The Big Suey: Jerry Jones, Bill Belichick, and Cyber Squatting (feat. Dianna Russini)

Summary

The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz: The Big Suey – Jerry Jones, Bill Belichick, and Cyber Squatting (feat. Diana Russini)
Release Date: January 7, 2025

Hosted by Dan Le Batard and Stugotz from the Elser Hotel in Downtown Miami, this episode delves into a myriad of topics spanning sports media controversies, high-profile coaching scenarios, cyber squatting in the digital age, and a surprising portrayal of NFL icon Jerry Jones. Featuring insights from NFL insider Diana Rossini, the discussion is both engaging and informative, providing listeners with a comprehensive overview of current sports landscapes.

---

1. Cyber Squatting and Domain Name Strategies

Mike Ryan and Billy Corben kick off the discussion by exploring the lucrative yet contentious world of cyber squatting—purchasing domain names of high-value interest with the intent to sell them at inflated prices.

Billy Corben highlights notable domain sales:

"Bowlingballs.com sold for $275,000. Cars.com eventually sold for $872 million."
(04:30)

The conversation shifts to their personal regrets over missed opportunities:

"I'm upset with myself. Someone grabbed it and eventually sold it for $872 million."
(05:09)

Stugotz shares a cautionary tale about losing out on ideal domain names:

"We announced our T-Shirt store and then a fan bought the URL because we didn't dot our I's and cross our T's."
(05:37)

The hosts discuss the mechanics and ethical implications of cyber squatting, questioning its legitimacy and impact on brands:

"How does cyber squatting work? Because sometimes it doesn't, right?"
(05:55)

Stugotz reveals the availability of high-profile domains, including:

"JoshAllen.com is available. You just need to call Todd. It says so there."
(31:44)

The segment underscores the importance of securing domain names early and the potential pitfalls of neglecting digital assets.

---

2. Jerry Jones’ Unexpected Acting Prowess

A surprising highlight of the episode is the discussion surrounding Jerry Jones' performance in a Netflix documentary. The hosts express both amazement and skepticism at Jones' acting skills.

Mike Ryan introduces the segment:

"Jerry Jones has a 10-part documentary that Netflix has paid $50 million for."
(15:08)

Mike Ryan plays a clip of Jones acting:

"I'm pretty proud of them Cowboys. I'm pretty proud of the stuff we've done and oil and gas."
(16:20)

Dan Le Batard comments on Jones' performance:

"I've seen him do it since he was a nobody... it's a 10-part documentary you're going to get on a Jerry Jones."
(16:51)

Diana Rossini praises Jones' dedication:

"I love this impression. Hosting this scene shows his commitment."
(18:14)

The hosts debate whether other NFL owners could match Jones' unexpected acting talents, ultimately singling out Arthur Blank and John Mara as notable figures, albeit with mixed opinions on their acting abilities.

---

3. Bill Belichick’s Coaching Future

A significant portion of the episode centers around the legendary coach Bill Belichick and his potential future in the NFL. Mike Ryan and Chris Cote explore the complexities of Belichick's possible moves post-New England Patriots.

Chris Cote raises a theoretical scenario:

"If a team thinks Bill Belichick is the answer, like the Jacksonville Jaguars, would he entertain that?"
(08:37)

Dan Le Batard provides his analysis:

"I don't think that's much money for an owner if he really wants. But no owner is currently looking for a head coach that fits."
(09:10)

The hosts delve into Belichick's past interactions with the New York Jets and his reluctance to work under certain management styles:

"He was willing to go work for an owner he doesn't even respect based on how he's talked about him on the air."
(09:26)

Dan Le Batard emphasizes the power dynamics at play:

"Belichick wants to be a coach with all the power, which is why he's hesitant to join teams where he can't exert influence."
(09:43)

Diana Rossini underscores the stability within the Jacksonville Jaguars, attributing it to GM Trent Balky's stronghold:

"Trent is a safety net for the owners, giving them comfort to cast a wide net in the search."
(11:06)

The discussion highlights the challenges Belichick would face in navigating team dynamics and ownership expectations, ultimately questioning the likelihood of him making a high-profile coaching switch.

---

4. Deshaun Watson and the Cleveland Browns’ Crisis

The episode takes a critical look at Deshaun Watson's decline and its ramifications for the Cleveland Browns, with Mike Ryan and Diana Rossini dissecting the multifaceted issues surrounding his performance and leadership.

Mike Ryan prompts the discussion:

"Deshaun went from a top five quarterback in his prime to one of the worst in the sport. Is it the body or the mind?"
(34:02)

Diana Rossini responds thoughtfully:

"He's doing it and trying, but he's the dull version of himself now."
(35:08)

Dan Le Batard reflects on Watson's personal struggles:

"It's been a really hard time in his life for a lot of different reasons."
(35:08)

The conversation explores the potential for Watson to regain his former prowess and the Browns' strategic decisions moving forward:

"They've got to barrel through and construct their team as if Deshaun Watson isn't part of it."
(37:20)

Chris Cote adds:

"They have to go quarterback because they need to present their fan base a future."
(37:17)

The segment concludes with considerations on how the Browns might navigate their future draft picks to rebuild, emphasizing the necessity of finding a reliable quarterback to restore team stability and fan trust.

---

5. Mina Kimes’ Netflix Telecast Performance

Mina Kimes is a focal point in a lighter segment where the hosts analyze her Netflix telecast, balancing humor with genuine critique.

Mike Ryan shares his astonishment:

"Mina Kimes was better than RG3 and Mantayteo on football - more informative."
(22:03)

Dan Le Batard admits embarrassment over Kimes' on-screen mishaps:

"She stepped into the shot and was absolutely horrified."
(23:42)

Despite initial stumbles, the hosts commend Kimes and her colleagues for maintaining professionalism:

"The women held down the Netflix telecast. Held it up."
(25:08)

Billy Corben jokes about securing domains related to Kimes:

"MinaKimes.net is available."
(24:43)

The segment wraps up with praise for Kimes' ability to navigate live broadcasts despite occasional errors, highlighting her overall capability and resilience in the high-pressure world of sports journalism.

---

6. Additional Sports Insights and Banter

Throughout the episode, the hosts engage in spirited banter covering various topics:

• Houston Texans’ Media Savvy:
  Chris Cote laments the Texans' recurring presence in wild card slots:

  "They have a young budding superstar at the position, but perpetually end up in this TV slot."
  (30:22)

• Andy Reid’s Playoff Pressure:
  Dan Le Batard compares the Chiefs' coaching strategies to Reid's leadership:

  "Andy knows enough at this point in his life that you know what, who cares? Just take the shirt off and jump in there."
  (14:36)

• Executive Perspectives:
  The hosts discuss the influence of general managers like Mike Tannenbaum and their roles in shaping team dynamics and coaching hires.

• Humorous Exchanges:
  Light-hearted moments include jokes about selling domains and teasing among hosts about past embarrassing moments, adding a layer of camaraderie to the show.

---

Notable Quotes

• Billy Corben on Cyber Squatting:

  "VacationRentals.com sold for $35 million."
  (04:30)

• Dan Le Batard on Belichick’s Potential Move:

  "He doesn't want to work with Trent Balky. That is not a situation that was ever going to pan out."
  (09:24)

• Diana Rossini on Deshaun Watson:

  "He does not have that same sparkle at all when it comes to his interactions with his teammates."
  (35:08)

• Dan Le Batard on Jerry Jones:

  "I've seen him do it since he was a nobody who just sort of stumbled his way into oil and the Cowboys."
  (16:51)

---

Conclusion

This episode of The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz offers a multifaceted exploration of pressing sports topics, from the intricacies of cyber squatting to the enigmatic future of Bill Belichick and the Cleveland Browns’ quarterback turmoil. With sharp insights from Diana Rossini and the hosts' characteristic humor and wit, listeners are treated to a rich and engaging analysis that informs and entertains, making it a must-listen for sports enthusiasts seeking depth and perspective.

Transcript

[Dan LeBatard]

You're listening to giraffkings Network.

[Stugotz]

You know that sound? It's the sound of money hitting your Venmo account. A friend paying you back. Or maybe it's getting cash back from your favorite business when you pay with the Venmo debit card. Or it's realizing you can pay with Venmo at checkout at thousands of brands. Now there are so many more ways to answer the question. What's your Venmo? Download Venmo. Today the Venmo MasterCard is issued by the Bancorp Bank N.A. pursuant to license by MasterCard International Incorporated. DOSH Cash Back Terms apply.

[Dan LeBatard]

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[Mike Ryan]

Why are you listening to this show.

[Billy Corben]

The podcast that seems very similar to the other Dan LeBatard podcast? I'm sorry, I'm not going to apologize for that. In fact, the only difference seems to be this imaging.

[Mike Ryan]

I have been tempted in restaurants just walking past tables to grab somebody's fries if they're just there. That hasn't happened to you guys.

[Billy Corben]

I've done it. And now here's the marching man to Nowhere Fat Face and the Habitual Liar.

[Diana Rossini]

This episode of the Dan LeBatard show with Stugots is presented by Venmo.

[Mike Ryan]

I've got a pretty good stat of the day to get to in a second, but before I do that, there are a couple of things that I wanted to put in front of the audience. One of them, Stugatz, that I'm having some difficulty with, is that we had two weeks off and yesterday I was bombarded, bombarded with questions about something that happened in and around sports. And only one thing in a way that was really unusual. And it was because the last two weeks have had a lot of sports in it, a lot of interesting stories, a lot of stuff. I've seen the numbers. If we talk Jimmy Butler and Tyree Kill you guys. Love that. Just the. The transaction, the mess. This is. This is content eating time for all these people that Billy can't criticize because everybody's in the content business right now.

[Stugotz]

I never know who's going to be a future boss.

[Chris Cote]

Don't stop him. He's about to get to Laroniga.

[Mike Ryan]

Haven't even gotten to Lareniga yet. No longer the University of Miami's basketball coach. Like the seventh thing on the list that happened locally. But that Fox Sports lawsuit is something that people really want to cluck and gossip about. And it's also something Stugatz that is in this amazing content sweet spot of the mainstream is not going to discuss it in any way. And the Internet is going to chew it up fairly or unfairly. And it does not matter that a lawsuit can be just anything you say to a lawyer. And that doesn't mean it's fair to any of the people who get dragged by this. Now, I don't know obviously what is true or what isn't true in that lawsuit, but I do know that, man, for all of the people who complain about how often I talk about sports media, this one you want me to talk about. Like you're desperate for me to say the things that show you the inner workings of what might be true or might not be true in that lawsuit. And so I'm going to talk about some parts of this that I find interesting in. In a second. But before I do that, I just want to point out to you guys what was happening during the break in here with Stu. Got.

[Billy Corben]

Still happening.

[Mike Ryan]

Stu Gotz is not listening to me. Stu Gotz, since the last segment, has been on a busy, busy search of the Internet. Stu Gotz has always been, since I've known him, get rich quick guy. And so what he was saying before the break is, I can't believe I didn't grab Dick's. He wanted the domain name 12 years ago. And he's like, can you imagine the fortune? He's been looking up nothing but domain names for the last 10 minutes now.

[Billy Corben]

Dick's.com sold back in 2011, the domain. Now, the price is undisclosed, but bowling balls.com, a domain we all should have grabbed many, many years ago, that sold for $275,000. Cars.com, which is something that should have been obvious to everyone. I'm upset with myself. Someone grabbed it and eventually sold it for $872 million. Vacation Rentals.com sold for $35 million. And what I'm thinking about is the future and what domains I should grab today. Billy, let's get on this.

[Mike Ryan]

Well, Billy's making faces at you. He does. He's tired of your get rich quick schemes.

[Stugotz]

I mean, if. If we're Doing behind the bit. There's a funny story about us getting scooped on a website. And it was the launch of the T Shirt Store where we got very excited and we announced what the T Shirt store was going to be. And then a fan bought the URL because we didn't dot our I's and cross our T's. And then we didn't have the domain that we wanted and we had to pivot.

[Chris Cote]

Yeah, ESPN would have been on that.

[Stugotz]

Somehow it got.

[Chris Cote]

Held as hostage, and we were just like, you can have it.

[Billy Corben]

But, Mike, when the Internet came out, aren't you upset with yourself for not grabbing Christmas.com, which sold for $3.15 million, a bargain, by the way, for Christmas.

[Chris Cote]

We grabbed no Source Insider.

[Stugotz]

How does cyber squatting work? Because sometimes it doesn't, right? Like, can't. Like, sometimes, can't they just take the cipher and be like, no, like, you're just trying to Cyber Squad here. You don't own this.

[Chris Cote]

Is that true? Is there imminent domain for web address?

[Stugotz]

I think that there. Like, I can't just go and buy nike.com if they let it expire for some reason.

[Chris Cote]

Like, if you were just sitting on Covid relief.com and then you saw the news stories out of Wuhan and you're.

[Diana Rossini]

Like, some guy's still trying to give me $2,000 for the slow report.

[Stugotz]

You should take it. You're doing nothing. But you haven't tweeted anything.

[Diana Rossini]

Slow burn.

[Chris Cote]

Yeah. Oh, wait. Have you reported Bill Belichick's going to UNC yet?

[Stugotz]

Do they?

[Billy Corben]

I heard it's today.

[Mike Ryan]

I heard it hasn't been great so far at North Carolina with Bill Belich. We will get an update there in a second. We will get a stat of the day in a second. We will get to Diana Rossini in a second, we'll get to that Fox Sports lawsuit.

[Chris Cote]

Damn, I thought we got it away from you covered.

[Mike Ryan]

In a second.

[Diana Rossini]

Check it off.

[Mike Ryan]

There's a lot of stuff to get to, but if you guys had heard what it was during the break? Stug actually said to me, he's sausage fingers hitting the keyboard. He's crushing it. And he actually says to me, can you imagine if I had gotten the domain name to DraftKings? And then there's like, three seconds of silence. And we both said at the same time, they just would have changed their name.

[Billy Corben]

I'm surprised Dick's didn't go to Rick's.

[Chris Cote]

I mean, you know, I'm excited to have Diana on because I. The Bill Belichick contract thing is interesting to me. There's like a weird June 1st. Actually, I should not be talking about this. I have someone that is, well, more informed. Happy New Year, buddy.

[Mike Ryan]

Happy New Year to all.

[Chris Cote]

How's the Bill Belichick thing going? It's a slow burn, but so far Bill Belichick has hired two people.

[Mike Ryan]

His son as the defensive coordinator and then works hard Lombardi's son as the quarterback coach.

[Billy Corben]

So.

[Chris Cote]

And we also got Purdue's backup quarterback. That's a good one.

[Billy Corben]

They had one win.

[Mike Ryan]

Yes.

[Chris Cote]

So we got not the starter, but the guy who beat out the starter.

[Mike Ryan]

Purdue was like, like one of the three worst teams in the sport this year.

[Billy Corben]

Listen, Bill sees something in that kid and that's all I need to know.

[Mike Ryan]

I mean, appreciate all your hard work, Taylor. Thank you for.

[Chris Cote]

I must admit I thought the cachet of Bill Bell and gear one is always hard, even for recruiting based coaches is very difficult to have that kind of class. But I thought the cachet of Bill Belichick, the name in the portal guys would just take visits out of curiosity. And it seems that it's going to take Bill a little bit to navigate these waters.

[Mike Ryan]

So what did you want to ask Diana Rossini, our foremost NFL insider?

[Chris Cote]

Diana, is there a possibility? Because I don't think a $10 million buyout, it going from 1 million to 10 million, is going to stop an NFL owner if they think Bill Belichick is the answer during this coaching cycle. It doesn't appear like he's in the mix for any, any of these jobs. But could it be? Is there a scenario if an NFL team shows legitimate interest and thinks Bill Belichick is the answer, say the Jacksonville Jaguars, who I know the cons like Bill Belichick. If they up and decide, you know what, UNC be damned, this is the right guy, we'll pay $10 million. That's nothing to us. Do you think Bill Belichick would entertain that? Diana?

[Dan LeBatard]

Oh, I didn't know that you guys were coming to me now. I thought you were teasing ahead of what you wanted to ask me.

[Chris Cote]

No.

[Dan LeBatard]

Hi, guys.

[Chris Cote]

Did you hear what I said though?

[Dan LeBatard]

I did. I heard you loud and clear.

[Mike Ryan]

Cool. You just didn't. You just didn't know. Was a question for you.

[Billy Corben]

I think milk.com is available.

[Chris Cote]

I find that impossible. If. If a team shows interest in Bill Belichick, would they. Would Bill Belichick actually entertain that? Because I don't see the $10 million buyout thing stopping an NFL owner.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah, I don't think so. I don't think so either. I don't think that's that much money for an owner if he really wants. And the problem is, I don't know of an owner right now in the league that's looking for a head coach that is sitting there going, okay, these options are not good enough. Let's go call up Bill Belichick. If you guys remember, on the show we talked about right before Bill took that job at unc, the oddest of connections between Bill Belichick and the New York jets came to light, where right before he took the UNC job, he was talking to them about possibly meeting and having a conversation. And you guys know the history with Belichick in the New York jets, and he spent the whole season on the Manning cast, on every podcast that we know, taking shots at Woody Johnson, taking shots at the organization, a guy that resigned after a day when he was named the head coach there. So the fact that he communicated with Mike Tannenbaum, who's running that jet search team, to see if maybe he could get in there tells me that is really where his heart has been. He was willing to go work for an owner he doesn't even respect based on how he's talked about him on the air. But to him, I think being a coach with all the power is still what he wants. And that's why I think Jacksonville's off the table, Mike, because look who's still the GM there. Trent Balky. Bill Belichick does not want to work with Trent Balky. That is not a situation that was ever going to pan out.

[Chris Cote]

Why do they like Trent Balky so much over there in Jacksonville? He seems to have a stranglehold on that position. And it's a little curious, I think.

[Dan LeBatard]

I think it's a little bit of his own doing in terms of being a good relationship person with the owners. He's really earned that belief from them that. That he knows what he's doing. But also, people tell me that he's a really hard worker. He's one of those guys. He's always in the building. He's always around. And, Mike, I do think in this process, a lot of owners don't want to clear house without anyone being in charge to help with the process. Right. Because you get rid of the gm, you get rid of the head coach who. Who's calling the shots. You are, as the owner. And I don't necessarily believe every owner feels that comfortable calling the shots in terms of the football operation. So Trent is a little Bit of that safety net for them as they cast a pretty wide net here as we're seeing. Aaron Glenn and Liam Cohen, Matt Nagy, Anthony Weaver, all these guys expected to get interviews with the Jacksonville Jags.

[Billy Corben]

Diana, Rex Ryan is telling people he expects to be hired by the Jets. Will he be hired by the Jets?

[Dan LeBatard]

I love his strategy. Right. It's like he is forcing them. He's trying to. To sort of manipulate the process. Like I. I'm telling you, you're hiring me. And they're like, yeah, no, we're not doing that. Right. Like, we're. Thank you. I appreciate it. And you gotta love the confidence. And I will say in. In a pool of coaches right now that doesn't have that much experience. I see what Rex is doing, and I think. I think he's going to do really well in this interview, because I know the Jets. Mike Tannenbaum, again, leading that search. They are looking for someone who knows what they're doing, who can navigate this journey for them, who knows all the booby traps and the hurdles that come with being a New York Jet head coach. And if anyone knows it, it's Rex Ryan. But don't you think it's funny that Mike Tannenbaum, the general manager of the New York jets that was fired, who fired Rex Ryan as the head coach, and now they're all sitting together in Palm beach at Woody Johnson's house talking about how together they can come up with a winning way. It's. It's bonkers. Yeah, sure thing. Hey, you saw that car yet?

[Chris Cote]

Yeah, sold it to Carvana.

[Dan LeBatard]

Oh, I thought you were selling to that guy.

[Billy Corben]

The guy who wanted to pay me.

[Mike Ryan]

In foreign currency, no interest, over 36 months. Yeah, no. Carvana gave me an offer in minutes.

[Stugotz]

Picked it up and paid me on the spot. It was so convenient.

[Dan LeBatard]

Just like that.

[Chris Cote]

Yeah.

[Dan LeBatard]

No hassle.

[Mike Ryan]

None.

[Dan LeBatard]

That is super convenient.

[Greg Cote]

Sell your car to Carvana and swap hassle for convenience. Pick up. These may apply.

[Mike Ryan]

Don Lebatard.

[Stugotz]

And then Matt Stafford threw him 25 and 2. Oh, there's a brand new kid in.

[Chris Cote]

Town out of BYU Stugats.

[Stugotz]

They call him Puka. His quarterback is not named Tua.

[Billy Corben]

Yeah, he is.

[Dan LeBatard]

Puka.

[Stugotz]

This is the Dan Levatar show with the stuff.

[Diana Rossini]

Pool of coaches is a totally different game. Yes, and I love it and I.

[Stugotz]

Want to play it.

[Dan LeBatard]

Who?

[Diana Rossini]

Which coach is going in the pool with their shirt on? I'll tell you who's not. Andy Reid is going tarp off.

[Billy Corben]

Oh, yeah, yeah.

[Mike Ryan]

Tarp off. Tarp on.

[Diana Rossini]

No, he's going off like he's got the shirt off.

[Billy Corben]

He does a cannonball right into the pool.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah, yeah, he, you know, it's interesting when you talk about the Chiefs right now, they're at a point where they've got like 20 something days off. And Andy told the guys after the game, guys that stay in shape, you know, let's keep our weight down. I've got to keep my weight down. So he's very self aware of what's going on there. So I'm with you that I think, I think he knows enough at this point in his life that you know what, who cares? Just take the shirt off and jump in there.

[Mike Ryan]

Stugotz has a top five list of most pressure in the playoffs. I want to get to that in a second. I also want to play some video here for Diana. A lot of people were stun by this. You guys give me all the information I need here on. Jerry Jones has a 10 part documentary that Netflix has paid $50 million for that I'm sure is going to be riveting. Because Jerry Jones, accomplished mercenary salesman, has been a great actor for many, many years. And so to see him acting well is not surprising because he's been, I've been watching him do it since he was a nobody who didn't know anything, who just sort of stumbled his way into oil and the Cowboys and then spent 30 years not winning much of anything after Jimmie Johnson, but always keeping his team so interesting that it's the only 10 part documentary you're going to get on a Jerry Jones. Metal art finished second there. That hurt. We could have made that one. We could have made that one. That one would have. That one would have been good. And I'm sure it will be good.

[Chris Cote]

First, your last.

[Mike Ryan]

But let's play the acting of Jerry Jones recently here and see from the audience and you guys how surprised you are by this.

[Jerry Jones]

Now, I'm not saying I've done anything right, but I made my mind up a long time ago. I was going to work with my kids. They're involved in everything. They're involved in my leasing, oil and gas, real estate. And so when I got to Cowboys, I got it so that we could all work together. I thought I was doing it for them, but the one that got the most out of it was me. I just know it's not going to be this time. But you're going to be sitting here sometime in the future, laying here sometime in the future and this room's going to be full of your business Associates and the people you've worked with all your life. And more than likely your children and family are going to be there because they're your children and your family. But you could have them there because they're the people you spent your life with, you worked with, you fell down with, you got up with. Not just Thanksgiving and Christmas. That's who you want to be with. So when that time comes like this, it's a celebration of your life, and you're not wishing you'd spend a little more time seeing a few more suns come up. That's the trick. That's the trick. Because that's going to be your glory. But I'm pretty proud of them Cowboys. I'm pretty proud of the stuff we've done and oil and gas.

[Mike Ryan]

That is opposite Jon Hamm and Billy Bob Thornton, and he owns the room for two minutes of acting.

[Billy Corben]

Jerryjones.com is available.

[Mike Ryan]

See if you can get that. Diana, what are your thoughts on what it is that you just witnessed there? Mike is stunned in the back room. Floored.

[Dan LeBatard]

So good. It's so good. But it wasn't like it was a reach in terms of that character, of what he was talking about. It was pretty reflective of his own life, of his own feelings. It's. It's not like we're asking him to go out there, you know, name a situation right now where it would be something out of sorts for Jerry Jones. Yeah.

[Chris Cote]

Nitpicking his range.

[Mike Ryan]

Ridiculous. Ridiculous. Shitting me. Diana, like you can find any reason to criticize this man.

[Dan LeBatard]

Here's. I have so many questions watching that. I want to know how many takes. I want to know where he put his head at. Like, did he have an acting coach? How many times they went through this? I want to know what Jon Hamm thought about that. That was incredible. My question is, is there another owner in football that could go toe to toe with Jerry Jones in that scene? Who could do that?

[Mike Ryan]

It is a good question. It is. No. Arthur Blank could not do that. I would love to see the audition. Arthur Blank.

[Dan LeBatard]

John Mara. John Mara. He's got acting in his blood.

[Mike Ryan]

You think the owner of Home Depot, who we have accused because of his mustache, of how it's having a house that's haunted. You believe that Arthur Blank can throw down in acting with what we just saw, which is Jon Hamm and Billy Bob Thornton silently awed by the tears in Jerry Jones's eyes.

[Chris Cote]

Jimmy Haslam auditioning for the role.

[Dan LeBatard]

This is where my head went. I went to the owner's Meetings. And when I'm running around the lobby in the hotel trying to talk to all these guys, who holds court with presence, right? Who sits there and just owns that circle of reporters that are asking them a million questions. Most owners are awkward and uncomfortable by it. Arthur Blank is comfortable in that circle. John Mara, obviously you saw him talking about Dable and Joe Shane yesterday. He's comfortable. He's probably the best answer because obviously his niece, excuse me, his granddaughter is. Is a famous actress herself. So I will track my answer on Arthur Blank. I'll say John Mera is my. You know what?

[Mike Ryan]

Forgive me. Have you not gotten familiar with the work of Jimmy Haslam? Can I get some more? Jimmy Haslam auditioning for this in that.

[Chris Cote]

Room with your family. Some of them may have aided you in coupon and rebate scandals that you got away with somehow because of money. And your daughter's there. And don't forget, she's the reason why you acquired Deshaun Watson. It's entirely on her, not you. And your family's there. And that one unhoused gentleman that told you to draft Johnny Manziel.

[Diana Rossini]

I do enjoy this impression.

[Chris Cote]

I don't even think that's how Jimmy has him. I don't do a touchy accident.

[Dan LeBatard]

I was thinking, have you ever heard Jimmy Haslam talk? He talks slower. He asks a lot more questions to you and he thinks it through. So you're just take the pace down.

[Chris Cote]

What do you think when you see that unhoused gentleman over there that told me to draft Johnny Manziel? Jon Hammer.

[Dan LeBatard]

Good. Better.

[Mike Ryan]

Thank you. Thank you for helping him, Diane. If we can craft that character a little bit, you know, it's the content generation right now. Everybody wants to get in the game. Jerry Jones is a ten part documentary. As Mike McCarthy sniffs the Chicago Bears.

[Billy Corben]

Job, you would think he would have secured that domain. I mean, if he wants to get in the game.

[Chris Cote]

I got to see Mark Davis's audition tape. Mark Davis, Sorry for the noise here in the PF Changs.

[Mike Ryan]

You need to stugots. Get Jerry Jones dot com, please. You need to purchase.

[Billy Corben]

I'm securing that. I'm securing many things, including Dan lebatar dot com. How about that?

[Mike Ryan]

I think so. I do.

[Dan LeBatard]

Craft would be good.

[Chris Cote]

Not as good as ursay, but.

[Mike Ryan]

Wait a minute. I saw. Wait a minute. I saw Kraft acting with his 20th, you know, year old girlfriend. Like that. That tape that he was not acting. Well, Diana, are you not familiar with this tape?

[Dan LeBatard]

I'm not.

[Mike Ryan]

Okay. You will revise your answer Video. See if you can find that for me and throw it up somewhere.

[Chris Cote]

Somewhere in America, there's a person that has perfected and crafted a Dean spanos impression for 20 years waiting for this moment.

[Mike Ryan]

Just dying. Just dying. Diana, I want your commentary here to the degree that you can. I know we can't telestrate this, but if there's a way to show you, Mina Kimes is still an amazing novice sometimes when it comes to the very basic tools in this business. Now, keep in mind, I watched her on Netflix and I saw her be better than RG3 and Mantayteo on football, more informative. And I was like, man, she is bringing heat on a Netflix telecast that I was stunned how well all of that went. Stu, guys, the televising of these giant thinks live are not easy. These things are not easy. And Netflix crushed it on Christmas Day and Mina crushed it on Christmas Day. But what I miss most about Mina was the rawest version of her here, where she just doesn't know where things are. She gets distracted by the smallest things. Let's play for the audience here. Mina Kimes having no earthly idea where she is on television as she just sort of walks into a camera shot. And Diana, I want you to break this down for me and just explain your friend to us.

[Greg Cote]

Shefty, let's start in Baltimore. What do we know about the availability of Zay flowers Saturday night against the Steelers? Hey, Mina, get it, girl. Oh, go back one more time. There we go.

[Dan LeBatard]

All right. Myself. Nope, I gotta go sit back down. And now she's just absolutely horrified that she stepped into the shot.

[Mike Ryan]

Just have Mina keep walking.

[Dan LeBatard]

Of Shefter. Scepter's right. Nobody cares. Show more Mina. I want to see more Mina. Let's add them anyways. And now she's just horrified. Marcus is being a good big brother there with the arm around her, like, look, it's not a big deal. It happens. You step. First of all, I've sat in that studio a million times. There's like 90 cameras. So I'm with me. I feel bad for her there. How is she supposed to know, by the way, why are you having her move during the show anyways? Just have her sit there. Look at her on Netflix. She sat in that same spot pretty much the whole show. And I'm with you. My takeaway from Netflix actually was. And this isn't some female empowerment moment here. I thought the women held that entire broadcast down. Held it up, right? Kay Adams was a star. Laura Rutledge was an absolute Star Mina Kimes, all three of them. It was like, they've done this every day. Because they do do it every day. Rep reps certainly help, but they were certainly the most educated, most poised, most conversational. So credit to that. And that was awesome.

[Billy Corben]

Mina kimes.net is available and au mina.

[Dan LeBatard]

Not a good actor. I've had to do stuff with her. Not good.

[Mike Ryan]

Hold it up and hold it down. Like, I know what you meant there, because she did hold it down. But you corrected yourself and you meant. You said hold it up, but she held it down. Like, which did she do? The women held down the Netflix telecast. And that's a positive. That's a compliment.

[Dan LeBatard]

And lifted it up.

[Mike Ryan]

Which would you rather? To hold it up or to hold it down? Put it. Put it on the pole at Lebitard show. Hold it up.

[Chris Cote]

Which would rather lift.

[Diana Rossini]

You lift up and hold down.

[Chris Cote]

Yeah.

[Dan LeBatard]

Sounds heavy. I have. Does sound heavy.

[Mike Ryan]

Yeah.

[Dan LeBatard]

I would rather.

[Chris Cote]

But just holding it down.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah.

[Billy Corben]

No, but you hoist the Larry O'Brien trophy. You don't. You don't hold it down.

[Chris Cote]

Yeah, holding it down. I just kind of just. Yeah, but there's met expectations. Lifting it up.

[Dan LeBatard]

I find. I think there's strength in holding it down. You push down.

[Diana Rossini]

Either way, we're keeping it.

[Dan LeBatard]

I mean, control. You hold up, your arms get tired, your back goes out a little, the legs get a little weak. You hold down, and I think you're in more control. You have all the power. So thanks, Mina, for holding it down.

[Mike Ryan]

You. Yesterday, Billy, you told me that if the Dolphins had a backup quarterback who could have just merely held it down, they'd be championship contending.

[Stugotz]

I said this?

[Mike Ryan]

Yes, you said it.

[Stugotz]

I said that.

[Mike Ryan]

Yes.

[Stugotz]

Okay. I said that. Yes.

[Mike Ryan]

You made it about the backup quarterback. You kept telling me that the Dolphins season was all about the backup quarterback. And if a quarterback had just held it down. Gone two and two, Gone two and two.

[Stugotz]

Well, yeah.

[Mike Ryan]

While two was away.

[Stugotz]

Well, I mean, had they gone two and two and two would have been. Yeah. And in the playoffs, I found myself longing for the Kenny Picketts of the world. The last two weeks. It's not a good place to be. But I was like, you know what if Mike White was still on this team, maybe. Maybe something would have been different here.

[Billy Corben]

You are right. That is a horrific place to be when you are yearning for Kenny Pickett.

[Stugotz]

Oh, it was so fun. I was texting her like, oh, Pickett was available. We could add him.

[Diana Rossini]

Hey, Happy New year, friends. It's 2025 and a new year can mean new opportunities for a lot of you out there. I imagine you spent the last couple of weeks sitting and thinking how to make your 2025 special different and set yourself in the right direction. One way that you can do so is actually by following my boss Dan LeBatard's path and starting your own business. You might have a lot of questions. How do I get started? How do I come up with a brand? How do I sell stuff to people? What am I even going to sell? Just take a deep breath. Shopify has got you. Shopify makes it simple to create your brand, open for business and get your first sale, get your store up, running easily with thousands of customizable templates, no coding or design skills required. All you need to do is drag and drop. But I know you're thinking, what happens if I don't act now? Will I regret it? What if someone beats me to the idea? Don't kick yourself when you hear this again in the year because you didn't do anything. Now with Shopify, your first sale is closer than you think. Established in 2025 has a nice ring to it, doesn't it? Sign up for your $1 per month trial period at shopify.com but all lowercase go to shopify.com but to start selling with Shopify today shopify.com Batard.

[Greg Cote]

The Dan the Bertard show with Stu Gotz is sponsored by BetterHelp. Every January feels like a fresh start. 365 blank pages just waiting for your story to be written in 2025. Maybe you're ready for a plot twist, ready to revise the parts of your story holding you back. Life isn't about New Year's resolutions that disappear by February. It's about picking up the pen and becoming the author of your life. Therapy can help you do just that. Therapy isn't just for the big traumas. It's for anyone who wants wants to grow, heal and thrive with better help. Therapy is convenient and affordable. It's fully online. You can access it anywhere, anytime, Better help connects over 5 million people with a network of 30,000 licensed therapists, specialized, experienced and ready to help. If it's not a right fit, you can switch therapists at any time at no extra cost. Write your story with BetterHelp. Visit betterhelp.com/DLB today to get 10 off your first month. That's BetterHelp H-E-L-P.com DLB Dan LeBatard did.

[Dan LeBatard]

You get lost on the way to Home Depot today? Dan, like, what. What's going on with the plastic? But you look like you're about to ask me to, like, check the oil on my car, get them. Or, like, come over and, like, look around and point things in my house that need to be fixed.

[Stugotz]

This is the Dan Levatar show with the stug.

[Mike Ryan]

Diana. The Houston Texans are always playing this game. They own this game. This is their game. They don't necessarily win it. There's a Hoyer, there's an assortment of bad quarterbacks. I've seen for the Texans play this game.

[Billy Corben]

Hoyer should be on the sidelines.

[Chris Cote]

Is there one or two? Yates. Every time they've ever played a wild card game, this is fact. Every time, it's been that window. The first game now known as, like, the streaming exclusive. Usually it is always the Houston Texans. For whatever reason, if they're in the wild card, they're the first thing that you see. It is astonishing to me. Does Houston not have any national cachet? This is a pretty big market. Or are they just always that kind of team? Like, they have the exciting quarterback, the appointment television type of quarterback. At least he was last year.

[Dan LeBatard]

I don't think they've broken.

[Mike Ryan]

Not with pressure up the middle, though. Not with. You can't. No one can play the position if your guards and center can't block anybody. Like, no one can play the position.

[Chris Cote]

Well, they have a young budding superstar at the position, a person that everybody crowned this most recent offseason. It's just. I understand why Yates opening is curtain jerkin. I understand why Hoyer is curtain jerking. It's just funny that the Houston Texans perpetually are always in this TV slot.

[Dan LeBatard]

If you told me Brian Hoyer was the backup quarterback in Indy right now on the roster, I would actually believe you. Right. Doesn't seem. Yeah, he's not playing anymore. Right.

[Billy Corben]

I don't know.

[Chris Cote]

It's got to be a wrap on him. It's gotta be.

[Dan LeBatard]

I think. You know what? I think he's in the media now. I think I saw him tweet yesterday. Now that. Now that we're talking about it.

[Mike Ryan]

No, he's got to be a backup somewhere.

[Chris Cote]

There's gotta be plenty.

[Mike Ryan]

I will not. I will not live a day on this earth where Brian Hoyer is not a backup for somebody. I will not do it.

[Dan LeBatard]

Her cousins is roommate in college.

[Mike Ryan]

Why is it, Billy, that you're back there grinning as if you've done something bad?

[Stugotz]

Well, no, I've been. I've been tasked with finding domain names that are Available for stugats to Cyber Squad. I found that toilet.com is either available or it's a dating site. It's odd, it's a little confusing, but we found that Josh Allen.com is. Has been cyber squatted. But it's available. You just need to call Todd. It says so right there. Welcome joshallen.com for sale. Call Todd. Asking $200,000.

[Billy Corben]

Yeah.

[Stugotz]

So it seems as though Todd has figured out this game and is trying to shake down Josh Allen.

[Diana Rossini]

I think he'll take 150.

[Billy Corben]

I think he takes.

[Dan LeBatard]

Is that available?

[Stugotz]

Well, I don't want to some researches for you, but we don't want to put out what we found is available because we don't want people cyber squatting to you. We can connect offline.

[Mike Ryan]

I want to get this story, Billy.

[Billy Corben]

I'll tell you how much.

[Mike Ryan]

There are a number of things that I have to get to. Okay. And one of them is I need to know whether you guys think it's worth the content to go through.

[Stugotz]

No, do not pay 200,000 dol for Josh Allen dot com. If that's what you're thinking. Do not do that. Let's just call Todd. We can talk to Todd for free.

[Mike Ryan]

Not what I was thinking. If you'd allowed me to finish, you would have known what I was thinking and you would have just listened. But instead, you've stayed where you want to stay. The story you were telling about ESPN not securing our domain name, that was the beginning of the end. And I don't know whether anybody wants any more information on that or not.

[Chris Cote]

I think it was kind of like the middle of the end.

[Mike Ryan]

No, that. That.

[Billy Corben]

I'd like some info.

[Mike Ryan]

Yeah, I think. I think people would. I think people would find that interesting. I think that. But, Diana, can you walk us through this? Because I talked to Dominique about this yesterday, and I know that we're going to get into the playoffs right now, and it's going to be an insanity and everyone's just going to forget. Oh, the Cleveland Browns, they had all of those expectations. They ran off Baker Mayfield, he's pretty good. And then they made the, you know, the most disastrous financial decision a team has ever made with Deshaun Watson and wrecked everything. That was hope in Cleveland. And the thing I was asking Dominique is how closely can we tie together something that doesn't, to my recollection, have a precedent in the sport, which is a top five quarterback in his prime. They were still fighting over him to guarantee him all that money. Yeah, Short circuit. Pretty Obviously because of everything that was happening off of the field. Like, it's.

[Chris Cote]

The injuries. Also, like, there was a brief dip in form. Like, there were questions when he was hitting the.

[Mike Ryan]

Look, he went from a top five quarterback in his prime to the. To one of the worst quarterbacks in the sport. And I'm assuming, and I ask you this, Diana, I'm assuming, is it. Is it the body or is it the mind?

[Dan LeBatard]

I think it's both. I think it's all of it. I think this has been a really hard time in his life for a lot of different reasons, but he's also not the same person. I was there in Cleveland during training camp, and just as someone standing on the sideline. And I've covered Deshaun Watson for a lot of years, especially when he was with the Texans. He does not have that same sparkle at all when it comes to his interactions with his teammates, with the coaching staff. It's like he's. He's doing it and he's trying it, but he's the dull version of himself now. And you're right. Like, you have to wonder how much of all of this has affected his psyche, his confidence, because to Mike's point, there were. There were definitely moments where you saw little. Little shine from him, and it was like, there it is. Get it. Come on. Stick with it. Like, find it. And then it would never. It would never pan out. So how do you fix it? How do you have. How does this coaching staff figure out a way to bring out the best in him? Because I can tell you, even in the building, it's not great.

[Mike Ryan]

Wouldn't everybody just say, though, that all of what has happened there at the core soul, spirit of what the Cleveland Browns are selling themselves out to make that particular dysfunction the thing that they were gonna guarantee money to, that's irreparably damaged, Is it not? Like, at the core of the being of who you are as a human and who you are as a football player and who you are as an organization, there is an irreparable damage that has been done by that transaction at that position to a person who's broken.

[Dan LeBatard]

We've seen other players go through life situations that may not be as bizarre, but just as complicated and have those off the field conflicts yet and they can go play. Right. We've seen players over the years in every sport battle through. We saw Kobe Bryant do it right, where you're in the middle of something and you're able to overcome it. He's not been able to overcome this. I Don't think. Look, I don't know this, but you have to wonder if. If he even loves to play at this point.

[Mike Ryan]

Oh, no, that's gotta be. It's gotta be a prison to go into that huddle. Look, look, look.

[Chris Cote]

He's gonna love not playing for a year and getting paid in full.

[Mike Ryan]

We can all agree that. The shame of that. Walking into the locker room like you're a changed person as a leader. Walking into the locker room, all accounts.

[Chris Cote]

So, like, he went into that locker room and won them over. They were all backing him up. The thing about Baker Mayfield was they wanted an adult in the room. Baker wasn't fully baked as a leader there. No pun intended. And Deshaun Watson went out of his way off season trips, like everybody was backing him up to the bitter end.

[Billy Corben]

They were backing up the talent.

[Chris Cote]

You saw the reaction to the crowd booing. Everybody in that locker room was pretty pissed off about it. Like he had won them over as a leader.

[Mike Ryan]

I'll let it go after this. I'm trying to come up in my head with where it is. I have a precedent for something like this where, like, hey, there are seven guys in the world who can do that, that well, and now he's terrible, and it's over and it's done.

[Dan LeBatard]

What do you want the Browns to do, though? Like, at this point, what do you think Jimmy Haslam should do?

[Mike Ryan]

Well, they've got a top two pick, right?

[Chris Cote]

Got a room full of family.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah, they're going to go quarterback, right.

[Chris Cote]

Howes, Gentlemen, there in the corner. They have a top two pick. So do they go quarterb? Because I'm seeing all these mock drafts, and for whatever reason, they don't have them going quarterback.

[Billy Corben]

No, you have to go quarterback. You have to present your fan base a future. You have to.

[Chris Cote]

Well, you have to go quarterback just because of, like, how your roster is constructed. Because no matter what happens with Deshaun Watson, unless there's some other liability, they have to pay that contract in full. So they need to go cheap at the position. The best way to go cheap at the position is hit on a draft pick. So they're either taking Shador Sanders or Cam Ward, right?

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah, they're going quarterback. Guys, they see what we see. This is not a mystery. This is not like they're psyched about Deshaun Watson's ability, leadership play. They know this isn't great, but they've also have no way out of this. So they've got to sort of just barrel through, and it's Almost like they're constructing their team as if DeSean Watson isn't a part of it. Right. They've got to move forward here and find the answer. Because I do think the fan base will forgive if they hit on a quarterback and this young guy comes out and let's just say beats desean in camp and the Browns head to the playoffs next year with a rookie quarterback. I think there will be some forgiveness.

[Chris Cote]

Perhaps from some portions of the fan base, but perhaps Miami Hurricanes fans that are in that fan base that took moral stance and consider themselves princess.

[Dan LeBatard]

But here's the other interesting part to that, Mike. I. Over the weekend, I was just talking to a couple general managers about last year's draft class, just how quarterback heavy and talented this group is. And obviously we're seeing this now in the playoffs with the young rookies that are the stars of the show. And I was asking about these upcoming quarterbacks. Where would they fall in last year's draft class? And two GM said definitely after Bo Nix. One said one. One said Cam would probably fall before Beau because some team probably wouldn't have understood or believed how good Bo is. Right. Like fall.

[Mike Ryan]

Not fall, fall out. No, no, fall before.

[Stugotz]

It's a classic.

[Diana Rossini]

Fallen in, down, slot in before you fall out.

[Stugotz]

Let's hear it out. Yeah, hold on.

[Dan LeBatard]

Bo Nix is hard holding them down in Denver.

[Mike Ryan]

Holding it down, holding it down.

[Stugotz]

Lifting them up.

[Dan LeBatard]

Jaden Daniels is lifting them up in Washington.

[Billy Corben]

Interesting.

[Mike Ryan]

Okay, Marie, here. Diana, is who you were saying was going to be acting better than Jerry Jones. This is Bob Kraft at his. At an audition with I. What I believe was his. I don't know.

[Billy Corben]

You were really good up there.

[Mike Ryan]

I didn't mean that in a sexual way, but not that it wasn't erotic.

[Dan LeBatard]

I am so embarrassed.

[Mike Ryan]

Well, now we're even. Because dancing in front of you was one of the most embarrassing moments in my life.

[Dan LeBatard]

No offense, but I get guys like you in my classes all the time.

[Mike Ryan]

So you don't even remember, which means we're not even. Only one way to fix that. Take it back, Diana. Take it back. Take back what? You said that you thought Bob Kraft would act as well as Jerry Jones. Opposite, I think.

[Chris Cote]

Jerry James. Jerry Jones changed my life with that performance.

[Billy Corben]

We didn't see how that scene ends. I mean, in fairness to Bob Craft.

[Diana Rossini]

I mean, that's a porn for sure, right?

[Dan LeBatard]

No, I. I didn't think it was a great script just to get to defend him there. I thought the writing could have been better. They weren't really pushing him. They almost wrote it in a way to make him sound dumb. Whereas I think a script like we heard yesterday in the press conference, that's a job well done. When he was talking about the changes at his head coaching position.

[Mike Ryan]

Diana Rossini, she's the senior NFL insider for the Athletics. She's the co host with Chase Daniel of the Scoop City podcast. It is very popular. Thank you, Diana. It's nice seeing you, as it always is.

[Dan LeBatard]

Thanks, guys. Great to see you.

[Mike Ryan]

We seem to distract her with the coaching carousel stuff. She seemed to be. She. She powered through it. That would have. Mina would have stopped in her tracks and started asking all sorts of questions. She just powered right through it. We did distract her, Chris. You noticed we were doing that, right? She was talking about the coaches and the coaching carousel. We never got to Mike McCarthy as the Chicago Bears coach. Like, how happy does that make packers fans? Like, I don't. I didn't think packers fans could laugh more at Bears fans, but them going after Mike McCarthy, who would come without whatever was Aaron Rodgers was doing for them in Green Bay. We didn't even ask her about that.

[Billy Corben]

You should have.

[Diana Rossini]

There's a disconnect between, like, the media and, like, people in football. People seem to actually like Mike McCarthy in football, but he's like a joke to everybody like us.

[Mike Ryan]

Right?

[Billy Corben]

I spent that segment putting a bid in on Diana Rossini.com the day on.

[Greg Cote]

The Batard show with Stu Gotz is sponsored by BetterHelp. Every January feels like a fresh start. 365 blank pages just waiting for your story to be written in 2025. Maybe you're ready for a plot twist, ready to revise the parts of your story holding you back. Life isn't about New Year's resolutions that disappear by February. It's about picking up the pen and becoming the author of your life. Therapy can help you do just that. Therapy isn't just for the big traumas. It's for anyone who wants to grow, heal and thrive with BetterHelp. Therapy is convenient and affordable. It's fully online. You can access it anywhere, anytime, BetterHelp connects over 5 million people with a network of 30,000 licensed therapists, specialized, experienced and ready to help. If it's not a right fit, you can switch therapists at any time at no extra cost. Write your story with BetterHelp Help. Visit betterhelp.com DLB today to get 10 off your first month. That's BetterHelp. H-E-L-P.com DLB.