Sunday Mornings with Matt and Myron: Hour 3 – Myles Sticking With Cleveland
Release Date: March 9, 2025
Hosts: Myron Medcalf and Matt Jones | ESPN Radio

1. Introduction

In the March 9, 2025 episode of "Sunday Mornings with Matt and Myron", hosts Myron Medcalf and Matt Jones delve into the latest developments in the sports world, offering in-depth analysis and lively discussions. The episode, titled "Hour 3: Myles Sticking With Cleveland", covers significant NFL trade updates, NCAA basketball insights, and a special interview with Coach Brian Barone of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE).

2. NFL Trade Update: Miles Garrett Remains with the Cleveland Browns

Breaking News on Miles Garrett: The episode kicks off with Matt Jones sharing a major update regarding Miles Garrett's contractual status with the Cleveland Browns. According to Adam Schefter on Twitter, Garrett has secured a record-breaking contract with Cleveland, averaging $40 million per year and including $123.5 million in guaranteed money. The deal was finalized by Garrett's agent, Nicole Lynn of Clutch Sports, and Browns GM Andrew Barry, despite earlier communication challenges earlier that week.

Matt (00:40): "Miles Garrett had no trade clause. I mean, there's really nothing else that could have worked. But he's a special player and I think it makes sense for the Browns to resign."

Myron's Take: Myron echoes Matt's sentiments, emphasizing that the Browns had no intention of trading Garrett, a stance they reinforced during the combine. He also points out the unconventional move of Garrett consulting NBA star LeBron James during his trade request, highlighting the differences between NFL and NBA trade dynamics.

Myron (01:20): "NFL guys need to stop talking to NBA guys about free agency and trades. It's just so different. You don't have the same flexibility."

3. Browns Quarterback Speculation: Kirk Cousins as Likely Successor

The hosts shift focus to the Cleveland Browns' quarterback situation for the upcoming season. Both Matt and Myron express confidence in Kirk Cousins as the probable starter, questioning the Browns' reluctance to invest a high draft pick in a new quarterback.

Matt (01:47): "Who do you think is their quarterback next year?"
Myron (01:52): "Kirk Cousins. Yeah, Kirk Cousins."

Discussion Points:

• Draft Strategy: Myron suggests that the Browns may not find a suitable quarterback in the current draft, believing that potential candidates like Cam Ward and Shadur might fall in the later rounds but are not exceptional.

  Myron (02:15): "They gotta be the top three picks."

• Long-Term Planning: Matt and Myron debate whether the Browns are limiting themselves by not selecting a quarterback in the early rounds, considering the limited flexibility of NFL trades compared to the NBA.

4. Giants and Aaron Rodgers: Debating a High-Profile Acquisition

A significant segment of the episode revolves around the speculative discussion of the New York Giants potentially acquiring Aaron Rodgers. The conversation involves input from callers Khalil (Nashville), Nick (Wisconsin), and Jim (Illinois), each presenting their case for why the Giants should or should not pursue Rodgers.

Caller Contributions:

• Khalil's Argument (03:11): Khalil advocates for Rodgers, acknowledging his personal flaws but highlighting his superior performance over Daniel Jones in the previous season.

  Khalil (03:11): "Aaron Rodgers last year had a better season than any of Daniel Jones's season. It'll be the best quarterback play since Eli's Super Bowl year."

  Myron counters Khalil's points with statistical evidence, pointing out Rodgers' decline in efficiency over recent seasons.

  Myron (06:14): "Aaron Rodgers this past season finishes 25th in QBR, 20th in passer rating. Daniel Jones in the 2022 season... was more efficient."

• Nick's Perspective (04:31): Nick reiterates the statistical superiority of Rodgers but introduces a humorous comparison likening the Giants' pursuit to finding a "perfectly good shack in the $5 bin."

  Nick (04:43): "It reminds me of an old Onion article... the Giants are going after Rodgers."

  However, Matt notes that Nick didn't fully align with the intended argument, making his case less compelling.

• Jim's Input (05:37): Jim humorously suggests that acquiring Rodgers could tank the Giants' season, ensuring a top draft pick due to poor performance.

  Jim (05:45): "He’s going to improve their chances of getting a top draft pick in 2026 because they're so bad."

Conclusion of the Debate: Despite Myron's rebuttal to Khalil's points, Matt awards Khalil the “winner” for making a more structured case, albeit the discussion underscores the complexities of high-profile quarterback acquisitions in the NFL.

Matt (07:58): "Khalil, I'm still going to name you the winner, even though I think your stat was misleading..."

5. Personal Anecdotes: Matt Jones on Will Levis Support

Matt shares a personal anecdote about being mocked by Joe Fortenbaugh and Q. Myers for his support of Will Levis during the draft, defending his stance despite Levis' mixed performance.

Matt (09:05): "Even though it didn't work out, if they had gone to a different team and a different franchise, I'm still holding on to my Will Levis stock..."

Myron responds by suggesting that Matt has been a long-standing supporter of Levis and hints that it's okay to step back.

Myron (10:12): "You've done enough."

6. Special Guest: Interview with Coach Brian Barone of SIUE

The latter part of the episode features an insightful interview with Brian Barone, the head coach of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) basketball team. The discussion centers around SIUE's journey in the NCAA tournament and their aspirations.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Tournament Ambitions: Coach Barone shares the team's excitement about securing a spot in the tournament, highlighting the team's loyalty, high character, and strong performance throughout the season.

  Jim (16:23): "It was something that, you know, if you're going to try to accomplish something, you might as well do it with the group of guys that we've had."

• Impact of Key Players: Rayshawn Taylor is highlighted as a pivotal player for SIUE, praised for his academic achievements, work ethic, and positive influence on the team and community.

  Jim (17:03): "From an academic standpoint, from a work ethic standpoint, from a personality standpoint, he's truly someone that you want to have around your family, your team, your community."

• Bracketology and Tournament Predictions: Coach Barone engages with Matt and Myron in predicting outcomes of various conference tournament finals, offering strategic insights and personal connections to the teams involved.

  Jim (20:37): "I'm going with Bradley as well. High Point as well."

• Personal Reflections: Barone reflects on personal connections to past teams and the significance of potentially facing renowned programs like Duke.

  Jim (19:19): "My dad played on the 1966 Final Four team at Duke."

7. NCAA Basketball Tournament Predictions with Coach Barone

In a collaborative segment, Coach Barone joins Matt and Myron to predict winners of several conference tournament finals, adding an expert perspective to the analysis.

Predicted Games and Outcomes:

• Big South Championship (Winthrop vs. High Point):
  All hosts and Coach Barone favor High Point due to their winning streak and standout players.

  Myron (20:28): "High Point has been on a winning streak... Definitely High Point."

• Atlantic Sun Championship (North Alabama vs. Lipscomb):
  The consensus leans towards North Alabama, citing their low turnover percentage and efficient gameplay.

  Matt (20:48): "I'll take North Alabama to pull the upset today against Lipscomb."

• MVC Tournament Final (Bradley vs. Drake):
  While Matt and Myron prefer Drake due to their strong performance, Coach Barone opts for Bradley, influenced by personal connections and team dynamics.

  Jim (22:16): "I'm going with Bradley."

• Summit League Championship (St. Thomas of Minnesota vs. Omaha):
  Predictions are split, with Matt and Myron favoring Omaha, whereas Coach Barone supports St. Thomas, based on firsthand experience.

  Myron (24:11): "St. Thomas wins. The Tommies are coming."

8. Conclusion

The episode culminates with heartfelt thanks to Coach Barone and a recap of the engaging discussions. Matt and Myron reiterate the podcast's availability across various platforms, ensuring listeners can tune in every Sunday morning.

Myron (24:32): "Thanks for listening to Matt and Myron the Podcast. You can listen to the show live every Sunday morning at 10am Eastern on ESPN Radio, the ESPN app, and on SiriusXM Channel 80."

Key Takeaways:

• Miles Garrett's Future: Cemented with the Browns through a substantial contract, indicating Cleveland's commitment to Garrett.

• Browns' Quarterback Strategy: Likely sticking with Kirk Cousins, with skepticism about investing high draft picks in new quarterbacks.

• Giants' Potential Pursuit of Aaron Rodgers: A debated topic with varied perspectives, highlighting the complexities of NFL quarterback acquisitions.

• SIUE's Tournament Run: Under Coach Barone, SIUE exemplifies team loyalty and character, aiming for notable success in the NCAA tournament.

• Conference Tournament Predictions: Insightful predictions blending statistical analysis and personal connections, enhancing the understanding of NCAA basketball dynamics.

Note: The episode notably excludes advertisements, intros, and outros, focusing solely on the substantive content and discussions relevant to sports enthusiasts.