Sunday Mornings with Matt and Myron
Hour 1: Herm Edwards Joins the Show
Date: September 21, 2025
Hosts: Myron Medcalf & Andrew Salciunas (in for Matt Jones)
Special Guest: Herm Edwards
Episode Overview
This episode covers the hottest topics around the sports world as NFL Sunday kicks off, with an emphasis on coaching legacies (Bill Belichick and Dabo Swinney), the importance (and undervaluation) of backup quarterbacks, injury trends around the league, and a live segment with former NFL coach Herm Edwards. The hosts mix sharp sports analysis with humor, comparisons to the NBA, and local flavor, especially around the Philadelphia Eagles. Notable moments include an unfiltered discussion of coach distractions, legacy risks, and myth-busting around the so-called “tush push” play.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
I. Opening Chatter: Allergies, Travel, and Football Fever
- Time: 00:29–01:45
- Andrew jokes about allergies from a baby shower, Myron commiserates about catching bugs from his kids and traveling. Rapid-fire, funny banter sets a friendly, relaxed tone.
II. Coaching Legends Stuck in the Past: Belichick & Dabo
- Time: 02:16–10:23
A. Bill Belichick’s Sideline Distractions & Legacy at UNC
- Both hosts are struck by the spectacle of Belichick’s girlfriend appearing on the sidelines, noting that such a thing “just doesn’t happen” for coaches at any level.
- Myron: “I’ve never seen anyone’s partner talk to them before a game like that. It just doesn’t happen.” (04:17)
- The segment is less about relationships, more about distractions and focus, a huge red flag for college sports administrators.
- Myron: “You can do whatever you want, Andrew, as long as you’re winning.” (06:19)
- Losing magnifies every non-football narrative, putting Belichick’s legacy at risk. There’s debate about whether he’ll ever be remembered as the greatest Patriot:
- Andrew: “This isn’t the Bill Belichick that we should think about. I’d rather think of Bill Belichick, the evil emperor in New England, winning Super Bowls, than this.” (07:44)
B. Dabo Swinney & Refusal to Adapt
- Clemson falls to 1–3, and Dabo’s soundbite about perseverance rings hollow:
- Dabo Swinney: “There’s certainly no quit in me, and I didn’t see any quit in our team or our staff.” (09:42)
- Andrew is blunt:
- Andrew: “I’m not asking for Dabo Sweeney to quit, Myron. I’m asking for Dabo Sweeney to adapt.” (09:45)
- The hosts spotlight Dabo’s resistance to NIL and the transfer portal—themes of stubbornness and the pitfalls of not adjusting to the evolving landscape of college sports.
- Myron: “It’s not some Disney movie, you ain’t in Remember the Titans. You're supposed to be competing for championships.” (10:44)
III. The Backup Quarterback Dilemma & NFL Injury Trends
- Time: 13:01–21:09
A. Bengals vs. Vikings: Starter Injuries, Backup Spotlight
- Both teams’ playoff hopes were high; now, backups start instead. Myron provocatively suggests Cincinnati and Burrow might both be better off with a “divorce,” given the franchise’s lack of support and Burrow’s repeated injuries.
- Myron: “I don’t think the Bengals…are ever going to spend enough money to put Joe Burrow in a position to compete for another Super Bowl.” (14:20)
B. NFL QB Injuries: New Norms & Load Management
- Jeff Saturday’s perspective: Today's QBs extend plays more, take more hits versus the quick-release “live to play the next down” mantra of older QBs like Manning and Brady.
- Jeff Saturday: “It’s an extend the play mentality…how many times they get hit per game per week…and ultimately their body breaks down.” (16:55)
- Myron argues for more robust backup planning and possible “load management” as the league considers extending seasons. Analogy to the NBA (Embiid) highlights the pain of trusting sometimes-injured stars.
C. The Joe Burrow–Joel Embiid Comparison
- Andrew compares Joe Burrow’s situation with Joel Embiid in Philadelphia: elite talents, often banged up, franchise fortunes in constant jeopardy.
- Andrew: “If we just changed the name from Joe Burrow to Joel Embiid…I feel like we’re talking about my man, Joel Embiid.” (19:36)
D. Backups: More Valuable Than Ever
- Myron: “The backup quarterback should be a bigger theme in this league because they’re arguably the second most important players on every roster.” (20:54)
- Andrew: Teams should draft a quarterback every year for cheap depth.
IV. Special Guest: Herm Edwards
- Time: 22:48–34:46
A. Chiefs Troubles—Should We Worry?
- Herm is calm: “I don’t know if you worry about them, I think they’ll find their sea legs. But the division is much better.” (23:33)
- Observes Mahomes is not himself; the team is out of sync.
B. Value of Backup QBs
- Herm: “You gotta have an old soldier in the room that doesn’t need a lot of reps…he can get the team through it.” (24:54)
- Urges patience with young quarterbacks (cites Baker Mayfield’s circuitous journey).
C. Tush Push Debate
- Herm’s solution: Don’t let the opposing offense get to 4th-and-2 or less.
- Herm: "You know how you stop it? Don't get into 4th and 2 or less on defense." (27:50)
D. Coach-QB Sideline Tension (Trevor Lawrence Example)
- Herm wouldn’t have argued with his QB on the sideline—instead, he’d wait, approach calmly, and check in: “First thing I’d ask him is, how you doing?” (31:09)
E. Colts, Texans, and Coaching Matters
- Herm cites “Coaching matters, especially at the quarterback position.”
- Stresses careful handling of franchise QBs with mobility and injury, mentoring Jaden Daniels directly: “You gotta know when the journey’s over, slide, get out of bounds…Quarterback has to play the next play.” (33:47)
V. Eagles, Offense, and Philly Fan Psychology
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Time: 36:08–42:09
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Hosts dissect Philly’s two wins to open the season but highlight continued fan doubts about the offense.
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Jalen Hurts: “I take accountability for a lot of it and just how we go out there, because that’s my job. My job is to go out there and be the general, orchestrate everything and ultimately make plays.” (38:48)
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Myron jokes Philly fans are now “spoiled,” while Andrew credits the team’s grind-it-out, efficient style over explosive playmaking.
VI. Around the NFL: Coaching, QBs, and More
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Time: 42:53–43:49
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Mark Zinno claims "D'Amico Ryans is not a good head coach...neglect to the offensive side of the ball is noticeable."
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Myron: The Texans will go as far as C.J. Stroud goes—not about the coach, but the QB.
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C.J. Stroud’s “project vs. prodigy” narrative is questioned; sustained performance is needed at QB.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- Myron Medcalf: “You can do whatever you want, as long as you’re winning. But as soon as you start struggling…now it becomes an issue.” (06:19)
- Andrew Salciunas: “The thing that’s questionable is…would Bill Belichick…in prime New England…have allowed anybody…to have a family member pregame on the sideline? It’s mind boggling.” (04:46)
- Herm Edwards: “You gotta have an old soldier in the room that doesn’t need a lot of reps to go in the game.” (24:54)
- Jeff Saturday: “It’s an extend the play mentality…their body breaks down.” (16:55)
- Andrew Salciunas: “I feel like you’re talking to me specifically about Joel Embiid, man.” (19:40)
- Herm Edwards: “Don’t get into 4th and 2 or less…that’s bad defense. They ain’t gonna push if you’re getting fourth and two or less.” (27:50)
- Jalen Hurts: “I take accountability for a lot of it…my job is to go out there and be the general, orchestrate everything, and ultimately make plays.” (38:48)
- Myron Medcalf: “Philly fans are spoiled at this point. If you’re talking about being 2-0 and not happy because the offense hasn’t been great—how about the flip side? You’re winning ugly.” (39:47)
- Herm Edwards: “You gotta know when the journey’s over…slide, get out of bounds…Quarterback has to play the next play.” (33:47)
Timestamps for Important Segments
- 02:16: Opening thoughts on Bill Belichick’s UNC start and distractions
- 09:24: Dabo Swinney soundbite and Clemson’s struggles
- 13:01: The backup QB problem in Bengals–Vikings, with Joe Burrow’s health
- 16:23: Jeff Saturday on the “extend the play” mentality and more QB injuries
- 19:40: Joe Burrow–Joel Embiid comparison
- 22:48: Herm Edwards joins the show: Chiefs’ struggles, backup QBs, the “tush push”, and handling QBs in crisis
- 33:47: Herm’s “when the journey’s over” advice to mobile QBs (re: Jaden Daniels)
- 36:08: Eagles–Rams preview, Philly’s offensive doubts, and Jalen Hurts accountability
- 42:53: Texans, D’Amico Ryans, and CJ Stroud as prodigy vs. project
Tone and Style
The show is friendly, irreverent, and deeply knowledgeable, mixing locker room humor with granular sports analysis and a strong sense of place (especially Philly). The energy is lively and the banter sharp, punctuated by earnest questions about legacy, adaptation, and the future shape of both college and professional football.
Summary for New Listeners
If you missed the episode, this hour delivers:
- Thoughtful contexts behind two coaching legends possibly failing to adapt (Belichick, Swinney)
- The growing necessity for top-flight backup QBs amid increasing injuries and “load management” logic
- Candid, hands-on perspective from Herm Edwards about what really matters on the NFL sideline—including leadership advice to fellow coaches and QBs alike
- A fresh look at the Eagles’ status as both a target for challengers and a source of local angst despite their 2–0 record
- Spirited debates over coaching value, the impact of new rules, and the narrative shifts around NFL stars and backup plans
End of Hour 1 Summary – “Herm Edwards Joins the Show”
