Nightcap Hour 1: Unc & Ocho react Shilo Sanders WAIVED by Bucs + Stefanski denies Shedeur “Sabotage”

Summary

Club Shay Shay Podcast Summary

Episode: Nightcap Hour 1: Unc & Ocho React – Shilo Sanders WAIVED by Bucs + Stefanski Denies Shedeur “Sabotage”
Hosts: Shannon Sharpe & Chad “Ocho Cinco” Johnson
Date: August 25, 2025

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Episode Overview

In this lively episode of "Nightcap," Shannon Sharpe and Chad "Ocho Cinco" Johnson dive deep into the NFL's latest headlines, focusing on Shilo Sanders being waived by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the ongoing drama surrounding Shedeur Sanders with the Browns. The hosts also discuss the broader challenges faced by athletes with famous parents, the realities of NFL roster cuts, quarterback controversies, and contract standoffs—most notably Micah Parsons' situation with the Dallas Cowboys. Throughout, Sharpe and Johnson mix personal anecdotes, sharp analysis, and characteristic banter, making for a candid, insightful, and entertaining discussion.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Shilo Sanders Waived by the Buccaneers

Timestamps: 04:10 – 09:43

• Reaction to the News:

  • Ocho speculates on possible landing spots, citing teams needing safety depth like the Bengals, Steelers, and Saints (04:23).
  • Confidence in Shilo’s agents (Drew Rosenhaus and Robert Bailey) to get him another opportunity given their track record (04:45).

• The Impact of the Sanders Name:

  • Shannon underscores both the perks and pressures of being "Sanders"—“Sometimes your last name can be a blessing and a curse.” (05:06)
  • The rare situation of an undrafted rookie's release becoming breaking news, purely due to the last name (05:06).

• Career Setback Perspective:

  • Sharpe empathizes with Shilo, pointing out this is likely the first time in his 24–25 years that he’s been told he’s “not good enough.” (06:07)
  • Reflection on the emotional difficulty of chasing a lifelong NFL dream, only to face setbacks for the first time as an adult (07:00).

• Practice Squad Possibilities:

  • Discussion on how NFL teams decide who to keep for development and the stark reality that not every dream comes true (08:05–09:43).

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2. The Challenge of Living Up to Family Legacy

Timestamps: 09:43 – 13:12

• Pressure and Self-Motivation:

  • Ocho highlights pressures on children of elite athletes and how it can be both motivating and "demoralizing" (11:37).
  • Both agree motivation sometimes comes easier from adversity, but self-motivation becomes crucial for those growing up privileged (11:24).

• Parenting and Prodigy Dynamics:

  • Sharpe: “Are you living in your parents' shadow or are you embracing it?” (12:52)
  • Emphasis on letting children find their own dreams rather than living vicariously through them (13:19).

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3. Prodigies and Parental Pressure

Timestamps: 13:12 – 18:30

• Ocho brings up famous parental figures (Joe Jackson, Earl Woods, Richard Williams, Mathew Knowles) and the drive to push kids to greatness (14:15).
• Sharpe argues true prodigies self-motivate—Tiger Woods, Beyoncé, Michael Jackson weren’t “forced,” they wanted it (15:26).
• Notable relationships can be strained (e.g., Michael & Joe Jackson, Tiger & Earl Woods) but pushing isn’t the same as forcing against will (16:01).
• "Motivation and discipline" discussed as the key differentiators at the elite level—“You’re not going to be motivated every single day, but will you be disciplined?” (17:08).

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4. Shedeur Sanders and the Browns "Sabotage" Controversy

Timestamps: 25:55 – 35:47

• Stefanski Denies Any Intentional Sabotage:

  • Sharpe questions the rotation and playing time decisions in Cleveland, asking why Shedeur didn’t get the same opportunities as others (26:37).
  • Ocho cautions that from the outside, it’s tough to know coaching motivations, but acknowledges it “is what it is.” (27:01)
  • Sharpe notes how, in the NFL, “the pressures of having to play that position are a lot different” when games matter, not just in preseason (29:00).

• Unfair Assessment Due to Unequal Opportunities:

  • Sharing Kurt Warner’s view, they point out it’s unfair to judge QBs if play-calling and personnel aren’t consistent (31:14).
  • Both hosts agree Shedeur holds onto the ball too much and must learn to throw it away—a recurring critique (32:40).

• O-Line and Practice Squad Realities:

  • Discussion about four of Shedeur’s offensive linemen being waived, creating a "perfect storm" of poor protection and a QB who’s slow to release (35:07).
  • Sharpe: “So now you got the perfect storm, Ocho… a Category 5, and you got an earthquake going on at the same time—a disaster is about to unfold.” (35:07)

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5. Micah Parsons and the Cowboys’ Contract Drama

Timestamps: 39:28 – 56:12

• Sideline Optics and Media Narratives:

  • Dallas coach Brian Schottenheimer plans to meet Parsons after media speculation over Parsons lying on a medical table during a preseason game (39:28).
  • Parsons fires back at media narratives on Twitter. Ocho: “Two things can be true.” (40:31)
  • Sharpe probes: On the Cowboys, everything is scrutinized—“the optics” matter, even if only lying down for a minute (43:12).

• Jerry Jones and the Art of Contract Standoffs:

  • Debate over whether Jerry Jones is holding up Parsons’ deal for business leverage.
  • Ocho: “If it was any other team, Micah would have had his money… But Jerry has other ways of doing things…” (45:41)
  • Sharpe shares insights from the Netflix Cowboys special, explaining Jones’ ego and friction with Jimmy Johnson—a pattern repeating now (46:48).

• Legacy and Lessons from NFL History:

  • Dissection of the Cowboys' dynasty collapse: “You could have a lot of people that live in a house, Ocho, but how many people can build the house?” (57:04)
  • The glory days of Dallas, stacked with Hall of Famers, contrasted with today’s more balanced, parity-driven NFL (58:51).

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6. Other NFL and Team News

Timestamps: 38:52 – 54:41, 65:24–66:02

• Cowboys vs. Eagles Week 1 Preview:

  • Ocho asks for picks: Sharpe takes the Eagles big, “I want the Eagles to win 45 to 7… I want Michael to get his money.” (54:16)
  • Reflection on past contract holdouts (e.g., Emmitt Smith in 1993).

• Ownership Philosophies—Jones vs. Kraft:

  • Sharpe draws parallels to the Patriots, noting that Kraft learned from Jerry Jones’ failures (“I’m not going to mess this up.”) (64:21)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Navigating Setbacks:
  “For the first time in 24, 25 years, somebody has told you you’re not good enough.” — Shannon Sharpe (06:07)

• On Famous Family Pressure:
  “Sometimes your last name can be a blessing and a curse.” — Shannon Sharpe (05:06)

• On Prodigy Motivation:
  “They never had to force the child to go do it... Tiger was four or five years old, he already had his bag.” — Shannon Sharpe (15:30)

• On NFL Roster Reality:
  “Some of these guys, it’s over. It’s the end of the road, Ocho.” — Shannon Sharpe (18:30)

• On Coaching Egos and Dynasty Demise:
  “You could have a lot of people that can live in a house, Ocho, but how many people can build the house they live in?” — Shannon Sharpe (57:04)

• On Jerry Jones’ Mindset:
  “You’re not gonna bully Jerry... I pay you when I get ready.” — Ocho Cinco (46:25)

• On Optics and Media Hype:
  “The optics… If you’re a superstar player… and you’re laying down, people gonna say something.” — Shannon Sharpe (43:12)

• On Making It in the NFL:
  “You do what you can with the cards that you’re dealt. That’s the way life is…” — Ocho Cinco (35:50)

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Key Timestamps for Important Segments

• Shilo Sanders Waived:

  • 04:10 – 09:43

• Family Legacies & Motivation:

  • 09:43 – 18:30

• Shedeur Sanders & Browns Controversy:

  • 25:55 – 35:47

• O-Line Cuts & QB Assessment:

  • 31:14 – 35:47

• Micah Parsons & Cowboys Contract Saga:

  • 39:28 – 56:12

• Cowboys’ Dynasty, Legacy Lessons:

  • 56:12 – 64:21

• Week 1 Cowboys vs. Eagles Preview:

  • 54:41 – 55:11

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Conclusion

This "Nightcap" episode delivers candid, experienced-based takes on NFL roster upheaval, the tension between potential and opportunity, and how ego, discipline, and legacy collide at the highest level of pro football. Sharpe and Ocho balance sharp analysis with lived wisdom, making this a must-listen for fans who want to understand the drama behind the headlines—and what it means for the gridiron’s biggest names and their families.

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Transcript

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Listen to San Diego FC behind the Flow on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. The rivalries, the marching bands, the upsets. Saturdays just got way more fun. College football is back. Think you know the game? Put your college football knowledge to the test with DraftKings sportsbook and turn your picks into big payouts. From live betting during the game to rivalry week, odds boost and so much more, DraftKings sportsbook have everything you need to stay in on the action from kickoff to final whistle. Whether you're betting your go to team or making moves mid game as momentum shifts, Saturdays are yours to own with DraftKings sportsbook. Here's something special for you first timers. New customers bet $5 and get $200 in bonus bets instantly. Download the Draft King Sportsbook app. Use Code Shannon. That's Code Shannon for new customers to get $200 in bonus bets instantly when you bet just five bucks. In partnership with DraftKings Sportsbook, the Crown is yours. Hello, ladies and gentlemen, and thank you for joining us for another episode of Nightcap. Y' all know who I am. I am your favorite uncle, Shannon Sharp, my partner and co host. He's Liberty City's own Madding's ratings adjuster, Bingles Ring of Fame honoree. He's a Pro bowler. He's an all pro. He's Chad Oo Cinco Johnson. Please make sure you hit that subscribe button. Please make sure you hit that like button. And guys, do us a favor, go subscribe to the Nightcap podcast feed. Wherever you get your podcast cast from. We'd like to thank each and every one of you for your support and your continued support because thanks to you, Nightcap has ascended to heights with we could have only imagined and especially in such a short time. So thank you again for your support and your continued support. My cognac Laportier. Just head over to laportierconjac.com to grab your bottle. Please make sure you go follow my media company page on all of his platforms. That's Shay Shay Media and my clothing company, 84. With 84 being spelled out, that link is pinned in the chat. We've got Grammy nominated rapper lree joining us a little bit later. But first, oo the headlines. The Buccaneers informed rookie Shiloh Sanders today that he's being waved. His agent, Drew Rosenhaus, Robert Bailey, a former teammate of mine with the Ravens, added, we're hoping he get claimed off waivers. Oo yeah. Where do you think Shiloh will land?

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

You know what? I'm not sure where we land. There's some teams out there that could use some depth, especially at the safety position. I'm not sure what the Bengals look like in, in the, in the, in the secondary. I think Steelers can, can add, the Saints can add to, to their, to their secondary as well. He's going to get claimed where he gets claimed. I'm not sure where that would be yet. Listen, for one, he has Austin representation in Robert Bailey and Drew Rosenhaus. Obviously they represented me while I was playing, you know, during my tenure. So he will get picked up. Where he gets picked up, I'm not sure. But he has the right person in his corner to make sure he gets another opportunity to play the game that he loves.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Sometimes your last name can be a blessing and a curse. It's not normal that free agents have breaking news that they're being Released. He's an undrafted free agent. And because his name is Sanders, the blessing and the curse, people say, well, Shannon, he only got an opportunity. But because his last name is Sanders, I haven't. I mean, maybe you can recall the last time an undrafted free agent, it was breaking news that he was getting released. Well, actually waived, whatever the case may be. Go ahead, Ocho.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Anytime it's a rookie, especially undrafted rookie, the only time they make the news, uncle, is when they get in trouble.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Is there an arrest of some sort, anything coming out of college where they've gotten in trouble and. But that's pretty much it. Because of the last name is why it's breaking news. And it just. It's like you say, uncas. It's a gift and a curse.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yep. And I just, you know, hey, you sit back and you reflect and you're like, okay, it didn't work out here. Maybe somebody gives me an opportunity, it works out somewhere else. You don't know. This is the first time that Shiloh's been told he's not good enough. I mean, he's been a phenomenal player, obviously. He got his first start with the University of South Carolina. He got a D1 scholarship. His father gets the job at Jackson State. He goes and joins his. His. His father and his. His brother at Jackson. And then when his dad gets the head coaching job at cu, he follows, you know, the two sons follow their dad there. This is the very first time. And it's. It's really hard because think about it, Ojo. He's 25. I think he's 24. 25. Yeah. And for the first time in 24, 25 years, somebody has told you you're not good enough. Now, it's. It's one thing if, you know, you get cut from your high school team, you get cut from your junior varsity team or something like that. He's 25. But think about it. Think about this, ladies and gentlemen. I mean, for the first time in your life, you. You. You're in your mid-20s.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Before somebody ever tells someone ever utters to you, you're not good enough. Forget if, Forget it. Be a sport. Maybe it's a job, maybe it's something. But to be told you're not good enough. Because your whole life you've dreamed about being an NFL player or your whole, like, your dream job, whatever the case that may be, you've dreamed about holding this dream job, and then all of a sudden they're like, you're not good enough. Per Yahoo Sports, we're told that Buccaneers enjoyed having Shiloh in the building, viewing the son of Deion Sanders as a good kid who's at all times respectful to everyone. Shiloh could in theory sign with the Bucks practice squad after clearing waivers. The bigger question is whether he's good enough to compete and play at an NFL level. That's always the case that that's what you weigh. Oo because if you bring somebody back on the practice squad, you're saying with a year under our bel, a year under his belt in our system developing, we think he can develop into a player that could play for us.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Yes.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Get offense, defense, and maybe he's just a backup. Maybe, hey, they pay backups just in case people didn't know they do pay backups in the NFL. And, you know, he can be a special, a special teams player. Punt, punt return, kickoff, kickoff return. Maybe he could be. Whatever the case may be. Now, that's what the Bucks organization, that's what they have to weigh. Todd Bowles and that staff. I forget the general manager. I, I just read. Reading something the other day about the general manager because he was talking about what's the linebacker they let go. He was lsu. They ended up letting him go. And he goes to Philly now. He's found a home. I think he's at the Texans or maybe the Raiders or whatever the case may be. But I just saw, I just saw his name. That's what you have to. That's. That's what you're up against. You got 16 spots, so that's a lot of people that you can bring in all those 16 players. Ocho. Basically, we're saying that we believe with a. Another year in our systems, offense or defense, we think down the line, he just need a little bit more time to develop. We think this kid might turn into a pretty good player for us.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Absolutely. Absolutely.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Let's take another look at him. Let's get a bird's eye view of. Let's stay with him. Let's stay with him for a year and let's see what kind of player he. He turns into. So hopefully that's something. If he doesn't get claimed off waivers, hopefully he gets an opportunity. Either it's the Bucks or someone gives him an opportunity because maybe he just needs another year to develop into an NFL player. Maybe that's the case. Maybe it isn't everybody. Everybody. That particular dream.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Everybody doesn't get to realize it. Ocho.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Because. But you know what? My brother had a very interesting take on a dream he said, you know what a dream is, Ocho? A dream that comes true. He says, a gift to yourself. A dream is a gift to yourself. You. I had very similar dreams. I need to play in the NFL.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Got to.

[Shannon Sharpe]

There are no other options. I didn't have a plan B. I got my degree, but my plan A, B, C all the way through Z was go play in the NFL. And my determining factor was to get my family out of the situation. Now my brother gave us a head start, but that wasn't good enough for me. He did it. I never thought. There was nothing that my brother ever did that I didn't think I could do. Not one thing. He like. I like. He went to college, man, I know I can go to college. Even though I wasn't the student that he was. Yeah, I didn't. He applied himself. I never applied myself. I was, you know, hey, I got this God given ability. I'm extremely talented. That'll get me by. It's an amazing. I think it's amazing when I see kids that come from lineage like a time, like a Clay Matthews senior, like a Bruce Matthews son. Peyton Manning. When your, your father has something and you still have a burning desire to get it for yourself, that's very impressive to me. Coming from our situations, Ocho, it's easy to be motivated.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Oh, yeah, yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Being hungry, being hot, being cold, it's easy. Being rained on, it's easy to develop motivation. But what happens when you have none of those extenuating circumstances?

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Yeah, yeah. You got to want it. You got to want. You got to be self motivated too. And you got to understand when you, when you have fathers that play in the NFL that were very, very good, not just, you know, you regularly, the average players, then also as a child, having to live up to that hype, having to list the comparison of your father, you not being as good as your father just yet, maybe. But sometime the pressures of having to live up to in the shadow of a father that was extremely good at his craft can also. It can be demoralizing at times.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yes.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Not focused and locked in. I mean, a great example of one of the players who was able to do it to Terrell, Owen's son. You know, I'm sure he's had to deal with all the, all the outside noise, but having a father like Tio, that's going to make sure you're prepared for all the nonsense that comes with, don't worry about trying to be me, just be you. Just be best. Tariq Owens that you can be Hell, this past weekend, what'd he do? Scored tribute to Pops. You know that that has to be one of the greatest feelings in the world to have a son to overcome that or a daughter. Whatever respective craft it is that they do or choose to be in, that, that has to be a dope, dope feeling.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Of course. I think the thing is, Ocho, the biggest thing is, is do. Are you living in your parents shadow or are you embracing it?

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

That's a good one. That's a good one. I would never force my child to do anything they don't want to do, Uncle. No, I would never force my child to do anything. Listen, I would love, I would love it, you know, if you want to play football, so be it. But it's nothing I will ever force you to do.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You know why?

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Force you to do.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You know why? Because playing football was your dream. You don't know if that's their dream.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

No.

[Shannon Sharpe]

See, a lot of time when people force their kid to do something, they're living vicariously through the child. Now, I'm not saying in all situations because I think everybody wants their child to be seen successful at his or her chosen path, right? But a lot of times we see the behavior and kids, people, kids think about now, oh, my son going to the NFL, my son gonna be a major league baseball player, my son gonna be a basketball player. Let the kid, let a kid be a kid, right? You, you're not supposed to look at your child as a paycheck. You're not supposed to look at your child as the way out.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

That's a good one. That's a good one. Or you're not supposed to live vicariously through your child because you weren't able to achieve the dreams that you want.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You couldn't do it. So now you're gonna put that, hey, hopefully the child embraces and wants to be that whatever he or she chooses. And then you nudge them along in that direction. Don't, hey, this is what you want to do. And my son very early on he said, that ain't this, this ain't me. This ain't what I want.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Right? I got a question. Yeah, a question for you. Now that we're talking about that, that's, it's a great topic to talk about. When you think about fathers like Joe Jackson, fathers like Tiger Woods, Pops.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yes.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Serena and Venus dad, Beyonce father.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yes.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Fathers that actually understood early on, this is what you guys need to do to be able to reach success.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You talk about prodigies though. You told me you talk about, you talk about. You talking about.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

You got to understand, as fathers, you never know that these prodigies are going to be what they turned out to be. You think Jose's dad understood that? She would be one of the greatest of all time. I mean, she's singing in the choir. You, young Joe Jackson, you have talent. You have. You have sons that are talented. You have to put them through the. Through the work to actually get to that pinnacle that you envision. Is that not almost like the same thing? They seeing something that they weren't able to accomplish, and they feel that their child, the kids should be able to be able to live out their dream.

[Shannon Sharpe]

But if you go back and think about it, go back and listen to the parent, the kid was excited to get up the next day to go do it again.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Okay.

[Shannon Sharpe]

They never had to force the child to go do it.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Right.

[Shannon Sharpe]

They never like, come on, Tiger, you got to get up. Tiger was four or five years old. He already had his bag. He was ready to go.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Beyonce. They never had to drag Beyonce into rehearsals or say, you need to practice. She was raring to go. Mike, he's with the Jackson 5. You say, hey, we got a group. Nice little group. Hey. And I'm sure. But. And. And. And, you know, a lot of times, you know, it's hard. Tiger had a very strained relationship with his father because of things that transpired in the household with his mom.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Right.

[Shannon Sharpe]

We know Mike had a very troubled relationship with his father. He ended up firing his dad soon as he left the group. I think in 79, fired his dad. All of them ended up finding the dad as their manager.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Right.

[Shannon Sharpe]

So we. We understand because. But as a child, you don't understand that, Ocho. You don't. You don't understand that he, Your parent, mom, or dad is trying to push you in a direction because they see something in you that you don't see yourself. Yeah, but. But the child has to want it, because if he be, he or she begrudgingly do it.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

It's.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Listen, when they get old enough, when they get old enough to make their own decisions, all the work that you put in it don't go to waste, because the child is going to turn. Now, you know what? This ain't what I.

[Shannon Sharpe]

That ain't what I want. Because we've seen. We've seen them. Man, I just. Man, I ain't even want to play no more football. I ain't even want to play no more basketball. And that's. And here's the Thing I saw somebody and he said. He said two things. Motivation and discipline. When you're not motivated, are you disciplined enough to go do what you need to do?

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Motivation. Oh, yeah. Ojo we. Oh, I'm motivated. Oh, boy, boy, boy.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

There's certain levels when the motivation is not there because you're not going to be motivated every single day, every single time. But will you be disciplined, understanding, and realizing what it takes to get to where you ultimately wants to go?

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Two more examples.

[Shannon Sharpe]

What's that ball?

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

And what he did with the ball with.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yes.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

And Aman Ross, St. Brown's father as well. Hey, Magic Creed. Magic.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah, but he said, he said, hey, the boys. Hey, they wanted to be at the gym.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Yes.

[Shannon Sharpe]

And it's easy. When someone is. Is motivated and they're disciplined. That's the ease. That's the easiest person because you look at the greats. Michael Jordan is extremely talented, but look at the motivation. Look at the discipline that he had. Look at LeBron, look at Kobe. You look at the greats of the greats.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Yes.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Not only are they extremely talented, they're extremely driven individuals. I'm talking about obsessed.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Yeah, yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Serena was obsessed. That's when you get. When 20, 30, 40 years from now when we talk about some of the best. The best female tennis player. That's why she's always going to be mentioned, because she was obsessed with it. Yes. She's ultimately talented. To be able to. For her to be able to move around the court like she could with that, with that powerful forehand.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Federer, he's like, he's on clouds. Like he's, he's, he's ballet. He's Barishnikov with a bat, with a racket. But we wish the best. We wish the best for all these guys. But some of these, sadly, is going to come to an end. Some of these guys are not going to get. What do we call it, Ocho? Practice squad opportunities. Some of these guys, it's over. It's the end of the road, Ocho. But we got a new angle from the play yesterday in which Shador threw a punch and was ended up being ejected. Shiloh. I keep saying Shiloh, Bill. Zach Davidson grabs the face mask of Shiloh after the whistle. So are we gonna show that we can't. Oh, it's the NFL. Yeah. But what happened was after the play, he ends up grabbing Shiloh's face mask.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

And it looks like, you know, hey, you know how it is, Ocho.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I'm trying to get his Hands off. And so, hey, he won't let it go. So I take. I take a swipe at him. I see you. I see you, buddy.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

You can't. Huh? You can't.

[Shannon Sharpe]

And if you in the wide open.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Yeah. And not even about being in wild. It's. It's joint practice. I understand a little scuffle in game preseason. No matter where you at in the field, you in the trenches, you know, you. You in. You in the middle of the. You can't. You just can't do it. You got to suck that one up. You got to suck that one up. And pick a time to get them before the whistle blows. Pick a time to get him before the whistle blows. Within the scheme of what y' all got going on, you can't. You can't do it. There. There's really.

[Shannon Sharpe]

There's.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

There's really no discourse. There's no dialogue that needs to go on about it. You can't do that.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You're right. You right. Yeah. When you write, you ain't wrong, and you. And in this situation, you absolutely right. And I know, I know the. Our instinct is to get him back. Get it. Not to get, but to get him back right now, Ocho, it ain't good. It ain't good. It ain't good enough to get him back at a later date and time. Yeah, I got to get you back right now because you got me. So since you got me, I got to get you.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

You got four quarters. You got four quarters. You know, I mean, hey, listen, it's football, man. You, you know, you know how it is out there. You. You know how it is.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Oh, I know.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

I, I had to deal with people trying to kill me for four quarters. For a decade. Yes. Yeah. Straight every week.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Hey, and I got. I done got people, man. Man, such and such, man, such and such. Dirty. What happened? Man, I was. Hey, oh, Joe. You know how it is.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Oh, Joe Used to cut people.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Did I?

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Yeah. See, I, I, I ain't do that. I ain't do that. I ain't do that. I don't. I don't. I don't like. I don't like. I don't like going below the knees. I did. I'm just. Me. As small as that was, as frill as I was, I never wanted to cut people for the simple fact I don't want to be responsible for. For you losing your career. Or did you think.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Did you think about my career when you did that cheap issue? Did. Were you thinking about my family when you did that? Were you thinking about my grandma? Were you thinking about my brother and sister? My kids? When you did what you did, I got you. Oh, now you want me to think. Now you want me to have a heart, right? I'm sorry, I don't. But I. I would have teammates, man. It's such and such dirty. I said, man, such number such and such. I'm like, what he do, man? I joke after the whist. Oh, he got. I said, okay, let's get him. Let's get him.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Oh, them some good days, boy.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Oh, man.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Oh, good days, boy.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Oh, oh, you got to get guy. You're not going to get us. In fact, we're not going to do anything about it. Oh. Four of the five offensive linemen that were blocking for Shador Sanders yesterday were waived by the Browns today. D' Artagnan Tinsley, Bucky Williams, Javion Cohen, Sebastian Gutierrez. Gutierrez or Gutierrez, one of them. I went to high school with a young lady named Christy Gutierrez. So Gutierrez. Some people say Gutierrez, and some people she went by Gutierrez because she was Nicaraguan.

[Dan]

I'm Dan. He's Ty.

[Ty]

Hello.

[Dan]

And we're the Solid Verbal college football podcast.

[Ty]

College football season is here and you know what that means.

[Dan]

Your team is going to break your heart three times probably before Halloween.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Uh huh.

[Ty]

But fear not, the Solid Verbal will be right there with you through every soul crushing loss and impossible comeback.

[Dan]

Join us all season long, all year long, as we ride the rollercoaster of this ridiculous sport.

[Ty]

Whether you're a die hard fan or a casual observer, we'll help you make sense of all the chaos and of course, celebrate the madness. Tune in for previews, recaps, bits you won't hear anywhere else, and all the emotional support you need as a college football fan.

[Dan]

We don't just love college football, Ty, we live it.

[Ty]

Listen to the Solid verbal college football podcasts on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Jake Hofer]

I'm Jake Hofer and this is back 40, a limited series show on Wire to Hunt, part of Meat Eaters Podcast Network. Each episode I'll be asking eight whitetail hunting pros a focused, thought provoking question about hunting and land management. How do I hunt the best part of the farm with less than ideal access?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Should you? That's what the real question is. Stand without good access is not a good stand.

[Jake Hofer]

Listen to Back 40 on I iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast or wherever you get your podcast.

[Sarah Spain]

I'm Simone Boyce, host of the Bright side podcast and on this week's episode, I'm talking to Olympian World cup champion and podcast host Ashlyn Harris.

[Ashlyn Harris]

My worth is not wrapped up in how many things I've won, because what I came to realize is I valued winning so much that once it was over, I got the blues and I was like, this is it for me. It's the pursuit of greatness. It's the journey, it's the people, it's the failures, it's the heartache.

[Sarah Spain]

Listen to the bright side on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. The U.S. open is here. And on my podcast, Good Game with Sarah Spain, I'm breaking down the players, from rising stars to legends chasing history. The predictions, well, we see a first time winner and the pressure. Billie Jean King says pressure is a privilege, you know, plus the stories and events off the court. And of course, the Honey deuces, the signature cocktail of the U.S. open. The U.S. open has gotten to be a very fancy, wonderfully experiential sporting event. I mean, listen, their whole aim is to be accessible and inclusive for all tennis fans, whether you play tennis or not. Tennis is full of compelling stories of late. Have you heard about icon Venus Williams, recent wildcard bids? Or the young Canadian Victoria Mboko making a name for herself? How about Naomi Osaka getting back to form? To hear this and more, listen to Good Game with Sarah Spain, an iHeart women's sports production in partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get.

[Ashlyn Harris]

Your podcasts, presented by Capital One, founding.

[Sarah Spain]

Partner of iHeart Women's Sports.

[Shannon Sharpe]

So Kevin Stefanski clapped back this morning saying he was. He's not trying to sabotage Shador. Another piece of info came out overnight. If Stefanski was wasn't trying to sabotage, why was undrafted rookie Greg Larvenian not in with Shador? What's Gagne Gage Gay? Damn, all these names. Gage has been with Shador throughout the camps, practice and even first preseason game. He also trains with him outside of practice. Why yesterday was he not in with him? Look, Ocho, I don't really want. Hey.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Hey. We beating a dead horse, huh?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah. Tyler Huntley was released. Tyler Huntley was released yesterday, Ocho. Which begs the question, what? You and I. Okay. You know you're going to waive Tyler Huntley. So what good did that two minute drive do do for him? Was it going to help him? Don't you think Shadow would have benefited more from a two minute drive than Tyler Huntley? I'm just asking.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

If the guy, if, if one guy is going to be on your roster, it seems like they're going to keep four quarterbacks on you. Doesn't it seem it would have been more beneficial for Shador to get the two minute drill because that situation that he might find himself in during the regular season if something were to happen to the quarterbacks in front of him as opposed to Snoop Huntley, yes or no?

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. But one thing we don't know is how that, that, that, that coach staff is thinking. We don't know what's going through their mind. We don't know what Coach Stefanski is thinking. I'm not sure what they were trying to look at. Maybe get one last look at Hunley before whatever decision you want to make. But again, they, I, I, I don't, I don't know what to say, what else to say at this point. I don't, honestly. I mean, it's, it is what it is. Obviously you want quarterback play and opportunity to be given to each and every person. They saw fit. They saw fit. The way it is, they're keeping four quarterbacks and that's where it is now. I mean that, that's where it is now. I know one thing, I've watched a lot of football for a long time. Watched a lot of quarterback play for a long time. I played, I played with some good ones, you know, So I mean, they made that, they made the decision.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yep.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

This is the way they wanted to go. So I wish, I wish the Cleveland Browns nothing but luck in their quarterback situation because once, once the season starts for real, week one and then bullets flying all over the place.

[Shannon Sharpe]

For real. Yeah.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Be a different ball game. It's going to be a different ball game.

[Shannon Sharpe]

It is. I, I, look, I'm just a firm believer. If you go back and study Joe Flacco since he's been away from the Ravens expectations, you see, when he came in for desean, there was no expectations. But what happened when he went somewhere and there was expectations? How did he do?

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Different ball game, huh?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

The pressures of having to play that position are a lot different. Preseason is one thing, you know, that's all shits and giggles. No disrespect. It's all vanilla. I don't think, I don't think people understand how difficult that position is to play when you're being schemed right, when they know what's coming, when they're trying to confuse you, when they're trying to throw you off your pivot. It's just different ball game. You got a lot of moving out there in front of you. You got to make calls, you got to make line adjustments. You got to make. You get, you got them second, second level backers being able to pin, man, is, it's a different ball game. You know. Now the Browns haven't been able to get that quarterback situation right in a very, very long time with that.

[Shannon Sharpe]

No.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Why I think, I mean all of us, not just you and I, but the, the chat as well and other people that are, are watching, you know, everything unfold. I mean this is, it's been a very long time since the Browns have been in, been in discussion like this and in the mainstream media in a very, very long time. And maybe they got it right this time, maybe they didn't. But if they didn't get it right, the search for quarterback number one will still go on after 35 tries of trying to.

[Shannon Sharpe]

For sure. For sure. And, and, and that's the thing that once you win, there's an expectation to win. So you know, Joe Flacco coming out off the bench, there ain't no expectations because most times people have the backup. You're not expecting your backup to be able to carry you. That's why he a backup or he'd be somewhere else starting right. He wins two or three games now, the level of expectation we have is risen.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

And then we see the precipitous drop.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

I know one thing, I know we, we doing all this Browns talk and, and all that. The Browns are very, very, very, very good. And this is coming from a Bengal fan like I'm, I'm no fool. The identity for this team is their defense. But their Ward Nome, Miles Garrett and the rest of them boys, that's their identity. That is who going to win game for them. Now what you need the quarterback to do who will be Flacco, is we need you to play good football. Ask what we do of you and don't turn the ball over.

[Shannon Sharpe]

This is what Kurt Warner said. Guy that won a, a Super bowl, he's a two time league mvp. He was a Super bowl mvp. He said. I was really looking forward to the competition between Dylan Gabriel and Shador Sanders in the last preseason game. I know it plays out like this sometimes, but what a bummer. Didn't have the same ops, which is the opportunities to make plays. DG played well again, but had some good opportunities to make plays. SS didn't have those same ops, so it was hard to make too much of an assessment Everybody's off.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

I mean, listen.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I mean, Ocho, if you're a receiver. If you're a receiver, Ocho, and I'm a receiver now, when I'm in the game, we call it pass plays. You in the game, they call it run plays. How they gonna fairly judge you when you don't get the same opportunity that I got? So how do you judge. How do you judge Shador when you didn't give him, like, look, he missed some throws, he had some protection. Sometimes he's going to have to do a better job of getting rid of the football. That's. That's always been my biggest gripe with him, is that he holds onto the ball too long and he's trying to make every single play. And you cannot. There's not ever been a quarterback that can make every single play. Sometimes it's okay to throw the ball away. Sometimes it's okay. Instead of completing 60, 70% of your passes and 70% with 6, 7 sacks don't do me no good.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Right.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I'd rather you complete 60% of your passes, 58 of your passes, and have three sacks, as opposed to completing 70% and having six or seven sacks. So he's going to have to do a better job of untraining himself. Throw that ball away, and it's okay. You don't have the foot speed to out people, outrun people around the edges. There are not very many defensive ends, if any, that you can beat to the edge.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

So step up in the pocket. They're not there. A one, two. Check it down or throw it away. Go ahead. Oh, you want to say something?

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

No, no, no. You. You're right. You're right. I mean, one. One of the things that he does have is he has good awareness, he has good pocket presence, but based on what's around him at times, most of the time, you feel the. The pocket collapsing around you. Instead of floating back, just step up in it. Step up in it. And it was hard for him to actually step up because once those ends were coming around, the guard, the two guards, everyone was getting pushed in his face, so it was hard to be able to.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

And find a lane.

[Shannon Sharpe]

And they blitz it. They blitz. They brought. They brought pressure.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

So the offensive line suddenly doesn't know how to hold up once your door Sanders starts playing, but Dylan Gabriel has all day to dance in the pocket. Something isn't adding up. Just what I remember being a young offensive lineman fighting for a job. My old line coach came up to me and said, hey, swores you need to block worse. When Smith is playing quarterback so he looks bad. Totally normal. Conspiracy. That. That happens all the time. No, I don't. I don't. Look, ain't nobody telling you to pay play bad. Why am I gonna play? I'm trying to make the team.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Me making it. First of all, Ocho, if I'm an offensive lineman, the quarterback playing good isn't tied to me because if I get beat. No, we're not a package deal. I'm playing good for myself because they're evaluating me. When they cut that film on, they ain't really looking at the quarterback drop. They're looking at me. How did I say it? Did I get beat inside? Was I supposed to? Was I. Was I not supposed to get beat inside? Did we a. Did I molly like I'm supposed to? Did I combo block right? Did I pop like I was supposed to? That's what they're judging me on. So for me, I. Who. How Ocho caught the ball? Or did the tight end run the right route or did the back do what he's supposed to do? I'm worried about my responsibility. That's what I'm concerned about.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Right.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Shannon's responsibility. And then because everybody's getting evaluated. We're not getting evaluated as a package deal, man. The quarterback played good. Oh, so everybody. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. Everybody getting evaluated on their own individual plate. So I know Jeff was trying to be funny. Look, I just think the guys that were in there, the offensive line, but they weren't very good. And so now you got the perfect storm, Ocho. You got four or five offensive linemen that are very good, and you got a quarterback that holds on to the ball. Now you got the perfect storm. Now you got a Category 5, and you got an earthquake going on at the same time a disaster is about to unfold.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Oh, yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

And that's what we saw yesterday.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Yeah. Hey, man, you do what you can with the cars that you're dealt on. That's the way life you. You do.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yes.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

And with the cars, you adapt. Whatever hand you got, you got to play it the best you can.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I agree.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Some hands are great, some hands not so great. That's just life in general.

[Dan]

I'm Dan. He's Ty.

[Ty]

Hello.

[Dan]

And we're the Solid Verbal College football podcast.

[Ty]

College football season is here. And you know what that means.

[Dan]

Your team is going to break your heart three times probably before Halloween.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Uh huh.

[Ty]

But fear not. The solid Verbal will be right there with you through every soul crushing loss and impossible comeback.

[Dan]

Join us all season long, all year long, as we ride the rollercoaster of this ridiculous sport.

[Ty]

Whether you're a diehard fan or a casual observer, we'll help you make sense of all the chaos and of course, celebrate the madness. Tune in for previews, recaps, bits you won't hear anywhere else, and all the emotional support you need as a college football fan.

[Dan]

We don't just love college football, Ty, we live it.

[Ty]

Listen to the solid verbal college football podcasts on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Jake Hofer]

I'm Jake Hofer and this is back 40, a limited series show on Wire to Hunt, part of Meat Eaters Podcast Network. Each episode I'll be asking eight whitetail hunting pros a focused, thought provoking question about hunting and land management. How do I hunt the best part of the farm with less than ideal access?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Should you? That's what the the real question is. Stand without good access is not a good stand.

[Jake Hofer]

Listen to Back 40 on iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast or wherever you get your podcast.

[Sarah Spain]

I'm Simone Boyce, host of the Bright side Podcast and on this week's episode I'm talking to Olympian World cup champion and podcast host Ashlyn Harris.

[Ashlyn Harris]

My worth is not wrapped up in how many things I've won, because what I came to realize is I valued winning so much that once it was over I got the blues and I was like, this is it for me. It's the pursuit of greatness. It's the journey, it's the people, it's the failures, it's the heartache.

[Sarah Spain]

Listen to the Bright side on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. The U.S. open is here. And on my podcast Good Game with Sarah Spain, I'm breaking down the players from rising stars to legends, chasing predictions. Will we see a first time winner and the pressure. Billie Jean King says pressure is a privilege. You know, plus the stories and events off the court and of course the honey deuces, the signature cocktail of the U.S. open. The U S Open has gotten to be a very fancy, wonderfully experiential sporting event. I mean listen, the whole aim is to be accessible and inclusive for all tennis fans, whether you play tennis or not. Tennis is full of compelling stories of late. Have you heard about icon Venus Williams, recent wild card bids? Or the young Canadian Victoria Mboko making a name for herself? How about Naomi Osaka getting back to form? To hear this and more, listen to Good game with Sarah Spain, an iHeart women's sports production in partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Ashlyn Harris]

Presented by Capital One, founding partner of iHeart Women's Sports.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer. Ocho says he will meet with Micah Parsons after Micah was seen laying on the medical table behind the cat Dallas Cowboys bench during Friday night's final preseason game against the Falcons. Without talking to Micah, I need to figure out what he was doing and why he was. Why he was. Was going anyway. I don't know what actually wrote here, so until I talk to him, I'm obviously, I'm not going to talk about it to the media. What exactly? Cause, okay, this is what Michael said, Ocho, he tweeted. I actually appreciate this. The way the media shapes perception and narratives is. Wow. If he didn't. If. If he didn't have anything to say, everyone would just have run with it. I'd never disrespect the guys out there fighting for their lives. I'm. I'm just. An interesting clarity. In fairness, Michael Parsons was not laying on the training table all night. In fact, it was only a relatively short period portion of the evening. Well, you could have had him in uniform. You're paying me money.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

That. That's true. That's true. Hey, two things can be true.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yes.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

But I know one thing. Jerry gonna drag this thing all the way out, boy. They play September 4th, if I'm not mistaken, is that. Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Thursday. Yeah. So a week from Thursday.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Hold on. That's next week. Thursday. No.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yes. A week from Thursday.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

I'm excited. I'm excited. I'm excited. If my. If Mike is not out there, I don't think they stand the chin defensively.

[Shannon Sharpe]

No, they still got.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

If I'm not mistaken, they still got 26 over there in Philly, right?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yes.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

I mean, Philly, they still got. They still got AJ they still got.

[Shannon Sharpe]

That offensive line, too. So I don't know what type of pressure you think you're gonna get without Micah. I mean, with Lane and my Lotta. Not Dixon. Dixon might be out, right? So, I mean, one thing.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Even with. Even with Dixon out. But come on now. Come on now. We talk about the reigning super bowl champs.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I understand what they're up against, man.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Come on now. If anything, it's going to be a game because the Dallas Cowboys offense and their new additions are going to be exciting. I'm ready to see. I'm ready to See, George, if they.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Can hold up, huh? If they can hold up against the Eagles.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Let me tell you something. Let me tell you something. They gonna hold up. It's week one. You ain't gonna have no choice. You a have no choice, boy. Number four, Finn to get that ball dealt, boy. You hear me? He f to throw that thing to 13. He f to throw that thing to 88. But them boys gonna get busy, okay? And I'm not. I'm not even a Cowboys fan. I'm a fan of certain individuals and players. You know, I. I want to see Dak do well.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I want to.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

You know who I really care about? You want to know who I really care about doing well. I want to see George Pickens play. I want to see George Pickens lock in for 16, 17, 18 goddamn weeks. That's what I want to see. Yeah, we talk about. Hey, Chat. Chat. Who's your favorite team? Huh? Chat. Can y' all hear me? Hello, Chad. Who's your team? Who you looking for, though? Who you looking for to watch in week one? No connect. They can hear me. Goddamn. Goddamn Cowboys. Jerry don't want to pay Michael. I know I got something to look forward to. I got for it to look in the joy. I could look forward to George Pickens. George Pickens.

[Shannon Sharpe]

But Michael needs to understand. Ocho.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Yeah. What happened? Talk to me.

[Shannon Sharpe]

It'll be the same situation if you're under contract, you're holding in. You're not holding out. You're holding in because you're there.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

And you'd be standing on the sideline and you're laying down Michael. What do you. What you think people gonna say?

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Okay, okay.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Well, you already. You already. You already. First of all, all the eyes are on you. First of all, you're on the Cowboys. That's first and foremost. Second of all, you're. You're on the training table. Yeah. And I understand, even if you just lay down for a quick second, they're gonna make it. They're gonna make it something. So you. I want you to understand this is going to be a story until you get signed, until you're in. Until you're in uniform. So even. Even if you. They don't give you a contract, everything you do is being monitored. They like. Well, Michael don't care. Michael doesn't care.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. That. That.

[Shannon Sharpe]

That.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

That is one thing we not going to let fly. We're not going to blame Micah. I'm not talking about you. I'm just saying in general, just that narrative about Micah not caring because he's laying down. Well, hell, the goddamn owner don't care.

[Shannon Sharpe]

The owner don't care because if the owner doesn't play.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Huh?

[Shannon Sharpe]

You. So let me ask you a question. Let's just say that was a TJ Watt and he was holding out, and he's laying down on the training table behind the bench. You don't think they would say anything about that? Let's just say for the sake of argument, that's Jamar Chase and the Bengals offense are up and he's laying down behind the trainer table. You don't think they're gonna say anything about that?

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Yeah, I understand what you're saying.

[Shannon Sharpe]

That's all. That's all I'm saying. Michael needs to understand, okay? He's a superstar player. And when. And you let you lay it down.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Look, I got you. I got you.

[Shannon Sharpe]

It's just. What. What's the word? We like to use the optics.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Optics. Yeah. Yeah. I'd be laying down, too, if I want to talk about me the way he talked about him.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Hey, either the question is, is he gonna miss one? What is it, $1.2 million a paycheck. That's the question. Is he. Is he willing to risk 1.2 million dollar paycheck? Now he needs to get.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Huh? He's there. He's there.

[Shannon Sharpe]

If he doesn't play well, you think they're gonna pay him?

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

If he don't play, my back hurt. I'm in. I'm here. I'm here. You said I'm on the contract, right? Okay, I'm under contract. You know what? I have an injury. I have injury, but I'm here. Did you say.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Didn't you say you don't want to.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Pay me because it's a chance? Yeah, I missed some games last year. Well, how about I'm still here, but.

[Shannon Sharpe]

What the question is, does he want to go take it to a grievance? Because the cowboy gonna say, we don't got MRIs, and we got everything, and the doctor says everything's. Everything checks out. So now you're gonna tie it up.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Hey, it's a dirty game, huh? Hey, it's a dirty game. The fact that. The fact that it's even gotten to this point with one of the players, not just one of the better people, one of the top three of this position. The fact that it's even gotten to this point, if it was any other team, Michael would have had his money. I think he would have been in training camp. He would have played in a Preseason game or two. But Jerry has other ways of doing things when it comes to business. He knows how to conduct it to make sure that the noise and the chirping continue to stay around that franchise in general. But let you know, I'm gonna pay you when they get ready. You're not. You, not. You, not. You're not deboing. You're not bullying nothing. I don't care who you are.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Jerry said when he sat down with Stephen A. Smith, I've been around for a long time.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Prove a point.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Now, listen, I've heard whooping and hollering from players that were disgruntled about contracting their money for a long time. That ain't gonna move me. I'm not moving for that. I pay you when I get ready.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You're not gonna bully Jerry. I've been watching the. The Netflix special.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Yeah. Oh. How was it? It was good.

[Shannon Sharpe]

It offers a lot of insight. It's what people. Look, Jerry wanted more credit. Jimmy was getting too much of it. Jerry wanted some of it. And Jim is like, nah. And it came to a head that the man fired a coach that had won two championships because he wanted credit, and he wasn't getting enough of it.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

What he wanted Jimmy to say.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Well, the way Jimmy explained it is like. And Jerry said. I mean, Jerry out of his own mouth, you run the football, I'm gonna run the business side of it, Right? But the business side is not nearly as enticing as the football side, because don't nobody care about the market who's selling all the stuff and all the stuff that's up there. They care about that football team. And Jimmy put it together, and it started, you know, Jerry wanted credit for the Herschel Walker trade. People say it was Jimmy, Jim, Jerry, Jimmy said, I can show you in my contract where I was in the draft and I was in trial inside of trades. Jerry says, no, that didn't happen. Blah, blah, blah. It was just. But if you watching it, you could see it building, even not knowing the backs. Now, obviously, we know this 20. This is 30 years ago, Ocho.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Right.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Knowing what we know now. But even if you didn't know anything, if you just watch it, you're like, oh, yeah, this thing's gonna come to a head. It's gonna come to a head. Absolutely right. And the final, when, you know, Jerry walked through, they had just won the super bowl, and the coaches were drinking, and Jerry walked through and held his glass up, and all the other coaches held that glass up. Jimmy did this.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Wait. They Showed that.

[Shannon Sharpe]

No, they told a story.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Oh, man.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Ben. Jerry. Because, see, Jerry wanted to be a part of it. And see, that's the thing. See, that's why we tell people everybody rings are not the same. And everybody in an organization might get the ring, but unless you one of them got one to one of them guys, right? The 53, them coaches, it's different.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Right, right, right, right.

[Shannon Sharpe]

And so Jerry wanted to be a part of that. But Jimmy, like, bro, you not. You not putting in 100 hours a week, right? You get to go home every night and sleep next to your wife. A lot of these guys don't. You've watched your kids grow up. A lot of these got kids. They go miss. They gonna blink. And the kid done graduated. And you weren't there for a lot of these special occasions. So Jimmy. Jerry wanted to be a part of it. Jimmy resented the fact that just because you own the team, you want to be a part of it. You can be a part of this, but you can see it. You could see it coming. You could see it coming. You could see it coming. Both of them are very, very prideful men. There's no question. Jerry, he the ultimate businessman. He could sit there. Ain't a whole lot he can't sell, right? Not a whole lot he can't sell. And he could sway a lot of people to get on his side. But the way Jim. The way Jimmy had that team clicking on all cylinders, they might have won three, four in a row, huh? Yeah.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Dang.

[Shannon Sharpe]

But, yeah, Michael. I don't think Michael truly understands who he is, what the Cowboys are, and everything. Everything is bigger in Texas.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Hey, Michael just want to play football, huh? Mike ain't worried about that. Mike ain't worried about that. Stolen that helmet. Micah came in there, okay. I got drafted. I'm here. I'm playing for the Cowboys. I understand. I understand what it comes with. To. To an extent, but I don't care nothing about that. As you can see, I want to play football. I've done something that not very many people are coming to this league and done after college. I would like to be compensated for what I'm not. Not what I've already done, but what I'm going to continue to do in the foreseeable future. Yeah, you have owner who came out and said some of the most outlandish things to say about a player that is actively under contract. I mean, that. That I'm still. I'm still baffled for three more years. I'm appalled.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Jerry say you want to dance with me? Or do you want. Or do you want to swim in shark infested waters for the next three years? You gotta dance with me.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Hey. At one point, if I'm not mistaken, being a cowboy player in general was coveted. Being a coach, the Dallas Cowboys was coveted.

[Shannon Sharpe]

When they won.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Not no more.

[Shannon Sharpe]

That's when they were treated like rock stars. That's when they was like Hollywood. They was all on the covers. Emmett and Troy and Michael and Time and all those. They were winning. They were winning. They're still a big bet. They're still a big brand. But all those guys are not getting on no cover, no magazine like it like it used to be. And this was before the Internet, right? But they're gonna have to make a decision. Well, look, they got a week from Thursday. They play. Let's see what Jerry can. Jerry says we've got a deal. Jerry says we got a deal. Jerry.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

No, they got. They got his deal.

[Shannon Sharpe]

That's what Jerry say.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

They don't have the deal that Michael Parsons and David Mulaguetta have agreed to.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Jerry said that don't matter. Jerry say, hey, there are three people involved here, and you know who to leave. There's me, there's Micah, there's me. And the least important is the agent.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Hey, but you got to be careful, man. You got to be careful as a player. Got to be careful as a player. Thinking that is your friend. Because this is what they do to you. They show you. They show you two colors now, right? Yeah, they. They pull it. They pull this off right? Now, while you're valuable, you are value to me, which is why I'm treating you like this now. While you think you're value, I don't really want to pay you your worth, but I'm a tricky and try to shake your hand so I can undermine the agent who knows the tricks. And it. Who knows the tricks I'm trying to pull off. Ain't no fool. That ain't no language.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I just. I just need. Micah just needs to understand. Hey, bro, you don't want to stand. And I know getting. Hey, standing on that sideline. Now you see why all them coaches walk messed up that standing three hours, man. That thing have your back tight. Hey, just go grab your. Hey, just go grab your seat on the bench and just sit there and watch it on the jumbotron. They probably have something to say about that. But hey, yeah, hey, I'm here. I'm out here supporting my teammates.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

I got a question.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yes.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles, Week one, Thursday night who you got winning?

[Shannon Sharpe]

I think it's going to be the most watched Thursday night Football game in NFL history. I'm gonna take the Eagles.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Okay. You. You sure? You sure Be sure about that.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yep. Yep. I want the Eagles. I want the Eagles to win 45 to 7.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

God damn.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Cause I want Michael to get his money. You remember back in 93 when they started the season 02.02? That's the only way Emmy got his money.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Money. Okay, okay, okay, okay, okay.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I want Michael to get his money. I want. I want Jalen Hurst to throw for 300. I won't say Quan to run for a buck 50. I want those two wide receivers to go over 100.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Damn.

[Shannon Sharpe]

And I want the time of possession to be something like 60 minutes in the game. Something like 38. 39 minutes to 20, 21. Dude. Because I want Michael to get his money. Oh, he's been a model citizen. He's done everything. He's done everything the right way. Right now you want to hold up the man Money.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Oh, man. That's. That's. That's. I could.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I could. We have a deal. And my. And my. He keeps saying in my mind, we have a deal. A deal that a contract is a meeting between the minds. Micah doesn't believe you guys have a deal. That's why they have paper. So let me ask you a question. Could they. Could they do this? So in Jerry's mind, this ain't worth nothing in a NFL binding. That's why they have contracts. That's why they had to go to writing it down on paper. Because a contract in its general form was a meeting of the minds. Two people had agreed, and. And the word. Your word was your bond. And then what happened? All of a sudden, that ain't what I said. That ain't what I meant. And say, you know what? Write it down. So in Jerry's mind, in Michael minds and Michael mind, they don't have a contract.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Right.

[Shannon Sharpe]

So it has to be a meeting of the mind before the contract to be binding. So.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Oh, Jerry boy. Jerry tried to pull a fast one, boy.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Oh, yeah, for sure. He's a smooth talker.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah, ocho.

[Shannon Sharpe]

It took 22 years, but Jerry Jones had finally admitted he let his ego play a role in the end of the Dallas Cowboy glory days. Jones and former coach Jimmy Johnson ended their relationship after consecutive super bowl wins in 1992. 93. Neither man had accepted responsibility for the demise of the relationship, but Jerry said. I lost my tolerance for a lot of things. I probably should have had a little bit more tolerance for Jimmy Johnson. Seriously, those are some big words coming from a man that once said 500 coaches could have won those Super Bowls with this team. Since Barrister Switzer, Jerry has hired five coaches who have delivered just two playoff wins. See, the difference is. You see what he said?

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Five coach, 500 coaches could have won the super bowl with that team.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Right?

[Shannon Sharpe]

How many of those 500 coaches could have built that team? Because that's what Jerry did. See, you could have a lot of people that can live in a house, Ocho, but how many people can build the house that they, he or she lives in? See, that's what Jerry forgot. See, that's what, that's what, that's what Jerry forgot. 500 coaches could coach this team. Yes, but how many of them can build the team?

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Right?

[Shannon Sharpe]

I'm sure there are a lot of coaches could have coached the Eagles. How many of them could do what Howie Roseman did and build it? See, you find very few coaches that can, that can coach and build.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Right?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Jimmy built that from scratch. He built it from scratch. Now, Jerry started one, but the thing was he wouldn't let Jim, he wouldn't let Jimmy go on no, on no meetings, no advertisers, no marketing meetings. He wouldn't let Jimmy do that.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Right?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Because that's not what Jimmy was. That's not what he had. But see, it started rolling good. All that credit. Everybody talking about Jimmy, Jimmy's built one of the best teams. Jimmy, Jimmy, he didn't hear enough. Jerry, he looks back, he look, he look at it. He could, they could have easily had a 10, 15 year run just like the Patriots had a 20. They could have got at least half that. Cause you gotta realize, Emmett, Troy and Mike was in their prime. I think Mike was the oldest at 28.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Damn. Would he ever get back to that type of prominence again and domination?

[Shannon Sharpe]

No, no. League is too balanced now, right? And they don't, they don't get consistent enough play at the quarterback position. And nobody's going to trade you a Charles, you're not going to be able to get a time. And nobody's going to trade you a Charles Haley level defensive player in his prime.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Well, here you go. You got one not too far off. Now, based on what we have to work with in today's NFL, you got one you don't want to pay right now.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah, but think about it.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

A difference maker.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Troy, hall of Famer. Emmett hall of Famer, Michael hall of famer, Larry Allen, hall of Famer. Charles Haley, hall of famer. Deion Sanders, hall of Famer. That's six. Darren Woodson is on the cusp. So that's six guys. So how many hall of Famers you think they got on that team right now? And the offensive line was dominant.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

And boy were big, bro, big easy step.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Gogan two and a Newton. Larry came later, but they were dominant.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Remember I went to the Pro bowl with Larry one year, man, that joker was strong. Remember they had them competitions, competition.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

The duration. And man, Larry, Larry Allen must have benched 225, man, 20 million times. I'm like, man, what the hell?

[Shannon Sharpe]

But I saw, I. I saw this episode. And Jerry is telling the story after he fired Jimmy. He comes home and he gets in the bed and he lays next to his wife Jean. And so you, she said you just couldn't help yourself. Say, you just can't let good be good. You just couldn't, could you? And as he's saying it, he start. He almost starts to wail up because a lot of times, Ocho, when things are good, you think they're going to be like that forever. And he realizes now just how hard it is. Because see, when things come, I mean, think about it. He bought the team in 89, and then by 93, he has back to back Super Bowls. 89, 90, 91, 92. So his fourth year of buying the team, he's in the super bowl the fifth year. They got two Super Bowls in five years. What you think happening? They think that's going to be easy. Look at the team. We got a quarterback is in his mid-20s, running back like 25. Michael Urban like 28. Huh? Ego. You see what happens now? He said he had something on his death desk that if you don't care who gets the credit, you can conquer the world. He said he had that on his desk for 20 years. But see the way he had it placed on his desk? It was facing out. He never read it. Everybody else that would come in there would read that.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Right?

[Shannon Sharpe]

But he should have had one that was facing him also.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Yeah, that's crazy.

[Shannon Sharpe]

They were special. You had. We played them. I mean, we played them. We played them in 92, the first year they won. We took them right down to the wild. They ended up scoring. They beat us. But they, they. I mean, I think they scored late in the ball game. I think they scored like two minutes to go to beat us. And then we played them again in 95, the year they won. They were, they were good. They were, they were really really, really, really, really good. And they were young and they were athletic and they were physical. They were a physical team. Jimmy, you hear Jimmy early on and say, hey, let the mind control the body. Don't let the body control the mind.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

I like that.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Hey, Jimmy, hey. Jimmy said, I'm pushing them farther than you could think you can go. Jimmy say, hey, dude had asthma. He said, hey, have asthma on that field. Don't you have asthma on this damn field? Have asthma over there. Damn, Jimmy, you know, the man can't help where he having an animal attack. Bad J. Hey, man, Jimmy didn't play. Jimmy did not play. But I think, I think Jerry looking at that and seeing it and the realization like, damn, we really had, we really had a chance to be the Patriots before the Patriots.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You don't think, you don't think that Mr. Kraft got tired of hearing Coach Belichick. Coach Belichick. Coach Belichick. Tom Brady. Tom Brady. Tom Brady, man, let me, Come on. Let me keep on collecting these rings. I'm the ring collector.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

And all he cared about.

[Shannon Sharpe]

That's it. That's it.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

You know, two different, Two different type, Two different type of personalities, too. Two different approaches to the game and how I'm going to conduct myself in not only owning the team, but allowing those below me to do their job.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah, I, I, I think the thing is. But Mr. Crab understood. I think he learned from Jerry's mistakes. I ain't going to mess this up, right? I'm not gonna mess this up.

[Dan]

I'm Dan, he's Ty.

[Ty]

Hello.

[Dan]

And we're the solid verbal college football podcast.

[Ty]

Tune in for previews, recaps, bits you won't hear anywhere else, and all the emotional support you need as a college football fan.

[Dan]

Join us all season long as we ride the roller coaster of this ridiculous sport.

[Ty]

Listen to the solid verbal college football podcasts on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Dan]

We don't just love college football, Ty. We live it.

[Jake Hofer]

I'm Jake Hofer and this is back 40, a limited series show on Wire to Hunt, part of Meat Eaters Podcast Network. Each episode I'll be asking eight whitetail hunting pros a focused, thought provoking question about hunting and land management. How do I hunt the best part of the farm with less than ideal access?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Should you? That's what the real question is. Stand without good access is not a good stand.

[Jake Hofer]

Listen to Back 40 on iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast, or wherever you get your podcast.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Check out behind The Flow, a podcast documentary series following the launch of San Diego Football Club. San Diego coming to MLS is going to be a game changer because this region has been hungry for a men's professional soccer team.

[Jake Hofer]

We need to embrace this community.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Listen to San Diego FC behind the Flow on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Sarah Spain]

Get fired up, y'.

[Shannon Sharpe]

All.

[Sarah Spain]

Season 2 of Good Game with Sarah Spain is underway. We just welcomed one of my favorite people, an incomparable soccer icon Megan Rapinoe, to the show and we had a blast. Take a listen. Sue and I were like riding the lime bikes the other day and we're.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Like wee people ride bikes because it's fun.

[Sarah Spain]

We got more incredible guests like Megan in store, plus news of the day and more. So make sure you listen to Good Game with Sarah Spain on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Brought to you by Novartis, founding partner of iHeart Women's Sports Network. This is an iHeart podcast.