Tony Kornheiser (3:00)

So this, of course, is an absolutely stunning story. It looked like Sharon Moore was a pretty good football coach. I think he was 8 and 5 the first year. He went up to 9 and 3 this year, but he's done. I'm not sure he will ever get a big time head coaching job in college again. I'm not certain of that. I was so surprised this morning, Mike, when I watched the shows, and so many people there was. Not only did they quickly say this, but they almost unanimously said this, go after Kaylen DeBoer. I know Michigan should go after Kaylen DeBoer. And because he's a Midwesterner, and because there's very little patience with coaching in Alabama. And I'm sitting there thinking to myself, wait a second, this is Alabama. Do you leave Alabama quite that quickly? Not only that, they're in the College Football Playoff. They play. They also talked, I'm gonna go for a while here. They also talked about the Iowa State guy who's going to Penn State. And I found that interesting because I have to admit, if I was choosing between Penn State and Michigan, I. I would choose Michigan. And this guy hasn't coached a game yet. He probably hasn't brought his stuff there yet. He could just say to the movers, we're gonna stop going east. We're gonna go north, take a left at the light, you know. But it seemed to me, Mike, that everyone was in play. And my ultimate dream would be if Kaylen DeBoer took the job, left to go to Michigan, and then Lane Kiffin told lsu, no, no, I'm going to Alabama. I'm going to Alabama.

Mike Wilbon (4:29)

Tony, situation, I think.

Tony Kornheiser (4:30)

I think you got to get a guy soon.

Mike Wilbon (4:32)

Well, the situation, DeBoer seems to be this. Do you jump before you are possibly pushed? That's what that is like. If he loses three games next year, they're gonna want to fire him. Yes. And then you say, damn it, I could have had the Michigan job. And he's got some history in the state of Michigan.

Tony Kornheiser (4:51)

Wow.

Mike Wilbon (4:52)

It's a wow. I guess they may get who they want, but maybe not. Maybe somebody says no. Let's move to the backlash down the road. Just a bit. Down 94 at Notre Dame. Yahoo reports that some conference athletic directors, some are threatening to freeze out the Irish when it comes to future scheduling. This comes in response to a Ross Dellinger report that Notre Dame has a memorandum of understanding with the playoff committee that grants Notre Dame an automatic spot in the playoff if it is ranked in the top 12 starting next year. Shameful tone. Do you think other schools would really freeze out Notre Dame?

Tony Kornheiser (5:35)

I'll be really quick to that one. No, No, I don't. I mean, I. I really don't. Because a game with Notre Dame is a financial bonanza. I mean, nobody writes on TV if.

Mike Wilbon (5:46)

It'S at your place. If it's at your place, you know, not if it's a Notre Dame.

Tony Kornheiser (5:51)

You work a deal. You work a deal where you get some of the benefits of that. Here's what I think's gonna happen. I think as soon as they are contractually able to do this, Notre Dame will leave the ACC and go to your conference, the Big Ten, where I think they will be welcomed with open arms. They may even think about starting a conference with schools of similar academic and athletic excellence because every network would bid on that from NBC to Netflix. I want to get to this memorandum, though. This is amazing to me that the committee would do that, that they would say Notre Dame can get in if they're in the top 12. They don't guarantee Alabama or Georgia or Ohio State. That Tulane got in this year because they won a conference championship. This says Notre Dame just gets in. I find that amazing. And the only thing I can think of is that other colleges think of Notre Dame as the Dallas Cowboys, and they have to have them.

Mike Wilbon (6:46)

Yeah. In terms of the memo. I'll wait till I get a copy of that. You know, and I see a copy of that from Pablo. Maybe I'll wait until then. Tony. I do think other schools remember Notre Dame is not just football, and I know that carries the lion's share of the leverage. But there are other schools out there. I don't know how many other programs. I'm sorry, Other sports programs. There are title nine implications. What are there maybe between 19 and 25 other sports where you have to schedule. And I do know this, that there are other commissioners and other athletic directors who are tired of Notre Dame, and I don't know about freezing them out. That does seem a little extreme, but leverage. And you mentioned, you. You said yourself just now, okay, well, you can, you know, work out a deal. You work out a deal when you have some leverage and you say to Notre Dame, you know, we can get rid of you. We're tired of you. Go somewhere else. All you do is come out and threaten us anyway. No matter how much goodwill is shown to you during your time, you wear out your welcome and you'll say anything to anyone. Why do we need that? So I think there are some people, not everybody, who will tell Notre Dame where to shove it. I think there are.

Tony Kornheiser (8:05)

Well, if this is, if this memorandum is true, the committee didn't tell him that. The committee said, please stay here and we're going to give you a special dispensation that nobody else gets. Nobody. Let's go to pro football. Now. Joe Burrow said yesterday, quote, if I want to keep doing this, I want to have fun doing it. I've been through a lot. If it's not fun, then what am I doing it for? Unquote. Well, by yesterday on this show, I said, I think Burrow is the best quarterback in football. And you said, he's just a passer. And you had him behind Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen, if not more people. You compare him to Kenny Anderson. What do you make of Burroughs comments?

Mike Wilbon (8:38)

They were whiny. They're just whiny. It's okay. And maybe just honest, it's fine. I'm not saying he shouldn't express these thoughts. I'm just saying how they sounded to me. A lot of quarterback gets sacked a lot. A lot more than him. I never heard Archie Manning whine. Maybe that's because people didn't have Round the Clock podcast when Archie Manning was playing. You know, my own quarterback in Chicago right here got sacked 68 times last year. I didn't hear him whining. I just, I don't want to hear the whining. When you make $50 million and when you arrange it so that your, your guys, your wide receivers, the three of you get paid about $300 million more than that, maybe a total of like 500 million. And you neglect the other side of the ball, which has to play in order for you to win the games and have more fun. So you made your bed, so lie right there in it. And I don't particularly care. As great as he is as a passer, I don't want to hear the whining.

Tony Kornheiser (9:44)

Yeah, I think, as you know, I think he's a great quarterback. I think he gets hit a lot, much more than the average quarterback. And I think that his offensive line has failed him and his defense is nonexistent. And I think it's possible he could end up like Andrew Luck and he could just walk away early. And this happens. Barry Sanders, Calvin Johnson got tired of losing and they walked away from the Lions. Maybe Burr doesn't want to keep losing 42 to 38. Or maybe this is a strategy. Maybe he's trying to lay the groundwork to go somewhere else. I mean, there's 32 teams in the league. I think 28 would. Would jump through 40 fire in order to get Joe Burrow. He's in his prime. He's not aging like Matthew Stafford. He's not slowed down like Lamar Jackson. So this is. It's got a very NBA quality. To me, it sounds like Kevin Durant, where every other year Kevin Durant's ready to move. You know, we need to. And like Giannis, it feels like Joe Burrow doesn't want to say I want to move, but he wants you to know that he wants to move. Maybe it's strategic. I don't know. I mean, again, I think 28 out of 32 would move heaven and earth together. Let's take a break.

Mike Wilbon (10:51)

Here's a quick question before we move on. Let me ask you a quick, quick question. I don't remember Joe Burrow during the off season stumping for any offensive linemen or defensive players in the off season, do you?

Tony Kornheiser (11:02)

No. Well, no, I remember. I think he wants receivers number one and maybe one, two and three. Maybe he does. Let's take a break. Coming up, the Bucks are back on the field. Tonight, we're going to ask Booger McFarlane why they have swooned lately.

Mike Wilbon (11:15)

Well, also asking whether the packers and Lions are likely to upset the conference leaders they face Sunday. Yeah, you know, you know what Burrow.

Tony Kornheiser (11:24)

Is saying to himself? Mike Burrow is saying right now, I wish there was a transfer portal for me.

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Tony Kornheiser (12:40)

The PTI investigative team has learned that week 15 of the NFL season kicks off tonight, which makes it a perfect time to welcome back our great friend ESPN NFL and college football analyst Booger McFarlane. But we're going NFL today. Let's start with tonight's game between the Falcons and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Tampa Bay started 6 and 2. They have lost 4 out of 5 and Baker Mayfield has been struggling. You pay attention to this team, you know where they are. Why have the Bucks been slumping?

Booger McFarland (13:11)

Well, Tony, do you remember when Baker Mayfield was the early front runner for the mvp? Neither do I. That's how long ago it's been. The quarterback's not been playing well here lately and anytime the quarterback doesn't play well, it snowballs down the entire team. Now they've had a ton of injuries. I'm not going to blame the injuries because now everybody's got them, but now they're starting to get some of those guys back. But I think the biggest factor, the reason the Bucks have been slumping is, is their defense. And it's kind of strange. Todd Bowles is a defensive head coach, but the defense just can't get any pressure without the head coach and the defensive coordinator blitzing people all the time, which leaves their secondary vulnerable in one on one coverage. So they got to get a little healthier. And it sounds like Mike Evans, McMillan and Tristan Wurst will be back for tonight's game. But more importantly, their defense has to play better, especially when they're a defensive driven team. When with the defensive head coach.

Mike Wilbon (14:03)

All right, speaking of defenses, I mean we got Bills at Patriots Sunday and so much of the talk is about Drake May and the Patriots offense. But Booger, I want to ask you about the Patriots defense and whether you think they're going to be up to the task or not dealing with Josh Allen and the Bills.

Booger McFarland (14:24)

I think they are. They've already done it one time and they did it in in Buffalo. Now they get the, you know, the, the Bills at their house in Foxborough and. And this defense is really good because the first thing they do, Mike, is they stop the run. And if you stop the run of Buffalo, you're taking away one of their superstars, and that's James Cook. They only have two. They got the quarterback and the running back. If you take one away now, you're going to force Josh Allen to be Superman and put the cape on. So this Patriots defense is fundamentally sound. They're built the right way. They got a superstar corner in Christian Gonzalez. They got a couple of guys up front, led by Christian Barmore at the defensive line spot, Harold Landry. They stop the run, they get after the quarterback, and they have a shutdown corner and they have possibly the best coach or at least the guy who I think is going to win coach of the year this year in Mike Vrabel. So it's a really, really good defense. They're going to stop the run and see if Josh Allen can go into the phone booth and put the cape on and beat him. If he can, then the Bills have a chance. But if he can't, then the Patriots will win this game.

Mike Wilbon (15:23)

It sounds like you're leaning right now toward New England, Booger.

Booger McFarland (15:28)

Strong lean.

Mike Wilbon (15:30)

Strong lean. Okay, we'll see if you tip your hand that much on this next question. The conference leading Broncos and the Rams host the packers and Lions, respectively. Do you like the chances of my NFC Central teams both or neither in these matchups this weekend?

Booger McFarland (15:52)

You know what? If, if you. If you put it to me like that, I'd probably choose neither. But if you told me I could pick one, I take the packers because I love what Green Bay is doing. It's a team led by Jeff Haftley, the defensive coordinator. They can absolutely get after you on defense. We all know about Michael Parsons, but it's so much more. It's Rashawn Gary, it's Quay Walker. They got guys at every level.

Tony Kornheiser (16:13)

They.

Booger McFarland (16:13)

They can play shutdown defense. And I think the key is Jordan Love putting some points on the board. Because when you give a defense that can get after the quarterback a lead, we start licking our chops. And so if Matt LaFleur and Jordan Love can put 17, 21 points on the board and make the Denver Broncos play from behind, then you're going to see Michael Parsons like you've never seen Michael Parsons before. I think he wants to get back into the conversation with Miles Garrett as far as defensive player of the year because. Because Myles Garrett is running away with it right now. Michael Parsons needs one of those Virtuoso performances where he goes out and get three, four, five sacks. So let's see if they can get a lead where the quarterback can be affected by their defense.

Tony Kornheiser (16:56)

We will get you out of here on this. And we waited for the last question to talk about Philip Rivers Colts are at the Seahawks. Really good defensive team. If you were on the D line and you saw 44 year old grandfather Philip Rivers behind center right across from you, you would feel what?

Booger McFarland (17:17)

And first of all, Philip Rivers gotta be bored as hell guys. Like if you 44, you got 10 kids and grandkids, why the hell are you going to chase a football? Like what is going on in Philip Rivers life? He want to come play football some more. Like, I mean seriously, that's number one. Number two, if I lined up and I looked over there, the first thing I'm going to say, hey man, you must be really bored at home. How's life being a grandfather? And then I'm gonna line up and I'm gonna do my best to put him in the turf time and time again and I'm gonna help him up because I don't want him to leave the game because I want to keep hitting him over and over and over. It's almost disrespectful, guys. For 2,500 guys to be playing this game and going through training camp and for a guy that hasn't played football in five years to get off the couch and and come and do what we've been doing, that's almost disrespectful, guys.

Mike Wilbon (18:07)

There you have it. Tone, you asked, Booger answers.

Tony Kornheiser (18:09)

It's a pleasure.

Mike Wilbon (18:10)

Booger it is.

Tony Kornheiser (18:11)

By the way, Wilbon, Booger's got a congaree shirt on. Next time you're in South Carolina, have Booger take you there. Booger, thank you so much.

Mike Wilbon (18:17)

Thank you man. Appreciate you.

Booger McFarland (18:20)

Anytime.

Tony Kornheiser (18:23)

Let's take one last break. Still to come, we praised the Thunder yesterday and then last night they won by the biggest margin of the season. Is that just coincidence? Maybe they were listening.

Mike Wilbon (18:33)

Michael, Jeffrey Jordan and NASCAR settled their differences. Tony, to know you were just waiting around for that court ruling result or out of court.

Tony Kornheiser (18:42)

Well, did they settle or did it actually get adjudicated?

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Tony Kornheiser (21:00)

Happy time people. Happy 33rd birthday, Jacoby Brissette Brissette has been mostly a backup quarterback over his 10 seasons in the NFL and has a ring for backing up Tom Brady on the 2016 Super Bowl Patriots. Brissette apparently isn't traumatized by the designation, as he appears in one of those terrific commercials for progressive insurance where they specifically call for a backup in its tense situation. Brissette is now starting for Arizona after Kyler Murray went on injured reserve after five games on November 16 in a loss to San Francisco, Brissette set an NFL record, completing 47 passes in 57 attempts, although he has yet to be handed the ball and told you're our guy. Brissette has started for New England, Indianapolis, Miami, Cleveland and Arizona, where he's 1 and 7 this year. Overall, Brissett is 20 and 41 as a starter.

Mike Wilbon (21:51)

Tony, doesn't Brissette seem like this generation Steve deberg in that, you know, I know backup kind of describes who he is. But he's better than that and your team could need him. You could need him and be damn happy to have him.

Tony Kornheiser (22:08)

Happy Anniversary, Tampa Bay Buccaneers on this day 48 years ago, the expansion Buccaneers beat New Orleans for their first NFL victory after an abysmal 0:26 start, the longest losing streak in NFL history. The first year the Bucks were 0:14. Steve Spurrier went 0:12 at quarterback. It was during this year, as the story goes, that coach John McKay was asked, what do you think of your team's execution? McKay said, I'm in favor of it. The victory over New Orleans, as the story goes, came after Saints quarterback Archie Manning allegedly said Los Angeles losing to the Bucs would be disgraceful. Dutifully inspired by Manning's proclamation, the Bucks jumped to a 130 halftime lead. They were up 27 nothing in the fourth quarter. Years later, Manning denied ever saying any such thing.

Mike Wilbon (22:53)

How about starting quarterback gary Huff going 7 for 9 for 96 yards? But they three defensive touchdown. Tampa had two pick sixes. Amazing. 7 for 9. How about that for quarterback raise? Figure that out.

Tony Kornheiser (23:08)

Happy trails. The last night's game for the Suns, Phoenix fell to Oklahoma City by 49, the most lopsided loss in franchise history and the biggest blowout of the season. Reigning MVP Shea Gilgis Alexander skipped the fourth quarter. He's only played in 11 of them all season and yet is still second in the league at scoring at nearly 33 points per game. As a team, the Thunder is now 24 1, has a record average margin of victory of 17.4 points per game and is 72. 10 over its last 82 regular season games. Perk predicts the Thunder will top the warriors single season record of 73 wins, hands down.

Mike Wilbon (23:46)

Have you started to come around fully on Shai Gilgeous Alexander? Because I know you were saying hold on, hold on. Let's not go too fast. Are you there yet on him?

Tony Kornheiser (23:56)

He's a great player. Let's go quickly to the big finish the stage. Let's do TK Watt was hospitalized after experiencing lung discomfort. Your thoughts?

Mike Wilbon (24:04)

I got one thought. I hope his lung is okay. That's it. Closer Robert Suarez is leaving the Padres for the Braves in free agency that's significant, right?

Tony Kornheiser (24:14)

Yeah. He led the league. He had 40 saves last year. Yeah. NASCAR settled the antitrust suit filed by Michael Jordan and others. Your thoughts?

Mike Wilbon (24:21)

NASCAR ultimately caved and granted all its teams the permanent Chargers. They wanted a new another win for Michael Jordan. The NWSL will vote on a proposal to allow teams to exceed the salary cap for stars. Does that make sense to you?

Tony Kornheiser (24:37)

They want to keep Trinity Rodman. Yeah. Last one Celtics Bucks tonight. Who you got?

Mike Wilbon (24:42)

You know, I root for my man Doc Rivers, but, man, they're struggling hard not to take the Celtics right now.

Tony Kornheiser (24:49)

We're out of time. We'll try to do better the next time. Happy birthday to my sweet Baboo Elizabeth.

Mike Wilbon (24:54)

Happy birthday, Lizzy. I'm Mike Wilbot. Same time tomorrow, knuckleheads. Hi there. Surprise.

Tony Kornheiser (25:01)

30 for 30 presents. Booyah.

Mike Wilbon (25:04)

Can I get a witness from the congregation?

Booger McFarland (25:07)

You can't stop authenticity.

Mike Wilbon (25:09)

Booyah.

Tony Kornheiser (25:09)

Stewart was exactly like you saw him on camera. Off camera, he dialed it up 10%. Can you imagine the impact of young black boys and girls? Girl's looking at that going, I feel seen. He changed the culture. He changed sports stream.

Commercial Announcer (25:23)

Booyah.

Tony Kornheiser (25:24)

Presented by Modelo right now on the ESPN applied.