← Sunday Mornings with Matt and Myron
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- [00:01]
Matt Jones
We're so done with New Year, new you this year it's More youe on Bumble. More of you shamelessly sending playlists, especially that one filled with show tunes. More of you finding Geminis because you know you always like them. More of you dating with intention because.
- [00:16]
Myron Metcalf
You know what you want and you.
- [00:18]
Matt Jones
Know what, we love that for you, someone else will too. Be more you this year and find them on Bumblebee.
- [00:27]
Unknown
This is Matt and Myron, the podcast.
- [00:31]
Matt Jones
I'm ready for football. I've been waiting a long time to this moment.
- [00:36]
Myron Metcalf
Time is here, time is now.
- [00:50]
Unknown
This is the countdown to kickoff on ESPN Radio.
- [00:55]
Myron Metcalf
It is countdown to kickoff here on ESPN Radio. Matt Jones, Myron Metcalf, also your Sunday mornings with Matt Meyer and crew. We are presented by Progressive Insurance. We are two games in of a six game NFL playoff run and we're going to get you ready for all of it. Three games today, one tomorrow night on Monday Night Football. Myron, a lot of stuff to get to. You got two games yesterday, of course, you had the College Football Playoff Thursday and Friday night for me and you, big day of college basketball. There was one of the more exciting atmospheres in sports today over in England. But I got to start with, you know, before the show starts, we all kind of like pregame chit chat. You seem like you're in a bad mood. Why are you in such a bad mood? This morning you came in, you were grumpy. You, you were just grumpy and you were kind of so what? What's going on? Why are you in a bad mood.
- [01:47]
Matt Jones
This morning wasn't grumpy at all. I was just trying to get my producer to put me in the right room. We switched studios because, you know, apparently I'm saying, sir Matt Jones couldn't connect to whatever studio and they just left me in there. So I was in there talking, just thinking that maybe they hadn't heard me.
- [02:04]
Myron Metcalf
Yeah, you guys.
- [02:05]
Matt Jones
And then instead, like no one was there, so I got left.
- [02:09]
Myron Metcalf
I feel like I dare suggest that he was grumpy. He spent a minute complaining about, you.
- [02:14]
Matt Jones
Know, I feel like you with a bunch of friends and you go to the restroom and you're like, hey, guys, I'll be out. Don't leave without me. And then you come outside and they're gone. I mean, you're like, wait a minute, what, what just happened? Myron, I'd like to take this time to apologize to you, the superstar you are. I shouldn't have left you alone. I should have been. Yeah, I Mean, Yeah.
- [02:33]
Myron Metcalf
So back to my original point. You sound grumpy this morning.
- [02:37]
Matt Jones
Not at all.
- [02:37]
Myron Metcalf
You have to do to get you out of this grumpiness after your minute long rant about being left in the studio.
- [02:43]
Matt Jones
Listen, I'm not. I'm not grumpy. I'm just. Has that happened? I mean, we could all relate to that moment, right? You know what I mean? So.
- [02:49]
Myron Metcalf
Yeah. No, it doesn't happen to me. You're playing the victim. We were running around back here trying to figure out technical issues, and you're mad because you got left alone for a. He's the victim. It's okay.
- [02:58]
Matt Jones
You all just abandoned people in your lives. Is that how you all live? I did touch. Back to the other side.
- [03:03]
Myron Metcalf
All right, so enough of this. Enough of this bickering. Now you see why I said he was. He was complaining this morning. But nevertheless, we got a big day of sports coming ahead yesterday. Two NFL games. You have the Ravens beat the Steelers in a game that was 28:14, but really didn't feel that close throughout. And then Justin Herbert with a playoff dud, four interceptions on the road, a game in Houston. People forget Houston never makes the playoffs because they always play that first game on Saturday. And most people aren't even paying attention yet. But they actually won at this time. Of those two stories, Myron, of those two games, which one did you think was a bigger deal?
- [03:43]
Matt Jones
Well, first off, I remember when the Milwaukee Bucks were getting the playoffs and they put them on like, ESPN9.
- [03:49]
Myron Metcalf
They were on noon NBA TV all the time.
- [03:52]
Matt Jones
ESPN deportees. Like, you couldn't find the games. I feel like that way with the Texans. Like, all of a sudden you're just living your life, running your errands on a Saturday and there's a Texans playoff game on.
- [04:02]
Myron Metcalf
Let me, let me, let me further confirm your. Your belief. The last seven times the Texans have made the playoffs, they have played the first game on Saturday. All seven. It literally, they are the. Oh, no. See, I don't want to say this, but, you know, SMU's in the ACC now, and I'm not trying to be mean to smu, but you know that when ESPN sees they have an SMU game, they're like, oh, when can we put this on? That no one will watch it. That is exactly. I think, Myron, what it is when the Texans make the playoffs.
- [04:37]
Matt Jones
A lot of people haven't been to, like, conference, you know, college basketball conference tournaments. It's like walking in and that noon game, you know, in the first round you know what I mean? It's on.
- [04:44]
Myron Metcalf
Yeah. And there's eight people in the corner on a Wednesday in the conference, in the American Conference. That's what it is.
- [04:51]
Matt Jones
Yeah. I think people were trying to figure out like what the Texans and Chargers are in the playoffs, but the biggest storyline is what happened with Baltimore. I mean, Baltimore looked like to be a team that could beat anybody, like everything was clicking for them. Lamar is incredible. And then you have the Mike Tomlin question, man. Like it's been almost a decade since they won a playoff game. I know Pittsburgh's history where they don't fire guys have only had three coaches in what, 50 years or whatever the number is. But I just wonder if this is a time for a split. You know, does everybody move on and kind of start fresh? Because I don't know how Mike Tomlin elevates Pittsburgh beyond what we've seen over the last couple of months without an elite quarterback and there's just nobody out there that automatically changes this team.
- [05:36]
Myron Metcalf
Yeah, I, you know, Tomlin, you go to five weeks ago and he's one of the co favorites for coach of the year. Right. I mean, and then you finish five weeks later and there's people saying whether or not he should be there. I can't put it on Mike Tomlin, to me, no, you're not going to be able to win. If Russell Wilson is your quarterback at the highest level, I give him credit, he came in, played well for a few weeks, probably elevated the team from where Justin Fields had it, but he's not good enough to go on the road and win games in Baltimore in the playoffs. Now, let's assume, and we're going to talk about this game a lot, but let's assume the Bills were to win today. I mean, that Baltimore Bills game, that's a Super bowl level game. Byron, that could occur next week in the, in the second round of the playoffs.
- [06:23]
Matt Jones
Yeah, I mean, the winner, that could be the, the team that ends up, you know, winning it all. I mean, it's going to be an incredible matchup between those two teams. But it also to me, if you're Tomlin, if you're a Steelers fan, how do you ever catch those guys? Like what can you do to catch what is going to be maybe for the next 10 years? Mahomes, Lamar, Josh Allen and oh, by the way, Joe Burrow played as well as anybody in this league. So I think that to me would be the concern. I'm not talking about blaming Tomlin, but, but I do think sometimes we don't know how to have a conversation about a guy that we respect so much. And let me tell you something, I respect him a ton. I had an event this summer where I was the opening speaker at an event where he was the keynote. He followed me, you know, and it was like, no, I got. I just got a chance to really see him.
- [07:09]
Myron Metcalf
Can I pick that name up? You just dropped. You were the opening speaker.
- [07:12]
Matt Jones
I was at an event.
- [07:13]
Myron Metcalf
First of all, what is the event that has Mike Tomlin as the main speaker, but Meyer and Metcalf openings? What is that?
- [07:20]
Matt Jones
It was. It was a next up conference for. It was about coaches. College basketball coaches. Really cool event. Lavelle Mooton, North Carolina Central. Put it on.
- [07:27]
Myron Metcalf
So is it for like aspiring African American.
- [07:30]
Matt Jones
Yeah. Minority coaches meeting with executive.
- [07:32]
Myron Metcalf
Okay, so I get. I get why you bring Mike Tom to that? Yeah, why you?
- [07:37]
Matt Jones
I was like the me. I gave a presentation on the media, but it was. It was late, so it's a little late. The schedule wasn't, you know, we don't. We don't always start on time. You know what I mean? But. So it was a little later than expected.
- [07:50]
Myron Metcalf
Hang on. So the Black Coaches association, they don't start on top?
- [07:54]
Matt Jones
No, we would. We would. You know, we had stuff. We, you know, we got to plug in stuff and do all types of stuff. Find a AS one tech guy. But no, so it was a little.
- [08:03]
Myron Metcalf
You got to plug in stuff. There's only one tech guy in the whole room.
- [08:06]
Matt Jones
Try to figure it out. But anyways, it started a little later. So I'm on. But clearly people want to hear Mike Tomlin. And as I'm on stage, Matt, Mike Tomlin walks in the room, and it was like the whole room stopped. And then it was like, all right, man. All right, reporter dude, wrap this up. You know what I mean? Like, we came here to hear this guy.
- [08:28]
Myron Metcalf
So you're saying, like, this would be as if you opened for Taylor Swift and then Taylor Swift was on stage.
- [08:34]
Matt Jones
Yes.
- [08:35]
Myron Metcalf
Kind of pushing you out.
- [08:36]
Matt Jones
Yeah, not push me out, but the crowd is kind of like, you played your song, you know, guitar man, like, it's time to move on. That's how it felt.
- [08:45]
Myron Metcalf
You played Breakfast at Tiffany, Tiffany, Deep Blue, something.
- [08:48]
Matt Jones
Yeah, we don't need to hear anything else.
- [08:50]
Myron Metcalf
We don't need to hear anything else.
- [08:51]
Matt Jones
Yeah, so that's kind of. That's kind of how it felt. But no, I got a chance to really see him up close and talk to him, and he's a remarkable leader. And I Think any NFL team with an opening would be smart to at least inquire about whether or not he wants to move on. But I just wonder if sometimes, Matt, you kind of just hit a wall at a place and it's just time for everybody to start.
- [09:11]
Myron Metcalf
No, there's a time, I think at most places where your voice blends into the woodwork. Right. And you, you know, I think there's been people who say you don't know what you've got till it's gone. And I think sometimes Pittsburgh, there's an argument that, that you could hear a new voice. It's not going to happen, but there's an argument for that. But I want to go back to Baltimore for a second. You know, if you look at the last few weeks, you could argue Lamar's having like an historic in terms of historically good. Leave aside whether he wins the mvp. I feel like people have discussed that a lot. But is this. He's won a playoff game. A lot of people get on him when he doesn't win playoff games.
- [09:54]
Matt Jones
Yep.
- [09:55]
Myron Metcalf
Is this the Lamar at his peak form?
- [09:58]
Matt Jones
It feels that way. I mean, the guy literally created his own club of guys who throw him for 4,000 yards and rush for 800. You know, he's still doing things we've never seen before. He's the best passer we've seen in terms of the best version of Lamar Jackson. He's got this mountain of a running back in Derrick Henry that creates so many openings for everybody. If it's not now, then I don't think it ever happens, honestly. Like, I mean, I just don't know when you get a better Lamar.
- [10:26]
Myron Metcalf
Yeah.
- [10:27]
Matt Jones
And I just don't know when you get more weapons around him to beat a Kansas City team that doesn't look invincible.
- [10:31]
Myron Metcalf
A close to peak Derek Henry, you know, decent weapons, etc. Defense.
- [10:35]
Matt Jones
That change tomorrow with running backs, you.
- [10:37]
Myron Metcalf
Know, not as good as it's been. If, you know, I have a text machine where you can send texts from the show. Yeah, it's 772-774-5254. One person writes, Myron, given a speech, what would it be about? Can Myron give us a quick synopsis of what his speech was? Yeah, give us a little synopsis of when. When someone are to hire Meyer Metcalf for their event. What are you going to say?
- [11:01]
Matt Jones
It depends on the event in the picture.
- [11:03]
Myron Metcalf
Let's just take the media, young black coaches.
- [11:06]
Matt Jones
I was just talking to them about how to relate to the media in sort of the way to Present yourself and sort of these press conference settings. My PowerPoint wasn't working right. I wasn't. I think I missed a slide. I think that's what, that's what.
- [11:19]
Myron Metcalf
So you were explaining to them how to communicate well, and you didn't have the things that helped you communicate.
- [11:25]
Matt Jones
Yeah, like, you know, when you get behind on a PowerPoint and it kind of. So I think the screen was on slide five and I was still on slide three, you know, one of those kind of situations. So I was trying to, trying to make it work, but.
- [11:36]
Myron Metcalf
So maybe your message didn't get across that well.
- [11:39]
Matt Jones
The problem is that Mike Tomlin walked into the room as I was speaking and then it just changed the whole vibe, you know.
- [11:44]
Myron Metcalf
All right, well, if you want to tell yourself that, you can.
- [11:48]
Matt Jones
Maybe you just don't believe I'm good at anything other than.
- [11:53]
Myron Metcalf
I believe that's. I believe that's a good topic for you. I would just like to hear you give a presentation. I think it would be. I think it would be very interesting. I wish I had been there and I. Mike Tomlins, he should have stayed off stage. I can understand why you're bitter about that. Being part of Countdown to Kickoff Nation on the Dr. Pepper call in line. 888, say ESPN. That's 888-729-3776. ESPN nations, presented by Dr. Pepper. It's not college football season without the ice cold taste of a Dr. Pepper. College football. It's a Pepper thing. I've always wondered why you kind of would try to push Tomlin out. Now I get it. It's all come full circle to me. There was another game yesterday, a lot of college basketball. And when you talk about the College Football Playoff. We'll do all that next here on Countdown to Kick.
- [12:39]
Matt Jones
What's the best time of day to get a deal? All day with Jack in the box's all day. Big deal Meal. You get to choose from four entrees like the supreme croissant and five tasty sides, plus a drink starting at $5. So hurry in or take your time. You've got all day at Jack. Every bite's a big deal.
- [13:02]
Unknown
Hey, ESPN subscribers, get even more of the sports and teams you love. You can now stream six months of SiriusXM on us for even more. Live games, sports talk, music and podcasts all at your fingertips wherever you go. Score Even more with ESPN and get 6 months of the SiriusXM app. Today you just need an active ESPN subscription. Get all the details@espnplus.com SiriusXM. Eligibility and offer details apply. The playoffs are here. The latest news the best analysis these.
- [13:39]
Myron Metcalf
Struggles in the postseason have been significant.
- [13:42]
Unknown
Plus predictions and reactions.
- [13:44]
Matt Jones
They've got one of the best defenses, if not the best defense in the NFL.
- [13:47]
Unknown
The NFL playoffs Continuing coverage right here on ESPN Radio. Matt and Myron the podcast.
- [14:00]
Myron Metcalf
Mar the shotgun. Three receivers to the left. Jackson will hand it off. Derek Henry up the middle. He's in the 30, 20 leg race gone. Touchdown Derrick Henry. And they're going wild at mt. Derek Henry also playing at not just partial level at nearly at his peak level. What a year he's had throwing in with Lamar Jackson. Baltimore gets the win yesterday against Pittsburgh. We're going to get back all to the games of the NFL. Myron Worth, let's just real quickly look around. I always like to talk about the other things in sports. Are you ready to run around with me for a second run around?
- [14:41]
Matt Jones
This segment I'm calling run around like breaking the houses.
- [14:44]
Myron Metcalf
Yeah, this is like a blues traveler. Why are you going to give me the run around? We'll start in college basketball where there were a lot of games. Five top SEC teams went on the road and got big victories. But I think for a lot of people the headline is Cooper flag went for 42 points yesterday against Notre Dame. His team only scored 78, I think, and he had 42 of them. Is Cooper Flag as good as the people who haven't watched a ton of college basketball have heard he is?
- [15:13]
Matt Jones
Maybe better. I mean the thing about that 42 point effort is that was a freshman record at Duke. You think about all the great players who've come through Duke, you know, J. Will and Zion and so many other incredible talents that never reached that mark. So I mean, Cooper Flag has been incredible defensively. He's one of the best players in the country. I don't know if you saw the dunk the other night against Pitt. He has been remarkable. And he's making threes now. Like he's made like 50% of his threes over the last six games. So I think Cooper Flagg has a chance to carry Duke to a national championship, man, and do something that we haven't seen since Anthony Davis.
- [15:47]
Myron Metcalf
He is, he's really, really good. Like if you people will start to discover him a little more as the year goes on. But he's really good. I think the second story of college basketball, Myron, how good the SEC is. I mean the sec, like everybody thinks of it as a football conference. And now that for the second year in a row. The football championship game will not include an sec team. After 17 straight years of it, including an SEC team. It almost is like basketball's picked up where football. Where football dropped it. There are 16 teams, Myron. 12, maybe 13 of the 16 could make the NCAA tournament.
- [16:21]
Matt Jones
Yeah, there's a world where they break the record. Yeah, for, for most NCAA tournament teams, I mean, top to bottom is just a really, really incredible league, man. And I think it starts with coaching. You know, that's a league with probably the best coaches top to bottom in America. But I'm looking forward to see what the SEC does the rest of the way.
- [16:40]
Myron Metcalf
Are you surprised at how good it is? I mean, like, you take the worst, the end, the flip, the acc, Myron, the conference. So many people out there associate with basketball. Take Duke out and it kind of stinks, doesn't it?
- [16:55]
Matt Jones
I think the SEC is good. By the way, I'm the sideline reporter for acc Big Monday all season. Come in and watch the game. I hope you all enjoy.
- [17:03]
Myron Metcalf
Just in time for it to be the worst.
- [17:05]
Matt Jones
Starting to be in a long time with Miami, Duke. So I'm looking forward to everything that the ACC has to offer. But no, it hasn't been what people anticipated. I mean, the SEC strength is that when you have so many teams, I think a lot of people assume that, okay, the bottom half is just not going to be good enough. But you have teams that Oklahoma and all these other teams are pretty good. The ACC has kind of lost that when with Miami not being as good and some of these other teams struggling.
- [17:31]
Myron Metcalf
You think Cal Perry's glad he's at Arkansas?
- [17:34]
Matt Jones
I don't know. He looks like he wants to. What's. What's that? What's that Milky Way commercial? Want to get away? You know what I mean? It looks like that, man. Yeah, it doesn't look like that because it's just not. I had other. What is it Milky Way?
- [17:47]
Myron Metcalf
Yeah.
- [17:48]
Matt Jones
Is it Milky Way?
- [17:49]
Myron Metcalf
It doesn't matter. I had some other things I wanted to get to. But we have some breaking news. Give me the sound and bye. We're getting there. The news is already going to be in a book by the time we get this sound. There we go. All right, there it is. Breaking news from Adam Scheffner. Mike Vrabel and the Patriots have reached a multi year agreement to make him New England's new head coach. He'll be the seventh individual to head coach the franchise that he once played for in the Super Bowl. He joins as in that Group. Gerard Mayo, who is getting, who got fired from this job. Mike Vrabel to the Patriots. He knocks out his teammate. His former teammate is out and he is in. Still, though, Myron, I would say this is a pretty great hire for New England. I think Vrabel's a great coach. He once ate at my bar, so I have that affinity for him. But he's also a great coach.
- [18:45]
Matt Jones
Yeah, I mean, it makes a lot of sense. I think when you heard the rumblings about Vrabel that this was inevitable. They got a lot going forward. Drake May, I think, looks pretty good. They got a ton of cap space. So I think Vrabel will get more time and a better opportunity to help develop this team. So I think it's the right pick, man.
- [19:05]
Myron Metcalf
Yeah, I think it's the right pick, too. He's going to. He did a great job with Tennessee. I think this was, this was should have been his job probably the first time around. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, it was weird to hear Robert Kraft say, basically, you know, I just did it a little early with Gerard Mayo, which I don't know was. I think he meant that to be nice, but he didn't exactly say, like.
- [19:27]
Matt Jones
The post divorce relationship. A little bit like, oh, this is fun. And then like now he landed the one I think he actually wanted.
- [19:33]
Myron Metcalf
I think this will be, this will be a good matchup. I think he'll do really well for them. And I'll also say this about Mike Vrabel, good tipper as well, from his time when he was at the bar. And I judge people in part Myron, by their tips. If you are someone who tips, if you're well off and you tip above and beyond 20%, I consider that. Well, he was. I'm not going to give the amount because I don't want to embarrass the guy. But he was a very good tipper, which I think says a lot about his character.
- [20:01]
Matt Jones
When did he come to your bar?
- [20:02]
Myron Metcalf
He was here when he was with Tennessee for pro day for Will Levis, who they ended up.
- [20:07]
Matt Jones
Okay. And don't you have to, though, if you're a celebrity? Like, I mean, that's the problem is that if you're a celebrity, you in this day and age, you have to, I feel like, give a big tip if you're going to come inside the restaurant.
- [20:19]
Myron Metcalf
I agree one time and I'm not in this Myron saying I'm a celebrity. One time they had, what is it, a soft opening for a restaurant in Louisville. And they invited me to come. And all the food was free. Right. Like, it was all free. And the people. You didn't really have a server. They would just bring you food. It'd be different people every time. Right. So when it's over, I assume it's free. You know, I didn't think about giving a tip. Oh, because the food was free. Right. Like, you didn't. There wasn't a bill. And the next day, one of the waiters went on the University of Louisville message board and said, matt stiffed me at the grand opening of Blah, blah, blah. And there are still people. This was 12 years ago. There are still people in Louisville that will insist I'm not a good tipper. And it makes me mad because it was free, Myron. And I didn't know I was expected to tip after a free. So if you're at an open bar, do you tip?
- [21:13]
Matt Jones
Yes. Right?
- [21:15]
Myron Metcalf
Yes. So it's a difference. Because I didn't have one server, a lot of people came. Like, it wasn't. Like, I didn't establish a relationship with anybody. It was. It was not.
- [21:25]
Matt Jones
Yeah.
- [21:25]
Myron Metcalf
I just didn't know. I didn't know if I. I would have tipped them. Meal was free. I would have given them all the money in the world. I just didn't know, Myron. And so now it's like. So I feel like now when I go out, I have to tip, like, four times as much.
- [21:38]
Matt Jones
I mean, locally, I feel the same. I mean, locally, I feel the same way. I don't. You know, I don't ever want someone to say that. Like, I'm a bad tipper. I don't know how to tip, though. There's no guide. Like, I think I told you a few weeks ago, I got a bunch of appliances, and I don't know what to do with the refrigerator people. Like, I don't know what that number was supposed to be, you know, And.
- [21:53]
Myron Metcalf
Yeah, but restaurants. There is a guide. It's 20% of the cost.
- [21:58]
Matt Jones
Of what?
- [21:59]
Myron Metcalf
Of the bill.
- [22:02]
Matt Jones
Of the refrigerator itself.
- [22:03]
Myron Metcalf
No. Or the delivery restaurants. I don't care about your refrigerator. That happens, like, once every 20 years. I. I'm talking about when you go to a restaurant. It's. You said there's no God. It is a God. It's 20%. So Vrabel tipped, like, 40%. And I thought that. He's extremely generous.
- [22:17]
Matt Jones
Okay. And I was asking, does that apply to refrigerators? That's all I was saying. I don't think it does. There's no guideline.
- [22:22]
Myron Metcalf
I don't. I don't have an opinion on the refrigerator discussion but. But brable I think probably would assume it was free anyway with the. With the Patriots it was. Coming up, the national championship is next week. Is there any chance of an upset? That's next year on espn. Hey, it's your resident super bowl champ Chris Kennedy. Coming Monday, Sam Donald's next contract, Matt Stafford's future.
- [22:43]
Matt Jones
I'll tell you what's at stake as we wrap up wild card weekend with Vikings Rams. It's unsportsmanlike Weekday mornings at 6 right.
- [22:49]
Myron Metcalf
Here on ESPN Radio, ESPN2 and ESPNU.
- [22:53]
Unknown
Matt and Myron the podcast from ESPN Podcast and Omaha Productions Coach is a new groundbreaking educational football podcast hosted by NFL legends Bill Belichick, Matt, Patricia and Michael Lombardi. In each episode, the coaches break down game changing situations and front office management tactics, sharing insights from decades of coaching experience and opening up the Bill Belichick Encyclopedia of Football Knowledge created by football legends for football fans. New episodes of Coach Drop weekly. Listen wherever you get your podcasts.
- [23:33]
Myron Metcalf
Here's your snap hit by Sawyer.
- [23:35]
Matt Jones
Balls loose.
- [23:36]
Myron Metcalf
Sawyer comes up with it, running down the right sideline, 40 to the 50y line. Sawyer to the 30. Jack Sawyer to the 20, to the.
- [23:44]
Unknown
10 to the end zone.
- [23:46]
Myron Metcalf
Touchdown.
- [23:48]
Unknown
Jack Sawyer, the defensive end coming up.
- [23:52]
Myron Metcalf
With the biggest play in Arlington, Texas.
- [23:55]
Matt Jones
That could have Ohio State headed to.
- [23:57]
Myron Metcalf
Atlanta in 2056 when you need Alexis in Columbus, Ohio. Jack Jack Sawyer is going to be there to sell it for you because he is a legend now in Ohio State football lore. After that fumble recovery, sack touchdown, he will never have to pay for a meal again in Columbus as Ohio State makes the national championship. It's countdown to kickoff on ESPN Radio presented by Progressive Insurance. Just a reminder if you missed the last segment. Mike, Mike. Mike Vrabel is the new coach for the New England Patriots. He's the first new hire of this hiring cycle. Myron, real quick before we go to the college football and the hiring cycle, do you find it weird that now the teams all announce who they've interviewed and when and like that they put all that out there? We're kind of used to college sports and the many years the NFL where it was kind of secret, who do we think they talked to, who didn't. But now the official announcements. We're talking to this person. We're talking to this person. Do you find that a little odd?
- [25:03]
Matt Jones
I actually like it. You know, it is different compared to what you had in the past. But I appreciate it. I think too it's sort of the era where teams want you to know that they're kind of covering their bases and really trying to hit a wide group of candidates. I don't mind it. Now, the problem is I think Chicago has tweeted 18 times already. Well, that's why people.
- [25:25]
Myron Metcalf
I think that's what I was saying. A little bit like you, if you, if, if you talk to too many people, which, by the way, I don't think is a bad thing to do to talk to a lot of people, but when you do, I think it leads people to think, what are you all doing? Can you not make up your mind? I mean, I would argue especially for the Bears, who've known that job is going to be available for eight weeks, talking to a ton of people is okay, but I think when you announce it all, it does make you seem like you're indecisive. Right?
- [25:53]
Matt Jones
Yeah, I think, I think with any job you want to know, like, all right, who else are you talking to? And if you're a candidate for the Bears job and they name 17 different people, that, that would make me feel great because it would be like, okay, you all don't have a clue of what you actually want. So it's weird that the Bears, the Patriots clearly knew who they wanted. In my rabel, it does feel like the Bears have no idea which direction they want to go in.
- [26:17]
Myron Metcalf
Yeah, but I mean, this might be normal. It's just now they announce it. Is this a rule that they have to announce it? Is that why they're doing it?
- [26:24]
Matt Jones
No, I mean, there's the, there's the Rooney rule. I mean, they have to talk. I mean, you saw a couple of those interviews, you know, that they put out. A couple, couple brothers got interviews, you know, that everybody knew was just a, a free trip in a nice hotel room and a five star dinner, you know, but listen, I do it, I take it, I get it.
- [26:41]
Myron Metcalf
But have you ever had one of the. Have you ever had a Rooney rule interview, you think?
- [26:45]
Matt Jones
I probably have some Rooney rule outings, you know, where folks paid some bills.
- [26:51]
Myron Metcalf
What was, what was a Rooney rule outing for you?
- [26:55]
Matt Jones
I had some moments where, you know, I didn't have to pay when I otherwise would have. But yeah, I mean, I saw a couple of those moments. But, you know, in general, I like the transparency of the process.
- [27:09]
Myron Metcalf
I don't know, I kind of like, I feel like I like the mystery of it. It's weird. Like, it's weird when they just say, by the way, we're talking to this person. By the way, I Think I would feel like after a while that I was being cheated on by my continuing to talk to other people.
- [27:24]
Matt Jones
That's the issue. Let me ask you this. Marcus Freeman.
- [27:29]
Myron Metcalf
Yes.
- [27:30]
Matt Jones
If he says, you know what, I want to coach in the NFL and I wouldn't mind coaching in Chicago, well.
- [27:36]
Myron Metcalf
You know, I mean, I listen, clearly he's gone to the. He's going to the championship game. He's done an amazing job. He seems like an awesome dude. Not just as a person, but he also seems like the players.
- [27:49]
Matt Jones
Yeah.
- [27:49]
Myron Metcalf
Really, really love him. If I was convinced that from an X and O football standpoint that every. All the boxes are checked and I don't know why you wouldn't be, then yeah, if he wanted to do it, I certainly would consider him. Would you?
- [28:04]
Matt Jones
Of course. And to me you're hearing less of the X's and oh, guys in this cycle and more of the Dan Campbell leader of men kind of thing.
- [28:14]
Myron Metcalf
Why do you think that is?
- [28:15]
Matt Jones
I think Dan Campbell. I think Dan Campbell made it so that those guys who are these like Disney movie coaches that, that only work in film usually. You know what I mean? The rah Rah dudes.
- [28:27]
Myron Metcalf
Yeah.
- [28:27]
Matt Jones
I think he made it a real thing and I think he showed that it can work at a high level. And you know how the NFL is. Once someone does it, the rest of the league goes, all right, I can do that too. You remember Sean McVeigh got hired and every team with an opening swore they had some 37 year old offensive guru and most of them were wrong. But I think has changed it.
- [28:47]
Myron Metcalf
I think what we've seen is, okay, so the, the young, handsome X and O guru, you better have one of the great ones, right. You better have McVeigh or Shanahan because we've seen the pretenders maybe don't work. Mike McDaniel, Cliff Kingsberry, Mo. Maybe those dudes are better off as coordinators. Because I do think there's a little bit of. With these NFL guys, it seems like, okay, take a Dan Campbell, all the players are going to respect him because he's been through it. Wouldn't you say, like, okay, he's been in the trenches with those McVeigh types. You better be really good because if you struggle and this, you've seen this with Mike McDaniel in Miami, then you start to get. Guys go, what does this dude know with you out here in his, with his glasses, in his jailed hair, hip hop.
- [29:37]
Matt Jones
I mean, all that.
- [29:38]
Myron Metcalf
Yeah, there's a little.
- [29:38]
Matt Jones
He was trying to be too much he was just.
- [29:40]
Myron Metcalf
See, I agree. I've always thought Mike McDaniel was trying too hard with his. With and. And with Tyreek Hill's comments and some of it. Myron, you wonder if maybe the team feels like that.
- [29:50]
Matt Jones
Well, I thought. I mean, the media loved him, right? Because we love a good story, and he was playing, you know, 90s hip hop at practice, but they also loved.
- [29:58]
Myron Metcalf
Him because he's almost like us. Like, he's nerdy. We, like, we. Look, media loves guys that, like, we can chop it up with, but that's different than the kind of dudes that are in those locker rooms.
- [30:10]
Matt Jones
Yeah, no, and I think you make a good point. I think we have not acknowledged everything that Dan Campbell brings to the table. Like, I've heard a lot of interviews from former teammates of his. They love that dude. Right? Because he was in the locker room in the NFL. He knows what that grind is like. But, I mean, Marcus Freeman maybe has the best of both world. There are a whole lot of people who are like, all right, who is this guy? Marcus Freeman? I think they think he's handsome. You know, he's young. Like, he's got all those tools. And now you're leading the team to a national championship. I think every NFL team should call him. I don't think he'll leave Notre Dame, but you should at least, I think, inquire.
- [30:43]
Myron Metcalf
Yeah, I think I'm. I'm a little. You know. You know, this. Over the years, I tend to be jealous of guys who are too handsome. The coaches, you know, it's. It led me to hate Tom Brady for a long time, but for some reason, he's. He's really handsome. Like, every time I've watched a game with a woman and he comes on, they go.
- [31:03]
Matt Jones
Changed everything.
- [31:04]
Myron Metcalf
They do. Who's that?
- [31:05]
Matt Jones
The room changes. Yeah, the room changes.
- [31:06]
Myron Metcalf
Same thing. It's why you don't watch. You don't watch a football game with Marcus Freeman or if they show Jimmy Garoppolo, don't be with your woman when they show that either. Have you guys seen when he changed.
- [31:17]
Matt Jones
The room when he played at Ohio State, what he looked like? Oh, he was. He was a giant, right? No, I think he got younger as he aged. I'll pull up a picture. Hold on. Yeah.
- [31:25]
Myron Metcalf
You mean, so he looked old when he was at Ohio State?
- [31:27]
Matt Jones
Very interesting.
- [31:29]
Myron Metcalf
Well, you know, I didn't expect we'd talk so much about his handsomeness here.
- [31:33]
Matt Jones
But the room changes, though. You're right, though. The vibe changes in the room when Marcus Freeman.
- [31:38]
Myron Metcalf
Jimmy G is like that too, though. I've, I've said, told the story before. Jimmy G. Jimmy Garoppolo. Yeah, that's right. He does, he does look older there.
- [31:46]
Matt Jones
Yeah, he looks like a different guy.
- [31:48]
Myron Metcalf
He really does look like a different guy. That's a wow. Yeah. My ex girlfriend, every time Jimmy Garoppolo was on tv, she would stop. She hated sports. She would stop what she was doing and go, who's that? Can I cheer for him? That's kind of what Marcus Freeman has now. Will she be cheering for a national champion, Myron? Will Notre Dame maybe pull off the upset?
- [32:08]
Matt Jones
Well, I gotta say that, you know, everyone said this, this big line, I don't know what it is now. It was at nine and a half, that felt like to me a miss for Vegas because I bet Ohio's, I bet North Notre Dame all day on that because I thought Ohio State was good against Texas. They didn't look unbeatable and I thought Notre Dame has been in some battles. And the thing that you can say about Notre Dame season after the Northern Illinois loss is they're going to fight you to the end. You know, I don't know if Riley Leonard's good enough, by the way. I don't know if you heard some of this, Matt. There were people saying RILEY Leonard, who's 6 4, that's Josh Allen. Like there are people like, oh, he's Josh Allen. Why do people do that? Like, why do we make those comparisons like that?
- [32:54]
Myron Metcalf
Yeah, well, he's not good enough to be Josh Allen. I think the line is actually probably correct, although I still think Notre Dame could win.
- [33:02]
Matt Jones
I think they can if you, if.
- [33:03]
Myron Metcalf
To me they make these lines and say, okay, if both teams play their average to above average game, what's the score? And I think with Ohio State, if you can find a way to block the Michigan game out of your mind, which I know people can't do, then they're by. To me, they were by far the best team. If you just could find a way to not think about the Michigan game. And while that game the other night was competitive, it was clear Ohio State was better throughout. And I feel like if they play their best and Notre Dame plays their best, Ohio State's going to win by a touchdown to 10 points. So I actually think that's probably a fair line.
- [33:43]
Matt Jones
Yeah, I mean, we'll, you know, we'll see. I feel like with Notre Dame, they've already won, like Marcus Freeman leading this team to national championship. It really doesn't matter what happens at this point, it's changed the narrative about him. Whereas I feel like Ryan Day kind of has to win a national championship in this moment.
- [33:57]
Myron Metcalf
You think the fans will finally lay off Ryan Day if he wins the national championship?
- [34:01]
Matt Jones
I think they, they, they have to, right? But if you're Ryan Day man, and you win a national title, do you look for an NFL job like it doesn't get better than this in that situation?
- [34:12]
Myron Metcalf
Yeah, well, that job, there's just so much pressure. Ohio State, by the way, six and two all time against Notre Dame, won their last six the and it's Notre Dame's first national championship appearance since 2013 when they got destroyed by Alabama in that famous game. Now coming up next, Mike Tomlin is going for an all time record that nobody wants. Plus, what is next for Justin Herbert? We'll see what's next for the teams playing yesterday and we'll get started looking at the games today. Three big ones. That's all right. Next here. I count down to kickoff on ESPN Radio.
- [34:44]
Unknown
The playoffs are here.
- [34:46]
Myron Metcalf
Touchdown Matthew Stafford.
- [34:48]
Unknown
The latest news, the best analysis.
- [34:51]
Matt Jones
This is a tough, resilient group. We're built for the playoffs.
- [34:53]
Unknown
Plus predictions and reaction.
- [34:55]
Matt Jones
These explosive plays are going to be necessary for this offense.
- [34:58]
Unknown
The NFL playoffs. Continuing coverage right here on ESPN radio. Matt and Myron, the podcast.
- [35:09]
Myron Metcalf
Second and 10 chargers from their 44. Herbert shotgun. Here's the snap.
- [35:14]
Matt Jones
Herbert has time, throws downfield over the.
- [35:16]
Myron Metcalf
Middle and intercepted by Stingley. He takes it across the 30 and he's down at the 34 yard line. Two picks in the game for Derek Stingley Jr. Four picks on the night for the Texans. Four interceptions for the Texans last night as they get the victory over the Chargers. It's kind of a kickoff here on ESPN Radio presented by Progressive Insurance. Dr. Pepper calling line 888, say ESPN. You know, I don't mean to pick on the Chargers, but if you've listened to the show a lot, you know, I tend to pick on the Chargers. I, I find it such an odd franchise because I don't really think anyone cares about them like anyone. I mean, I don't know that there's anyone out there that has strong Charger connections yet, you know, if they had won yesterday, I'm sure there are a lot of people that would have sneakily said, you know what, Kansas City's in jeopardy in the next round. The Chargers can beat them. They come out, they dominate the first quarter, but they only put six points on the board. And then the last three quarters they were terrible. And the next thing you know, four interceptions, the Texans win. Justin Herbert says he took responsibility, which I think is what you have to do when you throw four interceptions. What did you make of the Chargers performance? And really, Justin Herbert, a guy who statistically was like the fifth best quarterback in the NFL this year, quietly, and then has this, this game in the.
- [36:45]
Matt Jones
Postseason, it just didn't make a lot of sense, man. I thought, I thought the Chargers went into that last stretch of the season looked pretty good. Remember they had that game against Kansas City, two point game. Um, you know, most of their games in the last month and a half were wins. They, they had a loss to Kansas City and lost to Tampa Bay. I think they'd won three in a row. Coming into the postseason, Herbert had thrown three interceptions. He'd been really, really good. To your point, it's just when you.
- [37:11]
Myron Metcalf
Have only three interceptions for the year, four in the game.
- [37:15]
Matt Jones
Yeah, I mean, it's, it's, it's amazing. But I mean, when you're up against my homes, Allen, Lamar, and then who I'm missing, Burrow, it's hard to break through. So Herbert has always kind of had that status as the odd man out. But you play like that in the postseason game, again, when the narrative about him is that he can't finish the job in the postseason, this really hurts his rep, man. And this really makes you feel like, okay, do the Chargers have a way of advancing in the playoffs with Justin Herbert if these things continue to happen?
- [37:46]
Myron Metcalf
It's the Chargers largest playoff loss since the Super bowl in 1995. Justin Herbert's also the first player in NFL history to have more interceptions in a playoff game than he did for his entire season, which is not. I mean, that's kind of an amazing statistic. Do you write it off? Do you say like, this is just a postseason, Justin Herbert struggles, or do you just say, hey, one game, things happen. It is what it is. It's one and out in the playoffs. Chargers will be okay long term.
- [38:15]
Matt Jones
Oh, I don't think you can write it off at all because I mean, like, already the odds were against him. Right. To get through the playoffs, you're going to have to beat some combination over the next decade of Mahomes, Allen Lamar Burrow, which would be hard for anybody. But I do think the challenge with Herbert is they just signed him to a big deal. And I know you've talked about this before, the Chargers are one of those teams where you sign Herbert and I get why you do it. I think he's making 52 million a year. But if you don't have a guy who can play at a very high level, it's just hard to build around him. You know, it's, it's hard to create a contender under those circumstances. So the charges are kind of stuck because 52 million now is it. It's kind of not cheap, but it's average. But he's not good enough to help you beat some of the top quarterbacks in the fc so you kind of cannot play.
- [39:10]
Myron Metcalf
You cannot pay non elite quarterbacks elite money and win a Super Bowl. You just can't. You just can't. And you just have to decide do you have an elite one. And the problem Is there are 12 to 14 teams that pay their quarterback like their elite and there are maybe four elite ones. So those next seven or eight are destined to. Yeah, you'll make the playoffs but you're not going to win it. And I feel like Justin Herbert's going to be in that group. I do not think he is in the Mahomes Allen Lamar Burrow group. So because he's not in that group, you, he's not going to win unless. This goes back to my talk earlier. Unless you're paying him significantly less than elite. So if you're paying rookie money like Brock Purdy was making last year, yeah, got a chance. If you're paying mid level Money in the 20s a la golf or then you can do it. But the moment you start paying that elite money and you lose 20 to $25 million to go get other talent, you better be awesome. You better be so good that it doesn't matter who's around you admiring the amount of people that that's true about is like four And I just don't think Justin Herbert is one of those.
- [40:33]
Matt Jones
Yeah, I mean I get teams that do it. I get the teams that pay the guys that they think are on the cusp of that elite group. And I think Herbert certainly looked like that guy.
- [40:42]
Myron Metcalf
But do you think he gets into that group?
- [40:45]
Matt Jones
He's got to win in these moments, you know, I mean I don't know how many more chances you get if.
- [40:49]
Myron Metcalf
But you don't. It's harder to win in those moments because you don't have that 20 to 25 million dollars worth of talent to help you win in those moments. No, It's a catch 22. Like the moment you go and pay him, then he better be able to do it by himself and he's not good enough to do it. And I think that that's not a knock to him. The guys that can do it by themselves, Myron, are so few.
- [41:12]
Matt Jones
Well, I mean, I think the challenge is you've got to be able to take that next step. You say whatever you want about quarterback play and what support he has. You are being paid to put a team on your back, and he just hasn't done that. To your point, this year. I think Jared Goff is at the end of, you know, that deal I think he just signed recently. Now his number goes up big in the next couple of years, which is why this is such a big moment for Detroit. Like, you kind of got to win it right now. Whereas the Chargers are in a situation where Herbert has to be elite because you're not going to be able to fill around him with elite talent over the next two, three years of this deal.
- [41:52]
Myron Metcalf
At the end of the day, in. I'm. I almost did this this year, but I'm going to start doing it in the future. For real. I'm going to ask you, Myron, when we're making our preseason projections, to just show me how much each team's quarterback is making.
- [42:08]
Matt Jones
Yeah.
- [42:08]
Myron Metcalf
Honestly. And I'm going to set the mark at. If you're paying your quarterback over $45 million and he is not definite first ballot hall of Famer, then you're not winning the Super Bowl.
- [42:21]
Matt Jones
That's impossible, though. I mean, the market. The market. I don't. You wouldn't pay anybody then? I mean, I don't, you know.
- [42:26]
Myron Metcalf
No, no, I would pay my homes. He's first ballot. I'd pay Island. I'd pay Lamar.
- [42:30]
Matt Jones
But then you would just get rid of the Baker Mayfields of the world.
- [42:33]
Myron Metcalf
No, no, no, no. The Baker Mayfields. You want the Baker Mayfields, but you can't pay them $45 million. If you pay them $25 million, you can still win. But if you're paying that elite, elite money, you will not win unless it's a first ballot hall of Famer, period. Just go look at the names. Tua. Right. Daniel Jones, you know, these guys. Justin Herbert, they're not going to win it because you have to cut so much more of your salary to do it.
- [43:03]
Matt Jones
But at the same time, you have no chance without a serviceable quarterback.
- [43:08]
Myron Metcalf
Brock Purdy went to the. You do you. Brock Purdy went to the Super Bowl. Jared Goff went. Could go to the Super Bowl. You can do it, but you can't do it. Pay him $45 million.
- [43:20]
Matt Jones
I'm with you in terms of here's the ideal situation. You have Mahomes, Lamar, Burrow, Allen. I don't know who else you put in that group or you have a really good quarterback on a rookie deal. That's the second best group. Third is what you're talking about. At the same time, it's hard to find even a second tier quarterback in that TUA category. Like, I mean there aren't that many guys there, so I get.
- [43:41]
Myron Metcalf
But that. But if you're paying that second tier, your Baker, Mayfield, etc. If you're paying them first tier money, forget it. Just go home. It's not even worth playing. And like that's going to be Houston's deal coming up with CJ Stroud.
- [43:53]
Matt Jones
They're going to pay him so much money.
- [43:55]
Myron Metcalf
They are. But is he one of those guys? If he's not one of those guys, Houston is like they're giving themselves a lifetime of, of losing in the first or second round of the playoffs.
- [44:05]
Matt Jones
Yeah.
- [44:06]
Myron Metcalf
So I don't know. Is he one of those guys? I'm not sure. But he better be because if you pay him that money, you don't have a choice or else it will be a, a bad result for you, at least in my opinion. Now Herm Edwards, I'm sure disagrees with me on that, but that's okay because her medwards knows more than I do. And he's going to join us right here on Countdown, the kickoff next on ESPN Radio.
- [44:28]
Matt Jones
Hey, it's your resident super bowl champ Christmas, Chris Canning. Coming up Monday, CFP Wild Card Weekend. And I'll react to it all in my upon further review at 7am Eastern.
- [44:36]
Myron Metcalf
It's unsportsmanlike weekday mornings right here on ESPN Radio, ESPN2 and ESPNU.
- [44:43]
Unknown
Thanks for listening to Matt and Myron the Podcast. You can listen to the show live every Sunday morning at 10am Eastern on ESPN radio, the ESPN app, and on Sirius XM Channel. Matt and Myron the Podcast.