GBF- Dolores and the Penultimate BCS

Summary

Podcast Summary: GBF- Dolores and the Penultimate BCS

Podcast Information:

• Title: The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
• Hosts: Dan Le Batard, Stugotz
• Episode: GBF- Dolores and the Penultimate BCS
• Release Date: December 6, 2024
• Location: Elser Hotel, Downtown Miami

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1. Introduction

The episode kicks off with humorous and repetitive sponsor messages for Smirnoff and Allstate, highlighting the show's playful banter among hosts Dan Le Batard and Stugotz. By [02:12], briefly acknowledging the sponsors, the hosts dive into the main content.

2. BCS Rankings and College Football Playoffs

A significant portion of the episode centers on the Penultimate BCS Rankings, with hosts Mikey A, Chris Simms, and Dan Le Batard dissecting the current standings and potential playoff outcomes.

• Critical Analysis: Dan expresses frustration with commentator Al Michaels mislabeling Tim Patrick as a former "Bronco great" ([03:22]), leading to an animated discussion about Tim Patrick's actual performance and reputation.

• Dan Campbell and the Lions: The hosts praise Detroit Lions' head coach Dan Campbell for turning around the team's performance ([06:27]). Mikey A critiques Campbell's aggressive strategies, suggesting they might jeopardize the team's future playoff chances ([07:40]).

• Playoff Predictions: Mikey A introduces their own BCS ranking system, humorously named "Billy C for Michael and Stu," which controversially ranks teams like Indiana Hoosiers and Northern Illinois in the top tiers ([26:11]). They debate the inclusion of teams based on unconventional metrics, leading to playful disagreements and mockery of the ranking logic.

  • Notable Quote: "That's another deep dive that needs to be done. It's almost impossible for that guy not to get a head coaching job." — Dan Le Batard [20:22]

3. NFL Week 14 Picks

The conversation shifts to NFL Week 14, where the hosts and guests share their game picks and betting insights.

• Strategies Discussed: Emphasis on taking teams that are motivated to win versus those perceived as losing ("teams that think they're still playing for something") ([35:18], [46:43]).

• Notable Picks:

  • Dolphins vs. Jets: Consensus to back the Dolphins due to their motivation and home advantage ([124:27]).

  • Chargers vs. Chiefs: A heated debate ensues, with some favoring the Chargers due to perceived weaknesses in the Chiefs' defense, while others stick with the Chiefs' consistent performance ([131:35]).

  • Notable Quote: "Whenever I have a lousy team taking on a team that thinks they're still playing for something, I take the team that thinks they're still playing for something." — Billy Gill [124:35]

4. Guest Interview: Gordy Gronkowski

The highlight of the episode is an in-depth interview with Gordy Gronkowski, a standout college football quarterback from Syracuse University.

• Season Performance: Gordy discusses his leading passing statistics, how his transfer to Syracuse has revitalized his career, and his perspective on the evolving college football landscape due to the transfer portal and NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) changes ([56:19]).

• Challenges and Motivation: He reflects on pivotal games, such as the loss against Stanford and the significance of beating Miami, using these experiences as motivation to excel further ([72:09], [77:02]).

• Future Aspirations: Gordy contemplates his NFL prospects, balancing his final college game with draft preparations, and expresses interest in media opportunities post-football ([63:30], [75:03]).

  • Notable Quote: "There are more quarterbacks at more schools that don't traditionally have great quarterbacks. And they're able to compete. And I think that's exactly what happened here." — Gordy Gronkowski [62:09]

5. Listener Interaction and Picks

The episode features interactive segments where listeners and regular participants like Billy Gill, K. Funk, and Cheyenne share their game picks, often accompanied by humorous exchanges and friendly ribbing.

• Pick Highlights:

  • Bears vs. 49ers: Mixed picks with some backing the Bears despite their poor record, leading to laughs and playful disagreements ([130:23]).

  • Bengals vs. Cowboys: A contentious pick with some supporting the underdog Bengals and others favoring the favored Cowboys ([134:39]).

  • Notable Quote: "What you're doing is like, hey, everyone's professional on both sides and they're playing well. Two touchdowns is... that just seems way too mad." — K. Funk [133:35]

6. Conclusion and Closing Remarks

The episode wraps up with final game picks, promotional segments for DraftKings Sportsbook, and light-hearted conversations about personal anecdotes and future episodes.

• Final Picks Summary: A recap of all game predictions with varying degrees of confidence and humor from the hosts and guests ([136:21]).

• Promotions: Multiple ad segments for DraftKings, Simplisafe, and other sponsors are included seamlessly into the conversation.

  • Notable Quote: "If you have a lousy team taking on a team that thinks they're still playing for something, I take the team that thinks they're still playing for something." — Billy Gill [124:35]

7. Notable Quotes and Moments

• Dan Le Batard [03:22]: "At no point in Tim Patrick's career was Tim Patrick ever great. What is Al Michaels doing?"
• Mikey A [26:11]: Introducing their unconventional BCS rankings with humor and skepticism.
• Gordy Gronkowski [62:09]: "I'm here." — Emphasizing his commitment to Syracuse.
• K. Funk [133:35]: "Two touchdowns is... that just seems way too mad." — Highlighting skepticism in pick logic.

8. Insights and Takeaways

• BCS Ranking Critiques: The hosts express frustration with the current BCS ranking system, suggesting it sometimes includes teams based on non-traditional metrics, leading to questionable playoff qualifications.

• Impact of Transfer Portal and NIL: Guests highlight how recent changes in college football have democratized team strengths, allowing for more competitive and unpredictable seasons.

• Future of Playoffs: Suggestions include altering conference championship games or adopting a more transparent and dynamic playoff selection process to better reflect team performances.

• Player Development: Gordy Gronkowski's journey underscores the significance of player transfers and adaptability in achieving personal and team success.

9. Conclusion

The episode of The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz offers a vibrant mix of sports analysis, playful interactions, and insightful interviews. From dissecting the complexities of the BCS rankings to celebrating individual athlete performances, the hosts and guests provide a comprehensive and entertaining exploration of the current sports landscape. Notably, Gordy Gronkowski's interview adds depth, offering listeners a firsthand look into the challenges and triumphs of a rising college quarterback navigating the evolving dynamics of college football.

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Note: This summary excludes repetitive advertisement segments and focuses solely on the substantive discussions and interactions pertinent to the episode's themes.

Transcript

[Dan Le Batard]

You're listening to DraftKings Network. Stugatz here. I want to thank the folks over at Smirnoff for being a loyal sponsor to both God Bless Football and the Dan Levitar show, which two gods. Smirnoff knows there is no I in football. Football is a we thing, an experience that is best enjoyed together with good drinks and good folks. Smirnoff is the world's number one vodka and is an official vodka partner of the NFL. And this year there are more opportunities to watch watch football and make delicious Smirnoff cocktails than ever before over the holiday season, from Thanksgiving to Black Friday and Christmas, Smirnoff and the NFL are with you every step of the way. So this holiday season when you are enjoying the game and your cocktails, please make sure to drink responsibly. Take a minute, make a plan. Never drive. Impaired Smirnoff. We do game days. Please drink responsibly. Smirnoff number 21 vodka distilled from grain, 40% alcohol by volume. The Smirnoff Company, New York, New York. Please do not share with anyone under legal drinking age. Stugatz here. I want to thank the folks over at Smirnoff for being a loyal sponsor to both God Bless Football and the Dan Levitar Show With Stugatz. Smirnoff knows there is no eye in football. Football is a we thing, an experience that is best enjoyed together with good drinks and good folks. Smirnoff is the world's number one vodka and is an official vodka partner of the NFL. And this year there are more opportunities to watch football and make delicious Smirnoff cocktails than ever before. Over the holiday season, from Thanksgiving to Black Friday and Christmas, Smirnoff and the NFL are with you every step of the so this holiday season when you are enjoying the game and your cocktails, please make sure to drink responsibly. Take a minute, make a plan. Never drive Impaired Smirnoff. We do game days. Please drink responsibly. Smirnoff number 21 vodka distilled from grain, 40% alcohol by volume. The Smirnoff Company, New York, New York. Please do not share with anyone under legal drinking age.

[Emma Chamberlain]

Hey, it's Emma Chamberlain. I designed these new glasses for Warby Parker and I basically can't take them off.

[Dan Le Batard]

Like I'm showering in them and sleeping in them. They're just that good.

[Stugatz]

Go see them [e-mail] and you know what? Have a good day too.

[Dan Le Batard]

Okay?

[Stugatz]

All right.

[Dan Le Batard]

Bye.

[Billy Gill]

This episode is brought to you by Allstate.

[Dan Le Batard]

Some people just know they could save.

[Billy Gill]

Hundreds on car insurance by checking Allstate First. Like, you know, to check the date of the big game first before you.

[Dan Le Batard]

Accidentally buy tickets on your 20th wedding.

[Billy Gill]

Anniversary and have to spend the next 20 years of your marriage making up for it.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah, checking first.

[Billy Gill]

First is smart.

[Dan Le Batard]

So check Allstate first for a quote.

[Billy Gill]

That could save you hundreds. You're in good hands with Allstate Savings. Vary terms apply. Allstate Fire and Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates, Northbrook, Illinois.

[Dan Le Batard]

God bless football. Billy Gill.

[Mikey A]

God bless football. Mikey. Eh?

[Chris Simms]

God bless football.

[Stugatz]

Stugotts, go.

[Mikey A]

I was hoping you were gonna say God bless football. Fuentes. Even though we know he's not even in the zoom.

[Chris Simms]

Thought about it.

[Dan Le Batard]

Thought about it.

[Mikey A]

We know he's not even in the zoom. That game. Packers, Lions, huh?

[Dan Le Batard]

Oh, what a game.

[Mikey A]

The Tim Patrick game. Some are calling it the Tim Patrick game.

[Dan Le Batard]

I yelled at the no.1's fight when Al Michaels was calling Tim Patrick a former Bronco great. At no point in Tim Patrick's career was Tim Patrick ever great. What is Al Michaels doing?

[Mikey A]

He's never been doing great.

[Dan Le Batard]

It's something against Tim Patrick. It's Al Michaels who used to be great but isn't great anymore. I mean, that's all. Sorry. I don't know why I'm yelling about this.

[Mikey A]

It's odd. I don't know why you're so angry about this.

[Dan Le Batard]

It's weird you brought up Tim Patrick.

[Mikey A]

He had a couple of seasons.

[Chris Simms]

He had a couple of catches.

[Stugatz]

He had a.

[Dan Le Batard]

Hold on a second. Mikey, Mikey. Of those couple of seasons, would you classify any of them as great?

[Mikey A]

20. 20. He had 51 reception, 742 yards and six touchdowns.

[Dan Le Batard]

So that's great. That's. That's okay.

[Chris Simms]

Tight end numbers, right?

[Dan Le Batard]

If he did that in four games.

[Mikey A]

Yeah, yeah.

[Dan Le Batard]

Tim Patrick.

[Mikey A]

Yes.

[Dan Le Batard]

Listen, my apologies to Tim. To Tim Patrick and the Patrick family. It has nothing to do with him. He's a fine player. It has everything to do without Michaels getting caught up in the moment, not knowing who Tim Patrick was.

[Mikey A]

Fine player. You did not know Tim Patrick's name until yesterday.

[Dan Le Batard]

Well, I did. I had him on my fantasy team when he was in Denver that one year.

[Chris Simms]

I might have included. I might have sprinkled a little Tim Patrick stats in a parlay last night. Might have sprinkled them in.

[Dan Le Batard]

Really? Yeah.

[Mikey A]

What'd you have? What'd you have him doing?

[Chris Simms]

I missed.

[Dan Le Batard]

I.

[Chris Simms]

Well, I had him over 40 yards something like that, you know.

[Mikey A]

By the way, we're presented by Smirnoff. We do game day. Please drink responsibly. The Smirnoff Company, New York, NY. Also presented by Smirnoff. Our watch along this Sunday. It's going to be a vivo at Dolphin Hall. Mikey A is coming down. Scott's going to be there. I'm going to be there. Some people from the Lerd show are going to be there. Pass on by. We're going to be there from 1 to 5 ish. But try to get there a little early if you want to find some parking because it is holiday time and it is a mall so it will probably be busy. But Dolphins, jets must lose. For the Jets, I believe Mike EA and Stugotts are calling this one. So let's see if they can lose together. Also presented by Smirnoff. Our weekly fantasy contest. Just go to DKNG co Smirnoff. If you want to compete against us, you can win some money. Mikey didn't win any money last week. Our friend Thomas from the show who does, you know, some videos and social stuff, he finished in the money last week, which is exciting for him. I thought that we were gonna. I thought I was gonna finish the money. I actually thought because I had the rare lot of four o'clock starters. I was in like the mid one hundreds. I was like in the mid one hundreds at one o'clock and I was like, oh boy. When four o'clock comes, the two lane green wave is coming. I don't have anyone that was on Tulane. I just wanted to say a wave of switch was coming and I was going to jump all the way up to first place because I stacked my roster. I stacked my roster with the big names. All of them did nothing. I finished in the mid-1100s. It was a very disappointing 4 o'clock slate for me. Anyways, Dan Campbell, huh?

[Dan Le Batard]

He's got some balls, huh? Maybe he really does. By the way, the lions, they had one 12 win season before Dan Campbell arrived. Dan Campbell now has two. I mean, for the Lions, I mean that's insane. It really. The fact that he has turned around, that, that guy has turned around that lousy organization really is incredible. And you can't give them enough credit. You really can't.

[Mikey A]

Yeah, yeah, you can't. But. And this is where like I'm going to be like a negative Nancy. Yeah, I thought, I thought that we lost this version of Dan Campbell when we were settling for field goal wins earlier in the year. Lo and behold, Dan Campbell is back, going for it in field goal range. Tie game, fourth and inches, when he can easily kick a field goal. Jared Goff then trips and falls, almost botches that play. Everyone was shocked that they actually ran a play. They just assumed he was trying to get them to jump off sides. And then, you know, we survived that one. Let's run it again. One more just to put it right in the spot where we want. On the field for a field goal, where anything could have happened there. You could have botched a snap. You could have turned. Like, anything could have happened. But credit to Dan Campbell because he won.

[Dan Le Batard]

But, yeah, I feel like he might cost him one.

[Mikey A]

I feel like we might be headed towards a repeat of last year's playoffs where we get a little overly aggressive and we end up costing our team a game.

[Dan Le Batard]

So on the front end of that game, Campbell told his team, Billy, because all the guys on starters, on defense were hurt. He said, I'm going to be aggressive. The packers are really good. Their offense is really good. We're going to be aggressive. Play most drives as if I'm going to go for it on fourth down. And so I guess the Lions did. So. You know, he went forward in his own territory at one point. You're right. He might cost team a game. I know. And they missed it. He might cost. He might cost his team a game. He might cost his team a shot at winning the Super Bowl. But what he has done is made the Lions the most relevant they've ever been in my lifetime.

[Chris Simms]

So I'd love to hear, like, from some of the players, like, in an honest conversation, like, do you want. Are you sitting there going like. Like, he's not really going to go for this? Like, there's no way we should be doing this. Let's just play it smart. Let's kick this field goal, let's punt this ball, and let's just play. And he. There's like, nope, we're going to do it. Or are they like, yes, this is what we want.

[Dan Le Batard]

I think they. I think they back him up again. I told you. He told his team before the game, we're going to be aggressive. We're going to. We're going to go for it, right? Well, he won. I mean, yeah.

[Chris Simms]

I mean, how could you not back him up?

[Mikey A]

Also, at 12 and 1, you do have the luxury, too, of, like, ah, if they botch it. Okay, whatever. We lost one. And that's the game that Stugats has been saying they should lose for a while now. Even Though you don't want to lose to the packers like that.

[Dan Le Batard]

That's the one you want to win.

[Mikey A]

Yeah, that's a big game. And by the way, great game. We thought early on, me and Mikey were talking, we thought, oh, this one's a stinker. This is just a Thursday night. This one's going to get away from them in the first half. Classic tale of two halves yesterday.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yes. I believe there were five lead changes in the second half.

[Chris Simms]

In the first, like 10 possessions. But, Billy, you said, you said that they could afford to lose one. They had two. They have two teams, like one game behind them. Like losing one might cost you the one seed.

[Dan Le Batard]

No, no, no, Mikey, when I'm saying lose one, you don't lose one to Green Bay. You don't lose one to Minnesota. What I'm saying you need to lose one. You need to lose one to Carolina.

[Chris Simms]

To Buffalo next week.

[Dan Le Batard]

No, no, not to Buffalo. You don't want to lose to Buffalo.

[Chris Simms]

It's a perfect.

[Dan Le Batard]

No, no, losing to Buffalo is a.

[Mikey A]

Perfect loss next week to the Bears. That's a good loss the following week to the Bears.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yes, Billy, good loss. You. It allows you. No, Mikey, Mikey, from a coaching standpoint, just hear us out for a second, okay?

[Stugatz]

Go ahead.

[Dan Le Batard]

You can't humble your team. You can't reset your team if they lose a close game to Green Bay or a close game to Buffalo. You can if they lose to an inferior team like Chicago. That's all.

[Chris Simms]

You're thinking too small. You got to go bigger. You got to go, who they going to play in the Super Bowl? Who are they going to play in the Super Bowl? You want to go back and go, you guys lost to this team, now you've got to work twice as hard because we're going to beat them. This is who you're aiming for. That's why you want to lose to Buffalo.

[Mikey A]

You know what? Mikey's convinced me. Some would say that this game against the Bills, and this is. This is a rare one, some would say that this game against the Bills is a pull out, all the stops game. I would say. I would say leave some stops in. Leave some stops for the Super Bowl. Leave a stop or two in there. So then come super bowl time, they're like, man, last time we played, McDermott's there and he's looking at. Looking at game. I was like, man, they pulled out all the stops in the regular season, week 14, 15, whatever, and Dan Campbell comes Super bowl time. If this is indeed the matchup, boom, here's A new stop. Boom. Here's a new stop. Boom, boom, boom. Stops are back in play that we thought were pulled out during the regular season. Mikey. While it is a statement game and while some think this might be a pull out all the stops game, this might be a stop game, might be a stop game, and might be a loss. That then turns it into a revenge game.

[Dan Le Batard]

Comes a Super bowl revenge game.

[Mikey A]

Revenge game.

[Dan Le Batard]

But.

[Mikey A]

But conversely, you have to get blown out.

[Dan Le Batard]

Billy. I'm just telling you right now, you can't lose a close game. The Buffalo can't humble your team. You got to get blown out by Buffalo if you're going to lose.

[Mikey A]

Hold on a second. But Buffalo is also telling their team the same thing. So this may actually be a stinker of a game where it's just full of stops. Both teams are putting stops in left and right because both teams want to have that super bowl revenge game. I think this could be a game potentially. Call me crazy. I think that this Lions Bill game.

[Dan Le Batard]

Could be a game both teams are trying to lose.

[Mikey A]

Either team wants to win. Neither team wants to win this one.

[Chris Simms]

Running hail Marys on every play like he used to do with Tech Mobile. Like, I'm just going to keep throwing it long. We'll catch one.

[Dan Le Batard]

How do we get to next week already? It's.

[Mikey A]

Time flies when you're having fun, man. That's what that game did. Start looking ahead to the calendar.

[Dan Le Batard]

We got college football championship weekend coming up at an entire slate of NFL games. And we're already out the Buffalo and Detroit.

[Mikey A]

Yeah, but like we do have a great championship weekend in college. But like, if we're being honest, kind of a stinker of a week of NFL games. Like the Sunday night game's okay, but like the other game, what's the big game we want to watch? It was this one. It happened already.

[Dan Le Batard]

It was last night. The Sunday night game's good. I think there's a 4 o'clock Sunday game that's pretty good as well. I believe there's. I believe there's one. So I think there's three big games this weekend.

[Mikey A]

Yeah, but one of them already passed, so we already moved on to next week. We're on the Cincinnati. I made Cowboys. Bengals on Monday. No, thank you. Is that. That's the Simpsons game, right?

[Stugatz]

Maybe I'll broadcast.

[Mikey A]

I'll watch this. You'll watch Philly, I guess. But like, aside from that, I don't even see a 4 o'clock game that I care about. I mean, there's Chargers, there's Chargers. And then like the Bears just kind of stink. They're out of it. I. Maybe.

[Dan Le Batard]

I mean, Seahawks, Cardinals might be for that division, so. Yeah, but no one cares about that division. Right? Dolphins.

[Mikey A]

Jets.

[Dan Le Batard]

Dolphins. Jets.

[Mikey A]

Yeah. Come watch with us.

[Chris Simms]

I mean, what are we doing?

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah, let's go.

[Mikey A]

Come watch it with us.

[Dan Le Batard]

4:00 slate, we're saying.

[Mikey A]

Yeah, yeah. We're talking 4:00. Everybody knows. 1:00. Locked up. Yeah. Yeah.

[Dan Le Batard]

Anyway, it's locked in.

[Mikey A]

Keep. Keep an eye on the Panthers, by the way.

[Dan Le Batard]

I know.

[Mikey A]

I think they're covering that. 12 and a half.

[Dan Le Batard]

I took him and Sticky guts.

[Mikey A]

Yeah.

[Dan Le Batard]

I hate that.

[Chris Simms]

We all agree.

[Mikey A]

Oh. You know, that means they're getting just.

[Dan Le Batard]

What do you mean? A 52 and 22 on the season or 30.

[Mikey A]

No, but I'm saying the fact that we all agree on it means that it's not.

[Dan Le Batard]

It means the Eagles are going to win. Five touchdowns.

[Mikey A]

Pulled out. What? Or stops. Whatever.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah.

[Chris Simms]

You know, you should keep an eye on the Tar Heels.

[Dan Le Batard]

Right.

[Mikey A]

Oh, my God. What is that?

[Chris Simms]

Keep an eye on him.

[Mikey A]

What is that?

[Chris Simms]

Star Heels.

[Mikey A]

Belichick is not going to coach there. Why did he even interview there?

[Dan Le Batard]

So this. This would be my guess. I agree with you that I don't think he's going to coach in college. By the way, it's funny. It's a funny sentence to say that if. If indeed Carolina hired him, they'd be getting younger at the head coaching position for Matt Brown. They went with the youth. I don't think. Yes. He's one year younger than Mac Billy. I think this is what he's doing. I think Belichick, as Adam Schefter said on Sports center last night, desperately wants to get back into the coaching game.

[Mikey A]

Yeah.

[Dan Le Batard]

And so he's just. We all know he wants to go to the NFL, but it just puts a little fear into the NFL teams that might be thinking about getting rid of their coach and maybe not thinking about Belichick yet. Perhaps this speeds up the process for.

[Mikey A]

He's creating urgency.

[Dan Le Batard]

He's creating urgency and leverage. Like, let's go. You know, before. Like, listen, if you guys are going to take your time on this, I'm going to go coach at unc.

[Mikey A]

Yeah. And here's. Here's what I say. If I'm the Bears. Have fun.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah.

[Gordy Gronkowski]

Right.

[Dan Le Batard]

I don't think he wants the Bears, Jeff.

[Chris Simms]

I also love.

[Mikey A]

What does he want? I don't think he's in a position. The Cowboys, I have no idea.

[Dan Le Batard]

Giants. I Think he wants to Giant, but.

[Mikey A]

He doesn't have a quarterback.

[Dan Le Batard]

He'll fall. Oh, you're right.

[Chris Simms]

He didn't have one for his time in New England.

[Dan Le Batard]

Like, who did they.

[Mikey A]

Can we. Okay, can we. At what point? At what point? So hold on a second. At what point do we. At what point do we question. I guess it's happened, but at what point do we sit down and seriously question. He got lucky with Brady. That was. That was lucky, right? He didn't. He didn't see anything there. That was just. We need a quarterback in case Drew gets hurt. Who's still on the board? Oh, Michigan, man. Okay, let's get that guy. But, like, it's lucky, right?

[Dan Le Batard]

A little deep dive. Yeah, I did that in stugatsbook.com by the way, My personal record book.

[Mikey A]

Yeah. A little lucky there with Tom Brady.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah, he did. I was told that he didn't want Brady at any point in that draft. Belichick, he fought them on Brady.

[Mikey A]

Your NFL sources.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yes. Taylor.

[Chris Simms]

By the way, I just love that it's North Carolina he's interviewing with. It's not Ohio State. It's not like, hey, if Alabama became open, I'd go to that. No, it's North Carolina.

[Mikey A]

Hey, can we start a movement right now?

[Dan Le Batard]

Tar Heels.

[Mikey A]

I'm getting emotional. Can we start a movement right now?

[Dan Le Batard]

Are you okay?

[Mikey A]

My cough is back.

[Dan Le Batard]

Oh, geez. I mean, Billy, you haven't stopped. I mean, it is. Oh, my God.

[Mikey A]

Are you.

[Dan Le Batard]

You all right?

[Mikey A]

I'm good. Can we. Can we start a movement right now?

[Dan Le Batard]

Sure.

[Mikey A]

As a show. There's an opening down here in South Florida. FIU is looking for a coach. I think the funniest thing ever would be Bill Belichick coming to coach FIU recruit him. I'm getting emotional.

[Dan Le Batard]

Are you just thinking about it?

[Mikey A]

Yeah.

[Dan Le Batard]

You want Ray Lewis?

[Mikey A]

I would take Bill Belichick over Ray Lewis.

[Dan Le Batard]

Would you?

[Mikey A]

Even though Fi Lou is right there, if he comes here? Yeah. I take Bill Belichick, though.

[Dan Le Batard]

Obviously, I would not pass up on the opportunity to take. It just fits. Yeah. What are you gonna do with Belichick then?

[Gordy Gronkowski]

I mean.

[Mikey A]

I mean, if Belichick isn't.

[Dan Le Batard]

Do you think Belichick and Pitfall.

[Mikey A]

Let me ask you a question. Do you think, wow, what a combination that would be on stage together, Belichick and Pitbull.

[Dan Le Batard]

Oh, my God.

[Mikey A]

You think Belichick showing up to your house to recruit you, like, as an 18 year old is like a positive? Like, you're like, oh, my gosh, it's Bill Belichick. You're like, what is this? I don't know if I want to. This guy.

[Dan Le Batard]

I was thinking about that last night.

[Mikey A]

Like, the Patriot Way doesn't seem like it would work with, like, the nil.

[Dan Le Batard]

Environment going on right now, I think. And he's. And he's best friends with Saban, or he's a very close friend of Saban, got out of the game because it's too confusing to him.

[Mikey A]

No, the idea that all of these, like, you know, dictator coaches are like, running for the hills and, like, I got to get out now before I get exposed. And then Belichick's like, now is the perfect time to get in the game. Makes no sense whatsoever. This might be the worst fake leverage I've ever seen in my entire life.

[Dan Le Batard]

I would only say this. Maybe Belichick thinks he's the kind of guy that can raise enough money to have a great college football program. I mean, I don't know. He is. He's a celebrity. He'd instantly become the biggest. He'd become the face of college football. He'd become the biggest name in college football.

[Chris Simms]

Who interviewed Easy.

[Mikey A]

Well, that's what we were saying. That's what we were saying with the Falcons last year. Remember, we're like, yeah, Belichick's interviewing the Falcons. And then they're like, come in for a second one. And they're like, no, thank you.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah, who is interviewing who, by the way?

[Chris Simms]

Belichick. Walk in and take the guy who's interviewing. Does he just sit at his desk and be like, so tell me why I should take this job?

[Dan Le Batard]

Well, yes. Tell me the direction of this program, please.

[Mikey A]

Did you. What's your five year plan? Did you see? Did you see? And we haven't talked about it, but like, Eric B. Enemy, very quietly, he's out at UCLA as O.C. we're like three years removed from. He's going to be the next head coach that everybody wants to. He didn't get head coaching jobs. So then he leaves Kansas City, goes to Washington. Kansas City didn't look right. We were saying, hey, maybe this is an Eric B. Enemy thing. Kansas City goes on to win the Super Bowl. He's over at ucla and now he's out at ucla. Like, what's going on with him? This crazy. That ball.

[Dan Le Batard]

That should be. That's. That's another deep dive that needs to be done. It's almost impossible for that guy not to get a head coaching job. And now he's basically out of football.

[Mikey A]

Well, no, he Keeps losing. Well, he keeps losing coordinator jobs. So like at we all thought, hey, it seems like a perfect fit as a head coach, but now he's, he's losing his coordinator jobs.

[Dan Le Batard]

No, Billy, that's my point. I'm saying when you lose the job that he just lost, I'd be hard pressed to think that someone else is going to hire him to be their offensive coordinator. Like, this guy was at the top. He was at the pinnacle of the sport as the OC for the Chiefs winning Super Bowls with Patrick Mahomes as his quarterback. And if he couldn't parlay that into a head coaching job, there has to be something that we're not hearing about seeing. We've, we're never going to learn. And Seth Wickersham needs to do a deep dive and figure out what the hell happened to Eric B. Enemy.

[Chris Simms]

That's all UCLA had, the 117th ranked offense. Like, that's, that's not that you have to try to be that bad almost.

[Mikey A]

Right per game also.

[Chris Simms]

Oh no, I agree, but there's obviously, I think everybody just understood, at least in NFL circles, that it wasn't Eric B. Enemy that was the architect of this great offense. It was all Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes and they weren't going to fall for the trap of, well, let's just go get the OC of the best offense and hope that it translates into.

[Dan Le Batard]

A great head coach. Here's the problem. Detroit Soc is about to get any job he wants. I mean, how do we know it's any different there than it was with Kansas City?

[Chris Simms]

But he doesn't, because he doesn't have Patrick Mahomes and he doesn't have Andy Reid. So you can look at Detroit's OC and go, okay, I see he took Jared Goff and he, and he made this reclamation project and turned him into this can't miss, can't throw an incompletion type quarterback. And he did it without an offensive genius in front of him. Whereas Eric B. Enemy kind of just did it with like, hey, Patrick Mahomes, go make a play. Yay, you did it.

[Mikey A]

It also isn't like the Patriot system, right? Where the Patriots, you'd leave, then their coordinator, the replaced, you would leave because he'd get a head coaching job and then you'd come right back. Matt Nagy, I think knows, first of all, no one's, no one's looking around saying, wow, Kansas City, we need, we need to take Matt Nagy back from the Chiefs. We need to make him our Head coach. So I don't think he's going anywhere. So it's not even like Eric Banami is going to come back and get his old job as Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator. I don't think.

[Dan Le Batard]

No, he's not. I would say of. Of the coordinators on the Chiefs, the one who has the best chance of getting a head coaching job next year is Spags. You're right. Mikey is right. There is. There is something. When you're the OC for Patrick Mahomes, you probably don't get nearly the credit that. That maybe you deserve because everyone just assumes that, hey, you're doing a good job because Mahomes is the greatest quarterback that's ever led. But the offense hasn't been great this year. It's the defense that's been great.

[Mikey A]

So I don't want Spags. Yeah, you don't want Spags. What?

[Dan Le Batard]

I don't want Spags to be a head coach again. I mean, I know he wants to be a head coach, but how can it get any better for Spags that he has it right now?

[Mikey A]

I mean, let me tell you something. When Spags came in and we saw him, that was a hap. That was. That was a happy man. It may have just been the bye week. That was a happy man. That's a man. He does not need the stresses of being a head coach at this point in his life.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yes. Thank you.

[Mikey A]

Hey, be happy with the situation you're in. Spags. Like, granted, I know you probably have that itch. You want to go out there. It didn't work the first time around, but like Spags, come on. We know you. We were. We were together for 25 minutes, probably. We know you. Yeah, take it easy, man. You deserve it. Kick your feet up.

[Dan Le Batard]

Don't.

[Mikey A]

Don't do the head coaching thing. You don't need that in your life.

[Dan Le Batard]

You come down here, you hang out with me and Billy. We do some fishing, we go boating, a little golf. You go out for dinner, you know, you go out for dinner with your wife, you don't have to take notes because you're not anymore.

[Mikey A]

Exactly. Right. And the whole sneaking off to the bathroom to take notes like you were doing in the off week against the 49ers. Look at the 49ers now. What a waste that was. You know what I mean? You should have just enjoyed the day with Dolores or whatever your wife's name is.

[Dan Le Batard]

Right? And head coach, you have no time for Dolores. Whatever you want.

[Mikey A]

No time. No time for Dolores or whatever your Wife's name is, you know, take it easy. Collect some ring. Collect some rings. Yeah, collect some rings. Then if Patrick, you know, when he's on his way out or if he gets hurt or whatever, that's when you make the jump. You know what I mean? But until then, enjoy the time with Dolores or whatever her name is.

[Chris Simms]

Head coaching is a younger man's game. Like for Bill Belichick.

[Mikey A]

Yeah, exactly right. Exactly right.

[Dan Le Batard]

Desperately trying to find the name.

[Mikey A]

If it's Dolores. If it's Dolores.

[Dan Le Batard]

It's not Dolores.

[Mikey A]

It is, though. Oh, he's married to Maria.

[Dan Le Batard]

It's Maria. I knew it.

[Mikey A]

Oh, so close.

[Dan Le Batard]

Hey, I gotta.

[Chris Simms]

I gotta check into my flight to Miami.

[Dan Le Batard]

Hey. Yes. Loves you.

[Mikey A]

We gotta check in with Golic. Why don't we do that?

[Dan Le Batard]

All right, we have. We have Kyle McCord coming up on the show a little bit later. We have Chris Sims on the show as well. I got my picks. We got a lot going on on the show today, but Mike Gulick is going to join us coming up next. I don't know why I'm so outraged about Tim Patrick. I am. I am. I apologize to the entire Patrick family. Sorry. My goal.

[Mikey A]

And we apologize to Maria, not Dolores.

[Dan Le Batard]

No, you apologize to Maria. I didn't call it the Lord.

[Mikey A]

You did.

[Dan Le Batard]

I was going along with a bit.

[Mikey A]

Mike, big day. Did they tell you yet?

[Mike Golick]

No. If they told me, I wouldn't. Come on.

[Mikey A]

Tis the season. Mike Golick, we have for you our first of two BCS rankings on the year.

[Dan Le Batard]

You know, Billy. Billy. He makes that sound yet. I think there's been a couple of times on the show throughout this season where Mike has said we should just go back to the bcs. I mean.

[Mike Golick]

Oh, yeah.

[Mikey A]

And we're back.

[Chris Simms]

And he meant this one.

[Mikey A]

He meant this one.

[Mike Golick]

Well, yeah. Okay. To make you guys feel good. Yes, I meant yours.

[Dan Le Batard]

Okay. All right, so Billy is going to walk you through this here. So, Billy, walk us through the latest.

[Mikey A]

Oh, boy.

[Dan Le Batard]

First. The first bcs. I have a few. I have a few legitimate questions for Golic afterwards. But let's. Let's go through the BCS first here.

[Mikey A]

So we're jumping right into this. Wow, Mike. Okay. It is a big season in the bcs, as everybody knows. It's the Billy C for Michael and Stu. Got rankings. The bcs. And we had changes this year in the playoffs. In both the college football playoffs and also the bcs. The college football playoffs have expanded, as Everybody knows, to 12 teams. The BCS did expansion first. Where the BCS. The past couple seasons has been six teams right now. Big changes with the expansion of the cfp. The BCS said, you know what, let's take a look at this and look at it we did take. And we made a change too. We contracted our playoff this year is three teams.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yep.

[Mike Golick]

Three.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah, three. Yep, three teams. Number one seed gets a buy to the championship.

[Mikey A]

Well, to be determined who gets the buy. But three teams right now at the moment. Yeah.

[Dan Le Batard]

Interesting.

[Mikey A]

Wow.

[Chris Simms]

You might give it to the number three team.

[Dan Le Batard]

We don't know yet.

[Mike Golick]

This is so. Oh, so you have the three teams but you don't have them ranked yet.

[Mikey A]

Well, no, no, no, no. We have an initial rank.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah.

[Chris Simms]

Amateur hour.

[Mikey A]

We thank you, Mikey. Mikey gets it. No, then the number one.

[Mike Golick]

Then the number one team gets the buy.

[Mikey A]

Well, to be determined we'll fit. Well, look, this is not the final BCS rankings yet. This is the penultimate. The both initial and penultimate BCS rankings on the season headed championship weekend.

[Dan Le Batard]

I got carried away, Billy. My apologies. You're right. We have not established who the one seed is with the.

[Mikey A]

Don't tip our hands.

[Mike Golick]

I like the initial and penultimate all in one. That, that is impressive.

[Mikey A]

We're efficient. We don't want to dilly dally. You know, some of these ranking systems go out there and they'll just throw teams against the wall and see what sticks. Knowing we're just going to move around, up, down, all around as the season goes on. Not us. No, we take this seriously. This is serious business.

[Chris Simms]

Look at the advanced, advanced metrics.

[Mike Golick]

You guys have cut the. You guys have cut the fat is.

[Mikey A]

What you have the fat out of it.

[Dan Le Batard]

I'm still here.

[Chris Simms]

I'm still here.

[Mike Golick]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Mikey A]

So as. As it always goes, Mike, we. We have our three teams that are in right now and then we have an Oli and an Ooli so that you know who's still in the mix headed into championship weekend.

[Mike Golick]

Okay.

[Mikey A]

All right, Mikey, you want to kick us off with the first team with number one?

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah.

[Mikey A]

We start as always with number one.

[Dan Le Batard]

Number one for now.

[Chris Simms]

Yes, number one for now. And Mike, I don't think you'll disagree here. Number one, Oregon. The Ducks 12, 0 out of the Big Ten. But what you might not know is why they're number one. They are number one because they lead the country in tot hly ety kic. The only team that hasn't lost yet. Even though you know it's coming.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yep. Ah, well, yeah, yeah, yeah. I actually agree with that.

[Mikey A]

You know it, you know it's coming.

[Stugatz]

All right.

[Mike Golick]

You guys are one for one with me.

[Dan Le Batard]

All right. Okay. All right. Number two, Mike, out of the SEC. This is our. The BCS's second ranked team here again out of the SEC, which is weird, but it is Texas. The Longhorns are 11 and 1 and they lead the country. Country, Mike, In a very important metric. That metric is a Arch.

[K. Funk]

Yep.

[Mike Golick]

But Arch doesn't play.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah, sure does.

[Chris Simms]

The only one.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah.

[Mikey A]

You need. If you need him, he's there. Mike.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yep.

[Mikey A]

Are you saying Texas shouldn't be number two?

[Mike Golick]

So Texas is number two because of Arch.

[Mikey A]

Why are you saying they shouldn't be number two?

[Dan Le Batard]

No.

[Chris Simms]

Because they lead the country in Arch.

[Dan Le Batard]

They lead the.

[Mikey A]

Should they not be number two?

[Dan Le Batard]

Yes.

[Mike Golick]

No, they should be number two.

[Mikey A]

What's the gripe here?

[Dan Le Batard]

Right?

[Mike Golick]

It's not sure the reasoning.

[Dan Le Batard]

Well, because if they're. Listen, if they're starting quarterback goes down, they have a Arch.

[Mikey A]

I don't understand. So we give a transparency that the CFP committee doesn't. And we give you our reasons. And our reasons aren't good enough. Even though the team is there and you are admitting that it's the right team.

[Mike Golick]

But they're. Yeah, they're 11 and 1. Not because of Arch.

[Dan Le Batard]

Wow.

[Mikey A]

He's got some of the. He's got some of them in there. I mean, some of that 11 is A.

[Mike Golick]

So 18% of it is Arch.

[Chris Simms]

Is. Is there another team that has more Arch?

[Dan Le Batard]

Right?

[Mikey A]

Yeah. Is there A team with 18% of their wins because of Arch?

[Dan Le Batard]

A can also stand for ace in a pocket. You know they have the ace in the pocket, Mike. You know they have Arch in case yours goes down.

[Mikey A]

Let's not get bogged down. I think we all agree so far.

[Mike Golick]

Yeah, Yeah, I agree.

[Mikey A]

Texas too. All right, all right, all right.

[Dan Le Batard]

Billy, number three, please.

[Mikey A]

How do you feel about Texas toast? You just said Texas too. Ruined me a Texas toast.

[Mike Golick]

I'm a fan.

[Dan Le Batard]

Who doesn't love Texas toast?

[Mike Golick]

Oh.

[Mikey A]

All right, Mike. Number three in the country out of the Big ten.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah.

[Mikey A]

The Indiana Hoosier.

[Dan Le Batard]

Congratulations.

[Mikey A]

Congrats to Hoosier. Remember, this is not the. The final rankings. This is the penultimate rankings. And while Indiana doesn't play, there might be a shake up here there. You never know. But at the moment, Indiana leads the country in I a Y o t t D W I w w b T T H W I O n t T W a T H a R I P a T Big stat.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah.

[Mikey A]

In a year of trying to determine who is who, who better than The Hoosiers. Who is our number three team? Who are the Hoosiers? Alex. Rest in peace. Alex Trebek.

[K. Funk]

Yep.

[Dan Le Batard]

Makes sense.

[Stugatz]

Big category.

[Dan Le Batard]

You like it, Mike? What do you think? Indiana.

[Mike Golick]

You guys never cease to amaze me.

[Dan Le Batard]

What do you mean?

[Mike Golick]

I. I have no idea what that reasoning is. Zero clue.

[Mikey A]

Who's who? The Hoosiers.

[Dan Le Batard]

Right. Yeah. Who's who?

[Mike Golick]

The Hoosiers.

[Dan Le Batard]

Right.

[Mikey A]

God bless. Yeah, you space it out a little. So go. It rolls out the who's who. The who.

[Mike Golick]

Jers.

[Mikey A]

Yeah. You space it out. Rest in peace. Alex Trebek.

[Dan Le Batard]

Of course.

[Mike Golick]

So you're basing everything out of a rhyme and Alex Trebek.

[Mikey A]

Well, just the three.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah.

[Mikey A]

Let's move on to four. We're getting you bogged down.

[Dan Le Batard]

This is the Oli, Mike.

[Mikey A]

Number four is first Oli team. Mike, as you guys just said, I'm not sure if you caught it. So this team outside looking in, they.

[Dan Le Batard]

Have a chance to get in though still because they have a game to play. So our number four team according to the BCS, Mike army, the Black Knights, 10 and one out of the American, the most important conference. And of course they lead the country in tyf. Thank you for your service.

[Mike Golick]

Yeah, listen.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah.

[Mike Golick]

Very, very rarely can I argue when you. When you put the military in and they do have a game against Tulane.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah.

[Mike Golick]

So they do have a chance to move up.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah.

[Mike Golick]

Yeah. Okay. I. You'll never get an argument for me out of the. Out of the armed services. Even though.

[Chris Simms]

Unless they're playing Notre Dame.

[Dan Le Batard]

Right.

[Mike Golick]

They shouldn't be that high.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah.

[Mike Golick]

Unless it's not.

[Dan Le Batard]

They shouldn't be that high. He couldn't resist himself.

[Mikey A]

Yeah. Geez, Mike.

[Mike Golick]

We'Re sorry, you know, but I respect you.

[Chris Simms]

All right, should we get to our second oli?

[Dan Le Batard]

Yes. Number five. Go ahead. Mikey.

[Chris Simms]

A out of the sec.

[Dan Le Batard]

Alabama.

[Mike Golick]

You guys couldn't resist. Couldn't resist.

[Chris Simms]

Well, Mike, when a team is so good in Y, C, H, A P, W, T, W T, Y, R, N, T, A, N, F, P, C, T, G, I, N, W, you gotta put them in. You gotta put em at least close to it.

[Dan Le Batard]

Right.

[Mikey A]

How can you argue it?

[Chris Simms]

Yeah, I mean, that means you can't have a playoff without them. And we're telling you right now there's a 95% chance they're going in next week. And that's all because they, of course, are big in ns. Mac, Nick Saban made a call.

[Mikey A]

He did?

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah. Yes.

[Mikey A]

Yeah.

[Mike Golick]

Listen, Alabama is always the magnet, aren't they? They are always the focal point.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yes.

[Mike Golick]

So I. I understand that, though. They have no game to play either. Indiana has no game to play.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah, but they have.

[Mikey A]

Well, they're out right now.

[Chris Simms]

It doesn't matter.

[Mikey A]

You can't out at the moment.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Mikey A]

Right now they're out.

[Mike Golick]

Well, right now you are going to have a playoff without them because there.

[Mikey A]

Is that 95% chance.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yes. Yes. We'll see how many calls Saban makes this week. We'll see. We'll get back.

[Mike Golick]

What, in fact would put Indiana in. Would that be obviously Oregon or Texas losing?

[Mikey A]

Let's finish seeing the rankings first, Mike, and then maybe it'll make more sense. You'll see how things will play out.

[Mike Golick]

I thought we were done.

[Mikey A]

No.

[Chris Simms]

Oh, no.

[Mikey A]

It's the outside. Outside looking. Yeah.

[Dan Le Batard]

One more level out. Just.

[Mikey A]

Yeah, just.

[Dan Le Batard]

Just 10 teams to go. Go ahead, Mikey. Who's up next here? Billy, I'm sorry. Go ahead.

[Mikey A]

All right. Number six, Mike. Ten and two out of the sec, the Georgia Bulldog.

[Chris Simms]

Yeah, this was a good one.

[Mikey A]

They were a favorite headed into the season. Impressive. The past couple of seasons, people said, you know what this is? This is the biggest team in the country. No one can fight them, unfortunately. Mike. B, L, T O M S K T O B A Q, L, T A K, T. A bad loss to Ole Miss should have keep them out, but a quality loss to Alabama keeps them alive.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah.

[Mike Golick]

So let me ask.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah, please.

[Mike Golick]

They're sitting at six and you take the top three. If Georgia were to be Texas in the sec championship game, would Georgia be in?

[Mikey A]

We'll see.

[Chris Simms]

See how it shakes out.

[Mikey A]

We'll see twt, Mike. Time will tell.

[Mike Golick]

I'm telling you how it shakes out. Georgia beats Texas. Is Georgia in, since Indiana's not playing?

[Mikey A]

Well, it depends who else wins and loses.

[Chris Simms]

You're playing what if. And that's my game.

[Mikey A]

That's a different game.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah.

[Mikey A]

Don't look now. Another game, too.

[Dan Le Batard]

It's a fair question. We'll get back to you on it, though.

[Mikey A]

And there's still, you know, there's the Oregon of it, too, you know.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yep. Number seven, Mike. Penn State. The knit, the nitly. The Nittany Lions. Eleven and one out of the Big Ten. They lead the country in a very important metric. P D W O T W K H T me. Please don't waste our time. We know how this movie ends.

[Mike Golick]

Yeah, I agree with that.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yes.

[Mike Golick]

I agree with that.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah.

[Mike Golick]

Yeah. I won't even bring up the point of if Pence State beats Oregon, would Penn State be in? Because they're not Going to beat Oregon.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah, you're onto it, Mike. There you go.

[Mikey A]

All right.

[Mike Golick]

Yeah.

[Dan Le Batard]

All right, let's go.

[Mike Golick]

I hope you guys have. I hope you guys have more teams because you have not mentioned the Fighting Irish yet.

[Mikey A]

Well, hold on a second.

[Dan Le Batard]

Give us a chance.

[Mikey A]

I mean, just the top seven.

[Chris Simms]

Number eight.

[Mikey A]

Yeah. Number eight.

[Dan Le Batard]

Let's get to eight first, Mikey. Hey, go ahead.

[Mikey A]

I think you're gonna like this. Number eight, Mike.

[Dan Le Batard]

I mean.

[Chris Simms]

Yeah. I mean, it's a big one for you. Number eight, Ohio State, Buckeyes, 10 and two out of the Big Ten. Mike, we thought about Notre Dame here, but they just didn't have enough lhb, ycl, tptf. Losses happen, but you can't let them plant the flag.

[K. Funk]

Yeah.

[Mike Golick]

Yeah. It's true.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah.

[Mike Golick]

A lot of. A lot of flag planting went on on rivalry weekend.

[Stugatz]

Yeah, it was.

[Dan Le Batard]

All right, well, perhaps we'll get to Notre Dame here. Our number nine. Well, perhaps we'll get to him in the final two teams. We'll see the number nine team. Mike. Number nine team according to the bcs, Northern Illinois.

[Mikey A]

Wow.

[Dan Le Batard]

The Huskies, seven and five out of the mat. They lead the nation in owd. Only win over Notre Dame, which is the most important category in the bcs.

[Mikey A]

Wow.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yep.

[Chris Simms]

We weigh it heavily.

[Gordy Gronkowski]

Yeah.

[Mike Golick]

I can't go with it.

[Mikey A]

Win over Notre Dame ahead.

[Mike Golick]

I mean, I can't be party to this.

[Mikey A]

Wow.

[Gordy Gronkowski]

Did you ever.

[Chris Simms]

Did you even look at their win over Notre Dame?

[Dan Le Batard]

Oh, I was there.

[Mike Golick]

I watched every second.

[Mikey A]

Okay, great.

[Dan Le Batard]

Then, you know, you agree they won. Send your stat pack.

[Mike Golick]

They won, but then they lost five games.

[Mikey A]

Yeah, but W. Win over Notre Dame. It's a big one.

[Dan Le Batard]

Only team to do it. Let's get to that.

[Mike Golick]

Started to get a hammy.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah.

[Mikey A]

All right, well, here we go. Number 10. And this is the final. We're not going to waste your time with 25 teams like the CFP does, because, you know, 25 teams aren't actually in the mix, but there are 10 teams in the mix. The final team of the outside. Outside looking in, number 10, 11. And one out of nowhere, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

[Dan Le Batard]

Wow. They're in kind of.

[Mikey A]

They're in, Mike. At the moment.

[Dan Le Batard]

They're on the outside.

[Mikey A]

Well, they're in the mix. They're in the mix. Why, you ask? Because of J, E, T, L, W, T, S, G, D, K, U. Just ending the list with them. So Golick doesn't kill us. Also, here's a big reason. Here's a big reason why he might kill us.

[Dan Le Batard]

Anyway, Billy, I mean, here's a reason.

[Mikey A]

Why Mike, and this is not disputable or debatable in any way. They fell all the way to number 10 because. Great record. So they are deserving to be in the top 10. Now here's why. They're a 10thtas. They hate the arm surfaces.

[Chris Simms]

Yeah.

[Mike Golick]

Why? Because they beat him.

[Mikey A]

Yeah.

[Mike Golick]

They respect them. So what you're saying is, is they should throw the game to the armed service.

[Dan Le Batard]

They'd be.

[Chris Simms]

It would help their ranking.

[Mikey A]

Notre Dame would be higher if they had more losses to armed service teams.

[Dan Le Batard]

They would get the bye week right to the national championship.

[Mikey A]

Possibly. It's still in the mix.

[Mike Golick]

I don't know why I agree to come on with you guys. I really don't really know.

[Mikey A]

Is it because of Lu? You love us, huh?

[Mike Golick]

Probably.

[Stugatz]

Oh, probably.

[Dan Le Batard]

You love me too. It is.

[Mike Golick]

It is funny, Billy, on. On Twitter, when people talk about the show, they're like, why is go look so mean to Billy all the time?

[Mikey A]

Why are you? Yeah. Hurts my feelings.

[Mike Golick]

Like.

[Mikey A]

I get it.

[Dan Le Batard]

Serious.

[Chris Simms]

I get it.

[Dan Le Batard]

There's a pattern going on here. They say the same about Sims, too.

[Mikey A]

Could it be me?

[Mike Golick]

Just. Just so I have this straight, you've given me 10 teams.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah.

[Mike Golick]

Of which, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Don't even have another game.

[Mikey A]

Yeah. Well, they may not move very much.

[Dan Le Batard]

Right. Yeah.

[Mike Golick]

Yet Indiana, which doesn't have a game, is. Is in your top four now?

[Mikey A]

At the moment, yes. For now. Yeah.

[Dan Le Batard]

Right.

[Mikey A]

This is penultimate. Ultimate. Remember? There's still the ultimate. Next.

[Dan Le Batard]

There are things you could do, Mike, like be nicer to the military and perhaps you'll get in. I mean, if.

[Mike Golick]

If I were to say. If I were to say Texas.

[Mikey A]

Yeah.

[Mike Golick]

Beat Georgia.

[Dan Le Batard]

Right.

[Mike Golick]

And Oregon beat Penn State.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yes.

[Mikey A]

Oh, boy. We know how that movie ends.

[Mike Golick]

They would remain one and two and Indiana would have to remain three because there was no one below them. That one.

[Chris Simms]

Wait a second.

[Mikey A]

That's.

[Chris Simms]

Did they hate the armed services anymore? We don't know that.

[Mikey A]

Yeah. Let's just let play out. Remember, army still has a game to play and they're number four.

[Mike Golick]

So I guess if army were to beat T. Lane, they could technically move up to three and be in possibly.

[Mikey A]

We're not there yet.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah, we're not there yet.

[Mikey A]

We're also assuming that, like, wins are wins.

[Dan Le Batard]

You know what I mean?

[Mikey A]

So, like, Oregon winning and Texas. Texas winning means what exactly? We'll find out.

[Dan Le Batard]

It's just a number, right?

[Mikey A]

Yeah. There's different ways of winning games.

[Dan Le Batard]

Well. Well, Billy, let's see if he's learned a lesson here. Mike, who do you think is going to win the Tulane army game?

[Mike Golick]

Yeah, I think army is going well.

[Dan Le Batard]

Hey, you just moved up. I mean, how about that?

[Chris Simms]

That's gonna raise Notre Dame's rankings a little bit.

[Mike Golick]

Yeah, but not enough to get in.

[Dan Le Batard]

Well, we'll see.

[Mikey A]

Time will tell. Twt.

[Dan Le Batard]

That was a big step. Wow.

[Mike Golick]

I mean, all I can say is wow. And I. And I really don't mean that in a good way.

[Dan Le Batard]

Check him out on Gojo and go like every day 8 to 10 on the DraftKings network and wherever you get your podcast. He has the Chargers against the City Chiefs this Sunday night. Mike, we put Notre Dame in there so you wouldn't be mad at us, so you wouldn't hate us. I mean, come on.

[Mike Golick]

So you put Notre dame in the 10 slot of a three team playoff.

[Dan Le Batard]

I just moved them to nine.

[Mikey A]

I just moved to it. Yes, penultimate, right?

[Dan Le Batard]

I mean, I just moved them up to nine. You said Army's gonna win anyway. Mike, Alabama getting in, it appears over Miami. Your thoughts on that? A three loss Alabama team, a two loss Miami team. The fans down here in Miami are upset about it. What'd you think when the rankings came out?

[Mike Golick]

Well, I mean, I thought that was going to be the biggest thing we looked at of how far would they drop Miami. And they drop Miami to where the committee can say they're in the top 12, but they're really not in the top 12 because this same committee ranked Arizona State and Iowa State 15 and 16, knowing the winner has to be at least 12, which would knock Miami out. So effectively the committee knocked Miami out and so they listen, Miami was living on the edge, right. It was two losses now and hanging on by a thread in some other games. Now, Alabama's loss to Oklahoma was a bad loss, but this is where the SEC gets the benefit of the doubt. This is where the committee, they're human beings, right? And they're going to say the SEC is deeper, the SEC feeds on one another, so they get the benefit of the doubt. But in actuality, Alabama could get knocked out as well if, if Clemson were to beat smu.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yes.

[Mike Golick]

And SMU did not fall out of the playoffs, Clemson would have to be in and if sm, you stayed in. So that would knock a team out. And then the winner of Arizona State and Iowa State would knock a team out. So it's possible 12 Miami and 11 Alabama could be knocked out. And let me just say as a card carrying Notre Dame, former player and alum, I hope that happens because the bracket right now shows Notre Dame hosting Alabama.

[Dan Le Batard]

Oh, that's such a great game, though. I mean, you don't want to be part of it.

[Mike Golick]

Hey, if that happens, I hope there's three feet of snow on the field.

[Dan Le Batard]

But Mike, just the fact that we can have that, that, that matchup could happen first round of the playoffs, that's a success for college football. The playoff system.

[Mike Golick]

Yes, completely agree. And you're actually going to see the elements have a say in the first round because you'll have first round games. In Notre Dame, potentially very cold and bad. In Penn State, potentially very cold and very bad. At Ohio State, probably potentially very cold and very bad. The other one, if Georgia loses, probably Georgia would host a home game that obviously in Athens is not going to be as cold or as possibly snowy as the other three.

[Dan Le Batard]

Mike, who do you like in the Texas Georgia game?

[Mike Golick]

I, you know, Georgia has not been impressive. Carson Beck has been playing better. Yeah, but he was a turnover machine for a while. Their running game has not been consistent at all and their defense is giving up points. So I think Texas, I think Texas will just can just score. When I say outscore, I mean they have the ability to put up in the 30s on Georgia and I don't know if Georgia has the ability to do that.

[Dan Le Batard]

And how about Oregon? Penn State?

[Mike Golick]

I just like Oregon. Oregon, it's going to be in a dome on turf.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yes.

[Mike Golick]

It's going to be, you know, the way they like it. And what you said about Penn State, I think we kind of know how the story ends. Right. They beat everybody else, but they get to that really good team and they falter. Though I completely agreed with James Franklin's presser when they scored that last touchdown against Maryland to go to win 45 to seven of them, saying, these are guys that are threes and fours. These are guys that are practice dummies during the week. Now, he didn't say that, but I'm saying that guys that are just show team guys during the week, they get a chance to play. You let them play football. You know what, if you don't like it, stop them. And Maryland still had their first team in there, so. So stop them. And he said, and he's right. The landscape of college football is different. It's how you win. Now, at least he admitted it.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah.

[Mike Golick]

You know, nobody wants to admit, oh, blow out a team, it looks better. He is basically saying, blow out a team, it looks better.

[Dan Le Batard]

No doubt.

[Mike Golick]

And that's the truth.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yep. Mike, what changes if. If you were in charge? Because I think we could all agree the 12 team playoff, the expansion of the playo has been great for college football. But if you were to change anything, if you were in charge, what would you change?

[Mike Golick]

Well, I think I would change the conference championship game because right now you have two teams that are outside the projected top 12, with the winner getting an automatic bid.

[Dan Le Batard]

Crazy.

[Mike Golick]

In Arizona State or Iowa State. So I would disagree with that and almost think about making a conference championship game more an exhibition. But again, even in an exhibition, it's an extra game you're playing if you're in actually in the playoffs, you know, like in Oregon and Penn State. Why play an extra game if it isn't going to mean anything? But conference championship games bring in a lot of money, so they're not going away. You would just, you know what, what I would do is go away with. Do away with the conference championship games. Just do a conference champion by regular season and rank that way. Because again, you're. You're letting a team in that isn't deserve it according to the committee, not deserving of the top 12, and they're going to beat a team that's also not in the top 12 and all of a sudden they're going to be in the top 12 and have an automatic bid. So that just, that, that just doesn't pass the smell test.

[Dan Le Batard]

What would you make of a weekend instead of conference championship weekend, a weekend of playing games to the playoff? Like you would have Alabama play Miami this weekend. Winner gets into the playoff. How about that?

[Mike Golick]

Ooh, that would be pretty good.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yes. I like that. Huh?

[Mike Golick]

Kind of like how the NCAA basketball tournament where they call Tuesday and Wednesday the actual first round, but we know it's actually playing games to get to the tournament. Yeah, I think that would be a good idea.

[Dan Le Batard]

All right, Mikey. A. Billy, you know Mike Golick very, very well. I'm asking you to predict how he feels about flag planting with Ohio State and Michigan. So, Mikey, I will start with you. What do you think Golick's response is going to be when I ask him, should Michigan have tried to plant a flag after beating Ohio State on their field?

[Chris Simms]

Stop them on the field.

[Dan Le Batard]

Okay.

[Chris Simms]

That's what my golic answer.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah. Billy. Billy, what do you think?

[Mike Golick]

You're muted.

[Dan Le Batard]

You're muted.

[Mike Golick]

Not a boy.

[Mikey A]

I kind of feel like that's where he's going to say is they had a chance to stop him from planting that flag during the game.

[Mike Golick]

You showed more fight after the game. Than you did during the game. I know technically that's not true, but. And plus, if you won the game, you won the game on their territory. Why do you got to plant a flag? I mean, listen, the easiest thing to do is just ban flag planting, right? And. But what you have to do is you have to have a massive, massive discipline. If somebody tries to. But they'll just go to the next thing. What would the Michigan players do if they weren't allowed to plant a flag? They would go on the. And again, this has to be a grass field, not like Baker Mayfield planting a flag on an artificial turf field where it doesn't stick. Players, Michigan players would go to the logo on the 50 yard line and they would scrape it with their shoes, and then it would still lead to a fight.

[Mikey A]

Mike, what do you do if the team tries to plant the American flag? They. They ban the flag planting, but then they go and they're like, you know what? I see a flag over there. Old Glory. They plant the American flag. We know what happens at Notre Dame if they plant the American flag. They go and they just push the people over. They stomp all over.

[Mike Golick]

Stop it, Billy. Stop it.

[Dan Le Batard]

So, Billy, let's hear him out, because this might move Notre Dame up a spot in the bcs. What do you do with the American.

[Mike Golick]

Flag if, if, if, if you plant the American flag, both teams get around and salute it.

[Mikey A]

Wow, you are number eight.

[Dan Le Batard]

Number eight. Look at you. And it's army Navy next week. I mean, you have plenty of time to gain ground, Mike. Okay, yeah, whatever. Check him out on Go Joe and Gullick 8 to 10 on the DraftKings network. And he has Chargers Kansas City coming up this weekend as well. That's a great game. God bless football to you, Mike.

[Mike Golick]

God bless football. Billy and Mikey a God bless football, Mike.

[Mikey A]

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[Dan Le Batard]

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[Mikey A]

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[Dan Le Batard]

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[Stugatz]

Call 1-800- gambler in New York.

[Dan Le Batard]

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[Stugatz]

See DKNG co bball.

[Mikey A]

I gotta say, I'm a little uncomfortable with the way that the Mikey is introducing himself to Kyle with this Michigan hat, if I'm gonna be perfectly honest with you.

[Dan Le Batard]

Although some celebrating something.

[Chris Simms]

Celebrating something?

[Dan Le Batard]

Billy, he's playing for Syracuse now. He doesn't give a about Michigan anymore.

[Mikey A]

Although some could argue that when Kyle left, he put on a Michigan hat himself.

[Chris Simms]

Kind of.

[Gordy Gronkowski]

Yeah, it was funny. Right before we ran out of the locker room, one of the. The other quarterbacks came up to me. He's like, bro, Ohio State lost to Michigan. I was like, really? I was like, yeah, that's wild. And then when I was running out right before warm ups, literally like two minutes left on the, like the pre game clock, I'm warming up all the fans. It's all. They're yelling like, ohio State laws. Ohio State law.

[Dan Le Batard]

It's fun. And you were shocked by that, right?

[Gordy Gronkowski]

Yeah, I was. I thought they were gonna blow them out.

[Dan Le Batard]

Ah, Kyle, I want to. And we'll get back to Ohio State in a second here. The Ohio State Michigan game. Because you played at Ohio State for three seasons now at Syracuse, you sprung a big upset against the Canes on Saturday. And I'm wondering, where did Saturday rank for you in terms of career highlights?

[Gordy Gronkowski]

I think that's got to be right at the top. Really? Yeah, it's got to be right at the top. I mean, to go and the regular season beating the top five or top ten team at home, I think they're number six when we beat them, it's pretty sweet. And I think just putting Syracuse back on the map, like, that's, you know, exactly what you know, we want to do. And I think that game just kind of exemplified everything that we've been working for this offseason.

[Dan Le Batard]

Did your coach take a shower after the game?

[Gordy Gronkowski]

Yeah, I think right after the game he got, he got washed. Put the. The winners get Washed shirt on too. So, yeah, it was a good day.

[Dan Le Batard]

Does he actually do that if, if he won't shower after a loss? Like, he'll go multiple weeks if he has to. Without taking a shower?

[Gordy Gronkowski]

Yes. Yeah, he told me it was right after the, our first loss of the season in September. And he told me that like a few days after the game, he was like, I don't know. He's like, I just get mad and it's like, I don't deserve to take a shower, like. And I was like, coach, it's kind of nasty. Like, I wouldn't, I wouldn't tell anybody that. Then when he came out and said that, I was like, as soon as I saw the clip, I knew it was going to blow up.

[Dan Le Batard]

Were you surprised that Miami didn't go for it on that fourth down late in the game?

[Gordy Gronkowski]

I don't know. I mean, I see both sides of it. I mean, you know, you have one play at the 10 yard line, but, you know, I think hindsight, obviously, they probably wish they would have gone for it, but, you know, if they were to stop us and get the ball back and score, then it looks like a great decision. But yeah, I think, you know, if, when I, in the moment, I thought they were going to try to go for it and then, you know, if they didn't get it, obviously we'd have the ball kind of backed up there on the 10.

[Dan Le Batard]

So this is interesting. I'm wondering, when you went into the portal, did Miami express any sort of interest in you?

[Gordy Gronkowski]

Not too late, because I remember Cam posted that video saying that he was going to go to the draft. And then they hit me up. It was kind of late in the process because they were all in on him from the start, but I was already signed to Syracuse, so it was just a quick conversation that was it.

[Dan Le Batard]

Was that something you used as like, any sort of motivation? I know athletes are always looking for some sort of motivation, a chip on their shoulder, the fact that the Canes weren't interested in you. Was that any sort of motivation? And you had Ohio State losing. It was a hell of a day for you, Kyle. It really was. But was that any sort of motivation for you in the week leading up to the Miami game?

[Gordy Gronkowski]

I wouldn't say just Miami in general. I thought, you know, when I got in the portal, you know, you would hear from, you know, all the big schools that needed a quarterback and that wasn't the case. And then, you know, it was really only a handful of schools that were serious about me. Going there. And so I use that as motivation, but I wouldn't say it was Miami in specific because obviously they made a great decision out of the Portal too. So, you know, I think it was just a combination of, you know, a lack of schools that I thought would hit me up that didn't.

[Dan Le Batard]

All right, try not to give me the politically correct answer to this, okay? Because it's okay. You're a human being. Kyle, was there any part of you that felt good as you realized because Ryan Day told you, hey, I can't guarantee you a starting spot, so you took your game to Syracuse. You had a great season, you're a leading passer in college football. Was there any part of you that took. I don't know, that you were kind of happy that Ohio State lost to Michigan?

[Gordy Gronkowski]

I mean, I think there's obviously that, you know, like, I was just talking about just sense of motivation after the way everything ended last year. Felt like I had unfinished business there and didn't get a chance to go back and kind of right some of my wrongs. So definitely use that as motivation. And, you know, and they lost. I mean, I said in the post game interview, everything comes full circle. And, you know, I think that Sarah just kind of exemplified all of that, you know, obviously a big win for us. And then, you know, I think everybody. I know Coach France said it the other day, like everybody was trying to make it seem like I was, you know, the problem there. And, you know, I think, you know, you see the results, and I don't think you can say that now. So I just think a combination of all that and on top of that, just the extra source of motivation.

[Mikey A]

Kyle, how different is the Portal experience to being recruited out of high school?

[Gordy Gronkowski]

It's like recruiting on steroids, because especially for a quarterback, High school, you have two years to get recruited and you have to make a decision about your senior year. But when you're in the Portal, you got a week and a half, two weeks to make a decision, and so everything is sped up. I've known guys who have committed to places they've never even been, and that necessarily never happens in high school. So everything is sped up. And especially for a quarterback, he wants to have to reserve your spot because most schools are only taking one. So it was wild. It was a wild time. But, you know, obviously glad everything worked out. Me and I'm here.

[Chris Simms]

I. I read that you had committed to Ohio State in. In your sophomore year of high school. Do you think that's too early to be making Such a big decision, or at this point with the portal, is it, like, if I don't like it, I could just change.

[Dan Le Batard]

He got an offer as a freshman. He got an offer as a freshman.

[Gordy Gronkowski]

I think, yeah, yeah, yeah. For a quarterback, I think, you know, when a school gives you a green light to commit, it's obviously, you know, an enticing opportunity. And especially at a school like Ohio State, when they told me they wanted me to commit and help build the class, I think that is important. But at the same time, I think you can't rush it. And to me, I don't feel like I rushed the process. I got recruited early out of high school, and to be honest that, you know, when I was a sophomore, I was, you know, kind of done with it, you know, like going on visits and talking to schools and all that. So I went ahead and pulled the trigger. But I think you just, you know, everybody's timeline is different, and you just have to take your time and make sure that you're not rushing into a decision, you know, and for some people, that's committing sophomore year, and then for others, that's, you know, committing the last day. Senior year, on signing day, I know.

[Dan Le Batard]

You were busy kicking Miami's ass, but I am wondering here, what'd you make of what happened after the Ohio State Michigan game?

[Gordy Gronkowski]

Like, the whole fight and all that?

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah. Planting of the flag and all that.

[Gordy Gronkowski]

Yeah, I mean, it's. It's. That rivalry is real, and being in it for three years, you know, there's a general or a genuine level of hate between both teams. And, you know, obviously, you know, the emotions are high in that game, but, you know, I think, you know, when you lose, every year that I was there, you had to deal with it like they would rushed the field when we lost at Michigan, and then my sophomore year and they beat us at home, they did the same thing, planned the flag. And, you know, it's tough, but I think at the end of the day, you know, if you really want to make a difference on it, you know, you got to do it in between the white lines. And, you know, I think that, you know, obviously guys are prideful and, you know, I get that part of it, but, you know, I see both sides, but that's just. I think that's a perfect kind of image of, you know, how much those teams hate each other, regardless of the records and all that.

[Dan Le Batard]

Kyle, it's interesting because I think one of the positive things with all the rule changes in college football is the fact that a Quarterback like yourself who goes to Ohio State and would probably rule out Syracuse as an option. Now, after a couple of years at Ohio State, you can go to a school like Syracuse. There are more quarterbacks at more schools that don't traditionally have great quarterbacks. And I think that's a good thing. Syracuse hasn't had a great quarterback since like the late 90s and you had, you broke every record. And so I think that's one of the positives of, of all the new rule changes. Do you agree that you have more teams that have a better shot because they have better quarterbacks and quarterbacks they wouldn't normally get through recruiting a hundred percent.

[Gordy Gronkowski]

You know, I think that, you know, it's kind of becoming a little bit of a trend. I think, you know, the top high school guys are going to go to the big schools and some of them are going to play there, and then some of them aren't. And then when those guys go to transfer, they go to, you know, a smaller school or, you know, not necessarily a blue chip program, and they're able to compete. And I think that's exactly what happened here. I mean, there's a lot of great talent around me and Coach France said it, he was like, we're a quarterback away from being a serious contender. And I think obviously, you know, that's true. And just like you said, looking across college football, I think at the quarterback position and then really at every position, the talent level is a lot more spread out because of nil, because of the transfer portal. So in result, the playing field is a lot more even. And that's why I think there's not been, you know, that group of dominant teams like there always are, you know, across the top of college football.

[Mikey A]

So you're coming off one of your biggest wins. You eliminated Miami from the playoffs, essentially a team that maybe slighted you, maybe didn't slight you. Now, when do you focus on the draft? Like, because you have a bowl game coming up, is that something that you focus on after the bowl game or, like, not to put you in a difficult spot, but do you say, you know what, maybe the bowl game isn't the right decision. Let me focus on the draft, not risk injury, anything like that. Where's your head out with all of that?

[Gordy Gronkowski]

Yeah, I mean, I already got it all set up to where I'll start all that draft prep after the bowl game, the beginning of January. So I'll be with the team all the way through the bowl game. You know, I haven't quite made a Decision. I know a lot of guys are still on the fence, you know, got to see where we play and all that, but I think, you know, obviously it's, you know, a life, lifelong dream to, you know, get ready for the NFL draft, but, you know, it's a grind. So I'm just trying to enjoy my last month in college, you know, my last few weeks with the guys and then, you know, move on and get ready for that.

[Mikey A]

Kyle, try to extend it as much as you can. I'm telling you. See if we can find an extra year in there somewhere. A Covid year, a red shirt year or something. Extend college as long as you can. Yes, you could be a first round draft pick, but also that can wait a year. You're not going to get college back. You do not. You do not want to get out of college because that's when the real world starts, you know, and now.

[Gordy Gronkowski]

I know. I mean, I've definitely tried to enjoy every, every moment this year. I mean, it's, it's flew by, but it's been a lot of fun here. So, you know, trust me, if I could, I would. So. Yeah, we'll see how many shakes out.

[Dan Le Batard]

I have a daughter who goes to Syracuse. I've been there many times. How many trips a week for you, Kyle, to varsity Pizza? How many trips?

[Gordy Gronkowski]

I might get killed for this. I've actually never been there.

[Mikey A]

Oh, boy. Wow. Someone's going to kill you.

[Gordy Gronkowski]

Now that might have to be on the bucket list before I leave here.

[Dan Le Batard]

Wait, Kyle, it's right in the middle of campus. How have you never been there before?

[Mikey A]

Hold on a second, Kyle. Is this like, I'm a top athlete. I can. Can't put that in my body. Is this one of those situations? I can't drink soda?

[Chris Simms]

The man has his own potato chip.

[Dan Le Batard]

Billy, I've seen football teams. I've seen players from the team in varsity.

[Mikey A]

Well, lineman, probably.

[Dan Le Batard]

Definitely. Yes. Yeah.

[Gordy Gronkowski]

Yeah. No, I mean, I. I think I definitely need to. Is that. That's the place where they flip the other flags upside down after.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yes.

[Mikey A]

Oh, bow tile.

[Gordy Gronkowski]

I'll definitely stop in there before I leave, right, Kyle?

[Dan Le Batard]

Get out and see Syracuse. I mean. Yeah, you know, I know it's cold out there. It's lovely this time.

[Gordy Gronkowski]

Only problem is now, like, the sun doesn't come up at all.

[Dan Le Batard]

I know.

[Gordy Gronkowski]

Last time the sun was like a week ago. We won't see it again until like March, so it's crazy.

[Dan Le Batard]

I know. You have a weekly radio show up there, right? Is. Is like radio is Media. Something you'd want to get into. Maybe after you're done playing football.

[Mikey A]

Don't do it, Kyle.

[Chris Simms]

Careful, Kyle.

[Dan Le Batard]

I don't know.

[Mikey A]

I mean, don't do it, Kyle.

[Dan Le Batard]

Wait up, Billy. I'm trying to position him as a college football playoff correspondent for God Bless Football.

[Mikey A]

That's what I'm trying.

[Dan Le Batard]

I know exactly what you're doing.

[Mikey A]

All right. All right.

[Gordy Gronkowski]

Yeah. No, I mean, I've met a lot of great people that are in the media business. Obviously, Newhouse here is huge. And so you know a lot of great people like, you know, Mike Tirico and, you know, people along that. That line of work. So I don't know, it's definitely. It's been something that, you know, I enjoy. You know, I like talking about football, so we'll see where it takes me.

[Dan Le Batard]

Do you have some hot takes for us? Like NFL college football hot takes for us? Like. Are you an Eagles fan?

[Gordy Gronkowski]

No, I'm a Jets fan, unfortunately.

[Mikey A]

Amongst two other jets fans.

[Gordy Gronkowski]

I started to get into it when I was young, like kindergarten, first grade. And that's when they had Mark Sanchez. That's why we're number six, because of him.

[Mikey A]

Oh, brother.

[Gordy Gronkowski]

Went to back to back AFC championship. This is a great decision, being a Jets fan. And then it was just all downhill from there.

[Mikey A]

Well, I have good news for you, Kyle. They may be looking for a quarterback in the draft. So dreams might come true here.

[Gordy Gronkowski]

Yeah, no, yeah, we'll see.

[Dan Le Batard]

That would be cool. Might be cool.

[Gordy Gronkowski]

But. Yeah, I mean, I thought. I thought when they got Rogers, it was going to be.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah, we all did.

[Chris Simms]

We all did.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah.

[Gordy Gronkowski]

Yeah. No, it's been tough.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah. But now, you know, even we can ruin Aaron Rodgers. Right? I mean, now, you know.

[Gordy Gronkowski]

Oh, man. Yeah. No, it's been. It's been a rough go of it, Eddie.

[Dan Le Batard]

Hot takes on the College Football Playoff. I'm. I want to ask you to pick the games this weekend, like, because I feel like you're a guy that likes to give hot takes and opinions on football. I mean.

[Gordy Gronkowski]

Yeah, I mean, I think that. I don't know, it's tough. I don't know if the conference championship winner should get an automatic bid. You know, I think that it's tough because, you know, you have, like, for example, Miami team who has a better record than Clemson, but then Clemson makes it. I mean, I think there's still a lot of. A lot of problems with the playoff. In my honest opinion, I think they should do like the FCS does, that kind of playoff format. I think that's more football. I don't ever hear anybody complaining that they got robbed of a FCS playoff spot. And, you know, I know that's always good football too. I know a lot of those games are, you know, just like the NFL where it's at, you know, the higher seeds stadium and you know, they're great environment. So I think that'd be cool to see. But obviously, you know that probably years out in advance.

[Dan Le Batard]

Kyle, do you think it's fair that Ryan Day is basically judged on one game per year? Not on the body you work, Just one game per year.

[Gordy Gronkowski]

That's how it is there. I remember when I first got there, you know, like some of the fans were saying to me, it doesn't matter if we lose every single game if we beat Michigan, you know, it's a solid year. And, you know, that's like a crazy thing to say, but, you know, it's true up there. And, you know, I think obviously Missions, Michigan's a good team and I think this is kind of the best stretch they've they've had in a long time. But, you know, I think that's, you know, just part of the job responsibility to beat them.

[Dan Le Batard]

What brought you to Syracuse? Was it Fran Brown?

[Gordy Gronkowski]

Yeah, I was the coaches, and then it was, you know, the talent around me, obviously. I've known Coach Fran for a while and known Coach Nunn's the quarterback coach for a while. I've known Coach Nixon, the OC for a while, like back in, like high school and, you know, middle school. And so, you know, felt really comfortable with the coaches and then just looking at the players around me, you know, guys like Arande who were coming back and Trevor and then guys like Jackson Meeks who were transferring in. And so just looked at the whole situation just was something that I felt like I could walk in and have success right away.

[Dan Le Batard]

Did he do the, you know, don't shower after losses thing when you knew him when you were a kid, or is this something that's new to you?

[Gordy Gronkowski]

It's new to me. I mean, I don't. I don't know. I wouldn't put it past him, but I hope not because that would be. That would be rough. When he was at, like Rutgers and Temple when they were bad.

[Dan Le Batard]

I mean, that would mean 10 weeks without a shower.

[Gordy Gronkowski]

Yeah. No, I mean, you'd go like the whole month in November. That'd be bad.

[Dan Le Batard]

What are you laughing at, Billy? I mean, like, has anyone ever got up to him, like during the season and be like, coach Come on, hop in the shower. Let's go. You smell.

[Mikey A]

Well, no, they just come back and they're like, we got to win this because Fran smells.

[Dan Le Batard]

Like that's the motivation is that.

[Gordy Gronkowski]

I mean, he said he'll, like, when.

[Cheyenne]

After we.

[Gordy Gronkowski]

After we lose a game. Like, he'll show up to practice, like, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, wearing the same. The same clothes.

[Dan Le Batard]

Oh, wait, hold on.

[Mikey A]

It's like you didn't change clothes either.

[Gordy Gronkowski]

I mean, because you don't know if he, like, put it on the loop and got it washed, and then, like, he just happens to be in the same outfit or he has been wearing that for 72 hours. So I just. I keep my distance.

[Mikey A]

Is Fran a crazy person?

[Gordy Gronkowski]

Yeah.

[Mikey A]

Okay, good.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah, he's crazy. You just cut right to it there, Kyle. Just crazy.

[Gordy Gronkowski]

Yeah. No, I mean. I mean, he'll. He'll admit it, too, but it's a. It's a good type of crazy. It's a good type of crazy.

[Dan Le Batard]

It's a contagious type of crazy, right?

[Gordy Gronkowski]

Yeah. Yeah. I mean, all the guys love playing for him. I mean, he's the ultimate player's coach and. But no, he is.

[Dan Le Batard]

He's wild. Did you surprise yourself at all this season with the season that you had? You were the leading passer in college football.

[Gordy Gronkowski]

I mean, obviously you don't know, like, the. How the statistics are going to go because, you know, coming into the season, obviously, new O.C. you know, new. New place for me to play, and you don't know you're going to be throwing the ball that much, but, you know, I felt confident I was gonna have a really good year. Right. Did I know I was gonna have as good as a year as I did? You know, I don't know, but probably after, like, week two or week three, once we were throwing the ball, you know, like every other play, it felt like, you know, sometimes every play, you know, I knew that statistically I'd have a good year and, you know, just wanted to make sure I was playing good, consistent football.

[Dan Le Batard]

Two quick ones. We'll get you out of here. We do appreciate the time, and congratulations on an amazing season. The loss that hurts the most when you look back on the season, because, Kyle, if you have one less loss, you have a legitimate chance of getting to the College Football Playoff. I'm guessing it's that Stanford game. I was at that game with my daughter. What's the game you look back on and say, man, how'd we lose that one?

[Gordy Gronkowski]

Yeah, I mean, Stanford was tough, you know, I Felt like, you know, we are the better team, and I think the season showed that. But, you know, on that day, they outplayed us. And, yeah, I mean, it was tough. I mean, we had them, you know, late, but it shouldn't even come down to that. So that was. That was tough. And then, obviously, to see them go like, 3 and 3 and 9 wasn't fun. You know, that one hurt. And then the pit game. Pit game sucked for a different reason. I mean, we didn't deserve to win that game at all. We just got really. I got my ass kicked that game, so that wasn't fun. But probably the Stanford game, like, if you could have one game and go back and change it, you know, that would be. That would be the one.

[Dan Le Batard]

Billy, you're going to love this, because it's my understanding that Kyle has a flavored potato chip. Is that. Is that accurate, Kyle?

[Mikey A]

You do?

[Dan Le Batard]

Don't you have a flavor potato chip? Don't you? Yeah.

[Mikey A]

What's the flavor? What does Kyle taste like?

[Dan Le Batard]

Wow, Billy. Wow.

[Gordy Gronkowski]

Oh, man, it's a. It's like a sharp cheddar honey barbecue.

[Mikey A]

Oh, that sounds good.

[Gordy Gronkowski]

Yeah, no, it's legit.

[Dan Le Batard]

It is. Had that come, like, how did that happen?

[Gordy Gronkowski]

Yeah, I'm with a marketing team called Excel, and so they always bring the cool deals, and they hit me up about a potato chip. Want to do a deal. And I told him even if it was for free, I would do it. It was just pretty cool.

[Mikey A]

Bad negotiation. Kyle, don't say that. Moving forward.

[Gordy Gronkowski]

I mean, listen, don't do that again.

[Dan Le Batard]

Say that to the Jets.

[Gordy Gronkowski]

I mean, it was definitely the coolest nil deal that I've ever done. Like, walking through the store and, like, looking through the chip aisle and seeing your face on the bag, you don't get used to that. So it is pretty cool.

[Dan Le Batard]

That is cool. Billy's right. Stay in college, man. You got chip. You got a flavored chip. You got a radio show.

[Mikey A]

You stay away from the Jets. It's. Everything you need is in common, man.

[Dan Le Batard]

I mean, you got a lot of things to do before you get out of there, man.

[Mikey A]

You have pizza to try. You haven't tried pizza yet.

[Gordy Gronkowski]

I know that's probably number one right now on the priority list.

[Dan Le Batard]

All right, man. Well, congratulations on beating Miami. Congratulations on a great season and. And good luck to you moving forward. We appreciate the time, man.

[Gordy Gronkowski]

We really do. Yeah. Thank you, guys. Appreciate it.

[Dan Le Batard]

All right, man. College football correspondent. What do you think?

[Gordy Gronkowski]

Yeah, what's that?

[Dan Le Batard]

You want to be a college football Playoff correspondent. Yeah.

[Gordy Gronkowski]

Come on.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yes.

[Gordy Gronkowski]

Do it.

[Dan Le Batard]

Oh, yes. Yeah. All right. Well, you have to be on every week. Okay. And like that chip deal. And like the chip deal, we can pay you, right? He said. Oh, he learned.

[Mikey A]

He learned, Stu. Guys. He said, we'll work out a contract.

[Stugatz]

Atta boy.

[Dan Le Batard]

My people will get in touch with your people.

[Gordy Gronkowski]

Okay, Sounds good. Appreciate you guys.

[Dan Le Batard]

All right, buddy. Congratulations. Thank you so much, man.

[Gordy Gronkowski]

Thanks.

[Dan Le Batard]

It is time for this week's edition of Studio gauss, presented by DraftKings Sportsbook. Stay tuned because you'll hear more about DraftKings and all it has to offer throughout the show. DraftKings, the Crown is yours. College football championship week. It's a big weekend. The best weekend. The greatest weekend of all time. 7 and 2 a week ago. That was a pretty good weekend. 72, 64 and 2 on the season. Here we go. We start with the Mountain West Championship. Boise taking on UNL LV. Boise is minus 4. I'm taking Boise here. They win. They cover Boise State by 14 points. The American Athletic Championship. Delay taking on Army. I should take Army. I'm not going to take Army. Golic needs to take Army. If he does, they'll move up a spot. Notre Dame will in the BCS. I'm taking to Lane. Delay minus five. They win. They cover Tulane by 13 points over Army. Dr. Pepper. Big 12 championship. Arizona State taking on Iowa State. Colorado should be in this game. They're not. I'm upset about it. Arizona State minus two. Take it on Iowa State. I'm taking Arizona State here. They advance on to the playoffs. Arizona State wins. They cover Arizona State by 10 points. SEC championship. Big game. Georgia plus three. Ticket on Texas. Buy it up to three and a half. Take Georgia. They win the game outright. Georgia by three points over Texas. Big Ten championship game. Oregon minus three and a half. They're taking on Penn State. I am taking Oregon here. They will lose. It just won't be this weekend. Oregon minus three and a half over Penn State. Buy it down to three. Oregon wins and covers Oregon by a touchdown. ACC championship game. SMU minus two. Taking on Clemson. I'm taking SMU. They're good. They've been good all year. SMU wins and they cover. They beat Clemson by 10 points and keep Dabo Swinney thankfully out of the playoffs. NFL Week 14, 3 and 4 a week ago. My first losing week in a long, long time. I am 56, 36 and 2 on the season. I'm on fire. Let's get to the games. Dolphins -6. Take it on the Jets. Jets are lousy. Dolphins think they're still playing for something. Whenever I have a lousy team taking on a team that thinks they're still playing for something, I take the team that thinks they're still playing for something. The Dolphins. Dolphins minus six over the Jets. They win by 14 points at home. Arizona minus two and a half taking on Seattle. Arizona wins. They cover the Cardinals by 10 points over the Seahawks. Bills minus four at the Rams. Bills might be the best team team in the NFL. They certainly have the MVP. The Bills win and they cover the Bills by 10 points on the road. Chargers plus four at the Chiefs. The Chiefs. Every game has been close. I'm taking the Chargers here plus four. But the Chiefs win a game. Win the game by a point because that's what they do. They win games by a point and they move on and they win the next game by a point. So I have taken the Chargers here plus four. The Chiefs win by one point at home. Bucks minus six and a half. They're taking on the Raiders. Buy it down to six. Take the Bucks. The Bucks win by 14 points over the Raiders. Steelers minus six and a half. They're taking on the Browns. Buy it down to six points. Russell Wilson has played his way back into Canton, back into the hall of Fame. In fact, Russell Wilson might be playing himself back into a first ballot hall of Famer. We'll find out more this weekend. If he covers, he's a first ballot guy. Steelers minus six over the Browns. I'm taking the Steelers. They win. They cover. Steelers by 13 points at home. And finally. I can't believe I'm doing this. Oh, I can't believe I'm doing this. Carolina plus 12 and a half. They're taking on the Eagles. Buy it up to 13. I have no idea why. Because Carolina is going to win the game out outright. How about that? I don't care if they win the game outright as long as they cover. The Eagles will lose the game. Carolina will win the game. Carolina wins by four points. And yet I told you to buy it up to 13. That's bad advice. But you know what? 56, 36 and 2 on the season. Those are the picks, everyone. Good luck Stu gods here. Right now, my friends over at Simplisafe, they are extending their Black Friday deal. For our God bless football listeners, Simplisafe is the home security I trust to keep my home and family safe. I've been telling you that for years now. This is your last chance to protect your home at Simplisafe's. Lowest prices of the year. Simplisafe is a new way to protect your home that stops intruders before they break into your home. Old school systems only take action once someone is already inside your home. That's too late. Simplisafe's active guard outdoor protection changes the game by preventing crime before it even happens. Simplisafe is extending its massive Black Friday deal for our listeners this week only. You can take 50% off any new system with a select professional monitoring plan. 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[Mikey A]

Who won the the annual Thanksgiving Day game?

[Dan Le Batard]

Oh, Jesus.

[Stugatz]

We didn't even get to have it.

[Dan Le Batard]

Why not?

[Mikey A]

This is outrageous. Yeah, didn't get to have it.

[Dan Le Batard]

Why we didn't get to have it?

[Stugatz]

Cuz like it was a monsoon here for most of the day. Right?

[Mikey A]

My gosh.

[Stugatz]

So there was an issue there. Then I. The other part of it was like my family actually got their together and we ate Thanksgiving dinner at like a normal time this year to where it kind of cleared out. And I was like, wow, I think we could go out and play and that at that moment, my mom was literally like, no, no, no, like the food's ready. We gotta do this. Let's eat now. And then I was kind of like eating and literally looking out the window like, man, we might still have some daylight to do this. But it just got. It all got too long and it just didn't happen. So sorry. Sorry to disappoint those out there.

[Mikey A]

Yeah, I'm understanding why Thanksgiving, why Phil wanted to get away. Yeah, now I know. I feel didn't want to spend Thanksgiving with you guys. He just kind of knew. Excuses. Geez.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah, yeah, right.

[Stugatz]

Well, Phil was cared either way. The big question was like, would have Phil sat on the couch with his right leg over his left one or the left one over the right one? That's about as far as that would have got.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah, but it seems like you needed Phil because if Phil was there, there's no way no one's not playing football. I mean, monsoon. He doesn't give a. Let's go play football, right?

[Stugatz]

Oh no. Phil gives a. Phil's soft these days.

[Dan Le Batard]

This is a.

[Stugatz]

Don't you dare this ain't that. Oh, this is not that. Phil doesn't go out if it's too sunny, if there's a little rain. If anything, it is so done. Those days are gone.

[Dan Le Batard]

You should be nicer to your dad.

[Stugatz]

Edge Parcels isn't with him anymore.

[Mikey A]

Sad day.

[Stugatz]

I know. Bad day, bad day, bad day. But good day. It's always good. Thanksgiving's awesome. All. You know, two out of the three games were pretty damn good. I enjoyed that, you know, and, yeah, it was all good. Good weekend. How about you guys? You guys had a good weekend?

[Mikey A]

Which one was. Which was the bad game? Which was the bad game?

[Stugatz]

The Cowboys, The Giants. That was horrible. I didn't. I didn't mind looking at the. The packers and Dolphins was. It had a good look on tv. It wasn't as competitive, maybe as we wanted it to be, but, like, it wasn't the worst. It wasn't the worst. So that. That's where I'll. I'll give that one enough. Enough entertainment there in a look that. Okay, I was interested in it. The Cowboys, Giants, I could have cared less about.

[Dan Le Batard]

Before we get to the NFL with you, how you feeling about the SEC championship game? Texas, Georgia?

[Stugatz]

Oh, yeah, I'm. I'm pumped. I mean, I can't wait. This is. I have a Saturday off this week. All right. It's my first tomorrow and Saturday, the first, like, two days I've had off really, since like, the end of August. So I'm really pumped, though, to sit on the couch, enjoy college football. Smokey, Smokey, drinky, drinky. That game.

[Mikey A]

Yeah.

[Stugatz]

Going to be big time, I think. Hey, the big thing here is Stu Gods, and I know we talked about it a little. If we can run the ball like you saw us run last week against Texas A and M, we're going to be tough to beat. I don't care who it is or where it is, because we know we could throw the ball and we can throw the ball down the field. And that's a little bit why our offense has been sluggish towards the end of the year is the fact that everyone's kind of called our bluff on the run game, and it's just like, hey, let's play. The safety's deep. They don't really want to run it. They're not great at running it. Let's take away the big pass plays, and that's led to some underwhelming victories. But if we do what we did against A and M last Saturday night and that dominant game and we can Run the ball, and then we get a few shots down the field. Yeah, we're going to be real tough to beat because I do think us and Notre Dame have the two best defenses in college football.

[Dan Le Batard]

So you have your first Saturday, and it's a great Saturday championship weekend just to sit around, get up and watch football, huh?

[Stugatz]

You know it, Dan. That's what I'll be doing.

[Mikey A]

You.

[Dan Le Batard]

You.

[Stugatz]

You explain that to a T. Exactly. Right. I concur.

[Dan Le Batard]

Doctor, have you thought about the deli sandwich you'll be ordering that day? Have you thought about it?

[Stugatz]

Yeah, I don't know. You know, it's deli sandwich. It could be, you know, buffalo wings and fries and stuff like that, but we're gonna be eating good that day for sure. And the wife is out of the house that day, too, so it's literally like lounge around and just do whatever the hell I want. It's. It's gonna be a beautiful day. Beautiful day.

[Dan Le Batard]

So the wife has more important things to do than hang out with her husband on his first Saturday off and watch championship weekend.

[Stugatz]

I mean, yeah, her sister's having a baby, so they're having a baby shower or whatever. So, you know, that's no excuse.

[Dan Le Batard]

Who has a baby.

[Stugatz]

I know. Yeah, Apparently. Apparently she doesn't. And, yes, I was a little surprised, too, and I was like, damn, you're going to go. The first time I have a day off the whole freaking year. But, you know, as you get older and the more years go by in a marriage, you continually just fall down the pecking order. Right. You just followed this. You're. You're an afterthought. You're. As a husband, after 20 years of marriage, you're like. You become like, yeah, I think I have a few minutes for you today.

[Mikey A]

Yeah.

[Stugatz]

Yeah, sure.

[Dan Le Batard]

Right.

[Stugatz]

And that. That's where we're at right now in my life.

[Dan Le Batard]

She also knows Chris will be fine on his own. He's F Championship Saturday.

[Stugatz]

Yeah. Yeah, Chris. Chris will find ways to entertain himself. Don't worry.

[Dan Le Batard]

Chris, would you be shocked, okay. Would you be shocked if the Chiefs were not playing in the AFC Championship Game?

[Stugatz]

No, I would not be shocked.

[Dan Le Batard]

Okay.

[Stugatz]

No, no, I'm. I'm not. I mean, again, the Chiefs are the Chiefs. I get that. I. I know we dove into this a little last week.

[Dan Le Batard]

Right.

[Stugatz]

And I stand by. Like, what I've said is just that 40 years of football watching has shown me that they can't do this. Except for those damn four games last year after they lost to the Raiders. So that's why you're always skeptical.

[Dan Le Batard]

Right?

[Stugatz]

Right. With the Chiefs, because they're just. They. They can do amazing things. But I do think this is not the same team. And I know we talked about this last week. Of course we worry about the offense. The defense is not in the same stratosphere as last year, guys. Right. People have forgotten that. Legerio Snead, we were talking about him as defensive player of the year last year. Let's not forget that.

[Dan Le Batard]

Right.

[Stugatz]

So him not being there, they can't get after the quarterback. They don't force nearly as many negative plays. Last year, they were second in football and sacks. This year, they're towards the bottom of football and sacks. They have to blitz and pressure to get pressure on a quarterback. You know, I think this will be a tough game for them this week with the Chargers.

[Dan Le Batard]

Right.

[Stugatz]

The Chargers have got a really good defense, and with the way the Chiefs play on offense, they will present some opportunities for the Chargers to make some plays there. So I kind of took the thing that the magic of the Chiefs ends this week. I took the Chargers to upset them. We'll see where that goes. But no, I would not be shocked if the Chiefs were not in the AFC Championship game this year.

[Dan Le Batard]

PFT with Mike Florio every day on Peacock, the unbuttoned podcast as well. Football night in America, they have the Chargers and the Chiefs coming out up this weekend. Have you seen enough? I'm interested here in Carolina and what you would do, Chris, if you were running the team. Have you seen enough from Bryce Young where you're committed to him as your quarterback of the future and would you build around him in the off season?

[Stugatz]

I think I have seen enough right now. Again, I don't know what's behind the scenes. I haven't talked to anybody down there that's in the know. You know, I. Carolina, be one of the few teams in football I'm probably the least connected to in football right now after the last few years and people moving in and out of there. So I got no inside inkling here. But from what I've seen on the field and watched on film, yeah, I think that I would. Again, just saying you were going to replace him. Okay. Replace him. Who. Who's it going to be?

[Dan Le Batard]

Right.

[Stugatz]

Is it definitely going to be better?

[K. Funk]

All right.

[Stugatz]

Does he. No. Now we got to learn the Canales offense again with another guy. I would think part of the reason Canales wanted this job was that he felt like he can make it work with Bryce Young. And yet now it's time to get the right guys. To me, this should totally be like, follow the tool of Miami Dolphins playbook. If they want to go with Bryce Young, you got to get a certain group of players down there that fit him. And then the way the Dolphins play is really the way you should play with Bryce Young. That's what it should be. Point guard, boom, boom, boom. Get it out of my hand. Slick throw, move around the pocket, great ball handling, all that because the explosive arm talent and the throws down the field, that's never going to be there. It's not like he's just going to wake up one day, we're going to go, whoa, he's got a laser beam from an arm now. That's not going to happen. So I would say they got the O line figured out. Now this off season, go out there, spend, draft, whatever you got to do, make moves to get super talent around. Bryce Young.

[Mikey A]

Chris, what have you seen out of Anthony Richardson lately? Because it's been like a roller coaster ride for him this year where he gets benched. Sometimes he looks good, sometimes he looks bad. If you look at his stats, sometimes it looks like, wow, that was a terrible game. But then you watch the game, you're like, they only won that game because of him. He kept them in that game. He made bad decisions, but sure enough he wins them the game. So where are you on him and why is he so confusing, I guess?

[Stugatz]

Well, he hasn't still to this point hasn't played a lot of football.

[Dan Le Batard]

Right.

[Stugatz]

Didn't play a ton of college last year. He got hurt and only played a handful of games, you know, so this year is really his best learning experience in the NFL. You said it right? I mean, it's not pretty, but he is a talent and he does do some eye popping things and he can change the dynamic of the team. And this is where I get into like, hey, he's a perfect example and a lot of quarterbacks are right now where you don't have to throw for 75% and be really efficient to win football. Right now it's about explosive plays. It's about plays in general. And you're seeing that and he is that. But it's just polish. It's polish. That's the biggest thing, Billy. It's little nuanced stuff. And I don't want to say little because it's all very important for the quarterback position. But yeah, whether it's when to throw a ball away, not to take a sack, sure, all that stuff could be better. But the biggest thing is accuracy, and it's accuracy on the short to intermediate throws. Like you're talking about. When there's a guy open 60 yards downfield, I got more confidence that he'll hit that throw than he will on the 10 yard out route. That's the damn problem. The 10 yard out route, he might miss it by 10 yards. The 60 yard post route, he'll put it right in the guy's chin. I mean, that's. He's great at that. But there is technique and certain things to throwing the ball shorter. And that's where he hasn't figured that out. He is all armed every throw. So the guy's right here. He's like throws it with his arm. The guy 60 yards downfield, he throws it with his arm. But when it's downfield, he's got to use his body a little bit because you can't get it 60 yards downfield without using your body. He's got to learn to use his body in the short to intermediate throws. His arm kind of works as a independent contractor, for lack of a better way to say it. And so he hasn't fused it all together, but I see signs of it happening and I think he's been a different guy as of late. You heard me say a few weeks ago, I do know people in Indianapolis, he wasn't being professional behind the scenes. That's why they benched him. Right. But when they lost a few games with Flacco, they went, okay, this is still the future. We still like this guy. He's not a bad guy. He's just got to mature and become a professional. And he's been playing with a little edge and finding a way to win games and good for him. And he's a super talented guy. But yeah, there's just some polish that needs to be done.

[Dan Le Batard]

Bill, Bill.

[Chris Simms]

Chris, I want to ask you about the Trevor Bill.

[Dan Le Batard]

I'm going to call Bill now. I'm only going to call. That threw me off. I also like the idea of rich pictures, his arm being a hired gun.

[Stugatz]

I don't know why it came out of my mouth.

[Mikey A]

I think it was a respect thing. I think he said, you know what? I respect this lack of respect.

[Dan Le Batard]

Maybe not that. Go ahead, Mikey.

[Chris Simms]

Right now I get to get serious.

[Dan Le Batard]

I want to.

[Chris Simms]

I want to get your thoughts on the Trevor Lawrence hit. Because the casual football fan, everybody was, oh, my God, that guy needs to be thrown out of the league and go to jail and all that ridiculous. And then you see a lot of, of Former players coming out like Tom Brady's like, hey, that's kind of what happens when you become a runner. And I'm curious what your feelings are on. On that hit.

[Stugatz]

Yeah, yeah. It's a. It's a good subject. It really is. I heard what Brady said, and I don't think he's totally wrong with, like, you know, maybe fine. Like, listen, some of these quarterbacks and what they're doing and sliding late is making it almost impossible on defenders sometimes. And I feel for defenders, I'm pro defense. Anybody will tell you that watches a game with me because the rules are so skewed for the offense, it's hard to root for them sometimes. Now, what I will say with Brady and what he's saying is, man, does he seem like the guy up in the ivory tower there? I don't know if anybody benefited for later slides in life than Tom Brady. We played some on PFT yesterday. I mean, he's the latest slider we've ever seen in football. And then get up and complain that he got touched as he, like, you know, chop kick some guy in the nuts as he's sliding too, right. He'd be like, hey, he hit me. His nuts hit my foot. I want a penalty. And it's like, no, that's. You slid literally where the guy had nothing to do. Right. But so it is tough. Some of these quarterbacks are, you know, taking advantage, I think, too, of the fact that we've talked about it, getting towards the sidelines. They pull up and then they turn it back on and get defenders to pull up and they get a few extra yards or again. Some of these quarterbacks are huge specimen type of guys, so you got to get ready to hit them a little bit. And we see every now and then, especially like a Josh Allen, he'll run you over. But here's where this one was wrong one. Like, you always know a quarterback's about to slide for the most part. And I'm not saying it's easy. I get all that. And a guy like Aziz Al Shair has seen hundreds of quarterback slides with as much football as he's played over the last few years. So you know what that looks like when it's about to happen, right? You. Trevor Lawrence was a slide a little late, no doubt about it. But the problem is Shair showed no give a about trying to pull up. In fact, he said, I'm going to double down and step on the gas pedal more. I'm not going to hit on the brake. And I'm going to launch at your head and throw a forearm with my arm that's got a big brace on it too. And I think that's where it's wrong. Let alone he's got some history and then he gets suspended three games. Why? Well, history, the egregiousness of the hit on the quarterback. And then the NFL is going to make an example of you. Listen when you make that hit and then the Jaguars reacted the way they did, which any team would do that, right? That's the moment where you're going to be like, oh, my bad, my bad. And you get hit around a little bit and I messed up, I'm sorry. As they're hitting you around, he doubled down and went F you. I'm gonna beat your ass and your ass and take on the whole sideline and rip your head off. And the NFL is going to make an example of them for that because they're not into. We want big fights on the field in the middle of a football game. So those are my thoughts there. I don't know if there's anything more you want to pick out there, Chris.

[Dan Le Batard]

Is it time for the Falcons to go with Michael Penix?

[Stugatz]

No, I don't think that does any good for anybody as of right now. One, they're still in this. They can win the NFC south, right? So that's my first thing. Second off, I don't even think that's a good thing for Michael Penix and what he's at, what put him in with a team that's struggling a little bit and then, oh, wait, he doesn't play well. And then we go into the off season, I'm like, well, I mean, Michael Pennick didn't even look that good. Did we make the right draft pick? You know, it's just unfair to put him in that position. I think this late in the year on top of all that. So, no, ride it with Kirk Cousins. He's shown he can fight out of these type of slumps. He played bad last week, there's no doubt about that. And I know the big stat out there is six interceptions over the last three games. But, you know, four of them were last week. So I think that's a little bit blown out of proportion as far as, you know, the mistakes he's making.

[Dan Le Batard]

I am fascinated by what's going on in Minnesota. A, that no one takes them seriously as a contender in the nfc and B, I just don't know what they're going to do with Sam Darnold. He's been so good. He's winning latent games. He's the reason they are winning football games. And I was wondering, like, is J.J. mcCarthy gonna ever take a snap for the Vikings? Like, what do the Vikings do here with Darnold?

[Stugatz]

I, I, I think that it's gonna take a lot to keep Darnold and I think that's where the Daniel Jones thing comes into play, man. Right. Where we'll go with JJ McCarthy and Daniel Jones will be the backup for that next year.

[Dan Le Batard]

Right.

[Stugatz]

But that I, I look at it and, and I think Sam Darnold, the play has been good, like you said, I don't think it's been great. There's been a few moments of great, but there's also been some moments of like, man, what the hell are you doing there? Oh, you threw that interception and it's still a game. You should be dominating them. Right. So I don't think it's good enough to where they're just going to say, oh yeah, he's the guy for next year just getting in the playoffs. I think it'll take an NFC championship, a Super bowl type appearance and high quality play for him to stay there. They invested, they traded to get up to trade to move up to get McCarthy.

[Dan Le Batard]

Right.

[Stugatz]

There's obviously something there they like about the future. So yeah, I don't see that happen unless something extraordinary happens. And you're right, you guys, 10 and 2, they're the least talked about 10 and 2 team in the history of football.

[Dan Le Batard]

It's crazy.

[Stugatz]

But yeah, that's the problem is they're 10 and 2. And I think most people feel the way I do. They're probably the, I feel like they're the third best team in their division. Right. And probably the fourth best team in the NFC in general. And I think that's why they don't get quite the respect they, they would want.

[Dan Le Batard]

I can't believe I'm asking Chris this question considering how the first three or four weeks of the NFL season went. But has Bo Nicks been better than Jaden Daniels.

[Stugatz]

In totality? I'm going to say no, not as of yet.

[Dan Le Batard]

He's been good, Chris.

[Stugatz]

Yeah, it's been really good. He certainly has closed the gap significantly. And I, what I think where I would agree with you on that comment is probably over the last five weeks he's played better than Jaden Daniels. That, that's where I think is, is where you're going. And I think I, I, I agree with that. He's been damn good.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah.

[Stugatz]

And it's not perfect. We know, we saw that the other night. He got a, you know, got unlucky with one interception. He had one other that was clearly his fault. But damn, I mean you see the explosiveness in his arm and what he does there. You see the athlete. And they're a team that their offense didn't necessarily match up great with Cleveland's defense because they don't have big time speed at receiver or weapons. And Cleveland's got some guys that can cover and do all that. But yeah, he's definitely like him. Jaden Daniels, Brock Bowers, they all deserve equal talk as far as rookie of the year conversation.

[Dan Le Batard]

I think Sean Payton deserves talk in terms of coach of the year conversation. Yes, definitely. Yeah.

[Stugatz]

I mean, watch out for the Broncos. Watch out. Like I wouldn't want to play them in the playoffs. And certainly what I'm even more is going watch out there from next year. And for now on, right, they've turned the corner. They got the quarterback, they got the old line, they got the secondary, they got some pass rushers. Now it's like we got to get a receiver, we maybe get a big time running back, we get another big time D tackle and that. It's like, watch out. We're one of the best teams in football. So yeah, I watch out. He is. He has made that organization totally different. Sean Payton, that's one of those rare.

[Mikey A]

Instances, Chris, where it worked out well for both parties, right? It worked out well for the Broncos. It worked out well for Russ.

[Dan Le Batard]

That's right.

[Mikey A]

What do the Steelers do with Russ now? Because he's, he's great at a million dollars a year and he seems to be a good fit for that team. But is he a good fit at $30 million a year for that team?

[Stugatz]

Well, yeah, I, you know, 30's pretty end of the, you know, bottom of.

[Mikey A]

The barrel right now, which is crazy.

[Stugatz]

I know. It's, it's, it is, it is crazy, right? It's, it's. I mean, literally seven years ago, third, no quarterback in football was making 30 million. Now ones are making 30 million. So that's what's amazing. But yeah. Wait, who are you asking me about? Russell Wilson. Russell Wilson, though, with that, I think if it continues the way it is, they're, they're going to pay him something like that. And I don't think he is going to hold them over a fire for every last dollar. Right. There's not going to be a huge market for him out there. He fits perfectly with Pittsburgh. It's got a Lot of vibes of Seattle, Russell Wilson in the style of play. I know we've talked about that. And did you guys watch Hard Knocks this week with the AFC North?

[Dan Le Batard]

No.

[Stugatz]

Well, watch it first off. It's very good. But Mike Tomlin loves Russell Wilson. Like, there's no hiding that he loves him. Like, they're on the field together, like, pointing at each other all the time like, no, you're the man. You're the man. No, you the man. They. He kissing them when he walks in the locker room. I've never seen Mike Tomlin act like that with a quarterback.

[Dan Le Batard]

Interesting.

[Stugatz]

So he feels like he's got a guy. Russell as the more I think about it, we talked about how awesome he fits with the team schematically in that style of play, because it's like Seattle and the. In the heyday. But also so with the Steelers, they got all these personalities and kind of renegades that Tomlin keeps in check. He's probably happy to have a choir boy at a quarterback that's just like, go, Russ. Go, Steelers. Go, Broncos. He loves that. I bet. So that's where it fits, too.

[Dan Le Batard]

How does Tom would treat Justin Fields on that show?

[Stugatz]

He's okay with him. I mean, listen, Tomlin's got a magic way about him.

[Dan Le Batard]

He's great.

[Stugatz]

He's the greatest communicator I was ever around. Yeah, he's the greatest just motivator I was ever around. He's special that way. Tomlin can make it and be the most real mother you've ever seen and say stuff to you that's hard and cuts through the deep of your soul, but you still look at him go, he cares about me. He says it in a way that you go, he cares about me. That wasn't degrading. He just kind of talked to me like a man and was like, hey, man up. Stop being stupid, or blah, blah, blah, and you're like, damn, I feel better. He's got a. He's magical that way. And that's why they never freaking lose there in Pittsburgh, because of him.

[Dan Le Batard]

That's an underrated gift. The ability to criticize a player and have the player know that you actually care about him.

[Stugatz]

Exactly right. It is. And it's. It's a gift that really only the good ones have, in my opinion, where they can mother f you and say all these things and whatever else, but you still go, he. He loves me. And he says enough positive things about me when I do good things that I know, you know, he does like me and. And. And that's, that's his magic touch. Let alone wait till you see him in some of the meetings. And of course, his football acumen and just all the things he sees and feels and runs the meetings the way he does. He's, he's special coach, man.

[Dan Le Batard]

All right, I've tried to make a point about the NFL MVP here, Chris, so just stay with me for a second. If the Eagles had to choose one of these guys to eliminate from their team, which one would they choose? Jalen Hertz, saquon Barkley, or A.J. brown?

[Stugatz]

Oh.

[Dan Le Batard]

Oh, it's Barkley.

[Stugatz]

Well, gosh, I want to say Jalen hurts.

[Dan Le Batard]

They.

[Stugatz]

That's what I want to say.

[Dan Le Batard]

They would get rid of Jalen.

[Stugatz]

Well, you're just saying if they had to get rid of one. You're making me choose one.

[Dan Le Batard]

Right. One of those three guys. Yes. Who's your quarterback? You get rid of Jalen Hurts. You get rid of Saquon.

[Stugatz]

I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I don't know. Saquon to me is so special.

[Dan Le Batard]

Right.

[Stugatz]

And with that old line and what they are, it ain't going anywhere. Like, he ain't going to fall off a cliff. He's going to be the best running back in football next year, too.

[Dan Le Batard]

Right.

[Stugatz]

So that's where I'm just.

[Dan Le Batard]

This is all. This is all. This is my only point.

[Stugatz]

Yeah.

[Dan Le Batard]

They made a Super bowl with Miles Sanders without, Without Saquon barking.

[Stugatz]

I hear you right?

[Dan Le Batard]

That's it. That's it.

[Stugatz]

I hear you right. I know what you're saying. Yes, totally. I think this makes them a more dangerous football team there. It's a, You're. It's an almost an impossible question to answer is what you're asking me here.

[Dan Le Batard]

I know it is.

[Stugatz]

I, I am also a guy like. But, I mean, for years I've been trying to say Saquon Barkley is a first ballot hall of Famer. He's just not on a team that can show that he's a first ballot hall of Famer.

[Dan Le Batard]

Right.

[Stugatz]

AJ Brown is going to the hall of Fame, too.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah.

[Stugatz]

We know receivers in the inflated wide receiver stat era, they're not as many years going as we think. Think AJ Brown will be one of the short one, short list ones that do.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yep.

[Stugatz]

I mean, he's me definitely one of the three best receivers in football. And then, in fact, this year, I would say maybe number two, only behind Jamar Chase. That, that's the pecking order. I really like Jalen hurts. I know people think I'm A hater. And I was more of a hater in just the fact that everybody was trying to tell me he was the best quarterback in football. Two years. The year two years ago when they were going to the Super Bowl, I was still trying to say, hey, he's good. He's just not as good as what you're saying. I think he's gotten better. Right. But you're not going to watch the Eagles and go, wow, this is high level quarterback play. You're going to go, wow, this is a good leader. He's tough and he makes some big plays and some big moments. And I just talked about plays are the name of the game. So it doesn't always look surgical. Wow, this looks like a high flying offense, but he's going to make big plays at a big moment. But man. Yeah, I guess I'm going to go with Jalen Hertz, but it's not an easy question. You're killing me there. But I'm probably going to get made fun of on social media. Media because of it.

[Dan Le Batard]

Well, I'll answer for you. It's Aqua Barkley, PFD with Mike Florio every day on Peacock, the unbuttoned podcast. Football night in America. Last question for you. Joe Burrow said he needs to do more. Chris, I don't think he can.

[Stugatz]

No. Well, that's again, that's what an awesome player says, right?

[Dan Le Batard]

Yes.

[Stugatz]

Awesome players always think they can do more. It doesn't matter. That's just the way they're wired. That's why they're awesome.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yes.

[Stugatz]

So, yeah, I'm sure he believes that.

[Dan Le Batard]

Do you think he, do you think he has thought to himself at all? I need to get out of here. Like they're, they're going to waste my career. They're going to waste it here.

[Stugatz]

I don't know if we've gone there yet, but I certainly think for this year, he's singing that like, man, they up this year. Yeah, we, we, we had a chance. If we had a few players, a few more players to the areas we knew we weren't strong at, we would have won some of those close games and we would have been a headache. The offense is unreal, right?

[Dan Le Batard]

Incredible.

[Stugatz]

Those three are unreal.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yes.

[Stugatz]

When you talk about Burrow, Higgins and Jamar Chase, it's incredible.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yes.

[Stugatz]

And the fact that, what is it? How many games have they had over 30 points and they've only won like one of them.

[Dan Le Batard]

All of them.

[Stugatz]

I mean there's. Yeah. Is it all of them? It's incredible.

[Dan Le Batard]

It is.

[Stugatz]

But yeah, as we've talked about, he's. He's played as good as anybody in football. And if they just had a little bit better record, he'd be in the MVP conversation. He's not there, but yeah, I don't think he can do a whole lot more. He's carried them on his back.

[Dan Le Batard]

I think they have four losses when they score 30 points, which is absurd.

[Gordy Gronkowski]

That's crazy.

[Stugatz]

Yeah, that's what it was. That's crazy.

[Dan Le Batard]

Pft with my Florio. The unbuttoned podcast. Football night in America. Chargers and Chiefs coming up this Sunday night. He's got a couple of days off. Smokey, smokey, drinky, drinky. No wifey. Enjoy it, Chris Sims.

[Stugatz]

I will.

[Emma Chamberlain]

This episode is brought to you by Disney Game On. Because ESPN content is available on Disney, you can watch your favorites from Disney, Hulu and ESPN together like never before. With espn, unwrap a full day of NBA action. On Christmas Day, tip off the festivities with the spurs and Knicks, followed by the Mavs and Timberwolves. Then a clash between the Lakers and Warriors, followed by the 76ers and Celtics. And finally the Nuggets face off against the Suns. All streaming December 25th. Then with Hulu, watch the terrifying sci fi thriller Alien Romulus, where a group of young space colonizers come face to face with the ultimate horror. And on Disney, follow the adventures of four kids across the galaxy as they meet unlikely allies and enemies in Star Skeleton Crew, starring Jude Law. All of these and more now streaming and available with a Bundle subscription. Visit disneyplus.com for details. Terms apply.

[Dan Le Batard]

Oh, snap.

[Mikey A]

What is happening behind you? K Pop, what is happening behind you?

[Cheyenne]

I have some guest pickers today.

[Mikey A]

Oh, Jesus.

[K. Funk]

Some guest kickers.

[Cheyenne]

Multiple have some guests on. All right, I figured Mojo couldn't make.

[K. Funk]

It, so that's perfect. He can't see those things anymore because his name's Dean.

[Mikey A]

Did he have a baby yet or are we still waiting?

[Dan Le Batard]

I don't feel like.

[Cheyenne]

I feel like no one's gonna know if he has a baby and it's gonna be like he's gonna make show about it, you know, like it's gonna.

[Dan Le Batard]

Be live from tmz.

[Cheyenne]

Mojo had his baby or something like that.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah. Okay, Funk, slow down a second because there's a lot of questions in this episode about Billy's hat. Rollis just had one for Billy. I apologize to cut you off there, Rollis. What are you saying about Billy's hat? Just so you know, I don't know.

[Billy Gill]

Why it Took me so long to notice. But that looks like the. The Cardinals logo right there. If I'm not mistaken, I'm no expert.

[Dan Le Batard]

Of the bird gang.

[Billy Gill]

Yeah, part of the bird gang sets the visit here since they.

[Mikey A]

Yeah, I got it. I got it when I headed up there. I've had. I've meant to wear it to show you for a number of weeks. I think the only week I wore was the week that you were not here, so.

[Cheyenne]

Yeah, you had it on one.

[Mikey A]

It's a nice hat. I like it.

[Dan Le Batard]

Mikey caters to whatever city he goes to. When he's in Kansas City, he's a Chiefs fan. When he's in Arizona, he's an Arizona fan. He has that Chris Sims jersey behind him because only when Chris Simms comes on, otherwise he takes it down.

[Mikey A]

Listen, if I could track down any of your jerseys, I would hang them up, but Rollis was on the Dolphins for four days, so I don't think they made one.

[Dan Le Batard]

Well, how about a Gronkowski jersey, huh? What do you. What do you think?

[Mikey A]

I. I honestly, I would hang up a Gordy Gronkowski baseball jersey like that.

[Chris Simms]

If I jersey, I'm sure it's the first one that pops up.

[Dan Le Batard]

I'd rather have. I'm with Billy. I'd rather have. I'd rather have gourds than Rob's.

[K. Funk]

You know what we do? Like, Mama Gronk would take the bros jerseys and she would cut them in half and then have them sewed together. So all three last. All three of the teams were on one jersey.

[Cheyenne]

That's pretty dope.

[K. Funk]

Or in three or in half, depending on how many bros are in the NFL at the time. So she's got like the sickest jerseys out of every everyone.

[Mikey A]

Yeah.

[Cheyenne]

Oh, yeah.

[Dan Le Batard]

Hey, punk, where are you today?

[Cheyenne]

I'm at home today. I have a few friends that are gonna make some picks. Cheyenne's here.

[K. Funk]

Can you just keep it on, man?

[Dan Le Batard]

What was your name? K. Punk. This is Grace. Hi, Grace. You guys are locked in for the rest of the season. I don't know if K. Funk told you.

[Mikey A]

Well, Cheyenne has been on before. She has a 2 and 3 record on the year.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yes, Cheyenne, second of meeting you.

[Mikey A]

Yeah, well, stugats. You missed it earlier. I was informing everybody. We had a lot of movement last week in the standings and we had two people for the first time ever go five zero. And as. As a result, the standings have changed.

[Dan Le Batard]

We lost. We've lost.

[Stugatz]

Gordy.

[Dan Le Batard]

Is focused on K. Punk's house. I mean.

[K. Funk]

I'm a fitness Model, are you? Well, I am now because not. Not for you. Not for you five guys.

[Mikey A]

Is that your line, Gordy? You go up and you say, I'm a fitness model of people.

[K. Funk]

Yeah. I introduce myself.

[Dan Le Batard]

Me too. Gordy. Gordy, how many things have you pretended to be because you're pursuing someone? Like, I have. Like, there were times when I was single before I was married.

[K. Funk]

Yeah.

[Dan Le Batard]

I would tell. You know where I would tell women I'm a NASCAR driver, an astronaut. Like, what do you. Yeah, well, it was easy.

[K. Funk]

For 11 years, I would just say I'm one of the NFL players, brothers. You might have heard of them before. I feel like the nascar easy name.

[Dan Le Batard]

Job, just a picture with Brady.

[K. Funk]

Like, no, you're not. I'm all right. Yeah, you're right. I'm not.

[Cheyenne]

I feel like the NASCAR is a real panty dropper there, Stu.

[Dan Le Batard]

Got to.

[Cheyenne]

That work for you?

[Dan Le Batard]

Yes, actually, hold on.

[K. Funk]

Like, minor league baseball doesn't, like, you know, break the. Break the ice when doing an introduction for 900 bucks a month.

[Mikey A]

So.

[Dan Le Batard]

Gordy, I'll tell you that. Pre marriage again. I got a world series ring when I was working for the Florida Marlins, and Wayne Eizinga, who was the owner at the time, would engrave your last name into the ring. All employees got one. My last name is Wiener. My real last name, Stugotts is somehow better. My actual name. But the backup catcher's name was John Wayner. And so I would walk around with that ring and tell everyone I was the backup catcher. There you go.

[K. Funk]

And no one knew. So it sounded.

[Dan Le Batard]

No one knew. It worked. Yes. It was the best year of my life. Yeah.

[K. Funk]

Lucky you were single then.

[Dan Le Batard]

Mike rolls. Have you ever told someone that you are like, have you ever made a lie in pursuit of.

[Stugatz]

Of.

[Dan Le Batard]

Of a girl?

[Billy Gill]

Well, you know, we would kind of do the opposite as wrestlers. A lot of the time they would ask us because it would be like, you know, several huge dudes, like 6 foot 7, 300 pounds more. And they'd be like, what do you guys do? You guys do something? And we'd be like, yeah, we work for ikea. We travel around and just pitch ideas to different department stores. And they'd be like, what? That's. Or we would go over the. You know, we were like a dance crew or something like that. You know, we would kind of work the opposite direction of, like, building ourselves up. We would try to kind of make it entertaining for ourselves. Sometimes we. An accent. One time I was with my English buddy and, you know, he was Speaking in his accent. And I was trying to copy his and they said, are your guys accents real even? And we're like, yeah, what are you talking about? And she's like, well, yours sounds real. She pointed at me. She said, yours sounds real. His sounds fake, though. So I had a more convincing English accent at the time than my English buddy did.

[Dan Le Batard]

All right, can we hear the English? I want you to make your picks in the English accent.

[Billy Gill]

Oh, man, this is gonna wild. But I'll give it a try.

[Dan Le Batard]

I can't wait. I can't wait.

[Mikey A]

I'm. I'm more curious, honestly, to find out from Cheyenne what it is that K. Funk says that he does because none of us actually really know what he does. So what is his profession according to him, to you guys?

[Dan Le Batard]

He works with athletes.

[Mikey A]

Oh, okay. And then I do.

[Cheyenne]

I have other businesses too.

[Mikey A]

But what are those?

[Dan Le Batard]

Well, what athletes, though? I mean, I say it's a professional gambler. I work.

[Mikey A]

I do that too.

[Dan Le Batard]

I do a lot like it. Yeah, I do a lot of things.

[Billy Gill]

A little of that.

[Chris Simms]

Speaking of professional gambler, what's the standing spilly?

[Mikey A]

Okay.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah. So last Mikey A's got somewhere to be? I mean.

[Mikey A]

Well, no. So last week.

[Dan Le Batard]

No, I just.

[Chris Simms]

I'm just trying to dunk on K. Funk a little.

[Dan Le Batard]

At least.

[Cheyenne]

At least he showed up to work this week. Last week.

[Mikey A]

Last week's two guys. For the first time ever, we had two people go five zero. Wow.

[Stugatz]

Amazing.

[Dan Le Batard]

Who was it?

[Mikey A]

The two people that went in five and O are both here. It is Mike Rollis and it is Gordy Gronkowski.

[Dan Le Batard]

Wow. Let's go, baby. I'm right back.

[K. Funk]

I told you the second half of the year is going to be mine because I've been taking it serious.

[Chris Simms]

I thought it was going to be Cheyenne.

[K. Funk]

Ladies, you heard that? Whatever you need. You need some money. I'm good at gambling, so I got you guys.

[Mikey A]

Well, now here's someone who's not good at gambling. K. Funk had another week that was not the best. He was 3 and 3. He was 3 and 2 picks here. He was 3 and 2 with the picks here. And then he had his secret bonus pick that he sent us and that one did not come through. So he went three and three again.

[Billy Gill]

He sent it after that. Bengals took an early lead too.

[Dan Le Batard]

Like really confident.

[Chris Simms]

We gave him the game started and he still got it wrong.

[Cheyenne]

Yeah, listen, you can't charge me twice for my pick. Dude, where's Carl? Get Carl on the show.

[Dan Le Batard]

Carl's not here. Carl. Carl has Actual work to do. He's in court right now.

[Gordy Gronkowski]

What do you mean actual work?

[Billy Gill]

What is this?

[Mikey A]

Listen, K's working with professional athletes right now.

[Dan Le Batard]

Mikey and Billy, professional gambler.

[Cheyenne]

Oh, I haven't. I haven't the last 15 years of my life, Billy.

[Dan Le Batard]

Okay, we'll get some of them on. Let's go.

[Cheyenne]

Listen, Mikey and Billy, that's fine. You can't just charge me last week.

[Mikey A]

Okay, three and two last week. That's fine. You're three and two. I didn't include the three and three in the records, if I'm going to be honest with you. I just put you down at 3 and 2. However, unfortunately Chris Gronkowski went 2 and 3 last week. So he would be in last place. Actually second to last place. Tied with Cheyenne at 2 and 3 with a.400 win percentage. Last place is the blackjack dealer who won zero games games for the entire season. Now, because of Gordy's 50 week and K Funk's 3 and 2 week, Gordy has now jumped K Funk in the standings. And Gordy is 28, 37 and 2 with a.433 win percentage.

[K. Funk]

I'm making a strong comeback, baby.

[Mikey A]

You really are.

[Dan Le Batard]

I started getting hot at the right time, Gord.

[K. Funk]

Yeah, I got emotional early on in the year with everyone else's picks. I got influence really bad.

[Mikey A]

Yeah. Well, K Funk, what did Carl and.

[Cheyenne]

Share Bear do last week?

[Mikey A]

We're getting.

[Dan Le Batard]

We're getting there. K Funk.

[Mikey A]

K Funk amongst our regulars unfortunately is in last place. He's 27, 39 and 2. But there's plenty of time left to catch up.

[Cheyenne]

We got two months left.

[Mikey A]

Yeah, there's plenty of time. So don't worry about it. Don't beat yourself up over it. Girls. Do not judge him because he's a loser. It's fine. There's plenty of time. Yeah, Share bear had a two and three weeks week. So he took a step back. He's 29, 35 and two. Carl had a two and three week. He also or no, sorry. Carl had a one in four week because now that's why he's not on. Okay, hold on. Because of Carl's one and four week and because of Mike Rollis's five and I know week, Mike Rollis has jumped Carl into second place on the season at 28, 22. Rollis started well in last place. It has been hot the last couple weeks. Mojo had a 3 and 2, still in first place at 39, 25 and 2 with a.606 win percentage. So he's still well ahead of everyone else, but there have been some changes.

[Dan Le Batard]

All right, so, Billy, you have Share Bears picks. You have. Because some of. Some of the regulars are not here this week. So you have Carl Douglas's picks, you have Share Bears picks, you have Mojo's picks.

[Mikey A]

I do. I have.

[Dan Le Batard]

I believe.

[Mikey A]

Yeah. I have all those picks for us.

[Dan Le Batard]

Okay. All right, so are we ready, guys? And yes.

[Mikey A]

All right, is everybody in the room picking today?

[Dan Le Batard]

Yep.

[Billy Gill]

Yes.

[K. Funk]

Grace.

[Dan Le Batard]

All right, so, Grace, you're picking as well.

[K. Funk]

Grace, did you realize that I remembered your name?

[Cheyenne]

Wait, Mikey.

[Mikey A]

You.

[Cheyenne]

Were you at the club when I took Mikey? Yeah, Cheyenne was there. You remember Cheyenne, right?

[Mikey A]

I do remember.

[K. Funk]

Diane has great energy.

[Dan Le Batard]

Rachel.

[Mikey A]

Rachel, Rachel, Rachel.

[Chris Simms]

And your. Your MMA fighter friend?

[Cheyenne]

Yeah, Billy, he's fighting next week.

[Dan Le Batard]

He's fighting.

[Mikey A]

Hold on a second. Wait a minute. What. What is this? Why have we not gotten this full story? You were there with an MMA fighter also. Mikey.

[Cheyenne]

Mikey came into town. I said I'm gonna take him to the penthouse. So, I mean, Rachel, my friend Billy, who's in the ufc, and Mike.

[Dan Le Batard]

Right. That was it.

[Cheyenne]

And Lacey, Lacey was there too.

[Dan Le Batard]

Back.

[Cheyenne]

When I took care of Mikey.

[Dan Le Batard]

Now he.

[Cheyenne]

All he does is bad mouth me. So, you know.

[Dan Le Batard]

Wow, you're the best.

[K. Funk]

I'm coming in town in two weeks. I mean, you are like the man. Dude, look how many gorgeous girls you have around you. All right, where we go? Where are we going?

[Dan Le Batard]

Gordy does work with professional hockey.

[Billy Gill]

Got a good thing going on right now. Gordy, you gotta ride the momentum.

[Mikey A]

Him great.

[K. Funk]

I can't get influenced. You're right. Thank you.

[Cheyenne]

Roll is deterring. Deterring his flight away from Tampa.

[Mikey A]

Grace, Cheyenne, have you met Java Chamberlain yet?

[Dan Le Batard]

I have. He was the first person I met.

[Mikey A]

Isn't he nice?

[Dan Le Batard]

He's very nice.

[Mike Golick]

Yes.

[Mikey A]

Yeah, he's great.

[Dan Le Batard]

Have you met anyone else that. That K. Funk works with?

[Cheyenne]

Jason Kipnis you met. Remember?

[Dan Le Batard]

Is that who met?

[Cheyenne]

Yeah.

[Mikey A]

At a mall?

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah.

[K. Funk]

I have a good story with Jason. When he was on the Red Sox.

[Dan Le Batard]

Or did you just. Did you just tease the rare Jason Kipnis story that you can't tell?

[K. Funk]

Yeah.

[Dan Le Batard]

Okay.

[K. Funk]

Can we get next week when I see him?

[Dan Le Batard]

Can we get him on the podcast? Anyone I can get him on?

[Stugatz]

He's.

[Cheyenne]

He's actually opening a place in Miami. He's. He's opening up a club bar kind of thing down there.

[Dan Le Batard]

Wow. Tell him to come on. We'll promote the club and the bar and he'll make pics with us and then Gord can tell the story right to his face.

[K. Funk]

That's fair.

[Cheyenne]

Text them.

[Dan Le Batard]

All right, K. The more random the celebrity, the better. You realize that, right? Like, I. I would rather have Kipness pop in here than Justin Verlander. I mean, I know. Okay, Billy, but.

[Mikey A]

But if you could get Justin, we would take justice.

[Dan Le Batard]

All right, let's get to the picks. Panthers at Eagles. Eagles gourd. I can't believe you won. 5, 0. Eagles -12 and a half. Half. The Eagles are -12 and a half. Carolina is playing better lately. Mike Rollis, I will go to you first. Coming off a five zero as well. Go ahead.

[Billy Gill]

Five and zero. Twelve and a half is a lot in it. It's a lot of points. The Panthers, they are playing better. But you know what? I think the Eagles are going to cover.

[Chris Simms]

Yes.

[Billy Gill]

Then it'll start to morph. It'll start to, like, slide into, like, Irish, Scottish and before I know it, it'll be like African somewhere.

[Chris Simms]

You get to wee bit off devolves.

[Dan Le Batard]

All right, but stay right there. Stay where you are. Thank you for doing that. And don't change, okay? Like, stay. Stay in that English accent. Billy, who does Carl Douglas have in this game?

[Mikey A]

Carl has the Eagles in this one. And Share Bear also has the Eagles in this one.

[Dan Le Batard]

All right, so we'll wait for Mojo after K. Funko. So let's go to. Let's go to Gord here. Gord, who you taking here?

[K. Funk]

Panthers, right?

[Dan Le Batard]

Yep. 5 and 0.

[K. Funk]

All right.

[Dan Le Batard]

Panthers at Eagles. Eagles minus 12 and a half. Panthers playing better lately.

[K. Funk]

I am going with the Panthers. I just feel like, hey, everyone's professional on both sides and they're playing well. Two touchdowns is.

[Dan Le Batard]

I don't know.

[K. Funk]

That just seems way too mad.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yep.

[K. Funk]

So I'm taking Carolina.

[Dan Le Batard]

All right, Cheyenne, who you taking here? Carolina and Philadelphia. Philadelphia is a 12 and a half point favorite. I'm playing it safe and sticking with the Eagles. Okay. Grace, I was actually gonna go with Carolina.

[K. Funk]

Okay.

[Cheyenne]

I feel like you guys have a connection.

[Mikey A]

You and.

[Dan Le Batard]

Go ahead.

[K. Funk]

We do. Right to the screen.

[Dan Le Batard]

I love watching Gourd work run his game. Right.

[K. Funk]

Look at how much I'm moving. I've been all excited. Like, I've been bouncing all over the place. Dude, this is a great way to meet and like, you know, date through whatever this is.

[Dan Le Batard]

Goblin, whatever this is.

[K. Funk]

Everyone has those, like, big pictures now on social media, so this is way better.

[Gordy Gronkowski]

Yeah, I agree.

[Dan Le Batard]

Okay, Funko, you take it here. Great.

[Cheyenne]

This is a great way to meet. Oh, man. I usually go Opposite these large spreads. But the Eagles been me and Mojo. I think is Mojo opposite me on this one? Mojo may text some picks. Billy, right?

[Mikey A]

Yeah. He's opposite. You give me.

[Cheyenne]

I'll take Carolina. I'll give him the Eagles. That'll make him happy.

[Dan Le Batard]

Jets at Dolphins. Dolphins are six point favorites at home. Gordy gonna start with you coming off of five and out. Dolphins minus six. Take it on the Jets.

[K. Funk]

Who you got home division dogs jets all day. Let's go, Mike.

[Dan Le Batard]

All right. Mike Rolls. Who you take it.

[Billy Gill]

Gordy and I are coming off a five and a weeks together, aren't we? And it's. It seems like we are going to go opposite on all of these, aren't we mate? So I'm gonna have to. I'm gonna have to go with the Dolphins. They're back at home. It's warm weather, you know they're not going to be in the cold like in Green Bay. So I think that my only team, you know I played for the Dolphins for four days. As we said earlier.

[Mike Golick]

You know we go.

[Billy Gill]

We'll go to Dolphins at home my four days.

[Dan Le Batard]

So good. Cheyenne, who you taking here? Jets and Dolphins. Dolphins minus six. The Jets.

[Cheyenne]

You.

[Dan Le Batard]

Are you crazy?

[Mikey A]

Wow.

[Cheyenne]

That's why you said earlier.

[Stugatz]

Okay.

[Dan Le Batard]

Change your mind.

[Billy Gill]

Pre show meeting.

[Dan Le Batard]

I gotta do Dolphins gotta do the on that one. All right. Grace, you're taking the Dolphins. Yep. All right. Fantastic. Billy, who does Share Bear have and.

[Mikey A]

Carl Share Bear has the Dolphins. Carl has the Dolphins.

[Dan Le Batard]

Who does Mojo have?

[Mikey A]

Mojo has opposite you.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah. Opposite you. That's what he texted me.

[Cheyenne]

Why you picked this this game? We had the Seattle and Arizona. We had a Rolls good rolls game. You picked because you told me it's.

[Dan Le Batard]

His game he made. That's not up to you. It's up to Philly.

[Mikey A]

You told me last week to stop picking the Cardinals because I was putting Mike in a in a difficult spot. So I stopped. I didn't pick the Cardinals this week.

[Cheyenne]

Well, now you're putting me in a.

[Mikey A]

Well, you also told me to stop picking the Dolphins because you like the Dolphins. But I did not listen to you on that.

[Cheyenne]

I have lost every time I bet on the jets dude this year.

[Mikey A]

Oh, okay. No, hold on. He's gonna bet the Jets. We just got it from Cheyenne.

[Cheyenne]

All right, I want to take it's six points. I'm gonna take the jacket Jets. I say the Dolphins win by three.

[Mikey A]

Wow. Don't put that on there because double or nothing on that. Double or nothing.

[Dan Le Batard]

Don't play. You won't Shut up. You just keep talking. I mean, give me the Jets.

[Cheyenne]

Give me the Jets.

[Dan Le Batard]

Don't put it on there. You said it. I want my Dolphins to win.

[Cheyenne]

Obviously.

[Dan Le Batard]

I need my Dolphins.

[Billy Gill]

Are you excited for the new documentary to come?

[Dan Le Batard]

Are we excited for what?

[Billy Gill]

The Aaron Rodgers Netflix documentary.

[Dan Le Batard]

I'm not. I saw the trailer. It does look good, but I'm not excited. I mean, I need Aaron to be out of my life.

[Billy Gill]

A character I pitched in wrestling a few years ago.

[Mikey A]

It's really character.

[Stugatz]

It.

[Billy Gill]

It was the Riddick regimen. Before the Rollis regimen. There was the Riddick regimen. The Rolls regimen is like science based and gets results. The Riddick regimen was like wild stuff, you know, kind of like Aaron Rodgers is doing. He's wearing something, some. I don't know what he was wearing in there. Some electrode hat and he's doing these ayahuasca retreats and all that sort of stuff. So that was kind of what the ridicul.

[Mikey A]

How many pitches do you make for characters?

[Billy Gill]

I mean, a lot. And they have about a 1% hit rate.

[Mikey A]

Yeah.

[Billy Gill]

I mean, at. Probably closer to zero for me, actually.

[Mikey A]

What other things did you pitch?

[Billy Gill]

Different. Different groups of.

[Dan Le Batard]

We.

[Billy Gill]

I. I like the idea of doing like an entourage style athlete group where we were just like, we just wanted all the perks. Like, we. I was like Johnny Drama, you know what I mean? Like, I just wanted to be told I was. I had made it. I wanted the. The perks of being a star. I didn't actually care about being good at acting or being good at wrestling. I just wanted the perks of being a star. That was one of them. I was an Italian mob boss for another one. One flawless. Mike Rollis was one, you know, I like that one.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah. That is. I could see you as a mob boss, by the way. I could see it.

[Billy Gill]

Yeah.

[Cheyenne]

Hey, Billy. I'm changing my pick, by the way. I want the Dolphins.

[Mikey A]

Wait, no, change the picture.

[Gordy Gronkowski]

Hold on.

[Dan Le Batard]

We didn't move on to the next game.

[K. Funk]

I mean, I like that idea because it's.

[Cheyenne]

I'm taking the Dolphins.

[Mikey A]

Hold on. Yeah.

[Dan Le Batard]

Rolls. Did you say a 1% hit rate on. On some of these gigs?

[Billy Gill]

I mean, the, the. I'm trying to think of an. A pitch that I actually got to go through. And they. It would. It wouldn't even be like a full character pitch. It would just be like a. A small change to what they already got for me. Like, I rarely had a full pit, like a pitch go through all the way to television. I should Say like it be what.

[Dan Le Batard]

I want it to be. I only asked you again to make the joke. 1% hit rate. That's K. Funk's picks this year. I mean, hey, there, you fist bump on a Mikey.

[Cheyenne]

Good job.

[Dan Le Batard]

Everybody's against me.

[Mikey A]

Has anyone ever told you you have, like. You have, like, Turtle vibes from Entourage?

[Cheyenne]

Hey, Turtles is a millionaire, bro.

[Dan Le Batard]

You're right. You're right.

[Gordy Gronkowski]

That's a fair point.

[Dan Le Batard]

All right, next game here. Your pick is in now. K. Funk, you're good. Good.

[Cheyenne]

Dolphins. Yep.

[Dan Le Batard]

Okay, Mojo's got the jets, and then.

[Cheyenne]

I think Mojo's other picks he gave you, right?

[Mikey A]

Yeah.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yes.

[Gordy Gronkowski]

Yes.

[Dan Le Batard]

Billy has the mojo one opposite of you on the first two. Let's go to Bears at 49ers. 49ers are minus four. Cheyenne, starting with you. 49ers minus four at home, taking on the Chicago Bears. 49ers for sure. All right, Grace, who you taking? I'm gonna do the Bears. She's taking the Bears. Do them all.

[Cheyenne]

Do them all.

[Dan Le Batard]

Do them all.

[Mikey A]

Cool.

[Dan Le Batard]

Do all the Bears. Okay, Mike Rollos, who you take it. Final Bears.

[Billy Gill]

Well, if you look at the Bears last few games.

[Dan Le Batard]

They'Ve really.

[Billy Gill]

They've really covered in all of them. They've. It's been all close losses, and the 49ers have not won in a blowout fashion in many weeks. So I'm gonna have to go with the Chicago Bears.

[Dan Le Batard]

The accent is holding up, I think, pretty well. I proud of you. Gordy may have morphed a little bit.

[Billy Gill]

I don't know.

[Mikey A]

That was Scottish.

[K. Funk]

I can't do any accents, so don't even ask me. That's really good. Yeah, I'm quick. 49ers. I think they gotta pull away at some point.

[Mike Golick]

The Bear.

[K. Funk]

I don't. Bears are terrible.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yep. They are terrible.

[Mikey A]

Yes, they are.

[Dan Le Batard]

It's good analysis, Corey. That's why you went 50 last week, my man.

[K. Funk]

I'm not overthinking it. I'm just picking good.

[Dan Le Batard]

Mojo, he's taken opposite of K. Funk.

[Mikey A]

No take.

[Cheyenne]

He made a couple picks. Mojo.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah.

[Mikey A]

Mojo has the 49ers. Carl has the Bears, and Sherbear has the Bears.

[Dan Le Batard]

Okay. All right, next game here. Chargers, Chiefs.

[Gordy Gronkowski]

Oh, sorry.

[Dan Le Batard]

K. Go ahead.

[Cheyenne]

I think that rookie Israel, I think that he's gonna step up. Have a good day rushing. And I think they're gonna. I don't like the Bears, even though they have a better record, but I'll take the ners.

[Dan Le Batard]

All right, game of the weekend here. Chargers at Chiefs Sunday Night Football. Chiefs are minus four. Okay, Funk, we'll start with you. You take it.

[Cheyenne]

I'm gonna take the Chargers here. The Chiefs, I mean, it's. Every game the Chiefs play is within a touchdown. I think this is going to be a good. I mean, both of them have pretty good defenses. The lines. I think it's going to be a close game. So give me the points there.

[Dan Le Batard]

Okay, Cheyenne, I think I'd like to pick the Chiefs. Oh, I feel like Max crazy.

[Billy Gill]

My British accent's kind of like country. Like not. Not very ignite, you know, kind of like, oh, I'm the chief.

[Dan Le Batard]

Grace, tell me there's an accent in there. Please tell me. Go ahead, make the pig.

[Mike Golick]

She's from Peru.

[Cheyenne]

She's from Peru.

[Gordy Gronkowski]

I don't think.

[Cheyenne]

I don't know how. How good she is with accent.

[Dan Le Batard]

All right, well, just make a pig. That's fine.

[Stugatz]

Oh, I'll do the Chiefs.

[Cheyenne]

All of them.

[Dan Le Batard]

I like Bears, the Panthers, the do.

[Chris Simms]

Taylor might have something to say about that.

[Cheyenne]

Taylor, she gets in the way.

[Stugatz]

Smash.

[Dan Le Batard]

Who you taking here? Chargers and Chiefs. Chiefs are minus four.

[Billy Gill]

Yeah, the Chiefs.

[Mikey A]

The.

[Billy Gill]

The Chiefs defense have really started to go backwards a little bit. Had that. Bryce Young tore him up, the Raiders tore him up. And the Chargers really playing good ball. So I'll take the points, take the charges.

[Dan Le Batard]

Gordy, who you take it.

[K. Funk]

I'm getting emotional here just because I will be at the game and I think our box is right near Taylor Swift's box. So, you know, she doesn't lose, you know, and she's. She is part of the Chiefs, right? So as much as I think the Chargers are going to cover, I'm getting emotional. I'm going with the Chiefs because I'm going to beat there. And I've never tailgated there and I heard. It's sick.

[Dan Le Batard]

I've never heard someone so upset for having to take the Chiefs because they.

[K. Funk]

Can'T pull out anything. They should have lost every game this year.

[Dan Le Batard]

I know, it's crazy. Wait, so you have a box at Arrowhead?

[K. Funk]

Yeah.

[Dan Le Batard]

Is there a stadium you don't have a box at?

[K. Funk]

Yeah, there's a couple. And those are the ones I probably don't want to go to either.

[Dan Le Batard]

Carolina, The Jets.

[K. Funk]

Yeah, exactly.

[Dan Le Batard]

I got you. All right, Billy, who did. Who did? Mojo. Who did? Share Bear and Carl Douglas take.

[Mikey A]

Mojo took the Chiefs. Share Bear took the Chiefs and Carl took the Chargers.

[Dan Le Batard]

All right, final game here, guys. Bengals at Cowboys. Cowboys are plus five and a half. I'm sorry, they're minus five. I'm sorry. They're plus five and a half at home. I can't believe the Bengals are four and eight and they're five and a half point favorites on the road.

[K. Funk]

Crazy.

[Dan Le Batard]

That is insane. It really is. Joe. Joe Burrow said he needs to do more. I'm not certain Joe Burrow can do any more than he's doing, but he said he needs to do more. So we will start with Cheyenne here. Cheyenne, who you taking? Bengals at Cowboys. Bengals are minus five and a half. I'm picking the Cowboys. Oh, Grace. Grace. So you take it here.

[Mikey A]

All right.

[Dan Le Batard]

I'm gonna take the Bengals since all of mine have mascots of animals. So I'm gonna choose because the Bengals are pretty kitties. All right. Pretty kitties. Kitties are good.

[Cheyenne]

Pretty kitties are good.

[Dan Le Batard]

I like the logic. You take it.

[Cheyenne]

Yeah, I like how you said that Burrow has to do more. He's leading the NFL and passing yards he's got.

[Dan Le Batard]

How much more could he do? I know.

[Cheyenne]

And I. You know, I always. I always go with Burrow, man. And he's let me down so much this year. So what I have to do, I have to keep on going. So I'm gonna take Burrow here.

[Dan Le Batard]

He hasn't let you down. The defense has let him down. Yeah, true.

[Cheyenne]

The Bengals in general. Yeah, correct.

[Dan Le Batard]

Not like.

[Cheyenne]

Not like Aaron Rodgers, who threw that pick six and lost.

[Dan Le Batard]

That was a good loss, though. We needed that loss. Let's go to. Let's go to Gordy here. Gordy, who you take it. Don't think too much, Gordy. Don't get emotional.

[K. Funk]

Looking at this line. And just like you said, Stu, it doesn't make sense. Why are they such big favorites on the road and for having such a shitty record? They're gonna cover it. They're gonna cover it.

[Dan Le Batard]

I. I agree with you. I think the Cowboys win the Bengals. I don't want to sway anyone. You're taking the Bengals. Okay.

[Cheyenne]

Cowboys are a big powerhouse here. Gordy.

[K. Funk]

Yeah, I'm taking the Bengals. I'm not overthinking it.

[Dan Le Batard]

All right.

[K. Funk]

There's a reason that line's so massive.

[Dan Le Batard]

All right, Mike Rollis, who you taking here? Great word. Great.

[Billy Gill]

Since Micah Parsons has returned to the lineup, it's really. The Cowboys defense has really been pretty good. So I think I'm going to go a lot of points. Like you said, I think I'm gonna go with the Cowboys.

[Dan Le Batard]

All right.

[Billy Gill]

I'd just like to point out after being completely in sync with Gordy and going five zero Last week we're completely opposite right now. Directly opposite on everything's gotta give.

[Dan Le Batard]

This week.

[Cheyenne]

Something's got to give.

[Dan Le Batard]

You're right. But Gordy's not thinking and so, I mean, that's good. Danger, dangerous.

[Billy Gill]

I got a chance with the one with the Chiefs game. He went emotion. That's.

[Gordy Gronkowski]

Yeah, you're right.

[K. Funk]

I got emotional.

[Dan Le Batard]

You got emotional, right? Who did Mojo, Carl Douglas and share Bear take here.

[Mikey A]

All of them had the Cowboys.

[Gordy Gronkowski]

All right.

[Dan Le Batard]

All had the Cowboys. Big game.

[Cheyenne]

Big game for your brother this week. Roll us.

[Billy Gill]

Huge game. As close to a must win as it gets in week 14.

[Dan Le Batard]

Tough.

[Cheyenne]

That's a tough game too, man. That's going to be a tough one.

[Billy Gill]

Yeah.

[Dan Le Batard]

All right, Mike Rolls, anything you'd like to promote on the way out here? Gordy, do not stop bouncing off that ball. Go ahead, Mike Ros.

[Billy Gill]

The Rollis regimen custom programs get you in the best shape of your life. Customize it to your needs entirely. Head to rolls regimen.com.

[Dan Le Batard]

All right, Cheyenne, Grace, anything you guys would like to promote? No. Thanks for having us on the show. Yeah. Oh, well, thank you for being on the show. We appreciate it. Gordy, would you like to promote your great company on the way out?

[K. Funk]

Perfect time.

[Dan Le Batard]

I'm.

[K. Funk]

I'm bouncing up and down on a Gronk fitness physio ball. You know, if you need anything for Rollis's regimen, we have all the equipment for it. So perfect time of the year. New year's resolution right around the corner.

[Dan Le Batard]

Who knew?

[K. Funk]

Who needs home or commercial fitness equipment? Hit me up. Let's go, baby.

[Cheyenne]

Gronk balls are the best balls.

[K. Funk]

Gronk fitness for life.

[Dan Le Batard]

Cheyenne and Grace, we will speak to you next week. Yes, yes. See you next week. And kipness, right? Get kipness. All right. Yeah, Kat here. I want to thank the folks over at Smirnoff for being a loyal sponsor to both God bless football and the Dan Levitar show with St. Gods. Smirnoff knows there is no eye in football. Football is a we thing. An experience that is best enjoyed together with good drinks and good folks. Smirnoff is the world's number one vodka and is an official vodka partner of the NFL. And this year there are more opportunities to watch football and make delicious Smirnoff cocktails than ever before over the holiday season, from Thanksgiving to Black Friday and Christmas, Smirnoff and the NFL are with you every step of the way. So this holiday season, when you are enjoying the game and your cocktails, please make sure to drink responsibly. Take a minute, make a plan. Never drive impaired. Smirnoff. We do games days. Please drink responsibly. Smirnoff number 21, vodka distilled from grain, 40% alcohol by volume. The Smirnoff Company, New York, New York. Please do not share with anyone under legal drinking age.