Mike Wilbon (2:46)

So why do you want to see the other team?

Tony Kornheiser (2:48)

I'm going to tell you exactly why. And I'm not intrigued with Dallas because they have lost. Micah Parsons, you mentioned Dak Prescott. For me it is Dak Prescott. Okay? That's legit. Dak Prescott last year missed nine games, including the two Philadelphia Eagles games. We sit and we watch shows on this network that for years said, will Dak get his money? Dak got his money.

Mike Wilbon (3:11)

Got it.

Tony Kornheiser (3:11)

Now I want to see if. I want to see if he's worth the money.

Mike Wilbon (3:14)

Okay?

Tony Kornheiser (3:14)

I want to see that because I think he's the variable in this game. Do you know what his regular season record is? It's 76 and 46. He's nine and four against the Eagles. So in fact, Mike, I am intrigued on that side of the ball.

Mike Wilbon (3:31)

Okay, I'm intrigued. I said I gave you Dak, but that's it. There's a whole team out there. But a great has to deal with Saquon Barkley.

Tony Kornheiser (3:38)

But a great quarterback can keep you in the game and win the game. They didn't have it last year.

Mike Wilbon (3:45)

Magic Bird, Jordan, LeBron, Kobe going to make Dak Prescott that guy. I don't think he can control the game against this championship.

Tony Kornheiser (3:53)

But talking about being intrigued, I don't think Philadelphia, we know what they are. They're really good.

Mike Wilbon (3:59)

Wouldn't you like to see another really good, proven team in there against them? Like your own Washington Commanders?

Tony Kornheiser (4:05)

I am surprised with the matchup, but not really because it's a television show.

Mike Wilbon (4:10)

And they our bosses.

Tony Kornheiser (4:11)

They are the biggest show on the league.

Mike Wilbon (4:13)

And if you spend every single day, every show, I disagree with that. Except this one pumping the cowbo. It becomes a self fulfilling prophecy. Okay, let's put the Cowboys on.

Tony Kornheiser (4:23)

Cause we've been pumping them up. But again, Dak Prescott, that's new this year.

Mike Wilbon (4:27)

That's fair.

Tony Kornheiser (4:27)

That's all I'm saying. Dak, thank you.

Mike Wilbon (4:30)

Stay healthy for a while, Dak. Let's move to the big doings in the Women's draw of the US Open, American Amanda Anisomova beat IGA Witek in straight sets to reach tonight's semis, where she's gonna meet Naomi Osaka, my fave.

Tony Kornheiser (4:47)

Yes.

Mike Wilbon (4:48)

Who topped The Carolina Muhova 6, 4, 7, 6. Tony, which of these results was the bigger deal to you?

Tony Kornheiser (4:55)

I know where you stand on this.

Mike Wilbon (4:56)

You do?

Tony Kornheiser (4:56)

I know that you love Osaka more than anyone else in tennis. I should tell the people out there that I woke up this morning to a text that you sent to me after that match, which consisted of one word, osaka, in capital letters, and four exclamation points. Right. And look. That's true. Look. If she had been actively playing regularly in the last three or four years.

Mike Wilbon (5:18)

Yes. Five more majors, plus she's spectacular.

Tony Kornheiser (5:21)

Spectacular on hard court. And if she gets to a semi, she wins. If she gets to a final, she wins. That's not the biggest deal today. The biggest deal today is Anisimova. Ana Samova did something that words maybe can't do justice to. It is the greatest turnaround that I think we have ever seen in any sport. Just in Wimbledon, she plays Witek in the final. She loses six love. Six love. A double bagel in 57 minutes.

Mike Wilbon (5:49)

She only won 24 points. Yes.

Tony Kornheiser (5:51)

It's total destruction. And she cries afterwards, and we all cry with her.

Mike Wilbon (5:55)

Yeah.

Tony Kornheiser (5:55)

So about a month later, the Same opponent, ranked 2 in the world, she beats in straight sets. I think she might have been happy if she won three or four games. She won 12. She won 12 in New York. In the 12 games they played in Wimbledon, as you said, she only won 24 points. So this is an epic comeback, and she should be applauded. She should be carried around on a chair. That's how great it is.

Mike Wilbon (6:20)

The two most overused words in the whole language is sports, particularly. One of them is resilience. Culture is the other one. But resilience, this is resilience. You know, I mean, you've been beaten down, there's no teammates. You can't look around and blame the long snapper. No, it's just you. And she crushed you at Wimbledon.

Tony Kornheiser (6:43)

Look.

Mike Wilbon (6:44)

So I agree. Watching some of this was just. It was really cool to see her come back. I found myself rooting for her to come back.

Tony Kornheiser (6:51)

Do you know how she prepped for this?

Mike Wilbon (6:53)

Yeah, she watched it.

Tony Kornheiser (6:54)

She watched it. She watched what she did to Witek. Yeah. You know, how's that from Mental Fortitude Holmes again, how's that?

Mike Wilbon (7:00)

Resilience. But let me just go back for a Second to Osaka. I know Osaka can be the face of all tennis because while Sinner and Alcaraz beat each other's brains out all the time, it's not particularly. I love tennis. I played it. I love it. I love all of it. I don't care. I don't care about it. They just go back and forth until we get a third person in there. And I don't know if Felix from Canada is that guy, even though he's on the stage. Come on now. He's got an appealing story. All I'm saying is Tony Osaka has it such that I want to see the crowd's reaction to her the rest of the way. Because even though it says she's representing Japan, she's representing New York, and to see her mom there crying, the whole thing.

Tony Kornheiser (7:41)

No, it's a great story. But what Ana Samova did.

Mike Wilbon (7:44)

It did.

Tony Kornheiser (7:44)

Is just remarkable.

Mike Wilbon (7:46)

Short term. She was a story.

Tony Kornheiser (7:48)

Great story. Let's go to college football and two coaches who fell flat on their faces in week one. Kaylyn DeBoer of Alabama and Bill Belichick of North Carolina. It's honestly, it's hard for me to say Bill Belichick of North Carolina without giggling. All right. Alabama plays Louisiana Monroe this Saturday and North Carolina goes to Charlotte, which we have always known as UNC Charlotte. Both Alabama and Carolina should win laughingly. But Wilbon, which coach needs a big win more this weekend, DeBoer or Chapel?

Mike Wilbon (8:14)

Bill, when you hear UNC Charlotte, don't.

Tony Kornheiser (8:16)

You still think Cornbread Maxwell. Yeah, I do.

Mike Wilbon (8:18)

I do, too. We're of a certain age in old age. Come on, it's DeBord. Bill Belichick could lose. If Bill Belichick goes 0 12, he's still Bill freaking Belichick, okay? And his bust is in Canton. And nothing else that happens subsequently matters, even though it'd be embarrassment and they fire him and they do whatever. Deboer. If deboer loses this game Saturday night.

Tony Kornheiser (8:44)

That's right.

Mike Wilbon (8:45)

The amount of texting going on among the Alabama boosters as they pass the hat to raise the money to fire him on Sunday would be amazing. That story. They're not going to lose. No, but it's still DeBoer.

Tony Kornheiser (9:00)

Okay? You're 100% right. It's DeBoer. And let's go a little bit deeper into this DeBoer thing. They are a 36 and a half point favorite against Louisiana Monroe. 36 and a half. And I tell you that there's not a number in the world that they could achieve in this game, that would stop the people in Alabama from saying, we got to get rid of this.

Mike Wilbon (9:19)

That's right.

Tony Kornheiser (9:19)

Right. And by the way, Louisiana Monroe, Is that Marilyn Monroe, James Monroe or Earl Monroe? You have to tell me.

Mike Wilbon (9:25)

Like her.

Tony Kornheiser (9:25)

I'll give you a little fun fact, though. I was told today that Louisiana Monroe beat Nick Saban in his first year.

Mike Wilbon (9:31)

Nobody remembers that.

Tony Kornheiser (9:32)

2114, his first year. So if DeBoer wins that game, he's got one up on Saban. Look, I cannot argue with you that Belichick needs this more. And you're right, he could go 0110 12. I don't think he would be fired. He's totally safe. But can I step back a little bit in this regard? DeBoer. How many people in the country were familiar with DeBoer's work, let's say, three or four years ago? The answer is no. What quadrant of the answer is nobody. All right, so he had a wonderful record at Sioux Falls. So what? Bill Belichick is the greatest coach who ever lived. And I would say to you, it may be more shocking. It may be more shocking what happened to Bill Belichick last week than what happened to Kaylyn de Boer. Bill Belichick is the goat. Kaylan deboer is another grazing animal. They are not the same. They are not.

Mike Wilbon (10:22)

But as you said, one has his job. It's in jeopardy. It is jeopardy.

Tony Kornheiser (10:28)

Yes.

Mike Wilbon (10:29)

And I would say this to you. It wasn't more shocking. We don't attach whatever happens to Belichick to North Carolina directly to Belichick forever and ever and ever. We don't. But if DeBoer, if you're the guy who tries to follow the guy. We talk about this all the time. You don't want to do this. And he. If he is. Even if this game is close, they.

Tony Kornheiser (10:51)

Will want to, of course. But it's not.

Mike Wilbon (10:53)

But let me ask you this. Suppose Alabama is just not any damn good.

Tony Kornheiser (10:56)

That's possible. Then he's out. Then they will go. They'll hold bake sales all throughout the state to raise money to get him out of there to meet the numbers. It's $70 billion. Yeah. That's what they're gonna do. But I'm telling you, that's called needing it more. The historical perspective of Belichick losing. Like that. Like that. After the 7 nothing lead, they went right down the line.

Mike Wilbon (11:21)

Who wins by a bigger number? Which one of these guys? Who wins by a bigger number Saturday?

Tony Kornheiser (11:25)

Oh, deboer, come on, now, listen. Anybody come on now. Let's take a break. Coming up, how significant would it be if your boy, Aaron Rodgers, if his passes are just slightly off? We're gonna ask Steve Young to pray for that.

Mike Wilbon (11:39)

We'll also ask him what challenges Jaden Daniels might face following his standout rookie season. I'm gonna root against Rodgers harder than I've ever rooted against anybody.

Tony Kornheiser (11:48)

So do you think that Louisiana Monroe is.

Mike Wilbon (11:50)

Earl, do you think it's like that?

Tony Kornheiser (11:51)

Earl, do you think it's James?

Mike Wilbon (11:54)

I was from Louisiana, right?

Tony Kornheiser (11:57)

I don't know. I don't know.

Commercial/Announcer (12:00)

As you know, managing maintenance, repair and operations is never easy. But for the ones who always rise to the challenge, Grainger has your back. From professional grade products you can count on to fast, dependable delivery, they're there to help you keep things running smoothly. Plus, their technical product specialists are here to help answer your toughest questions. And because Granger knows safety is always a priority, they're committed to being your partner in protecting both your people and your facilities. Call 1-800-granger click grainger.com or just stop by.

Tony Kornheiser (12:38)

In the history of this show, we have had no guests. We look forward to more than the man who joins us now, my former backup at Greenwich High School, hall of Fame quarterback Steve Young, who's thrilled to be with us. And we're. All right, let's get to the first question. James Harrison said on his podcast earlier this week that Aaron Rodgers throws look about 3 inches off to him. And that can mean everything in this league. As a quarterback, how important to your success is precise ball placement?

Steve Young (13:10)

Well, let's start here. James Harrison, I'm never, you'll never hear me comment about somebody's dip and rip or their arm bar or their swim move from the defensive lineman perspective. So I just, just leave it. Look, he is, Aaron Rodgers is caravanning around the league. He's got new offenses, new players trying to get up to speed. 3 inches to me is like that's good news. To me, that is like only 3 inches off. But I will tell you, as you get to plus 40 years old, they always what you know, universally, everyone knows what's the first thing to go when you're over 40. But quarterbacks will tell you, Tony, that it's absolutely the first thing to go is your arm. And so we'll have to keep an eye on that. Right? Because Aaron Rodgers arm is not all that. We'll see it right away.

Mike Wilbon (13:53)

I would like that.

Tony Kornheiser (13:54)

I know you don't like Aaron.

Mike Wilbon (13:55)

I mean, I'm a Bears guy. He's still a cheese hit to me.

Tony Kornheiser (13:58)

I like him.

Mike Wilbon (13:59)

Steve. Jaden Daniels, of course, had that great rookie season. In your experience, what challenges do you face primarily in that next season, coming off your first really, really good season?

Steve Young (14:13)

Well, think about, you know, Mike, you, you, you throw the mechanic in the trunk as a rookie, like everything's reflexive. You jump in, you know, you, you use your intuition. You don' is not cluttered because you have to have time to clutter it. And then the off season, the coaches just go to school and they want you to become more sophisticated, which is really true. You want to grow into more sophistication. You saw Patrick Mahomes transition as he did that very effectively. And so the second year you can get overwhelmed with information and all of a sudden all the things that you did so well as a rookie was just free and open and intuitive, reflexive. It becomes kind of bogged down. So you got to be careful. And he's the only James, the only one that can guard for that and he needs to watch for it because I've seen second year guys get bogged down with too much information.

Mike Wilbon (14:56)

All right, I waited a whole question to get to my Bears, but I'm going to do it now because everybody around the Bears has high hopes because of Ben Johnson. Three new offensive linemen joining Caleb. But they still have an issue at left tackle. In your life, this would have been right tackle, where that question comes up more. But what do you do to alleviate concerns and issues? They just named the left tackle like day before yesterday. Problems here, Steve, what do you do?

Steve Young (15:27)

Yeah, you have to. I mean, as you know, Michael, they hate football, hates left lefties, hates left handed, anything. But you're going to have to line up in the left formation with a tight end over. You have to chip. You're going to have to, you know, they'll have to help. They'll have to slide that way. They'll have to make up for it. You have to make accommodations for the left tackle. There is no position on the field, maybe other than corner that is more important, that you can't hide. Football has too many people on the field, so you can usually hide guys. You cannot hide the left tackle. And I think that's why you're bringing it up.

Mike Wilbon (15:57)

I'm going to bring up Cam Ward now because he's going to start week one for the Titans. Steve, rookies have to sit sometimes forever, at least for a while. When you look at rookie quarterbacks coming to the league now, how different are things then and now.

Steve Young (16:15)

All right, so there's speed and sophistication, right? And the speed is always the same. It's always been incredible athletes, the best athletes in the world, but the sophistication is different. Back when, you know, earlier days before the rule changes for safety, I always said, in college, nobody. No receivers open in the pros. Sorry, in college, everyone's open in the pros. Nobody's open in the game today because it's less sophisticated, because there's more college, like, offense allowed because defenses can't launch and they can't cover as much ground. The transition's not as hard. It's just not. And that's why you think about the offenses you watch in college on Saturday and the offenses you watch on Sunday. There's not a huge difference where there used to be a massive difference. And that helps young quarterbacks transition. But still watch out for the speed, because the speed is so much more fast as a pro that a lot of quarterbacks still struggle.

Tony Kornheiser (17:08)

I got to say, that answer surprises me a lot, you know, because I've always lived by that notion that college is way different from the pros. And if you're saying they're meshing, that surprises me a lot. I'll say with quarterbacks, though, yeah. Joe Burrow has said some confident things recently. Told Sports Illustrated he's not sure anyone is playing the position better than he is right now, and he's ready to put on a show. It sort of sounds like boasting. Do you think boasting is a good sign for Joe Burrow?

Steve Young (17:36)

I'm not sure. I think Joe hopes so. I mean, everyone gets ready to play differently, right? Josh Allen now famously throws up before every game. Like there's. Everyone deals with it differently. I feel like Joe's probably in the mirror pre game with a shirt off, with a bicep curl and kind of looking. With a big chain, kind of looking in the mirror like, I am all that. I am that guy. You know what? And if you play great, good. I just always felt like I never wanted to say anything that made the job harder. Defense is generally, you know, nameless, faceless. But all of a sudden, they say themselves, Joe Burrow. I mean, Myles Garrett. They open up against Cleveland. Myles Garrett sees that, says, huh, I'm going to take special attention here and make sure that guy doesn't, you know, I mean, like, I just. I just. I mean, look, Aaron Rodgers did it when he said, I own Chicago. I mean, I'm sure that's going to make you happy. Michael yeah, but I think you make the job. The dangerous part is you can make the job a little harder than it already is. And it's already the hardest job in the world.

Tony Kornheiser (18:31)

We will get you out of here on this. Mark Andrews dropped that short two point conversion that cost the Ravens in their playoff loss to the Bills. As a quarterback, what do you say to that player in the off season?

Steve Young (18:45)

Well, I can tell you, I told you earlier, football has too many guys. It's chaos. And every time something goes wrong, there's 50 reasons why. And so players understand that and they understand that stuff happens, especially under dramatic circumstances. It's brutal. But I think when you have a great culture, which the Ravens have had for really 15 years, I got to give them so much credit. That locker room is always cohesive, that it can turn out to be something positive. You can spend the off season and kind of rallying in a way because, look, everyone makes. I remember I played the Raiders once. Last second touchdown wins the game. I'm running around scrambling and Jerry Rice is literally in the end zone like this, like, just waving his arms. I never see him. And we lose. And you know what? Great locker rooms handle mistakes. They deal with it. And I appreciate my teammates dealing with me over the years, too.

Mike Wilbon (19:40)

Before we let you go, I got one more thing. A PS is in my head here. Steve, what are you looking to as we go into Week 1 of the NFL season? What are you looking forward to? Any storyline, player, coach, thing element that just has you intrigued as we go into this first weekend?

Steve Young (19:57)

Well, I think more than anything, Michael, I mentioned about the rule changes. Sophistication versus college has kind of gone down. So the transition can happen. I'm looking for those transitions of teams that can just turn the. Turn the page. The 49ers are trying to turn the page. You know, the Vikings are trying to turn the page. There's good teams out there that you want, especially in preseason, which September is in the preseason. You want to see them be able to turn it that fast so they can actually compete in December and January for the ultimate prize. So I'm watching for those teams that are in transition to see how fast they can do it.

Tony Kornheiser (20:31)

I know I speak for Wilbur when I say this is a great thrill and joy for us.

Mike Wilbon (20:34)

Absolutely.

Tony Kornheiser (20:34)

We're so happy to have you back.

Mike Wilbon (20:36)

Thank you much, Dave.

Tony Kornheiser (20:37)

Thank you.

Steve Young (20:37)

The best. I love it.

Tony Kornheiser (20:38)

I love it.

Steve Young (20:39)

We'll see you next week.

Tony Kornheiser (20:40)

Let's take another break. But on the way, would you rather have Lamar Jackson or Josh Allen on Sunday night.

Mike Wilbon (20:46)

And are the Lions or the the Packers a better bet in the NFC North? I hate them both.

Tony Kornheiser (20:50)

Yeah. Toss up. Doesn't this make you happy that Steve's here?

Mike Wilbon (20:54)

Absolutely.

Tony Kornheiser (20:54)

Very happy. Absolutely.

Mike Wilbon (20:56)

By the way, the first person I ever heard talk about preseason now extending into September was Steve about 25 years ago.

Tony Kornheiser (21:03)

So the, the sense that those early.

Mike Wilbon (21:04)

Games are not what they're not what they used to be in the, you know.

Tony Kornheiser (21:08)

Yeah.

Mike Wilbon (21:08)

Even when he came into the league.

Commercial/Announcer (21:10)

Game on Week one starts now. And every touchdown brings you closer to a payout with DraftKings Sportsbook, an official sports betting partner of the NFL. This isn't just football. It's first touchdown fireworks anytime, TD rushes and live bets that ride every momentum shift at DraftKings. Every play is your next shot to win new customers. This one's for you. Bet just five bucks and get $300 in bonus bets instantly. Plus grab over $200 off NFL Sunday Ticket from YouTube and YouTube TV. Your season starts now. Download the DraftKings Sportsbook app and use code PTI that's code PTI to get 300 bucks in bonus bets instantly. When you place your first bet of $5 or more. Plus over $200 off NFL Sunday Ticket from YouTube and YouTube TV in partnership with DraftKings. The crown is yours. Gambling problem. Call 1-800-GAMBLER in New York. Call 877-8-HOPENY or text hopeny467-369 in Connecticut. Help is available for problem gambling. Call 888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org Please play responsibly on behalf of Boothill Casino and Resort in Kansas. Fees May apply in Illinois. 21 plus. Age and eligibility varies by jurisdiction. Void. In Ontario, bonus bets expire seven days after issuance. See sportsbook.draftkings.com promos NFL Sunday Ticket offer for new subscribers only and auto renews until canceled. Digital games and commercial use excluded restrictions apply. Additional NFL Sunday ticket terms@YouTube.com go NFLSundayticket terms limited time offer.

Tony Kornheiser (22:55)

It's time for toss up. Two men enter, one man leaves, then struggles to finish this seemingly never ending show.

Mike Wilbon (23:03)

Stop.

Tony Kornheiser (23:03)

What's first? Toss up. They play Sunday night.

Commercial/Announcer (23:06)

Would you rather have Lamar Jackson or Josh Allen?

Tony Kornheiser (23:10)

Okay, this is the best game on the board. It is. This is the one everyone wants to see. This is the game that you look at and you look at both teams and you say, yeah, I could see them in the Super Bowl. And this is the game where you look at both quarterbacks and you ask, what are they waiting for? They have both been MVPs. Lamar has been the MVP twice at this point. Lamar Jackson has been very disappointing in the playoffs. He's 3 and 5 in the playoffs. Josh Allen has been 76 in the playoffs and has been 20 against Lamar Jackson in the playoffs. This is not the playoffs.

Mike Wilbon (23:40)

No, not yet.

Tony Kornheiser (23:41)

This is the regular season. And for all the kids out there who wonder who's good in the regular season, the answer is Lamar Jackson. Lamar Jackson in a regular season is 70 and 24. That's insane. And he's 3:1 against Josh Allen in the regular season. Now, all discussions are going to be framed over the fact that neither of these people has gone to the Super Bowl. But if you're asking me who I like in this game because it's the regular season, even though they're on the road, I like Lamar Jackson.

Mike Wilbon (24:08)

I like Lamar Jackson as well. And talk about toss up. You'll take either one. Yes, but I'm going to take Lamar Jackson in this circumstance. What did surprise me, Tony was hearing recently, maybe as recently as this morning, that either whether they're the betting favorite or the Vegas favorite, these two are favored ahead of Philadelphia and Kansas City.

Tony Kornheiser (24:27)

I wouldn't do that.

Mike Wilbon (24:28)

I'm not taking them.

Tony Kornheiser (24:29)

I wouldn't do that.

Mike Wilbon (24:29)

I'm not taking them either. And tell you what else I'm not hearing. I'm not hearing. And we kid because we love any of the nonsense that I often hear on get up. And first take that Caleb Williams is under the most pressure. Dak Prescott is. No, they're not. The dudes who've been on deck for years with the bat in their hands and never get the turn and play, they're under the most pressure, period. I don't even know if I can separate them in terms of Lamar from Josh, who's under individually the most. But I'm going to take Lamar Jackson in this game.

Tony Kornheiser (25:03)

I'll just say this. The first week of the NFL schedule is as good as the first week of the college schedule. I mean, you're just going to sit there and watch. You're going to sit there and watch what's next? Toss up. They play on Sunday better NFC north team, the Lions or the Packers? Okay, so the boomlet about the Packers, I think is being stoked by the fact that they just got Michael Parsons. And there is a notion out there that you hear that Jordan Love is an MVP candidate.

Mike Wilbon (25:31)

Yeah.

Tony Kornheiser (25:31)

So let's just look at what they've done in the last Two years. The packers have been to the playoffs and they have gone 1 and 2. The Lions have also been to the playoffs the last two years and they have gone 2 and 2, which is a little bit better. In the last two regular seasons, the packers have gone 20 and 14. The Lions, hello, have gone 27 and 7. And that's a lot better. Now, I know they lost their coordinators, right? Ben Johnson. You're happy. Ben Johnson went to the Bears. Aaron Glenn went to the Jets. But they still have Dan Campbell, don't they?

Mike Wilbon (26:01)

Yeah.

Tony Kornheiser (26:01)

So my position is that I think the Lions are a little bit better. But this is your division. What do you think?

Mike Wilbon (26:08)

I've obsessed over all this for the last six weeks. And you know, I can cheer for the Lions. I cheered for the Lions the last.

Tony Kornheiser (26:15)

Couple of years, but not the Packers.

Mike Wilbon (26:17)

Never. Never. I cannot. Nothing inside of me will allow for that. And yet I look at the packers and think, before the trade, they were better. And Jordan Love, what is this, like, his fifth season? Jordan Love's been around for a while. He hasn't been great yet.

Tony Kornheiser (26:30)

No.

Mike Wilbon (26:30)

So the leap that people who have him as preseason mvp, the leap they're expecting him to take is a pretty big one.

Tony Kornheiser (26:37)

Yeah.

Mike Wilbon (26:37)

But the packers seem to have everything. And now the one thing you have to have to me, particularly in that division, you have to have a Hall of Fame defensive player. Packers have that now. They do, yes.

Tony Kornheiser (26:49)

And Mike.

Mike Wilbon (26:50)

And I think he. I think Mike is going to be better for the packers than he was for the circus. In the circus of Dallas.

Tony Kornheiser (26:56)

Isn't the kid returning to the Lions? Is he not one of those potential.

Mike Wilbon (27:01)

They have everything but the brain drain to me is going to cost the Lions.

Tony Kornheiser (27:05)

Yeah.

Mike Wilbon (27:05)

I don't know that you can lose those lieutenants. I know Dan Campbell is a players coach and those guys follow him.

Tony Kornheiser (27:11)

More successful than either of us thought he was.

Mike Wilbon (27:12)

But you know what he did. It reminds me of Mike Ditka. He allowed his lieutenants to really coach that team. And I don't know how much he's going to miss from them being gone.

Tony Kornheiser (27:20)

What's next? Toss up.

Mike Wilbon (27:22)

They play on Sunday.

Tony Kornheiser (27:23)

Which new head coach do you expect to have more success, Pete Carroll or Mike Vrabel? Pete Carroll is a great coach. Pete Carroll has won a Super bowl.

Mike Wilbon (27:33)

And he should have won a second.

Tony Kornheiser (27:34)

And he's won a national championship. Should have won another one. Right. He's done both of those things and I expect him to be terrific. Pete Carroll, when he was with Seattle, I believe, went to the playoffs. 10 of his 14 years. That's impressive. 10 of four. Not everybody can be. Mike Tomlin have a winning season all the time. Okay, so Pete Carroll is very impressive. But I have fears for the Raiders because the division. Yes, they're in a division with Kansas City, with the Chargers, with Denver. Are they not all three playoff teams? I think they are. So I have fears for that. Mike Frabel, I thought, did a pretty good job at Tennessee, and he's an obvious local hero in New England. He was on three different super bowl championship teams there. People say that Drake May is going to be a very slippage of him, too. But in that division, you have the jets and the Dolphins. Those are beatable teams. And so I am going to say in the short term, I'm going to say Vrabel.

Mike Wilbon (28:28)

I'm going to say Vrabel, too. And part of it is just looking at the division and, you know, maybe one of those other teams in that division will be the team that flips it, and maybe it will be Vrabel in New England that flips it. I look at. I have higher hopes for Drake May than I have for JJ McCarthy. Again, the slurpage of him having not taken a snap is absurd.

Tony Kornheiser (28:48)

Yeah, it's absurd. Like Drake may play he.

Mike Wilbon (28:51)

You saw things at the end of the season that you have on film at the. In the NFL that tell you that he can play in Vrabel, I think, and get the most out of him. I don't want to doubt Pete Carroll, though. I just think the division is too hard because you got those teams you have to go against, and Denver is coming.

Tony Kornheiser (29:06)

Have you seen the coaches in that division? Yeah. I mean, now Andy Reid has won Super Bowls. Sean Payton's won Super Bowls, and Harbaugh. Right, and Harbaugh has won National.

Steve Young (29:16)

Come on.

Tony Kornheiser (29:17)

Have you ever seen, well, the NFC east when we were younger. When we were younger.

Mike Wilbon (29:21)

Jimmy Johnson, Joe Gibbs, Bill Parcells, and who am I leaving?

Tony Kornheiser (29:23)

Buddy Ryan.

Mike Wilbon (29:24)

Buddy Ryan.

Tony Kornheiser (29:24)

Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay, what's next? Toss up.

Mike Wilbon (29:27)

They play Sunday.

Tony Kornheiser (29:29)

Which former overall number one pick has more to prove this season? Bryce Young or Trevor Lawrence? This is a no doubt situation.

Mike Wilbon (29:38)

It is a no doubt.

Tony Kornheiser (29:38)

This is a no doubt. It's Trevor Lawrence. Okay? There's just no question. Ding, ding, ding. When Trevor Lawrence came out of college, he was considered a can't miss, almost transformational quarterback. And in fact, in his second year at Jacksonville, he went from 3:14 to 9:8. He got into the playoffs, he won a playoff game, and the trajectory appeared to be going straight up into the air.

Mike Wilbon (30:00)

Yep.

Tony Kornheiser (30:01)

And since then, I'm pretty sure he's 10 and 16. And last year in the games that he played, he was 2 and 8. He had 11 touchdown passes and seven interceptions. And the trajectory is flat now. It's flat. The other kid, it was unexpected that he was the overall number one to begin with. And when he had a really bad start in his first year, people looked at him and said, see? So the mediocrity, recent mediocrity of Trevor Lawrence is stunning.

Mike Wilbon (30:29)

The answer is Trevor Lawrence. As you know, I thought that General Lawrence as a freshman and sophomore was the best quarterback I had ever seen in college, seen even better than John Elway, who was truly, truly, truly great. But he was sort of 6 and 5 ish. Elway didn't have that kind of talent around him. Trevor Lawrence, my God, I just thought, okay, he's going to step in the league and within by the, by the beginning of the third season, he's going to take off and he's going to be out there with the elite, and he's not now how much of that has to do which. And I lived through this in Chicago with the last couple of quarterbacks, at least with coaching. And so there's another new coach now.

Tony Kornheiser (31:10)

There'S a new coach, Liam Cohen.

Mike Wilbon (31:11)

There's another new coach there. And we don't know. I mean, they have to, don't they have to go somewhere else and let him start somewhere else if this doesn't work again. How long is the leash for Trevor Lawrence? Because he's the answer to this question.

Tony Kornheiser (31:25)

He's 100% the answer to this question. He would be the answer against any other quarterback that you would name in the league because of the way he came in. Yeah, that's it. Let's take one other break. When we return, could the Steelers really have an historic defense? We're going to ask Booger McFarland.

Mike Wilbon (31:41)

We'll also ask him whether he believes Aiden Hutchinson could actually be better after recovering from that broken leg.

Tony Kornheiser (31:49)

When he. When is this show going to end?

Booger McFarland (31:50)

Never.

Tony Kornheiser (31:51)

How much do we have to say?

Mike Wilbon (31:52)

Harry Lewis, baby. Yeah.

Tony Kornheiser (31:55)

So people have to give us money to get off the air.

Mike Wilbon (31:57)

I said we go another hour. Send us money another hour.

Tony Kornheiser (32:00)

Get us off the air.

Mike Wilbon (32:01)

Let's play two.

Tony Kornheiser (32:02)

Come on.

Mike Wilbon (32:03)

Let's play two.

Tony Kornheiser (32:03)

Come on. What are you, Ernie Banks?

Commercial/Announcer (32:06)

You don't need another hat. You need a personalized plan to regrow hair through hims. You can access treatments that combine clinically proven minoxidil and finasteride to stop hair loss and regrow hair in just three to six months. HIMS offers convenient access to a range of prescription hair loss treatments with ingredients that work, including chews, oral medication, serums and sprays. You shouldn't have to go out of your way to feel like yourself. Hims brings expert care straight to you with 100% online access to personalized treatments that put your goals first. No hidden fees, no surprise costs, just real personalized care on your schedule. Think of HIMS as your digital front door that gets you back to your old self. For simple online access to personalized and affordable care for hair loss, ED, weight loss and more, visit hims.com PTI that's hims.com PTI for your free online visit himss.com PTI Individual results may vary based on studies of topical and oral minoxidil and finasteride. Prescription required. See website for full details, restrictions and important safety information.

Tony Kornheiser (33:20)

With the NFL season kicking off tonight, we are thrilled to welcome back our great friend ESPN NFL and college football analyst Mr. Bogart McCarn from a random hotel room in Philadelphia where he's going to tonight's game and wearing a Boone Valley golf shirt. Let's start with this. How do you see Micah Parsons working out and maybe fitting in with Green Bay?

Booger McFarland (33:42)

You know what, Tony? I think he's going to fit in well because he's an elite player, he's an elite pass rusher, and I think if you're Green Bay, what you envision is Michael Parsons paired with Rashawn Gary because now you have one of the most dynamic pass rushes in football and it gives Green Bay so much versatility. We know what they can do offensively with Met lafleur and Love and all those guys, but defensively, if and when they get a lead, can they close people out? You know, a lot of people are talking about Herschel Walker and the big trade that the Cowboys made. To me, this is akin to when the Green Bay packers got Reggie White because it shifted the dynamic in football because they had one of the elite pass rushers coming to Green Bay. I think Green Bay envisions Michael Parsons having that kind of impact on their team, and if they stay healthy, they're going to be right there with Detroit and Philadelphia in the NFC competing for the Super Bowl.

Mike Wilbon (34:34)

Well, Booger, conversely, where does the absence leave the Cowboys?

Booger McFarland (34:41)

As my grandfather once told me, up the creek without a paddle, Mike. And I promise you there's no paddle waiting on him because essentially you don't get better trading hall of Fame players. It just doesn't happen. Jerry can say whatever he wants to say. Michael Parsons is one of the three or four game changers in football. And if you're Dallas, no matter who you draft down the road, no matter who you plug in there right now, you're not going to have somebody that can change the game. And so they're going to put a lot of pressure on Dak Prescott, a lot of pressure on CD Lamb, a lot of pressure on George Pickings because the offense is going to have to carry the weight defensively. I feel bad for those guys because that defense is going to get a lot of blame when they're not dealt the full deck. And for Matt Eberfluz, the defensive coordinator especially, he's got to go out and stop people. He's got to go out and get stops and he's not going to be able the full gamut of what he envisioned when he took that job.

Mike Wilbon (35:38)

Are we gonna stay with the pass rushers for a second? The category because Trey Hendrickson bet on himself to the tune of $30 million for the one season and at 31 years old, Booger, if you were doing this, would you have bet on yourself even for that price or do you take the security that might have come with a different negotiation?

Booger McFarland (36:01)

You know, I'm a very confident guy and if you're not gonna bet on Bull, if I can't bet on me, then who else is going to bet on me? But here's the problem with football, though. Like the injury rate is 100%. It's not if you're going to get hurt, it's when. And so maybe if I'm Trey Henderson, I decided to kind of push the envelope of the envelope a little bit and see how much guaranteed money I can get. I think he tried to do the best he could. Cincinnati has been shown that. They've shown us that they will spend money. They just did it on the offensive side of the football with Jamar Chase and Joe Burrow and T. Higgins. I think Trey Henderson did the best he could. He's going to bet on himself next year, Mike, because he signed and did like a one year patch deal, basically saying, I can be a free agent next year. But you know what Cincinnati will probably do? They'll probably franchise knowing what Mike Brown and those guys will do. So I hope Trey goes out and has an unbelievable season and put Cincinnati in a bind. Or they got to pay in TJ Watt type money or they got to.

Mike Wilbon (36:59)

Let him go I like having all these questions about defensive players. Tony, no quarterback zone.

Booger McFarland (37:04)

Dan Campbell.

Mike Wilbon (37:06)

Bug says that he believes Aiden Hutchinson can return from this broken leg an improved player due to greater flexibility, better hips, blah, blah, blah, hand technique, all that. Are you buying this?

Booger McFarland (37:22)

Listen, all three of us are golfers. Have you ever got better at golf without swinging the club? Like, at some point you actually have to go to the range and practice the game of golf in order to get better at it. So I understand what Dan is saying. Maybe he became a better athlete, maybe he became more flexible, maybe he can do Pilates better. But you only get better at the game of football by playing the game of football. And I think his expertise and his wisdom and his knowledge about the game may be better, but he's not going to come back the same player. You actually have to get out and play in real game reps in order to get ready. So he was well on his way to being defensive player of the year last year. I think he has an opportunity to eventually get back there, but he's not going to pick up there. Like, football is a show me game. Guys like you don't just roll out of bed and line up and get 15, 16 sacks. If that was the case, I'd roll out of bed and be a scratch golfer. And Tony, me and you, we're not scratch golfers just yet.

Tony Kornheiser (38:16)

No, not unless you consider 20 somewhere close to scratch. And I certainly don'. We'll stay with defense here. Veteran safety Juan Thornhill says he believes the Steelers have a chance to be one of the best defenses of all time. And Mike Tomlin said it could be historic. Really? Is that how you see it?

Booger McFarland (38:35)

Well, I don't know about all time, because when you talk about all time now, you're Talking about the 85 bears will bond. You talking about the Ravens, you're talking about the Buccaneers. Like, they're not going to be that. But can it be really good? Yes. Now, why does he say that? Because you have the addition of Jalen Ramsey, Joey Porter Jr. So you have one of the best secondaries in football up front. You have Cam Hayward, T.J. watt, Highsmith. You got Patrick Queen. Like, you got a lot of dudes that can affect the game. And if they stay healthy, they're going to be very dynamic. They have the ability to do and play you however they want to play you. But let's pump the brakes because the 2002 Bucks and the Ravens and the Bears would like a word before you start entering defenses into the all time conversation.

Tony Kornheiser (39:18)

Okay.

Mike Wilbon (39:19)

Some just common sense on this show book. I got a follow up on this Steelers question and I'm stealing this from Tony because this is about quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Where as we go into this season, where are you on how effective you think Aaron Rodgers is going to be as he enters what, 42 age? 42. What's he going to look like?

Booger McFarland (39:42)

Well, the effectiveness of him is going to be determined by the offensive line. They got a lot of money and a lot of first round picks invested in the offensive line. So if they can protect him. Yeah, his arm is still good, but I don't know about you guys. Like when I roll out of bed at 45, 46, 47, like I don't necessarily feel great. And so the fact that he's going to be 42, he's going to roll out of bed and he's going to feel that now the arm is still good. He might not be as mobile, but I do believe if he's protected he can give them average quarterback play. He's not going to be the MVP or the four time MVP that he's being, but he can give them average quarterback play. And if you put that with the defense, I think then they have the ability to make some noise. I think they're going to be a playoff team. Guys. I'm a believer in Mike Tomlin. I'm a believer in the defense. I think he'll stay healthy. I think they can make the playoffs. Beyond that, it depends on how the ball bounces.

Tony Kornheiser (40:33)

Did you actually talk about 45 and 46 and 47? Do you know how deep in the rearview mirror that is for us? Do you have any idea? We cannot even remember that. We'll get you out of here on this. Which team's defense in the entire league are you particularly interested in watching this weekend?

Booger McFarland (40:49)

For me it's the Houston Texans. If you think about it, I think they have a chance to have the fastest defense in football. The secondary could be elite led by Derek Slingley Jr. Up front, it's Danielle Hunter, it's Will Anderson, and at the helm of it all is d' Amico Ryan. So we know from a defensive standpoint he's a mastermind. I think they're going to be hungry, I think they're going to be fast and they play on a surface that's going to allow their speed to show. Nobody's talking about them because we're all talking about Philadelphia, Baltimore, Buffalo. But the Houston Texans defense, to me, Tony, is as good as can be. And if they can just get 21, 24 points from an offense that needs to take a tick up because they traded away Laramie Tonsil. CJ Shroud wasn't as good last year. So if the offense can carry their weight, they got a chance to be really good in Houston. And nobody, I mean nobody's talking about the Houston Texans.

Tony Kornheiser (41:41)

Well, we'll pay attention now because you.

Mike Wilbon (41:43)

Were just talking about.

Tony Kornheiser (41:44)

Thank you so much as always. A great pleasure to have you know.

Booger McFarland (41:47)

That I'm always glad to be back. And somebody tell Dalbo he needs to grade on a different curve.

Tony Kornheiser (41:54)

We agree with that. Let's take one last break. Still to come, Angel Reese apologizes for some harsh words towards her teammates.

Mike Wilbon (42:03)

Nasty words. Yes. Junior Caminero of the Rays is doing something truly rare in baseball. Houston okay, I'm gonna look at the Texans a little differently now.

Tony Kornheiser (42:13)

It's so interesting because I mean I think of the quarterback immediately. I think of CJ Stroud and whether or not he goes forward again like his first.

Commercial/Announcer (42:20)

This message is brought to you by Apple Pay. Forget your wallet. It's all good because with Apple Pay you can pay with a simple tap of your iPhone, a wallet you never forget at millions of places worldwide, including websites, apps and anywhere you see the contactless symbol. Security is built in with face ID so you don't have to worry about your cards getting lost or stolen. And the best part? You still earn the card rewards, points and cash back you love. So say goodbye to the buy fold, add your card to Apple Wallet and start paying the Apple way terms apply.

Tony Kornheiser (42:59)

Happy time people. Happy 57th birthday. Mike Piazza, the Hall of Famer, hit more home runs than any primary catcher ever. Piazza hit 427 home runs overall and 396 of them while he was catching. Piazza hit at least 30 home runs in nine different seasons and twice had a personal best of 40 homers. Piazza's home run numbers take on relevance as Cal Rawley continues to have the greatest home run season of any catcher ever. Rollie's now sitting on 51 homers. Piazza was a 12 time All Star, which is really something considering he was drafted in the 62nd round of the 1988 draft and Tommy Lasorda took him as a favor to his old pal Piazza's father, Vince.

Mike Wilbon (43:42)

We talked yesterday and you know more about this than than I do because having followed these two franchises about the Dodgers and Mets being the franchises of pitchers, he's the guy, he's the exception. That's right, Mike Piazza.

Tony Kornheiser (43:54)

Fair. Right. That's that's totally great but those are pitching franchises.

Mike Wilbon (43:57)

Yes.

Tony Kornheiser (43:58)

Happy Anniversary Jerry Jo on this day 13 years ago, the ever visible Cowboys owner had his then son in law shy Anderson clean his glasses for him during a Cowboys win over the Giants in the NFL season opening game. Everyone remembers this video. Notice we said then son in law. That status has changed and Anderson, who worked under Jerry in the organization now has no role with the team. Jerry has to clean his own glasses. I guess. The Cowboys haven't been to the super bowl since January of 1996 and their playoff record in the last 10 seasons? Just two and five. But honestly Mike, do you know anyone having more fun than Jerry Jones?

Mike Wilbon (44:34)

You're not going to have any fun tonight.

Tony Kornheiser (44:35)

Well okay.

Mike Wilbon (44:36)

Cuz his team is going to get trampled.

Tony Kornheiser (44:38)

Okay.

Mike Wilbon (44:39)

If you're Philadelphia, this is personal. It's professional, it's it's blood rival. It's if you're the Eagles and anything to do with Eagles nation, you have to hate the Cowboys and want to crush crush them. What's Jerry gonna say? Gonna clean his glasses so he can see that better.

Tony Kornheiser (44:56)

Gotta see it. Gotta see the crushing firsthand. Happy trails to Angel Reese. It appears the Chicago Sky Star will be automatically suspended for Friday's game against the Fever after drawing her eighth technical foul of the season in last night's win over the Sun. After the game, she apologized for remarks she made to the Chicago Tribune that included this humdinger about next season. I'm quite quoting here. I'm not settling for the same bleep we did this year. We have to get good players. We have to get great players. That's a non negotiable for me. It's going to be very, very important this offseason to make sure we attract the best of the best. Because we can't settle for what we have this year. Unquote.

Mike Wilbon (45:34)

Ouch. When you say something like that, just own it. Don't come back and say it was taken out of context. There's plenty of context. Angel Reese and I follow this team has had great games and I want her to be in Chicago and be the star of that franchise and let them put other players around her. She's right. But you can't say it that way.

Tony Kornheiser (45:53)

How do you think her teammates feel today?

Mike Wilbon (45:54)

Bad. Angry. And if you do say it, own it. Don't pass it off. Don't just own it.

Tony Kornheiser (46:00)

One error. Earl Monroe was born in Philadelphia, not Louisiana. Wilbon. Got that wrong.

Mike Wilbon (46:04)

Oops. Philadelphia born and raised on the playground where I spent most of My days.

Tony Kornheiser (46:08)

I believe that's a song. Let's go to the big finish. Junior Dominero became the fourth youngest player hit 40 home runs in a season. Are you impressed?

Mike Wilbon (46:16)

Fourth.

Tony Kornheiser (46:16)

Okay.

Mike Wilbon (46:17)

Ott Acuna Jr. Acuna Jr. And Eddie Matthews. That's a good list of fourth. Matt Chapman of the Giants appealed his one game suspension. Got to play last night. That mattered, didn't it?

Tony Kornheiser (46:28)

He had two home runs. Yeah. So I would say that from a legal standpoint, he did the right thing. Your Cubs pulled rookie Kate Horton after 75 pitches despite the fact he had a no hitter through five. Is that okay about you?

Mike Wilbon (46:38)

No, in real time. You. I was angry and we lost the game, which made me angrier to the Braves. But blister a couple of games ago and the cred council is saving him and setting this up a blister in the playoffs. I'm trying here to be calm. U.S. open Men's Semis tomorrow. Who you got?

Tony Kornheiser (46:56)

I know you think Djokovic has a real chance and maybe he does, but I think you have to take Alcaraz's dinner and you know, last one links at ACEs tonight. Is that's significant?

Mike Wilbon (47:06)

Yeah, because the links just win every game. What are they, like 13 or something? At 12, I'm thinking we go to 13. The links, they come on now. You need to tune in.

Tony Kornheiser (47:17)

We're out of time. Trying to do better the next time. I'm Tony Kornheiser.

Mike Wilbon (47:21)

Tennis on tonight to the women's series.

Booger McFarland (47:23)

I'm Mike Wilbon.

Mike Wilbon (47:24)

We are off until Monday. Knuckleheads. Talk about stepping up. It's time to level up your game.

Booger McFarland (47:32)

Introducing the all new ESPN app. All of ESPN all in one place. Your home for the most live sports and the best championship moments.

Tony Kornheiser (47:41)

The electricity is palpable.

Booger McFarland (47:43)

Step up your game. With no annual contract required.

Mike Wilbon (47:47)

It's the ultimate fan experience. Level up.

Booger McFarland (47:50)

For More on the ESPN app or at stream.espn.com sign up now.