The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz

Hour 1: Making Time (October 10, 2025)
Special Guests: Dave Dameshek, Matthew Berry

Episode Overview

Broadcasting from the Elser Hotel in Downtown Miami, Dan Le Batard, Stugotz, and the crew deliver their signature blend of sports analysis, pop-culture riffs, and comedic detours. This hour focuses on Deion Sanders’s future and health, the Baltimore Ravens’ crossroads, quarterback evolution, and a deep dive into fantasy football advice from Matthew Berry. Along the way: tangents about food choices and football cliches, and the chaos of their in-house fantasy leagues.

1. Deion Sanders, Commitment & Legacy

[01:46 - 05:54]

• Mike Ryan opens with a thoughtful take on Deion Sanders’s health issues:

  • Two toes amputated, blood clots, chronic pain, support toilet on sidelines post-bladder cancer.
  • Wonders, “Is fighting through this worth it at this stage for someone who’s already achieved so much?”
  • Quote [03:40]: "People have questioned Deion's commitment … I think because of all the reasons you just outlined, people should stop doing that." – Dan Le Batard

• Dan Le Batard pushes back on the “he’s leaving soon” narrative, noting the adversity Deion’s already overcome.

  • Deion’s tenacity, even with depleted resources at Colorado, is impressive.
  • Quote [04:39]: "I think everybody would understand if he decided to step away at this point … I think everybody would concede, you can do whatever you want here."

• Dave Dameshek adds a contrarian perspective, expressing skepticism of Deion’s long-term presence at Colorado.

  • Acknowledges Sanders’s unique influence and the extra “baggage” it brings for his son Shador.
  • Quote [05:54]: "I can't imagine under any circumstances him being in Boulder, Colorado as the head coach of the Buffaloes in say, you know, three years, four years."

2. Baltimore Ravens: Window Closing?

[08:01 - 13:02]

• Dan and Dave debate the Ravens’ trajectory, with Lamar Jackson’s injury struggles and the specter of change for Coach John Harbaugh.

  • Dameshek details the Flacco-to-Lamar Jackson transition, suggesting Harbaugh’s job was saved by accident rather than vision.
  • Quote [09:54]: "A fascinating discussion to be had is: does Lamar at this stage in his career need to look at Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant and the mid-career adjustments they made?" – Dave Dameshek

• Tony suggests a whimsical coach trade: John Harbaugh for Mike Tomlin.

  • Dameshek declines, noting the deeper roster issues in Pittsburgh.
  • Leads to a discussion about coaching perception and how much luck or compulsion shapes these “genius” coaching moments.
  • Quote [13:02]: "Because he's not wrong about Harbaugh and what happened with Lamar Jackson, but we can do this to anybody." – Mike Ryan

3. Quarterback Evolution: Coaching, Perception, and the Tush Push

[15:15 - 23:53]

• Parallels drawn between past and present QB controversies:

  • Patriots’ move from Bledsoe to Brady, current decisions like going from Carson Wentz to a rookie, and current Steelers/NY Giants QB quandaries.
  • Quote [15:58]: "The best, most recent example: … Dable did not want to have to put Dart in until the last possible moment …" – Dave Dameshek

• Nick Sirianni's paradox:

  • Despite not matching the league’s “offensive genius” archetype, he’s coached the Eagles to two recent Super Bowls.
  • Dameshek on Sirianni: "The guy who yells at his own fans … It's very paradoxical … I advise the 31 other teams not to pay any mind." [21:26]

• Tush Push (QB Sneak) Debate:

  • Rams' lack of a suitable QB for the sneak highlights how “tush push” can be a competitive edge—soon to be banned.
  • Dameshek: "We kind of have to keep the Tush push, at least for this season. After this season ... they're going to get rid of it." [24:20]

4. Lighthearted Debate: Potato vs. Tomato

[24:26 - 26:46]

• Dameshek recounts his son’s debate: If you could only have potato or tomato for life, which and why?
  • The room spirals into seriousness: pizza, sauce, fries, ketchup, vodka.
  • Quote [25:28]: "All sauces, almost all sauces have a tomato base." – Dan Le Batard
  • Dameshek: "That's a big loss for my french fry eating … It's very tough question. I'm not saying there are easy answers here." [26:19]

5. NFL Perceptions: Baker Mayfield, Maturity & Narratives

[30:38 - 35:27]

• Who do you trust?

  • Dan & Mike discuss how perception of QBs like Stafford and Mayfield has shifted.
  • Mayfield: "I used to be immature. I used to be reckless. I haven't changed. ... But now that we're winning … the perception of me has changed." [32:42]

• Dan on Mayfield's arc:

  • Bad Cleveland ending, botched locker room dynamics, getting written off as a problem, now rewriting the narrative in Tampa.
  • Quote [34:14]: "I love that he could have very easily played into whatever narrative ... he says, 'You guys had it wrong. I was this kind of dog the entire time.'" – Dan Le Batard

6. Fantasy Football Blitz with Matthew Berry

[36:58 - 41:20]

• Matthew Berry's segment (funny intro riffing on his name as “Matthew Perry”):

  • Drops fantasy stats and sharp insights for the upcoming week, including:
    • Baltimore Ravens vulnerable to TD passes
    • Bo Nix pass volume spikes, big for fantasy
    • Rashad White as a breakout receiving RB for the Buccaneers
    • Tedro McMillan’s (Carolina Panthers) breakout potential vs. Cowboys
    • Utilization stats for tight end Mason Taylor (Jets)
  • Quote [39:45]:
    "From everything that you just said, Matthew, can you tell us what you believe to be your surest bet this week?" – Mike Ryan
    "I'm all in on Tedro McMillan … a big breakout game is coming … and Rashad White, the workload he's going to get." – Matthew Berry

• Berry plugs: All stats and analysis at fantasylife.com, his Fantasy Football Happy Hour, and podcast availability.

7. The Chaos & Comedy of the Guillotine Fantasy League

[41:40 - 44:30]

• Guillotine League Mechanics: Lowest weekly scoring team cut; all their players become free agents.
• Tony, Mike Fuentes, and Berry trade jabs about who’s overspending, who’s about to be eliminated, and whether advantageous insider knowledge is actually a handicap.
  • Quote [44:13]: "I'm playing it legitimately. Like it's a straight-up league. Moron that I am." – Matthew Berry

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Deion Sanders:
  "I think he has bought so much in the last few months with things that have been made public that I think everybody would concede, you can do whatever you want here." – Dan Le Batard [04:39]
• On coaching fate:
  "It is a balls move if you think about it, that he has the. The highly paid Drew Bledsoe and he decides to roll against the mighty St. Louis Rams in the Super Bowl with Tom Brady." – Dave Dameshek [13:41]
• On the Tush Push:
  "Do we want to watch these high end athletes fart their way up and down the field?" – Dave Dameshek [23:08]
• Classic Dameshek banter:
  "My son, my 11 year old boy, came to me the other day … he said: potato or tomato?" – Dave Dameshek [24:26]
• On Baker Mayfield:
  "Early on in my career, yeah, it's looked as cocky, immature. Now it's moxie … Just as long as you play well, they change the narrative. But you just got to be yourself. And I've always been like that." – Baker Mayfield [32:42]

Key Timestamps for Segments

• [01:46] — Deion Sanders’s health and legacy debate begins
• [05:54] — Dameshek’s take on Deion, transitions to Shador and nepotism
• [08:01] — Discussion of Ravens, their injuries and coaching future
• [13:02] — Coach trades and historical parallels (Harbaugh/Belichick)
• [21:10] — Assigning intelligence to NFL leaders and the Nick Sirianni paradox
• [24:26] — Potato vs. Tomato: high-stakes food banter
• [30:38] — Matthew Stafford, Baker Mayfield, and late-game perceptions
• [36:58] — Matthew Berry's rapid-fire fantasy analysis
• [41:40] — Inside the Guillotine League: strategy and chaos

Tone & Style

The hour blends sharp sports debate, irreverent humor, and asides that spiral into the absurd — hallmarks of Le Batard’s show. Each panelist sticks to their voice: Dan’s measured and populist, Mike is skeptical and quick-witted, Dameshek is an entertaining contrarian, and Berry is the rapid-fire stat machine. Even trivial debates (potato/tomato) are treated with mock-gravitas, illustrating the show’s knack for making anything into content.

Summary prepared for listeners who missed the episode, want the highlights, or simply want to relive the best debates and laughs while skipping the ads and sponsor breaks.