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Dan Patrick
T Mobile stats are as impressive as your favorite athlete's highlight reel because T Mobile helps keep you connected from the heart of Portland to right where you are on America's largest 5G network. Switch now keep your phone and T Mobile will pay it off up to $800 per line via prepaid card. Visit your local T Mobile location or learn more@t mobile.com keepandswitch up to 4 lines of your virtual prepaid card. Allow 15 days qualifying unlock device, credit service support in 90 plus days device knowledgeable carrier and timely redemption required. Card has no cash access and expires in six months.
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Dan Patrick
The 40s and free agents Podcast with Daniel Jeremiah and Greg Rosenthal has prepared you for the 2025 NFL Draft. We've told you what last year's playoff teams need to return to the postseason and how teams with new coaches should approach the draft. So as draft season comes to a close, we've got you covered. Before your favorite team goes on the.
Mel Kuiper
Clock, we'll break it all down once.
Dan Patrick
All 257 picks have been made. Listen to the 40s and free agents podcast on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.
Greg Rosenthal
I'm Clayton English. I'm Greg Lodd and this is season.
Mel Kuiper
Two of the War on Drugs podcast.
Dan Patrick
Last year a lot of the problems of the drug war. This year a lot of the biggest.
Greg Rosenthal
Names in music and sports. This is kind of star studded a.
Dan Patrick
Little bit man, we met them at their homes. We met them at their recording studios. Stories matter and it brings a face to it.
Mel Kuiper
It makes it real.
Dan Patrick
It really does it.
Greg Rosenthal
Listen to new episodes of the War on Drugs Podcast Season 2 on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.
Dan Patrick
My name is Brendan Patrick Hughes, host of Divine Intervention. This is a story about radical nuns in combat boots and wild haired priests trading blows with J. Edgar Hoover in a hell bent effort to sabotage a war.
Mel Kuiper
J. Edgar Hoover was furious.
Talkspace Announcer
He was out of his mind and he wanted to bring the Catholic left to its KN.
Dan Patrick
Listen to Divine Intervention on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.
Mel Kuiper
You are listening to the Dan Patrick show on Fox Sports Radio. Final hour in this Monday, best and worst of the weekend. What you saw that you liked, you didn't like. First major of the year on the LPGA Tour. Watch the biggest names, brightest stars, the Chevron championship. That'll be coming up this weekend. Peacock, NBC Golf Channel. You can watch this program on Peacock as well. Thank you for downloading the app. We're down to Dan Ed Seaton already in Green Bay. He's there with the big German getting ready for the broadcast Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from the bar on Homegrown Way. We hope that we have the opportunity to say hello. We will have a new poll question for the final hour of the program. Fist Fitzy Fritzi is doing the honors.
Greg Rosenthal
We have results if you're looking for those right now. You want to wait?
Mel Kuiper
All right. Thank you, Fitzy.
Greg Rosenthal
Foregone conclusion. The Celtics will represent the east in the NBA Finals. True, Dad. 47. Slow your roll. 53.
Mel Kuiper
Okay, what's the poll question for the final hour of the program?
Greg Rosenthal
That is TBA. We had the Thunder one, which was. I think the Thunder will win the NBA title. Sure. 23%. Way too early. 77%. And we'll see what we could come up with for a clever final hour poll.
Mel Kuiper
Well, you know how this works. There's a new poll question. You shower time. Like what else have you been doing?
Greg Rosenthal
Just kind of listening to you and following along.
Mel Kuiper
You're taking over for Seton and he has a new poll question each hour.
Greg Rosenthal
Yeah, about that. Yeah, we'll come up with something.
Mel Kuiper
8773-Dp-Shove, email address dpdanpatrick.com Twitter handle @dpshow A couple of NBA notes here. The pistons have dropped 15 consecutive playoff games. That's the longest postseason losing streak in NBA history. The last time Detroit won a playoff game May 26 of 08 against the Celtics. This is the stat of the day, Stat of the day brought to you by Panini America, the official trading cards of the program. And Oklahoma City 51 point win, the largest in a playoff game since 2015. But John Morant vows that it'll be different game two, which is, you know, comforting to hear if I'm a Memphis fan. You imagine if he said, I don't know, might be the same. Coming up, Game two. You know, it's weird to say somebody is in a must win situation, and we talk about this a lot. Must win situation. Now I feel like every year is a must win situation for LeBron because LeBron is chasing the ultimate goal, and that is to be the greatest player in NBA history. And the only way he accomplishes that is to win at least one more championship. Now, another player, and I think he's in a must win situation is Jimmy Butler, because Jimmy Butler wanted out of Miami, goes to Golden State, he's playoff. Jimmy, you can wipe away of the mess that, you know, he left in Miami. And you imagine if he helps lead Golden State to another championship, which means Steph Curry gets another championship, which means he moves up the totem pole. But I think the must win, and I would put that in parentheses, but not capital letters, but must have a great end result here. Maybe you get to the, the NBA Finals, maybe you get to the Western Conference finals, but this is why they bring you in. You're different in the postseason. But I would think that those two. If Boston doesn't win it this year, like, I don't think Jalen Brown and Jason Tatum are in a must win situation. I don't think Donovan Mitchell's in a must win. Now you can say Shay Gilgis because he's going to be the mvp. And we've seen, you know, that in previous years. Hey, what did you do in your MVP season? Because if Shay Gilous doesn't go to the NBA Finals, I think the voters will go, we gave it to you. We want to see you prove it. You got to do it again. But we want you to do that. Then we'll reward you the following season. I mean, they did this to Joker Giannis. I don't think anybody is expecting anything out of Giannis, but if you're looking at must win situations, I would say probably LeBron, because he's chasing Mike and Jimmy Butler because he has a history of, you know, wearing out his welcome. Steph, you know, how many more years do you get this opportunity, Draymond, how many more years do you get this opportunity of maybe playing for a championship? And the key is Jimmy. His step's going to be great. I mean, Draymond will still do what he does, good and bad. You got to get the, you know, younger players to contribute, but you got a chance to maybe play for another championship. And I would say that Jimmy is in a must winish situation along with LeBron chasing Mike.
Greg Rosenthal
Yes, Marvin, I'm take LeBron off that list only because I don't think he can get to where Mike is. But Jimmy Butler, to me, is the one seed only because of how it ended in Miami and the go to Golden State with Stephen, with Draymond. I think they've got to do it, and I think it's got to be this year, because since he's gotten there, they've played great. I. Their seating is misleading. I didn't mean for that to rhyme.
Mel Kuiper
Okay.
Greg Rosenthal
Their seating is misleading only because before he got there, they were like, on the cusp of, you know, the seven seed. But since he's gotten there, I think they're like 24 and 7.
Mel Kuiper
Wait, you don't think that there. If LeBron wins another title.
Greg Rosenthal
No.
Mel Kuiper
Like, he. He can't. He can't surpass Michael Jordan.
Greg Rosenthal
No.
Mel Kuiper
I don't know.
Greg Rosenthal
Only.
Mel Kuiper
Only if he. Okay, let's just say he wins another title at that age. Now he's one less than Mike. I know Mike never lost an NBA Finals, but Mike didn't play in as many finals as LeBron did. Who did lose NBA Finals? You'd have a hard time convincing me greatest basketball career of all time. And maybe that's not fair to say it that way, because I would put Kareem in there as having the greatest basketball career of all time. I think he. He lost two. One or two games in high school. How many games he lose in college? He didn't get to play his freshman year. They won all three national championships. When he lose two games and then you go into the NBA and. And yes. Did he get to a point where he's overshadowed by Oscar as his point guard and then Magic as his point guard? Yes, that happens to the. Because they need, you know, facilitator. You'd be hard pressed to convince me that Mike is a better basketball player than LeBron. If LeBron wins a title at this age, I just have a hard time. I think you got to be fair. As much as we hold on to our memories, and that's what this is like. Nobody talks that Mike didn't go to the playoffs or, you know, one and done in the playoffs or we didn't have a good team. Look at LeBron's team that went to the finals against the Spurs. Did Michael Jordan ever have a team that was that, that bad? And you would, once again, you'd be hard pressed. But I think that LeBron, what he's done, like, you know, everything start to finish, and he lived up to the hype. Mike didn't have hype. Mike was a, he wasn't even the best player at Carolina. James Worthy was considered the best player. LeBron from 15 to 40, as much as I loved and I was there with Jordan when he won those titles. Now this is what you're going to get. Well, who would you want? Game on the line. Okay. Does that make you the best player? Because we totally blew past Bill Russell. He never lost in the finals, did he? He won 11 titles. He won two titles in college. Wait, wait, wait. Well, no, doesn't work that way. Why? Why not? Russell's the greatest winner of all time. He just, you know, wasn't a brand. He didn't have shoes, he didn't appear in movie. You know, he was just Bill Russell. He was going to a press conference for civil rights. You know, like. All right. Yes, Marvin.
Greg Rosenthal
Yeah. With the Michael lebron argument, see, I would get real, like geekish and start talking about there was no wasted movements when Michael Jordan had the ball. As soon as he got the ball, he went right to work. He had great footwork, great fundamentals on top of extreme athleticism. So maybe I'm just going a little bit too deep because people are going to say, oh, six and oh, said. There's a lot of people with. Not a lot of people, but there's people with six championships, Robert. Or you got seven.
Mel Kuiper
Okay, but we all know that Mike was great. We all know what he could do with the basketball. I just don't think we're fair to LeBron because people, you know, you got Skip Bayless who has criticized LeBron forever and you know, therefore it's like open. No one was criticizing Mike. No one. Even now, no one criticizes Mike. You got guys who played against him who are afraid to criticize him. Now I get the ultimate respect. I, I just. What LeBron has done is, I mean, it's remarkable. And I don't think that we give him enough credit. I don't. It might be after the fact, it might be 10 years after the fact when people look back and go, Cali dude scored 40,000. He plays the fact that he hadn't won an MVP since what, 2012. I mean, man, I just, I, I think he's been taken for granted. Now can we nitpick? Yes. Russell wasn't a good offensive player. Wilt, you know, was a malcontent who took himself out. I mean we go down the list there, but that's, you know, Larry Bird's career wasn't long enough. You know, I, I, that's the thing. I, you know, we tend to do this and then all of a sudden you bring somebody down oh they couldn't do. He didn't do. He's clutch. He was, he free throws. He, you know, and yes, If I had one game to win, do I want Mike or LeBron? I want Mike. But that doesn't mean that he's a better player or certainly had a better career than LeBron because Joe Montana won four, didn't lose, but he's not considered the best quarterback of all time. Mahomes has already passed him and he's lost in the Super Bowl a couple times. I just, the, we, we pick and choose with our arguments and I, and you know, I understand that it's a hot take world here. I just think we won't be as we're not going to be fair to LeBron until after the fact.
Dan Patrick
Yeah, Paul, unlike you, most Jordanists are unflexible. They have no flexibility about Michael Jordan. They don't even like to have the topic and discuss LeBron because it's like resume versus playing ability. Those are two different things. The best resume in quarterback history is Tom Brady and it's really not that close. If you said who is the best ever at playing the position you could, I think people can make the case for Dan Marino, but his resume is nowhere close to some of these guys.
Mel Kuiper
Yeah, we just, we get caught up in, you know, that's my childhood or you know, that, that I followed the NBA then and you know, everybody rooted for the Bulls even when they came to your hometown. I mean that that's rare that that happens in it in a team game that you were okay if your team lost to the Bulls. Yes, Mark.
Greg Rosenthal
And the thing is I'm not anti LeBron. I think he's going to have behind Kareem the second greatest career ever as far as in the NBA second grades career ever. Because look, I saw LeBron soft the end of his sophomore year. There's an article in Slam magazine, it said the best player in high school basketball just finished the 10th grade. So I. I saw it from the beginning. And in his junior year, he was on the COVID of Sports Illustrated. And to do what he's done is unbelievable because you see all these guys outside of Tiger woods that had this type of hype going in, and they didn't live up to it. And LeBron has.
Mel Kuiper
Okay, but imagine if LeBron had passed the ball to Steve Kerr, if LeBron had passed the ball to John Paxson. That happened. LeBron, I mean, Mike didn't take those shots. They did. Imagine if LeBron doesn't even get credit for the bubble, everybody. There was no advantage playing in the bubble. Yeah, but he won in the bubble. It's a neutral site. They would have had on court Advance.
Dan Patrick
It's actually more impressive.
Mel Kuiper
Like, what are we doing?
Dan Patrick
It wasn't like some NBA players are in the bubble and others just weren't there.
Mel Kuiper
I see. That's where it gets silly.
Greg Rosenthal
You're right.
Mel Kuiper
Mike didn't take those last shots. Steve Kerr did. John Paxton did.
Dan Patrick
Yelled him out.
Mel Kuiper
Now you can say, man, Michael, what a genius. You know, it took the double team and threw it to Steve. Like, we can create whatever we want to create. Nobody brings up when Mike didn't make the Finals, what happened in those seasons. Would you rather have somebody who got you to the postseason, to the Finals? Yeah, but Mike didn't lose. No, he lost earlier. Yes, Marvin.
Greg Rosenthal
And people always say, because they don't like LeBron, oh, goats don't get swept. I said, kareem got swept, and Magic got swept. Bird got swept. But because it wasn't in the Finals, it doesn't mean that much. So would you rather lose in the second round where people really don't care that much or the Finals? People pick and choose.
Mel Kuiper
There's breaking news. I don't think anybody saw this coming. Cooper Flag is going pro.
Dan Patrick
Wow.
Mel Kuiper
Yeah. Yeah.
Greg Rosenthal
What?
Mel Kuiper
Yeah.
Dan Patrick
Get out of here.
Mel Kuiper
Easy. I'll say it slower. Cooper Flag is going pro. I'm gonna probably need another source on this, but sources close to me tell me that Cooper Flag is going pro. Yeah.
Dan Patrick
Paul, remember a month ago, we had Coach Shire on from Duke, and you asked him, have you had a conversation about him staying or going? And he said, no, no. Like, the conversation happened when he chose to attend Duke.
Mel Kuiper
I asked him, are you going to have a conversation with him? No.
Greg Rosenthal
All right.
Mel Kuiper
I think. Didn't Con Knipple announce that he was going pro before Cooper Flag did?
Dan Patrick
Yeah. Knipples in.
Greg Rosenthal
Okay, Captain Obvious.
Mel Kuiper
Yeah, I know, I know. Let me take a break. Mel Kuiper, draft expert, is going to join us coming up next year. DAN PATRICK SHOW Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in the nation. Catch all of our shows@foxsportsradio.com and within the iHeartRadio app. Search FSR to listen live. Hey, Steve Covino. And I'm Rich Davis and together we're Covino and Rich on FOX Sports Radio. You can catch us weekday from 5 to 7pm Eastern, 2 to 4 Pacific.
Dan Patrick
On Fox Sports Radio and of course, the iHeartRadio app.
Mel Kuiper
Why should you listen to Covino and Rich? We talk about everything, life, sports, relationships.
Dan Patrick
What'S going on in the world.
Mel Kuiper
We have a lot of fun talking about the stories behind the stories in the world of sports and pop culture, stories that, well, other shows don't seem to have the time to discuss. And the fact that we've been friends for the last 20 years and still work together, I mean, that says something, right? So check us out. We like to get you involved too. Take your phone calls, chop it up, as they say. I'd say the most interactive show on Fox Sports Radio, maybe the most interactive show on planet Earth. Be sure to check out Covino and Rich live on Fox Sports radio and the iHeartradio app from 5 to 7pm Eastern, 2 to 4 Pacific. And if you miss any of the live show, just search Covino and Rich wherever you get your podcast. And of course on social media, that's Covino and Rich. You don't need a game to have a party. You don't need a game to have a tailgate. What you do need for both of them is Miller like 50 years, 50 year anniversary. And I said, you know, it's Miller time. And that means it's time to go to Lambeau. We're going to Drafts at the drafts. It's a taste you can depend on. You have a great beer trusted by beer lovers for five decades. You have the malted barley for rich balanced toffee note flavors, iconic golden color. You pour that and you go, man, that looks good, tastes good. 96 calories, just 3.2 grams of carbs per 12 ounces. Miller time, always good time. It's a great time for me. The original light beer since 1975, still iconic after 50 years. So Miller Light, great taste, 96 calories. Go to millerlight.com Patrick. You'll find the delivery options near you. Or you can pick up Miller Lite just about anywhere that sells beer. Celebrate responsibly. Miller Brewing Co. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 96 calories, 3.2 carbs per 12 ounces. Here's to Miller Lite T Mobile stats.
Dan Patrick
Are as impressive as your favorite athlete's highlight reel because T Mobile helps keep you connected from the heart of Portland to right where you are on America's largest 5G network switch. Now keep your phone and T Mobile will pay it off up to $800 per line via prepaid card. Visit your local T Mobile location or learn more@t mobile.com KeepAndSwitch up to 4 lines via virtual prepaid card. Allow 15 days qualified unlock device, credit service port in 90 plus days device and eligible carrier and timely redemption. Required card is no cash access and expires in six months.
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You know when you're really stressed or not feeling so great about your life or about yourself? Talking to someone who understands can really help. But who is that person? How do you find them? Where do you even start? Talkspace Talkspace makes it easy to get the support you need. With Talkspace you can go online, answer a few questions about your preferences and be matched with a therapist. And because you'll meet your therapist online, you don't have to take time off work or arrange childcare. You'll meet on your schedule wherever you feel most at ease. If you're depressed, stressed, struggling with a relationship, or if you want some counseling for you and your partner or just need a little extra one on one support, Talkspace is here for you. Plus Talkspace works with most major insurers and most insured members have a zero dollar copay. No insurance, no problem. Now get $80 off of your first month with promo code space80 when you go to talkspace.com match with a licensed therapist today at talk space.com save $80 with code space80@talkspace.com.
Dan Patrick
The 40s and free agents Podcast with Daniel Jeremiah and Greg Rosenthal has prepared you for the 2025 NFL Draft. We've told you what last year's playoff teams need to return to the postseason and how teams with new coaches should approach the draft. So as draft season comes to a close, we've got you covered. Before your favorite team goes on the clock, we'll break it all down once all 257 picks have been made. Listen to the 40s and free agents podcast on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. My name is Brendan Patrick Hughes, host of Divine Intervention. This is a story about radical nuns in combat boots and wild haired priests trading blows with J. Edgar Hoover in a Hellbent effort to sabotage a war. J edga was furious.
Mel Kuiper
Somebody violated the FBI and he wanted.
Talkspace Announcer
To bring the Catholic Left to its knees.
Dan Patrick
The FBI went around to all their neighbors and said to them, do you think these people are good Americans? It's got heists, tragedy, a trial of the century, and the God damnedest love story you've ever heard.
Mel Kuiper
I picked up the phone and my.
Talkspace Announcer
Thought was, this is the most important.
Dan Patrick
Phone call I'll ever make in my life.
Talkspace Announcer
I couldn't believe it. I mean, Brendan, it was divine intervention.
Dan Patrick
Listen to divine intervention on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Mel Kuiper
Taking part in his 42nd NFL Draft, Mel Kiper, Draft Expert. He'll be at the SPN desk for every pick of the NFL Draft starting Thursday but before the draft, listen to the final episodes of the first Draft podcast with Mel Field Yates and Mike Greenberg, available wherever you get your podcast. Mel joining us on the program. Why do so many opinions seem to shift based on stuff that's not from actual games that these players play?
Dan Patrick
It's college to pro Dan. That's what makes it so, so difficult. You're seeing guys play in college against players who will not be in the National Football League. So you're not getting apples to apples. And some games you want to watch an offensive tackle, but the defensive end is going on the right side or left side opposite where the player you want the one on one to be. So you get little snippets, okay, snapshots here and there of a player against another great player. That's why Senior bowl practices are so important, because you're getting good on good. You don't get that in college on a regular basis. So a lot of times the stats can be skewed one way. He can have great numbers against, I call them AOGs Dan and other occupation guys. That's what they are, you know, they're AOGs. That's what you go up against in college. I coined that phrase years ago. That's what it is because that's college football. That's the same thing when you talk about high school. It's tough to go from one level to the next and be accurate with your evaluation. So when you end the day, it's over evaluation too, because you're talking about so much time between the end of the season till late April that you do kind of overthink it and you do factor in things that maybe shouldn't be as heavily weighed because it's so much time and it is level to a different level and you have to look at everything possible to try to make a good. A good evaluation. Certainly, Dan, a lot of scouts believe and general managers later in the draft, take the talented kids. Bill Polian, hall of Famer, always told you, Mel, take the talented guys later in the draft. The guys are, call them underachievers, Dan, but they have a big time skill set and for one reason or another, they got dinged in the process a bit. Take those kind of guys in the fifth, sixth, seventh round, or bring them in as undrafted free agents.
Mel Kuiper
How do you grade Travis Hunter considering there's two positions?
Dan Patrick
He's a hard. It's a hard decision on wide receiver and corner when you have other players that are fully invested in that one spot. So you say, okay, Travis didn't play just wide receiver. He didn't play just corner. He was out there every play, every snap. That, to me, prevents him from being as good at one or the other that he could be. So even with that said, Dan, he's my number one wide receiver. He's my number one corner, and it's amazing, if he would just focus on one position, how great he could be. So to me, Travis is as unique as any player in the history of the draft because he is going to play both ways right away. Deion said it perfectly. You're not going to have a drive at the end of the first half or a drive in the fourth quarter or two drives in the fourth quarter settling that game, that outcome, and have Travis Hunter standing on the sidelines when our cornerbacks are getting beaten, the quarterbacks driving his team right down the field. Against my defense, you can't have that. So Leon is perfectly correct. He's 1,000% correct on that. This kid's got to play both ways.
Mel Kuiper
Do you love or love? Love Shador Sanders.
Dan Patrick
Like really love Shador Sanders. I tried to be loyal to what, like I said, August and what I thought throughout their careers. And I understand if you want Dan, somebody who looks the part, I call them ltp. That's what they are. They're ltp. There's a couple other guys at that position that are more physically gifted. Okay. When I talk about arm strength, when I talk about just imposing size, the rocket arm, the 4, 6 speed, there are other quarterbacks that have that. Dan, if you want that, take those guys. If you want a kid who can just surgically take a team down the field, pick you apart, see things, recognize things, diagnose, make decisions that are sound, also get the ball to accurate points and precise points to a receiver. And hang in tough in that pocket. Take hits and keep getting up. Don't point fingers, don't assign blame. Win football games. He didn't have a running game for two years at Colorado. Dan, his leading rusher, I've said it for the last month, his leading rusher the last two years. The two top running backs in this draft, Jinti and Hampton, would have had more yards in a game and a half than they had the whole year. Think about that. And the offensive line. And you saw that offensive line, that was a bad group in 2023, a little bit better in 24. But bottom line is he had no chance. And a lot of, a lot of those snaps, he had no shot. So I give him a lot of credit, Dan. But if he's not the guy that you want physically and you can't reconcile taking a guy that high, I get it. But does that not mean that, hey, in the mid late first round, he can't be a heck of a pick? And all this notion too, Dan. Well, if you love him or you like them, whatever. If you just like them, you can't take them. Well, I'll give you an example. In 1984, Dan, my first year at ESPN, I had Boomer Esiason the third highest rated player on my board. Right now, Shador is at five, by the way. Okay, so say Shador goes in the late first, it goes in the second. What an idiot. Kuiper is, right? Yeah. Well, guess what? Boomer was three Bengals had three picks in the first round. And I'm sitting there, first year at espn, you know what's going through my head? I'm one and done. I'm sitting there with, I'm sitting there with Chris Berman, Boomer and Bob Lee. I'm thinking now I'm not going to be back for the 1985 draft. My third highest rated players there. And the Bengals passed them three times, Dan. And two of those three were bust. They took him in the second round. Now, according to that philosophy, if you didn't like him enough to take him with your first three picks in there, why are you taking him in the second round? He's going to be your quarterback. He's going to be the guy whether he's the first, second rounder, he's your guy moving forward. You didn't even like him enough to take ahead of Ricky Hunley, Pete Koch and Brian Bladows. Okay, so again, I don't buy into any of that nonsense. Brett Favre Was like highly rated player, went in the second round, right? Look what happened with him. Aaron Rodgers was supposed to go number one three weeks before the draft and slid the 24. The six of the eight sliding picks on terms of my rankings over the last, you know, since 1970, Dan went all the way back to 1970. Six of the eight hit, six of the eight sliding quarterbacks hit. So maybe Shador will be one of the six that does really well.
Mel Kuiper
We're talking to Mel Kuiper, draft expert, 42nd NFL Draft, and you can see ESPN with every pick there. That'll be Thursday through Saturday. It'll be Mel and Field Yates, Mike Greenberg, the first draft podcast as well with Mel Kuiper. Help me understand this, that I know we get it, we fall in love with quarterbacks, but if I say to a team, that guy right there that you're going to take, it's not a quarterback, but he's going to be a future hall of Famer. But instead you'll roll the dice on Cam Ward. And Cam can be, maybe he's a Hall of Famer, but if you said Travis Hunter, Abdul Carter, you know, there's a couple of guys in here that you go, chances are they could be the safest pick and be a future hall of Famer, but we're going to roll the dice on Cam Ward. Explain the logic there at the top of the draft.
Dan Patrick
It's arm talent, Dan. It's the traits. It's that skill set that Brian Callahan. I listened to an interview with Brian Callahan and he said, I want a quarterback doing. Everybody in the stadium knows we're throwing a ball, can throw the ball and deliver a pass and complete it. I want a guy that's wired right. I want a guy that certainly, you know, can be not just good. Because he said, he said just good. Just good's not good enough, Dan. It's been told to us. Listen to what they're saying. I don't want to go. That's just good. They want Joe Burrow. They want Jaden down. He mentioned Joe Burrow and Jaden Daniels in an interview. That's what he's shooting for. He's not shooting. I said this for the last couple of years, Dan. The singles and double days for quarterbacks are over. This is. And even, maybe even a triple. You want a grand slam or a home run or you don't want that guy, Dan. So what they're doing now is they're just keeping taking shots. They're taking shots. If my guy's not A triple, Triple, Double or triple? Home run or grand slam? He's just a double or single? Just. Good. Then I got to get better. I got to get better. And the one phrase that came out of everybody's mouth this last couple of years is, I want a quarterback, my quarterback, to play at a consistently high level. Well, you're looking at great then, right?
Mel Kuiper
Yeah.
Dan Patrick
Consistently high level. Who does that? Dan Patrick does it every day because he's a Hall of Famer. Bottom line was, does these quarterbacks do it every day? Consistently high level, Dan. And that's where, again, you look at what we're doing here. If we got a quarterback and we think he could be good, but we got to get better. This kid has the arm, talent. Shador Sanders doesn't have the rocket arm, doesn't have the 4, 6 speed and isn't 63230. Cam Ward has the rocket arm, has maneuverability and creativity. The GM was with Patrick Mahomes. Patrick Mahomes has a lot of creativity and a live arm. They all see a little bit elements of the quarterback they were with with the quarterback they're going to select. I think they see some elements there of what Mahomes does to the way Cam Ward does. Shador doesn't do it that way. That's why Cam Ward.
Mel Kuiper
But are you sure, like, are you sure that Cam Ward is going to be more successful or as successful as Travis Hunter?
Dan Patrick
No, no, I don't think anybody can be sure.
Mel Kuiper
So why not take that guy? That's a generational talent there. This is what I don't understand.
Dan Patrick
Well, you can't. You have to have. It's the most important position in all sports, this quarterback in the NFL, okay? So you got to keep taking chances. I always say, if you don't have that quarterback, Dan, you're spinning your wheels. They got Joe Burrow in Cincinnati, didn't make the playoffs. Okay? So you are. You can have all these pieces. That's what they said. And I was a big Trent Dilfer supporter. Trent Dilfer won a Super bowl, ironically, here in Baltimore, right? My hometown, born and raised in Baltimore. I write how it all came full circle for me, Dan. But people said, well, you needed everything around. They let Trent Dilfer go. They cut him loose the next year for Elvis Gerbach. They wanted to get better. Okay? They felt like, okay, we need everything around Trent. But he galvanized that team. He was the true leader. He was the difference maker, that team. They were going nowhere till Trent took over that year, okay? And he Let him to all those wins. But it wasn't good enough even then. Think about that. That was a long time ago. It wasn't even good enough then they had a Super bowl winning quarterback that kicked them to the curb to try to get better. This has been going, this thought process, Dan, has been going on a long time. That good isn't good enough at the quarterback position in the NFL.
Mel Kuiper
I need you to, you gu to pace yourself because you got to get ready for Thursday here, Mel. I mean, you're, you're in first round mode right now.
Dan Patrick
I don't know about that, Dan. The voice always goes by, you're right. By Thursday, I get all fired up this week and they start yelling and screaming. And by Thursday, Friday and Saturday, you got nothing left. So I'm with you. I pay. But hey, Dan, I could listen to you say pace it. I've been listening to you say pace it for about hell many years, Dan. We've been together and do I ever. Dan, listen to Dan Patrick.
Mel Kuiper
No, I know, I know. I think it's interesting though that your, your, your mock draft is saying this, this is your potential. This is how you grade them, not what the philosophy is of the teams. Is that correct?
Dan Patrick
Well, philosophy on positions. Like I say, don't take a running back in the first, but I'm not going to grade a kid like Ashton Genti or Amarian Hampton from North Carolina and put him as my 65th player because I don't agree with taking a running back in the first. You grade them based on their ability and that's why all those running backs were rated high. Yeah, I have a philosophy that people said was idiotic, Dan. And now they're all agreeing with it. They all agree with it. Now notice that how that's come full circle too. They all said I was a nut. Now they say, oh, you know, you shouldn't really draft the running back in the first round unless you're one of those great teams that just is missing the running back or that team won the cusp that's just missing a running back. Tell me a team Dan, in the top 10 right now doesn't think they're going to be a pretty good team this coming year. Tell me a team that thinks you're going to be picking first next year. Tell me a team going into next year's this coming season that thinks, oh, we're going to be the worst team in the league next year. Tell me a coach in that building or player in that building, or a GM or an owner that believes that. Okay? So to me, look at Tennessee. They were within a whisker last year of beating Chicago, opening week of being the jets. The second week they ended up beating Houston. They had a lot of games where just a mistake here or block that wasn't made or a drop pass, whatever it may, or penalty or whatever, or an interception, turnover. So again, this is a fine line, Dan. Washington went from being a team that was nothing into being because they had to hit with Jaden Daniels. And that tells you what we talk about a quarterback. They hit with Jaden Daniels. And now look where they are. Now look at the future of the Washington commanders, right? I give Cincinnati, hey, you get a mulligan with Joe Burrow. You're not getting two years with Joe Burrow where you don't make the playoffs. You got an MVP quarterback, you better get in the playoffs. I guess I'll give you one year. I'm not going to give you two. So once you get that guy, you better win consistently.
Mel Kuiper
Do you regret not being a GM in the NFL?
Dan Patrick
Not at all, Dan. No. I had that chance to get into the league when a great best friend ever had in the NFL were all you think about. Ernie, of course, the general manager who was going to bring me in at age 23 before I came to ESPN, Danny offered me the position to come work for him. Just do whatever. Not as an assistant GM like some have, you know, erroneously said. It was just to be his assistant as a young kid coming in. If I need Kuiper to go wherever, I'll send them if I need him to find out something. And I said, great. I said, what do you want me to do? He said, just keep going through the 83 draft. Will announce you in July. Got. I had the NFL security come down and interview and go through all the process to be accepted in and all that. So I was going to. It was all going to happen in July. Ernie had drafted John Elway without his knowledge. John Elway was traded to Denver. There was talk about the Colts leaving town. Ernie would obviously be leaving as well. He was going to bring me in as his guy, knowing the future is so uncertain for him with this organization. He called me in June, Dan, and he said, no, I can't bring you in. I said, I said, okay, what do you want me to do? He said, hey, nobody knows that I was going to do this. It hasn't been announced to anybody. You got a great business going. Keep doing what you're doing. Everybody craves that type of information. Keep doing what you're doing. I did. And guess what? Five months later, I got a call from ESPN to come up and interview for the job. Got that started in 1984. So without Ernie caring about a 23 year old kid and he would have just brought me in, I'd have been with the Colts, hit a laugh. I'd have been gone. At some point, ESPN would have had another draft analyst. And I don't know what the heck I'd be doing right now, Dan.
Mel Kuiper
But that leads me to what happened with Brent Musburger. I campaigned for him. I reached out to the Pro Football hall of Fame, the Pete Roselle Award. I'd like to do the same with you. I think you should be in the Pro Football hall of Fame.
Dan Patrick
I appreciate that, Dan, but I don't, I, I don't. I really, I never. I just believe there's so many people that just. You get for. You're fortunate. You get a little luck on your side. You're around great people. I was, Dan, I worked with you all those years.
Mel Kuiper
You changed, you change an industry. You. What you have meant to the NFL. Can it. It's, it's a different version of John Fasenda. Like he was the voice and you were, you were the draft guy. Like, look at what. It's a cottage industry that you created. That is contributions to the game. I know you're modest. I don't care. I'm going forward with it. You, you deserve to be in the Pro Football hall of Fame. You do.
Dan Patrick
Dan, your great friend Andy Poland's been saying the same thing. I tell Andy the same thing. You know Andy. And he said he's going to. I said, you know, to me, you get into this and you see so many people that were responsible at ESPN for what's happened. So you say I did this. ESPN really did it, Dan, because they televised this thing when the NFL didn't want it to be televised. Think about that. Think about all the great producers that were. From Bill Fitz who offered me that position in 84, all the way up, John Wildhack. You think about what he did. Freddy Godelli. Freddy Godelli was able to coach me along and teach me so many things about this business. Jay Rothman, Brian Rider, now Robert Damsky, all the great producers.
Mel Kuiper
Wait, you're giving your hall of Fame speech.
Dan Patrick
Wade Markman is believing in me all these years. Seth was a great friend. So all the ESPN guys, Dan, they were responsible. All the people that cut those highlight packs, did all that work behind. They were responsible for the draft success. Keep in mind, Dan, ESPN televised draft before I got here, okay, so the draft was on ESPN because before I became a part of the telecast, you changed. Well, I appreciate that, but for John, for sending what you just said, the voice, that voice, Dan pulled people into the NFL.
Mel Kuiper
You're the hair. He's the voice, Mel.
Dan Patrick
It's funny. My great friend. You'll make great friends. George Young, right? Late great George Young, Calvert Hall's own George Young, famous, famous graduate of Calvert hall history, great friend of mine. He's writing me handwritten notes after he got the book on suggestions and just thoughts. He'd call me during the draft even, and give me, get me, tell him his opinion of what went on. George Young always said one, couple of things. He said, first of all, when you draft a player is just as important as who you select. So value is important. He said to me years when I, basically, when I started espn, you got, you got to get a voice coach Mel. You got to get that ball. You got to get that Baltimore accent out of that. You got to lose that Baltimore accent, George. I said, george, I'm not going to get any changes. Whatever I am, I am. And it's not. It doesn't resonate. And his voice isn't getting done. I'm not, I can't change my voice. George, you got to get that Baltimore accent and lose it. You're. You're never going to have any chance. So it was funny, all the conversations I look back with George and like, already, of course, in my great friend Jack Faulkner with the Rams was phenomenal back in the day. I mean, all the way, all the way through my career between Jack, Ernie.
Mel Kuiper
George, save it for your hall of Fame speech. Save it for.
Dan Patrick
No, no, no, Dan. I would say that. Give that up. You know, I got a lot of people in the league that hate me. You know, I got a lot. A lot of people have hated me for a long time. I do not think anything NFL related to the hall of Fame, whatever that work hand in hand. Dan.
Mel Kuiper
No, I'd say pace yourself, but you're not capable. And good to talk to you, as always. We'll see you in Green Day. Thank you, Mel.
Dan Patrick
Appreciate it, pal. Take care, buddy.
Mel Kuiper
Mel Kuiper, Draft EXPERT that's. That's full, mel. That's Mel unplugged, 42nd draft, and I think I've known him 35, 36 years. He's been that way. He'll be that way. Wire to Wire before the draft, you can listen to the final episodes of the First Draft podcast with Mel Field, Yates and Mike Greenberg. Available wherever you get your podcast. We'll close up shop. Last call for phone calls what we learn what's in store tomorrow right after this.
Dan Patrick
Be sure to catch the live edition.
Mel Kuiper
Of the Dan Patrick show, weekdays at 9am Eastern, 6am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and the iHeartRadio app.
Greg Rosenthal
This draft report segment is presented by Miller Light. All right, Fritzi, the draft is coming up in just a couple of weeks. Let's go, man. I'm super excited we're going to be there. We sure are. I cannot wait to be in Green Bay. All right, so obviously we've talked a lot about the quarterbacks and the edge rushers, but we forgot about the other skill position players, your running backs, your tight ends, your wide receivers. Now I'm going to start with obviously the unicorn, Travis Hunter. Maybe. Maybe he plays both sides of the ball. But I'm just looking at him. But I'm just looking at him. As far as a wide receiver, where do you see him making the biggest impact going into the pros? I see that as well. I think he'd be making more of an impact as a wide receiver. I'm very curious. With whatever team picks him, I gotta believe they're gonna at least early on try him out in both spots. I know you increase the risk of injury and all that, but as you said, being a unicorn, how do you have someone that has that kind of special talent and not let him try both sides of the ball? I definitely think he's more of a wide receiver as far as for the NFL. I think he obviously could be great in the secondary, but I'm excited to see and I hope whoever picks him will let him play both offense and defense. And another guy, we talked about him a lot during the college football season. Tyler Warren, the tight end.
Dan Patrick
Ooh, good call.
Greg Rosenthal
I love him. I think he's going to make a Brock Bowers like impact going into whatever team he goes to. I like that analogy. He's a football player in every sense of the word. You want him to run the ball, you want him to catch the ball. Look, he'll even throw the ball. So I love him going into the pros. I wish Denver would get him. Whoever gets that guy is going to have a stud. And I think he's going to make an immediate impact. Oh, absolutely. And then there's Genti, Boise State. How can we not talk about him? And are you convinced that right out of the get go he's going to be able to live up to expectations and become one of the all time great running backs. Is there too much hype? Is that going to that the expectations are kind of through the roof? The only reason why I'm really not worried about Genty is because running backs. That's the one position where you can make an impact on a team right away and become an all pro as a rookie in the pros, Miller Lite is the perfect pick for draft season. It's the taste you can depend on a great beer trusted by beer lovers for 50 years. Pick up some Miller Lite pretty much anywhere they sell beer. It's Miller Time.
Dan Patrick
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Dan Patrick
The 40s and free agents Podcast with Daniel Jeremiah and Greg Rosenthal has prepared you for the 2025 NFL Draft. We've told you what last year's playoff teams need to return to the postseason and how teams with new coaches should approach the draft. So as draft season comes to a close, we've got you covered. Before your favorite team goes on the.
Mel Kuiper
Clock, we'll break it all down.
Dan Patrick
Once all 257 picks have been made. Listen to the 40s and free agents podcast on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. My name is Brendan Patrick Hughes, host of Divine Intervention. This is a story about radical nuns in combat boots and wild haired priests trading blows with J. Edgar Hoover in a hellbent effort to sabotage a war. J. Edgar Hoover was furious.
Mel Kuiper
Somebody violated the FBI and he wanted.
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To bring the Catholic left to its knees.
Dan Patrick
The FBI went around to all their neighbors and said to them, do you think these people are good Americans? It's got heists, tragedy, a trial of the century, and the God damnedest love story you've ever heard.
Mel Kuiper
I picked up the phone and my.
Talkspace Announcer
Thought was this is the most important.
Dan Patrick
Phone call I'll ever make in my life.
Talkspace Announcer
I couldn't believe it. I mean, Brendan, it was divine intervention.
Dan Patrick
Listen to divine intervention on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.
Mel Kuiper
Last call for phone calls. What we learn what's in store tomorrow. This day in sports history. I have some over unders here with draftkings draft picks. Shador Sanders, the over under is eight and a half. I think it's been that way for a while. But you have Jackson Dart 24 and a half. Ashton Genty six and a half. Mason Graham out of Michigan, five and a half. And Tyler Warren, the tight end out of Penn State over under nine and a half. For entertainment purposes only, this day in sports history. Paul, what do you have for us?
Dan Patrick
Soaking in that Ashton Genti, over under for a little bit. That's wild. Our all time favorite, Dan, one of our all time favorites this day in sports history. 1980 Runner Rosie Ruiz won the Boston marathon when she crossed the finish line in a record time of 2:31:56. After investigation, she was stripped of the honor when evidence showed that she didn't run the entire race. She slipped in with about four miles to go.
Mel Kuiper
Yeah, it happens.
Dan Patrick
Why break the record?
Mel Kuiper
Yeah, we get greedy. You know, Bonds didn't need to hit 73. Like if he hits 63 then we might go. Okay, 73. Yeah.
Dan Patrick
Paul, there's a great video of her after the race. I mean within a minute after the race, doing an interview and she is not very winded.
Mel Kuiper
Yeah, let's see what Happened on this date. Joe Scarborough. Not that Joe Scarborough, Morning Joe or Cup of Joe. A 50 year old self employed electrical contractor on 23rd in 2013, he rolled the first 900 series in the history of the Professional Bowlers Association. He opened up with three straight perfect games, 36 consecutive strikes. Congratulations, Joe Scarborough. That was 2013.
Greg Rosenthal
That's pretty impressive if you think about it.
Mel Kuiper
Well, hold on, let me think about it. Oh, that is impressive.
Greg Rosenthal
36 straight.
Mel Kuiper
Yeah, good thing I had to think about it or I wouldn't have thought it was that.
Greg Rosenthal
There's always that one pin that's wiggling and it doesn't fall for you.
Mel Kuiper
Thank you. So we're heading to Green Bay. We'll be there Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. And final results of the poll question during the final hour of the program. Todd, we've got a couple.
Greg Rosenthal
One of them was if I bought an expensive piece of sports memorabilia like a Jersey, I would 84% said frame it to display in my home or office. 12 say sell it on ebay or something to make a profit. 3% wear it in public from time to time. 1% gift it to someone I know would really love it. And the other one is, who are you rooting for to win the West? 34% say Oklahoma City. 25, Golden State 21. Lakers pod right behind 20 nuggets.
Mel Kuiper
Thank you, Todd. Doing the duties. I said duties. Filling in for Seaton, Kevin in Austin. Hi, Kevin. What's on your mind today?
Dan Patrick
Hey, dp, thanks for fitting me in. I just, I have a hard hitting question as known to be used on your show. Of all the aerial displays you put on at NBA practice arenas, I believe there was one in Phoenix. The Dallas one you spoke of. I believe there was one at Indiana. And then my one seed has to be the infamous UMass shoot off that you had when Coach Cal was there. What, what would you, what would you say is your number one?
Mel Kuiper
Well, that one had to do with dunking. So there was one in UMass. There was one at Marquette when Kevin O'Neill was there and I was putting on an aerial display. There was the one at Hinkle Field house where George McGinnis, the great Indiana Pacer, was going to be my color analyst on a broadcast where we did Wisconsin Green Bay. Believe it or not, Tony Bennett was playing in that game. And he said, oh, you can dunk. I said, well, I can do more than that, George. And then I said, I can out shoot you. And he's like, what? I said, yes, but I'm not going to do that because we're in Indiana. Any other place, George, I'd probably try to embarrass you, but, yeah, I didn't. It would have been bad for his brand and Georgia hall of Fame basketball.
Dan Patrick
Very thoughtful of you.
Mel Kuiper
Yes, absolutely. Yeah, there have been some moments and. And look, it's. I have nothing to lose when I shoot against these guys. Nothing. And they have everything to lose. And some of them lost some credibility along the way. Jeremiah in Indiana. Hi, Jeremiah. How are you?
Dan Patrick
DP thanks for taking my call. 5, 5 and 195. Best and worst of the weekend is in the same event. Best was the Indiana Pacers winning at home playoff game. First time at home in over 10 years.
Mel Kuiper
The worst.
Dan Patrick
And Adam Silver, Commissioner Silver, was attendance for it was the 10 to 11 to 13 seconds it took for Giannis to shoot a free throw. Can the NBA utilize the shot clock during free throw shooting to speed the game up?
Mel Kuiper
Well, they're supposed to. It gets there. There's been a pitch clock for a long, long time in baseball. They didn't institute it, they didn't enforce it, but you're supposed to have 10 seconds there. Matt in Wisconsin. Hi, Matt. Hey, Dan.
Dan Patrick
This is Coach Hockett from UW Stevens Point. Our passion buckets are full here with you coming into Wisconsin.
Mel Kuiper
We're excited to come over and see.
Dan Patrick
I actually got both of my kids with me.
Mel Kuiper
They wanted to say hello, and we're.
Dan Patrick
We're driving over to Green Bay. Our best of the weekend was we had a women's basketball banquet this past weekend. We made the NCAA tournament this past year. But I joked with the local reporter, none of that would happen without your.
Mel Kuiper
Commitment back in the fall.
Dan Patrick
And we're just so excited. We got some shirts for you and the Danettes. We got a sweatshirt, Cody, for you.
Mel Kuiper
And we actually, my wife credit her.
Dan Patrick
We have an NCAA tournament participant medallion. The ncaa. The NCAA rep asked me, how many players do we have? I go, 17. She's kind of my director of operations. She hits me and she goes, no, you have 18. You got to get one for Dan. So we're gonna bring all that over to you guys on Wednesday at the bar. And we're just so excited to have you in Stevens Point. Are in Green Bay and in Wisconsin.
Mel Kuiper
Thank you, coach. Look forward to seeing you and the family. He's got to understand it's Doug Gottlieb's territory. Wisconsin, Green Bay, Wisconsin, Stevens Point. What did I learn today, Todd?
Greg Rosenthal
Mel Kuiper Jr. Loves Shador. Has him five on his big board says he's an LTP or he looks the part.
Mel Kuiper
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Dan Patrick
The 40s and free agents Podcast with Daniel Jeremiah and Greg Rosenthal has has prepared you for the 2025 NFL Draft. We've told you what last year's playoff teams need to return to the postseason and how teams with new coaches should approach the draft. So as draft season comes to a close, we've got you covered. Before your favorite team goes on the.
Mel Kuiper
Clock, we'll break it all down.
Dan Patrick
Once all 257 picks have been made, listen to the 40s and free agents podcast on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.
Greg Rosenthal
I'm Clayton English. I'm Greg Lodd and this is season two of the War on Drugs podcast.
Dan Patrick
Last year a lot of the problems of the drug war. This year a lot of the biggest.
Greg Rosenthal
Names in music and sports. This kind of star studded a little bit, man.
Dan Patrick
We met them at their homes, we met them at the recording studios. Stories matter and it brings a face to it.
Mel Kuiper
It makes it real.
Dan Patrick
It really does. It makes it real.
Greg Rosenthal
Listen to new episodes of of the War on Drugs Podcast, Season 2 on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast.
Dan Patrick
My name is Brendan Patrick Hughes, host of Divine Intervention. This is a story about radical nuns in combat boots and wild haired priests trading blows with J. Edgar Hoover in a hell bent effort to sabotage a war.
Mel Kuiper
J. Edgar Hoover was furious.
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He was out of his mind and he wanted to bring the Catholic left to its knees.
Dan Patrick
Listen to Divine intervention on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.
Episode Summary: "Hour 3 – Playoff Jimmy, Mel Kiper Jr." on The Dan Patrick Show
In the engaging third hour of "The Dan Patrick Show," host Dan Patrick teams up with renowned sports analysts Mel Kiper Jr. and Greg Rosenthal to explore two major sports narratives: the enduring debate over the greatest NBA player of all time and an in-depth analysis of the 2025 NFL Draft.
A significant portion of the discussion centers on comparing basketball legends LeBron James and Michael Jordan. The conversation delves into their career achievements, playoff performances, and overall impact on the game.
Key Points:
LeBron James' Pursuit of Greatness: Mel Kiper Jr. highlights LeBron's continuous drive to cement his legacy, emphasizing his "must win" situations in the NBA playoffs.
Greg Rosenthal comments at [08:13]:
"I'm taking LeBron off that list only because I don't think he can get to where Michael is. Jimmy Butler, having moved to Golden State with Stephen and Draymond, is in a unique position to lead a team to another championship, which could elevate his standing significantly."
Michael Jordan's Unmatched Finals Record: The discussion underscores Jordan's flawless Finals record, contrasting it with LeBron's need for additional championships to solidify his legacy.
Dan Patrick asserts at [11:46]:
"Most Jordanists are inflexible about Michael Jordan. They have no flexibility about Michael Jordan. They don't even like to have the topic and discuss LeBron because it's like resume versus playing ability."
Comparative Analysis of Careers: Mel and Greg compare not just their on-court performances but also their cultural impacts, with Dan Patrick pointing out the difference between Jordan's branding and LeBron's evolving legacy.
Mel Kiper Jr. adds at [10:25]:
"LeBron has taken immense steps, but if he doesn’t secure another championship, especially in the twilight of his career, his chances of surpassing Michael’s legacy diminish sharply."
Notable Quotes:
Greg Rosenthal [08:13]:
"Jimmy Butler wants out of Miami, goes to Golden State, he's playoff. Jimmy can wipe away the mess that he left in Miami."
Dan Patrick [11:46]:
"Most Jordanists are inflexible about Michael Jordan. They have no flexibility about Michael Jordan. They don't even like to have the topic and discuss LeBron because it's like resume versus playing ability."
Mel Kiper Jr. [10:25]:
"LeBron has taken immense steps, but if he doesn’t secure another championship, especially in the twilight of his career, his chances of surpassing Michael’s legacy diminish sharply."
Transitioning from basketball to football, the conversation shifts to the 2025 NFL Draft. Mel Kiper Jr. and Greg Rosenthal provide expert insights into player evaluations, team strategies, and potential draft outcomes.
Key Points:
Evaluating Dual-Position Players: The duo discusses the complexities of drafting versatile players like Travis Hunter, who excels both as a wide receiver and cornerback.
Mel Kiper Jr. explains at [24:20]:
"Travis Hunter, for instance, excels both as a wide receiver and cornerback, making his versatility both a strength and a potential hinderance."
Draft Strategy and Player Potential: Emphasis is placed on balancing team needs with player potential, advocating for selecting talented players even in later rounds.
Greg Rosenthal at [26:00]:
"Shador Sanders doesn't have the rocket arm, doesn't have the 4, 6 speed and isn't 6'3". But his versatility makes him a valuable asset in the draft."
Historical Draft Insights: References to past drafts, such as Boomer Esiason and Brett Favre, illustrate the unpredictability and long-term value of certain draft picks.
Mel Kiper Jr. comments at [26:57]:
"Boomer was picked in the second round and became a standout player. Similarly, Brett Favre slid into the second round and had an exceptional career."
Notable Quotes:
Mel Kiper Jr. [24:20]:
"Travis Hunter, for instance, excels both as a wide receiver and cornerback, making his versatility both a strength and a potential hinderance."
Greg Rosenthal [26:00]:
"Shador Sanders doesn't have the rocket arm, doesn't have the 4, 6 speed and isn't 6'3". But his versatility makes him a valuable asset in the draft."
Mel Kiper Jr. [26:57]:
"Boomer was picked in the second round and became a standout player. Similarly, Brett Favre slid into the second round and had an exceptional career."
Intertwined with the main discussions are personal stories and reflections from the hosts, providing listeners with a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the world of sports analysis.
Dan Patrick's Career Reflections: Dan shares anecdotes about his early interactions in the sports industry, including conversations with influential figures like Ernie, the general manager who offered him a position in the NFL.
At [36:03], Dan Patrick reflects:
"Without Ernie bringing me in, I'd have been with the Colts, hit a laugh. I'd have been gone. At some point, ESPN would have had another draft analyst."
Praise and Recognition: Mel Kiper Jr. acknowledges Dan Patrick's impact on the sports broadcasting industry, hinting at his own aspirations while humbly deflecting the notion of a Hall of Fame induction.
Mel Kiper Jr. remarks at [37:34]:
"You changed an industry. It's a different version of John Facenda. Like he was the voice and you were the draft guy."
"Hour 3 – Playoff Jimmy, Mel Kiper Jr." offers a comprehensive and lively exploration of some of the most pressing topics in the sports world. From the timeless debate of basketball greatness to the intricate strategies of the NFL Draft, the episode is filled with expert analyses, spirited debates, and personal reflections. Mel Kiper Jr.'s seasoned insights, combined with the dynamic exchanges between Dan Patrick and Greg Rosenthal, make this episode a must-listen for sports enthusiasts seeking depth and clarity in their favorite sports narratives.
Notable Quotes with Timestamps:
Greg Rosenthal [08:13]:
"Jimmy Butler wants out of Miami, goes to Golden State, he's playoff. Jimmy can wipe away the mess that he left in Miami."
Dan Patrick [11:46]:
"Most Jordanists are inflexible about Michael Jordan. They have no flexibility about Michael Jordan. They don't even like to have the topic and discuss LeBron because it's like resume versus playing ability."
Mel Kiper Jr. [10:25]:
"LeBron has taken immense steps, but if he doesn’t secure another championship, especially in the twilight of his career, his chances of surpassing Michael’s legacy diminish sharply."
Mel Kiper Jr. [24:20]:
"Travis Hunter, for instance, excels both as a wide receiver and cornerback, making his versatility both a strength and a potential hinderance."
Greg Rosenthal [26:00]:
"Shador Sanders doesn't have the rocket arm, doesn't have the 4, 6 speed and isn't 6'3". But his versatility makes him a valuable asset in the draft."
Mel Kiper Jr. [26:57]:
"Boomer was picked in the second round and became a standout player. Similarly, Brett Favre slid into the second round and had an exceptional career."
This detailed summary captures the essence of the episode, highlighting key discussions, insights, and notable quotes to provide a comprehensive overview for those who haven't listened to the show.