1 00:00:11,306 --> 00:00:14,706 Speaker 1: Questions and answers. Yes, it is one of my favorite 2 00:00:14,706 --> 00:00:17,626 Speaker 1: episodes to do. Welcome to the NFL Explained Podcast. Mike 3 00:00:17,666 --> 00:00:21,146 Speaker 1: Yam joined as always by Addi kinkab Wla. How are 4 00:00:21,146 --> 00:00:24,106 Speaker 1: you great? I forgot to put in my regular high 5 00:00:24,186 --> 00:00:26,306 Speaker 1: because I was sort of wrapped up in this idea 6 00:00:26,426 --> 00:00:29,386 Speaker 1: that this is your favorite thing to do. Well, but no, 7 00:00:29,626 --> 00:00:32,386 Speaker 1: it is when we do our mail bag episodes and 8 00:00:32,466 --> 00:00:35,626 Speaker 1: people are engaged in our episodes, and some of our 9 00:00:35,626 --> 00:00:39,106 Speaker 1: previous shows have sparked questions and then they fire them 10 00:00:39,106 --> 00:00:41,466 Speaker 1: off to us on social media. At my underscore m 11 00:00:41,546 --> 00:00:44,106 Speaker 1: at a kinka wallah, Yeah, I get fired up. It's 12 00:00:44,146 --> 00:00:45,866 Speaker 1: you know, it's it's like the connection that we have 13 00:00:45,906 --> 00:00:47,706 Speaker 1: with the audience. So it is one of my favorite things. 14 00:00:47,866 --> 00:00:49,306 Speaker 1: You know. I have to give a little shout out 15 00:00:49,346 --> 00:00:51,946 Speaker 1: since we talk about having conversations. I spoke to a 16 00:00:51,946 --> 00:00:56,306 Speaker 1: young woman named Gabby just yesterday who grew up in Baltimore, 17 00:00:56,466 --> 00:00:59,226 Speaker 1: is a big Ravens fan, is studying abroad in Venice 18 00:00:59,346 --> 00:01:02,106 Speaker 1: right now, and she told me that she loves our 19 00:01:02,186 --> 00:01:05,626 Speaker 1: podcast and that she keeps going back to that field 20 00:01:05,746 --> 00:01:09,066 Speaker 1: whole episode with Justin Tucker, a game that she was 21 00:01:09,106 --> 00:01:13,546 Speaker 1: at the justin Tucker Game that prompted the changing of 22 00:01:13,626 --> 00:01:15,666 Speaker 1: the height of the uprights, and she said she keeps 23 00:01:15,666 --> 00:01:19,306 Speaker 1: mentioning it to be talking about things that she learned 24 00:01:19,306 --> 00:01:21,906 Speaker 1: in that episode, which really just made me feel so 25 00:01:21,946 --> 00:01:24,946 Speaker 1: warm and fuzzy. Yeah, it's amazing. And she's probably listening 26 00:01:25,186 --> 00:01:27,746 Speaker 1: with gelato in one hand or phone and and the 27 00:01:27,746 --> 00:01:30,546 Speaker 1: wireless headphones and the other. So Gabby's love and life. 28 00:01:30,626 --> 00:01:33,506 Speaker 1: Right now, you got the end of explained podcast studying 29 00:01:33,506 --> 00:01:37,346 Speaker 1: abroad in Venice. What could be better than that? Well, 30 00:01:37,666 --> 00:01:40,226 Speaker 1: what could be better than that is giving our listeners 31 00:01:40,306 --> 00:01:44,186 Speaker 1: another grab bag episode. So let's just jump right into it. 32 00:01:44,306 --> 00:01:48,146 Speaker 1: Mike Fines, What can players get fine for? Where does 33 00:01:48,186 --> 00:01:53,226 Speaker 1: that money go? What exactly happens during halftime? What doesn't happen? 34 00:01:53,866 --> 00:01:55,906 Speaker 1: By the way, I did my best to get on 35 00:01:55,946 --> 00:02:00,546 Speaker 1: the halftime field this past Super Bowl. That wasn't so successful, 36 00:02:00,626 --> 00:02:02,706 Speaker 1: but I did get very very close to Snoop Dogg. 37 00:02:02,706 --> 00:02:04,586 Speaker 1: I will say that, and to Dr Dre I'll send 38 00:02:04,586 --> 00:02:10,026 Speaker 1: you pictures later away. So the importance of turnovers, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. 39 00:02:10,026 --> 00:02:12,866 Speaker 1: We're going to get into all of that. The franchise tag, 40 00:02:12,946 --> 00:02:15,786 Speaker 1: we'll get into that too all of it in this episode, 41 00:02:15,866 --> 00:02:18,026 Speaker 1: all right, So there's a lot to unpack here. So 42 00:02:18,066 --> 00:02:20,146 Speaker 1: let's sort of get into a couple of other things 43 00:02:20,146 --> 00:02:21,626 Speaker 1: that we can make reference to. And by the way, 44 00:02:21,666 --> 00:02:24,626 Speaker 1: you just dropped the halftime hanging with Snoop Andre. You 45 00:02:24,706 --> 00:02:28,746 Speaker 1: didn't say hanging with I didn't say better sell, So 46 00:02:28,866 --> 00:02:31,626 Speaker 1: let's just go with that. But because we do have 47 00:02:31,706 --> 00:02:35,186 Speaker 1: a recently new crown champion in the RAMS, would love 48 00:02:35,226 --> 00:02:37,746 Speaker 1: to start with the question of where did the idea 49 00:02:37,826 --> 00:02:42,066 Speaker 1: of Super Bowl rings actually come from? Well, here's the answer. 50 00:02:42,106 --> 00:02:45,066 Speaker 1: The first ever championship ring in pro sports and this 51 00:02:45,146 --> 00:02:48,466 Speaker 1: is not super surprising, and it comes in baseball, uh, 52 00:02:48,546 --> 00:02:52,546 Speaker 1: the New York Baseball Giants in ninety two after beating 53 00:02:52,586 --> 00:02:55,346 Speaker 1: the Yankees in the World Series. The first Super Bowl 54 00:02:55,426 --> 00:02:58,546 Speaker 1: ring was given to the Packers after defeating the Chiefs 55 00:02:58,546 --> 00:03:01,586 Speaker 1: in Super Bowl One. It actually featured just one single 56 00:03:01,866 --> 00:03:04,746 Speaker 1: carrot diamond, which you know, I mean, now I get 57 00:03:04,826 --> 00:03:07,026 Speaker 1: like the blame and it's like kind of crazy in 58 00:03:07,066 --> 00:03:08,986 Speaker 1: the whole I know, you got some bling on your hand, 59 00:03:09,026 --> 00:03:11,346 Speaker 1: what you're you're flashing right now? So well, what's really 60 00:03:11,346 --> 00:03:14,146 Speaker 1: interesting about this is our colleague Mike Robinson. I met 61 00:03:14,186 --> 00:03:18,146 Speaker 1: him at a rookie symposium years ago, and he had 62 00:03:18,186 --> 00:03:22,106 Speaker 1: his super Bowl ring, and this was prior to my 63 00:03:22,226 --> 00:03:27,226 Speaker 1: husband actually proposing to me. And I took a picture 64 00:03:27,226 --> 00:03:29,426 Speaker 1: of that big fat super Bowl ring and I sent 65 00:03:29,506 --> 00:03:35,306 Speaker 1: it to my husband and said inspiration. And while I 66 00:03:35,346 --> 00:03:38,386 Speaker 1: do have a very nice engagement ring, it is nowhere 67 00:03:38,506 --> 00:03:40,826 Speaker 1: near what super Bowl rings are today. No, I mean 68 00:03:40,826 --> 00:03:42,906 Speaker 1: they are no joke, but at least the one from 69 00:03:42,946 --> 00:03:46,666 Speaker 1: super Bowl number one. Uh look one carrot diamond, but 70 00:03:46,706 --> 00:03:50,506 Speaker 1: the ring itself usually there there rose or yellow gold. 71 00:03:50,746 --> 00:03:53,226 Speaker 1: I couldn't tell you the difference between either one of those. 72 00:03:53,266 --> 00:03:55,506 Speaker 1: They can include diamonds, although to be fair, I don't 73 00:03:55,506 --> 00:03:58,066 Speaker 1: know if I've ever seen a championship ring at a 74 00:03:58,106 --> 00:04:02,946 Speaker 1: pro level that hasn't included diamonds, um emeralds, ruby, sapphires. 75 00:04:02,946 --> 00:04:05,866 Speaker 1: Oh my, that's a pretty significant list. It'll include of 76 00:04:05,866 --> 00:04:08,506 Speaker 1: course the team, the name, the number, and of course 77 00:04:08,506 --> 00:04:12,586 Speaker 1: world champions on it. The Collective Bargaining Agreement actually outlines 78 00:04:12,706 --> 00:04:16,226 Speaker 1: that are practice squad slash inactive player for super Bowl 79 00:04:16,266 --> 00:04:19,426 Speaker 1: winning team is entitled to a ring, and most teams 80 00:04:19,466 --> 00:04:24,346 Speaker 1: actually give rings to coaches, administration, surrounding organizational staff as 81 00:04:24,386 --> 00:04:27,106 Speaker 1: sort of like honorary rings. And I got a really 82 00:04:27,146 --> 00:04:29,106 Speaker 1: good example for you. Add So, one of my best 83 00:04:29,106 --> 00:04:32,386 Speaker 1: friends is the play by playvoice for the Rams in JB. Long, 84 00:04:32,746 --> 00:04:34,466 Speaker 1: and I had asked him before the Super Bowl. I 85 00:04:34,506 --> 00:04:35,826 Speaker 1: was like, Yo, man, are you gonna get a Super 86 00:04:35,826 --> 00:04:38,546 Speaker 1: Bowl ring if they win? He said, I think so. 87 00:04:38,546 --> 00:04:41,666 Speaker 1: So it's just another cool example of really what it 88 00:04:41,706 --> 00:04:43,586 Speaker 1: could be. And you know what, Mike, some of those 89 00:04:43,586 --> 00:04:46,786 Speaker 1: stories are my favorite stories go back to two thousand seventeen, 90 00:04:46,786 --> 00:04:50,226 Speaker 1: when the Eagles won the Super Bowl. Owner Jeffrey Lurie 91 00:04:50,266 --> 00:04:53,706 Speaker 1: actually gave John dorm Boss, who had been there long 92 00:04:53,786 --> 00:04:56,426 Speaker 1: snapper for eleven years, had been one of the most 93 00:04:56,506 --> 00:04:59,146 Speaker 1: popular guys in that locker room, but had been traded 94 00:04:59,386 --> 00:05:02,586 Speaker 1: just before the season. He gave him a ring. He 95 00:05:02,746 --> 00:05:06,226 Speaker 1: also gave a ring to a secretary that had been 96 00:05:06,266 --> 00:05:10,746 Speaker 1: with the team from nineteen until two thousand fourteen, when 97 00:05:10,826 --> 00:05:14,066 Speaker 1: then head coach Chip Kelly had fired her. Colts owner 98 00:05:14,146 --> 00:05:16,946 Speaker 1: Jim Ersey. He gave Edgar and James a ring after 99 00:05:16,946 --> 00:05:18,866 Speaker 1: winning the Super Bowl in two thousand six, and that 100 00:05:18,986 --> 00:05:22,306 Speaker 1: was right after Edgar and James had left in free agency. 101 00:05:22,506 --> 00:05:25,986 Speaker 1: And then you talk about giving extra rings or honorary rings, 102 00:05:26,066 --> 00:05:30,346 Speaker 1: or pendants after winning Super Bowl fifty four? Quiz time, 103 00:05:32,506 --> 00:05:38,946 Speaker 1: how many rings do you think the Chiefs gave out players, coaches, staff, ambassadors, cheerleaders. 104 00:05:40,346 --> 00:05:41,946 Speaker 1: I don't know. I mean, I feel like just knowing 105 00:05:41,946 --> 00:05:45,306 Speaker 1: in this administration, players practice, squad players, you're probably hovering 106 00:05:45,346 --> 00:05:53,346 Speaker 1: around to Andrea just in general, maybe try seven hundred 107 00:05:54,546 --> 00:05:58,866 Speaker 1: seven hundred. You're ordering those like right after the game, 108 00:05:58,906 --> 00:06:01,226 Speaker 1: the eu fouria is still there as opposed to you know, 109 00:06:01,386 --> 00:06:03,586 Speaker 1: weeks after where maybe that dies down just a bit 110 00:06:03,626 --> 00:06:05,666 Speaker 1: and you start thinking about what that's going to go 111 00:06:05,746 --> 00:06:07,586 Speaker 1: and cost you. Right, maybe you shouldn't be making that 112 00:06:07,626 --> 00:06:10,186 Speaker 1: decision right then. Okay, but so we do know who 113 00:06:10,266 --> 00:06:15,546 Speaker 1: has the most rings in history? Correct? Yeah, it's the goat. 114 00:06:15,866 --> 00:06:18,946 Speaker 1: Come on, Tom Brady. We've all seen that picture, right, Yeah. 115 00:06:19,266 --> 00:06:21,546 Speaker 1: I can't believe he retired with three fingers left. You know. 116 00:06:21,586 --> 00:06:24,026 Speaker 1: And it's interesting because actually about a year and a 117 00:06:24,026 --> 00:06:27,306 Speaker 1: half ago, actually hosted a seminar with Charles Haley and 118 00:06:27,386 --> 00:06:30,986 Speaker 1: Ronnie Lott about mental health awareness. And I didn't realize 119 00:06:30,986 --> 00:06:33,746 Speaker 1: that Charles Haley, like, you know, I sort of he 120 00:06:33,826 --> 00:06:37,226 Speaker 1: was getting bios and whatnot. He's actually the second most 121 00:06:37,386 --> 00:06:39,946 Speaker 1: amount of rings that he has one hand five, which 122 00:06:39,986 --> 00:06:41,986 Speaker 1: is kind of cool when you think about the success 123 00:06:41,986 --> 00:06:44,626 Speaker 1: he had with the Niners and the Cowboys. By the way. 124 00:06:44,706 --> 00:06:46,146 Speaker 1: The other thing to kind of throw out there on 125 00:06:46,186 --> 00:06:48,826 Speaker 1: the expense of some of those rings, and you mentioned 126 00:06:48,826 --> 00:06:51,346 Speaker 1: the Chiefs dropping seven hundred of them. Now not all 127 00:06:51,386 --> 00:06:55,026 Speaker 1: of them are, you know, fully outfitted with like a 128 00:06:55,066 --> 00:06:58,186 Speaker 1: crazy amount of diamonds. But the last ring that Brady 129 00:06:58,226 --> 00:07:01,666 Speaker 1: got with the Bucks fifteen carrots of diamonds a total 130 00:07:01,666 --> 00:07:05,386 Speaker 1: of three hundred and nineteen to signify the thirty one 131 00:07:05,426 --> 00:07:09,306 Speaker 1: to final score. The value around six d k. It's 132 00:07:09,346 --> 00:07:13,346 Speaker 1: the most expensive ring in league history by a very 133 00:07:13,546 --> 00:07:16,506 Speaker 1: wide margin. The NFL, by the way, does contribute around 134 00:07:16,546 --> 00:07:19,386 Speaker 1: five to seven thousand dollars on each ring. That softened 135 00:07:19,426 --> 00:07:21,226 Speaker 1: that blow a little bit of d I can tell 136 00:07:21,226 --> 00:07:24,386 Speaker 1: you this. My engagement ring was not sixty dollars. But Mike, 137 00:07:24,426 --> 00:07:26,706 Speaker 1: if you're going to be dropping that one day, well, 138 00:07:26,946 --> 00:07:28,986 Speaker 1: you know, lucky lady me and you were gonna be 139 00:07:28,986 --> 00:07:30,466 Speaker 1: doing a whole lot of podcasts for me to be 140 00:07:30,506 --> 00:07:34,146 Speaker 1: able to afward six k on an engagement ring. All right, Well, 141 00:07:34,226 --> 00:07:37,466 Speaker 1: let's keep talking about money, and let's talk about contributions, 142 00:07:37,506 --> 00:07:39,866 Speaker 1: and hey, we had another great question from one of 143 00:07:39,906 --> 00:07:43,466 Speaker 1: our listeners at iron Will on Twitter and to Will 144 00:07:43,546 --> 00:07:48,146 Speaker 1: asks us, where does all the money that is collected 145 00:07:48,466 --> 00:07:51,866 Speaker 1: from the various fines that the NFL hands out go? Well, 146 00:07:51,946 --> 00:07:54,826 Speaker 1: it's a great question. The first place we should start 147 00:07:54,986 --> 00:07:58,746 Speaker 1: is how players actually get fined. Now, there are indeed 148 00:07:58,946 --> 00:08:01,826 Speaker 1: maximum allowable fines that are laid out in the c 149 00:08:01,946 --> 00:08:05,106 Speaker 1: b A. For instance, if you don't promptly report an injury, 150 00:08:05,346 --> 00:08:07,426 Speaker 1: the most you can be fined is two thousand, eight 151 00:08:07,466 --> 00:08:10,346 Speaker 1: hundred and twenty seven dollars. If you throw a football 152 00:08:10,426 --> 00:08:13,146 Speaker 1: into the stands, the most you can be fined is 153 00:08:13,186 --> 00:08:15,906 Speaker 1: two thousand, eight hundred and twenty seven dollars. Do you 154 00:08:15,986 --> 00:08:19,866 Speaker 1: know if you are overweight? Mike, and thank goodness, I 155 00:08:19,946 --> 00:08:23,106 Speaker 1: am not fine for this, But if you are overweight, 156 00:08:23,786 --> 00:08:27,146 Speaker 1: how much can you be fined per pound per day? 157 00:08:27,746 --> 00:08:31,746 Speaker 1: Seven hundred and fifty two dollars. How could it be 158 00:08:31,866 --> 00:08:35,306 Speaker 1: that much? Well, that's what it is, seven hundred and 159 00:08:35,346 --> 00:08:40,506 Speaker 1: fifty two dollars for a pound per day TB twelve. 160 00:08:40,666 --> 00:08:42,586 Speaker 1: Here we go. I mean I'd bay go ahead and 161 00:08:42,666 --> 00:08:45,466 Speaker 1: multiply five times seven hundred and fifty two, like I'd 162 00:08:45,506 --> 00:08:48,826 Speaker 1: be out my whole salary right now, or maybe it 163 00:08:48,826 --> 00:08:52,546 Speaker 1: would prompt me to get back into shape. Anyway, failure 164 00:08:52,586 --> 00:08:56,346 Speaker 1: to report to a mandatory offseason minicamp the first day 165 00:08:56,546 --> 00:08:59,506 Speaker 1: you're out nearly sixteen thousand dollars, the second day you're 166 00:08:59,546 --> 00:09:02,386 Speaker 1: out thirty one thousand, nine hundred and sixty one dollars, 167 00:09:02,426 --> 00:09:05,386 Speaker 1: and the third day you can be fined forty seven 168 00:09:05,426 --> 00:09:09,066 Speaker 1: thousand in nine hundred and thirty six dollars. Now, if 169 00:09:09,106 --> 00:09:14,426 Speaker 1: you have an unexcused miss on a team transportation fifteen 170 00:09:14,506 --> 00:09:17,826 Speaker 1: thousand and ninety dollars, which I have a story about that. 171 00:09:17,906 --> 00:09:21,186 Speaker 1: Once the Steelers were flying to Oakland and uh, I 172 00:09:21,226 --> 00:09:23,226 Speaker 1: think the Raiders were in Oakland at the time. Yes, 173 00:09:23,266 --> 00:09:26,786 Speaker 1: the Steelers were flying and Antonio Brown was late and 174 00:09:26,866 --> 00:09:29,786 Speaker 1: Mike Tomlin held the plane until Antonio Brown showed up, 175 00:09:29,866 --> 00:09:32,626 Speaker 1: Which means that maybe Antonio Brown, ohs Mike Tomlin part 176 00:09:32,706 --> 00:09:36,306 Speaker 1: of that fifteen thousand, ninety dollars that he would have 177 00:09:36,346 --> 00:09:39,626 Speaker 1: been fined potentially for missing the flight plus the cost 178 00:09:39,666 --> 00:09:42,266 Speaker 1: of airfare to get across the country. Here's what's crazy. 179 00:09:42,506 --> 00:09:46,026 Speaker 1: If you lose personal playbook, if you lose part of 180 00:09:46,026 --> 00:09:50,866 Speaker 1: a playbook or a scouting report, it's the same fifteen thousand, 181 00:09:51,066 --> 00:09:53,346 Speaker 1: ninety dollars. I would think that that would be a 182 00:09:53,426 --> 00:09:56,626 Speaker 1: much bigger fine, don't you think? Agreed? But I'm having 183 00:09:56,666 --> 00:09:59,826 Speaker 1: flashbacks to elementary school, like you lose your homework one 184 00:09:59,866 --> 00:10:02,946 Speaker 1: of those moments and then just fast forward just a significance, 185 00:10:03,066 --> 00:10:05,546 Speaker 1: like you know, the teacher now has a talking point 186 00:10:05,826 --> 00:10:08,266 Speaker 1: some of their students. You know, in the NFL, you 187 00:10:08,386 --> 00:10:11,906 Speaker 1: lose your playbook or your scant report cost k don't 188 00:10:11,946 --> 00:10:13,746 Speaker 1: lose your homework. Well, it could also cost your team 189 00:10:13,786 --> 00:10:16,826 Speaker 1: the game, though, depending on whose hands that playbook falls into. 190 00:10:17,986 --> 00:10:21,186 Speaker 1: All right, what about fighting? First offense for fighting thirty 191 00:10:21,226 --> 00:10:25,186 Speaker 1: five thousand and ninety six dollars, a second offense seventy thousand, 192 00:10:25,466 --> 00:10:29,306 Speaker 1: hundred and ninety four dollars. If you have a foreign 193 00:10:29,386 --> 00:10:31,946 Speaker 1: substance on your body, like it's cold and you put 194 00:10:31,946 --> 00:10:35,346 Speaker 1: too much vaseline on your arms to keep them warm, 195 00:10:35,346 --> 00:10:38,386 Speaker 1: and it bleeds onto your uniform and it makes you slippery, well, 196 00:10:38,506 --> 00:10:41,026 Speaker 1: that could be five thousand dollars for a first offense. 197 00:10:41,506 --> 00:10:44,906 Speaker 1: You know, penalties are also subject to find Mike, a 198 00:10:44,946 --> 00:10:47,826 Speaker 1: fifteen yard fould like a face mask, a blind side block, 199 00:10:47,946 --> 00:10:50,946 Speaker 1: a roughing the past or a horse collar, all of 200 00:10:50,986 --> 00:10:53,386 Speaker 1: those can get you a find somewhere in between ten 201 00:10:53,586 --> 00:10:57,146 Speaker 1: and twenty thousand dollars. And then, of course, you know 202 00:10:57,346 --> 00:11:00,866 Speaker 1: there are uniform inspectors, So on game day there's as 203 00:11:00,866 --> 00:11:04,186 Speaker 1: many a sixty four uniform inspectors who make sure that 204 00:11:04,266 --> 00:11:07,506 Speaker 1: everybody's looking clean. You know, the socks must be the 205 00:11:07,626 --> 00:11:09,826 Speaker 1: right color, and they have to be pulled up to 206 00:11:09,866 --> 00:11:14,266 Speaker 1: the right spot, and gosh, all of that. You have 207 00:11:14,346 --> 00:11:17,546 Speaker 1: to be proper in what you're doing. Some of the 208 00:11:17,626 --> 00:11:21,386 Speaker 1: players really are not huge fans of that, and some 209 00:11:21,466 --> 00:11:23,026 Speaker 1: that I know that we're just willing to just kind 210 00:11:23,026 --> 00:11:24,466 Speaker 1: of pay the fine and just say screw it, I'm 211 00:11:24,466 --> 00:11:28,146 Speaker 1: gonna do what I want anyway. Um, it does total 212 00:11:28,386 --> 00:11:30,146 Speaker 1: a whole lot of cash. Though. It's actually really good 213 00:11:30,226 --> 00:11:33,266 Speaker 1: question indeed that iron Will had sent our way, because 214 00:11:33,266 --> 00:11:36,826 Speaker 1: I'm thinking to myself, like, those are large numbers and penalties. 215 00:11:36,866 --> 00:11:39,786 Speaker 1: Where does the money go. Well, Mike, let's look at one. 216 00:11:39,866 --> 00:11:43,066 Speaker 1: Players were find a total of one hundred and sixty 217 00:11:43,146 --> 00:11:47,746 Speaker 1: three times for seven million dollars according to spot track. 218 00:11:48,106 --> 00:11:51,266 Speaker 1: And so, to go back to iron Will's original question, 219 00:11:52,026 --> 00:11:55,306 Speaker 1: all of that money goes to the NFL Foundation, and 220 00:11:55,386 --> 00:11:59,986 Speaker 1: it's used to assist former players and various programs that 221 00:12:00,066 --> 00:12:03,306 Speaker 1: help former players. These are programs that are agreed upon 222 00:12:03,386 --> 00:12:06,226 Speaker 1: by both the NFL and the nfl p A union, 223 00:12:06,786 --> 00:12:09,786 Speaker 1: And obviously last year was a big year for fines, 224 00:12:09,906 --> 00:12:12,666 Speaker 1: but in general, the league has been able to give 225 00:12:12,706 --> 00:12:16,346 Speaker 1: about four million dollars a year to these programs. So 226 00:12:16,466 --> 00:12:20,546 Speaker 1: while that fine for an untucked jersey could be really annoying, 227 00:12:20,666 --> 00:12:22,386 Speaker 1: at least you know that your money is going to 228 00:12:22,466 --> 00:12:25,266 Speaker 1: a very good cause. Yeah no, I mean it's definitely 229 00:12:25,306 --> 00:12:27,906 Speaker 1: it's a really worthy cause in a big way. Alright. 230 00:12:27,906 --> 00:12:32,226 Speaker 1: A couple more questions to get to here. One regarding turnovers. 231 00:12:32,346 --> 00:12:35,026 Speaker 1: You know there's that theme. My god, I feel like 232 00:12:35,066 --> 00:12:36,906 Speaker 1: it's literally every time I watch a game, and it 233 00:12:36,946 --> 00:12:39,146 Speaker 1: doesn't even have to be an NFL game, every single 234 00:12:39,146 --> 00:12:41,866 Speaker 1: sport where turnoversus an issue. You got to win the 235 00:12:41,866 --> 00:12:45,826 Speaker 1: turnover battle keys to the game. How true is that 236 00:12:46,226 --> 00:12:49,186 Speaker 1: is the question. Well, it turns out it's actually really true. 237 00:12:49,266 --> 00:12:51,626 Speaker 1: So there's a reason why everyone seems to say it. 238 00:12:51,706 --> 00:12:55,146 Speaker 1: Since two thousand teams with a positive turnover margin win 239 00:12:55,266 --> 00:12:58,346 Speaker 1: games at a rate of seventy nine percent over that 240 00:12:58,466 --> 00:13:00,786 Speaker 1: same span, Since two thousand teams that have a turnover 241 00:13:00,826 --> 00:13:05,906 Speaker 1: margin of plus one percent winning percentage a plus two, 242 00:13:05,946 --> 00:13:10,186 Speaker 1: it knocks up to eight three a plus three turnover margin. 243 00:13:11,026 --> 00:13:13,266 Speaker 1: And if you are plus four or better, oh my god, 244 00:13:13,306 --> 00:13:17,306 Speaker 1: it's like guaranteed victory. Ninety six point six percent is 245 00:13:17,346 --> 00:13:20,266 Speaker 1: that win percentage. So when you consider that teams have 246 00:13:20,506 --> 00:13:22,666 Speaker 1: about ten possessions are so a game it makes a 247 00:13:22,706 --> 00:13:26,506 Speaker 1: whole lot of sense. Every single play matters in such 248 00:13:26,586 --> 00:13:28,946 Speaker 1: a big way and indiity as far as success for 249 00:13:29,026 --> 00:13:31,626 Speaker 1: teams during the season and reaching that Super Bowl, only 250 00:13:31,746 --> 00:13:35,346 Speaker 1: four Super Bowl winners have ever had a negative turnover 251 00:13:35,426 --> 00:13:39,826 Speaker 1: margin in the regular season the Oh seven Giants negative nine, three, 252 00:13:39,866 --> 00:13:45,186 Speaker 1: Raiders negative four, Broncos negative for the Raiders at negative two. 253 00:13:45,186 --> 00:13:48,426 Speaker 1: And how about this the Rams in one coming off 254 00:13:48,426 --> 00:13:51,186 Speaker 1: that Super Bowl against the Bengals. A little doughnut there, 255 00:13:51,226 --> 00:13:53,826 Speaker 1: the Rams somehow wanted all this past season with a 256 00:13:53,946 --> 00:13:58,586 Speaker 1: differential of zero. So once again, um, you know, on 257 00:13:58,626 --> 00:14:00,626 Speaker 1: the flip side, if you're thinking, like, what about teams 258 00:14:00,626 --> 00:14:03,866 Speaker 1: with the highest turnover margin? The Ravens plus twenty three 259 00:14:03,946 --> 00:14:05,906 Speaker 1: arguably the best defense of all time. But be I 260 00:14:05,986 --> 00:14:07,906 Speaker 1: know you've got an up closer personal seat for that 261 00:14:07,946 --> 00:14:11,426 Speaker 1: squad and the Legion of Boom the Seahawks a plus 262 00:14:11,546 --> 00:14:14,266 Speaker 1: twenty differential for them. What are you talking about in 263 00:14:14,306 --> 00:14:16,266 Speaker 1: two thousand, I was just a kid. I wasn't covering 264 00:14:16,266 --> 00:14:21,226 Speaker 1: the NFL. End. I'm with you, Mike, that was a 265 00:14:21,226 --> 00:14:29,146 Speaker 1: little rid moving right along. If your team is struggling, 266 00:14:29,826 --> 00:14:32,026 Speaker 1: like Mike, yeah, I'm uppears to be struggling right now, 267 00:14:32,226 --> 00:14:36,266 Speaker 1: whether it's turnovers or you know, schematically, it's important to 268 00:14:36,386 --> 00:14:38,986 Speaker 1: get into the locker room at halftime, right. So a 269 00:14:39,066 --> 00:14:40,906 Speaker 1: question that we've had a few times from a few 270 00:14:40,906 --> 00:14:46,106 Speaker 1: different people is what exactly happens at halftime? Alright, So 271 00:14:46,146 --> 00:14:49,586 Speaker 1: in a regular game, NFL halftime is only thirteen minutes 272 00:14:49,626 --> 00:14:54,506 Speaker 1: for the players, and that's shorter than all other levels 273 00:14:54,546 --> 00:14:57,546 Speaker 1: of football. It's time by the back jugged, and teams 274 00:14:57,586 --> 00:15:01,506 Speaker 1: are not required to go back to the locker room. 275 00:15:01,626 --> 00:15:05,226 Speaker 1: But it certainly makes sense, and especially considering that poor 276 00:15:05,306 --> 00:15:07,466 Speaker 1: Evan mc fierce and the Rickey Kier for the Bengals 277 00:15:07,466 --> 00:15:09,906 Speaker 1: who decided to hang out with long snapper and Clark 278 00:15:09,946 --> 00:15:12,946 Speaker 1: Harrison watched the Jerry Snoop halftime show this year at 279 00:15:12,986 --> 00:15:18,306 Speaker 1: the Super Bowl. Um, we get that it's probably safer 280 00:15:18,466 --> 00:15:21,666 Speaker 1: to just get out of sight. Although I should mention 281 00:15:21,746 --> 00:15:23,906 Speaker 1: that the Super Bowl halftime is indeed longer than a 282 00:15:23,946 --> 00:15:27,826 Speaker 1: regular season game halftime. In any case, what happens at 283 00:15:27,826 --> 00:15:32,746 Speaker 1: halftime varies based on the team. So now you've certainly 284 00:15:32,786 --> 00:15:36,906 Speaker 1: had coaches who say that, you know, there's just not 285 00:15:37,186 --> 00:15:40,106 Speaker 1: enough time to get into any sort of really detailed 286 00:15:40,146 --> 00:15:44,186 Speaker 1: chalk talk. Sean Payton once talked about this, that halftime 287 00:15:44,266 --> 00:15:46,906 Speaker 1: is really only about seven and a half minutes. By 288 00:15:46,906 --> 00:15:49,906 Speaker 1: the time you all run off the field, get in 289 00:15:49,946 --> 00:15:53,146 Speaker 1: the locker room, get a drink, eat a peanut butter 290 00:15:53,186 --> 00:15:56,586 Speaker 1: and jelly sandwich. Which remember when we did our episode 291 00:15:56,626 --> 00:15:58,906 Speaker 1: on eating, if you eat a peanut butter and jelly 292 00:15:58,906 --> 00:16:00,786 Speaker 1: sandwich at halftime, you should eat it on white bread, 293 00:16:00,826 --> 00:16:02,946 Speaker 1: not we bread, because you don't want too much fiber. 294 00:16:02,986 --> 00:16:05,026 Speaker 1: As you go out in the second half, go back 295 00:16:05,026 --> 00:16:08,146 Speaker 1: and check out that. So lots of interesting nuggets un eating. 296 00:16:08,306 --> 00:16:10,266 Speaker 1: But anyway, by the time you get something to drink, 297 00:16:10,306 --> 00:16:12,746 Speaker 1: by the time you eat something, you go to the bathroom. 298 00:16:13,266 --> 00:16:16,826 Speaker 1: The coaches talks amongst themselves there's really just not that 299 00:16:16,906 --> 00:16:20,386 Speaker 1: much time to get into any sort of deep dive 300 00:16:20,506 --> 00:16:23,546 Speaker 1: on anything. And so Sean Payton, going back the former 301 00:16:23,586 --> 00:16:26,946 Speaker 1: Saints coach, said maybe you can talk about a couple 302 00:16:26,906 --> 00:16:31,986 Speaker 1: of important things, but really probably not. And Matt Burke, 303 00:16:32,026 --> 00:16:34,066 Speaker 1: who was a center for a long time with the 304 00:16:34,186 --> 00:16:37,106 Speaker 1: Vikings and also played with the Ravens too, right, and 305 00:16:37,226 --> 00:16:39,826 Speaker 1: you play with the Ravens too, Yes, okay, well he 306 00:16:39,906 --> 00:16:42,186 Speaker 1: was a Viking center for a very long time. Harvard Man. 307 00:16:42,626 --> 00:16:45,706 Speaker 1: He said the same exact thing that, like, you know, 308 00:16:45,786 --> 00:16:48,346 Speaker 1: the coaches have a meeting, they come out and they 309 00:16:48,506 --> 00:16:51,146 Speaker 1: very quickly say to players, Okay, guys, here's what we like. 310 00:16:51,306 --> 00:16:54,506 Speaker 1: It's not like it's super specific that these are the 311 00:16:54,546 --> 00:16:57,226 Speaker 1: three plays that are going to win the game, and 312 00:16:57,946 --> 00:17:02,386 Speaker 1: you're gone, there you go. And another thing, they'll insist 313 00:17:02,426 --> 00:17:05,946 Speaker 1: that like that whole glorified in the movies and TV, 314 00:17:06,106 --> 00:17:10,346 Speaker 1: that impassion a halftime speech that changes everything, that that 315 00:17:10,466 --> 00:17:14,506 Speaker 1: doesn't really happen. And another one of our former colleagues, 316 00:17:14,546 --> 00:17:17,786 Speaker 1: Brian Billick, who of course won that two thousand Raven 317 00:17:17,866 --> 00:17:20,666 Speaker 1: Super Bowl when I was, you know, just a small 318 00:17:20,746 --> 00:17:24,506 Speaker 1: child in elementary school. Brian Billick said, in all my 319 00:17:24,626 --> 00:17:27,546 Speaker 1: years in the NFL, I can't think of a single 320 00:17:28,266 --> 00:17:31,466 Speaker 1: let's go win one for the Gipper halftime speech. Kind 321 00:17:31,466 --> 00:17:33,746 Speaker 1: of disappointing. But now I will say this in my 322 00:17:33,826 --> 00:17:36,746 Speaker 1: experience this past season, as you know, Mike, I spent 323 00:17:36,906 --> 00:17:40,586 Speaker 1: so much time with the Cincinnati Bengals, and the one 324 00:17:40,666 --> 00:17:43,706 Speaker 1: thing about the Bengals this year is that they were tremendous, 325 00:17:43,906 --> 00:17:48,026 Speaker 1: especially on defense, in making adjustments. And I'm thinking of 326 00:17:48,386 --> 00:17:52,026 Speaker 1: two games against the Kansas City Chiefs, one in December 327 00:17:52,186 --> 00:17:55,426 Speaker 1: and then one again in the a f C title game, 328 00:17:56,066 --> 00:17:59,306 Speaker 1: And after the Chiefs kind of ran all over and 329 00:17:59,706 --> 00:18:02,146 Speaker 1: ran up the score on the Bengals in the first half, 330 00:18:02,426 --> 00:18:06,026 Speaker 1: the Bengals both times came out and essentially shut down 331 00:18:06,066 --> 00:18:08,786 Speaker 1: the Chiefs in the second half. And that was indeed 332 00:18:08,826 --> 00:18:11,946 Speaker 1: because of some adjustments that were made at halftime and 333 00:18:11,986 --> 00:18:14,506 Speaker 1: on the fly. But I will say this, this was 334 00:18:14,586 --> 00:18:19,986 Speaker 1: possible because it was a very very smart and heady 335 00:18:20,106 --> 00:18:23,866 Speaker 1: and overly communicative defense. I would not say that that's 336 00:18:23,906 --> 00:18:27,746 Speaker 1: the norm. Yeah, I'm disappointed that the fired up raw 337 00:18:27,906 --> 00:18:32,346 Speaker 1: Ra halftime is also not the norm, especially because of 338 00:18:32,386 --> 00:18:34,226 Speaker 1: all the movies that we've seen, and you know the 339 00:18:34,266 --> 00:18:36,946 Speaker 1: inspiration where they throw the cool music bed under the 340 00:18:37,026 --> 00:18:40,666 Speaker 1: under the voice who would be one head coach that 341 00:18:40,746 --> 00:18:42,946 Speaker 1: You're just like, Okay, this guy could talk and I'd 342 00:18:43,026 --> 00:18:45,946 Speaker 1: run through a wall for him. Oh, you know it's 343 00:18:46,026 --> 00:18:48,346 Speaker 1: that's actually a great question. Let me just rack my brain. 344 00:18:48,386 --> 00:18:50,906 Speaker 1: There's one coach in particular who I've always thought very 345 00:18:50,986 --> 00:18:53,226 Speaker 1: highly of, both on the pro side and the college side. 346 00:18:53,226 --> 00:18:55,786 Speaker 1: But it's been so long since he's coached in the NFL. 347 00:18:56,266 --> 00:18:58,706 Speaker 1: But when I was still in college at the time, 348 00:18:58,746 --> 00:19:00,026 Speaker 1: he was the head coach of the Jets, and now 349 00:19:00,026 --> 00:19:01,746 Speaker 1: he's at Arizona State, and then I got to work 350 00:19:01,746 --> 00:19:04,986 Speaker 1: with her Edwards at ESPN Herms. One of those like 351 00:19:04,986 --> 00:19:07,026 Speaker 1: I think it depends on how you talk to people. 352 00:19:07,146 --> 00:19:09,026 Speaker 1: I don't. I'm not the person who needs like the 353 00:19:09,146 --> 00:19:11,506 Speaker 1: raw raw like get in your face and everyone's screaming. 354 00:19:11,946 --> 00:19:14,226 Speaker 1: That's not how I roll. I'm more of like the 355 00:19:14,226 --> 00:19:16,746 Speaker 1: the easy like can you inspire me with your words? 356 00:19:16,946 --> 00:19:19,066 Speaker 1: And that would be enough for me. You've been around 357 00:19:19,106 --> 00:19:21,066 Speaker 1: a ton of coaches, you must have one in mind 358 00:19:21,186 --> 00:19:22,986 Speaker 1: that you would run through a wall for. I'd like 359 00:19:23,026 --> 00:19:25,546 Speaker 1: to play for John Harbaugh. Okay, yeah, that's a good one. 360 00:19:25,626 --> 00:19:27,466 Speaker 1: But that's a whole other episode, so we could get 361 00:19:27,506 --> 00:19:30,186 Speaker 1: into that one another time. Okay, well, look, that'll be 362 00:19:30,466 --> 00:19:34,106 Speaker 1: my question that I'll tweet you for our next episode. 363 00:19:34,106 --> 00:19:37,226 Speaker 1: But there's more, Yeah, there's more. Questions that people are 364 00:19:37,226 --> 00:19:40,466 Speaker 1: firing off to us, including one that we actually just 365 00:19:40,506 --> 00:19:43,786 Speaker 1: got recently as in like morning of our record about 366 00:19:43,826 --> 00:19:46,346 Speaker 1: the franchise tech, what exactly is it and how does 367 00:19:46,386 --> 00:19:48,426 Speaker 1: it work? Not to mention, we're gonna find out about 368 00:19:48,426 --> 00:19:51,026 Speaker 1: the shape and the materials that has changed throughout the 369 00:19:51,106 --> 00:19:55,026 Speaker 1: years with regard to the actual football and also what's 370 00:19:55,066 --> 00:19:57,586 Speaker 1: officially the biggest upset in league history. All of that 371 00:19:57,746 --> 00:20:10,146 Speaker 1: still become on the NFL Explained Podcast. Welcome back to 372 00:20:10,186 --> 00:20:12,706 Speaker 1: the NFL Explained Podcast. Mike Yam and d D Kinka 373 00:20:12,706 --> 00:20:15,626 Speaker 1: Wallah with you. We are continuing to steam roll our 374 00:20:15,826 --> 00:20:18,706 Speaker 1: mail bag episode. We loved getting the questions throughout the 375 00:20:18,706 --> 00:20:20,546 Speaker 1: course of the season. You can find us on social 376 00:20:20,546 --> 00:20:24,146 Speaker 1: media at Mike Underscore Yam at a kin kabwala a d. 377 00:20:24,346 --> 00:20:27,386 Speaker 1: Let's get right back to this one. An incredible year 378 00:20:27,466 --> 00:20:29,866 Speaker 1: for football for so many different reasons. Probably the most 379 00:20:29,906 --> 00:20:32,586 Speaker 1: exciting playoffs of all time, and there was a lot 380 00:20:32,586 --> 00:20:35,346 Speaker 1: of parody, the road teams winning nearly fifty percent in 381 00:20:35,426 --> 00:20:38,466 Speaker 1: the games, that's the highest percentage since two thousand two, 382 00:20:38,506 --> 00:20:41,026 Speaker 1: and there were a couple of massive upsets. In fact, 383 00:20:41,466 --> 00:20:44,266 Speaker 1: the Jack's pulled off two of the top ten upsets 384 00:20:44,826 --> 00:20:49,226 Speaker 1: since Jacksonville. They beat Buffalo in Week nine, nine six, 385 00:20:49,506 --> 00:20:52,986 Speaker 1: real barn Burners. There was the sixteen Yeah, it's that's 386 00:20:52,986 --> 00:20:55,546 Speaker 1: a career. That's probably the better way of describing it. Uh. 387 00:20:55,666 --> 00:20:57,906 Speaker 1: The then not to mention the nine six game. They 388 00:20:57,906 --> 00:21:01,506 Speaker 1: were actually sixteen point underdogs in that one. Then they 389 00:21:01,506 --> 00:21:05,226 Speaker 1: took down the Colts as four team point underdogs in 390 00:21:05,346 --> 00:21:09,546 Speaker 1: Week eighteen, ending in these chances to the postseason, becoming 391 00:21:09,586 --> 00:21:12,706 Speaker 1: the first team ever to win two games as a 392 00:21:12,866 --> 00:21:16,146 Speaker 1: two touchdown or more underdog. And then that one, of 393 00:21:16,186 --> 00:21:20,946 Speaker 1: course set into play Mike. Such a fascinating week a team, right, 394 00:21:21,026 --> 00:21:24,426 Speaker 1: the Steelers and Ben Roethlisberger back into the playoffs. Everybody 395 00:21:24,426 --> 00:21:27,026 Speaker 1: in the country is staying up late to watch the 396 00:21:27,106 --> 00:21:29,066 Speaker 1: Raiders and the Chargers and see if that game is 397 00:21:29,106 --> 00:21:31,666 Speaker 1: going to end in a tie or what I mean really, 398 00:21:31,666 --> 00:21:33,986 Speaker 1: at the end of the day, Tomlin told you he 399 00:21:34,026 --> 00:21:39,186 Speaker 1: was sleeping, claimed he was sleeping. Whatever. I'm not trying 400 00:21:39,186 --> 00:21:42,346 Speaker 1: to bridge I can sell you to add I know 401 00:21:42,386 --> 00:21:46,066 Speaker 1: what you're thinking here. The biggest upsets since the records 402 00:21:46,146 --> 00:21:49,826 Speaker 1: began in nineteen seventy eight, well, three teams have won 403 00:21:49,906 --> 00:21:53,506 Speaker 1: games as seventeen and a half point underdogs. The winless 404 00:21:53,586 --> 00:21:56,946 Speaker 1: at the time Jets took down the Rams twenty in 405 00:21:57,026 --> 00:22:00,266 Speaker 1: Week fifteen season. I remember that game a year earlier 406 00:22:00,266 --> 00:22:02,946 Speaker 1: in twenty nineteen. Remember the Dolphins they beat the Patriots 407 00:22:03,146 --> 00:22:07,786 Speaker 1: in Week seventeen by a count that's actually beat Miami 408 00:22:07,906 --> 00:22:11,266 Speaker 1: forty three to nothing earlier that season. And then the 409 00:22:11,306 --> 00:22:13,986 Speaker 1: Colts beat the Patriots as seventeen and a half point 410 00:22:14,026 --> 00:22:18,146 Speaker 1: dogs in nineteen seventy eight. That final was thirty four seven, 411 00:22:18,146 --> 00:22:21,466 Speaker 1: so all three winning teams on the road. So we 412 00:22:21,506 --> 00:22:23,706 Speaker 1: shouldn't feel too bad for the Patriots because they actually 413 00:22:23,706 --> 00:22:25,626 Speaker 1: hold the record for the most games in a row 414 00:22:26,066 --> 00:22:29,506 Speaker 1: as a favorite. How about sixty two times from Week 415 00:22:29,626 --> 00:22:33,906 Speaker 1: four of sixteen all the way to Week one of twenty, 416 00:22:34,026 --> 00:22:37,546 Speaker 1: so basically four years the Patriots went into a game 417 00:22:37,946 --> 00:22:41,186 Speaker 1: as a favorite in that span forty eight and fourteen. 418 00:22:41,386 --> 00:22:44,026 Speaker 1: I mean, that's remarkable, and it does explain why Tom 419 00:22:44,026 --> 00:22:47,066 Speaker 1: Brady's got all those rings. Kurt Warner's Rams team, right, 420 00:22:47,146 --> 00:22:49,146 Speaker 1: the greatest show on turf. They must have been favorites 421 00:22:49,186 --> 00:22:51,386 Speaker 1: a bunch two right. I'm glad you asked a d 422 00:22:51,546 --> 00:22:55,706 Speaker 1: D faves fifty straight games for a three year span. 423 00:22:55,986 --> 00:22:59,346 Speaker 1: Week four three week four of two thousand and two, 424 00:22:59,386 --> 00:23:02,786 Speaker 1: they were thirty five and fifteen in those games, and 425 00:23:02,786 --> 00:23:04,506 Speaker 1: then the next three that are on the list, you 426 00:23:04,586 --> 00:23:07,826 Speaker 1: got the Niners a thirty five games span from nine 427 00:23:07,986 --> 00:23:11,146 Speaker 1: five and then another thirty five game span from eight 428 00:23:11,226 --> 00:23:13,426 Speaker 1: four to eighties six, and not to mention a thirty 429 00:23:13,466 --> 00:23:17,186 Speaker 1: three game span from ninety six to so. And just 430 00:23:17,226 --> 00:23:19,786 Speaker 1: in case you're wondering about active streaks and what's happening there, 431 00:23:19,826 --> 00:23:22,506 Speaker 1: the Bucks have an active streak of twenty one games 432 00:23:22,506 --> 00:23:25,506 Speaker 1: as a favorite. But you would imagine with a new 433 00:23:25,626 --> 00:23:28,746 Speaker 1: quarterback in that goat guy kind of on the sidelines 434 00:23:28,786 --> 00:23:30,866 Speaker 1: being a spectator, I would imagine that some of those 435 00:23:30,946 --> 00:23:35,186 Speaker 1: numbers actually change. What about the flip who spent the 436 00:23:35,226 --> 00:23:39,306 Speaker 1: most consecutive games is the underdog? This year's Super Bowl champs, Actually, 437 00:23:39,386 --> 00:23:43,506 Speaker 1: the Ramp top the list the most consecutive games as 438 00:23:43,546 --> 00:23:47,266 Speaker 1: an underdog forty three games from week fourteen to two 439 00:23:47,306 --> 00:23:51,266 Speaker 1: thousand and seven to weeks seven of as the underdog, 440 00:23:51,506 --> 00:23:53,786 Speaker 1: which is kind of I guess maybe I shouldn't be 441 00:23:53,786 --> 00:23:56,706 Speaker 1: all that surprised, just kind of flashing back to some 442 00:23:56,746 --> 00:23:58,506 Speaker 1: of those games from back in the day and just 443 00:23:58,706 --> 00:24:00,906 Speaker 1: also knowing some of the success that the Rams have 444 00:24:00,986 --> 00:24:03,906 Speaker 1: had generally speaking, and you made reference to sort of 445 00:24:03,946 --> 00:24:06,106 Speaker 1: that error with the Greatest Show on Turf with Kurt 446 00:24:06,146 --> 00:24:08,626 Speaker 1: Warner and company. But if you're wondering, hey, what about 447 00:24:08,626 --> 00:24:13,586 Speaker 1: the Browns and the Lions. Yeah, those teams they've they've struggled, right, Oh, Mike, 448 00:24:13,666 --> 00:24:18,946 Speaker 1: those poor Lions and Browns not exactly the most glorious 449 00:24:18,946 --> 00:24:21,066 Speaker 1: pieces of their history, but you know what, they are 450 00:24:21,106 --> 00:24:24,386 Speaker 1: two of the oldest NFL franchises, and so you would 451 00:24:24,386 --> 00:24:28,306 Speaker 1: expect some roller coasters, and you would also expect that 452 00:24:28,386 --> 00:24:31,946 Speaker 1: they've played with quite a few iterations of the football. 453 00:24:32,386 --> 00:24:34,786 Speaker 1: If you look at the old videos of the NFL, 454 00:24:35,146 --> 00:24:37,866 Speaker 1: the football itself is involved really quite a bit, right, 455 00:24:37,946 --> 00:24:40,546 Speaker 1: Like the first college football game in eighteen sixty nine, 456 00:24:40,786 --> 00:24:44,506 Speaker 1: which actually was played in our great state of New Jersey, 457 00:24:44,746 --> 00:24:49,986 Speaker 1: was around rubber ball. But the first football's were actually 458 00:24:50,026 --> 00:24:55,666 Speaker 1: made from an inflated pigs the ladder. They were rounder, 459 00:24:56,066 --> 00:24:58,506 Speaker 1: so they were more difficult to throw. It was almost 460 00:24:58,586 --> 00:25:01,426 Speaker 1: like trying to throw an inflated balloon. And here's something 461 00:25:01,426 --> 00:25:05,146 Speaker 1: really gross. The players inflated them with their mouth. Yeah, 462 00:25:05,266 --> 00:25:07,266 Speaker 1: And then a leather cover was placed on top and 463 00:25:07,306 --> 00:25:10,226 Speaker 1: stitched together and here's another little known fact. At the time, 464 00:25:10,266 --> 00:25:13,306 Speaker 1: soccer balls were also made of pig ladders, so the 465 00:25:13,346 --> 00:25:16,786 Speaker 1: ball got narrower once the forward pass was officially added 466 00:25:16,826 --> 00:25:18,586 Speaker 1: to the game in nineteen o six, because as we 467 00:25:18,706 --> 00:25:21,386 Speaker 1: just said, it's kind of hard to throw that inflated balloon, 468 00:25:21,466 --> 00:25:23,226 Speaker 1: and as the ball gets a little bit narrower, it's 469 00:25:23,226 --> 00:25:25,266 Speaker 1: a little bit aerodynamic. But I will say this, the 470 00:25:25,266 --> 00:25:29,746 Speaker 1: ball shape wasn't actually standardized Mike until nineteen thirty when 471 00:25:29,826 --> 00:25:33,786 Speaker 1: the National Football League officially came into existence, So through 472 00:25:33,826 --> 00:25:37,346 Speaker 1: the years, the specifications have continued to evolve. In nineteen 473 00:25:37,386 --> 00:25:39,946 Speaker 1: thirty four, there was a rule to taper the ends 474 00:25:40,146 --> 00:25:43,186 Speaker 1: and reduce the total circumference of the middle of the ball. 475 00:25:43,266 --> 00:25:45,626 Speaker 1: Maybe if it had been reduced even more, Kenny Pickett's 476 00:25:45,626 --> 00:25:47,946 Speaker 1: hand size wouldn't be such a hot topic of conversation 477 00:25:48,066 --> 00:25:51,426 Speaker 1: right now. And the ball has been made exclusively by 478 00:25:51,506 --> 00:25:57,066 Speaker 1: Wilson since nineteen forty one. Wilson remains the official supplier 479 00:25:57,386 --> 00:26:01,706 Speaker 1: of the NFL's footballs today. According to the official rule book, 480 00:26:01,746 --> 00:26:06,026 Speaker 1: today's ball must be made of eurythane bladder enclosed in 481 00:26:06,026 --> 00:26:09,746 Speaker 1: a pebble grained leather case of a natural tan color. 482 00:26:10,026 --> 00:26:14,146 Speaker 1: Without corrugations of any kind, and it also must be 483 00:26:14,226 --> 00:26:18,226 Speaker 1: filled with between twelve point five and thirteen point five 484 00:26:18,346 --> 00:26:21,146 Speaker 1: pounds of air. Don't ask Tom Brady or the New 485 00:26:21,186 --> 00:26:25,146 Speaker 1: England Patriots about that specification. Each team's equipment crew MIC 486 00:26:25,426 --> 00:26:28,546 Speaker 1: spends a significant amount of time prepping footballs for game day. 487 00:26:28,546 --> 00:26:30,426 Speaker 1: A brand new ball out of the box is very, 488 00:26:30,546 --> 00:26:33,626 Speaker 1: very rigid, so the equipment team goes to work using 489 00:26:33,626 --> 00:26:35,946 Speaker 1: things like brushes and oils to soften them. I can 490 00:26:36,026 --> 00:26:39,106 Speaker 1: tell you this that Tom Brady and Brian Horrier after him, 491 00:26:39,106 --> 00:26:43,106 Speaker 1: and quite a few quarterbacks have liked using Mississippi mud, 492 00:26:43,706 --> 00:26:47,826 Speaker 1: which is something that baseball players use on baseballs. Anyway, 493 00:26:47,826 --> 00:26:51,426 Speaker 1: the end result is working the football, makes it softer, tackier, 494 00:26:51,426 --> 00:26:54,266 Speaker 1: and a more throwable ball. As for game day, the 495 00:26:54,306 --> 00:26:57,106 Speaker 1: referee is the sole judge as to whether all balls 496 00:26:57,266 --> 00:27:02,106 Speaker 1: are fully compliant with the necessary specifications. All the balls 497 00:27:02,106 --> 00:27:05,306 Speaker 1: are under the referee supervision until they're delivered to the 498 00:27:05,346 --> 00:27:09,106 Speaker 1: ball at tendant just before kickoff, and each team is 499 00:27:09,146 --> 00:27:13,106 Speaker 1: required to have exactly twelve balls available for testing by 500 00:27:13,106 --> 00:27:16,186 Speaker 1: the referee no less than two and a half hours 501 00:27:16,186 --> 00:27:20,706 Speaker 1: before kickoff each game. Six football shipped by a manufacturer 502 00:27:20,986 --> 00:27:24,466 Speaker 1: are sealed in a special box and opened in the 503 00:27:24,506 --> 00:27:28,426 Speaker 1: officials locker room two hours in fifteen minutes before kickoff. 504 00:27:29,106 --> 00:27:32,506 Speaker 1: Those are the six footballs that are used exclusively for 505 00:27:32,546 --> 00:27:35,266 Speaker 1: the Kicking Game. Okay, deed, hold on one second, because 506 00:27:35,306 --> 00:27:37,826 Speaker 1: I want to tweet you at a kawala at Mike 507 00:27:37,906 --> 00:27:40,106 Speaker 1: underscore Y by the way, for our next episode, mail 508 00:27:40,146 --> 00:27:42,626 Speaker 1: bag episode. Since you're giving me the answer on the 509 00:27:42,666 --> 00:27:44,986 Speaker 1: good old pink skin so to speak, I would love 510 00:27:45,026 --> 00:27:48,546 Speaker 1: to know how many times the balls that are getting 511 00:27:48,586 --> 00:27:52,386 Speaker 1: tested get thrown out and are rules not game ready? 512 00:27:52,786 --> 00:27:55,346 Speaker 1: Oh that's a good question for our next one. Like 513 00:27:55,386 --> 00:27:59,066 Speaker 1: I would imagine, there's so much hype around it. So um, 514 00:27:59,106 --> 00:28:02,306 Speaker 1: I'll just hit send on this tweet. Okay, So just 515 00:28:02,586 --> 00:28:10,906 Speaker 1: I'll book mark that be tweet for welcome back to 516 00:28:10,986 --> 00:28:13,426 Speaker 1: NFL explained Mike, am Ina dB kin kawala with you. 517 00:28:13,506 --> 00:28:16,586 Speaker 1: We're having a blast going through your questions on our 518 00:28:16,626 --> 00:28:19,746 Speaker 1: mail bag episode. Got some good ones still left to 519 00:28:19,826 --> 00:28:23,066 Speaker 1: fire off, some answers and a dd you made reference 520 00:28:23,106 --> 00:28:25,666 Speaker 1: to it. The Kicking Game actually a huge part of 521 00:28:25,706 --> 00:28:28,666 Speaker 1: the postseason. I know you were loving up Gabby who 522 00:28:28,706 --> 00:28:30,946 Speaker 1: was in Venice, who was listening to the show. She 523 00:28:31,106 --> 00:28:34,146 Speaker 1: loved the Justin Tucker episode, and it got us also 524 00:28:34,226 --> 00:28:37,866 Speaker 1: thinking about some other questions that people were focused in 525 00:28:37,986 --> 00:28:41,146 Speaker 1: on the rules of overtime, and the rules, of course 526 00:28:41,266 --> 00:28:43,546 Speaker 1: have been sort of a huge talking port I think about, 527 00:28:43,586 --> 00:28:45,746 Speaker 1: you know, sending that ball through the uprights is certainly 528 00:28:45,786 --> 00:28:48,146 Speaker 1: the thing that I think about most. So. A little 529 00:28:48,146 --> 00:28:51,306 Speaker 1: bit of the evolution of overtime since it began nineteen 530 00:28:51,666 --> 00:28:56,986 Speaker 1: forty one, sudden death overtimes instituted for playoff games. Fast 531 00:28:57,026 --> 00:29:00,666 Speaker 1: forward to nineteen eight. The first NFL playoff game decided 532 00:29:00,706 --> 00:29:03,706 Speaker 1: by overtime was actually the Colts and the Giants in 533 00:29:03,746 --> 00:29:06,786 Speaker 1: the NFL Championship Game, now known as the greatest game 534 00:29:06,826 --> 00:29:10,026 Speaker 1: ever played. UH. In nineteen seventy four, the NFL officially 535 00:29:10,066 --> 00:29:14,506 Speaker 1: adopted sudden death overtime to minimize ties, because who likes 536 00:29:14,586 --> 00:29:17,386 Speaker 1: a tie? We like things to be nice and tidy 537 00:29:17,466 --> 00:29:21,306 Speaker 1: and definitive. From nineteen twenty to nineteen seventy three, there 538 00:29:21,306 --> 00:29:24,466 Speaker 1: were two hundred and fifty six ties. That sounds excruciating. 539 00:29:24,506 --> 00:29:26,426 Speaker 1: I covered a tie this year the Lions at the 540 00:29:26,466 --> 00:29:30,346 Speaker 1: Steelers when Mason Rudolph, the presumptive news starting quarterback for 541 00:29:30,386 --> 00:29:32,866 Speaker 1: the Steelers, was quarterback A yeah, no one wanted to 542 00:29:32,866 --> 00:29:36,106 Speaker 1: win that game. From what I remember, Yeah, there was 543 00:29:36,146 --> 00:29:39,786 Speaker 1: a lot of butt of issues in that one. NFL 544 00:29:39,826 --> 00:29:42,626 Speaker 1: actually changed the overtime rules for a playoff game, field 545 00:29:42,626 --> 00:29:46,586 Speaker 1: goal in the first drive of overtime no longer being 546 00:29:46,706 --> 00:29:51,146 Speaker 1: enough for a team to win. Playoff overtime rules expanded 547 00:29:51,186 --> 00:29:55,786 Speaker 1: to regular season and preseason games seven team overtime shortened 548 00:29:55,786 --> 00:29:58,426 Speaker 1: from fifteen to ten minutes, a lot of that player safety, 549 00:29:58,466 --> 00:30:03,586 Speaker 1: and then in one the elimination of overtime for preseason games. 550 00:30:04,146 --> 00:30:07,106 Speaker 1: Bot in the conversation, that is like the biggest thing 551 00:30:07,106 --> 00:30:09,346 Speaker 1: in talk radio. I feel like whenever we get there, 552 00:30:09,506 --> 00:30:12,186 Speaker 1: and certainly because of what we saw in the postseason 553 00:30:12,186 --> 00:30:14,106 Speaker 1: a DIT that makes a whole lot of sense well 554 00:30:14,186 --> 00:30:17,826 Speaker 1: for sure. And those current ot scoring rules, the idea 555 00:30:17,866 --> 00:30:20,386 Speaker 1: that there's not sudden death unless the team gets the 556 00:30:20,426 --> 00:30:23,706 Speaker 1: ball first scores of touchdown we're implemented in two thousand 557 00:30:23,786 --> 00:30:25,786 Speaker 1: and ten for the playoffs, two thousand and twelve for 558 00:30:25,826 --> 00:30:28,626 Speaker 1: the regular season. What will be interesting this year, Mike, 559 00:30:28,786 --> 00:30:34,146 Speaker 1: after that Chiefs Bills overtime thriller in the divisional round, 560 00:30:34,546 --> 00:30:37,426 Speaker 1: is if there is a change to the overtime rules 561 00:30:37,586 --> 00:30:40,986 Speaker 1: for the playoffs so that they match up in some 562 00:30:41,026 --> 00:30:44,106 Speaker 1: way with the regular season. Yeah, I think that might 563 00:30:44,146 --> 00:30:45,826 Speaker 1: be a little bit of a tall task here, But 564 00:30:45,986 --> 00:30:48,706 Speaker 1: the point is the NFL does have a history of 565 00:30:48,706 --> 00:30:51,826 Speaker 1: making adjustments, So, you know, just based off of the 566 00:30:51,866 --> 00:30:54,106 Speaker 1: fact that there's so much media attention around it, there's 567 00:30:54,106 --> 00:30:57,346 Speaker 1: no doubt that those conversations will continue to unfold. Well, 568 00:30:57,386 --> 00:30:58,906 Speaker 1: you're right, Mike, that it may be a bit of 569 00:30:58,946 --> 00:31:02,426 Speaker 1: an uphill battle, But right now, there's actually two proposals 570 00:31:02,426 --> 00:31:05,866 Speaker 1: to the Competition Committee to amend the overtime rules, and 571 00:31:06,306 --> 00:31:08,546 Speaker 1: they come from the Colts and the Bills, both of 572 00:31:08,546 --> 00:31:12,466 Speaker 1: whom lost overtime games this past season after not possessing 573 00:31:12,466 --> 00:31:15,266 Speaker 1: the ball. So the Bills, of course, as we just reference, 574 00:31:15,746 --> 00:31:18,626 Speaker 1: would like to see an extra period played out with 575 00:31:18,866 --> 00:31:22,706 Speaker 1: no sudden death in the playoffs, so essentially, just put 576 00:31:22,786 --> 00:31:25,226 Speaker 1: a certain amount of time on the clock and play 577 00:31:25,386 --> 00:31:30,146 Speaker 1: until it expires. The Cult proposal is just that both 578 00:31:30,146 --> 00:31:33,346 Speaker 1: teams have an opportunity to possess the ball. So the 579 00:31:33,386 --> 00:31:35,506 Speaker 1: way that these rules work, Mike, you're right is that 580 00:31:35,746 --> 00:31:38,946 Speaker 1: three quarters of the team need to sign off. That's 581 00:31:38,946 --> 00:31:41,186 Speaker 1: twenty four out of thirty two. I don't know what 582 00:31:41,226 --> 00:31:44,786 Speaker 1: do you think, would you vote yes to change or no. 583 00:31:45,226 --> 00:31:48,866 Speaker 1: I'm a yes to change guy. But I'm also I 584 00:31:48,906 --> 00:31:51,066 Speaker 1: have the luxury of being able to either be on 585 00:31:51,106 --> 00:31:53,346 Speaker 1: a set or on my couch watching the games and 586 00:31:53,466 --> 00:31:57,026 Speaker 1: not actually the physical demands. And what is actually you know, 587 00:31:57,306 --> 00:31:59,426 Speaker 1: like you start doing this during the regular season and 588 00:31:59,506 --> 00:32:01,506 Speaker 1: you get these scenarios like this could be kind of 589 00:32:01,546 --> 00:32:04,306 Speaker 1: a funky situation in the postseason. I do think the 590 00:32:04,386 --> 00:32:08,186 Speaker 1: rules need to be potentially adjusted in those circumstances. I 591 00:32:08,186 --> 00:32:10,546 Speaker 1: could have done another fifteen minutes of the Bills Chiefs game. 592 00:32:10,546 --> 00:32:13,306 Speaker 1: Couldn't you have do that every night? Kid? I mean, 593 00:32:13,346 --> 00:32:16,426 Speaker 1: that was that thing was awesome. I couldn't get enough 594 00:32:16,466 --> 00:32:18,826 Speaker 1: of that drama. It's like real, real life drama in 595 00:32:18,826 --> 00:32:21,266 Speaker 1: that situation. So I'm with you there. And indeed that 596 00:32:21,346 --> 00:32:24,386 Speaker 1: leads us to our final question, which actually came in 597 00:32:24,506 --> 00:32:27,386 Speaker 1: this morning. We always love getting them on social media 598 00:32:27,466 --> 00:32:30,386 Speaker 1: at Mike Underscore, yam at a King Kabuala and it's 599 00:32:30,426 --> 00:32:35,106 Speaker 1: kind of timely franchise tags in full force, and well 600 00:32:35,506 --> 00:32:37,026 Speaker 1: you got the tweets, so I'll let you kind of 601 00:32:37,026 --> 00:32:39,146 Speaker 1: handle that. Well, for sure, it was Alex Alex in 602 00:32:39,186 --> 00:32:42,706 Speaker 1: Winterland says he would love to hear an explanation of 603 00:32:42,706 --> 00:32:46,986 Speaker 1: what a franchise tag is on our podcast. So, okay, 604 00:32:47,066 --> 00:32:51,426 Speaker 1: franchise tags are essentially a one year contract, but it 605 00:32:51,466 --> 00:32:55,026 Speaker 1: comes in two different forms. There's the exclusive franchise tag 606 00:32:55,106 --> 00:32:59,226 Speaker 1: and there's the non exclusive. An exclusive tag means that 607 00:32:59,386 --> 00:33:03,626 Speaker 1: the player can only negotiate with the tagging team and 608 00:33:03,666 --> 00:33:06,866 Speaker 1: that the tagging team has to hay out an average 609 00:33:06,866 --> 00:33:11,666 Speaker 1: of the top five salaries at that player's position in 610 00:33:11,706 --> 00:33:15,266 Speaker 1: the current year. So those numbers, Mike, are kind of outrageous, 611 00:33:15,266 --> 00:33:18,306 Speaker 1: Like the Bengals just franchise tag twenty five year old 612 00:33:18,306 --> 00:33:22,146 Speaker 1: safety Jesse Bates. The franchise tag this year for safety 613 00:33:22,306 --> 00:33:25,986 Speaker 1: is thirteen million, five hundred and forty four thousand dollars, 614 00:33:26,066 --> 00:33:29,306 Speaker 1: as I'm sure you can guess. A quarterbacks franchise tag 615 00:33:29,506 --> 00:33:33,466 Speaker 1: is twenty eight million, five hundred and ninety eight thousand dollars. 616 00:33:34,066 --> 00:33:37,866 Speaker 1: A kickers franchise tag the average of the top five 617 00:33:37,866 --> 00:33:41,626 Speaker 1: salaries that his position five million, four hundred and sixty 618 00:33:41,706 --> 00:33:45,066 Speaker 1: nine thousand dollars. Now, in some cases it really financially 619 00:33:45,066 --> 00:33:47,186 Speaker 1: works out like a tight end. The franchise tag for 620 00:33:47,226 --> 00:33:49,586 Speaker 1: a tight end right now is ten million, eight hundred 621 00:33:49,626 --> 00:33:51,946 Speaker 1: and thirty four thousand dollars, right, which is why we've 622 00:33:51,986 --> 00:33:54,826 Speaker 1: seen quite a few tight ends franchise tagged in this 623 00:33:54,906 --> 00:33:57,826 Speaker 1: past week or so. But now let's go back to 624 00:33:58,186 --> 00:34:02,186 Speaker 1: the non exclusive tag. So what happens there is that 625 00:34:02,306 --> 00:34:04,866 Speaker 1: a team pays out an average of the top five 626 00:34:04,946 --> 00:34:09,266 Speaker 1: tag amounts of the player's position from the previous five years, 627 00:34:09,506 --> 00:34:14,026 Speaker 1: and players who receive this tag can negotiate with other teams, 628 00:34:14,026 --> 00:34:16,666 Speaker 1: but the tagging team has the right to match any offer. 629 00:34:16,826 --> 00:34:20,626 Speaker 1: So if I give you a non exclusive tag, Mike, 630 00:34:20,866 --> 00:34:24,546 Speaker 1: you can go ahead and negotiate with Rhett Lewis and 631 00:34:24,786 --> 00:34:29,146 Speaker 1: Erica tam Posey and ANDREWA. Kramer to join their podcast, 632 00:34:29,266 --> 00:34:32,066 Speaker 1: but I will have the right to go ahead and 633 00:34:32,266 --> 00:34:35,866 Speaker 1: match whatever Rhet Lewis offers you, which, by the nay, 634 00:34:36,346 --> 00:34:38,106 Speaker 1: was not offering you as much as I could pass. 635 00:34:39,306 --> 00:34:42,506 Speaker 1: I'm going to let you go by any means. Now, 636 00:34:42,746 --> 00:34:45,266 Speaker 1: where it gets really interesting is when a team places 637 00:34:45,506 --> 00:34:48,186 Speaker 1: multiple franchise tags on a player. So you can tag 638 00:34:48,226 --> 00:34:51,386 Speaker 1: a player one year and if you're unable. Usually I'll 639 00:34:51,386 --> 00:34:54,186 Speaker 1: say this, in my experience, most teams tag a player 640 00:34:54,586 --> 00:34:57,986 Speaker 1: with the intent to try to negotiate a longer term deal, 641 00:34:58,306 --> 00:35:01,706 Speaker 1: and it just buys more time that they have that exclusive. 642 00:35:02,226 --> 00:35:05,146 Speaker 1: Let's call it a negotiating windows simply because the player 643 00:35:05,226 --> 00:35:06,826 Speaker 1: is tied to the team, the team is tied to 644 00:35:06,866 --> 00:35:09,826 Speaker 1: the player, and everybody's motivated to get something long term 645 00:35:09,906 --> 00:35:12,586 Speaker 1: done and you have more time to make that happen. 646 00:35:12,826 --> 00:35:15,146 Speaker 1: If it doesn't work and you can't negotiate a long 647 00:35:15,266 --> 00:35:18,986 Speaker 1: term deal, well then a team could franchise tag a 648 00:35:19,106 --> 00:35:24,306 Speaker 1: player for a second time, but this time the player 649 00:35:24,346 --> 00:35:28,386 Speaker 1: gets a one hundred and twenty increase off of whatever 650 00:35:28,586 --> 00:35:31,506 Speaker 1: was his franchise tag salary. So that's a lot of 651 00:35:31,546 --> 00:35:34,226 Speaker 1: money and there's a lot of incentive there for a 652 00:35:34,266 --> 00:35:36,346 Speaker 1: team to try to get a deal done. And a 653 00:35:36,386 --> 00:35:38,946 Speaker 1: few years ago, this entire system was kind of thrown 654 00:35:38,986 --> 00:35:42,266 Speaker 1: on its head when Levy on Bell the Steelers running 655 00:35:42,306 --> 00:35:47,386 Speaker 1: back decided not to play under a second tag. And 656 00:35:47,466 --> 00:35:51,026 Speaker 1: I spent a lot of time on Levy on Bell watch. 657 00:35:51,586 --> 00:35:54,186 Speaker 1: It's always interesting as a reporter when you start covering 658 00:35:54,226 --> 00:35:58,186 Speaker 1: these stories and the amount of hours invested in something 659 00:35:58,266 --> 00:36:00,906 Speaker 1: like that, that sort of drags on. It's it's kind 660 00:36:00,946 --> 00:36:02,586 Speaker 1: of crazy, and I think there's people you know in 661 00:36:02,626 --> 00:36:04,706 Speaker 1: Green Bay probably thinking the same thing. It's like, you know, 662 00:36:04,706 --> 00:36:06,826 Speaker 1: back to back years and now obviously gets solidified with 663 00:36:06,866 --> 00:36:09,346 Speaker 1: Aaron Rodgers getting that four year extension for two hundred 664 00:36:09,346 --> 00:36:13,426 Speaker 1: billion dollars. But when you're on Roger's Watch or Bell Watch, 665 00:36:13,666 --> 00:36:17,386 Speaker 1: just it something that you just don't forget. Franchise tags 666 00:36:17,386 --> 00:36:19,586 Speaker 1: here we go, well and for sure and for me 667 00:36:19,666 --> 00:36:22,266 Speaker 1: it's I remember explaining that to my son at the time, 668 00:36:22,306 --> 00:36:24,426 Speaker 1: I think he was three years old, because I had 669 00:36:24,466 --> 00:36:26,946 Speaker 1: to be at the Steelers facility the week before the season. 670 00:36:27,466 --> 00:36:29,866 Speaker 1: I had to be at the Steelers facility all day long, 671 00:36:30,146 --> 00:36:32,746 Speaker 1: every single day as we were on Levan Bell Watch, 672 00:36:32,786 --> 00:36:36,586 Speaker 1: and my son just didn't understand, like why every day 673 00:36:36,666 --> 00:36:38,386 Speaker 1: all day and why are you missing my first day 674 00:36:38,426 --> 00:36:40,146 Speaker 1: of school in this, that or the other. And the 675 00:36:40,186 --> 00:36:42,506 Speaker 1: way that I explained to him, remember because he was 676 00:36:42,546 --> 00:36:45,226 Speaker 1: three years old, was the quarterback and the wide receiver 677 00:36:45,306 --> 00:36:47,866 Speaker 1: in the offensive line. They're waiting for their friend to 678 00:36:47,906 --> 00:36:49,906 Speaker 1: see if their friend will come and play with them, 679 00:36:50,426 --> 00:36:53,386 Speaker 1: and he never really understood why the friend never came 680 00:36:53,586 --> 00:36:57,586 Speaker 1: to be with his quarterback. Oh, I love that analogy, 681 00:36:58,546 --> 00:37:01,426 Speaker 1: very digestible, but that that might be the best way 682 00:37:01,466 --> 00:37:04,346 Speaker 1: to to explain. Oh, I have plenty wait until I 683 00:37:04,386 --> 00:37:06,546 Speaker 1: tell you how I taught him the quarterback does, and 684 00:37:06,586 --> 00:37:08,506 Speaker 1: then all of a sudden he saw Marcus Mariotta hold 685 00:37:08,546 --> 00:37:12,146 Speaker 1: the ball and he said, what that's a story for 686 00:37:12,226 --> 00:37:16,706 Speaker 1: another time in any Mars. This one's been really fun. Everybody. 687 00:37:16,706 --> 00:37:19,226 Speaker 1: Thank you so much for sending us your questions. We 688 00:37:19,386 --> 00:37:22,026 Speaker 1: love when you download and you listen and you interact, 689 00:37:22,066 --> 00:37:25,026 Speaker 1: and your review and you rate, and especially when you 690 00:37:25,066 --> 00:37:27,546 Speaker 1: send us messages and you tell us what you want 691 00:37:27,586 --> 00:37:30,266 Speaker 1: to hear about. And Mike is nodding his head because 692 00:37:30,306 --> 00:37:33,746 Speaker 1: he apparently, after this many podcast episodes, thinks that enough 693 00:37:34,666 --> 00:37:36,946 Speaker 1: has heard. Oh, I thought you were just taking I 694 00:37:36,946 --> 00:37:38,906 Speaker 1: thought you were closing it out because I agree with 695 00:37:38,946 --> 00:37:41,346 Speaker 1: everything that you're saying. I honestly it is. It's one 696 00:37:41,346 --> 00:37:43,026 Speaker 1: of the coolest things for me, and I know you 697 00:37:43,026 --> 00:37:45,146 Speaker 1: probably feel the same way. When we hear from some 698 00:37:45,186 --> 00:37:47,266 Speaker 1: of the listeners and they're learning about the sport that 699 00:37:47,306 --> 00:37:49,626 Speaker 1: you and I obviously cover and we both love. It's 700 00:37:49,666 --> 00:37:51,946 Speaker 1: just it's really cool. It's it's like you're exposing someone 701 00:37:51,986 --> 00:37:54,426 Speaker 1: to something that you know that they haven't experienced before, 702 00:37:54,506 --> 00:37:56,706 Speaker 1: so we absolutely love it. And if you're sharing it 703 00:37:56,746 --> 00:37:58,906 Speaker 1: with your friends on social it's great. And we learned 704 00:37:58,906 --> 00:38:01,826 Speaker 1: to right Mike, we we learned things as well as 705 00:38:01,866 --> 00:38:04,346 Speaker 1: we do this, so everybody, thank you. That's a rap 706 00:38:04,466 --> 00:38:08,746 Speaker 1: this time that was all sorts of grab that. Questions 707 00:38:09,226 --> 00:38:15,386 Speaker 1: explain h