The Big Suey: The MVP Case For Saquon Barkley (feat. Dianna Russini)

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Big Suey: The MVP Case For Saquon Barkley (feat. Dianna Russini)
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
Release Date: November 26, 2024

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Introduction

In this engaging episode of The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz, hosts Dan Le Batard and Stugotz delve deep into the NFL season's standout performances, with a particular focus on the MVP candidacy of Saquon Barkley. Joined by guest Tony Kornheiser and NFL insider Dianna Rossini, the panel offers insightful analysis, lively debates, and humorous banter, all set against the vibrant backdrop of Downtown Miami's Elser Hotel.

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MVP Discussion: Saquon Barkley vs. Lamar Jackson

The core of the episode revolves around the debate on who deserves the MVP title: Saquon Barkley or Lamar Jackson. Billy Gill passionately advocates for Barkley, arguing that his exceptional performance should place him atop the MVP rankings.

• Billy Gill on Barkley's MVP Case:

  "Saquon Barkley is on pace for the greatest statistical season in running back history and is making it look easy week in and week out. He should win the MVP." [14:38]

• Tony Kornheiser's Counterpoint: Tony emphasizes the traditional bias towards quarterbacks in MVP discussions, asserting that quarterbacks are inherently more pivotal to a team's success.

  "It has to go to a quarterback because that position is simply the most important position in sports. Period." [16:21]

• Supporting Arguments: Mike Ryan adds statistical weight to Barkley's case, highlighting his unprecedented yards per carry, likening Barkley's historic performance to legends like Jamal Charles and Jim Brown.

  "No one has had this yards per carry outside of Jamal Charles and Jim Brown in NFL history so far." [16:37]

• Dan Le Batard's Perspective: Dan acknowledges Barkley's contributions but sides with the traditional view, suggesting quarterback performance typically overshadows that of running backs in MVP considerations.

  "It's absurd that he's 15th in the betting odds. That's all I'm saying." [17:36]

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Top Five Segment: Host's Favorite NFL Moments

The hosts engage in their beloved "Top Five" segment, where they list their favorite NFL moments from the recent weekend games. This segment is filled with humor and spirited debate.

• Billy Gill's Top Five Highlights:

  1. Jaden Daniels' Hail Mary Pass:

     "He always seems to pull a rabbit out of a hat when the team needs it most." [10:35] Discussed as both a thrilling play and a controversial moment due to the game's outcome.

  2. Baker Mayfield's Versatility:

     "Baker is the Al Horford of the NFL. Got the trifecta. Guts, guile, moxie." [11:45] Highlighting Baker's multi-faceted contributions on the field.

  3. Caleb Williams' Exceptional Plays:

     "Did you see him roll out of the pocket, jump over a guy, throw the ball 45 yards over the shoulder to DeAndre Swift?" [13:05] Celebrating Williams' dynamic performance despite his team's loss.

  4. Saquon Barkley's Historic Season: Reinforcing the central theme of Barkley's MVP candidacy.

  5. Brock Purdy's MVP Potential:

     "Congratulations on the 2024 NFL MVP. It's all yours, buddy." [15:40] A tongue-in-cheek nod to Purdy's surprising rise in the MVP conversation.

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Team Performance and Player Analysis

The discussion extends to team dynamics, player performances, and strategic decisions impacting the season's trajectory.

• Philadelphia Eagles' Offensive Line: Dan applauds the Eagles for maintaining a strong offensive line despite changes, crediting players like Makai Becton and Lane Johnson for their stellar performances.

  "How they're able to protect their quarterback and the offense that he's been able to really handle over the last year..." [31:49]

• New York Jets' Quarterback Situation: A critical examination of the Jets' indecision regarding Aaron Rodgers' role, ownership dynamics, and coaching changes.

  "I think the Jets are ready to move on from this chapter. I think Aaron Rodgers is ready to move on from this chapter." [35:07]

• Lane Johnson vs. Trent Williams: A comparative analysis of two elite offensive linemen, emphasizing Johnson's impact on the Jets' offense.

  "Lane Johnson needs to be in the conversation as one of the best left tackles in football." [31:49]

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Anecdotes and Personal Stories

The hosts share personal anecdotes and humorous interactions, adding a relatable and entertaining layer to the discussion.

• Climbing Tropical Park Hill: An amusing recount of climbing Miami's highest hill, complete with observations about local flora and fauna.

  "Look at me. Louie. Guys having a good workout? Good workout." [08:06]

• Book Promotion and Miscommunication: A lighthearted segment where Dan discusses receiving a promotional book copy, leading to playful jabs among hosts about media representation and book endorsements.

  "I'm gonna get a picture of this thing tonight and send it to you guys. He sleeps with this in the crib." [25:40]

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Book Promotion: Diana Rossini's Blurb

Dianna Rossini is brought in to promote her latest book, encouraging listeners to engage with her work.

• Stugotz's Request:

  "Would you please do a commercial right now? ... Read your blurb to the camera." [27:05]

• Dan's Enthusiasm:

  "This has been sitting in my... I see that it's Due's book and I'm like, I'll be damn." [25:40]

• Final Endorsement:

  "This is the perfect holiday gift to give your family members the biggest sports fan in your life." [29:41]

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Conclusion

The episode wraps up with continued discussions on NFL strategies, player futures, and the ever-evolving landscape of football. The hosts maintain their trademark blend of insightful analysis, friendly debates, and humorous exchanges, leaving listeners both informed and entertained.

Notable Quotes:

• "Lamar Jackson is the guy in sports now. He is the guy across all sports that needs to do it in the postseason." — Tony Kornheiser [04:14]
• "If you have a season where he's doing that and you don't have a quarterback having that extraordinary season and you can make an argument for Josh Allen or whoever you want, I think it's absurd that he's 15th in the betting odds." — Greg Cody [17:36]
• "He's having an insane season. I'm not doubting that or questioning that." — Tony Kornheiser [16:37]

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This episode provides a comprehensive exploration of Saquon Barkley's MVP candidacy, enriched by diverse viewpoints and dynamic interactions among some of the most respected voices in sports media. Whether you're a die-hard football fan or a casual listener, the episode offers valuable insights and engaging content that resonate beyond the gridiron.

Transcript

[Dan Le Batard]

You're listening to Giraffe Kings Network. This product contains nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive chemical. If you're a smoker or dipper looking to make a change, you really only need one reason to do it. But with Zin nicotine pouches, you can find many. Zinn is America's number one nicotine pouch. It's made with only six simple ingredients. There are lots of options when it comes to nicotine satisfying action, but there's only one Zinn. Learn more about Zen and find your reason to make a change by Registering [e-mail] Want to shop Walmart?

[Stugotz]

Black Friday deals first. Walmart plus members get early access to our hottest deals. Join now and get 50% off a one year annual membership. Shop Black Friday deals first with Walmart plus see [e-mail] welcome to the Big.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Sui presented by DraftKings.

[Stugotz]

Why are you listening to this show.

[Tony Kornheiser]

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

[Stugotz]

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.

[Tony Kornheiser]

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

[Stugotz]

Stugatz is in full self involvement mode. They're counting down and he's just yelling. I'm counting sales. It's st doing great. And he just, he's very excited and we're excited for him. What were you saying as I had to wave you off because they were counting us in live and you didn't know and you were counting your numbers when they're.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Dan, when you write a book and you become an author and hopefully you'll be able to experience that one day you get something called an author portal and I have a username and a password and today I remembered it for the first time because today the book is on sale. I am telling you, there are few things better than watching a live count of your book selling. Like watching the number go up. It is. It is. Fantastic audience, thank you so much. I did this for you.

[Greg Cody]

Yeah, no, I do the same thing every week.

[Stugotz]

Yo, chicken thigh.

[Tony Kornheiser]

That's not right.

[Greg Cody]

That's what you do.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I mean, of course you would, right?

[Greg Cody]

I do the same thing every week with the Greg Cody show podcast numbers. You know, I'm counting them. They're going up, they're rocketing, they're rocketing. It's good for your self esteem.

[Tony Kornheiser]

It does.

[Greg Cody]

You know what else is a thrill?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah.

[Greg Cody]

The day that when. And it happens with every book. Dan, you don't know this, but it happens with every book that you write. You get a shipment, a box of 40 or 50 books arrives at your house.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yes.

[Greg Cody]

And you open that box and you see stacks of the book that you wrote. It's a thrill. It really. It was emotional when that happened to me. I'm serious.

[Stugotz]

We'll see if Stanzik picks up those books for Stugatz and brings them to his house so that Stugatz won't be home when he comes over.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I have them in the car right now. Yeah. Tony, I brought one in for you for the staff. I did. I did autograph them.

[Stugotz]

I'd like to see it, please. Tony is joining us now. Diana Rossini is joining us in a little bit. We're going to go football intensive. I missed my brother last night because you had the Mannings over here, the Harbaugh's over there, the Kelsey's over there. A lot of brothers dominating our media airwaves. And Tony and Diana Rossini are going to carry us through. Baltimore ends up beating the Chargers. And I feel like I have this right. Right. For as unpredictable as that sport could be. We're like all just sitting around. You can give me all the metrics you want. Yeah, Baltimore's a little bit better than the Chargers. I don't know why. I know that Charger defense is great, but yeah, Lamar Jackson is going to do that to everybody except like a couple of teams. They're like a couple of teams, but they're important teams that he's got to do it against.

[Mike Ryan]

It's the Chiefs, Steelers or playoff teams.

[Stugotz]

But I'm saying any team seeing Lamar Jackson for the first time, it's like a spaceship has landed on the field. Except the ones who play him all the time.

[Greg Cody]

Yeah, that's true. Yeah, Pittsburgh has his number.

[Stugotz]

That was the best defense in the league. Lamar Jackson did that too last.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yes. But I would say he had 18.

[Stugotz]

Yards at one point in the second quarter.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I think he's on his way to his third MVP. Lamar Jackson is the guy in sports now. He is the guy across all sports that needs to do it in the postseason. He is. He's the new guy.

[Billy Gill]

All sports.

[Mike Ryan]

Josh Allen moment bought him nothing because you forgot about him during a bye week.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah.

[Stugotz]

Okay.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah.

[Mike Ryan]

Now it's like an MVP performance. We all saw the signature moment.

[Stugotz]

Mike.

[Tony Kornheiser]

He has two MVPs. He's 6 and 6 in the postseason.

[Mike Ryan]

Like he just Bill's head. It's got to be Josh.

[Greg Cody]

We're, we're obsessed with quarterbacks winning mvp, the MVP awards. Saquon Barkley is the nf, is the MVP of the NFL at this point. And you know where he is in the, in the betting odds? About 14th or 15. That's ridiculous.

[Mike Ryan]

Okay, you know what? No one's ever come around and corrected because the book on Lamar Jackson was you gotta get this guy help. Look at the amount of first round draft picks as help that they've gotten. Lamar Jackson, they got him one of the greatest running backs of all time too. In the off season. They have done a great job building.

[Stugotz]

Out that roster round Mike, that organization quietly. Because we can have this conversation around Lamar Jackson every year. Move the goalposts. Yeah, MVP doesn't matter. I need to see it in the playoffs. Quietly. The Ravens, one of the best run organizations in all of sports, but had the misfortune of playing when the Patriots were grabbing so many of the championships. And we're changing the entire shifting culture into man third place. You're a loser if you're third best. Even if you're third best for 15 years with different quarterbacks. Loser. Tony.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Oh yeah.

[Stugotz]

Where are you? You're standing somewhere and I don't recognize it. Are you on the highest hill in all of South Florida?

[Billy Gill]

Dano? In the shadow of the palmetto, in the shadow of Winter Wonderland or whatever, the Ferris wheel? We're at the top of the highest point in Southwest Miami Dade. We're at the top of the Tropical Park Hill. As you can see, we've got everything around here. Kids learning how to ride bike. We've got a bunch of kites and trees from kids that failed to fly kites in Miami. We've got vultures flying around. There might be a dead raccoon somewhere. I am feeling extremely grateful to show you guys one of the hidden gems of our city. The Tropical Park Hill. Dan.

[Mike Ryan]

And right there is where John Ruiz's stadium is going to be. Right behind Tony.

[Greg Cody]

Right over.

[Billy Gill]

Yeah, right over my right shoulder. Right over there.

[Stugotz]

Billy, weren't you supposed to as a grit of death punishment six years ago? Supposed to run to the highest point in South Florida. I've never seen video of that. Did you ever pay that punishment?

[Diana Rossini]

Well, I mean I've done it many a times. They asked me to do it this morning because he was going to be there. But they said get there at 9 and I was like, the show needs me. I can't just be here at 9 and show up to the show at 10:30.

[Billy Gill]

I.

[Diana Rossini]

After I finish doing that. So we're going to get to it in a later date. Tbd.

[Stugotz]

About six years old. Yeah.

[Diana Rossini]

Well, I mean, what do you want me. You want me to just miss the show today to go run up the highest point? It'll take all day.

[Stugotz]

I want you to pay your penalties within six years.

[Tony Kornheiser]

He's getting to it.

[Diana Rossini]

I'm trying.

[Stugotz]

Tony. Oli Dano.

[Billy Gill]

First, I want to say that Tony's top five is presented by doordash. Get all your game day faves delivered. Head to DraftKings.com DoorDash to play for free. Restrictions apply. Void where prohibited. Dan, we're going to start off like you said in the Oli. It's Thanksgiving week and what I wanted to do as part of the Oli is to stop and appreciate the football we had on Sunday with four incredible games that went down to the wire. Dan, we're going to be missing this in June. So I wanted to give a shout. I wanted to give flowers to the NFL for providing incredible games going into.

[Stugotz]

Well, which is it? Are you shouting? Are you giving them flowers? Are you doing both? Are you shouting them out while giving them flowers?

[Billy Gill]

Yeah, I'm shouting out because they're kind of far away. So I'm shouting out here.

[Stugotz]

Okay.

[Billy Gill]

As I extend the flowers.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I get it.

[Greg Cody]

Yeah.

[Billy Gill]

Kind of a 2 in 1.

[Stugotz]

How high are you. Oh, look, talk to that guy. You want to. That guy. Look there. A jogger just went by. Somebody look at these mountain climbers. Look at them. Yes.

[Greg Cody]

Look at me. Louie.

[Billy Gill]

Guys having a good workout? Good workout. Yeah. Yeah. So, Dan, if you. If you look over behind me, there's some kids that are gonna struggle mightily to try and get their little bikes up this rocky terrain because there's actually no grass there. It's straight, straight gravel. I think a bird, just a bee just flew my mouth. Excuse me, but. Wow, it's gonna be tough. Yeah. Again, it's. It's high up here. They're pollinating all the flowers.

[Stugotz]

Ol.

[Billy Gill]

Some vultures in the back over there, too.

[Stugotz]

You've mentioned that. Do you smell the raccoon? Is there dead raccoon? Is it? You smell the raccoon?

[Billy Gill]

There might be. There's obviously being upwind. We smell something and they're circling above me. So I'm gonna try and make this fast. Maybe it might be me, Dan, that they're trying to be. Yeah, those Kids couldn't make it up the hill.

[Stugotz]

Look at those little lazy bums. They made it though. No, you made it. But he's got an electric bike, man. Gotta ride up on the bike. Come on.

[Billy Gill]

Oh, look, they're helping. He's helping. Let's not zoom in on the kids, please.

[Tony Kornheiser]

All right, that's a good job by that kid.

[Stugotz]

Good job by the executive producer. Good job by that kid. Cody's kid.

[Billy Gill]

Team players. All right, last of the Olis. It was a beautiful Disney Channel moment for Bryce Young on Sunday.

[Stugotz]

He lost reason why.

[Billy Gill]

I say Disney Channel. Yeah, but it's a Disney Channel moment. And the reason why is because Bryce Young is the kid that nobody wanted on their high school football team. All of a sudden the star quarterback gets injured, he gets thrown in. He's playing the big bad team from across the city and all of a sudden you think they're going to win. They're trying, they're fighting hard. He's making incredible plays. They end up losing. But we all know the heartwarming story of you never give up and you always fight till the end. And that was a beautiful Disney Channel moment for Bryce Young.

[Diana Rossini]

He was the number one draft pick.

[Billy Gill]

Ooh, the kids. Kids made it down the hill by the way. Yeah, nice.

[Diana Rossini]

You gotta roll down the hill. That's what we used to do as kids at the TR park hill. You roll down sideways, dizzy.

[Billy Gill]

I'm not gonna lie, I expected more from this hill.

[Tony Kornheiser]

You guys really built this thing up.

[Diana Rossini]

No, you're not seeing it. You're seeing it from the top.

[Billy Gill]

Okay.

[Tony Kornheiser]

It's a lame hill.

[Billy Gill]

Yeah, I'm at the top.

[Diana Rossini]

Those trees behind him are probably thousand feet down. Yeah, those trees are probably like 150ft tall.

[Stugotz]

If Jay Leno fell off of this thing, he wouldn't live to tell the tale.

[Billy Gill]

No. 5. Number five, Jaden Daniels. New nickname, Dan the Magician. Do you know why?

[Stugotz]

I don't know why. Because he makes victories disappear.

[Billy Gill]

He always seems to pull a rabbit out of a hat when the commies need it most.

[Stugotz]

They lost. What he didn't do just always does. But he didn't at the end.

[Billy Gill]

They lost because of the long snapper. The long snapper threw a pass back down. Snap the. The holder did a tried to do his best. Siebert missed it by a mile. Jaden Daniels at the six yard line threw a 94 yard pass to Terry McLaurin for no. The game tying touchdown.

[Stugotz]

But a game that never should have.

[Diana Rossini]

Like a 12 yard pass to Terry McLaurin. Did all the work.

[Stugotz]

Tony, how can you celebrate Jaden Daniels after that particular game, losing that game? How does that get into your top five?

[Billy Gill]

The. The magician, Dan always pulls a rabbit out of the hat. Somehow, some way, he just always does it. The Hail Mary, that pass, Greg, last time, if I remember correct, was the Mary.

[Stugotz]

Veteran football guy, Greg Cody hates that.

[Greg Cody]

As an observation, I mean, you know, pick a game when he's actually the hero in a nice victory. I mean, come on.

[Dan Le Batard]

The Hamel Reed.

[Billy Gill]

Exactly right.

[Stugotz]

Number four.

[Billy Gill]

Thank you. Number four. Stu Gotz is going to love this one. Baker is the Al Horford of the NFL. Got the trifecta. Guts, guile, moxie. If you give me 11 Baker Mayfields across the field, terrible team. I'm winning that football game.

[Stugotz]

My God, we're getting crushed in the trenches. You're going to get bulldozed.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Did you see the BAKER Mayfield block 30 yards downfield?

[Mike Ryan]

Second time he's done that.

[Tony Kornheiser]

It's crazy.

[Billy Gill]

Six yards.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yes.

[Billy Gill]

Mm. And I will remind you, right, y'all. Horford of the NFL.

[Mike Ryan]

We'll remind you. He's got experience. He was running scout team DN for the Carolina Panthers.

[Diana Rossini]

I think I'd put him, like, at two spots on the field, like quarterback and maybe tight.

[Stugotz]

Your defensive line is getting bulldozed. If you.

[Diana Rossini]

Slowest receiver, too.

[Mike Ryan]

Yeah, but the vibes are going to be immaculate.

[Billy Gill]

Exactly right. Zins are going to be overflowing, boys. Number three. There's the guy we were promised, Caleb Williams special on Sunday. Dan, did you see the throw to DJ Moore over two safeties to force overtime?

[Stugotz]

Do you have any winners in your list of top fives? Like anybody. Anybody who won a football game this weekend?

[Billy Gill]

First off? Yeah. Baker won. Thank you, Mike.

[Tony Kornheiser]

It's your list, Tony.

[Billy Gill]

But Caleb Williams. Thank you. He made four plays that were incredible plays. Did you see him roll out of the pocket, jump over a guy, throw the ball 45 yards down the field over the shoulder to DeAndre Swift? Did you see that play, Dan?

[Stugotz]

Yes. Yes. He made four plays.

[Billy Gill]

Okay, Game winning play. Game winning play. That's a winning play. How about the one where he was in the pocket, muddy pocket, broke down, jumped over a defender, and then got a first down. Winning play.

[Stugotz]

None of them were winning plays. Because they lost.

[Billy Gill]

They're winning plays in my book, your personal record book.

[Dan Le Batard]

You're.

[Billy Gill]

You're.

[Diana Rossini]

Don't.

[Billy Gill]

No, but you. You're talking about results. You're talking about results. I'm talking about the process. The pass over the middle to DJ Moore was An absolute laser. It had mustard.

[Stugotz]

It was.

[Billy Gill]

I don't know if you guys will get that reference.

[Stugotz]

Great throw.

[Billy Gill]

I don't know if you guys will get that reference, but somebody will.

[Diana Rossini]

Ah, thank you.

[Billy Gill]

Okay, perfect. Number two, Saquon Barkley is on pace for the greatest statistical season in running back history and is making it look easy week in and week out. He should win the mvp. Thank you. He should win the mvp, but he won't because we love quarterback Stan.

[Stugotz]

That was Greg Cody's take.

[Billy Gill]

Nothing to say.

[Greg Cody]

No.

[Billy Gill]

Love. No. Yeah, I heard it. I heard it. I was here. I was here at the top of the hill, climbing for 40 minutes.

[Stugotz]

Beat. Cool.

[Billy Gill]

I was. I was at the. The top of the hill, climbing.

[Stugotz]

Oh, did we keep you waiting? Sorry, we were doing a show.

[Billy Gill]

Yeah, yeah. It's okay. It's okay. No, no, it's all good. It's all good. Number one.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah.

[Billy Gill]

Brock Purdy. Congratulations on the 2024 NFL MVP. It's all yours, buddy. Dan, you talk. Your. Your buddy Charles Barkley talks about bus drivers and bus passengers. When did we figure out. I think it was to. It was on Sunday that Brock Purdy, bus driver for the 49ers. We thought it was all the weapons. We thought it was Deebo. We thought it was Christian McCaffrey. We thought it was Trent Williams. We got a coach. That's great. In Shanahan. It's incredible. Everything's great until you sub in Brandon Allen and you're like, ooh, that looks terrible. Why? Oh, maybe Brock Purdy might be the MVP of the league. Who knows, Dano? That's Tony's top five from the top of the Tropical Park Hill, the hidden gem of South Florida right here, where families come to enjoy, vultures come to scavenge. All you want, all you need, right here at the tp.

[Stugotz]

Thank you, Tony. We appreciate it. A celebration of losers there with the 49ers at the end, what he says of Saquon. I don't really want to do that show, but can you explain to me as a group why it is that Tony and Greg and every time I look up at any of the NFL programming, they're arguing who should be the MVP of the league every week for the last couple of weeks of programming. And why can't we just say that there are five or six really valuable players?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Well, you can't do that. You have to pick someone. That's the job. That's it. Comes with a territory. It can't be Saquon Barkley. It just. I'M sorry the Eagles made the playoffs the three years prior to getting Saquon Barkley. The Eagles made it to a Super bowl without Saquon Barkley. The Giants would be no better with Saquon Barkley. It has to go to a quarterback because that position is simply the most important position in sports. Period.

[Mike Ryan]

If I may hold up a stat to counter argue getting 200 plus touches, no one has had this yards per carry outside of Jamal Charles and Jim Brown in NFL history so far. His yards per carry is insane when you consider his output.

[Tony Kornheiser]

He's having an insane season. I'm not doubting that or questioning that. I'm just saying the Eagles were good before he got there. They were a play away from winning.

[Stugotz]

A Super bowl and they were also.

[Mike Ryan]

Figured out and he's provided them in a much needed extra dimension because they didn't have much if they didn't get that from Saquon Bar.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay, but they got there with Miles Sanders who's playing in Carolina, doing nothing now.

[Mike Ryan]

Different team. They've been figured out.

[Greg Cody]

Yeah, they're 17 in a row now. I think other than Detroit, I think they may be the best team in the league. It's a refreshing season when Patrick Mahomes has not given the MVP award. I don't think he's even in the top 10. This is an extraordinary season for Saquon Barkley. He could rush for 2,000 yards. I'm just saying if you have a season where he's doing that and you don't have a quarterback having that extraordinary season and you can make an argument for Josh Allen or whoever you want, I think it's absurd that he's 15th in the betting odds. That's all I'm saying.

[Diana Rossini]

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[Billy Gill]

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[Greg Cody]

Don Levitard Ron I can't walk around my house naked because I fear that the cat would be traumatized.

[Stugotz]

Stugats.

[Greg Cody]

Like if your cat or dog suddenly saw you nude walking around your house, how would they react to that?

[Billy Gill]

What would they do?

[Stugotz]

Probably wondering why I don't have spines at the end of my penis.

[Mike Ryan]

Yeah, like a cat.

[Diana Rossini]

This is the Don Levatar show with the stugats.

[Stugotz]

Let's do this here. Diana Rossini is on with us. She is married to a Lun Eagles fan. And if that lunatic Eagles fan were listening right now, he would say to us, hey, you guys do realize you guys have been talking a lot about the 49ers skill guys for a long time, but she told us about five weeks ago when people were questioning this, hey, the Eagles are obviously one of the good teams in the league. Whether you think they've figured out Jalen hurts, whether you believe in Jalen Hurts or not, whether you believe Jalen hurts is Brock Purdy. Those skill guys are crazy. Those wide receivers are crazy. And you add Saquon Barkley to that. I'm talking about when I say crazy, I'm like, I know Goddard's not Kittle, but I wouldn't want to try and be covering that dude. Like, I don't know how you. They've got one of those mutant tight ends and they don't need him very much because their other skill guys are so good. And now they've got a running back that has made the entire Giants organization collapse in his wake. The whole thing fell into the sewer the moment that he left. And we watched on television on Hard Knocks how they got rid of Saquon Barkley. Trying to save dollars and coupons over here as you lose your locker room because they're saying, why'd you guys pay Daniel Jones before you paid this guy? We know the freaky is the problem.

[Tony Kornheiser]

With the G letting Saquon go again. They weren't very good with him. The team wouldn't be any good with him this year. It's who they let him go to that is the problem. Letting him go to Philadelphia is the.

[Stugotz]

Problem is, though, where we Talk about the 49ers for the last five years and talk about Trent Williams, that offensive line has been the best unit in the sport for many years now. And so you put all of those skill guys behind that Offensive line. And Diana, your husband has a lot of reasons to be happy because he knows how good his football team is.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah, things are good over here, especially with that offensive line in Philly. You make a good point. Because I thought that they would regress without Jason Kelce. That was the biggest storyline about Philadelphia headed into the season of how would Jeff Stout, Stoutland, the offensive line coach, figure out a way to make this team good? Oh, we've got Makai Becton now from the Jets. He stunk there. Guess who's good now? Makai Becton. Right. Really good coaching and being in a locker room with really good skilled players has improved his level of play. So, yeah, things. The idea Sunday in general, like just Sunday as a whole for Philadelphia and New York, it just. It was so entertaining to just watch the collapse of one team, but. And the celebration of another because of that one team, because of the other team, because of their rival. I mean, New York by 4:00. By the time we were having dinner, I was just thinking, man, this is so hard for the Giants right now. They moved on from Daniel Jones, something I think we can all agree here on the show. That was probably the right thing to do. They believe that Tommy Cutlets, Tommy DeVito, who, you know, we talked to his agent on the show last week, was going to be that spark. He was the animal, right? The Italian Stallion. Well, not much of a stallion. More like a little chicken. He wasn't great.

[Stugotz]

Wow. Wow. She called him a little chicken. She called Tommy Cutlets a little. A little.

[Dan Le Batard]

I was sticking with the Rocky theme. I was thinking. I was thinking Rocky. Rocky.

[Stugotz]

A little chicken. She called him, you know, the chicken that runs around.

[Dan Le Batard]

But I don't put it on him. I don't even. The guy was the third string quarterback and the Giants thought this would be the answer. This is going to be the guy to give us the spark and try to recapture what we saw last season. It is so difficult to do that. Meanwhile, you got Drew Locke, who is on a, you know, $5 million contract to be the backup quarterback.

[Stugotz]

Diana, what is that in front of you? I can't believe I've taken this long to get to it. What is that in front of you? Right in front of you. You near your right hand. Yes. There. Diana. What? Oh, my God, there it is. Look at that. There it is. A live copy outside of the studio. Show us that it's not a prop. Show us that there are words in it and there are pictures and there are things in it.

[Dan Le Batard]

Words in this thing.

[Stugotz]

Just happens to have it. Look at that. What?

[Dan Le Batard]

I go to my mailbox and I see this package and it's like Christmas at my front door every day. I get so excited when I get stuff. Even though I bought it for myself and I ordered it most of the time. So I open this up and I see, you know, I see that it's Due's book and I've heard a lot about it and he had asked me to write a review about it and just sort of, you know, pump his tires about how great this book is going to be. So I see this, like, little note in there and I'm like, I'll be damn. John wrote me a personal note. Like, he, he's good. He finally opened up to say, like, just thank you. Thanks for being you and supporting me all these years.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah.

[Dan Le Batard]

This note was sent to every single person. It was not handwritten. It was handwritten one time and then photocopied.

[Tony Kornheiser]

That's correct.

[Dan Le Batard]

Probably 150 other times. Not even a signature. My name wasn't even on it. I threw that thing right out. But I have had some time to take a look. My son, actually, my three year old son Michael, lately, this is not. I'm not being funny, brings this in his crib. I don't know why, but he's. I'm gonna get. I'm gonna get a picture of this thing tonight and send it to you guys. He sleeps with this in the crib.

[Stugotz]

This is because you've dated a bunch of Sean's, as you told us last week. And then you married a Philadelphia Eagles fan. And you will absolutely give birth to a baby Stugotts. Yes, you will. Yes. You are going to. You are going to try and raise somebody who is more evolved. And the Eagles fan is in your crib and he's. And he's going to get bigger.

[Dan Le Batard]

Now, look, the question you should be asking is what other books are in there and what has he done to those other books? He rips them. So he enjoys. In the middle of the night when he can't sleep. He knows he's not allowed to get out of his crib. So he entertains himself and he just rips them up. He has not done that yet, though. I just go in there, I get him out and it's there.

[Stugotz]

Diana, did you write anything for this book? Is there anything. Were you.

[Tony Kornheiser]

She wrote a blurb for the book. It's, you know, promoting the book. I have her pegged for chapter 12 of the next book. Just so we're Clear.

[Dan Le Batard]

And she had to pay for the book?

[Tony Kornheiser]

No, she didn't have to pay for the book.

[Dan Le Batard]

I'm sure I did. I'm sure I'm going to see some charge on my Apple pay somewhere. I'm just like, you know, 2399. Stu. Like what?

[Stugotz]

I don't know if I misheard you, Stugatz. What do you think she wrote for your book?

[Tony Kornheiser]

A blurb.

[Stugotz]

Okay, I thought you called it a blurp. And I wasn't sure whether you knew what a blurb. Diana.

[Dan Le Batard]

What?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Joe Buck wrote one.

[Dan Le Batard]

Diana, my thought was to. Stu knows I work for the New York Times now. The Athletic was purchased by the Times. And my thought was, I know what he's doing. He's going to try to get me to use the relationships I have with the New York Times and try to see what magic I can make and create to get him on the bestseller list. That's what I think this is about. This isn't about genuine, you know, thoughtfulness for me to have an enjoyable read or me to be part of this experience that he's doing. This is. This is about Stu getting on the best sellers list.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I have to be honest with you. That never dawned on me. I had no idea the Athletic was owned by the New York Times until you sent me a link to your column and I had to fire through a paywall and pay for it just to get to that column. But now you have me thinking. So I will call you after the show. We will discuss how you will go to your bosses at the New York Times to get this thing on the bestseller list, which I think it already is.

[Stugotz]

Well, Diana, help us with this. Would you please do a commercial right now? If you don't mind. Just read your blurb to the camera. Today is the big official selling of the book. So help us sell the book. Read your blurb. Do a little commercial for the Stugotts book, which is available in bookstores now. Beginning to get today. It is a real thing. It exists. It is one of the great achievements in the history of modern media. Not just sports media. Modern media.

[Dan Le Batard]

I gotta tell you, I didn't even know what the book was about until I just opened this up. This is great. This has been sitting in my. You really wrote a book? I thought this was just about just dumb stuff. You have really good things in here. I like this line. He even invites some of the biggest names in sports media, such as Scott Van Pelt and Mina Kime, to offer their rebuttals. Forgot about me.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Maybe No, I told you. Next book, chapter 11.

[Stugotz]

Chapter 11, bankruptcy.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Everyone who feels left out because I didn't ask them to write in this book. I promise you. There's the next one.

[Stugotz]

Diana, much of a commercial. Can you give me the commercial? Read your blurb on the back. Is your blurb on the back?

[Dan Le Batard]

Oh, my gosh. It is.

[Stugotz]

It is on the back.

[Dan Le Batard]

I just noticed that. Okay, everyone, go out. This is the perfect holiday gift to give your family members the biggest sports fan in your life. It'll keep you entertained. And I can tell you from personal experience reading this book at least five times by now that it's like going on a lazy river of Stu got his mind. And I can't believe I'm saying this, but I didn't want the ride to end. Go out.

[Stugotz]

Purchase stug chicken.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Hey, enough of the chicken. Enough of these chickens.

[Dan Le Batard]

Of the weekly fantasy contest.

[Stugotz]

Long blurb. The weekly fantasy contest.

[Greg Cody]

This.

[Stugotz]

You called him a chick. You called Tommy Cutlets a chicken. And it reminded me of the scarring yesterday of Mike and Billy bullying me into that damn listener league by calling me a chicken. Diana, Lane Johnson, and I don't want to obsess about the Eagles here, but when I see the stats on Lane Johnson in terms of never has a holding penalty, never allowed, and is just a beast who at one point had a steroid problem that needed a babysitter because he's, you know, he's a violent person who I wouldn't want to be blocked by. Is he Trent Williams for the Eagles? Like, is he. Is he exact? Because Trent Williams, everyone says that he is the best lineman in the league, but the stats I see on Lane Johnson are nobody ever gets near the quarterback around him.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah, I think it's okay for them to be their own, to be individual. To compare them is also fair because you're right in terms of what they're able to do for their team and how they're able to protect their quarterback and the offense that he's been able to really handle over the last year, which we've seen some bumps. And I think that's where you got to give Lane Johnson a lot of credit here, with all the different quarterbacks he's had to protect. And now you look at what Trent Williams is doing and he's still consistently the best in football. But if we're going to debate this and argue it, Lane Johnson needs to be in the conversation as one of the best left tackles in football.

[Mike Ryan]

Without a doubt, Diana, the Jets found a way to lose the bye Week, it would seem. And there seem to be some residual stories that sprouted out of this story that came out earlier in the week about Woody Johnson saying perhaps at one point in the season, arguing to bench Aaron Rodgers. What's going on out there? How does this story end?

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah, let's go backwards a little bit. So remember, they play the Denver Broncos end of September. It's that rainy day at MetLife Field. And Bonix stinks, too. He's got like 60 yards passing. But Aaron Rodgers isn't that great either. And everyone panics after that game, right? They lose to a rookie quarterback at home. What are we going to do? So the next day is essentially the meeting of the minds. Every important person with the New York jets organization, including the coaching staff, met with ownership and they sat and they just each individually had to go and explain to the room what they are doing to improve this team, how their units are going to get better over the next few weeks. And Woody Johnson has a tendency to blurt out ideas and things that are often read as suggestions as things that he wants the team under him to do. So he said, well, we should bench Aaron Rodgers. Now, people in that room that are close to Woody Johnson have shared that he was saying that in jest. Ben Sharon Rodgers, to get a reaction out of the room. The coaching staff took that seriously as the owner of the jets wants us to bench the guy that we moved mountains for to make happy and to get here in New York. So at the time, the head coach was Robert Sala, the GM was Joe Douglas, Nathaniel Hackett was the offensive coordinator at the time. And they essentially were able to have a conversation with Woody to say this, this is not what we're going to do. This isn't right. One coach even laughed and questioned, is he being serious right now? So after that, Robert Salah got fired a week later. From what I understand, one had nothing to do with the other. It's not like Woody fired Robert Salah because he did not listen to that suggestion the week prior. But now, here we are. They're coming off the by. Obviously, Joe Douglas is out. Robert Saleh is out. Interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich spoke to the media yesterday, and he said that Aaron Rodgers is going to start against the Seattle Seahawks this weekend at MetLife Stadium. But there's a lot of conversations being had right now around the league about what the jets are going to do in regards to Aaron Rodgers. There's some people who think that because he's dealing with some injuries that aren't all out There, he's pretty banged up, like a lot of people are this time of year. Is there an option to put him on ir? Is there an option to just sit him?

[Stugotz]

Diana, hold on a second. Wasn't there a report that he refused to do anything with scans? This seemed like some convenient leaking all of a sudden as we're talking about benching him. Now he's all banged up with an assortment of injuries that he refuses to get scanned.

[Mike Ryan]

To your point, Diana, who gets away with just saying no to scans? And also, like Dan said, that's awfully convenient. There's this narrative of him being hurt, but there's also no proof of him being hurt.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah, I had heard all season that he was banged up. Everyone was telling me about this. But you're right. Nothing has been formal or on the injury report or even spoken about from the New York jets about what Rogers has been dealing with. And look, I look at it as a bit like when you're going through a breakup. It's a little bit of a chase of who's going to get there first to say that I want it out first. I that's this, that's the way it feels to me at this point because I think the jets are ready to move on from this chapter. I think Aaron Rodgers is ready to move on from this chapter. He wants to keep playing. I just don't believe that Aaron Rodgers wants to play for the New York Jets. And the New York jets are now in a position where they're hiring, you know, former GM Mike Tannenbaum to come into, you know, they're essentially going in the past to improve their future here and they're going to try to figure out that part.

[Stugotz]

Funny to get Rick Spielman and Tanenbaum the higher Rex Ryan, the two failed Dolphin guys.

[Dan Le Batard]

Daniel, love this because you get annoyed with me about this stuff as well. So I write a Saturday morning column that you guys always read every morning. Thank you so much for all the feedback.

[Stugotz]

It's Saturday. Not every morning. It's not every morning. I wish it were every morning. Morning.

[Dan Le Batard]

Oh, I do write a newsletter every morning. You should subscribe to it for free. It just gives you everything you need to know around the league. But Saturday morning I read a what I'm hearing column at the Athletic. It publishes around 10am and this past week I wrote about Rex Ryan's very public campaign to be the next head coach of the jets, which good for him. He knows where the bodies are buried. This is somebody's believes in what he can Do. He knows what this team needs. But I looked at it as. As somebody that has watched his organization for the last 20 years, never seemed to have the answer. And I suggested, if you're going to go back and retread, get Eric Mangini, the guy drafted hall of Famers, Darrell Rivers, Dabrica Shaw, Ferguson. Like, there's so many players that he was able, able to find. I know we laugh at that, like, man, genius, error. But when you look back at it, a lot of the success the jets had with Rex Ryan came from the building blocks of what Eric Mangini was doing back then. So I make this suggestion. Well, well, well, well. Headline Fox yesterday, Eric Mangini, candidate, New York Jets. And he's on the show and they're asking him, do you want to be the head coach of the New York Jets? And you see it in his face. Like, I mean, what? Yeah, but what? And he actually had a great reaction live on the air. He was like, of course. Because the way it works in the coaching cycle, when you buy a house, you get fired. When you sell a house, you get hired. And he had just sold his house in New Jersey that he bought when he was the head coach of the Jets. That's how bad the market has been. He finally was able to get it sold. So it was a great lesson of just, people don't read. People read what they want to read. And I do think the jets unfortunately, have been such a circus of dysfunction that I could have said Bob the Builder was going to be the highest recommendation coming out of Mike Tanenbaum's mouth. And people would debate if Bob the Builder could do a better job.

[Diana Rossini]

Diana, you should float out there in a newsletter in one of your columns that Adam Gase is interested.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Please do it.

[Diana Rossini]

See if that gets any traction.

[Dan Le Batard]

When Tanenbaum got hired, I started to see some of that. And Billy, you're the perfect person to talk to about getting misrepresented in these spicy clips.

[Diana Rossini]

Thank you.

[Dan Le Batard]

That our shows like to do. I know what they did to you dirty. I'm asking you guys, what is the answer? Right? Credibility is my currency. It is all I have. So if I get quoted, misrepresented because somebody else didn't read it the right way, do you respond? Do you just put out your article like, I don't know what's the right thing to do?

[Diana Rossini]

I try to be the bigger person, Diana, which is I just let it go. You know, I know I let my reputation speak for itself, and then everyone else will figure it Out.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yes. Let the work speak for itself. That's it. You know, God bless football.

[Stugotz]

The award winning.

[Dan Le Batard]

You guys did it to me too, though.

[Diana Rossini]

You did it to me two weeks ago on it.

[Dan Le Batard]

Remember we talked about Daniel Jones and I said this was before the players came back in the building. I said, look, there are some hard conversations being had right now about possibly sticking with him. Which was the truth. Truth. Right. All I said was it was being discussed that. That it was an option.

[Stugotz]

We clipped you. Our social media people, they're assassins. They did. They clipped you. Yes, that's right.

[Dan Le Batard]

Total mislead.

[Stugotz]

Yes.

[Dan Le Batard]

Daniel Jones is gonna start.

[Stugotz]

That's right.

[Dan Le Batard]

Hate you guys.

[Stugotz]

Assholes. Social media assholes. Thank you, Diana. Good seeing you. I'm sorry. Billy's got something else. Yeah.

[Diana Rossini]

Dana, why is Mike Vrabel still out there? Is he just kind of waiting for the off season? Is no one reaching out to him? Because, like, everyone mentions his name every time there's a firing, but it doesn't seem to be getting any traction yet.

[Dan Le Batard]

Because most teams are. They want to wait for the season to end. No team is just going, like, let's say, let's say just for this example, the jets get rid of Jeff Ulbricht. They're. They're not going to fire an interim head coach to bring him on. They kind of want to wait for this thing to wrap up. And remember, he's a consultant for the Cleveland Browns. So teams have to go through that process of putting in a request for him during the playoffs. Like, like we see every season or at least in January. Excuse me. So, yeah, he's going to be. I will be shocked if he doesn't interview for at least three teams.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Diana, how many teams, if Aaron Rodgers wants to continue to play next season but doesn't want to play for the jets, how many teams would be interested in Aaron Rodgers?

[Dan Le Batard]

I'm actually currently writing about that today for the weekend. I think this is one of those scenarios where first Aaron's got to figure out what he wants to do here and really take a look at, at himself and his age and his injury situation. The reason why I also strongly believe Aaron Rodgers doesn't want to stop playing is he does not want this.

[Stugotz]

Yeah. Why would you.

[Dan Le Batard]

This can't be gigantic blemish.

[Stugotz]

This is one of the great quarterbacks of all time.

[Tony Kornheiser]

He chose this, though.

[Stugotz]

No, I understand. But you would also understand why he wouldn't want this as the ending.

[Dan Le Batard]

Like, he chose it. But he's also looking at the scenario and going through these experiences. Like what? Like he can't believe the stuff that he's experiencing and seeing in the decisions being made. He's never dealt with something like this in terms of ownership down. So I think he's going to want to at least give himself one more season to just see if he's got something left in the tank to give an organization that's run really well.

[Stugotz]

Diana, thank you for being on with us. She's the senior NFL insider for the Athletics. She's the host of the very popular Scoop City, and she is a blue writer for Stugotts personal record book.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I did say it.

[Stugotz]

I know you did.