1 00:00:01,320 --> 00:00:01,960 Speaker 1: The volume. 2 00:00:09,680 --> 00:00:16,000 Speaker 2: This is Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre. What is up 3 00:00:16,000 --> 00:00:22,079 Speaker 2: Straight firefam, It's me Jason McIntyre. Straight Fire for Friday, 4 00:00:22,640 --> 00:00:25,799 Speaker 2: July fourteenth. As an obvious PSA, I mentioned it a 5 00:00:25,800 --> 00:00:29,280 Speaker 2: couple times this week hosting The Herd Today, make sure 6 00:00:29,320 --> 00:00:32,680 Speaker 2: to tap in FS one nine am on the West Coast, 7 00:00:32,840 --> 00:00:34,800 Speaker 2: noon on the East Coast. I know that tell you 8 00:00:34,840 --> 00:00:37,600 Speaker 2: want to spend your Friday watching me fire Hot takes 9 00:00:38,000 --> 00:00:39,960 Speaker 2: into the Sun. You're gonna love every minute of it. 10 00:00:40,000 --> 00:00:42,280 Speaker 2: And you're gonna love every minute of this podcast. Remember 11 00:00:42,479 --> 00:00:45,440 Speaker 2: last weekend we took you into the weekend with a 12 00:00:45,560 --> 00:00:49,560 Speaker 2: preview of the NFC East. This week we'll do the 13 00:00:49,680 --> 00:00:53,199 Speaker 2: NFC West. Last week we had Warren Sharp, yesterday we 14 00:00:53,200 --> 00:00:55,160 Speaker 2: had Kevin Clark. We're starting to bring out the big 15 00:00:55,200 --> 00:00:58,160 Speaker 2: guns for NFL previews. Help you obviously with the gambling 16 00:00:58,240 --> 00:01:00,800 Speaker 2: going forward this season. If you want to start before 17 00:01:00,800 --> 00:01:02,960 Speaker 2: we get to the NFC West, just quickly, quick, five 18 00:01:02,960 --> 00:01:06,280 Speaker 2: to ten minutes on My guy DK Metcalf. I say 19 00:01:06,280 --> 00:01:07,840 Speaker 2: my guy because he's come on The Herd a couple 20 00:01:07,920 --> 00:01:09,880 Speaker 2: times and of course I like ask them the questions. 21 00:01:10,280 --> 00:01:14,360 Speaker 2: He remembers that I made the stupid comment about the 22 00:01:14,360 --> 00:01:17,760 Speaker 2: Seahawks finishing above five hundred, I'd shave a logo in 23 00:01:17,800 --> 00:01:20,640 Speaker 2: my head, had to end up doing it anyways. Metcalf's 24 00:01:20,640 --> 00:01:24,240 Speaker 2: a very smart individual. I believe he's from like Mississippi 25 00:01:24,319 --> 00:01:27,920 Speaker 2: or something. He's a great story and he looks just 26 00:01:27,959 --> 00:01:30,320 Speaker 2: like on a donist. You're like, who could guard this guy? 27 00:01:30,600 --> 00:01:32,119 Speaker 2: And he's one of the top receivers in the game 28 00:01:32,200 --> 00:01:34,279 Speaker 2: right now, no doubt about it. But for whatever reason, 29 00:01:34,720 --> 00:01:38,280 Speaker 2: DK Metcalf decided to fire off his top five receivers 30 00:01:38,280 --> 00:01:42,200 Speaker 2: of all time. Hey, DK Metcalf gets asked this, My 31 00:01:42,280 --> 00:01:44,240 Speaker 2: first thought was a word that he put himself. But 32 00:01:44,319 --> 00:01:46,760 Speaker 2: he's smart enough and self aware enough to not put 33 00:01:46,840 --> 00:01:49,960 Speaker 2: himself in the top five. DK Metcalf one day might 34 00:01:50,000 --> 00:01:53,480 Speaker 2: get there. Unlikely, but he's had an awesome career, probably 35 00:01:53,520 --> 00:01:55,360 Speaker 2: Hall of fame batt we'll see. It's still early. He's 36 00:01:55,360 --> 00:01:57,040 Speaker 2: got a long way to go. But these were the 37 00:01:57,120 --> 00:02:01,960 Speaker 2: top five wide receivers in a DK Metcalf in NFL history. 38 00:02:02,280 --> 00:02:05,520 Speaker 2: At five, he had Julio Jones. Tough to argue, I'll 39 00:02:05,560 --> 00:02:08,560 Speaker 2: give mine in a moment, and Julio's in there. Number four, 40 00:02:09,520 --> 00:02:13,880 Speaker 2: he had Jerry Rice. I'm gonna pause. There as a 41 00:02:13,919 --> 00:02:15,839 Speaker 2: fourth best receiver of all time. He had Jerry Rice 42 00:02:16,840 --> 00:02:20,560 Speaker 2: number three, Terrell Owens number two, Randy Moss and I 43 00:02:20,600 --> 00:02:24,160 Speaker 2: could probably say, you have four guesses to guess who 44 00:02:24,240 --> 00:02:27,360 Speaker 2: he had number one. If Julio Rice to O and 45 00:02:27,440 --> 00:02:29,280 Speaker 2: moster off the board, I don't think you could get it. 46 00:02:30,480 --> 00:02:34,200 Speaker 2: And the answer is Antonio Brown. And I heard this 47 00:02:34,320 --> 00:02:37,959 Speaker 2: and my head was like, whoa Antonio Brown the best 48 00:02:38,000 --> 00:02:41,080 Speaker 2: receiver in the history of the NFL. And I'm like, okay, 49 00:02:41,080 --> 00:02:43,520 Speaker 2: when did ab dominate? All right? It was well, he 50 00:02:43,639 --> 00:02:45,720 Speaker 2: was playing recently won a Super Bowl with the Bucks 51 00:02:45,720 --> 00:02:48,960 Speaker 2: and Brady, but his prime was like seven years ago. 52 00:02:49,600 --> 00:02:52,520 Speaker 2: DK Metcalf was probably like in his formative years, like 53 00:02:52,560 --> 00:02:55,880 Speaker 2: what like late high school, maybe early college, and he 54 00:02:55,960 --> 00:03:00,600 Speaker 2: was emulating him. And listen, Antonio Brown had a grit career. 55 00:03:00,919 --> 00:03:04,160 Speaker 2: He's going to be a Hall of Famer. His peak 56 00:03:04,480 --> 00:03:08,000 Speaker 2: was really, really, really strong with Ben Roethlisberger. I mean, 57 00:03:08,000 --> 00:03:09,840 Speaker 2: he put up monster numbers. I'm not going to rattle 58 00:03:09,880 --> 00:03:13,200 Speaker 2: them off all here for you. But then I asked Rob, like, oh, 59 00:03:13,240 --> 00:03:14,400 Speaker 2: what are we going to talk about? You know? And 60 00:03:14,520 --> 00:03:16,280 Speaker 2: I saw this list and there's a couple other things 61 00:03:16,280 --> 00:03:19,080 Speaker 2: in the Hopper. But I thought this kind of irked 62 00:03:19,120 --> 00:03:21,760 Speaker 2: me the point because Rob I started looking at my 63 00:03:22,240 --> 00:03:25,720 Speaker 2: top five and Antonio Brown's not even in my top five. 64 00:03:25,840 --> 00:03:27,359 Speaker 2: I don't think that's a hot take. I mean, there's 65 00:03:27,639 --> 00:03:29,920 Speaker 2: the top five receivers is tough you expanded to ten. 66 00:03:30,000 --> 00:03:33,520 Speaker 2: Antonio Brown makes it, obviously, But for me, top five 67 00:03:33,600 --> 00:03:39,080 Speaker 2: is like, listen, this is rarefied air and Antonio Brown 68 00:03:39,120 --> 00:03:41,160 Speaker 2: for me, doesn't get in there. Now where it gets 69 00:03:41,200 --> 00:03:45,040 Speaker 2: tricky is are we just talking stats? If this becomes 70 00:03:45,040 --> 00:03:48,160 Speaker 2: a baseball discussion, which some people love to talk stats 71 00:03:48,160 --> 00:03:51,200 Speaker 2: in baseball, who cares about winning? Mike Troutz never won 72 00:03:51,240 --> 00:03:53,160 Speaker 2: a playoff game in his career, but for like five 73 00:03:53,200 --> 00:03:56,880 Speaker 2: years he was the best player in baseball. Baseball's weird guys. 74 00:03:57,000 --> 00:03:59,560 Speaker 2: It is like I like going to baseball games, but 75 00:03:59,640 --> 00:04:04,480 Speaker 2: this idea that like postseason success doesn't matter. Somebody tweeted 76 00:04:04,480 --> 00:04:07,480 Speaker 2: me when I mentioned baseball in here. They were like, dude, 77 00:04:07,480 --> 00:04:09,600 Speaker 2: have you looked at Ted Williams. He's considered like the 78 00:04:09,600 --> 00:04:12,240 Speaker 2: greatest hitter in the history of baseball, and I think 79 00:04:12,280 --> 00:04:15,200 Speaker 2: he has twenty five postseason at bats and five hits. 80 00:04:15,600 --> 00:04:18,800 Speaker 2: You get two hundred in his MLB postseason career, he's 81 00:04:18,800 --> 00:04:20,920 Speaker 2: the greatest hitter of all time. It's like I thought 82 00:04:20,960 --> 00:04:24,240 Speaker 2: it mattered more when you did in the postseason. So listen, 83 00:04:24,440 --> 00:04:28,560 Speaker 2: I'm not going to go overboard with Antonio Brown's stats, 84 00:04:28,880 --> 00:04:32,400 Speaker 2: but I do have to ask how much do we 85 00:04:32,480 --> 00:04:37,640 Speaker 2: take into account this off the field idiocy, lunacy, this 86 00:04:37,839 --> 00:04:41,799 Speaker 2: rap sheet that he's got all the knuckles skull stuff 87 00:04:41,839 --> 00:04:43,960 Speaker 2: that he did, like a bunch of knuckle skull that's 88 00:04:44,000 --> 00:04:47,960 Speaker 2: not even thing, just idiotic behavior off the field, consistently 89 00:04:47,960 --> 00:04:51,640 Speaker 2: getting in trouble. Was in the doghouse at the end 90 00:04:51,720 --> 00:04:55,360 Speaker 2: with Tomlin. Rob G. Shirley remembers the Raiders thing where 91 00:04:55,360 --> 00:04:58,120 Speaker 2: he like, I don't think he wanted to play there. 92 00:04:58,480 --> 00:05:01,040 Speaker 2: And then he had the thing where he frostbite on 93 00:05:01,080 --> 00:05:05,320 Speaker 2: the bottom of his feet from from the cryotherarapy. It 94 00:05:05,360 --> 00:05:07,240 Speaker 2: was just like bizarre, like what's wrong with this guy? 95 00:05:07,640 --> 00:05:09,080 Speaker 2: And then he went in Super Bowl with Tampa and 96 00:05:09,080 --> 00:05:10,880 Speaker 2: Tom Brady knew how good he was, so Tom Brady 97 00:05:10,880 --> 00:05:12,680 Speaker 2: brought him to Tampa. I think he lived in Brady's 98 00:05:12,680 --> 00:05:14,880 Speaker 2: house and he ended up going back at Brady just 99 00:05:14,920 --> 00:05:18,080 Speaker 2: hammering him on social because he's a jerk. But I 100 00:05:18,120 --> 00:05:21,320 Speaker 2: wouldn't have Rob Antonio Brown in my top five. So 101 00:05:21,360 --> 00:05:23,440 Speaker 2: I'm just gonna quickly rattle off my top five, counting 102 00:05:23,440 --> 00:05:24,920 Speaker 2: down from five to one, Rob, and then you could 103 00:05:24,920 --> 00:05:28,560 Speaker 2: do yours again. I looked at AB's peak. It was sensational. 104 00:05:28,600 --> 00:05:34,760 Speaker 2: He was a target machine. However, my top five, I'm 105 00:05:34,760 --> 00:05:39,480 Speaker 2: going this is tough. I'm gonna go Julio Jones at 106 00:05:39,480 --> 00:05:44,400 Speaker 2: five edges out a strong group. Marvin Harrison should have 107 00:05:44,400 --> 00:05:47,880 Speaker 2: been there. His peak with the Colts was insane. Chris 108 00:05:47,920 --> 00:05:51,200 Speaker 2: Carter had an unbelievable career with the Vikings double digit 109 00:05:51,240 --> 00:05:56,440 Speaker 2: touchdown machine. I think Larry Fitzgerald is in that discussion 110 00:05:56,520 --> 00:06:01,040 Speaker 2: durable class act, unbelievable. And Antonio Brown was in there. 111 00:06:01,040 --> 00:06:03,920 Speaker 2: For the fifth bat, I went Julio Jones. For number four, 112 00:06:05,400 --> 00:06:07,520 Speaker 2: I went Calvin Johnson. Now, I know some people are 113 00:06:07,560 --> 00:06:09,760 Speaker 2: definitely not gonna like Calvin Johnson on this list, but 114 00:06:09,839 --> 00:06:12,240 Speaker 2: he is a Hall of Famer. He did retire at thirty, 115 00:06:12,520 --> 00:06:15,359 Speaker 2: so his stats are slightly depressed. But I'm just talking 116 00:06:15,400 --> 00:06:18,640 Speaker 2: when you're just look at wide receivers like being unguardable. 117 00:06:20,000 --> 00:06:23,680 Speaker 2: Calvin Johnson unguardable, go up and get anything, six ' 118 00:06:23,760 --> 00:06:27,760 Speaker 2: five megatron. His stats are really, really, really strong, and 119 00:06:28,960 --> 00:06:30,760 Speaker 2: a lot of the guys on this wide Receiver all 120 00:06:30,800 --> 00:06:33,480 Speaker 2: Time list played with like a historically great quarterback of 121 00:06:33,560 --> 00:06:38,240 Speaker 2: Montana Rice. We'll get to Randy Moster's quarterbacks when we 122 00:06:38,240 --> 00:06:41,320 Speaker 2: talk about him shortly. Terrell Owins great quarterbacks. I mean, 123 00:06:41,360 --> 00:06:43,080 Speaker 2: Julio Jones said Matt Ryan, but he did win an 124 00:06:43,160 --> 00:06:46,719 Speaker 2: MVP Award. Matt Stafford never won an MVP. He was 125 00:06:46,920 --> 00:06:49,360 Speaker 2: the quarterback for I think all of Calvin Johnson's year. 126 00:06:49,400 --> 00:06:51,080 Speaker 2: Stafford did go on to win a Super Bowl when 127 00:06:51,080 --> 00:06:53,760 Speaker 2: he left Detroit. But like I have Calvin Johnson in there, 128 00:06:53,800 --> 00:06:56,200 Speaker 2: I know that's gonna irk some people. And then the 129 00:06:56,200 --> 00:06:58,360 Speaker 2: top three I think are pretty locked in. Torell Owins, 130 00:06:58,400 --> 00:07:02,960 Speaker 2: the three, Jerry Rice at We'll go Randy Moss at too, 131 00:07:03,200 --> 00:07:05,560 Speaker 2: Jerry Rice at one. So routing out the top five, 132 00:07:05,640 --> 00:07:11,040 Speaker 2: Julio Jones five, Megatron four, Terrell Owens three, Randy Moss two, 133 00:07:11,240 --> 00:07:13,720 Speaker 2: Jerry Rice one. I don't think there's anything hot taky 134 00:07:13,760 --> 00:07:16,680 Speaker 2: about that. Rob. I just I needed to like drill down, 135 00:07:16,680 --> 00:07:18,080 Speaker 2: look at the stats, and I'm not going to beat 136 00:07:18,120 --> 00:07:20,600 Speaker 2: you over the head with double digit touchdown seasons and 137 00:07:20,720 --> 00:07:24,360 Speaker 2: all pro seasons and targets and receptions. But like again, 138 00:07:24,400 --> 00:07:27,400 Speaker 2: Antonio Brown really really good, but for me, maybe not 139 00:07:27,440 --> 00:07:29,720 Speaker 2: for you. He does have to take a bit of 140 00:07:29,760 --> 00:07:33,680 Speaker 2: a ding for his off field behavior. Not a huge ding, 141 00:07:34,000 --> 00:07:36,400 Speaker 2: not like an O. J. Simpson ding, but he takes 142 00:07:36,400 --> 00:07:39,200 Speaker 2: a ding nonetheless. And I will add this, if you 143 00:07:39,280 --> 00:07:41,280 Speaker 2: put Moss and Rice next to each other, I think 144 00:07:41,280 --> 00:07:43,440 Speaker 2: that is like pick out of a hat, flip a coin. 145 00:07:43,960 --> 00:07:49,240 Speaker 2: Moss did have issues though at the end in Minnesota 146 00:07:49,640 --> 00:07:51,560 Speaker 2: at the Raiders, he just didn't want to try. Now 147 00:07:51,800 --> 00:07:53,840 Speaker 2: you can maybe not fault him because it's the friggin' 148 00:07:53,880 --> 00:07:57,840 Speaker 2: Raiders robs team, but I think he takes a little 149 00:07:58,080 --> 00:08:01,000 Speaker 2: little bit of a hit there. I have Rice number one, 150 00:08:01,040 --> 00:08:03,960 Speaker 2: but rob g, I'm curious. Number one is my list 151 00:08:03,960 --> 00:08:08,160 Speaker 2: perfect obviously? And number two, uh, where are you on 152 00:08:08,600 --> 00:08:11,720 Speaker 2: the immortal dk Metcalf putting Antonio Brown one. 153 00:08:12,040 --> 00:08:14,680 Speaker 1: No, your list is not perfect. The only thing that 154 00:08:14,720 --> 00:08:17,400 Speaker 1: I will say, and I think that you are spot on, 155 00:08:17,640 --> 00:08:21,120 Speaker 1: is the number. The top three are locked in. In 156 00:08:21,160 --> 00:08:26,280 Speaker 1: my opinion, Jerry Rice is one, Randy Moss's two to 157 00:08:26,520 --> 00:08:29,800 Speaker 1: is three. I think anyone with half a brain is 158 00:08:29,800 --> 00:08:31,440 Speaker 1: going to agree those are the top three receivers. Of 159 00:08:31,480 --> 00:08:33,880 Speaker 1: all time. Four and five is where it comes out 160 00:08:33,880 --> 00:08:37,400 Speaker 1: of personal preference, where I really disagree with you, and 161 00:08:37,440 --> 00:08:40,480 Speaker 1: where I see eye to eye with DK Metcalf, though 162 00:08:41,400 --> 00:08:46,760 Speaker 1: is Antonio Brown on the field was as good in 163 00:08:46,840 --> 00:08:50,560 Speaker 1: his peak as anybody in the NFL, including Jerry Rice. 164 00:08:51,280 --> 00:08:55,520 Speaker 1: There was a stretch of Antonio Brown's career from twenty 165 00:08:55,640 --> 00:08:59,560 Speaker 1: fourteen to twenty seventeen where he was All Pro First 166 00:08:59,640 --> 00:09:03,439 Speaker 1: team four straight years. The only other receiver to ever 167 00:09:03,520 --> 00:09:05,080 Speaker 1: do that is Jerry Rice, and I think he did 168 00:09:05,120 --> 00:09:06,520 Speaker 1: that twice. So that tells you how big of a 169 00:09:06,559 --> 00:09:10,640 Speaker 1: gap is in Jerry Rice and everybody else. But when 170 00:09:10,679 --> 00:09:15,000 Speaker 1: you consider just the Pittsburgh years with Antonio Brown, because 171 00:09:15,040 --> 00:09:16,400 Speaker 1: I know it got really wonky there at the end 172 00:09:16,400 --> 00:09:19,439 Speaker 1: with New England and Tampa and him basically, I don't 173 00:09:19,400 --> 00:09:21,080 Speaker 1: know if you count the Raiders era since he never 174 00:09:21,160 --> 00:09:23,400 Speaker 1: actually played it down for them, but if you just 175 00:09:23,440 --> 00:09:26,640 Speaker 1: look through their age thirty seasons, the first nine years 176 00:09:26,640 --> 00:09:32,200 Speaker 1: in Pittsburgh, Antonio Brown and seven yards seventy four touchdowns. 177 00:09:32,800 --> 00:09:36,920 Speaker 1: Calvin Johnson Megatron, the most gifted physically gifted receiver in 178 00:09:37,000 --> 00:09:43,120 Speaker 1: NFL history, eleven six hundred and nineteen yards eighty three touchdowns. 179 00:09:43,160 --> 00:09:47,840 Speaker 1: In what world would you imagine that Antonio Brown, who 180 00:09:47,880 --> 00:09:50,079 Speaker 1: stands all of what five to ten, one hundred and 181 00:09:50,080 --> 00:09:55,080 Speaker 1: eighty five pounds, is putting up almost identical numbers to 182 00:09:55,640 --> 00:10:00,240 Speaker 1: Megatron sixty five two thirty five. It's because Antoni Tonio 183 00:10:00,280 --> 00:10:02,800 Speaker 1: Brown was that good, and were it not for the 184 00:10:02,840 --> 00:10:08,120 Speaker 1: frostbitten feet and allegedly the CTE, I think we would 185 00:10:08,120 --> 00:10:11,560 Speaker 1: be having a legitimate conversation whether or not he comes 186 00:10:11,559 --> 00:10:13,480 Speaker 1: close to even cracking the top three in all time 187 00:10:13,520 --> 00:10:18,240 Speaker 1: wide receivers. Antonio Brown flamed out not because he couldn't 188 00:10:18,240 --> 00:10:21,920 Speaker 1: play anymore, but because Antonio Brown became a problem in 189 00:10:21,920 --> 00:10:24,240 Speaker 1: the locker room and became a problem off the field. 190 00:10:25,240 --> 00:10:28,160 Speaker 1: So I totally understand why DK Metcalf would have him 191 00:10:28,160 --> 00:10:29,920 Speaker 1: as number one. I mean, I think he could be 192 00:10:30,240 --> 00:10:32,000 Speaker 1: no higher than too, because I think Jerry Rice is 193 00:10:32,520 --> 00:10:34,320 Speaker 1: far and away, it's not even close. Whoever you want 194 00:10:34,360 --> 00:10:38,800 Speaker 1: is number two. But I understand why someone like DK Metcalf, 195 00:10:38,840 --> 00:10:42,319 Speaker 1: given his age especially, would hold Antonio Brown as such 196 00:10:42,360 --> 00:10:42,880 Speaker 1: high regard. 197 00:10:44,240 --> 00:10:46,679 Speaker 2: I do let me add this. So, Antonio Brown had 198 00:10:46,679 --> 00:10:49,120 Speaker 2: a weird career I think I've talked about in the past, 199 00:10:49,160 --> 00:10:53,000 Speaker 2: But like he was a college quarterback. He was a 200 00:10:53,080 --> 00:10:55,840 Speaker 2: high school quarterback. Like the guy was super dynamic, but 201 00:10:55,840 --> 00:10:57,920 Speaker 2: he ultimately realized he had to change because he wasn't 202 00:10:57,920 --> 00:10:59,840 Speaker 2: gonna be a quarterback in the NFL. So, like it 203 00:10:59,880 --> 00:11:01,640 Speaker 2: was a big steep learning curve. That's why he's like 204 00:11:01,679 --> 00:11:03,280 Speaker 2: a I think he was a fifth or six round pick. 205 00:11:04,320 --> 00:11:06,560 Speaker 2: But my problem though with Brown again, like you said, 206 00:11:06,600 --> 00:11:08,880 Speaker 2: like if you just look at those four years and 207 00:11:08,920 --> 00:11:11,160 Speaker 2: you stack him up, he's certainly in the discussion. But 208 00:11:11,280 --> 00:11:13,120 Speaker 2: unfortunately we've got an entire career to look at a 209 00:11:13,160 --> 00:11:16,320 Speaker 2: guy like Chris Carter. When he was thirty four years old, 210 00:11:16,480 --> 00:11:19,240 Speaker 2: it's catching thirteen touchdowns twelve hundred yards, like Antonio Brown's 211 00:11:19,240 --> 00:11:21,480 Speaker 2: out of the league at thirty four. Now, Chris Carter's 212 00:11:21,520 --> 00:11:24,640 Speaker 2: first five years he was eh, you know. But again 213 00:11:24,720 --> 00:11:26,800 Speaker 2: that was the late eighties. It wasn't it was still 214 00:11:26,840 --> 00:11:29,719 Speaker 2: like a run heavy league. They didn't even track targets 215 00:11:30,120 --> 00:11:32,800 Speaker 2: for the first five years of Chris Carter's career, you know. 216 00:11:33,000 --> 00:11:35,960 Speaker 2: So like ultimately Carter ramped up big time, and like, 217 00:11:35,960 --> 00:11:37,400 Speaker 2: you know, I worked a little bit with Chris Carter, 218 00:11:37,480 --> 00:11:39,520 Speaker 2: an interesting guy, played to pick up basketball with him 219 00:11:39,520 --> 00:11:42,679 Speaker 2: at UCLA, and my favorite Chris Carter story is we 220 00:11:42,720 --> 00:11:44,840 Speaker 2: go to UCLA with I think five of us to 221 00:11:44,840 --> 00:11:48,679 Speaker 2: play pickup basketball, and you know, Chris Carter's in really 222 00:11:48,720 --> 00:11:52,120 Speaker 2: good shape. And then like the first game he's talking 223 00:11:52,120 --> 00:11:54,440 Speaker 2: trash to guys like college kids. And this is like 224 00:11:54,440 --> 00:11:56,600 Speaker 2: a fifty year old man like doesn't know the guys 225 00:11:56,640 --> 00:11:59,280 Speaker 2: instantly is talking trash. I'm like, okay, he was on 226 00:11:59,320 --> 00:12:01,480 Speaker 2: our team. I don't really remember how we did. I 227 00:12:01,480 --> 00:12:04,200 Speaker 2: think we lost in won, I don't It wasn't awesome, 228 00:12:04,440 --> 00:12:07,000 Speaker 2: but like he was like talking, he like blocked somebody's 229 00:12:07,000 --> 00:12:09,280 Speaker 2: shot and was literally yelling at this college kid. I 230 00:12:09,320 --> 00:12:12,199 Speaker 2: was like, bro, what is see Chris Carter? I mean, listen, 231 00:12:12,240 --> 00:12:14,240 Speaker 2: he could ball, no doubt, and he's a great football 232 00:12:14,240 --> 00:12:16,720 Speaker 2: player at any rate. I just wanted to push back 233 00:12:16,760 --> 00:12:19,840 Speaker 2: a little bit, a little bit on the DK Metcalf 234 00:12:20,120 --> 00:12:23,480 Speaker 2: Top five. Now. Listen. I don't know what Justin Jefferson 235 00:12:23,520 --> 00:12:25,640 Speaker 2: started this week with his whole top five quarterbacks, but 236 00:12:25,679 --> 00:12:26,800 Speaker 2: I guess it's going to be a thing. You know, 237 00:12:26,880 --> 00:12:29,360 Speaker 2: it's July. Not allowed to talk about pre camps. We 238 00:12:29,440 --> 00:12:32,800 Speaker 2: got a couple more days here, but DK Metcalf, get 239 00:12:32,840 --> 00:12:34,880 Speaker 2: your top five straight, all right, We're gonna pivot now 240 00:12:34,960 --> 00:12:38,320 Speaker 2: quickly and move to the NFC West, a division that 241 00:12:39,080 --> 00:12:43,240 Speaker 2: as recently robed as two years ago. Two years ago 242 00:12:44,520 --> 00:12:48,440 Speaker 2: was maybe one of the best divisions of football. You 243 00:12:48,480 --> 00:12:51,439 Speaker 2: had the Niners, you had the Rams, and you had 244 00:12:51,440 --> 00:12:54,240 Speaker 2: the Cardinals. Seattle was kind of down on its luck 245 00:12:54,280 --> 00:12:57,360 Speaker 2: for a moment. But this division all of a sudden 246 00:12:57,360 --> 00:12:59,120 Speaker 2: has falling on hard times. Let me just rattle off 247 00:12:59,160 --> 00:13:02,800 Speaker 2: the quarterbacks for you in the division. Arizona currently TBD 248 00:13:02,840 --> 00:13:06,160 Speaker 2: because Kyler Murray's injured and coming back off surgery. Gino 249 00:13:06,280 --> 00:13:08,600 Speaker 2: Smith had a good year, comeback Player of the Year, 250 00:13:08,640 --> 00:13:12,319 Speaker 2: all that fun stuff. We'll see Matt Stafford coming off 251 00:13:12,320 --> 00:13:15,360 Speaker 2: elbow surgery. I talked about it here, A lot of 252 00:13:15,400 --> 00:13:18,240 Speaker 2: other people have talked about it recently. We were early 253 00:13:18,280 --> 00:13:20,760 Speaker 2: on this. The Rams were looking to get Matt Stafford 254 00:13:20,760 --> 00:13:23,559 Speaker 2: to readjust his contract him and his agent, Jimmy Sexon 255 00:13:23,600 --> 00:13:26,679 Speaker 2: said no shot. Rams were looking to explore trading him. 256 00:13:26,720 --> 00:13:28,640 Speaker 2: That's why I mentioned the Jets and the Rams back 257 00:13:28,679 --> 00:13:33,000 Speaker 2: in January, way early on this. Ultimately, they made other 258 00:13:33,120 --> 00:13:36,240 Speaker 2: moves in contracts and now the Rams are just giving 259 00:13:36,240 --> 00:13:38,520 Speaker 2: it one more shot. But they saint the Rams team 260 00:13:38,520 --> 00:13:40,360 Speaker 2: that won the Super Bowl guys are even close. And 261 00:13:40,400 --> 00:13:42,920 Speaker 2: then finally ev the Niners. Who Kevin Clark was on 262 00:13:42,920 --> 00:13:46,320 Speaker 2: here yesterday and he thinks Sam Donald might start the opener. Okay, 263 00:13:46,600 --> 00:13:49,960 Speaker 2: Sam Darnald, who was I mean, he was in Carolina 264 00:13:50,040 --> 00:13:53,880 Speaker 2: last year and kind of sort of bad. But we'll see. 265 00:13:54,200 --> 00:13:57,640 Speaker 2: Kyle Shanahan touches anybody. They're good. And I don't know, Rob, 266 00:13:57,679 --> 00:14:00,120 Speaker 2: I just keep coming back to. In this division, it 267 00:14:00,160 --> 00:14:01,880 Speaker 2: is the forty nine ers running away with it, but 268 00:14:01,960 --> 00:14:05,400 Speaker 2: they have the quarterback question, and then after that, I 269 00:14:05,400 --> 00:14:07,880 Speaker 2: don't trust any of the other teams. I do think 270 00:14:07,920 --> 00:14:13,480 Speaker 2: Seattle's probably got the largest variants of potential. Like listen, man, 271 00:14:13,640 --> 00:14:16,040 Speaker 2: they surprised everybody last year. They had a five and 272 00:14:16,080 --> 00:14:19,960 Speaker 2: a half win total to start the season. That's why 273 00:14:20,000 --> 00:14:21,720 Speaker 2: I opened my big fat mouth and said, oh, I 274 00:14:21,720 --> 00:14:24,520 Speaker 2: have thinks Jokers finish above five hundred. I'll shave the 275 00:14:24,520 --> 00:14:26,560 Speaker 2: logo in the side of my head. I said it flippantly. 276 00:14:27,640 --> 00:14:29,600 Speaker 2: Five and a half win total. You're thinking, Okay, maybe 277 00:14:29,600 --> 00:14:32,000 Speaker 2: they win seven, maybe they win eight. They're not winning nine, 278 00:14:32,560 --> 00:14:36,040 Speaker 2: and then they win that season opener, and I was like, okay, 279 00:14:36,120 --> 00:14:39,280 Speaker 2: not great. And then of course Baker Mayfield vomits all 280 00:14:39,320 --> 00:14:42,160 Speaker 2: over himself in the season finale, throwing the overtime interception. 281 00:14:43,640 --> 00:14:46,640 Speaker 2: Of course, Baker Mayfield and then Geno and Seattle get 282 00:14:46,680 --> 00:14:48,640 Speaker 2: the dub and finished nine and eight get to the playoffs. 283 00:14:48,680 --> 00:14:50,160 Speaker 2: They got destroyed by the Niners, but they got to 284 00:14:50,200 --> 00:14:54,920 Speaker 2: the playoffs after that, though, I don't think the Rams 285 00:14:54,960 --> 00:14:57,240 Speaker 2: have any shot at the playoffs. I didn't realize I 286 00:14:57,280 --> 00:15:00,960 Speaker 2: was crushing them so hard talking to Kevin Clark yesterday, 287 00:15:00,960 --> 00:15:03,720 Speaker 2: and you know, a video went up online and people 288 00:15:03,760 --> 00:15:06,120 Speaker 2: are like, why are you a hater? Why do you 289 00:15:06,120 --> 00:15:08,680 Speaker 2: hate the Rams? I'm like, what are you talking about. 290 00:15:08,680 --> 00:15:11,200 Speaker 2: They're not a good football team. You want a joke, 291 00:15:11,720 --> 00:15:14,120 Speaker 2: go look at their depth chart on defense. I'm telling 292 00:15:14,160 --> 00:15:17,920 Speaker 2: you it's Aaron Donald and huh, what's going on here? 293 00:15:18,320 --> 00:15:19,920 Speaker 2: And then you start looking at the offense, and I 294 00:15:19,920 --> 00:15:23,120 Speaker 2: know McVeigh knows offense, and you guys know this. Like 295 00:15:23,160 --> 00:15:24,960 Speaker 2: I've been out here in LA for a minute, I 296 00:15:24,960 --> 00:15:26,520 Speaker 2: start to you get to know people you're friends with, 297 00:15:26,600 --> 00:15:28,360 Speaker 2: Dudes who are friends, Like I got a buddy who's 298 00:15:28,400 --> 00:15:32,640 Speaker 2: traveling with an NFL quarterback who plays in the NFC 299 00:15:32,720 --> 00:15:37,280 Speaker 2: West Okay, and apparently, like this quarterback loves this new 300 00:15:37,320 --> 00:15:39,280 Speaker 2: receiver he's got from BYU. Look him up, get him 301 00:15:39,280 --> 00:15:43,480 Speaker 2: on your fantasy team, late round sleeper. And like the offense, 302 00:15:43,680 --> 00:15:46,000 Speaker 2: there's some optimism among the Rams, like they could be good. 303 00:15:46,040 --> 00:15:48,840 Speaker 2: Can the offensive line like get together? And then you 304 00:15:48,880 --> 00:15:51,840 Speaker 2: look at the defense and they're gonna hemorrhage points and 305 00:15:52,200 --> 00:15:54,960 Speaker 2: unless mcvacn outscore everyone. I'm just telling you, guys, this 306 00:15:55,000 --> 00:15:58,280 Speaker 2: is a five, six to seven win team. Go look 307 00:15:58,280 --> 00:16:00,560 Speaker 2: at what Vegas says about it, and you could hate 308 00:16:00,600 --> 00:16:03,760 Speaker 2: me for all I say about the Rams, But the reality, 309 00:16:03,840 --> 00:16:06,520 Speaker 2: Rob is you look at Vegas and they're favored in 310 00:16:07,760 --> 00:16:10,280 Speaker 2: like very few games this season. It does not I 311 00:16:10,320 --> 00:16:12,760 Speaker 2: think it's two of their first ten their favorite Like, 312 00:16:12,920 --> 00:16:15,800 Speaker 2: that's not good. They're gonna be underdogs against everybody except 313 00:16:15,800 --> 00:16:18,000 Speaker 2: the Cardinals. We're not even talking about the Cardinals because 314 00:16:18,000 --> 00:16:20,200 Speaker 2: they are a total dumpster fire. I nearly led the 315 00:16:20,200 --> 00:16:22,560 Speaker 2: show with Kyler Murray's comments, but I need to let 316 00:16:22,640 --> 00:16:24,880 Speaker 2: them sink in a little bit more and totally refine 317 00:16:24,880 --> 00:16:27,560 Speaker 2: the take. I might mess with that on Herd tomorrow 318 00:16:28,040 --> 00:16:29,640 Speaker 2: or save it for next week here on the pod, 319 00:16:29,680 --> 00:16:32,120 Speaker 2: But Kyler Murray is just saying all the wrong things. 320 00:16:32,320 --> 00:16:34,120 Speaker 2: That team is a three four to five win team. 321 00:16:34,400 --> 00:16:37,040 Speaker 2: The Rams are like a four or five sixty seven 322 00:16:37,040 --> 00:16:40,840 Speaker 2: win team. And I think Seattle rob they could be 323 00:16:40,960 --> 00:16:43,880 Speaker 2: under five hundred Geno regresses, but I hate to say it. 324 00:16:43,920 --> 00:16:47,640 Speaker 2: I love the Jackson Smith, the Jigba move in the draft. 325 00:16:47,640 --> 00:16:52,240 Speaker 2: They now have Lockett, Metcalf and JSN and it's like 326 00:16:53,040 --> 00:16:55,680 Speaker 2: it's gonna be hard to stop this team. And the 327 00:16:56,080 --> 00:16:59,320 Speaker 2: irony of it all is, if you remember Rob Russell Wilson, 328 00:17:00,520 --> 00:17:02,680 Speaker 2: you know, was kind of hamstrung by Pete Carroll. We 329 00:17:02,720 --> 00:17:04,960 Speaker 2: want to run the football, win with defense, legion a 330 00:17:05,000 --> 00:17:07,920 Speaker 2: boom blah blah blah. And then they let Russ cook 331 00:17:07,920 --> 00:17:09,879 Speaker 2: for half a season. Then he has like four interceptions 332 00:17:09,920 --> 00:17:11,520 Speaker 2: in one game and they're like no more, no more, 333 00:17:11,600 --> 00:17:12,960 Speaker 2: no more. They will go back to the run. Than 334 00:17:13,040 --> 00:17:16,240 Speaker 2: Russ gets upset. Well, what did they let Geno Smith 335 00:17:16,280 --> 00:17:19,040 Speaker 2: do last year? A lot of passing all the numbers 336 00:17:19,680 --> 00:17:23,440 Speaker 2: early down passing Seattle liked, flipped totally from what they 337 00:17:23,440 --> 00:17:27,080 Speaker 2: did previously with Russ, and now they're like a passing 338 00:17:27,119 --> 00:17:29,280 Speaker 2: on early downs team. It's like Pete Carroll's like, have 339 00:17:29,320 --> 00:17:31,800 Speaker 2: at a rejuvenation at seventy three or whatever age is, 340 00:17:32,280 --> 00:17:34,600 Speaker 2: and all of a sudden. Seattle's kind of sort of interesting. 341 00:17:35,359 --> 00:17:37,280 Speaker 2: I don't currently have them in the playoffs yet, but 342 00:17:37,320 --> 00:17:40,399 Speaker 2: that could change come August. I can't imagine Rob, that 343 00:17:40,400 --> 00:17:44,120 Speaker 2: you're gonna have any disagreement Niners, Seahawks, Rams. 344 00:17:43,840 --> 00:17:48,160 Speaker 1: Cardinals, not right now. Talk to me again in a month. 345 00:17:48,200 --> 00:17:51,720 Speaker 1: I could be swayed to putting the Rams above the Seahawks, 346 00:17:52,320 --> 00:17:54,280 Speaker 1: not because I mean, everything you said about them is true, 347 00:17:54,359 --> 00:17:58,880 Speaker 1: very top heavy. The defense is limited outside of Aaron Donald. 348 00:17:59,640 --> 00:18:03,760 Speaker 1: We don't know about Matthew Stafford's elbow, you know, obviously. 349 00:18:05,359 --> 00:18:08,360 Speaker 1: But to Kevin Clark's point on yesterday's podcast, I have 350 00:18:08,440 --> 00:18:13,800 Speaker 1: a very very hard time believing that Sean McVay passed 351 00:18:13,880 --> 00:18:17,879 Speaker 1: up on hundreds of millions of dollars from Amazon or 352 00:18:18,000 --> 00:18:20,199 Speaker 1: Fox or see whatever wanted he going to be a 353 00:18:20,200 --> 00:18:23,480 Speaker 1: broadcast to come back to a team that goes five 354 00:18:23,560 --> 00:18:27,359 Speaker 1: to twelve. I think that he has something up his sleeve. 355 00:18:27,920 --> 00:18:29,840 Speaker 1: He's going to be able to maximize the talent that 356 00:18:29,880 --> 00:18:32,880 Speaker 1: they do have in a way that few other coaches can. 357 00:18:33,920 --> 00:18:38,600 Speaker 1: The question, though, becomes, to your point, do they have 358 00:18:38,800 --> 00:18:43,400 Speaker 1: enough on defense to where Stafford can overcome the offensive 359 00:18:43,400 --> 00:18:46,640 Speaker 1: line and not have to score thirty one thirty two 360 00:18:46,640 --> 00:18:49,240 Speaker 1: points every game to win. If they're able to just 361 00:18:49,320 --> 00:18:52,800 Speaker 1: be competitive the bend but don't break defense, I could 362 00:18:52,800 --> 00:18:56,480 Speaker 1: see them maybe making a play at the wild card. 363 00:18:56,560 --> 00:18:57,440 Speaker 1: But that's a big GIF. 364 00:18:58,320 --> 00:19:00,200 Speaker 2: So you know, I just was able to look it 365 00:19:00,280 --> 00:19:03,800 Speaker 2: up real quick. Two years ago, Rob, Just two years ago, 366 00:19:04,359 --> 00:19:06,360 Speaker 2: the Rams won the Super Bowl, they beat the forty 367 00:19:06,440 --> 00:19:08,959 Speaker 2: nine Ers in the NFC Championship Game, and the Cardinals 368 00:19:09,000 --> 00:19:12,560 Speaker 2: made the playoffs with Kyler Murray. Within just two years, 369 00:19:13,119 --> 00:19:15,679 Speaker 2: it looks like, from my vantage point, the Rams are cooked. 370 00:19:15,800 --> 00:19:18,679 Speaker 2: You may disagree, and we both agree. The Cardinals are 371 00:19:18,720 --> 00:19:23,160 Speaker 2: complete garbage. And Kyler got his money. And if they 372 00:19:23,240 --> 00:19:26,120 Speaker 2: win three games and have the number one overall pick, Rob, 373 00:19:26,119 --> 00:19:28,879 Speaker 2: they're going to be rebooting. This is what doesn't happen 374 00:19:28,920 --> 00:19:31,960 Speaker 2: in the NBA. And you know this, Rob, Like, if 375 00:19:31,960 --> 00:19:34,160 Speaker 2: you get a star in the NBA, you're pretty much said, 376 00:19:34,160 --> 00:19:36,240 Speaker 2: if you're Lebron with the Cavs, you're gonna be in 377 00:19:36,280 --> 00:19:40,560 Speaker 2: the Mix Conference Finals, NBA Finals. Every year. You get Curry, 378 00:19:40,840 --> 00:19:43,480 Speaker 2: you set up it up around him. If you're good 379 00:19:43,520 --> 00:19:46,240 Speaker 2: for like a decade. It just doesn't work like that 380 00:19:46,280 --> 00:19:52,439 Speaker 2: in the NFL. Nothing lasts for long whether it's players, teams, dynasties, coaches. 381 00:19:52,520 --> 00:19:55,560 Speaker 2: It's just so wacky how quickly things can flip. 382 00:19:56,359 --> 00:19:58,640 Speaker 1: Yeah, and I'll do you one better. You don't see 383 00:19:58,640 --> 00:20:02,959 Speaker 1: this in the NFL. Matthew Stafford, Super Bowl champion, some 384 00:20:03,000 --> 00:20:05,760 Speaker 1: would say, is one of the great quarterback prospects that 385 00:20:05,760 --> 00:20:08,080 Speaker 1: we've had in the last twenty years, just in terms 386 00:20:08,119 --> 00:20:11,400 Speaker 1: of a prospect coming out of college. Kyler Murray such 387 00:20:11,400 --> 00:20:13,480 Speaker 1: a good athlete, he was selected in the first round 388 00:20:13,560 --> 00:20:16,560 Speaker 1: of both the NFL and the Major League Baseball Draft. 389 00:20:17,520 --> 00:20:20,520 Speaker 1: People saw him after his first or second year that, oh, yeah, 390 00:20:20,560 --> 00:20:23,239 Speaker 1: his ceiling is higher than Lamar Jackson, Like he not 391 00:20:23,280 --> 00:20:24,960 Speaker 1: only can he run like Lamar, but he can throw 392 00:20:25,000 --> 00:20:26,639 Speaker 1: it just as well or as some of the other 393 00:20:26,720 --> 00:20:31,000 Speaker 1: upper echelon quarterbacks. Gino Smith. I know that he's been 394 00:20:31,000 --> 00:20:33,399 Speaker 1: a punching bag coming off a Pro Bowl season, And 395 00:20:33,480 --> 00:20:37,840 Speaker 1: yet we all agree universally the best team in that 396 00:20:37,880 --> 00:20:40,879 Speaker 1: division and probably the best team in the NFC this 397 00:20:40,920 --> 00:20:46,679 Speaker 1: side of Philadelphia is led by mister irrelevant Brock Purty. Like, remember, 398 00:20:46,760 --> 00:20:48,640 Speaker 1: we've been told that you have to have a franchise 399 00:20:48,720 --> 00:20:51,440 Speaker 1: quarterback if you're gonna do anything in this NFL, And 400 00:20:51,560 --> 00:20:54,359 Speaker 1: yet the team that you would say, just on paper 401 00:20:54,840 --> 00:20:57,280 Speaker 1: has the biggest question mark at quarterback because brock Perty's 402 00:20:57,280 --> 00:21:00,000 Speaker 1: got albow issue, sam Donold's a bust, and Trey Lance 403 00:21:00,080 --> 00:21:01,399 Speaker 1: it looks like a bus. He might not even he 404 00:21:01,480 --> 00:21:04,280 Speaker 1: might be third string at this point. And yet we 405 00:21:04,320 --> 00:21:07,679 Speaker 1: all agree the Niners should easily win this division. This 406 00:21:07,840 --> 00:21:08,520 Speaker 1: is incredible. 407 00:21:08,960 --> 00:21:11,080 Speaker 2: How did you read up picking Raiders over the Niners 408 00:21:11,119 --> 00:21:14,480 Speaker 2: when you were picking a team to follow or root for. 409 00:21:15,280 --> 00:21:17,240 Speaker 1: Well, I live in LA not in the Bay Area, 410 00:21:17,280 --> 00:21:20,720 Speaker 1: so that helped. So there was never any consideration when 411 00:21:20,720 --> 00:21:21,320 Speaker 1: you were a kid. 412 00:21:21,720 --> 00:21:22,840 Speaker 2: Was it the LA Raiders? 413 00:21:23,320 --> 00:21:27,159 Speaker 1: Yes? Or it wasn't Oakland They had just moved you know, 414 00:21:27,280 --> 00:21:31,880 Speaker 1: Ball at that point. So and also we've talked about 415 00:21:31,880 --> 00:21:34,119 Speaker 1: this before. My dad worked at the coliseum at the 416 00:21:34,119 --> 00:21:35,879 Speaker 1: time when the Raiders were there. So even though he 417 00:21:35,880 --> 00:21:38,240 Speaker 1: grew up as a Rams fan and ended up passing 418 00:21:38,280 --> 00:21:42,000 Speaker 1: away as a Rams fan, all of the gear that 419 00:21:42,040 --> 00:21:44,639 Speaker 1: he would get from working there was always Raider stuff. 420 00:21:44,720 --> 00:21:47,879 Speaker 1: So our closets were stocked up with the really sweet 421 00:21:47,880 --> 00:21:51,439 Speaker 1: triple goose you know, Raiders jackets, the quarterbacks where the 422 00:21:51,480 --> 00:21:52,960 Speaker 1: starter jackets. We had everything. 423 00:21:53,040 --> 00:21:56,840 Speaker 2: Back then, you were gang banging with the Raiders starter jacket. Yeah, 424 00:21:57,720 --> 00:22:02,760 Speaker 2: gang banging right, alright, alright, guys, thanks for listening. Great week. 425 00:22:03,280 --> 00:22:05,920 Speaker 2: Next week should be fire once again. You're on straight fire. 426 00:22:06,040 --> 00:22:06,760 Speaker 2: We'll talk to you then