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- [00:01]
Mike Wilbon
This episode is brought to you by State Farm. Checking off the boxes on your to do list is a great feeling. And when it comes to checking off coverage, a State Farm agent can help you choose an option that's right for you. Whether you prefer talking in person, on the phone or using the award winning app, it's nice knowing you have help finding coverage that best fits your needs. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. Pardon the interruption, but I'm Mike Wilbond. Tony was here Monday through Thursday, but today we have a twist.
- [00:35]
Frank Isola
It's Phil and Frank Friday, folks. Come on now. You knew I'd be here. Big weekend. Championship weekend.
- [00:44]
Mike Wilbon
You were away for a while. Somebody missed you. Apparently. Somebody. A few somebody. Welcome to pti. Tony didn't have enough steam to finish what he started. So I am joined by our grate friend from the starting lineup on SiriusXM, Mr. Frank Isola. Man, two ovations. That's like one too many ovations for you. Let's begin with the NFC championship game. Rams and Seahawks beat for the third time this season. The first was a narrow win by LA in la. The second was an overtime squeaker of a win by Seattle in Seattle. Frank, which of these teams impresses you more ahead of their rubber match, Rams or Hawks?
- [01:33]
Frank Isola
You know, I think about the Rams and they've just won two road playoff games, which isn't easy to do. They beat your Bears over the weekend in overtime. That's impressive. And you know that they have played now seven. This is going to be their seventh road game in the last nine weeks. So all they do is go on the road. But going to Seattle is a little bit different. I'm not that worried about Matthew Stafford. Even though Seattle has a terrific defense, Sam Darnold is going to be the key to this game. In four games against the Rams with Chris Shul as defensive coordinators, one and three, seven interceptions. He had four of them in Week 11 when they lost in LA. He's been sacked 16 times. So for Sam Darnold, that's going to be the big question Mark. He was terrific against San Francisco. I understand that. But Mike, this is the biggest game of his life. He hasn't played well against the Rams last year in the playoffs he struggled. I think it's all about Sam Darnold. Even with, you know, the 13th man in Seattle and that stadium. I get it. It's going to be about their quarterback this weekend.
- [02:34]
Mike Wilbon
Yeah, I'm not going to disagree with you, Frank, on any of that because I know as A Bears fan. I was hoping that we got to Seattle because you thought that Sam Darnold might throw a couple to your guys. So I hear you there. But a couple of things. One, it's difficult to Soldier Field is to play in Seattle. Forgive me, my hometown people, Seattle's hardest. It's the hardest. To me, it's there and Lambeau are the two hardest places to play in the NFL. And the Rams know this because they play there every year. The other thing is this. The Rams defense has not been great, not been good at all. I know in the snow and the cold last week they gave up 17, but they gave up like 460 yards. And so I think that Seattle, even with Charbonnet out, I think that they can muster enough offense. As long as Darnold is not terrible, he can't be terrible. He can't go out there and throw three or four picks. He cannot throw it to the other guy. But if he manages the game well with that defense, Frank, with that defense Seattle has. And again, the Rams defense has struggled. They struggled against Carolina before they even got to the Bears. So I, I, I'm giving an edge to Seattle at home. Maybe not a big one, but enough of one to advance to the Super Bowl.
- [03:56]
Frank Isola
You know, in New York, Sam Darnold is obviously a big story.
- [04:00]
Mike Wilbon
Yeah.
- [04:00]
Frank Isola
Because, you know, he played here in New York, kind of flamed out sponsor around. He's been to the Super Bowl. He was a pack up on that Niners team that went. And you talked about the rams defense, Mike, 27 or more points in four of their last six games. I'll give you an interesting stat as it relates to kind of Matthew Stafford and Seattle. There have been six times in the last 50 years where the top passer has gone up against the number one scoring defense. The defense is 6, 0. So it's that old adage, you win the defense and that usually plays out.
- [04:32]
Mike Wilbon
Seattle's got it.
- [04:34]
Frank Isola
All right, let's move to the AFC Championship game. Yes, the Patriots have a young star in Drake May, while the Broncos will be forced to start Jared Stidham. The Broncos, they led the league in sacks. And Mike, you know you love defense, so which way you leaning, Patriots or Broncos?
- [04:50]
Mike Wilbon
I love defense. You know what, when I said Seattle and Lambeau right there, Denver is a different kind of advantage. Not that it can't be loud, because it can. But Obviously you're playing at 5280. You got another set of problems playing at Denver, and you're playing against that defense. Denver's right up there. So if I did a top five home field advantage, the two games hosting this weekend would both be the top five. Maybe in the top three. But, but when you don't have your quarterback, I, it's great to Sean Payton. I understand Sean Payton is doing and has done everything Frankie seemingly can. He can't play the damn game for him. You know, number seven is not trotting out of the lineup into the lineup for the Denver Broncos. Number seven of years gone by. You can look him up, all you people who have no memory. So I can't sit him. Good for him. He's tied with Peyton at the hip. He was the first guy he brought in. He's a capable backup. Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. Big, big, big advantage to New England having to play against a backup quarterback who hasn't played in more than two years. When I say hasn't played, haven't thrown a pass, that's meaningful.
- [06:08]
Frank Isola
Two years.
- [06:09]
Mike Wilbon
The last pass he threw was picked. So. No, no, no. I, I, I don't see it at all.
- [06:15]
Frank Isola
Yeah. Boys and girls, Michael Wilbon was just telling you that John Elway is not walking through that door.
- [06:20]
Mike Wilbon
Not walking through that door.
- [06:21]
Frank Isola
Couple of things, though, that I'll put in the Broncos favor. By the way, they're 4 and oh against New England all time in playoffs. This New England team, 8 and oh on the road this year. That's impressive. But the thing about this young quarterback, if this had happened in the first quarter of the game, Bo Nix goes down, you're throwing in Jared Stidham. That's tough. Sean Payton. And you could see, Listen, he's arrogant, he loves to get into it with the media, but he is a good coach.
- [06:43]
Mike Wilbon
He's a good coach.
- [06:44]
Frank Isola
He's had a week to prepare. They have that defense they're playing at home. So I don't think you're buying in, Frank.
- [06:53]
Mike Wilbon
You're buying in.
- [06:54]
Frank Isola
Well, see, you referenced John Elway. Yeah. And let's remember, and we all like Drake May. That's not Tom Brady on the other sideline.
- [07:02]
Mike Wilbon
No.
- [07:02]
Frank Isola
In two playoff games, the guy's been sacked six times. He's been pressured 31 times on 66 drop backs, and he's fumbled the ball six times. So if not for Jarrett Stroud, there's a very good chance Houston would be playing right now in this game. So he still has a lot to do. C.J. strout, he's been good in the, he's won two playoff games. Mike, that's great. But there are still some issues there as well. You're mentioning Elway. That ain't Tom Brady yet under center.
- [07:28]
Mike Wilbon
No, not yet. Elway versus Brady, we would settle for that.
- [07:32]
Frank Isola
That would be pretty good.
- [07:33]
Mike Wilbon
Sorry Youngins. Let's move to the Ravens hiring of Jesse Minter as their new head coach. Mentor was most recently the defensive coordinator for the Chargers, but he also served as an assistant for the Ravens for four seasons. Owner Steve Buschotti said of the 42 year old quote, he clearly understands the values, high expectations and history of the Ravens. He's also a leader who will authentically connect with our players and inspire them to championship levels. Close quote. But Shotti seems persuaded that the Ravens have got a gym. Frank, are you.
- [08:10]
Frank Isola
I want to know if you think authentically connect is a little dig at the last coach. I tend to think it's not because Minter work for both Jim and John Harbaugh and with the Chargers, you know last season led the league, you know, 17 points per game. Their defense gave up this year fifth in terms of yards per game and The Ravens were 24th. And I think the Ravens have always been an organization where they think defense first. So. And he knows that organization, he knows the owner. I think that's a plus. But you're also, if you're going to be a coach, a first time coach in this league, you want to go to a team that's got a quarterback.
- [08:46]
Mike Wilbon
Yep.
- [08:46]
Frank Isola
And I understand it's been a down year for Lamar Jackson. There have been some playoff games where he hasn't played well. Other games he's been a little unlucky. Last year against Buffalo, the two point conversion, that game should have gone into overtime. So I think it's a smart hire from them. They know who they're getting. The coach knows all about the organization from top to bottom. The key for them is going to. They have to improve the defense. Probably personnel has a lot to do with it. Offensive coordinator, I think that's going to be a big position to fill.
- [09:15]
Mike Wilbon
Yeah. Frank, look I, I have always been impressed with Steve Botti and the way that organization runs, which is what he presides over, the way he stays out of the way until he needs to insert himself. And obviously the hiring of a head coach is that. And I believe that, that Steve believes that. But I ain't buying any of it until I know what Lamar Jackson's situation is. You can be as good as you want if your quarterback has taken the drop for whatever reasons. And I'm looking at Lamar Jackson and I started asking the question about week four, how come Lamar Jackson now cannot outrun people with a jersey number that starts with a 5? You're not doing it. Maybe it's injuries. Maybe we get the real Lamar Jackson back. I hope so. I am not ready to wave bye bye to vintage Lamar Jackson. We should just be the door should be wide open. But we don't know that. And Jesse Mentor can't determine it and he can't fix it and he can't put it back on track if it's off track. So I there's too much we don't know. I understand Bashadi feels good about this. Hire a guy he already knows who might connect authentically. All that's great Lamar Jackson. He's got to be the answer to most of what's going on with the Baltimore Ravens.
- [10:37]
Frank Isola
And I agree with what you're saying about Lamar Jackson. Let's also remember on the final week of the season, he put his team in position. A field goal and then he's playing the following week. Yeah. So.
- [10:47]
Mike Wilbon
Yeah.
- [10:49]
Frank Isola
And even in a poor season, he still put his team in a position to win and make the playoffs.
- [10:53]
Mike Wilbon
It's a pretty mediocre Pittsburgh team, but I digress. Let's take a break. Still to come, a new report says Genie Buss had problems with LeBron. What's the word for LeBron's reaction?
- [11:07]
Frank Isola
I got a word for that. And what's the best way to describe Joel Embiid's performance against the Rockets last night? That was a pretty interesting ending. Should have been a goaltender on Kevin Durant.
- [11:18]
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- [12:25]
Mike Wilbon
Time to fill in some blanks with. Fill in, Frank. What's first?
- [12:30]
Frank Isola
When LeBron says he doesn't care about the report that Jeanie Buss had problems.
- [12:34]
Mike Wilbon
With him, he sounds blank. He sounds dismissive, Frank. And I would say justifiably dismissive, because, look, it seems like a well reported, interesting yarn.
- [12:46]
Frank Isola
Interesting.
- [12:46]
Mike Wilbon
If you're curious about the goings on, you know, backstage of an NBA team, particularly the one that produces the most gossip. But it's just. It doesn't matter. And so LeBron basically stood there at his locker and answered very, you know, perfunctorily, I don't care. It doesn't matter.
- [13:05]
Frank Isola
Yeah.
- [13:05]
Mike Wilbon
And I just found myself nodding and I look, I am a Jeanie Buss fan, so I don't want to have to declare sides here, but I'm a Jeanie Buss fan. But LeBron, it doesn't matter. And so he was dismissive. Am I being too cavalier? Am I being too dismissive?
- [13:22]
Frank Isola
No, I don't think you are. My word is exhausted. And if you go back, what, about 10 days ago, two weeks ago, his agent, Rich Paul, is on a podcast with Max Kellerman.
- [13:32]
Mike Wilbon
Yeah.
- [13:32]
Frank Isola
And Rich brought up the idea of trading Austin Reed.
- [13:35]
Mike Wilbon
Austin Reese stopped him. It just threw him off the game.
- [13:39]
Frank Isola
So guess who had to address it? Mike LeBron.
- [13:42]
Mike Wilbon
Jesus.
- [13:42]
Frank Isola
LeBron had to address it. He has to address something that's on another podcast now. He has to address something that Jeanie Buss allegedly said. He must be thinking, listen, folks, I'm 41 years old. I'm still trying to compete with these young guys. My son is on the team. I got another son in college. I got my daughter here as well. I mean, why do I have to answer everything? I think that's why he's a little tired of it. But I kept thinking about this. Whatever GD Buss allegedly or didn't say, I guarantee you something along those lines was said in Cleveland and Miami. And now allegedly, it's been said.
- [14:12]
Mike Wilbon
Miami would have been set.
- [14:13]
Frank Isola
And guess what? Yeah, yeah, but hang on. Guess what? They won in all those places. So LeBron has done right by the Lakers. They've done right by him. They've helped his brand. They drafted his son. I. Dismissive, exhausted. I think it all applies. At 41 years old, he doesn't want every day to be the story about him for. From somebody on the outside, you could tell he's a little tired.
- [14:34]
Mike Wilbon
I agree 100% with that. Let me just push back a little bit in that very. Again, it was a really cool exchange. LeBron was very engaged. He really is. In those post game exchanges. You and I know we've been there for those and he's like the best person to talk to in those situations. But when LeBron goes to the part where he says, I don't care about podcasts. What, he's got a podcast. His agent has a podcast.
- [15:00]
Frank Isola
That's right. Say what?
- [15:01]
Mike Wilbon
So we're not. We're not. We're not going fully down that road with LeBron. But I don't blame him. There's. There's no need to care. There just isn't. What's next?
- [15:10]
Frank Isola
Joel Embiid's performance last night was blank.
- [15:13]
Mike Wilbon
Wow. It was flashback, Frank. And the part that gets me, you know, there's the points and the rebounds that he had, whatever. He had 30 something, teen something. He played 46 minutes. Listen, if you said to me, tell me whether or not he is capable of playing 40, I'd say no, knowing full well he played 40 once in this recent stretch, 46 for Joel. This is actually encouraging considering Maxey is third in scoring in the league at 30 points a game and rookie Vijay Edscomb. I mean, by April, he may be able to put some games up there. When you're playing with Maxi and Embiid and a cast where you could, you could do something if you're Philly, but I'm going to say flashback. Wow. I don't know how sustainable it is, Frank, but when he plays like that, it reminds you of his MVP season.
- [16:11]
Frank Isola
Mr. MB you're 100% right. And that's why my word is timely, because you're talking about the minutes play. That's the most minutes he's played in a game since December of 2022. So it's been a while. And this recent stretch that he's on, he's played in 10 of their last 12 games. In eight of them, Mike, he's been over 31 minutes. In two of them, he's gone over 40. So let me give you a little hypothetical here, because now Tyrese Maxey is the guy. Embiid's not going to play him back to back, but he's proving now because his minutes have gone up every month. So is his production. All right? If they get to the playoffs and he's healthy and Paul George is Healthy. And you have Maxey, you have Vijay Edgecomb, you have Kelly Uber, who by the way has played well when he's been healthy.
- [16:55]
Mike Wilbon
Yeah.
- [16:55]
Frank Isola
And then you have Drummond Grimes coming off the bench and you also have.
- [16:59]
Mike Wilbon
And a coach in your player, McCain who wears something called a championship.
- [17:05]
Frank Isola
So tell me, would you like hypothetically, they have to cross their fingers in Philly for those guys to be healthy. Do you like their chances in the Eastern Conference?
- [17:13]
Mike Wilbon
It depends, Frank, entirely on the matchup. Do I like them against Detroit? No. Maybe against the Knicks. It's interesting is and the Knicks, you know, have been twice. Yes. Presumably the Knicks are going to ascend in the absence of Boston and Indiana. But Boston isn't absent. Boston's still there. So I hear you. And it becomes much more interesting. Look, it's a much more interesting conference and league if Joel Embiid is healthy and playing 35 minutes a game, much less 40.
- [17:46]
Frank Isola
And what he's not gonna do, Mike, the whole back to it's all go back to back. He won't happen back to back.
- [17:50]
Mike Wilbon
They won't be scheduled.
- [17:51]
Frank Isola
Not gonna see him.
- [17:51]
Mike Wilbon
That's right.
- [17:52]
Frank Isola
That's right.
- [17:53]
Mike Wilbon
That's it. I think we can all agree Frank just got spanked. Let's take one last break. Coming up, the College Football Playoff committee decides how many teams will get spots next season.
- [18:07]
Frank Isola
And Giants quarterback Jackson Dart makes a bold prediction.
- [18:12]
Mike Wilbon
I'm about to get tired of Jackson Dart.
- [18:15]
Rich Eisen
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- [19:22]
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- [19:52]
Mike Wilbon
Time to get happy people. Happy 58th birthday. Peter Korda. Korda had notable success as a tennis player, winning the 1998 Australian Open and making the final of the 92 French Open. He also achieved a level of notoriety due to testing positive for a steroid that he's maintained he didn't knowingly ingest. But if you're familiar with the quarter name these days, it's got to be due to the supporting success of his three children. Son Sebastian has won two titles on the ATP Tour. Daughter Jessica has won six LPGA titles. And of course daughter Nellie has won 15 tournaments on the LPGA Tour, including two majors and is ranked number two in the world today.
- [20:38]
Frank Isola
Frank, he was a pretty good tennis player. Why do you think so many of these guys it seems like and ladies, they, they kind of persuade their kids to go into golf. Why is that? They're around these great former athletes, right?
- [20:52]
Mike Wilbon
Yeah, I love watching.
- [20:53]
Frank Isola
Sounds like their passion, watching the quarter.
- [20:55]
Mike Wilbon
Women play on tour. Happy anniversary to the Buffalo Bills. On this day 32 years ago, the Bills just crushed the Chiefs in the AFC championship game to make it to their full fourth straight Super Bowl. No other team has ever made it to four straight Super Bowls, not even the Patriots. Of course, the Bills famously lost them all in this particular year. They go on to fall to Troy Aikman and the Cowboys for the second time in a row. Then head coach and my fellow Chicagoan Marv Levy recently celebrated his 100th birthday. The franchise hopes a new head coach can restore and even exceed the success that Levy brought today. Buffalo interviewed Philip Rivers for that job.
- [21:42]
Frank Isola
Frank that's an interesting candidate. Getting back to that AFC championship game, I was actually there. That was the game where Montana got hurt. So he was the quarterback for Kansas City. The running back was Marcus Allen. Oh, a little weird seeing him in those days.
- [21:56]
Mike Wilbon
Stars in both those title games. Think I was at at Dallas, San Francisco. Happy trails. For now to an expanded college football playoff. The CFP management committee announced this morning the playoff will remain a 12 team affair for the 2026 season. There had Been such internal debate about expanding to 16 or even 24 teams, absurdly enough. But the Big Ten in SEC reportedly could not agree. What a shock. There will be changes to the composition of the field though. Power four conference winners will now get the automatic bids. The highest ranked group of six champ gets in and so does Notre Dame if it finishes in the selection committee's top 12. God spare me, if those rules were in place this year, five loss. Duke would have been in the field. Frank.
- [22:49]
Frank Isola
12, 16, 24. There's going to be fighting. My only thing would be Indiana played 16 games this year. So now what are they going to play now? You could have 18 games or 18.
- [23:01]
Mike Wilbon
You go to 24. Seriously.
- [23:04]
Frank Isola
I do think with 16 though. I think these top seeded teams, they want to play a game at home. Think about what that does for the economy. You get another home game. I don't have a problem with 16, but that's a lot of games.
- [23:16]
Mike Wilbon
It should be eight teams. That'll be the final word for now.
- [23:21]
Frank Isola
A lot of fighting here.
- [23:22]
Mike Wilbon
One correction. The Broncos are 40 all time against the Patriots in Denver. We're running out of show. Let's get to the big finish. Fernando Mendoza has officially declared for the draft. Do you like his NFL prospects?
- [23:37]
Frank Isola
I like his arm. I like his savvy. I like his brains. But what else was he going to do, Mike? He did everything in college. Heisman Trophy, national champion, championship. His MVP did the right thing. Jonathan Kaminga left last night's warriors, lost to the Mavs after twisting his left ankle and hyperextending his left knee. Is that a cause for concern?
- [23:55]
Mike Wilbon
Yes, it is. When you got a guy, you don't know if you're trying to trade him or not. Should be trading him. Trinity Rodman has signed a three year deal with the Washington Spirit worth up to 6 million total. Significant.
- [24:07]
Frank Isola
It's good for the league here. A lot of rumors about her going. Going over to Europe to play. Giants quarterback Jackson Dart said he expects to do, quote, a whole lot of winning under John Harbaugh.
- [24:17]
Rich Eisen
Your thoughts?
- [24:17]
Frank Isola
Let's not get carried away.
- [24:18]
Mike Wilbon
Last one, women's college hoops, number 16, Oklahoma, beat number two, South Carolina, in OT. You gotta be surprised they beat him by 12.
- [24:27]
Frank Isola
How about Aaliyah Chavez? Which he did in overtime. Really impressive right of time. Thanks for watching. I'm Frank Isola.
- [24:32]
Mike Wilbon
I'm Mike Wil Bond. Have a great weekend. Look hands down on my name, your SportsCenter.
- [24:38]
Commercial Announcer
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 Grainger 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 granger.com or just stop by.