WEBVTT - The Season with Peter Schrager: Chris Long 0:00:07.226 --> 0:00:09.666 The Season with Peter Schreeger as a production of the 0:00:09.786 --> 0:00:23.666 NFL in partnership with I Heart Radio. What's Up, Everybody? 0:00:23.706 --> 0:00:26.306 This is Peter Schreeger and this is the podcast The 0:00:26.386 --> 0:00:29.266 Season with Peter Scheger. We're not entering the Divisional Round 0:00:29.386 --> 0:00:32.426 of the playoffs, and this is my favorite weekend of 0:00:32.466 --> 0:00:35.186 the football calendar. You know, football is now a fifty 0:00:35.186 --> 0:00:38.026 two weeks season, and I always say wild Card Round 0:00:38.066 --> 0:00:40.506 is a nice appetizer, kind of a play in game feel. 0:00:41.106 --> 0:00:43.386 Divisional Round you of your best eight teams and you 0:00:43.386 --> 0:00:46.866 have four games and it's clean and it's simple too. 0:00:46.986 --> 0:00:50.706 On Saturday too, on Sunday, and then we're into Championship 0:00:50.746 --> 0:00:52.666 week and away we go. And gosh, I look at 0:00:52.666 --> 0:00:56.586 this NFC slate and can I just say, from like 0:00:56.626 --> 0:01:03.586 a fan slash TV slash media perspective, when those logo 0:01:03.706 --> 0:01:07.946 show up, there's a certain feel about out different teams. 0:01:07.986 --> 0:01:10.626 Two years ago, the Buccaneers, here's Tom Brady and this 0:01:10.786 --> 0:01:14.146 great deal and Brady and the Bucks and god, she's 0:01:14.226 --> 0:01:16.666 he's getting Gronk out of retirement too, and it was 0:01:16.706 --> 0:01:21.306 a cool story. But when you show me four logos 0:01:21.946 --> 0:01:25.026 and it's the New York Giants, which goes back to 0:01:25.106 --> 0:01:30.226 the thirties, and it's the Philadelphia Eagles and all their 0:01:30.386 --> 0:01:32.786 history and the birth of the NFL and when the 0:01:32.866 --> 0:01:36.546 league offices used to be in Philadelphia and what Philadelphia 0:01:36.626 --> 0:01:39.266 means the NFL. Then you give me that Cowboys star 0:01:40.506 --> 0:01:43.106 and what the Cowboys mean to the NFL. And then 0:01:43.106 --> 0:01:46.826 you're throw in the forty Niners and their history. You're 0:01:46.826 --> 0:01:50.346 telling me those are the last four teams. Look, the Steelers, 0:01:50.586 --> 0:01:54.666 rich franchise, the Packers, of course, but I'd say in 0:01:54.706 --> 0:01:56.946 the top ten are those four teams as far as 0:01:57.106 --> 0:02:02.306 national fan bases. That logo mattering Aaron, my producer, I 0:02:02.346 --> 0:02:04.386 love you, buddy. I I gotta think. I don't know 0:02:04.426 --> 0:02:09.826 about your generation, but when you see those war logos Giants, Eagles, Cowboys, 0:02:09.906 --> 0:02:12.226 forty Niners, does that that could just get you out 0:02:12.226 --> 0:02:15.786 of your chair or are you more of Well? I 0:02:15.906 --> 0:02:18.546 like the stories and the players and it would be 0:02:18.586 --> 0:02:20.506 cool Like to me, I don't know, I get those 0:02:20.506 --> 0:02:24.066 four national brands getting up, let's go. Yeah. I think 0:02:24.346 --> 0:02:27.786 all four of them, like you're saying, have like historical significance. 0:02:27.786 --> 0:02:30.746 That's really great. But also even with they all have 0:02:30.946 --> 0:02:33.986 as a franchise, great storylines in the past five ten years, 0:02:34.386 --> 0:02:37.906 so like you know, Shanahan and the forty Niners, like 0:02:37.946 --> 0:02:40.946 watching that go up and down, and like now potentially 0:02:41.066 --> 0:02:44.426 having this big resurgence. Like even if I am a 0:02:44.466 --> 0:02:46.666 fan of certain players or you know, like a bunch 0:02:46.666 --> 0:02:49.946 of people who are like fantasy focused are gonna follow 0:02:49.986 --> 0:02:54.386 certain individuals, they're great storylines for each one of these franchises. 0:02:55.066 --> 0:02:57.346 So you got those four, which I agree. Then on 0:02:57.386 --> 0:03:01.226 the a f C, it's like quarterback Heaven and you're 0:03:01.226 --> 0:03:06.386 talking about Mahomes, Alan Borrow, and then maybe the next 0:03:06.506 --> 0:03:10.226 dude is Trevor Lawrence. Look, I work for the NFL, 0:03:10.866 --> 0:03:14.106 I work for Fox Sports. I work for I heart. 0:03:14.506 --> 0:03:17.786 Of course it's in my best interest for high ratings 0:03:17.826 --> 0:03:20.666 and for great fit. But if you're telling me pick 0:03:20.786 --> 0:03:24.946 eight teams, pick two matchups in the a f C 0:03:25.106 --> 0:03:27.626 this weekend, Pick two matchups in the NFC this weekend, 0:03:27.666 --> 0:03:30.186 seed the teams, if you asked me to do that, 0:03:30.266 --> 0:03:32.186 I might draw it up this way. I might draw 0:03:32.226 --> 0:03:35.626 it up as an old school NFC East battle between 0:03:35.666 --> 0:03:39.146 the Giants and the Eagles, And then Sunday you get 0:03:39.186 --> 0:03:42.506 that classic rivalry going back to you know, even before 0:03:42.506 --> 0:03:45.226 the catch. There's a famous stallback game against the Niners. 0:03:45.266 --> 0:03:46.426 But then you got the catch, and you got the 0:03:46.826 --> 0:03:50.626 two NFC Championship game, the NFC Championship game, the ninety 0:03:50.706 --> 0:03:54.306 five NFC Championship game. I heard up till last year 0:03:54.306 --> 0:03:56.666 they had a great divisional round or wild card round 0:03:56.666 --> 0:03:58.786 game where Dak you know, the clock went out. Gosh, 0:03:58.826 --> 0:04:00.546 that's awesome. And then in the a f C, you're 0:04:00.546 --> 0:04:02.586 getting four quarterbacks that are the future of the sport. 0:04:02.626 --> 0:04:04.786 And you could have interchanged Herbert with Lawrence whatever. I 0:04:04.826 --> 0:04:06.066 out of taking either one of them. But this is 0:04:06.106 --> 0:04:08.306 how it's should be. These are the eight teams. No 0:04:08.426 --> 0:04:11.346 complaints here. Uh, the networks have to be thrilled. The 0:04:11.426 --> 0:04:15.586 NFL has got to be thrilled. Great great games, great 0:04:15.626 --> 0:04:19.146 great logos, and some amazing stories. And if you're in 0:04:19.186 --> 0:04:21.226 for the Brock party story, it's there for you. If 0:04:21.226 --> 0:04:23.786 you're in for the Mahomes story, it's there for you. 0:04:23.826 --> 0:04:26.906 If you're in for the Buffalo Bills incredible roller coaster 0:04:26.986 --> 0:04:29.906 season story, it's there. And then how about this the 0:04:30.026 --> 0:04:33.426 Rams their home watching the Bengals, everyone said, well, it's 0:04:33.466 --> 0:04:36.426 hard to to to get back to this rule. Bengals 0:04:36.426 --> 0:04:39.146 have won eight straight games and look good and there 0:04:39.186 --> 0:04:42.346 and there on the on the precipice. So I'm here 0:04:42.386 --> 0:04:44.386 for it. I think the divisional round is gonna be awesome. 0:04:44.426 --> 0:04:46.786 But before we get to, you know, any more matchups 0:04:46.786 --> 0:04:48.946 on that, I wanted to talk about some of the 0:04:48.986 --> 0:04:50.906 coaching stuff and some of the news that I made, 0:04:50.986 --> 0:04:55.506 and gosh, I was not I was not expecting. Um 0:04:55.706 --> 0:04:59.626 Cliff Kingsburry and I are are friends. And after he 0:04:59.666 --> 0:05:02.226 got let oh, we talked for a while, and then 0:05:02.266 --> 0:05:04.666 we talk some more. And then I had multiple teams 0:05:04.666 --> 0:05:06.186 reach out to me and say, oh, I know your 0:05:06.186 --> 0:05:09.786 friends with Cliff, Like, what, what's his deal? We might 0:05:09.826 --> 0:05:12.266 have a job available for him, and ever, here's his number, 0:05:12.306 --> 0:05:14.346 So I would pass cliff number a long, you know whatever. 0:05:15.066 --> 0:05:19.666 Um Cliff had already booked ticket to Thailand, where he 0:05:19.746 --> 0:05:24.266 was going on vacation. Uh. He talked to I'm sure 0:05:24.346 --> 0:05:27.706 some people whether he was interested or not. I'm sure 0:05:27.746 --> 0:05:29.666 we'll get to that in a couple of weeks or 0:05:29.706 --> 0:05:32.146 a month when he returns whenever it is, and maybe 0:05:32.146 --> 0:05:34.786 he will be working next year. We'll see. But Cliff's 0:05:34.826 --> 0:05:37.546 mindset was I'm going to Thailand. It's been a brutal 0:05:37.786 --> 0:05:40.106 last twelve months. I need to clear my head. And 0:05:40.346 --> 0:05:43.866 you know, a guy with no kids, guy who's been 0:05:43.906 --> 0:05:47.986 coaching every day since he was finished as a player's 0:05:48.026 --> 0:05:50.706 been fired already at Texas Tech, took the the O 0:05:50.906 --> 0:05:53.426 C job at the USC, then got offered the head 0:05:53.426 --> 0:05:55.546 coaching job at at the CAR. It's been a whirlwind, 0:05:55.986 --> 0:05:58.466 and he's just taken some time for the first time 0:05:58.466 --> 0:06:00.986 in maybe twenty years, he's taken some time for himself. 0:06:01.066 --> 0:06:03.666 I put that story out there, which I did on 0:06:03.666 --> 0:06:05.786 the podcast last week. Also, I said he's going away 0:06:05.786 --> 0:06:07.626 and he's gonna collect. I did it on the podcast, 0:06:07.666 --> 0:06:09.306 but I put it out there on Sunday on Fox 0:06:10.226 --> 0:06:13.546 Aaron It was a number one trending story on Saturday. 0:06:13.666 --> 0:06:17.826 On Sunday Yesterday, the New York Post, Ryan Glasspiegel does 0:06:17.826 --> 0:06:22.266 a whole piece about it with pictures of his girlfriend Veronica, 0:06:22.546 --> 0:06:26.266 and they're in Thailand and it's a profile on her 0:06:26.386 --> 0:06:31.426 and it's Tuesday, and recording this, I had no idea 0:06:31.546 --> 0:06:34.226 this story would take off the way it did. And 0:06:35.026 --> 0:06:41.306 the initial response was how awesome? Like how awesome? In 0:06:41.346 --> 0:06:44.946 a cutthroat world of of you know, go go Go 0:06:44.946 --> 0:06:48.146 go doo doo doo do. I think they're the response, 0:06:48.146 --> 0:06:50.506 And it came from all angles. It came from people 0:06:50.506 --> 0:06:52.346 in the coaching community who are like good for him, 0:06:52.706 --> 0:06:54.546 people who are fans saying gosh, I wish I could 0:06:54.586 --> 0:06:56.506 do that to my employer and just say, you know, 0:06:56.746 --> 0:06:59.066 screw it, I need to take some time for myself 0:07:00.026 --> 0:07:03.466 or former employer. And then also like I think even 0:07:03.546 --> 0:07:06.666 in like you know, circles of like mental health, like 0:07:06.706 --> 0:07:08.946 I got I got texts and tweets from people in 0:07:08.946 --> 0:07:11.866 the mental health field being like what a beacon, what 0:07:12.066 --> 0:07:15.186 a what an amazing precedent to set that, Like, hey, 0:07:15.226 --> 0:07:18.226 it's okay to do you, especially after you know, coaching 0:07:18.266 --> 0:07:22.386 through a pandemic, coaching through uh, the Kyler Murray situation 0:07:22.466 --> 0:07:25.906 this year, coaching through a GM who who took some 0:07:25.946 --> 0:07:28.546 time away for his own health reasons. Like I don't know, 0:07:29.546 --> 0:07:31.986 there's a lot of negative. Actually should said there wasn't 0:07:31.986 --> 0:07:34.146 a lot of negative. There was some skeptics, there are 0:07:34.146 --> 0:07:37.266 some people and like I got, oh, yeah, a little 0:07:37.306 --> 0:07:40.426 upset when people were like, yeah, but you know, he's 0:07:40.906 --> 0:07:42.746 a middle finger to the NFL and you don't do that. 0:07:43.066 --> 0:07:44.666 I don't think that's what it was I think Clip 0:07:44.746 --> 0:07:46.066 has been through a lot and he just needs some 0:07:46.106 --> 0:07:47.946 time away, and he's taken that time away. And I 0:07:47.986 --> 0:07:51.306 don't think anything of it. But Aaron, when I say 0:07:51.386 --> 0:07:53.266 the tweet that was put out from Fox and the 0:07:53.266 --> 0:07:56.266 tweet that I put out, I'm not like, Look, I'd 0:07:56.266 --> 0:07:58.626 be a lot wealthier and in a lot better position 0:07:58.786 --> 0:08:02.146 if I was an Instagram superstar or a YouTube influencer 0:08:02.306 --> 0:08:05.546 or a Twitter machine. I'm not. I've report news and 0:08:05.586 --> 0:08:07.906 I give my it's this one. I mean I think 0:08:07.946 --> 0:08:09.986 I had Like I mean, I'm not kidding. The video 0:08:10.026 --> 0:08:13.266 from Fox had like eighteen million views of me just 0:08:13.306 --> 0:08:15.306 saying that the head coach is about a one way 0:08:15.346 --> 0:08:17.786 ticket to Thailand. Were you surprised it took off that 0:08:17.866 --> 0:08:20.066 much or you saw this when you heard me say 0:08:20.106 --> 0:08:22.546 it to you, were you like, oh that's juicy. Yeah, 0:08:22.666 --> 0:08:24.146 when you said it, I was, I was like, oh 0:08:24.186 --> 0:08:27.546 that's a like I'm that's a good nugget. And then Saturday, 0:08:27.546 --> 0:08:30.906 I remember like opening NFL Reddit and being like oh 0:08:30.946 --> 0:08:35.786 my god, like here it is and like so busy. Um. Yeah, 0:08:35.866 --> 0:08:39.026 I mean I can't blame him. Uh. I think you know, 0:08:39.106 --> 0:08:41.226 you go to Thailand, you get some of the best 0:08:41.266 --> 0:08:43.826 street food in the world. Like he's gonna have a 0:08:43.826 --> 0:08:46.626 great time. He's gonna have some amazing food and like 0:08:46.706 --> 0:08:50.826 beautiful scenery, good break. I like it. Yeah, he's a 0:08:50.826 --> 0:08:53.266 great dude, and he's a world traveler and he's one 0:08:53.266 --> 0:08:56.066 of these guys that that does this and we'll take 0:08:56.066 --> 0:08:58.346 advantage of the moment. But he's also not a disrespectful guy, 0:08:58.346 --> 0:09:00.546 So I don't want it to come off as him like, 0:09:00.586 --> 0:09:02.426 you know, saying, you know what, screw the NFL. That's 0:09:02.426 --> 0:09:05.466 not it. I wouldn't be shocked if he was coaching again. Um, 0:09:05.466 --> 0:09:07.426 maybe not this year, maybe this year. I don't know, 0:09:07.546 --> 0:09:10.546 like not knowing, Like there are a lot of people 0:09:10.586 --> 0:09:12.666 who love Cliff in this league that they say, hey, 0:09:12.786 --> 0:09:14.786 I actually think he's a really good play designer. Like 0:09:15.146 --> 0:09:17.386 you can come work for us, and you don't have to, 0:09:18.106 --> 0:09:21.146 you know, be here in February working on draft boards. 0:09:21.266 --> 0:09:24.986 You can come in July or August or whatever. Uh 0:09:25.026 --> 0:09:27.746 so to to tie the lupe so I so, of 0:09:27.786 --> 0:09:29.466 course me if you if you have listened to the 0:09:29.506 --> 0:09:32.706 podcast and you you know me and Aaron sometimes when 0:09:32.746 --> 0:09:33.946 we have a good interview with a coach, I'm like, 0:09:33.986 --> 0:09:35.386 maybe we shouldn't put that out. It might not put 0:09:35.386 --> 0:09:36.986 them in the best light. Like I had a pit 0:09:37.066 --> 0:09:38.986 in my stomach, like a real pit in my stomach, 0:09:39.266 --> 0:09:40.906 and I'm like, do I reach out to Cliff, like 0:09:40.906 --> 0:09:42.546 I didn't know this would go this way. He's here 0:09:42.586 --> 0:09:44.106 on a vacation, like if this looks like I was 0:09:44.146 --> 0:09:46.266 being selfish like putting this out as like my news 0:09:46.266 --> 0:09:48.786 went in truth, it's about him and he needs to 0:09:48.786 --> 0:09:50.186 get some time away and the last thing he wants 0:09:50.186 --> 0:09:51.786 to do is turn on his phone and be trending 0:09:51.826 --> 0:09:54.226 on Twitter. This dude is such a good guy. He 0:09:54.266 --> 0:09:57.706 reaches out to me and says, hey, I saw saw 0:09:57.866 --> 0:10:00.186 the stuff. Don't sweat it. You're a good man, You're 0:10:00.186 --> 0:10:03.146 a good soul, Like just you know, I hope you're 0:10:03.146 --> 0:10:05.426 doing great and keep on crushing the NFL season and 0:10:05.466 --> 0:10:07.586 do the best job you can. And I'm like, oh 0:10:07.626 --> 0:10:09.386 my god, I could wrap my arms around him. I'm like, 0:10:09.466 --> 0:10:11.906 that's such grace because a lot of a lot of 0:10:11.906 --> 0:10:14.186 guys in my position, and I like all those guys 0:10:14.186 --> 0:10:16.306 like I don't know how they sleep with it. Sometimes 0:10:16.306 --> 0:10:19.506 when it's like here's the gossip, this coach is getting fired, 0:10:20.786 --> 0:10:23.626 and it's like God, there's a human element to it, 0:10:23.666 --> 0:10:26.786 and it's like the wind of reporting that versus the 0:10:28.026 --> 0:10:30.666 like the stress of like the guy's family finding out 0:10:30.666 --> 0:10:33.186 on Twitter or your bottom line ticker and gosh, like 0:10:33.266 --> 0:10:35.466 they're so good at what they do. I think schefter 0:10:35.586 --> 0:10:38.626 and rap report those two right now are like the 0:10:38.706 --> 0:10:40.626 day to day like you know, breaking the news and 0:10:40.666 --> 0:10:43.466 stuff like that, and it's it takes a lot of 0:10:43.866 --> 0:10:45.906 you know, it takes a lot of negotiating in your 0:10:45.906 --> 0:10:47.946 head what to report one not to report this one 0:10:47.986 --> 0:10:50.146 to me, I thought was like a fun, silly piece. 0:10:50.306 --> 0:10:53.586 I wasn't firing Cliff Kingsbury. And yet when it went 0:10:53.626 --> 0:10:55.226 as viral as it did, and like the amount of 0:10:55.226 --> 0:10:58.826 people that reached out, I'm talking like celebrities like that 0:10:58.906 --> 0:11:02.226 I don't know tweeting me. And then you know coaches 0:11:02.226 --> 0:11:04.586 that I don't have relationships with with like unknown numbers 0:11:04.586 --> 0:11:07.746 being like hey it's blank saw the Kingsbury thing. F Yeah, 0:11:07.826 --> 0:11:10.666 like finally someone and it's like I was blown away 0:11:10.706 --> 0:11:13.146 by it. Um, But Cliff, as we record this is 0:11:13.146 --> 0:11:15.906 still in Thailand. If you're if you're over in Thailand 0:11:15.906 --> 0:11:18.626 and you see him snap a pick just to give proof. Um, 0:11:18.786 --> 0:11:22.706 we'll see how that all plays out. The other story 0:11:22.786 --> 0:11:24.586 that I had that that kind of went pig was 0:11:24.586 --> 0:11:26.946 that mcveigh's coming back, and I broke that one in 0:11:26.986 --> 0:11:30.186 a so many ways on Friday, but then on Saturday 0:11:31.226 --> 0:11:33.306 on The Fox Show, explained that there's going to be 0:11:33.346 --> 0:11:37.986 staff changes made. I talked to Sean for a while yesterday. 0:11:38.026 --> 0:11:40.546 This is Tuesday. He talked to him yesterday. He's invigorated, 0:11:40.586 --> 0:11:43.066 like he's back. He's he I thought he's gonna take 0:11:43.106 --> 0:11:47.106 three months. He took three days. He's just wired in 0:11:47.146 --> 0:11:50.106 a way that's like I can't I can't give up 0:11:50.106 --> 0:11:51.826 on these guys, and I just don't want to be 0:11:51.946 --> 0:11:54.386 that guy who quit when the going got tough. And 0:11:54.386 --> 0:11:57.386 I explained it on this podcast that he's been through 0:11:57.466 --> 0:12:00.146 so much on a personal level and not talking real 0:12:00.186 --> 0:12:01.906 stuff like I went up to get into all the details, 0:12:01.906 --> 0:12:05.506 but real stuff death of family members and and his 0:12:05.586 --> 0:12:08.346 in law's family in in the Ukraine, like real stuff. 0:12:09.186 --> 0:12:12.426 He's he's dealing with that too, um. But his whole 0:12:12.426 --> 0:12:15.786 thing was he wanted to find the joy and football again, 0:12:15.826 --> 0:12:17.546 and he not that he had lost it, but like 0:12:17.626 --> 0:12:22.066 he had this like feverish pursuit in Seen and eighteen 0:12:22.386 --> 0:12:24.826 and then they won it last year, and like he 0:12:24.986 --> 0:12:29.586 still has that desire to have that same joy, and 0:12:29.626 --> 0:12:31.626 it was kind of like, so one of the things 0:12:31.706 --> 0:12:33.546 that he's gonna be working on is building up a 0:12:33.586 --> 0:12:35.666 different staff. And there's nothing against the guys who helped 0:12:35.746 --> 0:12:37.706 him win the Super Bowl title, and some guys who 0:12:38.106 --> 0:12:39.826 were in the building last year that weren't with Super 0:12:39.826 --> 0:12:42.466 Bowl title that are gonna be elsewhere moving forward. But 0:12:42.506 --> 0:12:44.146 I think he just is like, I need to surround 0:12:44.186 --> 0:12:45.866 it with myself as different guys. I need to mix 0:12:45.866 --> 0:12:48.026 it up. I'm gonna take some time, um, and I'm 0:12:48.066 --> 0:12:51.106 gonna take a lot of time on me, which sounds 0:12:51.386 --> 0:12:54.386 selfish or it sounds like, you know, everything opposite of 0:12:54.426 --> 0:12:57.866 team sports. But um, in the last few years, Mcveisman 0:12:57.906 --> 0:13:01.026 spread very thin. He's burned it on both ends, and 0:13:01.106 --> 0:13:04.266 the result was just a burnt out cat who you know, 0:13:04.506 --> 0:13:06.506 was trying to muster up every piece of energy. He 0:13:06.626 --> 0:13:09.826 can't to coach a team that was obviously injured and undermanned, 0:13:10.266 --> 0:13:12.026 and he's like, I didn't like the person I was, 0:13:12.106 --> 0:13:14.066 I didn't like the coach I was, and I just 0:13:14.106 --> 0:13:17.066 need to be cognizant of it. So I think we've 0:13:17.066 --> 0:13:19.386 talked in mental health with Cliff Kingsbury. I think there's 0:13:19.386 --> 0:13:22.386 a mental health aspect to how Sean McVeigh approaches um 0:13:22.546 --> 0:13:25.506 the future of his coaching career. And I'd be very 0:13:25.546 --> 0:13:28.746 surprised if if he wasn't open and honest and vulnerable 0:13:28.826 --> 0:13:30.706 and how he's approaching that and how he can have 0:13:30.786 --> 0:13:33.586 more of a work life balance and uh, be a 0:13:33.626 --> 0:13:35.426 better coach, be a better man, be a better friend, 0:13:35.466 --> 0:13:37.026 be a better fan member, all that stuff, and not 0:13:37.106 --> 0:13:40.346 be so obsessive. And because the only way he's known 0:13:40.346 --> 0:13:42.346 it is it goes back to like the gruten way. 0:13:42.386 --> 0:13:44.586 It goes back to his grandfather's way of like you're 0:13:44.586 --> 0:13:46.346 in at two thirty in the morning and you're grinding 0:13:46.346 --> 0:13:48.226 tape and you're just going, going, going, going, And he 0:13:48.266 --> 0:13:50.386 realized he wasn't happy doing that. So I don't think 0:13:50.426 --> 0:13:51.826 i'm speaking out of turn. I asked him to come 0:13:51.866 --> 0:13:54.826 on the podcast this week. He said, Uh, that time 0:13:54.866 --> 0:13:56.986 will come. He's still taking some time to just kind 0:13:56.986 --> 0:14:00.146 of lay low um, which I appreciate. The last piece 0:14:00.826 --> 0:14:03.066 and then we'll get to to our guest, who's gonna 0:14:03.066 --> 0:14:05.786 be awesome. By the way, the last piece is the 0:14:06.706 --> 0:14:09.826 Sean Payton sweepstakes as I will update this as if 0:14:09.826 --> 0:14:14.506 I'm like following Panda Watch or something. Um, it is 0:14:14.506 --> 0:14:17.266 officially January seventeenth, which on your calendar might be the 0:14:17.346 --> 0:14:19.066 day after Martin Luther King Day. It might be the 0:14:19.146 --> 0:14:22.946 second or third Tuesday in January, or it's Sean Payton 0:14:22.986 --> 0:14:27.386 can interview Day. He can officially do interviews today. I 0:14:27.426 --> 0:14:30.066 don't know if it's reported or not. Denver I believe 0:14:30.186 --> 0:14:34.306 is on the docket and they will be coming to him, 0:14:34.346 --> 0:14:37.066 which I think is uh kind of a boss move. 0:14:37.266 --> 0:14:39.306 You got these new owners up in Denver and they'll 0:14:39.306 --> 0:14:41.186 be flying to l A to meet with him on 0:14:41.266 --> 0:14:44.346 his grounds always like there's always like little stuff like this. 0:14:44.386 --> 0:14:47.586 It's almost like a chessboard and I'm like, oh, that's interesting. Um. 0:14:47.626 --> 0:14:51.306 He will meet with the Houston owners Cal McNair and 0:14:51.466 --> 0:14:55.466 I believe Nick Serio, who is the current GM and 0:14:56.466 --> 0:14:58.426 from what I gather from everything we're here in to Houston, 0:14:58.506 --> 0:15:00.706 Nick's job is not in jeopardy. After they fired love 0:15:00.746 --> 0:15:02.106 It it it was like Nicks might be gone, but it 0:15:02.146 --> 0:15:06.066 sounds like Nick is gonna be okay and safe and 0:15:06.066 --> 0:15:09.106 at the end of the week he will be flying 0:15:09.186 --> 0:15:13.466 to New York to interview with David Tepper, the owner 0:15:13.586 --> 0:15:17.986 of the Carolina Panthers, which is interesting because the Saints 0:15:17.986 --> 0:15:21.386 are in the same division as the Carolina Panthers. The 0:15:21.426 --> 0:15:25.346 Saints have to trade Sean Payton to whoever he goes 0:15:25.386 --> 0:15:28.906 to and have to get draft picks back. The question 0:15:28.986 --> 0:15:32.346 I have is, are the Saints offering are asking for 0:15:32.386 --> 0:15:34.786 the same stuff from the Panthers that they would from 0:15:34.906 --> 0:15:38.946 the Texans or from the Broncos. The Broncos and the 0:15:38.986 --> 0:15:42.546 Texans they are non threats to the New Orleans Saints. 0:15:42.626 --> 0:15:45.746 The Carolina Panthers they will face twice a year and 0:15:45.786 --> 0:15:48.346 their fans have to watch Sean Payton and Panthers at 0:15:49.026 --> 0:15:51.426 I'd be intrigued to see how those negotiations go down, 0:15:51.466 --> 0:15:54.746 if they even get to that point. Um two other 0:15:54.826 --> 0:15:57.666 teams were they were thinking it was gonna be Arizona. 0:15:57.946 --> 0:16:00.986 They just hired their GM and there's been no official 0:16:01.026 --> 0:16:03.226 word as to when he is interviewing with Arizona. I 0:16:03.226 --> 0:16:05.666 believe they asked for permission, but I haven't heard anything 0:16:05.706 --> 0:16:08.546 about that. In the Indianapolis, Colt seemed that there was 0:16:08.586 --> 0:16:11.586 nothing there. So right now it looks like three teams, 0:16:11.786 --> 0:16:15.626 and as we record this on Tuesday, Brandon Staley seems 0:16:15.666 --> 0:16:17.346 to be the head coach of the Chargers that kind 0:16:17.346 --> 0:16:20.106 of blew up big on Saturday night after that all 0:16:20.146 --> 0:16:22.306 time collapse, and then Sunday everyone was waiting for the 0:16:22.346 --> 0:16:24.146 other shooter drop. Then Monday everyone was waiting for the 0:16:24.186 --> 0:16:26.786 other shooter drop. Staley is still the coach right now, 0:16:26.866 --> 0:16:30.546 and as much as Sean Payton in l A is 0:16:30.586 --> 0:16:33.106 a perfect fit because of the young quarterback, but also 0:16:33.146 --> 0:16:35.426 he's already living there now and he loves it. Trust me, 0:16:35.546 --> 0:16:38.466 he loves it. Um. He talks about his life in 0:16:38.506 --> 0:16:41.786 Manhattan Beach to me often and he and his wife 0:16:41.826 --> 0:16:43.946 sky Lean are like as as happy as could be 0:16:44.146 --> 0:16:46.266 living in l A right now. Um, I don't think 0:16:46.266 --> 0:16:47.866 that job is going to be open as of now. 0:16:48.026 --> 0:16:52.066 As we record this on Tuesday, they did they just uh, 0:16:52.226 --> 0:16:55.466 news just broke that they fired Lombardi. So I assume 0:16:55.586 --> 0:17:01.906 that means stay. I think so. I think so good nugget. Ironically, 0:17:02.386 --> 0:17:08.106 Lombardi was one of Peyton's old offensive coordinators in New Orlean. Um, yeah, 0:17:08.226 --> 0:17:10.986 that was the expectation they'd make some staff changes. But 0:17:11.026 --> 0:17:13.426 I think Brandon's okay and the players came out like 0:17:13.586 --> 0:17:16.786 really positive on Brandon Staley. Afterwards, we chose, you know, 0:17:16.986 --> 0:17:19.426 pleasant surprise after that kind of loss, and then the 0:17:19.466 --> 0:17:22.066 other ones to Cowboys, how do you fire Mike McCarthy, 0:17:22.106 --> 0:17:24.626 like everyone thought if they you know, absolutely blew it, 0:17:24.666 --> 0:17:26.466 that that might be a conversation. Mike McCarthy has had 0:17:26.506 --> 0:17:29.066 a perfect performance. We'll see how what happens in Sancisco. 0:17:29.066 --> 0:17:31.506 I'm never gonna count anything out, but I don't know 0:17:31.546 --> 0:17:34.626 if Jerry's looking to fire Mike McCarthy after two thirt 0:17:34.866 --> 0:17:38.066 win seasons and two straight years to the playoffs, a 0:17:38.106 --> 0:17:40.146 playoff win, Like, I don't know. It seems like the 0:17:40.186 --> 0:17:43.906 Cowboys have a pretty good coach and to have to 0:17:44.026 --> 0:17:47.386 trade for Sean Payton, pay out McCarthy, pay mcpayton what 0:17:47.386 --> 0:17:49.706 he wants. That doesn't seem as likely now as it 0:17:49.786 --> 0:17:51.626 might have might have seemed a couple of weeks ago 0:17:51.666 --> 0:17:53.906 after they lost like the Washington Commanders in a Week 0:17:53.906 --> 0:17:57.386 eight team game. So that's the lay of the land there. Um, 0:17:57.666 --> 0:18:00.186 we're gonna hit Lamar Jackson later in this podcast. We're 0:18:00.226 --> 0:18:03.186 gonna hit some Tom Brady, We're gonna hit Mike McDaniel. 0:18:03.226 --> 0:18:05.786 Was he vaping or not. Um, we're gonna hit all that. 0:18:06.186 --> 0:18:09.346 And our guest is one of my favorite people in 0:18:09.386 --> 0:18:11.386 the NFL. It's a guy that I used to love 0:18:11.506 --> 0:18:15.386 covering as an analyst. It's amazing my path to him. 0:18:15.426 --> 0:18:17.266 His dad took me under his wing a little bit 0:18:17.466 --> 0:18:20.706 at Fox Sports when I was uh brought over from 0:18:20.706 --> 0:18:24.786 the sidelines of the studios, like really good dude, his father, 0:18:25.066 --> 0:18:27.706 and then I got to meet his son, and I 0:18:27.746 --> 0:18:31.306 think we're like kindred spirits from a different time. Uh. 0:18:31.346 --> 0:18:33.746 That guy's Chris Long. We're gonna have Chris Long on 0:18:33.786 --> 0:18:40.186 the podcast after this. As I mentioned earlier, it's one 0:18:40.226 --> 0:18:42.386 of my favorite people I've met in the NFL. I 0:18:42.426 --> 0:18:45.306 initially got to know his father really well, and then 0:18:45.626 --> 0:18:47.786 now we've got a really cool friendship. I think he's 0:18:48.306 --> 0:18:51.026 got as good insights as anybody, and it's often on Twitter, 0:18:51.026 --> 0:18:53.506 it's also on his podcast. Uh, and just says a 0:18:53.506 --> 0:18:55.586 fresh look at the game from an ex player's perspective, 0:18:55.586 --> 0:18:57.666 which is crazy to say because he is an ex 0:18:57.706 --> 0:19:00.866 player now a couple of years removed. Uh, let's welcome 0:19:00.946 --> 0:19:03.626 in the man, Chris Long. Chris how you doing man? 0:19:04.306 --> 0:19:07.826 How are you? I'm doing great? You know there's so 0:19:07.866 --> 0:19:10.946 many fun storylines to the games, but I always find 0:19:10.986 --> 0:19:14.546 myself fixated on, like some of the offseason stuff that 0:19:14.706 --> 0:19:17.826 is already percolating. Uh. I said in my intro here 0:19:17.906 --> 0:19:21.186 my monologue, I broke the Kingsbury story, and I didn't 0:19:21.466 --> 0:19:23.066 in a million years, Chris, I didn't think that thing 0:19:23.146 --> 0:19:24.586 was going to go as big as it did. And 0:19:24.586 --> 0:19:26.426 I almost had this pit in my stomach that like 0:19:26.466 --> 0:19:29.466 I was violating some trust with Clift, even though I 0:19:29.466 --> 0:19:31.386 know he has no problem with it. We've texted since. 0:19:32.786 --> 0:19:34.546 Why did that story take off so much that a 0:19:34.586 --> 0:19:36.506 head coach was going to Thailand and going on a 0:19:36.546 --> 0:19:38.306 one way ticket? Why do you think that blew up 0:19:38.306 --> 0:19:39.946 the way it did? Because I'm still coming to grips 0:19:39.986 --> 0:19:42.346 with why that was such a fascination everywhere. Okay, there's 0:19:42.386 --> 0:19:45.306 a few factors. Number one, he's young, he's good looking. 0:19:45.506 --> 0:19:49.146 That's what they say. Um, it seems like a fun 0:19:49.146 --> 0:19:53.346 place to go. Uh. It's also a very un NFL 0:19:53.426 --> 0:19:56.946 head coach like thing to do. Like, we have certain 0:19:57.026 --> 0:20:00.546 things that governed the schedule in our year, and woman 0:20:00.666 --> 0:20:02.906 was like, you get fired, you want to work the phones, 0:20:02.986 --> 0:20:05.386 you you want to be close to home. The whole thing. 0:20:05.426 --> 0:20:08.746 I can remember being in in East Africa, climbing kilimanjar 0:20:08.826 --> 0:20:11.386 Oh as a free agent using a SAT phone, trying 0:20:11.386 --> 0:20:14.066 to trying to get ahold of people. And I knew 0:20:14.066 --> 0:20:16.586 that when I went on the trip, uh, there was 0:20:16.586 --> 0:20:18.746 a good chance that maybe I get passed up for 0:20:18.786 --> 0:20:20.986 somebody because I was asleep, or I couldn't get to 0:20:21.026 --> 0:20:23.906 the sat phone or they can't reach me. And you know, 0:20:23.986 --> 0:20:26.746 like sometimes you just make decisions where you're like, I 0:20:26.826 --> 0:20:29.706 need to put myself in my peace of mind first. 0:20:30.306 --> 0:20:34.186 And it sounds like Cliff, who is probably justifiably burnt 0:20:34.186 --> 0:20:39.146 out and uh and and and needed some space just said, 0:20:39.506 --> 0:20:42.386 which I think is such a different thing to do 0:20:42.666 --> 0:20:45.066 for an NFL head coach or a guy who just 0:20:45.146 --> 0:20:47.466 got can So I thought it was cool. I think 0:20:47.466 --> 0:20:52.266 everybody fantasizes about just getting out of dodge, right and 0:20:52.386 --> 0:20:55.026 like the dude actually did it, and uh, I don't. 0:20:55.346 --> 0:20:58.106 I'm sure he's still in contact with teams over there 0:20:58.106 --> 0:21:00.786 and that sort of thing, but it's it's not traditional 0:21:01.226 --> 0:21:04.746 um And and Thailand also, I think is has become 0:21:04.786 --> 0:21:08.746 a place of intrigues and the hangover. I think there's 0:21:08.746 --> 0:21:10.946 a whole lot of factors that lead to that being 0:21:11.026 --> 0:21:15.106 a pretty provocative story. Um, but it's not what you 0:21:15.186 --> 0:21:18.306 imagine we were texting. I was imagining he was over 0:21:18.346 --> 0:21:22.466 there just partying and you know, just letting loose and um, 0:21:22.506 --> 0:21:25.066 you know, he just is getting some space and and 0:21:25.146 --> 0:21:28.746 needed a trip. So and I love it too, and 0:21:28.786 --> 0:21:32.106 I said. The amount of responses I got them were 0:21:32.106 --> 0:21:34.546 positive from funny people on Twitter with memes and all 0:21:34.546 --> 0:21:38.066 that stuff. But the coaching community, so many coaches reached 0:21:38.066 --> 0:21:39.746 out to me, guys whose numbers I don't have where 0:21:39.746 --> 0:21:41.666 it says like unknown number and it's like high Peter. 0:21:41.786 --> 0:21:45.266 I'm blank blank, and I am the special Teams coordinator 0:21:45.346 --> 0:21:47.506 with Team X. I just want to tell you, if 0:21:47.506 --> 0:21:49.986 you speak to Cliff, tell him hell, yeah, that is awesome. 0:21:50.146 --> 0:21:52.626 Like everyone like using me as a conduit to like 0:21:52.866 --> 0:21:55.666 thank him for it. The other aspect was like a 0:21:55.706 --> 0:21:59.426 strong like mental health community like outreach of like yes 0:21:59.506 --> 0:22:01.946 and today's day and age, Yes, it's okay to just 0:22:03.306 --> 0:22:05.386 And that's what every everybody's got, that anim where they 0:22:05.466 --> 0:22:07.946 fantasize about just getting out of dodge. I know I 0:22:08.026 --> 0:22:11.426 do all the time, but we have things to constrain 0:22:11.546 --> 0:22:14.146 us and keep us home. And keep us busy. And 0:22:14.186 --> 0:22:16.706 so I think a little part of everybody did a 0:22:16.746 --> 0:22:18.786 fist pump when they heard that Cliff was on a 0:22:18.826 --> 0:22:21.986 flight to Thailand. And then also meme culture. You know, 0:22:22.026 --> 0:22:25.666 it's just fun to imagine Cliff Kingsbury. You can people 0:22:25.666 --> 0:22:29.306 were putting up graphics Cliff Kingsbury to Thailand. You know, 0:22:29.426 --> 0:22:32.746 Cliff Kingsberry on a flight to Thailand, one way ticket, 0:22:32.786 --> 0:22:35.146 that sort of thing. So it was like fun and 0:22:35.186 --> 0:22:37.186 it was like good for the guy. I mean, it's 0:22:37.186 --> 0:22:41.666 so easy I feel like now to just be so 0:22:41.746 --> 0:22:44.146 hard on coaches, like he didn't do a good job, 0:22:44.426 --> 0:22:47.666 he got canned, there were there were factors there that 0:22:47.666 --> 0:22:49.626 that were probably out of his control. It didn't seem 0:22:49.666 --> 0:22:52.666 like a joy to coach Kyler Murray at times. UM. 0:22:52.706 --> 0:22:56.626 But the bottom line is these are people, and I 0:22:56.626 --> 0:22:58.986 think sometimes we can go so hard on these people, 0:22:59.706 --> 0:23:02.666 um that that it can be kind of ugly. Uh. 0:23:02.706 --> 0:23:06.666 And I feel like for Cliff uh to just get 0:23:06.666 --> 0:23:09.386 away from it and not hear the noise and be 0:23:09.546 --> 0:23:13.306 somewhere else is it's also not a bad a bad strategy. 0:23:13.746 --> 0:23:16.786 I also like, you know, another head coach called me 0:23:16.866 --> 0:23:19.866 and was like, you know, anyone who's like, because there 0:23:19.946 --> 0:23:23.066 was a small contingent and some you know, sports media 0:23:23.146 --> 0:23:27.986 people and some NFL writers being like, it's a it's 0:23:27.986 --> 0:23:29.626 a real f you to the league, and it's not 0:23:29.666 --> 0:23:31.906 fair to all the different guys who don't have that, 0:23:32.026 --> 0:23:33.786 and like, why would you do that? Why would why would? 0:23:33.826 --> 0:23:35.666 Why would you boast about it? And he didn't boast 0:23:35.666 --> 0:23:37.546 about it. I reported, and I don't. I sort of 0:23:37.546 --> 0:23:40.106 regret doing it even I don't really I'm having a 0:23:40.146 --> 0:23:42.586 weird time with it, to be honest, because times sometimes 0:23:42.666 --> 0:23:46.066 saying something that's true, uh, and and feeling like I 0:23:46.106 --> 0:23:47.986 shouldn't have been the one to say it, you know, 0:23:48.066 --> 0:23:50.546 and I feel like I've betrayed um. So he's got 0:23:50.586 --> 0:23:53.146 such such an amazing heart and grace, like I'd sit 0:23:53.186 --> 0:23:56.946 in the bottom proactively. He he texted me, it was like, dude, 0:23:56.946 --> 0:23:59.066 this thing went wild. It's all good. I love you, brother, Like, 0:23:59.186 --> 0:24:01.146 I can't wait to see what. So he's he's cool. 0:24:01.226 --> 0:24:03.786 But I didn't. I didn't feel great, like how was 0:24:03.826 --> 0:24:07.826 in the middle finger to the league. So there's thoughts 0:24:07.866 --> 0:24:09.786 that like you should be rushing back to be the 0:24:09.906 --> 0:24:12.466 quarterback coach of the New Orleans Saints or something. And 0:24:12.506 --> 0:24:14.666 that was my point. It's like he just got fired. 0:24:14.706 --> 0:24:16.666 There's no rule that you have to be the offensive 0:24:16.706 --> 0:24:18.946 coordinator of the Patriots if you're fired as a head coach, 0:24:19.066 --> 0:24:23.986 especially not a week afterwards. So you have to have 0:24:24.026 --> 0:24:26.306 two head coaches fired to be the offensive coordinator of 0:24:26.306 --> 0:24:31.266 the Patriots. That's right. You have multiple guys just kind 0:24:31.266 --> 0:24:35.626 of working both levers um, he's awesome. He'll come back 0:24:35.666 --> 0:24:37.786 from Thailand, he's not living there, and he'll be back 0:24:37.826 --> 0:24:40.266 and maybe he'll work next time. He might, he might. 0:24:40.306 --> 0:24:43.586 I think he's coming back, but maybe he'll work next year. 0:24:43.626 --> 0:24:44.986 And like he's got enough friends in the league where 0:24:44.986 --> 0:24:47.586 if he needed to, you know, it's scratch that itch. Fine, 0:24:47.626 --> 0:24:49.666 but Cliff does not want to be in like draft 0:24:49.666 --> 0:24:51.626 meetings right now. He does not want to be talking 0:24:51.626 --> 0:24:54.546 about free agent meetings. So do you do your thing? 0:24:54.746 --> 0:24:56.666 I just it blew me with Chris. It was the 0:24:56.746 --> 0:25:00.666 number one trending story for like three days and any time, 0:25:00.986 --> 0:25:03.586 but any time that happens, and you're a reporter and 0:25:03.626 --> 0:25:05.666 this is a close friend and also a source, and 0:25:05.706 --> 0:25:07.666 all that stuff that you might say, and I the 0:25:07.706 --> 0:25:10.706 amount of things that I don't share online, like the 0:25:10.826 --> 0:25:12.826 mass if I don't share on Fox because I want 0:25:12.826 --> 0:25:14.986 to maintain the relationship to think that I might have 0:25:15.066 --> 0:25:17.026 hurt him in some way or burned him in some way, 0:25:17.146 --> 0:25:18.626 or change the way that people look at him. But 0:25:18.986 --> 0:25:21.066 for the most part, it seems pretty positive. No, But 0:25:21.106 --> 0:25:22.906 I definitely get the same way. And you deal a 0:25:22.986 --> 0:25:25.946 lot more in information than I do. And so, like 0:25:26.106 --> 0:25:29.226 just I put myself in y'all shoes. Sometimes it's a 0:25:29.306 --> 0:25:34.226 really crazy business, like you know, and and sometimes information 0:25:34.266 --> 0:25:38.426 can be hurtful to people, and sometimes seemingly benign information 0:25:38.466 --> 0:25:40.466 can be hurtful to people. And that's what I always 0:25:40.506 --> 0:25:43.666 worry about. And so I definitely took my cap to 0:25:43.786 --> 0:25:46.466 you for having to navigate those waters, because it'd be 0:25:46.506 --> 0:25:48.106 hard for me. I kind of like just sitting here 0:25:48.506 --> 0:25:50.746 in the game. Our podcast is all you know, we 0:25:50.866 --> 0:25:53.746 deal in some information, but mostly what we deal in 0:25:53.906 --> 0:25:56.746 is like some guys with maybe a little more knowledge 0:25:56.746 --> 0:25:59.866 in the average person on the couch watching games, you know, 0:25:59.906 --> 0:26:02.986 and just be awesome with your buddies. But like when 0:26:03.026 --> 0:26:05.706 I get in your situation where we have to make news, 0:26:05.986 --> 0:26:08.946 I getting anxiety and it's and it's putting food on 0:26:08.986 --> 0:26:11.266 the table for me. So you know, McVeigh was an 0:26:11.266 --> 0:26:16.426 interesting one because we talked daily and I knew every 0:26:16.546 --> 0:26:19.346 step of the way, and he's asking me, so let's 0:26:19.346 --> 0:26:20.866 just not make this a thing. Let's be l LOO 0:26:20.906 --> 0:26:23.746 And then, like, you know, to her credit, Diana Russini 0:26:23.786 --> 0:26:25.706 breaks it on Friday, and I'm like, good for Diana, 0:26:25.826 --> 0:26:27.986 you know, like good for her, Like that's cool. I 0:26:28.026 --> 0:26:30.026 didn't feel comfortable coming out and being like McVeigh is 0:26:30.066 --> 0:26:32.146 coming back because I also know he's firing coaches and 0:26:32.186 --> 0:26:35.346 like the tone is all weird. So it's weird. It's 0:26:35.386 --> 0:26:37.266 definitely weird, and I understand like and you know, more 0:26:37.266 --> 0:26:39.186 than me obviously talking to him, being tight with him. 0:26:39.186 --> 0:26:42.066 I'm a big fan of Sean mcveigh's um. I've met 0:26:42.146 --> 0:26:45.626 him before. I thought everybody that I worked with in St. 0:26:45.666 --> 0:26:47.906 Louis that then went to l A has been a 0:26:47.946 --> 0:26:51.266 big fan of his. UM. I just thought he was 0:26:51.306 --> 0:26:53.866 I in a TV job that maybe didn't work out. 0:26:53.986 --> 0:26:57.986 That was my That was my like you know, outside 0:26:58.026 --> 0:27:02.706 looking end view of it. But I do think the 0:27:02.866 --> 0:27:05.626 l A job as we were, because one day we 0:27:05.706 --> 0:27:09.466 ranked the attractiveness of jobs is not as far down 0:27:09.546 --> 0:27:13.306 as you think. If and this is what I would do. 0:27:13.706 --> 0:27:16.866 I would trade Jalen Ramsey and Aaron Donald and I would. 0:27:16.906 --> 0:27:19.146 I would, I would start over, I would get you know, 0:27:19.186 --> 0:27:21.266 like I would. I would take the year with a bridge, 0:27:21.946 --> 0:27:24.786 see how close to Caleb Williams I could get, and 0:27:24.826 --> 0:27:26.986 then that job in a year looks a lot better 0:27:27.026 --> 0:27:29.626 than it did. Um, you know a week or two ago. 0:27:29.666 --> 0:27:31.746 I mean, I'm not sure how much capital you could 0:27:31.906 --> 0:27:35.266 you could recoup for two pieces like that, but it's 0:27:35.266 --> 0:27:37.626 got to get you close to back on track. And 0:27:37.666 --> 0:27:39.906 out of respect for Aaron Donald, who I think is 0:27:39.906 --> 0:27:42.546 gonna play next year, you have very good reason to 0:27:42.546 --> 0:27:46.066 believe that. Um. I know there was the Twitter bio thing, 0:27:46.146 --> 0:27:49.626 but as a former teammate who was his mentor and 0:27:49.666 --> 0:27:53.706 saying and mentor, but I definitely, I definitely was there 0:27:53.706 --> 0:27:56.586 when he was a kid. Uh and and uh, I 0:27:56.746 --> 0:28:00.746 just think the fire in him to to finish strong 0:28:01.666 --> 0:28:05.426 and and to to to reach these heights man that 0:28:06.186 --> 0:28:08.306 so few have reached. I mean he he is within 0:28:08.426 --> 0:28:12.066 striking distance of a lot of legendary players. I think personally, 0:28:12.106 --> 0:28:15.186 before it's all said and done, he's the best inside 0:28:15.186 --> 0:28:19.746 guy of all time. And I think it's like me 0:28:19.786 --> 0:28:21.626 and Joe Green and you can go through all the 0:28:21.666 --> 0:28:25.786 guys but John Randall, but he was ahead of John Randall. 0:28:25.866 --> 0:28:28.226 His pace was ahead of John Randall. And you know, 0:28:28.266 --> 0:28:29.986 if you talk about me and Joe Green, like you know, 0:28:30.026 --> 0:28:31.946 it's hard to adjust for arras, but me and Joe 0:28:31.986 --> 0:28:33.586 Green was to seventy five. I was just talking to 0:28:33.586 --> 0:28:36.626 my dad about this, Like Aaron Donald, who actually ironically 0:28:36.746 --> 0:28:38.706 probably is two eight five, so can wet now at 0:28:38.706 --> 0:28:41.066 this point in his career. And it's just a different game. 0:28:41.106 --> 0:28:43.986 And so like when you when you evaluate him against it, 0:28:44.346 --> 0:28:46.466 I say all that to say, he's got an opportunity 0:28:46.506 --> 0:28:48.666 to just go to heights that people haven't been. And 0:28:49.426 --> 0:28:53.186 you know, I don't think a rebuild because at least 0:28:53.506 --> 0:28:56.466 in the the immediacy, it is a reset. I don't 0:28:56.466 --> 0:28:58.626 know about a rebuild, but it's a reset. However you 0:28:58.626 --> 0:29:03.786 want to just you know, uh, separate those two words. Um, 0:29:03.866 --> 0:29:06.906 I don't. I don't think he deserves that at this 0:29:06.946 --> 0:29:09.746 stage in his career. I would love to see him 0:29:09.786 --> 0:29:11.506 on the move, like I would love to see him 0:29:11.546 --> 0:29:14.306 go back to Pittsburgh. You know that's that there have 0:29:14.386 --> 0:29:16.346 to be some like hey, I'm going to win, or 0:29:16.386 --> 0:29:19.866 there's some nostalgic, you know reason, you know, like, um, 0:29:20.306 --> 0:29:22.546 Pittsburgh will be fun. I don't know what Fletcher Cox's 0:29:22.586 --> 0:29:25.186 deal is going to be in Philly. You can never 0:29:25.306 --> 0:29:29.226 count Howie Roseman out of making a move for somebody. Um, 0:29:29.266 --> 0:29:32.146 there's gonna be these It's such a cool offseason because 0:29:32.186 --> 0:29:34.306 of stuff like this. And I'm not saying Jalen's gonna 0:29:34.306 --> 0:29:36.146 get moved or Aaron's gonnat moved, but all this stuff 0:29:36.186 --> 0:29:39.986 is on the table. Aaron Rodgers, Lamar Jackson, Tom Brady, 0:29:40.506 --> 0:29:44.146 like this might be the wildest offseason. Um, and the 0:29:44.386 --> 0:29:47.106 league hasn't figured out with the calendar. The calendar it's 0:29:46.906 --> 0:29:51.146 it's it's just so it's so phased in correctly, so 0:29:51.226 --> 0:29:55.426 you're always watching. And this offseason even expanding the season 0:29:55.466 --> 0:29:57.866 one season, pushing Super Back one one week, but keeping 0:29:57.906 --> 0:30:00.906 the combine the same week instead of a three week lag. 0:30:01.666 --> 0:30:07.666 It's super Bowl weekend off combo. It's like you don't 0:30:07.706 --> 0:30:10.386 even it's it's it's NonStop. It think you get a breath. 0:30:10.946 --> 0:30:13.466 Back to Aaron Donald, I honestly think this and Sean 0:30:13.506 --> 0:30:15.226 and I even talked about the players and the roster 0:30:15.266 --> 0:30:17.546 and all that stuff. The TV thing is interesting. I 0:30:17.586 --> 0:30:20.906 think he's definitely entertained that last year. I don't think 0:30:21.426 --> 0:30:23.226 I think he knew going into it that those seats 0:30:23.226 --> 0:30:25.346 were filled, And it's not like he was fixated on that. 0:30:25.426 --> 0:30:27.306 This year. I think it was more just the burnout 0:30:27.306 --> 0:30:30.226 factory all that stuff that we were talking about with Cliff. 0:30:30.346 --> 0:30:33.466 But um, Aaron Donald last year I think was a 0:30:33.506 --> 0:30:37.586 lot closer to retiring than people realize. And I also think, 0:30:38.666 --> 0:30:40.106 and you tell me you know him, but this is 0:30:40.106 --> 0:30:41.586 from what I hear from people in l A, like 0:30:42.226 --> 0:30:45.026 he does have an eye on some day being like 0:30:45.066 --> 0:30:47.586 the Rock, or some day being in action movies like 0:30:47.586 --> 0:30:49.626 your Father and being in Firestorm or some of that stuff. 0:30:49.626 --> 0:30:54.346 Like it's not like some funny gag. I think Hollywood 0:30:54.346 --> 0:30:57.026 has suited him. Well. The question is that was last 0:30:57.066 --> 0:30:59.666 year after they won the title. He's shirtless on the state, 0:31:00.826 --> 0:31:02.346 you know. Does he come out and be the Rock 0:31:02.426 --> 0:31:03.906 this year or does it have to be give me 0:31:03.986 --> 0:31:06.026 one more season somewhere else or whatever it is, or 0:31:06.066 --> 0:31:07.546 with the Ram said, let they build that back up. 0:31:07.546 --> 0:31:10.666 And I think the world, Aaron, I think he's he's 0:31:10.746 --> 0:31:16.466 just such a I mean for somebody who's so powerful, 0:31:16.866 --> 0:31:20.866 you know, like physically, his his persona, the whole thing. 0:31:20.986 --> 0:31:25.786 His humility is incredible. Um, his work ethic is incredible. 0:31:25.826 --> 0:31:29.066 I can remember him in St. Louis. I tell this 0:31:29.066 --> 0:31:32.186 story a lot where you know I was usually I'd 0:31:32.226 --> 0:31:34.986 stay after in camp and watch film, and you know, 0:31:35.026 --> 0:31:37.706 the parking lot would be kind of empty, and you know, 0:31:37.746 --> 0:31:39.626 obviously he didn't have a car yet, so I'd look 0:31:39.626 --> 0:31:41.066 out in the parking lot. It would be no, no 0:31:41.186 --> 0:31:42.866 cars there. I would go down to the line room 0:31:43.026 --> 0:31:45.906 try to watch Film's one place we watch film be 0:31:45.986 --> 0:31:48.506 eight at night. And I repeatedly, over the course of 0:31:48.546 --> 0:31:52.386 the first week camp had to go in and decide 0:31:52.386 --> 0:31:54.826 whether I was gonna unseat this rookie who's trying to 0:31:54.826 --> 0:31:56.786 get better. He was in there in the dark room, 0:31:56.786 --> 0:31:58.666 he's the only guy in the building, or was I 0:31:58.706 --> 0:32:01.666 going to get my time. And I'm not an iPad guy, 0:32:01.706 --> 0:32:03.466 But what I do is I just say I'll go 0:32:03.506 --> 0:32:06.706 watch my iPad because I was so impressed by this 0:32:06.866 --> 0:32:09.466 kid and his work ethic. He was immediately a pro, 0:32:09.906 --> 0:32:11.786 and everybody in the d line room knew that he 0:32:11.826 --> 0:32:14.066 was gonna be Hall of Famer the first week. So 0:32:14.266 --> 0:32:18.866 you know, you give guys this much talent, this much power, um, 0:32:18.906 --> 0:32:22.906 this much you know, gravitas. I mean, he's one of 0:32:23.106 --> 0:32:25.626 the most iconic players in the last decade in our league, 0:32:25.986 --> 0:32:27.866 and most of them kind of abuse it. I just 0:32:27.906 --> 0:32:30.026 feel like it's such an easy thing to get drunk 0:32:30.066 --> 0:32:33.946 on your success, and he's he's never been that. He's 0:32:33.946 --> 0:32:36.706 still hungry, you know. I do think the retirement thing 0:32:36.706 --> 0:32:41.386 almost happened, But I think this year was so tough, 0:32:41.546 --> 0:32:43.786 and obviously the end of the season with an injury 0:32:43.786 --> 0:32:45.786 for him, which is kind of unheard of. I think 0:32:45.786 --> 0:32:47.986 he wants to finish strong, and I think he I 0:32:48.026 --> 0:32:50.626 think sometimes like winning a Super Bowl can make you 0:32:50.626 --> 0:32:52.346 feel like, yeah, and I want to walk away. I'm 0:32:52.386 --> 0:32:54.866 so tired. You know, he's never been on a run 0:32:54.946 --> 0:32:56.826 like this. When he was in St. Louis, we finished 0:32:56.826 --> 0:32:59.266 in January and you go to l A. They're bad 0:32:59.266 --> 0:33:01.746 in the beginning. You don't get to feel like what 0:33:01.786 --> 0:33:04.586 this calendar feels like to go deep into the postseason. 0:33:05.026 --> 0:33:07.506 You know, he he's got a little fan Emily. You know, 0:33:07.586 --> 0:33:10.586 his wife Eric is awesome. They're just great people that 0:33:10.666 --> 0:33:12.906 can It's like J. J. Watt had a baby boy 0:33:13.386 --> 0:33:14.946 and then he's like, I'm out yeah. I mean, like, 0:33:15.026 --> 0:33:16.706 and that happened for me late in my career where 0:33:16.706 --> 0:33:18.626 it was like by design we waited to have kids 0:33:18.626 --> 0:33:21.026 because my dad played thirteen years. I know, hear him 0:33:21.066 --> 0:33:22.546 talk about what it was like to come home and 0:33:22.866 --> 0:33:25.666 be kind of checked out for me, you know, and 0:33:25.746 --> 0:33:28.546 so like part of that is the burnout of the 0:33:28.586 --> 0:33:31.946 moment you're transitioning in your life into having a family 0:33:31.946 --> 0:33:35.306 and all that stuff. Like I believe this year, being 0:33:35.386 --> 0:33:38.186 hurt sitting there watching it had to make him want 0:33:38.186 --> 0:33:41.306 to play more. And if I'm Aaron Donald, I probably 0:33:41.346 --> 0:33:43.866 don't want to go through a rebuild at the same time, 0:33:44.506 --> 0:33:46.186 you know, because when you get older, you're like I 0:33:46.186 --> 0:33:47.986 can kind of pick I can call my shots a 0:33:47.986 --> 0:33:51.226 little more. Look, you, you stuck it out with some 0:33:51.706 --> 0:33:54.146 you know, struggling St. Louis teams, but you end your 0:33:54.146 --> 0:33:57.786 career with the Patriots and with the Eagles and hoisting Lombardies. 0:33:57.826 --> 0:34:01.106 But no one was like, who's this mercenary. No, Like, 0:34:01.186 --> 0:34:02.826 you were a free agent, you signed with these teams 0:34:02.826 --> 0:34:05.906 and you played big roles. The thought of Donald going 0:34:05.906 --> 0:34:09.466 somewhere else is fascinating, um, but all look at all 0:34:09.466 --> 0:34:11.706 those veterans on the Rams, like, you're right, like it's 0:34:11.746 --> 0:34:15.306 gonna okay, So they bring everybody back and their ten 0:34:15.346 --> 0:34:20.706 and seven in there a while they're still I don't 0:34:20.706 --> 0:34:23.466 think they're gonna because I I don't believe Stafford's got 0:34:23.546 --> 0:34:27.146 got got it in him physically anymore. And that's not personal. 0:34:27.226 --> 0:34:29.506 I'm not like taking I love Matt Stafford, but the 0:34:29.506 --> 0:34:32.066 guy's been through hell on Earth. Like before he got 0:34:32.106 --> 0:34:34.706 to l A, he was he was like Buddy Lee 0:34:34.746 --> 0:34:37.426 in Detroit for a decade, dude, like you know, And 0:34:37.466 --> 0:34:40.626 it felt like the way their offense went, they were 0:34:40.666 --> 0:34:44.226 back to being the Detroit Lions. The offensive line was decimated. 0:34:44.426 --> 0:34:48.946 He had one trans you know, target, but outside of that, 0:34:49.026 --> 0:34:51.626 they were just throwing to guys that like, and I 0:34:51.666 --> 0:34:53.786 felt like he had to do too much. And I 0:34:53.826 --> 0:34:56.146 just don't. I don't see them next year being in 0:34:56.186 --> 0:35:00.306 the position to make the playoffs is so early. I 0:35:00.386 --> 0:35:03.346 just think about the cap, the draft capital, all that stuff. 0:35:03.386 --> 0:35:05.906 You look at Jalen Ramsey, he played so well in 0:35:05.906 --> 0:35:10.786 the last game to the season, was really good against Yeah, 0:35:10.826 --> 0:35:12.666 you know, like he's got that guy deserves to be 0:35:12.666 --> 0:35:15.986 playing football, meaningful football somewhere. How about send him to 0:35:16.066 --> 0:35:19.546 Jacksonville you know, let him finish, send him back, you know, 0:35:19.586 --> 0:35:23.346 like I'm just working my my you know, my fantasy. 0:35:23.386 --> 0:35:25.146 But yeah, I mean like it could be such a 0:35:25.146 --> 0:35:27.946 fun offseason and for l A, the job could could 0:35:27.986 --> 0:35:30.346 flip pretty quickly into being Hey, it ain't so bad. 0:35:30.826 --> 0:35:32.706 You know. It looked like we were in capell look 0:35:32.786 --> 0:35:34.546 like we we didn't have any capital. But maybe we 0:35:34.546 --> 0:35:37.746 can move some pieces and take a break for a year. Yeah. 0:35:37.786 --> 0:35:40.026 The Caleb Williams thing is interesting because he's the first 0:35:40.026 --> 0:35:42.586 real transcendent quarterback in the last couple of years. The 0:35:42.626 --> 0:35:45.426 other guy is the North Carolina kid whose name is May. 0:35:45.466 --> 0:35:48.186 I believe I hear so much about him. There's always 0:35:48.186 --> 0:35:49.706 already this thing, and I remember it when it was 0:35:49.746 --> 0:35:53.906 with Griffin and Luck. It's like everyone thinks that it's 0:35:53.946 --> 0:35:56.306 this guy, but the real guys to do it at 0:35:56.426 --> 0:35:57.986 U N see and that that'll be fun for the 0:35:58.026 --> 0:36:01.546 next year. Question quickly, before we wrap your take on 0:36:01.586 --> 0:36:05.146 the Lamar situation, let's take it from Lamar standpoint, how 0:36:05.146 --> 0:36:08.386 the season ended and where that where that situation lies 0:36:08.466 --> 0:36:10.826 right now. Well before the season, I went on ESPN 0:36:10.826 --> 0:36:12.626 and I got murdered because I said that to a 0:36:12.746 --> 0:36:14.666 can't throw the deep ball. I don't. I still don't 0:36:14.706 --> 0:36:18.346 feel that way. Um. And and I said that I 0:36:18.386 --> 0:36:21.306 think you could see Lamar in Miami before it's all 0:36:21.306 --> 0:36:23.266 said and done, which I think would be a lot 0:36:23.306 --> 0:36:26.346 of fun. Okay, So like I'm saying that to say, 0:36:26.986 --> 0:36:29.586 it's interesting when you look at certain teams that might 0:36:29.626 --> 0:36:31.946 be suitors for Lamar, because I do think it's he's 0:36:31.946 --> 0:36:33.786 played his last game in Baltimore. I mean, do you 0:36:33.786 --> 0:36:35.706 really do you don't think that every bridge is and 0:36:35.786 --> 0:36:37.506 burn as a player, like once you go do this 0:36:37.506 --> 0:36:40.586 stuff publicly, it's I think it's I think the bridge 0:36:40.626 --> 0:36:43.066 was quietly burning for a long time, you know, but 0:36:43.106 --> 0:36:46.746 then this was like, you know, just I do think 0:36:46.746 --> 0:36:50.386 he was hurt. Obviously it was hurt. I think we've 0:36:50.386 --> 0:36:54.666 been dealing in a lot of hypotheticals. Hey, we don't 0:36:54.666 --> 0:36:56.786 know how hurt he is. Some of the quotes after 0:36:56.826 --> 0:37:00.186 the game were like Lamar is walking around fifty He's 0:37:00.226 --> 0:37:04.586 limping around the facility. Um. I also think after their 0:37:04.626 --> 0:37:08.786 their season finale game against the Angles that reading the 0:37:08.866 --> 0:37:12.546 quotes from the players, it was pretty telling. Isaiah likely 0:37:12.586 --> 0:37:15.226 had a quote that was like Lamar will always be family, 0:37:16.106 --> 0:37:17.946 Like what does that mean, that's a rookie in the 0:37:17.986 --> 0:37:20.026 fourth round, Like who just got to know him? Like 0:37:20.346 --> 0:37:22.666 already got his back? Yeah, it already got his back. 0:37:22.826 --> 0:37:26.946 He's got his back. But always he's always gonna be family. 0:37:27.106 --> 0:37:30.426 Sounds like like we kind of know, you know, how 0:37:30.426 --> 0:37:33.906 players know stuff. And in the public out here we 0:37:33.986 --> 0:37:36.146 think one thing, But in that building it's so tight 0:37:36.226 --> 0:37:39.586 knit it's not getting out that maybe the you know, 0:37:39.626 --> 0:37:42.826 the kind of the status quo is that, Hey, next year, 0:37:42.826 --> 0:37:45.586 we're gonna have to we're gonna have to figure it 0:37:45.626 --> 0:37:49.786 out because this bridge is burned, as you put it. Um, 0:37:49.826 --> 0:37:51.706 I do think, you know, one of the things that 0:37:51.746 --> 0:37:53.546 people talked about was why wouldn't at the game this 0:37:53.706 --> 0:37:55.706 that in third he went to the Pittsburgh game the 0:37:55.746 --> 0:37:58.506 week after he got hurt. There's something you could glean 0:37:58.586 --> 0:38:00.626 from that. It's also like if you wanted to get 0:38:00.706 --> 0:38:03.346 him back next week and he's this fluid in his 0:38:03.426 --> 0:38:05.946 knee and all that stuff, like it's legitimately not the 0:38:05.986 --> 0:38:08.106 best thing for him to be standing up. Sean Bayton 0:38:08.186 --> 0:38:10.626 said to me, like any lower leg injury, you wouldn't 0:38:10.666 --> 0:38:12.266 have that guy on the field. I don't care who 0:38:12.306 --> 0:38:13.866 it is. If it's a captain, or if it's Tom Brady, 0:38:13.906 --> 0:38:15.506 you would never put him on the field just about 0:38:15.506 --> 0:38:17.746 the off chance that the he gets run into. Yeah, 0:38:17.746 --> 0:38:19.666 you get thrown into, You get thrown into. Just the 0:38:19.786 --> 0:38:22.786 standing around can really blow your knee up. Being on 0:38:22.826 --> 0:38:25.106 the plane, even if it's only for an hour or two, 0:38:25.506 --> 0:38:28.066 can really blow your knee up. You know. I'm sure 0:38:28.106 --> 0:38:30.346 if they wanted him back the next week that he's 0:38:30.386 --> 0:38:32.746 probably receiving treatment in Baltimore, where they have the best 0:38:32.786 --> 0:38:35.306 modalities to do that in the best set up. So 0:38:35.386 --> 0:38:37.906 I've tried not to jump out of the gym on 0:38:37.946 --> 0:38:41.186 some of these anecdotal kind of sidebar conversations. But I 0:38:41.186 --> 0:38:45.146 think from a football standpoint Baltimore, the Greg Roman thing 0:38:45.186 --> 0:38:48.146 is run its course right. The red zone calls were bad. JK. 0:38:48.306 --> 0:38:52.866 Dominds needed the ball, and I think it's legitimate to 0:38:52.946 --> 0:38:56.026 gripe about the weapons that Lamar has had from the beginning. 0:38:56.026 --> 0:39:00.586 And I'd hate to waste the generational talent because let's 0:39:00.586 --> 0:39:03.386 face it, he's played the game a different way than 0:39:03.426 --> 0:39:06.546 your average quarterback. I'm not saying he's not a pocket passers. 0:39:06.546 --> 0:39:10.266 A pocket passer guy can sling it, but having him 0:39:10.346 --> 0:39:12.986 in your design run game over course of five years, 0:39:13.266 --> 0:39:17.546 carrying the ball, extending plays, like there's an attrition factor 0:39:17.586 --> 0:39:21.266 to that that other quarterbacks aren't aren't enduring. So like 0:39:21.546 --> 0:39:24.706 his window maybe not as big as we think it is. 0:39:24.746 --> 0:39:26.986 And I think that, you know, the the impetus to 0:39:27.026 --> 0:39:29.786 get him somewhere as a fan where he has the 0:39:29.826 --> 0:39:33.626 weapons that we can enjoy him fully flourished. Like I'd 0:39:33.666 --> 0:39:36.906 love to see it in the next in this next deal. 0:39:36.906 --> 0:39:40.186 I don't want to see Lamar finally get um a 0:39:40.266 --> 0:39:42.906 good set up at thirty one, you know, because like 0:39:42.946 --> 0:39:45.306 I don't know what he's gonna look like. And so 0:39:45.546 --> 0:39:47.346 someone texted me and said, and it was in the 0:39:47.346 --> 0:39:50.866 guy in the league. He was like, from the Baltimore standpoint, 0:39:51.386 --> 0:39:56.066 you've seen Lamar for five years. Do you put all 0:39:56.146 --> 0:40:00.266 your chips or all your eggs in that basket if 0:40:00.266 --> 0:40:02.066 you're not sure he's gonna be even better in the 0:40:02.066 --> 0:40:03.466 next five years. And I go, you can't look at 0:40:03.506 --> 0:40:06.546 it that way. I'm with you. I think baltim Or 0:40:06.546 --> 0:40:08.666 it should have paid him whatever he wanted. And I 0:40:08.666 --> 0:40:10.946 know that sounds crazy, and like, especially with the guarantees 0:40:11.026 --> 0:40:13.506 and all that stuff, but I think it's gone really sour. 0:40:14.026 --> 0:40:16.426 I'm gonna flip it to the sports media critique of 0:40:16.426 --> 0:40:18.786 it because on my show, the one before Your Father's 0:40:18.866 --> 0:40:22.226 Fox NFL kickoff on Saturday, Michael Vick and Charles Woodson 0:40:22.266 --> 0:40:23.786 came out and they were pretty adamant, like, yeah, he 0:40:23.866 --> 0:40:26.266 might be hurt, but if he could even go, it 0:40:26.306 --> 0:40:28.146 would have been cool to see him go. And and 0:40:28.266 --> 0:40:30.386 you know, people were bouncing back at Charles Woodson on 0:40:30.386 --> 0:40:33.306 Twitter saying, yeah, but r G three's career and like, 0:40:33.426 --> 0:40:35.906 you know, c wood does not give guys are playing 0:40:35.986 --> 0:40:38.226 hurt every week now. Again, I want to couch this 0:40:38.386 --> 0:40:40.226 with what we said earlier is like we're dealing with 0:40:40.306 --> 0:40:43.866 hyper We don't have patheticals, so like, you know, I 0:40:43.906 --> 0:40:46.626 don't know what Charles and Mike knew. But let's say 0:40:46.946 --> 0:40:49.986 let's say he was a game time decision, truly like, 0:40:50.066 --> 0:40:52.306 which which means you probably might be able to go, 0:40:52.346 --> 0:40:53.706 but you gotta get out there and run around and 0:40:53.706 --> 0:40:56.146 figure it out. Well, one, he'd probably be in since 0:40:56.186 --> 0:40:58.746 he you know, warming up and out on the fee. 0:40:58.786 --> 0:41:01.026 He hadn't even practiced. He hasn't practiced in five weeks, 0:41:01.026 --> 0:41:05.186 you know. But hypothetically, let's say I think We've just 0:41:05.386 --> 0:41:09.426 entered an era where fans and even media are so 0:41:09.466 --> 0:41:12.666 removed from like how football players feel sometimes we think 0:41:12.666 --> 0:41:17.266 for football players, and like the resounding kind of sentiment 0:41:17.386 --> 0:41:20.266 is like, in this era of player empowerment, hey, if 0:41:20.266 --> 0:41:22.866 you don't have your contract and don't play well, you're 0:41:22.906 --> 0:41:27.026 also saying the other fifty two guys in that hypothetical scenario, 0:41:27.226 --> 0:41:31.346 and the fans and the coaches and and hey, we're 0:41:31.346 --> 0:41:33.786 in this era where that could be good business. But 0:41:34.426 --> 0:41:38.466 you can't be surprised when football players feel like, hey, 0:41:38.506 --> 0:41:41.706 if you can go in a playoff game, you probably should, 0:41:42.146 --> 0:41:46.266 because that's the way. Like I remember Martellis Bennett calling 0:41:46.546 --> 0:41:50.786 Jimmy G a because Jimmy G didn't play early in 0:41:50.786 --> 0:41:53.386 the year that I was there, when Brady got Um injured, 0:41:54.706 --> 0:41:57.306 Set came in. We had played the Dolphins, Jimmy G 0:41:57.466 --> 0:42:00.306 got piled driven into the ground, his shoulder was about 0:42:00.306 --> 0:42:03.226 to fall off. And the next week we play the 0:42:03.226 --> 0:42:06.826 Bills and we get throttled a little bit and Jacoby play, 0:42:06.946 --> 0:42:09.186 and a couple of years later, Marty's like, yeah, he 0:42:09.226 --> 0:42:11.226 was for that, like this that in the third and 0:42:11.466 --> 0:42:13.866 I think even some of you know, our former teammates 0:42:13.866 --> 0:42:15.746 were kind of like, yeah, I would have liked to 0:42:15.746 --> 0:42:19.146 have seen him play. Um. You know, I feel like 0:42:19.346 --> 0:42:21.986 it kind of depends on the player, right the way 0:42:22.066 --> 0:42:25.986 fans and the media react. Everybody's like, yeah, do you 0:42:25.986 --> 0:42:27.906 hear what Marty B said about Jimmy G. That's not 0:42:27.906 --> 0:42:30.066 a good sign for Jimmy G. That his teammates felt 0:42:30.106 --> 0:42:32.346 that way about him. Well, not every teammate felt that way. 0:42:32.426 --> 0:42:34.386 Not every I didn't feel that way. You know what 0:42:34.626 --> 0:42:36.906 It's like, Yeah, I think there's a mixture in an 0:42:37.026 --> 0:42:40.106 NFL locker room of like how guys feel that there's 0:42:40.106 --> 0:42:45.546 the old school NFL guys and that generational like mccordy 0:42:45.586 --> 0:42:49.106 on my show. Not anything ubrasive. It's just like he 0:42:49.106 --> 0:42:51.266 doesn't have a contract. I don't for a second, and 0:42:51.266 --> 0:42:53.306 because I played her. But I wouldn't spide him for 0:42:53.346 --> 0:42:56.386 not I wouldn't him right, I wouldn't spite him in again, 0:42:56.426 --> 0:42:58.946 like for anybody who's zoned out the last five minutes, 0:42:59.466 --> 0:43:03.226 like I'm talking about a hypothetical, which I don't believe 0:43:03.346 --> 0:43:06.506 was the case. I believe judging by everything that I 0:43:06.546 --> 0:43:08.666 was reading, that you that you hear you put in 0:43:08.666 --> 0:43:11.106 two and two together that he's not ready to play 0:43:11.266 --> 0:43:14.346 when they played Cincinnati. It just wasn't worth it. Um. 0:43:14.386 --> 0:43:16.586 But say, you know, it's one of those situations, bro. 0:43:16.666 --> 0:43:20.506 I've had a high ankle my contract year, my contract 0:43:20.586 --> 0:43:23.146 year in St. Louis, I had a high ankle sprain 0:43:23.546 --> 0:43:26.466 that keeps guys out a month, you know, six weeks, 0:43:26.506 --> 0:43:29.546 two weeks, whatever it is. I shot that up every 0:43:29.586 --> 0:43:33.106 week because it was my contract year, and we I 0:43:33.106 --> 0:43:35.226 couldn't walk during the week, I'd numb it up and 0:43:35.226 --> 0:43:37.386 I'd go out and dragged that thing around. And that 0:43:37.466 --> 0:43:39.586 was the best year in my career. Had thirteen sacks, 0:43:39.586 --> 0:43:41.826 and I made the money that I'm still living off 0:43:41.866 --> 0:43:43.786 of all my next deal, my next big deal with 0:43:43.786 --> 0:43:49.506 the Rams. So sometimes risk works out and sometimes it doesn't. 0:43:49.506 --> 0:43:51.546 Now the downside of that is my ankle was never 0:43:51.586 --> 0:43:54.026 the same, and I truly don't believe that. Do you 0:43:54.066 --> 0:43:56.506 still feel it? Well, yeah, but it's a little thing. 0:43:56.586 --> 0:43:59.346 It's it's just you lose your ankle flexion you as 0:43:59.346 --> 0:44:02.066 a rusher. That's huge. I mean, like on my inside 0:44:02.066 --> 0:44:04.826 foot now I can't bend as well. So my game 0:44:04.946 --> 0:44:07.426 changed a little bit. But I also had the money 0:44:07.506 --> 0:44:09.386 at that point and you know, I still was a 0:44:09.426 --> 0:44:12.066 good player, but but it just there were certain things 0:44:12.106 --> 0:44:13.786 I could do in two thousand eleven that I couldn't 0:44:13.786 --> 0:44:16.626 do anymore. And so like that's the inside looking too. Hey, 0:44:16.706 --> 0:44:19.586 I'm sitting here, I'm on a big rookie deal. I 0:44:19.666 --> 0:44:22.346 have the security of my big rookie deal. I want 0:44:22.346 --> 0:44:24.906 to play because I want to make another big deal um, 0:44:25.026 --> 0:44:26.906 and I'm having a great year. It's like halfway through 0:44:26.946 --> 0:44:29.466 the season, I'm gonna keep sticking this thing out. Like 0:44:29.546 --> 0:44:31.746 maybe I could have been I could have shut myself down. 0:44:31.746 --> 0:44:34.266 But I was also an idiot too that in two 0:44:34.306 --> 0:44:36.426 thousand and fourteen when I had ankle surgery, I rushed 0:44:36.426 --> 0:44:38.266 back and I was terrible, and I do think it 0:44:38.266 --> 0:44:41.546 affected my free agency stock in fourteen and fifteen, trying 0:44:41.546 --> 0:44:44.186 to play with an ankle surgery and a broken leg um, 0:44:44.226 --> 0:44:46.866 trying to be a hero. And the bottom line is 0:44:47.266 --> 0:44:50.186 people don't care. Nobody's gonna help you if you look 0:44:50.226 --> 0:44:53.426 like on film and your teammates who you you feel 0:44:53.466 --> 0:44:56.186 so indebted to, and you feel awkward walking around the building, 0:44:56.226 --> 0:44:58.466 you go out there and suit up. At the end 0:44:58.466 --> 0:45:02.106 of the day, they're not gonna rescue you. Nobody's gonna 0:45:02.106 --> 0:45:04.946 talk you up and convince other teams to sign you. 0:45:05.186 --> 0:45:08.266 Those teams are going off that ape. So everything is 0:45:08.266 --> 0:45:11.026 a calculus based on the individual in the context around 0:45:11.066 --> 0:45:13.866 the situation. And I also think the arrow were in 0:45:14.146 --> 0:45:17.746 factors into how we receive it. Dude, that was beautiful. Great. 0:45:18.386 --> 0:45:21.106 Mccordy was big on the tape stuff too, saying hell, no, 0:45:21.266 --> 0:45:23.146 you don't want to put out any bad tape. It 0:45:23.186 --> 0:45:26.666 doesn't doesn't know especially if a Yeah, last question for 0:45:26.706 --> 0:45:30.426 you was Mike McDaniel vaping, Right, So we were talking 0:45:30.426 --> 0:45:35.746 about this. I I'm big on like giving people the 0:45:35.826 --> 0:45:39.626 benefit of the doubt in situations. If if if you 0:45:39.746 --> 0:45:43.506 brought that to court and you had twelve jurors, do 0:45:43.546 --> 0:45:47.386 you really think that there's enough evidence to charge him 0:45:47.426 --> 0:45:51.826 guilty of the jewel on the sideline too? You know? 0:45:52.466 --> 0:45:54.506 And also my whole thing was like people were like, well, 0:45:54.506 --> 0:45:58.346 he's he he's vaping for sure. I go, Okay, Well 0:45:58.786 --> 0:46:01.106 you've never seen him in a cloud of jewel smoke. 0:46:02.706 --> 0:46:04.866 No one's ever caught him. Because if it can happen 0:46:04.866 --> 0:46:06.906 in the playoff game, it can happen any week. You 0:46:06.906 --> 0:46:10.066 really think that, like somebody on Fox didn't zoom in 0:46:10.106 --> 0:46:12.666 on him if he if he's a jewel guy all 0:46:12.746 --> 0:46:16.826 season long? No gloves in Miami, right, no gloves like 0:46:16.906 --> 0:46:18.666 to you know, because he had the black gloves on 0:46:18.706 --> 0:46:22.906 you you're gonna tell me we just missed it all year? Okay. 0:46:23.106 --> 0:46:25.066 Then somebody was like, oh, well, he was just really 0:46:25.106 --> 0:46:28.546 nervous for the playoffs. If you're so nervous for the 0:46:28.546 --> 0:46:31.306 playoffs that you gotta hit him any cigarette, then maybe 0:46:31.346 --> 0:46:35.386 you shouldn't meet coaching, you know. I mean, I don't 0:46:35.426 --> 0:46:37.386 think he was. I think it was a highlighter. And 0:46:37.426 --> 0:46:39.666 then they turned away just after we would have seen 0:46:39.706 --> 0:46:42.546 an exhale, so like, we don't know for sure. I 0:46:42.666 --> 0:46:45.666 texted him, I know Mike, well, I love Mike. He 0:46:45.706 --> 0:46:49.346 hasn't responded, and granted they might have some coaching stuff, 0:46:50.546 --> 0:46:53.106 but I think it's a pretty important You thought that Kingsbury, 0:46:53.106 --> 0:46:54.866 Thailand was big. If I could break the news that 0:46:54.906 --> 0:46:57.226 Mike McDaniel was in fact vaping on the sideline, that 0:46:57.226 --> 0:46:58.826 would be a good school. Would do me a favor 0:46:59.506 --> 0:47:03.346 and tell Mike McDaniel that I I I am sticking 0:47:03.346 --> 0:47:05.986 to my guns. Everybody thinks he's jeweling, but there's one 0:47:05.986 --> 0:47:09.346 guy in the media. That's Long. Yeah, I got his back. 0:47:09.426 --> 0:47:13.026 He was not jeweling. There's not enough evidence to indict 0:47:13.146 --> 0:47:18.266 him on on smoking like a teenager on the sideline. 0:47:18.266 --> 0:47:21.706 It just getting it in, getting it in, dude, thank you. 0:47:22.066 --> 0:47:24.626 Where can we find your podcast? Who are your partners 0:47:24.666 --> 0:47:26.786 on that podcast? And where can we just follow the 0:47:26.866 --> 0:47:29.706 Chris Long experience? Okay, so green Light pod you can 0:47:29.746 --> 0:47:31.866 find it anywhere you can find your podcast right now. 0:47:31.866 --> 0:47:34.466 I got my brother Kyle working with me. We do 0:47:34.506 --> 0:47:37.786 our Monday show with one of my high school buddies, 0:47:37.786 --> 0:47:39.666 Making Gunner, who's a real estate agent but he really 0:47:39.666 --> 0:47:42.786 knows ball. Um. Then you know, I've got another former teammate, 0:47:42.866 --> 0:47:45.546 Nate Collins working with the green Light team. And Bo 0:47:45.666 --> 0:47:49.146 Allen who just left town. So little groups growing. We've 0:47:49.146 --> 0:47:51.866 had Nicole our Back joining us through the season talk 0:47:51.946 --> 0:47:55.146 college football. Uh. We just we love to bus and 0:47:55.186 --> 0:47:57.666 just kind of keep it simple. So um, yeah, I 0:47:57.666 --> 0:48:00.186 don't do the hard stuff like you. Peter. Yeah. I 0:48:00.226 --> 0:48:01.946 think it's interesting because you could have a chair on 0:48:01.986 --> 0:48:04.706 any of these shows. Your father obviously is the all 0:48:04.706 --> 0:48:07.346 time legend, if not one of the all time legends. 0:48:07.346 --> 0:48:10.906 Your brothers doing CBS. Um, You've chosen to kind of 0:48:10.906 --> 0:48:13.266 do things on your own terms. I find it really inspiring. Yeah, 0:48:13.586 --> 0:48:16.186 it's a little bit of a self sabotage thing. I'm 0:48:16.186 --> 0:48:19.306 pretty good at that. Uh you know, like sure I 0:48:19.546 --> 0:48:21.986 maybe could work towards having one of those good jobs, 0:48:21.986 --> 0:48:24.546 but I also I understand that there's a big process 0:48:24.586 --> 0:48:26.026 with that, and like you never want to say, like 0:48:26.146 --> 0:48:28.466 I could just you know, because there's guys going to 0:48:28.466 --> 0:48:31.866 broadcast boot camp and move into places. And I think 0:48:32.426 --> 0:48:35.426 I've been in a crossroads at times, like in as 0:48:35.426 --> 0:48:38.386 a media guy where I'm like, should I just do that? 0:48:39.146 --> 0:48:41.426 And if I got to ask myself, then I don't 0:48:41.466 --> 0:48:44.626 really want it, you know, like if if if I 0:48:44.666 --> 0:48:46.786 gotta if I if I'm like, damn, I gotta take 0:48:46.826 --> 0:48:48.706 a flight up there every week to do that study, 0:48:48.746 --> 0:48:51.466 I gotta get suits I gotta do, then I don't 0:48:51.466 --> 0:48:53.026 really want to do that. And honestly, the couple of 0:48:53.026 --> 0:48:56.706 times I've been on TV, I don't like the attention. Really, 0:48:56.986 --> 0:48:58.986 So you said you got like blown up on ESPN 0:48:59.026 --> 0:49:01.026 because he said that, And like I fly from New 0:49:01.106 --> 0:49:02.706 York to l A every week and put on a 0:49:02.786 --> 0:49:06.666 suit and you see me on Good Morning Football Show, 0:49:06.666 --> 0:49:09.346 put me in that with that tie, and I'll get 0:49:09.426 --> 0:49:11.706 up there and I'll and I'm Mr NFL Insider, and 0:49:11.706 --> 0:49:13.866 even there sometimes I'm like, God, this doesn't feel normal. 0:49:13.906 --> 0:49:16.106 But like that's what Fox does. That's a CBS does, 0:49:16.226 --> 0:49:18.906 that's an NBC does. You're sitting right now in a car, 0:49:18.946 --> 0:49:21.346 hard hat, chilling with a bunch of bobble heads behind you. 0:49:21.386 --> 0:49:24.906 I can't like it looks pretty good on the podcasting 0:49:24.946 --> 0:49:27.306 has gotten better, like where the money is very good, Like, 0:49:27.506 --> 0:49:29.786 you know, maybe i'd be making a little less money 0:49:30.106 --> 0:49:33.146 starting out doing studio stuff. You know. For me, it's 0:49:33.186 --> 0:49:37.106 just like I do not like I am over, whether 0:49:37.146 --> 0:49:39.066 it's Twitter or whether it's like a guy on the street. 0:49:39.066 --> 0:49:42.626 I'm over arguing with people and NFL fans. You can't 0:49:42.626 --> 0:49:46.146 give a take without a million people. I thought I 0:49:46.146 --> 0:49:48.746 felt bad for Mike Vick on Saturday, and I'll talk 0:49:48.786 --> 0:49:50.746 to him. He's been great on our show, but like 0:49:51.066 --> 0:49:53.266 he comes out with that take and he's just coming honestly, 0:49:53.266 --> 0:49:54.706 he's like I played on a on a spring to 0:49:54.826 --> 0:49:57.346 mcl it sucked, but like if he can go, I 0:49:57.346 --> 0:49:58.826 would love to see him go because I never want 0:49:58.826 --> 0:50:01.186 a super Bowl and it's the ultimate whatever and Mike. 0:50:01.306 --> 0:50:03.906 You know, Mike got my got crushed crushed for it, 0:50:03.986 --> 0:50:06.386 you got skewered, And I'm like, well, look, it's very 0:50:06.426 --> 0:50:08.786 low hanging fruit to just come out there and be like, 0:50:10.026 --> 0:50:12.706 Lamar should do what's best for him or Lamar, we 0:50:12.706 --> 0:50:15.146 don't know if he's like my kind of take. And 0:50:15.186 --> 0:50:17.946 if you have a take on TV, you're gonna get cobbered. Yeah, 0:50:18.066 --> 0:50:20.986 and I and you know, it's it's just being on TV, 0:50:21.266 --> 0:50:24.426 having your face there. I get really uncomfortable performing and 0:50:24.466 --> 0:50:26.466 I don't like performing, and I don't like being told 0:50:26.466 --> 0:50:28.786 what to say, and so like here that never happens, 0:50:29.266 --> 0:50:31.026 you know. So I mean, for the most part, I 0:50:31.026 --> 0:50:33.186 think find your groove in this in this side of 0:50:33.226 --> 0:50:35.746 things is just having conversations. And that's why I know 0:50:35.826 --> 0:50:38.026 you like doing the podcast. You know, it's like a 0:50:38.106 --> 0:50:40.546 night and a nice change of pace. So I love it. 0:50:40.586 --> 0:50:42.826 I love Good Morning Football because I feel like we're 0:50:42.826 --> 0:50:46.146 the closest thing to a podcast where it's just for people. Yes, 0:50:46.186 --> 0:50:47.986 and you guys do a really good job. And by 0:50:47.986 --> 0:50:50.306 the way, mccordy is great or at all is great. 0:50:50.386 --> 0:50:52.506 Like we've talked about this before, Like you guys have 0:50:52.506 --> 0:50:55.186 not missed a beat. I mean, it was just really 0:50:55.226 --> 0:50:58.786 well respected. And I'm especially excited to see McCarty because 0:50:58.826 --> 0:51:02.106 I know I know Jason a little bit and he's 0:51:02.146 --> 0:51:05.506 just's he's fun to see on there. Yeah. Um, I 0:51:05.506 --> 0:51:07.906 appreciate you so much, man, I think you're a unicorn 0:51:07.906 --> 0:51:10.266 in the sports media landscape, but also just a great dude. 0:51:10.266 --> 0:51:12.666 And hopefully you'll be at Super Bowl this year, party 0:51:12.666 --> 0:51:14.546 on a party on a rooftop like last time. Let's 0:51:14.546 --> 0:51:16.306 do it, man, you'll be a little warmer, I think 0:51:16.626 --> 0:51:19.866 I know. All right, Chris Long, great stuff, man, Thank you, 0:51:19.986 --> 0:51:26.186 Thanks Peter. Chris Long was great, and I have a 0:51:26.226 --> 0:51:28.706 feeling our next guest is going to be great as well. 0:51:28.746 --> 0:51:31.066 All right, So if you listen to the podcast every week, 0:51:31.106 --> 0:51:33.586 we've got an NFL guest of some sort of coach 0:51:33.626 --> 0:51:37.186 at GM, of a current player, a former player. And 0:51:37.226 --> 0:51:39.586 then we also will have on a friend of mine 0:51:39.746 --> 0:51:41.906 who doesn't work in the NFL. It could either be 0:51:41.946 --> 0:51:44.986 a friend from college, from high school, friend from elementary school. 0:51:45.266 --> 0:51:48.906 In this case, it's a buddy of mine from Baltimore. 0:51:49.106 --> 0:51:51.666 And oh yes, we're talking Ravens. We're gonna do a 0:51:51.746 --> 0:51:54.866 Ravens deep dive with my buddy, Jeremy, Jeremy, how are 0:51:54.866 --> 0:51:57.546 you doing? I'm doing great. Peter, how are you this morning? 0:51:57.946 --> 0:52:00.266 Are you great? You don't sound great when you're texting 0:52:00.266 --> 0:52:03.506 me all night on Sunday about play calls? Like, what 0:52:03.706 --> 0:52:05.946 is the what is the feel of Ravens fans right 0:52:05.986 --> 0:52:09.066 now as it's Tuesday morning after that loss? Well, I 0:52:09.106 --> 0:52:11.466 can't lie. I do have some relief after all the 0:52:11.546 --> 0:52:14.746 drama that we experienced towards the end of the season. Um, 0:52:14.786 --> 0:52:17.466 this has been after being a Ravens fan for twenty 0:52:17.466 --> 0:52:24.106 plus years. This was the most joyless playoff experience that 0:52:24.146 --> 0:52:27.386 we've had the last part of the year. You know, 0:52:27.506 --> 0:52:29.626 the lack of excitement. It just felt like one of 0:52:29.666 --> 0:52:32.226 those TV shows that used to be really good, but 0:52:32.306 --> 0:52:34.866 you just you know it's bad and you're still finishing 0:52:34.866 --> 0:52:38.266 out the episodes because you're such a fan of the 0:52:38.826 --> 0:52:41.426 of the series at one point. Yeah, Like I felt 0:52:41.426 --> 0:52:43.866 like Homeland had a really good first three seasons and 0:52:43.906 --> 0:52:45.546 then we kind of teetered out at the end, But 0:52:45.626 --> 0:52:47.266 you just watched it at a commitment because of the 0:52:47.306 --> 0:52:50.346 joy you used to have. Let's get into it, Um, 0:52:50.426 --> 0:52:52.106 where do you want to start off first? Because you're 0:52:52.106 --> 0:52:54.506 critical of everybody, and I love that about you. Do 0:52:54.506 --> 0:52:56.906 you want to start with Lamar Hardball the play call? 0:52:56.946 --> 0:52:59.306 Where do you want to go? I think we should 0:52:59.346 --> 0:53:04.466 start with the longest standing person, that's John Harball. So 0:53:04.706 --> 0:53:06.866 you know, I think you have to take a back 0:53:06.906 --> 0:53:09.466 and look at the lack of playoffs success over the 0:53:09.466 --> 0:53:12.266 past ten years and the lack of the ability to 0:53:12.346 --> 0:53:18.586 adapt to modern NFL passing offense. So you know, Hardball 0:53:18.786 --> 0:53:22.746 pretty much had a rookie quarterback. There was an m 0:53:22.826 --> 0:53:25.706 v P on a rookie deal. Um and his brother 0:53:25.786 --> 0:53:28.586 said at Michigan that's like starting on third base, right, 0:53:28.706 --> 0:53:32.626 I mean, how many gms start their job, right, how 0:53:32.626 --> 0:53:35.746 many gms start their job with an NFL m v P. 0:53:36.306 --> 0:53:39.066 That's a quarterback on a rookie deal. And this what 0:53:39.106 --> 0:53:42.306 you saw, you know against Since on Sunday Night. That 0:53:42.466 --> 0:53:45.626 was the result of building a team with those advantages, 0:53:45.866 --> 0:53:48.826 you know, So I mean for me, that's you know, 0:53:48.906 --> 0:53:53.026 that's where I would start. When you see Hardball being 0:53:53.066 --> 0:53:56.226 a little short with Melissa Stark on on Sunday Night, 0:53:56.386 --> 0:53:58.746 and you see some of the play calls offensively from 0:53:58.786 --> 0:54:02.106 Greg Roman, it starts opening wounds for a lot of 0:54:02.186 --> 0:54:03.706 Ravens fans, and I heard from them all the time 0:54:03.706 --> 0:54:05.866 when I'm on the show, saying, fire Roman, Fire Roman. 0:54:05.906 --> 0:54:08.626 Do you blame Roman for what's going on and how 0:54:08.666 --> 0:54:10.586 this last few years have gone? Yeah, I mean I 0:54:10.666 --> 0:54:14.346 blame Greg Roman. Obviously Roman should have been replaced years ago. 0:54:14.426 --> 0:54:16.386 I mean you're looking at the playoffs right now. Do 0:54:16.426 --> 0:54:19.506 you think the Bills are the Niners regret replacing Greg 0:54:19.586 --> 0:54:22.586 Roman at this point? Look at them, both of them 0:54:22.586 --> 0:54:25.626 fired Bret Roman in the past ten years, and look 0:54:25.626 --> 0:54:29.346 at them. They're not suffering. Um, even the Eagles. You know, 0:54:29.386 --> 0:54:33.106 people say hardball is not replaceable. The Eagles fired Andy Reid, 0:54:33.186 --> 0:54:35.666 won a Super Bowl, fired that coach, and now we're 0:54:35.706 --> 0:54:38.386 back in the top seats. So I think Baltimore is 0:54:38.386 --> 0:54:42.506 afraid of change at some level. Um. I think Hardball 0:54:42.506 --> 0:54:45.546 answering those questions and getting very short with Melissa Stark, 0:54:45.586 --> 0:54:49.426 who by the way, is also of Baltimore uh product herself, 0:54:51.186 --> 0:54:54.706 I believe, uh so she knows Hardball very well over 0:54:54.746 --> 0:54:57.506 the years. Um. And you know, I think that Hardball 0:54:57.586 --> 0:54:59.946 is uncomfortable answering questions when he gets out of the 0:54:59.986 --> 0:55:03.626 castle and doesn't have full control over betting of questions. 0:55:03.666 --> 0:55:06.306 I mean, that's what it is. I mean a lot 0:55:06.546 --> 0:55:09.266 the issues with Harball over the past few weeks with 0:55:09.346 --> 0:55:12.786 lamar Um, he could have just answered honestly, like he 0:55:12.826 --> 0:55:14.866 put it out there at the Rich eyesend that you know, 0:55:14.986 --> 0:55:17.346 he could play with the Brace against the Browns instead 0:55:17.346 --> 0:55:20.306 of just being honest saying, you know, maybe he's more 0:55:20.386 --> 0:55:23.226 hurt than we anticipated. I don't know, but he made 0:55:23.266 --> 0:55:25.146 it much worse. And this is not the first time 0:55:25.186 --> 0:55:28.066 Harball has had this issue with you know, going over injuries. 0:55:28.066 --> 0:55:30.306 It goes back to Brashad Perriman who had a week 0:55:30.346 --> 0:55:33.306 to week injury than would lost a year. Um. Even 0:55:33.386 --> 0:55:35.106 Dobbins this year, and we can get to him in 0:55:35.106 --> 0:55:37.946 a second with the usage of Roman and Dobbins this weekend, 0:55:37.986 --> 0:55:41.346 which was a huge problem. But you know, Dobbin's got 0:55:41.386 --> 0:55:44.066 a surgery this year to clean up his knee, and 0:55:44.146 --> 0:55:46.866 even people in the organization weren't really supportive of that. 0:55:46.946 --> 0:55:49.866 He said, um, and he's been pretty candid lately. So 0:55:50.666 --> 0:55:53.026 you know, Harball has come out there and it's kind 0:55:53.066 --> 0:55:56.026 of he hasn't said it directly, but he's blamed a 0:55:56.066 --> 0:55:58.466 lot of these players for not getting back out there faster, 0:55:58.586 --> 0:56:01.546 even Ronnie Stanley, you know, over the past few years, 0:56:01.706 --> 0:56:05.466 and you know, he leaves a lot of trust issues 0:56:05.546 --> 0:56:08.026 within the players and the fans. And that's where those 0:56:08.026 --> 0:56:10.546 type of interviews are interesting for us to see because 0:56:10.546 --> 0:56:13.066 he gets some real, you know, fastballs instead of the 0:56:13.066 --> 0:56:17.026 softballs you get to the castle. All right. The Lamar 0:56:17.146 --> 0:56:21.226 situation has been dissected by everybody and their mother. And 0:56:21.226 --> 0:56:24.586 it's interesting because this week on My Fox show on Saturday, 0:56:24.626 --> 0:56:27.746 Michael Vick and Charles Woodson actually came out and said, 0:56:27.906 --> 0:56:29.746 put a brace on it, you know, like these are 0:56:29.746 --> 0:56:32.386 guys who played hurt and they said, I'd like to 0:56:32.426 --> 0:56:36.226 see him try and they got killed online and everyone said, 0:56:36.466 --> 0:56:38.346 you can't talk about another man's health. And I think 0:56:38.346 --> 0:56:41.426 there's a generational thing with the ex players where you know, 0:56:41.506 --> 0:56:43.786 Vick and Woodson are from a generation before some of 0:56:43.826 --> 0:56:46.626 the current players and maybe Jason mccordy on my show 0:56:46.626 --> 0:56:48.306 on Good Morning Football. And I hate to generalize because 0:56:48.306 --> 0:56:51.866 I know every player is different, but mccordy was, you know, help, 0:56:51.986 --> 0:56:54.266 no way you play if your if your knee is 0:56:54.306 --> 0:56:55.706 and you don't have a contract. You don't know what 0:56:55.786 --> 0:56:58.386 to them, like, hell no, you don't play, And he said, 0:56:58.426 --> 0:57:01.226 I played hurt, but I wasn't Lamar Jackson, and in 0:57:01.266 --> 0:57:03.266 a lot of ways, I didn't have two million dollars 0:57:03.306 --> 0:57:06.866 laying in the balance. What has come out over the 0:57:06.906 --> 0:57:10.866 last few days is that like Lamar put that tweet 0:57:10.906 --> 0:57:14.626 out himself with the injuries, and then the Ravens obviously 0:57:14.666 --> 0:57:16.826 weren't thrilled that he did that and didn't go through 0:57:16.866 --> 0:57:20.466 their communication channels. Then he doesn't travel with the team, 0:57:20.466 --> 0:57:22.426 and we don't know still even today on Tuesday, whether 0:57:22.466 --> 0:57:24.786 it's team policy that you traveled the team or not. 0:57:24.826 --> 0:57:26.666 He did travel to Pittsburgh a few weeks back and 0:57:26.706 --> 0:57:29.226 had his arm around Tyler Huntley. Uh, you know the 0:57:29.386 --> 0:57:32.906 entire game. So gosh, I'll ask this. He's a free 0:57:32.906 --> 0:57:36.146 agent right now as the season ends. Would you be 0:57:36.146 --> 0:57:40.266 devastated if Lamar Jackson never puts on a Ravens jersey again? Uh? Yeah. First, 0:57:40.386 --> 0:57:41.906 the first thing I wanted to say is I thought 0:57:41.906 --> 0:57:44.626 the VIC piece was interesting because he could argue no 0:57:44.746 --> 0:57:47.386 player lost more earnings in his career than Michael Vick 0:57:47.626 --> 0:57:50.626 over the course of his career right with with his 0:57:50.706 --> 0:57:54.306 decision making. So that was interesting for Vic to speak 0:57:54.306 --> 0:57:58.026 out so strongly. Um, I think most Ravens fans would 0:57:58.026 --> 0:58:01.626 be devastated with, you know, losing Lamar, especially the guys 0:58:01.666 --> 0:58:04.866 twenty six years old and you've never seen him in 0:58:04.986 --> 0:58:09.706 any other offense but you know, basic running offense the 0:58:09.826 --> 0:58:12.506 Roman has put out there. So you know, I think 0:58:12.546 --> 0:58:15.626 that to lose a player without even seeing an absolute 0:58:15.666 --> 0:58:20.186 superstar in another system would be a real like devastating 0:58:20.226 --> 0:58:22.066 blow for a lot of Ravens fans. But I also 0:58:22.146 --> 0:58:25.306 think that there are sub Ravens fans now that feel 0:58:25.386 --> 0:58:27.626 like too many bridges have been burned and you have 0:58:27.746 --> 0:58:30.106 to move on at this point, which, you know, which 0:58:30.146 --> 0:58:32.986 is a you know, a pretty valid take, except for 0:58:33.026 --> 0:58:35.626 the fact that you don't replace superstars. You don't replace 0:58:35.666 --> 0:58:39.026 guys like this, like you were talking about last week 0:58:39.066 --> 0:58:42.866 with Kawai Leonard in the NBA having trust issues and 0:58:42.906 --> 0:58:44.906 he moved on from the Spurs. But you know, the 0:58:44.946 --> 0:58:47.586 Spurs are in last place and Kwai Leonards won a title, 0:58:48.026 --> 0:58:50.426 so you know, you can't really move on from these 0:58:50.426 --> 0:58:55.466 guys and not have any uh, you know, repercussions and 0:58:55.666 --> 0:58:58.226 even sticking with the n b A, I mean, part 0:58:58.226 --> 0:59:00.346 of the main issue with a lot of fans, are 0:59:00.666 --> 0:59:03.786 you know, even Michael Jordan and Steph Curry needed coaching 0:59:03.866 --> 0:59:06.146 changes and regime changes to get to where they wanted 0:59:06.186 --> 0:59:08.626 to go, and so sometimes you need to do that 0:59:08.826 --> 0:59:10.706 and you just haven't seen it with the Ravens. So 0:59:10.746 --> 0:59:12.906 I think you would have some regret from a lot 0:59:12.946 --> 0:59:15.706 of fans that they didn't try doing this before year 0:59:15.826 --> 0:59:19.186 five or six with Lamar. Yeah, it's a great point, dude, 0:59:19.186 --> 0:59:20.786 And I know, like I bring you on as like 0:59:20.826 --> 0:59:22.986 the Ravens fan, and you think it's gonna be some 0:59:23.106 --> 0:59:25.546 hysterics or some sports talk radio stuff, like you make 0:59:25.626 --> 0:59:28.226 really good salient points, and the one I would make 0:59:28.266 --> 0:59:31.506 when you say about the bridges being burned. I thought 0:59:31.546 --> 0:59:32.946 it was interesting that a lot of the players came 0:59:32.946 --> 0:59:35.426 out and supported Lamar after the game and they weren't 0:59:35.466 --> 0:59:38.306 like hell, I played on like you know, an injury, 0:59:38.386 --> 0:59:41.706 like no. Marlon Humphrey was out there saying like Lamar 0:59:41.946 --> 0:59:44.986 is hobbling around the facility like what. So I thought 0:59:45.066 --> 0:59:48.266 that because to me, it's when you lose the locker 0:59:48.386 --> 0:59:50.026 room and they're like we just let let it all 0:59:50.066 --> 0:59:51.866 on the line and you just decided not to play, 0:59:51.906 --> 0:59:55.906 like that could be cancerous or worrisome. But from what 0:59:55.946 --> 0:59:59.386 it sounds like not a single Ravens player has thrown 0:59:59.426 --> 1:00:02.746 Lamar under the bus. No. I mean, you just had 1:00:02.826 --> 1:00:06.586 that brief take with Sammy Watkins last week and which 1:00:06.626 --> 1:00:08.866 I think was weird, Like I don't think Sammy was 1:00:08.946 --> 1:00:11.266 coming at Lamar. It was a strange quote and Sammy, 1:00:11.386 --> 1:00:13.426 I don't think I had any intention of like questioning 1:00:13.506 --> 1:00:16.066 Lamar Jackson's like, you know what I mean, Yeah, it was. 1:00:16.346 --> 1:00:18.506 It was interesting to get it from Sammy Watkins, who 1:00:18.506 --> 1:00:20.426 hasn't even been around the team the whole year and 1:00:20.506 --> 1:00:22.826 kind of just had a brief stint for one year 1:00:22.906 --> 1:00:25.586 the year before. But you know, all the players love him. 1:00:25.626 --> 1:00:29.066 I mean, that's the thing. And uh, you know, I 1:00:29.106 --> 1:00:32.146 think that whatever you end up doing, it's gonna be 1:00:32.266 --> 1:00:36.106 very tough to replace him, uh, you know, especially when 1:00:36.146 --> 1:00:38.786 he's covered up for so many deficiencies for hardball and 1:00:38.826 --> 1:00:41.466 to costa over the years, you know. And and I 1:00:41.506 --> 1:00:45.266 think that, you know, if they rebuild, if they decided 1:00:45.306 --> 1:00:47.986 to rebuild, do you think that they can even do it? Really, 1:00:48.026 --> 1:00:50.426 you look at everything they've done since they've had Lamar. 1:00:50.506 --> 1:00:53.026 They didn't sign him when he was you know, eligible, 1:00:53.066 --> 1:00:55.426 and then they keep loading into the defense, and then 1:00:56.066 --> 1:00:58.226 you know some people would ask this year if he 1:00:58.346 --> 1:01:00.226 was holding out, why would he hold out in the 1:01:00.226 --> 1:01:03.746 middle of the year, right, And you know, I don't 1:01:03.746 --> 1:01:05.746 think he was. I think he was really hurt. But 1:01:05.826 --> 1:01:09.106 you know, when Shot Bateman goes down, what do they do? 1:01:09.146 --> 1:01:12.186 They go trade for a linebacker, you know, that's what 1:01:12.226 --> 1:01:14.706 they do. That's their answers, They trade for a linebackers 1:01:14.706 --> 1:01:17.226 on that O'Dell talk this year, and I'm like, I 1:01:17.226 --> 1:01:19.626 can give you thirty one teams that O'Dell will sign 1:01:19.706 --> 1:01:21.546 with before he'll sign with the Ravens. This he's end 1:01:21.826 --> 1:01:24.146 den inside with any But like, that's not that's not 1:01:24.226 --> 1:01:26.186 that wasn't a place for Odell Beckham because it's just 1:01:26.266 --> 1:01:28.706 receiver is not a priority for the Baltimore Ravens. No, 1:01:28.826 --> 1:01:31.266 it's not, I mean it's not. I mean, you know 1:01:31.346 --> 1:01:34.466 they have great Roman there, who they if he wasn't 1:01:34.506 --> 1:01:37.586 being effective and they couldn't score, they also had t 1:01:37.826 --> 1:01:40.146 Martin sitting in the wings. And why not give him 1:01:40.146 --> 1:01:42.906 a chance? You know, he interviewed with the Bills last year. 1:01:42.946 --> 1:01:46.426 I don't see Roman getting interviews anywhere, you know, so 1:01:46.506 --> 1:01:48.586 why not give him a chance while he's there? What's 1:01:48.626 --> 1:01:52.426 the downside, you're you know, they didn't score twenty points 1:01:52.466 --> 1:01:56.306 since Thanksgiving. The last time they scored over twenty points 1:01:56.426 --> 1:01:59.106 was when Lamar played at the Jaguars. Do you expect 1:01:59.106 --> 1:02:01.786 to win playoff games and the modern NFL scoring fifteen 1:02:01.786 --> 1:02:04.706 to seventeen points? Do you think that? I mean, that's 1:02:04.706 --> 1:02:06.786 not going to happen. This is so the is why 1:02:06.786 --> 1:02:09.266 it's so depressing as a Ravens fan, Like you know, 1:02:09.346 --> 1:02:13.026 this has been You're a joyous guy. You're one of 1:02:13.026 --> 1:02:15.426 the happiest people. I know. Your joyce and it sounds 1:02:15.466 --> 1:02:18.946 like this is therapy right now. Yeah, yeah, I mean 1:02:19.146 --> 1:02:22.946 it's it's been a long few years, especially dealing with this, 1:02:23.026 --> 1:02:25.666 you know, and now they're stuck with this situation. So 1:02:25.986 --> 1:02:28.506 here we are, all right, So let's let's wrap it 1:02:28.586 --> 1:02:31.786 with this. Then I'm gonna give you three scenarios. Tell 1:02:31.786 --> 1:02:35.906 me which you would be. You would choose a Lamar walks. 1:02:37.106 --> 1:02:39.266 You don't get anything from him, You cut the bridge, 1:02:39.386 --> 1:02:43.026 whatever be your franchise, tag him, and you shop him, 1:02:43.066 --> 1:02:45.226 and all of a sudden, all offseason there's trade rumors. 1:02:45.826 --> 1:02:49.906 There's that see you sign Lamar Jackson for what I 1:02:49.906 --> 1:02:53.826 believe he wants two million dollars with a lot of 1:02:53.866 --> 1:02:56.826 that guaranteed, that Deshaun Watson deal. You have to pick 1:02:56.866 --> 1:02:58.866 one of those three. And knowing between what is the 1:02:58.946 --> 1:03:02.386 Ravens fan perspective on that, you know, I can't speak 1:03:02.506 --> 1:03:05.506 for a lot of the casual fans out there, but 1:03:06.066 --> 1:03:08.426 for fans of most of them, wouldn't let go of 1:03:08.466 --> 1:03:10.666 the kind of talent Lamar is. There's a lot of 1:03:10.666 --> 1:03:14.266 casual fans who say trade them, but I would resign Lamar. 1:03:14.946 --> 1:03:18.506 I would change their offensive ecosystem to something in like 1:03:18.546 --> 1:03:22.266 the modern NFL you know has, and I would go 1:03:22.306 --> 1:03:24.746 from there. I think that's your best chance of competing 1:03:24.906 --> 1:03:28.506 with mahomes Alan and Burrow moving forward period. I am 1:03:28.546 --> 1:03:30.426 with you, bro, and I think you do pay him 1:03:30.466 --> 1:03:33.026 what Deshaun Watson makes and you deal with it like 1:03:33.426 --> 1:03:35.826 that's the market to have Lamar Jackson, who's the face 1:03:35.866 --> 1:03:40.626 of the Baltimore franchise, that's the market. Look, Kyler took 1:03:41.266 --> 1:03:44.266 a little less, but Lamar is way more accomplished than Kyler. 1:03:44.306 --> 1:03:47.826 In the NFL, they gave all that money to Shawn Watson. 1:03:48.026 --> 1:03:50.946 You can't blame Lamar Jackson for Cleveland doing that and 1:03:50.986 --> 1:03:52.946 hold it against him. That's what the market is. So 1:03:53.626 --> 1:03:55.666 it's really tough pill to swallow. I know, I know 1:03:55.706 --> 1:03:58.466 they offered him something or they were talking about offerings, 1:03:58.626 --> 1:03:59.906 and he like kind of didn't want it that I 1:03:59.906 --> 1:04:02.666 don't know all the details, but he wasn't as as 1:04:02.666 --> 1:04:04.706 previous like I think you've give him what he wants, 1:04:04.786 --> 1:04:08.826 especially because right now it's ugly and it's like if 1:04:08.826 --> 1:04:11.146 he leaves and God forbid he leaves and goes to 1:04:11.146 --> 1:04:13.866 another team and goes and has great success. That might 1:04:13.866 --> 1:04:17.146 be one of the great blunders in NFL history, letting 1:04:17.226 --> 1:04:19.546 Lamar Jackson at twenty six years old walk out the door. 1:04:19.906 --> 1:04:21.986 I agree. I mean the markets. The market. You know, 1:04:22.066 --> 1:04:24.306 you may not want to pay something for a house 1:04:24.306 --> 1:04:26.986 in a certain neighborhood, but guess what if that's the market, 1:04:27.026 --> 1:04:28.706 that's what it is. So you can either live there 1:04:28.786 --> 1:04:31.346 or you don't. Okay, Now that the Raven season is over, 1:04:31.906 --> 1:04:33.946 I know you're a die hard terms fan, You're a 1:04:33.986 --> 1:04:37.146 die hard Wisconsin Badgers fan. Where do you turn all 1:04:37.146 --> 1:04:39.786 that energy to sports wise after the season is over? 1:04:40.306 --> 1:04:42.906 You know, I'm I'm already looking at the NFL draft. 1:04:44.506 --> 1:04:49.146 The terms are in to rebuild. I you know, I 1:04:49.226 --> 1:04:53.466 started looking at quarterbacks. Uh, you know for the following 1:04:53.506 --> 1:04:55.906 few years, especially looking at the teams I think Lamar 1:04:55.986 --> 1:05:00.666 could go to. And you know, it's it's rough. It's depressing, man, 1:05:00.826 --> 1:05:03.226 it's really depressing when you think about trying to look 1:05:03.226 --> 1:05:05.266 for another quarterback when you have a twenty six year 1:05:05.306 --> 1:05:08.426 old m v P very quarterback prospect or prospect at 1:05:08.466 --> 1:05:10.546 all in the college game that you have your eye 1:05:10.546 --> 1:05:12.586 on that we could all just say. On January sevent 1:05:13.186 --> 1:05:15.906 Jeremy said, hey, circle, this guy, he's going to be 1:05:15.946 --> 1:05:18.906 a draft steal. Well, I mean, you know, not this year, 1:05:19.266 --> 1:05:22.506 but I like the kid from USC who's actually a 1:05:22.546 --> 1:05:26.066 local product for next year. That's the problem. So you know, 1:05:26.146 --> 1:05:30.546 this quarterback class is not as strong as I think 1:05:30.666 --> 1:05:36.106 some think it will be, but you know it's still Listen, 1:05:36.346 --> 1:05:40.266 I think that the kid from Alabama it is a 1:05:40.946 --> 1:05:43.106 you know, an exception to the role with his size. 1:05:43.346 --> 1:05:45.426 But I like Stroud the best. If if I had 1:05:45.466 --> 1:05:48.026 to pick a quarterback, I picked Stroud. He's, you know, 1:05:48.026 --> 1:05:51.106 I got the prototypical size and and he's played with 1:05:51.146 --> 1:05:53.186 a lot of good receivers over the years and has 1:05:53.186 --> 1:05:55.826 put the ball where he needed to be. C. J. Stroud. 1:05:55.826 --> 1:05:58.146 All right, Jeremy, thank you. Um, I wanted to get 1:05:58.186 --> 1:06:00.346 the pulse of the Ravens fan and if I could 1:06:00.426 --> 1:06:02.066 just do some quick takeaways, let me to sum it 1:06:02.066 --> 1:06:06.066 all up. Romans gotta go, Hardball has to get checked 1:06:06.066 --> 1:06:08.106 in some way, and Lamar needs to stay. If we 1:06:08.106 --> 1:06:10.266 can do all that, I think you're gonna be really 1:06:10.306 --> 1:06:12.426 happy in a couple of weeks. Right, yeah, I'd be 1:06:12.506 --> 1:06:15.946 very happy. I'd be very happy to see Romans contract 1:06:15.946 --> 1:06:22.066 not renewed and then move forward with a modern NFL team. Buddy, 1:06:22.186 --> 1:06:26.946 thank you, you gotta pass. I just can't. It does work. 1:06:27.426 --> 1:06:29.306 We didn't even get to J. K. Dobbins. We didn't 1:06:29.306 --> 1:06:31.306 even get to Dobbins. I know we didn't get there, 1:06:31.346 --> 1:06:34.586 but I mean his comments spoke for themselves, right, I mean, 1:06:34.586 --> 1:06:37.586 the guy hasn't had seventeen more than seventeen carries in 1:06:37.666 --> 1:06:41.146 his career, ridiculous. Yeah, he wanted the ball there, But 1:06:41.226 --> 1:06:44.546 you know what, if we can dive over, if only 1:06:44.586 --> 1:06:48.746 can dive over from four yards out an entire chwo people, 1:06:48.826 --> 1:06:50.666 and it would have it would have worked. It would 1:06:50.666 --> 1:06:52.986 have been fine. Yeah, but you know, Hardball had no 1:06:53.066 --> 1:06:55.666 problem throwing him under the bus, right, away right saying 1:06:55.706 --> 1:06:58.626 he should have burrowed under the line. You know, that's 1:06:58.666 --> 1:07:00.906 he had no problem doing that. And then you know 1:07:00.946 --> 1:07:03.826 when Huntley said something about the Ravens and the in 1:07:03.906 --> 1:07:08.146 this postgame press conference, the Ravens you know left that 1:07:08.186 --> 1:07:12.186 out of their media piece. No, not many people saw 1:07:12.386 --> 1:07:14.426 they the transcripts. What did he say? I love this? 1:07:14.506 --> 1:07:17.586 That's what is this story? So yeah, Hanley said something, 1:07:17.666 --> 1:07:19.386 you know, it would have been nice for Lamar to 1:07:19.426 --> 1:07:21.146 have been here, if he could be here, meaning I 1:07:21.226 --> 1:07:24.026 don't know if they didn't let Lamar go for a distraction, 1:07:24.066 --> 1:07:28.626 who knows, but they scrubbed that from the post game 1:07:29.266 --> 1:07:32.106 media transcript. I thought that was very interesting, you know, 1:07:32.506 --> 1:07:37.466 sure is yeah interesting. All right, buddy, thank you, appreciate you, 1:07:37.786 --> 1:07:40.226 thank you. All right, now, let's get into the playoff 1:07:40.346 --> 1:07:43.706 preview presented by our friends at Draft Kings Sports Book. 1:07:43.706 --> 1:07:46.386 I mentioned it last week. We got a sponsor, and 1:07:46.426 --> 1:07:48.546 I am thrilled that it is Draft Kings because I 1:07:48.586 --> 1:07:51.466 go back years with Draft Kings. They were sponsors of 1:07:51.466 --> 1:07:54.986 Good Morning Football. Uh, myself and Nate Burlison did a 1:07:55.026 --> 1:07:57.466 ton of stuff with Draft Kings. They're they're out there 1:07:57.546 --> 1:08:00.106 right now and they're putting out their ads, uh mere 1:08:00.146 --> 1:08:03.706 hours after the Dallas Cowboys beat the Buccaneers, and I'm 1:08:03.706 --> 1:08:05.786 gonna give it to you right now. Dallas plays at 1:08:05.826 --> 1:08:10.186 San Francis us GO on Sunday night. Awesome game, and 1:08:10.266 --> 1:08:13.306 the odds as of this morning per Draft Kings sports 1:08:13.386 --> 1:08:16.826 Book are Niners are favored by three and a half 1:08:16.906 --> 1:08:22.626 points minus one ten on that one money line Niners 1:08:22.786 --> 1:08:26.426 minus one Dallas plus one sixty and then the over 1:08:26.546 --> 1:08:31.026 under total right now is forty six with minus one 1:08:31.066 --> 1:08:34.146 ten on that. Um. I look at those lines, and 1:08:34.186 --> 1:08:36.666 I look at this matchup, and I cannot wait for 1:08:36.706 --> 1:08:40.266 this freaking game. I'll tell you something. If you asked 1:08:40.266 --> 1:08:43.826 me on Monday morning how feeling about a potential Cowboys 1:08:43.866 --> 1:08:46.266 Niners game, I'd say, well, it's gonna be Niners in 1:08:46.266 --> 1:08:48.386 a in a in a like Niners in a in 1:08:48.426 --> 1:08:52.106 a walk. Niners look so good on on Saturday and 1:08:52.106 --> 1:08:54.746 they're rolling and the defense got going and perty got 1:08:54.786 --> 1:08:57.866 those early jitters out and looked as good as anybody. 1:08:57.946 --> 1:09:00.626 Do you know who looks better than the Niners? The 1:09:00.706 --> 1:09:04.146 Cowboys on Monday night. I've never seen Dak play like that, 1:09:04.226 --> 1:09:05.906 and I know Dak has had huge wins in his 1:09:05.946 --> 1:09:08.386 regular see is in career and Dak put up forty 1:09:08.426 --> 1:09:13.026 in Minnesota this year. Dak Prescott was unbelievable on Monday Night. 1:09:13.786 --> 1:09:15.866 And and it wasn't just it was with Kellen Moore 1:09:15.986 --> 1:09:18.266 calling all the right plays. And how about Mike McCarthy. 1:09:18.306 --> 1:09:21.066 Can I give Mike McCarthy some love right now? Mike 1:09:21.186 --> 1:09:25.026 McCarthy who is often parodied online and has treated like 1:09:25.106 --> 1:09:29.066 some punching bag, and all the fourth quarter decisions and 1:09:29.106 --> 1:09:32.586 all the weird game management stuff and the time out mismanagement, 1:09:32.626 --> 1:09:34.346 and are they going forward? Are they not going for it? 1:09:34.426 --> 1:09:35.826 Why is he going for it? Why is he not 1:09:35.946 --> 1:09:39.386 going for it? We get a third and goal up 1:09:39.426 --> 1:09:42.026 six nothing after the kicker missed the extra point in 1:09:42.066 --> 1:09:45.546 the last touchdown, and they get stuffed. Everybody and their mother, 1:09:46.066 --> 1:09:48.106 including Troy Aikman on the calls like I would take 1:09:48.146 --> 1:09:50.946 the points here, just go up nine nothing, the defensive 1:09:51.026 --> 1:09:53.666 rolland just go They go for it on fourth down 1:09:53.666 --> 1:09:56.026 and have one of the slikest play calls of the 1:09:56.186 --> 1:10:00.866 entire week, a little play action rollout scrambled by Dac 1:10:00.946 --> 1:10:04.226 and he runs the touchdown in and like they showed McCarthy, 1:10:04.226 --> 1:10:07.146 and it was like, hell yeah, dude, drop the mic. 1:10:07.866 --> 1:10:10.706 I'm going with my gut. I'm going authentically with what 1:10:10.906 --> 1:10:13.506 I believe in, and I'm going with what I want 1:10:13.546 --> 1:10:16.266 to do, not what the social media people tell me 1:10:16.346 --> 1:10:19.266 to do, and not worrying about what the critique will 1:10:19.266 --> 1:10:23.066 be if this fails. McCarthy seems like he's he's he's 1:10:23.066 --> 1:10:26.706 coached the best playoff game he's coached in and maybe 1:10:26.706 --> 1:10:29.346 a decade going back to like some of those Packers 1:10:29.346 --> 1:10:31.986 wins that they had in big moments in the in 1:10:32.026 --> 1:10:35.506 the mid two thousand's with Rogers. Uh, what a moment 1:10:35.586 --> 1:10:37.786 this is for these two head coaches. I know everyone 1:10:37.826 --> 1:10:39.346 talks about the players, but you know, I love the 1:10:39.386 --> 1:10:42.906 coaches and I look at them. Kyle Shanahan, you think 1:10:42.906 --> 1:10:46.306 about the three loss when he was the offensive coordinator 1:10:46.346 --> 1:10:48.386 of the Falcons. You think about the Super Bowl loss 1:10:48.386 --> 1:10:50.226 when they're up ten in the fourth quarter of the Chiefs. 1:10:50.226 --> 1:10:52.506 You think about last year's NFC Championship game when they're 1:10:52.546 --> 1:10:55.586 up ten and Jakoski tart drops that interception and then 1:10:55.626 --> 1:10:57.866 Cooper Cup scores and then away we go for the 1:10:58.306 --> 1:11:02.666 for the Rams. All those heartbreaking losses by Kyle Shanahan 1:11:02.746 --> 1:11:06.946 coach teams. Then you look at McCarthy fired a joke, 1:11:07.786 --> 1:11:11.426 treated like like some buffoon on Twitter, where two coaches 1:11:11.466 --> 1:11:14.466 we validated with a Lombardi Trophy this season more than 1:11:14.546 --> 1:11:18.346 Mike McCarthy and Kyle Shanahan. Gosh, I can't wait for it. 1:11:18.626 --> 1:11:21.506 Cowboys versus forty Niners, Bring it on. I hope. I 1:11:21.546 --> 1:11:23.186 wish it was a Thursday night game. I'm ready for 1:11:23.226 --> 1:11:25.266 it now, but it is Sunday. It's the last one 1:11:25.266 --> 1:11:27.626 and it's the main event that, my friends was the 1:11:27.626 --> 1:11:31.466 playoff preview presented by Draft Kings sports Book. Download the 1:11:31.506 --> 1:11:35.026 Draft Kings sports Book app and use the code the Season. 1:11:35.826 --> 1:11:38.546 New customers can bet five dollars on Super wild Card 1:11:38.546 --> 1:11:42.066 weekend and get two hundred and free bets instantly. Only 1:11:42.106 --> 1:11:46.106 a Draft Kings sports book with the code the Season, 1:11:46.266 --> 1:11:50.506 no space, one word the season tony one and over 1:11:50.506 --> 1:11:53.386 in most eligible states, but age varies by jurisdiction. Eligibility 1:11:53.426 --> 1:11:55.986 restrictions apply. See Draft Kings dot com slash sports Book 1:11:56.026 --> 1:11:59.346 for details and state specific responsible gambling resources. Gambling problem 1:11:59.346 --> 1:12:02.386 called gambler in New York called eight seven seven eight 1:12:02.426 --> 1:12:05.626 hope and y or text hope and why four, six, seven, 1:12:05.586 --> 1:12:08.666 nine void in Ohio and Ontario. Bonus issued as free 1:12:08.666 --> 1:12:12.026 beats one boost per eligible game. Opt in required, ten 1:12:12.066 --> 1:12:15.986 plus leg requirement for boost, deposit, parlay and wagering. Restrictions apply. 1:12:16.186 --> 1:12:18.666 Eligibility in terms of sports Book dot Draft, Kings dot Com, 1:12:18.666 --> 1:12:21.866 slash football terms, and guys, that's the podcast for the week. 1:12:21.946 --> 1:12:24.346 It's my favorite football weekend of the year. This beats 1:12:24.386 --> 1:12:27.986 the Draft, it beats Wildcard Round, it beats Opening weekend. 1:12:28.106 --> 1:12:32.226 It's divisional Round. You've got eight teams, you've got four games. 1:12:32.306 --> 1:12:35.386 It's wall to wall. It's great logos, it's great quarterbacks, 1:12:35.466 --> 1:12:39.146 it's great stories, and it's great for the NFL fan. 1:12:40.066 --> 1:12:42.706 I want to thank Aaron Wong Kaufman. I want to 1:12:42.746 --> 1:12:45.666 thank Jason English. I want to thank Jason Kleinman. I 1:12:45.706 --> 1:12:48.066 want to thank Matt Schneider. I want to thank all 1:12:48.106 --> 1:12:50.386 the folks who work at I Heeart and NFL Network 1:12:50.426 --> 1:12:52.746 and helping putting this thing on. And I also want 1:12:52.786 --> 1:12:56.066 to thank our maestro Jack Rudd, who does the music 1:12:56.106 --> 1:12:58.506 for this thing. Guys, we'll see you next week. We're 1:12:58.506 --> 1:13:01.386 gonna be down to four until then, enjoy the games. 1:13:06.466 --> 1:13:21.906 M H the season with Peter Schrager is a production 1:13:22.026 --> 1:13:24.946 of the NFL and partnership with I heart Radio. For 1:13:25.026 --> 1:13:27.226 more podcasts from my heart Radio, visit the i heart 1:13:27.306 --> 1:13:31.266 Radio app, Apple Podcasts, wherever you get your podcasts.