NFL Cover Zero: Launching Season 2, Top Summer Stories

Summary

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NFL Cover Zero: Launching Season 2, Top Summer Stories

Podcast: KSR / iHeartPodcasts and Sports Talk 790 (WKRD-AM)
Date: June 30, 2026
Hosts: Matt Jones, Drew Franklin, and Billy R Sports

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Overview

Season 2 of NFL Cover Zero launches with Matt Jones, Drew Franklin, and Billy R Sports back in the studio, ready to dissect the top NFL offseason stories and set the table for the 2026 season. The episode opens with lighthearted banter about Drew’s new fatherhood, then zeroes in on blockbuster trades, player movement, quarterback debates, and international games. Throughout, the hosts' signature mix of humor and unfiltered opinions keeps the discussion lively and engaging.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

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1. Life Updates: Drew’s New Baby

• (02:25–08:05)
  • Drew Franklin returns after paternal leave, swapping sleepless nights for NFL talk.
  • Discussion on baby care, parenting classes, and navigating Google for advice.
  • Lighthearted debate: “All babies look like Winston Churchill,” jokes Drew (06:29).
  • Drew wonders about fan inheritance: “Are you implicitly deciding which parent you love the most when you pick a team?” (08:22).
  • Matt’s daughter has thrown up only when he's in Titans gear: “I'm starting to think she’s sending a sign” (08:10).

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2. Blockbuster Trades & Free Agent Moves

A. Brandon Aiyuk’s Move to Washington Commanders

• (09:57–14:24)
  • Aiyuk's angst toward SF 49ers and GM John Lynch becomes social media drama.
  • “He seems very worked up…he seems to really not like John Lynch” – Drew (10:37)
  • Debate: Is it wise for players to vent on Instagram? “It’s just unique because we never see it before. Now they call their own press conference,” Matt notes (11:48–13:55).
  • The consensus: Let Aiyuk vent and, if you’re Washington, lean into his 49ers hatred to fire him up for the season.

B. Myles Garrett Traded to Rams

• (14:29–17:16; 21:35–24:44)
  • Cleveland trades the reigning single-season sack king to the Rams for Jared Verse and three picks. LA is “all in” for a Super Bowl run at home.
  • “It is almost like they have to get it done or it’d be disappointing. I think they’re five to one Super Bowl favorite,” says Matt (17:10).
  • Rumors swirl about Aaron Donald unretiring, potentially creating a historic defensive front.

C. A.J. Brown Traded to Patriots

• (24:46–28:59)
  • Eagles send the veteran receiver to New England for future picks; hosts debate Brown’s best days and his infamous “Patriots rug” story.
  • On Brown’s attempts to prove childhood Pats fandom: “He posted childhood photos…they found out he used AI…he's completely lying!" – Drew (27:32).
  • NFL regression: Both hosts tab Patriots and Bears as likely candidates for win downturns due to tougher 2026 schedules.

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3. Quarterback Situations & Madden Cover News

A. Browns Turn the Page

• (22:12–24:13)
  • Is Deshaun Watson a placeholder? Should Shador Sanders start to "embrace the rebuild"?
  • “It's easier to root for Shador Sanders than Deshaun Watson, especially when you factor in age,” Matt (23:03).

B. Madden Cover — Caleb Williams

• (29:35–34:03)
  • Caleb Williams named first-ever Bears player on Madden’s cover; denied trademark on “Iceman” (boot company already owns it).
  • “The Madden curse has kind of gone down in the last few years, hasn't it?” — Drew (30:21)
  • Nostalgia for classic video games; humorous tales of gaming ineptitude.

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4. Other Top 10 Offseason Stories

A. Sauce Gardner’s Real Age Debate

• (40:33–44:44)
  • Traded to Colts, Gardner clarifies he’s 24, not 25, debunking years of NFL records. Discrepancy between NFL.com and media outlets debated with skepticism and amusement.
  • “If that's what you get to do, well then I'm going to come in as a younger…I should be on rise, 39.” – Drew (41:35)

B. Russell Wilson Retires

• (46:16–48:13)
  • Fifteen-year career, $315 million in earnings, 10 Pro Bowls, one Super Bowl.
  • Joins CBS as studio analyst. “He seems like a complete cornball…but I still think he could do well in TV if he does it right,” Drew (47:46).

C. Travis Kelce’s Chiefs Extension and Wedding

• (52:06–57:56)
  • Kelce signs three-year extension, set to marry Taylor Swift.
  • Debates whether he’s the NFL’s most famous player: “Definitely, Kelsey, because I bet the Swifties, a lot of them can only name him and no one else, and there’s trillions of them.” – Matt (53:36)
  • May play fewer years, but perhaps seeking a stronger finish for his career.

D. Bengals Optimism

• (57:57–62:22)
  • Joe Burrow draws 2019 LSU comparisons: “I feel like there’s so much greatness…excited to get going” (58:09).
  • Schedule analysis: Bengals favored in 15 of 17 games, but hosts caution about slow starts.

E. Record Kicking & Long Snapper Contract

• (63:22–67:47)
  • Jacksonville makes Pro Bowl long snapper Ross Matiscik the highest paid at his position.
  • Extended debate on powerful kicking in modern NFL: “We gotta make kicking harder. It’s too easy.” – Drew (64:47)

F. Chris Johnson ALS Diagnosis

• (67:48–70:09)
  • Titans/Cardinals RB Chris Johnson reveals ALS diagnosis at 39; hosts remember his legendary 2,006-yard season and vibrant playing personality.

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5. International Games & NFL's Expanding Footprint

• (70:16–74:50)
  • 2026 will include nine international games: first ever in Melbourne, Rio, and Paris.
  • Australia game will feature 49ers vs. Rams at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
  • “As a fan, I love these games because we get games in time slots we don’t know we have them. I love waking up and there’s already a game.” – Matt (71:44)
  • Discussion about the Jaguars possibly relocating to London.

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6. Upcoming Podcast Plans

• (74:59–76:13)
  • The show moves to a weekly schedule for the offseason, featuring interviews with NFL broadcasting school alumni and past players seeking new media gigs.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On changing NFL fandom as a parent:
  “You know, are you implicitly deciding which parent you love the most when you pick one [team]?” — Drew (08:22)

• On Brandon Aiyuk's social media rants:
  “He blames the whole city. He’s mad at the bridge.” — Matt (13:11)

• On AJ Brown's Patriots fandom claims:
  "He posted childhood photos of him in a Brady jersey…they found out he used AI…he's completely lying!" — Drew (27:32)

• On the Rams’ Super Bowl push:
  “It is almost like they have to get it done or it’d be disappointing.” — Matt (17:10)

• On Travis Kelce's fame:
  “Definitely, Kelsey, because I bet the Swifties, a lot of them can only name him and no one else, and there’s trillions of them.” — Matt (53:36)

• On kickers today vs. 1990s:
  “We gotta make kicking harder. It’s too easy.” — Drew (64:47)

• On Chris Johnson’s impact:
  “Derrick Henry kind of stole his shine…but CJ2K year, there’s not been a more fun running back year to watch than [his].” — Matt (69:37)

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Selected Timestamps

| Segment | Time | |--------------------------------------|-----------| | Drew’s new fatherhood, fandom talk | 02:25–08:05 | | Brandon Aiyuk trade & social media | 09:57–14:24 | | Myles Garrett traded to Rams | 14:29–17:16, 21:35–24:44 | | A.J. Brown to Patriots & drama | 24:46–28:59 | | Caleb Williams: Madden cover/Iceman | 29:35–34:03 | | Sauce Gardner age revelation | 40:33–44:44 | | Russell Wilson retires | 46:16–48:13 | | Travis Kelce: contract/marriage | 52:06–57:56 | | Bengals’ optimism and schedule | 57:57–62:22 | | Jags long snapper, NFL kicking debate| 63:22–67:47 | | Chris Johnson ALS diagnosis | 67:48–70:09 | | Intl. games, Australia kickoff | 70:16–74:50 | | Podcast/guest schedule preview | 74:59–76:13 |

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Tone and Conclusion

The episode flows with easygoing humor, candid NFL takes, and insightful banter. The KSR crew mixes depth with irreverence—whether joking about fatherhood, skewering social media drama, or reminiscing over classic video games. Frequent asides and personal anecdotes—especially about Drew's parenting, G Love, and random sports trivia—give the show a distinct, relatable flavor for casual fans and NFL junkies alike.

Listeners are left with a comprehensive catch-up on NFL summer headlines, a preview of the year ahead, and a promise for in-depth features and interviews throughout season two.

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Transcript

[Podcast Announcer]

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[Matt Jones]

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[Matt Jones]

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[Nissan Rogue Advertiser]

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[Drew Franklin]

Load up we out.

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[Matt Jones]

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[Billy R Sports]

Yep.

[Matt Jones]

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[Drew Franklin]

It's a cold snackable beer.

[Billy R Sports]

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[Tab Ramos]

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[Billy R Sports]

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[Drew Franklin]

NFL cover zero with Matt Jones and Drew Franklin is a production of the NFL and iHeart podcast.

[Tremphya Advertiser]

Foreign.

[Drew Franklin]

Well, there it is. It is season two of NFL Cover Zero. Matt Jones, Drew Franklin and the occasional guest of Billy R Sports. We are back for a second year. That's right. To the surprise of everyone, the NFL decided they wanted another year of us talking about the league. And so here we are with updated cameras. What do you think? Are we Looking better. I don't know. Drew Franklin is with me. We haven't been with Drew in a while. He had a baby. It's been like crying and eating. And now you're here and we're back for season two.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. Actually not too much crying. I've been very lucky. Been had a great run or having a great run as a dad. But I did miss a few shows around the draft and I don't think we've been sitting together since San Francisco.

[Drew Franklin]

What has been the biggest change in your life post Baby? Besides like all the warmth in your heart? Oh, it's cute. I have things to live for. All that kind of stuff. Like, just as a practical impact, it's.

[Matt Jones]

I've been surprised at just how much time it takes. Like you're constantly changing a diaper or, you know, my wife will feed her and then it's like time to feed her again. And then after that.

[Drew Franklin]

How much do you feed?

[Matt Jones]

About every two hours. It's what it takes. Sometimes a little longer.

[Drew Franklin]

Every two hours.

[Matt Jones]

When she gets hungry, she'll start crying and that's when you know. But it's. It's just non stop.

[Drew Franklin]

How much are you feeding?

[Matt Jones]

About 4 ounces if we're going to be specific.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

I wonder, do you really want to know how much?

[Drew Franklin]

About four ounces. I'm more of a believer in six ounces.

[Matt Jones]

Okay.

[Drew Franklin]

And then maybe every.

[Matt Jones]

You might get a little full doing that.

[Drew Franklin]

So how did.

[Matt Jones]

But it's just non stop.

[Drew Franklin]

How did you learn? Like, how many ounces per hour? Like, because that's not something. You know, I can't even get my blinds to work. So I feel like you're like knowing what to do with like an entity. A being.

[Tremphya Advertiser]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

Human and rolling.

[Drew Franklin]

How did you learn that?

[Matt Jones]

I will say not a lot out there. You got to seek it. We signed up for some classes, but I assume most people don't do that.

[Drew Franklin]

Where are the classes?

[Matt Jones]

Lots of googling. We did it through UK here in Sydney.

[Drew Franklin]

Is it online? You take a class?

[Matt Jones]

We went to one in person. The other three were on Zoom. But we were proactive about learning things. But if you don't seek stuff out, they just, here's the baby. Good luck. We don't grow up learning that you need four ounces every two hours.

[Drew Franklin]

It feels like there should be more to it. I'm a big believer of licensing the birthing. You have to get a license. I mean, we don't let people drive a car without a license, but we let them just have a Life have

[Matt Jones]

as many babies as they want.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah. So you give the milk. What else? Eating anything else?

[Matt Jones]

No, just milk right now.

[Drew Franklin]

When do you switch to.

[Matt Jones]

We're still a few months away. We'll work in.

[Drew Franklin]

How do you know? Did you teach you that in the class?

[Matt Jones]

We're still researching. We're learning on the fly.

[Drew Franklin]

So you might do it now?

[Matt Jones]

No, no, no. It's too early now. But we Google on the fly. Things constantly pop up. You're like, well, I'm not really sure what's going on here.

[Drew Franklin]

What did people do before Google?

[Matt Jones]

I don't know. I don't know. And we also. There's just so many contraptions. There's just things everywhere. Pumps and bottles and diapers and pee pads.

[Drew Franklin]

That's just what he has in his room.

[Matt Jones]

It's been awesome. It's a lot more to it than I expected. I don't know why. I just thought they'd sit there, need constant attention. But it's fun. We give it nerve constantly.

[Drew Franklin]

Grow teeth. Because I've heard of teething, probably a

[Matt Jones]

little bit before they turn one is when they start to come in. I'm still a few months away from that. She's still. She's about two and a half months right now. So we still got some time, but it's. It's been awesome. I already took her on a flight. That was easy.

[Drew Franklin]

They say it's actually easier to do that now than it will be in, like a year. Right?

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. She did not make a noise either direction, which I was pretty nervous. You don't want to be the guy with the crying baby. No, but it was perfect.

[Drew Franklin]

I would have stared at you.

[Matt Jones]

I will say, if you've. If you've lost any faith in humanity, walk through an airport with a baby. Everyone will come up to you and just talk and be so nice and, oh, she's so cute. Even the pilot came out of the cockpit, talked to us. Like, if you walk around with a baby, you're going to see the best of all.

[Drew Franklin]

But it's mostly women. Like, I've never gone up to someone and said their baby was cute. Like, I actually think I would feel weird.

[Matt Jones]

I don't know. We had all walks of life, maybe more often objective. It's cute baby.

[Drew Franklin]

You think I should just go up to people and say their baby's cute?

[Billy R Sports]

Yeah, if you think it's cute. No, I don't watch a lot.

[Drew Franklin]

I don't have an opinion. I think most babies look like Winston Churchill.

[Billy R Sports]

Kind of see that.

[Drew Franklin]

Not Not. Not Avery Rose, of course.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, she's beautiful.

[Drew Franklin]

But other people's babies.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, we.

[Drew Franklin]

We won the.

[Matt Jones]

We won the baby lot.

[Drew Franklin]

Do you think if there were 100 babies on the floor and you had no identifying, you could pick yours out?

[Matt Jones]

Easily? Easily. She's objectively the cutest baby of all time.

[Drew Franklin]

Objectively. We do.

[Matt Jones]

You know, everybody would say that about their babies, but anytime we go to a doctor's appointment, they're like, hey, we don't usually say this, but this is a really cute baby. One. One doctor even told us to enter it in the Gerber modeling.

[Drew Franklin]

Okay. Okay.

[Billy R Sports]

No, no.

[Drew Franklin]

The Gerber baby of the year.

[Matt Jones]

I was like, we're not doing that.

[Drew Franklin]

Look at her. Want me to be the guy? Not going to. Well, what am I going to answer? Listen, I mean, if we had an ugly.

[Matt Jones]

If we had had an ugly baby, I would have said, yeah, that's an ugly baby. But it is. She's really a cute baby.

[Drew Franklin]

Beautiful. Like, I don't know. I don't know that I have a standard. Plus, I just think doctors are not going to be like.

[Matt Jones]

Well, you can tell.

[Drew Franklin]

Like, nurses.

[Matt Jones]

No, nurses that delivered her have come to our. Across the other side of the hospital to, like, see her and check on her again.

[Drew Franklin]

All the way across the other side of the house.

[Matt Jones]

Different building. I doubt they do that for every baby they deliver.

[Billy R Sports]

Yeah, it must be a beautiful baby.

[Matt Jones]

I don't know.

[Nissan Rogue Advertiser]

I mean, look at.

[Drew Franklin]

Look at this thing.

[Matt Jones]

I only have 10 pictures of her in the last two months.

[Drew Franklin]

I'll tell you what. Well, I think you're being a great dad.

[Matt Jones]

Thank you.

[Nissan Rogue Advertiser]

Thank you.

[Matt Jones]

It's been a lot of fun.

[Drew Franklin]

And I think the people at Cover Zero. This is officially the first NFL Cover Zero baby that I'm aware of. I don't know what Mario does in his personal life, but it's the first one that I know of.

[Matt Jones]

She'll be listening, I'm sure. Be our first NFL season watching football on the couch with me this upcoming year. So I'm looking forward to that.

[Billy R Sports]

Are you going to make her a Titans fan?

[Matt Jones]

Actually, she has only thrown up on me three times, and all three times I've been wearing a Titans T shirt, so I'm starting to think she's sending a sign.

[Drew Franklin]

She throws up when she sees the Titans.

[Matt Jones]

My wife's a Cowboys fan. I think she's leaning Dallas's direction. Maybe Bill's mafia, but she doesn't seem to like the Titans.

[Drew Franklin]

You know, that's an interesting question. If you have parents where each parent is a fan of a different team. When you pick one, are you implicitly deciding which parent you love the most?

[Matt Jones]

That's tough. I've thought about this also. Do I want her to be a Titans fan? Yeah. You know, I want her to be happy, and I love my Titans. But if you're ranking the teams that make you the happiest, they're towards the bottom of the NFL.

[Drew Franklin]

By the time she's of age, who knows? Maybe the Titans will be the best team in the league.

[Matt Jones]

That's true. I love the optimism. Cam Ward. She'll be a big Cam Ward fan.

[Billy R Sports]

Nobody really wants to be a Titans fan. You're kind of born into it, right?

[Drew Franklin]

Right.

[Matt Jones]

Mine was just proximity to national one.

[Drew Franklin]

Wants to be a Titans fan.

[Billy R Sports]

Well, I feel like most fandoms are where you're born or where you grow up.

[Drew Franklin]

Most are, yeah. And then the other bandwagon say that, though, about any team. Like, you don't really want to be an Eagles fan. You're like, it's just. That's. You just become one.

[Billy R Sports]

Yeah. And some people used to say I used to watch the Cowboys and they used to win a lot, and that's how I became a fan. Well.

[Drew Franklin]

Well, that is kind of. I became a fan of the Bears because they were winning. When I was of the age that I noticed the NFL, but we live in a place where there's not an NFL team. Chances are, if there had been a Kentucky Jackrabbits, I would have been a Jackrabbit fan. But there was no team, so I picked the. But I have wondered, what if. You know, what if I was born a few years before or a few years after? Because I might have ended up a Dolphins fan, a Giants fan, then, now Commanders fan. It's a different life.

[Matt Jones]

See, I grew, I had. My bedroom was all Dallas Cowboys. And then out of nowhere, I'm from little over an hour from Nashville, the Titans just pop up and you just switch. Well, I had to because they're local or close to local. Different.

[Drew Franklin]

Well, I guess I switched because I wanted to root for the Reds. Terrible choice to go from the Braves to the Reds in baseball. That was a really dumb choice, but I did it and have paid for it ever since. Well, so we haven't been on in the last few months. There's been a lot of news. Billy has compiled the top 10 news tidbits in his mind since we've been gone. Before we get to them, there's an even newsier news before his news, the News before the news, actually news since his news. Brandon Ayuk. He just keeps going online. Actually, I was on ESPN radio yesterday and they asked me to play a clip and there were more beeps than there were words on the cliff. It was just beep, beep, beep. What do you think of the guy? I guess he's on the Commanders now, but he seems very worked up and he seems to really not like John Lynch. If you were a Commander's fan, would you be excited about his. His new team?

[Matt Jones]

I would love adding the talent. You know, they could use some talent. He's obviously very talented, but I would wonder maybe his headspace a little bit.

[Drew Franklin]

He's very, very angry with the 49ers.

[Matt Jones]

I guess they took away his guaranteed money. He has reason to be mad, but it seems to be over the top frustrations coming from.

[Drew Franklin]

So explain to me. I don't tell you what is he mad about.

[Matt Jones]

I think that's he was guaranteed money and they somehow got out of it. If I'm not mistaken. I don't know if they found a loophole, but he didn't get what he thought. He. It's only guaranteed.

[Drew Franklin]

It's only guaranteed. It's like it's only guaranteed if it's actually guaranteed.

[Matt Jones]

But he is outspoken, we can say, about how he feels about the 49ers.

[Drew Franklin]

What do you think about people who just, when they're upset, just go to Instagram and start talking good idea, bad idea? Well, when it's like they're not out, they're not misquoted. It's not taken out of context. It is there. They control it.

[Matt Jones]

It's just unique because we never see it before. Used to just getting, you know, a reporter quoting him in a press conference. But now we have him in the NBA. We have Jalen Brown. Bas just making the case for himself to get paid this offseason. So you don't see it that often. So when you do, it's like, whoa, you know, really standing up for themselves here and sometimes a little over the top.

[Drew Franklin]

So if. So if you're the commanders, when he shows up for the first day of training camp, you just act like it didn't happen.

[Matt Jones]

No, I think you lean into it. I think you let them know you hate the 49ers too. Like we're on your team.

[Drew Franklin]

Oh. So you play up like we have someone who might be a little unstable.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. Like we don't like John lynch either. Welcome to the family. Can you lean into it?

[Drew Franklin]

Wow. That's a different I mean, maybe that is kind of modern media strategy, though. Just lean into whatever mistake you make.

[Matt Jones]

I might be like, let's turn. Turn down the post.

[Drew Franklin]

Does he score 10 touchdowns this year?

[Matt Jones]

No tens. A little high?

[Billy R Sports]

Yeah, 10's high.

[Matt Jones]

I'll give him seven or eight.

[Drew Franklin]

So. But you do think he's like a regular player? You don't think this is going to end his career?

[Matt Jones]

As long as he's healthy, plays the full season? I mean, he's a talented guy. Even though at the end of his San Francisco career died down, he is

[Drew Franklin]

playing a game at the 49ers this year.

[Matt Jones]

Oh, I didn't realize. See, now you really got to lean into it.

[Drew Franklin]

So it's like October because he said something like, I will never walk into the city of San Francisco again. Like, he blames the whole city.

[Matt Jones]

He's mad at the bridge.

[Drew Franklin]

I will Never accept on October 17th. And I said, when they. When I will beat their bleepity bleep, bleep, boop.

[Matt Jones]

See if I'm Washington, I have a calendar above his locker with that circle in San Francisco. I want to let him know we got.

[Drew Franklin]

You think it's a good reaction when he goes back?

[Matt Jones]

No, not. Not at all.

[Billy R Sports]

He also said Kyle Shanahan has the temper of a toddler.

[Drew Franklin]

It seems like he though glass houses. I'd say so maybe a little bit. I mean, no offense, like, I don't know the guy. I'm not saying he's got a bad temper, but I don't know that he would say the most stable.

[Billy R Sports]

But you're right. I mean, you go live on Instagram, it's like calling your own press conference. And that's a lot easier to do

[Drew Franklin]

now with no questions, no question, no one tapping and go. That's the end of the questions.

[Billy R Sports]

You should probably leave.

[Drew Franklin]

You should probably go ahead. Well, good luck to Brandon Iuk. And for what it's worth, I've always thought that Kyle Shanahan and John lynch seemed like good fellas.

[Matt Jones]

And we learned guaranteed money. Maybe not always guaranteed.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah, it was like 25 million or something. He talked to his agent about what guaranteed means, because I think he was told something was guaranteed and maybe it wasn't quite.

[Matt Jones]

Check that. Fine.

[Drew Franklin]

All right, so 1010 news stories to get us ready here on season two. What's number one?

[Billy R Sports]

We talk about one of the biggest trades, not only the off season, but in the NFL all time when it comes to defensive players. The Browns traded Miles Garrett to the Rams for Jared Verse and three picks a 2027 first, a 2028 second and a 2029 third. Garrett, who is 30 years old, set the NFL's all time single season sack record last year with 23 sacks and he's under contract till 2030. So the Rams going all in. Yeah, this year.

[Drew Franklin]

I mean, I think the two takeaways from this deal is a. The Rams, like want to win the super bowl now. I think Sean McVeigh probably is not going to coach that much longer, which is odd because he's very young.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. By the way, did you see the picture of him this week?

[Drew Franklin]

I was going to say, first of all, he's ripped.

[Matt Jones]

Is he a linebacker?

[Drew Franklin]

I don't know. I'm not married. Maybe at some point someone will check me on this. I just don't see like posting a picture of my wife in a bikini to the masses. But he did. But he's ripped. They're both like, they're way too good looking. How old are those people?

[Matt Jones]

He's.

[Drew Franklin]

What, is even 40 yet? Oh, he's under 40.

[Matt Jones]

I don't know. He'd be close, man.

[Drew Franklin]

He's had a lot of success for somebody under 40.

[Matt Jones]

40 even.

[Drew Franklin]

Okay, good. Kudos to him. He's got. He's got a great body for somewhere to me. Great abs. And how old is his wife? Because his wife, she. I. If she's 40, then the two of

[Matt Jones]

them, I would suspect she's not 40.

[Billy R Sports]

36, it looks.

[Drew Franklin]

Well, that's kudos to both of them, man. Like, that's.

[Matt Jones]

What a life. Living in la.

[Drew Franklin]

I feel like they would be on some ad for like a pill, you know, you take.

[Matt Jones]

Maybe we'll be soon.

[Drew Franklin]

No, I mean, not that kind of pill, but like, you know, like, here's a vitamin you take kind of thing. Yeah. Because they both look amazing, but clearly like they want to win now. I kind of. So I think that's a good deal for them and I think it's actually. I feel like I'm in the minority on this, but I don't think it's a bad deal for the. For the Browns. They're not going to win right now. Jared versus still very good. You get a first round pick, you get a second, a third. Like, I'm okay with it, honestly, because I don't. If they were close to winning, I'd have a different opinion, but they're not

[Matt Jones]

to a completely different situation. I mean, the Browns are constantly rebuilding. They've been rebuilding forever. I was shocked Garrett even resigned with Cleveland. I thought he'd go chasing a ring. Just this past season, he gets that big deal. And now he moves to la. I mean, they're a heavy favorite. The super bowl is in LA next year. I mean, it is almost like they have to get it done or it'd be disappointing. At this stage, I think they're five to one. Super bowl favorite.

[Billy R Sports]

Rumors that Aaron Donald will come out of retirement.

[Matt Jones]

That's crazy. They'll have two hall of Famers.

[Drew Franklin]

How long has he been retired?

[Billy R Sports]

Just a couple years.

[Matt Jones]

It feels like he's a superhuman.

[Drew Franklin]

When you say just a couple years. I mean, it's not like he's like stopped doing radio for two years, you know, I mean, I gotta assume he's not working out like he did when he.

[Matt Jones]

He's got some videos. I think he just started working out more when he retired. He didn't go to the beach and just get fat.

[Drew Franklin]

See, I don't know how you do that. I don't know how people.

[Matt Jones]

He's not real. Well, he and Miles Garrett are freaks of nature.

[Tremphya Advertiser]

For adults with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis symptoms, every choice matters. Tremphya offers self injection or intravenous infusion. From the start, Tremphya is administered as injections under the skin or infusions through a vein every four weeks, followed by injections under the skin every four or eight weeks. If your doctor decides that you can self inject Tremphya, proper training is required. Tremphya is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with moderately to severely active Crohn's disease and adults with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis. Serious allergic reactions, increased risk of infection or lower ability to fight them and liver problems may occur before treatment. Get checked for infections and tuberculosis. Tell your doctor if you have an infection, flu like symptoms or need a vaccine, explore what's possible. Ask your doctor about tremphya today. Call 1-800-526-7736 to learn more or visit tremphyaradio.com bro.

[Drew Franklin]

From the show last night to this drive, why is it never chill?

[Nissan Rogue Advertiser]

Because this is our live backstage on the road. It's loud, messy, real. And that's the best part. Whole crew, no plan, just moving.

[Drew Franklin]

Good thing Nissan builds for that kind of chaos.

[Nissan Rogue Advertiser]

Not just test tracks, real life scenes, late nights, road trips, all of it. That's why it holds up. Nissan was ranked number one in initial quality among mainstream brands by J.D. power.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, you can tell.

[Nissan Rogue Advertiser]

2026 Nissan Rogue. Built for what really happens for J.D. power. 2025 U.S. initial Quality Study Award information, visit jdpower.com awards awards based on 2025 model year. Newer models may be shown Eczema is

[Podcast Announcer]

unpredictable, but you can flare less with epglis, a once monthly treatment for moderate to severe eczema after an initial four month or longer dosing phase. About four in 10 people taking ECLIS achieved itch relief and clear or almost clear skin at 16 weeks weeks and most of those people maintain skin that's still more clear at one year with monthly dosing.

[Ebglis Advertiser]

Hemglus Lebricizumab LBKZ a 250mg per 2ml injection is a prescription medicine used to treat adults and children 12 years of age and older who weigh at least 88 pounds or 40 kilograms with moderate to severe eczema, also called atopic dermatitis that is not well controlled with prescription therapies used on the skin or topicals or who cannot use topical therapies. Ebglis can be used with or without topical corticosteroids. Don't use if you're allergic to epglis. Allergic reactions can occur that can be severe. Eye problems can occur. Tell your doctor if you have new or worsening eye problems. You should not receive a live vaccine when treated with ebglis. Before starting evglis, tell your doctor if you have a parasitic infection.

[Podcast Announcer]

Ask your doctor about ebglis and visit ebgliss.lilly.com or call 1-800-lilyrx or 1-800-545-5979.

[Tab Ramos]

This is Tab Ramos from inside American Soccer and this summer topgolf is turning into the ultimate soccer destination. They're not just throwing games on in the background. Topgolf is going all in on soccer. They've got a new soccer themed game you can play with your group, special in venue activations, exclusive food and drink items inspired by the global game and at more than 60 locations. They've even installed full size soccer goals so you can try to hit golf balls right into the net and every match all summer long will be on throughout the venue. So it's a great place to watch with friends, hang out, compete a little bit and enjoy the atmosphere. And if you want to keep the fun going all summer, you can get the topgolf Summer Fun Pass which lets you play every single day and bring up to five guests every visit. Get yours [e-mail] FunPass Summer hits different at TopGolf.

[Drew Franklin]

So do you consider Last year I had the Rams to the super bowl they ended up losing in what? The championship game, in the NFC championship. I'm going to probably pick them to the super bowl again, maybe even pick them to win. Matthew Stafford's old so he doesn't have that. I mean like this really is an all in year, right?

[Matt Jones]

Oh, definitely. Like I said, it's in their hometown. It's like they have to do it. If you're going to do it, it's set up perfectly. And then to add Garrett and I think Donald, if he does come back, would have enough life left to just absolutely terrify offenses. If you look up and see those two guys on the defensive line and then everywhere else, they're probably the best all around team anyway. Even before adding Garrett. Have everything you could need. They just have to go out and finish the job.

[Drew Franklin]

And for Cleveland. So what's the plan this year, Shador?

[Billy R Sports]

I think it's Deshaun Watson.

[Nissan Rogue Advertiser]

Why?

[Billy R Sports]

Because he's under contract.

[Drew Franklin]

Well, okay, but nothing's guaranteed. We learned. Yeah, but I mean look, you got a great quarterback draft coming. The Sean Watson might be good enough to win you six games or five game. What's that do for you?

[Billy R Sports]

Middle of the road.

[Drew Franklin]

Whereas you play Shador, one of two things would happen. Either he would bomb, at which point maybe you get the number one pick or he might be all right. And I don't. But stop shaking your head. Barley dang will happen. But if he, if he happened to be that, then, you know, maybe I got a guy. I don't understand what DeSean Watson does for you because DeSean Watson is not your short term or your long term option, right?

[Nissan Rogue Advertiser]

No.

[Matt Jones]

And I feel like even though shedor people were iffy on him, it's easier to root for Shador Sanders than DeSean Watson, especially when you factor in age.

[Drew Franklin]

Should be happy. He's on there. He's the good guy.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. And if you said he doesn't work out, there's a pretty good QB class. Especially if you believe in Arch Manning. You got Dante Moore at Oregon. I mean if you did stink with Shador, you know I'm going to have a good pick and can go get someone I can build around.

[Drew Franklin]

Do they still have Dylan Gabriel?

[Billy R Sports]

Yeah, dg, I think he's still there.

[Matt Jones]

That's his boy.

[Drew Franklin]

Dg. Yeah, everybody forgets about him.

[Matt Jones]

See if he's still there.

[Drew Franklin]

And I feel like they still have someone else too, don't they?

[Billy R Sports]

Like with the Browns, they could have eight people.

[Drew Franklin]

They do have a lot of people. Usually Eric Zaire don't know, since he's been Brandon Whedon.

[Matt Jones]

Is he back?

[Drew Franklin]

Good call. Well, yeah, good deal. You don't usually see players that good be traded. I was trying to think of how many players in history have been that good and at the peak of their power, you know like Joe Montana got traded but he was kind of at the end of his career. How many people at the peak of their power get traded? And it's very, very, I mean Micah Parsons had it last year, but there aren't many that in that world and you are that good that get traded

[Matt Jones]

and maybe like the best player in

[Drew Franklin]

the entire league, not just anyone else, just off the top of your head,

[Matt Jones]

that was Herschel Walker.

[Drew Franklin]

But he was not great. I mean he was good but there was more, it was more like they thought he might be amazing. He was certainly not the best player in the league at his position.

[Matt Jones]

And if just taking him last year he was he the defensive player of the year and Matthew Stafford was the offensive player of the year and you're pairing them together. That's just nuts.

[Drew Franklin]

That is amazing. Well that should be interesting to see how it happens. And good for Miles Garrett gets to play for a winning team. What's next?

[Billy R Sports]

Another big trade this off season on the offensive side of the ball. A.J. brown traded from the Eagles to the patriots for a 2028 first and a 2027 fifth. AJ is a three time Pro Bowler and last season he had just over a thousand yards and seven touchdowns down. When it comes to his production, this

[Drew Franklin]

was like the most poorly kept secret kind of in the world. I mean they've been talking, assuming this was going to happen forever. I sort of feel like it was more. I feel like this got more attention than his talent at this stage of his career deserves. I mean this is not the A.J. brown of the Titans.

[Matt Jones]

I love me some Arthur Juan Brown. That was my guy.

[Drew Franklin]

But he's not like that anymore now. I mean the analogies you say, okay, well it'll be like when Randy Moss went to New England. But Randy Moss was still in his last year or two. He had had a bad final year in Minnesota, but at his peak he was the best player in the league. I just don't feel like it's quite the same. Plus Belichick's not the coach. I mean Brable's good but he's still

[Matt Jones]

a thousand yard guy. But it seemed drama got to him a lot in Philadelphia. He and Hertz were best friends when he went from Nashville to Philly. And then at the end the Reports are they were the farthest thing from best friends. I mean, see him reading books on the sideline, I'm good with that.

[Drew Franklin]

I like to read books places too.

[Matt Jones]

As a huge AJ Brown fan, he certainly has some maturity issues, and I think he can get back to that level with a fresh start. Drake May gets a receiver he wants. Brown and Vrabel were very close in Nashville, so I think it'll work out.

[Drew Franklin]

I think you also this year we'll get to see whether or not Drake May is great or not. I mean, he struggled in the playoffs last year. And so there are Drake May truthers like me who've always thought he wasn't good. But then, you know, you could say, but for 17 games he was great. So which one is correct? I think if you have A.J. brown, you got your receiver, they up their offensive line, you have the coach now. We'll find out in year three. If you look historically at quarterbacks, year three is when you decide if they're good. The great ones take a step up and become great in year three. Year one depends. Year two can be inconsistent in year three. So we'll find out with him and Bo Nix and Caleb Williams, all those guys kind of.

[Matt Jones]

I do have two fair foul questions for the AJ Brown trade. He claims that while he was a Philadelphia Eagle, he had Patriot stuff in his house, including a Patriots rug in his house while he was an Eagle. Is that. Is that fair game?

[Drew Franklin]

But he never played for them.

[Matt Jones]

He claims to grow up loving them. Is that okay?

[Drew Franklin]

No, because that's foul because he never played for there. And where did he grow up?

[Matt Jones]

Mississippi, not far from Nashville.

[Drew Franklin]

Stop it. He's not well.

[Matt Jones]

The second one, he posted childhood photos of him in a Brady jersey and the Internet found out he used AI to make them. They weren't even.

[Drew Franklin]

Well, then he's completely lying. So those are both facts. Now, if he had had a childhood picture of Brady, then I would have said, okay, maybe fair. But no, if that's AI, you're out.

[Matt Jones]

I'll admit I even fell for it. I was like, oh, this is sweet. And then the Internet sluice discovered it was not real.

[Drew Franklin]

That's bad. And it's even worse that you faked

[Matt Jones]

one goes back to that maturity thing, like, people will believe you if you just say you like the Patriots. You don't have to photoshop yourself in Jersey.

[Drew Franklin]

Are you picking the Patriots for a regression team? You know, they had a stupid good record last year, but they were playing the worst schedule in the league. Then they Got kind of exposed losing to a Denver team that didn't even have their, excuse me, they beat a Denver team that Knicks got hurt and then they got destroyed in the Super Bowl. Are you picking them to maybe?

[Matt Jones]

Absolutely, yeah.

[Drew Franklin]

Cause they're going to have I think the third hardest schedule in the league.

[Matt Jones]

Like I, that their coach had a pretty busy offseason.

[Drew Franklin]

I mean if you're, if you're being objective, if you're looking for the regression team, they're the obvious choice because the losers of the super bowl always stink. Like that's happened for 30 straight years. And I think in the NFC, my bears are your contender. Same thing.

[Matt Jones]

They had a lot of comeback, fourth quarter magic that you can't repeat and

[Drew Franklin]

first, first play schedule, you know, a lot like if you were trying to pick the two teams most likely to regress, you would pick those two.

[Matt Jones]

Didn't they go like undefeated on the road last year? Mostly close, low scoring games. It was cool to see them make that run, but I don't think they can do it again.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah, so I think both teams, you know, I mean historically the super bowl loser has like I think a couple years ago I remember I looked at the stat and like they missed the playoffs Something like 15 of the 18 years. I don't know if that's still the case but have the Bengals been back

[Matt Jones]

to the playoffs since they were super

[Drew Franklin]

bowl loser the year before it was the Eagles lost to who?

[Matt Jones]

The Eagles.

[Drew Franklin]

How can we not think one the year before.

[Matt Jones]

Right.

[Drew Franklin]

When they, and they beat the Chiefs who didn't make the playoffs. So I mean it tends to be. That tends to be a thing. That's correct, yeah. All right, what's next?

[Billy R Sports]

Speaking of your Bears, Caleb Williams was Named the Madden 27 cover athlete, the first Bears player to receive the honor. And the United States Patent and Trademark Office refused Caleb's request to trademark his nickname Iceman. So a big setback.

[Drew Franklin]

Well, first of all, is that who you would have picked as Madden? I don't feel like that's a bad pick. I mean the Madden player on the COVID first of all, I think you have to pick someone who's never done it before. Isn't that right?

[Matt Jones]

I don't think they've had a repeat

[Drew Franklin]

and it's less about who's the best than who's the combination of best and cool. Feels like Caleb Williams is young. Young.

[Matt Jones]

It'd be a fun team on Madden with that offense.

[Billy R Sports]

He's doing the jump pass and the picture.

[Matt Jones]

Are you worried about the curse?

[Drew Franklin]

I Think though, that curse has kind of gone down in the last few years, hasn't it? I mean there was a time that

[Matt Jones]

was a big curse every year there for a while.

[Drew Franklin]

I think they at the last few years it hasn't been as bad if I remember correctly.

[Billy R Sports]

Well, I asked somebody at the super bowl about it. Was it Sean Alexander or Christian McCaffrey? One of the two. They said we don't think about that.

[Matt Jones]

McCaffrey.

[Drew Franklin]

I'm sure they don't think about it and go, I'm cursed.

[Billy R Sports]

Well, Peyton Hillis might.

[Drew Franklin]

He was on it.

[Matt Jones]

That was the most random Madden cover of all time. Yeah, Antonio Brown was on it just a few years ago.

[Drew Franklin]

That was probably Caleb Williams is a perfect one because you also again back to the third year thing. If for some reason Caleb Williams ends up stinking, this was the year to use it. Like if you put Jaden Daniels on after that first year, do you think he'll bounce back by the way?

[Matt Jones]

Well, he's got Brandon Oak now who's. Who's laser focused and ready for San Francisco.

[Drew Franklin]

This will be a fascinating year for all those guys like all those third year quarterbacks. You know the rankings have been after the first year you would have thought, well, Jaden Daniels by far number one and then maybe Drake May, Caleb Williams maybe last after year two. I don't think you would have that ranking. What do you think it's going to be after year three?

[Matt Jones]

I think Daniels bounces back, has a pretty big sophomore slump. I think K. Williams will be about the same. I mean as I said, you can't expect them to have those crazy finishes like four or five of those games last year.

[Drew Franklin]

But you think you're going to end up with four star quarterbacks. That's very rare.

[Matt Jones]

I really believe your Bears have arrived. They might go back just a little bit, but that offense with a new head coach was so fun last year. I don't think they're going away anytime soon.

[Ebglis Advertiser]

It's.

[Drew Franklin]

It's Nick's, Drake, May, Daniels, Williams and. Who's the other one? There's one more that was part of that group. J.J. mcCarthy.

[Billy R Sports]

Oh, nice.

[Matt Jones]

That's your boy.

[Drew Franklin]

And he made.

[Matt Jones]

That's the one you can eliminate from the conversation.

[Drew Franklin]

But you could end up with four franchise quarterbacks in a draft. That's very, very rare.

[Matt Jones]

You know I was surprised on the Iceman trademark that you brought up. Isn't it like a boot company. It wasn't George Gervin or Chuck Liddell. I thought that was his biggest competition. It's some old sheep company from the 80s story.

[Drew Franklin]

But I thought, if he's trying to get the Iceman thing from George Gervin, that's kind of lame. He shouldn't do that. But then when I heard it was a boot company, I was like, I think I'm okay with him trying to get it now. They ended up not giving it to him because the boot company got it first. And there are rules about how they picked that. So I'm not commenting on that decision. But when I thought he was trying to steal it from George Gervin, I thought that was poor form. But I'm fine. Go after the boot company. Who cares?

[Matt Jones]

I know it's a boot company. I can't tell you the name of the boot company. Don't know why they're the Iceman. Chuck Liddell also had that nickname. I'd understand one of those two. Does this boot company still exist?

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah, I saw someone go. I saw. I think it was somebody on espn say they should give it to Caleb Williams. He's more known than the boot company, which may or may not be true. But you got to be careful with that precedent because I can't start calling myself Coca Cola. That is your opinion. So that I can take their trademark.

[Matt Jones]

I guess we have rules around trademarks. And they got it in decades ago.

[Drew Franklin]

Mercedes,

[Billy R Sports]

it's mine now.

[Drew Franklin]

And then, by the way, now it's mine. I don't think you could do that. So I sort of understood the. The rule.

[Matt Jones]

Are you. Did you ever play Madden? Were you Madden guy?

[Drew Franklin]

I play. I kind of quit at Super Tech Mobile.

[Matt Jones]

That was a good one. I've.

[Drew Franklin]

I've really peaked at John Elway's quarterback.

[Matt Jones]

I was more of a Troy Aikman quarterback on Super.

[Drew Franklin]

Oh, there was a Troy Aikman quarterback.

[Matt Jones]

But I've. I've bought Madden every year since the beginning of time. But I've never played it. Like, I've already preordered. I preordered this year'. I doubt I play a single game, but it's like I have to do it every July. I have to get my pre order in.

[Drew Franklin]

You know, during COVID I was like, all right, I'm going to get back into video game. I hadn't played them since Super Mario Kart in college, right in Goldeneye. And I bought a PlayStation. I was going to be in New York for a few months, living with my girlfriend there. So I bought a PlayStation, hooked it up at her house. I bought the NASCAR game and what was it? Red Dead.

[Matt Jones]

Red Dead Redemption.

[Drew Franklin]

Red Dead Redemption. Hooked it up, decided to play. She would go to bed early because she had to get up early. So I went and I was like, here we go. Time to start playing Red Dead Redemption. I started the game and I couldn't get on my horse.

[Matt Jones]

It's a big part of Red Dead Redemption.

[Billy R Sports]

The very beginning.

[Drew Franklin]

I know also you ride the horse a lot.

[Matt Jones]

Like you spent a couple minutes just riding the horse across the road.

[Drew Franklin]

I literally could not get on my horse and I kept trying to get on it and I couldn't get on it and I just turned the game off and then never played PlayStation again. It is still at my ex girlfriend's house. Never turned it on again. She told me once later that her next boyfriend played it and he wanted to take it with her on the breakup. And she was like, I just couldn't.

[Matt Jones]

He hopped right on the horse and she's like, there's my man. She was like, look at this cowboy.

[Billy R Sports]

Damn.

[Drew Franklin]

She said, though, she felt out of loyalty to me, she could not give him my PlayStation. I understand, which I appreciate that for, but. So I think that was when I knew my video game career was over.

[Matt Jones]

There's a new Double oh seven game, and I thought it looked awesome. I bought it about three weeks ago. Haven't turned it on, probably never will play it.

[Drew Franklin]

There's any game that'll ever be better than Super Mario Kart. I mean, whatever the best version of that is. What was better than racing your friends and then throwing turtles at them and banana peels? How's there a better game than that?

[Billy R Sports]

You guys sound so old, but Grand Theft Autos sound so old.

[Drew Franklin]

What do you play? Whippersnapper Shell.

[Billy R Sports]

And the man Appeals.

[Drew Franklin]

First of all, don't. I don't sound like Uncle Remus Madden, dude.

[Billy R Sports]

I mean, new college football games, like, dead.

[Drew Franklin]

He's. I mean, like, I love John. Like, John Madden was awesome.

[Billy R Sports]

His legacy lives on through the video games.

[Matt Jones]

I keep giving him money. I just don't play it.

[Drew Franklin]

His estate still get. I mean, they have to, right? They have to still get money from that. Yeah, it's pretty amazing if you think about it, because he kind of lucked out in getting his name on it.

[Nissan Rogue Advertiser]

Yeah.

[Drew Franklin]

I mean, we don't call the NBA game, I don't know, Steve Snapper Jones.

[Matt Jones]

That's what you went with Ahmad Rashad 64.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah, we don't. I'm just saying, like Tim McCarver, baseball madness hung on.

[Tab Ramos]

Yeah.

[Drew Franklin]

For a long time.

[Tremphya Advertiser]

For adults with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis symptoms. Every choice matters. Tremphya offers self injection or intravenous infusion from the start. Tremphya is administered as injections under the skin or infusions through a vein every four weeks, followed by injections under the skin every four or eight weeks. If your doctor decides that you can subscribe self inject Tremphya. Proper training is required. Tremphya is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with moderately to severely active Crohn's disease and adults with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis. Serious allergic reactions, increased risk of infections or lower ability to fight them and liver problems may occur before treatment. Get checked for infections and tuberculosis. Tell your doctor if you have an infection, flu like symptoms or need a vaccine experiment. Explore what's possible. Ask your doctor about tremphaya today. Call 1-800-526-7736 to learn more or visit

[Drew Franklin]

trempharadio.com Bro from the show last night to this drive. Why is it never chill?

[Nissan Rogue Advertiser]

Cuz this is our life backstage on the road. It's loud, messy, real. And that's the best part. Whole crew, no plan, just moving.

[Drew Franklin]

Good thing Nissan builds for that kind of chaos.

[Nissan Rogue Advertiser]

Not just test tracks, real life scenes, late nights, road trips. All of it. That's why it holds up. Nissan was ranked number one in initial quality among mainstream brands by J.D. power.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, you can tell.

[Nissan Rogue Advertiser]

2026 Nissan Rogue built for what really happens for J.D. power. 2025 U.S. initial Quality Study Award information visit jdpower.com awards awards based on 2025 model year. Newer models may be shown Eczema is

[Podcast Announcer]

unpredictable, but you can flare less with epglis, a once monthly treatment for moderate to severe eczema after an initial four month or longer dosing phase. About four in ten people taking ebglis achieved itch relief in clear or almost clear skin at 16 weeks, and most of those people maintain skin that's still more clear at one year with monthly dosing.

[Ebglis Advertiser]

MGLIS Lebricizumab LBKZ a 250mg 2ml injection, is a prescription medicine used to treat adults and children children 12 years of age and older who weigh at least 88 pounds or 40 kilograms with moderate to severe eczema, also called atopic dermatitis, that is not well controlled with prescription therapies used on the skin or topicals or who cannot use topical therapies. Ebglis can be used with or without topical corticosteroids. Don't use if you are allergic to Ebglis, allergic reactions can occur that can be severe. Eye problems can occur. Tell your doctor if you have new or worsening eye problems. You should not receive a live vaccine when treated with Eglis. Before starting Ebglis, tell your doctor if you have a parasitic infection.

[Podcast Announcer]

Ask your doctor about evgliss and visit evglis.lilly.com or call 1-800-lilyrx or 1-800-545-5979.

[Tab Ramos]

This is Tab Ramos from Inside American Soccer. And this summer Topgolf is turning into the ultimate soccer destination. They're not just throwing games on in the background. Topgolf is going all in on soccer. They've got a new soccer themed game you can play with your group. Special in venue activations, exclusive food and drink items inspired by the global game and at more than 60 locations. They've even installed full size soccer goals so you can try to hit golf balls right into the net. And every match all summer long will be on throughout the venue. So it's a great place to watch with friends, hang out, compete a little bit and enjoy the atmosphere. And if you want to keep the fun going all summer, you can get the topgolf Summer Fun Pass which lets you play every single day and bring up to five guests every visit. Get yours [e-mail] FunPass Summer hits different at TopGolf.

[Drew Franklin]

All right, what's next, Bill?

[Billy R Sports]

All right, let's go over to Colts minicamp where two time all pro corner Sauce Gardener. Remember he was the fourth overall pick for the jets, traded to the Colts for two first round picks. He clarified to reporters just a couple of weeks ago that he's in fact 24 years old, not 25 as widely listed online. ESPN.com Pro Football Reference Even the 2025 NFL record and fact book all had Sauce Gardner with his birthday. It's August 31, 2000. It is actually August 31, 2001.

[Drew Franklin]

I mean, do we know that? What that you just said? Like what? Like what Sauce said? Do we know that Sauce is right? Or could Sauce be doing a little Matt Jones Facebook age thing?

[Billy R Sports]

Well, we are taking Sauce at his word.

[Drew Franklin]

But why would we do that if we can't take. Whose word am I supposed to take? Well, to that point I need a birth certificate.

[Billy R Sports]

An NFL spokesperson came out and said all players do self verify birthdays when they enter the league.

[Drew Franklin]

Well, that seems like, I mean not to talk about the mothership league, but it seems like maybe we should require a birth certific because if that's what you get to do, well then I'm going to come in as a younger. I mean if that's the case, I should be on rise. 39.

[Matt Jones]

Joe Flacco is going to change his to 23. Try to get him more.

[Drew Franklin]

Flacco. He's going to come in, isn't there? Like why would he do that though? Like, I mean 25 and 24 is such a little difference. Like let's just assume it's wrong. Why would he wait so long to correct it? What do you think?

[Matt Jones]

Well, I just, I know they say they self verify, but at some point you have to fill out like tax forms and give over your id. Like I would, I kind of believe Sauce a little bit, but I would wonder, I don't know how you wouldn't correct the Internet if it just kept being reported over and over and over. At some point he'd notice and be like, hey guys, I guess that's what he's doing now. But it went on for so long.

[Billy R Sports]

His government stuff is all intact with the correct date. NFL.com?

[Drew Franklin]

how do you know that? Just because he says it.

[Tab Ramos]

Yeah.

[Billy R Sports]

That this has been. There was a discrepancy that was found out through the athletic through this because the Colts website had his birthday correctly labeled and so did the NFL.com website but the record book didn't. ESPN didn't.

[Drew Franklin]

So some football reference did have it correct.

[Billy R Sports]

Yes.

[Drew Franklin]

Okay. Well I was going to say I feel like that should have been caught to go back to Raya. They told me I accidentally filmed the filled the form out one year wrong and they when I got accepted had it correct. Which means they had on their own.

[Billy R Sports]

So you're trying to go a little younger on.

[Drew Franklin]

No, I accidentally went older.

[Billy R Sports]

Oh really?

[Drew Franklin]

I didn't do it on purpose but you know, you have this like thing and I think I scrolled one too many and then I realized it. But you had already submitted it and I wanted to be like, no, don't do that to me. And then they actually, when they put it up, they actually had it correct. So my point is like they had a verification.

[Billy R Sports]

They knew. They were just waiting for you to confirm it. Sounds like.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, yeah, I believe Sauce one year at his age. What would be the motive? It seems like it just got misreported at first and just kept going and kept going.

[Drew Franklin]

Does not want to be responsible for renting cars.

[Matt Jones]

It's true.

[Billy R Sports]

Being on his own health insurance.

[Drew Franklin]

It's exactly. He wants to be on his parents health insurance. He doesn't like the Colts plans exactly right. He does. He wants to be on his own health insurance, which is good. I under. I understand you got to the bottom of this. You just hit it. He everywhere. Everywhere they would go on team trips, they would go, all right, man, you

[Matt Jones]

got to rent the car. All these NFL players rent cars on trips.

[Drew Franklin]

You all don't know what it's like to be in the league.

[Matt Jones]

I'm glad I got corrected, though.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah, me too. Well, good for Sauce.

[Matt Jones]

And shame on everyone that called him 25 when he's 24 or the other way around.

[Drew Franklin]

You think he'll be good for the. For Indianapolis?

[Matt Jones]

I was very intrigued when they made that move last year.

[Drew Franklin]

Was it two first picks?

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, that was pretty surprising, especially when they had Philip Rivers as a quarterback. But I mean, Sauce, Yeah, I think he's really good. He didn't. He only played half the season in Indy. They were better than people expected, but I was shocked that they made that move.

[Drew Franklin]

Do you know that song, my Baby's got sauce? Your baby ain't sweet like mine?

[Nissan Rogue Advertiser]

No.

[Billy R Sports]

Can you sing it?

[Drew Franklin]

I'm not going to go into the verses was by G Love and the Special Sauce. And their number one song was My Baby got Sauce. And I went and saw him in concert.

[Billy R Sports]

Big fan.

[Drew Franklin]

Where they. Where Casey and the Sunshine Band opened up for him in Baltimore, Maryland. My college roommate, Tall, and my mother and I went when we were 19. That sounds exciting.

[Matt Jones]

Actually, knowing Tall, that sounds like a lot of fun.

[Drew Franklin]

It was a lot of fun. My mom wanted to take us to the Orioles game and we saw that G Love was playing and so we did both. Mom left after Casey and the Sunshine Band. She was not interested in G Love in the Special Sauce.

[Billy R Sports]

I'll have to look.

[Drew Franklin]

And we met G Love when it was over and he said he was coming to Lexington in a few months. And he said, I'd love to. Do you all know where I can get a pickup basketball game? It's a true story. So we said, well, you could play with us. We'll get a group together at Trancy. And he said, well, give me your number. We will set it up. He never called.

[Matt Jones]

Oh, man.

[Drew Franklin]

And it was before text. Right. So he had to call us here.

[Matt Jones]

Just wait to call the house.

[Drew Franklin]

Tal was a big G Love fan, so he was like excited, like, oh, we're going to play basketball with G Love. Did he never call? So, G Love, if you're out there, we're still hurting, still have this moment. This was like 1998.

[Matt Jones]

Maybe he can get redemption. Maybe he's listening so he can fix this problem.

[Drew Franklin]

All right, what's next?

[Billy R Sports]

After 14 seasons, 37 year old Russell Wilson announced his retirement over the off season. He retires as the fifth highest paid player in league history with a total career earnings of $315 million. Ten Pro Bowls, one Super Bowl. Turned down a job with the jets this off season and will be joining CBS Sports as an analyst on their pregame show, the NFL Today.

[Drew Franklin]

Do we think he'll be good at that?

[Matt Jones]

He should, but he's already been labeled as this cornball.

[Drew Franklin]

He should lean into it. Like he could be the cornball Broncos country let's ride, let's ride, let's ride.

[Billy R Sports]

Mr. Unlimited.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah, it's the subway. I mean, I think there's a good chance he's not going to be liked, but I also think he's got the talent to do it. I mean, someone his career underrated or overrated. I mean, they just said 10 Pro Bowls now. Shador made the Pro bowl last year, so maybe that's not the best, but the super bowl, it's unfair to him.

[Matt Jones]

I feel like if he retired three or four years ago, he's probably hall of Famer and everybody talks about how great he is, but it's just been such a rough few years. I mean, he got benched in like two or three games for Jackson Dart just this past year. The jets were looking at him to be a backup to Geno Smith this upcoming year. I mean, it's. He fell off a cliff at the end and probably regrets not retiring a little earlier when he was on top.

[Drew Franklin]

His teammates didn't really like him.

[Matt Jones]

No, there's.

[Drew Franklin]

That's tough.

[Matt Jones]

He's always like the reports. He'd also be off by himself and like had his own staffers and didn't really gel well with his teammates in the locker room anywhere. He's.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah, yeah, he seems like a complete cornball, but I still think he could do well in TV if he does it right.

[Matt Jones]

His football resume is enough that he should be good.

[Drew Franklin]

Seriously. Because I think if he does, if he comes in like Mr. Expert, he's going to be Kendrick Perkins without the cool accent.

[Matt Jones]

He's got to loosen up, try to have fun with it, but I don't think he will. I don't think it's going to work out.

[Drew Franklin]

We'll find out. But, you know, let's ride.

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[Matt Jones]

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[Tab Ramos]

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[Drew Franklin]

All right, that's we're halfway through what's

[Billy R Sports]

next Bill In March. Earlier this year, three time Super bowl champion Travis Kelsey signed a three year, $57 million deal with the Chiefs. The Chiefs missed the playoffs last season for the first time in a decade, but they will bring back the 36 year old tight end. Kelsey will also be married by the end of this week. As TMZ has reported to an up and coming country music singer Taylor Swift. They will have the wedding at Madison Square Garden with a guest list of over a thousand people.

[Drew Franklin]

Okay, so we do believe that's happening, right?

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, I think so.

[Drew Franklin]

At this point it's happening. Okay. He's not going to play three years, but I'm kind of surprised he's playing this year. I guess he just doesn't want to go out with a bad team, you think?

[Matt Jones]

I think if they win that super bowl two years ago, he walks off, we don't see him again. But now that he's been so bad, his numbers have dropped the last year too. I think he feels like he has to go back and finish strong.

[Drew Franklin]

Terrible though last year I think people just act like he's like a, a decrepit old man. He's all right well, remember, he had

[Matt Jones]

some huge drops in, like, key moments. There were just things he didn't normally do where you're like, oh, has he. Has he lost a little bit? And of course, even though it's probably unfair to him, people are, you know, blaming that, oh, he's about to get married to her now. He's not focused.

[Drew Franklin]

I wouldn't play. Like, what's the point?

[Matt Jones]

You're.

[Drew Franklin]

Now, I mean, is he the most famous player in the league?

[Matt Jones]

Good question. Well, when you. Yeah, when you lump in the Swifties.

[Drew Franklin]

Okay, well, is he. Is he more famous or is Mahomes more famous?

[Matt Jones]

Definitely, Kelsey, because I bet the Swifties, a lot of them can only name him and no one else, and there's trillions of them.

[Drew Franklin]

And I would think Mahomes isn't number

[Matt Jones]

two for that reason. He plays with Trevor. They're kind of a.

[Drew Franklin]

So, I mean, the two most famous people in the NFL, which is the most famous sport in America, play in Kansas City.

[Tab Ramos]

Yep.

[Drew Franklin]

So you. Does anybody disagree that he's the most famous player in the league?

[Matt Jones]

Not at all.

[Billy R Sports]

I don't. Because everybody. All the guys that know Mahomes know Kelsey as well.

[Drew Franklin]

So, I mean, that's what I was going to say. Everyone who watches the NFL, let's say you're not a Taylor Swift fan. There's no NFL fan who doesn't know who Travis Kelce is. And then you have this whole other universe of people who also know who he is, and he might be the

[Matt Jones]

only one they know.

[Drew Franklin]

And he is. He did a reality show where he picked women that if you go back and watch, you think, how in the world. But you know what? Good for him. He seems like a good guy, you know?

[Matt Jones]

Yeah.

[Drew Franklin]

I mean, I don't know if he is, but don't you think he seems like one?

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. And, like, it's, I guess, funny, sweet, whatever you call it. He, like, said, I'm going to this Taylor Swift concerts and I hope to meet her, and then they end up getting married. I mean, that's pretty wild in itself. He was, like, showing off his bracelets. Like, I hope I get to go backstage.

[Drew Franklin]

All right, so who would I do that for? I'm going to this concert to meet this woman. All right, so who are my choices? Needs to be.

[Matt Jones]

Are you an Ella fella?

[Drew Franklin]

No, she's too young. And also, I don't like her music. So that would be. I mean, I don't dislike her music, but it's just not my thing. What if Madonna's in How old is Dua Lipa?

[Matt Jones]

I'd put her a little shy. 30.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah, but I think she just got married. I saw there. I saw their honeymoon pictures. People were saying her husband had a dad. Bod, go look. If she's 30, her husband has a dad. By the way, if that guy, then we're all in trouble. Did you see him?

[Matt Jones]

No, I've seen him.

[Drew Franklin]

He looked to me. He looked completely ripped. And people are like, oh, she married a dad bod guy.

[Billy R Sports]

That's not good for us.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah. So I don't know.

[Matt Jones]

Have you seen the. The guy, you know, Laina Del Rey? Have you seen who she married?

[Drew Franklin]

Who'd she marry?

[Matt Jones]

He, like, ran one of those fan boats in Louisiana. He's, like, older than her. He just married a dude. He, like, gives boat tour.

[Drew Franklin]

Oh, like, that would be nothing like what you think. Does she look like one of those.

[Matt Jones]

The.

[Drew Franklin]

The guys down there that got famous with the beards?

[Matt Jones]

I need.

[Drew Franklin]

What are their names?

[Billy R Sports]

Who are you talking about?

[Drew Franklin]

The reality show guys.

[Billy R Sports]

Oh, Duck Dynasty.

[Drew Franklin]

Dynasty. Is he one of the Duck Dynasty guys? Let me see this.

[Matt Jones]

But she married just a guy. That does.

[Drew Franklin]

That is just a guy.

[Billy R Sports]

Lucky dude.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah. That is desperate. That's like a.

[Matt Jones]

So there's hope for anyone.

[Drew Franklin]

Uncle Bod. Well, good for him. Yeah. I can't think of who. Who I would. Cheryl Crow's maybe a little old. I don't think I want Alanis Morrison.

[Billy R Sports]

I was thinking that.

[Matt Jones]

Weird.

[Drew Franklin]

You said that.

[Matt Jones]

What about Shakira? She available? Sorry. At the World Cup. Now she looks like she's 20.

[Drew Franklin]

There you go. If you could get me tickets to Shakira. Is she married?

[Billy R Sports]

She was.

[Drew Franklin]

If she's single, I think she would like a podcast host of the NFL. Shakira.

[Matt Jones]

I went to type in Shakira married and accidentally typed Shakira. Matt, like, there's already gonna be results. Not married, not married. Currently single.

[Drew Franklin]

How old is she?

[Matt Jones]

She went viral this week for not looking her age. I want to say it was close

[Drew Franklin]

to 54, so a little older than me. So she's kind of robbing the cradle with me. I. I'm in.

[Billy R Sports]

I bet you are. Yes.

[Drew Franklin]

Billy gets Shakira's number.

[Billy R Sports]

Hello.

[Drew Franklin]

We'll see if you do as well at that as you did getting our guests last year.

[Matt Jones]

So we need G Love and Shakira to be listening to us for Matt's

[Drew Franklin]

dreams to come true, I think. Yes. And I'll invite G Love to play the reception.

[Matt Jones]

Oh, what a wedding.

[Drew Franklin]

What color are we going to Wear brown. No, she's Colombian. I'll wear yellow. Okay. Gold, right? Isn't she Colombian?

[Billy R Sports]

Yes, she is Colombian.

[Drew Franklin]

Okay. So then I will wear gold.

[Matt Jones]

I like this. It's going to be the beginning of a beautiful love story.

[Drew Franklin]

I'm in.

[Billy R Sports]

We'll invite Brown Spider to the wedding. How about that?

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah. Or we could go get married in the Cleveland parking lot. Like. Like this?

[Billy R Sports]

Yes.

[Tab Ramos]

Yes.

[Drew Franklin]

All right, what's next?

[Billy R Sports]

Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow told reporters at minicamp just recently that the vibes around the team resemble those of the 2019 LSU team. And I said this. Joe Burrow.

[Drew Franklin]

Okay.

[Billy R Sports]

And I quote, you go back and watch what I said before the 2019 season at LSU. I feel very similarly about this team. I'm so excited to get started and get moving. I feel like there's so much greatness we'll be able to achieve this year that I'm just excited to get going. The.

[Drew Franklin]

He's going to regret that quote.

[Billy R Sports]

Burrow led that team to a 15 and O mark and the national championship in 2019. Jamar Chase being on the team also helps with those vibes.

[Drew Franklin]

But he's been on the team for a long time.

[Billy R Sports]

He has. But Cincinnati's all in. They traded the 10th overall pick to the New York Giants for Dexter Lawrence.

[Matt Jones]

Sexy. Sexy.

[Billy R Sports]

Since Cincinnati is favored in 15 of their 17, they do have a good

[Drew Franklin]

schedule to do it. Yes.

[Matt Jones]

They only won six games. They got the third easiest.

[Drew Franklin]

Let's look. The problem for them is always they lose their first three or four games. So let's see who they start with, because that'll be their season.

[Billy R Sports]

Start with the Bucks, week one.

[Drew Franklin]

So they start with the Bucks, the Texans, the Steelers and the Jaguars. You could see them winning all those. You could see them losing all those. Right. So, I mean, that's. Then. Then the schedule actually gets much easier after that. But if they start owing 4, 1 and 3 again, they'll be in trouble again. Right?

[Matt Jones]

I don't know. I don't. I'm not going to get behind the LSU comparisons. That's like one of the best college teams of all time. But I am a Bengals believer this year. If he can stay healthy.

[Drew Franklin]

Schedule is a big part of it.

[Matt Jones]

Schedule a big part of it. They said because they were so bad last year, they got the third easiest. Well, 30 in the whole league, but also in their division, they were the third team. They are pretty loaded. In the years he has played a full season, he's been one of the

[Drew Franklin]

best quarterbacks for the first week.

[Billy R Sports]

Correct? Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

He also mentioned for several years they've had contract disputes, behind the scenes locker room drama. He's like, all that's gone. Everybody's on the same page.

[Drew Franklin]

So are we going? We should. We should go, right? We could probably get credentialed. Yeah, we should go. It's your team, Cincinnati. We're an hour away.

[Billy R Sports]

Yeah, that'd be fun.

[Drew Franklin]

You get his credentials, set it up, you can meet. You gave that guy your digital business card from Tampa. You get us credentials and then get us five, the four of us. And then we'll save a seat for Shakira or G Love.

[Matt Jones]

First one to respond. Well, Mario, we've tailgated in the jungle before. We can run that back.

[Drew Franklin]

Oh, that was a wild day with all those people dancing and all that stuff. 2019, LSU was. You said it's probably one of the three greatest college teams of my lifetime, so I think he needs to slow down. But he was just talking vibes, though. He wasn't saying talent.

[Matt Jones]

He said everybody should be talking about the Bengals this off season. He's filled himself a confident burrow. Could be scary if he stays.

[Drew Franklin]

We're talking about him right now.

[Billy R Sports]

I think Joe Flago is my favorite story last year, honestly, just the old man getting another shot.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah, you like those, like, Disney movies where they find some old dude and he, you know, the. It was a good story. It's not the best. I mean, the best story that's ever happened was the guy who they just got out of the stands to play goalie that one time. Do you remember that story? It was for the Carolina Hurricanes. They were playing in Toronto. All their goalies got hurt. And the obscure NHL rule that no one knew, which is, in every game, there's just a dude sitting in the stands. It's not in the world. There's just a guy sitting in the stands who will play for either team. That's what's so crazy about that to me. Every game. For people who don't know, every NHL game, the home team just brings a guy to the arena whose job it is to, if either team loses about their goalies, he gets to play.

[Matt Jones]

He's on standby.

[Drew Franklin]

So this guy was a Toronto Maple Leafs fan, comes to the game, probably has done this many times, just, like, eating his food, like, here we go again. And then they're like, hey, man, it's Tom needs you. And then he plays and they win. He saves, like, 10 things. They give him a parade in Raleigh, North Carolina. Man, never plays again.

[Matt Jones]

That's the Disney movie.

[Drew Franklin]

That's a movie, is it not?

[Billy R Sports]

Sports movie.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah, that's one of the Wild. And that sounds like a story you would hear 1953. And it's.

[Matt Jones]

Now imagine that in other sports, the warriors are down to four players. Just some guy comes out of the crowd, that's me.

[Drew Franklin]

Or a quarterback. Instead of having a third emergency quarterback, a guy just sitting in the stands,

[Matt Jones]

get loose, get the bullpen.

[Drew Franklin]

That you could be required to play for either team, especially if you have

[Matt Jones]

allegiance to one of the teams. Just go out there and throw the game.

[Billy R Sports]

Miss a couple.

[Drew Franklin]

And you literally have to not be good. Because the whole premise is if you were good, you'd be playing somewhere. So it's a person who doesn't even play hockey.

[Matt Jones]

I think instead of having like the designated goalie, it should be a random draw of the crowd. It could. Everyone in the building is eligible.

[Drew Franklin]

But it also made me kind of think maybe being a goalie's not that hard. They can get Darrell out of the crowd.

[Matt Jones]

Put your popcorn down and get in there.

[Drew Franklin]

And then they come in and they win. Still, that is still the weirdest sports story I've ever heard. All right, here's the next Go Bingles.

[Billy R Sports]

Though let's talk about the Jacksonville Jaguars. Liam Cohen, 13 and 4 in his first season in Jacksonville. They did have that wild card loss to the Buffalo Bills. But remember how much fun we had with Cam Little, the kicker who made a 68 and a 67 yard field goal. Made a 70 yarder in the preseason that did not count officially. Well, the Jags are signing their long snapper, Ross, Matt matissic, to a two year extension worth $3.8 million. He is now the highest paid long snapper in the NFL. He's made three straight Pro Bowls, two first team all pros, and is raking in the money now with after his extension.

[Drew Franklin]

I'm surprised you think this is one of the 10 biggest stories of the off season.

[Billy R Sports]

I think the special teams unit for Jacksonville is a game changer. And now they've locked up their long snapper.

[Drew Franklin]

What makes one be such a. Like, what makes him so. Like he's all. What makes him so great for him? Yeah, go ahead.

[Matt Jones]

He's like. Because it's not just snapping. He makes a lot of tackles. So he'll snap it and he'll get up and get involved.

[Drew Franklin]

So it's not just

[Matt Jones]

really well too.

[Drew Franklin]

Because it feels like that's something that they all do pretty well.

[Matt Jones]

He's made a bunch of big tackles for me.

[Tab Ramos]

All right.

[Drew Franklin]

Fair enough.

[Billy R Sports]

Undrafted free agent in 2020 doesn't miss a snap, guys. An ironman and then tied for third in the league in tackle.

[Drew Franklin]

I would hope he doesn't miss a snap. Isn't it illegal to hit him?

[Billy R Sports]

Yeah, you can't jump over him with his head.

[Drew Franklin]

I don't think you can even hit him until he gets up. Right.

[Billy R Sports]

Well, you got to protect the long snapper. I mean, they're important.

[Drew Franklin]

Well, good for him. I'm going to, in year two, continue my rant about. But we got to make kicking harder. It's too easy.

[Matt Jones]

So you don't like the brand. Aubrey's just bombing it in the camp.

[Drew Franklin]

Okay, so this guy. I don't know if you saw this story. This guy went back and he watched one random college football game from 1990 to 1999. He basically watched whatever was the biggest regular season game every year. And he wrote it was for the athletic. And then he wrote about the differences he notices in football from then until now. It's really interesting story. And he talked about how, especially in the early 90s, they didn't have the score and the clock.

[Matt Jones]

Oh, that was so maddening. If you go back and watch old

[Drew Franklin]

games and the game clock, they would have the clock but the play clock and the score wasn't up. And he was like, you know, you just might forget what the score is during the game.

[Matt Jones]

There's like a video of the clock. It's like shaky. It wasn't even like they had the.

[Drew Franklin]

And then they have the first downline. Right. He said they would just go to break sometimes during the drives, which if you might think about now, people would go. Because they had the Colorado, Missouri fifth down game. Do you remember that? When they accidentally gave Colorado down, he said he missed second and third down. When you watch the game, a lot of people didn't know it was a fifth down because they had missed two downs.

[Matt Jones]

We'd go crazy if we missed any of the games now.

[Drew Franklin]

That's right. But one of the things he was talking about was kickers. He said that in college back then, he counted 74% of the kicks were made. And in last year in college football, the average was 89. And he was like, so that's a huge difference. And in the pros, that's got to be even more of a difference.

[Billy R Sports]

Well, we learned they're using a separate ball just to kick, which I think we have to eliminate this year. I don't. I don't know how we get that done.

[Drew Franklin]

I don't like that that would be my rules change.

[Matt Jones]

Adding to that, if I could change one thing about special teams, they got to bring back the was named Scott player that would wear the one bar like the kickers. It would be the bar would like go under their chin. Their full face would be exposed to

[Drew Franklin]

face mask to see. Right?

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, but how do they not worry they'd get hit if someone's returning a punt or you know, coming to block

[Drew Franklin]

usually be like right, yeah, there was

[Matt Jones]

a couple be under their chin. They would be fully exposed. I think we need to bring that back back add a little pressure to him. Gotta keep your head on a swivel if you're wearing that face mask.

[Drew Franklin]

I feel like though the fact you can do long kicks hurts scoring because you can. I mean you probably get objectively more points but like if I'm at the 45, I'm much more likely to kick than if I was. Well, when you also said one of the things they noticed is that people go for it so much more now than they used to. Back then, if it was 4th and 2, they were always punting and now, you know, oftentimes they'll go for it.

[Billy R Sports]

You might also be in range sooner, so you might play more conservative if

[Drew Franklin]

you can pick a ball now, some

[Matt Jones]

of it's probably the ball, but also it seems there's just like so much more training and people working to be a kicker than maybe there was back then.

[Billy R Sports]

Or a long snapper too.

[Drew Franklin]

Yep. All right, what's next?

[Billy R Sports]

All right, two more. Our hearts go out to former Tennessee Titans and Arizona Cardinal running back Chris Johnson, who revealed just this morning on Good Morning America that he has been diagnosed with ALS. Johnson is 39 years old and has no history of ALS in his family, but used a speech generating device based off recordings of his own voice used worked with his eyes to be able to speak with Michael Strahan. CJ2K. I know Drew remembers fondly played 10 seasons in the league. His 2006 yards in 2009 ranked seventh all time in a single season.

[Matt Jones]

Went to several of those games in 2009. Have his jersey. Almost wore it today, but it would take me a while to find it. Didn't want to be running late. Man, I love Chris Johnson. I tuned in this morning for that interview because it was kind of rumored that's what he was going to announce. I was shocked by how far it already progressed. I thought he would be talking and explaining what he's going through. To see him having to use that machine, I mean, that Was heartbreaking. That's a guy he talked about just a year ago. He's playing with his kids at a birthday party and now, I mean, he can't even talk. So I couldn't believe how far off it's gotten him. Just terrible story for Titans legend.

[Drew Franklin]

Very sad, very sad. I mean, that dude was so. I remember him going all the way back to East Carolina. Kentucky played him in a bowl game and he talked and they would interviewed him during the game. I don't remember what he said, but I remember him like talking trash in the middle of the game because they had taken the lead. I think we won the game. But you know, he. He had those electric few years. Sad to see that. Seemed like a good. Seems like a good dude. And 39 years old, I mean, very young. But you know, that disease, man, that's such a sad disease. And there's a. There's a broadcaster in Louisville who just got diagnosed with it recently. And you know, prayers to everybody involved, including Chris Johnson. And he was, he was. For a handful of years, he was a dog.

[Matt Jones]

Derek Henry kind of stole his shine doing it over the more longevity. But Derek Henry's CJ, CJ2K year, there's not been a more fun running back year to watch than this. And then he was smashing dash with Lindell White. Even though it's still mostly Chris Johnson. It was just a fun backfield for the Titans. We've had several running back legends. He was my favorite to watch when he was at his peak.

[Drew Franklin]

I didn't remember it was called CJ2K. That's a cool nickname. He was unbelievable. Yeah. An East Carolina Pirate where I think he still holds a record for most yardage.

[Matt Jones]

He picked East Carolina over Eastern Kentucky University out of high school. Wow.

[Drew Franklin]

And ended up as good as he was. All right, what's next?

[Billy R Sports]

And finally, you know, week one on the schedule. Wednesday, September 9th will be a Super bowl rematch as the Patriots will take on the Seahawks. But the second game of week one is on Thursday, September 10th. That's in Melbourne, Australia. The 49ers will take on the Rams at the Melbourne Cricket ground. In fact, 2026, the NFL season will see a record breaking nine international fixtures, three games in London and fixtures.

[Drew Franklin]

What are you been watching the World Cup?

[Billy R Sports]

Well, you go overseas, it becomes a fixture.

[Drew Franklin]

It's a match, it's a fixture.

[Matt Jones]

What shirts are they going to wear?

[Drew Franklin]

Yes, penalty. Going to play on the pitch.

[Billy R Sports]

There'll be first ever games in Melbourne, Rio de Janeiro and Paris this year. Also some More fixtures in Madrid, Munich and Mexico City.

[Drew Franklin]

Well, good day? Yeah, good. That's. That's very cool. I mean it's a long way away but you know, it's not as far from the west coast, so that's good. San Francisco and la, I mean those two, their players are complaining about. They don't want to go that far. I tell them shut up. We're trying to grow the game and it feels like Australia is the market where there's a real chance to grow it because they have a lot of players. Here are the kickers for LA and San Francisco Australia. Because if not they should be.

[Matt Jones]

I don't know, but maybe they'll come back with one if they don't have one.

[Drew Franklin]

If their punters are not Australian, they should fire those people and make them have Australians for that game.

[Matt Jones]

I wouldn't take them like you stay back. We're going to pick some up while

[Drew Franklin]

we're taking the Australian. Australian guys.

[Matt Jones]

As a fan, I love these games because we get games and time slots. We don't know we have them. I love waking up and there's already

[Drew Franklin]

a game slot for this one. I. Australia is a weird. It's like 14 or 16 hours difference than us.

[Billy R Sports]

Yeah. I'd have to look it up here when we will be watching is something I might be able to look up here a little bit sooner on the flight. 8:35pm On Thursday, September 10, we will be able to start watching.

[Matt Jones]

Well, that's a normal. That's a normal Thursday night.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah, I think they. They though that'll be. If I'm. If I'm right. That might be like 10am or noon

[Matt Jones]

morning game for them.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah. Because I know Max, who's our Australian friend. He will text me in the morning and it's like it's late at night for me.

[Matt Jones]

It's 14 hour difference.

[Drew Franklin]

Is that what it is? So yeah. Well, I'm glad. So is that going to be the Thursday night? Is that the.

[Matt Jones]

See that goes against what I like because that's just a normal game that

[Billy R Sports]

the super bowl champion they're playing Wednesday.

[Ebglis Advertiser]

Okay.

[Tab Ramos]

Okay.

[Billy R Sports]

September 9th, Pat's at Seahawks and then it's Thursday next day 49ers Rams.

[Drew Franklin]

Is that the game is the one on Wednesday the NBC and then the other one's the YouTube game or something. I think one of these Games is on YouTube. I don't know. I know that there's something like 13 days in a row where either the NFL or college football has a game. I love that to start In September.

[Matt Jones]

I love that. They just keep taking over. New games, new holidays. Fridays we'll take Fridays, Saturdays we'll take.

[Drew Franklin]

Do you think there's ever a risk of there being too much, like eating too much pasta?

[Matt Jones]

That's a good analogy.

[Billy R Sports]

Or like bowl games.

[Drew Franklin]

I don't see. I. But. But you know, they keep the bowl games. Like people can't get enough. But. But with bowl games you can skip them and nobody cares. But with the NFL, people will kind of want to see everything.

[Matt Jones]

I love them. We don't have to channel surf. Just one game on, spread them all out. Well, like this year on the players

[Billy R Sports]

Thanksgiving, there's a game on Wednesday, three on Thursday, a game on Friday and then the normal slate on Sunday.

[Matt Jones]

It.

[Drew Franklin]

See, but that's how it's been for a while, hasn't it?

[Billy R Sports]

Has there always been a Black Friday?

[Drew Franklin]

There may not have been a Wednesday.

[Matt Jones]

Black Friday was new last year and

[Billy R Sports]

then they added Wednesday.

[Drew Franklin]

I think they've added Wednesday black. No, the Black Friday has gone for a little while because I have done my ESPN show on Black Friday a couple times and had to talk about. I remember one time having one of the 16 ochos as my co host and we had to talk about it the whole time.

[Matt Jones]

Well, I support it. More NFL games and at random times the better. And not just saying this running field podcast. The other sports can't compare. If the NVA or NFL picks a Tom, they own that.

[Drew Franklin]

I mean they. You just get it.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah.

[Billy R Sports]

Well, the Jags, you know, they're playing two games in a row in London. One of them they're going to be a home team for. There's rumors that they might move to London one day.

[Matt Jones]

They should embrace the Jaguars.

[Drew Franklin]

They should. I mean, have you been to Jacksonville? No, I'm just kidding. That's mean. I've got a great long story. We had like three years where you and I were in Jacksonville like every few days.

[Matt Jones]

Kentucky had a couple games there.

[Drew Franklin]

Games, maybe a March Madness basketball. It was like I was just always in Jacksonville walking across that bridge.

[Matt Jones]

We should go back.

[Drew Franklin]

I've walked that bridge so much.

[Matt Jones]

Let's do Cover zero does Jacksonville. Billy can interview his long snapper.

[Billy R Sports]

We looked up hot tub prices, the tickets. You gotta buy whole cabanas to even get in the hot tub.

[Drew Franklin]

You ask them how they keep gnats out of their hot tub. Can they give me.

[Matt Jones]

Even Nats don't want to get that hot.

[Drew Franklin]

Well, I feel like we captured the off season. Well, we're going to be doing this show once a week until we start doing our season previews. And then we might do it. We'll go back to twice a week. Billy will be in charge of the news. We're going to have some guests. So the NFL does this thing where they take 25 former players and they go through a broadcasting school and we're going to have some of those guys on here for interviews over the course of of the thing, which I'm excited about. Some of these people I know, some of them I don't, but we might become friends. Like I've become friends with the World cup commentators on espn. They're all like, we had a guy from Trinidad and Tobago and I said, Tobago, Tobago. Let's call the whole thing off. And

[Matt Jones]

that's good. I like that a lot.

[Drew Franklin]

Thank you. We're going to have some of those guys on over the next few weeks

[Matt Jones]

and some of the people that have gone through in this past are now some of the biggest personalities on tv.

[Drew Franklin]

We got be part of their training

[Matt Jones]

as they begin their careers.

[Drew Franklin]

Well, they'll probably thank us.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, I mean we are a stepping stone to. To what's next for them.

[Drew Franklin]

No, no, we are the st step right over. We're not don't step marinate.

[Matt Jones]

It will be fun to have some

[Drew Franklin]

guests on it will so be looking for that. Thank you all very much. Hope you are glad to have us back. Thank you to Drew's baby. Thank you to Russell Wilson and everyone else we'll foreign. With Matt Jones and Drew Franklin is a production of the NFL and iHeart Podcast. For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast.

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[Drew Franklin]

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[Drew Franklin]

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[Billy R Sports]

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[Drew Franklin]

They set standards, broke records, empowered people to build bigger and higher, to dig deeper, to make the impossible possible. We've all been there with doubters telling us what we can't do. Who cares what they think? We don't need their permission. We're forgiveness. We just get things done. So go ahead and doubt me. Judge me, challenge me. But when the time comes, watch me. Bobcat,

[Matt Jones]

bro.

[Drew Franklin]

From the show last night to this drive. Why is it never chill?

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[Drew Franklin]

Good thing Nissan builds for that kind of cable chaos.

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[Matt Jones]

Yeah, you can tell.

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[Podcast Announcer]

This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.