← Fantasy Football Happy Hour with Matthew Berry
Fantasy Football Happy Hour with Matthew Berry
Super Bowl LX Reaction: Seahawks bottle up Drake Maye, Kenneth Walker III wins MVP
00:44:43
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- [00:00]
A
Foreign. Happy hour with Matthew Barry.
- [00:07]
B
Welcome to the Fantasy football Happy hour Post Super Bowl 60 edition as the Seattle Seahawks win their second Super bowl in franchise history. Connor Rogers alongside Matthew Barry and Jay Croucher. Matthew still on site down there near Santa Clara. How are you?
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A
Well, yeah, I'm in a hotel room. To be. To be perfectly honest. I want to think like, where's that? Near the stadium? Yeah, it's a hotel room. It's an undisclosed hotel room. I don't want to be swabbed by the. Swarmed by the mob. But you know what?
- [00:35]
C
I'm good.
- [00:35]
A
I'm, you know, coming off my high of the Super Bowl. It was, you know, it was awesome. It was a very cool thing to experience, to be on the field for, to sort of see everything and experience everything. It was kind of crazy.
- [00:51]
C
Was there a single highlight, Matthew, of the pre game show experience?
- [00:57]
A
Well, I mean, just that I got to do it, right? I mean, like, just, you know, just that I got to do it that, you know, and people were tweeting about the fact that I was the first fantasy guy that came from fantasy football to do a Super bowl pregame show. A lot of people very kind on social media, which they often aren't, but yesterday they were. They were very kind. I thought, you know, I thought all my hits went well. Most of my bets hit, not all of them. I'm sure we'll get into that. So, yeah, I mean, that was just cool. And then just like kind of being part of the team, right? You know, took pictures with Tirico and Collinsworth. You know, Carmelo Anthony was there, right, Highlighting our NBA coverage and your good friend Carmelo Anthony. But as you know, I went to Syracuse, so Carmelo is, you know, Carmelo was my guy. So it was cool just to talk to Melo for a little bit. Did one of my hits with no Eagle, who's also a Syracuse guy. So it's, you know, bunch of Syracuse love as. As well. And we see. Aloha Brooks says I drink for free today. Thank you very much. Lord knows, like, as soon I was so nervous, honestly, and you know, the whole week just totally stressed out. My wife and kids came out and, you know, to, you know, sort of support me and help celebrate. But the night before, like, I was just no fun to be around because I was super stressed about everything. And anyway, so.
- [02:17]
C
Anyway.
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A
But it was great. It all went. It went as well as I could have hoped with the exception of Ken Walker. You know, I just needed Ken Walker to catch that pass that Hit him in the nine and he dropped off because otherwise then his. That, that's. That. That one drove me crazy because obviously then he has three receptions, not two. And I wouldn't mind that.
- [02:34]
C
There, there you go. Well, Matthew, my, my three year old Rio, when you popped up on the screen doing your best bet, I think she said, Is that Mr. Strawberry? And I said, yes, that's. That's Mr. Strawberry. And then when I popped up later on in the commercial that we did, she asked if that was her other dad. She didn't. Couldn't really gather the concept of me being in two places at once in the room with her and on the TV screen, but. But not very cool. And. Yeah, and it seemed like you got, you know, amazing feedback from the community and everyone, Matthew, so, so well done.
- [03:08]
A
Thank you. Thank you very much. Yeah, it was awesome. Yeah, a lot of people saw our commercial, Jay. A lot of people saw our commercial. And then I did a different one as well. So all very cool. God bless Mr. King. Thank you, Mr. King.
- [03:20]
B
So Seattle covers the minus four and a half. This game opened up at three and a half at the top of the. The post conference championships and the game went under, which I know is really, really popular. A lot of people, including us, kind of looked at this as a defensive battle. Got a little scary at the end there. There was some, I don't want to call it garbage time production, Jay, but obviously there was. There was a little bit of a feel of that, that the point total was chase. But this was also the first time a favorite has covered since Super Bowl 54, when the Chiefs were just a point and a half favorite over the Niners.
- [03:52]
C
Yeah, so I would say it was garbage time. Was kind of reminiscent of Mahomes last year against the Eagles with those bomb plays to Xavier worthy padding the stats a little bit and padding the score. I mean, in the end, Drake May had 295 passing yards, which is odd because in real time it felt like he had six for the whole game. But he was able to get those completions, particularly to Mac Hollins at the end. And yeah, ended up 13. Doesn't really feel like a reflection of the game. It felt more like 17. Nothing to be frank, but yeah, ultimately Underhitz the favorite hits. I think most of the public was on Seattle and thought that this, this might be a blowout, but the line held pretty firm. I think ultimately if, if the game was played again, obviously Seattle would be more heavily favored, but you know, it could have unfolded differently for as Dominant as the Seattle defense was, their offense was not particularly dominant. They couldn't finish in the red until Donald connected with A.J. barna. But ultimately the, the defining aspect of the game, Conor was just Seattle's defense flying around. Drake may not be able to do anything. And if I'm going to remember one player from this game, it's probably Devin Witherspoon.
- [05:02]
B
Without a doubt. It felt like that blitz off the edge. And you know, Witherspoon is a guy that plays a lot in the slot. He can play outside corner, but his ability in the box is what makes him one of the most special corners in the NFL. There's just not a lot of corners, especially at his size, that are that physical and that fast coming downhill. And Matthew just. New England never had an answer for it. It felt like they got beat by the same blitz throughout the first three quarters of the game. The pass protection with the two rookies on the left side of their offensive line was, you know, a huge storyline coming into this game. And it felt like an even bigger storyline during the game. And Drake may held onto the ball a lot trying to make a play and took a lot of sacks and had turnovers. It just felt like New England, who their veteran coaching staff always has an answer coming out of the half, out of the half, couldn't find it in this game. Specifically on offense.
- [05:53]
A
Yeah, I mean we've talked a lot about the offensive line and one of the reasons why one of the prop bets that I gave out as part of my parlay was that, you know, Drake may over on the rushing and so depending on what line you got. The line I gave, I gave an all line of 25, which he hit the line I think closed at 39 and a half, which he did not. He was finishes with 37. But you know, kind of the thought that we talked about all week long was going to be running for his life. And that's exactly what ended up happening here. Seattle, by the way, saw a stat here, but Seattle did not blitz all that much. They were able to get pressure just with that front four. You know, tough day into the office for the Patriots offensive line. And you know, I mean it just. And listen, I mean credit to the Seahawks defense, but I don't think Connor from, from what I saw and I actually, you know, I was watching it in the stands with my wife and kids. So you know, I'm not going to lie to you guys and say that I was closely watching every game. There's a lot of like dad getting some Chicken tenders, you know, so like I, you know, a couple of, couple of chicken tender plays off, you understand? And Jay, they were definitely for my.
- [06:51]
B
Daughters and I was going to say for the kids.
- [06:53]
A
Yeah.
- [06:54]
C
I didn't know the chicken tenders were a genetic condition that could pass down to one's offspring.
- [06:59]
A
They are, yeah, absolutely. But at any rate. But it just felt like they didn't do much defensively. That was exotic. It felt like they were just like, we're going to do what we do. We're going to rush, drop seven. We're going to, you know, we'll blitz here and there, but for the most part we just, we think our guys are better than your guys and we're just going to, we're going to wait to see if you prove us wrong. And the Patriots just never did.
- [07:22]
B
No. It felt like Mike McDonald's came into this game going, I think we're better than them. We match up better defensively where we're going to rush for. And we do have the blitz with Witherspoon. That can kind of be our sweet spot when to kind of press that button where you play a lot of zone coverages on the back end that we mix up and we can rotate the safety and may for at least the first three quarters. Just never read any of them. And it's, it's a, it's a tough balance, guys, when you're under duress so fast and even with a five man protection against a four man rush. But you're also not confident in what you're seeing pre and post snap. That's how it leads to you taking so many sacks or, or, you know, the throat. The interception at the end was just, there was a, it was a couple throws that you're just looking at going. He's just not seeing the field well at all. They couldn't just lean on their run game with Ramandre Stevenson. It did feel like the few times they tried to run some outside zone with Travion Henderson, there was some room there with his speed getting to the edge. But they didn't come out into the game expecting to be able to do that. So they didn't lean on it and it was simply just too late. But you're right, Matthew. Mike McDonald said, I'll make my adjustments on the defensive side of the ball in the second half if I have to. But we're just going to remain true to who we are. Because outside of Matthew Stafford, the MVP of this year's NFL season, it felt like no quarterback can Figure out the Seattle defense. Like that.
- [08:45]
A
Yeah, you know, I mean, his QBR was 16. That's on a scale. 100 is, you know, passer rating was under 80. It was 79.1. I need a. I have a question for you guys and Valiant Vincent. They're trying to connect Mike McDonald with Michael McDonald, the lead singer of the Doobie Brothers. You know, Blackwater, you know, China Grove, my personal favorite song by the Doobie Brothers, by the way. But what I was going to say is, is that it just. I need advice from the two of you. So all week long. So we've talked about this on the show before. Week six of this past football season, I'm doing the Football Night in America podcast. And this Patriots have beaten the Saints. Great. You beat the Saints. Good to go to 4 2.
- [09:32]
B
Spencer Rattler Saints.
- [09:34]
A
Yes, exactly. The Spencer Rattler Saints. But whatever. The Patriots beat the saints and Devin McCourty somewhat facetiously says, you know, just talk about Drake May had a good game in that one and says, you know, to me, he's like, drake May is the best quarterback from the, you know, 2024 draft class. Pointedly at me because he knows I'm such a Jaden Daniels homer. Fine. And I, and I, I was like, yeah, yeah, yeah, talk to me when he gets to an AFC Championship game the way that Jaden obviously had gone to the NFC championship game in his rookie year. Twitch. Devin response. It's great line, Devin response. He says, yeah, we only count Super Super Bowls in New England. And when you're a three time Super bowl champion like that, Deb McCourti, you can say lines like that. So anyway, great line, whatever. Okay. So as they, you know, that made the rounds in the moment when the Patriots made the AFC Championship game. That came back around. I fully owned it. You know what I mean? I, I quote, tweeted it, I posted on my Instagram. I fully owned it. Connor and I had a whole conversation about it. I was just like, yeah, congrats to Drake May. It's awesome. You know, I was wrong. He's my vote for mvp. I've been, you know, you guys know Drake May was on my preseason love list. And I got into an argument on air with Jason Garrett because Jason Garrett had Stafford as mvp. And I'm like, I think Drake May's the mvp. I think he's done more with less than Stafford. As, I mean, I think Stafford had a brilliant season, but, you know, Pukinaku and Devonte Adams and Sean McVeigh make a lot of Things easy. And so, and so I said I would have voted for Drake May over Stafford. Okay? So then this week of the super bowl, my mentions and my Instagram DMs, everything has been blowing up. All these guys from Boston showing this clip in my face, blah, blah, blah. Just shoving this on and on and on and on, like constant. I'm like, guys, I've already addressed this, I've already talked about. But on and on and on. It's like making the rounds again. And they're doing. It's my DMs, it's public, it's on Twitter, it's all these blogs, everything like that. Just. And so here's my advice, is my question I need answered from you guys because part of me is just like, guys, guys, I've already, I've already addressed. It was a common in week six, and honestly it was a fair comment in week six because Jaden Daniels at that point had been to an NFC championship game with the 18th ranked defense. Drake May's got a top five defense and, you know, and candidly an easier schedule. I would argue the AFC east this year was a lot easier than the NFC east last year, you know, that had the eventual super bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles in it and a solid Cowboys team. So anyway, so my question is, is that part of me wants to be like guys. The other part of me is just like, you know, QBR of 16. You know, by the way, he took six sacks. He was, he was not good this entire playoff run. He just wasn't. And you can make arguments, bad offensive line, bad weather conditions. But the truth of the matter is, is that Drake May did not have a great playoff stretch. So my question to YouTube, my social media gurus is, how would you play this if I, if you were me?
- [12:32]
C
Okay, well, first, that's the longest question I've ever heard in my life.
- [12:36]
A
What else do you want to. We got time to kill.
- [12:38]
B
We got, we got time to kill.
- [12:39]
A
Adam says we have time to kill. So I want, I'm, you know, I'm trying to do that. I'm trying to kill a little time.
- [12:45]
B
I think we'll have to have you reconnect if you're still out there. Jay, is he frozen for you?
- [12:50]
C
No, I think it's you, actually. I think you're the one saying, yeah, Matthew's. Mr. Strawberry's coming through loud. I'm gonna have to reconnect on this end. But look, here's what I'd say. I'd say that the default in these situations is Usually to take the high road. And I would recommend the high road in this case because one, there's been a lot of dancing on Drake May's grave. Guys. 23 years old.
- [13:12]
A
I agree.
- [13:13]
C
Receiver is Stefan Diggs who is towards the end of his career or Keisha Booty. He's dependent like Matt Hollands was his number one option on yesterday. He's playing with an offensive line that came into the season as a huge weakness. Fortified a little bit throughout the year and then its weaknesses came to the fore very much not just on Sunday, but throughout this whole playoff run as the Patriots played. I know four of the six best defenses in the whole league. So I think with Drake May we just need to take a step back and, and I get that there is a. There's a lot of celebration around Matthew Stafford winning MVP and the fact that he should have won by even more. MVP is a regular season award. What happened in the. Yeah, if you're going to include the playoffs. And Stafford by margin clearly was better than Drake May. And what Stafford was able to do against Seahawks defense looks even more impressive now that no one else really was able to have this success against Seattle, particularly in the second half of the season. But ultimately, like all you're doing too, Matthew, if you take a victory lap around this, you're just setting yourself up for if. When Jane Daniels two interceptions in a game next year, then it comes back in your face.
- [14:18]
B
Let it die.
- [14:19]
A
Yeah, you know, I think that's fair. And I will, I will, I will take the high road, which is not something I'm, I'm going to have to find the way to the high road because as you know, you know, I don't really know my way there. But I'll, I'll get a map, Jay, you'll send me a map and I'll find my way to the high road. No, I agree and I think the future is very bright for Drake May and the Patriots. I know they're very SEC man saying I want me in my fantasy team next year. Only problem, the Sharks my league will bid him up. There's no question about that. I don't, I don't think Drake May goes outside the top five quarterbacks next year at all. Yeah, it was just. Listen, tough day at the office for Drake May, but Seattle's made a lot of good quarterbacks not look great. And I agree with you. I think people forget because of all the success Connor, how young Drake May is not just in terms of age but in terms of playing experience. He was Only the starter for, I believe, one year at North Carolina or a year and a half. Yeah, I mean, like. Like he played. He played less than 20 games as a starter in college before he came. I don't remember the exact number, but I know it was in the teens as a starter. When he came into. When he came into the NFL.
- [15:26]
B
Well, he didn't stay in college very long. Right. That was more of it where he kind of burst onto the SC as an underclassman. And then the final year when he was draft eligible, the team around him stunk that he was under duress a lot. Like last night was Drake May's last college year. It looked exactly like that, where people were like, well, we know he's really talented and he's worthy of a top five pick easily, you know, but has he. Is he gonna form some bad habits with a bad supporting cast? And then obviously year two in the NFL with Josh McDaniels now, you've just seen so much good from Drake May that, you know, listen, he ran into a gauntlet in the playoffs that maybe the pendulum swung a little bit too far of what he did the regular season where everybody anointed him as potentially the MVP of the league. And then on the flip side of it, is he as bad as the player we saw in this playoffs against the best defenses across the NFL? No, he's not even close. I think Drake May has so much promise. So it's a really interesting topic. And when you look at this specifically, you know, you have the Jaden Daniels element, who was head and shoulders above his class his rookie year by far. You have Drake May, who was so good in year two. And then on the flip side of it, I don't think he's in either class of May or Jaden right now, but Caleb Williams is coming. And, you know, I don't know if he's going to be as good as those two guys, but his highs are as good as anybody. It's just kind of getting the lows out of his system. So it just goes back to. And Bo Nicks played one of the best games of his career before he broke his ankle. So it's amazing how strong of a quarterback class it specifically was. And I think it's going to make this debate really fun, not for next year, but for the next five years.
- [17:01]
A
Yeah, there's no question about that. What are we going to say there, Jay?
- [17:05]
C
We got a question from Ved. Which wide receiver would the Pats need next year to help May? I mean, the answer to any wide receiver, one, whether that's A.J. brown with a trade request, whether it's a Marvin Harrison Jr. Whether it's a Brian Thomas Jr. Getting your fresh start, just anyone, someone who has kind of outlier separation skills. Because that's the key. And what has just come to the fore in all these Seattle games is that if you don't have receivers who can separate right. And win quickly, you just don't have a prayer against the best defense. We saw that even with Carl Shanahan's offense, as he said on the pre game show, across two games, he didn't score a touchdown against the Seattle defense. And the. I think the reason why, for the most part, because the Niners have a decent offensive line. It's just that their receivers could not separate because they were, you know, by the end of the season particularly so banged up and they didn't get the brand that IU that they were hoping to have at all this season. So I think that May needs receivers who can separate and who are just. Just bring a bit more of a, A talent ceiling to that receiver room. But ultimately, like Connor, like you take a step back, drake May is 23 years old. Just given his age, like, I'm not sure if you redrafted the entire league today. Yeah, I think like Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, these guys are better than Drake May right now. They're also like six, seven years older. Like you make the case that Drake May, if you drafting the league, there is a chance that Drake May goes first overall.
- [18:30]
A
Yeah, I mean there's no question about that. And I think in terms of like, for me this is obvious, but feels like the Patriots number one concern is offensive line. Like I would like if, you know, depending. I don't know what their cap is at the moment and. But like for me, I feel like if I had a choice of going back with the exact same wide receivers next year, but you know, could rebuild the offensive line the way the Bears did this past offseason. Right. And you know, take it from one of the worst to like a top five unit. Give me that right. Because it's like, you know, for all the hand wringing, you know, they need better wide receivers, blah, blah, like similar to the Bills. Like they got it done. Like there's a team that was in the super bowl. Right. I mean, right. Yes, they, I mean and yes, they. Those guys couldn't separate. They couldn't separate quickly. But also, you know, they were also not able to run the ball super effectively in this one and they weren't able to protect Drake May to give him time. You know, he officially was sacked. He's officially sacked six times. Next gen stats has Will Campbell pressured allowed and Super bowl was 14. I mean, they just, you know, it was tough. By the way, the other, the other big issue on the other side of the ball. We've just kept talking about Drake May here, but let's talk about the Seahawks for a second. That Seahawks offense, according to PFF Patriots defense, had 17 missed tackles in the Super Bowl. That was a season high. And so, I mean, like, and especially, you know, for all the prowess of like, hey, listen, this is a great run defense, meaning the Patriots, Patriots have this amazing run defense, especially with Milton Williams, you know, every, you know, they haven't given up. I think, I think the stat was whatever, whatever Ken Walker's rushing line was, I think it was 79. I think it closed at 79 and a half. Like they had in a game in which Milton Williams was active. They hadn't given that number up all season long to a running back. And obviously, you know, Walker goes for, you know, over 100. Well over 100. And so, you know, those outside runs were so effective. They were able to get outside and the. Just the pursuit wasn't there. Just the, you know, again, credit Clint Kubiak. Credit the Seahawks offense here. But the defense, the Patriots defense didn't show up, I think, the way they were expecting it to. I know they, they shut him down when they got in the red zone. A lot of field goals. But ultimately, which was, by the way, one of my. Also one of the legs, no pun intended, of my parlay was Jason Myers to kick two field goals, which obviously happened three times. He hit that bet three different times. Yeah. Yeah.
- [20:59]
B
Matthew, you brought it up that, you know, part of the core of this Patriots team was the fundamentals. And some of that evaporated. And it's going to happen when you just play a better opponent. And we saw that Kenneth Walker consistently creating his own yards. 27 carries, 135 yards, two receptions. Sorry, Matthew. Should have had three hit him. Right.
- [21:17]
A
Got four targets, too. I mean, that's what's so frustrating. He hit it.
- [21:19]
B
The thought process was correct.
- [21:21]
A
He hit it in four of the last five. He'd hit it in both playoff games, obviously. Sin Charbonnet. I knew that he was going to be out there like a ton. He got four targets. One hit him in the chest and he dropped it. One Darnold threw at his feet when he was a little bit under pressure. But like you think, right. You know, if he's going to get four targets, he probably gets there with three receptions. Given the fact that, you know, these aren't long passes like any pastel. Ken Walker is going to be a little five yard dump off. So yes, very bitter about that. Very. That was my Barry's bet into the nine game win streak on that. But my other bets that I gave out, Cooper cup over in the receiving yards, Matt Collins over the receiving yards, those both cashed on the Olympic side. I gave out the first half under. I gave out Ken Walker over on the rushing attempts. Those all hit. I did a thing, a draftkings thing for the Olympics. So overall a very good super bowl for me. But yes, the Ken Walker two receptions, just, just a killer. But Walker was amazing guys. And I think this is where you're headed, Connor. So I'll turn it back and ask you guys, what is the he's now, he WINS Super Bowl MVP, cash is at plus 850. My question to you is he's now a free agent and what do the Seahawks do? Right? Like where does, where does he. Alan Graf X says way too early. But where does K will the third. Where does KW3 go in drafts next year? And do you think the Seahawks franchise tag him? Do they bring him back like super bowl mvp? Like I think the thought was at the beginning of the season, in the middle of the season that hey, with Charbonnet maybe they move on, let Sharbonne become the lead and they'll add to the backfield. You know, whether it's free agency with some depth of the draft, but I don't know how you let Ken Walker after winning you a Super bowl walk out that door, especially given how brutal that injury was to Zach Charbonnet.
- [23:05]
B
At a minimum, you have to franchise tag him and work on an extension. Right. And you brought up the Charbonnet injury. Matthew, that even further re emphasizes the point that, you know, you tear your ACL in January, what is that going to look like for a running back? Are you just going to be full throttle in in August camp? No, you're ramping them up in the middle of the season. Even on an early rehabilitation scale, you can't predict what that. And this team is so run heavy. Even with Kubiak moving on to the Raiders, they're not going to change the identity of who they are. So I, I think Kenneth, I think there's a highly a high likelihood that, that the two running backs were most excited about in free agency and Kenneth Walker And Bree hall end up hit with the franchise tag or the transition tag because that number is so low. There's really no such thing as a bad one year deal. Running backs can fall off a cliff at any given moment. So you'd rather pay them on the one years for a little bit more per year than the multi years of guaranteed money. So. Jay, I just, I don't. And here's the little kicker here. That's unbelievable in this.
- [24:05]
A
Jay.
- [24:06]
B
Seattle has a ton of cap space. They're a Super bowl winner with a ton of cap space going into next year. This is one of. I mean, John Schneider is who he is for a reason, right? But this is one of the more amazing facts about this roster right now. They're not going anywhere.
- [24:19]
C
Yeah. And the thing is too is that I think there's this, there's this perception certainly after the fact that, you know, the Patriots are here a bit ahead of their time and they've overachieved massively. Seahawks had a lower win total than the Patriots coming into this season. This was a bridge year for Seattle. This won the super bowl in a bridge year where their win total was seven and a half. They were a distant fourth favorite to win their own division. And as it relates to Ken Walker, forget because it feels like he's been around for a while. He's 25 years old. This is year four and he finally had, well, he had his moment on the biggest stage, but he's always been someone that the advanced stats have always loved. He's always been an elite running back. By PFF grade, he's the number one running back in the whole NFL across the whole season. By PFF grade this year, he's top seven each of the past three seasons. And to your point, Connor, there's no real alternative because this team just runs the ball so much. And as much as jsn, who wins offensive player of the year, who is certainly the star and the best player on this offense, as much as he is the best player in the offense, this is a team that is built around Clint Kubiak's run scheme and play action off of that. And it requires a lot of running the ball. And Ken Walker is certainly the most talented guy that they could get in free agency. So yeah, I would suspect that they just, they just bring him back and then as always is the case with Ken Walker, you just hold your breath and hope that he stays healthy.
- [25:42]
A
Connor, as you sit there and look at a team that has a ton of cap space, if you were John Schneider, what would you spend it on again? Feels like it's a team top, strong, that's top to bottom. Personally, I think you know, as much as we like Cooper cup and it'll be great to see a full season. Rashid Shahid, I think another receiver would be interesting. All due respect to Jake Bobo, but I'm curious where you feel like you would spend the money. Where's.
- [26:06]
C
Where.
- [26:07]
A
Where can Seattle improve? Which is a scary thought to think about.
- [26:10]
B
They definitely have some housekeeping to do internally. So two of their starting corners in Josh Job and of of course Tariq Woolen are UFAs. So right there you're, you're not going to bring back both of them. There's a chance they let both of them go and just draft one at the end of the first round because this is a team that knows how to evaluate the position so well. You know, Kobe Bryant, one of their safeties is a free agent. You brought up Rasheed Shahid Matthew. I would like to see him back in Seattle and kind of get a full training camp to work with Sam Darnold. But that just further emphasizes the point that they're going to need a number two wide receiver assuming that, you know, cup kind of operates more as the number three. So they'll be able to handle a lot of their in house business. Another key spot for me is I'd like to see them upgrade the right guard spot. I thought Gray Zable was a really, really good pick, but now it's about solidifying the other side of the interior. They have two really good tackles. They just extended one and Charles Cross. So they got that bit of business done. Sam Darnold is very affordable as far as quarterback contracts go. So you don't have a quarterback contract bleeding your cap space dry. So can you bring back Shaheed? You probably go, gotta go get another corner. And man, if they upgrade at guard, this run game might be even better next year. That's what's just so crazy. And maybe a middle linebacker at some point for their team as well. When you look at how great this defense is, there's just not a lot of holes. But Seattle's a team, they have some key free agents, but I honestly think they can make the roster better with those exact moves and the fact that they still have their first rounder. There's like four or five teams that don't even have their first round pick this year because they tried to go all in. Seattle didn't even do that. So they have the 32nd overall pick in this draft.
- [27:47]
C
Yeah, obviously very complete 10 to your point. Kind of like Anthony Bradford is probably the weak point of the offense for an upgrade at right guard. And then as dominant as the defense is, we saw what the Rams were able to do to them. And I think that was largely because of some weaknesses at outside corner where Witherspoon is obviously incredible. Eman worry is incredible when he's playing in the slot or wherever they want to deploy him. But between Job and Tariq Wallen, who was almost one of the great villains in Seattle sports history, based on what happened in the Rams game, they could probably upgrade there. But I mean these are things around the margins like we forget that or maybe we don't forget. This team went 14 and three. They were just four and a half inching towards five point favorites to win the super bowl and they won by 16 points. And the 16 points probably flatted the Patriots as a final margin. So yes, it's a dominant team. The only the issue for them is that they play in the same division as Sean McVeigh and Carl Shanahan. So it's just always going to be tough getting back here. But I mean they enter next season super bowl favorite and they're incredibly complete.
- [28:50]
B
Let's go. Matthew, you had a lot of for the Kenneth Walker drop heard around the world. I feel like you, you did have a lot of hits in this game. I know you were on Cooper cup over receiving over 32 and a half the New England side. You mentioned the three play you hit on both the May rushing yards 25 plus all line. Jason Myers at two plus field goals.
- [29:10]
A
And I also my third leg was Hunter Henry 40 receiving yards that didn't cash. I mean he, he has 31 but then he leaves the game with a bit of injury. Cooper gets 10 yards like what do you do?
- [29:21]
B
Smashed on the two point conversion and that Crowley cost him because like you said the throw into Hooper at the, at the start of the next drive and then you guys kind of had a little bit of a, a mashup here. Matthew going with Mac Hollins over 26 and a half yards. Jay, I believe this was a pickup line for you a couple weeks ago.
- [29:39]
C
Yeah, we talked as well about Mac Hollins being the leading receiver in the game at 171 on radio row which has somehow hit in the end. Uh, it wasn't a high bar to clear. I think second in the game was Cooper cup, uh 61. But Mac Holland's going uh for 78 yards and a touchdown. He leads all receivers in the game and yeah, and he, and he goes well over that line. Ended up closing around 24 and a half, which I never really understood because he was one of Drake May's favorite weapons across the board for the Patriots. Like, disappointing game. Stefan Diggs. Disappointing game for Hunter Henry. Yeah. Who Seahawks were, I believe they gave up the fifth or six most receptions the tight ends this year. And Hunt Henry wasn't able to do a great deal back to the Seattle side. I mean, it's a disappointing game for jsn. Who cares like they won the Super Bowl. He had an incredible season. I think he'll really care and the win is much more important. But the thing is JSN is that he was so close to what, a 90 yard touchdown.
- [30:40]
B
Would he have won MVP if Darnold hits that throw?
- [30:43]
C
I think so. I think so too because I mean, you're just getting a, like an 80, 80, 90 odd head start and a.
- [30:48]
B
Memorable moment in a game that offensively didn't have a ton of them.
- [30:52]
A
Yep.
- [30:53]
C
So yeah, inches away there. To be fair, there's a lot of slander about Donald after that throw. Like that throw that developed very late. I'm not sure he could even see where JSN was exactly in the depth when he let that ball go. But yeah, would have been nice for J Said if that had been just a half yard or so closer to him because yeah, he was. He was off to the races. Bomb touchdown.
- [31:13]
A
Yeah, 86. I think it would have been like 86 yards. Yeah, would have been that touchdown. Connor, what do you make of Trayvon Henderson and how he ended the regular the season? Right. You know, this wasn't used very much in the playoffs. My friend Ian Hartitz from fantasy life tweeted this about an hour ago. Travon Henderson turned 30 postseason carries into just 76 yards, 2.5 yards per carry. His only explosive rush was for 15 yards with under two minutes left in the fourth quarter against the Chargers. What do we make of Travian Henderson and the way he ended the season, which is, you know, we were so excited in the middle of the year. Finally the kid that we saw at Ohio State is busting out and then I don't know what happened. You know, he got more run in the super bowl than we'd seen, you know, last couple games, but still just not the same guy for some reason.
- [32:04]
B
Well, here. And here's the issue, right? We loved Travion Henderson this year when Ramon Dre Stevenson was banged up and then when Ramandre Stevenson was healthy and got Some fumbles behind him. It felt like it was his show again. So you're sitting here and going, okay, well, maybe this will be Trayvon Henderson's backfield next year. Ramandre Stevenson is not only under contract next year, but the Patriots, unless they make him a post 6-1-cut, they don't save any money. They actually lose a lot of money if they cut him. So they're not cutting him. And this is an offensive staff that they like, the veterans. Right. So it's not that I'm writing off Trayvon, it's just buyer beware next year. Like, if you're, if you're buying into his highs from his rookie year, you might be riding out the same wave where you have these peak weeks because of injury to Raman Dre or script and. Cause he. And he could hit the big play at any moment. But I don't know, guys. It's just committee backfields, especially under Josh McDaniels. Josh McDaniels. It's very, very tricky. Ramandre is not going anywhere. And until that, that ends, I don't know how you could just buy into Trayvon at a very, very high price. And I would imagine, Matthew, he won't be cheap next year in drafts.
- [33:16]
A
No, he won't. I mean, I'm going to have a Mondre ranked ahead of Travy on Henderson. Right?
- [33:19]
B
The upside, I get it.
- [33:21]
A
I'm not going to feel great about it, but I'm. I'm going to rank Ramon Drake Stevenson ahead of Travian Henderson. I don't know how you can't. And so, yeah, I mean, but you're absolutely right. Like Josh McDaniels, whether it was, you know, whether it's, you know, LeGarrett Blunt and James White or like, I mean, like, he always just kind of used multiple running backs over the years, he's going to be kind of a staple of his play calling.
- [33:44]
B
Stay with us, Matthew. We need you.
- [33:48]
C
To be done with.
- [33:48]
B
The super bowl coverage.
- [33:50]
C
Excuse me.
- [33:50]
A
I apologize. It's. It's. It's been a. It's been a long week and many nights of talking. Talking a lot.
- [33:57]
C
He was so close to winning comeback player of the year. Instead, it goes to Noah Regal. Fates.
- [34:04]
A
You.
- [34:04]
C
You're going down on the field. Alas. That's okay.
- [34:08]
A
That's okay.
- [34:11]
C
Does that give Tribe on better best ball value than radar?
- [34:15]
A
Yes. Yes. Because you'll get. When he has his highs, you'll have his highs, you know, and so, you know, if Ramandre gets banged up or if they figure out a way to get some consistency out of Trayvon and and because we know the talent's there, we know the talent, the explosiveness, the speed is somewhere in there. They just haven't been able to unlock it. And maybe with an improved offensive line as well, which is obviously that's going to be a priority for the Patriots. I don't know how it could not be. That'll. That'll help as well.
- [34:43]
B
All right, guys, as we put a bow On Super Bowl 60, you know, we're not going anywhere until we look ahead at next year. DraftKings Sportsbook is an official sports betting partner of the NFL and new customers can bet $5 and get $300 in bonus bets if your bet wins, down the app and use promo code FFHH when you sign up. Giraffe King Sportsbook.
- [35:03]
A
Oh, the crown is yours.
- [35:04]
B
Crown is yours. Last call. Way too early. Super bowl favorites, of course, for next year. Seattle and the Rams at the top of this board at +9.50. The top AFC team is the Bills at 1100 here, followed by the Eagles and then there's the Patriots down the board here. Jay, are you already getting involved here? Is there a value play? Is it. Do you like betting super bowl this early? Is there like a way to like an advantage in a way, free agency?
- [35:39]
C
Yeah. The advantage would be just being able to. To calibrate a team's upside through the cap space that they have for the most part and the fact that a team is going to naturally improve. Now the irony is that to your point, the Seahawks, who are already the favorites, have a lot of cap space. It's just so tough with their division. The two bets that I would look at and, and one of you, one of them you're going to think is silly. The other one, not as silly. The first one. Indianapolis Colts a 60 to 1 and they were 10 weeks into the season. They were the favorites to win the afc. We forget that. And I think that with Daniel Jones hopefully being healthy for the start of the season, a full year of Source Gardener Look, I don't think that they should be a top three or top four favorite in the afc, but I think that the AFC just looks a little bit more vulnerable than it did, you know, even a year ago when it looked like it was just this complete dominance of Mahomes, Lamar and Allen at the top, no one else was going to get in well between them. Those three guys, they won one playoff game combined this season and there's question marks about all three of Those teams. So I think that the AFC just being, you know, somewhat. Not. Not necessarily wide open, but we just saw an underdog come from nowhere to make the super bowl out of the afc. So I think that the Colts do have upside, despite my homerism there and then. Berkson Flannels. What's the parlay for who's Jay favorite team will be next summer?
- [37:06]
A
Yeah. Yeah.
- [37:07]
C
What.
- [37:07]
A
What other bandwagon will he.
- [37:09]
B
Yeah, you'll pick up an NFC team along the way.
- [37:11]
C
Could have been the Jags if. If they hadn't screwed me in the wild card round against the Bills. Alas, they have some work to do to win back my heart. The other team, though, I could see this.
- [37:20]
A
I could see the Saints. I could see Jay come across.
- [37:24]
C
Yeah.
- [37:25]
A
Yeah.
- [37:26]
B
Him and Chuck were pals at Radio Row.
- [37:28]
C
Chuck Wagon. You know, I like Tyler Shock, and I think he's gonna be in the super bowl, but I like Tyler Shock. The other bet the Chiefs at 15 1, which is almost an annual tradition for me at this point. I assume that Mahomes is going to be right at least somewhat early in the season. And just the idea, like, the Chiefs have longer odds right now than the Patriots. If you made me choose one of those teams to get out of the AFC next year od agnostic, I would take Kansas City. I think that another year for guys like Josh Simmons to get experience and fortify the offensive line, the defense can be fortified a little bit as well. I think that just. It's still Patrick Mahomes who has a good chance to be the best player in football next year. And just Patrick Mahomes at 15 to 1 to win the super bowl doesn't strike the right. Doesn't feel correct to me.
- [38:14]
A
I mean, speaking about how wide open the AFC is, I feel like people are just forgetting the Broncos were the number one seed. And like, probably, you know, Bo Nicks doesn't break his ankle.
- [38:25]
B
I agree.
- [38:25]
A
Probably go to the super bowl, and I think they would have been a much better match for. For Seattle. So, you know, they have a good young quarterback. They're developing some of their offensive players. Another year with RJ Harvey. Third year for Bo Nix. Obviously an elite defense. The Broncos, to me, I think. I don't know what their odds are, but the Broncos, to me, I think.
- [38:47]
B
Would be 18 to 1.
- [38:48]
A
I mean, like, I. I don't think they should be that low. Right. So the Broncos would be really interesting to me at. At 18 to 1. Connor, any team that stands out to.
- [38:57]
B
You, I like the Niners at 17 to 1 with the thinking that, man, they ran out of people on defense this year, and I know they lose Robert Salah, but they always re. They already replenished that staff right away. Raheem Morris is a hell of a coach. They have really good assistance. The fact that they made it as far as they did without Nick Bosa, you know, they lost their first round pick, Mikel Williams, really, really early on. They got some work to do to replenish that wide receiver room. For sure. They're going to be without George Kittle for a bit there as well. But I just buy the dip on Kyle Shanahan whenever you can. It's a good business to be in the. In that with his win total with super bodies at 17 to 1, the Niners make some improvements and get healthy. I think when the season opens, they won't be 17 to 1. They'll probably be 13 or 12 to 1. So they're just an easy team to buy into with the stability they have schematically on both sides of the ball.
- [39:49]
A
Yeah, I like that. And by the way, just one of the thrills and there were so many of being part of NBC super bowl coverage this year was that we added Kyle Shanahan.
- [39:57]
B
He was great, right?
- [39:58]
A
Wasn't he great?
- [39:59]
B
Oh, my goodness, yeah.
- [40:00]
A
But also just, you know, getting to know him a little bit and like, just sort of, you know, hanging out in the green room, talking ball or even, honestly, just being a fly on the wall as he was talking football with Jason Garrett, with Chris Sims, you know, like, just sort of me being able to be part of those conversations was really, really fun. And, you know, he's obviously, he's so smart. He was incredibly nice. Great to meet him. But yeah, it was just great to sort of hear his thoughts both on TV and, you know, off camera. So, yeah, he was great. Kyle was. Was absolutely fantastic here. Jay, for you. I know you had a lot of bets. I know you had a lot of futures bets. How did you. How did the super bowl ultimately treat you?
- [40:42]
C
Yeah, it's good. Was on Seattle, the futures position there. But the. The funniest aspect of being the Super Bowl, I ended up betting a lot of money on Jason Myers not to win super bowl mvp, which, let me tell you, was absolutely terrifying. The final drive where New England go for the onside kick, and then Seattle recovers it, and I'm thinking, like, if they go run, run, run, and the clock is still the silver time on the clock. Jason Myers gonna kick like a 59 yard field goal for his sixth field goal of the game. And we have to sweat this out being bet in -1000 no on Myers not to win Super Bowl MVP. So that would have been absolutely crushing. Fortunately, I think.
- [41:24]
A
When did you bet that? Do you, did you get that? Okay, that makes.
- [41:29]
C
There was a lot of. Because he set the record for most field goals kicked. And I just was regressing to the idea that ultimately, like, I mean the thing is, is that look, he did, he did his job. He had, he did exactly what he was supposed to do. But it's not like he was making 60 yarders and he wasn't kicking off. He wasn't kicking walk off game winners either. I couldn't, I really couldn't fathom that anyone watching that game was going to think that Myers was more impactful to the outcome than Ken Walker or Devin Witherspoon. That's what I was holding on to. I think would have got a little, little scary if he'd made a 60 odder the final two minutes to, to break the record by 50%. But ultimately he did not win Super Bowl MVP and Ken Walker did. And I think that was a reasonably just outcome.
- [42:12]
A
Hey, did anyone see because, just because it was, you know, we were, we were up in the stands and so I didn't get a chance to see. But what was the color of the Gatorade?
- [42:21]
C
Yellow.
- [42:22]
A
Yellow. Yellow, yeah.
- [42:24]
B
Okay, I, that was, that was one for me that hit during the week. Total guess. Like you never like, I think it's going to be yellow. Like it's just. You have fun with it now. It was funny because they really like did a good job NBC, of showing it being mixed a lot. So it had to come off the table. Jay, when does that, like, when does that market usually close? It has to be in one of the earliest closing markets because there's so many hints.
- [42:49]
C
Yeah. There. I mean it varies all over the place, but a lot of these markets now, particularly around like super bowl performers, there's some controversy as to whether Cardi B. Perform performed as she was there. She was not singing, but she was there dancing. So was that a performance or not? So yeah, that's the joy of the Super Bowl. It's the only time we get to talk about Gatorade.
- [43:09]
B
Right.
- [43:10]
C
It's Cardi B performing but not fun. Yeah, it's the biggest, the biggest betting event of the year, certainly.
- [43:17]
B
All right, guys. Well, that's, that's it for us for now.
- [43:22]
A
Yeah. What's our schedule?
- [43:23]
B
I don't even know you tell me. It's your show.
- [43:25]
A
Yeah, it's a good point.
- [43:26]
B
We gotta get you back in the Northeast first.
- [43:28]
A
Yeah, well, yeah, I'm flying out tomorrow. I'll fly back tomorrow. Gonna do a little sightseeing with the. You know, my wife and daughters are out, so we figured as long as we hauled them all the way across the country, might as well do some sightseeing. They never been to. They've been to the Bay Area, so we're gonna do some sightseeing. I think we'll do a little Alcatraz and some, you know, some of the other sites and sounds around here, the Bay Area. And then I gotta get back. I don't know. We're probably off next week, but we're.
- [43:57]
C
Off for two weeks and then back at the combine. Yeah, in two. Two weeks from now, but we'll be off until that point. Okay, good.
- [44:05]
A
Well, I mean, we'll still have our text chain. I'm sure there'll be, you know, ones that I'm not on, but. Yeah, be fun. Well, I'll miss you guys. Until the combine, until we see you guys in Indianapolis. And thank you to the regulars for an incredible season. It's been. It's been so much fun, and we'll look forward to seeing you guys soon, right? Yeah, that's right.
- [44:24]
B
All right, thanks, everybody. We'll catch you in the combine.
- [44:27]
A
All right, see you guys. Peace out.