Local Hour: Let's Be Giannist

Summary

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The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz

Episode: Local Hour – Let's Be Giannist
Date: December 16, 2025
Location: Elser Hotel, Downtown Miami

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Episode Overview

This Local Hour episode centers on the Miami Dolphins' quarterback situation, primarily focusing on Tua Tagovailoa's struggles and future. The crew—Dan Le Batard, Stugotz, Greg Cody, Chris Cote, Zaslow, and Mike Ryan—debate Tagovailoa's declining form, dissect the franchise's roster construction, and humorously explore possible alternatives in a bleak upcoming quarterback market. Interspersed are moments of signature show banter, with references to classic Dolphins players, Greg Cody’s wild dream of co-hosting with Giannis Antetokounmpo (the source of the episode title), and nostalgic “things to ponder” from Dan’s archives.

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Major Topics and Key Insights

1. Greg Cody's Dream: "Let's Be Giannist"

• [02:18 – 05:49]
  • Greg shares a dream where he co-hosts a radio show with NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo.
    • “I had a dream... my co-host was Giannis Antetokounmpo.” – Greg Cody [02:31]
  • Giannis struggles to talk NFL, making for “Covid radio” vibes via Zoom.
  • Show banter around naming the imaginary show “Let’s Be Honest.”
    • “Today was his show called 'let’s Be Honest'?” – Stugotz [04:57]
  • Amused but awkward silence as the name gets panned.
    • “I would have preferred to just sit in the silence instead of you 'yes, and'-ing the idea that the name of the show would be 'Let’s Be Honest,' clue guy.” – Chris Cote [05:09]

2. Dolphins Quarterback Crisis & Tua Tagovailoa’s Future

• [05:54 – 46:00]
  • Dan expresses unprecedented anxiety after a key play:
    • “When Tua slid in front of the first down...the next 10 years of football flashed before me.” – Dan Le Batard [05:54]
    • “He’s run 20 times this season, he’s got one first down...That means you have a quarterback who cannot get you out of trouble.” – Dan [06:25]
  • Frustration about conservative NFL offense and Tua’s lack of athleticism.
    • “How does Aaron Rodgers at 41 look more athletic than Tua?” – Dan [07:28]
    • “Because he is.” – Greg Cody [07:28]
  • Debate over whether Tua is beyond repair, focusing on his decision-making, lack of mobility, and alarming turnover rate.
    • “The problem on your offense is your highest paid player.” – Chris Cote [30:19]
    • “Let’s be honest, he’s done. He’s done.” – Mike Ryan [16:24]
  • Zaslow tries to find hope, arguing not to entirely write Tua off.
    • “I just hate that we’re all judging Tua based on this one terrible season...Give him three more games, give him next season.” – Zaslow [23:27 & 44:34]
  • Chris Cote and others counter that Tua’s problems aren’t correctable and Dolphins must move on.
    • “If you think this is fixable, this is not fixable.” – Dan Le Batard [25:27]
    • “No mobility, no arm, no situational...bad problem.” – Greg Cody [26:18]
    • “I know he’s terrible. But maybe he’ll stop being terrible.” – Greg Cody (mocking fence-sitting) [45:50]
  • Zaslow tries to justify giving Tua more chances due to financial and market realities, critiqued for “fence-sitting.”
    • “The easiest thing in the world is to...say, Tua stinks.” – Zaslow [44:13]

3. Dolphins Receiving Corps, Draft, and QB Market Woes

• [11:01 – 29:00, 48:13 – 49:15]
  • Revisiting Dolphins’ endless search for a quarterback, referencing Tannehill years and classic “Dolphins quarterback wasteland” arguments.
  • Arguments over wide receivers (Waddle, Irving Fryer, Joe Rose) and underperforming skill positions.
    • “If [Waddle]'s not a bust, he’s pretty close to it for where it is you drafted him.” – Chris Cote [22:04]
  • Waddle and Hill’s impact contextualizes Tua’s few successes: “Take Tyreek Hill out and you’ve got a totally pedestrian quarterback.” – Dan Le Batard [35:52]
  • Reviewing the uninspiring list of likely available quarterbacks: Sam Howell, Tommy DeVito, Gardner Minshew, Carson Wentz, etc. – rapid-fire round.
    • “This kind of proves our point...there’s probably like two or three guys there you legitimately want more than [Tua].” – Stugotz [48:47]

4. On-Field and Locker Room Critiques of Tua

• [21:24 – 43:41]
  • The panel references stats underscoring Tua's struggles: 0-6 in sub-40 temps, 3-12 vs. winning teams, league-high interceptions (all vs. zone).
    • “All 15 of his interceptions have been against zone defenses. That’s a big problem.” – Zaslow [21:44]
  • Jalen Ramsey, Xavien Howard, former teammates, and defensive backs are openly critical.
    • "You take away the primary read, he’s done." – (Paraphrasing Howard) [43:27]
    • Fun banter about sideline demeanor: “Please, please, chuckle it up. The only thing missing when he was laughing...down 28 to 9...show me the money!” – Greg Cody [26:47]
  • Brain chemistry and fear of (hidden) injury as possible explanations for downfall.
    • “He’s an avatar for our lack of understanding of brain chemistry and brain injuries in that sport.” – Chris Cote [39:17]

5. Exasperated Dolphins Fandom & Organizational Futility

• [27:53 – 29:25]
  • Chris Cote's frustration stretches back two decades: “We’re arguing for 25 years about do the Dolphins have a quarterback?...The answer, except for one season, is no.” [28:01]
  • Overlapping conversations about failed offensive line investments and wasted primes.

6. Dan’s “Things to Ponder” File & Show Nostalgia

• [46:08 – 49:15]
  • Dan revisits a file of old debate topics found during a move, such as “Baker [Mayfield] at $20 million or Tua at $55 million?”
    • “Hiding things. This was three years ago. Baker 20 million or Tua at 55 million.” – Dan [46:51]
  • Laughter over the dated yet eerily relevant questions and even a “Christian Ponder in the Ponder file.”
    • “Christian Ponder in the Ponder file.” – Dan [49:15]

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• Greg Cody’s Dream Start:
  “I had a dream...my co-host was Giannis Antetokounmpo.” – Greg Cody [02:31]

• On Tua’s Regression:
  “Let’s be honest, he’s done. He’s done.” – Mike Ryan [16:24]
  “He’s not that quarterback anymore, though.” – Greg Cody [15:07]
  “You take Tyreek Hill out and you’ve got a totally pedestrian quarterback.” – Dan Le Batard [35:52]

• Greg Cody, on moving on:
  “If you have a bad player and it costs you the same amount of money to have a bad player on your team as it would to not have a bad player on your team, wouldn’t you always pick to not have the bad player?” – Greg Cody [13:25]

• Zaslow defending Tua:
  “I just hate that we’re all judging Tua based on this one terrible season...Give him three more games, give him next season.” – Zaslow [23:27; 44:34]
  “I think he’s better than he’s shown this season. I think he’s young enough not to give up on his future.” [36:09]

• On Sideline Optics:
  “Please, please, chuckle it up. The only thing missing when he was laughing...down 28 to 9...show me the money!” – Greg Cody [26:47]

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Important Timestamps

| Time | Segment / Topic | |----------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 02:18 | Greg Cody recounts his Giannis dream | | 05:54 | Dan’s anxiety after Tua fails to convert a first down; analyzing Tua’s athletic limitations | | 13:25 | Greg on the logic of cutting Tua if keeping or cutting costs the same | | 16:24 | Mike Ryan declares “he’s done”; discussion of Tua’s brain, decision-making | | 21:24 | Zaslow rolls out damning stats about Tua’s performance in cold and against good teams | | 23:27 | Zaslow and panel debate whether to write off Tua entirely | | 28:01 | Cote laments 25 years of the Dolphins not having a quarterback | | 39:17 | Chris Cote on brain chemistry and undiagnosed injury impacts | | 46:08 | Dan opens “things to ponder” file; past Tua vs. Baker Mayfield debate | | 48:13 | Rapid-fire rundown of the sorry state of next year’s QB market | | 49:15 | “Christian Ponder in the Ponder file” dad-joke closes out the topic |

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Tone and Style

The discussion is animated, sardonic, and heavily laced with the crew’s typical Miami sports exasperation. Sharp jabs, sarcasm, and self-deprecating humor abound, particularly when dissecting Dolphins' QB hell and the perpetual search for “the guy.” Zaslow’s earnest fence-sitting comes in for friendly mockery, while Greg Cody is roasted both for his dream logic and his stubbornness. It is a blend of sports angst and barbershop-style riffing.

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For New Listeners

This episode delivers a quintessential Le Batard Show blend of local sports despair, personality-driven banter, and an honest, occasionally absurd look at the Dolphins’ quarterback predicament. It’s an ideal primer for understanding Miami fandom’s love/hate relationship with its teams—and with its own optimism.

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Transcript

[Dan LeBatard]

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[Greg Cody]

Wow.

[Dan LeBatard]

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[Chris Cote]

Fair enough.

[Dan LeBatard]

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[Greg Cody]

Hate Smirnoff.

[Dan LeBatard]

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[Greg Cody]

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[Chris Cote]

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[Greg Cody]

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[Chris Cote]

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[Greg Cody]

Newer models may be shown.

[Chris Cote]

Visit jdpower.com awards for more details. Chevrolet together.

[Stugotz]

Let's drive.

[Zaslow]

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[Chris Cote]

Zaslow, I need some details on this dream that you had last night. I need you to put us inside of your sleep, please.

[Greg Cody]

I had a good dream. I think it was a good dream. Do you remember your dreams, Greg?

[Zaslow]

Rarely.

[Greg Cody]

Yeah, I. Well, I guess if you don't remember your dream, you wouldn't know. Anyway. I remember my dreams and last night I had a dream that I was doing, you know, a regular shift on ESPN Radio. I was doing radio and. And my co. I had a new co host. My co host was Giannis Antetokounmpo.

[Chris Cote]

So your sleep is being interrupted by your amount of work. You're working a lot. You're working day and night. You're working on weekends.

[Greg Cody]

You know why? W. They love something.

[Chris Cote]

You also like money as well. I think that's part of it. I don't think it's just your wife that likes money. I think you also like money.

[Stugotz]

So he replaced Amber.

[Greg Cody]

So. Yeah. And it's not like we weren't together. I was broadcasting where I was, like, from my home, and he was broadcasting wherever he was. We were not in the same place.

[Chris Cote]

So you were on Zoom. You were on Zoom. Giannis was on Zoom.

[Dan LeBatard]

Covid Radio.

[Chris Cote]

And what. Do you remember the subject matter that you were tackling?

[Greg Cody]

Yeah, we were. Well, we talked about a bunch of things. It was like a regular show, you know, and, and, but. But I do remember when we. When we were talking to football. We're talking about football. It was not his strong suit.

[Stugotz]

Realistic.

[Greg Cody]

He was not strong on the NFL.

[Chris Cote]

So do you remember you were throwing him questions? Yeah, he was in Milwaukee and you're throwing him questions about the packers or, like, what was happening there.

[Greg Cody]

Just we're talking. I mean, maybe like probably Monday Night Football, because that's what I was last watching before I went to bed last night, you know, so we're probably talking about that game, you know, talking about the Dolphins boy, too, as shit. But we, you know, Giannis, he.

[Stugotz]

Was that his take or yours?

[Greg Cody]

That's mine. Better believe that. And we were just. We were talking about everything, but I. But then I woke up at one point, I think it was probably when I woke up this morning when my alarm went off, and I thought to myself, like, damn, I wanted to See where that was going, you know, like we were in the middle of a good conversation on the air and I didn't get to finish the dream.

[Zaslow]

Was that a second job for him? Like, did you ask him why are you in the studio talking about.

[Chris Cote]

No, it was realistic, Greg. He was imagining that it was a co host of his and he was just doing a regular show.

[Greg Cody]

Yeah, it seemed normal to me.

[Chris Cote]

But do you recall. God, I'm really carrying him right now. He doesn't know anything on football.

[Greg Cody]

Yeah.

[Stugotz]

A lot better at basketball than he is.

[Chris Cote]

My co host isn't giving me what I need here.

[Greg Cody]

Yeah, yeah. And I do remember, actually, I was. I was like, I was late to the show. All right. So we didn't get to do any show prep. We didn't do any, like pre production meeting or anything like that. And I didn't know who my co host was until I sat down and we turned the show. I was like, oh, Morgan with Giannis.

[Stugotz]

Today was his show called let's Be Honest.

[Mike Ryan]

I like it.

[Zaslow]

That's pretty good.

[Stugotz]

That's good humor.

[Zaslow]

That's my boy.

[Mike Ryan]

I didn't really like it. I was just trying to support you.

[Chris Cote]

Yeah.

[Mike Ryan]

I would have silent.

[Chris Cote]

I would have preferred the silence. Last for about four months. I would have. I would have preferred to just sit in the silence instead of you. Yes. Anning the idea that the name of the show Improv would be, let's Be honest, Clue Guy. It's just we could have sat in that silence and made everybody wonder whether or not we'd gone off the air, whether the power had gone out, whether we. And it would have just been Chris sitting and stewing in his own diarrhea. Instead you rush in to support him, but not. Well, I like it isn't much in the way of support. It's just filling the silence with three syllables.

[Mike Ryan]

I'll be honest. I could have been better.

[Chris Cote]

This is the Dan Levatar show with the Stugats podcast. I had something happen to me yesterday during that dolphin game that has legitimately never happened to me before in the history of covering the Dolphins. When TUA slid in front of the first down, didn't get the first down, needed a yard, got half a yard, and then they had to punt the next 10 years. Football flash before me, because when he wasn't athletic enough to get a first down that required half a yard, I thought to myself, at least Drake May and Josh Allen aren't at the top of the division with their athleticism. It's legitimately never Happened to me before where I'm watching something, I'm like, oh my God, that is not good enough for whatever evolves in this sport, nevermind the division. Whatever evolves in the Sport. He's run 20 times this season. He's got one first down. Barry Jackson had that stat last night. To run 20 times means you have a quarterback who cannot get you out of trouble under any circumstances. While in a division with quarterbacks who are wildly athletic that you're going to have a hard time catching up to if the sport changes much more. The game last night was frustrating to watch for a number of reasons, not just because the Dolphins lost. I am so tired of nobody throwing it down the field, like just throwing it to tight ends, throwing it to running backs. But how does Aaron Rodgers at 41 look more athletic than Tua?

[Greg Cody]

Because he is.

[Chris Cote]

Is he?

[Zaslow]

Yeah, yeah.

[Greg Cody]

Oh yeah.

[Mike Ryan]

Of course most quarterbacks took him out for sneaks. Dude.

[Chris Cote]

The thing that they did with Aaron Rodgers, that was funny, trying to build the mythology around him because I was frustrated by that game. The number of tush pushes, 3rd and 1. Push your way twice with a 311 pound tight end to, to get a yard. Just waste my time. Waste the season. And the, the watching of this season has been a waste of time to anybody who cares about football in South Florida. But, but the way they tried to frame Aaron Rodgers, the wording that they used. Aaron Rodgers is standing 10ft behind the line of scrimmage. He's got nothing to do with the play. He's watching it the way the rest of us are. And they say there's Aaron Rodgers doing.

[Zaslow]

His thing is great.

[Chris Cote]

What do you mean? That's him doing his thing. He's just standing there watching. He's a spectator like the rest of us. They also one time that he did it called him a gunslinger. And I'm like, what are you talking about? He's throwing, he's throwing 50 times to gain well and his 10 tight ends.

[Zaslow]

And the best part of that was his hands were in his pockets staying warm. So had there been a fumble right in front of them.

[Chris Cote]

His hand, he's only got one good hand. He can't even do anything with the other one.

[Mike Ryan]

There was a sequence in which there was a small button hook route that would have been a first down. And Aaron Rodgers short hopped it moments after screaming at the sideline about how they got the play. And almost like there's Aaron Rodgers doing his thing.

[Chris Cote]

How much do you guys love Darnell Washington? It took six electric. It took six dolphins to bring him down. He's still listed as 267. They put him at 267. He's 50 pounds heavier.

[Mike Ryan]

Three bills easy is how bad that game was. I was just watching him a lot and let me tell you, Adam Thielen, masterclass in wide receiver blocking. It was unbelievable.

[Chris Cote]

Would you agree with me that the best number for a big giant guy to wear is number 80? That you've got two round numbers and it fits on a 311 pound person better than any other number? Maybe double zeros would be better, but.

[Stugotz]

The number 8069 slaps one would be funny.

[Mike Ryan]

Can't do 80. It's just. It's a wide receiver number in my mind. It's just Jerry Rice. I can't get it out of my mind.

[Greg Cody]

Best 80 for the dolphins.

[Zaslow]

Irving Fryer, Farrell Edmonds.

[Chris Cote]

Wasn't Joe Rose number 80?

[Zaslow]

I think he was actually.

[Chris Cote]

Was he 84?

[Zaslow]

No, I thought he was 80.

[Dan LeBatard]

It's good.

[Chris Cote]

I think. I think Zaz might. This right. Can you look this up for me? I can't remember. I'm terrible at this. I'm really bad at uniform numbers. But I think of Joe Rose, number 80. He was number 80.

[Zaslow]

Wow.

[Chris Cote]

Wow. You really insulted Joe Rose by going to Irving Fryer and anybody else other than Joe Rose.

[Greg Cody]

Irving Fryer was so good with the Dolphins. What are you talking about?

[Chris Cote]

Joe Rose is an institution. If I said Irving. Irving Fryer, legend locally or not a legend?

[Greg Cody]

No, not a legend.

[Mike Ryan]

Not a Dolphin legend.

[Greg Cody]

Not a dolphin.

[Chris Cote]

Joe Rose is a legend.

[Dan LeBatard]

Is he?

[Greg Cody]

Yeah, Irving, Yeah. But Joe Rose a legend because of his radio career.

[Mike Ryan]

Irving Friar was much better on the football field for the Miami Dolphins. And Joe Rose was.

[Chris Cote]

I think Joe Rose's greatest season was about 350 yards at tight end.

[Mike Ryan]

Irving Fryer was pretty good for that day and age.

[Greg Cody]

He was very good for the Dolphins.

[Mike Ryan]

If he's not a legend, he's a luminary.

[Zaslow]

Not for long though. What? Two, three years at most?

[Greg Cody]

Yeah, yeah.

[Dan LeBatard]

345 yards for the Big Dog.

[Chris Cote]

But Zaslow has said that he's a legend and that Irving Fryer is not a legend. And so if someone's a legend in war number 80, then he is the most legendary. Number 80.

[Zaslow]

No, no, he's not wearing number 80. Leaning into a mic. He's better at radio than he was at football.

[Mike Ryan]

Good point. Irving Fryer had back to back thousand yard seasons. That's pretty good.

[Chris Cote]

He had a couple of seasons with a lot of touchdowns too. Didn't he. Didn't he have one season? I remember his first year of the Dolphins.

[Stugotz]

Brian Hartline had a couple thousand yard season.

[Mike Ryan]

It's different era.

[Dan LeBatard]

In 93 he had 10, 10 yards and five touchdowns. In 94 he had 1,270 yards and seven touchdowns. And then in his third season with the Dolphins in 95 it was 910 yards but eight touchdowns before going to Philadelphia where he caught 11 touchdowns the following season.

[Zaslow]

Fred Barnett trade three seasons. Not a legend.

[Chris Cote]

Chris, are you aware of where Brian Hartline is now? You are aware.

[Stugotz]

Follow the news.

[Dan LeBatard]

Dano Better coach than player easily, right?

[Stugotz]

Better recruiter. I don't think we know about coach yet. We know he's a good recruiter.

[Dan LeBatard]

He's coaching him up.

[Chris Cote]

But you want to share with the audience the whereabouts. South Florida Br Bull.

[Dan LeBatard]

Dan's beloved USF Bulls Loves everything that's in Tampa.

[Chris Cote]

Don't they play? They play tomorrow. Don't they? Don't. Doesn't. South Florida? Is the bowl season's about to kick off, is it not?

[Zaslow]

Yes, it is.

[Chris Cote]

I saw that the coach, the interim coach for Michigan said that the players feel betrayed by the Sharon Moore story. He was quoted at the Cheez It Citrus bowl and I learned his name then. It's a terrible name. Biff Pogi.

[Greg Cody]

Have you seen what he looks like?

[Mike Ryan]

You know about Biff? Google him.

[Greg Cody]

Have you seen what he looks like?

[Zaslow]

Biff Pogi.

[Chris Cote]

Yeah, you've seen this guy before at Lebatard Show. Can you be great athletically or can you be a champion athletically? If your name is Biff with two F's at LeBatard show. So let's talk about the end of this Dolphin season and the problem of architecture that they have. Because if you cut to it today, it will hurt you just as much as if you keep him all of next season against the salary cap, it's the same amount.

[Greg Cody]

This is such an easy decision. I don't understand why this is a thing where it's off. You cut to a. You know, it's $56 million become. It's the same amount of money. If you keep them, you know, great, great. That's a. If you have a bad player and it costs you the same amount of money to have a bad player on your team as it would to not have a bad player on team. Wouldn't you always pick to not have the bad player?

[Chris Cote]

Not if you're in transition next year and it's a bad quarterback class this year. It's a Bad quarterback class. Your solution? Next year won't be better than two. It's not saying much.

[Greg Cody]

Just get whatever veteran off the scrap heap for $10 million.

[Zaslow]

Okay.

[Chris Cote]

You want minshew? Yeah. I mean, yes. Philip Rivers. Do me the favor. Jeremy. I don't know the backst have heard over my life the phrase Old Man River. I don't know where it comes from. I don't know anything about it other than a phrase. Does anyone here know the phrase Old Man River?

[Zaslow]

I know it was a famous song. I don't know the origin of the phrase. Maybe the song popularized the phrase.

[Chris Cote]

Please find out for me because Philip Rivers obviously a ridiculous selection and says, I think you're being sports radio shortsighted. Any veteran is better. As if you could just, just go get Kirk Cousins and feel better about your bandage next year than the one you presently have to pay anyway. Greg Cody is right.

[Dan LeBatard]

From the musical Showboat with music by Jerome Kern and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein the Second Dan.

[Greg Cody]

How can you expect to ask fans to pay their hard earned money to come to games next year? And you continue to throw TUA out there. That's why you get rid of him. Sure, Zach, and just pick someone up off the street.

[Dan LeBatard]

Okay, but when he's decent, he's decent. Yes, right, like that's the issue. Okay, yes, his peaks are very, very low, but his, his like what he can do when everything is clicking. Got him. Best completion percentage in the league.

[Greg Cody]

He's not that quarterback anymore, though.

[Mike Ryan]

He isn't.

[Greg Cody]

He's not that guy.

[Mike Ryan]

This is a different player as an independent. Every time that guy dropped back. It was a disaster. And it, it would box score, Stew, because if you see the stats, you're, you're wondering. I fell asleep during that game. I thought the quarterback play was so poor on both sides. I actually left that game thinking Philip Rivers is better than Both these guys.

[Dan LeBatard]

60 yards in the third quarter.

[Mike Ryan]

Time that dude dropped back. You were fearful of a disaster.

[Greg Cody]

Yeah, it's. Yes, he was sacked a bunch of times last night, but the, the, the, the, the IQ is so low now. The decision making is so unbelievably low.

[Mike Ryan]

It's fair to question what's happened to his brain.

[Greg Cody]

You know, it's like there was a play yesterday late in the game, right, where Aaron Rodgers and Grant. Aaron Rodgers, probably one of the smartest quarterbacks to ever play the game. But there was a play where Aaron Rodgers, instead of throwing the ball away as he was about to be sacked, he decided to fall down so that the clock would keep running.

[Stugotz]

Literally cost me my fantasy season. We don't have to get into that.

[Greg Cody]

Because, hey, this is a good thing to even take the sack, but have the clock running and the possession right before that when the Dolphins are trying to conserve time, which, I mean, maybe they didn't really know that they were huddling, but you would want to conserve time. And Tua, he's rolling out and instead of throwing the ball away to stop the clock, he takes a sack.

[Mike Ryan]

Let's be honest. He's done. He's done.

[Greg Cody]

This isn't like, hey, you think Tua's good over here? I think Tua stinks over here.

[Mike Ryan]

This.

[Greg Cody]

This is not the same player the previous five years.

[Stugotz]

Folks, listen up. You know my holiday pattern by now. Every single year, I tell myself, listen, Chris, you're going to be thoughtful this year. You're going to get good gifts. You're not going to be lazy. You're not just going to get gift cards. And this year, guys, I have news. I pulled it off. No panic. No sad little card. You know what I gave? I gave an aura frame. Like, why is it so hard to find a personal gift these days? It's for the people I'm closest to. My parents, my wife, my in laws, my kid. The most important people in my world. I have no idea what I'm supposed to get them as a gift gift. But one thing I know, people light up when they get photos. People love photos. So I loaded up my aura frame with all the moments I know they'll love. My daughter being adorable. Random selfies, group pictures where none of us are looking in the same direction. I kept adding them because aura lets you send unlimited photos and videos right from your phone anytime. And the best part, you can preload the thing before it even ships. So when it's open on Christmas morning, all the memories are already there. I'm telling you guys, this is a great game gift. And folks, for a limited time, save on the perfect gift by visiting auraframes.com to get 35 off or's best selling Carver mat frames named number one by Wirecutter by using promo code DLB. This deal is exclusive to listeners and frames sell out fast. So order yours now and get it in time for the holidays. Support the show by mentioning us at checkout. Terms and conditions apply.

[Mike Ryan]

Hey, folks, it's Mike Ryan. Happy holidays to you and to our tremendous partners of almost 20 years, Miller Lite. It's the 50th anniversary of Miller Lite. It makes the holidays special. It makes the football game special. It makes family gatherings and friendship time extra special. I make all those times Miller time. And during the holidays, most of my favorite memories start the exact same way. I crack open a Miller Lite, take a look around at my friends and family and think, yeah, this was the right call. Whether it's a late night hang after a holiday party or standing around a fire pit with a family, Miller Lite just fits. It's a taste you know you can depend on. And it's brewed for flavor with simple ingredients like malted barley, rich balanced toffee notes, and that iconic golden color. And at just 96 calories and 3.2 carbs per 12 ounces, it lets you enjoy the season without weighing you down. 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. Tis Miller time. Celebrate responsibly. Miller Brewing Co. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 96 calories and 3.2 carbs per 12 ounces.

[Dan LeBatard]

Alright, so apparently everyone is launching their own AI agents. Now, you get an agent. No, you get an agent. They're automating tasks, running workflows, making decisions, and occasionally absolutely wrecking your day. You know what I'm talking about. An agent deletes the wrong files, changes something you've never approved, or just goes completely off script. Like it's trying to improvise its way out of a paper bag. And suddenly you're the one stuck trying to figure out what went wrong. Unless you're using Rubrik Rubric Agent Cloud. Because here's the thing. AI is moving fast. Like, really fast. Rubrik Agent Cloud is the only platform that lets you monitor, govern and rewind AI agent actions. One platform that lets you unleash more agents faster without fear that they're going to burn the place down. You get full visibility into what your agents are doing. You can enforce guardrails, you can actually quantify the risk. And if something breaks, you just rewind it. Like an undo button, but for AI. And that rewind happens in minutes, not hours or days. And if your business relies on AI agents, you need the ability to monitor, govern and rewind their actions. Right now, Lebatard show listeners get exclusive early access to Rubrik Agent cloud. Head to rubrik.com that's R U B R I K.com rubric.com Don LeBatard all.

[Stugotz]

Right, we gotta go back out there. That was big. Wake him up.

[Chris Cote]

Oh, he doesn't Want. He doesn't want to be bothered anymore. Now it's getting tense because he didn't need that. As a result, he needs something that happens. Happens.

[Stugotz]

You can see mother effing.

[Chris Cote]

Can we bother?

[Stugotz]

Are we bothering you right now?

[Chris Cote]

Turn on your microphone. Gre.

[Zaslow]

My microphone's on st.

[Stugotz]

Paint the scene.

[Zaslow]

The paint the scene is. I got to go to work. Good night.

[Greg Cody]

This is the D Ler show with the stuff.

[Chris Cote]

So Zaslo last night on Twitter says we're watching the worst starting quarterback in the entire league. Get rid of this guy. He's completely cooked as an NFL quarterback. Here are some stats. He's 06 in temperatures below 40 degrees. He's 3 and 12 in his last 15 games against winning teams 3 and 12. And in seven of those half those games, he hasn't gotten to 20 points. And as Tony mentioned, the stats at the end of the third quarter, 6 for 10, 65 yards, one interception. And the interception was him trying to throw the ball down the field. And just a terrible throw.

[Zaslow]

It was a bad throw, bad decision.

[Chris Cote]

And a bad throw and it fluttered. It seemed like his arm strength was affected by whatever the cold was. Like the ball started waffling as if you were skeet shooting and it just hit a quail. Like the ball just didn't go anywhere and was easy to pick off. And now he leads the league in interceptions with 15.

[Zaslow]

And here's one more. All 15 of his interceptions have been against zone defenses. That's a big problem because when you see that stat, you throw his own defense at him. But.

[Greg Cody]

Well, and to add to that right there, like, I'm not some football expert, but to me that feels like that's, that's a QB who doesn't know what he's seeing, then it's right. Am I right about that?

[Chris Cote]

Well, they kept giving that stat last night. I did not know that stat before last night. And they kept, kept giving the stat last night. I will also add to this. Jalen Waddle is a number one draft pick. Like there, there have to be ways to get a number one wide receiver more than two catches in a game. Unless by design. You're so scared of your quarterback throwing the ball down the field that you're just going to throw to hn, throw to a chan, throw to hn, and then spend the fourth quarter throwing to Waller. But Waddle, the amount of investment that you made in Waddle, both financially and where it is that you selected him, if he's not a bust, he's pretty close to it for where it is that you drafted him. I know he had trade value and I know they didn't want to trade him. But in the present confines of what they're doing, Jaylen Waddle is not someone you can trust to be any kind of game breaker. First of all, he drops the ball too much. But a number one receiver. Show me all the number one receivers in the league who go two catches for 20 yards. Any. Anytime.

[Mike Ryan]

A.J. brown.

[Dan LeBatard]

A.J. brown?

[Chris Cote]

Yeah. He's had three straight hundred yard games.

[Mike Ryan]

No, it, it happens. And we're getting to the point with Waddle where I. Waddle's kind of impressed me a little bit this season. I know he does a thing where he pulls himself out of games, but it's gotten to the point with Waddle or how am I supposed to evaluate this guy fairly with this quarterback who is so dreadful?

[Zaslow]

I just hate that we're all judging to a based on this one terrible season. If in the next three games he looks better than he has all season, that counts too.

[Greg Cody]

Oh, but why would that happen?

[Mike Ryan]

No, if he looks like the best quarterback in the league for his next three starts, I'd be like, hold on a minute.

[Greg Cody]

Why would you think that's happening?

[Zaslow]

Because that's what he's playing for right now. See, Tua has become the underdog, the long shot. If you, if you like that kind of a story, all of a sudden, two is your guy because you're rooting for him. I don't disagree. I don't disagree that he's had a terrible season. It's his worst season of his NFL.

[Chris Cote]

Greg, you've got to give up on him. You think, you think this is correctable? You think the things that he's talking about where Mike's saying it's fair to question his brain, he's. Zaz is saying that you simply cannot trust him. He's the worst quarterback in the league. And you're pointing out that he's thrown 15 interceptions, more than anyone in the league, all against zone which require making.

[Zaslow]

No, no, I'm not excusing this season. I'm not.

[Chris Cote]

You're saying it's fixable. And I don't think anyone thinks that.

[Zaslow]

Well, what I'm saying is, and I wrote this in my column in the Herald, I've been one of his biggest supporters, okay? And he's losing me. I have to buy how bad he's.

[Greg Cody]

I have also. I have been one of his.

[Stugotz]

Lost all his supporters. Joe Rose was supporting them all the start of this.

[Chris Cote]

What do you Support.

[Stugotz]

Everyone is out on him. I don't know anyone still defending him at all.

[Dan LeBatard]

I saw a stat during the game that the Dolphins, the last 16, third and 10, have completed zero. Okay? They've had zero conversions of third down and 10 or more and 16 tries. That's insane.

[Mike Ryan]

Well, he.

[Zaslow]

That was a problem in the first half. That's why they're down 28 to 3 or whatever the score was, because they couldn't make a third down. And that's on Tua, right? He had a terrible game and the fourth quarter inflated his stats and his rating and made it seem statistically like he wasn't the problem. He was the problem.

[Chris Cote]

I know that this is somewhat redundant that we've done this, but I will tell you the last time I saw something in my. My own opinion, making that feels like what you're presently doing with TUA and have been doing it all season when Wanstead. The first couple of seasons was 11 and 5 and 10 and 6. I'm like, you can't fire that. You can't fire 11 and 5 and 10 and 6. You can't. Everybody was howling about it then 4 and 12. They don't have a quarterback. And I'm too late. I didn't have any vision whatsoever. You sitting here holding on to Tua, and frankly, the Dolphins sitting here holding on to Tua gets in the way of anything in the way of progress. If you think this is fixable, this is not fixable. Like, he. He cannot do anything other than just.

[Stugotz]

Stop right there other than throw the.

[Chris Cote]

Ball sideways and behind the line of scrimmage.

[Greg Cody]

It's no mobility, no arm, no situational bad problem.

[Zaslow]

The mobility.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yes, it is.

[Stugotz]

All of it.

[Dan LeBatard]

No vision.

[Zaslow]

No, I'm. Look, I'm not excusing. What are you doing? The season he's had, I'm saying to a next season versus what is the alternative? Zach Wilson? No, thanks. No, I don't think so.

[Greg Cody]

The alternatives. Moving on. That's the.

[Mike Ryan]

Yeah, it's just closing the book there. It's not a great quarterback draft class, but there are going to be some quarterbacks available, right? Make a move.

[Greg Cody]

And by the way. And by the way, please laugh more on the sideline with the camera on. You down 28 to nine. Please, please, chuckle it up. You know what? The only thing missing when he was laughing on the sideline there. Down 28 to 9. Give him a microphone so he could yell to everyone. Show me the money. Laugh some more.

[Stugotz]

Are we sure he's not like sobbing?

[Greg Cody]

I watched the Play. Somebody must have said something hysterical to him. Laugh it up to a.

[Dan LeBatard]

You can be screaming in pain, maybe like giving a nice little war cry for the teams.

[Chris Cote]

As Greg Cody seems to be making the argument that this is fixable, that this is redeemable, that this is a blip, that it's a bad season, that it's an aberration.

[Zaslow]

Yeah. I would not write him off at this moment. Okay. But I would also say he has a lot of proving to do in his sixth year, which is terrible. I remember when Ryan Tannehill was in his seventh season and the narrative around him was, is he good enough? Is he the guy? And you don't want to be saying that in the sixth or seventh season. And we're doing it again with tua.

[Chris Cote]

Actually, you're the only one doing it. Everyone's out on him. Tannehill, actually, we were still having the conversation six and seven.

[Greg Cody]

Right. It was actually worse with Tannehill.

[Chris Cote]

We were still wondering where's he bring him over seasons in. This is crazy to think about the idea that you're talking about the entirety of the 2000s so far. We're sitting here arguing about, well, maybe it's A.J. feely. We're arguing for 25 years about do the Dolphins have a quarterback? And the answer, except for one season, is no.

[Mike Ryan]

I want to play devil's advocate for Greg. The argument for keeping TUA is working with him, seeing if he can recapture some of that form because it is pretty much a quarterback wasteland in terms of who's available. You have Daniel Jones coming off an Achilles injury is the best name. You have Sam Howell, who's played some starting quarterback in the league in terms of trade targets. Kyler Murray is. Is your best option over there. It's not.

[Dan LeBatard]

Jacoby Brissette came off the couch, Mike. And. And they.

[Mike Ryan]

Jacoby Brissette, if he were available, let's go.

[Greg Cody]

He was on the team so much better than to.

[Zaslow]

He was on the team on.

[Stugotz]

That guy literally done that.

[Mike Ryan]

Yeah.

[Greg Cody]

He wasn't better than to us.

[Mike Ryan]

No, no, no, no. He wasn't better than that to us.

[Greg Cody]

Right.

[Mike Ryan]

He's certainly better than this.

[Greg Cody]

Right.

[Chris Cote]

The. The thing that is also concerning to me, because you guys have heard me for practically 25 years say I don't understand how it is that the Dolphins and keep drafting offensive linemen and can never block anybody. He did get sacked four times last night, but that offensive line hasn't been something I've been complaining about all year in terms of him much better.

[Stugotz]

But Paul's good.

[Chris Cote]

He's holding the ball though. He's. He's holding the ball, Greg. And, and it's not because they. At some point, at some point in the last couple of years, I would have blamed the offensive line for some of what was happening to him. I can't do that this year.

[Zaslow]

Yeah, yeah. No, the, and the defense, which had been much better lately, had a, they.

[Greg Cody]

Were good last night.

[Zaslow]

They had a horrific second half though.

[Greg Cody]

They were always on the field.

[Zaslow]

They couldn't, they missed more tackles last night than I've seen them miss more tackles.

[Chris Cote]

But here's the thing that we're doing today and this season that we hadn't done until now. If I'm not blaming the offensive line and he's got the support of a running game because he does, like Achan rushes the ball, he's got running game support, then your problem is the quarterback. The problem on your offense is your highest paid player.

[Zaslow]

Right?

[Chris Cote]

I mean that's, that's an architectural flaw that can't be overcome.

[Zaslow]

No, it has been this season. I mean, Pittsburgh was scheming to take away HN and force the game into Tua's hands and rightly so because Tua didn't do anything with it. He's had a terrible season. Is this the end of his Dolphins career? Probably. But for me, I think he's got three more games and next season and then that's it.

[Dan LeBatard]

Hey guys, Tony here. Tonight at 8:30 Eastern it's the Emirates NBA Cup Championship game on prime. This year's quest for the cup has delivered incredible moments and jaw dropping highlights and they've all been building towards this. The final two teams. The Emirates NBA cup championship live from Las Vegas Tuesday night at 8:30 Eastern on Prime. And if you're not a prime member, that's not a problem. Sign up today for a 30 day free trial to get started. The Emirates NBA cup championship game tonight at 8:30 Eastern only on Prime. Restrictions apply. See Amazon.com amazonprime for details.

[Mike Ryan]

Get ready for Jake versus Joshua Judgment Day. A colossal global showdown shaking the world of boxing. Jake El Gallo De Dorado Paul, the sport's biggest disruptor, steps into the ring against Britain's own Anthony AJ Joshua, the two time unified heavyweight world champion and Olympic gold medalist. This eight round heavyweight mega fight pits Paul swagger and superstardom against Joshua's power, precision and legacy. It's youth versus experience, fame versus force. The biggest test of Jake Paul's career in a battle that could redefine modern boxing. Watch Jake Paul versus Anthony Joshua. Friday, December 19th at 8pm Eastern, 5pm Pacific. Live on Netflix.

[Dan LeBatard]

Thursday Night Football's on, and it's only on Prime Video. This week, the NFC west grabs the spotlight as the Los Angeles Rams visit the Seattle Seahawks. What a game. Coverage begins at 7pm Eastern with football's best party, TNF. Tonight, it's the Rams and Seahawks Thursday at 7pm Eastern. And don't miss the Broncos and Chiefs on Christmas night night. Only on Prime Video. Another massive game. Not a Prime member. Not a problem. Simply sign up for a 30 day free trial. Restrictions apply. See Amazon.com Amazon prime for details.

[Chris Cote]

Don LeBatard, quiet man. Yes.

[Zaslow]

You know, I'm a married man. I don't cheat on my wife. Despite that gratuitous line in back in my stugats, I wish you were here. My wife, I really miss her. No, I don't. That's the thing about being married, you know, you're not allowed to say, I don't miss my wife. I've been gone two days. I haven't been gone long enough to miss my wife. I'm sorry. I call her. I'm on with her. 30 seconds. You know, what am I? Hello?

[Dan LeBatard]

All right.

[Zaslow]

All right, we'll see ya. All right. And then, you know, I'm gonna see her in two days. How's jumping, Charlie? Good.

[Greg Cody]

This is the Dan lebatar show with the Stugats. Considering what the coach did with Tua when he got here, wouldn't you be slightly interested to see what the coach can do with another quarterback back?

[Zaslow]

I would, sure. Yeah. I mean, of course. Yeah, of course. But Tua, you know, everybody's going to groan. Tua did make a Pro Bowl. Like, we have seen good Tua. Okay? We haven't seen six years of abject failure. We have seen Tua when he's pretty good, and I'm just not ready to write him off. Now, if you read the column I wrote, you're not going to. You're not going to get the idea that I'm forgiving his good season. And I think all is well. It was probably the most critical column I've written about Tua because I've been. And you too, I think. I've been to his biggest supporter and he's losing me. Like, I get the narrative that we got to give up on this guy. Everybody calling him a bum, the worst quarterback in the league. It isn't true, but maybe this season it is.

[Chris Cote]

All right, let me again, though, do what it is that I did Over a half yard. That I can do over the next 10 years. Okay. When Tua's last nine games, and many of them have been wins like they, they were winning in a way that made Rex Ryan go on television yesterday and say, hey, nerd boy, you turned it around. Congratulations. Hats off to you, term of endearment. Now, not. Over the last nine games, Tua is 10 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Now, the 11 interceptions are problematic enough, but I would also say when Josh Allen is putting up four touchdowns a game, nine games with 10 touchdowns is also the same kind of problematic. It's not even like you're getting the turnovers and the plays. You're getting an equal number of turnovers to touchdowns, which makes you Jay Fiedler. That's, that's what that makes you if you're going to be in the modern. And it's not even, it's not even Jay. It's not even Jay Fiedler.

[Dan LeBatard]

He's not as good as Jay Fiedler.

[Chris Cote]

It's not even Jay Fiedler. During an age that was different. It's during this. It's during this age, actually, during Jay Fiedler's age, you could be a quarterback who had as many touchdowns as interceptions. Now, nobody turns the ball over, but when you're playing against Drake May and Josh Allen in your division and that's what you're going up against it with, like, we, we have to, we have to acknowledge that everything that happened with, with TUA leading the league in passing, Tyreek Hill was that. That's the reason that all of that happened. Like the. You take Tyreek Hill out and you've got a totally pedestrian quarterback. Yak.

[Dan LeBatard]

It was also. It was also the system that kept everything decisive, right? That's when Tua was at his best, decisive. One step throw. One step throw. Tyreek. Yak.

[Greg Cody]

Waddle.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yak. Hn Yak. Now you take Tyreek out. Waddle can't do anything. Waller has been decent when he's been on the field, but you're going to give the ball to HN 40 times a game, you're going to kill him.

[Zaslow]

Of course you missed Tyreek and so did Patrick Mahomes, by the way, and still does. But look, if you're judging Tua solely by this season, I have no rebuttal because he's been awful. He's been terrible this season. There's no excuse for it. I'm not equivocating it. I think he's better than he's shown this season. I think he's young enough not to give up on his future. He's got a ton to prove. I'm giving him three games he's got next season because they don't have a great alternative to him next season beyond the financial aspect. And so that's the only place I differ. Everybody else is saying he stinks. He's the worst. No, he's not. Give him one more season.

[Greg Cody]

I think what's fooling you is what we're seeing right now with tua with a 27 year old quarterback is normally what we wind up seeing with the 37 year old quarterback. Because if you were 37, you wouldn't be saying he's just having a bad year. Maybe he'll bounce back and be like, no, this quarter, like, this is the end. He's cooked. And I think that's the confusing part for you because he's only 27. But I believe that is the case, that his career is ending now after just six years instead of being the league for like 12 years.

[Zaslow]

Okay, you may be right, but I'm not confused about anything. I know exactly how old.

[Stugotz]

Talking to the mic.

[Zaslow]

I know exactly how old he is.

[Greg Cody]

But we've never seen this before. A quarterback at 27 looking like he's 37 is what I'm trying to say.

[Zaslow]

You've seen plenty of quarterbacks have bad seasons in their prime. It happens. It happens. The problem with Tua is that he doesn't have another part of his game to make up for it. Right? No, I totally agree with that. And part of that is you're worried about, oh my God, I hope Tua doesn't get another concussion because that'll retire him. Well, what he's doing is playing a game to avoid concussions.

[Greg Cody]

Oh, he looks scared out there.

[Zaslow]

Well, and that's a real problem, man, when he's running and has to pick up two yards for a first down, what are the odds against?

[Chris Cote]

And the fields open in front of him and you see that he looks like he's running in molasses. What do you make of this Jalen Ramsey sound? Jalen Ramsey traded to the Steelers on. On the field. This is. Jalen Ramsey does. He's talking about Tua right.

[Stugotz]

After a big play, looking at the camera about.

[Greg Cody]

Like going off the field. He's weak as.

[Stugotz]

Just mean. I'm as. I'm out. I'm as out on two as anybody. I didn't like that.

[Chris Cote]

You'Re the one playing it.

[Mike Ryan]

I want to turn your attention to examples like Carson wentz and Robert Griffin III quarterbacks that had it cooking for a little bit. Both an MVP consideration and then injury changed their careers. Carson Wentz has fought like hell to stay in the league. Robert Griffin III pushed out of the league. Injuries caused that. Injuries might be causing this one. It's just not one that you can see. He's not this guy that leaned on his athleticism like RG3 or. It's not an elbow injury the way that it was with Carson Wentz. It's between the ears.

[Chris Cote]

He's an avatar for our lack of understanding of brain chemistry and brain injuries in that sport. Because I don't know how to discuss responsibly that his brain is scrambled. But if the performance. If you had to hypothetically come up with a performance that would look like what the hell happened? It would look a lot numerically and in play. Greg, like what it is that we're watching where you can play zone defense against him. Zone doesn't work against anybody in that league who's any good at quarterback.

[Mike Ryan]

I mean, he has varying levels, but it's not. Look, he's faced zone in his career and hadn't, hadn't had these types of issues.

[Chris Cote]

Fifteen interceptions in today's league. Like whatever it is you guys think of inflation in the economy, him having more interceptions than Geno Smith. Look, give me the stat of the day for a second. Give me the stat of the day music so I can tell you what it is that Kenny Pickett was doing on Sunday against the Eagles. This is what you want. Kenny Pickett is the start of the day. Start of the day. Start of the day. It is the start of the day. Start of the day. Start of the day. It is the start of the day. Start of the day. Start of the day. It is the start of the day.

[Stugotz]

Stat of the day is presented by Amazon Prime Video. Thursday Night Football is on this week Los Angeles Rams take on the Seattle Seahawks. Coverage begins Thursday at 7pm Eastern only on Prime Video.

[Chris Cote]

That's a good one.

[Zaslow]

Speaking of the Seahawks, can I give.

[Chris Cote]

The stat of the day?

[Zaslow]

Yeah, go ahead.

[Chris Cote]

We got a sponsored segment here with the introduction and all of that stuff. Yeah, go ahead. Tell us what you wanted to about the Seahawks. Go ahead.

[Zaslow]

Well, I was going to just mention as an aside that Sam Darnold has more turnovers this season than tua. The reason you never hear about it is that Sam Darnold is surrounded by a great team and so his faults are not exposed under a microscope like tua's are. That's all.

[Chris Cote]

And also Seattle is great and so is their office.

[Zaslow]

That's what I just said. Thank you.

[Chris Cote]

I mean but he's, I just said.

[Zaslow]

He'S surrounded by a better team.

[Mike Ryan]

You get something. You get some of the pluses with Sam Darnold. What's the stat?

[Chris Cote]

The stat is that The Raiders had 75 yards of total offense against the Eagles. That is the lowest number the Eagles have ever held an opponent to. It's the second lowest total the Raiders have ever had in a game. The 75 yards. Nine teams have had a player do that on a single play this season. On a single play. The Raiders going picket to lock it. Which I like poetically picket to lock it. They. They didn't do anything. The fact that Geno Smith has fewer turnovers than Tua when that that team offensively has not only been a disaster, it's been a disaster. That makes me wonder what the American media was doing thinking Tom Brady was Che cheating by wearing a headset to help the Raiders offense. Like we all yelled about that he wasn't helping isn't helping at all. Neither was Chip Kelly and what it is that Tua has done in terms of turnovers in an offense design. By the way, Greg, this is the, this is the thing about the 15 turnovers that's most alarming. It's all designed so that he doesn't turn the ball over. Like he's. The only time he's turning it over is when he dares to go down the field. It's not like any of these screen passes are ending up in the turnovers like they're trying to hide their quarterback. You can't do that in the NFL.

[Zaslow]

I, I like I say, I have no excuse for the season he's having.

[Greg Cody]

Tua threw the ball away on the two point conversion attempt.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah. Like he air mailed it.

[Greg Cody]

Why would you throw it away?

[Zaslow]

Conversion.

[Mike Ryan]

I can return that.

[Stugotz]

That's too did just have a pick two.

[Greg Cody]

That never happens.

[Mike Ryan]

I do think it's curious and I know they have access to grind and I know they're outspoken. Hell, one of them retired after playing the Dolphins. But Xavian Howard and Jalen Ramsey, those are guys I went up against Tua in practice often and they don't seem to have the greatest things to say about them. I mean what Xavian Howard said, you take away the primary read, he's done.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah.

[Mike Ryan]

Xavian Howard the same.

[Greg Cody]

I think it's something about Tua panicking, right?

[Zaslow]

Yeah.

[Mike Ryan]

The same Xavian Howard that decided I can't play anymore. He had a pretty good game against the Dolphins week one because he knew he was going up against Tua. It is just curious that they're former teammates.

[Greg Cody]

I hate watching him. I do. I hate it. I hate watching.

[Zaslow]

Yeah, everybody does this season.

[Chris Cote]

You're pretty alone here.

[Zaslow]

I know.

[Chris Cote]

And you've been alone all season on it. You're like Mr. Lonely.

[Stugotz]

I feel like he's sitting on the fence.

[Chris Cote]

Me, really? Fence sitter. You just wanted to play that sound. That is absolutely not fence.

[Stugotz]

And he's like, I am. I. I see why everyone's criticizing him, but I'm not.

[Greg Cody]

Well, it's like this.

[Stugotz]

What do you like?

[Dan LeBatard]

You're.

[Zaslow]

You're.

[Stugotz]

I'll do it again.

[Mike Ryan]

Fence sitter.

[Chris Cote]

Have an opinion.

[Zaslow]

Have an opinion. The easiest thing in the world is to. In the middle of the season, he's having to say, Tua stinks. He's the worst quarterback in the league. Let's get rid of him.

[Chris Cote]

You're zagging, he's spaz, he's zazzing.

[Zaslow]

I mean, that's the easy opinion is to say Tua sucks.

[Stugotz]

It's also easy to talk into the mic.

[Dan LeBatard]

But we don't all do it closer.

[Zaslow]

That's a fair point. Closer to a pragmatic view is that at age 27, I'm not willing to give up on this guy entirely, particularly when I look at their economic situation and who's better next season. Give him three more games. Give him next season and then make a move. And the Dolphins have shown, by the way, in that four game win streak, in five out of six, they've shown that when you have Achan running and a better defense, you can win games.

[Chris Cote]

No, they just play bad teams. They just played bad teams.

[Greg Cody]

They were really bad.

[Chris Cote]

I gave you the stats, Greg. The last 15 times they played good teams, teams with a winning record. They've lost 12 of them. He's 06 in 40 degree temperatures. What do you think you're going to get on the road in December when you have to go on the road? You're going to get those flutter balls that he was throwing last night whenever he dared to go down the field. It's weird to me that I have just felt over the course of this hour and this season, Chris, what your mom feels like married to your dad. He's just stubborn about. He's just stubborn.

[Zaslow]

I am stubborn. I'll give you that.

[Chris Cote]

But that's all you're doing. You're just sitting here saying, well, I've still got a chance to be right. Let's just give him 20 more games.

[Stugotz]

And I acknowledge what everyone sees. And I see it too.

[Greg Cody]

But I know he's terrible. But maybe he'll stop being terrible.

[Zaslow]

I know he's in the middle of the worst season of his career. Whether we're writing him off because of that, that is where we all differ. I'm not writing them off. Guys. 27. Come on, guys.

[Dan LeBatard]

I'm very excited to announce I've been moving. I've been moving stuff out of the house and trying to find stuff and whatever. Look what I found. The things to ponder file. Zaz, you know about this? No, buddy, it's things that you want to ponder. You put it in the file, you take it out, you ponder them.

[Chris Cote]

So he's moving, he's moving homes and you know, you locate a bunch of things that you haven't seen in a while. While I think that's pandemic era, I think that's close to it. That file is four years old. Where did you find it? Where was it?

[Dan LeBatard]

It was underneath like a book somewhere, like in an attic. But the question, the question du jour, Hiding things. This was. This was three years ago. Baker. 20 million or two at 55 million. That's something that we were asking a couple of years ago. Putting that out there.

[Stugotz]

I'm not positive you didn't write that last night, but go ahead.

[Zaslow]

Whoa.

[Dan LeBatard]

Why would I do that?

[Chris Cote]

You're accusing him of being counterfeit.

[Stugotz]

That takes too perfect. A little too perfect for me.

[Mike Ryan]

How about this?

[Dan LeBatard]

How about will Aaron Rodgers finish top three in MVP voting? Is that carbon? Is that carbon dated enough for you?

[Stugotz]

With what team?

[Dan LeBatard]

It doesn't matter.

[Chris Cote]

Who cares?

[Zaslow]

He would have been if the voting was last night.

[Dan LeBatard]

How about this one to carbon dated. Will Bill Belichick ever coach again?

[Zaslow]

Yes.

[Chris Cote]

So these are just four. These are four year old old things that you found in a file under a book. I don't believe you have either a book or an attic in your house. So I don't believe you.

[Dan LeBatard]

Not an attic. It was like a top of closet. My bad. How about this? China buying us farmland thanks to Ponder. I don't know what happened there. Put that there.

[Chris Cote]

Bill Gates.

[Dan LeBatard]

How did that get there?

[Mike Ryan]

This does seem authentic.

[Chris Cote]

It does seem like. That's a dated. Can you imagine if they had Baker Mayfield right now? I imagine it would feel a little bit different. Although they would still be behind Josh Allen and Drake May in their division.

[Dan LeBatard]

Last one, Russell Wilson at 2 million or 2 at 55 million.

[Stugotz]

That one you actually got wrong.

[Chris Cote]

Russell Wilson will be available if you guys want him next year.

[Stugotz]

Jeremy has. Jeremy has 11 quarterbacks that will be free agents next year that he wants more.

[Chris Cote]

All right, name them with fanfare. Let's go. Top 11. Number 11.

[Zaslow]

Well, I don't know.

[Dan LeBatard]

All right, Sam Howell. Number 10, Tommy DeVito.

[Chris Cote]

Oh, God.

[Mike Ryan]

Number 9, Gardner Minshew.

[Dan LeBatard]

Number 8, Carson Wentz.

[Chris Cote]

Number 7, Trey Lance. Oh, God.

[Mike Ryan]

Number 6, Case Keenum.

[Chris Cote]

Wolf.

[Greg Cody]

Number 5, Mitch Trubisky.

[Dan LeBatard]

Number 4, Jimmy Garoppolo.

[Stugotz]

Number 3, Tyrod Taylor. Taylor.

[Dan LeBatard]

Number 2, Marcus Mariota.

[Chris Cote]

Number 1, Russell Wilson. Wow.

[Stugotz]

This kind of proves our point. Yeah, there's probably, like, two or three guys there you legitimately want more than.

[Dan LeBatard]

You wouldn't rather have Marcus Mariota. You wouldn't rather have Joe Flacco?

[Zaslow]

No.

[Dan LeBatard]

You wouldn't rather have Jimmy Garoppolo?

[Stugotz]

Jimmy G. You wouldn't rather have Mitch Trubisky? No, I absolutely would.

[Greg Cody]

Then another year of this.

[Dan LeBatard]

I got one more thing in the Ponder files as I want you to ponder this one long and hard. You ready?

[Greg Cody]

Don't waste my time.

[Chris Cote]

That is a Viking.

[Dan LeBatard]

Christian Ponder.

[Chris Cote]

Oh, that is a Ponder.

[Stugotz]

Rather have him, too.

[Dan LeBatard]

Christian Ponder in the Ponder file.