Hour 1: Battle for Herm Edwards

Summary

Sunday Mornings with Matt and Myron

ESPN Radio – Hour 1: Battle for Herm Edwards

Date: January 18, 2026
Hosts: Myron Medcalf, Matt Jones
Episode Focus: The joys and drama of NFL Divisional Playoff weekend, the heartbreak for Josh Allen and the Bills, Bo Nix’s injury fallout for the Broncos, the annual college football National Championship culture clash, coaching hires in the NFL, some lighthearted debates on music covers, and real-life calls from listeners.

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Episode Overview

This Sunday morning, Matt and Myron dive deep into NFL divisional playoffs, focusing on the emotional Bills-Broncos thriller, Josh Allen’s perennial heartbreak, and the cruel twist for Denver with Bo Nix’s injury. They explore sports fandom, culture clashes in Miami for the college national championship, the dangers of over-complicating MLK Day tributes, the importance of knowing musical sources, and break down major NFL coaching hires. A surprise call delivers an inspiring personal story, rounding out an episode packed with humor, empathy, and sharp sports insight.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. NFL Divisional Playoff Weekend: Setting the Stage

• Best Weekend in Football?
  Matt calls it “everything you want and more” as NFL playoffs dovetail into the college football championship (00:38).
  “Bill’s Broncos just set the stage, man. That’s the way you want to kick off the divisional round if you’re the NFL.” – Matt (00:38)

• Culture Clash in Miami
  Myron and Matt riff on Indiana fans descending on Miami, confused by city life and massive parking fees (01:03–02:20).
  “$750 just to park... I’m getting towed may be the right way to go.” – Myron (02:14, 02:38)

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2. Off the Top: Bills vs Broncos Reactions

The Game

• Overtime thriller: Bills fall to Broncos, with Josh Allen’s controversial interception and Bo Nix breaking his ankle on the penultimate play (02:58–03:57).

• Bills Fandom:
  Matt, watching in Dave & Buster’s, is amazed by “how many people love Josh Allen. People of all backgrounds, all ages...You would have thought someone they knew had lost that game.” (03:57)

• Josh Allen’s Pain & Relatability
  Myron: “He may be destined in life to never reach his goal... It's kind of a little sad. I find myself rooting for him as well.” (04:20)

Allen’s Emotional Element

• National Sympathy
  Myron traces Allen’s place in the pantheon of likeable but unlucky QBs – Elway, Jim Kelly, Peyton pre-Super Bowl (05:26):
  “It is natural human reaction to root for the second fiddle and hope for them... especially as Mahomes and Kelce... have become, if not controversial, easy to mock.” (05:26)

• Intense Heartbreak
  “Yesterday to me was the difference between him becoming... one of the legends... and him maybe being this generation’s Dan Marino.” – Matt (08:59)

• Accountability vs. Sympathy
  Producer James interrupts: “I want him to be held accountable for the four turnovers he had. Can I just say something? They would have won by three points if it wasn’t for that.” (10:07, 10:19)

• A Study in Sports Humanity:
  Myron: “The difference between us and you is we have pangs of sympathy in our heart for fellow humans. Whoa.” (10:44)

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3. Broncos After Bo Nix: Can History Repeat?

Bo Nix’s Injury Fallout

• Damien Woody’s Take:
  “It’s almost like you win the battle but you lost the war... You gotta go into an AFC championship with Jared Stidham who hasn’t played since 2023. Good luck.” – Cited at (17:16–18:12)

• Matt’s Response:
  Pushes back on military analogies and praises Bo Nix’s growth, especially overcoming last year’s flop (18:18–19:09).

• Can Stidham Do It?
  Myron lists the long-shot QB heroes (Hostetler, Doug Williams, Nick Foles), asks if Stidham could join the club (19:09).
  Matt is skeptical: “Bo Nix made big time plays all game. I don’t think there’s any world where Jared Stidham can do that.” (19:40)

• Denver’s Run Game:
  Myron notes Denver did have a run game this year and may need to rely on it (20:10).
  “Let me change what I said. I don’t think they have a running star.” – Matt (20:34)

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4. Music Tangent: Originals vs. Covers

• Blues Brothers vs. Sam & Dave / Darius Rucker’s “Wagon Wheel”
  Riff on music covers and generational knowledge:
  “A good idea for all songs... go back and listen to the original so you know where it came from.” – Myron (24:01)
  “How many songs are there where the remake is better than the original? I think it’s only a handful... Whitney Houston’s is better than Dolly’s, even though I love Dolly.” – Myron (24:43)

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5. MLK Day Advice: Don’t Overdo It!

• Public Service Announcement:
  Matt: “If you’re...like, let’s do something fancy for Martin Luther King Day. Scrap those plans...” (16:05)
  Myron: “Every year, like, Cheerios... ‘I have a dream of honey’...No, no, no, don’t do that.” (16:33)

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6. NFL Coaching Carousel: Giants, Falcons, Tomlin

• Giants Hire John Harbaugh:
  Universally praised, but Myron questions if expectations are outsized (40:17–41:18):
  “With a quarterback who’s not of that pedigree, how does he meet expectations?” – Matt (41:43)

• Falcons Hire Kevin Stefanski:
  Matt: “He’s got the pieces in Atlanta to be good... The question... is how good is he as a head coach? There’s a divide there.” (43:01)
  Quarterback situation remains the big question.

• Mike Tomlin Steps Down:
  Myron asks: “Why do we all think he's going to be great at television? Have you ever found him all that interesting?” (44:06)

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7. Listener Call: Real-Life Sobriety Milestone

• Big John from Connecticut Shares His Sobriety Story
  Caller movingly recounts turning 37 years sober on MLK Day after escaping prison and drugs, crediting a fortuitous court outcome.
  "It was the turning point in my life… I like Martin Luther King and what he was for the world. Yeah, be nice and be… be nice. That's all." – Big John, Caller (33:55–34:42)

• Authentic Gratitude:
  Matt and Myron respond with warmth and congratulations:
  “37 years of sobriety is something you should be very proud of... Thank you very much for calling.” (34:44–34:56)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “He may be destined in life to never reach his goal, right? Like, he may be one of those people... so I find myself rooting for him as well.”
  – Myron on Josh Allen's everyman pain (04:20)

• “The difference between us and you is that we have pangs of sympathy in our heart for fellow humans. Whoa. We have humanity.”
  – Myron to James (10:44–10:54)

• “Josh Allen is now for the NFL... the everyman rallies around and wants to see finally get a victory, but once again comes up short.”
  – Myron (05:26)

• “If you're trying to do something you haven't been doing... just do the same stuff you do every year.”
  – Matt, on organizations overdoing MLK Day (16:02–16:56)

• “Whenever something happens, go listen to the original so you know where it came from.”
  – Myron, on music covers and history (24:01)

• “You can be a great offensive mind, and maybe that doesn't translate to being a great head coach.”
  – Matt, on Kevin Stefanski (43:01)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment Summary | |-----------|----------------| | 00:04 | NFL/CFB weekend: Best football weekend of the year? | | 01:03 | Indianapolis/Miami culture clash for National Championship fans | | 02:14 | $750 to park at the game – jokes about towing and parking costs | | 02:58 | "Off the Top": Recapping Bills–Broncos overtime classic | | 03:57 | Matt at Dave & Buster’s: Surprised by intensity of Josh Allen fandom | | 05:26 | The psychology of rooting for the “second fiddle” QBs like Allen | | 10:07 | Producer James’ rant: “I want Josh Allen to be held accountable!” | | 17:16 | Damien Woody on Bo Nix’s injury and the Broncos’ challenge ahead | | 18:18 | Matt critiques sports military metaphors | | 24:01 | Original vs cover song debate – “Soul Man”, “Wagon Wheel”, etc. | | 16:02 | Advice for organizations on MLK Day tributes | | 33:37 | Big John from Connecticut’s call on sobriety and MLK Day milestone | | 40:17 | NFL Coaching Carousel: John Harbaugh to Giants, Stefanski to Falcons | | 44:06 | Mike Tomlin’s move to television – will he be any good? |

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Tone & Style

• Clever and playful. Matt and Myron blend humor with sharp sports insight.
• Conversational, relatable. The show thrives on personal anecdotes, teasing, and genuine empathy.
• Accessible but informed. Listeners with any level of sports familiarity can follow, but the discussion includes advanced football knowledge.

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For Listeners Who Missed the Show

This episode is a microcosm of Sunday sports talk at its best: a blend of heated debate, fan empathy, cultural observations, real-life stories, and even musical musings. Whether you care deeply about whether Josh Allen will ever win it all, are wondering if Denver can survive without Bo Nix, or just want to laugh about the perils of overdoing social media tributes—Matt and Myron’s banter delivers both knowledge and warmth. Fans of football, pop culture, or just human stories will find something that hits home.

Transcript

[Matt]

This is Matt and Myron, the podcast.

[Myron]

It is visual weekend all across the NFL. This is Matt Myron on ESPN Radio. ESPN App Series XM Channel 80, presented by Progressive Insurance. You can be a part of Matt MYRON NATION. I'm Dr. Pepper. Call in line 888, say ESPN. Myron Metcalf. Two big NFL games yesterday to today. College football national championship on Monday. There are people out there that say this is the best football weekend of the year. Do you agree with that?

[Matt]

Oh, yeah. I mean, it gives you everything you would want and more. I mean, you got the big NFL games and then you get to go right into Monday. And Monday is different because of the storylines there too. Like a team like Indiana having a chance to win a national championship. So I think this is a fun weekend and I think Bill's Broncos just set the stage, man. I mean, that's the way you want to kick off the divisional round if you're the NFL.

[Myron]

Have you seen the social media posts about in Miami for that college football national championship game? How like all these Indiana people got there and it's kind of like the Cole Haynes go to the city and they're trying to drive around, they don't know where to go and they're complaining about the traffic and. And then like a regular Saturday night of Miami people are out and like the Indiana people are coming kind of in their pickup trucks going, woo, where am I supposed to park my rig? And the Miami people are like, you know, living la vida loca. And they're just. The culture clash there. You're. Are you enjoying that?

[Matt]

I love it. I mean, I also love that, like, Miami doesn't necessarily know this is happening. Like, how many people are just hanging out, you know, in Miami, like normal, and they don't necessarily even know there's a game.

[Myron]

And yeah, I saw a lot of Indiana people on social media and the Indiana people are like, Miami's wild. This is the craziest game ever. And everybody's like, dude, it's Saturday night, we hosted the Super Bowl. We don't care about Indiana, but the Indiana fans think everybody's out for them. Right? I think that's kind of funny.

[Matt]

Yeah, well, and then these ticket prices, what's, what's fascinating is that's crazy. I think a lot of these Indiana fans said, okay, I'll just get a ticket after what happened in the last game. And you gotta be rich, rich to get into that.

[Myron]

$750 just to park. 750 dollars to park at the game.

[Matt]

So there was a guy who tweeted and he might be on to something. He said, should I Park for 750 or just leave my car on a random curb, get it towed, and then I gotta go pay the fee? And people were like, you know what, man? That actually might be the way to go. You know, 7:50.

[Myron]

I'm getting towed may be the right way to go. 7:50 for a parking spot. That's why. Let's get started. It's time to go off the top.

[Matt]

What are we thinking about?

[Myron]

Trying to think, but nothing happens.

[Matt]

Time to find out. This is off the top with Matt and Myron.

[Myron]

All right. Of course, first two. First two games of playoff weekend have already occurred. And the big story is the Broncos lose to the Bills in a great game where it goes to overtime. Bills have a chance actually to. Can we turn the rock and roll music down just a little bit? It feels like every time we do this. Hey, I am doing a slow fade, Matt, so that it sounds decent to the listener.

[Rachel]

You're too loud.

[Matt]

Anyway, so I'm just trying to balance it out.

[Rachel]

Okay.

[Myron]

I'm just saying, man, at the beginning, it feels like I'm at a Metallica concert. So, Bronco, the Bills have a chance in overtime. They. Josh Allen is not able to make it happen. Throws a controversial interception, and then you end up with the Broncos going down and getting the field goal. After the game, we find out that Bo Nix broke his ankle on the next to last play and is now out of the playoffs. Myron, so much happening. What stuck out to you from that epic game yesterday?

[Matt]

Well, I was at a Dave and Buster's last night watching, right? And I didn't realize how many people love Josh Allen. I mean, people of all backgrounds, all ages. Everything Josh Allen did, they were rooting for him directly. And at the end, you would have thought, like, someone they knew had lost that game. Really love him.

[Myron]

I'm like that. And that's kind of funny because I don't know why on paper I shouldn't like Josh Allen. He's good looking. He dates Haley Stanfield, right? Like, he kind of seems kind of. He's a little bit cocky, all that stuff. Or I guess he's married to Haley Stanfield. Whatever. Like, on paper, I shouldn't like him, but then I think I like him. Because of what you saw in the press conference. He cries after the game. Like he's like. You can tell he may be destined in life to never reach his goal, right? Like, he may be one of those people which is kind of a little sad. So I find myself rooting for him as well.

[Matt]

I mean, people are hanging on every pass. I mean, that. It was just intense. I didn't realize, like, people in the middle of the Midwest cared that much about whether or not Josh Allen won. And you know what? They didn't care about anything the Broncos did. I mean, the Broncos were the enemy in that game for a lot of people. But, I mean, it was a great game. That's how you want to kick off the NFL playoffs, especially with the dud we got last night with Seattle and the 49ers. But then to get the Bo Knicks news right after that. I can't imagine being a Broncos fan celebrating, and then you get that Adam Schefter alert, and all of a sudden all your super bowl hopes go out the window.

[Myron]

Yeah, I mean, that's. You're now in what, Doug Williams, Jeff Hostetler, Nick Foles territory. Nick Foles, where you're going to have to try to win with the backup. I want to go back for a second to Josh Allen. I think Josh Allen is now for the NFL. You know, he is a very compelling. We've had this guy over the years, right? We had it with John Elway. We had it with Jim Kelly. We. Jim Kelly never got there. We had it for a while. People forget with Peyton Manning where he was all. Where they were always kind of the second fiddle. And I think it is natural human reaction to root for the second fiddle and hope for them to some point become the top person, especially as Mahomes and Kelsey over the years have become, if not controversial, easy to mock for various reasons. And I think Josh Allen has become this guy that the sort of everyman rallies around and wants to see finally get a victory, but once again comes up short.

[Matt]

Well, and I think you mentioned something that matters, too, because I want to make clear, I mean, men and women at Dave and Buster's were all rooting for Josh Allen.

[Rachel]

Why were you.

[Matt]

I think his wife being up for a bunch.

[Myron]

Do you go to Dave and Buster's a lot? Do you like playing all the little games with his. Are you trying to.

[Matt]

You can get this unlimited car, man, and just play games all. All night if you want to.

[Myron]

I thought people stopped going to Dave and buster's at like 15. Why. Why are you still going?

[Matt]

I'm calling.

[Myron]

I went.

[Matt]

I went with my. My daughter, but I would go by myself. I mean, I. I'll go.

[Myron]

I'll play video David busters by yourself.

[Matt]

100% I'm a video, I like old school video.

[Myron]

Middle aged man roaming around Dave and Buster's by not, not at like 8.

[Matt]

O' clock because that's a, you can go to like between two and five, I think at my age.

[Myron]

Okay.

[Matt]

And not startled.

[Myron]

Say if it's a Saturday night, there is a 43 year old man around Dave and Buster's by himself. Security, security's coming. Okay.

[Matt]

They're going, they're going to escort you out and you're not even asking any questions. And I would understand.

[Myron]

I'm glad you were there with the. Now go ahead.

[Matt]

But Josh Allen's wife I think is a factor in this too. Like, I know a lot of people who know him because of her. So he's almost like the perfect social media quarterback too. He's got a Hollywood wife, he's this big time star, he's on all these commercials and he's not Patrick Mahomes. He's the guy who's trying to beat Patrick Mahomes. And I think there's an appeal there. But people were, people were heartbroken where I was at when they lost. I mean you, I was like you, how do you all even relate to Josh Allen? But they do.

[Myron]

I, it is weird to me because I root for Josh Allen and I shouldn't. When I went to the Bills game earlier this year where I saw all the people like grinding each other in their zoom, I went to, I went in the locker room after the game that, you know, they invite you in the locker room to ask questions. And I went up to Josh Allen and I was like, hey, Josh, can I ask you a question? And he goes, I answer questions at a different time. And it was a perfectly fine answer. But that's usually the kind of answer that would make me say, I hate this person. Right?

[Matt]

Yes.

[Myron]

Instead I looked at him and was like, I understand, sir. I will give you your space. Like it was almost for some that there's. I don't know why I felt sympathy for this star. And I think it's because he seems destined to retire in eight years having never won. And the Matt Myron of 60 years from now will go, well, you don't want to be like Josh Allen. I feel like Myron, that's going to end up being what his career is and I hate that for him.

[Matt]

I mean, yesterday to me was the difference between him becoming, I think, one of the legends who captured a Super bowl and was sort of remembered as that and him maybe being this generation's damn arena. And you can talk about that.

[Myron]

Making the mistakes. You can point like because he had the four turnovers, right. You can point to the pass at the end of regulation where his guys open and he just overthrows him. I think because you can point to specific mistakes he made, it actually kind of makes it sadder.

[Matt]

Well, and when else will you get the opportunity? There's no Mahomes, there's no Lamar. And the NFC doesn't have like some one that is just dominant force. So it felt like the path was right there. Like, you know, follow the yellow brick road. If there were one in the NFL. He had one to the super bowl and instead he got caught up and missed his chance. And I think that's how people see it.

[Myron]

Follow the yellow brick road.

[Rachel]

Wow.

[Matt]

To the Super Bowl. I was in the way.

[Myron]

No one hates Josh Allen except our producer James, who if you could see him right now, looks like he could be on an FBI's most.

[Matt]

He didn't want us to talk about.

[Myron]

Him because he didn't want us to do anything positive. Josh Allen.

[Matt]

I want. I want him to be held accountable for the four turnovers he had last. He should keep saying be held accountable.

[Myron]

Do you want him to be stoned in the public square?

[Matt]

I want people to stop making somebody. They lost last night because of him. He threw two interceptions. He fumbled. One of the worst turnovers I've ever seen in my life at the end of the first half. Can I just say something? They would have won. They would have won by three points if it wasn't for that. Okay, so what do you want us.

[Myron]

To do to him? What do you want us to do?

[Matt]

I just. I want people to stop making excuses for him. That's all.

[Myron]

No.

[Matt]

I'm not even yelling.

[Myron]

Between us and you is that we have pangs of sympathy in our heart for fellow humans. Whoa.

[Matt]

What?

[Myron]

We have humanity.

[Matt]

I felt so bad when the Chiefs didn't make the playoffs this year. I have sympathy.

[Myron]

You all have won three Super Bowls.

[Matt]

Yeah, that's. Yeah. James. I don't know. I don't know if that's your line. I felt really bad for all. That's your lie.

[Myron]

What you need to do is look in the mirror and say, am I being warm to my fellow humans or is my heart shut off and cold?

[Matt]

No, I know. Then it's the second one. I'm fully aware. Just that's the way I am. I don't.

[Myron]

We will talk more about the other team in the game, the Broncos. Bo Nicks is now out. What happens when you take a backup quarterback to the AFC Championship game and will James find a soul? That's all next here on Matt and Myron on ESPN Radio.

[Matt]

Matt and Myron the Podcast.

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[Rachel]

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[Myron]

Yeah. A little Broncos Bills action with James Brown. It's Matt Myron on ESPN Radio. That's right. Is this. This is James Brown, isn't it?

[Matt]

This is not. Yeah, this is not James Brown.

[Myron]

Who is it?

[Matt]

This is Sam and Dave Brothers.

[Myron]

Same thing.

[Matt]

This is the Blues Brothers version. It's not the original Sam and Dave saying the original. Yeah, but this is the. This is the Blues Brothers, Myron. Yeah, but it's not the original version.

[Myron]

Be careful. Be careful, all right? You can't call two actors doing a skit the best version and not. They got a movie.

[Matt]

No, r. You don't. No, you. The original is the original. You know the original.

[Myron]

When you think of this song, I'm going to say that most people are.

[Matt]

Going to think the. No, don't say most people.

[Myron]

Rachel, I'm trying to help you here. I'm trying to help you Martin Luther King Day weekend. All right?

[Matt]

This is not.

[Myron]

Listen, let's not say that Dan Aykroyd is.

[Matt]

Let's not say most. I think the original. Most people would understand that more than the Blues Brothers.

[Myron]

So.

[Matt]

But Rachel's also, like 15. Like, every time Rachel in the breaks tells her age, I'm like, wait, you don't remember anything that happened the last, like, 40 years?

[Myron]

If you go on Instagram, everybody's putting pictures up of what they look like in 2016. And I said, well, why don't they do it for 2006? And Rachel said, well, I was nine.

[Matt]

So that would have been.

[Myron]

That would have been.

[Matt]

That would have been.

[Myron]

So we have to remember.

[Matt]

Can I get my middle age? Can I get my typical, like, pre Martin Luther King Day public service announcement, though, real quick.

[Myron]

Don't tweet.

[Matt]

If you are in an organization, a school athletic department, and you all are like, let's do something fancy for Martin Luther King Day. Let's try something new. Scrap those plans. The tweet you have prepared the post. If you're trying to do something that you haven't been doing, it's very simple. Post I have a dream and a picture of Martin Luther King, a snippet of his I have a dream speech. You don't have to do anything beyond that. Every year somebody does it, Matt, and it's usually.

[Myron]

You're exactly right. Every year, like, Cheerios has, like, got a new flavor, and they'll be like, I have a dream of honey. Cheeri. Like, no, no, no, no, don't do that.

[Matt]

Martin Luther King owes. Like, nobody's asking for that. Like nobody wants. I don't need Martin Luther King on a cereal box. That's a little weird, if I'm being honest with you. Just do the same stuff you do every year.

[Myron]

Frosted flakes. Like nobody's.

[Matt]

You don't need any of those things. You don't have to do extra for Martin Luther King day. Keep it simple. And that's how you keep your job. I'm just trying to help people.

[Myron]

Exactly right. So the Broncos win last night. Damien Woody, who's ESPN's NFL analyst. I'm not saying this view is ridiculous.

[Matt]

I like.

[Myron]

I like David. I mean, I've never met David.

[Matt]

Oh, no.

[Myron]

I'm sure he's a wonderful person. I always say I like these people. I've never met anyone that works at ESPN except Dan Orlovsky. So, yeah, I've never met Davey Woody, but I'm sure he's a wonderful person. He said this about Bo Nicks being hurt during the game last night of the Bill.

[Matt]

It's almost like you win the battle, but you lost the war. Just a huge win. Bo Nicks played phenomenal football like he's been doing all season long, particularly late in games. But then you come out on the other side of it and like, we lost our starting quarterback and you going into the AFC championship game, that is a huge blow within the locker room. You know, guys that you've been playing with, you know, you look to as a leader. He's a captain on his head. And now you got to go into an AFC championship game with a guy, the guy in Jared Stidham who hasn't played since 2023. Good luck.

[Myron]

I feel like it's a little harsh to say he lost the war. It's kind of not his fault.

[Matt]

Yeah.

[Myron]

That it happened. But how do you see. Is it win the battle, lost the war?

[Matt]

I think in general, in sports, we got to lose the military metaphors in general. Guys aren't soldiers. Yeah, they're not soldiers.

[Myron]

Okay.

[Matt]

Yeah. I think. I think we gotta limit that. I mean, I think Bo Nix helped his cause in every single way. Like, not only did the lead his team to a one seed, the doubts about him were, will he show up on the big stage after flopping last year? And he did. I mean, you can make the case he was the best quarterback in that game, and Josh Allen was in that game. So I think Bo Nicks did really help himself for the future. But it's unfortunate when you see something like that and when you watch the playmat, it's weird it's not obvious what happened like when you see it. So it's tough for the Broncos.

[Myron]

So it stinks for Bo Nix. And now you get Jared Stidham. But we have a history of this, right? We have a history of this. We have Jeff Hostetler won a Super Bowl. Doug Williams won a Super Bowl, Nick Foles won a Super Bowl. So this has happened before. Can Jared Stidham get into the ranks? Can he be a modern day Nick Foles or a modern day Jeff Hostetler? Does he have a chance to do that with his Broncos team? He'll be at home next week for the game.

[Matt]

No, I don't think.

[Myron]

Why not?

[Matt]

No, I don't think because. Because I think you saw what it takes to win in the AFC in advance and if you're telling me he's going to play at that level, remember that Broncos team doesn't have a really reliable run game. I think Bo Nix was their leading rusher, if I'm not mistaken. Like Bo Nicks made big time plays all game. I don't think there's any word where Jared Stidham can do that now. The defense can keep them in it, but I don't think you can hide one thing.

[Myron]

Denver had a running game this year. They just didn't use it last game. And I think if they had lost, they would have gotten a lot of criticism about that. I mean, they really abandoned a running game that had had a lot of success in recent weeks and they basically didn't do it, but put that to the side. I think they're going to have to rely on it now. But there were times this year that that running game worked. So I don't think that's impossible to be successful.

[Matt]

Let me change what I said. I don't think they have a running star like, I don't think they have someone that they can turn to and say you're going to be our playmaker and the AFC championship game to carry the load. I think that puts more pressure on Jared. Stum and B handled that pressure very well. Everything that was thrown at him, he's down.

[Myron]

So if you're big.

[Matt]

Yeah.

[Myron]

If you're the Broncos. Are you rooting for the Patriots today? Because I do think it would be a bad idea to have to go up again that against that Texans defense with Jared St. Oh yeah.

[Matt]

I think you want the second year quarterback coming to your house. I mean playing against you in my house. Stadium at altitude. You always hear the stories mad about people who feel like they prepared for altitude and then they get up there and they, they haven't like anyone who hasn't been to Denver, it's over.

[Myron]

Right? I think the altitude things I've been.

[Matt]

Yeah, but I think run, but yeah, but you weren't running up and down a field.

[Myron]

I mean, you don't know what I was doing. I may have gone up there to play. Were you, were you running around play in the NFL? But I went up there and played some football games like, like, you know, like I did some hardcore training.

[Matt]

But I think Drake may, you want the young guy coming into that environment. You definitely don't want to see that Texans defense. But I don't know man. I think it's a tall task because Bo Nicks played well and Jared Stidham can't do that.

[Myron]

Yeah, I do think it is a tall task. I think if I was going to have an offensive mind that I would like to bring me into that game. I think Sean Payton's not the worst, worst name in the world to do that. It is fascinating though, but, but it has worked in the past. Like we're going to talk later about this, but my whole theory of quarterbacks a is being proven in this playoffs. But B, we're going to have a quarterback win this that people are going to be shocked. Could win a Super bowl at this point in their career unless Matthew Stafford wins it, which I do think is very interesting. Herm Edwards is going to join us. We'll talk about all the games today. That's next on Matt and Myron.

[Matt]

Matt and Myron the Podcast.

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[Myron]

Didn't you just play this.

[Matt]

No, she's playing the original now because she felt bad.

[Myron]

That's all I ever heard the original.

[Matt]

So I thought I would play it now so I can hear it. You've never heard the original?

[Myron]

No, I've literally.

[Matt]

I was obsessed with the Blues Brothers as a kid, so it's the only soul man.

[Myron]

Well, now you've heard the original. A good idea for all songs. When you hear something to remake, go back and listen to the original so you know where it came from. Because normally you'll find out that the original was better here on Matt Myron on ESPN Radio. That's one of the things you'll. It's. It's a good lesson for the. For the future is don't. Just don't song. Yeah, exactly. Cuz like the re. That. How many songs are there, Myron, that are out there where the original. Where the. Where the remake is better than the original? I think it's only a handful. So like Whitney Houston, I will always love you. I love my. My girl Dolly, but I think Whitney's is better than Dolly's, even though I love Dolly.

[Matt]

Yeah.

[Myron]

But I think in general, the remake is rarely better than the original. Like in the one. Sometimes the ones people think they are, you just didn't know the original to know that it's not.

[Matt]

Well, a lot of people don't know that there are originals. Like, a lot of people think they've invented everything. That's the problem is like, we live in a world where people assume this is the first time anything like this has ever happened. And they don't know that. No, there's a history attached to this. And, you know, sometimes people get, you know, mad.

[Myron]

Do you know the song Wagon Wheel? Do you know Wagon Wheel? I don't rock Me Mama like a wagon Wheel.

[Matt]

Yeah, I know that song. Yeah.

[Myron]

Okay, so that was. That came out, like, a long time ago. And then your. Your God Darius Rucker did it. And everybody thinks, so this is the Darius Rucker version. But that's not.

[Matt]

Yes, I've heard this.

[Myron]

But old. But Old Crow Medicine show has the right version of it. But everybody's like, oh, Darius Rooker, I hate the Darius Rucker version. Makes me want. Same thing with Werewolves of London. Kid Rock did it, like with his stupid Kid Rock version. And everybody forgets the original. And that makes me upset.

[Matt]

Yeah, but part of it is the remix. Guys, don't tell everybody that someone else deserves credit. Like, Hootie didn't stand up there and say, this isn't My song. You know, he just let everybody believe.

[Myron]

He doesn't like to be called Hootie. He likes to be called Darius Rock.

[Matt]

You know what? Here's the thing. He had a group called Hootie and the Blowfish, and then he decided to change his name. That didn't mean we have to acknowledge his name change.

[Myron]

So, James, where's Herm Edwards? This is the Herm Edwards and I look forward to it every week. Where is her?

[Matt]

Herm's not here yet. He's still down with.

[Myron]

Now, is this continuing? Is this the Sports center big time in us thing that happens sometimes. Is this sport Sports Center TV deciding they're more important than ESPN radio?

[Matt]

Wait, what? I think. I think I have to. I think I have to refrain from. From saying anything. I mean, I'll call my. I don't think this is about internal politics, but I think it's just. We want Perm as soon as we can and hopefully we'll be.

[Myron]

I'll call Michael.

[Matt]

I don't think we need to talk about anybody else at espn. He might just be a little later in today, that's all. Yeah, I think we'll get Herm. We'll get him on board.

[Myron]

Sports center just thinks, you know, Herm.

[Matt]

Likes Rachel more than he likes me. Maybe I'll have. Can I tell you something, though?

[Myron]

Listen to Myron trying to change the subject. Myron?

[Matt]

Yeah. Not about going back to. And I don't want to dwell on MLK Day. I can't stand the people who overdo it. Like, I can't. Somebody out there is about to post 500 words on MLK and they've never once mentioned him before MLK Day. And it is going to be a giant thing. They're going to make everybody in the morning, Tuesday, whenever it is, they're going to have a lunch, a breakfast, whatever, and they're going to make a big deal of it. And I just can't stand when people overdo it. It's not necessary.

[Myron]

Is there somewhere, you know, nowadays there's prediction markets about everything. Is there somewhere I can bet on who's going to get canceled for their MLK Day post?

[Matt]

It's usually a school in Florida. I feel like the schools in Florida have a competition to see who. Whose graphics department can mess this up the most. Right.

[Myron]

I'm looking forward to it. See, I think it's usually a business. It's usually a business that's trying too hard. It's like, it's like Levi's jeans. Like, put Martin Luther King in their jeans.

[Matt]

Yeah, like Martin Luther King special edition gloves.

[Myron]

Here's what it'll be. It'll be Levi's jeans. It'll be Levi's jeans and it'll say jeans fit for a king. That's what it is.

[Matt]

It'll be that. It'll be. It'll be that. It'll be that. It's going to be some weird commercial. Some weird commercial that, you know, puts them in some weird, you know, AI kind of thing. You don't have to do all that.

[Myron]

It's going to be for a king. Texans and Patriots play today at 3 o'. Clock. You got Drake May against that Texans defense. That has been, you know, I, you have always had the view. Would you say Herman is here?

[Matt]

No, no, no. I just want to make sure you said the Texans at patriots today on ESPN and ABC at 3:00pm Eastern. Okay, company man, I like it.

[Myron]

The Texans know are on ESPN. I'll make sure to say that six or seven more times.

[Matt]

And ABC they.

[Myron]

Drake.

[Matt]

Yeah.

[Myron]

Thank you. The Texans defense. I, I've had the view that the Texans defense, you can't win a Super bowl with defense. But the last time that probably happened was 40 years ago with the 85 bears for this is the 40th anniversary. Do you think the Texans can do that? I mean, right now they're going to have to. If you're looking at who they'd have to beat. Aaron Rodgers, Drake May, Jared Stidham, and then who knows, maybe Sam Darnold. I mean, if there was ever going to be a year to take the defense and try to make it to a Super bowl, this might be the year.

[Matt]

Yeah, I mean all the teams that won championships with defense alone had dial up modems. You know what I mean? Like there aren't many teams that have done it in modern times. I don't think you can hide CJ Stroud. I don't think you can hide a quarterback in these playoffs. I think people thought that yesterday. All right, the Denver Broncos defense can knock Josh Allen around, put him in a tough spot. Bo Nicks doesn't have to do a whole lot. Guess what? Bo Nicks had to do everything in order to give his team a chance to win at home. So I think CJ Stroud is not someone who's going to be able to just hide because the Texans defense is that good. You just can't do that in modern times.

[Myron]

How many fumbles did he have? Did he have five fumbles against, against Pittsburgh? I think that was right. Didn't he have five he had.

[Matt]

He was not good. And then I think the problem is CJ Stroud hasn't gotten better from that rookie season where we were talking about him being a top five or six guy. If he's that, we'll show up now and prove it against the Patriots. But this is a big moment for him.

[Rachel]

I.

[Myron]

This is a big moment for him, but I don't think he's the story at all. I do think the Texans defense is so good that they can win without him. And I also think there's a big component of this game is Drake May. My affinity for rooting against the Patriots goes up against the fact that for Drake May, this is his chance to become a superstar quarterback, where he gets in the conversation with those top three or four guys. I mean, I've been resisting it for a long time. Okay. I've been resisting the idea that I can put him in the conversation even with Matthew Stafford. But if he gets to the super bowl in his second year, coming off how bad last year's team was, I don't know how. You don't say. The variable May combination has a future. Maybe not Brady Belichick, but pretty dag on good people like me will have to submit if he makes the Super Bowl. Right?

[Matt]

Yeah. And I think the. The right now a lot of people love him young, you know, cool story. We saw him struggle last year under different coaches staff. Now he could be an mvp. If he wins a Super bowl, though, the hatred is going to be unrivaled. I mean, it's going to be incredible what he faces if he wins this Super Bowl.

[Myron]

He's the opposite of the Patriots. People are not trying to. People are not trying to root for him. They're actually kind of actively rooting against him because of the history of how good the Patriots have been. Right? Yep.

[Matt]

Yep. And he has a chance to get one, though. I mean, the idea that this could be another start of another dynasty potentially for the Patriots. If Drake may at this age, wins a Super bowl, the NFL would turn on him very, very fast. The fan bases would do.

[Myron]

I want to take this call right here from Big John in Connecticut. I don't know if you're.

[Rachel]

Yeah.

[Matt]

Why not? We're here, man. Yeah. No, I think I go for it.

[Myron]

All right. This is on Myron Metcalf, Big John in Connecticut. Go ahead, John.

[Caller Big John]

Hey, Myron. 37 years ago, I was looking at 25 years in jail, and it was the last day I got high. The next day I went to court and my public defender got my case nollied. And they don't usually do that for drugs. And I've never used again. And I don't know what today was, but the date. But I know it was Martin Luther King's birthday and I straightened out my life and everything's not terrific, but it's. I can look people in the eye and I own a house and I work. And I love your show. You guys are really good, all you guys.

[Myron]

So let me ask you a question so you appreciate that you got sober 37 years ago on Martin Luther King Day.

[Caller Big John]

That was the last day I used drugs. I never really drank. And I was looking at.

[Myron]

First of all, congratulations.

[Matt]

Yeah, congratulations.

[Myron]

37 years of sobriety is something you should be very proud of. Do. Do you know why you remember that it was Martin Luther King Day?

[Caller Big John]

Because it was. It was the turning point in my life when, when my case got nollied, I could not believe it. And the. The. My public defender was a kid. I played literally with his older brother. And he told me, if you don't. And I go, I'm not lying. I'll never use again. And I've seen him five times since, and he always asks and I always tell him straight, but it just happened.

[Matt]

To be on Martin Luther King Day. It just happened.

[Myron]

It wasn't anything about Martin Luther, but.

[Matt]

It wasn't like you saw something in Martin Luther King that inspired you.

[Caller Big John]

I like Martin Luther King and what he was for the world. Yeah, be nice and be. Be nice. That's all.

[Myron]

Well, listen, congratulations, Congratulations. And I hope you much more, much more success on your sobriety journey. And thank you very much for calling.

[Caller Big John]

And I love. I love your show every Sunday. I look forward to it.

[Myron]

Well, appreciate it.

[Matt]

I appreciate it.

[Myron]

You never know what you're gonna hear on Matt Myron. We start the show with. With James's heart of steel and blackness that comes from the fact that he doesn't like Josh Allen. And now by the end of the hour, we get uplifting stories of sobriety. That is what happens here on Matt Myron. You don't get that on your average sports radio show. I'm going to go to the set of Sports center and demand Herm Edwards be released. And then we will also talk about the coaching carousel. And that's next here on Matt and Myron on espn.

[Matt]

Matt and Myron, the podcast. Come to DSW for the shoes, stay for the fun. Because let's be honest, if shoe shopping isn't fun, are you even doing it Right. So go ahead, try something new.

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[Matt]

Good different. Try something that feels like you, you know, the real you. And then definitely brag about it later. Because at dsw, you've got unlimited freedom to play. Find the shoes that get you at.

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[Myron]

Now this is a great song. And don't play the kid rock that summer. Blobby Blobbity Blue. This is the new Rock and Roll hall of Famer Warren Zevon just inducted this year. This is the theme song for my daily radio show in Kentucky, Kentucky sports radio. And Myron, I think it is wonderful.

[Matt]

Yeah. I was wondering where. Yes. From your show.

[Rachel]

Right.

[Matt]

Yeah. I was wondering why. I heard.

[Myron]

Yeah.

[Matt]

So this is the original.

[Myron]

This is the original and it's, it's by a legend that people don't know. Lawyers, Guns and Money is another famous Warren Zevon song. Doesn't feel like maybe you're his biggest.

[Matt]

Fan just by looking at your lawyers, Guns and Money.

[Myron]

Yeah, he's, he's, he's in a. He's in a jam in Havana, Cuba and he's calling his dad and police and says, dad, please send lawyers, guns and money to help me get out of this.

[Matt]

You need all three.

[Myron]

Because I feel like if you're in Havana right after the revolution. Yes, you may need all three. If one, if one or two of them don't work, then you've got something else that can help you in that situation.

[Matt]

So the lawyers that come with the guns and the money. Yeah, that's, that's a tough spot. If you need all three. You know, you had a tough spot.

[Myron]

I mean, there's probably an order. You start with the lawyers. If that doesn't work, then the money. Yeah, it depends on who you are.

[Matt]

I don't know. The lawyers may be third, depending on your situation and circumstance.

[Myron]

All right, so Herm Edwards is not able to join us because, yeah, quote, Sports center needs him all day. So I would just like to go on record, I'm going to battle with Sports Center. They cannot just take our guest.

[Matt]

You're not going to battle with, with our employer. They get to do what they want.

[Myron]

Her. Sports center is not my employer. ESPN is. SportsCenter is a show and they are taking our guests. Next thing you know, they're going to tell me that I don't get to have Mike Greenberg on whenever I want because he has to go on television. This is esp.

[Matt]

I just want to say publicly it's been a great 15 years for me at ESPN. I look forward to more years with ESPN. If that's something that, you know, they want. I would say I love espn.

[Myron]

I'm just saying. Herm Edwards, Sports Center. Don't make me battle with you for, for Herm Edwards. He is my heart and soul.

[Matt]

Battle and how. What do you mean battle? Like, tell me what the, what are you going, how are you going to battle for hermit Herm Edwards? How's that going to go?

[Myron]

War of words V. And Randy Scott. We will go at it.

[Matt]

You and Randy Scott. Okay, we'll get Randy Scott on and we'll, we'll go in a battle for.

[Myron]

All right, so let's go a couple news that is non playoff related. The Giants this week hired John Harbaugh. Most people believe a home run higher. And then yesterday, the Falcons hired Kevin Stefanski. Let's go through these one by one. First, the Giants hiring John Harbaugh. It has been universally praised as a great decision. I personally kind of think it's a great decision. Myron, are you joining the chorus of praise for John Harbaugh to the Giants?

[Matt]

Yeah, I mean, it's an immediate upgrade for what they needed. I don't know that Todd Monkin is necessarily the best Offensive coordinator, considering some of the struggles with Lamar. But yeah, you immediately change the culture of a whole franchise when you bring in a guy with a Super bowl ring, A guy who has been successful, just kind of missed the promised land in that next chapter of his career. My question though, Matt, is I don't know what the expectations are in New York. That's my confusion. Do Giants fans think that he's going to come in and suddenly they're 9 and 8, 10 and 7 and they're playing.

[Myron]

I mean the why not? The Patriots did it Similar situation. You go to the second year, you have a rookie quarterback, you bring in a new coach that's had success and the Patriots turned it around immediately. Why couldn't the Giants?

[Matt]

Well, but then you got to tell me that Jackson Dart is Drake May. And I don't think there's any case to be made.

[Myron]

I don't think that he is. But like Drake May wasn't Drake May last year.

[Matt]

Mike Vrabel's gonna get a bunch of coaches fired.

[Myron]

Right?

[Matt]

Because I don't think the whole just add water idea is really going to work for most people. So I think here's the reality of John Harbaugh. Great hire. He had maybe one of the best four year runs of a quarterback that we've seen in the last 20 years post Brady. In terms of Lamar Jackson, obviously Mahomes had moments like that. Josh Allen as well, but he got two MVPs out of Lamar. They hosted Kansas City, they had big opportunities to advance in the playoffs and they never really hit their ceiling. So now with a much a quarterback who's not of that pedigree, how does he meet expectations? That'll be the question. The expectations have to be reasonable and I just don't know that they are when we don't even know anything about Jackson Dart at this point.

[Myron]

In terms of his ceiling, I agree with you. He's going to get guys fired. I've said the same thing, by the way, about Kurt Signetti. Kurt Signetti's getting a lot of people fired. Signetti's gonna get a lot of guys fired because people are gonna think what happened at Indiana can happen at their school. The success of these guys is going to get people fired. Now Kevin Stefanski, who I believe you once said people like the idea of Kevin Stefanski more than Kevin Stefanski. The Falcons seem like the kind of team that do like ideas of coaches. Remember they almost hired Belichick. Do you think it will work in Atlanta?

[Matt]

He's got the pieces in Atlanta to be good. I think now Stefanski has some weird situations. The desean Watson move put him in a really bad spot. Then they couldn't find a quarterback that they could trust. But he's an offensive guru. I mean, that's what he was in Minnesota, and I don't know that he's more than that. Like, I think the question about Kevin Stefanski is how good is he as a head coach? And I think there's a divide there. You can be a great offensive mind, and maybe that doesn't translate to being a great head coach. The good news is the Falcons were 8, 9, had a chance to get into the playoffs with everything that went wrong. This year is the NFC South. So I think he's going to be in a position.

[Myron]

It's Kirk Cousins the quarterback, though, next year. They played better when he was the quarterback.

[Matt]

Yeah, I don't know what I think they have questions at quarterback, but I think they have options at quarterback, which is a lot better than being Shadur Sanders, Dylan Gabriel and whoever else they tried to put. Joe Flacco, I mean that. Those were his quarterbacks in Cleveland this year. Flacco, Shadow Sanders and Dylan Gabriel.

[Myron]

And Mike Tomlin, by the way, stepped down as a Steelers head coach. Can I just ask a quick question? Because I love Mike Tom and things. Great coach. Why do we all think he's going to be great at television? Have you ever found him all that interesting?

[Matt]

Yeah, I think. I think he'll be good. I think he'll be good. I mean.

[Myron]

I mean, you didn't say you did, but, like, you just.

[Matt]

I did an event with Mike Tomlinson. I did an event with him and, and I opened for Mike Tomlin and he was competitive. Like he's carrying Aha Club.

[Myron]

What do you mean? You open?

[Matt]

No, no, no. I was at. I was at a conference and I was the first speaker. He was following me.

[Myron]

What. What was the topic that had you opening and then Mike Tomlin?

[Matt]

You don't think I'm good at anything? I don't think, but I'm. I'm known in some circles, man. I'm known in some circles. That's all I'll say. People know me. I get into places. I get into places.

[Myron]

Pat Jones and a God known in some circles. Next on espn.

[Matt]

Thanks for listening to Matt and Myron the podcast. You can listen to the show live every Sunday morning at 10:00am Eastern on ESPN Radio, the ESPN app, and on SiriusXM Channel 80. Matt and Myron, the podcast.

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