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Matt Jones
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Matt Jones
Through Every Mission NFL Cover Zero with Matt Jones and Drew Franklin is a production of the NFL and iHeart podcast. It is week six of the NFL Cover Zero podcast. Matt Jones and Drew Franklin here getting you ready for week six of action in the news midweek. We had a good weekend last weekend. Getting it done and ready to go for a new week. For those of you watching at home, I want you to look right now at your little video there because it's not going to look this bad forever, I promise. You and I both got our social media accounts going or like the videos got posted. NFL Network was like, let's put two videos of them up this week.
Drew Franklin
Yeah, we're still figuring out the lighting here.
Matt Jones
We're not good at it did look.
Drew Franklin
Like we're just sobbing over the Darnold Mayfield show. I don't know why we would cry during its talk about Seahawks bucks, but it looks like we're just bawling our eyes out in the video.
Matt Jones
This, this is a, this is a true story I'm about to tell you. I waited to tell you this. I went to the, to the doctor today and there's a woman that works in the building who, who's been a friend of mine. And she looked at me and she goes, as I walked in, she was like, you look. You look really good. And I was like, oh, well, thank you. But she said it in that way that was kind of surprised and I was like. And so I joked, you know, oh, so you're saying I don't look good normally? And she goes, well, I saw a video of you with Drew and I just thought maybe you were sick. And that was when I knew, you know, we got to work on this video thing because I can't be looking like I'm sickly to a national audience. Yeah.
Drew Franklin
And on the Sunday show, it is late, so we're a little tired, but we don't look anything like we have in the clips that have gone up. I love I don't get tagged in those, but I wish our appearance was a little better.
Matt Jones
When the NFL Network puts you up, you don't want to look like Grandpa Simpson.
Drew Franklin
It's like 46 million followers or whatever.
Matt Jones
I mean, it's just the NFL Network, so. But it is cool when the NFL Network puts you up, because that's now happened a couple times. And I've had people that. I had one person, I went to law school who thought I was still a lawyer. And now imagine if you went to law school with me 20 years ago. You hadn't seen me in 20 years, and then you were like, you're on the NFL Network. Like, you didn't even know I did sports. That would be surprising, right?
Drew Franklin
Absolutely. But it's bringing you together with old friends.
Matt Jones
It is. That's exactly right.
Drew Franklin
This new audience.
Matt Jones
Well, so we got a lot of stuff we want to get to. One of the things we're going to do is we're going to give. We are, I guess, you know, about. We're going to be a third of the way through the season after this week. So I wanted to look at the. The odds in the divisions and now that we've started, sort of see who's going to win each of them. But first, let's. Let's go with what's happened in the last couple days. The Jaguars beat the Chiefs on Monday Night Football with one of the sort of more ridiculous plays of all time. Trevor Lawrence falls down, gets up, scores. Couple things stand out about this. It feels like a big game for Trevor Lawrence to go and win that. They had to go all the way down the field with what, two and a half, three minutes left, gets the victory. Are you. Were you impressed and are you now? I've been saying the Jaguars were my pick for the AFC south all year. Are you on board now?
Drew Franklin
Yeah. And I take a set here. I picked the Jags to win that one.
Matt Jones
You.
Drew Franklin
You in part convinced me before the season started, I wasn't real sure, but the Jags have looked pretty good even in their loss. They still look pretty good. Liam Cohen, I miss him here in Lexington. He's looking like the real deal. I mean. I mean, coach of the year candidate for sure at this point. Sure, he's corny with that. The way he's turned that team around. You got to give him credit.
Matt Jones
You get to see all the emotions of Lee and Cohen. You get the Duval, and then you get. He, like, tries to fight Robert Sala. He's yelling at people on the sidelines, but then he gives everyone a hug. He's a very Emotional person wears his, you know, wears his heart on his sleeve. You gotta like that, I guess, right?
Drew Franklin
Yeah. And it was week two or week three where you had him jaw with Trevor Lawrence. I think there might have been a moment with Brian Thomas. Whatever the case, it was like, are these, these guys cool?
Matt Jones
Yeah.
Drew Franklin
But it seems they really like him. He, you nailed it. He's just highly emotional in either direction.
Matt Jones
It's big catches by the receipt. I mean, Brian Thomas and Travis Hunter have gotten a lot of criticism over the course of the year. And on that final drive, big time catches by both of them. Travis Hunter made a catch, double coverage, and then Brian Thomas Lawrence through the pass of the season for the Jaguars to, to Brian Thomas on third down. So long, long pass. So I think good signs for, for Jacksonville. What about that last play?
Drew Franklin
That was nuts. If you're a Jacksonville fan in the moment when you just see him kind of trip and go down, I mean you gotta assume you're dead. It just kind of stumbled his way into the end zone. Really incredible blooper of an ending, especially to be prom tom buddy night to wrap up a game like that, beating the Chiefs, that was wild.
Matt Jones
What did you think about. Did you see the video of Chris Jones sort of like half trying. He kind of quit twice on the play. He like Lawrence fell twice and he kind of quit twice. You know, Chris Jones has never been considered a player that, that, that, that, that it doesn't give his all. But that was a pretty bad look on that one. Now he said after the game, you know, I, I, I wasn't sure what was happening and which, okay, I don't know. But what did you. Was that a bad look for the Chiefs?
Drew Franklin
A little bit. And if he had done it a couple weeks ago when we were questioning if the Chiefs still had it to the list with Kelsey running into Worthy and all the other Kelsey mistakes fight with the sideline. But it did trigger a little bit of that. Like, are the Chiefs still what they used to be? If he's not even all the way locked in, that's.
Matt Jones
Well, they're two. Defense, they're two and three now. They play the Lions this week, but then the schedule really gets easier for them. So they could easily be 2 and 4 after, after this week. But then, then the schedule opens up a little bit. Are you worried about him at all? Like, I mean on the one hand they looked good for two weeks, but they did beat the Giants. And the Ravens. And the Ravens. So you know they haven't beaten anybody good. Are you at all concerned about your Kansas City Chiefs?
Drew Franklin
I guess I'll claim the Chiefs even if they're good and it looks like they're still pretty good. I mean the Broncos and the Chargers already have a lead on you. Chargers having a win. Both. Yeah, you get the opportunity. But if I were the chief side wish I'd be in another division like, you know, the Bills surrounded by the jets and the Dolphins. It's, it's, it's a tough spot for them. I think that. I don't think. Think they'll win the division actually, but I think they'll get in the playoffs and make noise like they normally do.
Matt Jones
Yeah, I think they still, I'm still not betting against them. Plus they still give her she Rice back after the next. That'll be big.
Drew Franklin
We saw how big it changed when Worthy came back.
Matt Jones
That's going to be a big deal. And you know, it feels like Travis Kelsey is now the stage. He plays himself into shape. You know, he and he and Taylor and they're redwood. They sort of. They've been busy, but now I think the focus will be on him. I mean she's not doing the super bowl because she's focused on him.
Drew Franklin
How about that quote where she's like when his season's going, I am locked in on what he.
Matt Jones
Want that level of attention from your mate, like I do.
Drew Franklin
We believe her. She's. She said a few times, I think it was on their podcast, like she's learning actual football schemes. It's not like, yay, he caught it, touchdown. She's like learning all about the sport of football. Like she could try to be a coordinator over there. Do we believe she's that into it?
Matt Jones
I do. It feels like to me she's somebody that whatever she does, she gets really. You know, she talked about sourdough bread a lot now do I think that. But you know, in two years when he's retired, she's going to be breaking down the film of Saints Chargers. Probably not. But I do think she's, you know, she's one of these people who it just seems like very into everything. I'm used to dating women who have no interest in what I'm doing. Like, I just, I mean, I have a radio show and almost every woman I've dated since the radio show's been out has not listened to it. There's only one that really did at all. And most of the time they actively were like, well, I get plenty of you as it is. So I feel like that's. I'M surprised, Travis. I'm surprised Taylor Swift doesn't do that too. That could be good.
Drew Franklin
But you want them to be supportive and know, like, hey, maybe come home one day. Like, that was a great show this morning. But at the same time, there are probably times where you're glad they're not listening. You can say a little more.
Matt Jones
Yeah. When you drop like other, other things.
Drew Franklin
The worst is my wife listens to the podcast at home, at night in.
Matt Jones
The house, and you have to listen to yourself.
Drew Franklin
I'm like, you cannot do that around me every time my voice pops up. Like, can we. Can you knock that out live at work before you get home?
Matt Jones
Yeah. It's weird to hear yourself. I feel like I sound like much more of a redneck than in my mind. I speak the King's English. In my mind, I sound like I'm doing Hamlet on. But that's not how I think the people here listening are sounding. But we'll see. Jags in Chiefs. It was a good Monday night game, though. That was very exciting. Really love the Manning cast. I'm. I'm pro. Manning cast continue to be. I thought the Manning cast was at its best Monday night. First quarter, quarter, you got Eli and Peyton breaking it down, giving each other jokes. They stood up. They were showing how you. How you look off receivers. Then they brought Glenn Powell and they were talking about his show but still giving him a hard time. Then they had. What was their name? Is it not Chloe Feynman? What's her name?
Drew Franklin
From snl?
Matt Jones
Yeah. Is it Chloe Feynman? Haley.
Drew Franklin
Hey, Haley.
Matt Jones
Oh, my God. Bieber. No, whatever her name is. Haley Heidi Gardner.
Drew Franklin
There we go.
Matt Jones
Heidi.
Drew Franklin
Embarrassing.
Matt Jones
She was awesome because they had that pick six and she's a Chiefs fan.
Drew Franklin
Huge Chiefs.
Matt Jones
And she just kept going, oh, no, no, no, no. And then at the end she said he ran all the yards, which is such a great. That's such a great, like, not really a fan of sports thing to say. He ran all the yards. And then at the end they had Fred Warner who was in the final drive, sort of showing what the Chiefs defense was not doing. Well, I thought that was like perfection.
Drew Franklin
And it's kind of become like the star studded event to land a spot on the manicure. They haven't run out of anyone.
Matt Jones
Had. They've had on there like they've had people that you can't get on other things. They've had pretty much every big celebrity. I think it's just because everybody who doesn't like the Manny.
Drew Franklin
Yeah, I Mean, they're great by themselves, but that third spot when they bring on a guest has become huge.
Matt Jones
And Eli, sneaky, funny, like, like, I think Eli is legitimately funny.
Drew Franklin
I've always said I wish Eli this post retirement. Eli, that's hilarious. I feel like we didn't get much that when he's playing, he seemed like the stale bread of the Manny.
Matt Jones
When he was playing, he always just looked like he was smelling a fart, like all the time. Like that was his facial expression. And it turns out, I mean, both were really good Saturday Night Live hosts, you know, I mean, the Mannings, gotta give them a lot of credit.
Drew Franklin
Their big breakthrough for me, when I knew they weren't just good quarterbacks was this SportsCenter commercial where they kick each other on the tour like little brothers.
Matt Jones
That was really good.
Drew Franklin
I think that was Eli. I think that was the moment where I thought these guys got a little personality.
Matt Jones
Had to be tough, by the way, to be Eli most of his life because Peyton's really good. Peyton's more charismatic. He did have a big forehead. So Eli had that going for him. But otherwise. But to see Eli's coming into his own, I feel. I feel positive. And you know, we were friends, you and I, both with, with Jared Lorenzen, the hefty lefty. A lot of the. These listeners here will remember the hefty lefty Eli. I'll always remember he played with Jared in New York. And when Jared passed away, Eli flew down to the funeral. He got a plane and flew a lot of his Giants teammates to the funeral. And I remember when he walked in, I just thought that was a very cool thing for him to do. Meant a lot to their family.
Drew Franklin
Yeah, well, actually, while you were in South Africa just a few weeks ago, we had Jared's son on the ksr and we talked about the funeral and the Giants showing up and how likes the Giants for that.
Matt Jones
Eli, I think I want to say, gave him a jersey or something. He did something for him at the funeral.
Drew Franklin
Yeah, that said a lot about Eli and Jared. The fact that someone would want to make that trip for Jared, but also that Eli, with everything they had going on in that moment, would make that trip.
Matt Jones
Yeah, that was. That was very, very nice. All right. The other big story, I think of the week, the Bengals trade for Joe Flacco. He has been traded inner division. The Browns trade him to the Bengals and basically the Browns get a fifth round pick instead of a sixth round pick. So they move up one round to do it. So Joe Flacco is basically worth going from the sixth round to the fifth round. But I actually think it's a really good move for the Bengals. I mean, Jake Browning, you just couldn't put him out there anymore. At this point, the only thing that anyone was positive about with Jake Browning was his wife's one piece suits that she wears.
Drew Franklin
Big on the fashion with the Jake Brownings.
Matt Jones
Wife seems like a fun person. But. But I think Flaco, you know, Flacco will just be at least mediocre until you can get to burrow. That's good, right? Media. There's value in mediocre.
Drew Franklin
Oh, there is. I mean, he was good at being mediocre for the Browns. They just didn't have enough pieces to do anything with it.
Matt Jones
But he'll get the ball to Jason Higgins, right?
Drew Franklin
Yeah. Well, we've been saying this since Browning has looked terrible. They had to do something and it's not like there's just a ton of quarterback laying around. So when you see that they only really moved in next year's draft one round to get Flacco, I think it's a good move. I don't think it's going to turn them around or be anything magical, but they didn't lose a whole lot to go get a quarterback who's just beat the Packers a few weeks ago.
Matt Jones
If you're Jay Browning, though, don't you have to quit? Yeah. I mean, because you got benched for a guy who's over 40 and not.
Drew Franklin
On the team and you've. And you've played a lot of games for the Bengals. You have already.
Matt Jones
And literally he was still on the flight or the drive from Cleveland to Cincinnati and they're like. And yes, he is the starter. Not he's going to come in here and compete. Even though he's not here yet and we've not even done a medical examination, we know he's going to start. I think if you're Jake Browning, you just have to, out of embarrassment, move on.
Drew Franklin
Yeah. Flacco was probably pulled over at that world's largest flea market in Ohio between Cleveland and Cincinnati, by the way.
Matt Jones
I've never thought that flea market was that big.
Drew Franklin
Last month, my debut appearance, not.
Matt Jones
Not as impressive as you would hope. Right. And the outlet mall town is not that impressive either.
Drew Franklin
That's the most disappointing.
Matt Jones
You get excited. It's like the best, they say, like the biggest outlet mall center in America and then you go and most things are shut down. And it's. That one's kind of disappointing too.
Drew Franklin
But that Flacco was definitely in there shopping for some lawn gnomes or something when he got the call that he's starting.
Matt Jones
The road from Cleveland to Cincinnati is paved with disappointment really.
Drew Franklin
If you're trading Flacco mid season, is there a better travel for him to just drive from Cleveland?
Matt Jones
He stops at that gas station in Washington Courthouse.
Drew Franklin
It's not like the Giants send the jet to bring him to New York or something flashy.
Matt Jones
There's also, by the way, this is a very. We're getting very local here. But for those of you driving from Cleveland to Cincinnati beyond, where there's not a lot of places to stop, not a lot of towns between there. So make sure to use the restroom.
Drew Franklin
We know Flacco probably had to go several times.
Matt Jones
When you leave Akron, make sure you make sure you emptied your bladder.
Drew Franklin
What do you think Jamar Chase thinks, you know, going to this season?
Matt Jones
I bet he's happy though. He's happy because just me overall though.
Drew Franklin
He probably never thought there's a scenario on earth where he's catching passes from Joe.
Matt Jones
Probably not. Now what I think is most interesting is the Bengals play the packers on the road. It was just two weeks ago that Flacco beat the packers on the road with the Browns. He has a chance to do something that that has never happened before. Beat a team in the regular season on their home field twice. No, no quarterback has ever done that. And he could do it like two out of four weeks. And if they were to beat him, what if the packers missed the super bowl or excuse me, missed the playoffs because Joe Flacco beat them twice with two different teams.
Drew Franklin
It's amazing. I was thinking, let's say you get to the last game of the year. I think it's like Vikings, packers, and they're playing to get in the playoffs. If you're the Vikings, do you just trade for Flacco?
Matt Jones
I think you do to hell.
Drew Franklin
At that point, you just ride the hot hand. We'll give you Justin Jefferson for Joe Flacco straight up.
Matt Jones
Every team just brings in Flacco to only beat the Packers.
Drew Franklin
That will be incredible though. The, the, the country will be cheering for him to take down the packers again.
Matt Jones
I mean the Bengals, the other thing is they can still salvage their season, right? They're 2 and 3. So even if you lose this, you're 2 and 4. But again, they have some winnable games coming up and Flacco could win them. And then maybe by mid to late November you get burrow and you can sneak into the playoffs. That's I think that's your hope.
Drew Franklin
And their mindsets change. Looking at their division, probably you're probably thinking 0 and 2 versus the Ravens when you get your schedule. But heck, now Flaco's made a career.
Matt Jones
Of beating the Steelers. So I mean, they're going to play the Steelers. Wife's Flacco now will have played for three of the four teams in the same division there. I bet there are. You think there's any quarterback that's ever played for three of the four teams? Actually, I can think of one. I answer my own question. What's his head? Fitzpatrick. That's on Amazon.
Drew Franklin
Right.
Matt Jones
Because he played for the jets, the Dolphins and the Bills. Right. He doesn't count, though.
Drew Franklin
He played for every team in the NFL.
Matt Jones
Mario called me Mr. NFL Trivia. That was this off the top of my head. You all don't see me as a.
Drew Franklin
You know, this is very impressive.
Matt Jones
All right, now let's go to the Browns for a second. So Dylan Gabriel's now the starter have to work. Dg, the Browns coach today said he does he cannot commit to Shador Sanders being second string. So they are talking about bringing Bailey Zappy off the practice squad to jump Shador Sanders and be second string. If they do that, then is that just it?
Drew Franklin
Yes.
Matt Jones
Like, then you just have to say, like, it's not happening for Shador and Cleveland.
Drew Franklin
Even that it's a conversation right now. Makes you wonder how far off he is from actually playing in the NFL. Now I hate it for Mel Kuiper. I know he got excited.
Matt Jones
That was bad for Mel Kuiper. Oh, no. You mean. I'm sorry, I thought you, you meant it. Yeah. You actually meant.
Drew Franklin
No, he, he took his victory lap when Shador had the big preseason game. And even some of the people critic, other critics of Shador kind of thought, well, maybe we're wrong, Shador's got something. But if you're not even going to name him a second stringer, it just, he doesn't sound like he's close.
Matt Jones
I just want to know what's happening in that locker because there are so many, like, comments. You know, Rex Ryan did the whole, well, if I know what's happening, then everybody know. But he didn't say what was happening. So something's going on. I mean, it's beyond like, he's not good. Something is happening with him and the mime thing was not a good look.
Drew Franklin
The mom thing isn't a deal breaker for him, but it's a big sign that he's probably Too childish to be a starting quarterback.
Matt Jones
Yes.
Drew Franklin
Like, you don't see other quarterbacks in the NFL in a tough spot.
Matt Jones
How does he stay on the team of Bailey. Bailey Zappy, who literally I thought was 55 at this point in coaching a high school team in Texas?
Drew Franklin
That's a. That's Billy's Hilltoppers over there. That's a.
Billy
That's right.
Drew Franklin
Billy's boy.
Matt Jones
You can't stay on the team if you're Shador. Right.
Drew Franklin
If there's. If they're shopping around and considering Bailey Zappy and you're right there in the locker room.
Matt Jones
Yeah.
Drew Franklin
Then what are. What are you doing?
Matt Jones
I think would have been funny if they. If they. If. Then. Then the Bengals traded Jake Browning to the Browns and he passed Shador as well.
Drew Franklin
Would anyone. It's looking like the Browns are never going to hand it to Shador. Or not anytime soon.
Matt Jones
Yeah.
Drew Franklin
Is there anyone out there should. That should consider taking a flyer on him? I would definitely saw some Raiders fans, like, let's just get them.
Matt Jones
Not this year. Not this year. But I definitely think, like, if they bring up Zappy, we'll know. I mean, by the time you listen to this, you may know, if they bring up Zappy, then Shador should go play. I mean, someone should give him a second chance next year. But it's bad if you're the Browns. I mean, when Shador was named third string, you were like, well, there's a world where Flacco gets hurt, and you're.
Drew Franklin
Like, and he was picked second, and then he has to be behind Gabriel.
Matt Jones
So there was a world. You could see him play, but if Flacco gets traded and not hurt and Gabriel get. Let's say, gets hurt, and then they're like, we're going with Bailey Zappy.
Drew Franklin
There's gotta be someone else out there.
Matt Jones
Yeah, I mean, that's a. That's a good sign. That's a bad sign. All right, we'll go to Arizona, where coach Jonathan gannon was fined $100,000 for his. What would you call what he did with the. The player who dropped the ball disc? Was it DeMarcusato?
Drew Franklin
Yeah.
Matt Jones
What would you say he did? Bumped him.
Drew Franklin
The. The camera angle I've seen was from behind, and people were saying he struck him. It kind of looked like he hit him in the chest a little bit.
Matt Jones
Yeah, but they. You know, they do that foot. People do that in football. They're like, give him the big.
Drew Franklin
Yeah.
Matt Jones
You know, people do do that, but you probably shouldn't do it if you're a coach. He apologized, said I shouldn't have done it. $100,000. Now, my thing though is if a player hit a coach, it'd be more than $100,000 thousand dollars. First of all, he be suspended, right? I mean, let's say DeMarcado hits Gannon like that. He suspended, right? Yeah. Maybe cut.
Drew Franklin
Yeah. It's also not wearing pads or anything too. It's looks even worse. I'm with your point.
Matt Jones
It feels like to me, in society we still think coaches get to do things that nobody else gets to do. If DeMarcado hits Gannon, he is suspended. Gannon hits the mercado. Well, things happen. $100,000 fine. I just don't like that. I don't understand why we let coaches just get away with things. Because they're coaches.
Drew Franklin
When I saw this story, my thought. I just never understand how they come up with dollar amounts for stuff like this. Whether it be a penalty or hitting a player, whatever. Late for practice. Is there just someone whose job they're like, all right, call Ron. Do you think.
Matt Jones
Do you think any fines work?
Drew Franklin
He probably felt this one. I don't know what he makes. I'm sure he felt that one a little bit.
Matt Jones
Yeah. What is. What does Jonathan Gannon make? Look that up for us, Billy. And let's see if we think it's. You know, you and I talked on another show once about the money is relative to how much you make. Like if we find you $100,000, you're not gonna like that. No, find me a hundred thousand dollars, I'm not gonna like it. But if you find LeBron, $100,000, does that matter to him?
Drew Franklin
He will have never seen that $100,000.
Matt Jones
In Sweden, if you remember, they give you a speeding. When you get a speeding ticket, it's a percentage of what you make. Right. So like, rather than $150 for speeding, it's, let's say 0.02% of your salary. Do you like that? Do you think that's better?
Drew Franklin
I do. Because I've always thought if it's like a uniform, even if you. If it's the NFL, like Mahomes getting fine. The same as a guy that's barely on the roster is not even the same. So I like that you fill it the same based on the percentage of your way.
Matt Jones
Every person feels the punishment.
Drew Franklin
Yeah.
Matt Jones
In their own way. So what does Gannon make?
Billy
I don't have that yet. I apologize. Five year deal, but don't have the dollar.
Matt Jones
Nobody said how much? No, not in. Yeah, we, we need to check with our NFL sources, but he will not miss a game as far as DeMarcado. So drop the ball. It's hit by his coach. My man needs to play well next week, right?
Drew Franklin
Yeah, and we, we've mentioned it because it's happened twice now in the last two weeks. I just can't understand how you don't hold on the ball.
Matt Jones
We talked about it for a long time last week and then they did it again.
Drew Franklin
I know.
Matt Jones
I'm.
Drew Franklin
I'm starting 72 yard run.
Matt Jones
I'm starting to think these players don't listen to this podcast.
Drew Franklin
Come on, get out of here.
Matt Jones
That's what I'm. I'm starting to think that maybe they're not. I mean, it's the NFL. I thought everybody listened to it. Maybe not.
Drew Franklin
Well, I, I tell you, he and the guy for the Colts, they will hold on to that ball through the end zone until they get to the bench and sit down before they let go of it in the future.
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Matt Jones
Let's go to OBJ. I have to tell you, I didn't know OBJ was associated with the NFL anymore. Odell Beckham Jr. I, I really didn't. A matter of fact, I thought his association ended like two years ago, but apparently he's accepting his six game suspension for PEDs now. Is he on a team right now? Yeah. What team is he on?
Drew Franklin
Is he currently a Dolphin?
Matt Jones
So let me ask you a question. Why he hasn't played this year, right?
Drew Franklin
No, I don't think so.
Billy
He is a Dolphin.
Matt Jones
Okay. Why is this happening right now?
Drew Franklin
I wonder this too, because it's a test for last year.
Matt Jones
So what's he been doing these five weeks? Just hanging out and then like all of a sudden he was like, okay, like why is this happening right now?
Billy
I think he's been hurt and he still wants to play this year. So he has to accept the suspension and serve that before.
Matt Jones
So how do they decide? Again, this is like from my own knowledge, he's been hurt. He's going to be suspended six games. Can he just say, all right, those six games, I was hurt. Can he do that? Or do you have to declare that you're not hurt anymore and then you get suspended?
Drew Franklin
Yeah, probably that.
Billy
Not sure.
Drew Franklin
The new story that I'm reading here says he's out to week 12. So they gave him was.
Matt Jones
Okay, it starts now. Yeah, starts now.
Drew Franklin
All right, But I would certainly try that move.
Matt Jones
So what was that? What was the PED that he had?
Drew Franklin
Did you do another boat party?
Matt Jones
Neutral light?
Drew Franklin
I didn't see the ped.
Billy
I'm not sure. Let me see.
Matt Jones
Yeah, I. Well, today, again, I was at the doctor today, and they gave me. They, like. I have these little spots, and they froze one off my face. You ever heard of that? They, like, take something, they freeze it off your face. So they did that, and they gave me some cream, and they were like, you could put this on there, and you can put it on one or two others, and it'll make them, like, not grow. And then they said to me, but you will fail drug tests if you use this. I was like, oh. So I'm wondering if Odell did that.
Drew Franklin
Oh, you think it's.
Matt Jones
You think he had a. He had, like, a liver spot or an age spot on his face. And then, like, I'm gonna say that's what happened.
Drew Franklin
What I'm seeing here, on a quick Google search, while our actual Google searcher is Google searching over there, it says he also missed a drug test because he flew to Vegas. I feel like if you skip the drug test to go to Vegas, you.
Matt Jones
Need a better excuse. If you're gonna miss a drug test, you have to be like, I went and visited my grandma. You can't say I went on a boat on the outskirts of Miami headed to Venezuela.
Drew Franklin
Grandma was singing in our church at home, and I could not miss it.
Matt Jones
I've always wanted to hear, you cannot say you're going to Venezuela. Vegas. That's not good for missing a drug test.
Billy
He insisted that he did not knowingly take any banned substance. See, but when he asked the NFL what PED he tested positive for, they told him, your testosterone levels are too high.
Drew Franklin
I also have a quote from him. You know how bleep goes where grown men. I'm in the program. I didn't tell them I was going to Vegas for one night. And now I'm in Vegas, and you want me to come take a drug test, and I'm not there. So.
Matt Jones
So too much testosterone. You know, a lot of guys, a Lot of guys our age start putting that stuff in them.
Drew Franklin
He is getting old.
Matt Jones
Low t, low T. But I don't think you ought to do that. I think it makes, I think we've got. You get whatever amount of tea you have, I feel like is the right advice. When you start throwing tea in yourself, I'm always worried about that. There's always these men's clinics that want me to endorse them and I'm always like, you know, first of all, I don't need to tell everybody what's happening the tea. I just don't need to be telling everybody, look, the tea.
Drew Franklin
I'm trying to spill the tea.
Matt Jones
I don't need to be telling everybody because my implication, if I'm getting work on my tea, then tea needs work. Right. So I've always turned down the men's clinic ads for that reason.
Drew Franklin
Mind your p's and q's of my tea. None of your business. Also, I'm good.
Matt Jones
I don't share with people the tea.
Drew Franklin
I'm good with my God given tea. I don't need to go to a store and get more tea.
Matt Jones
Yeah, well, OBJ may have gotten more tea and now he will be out for six weeks as well. I know you wanted to talk about this, Marcus Mariota. Yeah. So tell you're a Titans fan. Tell this story. I think you know it better than I do.
Drew Franklin
Yeah. So Ben Jones, longtime titan, was on a podcast. Billy, what was the name of the podcast?
Matt Jones
You watched it?
Billy
Buck Rising.
Drew Franklin
Your boy Buck in Nashville.
Matt Jones
First of all, he's a radio host in Nashville. I think he has the funniest name in public life. Look at there. That's the thing. If you have low T, you can go get your Buck Rising.
Drew Franklin
Great joke. It's a great joke.
Matt Jones
Take a victory lap on that one very much. I'll leave it right there.
Drew Franklin
All right. I'll tell this story while you parade around the Iheart building giving high props. So Ben Jones, longtime captain, center, beloved Titan, he was on the Buck Rising podcast and he said that in 2017, their offensive coordinator was Terry, Terry Rubisky and Marcus Mariota was their quarterback.
Matt Jones
So former Washington commander side coach Terry Rubisky.
Drew Franklin
And that Rubisky would not even talk to them during the game. Not like when the defense was out there, like would not call plays, would not even be on the headset.
Matt Jones
And he was the offensive coordinator and.
Drew Franklin
He would tell them, Billy, correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the exact quote was, go have fun out there, boys. And then Would not talk to them again.
Matt Jones
The rest. He didn't call any play.
Drew Franklin
No. So in the playoff run where they actually played well, beat the Chiefs, Ben Jones said he and Marcus Mariota were in the huddle just trying to figure out. Calling out offensive plays because.
Matt Jones
Which has to be hard for them because they can't even see the whole defense.
Drew Franklin
Yeah. And there's a guy getting paid a hefty amount to be the coordinator. And Ben Jones said he would tell them, y' all have fun.
Matt Jones
They got no help from anyone or just no help from Rubisky.
Drew Franklin
I guess some analysts were helping.
Matt Jones
Okay.
Drew Franklin
But, I mean, they were talking about how they were trying to set up the run and Mariota would just call a draw. I mean, they're not.
Matt Jones
Terry Rubisky's. What was he doing? Is he.
Drew Franklin
Nothing. Literally hanging out, a spectator with great seats.
Matt Jones
But they did beat the Chiefs. Didn't they go to the AFC championship that year, to the championship game?
Drew Franklin
That wasn't the championship. That was the year they beat Kansas.
Matt Jones
City with the biggest in the afc. Still, though, that's a pretty good year considering you didn't have an offensive coordinator. So what did Terry. So if Terry Rubisky did. No calling to play as the offensive coordinator, what did he do when he was the head coach? Commanders.
Drew Franklin
It really makes you wonder, how did this not come up during the season? Like when you have an illnesser. No, that would have been 2017. Was.
Matt Jones
That's Jeff Fisher, right?
Drew Franklin
No, Fisher was gone in 2017.
Billy
Not Wizen Hunt, is it with it?
Drew Franklin
Yeah, it was Wiz and Hunt. It was right when Wizard Hut. Changed over.
Matt Jones
Huh. Okay.
Drew Franklin
No, that would have been 8 and 8 if it was Fisher. Mr. 500.
Matt Jones
All right.
Drew Franklin
But I just. Like, how does a coordinator do nothing?
Matt Jones
I don't know.
Drew Franklin
And apparently. Well, yeah, it doesn't come out till almost 10 years later.
Matt Jones
Yeah, that's. I mean, first of all, the reason it took 10 years. It was.
Drew Franklin
Mike Malarkey was the coach.
Matt Jones
It was the first time they'd gone on the Buck Rising podcast.
Drew Franklin
Welcome back from your victory, by the way. The office was.
Matt Jones
You're welcome. That's the thing. If you want to find out, like you want to find out the information, just go get Buck Rising on the case. He'll. He'll let you know where those files are. He doesn't have low T. He just never has. Well, as a Titans fan, does that upset you that you went that long without an offensive coordinator?
Drew Franklin
It's really one of our more memorable runs with that Mariota game.
Matt Jones
Yeah.
Drew Franklin
It's just added to the list of things that make you go, that organization. Gotta love them. I love them to death. But I got a long list of what are we doing? And that one's now on it.
Matt Jones
Well, I like the story. Terry Rubisky does nothing, still gets paid. My kind of guy.
Drew Franklin
Go get him, boys. Have fun.
Matt Jones
The report came out that after last week's game, Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley called a meeting with AJ Brown where they addressed their concerns about his attitude. All three people said, not a big deal. The story did get leaked, which makes me think it had to be a little bit of a deal. Like if I just call you and Billy and say, hey, can we talk? Only they just gonna show up in the New York Times the next day. So clearly, like somebody wanted that out. Is this a big deal or no deal? That there was a Stars only meeting in Philadelphia?
Drew Franklin
I think it's. I think it's a big deal. I mean, Philly's loaded, but they need to not have unnecessary drama like this. And they need A.J. brown to be locked in. They're going to repeat, I love AJ Brown. I'm siding with everyone but AJ Brown on this one. He seems to be a little bit.
Matt Jones
Whiny, whining even when they won. Like I can understand him whining after they lose last week, but he was whining after they were winning.
Drew Franklin
Well, his numbers are down last week.
Matt Jones
Cause he actually caught passes. But they still lost.
Drew Franklin
But he has. It's like nine or ten targets a game the last three games. I don't have a lot of sympathy for you. I mean, I'm sorry you haven't gotten the end zone. You don't have Pro bowl numbers so far, but it's not like they've forgotten you exist out there. They maybe this meeting worked. Whatever it takes. They got to get him focused because it's just a distraction that could set back a Super bowl team.
Matt Jones
Yeah, he is. It could be. I don't think this is the hugest deal, but I think if it comes out a week after the meeting with people saying it's not a big deal, I think as one Bill Shakespeare said, methinks thou doth protest too much. So I would say that I do think it's a little bit of a deal.
Drew Franklin
He's tweeting scriptures about leaving. And remember last year he read a book on the sideline. This is kind of AJ Behavior.
Matt Jones
Can't fault him for that. I'm reading a book right now called Rejection, which is about, like, nerds and incels.
Drew Franklin
Okay.
Matt Jones
Yeah. You know what an incel is?
Billy
No. What is it?
Matt Jones
People who are voluntarily. They don't want to be celibate, but they are.
Drew Franklin
Okay.
Matt Jones
So they just can't get. This is a book about, like. It's a fiction book, like, short stories. And it's actually really good. You get into these stories, they're interesting. I could see how, like, you don't.
Drew Franklin
Want to stop.
Matt Jones
When the defense is on the field. I'm not doing anything anyway. I can catch up on the book.
Drew Franklin
And if they could time a little better, where you end a chapter right as they force a punch.
Matt Jones
Exactly. Short stories is perfect for a game.
Billy
Couple pages, knock it out, get the.
Matt Jones
Short story, go to the next one.
Drew Franklin
A book called Rejection. A.J. brown. That might. Right now. He might.
Matt Jones
That might have been what he was reading. You had an interesting stat, Billy, about Jamar Chase. Yeah.
Billy
So you just. Cincinnati plays Green Bay this week, but yet Jamar Chase has more solo tackles this season than Micah Parsons, which is hard to believe.
Matt Jones
That is amazing. Well, first of all, that's bad in a myriad of ways. It's bad that Jamar Chase is having to tackle anyone. Now he has four ones too many. Yeah, five.
Drew Franklin
Five tackles going to make the Pro Bowlers and linebackers.
Matt Jones
That's what. That is crazy. But then that Micah Parsons has less than 5. That's. Did the Cowboys win the trade?
Drew Franklin
That surprised me about Parsons, but I've also seen several highlights where he's forced.
Matt Jones
An interception or he's not talking to anybody.
Drew Franklin
That's true. I mean, right now, if you had a pro vote vote, you go March or Mike Parsons. I think Mike is going to be fine, though.
Matt Jones
Probably. It's probably. So is it worse? Is it a worse look for the Bengals or for Michael Parsons?
Drew Franklin
Jamar Chase should never have any tackles. He has five and five games, average.
Matt Jones
Of one a game. He's better going both ways than Travis Hunter.
Drew Franklin
Yeah, he is Travis Hunter.
Matt Jones
Yeah. All right. Okay. So one of the things we want to do here. We want to do it is we're basically after this. We're going to be a third of the way through. We're going to go through the divisions. Okay. And I want to. We're going to do a little game when I have my Draft Kings shirt on. We're going to. Billy's going to give us the odds to win each division right now. And you're not going to pick here who you think is going to win, but you're going to say, what's the bet? What would be your best bet here? Okay, like if I said to you, I'm giving you $100 to put on each division, where are you putting the money?
Drew Franklin
Okay.
Matt Jones
Which might also be who you think is going to win, but maybe you want to take a little bit of a gamble on one of them. All right, so, Billy, um, let's go first. What's the first of it?
Billy
Let's start with the NFC east here, where the Philadelphia Eagles are the favorite to win the division at minus 190. The Commanders come in second at plus 195. The Cowboys third at plus 1100, and the New York Giants at plus 20,000.
Matt Jones
Okay. All right. So obviously you're not going to pick them. The Cowboys or the. Well, I say obviously I'm not going to pick the Cowboys or the Giants. I still. Even though it's not a huge payoff, I'm going to take the Eagles at minus 190. I think they've been more consistent than Commanders. I still don't think they've hit their best. I think, you know, I'm, I'm. I'm only going to win $45 doing that, but I'm still going to do it.
Drew Franklin
I agree. This is not something I'd bet in real life. I need a little more odds than that. But for this exercise, I can't pick against the Eagles to win the NFC East. So you're going to take the money. I can get there.
Matt Jones
Like heavy favorite. You don't like a 2 to 1? No, actually 3 to 1 to knock off the Eagles.
Drew Franklin
I need better than that.
Matt Jones
Okay. All right, what about what's next?
Billy
NFC north is next. Only plus odds here. The Lions are the favorite at plus 100. Packers come in at plus 120, the Vikings at plus 1000, and the Bears at plus 2800.
Matt Jones
You know, I mean, the Bears at plus 2800 is not do it.
Billy
I mean, betting with your heart there.
Matt Jones
You tell me 28 to 1, 28 to 1, then I wouldn't get to it. I'm going to take the lines because I think they're going to win it. So I'm going to go ahead and take. But I would say to you, what I would do is I'd do like $100. Actually, I do $200 on the Lions. So that way I would win for. And then I would go ahead and take like 20 bucks of that or 25 bucks and then put it on the Bears, because if they win, then I won't worried about that money. I lost on the lines. That's what I would do if I were to. Because I think that's not 2800. They're. They're only a game back. Right. They play the line 4 and 1.
Drew Franklin
And okay, 2 and 2. Whatever it is, whatever.
Matt Jones
They were going to win every game.
Drew Franklin
So that's big if they're going to win out.
Matt Jones
But. But I would take the lines. But the Bears, that twenty hundred is pretty good. What would you go?
Drew Franklin
I was prepared to take the packers until I heard the Lions are still plus money. I thought the odds would have been a little longer on the packers because they already have a tie.
Matt Jones
Yeah.
Drew Franklin
They have a loss that they weren't supposed to have. So I was ready to go. Green Bay is kind of a second here, but if I get the Lions at even money, I got to take that.
Matt Jones
Yeah. Yeah, I like that.
Drew Franklin
I'm not going to go favor.
Matt Jones
Would you do the $25 on the bears?
Drew Franklin
No, but I'm rooting for you. I'm saving my $25 bet for the Titans.
Matt Jones
All right, what's next?
Billy
NFC west is Next, where the 49ers are the favorite at minus 125. The Rams come in at plus 200. The Seahawks are plus 500, and the Cardinals are plus 3,500.
Matt Jones
Seahawks are live at plus 500, but I'm not going to pick them. The problem is I would. I'd really love to have the Rams at plus 200, but the problem is, again, we've talked about this a lot. The 49ers schedule is just such a joke, and they've proved that they can win games with Mac Jones as well, whereas I don't. Who's the Rams backup right now?
Drew Franklin
It's a niche boy.
Matt Jones
Jimmy G. Oh, it is Jimmy G. That's not a bad backup, actually. So I'm going to take the 49ers at minus 1.25. But if the 49ers had lost last week, then I would have gone ahead and done the Rams. But I'm going to take the 49ers because they 49ers just beat the Rams. They also have the tiebreaker.
Drew Franklin
This is, this is one where I like our odds. I like the Rams here. I would bet the Rams, and honestly, at plus 500, I might even split it between Rams and Seahawks.
Matt Jones
So you're, You're. You're out on the, on the 49.
Drew Franklin
In a division this tight, I know they have a lead and they already have a win, but they're so banged up, I'm not a believer in them to begin with. If I can get. What was it, 2 to 1 on the Rams or 5 to 1 on the Seahawks, I'd. I'd go that direction. I'll say the Rams to play it a little safer. But the Seahawks stock crazy for that kind of, that kind of odds there.
Matt Jones
Okay. All right. What's the, what's the South?
Billy
NFC South. The Bucks are minus 425 right now, fifth straight division time. The Falcons are plus 500, the Panthers are plus 2000 and the Saints are plus 4000.
Matt Jones
I'm gonna go ahead and. I mean, there's no money in betting on the bucks here. What's the Falcons record?
Drew Franklin
Two and two.
Matt Jones
I'm gonna, I'm gonna go do with the Falcons. Really? Just for the money, just for the odds. I mean, the Bucks are the favorite right now. They are a game and a half up. I'm gonna just do the. My. Maybe Baker Mayfield got hurt and, and I picked the Falcons. That's why that, that's really the only reason. So I would put the money on the Falcons just because who wants to win $20 on the Bucks?
Drew Franklin
I would never bet on the bucks. I also think the Bucks are win the division, so I'm going to get even crazier and put on the Panthers for probably going to lose it anyway. Listen to you. Why not? Come on, that's mathematically they're only taking the Panther. Well, they're not going to win. I mean, the Bucks are obviously going to win, but I would rather lose money on a long shot than bet -425. So just like picking the long shot in the derby, why not give me the pain?
Matt Jones
What a crew. But I'm with you throwing money away.
Drew Franklin
Well, I mean, you took the Falcons. They're not winning either.
Billy
Oh, they're win lost 30 to 0.
Drew Franklin
Panthers beat your team.
Matt Jones
They're gonna beat the Bills this weekend and then you're gonna be sad that you didn't, you didn't do it. I answered those.
Drew Franklin
The Bucks are unstoppable.
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Matt Jones
What about the AFC?
Billy
All right, this is a much closer division. The AFC West. We'll start out with the Chargers and the Broncos are both plus 175 while the Chiefs are plus 190 and the Raiders come in at plus 8,000.
Matt Jones
Wow. Those plus 175. Plus 1. 75. Plus 1. 90. Yeah, that's tough, man. Cause the Chargers are 3 and 2. What? The Broncos are what? What are the Broncos? They're three and two and then the Chiefs are just two and three. The Chief schedule opens up. Let me see what the Charger schedule does here. Coming up. So here, let's just go through the Chargers. They play at the Dolphins. Then they have home Colts, home Vikings at the Titans, home Steelers at the Jags. Those are hard games. They still have to play the Eagles stuff. Play the Cowboys, Texans. Give me the Chiefs at +1.90. What do you got?
Drew Franklin
I was already going to go Chargers before knowing the odds. Even though the offensive line is getting Herbert killed the last two weeks.
Matt Jones
You don't like. You don't think the schedule's hard?
Drew Franklin
I just read it is. But they already beat the Broncos. They already beat the Chiefs. They got a significant head start at this stage. So I'll take them getting +1.75 or whatever you said. But if the offensive line doesn't get.
Matt Jones
Healthy and improve, let me see if this changes your mind at all. Let me give you the Chief schedule coming up. They play the lines, but then they've got Raiders commanders, Bills, Broncos, Colts. Oh, never mind. Oh man, the Chief schedule is awful. I thought. Why did I think it was easy? Let me go through this again. This who they play lines. Raiders commanders, Bills, Broncos, Colts, Cowboys, Texans, Chargers, then your Titans, Broncos, Raiders. Nevermind. Give me the Chargers. I'm switching. I didn't realize that was that hard. They might not make the playoffs. I mean, that's a hard schedule.
Drew Franklin
Earlier I said I think they'll make the playoffs, but they're not winning. The vision. I had that in mind. My. I think they'll make the playoffs.
Matt Jones
I mean even the only certain win.
Drew Franklin
In that group, losing that game to the Charger Chargers. Week, Week one was a big setback for them with the schedule they have and then them getting a head start in that division.
Matt Jones
A hard schedule. All right, what's. What's the next one?
Billy
The AFC east is next. Where the Buffalo Bills are minus four. 25.
Matt Jones
Yeah, just. That's what I'm picking.
Billy
The Patriots are plus 350 the Dolphins are plus 12,000 and the jets are plus 30,000.
Matt Jones
I think Ben, the bed the jets would be a heck of a move at 0 and 5. The bills, I mean I don't want to bet mine is 425, but you have to, right?
Drew Franklin
Yeah. Like when I did the Panthers in this scenario, they have much more hope than anyone else in, in this division. I can't bet on the Dolphins or the jets and I'm not getting enough.
Matt Jones
I will say this. I want to read you, I'm going to read you the Patriots schedule because the Patriot schedule when I get it pulled up here is absurdly easy and.
Drew Franklin
They have a head to head already.
Billy
Drake Bay looked good.
Matt Jones
Yeah. So let's, let's. Let me go over. Here's the Patriot schedule. Listen to this. Compare what I just said with this one. Saints, Titans, Browns, Falcons, Bucks, Jets, Bengals, Giants, Bills, Ravens, Jets, Dolphins. That is an easy schedule. Like that's a really, really easy schedule.
Drew Franklin
And what should be two of the hardest games left. One is at Cincinnati which went from, from very difficult in week one to now. Count that as a win.
Matt Jones
Even the Raven over the the Bill schedule. Falcons, Panthers, Chiefs, Dolphins, Bucks, Texans, Steelers, Bengals, Patriots, Browns, Eagles, Jets. Not terrible, but harder than the Patriots schedule. But I'm still going to take the Bills.
Drew Franklin
Yeah, Bill, Bills are one of those.
Matt Jones
What's next?
Billy
The AFC north is next. Where we've seen a line change. The Steelers are minus 105 and now the favorite to win that division week, it was the Ravens. But Lamar Jackson missing more practice. They're now at plus 115. Cincinnati is at plus 1700 and the Browns are plus 2000.
Matt Jones
I mean I think you have to take Steelers, right? Cooper Rush going to play again another week. I mean, I mean who the Ravens play this week?
Drew Franklin
I can't believe the ravens are only plus 115 when they're one in four. That's nuts.
Billy
The Ravens play the Rams.
Matt Jones
How can we not? They're probably going to lose this game. So they're going to be one in five.
Drew Franklin
That's a crazy odds for one win team.
Matt Jones
I mean they're going to be one in five. So how can you, how can you bet them?
Drew Franklin
I'm going Steelers.
Matt Jones
I think you got to go. See, I actually think this is of all the ones we've done. Steelers play at home to the Browns. If they're, if they win and they're four and one and then the Ravens are one in five, they have a three and a half game lead.
Drew Franklin
And I'm sure you got Cooper Rush right now but that's. The offense will fix itself. The Ravens defense is just not going to tell you.
Matt Jones
I hate to do this because it's Aaron Rodgers the bet of the day for me. No, this is the bet of the day. Minus 105 for a team that already has a two and a half game lead. Yeah, I'm going to take the Steelers. All right. By the way, how about the north falling apart?
Drew Franklin
Nuts.
Matt Jones
This was supposed to be the best division in football and I'm not sure anyone's good.
Drew Franklin
No. And it's. It might make the Rogers Steelers experiment when we weren't sure about look a lot better than it could really be because of the competition.
Matt Jones
You don't have any thought thoughts of Joe Flacco? Bengals plus 1700.
Drew Franklin
I was. I was thinking about taking the Ravens even at 1 and 4. No. Part of me is believing in the Bengals with Joe Flacco.
Matt Jones
Just keep that one in the back your mind.
Drew Franklin
I might go Dylan Gabriel leading the Browns.
Matt Jones
Finally south.
Billy
Yep. The Colts are minus 115. The Jags are plus 155.
Matt Jones
I got that.
Billy
The Texans are plus 550. Andrew's Titans are plus 25.
Matt Jones
I saw the Texans have the best defense in the NFL. They've allowed 25 points less than the second best defense. It's pretty good deal. That's 64 points all year just for the record.
Drew Franklin
Well, the Titans are helping him out. Scored zero against them so that's throwing the number.
Matt Jones
I'm just. I'm just saying I'll take. I'll take the Jaguars at plus 150 or whatever it was. What about you?
Drew Franklin
Man, this one's really tough. I mean the Jags and Colts are right in line. If I'm power ranking the NFL, I'll. I'll take Indiana Jones. I'm going to believe in Indiana Jones.
Matt Jones
I agree they're about the same but I'm getting better odds for the Jags which is probably why I'm picking them.
Drew Franklin
Yeah. When do they play? Is that coming up?
Matt Jones
I don't know. Who would have thought that would be a must watch game. Jags, Colts, whenever. Whenever that takes place. Well, that is your. Those are your NFL division odds. Sponsored by no. 1. But that could be you.
Drew Franklin
Can I throw in a prop bet?
Matt Jones
Sure.
Drew Franklin
Will the jets win a game?
Matt Jones
Yeah, that one. You got them winning one for sure. They'll win. They'll win two or three. They'll.
Drew Franklin
They'll be taking the over on two and a half.
Matt Jones
Is that what it is. Is that the number?
Drew Franklin
I'll see. Actually, they might have that. That was mine. Actually. They do. What is their season wins? Let me scroll down.
Matt Jones
Two and a half.
Drew Franklin
Oh, they're hiding them on here. Not an alphabetical.
Matt Jones
Okay, so here's who the jets play. They are in. They're in London against the Broncos. Then they go Panthers, Bengals, Browns, Patriots, Ravens, Falcons, Dolphins, Jags, Saints. I mean, they play all the bad teams. Yeah. They got a shot to win. They'll win. Definitely win one.
Billy
Nine's Four and a half.
Matt Jones
Four and a half. Now, I think I'd go under.
Drew Franklin
Yeah, I might actually bet that right now.
Matt Jones
I think I'd go under, but I.
Billy
Definitely think they unders plus 1. 110.
Matt Jones
All right, so I'm parlaying. Yeah. What are you doing under 1:10? I'm going jets under the Titans at.
Drew Franklin
Four and a half.
Matt Jones
What are we doing? Parlaying jets and Titans, four and a half. Under that. Dude, that's a great one. Jetson. Titans, both under four and a half. Dude, I need to.
Drew Franklin
Yeah.
Matt Jones
Let's call my banker and get some money moved.
Drew Franklin
Sorry, honey. I put the house on my football team.
Matt Jones
Losing.
Drew Franklin
Continuing to suck. Losing.
Matt Jones
Wow. Wow. That is an amazing. I can't believe that's what it is. All right, now let's go over some games this week, sort of pick what we're going to do. Let's start. We always just. Let's start with our little games here. The survivor pool. Drew is out of the survivor pool. I have. Billy and I are in. I've picked the Broncos, the Ravens and the Lions. So I cannot use the Broncos, the Ravens, the line. You have picked the Jaguars, the Cardinals and the Bills. So you can't pick them. It is your chance to go first. So which game would you like this week?
Billy
I am going to take the Indianapolis Colts at home against the Arizona Cardinals. It is a debacle over there with Jonathan Gannon. Indy at home, minus seven and a half. Kyler Murray can't catch a snap. Give me the Colts.
Matt Jones
That's amazing because I love the Cardinal to cover the spread here, and I'm kind of shocked you would do that, although you. You've done a pretty good job of picking teams that you wouldn't have thought that one would pick.
Billy
It's a tough slate. I'm interested to see where you're going to go here.
Matt Jones
Yeah.
Drew Franklin
Be one of the highest spreads, right?
Matt Jones
Yeah. I mean, I'm going. I'm going packers if you're getting. If you're going to. I mean, Packers, 14 and a half point favorites against the Bengals. Joe Flacco is literally still trying to sign the lease on his. On his apartment.
Billy
So it's dangerous. I mean, beating Green Bay.
Matt Jones
Yeah, but that's the thing. Green Bay is not going to be like, we're not losing to this old man twice in four weeks. So I'm going to take the Packers. So you got the Colts, I got the Packers. We finished this. You know, the. The good. I will have lost a bunch of good teams, but remember, I picked the Ravens and nobody will pick the Ravens again. Probably.
Billy
Yeah, I got lucky with that one.
Matt Jones
Yeah. And. But you still have a lot of powerhouse teams. I still probably would rather be in your position than mine right now, but.
Drew Franklin
I'd rather be in either of your positions, to be honest, since I'm out.
Billy
Chargers knocked you out. Who'd they lose to?
Drew Franklin
7 and a half point favorite knocked me out.
Matt Jones
Yeah. Well, anyway, there. There you go. All right, so let's look at the schedule. We'll start with Thursday Night Football. Eagles and Giants. What do you think, Drew?
Drew Franklin
I'm enjoying the Jackson Dart debut the last couple weeks even though they didn't get a win. It's fun watching the Giants with her, having neighbors out. But we love Wandell. He's getting new opportunities. Cam Scatterbo is like America's favorite football player right now. So it'll be a fun game. But they're not winning. Eagles. Eagles win it.
Matt Jones
Even though it's saying they like Cam Scatterbow more than Jackson Dart, that would obviously. I would think in Pittsburgh they would like Cam Scatterbo because he's blue collar and his like heads made of steel. But the Jackson Dart would be the pretty boy New York lifestyle. But apparently they love him in New York.
Drew Franklin
So many clips. Billy and I talked about this. I think you'll like it. But there's Cam Scadamu keeps getting dirty, but they play on turf and no one can figure it out. Like after the game, he's covered in dirt and he ripped up, but it's like you're playing on carpet. There's all these little. He's almost like a little folklore running back out there. There's clips of other players miked up talking about him. Like, who the hell is this guy? So he's just become a fan favorite across the league.
Matt Jones
I think I saw. When I look at this slide here again, outside of that one and you know, again, it feels like last week's slate was kind of. And I feel like this one is too. There. There are two games that stick out, not necessarily the ones you would think. What about Seahawks? Jaguars? 3 and 2, 4 and 1. Can the Jags go 5 and 1?
Drew Franklin
They will.
Matt Jones
I'm taking Seahawks, by the way. Well, you know, it's one of those you, you win and then you come down.
Drew Franklin
Well, they got to come down to Florida. That's a long way to go, go.
Matt Jones
It's true.
Drew Franklin
Big on traveling across the country.
Matt Jones
People don't like the game at 1 o' clock when you're from the West Coast.
Drew Franklin
That's mainly because I'm still mad that the Chargers lost to the Giants in New York. So I'm just gonna ride that. That take into Seattle will not be ready for Jacksonville. And they got to be fired up in Duvall. That hot tub or whatever they have at the stadium is gonna be full of people. They're dreaming dreams right now. In the co.
Matt Jones
I guess when the Jags were playing the Chiefs, right back to the Manning cast, they showed that hot tub and there were like a group of people in it, all fairly normal looking people, but in their swimsuits. And Peyton Manning was like. So they put the camera on it and they took it off and Peyton Manning goes. Fire that camera guy for taking away from that shot. Whoa.
Drew Franklin
Peyton.
Matt Jones
Peyton, slow down. Damn, man. Little thirsty, aren't we, Peyton? You know, you got some Hydra. You need some hydration. You don't have to worry about the tea there.
Drew Franklin
Yeah, lower that buck.
Matt Jones
Peyton was very adamant. Get that shot back on the. Would you go into a pool. Would you go into a pool at a pro football game and sort of scamper around?
Drew Franklin
No, because for me, I'm thinking about when you leave, everyone's like going to dinner and you got your towel and your flip flops. You're just like splashing water, going out the door when all your friends are going to a bar or whatever. I. I feel like I'd just be awkward swimming at an event.
Matt Jones
Doesn't look like that big a pool, so it's going to feel like you're just taking a bath with people.
Drew Franklin
Oh, and everyone is peeing in that pool.
Matt Jones
Yeah.
Drew Franklin
You're not getting up. Nobody's getting the bathroom line at a stadium when you are standing in a.
Matt Jones
Body of water, it's going to be a urine pool.
Drew Franklin
Everyone's peeing in that pool. Close game in the fourth quarter, everybody.
Matt Jones
I do wonder who. I do. We know. Like, are those expensive tickets in the pool? I would assume they are.
Drew Franklin
I thought this. I haven't looked, but my. I assume they're probably really expensive in the beginning. And then you see person after person get in there. And now they're like, would anyone like to get in this hot tub that we haven't washed?
Matt Jones
They're like, going up to people, please be in the hot tub. And they're like, oh, congratulations.
Drew Franklin
We've upgraded your seats here in the hot tub.
Billy
The cabanas for the pools cost $12,500 each, which include 50 tickets and pool item success.
Matt Jones
All right, so you get 50 tickets. So to just do the math, how much is that? That's basically $250 a ticket. Am I right about that math? If so, that's pretty impressive. I got that off the top of my head.
Billy
I'll trust you.
Matt Jones
Yeah, I think it's 12. Because if it was 100 tickets, it'd be $125 each. Just moving the debt like the comma, right, the decimal. So two. So if you have 50, you double it. It's $250, right?
Billy
That's right.
Matt Jones
All right, so $250 is ticket. You know, I mean, that's a lot. If you knew 50 people, would you do it like that? Would you do it like, chip in and let's go to the pool?
Drew Franklin
And, you know, I would absolutely go 50. My friends pay 250 and wear normal clothes and stay at the cabana and.
Matt Jones
Watch the game and not get in the pool. Getting in the poke. I like that. I will take the cabana. Oh, it's fun to hang out there, Billy. The 49er. The Buccaneers are playing the 49ers. This will be the game once again could come down to seeding when you're getting to the number one seed. Buccaneers are at home, two and a half point favorite. You feel good about it? I like your Bucks a lot in this game, by the way. A lot. This would be my Matt Jones triple finger. Get a smile on your face. Lock of the week.
Drew Franklin
Yeah, Baker's just the Titans.
Matt Jones
Jets under.
Billy
I don't know how the 49ers are 4 and 1. It is incredible that they have and.
Matt Jones
They'Re losing this game.
Billy
Well, they're in Tampa, too, so.
Drew Franklin
Give me, give me.
Matt Jones
For me, this is like. I'm shocked. It's only two and a half. I would have thought it would have been six and a half or seven. Two and a half. Like I again, call the banker. We're doing a second one here on the Bucks. I love the Bucks in this game, don't you?
Drew Franklin
I like The Bucks here too. Although I might wait and live bet when they go down 14. Oh, then Baker leads them back in the fourth quarter to win because that's what he's done just about every week. But yeah, as we've said every week, I'm not a 49ers believer and I think the Bucks have been awesome this year.
Matt Jones
Are you surprised the Chiefs are favored against the Lions? They are at home.
Drew Franklin
What was it again? Like a point? It can't be much.
Matt Jones
Two and a half.
Drew Franklin
Two and a half.
Matt Jones
Yeah.
Drew Franklin
That does seem a little high. Yeah, I'll say. I'm a little surprised by that.
Matt Jones
Are your Titans going to beat the Raiders? This one of your few chances to win this year?
Drew Franklin
Yes, actually I am picking my Tennessee Titans to win a second straight game game. Because the Raiders have fumble problems and if you fumble near the Titans, they will turn it into a victory. So we are going to get the dub and we will be hot.
Matt Jones
That's a good slogan. If you fumble near us, we will recover. We. We can fall on the ball.
Drew Franklin
Excuse me? If you fumble it, then one of you kick it and then another one of you kick it. Then we'll fall on it.
Matt Jones
Two Monday night games.
Drew Franklin
Again, I don't like it.
Matt Jones
What's that about?
Drew Franklin
I don't like it. They do it like three or four times a year.
Matt Jones
Why? What's the thought process?
Drew Franklin
I don't like know.
Matt Jones
One of. One of them is Bill's Falcons. I kind of thought those two teams never played each other.
Drew Franklin
It was a rare match.
Matt Jones
I want you to think about. Have you ever seen the Bills play the Falcons in Atlanta?
Drew Franklin
I don't have a memory of one.
Matt Jones
I didn't even know Josh Allen had been to Atlanta.
Drew Franklin
Not even flown through it.
Matt Jones
I can't think, you know, I can think of most games that occur. I can think of one time it happened. I'm sure there are some I can't. But in general. But two teams have been along around a long time. I can't think of a scenario where the Bills played the Falcons and now.
Drew Franklin
They'Re celebrating it and on Monday Night Football. Head to head.
Matt Jones
Yeah, well, you're.
Drew Franklin
Is it your Bears?
Matt Jones
Falcons?
Billy
No, I was just going to say when ESPN agreed in 2021 with Disney over the football games, they received extra game inventory and that's what they've decided to do as well.
Matt Jones
And they decided to bring in Bill's Falcons for the extra inventory.
Drew Franklin
Well, that's n. When they went to 18 games. It was a combination of those things.
Matt Jones
Okay. The other game's a good one. Bears commanders. This, of course, was the game last year with the Hail Mary, the Hail Mary game. And it was about this time in the season. I believe the Bears had started four and one, were two and two this year, but I believe we started four and one, maybe three and one and then we lost the Hail Mary game. I still remember where I was. I threw a chicken wing at someone like that. I knew I didn't throw it at a stranger. This is the repeat of it. Did the Bears get revenge? This really changed the trajectory of both teams seasons last year in a big way.
Drew Franklin
I'm going to lean, though. If this were in Chicago, I would. I would take your Bears in a little bit of an upset, but I don't have them getting it done in Washington night game. They'll be fired up. I'll take the commanders here, but I'll say Bears keep it close, spread.
Matt Jones
It's four and a half. I'm gonna say we win covered. I'm gonna say we win. This is the Caleb breakout game. This is the game he needs. He goes and gets the win against the. Against Jaden Daniels, who played much better than him the first year. This is his game. Drake Mays had his game. Bo Nix has had his game. Jaden Daniels obviously had that season. This is the game where Caleb goes, okay, this fearsome foursome is actually a foursome them and I'm going to take my Bears to get the win.
Drew Franklin
I think they can do it. I get a few Bear Bears jokes off, but I have belief in them. It's tough division, but I think the Bears have turned it around and Caleb Williams has something.
Matt Jones
I've hated the commanders since I was a little kid for no reason other than the fact that my fact that my friend Trevor liked them.
Drew Franklin
We all, we all had those relationships.
Matt Jones
Trevor and I don't even talk all that often now. And when we do, it's never about the entire matter of fact. I don't even think he knows I do this podcast even though he's the biggest NFL fan in the world. Trevor, if you're listening, just send me a text that says you're listening. I don't think you got an hour and three minutes through it, even if you did. But there's no reason for me to still hate the Commanders because of Trevor. Trevor lives in Birmingham. I don't ever see him.
Drew Franklin
He's moved on with his life.
Matt Jones
I think he had. I don't even know if he still watches this the team. He was very mad when they changed the name.
Drew Franklin
Deal breaker for him.
Matt Jones
Yeah. I still really want us to win. Just in case that smug little ass Trevor decides to call me Drew. I feel like that's. I feel like that's fair.
Drew Franklin
The grudges we hold from the teams we pick when we're six years old.
Matt Jones
I have a few of those. Do you?
Drew Franklin
I have a friend that I grew up with him. His favorite teams are Alabama football, Duke basketball, Green Bay Packers, New York Yankees.
Matt Jones
See, he can't.
Drew Franklin
I know that. I know that sounds made up, but those are his teams.
Matt Jones
That's not fair. You can't.
Drew Franklin
From Western Kentucky. Those are his.
Matt Jones
And then he roots for what? Kentucky basketball.
Drew Franklin
No, Duke basketball.
Matt Jones
Okay, you can't do that. You are not allowed to pick any form. You cannot say Alabama, then Duke or Kentucky and the Yankees. That threesome is not allowed.
Drew Franklin
And he throws in the packers. And he's from Western Kentucky.
Matt Jones
Yeah.
Drew Franklin
Not even near any of those places.
Matt Jones
You have to do what I do, all right? I root for the Cincinnati Reds, the Chicago Bears, the New York Knicks and the Carolina Hurricane. And we have one. We've won one thing in 35 years, and it was the Carolina Hurricane Canes. That's it. That's character.
Billy
That sounds miserable.
Drew Franklin
I love losers also.
Matt Jones
You're what?
Drew Franklin
We're addicted to the pain.
Matt Jones
You're what? Tennessee and what?
Drew Franklin
And then the Braves, they won a World Series recently.
Matt Jones
I don't think the Braves are losers. They've won a bunch, but I don't.
Drew Franklin
Really care about them as nearly as much as the Titans.
Matt Jones
The Titans are kind. I'm. Four different cities. I picked four different cities and picked four losers.
Drew Franklin
No one's accusing you of being a front runner.
Matt Jones
Exactly. Alabama, Duke, Green Bay, Yankees.
Drew Franklin
He's.
Matt Jones
That guy stinks. Well, Billy, anything else? Did I miss anything?
Billy
Do we want to do TD parlay this week?
Matt Jones
All right, so right now, Billy leads 2, 1, 1. Remember, we can pick. He. He got Jackson dart the last time we did this and got it right.
Drew Franklin
Big winner. Plus365. That's a big hit for a touchdown.
Matt Jones
So you can get either running back, wide receiver, tight end, or quarterback. Drew, it's now your turn to go first, you cannot pick Najoku Chase or Nico Collins. Who do you want?
Drew Franklin
I'm going to go. I don't think he's. Yeah, he did score last week. I'm going to take the easy. The heavy favorite, he's probably like minus 200. I will go with Saquon Barkley. Since I get first.
Matt Jones
Saquon all right, so you're taking a running back. He's going to take Saquon. That means, Billy, you have to either pick a wide receiver or quarterback. You have picked McCaffrey, Jonathan Taylor and Jackson Dart. So who would you like?
Billy
Okay, I am going to pray on the bad Ravens pass defense. Give me Devonte Adams to score a touchdown in Baltimore.
Matt Jones
This pick, the random ones, it's interesting to me. I tend to pick stars. So you take a wide receiver, that means I got to take a quarterback. So I already have not. I've already taken Hertz. Lamar. Lamar's hurt, so I can't take him. So I'm gonna sit here.
Billy
Oh, that would be something.
Drew Franklin
Green Bay. I gotta look up the odds on Flaco.
Matt Jones
That would be. Flacco would be a heck of a pick. I'm gonna take Daniel Jones against the Cardinals. Danny Dimes, I think he's gonna run one in. And I will take Daniel Jones against the Cardinals. So if he did a parlay, if you would like the COVID Zero parlay, which is yet to hit Saquon, Devonte Adams, Daniel Jones probably could get some good money on that, I would think. Don't you think?
Drew Franklin
Yes. And I will be parlaying it because this is my favorite way to bet.
Matt Jones
Yeah.
Drew Franklin
And Flacco is plus 1500.
Billy
I love it.
Matt Jones
That's crazy.
Drew Franklin
For an anytime touchdown.
Matt Jones
Flacco scores. That will be. That will. That would be pretty impressive. All right, well, thank you all very much. You are off to Colorado, right?
Drew Franklin
Yes. Going to be doing a late win. I'm. I'm landing at the airport in Lexington late Sunday night and coming straight here to knock out the next episode.
Matt Jones
We'll be back Sunday night. Do me a favor. Tell all your friends, Cover Zero. Subscribe. Like, tell people you've heard on the street about it. We'll see you later. NFL Cover Zero with Matt Jones and Drew Franklin is a production of the NFL and iHeart Podcast. For podcast from iHeartRadio, visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.
Drew Franklin
This is an iHeart podcast.
Podcast: KSR / NFL Cover Zero
Hosts: Matt Jones, Drew Franklin (w/ Billy)
Date: October 9, 2025
Episode Theme: The episode gives an energetic, in-depth breakdown of dramatic quarterback changes around the NFL heading into Week 6, with additional discussion of key games, player performances, division odds, and humorous insights into league culture and personalities.
The hosts dive into the flurry of quarterback moves impacting team trajectories and playoff odds as the NFL approaches the one-third mark of the season. Major events include Jacksonville’s wild win over Kansas City, the Bengals acquiring Joe Flacco, drama in Cleveland’s QB room, and oddities from across the league. The guys also analyze division races, handicapping each with updated odds and their unique blend of statistics, observations, and signature humor.
[03:07 – 10:39]
[07:22 – 08:59]
[10:11 – 12:37]
[12:37 – 17:54]
[18:02 – 20:18]
[21:07 – 24:18]
[25:38 – 33:45]
[33:47 – 35:35]
[37:50 – 52:34]
[52:55 – end]
This episode is packed with info and comic observations, ideal for catching up on NFL QB chaos, playoff implications, media moments, and why fans should (or shouldn’t) hop in a stadium pool. The detailed discussion of division races and best value bets makes it useful for fans and bettors alike.
Summary by segment, humor, and sharp football talk – this NFL Cover Zero episode captures the energy and unpredictability of the league heading into mid-October, with the KSR crew in strong, authentic form.