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- [00:00]
Matt Jones
You've seen the headlines, heard the debates. The three point ball has created a.
- [00:04]
Commercial/Announcer
Monotonous rhythm to the game.
- [00:06]
Matt Jones
Has the three pointer ruined basketball? And how did we get here?
- [00:10]
Myron Metcalf
The rise of the three point shot can be partially traced to an eccentric Kansas genius named Martin Manley, whose story didn't turn out quite the way he imagined.
- [00:19]
Matt Jones
I decided I wanted to have one of the most organized goodbyes in history.
- [00:23]
Myron Metcalf
30 for 30 podcast presents Chasing Basketball Heaven.
- [00:27]
Matt Jones
Available now wherever you get your podcasts.
- [00:31]
Myron Metcalf
This is Matt and Myron the Podcast.
- [00:35]
Matt Jones
It is Sunday morning with Matt and Myron here on ESPN Radio, presented by Progressive Insurance. A lot of this summer, one of us has been gone. The other ones have not been here. But you know what? Today we're here. Matt Jones, Myron Metcalf, presented by Progressive Insurance. Get renters insurance to protect the things that make your place a home, including coverage for theft or damage. Big visit progressive.com I'm gonna give you a little hint. In two weeks, this show will have a different name and it's going to be both more exciting and simpler in two weeks from today. Meyer Metcalf.
- [01:09]
Myron Metcalf
I don't know what you were gonna say. I thought you had, like, some news that I didn't know you thought I was pregnant.
- [01:14]
Matt Jones
No, I didn't know you didn't have.
- [01:18]
Myron Metcalf
No, I didn't know what you're about to say. We did talk.
- [01:20]
Matt Jones
You did have a look like I was about to say something exciting like I was about to get engaged or we were about to have a baby. I say we, I don't know. There's a significant other who will be part of that.
- [01:30]
Myron Metcalf
Yeah. I didn't know there was a new host or something. I didn't know what was happening, man.
- [01:33]
Matt Jones
Yeah. We have some big news coming now today, just so you know, we are going to do what is one of our patented shows that I've added a little twist to, which is in a couple weeks before the season, Myron and I preview every NFL team except we do it our way, which is three minutes. You get three minutes. You basically get 12 Rick Patinos to preview the team. You just go through three minutes and then we move forward. This year, though, I've added a new arts and crafts twist to our Matt Myron NFL previews. Admiring. I hope you're excited about it.
- [02:07]
Myron Metcalf
Are you an arts and crafts person?
- [02:08]
Matt Jones
No. That's what makes it exciting. But I don't. I don't want to spoil it. I'll tell you at the end of this segment because before we do that. We got to go off the top with our biggest story.
- [02:16]
Myron Metcalf
What are we thinking about?
- [02:18]
Matt Jones
Trying to think. But nothing happens. Nothing happens.
- [02:20]
Myron Metcalf
It's time to find out. This is off the top. Flash. Off the Top with Matt and Myron.
- [02:27]
Matt Jones
As longtime listeners of this show know, Myron Metcalf is from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He'll fight you for arguing about it at any point. I am from Kentucky, which you geography majors know borders Cincinnati, Ohio. And so, you know, normally I, we would talk trash about the Milwaukee brewers and the Cincinnati Reds in general. But actually, their series in the last two nights is probably the biggest story in sports. Unfortunately, not because of my Reds, but because of Myron's Milwaukee Brewers. They won last night, their 14th straight game, which is a franchise record. A dramatic 6 to 5 extra inning victory over the Reds. Some dot God named Andrew Monasterio, whose slugging percentage was.310, hit a three run homer in the 11th inning. The Reds were one out away from winning in regulation. Then Ellie threw a ball in the dirt. It doesn't matter. The brewers ended up winning and it is now 14 straight. And Myron, I could talk about it from the heartache of a Reds fan who's lost 13 straight series to the brewers, but the brewers are the biggest story in baseball, and I would argue they're one of the biggest stories in sports. 14 straight wins. Most fans out there outside of like Christian Yellich might not know any of the players on the team. How do you explain this brewers insanely hot streak coming out of Milwaukee?
- [03:55]
Myron Metcalf
Well, I mean, as a city, it's our time. I mean, this is the stuff we talked about as kids on the playground. Like we knew one day we'd be here on the top of the sports mountain. You knew that you're talking about this? Oh, we knew we would talk about it. You know, like the smallest market in Major League Baseball. I believe the smallest market in the NBA and certainly the smallest market in the NFL with the Green Bay Packers.
- [04:15]
Matt Jones
But is it the smallest mark? Is Milwaukee the small, smallest baseball market?
- [04:19]
Myron Metcalf
Smallest market in Major League Baseball.
- [04:20]
Matt Jones
Okay, I didn't know.
- [04:21]
Myron Metcalf
7Th lowest payroll in Major League Baseball. I mean, you know, some of it, people may use the word luck. I don't, I don't like.
- [04:30]
Matt Jones
Well, they've had luck these last two nights against the Reds. The Reds were up eight to one Friday night. Yeah, blew it. Then last night, I mean, Ellie, all he has to do is either hold the ball or not throw it in the dirt.
- [04:42]
Myron Metcalf
Weird.
- [04:43]
Matt Jones
Instead, he throws it in the dirt, gets past the first baseman walkie gets it takes. It takes the. Ties the game, then an extra innings. Red have multiple chances, can't get it. And then some dude off the bench who look like they found him walking the streets of Milwaukee hits a three run home run. So I do wonder if maybe God is on the Brewer side.
- [05:04]
Myron Metcalf
It feels like, I mean, Friday was crazier. I mean, The Reds are up 70 after two. And then the brewers came back out of this 14 game win streak. Eight of those wins have been comeback victories. So, I mean, there are certainly some people who probably look at it and going, okay, can they keep that going? All I know is they know how to win in tough situations, which makes me feel like they're on their way to a World Series victory, the first in franchise history. And if that happens.
- [05:29]
Matt Jones
Well, that's not going to happen.
- [05:29]
Myron Metcalf
You cannot. That's not going to happen.
- [05:31]
Matt Jones
So that's why I want to. That's what I want.
- [05:33]
Myron Metcalf
Why'd you dismiss that, though? Why'd you dismiss that they're the best?
- [05:36]
Matt Jones
Because you're, because you're, you're the Milwaukee brewers and you don't win. And so, like, I understand. So you're not going to win the World Series. Is it going to hurt more this year when you have, like, you got the best record in baseball, you have some dude named the Miz who's destined to be like Denny McLain, and we're like, oh, that was quite a sensation. Are you, are, is it going to hurt more when it happens?
- [06:00]
Myron Metcalf
You have no evidence to say that they're not going to win a World Series. They're ahead of everybody. I think there's seven games ahead of the Cubs, obviously better than the Phillies in the National League. The Yankees are terrible.
- [06:10]
Matt Jones
Let me make my point.
- [06:11]
Myron Metcalf
The Dodgers are struggling.
- [06:12]
Matt Jones
Let's. You're a Brewers fan. Would you agree with that?
- [06:16]
Myron Metcalf
I'm a Milwaukee everything fan, yeah.
- [06:17]
Matt Jones
Okay. So, Lynn, tell me from first to ninth, the lineup for the Milwaukee Brewers.
- [06:25]
Myron Metcalf
What does that matter? You want me to tell you about Jackson Trio and William Contreras and all the other players want to know about these guys?
- [06:31]
Matt Jones
Because a lot of people like me probably don't know anything about them. No.
- [06:34]
Myron Metcalf
What's the fact? I know the players I need to know and I know they're the best team in baseball and I know that they have one of the 2814 game winning streaks of the last 80 seasons of major League Baseball. And, and they have been a dominant force. You say they're not going to win with no evidence behind it. And instead of responding to that, you're asking me to name the lineup rather than respond to what I just confronted.
- [06:56]
Matt Jones
You for the city of Milwaukee. If you were to line up the people that America knows from Milwaukee, you would say, in the baseball context, you would say Bob Euchre, Paul Molitor, and Robin Yount. And then I think, very soon after that would come Myron Metcalf. I mean, Myron Metcalf is Milwaukee's most famous son.
- [07:19]
Myron Metcalf
And yet I did actually play in a celebrity game. I got. I couldn't make it, though. A couple years back, they.
- [07:24]
Matt Jones
Oh, wait a minute. They invited you to play in the celebrity?
- [07:27]
Myron Metcalf
Kind of. I tell Bruce I couldn't make it.
- [07:29]
Matt Jones
Now, that's obligations. But that's impressive. I am impressed. But if you. My point is not to make fun of you. It's just to say this team is such a group of unknowns that even their fans don't know all their players. It's hard for me to see a team like that win the World Series. I'm just being cynical. But.
- [07:49]
Myron Metcalf
But truthful, everyone in sports should be rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers. Let me just say that, like, literally, like, I don't know how you're not a fan of what we are.
- [07:59]
Matt Jones
James, are you. James, are you rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers? Since he said everyone in sports should.
- [08:03]
Myron Metcalf
I hate the Brewers. Why? No, no, no. Why? They kill the Pirates all the time, and I'm a Pirate fan, and they've caused me a lot of misery over the years. It's a. It's a house of horror. Pirates have fans. Yeah, well, not many.
- [08:19]
Matt Jones
Not many. Yeah.
- [08:20]
Myron Metcalf
Yeah, we were. There's fans. We just hate them, you know, by the way, for what the brewers are doing. I don't. I can't root for the Brewers. I'm sorry. I'm going.
- [08:30]
Matt Jones
Let me go. Let me go back for a second to what's happening in Milwaukee. So Milwaukee has this restaurant. It's called what, George Webb's? Is that right?
- [08:36]
Myron Metcalf
George Webb.
- [08:37]
Matt Jones
George Webb. It's a restaurant. It's been. It's been around since the early 1900s and since the 1940s, they came up with the promotion that if The brewers won 12 straight games, the entire state of Wisconsin could get a free burger. And it's happened three times. It happened in 1987. That was the Paul Molitor, Robin Yount era. It happened in 2018. And now in 1987, they gave away 168,000 burgers, which is pretty good. Then in 2018, they only gave away 98. I guess the people in Milwaukee were not as hungry that day, but now they've won 12 straight and so on. Was it Tuesday of this week? They will be doing Wednesday. Excuse me, Wednesday of This week, from 2 to 6pm they will be giving away free burgers at any of their seven locations. So they've given themselves a little bit of time to. To make all the burgers. Myron, I have a question. If you lived in Milwaukee, you've gotten big now. You've moved to the big city. You've. You've left behind your ro. But if you still lived in Milwaukee, would you go to George Webb's fight? What I'm sure is going to be an insane amount of people to try to get your free burger.
- [09:57]
Myron Metcalf
I'd be in line at 6am I'd be one of those guys. I'd be first in line. Well, just to be a part of it. Just to be a part of it, man. I mean, I think it's a special thing for the city. It's a. It's a special moment. People are so passionate about it. By the way, last week people thought the promotion started last week. One guy called 911 because he couldn't get his free burgers. So people are ready, man. They're ready for a moment like this.
- [10:21]
Matt Jones
Well, so what's your. What's your prediction on the amount of burgers? If they did 168,087. Economy was slow then. That's probably why they did so many. 2018. Pre Covid economy's booming. Maybe that's why they only did 98,000. We've had a little. We got inflation, some stuff. Is there a chance now maybe it's a higher number this year?
- [10:42]
Myron Metcalf
Oh, they're going over 200 because this is. They weren't the best team in baseball when this happened in 2018. This has gone viral. People are going to come in from all over. Like, you know, we're going to have to deal with the Chicago people and the Minnesota people and the Iowa folks always stumbling into our state. So there's going to be a whole lot of people.
- [10:59]
Matt Jones
You think people are going to come all the way from Chicago to get a bird?
- [11:01]
Myron Metcalf
Sure. 100% a free burger.
- [11:04]
Matt Jones
Well, I would tell you, if I lived in Wisconsin, if I lived in Oshkosh or Kenosa Wall, I would make my trip. I would make our trip my TR down to Milwaukee because I think it would be a lot of fun. Congrats. The Brewers I wish you would stop beating my Reds. You think they get 15 straight today?
- [11:22]
Myron Metcalf
I think so. I mean, it's weird.
- [11:25]
Matt Jones
Reds do have Andrew Abbott pitching their.
- [11:27]
Myron Metcalf
Ace today, but it's weird they can't beat the Brewers. Like, isn't that the weirdest?
- [11:30]
Matt Jones
Yeah, it is weird. We haven't beaten them in forever. It's very, very frustrating. 888 say ESPN our NFL annual season preview begins. It includes all the NFL teams, three minute previews and an envelope. We'll tell you about it. That's next right here on Matt Meyer.
- [11:50]
Myron Metcalf
Matt and Myron the Podcast.
- [11:58]
Commercial/Announcer
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- [13:14]
This isn't just another ESPN fantasy football season. It's your shot at greatness. With a refreshed design, the ESPN Fantasy app is sharper than ever. So you can draft like a pro and dominate your league. And introducing Gridiron Gauntlet, a new game mode where the best compete to be crowned the number one fantasy football player of 2025. One app, one shot, one champion. Download the ESP Fantasy app and sign up to play ESPN Fantasy Football today.
- [13:47]
Matt Jones
It's with me and Myron here on Sunday Morning are three minute NFL previews. Here's the way it goes for the next two weeks. I've got this envelope and I will draw a team out every Three minutes. Whatever team I draw out, Myron and I will give you a three minute preview on their season. It's that simple. And we'll go through every team. The new feature this year is the envelope. Rather than you knowing what team comes, you will get a team out of the envelope and any team can come out. Now, it's. Yes, it's a little withered and worn, but it was the only envelope I could find in my house, Myron. It says Matt Jones on it and I have all 32 teams in the envelope. Are you excited?
- [14:29]
Myron Metcalf
I'm excited. I'm shocked that you did like you. You wrote out every.
- [14:33]
Matt Jones
I did. I was up early, did a little arts and crafts, took out scissors, wrote all the games, put it in the envelope, or as my grandmother would say, envelop and I'm ready to rock.
- [14:45]
Myron Metcalf
Why are there five different ways to say envelope?
- [14:47]
Matt Jones
That is true. Envelope, envelope, envelope. That's a, you know, it's a great thing about America. A lot of ways to do it. Are you ready for our first team?
- [14:57]
Myron Metcalf
Yeah. We have music. What are we doing with this?
- [14:59]
Matt Jones
No, we just. James is going to put three minutes on the clock and as soon as I draw it out, the three minutes start. Myron, you will get your first team. The first of the 32 teams for Matt Myron's preview. Myron, tell me about the Tennessee Titans.
- [15:14]
Myron Metcalf
Oh, man. Tennessee Titans. I can tell you about Cam Ward.
- [15:17]
Matt Jones
Well, isn't that the season this year? Really the season this year is how good is Cam Ward? Can you protect him and let's see what he does. I think that is the Tennessee Titans in a nutshell.
- [15:27]
Myron Metcalf
Well, and a number one pick that, like no one's talking about. It's interesting that a fifth round pick. Yeah, the fifth round pick is getting way more coverage than the number one pick in the NFL draft. I don't know what's reasonable for Cam Ward. I think in a, in a different draft, he probably is a top 10 pick, maybe, but not number one. But yet when you're number one, there are high expectations.
- [15:48]
Matt Jones
If I told you, if I had told you a few years ago there's going to be this quarterback who plays for the U, Right. Who plays for Miami, who is going to be maybe the most highly played, nil, paid nil player in the country, play for the U and then be the number one pick, you would think this is a media superstar. You would think this is a dude with his own Nike shoe. You would think this is a dude that the whole world talks about. I don't think most fans even know what Cam Ward looks like, Myron, to be honest with you. And he's about to be the starting quarterback for the Titans. It's fascinating and I do sometimes wonder how did that happen?
- [16:30]
Myron Metcalf
Well, I mean, you know, it wasn't highly touted in high school. His whole journey has been kind of being a blue collar dude. But it looks like he's saying all the right things, has a lot of confidence about his ability. Calvin really is the court wide receiver number one. Do they have a run game?
- [16:44]
Matt Jones
Let's talk about if you're a fantasy player out there there this year my Matt Jones fantasy pick of the week pick up Calvin Ridley. He is going to get every target. I mean every target. And the in the Titans offensive line is better. I don't know if they're going to be good. I still think their defense is going to be bad. But there were a lot of games last year the Titans were in Myron and then Will Levis would do something stupid at the end. Right. So they might not be as bad as people think. And Calvin Ridley is going to catch conservatively 931 passes this year.
- [17:19]
Myron Metcalf
You'll get a lot of targets. I mean that AFC south doesn't seem insurmountable. You know, obviously the Texans have been good. See this trial year. Three Jags, new coaching staff, Colts. Is Anthony Richardson gonna be the guy? So we'll see what Cammore does, man. But I'm excited to watch.
- [17:35]
Matt Jones
I still wonder though, do Tennessee Titans fans care?
- [17:38]
Myron Metcalf
Uk I think they do.
- [17:40]
Matt Jones
But no one goes to the games or when they do. Like, like it's such a bizarre fan base. Nashville's this growing city with people partying and yet I just feel like Titans fans just like they just have no interest in the team. But.
- [17:54]
Myron Metcalf
But I think that's up for the up to the Titans to make that different. Right. If Camborg comes out strong, Titans fans are going to latch onto this because they're going to see the possibility of building around a number one pick and what that means for them. So if he shows out in these first couple of games, they will latch on to that.
- [18:08]
Matt Jones
Well, we'll see. I. I'm excited about watching. Oh, there you go. Three minutes.
- [18:13]
Myron Metcalf
Okay.
- [18:15]
Matt Jones
I think that went well, don't you? In the envelope. And we got.
- [18:18]
Myron Metcalf
I like it.
- [18:19]
Matt Jones
Arguably one of the worst teams we could have gotten.
- [18:21]
Myron Metcalf
Yeah.
- [18:21]
Matt Jones
And yet we still made. All right, let's do the next one. This is what we did, what we do these next two weeks.
- [18:26]
Myron Metcalf
Do we Want music behind it.
- [18:27]
Matt Jones
No music. No music. This is not, this is not about your fancy production. This is about hardcore analysis production. Well, you're a fancy production. The second team. Tell me, Myron, about the Buffalo Bills.
- [18:42]
Myron Metcalf
Oh, I like the Buffalo Bills. James Cook making Saquon Barkley money at running back. Yeah, I mean, Josh Allen. Just, just, just. Josh Allen continues to improve. I think last year was such a remarkable stretch because we lose to find Diggs. You lose all those pieces he lost the previous year, from the previous year, and yet look better than ever. So I, I think if you're the Bills, you have the number two, three quarterback. And right now, honestly, I don't know that anyone's playing better than Josh Allen. Mahomes has had a couple of slump years, if you will. So I think that the Bills are in the right spot again to get to a Super Bowl. Now. You just got to do it. Now look, you got to go from talking about it to getting there.
- [19:23]
Matt Jones
Let me give you some stats that are amazing about the Buffalo Bills. Last year, the Buffalo Bills scored a record 525 points. They, this is amazing to me. 12 times during the year, excuse me, they scored 525 points. They had a league low 14 sacks allowed. But here's what's even more fascinating, Myron. The entire season, they only turned the ball over eight times. The entire season, you remember the, the whole sort of knock on Josh Allen? Well, he throws it away, makes bad decisions. They turned the ball over eight times. Last year, Josh Allen only threw six interceptions. They brought their entire offensive line back. Obviously, Josh Allen has been great. The receivers, we'll see what happens. I think still a little shaky, but they were awesome offensively and there's no reason to think they won't be better. The problem is on the other side of the ball defensively. Last year they gave over 24 points per game. They gave up 12 times that in their losses, Myron. In their losses they averaged 33 points given up again. That's crazy. And the defense has to get better. ESPN ranked their safeties as the worst safeties in the entire NFL. That to me will be the decision. What happens to Buffalo is how good is their defense issue.
- [20:36]
Myron Metcalf
Yes, but you know, I don't know that. They make some amazing progress right from, from last year. This is going to be a team that outscores everybody, right? That has this prolific few years. The defense, you said.
- [20:50]
Matt Jones
No, no, the office, you say they'll outscore everybody. They still need to outscore everybody to win these games. And they, the key ones in the playoffs, they'll be great during the regular season. They'll win 13, 14, 15 games. Question is, when they play the Chiefs, when they play the Ravens in a big game, can they win?
- [21:07]
Myron Metcalf
I think they're going to be in a position to win again. You know, then from there you hope defense makes a play. But I don't know that anyone's going to focus on them making these amazing strides. This is going to be about how good is Josh Allen? He's been great. He almost has. Better than he was, what you just said.
- [21:22]
Matt Jones
He, he, he can't.
- [21:25]
Myron Metcalf
But, but I think their reality is that he has to be, even though he has been great, in order for them to get to a Super Bowl. But it's not just him. Can guys like Keon Coleman, the young wide receiver, can they step up, live up to the hype? I think he needs more help. But ultimately, Josh Allen is going to be the reason they get to a Super bowl.
- [21:44]
Matt Jones
Or don't.
- [21:45]
Myron Metcalf
That was three minutes.
- [21:46]
Matt Jones
That was three minutes. So how about that? I feel like if you were trying to learn about the Tennessee Titans or the Buffalo Bills, I'm not sure you could have had a better job than that. Right.
- [21:56]
Myron Metcalf
I like it.
- [21:57]
Matt Jones
By the way, let me say, your point you made at the end about Keon Coleman, I think is huge. He was very disappointing last year. Granted, he was a rookie, but he needs to be a number one wide receiver. And last year he wasn't even close to that.
- [22:10]
Myron Metcalf
So, I mean, he was the goofball guy, right? He was the fun. Everybody loved the memes and they loved the podcast. And it's like, all right, man, at some point, do it on the field, I think, with him.
- [22:20]
Matt Jones
But they'll come a moment in a playoff game, it'll either be Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow, or Lamar Jackson that they'll have the ball and it will be fourth and five. And that Buffalo defense is going to have to get a stop. They have yet to get a stop in that situation in years. And they're gonna have to find a way to get a stop, and we will see if they'll be able to do it. So those are. That was the start of our previews. We're gonna do more throughout the rest of the show, plus talk about some of the things that are going on outside of Myron. Silly city of Milwaukee. That's all next here on Sunday Morning with Matt Myron on ESPN Radio.
- [22:56]
Myron Metcalf
Matt and Myron, the podcast.
- [23:16]
Matt Jones
With the first pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. The Tennessee Titans select Cameron Ward, quarterback, Miami.
- [23:25]
Myron Metcalf
I'm ready to get the ground running for those guys. Hopefully we put a get together. A lot of wins this year. This kid has a chance to be special.
- [23:31]
Matt Jones
They have a chance to be special on our NFL envelope. Three minute previews right here on Matt Myron, we talked about the Titans. I don't know if specials the word, but I think they have a chance to be better than people think because they were closer than people think last year in my mind. Matt Myron, ready to go. One person writes, if Myron is so confident on The brewers, they're plus 800. The World Series. How much to win the World Series? How much will he bet? Yeah, how much you can bet? How much you want to book that? That bet with me? Actually, that's probably a legal.
- [24:02]
Myron Metcalf
Book it with whatever you bet. I would, I would encourage people to bet. I mean, they're going to.
- [24:07]
Matt Jones
You're encouraging.
- [24:09]
Myron Metcalf
Well, I'm not incur. I don't know if I can. I guarantee it. They're winning the world.
- [24:13]
Matt Jones
Well, if you can't encourage, then you certainly can't guarantee.
- [24:16]
Myron Metcalf
Well, I, for me personally, it feels like a guarantee.
- [24:19]
Matt Jones
So are you going to put any on it?
- [24:24]
Myron Metcalf
Something.
- [24:24]
Matt Jones
So it's only sort of a guarantee. It's like a guarantee. As long as it ain't your money that you're. You're guaranteed.
- [24:32]
Myron Metcalf
I'll gladly spend everybody else's money. No, but I have confidence, man. Like, this is the thing is we're.
- [24:37]
Matt Jones
So rich that, like, he doesn't need to gamble because he wouldn't even feel. That's the problem. That's the problem with when you're as rich as Myron, when you have that kind of money. Like, like you can't just bet a hundred dollars on the Brewers. You don't even feel that, that, that's like going to Chipotle. So I understand why it is he's not going to be able to do.
- [24:56]
Myron Metcalf
Not true at all. I think they're going to do it, though. I think it feels like our year. And I felt this way when the Bucks won in 2021, when the packers won in 2010. Like, when you're from Wisconsin, there's a field thing and this feels like it.
- [25:09]
Matt Jones
Although it's hard for you to feel it because your mansion is so like, detached from the rest of the city. You can't really feel the vibes of the city. Now. The Big Ten is considering a major expansion to the College Football Playoff. They would like to Go from the current 12 to 24 or 2018. They would eliminate conference championships and grant auto bids, including seven to the SEC, seven of the Big Ten, five to the Big 12, five to the ACC, one to the power. Excuse me. Two to the power six, and then two at large teams. Do you like the plan, Myron?
- [25:48]
Myron Metcalf
No. No one likes it. I do. I mean, let's.
- [25:51]
Matt Jones
I like it.
- [25:53]
Myron Metcalf
You like this plan?
- [25:53]
Matt Jones
Yeah. It's Kentucky's chance to make a playoff. I mean, this is the. This is the only playoff proposal I've ever heard that makes me think Kentucky could make it. Kentucky could in some years make the top seven of the sec. They're never going to win it. They're probably never going to come in the top four, but we could come in seventh. This is the best proposal I've ever heard.
- [26:18]
Myron Metcalf
Mark Stoops is going to get a 25 year extension with this new system.
- [26:22]
Matt Jones
This is the best system I've ever heard. You're telling me Kentucky could make the playoff? There's like seven teams in the current system that have no chance of ever making it, and we're one of them.
- [26:33]
Myron Metcalf
Yeah.
- [26:33]
Matt Jones
This is the best chance we could ever have. So I love it. I love this playoff expansion. Let's do it.
- [26:41]
Myron Metcalf
No, it's bad. And again, this is the Big Ten throwing this around it. So. But if the big appear to be in favor, the Big Ten says it.
- [26:51]
Matt Jones
They say a lot of things for it, too. Big 10 of the SEC. They kind of work together. Like Mor.
- [26:57]
Myron Metcalf
No. Greg Sankey. Yeah, but I, I don't. I don't know that SEC will be in favor of it because it just dilutes everything. Like it dilutes the whole process. I don't know that there are eight teams that really can compete for a national championship. We didn't even get 12 right last year. The seating was all messed up. Can we get 12 right first before we talk about 24, 28.
- [27:19]
Matt Jones
This is a perfect situation. Let's just keep them coming. All right? As many as you want. I do love college football's analysis, though. We really don't have a. We really don't have know how to do 16. So let's do 28.
- [27:33]
Myron Metcalf
28. Let's just send.
- [27:35]
Matt Jones
Let's just send everybody.
- [27:36]
Myron Metcalf
And when is that postseason going to start? On Halloween? Like, what are we doing?
- [27:41]
Matt Jones
Keep it coming. You know, I own a sports bar. Let's just keep games going all the time. Why? These kids don't need to go to school anymore. As DeMarcus Cousins, as DeMarcus Cousins famously said before Kentucky played Cornell in the Sweet 16 bat in basketball. This is basketball. This ain't no spelling bee. This is football. It's no longer college. Let's make it a 28 game playoff. I'm in.
- [28:04]
Myron Metcalf
It would. It would crush the sport. I mean it. We're headed to expansion. I hate it. It's gonna happen in the NCAA tournament too. Like it's gonna get to 96 at some point. Yeah, I just don't think it's gonna be the same event.
- [28:15]
Matt Jones
Kentucky makes that. I'm more worried about the football. All right, it's time for our 3.
- [28:19]
Myron Metcalf
Minute care about Kentucky.
- [28:21]
Matt Jones
That's it. I'm very self interested when it comes to these proposals we have done through the year 2058. We're through two teams. This is my envelope right here of potential team. Magical envelope Titans and Bill team ready. Tell me, Myron, about the Los Angeles Rams. Los Angeles Rams. What do you expect from Sean McVeigh and the crew this year?
- [28:45]
Myron Metcalf
Well, I'll be able to tell you a lot more on Monday. Sean McVeigh will not answer questions when he promised that Matthew Stafford was going to work out Saturday. He would not tell reporters if that workout actually took place. Said he's going to address it Monday. I mean, right now there's a world where, where your guy Jimmy Garoppolo is the starting quarterback for Los Angeles Rams and Stetson Bennett is the backup quarterback. Because no one's given us any definitive answers though about Matthew Stafford. With Matthew Stafford healthy, they could be a team that gets to the NFC championship. I think that challenges the Eagles potentially. Without him, it's going to be hard, I think even to get into the playoffs. So until we know more about Matthew Stafford, it's hard to project what the Rams are going to be.
- [29:27]
Matt Jones
What I didn't understand about yesterday is not only did they not say how his workout went, they didn't even say if he came to the game. It's weird. That's a bad sign. Like it's a simple question of did he come to the game? At this point we're not going to talk about that. Well, first of all, that means he didn't come to the game. I mean, why would you say, why would you say won't talk about it if he didn't come to the game? Sean McVeigh would not do. Normally during the preseason he does an interview with the broadcast team during the game or at halftime. He did not do it. And then he was asked by one of the Assistant coaches was asked about him and he said, regarding Mr. Stafford, I'm going to let Sean go ahead and regard that I was so tapped into the one with the jerseys on. I wouldn't be able to honestly answer.
- [30:19]
Myron Metcalf
Yeah, okay. I think what it means is bad news is coming tomorrow. Like, we're in the danger zone with every team, every team this week has to name a starting quarterback. Like every team has to say, this is our guy going, Can I read.
- [30:30]
Matt Jones
You Stetson Bennett's quote? They asked Stetson Bennett where Stafford was. He said, I'm so locked in each and every snap, I don't even know who's out here.
- [30:40]
Myron Metcalf
That's a great answer, though. I love the answers that are so ridiculous that everybody knows it's false, but I respect it. Being a young player being like, I don't want to get involved in any of this.
- [30:51]
Matt Jones
I had the Rams as a sleeper super bowl team with Matthew Stafford. So this is huge. I mean, you're basically talking about a shake up in the mfc. Let's assume it's my man, Handsome Jimmy G. What's the Ram ceiling with handsome Jimmy G?
- [31:09]
Myron Metcalf
I mean, still a capable backup, a veteran backup. Maybe they can stumble into the playoffs, but they're not winning anything. And again, let's say Matthew Stafford is ready to go at some point. How does he get ready for the season with a bad back at 37? I think you got to bank on essentially Jimmy Garoppolo being a starter going into week one. That's a different team, man.
- [31:28]
Matt Jones
I have a bad back at 46. And there are days I'm like, I don't think I can go to the post office. Like, yeah, there are days. So the idea of getting hit by an NFL player, but those, those comments are very worrisome. When sets of, it's like, I'm so locked in. I didn't even see my parents up there. Like, my girlfriend.
- [31:50]
Myron Metcalf
What do you mean? I didn't.
- [31:51]
Matt Jones
She's here. Who know I have a girlfriend. What are you talking about? All right, next team, three minute preview. Tell me about the most boring team in football. The New Orleans Saints. Go.
- [32:03]
Myron Metcalf
My God. Saints. They're not the most boring team. I think they're maybe the worst team, right? I think they have a chance to.
- [32:12]
Matt Jones
Be the worst team. I agree.
- [32:14]
Myron Metcalf
But, you know, I mean, what everyone's talking about is this world where I think Saints fans will be focused on, if you're the worst team, you get the number one pick next year. And the grandson of Archie Manning decides to Come out.
- [32:27]
Matt Jones
So do you. Is that what this season is for them? Just, can you be bad enough to get Arch Manning? Although, remember, are they. The Mannings have said he's not coming out. And by the way, neither Peyton nor Eli came out after junior year. Both would have been probably the number one overall pick. Both stayed for a senior year.
- [32:46]
Myron Metcalf
Yeah, I mean, let, let's see what happens here. I mean, I think let's see how Archie feels if the Saints look like they're headed to be the. The number one. Get the number one pick. And let's see if Arch Manning lives up to the hype. So I think that will be. It'll be quarterback watch, I think, certainly for that.
- [33:03]
Matt Jones
Let's talk about the quarterbacks they have. Can we talk about that? Here are their three choices now. Spencer Rattler, Tyler Shuck and Jake Hayner. You like that list? Who you get? Are you getting excited? A little Rattler, A little Shuck.
- [33:19]
Myron Metcalf
That, that, that definitely sounds like a early 2000s XFL training camp quarterback list. Right? Like. Like who's gonna start for the, you know, Washington gamblers or whatever. Right. So I. But again, if you're a Saints fan, you can handle misery. Because if you get the number one pick, let's say it's not even Arch Manning. You know, there's a bunch of other guys. Garrett Nussmeier, guy who's going to be right. Playing an hour away at lsu. Cade Cub Club, Nick, there's a bunch of talented.
- [33:51]
Matt Jones
So you're just arguing that the Saints fans should just be like, just act like this season's not happening.
- [33:57]
Myron Metcalf
I mean, if you want to be excited about Cameron Jordan playing, I think like his 45th season or whatever it is, because that dude has played forever, go for it. But at the end of the day, you're thinking about 20, 26, like, that is what you're focused on. And the, the dream of Arch Manning playing well, winning the Heisman, changing his mind. Coming out, you have the number one pick. I wish they still in.
- [34:19]
Matt Jones
Just for the record. I wish they had traded Alvin Kamara this offseason. Like, I know there's this idea that you play the whole season, but he shouldn't have to do this, right?
- [34:31]
Myron Metcalf
I mean, he's had some good days, you know, but he shouldn't have to.
- [34:35]
Matt Jones
Finish his career with Tyler Schuck and Spencer Rattler. Like, he shouldn't have to do that.
- [34:43]
Myron Metcalf
I mean, he's, he's had, he's had good days, good moments. But every team goes through this, I think what it shows, and we talk about this a lot, is how things change without a franchise quarterback. Like when you don't have a quarterback that everyone can rally around, just how dramatically different that makes your season in franchise. But if all this leads you to Arch Manning. Right.
- [35:03]
Matt Jones
Arch Manning State you. First of all, I'm not sure he's gonna be as good as everybody thinks he is. He's staying in college.
- [35:08]
Myron Metcalf
Oh, you're an athlete.
- [35:10]
Matt Jones
They do it differently. They just do.
- [35:12]
Myron Metcalf
You don't believe in them.
- [35:14]
Matt Jones
Well, I mean, I'm not saying I don't. I'm just saying everybody's just assuming because his last name is Manning, he's gonna be good. If his last name was Metcalf, I don't think people would say that. So, you know, I'm just saying we'll see. I'm not, I'm not writing it off, but here's what I do think. He will not be in this draft. You wait and see. We'll take a break. Another three minute NFL preview. Press more of Myron's happiness. It's next year.
- [35:38]
Myron Metcalf
Matt and Myron the podcast. Matthew Stafford hasn't taken one snap in practice.
- [36:01]
Matt Jones
Hello.
- [36:02]
Myron Metcalf
I'm gonna repeat that again. One snap in practice at all.
- [36:07]
Matt Jones
I am a fan of Stafford, Puka and Devonte. I am worried the Rams, I will.
- [36:11]
Myron Metcalf
Tell you they are not worried. They feel like we just need to.
- [36:14]
Matt Jones
Get him a week one and he'll be ready. Well, they should be worried because those quotes sound like somebody who's waiting for a difficult Monday announcement. Yeah, especially the Stetson Bennett. I don't even know who's playing in these games anymore. All right, let's continue our three minute NFL previews. My, what's going to come out of this envelope? He has no idea until I say it. So you get his unfiltered thoughts. Tell me about the New England Patriots, Myron.
- [36:43]
Myron Metcalf
I think Mike Vrabel is a big step up man with that coaching staff. Nothing against Jerrod Mayo, but I always thought the idea of hiring sort of the likable dude didn't really make sense to me and I think that's what happened with Robert Kraft. I don't think Jerod Mayo was ready, which is okay. But Drake May is ready I think to take that next steps to find Diggs. Some of the training camp videos have just been remarkable. I think the Patriots are going to improve. Now the question is, Matt, what does improvement mean in that division? Like where do you go even if you make strides? Are you an actual playoff Contender. I'm not there yet, but I think Mike Vrabel is a great choice.
- [37:19]
Matt Jones
I judge quarterbacks by their second year. Okay. You can get false negatives and false positives in year one. You know, there are exceptions. I think Jaden Daniels obviously great, but you had your C.J. strouds. The world had a great year one, took a step back in year two. Drake May. It's a tale of two parts of the year. First part didn't look good. Second part, you thought he could be really good to me. I'll see what happens this year. I think a lot of Patriots fans have him penciled in as QB2 in that class. I'm not ready to do that yet. Mike Vrabel's already like Bill Belichick, angry at the media. I don't know if you've seen that. Like he's already fired up and yelling at people. I think he's going to do well there for me. You know, their offensive line last year really, really, really struggled and Drake May found a way to make it work. We'll see if that continues. I expect them to sort of middle around.500. They'll probably be two or three games that come down to the final possession and we'll see if they win them or not. I do. I'm. I'm. I'm high on the Patriots long term. I'm not sure. Myron. I'm high on them this term and Drake May just. I could be wrong, but you know, the quarterbacks I don't want is like the ones 13th through 20th that you have to pay but you can't win with. I think we're. Drake May feels like to me he will be in that category.
- [38:40]
Myron Metcalf
I think it's a little earlier for me to say that. Right. But I do agree with you. I mean, he has a chance to be better. That offensive line got better. The draft Will Campbell signed a bunch of veterans like Garrett Bradbury. Josh McDaniels maybe not be. He's not a great head coach, but he's a great quarterback guru. So I think working with him will help you add Stefan Diggs. I think there is a path for Drake made to make even more strides this season if they can protect him. And then Vrabel being a defensive guy. So automatically I expect that defense to be better. Christian Gonzalez, the cornerback, I think is obviously an all pro kind of guy. So I want to see if Drake May can be more consistent.
- [39:16]
Matt Jones
To your point, the patriots for Josh McDaniels are like the parents who their kid Goes and tries a new business again and fails. And then they're like, all right, honey, you can move back in the house again. Then, like, they come back and go, I have a new woodworking facility. It's gonna be great. It's organic and I'm gonna do it in Malibu. And they're like, all right. And then it fails. They, okay, you can move back in the house again. But every time they move back in the house, it's pleasant. That's how Josh McDaniels is with the Patriots. He always has a bedroom in the basement. He can come back to Myron after he goes and fails somewhere else.
- [39:54]
Myron Metcalf
They love making dinner for Josh McDonald's. Like, Josh is the next one.
- [39:57]
Matt Jones
Number six coming out of the list of the envelope. I'll hold it up. That Chicago Bears, my team. What do you believe about my Bears?
- [40:05]
Myron Metcalf
I want to see tonight, you know, with Caleb Williams, obviously a big time preseason game. Ben Johnson came out talking a lot of Noah's. We're going to beat the packers, all these things. Bottom line is, can you give us what we expect to see with the number one pick? A guy who was probably the number one pick after his junior season when he won the Heisman. I'm not sold on Caleb. I don't think anyone is. I think this has to be a year. Well, this will be the year of no excuses. If you look at the offensive line last year, whatever you want to attribute that to, it won't be the same conversation this year about Caleb Williams. He has to show us something special as a number one pick. What makes you so incredible that we should be excited about you being a franchise guy maybe one day? There's a lot on the line for Caleb and the Bears.
- [40:46]
Matt Jones
I'm excited about him. I think he's going to have a big year. I didn't realize this till I was looking. You know, espn, our organization, we do player rankings, position rankings for each position for each team. So, you know, we rank all the teams on quarterback, running back, etc. The Chicago Bears are, according to the ESPN rankings of value at each position. Myron, did you know they're ranked as the 8th most talented team in football this year? The 8th most talented team in football. I don't think a lot of people realize that they didn't have any position lower than 20th. But you know, what was 20th quarterback with Caleb Williams? I think they have everything else they need to be good. I think they have a great receiving core. I think they have a great offensive line now with their new Signings, pretty good running backs. I think their defense is pretty solid. You're right. It's going to come down to Caleb Williams. I think he has to improve. The good thing is he's in the nfc. You can take a leap in the nfc. No teams are great. So I. I mean, would it be shocking to see the Bears be the fourth best team in the NFC this year? It wouldn't be shocking. They've got the talent to do that. So. But you're right, it's got to be Caleb Williams. I believe in him. I think he has a big year. I think he got better as the year got on. But it will ultimately matter and come down to, is this dude a franchise quarterback? Because if he is, then I think the Bears will be pretty good.
- [42:10]
Myron Metcalf
Well, and it's been Johnson, the head coach. How many coordinators have we seen come in and everyone said, this is Sean McVeigh, he's Sean McVeigh. Like. And then we find out he's not Sean McVay. So there are a bunch of guys who've been hired as sort of impossible.
- [42:21]
Matt Jones
You're right. That has happened a lot. But I do think that people believe and maybe they'll be wrong. It does feel like they feel more positive about Ben Johnson than really any. Now maybe that'll fail. But there's something about him that makes people just feel like, well, that's definitely going to work.
- [42:38]
Myron Metcalf
I mean, I have no doubt about the knowledge. We saw what he did with Jared Goff. I think he's an incredible offensive mind. The one thing I want to see, though is I think Dan Campbell did a lot of the hard stuff with the Lions. Dan Campbell kind of kept that team together. He was the forward facing guy. How does Ben Johnson handle Caleb Williams? Struggling a couple weeks in a row? What is his presentation? I mean, he just said this week we're throwing a lot of Caleb Williams and he's trying to digest it all. I want to know how he handles that part of the game.
- [43:05]
Matt Jones
Yeah, the public. Well, I think the opposite. I think it's more likely that the Detroit Lions take a step back than that. These two assistant coaches that went and coached for got head coaching jobs were not good. Maybe I'll be wrong. I like Dan Campbell, but there is a lot of. When you stare into the abyss, the best looks in your soul and knocks out your heart and you're like, are you a motivational speaker or are you a great coach? We'll see.
- [43:35]
Myron Metcalf
Maybe not trying to crack play for Ben Johnson. We'll see if you know.
- [43:39]
Matt Jones
But sometimes you can do that. And it's like the other people at the job are doing work and you're out there. Like Nietzsche once said that an offensive lineman blocking, it's like looking into your eyes and feeling and he quote Nietzsche. I'm just saying sometimes they do stuff like that. Matt Myers, presented by Progressive Insurance. We will do more previews and get you ready for the day. This is ESPN Radio.
- [44:04]
Myron Metcalf
Matt and Myron, the podcast.