1 00:00:09,480 --> 00:00:14,200 Speaker 1: What's going on everybody? John middlecoff Three and Out podcast 2 00:00:14,200 --> 00:00:18,400 Speaker 1: Back at it again Thursday night. Just I think the 3 00:00:18,480 --> 00:00:22,520 Speaker 1: game might not officially be over, but uh walked into 4 00:00:22,560 --> 00:00:26,080 Speaker 1: the office to record this bad boy after the score 5 00:00:26,200 --> 00:00:28,479 Speaker 1: was fifty two to twenty one. They got a late 6 00:00:28,560 --> 00:00:32,320 Speaker 1: McCaffrey touchdown. He actually had three touchdowns tonight. What a blowout. 7 00:00:33,200 --> 00:00:37,400 Speaker 1: Have some thoughts on just the Steelers organizational culture. That's that. 8 00:00:37,520 --> 00:00:40,040 Speaker 1: That was my one big takeaway tonight, and we'll get 9 00:00:40,040 --> 00:00:42,800 Speaker 1: into that here in a second. I also think the 10 00:00:42,880 --> 00:00:45,879 Speaker 1: league is really benefiting this year from where they were 11 00:00:45,920 --> 00:00:48,120 Speaker 1: a couple of years ago. You know, I know that 12 00:00:48,240 --> 00:00:50,680 Speaker 1: the big talk had been the ratings were down, and 13 00:00:50,720 --> 00:00:53,600 Speaker 1: they're clearly like anything. There were a lot of variables 14 00:00:54,120 --> 00:00:58,240 Speaker 1: president coming at them, the kneeling, but offense because so 15 00:00:58,320 --> 00:01:01,440 Speaker 1: many quarterbacks were getting hurt, had taken a big step back, 16 00:01:02,160 --> 00:01:04,360 Speaker 1: and I think you're starting to see it around the 17 00:01:04,440 --> 00:01:07,880 Speaker 1: league is just a lot more points. The masses love points. 18 00:01:07,920 --> 00:01:12,800 Speaker 1: Why because the masses love playing fantasy football of gambling. Uh, 19 00:01:13,200 --> 00:01:16,640 Speaker 1: And we'll dive into that. Kyler Murray, the quarterback Oklahoma, 20 00:01:16,720 --> 00:01:19,920 Speaker 1: talking around just two different people all around the country, 21 00:01:20,520 --> 00:01:24,480 Speaker 1: My NFL scouting buddies. Uh. He's a fascinating case case. 22 00:01:24,520 --> 00:01:27,679 Speaker 1: Billy Bean drafted him number nine. Overall. I have some 23 00:01:27,760 --> 00:01:30,039 Speaker 1: thoughts on him, and then we'll of course do the 24 00:01:30,040 --> 00:01:32,720 Speaker 1: middle Coff mail bag. You can d M me slide 25 00:01:32,760 --> 00:01:36,240 Speaker 1: up in my d M s at John Middlecoff and 26 00:01:36,360 --> 00:01:39,600 Speaker 1: uh on Instagram and I will get to any question 27 00:01:39,640 --> 00:01:43,920 Speaker 1: you may have College pro Just throw whatever you want 28 00:01:44,440 --> 00:01:48,800 Speaker 1: off me at John Middlecoff on Instagram. It's the easiest 29 00:01:48,840 --> 00:01:50,680 Speaker 1: way to get a hold of me and get on 30 00:01:50,720 --> 00:01:54,400 Speaker 1: this podcast. But I want to start with tonight. And 31 00:01:54,880 --> 00:01:58,320 Speaker 1: you know, we hear this word throwing around so much 32 00:01:58,640 --> 00:02:02,600 Speaker 1: in pro sports and any good company. They left throwing 33 00:02:02,640 --> 00:02:08,760 Speaker 1: this around culture, organizational standards, you know. And I think 34 00:02:08,760 --> 00:02:12,040 Speaker 1: when you think of a football the first organization you 35 00:02:12,080 --> 00:02:15,880 Speaker 1: obviously think of is New England, and I think now 36 00:02:15,919 --> 00:02:19,079 Speaker 1: Alabama is right there. It's a little different in college, 37 00:02:19,120 --> 00:02:22,560 Speaker 1: but their standards are just higher. Their their organization can 38 00:02:22,600 --> 00:02:26,720 Speaker 1: overcome anything. And for the most part, those two organizations 39 00:02:26,800 --> 00:02:29,679 Speaker 1: don't fall in hard times. I think you can put 40 00:02:29,680 --> 00:02:32,560 Speaker 1: the Pittsburgh Steelers right up there with them. I mean, 41 00:02:32,639 --> 00:02:36,440 Speaker 1: this year, think about this, Todd Haley, the offensive coordinator 42 00:02:36,440 --> 00:02:38,440 Speaker 1: who the last five years, him and Ben had a 43 00:02:38,480 --> 00:02:42,799 Speaker 1: lot of success. They basically had to get rid of them, uh, 44 00:02:42,960 --> 00:02:45,680 Speaker 1: just because him and Ben were not getting along. Even 45 00:02:45,680 --> 00:02:49,239 Speaker 1: though the irony was after that playoff loss to Jacksonville. 46 00:02:49,520 --> 00:02:51,640 Speaker 1: It's sure sale wasn't Todd Hailey's fault. I mean the 47 00:02:51,680 --> 00:02:55,800 Speaker 1: defense was a train wreck. Uh So Todd Haley's fired. 48 00:02:55,840 --> 00:02:58,160 Speaker 1: They go to a new offensive coordinator. Now granted the 49 00:02:58,160 --> 00:02:59,680 Speaker 1: guy had already been on staff, so it's not like 50 00:02:59,680 --> 00:03:02,000 Speaker 1: the high tired an outside guy. But still, I mean 51 00:03:02,120 --> 00:03:04,799 Speaker 1: changes change. You know a lot of organizations you see 52 00:03:04,800 --> 00:03:07,840 Speaker 1: around the league change offensive coordinators when their head coach 53 00:03:07,919 --> 00:03:09,639 Speaker 1: is not the play caller, and it's a big deal. 54 00:03:10,520 --> 00:03:13,880 Speaker 1: And then you know, if Ben and and a B 55 00:03:14,120 --> 00:03:17,280 Speaker 1: it's probably nowadays or a B. Then then you know 56 00:03:17,360 --> 00:03:19,280 Speaker 1: your first or your two best players, their third best 57 00:03:19,320 --> 00:03:22,240 Speaker 1: players Levian Bell and he has not played a snap 58 00:03:22,320 --> 00:03:25,120 Speaker 1: like That's what the Levian Bell holdout has been. Kind 59 00:03:25,160 --> 00:03:27,799 Speaker 1: of crazy. Say whatever you want about it, and I'm 60 00:03:27,840 --> 00:03:30,400 Speaker 1: on the Steelers side, but it's it's I don't think 61 00:03:30,480 --> 00:03:33,120 Speaker 1: it's been exactly how either side has drawn it up. 62 00:03:33,840 --> 00:03:36,920 Speaker 1: You know, and then you get off to a terrible 63 00:03:36,920 --> 00:03:42,520 Speaker 1: start the opening game. You go to overtime and and 64 00:03:42,560 --> 00:03:45,560 Speaker 1: really almost lose. If it wouldn't have been for Hugh Jackson, 65 00:03:45,760 --> 00:03:48,440 Speaker 1: they would have lost. I'm pretty sure, just thinking off 66 00:03:48,440 --> 00:03:51,240 Speaker 1: top of my head, I think they the Browns created 67 00:03:51,520 --> 00:03:53,680 Speaker 1: the Steelers had five turnovers in that game. It's still 68 00:03:53,680 --> 00:03:58,360 Speaker 1: somehow tied it, but the Steelers. Basically all of September, 69 00:03:58,400 --> 00:04:01,880 Speaker 1: it looks look like, God, the Steelers gonna miss the playoffs. 70 00:04:02,360 --> 00:04:04,600 Speaker 1: And now we sit here as I record this on 71 00:04:04,680 --> 00:04:08,120 Speaker 1: November eight, just watch Thursday Night football. I had been 72 00:04:08,120 --> 00:04:10,240 Speaker 1: in one of the great gambling ruts of my life, 73 00:04:10,880 --> 00:04:12,920 Speaker 1: and I just bet. I actually didn't bet on. I 74 00:04:13,000 --> 00:04:15,480 Speaker 1: didn't have the balls have been on. The Steelers should 75 00:04:15,480 --> 00:04:19,359 Speaker 1: have looking back, but the play was bet on the culture, 76 00:04:19,800 --> 00:04:22,800 Speaker 1: you know, especially as you get the season goes on, 77 00:04:23,400 --> 00:04:27,159 Speaker 1: these road teams playing Thursday night games. The disadvantage you're at, 78 00:04:27,520 --> 00:04:31,560 Speaker 1: I mean the disadvantaged Carolina is at in a November game. 79 00:04:31,640 --> 00:04:34,040 Speaker 1: Once you get to week ten, Week eleven, week twelve, 80 00:04:34,560 --> 00:04:36,440 Speaker 1: and you play a Thursday night game on the road 81 00:04:36,839 --> 00:04:39,920 Speaker 1: and it is not within driving distance of your stadium 82 00:04:40,040 --> 00:04:44,000 Speaker 1: or you know you can't. It's not a twenty minute flight. 83 00:04:44,040 --> 00:04:45,840 Speaker 1: That's even if you got to get on a plane. 84 00:04:45,880 --> 00:04:48,800 Speaker 1: That's that's that's really hard. But at the end of 85 00:04:48,839 --> 00:04:51,880 Speaker 1: the day, the Steelers culture is winning out that there's 86 00:04:51,920 --> 00:04:55,000 Speaker 1: a reason when you know, we talked about the Pittsburgh 87 00:04:55,080 --> 00:04:59,000 Speaker 1: Steelers and that job with such reverence. Uh, it's because 88 00:04:59,000 --> 00:05:01,360 Speaker 1: of the standard in that organization. They've had what three 89 00:05:01,360 --> 00:05:04,359 Speaker 1: coaches in the last sixty years. All they feel like 90 00:05:04,440 --> 00:05:07,160 Speaker 1: they do, at least in my lifetime, is win. They're 91 00:05:07,240 --> 00:05:11,080 Speaker 1: always relevant. Uh. They've obviously don't win the Super Bowl 92 00:05:11,120 --> 00:05:13,839 Speaker 1: as much as New England, but they just kicked consistent 93 00:05:13,920 --> 00:05:17,320 Speaker 1: ass I mean, I mean, they really really do. Uh. 94 00:05:17,520 --> 00:05:21,480 Speaker 1: And this year the organization really flexed his muscles, especially 95 00:05:21,520 --> 00:05:24,440 Speaker 1: during this Levy on Bell situation where they said, here's 96 00:05:24,440 --> 00:05:26,440 Speaker 1: your offer, you're not gonna take it, no big deal. 97 00:05:26,880 --> 00:05:29,240 Speaker 1: And James Conner comes in, a guy that they knew 98 00:05:29,240 --> 00:05:33,440 Speaker 1: better than anyone, a cancer survivor. Uh. That they consistently 99 00:05:33,600 --> 00:05:38,039 Speaker 1: draft offensive players so damn well that they really do. 100 00:05:38,440 --> 00:05:42,440 Speaker 1: You know, from James Conner to Juju Smith obviously Antonio Brown, 101 00:05:42,480 --> 00:05:45,160 Speaker 1: I think they said in the broadcast twenty one wide receivers. 102 00:05:45,600 --> 00:05:48,280 Speaker 1: Now again it's a little Monday morning quarterback. That's the 103 00:05:48,360 --> 00:05:51,039 Speaker 1: nature of star players. Non first rounders, guys go ahead 104 00:05:51,080 --> 00:05:54,080 Speaker 1: of them, but twenty one first you know, wide receivers 105 00:05:54,080 --> 00:05:56,960 Speaker 1: go above Antonio Brown back in the day in his draft, 106 00:05:56,960 --> 00:05:58,600 Speaker 1: I mean he went in the sixth round. He is 107 00:05:58,640 --> 00:06:00,720 Speaker 1: just me. He's a Hall of Famer. It's just it's 108 00:06:00,720 --> 00:06:04,000 Speaker 1: just that simple. But even Vance McDonald. I had a 109 00:06:04,040 --> 00:06:07,000 Speaker 1: front row seat for Vance McDonald with the forty Niners. 110 00:06:07,160 --> 00:06:09,440 Speaker 1: Jim Harby actually loved him. Once compared him to Mike 111 00:06:09,480 --> 00:06:11,640 Speaker 1: Ditka because it's thought he was gonna be the Mike 112 00:06:11,680 --> 00:06:13,919 Speaker 1: Ditka of the of the forty Niners run as they 113 00:06:13,920 --> 00:06:16,240 Speaker 1: got rid of Vernon Davis. Well, it didn't go that way. 114 00:06:16,640 --> 00:06:19,880 Speaker 1: Vance McDonald was a laughing stock around here. He really 115 00:06:20,000 --> 00:06:23,320 Speaker 1: was stone hands, just not a very good player. What 116 00:06:23,520 --> 00:06:26,680 Speaker 1: turns out he's actually not bad. Uh. He's gone on 117 00:06:26,760 --> 00:06:29,120 Speaker 1: to have a solid career in Pittsburgh. Every time. I 118 00:06:29,120 --> 00:06:31,720 Speaker 1: don't watch every single snap of Pittsburgh steel of football, 119 00:06:31,960 --> 00:06:35,080 Speaker 1: but the dude makes plays. Ben Roethlisberger Shure likes him. 120 00:06:35,279 --> 00:06:37,560 Speaker 1: He fits in their offense, in an offense that's not 121 00:06:37,680 --> 00:06:40,160 Speaker 1: it's not like easy to get touches in the Steelers offense. 122 00:06:40,520 --> 00:06:43,039 Speaker 1: It's like if you can average fifteen other Warriors. You're 123 00:06:43,040 --> 00:06:46,400 Speaker 1: freaking good. You know, if if you can score touchdowns 124 00:06:46,440 --> 00:06:49,280 Speaker 1: consistently on the Pittsburgh Steelers and make plays and they 125 00:06:49,320 --> 00:06:52,360 Speaker 1: rely on you on offense and your name's not Antonio Brown, 126 00:06:52,440 --> 00:06:56,239 Speaker 1: Jujue Smith, Levian Bell, James Conner, that I think you're good. 127 00:06:56,720 --> 00:07:00,400 Speaker 1: And he clearly is just solid. And again, the organ zation, 128 00:07:00,720 --> 00:07:03,359 Speaker 1: it's the Steelers, man, it really is. It starts with 129 00:07:03,400 --> 00:07:07,239 Speaker 1: the Rooney's. It's it's a culture they have built since 130 00:07:07,320 --> 00:07:10,600 Speaker 1: that family has owned the team. And it's why when 131 00:07:10,640 --> 00:07:12,760 Speaker 1: a lot of people talk to you about Mike Tomlin 132 00:07:12,960 --> 00:07:18,240 Speaker 1: and listen, I've never been exactly sure what Mike does. Besides, man, 133 00:07:18,360 --> 00:07:21,400 Speaker 1: he's really cool looking, like if you could just draw 134 00:07:22,360 --> 00:07:24,680 Speaker 1: just when you just think, God, that's a cool cat, 135 00:07:25,200 --> 00:07:27,280 Speaker 1: you know, just in life. You know, you're like God, 136 00:07:27,320 --> 00:07:31,200 Speaker 1: George Clooney, cool dude. Got Mike Tomlin actually just cool, 137 00:07:31,680 --> 00:07:34,680 Speaker 1: you know his he just he always looks sweet on 138 00:07:34,680 --> 00:07:38,520 Speaker 1: the sideline. He's got the cross hanging out, the hat perfect, 139 00:07:38,640 --> 00:07:41,360 Speaker 1: the beard perfectly trimmed. I mean, it looks like a 140 00:07:41,400 --> 00:07:44,640 Speaker 1: movie character. Again, he doesn't call the defense. He obviously 141 00:07:44,640 --> 00:07:48,240 Speaker 1: doesn't call the offense. He just I don't know He's 142 00:07:48,280 --> 00:07:51,520 Speaker 1: like Denzel Washington. He just when he talks, it's sweet. 143 00:07:52,160 --> 00:07:55,360 Speaker 1: His team always wins. Uh. And I love everything the 144 00:07:55,360 --> 00:07:58,880 Speaker 1: Pittsburgh Steelers stand for. Remember a couple of years ago, Now, 145 00:07:58,920 --> 00:08:00,640 Speaker 1: I didn't think this guy just or to be in 146 00:08:00,640 --> 00:08:03,600 Speaker 1: the Hall of Fame. But once he got in, Jerome 147 00:08:03,640 --> 00:08:07,480 Speaker 1: bettis the whole place. Like the Steeler fans are pretty special. 148 00:08:07,920 --> 00:08:10,400 Speaker 1: But again, if you are a Steeler fan you're listening 149 00:08:10,400 --> 00:08:14,360 Speaker 1: to this, you're pretty lucky because most organizations aren't like this. 150 00:08:15,000 --> 00:08:16,840 Speaker 1: I mean, I in my backyard, I have the Oakland 151 00:08:16,920 --> 00:08:19,960 Speaker 1: Raiders that are basically the opposite the forty that have 152 00:08:20,080 --> 00:08:23,280 Speaker 1: been desperately trying to find themselves now since Jim Harbaugh left. 153 00:08:23,560 --> 00:08:26,040 Speaker 1: I mean they're on their third coach and or fourth 154 00:08:26,040 --> 00:08:30,000 Speaker 1: coach and how many years seven? So it's not normal 155 00:08:30,080 --> 00:08:32,800 Speaker 1: what the Steelers do and for them to overcome this 156 00:08:32,880 --> 00:08:35,160 Speaker 1: year again, it's one thing to get rid of an 157 00:08:35,200 --> 00:08:40,000 Speaker 1: offensive coordinator. That happens, holdouts, they happen. Slow starts though, 158 00:08:40,200 --> 00:08:46,040 Speaker 1: can derail teams, especially when things weren't exactly going right. Uh. 159 00:08:46,080 --> 00:08:49,760 Speaker 1: But it really speaks to how consistent that team has 160 00:08:49,800 --> 00:08:53,120 Speaker 1: been for the last you know, basically my entire adult 161 00:08:53,200 --> 00:08:56,959 Speaker 1: life ever since Mike Tomlin has gone there and really 162 00:08:57,000 --> 00:09:00,280 Speaker 1: the polar opposite of them and the rave Ins, who 163 00:09:00,280 --> 00:09:02,440 Speaker 1: are probably surely to fire John Harbaugh at the end 164 00:09:02,440 --> 00:09:05,120 Speaker 1: of the season. That for a period of time they 165 00:09:05,160 --> 00:09:09,439 Speaker 1: felt like equals. But over over a period of time, 166 00:09:10,000 --> 00:09:13,080 Speaker 1: the Steelers have kind of separated themselves. And it's more 167 00:09:13,160 --> 00:09:16,360 Speaker 1: than just the owner. I mean, there's a big Ben 168 00:09:16,440 --> 00:09:20,280 Speaker 1: Roethlisberger is just on a different level as a player 169 00:09:20,280 --> 00:09:23,000 Speaker 1: than Joe Flacco. But still, man, I mean that the 170 00:09:23,280 --> 00:09:26,920 Speaker 1: Ravens want everything that the Steelers have. I say it 171 00:09:26,960 --> 00:09:29,280 Speaker 1: all the time that the best thing the football, the 172 00:09:29,320 --> 00:09:33,240 Speaker 1: sport of football has going for it in two thousand 173 00:09:33,400 --> 00:09:38,199 Speaker 1: eighteen is urgency. It has the least amount of inventory, 174 00:09:38,480 --> 00:09:42,280 Speaker 1: which means every game matters the most. And in two 175 00:09:42,320 --> 00:09:45,320 Speaker 1: thousand and eighteen, the hardest thing to do is get 176 00:09:45,320 --> 00:09:48,760 Speaker 1: people's attention. I got I'm looking at a computer right now. 177 00:09:48,840 --> 00:09:51,000 Speaker 1: I got an iPad next to me. I got a 178 00:09:51,120 --> 00:09:53,720 Speaker 1: phone in my lap, and I got the Warriors game 179 00:09:53,760 --> 00:09:56,480 Speaker 1: on a TV above my head. I got like eight 180 00:09:56,520 --> 00:10:00,439 Speaker 1: devices within an arm's length of me. I got If 181 00:10:00,480 --> 00:10:02,560 Speaker 1: I want to order food right now, I can press 182 00:10:02,600 --> 00:10:04,760 Speaker 1: two buttons and have it and back in the day, 183 00:10:04,800 --> 00:10:07,640 Speaker 1: the only thing that delivered was pizza when I was 184 00:10:07,679 --> 00:10:10,079 Speaker 1: growing up, And I didn't grow up in the sixties. 185 00:10:10,200 --> 00:10:13,199 Speaker 1: I grew up. I was born in eighty four. The 186 00:10:13,240 --> 00:10:17,320 Speaker 1: only thing in my town, born and raised in Davis, California, 187 00:10:17,640 --> 00:10:21,000 Speaker 1: a university town, smart town. The only people that would 188 00:10:21,000 --> 00:10:24,839 Speaker 1: deliver were pizza. Maybe by like high school, there was 189 00:10:24,840 --> 00:10:28,040 Speaker 1: a Chinese restaurant that delivered, but that was it. If 190 00:10:28,080 --> 00:10:29,800 Speaker 1: you did not want to leave your house. Now you 191 00:10:29,800 --> 00:10:33,040 Speaker 1: could pick up stuff. But the only thing that I 192 00:10:33,200 --> 00:10:37,440 Speaker 1: actually still remember driving through Burger King and the first 193 00:10:37,440 --> 00:10:40,360 Speaker 1: time they allowed me when I was like high school 194 00:10:40,400 --> 00:10:42,200 Speaker 1: maybe it was like freshman or college to use a 195 00:10:42,200 --> 00:10:44,280 Speaker 1: debit card, like that was a big deal. You could 196 00:10:44,360 --> 00:10:45,880 Speaker 1: use one of them. You didn't have to have cash 197 00:10:46,600 --> 00:10:49,959 Speaker 1: in the drive through. So in this day and age, 198 00:10:50,120 --> 00:10:54,640 Speaker 1: the attention the spans are so small. Everyone's got a 199 00:10:54,720 --> 00:10:57,760 Speaker 1: million things going on. It's hard to keep people's attention. 200 00:10:58,080 --> 00:11:00,360 Speaker 1: It's why I'm watching this NBA game right now. The 201 00:11:00,360 --> 00:11:03,440 Speaker 1: Warriors are playing the Milwaukee Bucks. The Warriors are the 202 00:11:03,480 --> 00:11:05,800 Speaker 1: best team in the NBA by a mile. Milwaukee's up 203 00:11:05,840 --> 00:11:08,880 Speaker 1: and coming. Like if this game was the equivalent of 204 00:11:08,920 --> 00:11:12,960 Speaker 1: an of an NFL game, it would be like the 205 00:11:13,000 --> 00:11:16,520 Speaker 1: Patriots playing the Ramps. That's what this would be. It 206 00:11:16,559 --> 00:11:19,880 Speaker 1: would be a Sunday night football massive game. Now technically 207 00:11:19,880 --> 00:11:23,160 Speaker 1: this game's on t NT, but it's not. Who cares. 208 00:11:23,760 --> 00:11:27,320 Speaker 1: The regular season the NBA means nothing, means even less 209 00:11:27,360 --> 00:11:31,719 Speaker 1: in Major League Baseball. The sport of football urgency really helps. 210 00:11:31,760 --> 00:11:36,439 Speaker 1: Also gambling and fantasy football. I really think the point 211 00:11:36,480 --> 00:11:41,040 Speaker 1: of difference in two thousand and eighteen for football is 212 00:11:41,120 --> 00:11:45,760 Speaker 1: the the the impact of fantasy. People enjoy playing fantasy 213 00:11:45,760 --> 00:11:49,360 Speaker 1: football much more than fantasy in the other two sports. 214 00:11:49,400 --> 00:11:52,160 Speaker 1: Like a lot of people used to play baseball fantasy football, 215 00:11:52,160 --> 00:11:54,319 Speaker 1: we don't have the attention spans anymore to do that. 216 00:11:54,760 --> 00:11:58,199 Speaker 1: But you can still play daily fantasy, year long fantasy. 217 00:11:58,480 --> 00:12:01,440 Speaker 1: Play fantasy with your but but ease. It really helps. 218 00:12:01,880 --> 00:12:04,040 Speaker 1: So a couple of years ago, when the ratings were 219 00:12:04,040 --> 00:12:07,600 Speaker 1: tanking relative to NFL standards, still light years ahead of 220 00:12:07,600 --> 00:12:10,600 Speaker 1: baseball and basketball, everyone was freaking out. And I do 221 00:12:10,720 --> 00:12:13,640 Speaker 1: think a big part of it was Obviously there were 222 00:12:13,679 --> 00:12:17,040 Speaker 1: some variables with the kneeling with Donald Trump. I mean 223 00:12:17,080 --> 00:12:20,200 Speaker 1: a lot of things played a factor in angering people 224 00:12:20,280 --> 00:12:23,360 Speaker 1: often say like no one even no one turned it 225 00:12:23,360 --> 00:12:25,760 Speaker 1: off because of kneeling. I have talked to people that 226 00:12:25,880 --> 00:12:29,160 Speaker 1: have If you don't think it affected anything, you're naive 227 00:12:29,280 --> 00:12:33,680 Speaker 1: Now of what overall magnitude, I don't know. Maybe in 228 00:12:33,679 --> 00:12:36,400 Speaker 1: the league office they have more concrete data. I have 229 00:12:36,440 --> 00:12:38,280 Speaker 1: no clue, but I do know it had somewhat of 230 00:12:38,280 --> 00:12:41,480 Speaker 1: an impact. But to me, the biggest impact was a 231 00:12:41,520 --> 00:12:44,240 Speaker 1: couple of years ago, all these quarterbacks were getting hurt, 232 00:12:44,400 --> 00:12:48,120 Speaker 1: there were consistent games on television, especially nationally televised games. 233 00:12:48,720 --> 00:12:50,880 Speaker 1: You know, they'd be stuck on Sunday night games. Now 234 00:12:50,920 --> 00:12:52,920 Speaker 1: they've moved up the flex schedule, so then get out 235 00:12:52,920 --> 00:12:56,600 Speaker 1: of shitty ones. The Monday night slate was atrocious and 236 00:12:56,640 --> 00:13:00,760 Speaker 1: we were just stuck watching terrible quarterbacks struggle to score 237 00:13:00,800 --> 00:13:02,800 Speaker 1: points in a league where a lot of people are 238 00:13:02,800 --> 00:13:06,480 Speaker 1: watching for fantasy football implications and gambling. And I got 239 00:13:06,480 --> 00:13:10,720 Speaker 1: news for you. People like gambling on overs. Now, unders 240 00:13:10,760 --> 00:13:14,080 Speaker 1: are usually the smarter bet, but I've bet enough unders 241 00:13:14,080 --> 00:13:16,560 Speaker 1: in my life. It's miserable, like you're just praying to 242 00:13:16,600 --> 00:13:20,040 Speaker 1: God no one scores. It's not very fun. I personally, 243 00:13:20,480 --> 00:13:22,880 Speaker 1: unless I know what's gonna win, I would just rather 244 00:13:22,960 --> 00:13:25,480 Speaker 1: not bet than bet and under who wants to root 245 00:13:25,679 --> 00:13:28,320 Speaker 1: for people not to score. So the point of watching 246 00:13:28,320 --> 00:13:31,000 Speaker 1: any game, watching home run, watch a three point shop, 247 00:13:31,120 --> 00:13:35,720 Speaker 1: watching Antonio Brown catch a touchdown like Christian McCaffrey gets touchdown. 248 00:13:36,280 --> 00:13:39,080 Speaker 1: That's why I now, I I like the nuances of 249 00:13:39,120 --> 00:13:41,240 Speaker 1: the game, the other elements of it, but at its 250 00:13:41,360 --> 00:13:45,200 Speaker 1: most basic level, John Middlecoff, that's me. I didn't mean 251 00:13:45,240 --> 00:13:48,040 Speaker 1: to go the third person there. Got into football at 252 00:13:48,080 --> 00:13:52,199 Speaker 1: a young age because I liked watching Jerry Rice score touchdowns. 253 00:13:52,520 --> 00:13:56,440 Speaker 1: You know, I liked watching I don't know Emmett Smith 254 00:13:57,080 --> 00:14:00,199 Speaker 1: actually didn't like Emmett Smith. But I actually like to 255 00:14:00,240 --> 00:14:02,240 Speaker 1: Brett FORV even though he used to kind of beat 256 00:14:02,280 --> 00:14:04,440 Speaker 1: the Niners. But I just love Brett for like we 257 00:14:04,559 --> 00:14:09,080 Speaker 1: like watching touchdowns to happen. And the NFL this year 258 00:14:09,160 --> 00:14:11,079 Speaker 1: think about this. I think this is why the NFL's 259 00:14:11,520 --> 00:14:14,640 Speaker 1: like really taking a stranglehold again. They have so many 260 00:14:14,640 --> 00:14:17,120 Speaker 1: teams that are really fun to watch, so many teams 261 00:14:17,120 --> 00:14:20,560 Speaker 1: that aren't just scoring. And this gets back to the rules. Now, 262 00:14:20,720 --> 00:14:24,240 Speaker 1: did they change the rules more for safety to cover 263 00:14:24,320 --> 00:14:27,640 Speaker 1: their ass to not get sued. Yeah, but I also 264 00:14:27,720 --> 00:14:30,600 Speaker 1: think that they want to increase scoring like part of 265 00:14:30,800 --> 00:14:35,200 Speaker 1: increasing and it's changing the regulation pro offense is to 266 00:14:35,400 --> 00:14:38,040 Speaker 1: help score touchdowns, to get more people playing fantasy, to 267 00:14:38,040 --> 00:14:41,480 Speaker 1: get more people gambling. That's positive. I always say this 268 00:14:41,560 --> 00:14:44,200 Speaker 1: when people bitch and moan, like you see it on Twitter, 269 00:14:44,280 --> 00:14:48,000 Speaker 1: like fans aren't paying their salaries. Yeah, they are, because 270 00:14:48,040 --> 00:14:51,200 Speaker 1: the salaries are being paid by the media contracts. If 271 00:14:51,240 --> 00:14:54,800 Speaker 1: people do not watch, the media contracts do not go up. 272 00:14:55,080 --> 00:14:57,960 Speaker 1: Now they are a fixed cost for an eight year period. 273 00:14:58,240 --> 00:15:00,920 Speaker 1: But the reason right now the media contract is so 274 00:15:01,000 --> 00:15:03,560 Speaker 1: massive is because five or six years ago when that 275 00:15:03,600 --> 00:15:06,560 Speaker 1: deal was signed, a boatload of people were watching the 276 00:15:06,680 --> 00:15:09,040 Speaker 1: NFL games. And next time when they re up this 277 00:15:09,080 --> 00:15:11,920 Speaker 1: deal in two or three years, the numbers are gonna 278 00:15:11,960 --> 00:15:14,680 Speaker 1: be enormous because a lot of people watch. And the 279 00:15:14,760 --> 00:15:17,560 Speaker 1: Saints averaging over thirty five, and the Chiefs averaging over 280 00:15:17,640 --> 00:15:20,400 Speaker 1: thirty five, and l A scoring left and right, and 281 00:15:20,680 --> 00:15:22,960 Speaker 1: the Patriots that can always score touchdowns. And now with 282 00:15:23,360 --> 00:15:26,480 Speaker 1: you know this historic Brandon Ben and Antonio Brown scoring 283 00:15:26,560 --> 00:15:29,960 Speaker 1: left and right is really really good for the NFL. 284 00:15:30,440 --> 00:15:33,600 Speaker 1: Like I I'm sorry now, I personally like this game. 285 00:15:34,080 --> 00:15:39,480 Speaker 1: I actually defended last year the Buffalo Jaguar the Buffalo 286 00:15:39,520 --> 00:15:44,240 Speaker 1: Bills Jaguars Round one playoff game. I know everyone hated it. 287 00:15:44,360 --> 00:15:46,200 Speaker 1: I personally kind of liked it, like I did not 288 00:15:46,320 --> 00:15:50,960 Speaker 1: hate it. Again, I like defensive games. I like big hits. 289 00:15:51,400 --> 00:15:55,040 Speaker 1: I like watching guys get destroyed. The masses don't, though. 290 00:15:55,400 --> 00:15:58,760 Speaker 1: The masses want touchdowns. The mass has hated that. Like I, 291 00:15:58,760 --> 00:16:01,120 Speaker 1: I was locked into that game. I loved it, But 292 00:16:01,200 --> 00:16:03,640 Speaker 1: I also like, like I'd be good on a one 293 00:16:03,760 --> 00:16:06,480 Speaker 1: nothing baseball game. You know, if the dudes are throwing 294 00:16:06,560 --> 00:16:10,640 Speaker 1: like ten strikeouts each, I'm all in And I'm a 295 00:16:10,640 --> 00:16:12,680 Speaker 1: little like used to it, because that's all the Giants 296 00:16:12,680 --> 00:16:14,320 Speaker 1: did when they ever they were good. They just they 297 00:16:14,360 --> 00:16:17,600 Speaker 1: can't hit. But my point is like that's not what 298 00:16:17,680 --> 00:16:20,520 Speaker 1: the masses like. Chicks dig the long ball, people like 299 00:16:20,640 --> 00:16:25,080 Speaker 1: home runs, people like touchdowns, And the NFL is really 300 00:16:25,120 --> 00:16:27,760 Speaker 1: benefiting right now, and they've helped themselves out with the rules. 301 00:16:28,200 --> 00:16:30,920 Speaker 1: It's a perfect time in the league right now because 302 00:16:30,920 --> 00:16:33,120 Speaker 1: there's still a large generation and this is where the 303 00:16:33,200 --> 00:16:36,520 Speaker 1: rules kick in that there's so many guys right now 304 00:16:36,840 --> 00:16:39,400 Speaker 1: in the league over thirty five still playing at a 305 00:16:39,440 --> 00:16:42,640 Speaker 1: really high level. Obviously, the best player in Brady Drew 306 00:16:42,640 --> 00:16:46,520 Speaker 1: Brees is what thirty nine years old, Roethlisberger's thirty six, 307 00:16:46,600 --> 00:16:49,240 Speaker 1: thirty seven years old. They would not have been able 308 00:16:49,280 --> 00:16:52,120 Speaker 1: to do this twenty thirty years ago. But also twenty 309 00:16:52,120 --> 00:16:54,480 Speaker 1: three years ago, these teams like Jerry Jones could buy 310 00:16:54,520 --> 00:16:58,120 Speaker 1: the Cowboys for whatever he paid for it. Like now 311 00:16:58,160 --> 00:17:01,920 Speaker 1: again inflation money change. But the point is the league 312 00:17:01,960 --> 00:17:04,120 Speaker 1: has boomed so much is worth so much more money. 313 00:17:04,119 --> 00:17:06,440 Speaker 1: Now you have to think about this stuff. It's why 314 00:17:06,480 --> 00:17:08,840 Speaker 1: to night when Eric read yeah, you can nitpick it 315 00:17:08,920 --> 00:17:12,400 Speaker 1: and did Roethlisberger slide late? Sure, but you gotta throw 316 00:17:12,440 --> 00:17:15,400 Speaker 1: them out like we're protecting the quarterbacks at all costs. 317 00:17:15,640 --> 00:17:18,360 Speaker 1: They are the cash cow. If you're an owner, if 318 00:17:18,400 --> 00:17:21,199 Speaker 1: you're a coach, if you're a fan of the Steelers, 319 00:17:21,240 --> 00:17:25,280 Speaker 1: like Roethlisberger is your rocketship. Now, can you get you 320 00:17:25,320 --> 00:17:27,440 Speaker 1: to the moon? I don't know. It's hard to win 321 00:17:27,480 --> 00:17:30,480 Speaker 1: playoff games, but the only chance you have to get 322 00:17:30,760 --> 00:17:34,280 Speaker 1: land on the moon is with Ben Roethlisberger as your rocketship. 323 00:17:34,640 --> 00:17:38,080 Speaker 1: If he is not there, it's over. You will you 324 00:17:38,119 --> 00:17:41,320 Speaker 1: will not make it. You know, you won't even get 325 00:17:41,359 --> 00:17:44,600 Speaker 1: to space. You know you honestly, if Ben Roethlisberger could 326 00:17:44,640 --> 00:17:45,800 Speaker 1: not play the rest of the season, I don't think 327 00:17:45,840 --> 00:17:47,800 Speaker 1: the Steelers will make the playoffs. It's that's what the 328 00:17:47,880 --> 00:17:50,200 Speaker 1: NFL is. So when you hear this hype that it's 329 00:17:50,200 --> 00:17:53,080 Speaker 1: a quarterback league and everyone, most of you guys know 330 00:17:53,200 --> 00:17:56,359 Speaker 1: listening that it's common sense. But how important these guys 331 00:17:56,400 --> 00:17:59,880 Speaker 1: are for the casual guy watching, for the fantasy football 332 00:18:00,560 --> 00:18:04,159 Speaker 1: guy playing, Uh, just the health of the league. Like 333 00:18:04,200 --> 00:18:06,520 Speaker 1: they do this stuff for a reason, and it's the 334 00:18:06,560 --> 00:18:11,119 Speaker 1: perfect combination now of why the leaves rolling. You know, 335 00:18:11,359 --> 00:18:15,880 Speaker 1: one of the most fascinating guys probably in recent memory 336 00:18:16,080 --> 00:18:20,720 Speaker 1: in college, mainly because he I don't want to say 337 00:18:20,720 --> 00:18:23,120 Speaker 1: he came out of nowhere, because he did just get 338 00:18:23,200 --> 00:18:28,800 Speaker 1: drafted ninth in Major League Baseball and he's replacing the 339 00:18:29,080 --> 00:18:33,000 Speaker 1: Heisman Trophy number one overall player in last year's draft, 340 00:18:33,119 --> 00:18:36,560 Speaker 1: so he's pretty famous. I think a lot of people 341 00:18:36,560 --> 00:18:38,280 Speaker 1: had heard the name. He had played at Texas and 342 00:18:38,400 --> 00:18:41,199 Speaker 1: m before he transferred, Like, we knew who the guy was, 343 00:18:42,119 --> 00:18:44,520 Speaker 1: but we did not know his football ability. Hell I, 344 00:18:44,600 --> 00:18:47,400 Speaker 1: I didn't know much about his baseball ability until Billy 345 00:18:47,480 --> 00:18:50,359 Speaker 1: being drafted him. He didn't even hit three hundred in Oklahoma, 346 00:18:50,640 --> 00:18:52,800 Speaker 1: but he can absolutely fly like he we knew he 347 00:18:52,840 --> 00:18:55,320 Speaker 1: was in the elite athlete, and that was one of 348 00:18:55,359 --> 00:18:58,200 Speaker 1: the big reasons Billy Bean took him, you know, ninth 349 00:18:58,280 --> 00:19:02,080 Speaker 1: overall in the draft. But this year watching Kyler Murray 350 00:19:02,200 --> 00:19:05,240 Speaker 1: and I watch a lot of Oklahoma football. I know 351 00:19:05,280 --> 00:19:07,040 Speaker 1: a couple of people on the staff. I just I 352 00:19:07,119 --> 00:19:09,240 Speaker 1: like Baker Mayfield from a couple of years ago. I 353 00:19:09,680 --> 00:19:12,239 Speaker 1: love Lincoln Riley. I had I've had Lincoln Riley on 354 00:19:12,280 --> 00:19:15,640 Speaker 1: this podcast. I just like what they're working with. So 355 00:19:15,840 --> 00:19:18,800 Speaker 1: this year with Kyler Murray playing, I've just watched him 356 00:19:18,800 --> 00:19:21,440 Speaker 1: a lot, and then about two games in you realize, 357 00:19:21,480 --> 00:19:24,240 Speaker 1: like God, this is the modern day Michael Vick. So 358 00:19:24,520 --> 00:19:27,080 Speaker 1: probably about a month ago I started texting a couple 359 00:19:27,080 --> 00:19:29,119 Speaker 1: of buddies in the league. They're like, God, if he 360 00:19:29,160 --> 00:19:31,439 Speaker 1: can catch, I mean, he's gonna be a top you know, 361 00:19:31,600 --> 00:19:34,720 Speaker 1: fifty pick. And then you just keep watching him. You're like, God, 362 00:19:34,960 --> 00:19:38,800 Speaker 1: he can really throw. I mean he has a hose, 363 00:19:39,640 --> 00:19:44,640 Speaker 1: his arm velocity is elite. Then his athletic ability, like 364 00:19:44,720 --> 00:19:47,920 Speaker 1: he's Michael Vick. You can't catch him. He can make 365 00:19:47,960 --> 00:19:52,439 Speaker 1: you miss. He can absolutely fly. And his simple you know, 366 00:19:52,560 --> 00:19:54,880 Speaker 1: flick of the wrist, I think that's a song, flick 367 00:19:54,920 --> 00:19:57,359 Speaker 1: of the wrist I mean the ball could go like 368 00:19:57,480 --> 00:20:02,480 Speaker 1: seventy yards. His physical attributes as an NFL prospect are 369 00:20:02,680 --> 00:20:06,600 Speaker 1: elite except a height. Now I don't know exactly how 370 00:20:06,760 --> 00:20:09,879 Speaker 1: tally is my guests just watching him play, you know, 371 00:20:09,960 --> 00:20:14,119 Speaker 1: on television, would be about five eleven six ft. But 372 00:20:14,160 --> 00:20:17,600 Speaker 1: there's never been a time easier in the NFL to 373 00:20:17,720 --> 00:20:21,359 Speaker 1: play quarterback. Like I talked about earlier, the points are 374 00:20:21,400 --> 00:20:24,280 Speaker 1: way up, mainly because they can't hit these quarterbacks. The 375 00:20:24,359 --> 00:20:28,479 Speaker 1: offensive skill guys are. The rules are for them just 376 00:20:28,520 --> 00:20:32,359 Speaker 1: to run free like like a you know, like a 377 00:20:33,000 --> 00:20:36,680 Speaker 1: like an animal on the African prairie. You just can't 378 00:20:36,720 --> 00:20:38,600 Speaker 1: touch them. You just get to roam and do whatever 379 00:20:38,640 --> 00:20:40,800 Speaker 1: you want, you know, and if they do touch you, 380 00:20:40,880 --> 00:20:42,720 Speaker 1: they toss you out of the game or penalize you. 381 00:20:43,359 --> 00:20:46,480 Speaker 1: And so this guy and listen, I've had the good 382 00:20:46,520 --> 00:20:50,320 Speaker 1: fortune to have sideline passes and stuff that. I mean, 383 00:20:50,320 --> 00:20:52,320 Speaker 1: they don't let you stay on the field for the game, 384 00:20:52,359 --> 00:20:55,480 Speaker 1: but before games for years in the league, and then 385 00:20:55,520 --> 00:20:58,200 Speaker 1: even as a media like I've been up really really 386 00:20:58,240 --> 00:21:01,600 Speaker 1: close to Russell Wilson in his pads. You know, I'm 387 00:21:01,720 --> 00:21:03,879 Speaker 1: probably with shoes on about five ten. I am I 388 00:21:03,920 --> 00:21:06,199 Speaker 1: to die with Russell Wilson. He is a what you 389 00:21:06,200 --> 00:21:10,720 Speaker 1: would consider for NFL standards, a midget, and he's fantastic 390 00:21:10,800 --> 00:21:14,240 Speaker 1: now his game. He's different than Kyler Murray, but there 391 00:21:14,280 --> 00:21:17,760 Speaker 1: are some similarities. And the more I I text around, 392 00:21:17,800 --> 00:21:19,600 Speaker 1: I have if you're listening to this on Friday, have 393 00:21:19,600 --> 00:21:22,359 Speaker 1: an article on the Athletic where I asked some people, 394 00:21:22,600 --> 00:21:25,800 Speaker 1: and I'm getting enough people in the league telling me 395 00:21:25,840 --> 00:21:29,440 Speaker 1: they think he'd be a first round quarterback. There's a 396 00:21:29,600 --> 00:21:34,240 Speaker 1: misconception and a narrative that baseball is much more lucrative 397 00:21:34,280 --> 00:21:38,240 Speaker 1: for players, and it is if you can get and 398 00:21:38,480 --> 00:21:43,040 Speaker 1: stay in Major League Baseball. The differences in football. Like 399 00:21:43,160 --> 00:21:46,760 Speaker 1: last year, Lamar Jackson, as the last pick in the 400 00:21:46,880 --> 00:21:50,919 Speaker 1: NFL draft, got seven and a half million dollars guaranteed 401 00:21:51,560 --> 00:21:54,040 Speaker 1: and he gets to play in the show as they 402 00:21:54,080 --> 00:21:57,520 Speaker 1: call it in baseball. Immediately. There's no they don't send 403 00:21:57,560 --> 00:22:00,719 Speaker 1: you in to the minor leagues. He's Lamar Jay dresses 404 00:22:00,760 --> 00:22:04,400 Speaker 1: on game day in places probably as Ravens fans will 405 00:22:04,440 --> 00:22:08,000 Speaker 1: tell you, maybe not enough, but he plays in baseball. 406 00:22:08,920 --> 00:22:13,359 Speaker 1: Kyler Murray was the ninth overall pick and got a 407 00:22:13,440 --> 00:22:16,760 Speaker 1: little over four and a half million dollars. There is 408 00:22:17,200 --> 00:22:21,760 Speaker 1: zero guarantee, though they want the higher guys to you know, 409 00:22:21,840 --> 00:22:23,840 Speaker 1: make it to the big leagues one day, but there's 410 00:22:23,880 --> 00:22:25,960 Speaker 1: no guarantee that he will ever play a major League 411 00:22:25,960 --> 00:22:29,399 Speaker 1: baseball game. Like, if he legitimately can't hit curveballs and 412 00:22:29,440 --> 00:22:32,959 Speaker 1: breaking pitches in the minor leagues, he will not make it. 413 00:22:32,960 --> 00:22:35,680 Speaker 1: It's just that simple. Now that four and a half 414 00:22:35,720 --> 00:22:39,600 Speaker 1: million dollars guaranteed that signing, he's got that, but there's 415 00:22:39,600 --> 00:22:41,800 Speaker 1: no guarantee that he ever gets to the show. And 416 00:22:41,840 --> 00:22:43,320 Speaker 1: if he does get to the show, they pay a 417 00:22:43,400 --> 00:22:46,280 Speaker 1: minimum wage, you know, like five or six D and 418 00:22:46,320 --> 00:22:49,080 Speaker 1: then he basically has like three years of service time 419 00:22:49,160 --> 00:22:53,600 Speaker 1: before he's even arbitration eligible to get an increase in salary. 420 00:22:53,800 --> 00:22:57,040 Speaker 1: Where in football, if the ninth pick I actually looked 421 00:22:57,040 --> 00:22:59,840 Speaker 1: at Josh Rosen, who was the tenth pick this year 422 00:22:59,840 --> 00:23:03,240 Speaker 1: by the Arizona Cardinals, actually the fourth quarterback taken. There's 423 00:23:03,240 --> 00:23:05,400 Speaker 1: no way there would be four quarterbacks taking over Kyler 424 00:23:05,480 --> 00:23:08,399 Speaker 1: Murray if he came out. But let's just say Kyler 425 00:23:08,480 --> 00:23:12,080 Speaker 1: Murray was the tenth pick in this draft. Josh Rosen 426 00:23:12,119 --> 00:23:15,359 Speaker 1: got over seventeen and a half million dollars, And again, 427 00:23:15,520 --> 00:23:20,040 Speaker 1: unlike baseball, you immediately play. If Kyler Murray was drafted 428 00:23:20,119 --> 00:23:23,200 Speaker 1: the top fifteen, he would get triple what the A's 429 00:23:23,240 --> 00:23:27,400 Speaker 1: paid him, and he would also more than likely play immediately. 430 00:23:28,520 --> 00:23:31,080 Speaker 1: I text some people in Oklahoma. They do not think 431 00:23:31,320 --> 00:23:33,240 Speaker 1: Like forever I thought, God, he's gonna have to play 432 00:23:33,240 --> 00:23:35,800 Speaker 1: wide receiver. I no longer really think that. I think 433 00:23:35,840 --> 00:23:38,800 Speaker 1: that he can play quarterback in the NFL. And I 434 00:23:38,840 --> 00:23:41,280 Speaker 1: think again, I don't know what he's thinking. Maybe he 435 00:23:41,280 --> 00:23:44,480 Speaker 1: tries to play both, but he legitimately if he wants 436 00:23:44,480 --> 00:23:47,960 Speaker 1: to come out, he would be an NFL first round quarterback. 437 00:23:48,480 --> 00:23:50,840 Speaker 1: Like I, I don't think Billy Bean when he drafted 438 00:23:50,880 --> 00:23:52,840 Speaker 1: him ninth overall, and I love the pick like it's 439 00:23:53,119 --> 00:23:56,560 Speaker 1: it's a ballsy pick, a high upside pick. And Billy 440 00:23:56,640 --> 00:24:00,440 Speaker 1: actually supported him. And Billy is a huge sports guy, 441 00:24:00,640 --> 00:24:02,560 Speaker 1: wanted him to go back to Oklahoma. That's what he 442 00:24:02,600 --> 00:24:05,080 Speaker 1: wanted to do, like he was all about it. And 443 00:24:05,240 --> 00:24:08,080 Speaker 1: I think it excites him watching it. But I do think, 444 00:24:08,359 --> 00:24:11,240 Speaker 1: and I Billy. I don't know Billy, but I would 445 00:24:11,240 --> 00:24:14,080 Speaker 1: imagine he might, you know, hit him or his GM 446 00:24:14,160 --> 00:24:17,160 Speaker 1: David Forrest over some beers might. God, he's a little 447 00:24:17,200 --> 00:24:20,280 Speaker 1: better than we wished he was, Like he's making this 448 00:24:20,440 --> 00:24:24,480 Speaker 1: a conversation now, like John Middlecoff on Colin Cowards podcast 449 00:24:24,520 --> 00:24:28,000 Speaker 1: network is texting GMS and his exact buddies in the 450 00:24:28,040 --> 00:24:30,399 Speaker 1: league and they're telling him this guy could be a 451 00:24:30,440 --> 00:24:34,480 Speaker 1: first round pick. That I think Billy thought, like, no 452 00:24:34,520 --> 00:24:36,600 Speaker 1: one's gonna watch this guy and like the fifth, you know, 453 00:24:37,200 --> 00:24:39,760 Speaker 1: mid to late rounds. So he'll just play baseball. We'll 454 00:24:39,760 --> 00:24:41,480 Speaker 1: pay him, you know, more than he would ever get 455 00:24:41,520 --> 00:24:44,080 Speaker 1: at a late round pick. But if if Kyler Murray, 456 00:24:44,200 --> 00:24:45,760 Speaker 1: people are be like, bro, you're gonna go in the 457 00:24:45,800 --> 00:24:51,480 Speaker 1: top twenty, Like you're talking twelve fourteen million dollars guaranteed, 458 00:24:52,000 --> 00:24:56,040 Speaker 1: and you play immediately. You don't ride busses, you ain't 459 00:24:56,080 --> 00:24:59,320 Speaker 1: going around with Tim Tebow. You're not playing in you know, 460 00:24:59,560 --> 00:25:03,679 Speaker 1: random parks in the middle of po dunk nowhere. You're playing. 461 00:25:04,000 --> 00:25:06,680 Speaker 1: You know, if the Miami Dolphins draft you, you're playing 462 00:25:06,720 --> 00:25:09,719 Speaker 1: the Patriots week one. You know, week two, you're on 463 00:25:09,760 --> 00:25:13,960 Speaker 1: Sunday Night Football against the Steelers, like you are the 464 00:25:14,119 --> 00:25:18,680 Speaker 1: starting quarterback for Team X. That that's not the way 465 00:25:18,680 --> 00:25:22,199 Speaker 1: it works in baseball. So I think this guy has 466 00:25:22,240 --> 00:25:25,359 Speaker 1: been so good. He has seven rushing touchdowns. But the 467 00:25:25,440 --> 00:25:27,760 Speaker 1: number that really stands out, and really the box score 468 00:25:27,800 --> 00:25:32,240 Speaker 1: to me, doesn't do it justice. He's really really accurate touchdowns, 469 00:25:32,280 --> 00:25:35,960 Speaker 1: five picks, and he just jumps off the television screen. 470 00:25:36,000 --> 00:25:39,040 Speaker 1: That's the thing. Like his box score is incredible, and 471 00:25:39,080 --> 00:25:41,240 Speaker 1: if it wasn't for twa he'd probably be the lock 472 00:25:41,320 --> 00:25:45,000 Speaker 1: Heisman Trophy winner. But you just watch him play a 473 00:25:45,119 --> 00:25:49,840 Speaker 1: half and your jaw drops when he takes off. Just 474 00:25:49,960 --> 00:25:53,520 Speaker 1: just how easily he can shove the ball down the field. 475 00:25:53,920 --> 00:25:58,280 Speaker 1: Just throw lasers, throw deep bombs, throw accurate balls on 476 00:25:58,320 --> 00:26:02,800 Speaker 1: the move. I've been blown away and I I don't 477 00:26:02,800 --> 00:26:05,200 Speaker 1: know how this is gonna play out. When the season started, 478 00:26:05,200 --> 00:26:07,000 Speaker 1: I'll be like, Yeah, he's just gonna play one year 479 00:26:07,040 --> 00:26:09,680 Speaker 1: there and then play baseball. I I think it's a 480 00:26:09,760 --> 00:26:15,600 Speaker 1: legitimate conversation. And if he likes playing quarterback, uh, Billy 481 00:26:15,720 --> 00:26:19,399 Speaker 1: might have wasted a pick. You know. The big news 482 00:26:19,600 --> 00:26:24,159 Speaker 1: of the week, uh personnel wise, was Dez Bryant. He 483 00:26:24,359 --> 00:26:27,919 Speaker 1: finally signed with an NFL team. Dez Bryant is no 484 00:26:28,080 --> 00:26:30,560 Speaker 1: longer out of the league. And I'll be honest, I 485 00:26:30,600 --> 00:26:35,080 Speaker 1: was shocked because, like the majority of America, I watched Saints. 486 00:26:35,720 --> 00:26:38,760 Speaker 1: I watched the Rams game and the last thing that 487 00:26:38,880 --> 00:26:41,560 Speaker 1: crossed my mind was, you know what, the Saints are 488 00:26:41,560 --> 00:26:45,240 Speaker 1: missing a wide receiver? Like it didn't cross my mind, 489 00:26:45,600 --> 00:26:47,359 Speaker 1: but then you dive into it and you got Saints 490 00:26:47,400 --> 00:26:50,600 Speaker 1: fans telling you, well, check out the stats. You know, 491 00:26:51,160 --> 00:26:54,359 Speaker 1: Mike Thomas is having an incredible year. He has seventy 492 00:26:54,400 --> 00:26:57,239 Speaker 1: nine targets at seventy catches. You know he's he's on 493 00:26:57,320 --> 00:27:01,399 Speaker 1: pace for I don't know, I mean a hundred and 494 00:27:01,440 --> 00:27:04,360 Speaker 1: fifteen catches. I mean he's on pace for a match. 495 00:27:04,440 --> 00:27:07,000 Speaker 1: He's on prace to be an all pero. But then 496 00:27:07,040 --> 00:27:09,920 Speaker 1: you go, well, who's their second wide receiver? Ted ginn 497 00:27:10,000 --> 00:27:13,320 Speaker 1: on i R. Alvin Kamara is a running back, Ben 498 00:27:13,320 --> 00:27:17,360 Speaker 1: Watson is a tight end. Their third most productive receiver 499 00:27:17,840 --> 00:27:20,640 Speaker 1: is this guy, Trey Kwon Smith actually has three touchdowns, 500 00:27:20,680 --> 00:27:23,040 Speaker 1: who hasn't been bad. Played him a couple of times 501 00:27:23,040 --> 00:27:26,119 Speaker 1: in daily fantasies, kick my ass, But that they have 502 00:27:26,200 --> 00:27:29,439 Speaker 1: a problem now, it didn't cross my mind when I 503 00:27:29,440 --> 00:27:33,640 Speaker 1: watched that game on Sunday, But clearly internally they think 504 00:27:33,680 --> 00:27:39,440 Speaker 1: they do. They need help there. And my first reaction 505 00:27:39,480 --> 00:27:41,960 Speaker 1: when I saw it was like why, And then the 506 00:27:42,000 --> 00:27:45,000 Speaker 1: more I've thought about it watching you know, Dez at 507 00:27:45,040 --> 00:27:48,120 Speaker 1: Saints practice and just NFL Network doing interviews. Watch Drew 508 00:27:48,160 --> 00:27:51,240 Speaker 1: Brees just came across my timeline yesterday or a couple 509 00:27:51,240 --> 00:27:53,440 Speaker 1: of days ago. I went, you know what, I kind 510 00:27:53,440 --> 00:27:56,000 Speaker 1: of get it. You spend all this time. You have 511 00:27:56,080 --> 00:27:58,679 Speaker 1: this hall of fame quarterback, You have this I mean 512 00:27:58,720 --> 00:28:01,439 Speaker 1: borderline hall of fame code which like you built like 513 00:28:01,560 --> 00:28:03,919 Speaker 1: that we talked about earlier with the Steelers. You spend 514 00:28:03,920 --> 00:28:06,800 Speaker 1: all this effort, all this time building a culture. You 515 00:28:06,800 --> 00:28:09,960 Speaker 1: should be able to take some flyers. Sometimes you can 516 00:28:09,960 --> 00:28:13,520 Speaker 1: take a flyer and that guy molds into your culture 517 00:28:13,640 --> 00:28:16,600 Speaker 1: and you never realized that he was a problem. Not 518 00:28:16,760 --> 00:28:20,320 Speaker 1: the Dez was a major problem though. The Amazon show 519 00:28:20,720 --> 00:28:23,080 Speaker 1: did not show him in a good light, and I 520 00:28:23,119 --> 00:28:26,879 Speaker 1: think plays a huge role in why Dez Bryant does 521 00:28:26,920 --> 00:28:29,639 Speaker 1: not have a job. Besides he's not quite as fast, 522 00:28:29,680 --> 00:28:32,120 Speaker 1: he was not quite as good. The Saints know that 523 00:28:32,720 --> 00:28:36,040 Speaker 1: they feel good though about that Amazon show when he 524 00:28:36,080 --> 00:28:38,640 Speaker 1: was being a pain in the ass for Derek Dooley, 525 00:28:38,680 --> 00:28:42,000 Speaker 1: the wide receiver coach, and just being just kind of crazy. 526 00:28:42,320 --> 00:28:44,360 Speaker 1: I think they think they can overcome it. And do 527 00:28:44,400 --> 00:28:47,720 Speaker 1: you know what, they also realize that it's a low risk, 528 00:28:48,200 --> 00:28:50,760 Speaker 1: high reward. You know, if it doesn't work out, I 529 00:28:50,760 --> 00:28:52,959 Speaker 1: can get rid of him next week. If he becomes 530 00:28:52,960 --> 00:28:54,640 Speaker 1: a problem in two weeks, I get rid of him. 531 00:28:54,840 --> 00:28:57,160 Speaker 1: They did it last year with Adrian Peterson. They took 532 00:28:57,160 --> 00:28:59,959 Speaker 1: a flyer in Adrian Peterson. It didn't work in their offense. 533 00:29:00,240 --> 00:29:03,520 Speaker 1: Sean Payton couldn't stand him about, you know, by mid September, 534 00:29:03,600 --> 00:29:05,720 Speaker 1: and they got rid of them. They shifted him out 535 00:29:05,720 --> 00:29:09,400 Speaker 1: of town. And that that's what the really good teams realized. 536 00:29:09,440 --> 00:29:11,960 Speaker 1: I mean, Belichick's made a living of this. You take 537 00:29:12,000 --> 00:29:15,440 Speaker 1: a guy, you don't pay him anything, so if it works, 538 00:29:15,560 --> 00:29:18,680 Speaker 1: you get an incredible return on your investment. If it 539 00:29:18,760 --> 00:29:23,560 Speaker 1: doesn't work, you cut bait. You literally cut him, you know, 540 00:29:23,880 --> 00:29:26,520 Speaker 1: you give him a pink slip. You say, des give 541 00:29:26,680 --> 00:29:29,160 Speaker 1: us the playbook back. You're out of here. You have 542 00:29:29,200 --> 00:29:32,800 Speaker 1: two options. You either shape in or you shape out. 543 00:29:33,160 --> 00:29:36,280 Speaker 1: We don't. We do not change for you. You either 544 00:29:36,400 --> 00:29:39,480 Speaker 1: mold do us. So the last couple of days, I've 545 00:29:39,480 --> 00:29:42,320 Speaker 1: thought about it more. I like it now. I would 546 00:29:42,400 --> 00:29:46,200 Speaker 1: question It's November eight. I've worked in the NFL and 547 00:29:46,640 --> 00:29:49,600 Speaker 1: followed it now long enough to know it's a little 548 00:29:49,600 --> 00:29:52,160 Speaker 1: bit it's a massive red flag when a guy's out 549 00:29:52,200 --> 00:29:55,200 Speaker 1: of the league, Like, I don't quite understand it, but 550 00:29:55,600 --> 00:29:58,080 Speaker 1: I do understand it because the league didn't want him. 551 00:29:58,120 --> 00:30:01,360 Speaker 1: He doesn't have contract offers, Like I'll give you another name. 552 00:30:01,400 --> 00:30:05,080 Speaker 1: That's kind of craziest out of the league Navarro Bowman. Uh. 553 00:30:05,120 --> 00:30:08,320 Speaker 1: And that's usually it's more of a reflection on the 554 00:30:08,400 --> 00:30:13,280 Speaker 1: player than the teams, like the Kaepernick situation. Yeah, it 555 00:30:13,280 --> 00:30:15,680 Speaker 1: turns out he got black balled, you know, that's why 556 00:30:15,720 --> 00:30:18,480 Speaker 1: he was out of the league. But des Bryant, he 557 00:30:18,520 --> 00:30:20,920 Speaker 1: ain't getting black balled. People just don't want him, Navarro 558 00:30:21,000 --> 00:30:24,200 Speaker 1: Bowman not clearly, no one wants him, you know, he 559 00:30:24,640 --> 00:30:28,240 Speaker 1: their reputations, you know, start going the wrong way. That 560 00:30:28,480 --> 00:30:31,280 Speaker 1: the NFL is a lot like high school, you know, 561 00:30:31,520 --> 00:30:35,600 Speaker 1: or just like an office. Rumors fly around fast, and 562 00:30:35,720 --> 00:30:38,800 Speaker 1: typically they take on a life of their own, and 563 00:30:38,920 --> 00:30:42,840 Speaker 1: perception then becomes reality. And back to Daz, when they 564 00:30:42,880 --> 00:30:47,479 Speaker 1: have an Amazon Prime show as evidence of you acting 565 00:30:47,600 --> 00:30:50,520 Speaker 1: kind of like an idiot, that's not good because then 566 00:30:50,560 --> 00:30:54,640 Speaker 1: there's no like perception is reality. No, there's just a reality. 567 00:30:54,800 --> 00:30:58,200 Speaker 1: We just see what you act like, you know, And 568 00:30:58,360 --> 00:31:01,840 Speaker 1: I do think Deaz has a on the line these 569 00:31:01,920 --> 00:31:04,680 Speaker 1: next you know, I don't know two months, I guess 570 00:31:04,880 --> 00:31:07,480 Speaker 1: potentially three. I mean the Saints might be a super 571 00:31:07,480 --> 00:31:11,160 Speaker 1: Bowl team, to just kind of rehab his reputation, to 572 00:31:11,240 --> 00:31:14,120 Speaker 1: show that he can still be a productive player. Because 573 00:31:14,120 --> 00:31:17,360 Speaker 1: if you cannot produce in the Saints, you know, organization, 574 00:31:17,440 --> 00:31:20,480 Speaker 1: if you cannot get along with Drew Brees, that's a 575 00:31:20,600 --> 00:31:23,800 Speaker 1: you problem that would be on Dez Bryant. Like, there 576 00:31:23,800 --> 00:31:27,200 Speaker 1: would be zero people that would be able to even 577 00:31:27,360 --> 00:31:30,040 Speaker 1: attempt to make an excuse for him on social media, 578 00:31:30,320 --> 00:31:33,600 Speaker 1: in the league wherever, like it would be over, it'd 579 00:31:33,640 --> 00:31:37,840 Speaker 1: be signed, sealed, delivered, you know, nail in the coffin 580 00:31:38,000 --> 00:31:40,920 Speaker 1: on it. On his career. Now, if he's productive, he 581 00:31:40,960 --> 00:31:44,120 Speaker 1: acts like a good guy, his career can get rolling again. 582 00:31:44,600 --> 00:31:47,640 Speaker 1: He can kind of, you know, get the train back 583 00:31:47,720 --> 00:31:50,200 Speaker 1: on the tracks. But man, these I'm not going to 584 00:31:50,320 --> 00:31:53,440 Speaker 1: judge him as much this Sunday, but four of these 585 00:31:53,480 --> 00:31:56,480 Speaker 1: next two months and then a playoff game or two 586 00:31:56,920 --> 00:32:02,080 Speaker 1: will be very, very big to save this guy's rear. Okay, 587 00:32:02,160 --> 00:32:05,160 Speaker 1: let's get to my favorite time of the week, or 588 00:32:05,160 --> 00:32:07,400 Speaker 1: actually my second time this week doing it, but the 589 00:32:07,400 --> 00:32:11,160 Speaker 1: Middlecoff mail Bag at John Middlecoff slide up in those 590 00:32:11,280 --> 00:32:16,440 Speaker 1: d m s on Instagram and I will read, uh, 591 00:32:16,640 --> 00:32:21,760 Speaker 1: what's going on? Let's see if I can find Okay, 592 00:32:21,760 --> 00:32:24,480 Speaker 1: Hey John, I know you're doing the podcast right now. 593 00:32:24,600 --> 00:32:25,800 Speaker 1: Thought this would be a good way to get my 594 00:32:25,880 --> 00:32:28,720 Speaker 1: question on the pot. Yeah it would. So what is 595 00:32:28,760 --> 00:32:31,360 Speaker 1: your opinion on drafting and running back in the first round? 596 00:32:31,760 --> 00:32:35,200 Speaker 1: When you have backs like Barkley, Zeke McCaffrey, I can 597 00:32:35,200 --> 00:32:37,680 Speaker 1: dig it who are great, But then you have in 598 00:32:37,720 --> 00:32:41,120 Speaker 1: my opinion, the better threesome Hunt, Kamara and David Johnson 599 00:32:41,520 --> 00:32:45,040 Speaker 1: gives you a way better bang for your buck. Uh, 600 00:32:45,080 --> 00:32:47,840 Speaker 1: and you can get a pass rusher or middle linebacker 601 00:32:47,920 --> 00:32:50,480 Speaker 1: to show up the defense. I would agree if the 602 00:32:50,560 --> 00:32:53,880 Speaker 1: running back core or you know, a draft is deep, 603 00:32:54,320 --> 00:32:56,960 Speaker 1: I would always lean against taking a guy in the 604 00:32:57,000 --> 00:33:00,479 Speaker 1: first round. I do get a Zeke a bark I 605 00:33:00,560 --> 00:33:03,760 Speaker 1: didn't love the McCaffrey pick where they took him, though 606 00:33:04,040 --> 00:33:07,240 Speaker 1: I look wrong now because McCaffrey is a stud. But 607 00:33:07,400 --> 00:33:10,280 Speaker 1: watching James Conner tonight, what was he a fourth round pick? 608 00:33:10,760 --> 00:33:13,080 Speaker 1: You consistently see guys around the league that are late. 609 00:33:13,160 --> 00:33:17,200 Speaker 1: I mean, Kareem Hunting, Alvin Kamara are fantastic. Like you said, 610 00:33:17,240 --> 00:33:20,800 Speaker 1: I mean they are, they're elite. Leonard four Nette, we 611 00:33:20,840 --> 00:33:23,920 Speaker 1: haven't seen him in six weeks is hammy tightens up 612 00:33:23,920 --> 00:33:27,440 Speaker 1: and he goes bye bye. So I'm with you, uh 613 00:33:27,600 --> 00:33:31,320 Speaker 1: that there is the value will always be there in 614 00:33:31,360 --> 00:33:35,000 Speaker 1: the later rounds. History is on your side. Now again, 615 00:33:35,040 --> 00:33:38,560 Speaker 1: there's always gonna be you know, Christian McCaffrey is gonna 616 00:33:38,560 --> 00:33:40,360 Speaker 1: be a really good player in this league. He just is, 617 00:33:40,400 --> 00:33:42,520 Speaker 1: so say Kwan Barkley. So those guys are not going 618 00:33:42,600 --> 00:33:45,960 Speaker 1: to make their teams look dumb. But there's a reason 619 00:33:46,000 --> 00:33:48,760 Speaker 1: that Alvin Kamara makes you look really smart. Now. The 620 00:33:48,800 --> 00:33:51,440 Speaker 1: one thing, and again this is a bigger picture, This 621 00:33:51,520 --> 00:33:54,160 Speaker 1: is a rich person problem is when you do hit 622 00:33:54,240 --> 00:33:57,240 Speaker 1: on a second, third, fourth round running back, they become 623 00:33:57,320 --> 00:34:00,720 Speaker 1: free agents a little quicker. You know, Kareem Hunt now 624 00:34:01,280 --> 00:34:04,240 Speaker 1: is an Alvin Kamara. In their second years they are one. 625 00:34:04,480 --> 00:34:06,200 Speaker 1: Next year is going to be their third year, and 626 00:34:06,280 --> 00:34:08,160 Speaker 1: after that year they're gonna have to get paid. So 627 00:34:08,239 --> 00:34:10,560 Speaker 1: what happens a little faster like Christian McCaffrey is gonna 628 00:34:10,560 --> 00:34:12,799 Speaker 1: have the fifth year option. But again that's a good 629 00:34:12,840 --> 00:34:17,000 Speaker 1: problem to have. John one for the mail bag from Sydney, Australia. 630 00:34:17,120 --> 00:34:19,680 Speaker 1: What up mate, what's the feeling about the Raiders around 631 00:34:19,719 --> 00:34:22,600 Speaker 1: the Bay Area? It seems naturally they are being uh 632 00:34:22,760 --> 00:34:25,719 Speaker 1: seen as a bigger mess each week. And this JaMarcus 633 00:34:25,760 --> 00:34:28,399 Speaker 1: Russell story with the tapes reeks of the Raiders, that's 634 00:34:28,440 --> 00:34:30,239 Speaker 1: an old story, by the way. I mean I've I've 635 00:34:30,239 --> 00:34:34,040 Speaker 1: heard that story ten times. Um trying to get attention 636 00:34:34,080 --> 00:34:36,640 Speaker 1: off their current situation. Yeah, I mean it's just bad. 637 00:34:37,320 --> 00:34:42,200 Speaker 1: The situation locally nationally is terrible. I mean they're a 638 00:34:42,280 --> 00:34:45,880 Speaker 1: laughing stock. I think a lot of people just question 639 00:34:45,920 --> 00:34:48,640 Speaker 1: whether Jon Gruden knows what he's doing. Yeah, they have 640 00:34:48,760 --> 00:34:51,520 Speaker 1: all these picks, but are you confident that John Gruden 641 00:34:51,560 --> 00:34:54,719 Speaker 1: can make them? I'm not. He has a long track 642 00:34:54,800 --> 00:34:57,840 Speaker 1: record of being a terrible GM. That's not an opinion, 643 00:34:57,880 --> 00:35:00,359 Speaker 1: that's a fact. He's just not a very good a gym. 644 00:35:01,200 --> 00:35:04,360 Speaker 1: It's really that simple. And I know they have a 645 00:35:04,360 --> 00:35:06,280 Speaker 1: ton of picks, and it's looking like if the Cowboys 646 00:35:06,280 --> 00:35:08,040 Speaker 1: think that might be a top ten pick, they might 647 00:35:08,080 --> 00:35:10,279 Speaker 1: have the number one overall pick and like the eighth pick, 648 00:35:10,680 --> 00:35:13,000 Speaker 1: so they might have a ton of capital. I'm just 649 00:35:13,120 --> 00:35:16,880 Speaker 1: not very confident that Jon Gruden is the guy to 650 00:35:16,960 --> 00:35:21,960 Speaker 1: fix that problem. I'm just I'm really not so sad, 651 00:35:22,040 --> 00:35:27,319 Speaker 1: but but true. Hey, John loved the show. What do 652 00:35:27,360 --> 00:35:30,000 Speaker 1: you think about Mitchell Robinski's development from his rookie to 653 00:35:30,040 --> 00:35:33,799 Speaker 1: sophomore year. Is there more optimism at this point than 654 00:35:33,880 --> 00:35:36,960 Speaker 1: after his rookie season? I think, of course. I think 655 00:35:36,960 --> 00:35:39,239 Speaker 1: the number one thing to be optimistic about is he 656 00:35:39,280 --> 00:35:41,960 Speaker 1: has an offensive young head coach and they can grow together. 657 00:35:42,360 --> 00:35:44,960 Speaker 1: I think Mitch has a long way to go. The 658 00:35:45,040 --> 00:35:48,359 Speaker 1: most eye opening thing about Mitch's season so far is, God, 659 00:35:48,440 --> 00:35:51,520 Speaker 1: he's a great athlete, Like he can really run with 660 00:35:51,560 --> 00:35:54,560 Speaker 1: the football, and that's kind of saving him at times. 661 00:35:54,600 --> 00:35:57,920 Speaker 1: His inaccuracy on basic passes sometimes to drive your nuts. 662 00:35:58,360 --> 00:36:01,000 Speaker 1: But he's only been a starter now. This is he 663 00:36:01,040 --> 00:36:03,520 Speaker 1: started half of last year, he started all of this year. 664 00:36:03,520 --> 00:36:05,960 Speaker 1: He started one year in college. I mean, he hasn't 665 00:36:06,040 --> 00:36:08,640 Speaker 1: played that much. I think, how much more just the 666 00:36:08,719 --> 00:36:11,120 Speaker 1: common guy, the average guy in the NFL has played. 667 00:36:11,440 --> 00:36:13,480 Speaker 1: Most guys in the NFL start from the moment they 668 00:36:13,480 --> 00:36:15,360 Speaker 1: get there or maybe red shirt year, and then they 669 00:36:15,400 --> 00:36:18,200 Speaker 1: start playing like they're the best of the best. Mitch 670 00:36:18,239 --> 00:36:20,480 Speaker 1: played one year in college because he couldn't beat out 671 00:36:20,480 --> 00:36:22,960 Speaker 1: a dude at North Carolina, which is a little bit 672 00:36:23,000 --> 00:36:25,960 Speaker 1: of a red flag. But you know, I just think 673 00:36:26,000 --> 00:36:29,120 Speaker 1: his development process, like this would have been like his 674 00:36:29,239 --> 00:36:31,560 Speaker 1: senior year in college in theory, like this would have 675 00:36:31,560 --> 00:36:33,759 Speaker 1: been his third year started. He didn't even start all 676 00:36:33,760 --> 00:36:36,880 Speaker 1: of this rookie year because they had Glennan and he 677 00:36:37,000 --> 00:36:41,800 Speaker 1: clearly wasn't ready to start, you know. Uh, as a rookie, 678 00:36:41,800 --> 00:36:44,200 Speaker 1: he probably should have red shirted. But he's actually probably 679 00:36:44,200 --> 00:36:48,080 Speaker 1: benefiting a little bit just from a little experience. Uh. 680 00:36:48,120 --> 00:36:50,880 Speaker 1: And he he also benefits. I mean, they're their defense 681 00:36:51,000 --> 00:36:53,759 Speaker 1: is stacked, they got two legit running backs, and they 682 00:36:53,760 --> 00:36:57,799 Speaker 1: have an offensive head coach. Uh. I At five and three, 683 00:36:57,800 --> 00:37:01,120 Speaker 1: you gotta feel pretty confident that the Bears have a 684 00:37:01,120 --> 00:37:03,880 Speaker 1: strong chance to make the playoffs. Though you look at 685 00:37:03,920 --> 00:37:06,960 Speaker 1: their schedule, I mean, still play Minnesota twice. You know, 686 00:37:07,000 --> 00:37:09,280 Speaker 1: it could go off the rails fast. They got green 687 00:37:09,280 --> 00:37:12,640 Speaker 1: Bay come into Chicago. Uh that they could end up 688 00:37:12,680 --> 00:37:15,560 Speaker 1: seven and nine, or they could end up ten and six. Now, 689 00:37:15,680 --> 00:37:18,480 Speaker 1: their defense, the running game is built for when the 690 00:37:18,480 --> 00:37:21,560 Speaker 1: weather turns. If I had to guess right now, I 691 00:37:21,760 --> 00:37:25,880 Speaker 1: would say nine and seven. And you know they're maybe 692 00:37:25,880 --> 00:37:28,399 Speaker 1: going into that last week they're competing for that last 693 00:37:28,440 --> 00:37:31,799 Speaker 1: wild card spot. Just again, defense and run game. Do 694 00:37:31,840 --> 00:37:35,080 Speaker 1: I trust Mitch right now? No, No, I don't, But 695 00:37:35,160 --> 00:37:39,399 Speaker 1: I do think he has improved and shown flashes of 696 00:37:39,440 --> 00:37:44,600 Speaker 1: being a really good player. I'm a lifelong Broncos fan. 697 00:37:44,760 --> 00:37:46,920 Speaker 1: I was interested in your thoughts on where the Broncos 698 00:37:47,000 --> 00:37:51,160 Speaker 1: go from here. Obviously, Keenum isn't the answer. No, he's 699 00:37:51,200 --> 00:37:55,080 Speaker 1: got get rid of the quarterback, the coach, the general manager. 700 00:37:55,840 --> 00:37:59,040 Speaker 1: I think they need a young quarterback to build around. 701 00:37:59,360 --> 00:38:03,399 Speaker 1: That's not rocket science that everyone can acknowledge that they 702 00:38:03,440 --> 00:38:07,319 Speaker 1: are gonna be in the quarterback market this offseason. In 703 00:38:07,400 --> 00:38:13,480 Speaker 1: the draft, coach vance Joseph By, he's fired. It's over. 704 00:38:13,840 --> 00:38:16,399 Speaker 1: He's not a head coach. I think that's pretty clear. 705 00:38:16,480 --> 00:38:20,120 Speaker 1: General manager, I'd roll with Elway. I think Elway is 706 00:38:20,160 --> 00:38:22,080 Speaker 1: good at his job. I know he's had a rough 707 00:38:22,120 --> 00:38:25,400 Speaker 1: little stretch, but look this year, his draft was incredible. 708 00:38:25,640 --> 00:38:27,799 Speaker 1: It's always much easier to draft in the top ten 709 00:38:27,840 --> 00:38:29,960 Speaker 1: than it is when you're a playoff team. That's why 710 00:38:30,360 --> 00:38:33,239 Speaker 1: usually all the teams that like midway through the season 711 00:38:33,280 --> 00:38:35,799 Speaker 1: we go lok. God, look at their rookie class. They're 712 00:38:35,880 --> 00:38:38,880 Speaker 1: usually drafting high. You know, it's it's a lot easier 713 00:38:38,880 --> 00:38:42,279 Speaker 1: to draft players fifth in every round than it is 714 00:38:43,480 --> 00:38:46,840 Speaker 1: in every round. But one problem for Railway now is 715 00:38:46,920 --> 00:38:49,320 Speaker 1: Vance Joseph was a major swinging a miss. Vance Joseph 716 00:38:49,600 --> 00:38:52,960 Speaker 1: gotta go. I don't hate the case Keena Move, I 717 00:38:53,000 --> 00:38:57,160 Speaker 1: get it. Uh, He's he's not their main problem though, 718 00:38:57,239 --> 00:39:00,480 Speaker 1: he's not that great. They just need a guy you 719 00:39:00,480 --> 00:39:03,319 Speaker 1: can build around. They need a young guy that the 720 00:39:03,480 --> 00:39:07,319 Speaker 1: entire city, that the entire franchise, that the entire organization 721 00:39:07,840 --> 00:39:10,640 Speaker 1: knows that that's our guy for the long haul, you know. 722 00:39:10,760 --> 00:39:13,160 Speaker 1: And it was so clear so fast that Paxson Lynch 723 00:39:13,280 --> 00:39:17,080 Speaker 1: was not bad guy, and that really kind of derailed everything. 724 00:39:17,600 --> 00:39:20,320 Speaker 1: And they got lucky with the Oswiler contract though he 725 00:39:20,440 --> 00:39:24,359 Speaker 1: ended up kind of coming back. But yeah, I think 726 00:39:24,400 --> 00:39:26,799 Speaker 1: the most important thing is to get rid of Vance 727 00:39:27,040 --> 00:39:30,719 Speaker 1: and go go Land a young quarterback that you can 728 00:39:30,840 --> 00:39:33,640 Speaker 1: build around. Now. It's easier said than done, you know, 729 00:39:33,680 --> 00:39:36,320 Speaker 1: it's not It's not like clearly, it's not like John 730 00:39:36,480 --> 00:39:40,400 Speaker 1: doesn't know this and hasn't tried. It's just hard. You know, 731 00:39:40,440 --> 00:39:43,520 Speaker 1: it's the hardest thing in sports to do find a quarterback. 732 00:39:44,360 --> 00:39:46,960 Speaker 1: And that's kind of what they're doing looking to do. 733 00:39:47,880 --> 00:39:50,200 Speaker 1: John Taysom Hill. Does this guy have any shot as 734 00:39:50,200 --> 00:39:52,920 Speaker 1: a quarterback. If not, what is he do other teams 735 00:39:52,920 --> 00:39:55,920 Speaker 1: in the league started looking for similarity utility players or 736 00:39:55,960 --> 00:39:58,480 Speaker 1: is he just a unique case. I think he's just 737 00:39:58,520 --> 00:40:01,279 Speaker 1: a unique case. I mean's twin eight years old. He's 738 00:40:01,280 --> 00:40:03,759 Speaker 1: a second year player, but he's twenty eight because he's 739 00:40:03,760 --> 00:40:07,640 Speaker 1: like a six year Mormon at b y U. It's 740 00:40:07,680 --> 00:40:10,279 Speaker 1: just I he's an outlier more than he'll ever be 741 00:40:10,400 --> 00:40:12,920 Speaker 1: the norm now and and a lot of teams have 742 00:40:13,080 --> 00:40:16,719 Speaker 1: guys like this. They're usually just not former quarterbacks. They're like, 743 00:40:17,239 --> 00:40:21,480 Speaker 1: you know, receivers that can also throw and cover kicks 744 00:40:21,520 --> 00:40:25,040 Speaker 1: and tackle. A lot of teams have like a utility player, 745 00:40:25,080 --> 00:40:28,160 Speaker 1: they're usually just they also can't play quarterback. To me, 746 00:40:28,280 --> 00:40:30,960 Speaker 1: that's what makes him so special and part of his 747 00:40:31,120 --> 00:40:33,160 Speaker 1: ability to play quarterback. He kind of looks like a 748 00:40:33,320 --> 00:40:36,680 Speaker 1: running back meets a linebacker. You know, he doesn't his 749 00:40:36,760 --> 00:40:40,640 Speaker 1: physical attributes don't look like a quarterback. I I think 750 00:40:41,360 --> 00:40:43,880 Speaker 1: that you know, he can cover kicks, he can catch 751 00:40:43,920 --> 00:40:47,239 Speaker 1: the ball. He's just a high level guy. But he's 752 00:40:47,239 --> 00:40:49,759 Speaker 1: also older. That's what you know. It's it's hard to 753 00:40:49,800 --> 00:40:53,000 Speaker 1: find a second year guy. Usually it's twenty three years old. 754 00:40:53,400 --> 00:40:57,480 Speaker 1: It's like a quarterback, linebacker, cover specialists. They don't kick returner, 755 00:40:57,840 --> 00:41:01,640 Speaker 1: they don't really exist. I just think this guy's an outlier. 756 00:41:01,719 --> 00:41:03,399 Speaker 1: At one point in time, this guy was a super 757 00:41:03,480 --> 00:41:06,240 Speaker 1: hyped quarterback at b y U. Injuries kind of derailed 758 00:41:06,280 --> 00:41:08,960 Speaker 1: his life again at b y U because they go 759 00:41:09,000 --> 00:41:12,720 Speaker 1: on a Mormon mission, they're much older. Yeah, I really 760 00:41:12,760 --> 00:41:16,120 Speaker 1: think it's as simple as it's a unique situation. Though. 761 00:41:16,200 --> 00:41:19,360 Speaker 1: I do really enjoy him. He is a fun player. 762 00:41:19,880 --> 00:41:22,440 Speaker 1: I like watching him, as everyone does. I mean, it's 763 00:41:22,440 --> 00:41:25,279 Speaker 1: just a it's a very very cool story. And the 764 00:41:25,320 --> 00:41:28,680 Speaker 1: more big games the Saints playing, the more we get 765 00:41:28,719 --> 00:41:31,920 Speaker 1: to watch Taysom hill. I. I had honestly kind of 766 00:41:31,960 --> 00:41:34,520 Speaker 1: forgotten about him, and then when the Saints kind of 767 00:41:34,560 --> 00:41:37,040 Speaker 1: resurrected his career, and then now that they're so good 768 00:41:37,040 --> 00:41:40,319 Speaker 1: and he does so much for him, it is, you know, 769 00:41:40,400 --> 00:41:45,520 Speaker 1: pretty cool. Let's uh get one more here and then 770 00:41:45,800 --> 00:41:48,439 Speaker 1: call it a night. Love the Pod. I'm a die 771 00:41:48,520 --> 00:41:52,960 Speaker 1: hard Packer fan and agree that McCarthy has done. Who 772 00:41:53,000 --> 00:41:57,360 Speaker 1: would be the best potential next head coach for Green Bay? Well, 773 00:41:57,880 --> 00:42:00,840 Speaker 1: because you're paying Aaron Rodgers so much money, and because 774 00:42:00,880 --> 00:42:04,680 Speaker 1: you have Aaron Rodgers you need to go offense. Uh 775 00:42:04,719 --> 00:42:07,920 Speaker 1: So you either take a guy that has no experience, 776 00:42:08,280 --> 00:42:11,359 Speaker 1: John d Filippo, someone like that, like the number one 777 00:42:11,440 --> 00:42:15,239 Speaker 1: offensive coordinator on the market, which is risky because when 778 00:42:15,280 --> 00:42:18,160 Speaker 1: you have Aaron Rodgers at thirty four, thirty five, thirty 779 00:42:18,160 --> 00:42:20,960 Speaker 1: six years old making a hundred million dollars, you're in 780 00:42:21,040 --> 00:42:24,520 Speaker 1: win now mode. Now, who would be a who would 781 00:42:24,520 --> 00:42:27,880 Speaker 1: be a head coach that would have experience and also 782 00:42:28,080 --> 00:42:30,960 Speaker 1: is an offensive guy? Like could you get Bruce Arians 783 00:42:30,960 --> 00:42:34,120 Speaker 1: out of retirement? I mean seriously, just for like a 784 00:42:34,160 --> 00:42:36,920 Speaker 1: three year stretch, get Bruce Arians out of retirement and 785 00:42:36,960 --> 00:42:40,439 Speaker 1: try to win a chip. Maybe it could now, maybe 786 00:42:40,440 --> 00:42:43,440 Speaker 1: you couldn't. I I don't know. So I think, you know, 787 00:42:43,640 --> 00:42:47,880 Speaker 1: Lincoln Riley, that would be pretty risky to me. You know, 788 00:42:48,680 --> 00:42:51,360 Speaker 1: I think you would have less risk taking a first 789 00:42:51,360 --> 00:42:55,319 Speaker 1: time coordinator like John d Filippo because he's been in 790 00:42:55,360 --> 00:42:58,640 Speaker 1: the NFL forever. Especially him, he now is locked in 791 00:42:58,680 --> 00:43:01,839 Speaker 1: with the division. You know, he played Minnesota last year 792 00:43:01,880 --> 00:43:05,440 Speaker 1: in the NFC Championship with Philly, and this offseason him 793 00:43:05,440 --> 00:43:08,040 Speaker 1: and Mike or Mike zimmer like sat down and he 794 00:43:08,080 --> 00:43:10,000 Speaker 1: broke down to their defense what they saw on him. 795 00:43:10,400 --> 00:43:14,040 Speaker 1: Then Obviously, when you're the Minnesota offensive coordinator, you're used 796 00:43:14,080 --> 00:43:17,240 Speaker 1: to scheming up against the division. He would he would 797 00:43:17,320 --> 00:43:20,120 Speaker 1: know the rival very well because he practices every day 798 00:43:20,120 --> 00:43:23,200 Speaker 1: against the Minnesota first team defense. I think he would 799 00:43:23,239 --> 00:43:27,400 Speaker 1: be one to get an interview. And I don't know 800 00:43:27,440 --> 00:43:30,040 Speaker 1: who else stayed the interview, Like, who are the the 801 00:43:30,120 --> 00:43:33,440 Speaker 1: Mike McCarthy's, you know, Andy Reid types that are going 802 00:43:33,520 --> 00:43:36,680 Speaker 1: to be on the market this offseason. I don't really 803 00:43:36,680 --> 00:43:40,239 Speaker 1: think there are any, you know. And again, like you'd 804 00:43:40,239 --> 00:43:42,919 Speaker 1: call Bruce Arians, would he be interested in coming out 805 00:43:42,920 --> 00:43:46,319 Speaker 1: of retirement? I doubt it, but I do think he 806 00:43:46,400 --> 00:43:48,680 Speaker 1: might listen. You know, hey, you want to coach, come 807 00:43:48,719 --> 00:43:51,279 Speaker 1: coach with Aaron Rodgers. Now you think that those two 808 00:43:51,320 --> 00:43:54,080 Speaker 1: are butt heads? Oh my god, that that would be incredible. 809 00:43:54,560 --> 00:43:57,720 Speaker 1: You think Bruce Arians would give two ships about Aaron 810 00:43:57,800 --> 00:44:01,560 Speaker 1: Rodgers talking back to him. He would snap on him. 811 00:44:01,640 --> 00:44:04,440 Speaker 1: It might actually be some humble pie for Aaron. Now 812 00:44:04,640 --> 00:44:06,879 Speaker 1: is Aaron listening to anyone at this point in time 813 00:44:06,880 --> 00:44:10,319 Speaker 1: his career? Probably not, But he's got you know, he 814 00:44:10,440 --> 00:44:12,240 Speaker 1: does have a lot on the line, Like, hey, Aaron, 815 00:44:12,760 --> 00:44:15,160 Speaker 1: you know part of your legacy now depends on getting 816 00:44:15,160 --> 00:44:18,000 Speaker 1: back to the super Bowl, win another championship. You're too 817 00:44:18,000 --> 00:44:19,600 Speaker 1: good and it to not be a two time super 818 00:44:19,640 --> 00:44:22,439 Speaker 1: Bowl champ. You know, you shouldn't only have one super 819 00:44:22,480 --> 00:44:26,440 Speaker 1: Bowl in your resume. That's what ultimately Peyton Manning getting 820 00:44:26,440 --> 00:44:27,920 Speaker 1: that second super Bowl was just kind of big for 821 00:44:27,960 --> 00:44:30,600 Speaker 1: his resume. Peyton Manning was too good of a player 822 00:44:30,640 --> 00:44:33,400 Speaker 1: to not have two super Bowls. You know, he deserved 823 00:44:33,440 --> 00:44:36,200 Speaker 1: to have too. It's like Aaron Rodgers deserves to have too, 824 00:44:36,200 --> 00:44:38,520 Speaker 1: but he's got to get it. And right now, I mean, 825 00:44:38,520 --> 00:44:40,520 Speaker 1: they're not even gonna make the playoffs this year. So 826 00:44:40,560 --> 00:44:44,640 Speaker 1: i'd say, John d Filippo or called Bruce arians thanks 827 00:44:44,640 --> 00:44:46,960 Speaker 1: for listening, and again you can slide in my d 828 00:44:47,160 --> 00:44:49,759 Speaker 1: M s at John Middlecoff and I'll answer your questions here. 829 00:44:50,520 --> 00:44:54,279 Speaker 1: Uh see you next Tuesday. I guess after the Monday 830 00:44:54,400 --> 00:44:56,200 Speaker 1: night game. I don't even know what the Monday night game. 831 00:44:56,239 --> 00:45:00,360 Speaker 1: Oh it's Niners Giants puke. So I might actually record 832 00:45:00,400 --> 00:45:03,760 Speaker 1: the podcast before that game. That's terrible, but I will. 833 00:45:04,000 --> 00:45:06,120 Speaker 1: I'll talk to you guys next week. You keep listening 834 00:45:06,160 --> 00:45:09,960 Speaker 1: to the pod, sharing it with your buddies. I appreciate 835 00:45:09,960 --> 00:45:12,160 Speaker 1: all the support. I really do have a good weekend 836 00:45:12,160 --> 00:45:15,680 Speaker 1: and enjoy the games M