Advertisement

FULL VIDEO EPISODE: Blake Bortles Saved Taylor Heinicke's Football Career

On today's Pardon My Take... TAYLOR HEINICKE! The Washington Commanders Quarterback joined Mr. Cat and Mr. Commenter on today's show to discuss the new team name (this was recorded before the Commanders name was announced), his relationship with Ryan Fitzpatrick, the ups and downs of this past season, and much more. Heinicke also told an awesome story on how Blake Bortles played a role in getting today's guest back on a NFL roster. It seems like it wouldn't make much sense, but let Heinicke explain:

Mr. Cat: I was reading some stories about you and you were admittedly, you said you were kind of close to like being done with football. How real close were you? Because I'm sure that's obviously a very hard decision. You played football all your life. You've been on some NFL teams, XFL. Was it really like, "Oh man, if I don't get picked up here, it's over?"

Taylor Heinicke: Yeah, and it was a really tough time. So, you know, obviously, we're in the XFL, COVID, you know, canceled all that. So, I'm going home and I'm thinking, "What am I going to do now?" And you know, I called Coach Scott Turner, our OC, and asked him if he has any coaching positions open. He said "You've got to go finish school first." So, I came back down to Georgia, started taking online classes, I was living with my sister at the time, you know, living on her couch and sitting there just watching football... maybe an injury happens, maybe some COVID stuff happens, maybe I'll get a call. And I think it was Week 10 or 11, and I still haven't got a call. And I was like, you know what? I might have to start looking for that next chapter in life. And sure enough, remember when Denver had all those quarterbacks go down and had the receiving one...

Mr. Cat: Yes.

Mr. Commenter: Blake Bortles, yeah. 

Taylor Heinicke: Yeah, that's the only reason Washington called me up just to get an emergency COVID quarterback just in case that happened.

Mr. Cat: So, Blake Bortles kept you in football.

Taylor Heinicke: Pretty much.

Mr. Commenter: Yeah, domino effect, verbal meme - Blake Bortles being in a room with the other quarterbacks without a mask on … Taylor Heinicke covers in a playoff game against Tom Brady.

Taylor Heinicke: Yeah, so it was wild, man. And then, you know, obviously some things happened with [Dwayne] Haskins and Alex Smith, and there I am playing Brady in the playoffs. So, it was a wild ride.

Mr. Cat: That's awesome, shout out Blake.

Well, there you have it, folks. If it weren't for Blake Bortles, Taylor Heinicke would not have gotten a shot at living out his dream as a starting quarterback in the NFL. There are only 32 of them in the entire world, and Heinicke made the cut thanks to the BOAT himself. 

Advertisement

Advertisement

Pardon My Take

25 videos

1
NFL Draft With Todd McShay, Packers HC Matt LaFleur, Playoff Recaps In NHL/NBA + Listener Submitted FAQ's

NFL Draft With Todd McShay, Packers HC Matt LaFleur, Playoff Recaps In NHL/NBA + Listener ...

2
NFL Draft With Daniel Jeremiah, Timberwolves HC Chris Finch, Playoffs Are Here And We Have A Thunder Fan Refusing To Wear The Shirt

NFL Draft With Daniel Jeremiah, Timberwolves HC Chris Finch, Playoffs Are Here And We Have...

3
NBA Playoffs With Brian Windhorst, Actor Josh Duhamel, The Bulls Lost Twice In The Play In, Lee Corso Retires Plus Fyre Fest

NBA Playoffs With Brian Windhorst, Actor Josh Duhamel, The Bulls Lost Twice In The Play In...

4
Celtics HC Joe Mazzulla, NBA Play In Games, Who’s The Next “Can’t Win The Big One” Guy + Guys On Chicks And The Year Of Junk Science

Celtics HC Joe Mazzulla, NBA Play In Games, Who’s The Next “Can’t Win The Big One” Guy + G...

5
Scott Van Pelt Live From Augusta, Rory Wins An Incredible Masters, NBA Playoffs Set, Who's Back And Monday Reading

Scott Van Pelt Live From Augusta, Rory Wins An Incredible Masters, NBA Playoffs Set, Who's...

6
Max Homa, Shane Bacon Previewing The Masters, Florida Wins The National Championship, Pardon Your Take And White Lotus Finale

Max Homa, Shane Bacon Previewing The Masters, Florida Wins The National Championship, Pard...

7
Coach Dan Hurley, Blink 182’s Mark Hoppus, Ovi Breaks The Goal Record, An Incredible Final Four And All Time Choke By Duke

Coach Dan Hurley, Blink 182’s Mark Hoppus, Ovi Breaks The Goal Record, An Incredible Final...

8
Dickie V Talking Final 4, WWE Champ Cody Rhodes, Fyre Fest And We Put The Pieces Back Together After April Fools

Dickie V Talking Final 4, WWE Champ Cody Rhodes, Fyre Fest And We Put The Pieces Back Toge...

9
FULL VIDEO EPISODE: Auburn HC Bruce Pearl, PGA Pro Min Woo Lee, NFL Rule Changes, Someone On The Show Quits The Podcast Mid Episode And FAQ's

FULL VIDEO EPISODE: Auburn HC Bruce Pearl, PGA Pro Min Woo Lee, NFL Rule Changes, Someone ...

10
FULL VIDEO EPISODE: Michigan State HC Tom Izzo, NFL Free Agency, Myles Garrett Re-Signs And Geno Smith Traded, Who's Back And Monday Reading

FULL VIDEO EPISODE: Michigan State HC Tom Izzo, NFL Free Agency, Myles Garrett Re-Signs An...

11
FULL VIDEO EPISODE: Rams HC Sean McVay, Jerry O’Connell With A Schefty Sneak Attack, Fyre Fest And More

FULL VIDEO EPISODE: Rams HC Sean McVay, Jerry O’Connell With A Schefty Sneak Attack, Fyre ...

12
FULL VIDEO EPISODE: Jaguars HC Liam Coen, Captain America Brady Tkachuk, We Enter Supreme Debate + Listener Submitted FAQ’s

FULL VIDEO EPISODE: Jaguars HC Liam Coen, Captain America Brady Tkachuk, We Enter Supreme ...

13
FULL VIDEO EPISODE: Eagles Head Coach Nick Sirianni, Dianna Russini, Matthew Stafford Staying In LA + We’ve Made It To March

FULL VIDEO EPISODE: Eagles Head Coach Nick Sirianni, Dianna Russini, Matthew Stafford Stay...

14
FULL VIDEO EPISODE: Adam Schefter, Reporter Fights In Indy, National Sports Podcast News + Fyre Fest

FULL VIDEO EPISODE: Adam Schefter, Reporter Fights In Indy, National Sports Podcast News +...

15
FULL VIDEO EPISODE: CBB With John Fanta, Steve Smith Sr Dominated The Weekend, Picking A New Pope, Who's Back Of The Week + Monday Reading

FULL VIDEO EPISODE: CBB With John Fanta, Steve Smith Sr Dominated The Weekend, Picking A N...

16
FULL VIDEO EPISODE: Rick Pitino In Studio, Super Bowl Champ Cooper DeJean, USA/Canada's Incredible Four Nations Final + Fyre Fest of The Week

FULL VIDEO EPISODE: Rick Pitino In Studio, Super Bowl Champ Cooper DeJean, USA/Canada's In...

17
FULL VIDEO EPISODE: Paul Bissonnette Talking Four Nations, People Are Mad About Lebron Ruining A Picture, Is This The Worst Sports Stretch? Hot Seat/Cool Throne + Guys on Chicks

FULL VIDEO EPISODE: Paul Bissonnette Talking Four Nations, People Are Mad About Lebron Rui...

18
FULL VIDEO EPISODE: Jimmy Tatro In Studio, Nick Wright Talking Chiefs And Super Bowl, Birthday Episode And Fyre Fest Of The Week

FULL VIDEO EPISODE: Jimmy Tatro In Studio, Nick Wright Talking Chiefs And Super Bowl, Birt...

19
FULL VIDEO EPISODE: Jerry O’Connell, Liam Coen’s Introduction To The World, Hot Seat/Cool Throne And Guys On Getting Old

FULL VIDEO EPISODE: Jerry O’Connell, Liam Coen’s Introduction To The World, Hot Seat/Cool ...

20
FULL VIDEO EPISODE: NFL Conference Championship Sunday, Fastest 2 Minutes, Eagles Whomp The Commanders, The Chiefs are Inevitable + Who's Back of the Week

FULL VIDEO EPISODE: NFL Conference Championship Sunday, Fastest 2 Minutes, Eagles Whomp Th...

21
FULL VIDEO EPISODE: Championship Sunday, Fred Smoot, SB Champ Mitchell Schwartz, PFT vs Max and Fyre Fest

FULL VIDEO EPISODE: Championship Sunday, Fred Smoot, SB Champ Mitchell Schwartz, PFT vs Ma...

22
FULL VIDEO EPISODE: Ryan Fitzpatrick Talking Conference Championships, Stavros Halkios And The Ravens Loss, Ohio State Wins The Natty, Bears Get Ben Johnson And Tensions Are Mounting

FULL VIDEO EPISODE: Ryan Fitzpatrick Talking Conference Championships, Stavros Halkios And...

23
FULL VIDEO EPISODE: NFL Divisional Round, Fastest 2 Minutes, Commanders And Eagles On A Collision Course, Bills Outlast Ravens And Head To Kansas City + Who's Back Of The Week

FULL VIDEO EPISODE: NFL Divisional Round, Fastest 2 Minutes, Commanders And Eagles On A Co...

24
FULL VIDEO EPISODE: Chris Long Talking Divisional Round, Adam Schefter On Coaching Carousel, Picks And Preview + Fyre Fest

FULL VIDEO EPISODE: Chris Long Talking Divisional Round, Adam Schefter On Coaching Carouse...

25
FULL VIDEO EPISODE: Booger McFarland, Dana White, Rams End Vikings Season + Guys On Chicks

FULL VIDEO EPISODE: Booger McFarland, Dana White, Rams End Vikings Season + Guys On Chicks