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Braden Gall
This episode is presented by State Farm. Having insurance isn't the same as having State Farm.
Myron Metcalf
It's like needing the protection of an.
Braden Gall
Offensive guard on the football field but getting an elementary school crossing guard. Sure, they're both guards, but you can only trust one to keep your quarterback safe when the game is on the line.
Myron Metcalf
So don't settle for just any insurance.
Braden Gall
When there's State Farm. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.
Myron Metcalf
This is Matt and Myron. The podcast Matt and Myron on ESPN Radio, the ESPN app SiriusXM channel 80. I'm Myron Metcalf. He is Braden Gall filling in for Matt Jones who's dealing with personal situation. Our thoughts and prayers of Matt Jones as he and his family are getting through a difficult time. But we have the great Braden G on Matt and Myron. And listen Braden, if the pre show is anything like the regular show, I think people are here for a treat. What do you think?
Braden Gall
Listen, I'm excited man. It's a great day to be alive. Great day to be with you guys. Certainly thinking about Matt and his family. But obviously the thoughts and prayers go out to the committee today as well as that's coming up in a couple of hours. They have one of the most difficult decisions that they will ever have to make in the history of their 11 year existence coming up today. And I can't wait to see what happens.
Myron Metcalf
I can't wait either. This is Matt Myron on ESPN Radio. The ESPN app SiriusXM channel 80. Remember, ask your smart speaker to play ESPN Radio. Matt Myron is presented by Progressive Insurance. Hit us up on the Dr. Pepper. Call in line. 888-729-3776. That is eight, eight, eight say ESPN. A lot of fun things ahead. Be a part of Matt myron on the Dr. Pepper calling land. Call in line and you call us at 8. At 8 say ESPN. That's 888-729-3776. I'm saying it again because I'm reading two different promos because I usually don't drive and mask will make fun of me for that. ESPN Nation is brought to you by Dr. Pepper. It's not college football season without the delicious taste of a nice cold Dr. Pepper. College football. It's a Pepper thing. What are we thinking about?
Herm Edwards
Trying to think.
Myron Metcalf
But nothing happens. Nothing happens. Time to find out. This is off the top Flash off the top with mat.
Off the top. College football chaos. College football chaos. That's where we are headed right now is the college football playoff committee makes maybe one of the most difficult decisions in the history of the playoff. Do you put in a Miami team that has a win over Notre Dame? Do you keep Notre Dame out? What do you do with the ACC after Duke upsets Virginia and then of course, a three loss Alabama team? And Braden, I want to talk for a little bit about Alabama, okay? And I just want to talk about their situation and their circumstance. Can I get a little soft music? A little soft music? Can I get some of that?
Braden Gall
This is what's playing in Kaylin DeBoer's house right now.
Myron Metcalf
If you're, if you're near an Alabama fan, I want you to grab their hand, hold them close. I just want you to look them in the eye because they're going through a difficult time. I mean, imagine being an Alabama fan right now. Braden, I know you just played Georgia for the second time minus three rushing yards, whatever that number is, didn't really show up in the SEC championship game. But you know, some weeks back you beat that Georgia team. You lost to Oklahoma and no one wants you to remember that you also lost to Florida State. But let's find a way, Braden, to get Alabama into the field. Are you still holding? If you're listening, are you holding that Alabama fans hand? Don't let it go because they need all of us right now, Braden. They are a victim of this system if they don't get in. So grab some tissue. You know, you, you. I don't know what Alabama fans need, but just be ready to comfort them, Braden, if they don't get into the College Football Playoff this year because Alabama is going to be the victim.
How could you not, Braden, allow Alabama to get into the field?
Braden Gall
I really don't appreciate how you're setting me up for this.
Look, if we want to debate the merits of how good Alabama is, we can do that, hopefully honestly, from an intellectually honest position and we can say, look, I think so and so is better than Alabama. I think BYU is better than Alabama. I think Miami is better than Alabama. I think Notre Dame's better than Miami, better than Alabama. Let's have those debates. Certainly the committee is doing that literally as we speak right now. They're looking at these teams trying to decide. Here's the funny thing though, about this ridiculous committee. They already did all of that. They watched every single regular season football game and they ranked them how they think. We can disagree with that. I can say no, I think Notre Dame is worse than Miami. They played head to head and I think Miami would win the game. I think they're better on this part of the game. I think they have a better defense, better whatever. You can make the case, you can argue those merits. That's totally fine. I think the fact that conference championship weekend is. Is going to have an outsized influence. I hope that doesn't happen. And I know that makes me sound like I'm picking Alabama here, but because I'm not, I'm not. I have no problem with poking holes in Alabama's resume. They cannot run the football most of the season. One of the worst rushing teams of the modern Alabama era. One of the worst losses of any team that we're considering right now, as you mentioned, to Florida State at home to start the season. But the committee said they were the ninth best team in America yesterday morning and no one else had to play another game the way they did. Ole Miss, Texas A and M, Oklahoma, Notre Dame, Miami, Texas, Vanderbilt, Utah, usc. None of them were good enough to get to their conference championship game and had to play number three, Georgia in that game. So why does Alabama get punished? Why does BYU get punished? Why would James Madison. Why would Duke jump James Madison? Why would you move all of the rankings around after studying these teams for every regular season game? I don't under. I think the committee did itself a disservice by putting Alabama at 9. If they don't put him in today, I think that's telling on themselves. Not telling on Alabama or Notre Dame or Miami.
Myron Metcalf
I can tell you took philosophy classes in college. Like, why. Why would the great Alabama be. That's not what I'm saying. Ouch. I am the great Marcus Aurelius Gaul and I demand that the council consider Alabama and its record.
Braden Gall
You're pretty good.
Myron Metcalf
Here's the reality. See, you know what I'm saying? Because, you know, you use smart people like you use words like intellectually honest merit. I don't think it's that complicated. This is what happened, okay? Alabama was a really, really good team after it lost to a really, really bad team named Florida State. Right? And because they were a good team, they played their way into the playoff. And I think everybody agreed that Alabama belonged there. They end up in the SEC championship, which again, if they win that game, they get moved up. So the people who are arguing it doesn't matter. Well, would it have mattered in a situation if they had won that game against Georgia but had not moved past number nine? I think people would have a problem with that. They would say, why play the game if it's not going to factor into the way the committee views these teams. But now you're telling me if they lose that game, let them stay right where they are. I don't think it works both ways like that.
Braden Gall
That's not what I said, by the way. That's not what I said. Just to be clear.
Myron Metcalf
A lot of people are making that.
Braden Gall
Argument, but I think that's just everybody should stay put is what I would.
Myron Metcalf
Say, including Ohio State with one loss against Indiana. See, I think again, the great, you know, case by case, Braden, Socrates Gall. I have some questions about your perspective. What is clear in this entire conversation is that the committee in the history of the playoff dating back to 2014, yes, it was a four team format. We've expanded 12 teams. A three loss team has never been included. There are a lot of things we can make arguments about what the committee has done, what they haven't done. And you're going to hear a lot about this in the hours ahead. We have the College Football Selection show on ESPN Radio today at noon Eastern. Matt Schick, Trevor Matich hosting. They will be joined by CFP committee chairman Hunter Yurich. And I think it's going to be a great conversation for everybody who tunes in to that. Here's Caleb DeBoer because I think Braden, Caleb DeBoer, head coach at Alabama, agrees with you. Here's why he thinks despite his team getting smacked by Georgia in the SEC championship game, why that loss shouldn't affect their playoff chances.
Herm Edwards
If this game applies to and takes away from our resume. I don't think that's right. I really don't. I think the precedent's been set and, and I don't know how you can go into a conference playoff game when you're the number one seed and did.
Myron Metcalf
All these things throughout the year. And.
Herm Edwards
You know, playing in this game against one of the top teams in.
Myron Metcalf
The country as well, how that can hurt you and keep you out of.
Herm Edwards
The playoff when again, we've done what we've done all year.
Myron Metcalf
Real quick, Braden. My problem with that take from Kaylin DeBoer is had they won that game, if someone had suggested that they shouldn't move up after winning that game, he would have said that's nonsense. But now he's saying there's no way you can move us down for a loss. The game matters or it doesn't in my opinion.
Braden Gall
And I, and I agree with that. I don't think it should matter to the rankings. If Alabama wins that game, they should move up. If BYU wins that game, they shouldn't move up if, you know, I don't. I don't think. Because again, let's. Let's use BYU as an example here to take it away from, like. Because there is, like, Alabama derangement syndrome to some degree. And that's because they've been such a dominant force as a brand under Saban. They are now a different organization with a different coach, and they're not as good. And so it is. People just have that in their brains. And so it affects their judgment on this stuff, I think, in a pretty big way. Let's just go with byu. And there's a lot of BYU people that think they were undervalued at 11 going into yesterday, that they should have been ranked 6, 7 or 8, let's say, right. One lost team. Why are they behind some two lost teams? Let's just hypothetically, BYU's at number 7. So BYU played the entire season, the entire regular season, and the committee thought they were the seventh best team in America, that they played every single game and every other team played every single game. The entire season has happened. And you thought BYU was the seventh best team in America. Why then would you drop them for losing a game that no one else had to play? I don't. It literally makes no sense to me. I don't understand. I don't think Ohio State should be penalized for losing an extremely close, amazing, awesome football game. If you want to flip them one spot for the sake of, like, ceremony to put Indiana at one, to make it look good, fine. They won the game. That's fine. But, like, that game didn't mean anything to Indiana and Ohio State on the, like, from a championship standpoint. It meant a lot to Indiana people. There are a lot of Indiana people in Nashville that drove up for the game that I know. And that was, like, the greatest moment of their life last night. So I'm not taking that away. But, like, at the end of the day, I don't. 90% of college football teams in the power conference were not good enough to play yesterday. And I don't understand. If you want to tell me you don't think Alabama is good enough, I have no problem with that. No problem. You want to say BYU is not good enough? I have no problem with that. Then put Notre Dame and Miami ahead of them. Before yesterday. Before yesterday.
Myron Metcalf
We're going to find out. We're going to find out. The great Braden Aristotle Gaul. And I am Myra Metcalf. We'll talk more about yesterday's conference championship games and what to expect with the final College Football Playoff rankings Next.
Matt and Myron the podcast Foreign.
Kevin Clark
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Myron Metcalf
Matt Myron. I'm Myron Metcalf. Braden Gall filling in for Matt Jones. Why y' all playing this song? Is this why y' all playing Mama by Boyz to Men?
Y' all playing the soul music? Because I'm driving. Are y'.
Kevin Clark
All.
Myron Metcalf
Are y' all looking for all the black hits?
Braden Gall
We could finally get some 90s hip hop.
Myron Metcalf
Y' all looking for all of the black hits from like 1985 to 2005. To make me feel more comfortable, Play some Temptations, right? It's because I'm taking Ludacris at some point. Is that what's going to happen? Is that what we're going. Marvin Gaye? We'll get sprinkled in here. 50 Cent.
Braden Gall
Where's jagged Edge? I want Jagged Edge. All right.
Myron Metcalf
Oh, man. So I love those R B groups. This is my favorite. He's Braden Goldmeier. Metcalf. I love 90s R B because you could tell they were really crying in the car before they got to the studio, Right? Like, these songs are real. Like, they. They were not just making up lyrics. Like, these were lyrics about actual people in situations. I just really appreciated that.
Braden Gall
Like, Keys to the Range. Yeah. There's no question. Real emotion. That's about real emotion. Look, that. That music is because I'm taking the committee to church this morning. That's all that's happening.
Myron Metcalf
Is that what it is?
Braden Gall
That's what it is.
Myron Metcalf
Well, I think it probably would have been better to play down on bended knee because I think that's what Caleb DeBoer is going to be right now at the feet of the committee demanding that Alabama gets in with three losses. Matt Myron is presented by Progressive Insurance supporting you every step of the way. Progressive.com Heather Dennis is my favorite person to listen to. ESPN Senior Reporter playoff expert. So whenever I'm trying to make sense of this, Braden, I just tune in to whatever Heather Dennis is saying. Alabama loses to Georgia. They have a win over Georgia, but minus three rushing yards in the SEC championship game. Didn't look like they belonged on the same field as the Georgia Bulldogs last night. They've got a loss to Florida State, a home loss to Oklahoma. Everyone's trying to figure out where they're going to end up. In these final playoff rankings. Here's Heather Dennis on how that loss can affect Alabama in their playoff standing.
Herm Edwards
Well, I do think that there are people in that selection committee meeting room.
Braden Gall
Who will consider the fact that what.
Herm Edwards
Happened on Saturday happened in reverse when Alabama played Georgia during the regular season and beat them so they can claim a win against the eventual SEC champs. That will be taken into consideration. And in that committee meeting room, Notre Dame and Alabama have been debated so closely all year, so it wouldn't surprise me if they just flip them today.
Braden Gall
With Notre Dame at 9 and Alabama.
Herm Edwards
At 1010 getting those last two at.
Myron Metcalf
Large bids, it's going to be fascinating Brading to see what happens. I do want to talk specifics though, okay. Because we're really talking about Notre Dame, we're talking about Miami, we're talking about Alabama. Notre Dame starts the season two close losses to Miami and Texas A and M by a combined four points. Right. I think that's why a lot of people are saying Notre Dame is in a good spot, won the rest of their games, didn't get blown out by anybody. You have a Miami team that has a win over a Florida State team that obviously Alabama lost to, but they have losses to Louisville unranked. They have an overtime loss to smu, but they beat Notre Dame. They beat South Florida when they were a pretty good team and then they ended the year with a dominant win over Pitt. So I think a lot of people are saying, okay, that has to count for something. Especially if Notre Dame is in, then how do you not also put Miami in? But then you're going to talk about Alabama, which is sort of the three teams that we're really discussing in this conversation. I think all the other stuff is pretty solidified by the committee at this point. You have an Alabama team that just lost to Georgia, but they obviously have a win over that Georgia team as well. They also have a win over, I think, a really good Vandy team. They have a win over Missouri, a win over Tennessee that lost Oklahoma at home was by two points. So a lot of people are saying if it's just about quality wins, Alabama's in the conversation as well. Rank them for me. Brayden, if you're the committee and you're on the committee right now, you're in that room. You essentially got to do something with 9, 10, 11, 12. You have those three teams on the table. Miami, Notre Dame, Alabama. Where are you ranking them and why?
Braden Gall
So I actually think Notre Dame is in here. Again, going back to my trying to stay consistent with my analysis of the committee, which is why would Notre Dame fall when they don't play a game? Why would Miami move up when they don't play a game? Why would you flip those two teams if you have the art, if you believe Miami was the better team, which obviously when they played Miami won a very close game last second possession, Miami makes the one play at the end and wins the game. Texas A and M, by the way, made the one play on fourth down and won the game against Notre Dame. They're one play away from being undefeated in both games. And so if you believe Notre Dame is better before yesterday, when they came out on Tuesday, I don't understand how you could change them. So personally I think Notre Dame is number, is number nine. That's my personal opinion. If I'm on the committee and they're.
Myron Metcalf
At 10 in the current rankings, to your point, actually moving them up to nine.
Braden Gall
But I would rankings but I wouldn't move them up based on yesterday. That's where I would have had them going into yesterday. I want to make sure that's, that's where I'm at on this it. So I don't see how you can flip flop Miami and Notre Dame now. Like I just don't, I don't understand how the committee can do that. I think unfortunately because of a top six, strength of record, strength of schedule for Alabama, seven top 35 wins that like remember Ohio State 2014 when they won the national championship, lost to a five, seven Virginia Tech team like five and seven is bad, but it doesn't exclude you from the tournament. It's bad. Miami has one good win in the top 30 of anybody on their schedule. And that's my concern. I would have Texas ahead of Miami. I would have BYU ahead of Miami. I would have, I might even have Vanderbilt ahead of Miami. I think that's where they belong and that's where the committee has put them. Miami in the, in the committee's eyes all season long. They have been more in the realm of Texas, Vanderbilt and Utah, not in the realm of Oklahoma, Alabama, Notre Dame. And it's controversial because Miami and Notre Dame played each other and I get that. But it's a 12 game sample size and I personally agree that Notre Dame is the better football team. I think they'd be a six or seven point favorite right now.
Myron Metcalf
Nine, 10, 11, 12. He's Braden Gaul, I'm Byron Metcalf. So give me nine, 10, 11, 12. Are you saying Notre Dame stays at 10?
Braden Gall
I would go stays at 12.
Myron Metcalf
Where do you put Alabama give me the actual rankings?
Braden Gall
Like if it's. Again, it's hard because my rankings might have been different. So I'm trying to do it honestly here. I would have Notre Dame town square.
Myron Metcalf
On the, he's on the town square. Notre Dame summoning all of the great Romans saying gather round. As I explained to you, the college Football committee playoff give us the rankings. Braden, 9, 10, 11, 12 at 2.
Braden Gall
Myron Number 9. Notre Dame Number 9. Notre Dame Number 10. Alabama Number 11. BYU Number 12. Miami. If I'm basing it on the committee's rankings, yes.
Myron Metcalf
Let me ask you this follow up. Let me ask you this follow up. Braden. To the people who will say the committee has been consistent in one thing. In 11 years they've never put a three loss team in the playoff and there have been a bunch of good three loss teams under consideration. How would you respond to those individuals who say, why decide to make history now?
Braden Gall
Sure. So there's only one, only one three loss team has ever really been considered and that was ironically Alabama last year when SMU lost in a conference championship game and was not penalized and left in over Alabama. So smaller brand three loss or two loss didn't lose the championship. We're in a 12 team era, guys. We're going to have three loss teams get in because strength of schedule is so different. Like you cannot tell me that James Madison's schedule is the same as Alabama's. You just can't. They're different schedules and so a three loss team might be deserving. Texas might be deserving this year. They're not going to get in, but they might be deserving.
Myron Metcalf
Yeah, I think it's going to be interesting to see what happens. I don't think a three loss team should get in. They did lose the Florida State. I saw with my own eyes. It happened. I don't care what anyone says. And to me, if you tell us that Alabama's lost to Florida State doesn't matter, my question is, does anything matter? He's Braden Gallermyro Metcalf. We'll turn our attention to the NFL next with our favorite coach Herman, Matt and Myron the podcast.
Herm Edwards
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Myron Metcalf
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Herm Edwards
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Myron Metcalf
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Herm Edwards
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Braden Gall
Give someone is the gift of Mint.
Myron Metcalf
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Herm Edwards
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Braden Gall
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Myron Metcalf
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Myron Metcalf
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Herm Edwards
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Myron Metcalf
Matt Myron. I'm Myron Metcalf. He's Braden Gall. Here on ESPN Radio, the ESPN app SiriusXM Channel 80. Matt Myron is presented by Progressive Insurance. I love the hip hop. Matt. Would you never play this with Matt? Like, how come, how come? How come? I'm leading the show. Matt's out on a personal matter, you know, thoughts and prayers with him as he's dealing with some stuff with his family. But how come when he, when he's driving the show, you all play country music and. Because if, and then when I get.
Braden Gall
On the show, he throws a temper tantrum. So I gotta make sure he throws a temper tantrum. No.
Myron Metcalf
And now when I'm on the show, you're playing like 1997 underground hip hop tracks. I mean, can you believe this, Coach? You see how the vibe changes when I'm leading the show, Coach Herm Edwards.
Herm Edwards
Well, I know one thing. Next time I come on this show, I want some Jimmy to be played.
Myron Metcalf
Okay? Yeah, I'm all right. Jimi Hendrix. Big Jimmy. Yeah, I love Jimmy. I'm a big fan of Jimmy. I saw Jimmy the Great.
Braden Gall
You saw Jimmy?
Myron Metcalf
You saw him live?
Herm Edwards
I saw him when he burnt the guitar up.
Braden Gall
No way you were there for that.
Herm Edwards
It was in right where I live, Monterey Jazz Festival. At the festival, my babysitter took me over there.
Myron Metcalf
I'm so jealous.
Herm Edwards
The first time I saw Jimi Hendrix, my babysitter took me over there. I wasn't supposed to go, she took me over there. And I see this guy walk away on the stage with a hold up.
Ad/Promo Voice
He's.
Herm Edwards
First of all, he's left handed. I said, who is this dude, man? I must have been 11 years old. I said, who is this guy? He says, jimmy Henry. I said, what?
Braden Gall
Who?
Herm Edwards
Jimmy. He playing the guitar and all of a sudden he's Playing it with left hand. And then he takes the lighter fluid out and he's. And I said, oh, I like this guy now. He burnt the guitar. So I saw him live. I can tell people.
Myron Metcalf
11.
Herm Edwards
Yeah, 11 years old.
Myron Metcalf
Babysitter. Hold on a second. Yeah, okay.
Herm Edwards
Jimi Hendrix America.
Myron Metcalf
Jimmy Hendrix. This is Coach Herm Edwards. We always do a segment. Coach Herm, every week. You've told us some great stories. I don't think I've ever heard this one. You saw the great Jimi Hendrix. So if it for everyone knows the image, Braden, of him burning the guitar at the Monterey Festival.
Herm Edwards
I was there.
Myron Metcalf
You were there with your babysitter?
Herm Edwards
I was there. First thing, I went in there and I said, man, what. What I'm smelling? I said, what is that smoke in there? They were firing it up now, and I didn't understand what that was. And the next thing I said, who is this dude? And he's on the guitar. I said, man, that dude's pretty cool. He a left handed guy and he started playing that guitar. I said, oh, man, look here. I became Jimi Hendrix fan. I've been a Jimi Hendrix fan ever since.
Braden Gall
Bam. I am immediately gonna go edit your Wikipedia page and put it as the.
Herm Edwards
Very first story I saw. Jimmy live bird to get up. Thank you very much.
Braden Gall
That's insane. Thanks for coming on the show.
Myron Metcalf
One of the greatest things. Yeah, one of the greatest things. I've heard you say it. All the same.
Herm Edwards
I've been in a lot of events in my life, seen a lot of things, done a lot of things. Best thing I ever seen was Jimmy Henry burn the guitar.
Myron Metcalf
I mean, that's iconic. That's one of those like, iconic moments where you've done a lot of great things. Coach, I feel like that should be.
Herm Edwards
Yeah, that's. That's right there.
Myron Metcalf
That's number one on the list of achievements.
Braden Gall
What other. I mean, true, true question here. Like, not to derail the entire segment, but what. What other? We do.
Myron Metcalf
We derail this show all the time.
Braden Gall
Like, what other.
Myron Metcalf
Yeah, we just go off scri. That's what we did.
Braden Gall
Serious question. What other musical moments, visuals or images? Like, I know that there's like Woodstock, there's 90. There's Woodstock 99. There's. You got the. You got the Queen stuff over in the Live Aid Festival. There's so many great, like, iconic things that we've seen in the. In super bowl shows. Like, what is more. What is more iconic than that image? Seriously?
Herm Edwards
That's Jimmy. Yeah, that's Jimmy. Yeah, no doubt. Now That's Jimmy, man.
Myron Metcalf
Number one.
Herm Edwards
I've seen it. I watched it right there.
Braden Gall
Well, on a date with coach Herm.
Myron Metcalf
Edwards here on Matt, Myron obviously saw a star in Jimi Hendrix years and years ago. There's another star that people are talking about, and that is a star in Dallas, Texas, the Dallas Cowboys. And what just happened with them in their loss this week. People are talking about George Pickens. There's a lot of George Pickens talk. Here's the thing I always ask you about receivers.
Herm Edwards
Yeah.
Myron Metcalf
You know, we always get into it about wide receivers. George Pickens ends up in this game, and to a lot of people, he looks like he's not interested. And the problem is, that's been the narrative about George Pickens for a long time. Uh, he gets called out by Richard Sherman after the game. He post essentially saying, Richard Sherman doesn't know what he's talking about before he deletes that post. Was the criticism, fair, Herm Edwards, of George Pickens looking like a guy who maybe wasn't as interested, wasn't as focused in that loss that his team took to the Lions on Thursday night?
Herm Edwards
Well, look, receivers are different. You know, they're different cats. And I know that, you know, by playing in the league, obviously, trying to cover these guys and obviously coaching as well. And the thing you got to realize about when you have guys like that and they all have different personalities, but the first thing you realize with a receiver, a guy that is very talented like Pickens, is that they're like, 7, 11. They're always open. They're always open, and they want the ball. And so you have to make sure when you have guys like this, your intention as the head coach, when you put in a game plan, the game plan is this. It's that guy needs to get at least 10 to 12 targets in a football game. And that's not. You don't. You don't. You don't discuss with anybody else. You talk to the officer, coordinator, say, here's the deal. We got to get him the ball. Right? We just got to get him the ball. Because if you don't do that, then this stuff comes up. It just does. So how do you. How do you feed the beast? Well, he's in the game plan. He's gonna get 12 targets. And you tell the kid that, say, man, I'm getting you 12 targets, partner. Now, if they roll the coverage on you, I can't get it to you, but other than that, you're getting 12 targets. And generally, they walk away and go, okay, I'm good. Right. So you got to figure out how to communicate to these guys, and when you don't, they become a distraction. And that's.
Myron Metcalf
Isn't that coddling, though? Like, isn't it a receiver forcing the ball to these whiny receivers?
Herm Edwards
Hey, I tell you what. I know one thing. When I was a head coach, I made sure that the offensive coordinator get it to the best players. When I went to Kansas, when I the Jets, I walked up to Curtis Martin, I handed a football to him, and I said, curtis, is this ball heavy? He said, no, coach, it's light. I said, good. Cause you're gonna carry it a lot. I'm gonna make sure you carry the ball a lot. Larry Johnson, ball heavy. You gonna carry it a lot. Tony Gonzalez. We're gonna throw it to Tony Gonzalez, by the way. All right, so you. You. I get the mentality of it. I've been around it, seen him my whole life. I mean, it's like, hey, man, this is what you got to do.
Braden Gall
It seems like a smart strategy, by the way, to throw the ball to Tony Gonzalez. Yeah, that's a good idea. Because if you don't.
Herm Edwards
If you don't, when he gets in the hole, he's gonna tell the quarterback, throw me the ball, man. Throw me the ball.
Braden Gall
So what you're kind of talking about, though, is, like, locker room psychology and player psychology. And I'm fascinated with Chicago and Green Bay today about the locker room psychology, because the rivalry obviously incredibly lopsided. Green Bay 26 and 4 since Chicago lost at home in the NFC championship game to Green Bay, who went on to win the Super bowl in 2010, last year, broke the losing streak against Matt LaFleur. That game, though, the packers weren't trying to win. They had benched a bunch of players. How does, like, the history of a game like this, 210 Meetings, does it actually matter to the players? Like, is there an element of you're trying to fire up a locker room for, like, not only is this. I mean, look, first place in the division. This is an enormous game for both teams, but there is history with these two. How does that factor into how you talk to your players?
Herm Edwards
Well, you're talking to a different generation of players. And unless you talk about the history of your division and the teams that are in your division, a lot of these guys have no idea about the history of this. They just play football. They don't know the history of it. You know, I think it's a shame, because I know when I Went to Philadelphia. The first thing I realized is I was gonna learn the history of the NFC east and about the Philadelphia Eagles. You know, I made it my point to understand that a lot of these guys today, they don't know the history of a team that they play for. They have no idea. You know, they don't know the history of when the Chicago Bears and the Green Bay packers go way back in these. They don't get all that. They. Right now, hey, Coach, I want the ball, man. I don't know about the history of this. What are you talking about? Right? So I think sometimes we lose sight of that, you know, that it gets marginalized. The fact that, you know, most of these guys, they don't know what happened in the 60s and in the 70s. They have no idea.
Myron Metcalf
None.
Herm Edwards
I came to the league in 1977, and I made sure I learned about the NFC east, you know, when it went back in the 60s, you know, and I wasn't in the league, but I wanted to learn the history of it. So I knew when you played Washington and you played the Dallas Cowboys, and you played the New York Giants, and then it was the St. Louis Cardinals. What's this thing all about, man? And I knew one thing, the team to beat when I came to league, there was no doubt about it. Dallas Cowboys. If you go into the super bowl, it goes to the Cowboys, period. It goes to Tom Landry and the Dallas Cowboys. They're the team that always shows up in the super bowl for some reason. And I said, you know what? We better beat the Cowboys, boys, if we're going to a Super Bowl. And we did. We played him three times. We beat him in the championship game. We went to the Super Bowl. So I knew the history of it.
Myron Metcalf
Coach Herm, every time I remember. Metcalf, Braden, Golf, filling in for Matt Jones here on Matt Myron, speaking of history. And we'll get you out of here with this. Mike Tomlin obviously has this historic run. 500 better seasons. It feels like things are getting pretty ugly. Fans booing, calling for his firing. You've been on the ugly side.
Herm Edwards
Yep.
Myron Metcalf
Of this as a coach. If you're in Mike Tomlin's shoes, is it something where you're doing everything you can to hold on to the job? Or do you ever get to a point, Herm, where it's just so toxic as a coach that you realize it's probably best for everybody to part ways?
Herm Edwards
Well, I think when you sit in Mike's position, he goes to an organization that is one of the class organizations of the league. When you think about, they've only had three head coaches.
Myron Metcalf
So this is incredible. I mean, it's amazing that they've had three head coaches.
Herm Edwards
We're going to say it again, three.
Myron Metcalf
60 plus yards or whatever.
Herm Edwards
So. And you look at Mike, he's been there 19 seasons. Mike might, might, might want to change as well. He'll get a job tomorrow if he decides to lead air. And then they depart and they part ways. I don't know what's going to happen. I know he's fighting for, you know, for the playoffs and all that. And still in, in a division race for the most part, with that Division 6 and 6, who would ever imagine? And Cincinnati's sitting there at 4 and 8 going, hey, we can win out. Maybe nine wins will win this thing. Who knows, right? So I just think, you know, Mike. Mike's been in the league a long time. He's a. He's a professional football coach, an outstanding football coach, by the way. And the last thing he's worried about is his job. I mean, you know, when you take these jobs, you get something, you do what you understand, guys. You're taking somebody else's job. And there was a good coach here before, and if it just didn't turn out right for him, it didn't turn out. And it's just part of the league. When you've been in the league and I was in that league coaching and playing for over 30 years. Guys, let me tell you something. When they fired Tom Landry when I was growing up, I was a Dallas Cowboy fan. When they fired Tom Landry, I went, oh, if they can fire Tom Landry if I ever start coaching, they can fire Herm Edwards, too.
Myron Metcalf
Yeah, I'm guessing that's probably the attitude you gotta take. Obviously, Mike Tomlin trying to figure out maybe not his future, but it feels like this is kind of the one or more turbulent chapters that he's ever. He might be tired of it.
Herm Edwards
You know, he might want to change.
Myron Metcalf
Might be tired, right.
Herm Edwards
I mean, you know, sometimes change is good.
Myron Metcalf
Well, and I think if he does become available, a whole lot of coaches on the hot seat are going to be a little worried because, oh, he'll get a job.
Herm Edwards
He might come work for us. Who knows? I mean, you know.
Myron Metcalf
Yeah, he can do that too. He might. He might have you both on the show. I love that. Mike Tomlin and Herm Edwards together.
Herm Edwards
When I left to become the head coach with the Jets, Mike Tomlin took my spot in Tampa.
Braden Gall
I'm in Nashville covered. I'm in Nashville covering the Titans. They would hire Mike Tomlin in two seconds.
Herm Edwards
Sure they would.
Myron Metcalf
I mean a lot of coach would have to watch that back. He's the great Herm Edwards here on Matt and Mine. We always thank you for your time coach. We appreciate it. We will look ahead to the biggest games of week 14 in the NFL season. That's next. Matt and Myron the pod.
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Herm Edwards
Good morning Crust. It's a great day to be a bread brother. Ugh.
Myron Metcalf
Mornings are not my jam or jelly.
Herm Edwards
Oh come on, stop loafing around.
Braden Gall
I just woke up feeling hollow inside. Just grab one of the new morning.
Myron Metcalf
Uncrustable sandwiches like Bright Eyed Berry or.
Herm Edwards
Up an apple filled with 12 grams.
Myron Metcalf
Of protein and tons of deliciousness crust. What are you eating? It's just granola.
Herm Edwards
Not even yogurt.
Myron Metcalf
No crust, no fuss.
Herm Edwards
Uncrust your mornings.
Myron Metcalf
And those Matt Jones songs. Now Matt and Myron on ESPN radio. The ESPN app series on channel 80. Braden Gaul filling in for Matt Jones who is out today. Call 888, say ESPN 888-729-3776. You can also listen to the Matt and Myron podcast available wherever you get your podcast. And remember, at noon Eastern we're gonna have the CFP selection show here on ESPN Radio. Matt Schick, Trevor Mattish hosting. They will be joined by CFP committed chairman Hunter Jure. Check. Also, we got a football Sunday double header on ESPN Radio. Coverage of Colts at Jaguars begins at noon Eastern followed by Raiders Broncos. A lot of big games today, Braden, that are going to have postseason consequences. I want to run through some of these games. Get your take on why they matter. Get your take on why they're important. And I want to start here with the first game.
Steelers at Ravens. Okay, I thought it was Colts of Jaguars, but it's Steelers at Ravens. This is a game where you have Braden, a guy, Mike Thomas, who maybe is coaching for his job. There's obviously this rich history between the Steelers and Ravens. Why does this Game matter?
Braden Gall
Well, the leverage in this game from a statistical standpoint for the playoffs is absolutely off the charts. You're talking 60, 70% chance to make the playoffs for both teams with a win and with a loss, you're talking 20, 25% chance to make the playoffs. So the playoff leverage in this matchup is off the charts. Baltimore playing extremely well. Of course, once they've gotten healthy. I think this is about protecting the football of your Baltimore. I know that sounds cliche, but you're at home. You've turned the ball over a lot. You fumbled too many times this year. The Steelers are one of the best teams in the league at creating those chaos moments and those havoc moments, taking the football away. If Lamar Jackson, Baltimore and that offense at home can take care of the football and just handle your business, that's probably the key matchup I'm keeping an eye on is turnovers for Baltimore.
Myron Metcalf
Yeah, I believe under Harbaugh, the Ravens are 5 and 13 against the Steelers when they commit multiple turnovers in a game. Turnovers have been a major issue for the Baltimore Ravens and the Steelers, I think, are second in the NFL. And takeaways, however, the run defense has been very suspect for the Pittsburgh Steelers and we all know how well the Ravens can run the ball. What's next?
Colts at Jaguars? We got a Colts team that people said this is going to be the team to beat. The sleeper pick, the underdog. Now they're locked into a battle in that division with the Jags, who they're facing both teams, eight and four. The win of this team goes to number one in the AFC South. Why does this game matter, Braden?
Braden Gall
I wonder how many casual football fans. If you just walked on a street and you did man on the street interviews and you said, who's in first place at the AFC South, I guarantee you most people would not know that it's actually the Jacksonville Jaguars. So at home as an underdog against the Colts team that has largely been the best offense all season long in the NFL. From an efficiency standpoint, I think it's the other side of the ball that actually matters here. Trevor Lawrence started finding Jacoby Myers recently in after the trade deadline. He had a really big game last week against the Titans. They have a lot of weapons. They're getting healthier with Brian Thomas back on the field. They've got a plethora of running backs. The Colts secondary has been suspect at times this season, giving up a lot of yards to receivers. Can Trevor Lawrence play efficient football? Find those receivers in space. They dominated a bad Titan secondary last weekend. The Colts secondaries had some problems. I'm looking at Trevor Lawrence and those receivers for Jacksonville.
Myron Metcalf
This was a little bit of deja vu for me with Sam Darnold and the Vikings. These were the games where you said, okay, Sam Darnold has to win these games down the stretch for the Minnesota Vikings. And there were struggles when you put that weight solely on his shoulders. I think the same thing for Danny Dimes in Indianapolis. He's going to have to have a big game because I think they're going to try to bottle up Jonathan Taylor. We're going to see what happens. But a very pivotal matchup between those two teams. What's next? Bears at Packers?
I mean, you have an incredible matchup. I'm from Wisconsin, so this is always a crazy rivalry. I want to go back to Ben Johnson's introductory press conference where he was asked about the Green Bay packers and what he's most looking forward to as the head coach of the Chicago Bears.
Herm Edwards
I wanted to stay in this division. I know this is the toughest division of football right now. There's three teams that made the playoffs this year. I've got tremendous amount of respect for the coaches and the players in this league. And to be quite frank with you, I kind of enjoyed beating Matt lafor twice a year.
Myron Metcalf
Let me say something, Braden. I don't want any of those pregame shots of Matt LaFleur and Ben Johnson chit chatting on the field. Like, he didn't say that. I don't want to see any of those pleasantries. And after the game, no matter what happens, I want to make sure Matt. Matt Floor does one of those, like, quick handshakes, right? Like where it looks disrespectful almost. You don't sit and talk to a guy who's talking about beating you. I think there's real beef here. But also these are two teams that are trying to claim the top spot in the nfc.
Braden Gall
Braden, this is an enormous game. And I Honestly, in 21 years of covering sports professionally, I cannot think of a bigger regular season. Chicago Green Bay game. Now, they played in the NFC championship game in 2010, but I cannot remember a bigger game in this rivalry. Ben Johnson adds to it. Matt Ler's record against Chicago, which is like 10 and 1 or 11 and one adds to it. It's so juicy. The Bears are not asking Caleb Williams to win these games. 281 yards rushing last week against the Eagles. They've been over 173 times in the last five games. This is about the Chicago Bears running package. Is it out of 12 personnel, is that a 13? What do they want to do with those tight ends? They want to run the football. If Green Bay in a very, very cold situation in Lambeau Field, by the way, also from Wisconsin, myself as well, that field is going to be cold. Can that front seven for Green Bay stop the Bears rushing attack and put the ball back in Caleb Williams hands? If they make Caleb make the plays, I think you got a really good shot for Green Bay to win the game.
Myron Metcalf
Chicago with 281 yards on the ground against the Eagles. I wonder if you can continue to hide Caleb Williams flaws, because we're getting to the point where he's going to have to pull them to the finish line. That may be today. What's next?
Texans and Chiefs. So. So this game is pivotal for a lot of reasons, but I heard this clip Braden from Andy Reed as he was just talking about the team in this game. Here's what he had to say.
Herm Edwards
What's your level of confidence that things.
Braden Gall
Can start going your way and that you can win these next five games in a row?
Herm Edwards
Yeah, well, I believe that. I mean, I. I believe you. If you're coming to me on this, Matt, I'm telling you, we're going to go after you every game. And, you know, that's how we roll. We're going to try to tickle your tonsils on every. Every play, every game. And. But that's. That's the attitude that, that we're coming in with.
Myron Metcalf
I don't know what he's talking about, but. But it's, you know, tickled by tonsils. Brad, what's Andy Reid talking about?
Kevin Clark
They got.
Myron Metcalf
They got to do something, though.
Braden Gall
This feels like. Remember he was on the staff in Green Bay for Mike Holmgren, like, way back in the day with Steve Mariucci. I feel like that's like a 1997 phrase that all those guys learned at the same time, like, I'm gonna hit you so hard that your tonsils jiggle. Like, I think that's what he's trying to say there. Look, this isn't. I'm gonna oversimplify this because it's obvious. Kansas City Chiefs offensive line totally banged up. Three of their starters potentially out tonight. Houston Texans maybe the best pass rush in the entire NFL. Certainly statistically, maybe the best defense in the entire NFL. They are on a tear right now. They shut down Josh Allen recently. They got.
Myron Metcalf
Kansas City hasn't had a sack in the last 11 quarters. Will that change? They will look ahead to the biggest games of Week 14 in the NFL. Matt and Myron the Podcast.
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This episode wrestles with the drama and controversy around the college football playoff (CFP) selection process during one of the most tumultuous selection weekends in its history, following a series of surprising upsets and tightly-contested games. With regular co-host Matt Jones absent due to a personal matter, Braden Gall joins Myron Metcalf to humorously and insightfully break down the implications for major college programs (especially Alabama, Miami, and Notre Dame), the merits of the CFP system, and forecast outcomes for NFL Week 14.
Also featured: an engaging segment with Herm Edwards on iconic sports music moments, wide receiver psychology in the NFL, the Packers-Bears rivalry, and the ongoing saga of Steelers coach Mike Tomlin.
(Alabama, Miami, Notre Dame, and others)
Segment begins at 37:30.
The episode balances high-level analytical debate with humor, authenticity, and personality-driven banter. Braden Gall brings a measured, philosophical sports-nerd energy, while Myron Medcalf mixes in both expert hosting and well-timed jokes. Herm Edwards' NFL wisdom is accompanied by vivid storytelling and life lessons.
This episode is a must-listen for fans of college football or the NFL who want analysis with humor, pop culture, and real stories from inside locker rooms. It’s especially valuable for:
Tune in for a blend of expert insight, laughs, and the authenticity that defines great Sunday sports radio.