Hour 1: Shedeur's Slide

Summary

Sunday Mornings with Matt and Myron – Hour 1: Shedeur's Slide

Release Date: April 27, 2025

Hosts: Matt Jones and Myron Medcalf
Produced by: ESPN Radio
Description: Join Matt Jones and Myron Medcalf every Sunday morning as they delve deep into the world of sports, offering analysis, insights, and lively discussions to kickstart your weekend.

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1. Kickoff: The Overlooked Kentucky Derby

Timestamp: [00:33]

Myron Medcalf opens the episode by highlighting the Kentucky Derby, lauding it as "the most exciting two minutes in sports" ([00:33]). Despite its prestige, he laments the lack of media coverage, stating, "The Kentucky Derby gets the same amount to watch it as watch the NCAA tournament finals and more than the NBA Finals, and gets like one tenth of the coverage" ([00:33]). Matt Jones acknowledges Myron's persistent advocacy for more Derby coverage, adding, "the real story... is that Bob Baffert is back" ([01:25]).

2. NBA Playoffs Heat Up

Timestamp: [02:00]

Transitioning to NBA news, Myron introduces "Off the Top," a new segment focusing on current sports stories ([02:06]). The hosts discuss two major playoff highlights:

• Golden State Warriors vs. Los Angeles Clippers: Despite missing key player Jimmy Butler, the Warriors secured a surprising victory ([02:06]).

• Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Clippers: Aaron Gordon's buzzer-beater redeeming the Nuggets after a nail-biting finish ([02:06]).

Matt emphasizes the uniqueness of the Nuggets' win: "It's like a unique situation when nobody knows the rule... But that was fabulous, man. I mean, I've never seen anything like that" ([03:21]).

3. Denver Nuggets' Turbulent Path

Timestamp: [03:36]

Myron expresses skepticism about the Nuggets' recent coaching switch before the playoffs, describing Aaron Gordon's decisive dunk as "the worst play I've ever seen out of a timeout" ([03:36]). The hosts debate the implications of the Nuggets potentially having to rebuild their team under the new CBA, with Myron questioning the stability of the current roster ([05:40]).

Matt adds, "Remember, we thought Denver could be a dynasty, but the money makes that challenging" ([05:54]), highlighting financial constraints affecting team composition.

4. Houston Rockets' Struggles and Draymond Green's Influence

Timestamp: [07:09]

The conversation shifts to the Houston Rockets, focusing on their lack of a standout star and overreliance on young talent. Myron compares Draymond Green to Dennis Rodman, questioning both players' impact: "I find him to be... Draymond is the worst" ([07:40]). Matt counters by criticizing Draymond's choices, asserting, "I'm not making a character judgment. I just don't like watching him or listening to him" ([08:36]).

5. Guest Insights with Quentin Richardson

Timestamp: [10:40]

Quentin Richardson, ESPN's NBA analyst, joins the conversation to dissect recent playoff performances:

• Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Los Angeles Lakers: Richardson emphasizes the Lakers' dependency on LeBron James and Luka Doncic, questioning their depth and ability to advance without additional star power ([13:57]).

• Orlando Magic vs. Boston Celtics: He praises the Magic's defensive strategy under Jamal Moseley, noting their disruptive play as a key advantage over the Celtics ([15:49]).

• Houston Rockets' Playoff Challenges: Richardson highlights the Rockets' inexperience in clutch situations, suggesting a reliance on Jalen Green and Shane Goon ([17:20]).

6. Focus on the NFL Draft: Shador Sanders' Unexpected Selection

Timestamp: [24:07]

The hosts pivot to a deep dive on the NFL Draft, centering on Shador Sanders being selected by the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round (144th pick). Myron and Matt analyze the factors contributing to Sanders' slide:

• Media Hype vs. On-Field Performance: Matt argues that Sanders' media spotlight, courtesy of his father Deion Sanders, inflated his draft stock prematurely, leading to unrealistic expectations that ultimately hindered his draft position ([27:24]).

• Character and Locker Room Dynamics: Myron notes, "the worst thing you can have is that hype machine as your backup," emphasizing concerns over Sanders being a distraction rather than an asset ([29:42]).

• Draft Board Realities: Both agree that the NFL is adept at evaluating quarterback talent, with Matt stating, "If you look at the Hall of Fame since 1980, there has not been a player selected in the third round or beyond at quarterback who became a Hall of Famer" ([28:18]).

7. Audience Engagement: Debating Shador Sanders' Draft Position

Timestamp: [35:15]

The hosts encourage listener interaction, posing the question: "Would you have drafted Shador? Why do you think he didn't get picked?" ([35:15]). They present their perspectives:

• Matt's Take: He critiques the decision-making process, highlighting Dion Sanders' overt influence and the subsequent ostracization by NFL teams ([31:44]).

• Myron's Take: He underscores the pitfalls of limiting Sanders to specific teams, leading to diminished draft appeal and labeling him as a "second or third-round talent" with potential distractions ([36:53]).

8. Call-In Reactions and Further Analysis

Timestamp: [38:23]

Listener calls provide additional viewpoints:

• Russell from Ohio: Agrees with the hosts, attributing media backlash to fear of Dion Sanders' influence ([38:49]).

• Dave from Albany: Suggests that Sanders' lack of diverse coaching experience raises concerns about his adaptability in the NFL ([40:32]).

• Tracy from Pennsylvania: Highlights technical flaws in Sanders' play, such as holding the ball too long, questioning whether these issues can be mitigated by future coaching ([42:02]).

9. Conclusion: Navigating Draft Decisions and Future Implications

Timestamp: [44:07]

Matt and Myron wrap up the segment by reiterating the complexities of draft decisions, especially for quarterbacks with significant media attention but uncertain on-field performance. They caution against letting hype overshadow tangible talent and emphasize the importance of organizational fit and character in franchise-building decisions.

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Notable Quotes:

• Myron Medcalf ([00:33]): "The Kentucky Derby gets the same amount to watch it as watch the NCAA tournament finals and more than the NBA Finals, and gets like one tenth of the coverage."

• Matt Jones ([01:25]): "The real story, though, about what you said and what you left out is that I know you all were trying to banish him unfairly, unjustly. And all the schemes, they didn't work. Bob Baffert is back."

• Matt Jones ([03:21]): "It's like a unique situation when nobody knows the rule… But that was fabulous, man. I mean, I've never seen anything like that."

• Myron Medcalf ([07:40]): "I find him to be… Draymond is the worst."

• Matt Jones ([27:24]): "Shador Sanders not a martyr, right? At the end of the day, he ain't Lamar Jackson. Please, man, please stop throwing out the black quarterback card for this kid."

• Myron Medcalf ([36:53]): "Nobody's owed a draft pick… Shador Sanders went into the draft as a second or third-round talent."

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Final Thoughts:

In this episode, Matt and Myron provide a comprehensive analysis of current sports narratives, from the underappreciated Kentucky Derby to the high-stakes NBA playoffs and the contentious NFL Draft decision involving Shador Sanders. Their discussions emphasize the delicate balance between media influence, player performance, and organizational strategy in shaping sports outcomes. Listeners gain valuable insights into the complexities behind major sporting events and draft decisions, making this episode a must-listen for sports enthusiasts seeking depth and clarity.

Transcript

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[Matt Jones]

This is Matt and Myron the Podcast.

[Myron Metcalf]

Sunday morning here on ESPN Radio, presented by Progressive Insurance Matt Jones and Myron Metcalf on a beautiful Sunday morning for me here in Louisville, Kentucky, where in one week it'll be the Run for the Roses, the most exciting two minutes in sports. And Myron, I would suggest the least covered major sporting event in the United States. The Kentucky Derby gets 16, gets the same amount to watch it as watch the NCAA tournament finals and more than the NBA Finals, and gets like one tenth of the coverage.

[Matt Jones]

Every year you say this. Yeah. So I mean, every year I know you fight for more for more coverage.

[Myron Metcalf]

You don't seem to buy my argument. I'm just saying, like, if there were any other. Think about the Masters. Think about how much we talked about Rory. There'll be the exact same amount of people watching the derby as watch Rory the day of the Masters.

[Matt Jones]

No, it's. It is fascinating. I think the argument is like, are we covering horse racing in general enough rather than kind of one one event. The real story, though, about what you said and what you left out is that I know you all were trying to banish him unfairly, unjustly. And all of the schemes, they didn't work. Bob Baffert is back.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah, well, we're gonna talk a little bit. There will be the only show on ESPN that previews the derby. But Sunday morning is presented by Progressive Commercial Insurance. See if you could save at Progressive Commercial. It's time for.

[Matt Jones]

What are we thinking about?

[Myron Metcalf]

I'm trying to think, but nothing happens.

[Quentin Richardson]

Nothing happens.

[Matt Jones]

It's time to find out. This is off the Top.

[Myron Metcalf]

Flash off the Top with Matt and Myron. That's right. Got some new production here. Off the Top. I think there's two really big stories today in sports. One is the NFL draft, Shador Sanders. We'll talk about that at the bottom of the hour at 10:30. But the other, I think, is the NBA playoffs, specifically the warriors, who without Butler last night were able to get a victory against the Clippers, maybe a surprising one, a little bit as the warriors get the win, and then the Nuggets beat the Clippers at the buzzer on the. Aaron Gordon. Was that the closest play you've ever seen, Myron, in terms of a game winner? Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

I mean, I think it's the first time that's ever happened in a postseason where a game was decided like that. Obviously, you had 1985 or 1983. Villanova, NC State. Right. The.

[Myron Metcalf]

The don't remember a game like that. When I think the NC State. It was pretty clear he beat it was. Have you. That's the first buzzer beater I can ever remember where. I don't know if he got it in or not. I think he did, but, like, the rim almost blocks it, so you can't. Hard to even say.

[Matt Jones]

Well, and you always know. It's. It's like a unique situation when nobody knows the rule. Like, everyone's trying to figure out, like, what's the act as to when the ball has to leave your hands when it's in the cylinder. But that. That was fabulous, man. I mean, I've never seen anything like that.

[Myron Metcalf]

I like that. Jokic, who I. I have to say, I. I know the Nuggets switched coaches a week or so before the playoffs, which I still didn't understand the reasoning for that, but. Yeah, that might have been the worst play I've ever seen come out of a timeout. I mean, literally, y just ended up with the worst shot you can shoot on the floor. And then it leads. It was so bad. It leads to the rebound in the dunk. And they asked Yogic after the game, was it a pass? And Aaron Gordon first said yes, and Yoko just went, no. That's one of the things I like about him. He's like. He so doesn't care about what people think, that he doesn't even bother to lie about it.

[Matt Jones]

No, I appreciate that, man. And what a. What a weird way to end the game. I mean, I figured that series would be exciting. I think that has become maybe along with the warriors and Rock is the most exciting series so far, man, in these playoffs. Timberwolves, Lakers, too. But to see it, three of the.

[Myron Metcalf]

Eight of them, you got to pick one. You can't. You can't pick 50% of the playoffs and then say they're the most exciting.

[Matt Jones]

3. 3 out of 8 isn't 50. But I think Clippers. I think Clippers and Nuggets feel like the most evenly matched.

[Myron Metcalf]

I agree.

[Matt Jones]

Maybe in this first round.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah. And. But that was a big one. I mean, if the Nuggets lose that, I just want you to think for a second. I'm always fascinated in sports by instances that could have gone either way but have huge ramifications. So Gordon gets that dunk, but let's say he didn't. Okay, let's say it was a, you know, point one seconds later, and then the Clippers went in overtime. Clippers then at that point go up 3 1, probably win the series. And then I don't know what happens with Denver. I mean, I don't think they. I think they almost have to rebuild their team because this group right here, you'd probably say, look, I don't know if it's happening with this group. And yet they get the dunk. Now it's 2 2. You're returning back home, and the Nuggets seem to have life again.

[Matt Jones]

I think it's huge. I mean, especially because the team that the Nuggets won a championship with, it's hard to rebuild that team because of the new CBA. So, like, it's hard to have three stars. It's hard to pay three guys a ton of money.

[Myron Metcalf]

And Michael Port Jr. Is not a star. And he's paid as. He's paid as your third star. I mean, do you agree that that's ultimately the problem, is he's the third star and he's not a star?

[Matt Jones]

That. That is a big problem. But I also think the guys around those dudes are more expensive now, too. It's just harder to create what they had. Remember, we thought Denver could be a dynasty, but the money makes that challenging. So if you lose this series and y goes in the off season wondering, what's my future? That's not a situation that you would want for them.

[Myron Metcalf]

And it's also worth knowing note, you know, noting that you don't always know what Jamal Murray you're getting. Right? You don't know. Are you getting the Jamal healthy that's produced this amazing. Yeah, exactly. These amazing playoff games, or are you getting something else? But now it's 2:2, and we'll see what happens. And then in the other one, the warriors go up 2:1 on the Rockets. Another masterful, masterful performance by. By Steph. But other guys step up to get that win. I mean, if you tell me they don't have Jimmy Butler and they're still able to get a victory, I'm pretty impressed. And the Rockets, for me, Myron, showing their youth in this series. And the biggest problem they've had all year, which is. I've wondered Are they a team built for the regular season and not the postseason? Because they don't really have a star. They just have a ton of good players.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. And I think to what you said is it hits it on the head because I think you saw that most down the stretch when they didn't really know who their guy was, when they kind of fell apart. I also think with a young team, you can see, like, how much mentally, they're still growing because Draymond kind of pounced on those young dudes. Like, that trash talking Draymond, those guys losing their cool after the game. Draymond loves that. Like, that's his arena. If he can get you to respond to him in that way. Do you like Draymond?

[Myron Metcalf]

I find him to be. You know, I used to hear my grandfather. My grandfather really disliked Dennis Rodman. Just thought like. Like, just thought Dennis Rodman was the worst person. And I was always kind of like, oh, you're old. You don't understand. Dennis Rodman's cool. He's a rebel. I wonder if do. Like, I'm now talking about Draymond the way my grandfather did Dennis Rodman, and I don't know if it makes me old or if it just makes it that, like, Draymond is the worst. What do you think?

[Matt Jones]

Do you do the same thing about smartphones? Are you, like. Are you talking about still, like, all the people in their smartphone?

[Myron Metcalf]

No, I mean, the kids in their TikTok. I get it, but in the TikTok.

[Matt Jones]

Okay.

[Myron Metcalf]

But I. I just find Draymond to be so grading on my nerves.

[Matt Jones]

I think he's. He's made a lot of terrible choices, and I think sometimes he does things that are just wrong. I don't know about character judgments. What I will say is, I'm not.

[Myron Metcalf]

Making a character judgment. I just don't like watching him or listening to him.

[Matt Jones]

But. But like, Dennis Rodman, he can be the most annoying player in the NBA.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

All right. And a lot of people don't like that. But when you're a young Rockets team, it can unravel everything you want to do.

[Myron Metcalf]

Exactly right.

[Matt Jones]

So I think in this series, that young team is kind of falling into everything that Draymond Green wants to happen.

[Myron Metcalf]

It's. It's very effective. But I do think you see the problem with. With the Rockets, not just in this series, but in the whole postseason. When you get down the stretch and I'm sitting there watching them going, all right, who they going to go to? Are they going to go to Jabari Smith? Are they going to go to Sin Goon? Are they going to go to Green? Are they going to go to Fred Van Fleet and his band with a beat like on some point? Like they don't have. They don't have anybody that individually scares me, even though collectively they're very good.

[Matt Jones]

They don't have that yet, I would say. But again, remember, they would be number two, though.

[Myron Metcalf]

Who do you think it would be?

[Matt Jones]

Green, I think is going to. Jalen Green, I think can evolve into that. We said a lot of the same things about OKC a couple years ago. We've said the same thing about a lot of young teams over the years.

[Myron Metcalf]

But even with okc, you could see that Shea could be that guy. It's hard for me to see any of these Rockets guys that could be that guy.

[Matt Jones]

No, not me. I, I think the Rockets have talented guys. I think they're just young. Maybe they're a piece away too, you know, I mean, maybe they need to go out and get kind of that veteran presence, if you will.

[Myron Metcalf]

But.

[Matt Jones]

But I think the pieces are there. But you're also playing a team that we just have become so familiar with that we forget how good they are. To me, Steph Curry should automatically, undeniably be in the top 10 all time conversation. Like to me, you know, I love everything that Kobe Bryant has done. Steph Curry to me is in that.

[Myron Metcalf]

We got this real.

[Matt Jones]

No, don't, don't slow me down.

[Myron Metcalf]

We got Quentin Richardson waiting and if we go, we can. You're already talking Legacy and it's 10:12 in the morning already, so. Quintin Richards, thank you.

[Matt Jones]

It's true.

[Myron Metcalf]

Q Tip is going to join us. It's Sunday morning with Matt Myron here on ESPN Radio.

[Matt Jones]

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[Myron Metcalf]

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[Matt Jones]

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[Myron Metcalf]

Told by Gordon, you count that basket and Denver wins game number four. Is there any chance that last shot was a pass? No. We did what we. We came here to do, and that's get home court advantage back. That's a crazy game, man. That was a crazy game. Sunday morning, Matt Myron here on ESPN Radio, joined by Quentin Richardson. My guy, ESPN NBA analyst, wanted to stop in here before he catches his flight. For people who don't know, Bristol, Connecticut is located in a cow pasture out in the middle of the world. So where's your flight from, Quentin? You going Hartford, Boston, New York? How you getting home?

[Quentin Richardson]

I'm going Hartford.

[Myron Metcalf]

That Hartford airport. I'm sorry. And there's no direct. Right, Quentin, you're gonna have to connect somewhere. Absolutely.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah.

[Myron Metcalf]

That's unfortunate. All right, so let's talk about the game.

[Matt Jones]

He said that stuff about Bristol, not me. By the way.

[Myron Metcalf]

I'll say. Everybody, ESPN knows Bristol stinks. The building is wonderful in the atmosphere, but the city, you know, yesterday the Nuggets win at the buzzer, Quentin on the pass shot from Jokic Aaron Gordon, but they were up 20. I was saying if they had lost that game, it might be kind of the end of this current iteration of the Nuggets. And then it got saved. Do you agree that statement?

[Quentin Richardson]

I don't know. I mean, when they make a move like they did firing Michael Malone right before the playoffs, man, I don't really know what the front office is up to and what their. What their plans are moving forward. I mean, you got to believe they don't want to get rid of Joker. But I mean, anybody else, you never know with the moves they making.

[Matt Jones]

I'm in Minneapolis here, Q. And obviously I. Going into this series, I thought the Timberwolves could be a bad matchup for the Lakers. What can the Lakers do? Like, what do you think they have to do to take this series against this young Timberwolves team?

[Quentin Richardson]

And they have to have LeBron and Luca both have big games together, and they still may need a third party to step up and help, but they both have to have both of those guys together have big games and try to knock them off in that way. Right now, Anthony Edwards has been the biggest star in the series, in my opinion.

[Myron Metcalf]

I think it's been fascinating that the Timberwolves have outplayed the Lakers, gotten very little from Gobert. It's basically been Anthony Edwards, Randall, etc. But I look at the Lakers and to me, Quentin, they just don't have enough guys. You got Luca and LeBron and Austin Reeves some, and then they just got a lot of guys that, you know, they only play five, maybe six guys consistently. What do you do if you're the Lakers? Is it just, you just say, well, we're going to have to Hope we get 40 from Luka and LeBron every night. I mean, how do you get these other guys to step up and have some impact?

[Quentin Richardson]

I mean, that was, that was part of the conversation. That was when the trade first happened. You know, what, what else do they have outside of Luka and LeBron and who else can step up and who else can do things? So this is a situation where the roster, it wasn't a complete roster when they made this, you know, once they made this trade, it was, it was supposed to be, you know, finish the season out and see how they do in the summer to put around this. But like, they got so hot and started playing so well that everybody lost their mind and was like, wait a minute, they can win? And it kind of seemed that way, but the team was never a complete team or a complete roster from the beginning. So this was something that you had to expect them to go through.

[Matt Jones]

Q. I don't know if you've been following what's happening with the Celtics, but after every game in this series they've been crying. So I think we need to send some tissue to, to Boston because they like tears, they've been, oh, the Magic got too physical and they're following us and all this stuff that I just hate to hear from an NBA team. But like, what kind of advantage do you think that has been for the Magic and just that style of play against this Celtics team?

[Quentin Richardson]

I mean, this is, this is, this is the identity of the Magic. This is how Jamal Moseley has, has, has put, you know, put his stamp on them that they're going to be a defensive first team and a defensive minded team. And I think this is, this is great basketball from Orlando knowing that you, you playing against the defending champs and there they, you know, they were at their full strength. But like the best, the best possibility that the Magic have to win is playing the type of defense, disruptive, physical, trying to run them off of the threes because they lead the league and, you know, shooting threes and stuff like that. So they running them off threes, and they making the game a dog fight. That's what you gotta do when you get in situations. We down Wagner, we down Suggs. We don't have our full compliments, so we have to. We have to muck the game up and make it a dog fight.

[Myron Metcalf]

Make Porzingis bleed. That's what they decided to do. That was like, I'm a wrestling guy. That was a wrestling blade job there. After that, he'll be okay. After that, one foul, I want to switch over. Talking to Quentin Richardson, ESPN NBA analyst on the. About the warriors. Get in the Rockets. All right, so when I look at the Rockets, I see a team built for the regular season. My guy, Reed shepherd was third pick. He can't even get in the game. I mean, they got 10 or 11 guys that can play. However, when you get to the playoffs and it's tied with four or five minutes to go, I don't know who should take the shot. It doesn't look like they know who should take the shot. And I think they've struggled in these key situations. Do you see that? Same thing, Quentin? And if you were. Who would you. Who would you. What would you do?

[Quentin Richardson]

I mean, this is. This. You know, this is a young team. I think they're ahead of schedule with everything they doing. And this is part of that learning curve, finding out what works and who works well in these situations. They haven't been in these situations before. This is their first real playoff run. Coming down the stretch and being put in these situations, I would like to say you look to either Jalen Green or Shane Goon, but I think you got to fill it out. Who's going well, who's been hitting shots down the stretch and who's been making plays? Pretty much. But, I mean, you would think it's going to be one of those two.

[Matt Jones]

But can you win that way?

[Myron Metcalf]

Can you win that way when you don't know at the end who's the guy?

[Quentin Richardson]

I think it remains to be seen. I think sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. It just depends on the Florida game and how everything is coming down, down the stretch and how it's going. But I don't think, you know. Cause they so young, they don't know any better. So sometimes they just gonna do things and not know they not supposed to do this or, you know what I'm saying, that this isn't supposed to happen because they got youth on their side.

[Matt Jones]

Draymond is out there like the uncle at my family reunions who's filing people and talking trash, you know, the whole game. But it feels like it's working. Like, can you, as a player on the court, can you sense when an opposing team just really ain't got it? They ain't that tough. And then you exploit that as a player.

[Quentin Richardson]

I mean, this is what Draymond Green does. This is his strong suit, you know, getting inside people's head, playing the mind games, talking, chirping, doing different things and trying to get under their skin. And I mean, if they let it, I mean, it seems to be working. I mean, they getting chippy. They responding to him. They talking to him after the game, before the game, during the game. So this is. This is Draymond doing what he does. He's one of the best at. At getting chippy and then being able to say things and getting people's head and try and get them off their game. So he's just. He's just working his number right now. This is just a regular day at the office for Draymond.

[Myron Metcalf]

All right, we're talking to Quentin Richardson, ESPN's NBA analyst. Quentin, you're not going to want to answer this, probably, but maybe. So I feel like it's worth asking, just. Huh? What'd you say?

[Matt Jones]

Why ask it? What do you mean?

[Myron Metcalf]

Well, because I know he. Because I know he's going to have the. He'll know and you. And I don't. I feel like if I played in the NBA, I would not like. Which is in and of itself a funny question, but I would not like Draymond Green. Like, I just wouldn't want to. I want him maybe on my team, but I would not. He'd be one of those guys. I'd go, oh, this dude. How do you think guys in the NBA feel about a dude that plays like Draymond? Is he. Do people still. They respect it or they're like, gosh, this guy. Like, how do they. How do they react to a guy like him?

[Quentin Richardson]

You definitely respect it, man. You. The guy's a champion. He does whatever he has to do to help his team win. He's the. The consummate teammate. You know, what I'm saying is doing anything to help his team win. So I mean, as far as, like, I think guys do respect him and the way he goes about his business. And I mean, as far as, like the, you know, the getting chippy or the trying to get in guys head, man, it's several of those guys in every area of the game. We've never been without a guy that's trying to get in your head or be chippy or try and get you off your game and talk smack to you. So, I mean, what did you do.

[Myron Metcalf]

When you knew you were gonna play against a guy like that?

[Quentin Richardson]

I was with it. You weren't gonna get in my head, because I was gonna bring the same type of physicality and say whatever I wanted to say to you, too. So, like, I mean, I'm from Chicago, so that's how I grew up. So that was part of my upbringing and my DNA. Just like him being from Saginaw, Michigan, Midwest. That's what it is.

[Matt Jones]

Real quick. We had, like, 30 seconds. I'm excited to see the Bucs and Paces. I'm from Milwaukee, and the Bucs are finally on national tv. They've been putting them on HGTV a lifetime. I don't know, man.

[Myron Metcalf]

It's been hard to find those Bucks games, hasn't it? It's like it's on qvc.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, I don't even have those channels. But can they win this series? And if they do, what chance do they have to advance beyond that?

[Quentin Richardson]

They can. They can. Because, I mean, like I say, when you got players like, you know, Giannis and guys that could go nuclear like that, Giannis can take over the game and win his on his own. You know what I'm saying? He can. He's that good that he can. He can. He can demand a W on his own, and he can will him to a win. So, I mean, I don't. I don't like putting ceilings on teams like that with guys like. Like him that could go crazy and go on the street. So, I mean, I definitely think that he can continue to lead them and lead them to wins. Yes, I do believe that.

[Myron Metcalf]

I'm a little bit envious of somebody like Quentin or Derek Queen on Maryland, because Quinton just says, I'm from Chicago, and you know what that means. Derek Queen says, I'm from Baltimore. You know what that means.

[Matt Jones]

Good at basketball.

[Myron Metcalf]

When I say I'm from Middlesborough and Myron says I'm from Milwaukee, it doesn't quite. It doesn't quite.

[Matt Jones]

Hey, don't put Milwaukee in that conversation. We are Chicago's little cousin. Exactly.

[Myron Metcalf]

That's the point. Little cousin Quentin. Have your wonderful flight out of Hartford and try the Mexican restaurant across the street in Bristol sometime. There we go. What in the world happened with Shador Sanders? We got to get into it, Myron and I. Strong opinions. That's next here on Sunday Morning.

[Matt Jones]

Matt and myron the podcast.

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[Quentin Richardson]

With the 144th pick in the 2025.

[Myron Metcalf]

NFL Draft, the Cleveland Browns select Shador Sanders. You think about what he had in Colorado.

[Matt Jones]

He dealt with adversity, dealt with a muddy pocket. He dealt it with everything NFL conditions lead you to have to deal with.

[Myron Metcalf]

We've established a couple of things. We think he has to legitimately compete for the quarterback job at some point.

[Advertisement Speaker]

In the relative near future.

[Myron Metcalf]

Our message to him got to come in. Got to come in and work, and you got to come in and compete. It is Sunday morning, Matt Myron here on ESPN Radio presented by Progressive Insurance. All right, so for all you listeners out there, don't call yet, but this is going to be something where I want to hear your take in the next segment. But sports talk radio in the next week, you could literally just say two words and then go. So I'm here with Myron Metcalf, whose opinion I respect a great deal. And so here's what I'm going to do. I'm going to say the two words. I'm just going to give you my take and then I'm going to let Byron give his take. Let's do each Myer will agree no more than like a minute and a half uninterrupted. Okay, I won't interrupt. Yeah, same with me. All right, so here's the two words. Shador Sanders. Here's my take. My take is this. Shadur Sanders, a great college player, mains to be see what he is, a pro player. He is the success story of a hype machine around a very good player that turned a very good player into a phenomenon. Having Deion Sanders as your dad, having the personality he had, and then having some of the success they had turned a very good player into a superstar. And a superstar beyond his talents, just a media superstar. And the great thing about that is it giveth you a ton of opportunities which Shador had and took advantage of. But that same hype can giveth and it can taketh away. And what ended up happening is what get gaveth during college that created Shador Sanders from a good college quarterback into a phenomenon. The day the draft process started, it went the other way. He wouldn't throw at pro days. He wouldn't play at the combine. He wouldn't do in the Senior Bowl. He did interviews. Who knows how bad they were, but at least we could say they didn't go great. His one public press conference made him look a little cocky. And then what happens is all the things that giveth start to take it away. So if you're an NFL team, when you're going to pick Shador Sanders, you have two choices. Choice one is hand my franchise to this kid. The five or six teams that needed a quarterback all said in their minds he is not a I'm handing my franchise guy to day one. Once you make that decision, then things really start to work against Shador. Because the worst thing you can have is that hype machine as your backup. Ask Tim Tebow. Right? Tim Tebow could have kept playing in the league, but nobody wants Tim Tebow as their backup because of the hype and the questions. And then all the things that gave us to Shador as he started to fall taketh away because people said I can't have this distraction as my backup. Which led to the long fall. Myron, that's my take on it. What is yours?

[Matt Jones]

I mean, you know, we're birds of a feather, man. I agree with everything you said. And I wish people would stop lying about this, man. I'm just tired of it. Shador Sanders not a martyr, right? At the end of the day, he ain't Lamar Jackson. Please, man, please stop throwing out the black quarterback card for this kid. It's not him. It's not this situation. At the end of the day, Shador Sanders isn't good enough. And what I mean, by that is the NFL goes after people who they deem to have other stuff all the time. And I don't think Shedeur had anything. There's nothing criminal, there's nothing character wise, but there were certainly people who thought, okay, is this guy gonna help my locker room? They'll take the risk on you if they think you can have that personality, but there's a talent attached to it. But if they think you're a second or third round pick, that's when things become more challenging. I think Dion hurt him, not because of the hype. I think Dion hurt him when he said, my son is only going to these three or four teams. And he said, he's so good, I'm going to determine his future. So already you've ostracized 90% of the NFL by saying, my kid isn't playing for anybody but these four teams. And now you expect 32 teams to be all in on Shador Sanders. I think the other thing is nobody believes he's a franchise quarterback. If you're not picked in the first round, teams are saying, we don't know that you'll be a first round a franchise quarterback. If you're picked in the second and third rounds, teams are saying there's a possibility. Beyond that, they're saying you're probably a backup in this league. And I think that's what the NFL has said. If you look at the top 20 career passing yard leaders in NFL history, only four of them weren't picked in the first round. Tom Brady's at the top. There are few other guys who were not first or second round picks. If you look at the hall of fame since 1980, there has not been a player selected in the third round or beyond at quarterback who became a Hall of Famer. The NFL is pretty good at knowing if you're good enough to run a franchise. Shador Sanders they don't think is good enough. And you've combined that with all the other stuff. That's when you begin to question, okay, how does he come into my locker room? Do I want a press conference where everybody's going to be saying, is Shadora Sanders going to start for you at some point? You don't want that buzz unless you know it's attached to a dude who can run your team and can play at an elite level? And I don't think the NFL's convinced he can do that. And that's what it comes down to.

[Myron Metcalf]

You're exactly right. I mean, at the end of the day, when you make the decision to say there are only three or four teams my kid will play for. You better make sure those three or four teams want your kid. Right? Right. Like, like. Because if they don't, then what are you doing? And I ultimately, Shador Sanders was probably, if you're looking at, quote, unquote, the draft board, which, by the way, everybody needs to chill out with their draft boards. I hate when I see someone on Twitter going on my board. Are you really just on Twitter making a board? So go, go get a spouse or go get a significant other or some friends. You don't need to be making your draft board. If you are Broncos fans. 41, you don't need a draft board. But anyway, he's probably a second or third round talent on a draft board. But once he's a second or third round talent, if he ain't starting Dion's comments and then maybe these interviews, I don't know. I wasn't there. But they have now made a second or third round talent a distraction. And one thing about the NFL is clear, they hate distractions, Byron. They hate them and they don't want them. And they certainly don't want him for their quarterback. You know, there was a big argument on the broadcast between the various people about whether or not, you know, his quote, unquote character. I don't think anybody thinks Shador Sanders is a bad kid. No, just nobody, by the way, nobody thought Tim Tebow was a bad kid. The question was, do I want to deal with everything else? And the answer was, the talent was not worth dealing with everything else. And I use this analogy a lot, Myron, and I love college basketball. Bobby Knight could be whatever he wanted when he was winning. Danny Hurley can be whatever he wants when he wins. But when you lose in the second round and then you wine, it doesn't look quite the same. Myron is when you win the title. And I think Shador could have done a lot of this if he was the number one talent, but he's not.

[Matt Jones]

But I think that's what it comes down to in all these conversations. People have decided that you are entitled to be picked because you played well in college, which is nonsense. Jason White won the Heisman Trophy in 2003 for Oklahoma. Wasn't even selected. Like, at the end of the day, you're going in hoping to be picked. You don't have to be picked. But I also think there are a lot of people focusing on where Shoulder Sanders was picked and are not being honest about talent. Where are the conversations about Shadora Sanders being an elite prospect, being a guy who can be the face of an NFL franchise, what do you think? People aren't saying that.

[Myron Metcalf]

That's true, but what do you think about. All right, so let me. We're sitting here. We're green. So let me give the devil's advocate. What about the people who would say, okay, Myron, I agree with you. Cam Ward should go ahead. I'll even agree with you. Jackson Dart would go ahead. Although Jackson Dart is my pick for bust of the draft. Sorry, Giants fans. What about the people who say, how do you pick Tyler Schuck over. What would you say to those people? Because they probably have similar talents. Shadur might be even a little better, and Tyler shucks like 41 years old.

[Matt Jones]

No one's going to care if you. If you play Tyler Shuck or not.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yes.

[Matt Jones]

So at the end of the day, you're not going to have to deal with anything attached to Tyler Shuck or Dylan Gabriel. Every single press conference for the Cleveland Browns from now until the end of next year is going to be about.

[Myron Metcalf]

Shador Sanders going to be asking about Dylan Gabriel.

[Matt Jones]

Not at all.

[Myron Metcalf]

You know, at the end of the.

[Matt Jones]

Day, that's the reality of what comes with that. If you don't think a dude can be the face of your franchise, you pick them after the first round. And if you'd really think he's just a backup, you pick him after the third round. Now you have to deal with first round conversations about Shador.

[Myron Metcalf]

Let's talk about who actually picked him. The Browns. Clearly, they didn't want to pick him because they picked Dylan Gabriel. Right. There's no logical explanation for why you would pick Dylan Gabriel in the third round and then picture Sanders after. To me, there's no explanation. What do you think actually occurred that led them to pick him?

[Matt Jones]

The bat phone rang from ownership and they said, pick him. You know, I also think there was an element of the Browns where they. Maybe they want to look like heroes. You know, they want to look like the team that saves Shador from despair and from the feeling of falling in the draft. But they didn't look happy to pick him. Also, where do you play him? Your fifth round guy is going to.

[Myron Metcalf]

Be over your third.

[Matt Jones]

Your third round guy in the. Yeah, well, that's.

[Myron Metcalf]

That's a great. I mean, if you're Dylan Gabriel, you're like, what? Wait a minute, you picked me and this isn't even like an RG3 Kirk Cousins thing where it was clear that RG3 was the first round talent. So he was going to play, right? This is a. I mean you're Kenny Pickett. You just got there, right? Like you're Joe Flacco. Wait a minute. You know I. You've made it. You talk about a hard knocks I'd like to have. How about that quarterback room? I mean Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, an injured desean Watson, Dylan Gabriel and Shador Sanders. Like what are you doing, Myron?

[Matt Jones]

Well, make sure to Sean Watson ain't mentoring should do a Sanders. But it's going to be a mess. It's going to be a mess and they've created this problem for themselves. And you've told me this, Matt, because you know your guy Tim Couch, you always tell me about where you go can dictate a lot about what happens. And the Browns haven't done a great job with quarterbacks in general. And now you're getting a situation where if you're not equipped to handle top level talent, what are you going to do with the circus that is coming to Cleveland as a result of you picking Shadow Sanders in the fifth round?

[Myron Metcalf]

I also got to say this. I think a lot of media kind of embarrassed themselves this week. There's a lot of media that is they like his dad. Okay? They like his dad. Which is nothing wrong with like his dad. His dad was my favorite player growing up that didn't play for my team. They like his dad. And because they like his dad, it was a whole thing. And people acted like they were personally offended that he didn't get picked.

[Matt Jones]

They did.

[Myron Metcalf]

Nobody's owed a draft pick, right?

[Matt Jones]

Yeah.

[Myron Metcalf]

Shador Sanders, my mom knows who Shador Sanders because of who his dad is and the hype and how he played. Well now those things works, worked against him and it's not unfair. And I think a lot of media needs to take a back just take a step back and go why am I losing it over this? Would I have lost it over this if Jackson Dart had gone to the fifth round? No, I would not have. And that was. I think that was embarrassing to people that I think are really good and really talented. A lot of people embarrass themselves the last few days and I think that was unfortunate to me as someone who's like, dude, take a step back. Dion's may be the best but that doesn't mean Dion's kid is owed a first or second round draft pick. 888 say ESPN. I'd love to hear what you think are. Would you have drafted Shador? Why do you think he didn't get picked? I want pro and con. It's easy to take the con position because Myron and I just did. What about you? Is there any of you that think I wish my team had picked him earlier? That's next here on Sunday Morning with Matt Myron on espn.

[Matt Jones]

Matt and Myron, the podcast. There are people out there all across the country pushing boundaries to grow the game of golf, like champion speed golfer Lauren Kupp, who plays faster than anyone else, and Will Lowry, whose work in the golf community inspires more kids to get into the game. As a champion partner of the Masters, bank of America supports everyone determined to find out what's possible in golf and in life. What would you like the power to do? Bank of America. Bank of America NA Member FDIC Copyright 2025 bank of America Corporation. All rights reserved.

[Myron Metcalf]

This episode is brought to you by State Farm. You might say all kinds of stuff when things go wrong, but these are.

[Matt Jones]

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[Myron Metcalf]

Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.

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And even reach a real person when you need to talk to someone.

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Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.

[Myron Metcalf]

With the 144th pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Cleveland Browns select Shador Sanders. Our message to him, it's got to come.

[Advertisement Speaker]

Got to come in and work, and.

[Myron Metcalf]

You got to come in and compete. Welcome back Sunday morning ESPN Radio. Matt, Myron, we're going to go the calls here. 888 say ESPN on Shador. Russell writes in Remember, you can write the text machine, which is 772-774-5254. Russell writes, I agree with both of you on Shador. I think the media members are acting the way they are because they don't want to get jumped on by Dion. They are scared of Dion. I agree with that.

[Matt Jones]

That.

[Myron Metcalf]

And by the way, Myron, I don't understand why, like, what are you scared of? Like, what's Dion gonna do to you? I mean, maybe I'll find out when I walk outside and Dion standing there throwing something at me. But, like, why? I do think a lot of this was, like, people being worried about Dion. No one would have flipped that. No one flipped out that Jalen Milroe fell.

[Matt Jones]

Like, why do people.

[Myron Metcalf]

Why, why does people care so much?

[Matt Jones]

Because they decided he was a victim when he didn't go where they wanted him to go. I also think, you know. Yeah, the Dion stuff never made a lot of sense to me, but clearly people were getting text messages and phone calls from Dion and his people and feeling like they had to stand up. Maybe, for sure. But I mean, just doesn't make a lot of sense to me.

[Myron Metcalf]

Like, that's the reason you can't become friends with people.

[Matt Jones]

That's a hard thing in this business. It's hard people.

[Myron Metcalf]

You cannot become friends with people. I, as Meyer knows, have a personality that I try not to become friends with people just in general.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah.

[Myron Metcalf]

No, it's not true. I have friends, but I've become friends with a couple people in sports and it makes it really hard to be about them. It's hard because you like them and you don't want to hurt their feelings. But you know what? You got to get over that anytime you see media members hanging out with athletes, you need to start being skeptical of those media members.

[Quentin Richardson]

Yeah.

[Myron Metcalf]

Because they're not objective.

[Matt Jones]

No. I think there was a lot of stuff that was disingenuous this weekend.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah. Let's go to. Let's see here. Let's go to. Let's go to Dave in Albany. What's up, Dave? Good morning, guys. Listen, I got two quick points. One, I don't think this is about.

[Matt Jones]

Dion being the hall of Famer, being his dad and the superstar and so called agent and that sort. I think it's the fact that that.

[Myron Metcalf]

Shador has only been coached by Dion in Pop Warner high School, Jackson State and Colorado. He's never been coached by somebody that.

[Matt Jones]

Might be amiable, quiet, kind of analytical, and he hasn't been coached by anybody.

[Myron Metcalf]

That might get in its face and yell and scream. So these NFL players, teams are like, wait, we've got a coach, We've got a quarterback coach. And we don't know how she door.

[Matt Jones]

Is going to respond to different types of.

[Myron Metcalf]

Interesting question. What do you think about that, Myron? What do you think about that point? Maybe never having been coached by anyone else.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, I mean, I don't know if people looked at it like that. I do think. I don't know what happened in these interviews, Matt, but I don't know if he convinced people that he was going to be a sponge in the NFL. There are people saying, well, you know, the NFL felt like they had to humble him. I don't know that that's the case. As much as people wanted to know, can we get the most out of this guy? And what is the most. If those two things aren't great, you're in a tough spot.

[Myron Metcalf]

I always hate when people say the NFL thought, like, there's one person exactly. Like, you know, there's 32 different team tries. And let me just say one thing about the NFL for those of you that know the law in the NFL. The NFL got sued by a guy named Fitzgerald Kaepernick. Colin Kaepernick.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Myron Metcalf]

And they were gonna lose a ton. A ton. A ton of money. So they settled, and we've never even heard how much. It was Myron, which it was a lot. Okay. And the reason they were going to is. I do think there was evidence the. The NFL colluded against him. They ain't doing that again. They ain't that stupid. Especially not over a dude like Shador Sanders. So when people say the NFL, it's 32 teams individually, Myron, that made the choice. If I'm the NFL, you want Shador Sanders. They have the highest rating for round two in the history of the draft.

[Matt Jones]

Why?

[Myron Metcalf]

Because he's a marquee guy. The NFL doesn't want to humble Shador Sanders. They want to market him if he was good. So I don't buy that at all. Tracy in Pennsylvania. Go ahead, Tracy. It's shorter. The same thing as the last caller. But, you know, there's things. Every quarterback has some kind of problem that needs fixed. Okay. In. In Shadora's case, he holds the ball too long. All right. That's something Dion should have coached out of him. And I personally think a lot of teams or most teams look at it and go, well, all these years that he had this one coach, his dad, and all he did was blow smoke, and he didn't fix these problems. Now can we fix them? Who knows? They're sitting there saying, I don't think we can. And you do worry. I appreciate the call. If in the background, you know, the other thing is not too many players. Myron. Have their dad have a weekly news conference.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, Yeah. I mean, I don't think that helps in terms of the idea of if people think Dion's going to be critical of whatever that team is doing but wipe all of that away. The NFL will come pick you up from any situation if you're good enough.

[Myron Metcalf]

That's exactly.

[Matt Jones]

NFL loves giving guys second and third chances. And they also love being teams. Love saying, I told you so. Oh, you didn't believe in this guy. Watch this door. Ceiling isn't as high as people think.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

Because the NFL is obsessed with Super Bowls and they don't think he can help them with.

[Myron Metcalf]

There have been dudes who've fallen during the draft because of character issues. Laramie Tunsil, Warren Sapp. Right. Randy Moss. But guess what? They didn't fall to the fifth round.

[Matt Jones]

You know, I mean, and I was against character issues. I mean, I don't know that they're character.

[Myron Metcalf]

I agree with you. I don't think there, you know, there are Mark and Wild is a talent thing. Awesome.

[Matt Jones]

Thank you.

[Myron Metcalf]

Go Bears. We are going to go to super bowl this year. But another thing too, as far as Cleveland development quarterbacks, they had Johnny MANZiel, what about 10 years ago? And that was a circus and didn't work out either. Yes, you're exactly right. That was a circus. Appreciate the call. Johnny Manziel was a, was a circus even after he wasn't good enough. Tim Tebow, again, I don't, I like to bring up Tebow because I don't think the circus around Tebow was his fault, but he still suffered from it. Myron and I think Shador is similar. Tebow could still be on an NFL roster today, but the lead just said we don't need the circus. It's like Aaron Rodgers, you ain't gonna, you ain't gonna sign Aaron Rodgers, Myron, to be a backup, are you?

[Matt Jones]

No. No, you're not. And Tim Tebow's good reference because I always say if something's gonna put you on Good Morning America as an NFL team, you got to think about that because Chador will be, it'll be a lot of attention on him.

[Myron Metcalf]

888 say ESPN. We're going to take more of your calls. I got A.J. steve, Fran and Rick. We'll get more of you all if you want to get in. 888 say ESPN. Myron and I enjoying this little Shador Sanders conversation. Plus, best two minutes in sports. It's coming up on Sunday morning.

[Matt Jones]

Matt and Myron, the podcast. Hey, I'm Brad Milke. You may know me as the host of ABC Audio's daily news podcast Start.

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