Club Shay Shay – "Best of NFL News Part 2: Sauce Trade SHOCKER, Eagles trade for Jaelan Phillips"

Podcast by iHeartPodcasts and Shay Shay Media
Date: November 8, 2025
Guests: Ravens TE Isaiah Likely, with hosts Ocho (Chad Johnson) & Joe
(Host Shannon Sharpe does not appear in this section. Main participants: Ocho, Joe, guest Isaiah Likely)

Episode Overview

This episode of Club Shay Shay focuses on the latest NFL news, emphasizing major trades around the league (notably the Eagles acquisition of Jaelan Phillips), team updates, and candid player perspectives. A central feature is a heartfelt, insightful interview with Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely, who shares his NFL experiences, the team’s mentality post-bye week, playing with Lamar Jackson, and the solemn news of Cowboys DE Marshawn Nealon’s passing. The episode blends light-hearted banter, genuine reflection, and in-depth football analysis, concluding with a moving tribute to those struggling with mental health.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Baltimore Ravens: Resetting Post-Bye, Team Culture, and Isaiah Likely’s Mindset

Ravens’ Season Reset:

• The Ravens came out of their bye week with a renewed sense of urgency, treating the second half as a new season.
• Isaiah Likely: "Everybody knew, you know, back against the wall going into the bye week, what we put ourselves into. So coming out the bye week, we had just to tell everybody, you know, it's a new season and let's just be who we are." (03:28)

Finding His Role & Sacrifice:

• Likely discusses embracing his unique role in an offense with two top tight ends.
  • "God don't put you in no moment but where your feet are right now [...] No, I promised edc, you know, when he took me, like all the other 31 teams that passed up on me, they gonna regret playing me time in and time out." (04:31)
• He values versatility as Baltimore’s “chess piece,” lining up out wide, in the slot, the backfield, and on the line.

Climbing out of the Hole/NFL Outlook:

• The group debates the Ravens’ schedule and prospects. Joe, a Bengals fan, and Ocho toss playful jabs about looming divisional games, especially the big matchup against the Bengals.
  • Isaiah Likely: "I just want you at that Cincinnati game. I want you there." (05:52)
  • Ocho (on Bengals QBs): "We had a 80 year old quarterback come in and fill in for Joe Burrow and he throw for 700,000 yards a game." (06:49)

The Pressure and Challenge of the NFL Spotlight:

• Likely reflects on the pressures of stardom, media scrutiny, and sudden public attention, something he hadn’t expected at this level:
  • "You could say like a little teeny thing the wrong way, and everybody go and spin it [...] I don't want to keep acting like I'm trying to egg on a situation I don't really care for." (07:28)

Baltimore’s “Play Like a Raven” Standard:

• Ocho and Likely highlight the legendary Ravens culture—discipline, toughness, physicality—and expectations forged by past Ravens greats (Ed Reed, Ray Lewis, Jamal Lewis, Suggs, Ogden).
• Isaiah recounts his rookie minicamp: "If you wrong, fly around [...] wrong, we'll clean it up later. Play physical, play fast [...] we'll clean little details later." (09:59)

On Being an Underdog:

• Reflecting on his Coastal Carolina days, Likely discusses the underdog mentality and fight:
  • "Every game was gonna be, you know, a dog fight, and we wasn't expected to win a lot of games. So just going in there and showing the world that, like, you're gonna have to put us above somebody at some point." (11:44)

What It’s Like to Play With Lamar Jackson:

• Likely is candid about sometimes standing in awe of Lamar’s improvisation and brilliance:
  • "Sometimes you’ll get lost watching Lamar back there [...] and he yelling at you, like, trying to move you around because he's trying to make time." (12:45)
  • "He’s the one yelling at me, pointing [...] Like, I did all this work, you gonna move, bruh?" (13:14)

Team Chemistry and Locker Room Vibes

Jokes and Locker Room Antics:

• Stories of lost ping pong tables, video games, and Lamar Jackson taking away recreation after a loss to enforce focus:
  • "He was like, hey, we lose this game, ain't nothing gonna be in here. I might turn the WiFi off [...] Sure enough, everything out of there. Ain't nothing in there. WiFi still on, though." (19:52)

Focus on the Bigger Goal:

• Lamar Jackson limits distractions in pursuit of a Super Bowl run.
  • Ocho: "And L. Jack knows that the ultimate goal for y’all is to win a Super Bowl, bro. Yeah, it's Super Bowl or bust, so he knows distractions need to be limited." (20:50)

Community & Giving Back:

• Isaiah Likely talks about hosting the 17th annual Jimmy’s Famous Seafood Toys for Tots Gala:
  • "It's always, you know, a blessing being in the position you are to, you know, have your younger kids look up to you like a superhero." (21:27)

Eagles’ Blockbuster Trades & Trade Deadline Reactions

(Segment starts at 31:39)

• Eagles acquire DE Jalen Phillips from Dolphins (for 2026 3rd rounder), plus recent additions CB Michael Carter II & CB Jaire Alexander.
• Eagles’ defense ranked low (23rd overall, 24th in sacks) – aiming for immediate improvement and a postseason run, with little concern for future draft picks.
  • Ocho: "We in 2025, what good is the 2026 draft pick gonna do to help me win?" (33:03)

Is this the End of the Eagles Chasing Miles Garrett?

• Joe: "There's no way you can get... You're not letting Jalen Carter go nowhere. Absolutely not."
• Amusing hypotheticals: “I give you three first rounders and nobody.” Repeatedly, the group pokes fun at the notion of trading a young All-Pro pass rusher like Garrett.

Other Trade News

• Ravens acquire pass rusher Draymond Jones from Titans. (42:09)
• 28-year-old Jones is productive of late—4.5 sacks in last four games; seen as another “all in” move for a Baltimore defense that struggled early. Jones himself responded, “NFL is wow,” but showed gratitude to the Titans.
  • Joe: "The Ravens, they are all in too. They're going to do everything they can to get back on track. They have a great chance to do it now that 8 is back and anything is possible." (42:58)

Somber Segment: Passing of Marshawn Nealon & Mental Health in the NFL

(Begins at 43:49)

News & Initial Reactions

• Cowboys DE Marshawn Nealon dies at age 24, reportedly by suicide following a police chase.
• The NFL community, especially the Cowboys and Broncos, are deeply affected—moments of silence held league-wide.

Emotional Commentary & Personal Stories

• Joe (on hearing the news): "I wish things had been different for him, for his sake, for his family's sake. I'm praying for the Cowboys, his family as well." (44:37–46:26)
• Ocho: Cites how quickly tragedy can happen and the challenges of unseen struggles. "You don't know, boy, when people going through something. You got to be really, really strong." (47:13)
• Police reports detail Nealon’s girlfriend’s urgent call for wellness check and concerns about his mental state.
  • "His girlfriend called police and asked for a wellness check. He had a gun..." (47:22)

On Grief, Loss, and Perseverance:

• Both hosts openly recount losing loved ones and the life-long pain and responsibilities they feel.
• Ocho (on grief): "When my granny died, a part of me died with her. I won't ever be the same. I won't ever love the same. I've tried. I'm never going to love anybody like I loved that woman." (52:23–54:09)
• Joe: "Losing mama, losing grandma, on top of the other issues, man, we all fighting a different battle. We all fighting something." (61:08)

Mental Health Message to Listeners:

• The conversation crescendos into an earnest plea for mental health awareness.
  • Ocho: "If you're going through something, talk to somebody. Maybe he felt there was no one to talk to. There was no one to turn to." (64:54)
  • "We all fighting something. [...] 24 years old, perfect health. Picture of health on the outside. But there's a volcano going on inside that we can't see. [...] There's a saying that says we create our demons and only we can chase them away." (59:28)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Isaiah Likely on sacrificed stardom:

  • "I've always just remained where your feet are and understand that, you know, God don't put you in no moment but where your feet are right now." (04:31)

• On Ravens identity:

  • "Their mantra is play like a Raven. That's just because, you know, how physical, how disciplined, and how hard they gonna play. Snap in, snap out." (09:59)

• On Lamar Jackson’s magical improvisation:

  • "You’ll get lost watching Lamar back there... He's the one yelling at me, pointing [...] I'm just in the back of the end zone, just throwing my hand up like, hey, bro, I don't feel like moving. Just throw it right here. And he like, screaming like, 'No, bro, like, I did all this work.'" (13:14)

• On the emotional aftermath of losing a loved one:

  • "When my granny died, a part of me died with her. I won’t ever be the same. I won’t ever love the same. [...] Because even when I was wrong, she say, 'Baby, you wrong, but I love you.'" (52:23–54:09)

Timestamps of Important Segments

• 03:00 – Isaiah Likely interview begins.
• 07:13 – Likely on adjusting to fame as a young NFL player.
• 09:59 – The Ravens' “Play Like a Raven” standard explained.
• 12:36 – Playing alongside Lamar Jackson and his improvisation.
• 19:52 – Locker room stories: distractions removed after loss.
• 21:27 – Likely on giving back and the Toys for Tots gala.
• 31:39 – Analysis of Eagles trade for Jalen Phillips, trade deadline moves.
• 42:09 – The Ravens add Draymond Jones—more “all in” moves.
• 43:49 – Breaking news: Marshawn Nealon’s passing, host reactions.
• 46:51 – Ocho and Joe share experiences with grief, immense family responsibility.
• 58:01–62:41 – Deep reflections on loss, mental health, family, and the pressures behind NFL success.
• 64:54 – Final urgent PSA on mental health, talking and listening, and the tragedy of Nealon’s death.

Tone & Language

The episode transitions seamlessly between good-natured, competitive locker room banter, insightful football analysis, and a profoundly compassionate, vulnerable discussion of loss and mental health. The hosts’ candid, conversational style invites listeners into both the lighter and heavier realities of NFL life.

Summary

This episode is a must-listen for NFL fans eager for inside perspectives on blockbuster trades and the evolving playoff race, but it stands out most for its powerful, authentic conversation around athlete mental health, resilience, and loss. The show honors Marshawn Nealon’s memory by speaking openly about struggle, support, and the unseen battles so many face, reminding listeners of the humanity behind the helmets.