Hour 2: An Odd Choice

Summary

Summary of "Sunday Mornings with Matt and Myron - Hour 2: An Odd Choice"

Released on January 26, 2025, "Hour 2: An Odd Choice" of the "Sunday Mornings with Matt and Myron" podcast offers listeners an in-depth exploration of the NFL's championship landscape, focusing primarily on the Philadelphia Eagles versus Washington Commanders game. Hosted by ESPN Radio staples Matt Jones and Myron Medcalf, the episode seamlessly blends serious sports analysis with lighthearted listener interactions, making for an engaging and informative listening experience.

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1. Championship Game Breakdown: Eagles vs. Commanders

The episode kicks off with a comprehensive analysis of the upcoming championship game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Washington Commanders. Matt and Myron dissect the strengths and weaknesses of both teams, emphasizing key players and strategic considerations.

• Saquon Barkley's Performance: Saquon Barkley has been a standout for the Eagles this season. Myron highlights his dominance:

  "Saquon Barkley has been unstoppable this year." [01:08]

• Running Game Concerns: Both hosts express skepticism about the Eagles' ability to sustain their running game deep into the playoffs, referencing historical trends:

  "I don't think anyone has rushed for over 140 yards in a championship game in 13 years." [01:52]

• Jalen Hurts vs. Jaden Daniels: The importance of quarterback performance is underscored, with Matt emphasizing Jalen Hurts' role:

  "This is one of those moments where you're going to need Jalen Hurts to play well." [02:07]
  Myron adds pressure dynamics: "I feel like the most pressure is on Philadelphia today." [04:05]

• Game Predictions: The hosts predict that if Hurts performs averagely, the Eagles stand a strong chance, while also noting the Commanders' potential to disrupt:

  "No Jaden Daniels vs Mahomes. The build-up to that would be epic." [18:58]

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2. Listener Interactions: The Raleigh Pronunciation Debate

A notable portion of the episode revolves around a humorous debate sparked by a listener named Linwood from Raleigh, North Carolina, regarding the correct pronunciation of "Raleigh."

• Pronunciation Struggles: Matt and Myron engage in a playful argument over whether it's pronounced "Rally" or "Rawlee," highlighting the confusion and regional differences:

  Matt: “I feel like a fraud saying Raleigh.” [08:56]
  Myron: “I've heard one person in my life say rally.” [08:26]

• Callers' Contributions: Additional listeners chime in, contributing to the lighthearted banter and showcasing the hosts' chemistry:

  Caller: “We get in the car, my wife says, can we listen to those guys that we listened to last week?” [25:05]
  Myron: “You and your wife are wonderful people.” [25:29]

• Humorous Exchanges: The segment is filled with jokes and friendly teasing, making it a standout moment for entertainment:

  Myron: “Raleigh, roll like R, A, W, L roll.” [08:57]
  Matt: “You can't stop me from buying.” [23:15]

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3. Critique of the Cowboys' Coaching Decision: Brian Schottenheimer Hire

A significant focus of the episode is the Dallas Cowboys' controversial decision to hire Brian Schottenheimer as their head coach. Matt and Myron offer a critical analysis of this move.

• Unexpected Hire: The hosts express surprise and disappointment over Schottenheimer's hiring, questioning the rationale behind the decision:

  Matt: “Nothing surprising me with Jerry Jones, but it doesn't make sense.” [14:45]

• Comparison to Other Candidates: They compare Schottenheimer unfavorably to other potential hires like Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn, suggesting that Jerry Jones opted for a "yes man" rather than a visionary coach:

  Matt: “Brian Schottenheimer is the coaching version of settling in a relationship.” [36:19]
  Myron: “Brian Schottenheimer, F. Yeah, that's a failure.” [36:06]

• Impact on Franchise: The discussion highlights concerns that this hire indicates a lack of accountability and a stagnant franchise culture:

  Myron: “This is Rudy 2 the next season.” [16:47]

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4. Grading New NFL Coaches

Matt and Myron take on the task of evaluating newly hired coaches across the NFL, assigning letter grades based on their fit, experience, and potential impact.

• Pete Carroll (Raiders):

  Grade: C Minus
  Matt: “I don't know if Pete Carroll fits in this NFL.” [33:44]

• John Ben Johnson (Bears):

  Grade: A Plus
  Matt: “You got the hottest guy... that's A.” [34:21]

• Brian Schottenheimer (Cowboys):

  Grade: F
  Myron: “Brian Schottenheimer, F. Yeah, that's a failure.” [36:06]

• Liam Cohen (Jacksonville):

  Grade: B Plus
  Matt: “Liam would be an A if I didn't think how it all went down was so messy.” [37:06]

• Notable Insights: The hosts discuss the importance of coach stability and the potential long-term effects of these hires on their respective teams.

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5. Jacksonville’s Liam Cohen Hiring Controversy

Delving deeper into the Jacksonville coaching saga, Matt and Myron explore the messy circumstances surrounding Liam Cohen's appointment.

• Background on Cohen: Known for his strong offensive mind, Cohen's track record includes multiple departures that raise concerns about his reliability:

  Myron: “He was at Kentucky twice, and he left twice. Both times were slightly messy.” [39:22]

• Current Controversy: The hosts debate the implications of Cohen's behavior, emphasizing the need for transparency and professionalism:

  Matt: “Liam Cohen needs to come out of his first press conference and immediately separate fact from fiction.” [38:31]

• Potential Impact: They discuss how Cohen's hiring might affect team dynamics and public perception, especially if he faces challenges in his new role:

  Myron: “If he struggles, he's got this will be a show really good.” [41:47]

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6. Miscellaneous Segments: Lowe's Table Selling and More Banter

Interspersed with the main discussions are lighter segments that showcase the hosts' personalities and rapport with listeners.

• Lowe's Table Selling Controversy: A caller claims that a local Lowe's is restricting table sales to Missouri driver's licenses. Matt and Myron humorously question the validity of this claim:

  Myron: “It must be true, right?” [22:57]
  Matt: “Why would you do that?” [23:21]

• General Banter: The hosts engage in playful exchanges about various topics, adding a personable and relatable element to the show:

  Myron: “We have a lot of new coaches that have been hired in the next.” [32:56]
  Matt: “You got a fish place. You got a steak place.” [27:14]

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Conclusion

In "Hour 2: An Odd Choice," Matt Jones and Myron Medcalf deliver a balanced mix of serious sports analysis and entertaining interactions. From dissecting the Eagles' championship hopes and critiquing the Cowboys' coaching decisions to engaging in humorous pronunciation debates, the episode offers something for every sports enthusiast. The blend of insightful commentary and lighthearted banter ensures that listeners are both informed and entertained, embodying the essence of a quintessential Sunday sports morning.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• Saquon Barkley has been unstoppable this year. [01:08]
• This is one of those moments where you're going to need Jalen Hurts to play well. [02:07]
• I feel like the most pressure is on Philadelphia today. [04:05]
• Nothing surprising me with Jerry Jones, but it doesn't make sense. [14:45]
• Brian Schottenheimer, F. Yeah, that's a failure. [36:06]
• Pete Carroll fits in this NFL. [33:44]
• Liam Cohen needs to come out of his first press conference and immediately separate fact from fiction. [38:31]
• "We get in the car, my wife says, can we listen to those guys that we listened to last week?" [25:05]

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This detailed summary captures the essence of the podcast episode, highlighting key discussions, insights, and memorable moments, making it a valuable resource for those who haven't listened to the show.

Transcript

[Matt Jones]

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[Myron Metcalf]

It is Captain Kickoff here on ESPN Radio. He is Sir Myron Metcalf. I, Matt Jones. We are getting you ready for the championship games. Had a lot of folks call in, still calling in. What game do you want to see today? 8. 8 say ESPN. I'll go. We'll go back to the phone calls because I want to hear these people. They got important things to say. Good set of calls to start. But the Eagles, of course, in the game today with the Commanders, they're big on this music. That's a lot of music for.

[Matt Jones]

That was more music than we've ever had before.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah, it was a lot of music.

[Matt Jones]

Playing the full cd.

[Myron Metcalf]

It's jock jams for the NFL Eagles today. Saquon Barkley has been unstoppable this year. Usually when you get to this point in the playoffs, though, at least in the last 20 years, the running games kind of, they get clogged up and you got to throw the ball. Do you expect Saquon to have a big game? I went back and looked. I don't think anyone has rushed for over 140 yards in a championship game in 13 years. So I don't know if Saquon needs 140, but he probably needs 100 for to win. Do you. Do you expect them to be able to get the running game going today?

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, I mean, I think he'll be effective. I just think this is kind of one of those moments where you're going to need Jalen Hurst to play well. Like, historically, this is the moment where quarterbacks shine, especially if you're an elite quarterback. And I think if you look at.

[Myron Metcalf]

The numbers, by the way, Myron, there's a huge change in how much the passing game is relied on between the, the semifinal round and the championship game. Like for whatever reason, it becomes quarterback starting now.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. And this is the moment, I mean, in the last outing between these two teams when Washington won, that they didn't play Jalen hurts. They played Kenny Pickett, and Kenny Pickett wasn't great, and the Eagles lost that game. So I think Hertz is going to have to make plays because the one thing about Jaden Daniels that he has proven is he's just like, he understands he's already won, so there's no pressure. He's not feeling any pressure, and I think that's how he's going to go out, man. And you got to be able to match that in some capacity if you're. Jalen hurts. So I think he will be challenged. He's coming off another injury. How good can Jalen hurts be? I think that will be a theme no matter what happens today.

[Myron Metcalf]

I do, too. I think. I think to me, it's the key of the game. If he plays just average, I think the Eagles win. You know, while running the ball has not been big in these championship games in a long time, everyone runs on the Commanders. I mean, even the Lions. I feel like if the Lions had just kept running the ball, they would have won last week. They, I think, got away from that a little bit through a couple interceptions. I. I feel like the key to the game, though, is Jalen hurts, not making mistakes. You go back to that Detroit game, what was the difference in that game? Turnovers. I mean, at the end of the day, the difference was turnovers, and the Eagles have to not turn over the ball. I know we had the one caller say that he's fine with Sirianni even if they lose, but I feel like the. Of all the teams playing today, Myron, I feel like the most pressure is on Philadelphia. You know, the Chiefs have won a ton. Buffalo, a lot of pressure on Josh Allen, but honestly, the rest of that group, this wasn't necessarily the best team the Bills have put on the field in recent years. And then Washington's playing with house money. I feel like just pressure, standpoint, there's a lot of it faced on. On Philadelphia today. Do you agree with that?

[Matt Jones]

No, I agree with that 100%. I mean, I think, you know, there's the pressure of history facing Kansas City and winning three in a row and that being a unique situation. But, you know, beyond that, it's not like they have to win to solidify anything. And to your point, I think Josh Allen and the Bills have already won. You know, they've kind of set themselves up for the future. I think everyone agrees that they've got to add some more talent around Josh Allen. So I think even to be here is success. So he's not he's feeling pressure, but I don't think the franchise is in the commanders. Everything's icing on cake. Cake for them. So the Eagles lose, and it would change things. Like, I don't know. If you fire Sirianni in that situation, I don't know what happens, but I think you would have to feel like it's not going to get much better than it is. And if you can't beat a team from your division with a rookie quarterback in this situation, I would have a hard time thinking going forward that somehow you were going to get back to this point. So it's huge pressure on the Eagles. Maybe the only team facing real pressure.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah. If I had said to you to go to the. To go to the super bowl, you just have to beat Green Bay, the Rams, and Washington at home. I mean, if you're. If you're the Eagles, you're pretty excited about that. You basically get about as easy a path as you can. You know, I think there. There is a sense where if they don't get that done, it'll. There's a lot of pressure. Linwood is in North Carolina. Linwood, where are you?

[Caller]

I'm in Raleigh.

[Myron Metcalf]

In Raleigh. Great. Go.

[Matt Jones]

Nice. I'm coming to Raleigh.

[Myron Metcalf]

Trade this. I don't know if you're a hockey guy, Linwood. We had a big trade on Friday night. Carolina got one of the very few superstar trades in the NHL. Did you know that?

[Caller]

I did not know that, but I love Sebastian Ajo. Right?

[Myron Metcalf]

You didn't know we just traded for Ranton, one of the best players in the NHL. You didn't know?

[Caller]

I did not, man. I kind of don't keep up with hockey too much.

[Myron Metcalf]

Oh, man.

[Matt Jones]

I understand. Linwood. Hey, Linwood, I'm coming to rally today.

[Myron Metcalf]

Where are you?

[Matt Jones]

A game this afternoon.

[Myron Metcalf]

Where'd you say you're going today?

[Matt Jones]

I'm coming to rally.

[Caller]

He said rally. He said rally.

[Matt Jones]

What are you talking about?

[Myron Metcalf]

Fast food restaurant. It's Raleigh.

[Matt Jones]

North Carolina. Rally.

[Myron Metcalf]

North Carolina. Raw.

[Caller]

Hey, Myron. Say Hollywood. It's Raleigh.

[Matt Jones]

I've never. It's. It's Raleigh to y'all, man. I call it. It's rally. That's what no one calls it. Rally.

[Myron Metcalf]

No one calls it. I don't. I don't say his name.

[Caller]

But I remember when Puff Daddy came here and he was saying rally, and.

[Matt Jones]

I was like, whoa, I don't want. Whoa, hold on, man. Whoa. No, we can't say that name on there. No, I want to get involved with that. I don't Want any part of that, man. Oh, no, no. Don't put me in that. Don't put me in that. Don't put me in that party.

[Myron Metcalf]

All right, Linwood, let's get over the fact that he said rally.

[Matt Jones]

That's what I thought it was.

[Myron Metcalf]

What do you enjoy? What's your. What do you got?

[Caller]

My thing is, as far as, like, it's kind of like a love and hate, and I think, like, the haters, they don't want the Chiefs in the super bowl, and they don't want them to win, you know? And then as far as the love of the game, you just want to see something different. You don't want to see the same team every year, you know?

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah, well, haters.

[Caller]

Kind of my take on Have a favorite. I'm a Panthers fan, you know, Keep pounding, you know.

[Myron Metcalf]

Well, he needed to do some pounding. Well, read up on your new hockey player. I appreciate it, Linwood. Did you really think it was called rally, like, for real?

[Matt Jones]

I've called it rally. I've. I've heard people say it that way. Who always said.

[Myron Metcalf]

Besides the guy he mentioned, who else have you heard say it?

[Matt Jones]

I've always said rally. I thought the rally. North Carolina. I've been there like, five times this year, Stash.

[Myron Metcalf]

Mikey, have you ever heard anyone say rally? I mean, I've lived. Myron.

[Matt Jones]

He's the only one I've ever heard say. I've been. I've been there like, five times in the last three months.

[Myron Metcalf]

I live there. I lived there for two years. Nobody says rally.

[Matt Jones]

Rally. It sounds like you're saying rally.

[Myron Metcalf]

No, raw like. Raw like Hollywood. I. I've heard one person in my life say rally.

[Caller]

I'm talking to him right now.

[Matt Jones]

Raleigh. Okay, fine. Raleigh. Sound like a Southern Baptist preacher.

[Myron Metcalf]

Raleigh, roll like R, A, W, L roll.

[Matt Jones]

Raw.

[Myron Metcalf]

Raw. Now, say you got that one roller.

[Matt Jones]

You got raw E. Rawler. What about that Sounds too Southern to me. That don't sound raw.

[Myron Metcalf]

E. Just.

[Matt Jones]

That don't sound right.

[Myron Metcalf]

Raw E. Raw.

[Matt Jones]

Lee.

[Caller]

It's like Crawl, only without the C.

[Matt Jones]

Is that a.

[Myron Metcalf]

Well, you don't have to do that. You don't have to do this.

[Matt Jones]

That's how I feel like I have to say it in order to get it the way y'all get. Get it. I feel like a fraud saying Raleigh.

[Myron Metcalf]

Well, you're talking about a fast food restaurant. The way you.

[Matt Jones]

You say, let's go to rally.

[Myron Metcalf]

Tony and Hughes.

[Caller]

Hey. Morning.

[Matt Jones]

I would love to see.

[Caller]

I would love to see the Eagles and the Chiefs only be I feel as in I'm a Giants fan. So if maybe the Eagles can get in there and win it, I might, you know, just because of the Barkley deal.

[Myron Metcalf]

My.

[Caller]

I feel like we have a part in that, you know.

[Myron Metcalf]

Are you going to.

[Matt Jones]

Oh, no, no.

[Myron Metcalf]

Are you going to cheer Barclays? Are you going to cheer for Barkley as a former Giant? Like, do you still have affinity for him? Yes, I do. I do.

[Caller]

I love that guy. He was such a great, great player. And, you know, I just feel like, you know, maybe, maybe a part of me, if they win it, I won't.

[Myron Metcalf]

Feel as bad for my Giants.

[Matt Jones]

You don't get to celebrate. You do not get to celebrate an Eagles super bowl with Barkley. That's not. Giants fans. Cancel that. That's not how it works. That is not how it works.

[Myron Metcalf]

You get, you get a quarter of a Super bowl if they make it. Let me ask you.

[Matt Jones]

There's no super bowl by association. That is not how it works.

[Myron Metcalf]

She had to call Tony. Let me ask you a question before we go to break Myron. If in the ACC tournament, Pat Kelsey's team plays the Wolf Pack, what two cities are playing each other?

[Matt Jones]

Rally Love. Raleigh. Raleigh versus love. I can't say it. I can't say it without sounding like one of those preachers you see at 11, 11 o'clock at night.

[Myron Metcalf]

Here we go. I'm going to do my version then. Then you do yours. Raleigh, Louisville.

[Matt Jones]

Raleigh. Louisville. That's awesome. Love. I'm preaching. That's how it sounds. 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 J. Every bite's a big deal. Be honest, when's the last time you had a homemade meal? We get it between meetings, workout classes, and the kids after school sports. Who's got time to cook? That's where HelloFresh comes in. No matter how busy you get, HelloFresh has everything you need to get an easy home cooked meal on the table. With flavor packed recipes like Parmesan herb crusted Salmon. You'll be filling your kitchen with the cozy aromas of a homemade meal in no time. So go ahead, try HelloFresh. It's homemade made easy. Learn [e-mail] Matt and Myron the podcast.

[Myron Metcalf]

One of the darker days in Dallas Cowboy history, and that's saying something. They're the team with the third longest streak between making championship games. Only the Browns and the Dolphins have been to a championship game farther back than the Dallas Cowboys. It's 888. Say, ESPN. My text machine where you can write messages is 772-7745254. One person writes, Matt, I would pay for a whole show of Myron trying to pronounce things he can't say. It is one of my favorite parts of Countdown to Kickoff. We need to find more words where Myron struggles to say basic things.

[Matt Jones]

It's not. I don't struggle to say anything. I'm quite articulate. The problem is you all got a different Alphabet in those 11 states. Like, y'all got extra letters that nobody has. The rest of the country.

[Myron Metcalf]

You just expect people to be like.

[Matt Jones]

How come you can't say Raleigh? How come you don't know what to say? I don't know, because I'm not from.

[Myron Metcalf]

Why are you making us a small town, Georgia? That's not how we.

[Matt Jones]

But I mean. But that's how. But then here's the problem with the hypocrisy of you all. You all hate it when people imitate your accent. And I can't say these words without sounding like I'm making fun of your accent.

[Myron Metcalf]

All right, let me try. One person writes, Matt asked Myron who the baseball pitcher that pitched for the brewers, the Yankees, and the A's with the big mustache was. So what's that guy?

[Matt Jones]

Raleigh Fingers. But I grew up in Milwaukee, so of course I know Raleigh Fingers. But there's also an O. His name.

[Myron Metcalf]

But what you just said. Raleigh Fingers. That's exactly how you say the city of North Carolina.

[Matt Jones]

But think about the difference. Raleigh has an O. Rally doesn't. So y'all are like, you just supposed to know how to say it because that's how we say it. No, it's y'all using those. Y'all got 33 letters in y'all Alphabet. The rest of us have 26. And that's the problem.

[Myron Metcalf]

All right? You just struggle with Ls. I think that's ultimately what I don't know. ESPN Radio is presented by Progressive Insurance. Progressive Commercial insurance flexes to fit your business's needs, whether in Louisville or Raleigh. From quick repairs to adjustable coverages and even payment options, Progressive Commercial makes it easy to get what you need. Quote, today, in as little as six months@progressive commercial.com, i'm going to get back the phones here in just a second. But first, the Cowboys hired Brian Schottenheimer as the head coach. Odd choice, I think it's fair to say. Were you. Were you surprised that a Schottenheimer got the job? And do you agree? It's a dark day in Cowboys history.

[Matt Jones]

Nothing surprising me with Jerry Jones, but it doesn't make sense. Like, think about all the top candidates who were out there. Ben Johnson was out there, Aaron Glenn was out there, like all of these potential candidates. Liam Cohen. So you had a bunch of names, Pete Carroll, where you thought, okay, Dallas is going to get to these guys. And you had Mike McCarthy, who you couldn't work out a deal with. And it was just odd. The problem was Matt, they didn't get in on the interviews early enough with a lot of these guys. Like Ben Johnson was already interviewing for jobs, Aaron Glenn, and Dallas was still trying to figure out Mike McCarthy. So at the end of the day, Jerry Jones was going to go with another yes man. And I think that to me, was why he hired. Brian Schottenheimer, who's been the offensive coordinator for the last two years with the Cowboys, knows the system, but more importantly knows not to challenge Jerry, which is ultimately the only thing that Jerry wants. Um, so. So I just think until he's ready to bring in somebody who will hold him accountable, who will challenge him, the Cowboys will be in the exact same spot they've been in for the last 30 years.

[Myron Metcalf]

Why? I don't understand why you would want. If you didn't particularly like the regime of the last few years, why would you want someone that was under the guy that was in charge, who has less of a pedigree?

[Matt Jones]

Because I think the biggest thing that happened with the Cowboys is they assumed the Ben Johnson's of the world were going to wait around for them, that. That like this was 1996 or something like that. And all the top candidates would go, you know what, I'll make a decision, but first I gotta wait to see what Jerry Jones thinks. And none of those guys care. So now you get left with, you know, those DVDs in the value basket at the supermarket and you end up with a win, you know, a Rudy dvd, which is the equivalent of Brian Schottenheimer. And you're like, okay, fine, don't disrespect.

[Myron Metcalf]

Rudy by calling it Brian.

[Matt Jones]

I'm not disrespecting Rudy. But he's.

[Myron Metcalf]

This is more like. More like the straight to DVD Rudy 2.

[Matt Jones]

You're right. This is, this is Rudy 2.

[Myron Metcalf]

Rudy 2 the next season. Right. This is Rudy too. It's. But it's starring one of the guys from the Disney club. Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

And it got that yellow sticker that say 399 for a limited time only. Right.

[Myron Metcalf]

That's what you.

[Matt Jones]

It's one of those. But. But he, he. He offers nothing in terms of intrigue, in terms of wow, he's going to do something special. What has been special the last few years when he's been under Mike McCarthy. So again Jerry Jones just wanted somebody that he knew he could. He could do his press conferences after the game. And this guy ain't going to challenge him. He can be all over personnel and making all these decisions he's making and he has a guy that has a head coach who's not going to challenge him. And I think that's what he hired.

[Myron Metcalf]

A lot of people don't realize in Rudy 2 he entered the portal and got an nil deal for Texas Tech. Rudy 2 Lubbock.

[Matt Jones]

Rudy got huge.

[Myron Metcalf]

We'll go to Willingham. Willingham in Virginia might have been bootlegged too.

[Matt Jones]

I bet, I bet a dude in my barbershop got Rudy too. I bet he could get it.

[Myron Metcalf]

Willie Nam, go ahead.

[Caller]

Yeah, see I. I want to see the Commander and Philadelphia play today because Commander caught him at a good time. They called him in early, see, because they caught him in the night game. Would it be real, real cold and I'm crazy. The fan is to the deaf and you know, the young quarterback won't be able to hear his secret all the stuff. And I think the Commander will upset him real good because like when the Commander coming out they're gonna do to know how to offense and it'll be almost like when Joe Neymar had to play against Johnny United and the first and the 69 Super bowl, you know. And it was a surprise. So. And I think if the good man played the Chief, it'll be a history year.

[Myron Metcalf]

It was.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. That's fair.

[Myron Metcalf]

I like, I like the chance. See, I like broke the game down to where, at what time, what kind of unit.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah.

[Myron Metcalf]

Like the game is at 3:00.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah.

[Myron Metcalf]

It won't be as. They won't be as loud.

[Matt Jones]

I like that. Nah, we'll have seen a lot of football. No Jaden Daniels vs Mahomes. The build up to that would be epic. I mean because whether it's deserved or not, like the ma. The Daniels is next would be the theme. Right. And I think that would add a lot of intrigue to that.

[Myron Metcalf]

I feel like I said that in the first segment and you poo poo. I said the exact same.

[Matt Jones]

I didn't say.

[Myron Metcalf]

I said Josh Allen versus.

[Matt Jones]

I still had Daniels, though. No, I had Daniels in my most intriguing Super Bowl. I just had Josh Allen on the other side. Yeah.

[Myron Metcalf]

I feel like I made the point, though, that it would be like you. You. Like, you need. I guess I needed to be willingham to get your respect because I made the exact same point.

[Matt Jones]

We all know why that is.

[Myron Metcalf]

We do. And I'm okay with that. It's the same reason I was like, cooper flag when I come see you at the Aussies in California. Go, Ozzy.

[Caller]

Hey, yeah, I'm going for the Buffalo Bills. Humble beginnings for Josh Allen. If you google him, you know, re league college and everything and stuff. But one thing I'm looking forward to in this two games today is one thing we got to watch is injuries because, I mean, we talk and everything like that on this and that. Josh Allen this and that. But if somebody tweaked something, who's going to step in and what kind of, you know, what kind of conditions? So we've got to be aware of that. We don't want to pass.

[Myron Metcalf]

I mean, that's true of every game. Certainly true of the quarterbacks. I'll tell you one to watch, though. I appreciate the call. You know, Kansas City puts Travis Kelsey on layaway during the season, right? He just sits back there. They get him out a little bit, run around. And then last week, 11. What is it, nine catches, 120 yards. If you go back and look at the games against Buffalo in the playoffs, Kelsey has been unstoppable in these games, and they go to him every time it matters. He'll be huge today, and if he stays healthy and in it, he'll be. He's the. He's the difference, right?

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, no, he. He's. He's unstoppable in the month of January with them.

[Myron Metcalf]

He really is. I've never seen a guy that's like. Everybody always goes, oh, he's out of shape. He's not. What. It doesn't matter. Like, he starts playing. I mean, he plays fine, but he really starts playing in December, and then it's. He's the best weapon you can have. We'll see that again today. More on the games and what it.

[Matt Jones]

Means for Buffalo next from ESPN Podcast and Omaha Productions.

[Myron Metcalf]

Ready?

[Caller]

Here we go.

[Matt Jones]

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, 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.

[Caller]

Matt and Myron.

[Myron Metcalf]

The Podcast Canada kickoff here on ESPN Radio presented by Progressive Insurance. The Dr. Pepper fan of the month. I didn't know we did that. Did you know we did? The Dr. Pepper fans of the Month. Fans of the month. The Bills. The Bill's Mafia. That's convenient. The Bills Mafia. I guess they gotta share.

[Matt Jones]

They gotta all share a gift certificate.

[Myron Metcalf]

Or something that's all of you. Actually, I better not say that because then people will want. The Bill's Mafia are the best fans of the month and they're brought to you by Dr. Pepper. It's not football season without delicious taste of an ice cold Dr. Pepper college football. It's a Pepper thing. Congratulations to the Bill's Mafia. By the way. According to a social media post from Bill's fan in Kansas City, a local Lowe's was attempting to restrict selling folding tables to anyone without a Missouri driver's license.

[Matt Jones]

Oh, wow.

[Myron Metcalf]

Okay, first of all, this is on my screen. Do we know that's true? Like, we know that's true. Is that a true story?

[Matt Jones]

How do we know?

[Caller]

I mean, it was on the Internet.

[Myron Metcalf]

It must be true, right? Is that what we're doing now? Somebody says something on the Internet. Can you even do that? Can you do that?

[Matt Jones]

Like, you can't. You can't stop me from buying.

[Myron Metcalf]

First of all, if you're Lowe's. If you're Lowe's, why would you not.

[Matt Jones]

Why would you do that?

[Myron Metcalf]

There was definitely a tweet from a.

[Caller]

Bills fan I saw that.

[Matt Jones]

I think we should call Isn't the.

[Myron Metcalf]

Goal and try and buy a.

[Matt Jones]

You tell me Lowe's is involved in not selling tables. Like, that's what they do.

[Caller]

Yeah.

[Myron Metcalf]

If you're. If you're Lowe's, you want the Bills to come to town.

[Matt Jones]

Like you're not a Lowe's. If you're not selling tables. In my opinion.

[Myron Metcalf]

If I'm a Lowe's, I'm like, when we get the Bills. Yes. Thank you.

[Matt Jones]

All day.

[Myron Metcalf]

All day. It's like, you know, I own a sports bar in Lexington. When Kentucky plays fans that I know are drunk, I am excited about it. Like, when we get LSU in Lexington, I'm like, come on down, guys. If you're a Lowe's, you want the Bills, you want them out there breaking table.

[Matt Jones]

Who's running that? Lowe's? I would get extra tables just for the game. Isn't that how business works? I'd have them at the front of the store. It's, you know, like, what are you talking about?

[Myron Metcalf]

888 ESPN.

[Matt Jones]

Come on, man.

[Myron Metcalf]

Chris, in South Carolina, what's the super bowl matchup you want to see?

[Caller]

Or being a transplant from Maryland, I Can I say the old name of the Washington football team?

[Myron Metcalf]

No, there's no reason to. Why would you want to like.

[Matt Jones]

Well, why would you say the old man?

[Myron Metcalf]

Like your team is a commander? Like you don't just.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, but the team is the commanders though.

[Myron Metcalf]

I gotta say something here real quick. You don't just have to say stuff to try to make people mad. Like, yeah, what's up with the commanders? If you want to, that's what they are in your head. If you want to change the name in your head, go ahead. But I know you got like a sneaky grin going, haha, I'm gonna make people mad and say this. Why don't you just try to be nice on a Sunday, right, Chris?

[Caller]

So just say first.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, but, yeah, but why would the answer. You knew, you knew what, what was going to happen.

[Myron Metcalf]

I'm just, you just want to say.

[Matt Jones]

To make people upset. That's all you like.

[Myron Metcalf]

I just don't like the idea we're going to try to make people upset intentionally. Now with all that said, Chris, I want you to make your point. Go ahead.

[Caller]

My point is that my, my wife loves to listen to you guys when we're driving around in the car on Sunday.

[Myron Metcalf]

Well, that's nice and thank you very much. Thank you.

[Caller]

She loves you guys.

[Myron Metcalf]

I take back everything I said. You and your wife are wonderful people.

[Matt Jones]

No, here's the thing. We get calls like that and I thought you were calling in to start some trouble, man. Cuz like, you know, people do that stuff. So, you know, we, we don't want, we don't want to be a part of that.

[Caller]

We get in the car, my wife says, can we listen to those guys that we listened to last week? And I'm like, we sure can. And right now she's in a, she's in a town called Raleigh in North Carolina.

[Myron Metcalf]

Thank you very much.

[Matt Jones]

Okay. Okay.

[Caller]

I'm in another one of those towns in Beaufort, South Carolina. And some people say Beaufort. And when you get to Beaufort and you say Beaufort, they send you home.

[Myron Metcalf]

Let me ask, I've been to, I've been to Buford. Hang on a Second, I've been to Buford. Isn't there, like, tell me if I'm right. Isn't there, like a restaurant there that's like, crazy good that people drive to have. Or my dreaming that.

[Caller]

I. I can't find that restaurant. Guys, we're struggling.

[Matt Jones]

Can you say that about. Hold on back. Hold. Can't you say that about any town in America? I feel like that's one of Matt's. Let me tell you something. Matt is a man of the people, and I feel like that's something that he says about any town that someone names that he maybe went to in the last 17 years. I've been to Buick, but I mean, like, that whole generic. Isn't there a restaurant there that people drive to because the food's good? That's everywhere.

[Myron Metcalf]

Well, you didn't even say anything, but that's good. Here's the thing, Byron. I like to relate to people. You like to fight with people I like to relate to.

[Matt Jones]

I know, but, like, come on, that's cheating, man. I mean, that's like. You've been all these cities.

[Myron Metcalf]

You.

[Matt Jones]

You didn't say a fish place. You didn't say a steak place. You didn't say, isn't there a good restaurant that people drive to the people, they like food. That's what a restaurant is.

[Myron Metcalf]

Who would you like to see in the Super Bowl? Yeah, who would you like to see in a Super Bowl, Chris?

[Caller]

Well, of course, it's the. It's the Commanders.

[Myron Metcalf]

Okay.

[Caller]

I do think that we're going to find a way to shut down Saquon. Jalen hurts is already hurt, and I just think we have a better chance than most people think. I think they went outright and the points mean nothing.

[Myron Metcalf]

Do you. Do you feel bad for Daniel Snyder that he seems to be crying on his yacht in London?

[Matt Jones]

I read that.

[Caller]

I was a. That was a great article. I. My response to my friend was, poor Danny. I do not feel bad for him at all. I'm glad to see him gone. And off we go.

[Myron Metcalf]

All right, well, I appreciate it, Chris. Thank you very much.

[Matt Jones]

He is proof, though, that, like, competent ownership matters. Yeah, I know a lot of times we like to think of ownership is sort of being separate from the team, but, like, legitimately, the entire culture of the franchise has changed without Dance. Not so he should be crying if.

[Myron Metcalf]

Jerry Jones was not in Dallas.

[Matt Jones]

Yep. Jerry, though. Jerry, to me, just needs to step back from making decisions about personnel.

[Myron Metcalf]

Like, he just can't change the culture. When he came in as the owner the first Time in a positive way, right? So, I mean, Jerry with the gm.

[Matt Jones]

Could be a great owner. Like, Jerry hiring a GM could be really good at this, but he won't do it.

[Myron Metcalf]

All right, That. I don't like that you got mad at me for saying there was a good restaurant in Beaufort.

[Matt Jones]

Because that's your line, man. Now, sometimes Matt does this thing. Well, you don't know if he's a radio host or he's campaigning for the next election for the mayor of that town. You know what I mean? So he says stuff that you say at, like, a mayoral debate, like, oh, yeah, yeah. You from that place where. There's a good place where they. Yeah, you're from that place where they got water, right? They got. They got a list. It's called a lake. I think it is right where you live.

[Myron Metcalf]

You say stuff like that in South Carolina. It's all the good people of South Carolina, all of our towns have something that it stands. But then people go, but, see, this is.

[Matt Jones]

See, this is why the south is different. And then people go, oh, yeah, you know about Laneys. And you'll be like, yeah, I know about ladies. I had a chicken sandwich there. Like, that's. That's different. You know what I mean?

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah. John is in Rolla, Missouri. John, how are you? Oh.

[Matt Jones]

Oh. Oh, man.

[Caller]

I'm gonna defend Myron a little bit. Thank you.

[Matt Jones]

Thank you, John. I need it. They're beating me up.

[Caller]

Hey, Ralph. Missouri originally. The word is that they got the original name when the. When they settled the town. They named it after Rolla, North Carolina, because that's the way it's pronounced. And the guy actually knew how to spell it.

[Matt Jones]

Right?

[Caller]

So he spelled it R, O, L, L, A.

[Myron Metcalf]

Okay, but you just said they pronounce it. But you pronounce.

[Caller]

You don't say Spring files.

[Matt Jones]

Exactly.

[Caller]

You don't see. Jeff Stone, you got to pronounce the way. I agree with Myron.

[Myron Metcalf]

No, thank you, John.

[Matt Jones]

He's the authority on this.

[Myron Metcalf]

Hang on just a second. Your point backs up me. You wanted to pronounce it after the North Carolina town, so you called it Rawa, like Raleigh, not Ralla.

[Matt Jones]

But look how they spelled it, though.

[Caller]

He spelled it that way because that was the way it was pronounced. So the People North Carolina rally didn't know how to spell. Obviously.

[Matt Jones]

They had all the letters in Missouri is what he's saying. You know what I mean? They did it the way it was supposed to.

[Myron Metcalf]

Let's go to Chris in Washington State. Chris, I think there's a Good restaurant in your town, too. Go ahead.

[Caller]

Well, we got at least one in the state, I can tell you that.

[Myron Metcalf]

All right, good.

[Matt Jones]

That doesn't sound promising. 1.

[Caller]

You guys. You know, I don't have a lot of sympathy for y'all over on. On the east side because you guys don't have tough cities to pronounce. Come to the Pacific Northwest and try to pronounce some of these Native American cities, like Stillicum. You think it's pronounced the way it's.

[Matt Jones]

A bunch of those.

[Myron Metcalf]

Hang on a second. I'm gonna give you a little secret. Wanna go in the South? A lot of our stuff was named after Native American stuff, too. Like, we. We had Native Americans here as well. And we. So all over the country they are saying you. Like. You are not the only ones in Seattle.

[Matt Jones]

Do y'all think y'all the only ones with names?

[Myron Metcalf]

You know, there are other. There are other places all over the.

[Matt Jones]

Continent has a bunch of them. Yeah.

[Caller]

Everything Native American and the Pacific Northwest. I'm telling you, you guys look at the map and look at some of these towns.

[Matt Jones]

Seattle, I don't know that every place is Portland.

[Caller]

Well, I'm not saying.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah, let's see. Eugene. Eugene, Spokane. All right, Appreciate it, Chris. Eugene. Eugenie.

[Matt Jones]

I don't know anyone who's been to the Pacific Northwest and are like, whoo. It took me a long time to figure out Seattle. I don't think anybody said that.

[Myron Metcalf]

Wait a minute. Oh, in Oregon, Bend, B, E, N.

[Matt Jones]

D. I don't think anybody. Vancouver. You know, I don't know that.

[Myron Metcalf]

Anybody that is in Canada.

[Matt Jones]

No, no, there's a. Vancouver, Washington. Vancouver, Washington.

[Myron Metcalf]

888. Say ESPN. We have a lot of new coaches that have been hired in the next. In the last little bit. Of course, most of the focus has been on the Cowboys one, but there's others, including a crazy story in Jacksonville. We'll get into it. That's next. Here on Countdown to Kickoff.

[Matt Jones]

Matt and Myron, the podcast.

[Myron Metcalf]

It is Countdown to kickoff here on ESPN Radio, presented by Progressive INS.

[Matt Jones]

8, 8, 8.

[Myron Metcalf]

Say ESPN. We've had a fun show today, getting ready for the championship games. I mean, some analysis. But to be honest with you, you all know these teams.

[Matt Jones]

You can tune in for analysis. At what point do you think, with our show today, tune in for analysis. You think, Matt, do you think.

[Myron Metcalf]

Well, hopefully not long, because we're an hour and 47 minutes into it. If you're a Chiefs or Bills fan, you. I mean, you've seen those teams. You know what they're like, let's talk about the coaches real quick. There were some new coaching.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah.

[Myron Metcalf]

So I want to go through them, see what you think. You give me a A through F grade. When I tell. When I mentioned the coaches hired this week. Let's start with. Let's start in Oakland. Pete Carroll, if you're the Raiders, how do you grade that higher?

[Matt Jones]

A C minus, probably minus.

[Myron Metcalf]

Wow. Pete Carroll won a Super Bowl. Like you're not. You, too. Did you just think he's too old?

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. I just don't know that he fits with the current climate in NFL. You remember he had all the power in Seattle. Doesn't have a quarterback with. With Vegas. It doesn't line up with what the rest of the league is doing, which is going mostly with either Dan Campbell. Leaders of men kind of folks are like offensive coordinators who are young and savvy. So I don't know if Pete Carroll fits in this NFL. So I think that's a C. Hire.

[Myron Metcalf]

B. John Ben Johnson.

[Matt Jones]

A plus. You know, I mean, you got the hottest guy. You know, the guy who's the hottest on the market. So, yeah, I mean, that's A. And he's already putting together. Feels like an incredible staff that they're gonna have, too.

[Myron Metcalf]

I don't want to get my hopes up as a Bears fan because I feel way too good about it. Right. But they're just. To me, he gives off Kyle Shanahan, Sean McVeigh vibes. But then there's, you know, but then there's the whole, like, you don't want to be Mike. Mike McDaniel, right. So you got to make sure you're more Shanahan McVeigh than McDaniel. Which one do you think he is?

[Matt Jones]

We're going to find out. But, I mean, he didn't walk into the press conference with a boombox playing Public Enemy or whatever Mike McDaniel was doing at practice. So I don't think he's trying too hard or will try too hard to always.

[Myron Metcalf]

Just the record. I always thought Mike McDaniel tried too hard. You took up for him. And I always thought early on I tried too hard. I did everything about him, from the pants to the. Hey, I always thought he was trying too hard.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. He was the cool substitute teacher who gets a permanent job, and then you're like, whoa, I don't know if I want this all year, you know? So it was a little much, I think, after that.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah, he. Well, I'll leave what I think he was Aaron Glenn to the jets great.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. I mean, you know, his story is incredible. Again, I think there's a portion of this league that's looking for the Dan Campbell type. I'll give that a B plus, you know, But I also think he has major question marks at the most important position. So that doesn't mean I think he'll succeed. None of these grades mean I think they'll succeed in these roles.

[Myron Metcalf]

All right, Brian Schottenheimer, F. Yeah, that's a failure. Wow.

[Matt Jones]

Why'd you even wait this long to hire him? Like, they didn't hire Brian Schottenheimer. They ended up with Brian Schottenheimer. I mean, this is the coaching version of settling in a relationship. They definitely settled.

[Myron Metcalf]

I mean, he was. Apparently, he was part of the conversations, like, he was helping Jerry pick a little bit. So is this like when Dick Cheney picked George Bush's vice president and came upon himself? He was like, you know what? I looked around. The best dude sitting right here in front of you.

[Matt Jones]

I mean, it is weak.

[Myron Metcalf]

It's weird.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. It's very odd. I mean, that he, like. Again, they didn't even get to Ben Johnson and some of these other candidates that everybody clearly wanted. And then the Bears tried to talk to Mike McCarthy and they said no, but then they didn't negotiate a deal with Mike McCarthy. They're a mess. Brian Scheidenheimer is who they were left with, and it's just not a good look for the franchise.

[Myron Metcalf]

All right, what about Liam Cohen in Jacksonville, the Tampa Bay offensive coordinator?

[Matt Jones]

Liam would be an A if I didn't think how it all went down was so messy. So I'll give him a B plus. But I need to hear more from Liam column, Liam Cohen about what happened, because.

[Myron Metcalf]

Let's talk about that.

[Matt Jones]

There's two sides. So.

[Myron Metcalf]

So there's two sides. What are the facts? So the facts are he originally says no to Jacksonville, decides to go back to Tampa Bay as the offensive coordinator, apparently agrees on a deal in principle to be the offensive coordinator. Then Jacksonville fires the gm. We don't know for sure, but presumably because he could not get the Liam Cohen deal done.

[Matt Jones]

Yep.

[Myron Metcalf]

And then Liam Cohen ends up taking the Jacksonville job, and the Bucks say they could not get him on the phone. Liam says he was in conversations with Todd Bowles, but I have not heard Todd Bowles say that. So there's no way for me to know one way or the other. But either way, he ends up in Jacksonville with Tampa Bay people saying that he never contacted them and was missing for a day. And a half when they thought he was going to sign his contract. So what do you make of all that?

[Matt Jones]

Well, in some reports that he had conveyed some message that he was maybe at a doctor's appointment with a kid or something like that. I mean, Liam Cohen needs to come out of his first press conference and immediately separate fact from fiction. Right.

[Myron Metcalf]

Well, he's gonna get asked all this.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, 100%. You can't. But. And if he's great, nobody will care. But if he struggles, I think this is the kind of thing that could be a shadow. So I do think being professional, especially as a first time head coach, matters and how you're perceived in that locker room and beyond. I don't think anyone should blame Liam Cohen. Matt, if you tell me he. He agreed with the Bucks and then Jacksonville came back and just had this incredible offer he couldn't resist. Right. Like the change of heart thing. I don't fault him for that if that's ultimately what happened, because other coaches have done that. But if you did it in a messy way, that's where to me it goes, all right, man. I don't think there are character issues, but you got to come out right away and say exactly what happened. So people don't think that there might be.

[Myron Metcalf]

So, like, I have experience with Liam because he was at Kentucky.

[Matt Jones]

You guys have dealt with this how.

[Myron Metcalf]

Many times he was at Kentucky twice, and he left twice. And both times were slightly messy. The second time a little more messier than the first time. And in both times, I think there was a sense of that he had conveyed to the coaching staff at Kentucky he was going to stay. And then he went ahead and went anyway. Now, the first time he left Kentucky to go be the quarterback's coach, slash offensive coordinator for the Rams, who had just come off a Super Bowl. So you understood that, right? Then he came back to Kentucky. I know that the staff said, hey, we need you to commit for two years. He said, okay. After one year, he gets offered the Tampa Bay job. A report from a Tampa Bay newspaper comes out and says he is going to be. He is interviewing with Tampa Bay. I tweeted out, this newspaper says, whatever. Liam called me and said, why are you getting that? I'm not going to Tampa Bay. And I was like, I'm just telling you what the Tampa Bay reporter said. He goes, well, I'm not. And then the next day, he went to Tampa Bay. So, like, I mean, I do think there's a sense of I like Liam a lot. I think Liam's A really good guy, and I think he's a really good offensive coordinator. But I will say this, and honestly, I would say it to him. I don't think you can believe what he says when it comes to at least this job thing. You just can't. So, I mean, if I'm Tampa. If he'd asked anybody in Kentucky, they would have told you this when he went to Tampa. So if he agreed to a deal in Tampa and they didn't get him to sign it, to me, Myron, it's almost like that's on Tampa, you know, if you. If you didn't get the signature. He has a history of this. So, like, it happened to you. But you know what? You got him this way, so you can't be surprised he left you this way, right?

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. It's the person who ends up mingling with somebody else and they're like, but we were on a break. You know, technically speaking, like, it feels like he's.

[Myron Metcalf]

But yeah, if you take somebody's boyfriend and then one day you. Some woman takes him from you, like you. That's the way it's gonna work.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. Like, he seems like a very. Technically speaking, like, I feel like he says that phrase a lot, probably.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

But again, if he's great, nobody will care.

[Myron Metcalf]

But if he's struggling, he's got. This will be a show really good. I think he's a great offensive mind.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, he's incredible offensive mind.

[Myron Metcalf]

I'm just saying this Jacksonville. If there's ever a report that he's looking at another team and he says, no, he did it, he's looking. And then, well, I mean, he's been at six different places in the last six years. So, I mean, it is what it is. More on Canada Kickoff next.

[Matt Jones]

Thanks for listening to Matt and Myron the podcast. You can listen to the show live every Sunday morning at 10:00am Eastern on ESPN Radio, the ESPN app, and on SiriusXM Channel 80. Matt and Myron, the podcast. When it comes to family vacations, there are a million different trips you can take. You can get your own.

[Myron Metcalf]

Trip to.

[Matt Jones]

Texas, or if you prefer a vacation from your family, you can always get your own leave the kids with grandma trip to Texas. So go to traveltexas.com getyourown for the only trip to Texas that matters. Yours.