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- [00:00]
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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 used to say, are you, are you playing me off? That's what's happening, right? Okay, give it a try. @mintmobile.com Switch upfront payment of $45 per three month plan.
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$15 per month equivalent required. New customer offer first three months only, then full price plan options available.
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A
Taxes and fees extra.
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B
See Mintmo is Matt and Myron the podcast.
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A
It is Matt Myron here on ESPN Radio presented by Progressive Insurance. Lost his iPad. It happens. But he's here. We're counting you down to kick off. Coming up here in just a little bit. Let's talk some about some AFC east, you know, that's always an exciting thing. Well, it's really AFC east versus other divisions. Big game tonight, Sunday Night Football. Mike Tirico and Chris Collinsworth. Mike, we got the Bills and the Ravens. You're gonna see Chris Collinsworth. You talk about a guy who's going to be happy, him watching Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson, he's just going to giggle and get really excited about it. I can't wait. But honestly, it's also going to be an awesome game. Two most exciting dudes in the league playing against each other in week one. You can't ask for a lot more.
- [01:21]
B
No, no. I mean these are two stars, obviously two of the top four quarterbacks in the league. The guys who have been battling for MVP the last couple years. And then we just saw them in the divisional round. You know, when you go to the Mark Andrews two point conversion that failed and they lose by two, I think people are forgetting to also mention that in the first half Lamar Jackson wasn't good. Right. That that kind of contributed to as well.
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A
So like Lamar, dude, you, you just go at.
- [01:47]
B
No, I rock with Lamar. But I think there's a fight between Lamar and Josh Allen to avoid becoming this generation's Dan Marino. And there's nothing wrong with Dan Marino. He was an incredible player, but he didn't have a ring, which changes how we view him. And I think that's what's on the line for these two guys. Especially now coming off the Mahomes loss, the chief. This feels like Matt, where we may look back and go, okay, maybe there was a three to four year window where Mahomes wasn't quite Mahomes and you had a chance to win. And if you don't get it done, you may not get this opportunity in the future.
- [02:17]
A
Well, the problem for all these guys is that they're all in the same conference. Right. Because they can't all win. Any of these dudes are in the nfc. They got a chance every year. But if you're the Bills and the Ravens, I think it is fair to say. Well, I don't agree with your general. Mahomes isn't good anymore. More comments? I do think Bill for. For Josh Allen and Lamar, this is maybe the best chance they'll have going forward. Both of them. Okay. That doesn't mean they won't have other chances, but this may be the best. This is probably a Chiefs team in transition, right? Like transitioning from an old guard to a newer guard, still led by Mahomes. But it's kind of the transition year. And if you're the Bills and the Ravens, you're kind of at full capacity. Derek Henry's not going to play forever. Right. Like, there's going to come a point where this is your moment. And these are two teams that both can look at the Chiefs in the super bowl last year and go, that should have been us. We should. Both these teams think they should have won that game. So now you play each other in week one, there's a. There's a decent chance these teams could have close to the same record at the end of the year. And this might be for home field, but as important as it is for both teams, I think it's more important for the Ravens because they lost last year the way they lost and they're at home. You lose this game at home and it sets up to where you're going to have to finish a game ahead of the Bill. So you're basically two back of the Bills or you'll have to go there after having lost to them at home. If the Bills lose, they can say, okay, you know, it was on their home field, whatever. But for the Ravens, I feel like just mentally, Myron, this is a big game.
- [03:54]
B
Yeah. I think this is going to be a year where week by week, if they lose tonight, you're just going to have more and more people who jump on the train of they don't believe in the Ravens and they don't take them seriously as a contender. To your point, home field advantage matters, but remember, they had that a couple years ago and they still couldn't do anything with it. So I think, oddly enough, Lamar's facing more pressure. I know, we talk about Josh Allen, Lamar together. I feel like Lamar is facing a different level of pressure than even Josh Allen, who's coming off the MVP season. Like, no matter what happens, I think the Bills are going to look at this and go, okay, we're just going to keep putting guys around Josh Allen for the next decade and they'll feel like they can get to a Super Bowl. It's not just Derek Henry slowing down, Matt. The way Lamar Jackson plays, he's going to slow down, too.
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A
I mean, he can't hit people like he does. Like, I mean, you. Well, he'll have to change the way he plays. I mean, he can't just be bowling people over and taking the hits he takes in the future either.
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B
No, but he's got a better chance of being more of a pocket presence in his early 30s. I think that Lamar Jackson. Lamar Jackson's game demands. It requires speed and early 30s. Lamar Jackson could take a step back. So I just think the window feels smaller to me for Lamar Jackson to get a Super bowl than it does for Josh Allen.
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A
Do you think, regardless of what happens today, these are the two best teams? And in the afc, I mean, I.
- [05:21]
B
Don'T know enough with Kansas City, but I think. Right. There'll be two of the top three. I'll say. I think they'll be two of the top.
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A
Don't. Don't stick your neck out, all right? Don't. Don't pick the two. I mean, I'm asking you. Of course they're going to be two of the top three. They've been the three top teams for the last three years. I'm asking you, Myron Metcalf, NFL prognosticator, to stick your neck out and say, are they better than Kansas City?
- [05:42]
B
They're better than Kansas City because their.
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A
Quarterbacks are better than two best teams. And.
- [05:47]
B
And their quarterbacks are better than Kansas City's quarterback. See how that's been a reality for the last two years right there? Do you see how good that's not taking a stand? I think they're quarterbacks. I think Patrick Mahomes is the fourth best quarterback in the NFL right now. I'm not saying overall, but in terms of, like, right now, I think he's not.
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A
All right, so who you like tonight? Do you give a little. Give a little sneak peek?
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B
I think I still like the Ravens. You know, I think to me, they come out, make a statement, they've added some big pieces. Lamar Jackson. I think we'll play at an MVP level again this Season. Derek Henry's the question for me. You mentioned Derek Henry. Running backs, when they fall off, it's usually it's huge.
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A
But he didn't fall off last year. I thought he was going to. Let's go to the other game with the AFC east team. The Dolphins are playing against the Colts. TUA gave a press conference this week, says he and Tyreek have worked on their relationship, which is very nice. That's what I like to hear, people working on their relationship. I. But the Dolphins playing a Colts team that are starting. Daniel Jones. If you're going to be a Dolphins team and you're Mike McDaniel and a, you're going to keep your job and B, you're going to be a team that matters, don't you have to win today?
- [06:57]
B
Yeah. I mean, especially with all the off season drama that you've dealt with. I think the Tyreek Hill incident, to me, it made it look like Mike McDandren having the control of his team. Like Tyreek Hill publicly calls everybody out, demands a trade. Now he comes back and you got to kind of figure out your locker room. I think this is it for Mike McDaniel. You. You lose today, it won't be fun in the weeks ahead. But I also don't know where there's the evidence that Mike McDaniel is a good head coach. Like, where are the signs? Where are the things that he's done to make you feel like, okay, this is the kind of guy that you want leading a team into the future. I don't think he's established that yet. And I think that is something that he has to do rather quickly. At the start of this season, you.
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A
Know, it was clear. So Mike McDaniel had the progression of a lot of people at high schools across America. Like, he comes in, he moves into the district, he's got a lot of money, and he's like, hey, everybody, you could come play at my pool. And everybody's like, yeah, everybody's having a good time. And they're like, oh, he's kind of funny. And he, like, does rap lyrics and he puts out a C level rap video. Everybody's like, you know, Mike McDaniel's cool. And then there comes a point where you can only go to the. Visit the pool so many times and you go, all right, this guy's starting to wear on my nerves. And I don't know. And I feel like we hit that point last year where it feels like something. The Dolphins go, okay, that's enough, man. I don't need to hear any more nas from you. I need you to actually scheme us into to success. And then once that once he lost that control then you end up with the bickering in the locker room and you end up with the Tyreek to a stuff. And the question is, can you come back from that? Generally speaking, when you lose the respect of a locker room, it's gone. Do you think it can come back?
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B
I don't know. You know, I mean the challenge is we saw something that you would think a head coach could handle with the Tyree kill situation. Like to me there are a lot of coaches, if that had happened that would have been addressed a lot differently. Like if your star player called out the team and said I wanted to trade. There are a bunch of veteran coaches man who just wouldn't have tolerated that. It would have been handled differently. And instead, you know, we get these self help book quotes from Mike McDaniel and I just think you can be a player's coach. We've seen this a lot, Matt. You can be a player's coach but you can't be a player's coach to the point where people don't respect you.
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Yes.
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B
And I think that to me is what he's dealing with is being the fun guy that everyone likes is cool until your star player calls out the team. Still there's drama and I think that's where he is struggling right now is because he never established that he was an authority figure. And I think more than anything that's what the Dolphins need.
- [09:41]
A
Let's quickly go to the Colts. Daniel Jones at quarterback. You excited to have him back in our lives?
- [09:48]
B
I mean you know, if you're Anthony Richardson, I don't know. You lose your job to Daniel Jones. Right. That says a lot.
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A
I do.
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B
You're not good NFL future. That says a lot about. But I think the thing to watch here is Shane Stichen. Jim Ursay rest in peace. His daughter is now in charge and there's no guarantee that she likes Shane Steichen.
- [10:05]
A
Yeah there she likes their movies. There are movies about when the daughter takes over. You know there are tons of movies. Let's we have some breaking news. Let me give us the signal. According to Adam Schefter 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey who was added added to the injury report Thursday was with a calf issue will play today versus Seahawks. He's good to go. I think next time. James, when you write breaking news in all caps like I was thinking this was going to be something where I was going to have to like.
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B
It is big.
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C
Listen, I just had. I just had four people run into the studio.
- [10:43]
A
They ran? Yeah.
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C
I mean, they were.
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A
That was a run into the studio.
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C
Telling me cuts.
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A
It's big news. All right. There you go.
- [10:51]
B
It's big news.
- [10:52]
A
Christian McCabrey is playing. Go outside, knock on your neighbor's door and tell them they need to know this very second. We will do some headlines coming up from around the world. This is, this is Matt Fire.
- [11:11]
B
Matt and Myron. The podcast.
- [11:19]
D
As you know, managing maintenance, repair and operations is never easy. But for the ones who always rise to the challenge, Grainger has your back. From professional grade products you can count on to fast, dependable delivery, they're there to help you keep things running smoothly. Plus, their technical product specialists are here to help answer your toughest questions. And because Grainger knows safety is always a priority, they're committed to being your partner in protecting both your people and your facilities. Call 1-800-GRAINGER Click grainger.com or just stop by. If you've shopped online, chances are you've bought from a business powered by Shopify. Shopify. You know that purple shop pay button you see at checkout? The one that makes buying so incredibly easy? That's Shopify. And there's a reason so many businesses sell with it. Because Shopify makes it incredibly easy to start and run your business. Shopify is the commerce platform behind 10% of all e commerce in the US from household names like Mattel and Gymshark to brands just getting started. Shopify gives you a leg up with hundreds of beautiful ready to go templates to express your brand style and forget about the code. Tackle all those important tasks in one place. From inventory to payments to analytics and more. Spread your brand's word with built in marketing and email tools to find and keep new customers. And did I mention that iconic purple shop pay button that's used by millions of businesses around the world? It's why Shopify has the best converting checkout on the planet. Your customers already love it. If you want to see less carts being abandoned, it's time for you to head over to Shopify. Sign up for your $1 per month trial and start selling today at sh shopify.com network. Go to shopify.comnetwork shopify.comnetwork.
- [13:09]
A
It'S easy listening here. I'm Matt Myron on ESPN Radio with your elevator music on a Sunday morning. Getting ready as you counting down to kick off Matt and Myron. You know there are games We've gone through them. We have guests. King of the mountain is coming. I have a very special celebrity guest picker that was able to save an who was inebriated. All of these things are still to come. But before we get to any of that, there are still headlines. It's time for Sunday morning headlines. Extra, extra. Read all about it. Read all about it. The Sunday headlines. Now these are some headlines in the other parts of sports that we at least need to touch on. James, what's first?
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C
Sure, yeah. The NBA is going to launch an investigation into whether Steve Ballmer and the LA Clippers violated league rules because Kawhi Leonard accepted a $28 million endorsement from Aspiration, a non bankrupt green banking company in which Ballmer had invested, basically alleging that there was perhaps some salary cap circumvention here. Byron, what do you think about this story?
- [14:15]
B
Doesn't look good for Steve Ballmer and the Clippers. I mean, I don't know all the details and obviously have launched this investigation, but the idea that Kawhi was given a $28 million deal and there were reports that there was an additional $20 million deal for stock options, it's not a good look. And I, I imagine if, if there's evidence that this is what happened, I think the NBA is going to really severely punish both the Clippers and Steve Ballmer to try to deter others from doing something similar in the future.
- [14:43]
A
First of all, of course this happened. I mean. Right. I mean this has happened, I think throughout sports. I think the second, I think you're gonna see it even more as the proliferation of sort of billionaire owners and younger owners who have other businesses can make those connections. The question is just what happens when it gets exposed? Because there's a lot of other owners probably out there going who. Let's not get too worked up about this because they might have been doing the same thing. Right. So there is. But Ballmer, I think this was so egregious that it made it easy to spot. It was interesting seeing Mark Cuban kind of defending Ballmer in part because it feels like the kind of thing a team owned by Technic Co. Guy would, would, would be able to do. So I think it's a tip of the iceberg. I think you're going more of this throughout sports. The transition in sports between owners, family who own sports teams to businesses that own sports teams and that's the change that has happened in the last decade is only going to lead to this happening more and more. The Kawhis can be a Tax write off at least before you go bankrupt. What's next?
- [15:52]
C
All right, so Alabama.
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B
Wow.
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C
Last.
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A
That company went bankrupt.
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B
No, I know. No, it was just.
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A
Wow. Are you an aspiration investor? Why do. It was. Did you think that was a shot? No, no aspiration, by the way. Sounds like a. Like a, you know, well, place more than it does sound.
- [16:12]
B
Take your money.
- [16:12]
A
Yeah. If I heard aspiration. Why is that? Landscaping. Anyway, go ahead, James.
- [16:17]
C
Maybe if they wouldn't have paid Kawhi.
- [16:19]
B
Leonard $28 million, they wouldn't have aspired to make money.
- [16:22]
A
But go ahead.
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B
21.
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C
Alabama yesterday beat UL Monroe 73 to nothing. So that's good. But obviously we know that they lost to Florida state in week one opener. People not happy with Alabama. And Caleb DeBoer also. I mean, we had a $1.8 billion jackpot up for grabs. And the Powerball. This Alabama fan was asked what she would do with her $1.8 billion if she won the jackpot. This is On WHNT News 19 in North Alabama. Here it is.
- [16:59]
A
I tell you exactly what I'd do.
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B
With the first 70 million. I'd pay off Kalyn DeBoer and get him the heck out of the University of Alabama. And then I'd take whatever else it.
- [17:08]
A
Took to get rid of the ad. Love it. That's college sports at its finest. First of all, she sounds like Alabama. You know, I can tell country when somebody starts with I tell you what I do. Like, they just need to preface like, this is coming. Be ready. I believe her, too. I think if she won the Powerball, she would. She. There's two things that would happen. She would tither church and then she'd get rid of Kaylin DeBoer. And I feel like that's perfectly fine and a good use of money. Myron, if you're a Todd fan.
- [17:39]
B
Yeah. I mean, if you're a church, you got to be thinking, man, if Kaylin DeBoer had won, they get 70 million, right? But she's going to put that 70 million towards buying him out. I think that sums up SEC football, what you just said.
- [17:51]
A
That's true. The other if Cale d' or was good, she could have put it into the building fund. But instead.
- [17:59]
B
The building fund was coming up short.
- [18:01]
A
The building fund's going to come up short because everybody's got a building fund. I will say, you know, he won 73 to nothing. That was clearly a. Hey, man, we're still good, but the tests are still to come. I'm still worried about Deboer at Alabama. I do know there's some other schools, though that would like to have the Powerball winner come from there. Do we know, did someone win last night?
- [18:23]
B
The 1.822 winning tickets last night.
- [18:27]
A
So do we know where they are? Usually they'll tell you what states they are.
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B
I don't know, but they got to split, you know. So what is it? 1,900 million things?
- [18:34]
A
They have to split. They can only get 900 million each.
- [18:38]
B
I want it all. I would want to split it. I would want to split. But anyway, I'd be disappointed.
- [18:42]
A
You're very much a. You're the reason we have to have universal income one day and people like Myron who are like, I want it all. I'm not giving any of it to anybody else. What's next?
- [18:53]
C
I feel like I can probably live on $900 million.
- [18:55]
A
Not Myron. He's got exquisite cheeses.
- [18:58]
B
1.8 billion. That was better.
- [19:00]
A
Angel.
- [19:01]
C
Angel Reese has been suspended by the Chicago sky following comments she made about her teammates head coach in the organization. The four will miss the first half of the skies game today against the Las Vegas Aces after criticisms were published earlier this week by the Chicago Tribune. A couple of things she said, quote, I'm not settling for the same leap we did this year. Quote, we have to get good players, we have to get great players. That's non negotiable for me. So, Myron, what do you think about all this from agent Reese?
- [19:30]
B
I mean, my most disappointing thing was that I think she initially said, like her comments were taken out of context, which, that's always the easy line from athletes where it's like, oh, well, I said something, but that's not what I meant. Like, come on, you know what you were saying? You can say this like, I don't have any problem with angel re speaking out about Chicago. I mean, they've had a lot of problems in that organization for years. But, you know, you also have to be a winner when you do that. It's hard to do that with a team that has struggled so much to kind of make those comments as a second year player. And for me, I don't know how you move forward. They're suspending her, which is a very public act against her. I don't know how she can remain a member of that team after something like this.
- [20:09]
A
Yeah, I mean, this was perfectly. First of all, it was in context. She was saying her teammates think that's what she said. Like they were old. It's not about context. You said Your teammates are old and they're not good. So we know what you said now. Is she correct? Maybe. But I also think, what are you going to do about it? This is not like a lot of other leagues where it's easy to just go and completely change the roster. You're also Angel Reese. And when you. Part of the thing about being Angel Reese is you make your bombasticness your calling card. That's why we all know. And that's a smart business move. But guess what? When you do that, then you can't complain when it's used against you. That's just how it is. You don't get to have it the way you want it. You want to be loud and outspoken, get endorsements for it. You go, girl. However, when they then come back at you for something, you say, you cannot complain. And I think that's what it is right now. What's next?
- [21:07]
C
One more real quick. Tuesday's game between the Astros and Yankees Framber Valdez on the mountain for the Astros, pitching to Trent Grisham with the bases loaded. In the middle of his wind up, Valdez's catcher, Cesar Salazar started waving his hands trying to get him to step off the mound. Valdez threw the pitch anyway. That pitch was hit for a home run grand slam. Two pitches into the next batter, Valdez threw a pitch which his catcher clearly wasn't expecting because it hit him right in the chest. Like he was throwing at him. Because he was mad at him.
- [21:41]
A
Well, yeah, he called for like a curveball and he threw it 98 down the middle and hit him in the chest. Yeah, that doesn't listen, I don't know, man. That doesn't feel like the best teammate in the world. You know, he ended up sorry the grand slam happened. It doesn't mean you get to just hit him with a 98 mile per hour fastball. I don't know what the, what happened in the dugout there, Myron, but I don't think it went great.
- [22:04]
B
Baseball players I don't think realize how hard a baseball is sometimes. Like they just didn't realize how dangerous that kind of stuff is. But yeah, I mean, to me, you got to fight them.
- [22:15]
A
Yeah, I think you have to fight him. I got to tell you something about baseball people. I went to the Reds batting practice in the cage the other day. Batting practice. They had this, this like 65 year old man. He sat there and hit ground balls for 20 minutes. I didn't see miss one. He hit everyone exactly where they were supposed to do. Older than My grandpa still doing it. There's some baseball lifers out there that need shout outs and that dude was one of them. Do your thing. Hey. More on the NFL next here on Matt Myon, Matt and Myon, the podcast.
- [22:52]
B
Foreign.
- [22:59]
A
Talk about stepping up.
- [23:02]
B
It's time to level up your game. Introducing the all new ESPN app. All of ESPN all in one place. Your home for the most live sports and the best championship moments.
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A
The electricity is palpable.
- [23:15]
B
Step up your game. With no annual contract contract required. It's the ultimate fan experience. Level up. For More on the ESPN app or at stream.espn.com Sign up now.
- [23:29]
A
You've seen the headlines, heard the debates. The three point ball has created a monotonous rhythm to the game. Has the three pointer ruined basketball? And how did we get here? The rise of the three point shot can be partially traced to an eccentric Kansas genius named Martin Manley, whose story didn't turn out quite the way he imagined. I decided I wanted to have one of the most organized goodbyes in history. 30 for 30 podcast presents Chasing Basketball Heaven. Available now wherever you get your podcasts. Is Matt Myron here on ESPN Radio counting you down to kick off. I like this song, but did you download this from Napster? This version sounds a little bit.
- [24:13]
B
It sounds like off the book.
- [24:15]
A
Yeah, this doesn't sound like the official music version.
- [24:19]
B
Now it sounds like now. Now that's what I call music.
- [24:22]
A
Eight CDs version.
- [24:24]
B
That's what it sounds like.
- [24:25]
A
Sounds like. This is the karaoke version at O Charlie's in Huntington, West Virginia.
- [24:29]
B
You still paying 19.99amonth for this?
- [24:33]
A
It's Matt Byron. Presented by Progressive Insurance. Progressive could help you protect your home. Auto, boat, motorcycle, atv, RV and more. If something wasn't mentioned that you had in mind, find it out if it can be covered@progressive.com or 1-800-progressive because chances are it probably can be. The packers and the Lions, two teams in the NFC north, rivals probably the two favorites to win the NFC North. And now they get each other. Micah Parsons will play in the game. Jordan Love, some people say dark horse MVP contender. And of course the Lions without their two coordinators. Trying to go to a new era where Dan Campbell and Jared Goff will be the centerpieces. Aiden Hutchinson is back on the defense. What are you expecting today, Myron in Detroit?
- [25:21]
B
Well, I mean, the Aiden Hutchinson news is big. I mean, remember last year it looked like he could be defensive player of the year and then he suffered that serious injury. So for him to be back I think that changes a lot. I do think losing your coordinators means a ton. Losing Ben Johnson, losing Aaron Glenn. And the only thing I can compare it to Matt is 2023 Philadelphia. Remember the the Eagles lost their coordinators after they were coming off that super bowl and they weren't the same team. Right. They didn't have the same look. So I do think that can be a big thing with the team. But the Lions also have the pieces, Jared Goff coming back. I mean the receivers, Jameson Williams, the running game, they have it all, I think to still get to a Super Bowl. But I think the packers do as well. I mean even before Michael Parsons they were an intriguing team. If he can be healthy and change that defense, make them even better. I think the packers are right behind the Eagles potentially in the race for the super bowl in the NFC this.
- [26:17]
A
Game, by the way, I misspoke is in Green Bay. I think the fact that you're in division, the fact that you're the two contenders to come in first place in the division, the fact that as we've talked about this basically gives the winner a two game lead to start the whole the year in the division makes it a big game. I also think it's just though a lot of us are going to judge a couple things right off the top. Number one, I think the biggest judgment is going to be about Dan Campbell's losing the coordinators. Like what does Jared Goff looks so good the last couple years that there's going to be a question of how much of that was Ben Johnson or was it the case that Jared Goff just got better or was it a combination? I think that's going to be a really big question mark. And then you know, the Lions have gone from feel good surprise story to everybody's rooting for to we turn on teams quickly, Myron, and we start having huge expectations for them. And that's where Detroit is this year. Are they going to be a team that is in a window of three years or so where they can contend for a Super bowl or are they going to be a team that was a nice one or two year story, lost their coordinator and things changed? I think today is the first step in sort of determining the answer to that question.
- [27:30]
B
No, I think today is a, is a big step in that conversation. Right. John Morton, the new offensive coordinator, Kelvin shepherd, the new defensive coordinator. The last two guys at those positions got head coaching jobs. So we'll see if they're at that level. I think why this is such a concern for people. Matt, Dan Campbell isn't a play caller. Right. Dan Campbell's greatest gift is it looks like he knows how to manage talent. Right. He knows how to inspire a locker room, and he knows how to be resourceful, which I think that's a skill, like knowing how to put the right people around. You put them in the right positions in crucial situations. That's a skill to be a manager of talent and personnel. However, Ben Johnson was viewed as this great offensive mind. Aaron Glenn was viewed as this incredible defensive coordinator. So now you go, okay, will we see maybe some of the weaknesses of Dan Campbell get magnified a little bit? Because he doesn't have two guys who are as trustworthy in those spots anymore. I mean, I was with Dan Campbell on the sideline when I did sideline for, I think Lions and Vikings for ESPN Radio. And just the way those guys rally around him pregame, like, it's a different energy, but that's a lot different than having to be able to manage a team without your top coordinators who did a lot of the work behind the scenes.
- [28:44]
A
There's a lot of different ways to be successful in life, but also as. As a coach. And one of them can be being a CEO and manager of. Of folks. And that's clearly the strategy that Dan Campbell also say he's a big motivator. With that said, that means you have to get your hires right. You know, if you. If you are. And. And whether he did, we're going to find out now. It is worth noting. I do think oftentimes we put too much stock into week one. Week one can get really odd results. You may remember a couple years ago, Ravens, I think, lost at home to the Raiders in week one, then won like nine straight games. So there can be there. There can be odd results. But I do think when you have a division game, Myron, and there's two teams that know each other really, really well, it's not like Rams, Texans, who play each other once every three years and see each. And see each other, and who knows what happens? These are two teams. They're gonna play each other twice a year, every year, sometimes three times a year. I do put more stock in these games because there's no unknowns with these teams. You do, I think, in. In division games to start the season, get a sense of what each team is.
- [29:50]
B
Yeah, because this division also seems so tight. Right. I mean, it feels like you could be a good team in the NFC north and still finish fourth.
- [29:56]
A
That's true.
- [29:56]
B
I think also these teams you know, they also have wrinkles that they're trying to figure out still. Right. You have a Chicago team with Ben Johnson. Is Kayla Williams going to get better under him? You have a Minnesota team that's debuting a 22 year old quarterback who's essentially a rookie and J.J. mcCarthy because he missed last year due to injury. What is he going to be? You have a Green Bay team where everyone's talking about Micah Parsons, but also, you know, Jordan Love has to, I think continue to play well to give them a chance. And then obviously what we've talked about with Detroit. So I do think these early weeks are chances for all of those NFC north teams to say, okay, we're real, we're legit and these changes we've made are going to make us better, not worse.
- [30:33]
A
The same rule about division games goes to the NFC west where you get 49ers and Seahawks actually a big game for this early in the year. It'll be in the, in the late window. None of you will see it because everybody will be watching packers line. So unless you live in San Francisco or Seattle, chances are this is not a game that will be on your television. But Adam Schefter, NFL ESPN's NFL Insider from NFL Countdown had some very important breaking news that I only want to hear from him. An answer on the biggest question heading into Sunday about Christian McCaffrey status. He will play today against the Seattle Seahawks. He is good to go. The 49ers are not concerned. Slight little issue in practice on Thursday. They felt like they tested him out and they are not concerned. He will be out there. He will be starting. And if you have him on your fancy team again, you put him in because he's good to go and they're not concerned. There you go. Feel that urgency right there. He is good to go but not concerned. If you have him on the fantasy team, put him in. That's the kind of thing I like to do.
- [31:39]
C
I just put him in personally.
- [31:41]
A
Go put him in. That's exactly right. I did it immediately. Can we play that sound? No, I'm just go ahead.
- [31:48]
B
This is a huge deal, though. It is a huge deal. I mean, obviously fantasy people are thinking about this, but remember he played four games last year due to injury and it was a situation where he kind of mysteriously showed up on the injury report and then he was out. So I think Anything with Christian McCaffrey has to be concerning. I don't think people expected him to be on the injury report, especially with the calf injury. What does that Mean, is that something that gets worse over time? This is a guy who has played at least started 16 games once since 2022. Now he's 29 years old, too. So this is a guy who's going into that age where a lot of running backs struggle to stay healthy and struggle to stay healthy, but he's always.
- [32:23]
A
Struggled to say stay healthy.
- [32:25]
B
Yes, but I think the ceiling is. Changes so much with the healthy. No, they do that versus unhealthy Christian McKinney.
- [32:31]
A
And I would say, especially if you're on your fantasy team, put him in. Because you don't know how many weeks you're going to get out of him. Right. I mean, this is you, you. When you get Christian McCaffrey, it's like a, you know, it's like a fine wine. Drink it before somebody else steals it out of your house. Right. You gotta, you gotta do it quickly. As far as the game itself, you know, the Seahawks are another one of my. I said the Rams are my sleepy Super Bowl. Seahawks are kind of my sleepy playoff team. I think they've kind of gone and the people don't really think about it. Sam Darnold, you know, he had a great year last year and now he goes there. You might see a slight upgrade. They bulk up some of their talent as well. I think that I don't, I don't think the Seahawks are a contender, but I think they could make the playoffs. But if you're going to make the playoffs, winning at home against the 49ers in Week 1 is a good, a good start. And then for the 49ers, in terms of schedule, they have the easiest schedule in the league. You could make a strong argument this is one of their, like three hardest games of the season to start the year.
- [33:27]
B
Yeah. I think both teams have a statement to make. But you're right. Sam Donald, was that a fluke? Was that a one time thing? Did you just play well? Because Kevin Okono, sort of the quarterback guru you had Justin Jefferson, you had all this talent around you in Minnesota. But I think the taste that a lot of people were left with with Sam Darnold was what he did at the end of the season.
- [33:45]
A
But is that fair? I mean, is that fair? Like it's two games and it's two games against a team that's really good. Like, is that really fair to him?
- [33:53]
B
I think it's fair because when things fell apart, he couldn't be the hero.
- [33:57]
A
Right.
- [33:57]
B
And now he's going to a place where I think he has to be even more heroic where he won't have the same weapons around him. So I do think we're going to find out pretty soon if Sam Darnold is really a high level quarterback.
- [34:08]
A
I never really thought Sam Darnold could be my hero, to be honest. I just wanted him to be decent. But you make a good point that in Seattle he's going to be asked to do probably even more than he was asked to do in Minnesota. So I do think that probably makes a difference. And we're going to have that game here on ESPN Radio. We're going to have a double header jets and the Steelers. Aaron Rodgers makes his debut for the State against his former team. Is he you think he's going to run out with that flag again, Myron, this game?
- [34:37]
B
Probably. Probably. I think he will.
- [34:39]
A
I think he should since that's the last time he was there playing. Followed by the 49ers at the Seahawks. Coverage begins at noon Eastern on select the really lucky ESPN radio stations. There's much more to come throughout the NFL. We'll do it next.
- [34:56]
B
Matt and Myron the Podcast.
- [35:11]
A
This isn't just another ESPN Fantasy football season. It's your shot at greatness. With a refreshed design, the ESPN Fantasy Fantasy app is sharper than ever. So you can draft like a pro and dominate your league.
- [35:24]
D
And introducing Gridiron Gauntlet, a new game.
- [35:26]
A
Mode where the best compete to be crowned the number one fantasy football player of 2025. One app, one shot, one champion. Download the ESPN fantasy app and sign up to play ESPN fantasy football today. It is Matt Myron here on ESPN radio presented by Progressive Insurance. Let's go. Let's count us down to kickoff. We are one hour and 13 minutes away from the early games. Ready to rock. ESPN on television is doing their dog of the week. Myron One of the things I like about when they, when they do the thing on ESPN where everybody stands up is you can see that you are not the person at ESPN with the worst sneaker game. There are people that are on television worse than yours. I got great saying, like people always give you a hard time about not doing well in the sneakers. I'm not gonna call which one of those guys out needs to step the sneaker game up. But there might be one or two.
- [36:24]
B
Every time I go to arenas, people point at my shoes. Just so you know.
- [36:27]
A
But there's, but that's not good. I mean they also would point out.
- [36:33]
B
I didn't explain that.
- [36:36]
A
People point at your shoes.
- [36:39]
B
I didn't have context they pointed.
- [36:41]
A
Oh, Angel Reese, you didn't have context to your comments?
- [36:45]
B
No, they. They like my shoes. So it's a known thing.
- [36:49]
A
Where's it known?
- [36:51]
B
Arenas all over, man. People give me compliments, man.
- [36:54]
A
I haven't seen those arenas, but that's okay. Monday Night Football, 8 Eastern on ABC and ESPN. Bears, Vikings, my team, Caleb Williams, JJ McCarthy, not two guys have a lot to prove this year. Caleb Williams, though, is certainly, I think the. The headliner. Year two, they bring in Ben Johnson. They have done. I got to give the Bears some credit of years of having drafted quarterbacks and I think not necessarily put them in a position to succeed after not really doing that in year one and year two. They have. They bring in the right coordinator for him. He has weapons. He has an upgraded offensive line. They've kind of taken the excuses away. It's now Caleb Williams time one way or the other. Now. News has leaked all throughout the summer and didn't work hard last year and is he working hard this year, that whole thing? Well, ultimately all that's not going to matter starting Monday night when they actually play the games. What do you expect to see, Myron?
- [37:54]
B
I expect to see Caleb Williams, who I think it's just in a better system and a better situation. Right. And to your point, they did take the excuses away. Now let's see what he does with it. Like, I hope we can all agree that we're not going to give any excuses to Caleb Williams going forward. My fear is if he struggles, you still may have. Some people said, oh, Ben Johnson, first year head coach nonsense. Last year coming into the season, people said that he had more than any number one picket ever had in NFL history. Then we found that his offensive line wasn't great, clearly. But he also made a lot of decisions that made you question his ceiling. No more excuses this year either. You are generational talent. I don't know if we're allowed to say that anymore on air because that starts fights. But either you are generational talent or you are not at the end of the day. And I think Caleb Williams has to prove that.
- [38:44]
A
Yeah, I. It's not excuses for me. I don't think. I mean, I am. I'm more of the belief that for Caleb Williams it's just time. You know, I mean, we talked a minute ago about the sophomore jinx for guys who are really good in their first year and then take a step back. But there's a. There's a secondary thing to that, which is when guys somewhat struggle in their first year the second year tells you whether or not they're going to be good. I cannot think of very many NFL players, maybe any who struggled for two years and then got good in year three. Like, by the time that you. Part of it is in the NFL, if you struggle after two years, they just move on. Ask Will Levis. Right. Like, ask Anthony Richardson. They just move on. So I think this is. You are going to have a hard time convincing people that if Caleb Williams has a repeat of last year, which, by the way, let me say, was better than people act like by the end it wasn't great, but it wasn't awful. But if that's the explanation of this year, it's not great, but it's not awful. I don't think that'll be enough. Myron, when you're the number one pick. Yeah.
- [39:51]
B
Especially because of his class. Right. That hurts him too. Right. Jaden Daniels obviously looks like a young superstar. Drake May, which Rod Mayo actually decided to play him, look pretty good. Michael Bennet Jr. Takes over in Atlanta. Boniface.
- [40:04]
A
I want you to think about all those names for a second that you're talking about. Let's put Jaden Daniels to the side who I think has established himself. So there are five guys coming into this year, Caleb Williams, Drake May, Bo Nix, Michael Penix, and the guy on the other side of this game, J.J. mcCarthy, who kind of like, I don't know that we know about any of them. All five of those guys might be good and we might come to the end of the year with all five of those guys and say they're not what we thought. And Myron, I'm not sure we know with any of them for sure what that is.
- [40:38]
B
We don't know. But I think they all, with the exception of J.J. mcCarthy, gave glimpses of, I think what they can be. Michael Bennett Jr. I think surprised people what he did in the brief time we saw him in Atlanta. Obviously, Drake May gets his chance. Bo Nicks had the top offense in the NFL in the second half of the season. J.J. mcCarthy is sort of a question mark. The difference is the pedigree is supposed to be different with Caleb Williams. Caleb Williams won a Heisman and a lot of people thought after his junior season would have been the number one pick in that year's draft. Now he comes into last year's draft and everyone knew he was going to be the number one pick. Show me the number one pick. Things that he has done. Show me the highlights that make you feel like Caleb Williams is showing you Monday night.
- [41:18]
A
Monday night. It's happened.
- [41:19]
B
But. But that has to happen, though. Jaden Daniels did special stuff. Drake May did stuff that impressed him.
- [41:25]
A
Michael Pennix Jr well, first of all, that's not fair. If you're going to say Michael Penck Jr. Did stuff that was impressive, then so did Caleb. Caleb was as good as Michael Penck Jr. Last year.
- [41:36]
B
Okay, Matt, but comparison to what we were expecting.
- [41:39]
A
Okay, fair enough. But let's not act like you're acting like he was awful. He was not awful last year. He was. They were 4 and 1 and 1 Hail Mary away from being 5 and 1. They were not awful now. Well, I agree with you, though. He needs to step up. Let me switch to the other game real quick. Bengals and Browns. Bengals. To me, this Week one is as important a game as I can remember them having in week one. First of all, they lose week one every year. They've got to stop that. And secondly, the Browns until the last year or two had kind of owned them and they stink. The Bengals have to win today, right?
- [42:14]
B
Yeah. I mean, when you hear the Zach Taylor record of 1 and 11 in weeks 1 and 2 since he took over, it doesn't feel real. Like it sounds like you're making it up, but it's like, I don't know what it is that psychological. Like I don't understand 1. 11 in weeks 1 and 2 for your entire tenure. And then to your point, the Browns have always given them a tough time. Miles Garrett, I think, has more sacks on. On Burrow than any player in the league. I think he's sacked him 10 times, hit him 20 times. Like, these two teams know each other in a lot of ways. Bengals with a new defensive coordinator, Al Golden. But I think you got to make a statement. You got to show you're not the same old Bengals and you're not going to get off to this slow start all over again. Because that's what they're always doing is playing from behind because they can't find ways to win in the first two weeks.
- [43:04]
A
I think until last year, I want to say that the Bengals had lost like seven straight games or something against the Browns. It was like an absurd number. And then they turned it around last year. The start is key for them because, you know, the. They have the year after they made the Super Bowl. Since then, they've been constantly trying to come from behind. They've been 0214 and by the end of the year, they're playing as good as anybody. But it doesn't matter because of what they've done in the early weeks. This is a gimme game. This is almost like the NFL said, let's give them one that they definitely could win. You may remember two years ago they did this, lost to the Patriots in a game at home, in a game that they really needed and weren't able to get. I think this is crucial for the Bengals and it's also, it's the only game on the slate today where I think one team, Myron, has to win or I'll start to feel very differently about them.
- [44:00]
B
Yeah, I mean, if you're Joe Burrow, I think the thing you got to be concerned about is how do you give him confidence that he can win a Super bowl with this team if these things continue to happen again and again and again. So they got to get off to a better start than what they've done. 111 is crazy, man. It sounds like a made up stat. 1 in 11. In your first two weeks of the.
- [44:19]
A
Season, you're going to be so happy about Caleb Williams. Like you're going to be so happy now. You know King of the mountain, we do every Sunday at noon. Who can make the best hot take one call. We have a leader in the clubhouse right now. The question is you have 25 seconds to make the best take of the week and to take the king of the mountain belt. 8 8, 8 say ESPN if you think you can win it off our current leader. It's the king of the Mountain. 888 say ESPN next on Matt Myron the NFL on ESPN radio.
- [44:51]
B
You're the Bills now. You just gotta do it. You gotta go from talking about it.
- [44:54]
A
To getting there week to week, team to team. Touchdown. Opening weekend is here. Let's go, let's go, let's go crazy.
- [45:02]
B
Let's get this show going, man.
- [45:04]
A
The NFL lives here. ESPN Radio. Matt and Myron, the podcast.