Hour 2: Did The Punishment Fit the Crime?

Summary

Sunday Mornings with Matt and Myron Episode: "Did The Punishment Fit the Crime?" (Hour 2) Hosts: Myron Medcalf & Bill Barnwell (with Chris Panini, ESPN Radio) Date: August 17, 2025

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Episode Overview

This episode of "Sunday Mornings with Matt and Myron" dives deep into the seismic shifts happening in college football punishment, NCAA enforcement strategies, and the early NFL season landscape. The hosts debate whether Michigan’s penalty for sign-stealing fit the crime, discuss the fading era of severe NCAA penalties, and break down the implications for the future of college athletics. They also deliver rapid-fire NFL team previews full of candid analysis, humor, and sharp takes on high-profile teams and players.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. NCAA/Michigan Sign-Stealing Scandal: Did the Punishment Fit?

• Segment Start: [00:31]
• Summary:
  • Michigan penalized for sign-stealing: $20 million fine, 10% scholarship reduction, postseason football revenue forfeiture, and head coach Jim Harbaugh banned for one game if he returns to college football within 14 years.
  • No vacation of wins or postseason ban imposed.
  • The enforcement style signals a philosophical shift in the NCAA's approach to penalties.
• Memorable Quotes:
  • Bill Barnwell: “One thing it didn’t have was any vacation of wins or any postseason ban... Is that over? It’s over.” [01:35]
  • Myron Medcalf: “I think the NCAA is over too, right? ...If there were ever a situation where you'd institute a postseason ban, it feels like this is the case.” [02:05]
  • Myron Medcalf: "The spirit of it makes sense… But how do you deter future rule breakers? I mean, this feels significant." [04:11]
• Notable Analysis:
  • Both agree the era of harming current athletes for past transgressions is likely gone.
  • NCAA seems to be moving to “transaction-based” discipline: “everything costs money when you screw up.” [Bill, 04:11]

2. Interview with Chris Panini (The Athletic) - The New Era of NCAA Enforcement

• Segment Start: [26:26]
• Summary:
  • Panini explains the reasoning behind Michigan’s punishment and the trend away from postseason bans and vacated wins.
  • NCAA increasingly avoids punishing current athletes for predecessor’s offenses, especially when culpable staff have been fired or left.
  • New oversight coming: Collegiate Sports Commission will handle compliance and potentially hand out tougher penalties in the future.
• Memorable Quotes:
  • Chris Panini: “If you cheat and get out of town, you’re fine. I think that’s ultimately what it is.” [29:27]
  • Chris Panini: “If the coach who committed the violations isn’t there anymore, you’re probably not getting a bowl ban.” [27:13]
• Insightful Explanation:
  • Vacating wins is now only considered if ineligible players competed, something not applicable in Michigan’s case.
  • “Vacating wins is stupid. ...You won the championship. We all saw it. Y’all celebrated it. What does that even mean?” [Chris, 28:15]

3. College Football Playoff Expansion & Its Implications

• Segment Start: [31:52]
• Summary:
  • Discussion on rumored playoff expansion to 24–28 teams (especially the Big Ten's push).
  • Debate about whether larger playoffs diminish regular-season stakes.
• Memorable Quotes:
  • Bill: “As a Kentucky football fan, I’m for it. We now finally have a chance…” [31:04]
  • Chris Panini: “It makes the regular season essentially meaningless for your blue blood programs if you’re Ohio State.” [33:21]
• Debate:
  • Bill defends more games as maintaining excitement and relevance for fans.
  • Chris is cautious: “I worry we get to a spot soon where a loss won’t matter.” [35:07]

4. NFL Previews – Rapid Fire Reactions

a. Atlanta Falcons

• Segment Start: [05:07]
• Focus on rookie QB Michael Penix Jr., excitement over camp scuffle, potential for the team to be a division sleeper in the wide-open NFC South.
• Quote:
  • Myron: “He was in a training camp fight... and he was like, I'm from Tampa, man. This is just how we get down.” [05:07]
  • Bill: “Is that how they get down in Tampa? ...Doesn’t hit exactly the same to me.” [05:27]

b. Kansas City Chiefs

• Segment Start: [08:51]
• Mahomes’ recent form, Super Bowl letdown, questions if he’s still the league’s best QB, but overall faith remains high.
• Quote:
  • Myron: “He hasn’t been a top three quarterback these last two years.” [11:49]
  • Bill: “When the ball is in Patrick Mahomes’ hand... would you want any quarterback more? My answer is no.” [10:10]

c. New York Jets

• Segment Start: [16:22]
• Justin Fields' performance scrutinized, lack of supporting offensive cast, skepticism about team upside.
• Quote:
  • Bill: “It just feels like to me the Jets are kind of guaranteed to be terrible... Give me some case for the Jets being good. What is it?” [17:18]
  • Myron: “Literally, it’s like Justin Fields to Garrett Wilson is their entire offense.” [16:32]

d. Las Vegas Raiders

• Segment Start: [19:23]
• Skepticism about relying on rookie RB Ashton Gentry; defense led by Maxx Crosby; Pete Carroll’s return discussed in playful fashion.
• Quote:
  • Myron: “Can the defense be better? Obviously led by Max Crosby. ...But I don’t think a running back can be your best player if you’re going to be a serious team in the NFL.” [20:36]

e. Detroit Lions

• Segment Start: [38:39]
• Dan Campbell’s transition after losing both coordinators, question if he’s more motivator or strategic mastermind.
• Quote:
  • Bill: “This is going to separate whether or not Dan Campbell is... the head of surgery at John Hopkins... or is he Dr. Phil or Dr. Oz?” [39:28]

f. Denver Broncos

• Segment Start: [42:07]
• Big expectations for sophomore Bo Nix, strong closing stretch last season, blocking analytics, and competitive AFC West.
• Quote:
  • Bill: “Bo Nix, when he was in college, I thought had all the signs of a pro bust... Then he got with Sean Payton and that side of Bo Nix we haven’t seen nearly as much.” [42:29]
  • Myron: “Sean Payton was high on him... There’s a world where Caleb Williams is fourth or fifth in this class, right?” [43:34]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• “I think the NCAA knows that its era of having any sort of policing role of college sports is over.” — Myron Medcalf [02:57]
• “I kind of think the NCAA is that way now. ...We know we can’t really do anything to you, so we’re just gonna take your money.” — Bill Barnwell [03:18]
• “If you cheat and get out of town, you’re fine. I think that’s ultimately what it is.” — Chris Panini [29:27]
• On playoff expansion: “If you’re talking four losses put you on the bubble… suddenly it’s... when do you consider load management?” — Chris Panini [34:33]
• On Dan Campbell: “Is he the surgeon himself? ...We’re going to get to see it this year.” — Bill Barnwell [39:28]
• On Pete Carroll: “We’re not talking about whether or not Pete Carroll can run a 10k. ...We’re trying to figure out if the Raiders could be a good team.” — Myron Medcalf [20:01]
• On Mahomes: “This is not going to be the year where we start making excuses for Patrick Mahomes...” — Myron Medcalf [11:49]

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Tone & Language

The hosts maintain their trademark blend of sharp debate, humor, and informality—eschewing sanitized sports clichés for real talk punctuated by gentle ribbing. They aren’t afraid to challenge each other, poke fun at NFL tropes, or spotlight the paradoxes of NCAA logic. Their interviews are direct and well-prepared, but they often swerve into pop-culture references, music tangents, or lighthearted banter.

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Additional Fun Moments

• Rap Knowledge Showdown: Bill and Myron figuring out Too Short’s true origins and Ghetto Boys’ line-up provides comic relief and a break from sports heaviness. [14:28–15:30; 25:00–26:34]
• Taylor Swift/Travis Kelce Pop Culture Tie-In: They discuss Swift’s appearance on the Kelce brothers’ podcast and its media impact. [15:11–15:58]
• Dr. Phil & Dr. Oz Analogy: Bill compares Dan Campbell to doctors and TV personalities, sparking a playful exchange. [39:28]
• Elvis Karate Sidetrack: A random live TV observation about Elvis practicing karate offers levity during the Lions discussion. [38:01]
• Pete Carroll as the “Golden Bachelor”: “I think he should be on the Golden Bachelor...” — Bill Barnwell [22:44]

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Essential Timestamps

| Segment | Time | |-----------------------------------------|-------------| | Michigan/NCAA punishment discussion | 00:31–04:40 | | Atlanta Falcons preview | 05:07–07:43 | | Kansas City Chiefs preview | 08:51–11:59 | | Jets/Justin Fields | 16:22–19:15 | | Raiders/AFC West/Pete Carroll | 19:23–22:56 | | Chris Panini on NCAA enforcement | 26:26–36:44 | | College football playoff expansion | 31:04–36:44 | | Lions (Dan Campbell) | 38:39–41:56 | | Broncos (Bo Nix, Sean Payton) | 42:07–45:45 |

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Conclusion

This hour blends serious sports analysis with witty, relatable commentary and a pulse on broader sports culture. You’ll leave with a richer understanding of NCAA enforcement changes, playoff expansion debates, and the rapidly shifting narratives in the NFL—plus a few laughs, music trivia, and plenty of quotable moments. If you missed the episode, this summary captures both the facts and the spirit of the conversation.

Transcript

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[Bill Barnwell]

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[Bill Barnwell]

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[Myron Medcalf]

This is Matt and Myron the Podcast.

[Bill Barnwell]

That's right. That is why I'm easy here on Sunday morning, Matt Myron on ESPN Radio, presented by Progressive Insurance. We've been doing our three minute NFL previews. If you've been listening, we did the Titans, the Bills, the Rams, the Saints, the Patriots and the Bears. But there are 26 other teams that are in my envelope that still need to be previewed by Myron and I. And we will do that. But first, before we get to that, I would like to say, Myron, Michigan got put on a may. Well, they didn't actually get up, put on probation, they got punished for their sign stealing. The NCAA is fine Michigan over $20 million, which includes a significant part of the postseason football revenue. It includes some of their budget for this year.

[Myron Medcalf]

That's gonna be tough.

[Bill Barnwell]

Includes 10% of their scholarships, but and also a ban for their head coach for one game. And Jim Harbaugh, if he were to come back to college, would have to sit out a year. I don't know how that works when you have to sit out a year when he's not even here.

[Myron Medcalf]

14 years.

[Bill Barnwell]

Well, it's 14 years, but it's basically you'd have to sit out a year if he came back in the next 14 years, which I don't like I said I don't know how that works. But one thing it didn't have was any vacation of wins or any postseason ban. The two ways that the NCAA has over the years inflicted their harshest punishments is the era of the ban and the vacated wins. Is that over? It's over.

[Myron Medcalf]

But I think the NCAA is over too, right? I mean, if you. I understand and I'm actually in favor of the idea of not hurting today's athletes about past issues. At the same time, if there were ever a situation where you were going to institute or implement a postseason band, it feels like this is the case. You know, I think a lot of people around the country are wondering, wait, you just decided to do it now? I mean, how many teams have been banned. How many wins have been vacated in recent years? And now Michigan with, I mean, one of the great scandals. The NCAA said Michigan essentially orchestrated a cover up of this thing, you know, and yet they didn't get any real penalties that are going to hurt the program going forward.

[Bill Barnwell]

Besides, I mean, Louisville had a national championship taken away in basketball. In theory, if there was ever a time to take away a national championship, wouldn't have been one based on stealing.

[Myron Medcalf]

But you would think. And listen, Oklahoma State, Mike Borden. Oklahoma State got a postseason ban for something that a coach did that wasn't even on staff. So again, I understand the change in tone, but over this, I think the NCAA knows that its era of having any sort of policing role of college sports is over. And I think that just sort of exemplified that.

[Bill Barnwell]

Well, it's not over because they did institute these bans, but it did. But, but I think the era of punishing future teams for past transgressions is gone. And it may be that the era of taking wins is gone. The era. The thing may be, you know, what they may be doing, Myron, is essentially what the federal government does, which they say, when you commit civil penalties as opposed to criminal, there's really nothing I can do to you except take your money. Right? And that's basically what the federal government does. And I kind of think the NCAA is that way now. They're like, look, we know we can't really do anything to you, so we're just gonna take your money. And this is substantial amount of money. I mean, it's the most money any school's ever been fined. But I think they are basically now just gonna move to a transaction based. Everything costs money when you screw up.

[Myron Medcalf]

The spirit of it makes sense to me, right? A lot of players, a lot of athletes, a lot of coaches, teams, programs have been hurt by things that people did before they were ever there. So the spirit of it makes sense. At the same time, how do you deter future rule breakers? I mean, this feels significant.

[Bill Barnwell]

Just make it cost enough. I think that's what it's going to end up.

[Myron Medcalf]

Michigan's going to have a really hard time paying money. Also, remember, they're appealing this. I don't know if people are talking about that.

[Bill Barnwell]

Yeah, they are.

[Myron Medcalf]

Michigan said they're going to appeal this.

[Bill Barnwell]

Everybody always loses. The their appeal Sunday morning is presented by Progressive Insurance. They offer auto, home and commercial auto insurance plus a variety of business insurance options. Visit progressive.com all right, time to go to the envelope. This is. You can maybe Hear the Rusty Envelope. And then the next team for Myron to preview in the NFL give me. Oh, another exciting one, the Atlanta Falcons. What are you trying to hear about the Atlanta Falcons this year?

[Myron Medcalf]

Well, Michael Penix Jr. I don't know if all the local radio, TV stations on the X. Yeah, I think, yeah, don't. I don't know if they know. Hey man, I think he, he got a lot of people excited. I don't know if you saw but he was in a training camp fight and then they asked him about it and they were like hey man, you know what, what happened down there? And he was like, I'm from, I'm from Tampa, man. This is just how we get down.

[Bill Barnwell]

I'm like all these, is that, is that how they get down in Tampa? Is Tampa could say like it's one thing if you say like I'm from, I'm from the Bronx, I'm from Tampa. Doesn't hit exactly the same to me.

[Myron Medcalf]

Y. Yeah, I think in Florida admit something. I mean a lot of people on the team were like yeah man, that's our guy. So I think Florida people, maybe it resonates with them but I think you know, he's going to get his chance to be the guy. Kirk Cousins is the backup. What kind of leap does he make as a full time guy? I think that's what a lot of people are wondering. Drake London, how good can he be? Kyle Pitts, I think a lot of people are wondering if this guy ultimate is going to be viewed as a bust at the end of his career.

[Bill Barnwell]

How many years does Kyle Pitts to get get to have that? Well, is this the year for Kyle Pitts? Do we get like, does he get six more years of that? How often do I have to hear that?

[Myron Medcalf]

Feels like nine years in a row. I mean he was great as a, as a rookie. I mean he broke records. But his Rookie year was 20, 21.

[Bill Barnwell]

Yeah.

[Myron Medcalf]

And we're still kind of having the same conversation, man.

[Bill Barnwell]

Yeah, we are. Michael Pinnicks obviously is going to be the story. There are people out there though, Myron, who will call the Falcons a sleeper team this year. I mean that, that, that mindset is out there. They're in the weakest division they could be. Right. So they're in a division that I think it's fair to say is there for the taking. None of the other teams scare you. They had some close losses last year. Penix played well at the end of the year. I do wonder about the Kirk Cousins as a backup. Factor. It's hard for me to think that goes supremely well, but maybe that's correct. But I'm excited to watch him. You know, Pinnocks is. Of all the rookie quarterbacks in that list of five, he's the one that people talk about the least. And I'm also excited for him because he's going to get a lot of Chris Myers games this year. And I really enjoyed the Chris Myers one o' clock special where you put him on an NFC south game. I think you're going to see a lot of Falcons games in that context.

[Myron Medcalf]

Now.

[Bill Barnwell]

You.

[Myron Medcalf]

You definitely will see him, I think, in that slot. I mean, don't forget about B. John Robinson, too. They bring in Jeff Albrecht, new defensive coordinator. And the thing about the NFC south is it's like anything is possible, right? Like, no one's ever really out of it.

[Bill Barnwell]

It's like being in the Big 12 in football, everybody's got a chance.

[Myron Medcalf]

I don't know about that, but. Yeah, well, that's the NFC South. It definitely feels that way.

[Bill Barnwell]

That's exactly what everyone does. Or excuse me. The Big 12 is. The Big 12 is. Hey, here's a dollar. Everybody enjoy. Like, I. Like, like, I don't think that's exactly. You never know who's going to win. SEC is not like that. Big 12 is like that, and the NFC south is like that.

[Myron Medcalf]

Well, I think there's a chance if my. Again, we're saying the same thing about a lot of.

[Bill Barnwell]

Like it. Myron doesn't like it when I criticize college schools because he has to talk to their coaches and their. And their ads and that. That's. I see you. You get quiet and you think, oh, Bill Self's going to get mad at this. I see it.

[Myron Medcalf]

Well, yeah. And then, you know, ESPN has some important partnerships with all these leagues, and I. I actually like my job, you know, so there's a part of it, you know, that makes me a little hesitant.

[Bill Barnwell]

Partnership. The truth is what matters in today's society, Myron. Okay. Now more than ever, Right? Okay.

[Myron Medcalf]

You think your employees openly criticize you.

[Bill Barnwell]

Just not when I'm there. All right, next. Let's go. Three minutes on the Kansas City Chiefs.

[Myron Medcalf]

Are we going to get honest about Patrick Mahomes in his slump? I mean, that's the question. I don't think there's anyone that can say he's been the best quarterback in football for the last two years. Is he the best quarterback in football overall? Fine, I'll give you that. But he hasn't Looked like that Mahomes in back to back years. I mean they're coming off an embarrassing loss in the Super Bowl. No one cares because it's like they've got three rings. But that may have been a moment where Kansas City is really trying to fight to get back into that winning column when it comes to Super Bowl. So I just think Mahomes his. I don't want to say growth but getting back to being the guy we know he can be, that feels like the biggest question for a Kansas City team that largely revolves around its defense and run game. And I never thought we'd see a team like that.

[Bill Barnwell]

You are correct that if you. If it's all depends on what you look at. All right. So you can look at the Chiefs through the image of they won 11 games by one score last year and could have lost a lot of them. You can look at the fact that they didn't put up a ton of points in games. You can look at the fact that they got blown out in the Super Bowl. You can look at the fact that Patrick Mahomes has the daddiest bod or excuse me, dad bod of all dad bods right now and loves it. I don't know if I should have said daddy dad bod of all dad bod.

[Myron Medcalf]

I don't know what you talking about.

[Bill Barnwell]

Yeah, but you can look at all that and see one thing. Here's what I would say. Okay, sure. When the ball is in Patrick Mahomes hand at the last of the game, would you want any quarterback more? My answer is no. I could also say the Chiefs had everything go wrong that possibly could have gone wrong last year. Their running back was out, their wide receivers got hurt in the in by the masses. Travis Kelsey took a little step back. He even acknowledged it, acknowledges it, says it will be better. The offensive line was a disaster. Then they went out in the offseason and they upgraded all of those positions including Travis Kelce looks better than he's looked in a long time. So I would say to you, I don't know that it was ever Patrick Mahomes fault. I think the other things were all worse last year than they're going to be this year. So I still fully believe in them. Do I still pick them ahead of the Bills? I don't know. But do I think when all is said and done and that AFC championship is lining up, one team I know will be there? Myron, is the Kansas City Chiefs, I.

[Myron Medcalf]

Mean Xavier worthy, you know, fastest guy ever in a combine. Being there, Marquis Brown, Hollywood Brown, healthy Rasheed Rice. You know, what's the punishment there? But no, it's all there for them as it usually is. What was weird, at least last year was Mahomes wasn't taking the big risk. Like, you didn't see as many Sports center plays, but he didn't have anybody.

[Bill Barnwell]

He was playing with like me, you and James.

[Myron Medcalf]

But. I don't know the but. But we didn't. We've never talked like that about Patrick Mahomes. But he did.

[Bill Barnwell]

He wasn't playing with those guys before. He had Tyreek Hill, he had Travis Kelce. He had these guys he last year he was playing with like dudes named Bob.

[Myron Medcalf]

No. Well, we have never talked about him the way that we did. And this is not going to be the year where we start making excuses for Patrick Mahomes. He hasn't been a top three quarterback these last two years.

[Bill Barnwell]

In this I'll take Patrick Mahomes, you take anyone else. I still feel like I'm going to win the game. We will do more of these previews and get you ready for a couple interviews coming later. A little baseball, little basketball. That's next here on Sunday morning. Matt Myron.

[Myron Medcalf]

Matt and Myron the Podcast.

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[Bill Barnwell]

Today, the Philadelphia Eagles congratulate them as Super Bowl L champions. They did a better job than what we did.

[Chris Panini]

It's hard to face, but you do that and then you get better.

[Bill Barnwell]

It's going to hurt for a while. Hopefully we can come back next season.

[Unknown Guest]

And put up a better effort.

[Bill Barnwell]

Who are these fellas right here? I like this.

[Myron Medcalf]

This is Too Short.

[Bill Barnwell]

This is the Houston Too Short.

[Myron Medcalf]

Houston Too Short is from the Bay Area. Oakland.

[Bill Barnwell]

I thought. I thought Too Short was like the Bay Ghetto Boys in Houston. Is that not right?

[Myron Medcalf]

No, no. That's actually not right. Too Short is from the west Coast, Oakland.

[Bill Barnwell]

So he was not in the Ghetto Boys.

[Myron Medcalf]

Absolutely not. No. You think of the Bushwick Bill, Willie D, Scarface. Those are the members of the ghetto.

[Bill Barnwell]

You think you know somebody all these years, Myron, and then you don't know him. Did you watch the Taylor Swift Travis?

[Myron Medcalf]

What does that mean? Like what?

[Bill Barnwell]

I just thought I knew him.

[Myron Medcalf]

I thought people say stuff like that and nobody knows what y' all talking about. What do you mean?

[Bill Barnwell]

I just thought I knew him? Too short. Okay. Yeah. Did you watch the Taylor Swift Travis Kelsey, Jason Kelsey podcast?

[Myron Medcalf]

I read about it. Got like 1.3 million concurrences.

[Bill Barnwell]

Like 18 million people have watched it so far. It's on pace to probably be the second or third biggest podcast of all time.

[Myron Medcalf]

She's not like on it though. That was just like a one time thing to promote.

[Bill Barnwell]

She's on it. It was two hours.

[Myron Medcalf]

But I mean, she's not a regular. She just made.

[Bill Barnwell]

No, she was a guest. But all guests are not regulars. Like they come on for one episode.

[Myron Medcalf]

What it told me though is that when her and Travis get married, it'll be our royal wedding. Like. Like it'll shatter every record.

[Bill Barnwell]

It will. No, I think you're right about that. And she and they seem like good dudes. I'm just gonna say I used to be anti Kelsey. I'm totally pro Kelsey. They seem like. They seem like good dudes. They're funny. I think they. I think they do good stuff. All right, well, he seems happy. We'll see. We'll save more Kelsey's for later. Let's go to our next team. Here we go, the next team. Myron, tell me what you think about the jets this year.

[Myron Medcalf]

Oh my goodness.

[Bill Barnwell]

There's a lot of boring teams this year.

[Myron Medcalf]

Justin Fields. Justin Fields.

[Bill Barnwell]

I watched some of his game last night. He looked like Fields.

[Myron Medcalf]

It hasn't been great, you know, and I think a lot of people are a bit concerned. They literally, it's like Justin Fields to Garrett Wilson is their entire offense.

[Bill Barnwell]

They all, the whole offense.

[Myron Medcalf]

They have literally nothing else. And if Justin Field struggles, you gotta wonder like what does that mean for that group? I think Justin Fields kind of is what he is and that's okay. You know, I don't think he has to be some top 15 quarterback, but he has to be consistent. And I just don't know how you can do that when you don't have a lot of weapons around you. I mean, that team's going to be built around its defense. Always has been. You know, you come to a situation where you get rid of Aaron Rodgers and you move on to a new coaching staff. But Field has to be better than he's looked so far, man, in the preseason.

[Bill Barnwell]

He does. And I don't understand the optimism some jets fans have. It just feels like to me the jets are kind of guaranteed to be terrible. They're over unders like six and a half. Why would I not go under with it? Give me some case for the jets being good. What is it?

[Myron Medcalf]

The, the, the run game maybe being better than expected. Justin Fields playing the way that he did during that weird kind of eight game stretch in Chicago before he signed with.

[Bill Barnwell]

That was a long time ago. That was, that was two years ago, Al.

[Myron Medcalf]

That's what I'm saying though. I think that's. You said reasons for optimism and I think that defense, like Jermaine Johnson coming back from a season ending surgery, he's going to be healthy for week one. Sauce Garden, Quinn Williams. I think if you believe in that defense and that all Justin Fields has to do is be a game manager, maybe that's a reason for hope. But I'm not there with you. I'm not there at all.

[Bill Barnwell]

Yeah, I mean I, you know, he played better last night. He gave him, I think it was like an 80 yard drive at one point. I was watching the, I was watching the broadcast that was on tv, which was the Giants broadcast and it was Boomer Assassin and, and Boomer Esiason does not like Justin Fields to the point that you have to wonder if it's personal on some level. Yeah, like, like he, I, I don't know if you saw it, but he was just, he was so mean. And part of me wanted, I don't know, but Boomer Assassin. But I wanted to call him during the commercials and say, hey, be nice to him. What has he ever done to you, Boomer? It was really bad. I know it's the Giants broadcast, but actually I'm going to be roosting for Justin Fields. He was in Chicago. I thought he was okay during his time in Chicago, but then last year, you know, when he had a couple of moments for Pittsburgh. But I still don't really see much hope this year.

[Myron Medcalf]

It's interesting. A guy who will cancel entire cities and states is like, don't talk bad about Justin Fields. Right? I mean, at the end of the day it's true.

[Bill Barnwell]

Justin Fields.

[Myron Medcalf]

But I mean, if he wants people to not be critical, then play better. This isn't Ohio State. Justin Fields. This isn't.

[Bill Barnwell]

But Justin Fields is better than, say, the state of Kansas, to be fair. Like, I think it's. It's better. All right, tell me, tell me what you think about another exciting team, the Las Vegas Raiders. And while you're. Before you get started, I loved watching Pete Carroll last night. Pete Carroll is out there. I feel like you talk about the most spry 73 year old man I've ever seen in my life. He's jumping on guys. He's dating Hansen. When I'm 73, I pray I'm just even a fifth of as excited as Pete Carroll.

[Myron Medcalf]

Yeah, but the story can't be Pete Carroll is youthful because so far I.

[Bill Barnwell]

Think that's all you got though.

[Myron Medcalf]

It's like, oh my gosh, can you believe the shape that he's in? I mean, we're not talking about whether or not Pete Carroll can run a 10k. We're trying to figure out if the Raiders could be a good team. I think Geno Smith is an upgrade. I do believe that Brock Bowers, I think can be a generational talent. At tight end, Ashton Genti looks like a guy who loves.

[Bill Barnwell]

He looked awesome last night, by the way. After a week one that made people sort of question. You saw what Ashton J. Was yesterday.

[Myron Medcalf]

I wonder how durable he is though, because that style usually doesn't work out well for young running backs. The I'm going to run over everybody like it's college all over again.

[Bill Barnwell]

Especially when you're playing for a team that's not good.

[Myron Medcalf]

Yes. And he's going to have a lot of opportunities to get the ball in his hands, but he's got to stay healthy and stay on the field. Can the defense be better? Obviously led by Max Crosby. So I think Pete Carroll, the idea was that the game kind of got away from him when he left, right. Like perhaps it passed him by. We'll see if that's still the case. But I think they've made some upgrades.

[Bill Barnwell]

Let me ask you on the Ashton Genty point. You know, you and I have had a lot of conversations back and forth about the running back position in the NFL, how important it is, etc. I'm generally the belief it's more important than people think, but not so important that a bad team drafted a running back can make any difference. If you watched week one of the preseason, felt like I was right then you watched yet last night he was great. I mean he put the, the Raiders in position a number of times. He looked like the runner he did at Boise State. Where are you on this? I mean, do you think Ashton Genti even matters to a team that has this many holes?

[Myron Medcalf]

Yeah, I mean, I think things will improve. You know, you look at what Saquon Barkley did for Philly, but I don't think a running back can be your best player if you're going to be a serious team in the NFL. Like Saquon Barkley comes into a situation that was already really healthy, right. They were good at a lot of positions and then he capitalized on that. Ashton, JT is coming into a deal where people want him to take the lion's share of the carries and kind of be the best dude on the roster. And I think that's a lot to put on a rookie. He'll add. But in the NFL today, if you don't have a franchise level quarterback, a top 15 guy and we'll see if Geno Smith can be that, you're already starting at a tough spot.

[Bill Barnwell]

But Pete Carroll does look good though. I mean like he, he saw people.

[Myron Medcalf]

Say like is he. Is he on the the, the Golden Bachelor? Like that's how people talk about him. Like, oh my goodness, look at him.

[Bill Barnwell]

I think he should be on the Golden Bachelor and I just feel like if, you know, we, we're an ageist society, a lot of people take a lot of shots at people that are old. When there is an old man and he's out there looking like he does and he's jumping into dog piles and stuff, I think we should celebrate it.

[Myron Medcalf]

Myron, listen, he he's, he's definitely going to some salsa dancing classes and like, yeah, but this is the NFL, man.

[Bill Barnwell]

I bet it's a 70 year old singles party. Pete Carroll can get whoever he's even single.

[Myron Medcalf]

I don't know.

[Bill Barnwell]

I don't know. But if he is, he could have his choice of women.

[Myron Medcalf]

Matt and Myron the podcast.

[Nick DeLuca]

I'm Nick DeLuca. The NFL preseason continues. Lots of action yesterday with a couple of quarterback battles. Lots going on in Cleveland. Dylan Gabriel, hitting the field for the first time with the Browns after missing the opener because of a hamstring injury, made some headlines with his halftime interview.

[Unknown Guest]

You know, there's entertainers and there's competitors and I totally understand that. And my job is to compete and that's what I'm focused on doing. Of course we're doing this mid game, but you know, it's something that I'll get used to and just want to be the best team that I can and create an environment where we can all go do our best work. That's all we want to do.

[Nick DeLuca]

Gabriel clarifying that he was focused on the players in the room versus external noise, not taking a shot at Shador Sanders, who did not play yesterday because of an oblique injury. Gabriel 13 of 18 for 14043 yards and a pick six led the Browns on an opening drive. Touchdown in his debut in the first half. Head coach Kevin Stefanski saying he liked what he saw from Gabriel, but there's lots to work on as well. The Saints quarterback competition will continue today. Spencer Rattler and rookie Tyler Schuck battling to start. Rattler getting the nod in the preseason opener. Schuck will start today against the Jaguars, went 15 of 22 for 165 yards, touchdown and interception in his pro deb. Chargers receiver Quinton Johnston in concussion protocol after being carted off on the Chargers opening drive last night. College football Bama down their top running back to start the season Jam Miller, dealing with an upper body injury likely to miss the opener against fsu.

[Myron Medcalf]

Yes. Scarface Ghetto Boys.

[Bill Barnwell]

Wow.

[Myron Medcalf]

This is.

[Bill Barnwell]

So this is the ghetto Ghetto Boys, right?

[Myron Medcalf]

No.

[Bill Barnwell]

Tell me after all these years, Too Short was not in the Ghetto Boys.

[Myron Medcalf]

No, this is Scarface who is the leader of the Ghetto Boys. Yeah, with Willie D and Bushwick Bill. Too Short is a whole different artist.

[Bill Barnwell]

That's what. Okay, hang on. You got me. I was thinking of Bushwick Bill. I thought Bushwick Bill was from Bushwick in New York. How silly of me Bushwick was.

[Myron Medcalf]

What do you say? A little person. I don't know the phrase, like, too short. It's not. But he's a Bushwick.

[Bill Barnwell]

Bushwick.

[Myron Medcalf]

I mean, I think it's. In Houston. I think there's a Bushwick. All I know, I will say this. I think, rest in peace, Bushwick. He. I went to one of the coolest parties I've ever been to that Bushwick Bill threw in Houston some years ago. Man, it was. It was. It was immaculate. Like, hanging out with Bushwick Bill was pretty cool.

[Bill Barnwell]

These multimillionaires like Myron, they live. No, it's not that at all. They go to Bushwick Bill parties.

[Myron Medcalf]

So it was. He threw a party, and it was. It was crazy. So we got there, and it was. They were like, capacity. I knew a guy, so. So we got to get in, and it was cool and it was fun, man.

[Bill Barnwell]

Yeah, I'm sure you did this. It's Sunday morning. ESPN Radio. Matt Myron, presented by Progressive Insurance. Chris Vanini is with the Athletic. I don't know if he. Have you ever been to a Bushwick Bill party, Chris, in your life?

[Myron Medcalf]

What's your thoughts on the ghetto boys?

[Chris Panini]

Can't say I have, guys. I can't say I have exactly.

[Bill Barnwell]

See, Myron acts like that. Acts like that's normal. All right, Chris, I said a minute ago about Michigan. You tell me if. Because you've been reporting on this, if you think this is correct. I watched over the years as the team down the street from me, Louisville, lost their national championship, got put on probation for a lot of things, but for things that were, you know, not even on the field, not even on the court necessarily. When I saw the Michigan punishment included no postseason ban, no vacated wins, I kind of thought to myself, I guess the era of that type of punishment is over. Do you agree with that?

[Chris Panini]

Partially, yes. I do think the era of postseason bans might be over for the most part, because this happened with Tennessee a few years ago, too. They, Jeremy Pruitt had committed hundreds of violations, but the school cooperated, and they had fired the coach. And because the coach wasn't there anymore, the NCAA said, well, we don't want. We don't want to punish the kids anymore. We've been getting criticized a lot for doing that. Let's punish the people who broke the rules. And in the Michigan case, they didn't fire Jim Harbaugh, but they did fire Connor Stallions, and Jim Harbaugh wasn't there anymore. And so a bowl ban only hurts the kids who are currently there, many of whom didn't have anything to do with the science feeling. So I get it. I also understand why people who were previously penalized for bull bans might be very upset about it. But, you know, we don't do TV bans either. That used to be a penalty that the NCAA would do. And so, like, if the coach who committed the violations isn't there anymore, you're probably not getting a bowl ban in terms of vacating wins. This. The. The committee said they couldn't even consider it a penalty because you can only give that penalty when there is ineligible competition, basically meaning a player who should be in eligible for violations or accepting stuff or whatever. Now, you can think that's stupid or whatever, but that is technically the reason that they said. The other part of it, though, is that personally, I think vacating wins is stupid. Like, no other sport does that, because it makes no sense. You won the championship. We all saw it. Y' all celebrated it. Like, what does that even mean? Even Michigan, which vacated the Final Fours from the Fab Five, they still bring the Fab Five back now to celebrate them. So it's like, what are we even doing at that point? But I understand that fans of other schools are mad that Michigan didn't get, you know, what used to be considered two of the biggest NCAA penalties.

[Myron Medcalf]

Is that anger justified? I mean, when fans are looking at this and they feel like Michigan got off pretty easy with just a financial penalty.

[Chris Panini]

I mean, like, yes and no. And I asked the committee chair, the hearing officer, I said, if Jim Harbaugh was still here coaching the team, would they have gotten a bowl ban? And he paused for 10 seconds, 10 full seconds. It felt like forever. And then he eventually said, basically, they don't want to punish the current kids for the sins of the coach. And he didn't want to engage too much in a hypothetical. So, like, if. If Jim Harbow was still there, I think it's very possible, especially considering the blatant lack of cooperation that. That he had. So I think the lesson might be, if you cheat and get out of town, you're fine. I think that's ultimately what it is. Now, there will be changes to NCAA penalties moving forward because, like, the revenue sharing and all that stuff that is going to be monitored not by the NCAA, but by the Collegiate Sports Commission that the P4 conferences themselves created. That is the new organization tasked with making sure the nil deals are legitimate, making sure people don't go over the cap and whatnot. And so we haven't yet seen them face any situations to know how it'll go. But the NCAA may not be giving many big penalties anymore, but there is a new organization that is supposed to start doing that. This just didn't fall under that. If you pay your team $50 million and you're not allowed to, the incident really is not going to step in. This other group will and we'll see if they do anything.

[Bill Barnwell]

Yeah, hold me skeptical. This reminds me of when every, every Sunday on NCAA tournament selection night, we interview the selection chair and the criteria of what makes the tournament every year depends based on the teams that made it or not. And it's. I feel like the NCAA does that with their punishments as well. The justification kind of goes with what they did with who's being punished. Let me ask you about the Big Ten decision. Or at least they're floating the idea of going to 24 or 28 teams in the playoff. As a Kentucky football fan, I'm for it. We now finally have a chance to go to the playoff. So please do this. But I can also see why many people would be against it. And it seems like a long shot. But Chris, is it?

[Chris Panini]

I mean it's very, very early. I mean I talk to people in the Big Ten who even know about it because they weren't on the call earlier in the week. So like this is. They haven't yet shown it to other conferences or the SEC or really anything. I think the easiest way to explain it though would be basically already taking that 16 team model with the play in games that the Big Ten wants to create for itself and just having everybody do playing games cross conferences and then you get to 28, 32.

[Bill Barnwell]

Do you think that, do you think these playing games are coming? Because I hope so. I think it's a great. I think that's awesome. But do you think it's coming?

[Chris Panini]

Well, it depends because like if you're the Big 12 or the ACC, you don't really have room to do it in a 16 team playoff. Only the Big 10 of the SEC really could because they would have enough automatic bids to do it. If you expand the field to 28 teams then that kind of changes the calculus. Like I get the idea and on paper like I scratched out of whatever 2018 bracket and it looks fun but you got to remember what that does to the regular season and it makes the regular season essentially meaningless for your blue blood programs if you're Ohio State.

[Bill Barnwell]

But Chris, did we say that, but didn't we say that about this playoff system? I feel like that's an excuse people use. I Mean, I know, I'm a college basketball person. When Kentucky plays Louisville every year in basketball, it still matters, even though both teams are probably going to make the tournament. Why do we always say it won't matter? It's when the game's being played. It matters.

[Chris Panini]

It does. But I think when we see it depends like how big you go. Because like five or 12. I like 12. I like the idea that no. 9 and 3 teams got in. You know, two losses put you on the bubble. You know, if you're talking four losses put you on the bubble. You know, there's levels to this, I think. And then suddenly it's. And you have to wonder because you would then be adding potentially a number of games which we don't even talk about anymore, which used to be a problem. How many games are we putting on the players? At what point? If you're playing these big non conference games that we supposedly want that actually won't have any stakes because all that matters is your conference standings. When do you consider load management? When do you consider maybe not playing?

[Bill Barnwell]

Why do you say they won't have any stakes? You assume that these game like, do you really think when it's the fourth quarter of Texas, Ohio State that these kids are like, well, we're both going to make it. Who cares? Like, do you really think that's what happens?

[Chris Panini]

I don't right now. I do. If you think if you get to for like Ohio, you don't think the.

[Bill Barnwell]

Players for Ohio State with a hundred thousand people in the horseshoe playing Texas, you don't think they're going to care even if they both make the playoffs?

[Chris Panini]

I think the. I don't know. I mean, obviously this is a hypothetical. I'm saying that I think we found the spot right now where a loss matters and I worry we get to a spot soon where a loss won't matter. If you're a hot, like if you're Ohio State right now, you play like two interesting regular season games per year because you blow out everybody else on your roster and you know you're only going to lose one or two games. And the Penn State game matters, the Michigan game, the Oregon, most of the games aren't even close at that point. And so it's not like the NFL where week to week every game is going to be decided by seven points. You know, you have, you play a lot of these games that turn into blowouts. And I worry that if you just explain you're playing for seating and you look at a bracket that is 28 teams in there. What does that do to the perspective of week to week?

[Bill Barnwell]

I can tell you this and I appreciate Chris, I'm glad you engaged in this conversation with me. But I do college basketball where there's probably too many games and you try to tell a Kentucky fan any loss doesn't matter, they lose their minds. So I just have a hard time.

[Chris Panini]

But basketball has always been that though. Like we are used to be only.

[Bill Barnwell]

One team from each conference mate it.

[Chris Panini]

Yeah. But nobody playing now remembers that. So like this is the world. Okay.

[Bill Barnwell]

So we'll have a transition and then it'll be okay. Hey Chris, thank you very much. Chris Panini Athletic we appreciate your time.

[Chris Panini]

No problem.

[Bill Barnwell]

No, competitive people don't want to win the game they're in that I've ever seen. But there are competitive people who like three minute NFL previews and we will do those next here on Sunday Morning.

[Myron Medcalf]

Matt and Myron the podcast.

[Chris Panini]

Going toward the end zone.

[Bill Barnwell]

Caught again, Brock Bowers. Brock Bowers is a George Kittle.

[Unknown Guest]

I wouldn't want to tackle him.

[Myron Medcalf]

You've seen Styles. He runs through tackles and hits people.

[Chris Panini]

He played tight end.

[Bill Barnwell]

He played in the slot. He even went in the backfield and played running back.

[Chris Panini]

I think Brock Bowers is a top.

[Myron Medcalf]

Five pick as a tight end.

[Bill Barnwell]

And he shaved his head so now he's even more ready to rock with that. Meyer and I argued during the entire break about the playoff. Listen, give me more games. There's so many. There are so few things that unite society. Sports, sports does. Let's play more games. But before. Let's not get into it though, Myron. If we do well, we'll lose our time here. I like to make my point.

[Myron Medcalf]

I say something real quick, real, real, real briefly. Real briefly on ESPN too. I don't know what's happening, but there is a sports in a feature that shows Elvis at like some martial arts do show working with some dude named Superfoot. I don't know how to explain it, but there's like an Elvis.

[Bill Barnwell]

Isn't this like.

[Myron Medcalf]

And he's doing karate.

[Bill Barnwell]

Is it like what is 100 years since he was born or something? Is that what it is?

[Myron Medcalf]

I don't know. He's doing karate though. It's just, it just made me laugh.

[Bill Barnwell]

Well, good. Let's go, Elvis. You can do your thing. All right, let's do a time to do some NFL previews. It's time for me to draw my next one. Three minutes. Myron on the Lions. Let's go.

[Myron Medcalf]

Yeah, I mean, you know, Dan Campbell, I think a lot of people regarded as one of the top coaches. He's not a play caller. I think a lot of that will be the focus this season. When you lose your offensive and defensive coordinators, you know, who is Dan Campbell? With less experienced guys at those positions, how does that affect what they're able to do? I don't think Dan Campbell is just a game manager or a motivator, but I think certainly like other guys before him, he's going to have to make those decisions with guys who are still kind of learning on the job a little bit. So I think that'll be the major question. But the offensive weapons are all there, the defensive pieces. Aiden Hutchinson coming back after his season in the injury. I think a lot of people are looking forward to that. So the Lions can still be the class of the NFC north and maybe the entire nfc, but those two coordinated positions matter a lot.

[Bill Barnwell]

This is going to be an interesting year because this is going to separate whether or not Dan Campbell is like the doctor that's the head of surgery at John Hopkins or at the Mayo Clinic, OR Is he Dr. Phil and Dr. Otto? We're going to find out. We're going to find out this year because on paper, they're all doctors. Right? On paper, when they talk, they all sound smart. But then all of a sudden, when it comes to just them and they're the one performing surgery on you, I don't want the dude that's just talking. I want the dude that can coach. I think what. So there's. I think he had two elite assistants. I think he had an amazing staff. He's clearly a great CEO at producing a staff. Now we gotta see. Is he the surgeon himself? Remember, he's a dude. Myron, that skipped the coordinator stuff altogether. Right. Like. Like we've never seen him when the blueprint of the X's and O's of the team runs through him. We're going to get to see it this year. Now you do get some stuff back. You mentioned Aiden Hutchinson. That's exciting. But at the end of the day, this will be a playoff thing for them. Detroit will be in the playoffs. We will see them in a big game, and then we'll see what happens. I think they'll be good. I do think they probably take a slight step back this year.

[Myron Medcalf]

Well, in the NFC north can be tough. If Chicago.

[Bill Barnwell]

Yes, it will. Yeah.

[Myron Medcalf]

If the packers get healthy, if JJ McCarthy turns out to be a solid quarterback, it might be more competitive. But, you know, The Eagles had two coordinators in 2023. Sean decide there were reports that he was scared to call plays. Brian Johnson with Jalen hurts his guy. It didn't work out. They fired both. So I agree with you. Dan Campbell has a lot of weight on his shoulders with new guys coming in after losing Aaron Glenn and Ben Johnson.

[Bill Barnwell]

Yeah, I let me just be clear. I think they're going to be really good. But I do think that when you would watch their, especially their offense last year, so creative, so innovative, you know, Jared Goff has been very fortunate. He had Sean McVay and now he has been Johnson. I mean, his coordinators, he had Liam Cohen. Jared Goff has had three coordinators who are now all head coaches. How often does that happen for a quarterback? Myron? Very, very rarely. Maybe a little bit more of a difficult situation. Are you a Dr. Phil, Dr. Oz fan? You seem to get a little offended when I brought them up there. Are you, do you like them? Did you watch the old shows? Dr. Phil?

[Myron Medcalf]

I mean, I haven't watched Dr. Phil and I don't 20 years. I don't know.

[Bill Barnwell]

Like when I said something about Dr. Phil, you were like, hey, don't talk about my guy.

[Myron Medcalf]

No, I thought you were going a different direction because they've been a little controversial that you.

[Bill Barnwell]

Oh, I, I, I don't, I don't follow the news. Broncos. Let's go with the Broncos. Three minutes go.

[Myron Medcalf]

I mean, I think Bo Nicks was probably the surprise, I would say, of the entire rookie class last year. I don't think a lot of people had him being a guy that was going to end up going to the.

[Bill Barnwell]

You're getting, you're getting. Why are you getting a FaceTime? Who you, you're, you're.

[Myron Medcalf]

I didn't, I didn't do it on purpose. It just happened. All my, all my devices.

[Bill Barnwell]

Turn your ringer off and then go ahead with the Broncos. I'll let you take your calls. Let me say this about you. Take your calls. Go ahead. You need a secretary. Bo Nix, when he was in college, I thought had all the signs of a pro bust. Made wild decisions, wild throws. He would try to do things that were impossible and he would lose his team games. Then he got with Sean Payton and that side of Bo Nix we haven't seen nearly as much. I thought it was a weird mat mix together, but he's made it work. And last year I was shocked at how they played. You throw in a defense that at times can make big plays and I like Denver now. I think people there's a lot of people expecting them to make the leap. I'm back. Like I said about Drake May and Caleb Williams, second year quarterback, this is the year you showed me. But Bo Nix has taken the first steps to showing me I was wrong. Something like Anthony Richardson didn't do. So I do think I have been very impressed with how Sean Payton was able to handle him.

[Myron Medcalf]

I mean, Sean Payton was high on him. A lot of people weren't sure about Bo Nix, but he had sort of identified as guy and now it. You know, there's a world where Caleb Williams is fourth or fifth in this class. Right. Because so many of the guys who were picked up behind him have shown a lot of progress. So I think the Broncos are going to be solid. The defense, you know, will always be good in Denver. Now you're in an AFC west where how much do you believe in Kansas City's dominance? Are they taking a step back? Pete Carroll comes in for the Raiders and a lot of people are excited about that big development with Quentin Johnston getting hurt yesterday for the Chargers. But a lot of people think that that team will be better. So I think Denver, man, is going to make the AFC west more interesting than perhaps it has been in the Mahomes era.

[Bill Barnwell]

I'll also say this. I mean, look, they, this is a team that went 10 and seven last year, but they were one in six in one possession games. They could have had a crazy record mark. I mean, that's, I don't think people realize how close Denver was to being like really, really good. And I think that's, I mean, when they beat teams, they destroyed them last year. So if you're a Broncos fan, you have reason to think if we just progress to the mean there we have a chance to win 12, 12 games.

[Myron Medcalf]

I mean, you can, you can check this out. I think from October 1st through the rest of the regular season, they had a top five offense, maybe even top three. So I mean, they got better in the second half of the season, dramatically better.

[Bill Barnwell]

And I think that analytics carry into the season. Analytics say they were the best blocking team in football last year. Literally the best blocking. Now, I wouldn't know. I don't know how you manage that because to me, I can't really tell what's going on when people block. But if the analytics say it, who am I to disagree with the math? I kind of feel like math the way you do about Dr. Phil and Dr. Oz, how you would never disagree with them with whatever they say because they're, they're experts Eduardo Perez is going to tell us if the brewers will ever lose. That's next here on Sunday MORNING on ESPN Radio.

[Myron Medcalf]

Matt and Myron, the podcast it.