Podcast Summary: KSR NFL Cover Zero (Oct 30, 2025)

Episode Title: Halloween Costumes, Trade Deadline, and Early Playoff Picture!
Hosts: Matt Jones & Drew Franklin (with Billy)
Podcast: KSR, iHeartPodcasts & Sports Talk 790
Date: October 30, 2025

Episode Overview

This lively episode of NFL Cover Zero lands right before Halloween and at the NFL season’s midpoint, with Matt, Drew, and Billy digging into the latest league news, quirky Halloween themes, and discussions on the playoff picture as trade deadline chatter heats up. The hosts mix playful banter about costumes and road trips with in-depth football analysis, making the episode both entertaining and insightful for football fans.

Key Segments & Discussion Points

1. Opening Banter & Personal Updates

[02:13-03:43]

• Apologies for the episode being posted a day late due to life’s interruptions.
• Kentucky weather described as “rainy and junky”—the perfect excuse for football marathons.
• Drew shares a personal back injury story and jokes about needing an “epidural like Tracy McGrady,” leading to comical confusion over what epidurals actually are.
• Quick tangent on how being sports fans has made them “accidental doctors” based on injury reports (lumbar, ACL, etc.).

“When it's at its worst, I'd rather have two broken arms than a bad back, because it just completely takes you out of commission.” — Matt Jones [03:56]

2. Podcast Listenership & Engagement

[06:33-08:13]

• The hosts share recent podcast analytics—top listeners are in Kentucky but also surprisingly in Cleveland, not as much in the Northeast.
• Brainstorming how to attract fans from New York, Boston, and Philly.
• Announcement: Upcoming live show and trip to Buffalo for the Bills vs. Bucs game. Requesting local bar recommendations from Buffalo listeners. [08:14-09:49]

3. Buffalo Road Trip Plans

[09:21-11:36]

• Details on the planned road trip: Route passes through Columbus, Akron, Cleveland, Erie, PA, and up I-90.
• Drew is excited for their first Bills tailgating and “Bills Mafia” experience, but warns he’ll be on a “pitch count” to stay podcast ready.
• Billy, a Bucs fan, worries about being subjected to Bills Mafia antics.

“I'll go through a table if I need to.” — Matt Jones [07:59]

4. Halloween Themes & NFL Costumes

[11:57-17:48]

• Discussion of Halloween costumes, starting with Drake May pranking TikTok content creators by repeatedly suggesting they dress up as “Drake May” for Halloween. [13:08-14:44]
• Drake May also dressed as Charizard (Pokémon) at a Patriots Halloween party, drawing gentle ribbing for Billy’s latent Pokémon knowledge. [15:05-15:43]
• Best NFL costume shout-out to Lions’ Jameer Gibbs (as Jeff Hardy, with his girlfriend as Lita), praised for creativity and throwback value. [16:02-16:55]
• Drew highlights punny costumes at a Minnesota nursing home: “A waste of time” (man wears watches on his belt) and “a wine rack” (woman with empty wine bottles taped to her chest) as favorites. [17:10-18:21]

“I love it and, you know, big on the wordplay. So if you’re working that into your costume and you’re elderly ... I’m all in.” — Matt Jones [18:21]

5. NFL News & Player Transactions

[19:06–23:01]

• Aidan Hutchinson signs $141 million guaranteed, making him the most paid non-QB ever, praised as a true “hometown hero” for Detroit. [19:06-20:28]
• Carson Wentz out for the year after left shoulder surgery. Discussion on his insistence he wasn’t forced to play and the pressures veteran QBs face with rookies behind them. [20:49-22:43]
• More light banter about passports and travel, relating to trips in and outside North America. [22:43-23:34]

6. Oldest Active Players & “Golden” NFLers

[26:12–28:00]

• Mercedes Lewis (41) joins Denver’s practice squad, could become the oldest NFL TE ever with a reception, joining Jerry Rice & Tom Brady as over-40 NFL catch-holders.
• Lively debate over the trend of “geriatric” NFL players returning, with Matt noting, “old people are back”—from the Golden Bachelor to NFL Halloween costumes.

“People saw that Flacco-Aaron Rodgers game, and they all thought, ‘Honey, where’s my cleats? Get my cleats out of the garage, I’m going back to work.’” — Matt Jones [26:34]

7. Halloween & Spooky Miscellany

[28:00–29:48]

• Discussion shifts briefly to reality dating shows (Golden Bachelor, Love is Blind) as metaphors for the resurgence of age and nostalgia in the NFL. [27:17-27:57]

8. Ravens & Lamar Jackson’s Return

[29:16–32:34]

• Lamar Jackson is back from injury; debate on his unique, “one-of-one” play style and the disappointment of a down Ravens year.
• Matt and Drew reminisce on Lamar’s singular skill as a mobile QB (even surpassing Michael Vick from a pure athletic standpoint).
• The hosts note Baltimore could still make the playoffs, given their remaining divisional games and updated odds (46% chance to win the division). [32:34]

“I kind of don’t think there’s ever going to be another person like Lamar ... he can also play quarterback like that.” — Matt Jones [30:31]

9. Trade Deadline Chatter & Notable Trades

[33:01–37:01]

• Jets trade Michael Carter II to the Eagles: Carter gives up a $5 million injury guarantee to leave NY, which sparks host discussion on player agency and how sports’ “forced mobility” is unlike other careers.
• Segue into the emotional toll of being traded, moving families, and fans disregarding the human element.

“In sports, these guys ... get picked by a team and then they have to be there, right? ... Sports are the only thing that does that.” — Drew Franklin [35:23]

10. Jerry Jones’ Oil Project and Dallas Distractions

[37:16–39:52]

• Jerry Jones claims to be busy with a "$100 billion oil project" when asked about being less active with the Cowboys. The hosts debate whether Jerry is “damned if he does, damned if he doesn’t” regarding team meddling.
• Matt: “He did it barehanded and that’s how we got the Dallas Cowboys.” [39:27]

11. Fan Engagement: Getting ‘Dumped’ by Your Favorite Team

[41:52–44:35]

• Matt recounts receiving an email from the Titans’ marketing team titled “We’re going to miss you,” implying “breakup” due to lack of interaction with promos and emails.
• Humorous discussion about whether he needs to ‘win’ his team back like an ex.

12. Ticketing Drama & Sassy Customer Service

[44:40–45:46]

• Cincinnati Bengals’ ticket rep allegedly fired back at a departing season ticket holder: “Do you want cheap tickets or do you want us to pay for Jamar Chase and Tee Higgins?”
• Matt and Drew actually side with the sassy rep: “You don’t get it both ways.”

13. Rowdy Fan Bases & Bengals Game Plans

[46:50–48:21]

• Drew shares his anticipation for attending Bengals-Bears due to the legendary rowdiness and early-morning drunkenness of Bengals fans: “No one is drunker and more belligerent than Bengals fans.”
• Anecdotes about watching Bengals fans fight each other “as a warm up” for opposing fans.

“At 10:30 in the morning I watched the manager have to keep two people from making out on the floor at 10:30 on a Sunday morning.” — Drew Franklin [48:03]

14. Trade Deadline Targets & Playoff Race

[48:39–51:29]

• Miles Garrett and Maxx Crosby discussed as dream trade targets—though both likely staying put.
• Breeze Hall and Chris Olave named as other names to watch ahead of Nov 4 deadline.
• Acknowledgement that compared to MLB or NBA, NFL’s deadline tends to see less blockbuster activity.
• Celebrations over the Jets’ rare win and the joy it brings to long-suffering fan friends.

15. AFC Playoff Picture — Shocking Contenders

[50:44–52:07]

• At this stage, the Colts (7-1) are the AFC’s current #1 seed; Patriots and Broncos follow, which no one expected preseason.
• Discussion about a significant gap after the apparent “top seven” playoff teams: New England, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Denver, and the Chargers.
• Both Matt and Drew remain skeptical of Indy as a Super Bowl threat, but respect their season’s surprise run.

16. Chiefs vs. Bills, NFL Marquee Matchup

[59:28–64:35]

• Chiefs-Bills is called “the game of the week,” maybe of the year: Two titans, two of the NFL’s secondary markets, but its biggest stars (Mahomes, Allen, Kelsey).
• Debate about why KC is favored in Buffalo. Matt sees Bills as value pick.
• Reflection on the unique NFL phenomenon where teams from less glamorous cities (Buffalo/Kansas City) are top-rated, contrasting with other leagues.
• Discussion on Taylor Swift’s diminishing and then resurgent on-camera time, with both Matt and Drew calling for “more Taylor” on the broadcast.

“They show the Jets guy with the fireman hat every game ... Show the most popular person in the building.” — Matt Jones [63:58]

17. Miscellaneous Odds & Ends

[65:14–66:26]

• Extended joke about how hard it is to get (or renew) a passport in time to travel internationally due to government shutdowns and backlogs.
• Billy learns he might be honeymooning at Myrtle Beach if he can’t get a passport in time.

18. Survivor & Touchdown Challenge Picks

[68:18–76:55]

• Survivor pool: Hosts debate which heavy favorite to pick. Matt selects the Rams, Billy goes with the Chargers against the lowly Titans, Drew laments being out since Week 4.
• Touchdown challenge: Each must draft a player likely to score a touchdown; Drew picks Jameer Gibbs (“Jeff Hardy”), Billy picks random potential scorers (Lad McConkey), Matt takes Josh Allen, expecting a running TD vs the Chiefs.
• Some confusion in draft order and roles, but it’s played for laughs.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Halloween Football Puns:
  “I would encourage you look up the old folks nursing home ... They have like 50 of these videos and each one of them is really fun.” — Drew Franklin [18:32]
• On player trades & agency:
  “Sports are the only thing that does that. And you have no choice.” — Drew Franklin [36:30]
• On elderly NFLers:
  “The old people are back. They're winning Halloween costume contests. They're taking over the NFL again. The stock is up on people that are pushing the high numbers.” — Matt Jones [27:02]
• On the Bengals’ wild fandom:
  “No one is drunker and more belligerent than Bengals fans ... Bengals fans fight each other for the chance to fight other people.” — Drew Franklin [47:16]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [03:10] — Drew’s back injury, “accidental doctor” riff
• [06:33] — Podcast analytics and call for Northeast listeners
• [08:14] — Announcing Buffalo trip, seeking bar recommendations
• [11:57] — Halloween costume talk (Drake May, NFL player costumes)
• [16:02] — Jameer Gibbs’ Jeff Hardy costume
• [19:06] — Hutchinson’s record contract
• [21:45] — Carson Wentz’s injury & team loyalty
• [26:12] — Mercedes Lewis, “geriatric” NFLer talk
• [29:16] — Ravens/Lamar Jackson’s return and legacy
• [33:01] — Michael Carter’s $5M “trade escape”
• [37:16] — Jerry Jones: oil, Cowboys, and meddling
• [41:52] — Matt gets “dumped” by Titans’ marketing email
• [44:40] — Bengals ticket rep sass
• [46:50] — Bengals fans, drunkenness, and stadium antics
• [48:39] — Trade deadline rumors
• [50:44] — AFC playoff picture surprise (Colts #1 seed)
• [59:28] — Chiefs vs. Bills preview, Taylor Swift debate
• [68:18] — Survivor challenge picks
• [72:39] — Touchdown challenge picks

Tone & Takeaways

The hosts’ tone is conversational, irreverent, and packed with inside jokes (sports medicine, fan travel, and pop culture references). They blend substantive analysis of player contracts, NFL standings, and trade rumors with playful asides about Halloween, elder statesmen athletes, and comically rowdy fan bases.

Listeners are treated to:

• Insider-level NFL discourse with a sense of fun and humility;
• A peek into the personal lives and fandoms of the hosts;
• Opinionated (even controversial) NFL takes on trades, team prospects, and league trends;
• Plenty of memorable lines—from the silliness of “a waste of time” costumes to wondering aloud whether “more Taylor Swift on TV” would quell Chiefs hatred.

This episode is essential for fans who like their NFL talk leavened with genuine laughter, cultural mashups, and a dash of Halloween whimsy.