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Dan Le Batard
You're listening to giraffkings Network.
Stugotz
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Greg Cody
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Billy Corben
This is the Dan Levatar show with the Stugats podcast.
Mike Ryan
It's a little bit crazy in here today. There are some emotions and things happening that I just saw it happen. Jason Kelce hasn't played in the last 24 hours and I just saw his value drop in the other room. Everybody was yelling at each other. They took away his late night show and started giving his late night show to other centers around the league.
Chris Cote
Jurgens Tonight I'm in on that late night Jergens which Sounds a lot like my high school experience, but either way, we're here.
Greg Cody
Does he have a brother that could date a celebrity?
Jessica
Oh, man.
Mike Ryan
You guys saw yesterday's Philadelphia Eagles game.
Jessica
Yeah.
Mike Ryan
Said to yourself, well, they don't need Jason Kelsey. You guys told me that was an important center. None of us know how to measure that.
Jessica
I mean, he just has a podcast.
Chris Cote
It could be entirely possible that this is a Brett Favre to Aaron Rodgers to Jordan Love situation, where the Eagles just have generational center after generational center, but a couple months removed from him stepping down and getting all sorts of media opportunities that we've never seen a center in the NFL ever get. And they're much better at running the ball. They had seven rushing touchdowns. He goes in there hurt, and they still dominate the line of scrimmage. Jurgens, tonight.
Mike Ryan
Can you guys tell me who the second most famous center is ever?
Jessica
Mike Webster.
Mike Ryan
I mean, you got in there confidently, but you took somebody from the 1970s that a whole lot of people. Listen, it's been a while here haven't heard of.
Chris Cote
I genuinely can't without Googling. I have to Google for assistance on finding out famous centers.
Mike Ryan
I do think that three years from now, given just the general difficulties of late night, a group of executives are going to get together with the Jason Kelsey decision to give a late night show and be like, what were we doing back then? Like, we got carried away.
Jessica
Right. With the whole caught up in the moment.
Chris Cote
Is he like Hawk Tua for media sports people?
Dan Le Batard
I feel like it's Jeff Saturday, but if his last name wasn't Saturday, would he be as famous?
Jessica
That's a good one.
Mike Ryan
Put that on the poll at LeBatard show. Would Jeff Saturday be as famous if he wasn't named Saturday? And put the second thing up there as well. Is Jeff Saturday the second most famous center ever?
Greg Cody
I've always thought about that. I've always thought that about Dwight Lauderdale in this market, like just gets a boost up having that last name.
Jessica
Yeah.
Mike Ryan
Is that something you've thought of a lot? Is it Dwight Lauderdale, an anchor from 15 years ago?
Jessica
I have to be honest, I have thought the same thing.
Billy Corben
It's true.
Mike Ryan
It's true.
Jessica
I thought it was broadcasting in one of the major cities is Fort Lauderdale and he's named Dwight Lauderdale.
Greg Cody
Was he going to do that wherever market he ended up in?
Mike Ryan
Look, I'm on to him and Al Sunshine.
Dan Le Batard
Nick Mangold's been in a lot of commercials.
Jessica
Yes.
Mike Ryan
A lot of commerc. That's a good one.
Chris Cote
I'd Be on the Rushmore.
Mike Ryan
Yeah, Rushmore. Literally. Rushmore. You got four that you need to put up there and you've only given me three so far.
Dan Le Batard
A Pouncey Webster was a great answer.
Chris Cote
I thought Barrett Robbins.
Jessica
I mean, Webster is up there, right? It might be Barrett.
Chris Cote
Pounces are good.
Greg Cody
The Pouncees had their day.
Mike Ryan
I think Jessica skews Pittsburgh here, though, because I don't think the majority of the audience knows who we're talking about when we say Mike Webster.
Chris Cote
Olin Kreutz.
Mike Ryan
Oh, anybody who would fight your teammates. Anyone whose teammates are all scared of him. Like Olin Kreutz. You guys were watching Eagles commanders yesterday, marveling at the fact that it was just a fight. Right. That they just decided at some point to start punching each other, punching the ball out, but it's okay if it doesn't hit the ball and just hits the dude's face.
Chris Cote
Is that what Marcus Lattimore does now?
Jessica
That's all he does.
Chris Cote
Dude's a problem. He's just always fighting.
Mike Ryan
I mean, that position's gotta suck to age at, especially if you were as good as he was. Like, that was a person. Mike Evans beat him up the last time they faced each other. But that was a person who gave Mike Evans problems, was it not?
Chris Cote
Yeah. I mean, Lattimore was at Ohio State and certainly in New Orleans. He was incredible. And now he's moved on and he's gotten kind of like bigger. And I don't know if he's just overcompensated. He was always physical, but now he's just really overcompensating because his body can't quite do the same things by just trying to be really powerful and mixing it up with big strong guys. And like there was that, that stretch where there's maybe like 35 seconds of game time where Philadelphia scored the 14 points when it was a one score game. And Lattimore is just like totally out of the game in his own head. He's playing his own game with A.J. brown.
Mike Ryan
Yeah. Just fighting him.
Chris Cote
He just like totally short circuited in that. And he was brought in to be a soothing veteran, calming presence there for that secondary. And the guy's just having like a crisis of confidence within his own body. He's just overcompensating by just going crazy.
Jessica
I think when you're talking all time centers, you have to include Bulldog Turner.
Billy Corben
Yeah.
Jessica
All decade team. I mean, great name, Bulldog.
Mike Ryan
I mean, that's all you're doing there with both him and Saturday, you're taking the first the nickname and the and.
Billy Corben
The last name player looks like he led the NFL in interceptions in 1942 as well.
Jessica
Wow.
Mike Ryan
Really?
Jessica
Same classic bulldog.
Mike Ryan
That is impressive that the center the league in interceptions. That'd probably be hard to do today.
Chris Cote
I know this is a weird market to do this and I've noticed from my group chats that a lot of people don't feel bad for the Buffalo Bills because they're Dolphins fans. But I woke up like I haven't hurt for a team that I haven't had a connection to like this in quite some time because Josh Allen and this Bills team gets to be historic losers. Sadly for that franchise, it's not the most known historic loser. But it's not like they choke in these games. It's not like you can pick apart his performance. He plays so well every time he goes up against Patrick Mahomes and they.
Mike Ryan
Still come up short stance stugats. Dalton Kincaid.
Jessica
Yeah.
Mike Ryan
Stole from Josh Allen what would have been a Buffalo Bills memory for all time. No doubt on a catch you've got to make because the play that Josh Allen made running straight backward 12 yards back is the play that needed to be made to beat Patrick Mahomes. And he made it. Josh Allen made it and Dalton Kincaid did not.
Chris Cote
We didn't and we didn't obsess over this over the watch long because there's so many things going on and we're not here in the feed and I'm not monitoring social to know like what a big deal it was he got that first down.
Mike Ryan
Well, wait a minute. You know what? They got the first down before that. The play before that they got Kincaid I think was the one who got the first down. Both spots were bad. And this is where I say this is really stupid the way that we're doing this that we decide what Josh Allen is for all time over game of inches. Just two, two referees running at each other and they're running in different places. They're spotting the ball differently.
Greg Cody
There's nothing more annoying than that. You see them running and they're just like wait, they're a yard apart. How does that happen?
Chris Cote
I mean the angle from behind him was it made it seem obvious when he just needed to get to the pronounced line over there. But I think what stings the most and you can see Josh Allen wearing it in his post game is it's not just a Super bowl appearance for that market. It's not in his legacy. It's not even a one potential championship. Mahomes Is literally standing in his way. From being Patrick Mahomes.
Jessica
Yes. From being an all time great.
Chris Cote
Josh Allen would be Patrick Mahomes were not for Patrick Mahomes constantly throwing the door in his face.
Jessica
Right. And Spags.
Mike Ryan
I mean, go ahead and look at the stats on last night's game. Josh Allen was better. It doesn't mean anything. It won't be remembered that way.
Jessica
To Mike's point, teams with four plus touchdowns and zero turnovers are 21 and two in the playoffs since 2000. Since 2020. Excuse me, the two losses. The bills at chiefs 2024 AFC championship bills at chiefs 2001 divisional round. He is keeping. Mike is right. Patrick Mahomes is keeping Josh Allen from being Patrick Mahomes.
Mike Ryan
It's not just that though. It's Patrick Mahomes needing to be on a team that has no precedent in the sport. If they win another game like that, that, that the last three years of Chiefs football. It's not just that Mahomes is standing in his way. It's something that will look like an empire when we look back at it 30 years from now and think about.
Chris Cote
The last two eliminations in the postseason. Josh Allen made the play. Kincaid can't make the play. Diggs can't make the play for him. He makes the throws in the moment. And to even come up with that throw after what I can only describe as a satanic disguised pass rush from Spags.
Billy Corben
It was no one like him.
Jessica
It was evil.
Chris Cote
Yeah, that was pure evil what we saw. And Josh Allen still found a way to get the ball off and find a receiver.
Billy Corben
But like, if we're being honest, he just threw it up there like hoping that it found someone.
Greg Cody
Kincaid was open. He saw Kincaid.
Jessica
No, but he just threw it up.
Billy Corben
Just threw it up there hoping that the play would happen.
Jessica
Now you would say, hey, Josh Allen has made so many ridiculous plays for us over the years. Kincaid needs to catch that ball. It was right in his hand.
Billy Corben
He did need to catch that ball. But Josh was. Was heaving it downfield hoping something would happen. He was running for his life. Come on. That was crazy.
Mike Ryan
Agreed.
Billy Corben
What's he supposed to do?
Mike Ryan
Same way though that Eli Manning just threw it up to Tyree and Tyree made the play and it's remembered for all time.
Billy Corben
I don't. I don't think that'd be a catch now.
Mike Ryan
Get overturned.
Billy Corben
If we were to relitigate that play. I don't think that would be.
Mike Ryan
It touched the floor.
Billy Corben
Yeah, I don't think that would be viewed As a catch now, huh?
Mike Ryan
Let me ask you guys something because Mike mentioned how as he went home, his feeling for the Bills got worse. Are any of you confused by the sheer lack of happiness for the Chiefs? Like the. The nationwide lack of happy that is Chiefs adjacent where nobody seemed to be rooting?
Billy Corben
No, it's for that.
Mike Ryan
As that result.
Billy Corben
Why is that? Why does no one want to see this happen?
Jessica
I mean, no.
Billy Corben
Be part of history. I don't get it.
Jessica
I mean, you kind of lovable. You kind of get tired of the same team doing it again and again and again, right? I don't know.
Billy Corben
This is a different team. Like, are they villains? They wanted to be villains last year. They tried to make themselves villains. I don't view them as villains.
Jessica
The positive for them is they're playing Philadelphia.
Billy Corben
I was going to say, do we want to see people from Phil be like, get out of here.
Chris Cote
I don't view them as villains either. I think maybe some of that stuff starts to play because Buffalo just seems pure. You can root for that type of underdog from that market that. That scrappy team and their playing style. So when you juxtapose them from the other team that is just so likable, maybe they become unlikable. But I'm not there yet. I wanted to see them lose. Someone made the point yesterday that we just went from like a dynasty to another dynasty with no break in the middle. The last time that we saw an AFC championship without the Patriots or the Chiefs was 2017.
Mike Ryan
Like, I wonder where the line is, though, on where it is that people get tired of the greedy, gluttonous empire.
Dan Le Batard
Super Bowls in a row, I think where. I think we all have Chiefs fatigue right now. Unless you're a Chiefs fan, you're like, man, I've already seen this matchup. I've already seen this head coach. I've already seen this quarterback, already seen this tight end. We're still doing this, huh?
Jessica
The matchup was a classic, though. I mean, the first matchup, it was a great game.
Dan Le Batard
I understand the Chiefs.
Jessica
I know. I understand people not wanting to see the same matchup twice in three years, but it was a great game.
Mike Ryan
At some point with the Patriots, it turned from a cute story to that's enough. It never did happen to Michael Jordan, but he took a break in between. Michael Jordan was not someone the nation tended to be rooting against, no matter how many underdogs made an appearance, nor did people tire of him.
Jessica
We wanted more.
Billy Corben
Think the Patriots, like, even turned it again towards the end like, at the end, you're like, I kind of want to see Brady win again and see if he could do this, like, at the end of his career, see if he could do this one last time. And then he goes and he wins one in Tampa, too. But, like, I think that the Patriots were so long that you kind of rooted for them and then you hated them. And then at the end, you're like, can they keep doing this? Like, I kind of want to see how much they can do this.
Mike Ryan
The thing, though, with Mahomes, that is happening because this is the most limited offense he's had. That's the highest scoring game they've had this season. They needed all of it. The thing that's happening with Mahomes is it's happening so much for him so early that I don't see people rallying around his superstardom in a way that supports. I'm witnessing historic greatness the way that you would during Michael Jordan's day, because somebody's not supposed to get there every year. Even seven time super bowl champion Tom Brady wasn't getting there every year. And so, you know, there were stops along the way where you're not. You're not one win away from three in a row. And does Jessica have this right when she says it's two, it's two. And when you're going for the third, that we're all like, it can't just be like that. But. But again, we were okay with it before social media. We were okay with it with Michael Jordan a million years ago.
Dan Le Batard
I think the average fan doesn't root for historical greatness. The average fan roots for their team. And if you're a fan of almost any team in the NFL, Patrick Mahomes has beaten you in the last decade and you're sick of it. You want him to lose. That's how it. It's how it ended up with the Patriots. At first I was like, this is annoying. This is annoying. And then the Steelers kept losing to them in the playoffs, and I was like, all right, someone needs to stop this, right?
Jessica
Tom Brady did.
Billy Corben
I mean, but like, do you want to give Nick Sirianni all of that power? Really?
Jessica
Yes.
Billy Corben
You want to see Nick Sirianni on a power trip holding the Lombardi with a ring? Like, that's. That's not the person that you want to see put an end to this, right?
Chris Cote
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Stugotz
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Mike Ryan
Don Libertard.
Jessica
I want to talk about a team that I actually want to see come playoff time. I want to see the Chiefs.
Mike Ryan
Oh, stugats.
Jessica
I want Patrick Mahomes strolling into my stadium with max confidence. I want Travis Kelce. I want Taylor Swift. I want the team that lost to Jordan Love. I want the team that lost to Aiden O'Connell. I want the team that trailed 17 to nothing to Jake Browning. That is the team that I would like to face in the playoffs. That's the team indeed I that I would want to face in the playoffs. Because that team is not very good.
Billy Corben
This is the Dan Levitar show with these two guards.
Mike Ryan
We have a ton of emotion here in the room today. And stugats. Last night Greg Cody came out of the gate. He was complaining because he didn't have his Miller Light. It was a strong complaint and it was a good complaint. He was cantankerous about it. He was bothered. He's like, is this a watch party or is this a watch symposium? Like, where's my, where's my Miller Light? And so he came out of the box here roaring again, maximum curmudgeon. And took us all off guard where he decided, decided to start the watch along last night. Why are you ripping the Walter Payton man of the Year?
Alfie
Okay, I'm not ripping it. And God bless Walter Payton and his memory and legacy. But I'm ripping the NFL for advertising this off field award as the NFL's most prestigious award. No, it isn't. The NFL MVP is a bigger award, right? I mean, winning a Super bowl is a bigger award. God bless the men who have won the NFL man of the Year because they did great off field work, community work. Just don't call it the most prestigious award. I don't think even the men who have won that award think of it as the most prestigious award. That's all I'm saying.
Chris Cote
It's like the Medal of Freedom.
Alfie
Well, if you say so. Okay, I mean, you know, what's his name? Lionel Messi wins the Medal of Freeman Medal of Freedom. Morgan for war. How about that? He had too busy. 19 People win the Medal of Freedom. 18 show up for the award. Lionel Messi's, you know, doing God knows what he needs.
Mike Ryan
Beer. I eat. I'm telling you, somebody's got to go get some beer, because I don't think so, actually.
Chris Cote
Usually I'm all for making it a Miller time, but Greg's cooking. Let's keep him like this. Cantankerous Greg.
Alfie
And again, that's not that. That's not, you know, a negative on the NFL. Man of the Year. The MO Y. The moy. It's a great award.
Mike Ryan
I don't think it's called the moy.
Alfie
Yeah, man of the Year.
Chris Cote
It's called the Walter Payton.
Mike Ryan
It's not the moy.
Alfie
The MOY is not what it's called WP Moy for. For short. But it's a good award. Nobody on earth can name who won it two years ago, but it's such a prestigious award.
Jessica
He's right.
Mike Ryan
You're always in trouble if Greg Cody starts something with God bless so and so so and so. And covered himself on the front end and here comes the but.
Dan Le Batard
God bless Walter Payton.
Jessica
I wrote that down.
Billy Corben
Can I ask an insensitive question, like, amongst friends here? No judgment.
Dan Le Batard
Okay.
Billy Corben
Damar Hamlin nominated for comeback player of the year again. What is he coming back from this time? He's just bad.
Chris Cote
Yeah, he was not that good last year.
Billy Corben
Well, he was never good to begin with, but he.
Chris Cote
This was his best season.
Billy Corben
I mean, three interceptions.
Stugotz
Come on.
Greg Cody
He finally played like he was a backup his whole career.
Jessica
But he came back last year. To Billy's point.
Chris Cote
Yeah, but he was good for them.
Billy Corben
But come on. This feels like a makeup award. Like they meant to give it to him last year and then they didn't. So, like, we'll just give it to him next year.
Greg Cody
They're low on nominees.
Billy Corben
People forget when the incident happened.
Chris Cote
I've heard rumors that the expectation was that if Flacco won, he was going to give it to Demar Hamlin. And Flago was like, nope, this is mine.
Mike Ryan
The Chiefs were hunting Hamlin last night, especially on whatever the Mahomes running plays were.
Dan Le Batard
I think even if his last name was Tuesday, we don't really talk about him the same way. I think Sunday is, like, the only other day of the week he could have gotten away with.
Jessica
There was a baseball player called Rick Monday. No one talked about him.
Greg Cody
Back to my dad's point about the Walter Payton Award. Do you think there's any jerk out there that just, like, tells his agent, hey, I want in on this award, like, it's all just for sure. It's all for the pub. It's just like I want all the.
Dan Le Batard
Photo ops incentives if you. I assume like some players probably have like the powers in their contracts where they'll get more money.
Mike Ryan
There can't be a charitable incentive. If you win Walter Payton man of the Year award. I asked to be.
Chris Cote
I know it almost has to be. Should donate to whoever wins.
Greg Cody
That's what I imagine they would do.
Mike Ryan
Okay, perhaps. But I don't think anyone's got a contract clause that pays them more money. Otherwise you'd have 50 guys. Hey, get me some turkeys. I'm going to the orphanage this morning.
Chris Cote
This honestly may have to be Josh Allen's pivot. Just go all in on that award.
Jurgens
Win the Walter page.
Greg Cody
I just, I want to see the emails of the one guy telling his agent, hey, no, they don't care about the good stuff.
Mike Ryan
They don't leave a paper trailer.
Greg Cody
It makes me look good.
Mike Ryan
Those are all meetings that have no paperwork.
Chris Cote
Those are all voice notes.
Dan Le Batard
The man of the year Winner receives a $250,000 donation in his name to a charity of his Choice. The other 31 finalists receive donations of their name of $50,000 to each charities of their choice.
Jessica
Mike is right. I can't name the guy who won it two years ago or at any time. But I'm guessing, if we were just guessing, J.J. watt has won that award, right?
Dan Le Batard
2017.
Billy Corben
Don't they wear like a special like patch on their.
Chris Cote
Walter Payton.
Dan Le Batard
Yeah, Won it last year.
Mike Ryan
I did know that the idea of a guy coming into his agent and marketing team and being like, this year, you guys bring me the sick kids. All right? We're going to take a lot.
Jessica
I need this award.
Mike Ryan
Look, every. Every Tuesday, I'm taking pictures. We're gonna win that award this year.
Jessica
You put me in a children's hospital, Leslie.
Mike Ryan
Bill, Paul, if you don't win me this award, you're fired.
Chris Cote
Plenty of pictures. Post like crazy because if I just do this for doing it, it's not as nice.
Billy Corben
Bring an outfit change. Maybe people think I go more than once.
Mike Ryan
I also like the idea of somebody going in there and just being aggressively. You know what? I'm gonna take a lane no one else is taking. I'm being shameless about from day one of this season, I'm going to win. Like I'm gonna say it out loud. Hashtag slogans.
Dan Le Batard
That would be terrible to commit so much of your life to charity.
Billy Corben
It'd be the worst.
Dan Le Batard
So shameless. Dan.
Billy Corben
What a ruse.
Chris Cote
Terrible.
Mike Ryan
Just to win the award.
Chris Cote
What's the cause? Water? Nah, not enough eyes.
Billy Corben
Have you guys noticed, have you noticed that the ticket that Goodell gives away every single week is the exact same seat number? So he's constantly giving away tickets every day.
Dan Le Batard
Goodell, every day he's been doing a ticket giveaway.
Billy Corben
Yeah, every, every playoff game they give tick super bowl tickets to like fans or have thing for the team or whatever. Right. And every single time it's the exact same seat number.
Dan Le Batard
Like it's a stock photo probably.
Billy Corben
No, it's a giant printed out prop like that they actual ticket. No, it's a seat.
Stugotz
No, I know that it's not.
Dan Le Batard
It's like when you have a phone number in a show and it's like 5, 5, 5 fake number but they're.
Billy Corben
Holding two tickets with the exact same seat number. It's like, oh, we gave away two.
Stugotz
Tickets of all blind.
Billy Corben
It's like they couldn't even put seat six and seven. They're both like seat six. They printed one thing multiple times. They take it city to city and they're giving away the same exact seat.
Dan Le Batard
You think they should create multiple props for each city?
Billy Corben
I think it's gonna be very conf. Honestly, they're going to get the same seat. Everyone's going to have the same seat. What's the usher going to do?
Dan Le Batard
I think you have to sit on the other person's lap who got there first.
Mike Ryan
You mentioned the 555 hotline number we tried last week. A failed experiment. We are revamping it and hopefully trying to get 1-800-Stugot as the number so that we can make the hotline a little better. But Stugot on his way home learned of this hotline was bothered by the two hot takes that were selected by the producers to punctuate segments last last week. And so he decided on his way home, our sponsored hotline, to leave his own voicemail on the way home. Again, this is something he did years ago. He can't help himself. He's got to give opinions wherever it is. They'll be recorded. Let's see what we have here.
Jurgens
Or how. Hey, Dan Stewart on a mobile phone. First time, long time, love the show. Anyway, Dan, I don't know if you watched the games over the weekend, but I did. And let me tell you something, I got to be honest with you. If the Chiefs think they can play like that the way they did against the Texans, if they think they could play like that against Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills, they got another thing coming. I mean, they do. And let me tell you something. If the Chiefs play the way they did last weekend against the Texans and they play that way against the Buffalo Bills, the Bills are just going to win the game. They're going to win the game by three touchdowns, possibly four. How about that? I'll hang up a listen.
Billy Corben
They did not.
Jessica
Well, they play better.
Greg Cody
That Boost Mobile boldest take from the weekend is presented by Boost Mobile, the newest 5G network in the country.
Mike Ryan
How was God Bless Football this morning? How did you guys do?
Jessica
It was, it was bittersweet because we love football so much and no one loves football more than Billy that we get sad this time of year because we just have a single game. Like my Saturday felt empty. I didn't know what to do with myself. There was no college football and now we just have one football game left and then it's over. So it's a bittersweet day here on God Bless Football.
Billy Corben
We have the Pro bowl games coming up and we pretend to care about basketball a little bit, but it's just, it's just not the same.
Mike Ryan
Did you guys have enough games yesterday? I was telling you before that you get addicted to the stimuli of give me all the games and then next thing you know you've got a 3:30 start and a 6:30 start. You don't know what to do with yourself at 1:00 on a Sunday because you've been binging all season, a torrent of games and now all of a sudden everyone gets out of the way for the two showcase games. And rather inexplicably, late at night. Thunder Blazers, the only game on the NBA schedule.
Chris Cote
Weird.
Jessica
I like the 3 and 6:30 start. I like having more time to get my stuff done on a Sunday before the game start. I enjoyed it.
Mike Ryan
I don't like fewer games. I, I'd prefer week 15 to, to that weekend.
Jessica
Unless you get that game, the one you got at 6:00.
Mike Ryan
I have no complain. I just want more games. Like at this point they've spoiled me with this. At this point, the, the sugary addiction of the action is such that I'd prefer six games to, to the one. I prefer 6:00. Six games in the 4:00 window.
Chris Cote
If you got the storylines around that AFC championship, yeah, it was enough and it delivered. Those two teams always deliver. Yeah, it's always the drama. It's like, I'll never get sick of hyping that game between those two teams because it always delivers on every single one of the storylines.
Dan Le Batard
This is how we fix the Chiefs fatigue situation. By the way, someone just hire Spags as your head coach.
Greg Cody
We would all prefer just to watch that game again, right?
Jessica
Yeah.
Greg Cody
Like if I told you I'd give.
Jessica
You the Super Bowl.
Greg Cody
Bill's Chiefs again. You good?
Chris Cote
I'm good with that, but this is.
Dan Le Batard
I mean, no. Then I would have Bill's Chiefs fatigue.
Jessica
Billy thinks. And. And we apologize because this was brought up during God bless football. That spag should bring all the secrets to Buffalo.
Mike Ryan
Can you give me the recycled take sound please, at Le Batard show?
Jessica
It's a good take. I don't care if it's recycled.
Mike Ryan
I mean, would you be okay with put it on the poll. Juju. Would you be okay with just the Bills and the Chiefs playing again for the super bowl and everyone just telling Philadelphia, you know what, next year. Well, sorry, whatever. We change the rules.
Greg Cody
Or. Or they play again since they won one time each this year, they play again and then they play Philly. Like we just. Just no pro. The Pro Bowls canceled.
Mike Ryan
What if Buffalo rubber match one. Wait a minute.
Jessica
Then it's Buffalo and Philly.
Greg Cody
Buffalo beat them in the regular season. So technically this season they're one and one.
Billy Corben
Bill should have forfeited that regular season game and not shown them anything.
Jessica
Y Right.
Dan Le Batard
So the Chiefs should agree to not be in the super bowl so they can play the Bills one more time and potentially not be in the Super Bowl. They already just won the game.
Jessica
Play the Bills again, beat them. Play the Eagles. Beat them, then play the Bengals.
Dan Le Batard
You guys aren't like shitting on the NFC side of this? I thought the Eagles game was pretty good. Pretty interesting. Saquon Barkley is really freaking good.
Mike Ryan
Philadelphia is going to be favored. They are favored, are they not? Is Philadelphia not sure.
Jessica
I think the. The Chiefs were one and a half.
Chris Cote
One and a half.
Jessica
Yeah.
Mike Ryan
All right. I'd watch that line over the coming.
Chris Cote
Week because rather than admit that you were wrong, I'm down.
Billy Corben
Keep an eye on it.
Chris Cote
I like that move.
Jessica
Yeah, I am watching it. It's already up to minus two.
Chris Cote
I like that.
Dan Le Batard
I will be right in a week.
Billy Corben
Just keep an eye on him.
Jessica
I will keep an eye on him.
Billy Corben
He's that guy. Come on. He's not saying any. Just seem. Watch it.
Jessica
I happen to agree with Dan. I think people are going to pound Philadelphia. I do. I think people feel like that's the best team in the NFL.
Greg Cody
Just like they pounded the Bills once.
Mike Ryan
They realize that Jason Kelsey has been devalued in the last 24 hours by this show.
Billy Corben
He's petitioning to get into the hall of Fame like next year right before kind of his career is not invalidated but somewhat proven. Maybe he wasn't the secret sauce.
Mike Ryan
I just saw it and validated when I came in today.
Billy Corben
Well, no, no one's doing that on air. That's just private talk. Private talk is different than on air talk.
Mike Ryan
Dan.
Billy Corben
Come on.
Mike Ryan
You know that the way that Philadelphia runs the football where their quarterback is their worst skill position player.
Chris Cote
That'S how you have to do it. Buffalo around Josh Allen and I know the contract's gonna make it tough. It's made it tougher. Patrick Mahomes and he's found a way. Also kind of funny that Patrick Mahomes is on the Chiefs because of a trade the Bills made and Xavier Worthy cooks him and Xavier Worthy is on the Chiefs, not the Bills because the trade the Bills made.
Jessica
Billy, we did it on air.
Billy Corben
Maybe problem with today is there's so few football storylines that it's inevitable we're going to have the same things. You know, know. Right.
Jessica
We did the only two games.
Billy Corben
We did the trade thing. We did the.
Mike Ryan
I disagree. I believe that all over content making people are going from one hour to the next not saying exactly the same thing that they do here.
Dan Le Batard
Billy, I'll debate something you said earlier. I don't think Josh Allen just chucked it up. I think he knew there was a receiver down there. I think he's that. If you look at the replay, his eyes are downfield. He's trying to find an open guy. And the pass was like pretty good too. It just Kincaid was sort of like awkwardly turning. It was low. You couldn't catch it. And I feel bad for him. It wasn't. I don't think it was anything like the Mark Andrews.
Greg Cody
It honestly speaks to how impressive Josh Allen is because it looks like to Billy's point, he's just chucking it up. But no Kincaid right there.
Mike Ryan
Let's. Let's examine that play for a second because fine for me, the Sam Darnold playoff game where the announcer from on high is just saying from the safety of the press box near the hot dogs and the free media chips, just run Sam Darnold. Even though you're surrounded by cyclones of menace and aura, just know that what is around you is something that you should see clearly the way that I see it from up here. Ben Solak, didn't he come out and say on that play that Shakir was wide open down the field as Josh Allen ran 12 yards backward in a panic.
Chris Cote
Hold up. Did you describe it as cyclones of menace and horror?
Billy Corben
Wow. Imagine Dan witnessing a crime, and the cop has to take down exactly what happened. Like, what the hell happened here?
Jessica
Can you dumb it down?
Mike Ryan
I would say that Chris Jones is a cyclone of menace and horror in any context. That I were to run into him where I was trying to do something that he was trying to prevent me from doing, I'm gonna be okay with what it is I've just said there, and if you don't like what I've said, that's fine.
Billy Corben
But how tall was the person?
Mike Ryan
He was just a cyclone. As high. As high as. Not a cyclops. A cyclone.
Jessica
A big difference. Yeah.
Mike Ryan
Yeah. When it. When Ben Solek is saying that Shakir is wide open for a first down over there, and Josh Allen is running backwards with his legacy over here, and it's Chris Jones coming up the middle of the field on him.
Jessica
You do it.
Dan Le Batard
And also it's 4th and 5. So if you throw it behind the line of scrimmage and he doesn't get the first down, the game's over anyway. So I. I get why he's looking downfield there.
Billy Corben
The man must have been 8,000 ants tall.
Mike Ryan
Go ahead and play. The sound of. Of that announcer screaming and yelling because Sam Darnold couldn't see what could be easily seen from the press box. He's holding it too long. Throw it, man. He's holding it too long. Throw it, man.
Jessica
It's a great golf.
Mike Ryan
The casual indifference.
Greg Cody
Just run.
Mike Ryan
Yeah, just. Just like it's so easy.
Jessica
He's holding it too long.
Stugotz
Just run.
Mike Ryan
Throw it, man.
Chris Cote
I have a bold take on the man standing up in a crowd meme. I'm super into this Super Bowl. The one that we saw recently was one of the best Super Bowls ever. The line is already telling you keeping keep an eye on it, by the way, that these two teams are very close. The Eagles are a totally different team than since their early season struggles, they've found this new explosive run game where I think you're accurate. It is a bit of hot take because it'll get, like, picked apart. But Jalen hurts is probably at all their skills. Skill, guys. The least impressive, the least good at his job. It's an unbelievable matchup.
Jessica
The guy who said just run was London Fletcher. I mean, that does give it more credibility, right?
Stugotz
He's holding it too long.
Mike Ryan
Throw it, man. I suppose that, you know, London Fletcher played and he was used to Whenever it is that he came into a place, someone would just run away from him. So his life experience is that if someone is being chased, they should just run. But Sam Darnold, you know, tends to throw his way out of situations. I do understand how it is we have all of the answers after someone else has lost the game, but I do want to present to you and the audience again the general stupidity of deciding that kind of game that always delivers with consecutive plays of the refs marking the ball in the wrong place and therefore deciding that game. Now, a number of different things could have happened after that, but at that point it was bills 22, 21. And as soon as the Bills failed to recover, they never let again.
Jessica
Right? Yes.
Mike Ryan
So they, so they lost the game on two plays where they couldn't get an inch in a game where they spent a lot of time not being able to get an inch on short yardage. Runs like that was a historic game situation where the Chiefs were stopping Josh Allen and the Bills in short yarded situations an inordinate number of times. That's not a normal thing that you saw. And on consecutive plays, the decisions being made. And I don't know how much this is being talked about today because now when the Chiefs win, everyone starts talking about every one penalty, every one call, how it is they're favored. How it is in the last 12 games the other team always has more penalties. They do. How it is on that fourth and five play that there was a flag on the screen until Kincaid dropped the ball and then that flag was gone. Never mind. We don't know what that call was, but I'm sure that it's just that call is the Chiefs go directly to the Super Bowl. The flag is just a referee comes up and accidentally says in front of everybody, I'm sorry Bills, you've been eliminated. This flag means the Chiefs and Taylor Swift get to play Philadelphia in the Super Bowl. It's how it's being received. Do you or do you not see the stupidity in doing the measurements that way? Where it's two guys, linemen running, running linesmen running at each other and they both got their foot in a different spot and that's how we're going to spot the football?
Jessica
I mean, I'm not sure the stupidity that I see is the Bills coach running the same exact fourth down play that he ran four plays before. That's the stupidity that I see. I mean seriously, that's a big moment. As you pointed out, they're up by a point. They're on the road, they're trying to put the two time super bowl champions away. That's what you. And you have to get that. Patrick Mahomes always gets that. And Josh Allen doesn't always get that. Can you question the way they're marking the football? Of course, but that's the way they've been doing it forever.
Chris Cote
But he got it.
Mike Ryan
Got it.
Jessica
Oh, it's.
Billy Corben
It's.
Greg Cody
I want to know the conversation. When these two line judges are running at each other and they're two lot, two yards apart, do they just have a debate like. No, no, I got this one. No, I promise, I saw it. No, Frank, I'm telling you, I saw it. It's right here.
Chris Cote
Made one Frank, huh?
Jessica
Yeah.
Greg Cody
They got to be a. Frank, we.
Chris Cote
Have a fine situation. You mentioned London Fletcher and it confused everybody. Wasn't London Fletcher. That goes to the Venmo Fine bucket.
Jessica
Yeah. How much do I owe?
Chris Cote
I don't have the name wrong or a mistake.
Jessica
If London said it, it would have meant more. Unfortunately, it wasn't. It was Ben Lieber. It means nothing. I think it was.
Greg Cody
I.
Chris Cote
It was also not Ben.
Jessica
That's. Who finds. Was it Pete Burrich? Okay.
Dan Le Batard
Notre Dame linebacker.
Jessica
Oh, he played linebacker.
Mike Ryan
It's not cash anymore. Stugal.
Jessica
Yeah, I got to do the.
Billy Corben
Is it abart code?
Jessica
I got to do something. Mike will show me how.
Chris Cote
Ben Lieber. That's $2.
Mike Ryan
Mike, you're gonna have to come.
Chris Cote
We got a QR code.
Billy Corben
It's so easy, guys. Venmo is very easy to use. You guys know how to do it. Stop making it seem like it's not easy.
Chris Cote
Actually, if you go. If you go into your transaction history, you know the account, so you can just send it.
Jessica
Okay.
Chris Cote
Yeah, there you go.
Billy Corben
Just two clicks. Boom, boom, it's done.
Mike Ryan
Who is keeping an eye on whether Stugatz is paying these fines or not? Or whether he is just faking his way through pretending to pay the fine?
Billy Corben
I'm watching the line.
Chris Cote
I feel like we're being watchdogs right now.
Mike Ryan
Keep. Keep an eye on that line. Let's see how much that moves during the course of the week. You guys say that the Chiefs, you should not bet against Patrick Mahomes. But all season long, I have seen Chiefs lines that are super small. Including in that game last night where they told you the money told you. If that game's played on a neutral field, the money says Buffalo. Buffalo's better. That Buffalo is the better team because the home field is a three point advantage and pretty consistently. People walk away from betting against or doubting Patrick Mahomes with the feeling of why did I do that? Why? Why was I such an idiot that I would think this is the year that they were vulnerable?
Chris Cote
They are inevitable because they're not just always going to make the right plays. They're not just always going to, on both sides of the ball, do what they have to do to win the game. But also, they got the friendly whistle too. And they've had it for like seven years.
Greg Cody
Like it's just in every game.
Chris Cote
It's a bummer.
Greg Cody
Just one time. I want them to get screwed. Well, they did a couple years ago.
Chris Cote
No, it was the right call and Patrick didn't shut up about it.
Greg Cody
Right?
Jessica
Right.
Billy Corben
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Stugotz
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The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
Release Date: January 27, 2025
In this episode of The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz, hosts Dan Le Batard and Stugotz delve deep into the intense rivalry between NFL quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs and Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills. Recorded from the Elser Hotel in Downtown Miami, the discussion centers around their recent playoff performances, team dynamics, and the broader implications for the NFL landscape.
Dan Le Batard commends Mahomes' consistent excellence, highlighting his ability to lead a team with unprecedented offensive strategies. However, Mike Ryan raises concerns about the Chiefs' potential "fatigue," questioning whether Mahomes can sustain his performance year after year without fan burnout. Le Batard counters by emphasizing Mahomes' unique talent that keeps fans engaged despite repeated successes.
Notable Quote:
At [15:16], Dan Le Batard states, “I think the average fan doesn't root for historical greatness. The average fan roots for their team. And if you're a fan of almost any team in the NFL, Patrick Mahomes has beaten you in the last decade and you're sick of it. You want him to lose. That's how it ended up with the Patriots.”
Josh Allen's prowess is equally dissected, with Jessica highlighting his remarkable ability to make pivotal plays under pressure. However, Chris Cote points out that Allen's consistency is often overshadowed by Mahomes' dominance, arguing that Allen remains second to Mahomes in shaping NFL narratives.
Notable Quote:
At [10:04], Jessica remarks, “From being Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen would be Patrick Mahomes were not for Patrick Mahomes constantly throwing the door in his face.”
The hosts compare the Chiefs and Bills, discussing how each team's offensive strategies and defensive capabilities impact their playoff runs. Greg Cody introduces the idea that the Bills, despite being strong contenders, often fall short due to factors beyond their control, such as unfavorable refereeing decisions.
Notable Quote:
At [08:25], Mike Ryan comments, “Stole from Josh Allen what would have been a Buffalo Bills memory for all time.”
A significant portion of the discussion focuses on controversial refereeing calls during the Chiefs-Bills playoff game. The hosts express frustration over inconsistent spot markings that potentially altered the game's outcome. Mike Ryan criticizes the NFL's officiating standards, suggesting that flawed calls repeatedly benefit Mahomes' team.
Notable Quote:
At [09:35], Mike Ryan asserts, “But he got it.”
The debate extends to specific game moments, such as Josh Allen's backward run and subsequent pass to Dalton Kincaid. Despite Allen's impressive performance, the play's failure is attributed to both refereeing errors and Kincaid's inability to secure the catch, leading to the Bills' elimination.
Notable Quote:
At [11:04], Mike Ryan states, “Josh Allen made it and Dalton Kincaid did not.”
The hosts discuss the broader fan sentiment towards the Chiefs' repeated successes. While some admire Mahomes' talent, others express exhaustion over witnessing the same team excel consistently, drawing parallels to the Patriots' prolonged dynasty and eventual fan fatigue.
Notable Quote:
At [13:04], Dan Le Batard observes, “I think the average fan doesn't root for historical greatness. The average fan roots for their team.”
Speculation arises about the future trajectories of both quarterbacks. The conversation touches on potential Hall of Fame inductions and the impact of sustained excellence on their legacies. There's a consensus that Mahomes' current trajectory could cement his status as one of the all-time greats, while Allen's path remains promising but hindered by external factors like opposing defenses and officiating.
Notable Quote:
At [31:43], Billy Corben muses, “He's petitioning to get into the hall of Fame like next year right before kind of his career is not invalidated but somewhat proven.”
The discussion shifts to the prestige of the Walter Payton Man of the Year award. Alfie criticizes the NFL for marketing it as the league's most prestigious award, arguing that accolades like the NFL MVP or Super Bowl victories hold greater significance. The hosts debate the true value and recognition of off-field contributions versus on-field achievements.
Notable Quote:
At [20:32], Alfie states, “But it's a great award. Nobody on earth can name who won it two years ago, but it's such a prestigious award.”
The episode wraps up with reflections on the Chiefs-Bills rivalry, the impact of key players like Mahomes and Allen, and the ongoing debates surrounding NFL officiating and award recognitions. The hosts agree that while Mahomes currently holds a significant advantage in shaping the NFL narrative, Allen remains a formidable competitor whose legacy could grow under different circumstances.
Notable Quote:
At [33:14], Greg Cody comments, “It honestly speaks to how impressive Josh Allen is because it looks like to Billy's point, he's just chucking it up. But no Kincaid right there.”
This episode provides an in-depth analysis of one of the NFL's most compelling quarterback rivalries, offering listeners nuanced perspectives on player performances, team strategies, and the broader cultural implications within the sport.