
Loading summary
Ana Garcia
I'm Ana Garcia, host of True Crime News, the podcast. Every week we bring you in depth coverage on cases making headlines as well as those that go under the radar. Tune in for murders that defy explanation, mystery seeking exploration, and shocking secrets that
Seth Payne
will leave you breathless.
Ana Garcia
Each week we honor the victims by going beyond the salacious in our search for justice. Crime never stops, and neither do we. Listen to True Crime News, available now on the Odysee app or wherever you get your podcasts.
Oregon Lottery Announcer
Oregon Parks make an Oregon summer. But what makes an Oregon park? Well, Oregon Lottery gameplay helps no matter the game. Megabucks, video lottery or Keno funds from lottery games help support parks projects across the state, ensuring they stay safe, accessible and open for all. In fact, Discover State Park Scratches are in stores now. It's the perfect way to put a little bit of Oregon's parks in your pocket. The Oregon Lottery Together we do good things. Must be 18 or older to play. Lottery games are based on chance and should be played for entertainment only.
LinkedIn Advertiser
Are your ad campaigns lighting up the dashboard but not the pipeline? That's bullspend and marketers are calling it out in dashboard confessions.
Seth Payne
My boss asked for results, so I opened my dashboard for the only positive sounding metric I had.
LinkedIn Advertiser
Impressions Cut the bull spend. See revenue, not just reach LinkedIn delivers the highest return on ad spend of major ad NETWORKS. Advertise on LinkedIn. Spend $250 on your first campaign and get a $250 credit. Go to LinkedIn.com campaign terms and conditions apply.
Luke Morrow
What does CJ Stroud need to do to get a contract this year? Talk about that here on Paine and Pendergast. I'm Luke Morrow in for Sean alongside Seth Payne, 713-572-4610 on the text line and also join the conversation in the YouTube and Twitch chats as well. Appreciate you hanging with us here on this Wednesday. Oh, by the way, NFL just put out the latest person of the top 100 list. Number 66 on the list. Drumroll. It's Drake London, wide receiver of the Falcons. Still waiting on CJ Stroud's name to be announced.
Seth Payne
You know, earlier I was ranting a little bit about how stupid the voting process is for the for the NFL top 100. They give players a ballot and have them list their top 20 players. So then there's all these guys that are ranked 50 through 100 that the difference might be that, you know, one person ranked this. One person in the NFL ranked this guy 19th overall or something like Bryce Young for instance and he makes the top 50 where there are a lot of other guys that might be more. You might, you might put. Throw some of the names out, especially of guards and centers and other players at non marquee positions where people would be like, oh yeah, he's in the top 100, but they would never think to put him in the top 20. Those are the guys that get hosed. Last year, I think there were only. I think there were eight offensive linemen on it. So you think about five. Damn near a quarter of the guys on a field, our offensive linemen at any given time. But we're drastically underrepresented in the NFL. Top 100, like name recognition and everything goes a long ways in these things.
Luke Morrow
I did have one other question before we get to the contract stuff, although it all ties in, of course. I did have one other thought or question from earlier when we were talking about the top 100 and specifically Lamar Jackson and how it compares to CJ Stroud. Lamar fell from number two to number 69, like we said. I mean, I don't think we've seen a drop like that in these lists before. What a huge drop off. But there was this idea of like Lamar Jackson just did not have as good of a season this past year, obviously, and there were injuries involved and the Ravens had a down year at least to begin the season and whatnot. But the other interesting thing is Lamar was running on average about half as often as he was throughout his career. He cut his rushing attempts in half. He wanted to. We see this sometimes from Lamar in the playoffs too, where it's almost like he wants to try to prove the doubters that he can be a pocket passer, but he just wasn't as effective statistically, nor was the team and, you know, led to these coaching changes. And lamar is ranked 69th. So to try to bring that back to CJ Stroud, it's been a talking point since, for the last year, I would say with the concussions and it's been a concern of mine. Do you think Stroud should be running more or using his legs more? Where just using the Lamar example, it seems like that really hurt his game when he stopped running as much and Stroud seemed to stop running as much
Seth Payne
last year, I think it was. And it was tough with Lamar Jackson though too, because he was just. He was dealing with an injury like at any given point the entire season. So I like. Because he's, he's really been. I mean he is a complete and total football player in terms of a passer and a guy that can hurt you with his feet. And it's, you know, he's clearly got a different physical skill set than C.J. stroud or, well, most other human beings on earth. I think with CJ it was really the really well documented, drastic change in his play last year was when he came back from his concussion and. And he barely scrambled at all. It wasn't just that he didn't run. It was that he just didn't even scramble and was really reluctant to use his legs. And when he did use his legs, he ended up averaging 1 yard per carry after the concussion compared to earlier in the year in the first part of the season, where he was up around 5 yards per carry every time he rushed. So for a young quarterback in the modern NFL, like, it's just. It's the exception. It's the exception that a guy doesn't use his legs. It's just such a valuable part of the game. And defenses have to adjust to a guy that they know can pull the ball down and run or scramble. So, yeah, like, he. He 100% just needs to. He doesn't have to be to an extreme level. Like, we'd crossed that barrier the year before. CJ Started using his legs more, used them really effectively, and was doing that up until the concussion last year. And then it all evaporated after the concussion. And then that, you know, didn't hurt you in the regular season. You're still winning every game. But the. The postseason, when, man, you need every little advantage possible, then, yeah, it's. I think it makes an impact.
Luke Morrow
Yeah. And when you look at, like, the. The top quarterbacks in the league or the quarterbacks that are winning the divisions, oftentimes they are the guys that do use their legs. And I'm not saying he needs to be Michael Vick running 20 times per game, but, you know, like Davis Mills had that great touchdown run at the end of the game. Last year was at the Jaguars game, running to the left into the end zone, you know, and that was a play where he used his legs, and that was like the biggest win. You know, that helped really turn them around. That was a big win against Jacksonville. So obviously, plays can be made there by being mobile and maybe need some more of that to help out, especially when you have a tough offensive line or struggling to figure out the offense and whatnot. But I do want to get to this. What does CJ Shroud need to do to get a contract this year, both in terms of him, himself and the team? What does he need to accomplish from a team perspective and personally? Because actually, people have been asking this. You know, we always talk so much about, will C.J. stroud get paid, will he get that next contract? But what does he actually need to accomplish this year to secure that next contract after. After this upcoming season?
Seth Payne
I think that, look, I mean, if you go by precedent, the best way for a quarterback to get a contract, almost regardless of actual playing ability, is to win a Super Bowl. So that's a simple one. If you just do that, then you can. You're going to get a contract of some sort. I think that, like, ultimately and honestly, the team success does matter. I think the. This is tough because Brock Purdy, I think Brock Purdy in general is underrated by most people in the NFL. But if you look at the way the 49ers have operated, like Kyle Shanahan and John lynch don't necessarily worry a whole lot about whether, boy, yes, like Brock Purdy benefits from being in this system. And maybe somebody else could do it better than him, but they don't care because, like, without, you know, the old cliche would be, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Like, if it's operating and the system is working and you've got an effective offense with that guy and he's playing at that level, like, you start chasing the ideal situation at quarterback, you're just going to always come, you know, come up wanting. Like they, they've been through, you know, trading vast resources for Jimmy Garoppolo, trading vast resources for Trey Lance, Getting a guy who's a top 10 quarterback and operating at a certain level, as long as you've got a good team around him, should be enough to at least reach the Super Bowl. And I mean, they did that with Jimmy Garoppolo. So, like, for me, it's almost about not CJ's individual performance, but if there's simply a top 10 offense, like a consensus top 10 offense, and it's not because of a CJ collapse in the playoffs that they lose, then that's for me, honestly. Okay, give them the going rate for what the new quarterbacks are getting. As long as I feel at the end of the season, okay, can they win a Super bowl with this guy? Is he capable of giving that type of an effort? I'm not going to start over and start from scratch so I can live my Trey Lance or Jimmy Garoppolo experience. When you've got a guy that's of capable, capable of being part of a top 10 offense and you've got, I think they're going to consistently have a good defense as long as d' Amico Ryan's is the head coach.
Luke Morrow
To play devil's advocate. I'm not saying they wouldn't. If they win the super bowl, yeah, you pay the guy, but I guess in terms of still like his perception, and you referenced this earlier of Jalen Hurts, where we just got this top 10 list on ESPN and despite Jalen Hurts success, some people might feel like, well, it's more about the team or Jalen Hurts isn't doing so much and he was ranked what, 17th on that list of quarterbacks. And then even Sam Darnold just won the Super Bowl. And while it probably did propel him, I'd have to look at the list from last year. It probably did give him a boost up the list. But he was still ranked only 11th despite winning a Super bowl and having a good season postseason.
Seth Payne
And he's making, he's on a contract where he's making $33 million a year. I think that's the part where when you start thinking about, all right, well, if C.J. doesn't give you a certain level of performance, what can I get out of a guy that's making $33 million a year? A guy I give a contract that's $33 million a year, Baker Mayfield making 33 million DOL dollars a year. It makes a lot more sense financially if you feel like, all right, some of these veteran guys that are kind of cast aside or castaways that, that have performed at a higher level than C.J. stroud, that just financially it makes better sense to go with a guy like that. So. But now with CJ the difference would be that, okay, if he improves his performance over last year, he's still a young quarterback who's going to be in the same system and it's easier to kind of maybe project it like, okay, he took a step forward in 2026, things looked really good. They made the conference championship, whatever it might be that then, then the long term young quarterback type of contractor re extension makes makes a lot more sense because there's still a perceived upside there.
Luke Morrow
Yeah, I, for me, I think both boxes need to be checked. Like, I think he obviously needs to do his part and the team needs to have some success because as you're sort of just alluding to like to again, maybe be somewhat of a devil's advocate. But you can make the case that if Stroud has a great year, but say the team doesn't do very well, then you can say, well, like, it's almost like the old line in baseball. I'm trying to think of the manager that used to say it of, like, we could lose a hundred games with you or without you, so why bother paying you type of thing, you know, like, well, you. You put up these great numbers. Sure. But, like, we. We didn't win. It wasn't successful. Whereas we've had success in the past when we didn't require so much in the quarterback. So why do we need to devote all these resources to the quarterback if we can still win on our defense type of deal? So I feel like both boxes would need to be checked where you need Stroud to play well, of course, but you need the team to be successful. So, you know, yes, this is our plan moving forward. We can lock up this guy and. And be a secure in that. And also be a successful team still.
Seth Payne
If that movie was either. It was definitely either Moneyball or Major League. Which Major league was really the first Money Ball. They are the first. First team to prove that you could do more with less. Yeah, they don't get enough credit for that.
Luke Morrow
Good point. Good point. Yeah. Baker Mayfield. So, Seth, did you watch. They put out all the episodes. Right. Of this quarterback show on Netflix.
Seth Payne
Yeah, I just. I went through and I kind of cherry picked and found the parts where Baker Mayfield is either playing the Texans or talking about former Texans. So there was. There were at least two. And I think it's episode two where they show the most Baker Mayfield. But the first one was. I liked this. So Baker Mayfield's getting into it with Quen Yon Mitchell from the Eagles. And at the very beginning, you can't quite. You probably won't be able to quite hear it, but basically, Baker Mayfield is saying, I don't know who you are, and then goes on to explain why he said that. Who the are you, anyway? Who the are you anyway?
Reginald
No. Who I am?
Seth Payne
No, I don't. It's gonna be a long day.
LinkedIn Advertiser
Come on.
Seth Payne
It's gonna be a long day.
Luke Morrow
I stole that one. I can't take credit for that.
Seth Payne
I stole that one directly from Arian Foster back in the day. I don't even know your name.
Reginald
What's your name?
LinkedIn Advertiser
Turn around.
Reginald
Let me see your name.
Seth Payne
I don't know you, bro. So I stole that from him. Just letting a young player know that he hadn't arrived yet. That was a great moment in Arian Foster history when he was saying, turn around. That's what Arian did that. Baker didn't do the. Turn around so I can see your nameplate. That was. And I can't remember. I can't remember who that player was. I don't know if he went on to prominence or not, but that was an awesome moment and a mic'd up moment for Arian Foster.
Luke Morrow
Yeah. So much so that you got Baker Mayfield using it, you know, all these years later. It is a good line. It's kind of similar to that reference I made earlier when the person's like, hey, what do you think of me? And he's like, I don't. I don't think of you.
Ana Garcia
Yeah.
Luke Morrow
You know, that's the best. As I said at the time, that's the best way to try to get back at someone is like, I don't even care about you.
Seth Payne
Oh, this is. I'll tell you what. Like, people know who Quinion Mitchell is. I kind of feel bad for this guy that Arian was talking to. Former Miami Dolphins backup safety Jimmy Wilson.
Reginald
Oof.
Seth Payne
He wouldn't go on to make a name for himself for anything other than that, as far as I know. Maybe I'm missing out on something or whatever, but I can't remember Jimmy Wilson ever doing anything impactful.
Luke Morrow
He spent five years in the NFL and played. Played 73 games, but, yeah, that's about it.
Seth Payne
So then this one might hit a little close to home. We were actually. We talked yesterday a little bit about the value of bulletin board material. You guys will recall in the Bucs game versus the Texans last year, with about 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter, Baker Mayfield had a scramble to his left. Not the big scramble. Later in the game, the Bucs actually had a lead at this point, but Baker Mayfield had a scramble and got hit pretty hard and got up limping. And there was some things that led up to that, some smell, some smack talk with C.J. gardner Johnson that, like, after this exchange you're about to hear here is when in the next series, Baker Mayfield would have that awesome scramble and everything. But this is. This is leading up to that moment, just as Baker Mayfield is scrambling to his left, gets a first down, and C.J. gardner Johnson, talk some smack to him.
LinkedIn Advertiser
Huh?
Seth Payne
Who you talking to? Who you talking to? Huh? Who you talking to?
LinkedIn Advertiser
Huh?
Luke Morrow
Shut up.
Seth Payne
Shut your ass up. Chauncey Gardner Johnson. Just years and years of him talking trash about me. And when you finally play somebody like that, you're going to let him have it.
Ana Garcia
3rd and 9.
Seth Payne
Can they make the one big play
Luke Morrow
that they need right now? Midfield goes by Petri and gets the first down.
Seth Payne
I was banged up, spraying my MCL bone bruise, which obviously, I didn't know
Ana Garcia
that at the time.
Figgy
Not.
Seth Payne
Not feeling great. Then I hear,
Amica Insurance Announcer
so pop up.
Seth Payne
Adrenaline kicks in. You forget that you're hurt. You, me up. You me up. I had to let him know that.
Luke Morrow
Doesn't matter if I'm 100% or 50. You can still get it anywhere.
Seth Payne
Yeah. Thanks. C.J. gardner Johnson. Thanks. Yeah. So in that clip, the first clip. The first clip is when they were down, backed up in their own. Near their own end zone, and there was a face mask. CJ Gardner Johnson comes up and starts talking smack. Then later in that series, he scrambles, gets hit, sprains his mcl and has. What? What did he say? A bone bruise after that, and C.J. gardner Johnson saying, get your, get your, get your bitch ass up. And then Baker just basically used that as a moment to like, nope, gotta fight through this. Gonna be just fine. And he was. He was absolutely fine.
Luke Morrow
Yeah, sure was. More reasons, like C.J.
Seth Payne
gardner Johnson, he had said when. When C.J. gardner Johnson was with Detroit, he told a group of reporters, quote, if you give that Tampa group a good quarterback, that's a great, great group. Evans, Godwin, Gage, that's a great group. So that's just at least one thing that he apparently has said about Baker Mayfield in his time here, in his time in the league.
Luke Morrow
Did you come away so far? Feel. Do you like Baker more now than you did going into the series? Like him? Worse. Feel the same.
Seth Payne
I think he's. No. Baker Mayfield is the classic guy that if he was on my team, I would think he's just got the best attitude ever. But when he's on an opposing team, he rubs me the wrong way. Yeah. Which is. Which is a good place to be as an athlete. I'm very open about that. The guys that I. I don't like at all when they're. When they're not on my. Pat Beverly, you know, when Pat Beverley wasn't on the Rockets, after the Rockets, like, when he left the Rockets, I knew that I wasn't going to like him at some point, and it came to be that way. But when he was with the Rockets, he was the exact same guy. But I absolutely loved him, and I have zero shame about that. So, yeah, if Baker Mayfield were the quarterback of the Texans, I would feel like everything about his attitude is exactly what I want in a quarterback. When he's not on the Texans, he annoys the hell out of me.
Luke Morrow
Yeah, once. Hey, once he's on your team, he's got to be your guy, so I get that.
Seth Payne
No, no, but he's got. Yeah. Look, like, in terms of just like, kind of like grittiness or whatever.
Luke Morrow
Oh, absolutely.
Seth Payne
He's got a different vibe than cj.
Luke Morrow
Yeah, no, that's what you love from your quarterback is that grittiness and that very clip right there. Playing banged up. He played banged up all year, and he made that big play at the end of the game, you know, to be able to beat the Texans.
Seth Payne
Yeah, CJ's played banged up. I just can't. I don't know. Like, I don't.
Luke Morrow
I'm just saying in general, I don't
Seth Payne
see Baker, you know, breaking down in tears at any point. That's all. There's a little bit of that.
Luke Morrow
Yeah, yeah, that part, I don't think. I think that was missing from the quarterback series this year. But, yeah, just in general. Even Baker. Yeah, he's got that good mindset for a quarterback for sure. Coming up, who in this quarterback situation has more pressure on them, Stroud or the actual Texans? We'll talk about that coming up. Payne and Pendergast, they say if you
Amica Insurance Announcer
want to go fast, go alone. But if you want to go far, go together. At Amica Insurance, we know what matters most to you, and we work even harder to protect it Together. As a mutual insurance company, we're built for our customers and prioritize your needs. Amica empathy is our best policy. Visit amica.com and get a quote today.
Seth Payne
As a fan chosen for the halftime challenge, I love sports for a chance to win the big prize.
Figgy
But when my half court heave only
Seth Payne
goes half the distance, how embarrassing for him, I wonder, is sport clips better than sports? Because sport clips haircuts is sports on tv.
Ana Garcia
Plus an expert haircut, hot steam towel and massaging shampoo.
Seth Payne
Tear up his comically large check. Which is better than sports plus public embarrassment. Sport cliffs. It's a game changer. Check it online@sport clips.com. i'm Tobin Heath.
Amica Insurance Announcer
And I'm Kristen Press.
LinkedIn Advertiser
We're World cup champions, Olympians, and the hosts of the recap show. Week in and week out, we sit down with sports legends, cultural icons and global change makers to talk everything from clutch games to causes that matter. This is about creating the future of women's sports. A future that's honest, inclusive, and real. Join us for our reimagined journey. Follow and listen to the recap show wherever you get your podcasts.
Oregon Lottery Announcer
Oregon Parks make an Oregon Summer. But what makes an Oregon park well, Oregon Lottery gameplay helps no matter the game Megabucks, video lottery or keno funds from lottery games help support parks projects across the state, ensuring they stay safe, accessible and open for all. In fact, Discover State Park Scratches are in stores now. It's the perfect way to put a little bit of Oregon's parks in your pocket. The Oregon Lottery Together we do good things. Must be 18 or older to play Lottery games are based on chance and should be played for entertainment only.
Luke Morrow
Who has more pressure on them in this situation? The Texans or CJ Stroud? It's Payne and Pendergast. I'm Luke Morrow, in for Sean alongside Seth Payne. You can always join the conversation 713-572-4610 on the text line or in the YouTube and Twitch chats as well. Reggie actually had just popped in here. He'll be coming up, of course, as part of in the Loop at the top of the hour. But he we were just talking to him during the commercial break and actually I credit him because it was kind of like a, like a he said something in passing yesterday and it really got me thinking about this quarterback scenario. And they might have talked about it previously more in depth on in the Loop.
Seth Payne
But.
Luke Morrow
But who has more pressure this year when we continue to talk about this Stroud contract and getting it right? Is it CJ Stroud? Because obviously he wants to get that next big payday. But the idea is, well, if it's not the Texans, he'll probably be playing somewhere in the NFL. Or is it the Texans who have more pressure on them with the sense being like you were given this franchise quarterback as a rookie and now look what you've done to him. Who would you say has more pressure in this whole thing?
Seth Payne
I think the CJ Stroud by a long, by a big margin for me, because I think the first thing I thought was, all right, who loses their job if it doesn't go well this year? And if the Texans disappoint and don't make the playoffs or something, it would have to be something above and beyond just the football performance for either Casterio or d' Amico to get fired. I think. I think it would be looked as a it would be looked at and blamed on CJ Stroud first and foremost. And I think that's a chance where like, yes, the Texans still have him under contract, but if he disappoints and doesn't take a step forward or whatever, then if that were to happen There's a good chance he gets traded away. And in the Texans start from scratch or try to do something like sign a veteran quarter, like have a really boy, this would be awesome is if they sign a veteran quarterback while C.J. stroud's still on the roster. They trade Davis Mills and then sign some veteran backup that maybe has a little bit of a like not Geno Smith quite, but somebody along those lines. I think it's all I think it's all on CJ Stroud right now. And not that there isn't pressure on d' Ameco or Nick Castario, but it'll be looked at as a failure of the quarterback and then maybe a failure of Casario and d' Amico and not hiring, not having the right quarterback or not having the right coordinator paired with that quarterback. But I don't think so. Nick Haley maybe loses his job too. But I like, I don't have an appetite for just if it's a disappointing year for CJ Stroud blaming the offensive coordinator yet again and going a third go around on it. So I think it's CJ Stroud for me.
Luke Morrow
What would you put the chances at? And you mentioned the offensive coordinator. We'll circle back to that in just a moment. But right now, as we sit here today, what would you put the chances at that Stroud is not a starter, say somewhere in the NFL in 2027? Say the Texans do move on from him. Like how bad do you think it have to go this year where not only do the Texans move on from him, but every other team in the league is like, well, we'll take you as a backup, but you're not going to start for us.
Seth Payne
I know. I still think, I think the thing with CJ Is that the upside is still clearly there. And I people seem to forget that he had really impressive fourth quarters last year and made some really impressive plays. Like he still did some really good things even though the overall sum total of the performance wasn't what you wanted. That I think there's a lot of teams out there that would say, all right, you know, like the same thing the Texans say when they bring in guys of just let's get him in the building. And I think that maybe with the right like Daniel Jones working with Shane Steichen looked pretty good while he was healthy. And we still don't know how that's all going to play out. But that, yeah, there's going to be plenty of other coordinators out there. You think, man, we might have something with this. Think about Sam Darnold's going up to Minnesota, like, and that part of that was JJ McCarthy getting injured. But there's, there's going to be, there would be at least five teams out there that said, yes, we don't have a great shot at one of these quarterbacks in the draft. And we think that maybe we can get the best out of C.J. so we'll, we'll take a, we'll take a swing at him.
Luke Morrow
Yeah, certainly. I think if the Texans were to move on, I, we talked, I think I talked about this over the weekend with Zach Gelb or somebody, I don't know. But yeah, that idea of like, someone will see enough upside and their quarterback situation would be bad enough that. Absolutely. I think someone would take a chance on him if the Texans moved on.
Seth Payne
Alright, slightly off topic, but since you mentioned that Zach Gelb tweeted out this weekend that he had reached out to Mike McDonald because Mike McDonald said that he got some help in game planning for the Patriots from a person he didn't want to disclose the identity of because there might be a conflict of interest. People then speculated that, oh boy, I bet it was Tom Brady. Old I got no dog in this fight. Tom Brady. Zach gel reached out to Mike McDonald and Mike McDonald told him, no, it wasn't Tom Brady. And then Gelb tweeted, hey, it wasn't Tom Brady. I feel like, and I know Zach a little bit. I felt like I wanted to tell Zach. Let's not be so naive here. Zach, do you think he was gonna tell you if it was Tom Brady? What did you think? Did you guys talk about it? Did you talk to Zach about it?
Luke Morrow
No, it didn't come up, not on air. And I didn't bring it up off air. But yeah, I was hoping it would. Cause I could, I would say that same thing of like, yeah, of course he would say that. Right.
Seth Payne
He made the mistake of playing the game when he said, when he said that to Dan Patrick and Dan Patrick took a guess and asked if it was Belichick. He made Mike McDonald should know better by this point in life. You never play that game. You don't start down the road of like saying, I'm not going to say who it is, but then start giving answers when people guess who it is. Because then you're like, you're establishing a pattern of. Now people are going to be reading my facial expressions like, oh, look at how it was when he, when he was asked about Belichick versus when he was asked about Tom Brady. I think it was Tom Brady.
Luke Morrow
I still think it was.
Seth Payne
I do think I know.
Luke Morrow
Just the fact that he said no, it's like, oh, well, Mike. Yeah, he said. He just texted me, said no, so it can't be Brady anymore.
Seth Payne
Tom Brady is a part owner. Like, the conflict of interest might have been as much about being of a part owner of the Raiders or the fact that he's a broadcaster or anything. I think Patriots fans are having a really hard time accepting the fact that Tom has moved on in his life and that, hey, I don't know what, they win a Super bowl or two when he was in New England. Yeah, those are all. Those are all just those things. Those are things that happened in the past. He is focused in on making the Raiders the best organization they can be. Damn it.
Luke Morrow
There was a movie. We've been talking a lot about movies today. Ricky Gervais had a movie called the Invention of Lying, actually with Louis CK as well. And the idea was, like, lying hadn't been invented yet, so there was no such thing as lying. Everybody had to tell the truth, and they were all incredibly honest with each other. And it's a.
Seth Payne
It's a fun every. So, like, so Ricky. I saw part of that movie. Ricky Gervais just, like, accidentally lies and realizes, like, that he can do this
Luke Morrow
thing, and he becomes essentially their. Their God, and he comes up with his own ten Commandments and everything.
Seth Payne
Yeah, because they just believe everything that he says.
Luke Morrow
Yes. He starts making things up and, like, how does this guy know this? Because in their world, there's no such thing as lying, so it must all be true.
Seth Payne
It's like he's like an American settler with a. With a musket meeting the first American bison. And the bison's like, hi. Hi, creature. Are you gonna feed me some grain? No, I'm gonna kill all of you.
Luke Morrow
Yeah, but in this. So the reason why I bring it up, though, is because, like, in this scenario, it's almost like we're living in that world. We're like, well, he said no. He said it wasn't Tom Brady. It must be Tom Brady. Yeah. Clearly he's not gonna tell you who it is. He's not gonna say yes once you guess, right?
Seth Payne
The funniest. The funniest in that is it's. It's funny because even, like, kind of these crusty old veteran reporters will sometimes still fall for it when a gm, like, say, Andrew Barry says that, hey, Myles Garrett is a Cleveland Brown for life. And people are like, well, he was Pretty emphatic about it. Sounds like they're not going to trade Myles Garrett and then a month later, they trade Myles Garrett.
Luke Morrow
Yeah, I think part of it, what people get wrapped up in and it might have happened in this scenario is like they feel like they have more of maybe a relationship. They don't realize, like, it's still a working relationship and the coach isn't going to give you all the intel. So they almost feel like, oh, he would never lie to me. Right. Like, we're buddies, we've talked before, we've had conversations, and I know he's still playing the game. He can't give you information on a injured quarterback or like that we're going to trade Miles Gary. They can't just come out and tell you that.
Seth Payne
So it's a really. It's a tough lesson to learn. It's a. It's a tough lesson to learn and really absorb. You, like, know it intellectually, but those are one of the things, the things in life. It's like, okay, for one, people who lie a lot lie way more than you even realize. Like, so if you're dealing with a compulsive liar, you can't believe a single thing that they say. And all GMs, it's a requirement of the job. They have to lie sometimes. So there's certain situations where I like to call it football speak or GM speak, GM speak or coach speak. It's not lying. It's lying within the context of. It's kind of a requirement of the job. But, yeah, if he's in a GM speak situation or a coach speak situation, he's going to lie to you. It doesn't matter that it's you. Likewise, it's like with people who gossip a lot. Like, if they're gossiping with you about anybody and everybody, then they're also gossiping about you to other people. Like, it's just like that's who they are. They've. They've shown themselves.
Luke Morrow
True. It's like what they always say. Like, if you were the one that they were cheating with and you know they're going to cheat on you, like, that's.
Seth Payne
That's who they are. Right? Yeah.
Luke Morrow
Yeah. So that idea, too. Yeah.
Seth Payne
Say that too loud around my wife. Now. We didn't have that situation. As far as I know. She might have been married when I met her.
Reginald
I don't know.
Luke Morrow
We got to hear more about that high school boyfriend. That was so great. Coming up, we'll wrap things up here in this Wednesday, catch up with the fellows from in the Loop find out the question of the day, but if Seth will humor me when we come back, the ESPYs are tonight. I honestly couldn't care less about the ESPs. However, let's try to give out some awards of our own. If we're able to come up with the answers, we'll do it next here.
Oregon Lottery Announcer
Payne and Pendergast Oregon Parks make an Oregon Summer, but what makes an Oregon Park? Well, Oregon Lottery Gameplay helps no matter the game Megabucks, video lottery or keno funds from lottery games help support parks projects across the state, ensuring they stay safe except accessible and open for all. In fact, Discover State Park Scratches are in stores now. It's the perfect way to put a little bit of Oregon's parks in your pocket. The Oregon Lottery Together we do good things. Must be 18 or older to play. Lottery games are based on chance and should be played for entertainment only.
Ana Garcia
Now is your time to get into a new Dr. Horton home by taking advantage of its national Red Tag sales event going on right now through Sunday, August 2nd. Stop by any of its participating communities and find select red tag homes at incredible pricing. So whether you're buying your first home or looking for an upgrade, you don't want to miss the red tag sales event going on right now. Discover the Dr. Horton Difference at Dr. Horton America's Builder and Equal Housing Opportunity Builder.
LinkedIn Advertiser
Are your ad campaigns lighting up the dashboard but not the pipeline? That's bullspend and marketers are calling it out in dashboard confessions.
Seth Payne
My boss asked for results, so I open my dashboard for the only positive sounding metric I had. Impressions.
LinkedIn Advertiser
Cut the bull spend. See revenue, not just reach. LinkedIn delivers the highest return on ad spend of major ad NETWORKS. Advertise on LinkedIn. Spend $250 on your first campaign and get a 250 credit. Go to LinkedIn.com campaign terms and conditions apply.
Amica Insurance Announcer
It is not hard to destroy a college.
Oregon Lottery Announcer
Last season, the podcast Campus Files brought you stories of fraternity drug rings, stolen body parts, campus cults, and more.
Luke Morrow
And now Campus Files is back for another season. There's a guy screaming into his phone.
Ana Garcia
He's like, I just saw Charlie Kirk get assassinated right in front of me.
Luke Morrow
Every week is a new episode and a new story.
Seth Payne
It was so chaotic, it's almost like
Figgy
a university under siege.
Amica Insurance Announcer
Listen to and follow Campus Files available
Oregon Lottery Announcer
now wherever you get your podcasts.
Amica Insurance Announcer
This is Coke Zero Sugar with real Coca Cola taste and zero sugar. Listen closely. Hear those bubbles? That's the sound of delicious real Coca Cola taste and zero Sugar, ice cold. Ah. Cook zero sugar. Real Coca Cola taste zero sugar.
Luke Morrow
Wrapping up this Wednesday morning here on Pain and Pendergast. We'll catch up with the fellas from in the Loop here shortly. Get the question of the day. I'm Luke Morrow in for Sean. He's expected back tomorrow after a couple of days off. He's been a little under the weather upon his return and so expect it back tomorrow. But fun to hang.
Seth Payne
I think it's the first sick day Sean's ever taken in. Radio.
Luke Morrow
Wow.
Seth Payne
And it wasn't even that he was necessarily sick sick, but his voice was crapping out on him because of a CPAP issue. So. Yeah, so he's not sick if anybody's thinking all of a sudden his body's breaking down or something like. No, no, he just had a little bit of issue and he knew what the cause was and he had to get his voice right again.
Luke Morrow
Gotcha. Yeah. Pretty important to be on the radio talking four hours first thing in the morning.
Seth Payne
So I have no idea if he wanted me to disclose any of that.
Luke Morrow
But now there I.
Seth Payne
There. I did it.
Luke Morrow
Yeah.
Seth Payne
Coming up next, we're going to tell him tell you about his botched vasectomy.
Luke Morrow
So the SBS are tonight and I don't care. I'm not going to watch a moment of it. To be honest with you. I haven't watched the SB's since Jimmy V gave his speech. I couldn't care less. Seth, are you. Have you ever been into the ESPs I like.
Seth Payne
No. I consume it the way I consume so many of these types of things. I feel like the social media will allow the algorithm to figure out what I'm going to be like the most. And then I watch the clips the next day and I see all of the most notable things I need to see via social media. So I'm into them for. To a certain standpoint. I'm watching the highlights of the ESPYs, basically.
Luke Morrow
Yeah. I'm.
Seth Payne
Highlights of the awards show for the. The network that got famous for showing us highlights.
Luke Morrow
Yeah, I'm the same way. But I figured, well, let's give out some of our own awards. So we're going to do that in just a moment. And props to Seth because I kind of just sprung these aw on him and he's come up with the answer. So we'll go.
Seth Payne
I've got the definitive. The definitive winners for all of these.
Luke Morrow
That's right.
Seth Payne
For me, at least. You can have your definitive winners, too.
Luke Morrow
By the way. Marcelo Hernandez is the host Tonight from snl. I thought this was a joke. I had to double check. But I heard John Lopez say yesterday that he went to John Carroll University. So this is like if you're the Texans, you know, Casario's got to be locked into this thing tonight.
Seth Payne
John Carroll University is like the Dominican Republic,
Reginald
whatever.
Seth Payne
The Dominican Republic is to baseball. John Carroll University is to notable sports. American born sports folk.
Luke Morrow
Yeah, yeah, it's amazing. All right, play along. 713-572-4610 on the text line or in YouTube and Twitch as well for our own Houston Sports Awards in honor of the SB Synite. And the first award we have is, is the Please stay healthy Award. Who would you reward that to?
Seth Payne
I think for. Okay, so this is less of a reward for an award for what somebody did in the past year and more of like, okay, this is. We're identifying you as really important, but we know that an injury could be really devastating for me, if that's what the criteria are. I'm going to go with the combo duo of Kamari Lasseter and Derek Stingley. I just think that those guys are so good and it's such a vital part of why that defense is so good that it's. It's hard to envision them being a top three defensive. Either one of those guys misses a bunch of time this year.
Luke Morrow
Yeah. I'm going to base it off the past and then project it towards the future. I don't disagree with you, but I'm going to say Fred Van Vliet because of what we saw this past year.
Seth Payne
That's the winner.
Reginald
Yes.
Luke Morrow
And how bad that was like, I don't want to live through that. A whole nother basketball season. And even more so just the storylines of like, well, we're waiting till he gets help. We don't need another guard. I know they have Marcus Smart now, but the whole Reed, shepherd, all that stuff, it was just very annoying. Let's not do it again.
Seth Payne
The only thing that would provide us is clarity and that. All right, you're going to fire the GM at some point by the end of the year if, like, if Fred Van Bleek gets injured and you go through the whole. The whole damn thing again. Yes, he is the emphatic winner. I was wrong on that one. Good call, Good call.
Luke Morrow
Now yours is a good answer, too. The next award we have the we owe you an apology award.
Seth Payne
Okay. This one. Sean and I have already apologized for it, or at least I have. And we are adamant that no sports radio person should ever Apologize for a take because it's not like you're personally injuring the person or something. But we were so wrong on this about a beloved Houston sports figure. Both Sean and I thought, man, one person we don't want using the ABS this year is Jose Altuve. And we based it mostly on how bad he is at baserunning. And we forgot like, okay. And also he doesn't always show the best judgment at the plate in terms of the pitches he swings at. And it's, you know, it hasn't been a big deal for him in his career, but he's been one of the best in the league. We couldn't have been more wrong about that. If anything, I want El Tuve and Paredes using the ABS system more. Not to mention Jordan Yordon's hardly used it at all. Parades has barely used it. Didn't have his first unsuccessful challenge until last weekend. But Altuve has been, he's been nails with it and we were just, we were ridiculously stupid. So I do, I have already apologized to Altuve for that once, but I will apologize for it again.
Luke Morrow
Mine is a bit, maybe a bit of a hot take, but I did mention this last week. I'm going to say Cam Smith and it might sound like Steve Harvey reading off the wrong name of the winner that time, but Cam Smith. Because as I laid out last week, I, I feel like he's been a victim of expectations that set him up. And it's like in a preseason poll in college football where you call USC what a, you know, what a bunch of. They were so overrated, but you overrated them as the media. You were just wrong about the projection where for Cam Smith, if he's a multi time Gold Glove winner and hitting 20 homers a year, not bad for your right fielder, but bad for the number one, you know, number one prospect.
Seth Payne
It's, I mean it's, I, it's still, it's still not great. Just like a bunch of home runs, but a bunch of strikeouts and no other production at the plate is kind of a big deal. But I got you.
Luke Morrow
All right, well, I tried to force that one. I tried to shoehorn that one. The Heart Attack Performer of the year. Our next award. Who's the Heart Attack Performer of the Year?
Seth Payne
For me this is a tough one because I, I'm going to say Imai, I wish he had more really impressive performances to offset the heart attack performances, but there is something about him leaving the game inside of the first three innings that just, it, it, I get that old Matt Schaub feeling. I get that old Matt Schobbs pick six feeling of like, are you kidding me? I'm gonna. One of Matt Schob's. One of the pick sixes that almost literally killed me was. When was it against 49ers when I was pulling in. I had to go from the pregame show to khou and I was listening on the radio and just as I pulled into the parking lot, Matt Chop throws a pick six and I flipped out. I punched my windshield. It was like. It was bad. And I'm a little bit like that with Emi already, except my expectations are so low that it's not a huge surprise.
Luke Morrow
Yeah, I think that's the best one. I was going to say Brian Abreu, but he hasn't had enough good appearances either. But I think, I think he may is a good one because, yeah, it has been. Either he's been decent or he can't get out of the first inning.
Seth Payne
Yeah, Bray, you almost have the heart attack when he has a good performance.
Luke Morrow
It's true.
Seth Payne
Holy crap. Yeah.
Luke Morrow
What about the national media doesn't watch our games award?
Seth Payne
Okay, I'm going to say this. The Texans for that one only because I think a lot of times when you see people talking about CJ Stroud, you can very clearly tell the ones who act like his playoff performances were the same way he played all year long. And like there's a. It's just, there's a. It's not all of them or anything, but it's very clear that like, not only were they not even watching the Texans play, but that they haven't even bothered to do a smidgen of research or reading about it or anything. They just assumed that CJ was throwing four picks each game of the entire year. So I'll say the Houston Texans.
Luke Morrow
Yeah, I think that's the best one I'm with, you know?
Seth Payne
Well, you know, the other part of that too is that some of like some of CJ's worst or least promising games were nationally televised games during the regular season. So then that makes it feel even that much more worse than it is if you haven't been watching any of the other games.
Luke Morrow
And then last one, we're going to cut this off because we have some breaking news to actually get to. But last one, the award most likely to get Pain and Pendergast Angry award. Who would that be?
LinkedIn Advertiser
I think.
Seth Payne
I don't know. I can't speak for Sean on this one, but I will. I think that he was so high on Mike Burroughs that I think he feels personally betrayed by Mike because Mike Burroughs was so good during spring training and Sean was just like the leader of the fan club. So him, his demise has been like, personally, it's felt like it's personally injured.
Luke Morrow
Sean Pendergast, those are your sbs here for Payne and Pendergast. The SBS are tonight. All great choices. Seth, before we let the in the loop guys jump in on this, too. Get your take on it first set. The, the breaking news coming in from Chandler Rome here in the last minute. Astros are finalizing a deal to send Lance McCullers Jr. To the Milwaukee Brewers. Sources tell the Athletic.
Seth Payne
Wow.
Luke Morrow
Wow. Not done yet, but close. He says Brian McTaggart had it first.
Seth Payne
Does it say anything about the Astros picking up a big chunk of his contract or anything? You know what, you know, my first initial reaction is, okay, good for Lance as far as just, all right, get it. Like, it's, it's, it's got to be hard every time coming up and like, knowing that he's let the team down with his injuries, you know, not like he intended to get injured or anything over and over again, but maybe, maybe a fresh start in a different environment ends up being a really good thing for him.
Luke Morrow
Crosstalk sponsored by DNM Auto Leasing. As we do welcome in the fellows from in the loop. What were you, what's, what's the immediate impression or reaction? Lance McCuller seems to be on his way out of Houston into Milwaukee.
Reginald
Well, first of all, good to see you guys, as always.
Seth Payne
That was my first thought, was good
Reginald
to see you fellas, as always, good to see you.
Luke Morrow
Good to be seen.
Reginald
You know what my first thought was? The, the brewers are a contender.
Figgy
Yeah.
Reginald
They have 59 wins.
Figgy
Yep.
Reginald
So this is not like some sort of cast off salary, cast off, you know, type. The brewers have an interest in Lance McCullers and that to me is really intriguing. And then Figgy, shout out to Figgy. I'm not going to take credit for this because I think he's, I think he's tack on on this. He goes, could he be going to their bullpen? And I'm like, that's it. That, that's it. They probably have convinced him, you know, be a bullpen guy. They're, they're happy with whatever medicals are, are remaining. So I think it's pretty interesting.
Seth Payne
If there's been one thing that anybody has been steadfast on over the past decade, it's Lance McCullers insisting that he's not a bullpen.
Oregon Lottery Announcer
Right.
Seth Payne
Even though they've used them in that sporadically. But that. Yeah, maybe. Maybe that makes it a little bit easier for him, too, because he spent the last decade telling anybody and everybody, like, listen, I'll do it every now and then, but no, I am not a bullpen guy. It's a little easier to go off to a new place, be like, oh, yeah, I've always been cool with this, especially a contender.
Luke Morrow
Yeah, that would actually hurt me more. It's like when your significant others, your boyfriend or girlfriend says, like, I don't want to have kids. And then after you break up, you see on Instagram, like, six months later that they're already pregnant. Well, not six months, but a year later, they're already pregnant.
Amica Insurance Announcer
Yeah.
Figgy
You have some questions?
Luke Morrow
If it was six months, it's like,
Seth Payne
by the way, it looks like. It looks like Brian McTaggart had this news a little bit before Chandler Rome. So good job, Brian.
Luke Morrow
Yeah, Chandler did credit him. Chandler said McTaggart. Yeah, that was a. That's a big thing in that. That world. The other thing, too, is to your point, John, that the brewers do such a great job with pitchers. I mean, they've already done this with Kyle Harrison this year. They've turned him around. Now he's on the il. So maybe that plays into this. But. But the fear being, like, the Brewer sees something that maybe they believe they could still get out of. McCullers, that the Astros. Yeah, evidently we're not getting out of him here recently, at least when he was healthy.
Figgy
And that's always the interesting thing to me is, like, when you get a change of scenery, do you see that change? Because that feels like that is going to say something about the previous destination or rather the previous stop going backwards, though, to the idea of, like, him consenting to be in the bullpen. Do we know if there was, like, that opportunity for communication before this trade? Like, I imagine you make the trade with some level air quote.
Reginald
Yes.
Seth Payne
We don't know a damn thing about that. We don't getting prospects or what, Right.
Reginald
No, he meant the communication of being more receptive to. To the bullpen, I think, because I
Luke Morrow
do talk, like, legal tampering.
Seth Payne
Oh, that part. Yeah.
Luke Morrow
Yeah.
Figgy
Because, like, there I could see a situation where they go, let's just bring him in and, like, add him to what we're doing here, and maybe we can move him to the pen as a possibility, as opposed to, like, that direct consent. But, yes, I asked that because I would be right in the same place that you are, Luke in that. Oh, so you wouldn't do it over here. I thought you want to be buried in the h. Like I thought it was all about that, you know, and so that'd be a little frustrating. But at the same time, I think also there is something to be tried to sort it out within what the Astros are thinking because what do you always say? Like, show me what they do, not what they say.
Reginald
Watch what they do, not what they say.
Figgy
I'm glad that I actually quoted you correctly and that's the part.
Seth Payne
Look, so one of the details, we don't know exactly how the salary is being handled with this, but there's going to be some kind of a salary dump to some level and that. Oh, and Lance, I'm sorry if you mentioned this. Reginald Lance did have a. A no trade clause. So in terms of communication beforehand that yeah, presumably there was at least enough to get a no trade clause waived.
Reginald
Yeah, yeah.
Luke Morrow
Also the idea like I'm sure they're not getting, obviously this is not going to be a huge move. I presume maybe I should wait to see it. But just the idea of the Astros knowing like he's not factoring in our plans, despite how much we might need starting pitching help. Let's send them off for a prospect or two and I'm sure they're not going to be great prospects. You're trading for McCullers in this situation.
Reginald
Yeah.
Luke Morrow
It's almost like, hey, here, take him.
Seth Payne
If he goes on, if Lance, this will be one of the all time like, oh, crap.
Ana Garcia
Yeah.
Seth Payne
All of a sudden Lance goes on and stays healthy the entire second strikes
Reginald
out 17 Dodgers in the playoffs.
Luke Morrow
If it's the Dodgers, I'll take it.
Reginald
That's.
Seth Payne
I will be completely honest and straightforward. I'm going to hold myself to this in terms of transparency. I will not criticize the Astros if that's what happens. Like, there's no reason the Astros should accept expect that. So if it does happen, it's gonna suck for us. I'd be happy for Lance, but at the same time, like I'm not gonna sit here and be like, how could they trade him away?
Reginald
Throws 27 straight curveballs.
Seth Payne
Yeah.
Reginald
All that good stuff.
Luke Morrow
Yeah. A lot of surprise already coming in from the feedback from the listeners out there as the the latest news, in case you're just tuning in here at the top of the hour for in the loop is Lance McCullers. Apparently a trade is not quite finalized, but it looks like the Astros will be trading him to the Milwaukee Brewers. Is it a sad day for Astro fans to see him leave or kind of more so sad because it just kind of faded away here in Houston? I mean, I don't want to take too much away from your conversation. I'm sure you guys are gonna be talking about all this stuff.
Figgy
Oh, there's plenty of different nooks and crannies to get into. I think that there's a little level of bittersweetness to it, but it should just be bitter. Like, it should be like, man, you're losing a great Astros player that at least helped you get to a place that you wanted to get to. But the last. The last few years have been very contemptuous. Like, you've paid him a lot. He hasn't been able to play. We. We personally have given him a lot of credit for the battle and, like, the want to that he has, because a lot of pitchers could have just walked away a long time ago, but at the same time, like, he has held up plans here. And so this does feel like a level of release into. Okay, now what do you do with the freedom that is now there from. Even if it's just like, the mental strain of we have to keep Lance McCullers within the plans of what you're trying to do.
Reginald
I'm more with Seth on this one. I'm really just happy for. For lan.
Luke Morrow
They.
Reginald
Obviously Seth, you know him, you know, he used to come in regularly and talk with you, and just a really good dude. But beyond that, he knows how he feels. I mean, he knows there's a reason he. He waived that no trade clause. There's a reason he feels Milwaukee, of all places, is the place to which he wants to. To go, because he feels like I can contribute to a contending team. So I'm happy for him.
Luke Morrow
Maybe. Maybe this is why that pickleball facility closed down. He's like, I'm moving out of Houston. I gotta shut down the business.
Amica Insurance Announcer
Y.
Luke Morrow
By the way, you're listening to K I l t a m k I l t f m h e2 Houston and Aussie sports Station. The fellows will carry the conversation with McCullers, but I did just to keep up with tradition. I feel like when I'm in the seat, I do have to ask what is the question of the day? Just as a quick sidebar.
Reginald
Oh, yeah, I'm sure everybody has a story in their mind's eye. What is your most distinct sandlot memory? We all saw what happened last night, by the way. Just beautifully done.
Figgy
You say we all did, huh? You get people locked in on the All Star Game to that point.
Reginald
It doesn't have to be a sandlot baseball.
Figgy
No, I mean, like, when you said. We all saw that. You think everybody locked in that way? Because I don't think that they did.
Reginald
But anyway, anywho, they. They did do a sandlot tribute. Like, what. What is. Like, when I was that age, this one memory just immediately comes to mind because I can name every kid on my block that I used to play with. Yeah, I can name every one of them.
Luke Morrow
Yeah. I feel I always. Whenever we go to parks now, or even if I just see, like, a big area of grass, I don't know if I've. But we used to. We spent all of our summers playing Wiffle ball, either in my front yard or my buddies had what we just called the green. It was a roundabout of grass, and we played with metal bats and tennis balls, and we would play baseball all summer. And it makes me sad because I feel like we might have been the last generation where you don't see kids going out there and playing baseball, like, just getting a sandlot game going anymore. So I don't know. I'd have to think of a specific memory.
Amica Insurance Announcer
We.
Luke Morrow
We used to, of course, like, there were some broken windows. We played Wiffle ball. We set up seats in the neighbor's yard across the street for the kids that weren't playing to watch.
Figgy
Damn, Y' all had so many kids that y'.
Ana Garcia
All.
Seth Payne
That's pretty cool.
Figgy
Peanut gallery.
Luke Morrow
Yeah, we had a whole league. We're on different teams. We kept track of. See, that's it.
Seth Payne
That's the sandlot memory.
Luke Morrow
Oh, we were so into Wiffle ball.
Reginald
That's the one.
Luke Morrow
I remember school. Yep.
Seth Payne
I remember we were playing 500, and I was. I was a fielder playing 500, and, you know, I was gonna get a fly ball. It was headed my way, which is like. Like a hundred points, right? Or whatever it is. And. And it was all of a sudden, out of nowhere, as I was waiting for the ball to get to me, my neighbor Brian Shoemaker's dog came out of nowhere and bit me in the leg. And I didn't. I didn't make the catch. You know, Tank Dell would have made the catch. You know, I'm like. I'm more focused on this damn dog biting my leg out of nowhere. The dog previously used to like me, but that was awful. Yeah, that's my fond memory.
Figgy
That's funny, because my. My memory, and I don't know how fond it is but, like, I did immediately go to playing. Playing football in the street, where a dog comes down the street, and I make. I make the worst of decision. I thankfully did not get bit. But three of the people that were playing go immediately to their house because we're right in front of their house. Lucky sons of the. Sons of. You know what.
Reginald
Yeah.
Figgy
The other two dudes jump into a truck, which. Smart, right?
Reginald
It's always smart.
Figgy
My thought was, I'm beating the dog to my house, which is about five houses down. And so, yeah, man, it was not a smart decision. I did manage to juke the dog. But, yes, that. That is. Oddly enough, we talk about playing outside, playing sports. That is immediately the thought that I come to. We all have it. The time that I had to outrun a dog that looked like it was rabid. It might have just been trying to play, but in my head, I was like, that's a rabid dog that I
Luke Morrow
need to get away from. Hey, yeah, Something scary like that will stick with you. No doubt.
Seth Payne
Rabies was big when we were kids.
Reginald
Yeah, it was quick sand.
Seth Payne
I feel like rabies is still a genuine threat, but, like, I feel like it was a little. People are better with their shots these days.
Figgy
Yeah.
Reginald
Yeah.
Seth Payne
Well, you know what? It was because of Cujo. Cujo is because Cujo, like, really freaked us out. Cujo and quick, like Cujo in the movies and quicksand on TV shows. Really. Like, there's a lot of propaganda.
Figgy
Yeah, we were doing it. We were doing a lot behind quicksand as if this was going to be an actual problem.
Luke Morrow
Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. Pet Sematary also, I'm sure, contributed. Okay, we got to get out of here because the fellas. We'll get you covered with the Lance McCullers trade. If you're just tuning in, Looks like the Astros are working on a deal to send Lance McCullers to the brewers with more details to come. That's why you have to stay locked in right here for the rest of the day to get all the latest. Seth, pleasure as always. Good to hang with you.
Seth Payne
Yes. Awesome being with you. She just flew right by.
Luke Morrow
Always does. I appreciate it.
Seth Payne
Colors plays like a Cy Young candidate for the second half of the season. I'm gonna bash my head into it.
Figgy
Thought you were gonna be happy for him.
Seth Payne
I'll be happy for him, but you'll be bashing your head.
Reginald
You'll be giddily bashing your head in.
Seth Payne
A former teammate. Him. I just sold his business for $1.6 billion. I'm happy for him.
Luke Morrow
It's like, it's like in Seinfeld where he says, I don't get why you say you're happy for people. I'm glad they're happy, but it doesn't do anything for my happiness.
Figgy
Yeah.
Luke Morrow
Yeah. So anyways, okay, McCullers trade in the works and meanwhile in the Loop starts now.
LinkedIn Advertiser
Are your ad campaigns lighting up the dashboard but not the pipeline? That's bullspin, and marketers are calling it out in Dashboard Confessions.
Seth Payne
My boss asked for results, so I opened my dashboard for the only positive sounding metric I had.
LinkedIn Advertiser
Impressions Cut the bull, spend, See revenue, not just reach LinkedIn delivers the highest return on ad spend of major ad NETWORKS. Advertise on LinkedIn spend $250 on your first campaign and get a $250 credit. Go to LinkedIn.com campaign terms and conditions apply.
Ana Garcia
Now is your time to get into a new Dr. Horton home by taking advantage of its national Red Tag sales event going on right now through Sunday, August 2nd. Stop by any of its participating communities and find select red tag homes at incredible pricing. So whether you're buying your first home or looking for an upgrade, you don't want to miss the red tag sales event going on right now. Discover the Dr. Horton Difference at DrHorton.com Dr. Horton America's Builder and Equal housing opportunity Builder Ever walk past a place for rent and wish you could just take a peek inside? Maybe even explore the layout? Envision the natural light streaming through the windows, or plan where your vinyl record collection would go. At apartments.com you can. With tools like their 3D virtual tours, you can see the exact unit you could be living in. Really envision yourself in your new home with Apartments.com, the place to find a
Oregon Lottery Announcer
place Oregon Parks make an Oregon summer, But what makes an Oregon park? Well, Oregon Lottery Gameplay helps no matter the game Megabucks, video lottery or Keno funds from lottery games help support parks projects across the state, ensuring they stay safe, accessible and open for all. In fact, Discover State Park Scratches are in stores now. It's the perfect way to put a little bit of Oregon's parks in your pocket. The Oregon Lottery Together we do good things. Must be 18 or older to play Lottery games are based on chance and should be played for entertainment only.
Amica Insurance Announcer
At Ameca Insurance, we know it's not just what's inside your home that matters, it's who you share it with. That's why we work even harder to protect it. And as a mutual insurance company, we're built for our customers. We prioritize your needs and are here for you when you need us. Amica Empathy is our best policy. Visit amica.com and get a quote today.
Main Theme:
This episode dives deep into Houston sports, with a focus on what C.J. Stroud needs to do to secure a contract extension with the Texans, which party—Stroud or the franchise—is under the most pressure this season, and live reaction to breaking news about Astros pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. being traded to Milwaukee. Hosts Seth Payne and guest host Luke Morrow offer their honest, insightful, and often witty takes, joined later in the hour by the In the Loop crew.
(01:30 – 05:58)
NFL Top 100 Criticism:
Seth critiques the NFL Top 100 voting process; notes how it underrepresents offensive linemen and overrates name recognition over actual performance.
"I was ranting a little bit about how stupid the voting process is for the NFL top 100... you might put guards and centers in the top 100, but they'd never make the top 20. Those are the guys that get hosed..."
— Seth Payne (02:06)
Lamar Jackson Comparison:
Luke highlights Lamar Jackson's dramatic fall in the rankings and discusses the impact of his shift away from using his legs due to injuries—a lead-in to C.J. Stroud’s situation.
"It's the exception that a guy doesn't use his legs... when CJ stopped running after his concussion last year, it really limited his impact."
— Seth Payne (04:17)
(05:58 – 11:43)
Winning Matters Most:
Seth argues team success, rather than just eye-popping stats, drives the QB payday. Super Bowl-winning QBs always get paid, but the overall effectiveness of the offense and not imploding in the playoffs is key.
"If there's simply a top 10 offense and it's not because of a CJ collapse in the playoffs, then that's for me, honestly. Okay, give him the going rate..."
— Seth Payne (06:56)
Both Individual and Team Performance:
Luke plays devil's advocate, arguing that both team wins and high-level individual play are necessary, drawing comparisons with Jalen Hurts and Sam Darnold (post-Super Bowl).
"You need Stroud to play well, of course, but you need the team to be successful..."
— Luke Morrow (10:43)
Financials and QB Market:
Seth draws attention to the changing market for QBs (e.g., Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold contracts in the $33M/year range), emphasizing that financial sense matters for decision-makers.
(11:43 – 18:38)
Baker Mayfield’s Swagger:
The hosts discuss Baker Mayfield’s “if he’s on your team, you love him, if not, he’s annoying” persona. Seth confesses he “stole” Arian Foster’s famous “turn around so I can see your name” trash-talk line, relayed through Mayfield mic’d-up moments.
"If Baker Mayfield were the quarterback of the Texans, I’d feel like everything about his attitude is exactly what I want...when he’s not on the Texans, he annoys the hell out of me."
— Seth Payne (17:01)
Grittiness vs. Sensitivity:
They contrast Mayfield’s emotional toughness with Stroud, referencing the difference in how the two handle adversity or play while injured.
(20:38 – 25:08)
Stroud Bears the Burden:
Seth argues there’s more pressure on C.J. Stroud than the organization. If the season disappoints, blame and potential job loss will fall on Stroud rather than GM Nick Caserio or coach DeMeco Ryans.
"It would be looked at... and blamed on CJ Stroud first and foremost... I think it’s all on CJ Stroud right now."
— Seth Payne (21:43)
NFL Job Security:
Even if moved, both agree Stroud would get another starting shot due to his youth and flashes of upside—citing how disappointment often leads to another club trying to “fix” talented QBs.
(25:08 – 30:09)
Don’t Trust Public Statements:
Discussion about how football executives always “lie” in public for business reasons, with recent examples of Mike McDonald and the speculation around Tom Brady helping the Patriots.
"All GMs... have to lie sometimes. It’s kind of a requirement of the job."
— Seth Payne (29:07)
Analogy to Personal Relationships:
The hosts riff about habitual behaviors—if someone cheats with you, they’ll cheat on you; if they gossip with you, they gossip about you.
(34:01 – 41:17)
Creating Local ESPYs:
Morrow and Payne have fun giving out humorous, Houston-centric “awards” as the ESPYs air that night:
“Please Stay Healthy” Award:
“We Owe You an Apology” Award:
“Heart Attack Performer” Award:
“National Media Doesn’t Watch Our Games” Award:
“Most Likely to Make Payne & Pendergast Angry” Award:
(41:17 – End)
Details:
Immediate Reactions:
"If Lance plays like a Cy Young candidate for the second half of the season, I'm gonna bash my head into [the desk]...I’ll be happy for him, but–"
— Seth Payne (53:19)
"They probably have convinced him: be a bullpen guy...they're happy with whatever medicals are remaining."
— Reginald (43:22)
On Stroud’s Contract Prospects:
"As long as I feel at the end of the season, okay, can they win a Super Bowl with this guy? ...I'm not going to start over and start from scratch so I can live my Trey Lance or Jimmy Garoppolo experience."
— Seth Payne (06:56)
On Pressure:
"Who loses their job if it doesn't go well this year? ...It would be looked at and blamed on CJ Stroud first and foremost."
— Seth Payne (21:43)
On National Media's Blind Spot:
"You can very clearly tell the ones who act like [CJ Stroud’s] playoff performances were the same way he played all year long."
— Seth Payne (40:27)
Banter on Trash Talk:
Baker Mayfield and Arian Foster's classic mic'd up moments; playful story of copying Foster's “turn around” line.
Sandlot Memories:
The hosts and guests share favorite childhood sports memories—narratives involving neighborhood games and escaping neighborhood dogs.
Summary:
This episode moves from sober analysis of QB contract culture and pressure, through playful local “awards,” to Houston Astros breaking news, always with the insider confidence and realness that define Payne & Pendergast. Whether you care about the Houston Texans’ future with C.J. Stroud or the latest Astros’ seismic roster move, this hour brings perspective that’s both incisive and entertaining—essential listening for H-Town sports fans.