Nightcap - Hour 2: Saquon eyes Dickerson’s record, Bengals fighting for their life, Pickens needs to grow up

Summary

Club Shay Shay Episode Summary
Title: Nightcap - Hour 2: Saquon eyes Dickerson’s record, Bengals fighting for their life, Pickens needs to grow up
Release Date: January 1, 2025
Host/Authors: iHeartPodcasts, The Volume, and Shay Shay Media
Description: NFL legend Shannon Sharpe—3x Super Bowl champion and member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame—sits down with the biggest athletes, celebrities, and influencers to discuss their accomplishments, challenges, and everything in-between.

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1. Saquon Barkley Eyes Eric Dickerson’s Record

Timestamp: [02:38] - [05:43]

The discussion kicks off with Saquon Barkley nearing Eric Dickerson’s all-time rushing yards record. Ocho Cinco highlights Barkley’s impressive performance, stating, “Saquon surpassed 2,000 rushing yards. He's 101 yards away from breaking Eric Dickson record that was set in 1984” ([02:38]). FDIC expresses concerns about teams potentially manipulating game strategies to prevent Barkley from achieving the milestone, sharing, “They don't allow players to get certain incentives... I hope they don't play any type of game” ([02:53]).

2. Team Management and Player Contracts

Timestamp: [07:05] - [10:49]

The conversation shifts to the complexities of player contracts and team decisions. FDIC criticizes how wins and losses impact MVP nominations, emphasizing that it's “an individual award based on your individual performance” ([08:58]). Ocho Cinco draws parallels to basketball, mentioning, “Jordan didn't really get the credit that Jordan deserved until Jordan started winning championships” ([09:24]). They debate the fairness of MVP considerations, especially comparing Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson, with FDIC arguing against Burrow’s MVP contention due to his team’s record ([10:28]).

3. Bengals' Performance and Playoff Prospects

Timestamp: [05:43] - [07:33]

Ocho Cinco and FDIC analyze the Bengals' current standing and their fight for playoff spots. FDIC confidently predicts victories, stating, “I told you the Bengals, we're going to win their last three” ([05:43]). Ocho Cinco remains skeptical about the Bengals making the playoffs, asserting, “I don't believe you get into the playoff” ([07:05]). They discuss strategic plays and the team's offensive strengths, including quarterback decisions and defensive challenges.

4. MVP Race: Joe Burrow vs Lamar Jackson

Timestamp: [07:05] - [10:49]

The debate intensifies around the MVP race, focusing on Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson. Ocho Cinco questions Burrow’s eligibility for MVP, saying, “I don't believe you can have seven losses and be the MVP” ([07:20]). FDIC supports Jackson’s candidacy, highlighting his outstanding performance: “Lamar Jackson... he can do some of the same things... he's a playmaker” ([10:49]). They discuss the criteria for MVP nominations and the impact of team success on individual awards.

5. Player Performances and Strategic Plays

Timestamp: [10:49] - [15:36]

The hosts delve into specific player performances and game strategies. Ocho Cinco praises Marvin Mims Jr. for his clutch plays, stating, “When he put it down and he run and he gotta scramble... that was a good catch” ([12:25]). They analyze pivotal game moments, such as key interceptions and defensive plays that influenced game outcomes. FDIC criticizes refereeing decisions, expressing frustration over controversial judgments that affected the game’s result.

6. Contract Negotiations and Team Decisions

Timestamp: [15:36] - [20:29]

A significant portion of the discussion centers on contract negotiations and team management. Ocho Cinco emphasizes the importance of fair compensation, arguing, “You can't give a hometown discount” and advocating for players to receive their deserved pay ([15:25]). FDIC echoes these sentiments, criticizing the team’s handling of player contracts and highlighting the need for better financial decisions to retain talent ([17:54]). They debate the balance between team budgets and player salaries, stressing the impact on team performance and player morale.

7. Reflections on Team Decisions and Fan Perspectives

Timestamp: [20:29] - [24:07]

The hosts reflect on past team decisions and their long-term effects. FDIC discusses the importance of team chemistry and the repercussions of management choices, saying, “You think they were not on the level that I thought they were going to be considering what it were last year” ([32:28]). Ocho Cinco shares personal experiences with past teams, underscoring the challenges players face when team management prioritizes business over player welfare ([32:28]). They highlight the disconnect between fan expectations and team strategies, advocating for more transparency and better decision-making processes.

8. Final Thoughts on Player Potential and Team Strategy

Timestamp: [24:07] - [34:23]

In their concluding discussions, Ocho Cinco and FDIC focus on player potential, especially regarding young talents like Pickens. Ocho Cinco urges players to harness their emotions positively, suggesting, “Pickens needs to channel a lot of that energy” ([22:36]). FDIC emphasizes the need for teams to maximize player potential by experimenting with positions and play styles, stating, “Look, he can do some of the same things... he's a playmaker” ([23:15]). They advocate for strategic adjustments to enhance team performance and leverage individual talents effectively.

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Notable Quotes

• Ocho Cinco:

  • “[02:38] Saquon surpassed 2,000 rushing yards. He's 101 yards away from breaking Eric Dickson record that was set in 1984.”
  • “[07:05] I don't believe you get into the playoff.”

• FDIC:

  • “[02:53] They don't allow players to get certain incentives... I hope they don't play any type of game.”
  • “[08:58] MVP is an individual award based on your individual performance.”
  • “[10:28] Lamar Jackson is... nobody, no other quarterback could have done what Lamar's doing.”

• Ocho Cinco:

  • “[09:24] Jordan didn't really get the credit that Jordan deserved until Jordan started winning championships.”
  • “[15:25] You can't give a hometown discount.”

• FDIC:

  • “[17:54] You can't say football the rest of the night. Matter of fact, you can't say any other words tonight that start with a letter B.”

---

Conclusion

This episode of Club Shay Shay provides an in-depth analysis of current NFL dynamics, focusing on player achievements, team management, and the intricate balance between individual performance and team success. Through spirited discussions, Ocho Cinco and FDIC offer unique perspectives on the challenges athletes face both on and off the field, making it a valuable listen for fans eager to understand the deeper aspects of the game.

Transcript

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[Michael Lewis]

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[Ocho Cinco]

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[Ocho Cinco]

Saquon surpassed 2,000 rushing yards. He's 101 yards away from breaking Eric Dickson record that was set in 1984. 2105. There are the. There will be temptations. Yeah. To let Saquon go for the rest. You know what? I don't like going for those, especially.

[FDIC]

When it comes to things like this. I hate internally, especially when it comes to records that are being broken. When it comes to players that have incentives in the contract, I've always heard about teams doing funny things. Doing funny things. I've heard the stories. I'm sure you've heard the stories as well. They don't allow players to get certain incentives. They take them out the game, or they don't give them the amount of carries or the amount of cases that they need to hit. I hope they don't play any type of game. I know they're winning and they might lose. The fact that they are winning, or we might pull you off the game to make sure you don't reach that incentive of breaking that record. Because we don't want you to get hurt. We want to save you for the playoffs. But just weird, funny stuff, huh?

[Ocho Cinco]

I don't know if he got that Ocho. You think he got. I. I know damn well. I'm not putting that record. I'm not putting no record. Okay. If I break. If I break Megatron, if I'm a wide receiver, I break Megatron record.

[FDIC]

As an example of what some teams do, sometimes players. I'm not saying. Oh, yeah, what happened to you?

[Ocho Cinco]

What you mean, do I know somebody? You know what I mean?

[FDIC]

Yeah.

[Ocho Cinco]

I had $100,000 in my contract. I had 115 yards and two touchdowns at the half. I needed five yards to get a th.

[FDIC]

Another. They don't play that game of Saquon and try to pull him out and not give him. Not give him the rushes and the carries that he needs to break that record.

[Ocho Cinco]

I'm getting that. Hold on. And I just saw Jonathan Taylor go have like, 18 carries for 125. Oh, I'm gonna get that. I'm gonna say, look, now it's on y'all. Y'all can give me 25 carries and let me get this number at the half. And I set that down, but I'm not coming out till I get this record. You too close. Everybody talking about, oh, straight Quan. He ain't being selfish. He sacrificed, he blocked. He does everything that you ask him to be. He's been a model teammate. I don't know Saquon person, but looking at his personality and the way he interacts. His teammates love him. They got him holding up in the locker room in the offensive line. They doing things for him he never got when he was in the Giants. The Giants organization appreciates him more than he ever got appreciated in New York. Now, I'm not saying the fans, fans, this is not a knock on y'all. I'm saying the organization, I'm saying the Mara, I'm saying the Tish's, I'm saying Sean or who, the General man, whoever. They never show Saquon what the Eagles organization has shown him. I'm not talking about the players. I'm sure the players love them. I'm just talking about from the ownership front office. I'm gonna stop it there. You see the way they, they, they embrace him. From Lurie to Hy Roseman, the offensive line, and he includes them in everything. I'm getting.

[FDIC]

I just know the game that they do play. You've experienced it before. I heard the horror stories about it. And he sees so he's so close to it. I, I, I just hope they run the offense through him. I don't, I don't know the extent of the injury. I'm not sure what Kenny Bigot is going through, but they've got to lean on him. They got to lean on Saquan next week, man. So I'm, I'm hoping he breaks that record. Yeah, that, that, that'd be very exciting for him. I'm gonna tell you like this, and I said it two weeks ago, and I said it before this game. I told you what was going to happen. I meant I manifested this. I told you the Bengals, we're going to win their last three. We took care of business last week. I told you what we're going to do to your Broncos. I didn't say anything in the malicious, man. I did it very respectfully. You didn't believe me. You said, you said y'all was going to win. Boom. Now you got egg on your face. Okay, so you can't say football the rest of the night. Matter of fact, you can't say any other words tonight that start with a letter B. So say, say the Roncos. Yeah. You can't say nothing else now. Next week, the Bangles, we got, we got the Steelers. I'm stealing. We gonna take care of business. I mean no disrespect. If we have any Steeler fans in the chat. I mean no disrespect. I'm not trying to be disrespectful or malicious in any way. I'm trying to talk about my Bangles and what we gonna do. We gonna squeeze into the playoffs. We gonna squeeze into the playoffs and we're gonna be a team that nobody wants to play. From an offensive perspective, I can't. I can't. I can't talk about.

[Ocho Cinco]

I don't believe you get into the playoff.

[FDIC]

I don't play defense. I'm just saying offensively, if we got to score 50, we got to scope 50 and hope we can hold the team to 45. And as far as Broncos are concerned, they got to play the Chiefs next week. I don't Bronco and team could be the Chiefs B team.

[Ocho Cinco]

You don't.

[FDIC]

That's how I'm feeling.

[Ocho Cinco]

They had the Broncos. They had the Chiefs to that block kick. Hey, remember, Remember they beat him last year? Yeah, in Denver. They blew him out last year in Denver. For whatever reason, the Broncos, even with Patrick Mahomes, were playing at his best. The Broncos have always played them tough. It does. Even when they didn't have. Even when they didn't have. Obviously not when they had Peyton Manning, they beat them. But even when they have lesser quarterback. When they had some of the other quarterbacks that they've had. Ojo, they've always played the Chiefs tough. And we know Chiefs going to the super bowl damn near what, four out of the last six years and they won three of them. But for some reason, obviously it's a division team. You're very familiar with them, but they play them tough. Michael Parsons, if Joey, if Joe Burrow takes this team for the playoff, I don't even think it should be a question Who MVP is G.D. best in the world right now. I disagree with that. I just don't believe you can have seven losses and be the MVP five. If he had the same record as Lamar Jackson, you can make a case. But has it. Is Lamar. Is Lamar Jackson not playing football right now? I mean, we just, we just, we just raved about Lamar Jackson for Christmas. What he, what he did the 48 yard run, which was his fastest speed he's ever accumulated. He said that's. But I was jogging. Yeah, he threw three Ocho. He threw three touchdowns. Look, if, if, if, if Joey Burrow had five losses, the same as we.

[FDIC]

Were talking about the MVP race not long ago when I was mentioning. I don't like the fact that the wins and losses total affects whether someone is in contention to be able to win the mvp because in its totality, it's not fair. It's an individual award based on your individual performance. But wins and losses come into play when it comes to MVP nomination. And you look.

[Ocho Cinco]

So how much did that performance. The question that the voters are going to have, how much did that performance go towards your team winning? So that's how. That's how they go. Look at o. So, yeah, you putting up great numbers, but so now people look at like, well, yeah, you putting up great numbers and a losing effort. See, Jordan didn't really get the credit that Jordan deserved until Jordan started winning championships. Now they started giving him MVPs. Now he had that extraordinary season where he averaged. He was defensive player of the year. He averaged 37, 8 and 8. Defensive Player of the year. But once he started winning. Once he started winning championships, now it's going to be. Look, I think. And I said this before, even when they said the MVP race was over, I said, it's not over. I said, because Lamar is still playing. I said, look, and I'm not taking anything away from Josh because you and I come out here. The man had six touchdowns. Ocho, he ran for a touchdown. He caught a touchdown. He threw a touchdown. And he's been putting up great numbers. But lamar Jackson is 39 and 4.

[FDIC]

That's crazy work.

[Ocho Cinco]

39 and 4. He's gonna be over 4,000 yards, and he has, like 800 yards rushing. That's cr. That nobody could. Nobody, no other quarterback could have done what Lamar's doing but Lamar Jackson.

[FDIC]

And what I saw from Joe Burrow a lot more tonight is I saw him changing some of the plays. I saw him changing some of the plays. And I think. I don't know if he should be being one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, had the freedom to override what Zach calls based on what he sees in front of him and be able to change it. Like, stuff like that is good. Like that goddamn 4th and 1. You should have changed that goddamn play after the timeout. The game didn't have to be that close.

[Ocho Cinco]

Oh, yeah. Cause he looked like he put. Looked like he put a chase on the one to T. Higgins, the first one. He put that thing. He put the T to chase. He's like, chase, no go over here. And now he's got 29 outside leverage on him. Ain't nothing you could do about that. And then one of the best throws of the night is that when Bo a hit Marvin Mills Jr. On the Dino Dino post. Is that what y'all call that route? We call it Dino. No, no, no. That we see. We call that shape. See? All he did. All he did was stem to the post. Now here it is, Ocho. See, once I go to the post, I'mma widen the front side safety. Now, if I that backside safety, if he ain't paying attention, I'm gonna be over the top of him before he realize it. And that's what happened. See? Hey, he looking. He don't realize the danger is over here. When he realized it, Mims is even with it.

[FDIC]

Had a good game. Listen, he pissed me off. Man can play. Mims. That's that. That second touchdown catch.

[Ocho Cinco]

Oh, double coverage.

[FDIC]

Hey, that was a good 50, 52 people on securing a catch. I was hoping the ref saw. I was hoping the ref said, oh, the ball hit the ground. I was hoping the ref said the ball hit the ground. They went and reviewed it and they gave this man a catch, man. But what was Mims first name?

[Ocho Cinco]

Yeah.

[FDIC]

Hey, Marvin, I know you gonna see this clip. I know you're gonna see this clip. You played a hell of a game. And I promise you, Bo Nicks and Marvin Mims, if we had lost this game off that, throwing that catch with them seconds on that clock. I was gonna fight y'all when I saw you in public. I was gonna fight him if I saw him in public. But they played that goddamn bonus. Could throw. Boy, he could throw that ball. He could throw that ball. And when he put it, when he. When he bring it down and he run and he gotta scramble and use his legs. Boy, that boy. Hell, what.

[Ocho Cinco]

Yeah, he's gonna have to make those throws under pressure. That overtime throw, we saw it last week against the Chargers where he underthrew it. I think the thing is, Ocho is that. And he saw you could. If you read his lips on the sideline, he said I missed him. He did. He did. He. He absolutely had him. And though. But I to say this, Ocho, I'm not so sure. I'm on the road with a rookie quarterback. I'm not so sure. I don't go for two in that situation. My defense. My defense had really done all they could. I couldn't ask anymore for my defense. Yes, Joey B. Threw for the numbers that he had. But at that point in time. We got six sacks, Ocho. We got six sacks. We are t. We are. I'm in a one point game at home on. Excuse me. On the road against a team that's fighting for their lives. I got him on the road. I got him on the ropes. Oh, I got him on the ropes.

[FDIC]

Gotta knock him out.

[Ocho Cinco]

I got him on the ropes. Oh I, I know all the air has been vacuumed.

[FDIC]

Oh yeah.

[Ocho Cinco]

Up out of that.

[FDIC]

You gotta close the show out.

[Ocho Cinco]

I got, I'm not so sure. I don't go for two on the, on the road with a rookie quarterback. Oo I, I, I know it interesting. Like I don't know. I don't know if you listen to the sound, I don't know what the commentator said. I don't know. It's gonna be interesting to see once this thing got start rolling. I'm giving look around and see what, what people are saying. It's going to be interesting to see what people said, what they thought they should have done. But I think in that situation with a rookie quarterback on the road and the dramatic effect of that, I think I, I think I, I think I go T. Higgins finished the game with 11 catches, a buck 31, three touchdowns, including the game winning overtime chase hints if that was his last game in this stadium, he went out with a bang. But that's a big if. Look, everybody's Ocho, you know this. Everybody's saying the right thing. We won't. And there's no doubt in my mind they won't. Teeth back. But if I'm T. Ocho.

[FDIC]

Yeah.

[Ocho Cinco]

Wasn't he a second round pick?

[FDIC]

Early, early second too, if I'm not mistaken.

[Ocho Cinco]

If I'm not mistaken, early second round from. Yeah, Ocho, the first contract, you don't give a hometown discount. You do that. The second contract.

[FDIC]

Right?

[Ocho Cinco]

That's if, that's if you choose to now. Cause see like if maybe if T was a first round pick, but if I'm a first round, I'm still thinking I gotta get one big payday. I gotta hit him over the head one time. Cause I know Ocho.

[FDIC]

Oh yeah, it's coming.

[Ocho Cinco]

Eventually they're gonna come to me and say take a pay cut or you'll have to you everybody, it's half. Listen, it's not if it's gonna happen, it's when it's gonna happen. Go look at, go study your history and look at all your greats. That was great with one. One team. And they had to move on because whatever casually they wanted to go in a different direction. And that is the team choice because when the teams do it, the team always says it's a business decision. But the moment you don't take less money. Ocho, they say he's not a team player, he's being selfish.

[FDIC]

I mean, listen, think about it, man. I think T, I mean T gonna see this, and I mean all the Bengals fans in the chat. I understand how you feel about T. About him wanting to stay on your team, but I think about before you even made it. I think I'm thinking about before you even made it. All the sacrifices, the pickups, the drop off, the mama, the ups, the downs, the obstacles to even get to this point and understanding. I want to reach the pinnacle of my childhood dream and make it into the NFL. It just so happens to be the Bengals. Now it's time for me to get paid for all the work I put in before I even got here. Huh? Before I even got here when your mama had to pick you up from school, drop off at practice. You know, man, I'm thinking about all the work you done put in. Now it's time for that to be paid in full, not in discount because of where I'm at. No, man, you don't that because guess what, Ocho.

[Ocho Cinco]

Ocho, you made me swim. Shark infested waters. I came out on the other side and, and I'm. And now you want me to give you a discount because you could have signed me last year. Same thing with Chase. Chase ain't gonna give y'all no discount. Chase got, I mean, I, I, look, I don't think nobody's gonna catch him in touchdown. And now he's too. He's over 200 yards, like 220 in front of.

[FDIC]

Yeah, and the funny thing I, I hear people always say, oh, we can pay, we can pay T and we can pay R. No, you can't. This ain't Madden. This ain't a video game. This is real life. No, what? Defense. We have to address defense. What are you talking about? We're gonna have a 55 million dollar quarterback. We're gonna have a $40 million receiver. And then what would be 30 goddamn million? He needs to go, he needs to be somewhere where he can get what he deserves. He's not, he's not the number two receiver. Money don't do that. That's disrespectful. That's disrespectful to him and the work he's been put in. And I'm, I'm more bangle than any bangle fan.

[Ocho Cinco]

I totally, you know, and I'm telling.

[FDIC]

You how it should be. He needs to.

[Ocho Cinco]

But you realistic though, Ocho, you understand. Ocho, as great a player as you was, you understand that? They said, okay, Ocho, we appreciate what you've done, but we going in a different direction. Yeah, and a lot. See, but See, fans don't get that. See, fans don't. And you could look, Broncos did the same thing with me. I understand. I still love the Broncos because they gave me that opportunity. They gave me an opportunity. I'm not so sure somebody else would've. And they believed in me. Dan Reaves believed in me. Wade Phillips believed with me. Mike Shanahan, the fans, they embrace me and my family and I appreciate that. But I understand the business of it.

[FDIC]

Yeah.

[Ocho Cinco]

And y'all can't say that I'm selfish.

[FDIC]

You know what's funny?

[Ocho Cinco]

Go ahead.

[FDIC]

It's selfish of fans as well to say we can pay all the players. Why would you have three players with that kind of money, with all the money tied up into the offense and just three players and then not be able to address the issues when we've had one of the worst defenses for a 17 game season. It's also selfish to say, oh, we can keep T understanding that T's not going to get what he deserves and he has to take less because we have the best receiver in the NFL. Matter of fact, we have the best bangle receiver in history who's not one brick, not one brief truck. They better back up three of the for Chase. You got a $55 million quarterback and now you're telling T sell. Oh, here, just. Yeah.

[Ocho Cinco]

Take 25, 28 million.

[FDIC]

Oh, man.

[Ocho Cinco]

Now you, you have a Super bowl offense with a blood bowl defense.

[FDIC]

We have to score 80 points a game.

[Ocho Cinco]

It won't. It won't. And then, and you see, you see the one mistake like to doomed you.

[FDIC]

Yeah.

[Ocho Cinco]

Imagine when you have two or three. You, I mean think about it. You had the one mistake. You had the one mistake against Baltimore in Baltimore and that cost you the game. And you had 1 Baltimore, 1 turnover against the Broncos. And the thing was you're going to put the game away. Oh, think about it. You was going to get. You was going to Baltimore when you had. When they were in Cincinnati. You're going to put them away and the fumble. Yeah, right back in the game. So you're never, you can really never rest with that defense. You definitely have to address that defense. But congratulations to the Bengals. They keep their slim playoff hopes alive.

[JPMorgan Chase]

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[Ocho Cinco]

Hey, there.

[Michael Lewis]

It's Michael Lewis, author of Going Infinite Moneyball, the Blind side, and Liar's Poker. On every season of my podcast, against the Rules, I take a broad look at various characters in American life. The referee, the coach, the expert. My next season is all about fans, and with the rise of sports betting is doing to them, to the teams, and even to my family. I'm heading to Las Vegas and New Jersey and beyond to understand America's newest form of legalized gambling. Listen to against the rules on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

[Ocho Cinco]

Pickens is gonna have to be. Stop having to be so emotional on every play. Every play. He doesn't get the ball. He like, oh, my goodness. Oh, Lord have mercy. Cheese. I mean, he throw the ball, but, bro, I know, I know. He's a phenomenal talent, Ocho. The. The. The. The. The. The catch, the catches and the difficulty of the catches that he makes on a. But if he were to channel a lot of that energy, Ocho.

[FDIC]

Yeah.

[Ocho Cinco]

I don't know. I don't think he realized just how good he can be. I don't think he does. I don't think he realizes, Ocho.

[FDIC]

He does. He does.

[Ocho Cinco]

He got special ability.

[FDIC]

I wish they would realize it, too, and maximize his potential, you know, put him in. Put him in different positions to make some of those plays outside of just go ball here, go ball there, you know? Man. Man, move that mother. Oh, excuse me. My bad, my bad. Move him around. Let him touch it early. You know, he's a playmaker. I've seen him glance and go to the house and go 70.

[Ocho Cinco]

Yes.

[FDIC]

You know, he can do some of the same things T. Higgins, Jamar Case, Jamar chase can do at 6,364. He's special, but they don't use them in that sense. So I kind of. I kind of get not making excuses for him, not making excuses for him. I'm just understanding how good he is and how. How much of a difference he can make for that offense and making everyone else job around him easy, despite him being emotional at times.

[Ocho Cinco]

Yeah. I just think the thing is that he can get frustrated. You know, the interception, bro, that was on you. And they're like, they go somewhere else with the ball. I mean, I'm sure they would love to come to you, but, I mean, they're doing a great job. They're Taking their best receiver, their best DB and putting him on you. It's not like McGuffin's a slouch. I mean, the guy made All Pro as a. As a rookie last year for a reason. He's probably going to make the Pro bowl again. Him, Sir Tan and Sauce Gardner are probably going to make the Pro Bowl. Now, he might get left out and J. Ram go, but it's going to be interesting. But I think we know. I think Sauce Garden and Sir Tan Satan is definitely making it. I mean, Sir Tan might be one of the two best corners, and I don't think he's two. So it's going to be very interesting to see how the AOC cornerback position, I think that. Hold on. Oh, that's. That might be next week. Ocho. I thought. I thought they was going to name this. I thought they was going to name the Pro bowl this week.

[FDIC]

That's the last game of the season, ain't it?

[Ocho Cinco]

Well, I guess it becomes Christmas. It's before the last. Because, you know, Ojo, we used to do it like week 14. So, you know, week 14, you come out, you got the 15th game, right? And then the next you got, you know, you close out the season. So I. I thought they were going to do. I thought they were going to do it Tuesday, but maybe because of the holidays and where it failed. So maybe you're right, Ocho. Maybe you're going to do it before the last game of the season. But, like, it's going to be very interesting to see what the Steelers do and how they play this thing in the off season. They do have Justin Fields. Maybe they have another year on him. I don't know. I don't think they picked up that option. But they. I think they kind of like have his, right? I think. I think. I don't know. I don't. But, Russ, at 46 million, that seems to be kind of like the play here, because the Chiefs will have the bye week wild card weekend. The Chiefs could have as many as 25 days off before they begin their playoff push towards a 3P. Cause think about it, they played Wednesday. They're probably not having to come to work. They're one of those teams. Andy gave them off considering Ocho. Now they got home field sold up. So the last game of the season don't mean anything to them. So now they got off Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday. Mahomes will probably throw a little something. He'll probably run scout team. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday.

[FDIC]

You're not nervous about that having all that time off and your team just the last two weeks, your team just looking like the Kansas City Chiefs we used to seeing. You ain't look like the Kansas City Chiefs of old. Throughout the entirety of the season, you had good luck. You had a little luck throughout the season. Listen, I'm not saying nothing bad about the Chiefs. You know, they are the Kansas City Chiefs. As long as you have Patrick Mahomes, you have a goddamn chance at anything. But I'm just saying, as a team, as a whole Chiefs fan and you in the chat, you know, your team has not looked up the par throughout the entirety of the season. Last week was the best I've seen the Chiefs look all goddamn season. All season long. Especially from an offensive standpoint. But having that much time off, do you think that's a good thing when they're just getting in rhythm and just starting to look like themselves or what we used to seeing, at least?

[Ocho Cinco]

I think the thing is, Ojo, you can't run the risk. You know, you're Mahomes injured, away from it all. Be over, it don't matter. You get that guy nicked, it's over. You can't play well enough on either side of the ball to overcome the loss of him. He's the one guy that you can't overcome. No team can. As great as Derrick Henry is running the football, right? Josh Johnson ain't winning you no game at quarterback. It ain't happening. Josh Allen get nicked. I don't know who the backup is. You ain't winning no games. Nobody. I don't believe there's a team currently constructed that if they start against Nick, they can overcome.

[FDIC]

No, because listen, we just saw. We just saw with Eagles. We just saw with the Eagles against the Commanders. A lot of people say, oh, the Commanders won that game. Actually, no, the Commanders did not win that game. It was a Christmas gift from the goddamn Eagles. If you look at the way they played, especially defensively, we ain't seen the Eagles defense play like that all season long. We haven't seen Devontae Smith drop a ball like that that could have sealed the game all season long. They gave that game away. Two deep passes.

[Ocho Cinco]

Yeah.

[FDIC]

A fourth and 11. You know what the percentage is for making it a first down on fourth and 11, let alone it not being a pass, let alone not to be in the. But the quarterback scrambling on fourth and 11. The Eagles gave them boys that game. And I don't mean no disrespect. It's a good thing Jaden Daniels is having a hell of a goddamn season. I'm just saying this game in specific should have been over on that ball. Devonte Smith draw. It should have been over. The game was over right there.

[Ocho Cinco]

Oh, Trubisky is the backup. And Trubisky is the backup in Buffalo. Hell, he couldn't. He couldn't win when he was the starter. He damn sure he went into the backup. Carson Wentz. Carson Wentz is the backup in Kansas City. Justin Fields, Josh Johnson. I don't even know who the backup is in Houston. Y'all help me out. Who's the backup of Houston? And that's the thing. Look, it's hard because the roster, because you're not able to keep quality people at the quarterback. O.J. houston could stash your way of quarterbacks. Think about it. Think about how long Steve Young sat as a backup to Joe. Nah, you ain't keeping no Steve Young as no backup. I mean, think about it. You couldn't even keep Jimmy G as a backup to Tom Brady. The roster spots, I mean, at some point in time, Ocho NFL is getting away with it. You can't keep expanding games but don't expand the roster. Yeah, you see what they do with no show. They done added another game. They done added another game. So they're about to go to 18 games. But you're not going to expand the roster. You can't give us three other players. So instead of going to 46, go to 49. 50. Come on now. Come on.

[FDIC]

Yeah.

[Ocho Cinco]

Davis Mills is the quarterback at Houston. If CJ hadn't played that well. But I promise you this. If CJ Goes out, General Mills, Olen Mills, it doesn't matter. Houston going home first round. I don't care. I you name another meals, it does not matter. You're going home. CD Lamb season is over. With two games to play, the Cowboys opted to shut him down. O. CD has dealt with a sprained AC joint his shoulder since November 3rd lost to the Falcons, and he's aggravated almost every week. And more scans this week has showed that the injury had worsened. But oo you know, I didn't say oo. You can't make it any worse. You know, they always tell you about the injury when they want you to keep on playing. OO oh, you can't do any more damage to him. Well, if that's the case, why keep on hurting then if I ain't gonna need no surgery? If this is worse as it's gonna get, why you telling about go knee surgery? Yeah. I can do more damage. Man, that car already beat up. Yeah, well, I could still do some more damage to it. Let me run into another wall. But with the Cowboys eliminated from the playoff, the team decided to sit as number one receiver. In the statement of Cowboys said he's not expected to need surgery and should make a full recovery process of treatment and rehabilitation. Okay.

[FDIC]

Okay. We good? Go ahead and shut that down.

[Ocho Cinco]

Yes.

[FDIC]

Go ahead and shut that down. Get ready for next season. Yes. You know, when you get back, ready, you and. You and Dak get in the lab. You and dad get in the lab. Matter of fact, you're going to be ready for minicamp. Matter of fact, you're going to be ready for training camp. That's another duo. Y'all need to hit the ground running.

[Ocho Cinco]

Yeah, but Ocho. But they weren't ojo. They're not. They weren't on the level that I thought they were going to be on, considering what it were last year.

[FDIC]

You know, that chemistry, it ain't like. Listen, that chemistry has to be built back up. CD Lamb missed all the training camp. Okay, Gary, we gonna get a deal done. We gonna get a deal done. You playing around. You playing games, man. If you serious about actually winning, do right by your team. Do right by your players. Have everybody in the building when they need to be there. Now, why you think? Why you think? Why you think? Goddamn Michael Parsons said what he said earlier. He planting the seed right now. Don't play with me when it's time to give me my money because I want to be at minicamp. I want to be in the off at the off season program. I want to be at training camp. I don't want to be holding out like every player has to do when it's time to get goddamn paid. I think they just like the fact that they got us out here begging, waiting on our goddamn money. I think they do it on purpose because the numbers are what they are. The numbers are what they are. What are you waiting for to pay these individuals? Ain't nothing magical gonna happen. Ain't nothing magical gonna change about the market. You know what it is? You know what he's supposed to be paid. Just get the shit done. Get it done. Have your players in there.

[Ocho Cinco]

The volume.

[JPMorgan Chase]

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[Michael Lewis]

Hey there, it's Michael Lewis, author of Going Infinite Moneyball, the Blind side and Liars Poker. On the latest season of my podcast, against the Rules, I'm exploring what it means to be a sports fan in America and what the rise of sports betting is doing to our teams, our states and ourselves. Join me and listen to against the rules on America's number one podcast network, iHeart. Open your free iHeart app and search against the Rules. Listen to against the rules on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts.