Dan LeBatard (2:01)

This episode of the Dan Lebatard show is presented by DraftKings. DraftKings the Crown is yours.

Stugats (2:07)

Grateful that Nick Wright is making time for us today. I imagine he's in a bit of a state of despondence. So how many body parts would you give up of any kind injured to yourself? If I could make Patrick Mahomes not have a torn knee ligament, which body parts would you give up in exchange for having him not be hurt right now?

Dan LeBatard (2:28)

Now listen, far be it for me to question the editorial judgment of this show. This Same show. I think that at least the Miami studio multiple times tried to derail podcast and radio gold to give us, I don't know, baseball updates. But we're not leading with the NBA Cup, Dano. It's. It, it. I mean, hold on. Put me on camera. I even dressed for the occasion. I'm like Rob Lowe, just with the generic NFL hat accepted to the NBA. Wimby, Jalen Brunson. You want to talk football? I guess people still care about it. All of my knee ligaments, Dan. All of them. What do I need knee ligaments for? I mean, like if that were like a serious thing where it's like, okay, listen, he can, you know, guaranteed to be full health, which he will be, and back better than ever, which he will be. But also just so he doesn't have to go through, he deserves an offseason. It's been a long seven years. Yeah, I'd give my. I don't need my knee ligaments. I mean, I like riding bikes, but I'd give that up. It's no problem. I mean, what did you think I would say?

Stugats (3:35)

I didn't know, actually. I managed to be wrong twice about your team. I said they were dead offensively, 10 games in. I changed my mind after two games. Yeah, I got it wrong two times with your team. But what I hadn't realized, Nick, and I don't know if you felt the size of this as well. I didn't consider it possibly over until like all of it over until his knee went out because it affects next season and I don't know how much your coaches want to be around and your salary cap problems and everything else. I thought it was more doomsday than I hadn't considered doomsday scenario.

Dan LeBatard (4:08)

Well, you still shouldn't consider doomsday scenario. They have the most talented quarterback in the history of the league who if he never plays another down, is the second greatest quarterback of all time. In the prime of. He just turned 30 and like, listen, this sucks. This is a huge bummer. This, this was the one part of following the Brady trajectory that I wanted him to skip the blown out knee in his eighth year as a starter. But right after playing for Ring 4 and being the greatest team ever in your seventh year as a starter, but he checked this box as well. The doomsday stuff is, is, is foolishness. Like, it can't. And here's why. It's foolishness. It cannot simply be either. The Chiefs this year were going to supplant the 11 to 18 Patriots as the greatest, most successful eight year run in NFL history. Or if they don't, it's doomsday. Now, I understand the Patrick's knee injury is, you know, more than a fly in the ointment, but it's 2025. Like, guys come back from ACLs as good as ever, particularly guys that aren't, you know, I am. I am. If I'm being totally honest, I am sicker for Packer fans this week than I am for Chiefs fans because Chiefs fans, while I was late to admit it, it was pretty evident during the game. Juju doesn't believe me. Oh, he or he's. He's a Packer fan. I don't know if he doesn't believe me or he's a Packer fan. I'm a Bills fan. I'm not. I got a lot of words for you. Keep going. Okay, so we can discuss juju. The packers were an excellent team that might have had a real shot at the Super Bowl. Derailed like that is a special type of torture. While I didn't want to admit it, it was pretty clear by halftime of the Chargers game, if not weeks prior that this Chiefs team didn't have it. So the 2025 chiefs, with or without the injury, weren't going to play in or win a Super Bowl. The packers could have and their two best players on their team crafted Micah, but both went down with injury. That's. That. That is a potential championship taken and this idea that next year is in question. Like, I will believe that when I see it. I would. And Dan, I don't, don't know if you know this about me, but I am a gambler. I would bet a lot of money that Patrick Mahomes is the Kansas City Chiefs Week 1 starter next year. What's Juju mad at me about? You guys should win the go to the super bowl now. Like it's never been laid out more perfectly. You guys should. Mahomes isn't there. Burrow's not there. Lamar, who is actually the one guy in the playoffs you guys can beat, he might not be there. You go. Go to the super bowl and I'm hoping you do it like Bill's fans deserve it. Bill's fans are great fans. Josh Allen's a great player. You just. No pressure. But if you don't make the super bowl this year, you probably never will. So I'd go ahead and make it this year. Yeah, that's my problem. He's. Yes.

Zagat (7:26)

Patrick Mahomes isn't there. Lamar Jackson isn't there.

Dan LeBatard (7:28)

You know who else isn't there?

Mike Ryan (7:30)

The.

Dan LeBatard (7:30)

The Bills defensive line, the Bills receiving core. You just can't just. Just because Patrick Mahomes isn't there doesn't mean Julian can win a championship this year. You have to have a good team and that's what the Houston Texans. You don't have a good team.

Zagat (7:42)

No.

Dan LeBatard (7:43)

We have Superman. James. James Cook's going to rush for 1700 yards, right? James Cook's pretty good. Your offensive lines pretty good. Josh Allen is spectacular and you have a top three past events in football.

Stugats (7:59)

You.

Dan LeBatard (8:00)

You don't. Nobody gets to have a perfect team, guys. Nobody.

Tony (8:03)

Get.

Dan LeBatard (8:03)

I. I'm so sick of hearing this from fans who tell me all year long what a superhero their quarterback is. And then when we approach, when it's do or die, it's like I got to hear from Justin Herbert fans about. About how bad the offensive line is. I guess juju's upset that you guys have a bad run defense. Get over it, bro. You.

Mike Ryan (8:26)

You, you.

Stugats (8:26)

The.

Dan LeBatard (8:26)

You have a great past defense. You have a superhero at quarterback. You have a great running back. You like you're playing kids and, and old men and you're gonna play young. You 22 year olds and 44 year olds en route to a Super Bowl. Go to the super bowl, bro. It's not that hard. It is hard. Whenever you have random people playing wide receiver for you. We don't attack the free agent market. All Josh Allen needs is one go to receiver. Instead he has to find where Dawson Knox is in the year 20. I have listened. I've listened to Bill's fans and again, I think you're gonna go to the super bowl this year. I've listened to Bill's fans to run this hypothetical of if you drop Patrick in Buffalo and Josh in Kansas City. What's the ring count?

Mike Ryan (9:18)

All right.

Dan LeBatard (9:19)

And my answer is Patrick still has all the rings, but Bills fans disagree with me. So you mean like they are asking Josh Allen to go to a Super bowl with like juju Smith Schuster and Marquez Valdez scantling as his lead receivers. Except he also has James Cook instead of Isaiah Pacheco. Sounds pretty awesome. Go do it like they, they believe in your team. Believe in your guy. Give me a break with this. Woe is me. We don't have a Madden. Create a team. Everything's been laid out perfectly. You're peaking at the right time. You just walk down the Patriots. I believe in you. This isn't like some reverse jinx. I. I believe Josh Allen one day is Going to win a Super Bowl. Part of me kind of likes the fact that I. That if this is the year, I'm like, yeah, he won the super bowl, but Patrick wasn't in the tournament. So it's kind of like half a ring. But this is a great year to do it.

Zagat (10:15)

Go.

Dan LeBatard (10:15)

Go to the super bowl, bro. If. If Bo Nicks or Drake may get there before Josh. And it's because, oh, man, they had better d tackle play then go jump in the ocean, bro. Like, go to the Super Bowl.

Zagat (10:28)

I'm sorry, I got to point out a couple of things that you said. Number one, you said it was apparent by the Chargers game, if not a few weeks earlier. Didn't sound like it was apparent to you. When you come on the show, you were talking pie in the sky. We got this. We got to do this. The other thing you said was, I'm sick of these fans complaining. They say, oh, my quarterback's a superhero. But when they lose, oh, they start complaining about the line and all this stuff. That's what you just did. You just did that about your own team.

Dan LeBatard (10:52)

Okay, so amin I again, and I'm not trying to start more like, beef with people on the show, but I would, I would strongly recommend in the future if you're gonna run back words that I said, you actually listen to the words that I said. Because to a. To deal with. The first thing what I said was it was apparent to everyone but me. So I was, I was, I was front running that obviously criticism that I was going to receive because I was the last one. I even think I said I was the last one. Holding out hope. It became apparent to me I said by halftime at the Chargers game. And you don't know what I was saying during the Chargers game because I was watching that alone, sad in my house. That's first of all. Second of all, what damn excuse did I make at any point in any of this for Patrick Mahomes? And first of all, no excuses are necessary. Prior to this year, he'd played in five of the last six Super Bowls. But. But at what? When have I at any point said that, yeah, there is nothing that could be done. I haven't said any of that. I said the Chiefs didn't have it. He's on the Chiefs. He. Everybody needed to be better this year, including the quarterback. So I like that.

Stugats (12:08)

The.

Dan LeBatard (12:09)

We can do the argument jiu jitsu if you want, but the, you know, you got to tell me what I'm arguing with.

Zagat (12:16)

I kind of feel like you're making the same argument that juju just made about, hey, even though my quarterback is amazing, there are structural issues with my team that makes it kind of perhaps an obstacle for them to achieve the ultimate prize.

Dan LeBatard (12:32)

Sweet Christ, man. Are you comparing the worst? The 2025 chiefs, which were, from quarterback play on down, the worst Chiefs team of the decade to a Bills team coming off its best win of the year. Josh Allen, some people believe is the league mvp. They're the, I think, the highest scoring team in the conference. They have the best past events they've had in the last three years. Like, these are. These are apples and bowling balls.

Zagat (13:02)

I'm not comparing the teams. I'm comparing sergeant semantics. The argument that you are making is strikingly similar to the argument you're striking down from other people, regardless of the caliber of team that we're talking about.

Dan LeBatard (13:13)

Zagat, what is the argument you think I'm making, bro? What are you saying?

Zagat (13:18)

You got it. It's okay.

Tony (13:19)

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Dan LeBatard (14:01)

You can.

Tony (14:01)

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Mike Ryan (15:37)

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Stugats (16:35)

Don LeBatard but it's just his titties are sitting on the shelf that is his belly stugats.

Mike Ryan (16:42)

He said titties like shocked me a little bit. I wasn't quite prepared for titties.

Dan LeBatard (16:47)

This is the Dan lebatar Show with the stugats.

Stugats (16:58)

All right, this is Happening again. This just general tension with Pablo, with Amin, with juju. He's coming after everybody.

Dan LeBatard (17:05)

I have no tension with juju at all, Trista. I have no tension with juju. I'm telling juju. Believe in your team.

Stugats (17:11)

Hi.

Dan LeBatard (17:11)

Believe in. Hi. Hi.

Stugats (17:14)

I'm Trista.

Dan LeBatard (17:14)

I'm new. I just was wondering why you're so hyped up right now. It's the job, man. Nobody wants to hear a sad smol I could do.

Mike Ryan (17:30)

I think.

Stugats (17:34)

Most people do want to hear sad clown.

Zagat (17:36)

Nick, right? Yeah.

Dan LeBatard (17:37)

I want wet blankets. Oh, pardon me. Like that.

Mike Ryan (17:40)

That's.

Dan LeBatard (17:40)

I'm not gonna do it. Like, here's the thing and this is what I, I think the odd. Like, I owe the audience the. It is not it. Packer fans are in just as much pain like the. The guys get hurt in pro football. It happens. And for me to, if I were to have come out on Monday or today or whenever and been like the. The sky is falling. When Pat's fans lost Brady for a year in Week 1, Colts fans didn't know there was anything wrong with Peyton Manning. And it's like his neck's hurt and then they got rid of his ass. The Packers 15 years ago or 10 years ago had a Super bowl caliber team and Aaron Rodgers gets his collarbone snapped. Like this happens in pro football. And it's not just sadder when it happens to your guy and it's not just sadder when it happens to the face of the league. It might be more damaging for the league marketing wise, but that's part of pro football. And part of what has made the previous seven years so special is they've danced through the raindrops on this stuff. So I'm not going to ask for a bunch of like, woe is me sympathy stuff. I. It's. It's pro football, man. Guys get hurt and you, you, you try to duck it. You know, when you have a Super bowl championship team, the only saving grace to this whole thing is to a means point. If he didn't hear me say it earlier, I'll make it clear I was wrong about this Chiefs team. They weren't super bowl caliber. And if there was ever a year you were going to lose your quarterback a month for the playoffs. I guess it's good that it's the one year the team stunk.

Stugats (19:20)

I understand that you have to sort of be strident and defiant by calling foolishness, me bringing up the doomsday scenario, but the only reason I'm doing this to Patrick Mahomes is Because I think, you know this, the last seven years must have been really physically hard on him. And so I'm assuming if Kevin Durant's body breaks and they break up after four years, twice as long is really going to hurt a lot more in that sport, emotionally and otherwise.

Mike Ryan (19:46)

That's what I'm most curious about because I've kind of wondered aloud for the last several years, how is Patrick Mahomes game going to age? He leans on his athleticism a little bit more than some of the greatest quarterbacks we've ever seen. Every year in the blogosphere we see some kind of photo of him and his belly in the offseason. Him now coming off of a knee injury in which I believe he tore two ligaments. How do you see this guy playing into his 30s? He's going to have to change his game. We trust him to play from the pocket, but it is going to be different. Nick.

Dan LeBatard (20:13)

Yeah. So listen, this is where I can't prove it to you and I guess we're gonna have to wait and see. But I believe the a insane competitor who also happens to be the most freakishly gifted quarterback in the history of the sport, who also happens to be by any available metric the most clutch player on a per game basis. Obviously Brady has had a 3x longer career in the history of the sport, is going to come back and be just as good. Maybe I'll be wrong. Like, I can't prove that to you. The surgery happened 36 hours ago. But I, yeah, I mean, I don't, I, I, I don't, I, I, this is, and this is where I guess I can be annoying to your crew or whomever. I think stuff like this is the dumbest shit imaginable. You like showing, like showing a picture of a guy when I think he was in the midst of another super bowl championship run. And I think that was a photo from the locker room after the first game. He went on the road and slayed one of these teams that was better than him.

Stugats (21:31)

For the audio audience. It's a photo of Mahomes shirtless in the locker room.

Dan LeBatard (21:35)

And it, and it's supposed to be like, you know, the, you know, like, oh, look at this. Evidently he's got a, what folks think is the ideal quarterback body they've been wrong about. And so I, I don't, yeah, I.

Mike Ryan (21:52)

Mean, I, but Nick, that's him, that's also a photo of him in his 20s. And I, I, I'm with you. I don't, I don't doubt him either. He's got a special arm talent. He's at his apex perhaps the greatest I've ever seen. But I do think it's fair to question his motivation when it comes to keeping his body in shape. It's not Brady esque. That's how Brady got to the three times longer career. So given that on top of that.

Dan LeBatard (22:18)

Brady was kind of soft though in the beginning.

Mike Ryan (22:20)

But. Yeah. But then he got into the best shape of his life and playability.

Dan LeBatard (22:23)

We can't do it that way after the injury.

Stugats (22:25)

Right.

Mike Ryan (22:25)

So. So is Patrick Mahomes built that way is what I'm guessing. Because I think part of my concern about how is this guy going to age is he's never been fully dedicated to, you know, taking care of his.

Dan LeBatard (22:35)

Body and the other thing and that. And, and the. On that last thing, I, I fundamentally disagree with you on the idea that he's never been fully dedicated. The guy has played an extra season of every other player in the league and we saw him come back miss no time with a high ankle sprain in route to winning the Super Bowl. We. He was playing through a knee injury this last month on the injury report and it finally gave out on him. The fact that. That's why I think that picture is dumb because it implies the guy is not putting the work in on his body. When I think what it. Actually, I don't think that's the message it sends. I think that it is what leads to like the, the show Lamar shirtless compared to Patrick. Lamar's dealt with injuries throughout the whole tenure of it. Like I don't think that those things go with each other like the, the chiseled upper body and therefore that is. I'm putting in the right work to stay on the football field as a quarterback and he didn't. This was not an injury that he suffered because he was out of shape or something like that. This just happens. It's football. But if you're asking me to be a seer and, and guarantee he's going to come back as good as before, I obviously can't do that. Is my money on him literally and figuratively? Of course it is.

Mike Ryan (24:07)

My money is on him too. But I'm saying they just missed the playoffs and he tore his knee at 30. I think it's totally fair to question how is that going to age when at 30 it seems to have hit a wall.

Stugats (24:17)

And I just think that he's not. You cannot doubt Mahomes and doubt what football and ravages of the. Of the body are done over seven years of trying as hard as he has. Even if he's, even if he's built like Derrick Henry like you're, you're allowed.

Dan LeBatard (24:31)

He turned, hold on. He turned 30 three months ago. We are, we quarterbacks play at a super high level.

Mike Ryan (24:41)

And he missed a playoff.

Dan LeBatard (24:42)

Late 30s. Say it again.

Mike Ryan (24:45)

But, yeah, but I understand. It's not myopic though. Like, yeah, he turned 33 months ago and they just missed the playoffs after playing in damn near every super bowl the last decade. I think it's fair.

Dan LeBatard (24:56)

Yeah. And I guess I, and, and I, I, the. You're again, I guess you're asking me to prove something that is unprovable. The point that I would make, and I'm not trying to be combative and I'm not trying to be annoying, but maybe I don't know any other way is there was unless they were going to have an endless run at some point they were going to have a down year. And whenever that happened it would also as a tautology be when Mahomes and Andy are the oldest. So the, the. At any point whenever they have the down here, it could be like, well, all of it caught up to them and they're older and Andy's lost his fastball a bit and Patrick's. All of it. Now there is a real factor of a real, you know, sports tragedy of he suffered a devastating injury which I am not overlooking. What I am saying is we, we consistently see guys at skill positions come back. So the, the Stefan Diggs come back from a torn ACL as a much older wide receiver. So I don't think that this is going to have some super long term knock on effect. I am worried that if he continues the Brady trajectory. Brady, his first year back from the torn ACL, they won 10 games. It was one of his worst statistical seasons. They got clocked in round one of the playoffs, 33 to 14 by Baltimore. And he wasn't back to being Brady till the next year when he was the best quarterback in the league in 2010 and they were 14 and 2. But even that year they ended up losing in the first round of the playoffs to Mark Sanchez like. And so Brady went three years wrapped around the ACL without winning a playoff game. If that happens to Patrick, it will just be conventional wisdom. He's done. They're done. Tom, of course then went to eight straight conference championship games in five of the next eight Super Bowls. So I guess we'll see. But I, you keep wanting me to say I'M worried. I'm not worried, and maybe I'll be an idiot, but I'm not.

Stugats (27:11)

He's gotta go because he's respectful of his colleagues and he's got a meeting to get to. He's the host of ff First Things First. He's also the got the podcast what's right with Nick Wright that he does with his son. You came on here and you said at the beginning, I don't want to do editorial judgment for this show, but let's do some on the way out. Would you like me trying to say. Would you like to hear me trying to say the word matriculate earlier in the show, or would you like to hear the sound of Pablo making a joke to Adam Freeland that made you roar with laughter?

Dan LeBatard (27:40)

I'd like to hear matriculate, please. I'd like to hear that. You know, let me hear it again.

Stugats (27:48)

Let me take matric. Matriculate the ball down the field.

Dan LeBatard (27:52)

I like. You know what, Dan? I think that was a good effort. No edit there. Whether you. Whether you did that intentionally or not, I mean, to start with the Chiefs and then to end with a phrase that was created by the first legendary Chiefs coach, Hank Strom. I mean, that's why that. That's why you're the goat, bro. I mean, really. You really wrapped it all together. I didn't, by the way. I. I mean, I wasn't really. I wasn't trying to yell at you, bro. So I was. This is sincere. I wasn't trying to yell at you.

Mike Ryan (28:24)

I was.

Dan LeBatard (28:26)

You were trying to yell at me. That's fine.

Tony (28:28)

I know.

Dan LeBatard (28:28)

That's fine. I just. I. I don't. I don't need any more. I don't need any more beefs. I. You know what?

Mike Ryan (28:34)

Either.

Zagat (28:35)

I feel this wasn't a new one, though. We've had this one going for a couple of years now.

Dan LeBatard (28:40)

Oh, oh, yeah, because you're mad because you stole my. You came up with the idea of like, hey, let's. Let's call NBA players, superstars. I do have to go. Good to see you guys.

Zagat (28:52)

Later.

Stugats (28:54)

Yeah, see ya.

Mike Ryan (28:56)

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Tony (30:07)

All right, guys, it's the holiday time and I'm getting ready to host a little thing at the house. Little get together. The lights are up, the music's going to be going. My family arguing about who's in charge of the playlist. It's usually my wife and everybody keeps asking me, tony, what are you making? What are you gifting this year? And honestly, I love the holidays, but I don't love stressing about gifts or friends food. My life is complicated. I got a kid, I got jobs, I got things I got to do. I've got the idea. Omaha Steaks, baby. From effortless holiday hosting to unforgettable gifts, Omaha Steaks deliver the world's best steak experience. And the best part? You know exactly what you're gifting. USDA certified tender steaks, premium proteins, elegant side and those decadent desserts that make the table go quiet for a second after the first bite. You go shop the season's top gourmet gifts@omaha steaks.com and our listeners get an extra 35 bucks off with with Code Dan at checkout. I've gotten Omaha Steaks as a gift. I wish I got them more as a gift. I've cooked them, I've sent them, and people love it. Perfectly aged steaks, fantastic flavor, huge variety. It's holiday magic made easy. Five generations of quality, all backed by their 100% guarantee. Save big on gourmet gifts and holiday favorites with omaha steaks. Visit OmahaSteaks.com and for an extra 35 bucks off, use Code Dan at checkout. Terms apply. See cipher details. That's Omaha Steaks.com promo code Dan.

Dan LeBatard (31:18)

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. 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 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 Matte 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. Don LeBatard.

Stugats (32:32)

While there's nothing official and conversations are still ongoing.

Dan LeBatard (32:36)

Was that a fake chef dirt?

Stugats (32:37)

Because it was.

Dan LeBatard (32:38)

It was pretty good.

Zagat (32:39)

It was excellent.

Mike Ryan (32:39)

I feel like there's legs.

Stugats (32:41)

Yeah, I tried at the beginning and then lost confidence in it. Good.

Dan LeBatard (32:44)

It was good.

Stugats (32:45)

You got this. Nothing official. Conversations are still ongoing. St it is trending towards Nick Sirianni remaining the head coach of the Eagles.

Dan LeBatard (32:54)

This is the Dan Levatar show with the Stugats.

Stugats (33:07)

I've got a couple of questions that I want to get to with the group because Chris Cody said in the middle of that we're stuck in the mud. We're stuck in the mud talking about Patrick Mahomes and I don't think there will be a bigger injury in that sport because that's the guy who's inherited from all the previous quarterbacks. As Aaron Rodgers hangs around and Tom Brady is in the booth like that's the centerpiece. Biggest star in the league. I know Travis Kelce as well. But like him getting hurt and us. Us wondering aloud, ah, is that it? And him saying, no, it's fine, it'll be another decade. That's a pretty big gulf.

Mike Ryan (33:43)

He did cite Blind Faith. He's just. He's the best I've ever seen, so I trust him to do it. But we're just holding up the very recent post 30 data point of, well, they're not in the playoffs. And he just got hurt in the. In a way that he's never been hurt.

Zagat (33:56)

That's the problem with Nick's counterarguments, because Mike isn't saying he's fat now. And Mike just saying, hey, this is a legitimate concern. And Nick's like, no, it's not. That was his whole thing.

Mike Ryan (34:07)

I'm like, well, if it isn't, then what just happened? Because they miss the playoffs. He's 30.

Stugats (34:11)

But the golf here, to me, that's sort of most interesting. On, well, I saw Brady do it. He played. He played forever. I think it sort of ignores that Patrick Mahomes on third and six is always running for seven yards like he's been doing it for 10 years. He runs for seven yards on third and six and extends the drive. Brady didn't have to do that. Like Brady. They didn't ask Brady the last 15 years. When. When the margin in that sport is the guy who's the running back. You know, a bunch of people are blocking each other and the guy who's the running back hits the corner because he's this much faster than the corners. When Lamar Jackson can be derailed from MVP to wait a minute, what's happening here when. When he's got to play differently? How did that happen that fast? I think it's fair to wonder, did foot. Can football grind up Patrick Mahomes like it does other human beings?

Mike Ryan (34:57)

I think everybody agrees, though, he has the mental fortitude and the arm talent to change his game up. But in invoking Lamar Jackson, we were like, he relies on his athleticism so heavily that if he loses just a quarter of a step, that is going to make him a lesser quarterback. And I think it's a big unknown as to how much this is going to affect Patrick Mahomes going forward, given that he was rushing this year more than ever.

Stugats (35:23)

The. The thing that is amazing to me about how that sport turns up the people who play it most athletically. As you watch Aaron Rodgers sort of stumble around, you see all the age on him. There haven't been a lot of quarterbacks in the history of the league that are real good running for seven yards on third and six every time. Like he's playing right in the middle between the most athletic of the scramblers and the most. The most precise of the drop back guys. And I would assume there's a physical cost to that.

Mike Ryan (35:55)

It was almost as if Nick, even though he conceded that he knew the Chiefs weren't good enough, which is I believe the first time he admitted. The first time he admitted it was after they were eliminated from playoff contention. It feels like history is already going to forget that they weren't good enough to make the playoffs on their own. Like he, like it's already become kind of like how that the Raptors. I feel we're going to beat the warriors either way. Warriors fans can always hold on to the injuries that happen there. This little blip in Nick's mind, it's going to be a blip was Mahomes got hurt that season. Let's take away from Josh Allen. That ain't right either. He was healthy. He had to make that field goal to continue making the playoffs. And even then they weren't going to make it. And it's often, it's awfully super lucky for Nick and convenient to turn around and say Mahomes got injured. That's why Josh Allen got that ring. It's a half a ring. Get out of here.

Zagat (36:51)

So 10 years from now, do you think Nick's argument is going to be, well, that was the year Mahomes got hurt and he'll completely forget that they were terrible.

Mike Ryan (36:58)

He will totally forget. I think he already has. I think the nation already has subscribed to this narrative that well, Mahomes got injured that year, dog. They stunk.

Stugats (37:07)

That's a good show.

Dan LeBatard (37:08)

He got injured after.

Stugats (37:10)

It's a good show. Yo, you yelling get out of here. And him yelling, you jump in the ocean. Like that's where all of this has to descend to. Can we get the useless sound montage ready as a palate cleanser here? I need to laugh at Mike Tomlin and Sean McVay. Mission accomplished. Simple as going back to work.

Dan LeBatard (37:37)

And we got to get better. We always talk about, let's not react, let's respond out there for the anthem. And as the game just got going, I was just thankful, grateful that I was out there. There were just some, some things offensively that we were doing that we were messing ourselves up.

Zagat (37:51)

Basically every aspect.

Dan LeBatard (37:52)

Their team was better than our team.

Stugats (37:54)

They're the number of issues that we.

Dan LeBatard (37:55)

Have to end up looking at and some that you don't have to look at the film.

Mike Ryan (37:58)

We have to make sure that we move on quickly.

Stugats (38:00)

We look at the film, we make sure we tidy up the things that we need to.

Dan LeBatard (38:03)

You know, I want to look at the film first.

Mike Ryan (38:04)

Calvin staff and I, we're going to.

Dan LeBatard (38:06)

Come in, we're going to watch this thing together tomorrow. All of us in all three phases. In all three phases, there's different areas that continuously need to improve upon. It's inexcusable. You don't make excuses.

Stugats (38:16)

We had a young player that actually was blocking out of bounds.

Dan LeBatard (38:18)

That's what they were saying, allegedly. So just being able to earn the right to be able to get the path back in your hand a little bit defensively. My wife always tells me I'm crazy because there's been times in the last.

Stugats (38:27)

Three or four years I said, I.

Dan LeBatard (38:28)

Wish I could just throw one and get hit.

Stugats (38:29)

Certainly we wanted to engineer victory, but we wanted to do it in a certain way.

Dan LeBatard (38:33)

The major focus to me was getting the ball in the end zone.

Zagat (38:36)

We got to play better ball if.

Dan LeBatard (38:38)

We want to win games against good teams. When you give up that many points, that's tough. How well do you know your job? How well can you do your job? Guys just playing one snap at a time, Kurt, I think that was the key and critical factor.

Stugats (38:51)

Man, we love Monday Night Football. Strong lower body guy.

Mike Ryan (38:54)

That's real.

Dan LeBatard (38:54)

I know that on the. In the book, it says we turn.

Stugats (38:56)

The ball over, but we didn't turn the ball over.

Dan LeBatard (38:57)

I don't think the weather was a factor. I think their team outperformed us. What's resulted in not having penalties has.

Mike Ryan (39:03)

Been the discipline of how we've been playing.

Dan LeBatard (39:05)

Getting a game like that, knew we were going to need some points. You don't look at the scoreboard. You just continue to try to stack good plays, stay totally and completely present. They executed tonight.

Zagat (39:13)

We did.

Stugats (39:14)

We didn't expect it to be easy, but certainly after we got it going.

Dan LeBatard (39:16)

We had a little bit of fluidity there.

Zagat (39:18)

Really, at the end of the day, it's about.

Dan LeBatard (39:19)

It's about pride that you have for. For yourself.

Zagat (39:21)

Your last name on your back. You know who you are as a husband, who you are as a father, as a son, as a teammate.

Dan LeBatard (39:27)

Isaiah has a knee.

Mike Ryan (39:28)

You know, we talk about our play style. You know, talk about play smart and finish.

Dan LeBatard (39:31)

That did not show up for us today. You do feel like we are improving in some ways. It should burn at you. You know, it should eat you up.

Zagat (39:38)

You got to care enough where the hurts.

Dan LeBatard (39:41)

You gotta care enough where the hurts.

Stugats (39:44)

It gotta mean something to you. It's more than a job.

Dan LeBatard (39:47)

It's your livelihood. The fact that it's been 1800 days since I've thrown a touchdown, you know, or an interception, for that matter. So we got both those checkers staying in the moment. They kept making them snap it one more time on the defensive side of the ball. Supremely disappointed in the outcome. And, you know, I think it does a disservice to the objective, the work that we're doing on the. This opponent. I think the score was 13 and 13 or 13 and 10, so still have fighting chance. Are we out of the playoffs? We are. Okay.

Stugats (40:16)

It's that time of year.

Dan LeBatard (40:17)

It doesn't need to be said. I mean, how do I answer that one right. Without you really putting me in a. You know, obviously, the. The family stuff is. What the hell kind of question is that right there?

Stugats (40:27)

We believe in the strength of the pack, and. And a lot of guys stepped up, certainly. And. And.

Dan LeBatard (40:30)

And made that a truism. My wife is a total stud. You know, my respect, just watching and getting an up close and personal look at this. I could never do this stuff, you know.

Stugats (40:38)

See you next week. Keep watching. Put it on the pole. Is your wife a total stud at LeBatard show Trist? Are you cold? This seems to be an affliction in our studio.

Mike Ryan (40:48)

Yeah, it's freezing.

Stugats (40:49)

Okay, so you're.

Dan LeBatard (40:50)

You're struggling with Sean McVeigh saying he got an up close and personal look at the copy crowning of his child coming out of a vaginal canal. Is that what he was saying?

Stugats (41:03)

Pretty sure that, yeah, she's a total stud.

Zagat (41:06)

They gave the child a crown.

Mike Ryan (41:08)

Did you guys do that?

Dan LeBatard (41:09)

You got a peek?

Mike Ryan (41:10)

No, I didn't.

Dan LeBatard (41:11)

I went into the game there knowing I don't need to see what's happening.

Mike Ryan (41:14)

I peaked. That was the advice that I got. Don't look. And I didn't.

Stugats (41:17)

Don't look.

Zagat (41:18)

I'm gonna tell y' all right now. As crazy as it sounds, have you ever seen a C section?

Dan LeBatard (41:22)

Yeah, that's actually what I.

Zagat (41:23)

Look. That one is crazy. That I saw that one is crazy.

Mike Ryan (41:27)

I was trying not to look there.

Dan LeBatard (41:29)

A lot of ra.

Mike Ryan (41:29)

I saw the organs, like.

Zagat (41:31)

All right, Dan, listen to me. Listen to me, because this is.

Stugats (41:34)

This. No, no, you got.

Zagat (41:35)

Dan, you gotta.

Dan LeBatard (41:36)

You know about that C section.

Zagat (41:41)

I'd watch movies, and they're like, oh, you know, the predator, like, disembowels the Guy and the guts and all that stuff on it. I'm like, that looked fake as hell.

Mike Ryan (41:48)

It's pretty surreal.

Zagat (41:49)

Boy, this was on point. I owe a massive apology to Hollywood. You guys know exactly what the insides of a person look like. I seen it.

Mike Ryan (41:58)

It's wild having a conversation, trying to motivate somebod. They're like in your peripheral vision, a spleen is just being lifted out of a body.

Stugats (42:05)

They put it on a tray.

Dan LeBatard (42:06)

Yes, it's on a tray.

Zagat (42:07)

Here we go. Just put it on this TV tray over here.

Mike Ryan (42:09)

Mir. Miracle of birth, huh?

Stugats (42:11)

Holy hell to 28 points for OG Anunobi last night.

Dan LeBatard (42:16)

Why would you need to motivate someone who's having the baby cut out of them?

Mike Ryan (42:20)

It's just something you say.

Dan LeBatard (42:22)

They don't have to do any work.

Mike Ryan (42:24)

I don't have to do any work at all.

Dan LeBatard (42:26)

Keep it up. You're doing.

Mike Ryan (42:27)

I'm not having my spleen removed.

Dan LeBatard (42:28)

I'm so proud of you.

Mike Ryan (42:29)

Yeah, you're doing great.

Dan LeBatard (42:30)

Love you so much.

Stugats (42:31)

You're so strong.

Zagat (42:31)

Just a. It's optics.

Dan LeBatard (42:33)

Oh, I see.

Zagat (42:33)

Because if you don't do that like this bastard. His poor wife was there getting shredded to pieces, and he just stood there checking fantasy football scores on his phone.

Dan LeBatard (42:42)

20 more minutes and you can eat sushi again. Ice chips. Ice chips.

Stugats (42:49)

Wife is a total stud. I want to get to McDaniel talking about benching Tua, but before I do that, because this got away from me earlier in the show. So the Miami Heat are getting bleeped here in a way that's super strange and needs to be covered a little bit better because the NBA is unprepared and for a gambling scandal that looks like this. Because how would they know what this whole Terry Rozier thing was given that, you know, they helped normalize all of this when they decided to get in bed with gambling partners like our beloved partner DraftKings, because there are dangers around some of this that we've seen, and they're not totally prepared to handle all of the dangers that come as they try to figure out what the rules are. So it really seems like Adam Silver doesn't know what he's doing about the blatant unfairness that the Miami Heat traded for a player who had a gambling issue and now can't get rid of that contract and can't trade it. So let's listen to Adam Silver. This is the first time I've heard him address this, and it seems fairly obvious. I'd like to know what I'm missing here that the Miami Heat are just getting bleeped by. The NBA doesn't know how to handle any of this because it's all new. And so he's out here pretending like he doesn't know anything and can't do anything as the commissioner of the league.

Dan LeBatard (44:09)

It's essentially out of our hands.

Stugats (44:10)

As you know, these are federal indictments.

Dan LeBatard (44:13)

In the case of Terry Rozier in the. You know, in Brooklyn, New York, the.

Stugats (44:17)

Eastern district of New York. We had investigated him at some point earlier. We had not found sufficient evidence to discipline him under the rules of the league. And then at some point, that investigation.

Dan LeBatard (44:32)

Was taken over, you know, by.

Stugats (44:34)

By federal authorities. So, as I said, it's in their hands.

Dan LeBatard (44:38)

It's out of their hands. Like, does he think that people want him, the NBA, to put Terry rushing in prison?

Stugats (44:45)

What's out of their hands?

Zagat (44:47)

So the question was a long question by Tim Reynolds.

Dan LeBatard (44:50)

Good job by Tim Reynolds for bringing it up, because I don't know anyone else.

Zagat (44:53)

He was the first question of the press conference. The first question, and it was a long. I don't know why.

Stugats (44:57)

Well, no, Mike. Mike Ryan is made Tim Reynolds excommunicado.

Dan LeBatard (45:01)

No, but he did a good job. You got to ask.

Stugats (45:03)

I think Mike Ryan gave you a blistering stare because you saluted Tim Reynolds.

Dan LeBatard (45:07)

I got to be fair.

Stugats (45:08)

I believe.

Mike Ryan (45:08)

Shush my boy in the Panthers press box. That's not something you do, will Mano. You don't shush him.

Stugats (45:14)

Mike Ryan bullied Tim Reynolds, and it was unfair what you did to him. And it was excommunicado. And what else? What was the other? No longer friends. No longer friends with.

Mike Ryan (45:23)

Not friends.

Zagat (45:23)

You guys just reminded me now, there was a moment when I walked into the media workroom and I was going to ask Vinnie Goodwill something, and I came in a little. A little jocular, but not. Not overly loud and not long and pronounced. It's just like, hey, dad, you know some funny thing. And Tim was, like, typing, and he turned around and he did give a look.

Stugats (45:43)

Yeah, he's a professional.

Zagat (45:45)

That has nothing to do with professionalism.

Stugats (45:46)

You're not professional.

Zagat (45:47)

No, a professional. You know what a professional does? You keep it trucking. Despite all the distractions. You don't do the stop making noises, I'm paper type.

Dan LeBatard (45:55)

We're writing over here. Put on headphones, get in the weeds. Welcome to 2025, huh? A lot of ways to make content.

Mike Ryan (46:01)

It's not my only problem with Tim.

Zagat (46:03)

But to answer Zazzle's question, Tim's question was long and the first part of his question was, can you shed any light on the status of the investigation into the arrests of Chauncey and Terry Rozier? That's the part that we just played there. That's the part Adam Silver was responding to. Tim's other part of his question was, is a part within that Rosie remains on the books in Miami. 17% of the cap draft pick going there. Has elite considered any relief to the Heat about what they can do in that situation? That answer that he's giving is not to that part of the question.

Dan LeBatard (46:34)

Okay, so then, so then, yeah. So then the commissioner does answer the part about the Miami Heat.

Zagat (46:42)

Yes.

Dan LeBatard (46:42)

And like, if there's anything that they could do in regards to that situation. I believe we also have that.

Stugats (46:47)

No, he does not have it yet. We'll come back with it in a second. But before we go any further on this, what is the framing that anyone outside this could say this is not Miami homorific protectionism. It seems like the Miami Heat are getting bleeped here by something that the NBA doesn't know how to handle.

Zagat (47:06)

Right. The thing they're getting bleeped on right, is if it was known this guy is under investigation. Even if Adam Silver is saying, hey, we only have limited tools in terms of investigating this kind of allegation, we exhausted those tools and so we couldn't have an adjudication there. But if they knew that there was something greater at play than them, meaning the federal investigation into him and they allowed that deal to happen, then there to me, I feel like there has to be a recouping of that conversation. Having said that, this is kind of like Mike's thing with Mahomes doors, acl. So that's why the Chiefs missed the playoffs. Well, no, they were awful. Anyway, the deal he did, the deal with Terry Rose, it was a bad deal. Him, like getting indicted or not does not impact the value they got out of the deal.

Dan LeBatard (48:01)

Okay, so here is the commissioner now addressing the Miami Heat part of this whole situation. In terms of Miami, you know, this.

Stugats (48:11)

Is an unprecedented situation, and I think.

Dan LeBatard (48:14)

I'm incredibly sympathetic to the Heat and to their fans, but I think, you.

Mike Ryan (48:19)

Know, we're going to try to work.

Stugats (48:20)

Something through, work this out with them, but there's no. There's no obvious solution here.

Dan LeBatard (48:25)

I would just say that, you know, there's. There's no doubt at the moment they.

Stugats (48:30)

Have a player that can't perform services for them. And, you know, and as to the draft pick, they Convey.

Dan LeBatard (48:38)

You know, obviously he hasn't been convicted.

Stugats (48:40)

Of anything yet either, but this is an unfortunate circumstance. But, you know, sometimes there's these unique events, and maybe sometimes, you know, they require unique solutions.

Dan LeBatard (48:51)

So we'll be looking at this with.

Stugats (48:53)

The Heat and the other teams in the league and see if there's any satisfactory relief. But at the moment, there is none.

Mike Ryan (48:59)

He makes the rules, right?

Zagat (49:00)

Yeah, but what's the rule you want him to make here?

Mike Ryan (49:02)

The one for my team?

Dan LeBatard (49:04)

I mean, like an unprecedented situation. So because it's never happened before, he just.

Stugats (49:10)

He doesn't know what to do.

Mike Ryan (49:11)

He doesn't have a clue.

Dan LeBatard (49:12)

He's such a nothing.

Stugats (49:13)

It was once unprecedented to take someone's team from them.

Mike Ryan (49:17)

He's a nothing.

Stugats (49:19)

He can make the rules. What are his rules?

Zagat (49:21)

What is the rule? What is the rule that you guys are looking for here?

Stugats (49:23)

He's sitting here arriving in a situation that he's saying, this has no precedent, and he's correct. And because they've gotten it wrong on how they handled it the first time, he could say, yeah, they should have their draft kick pick, draft pick back. It's okay.

Zagat (49:36)

Okay, so then what happens if comes back Terry Rozier innocent, not guilty, then what?

Dan LeBatard (49:42)

Oh, wait, wait.

Zagat (49:42)

That pick that you got back, give it right back.

Mike Ryan (49:44)

Wait a second.

Stugats (49:45)

What are we doing?

Mike Ryan (49:45)

You look at the precedent. Can be. We look at these things case by case.

Stugats (49:49)

Sure.

Mike Ryan (49:49)

That. That can be the precedent.

Zagat (49:50)

Sure. I don't think he made a ruling in that statement. I think he's saying, like, I don't. We got to see how this plays out.

Dan LeBatard (49:55)

The Miami Heat claim that if they knew about the investigation, they would not have made this trade.

Mike Ryan (50:01)

So it doesn't matter if Rozier is innocent or guilty.

Dan LeBatard (50:04)

Give them the pick back.

Stugats (50:05)

It's not due process here. I mean, that's not due process. That's criminal. That's court. That's not due process. It's. I'm the commissioner. I decide. I've made this decision. If I got it wrong, I'll fix it the next time. Let's be honest and transparent or. Holy shit. I didn't realize that this could ever happen to me, and I don't know what to do.