting job from Spencer Rattler in impressive fashion. Rattler, for context, was a popular Heisman pick entering the campaign.

Williams made headlines during his debut season, throwing for 21 touchdowns and only four interceptions in 11 games.

But Oklahoma head coach and QB guru Lincoln Riley surprisingly left for USC toward the end of the 2021 season, which led Williams to enter the transfer portal after it concluded. USC was the likely destination from the start given the connection to Riley. But some Wisconsin rumors started circling when the Badgers hired offensive coordinator Bobby Engram, one of Williams’ close family friends whose son Dean was also a cornerback at Wisconsin.

This happened after Wisconsin starter Graham Mertz mostly struggled during the 2021 season. Fans still had hope that Mertz would live up to his top recruit billing, but a potential addition of Williams would have been a game-changing upgrade.

That let the rumors get life. Those rumors persisted until Williams  committed to USC later that offseason.

Williams confirmed his contact with the Badgers during his appearance on Pardon My Take.

“My best friend Dean Engram was at Wisconsin and his dad (Bobby Engram) was a coach. So we reached out to them. We were trying to just get the vibe and see what was going on, how it was up there,” Williams said. “Somehow it caught wind that I was in contact with them. I’m consistently in contact with those two, because I’ve grown up with them.”

So Williams confirmed that his camp reached out to Wisconsin, though mostly with information gathering in mind. He went on to clarify that it was never a real consideration.

“Somehow it caught wind and it blew up on Instagram. But it wasn’t too huge. It was never too crazy,” Williams clarified.

The star quarterback, at least, went on to compliment the Badgers fans who reached out to urge him to commit to the program.

Williams won the Heisman Trophy at USC in 2022 before being selected No. 1 in the 2024 draft. He appears to be the next Lincoln Riley quarterback set to rise to NFL stardom. That means his transfer decision, looking back, was the correct one.

Wisconsin, meanwhile, fired head coach Paul Chryst five games into the 2022 season. Bobby Engram returned to the NFL level as a result, joining the Washington Commanders as their WRs coach. What appeared to be an attractive destination for the star transfer was anything but.

There is an argument that Williams joining the Badgers would have extended the Paul Chryst era. But according to the quarterback himself, it never had a real chance of happening.

At least there is closure to this two-year-old what-if.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion.

Colin Cowherd reacts to Aaron Rodgers’ explaining missing ‘minicamp’

Colin Cowherd responds to Aaron Rodgers’ response to missing ‘minicamp.’

Colin Cowherd is fine that Aaron Rodgers missed mandatory minicamp in June. But Cowherd isn’t fine with New York Jets quarterback choosing to do so or his explanation for missing what is termed ‘mandatory minicamp.’

On Monday, the ‘Pardon My Take’ podcast (which is available on the Barstool Sports platform) aired a recent interview with Rodgers where he defended a recent trip to Egypt that caused him to miss minicamp in June. The Jets said that the absence was unexcused.

Rodgers said that minicamp is essentially OTAs and that he made 10 prior OTA practice sessions.

Cowherd nuanced his response in addressing the Rodgers situation during his Monday show (on FS1 and FoxSports Radio).

Twice in his monologue on the situation, Cowherd was critical of Jets’ ownership:

“But be that as it may, this just feels like, you know, kind of Aaron trying to win one of these little battles, and your teammates were there and you weren’t. I’m fine with it I don’t think it is the end of the world but I’d rather have my guy own it,” Cowherd said on FS1 on Monday.

“I will say this, old quarterbacks- [Tom] Brady was literally doing illegal practice as a Jesuit High School. You know, older quarterbacks. They don’t want to get hi. They don’t necessarily want to practice as much, and I get all that I do think the Jets, is a very unique situation because of the constant impulse of nature of the ownership, because they’re the Jets, because it’s New York – I think you should be there, but I don’t think it’ll have an adverse effect once the real season starts.”

Here is the full discussion from Cowherd on Rodgers:

 

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Rodgers was firm in his conviction during his ‘Pardon My Take’ appearance that this won’t be an issue once the season starts.

Derek Carr says Taysom Hill is the best player he has ever played with

New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr went on the record to talk about the best football player he’s ever played with: Taysom Hill.

New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr went on record recently in an interview to state who he believes is the best football player he’s ever played with. With teammates such as Khalil Mack, Davante Adams, Maxx Crosby, Rodney Hudson, and even Charles Woodson for a period, his teammates on the Raiders alone were outstanding.

Yet with that in mind, in an interview with the Pardon My Take podcast, Carr did not mince words when saying that Taysom Hill is the best player he has ever played with.

“Taysom’s the best football player I’ve ever played with,” Carr said. No filler, no nothing, he just got straight to the point, and he would go on to talk more about Hill and why he believes he has been his best teammate.

“He can do everything,” Carr continued. “Throws, runs, catches, fullback, quarterback, tight end, receiver in the slot, blocks punts, personal protector. Just because of how stats work, I don’t know how the stats work, but that man is a Hall of Fame football player.”

Ultimately, Taysom may be the best “football player” by definition that we have seen in a long time, as not many players if any around the league can impact a game in as many different ways as he can. The ability to play pretty much any skill position or special teams protective position is a level of versatility is one that makes him extremely valuable to the Saints.

Jeff Passan of ESPN refers to these types of players as “super-utility” players in baseball, and I believe that is the closest equivalent to what Taysom brings to the Saints, as is evident by how he is revered by teammates and coaches alike. It’s clear he draws a lot of respect inside the building.

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Aaron Rodgers on his trip to Egypt, missed ‘minicamp’ – ‘I came to the first 10’

Aaron Rodgers talked missed minicamp with Barstool Sports.

Aaron Rodgers defended his recent visit to Egypt, a trip that saw the New York Jets quarterback miss mandatory minicamp.

On a Barstool Sports podcast released on Monday, Rodgers discussed why he felt the timing of his trip to Egypt was not an issue. The Jets quarterback clearly outlined why, in his estimation, the timing of his trip is not significant ahead of his second season with the franchise.

Asked about any fallout from his trip, Rodgers said “I’m sure I’ll get fined for that.” He then explained his viewpoint of the importance (or lack thereof) of missing minicamp in a recent appearance on ‘Pardon My Take.’

“The thing that I think people don’t understand is that when, when I was in NFC North and playing for that team years ago, there used to be a real thing called minicamp, where it was, you had one of them, usually, sometimes it’s right after the draft,” Rodgers told Barstool Sports, referencing his time with the Green Bay Packers.

“But either way, it was five practices in three days, Friday, Saturday, Sunday so two practices on Friday, two on Saturday, one on Sunday. Now it’s not minicamp.

“They can arbitrarily put a tag on whatever week of OTAs they want – yeah is the minicamp week, which makes it somehow more mandatory than the other weeks. But it was an OTA schedule. That’s how it’s – you know how words can be a little deceiving from time-to-time. You can make a story of the fact that I missed a mini-camp when it’s really two OTA days, right?

“I came to the first 10 (OTA practices).”

Rodgers was then asked “if it was a media thing” to which he shrugged.

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Later in the episode, one of Barstool’s cast of characters emerged to ask Rodgers some questions. Known as ‘Memes,’ the Barstool employee deadpanned several questions to the future Hall of Fame quarterback.

Among the questions was if “a couple of missed practices will have any effect on the season?”

“Yea, big effect,” Rodgers said.

“I’m glad you said practices, thank you. OTA practices.”

Aaron Rodgers – ‘We’re the New Jersey Jets’

Aaron Rodgers wants to re-name the New York Jets?

In an appearance on ‘Pardon My Take’ that was released on Monday, the most controversial thing that New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers said was that his team should instead me called the “New Jersey Jets.”

Somewhere, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy is smiling at the idea of the Garden State bearing the name of the Jets.

Rodgers conducted his interview in mid-July with the Barstool Sports program, talking about a wide range of issues. It was a light-hearted interview from a relaxed Rodgers, who clearly was in offseason mode.

The interview touched on Rodgers and his return from last season’s Achilles injury. However, one of the most interesting reactions from the Jets quarterback came when asked whether he lives in New York or New Jersey.

“Yea nobody lives in New York – if you’re a Giant you can but I don’t know why you would – just because the traffic into the tunnel and all of our stuff,” Rodgers said on ‘Pardon My Take.’

“I joke about. I know that stadium used to be on Long Island and but we’re the New Jersey…so are the Giants, yeah, the Giants play in New Jersey.”

The Jets are completely based in New Jersey, with gameday at MetLife Stadium. So Rodgers, who likely was just having some fun with his comments, does have a point.

Are the Jets still a New York team?

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In 2008, the Jets opened Atlantic Health Jets Training Center.

Derek Carr says he was nearly a New York Jet in 2023

During his recruitment tour, Derek Carr met and considered signing with the New York Jets before reuniting with Dennis Allen and the Saints.

In the 2023 offseason, the New Orleans Saints and New York Jets both needed a quarterback, and both wanted Derek Carr.

Carr clearly chose to come to the Crescent City, and he recalled a past conversation with Jets coach Robert Saleh during an appearance on the “Pardon My Take” podcast. He says Saleh told Carr the Jets would love to have him. Carr considered it but decided it wasn’t the right time to make a decision, because he still had to visit multiple other teams.

It should come as no surprise Carr was sought after; it was reported at the time the Jets were in on him. He was the top free agent quarterback, and other teams like the Carolina Panthers also pursued him. After he decided to come to New Orleans, the Jets traded for Aaron Rodgers the following month. No, the Jets wouldn’t have chosen Carr over Rodgers, but at the time of the conversation Rodgers was likely still “mulling” retirement.

It makes you wonder what the Saints would have done if Carr had chosen to go with the Jets. Would the Saints have turned around and handed out a couple of draft picks to get Rodgers instead of the Jets? Would they have went for a rookie like Will Levis? They could have ran it back with Jameis Winston, but the belief in Winston seemed to fracture at the beginning of the 2022 season.

In the end, relationships reigned supreme. Carr chose to partner with his former head coach and Rodgers went to be with a former Packers assistant Nathanial Hackett in New York.

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Wisconsin basketball takes playful shot at a famous James Madison alumnus

Wisconsin basketball takes playful shot at a famous James Madison alumnus

Wisconsin basketball’s social media is ready for the team’s NCAA Tournament quest to begin.

First up for the Badgers is a Friday night battle with No. 12-seed James Madison at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Wisconsin enters as a sizable favorite, though James Madison quickly became a popular upset pick by analysts and fans once the bracket was revealed.

Related: Social media relitigates Zach Edey’s whistle from Wisconsin’s upset win over Purdue

The matchup is tailor-made for Pardon My Take, one of the most popular sports podcasts in the world. The two hosts are Dan Katz (Big Cat) and Eric Sollenberger (PFT Commenter). Katz is a famous Wisconsin alumnus and one of the school’s biggest advocates. Sollenberger, on the other hand, went to James Madison.

James Madison basketball is rarely on this stage, so Sollenberger is seldom heard from about the program. Katz, on the other hand, is front-and-center when it comes to anything Wisconsin athletics.

Going back two years, the two hosts were quite literally front-and-center for Wisconsin’s memorable buzzer-beating victory over top-ranked Purdue. The win clinched the Badgers a share of the Big Ten title — and is arguably the program’s best win in the last half-decade.

Plenty of photo and video evidence exists of Sollenberger courtside rooting for the Badgers. Because that evidence exists, Wisconsin basketball on X had to remind Sollenberger who he used to root for:

Wisconsin and James Madison are set to tip off at 9:40 p.m. Eastern with the game being broadcast on CBS.

Regardless of which team wins Friday night, Pardon My Take may be the biggest winner of anybody.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes, and opinion. Follow Ben Kenney on X.

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Jared Goff turns heel, won’t apologize to Saints fans for controversial NFCCG no-call

Former Rams QB Jared Goff reopened old wounds in discussing the NFC title game no-call, says ‘I’ve had a million pass interferences that weren’t called’

Who saw a Jared Goff heel turn coming? The scrappy Detroit Lions have been one of the easier teams to root for lately with former New Orleans Saints assistant coaches Dan Campbell and Aaron Glenn running the show, but Goff’s true colors as an ex-Los Angeles Rams quarterback came through in a recent podcast interview.

Speaking with “Pardon My Take” about the Lions’ 2023 season and his unsuccessful Rams run, Goff declined the opportunity to apologize to Saints fans for the 2018 NFC championship game no-call. Goff scoffed, “No, God no. They got the ball in overtime, they had a chance to win it.”

Thanks for reopening old wounds, Goff. The Saints’ final possession in the 2018 conference title game ended with a Drew Brees interception at midfield, setting up a 57-year field goal by Rams kicker Greg Zuerlein. Los Angeles embarrassed themselves in the Super Bowl matchup that followed, but the damage was done, and Goff isn’t taking the high road with New Orleans.

When asked whether he believed a penalty occurred during the play, Goff responded adamantly: “No, it wasn’t. Was it called pass interference? I’ve had a million pass interferences that weren’t called. Who says he makes the field goal, too? I know he’s automatic from (that distance), Lutz was, but I don’t know.”

That’s not what the player at fault here had to say. Former Rams defensive back Nickell Robey-Coleman bragged about how he got away with one in New Orleans, which brought a big smile to Goff’s face in recollection.

“I thought Robey’s response was fantastic after the game, when they asked him (if it was pass interference), he’s like ‘Yeah it was.’ I was like, ‘Robe, don’t say that, Robe,'” Goff laughed.

Goff will return to New Orleans for a game with the Saints in Week 13, and his presence — and these volatile comments — add a little more vitriol to a matchup already swarming with subplots. Dennis Allen versus Dan Campbell. Michael Thomas versus C.J. Gardner-Johnson. And Jared Goff versus everyone in the 504.

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Why does Mike McDaniel feel Tua Tagovailoa gets scrutinized so much?

There are a few factors.

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Since entering the NFL in 2020 as the fifth overall pick out of Alabama, Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has been under the microscope of football fans and analysts alike.

He’s constantly compared to the other quarterbacks in his draft class (Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert, Jalen Hurts, etc.), and naturally so.

It’s been widely reported that Tagovailoa didn’t have the best relationship with former Dolphins head coach Brian Flores during their time together, so when Mike McDaniel arrived in 2022, it was important that the coach had his quarterback’s back. And, he’s done exactly that.

McDaniel has said all of the right things when talking about Tagovailoa in public, and they seem to be as close as a coach and quarterback can be.

On Friday, McDaniel appeared on Barstool Sports’ “Pardon My Take” podcast, where he was asked why he believes Tagovailoa gets criticized as much as he does.

“There’s a couple things going on, I think, because I’ve wondered the same thing, in terms of the polarization of people, like a lot of people have strong opinions either way,” McDaniel said. “I think the starting point is he is different. Different makes people uncomfortable. I’m not sure if you guys noticed. He throws with his left hand not right…”

Of course, no McDaniel is ever complete without some sort of humor.

“I think, throughout the history of time, people have shunned others when they can’t pronounce their last names. When there’s a lot of letters,” he joked.

He also pointed out a problem with the sports world and fandom today.

“There’s also a lot of conviction, and when there’s a lot of conviction with people, and they’re over the top about it, people tend to speak up more in the negative,” McDaniel said. “Then, once you dig your heels in, all of a sudden, three years down the road, you have voodoo dolls of Tua because he’s the bane of your existence. Why? Because you said you didn’t like him one time and are tripling down. Who knows? All I know is I feel great about the guy.”

Tagovailoa set career highs in passing yards and touchdowns in 2022, his first season with McDaniel at the helm while, leading the league in passer rating.

The duo has seen statistical success in their first year together. Now, they just need to win in the postseason and finally break that nearly 23-year streak.

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Mike McDaniel shares how he gets WRs to care about blocking

It’s a philosophy that he learned nearly 20 years ago.

The Miami Dolphins had a productive rushing attack in Mike McDaniel’s first year, as Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson Jr., the team’s two top backs in 2022, averaged 4.84 yards per carry.

However, McDaniel didn’t really commit to the run game as much as he would’ve liked. They actually had the second-fewest rushing attempts (390) in the NFL, only ahead of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (386).

One thing that’s made Miami’s rushing attack so strong is the blocking of wide receivers in the offense. Wideouts like Tyreek Hill and Trent Sheffield excelled in that area of the game last season, making things easier for Mostert and Wilson to find lanes and focus on fewer defenders.

Blocking isn’t a glamorous aspect of football, but McDaniel seems to get the most out of his receivers. How does he do it?

“This seed was planted in 2005, my first year as a coaching intern in defense, and shout out to Mike Shanahan because he set the whole vision,” McDaniel said during an appearance on Barstool Sports’ “Pardon My Take.” “Wide receiver position is tricky in general because you get compensated for the pass game. Typically, good football players have pride and try to do it, but the bottom line is it’s not like ‘Let’s go pay this guy ’cause he’s got sick blocks.’ So, how do you incentive guys to participate in something that’s less dividend-paying directly as catching a pass?

“What coach Shanahan would do is he would watch Thursday’s practice, the team run period, which everybody does around the league in some way, shape or form. He would watch that portion of practice as an entire offense on Friday with the thinking that the best way to motivate receivers to take pride and detail in the run game, the best way to really emphasize that it takes all 11 players on the field to run the ball well, is to have them all watch that together. It’s the peer pressure from the locker room, guys saying ‘Dude, you’re just gonna loaf and let me get tattooed by a strong safety?’

“That was his kind of way of really emphasizing and really getting that done, and every place we’ve been we’ve really kind of taken that. It’s something that you can’t relent on. Your offensive coordinator has to be fully committed to it. The receiver coach has to be willing to drive it home. Unbeknownst to most people, Wes Welker is a low-key run-game guy. He just loves receiver blocks more than anything. For it to look different, you have to approach it different. You get what you emphasize.”

McDaniel may be young, but he has a ton of experience learning from a legend like Shanahan and, obviously, Kyle Shanahan as well. Luckily, he’s taken all of that knowledge and used it to make his team better when he got his chance to shine.

In 2023, Miami hopes to have a full year of the Mostert-Wilson combo, provided they both stay healthy, and they should have even more success with McDaniel saying he wants to commit more to the rushing attack going forward.

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