Hour 2: LIVE in Cincinnati

Summary

Sunday Mornings with Matt and Myron – Episode Summary
Hour 2: LIVE in Cincinnati
Release Date: December 1, 2024

Hosts: Matt Jones and Myron Medcalf
Guest: Chris Tomlin and Herm Edwards

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I. Live from Cincinnati: Bengals vs. Steelers Rivalry

Setting the Scene
Matt Jones and Myron Medcalf kick off the episode live from Jefferson Social in Cincinnati, Ohio, amidst a vibrant atmosphere teeming with Bengals and Steelers fans from various regions, including Kentucky and Minnesota.

Fan Dynamics and Rivalry Intensity
The hosts delve into the intense rivalry between Bengals and Steelers fans. Matt humorously remarks, “I have said that when the Bengals and Steelers play in Cincinnati, there is more likelihood of a fight than in any game in America” (01:11). Chris Tomlin concurs, sharing an anecdote about witnessing confrontational fans at Steelers games, highlighting the passionate, sometimes volatile, nature of the fan bases.

Notable Quotes:

• Matt: “This is the kind of atmosphere you like for a big rivalry game.” (00:37)
• Chris Tomlin: “They’re the worst.” (02:02) – Referring to overly aggressive fans.

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II. Playoff Prospects for the Cincinnati Bengals

Optimism Amid Challenges
Chris Tomlin expresses cautious optimism about the Bengals' playoff chances, emphasizing the necessity for both strong defense and offense. He states, “I think we can [make the playoffs], but it’s got to be if the defense steps up, offense is good to go” (02:29).

Key Factors for Success
The discussion highlights the importance of the Bengals' defense in keeping the team competitive. Matt adds that every remaining game is pivotal, stating, “Every game, though, last six, excuse me, every game for the rest of the year is essentially a playoff game for them starting today” (05:46).

Notable Quotes:

• Chris Tomlin: “Bengals 31, Steelers 14.” (03:15) – Predicting a decisive win.
• Matt: “This is the... you gotta win today. If you’re Cincinnati.” (05:46)

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III. Analyzing the Pittsburgh Steelers' Season and Russell Wilson's Future

Season Performance and Coaching Concerns
The hosts examine the Steelers' strong 8-3 record juxtaposed with recent setbacks, including a loss to the Browns. Myron questions the sustainability of Pittsburgh’s success, especially concerning Russell Wilson’s performance in high-stakes games.

Russell Wilson’s Playoff Reliability
Matt and Myron express skepticism about Wilson’s ability to lead the Steelers in the postseason, citing inconsistencies and recent underwhelming performances. They debate whether Wilson remains a viable quarterback option for Pittsburgh’s championship aspirations.

Notable Quotes:

• Myron: “You can't just look at what Russell Wilson is doing on paper.” (06:27)
• Matt: “I look at the Steelers... [they] have a great record for a team like that. But then you lose that game to the Browns...” (06:05)

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IV. Special Guest Herm Edwards on Rivalries, Weather, and NFL Outlook

Importance of Rivalry Games
Herm Edwards joins the conversation to discuss the significance of rivalry games in the NFL. He emphasizes, “for the fans, yeah, the history never changes” (23:31), highlighting how longstanding rivalries enhance the competitive spirit and fan engagement.

Impact of Weather on Game Dynamics
Edwards and the hosts debate the role of weather, particularly snow, in football games. While Myron advocates for dome-only games to ensure consistency, Edwards argues that weather adds a strategic dimension, stating, “you have to draft a big strong arm quarterback... that can play in elements” (26:09).

Adapting Coaching Strategies
Herm Edwards shares insights on coaching under varying conditions, focusing on the importance of a solid defense and effective run game. He underscores, “A run game and defense... you got to have that” (28:04).

Notable Quotes:

• Herm Edwards: “This is a division game. This is an important game for us...” (24:35)
• Matt: “What about Pittsburgh? 8 and 3. It’s a great record for a team like that...” (06:05)
• Herm Edwards: “You always... slide a comment in there or two that you hear from outside, but you don’t let that be the focus at all.” (24:35)

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V. Broader NFL Discussions: Jets, Aaron Rodgers, Rams, Saints, and More

Aaron Rodgers and the Jets’ Future
Matt and Myron critique Aaron Rodgers’ tenure with the Jets, questioning the organization’s decision-making and Rodgers’ influence on team dynamics. They express doubt about Rodgers’ ability to lead the team to success, with Myron asserting, “There's no individual in sports that I'm less fond of talking about... Aaron Rodgers” (13:06).

Rams and Saints Playoff Push
The conversation shifts to the Rams and Saints, assessing their playoff viability. Matt shares his disappointment with the Rams' performance but acknowledges their potential, while Myron dismisses the Saints as the "most boring team in the NFL right now," focusing instead on the Rams’ necessity to secure victories to stay competitive (38:29; 39:11).

Patriots vs. Colts and Coaching Changes
Matt and Myron analyze the Patriots vs. Colts game, emphasizing the significance of quarterback performance and coaching strategies. They also discuss potential coaching vacancies, highlighting Liam Cohen’s rising profile as an offensive coordinator (37:43).

Notable Quotes:

• Matt: “There is... Nobody who wants him [Aaron Rodgers].” (14:35)
• Myron: “The Jets should establish that they’re going to make the decision about what happens with Aaron Rodgers.” (14:00)

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VI. Closing Remarks and Kickoff

Final Thoughts Before Kickoff
As the live broadcast approaches kickoff, Matt and Myron recap the high-stakes nature of the Bengals vs. Steelers game, reiterating its importance for both teams’ playoff aspirations. They engage in light-hearted banter and prepare listeners for the upcoming action.

Kickoff and Game Coverage
The hosts transition seamlessly into game coverage, maintaining the energetic and engaging tone that characterizes their discussions.

Notable Moments:

• Matt: “This is the... very confident figure.” (03:35)
• Herm Edwards: “He is dressed in a robe with Bengals gear on.” (19:42)

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Key Takeaways

• Bengals vs. Steelers Rivalry: The intense fan rivalry adds significant energy but also potential for conflict, making it one of the most heated matchups this season.

• Playoff Contention: Both teams are in pivotal positions, with the Bengals needing to bolster their defense and offense, while the Steelers face questions about their quarterback’s postseason reliability.

• Impact of Coaching and Strategy: Effective coaching and strategic adaptation, especially in adverse weather conditions, are crucial for teams aiming for playoff success.

• Broader NFL Insights: Discussions extend beyond the immediate game, touching on major NFL narratives, including quarterback performances, team dynamics, and coaching decisions.

• Guest Contributions: Insights from guests like Chris Tomlin and Herm Edwards provide depth to the analysis, offering varied perspectives on team strategies and NFL trends.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• Matt: “I have said that when the Bengals and Steelers play in Cincinnati, there is more likelihood of a fight than in any game in America.” (01:11)

• Chris Tomlin: “Bengals 31, Steelers 14.” (03:15)

• Myron: “You can’t just look at what Russell Wilson is doing on paper.” (06:27)

• Herm Edwards: “A run game and defense... you got to have that.” (28:04)

• Myron: “The Jets should establish that they’re going to make the decision about what happens with Aaron Rodgers.” (14:00)

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This comprehensive summary encapsulates the key discussions, insights, and analyses presented in the "Hour 2: LIVE in Cincinnati" episode of "Sunday Mornings with Matt and Myron." It provides a clear and engaging overview for listeners new and old, highlighting the dynamic interplay between team performances, strategic considerations, and passionate fan bases in the NFL landscape.

Transcript

[Matt]

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[Myron]

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[Matt]

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[Myron]

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[Matt]

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[Myron]

This is Matt and Myron. The podcast.

[Matt]

It is countdown to kickoff here live from Cincinnati, Ohio, Jefferson Social. This place is pacm. Look at this. Presented by Progressive Insurance. We got Bengals fans.

[Myron]

Yeah.

[Matt]

We got Steelers fans. We got people from Kentucky. We got people from Minnesota.

[Myron]

Yeah, it's exciting.

[Matt]

This is the kind of atmosphere you like for a big rivalry game. Myer. Yeah.

[Myron]

Where's security, though? Because I'm starting to see Steelers fans and Bengals fans converge. I feel like.

[Matt]

How do you say Bengals again?

[Myron]

The Bengals. That's not how you say it, Bangles. He says Bengals. Is that what they said?

[Matt]

Let me introduce this. This is my. One of my best friends in the world. This is Chris Tomlin. He wrote a book with me. We are. We're big buddies, and he is a huge Bengals fan. Is it Bengals or Bengals?

[Chris Tomlin]

If you're from the west side of Cincinnati, it's Bengals. Okay, all right, so if you're. But you're both. Right.

[Myron]

Okay, Bengals.

[Chris Tomlin]

But there's certain pockets of the city where it's definitely Bengals.

[Matt]

What would you say?

[Chris Tomlin]

I would say Bengals because I'm from. I'm from Kentucky.

[Matt]

He's from Kentucky. We say Bengals. All right, so, Chris, you're a big time. You're. You're a big time Cincinnati fan. I want to give people in the nation a little sense of this rivalry. I have said that when the Bengals and Steelers play in Cincinnati, there is more likelihood of a fight than in any game in America. Do you agree with that?

[Chris Tomlin]

I have seen more fights at Steelers games than any other team I saw. One time I went to a Steelers games. Steelers, Bengals game. Guy in front of me, like, a few rows in front of me, didn't even watch the game. Face the crowd the entire time, taunting.

[Myron]

Them, just ready to fight.

[Chris Tomlin]

So he just wanted. He just wanted to be in his face the whole time.

[Myron]

They're just enforcers just walking around the game looking for fights.

[Chris Tomlin]

They're the worst.

[Myron]

Yeah.

[Matt]

Oh, so you're saying the Pittsburgh fans.

[Chris Tomlin]

The Pittsburgh fans.

[Matt]

See, I do think Cincinnati fans are ready to fight, too. I've said you are the drunkest fan base in America.

[Chris Tomlin]

It's like a pirate ship over there. Yeah, that's true.

[Myron]

That sounds about right.

[Matt]

Okay. Well, good. Now with the question we have, this segment is, can the Bengals still make the playoffs? You're a Bengals fan. You're one of the more optimistic Bengals fans I know. Do you still believe Cincinnati can make the playoffs?

[Chris Tomlin]

I think we can, but it's got to be if the defense steps up, offense is good to go. I mean, next year, you give Joe the reins, you say, hey, just call him Joe. You say, you know, you draft whoever you want. You draft whoever you want, Joe. You take it over, you know, But. But, I mean, the defense is a problem. The defense is keeping us out of games, you know, so the defense can at least be half decent. We got this game in the bag.

[Matt]

So he and I, we write books together. Yeah, that's lifelong friend. How cool is it to get that? Come up.

[Myron]

That's cool, man. Come up and support, man.

[Matt]

We appreciate going to write a book.

[Myron]

When I have something to write about. I'm just not going to be writing a book to write a book. I don't need to do that.

[Matt]

You don't have anything to write about.

[Myron]

Maybe sometime down the future, but I don't have any books.

[Matt]

All right, Chris, give me a prediction before we get into it.

[Chris Tomlin]

Let's say Bengals 31, Steelers 14.

[Matt]

17 points. That is a.

[Chris Tomlin]

We're coming out strong today.

[Matt]

That is a confident guy. Well, Chris, good to see you. Nice to see your son Quentin here as well. I'll talk to you in a minute. Thank you very much. There you go. How about that? That's a very confident figure.

[Myron]

17.

[Matt]

17 is. I don't think that's the spread, is it?

[Myron]

No, I. No, I don't think so. I mean, what I will say about this game is it's interesting because I never look at the records. I never care, like, which team is doing well and which team is it, because this is Cincinnati versus Pittsburgh, and Pittsburgh is coming in to make a statement.

[Matt]

Yes.

[Myron]

Pittsburgh is here to say, listen, nobody believed in Pittsburgh. No one thought that Mike Tomlin could sort of revitalize Russell Wilson's career. But here they are, man, with a chance to be a team that chases the one seed.

[Matt]

The best 4 and 7 team in history they could be.

[Myron]

I mean, you remember it was so weird, man, at the start of the year with, like, people in the media were saying, it's Joe Burrow. And I'm like, the numbers don't show that. Joe Burrow has been very impressive last two games. Completion percentage wasn't as high as it normally is, but he's thrown four interceptions this Season. It ain't Joe Burrow. It's a defense that isn't helping Joe Burrow. And that's been the issue with this team.

[Matt]

Do you. Why do you think you feel like Joe Burrow is back to 100% Joe Burrow at this point?

[Myron]

Yeah, but I think it took a while to get here. Like, I don't look at anything that happened last season as that Joe Burrow. And what's weird to me is it's like people forget that this was a young quarterback who took his team to a Super bowl, who went through Kansas City, in Kansas City to do that. And all of a sudden last year, people were like, oh, he's. He's not among the big three. Oh, it's Lamar, it's Josh Allen, it's Mahomes.

[Herm Edwards]

What.

[Myron]

You can't kick Joe Burrow out of that group. So I think, to me, if you look at Joe Burrow performing, anybody who's watching his games knows he still wanted to.

[Matt]

They also could easily have won, like, three games. I mean, they. They've had losses early in the year to the Patriots, their loss to the Chargers. I mean, they've kind of thrown games away, and that's got to be very frustrating. But if you look at the rest of their. They can win the last five. If they win the last five, they have a chance at a playoff birth. I mean, basically every game, though, last six, excuse me, every game for the rest of the year is essentially a playoff game for them starting today. I mean, I do think if you lose today, it's kind of over. So there is that. This is the. You gotta win today. If you're Cincinnati.

[Myron]

Yeah. I think the problem for Cincinnati is the Dolphins, despite what happened on Thanksgiving, have improved.

[Matt]

They have.

[Myron]

You have a Colts team that we're going to see if they can steal some wins here down the stretch. But I don't know who's good in that 6 to 11, you know, AFC picture. Right. I think they all got a chance to surge here at the end of the season.

[Matt]

What about Pittsburgh? 8 and 3. It's a great record for a team like that. But then you lose that game to the Browns, especially the way they lost it, it felt. Felt like an odd. I mean, an odd defeat. Now, if you win today, you're probably right where you want to be. No Steelers fan probably thought they'd be nine and three at this point. But if you lose today, do you worry about it starting to slip away a little bit from Pittsburgh?

[Myron]

I think you worry, win or lose, because the question is, is this version of Russell Wilson able to lead you into the playoffs and to get a win again? You can't just look at what Russell Wilson is doing on paper. And I think last week was a great example of that in the way that, yes, he threw, I think, for 300 plus yards, but there were a lot of bad possessions, man, in that game for Pittsburgh. So how much do you trust Russell Wilson? If he comes into this building with this rivalry, has a big game, and they get a win, I think, yeah, you go, okay, Russell Wilson is equipped to do that, but I could also see it going the other way from him. For him being in a situation where you got to win the game for Pittsburgh, I don't know that that Russell Wilson still exists, especially when it comes to the postseason.

[Matt]

I look at the Steelers, you know, I'm a big. I'm always a big schedule guy, right? Here's the rest of their schedule. They host the Browns, then this is how they finish. Eagles, Ravens, Chiefs. Bingo.

[Myron]

That's tough. That's tough. Yeah, that's tough. I mean, that could be.

[Matt]

You need all losses. Like, all right, let's just assume they get the Browns back next week.

[Myron]

Okay.

[Matt]

If they don't win today and they're 8 and 4, let's assume they get the Browns. They're 9 and 4, but you could easily lose. Eagles, Ravens, Chiefs, Bengals. And then all of a sudden, you're nine, and, you know, nine and eight, you're on the playoff bubble.

[Myron]

That's why today's a must win.

[Matt]

Today's huge game for both teams.

[Myron]

Yeah, they got to get that win today. Cincinnati needs it to even have any prayer of staying in the playoff race. But I also think, again, I think Russell Wilson right now has shown that there are still some special moments that we've seen from Russell Wilson. But in terms of, like, a complete game, I don't know how often we've seen that, Matt. Like, I don't trust Russell Wilson in the playoffs. Potentially on the road against another contender, leading the Steelers to a victory.

[Matt]

Let's look.

[Herm Edwards]

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Myron, Myron, Myron. You know what?

[Matt]

Who is that?

[Herm Edwards]

This is Coach Herm. I'm sitting here listening to you guys.

[Matt]

Squat, and I'm going, wait a minute.

[Herm Edwards]

Wait a. Wait a minute. You gonna try to grade Russell Wilson? He's in a snowstorm, and he was throwing the ball like it was 80 degrees outside. I mean, you couldn't even see the ball. I'm sitting. This dude's dropping back, throwing passes and then you say, well, he had a couple bad throws. Are you kidding me right now? Well, you guys are the hardest graders I've ever seen.

[Matt]

I didn't. That wasn't me, Coach.

[Herm Edwards]

No, look, I didn't know what I'm gonna get you. I'm gonna get you next. And you talk about, well, what if. And I'm gonna tell you about what if. That's what you said. What if? You said, what if? I'm gonna tell you this. What if you were six? Six. You know what? You'd be a volleyball player. I'm six.

[Matt]

Four. You know what? I'm six.

[Chris Tomlin]

Four.

[Matt]

Herman Edwards.

[Herm Edwards]

If you were six.

[Myron]

Six.

[Herm Edwards]

You'd be a volleyball player.

[Matt]

Let me tell you something, Herman.

[Herm Edwards]

I said volleyball player, not basketball. Volleyball.

[Matt]

I'4. If I. If they threw me a pass and I went up with you, I'd come down with it. I'll just tell you that right now.

[Herm Edwards]

First of all, you know what? If I was guarding you, they wouldn't. They wouldn't look towards you. They wouldn't even look at you. You'd be a decoy. And I would know that running down the field with you. I said, your chest a decoy. Man ain't throwing you the ball.

[Matt]

You kick me one of those Russell Moon balls.

[Herm Edwards]

If you was six. Six, you would have been a beach volleyball player.

[Myron]

I had no idea what just happened there. Coach. I'm just saying. Listen.

[Herm Edwards]

I'm listening. I'm everywhere. I'm everywhere. Don't think I ain't hearing. I hear everything.

[Myron]

But. But, coach, I don't think you would trust Russell Wilson in the postseason against a contender. I think that's.

[Matt]

Save this. Let's. Let's. Herb will join us. Herb will join us. Herb will join us for more on the NFL. I loved it. I love that. I didn't see it coming. I don't get surprised easily. You got me on ESPN radio. I honestly.

[Myron]

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[Herm Edwards]

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[Matt]

Sorry, do we legally have to say that?

[Herm Edwards]

No, this is just how I talk.

[Matt]

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[Myron]

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[Herm Edwards]

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[Myron]

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[Herm Edwards]

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[Matt]

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[Herm Edwards]

Like four of these.

[Matt]

I mean it's unlimited to Premium Wireless for $15 a month. How are there still people paying two or three times that much? I'm sorry, I shouldn't be victim blaming. Here give it a [e-mail] switch whenever you're ready.

[Myron]

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[Chris Tomlin]

Taxes and fees. Extra speed slower above 40 gigabytes.

[Matt]

CD tails. It is kind of the kickoff here on ESPN radio. Cincinnati, Jefferson Social. It's the Bengals and the Steelers. Great crowd here folks. Getting ready. This is a. There are very few towns, I think Myron, that have a better setup pregame than Cincinnati. When you look at this whole street of bars right here on the river, people being able to walk up and down, I mean there's a, there's a street from the baseball stadium to the football stadium line with places. I'm not sure there are very many cities that do a pre game atmosphere better than Cincinnati.

[Myron]

I think most cities should take note. Right. Like this is how you want to do pregame. Have restaurants and bars and spots right near the stadium so people can walk to and fro. That's the way it should be.

[Matt]

Yeah, it took them a long time to get this. I mean the old riverfront stadium was kind of a desert before games. Then they kind of developed this and this has become.

[Myron]

I like it.

[Matt]

And when you get a game like this where a lot of people come from Pittsburgh, you get both fan bases interacting. It is, it is a very good environment. 888 say ESPN ESPN radio is presented by Progressive Insurance Progressives helping to drive veterans lives forward through their Keys to Progress program. Aaron Rodgers. There's no individual in sports that I'm less fond of talking about or watching than Aaron Rodgers, but he has a legendary career and there's a lot of indications it might be coming to an end at the end of the year they're three and eight. They play the Seahawks at home today. You heard Aaron Rodgers saying, I've never said to anybody that I'm not playing or that I'm playing for a different team next year. There's no way the jets are going to run this back, is there?

[Myron]

Well, it's the jets, right? So like with every other team where you say there's no way with the jets it's always Possible, but I think the conversation has to change. Matt, this ain't 2021 or 2022. Why are we acting like Aaron Rodgers has all the power to decide what happens next? The jets should establish that they're going to make the decision about what happens with Aaron Rodgers. It's a big cap hit if he retires, or he's cut $49 million versus $24 million if he's on the roster. But none of that matters if you have a disaster at quarterback. The jets got to come out strong and say, we're going to make the final call and stop making it sound like Aaron Rodgers gets to decide, well.

[Matt]

They got to get rid of him, like two. I mean, there's no way he's winning a title. No way he's winning a Super Bowl.

[Myron]

Nope.

[Matt]

I don't think there's any way he's making the playoffs. So then what's. What's the point? Like what? At that point, what's the point? I mean, he is obnoxious.

[Myron]

Yeah.

[Matt]

He is unlikable. And he has found a way to take an already unlikable personality and magnify it times 10. And even the people who used to take up point, which are the NFL people impressed by his talent. You hear it when former players talk. They're done with it. Yeah. I mean, they're done with it. So why would you bring it back and you go even further? Why would anybody want him? What team out there wants this? But has anyone? I mean, seriously, what team would want this? I can't think of an athlete who's done more to hurt his overall reputation and legacy at the end than Aaron Rodgers.

[Myron]

But a lot of this we knew about Aaron Rodgers. Like, I don't think a lot of this is new information.

[Matt]

I feel like he's gotten worse.

[Myron]

It's gotten worse. But the packers knew that this was a guy who, his talent was not bigger than, you know, the headache he had become for the franchise. So he moves on. The jets knew what kind of dude they were getting. And now, to me, at this point, I don't know if it'll be the character, the personality, as much as it'll just be the lack of talent. He can't move. He's not the same quarterback. He's not going to win you anything.

[Matt]

You're right. You're exactly right. I mean, if he would. If he was talented, they'd look past on. He was talented, they'd look past all this stuff. But he's not. But it's interesting. It's always blaming somebody else. Now there have been leaks in the locker room. That locker room that we saw Hard Knocks made it look like was the best place in the world. Aaron Rodgers addressed the leaks that have been coming from the Jets.

[Aaron Rodgers]

As far as my future goes, I haven't told anybody in my life that I want to play in 2025 and not on the jets. So that's 100% false. I actually said the opposite. You know, I said that I'm going to wait and see what happens with at the end of the season and if they want me back and what happens with Brick and what happens with the offensive staff and obviously the GM at the time. And, you know, then they just fired Joe. There's a lot of things out of my control when it comes to that, but I've really enjoyed my time in New York. I mean, obviously we haven't had success that we've all wanted to have, but, you know, I've made some great friendships on the team. I've enjoyed living in Jersey. I've enjoyed time in the city. I've enjoyed getting to know the fans, and I came here to win here. So I'm not jumping off ship, you know, like, oh, I definitely want to play and not in New York. Like, I don't even know if I want to play yet, but New York would be my first option.

[Matt]

Well, here's where you don't. Nobody wants you to play. I mean, that's. At the end of the day, I don't think very many people want him to be their quarterback.

[Myron]

No, let me tell you something, too, about leaks. As a reporter. When you go to teams and sources that are functional that have a good thing going, don't get late, nobody says a word. That's exactly when you go, hey, what happened with this guy? No one says anything. When teams are on the brink of collapse, that's when people start talking bad because people are trying to save their jobs.

[Matt]

That's a great point that, you know, I think about the team I've covered the most in my life, Kentucky basketball, when it was rolling, no leafs, nothing. When it stunk, leaks start coming out. Like the. I mean, you know, when Anthony Davis was there, there wasn't a leak. When John Wall was there, there wasn't a leak. When they were 38 1, there wasn't a leak. Last few years of Cal Perry, what was it?

[Myron]

All leaks.

[Matt]

Drip, drip, drip, drip, drip, drip, drip.

[Myron]

All leaks complete.

[Matt]

Once you start seeing the. Once you start seeing the leaks, you know you're in trouble. And Aaron Rodgers, that ship has completely broken because they know it's a disaster.

[Myron]

And I think the other thing is that Aaron Rodgers, who comes in to a franchise and organization, Matt. That has a bunch of young dudes who I think at first those young guys are like, all right, you know, unc or whatever they call it.

[Matt]

Yeah, because it was Aaron Rodgers.

[Myron]

Right. But then all of a sudden, when you see how weird it is and he's not performing on the field, I think it's hard for those guys to connect to someone like Aaron Rodgers, man, who just is aloof.

[Matt]

Naturally.

[Myron]

Right. At the end of the day, the jets, if they really want to be taken seriously as a franchise, got to move on from Aaron Rodgers, find the right head coach and start the rebuild process, because this is never going to work with him.

[Matt]

Totally agree with you. I think there was probably some excitement at first. There's not now. What about on the other side? They play the Seahawks today. Seahawks got a big win in that NFC west, which still all four teams could conceivably win. How do you like. How do you like their chances and getting another one? And just overall, you think Geno goes back to the playoffs?

[Myron]

Yeah, I think Geno, you know, he has to be better and more consistent, but that defense has gotten so much better. And I think that, to me, is the difference. You look at how good Kyler Murray was, the Seahawks made him look as bad as he's been all year, maybe as bad as he's been in a couple years. So I think if Geno can be consistent, that defense is good. You have a Rams team that nobody really trusts. You got an Arizona team that obviously you saw what can happen when they pressure Kyla Murray. And then you have a 49ers team that may never be close to 100% down the stretch of the season. So the Seahawks might be the best of a bunch of above average teams, I think, in the NFC West. And that's enough to get into the playoffs?

[Matt]

Yes. How many people do you think in this bar right now could give me the name of the Seahawks head coach?

[Myron]

30.

[Matt]

No. No way.

[Myron]

Ask them more.

[Matt]

No. All right, look, let's just get these two guys right here. Hey, come here, guys. You three, right here. We got two Bengals fans and two Steelers fans. Let me ask you a question. Don't say it out loud. Between the three of you, can one of you tell me the name of the coach on the Seattle Seahawks? You say yes.

[Myron]

Yeah.

[Matt]

You say yes. You say yes. What's the name?

[Myron]

They don't they don't. All right, but those are football dudes. See?

[Matt]

Yeah.

[Myron]

Well, this guy. Those are real football.

[Matt]

Yeah, that's true.

[Myron]

He is dressed in a.

[Matt]

In a robe with Bengals gear on.

[Myron]

How many fantasy leagues are you guys in to get like how many fantasy leagues?

[Matt]

10.

[Myron]

How many fantasy leagues are you in total?

[Matt]

He's in three, so. He's in three, so seven. You don't.

[Myron]

Those are football dudes.

[Matt]

When you win combat. When three guys have a combined seven fantasy leagues, that doesn't count.

[Myron]

Okay, all right, fine.

[Matt]

You. You ruined my thought process. Enjoy the game, guys.

[Myron]

Those are real football dudes, though.

[Matt]

Convince. I was going to win.

[Myron]

You can tell.

[Matt]

But I picked the wrong guys. But I picked the wrong guys. Don't you think? But I should have picked that group right over there.

[Myron]

Should have. They look like they would know.

[Matt]

They look like casual.

[Myron]

They wouldn't know. But I do think that whole legion of boom when Seattle was sort of known, you know what I mean, for what it did defensively under WrestleMania. Well, that's not the case anymore, man. So it's been kind of quiet. But they might sort of surprise people, get into the playoff picture and then who knows what happens.

[Matt]

By the way, this is my least favorite song in history.

[Myron]

What is this?

[Matt]

What's this? And Fancy by Reba McIntyre is this.

[Myron]

Who sings that?

[Matt]

Someone who should be put in prison, man.

[Myron]

This is like on those. Now that's what I call music. Those infomercials that used to come on at like 2am.

[Matt]

I don't know who sings? Boy George, right?

[Myron]

Boy George, is it comma chameleon. What's the name of the song?

[Matt]

Boy George is fine. I'm just saying, like this song. The. The Fancy by Rea McIntyre is the worst song of all time. It's about a mother wanting her daughter to be a prostitute and somehow it became a number one hit. That should not be a feel good song. No, but they.

[Myron]

It was.

[Matt]

It's a huge song and it's. If you listen to the words, it's awful. Never mind. Her med room. Speaking of Reba McIntyre, her Medwards is going to rejoin us from the studio next. This is count at a kickoff on ESPN Radio.

[Myron]

Matt and Myron, the podcast.

[Matt]

Get in zone. AutoZone.

[Chris Tomlin]

Welcome to AutoZone.

[Matt]

What are you working on today?

[Chris Tomlin]

So you've got an oil change coming up. You can go farther and save on full synthetic with our oil change special. Right now you can get 5 quarts of Valvoline Advanced Full Synthetic with an STP Extended Life Oil Filter for just 33.99, get the parts you need when you need them at autozone or autozone.com restrictions apply.

[Matt]

Oh, now this is a jam. Ah, it is. Countdown to kickoff on ESPN Radio, presented by Progressive Insurance live. Cincinnati, Ohio, Jefferson Social.

[Myron]

Yeah, man.

[Matt]

Herm Edwards has joined us back in studio. Herm, when I say Cincinnati, Ohio, from your playing career, what comes to mind?

[Herm Edwards]

Oh, Isaac Curtis, obviously is one of the receivers. Kenny Anderson, great, great football town, you know, Interesting.

[Matt]

Herb. Kenny Anderson, when he was the quarterback, while he was quarterback of the Bengals, he was in my mom's law school class. He went to law school while he was in the NFL. Herb, isn't that nuts?

[Herm Edwards]

Yeah, I tell you what, that. That is nuts. He was. He was a really good quarterback. They had good teams back in Cincinnati. They've always been pretty competitive for the most part. You know, this is the division they're in now. It's just. It's so competitive with Baltimore sitting there obviously in the Pittsburgh Steelers. And when Cleveland was rolling, you know, Cleveland was pretty good as well.

[Matt]

Cincinnati and Pittsburgh is a big rivalry. When you played in rivalry games, because this is a big one, people think, well, in the NFL, guys move teams. Rivalries don't matter. Do you think they matter? I mean, is a rivalry game different?

[Herm Edwards]

Well, I think they matter in this sense. You know, before free agency became a part of the NFL, you basically stayed on the team that you were on unless they traded you or cut you. So you understood the history of these rivalry games a lot more than the. And I'm not, I'm not. I know I'm gonna sound like the old guy sitting on the couch, but like new players now, where free agency is a part of, you know, you don't keep your team, the roster is always changing. So I think for the fans, yeah, the history never changes. Right. They know it. You know, they've grown up going to games when they were little with their parents, and so they understand these rivalry games, which makes it very fun for fans.

[Myron]

Coach, coaches like Zach Taylor are good for saying, you know what? I don't read the media or care about the stakes. I don't view this as a must win game, but on paper, it definitely feels like a must win game for the Bengals as a head coach, how do you block that out and not get your team distracted by the stakes in a game like this?

[Herm Edwards]

Well, you always, you always. You have a feel for what the outside noises are saying, because you need to know that, right. Just for the sake of dealing with your football Team, right. And sometimes you may slide a comment in there or two that you hear from outside, but you don't let that be the focus at all. I think this thing is a division rivalry game and you preach that to your players. This is a division game. This is an important game for us in the fact that we're going to play them twice, you know, before the season ends. We're going to have a shot playing these guys twice. We're still, mathematically we are still in the playoff hunt, you know, now we gotta, we gotta win a lot of games and it starts this week. And I think that that's the great thing about the NFL. You know, players kind of know where they stand right now with a five game season for the most part. And I've been on some teams where you knew that, you know what, we might not go to the playoffs, but you're playing two playoff teams down the road in that stretch of four or five games, you're going, hey, if we're not going, going, you know what, we win these games, guess these guys, they might be going home too.

[Matt]

So. Yeah, they like that. People like knocking the folks out tonight. The 49ers and Bills are playing 20 to 30 inches of Snow in Buffalo. So here's my question for you. We were arguing at the beginning, I, you, you played up in the Northeast. I love snow. I think the elements, I think it adds to it. I think there's a home field advantage that comes from it. Myron thinks there should only be domes because there should be. So no snow. Where are you on it?

[Herm Edwards]

Well, it obviously, you know, when you mentioned it, when, when you don't. Every stadium doesn't have a dome. The weather becomes a factor for a lot of teams in the sense that, let's just say you're in Buffalo. You know, if you're a Buffalo Bills fan or if you're, you're this organization, you know, a certain time of year it's going to snow and your fans appreciate that. They do. They're going to come out, they're going to, they're going to shovel the snow outside the stadium. That's what these fans do. And I think in his organization, you know this too. It's going to help you down a stretch. Especially when you play a team like the Miami Dolphins that, that are in the warm area and they have to come see you. And then when you go draft, especially at this position, the quarterback position, you got to draft a big strong arm quarterback with big hands that can play in elements and that's any team that's in the Northeast. You know, when you're a Northeast team, you know, I got to get a big, big guy, strong, you know, and got a big arm that can throw through the wind and can play in snow games and has big hands. It's kind of interesting you guys mentioned Russell Wilson earlier. The thing Russell Wilson has, he's not big. He got really big hands. And that game that Pittsburgh played last week, he was throwing passes in the snow. Guys, I couldn't. You couldn't see the receivers.

[Myron]

Yeah.

[Herm Edwards]

You know, so those things matter.

[Myron]

I think it's ridiculous, Coach. You got. You got.

[Matt]

He's such a whip. He's such a diva. He's such a diva.

[Myron]

You got. You got Dan and Larry from down the street having to shovel snow out of the stadium to get it ready for an NFL game. That's not good football. Well, I want to be able to see two teams have a chance to compete and for the elements to not change the way they play. And that seems like that's going to be the case in Buffalo, no matter what happens.

[Herm Edwards]

Well, I think this, too. And you understand this, Myron. Look, I. I think when you're building your team, you know this as well. I always keep saying this. The one thing that travels and the conditions of the weather never stop it. A run game and defense.

[Matt]

Yeah, that's true.

[Herm Edwards]

You got to have that. And I, you know what you saying? Well, Coach, that's old school. No, it's not. It's real school. It's right now school. Because when you. You can play defense and you can run the ball that travels and it plays in all conditions, you don't even worry about anything else. I got those two elements, and if I have those two, I got a chance.

[Matt]

Eagles and Ravens today, the Eagles are starting to sort of sneakily look like they could be really good. I watched a lot of their game last week, and I was like, wait a minute. This is the Eagles team from the last couple years. Do you think they're back to where they need to be?

[Herm Edwards]

I thought they took a jump with the way Carter played on that defensive line and the rest of those guys in that front. They. That's. This was the test for me, watching them against a Ram team that can throw the football. Their rush dominated a Rams team that's pretty good that can throw the football. So I think this is another test. I think this is a bigger test for Jalen Hurst. Now he's on a big stage against Lamar Jackson on the road, MVP of The league numerous times that have been in a lot of playoffs and this is a big game for Jalen Hurst. Can, can he deal with this? Because look, guys, guys hear the noise outside the building too, like everybody else does, like coaches do as well. He knows I'm playing against Lamar Jackson. So you get revved up when you play against great quarterbacks.

[Myron]

Yeah. Take me into Andy Reid's office. He's saying all the right things about a Kansas City team that's won 14 consecutive one score games, I believe. And yet he knows this team could have four or five losses on their resume. How does he really feel about the way his team is playing right now with all the close wins?

[Herm Edwards]

Well, I mean like he, he believes in this. He believes if it's a one score game and we get the ball at the end, we're going to win. He knows that this is what they do, but he also understands this, the competition in the playoffs is going to be a little bit tougher at times and we might, we might have to go through two or three games and if we continue to play like this, we might just run out of cards to play.

[Matt]

But you wouldn't bet against them yet, would you?

[Herm Edwards]

No.

[Matt]

Would you bet?

[Herm Edwards]

You. You're not going to bet against them. But it's just, it becomes all of a sudden this is kind of how they're playing.

[Myron]

Yeah.

[Herm Edwards]

And it's like when you playoffs, you don't kind of shake it off and say, well, we're going to play different. No, you're not. This is kind of who you are. You're not going to change because you get in the playoffs, you got the same players, you got the same mannerisms, except you have the confidence to win these kind of games. But when you get in the playoffs and I get it, you're going to see the same old teams, but it's just, it's a little bit different.

[Matt]

14 straight one score. That's an all time NFL record. That's an all time. That's a really amazing.

[Herm Edwards]

And now. Go ahead, go ahead.

[Matt]

Let me ask you about my Bears real quick.

[Herm Edwards]

Yeah.

[Matt]

They got rid of the coach. Yeah, I think that was going to happen either way.

[Herm Edwards]

Yes.

[Matt]

When you, when you have a breakdown like that, did they have any choice but to do it? It sounded like they lost the locker room.

[Herm Edwards]

Well, I guess, you know, I, who knows? You know, you hear so many stories. It's the last story that's told. Everybody believes. But I don't know how that works either. But I will say this, it's A shame for this organization. And I've said it numerous times. I mean, going forward, I think the Bears need to be relevant. They need to be a relevant team.

[Matt]

International football, Football's better when they're good.

[Herm Edwards]

No, it is. And there's a few teams. We talk about the Bears, we talk about the Giants. Okay, Cowboys. The Cowboys. It's a certain team, the Raiders, you know, the bad Raiders. Because they would have. They were the bad boys. You know, when the Raiders came to town back in the day, you know, you hid your children because the Raiders are coming down. Oh, boy. These guys, you know, they've got one patch on their eye. They go, oh, boy, these are the Pirates. You're scared, right? You just. You ran and hid, you know, back in the day when the Raiders used to show up. Right? And so I think there's certain teams. But the Bears, they got a quarterback, by the way.

[Matt]

I agree.

[Herm Edwards]

I said that from the beginning. I said. And I said numerous times. He's proven me right. They got a quarterback. Now it's just a matter of, you know, who they decide to select as the head coach. They got to get the right guy.

[Myron]

Yeah.

[Herm Edwards]

And I think at the end, when they boil it down to three or four, you know, candidates, that guy needs to sit with the quarterback to talk. This is talk because.

[Myron]

Last question.

[Herm Edwards]

Yes.

[Myron]

Yeah, her last question here. Bill Belichick has to make a decision about what comes next. You've been in that situation. Good tv, gigantic. Playing a lot of golf, not having to deal with the stress. What would it take to make a coach in that position say, all right, I want back in?

[Herm Edwards]

Well, look him up. He's chasing history, right? He's chasing Don Shula. You know, he's a marvelous coach, hall of Fame coach, as you guys know. I just think, you know, he's going to get called by certain organizations, and I just think if it fits what he wants and what they want, he'll come back. He doesn't have to, but I think that, that, that he's so. He's only so close to Shula. You know, he's already made history. But I mean, you know, when you, when you sit where he sits, he's. He's sitting in a.

[Matt]

Good on tv, though.

[Myron]

Yeah, he's good on television.

[Matt]

Real quick, before I get you out of here, our ESPN game, when we go off as Falcons, Chargers, Chargers look good. I mean, are they look good?

[Herm Edwards]

Yeah, they do. I think when they played the Ravens, the Brothers bowl, it was just a matter of a lightweight. Trying to fight A heavyweight. And for the first nine rounds, they were good. When it got into those later rounds, you know, the Ravens kind of leaned on him a little bit. I think it's a learning experience for the Chargers. I like the charges as well, though.

[Matt]

Yeah, yeah, they did. The brother bowls are always weird, too. Herm, thank you very much. I appreciate you coming here and shutting Myron up earlier.

[Herm Edwards]

No, no, you guys are good. I love you guys.

[Matt]

Tune in. Football doubleheader today. The Falcons and the Chargers followed by the Bucks and the Panthers. Coverage begins at noon Eastern on most ESPN radio stations. We are in Cincinnati. The place is rolling. See, I told you this would be good in Cincinnati. You didn't think so?

[Myron]

I thought it'd be good.

[Matt]

This is the.

[Myron]

I wish the people could hear us, though. I do wish that.

[Matt]

But you know what? They're hearing this in their hearts. We'll deal with all of it next. Let's hear as captain kickoff on ESPN.

[Myron]

Radio, Matt and Myron, the podcast.

[Matt]

Quarterback. It is got to have to kick off here on ESPN Radio. Look at that uk. Look at the uk. Okay. Go Cats.

[Myron]

It is getting harder to hear in here. Like, it is getting crazy, man.

[Matt]

That's because it's Bengals, Steelers. That's exactly right. All right, as you know, Bengals, Steelers is the game we're at today here in Cincinnati. But there are other games that maybe don't look as big, don't look as good.

[Myron]

Oh, no.

[Matt]

And this is the time every morning where Myron tries to sell you on why should you care about this game? So here we go. In time, real quick, before we start.

[Myron]

Last week, you said I wouldn't be good in sales anywhere. My challenge with that is, who knows what happens in this media space after all this? So, like, I don't think you should say I should. I would never be good in sales. So could you. Could you soften that a little bit?

[Matt]

All right. You, on paper wouldn't be good at sales. By the way, knowing that we're doing the sales segment, they turn the music up because they're worried that you're not going to be able to do a good job. So I've never had the pressure do here. All right, it is now time to play no huddle.

[Myron]

All right.

[Matt]

It is a wild night. It's a wild time right here in Cincinnati. All right, let's get started. What's the first game?

[Myron]

I can't even tell if they're playing the game show music or not. That's how loud it is in here. But here's why you want to watch Colts vs. The Patriots? Things are getting rocky for Gerard Mayo, who called his team soft a week ago. Yes, he's in the Belichick family. They're not going to get rid of him, but there are no guarantees for.

[Matt]

A first year hit.

[Myron]

Coach, this is the game where you got to right the ship and get a win over the Colts and people say, you know what, you're the guy going forward. Another loss here and people are going to question as to whether or not Gerard Mayo has lost this team in year one. Big game for Gerard Mayo to solidify who he is with this organization.

[Matt]

Decent.

[Myron]

Okay.

[Matt]

I would focus on you got a first year quarterback in Drake May and a second year quarterback in Anthony Richardson. And I think there's an argument that you feel more confident today if you're a Patriots fan with Drake May than if you're a Colts fan with Anthony Richardson. And now you get to see the two head to head. If you're a Colts fan with Anthony Richardson and you look out and see a rookie quarterback that is significantly a few steps ahead, you start to go, I'm not sure Anthony Richardson is our guy. Yeah. And if you're a Patriots fan, do you continue to see progress from Drake May? We've seen huge jumps from Caleb Williams and Bo Nicks. I need to see that with Drake May. He's been all right, but I haven't seen the jump I've seen from those other two dudes I'm with. Obviously, Jaden Daniels was good from the beginning. What's next? Let's go.

[Myron]

There are a bunch of vacancies right now in the NFL. Well, actually, there will be more on the way, but Liam Cohen is the offensive coordinator of this renewed Buccaneers offense. Baker Mayfield playing the best football of his career. If you didn't know his name last week, you got to know it now. You could be watching the next head coach of the Chicago Bears or another team. Get to know Liam Cohen now as he goes up against the Panthers because he might be a head coach somewhere very soon.

[Matt]

I actually like that a lot. The NFC south as a general feeling, is a disaster to watch in football. But if you have a team that is going to have an opening, the Bucks OC is going to be one of the contenders. Comes from the Sean McVay tree, put Will Levis in the NFL revital, revitalize Baker Mayfield's career. And one of these jobs, whether it's the Bears, whether it's the Panthers, whether it's the Jaguars, one of these jobs that comes open this year. Liam Cohen is going to be the coach. If I were to bet, I would say he ends up with Trevor Lawrence in Jacksonville down the road. But either way, you're exactly right. The offense coordinator for the Bucks is one of the hottest names along with the guy with the from the Lions for a head coaching job.

[Myron]

And that names are getting even hotter going forward.

[Matt]

That's right. What's next?

[Myron]

You're probably trying to figure out why would they want care about a Rams Saints game today? Obviously we know the challenge that the Saints have had, but everybody's still alive in the NFC West. Go and look at the standings. Every team, the Cardinals, the Seahawks, the Rams, and obviously the 49ers are still in the playoff picture, but every game counts. So if you're the Rams, you had a massive turnaround last year. You have to do it again this year to get back into the playoff hunt. You can't afford a loss at all to stay in this race, but you're still alive in the NFC West. That's why every game's a must win, including today for the Rams.

[Matt]

I was big on the Rams. You were.

[Myron]

You called them. That was your super bowl pick for.

[Matt]

A stretch a few weeks ago. You know they. I was very disappointed in their performance. Last week was great. They got completely big boy by Philadelphia.

[Myron]

Wasn't good.

[Matt]

So for me this is a. All right, Rams. Should I just sell my Rams stock game? Yeah, I can't get myself interested in the Saints no matter what. Yeah, literally. I think the Saints might be the most boring team in the NFL right now. So for me, this is all about the Rams. Are the Rams still a contender for a team that I need to pay attention to? You gotta win today in New Orleans for that be to. For that to be the case. And what's the final one? Finish strong, Byron.

[Myron]

This game is about quarterback narratives and how you can reshape the image of a quarterback. Jaden Daniels was an MVP candidate a couple weeks ago. Now he's trying to prove that he's the rookie of the year because he's got some competition there after the three game slide the commanders have gone through over the last couple of weeks. Will Levis, a guy that everyone had written off and said he has no future in this league, has actually had some bright spots over the last few weeks and it makes you wonder if they put the right people around Will Levis, can he be the quarterback of the future? Two guys who are trying to change narratives after what happened over the last month or so that's maybe the best.

[Matt]

One you've ever done because I actually think that is exact. I really do. Because I think you hit it. All right. Go back one month ago. Yeah. Jaden Daniels was the clear cut, no competition, rookie of the year and the clear cut winner of the quarterback battle. Now you get three or four weeks even in losses of Caleb Williams looking good. Drake May has been consistent.

[Myron]

Yeah.

[Matt]

Bo Nicks has Denver winning, and all of a sudden you go, wait a minute, is Jaden Daniels definitely number one?

[Myron]

Yeah.

[Matt]

And then you go to Will Levis terror like a mocked quarterback in the first few weeks. And then the last few weeks, people aren't paying attention because they don't care about the Titans. But he's actually looked good. And Titans fans who had dismissed him are going, maybe he is our guy. I think whatever happens, if the Titans were to win and give Will Levis another victory and the Commanders were to take a fourth straight loss, all of a sudden what you thought about both quarterbacks a month ago may look completely opposite one month later.

[Myron]

Yeah. And I think that's why this game has some high stakes. Jaden Daniels has looked rocky and a lot of moments. And Will Levis, it's still a rookie deal. So if you're the Titans, you can say, let me go out and get another quarterback. Fine. Or you go, we're not paying him anything.

[Matt]

Years to decide on him if you want. I mean, I, I thought that was over.

[Myron]

Yeah.

[Matt]

But he's looked good last couple weeks. And if you go back to beginning of the year, if he could just get rid of the dumb plays, he actually ends up having pretty good plays. We are here in Cincinnati.

[Myron]

Yeah, man. Somebody. Somebody walked in walking on cloud nine.

[Matt]

I'm listen music. It's like they, you know, they were.

[Myron]

Like, that's some extra stuff in the air.

[Matt]

Talking about the Titans and Commanders.

[Myron]

Yeah, let's turn up. There's some extra stuff coming into the room.

[Matt]

I have no idea what this smells like on the radio, but somebody just started smoking.

[Myron]

Yeah, that's something. As I'm saying, somebody's on cloud nine.

[Matt]

Put that away.

[Myron]

Somebody just walked away. Don't do that to an ESPN employee. We don't have any substances here at ESPN Radio.

[Matt]

It's the bill somebody 49ers, the Eagles and the Ravens and the smell of herb. That's all next here on ESPN Radio.

[Herm Edwards]

No matter what you're a fan of.

[Myron]

Texas has the trip for you.

[Chris Tomlin]

There's the.

[Herm Edwards]

Trip to Texas and the trip. Or maybe you're the kind of fan who'd prefer a trip to Texas or a trip either way. Go to traveltexas.com getyourown for the the only trip to Texas that matters.

[Matt]

Yours.