How far can Philip Rivers lead the Colts?

Summary

PTI Podcast Episode Summary: "How Far Can Philip Rivers Lead the Colts?"

Date: December 9, 2025
Hosts: Tony Kornheiser & Michael Wilbon
Guest: Jeff Saturday (ESPN NFL Analyst)

---

Episode Overview

This episode of PTI dives into one of the NFL’s most jaw-dropping comeback stories: the Indianapolis Colts signing 44-year-old Philip Rivers to their practice squad, with the possibility of promotion to the starting role. Tony and Mike debate whether the move is inspired or desperate, dissect the fallout from Monday Night Football, break down key MLB free agency moves, and welcome Jeff Saturday for his thoughts on Rivers, the state of the Bears, and controversial NFL calls. The show balances sharp insight with playful banter, maintaining PTI’s signature mix of opinion and humor.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Monday Night Football Recap – Chargers outlast Eagles (00:59–04:14)

• Chargers: Justin Herbert, fresh from surgery, led the team to a gutsy OT victory over the Eagles, earning admiration from teammates and PTI hosts.
  • Wilbon: “To have surgery in the same week and come out there and run it nine, 10 times…said all good things to me about the Chargers.” [01:53]
• Eagles: Despite a strong defense (7 sacks), Philly’s offense remains lost, with Jalen Hurts committing five turnovers.
  • Kornheiser: “The offense has vanished in the last five games. They have fewer touchdowns scored than every team in the league other than the Raiders.” [02:52]
• Both hosts agree the Eagles are still division leaders but now shakier heading into the season’s final stretch.

Colts Sign Philip Rivers: Inspired or Desperate? (04:14–07:13)

• The Colts, desperate due to injuries to Daniel Jones, Anthony Richardson, and rookie Riley Leonard, bring back Rivers, who last played in 2020.
  • Kornheiser: “There is no list [of good QBs at age 44].” [04:58]
  • Points out exceptions like Tom Brady don’t make Rivers’ potential return less risky.
• Wilbon compares Rivers’ comeback to Charles Barkley’s brief comeback attempt:
  • Wilbon: “You retire…you lose some weight and you heal up and you come back…until the first time somebody knocks you out.” [06:09]
• Skepticism abounds regarding Rivers’ ability to handle the mayhem of live NFL action at 44.

MLB Free Agency Moves: Schwarber Stays, Diaz Goes (07:13–09:49)

• Kyle Schwarber re-signs with the Phillies on a team-friendly, 5-year, $150M deal. Wilbon views this as the bigger impact.
  • “Schwarber goes out there between 155 and 162 games every year. There’s no threat of Tommy John…he’s giving you 50 home runs plus.” [08:12]
• Edwin Diaz signs with the Dodgers, a three-year, $69M contract.
  • Kornheiser: “He is what the doctor ordered…and he makes it a legitimate conversation that the Dodgers could go back-to-back-to-back.” [09:29]
• Disagreement: Wilbon sees Schwarber as the bigger story; Kornheiser says Diaz fills the Dodgers’ most urgent need.

---

Interview: Jeff Saturday Joins for “Five Good Minutes”

(13:04–18:45)

Colts & Philip Rivers (13:21–14:19)

• On the Rivers signing:
  • Saturday: “Desperate times, desperate measures…they are reaching, right? They’re grasping at straws.” [13:21]
  • “At Seahawks, different Seahawks defense…you’re 44, bro. Get rid of the rock. Do not hold it, don’t double pump…and you ain’t fast enough to get out of the pocket. Protect yourself…It could get ugly.” [13:55]

Bears 4th-and-1 Playcall vs Packers (14:19–15:43)

• Wilbon wanted the Bears to run the ball; Saturday, as a former lineman, empathizes but admits the pass play was there for the taking.
  • Saturday: “Offensive lineman, right, like we wear a defense out, we got them fatigued. We want this to happen…But…unfortunately, the play doesn’t get executed and there’s a pick, but…they fought like crazy.” [14:46]
  • “This is why you can’t have nice things, Mike…” [15:29]

Ravens Controversial Catch Rule (15:43–16:58)

• On a “clear as mud” catch rule and a possibly blown call vs. the Ravens:
  • Saturday: “It’s a catch…his feet are on the ground, like, I don’t understand…most frustrating thing for a fan, but also for players and coaches, because to [Harbaugh’s] point, it is clear as mud…You have no idea.” [16:09]

ACC, Notre Dame, and Playoff Politics (16:58–18:37)

• Saturday supports the ACC’s handling of the Miami/Notre Dame situation, emphasizing the need for a true best-teams approach.
  • “Both can be true…They did right by Miami…Conferences are supposed to do. Push their groups and make it happen…The truth is, this shouldn’t be about conferences—the CFP should have the top 12 and let them go play.” [17:28]

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Kornheiser, on Rivers' comeback:
  “If he can revive these Colts, then it would be inspired. But if we could, let's look at the really good quarterbacks in NFL history who were 44. But let's leave Tom Brady out... There is no list. There is no list.” [04:58]

• Wilbon, on Rivers facing NFL contact at 44:
  “You feel really good now until the first time somebody knocks you out. And then you say, no, I can't do this. And it seems that Charles (Barkley) came to that realization and Philip Rivers has not.” [06:09]

• Jeff Saturday, on protecting old quarterbacks:
  “At Seahawks…you’re 44, bro…Protect yourself at all costs. It could get ugly.” [13:55]

• Kornheiser, on the Eagles’ offensive woes:
  “Their offense has vanished in the last five games. They have fewer touchdowns than every team in the league other than the Raiders.” [02:52]

• Wilbon, on Schwarber's value:
  “He’s giving you 50 home runs plus…The Phillies seem incredibly lucky to me.” [08:12]

• Jeff Saturday, catch rule clarity:
  “It’s a catch. That was a catch to me…It is clear as mud. You have no idea what’s going to be considered a touchdown or a catch or not.” [16:09]

• Saturday, on how college football playoffs should work:
  “The CFP should not be controlled by conference or anything else—have the top 12 and let them go play. I don’t care what conference they’re in…let’s go win a championship that way.” [17:52]

---

Timestamps of Key Segments

• Chargers outlast Eagles MNF Recap: 00:59–04:14
• Colts Sign Philip Rivers / Inspired or Desperate: 04:14–07:13
• MLB Free Agency Debate (Schwarber vs. Diaz): 07:13–09:49
• Interview: Jeff Saturday “Five Good Minutes” 13:04–18:45
  • Rivers Signing: 13:21–14:19
  • Bears Playcall: 14:19–15:43
  • Ravens Catch Rule: 15:43–16:58
  • ACC Playoff Debate: 16:58–18:37

---

Tone & Style

The conversation is lively, often playful, and shows the hosts' strong opinions and experience. Tony’s dry wit counters Mike’s passionate takes, while Jeff Saturday brings an insider’s blend of humor and hard truths (“You ain’t fast enough to get out of the pocket…Protect yourself at all costs.” [13:55]).

---

Conclusion

This PTI episode orbits around the high-stakes, high-drama move by the Colts with Philip Rivers, while also delivering PTI’s classic mix: fresh takes on key NFL, MLB, and college football action, sharply parsed disagreement, and memorable guest input. New listeners gain a clear sense of the day’s biggest sports stories—and the questions still hanging in the air:

• Can Rivers even compete at 44?
• Are the Colts desperate, or brilliant?
• What’s wrong with the Eagles, and can the Chargers handle their coming gauntlet?
• Do marquee signings like Diaz or Schwarber truly alter baseball’s balance of power?

Listeners walk away with laughs, perspective, and a list of storylines to track heading into another wild sports weekend.

Transcript

[A]

There's a reason Chevy trucks are known for their dependability because they show up no matter the weather, push forward no matter the terrain and deliver. That's why Chevrolet has earned more dependability awards for trucks than any other brand in 2025, according to J.D. power, because in every Chevy truck, like every Chevy driver, dependability comes standard. Visit Chevy.com to learn more. Chevrolet received the highest total number of awards among all the trucks in the J.D. power 2025 U.S. vehicle Dependability Study Awards based on 2022 models. Newer models may be shown. Visit jdpower.com awards for more details. Chevrolet together let's drive.

[B]

Pardon the interruption, but I'm Mike Wilbon. Philip Rivers is back with the Colts at the age of 44. Tony, what were you doing when you were 44?

[C]

I'm Tony Kornheiser, writing sports. I was following Seabiscuit.

[B]

Okay, no one in our audience under.

[C]

80, they don't know knows who. Seabiscuit was no great horse in the 1930s. It was a movie. It was a great horse.

[B]

Great movie about Seabiscu.

[C]

By in truth, like when I was 44, this show hadn't even started yet.

I got to this show very old as I'm ancient now. Welcome to pti, boys and girls. In today's episode, the Colts signed Philip Rivers. Kyle Schwaber stays and Edwin Diaz goes and Jeff Saturday joins us for five good minutes. But we begin today with last night's Monday Night Football game, a sloppy affair in which the Chargers outlasted the eagles in overtime 22:19 when they intercepted Jalen Hurts near the end zone. Hertz had a particularly discouraging game with five turnovers, including two on one bizarre play. The Eagles have now lost three in a row and the Chargers have won five out of six. Wilbon, what does this result say about each team?

[B]

I'm going to start with the Chargers first. Tony. The Chargers are ready to challenge. I don't know how seriously to contend, but the afc, you know, there's k. There's no Kansas City up there being Godzilla sitting on the top of something that they don't have that. So I think they're maybe even ready to contend. And let me just say this about Justin Herbert. To have surgery in the same week and come out there and run it nine, 10 times and put yourself in harm's way and have his teammates in love with him at the end of that game. Said all good things to me about the Chargers. Now the Eagles, they can still defend. They can sack you seven times. They can have seven Tackles for losses. They, they can hit, they can cover. But offensively they're so confused. Like they've been over the last few weeks. Tony. I don't want to hear from AJ Brown who drops a couple, who gets it off his fingertips and can't reel it in. Throw it to me some more. No. Catch the damn ball when it's thrown to you. We don't need to go to you 13 times. But the Eagles, Tony, they still control their division. They still do.

[C]

That's right. Yeah. So that, that's the dichotomy with the Eagles. The Eagles are in apparent trouble. Their offense has vanished in the last five games. They have fewer touchdowns scored than every team in the league other than the Raiders. They only have eight touchdowns in the last five games. They only had one last night. They seem to be stuck in neutral. But they're in first place in the division and the team closest to them, the Cowboys, is a team that neither you nor I would have complete faith in.

[B]

That's right.

[C]

So they're in better shape than Kansas City, for example. They're in better shape. I mean, if I wanted to calm the water, I would point out that Matthew Stafford a couple of weeks ago had two interceptions and a lost fumble in a game that the Rams lost to Carolina and then came back with three touchdown passes and no picks as they destroyed Arizona. Jalen Hurts could do that. But as you know with your friends who are Eagles fans, and I know as my friends who are Eagles fans, they have panicked and they are ready to throw Hurts off the train. They're ready to do that. I am somewhat confused by the Chargers. All praise to their quarterback who plays Hurt and begins to look like Josh Allen out there. But Mike, their 93 or 94 record is built against only one good win, really against Denver. And here's what they've got coming up at Kansas City, at Dallas, home, Houston, at Denver. That's tough, that's hard. That's a tough close. They're going to get to show us. Tough close.

[B]

Yeah, they're going to get. Tony, we're going to know going into the playoffs whether they're ready or not based on, I think in large part the last four and last night, last five games of the regular season. Yeah. Let's move to this. Colts signing of Philip Rivers to the practice squad today gives the team the option of promoting him to the real roster for Sunday's game at Seattle. The 44 year old grandfather last played in the league in 2020, leading the Colts to an 115 record, they were good with Daniel Jones and Anthony Richardson now out and rookie Riley Leonard, Notre Dame questionable with that knee injury. Tony, is signing Rivers inspired or desperate?

[C]

If those are my choices right now, I would say desperate because he's 44 years old. Because he last played in the NFL 1800 days ago. Right. That's his last snap. 1800 days ago. There was 20. 20. He was 39 years old then, which was old then. But he had a really good year. As you point out, Colts made the playoffs and they were 11, 5. If he can revive these Colts, then it would be inspired. But if we could, let's look at the really good quarterbacks in NFL history who were 44. But let's leave Tom Brady out because everybody knows about Tom Brady. So here is the list. There is no list. There is no list. Right. And as you said before, he's a grandfather. I think that's important. I understand what's going on here. Shane Steichen, the coach, knows him from the Chargers, where when Philip Rivers played at the Chargers, Steichen had a series of offensive coaching jobs. He trusts them. They're good friends. I get that part.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

But you know, it feels a little desperate to me.

[B]

You know, nothing's as overrated in football as this notion that is choreographed.

[C]

What?

[B]

There is mayhem. And at 44 years old, he is ill equipped. Philip Rivers, even though he's going to get a whole lot of hall of Fame votes legitimately to deal with the mayhem going on around him, we know he understands the office. That's not the, that's not the final objective. It's great, Tony. I've listened many times to our dear friend Charles Barkley and Charles talks about retiring because your body's aching and it's hurt and you're beat down after years and years of competitiveness and you then take a couple of seasons off and you work out and you lose some weight and you heal up and you come back and you say, wow, I feel really good now until the first time somebody knocks you out. And then you say, no, I can't do this. And it seems that Charles came to that realization and Philip Rivers has not. He's going to come to it in Seattle. I just hope it's temporary and nothing more if that than the blue tent. Not even that.

[C]

I'm going to tell you something. I feel bad for Daniel Jones because he was going to be comeback player of the year and now he's hurt on, you know, both legs are gone and I feel badly for him. They haven't had a quarterback that they can trust really for any length of time. And since Andrew Lux a while back, baseball stove got hot in a hurry. Kyle Schwaber's free agency is over already. The 32 year old NL home run champ is reportedly returning to the Phillies for five years and $150 million. And closer Edwin Diaz is leaving the Mets for the Dodgers. Three years. $69 million as L A makes a run for its third straight World Series title. Wilbon, which of these is the more impactful move?

[B]

Oh, you're going to say my reaction is totally predictable. And it is. It's Schwaber for a million reasons. One, the contract. When I heard the numbers, I thought, oh my God, this is so team friendly. Team friendly. You're getting a guy 30. $30 million. Okay, you can say that's a lot of money. It is. But Schwaber goes out there between 155 and 162 games every year. There's no threat of Tommy John. There's no DL, there's no down. He's got to miss a turn. Schwaber's out there and he's giving you 50 home runs plus this last season. The Phillies seem incredibly lucky to me.

[D]

Wow.

[B]

I would hope there were other teams out there tempting Schwaber, particularly the one he grew up with. The team I root for because I thought the Cubbies might have had a chance at him. Schwaber. Schwarber. Schwarber.

[C]

Yeah. What I like about the show is when we have honest disagreements. The most impactful signing is Edwin Diaz. He has 253 saves in nine seasons. So far he's got a career ERA of 282. The Dodgers have starters. They need relievers. They need to stop their starters from having to work in the bullpen. In game seven, Yamamoto threw 34 pitches against Toronto. After in game six throwing 96 pitches against Toronto. They had Glasnow. They had Snell coming out of the bullpen in the World Series. So they don't want that. This guy is the answer to all their problems. And he was 63 this year with a 163 ERA and 28 saves. He is what the doctor ordered and he makes it a legitimate conversation that the Dodgers could go back to back to back. I mean, he's exactly what they need. Schwaber's a great player. I wish that Schwaber had stayed with the Nationals. He's a great player. And you hear me say this all the time to you. That one, two nine in the Phillies is the best everyday lineup, but they don't win. They don't.

[B]

Where is the greatest round of Babe Ruth and Shohei Ohtani? Is it on the rubber or is it like this?

[C]

It's every day and this dude hits.

[B]

50 and he goes 160.

[C]

Yes, and you're right about all of that. But they haven't won with him. And I think that the Dodgers. I think this is if there is a missing piece, and I'm not sure there is. I think relief is the missing piece. Let's take a break. Coming up, we will ask Jeff Saturday what he thinks of the Colts signing Philip Rivers.

[B]

We'll also ask him whether he wanted the Bears, like I did, to run the Damn ball on 4th and 1. Run the ball. Run it.

[C]

Yeah.

[D]

Huh?

[C]

And the name of the year not.

[B]

Run the ball, run it.

[C]

Run the table.

[B]

In the name of sale won the table.

[A]

Pardon the interruption is presented by Great.

[D]

Goose make time Wait.

[A]

Please enjoy responsibly.

[D]

Part of happy hour.

[E]

Quick break. Got your fire safety game plan. When it comes to your home, every second matters. That's why we trust Kiddust Smoke alarms. They're built to respond fast and cut down on false alarms so you can act with confidence when it counts. And now you can upgrade to over 25% faster smoke detection with Kidda's latest technology. It it's more time to react and more peace of mind. That's why Kidda is North America's 1 home fire safety brand. So whether you're upgrading or installing for the first time, go with the alarms that deliver performance when it matters most. Kidda Help protect what matters the most. Find it at the Home Depot how doers get more done 29% faster Average smoke detection based on internal testing of smoldering wood fires for Kita 9th edition versus leading competitor 8th edition products based on total household installations as of December 2023. You shouldn't have to rearrange your life to deal with hair loss. HIMS makes expert care accessible on your schedule so you can focus on feeling like yourself again. HIMS offers convenient access to a range of prescription hair loss treatments that work including choose oral medications, serums and sprays. With doctor trusted ingredients like finasteride and minoxidil, you can stop further hair loss and even regrow hair in as little as three to six months. It's all about making care easier. No hidden fees, no surprise costs, just real personalized care on your schedule. You shouldn't have to go out of your way to feel like yourself. HIMSS brings expert care straight to you with 100% online access to personalized treatment plans that put your goals first. 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 himss.com PTI for your free online visit hims.com PTI Individual results may vary based on studies of topical and oral minoxidil and finasteride. Featured products include compounded drug products which the FDA does not approve or verify for safety, effectiveness or quality. Prescription required. See website for full details, restrictions and important safety information.

[C]

We've got some football questions for our great friend ESPN NFL analyst Jeff Saturday. We'll start with this. You know the Colts well. What do you make of them signing 44 year old Philip Rivers? Do you think he's their best option in these circumstances?

[D]

Oh, desperate times, desperate measures. That's where we're at in Indy land. Listen, most devastating thing of my weekend was watching Daniel Jones get hurt and fast forwarding to, you know, it's December, fast forwarding to next October, thinking who is our quarterback going to be? Oh, it just hurt my heart. So at the end of the day they are reaching, right? They're grasping at straws. I think Riley Leonard will still be the guy if his knee can hold up. I think they're signing Philip Rivers for an emergency. But listen, all bias. I'm just, I'm a, I'm a fan of the Colts. I am pulling for Phillip if he starts or has to play. But let me just say this, at Seahawks, different Seahawks defense. His real and you're 44, bro. You listen, get rid of the rock. Do not hold it, don't double pump and you ain't fast enough to get out of the pocket. Let that thing go, Phil. Protect yourself at all costs. It could get ugly.

[B]

We're going to go to my Bears for a second and review that crucial fourth and one with 27 seconds left against the packers and the Bears electing to throw the ball. Jeff, I was screaming at the television, run the ball every down down there. I'm suspecting that knowing you a little bit, you would have run the ball. Given what the Bears did On the previous 17 play drive, I'm suspecting you would have run it too.

[D]

Yeah, no, listen, offensive lineman, right, like we wear a defense out, we got them fatigued. We want this to happen. We want to go run the rock. So there is no doubt as an Offensive lineman, you want the game put on your back at that moment, the biggest moments of the game, and. And you think you can go get this yard. All that being said, though, the truth is it's there. Like, like, you know, the play is there. You know, he has a shot to do it, which goes from, you know, converting a first down to a touchdown. You know, you can't. You can't have it both ways, right? Unfortunately, the play doesn't get executed to maximum, and. And there's a, you know, there's a pick, but, man, what, What a game. And again, man, this is why you can't have nice things, Mike, because you. You all fired up. You can't be happy with what they got going, and sometimes you got to go. No one expected us to be in that game, bro. I don't care what anybody said. They fought like crazy.

[C]

They.

[D]

They've turned the corner, man, I'm excited for this Bears in the future.

[B]

No, Jeff, this is the time I'm a little different. I. I was. I was only in a bad move for a few minutes. I got out of it. They played a hell of a game, toe to toe with Green in Lambeau. Let me ask you about the Ravens for a second, who had what a lot of us thought was an apparent touchdown catch taken away. John Harbaugh called the current catch rule as clear as mud. You played the sport for a long, long time. Was that a catch to you?

[D]

It's a catch. That was a catch to me. I mean, when I see him, got the ball out, extended, his feet are on the ground, like, I. I don't understand what, you know, I mean, you think if a guy's reaching across the line, if it touches, you know, barely gets across, it's a touchdown. This to me, was just craziness. But again, it's. It's such a difficult call now because you. You slow it down to, like, these micro. You know, it's like to see this thing played out by film. Unfortunately, they reverse it, but I think that's a touchdown. And, you know, it's the most frustrating thing for a fan, but also for players and coaches, because to his point, it is clear as mud. You have no idea what's going to be considered a touchdown or catch or not. As players, you just want a simple. A simple rule that can be followed by everybody the same every week.

[C]

Just as an aside, in the last couple of weeks watching football, I have seen more touchdowns called back because of penalties than I ever have in my life. It seems that three times A game. It really does. It seems like it's three times a game. We'll get you out of here on this. You played at North Carolina in college. That is an ACC school. Notre Dame has a problem with how that conference boosted Miami at what they think is Notre Dame's expense. And I will add, parenthetically, so do I and Mike does not. Do you have any problem with it?

[D]

No. Listen, here's my thing. I understand Notre Dame's great, right? Like they're. They're one of the best 12 teams in the country and. And played, you know, won 10 games in a row. I get it. But what the ACC did and what Jim, is what they're supposed to do. And unfortunately, that Notre Dame is not the football version of an ACC they need. The conference gets paid by Miami representing the acc. That's just the facts of it. And both can be true. You can say the Duke playing, you know, five loss that the tiebreaker to get them in it messed it up. You can say a lot of different things, give a lot of excuses. I have no problem with that. But. But the ACC did right by Miami and they should have because that's what conferences are supposed to do. Push their groups and make it happen. The truth, and we all know it, is this. It shouldn't. The CFP should not controlled by conference or anything else have the top 12 and let them go play. I don't care what conference they're in, what it is top 12 in the country. Let's go play and let's go win a championship that way. All this, all this alignment with. With conferences makes it all confusing and different agendas get you craziness. And that's where we are today.

[B]

Hear, hear.

[C]

Yeah, it's a championship. Put the best teams in it. The best teams in it. As always, thanks.

[B]

Appreciate it.

[D]

Appreciate y'. All.

[C]

Let's take one last break. Still to come, the Heisman finalists are announced as Indiana's Fernando Mendoza Alock and.

[B]

Trey Hendrickson heads to surgery. Man, what does his future hold?

[C]

See, Mike, I don't blame. I don't blame the ACC for doing that. I blame the committee for consistently ranking Notre Dame ahead of Miami. And then at the last minute, I.

[B]

Can blame the committee for that. That's okay.

[E]

So I've got a question for all the gamers out there. Are you seriously going to miss out on one of Alienware's biggest gaming sales of the year? I mean, these are holiday prices we're talking about, so it's not just another sale. I took a look, and this is some pretty big bang for your buck, you know, It's Alienware with some of the most advanced engineering out there with systems at the top of reviewers lists. And what about a gift for yourself? Gift yourself a new Alienware 16 Area 51 gaming laptop. I mean, this thing's got performance at the absolute next level with Intel Core Ultra processors. And even better, you can get it before the holidays. Plus, you can save on all kinds of displays and accessories like the Alienware 32.4K QD OLED gaming monitor for ultimate visual fidelity. These really are incredible deals on PCs with otherworldly performance. So I'd visit alienware.com deals soon and grab what you can before it's too late.

You ever show up late to the game and your friends already saved your seat, your drink, even a plate that's looking out, that's having your back. And that's exactly what AT and T does with the ATT guarantee. They know staying connected matters. That's why AT and T has connectivity you depend on, guaranteed. Or they'll proactively make it right. Just like that friend who takes care of things before you even ask. AT&T connecting changes everything. Terms and conditions apply. Visit att.comguarantee for details.

[C]

Happy time, people. Happy 32nd birthday, Wyndham Clark. This hasn't been a good year for the 2023 U.S. open winner. He's probably happy to be done with it. Clark had no wins in 2025, though he did have a T4 at the British Open at Royal Port rush and a T5 at the Houston Open. But Clark was in the news more for a couple of temper tantrums at the pga, Clark threw his driver in disgust, damaging a sign. And after missing the cut at the US Open at Oakmont, Clark destroyed some lockers, later apologized and compensated the club. Besides his US Open win at Los Angeles Country Club, Clark has a win at the Wells Fargo in 2023 and at Pebble beach in 2024. But this locker thing hangs over him still. So happy birthday.

[B]

Yeah, I don't know if that apology was enough. I mean, I guess we'll find out and we'll find out about his behavior over time. I'm told we're neighbors in Arizona, Tom, but I don't see him. Maybe I should just take a, you know, a cup of sugar by and say hello.

[C]

Yeah, you should do that. Or bring him a new driver in case he wants to throw it someplace. Happy anniversary, Tracy McGrady on this day 21 years ago, while with the Rockets. McGrady scored 13 points in the final 35 seconds to stun the defending NBA champion Spurs. Making the last of four increasingly difficult three pointers with just 1.7 seconds left to play. That comeback erased San Antonio's 10 point lead with less than a minute to play. Having scored just 10 points in the first 11 minutes of the fourth quarter, the Rockets scored 17 in the final minute. McGrady was a great talent. He was a seven time orchard all star. But for the vast bulk of his career before latching on to the spurs as a role player just before he retired, McGrady had never made it to the second round of the playoffs.

[B]

Like taking shots at my man Tracy McGrady. You know I love him, Tony. He and Yao Ming. If they could have stayed healthy, they won like 22 in a row or something. One year they were on to something and they couldn't stay healthy. I'm not going to hold that against T, Mac or Yao. I wish they had have. We might have seen something really special out of both of them.

[C]

But we didn't. In fact, I mean it didn't happen. Happy trails. Trey Hendrickson. The Bengal star pass rusher will have surgery on his core and is likely to miss the rest of the season. Hendrickson has missed the last five games and has only played in all or parts of seven this season, logging four sacks. That's a far cry from the 17 1/2 he made last season. The 31 year old held out for a trade or a long term deal during the preseason, ultimately agreeing to a one year extension worth $30 million that allows him to become a free agent after the season. But now you have to wonder what the market will be for him, right?

[B]

Yeah, you do, Tony. But remember, he also had 17 and a half the season before that. So he had done that back to back in this season. What a colossal disappointment. But for everything and almost everybody in Cincinnati, Hendrickson included, let's go to the big finish.

[C]

Lionel Messi won his second straight MLS mvp. You should apologize for all the times you've run him down.

[B]

No. The Heisman finalists. Fernando Mendoza of Indiana, Diego Pavia of Vandy, Jeremiah Love of Notre Dame and Julian Sain of Ohio State. Does that make sense to you?

[C]

They all had wonderful years. Each one is worthy. I mean, I think Mendoza is probably the favorite, but each one is worthy. The Pelicans have lost seven straight. They're 3 and 22 Pelicans. What's going on?

[B]

We know what's going on. They're terrible. But Derrick Queen, the rookie draft pick out of Maryland. If you passed on him and you know who you are, you're going to have to pack it up and go. Pretty soon, four LSU offensive assistants will be allowed to join coordinator Charlie Weiss Jr. Back at Ole Miss for the playoff. Your thoughts?

[C]

My thoughts are the same now as they were a week ago. That Lane Kiffin should be allowed to coach that team. He should last one Heat, Magic and Knicks. Raptors are on tonight. Which is the more intriguing game, I think.

[B]

Knicks, Raptors, NBA cup quarterfinals. You can't wait to jump into that, right? You get your tickets.

[C]

The NBA Cup. The only thing that's good about that is they change the color of the court. But the rest of it, who cares? We're out of time. Try to do better the next time. I'm Tony Kornheiser.

[B]

I'm Mike Wilbon. Same time tomorrow, localheads. Aren't you proud of me for not taking a shot at arrogant Notre Dame in this show?

[E]

Before you go, here's one play you'll want to run next weekend. A tailgate with Kingsford Charcoal. It's America's number one charcoal for a reason. Since 1920, they've brought bold smoke and real flavor to backyards across the country. If you want to grill like a legend, start with the fire that's fueled generations. Kingsford, the king of the tailgate. Get it today at the Home Depot. How doers get more done. America's number one charcoal. Based on IRI unit sales data.