Nightcap NFL Recap - Part 1: Mahomes not a fan of NFL expansion + CMC comeback Season?!?

Summary

Club Shay Shay: Nightcap NFL Recap - Part 1: Mahomes Not a Fan of NFL Expansion + CMC Comeback Season?!?

Released on July 16, 2025 by iHeartPodcasts and Shay Shay Media

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1. Ben Roethlisberger’s Preference: Rodgers vs. Mahomes [00:40 - 10:00]

Shannon Sharpe kicks off the episode by addressing recent comments from NFL legend Ben Roethlisberger. Roethlisberger expressed a preference for having Aaron Rodgers in his prime over Patrick Mahomes, stating, “[Ben] would take Aaron in his prime over Patrick now” ([00:40]).

Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco) immediately challenges this viewpoint, highlighting Mahomes' impressive postseason record compared to Rodgers:

“Patrick Mahomes is just entering out of his prime… Patrick in 21 postseason games is 17 and 4. Three Super Bowl wins. Aaron Rodgers in 22 postseason games is 12 and 10 with one Super Bowl win.” ([03:24])

Sharpe and Johnson delve deep into the debate, discussing the evolution of both quarterbacks, their MVP accolades, and their impact on their respective teams. Sharpe emphasizes Mahomes’ potential and current achievements, while Johnson defends Rodgers’ legendary status and skill set.

Notable Quotes:

• Shannon Sharpe: “Patrick Mahomes is just entering out of his prime, I think.” ([00:40])
• Chad Johnson: “Mahomes is one of the few quarterbacks you can put him on any team, and it elevates everyone else around him.” ([04:43])

2. NFL Expansion to 18 Games: Pros and Cons [10:00 - 22:00]

The conversation shifts to the contentious topic of expanding the NFL regular season from 16 to 18 games. Patrick Mahomes is quoted as not being a fan of this potential change, raising concerns about increased physical toll on players.

Sharpe weighs in, suggesting that if the expansion occurs, it should be accompanied by additional bye weeks to mitigate injury risks:

“If there's a way to get 18 games, I think you've got to add some bye weeks in there and give guys time for guys' bodies.” ([14:42])

Johnson concurs, pointing out the financial motivations behind the expansion:

“The NFL is about money and maximizing it the best way they can, and adding the 18 game is the best way to do that.” ([20:22])

Notable Quotes:

• Shannon Sharpe: “More games, a little bit more taxes on the guys that play the game.” ([14:42])
• Chad Johnson: “They got to keep the salary cap going up, but the money has to keep coming from somewhere.” ([20:19])

3. Player Empowerment and Union Dynamics [22:00 - 35:00]

Sharpe and Johnson discuss the growing tension between NFL players and management, particularly focusing on contract negotiations and the push for guaranteed contracts. Sharpe advocates for lifetime health benefits and guaranteed salaries, drawing parallels to other major sports leagues:

“I don't know if you can keep him out of the top 10. Cause those four regular season MVPs, only Peyton Manning has more the touchdown to interception ratio.” ([11:49])

Johnson adds his perspective on collective action, emphasizing the power of players banding together to effect change:

“If them boys band together, it will change the dynamic of the league in general.” ([27:18])

They reflect on past NFL strikes and lockouts, citing the importance of solidarity among players to negotiate better terms and protect their interests.

Notable Quotes:

• Shannon Sharpe: “Sometimes the best players will cross the picket line, what chance do they have?” ([30:39])
• Chad Johnson: “And when you think about it, the way they spend during the season, sometimes during the off season, that long break without those checks coming.” ([25:03])

4. Christian McCaffrey’s Injury and Comeback Prospects [35:00 - 42:30]

The discussion transitions to Christian McCaffrey (CMC), focusing on his recent injury and the optimistic outlook for his return:

“Christian is arguably the best player in the NFL... CMC have a bounce back season? Absolutely. It's possible.” ([36:02])

Sharpe highlights McCaffrey’s versatility and importance to the team’s offense, while Johnson underscores the need for cautious usage to prevent further injuries:

“What happens when they hit him? He hit the dirt, and then they fall on top of him.” ([37:53])

The hosts express confidence in McCaffrey’s ability to return to peak performance, emphasizing his critical role in the offensive strategy.

Notable Quotes:

• Shannon Sharpe: “He can do it all. He's a special running back.” ([37:25])
• Chad Johnson: “He changes the dynamic of that offense… makes everything else easy.” ([37:01])

5. Jaden Higgins’ Phone Scam Incident [42:16 - 55:00]

In a sobering segment, Shannon Sharpe recounts the unfortunate experience of Jaguars linebacker Jaden Higgins, who fell victim to a sophisticated phone scam resulting in the loss of $240,000:

“Caller convinced Turner that to protect his funds, he needed to urgently transfer his money… Authorities have only managed to recover less than $2,500.” ([51:24])

Johnson emphasizes the importance of vigilance against such scams, especially for high-profile individuals:

“Banks don't even operate that way… they don't play.” ([53:08])

The hosts discuss preventive measures and the necessity for players to be educated about financial security and fraud prevention.

Notable Quotes:

• Shannon Sharpe: “Anything that cannot be replaced, I don't be fooling around with that. My eye. My nose.” ([43:53])
• Chad Johnson: “Banks don't even operate that way… They can't play.” ([53:40])

6. Light-Hearted Banter and Listener Engagement [55:00 - 63:00]

The episode concludes with playful interactions between Sharpe and Johnson, where they exchange jokes and personal anecdotes. They discuss sending memorabilia, light-heartedly argue about the best way to play UNO, and reminisce about past NFL experiences.

Notable Moments:

• Chad Johnson’s humorous tales about his eye injury and playing with one good eye, showcasing his resilience and charisma.
• The relaxed and friendly rapport between Sharpe and Johnson provides a balanced tone to the episode, making the heavy topics more digestible.

Conclusion

In this episode of Club Shay Shay, Shannon Sharpe and Chad Johnson delve into critical NFL topics, including the ongoing Rodgers vs. Mahomes debate, the implications of an 18-game season, player empowerment and contract negotiations, and the inspiring yet concerning comeback prospects of Christian McCaffrey. The discussion is enriched with insightful statistics, personal anecdotes, and candid opinions, offering listeners a comprehensive and engaging recap of the NFL landscape. Additionally, the hosts shed light on the importance of financial vigilance through Jaden Higgins' unfortunate scam incident, all while maintaining their signature humor and camaraderie.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• Shannon Sharpe [00:40]: “Patrick Mahomes is just entering out of his prime, I think.”
• Chad Johnson [04:43]: “Mahomes is one of the few quarterbacks you can put him on any team, and it elevates everyone else around him.”
• Shannon Sharpe [14:42]: “More games, a little bit more taxes on the guys that play the game.”
• Chad Johnson [20:19]: “They got to keep the salary cap going up, but the money has to keep coming from somewhere.”
• Shannon Sharpe [25:03]: “Sometimes the best players will cross the picket line, what chance do they have?”
• Chad Johnson [27:18]: “If them boys band together, it will change the dynamic of the league in general.”
• Shannon Sharpe [36:02]: “Christian is arguably the best player in the NFL... CMC have a bounce back season? Absolutely. It's possible.”
• Chad Johnson [53:08]: “Banks don't even operate that way… they can’t play.”

Listen to the full episode on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Transcript

[Sarah Spain]

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[Greg Rosenthal]

Who are the 25 greatest football players to grace the gridiron since the year 2000? Introducing NFL Daily's top 25 players of the last 25 years. Join me, Greg Rosenthal and an all star cast of media personalities including Mina Kime, Steve Weiss, Kevin Harlan and more for a look at football's best since the turn of the century. Listen to NFL Daily's top 25 players of the last 25 years starting on June 30 on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Unknown Host]

Check out behind the Flow, a podcast documentary series following the launch of San Diego Football Club.

San Diego coming to MLS is gonna be a game changer because this region has been hungry for a men's professional soccer team.

We need to embrace this community.

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

[Shannon Sharpe]

Ben Roethlisberger felt compelled to recently weigh in on whether he'd had rather have Aaron Rodgers or Patrick Mahomes on his team. Well, I would take Aaron in his prime over Patrick now. I think Aaron Rodgers prime was one of the few to ever do it and so Patrick is at his prime. Patrick Mahomes is just entering, just entering out of his prime, I think. Does Ben realize. Does Ben realize how utterly ridiculous he sounds?

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Yeah, yeah, but. But obviously you know, he going to go, he going to go with it with someone.

[Shannon Sharpe]

A contemporary, right?

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Exactly. Someone a little closer to him. Despite the success, the early success in such in the early career that Patrick Mahomes has had. Obviously Ben knows how great Pat is, but obviously Aaron Rodgers was special. Despite not being able to have the number of Super Bowls, only having one. But unk, if you look at Aaron Rodgers numbers in his prime, it's unbelievable. Unbelievable. Despite him not being able to win the win the big games consistently like Patrick Mahomes has done.

[Shannon Sharpe]

So what. So I thought that was the objective because people make it seem like Aaron Rodgers did not have good teams.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Good.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Go back and look at the receivers that he had. Go back and look at the receivers that he had. And go back and look at. Do you believe the last three Super Bowls, Aaron Rodgers could have got that. That receiving group to the super bowl, considering he could only get to the super bowl one time with Jordan Nelson, with Greg Jennings, with Donald Driver, with James Jones, with J. Michael Friendly. So do you believe he could take that group that Patrick Mahomes took? He couldn't even get that man. Couldn't be Jimmy Garoppolo, but somehow he gonna get to. And he gonna win a sub bowl.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I mean, the MVPs are impressive chat. Y' all know I've been one of the biggest, one of the loudest Aaron Rodgers fans. He's phenomenal. He was phenomenal. But to base it on Patrick Mahomes. Patrick Mahomes in 21 postseason games is 17 and 4. Three Super bowl wins. Aaron Rodgers in 22 postseason games is 12 and 10 with one Super bowl win.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Now, and look at the guys that he's lost to.

[Unknown Host]

Right?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Tom Brady beat him twice. Joe Burrow beat him. And now Jalen hurts beat him now. Go look at the guys that beat Aaron Rodgers in a playoff game. The matter of fact, the man got beat by Jimmy G twice.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Hold on. Jimmy G had a nice squad around him. Now he had a nice squad around him. And all Jimmy G had to do. Jimmy, don't mess it up.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I tell you what.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Take the ball. Don't mess it up.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Don't game. Give Patrick. Okay, if I give Patrick Mahomes that squad, what you think? You. You think Garrett Rogers beating Patrick, You. He gonna beat Patrick Mahomes with that squad? Cause you say Jimmy G. Yeah.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. You put Mahomes around any team.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yes.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Listen, Mahomes is one of the few quarterbacks, unk. You can put him on any team, and it elevates everyone else around him.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yes.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Elevates everyone else around him because he's just that good, not only physically, but he gonna beat you here, too. Yes.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I mean, bro, he beat Jay Cutler. Jay Cutler got hurt and got on a stationary back. He thought he was at a Tour de France. So he didn't want to play football no more. He just wanted to ride the stationary bike. Look, I mean, you beat who you beat to get to the super bowl. But I. Look, this has been Roethlisberger's opinion, but I vehemently disagree with this. Yeah, vehemently. And I think the thing is he's basically on MVPs. He's basically on MVP and Aaron Rodgers has four. Yeah, but look at those great seasons that came out to be duds. See, the thing is, is that Ocho, can you do, if you got a great offense, can you get done? Can you score a point when you need to? If you're a great defense, can you get a stop with the need to, can you get off the field on third down? Can you get your offense the ball back? Can you not let them flip the field? You got them backed up. Can you make him stay there and not flip the field, get the ball to midfield and then punt it and pin you down inside the five? Can you do that? Aaron Rodgers has four regular season MVPs, one Super Bowl, a Super Bowl MVP. Patrick Mahomes has two Super bowl, has two MVPs, three Super Bowl MVPs. He's been to five.

[Unknown Host]

Right.

[Shannon Sharpe]

And you're saying. Now let this sink in. The man has already been to more Super Bowls, has more regular, has more postseason wins, has more post, has more MVPs. And he's not even 30.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

And I think it's more to it than that. Obviously we don't know what Ben is indicating, why he picked Aaron Rodgers, but also I want people not to forget how special Aaron Rodgers was as well. He's. This is what being said, how gifted he was as a quarterback.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Oh, he was as physically gifted at throwing the football. He and Dan are talking about just pure throwers of the football. Aaron Rodgers, Dan Marino, take your pick. But this is what he said, Ocho.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I think Aaron in his prime was one of the top few to ever do it. And so Patrick at his prime, Patrick Mahomes is just entering out of his prime. So you. So in other words, he's saying Aaron was one of the top to do it, but Patrick isn't. Because I wouldn't say that. What he said, he said, I think Aaron Rodgers in his prime was one of the top to ever do it. So. So by his. By his what his word said, if Patrick Mahomes is, is. Is coming out of his prime, he was one of the top to ever do it.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

So from 23 to 39, he goes to five Super Bowls, wins three, three MVPs, two regular season MVPs, two 5,000 yard seasons and a 50 touchdown season. But he ain't at one of the top. Who not one of the top you to ever do it. Now Chad, do y' all see how utterly ridiculous that sounds now, I hope we got this right. Let's just make sure we got this right. Double check that. Well, I would take Aaron in his prime over Patrick now. I think Aaron Rodgers in his prime was one of the top few to ever do it. And so is Patrick at his prime. Patrick Mahomes is just entering out of his prime. I think so. He think Patrick Mahomes is out of his prime now, Ocho.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

I don't know. But obviously Ben being a quarterback that played with. Not with, but against Aaron Rodgers, I think that's where he's picking him. Instead of. Instead of.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah, because I think. I think Ben came in in 04, and I think Aaron came in in 05. So, you know, you see, that's kind of like.

[Unknown Host]

Right, right, right, right, right, right.

[Shannon Sharpe]

That's the error. Yeah, I don't know about that one.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

To each his own.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Yeah. I was gonna say every. Everyone. Everyone has a preference. You know, sometimes the goal post move, regardless of what the accolades and what someone has done, there's always someone else that they like better, regardless.

[Shannon Sharpe]

This is what Patrick Mahomes trainer had to say to Ben. Not everybody quits working out at 30.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

He said that? For real?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Okay. That's my first time here. That's my first time here. When the trainers talk trash. I like that. I like that.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I think he. I think he commented because there was a. Somebody I think in the Kansas City media talked about Patrick Mahomes and talk about his body. Look like he eat pizza and stuff like that. I want my quarterback to look just like Patrick Mahomes. I want my quarterback to look with his shirt off, look like Tom Brady, look like Peyton Manning. That's what I want my quarterback to look like.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

No muscles.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I don't want no muscles.

[Unknown Host]

Right.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I don't want no muscles. I want to have. Because I want him to be able to twist. I don't want him to sprain it. Straining no obliques.

[Unknown Host]

Right, right, right.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I don't want all that. All that muscle, the shoulder, that hinder.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Right. So basically, you want your quarterback to look. Have a dad bod.

[Shannon Sharpe]

That's what granddad is possible. You just skip over dad, granddad.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

I like it. I like it.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Like I said, look. And that's not to take away from Aaron because like I said, Chad, y' all know me. Y' all saw me on the other show. I was. And I. I still think Aaron Rodgers is. Is. Was phenomenal. Is he. Is he what he once was? No. As we get older as an athlete, gets older where he could elevate everybody else. Now he needs help for him to elevate. Look at Tom, right? Tom, he had, he couldn't get. He was not going to be able to get those Patriots because now he goes to Tampa and he got Godwin and he got Mike Evans, Evans and he got, he get Gronk to come back and he got other, some other weapons and he got a solid offensive line. And you see. But after that super bowl, you see, Tom threw for what, 5,000 yards. But it didn't have the same ump to it, Right. It didn't have the same like those, like he throw it for 300 yards. But the majority of the time they were playing from behind. And so the 300 yards didn't have the same pizzazz. It didn't have the same impact.

[Unknown Host]

Right.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Like I said, there's no denying Aaron Rodgers is a top quarterback wherever you want to place him. I don't think you put him in top five because he didn't win enough championships to be top five. Especially when you're talking about Brady and you're talking about Manning and you're talking about Joe Montana and you talk about my homeboy. Just like just that alone, just that alone keeps him out. But I don't know if you can keep him out of the top 10. Cause those four regular season MVPs, only Peyton Manning has more the touchdown to interception ratio. Yeah, I don't know how you keep them out of the top 10.

[Unknown Host]

Right.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I don't. I'm surprised that he didn't make the 75th anniversary team because, you know, they tried to, they didn't want to load up in any one particular era. They can't say, well, let's take all the guys from the modern era and then we leave guys like Johnny Unitis or, or Otto Graham or some of these other guys out. So, you know, look, Joe, Peyton and Tom, those three were going, they're going to be on those anniversary team, right? And then they took John, they took Marino, that's five off the top of my head. I can't remember. I think Johnny Unionist, I think he was there. I think Otto Graham was there. 7. I don't, like I said, I don't really remember all of them, but I think, you know, they tried to get a mixture. They didn't want to load up and said, okay, we just going to take the receivers from. Because you know, you got to take Don Hustle now. You leave out, you know, Charlie Henigan, you know, you Know, Jerry and Randy, for me, I thought to deserved to be on the 75th anniversary team. I really did.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Absolutely. We talk about top three, top three.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You might not like his antics and said, okay, he killed a locker room. All I know is this. That man got the third or the fourth most touchdowns ever. Well, he got the third most touchdown for a receiver.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

See, and that's the problem that I have is the people that have the power that call the shots, that control everything on who's allowed to be on this list, who's allowed to be in that. That's why. That's why I don't like the politics that come with it. Yeah, I don't like the politics that come with it. Why you think I donned my own jacket? Why you think I've done my own jacket? Because I understood how it works. And I'm not finna play that game because as far as I'm concerned, I'm one. It's one thing I don't like, and I'm gonna just say this real quick. One thing I don't like about former players that. That had great careers and they know they've had great careers and they have their numbers. I hate. I hate the. The. The. The. The. The almost begging, in a sense, to be a part of something that was created, and you have to. You have to pander to want to be in it. It's like being an actor and knowing that you have great movies, that you've had a great career doing movies, but you never won an Oscar. Yeah, that doesn't take away none of the work that you've already done that's set in stone.

[Shannon Sharpe]

All right. Ocho.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Yo.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Patrick Mahomes says he's not a big fan of potentially expanding to NFL regular season to 18 games. I would say more games, a little bit more taxes on the guys that play the game. If there's a way to. To get 18 games in the schedule, I think you have to have a way to have more bye weeks to spread it out. You've seen the amount of injuries that kind of piled up out there at the end of the season. You want to have the best players playing in the biggest game. So if there's a way to get 18 games, I'm not a big fan of it, but if there's a way, I think you've got to add some bye weeks in there and give guys. And give time for guys body.

[Unknown Host]

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[Shannon Sharpe]

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[Unknown Host]

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[Greg Rosenthal]

25 years, 25 players before training camp kickstarts a new NFL season, NFL Daily is going to look back. It is a special six episode series where myself, Greg Rosenthal and some of the top NFL minds like Kevin Harlan, Mina Kimes and Bill Barnwell make the case for each player. We're taking a look back giving you NFL Daily's top 25 players of the last 25 years. So who made the list? You know Tom Brady's on it. Where's Patrick Mahomes?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Mahomes is into the end zone. Touchdown Kansas City.

[Greg Rosenthal]

He's on it. How about Lamar Jackson?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Jackson takes it himself. Look at him dart back and forth. Oh, he broke his ankles and he's got a touchdown.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

He is Houdini.

[Greg Rosenthal]

You are going to have to listen to find out. Listen to NFL Daily's top 25 players of the last 25 years starting on June 30th on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Unknown Host]

Check out behind the Flow, a podcast documentary series following the launch of San Diego Football Club. We go behind the scenes and explore the stories of those involved.

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.

We need veteran players and we need young players. Like you're building a team from scratch and so the succession plan of long term success needs to be defined. We need to embrace this community.

When I was 13 my uncle took me to a qualifier and we watched Paraguay against Chile pouring rain. Just watching the fans jumping up and down, I think that was definitely a watershed moment. For me, not only was that gonna be my game, but it was gonna be my life.

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

[Shannon Sharpe]

Ojo, you's coming.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Let me tell you how it's gonna come.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Go ahead.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You can either agree to it, or we're gonna lock your ass out like we did 2011. And. And we can go longer without pay than you can.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

So we gonna lock you out. And there's a stipulation of us coming back. You're going to have to agree to 18. It's really that simple. Just like they locked them out in 2011 and took a bigger piece of the pie.

[Unknown Host]

Yes, sir. Yeah.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Well, listen, this. You know what else is going to happen is. You already know once. Once it's. It's talked about, they're going to do it. Yeah. With the, with the NFLPA and the cba. I mean, the cba, whatever CBA is, is going to come about. They're going to have to have two bye weeks. I think that's something that the owners.

[Shannon Sharpe]

They used to have two by weeks, Ocho.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Huh?

[Shannon Sharpe]

It used to be two by weeks.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Oh, well, they're gonna have to. They're gonna have. They're gonna have to have it because it's too taxing on the players bodies and.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

What Pat Mahomes is talking about, hey.

[Shannon Sharpe]

They'Re gonna be playing the football on St. Patrick's Day.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Ocho, think about it. Now, you already the second week in February. So if you add a bye week now, now you got the Super Bowl. Oh, you In March.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Yeah. And you know what? The off season going to be shorter and shorter.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Shorter and shorter.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Shorter. But obviously we. This is money. This is all about money. It's about the bottom line. We know the NFL is about. They're about their. Their money and maximizing it the best way they can and adding the 18 game is the best way to do that.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Oh, you want 18. You want 18 games? Guarantee it. I want everything guaranteed. And I won't lie. I won't. And if I, If I, if I, if I. First of all, if I make it five years, I want lifetime health benefits.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Oh.

[Shannon Sharpe]

And I want my salary guaranteed. Now, there's stories that came out that the collusion case in the junk and there's. They got barbatum that Roger Goodell was talking. Say, man, y' all got to keep these prices down because these things getting astronomical. Cut back on some of that. Guaranteed Money. I still don't understand how he said there was collusion. There were, there's. But they didn't show enough. I. I don't know. We. We'll talk about that a late day time when I can read up a little bit more on it. I just saw. I was just skimming through and saw that. But Ocho is coming. Yeah, but you see how quick they went from 17 to 18. Think about how long it took him to go from 14. It took them so to go from 12 to 14, from 14 to 16, from 16 to 17. It's going to take them less time to go from. From 16 to 18 than it did to go from there 12 to 14, to 14 to 16.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Well, hold. You got it. You have to, you also have to understand not only the salary cap keep going up, but the money got to keep coming from somewhere.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah. You gotta add games. That's the only way you can do it.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

That's it. They got to be able to recoup. They got to be able to make more. The only way to make more. And understanding the bottom line between not only sponsors, the NFL and everyone in general, you got to add more games. That's the only way to make more money.

[Shannon Sharpe]

And let me tell you, Ocho, when this thing come back up for being, don't be surprised if the game that you used to see it on Fox.

[Unknown Host]

Right.

[Shannon Sharpe]

They're on Netflix.

[Unknown Host]

Right.

[Shannon Sharpe]

They're on Amazon because they got way. They're sitting on hordes of money. Oh, yeah. And. And you see both are dipping their toe. Amazon has already gone in. They said, look, we want that Thursday night package. Absolutely. And now the NFL to say, we gonna flex the Thursday night package for you. We'll flex it for you. And plus, they got the. What? They got the black, The Black Friday game.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Netflix, you saw Netflix got the Christmas game. Don't be surprised if the NFC package, the AFC package or the Sunday night package.

[Unknown Host]

Right.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Want to be streaming services.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Hey, don't be surprised because I'm telling you what they got. They got unlimited resources.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

I'm not, I'm not, I'm not the one that said it. I'm not the one that said whatever. But I was, I was in the meeting. I was in the meeting. I can say this, you know, And I talked to brother Jeff Bezos and he. He's going to be the one. He's going to be the one that's going to make the moves and pull the strings. They have most of the games on his platform. I'M just.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Before it even happens.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah, I know. Because Netflix. Hey, like I said, look, I understand it. And it's been traditions because CBS has had a package. Everybody's had the package, gave it up and got it back. Fox became a network because they got football. CBS gave it up. NBC gave it up. Yep, they got it back. Then NBC said, you know, we can't do without it. We got to get back into it. But I'm telling you what's gonna happen. I'm telling you what's gonna happen.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

And you already saw what Amazon play for the NBA. If they'll pay that for the NBA, what the hell would they play for? The NFL.

[Unknown Host]

NFL? Yeah. Yeah.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Owners owner's getting a piece of that now, huh?

[Shannon Sharpe]

You don't think that everybody getting a check cut for 300 million, 300 plus. And I ain't sold no ticket. I ain't sold no concession. I ain't sold no parking. I haven't sold local tv.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

And I hadn't sold local advertising. Huh. And then guess what? They have it so far. Aren't the Olympics. That's where the opening ceremony is going to be held in Sofi, The World Cup. Aren't they coming? Ain't they playing some of them games in so far?

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Oh, yeah, absolutely.

[Shannon Sharpe]

One Beyonce just out there for a week. Taylor Swift was out there for a week, man.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Hey, Stan. Stan. It's Stan, right? Stan making.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Stan Crocky.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Stan making a killing over there, huh?

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

That's what the whole thing you gotta own. You gotta own your building. Because when you own the building now. Hey, didn't they have national championship games out there?

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Absolutely.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Hey, the Georgia Dome, don't they have what they have there? SEC Championship. They have. They have the college football playoffs. One of the games. Be there. The national championship game. Is there Beyonce coming? As a matter of fact, I talked to my daughter. She might be coming this week.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

What? Beyonce coming where?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Atlanta. Tell my daddy. You know anybody? No, I don't know anybody that know Beyonce. I do not. I ain't even know you, baby. Don't even know. I don't. I don't. Because I don't know nobody. I mean. What, you want me to lie, right? Oh, yeah. You know your daddy. You know your daddy pulls some strings for. You know your daddy can't pull no strings. The only string your daddy can pull is pull. You tighten your shoes up, then the only strings I got for you. But. Nah. But it's happening. No, Joe. It's gonna happen. I think I was reading in 2029. They could opt out. We're gonna opt out. So if I'm the NFL, if I'm the players right now, or I'm saving my money.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Because I know. Especially if I'm a young player or I'm saving mine, Ocho. Because I know they're gonna put the squeeze on me.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

They.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Even. Even though they put a squeeze. This is the problem. This is the problem with. With. With the play. It's so many of them. It's.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yes, everybody ain't gonna do. Because, see, they look at it like you. Like you think what you. I know what you're about to say.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Talk to me.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Cause everybody ain't gonna be Patrick Mahomes and make Joe Burrow them type money.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Bingo.

[Shannon Sharpe]

It's the guys that say bad. Please. I got me three or four years. I can't afford to miss one of these years.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Exactly. Exactly.

[Unknown Host]

And.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

And listen. And when you think about it, the way they spend during the season, sometimes during the off season, that long break without those checks coming.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Oh, yeah.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

You need to be in season for them.

[Shannon Sharpe]

September, October, November, December. January is basically when you get your money and then you. The playoff money. So for. For five months that you played, you make your money, and after that, you on your own. You better save it. But, Ocho, this is what I love most about the MLB and the NBA.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Sometimes a man must plant a tree with the realization he'll never enjoy the shade that it produces. Ocho, don't do that, Ocho. Right. Go ahead and write that one down. Sometimes a man must plant a tree with the realization he'll never enjoy the shade in which it produces.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Come on, now.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Sometimes a man must do something when he's not going to benefit from it. You see, Kurt Flood never benefited from free agency. A lot of these NBA players didn't benefit from free agency, but they were willing to sacrifice for the greater good of the game.

[Unknown Host]

Yes, sir.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Just think about it. Think about what your father, your grandmother and my grandmother and great and so forth and so on, what they sacrificed and never got an opportunity to enjoy. So some of the rewards that came along from their sacrifice. Hell, if I can't. If I can't.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

If I.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Not me. See how you think.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah. Look at all the. Look at all. They locked it down. Mlb, the player said, you know what y' all want to do? The. Y'. All. Y'. All. Y' all playing around with us. Shut it down.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Ain't no postseason. Ain't no World Series. Ain't Nothing. Nothing until we get exactly what we want.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

And you know what's funny? I don't think the players understand how much power they have. The players don't understand how much power they have if they was to band together and say, we ain't playing. We. We're not. We're not playing. And we gonna. Okay, we gonna. We want to go deadlock. Okay. We want to go cold. Okay, bet. Play the game. But it would take for everybody to be on board.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yes.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

And I guarantee they get. They won't. Oh, y' all want guaranteed contracts? Say you ain't playing, and watch what happened. But the realization of everybody buying in and understanding for the greater good, and not just you, but everybody gonna come after you. Somebody gonna have to take a stand.

[Shannon Sharpe]

No, they won't do that, Ocho.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

No, no, no. That's difficult. Huh? That's difficult. That many players. That many players, you know, the top. The top boys can pull it off. The top dudes can definitely pull it off, but not. Not. Not everybody else.

[Shannon Sharpe]

They. They.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

They. They rely on that.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Ocho, what happened? Like I said, just think of all those people that were fighting for freedoms that they didn't get a chance to enjoy. Think about all the people that was fighting for privileges that they didn't get a chance to enjoy if all they thought about, well, hell, I ain't gonna benefit from it.

[Unknown Host]

Right?

[Shannon Sharpe]

I ain't gonna be able to make millions and billions. I'm not gonna be able to own a business. I'm not gonna be able to ride wherever I want to. I'm not gonna be able to go into any. That I want to. Just imagine. I think some of the greatest mistakes that one can make is to think everybody thinks like you. That's. There's no. There's no way. There's no reason for the NFL players not to have guaranteed contracts.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

No, not at all.

[Shannon Sharpe]

They got it in soccer. They got it in basketball. They got it in baseball. And granted, they play. They play a lot of games. They do. But they weren't giving them that until they struck. Yeah, until they say, we gonna shut it down. But see, the difference is. And. And. And. And the players. Look, like I said, I ain't gonna call nobody out. Y' all can go back and look, in 1987, the NFL is struck twice. They struck in 1980 o. That's the part about being. I. I had a birthday. I, I. I was. My birthday. I ain't get no cake. You ain't even send me no happy birthday, uncle. Nothing but Anyway, I did tell you.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

You forgot I called you.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah, you did. You ain't send no money though, huh? Hum, you heard?

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

I got. Hey, hey, I got. I got. I got your money right here.

[Shannon Sharpe]

What good is the. We'll get to that in a minute.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Hold on. Oh, go ahead, go ahead, go ahead. Hold on.

[Shannon Sharpe]

The best part. The best part of being my age. I turned 57 God damn. Weeks ago.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Damn.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Is that. I remember in 1982 when the players struck, and I remember in 1987 when the players struck. And I ain't gonna call nobody out but y' all go back and look at the players that crossed that picket line. Some of your favorite players.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Mm.

[Shannon Sharpe]

If the best players will cross the picket line and go back and play, what chance did the fourth rounders, the fifth rounders, what chance do they have, Ocho? The guys that's not making 100 back then, 100,000, $300,000, $400,000 was a lot of money.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

That's big money, boy.

[Shannon Sharpe]

So if the guy that's making 400, 500, 700,000, if he'll cross the picket line, what chance. The guy that's making 60,000, what he going to do? What chance he got you right, Ocho? As a matter of fact, 2011, you was in the lockout when they changed the door and let y' all go in there.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Hold on. When it was a lockout, right? Yeah, but when there's a lockout, that means contractually you can do whatever you wanna do. Cause there is no contract.

[Shannon Sharpe]

There's none.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

I was doing all type of wild shit. Hey, I was the wrong one to say we in a lockout.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You the wrong one to turn and lose, huh?

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Listen, I was riding bulls. I was doing. Listen, I was. I had no business doing. I was having fun. But see, it was. It was different because you have to understand, I was working year round. I wasn't tripping. You know, I'm doing reality shows. I'm on. I'm on. I'm on tv. I'm doing all type of stuff. So actually, it was a seven, eight year period is I was working year round. I'm playing football. Football season over. Hell, I'm. I'm doing tv, you know, so it. My situation was a little different, but I just. Man, if them boys band together, Unk boy, it will change the dynamic of the league in general. But it's so many players. It's so many players.

[Shannon Sharpe]

All you gotta do is look at what Roger Goodell, what he wanted in his contract negotiations. He didn't mention nothing about working less hours.

[Unknown Host]

Right.

[Shannon Sharpe]

He wanted lifetime health benefits. He said I'll take, I won't. I want my money.

[Unknown Host]

Right?

[Shannon Sharpe]

X amount of dollars he want private fly private lifetime health benefits because that's the quickest way to walk. Unless you got hundreds of millions of dollars like some of these guys. Ocho, they're going to be exempt, right? Guy making 500 gonna make 500. $600 million he'll be exempt. But so everybody ain't making that kind of money. Some of these guys gonna need Medicaid.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I don't like to be the bearer of bad news. I don't like to be the harbinger. But somebody gonna get gonna need Medicare that play professional sports.

[Unknown Host]

Yes sir.

[Shannon Sharpe]

It's just the sad reality of it.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I hate that. I wish I wish guys. I wish a more I wish some guys do. And I get it though. I really do. Saw the bigger picture. It did.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Damn.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Speaking of standing your ground, the Texans gave Jaden Higgins the first fully guaranteed second round rookie deal ever. Now almost every second round pick 30 of 32 is still unsigned. It is actually refusing to sign rookie contracts will never be the same second round. Trey Harris officially has a holdout to report charges camp Shemar Stewart was still holding out in Cincy. Will rookies hold out trying to get guaranteed contracts because they're try Cincinnati is trying to set a precedent one way right. Somebody else trying to set a press the rookies try to set a precedent say they hey moving forward all rookie contracts about to be guaranteed. I like it.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Yeah, I, I, I do too. I do. I do too. Listen, a stand like that is something that they have to do if you want things to change it got to start with somebody. Y it, it has to start with somebody. Obviously the NFL and the teams they do it contractually set a precedent doesn't mean you have to take it. They just going to be at a standstill. Who, who's, who's going to fold first? That's what it comes down to. Y the funny thing about it is if you don't want to play with great understanding regardless of where you're drafted, they will replace you too. You got for sure. Hey, they will replace you. So you got to understand the game that you are playing.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yep. Does the damage, does the damage the union rep does this damage the union's reputation after the collusion story came out and it came out because Pablo Torre was digging. Ain't no because the union and the, and, and, and, and, and, and the NFL they Agreed to keep it hush hu.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Well, it ain't hush hush no more.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Hell no.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

And something gonna have to give.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Something got to give Ocho Something gotta give.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Who gonna fold first?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Cal Use check. The great fullback from The San Francisco 49ers expecting a bounce back season for Christian McCaffrey which would help the 49ers bounce back from a 6 and 11 season. This is what use check saying. Christian is arguably the best player in the NFL. He was offensive player of the year two years ago. He. He changes everything. He looks incredible. He looks so healthy. He looks so explosive. McCaffrey began last season on injury reserve injured the seasonal injury reserve when we first started the show. Ocho what that say if you limp into the season. How you going out to season? Ocho?

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

You want to limp out the seat.

[Shannon Sharpe]

He missed. He missed eight games with a bilateral Achilles tendinitis and then played only 167 snaps before a posterior cruciate ligament. End of this season. Oo yeah. CMC have a bounce back season?

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Absolutely. It's possible. Absolutely.

[Shannon Sharpe]

That's all. He just welcomed. He just welcomed the baby girl.

[Unknown Host]

Yep.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Congratulations.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Hit his wife, Olivia.

[Unknown Host]

Yep.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

But he, he definitely can. I mean, listen, CMC is a special running back. He's a special running back.

[Shannon Sharpe]

He can do it all.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

He can. He can do it all. And he changes the dynamic of that offense. When he's available to play, he can run it, he can catch it out the backfield and he makes everything easier for that offense. There are certain players in NFL, when you're on that offense, it makes the offensive coordinating job easy. It makes the quarterback job easy because they can do so much most of the time when it comes to offensive coordinators and you call in plays, you have to call them in a way to hide certain weaknesses.

[Shannon Sharpe]

A player like McAffrey, your whole playbook is open.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Opens up everything, huh? It opens up everything. There are very few players on each team like that. Every team doesn't have them, which makes off the coordinating job that much more difficult. But when you have a player like that, it makes everything else easy because they're so good at what they do.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah, he's special. He's special. I. You know, the thing is Oo he's not a naturally big man and he plays a. And he plays probably the most physically demanding position, which is the running back position as not a naturally big man. He's not Saquon, he's not Derrick Henry, he's not Joe Mixon. He's not Josh Jacobs. He. I mean, he probably going to 205.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

If that.

[Shannon Sharpe]

That's.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

That's being generous. If that.

[Shannon Sharpe]

And you're asking him to do 275. Between 275 and 323, 325, 350 touches. Now, it'll be fine. But what happens when they hit him? He hit the dirt, and then they fall on top of him.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

So I. I think that, you know, you're gonna have to be judicious. I mean, look, Ocho, we got a weapon. I want to use it. I mean, what am I saving it for, right? I want to use it.

[Unknown Host]

Right.

[Shannon Sharpe]

It like you got a whip, man. Man, such and such got a bad man, Man, I heard. Ocho, man, why don't you bring the car, man? I heard you got. Ocho, I heard you got that thing, man. Let me see it. What good is having a nice car, Ocho, if you just go sit in the garage, it's like, man, we got Christian McCaffrey. We got one of the most versatile running backs in all of football, and we not gonna use it. Right because of the potential that he might get hurt. Nah, we paying for you. If you get hurt, we'll deal with it. But when you the highest paid running back at what night? Well, I think he's the second highest paid now behind Saquon, because I think Saquon's at 20 million a year.

[Unknown Host]

Right.

[Shannon Sharpe]

And I think Christian's, like, at 19. I got to give him touches. I gotta hand it to him. I got to throw it to him. Whatever the case may be, I need the ball in his hands.

[Unknown Host]

Oh, yeah.

Hey. So we all make mistakes, but owning up is the right thing to do, you know?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Degree, Cool Rush deodorant.

[Unknown Host]

Well, last year, they changed the formula, and it did not go well with their fans.

Degree's whole thing is it turns up the sweat and odor protection when you turn up the effort. And good thing it does, because Cool Rush fans really turned up the effort to bring back the original formula. One guy even started an online petition.

And degree, listen, they admitted they effed up and are bringing the original cool rust scent back. And it's exactly how you remember it. Cool, crisp, and fresh. It's back in Walmart, Target, and other stores now for under $4.

There's a reason why it's been the number one men's antiperspirant for the last decade. It's the same reason why people were not happy when it changed. So if you never tried it, it might be a good time to see what the fuss is about, head to.

Your local Walmart or Target to try the OG degree. Cool rush for yourself.

[Greg Rosenthal]

25 years, 25 players before training camp kickstarts a new NFL season, NFL Daily is going to look back. It is a special six episode series where myself, Greg Rosenthal and some of the top NFL minds like Kevin Harlan, Mina Kimes and Bill Barnwell make the case for each player. We're taking a look back giving you NFL Daily's top 25 players of the last 25 years. So who made the list? You know Tom Brady's on it. Where's Patrick Mahomes?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Kansas City?

[Greg Rosenthal]

He's on it. How about Lamar Jackson?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Jackson takes it himself. Look at him dart back and forth. Oh, he broke his ankles and he's got a touchdown. He is Houdini.

[Greg Rosenthal]

You are going to have to listen to find out listen to NFL Daily's top 25 players of the last 25 years starting on June 30th on the iHeartrade radio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Unknown Host]

Check out behind the Flow, a podcast documentary series following the launch of San Diego Football Club. We go behind the scenes and explore the stories of those involved.

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.

We need veteran players and we need young players. Like you're building a team from scratch and so the succession plan of long term success needs to be defined. We need to embrace this community.

When I was 13, my uncle took me to a qualifier and we watched Paraguay against Chile pouring rain. Just watching the fans jumping up and down, I think that was definitely a watershed moment for me. Not only was that going to be my game, but it was going to be my life.

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

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Absolutely.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Charges Running back Najee Harris suffered a superficial eye injury at the fireworks mishap mishap at the 4th of July event last week. According to his agent, Najee Harris was present at the 4th of July event where fireworks may have resulted in an injury to several attendees. Najee sustained a superficial eye injury eye injury during the incident but is fully expected to be ready for an upcoming NFL season. OO you see yeah.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Hey but I don't play by them fireworks bro.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Why you don't play?

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Oo I don't play about them fireworks. Listen, I don't play by them fireworks when it comes to Fireworks. And my kids want fireworks lit. I. I allow someone else to light fireworks. I don't play by. I don't play by that. Listen. Especially the eye area.

[Shannon Sharpe]

But listen, what do they blow up? You j. What about jpp? Have you not learned about jpp?

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Hey, you ain't got to tell me twice. Even before. Even before JPP's incident. Yes. Fireworks. Just with understanding what happens if it goes off. What happens if it goes off. I. I don't like that I give enough space between me and any firework display. A lot of space. Just in case something might tip over. I'm able to move and react. I don't.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

At all. And that's why he had. He had an eye incident.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I don't believe that, man. Hey, anything that cannot be replaced, I don't be fooling around with that. My eye. Hey, all this right here. No, I can, you know, artificial no eyes. My nose.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

I already. I only got one good eye as it is. Yeah, I only got one good eye as it is. I am not losing nothing else.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Absolutely not.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You like me. My thing ain't full Forest Whitaker, but you know, it's heading that direction.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Listen, hey, my. This is. You know what? People probably would never believe me. Unc in night. I never forget 1993. I'm going to tell a quick story real quick. 1993, I woke up with inflammation in my eye similar to swimming under salt water. If anybody's been in the ocean, you look under salt water, you know you can't see nothing. Woke up one morning, my grandma thought it was pink eye. We woke up, she said, you're not going to school. Whatever. Few days go by, nothing, nothing happens. The pink eye, the swelling all went away, but I still couldn't see out my right eye. Grandma, take me to the doctor. Some type of inflammation on the inside. I'm not sure what it was. Blah, blah, blah. I go have surgery, had surgery to clear up whatever it was. So at that point, remember how Biggie Small's eye, he went. His eye.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. You had one eye to look straight ahead and the other on a slide be scanning.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

So my eye was like that. The majority through high school, obviously, where it was, it was. It was very, very lazy. Very lazy.

[Shannon Sharpe]

So, yeah, yeah.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Whatever happened, I don't remember what the procedure was, but I could never see out of my right eye since 1993. So at some point, doing certain. I forgot not drills, but finding ways to strengthen even though I couldn't see out of it. I still looks like I'm looking at you now. It wasn't as bad as it used to be. Sometimes if I lock in long enough on something, on an object, or looking at my phone, my eye would just drift on its own.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Now, it's hard to notice. And people say, why you always wear glasses? Why? So I always have glasses on most of the time because my eye would drift off sometime. And the funny thing about it is, I played my entire career with one eye. I can only see out my left eye. And the funny thing, I could talk about it now. If you ever watch me catch the ball in the NFL, every. Every catch, you see, you always notice. I wait till the ball gets about.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah, you wait till the ball get up on you.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

I wait because I can't see it most of the time. If you have both eyes, you can catch it from.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I mean, yeah, you look at the ball, you see, you try to pick it up as you possibly can. You try to get it out here.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Bingo. I couldn't see the ball until it got at least right here. And then I would just have to be able to. Every catch. Now, I rarely caught up my body, but I had to wait until it got close to me in order to catch it, to see it in sight. And that's the story. I really never, you know, I never really shared that story. But in. In this. In this eye over here, I'm like 99, maybe 120 or 90 20, something like that. But in my left eye. Damn.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You mean 2020 vision is based on 2020.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

No, 2020 in my left eyeball, right at like 90. I mean, it's bad. Like the big. The biggest letters on the. On on the eye chart.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah, if you cover.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

If you cover my left eye, I can't even see. I can't even see. The biggest letters on the eye chart is. Is bad. It's real bad.

[Shannon Sharpe]

All right, well, I'll make sure I put that thing to your head on the right side so you won't see what I got. You don't give me my money.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Hold on. I got your money. Hold on, hold on, hold on. Hey, hey, I got. I got your money, right? I got your money.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You got it?

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Yeah, I got. Listen, I got 10, 20, 30, 40.

[Shannon Sharpe]

No, that ain't enough.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Hold on, I got. Hey, I got. I got 50,000 for you right here. Huh? Yeah, yeah, I got. I got you, baby. I got you. Listen, whatever you need, I send you a little extra. Matter of fact, how long it's been. How long it's been you know? You know, tell me how long it's been. It's been, what, about five?

[Shannon Sharpe]

We bet at the beginning of the season.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

We did?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yes.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Okay, listen, how much interest I owe you, man?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Just shoot your boy a cool 5,900, 6,000. Make it even.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Okay, Okay, I got. Matter of fact, you know what I'mma I'm gonna tell you, that's how much I love you. Whatever you pay for the dog, I'm gonna pay for the dog too. So I'm gonna shoot. I'm gonna send you 6,000. And whatever you pay for the dog, I'm gonna shoot that on top of it.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Well, you know what? I will put this in the mail tomorrow.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Hey. Hey, man. Mail me, my man. We'd have been on vacation three weeks.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You keep it.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Keeping all the wars, man. I forgot all about that. Hey, send me that, man.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Hey, the web is. The web is supposed to be here next week. Hold on.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Matter of fact, you know, I'm shoot you a cool 10,000. I'm gonna shoot you a cool 10,000, man. Send my stuff, man. Come on now. I gotta come like that.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I was gonna hold on to this to the webbies. Come so I can see it all all at once.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Okay, okay. See. Hey, you a good dude. I don't care what they say about you, boy. You good in my book. You good.

[Shannon Sharpe]

See if I got anything else of yours here.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Hey, what my funko at? Hey, send me my funko, man. Oh, hey, send me my funko.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Okay, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

So my funko. Send my webby. Hey, what's that award? What's the triangle. What's the triangle award? What's that called?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Creative excellence.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Oh, yeah, that's me. That's me. I like the word excellence because when I go use the bathroom, I piss excellence so that that award would go good in here, man. Hey, send me my jersey, man. Come on, man.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Hello. There's your. Oh, you with the beach.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

I went to Beach High. That's me. I was number two.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Damn.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

How you got that.

[Shannon Sharpe]

That you? Come on.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Hey, what you doing?

[Shannon Sharpe]

What.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

What we doing over there now? Hey, Ash. Ash, you know my address? Ash? Hey, send my. Send my stuff now.

[Shannon Sharpe]

We sent the other stuff to the old address.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

What old address? Well, I don't live. I don't live there no more.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Well, she'll get it to you.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Nah, nah, come on, don't do that. Don't do that now. Don't do that.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You don't.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Come on, man. Hold on. I'm confused. How you got my High school jerseys, both of them. Why they end up with you? I need that funko. That's a 101 right there, boy.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Okay, I'm gonna say that's a funko. I'm gonna say the funko. The award for creative excellence. And the two. The two Webbies.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

I. I tell you what. How about we do it? I. I got one for you. Now, listen, it's been a long time. I owe you money. I got money right here. You send me my stuff, and I'm gonna send the money.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Gotcha.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Send me my stuff. So, hey, listen, as soon, as soon as it get here, I'm gonna send it right to you. I promise you. I promise you. But, hey, a good 50 right here. You got to smell.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Smell good. Look good, too.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Hey, hey, it do. Hey, fresh, too. Hey, these are new hunters too, huh? These are new hunters.

[Shannon Sharpe]

They new.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Yeah, these new, boy. Oh, my God. I forgot. I don't know how I let it slip my mind. I don't know if we have it and what we talking about tonight. We talked about the casino and them having uno. Lo and behold. And I'm gonna tell you where you can find me. I'm gonna tell you where you can find me. You can find me in casino playing uno. I'm gonna be a billionaire. I tell you that right now. I'm gonna be a billionaire over playing uno in a casino. I don't know what rules they gonna have.

[Shannon Sharpe]

They gonna have different rules than what we play.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

No, no, no, no, no. They can't just. Hey, one thing they're not gonna do, they can't gentrify uno. They can't do that.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Don't gentrify uno, because you can't put draw tools on each other. You can't put no draw fold. They got all kind of rules, Ocho.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. If you're gonna put uno in there, let's have the original uno. All that new stuff they got. We ain't. We ain't doing that. We ain't doing that.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Vikings linebacker Dallas Turner reportedly fell victim to a phone scam that cost him a staggering 240, 000. He was allegedly targeted by a caller posing as a representative from JP Morgan Chase who claimed that someone was attempting to impersonate him at a bank branch. At a bank branch in Arizona.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Caller convinced Turner that to protect his funds, he need to urgently transfer his money to. To alternate business accounts. Believing his finances were at risk, Turner visited two separate Chase banks and transferred 120,000 each of funds were later discovered to have been funneled into fraudulent accounts. Turner didn't realize he had been duped until after speaking with family members who raised concerns about the legitimacy of the instructions. He then contacted law enforcement and an effort to recover the stolen funds. Authorities have only managed to recover less than 2, $500.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Hey, hey, hey, listen, like, stuff like that shouldn't work. Stuff like that shouldn't work stuff. A phone call. Since when did the bank. Stuff like that shouldn't work for one. If Chase is calling you about anything, suspecting when it comes to your money, I'm going to the bank. Nothing like that.

[Shannon Sharpe]

That's what he did. He went to the bank, but they convinced him that you need to get some money out of this and put it in here at the.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

At the actual bank.

[Shannon Sharpe]

So he went to two different banks and transferred 120,000 each into the accounts that they told him, say, this will protect you.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

No, no, no, no, no. I'm talking to the GM or the manager at that specific bank asking if anything with my accounts is in trouble or any type of alerts, any type of security, things that I should be worried about. I'm sure they will check and show and let him know there is nothing going on here, especially any phone call. Ain't no bank calling you, letting you know, what are we talking about?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Because 20, 25, I think we've all had our number. They call. Well, this is the last call. You need to pay your toes or you need to do.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Matt, man, please.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Don't know where I go got toes. So I know it ain't got my. Ain't got nothing to do with me. Oh, your credit card. I was like, nah, they know me personally. They call me. I don't need you telling me something wrong with my credit card, man.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Oh, man, listen. There's certain things we shouldn't fall for. There's certain things. There's certain things we shouldn't fall for at our big age. That just doesn't make sense. It doesn't even. It doesn't even make sense, you know, but hopefully Young Bull, I hope he.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Can get some of it back. But it's hard, Ocho. You know where money go, man? That thing gone? Yeah, it's hard to get. You never gonna get fully what you lost, right? You just hope you can get 40, 50, 60% on the dollar. Cause you ain't gonna get a hundred.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Think about this. When it comes to scams of this nature, it normally works on the elderly. It normally works on the elderly because they. They're not aware. They're not sure. Something like this of this magnitude shouldn't work on my young bull. You know, it shouldn't work on the young bull. He should. He should know better. You got to be a little sharper.

[Shannon Sharpe]

People hurt you about their money, man.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Hey, they don't play. They. They don't. They don't play.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Y' all need. Like I said.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Hey, you know, he didn't work too hard for that, too. Yes, Too hard for that, man. Come on now.

[Shannon Sharpe]

And the thing was, I'm leave it right there. Cause who. Who the break that he with? Who's with Chase Bank?

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Oh, y' all responsible for that. So if somebody stealing out of there, y' all responsible for it. Y' all gonna place that back? I ain't gonna do nothing.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. You know what? You know the funny thing? I bet I bank with Chase. I bank with Chase. And just the thought of even believing any phone call, any text message like, come on, man, Banks don't even operate that way. They don't even operate that way. Oh, who? Well, you got the wrong number, man, if you don't get off my line.

[Shannon Sharpe]

In the Ravens playoff loss to the Bills, Mark Andrews lost a fumble in the fourth quarter with the Ravens trailing 24:19. And then with 1 minute and 33 seconds left and he dropped a game tying two point. A two point pass from Lamar Andrews. Talked about it Friday, saying, I've had to eat a lot of ish in last however long it's been, but I'm excited to go show who I am, what I can be and what I. And what I can be and what I can do to help this team with because I'm not done yet. Did the long break. Ocho, do you think the long break break helped Andrews move on?

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Or did he give him an opportune time to just sit with his thoughts?

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Yeah, because it's the way the season ended. I think it's going to linger a little bit longer, you know, the way it ended. And, and for him being at fault for them him dropping the ball, obviously they were down. He fumbled early in the season, but they had an opportunity he fumbled early in the game, but they had an opportunity to tie the game and obviously maybe go to overtime and see what happens from that point. And I think it hurts a little bit more and it lingers a little longer because you will view it as, oh, I lost the game for us, you know. So now obviously he says he has to prove himself again. Well, we Know what you can do? We know what you can do.

[Shannon Sharpe]

We know what you can do. You've been a Pro Bowl. You've been a Pro Bowl. You've been a law Pro.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Yeah, absolutely. But it's those opportune times when it matters most, can you make those plays?

[Shannon Sharpe]

And I think the thing is, Ocho, the thing that we love most about sports, because you have to have a short memory, because guess what? In basketball, the game might. Another game might happen that next night. Baseball, another game happened that next day. In football, a game is going to happen that week, so you have to forget about that. I can't be thinking about in this game what happened last game, because it's going to mess me up in this game.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Exactly.

[Shannon Sharpe]

But because, excuse me, that was the last game. And here we are, Ocho. February, March, April, May, June, July, August. It's not until he gets back out there and he's playing meaningful football that he could possibly put that now. That's never going to leave. No, that's never going to leave. It's never.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

And he's gonna be all right.

[Shannon Sharpe]

That's. That's the thing that I love about professional sports, because you have to move on, and you get an opportunity to move on very, very fast. But when it's the last game, and then you have three months, four months, and hey, bro, don't worry about it. Hey, it's eight. Ain't no one play. You. Oh, Joe. You know, ain't no one play cost us the game. Okay.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

I mean, listen. No, nobody will say it, obviously, but that play cost the game.

[Unknown Host]

It did.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

I mean, listen, it sounds cute. You know, they always said, oh, that's not why we lost the game. Yes, it is. Honestly. I mean, it is. Let's. Let's be realistic. You know, your teammates will always say all the right stuff. They'll never say it to your face, you know, but it costs a game. And what's going to happen. He's going to bounce back this season. He's going to have a great regular season as he did last year. But when it matters most, you have to make those plays. You got. You got to make those plays.

[Shannon Sharpe]

That's what it comes down to, Ocho. That's what you. You paid to make plays.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

One of the better played tight ends because they're used to him making those kind of plays in those type of situations. But if anybody can back, bounce back. Mark Andrews coming back. Trevor Lawrence had high praise for Travis Hunter this week. Travis has been great. Just his work Ethic, how he comes in. He's been one of the hardest working guys we have. I think his commitment to learning the playbook and trying to learn the two systems, it's a lot on a rookie, is challenging to learn. Everything that he's done a nice job. We still have work to do, and we're going to get a lot done in training camp to get us ready to play come September. I'm really excited for him and how he can help our team.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Yeah, I'm excited, too.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I am.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

I'm. I'm excited. I'm excited for Duvall. I'm. I'm excited for the fans in Jacksonville. I'm excited to see Travis Hunter. I'm excited to see Brian Thomas Jr. Oh, they got.

[Shannon Sharpe]

They got. They got some weapons now.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Hey, listen, every game, they got eight home games. Every game should be sold out. Every game will be sold out simply for the man.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I don't know what happened, Ocho, when I was, you know, they became a franchise in 95.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

And I remember going down there and we played them in 99. And we played them, obviously. Then I went to Baltimore and we played. We were in the same division. Ocho, that place used to have 60,000. I'm talking about. They were loud.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Now, I think they blacked it out up there. I'm like, come on, Jacksonville. But they were loaded. You know, they had Mark Brunel, they had Jimmy, they had Keen, Kenny McCarthy, Red Taylor. Fabulous Freddie Taylor, Tony Boselli.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Tony Brackens. They had Dion. Figures. They had a nice squad. Oh, yeah, they had a really nice squad.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Donovan, Darius. Come on. Come on.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yes.

[Unknown Host]

Oh, yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Come on, Jazz. Get on out there and support your team.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

Oh, they gonna be there. You ain't got to worry about that, though. They. They go. They are going to be there. Listen, the offense is lights out. The. The offense is lights out even before Travis Hunter got there. So the. The addition to Travis Hunter, plus Brian Thomas Jr. Who was one of the better receivers last year as a man. Man, they gonna be nice. They're gonna be real nice. Now we can get Trevor Lawrence to play up to the expectation.

[Shannon Sharpe]

The number one overall pick and one of the highest paid players in the NFL. Yeah, he has to fulfill his end of the deal, too, now.

[Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson)]

He'll be all right. Just a little consistency.

[Sarah Spain]

Join iHeartRadio and Sarah Spain in celebrating the one year anniversary of iHeart Women's Sports. With powerful interviews and insider analysis. Our shows have connected fans with the heart of women's Sports in just one year, the network has launched 15 shows shows and built a community united by Passion podcasts that amplify the voices of women in sports. Thank you for supporting I heart women's sports and our founding sponsors ELF Beauty, Capital One and Novartis. Just open the free iHeart app and search iHeart Women's Sports to listen now.

[Greg Rosenthal]

Who are the 25 greatest football players to grace the gridiron since the year 2000? Introducing NFL Daily's top 25 players of the last 25 years. Join me, Greg Rosenthal and an all star cast of media personalities including Mina Kimes, Steve Wych, Kevin Harlan and more for a look at football's best since the turn of the century. Listen to NFL Daily's top 25 players of the last 25 years starting on June 30th on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Unknown Host]

Check out behind the Flow, a podcast documentary series following the launch.

[Shannon Sharpe]

San Diego Football Club San Diego coming.

[Unknown Host]

To MLS is going to be a game changer because this region has been hungry for a men's professional soccer team.

We need to embrace this community.

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

[Sarah Spain]

This is an iHeart podcast.