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- [00:00]
Ryan Reynolds
Mint is still $15 a month for premium wireless. And if you haven't made the switch yet, here are 15 reasons why you should. One, it's $15 a month. Two, seriously, it's $15 a month. Three, no big contracts. Four, I use it. Five, my mom uses it. Are you, are you playing me off? That's what's happening, right? Okay, give it a try.
- [00:20]
Mint Mobile Announcer
@Mintmobile.Com Switch upfront payment of $45 per three month plan. $15 per month equivalent required. New customer offer first three months only, then full price plan options available. Taxes and fees extra.
- [00:29]
Myron Medcalf
See mintmobile.com this is Matt and Myron.
- [00:33]
Matt Meyer
The podcast Matt Meyer presented by Progressive Insurance. Keep your career moving forward. Forward, that's the best way. Careers.progressive.com the it's halftime. Browns 10, Vikings 7. The whole country of England is asleep, but Max Brosmer is in the locker room getting ready because Carson Wentz is getting an X ray after being hit in the game. And Myron's favorite Disney movie. Max Brosmer will be taking the field probably in the second half of the Vikings. We will keep you up to date, but first, gotta do a little baseball. Eduardo Perez, ESPN's Major League Baseball analyst, will be on the call for Yankees Blue Jays on ESPN Radio. The Yankees lost 101 last night. Eduardo. My Reds ended up sneaking in the playoffs, so I've been paying more attention to them even though they're already out. And I want it. You're doing Yankees Blue Jays. I want to go Back to Game 3 of Yankees Red Sox for a second. How great was that pitching performance by the guy for the Yankees, I think, or whatever his name is. How great was his performance?
- [01:41]
Eduardo Perez
Yeah, Cam Schlitler.
- [01:44]
Matt Meyer
Yeah, I may have said that incorrectly. Let's not go back about, let's not focus on how I said it and let's look at how good a pitcher he was.
- [01:55]
Eduardo Perez
Yeah, if we focus on how you said it, it looks like the Red performance against the Dodgers.
- [02:03]
Myron Medcalf
He said it twice. He said it twice.
- [02:09]
Matt Meyer
But it was a good. It was a good pitching performance.
- [02:12]
Myron Medcalf
He corrected himself and then he said it again.
- [02:14]
Matt Meyer
Well, I knew when I said it the first time that it wasn't how I was supposed to say it. I don't know why I said it again. Oh, man.
- [02:25]
Eduardo Perez
Hey, I'll tell you this, though.
- [02:27]
Matt Meyer
He.
- [02:31]
Eduardo Perez
Will make you say it. Right.
- [02:33]
Matt Meyer
Okay. There you go.
- [02:36]
Eduardo Perez
The kids got, the kids got the goods. And what I love about him is. Let's start with, he's from the Boston area. He's. He went to northeastern. He had zero mechanics in Northeastern. He was throwing 88 to 90 miles per hour with no mechanics. The Yankees have an unbelievable development program. They saw the height, they saw the stature, they saw the arm speed. And they're like, if we can put the bottom half with the top half and make it work, then we have something special.
- [03:11]
Matt Meyer
He went to Northeastern. I just. I just processed that. He went to Northeastern.
- [03:17]
Eduardo Perez
Yeah, he went to Northeastern. That's the thing. And you know, there are so many kids out there that are. That are chasing Velo, right? There are so many kids out there that are trying to figure it out. And sometimes you just. Just play the game, have fun, and eventually when you do become that professional and you do put a regimented program into you, then things could happen. He was throwing 88. He was throwing 101 the other day, topped out with 101. He lived around 98 miles per hour. He was dominant with a fast with the cutter, with the two seamer and the curveball. And in the biggest stage against his childhood team, the Boston Red Sox, the team that he saw win so many times in the 2000s, the kid showed up. He showed up and he did, and, you know, he drank the dirty water, as he said, and it worked. And credit to him, credit to his family, to the Yankees for the perseverance that he was able to have. But he dominated the top part of the zone, and the Red Sox could not figure the kid out in a. In a hostile, tough environment to do.
- [04:27]
Myron Medcalf
Eduardo, if you're the Dodgers, obviously, goals win the World Series, how sustainable is this idea of Shohei pitching and being at the plate over the course of these playoffs? And what did you make of his dual performance yesterday?
- [04:42]
Eduardo Perez
The sustainability will be there, Firing. That's a really good question because they built up for this. Look, the Dodgers, they had to play in the wild card because it's like they were bored during the season. And they're like, okay, let's start turning it up in September. And then once the playoffs come, I don't know if they're going to lose. Yesterday they were down three nothing. And Shohio Tani gives you a quality start. He throws six innings. Then all of a sudden, Tyler Glass, now the other hundred million dollar man that they have there, goes out and throws two innings. And then, you know, he throws an inning in two thirds. And then Sasaki comes in and is absolutely filthy as well and shuts it down. This is a team that has a lot of depth and they're figuring out who they are. And the Best version of themselves is now. And because Shohei Ohtani, getting back to the original question, it's you. You look at a guy that can mash. You look at a guy that can perform as well on the mound. And because the way the schedule is set up today, they don't play. They don't play today. The days that he pitches, in the day after he pitches offensively, he's not that good. The numbers indicate that. But then if he has a day off like he did today, that's the reason they pitched him yesterday. Now he can rest up and expect him in game two tomorrow to be as dominant offensively as the leadoff spot. And I guarantee he's going to get two big hits that most likely will propel the Dodgers to either a win or a very close game against a very talented Philadelphia Philly team.
- [06:17]
Matt Meyer
Having watched both those Dodgers Reds game, they just feel inevitable. It's like you just know at some point another barrage of runs is coming your way. This playoffs, to me, Eduardo, is great because you just have a lot of teams that just feel different and unique, even if they've been there in the last couple years. It just. There's just. It was. It was good to turn on playoff games and see some different teams. But in the end, when we get to the World Series, are we just seeing, like. Well, we're seeing the Dodgers, I think. And then I guess the American League seems more wide open, right?
- [06:53]
Eduardo Perez
American League seems wide open. It seems like the team that's going to win the Series with Dodgers and Phillies most likely will represent the, you know, the National League. Right.
- [07:05]
Matt Meyer
Well, Myron will be upset about that. He's going to want to take up for his brewers over there, but.
- [07:10]
Eduardo Perez
Yeah, the brewers, brewers, best record. I'm concerned. I'm concerned right now that Jackson. Cheerio. That Jackson churro is hurt. And I think that's. Even though they played really well. Even though they played really well when he was. When he was hurt. This is the playoffs. It's a little bit different. And so it's going to be a little bit different. And. And because. Give me five minutes. All right. Thank you. Yeah, I had housekeeping.
- [07:43]
Matt Meyer
You got things to do. Don't let these people get you frustrated. You. You take. You handle your business. We'll be here.
- [07:49]
Eduardo Perez
Hey, Myron. This is the thing, Myron. My concern with the brewers is. It's not much. I'm telling you this right now, but it's the way the schedule is set up. It gives a heck of an advantage to the LA Dodgers. If they can beat the Philadelphia Phillies without Zach Wheeler, the Phillies, I think. I think, are in trouble. They weren't able to win. A very good start again that Chris Stancher had yesterday against the Dodgers. I thought that was their best opportunity. I thought that they needed to win those two games, potential two games with. With Chris Sanchez on the mound and try to steal another. So it's going to be the matchup. Dodgers, brewers out now, because it's a different team than it was during the summer. The Dodgers just have a head start on a lot of teams right now, but in the American League, I was here in Toronto. I'm here in Toronto right now. They're trying to do my room, and I'm not letting them. This team is. They don't strike out. They put the ball in play yesterday. They struck out twice. They struck out once in the first inning and once in the second, and after that, they put the ball in play for the rest of the game. And you're putting pressure on the defense. And in today's game, we're not used to seeing just two strikeouts per game. And that's the part that I think is it's going to be interesting with the Toronto Blue Jays. They are a really good team, and we're witnessing it now in the pro season.
- [09:21]
Myron Medcalf
Eduardo. I'm still planning to head back home to Milwaukee and celebrate the Brewers World Series, so I. I'm not overly concerned, but it does feel like the Dodgers have hit a button, and when they play at a certain level, no one can really match that. What happened? What happened from the team that looked like a mess not that long ago to what we're seeing right now?
- [09:42]
Eduardo Perez
They weren't healthy. They were bored. I really do believe that.
- [09:46]
Myron Medcalf
What does that mean, though, Eduardo? Like how you get bored in the middle of a Major League Baseball season? We pursue in a World Series.
- [09:53]
Eduardo Perez
They know they're that good. They know they're that good, that eventually they'll be there in October. And all of a sudden Mookie Beth is going to rake. That's what he's doing. Yeah, Freddie Freeman's going to rake. That's what he's doing. You know, Shohei Otani is going to show up. That's what he's doing. You know, Kiki Hernandez only shows up in October. That's what he's doing. And then you got the Oscar Hernandez that only has to play seven innings because they'll bring in defense for him later, and he'll create damage in those seven innings. And the way that they diversify their portfolio offensively. Tommy Edmond as well. And the way they diversify their portfolio with their pitching staff gives Dave Roberts an advantage, a huge advantage. And that's the reason they were world champs last year. And if there's a team that can repeat, it's the LA Dodgers.
- [10:47]
Matt Meyer
Eduardo Perez, first of all, thank you for your pronunciation. Help Schiltler.
- [10:53]
Myron Medcalf
Don't even try. You don't have to try. You don't have to keep trying.
- [10:57]
Eduardo Perez
Remember the beer.
- [10:59]
Myron Medcalf
Just stop trying to say it. You don't have to try.
- [11:04]
Eduardo Perez
You know what though? You should give a shit though about it though, right?
- [11:07]
Myron Medcalf
Oh, see, I don't. Hold on, man. We violate rules like this.
- [11:14]
Matt Meyer
Thank you. Eduardo Perez. Yankees Blue Jays tonight, 3:30. Sorry. This afternoon, the road to the World Series goes through ESPN Radio and Tigers and Mariners also. Follow that right after at 7:30. There you go. I mean I just didn't. I was close. That's what's important is that you're close. We got some headlines coming. That's next on ESPN Radio.
- [11:39]
Myron Medcalf
Okay.
- [11:42]
Ryan Reynolds
Hey, Ryan Reynolds here from Mint Mobile. Now I don't know if you've heard, but Mint's Premium Wireless is $15 a month. But I'd like to offer one other perk. We have no stores. That means no small talk.
- [11:57]
Myron Medcalf
Crazy weather we're having.
- [11:58]
Ryan Reynolds
No, it's not. It's just weather. It is an introvert's dream. Give it a try@mintmobile.com Switch upfront payment.
- [12:06]
Mint Mobile Announcer
Of $45 for three month plan. $15 per month equivalent required. New customer offer first three months only. Then full price plan options available, taxes and fees extra.
- [12:11]
Commercial Announcer
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- [12:42]
Myron Medcalf
Matt and Myron the podcast.
- [12:44]
Matt Meyer
It is Matt myron here on ESPN Radio presented by Progressive Insurance 888. Say ESPN back after three weeks, ready to go. Cleveland leads Minnesota 107 in the second half. We are about to have the beautiful story of Vikings third string quarterback Max what's his name again?
- [13:04]
Myron Medcalf
Well, no, Wince is back.
- [13:06]
Matt Meyer
Oh, Wentz is back. Yeah, well you don't even get your Disney movie.
- [13:09]
James
That was A short lived.
- [13:10]
Myron Medcalf
Yeah, Wince is back.
- [13:12]
Matt Meyer
Well, it would have been a nice Disney movie had it happened. But there's. These are not the only big stories games in London that are boring. There's other things happening. That's why it's time for Sunday headlines. Extra, extra. Read all about it. Read all about it.
- [13:26]
Commercial Announcer
The Sunday headlines.
- [13:28]
Matt Meyer
All right, here we go. Um, let's see, James, what is our first headline?
- [13:33]
James
You've been so. You've been gone so long you forgot my name, huh?
- [13:35]
Matt Meyer
That's true, I did. Well, it is tough to read.
- [13:38]
James
Houston Texans quarterback C.J. stroud recently discussed his off season training, trying to improve his quickness, although he is finding it tougher than earlier in his football career. During those remarks, the 23 year old shroud. I want to emphasize he's 23 years old. Noted that he feels like he's quote, getting old and he's not as fast as he used to be. Matt, what do you think about this?
- [13:58]
Matt Meyer
Wow, 23 years old, getting old. Yeah, I mean, I think, I don't think that's true. I think if you're not at 23, I don't even know if you're at your athletic peak yet. I think it more has to say about his sort of struggles in his third year here. But if you're getting old at 23, I will tell you the age you start to get old. The age that things start to hurt when you get up is like 44.
- [14:25]
Myron Medcalf
Yeah.
- [14:25]
Matt Meyer
That's the age where all of a sudden you wake up and there are pains and it's in different parts of your body each day. That to me, 23 is not the age, Myron.
- [14:35]
Myron Medcalf
Yeah, I think CJ just thinks he's older than he is. Remember after they played the Bears last year, he gave Caleb Williams that like heart to heart after the game he kind of like, like, hey, hey, son, you know, this is. Don't worry about it. It's a tough league.
- [14:48]
Matt Meyer
I've been through the wars.
- [14:49]
Myron Medcalf
Like, it's like he was, it was in his second season. So like I think he's one of those dudes who like thinks he's older than he actually is.
- [14:56]
Matt Meyer
Yeah, I like people like that who've had like one thing happen and then they decide they are the wise. TED Talk.
- [15:02]
Myron Medcalf
Like settle down, go live a little bit, man.
- [15:06]
Matt Meyer
TED Talk. What happens when your body hits 23? Who's next? No seed oil.
- [15:15]
James
23 years old. Kentucky coach Mark Stoops angrily denied that he is talked with school officials about a possible buyout after his Wildcats lost 35 to 14 to Georgia yesterday. Quote, I'd hate to give anything like that leg. Snoop stole reporters. There's zero chance I'm walking away. There's no quit in me. So that's unequivocally 100% false. Anyone who tells you that is lying. Matt, do you believe him?
- [15:40]
Matt Meyer
Well, I mean, I do believe he's not going to walk away because if he gets fired at the end of the year, he gets $37 million. And people are not really in the habit of just going, he's, you know, that $37 million, I don't really need it. I think the more interesting question is, is Kentucky going to get to a point where they feel like they have to pay that $37 million? But you know, it's hard to have wiggle room when you say I'm not leaving. There is zero chance I'm leaving. Zero. Myron, you are sort of putting a line in the sand. And Kentucky is not good this year and wasn't good last year either.
- [16:14]
Myron Medcalf
Well, with a $37 million buyout, you can put that line in the sand. I do wonder, as we go to the rev share era and teams are coming up with trying to come up with the money to pay players in ways they never had to before, will we see these giant buyouts in the future?
- [16:28]
Matt Meyer
I don't think so.
- [16:29]
Myron Medcalf
And I think that's coach.
- [16:30]
Matt Meyer
I think you're going to see coaches. I don't know if salaries will go down because the market doesn't tend to work like that. But I do think you're going to see salaries flatten like the days of salaries continue because you got to give this money for the players now. Right. I mean, Kentucky can't pay mark stoops $37 million to go. Like, they've got to find a way to do something else because they need to go get players at the end of the.
- [16:53]
Myron Medcalf
Yeah, I mean, I think that to me is the situation.
- [16:55]
Matt Meyer
Facilities will be the same way. Like this, this arms race of facilities, Myron, I think that's ending too. You got to spend the money on the players.
- [17:02]
Eduardo Perez
Yeah.
- [17:02]
Myron Medcalf
The priorities of universities have changed, but these schools that are kind of locked in, I mean, James Franklin I think is ow $58 million. That's they want to make a move on him. So these, these buyouts have put schools in an impossible situation.
- [17:14]
Matt Meyer
Yeah. Jimmy Sexton has been the one that's changed the landscape on all that. What's next?
- [17:20]
James
Quick update. The Vikings have scored a touchdown and it's 14 to 10. There you go, the Browns.
- [17:27]
Myron Medcalf
I didn't see the touchdown yet, though, so I'm in a little behind. Oh, I just now saw it.
- [17:31]
Matt Meyer
You need to get high speed Internet, Minnesota.
- [17:34]
Myron Medcalf
I got this civil rights era Internet or something here. Like, they haven't given me. They haven't given me the full Ethernet out here, by the way, just so.
- [17:42]
Matt Meyer
You know, Trump was elected president, in case it hasn't come through your TV.
- [17:46]
Myron Medcalf
Screen yet, apparently, because my Internet is not as fast as everybody else's.
- [17:50]
Matt Meyer
Oh, now, come on. Come on. Fine. Bomb. What's next?
- [17:53]
Eduardo Perez
Oh, my God.
- [17:54]
James
The continued struggles for the Carolina Panthers are taking a toll.
- [17:58]
Matt Meyer
James is nervous on their fans.
- [18:01]
James
So much so that a dedicated fan podcast is going on hiatus due to their poor play over the past several seasons. The two hosts of. You're gonna love the name of this podcast, Meowmix, a Carolina Panthers podcast announced this week.
- [18:16]
Matt Meyer
Oh, no.
- [18:17]
Myron Medcalf
What is their name that the show.
- [18:19]
James
Would be going on?
- [18:20]
Myron Medcalf
What's their name? Wait, what's that podcast again?
- [18:24]
James
Meow Mix.
- [18:25]
Matt Meyer
Meow Mix.
- [18:26]
James
Carolina Panthers podcast.
- [18:27]
Matt Meyer
No, no way. That's not the name of it.
- [18:30]
Myron Medcalf
Listen, there's no way. These people sat in the room together and said, we need a name. And they said, hey, man, how about meowmius?
- [18:39]
Matt Meyer
How old are these people? I'm sorry. Listen, I came from the podcast world, all right? I started a podcast in 2005, and that's why you hear my voice on here. I named it the crazy name of Kentucky Sports Rad. Call it Kitty Litter, right? Like, I called it a name that actually could have some sort of credibility. They called their podcast Meow Mix, a Carolina Panthers podcast. Okay? But that part doesn't change anything.
- [19:07]
Myron Medcalf
That's just a description.
- [19:08]
Matt Meyer
They went, so. So you're telling me these gentlemen come on the air and go, welcome, ladies and gentlemen, it's Meow Mix man. You've got to find for me. I'm sorry, because this podcast is going away, and I think. I think it needs its love because.
- [19:23]
Myron Medcalf
The name is so bad.
- [19:24]
Matt Meyer
Hang on. You have to find for me, James, before the end of this show, you have to find for me a clip of them introducing the show. I need to hear them coming in from the. From the. The show and going, welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to Meow Mix.
- [19:40]
Myron Medcalf
This is why everybody should have a group chat, right? Because you put this in the group chat. You know what I mean? Like, you don't run with this. You put it in the group chat and then let everybody kind of tell you this is a terrible idea before you actually put it.
- [19:53]
Matt Meyer
I mean, there are worse names you could come up with having to do with Panthers, but I don't know that there's many worse than Meow Mix.
- [20:01]
Myron Medcalf
To have a terrible name for a terrible team, that's a tough combination, man. Another grown man and said, let's go with Meow Mix.
- [20:10]
Matt Meyer
You have one job today. James. I have got to hear the intro for Meow Mix. So. So they're going away. They say the team's so bad they have to quit.
- [20:18]
James
Definite hiatus. Yes.
- [20:20]
Matt Meyer
Indefinite hiatus. Indefinite hiatus. I'm going to go. Here's. I'm going to put another thing. I hate to see people's dreams end. Next week, our celebrity guest picker. I want to have the two hosts of Meow Mix. All right, that's what I want to do.
- [20:37]
Myron Medcalf
Can you do the name, though? Do we get.
- [20:39]
Matt Meyer
No, no, I just want to give them. I want to salute them for their years of service. Meow.
- [20:44]
James
Great idea. I'll do my best. Yes.
- [20:46]
Myron Medcalf
I'm gonna talk about the name. So just so you know, I want to make jokes.
- [20:51]
Matt Meyer
I mean, we gotta make jokes. I mean, they know some people aren't into it. First I need to hear. I gotta hear a clip of Meow Mix because I have a feeling, are they gonna come up and be like, meow it is the Panthers podcast. Meow.
- [21:07]
Myron Medcalf
Did you just do a Broadway scene from Caps?
- [21:10]
Matt Meyer
I'm just guessing that's how it sounds.
- [21:13]
Myron Medcalf
What kind of cat is that? What kind of Marilyn Monroe cat are you to it?
- [21:18]
Matt Meyer
Matt? Myron.
- [21:21]
Commercial Announcer
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- [22:37]
State Farm Announcer
This episode is brought to you by State Farm. Listening to this podcast Smart move. Being financially savvy Smart move. Another smart move. Having State Farm help you create a competitive price when you choose to bundle home and auto bundling. Just another way to save with a personal price plan like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. Prices are based on rating plans that vary by state. Coverage options are selected by the customer. Availability, amount of discounts and savings and eligibility vary by state.
- [23:08]
Matt Meyer
Matt and Myron the podcast yeah, this be the kind of intro you get on Meow Mix. It's Matt Myron counting you down to kickoff here on ESPN Radio. You could tune in today, the Eagles host the Broncos big game. Coverage begins at noon Eastern on select ESPN radio stations. Can Bo Nix, who has been inconsistent, I think it's fair to say this year for the for Denver, can he go to Philadelphia and beat an Eagles team? That's that Herm Edwards said was the most uninspiring four and O team of all time.
- [23:46]
Myron Medcalf
Yeah, I mean, I think Bo Nix has got better last week. I mean, I think that was a breakthrough game. I think that defense has been tough, pressuring quarterbacks. And I think the Eagles thing like the question is are they a team where you're winning in these difficult situations and that's a skill, or are they winning because of luck? You know, they've been in a lot of bad spots this season and still find ways to win. I just wonder if that's going to catch up with them.
- [24:13]
Matt Meyer
Why? I don't understand the criticism exactly of the Eagles. It kind of reminds me of last year with the Chiefs where they're like you know, 14 and 3 or whatever. It was 13 and 4 and everybody just kept talking about how bad they were and they ended up in the super bowl. And yes, they lost, but they, you know, they, they, they, they to win the third straight championship. Why, why do people focus on the negative here? I mean, this team won the super bowl and it's 4 0. Like, why are we acting like they can't walk straight?
- [24:45]
Myron Medcalf
I mean, we did it to Kansas City multiple years right when they won a Super Bowl.
- [24:49]
Matt Meyer
But that was wrong to do every year. We were wrong. They were good.
- [24:53]
Myron Medcalf
I don't know if it was wrong. I think it was valid to say, why is this team that looks so good six months ago suddenly looking like they can't put together an offensive play? And I think if you watch the Eagles game.
- [25:05]
Eduardo Perez
Right.
- [25:05]
Myron Medcalf
I think that's the. If you watch that game and you watch Jalen Hurts in the second half when that offense couldn't get anything going, I understand why you'll be concerned about that. If you watch the Rams game the week earlier and you saw that the Rams should have won that game for the second time in a row, the Rams should have defeated the Eagles, but they couldn't get it done. And they beat.
- [25:21]
Matt Meyer
They've beaten the Bucks, they've beaten the Chiefs, and they beat the Rams. And I think there's a decent argument that there is no team in the NFL that has three better wins than Bucks.
- [25:32]
Myron Medcalf
Rams, Chiefs, they're still the favorite coming out of nfc. I'm with you there. I think the question becomes our teams starting to figure things out with the Eagles that potentially could be problematic down the road. Saquon Barkley, they're loading the box at. Herm Edwards talked about that. Jalen Hurts, I think, is facing more pressure, having a harder time finding his top targets in Devonte Smith and A.J. brown. Is this something where we get to week 12, week 13, and suddenly you're losing those close games? So I think that part of the concern is valid.
- [26:05]
Matt Meyer
Maybe now AJ Brown is complaining because he says he's always complaining.
- [26:11]
Myron Medcalf
Yeah.
- [26:12]
Matt Meyer
Yeah. He says he's not being used effectively. I'm going to sound like a little bit of a repeat of what I just said, but what I don't understand for A.J. brown is you just won a Super Bowl.
- [26:21]
Myron Medcalf
Yeah.
- [26:22]
Matt Meyer
And you're four and up. Okay. So maybe you're not getting your catches, but you're winning. Like, why. Why complain? Why say I might want to not be here? Like, what? That seems like a really selfish behavior to me.
- [26:36]
Myron Medcalf
Do you know a lot of humble receivers in. In the time that you've come? I mean.
- [26:40]
Matt Meyer
I mean, I don't know. I don't know a lot.
- [26:41]
Myron Medcalf
Have you named name the last really humble receiver that's been a star receiver in the. Like. I mean, this is just what they are. I think on some level, you know, and I think with an A.J.
- [26:51]
Matt Meyer
Brown.
- [26:52]
Myron Medcalf
We remember last year when he was reading a book on the sideline.
- [26:54]
Matt Meyer
Yes.
- [26:55]
Myron Medcalf
You know, I think the challenge with an A.J. brown is some people are becoming annoyed by this. Right. Like, you do have a Super Bowl. Yes. You're not getting the ball maybe as much as you would like. But I don't think anyone wants to hear a Super bowl champion publicly complaining the way that it feels like he has.
- [27:13]
Matt Meyer
You didn't. I guess what's odd to me is the Eagles, I think, are set up to be really good for a number of years if they want to be. And I look at the franchises in the last 20 years that have been really, really good for a long period of time. You're talking Patriots and Chiefs, and one of the things about both of those two is you didn't hear guys doing this, right?
- [27:34]
Myron Medcalf
Yeah.
- [27:35]
Matt Meyer
You didn't really hear guys talking about their individual stuff. They just were like. It was almost like if you went to the Eagles and Chiefs, or, excuse me, the Patriots and Chiefs, you understood you're sacrificing some of your individual glory for the team success. Like, that's kind of how it works. Why is that? A.J. brown and the Eagles, shouldn't they be the same setup?
- [27:54]
Myron Medcalf
Well, yes and no. I think the difference with those teams is there was Tom Brady and there was Patrick Mahomes, and no matter who you were, if you were going to play for that team, at best you could be number two. I think that was just the reality. Right. Because those guys were so good, they were so legendary. And I think there was also the idea of they don't do.
- [28:13]
Matt Meyer
Jalen Hurts is in that group.
- [28:14]
Myron Medcalf
Yeah. I think they don't respect him as that. And I think those two guys, the reality was if you played for those Patriots or those Kansas City Chiefs, you knew that that team could go and find out another person just like you.
- [28:25]
Matt Meyer
True.
- [28:26]
Myron Medcalf
And things would be fine. So I think there was the difference there. I think with the Eagles, when you have the A.J. brown, Devontae Smith, they feel like they're such a vital part of what the offense does, and they are. So when you're not getting involved, it's a little different. When you don't have a generational quarterback, I think, leading the way. I think Jalen Hurst was bad in the second half last week. That's just the bottom line. He's over eight. Just wasn't good enough. And I think to me, that's why you hear some of that public outcry.
- [28:50]
Matt Meyer
We got some inactives coming in for today's game. Ronnie Stanley and Kyle Hamilton inactive for the Ravens. Brock Bowers is inactive for the Raver Raiders. Kavonte Turpin, Miles Sanders, Tyler Booker, Tyler Guyton and CD Lamb, all guys that have been announced as inactive here leading up to Countdown to kickoff. Let's go to the other game that I think is important today. Texans and Ravens. Both teams are 1 and 3. Both teams are teams that came into the season probably thinking they were the favorites to win their division, and now one of them is going to go one and four. The Texans were absolutely awful in the first three weeks. They bounced back and win last week, and Ravens have just been the worst defense in the league. And now they do not have Lamar Jackson. It's a one and a half point spread, which is interesting to me because I would think the Texans would be favored without Lamar Jackson. Yeah, but one of these teams is going to lose this game. And I'm not saying they're out of the playoffs, but they're starting to look like they could be out of the playoffs. I think this is a sneaky, massive game today, Myron.
- [29:53]
Myron Medcalf
I think for both guys, both teams. Right. I think if you look at the Texans, their challenges, I think you got to be asking yourself, what if CJ Stroud peaked as a rookie? You know what I mean? What if it's never better than.
- [30:04]
Matt Meyer
We rarely see that. It's. It's kind of. I mean, can you think of the last time a guy had an amazing rookie year and then just wasn't good? It just doesn't happen very often.
- [30:12]
Myron Medcalf
We don't see it, but we haven't seen that. CJ Stroud since his rookie season was better in spurs last week. I think the challenge with them is going to be their schedule. Right. They got to go to Seattle. They play San Francisco after that, Denver, Jacksonville, like all of a sudden, games that maybe didn't look as challenging coming to the year are. But I think you have some promise if you're the Texans and going, okay, we lost to the Rams. That's a good team. Lost to a good Tampa Bay team and lost to a Jacksonville team that was better than anybody realized. The Ravens have the much bigger concern because that defense is so bad. They've given up 133 points over the first four games, which is a franchise record. To your point, Matt, I have never known a Baltimore Ravens team that didn't have an elite defense. And now they're not getting the job done offensively as well, especially with Lamar Jackson being hurt. So I just think they're in a really, really tough place.
- [31:01]
Matt Meyer
Do you give them any chance with Cooper Rush? I mean, I like. Cause this is a big game. This is not just like, hey, go spend a week and let's give Lamar a week off. This is a Huge game. They're at home. I think they're still favored even with Cooper Rush. Do you give him any chance to pull it off?
- [31:19]
Myron Medcalf
I mean, there's always a chance with the weapons he has, but, you know, in terms of identity, I don't think there's any team that's more closely aligned with what their quarterback does than the Ravens, because Lamar Jackson is just so unique. But with a defense that's given up, you know, 133 points in four games, I don't know that Cooper Rush has a chance if he's not perfect. And he won't be.
- [31:42]
Matt Meyer
Yeah, yeah. He's going to have to play great. I mean, you're exactly right. Their defense is so bad, you don't give him a lot of margin for error. And that's got to be tough coming in and playing in this situation. It's probably also the last time. When's the last time the Ravens had even a backup quarterback that wasn't, like, known for his mobility?
- [32:00]
Eduardo Perez
Yeah.
- [32:01]
Matt Meyer
Snoop Huntley, even going back to RG3. I mean, like, all those rides, like, they had a certain kind of quarterback. And now this time, for whatever reason, it's not going to be that. Cleveland has scored. Najoku got a touchdown. It is now 1714. Cleveland be pretty bad for the Vikings if they go over overseas mired and lose both of them, right?
- [32:21]
Myron Medcalf
Yeah. And you come back, you don't know if J.J. mcCarthy is coming back or when he's coming back. You don't know if he's good when he does come back. I mean, Carson Wentz left the game with a shoulder injury. That. That was a challenge. I mean, they've had a lot of injuries piled up, and they're not good enough to deal with a bunch of injuries at this stage of the year.
- [32:38]
Matt Meyer
All right? So we mentioned a minute ago that unfortunately in news that is rocking the football media space, Meow Mix, the. The Carolina Panthers podcast is packing it in because the Panthers are too terrible. They're like, we can't keep doing this in today's society. If I have to watch this. This Panthers game. Now, I have not heard any of Meow Mix, okay? But with a name like Meow Mix, it's got to be good. I asked for the intro to Meow Mix. We have found it.
- [33:10]
Myron Medcalf
Okay, let me hear it. Hello, everyone, and welcome to Meow Mix, the Carolina Panthers podcast. My name is Stephen. My name is Jerry. Okay, Now, I don't ask me.
- [33:29]
Matt Meyer
Now, listen, here's the thing. Here's the thing, because I'M a big believer in trying to be positive. All right, so I want to. I want to play that one more time, and I want to give. What were their names? Jerry. And what's the other guy's name?
- [33:46]
James
Stephen, I think.
- [33:46]
Matt Meyer
Stephen and Jerry. I want to give Stephen and Jerry just a little bit of. Not that my opinion is the most important, but just a little bit of podcast advice. Let's play that one more time.
- [34:02]
Myron Medcalf
Hello, everyone, and welcome to Meow Mix, the Carolina Panthers podcast. My name is Stephen. My name is Jerry.
- [34:07]
Matt Meyer
Okay. All right, so it's very important. And then let me just do this, Mary, then you can do yours. It's very important that a podcast have a theme and a personnel. So when you come in there, those first five seconds. Yeah, they're like. It's like, there you go. This is going to be an aggressive happy. Here we go. Panthers podcast. And then you say, warrior. Hello, I'm Stephen.
- [34:38]
Myron Medcalf
Whoa, whoa. Don't make fun of his voice.
- [34:41]
Matt Meyer
Hold on.
- [34:41]
James
I just want to. I just want to point out this was the latest one. They were. They were about to get bad news.
- [34:47]
Myron Medcalf
That nevertheless, they're about to discuss Pinterest recipes.
- [34:51]
Matt Meyer
They are about to conduct a Fresh Air interview with the head of the New York Philharmonics.
- [34:58]
Myron Medcalf
They definitely solid. They're about to start about the latest development in clarinets.
- [35:02]
Matt Meyer
Yeah, I mean, that's exactly right. You have to give the voice that matches the music. So if you're going to be, Hello, I'm Stephen. Hello, I'm Jerry. Welcome to Fresh air. Then you need to have music that comes in that gets me prepared for that, because, Cam, one more time. It can't be like this.
- [35:25]
Myron Medcalf
Hello, everyone, and welcome to Meow Mix, the Carolina Panthers podcast. My name is Stephen. My name is Jerry.
- [35:31]
Matt Meyer
I can't do that. I'm expecting ballet after that. I am not expecting bad news.
- [35:37]
James
They were delivering bad news.
- [35:38]
Myron Medcalf
But did somebody get electrocuted at the start of that? Is that person. Okay. Who touched the electric fence at the start of that show? Cause that's.
- [35:47]
Matt Meyer
Hello, I'm Stephen. And I'm Jerry. All right, so here's what I need, because I'm here to help build future generations of podcast. Stephen and Jerry of Meow Mix, we want you to be our celebrity guest pickers. And I don't want you to give up. One of these days, the Panthers are going to turn it around and you're going to wish you were still. Meow. Mixing it up. So let's try to get them on next week. And we're going to make this happen. It is Matt Myron here on ESPN Radio, ready to rock. We will do more NFL games and continue the excitement. Plus King of the Mountain coming at 12:00 clock next here on ESPN.
- [36:27]
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- [37:24]
Myron Medcalf
Matt and Myron the Podcast.
- [37:26]
Matt Meyer
It's Matt Myron here on ESPN Radio presented by Progressive Insurance. We are counting you down to kick off. I'm gonna go ahead and tell you, as you know, we do King of the Mountain here. And what that means is you call in and you give a hot take and we'll see who the best one is. And we'll name him today's King of the Mountain. And if it's better than the one from last week, our current reigning one, you will become the current ESPN Radio King of the Mountain. As I've said, this is how a lot of great stars got their start. I believe Rich Eisen won a King of the Mountain once and that's how he ended up on the afternoons on ESPN Radio. You can do it as well. Eight, eight, eight say espn. Get in. Who is our reigning one? I was gone. Myron, who's the reigning one right now?
- [38:10]
Myron Medcalf
I think it's the guy who still had that prime rib line, right?
- [38:13]
Matt Meyer
We still is that one. Still leading after all.
- [38:15]
James
No, no. Elmer Fun with a headset.
- [38:17]
Matt Meyer
Yeah, yeah, with the headset.
- [38:19]
Myron Medcalf
That dude.
- [38:20]
Matt Meyer
All right, so that guy still are king of the mountain. You can be the king of the mountain.
- [38:23]
James
Mark in Ohio.
- [38:24]
Matt Meyer
8 Mark in Ohio. 888 say ESPN. We will. We will take those calls at noon. Now. The Commanders and Chargers are playing today and the Chargers come off a very disappointing defeat. The Chargers Charged her charger to me after getting everybody to believe in them as three. And oh, then they go lose at the Giants. You get Jaden Daniels, you get Justin Herbert. There's an argument here that maybe this is a battle for like fifth best quarterback in the NFL in some people's minds. What do you expect to happen this afternoon?
- [38:58]
Myron Medcalf
Well, you know, I think that is maybe what's on the line in terms of how people are viewing that vacant fifth spot between behind Lamar Burrow, Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes. But I think it's bigger than that. I mean, both teams took tough losses last week, losing to the Falcons for Washington after the Falcons had just lost to the Panthers. 30 0. Right. Really tough game there. And then you have a Chargers team that's coming off a loss where that offensive line is really in bad shape. Sean Slater got hurt coming to the year after signing an eight figure deal. Makai Becton has been out with a concussion. Now Joe Alt, another key offensive lineman, is hurt. So, you know, teams have been really pressuring Justin Herbert. And as much as people like to make it seem like, oh, Justin Herbert is not good at this or that, his offensive line is not helping him out at all. So I think you got two guys who have something to prove. But it feels like to me, with that offensive line, Justin Herbert might have the tougher task.
- [39:56]
Matt Meyer
Yeah, you may be right. I mean, I think this is a get right game for the Commanders after having a couple weeks without their starting quarterback.
- [40:02]
Myron Medcalf
I.
- [40:04]
Matt Meyer
Both of these teams to me are on the precipice of mattering, but I'm not sure yet that they, that, that they matter in terms of actually making the Super Bowl. So for me, I'm going to almost use this as a. All right. When I look at the top five to six teams, do I include you in it or not? And I think that's kind of what today is like for me, especially since the game's in la. It's basically a neutral site game. Right. No, the crowd is not going to make any difference one way or the other. So let's just see who's the better team. And as we go on into the season, I can look back at this game and say, okay, that was the moment in which either for me, the Commanders or the Chargers became a legitimate super bowl contender. Yeah.
- [40:44]
Myron Medcalf
And I think just two different realities for those teams. Right. You have a Washington team that is playing in the same division as Philly. Philly probably is going to keep winning even if it's ugly, but you have a Chargers team that I think is playing in the toughest division in the entire NFL in the AFC west. And it looks like Xavier Worthy with Patrick Mahomes. They kind of got things going last week. Again, you look at this Broncos team where that defense is really good and I think Bo Knicks continues to improve. I think the Raiders are going to continue to improve, although if Brock Bowers is hurt, that may change things. But that is a really tough division and that slate is not going to be easy no matter who they face. So I think this is just a big game for two teams that are just trying to stack as many wins as possible to get into that playoff picture.
- [41:28]
Matt Meyer
Giants and the Saints. Obviously. The Chargers lost the Giants last week. Jackson Dart is the story about anything involving this game. The Saints are really boring to watch, but Giants have a chance to win another. Get to 2 and 3. Did you like the start of the Jackson Dart era? There was, you know, some swagger, some running, a lot of shots of his mom in the crowd. That's always fun. Are you. Did you enjoy the beginning of the. Of focusing on the dart?
- [41:55]
Myron Medcalf
Well, let's talk to the camera operator because they show mom 83 times right in. In the stands now.
- [42:01]
Matt Meyer
Why do you think that is, by the way? I mean, we get a lot of mom in that game. Like, she was like next to Taylor Swift. That's the most. That's the most we've seen of any person in the crowd. A lot of Jackson Dart mom.
- [42:10]
Myron Medcalf
It was. It was definitely a lot. I mean, if you look at overall, I don't think it was this, like, incredible game. Like, I think it was one of those games where you said you saw some highlights and for a rookie to come in, I think it was 13 for 20. Also had like 54 rushing yards more than anything. You just saw the vibe of the team change, which happens when you switch out a quarterback, when there's just a different energy. So I think last week, beating a team like the Chargers who had all these injury issues, that was some of that. Now let's see what they are going forward, if they can win consistently, if they can be more than a team that just gets up for a big game after a quarterback change, I don't think they'll be challenged today necessarily against the Saints. I don't know if the Saints present that, but in the weeks ahead, we're going to find out what Jackson Dart really is.
- [42:55]
Matt Meyer
T teammates must really not like Russell Wilson.
- [43:01]
Myron Medcalf
You know my theory, you can be weird and quirky when you're good but.
- [43:05]
Matt Meyer
When you're not really not like him because like every time he leaves, you know, last year just first of all leaves Denver. Bo Nicks gets good leaves Pittsburgh or like stop starting in Pittsburgh. Justin Fields plays pretty well play here. Jackson Dart plays pretty well. Like at some point it's him, right?
- [43:25]
Myron Medcalf
Well, I remember Marshawn lynch doing an interview and saying when he was on the Seahawks with Russell Wilson, he couldn't call him. You had to call his assistant to get to him. Like he wouldn't give out a cell phone number. Stuff like that bites you down the road.
- [43:36]
Matt Meyer
I think I don't need to start doing that though.
- [43:39]
Myron Medcalf
Yeah, but I mean that kind of stat that with teammates though, if I didn't have your number, if I had to call somebody to get to you, it would change our relationship. You know what I mean?
- [43:48]
Matt Meyer
Would it? If you needed to go have a guy to get to my guy.
- [43:52]
Myron Medcalf
Absolutely not. I'm not doing it.
- [43:53]
Matt Meyer
Yeah, well, 888 say is be it it is king of the mountain top who is going to be the one who's going to be the one to be the meow mix of the Matt myron show on ESPN radio. We'll figure that out next. 888 say ESPN.
- [44:10]
Myron Medcalf
Matt and Myron the Podcast.
- [44:17]
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