Local Hour: How Did We Get Here?

Summary

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The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz

Local Hour: How Did We Get Here?

Date: September 19, 2025
Podcast Hosts: Dan Le Batard, Stugotz (not present), Billy Gil, Jonathan Zaslow, Roy Cummings
Location: The Elser Hotel, Downtown Miami

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Episode Overview

This Local Hour episode is a quintessential dive into the psyche of Miami sports fandom, bouncing between earnest confessions, analytical breakdowns, and affectionate mockery of the region’s teams—particularly the Miami Dolphins. The hosts dissect the team's latest struggles, the infamous Zach Seiler roughing penalty, Tua Tagovailoa’s status as a franchise quarterback, Tyreek Hill’s performance, and even detour into Florida Panthers and Miami Hurricanes territory. The episode is punctuated by self-aware humor and the group’s unique blend of pessimism and hope.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Miami Dolphins: Frustration and Fatal Flaws

Timestamp: 01:01 – 29:40

• Fan Perspective & Emotional Toll:

  • Zaslow admits he morphs into an irrational Dolphins fan during games, in contrast to his more reasoned approach with the Panthers or Heat.
    • “I don’t like what the Dolphins do to me.” – Roy Cummings (01:41)
  • Zaslow and the others riff on the emotional scars left by decades of Dolphins' letdowns, likening fandom to unnecessary suffering.

• Dolphins-Bills Game Analysis:

  • The crew analyzes the Dolphins’ 10-point loss to the Bills, lamenting how even Miami’s “best possible game” isn’t enough against elite teams.
    • “That is the best game that team can play...and they lose by 10 points against the Bills.” – Jonathan Zaslow (05:01)
  • Miami's offense was shockingly anemic: both QBs averaged only 1.4 air yards per completion—a stat so pitiful it becomes a running joke.
    • “Guess as low as you want to guess...1.4 yards per completion.” – Jonathan Zaslow (07:32)

• On Tua Tagovailoa:

  • Consensus grows that Tua is not a franchise QB, with several citing his lack of growth and inability to win close games against strong opponents.
    • “I don’t think this guy’s good. It’s six years in. I think I’m ready to make a judgment call.” – Dan Le Batard (11:03)
    • “He seems to have regressed...even every long pass he’s had to Tyreek [Hill] has either been under thrown or the defenders are right there.” – Billy Gil (11:21)
  • Criticism softens when Zaslow points to breakdowns on the offensive line leading to hurried, panicked throws from Tua—a sign the issues run deeper than quarterback alone.
    • “He was getting rid of the ball in two seconds because he had to, and that’s how the mistake got made.” – Jonathan Zaslow (18:33)

• On Play Calling & Strategy:

  • The offense’s heavy reliance on screen passes and swing routes is mocked—particularly considering Tua's $55 million/year contract.
    • “You pay the quarterback...and like that’s the offense. How did we get here?” – Roy Cummings (21:50)
  • The hosts highlight how previously explosive players—Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle—have become nearly invisible, pinned in place by predictable play design and defensive scheming.

2. The Zach Seiler Penalty & Defensive Woes

Timestamp: 14:06 – 15:13, 22:27 – 23:20

• The infamous roughing the punter penalty by Zach Seiler comes under scrutiny. The crew is hesitant to single him out, instead framing his hustle as a tragic overreach amid a team that’s constantly scrambling to cover for its flaws.

  • “I'm not going to criticize one of their best and most solid players...” – Jonathan Zaslow (14:15)

• There's resignation that Miami's defense, not offense, might doom the season:

  • "I believe it's going to be the defense. I don't believe they're going to be able—The second half is the first time they've stopped anybody all season." – Jonathan Zaslow (10:00)

3. The Bigger Picture: Coaching, Ownership, and Future

Timestamp: 29:11 – 31:29

• Steven Ross allegedly wants to keep head coach Mike McDaniel barring a fan revolt or clear quit by the team. The group muses over how legal drama (i.e., Brian Flores's racial discrimination lawsuit) could affect looming decisions about firing personnel.

  • “[Ross] said like reportedly the only way he'd consider firing Mike McDaniel is if the fans stop showing up to the building or the team looks like they check out.” – Dan Le Batard (29:11)

• The Brian Flores lawsuit is briefly addressed as a complicating factor.

  • “Is it easy to fire your black GM and biracial head coach while claiming you are not involved in discrimination?” – Billy Gil (31:13)

4. Notable Stats: Dolphins' Record vs. Good Teams

Timestamp: 33:36 – 34:14

• Zaslow depressingly lists a series of damning statistical trends:
  • Tua is 2–14 away from home against winning teams (33:36)
  • Dolphins have lost 14 of their last 17 and 8 straight to teams over .500
    • “Winning teams are not something that they can beat.” – Jonathan Zaslow (34:02)

5. Panthers, Hurricanes, and South Florida Sports Crossover

Timestamp: 38:00 – 41:48

• On College GameDay’s guest picker: The crew debates whether Matthew Tkachuk, the Florida Panthers star, is a “lame” or “perfect” selection, with Dan arguing for Tkachuk’s historic, LeBron-like impact on South Florida sports.
  • “Matthew Tkachuk is tied with LeBron James...in terms of immediate impact.” – Dan Le Batard (38:07)
• Nostalgic and satirical takes on blockbusters like LeBron's “trade,” with Dan cheekily calling it:
  • “Acquiring LeBron was a bad trade because you actually gave up assets and he didn’t extend.” – Dan Le Batard (39:13)

6. Humor, Snark, and Self-Awareness

All segments interspersed

• The group repeatedly mocks their own past takes (e.g., Zaslow calling Panthers coach Paul Maurice a “murderer of fun”), celebrates being “big enough to admit when they're wrong,” and gleefully nitpicks each other’s arguments.
• Roasting their own suffering, they joke about why they even bother and the masochism of Dolphins fandom.
• Zaslow receives tongue-in-cheek “credit” for saving the Panthers’ season after returning from vacation, with Dan deadpanning, “I think you should be the game day picker instead of Matthew Tkachuk because you saved the season!” (43:41)

7. Offbeat South Florida News

Timestamp: 30:35 – 41:48

• Le Batard brings up a bizarre, real-life Miami crime headline:
  • “Witness in long delayed University of Miami murder case is not dead.”
  • The group riffs on the surrealism of Miami criminal investigations and uses it to pivot to College GameDay in town.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “I don’t like being that guy...I don’t like what the Dolphins do to me.” – Roy Cummings (01:41)
• “I have no problem admitting when I’m wrong.” – Roy Cummings (03:17)
• “That is...the best game that team can play...and they lose by 10 points against the Bills.” – Jonathan Zaslow (05:01)
• “Guess as low as you want to guess...1.4 yards per completion.” – Jonathan Zaslow (07:32)
• “I don’t think this guy’s good. It’s six years in. I think I’m ready to make a judgment call.” – Dan Le Batard (11:03)
• “How did we get here? That was crazy.” – Dan Le Batard (21:09)
• “You pay the quarterback...and like that’s the offense. How did we get here?” – Roy Cummings (21:50)
• “He seems to have regressed...the two of them are not what they were clearly two years ago.” – Billy Gil (11:21)
• “Tua is now two and 14 away from home against winning teams, which is the second worst mark for any quarterback in the last decade.” – Jonathan Zaslow (33:36)
• “Matthew Tkachuk is tied with LeBron James...in terms of immediate impact.” – Dan Le Batard (38:07)
• “Acquiring LeBron was a bad trade because you actually gave up assets and he didn’t extend.” – Dan Le Batard (39:13)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 01:41 – Roy Cummings on being “that guy” Dolphins fans relate to.
• 05:01 – Fatal flaw of Dolphins and ceiling debate.
• 07:32 – Shocking air yards stat.
• 11:03 – 12:13 – Tua’s inability to be a franchise QB.
• 14:06 – Zach Seiler penalty discussion and defensive struggles.
• 21:09 – 22:01 – “How did we get here?”: On the Dolphins’ stagnant offense.
• 29:11 – 31:29 – Coaching/ownership drama, Brian Flores lawsuit implications.
• 33:36 – Dolphins' poor record against winning teams.
• 38:07 – 41:48 – Matthew Tkachuk’s Miami impact, LeBron as a “bad trade.”
• 43:41 – Zaslow’s “credit” for saving the Panthers; self-aware humor.

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Tone & Style

True to form, the show is a mix of passionate ranting, self-mockery, and sharp sports analysis—rich with in-jokes for fellow Miami fans and a willingness to put the city’s sports pain under a microscope. The tone flies from resignedly glum to absurdly hopeful in seconds. Even the bleakest stats are delivered with a glint of gallows humor.

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This summary focuses solely on content; all ad reads and promos are omitted.

Transcript

[Dan Le Batard]

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[Billy Gil]

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[Roy Cummings]

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[Roy Cummings]

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[Jonathan Zaslow]

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[Roy Cummings]

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[Jonathan Zaslow]

Visit jdpower.com awards for more details. Chevrolet Together Let's Drive Pro Savings days.

[Dan Le Batard]

Are back at Lowe's Mylo's Pro Rewards.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Members save even more with limited time doorbuster deals. Save $5 on 24 count contractor's choice 42 gallon trash bags now just $14.78 plus get your choice. Select Dewalt Elite series saw blades for $9.98. Not a pro Rewards member. Join for free today at Lowes, valid through 9 17. Selection varies by location while supplies last Loyalty programs subject to terms and condition. See lowe's.com terms for details. Subject to change. Zaz, you really are a voice of the fan during the game. Like you just complain about the Dolphins on the Internet. In the way that I feel like if the Dolphin fan had a what, had one voice, it would sound a bit like you.

[Roy Cummings]

I don't enjoy that though. Like, I don't. I don't like being that guy. I'm not like that during Panther games. I'm not like that during Heat games. I don't like what the Dolphins do to me.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Well, what's happening there? You haven't been like that during Heat games. You care about the heat in the Panthers more than you care about the Dolphins.

[Roy Cummings]

I do, I do. But I'm more inclined to take.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

I'm.

[Roy Cummings]

I'm a pretty positive dude. Like, I'm more inclined to take the positive angle when it comes to the Heat and the Panthers. So I don't like that the Dolphins do this to me and make me feel this way. I don't like sitting here and telling you to a sucks, you know, like I. That doesn't bring me any kind of joy. I don't like being that guy.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

But you are that guy.

[Roy Cummings]

I am that guy.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

And you're not accountable about it. You blame the Dolphins for making you this person.

[Roy Cummings]

What is I blame myself for making this person?

[Jonathan Zaslow]

I mean, you're reasonable and you have perspective about the Panthers and the Heat, even though you called Paul Maurice the murderer of fun when he got here.

[Roy Cummings]

Yeah, but I. Well, what did he not murder our fun for most of that season? I was right until I was wrong. Can we admit that?

[Dan Le Batard]

That is. You can put that on basically any sports radio host tombstone.

[Billy Gil]

I mean, parents murder fun and like you got to eat vegetables.

[Roy Cummings]

That's right.

[Billy Gil]

Even though it's good for you. That's what Paul Maurice did. He did what was best for the situation. And in the end there was fun. But on the way up there was no fun.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah, there's growing pains.

[Billy Gil]

Yeah.

[Roy Cummings]

I didn't know it at the time, but he was right. And I got no problem admitting.

[Dan Le Batard]

How great is that to be able to admit this, to be able to say I was wrong about something.

[Roy Cummings]

I have no problem admitting when I'm wrong.

[Dan Le Batard]

I love that about you especially.

[Roy Cummings]

Thank you. I love that with me too.

[Billy Gil]

Actually.

[Roy Cummings]

I'm involved.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

The thing about what you're saying though is you can admit you're wrong when you're the two time defending Stanley cup champion. That's a pretty high bar to get you to admit that you're wrong. And you're wrong in a way that's so spectacular that you have. You put the but right in the middle of rebuttal.

[Dan Le Batard]

How crazy. If you would have like talk to me as I was lying sprawled on the grass outside of the former Orange bowl, presently Marlins park, after Butch Davis and FIU defeat Jaren Williams, who, let's just say was a little off for reasons that I know but won't talk about. If you would have told me several years after that that Miami would be hosting college game day and a Florida Panther would be the game day picker, I would have said there's no way we can actually climb that mountain. It's too high for both the Miami Hurricanes and hockey, I would say it'd be more likely that the Florida Panthers were playing in Hamilton.

[Billy Gil]

I know no one's going to agree with this. Kind of a lame game day picker.

[Roy Cummings]

Get the hell out of here.

[Dan Le Batard]

I know exactly why they're doing this and I will tell you after the break Matthew Tkachuk.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Matthew Kachuk is a bad pick. That show has gone down to the standard of stug. Done the guest picking. You're going to say Tkachuk is a bad.

[Billy Gil]

Close to the same level, honestly giving.

[Roy Cummings]

His body for this city.

[Billy Gil]

This is the Dan Levator show with the ST podcast.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

The fatal flaw in this Miami Dolphins team and organization is that that is the best game that team can play. That is the most careful, the best on third and fourth down that that team can be. They are trying to work around their limits and they lose by 10 points against the Bills. And frankly, I gotta be honest, I thought I was watching religious miracles every time the defense made a stop in the second half because I thought the whole game was gonna go the way that the first half went, where James Cook is just running for nine yards every time they hand him the football.

[Roy Cummings]

They almost had three, three straight force punts.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

I was stunned that they got the stops. I was stunned that they were in the game. You cannot blame that game on McDaniel. Many people will blame it on Zach Sealer or Tua. Those are the two people they're going to blame.

[Dan Le Batard]

Seemed like McDaniel blamed Tua.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

I'm not going to blame Zach Seiler for a couple of different reasons. Okay? I thought the only way they could win that game is if they got turnovers or special teams, special teams explosion plays and Zach Sealer was trying to make a play. As somebody who you actually trust on the Dolphins, even though this was an amazing stat going into the game, the Dolphins were the only team in the league going into that game that had not had a single pressure from an interior defensive lineman. Not one in the first two games of the season against offenses that weren't the one that they faced last night. I want to give you guys a series of stats, though, and ask you which one you think is the most interesting or wish to talk about. Okay? One score games with five minutes left, Tua has seven touchdowns, seven interceptions and a quarterback grading a little bit over 70. The Dolphins have now lost 14 of 17 and eight in a row against teams with a winning record. Last night, Tua threw as many passes behind the line of scrimmage as he did in front of the line of scrimmage. And that was both quarterbacks last night. Because you want to guess as take a guess at what the average air yards per completion was last night for both quarterbacks. Both quarterbacks combined. Take a guess. Average air yards every football throw.

[Roy Cummings]

Definitely pathetic. Something low.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

I don't think you know how pathetic? Guess as low as you want to guess. I don't think. I think you're going to get it wrong even as I'm telling you. Guess on the extreme low.

[Roy Cummings]

Definitely pathetic. So I'm going to go 4 yards.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

1.4 yards per completion.

[Roy Cummings]

So pathetic.

[Billy Gil]

Late in the third or fourth two was at negative five. So, I mean, but he. Tyreek also had a ball hit both of his hands like 40 yards down the field that he just dropped.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Yeah.

[Billy Gil]

I'm worried about Tyreek Hill.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

You. You need a play there. I'm worried about the Dolphin offense for a number of different reasons. Okay. Because you mentioned the Tyreek Hill play. There were two things said last night during the game that made me laugh. I was. I was watching that game alone. I rarely laugh.

[Roy Cummings]

You have any dolphin friends?

[Billy Gil]

Yeah.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

I have dolphin friends, but I wanted to watch that game alone.

[Billy Gil]

Tell Valerie. Get out of the room.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Valerie went to a concert at the Hard Rock last night for her brother's birthday.

[Billy Gil]

Who was it?

[Jonathan Zaslow]

The band. What is it? Cage. Cage and the Elephant.

[Roy Cummings]

Cage the Elephant, Yeah.

[Dan Le Batard]

Cage, yeah.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

And I don't know the name of the band. I came close. Mike is laughing at me for not knowing Cage the Elephant.

[Dan Le Batard]

No, he's laughing at me because I actually know that band. Yeah. That's impressive. Cage and the Elephant. Sounds like something a black market arms dealer would find himself in that situation.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

It sounds like a Nicholas Cage movie too. So I want to though, because you're right, Hill dropped. It was a 50 yard pass and it was one of the few. It was one of the few throw down the field. It would have changed that stat I just gave you because they made Josh Allen into something last night that Patrick Mahomes has become. Which is. Oh, you're going to take away my entertainment too. They're going to score 31 points, but it's not going to be fun to watch them score the 31 points. But two stats they get. Al Michaels said Hill, Tyreek Hill having a big game and then gave the stats five catches for 46 yards, which used to be a catch for him back in the glory days of the Dolphins to two years ago. But this was the funniest stat. The funniest stat was when he says, and tua gets to 100 yards on the night. He's been very solid tonight, very good with his decision making on his 26th attempt of the evening. This was deep in the fourth quarter when Tour got to 100 yards. The Dolphins played a game that was close. That surprised us. But I really did think the beginning of the game was how the whole game was going to go, where Mike McDaniel was going to get fired in the third quarter because they just kept handing the ball to James Cook and he got a first. He put him in second and one. Every time he carried the football, it.

[Roy Cummings]

Was chunk yards every play.

[Billy Gil]

The Dolphins were leading at the beginning of the game, it was seven nothing. They went right down the field.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

I know, but the Bills hadn't touched the football yet. And I believe that the thing that's going to nuke this entire Dolphin season isn't the offense. I believe it's going to be the defense. I don't believe they're going to be able. The second half is the first time they've stopped anybody all season.

[Dan Le Batard]

They do historically play the Bills tight under Mike McDaniel. They just never beat the Bills, and that was apparent yesterday. Mike McDaniel initially blamed Tua for the interception. Quarterback has to take the responsibility there, but we all have to be better. Kind of softened it. Knew what he was saying as it was happening.

[Roy Cummings]

It's a couple weeks in a row that he's pulled that move.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah, there's a. There's a couple encouraging things for Tuo. We said when you made the point like, this guy doesn't make things happen. There were a couple of instances there where he made things happen with his legs, rolled out, found Tyreek Hill. So that was encouraging. But just a backbreaking interception with your season on the line, you just can't do that. I don't think this guy's good. It's six years in. I think I'm ready to make a judgment call. And I also have to take into account the head injuries, the hip injury. I just don't think that this is a franchise quarterback.

[Roy Cummings]

That's the part I have a problem with, is what you said there. And Greg said that at the beginning of the week as well. When we're talking about there were encouraging signs from Tua. He's in Year six. Like, what are we talking about? Like, we're still growing. This was encouraging that he did. He's in Year six. What are we talking about?

[Billy Gil]

I think it's actually been a discouraging season for two. I don't think this looks like the same guy that they gave the contract to. And even then, there were questions as to whether or not he was deserving of that contract and was a franchise quarterback. He seems to have regressed. And it. Maybe it's tua, maybe it's Tyreek Hill, maybe it's the play calling, I don't know. But even when he that pass that Tyree Kill dropped, that hit him in both hands, he was double covered. And to just heave that up there hoping that something miraculous would happen with Tyreek and Tua. You don't see Tyreek getting behind the cornerbacks or the safeties anymore and he just has to lob it over their heads. And every long pass he's had to Tyreek has either been under thrown or the defenders are right there with Tyreek.

[Roy Cummings]

The one long completion this year was severely under threat.

[Billy Gil]

Yeah, it's just the two of them are not what they were clearly two years ago when this offense was clicking on all cylinders.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

They were on the game tying touchdown at the end of the game where he threw the ball before Tyreek Hill made his break. The play you're Talking about, the 50 yard play, you need Tyreek Hill to make that play because you're paying him to be neighbors. Like whether you're covered or not, if you're the only one touching the ball ball, whether you're double covered or not, you were in position to make that play and it went through your hands. Easy for me to say. I understand that that's, you know, it's not the easiest catch. But when you look at Tyreek Hill and what you're expecting from him and Tua, your highest paid players have to make the game winning plays. And you guys don't disagree with the assessment, do you? That's the best that this Dolphins team, that's the best that it can play. And when you say there's something wrong with Tua, maybe there is, okay. But I thought Waddle was a number one receiver or on his way to becoming a number one receiver a of years ago. I thought that Tyree Kill and Waddle, those statistical games that they had for the game, that was a quarter a couple of years ago. What, what they did for the game was 1/4 of Dolphin football a couple of years ago. So when we talk about two, you guys disagree when I say, hey, that's the best they can be on third and fourth down. If you think you're going to get 16 play drives that keep Josh Allen off the field, like that was a well coached football game last night. And I want to talk again about the Zach Sealer play because I understand it's very easy, very easy to criticize the result there. And you can't have that as the result. It's fourth and seven. You can't have a roughing the kicker, Zach Sealer blew up the long snapper, just exploded through the long snapper and thought he was going to be able to make a play on a block punt. And people forget because they're outraged by the stupidity or what they think is the stupidity of trying your very best to make a hustle play that the Bills down that ball at the one yard line. You felt real good about two are going down the field from his own end zone there.

[Billy Gil]

You like that better than they scored a touchdown. Now you're trailing. Granted, it's not the ideal starting spot, but yeah, you take that over giving up a touchdown and starting at the 20.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Agree. Agreed. But I'm not going to criticize one of their best and most solid players for try for. For blowing up the long call.

[Billy Gil]

Honestly. Like, he did not go with intent. He didn't wrap him and drive just big like the K fell on him. He touched his foot a little bit and then he fell on him. It was a little flop situation. Like then you get into the whole thing which is. Is this kicker interference? Is this roughing the kicker? If it was called one, then it'd still be fourth down because they wouldn't have got enough yards. And then it's because it's the other. It's an automatic first down. Like it's a ticky tacky call. I mean, look, the Dolphins shouldn't have been in that game anyways. They were favored. Or they were. They were going to lose by 12 and a half points is what the line was. So the fact that they were that close. It was a tie game. When that call happened, it did swing the momentum of the game. They did get the ball back. And then Tua threw an interception, which is what cost them the game. But it shouldn't have come down to that. This episode is supported by FX's the.

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[Dan Le Batard]

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He must be on to something big.

[Billy Gil]

FX's the Lowdown premieres September 23rd on FX stream on Hulu. You know what nobody tells you about being a new dad? It's not just the diapers and the wipes.

[Dan Le Batard]

That's obvious.

[Billy Gil]

It's the hidden stuff. The baby swing after we already purchased the other baby swing bouncer, the pack n play, the 20 different bottles. Because apparently my kid hates every single one except the most expensive one, which.

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[Billy Gil]

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[Jonathan Zaslow]

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[Billy Gil]

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[Dan Le Batard]

Stugats.

[Roy Cummings]

Football.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Football, football.

[Billy Gil]

This the Dan Levatar show with the St. Gods.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

You guys mentioned the interception and I know, I know that it, when, when it happened, we're all like, oh my God, how could you do that?

[Roy Cummings]

How could you do that? We, I mean, how could. How you not do it? Who didn't see that coming?

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Well, that throw, I, I know that people expected the worst because of what they've seen late in games from the Dolphins, but throwing A ball straight to a linebacker you didn't see four yards down the field. The reason that happened is because the offensive lineman, the center, just whiffed on the block, and so that's pressure right up the middle. He was getting rid of the ball in two seconds because he had to, and that's how the mistake got made. I know we're going to blame Tua on that, but there aren't a lot of quarterbacks who are going to have much of a chance if they can't be mobile, if they can't run away from pressure untouched, pressure right up the middle. Not a lot of quarterbacks are going to make a good throw there.

[Billy Gil]

So Tua, yesterday, when I checked it, which was like in the third quarter, because I've been curious about this all season long, Tua, the past couple seasons, has had the fastest time between when he receives the ball and he throws the ball. And those quick decisions has been kind of the difference and why things are moving so fast, because that's how they get all the yards, right? It seems as though he's had more time to throw the ball this season, and it has had a negative effect because then he starts looking at different options. It could be the number one option is covered or whatever, but it seems like the more time Tua has, the worse the results have been. And yesterday he had the ball longer than Josh Allen did at the beginning, or at least through the third quarter. He had like three seconds before he was making the passes. So then he starts looking around, and then that's when you can go Back to Week 1 after the Steelers game, where they were saying, you know what? If you take away his first look, he panics and he starts making bad decisions. That could be what's going on is he's not snapping out right away, which the past couple seasons he's been the fastest to get the ball and pass it.

[Roy Cummings]

This is what I was talking about, I think, yesterday, where he's not capable of making the special plays, making the improvisational plays, and more to your point there, if everything is not put on the table for him to perfection, where, hey, this is your first option. This is where we'd really like you to go. And if it's not there, all right, you go through your progressions. He doesn't seem to be good at that part. If everything is not laid out in front of him right away and then he has to make the extra decisions, he doesn't seem to be good at it.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

I don't think that's fair criticism. Off of last night.

[Roy Cummings]

No, no, I'm not looking at it just in the context.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

I know but what happened last night in the fourth quarter, he put you in a position to win the game because that 16 play drive had those plays in it. And that's as good as that offense can be. They can't do it in one or two plays anymore. It's got to be 16 if he's going to throw as many passes behind the line of scrimmage as ahead of the line of scrimmage.

[Dan Le Batard]

How did we get there? That was crazy.

[Roy Cummings]

How did we get there?

[Dan Le Batard]

Swing passes to the flats and how poor the execution was. I thought Ingold was a good player. I mean he can't win a one on one blocking assignment anymore if he.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Did that play that you're talking about, which is throwing it to h hand seven yards behind the line of scrimmage. If Ingold had made a block there. That's a 30 yard play.

[Dan Le Batard]

It happened a couple of times where you know there's one or two guys and you either need a combination of a chan making a play and Ingold making a block or just ain't Engold making a block or a chance making a play. It just was stifled pretty much all game long with the exception of a 15 yard swing route. Like it was just. It was bad. It was painful to watch.

[Roy Cummings]

It was painful to watch. It was screen after screen after screen. I just don't understand. You pay the quarterback, he's getting $55 million a year and like that's the offense. How did we get here?

[Dan Le Batard]

I'm not seeing what they're seeing from right.

[Roy Cummings]

It's hard because we're watching on TV and you can't see down the old 22.

[Dan Le Batard]

Alan Kirk are saying that there's nothing available in the middle of the field. But this is where, this is where your high priced quarterback makes the plays with his feet. And there were a couple of signs there. But then you look across the other sideline and you realize, well, when there is nothing because both quarterbacks were dealing with this. As Dan pointed out, you know Josh Allen is going to make the plays consistently and for TUA it seems like an outlier.

[Roy Cummings]

And, and after, like let's just use as an example after the Sealer penalty tie game mid fourth quarter, Josh Allen doesn't throw the interception and if we want to like you could blame Sealer. It was a huge penalty. We could talk about whatever we want there. But I think it's fair criticism can. Can the quarterback who's paid $200 million, make a game winning drive in a big spot. For once we could say that the center didn't do what he was supposed to do on that play and it led to the interception and the linebacker picked it off like okay, but how about every other game that he can't seem to lead a game winning drive against a good team. Dan, you started the show giving up the numbers where the Dolphins never beat good teams. It's fair criticism to say, hey there are all these other things that are going on wrong this game but we need you to win us the game. When is that going to happen?

[Billy Gil]

The weird thing is is on that last drive where he threw the interception, it wasn't as many of the behind the line of scrimmage screen passes like they were actually trying to move the ball down the field. Six seven yard passes. But it wasn't that screen pass that wasn't effective. There was also a bunch of like three and outs that happened where it was just three straight passing yards. Three straight screen passes or one like third and 10 and let me try to throw it 12 yards here where when they were bringing in, when they were bringing Ollie Gordon, they were trying to run the ball, they were having more success I think than they thought they were going to have. And that's where the drives were starting, where they were involving the run game. I don't know why they keep doing the screen passes every single time.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

A long time ago Jimmie Johnson, Super Bowl Cowboys was asked why don't you guys do more screen passes with Emmett Smith and stuff and your offensive line. And he stared at the reporter and just said we're not good at it. So that's your explanation. Like they're not, they're not playing that way for any other reason but they're trying to protect their flaws and be safe and, and be careful.

[Billy Gil]

But the last drive they were effective not doing that like they've become too rel it on. Let's throw it to Achan and hope he makes a 40 yard play out of a negative 5 yard pass.

[Dan Le Batard]

Reed. The opposite is happening. McDaniel on the offense clearly and from what we've seen from Achan could receiving back like they are supposed to be good at it. Buffalo was all over it and like Xavier and Howard said, when you take away the first option, what do you got? Munson?

[Billy Gil]

It also screws them on it's 1st and 10. You try the first play of the drive to do a screen pass. There's a blown coverage and now it's second and 17 and now it's an uphill battle. And how do you get out of that?

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Well they did get out of it. They had a second and third and seventh a couple times.

[Billy Gil]

They got out of it but there was other three and outs where they couldn't get out of it.

[Dan Le Batard]

Even like this team and I sound pissy.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

I'm going to, I'm going to say again that I believe that that's the best this Dolphins team can play. And losing to the Bills that way is no shame. Listen to some of these stats. Okay. The Bills threw three games this season. Three and oh record hundred plus points scored, zero turnovers. Fewer than 15 penalties. More 150 rushing yards a game and more than 250 net passing yards a game. Never in NFL history has any team ever done that over a three game span. Never. It's never happened before. You actually neutralize the MVP of the league. The idea that I'm in here today.

[Dan Le Batard]

And three passing touchdowns.

[Billy Gil]

I mean come on, let's be honest.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Look all right Billy, they're looking forward.

[Billy Gil]

To 10 days off. All right Billy, they're walking through that one there you look. I got a text during the game from the said Josh Allen just looks bored.

[Dan Le Batard]

He's got a broken nose wearing a visor for the first time. How many flip passes did he turn?

[Billy Gil]

Oh my God.

[Dan Le Batard]

That guy Josh was literally joshing out there.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Yeah, Josh Allen regular season against the Dolphins 13 and 2 8. No at home 45 total touchdowns, eight interceptions. But I gave you the stat earlier and I'm just stunned by it. Next gen stats. Josh Allen and to a combined to average 1.5 air yards per completion. Lowest mark in a game since 2016. So your eyes aren't deceiving you. That's the most boring offensive game throwing the football down the field in 10 years.

[Roy Cummings]

It was so boring.

[Billy Gil]

Yeah, but like it was by design. I think by the bill. You think the Bills are what they're scared of The Dolphins secondary you think of Josh Allen got the ball down three from his 20 yard line. He was going to be airing out down cutting up.

[Dan Le Batard]

The Dolphins secondary did make plays.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

I will say you think it was by design. Yeah. That throw to Kincaid, it was a great crazy throw. Cage should have had three touchdowns. Tony's parlay from God hit.

[Dan Le Batard]

I know, I woke up to that. That was great. You played it. I of course when you get a parlay from God you play it.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Allen attempted only one pass over 10 yards in the air. Like that's not how he Plays you.

[Billy Gil]

Think that wasn't designed for him to not make a pass.

[Dan Le Batard]

It was that Concate pass. That was the only attempt he.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

He only had 10 air yards like I said to a completed as many passes behind the line of scrimmage as past it. But Allen attempted only one pass over 10 air yards. That's nuts.

[Roy Cummings]

Is it not possible that Josh Allen got to the building at the beginning of the week and said guys we're playing the Dolphins like what's the least amount of work?

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah let's.

[Billy Gil]

Let's just work on my nose is jacked up like let's make this an easy week guys.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

It was tied with. It was tied with seven minutes left.

[Roy Cummings]

In the fourth quarter.

[Dan Le Batard]

Playing with food.

[Billy Gil]

Come on.

[Dan Le Batard]

They can do. They were in control and they were planning to.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

This was the. This was the Bill's plan to get Zach Sealer on a fourth and seven to rough their punter. That was the plan.

[Billy Gil]

I look and punter seemed to flop on that. I think maybe in a tie game.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

In a tie game.

[Billy Gil]

Okay. You think that this game would have ended differently like you think that there was a doubt. You think that that was there a.

[Roy Cummings]

Moment in the game where you said to yourself I think the Dolphins are going to.

[Billy Gil]

Oh yeah. Josh Allen shook with his 134 QBR.

[Dan Le Batard]

Here what Dan's describing is. Is quite literally what happened which is the Bill. The Bills slept walk through that game.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Yeah.

[Dan Le Batard]

And they pulled out a double digit and guess what.

[Roy Cummings]

When it was time to win the game their quarterback turned it on won them.

[Dan Le Batard]

Well let me find Shakir trustee And.

[Roy Cummings]

When the Dolphins needed their quarterback to try and win the game he doesn't see a linebacker and throws it.

[Dan Le Batard]

How much longer are we going to talk about this team?

[Jonathan Zaslow]

This is it. The season's over.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yes. Their own three.

[Billy Gil]

I don't know.

[Dan Le Batard]

They're owing three. I know it's an expanded NFL schedule and stats are. We're still collecting data on what it means to be 03 next two weeks.

[Billy Gil]

Of get back games. Man. You have one home at the Panthers. Chargers.

[Roy Cummings]

That's Monday night football.

[Billy Gil]

A little tricky.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Okay.

[Billy Gil]

Then the Browns. At the Browns.

[Dan Le Batard]

Oh they could. They can go on Falcons.

[Billy Gil]

We're still not sure here. Ravens is where things get dicey. Let's say you get here 1, 2, 3. You rack off here four straight wins. You have a winning record at the.

[Dan Le Batard]

Falcons there was a bit of news in that Steven Ross likes Mike McDaniel doesn't want to fire him. That's pretty obvious. And he said like reportedly the only way he'd consider firing Mike McDaniel is if the fans stop showing up to the building or the team looks like they check out. Team didn't look checked out. They put forth one of their best efforts. Dan says that's about as good as they can possibly look. So it seems as though Mike McDaniel is safe. So now we turn our attention to Tyreek Hill, Greer and perhaps Tua.

[Billy Gil]

I had someone float this by me and I'm asking you guys your thoughts on this because we've been sitting on it for a couple of days. Where are we on the Brian Flores lawsuit? Do we know?

[Jonathan Zaslow]

I saw a couple of things yesterday in headlines. That was the second headline that caught my attention yesterday because he says his attorney is saying that they're stalling, that the league is stalling on the lawsuit. But the other headline I saw that I don't know if Mike can help me explain some of this. Perhaps before the end of the show someone can explain this headline to me. But it was a stunner to see. Right next to the Flores story. Witness in long delayed University of Miami Murder Case is not dead. Was the headline is not dead ESPN reporter this is how we're going to.

[Dan Le Batard]

Decide to break down the Gators canes. Yes, it was a tragic thing. We can dig into the Gators sorted history when it comes to murder.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

I'm just saying Roy's look. Roy has the proper look on his face with what is that story? Witness in long Delayed University of Miami Murder Case is not dead Just to.

[Billy Gil]

Close the loop on the Brian Flores question for a second. The reason I asked that is because that lawsuit has implications of racial discrimination and Steven Ross is named in this lawsuit. And while you are implicated in a lawsuit involving racial discrimination, is it easy to fire your black GM and biracial head coach while claiming that you are not involved in discrimination? Someone threw that at me and I said dicey situation.

[Roy Cummings]

Get out of here.

[Dan Le Batard]

I do like this as a topic for someone else.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

I had forgotten that Mike McDaniel was biracial until you mentioned that. We talked about it the first week he was hired and then never mentioned.

[Billy Gil]

Hard that next two fires. Also, you know black say there's not a pattern there. What does Zyn give you?

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Not just smoke free nicotine satisfaction but real freedom. Freedom to do what you love and choose your rewards. With Zinn Rewards, you can redeem points for premium tech outdoor gear and gift cards to your favorite retailers. Find your Zyn and keep finding rewards that fit your [e-mail] rewards.

[Roy Cummings]

Warning. This product contains nicotine.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Nicotine is an addictive chemical.

[Billy Gil]

I'm Christian McCaffrey, pro running back and Abercrombie is an official fashion partner of the NFL. I'm not kidding when I say NFL by Abercrombie broke the Internet last year.

[Dan Le Batard]

And I think this season's lineup is even cooler. And so does my wife who keeps.

[Billy Gil]

Stealing all my hoodies. Stay fit for the season and Abercrombie's newest arrivals Shop NFL by Abercrombie in the app, online and in store.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

When did making plans get this complicated? It's time to streamline with WhatsApp, the secure messaging app that brings the whole group together. Use polls to settle dinner plans, send event invites and pin messages so no one forgets mom's 60th and never miss a meme or milestone.

[Billy Gil]

All protected with end to end encryption.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

It's time for WhatsApp message privately with everyone.

[Roy Cummings]

Learn [e-mail] Don Libertard we didn't get.

[Billy Gil]

To your guys against the spread. You're right, you're right, you're right.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

I don't have it against the spread because I wasn't prepared for this segment.

[Billy Gil]

You need an IAN in your life.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

You have actively played defense against me today in a way that has rarely been this undercutting.

[Dan Le Batard]

Stugats.

[Billy Gil]

Defense wins championships, baby. That's show business. This is the Dan lebatar show with the stugats.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Which of these stats that I gave you guys from? All of them because I'm going to give you another one here. Tua is now two and 14 away from home against winning teams, which is the second worst mark for any quarterback in the last decade. I gave you a whole bunch of bad stats. Is there is there one among among all of them that you guys found most interesting? Because all of them are damning.

[Roy Cummings]

Yeah, the never beating good teams. They're never beating good teams.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Winning teams are not something that they can beat. They've lost 14 of their last 17 and eight in a row against teams with a winning record.

[Roy Cummings]

They Never beat teams over.500.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

The last time they felt good was when they all snowed us with that six touchdown performance to come back against the Ravens where they were throwing the ball down the field. Can I ask you guys again though as we talk about like waddle skating. Hill's not going to skate but waddle skating. That is a very high pick. Like that was picked to make sure you get pieces to help the piece that you have right. Jacksonville's tried to load up trying to help Trevor Lawrence to cover Trevor Lawrence's flaws. You got two top picks, first round picks at wide receiver. That way that's supposed to look like what the Eagles look like in their prime when they've got two number ones. Like you're. You take a receiver in the top 10, he's be a number one. Like he's got to feel and play like a number one. And Waddle hasn't for a long time. Like you forget about Waddle for long stretches of time during those football games.

[Roy Cummings]

But Waddle plays like we've seen Waddle look like a number one wide receiver and Waddle and Hill too, for that matter. But Waddle like he. He's dependent on other things happening in order for him to produce.

[Dan Le Batard]

He is skating a bit though. He did give it a go and he scored a touchdown. He is playing hurt. He's been hurt.

[Billy Gil]

He's always hurt, man. The wind blows and that guy's on the sideline for like three plays. So frustrating. He could be so good. But like everything seems to keep him off the field for some reason.

[Dan Le Batard]

He doesn't have good size for the sport.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

That's absolutely so in terms of frame.

[Dan Le Batard]

Like that doesn't look like he can take a. Take a hit.

[Billy Gil]

He's bigger than Tyreek Hill, who stays out there.

[Dan Le Batard]

I mean, but Tyreek Hill's built different.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

The three key pieces that they have on offense though are all undersized to Hill and Waddle. Like this is part of why it is they get soft. None of them are A.J.

[Dan Le Batard]

Brown. None of them that good size. I like. I like that. I think they found one in Gordon.

[Billy Gil]

Yeah.

[Roy Cummings]

I found myself getting mad throughout the game that the game was close. Not because I. I sat here and.

[Billy Gil]

You know, cuz you wanted to be right. We get it.

[Roy Cummings]

No, I don't.

[Billy Gil]

Yeah, we get it. You want it to be. You'd rather.

[Roy Cummings]

You don't know what's going on in my mind.

[Billy Gil]

You want it to be right at the detriment of your city.

[Roy Cummings]

You don't know what thoughts are happening here.

[Billy Gil]

You have thoughts in your heart.

[Dan Le Batard]

You.

[Roy Cummings]

Yeah, you know what? I do have thoughts in my heart.

[Dan Le Batard]

We established in the shadow show. He likes admitting when he's wrong too.

[Billy Gil]

Yeah, I know.

[Roy Cummings]

I have no problem admitting when I'm wrong. You think you don't know me.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Me.

[Roy Cummings]

All right. You'll know me.

[Dan Le Batard]

Okay.

[Roy Cummings]

Okay.

[Billy Gil]

Go on.

[Dan Le Batard]

Your heart.

[Billy Gil]

What was your point, sir? Go on. Did you forget?

[Roy Cummings]

Okay. As I was saying, lost my train.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Of Thought he does that. He does that.

[Roy Cummings]

Tried to stall a little bit there.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

I noticed.

[Roy Cummings]

I didn't come back.

[Billy Gil]

He's very good at it.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

That's what he does.

[Dan Le Batard]

Doing that you were upset that your.

[Billy Gil]

Team, your team was keeping the game close.

[Roy Cummings]

Yes.

[Billy Gil]

Now I have to do my job. And your brain's job.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Yes. He does know what's going on in your head and he keeps track of it, unlike you.

[Roy Cummings]

That's a good job out of you, Billy.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Do you want to.

[Billy Gil]

So you're sad your team was keeping it close.

[Roy Cummings]

No, it's been built up too much. I'm abandoning the thoughts.

[Billy Gil]

We really want the idea.

[Roy Cummings]

It's been built up.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

We want the thon your heart. Come on on.

[Dan Le Batard]

Can we move on, please? I'm begging to move on.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Zazlo.

[Billy Gil]

Talk about those dead witnesses.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah, let's go there. I really want it. I got something on this.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

He's not.

[Dan Le Batard]

That guy is not.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

No, he's not dead. It's not a dead witness. You don't know the facts that are in my heart. Shame. Get the facts.

[Billy Gil]

Undead witness, Zombie witnesses.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

We thought he was dead and he's not dead.

[Dan Le Batard]

Shame on you, Miracle.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

What do you mean, shame on me?

[Dan Le Batard]

Shame on you. Like, that's how you.

[Roy Cummings]

Like.

[Dan Le Batard]

You got college game day in town. You got Fowler and Herbie on the selector, which is going to be electric. A lot of people are upset about this. A lot of people that don't follow hockey, I guess.

[Roy Cummings]

Why? Why?

[Dan Le Batard]

I don't know. Like, I mean, you got the most hated player in the league, but beloved.

[Roy Cummings]

I am not lying, American hockey player.

[Dan Le Batard]

I am not lying when I say in this market and think who's come to this market in terms of immediate impact on the playing survey surface. Matthew Tkachuk is tied with LeBron James. And it wasn't exactly like LeBron turned the fortunes of a franchise around. He made the sport matter. So you could argue the most impactful athlete in terms of acquisition in the history of this market.

[Roy Cummings]

Go on.

[Dan Le Batard]

Is Matthew Tkachuk.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

It's the best trade in South Florida history.

[Roy Cummings]

Ooh, it's definitely Panthers best trade overall.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Of course, it has to be like, the worst one is Miguel Cabrera, and the best one has to be Tkachuk.

[Roy Cummings]

What about Shaq?

[Jonathan Zaslow]

I mean, it was a good one, but Shaq was the second most important player on that championship.

[Dan Le Batard]

Shaq didn't make it to the finals his first year. Matthew Tkachuk made it to the finals his first year and lost like LeBron and then went back to back like LeBron. It's LeBron and Matthew Tkachuk in terms of immediate impact. And when you consider the franchise's history and inability to get over the hump, it's Matthew Tkachuk. When you apply that context technically in the books, that LeBron decision was a trade.

[Roy Cummings]

Nah, we all know that's not a trade.

[Dan Le Batard]

Ended up being a bad trade because he didn't end up. Yes, this is a take. Acquiring LeBron was a bad trade because you actually gave up assets and he didn't extend.

[Roy Cummings]

They were still paying off those assets while he played for Cleveland.

[Dan Le Batard]

Right. He helped rebuild the Cleveland Cavs.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

You can't say that was a bad trade.

[Dan Le Batard]

Bad trade.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

You can't say it was a bad trade.

[Roy Cummings]

Any time you're still paying off a trade when the player's not with you anymore, it's bad trade. Everybody knows that.

[Billy Gil]

It also didn't live up to expectations, if we're going to be honest.

[Dan Le Batard]

No, they didn't win. Not four, not five, not six, not seven.

[Billy Gil]

Bust of an experiment. Really.

[Dan Le Batard]

Really, it is. And let's not pretend, like Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade in their prime winning a one one. You go wherever you want, LeBron. Go to Chicago, go to the Knicks. You think you're beating Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade, and whatever Pat Riley uses to build out the rest of that roster. Let me tell you, don't forget, greatest.

[Roy Cummings]

Free agent signing, Luol Dang.

[Dan Le Batard]

Luol Dang. Bosh and Wade get one. Bosch and Wade get one. People forget how freaking good Dwyane Wade.

[Roy Cummings]

You know about Gondrajic?

[Billy Gil]

What was his deal? He was always just hanging around, milling about at the arena, making it seem like he wanted to play here. And every chance he got to come back, he's like, nah, I'll go somewhere else instead. What was his deal?

[Roy Cummings]

You know about Zoron Dragic?

[Jonathan Zaslow]

I'm sorry that this is a delayed penalty. Minor penalty, two minutes. Dumpster juice takes Mike out. You can't take Mike. You can't say LeBron James was a bad trade. You can't say. And then follow it up with, you know, personally in your heart that Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade would have certainly won a title. Get out of here.

[Billy Gil]

How do you know in your heart they wouldn't.

[Dan Le Batard]

I get no points for my amazing Matthew Tkachuk. Take that. No one else had no points.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

You. You get out of here. Because it's a dumpster.

[Dan Le Batard]

Great talking Gators canes.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Well, if you wanted to talk witness in A long delayed University of Miami murder case is not dead. If you wanted to talk about that, I don't understand how it is that if you read that headline, you don't keep reading, like, that headline. ESPN reporters knocked on a dude's door. The police, when they were. When they were investigating Brian Pata's murder, thought that one of the witnesses was dead. And he's not dead. He's just old. Doesn't come out of his house. House much, and now doesn't remember the details because it's been so long and he's in his 80s. But that's a shocking headline.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah. That makes you go, that's right.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Thank you, Roy. That's absolutely, like, that's. That's absolutely what your reaction is supposed to be to that.

[Billy Gil]

How do you decide the man's dead? Did no one, like, knock on his door, like, hey, is like, you know, Ken there? Like, no, he's not there. Oh, dead. Must be dead. No solicitors decided. No death certificate somewhere.

[Roy Cummings]

I like the idea of if you gather someone, they're not all about dead.

[Billy Gil]

I mean, it seems to be what I have. I must be dead.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

I don't know. It seems to be an investigation that wasn't very thorough, but somehow the bills.

[Dan Le Batard]

Were paid on time.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Another Zaslow snort. Our second historic snort from Zaslow. Laughing. Zaslo again continues to get ego inflation because more and more people are noticing his opinions. They're noticing the things that he's doing. He's going to be a part of college game days football extravaganza in Miami this weekend as part of espn.

[Roy Cummings]

I don't think you remember the name. You got it right. Yeah.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

ESPN Radio's coverage of, um, Gators. But also. And this is not going to help disinflate his head. Now Paul Maurice is indeed giving Zaslow the credit for ending a vacation early to rescue the Panthers last year when they were. Nobody remembers this, but they were in very big trouble against the Maple Leafs. Like, that was a big. They were. They were down. And it was a really problematic situation. In the last two years, there hasn't been a scarier situation, even with McDavid than being down to Toronto in overtime. Down. Down to. Oh, in the series and down to.

[Roy Cummings]

Nothing in that game, by the way.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Yes. And here's Paul Maurice giving Zaslow the credit that he obviously des. That's the great stories of here.

[Roy Cummings]

And.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

And then when you can get, like, grandparents, parents, and a kid that are all tied to that, they get to keep that memory for the rest of Their lives. And that's how you build fans.

[Dan Le Batard]

We had that happen here with ESTN radio and ESPN West Palm. One of our guys, Jonathan Zaslow, cut.

[Billy Gil]

His family vacation short.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

There you go.

[Dan Le Batard]

Because when he was at home, right, y' all were winning when he got hit the road. Y' all got a couple of losses.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

There, and you will. Okay, so first of all, what was his name?

[Billy Gil]

Jonathan Zaslo.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Well, you tell Jonathan I said hello and thank you very much for that.

[Dan Le Batard]

Because this all weaves together.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Thank you for your service, Zaslow.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yes, thank you.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

I think you should be the game day picker instead of Matthew Tkachuk because you saved the season. And even though that's the biggest trade in history and forced Mike to say that LeBron James was a bad trade, bad trade.

[Dan Le Batard]

Zaslow, I think you should bang the drum. Bang the drum.

[Roy Cummings]

Well, first of all, coach, you're welcome. I appreciate those guys. My guys there at ESPN 163 in West Palm. Not also mentioning to him that I once dubbed him Murder of Fun. That's good looking out. I appreciate that. I would love to bang the drum. We'll see. That's neither here nor there. That clip there makes me very happy, Dan. Very happy.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Did you feel bad at all that he didn't initially know who was being talked about? Fan?

[Roy Cummings]

No, I'm just a fan.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

No, you're not just a fan. You're somebody who cut a vacation short to save your team.

[Roy Cummings]

Just did my part. Just. Just doing my part for the team. And. And hey, you all would have done the same thing. Well done.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

I'm not sure that we all.

[Dan Le Batard]

I wasn't traveling at the time, but I certainly would have because I love this team and I love Paul Maurice, even though I also agreed with you at the time. But now I realize that it's growing pains and we're both big men that can admit when they were wrong.

[Roy Cummings]

I love that team.

[Dan Le Batard]

I love that about us.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

So I just.

[Roy Cummings]

I love that about us, too.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

I just want to on what you guys love about you, just to be clear. So for the record, two time defending champion Paul Maurice is the murderer of fun and LeBron James was a bad trade for the Miami.

[Dan Le Batard]

Howdy. It's Mike. And football season is here. It is quite possibly every sports fan's favorite time of year. It's a real special time. Make your football special timey. Miller time, please. Because I know from experience. Experience. Having that beautiful white can by my side. Or a draft at the sports bar while the big game is on. Man. All those memories having that Miller Lite there, knowing that it's a beer that just hits different. Look at the tailgate. There's nothing like cracking open a Miller Light with your crew, whether it's that touchdown you didn't see coming or just arguing about fantasy lineups you already know you're gonna lose. Miller Lite has been the taste you can depend on for 50 wonderful years. Brewed for flavor with simple ingredients, rich toffee notes, and that iconic golden color. The original light beer since 1975 and still hitting different five decades later. Miller Lite Great Taste 96 calories go to millerlight.com dan to find delivery options near you, or you can pick up some Miller Lite pretty much anywhere they sell beer. It's Miller time. Celebrate responsibly. Miller Brewing Co. Milwaukee, Wisconsin 96 calories and 3.2 carbs per 12 ounces.