3 & Out - Massive Mailbag Part 2

Summary

The Herd with Colin Cowherd: 3 & Out — Massive Mailbag Part 2 (April 7, 2026)

Episode Overview

This episode of 3 & Out with John Middlekoff is a dedicated “Mailbag Part 2” installment where Middlekoff fields a wide array of listener questions about the NFL, other sports, personal advice, and the evolving sports media landscape. The episode is rich in candid opinions and practical life insights, blending in-depth football analysis with thoughtful takes on societal trends and personal development. Delivered in Middlekoff’s trademark unfiltered and conversational tone, the mailbag features direct responses, quick pivots, and honest reactions to a diverse set of fan messages.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Buffalo Bills: Super Bowl Contenders?

Timestamps: 03:42–05:18

• Listener Question: Why are the Bills your pick to win the Super Bowl with an unproven HC and defensive needs?
• Middlekoff's Rationale:
  • The Bills have “been so close” in recent seasons and sometimes need “a spark” or “new blood” in coaching.
  • Betting on Jim Leonhard to elevate the defense, and belief in Joe Brady as an offensive mind.
  • “They have one of the best quarterbacks I’ve ever seen. So to me, if he’s healthy, they have as good a shot as anyone.” (John Middlekoff, 04:47)
  • Acknowledges first-year coach risk but is “buying stock” in the Bills this year.

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2. Spring Football Leagues & NFL Development

Timestamps: 05:26–08:12

• Listener asks: Is there a future for spring football leagues (UFL/XFL)? Could the NFL benefit from a minor league?
• Middlekoff’s Take:
  • The product “is just not a great product,” struggles to be profitable.
  • Viewership is low compared to NFL, but respectable compared to smaller sports.
  • Logistical and injury risks mean NFL teams won't risk high-value prospects or scheme fits in these leagues.
  • “It’s a league where nobody wants to be there…so it’s a tough deal.” (Co-host, 07:42)
  • While NFL personnel still scout these leagues for fringe talent, there’s no scalable solution for player development akin to the G-League or minor league baseball.

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3. Chasing Jerry Rice: The Wide Receiver GOAT Debate

Timestamps: 08:45–10:15

• Listener asks: Can any current WR surpass Jerry Rice as the GOAT?
• Middlekoff’s Analysis:
  • Jerry Rice’s Super Bowl wins and insane longevity set him apart.
  • “In terms of production and longevity and winning and being a contributing player on some of the best teams of all time, [Rice has] a lot of things going for him. So I would say no.” (John Middlekoff, 10:02)
  • Modern stars (e.g., Justin Jefferson, Jamar Chase) don’t have the combo of elite QB play, championship runs, and sustained health.

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4. Rule Change Proposals: Limiting Three-Point Shots in Basketball

Timestamps: 10:47–12:54

• Listener proposes: Limit each basketball team to a set number of three-pointers per game.
• Middlekoff’s Reaction:
  • Not a fan of restricting certain plays simply by volume—“either outlaw it, modify it, but you can’t put a limitation on a number.” (John Middlekoff, 11:56)
  • Draws analogies to other sports (e.g., limitations on defensive shifts in baseball) and prefers more systemic rule adjustments over arbitrary limits.

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5. Locker Room Chemistry: Eagles, AJ Brown, and Jalen Hurts

Timestamps: 13:20–17:10

• Listener asks: Is Jalen Hurts becoming “Russell Wilson 2.0” regarding locker room perceptions? What is AJ Brown’s standing?
• Middlekoff's View:
  • Differs personalities: Hurts is quieter, Russell Wilson was “let’s be great” in an overt, occasionally grating way.
  • Compares their “false sense of strengths and weaknesses,” notes reluctance to run from both QBs.
  • “Part of football is doing things you’re uncomfortable with...to take a step back or to take three or four steps forward.” (John Middlekoff, 16:01)
  • Expects Eagles’ offense to run Shanahan-style under-center scheme, possibly outside Hurts’ comfort zone.

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6. Golf Simulators and Changing Access to the Game

Timestamps: 17:17–19:24

• Listener asks: Thoughts on indoor golf simulators and TGL’s impact?
• Middlekoff:
  • Generally pro-simulators for increased access, especially in big cities.
  • “Part of golf…it’s a socializing aspect for me…part of that is you get outside, you’re in a cart with someone, you have a couple cocktails, brewskis, and just kind of enjoy yourself.” (John Middlekoff, 19:06)

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7. Gambling’s Impact on Sports Media & Fandom

Timestamps: 22:43–28:15

• Listener concern: Gambling focus in sports coverage detracts from in-depth analysis.
• Middlekoff’s Stance:
  • Admits he likes gambling and always has, but maintains he can separate gambling conversation from pure sports analysis.
  • Recognizes the gambling boom has created media personalities who can only talk about “lines,” but sees both perspectives.
  • “If you got money on [the game], it just changes your perspective…But if you don’t, I can thoroughly enjoy a game.” (John Middlekoff, 27:06)
  • Assures fans: “We just talk about it pretty organically…But I can separate the two.” (John Middlekoff, 28:15)

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8. NFL Franchises: Futility, Coaching, and Hope

Timestamps: 28:26–31:57

• Jets Fan asks: Is there hope for this franchise?
• Middlekoff’s Take:
  • Jets are “just a bad, unwatchable product.”
  • Emphasizes coaching as the key to changing a franchise’s fortunes.
  • “The most important thing you can do in football is really not the quarterback, it’s getting a good coach. Because if you get a good coach…they will make things happen.” (John Middlekoff, 29:39)

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9. Bills' Playoff Woes—Offense or Defense to Blame?

Timestamps: 32:08–33:10

• Listener wonders: Is the Bills’ problem their wideouts, or just McDermott’s defense?
• Middlekoff:
  • Draws parallel to mid-2010s Packers (great offense, defense let them down).
  • “The offense has showed up in the playoffs while the defense has allowed over 27 points.” (John Middlekoff, 32:15)
  • Thinks McDermott is a good coach but understands the move—it “was time.”

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10. “Dad Diaries” – Candid Relationship & Parenting Real Talk

Timestamps: 33:32–36:45

• Listener asks: Is it normal for a couple to go six months without sex after having a baby?
• Middlekoff’s Response:
  • Initially, postpartum period means weeks on “injured reserve,” but “six months…that’s beyond egregious.”
  • Shares that “never stop dating” mindset is critical post-kids.
  • “You guys can’t find like five minutes?...That’s insane to me.” (John Middlekoff, 35:11 & 35:40)

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11. NFL Draft/Prospect Insights: Small School Players & North Dakota State

Timestamps: 36:45–38:36

• Discussion: Scouting FCS prospects and North Dakota State’s move to the Mountain West.
• Middlekoff:
  • Relays a coach’s story: “He’s a freak…43 speed, great ball skills.”
  • Expects the player to go on Day 2.
  • Thinks NDSU will compete in the Mountain West “unless they’re in like the SEC or the Big Ten.”

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12. Behind the Scenes on “The Herd” & Sports Media

Timestamps: 38:52–41:08

• Listener asks: Is The Herd pre-recorded, and did the crew move with Cowherd to Chicago?
• Middlekoff Explains:
  • The show is fully live; the early prep is just a pre-show “think tank.”
  • Paints the behind-the-scenes atmosphere as “a high functioning operation.”

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13. Denver Broncos Bold Moves

Timestamps: 41:08–43:30

• Listener asks: About Broncos’ trade for Waddle, Davis Webb calling plays as OC.
• Middlekoff:
  • The move to make Webb the OC was partly to keep him from being hired away.
  • "Sean Payton has been calling plays his entire career…in a big game, if they're down 10 to the Chiefs, is he really going to let Webb keep letting it rip?" (John Middlekoff, 42:38)

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14. Podcasting Process & Authenticity

Timestamps: 43:41–46:10

• Listener asks: Does Middlekoff listen back to his own episodes for self-critique?
• Middlekoff:
  • Not anymore; too much content to review, relies on gut sense of episode quality.
  • Values authenticity, “Part of this podcast is like what you hear from me is what I said, you know. And that’s what thrives, I believe.” (John Middlekoff, 46:10)

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15. Raiders, Tight Ends, & Fastest Upward Mobility Picks

Timestamps: 46:10–50:04

• Topics: Raiders playoff hopes, TE targets, “worst-to-first” candidates.
• Middlekoff’s Calls:
  • Raiders could be a surprise (win total double-up), Saints picked as a playoff team.
  • On Michael Mayer: He’d keep him, noting Bowers is essentially a WR, and Kubiak will like multiple TEs.

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16. Drake May, NFL Young Guns & Staying in the MVP Conversation

Timestamps: 54:31–55:58

• Listener asks: Can Drake May stay in the MVP conversation?
• Middlekoff:
  • Sees a bright future: “I’d be very bullish—if Drake May was a stock, I’d continue to buy.”

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17. Advice for Entering Your 30s

Timestamps: 55:58–57:49

• Listener asks: For advice starting their 30s and seeking individual growth.
• Middlekoff:
  • Recommends proactively building and diversifying social networks—exposes growth and new perspectives.

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18. Jimbo Fisher’s Future & Packers’ Outlook

Timestamps: 59:27–61:27

• Listener asks: Could Jimbo Fisher coach again? What about the Packers’ ceiling?
• Middlekoff:
  • Jimbo’s career essentially over; influx of hungry young coaches.
  • Packers will be solid but prefers Lions and Bears in the NFC North.

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19. NFL Compensation & Diversity Initiatives

Timestamps: 63:17–65:19

• Listener asks: Why did the Bears not get third-round comp picks for diversity hires?
• Middlekoff:
  • “NFL is uncomfortable…they don’t want to set precedent” in cases where there’s a football executive above the GM.

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20. Jalen Hurts/AJ Brown Relationship

Timestamps: 65:19–66:14

• Listener points out: Hurts is godfather to Brown’s daughter—does that change the perception?
• Middlekoff:
  • Their “very close relationship…immediately worked, then something happened.”
  • “You get in fights and spats with your family…part of life. The question is…can these guys figure it out?”

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21. College Football Transfers & “Transfer Fee” Idea

Timestamps: 66:20–68:01

• Listener asks: Should college football adopt a soccer-style transfer fee to small schools?
• Middlekoff:
  • No issue with players transferring upwards—“it’s kind of making the kids’ dreams.”
  • Not a supporter of transfer fees, views it as the nature of college athletics.

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22. AI & The Future of Jobs (Pilot Example)

Timestamps: 68:01–69:53

• Listener asks: Will AI make airline pilots obsolete; would Middlekoff fly without a human pilot?
• Middlekoff:
  • Would “100% not get on a plane with no pilot.”
  • AI will reshape some jobs (call centers, data entry), but many roles—especially highly skilled like pilots—are safe for a while.

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23. Andy Dalton, Eagles Backup, & West Coast Scheme Transition

Timestamps: 70:28–72:10

• Listener asks: Did the Eagles acquire Andy Dalton to mentor Jalen Hurts through a scheme transition?
• Middlekoff:
  • Likely some of that logic: Dalton's hire aids in "teaching and helping out" as Hurts (and the staff) adapt to a new system.

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Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On the Bills' Window:
  “They have one of the best quarterbacks I’ve ever seen…if he’s healthy, they have as good of a shot as anyone.” (John Middlekoff, 04:47)

• On Spring Football Leagues:
  "It’s like a league where nobody wants to be there. All the coaches…players…trainers want to be in the higher league." (Co-host, 07:42)

• On Limiting Threes in the NBA:
  “You either can do it, or you're not…can't put a limitation on a number. To me, in sports, it just can't.” (John Middlekoff, 11:56)

• On Coaching’s Importance:
  "The most important thing you can do in football is really not the quarterback, it's getting a good coach." (John Middlekoff, 29:39)

• On the Reality of New Parenthood:
  "You're just trying to survive. Feels like Navy SEAL bootcamp." (John Middlekoff, 34:35)

• On Making Friends After 30:
  “I never want to be someone that just says, 'I stopped making friends when I was like 35 years old.'" (John Middlekoff, 57:49)

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Noteworthy Segments / Timestamps

• 03:42 Bills Super Bowl pick, rationale, and vulnerabilities
• 05:26 Spring leagues and NFL “minor league” musings
• 08:45 Jerry Rice's GOAT status revisited
• 13:20 Eagles’ locker room dynamics (Hurts/Brown)
• 22:43 Gambling’s impact on sports coverage
• 28:26 Jets’ futility and importance of coaching
• 33:32 Relationship/marriage advice for new parents
• 46:10 Raiders, tight ends, and “worst-to-first” picks
• 54:31 Drake May’s future and potential
• 55:58 Advice for growth in your 30s
• 59:27 Packers forecast and Jimbo Fisher’s career
• 63:17 NFL diversity pick denial for the Bears
• 65:19 Hurts/AJ Brown relationship dynamic
• 68:01 AI’s impact on pilots and future-proof professions
• 70:28 Andy Dalton’s role with the Eagles

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Final Thoughts

This episode delivers a broad, candid, and insightful take on the NFL offseason's hottest topics, life outside football, and the culture around sports media today. With its open mailbag format, it’s perfect for fans craving direct answers and behind-the-scenes perspective from someone “in the room” but never out of touch with the average listener.

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Note: All advertisements, non-content outro/intro, and sponsor messages have been omitted from this summary for clarity and relevance.

Transcript

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[John Middlekoff]

What is going on My people John

[Co-host/Analyst]

Middelkoff three and Out Podcast how are we doing? Here's the game plan today. Mailbag Part 2 We will have a Masters preview out tomorrow and because I'm recording this on the weekend, I'm not exactly sure the schedule for the rest of the week. We got some things in flux but might have something big later the later in the week. But as of right now we had a mailbag yesterday.

[John Middlekoff]

Part two of the Mailbag Today we'll

[Co-host/Analyst]

have a Masters preview and some thoughts going into going into the weekend. And yeah appreciate everyone at John Middlekoff firing those dms.

[John Middlekoff]

You guys know the drill. If you listen on Collins feed make

[Co-host/Analyst]

sure you subscribe and all of this content is up on on Netflix.

[John Middlekoff]

No big deal.

[Co-host/Analyst]

Just go subscribe or you hit an alert and you'll never miss an episode. Video version and let's just, let's dive right in.

[John Middlekoff]

Let's start with Marina. I'm representing your female audience. Listen every day.

[Co-host/Analyst]

Big Bills fan.

[John Middlekoff]

Why are the Bills your pick to

[Co-host/Analyst]

win the Super Bowl?

[John Middlekoff]

They have an unproven head coach, a defense that still need work. Where do you see them drafting in the first round? I think they need some help with the linebacker or D tackle.

[Co-host/Analyst]

Congrats on being a dad. Good job.

[John Middlekoff]

Yeah, good job. Me, I don't know. They're just my pick right now in April. Could always change obviously draft, injuries.

[Co-host/Analyst]

I I just think listen man, they have been so close.

[John Middlekoff]

Sometimes you need a spark.

[Co-host/Analyst]

You need to change something up. And that's why the Ravens and the

[John Middlekoff]

Bills did what they did. They had proven coaches that could get

[Co-host/Analyst]

them double digit wins and in the mix every single year.

[John Middlekoff]

But for whatever reason it felt like both of them had stalled.

[Co-host/Analyst]

I think the Bills obviously last year were closer than the Ravens. But I think you can look at it the same way and I think sometimes new blood and new message. They have one of the best quarterbacks I've ever seen.

[John Middlekoff]

So to me if he's healthy they

[Co-host/Analyst]

have as good of a shot as anyone. Obviously defensively has really let him down in big spots. But you know Jim Leonard was, I don't Know, he's just, he's just a high level guy. So I, I'm betting on Jim Leonard in that defense being good. I'm betting on Joe Brady, who I'm a fan of. Like, I, I was impressed with his press conference, which obviously a press conference being good or being bad doesn't determine anything, but I've already seen him be an offensive coach. He's excellent.

[John Middlekoff]

Some question marks, first time head coach,

[Co-host/Analyst]

but I, I'm buying stock. Your podcast has been a stress reliever.

[John Middlekoff]

Do you think there is a place for spring football leagues? I'm watching the UFL game and it's just not a great product. I don't see how these could ever be profitable. But does the NFL benefit at all from these leaks? Is there any universe where we see a minor league system draft an Anthony Richardson and let him play spring for extra reps?

[Co-host/Analyst]

I'm with you. I, I mean you, you've watched more than me. I, I don't, I don't watch that. As you can see. I'm sure if you like Google the

[John Middlekoff]

ratings, not a lot of people watch,

[Co-host/Analyst]

but I, I still think they get 5, 6, 700,000 people, which is more than the majority of non, like, you

[John Middlekoff]

know, NBA, Major League baseball, PGA golf tournaments, nascar. Like it still does relatively well regardless,

[Co-host/Analyst]

like what else you're gonna put on there. It, you know, running a football team

[John Middlekoff]

in high school, college, even at the

[Co-host/Analyst]

quote unquote minor league level is still expensive. Right?

[John Middlekoff]

But so I, I, I'm not a consumer. When you work in the league though, you're evaluating these players. A lot of these guys have got a cup of coffee in the league.

[Co-host/Analyst]

Some of them have played in the

[John Middlekoff]

league for a while.

[Co-host/Analyst]

A lot of them were former draft

[John Middlekoff]

picks, played at good colleges. I haven't looked at all the rosters,

[Co-host/Analyst]

but I actually flipped it on the other day for like five minutes. AJ McCarran's team, which again, I'm with you, it was a hard watch. The score was like seven to nine at one point in time. I think McCarran's team ended up winning. He's Birmingham Stallions or something and Matt Corral was his quarterback. The former Ole Miss quarterback who was drafted.

[John Middlekoff]

Carolina.

[Co-host/Analyst]

Yeah, I think Carolina drafted him, spent

[John Middlekoff]

a cup of coffee on the Patriots and like didn't show up or something weird happened. But you, you will definitely have individuals

[Co-host/Analyst]

in that league get a shot.

[John Middlekoff]

The thing you said with Anthony Richardson, you would never. Because the NFL teams don't run the scheme or the coaching for those that

[Co-host/Analyst]

you Would never put a guy in those spots.

[John Middlekoff]

Though there is an argument to be had should they all work together. Utilize some of your practice squad guys in those reps. The problem is in football, it's not like basketball or baseball where, you know,

[Co-host/Analyst]

you get injured really easily playing tackle football. You only got so many, you know, bullets in the gun in terms of just your body.

[John Middlekoff]

So I, I, I, I don't think

[Co-host/Analyst]

it's realistic at all. And let's face it, it's the one league. I heard Gottlieb say this about the G league. I do think that league's the same is it's like a league where nobody wants to be there. All the coaches want to be in the higher league, all the trainers want to be in the higher league. Obviously all the players want to be in the higher league. So it's just, it's a tough deal. I, I don't know if there's a great answer beside I, I, I don't watch it. Most people don't. But NFL personnel definitely evaluate it.

[John Middlekoff]

This is my wife's account. I don't have social media. Props to you anyway, been listening to three and out since the beginning. It's pretty incredible how far you've come.

[Co-host/Analyst]

Guys gassing me up started in the mud here.

[John Middlekoff]

This is the best NFL podcast.

[Co-host/Analyst]

God, this is too many compliments. I don't mean to read those, I just read what I screenshotted. Don't have a question.

[John Middlekoff]

Just wanted to get.

[Co-host/Analyst]

Yeah, this is, this is too much positive reinforcement for your boy. Mailbag question. I, I appreciate the kind words Leanne's husband. Mailbag question.

[John Middlekoff]

Do you think any of the wide receivers currently in the NFL can surpass wide receiver Rice?

[Co-host/Analyst]

That'd be Jerry Rice as the goat. I, I don't, I, I think one thing, Jerry, Jerry's got two things going for him. One, he's an all time great wide

[John Middlekoff]

receiver who was on a winning team. So he was like rattling off Super Bowls, right? He was part of 88, 89, 94.

[Co-host/Analyst]

He went to another Super bowl at

[John Middlekoff]

40 years old where I'm pretty sure he caught a hundred balls for Gruden and the Raiders.

[Co-host/Analyst]

So I guess Gruden would have been gone on Tampa, but that year he was there two years he was there one Gruden and the next year with Callahan and had a great year when Gannon won the, the mvp. I just think his longevity, his winning, it's just really, really difficult. Like there wasn't real, like his only downturns were injuries.

[John Middlekoff]

I remember Being a kid, he broke

[Co-host/Analyst]

his leg on Monday Night Football or maybe broke his leg in a Sunday game. Tried to come back on Monday Night Football and reheard him, but like, he

[John Middlekoff]

never didn't have weird stuff happen to

[Co-host/Analyst]

him beside like play till he was 50 years old on Seattle, which was a little weird. I, I just think it's impossible. I think he's kind of cemented it. Just kind of.

[John Middlekoff]

Maybe his highs, like physically he's not

[Co-host/Analyst]

Randy Moss or Terrell Owens, but in terms of production and longevity in winning and being a contributing player on some of the best teams of all time, it's just he's got a lot of things going for him. So I, I would say no, because

[John Middlekoff]

you're like, who's your best players right now? Jamar Chase, Justin Jefferson, Justin Jefferson's quarterbacks, Kyler Murray, Jerry Rice, played with Rich Gannon, Steve Young, Jeff Garcia, Joe Montana.

[Co-host/Analyst]

I mean, it's like Jamar Chase, he's

[John Middlekoff]

with Burrow, but they don't win enough. And it's like, are those guys gonna have 20 plus year careers? Big fan. Been listening since, since the Pandemic days. You and Colin helped me get through some hard days. I appreciate that.

[Co-host/Analyst]

Hope you're doing well.

[John Middlekoff]

I know you're doing a football show, but I enjoy your takes on other sports. I'm not an NBA guy at all, but do you enjoy the content when you talk about other stuff? With the three point issue in basketball, I have thought about this from an outsider's point of view. What if each team is allotted, say 33 point shots per game? Teams would have to strategically use them so they can't just keep chucking them up. This is a way you don't have to modify the court, but defenses will have to hone in, in more and offenses would have limited amount to use during the entire game. My issue with things like this, I'm not a believer.

[Co-host/Analyst]

Like in limiting what you can do, you're either allowed to do it or you're not. Like, I, I'm not as dialed in on baseball as I was 10 years ago. But like the shift, they ban the shift, right?

[John Middlekoff]

It's not like you, well, you can shift five times during the game. Five abs. That'd be stupid, right? You either can do it or not. It'd be like, well, you can only throw six go routes in a football game. You can only shoot so many threes. Either outlaw it, modify it, but you

[Co-host/Analyst]

can't put a limitation on a number. To me, in sports, it, it just can't like that's, I understand we're getting more replay involved.

[John Middlekoff]

One day we'll have AI robots as referees and umpires. But you either are allowed to do

[Co-host/Analyst]

what is there or you're not. So I, I don't know. It kind of is what it is. So unless they modify the three point

[John Middlekoff]

like to me it's not realistic to see them ever go, well, you're only

[Co-host/Analyst]

allowed X number of three pointers. A game like that would never happen in any other sport. Challenge you'd be like, well, you could only get so many challenges.

[John Middlekoff]

That's a coaching decision to me in the, in the field of play, like part of shooting three sometimes you might not even just pass shoot.

[Co-host/Analyst]

You're not even thinking about it. Obviously there's a conscious effort in a

[John Middlekoff]

lot of games to chuck a lot of threes, but I don't, I, I'm

[Co-host/Analyst]

not, I don't support that. I don't support anything that limits like you only allowed four of these in the playing surface, on the court, on the field. Like I'm out on that.

[John Middlekoff]

Not, not a, not a supporter which

[Co-host/Analyst]

listen, I'm not on your idea. A lot of people have brought that up. I, I just not for me. The Kaufman this was a recommendation. I middlemen seems to be the leader in the clubhouse.

[John Middlekoff]

As an Eagles fan, I gotta ask. When you say AJ's not the problem and that he's beloved in the locker room, are you confirming that Hertz has become Russell Wilson 2.0?

[Co-host/Analyst]

Thanks for everything. When I say beloved in the locker room, I, that might be a little strong.

[John Middlekoff]

I, I just know AJ from the outside.

[Co-host/Analyst]

We go malcontent. This guy is just beaten to his own drum. From what I've been told that is not the case. People like A.J. brown, he, this isn't a Terrell Owen situation. Philadelphia early 2000s, that, that's not this now is it probably unnecessary.

[John Middlekoff]

Some of the stuff he does for sure to me, I, I, Russell and Jaylen like to me it's not 2.0

[Co-host/Analyst]

because Russell's personality and Jaylen's personality are a lot different. Right. Jaylen to me feels like much quieter where Russell's going up to everyone like

[John Middlekoff]

let's be great like that type stuff.

[Co-host/Analyst]

To me I always found kind of cheesy. Especially like you're going to tell some

[John Middlekoff]

30 year old veteran that like they,

[Co-host/Analyst]

they don't need to hear it every day. It, it just rubs people the wrong way. Now when it comes to the football

[John Middlekoff]

stuff, I think there are some similarities.

[Co-host/Analyst]

They have A false sense of what

[John Middlekoff]

their strengths and weaknesses are. And I think any. Anyone in any field understanding what you're

[Co-host/Analyst]

good and not good at matters a lot.

[John Middlekoff]

Right?

[Co-host/Analyst]

Think about the greatest quarterback of all time, Tom Brady. He didn't try to run around.

[John Middlekoff]

Like, he didn't try to do things

[Co-host/Analyst]

he wasn't capable of doing. He would throw checkdowns all game long if you'd give it to him.

[John Middlekoff]

He didn't care. He was an equal opportunist.

[Co-host/Analyst]

He wasn't trying to prove anyone wrong on individual plays. If this play worked, we're going to run it. Peyton Manning, same way.

[John Middlekoff]

Aaron Rodgers could do more because he was more physically gifted like Russell and. And Jalen. Their greatest strength is scrambling around and making plays. They are elite athletes right at the

[Co-host/Analyst]

quarterback position and unique because they're smaller, but they're stronger.

[John Middlekoff]

And Russell just didn't want to run anymore. And clearly Jalen doesn't either, which I somewhat understand. If this was like 1996 and you get killed, you can't even get hit. So I. And one of Jalen's superpowers is, like, avoiding hits. Like, I don't even remember that many times where he takes big shots beside on the tush push. Like, if you told me he's like,

[Co-host/Analyst]

I don't want to do the tush push. It hurts too much.

[John Middlekoff]

I'd be like, totally understand. I wouldn't want to do it either.

[Co-host/Analyst]

Right.

[John Middlekoff]

Kills his back.

[Co-host/Analyst]

But it seems like he has no

[John Middlekoff]

issue with that because maybe it doesn't hurt him, but he clearly is uncomfortable doing some things in the scheme which the coaching staff believes that he would be capable of doing.

[Co-host/Analyst]

And that's part of football. It's like doing things.

[John Middlekoff]

You're uncomfortable. That's part of life. You do some things that you're uncomfortable to do, to take a step back or to take three or four forward. I use the example which is going to be fascinating this year to me.

[Co-host/Analyst]

Part of that article was.

[John Middlekoff]

Was basically, you know, putting out the

[Co-host/Analyst]

bat signal to me of, like, this is what we're going to do, like it or not. There's no looking back. We're running some version of the Shanahan offense which forces you to go under center a lot. So we're not having these conversations anymore. And, like, this guy is not going

[John Middlekoff]

to run the spread offense here in running that. But like I said, Matt Ryan and most notably Aaron Rodgers had some pushback with that because it is an uncomfortable feeling if you're not used to it and you're A shotgun guy putting your back to the defense, which I, I supported him like I understood, but it works. The offense has been, has been thriving for 30, I mean, I don't know, decades. And here's the number one key. It's a great running offense. Well, what did they do when they

[Co-host/Analyst]

won the Super Bowl?

[John Middlekoff]

They had one of the great rushing attacks we've ever seen.

[Co-host/Analyst]

So I think it's a little different. I wouldn't say it's apples to apples because they're just way different people.

[John Middlekoff]

Even though I'm more of a three

[Co-host/Analyst]

and out listener, I have a question about golf.

[John Middlekoff]

I'm curious your thoughts on simulators and if you've played or played much in the indoor golf space with TGL and simulators popping up everywhere. Just curious your thoughts on what this does to the golf space. Do you think this is a positive?

[Co-host/Analyst]

I guess my overall take would be 100%. If you are desire the game of golf to be bigger, it can't hurt to make it easier for people that live in cities. When I got married in Nashville, right across from the hotel we stayed at was this brand new indoor facility in downtown Nashville. I I know New York City. I when we went out for the Ryder cup, the party we went to for the guys we were locking down the the zone pouches was at an indoor facility in I I'm not great with my New York City geography, but

[John Middlekoff]

relative might have been still Manhattan, close to Manhattan, but it was pretty cool.

[Co-host/Analyst]

I mean it was a sweet like bar. I'm pro those things but to me which is cool. Like I'll never turn down if, if I'm there.

[John Middlekoff]

But part of golf, it's kind of like baseball. You go to a baseball game to

[Co-host/Analyst]

get outside and get some sun.

[John Middlekoff]

You play golf to get outside.

[Co-host/Analyst]

Like that's. I play golf to do really do two things. One, I mean obviously I like it. It's one of the only things I'm decent at. But it's a socializing aspect for me for someone that talks into a computer by themselves for a living. And so it not only forces me to socialize, it just I've gained a lot of friends through golf. I played golf when I first moved

[John Middlekoff]

here a ton of times, just met random people.

[Co-host/Analyst]

I've had people that listen to this

[John Middlekoff]

show invite me out to different clubs or to meet them and play golf and type stuff that just wouldn't happen

[Co-host/Analyst]

right with it without that. And part of that is like you

[John Middlekoff]

get outside, you're in a cart with

[Co-host/Analyst]

someone, you have a couple, you know,

[John Middlekoff]

cocktails, brewskis and just kind of enjoy yourself.

[Co-host/Analyst]

So the ultimate goal is to get outside, but I'm definitely pro simulator and if I had a different house set up, hopefully one day, if life keeps going well, I would for sure get an indoor simulator.

[John Middlekoff]

But actually maybe not, because part of

[Co-host/Analyst]

it, especially, you know, having young kids like I live in an area part of, you know, if you got money, if you live in a sunny place, get outside and go hit golf balls at the range.

[John Middlekoff]

Today's show is brought to you by

[Co-host/Analyst]

our presenting sponsor, Hard Rock Bet, the

[John Middlekoff]

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[John Middlekoff]

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Payable and bonus bets Not a cash offer. Offered by Seminole Tribe of Florida in Florida. Offered by Seminole hard Rock Digital LLC in all other states. You must be 21 plus and physically present in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee and Virginia. To play. Terms and conditions apply. Concerned about gambling in Florida? Call 1-833-PLAY-WISE in Indiana. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-8-09 with it gambling problem, call 1-800- Gambler Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia Can I tell you about my friends at Factor? You know, for me, eating healthy, it's not a willpower problem, it's a setup problem. That's until I found Factor because especially with a young child podcasting running around, it's like don't have time to meal prep. And that's where my friends at Factor Come in. They have meals built around my goals. Every meal is crafted with functional ingredients. Lean proteins, veggies, whole foods, healthy fats. Fresh, never frozen. That's key. So if you want to try the newly launched Ready to Eat salads with vibrant ingredients like Elote corn and miso edamame, they got you covered. Head to factor meals.com John50OFF and use the code John50OFF to get 50% off and free daily greens per box with new subscription only while supplies last until September 27, 2026. See website for more details. Today's podcast is brought to you by Ferguson Home. Whether you're a homeowner creating your dream space or a pro managing multiple projects, Ferguson Home is where it all comes together. Ferguson Home is designed for the way

[Co-host/Analyst]

you want to shop.

[John Middlekoff]

Experience today's top products by brands like KitchenAid first hand by visiting a Ferguson Home showroom where you'll explore stunning displays featuring today's latest products and innovations, or browse their extended selection of products online. Ferguson Home understands that every project is made up of countless decisions, and that's why their expert consultants are committed to helping homeowners, builders, contractors and designers bring all the details together. You can count on support from them start to finish, from choosing the right products to coordinating deliveries with your project schedule. Book a one on one consultation at your local Ferguson Home showroom or shop [e-mail] whether you're working on a new kitchen, a new bathroom or a whole home remodel, you'll find the latest designs and technologies from the brands you trust at Ferguson Home. Life moves fast. Work, family, friends, weekend plans, and somewhere in between, you find the moments that really matter. That's why Toyota believes people are the destination. It's not just about where you're headed, it's about who's beside you. From early mornings to late nights, from packed schedules to spontaneous adventures, the Toyota RAV4 is built for real life. Whether you're heading to a game, meeting friends for a watch party, or chasing the next big moment, it gives you the space and comfort to enjoy the ride no matter what the day brings. When people are the destination, ordinary drives become shared memories. Learn [e-mail] and find the vehicle that fits your people. Quick question on gambling and how it's changed sports coverage Personally, I get zero enjoyment from gambling, so I know that bias is my perspective, but it feels like a lot of NFL coverage now leans heavily into betting. What I love about football is the physical aesthetics of the game, the strategy and individual excellence Gambling doesn't really add to that for me. If anything, it takes away from what could be deeper analysis. You've been around the league and media long enough to see the shift. How has the explosion of gambling changed the way you relate to the game? And do you think it's ultimately been

[Co-host/Analyst]

a positive or negative for fans?

[John Middlekoff]

It's a good question.

[Co-host/Analyst]

I personally gambled since I was 16, 17 years old, sneaking into the Indian casino called, I want to say shoe mash, but that was in, in Fresno called. I don't know why I'm blanking on this. It's where Cash Creek. It's probably like 50 minute, maybe less, 45 minutes away from where I grew up, 40 minutes and played blackjack and I was, I was hooked. I, I enjoy gambling, but I liked football and I got into football because, I mean, I've loved it since I played high school football and I sucked. It was just, there was nothing like being in 107 degree day out in Davis, California, doing double days with your friends and getting throttled or game day or, you know, practices.

[John Middlekoff]

They suck.

[Co-host/Analyst]

But you were just kind of there as a group and then working in it. It was just, there was no, I've never been a part of anything, you know, before or since. That has like the team camaraderie element

[John Middlekoff]

and there are similarities, whether it was

[Co-host/Analyst]

in college football, in the NFL.

[John Middlekoff]

You're kind of all in it together and you just all can kind of

[Co-host/Analyst]

relate to people when you've been on the same team as them because you're

[John Middlekoff]

kind of in the trenches. And that's like I, I talk about

[Co-host/Analyst]

football just like I always have.

[John Middlekoff]

But like I do gamble on the

[Co-host/Analyst]

games and we're partners with gambling.

[John Middlekoff]

I think some people in the space

[Co-host/Analyst]

and gambling's always been a huge part of the sport. You know, going back to the, I

[John Middlekoff]

mean gambling's been a huge part of sports forever now that it's legalized in this huge business and they're involved. I do think it's added a lot

[Co-host/Analyst]

of people that probably could not have

[John Middlekoff]

survived pre this boom because they can't

[Co-host/Analyst]

really talk about anything besides like the

[John Middlekoff]

lines which again, I like the lines.

[Co-host/Analyst]

Like I, I enjoy talking about that as well.

[John Middlekoff]

But for me, like I, I don't

[Co-host/Analyst]

even think about it, I guess.

[John Middlekoff]

But part of it, I, I, I have no issue with it.

[Co-host/Analyst]

Like I enjoy it, but I, I'm, I don't sit down on my couch and watch a game if I don't have money on it.

[John Middlekoff]

Even if I have money on well,

[Co-host/Analyst]

if you got money on it, it does just change your perspective because you're basically on one of the two teams. That's what it feels like. But if you don't, like, I, I can thoroughly enjoy a game. Like, I didn't have any money on Yukon Illinois. Just there I was glued up until my wife said, we need to eat. And then so I was like, well, I don't want a podcast after dinner. So I came out. But it's like, I, I still really enjoy sports. Like, I, I enjoyed watching the World Baseball Classic. I enjoyed looking on espn.com on my phone today and seeing the, the box scores from Jokic and Wemby. Like, that's, that's what I did when I was 10 years old.

[John Middlekoff]

Because most people, when you get into

[Co-host/Analyst]

sports at a young age, it's not like, can I put 100? Maybe that's going to change now. Like, can you, can I throw a hundred dollars on Roy McElroy to win the Masters? Can I throw a hundred dollars on the Bills to win the Super Bowl? So, I don't know. I mean, I, I'll say this, I don't think we're looking back, but if you've listened to this show long enough, I think we just talk about it pretty organically because again, like, I don't have to fake it. Like, I, I, I do enjoy gambling, so I'm not going to act like I don't. But I can kind of separate the two. And even when they are connected, I can separate the two when I have to talk about a game.

[John Middlekoff]

But I hear you.

[Co-host/Analyst]

I mean, I, if you're not into it and you turn on some of this stuff, you're like, jesus,

[John Middlekoff]

been a Jets fan for 25 years. Is there a future?

[Co-host/Analyst]

What is the point? This guy's lost. This guy's lost at sea.

[John Middlekoff]

Help.

[Co-host/Analyst]

I need reassurance. I don't really know what to say. I, I don't. I saw Big Cat does this write up on the coach's picture. He does it every year. He blogs it. And I thought his, his blog about Aaron Glenn was pretty good, that he was the only guy. Maybe, maybe Harbaugh John had his Giants polo on, but Glenn had this jets pull over on, and his take was essentially like, he wanted to show everyone, I'm still employed, guys, because typically when you're that bad and you're that atrocious and the jets really were, you get fired, you're one and done. I, I think Aaron Glenn is in major trouble going into this season. Like, if you tell me he's making it by Thanksgiving, they could be awful. I mean they were bad last year.

[John Middlekoff]

Early in the season they had players. Now they traded some of the players

[Co-host/Analyst]

away and now they're going to be

[John Middlekoff]

dependent on young guys.

[Co-host/Analyst]

The division's hard. I guess Miami's going to be worse, but the Bills and Patriots are going to be good football's. We don't need to overthink this.

[John Middlekoff]

The most important thing you can do in football is really not the quarterback,

[Co-host/Analyst]

it's getting a good coach.

[John Middlekoff]

Because if you get a good coach,

[Co-host/Analyst]

they figure that out and they will make things happen. And then once they get a good quarterback, it's off and running.

[John Middlekoff]

But you have no chance.

[Co-host/Analyst]

The Lions had Matt Stafford for like almost 15 years.

[John Middlekoff]

Matt Stafford, look at him on the ramps, he's incredible.

[Co-host/Analyst]

Aaron Rodgers for 15 years was like

[John Middlekoff]

this guy's so good. But everyone's like, oh Lions, they suck. The coaching in football matters so much and you'd have to go back since

[Co-host/Analyst]

Rex Ryan, when you had Rex and running the D with Petton and Schottenheimer

[John Middlekoff]

was the offensive coordinator and they were

[Co-host/Analyst]

just a buttoned up, well put together operation. They, they've really just been really bad. And listen, I grew up in Sacramento or I grew up in Davis, which is right by Sacramento and watching Pages kid on Illinois. It kind of brings me back to my childhood when you know Robert Ori hit that shot in game five that sucked. But the Kings are a joke organization. I mean a joke.

[John Middlekoff]

And that's what it feels like.

[Co-host/Analyst]

The jets are. The Browns kind of feel like that too.

[John Middlekoff]

It's like, well he had a good draft class. It's like the point of the sport is not to draft well or make trade. It's literally to win and lose games. Like every team now makes money. Winning and losing is how you determine

[Co-host/Analyst]

like do you have a well run operation? And it's like God, the jets are just bad. I, I don't know what to tell you. I, I'm not great at that because in my world like I, I just don't have to watch the God awful teams as the season goes on because I'm not really going to talk about it unless there's a big story right involved like Shadora with the Browns. To me the jets pretty unwatchable product. How do you not have an interception? It's not even possible tip balls.

[John Middlekoff]

I mean the likelihood of that, that's a record. Think like Lou Gehrig or Cal Ripken.

[Co-host/Analyst]

You know some of these baseball Records

[John Middlekoff]

that are never going to get touched now with no, no steroids.

[Co-host/Analyst]

No one's ever breaking home run records.

[John Middlekoff]

No one's ever not having an interception. I mean random teams have like a D lineman that has two picks. There's a difference between all kind of

[Co-host/Analyst]

randomness and like that. I can't get past that. That is one stat that is like you can't get past. You can't. Bills fan.

[John Middlekoff]

I wonder why people are bringing up the offensive problems. Lack of wide receivers for example, when our main issue was McDermott and it's

[Co-host/Analyst]

always been the defense.

[John Middlekoff]

The offense has showed up in the playoffs while the defense Is allowed over 27 points. There are a lot of similarities with

[Co-host/Analyst]

the, with the Bills runs with Josh and Sean over the last four or five years as the post Super Bowl. Now the difference is McCarthy and Aaron Run won a Super bowl and the McCarthy led Packers with Rogers for like that seven year run where the defense was just getting shredded. I mean just had some games where you're like jesus. And really let him down. I mean really, really let him down. So and the difference is like Mike could fire the defensive coordinator or a guy could retire because he was like, I'm an offensive guy. It was Sean's defense, you know. And listen, I'm pro Sean McDermott. I think he'll get a job next year. I think he's a good coach. But you convinced me it was time. And I'm not going to argue with you foreign.

[John Middlekoff]

You're the only reason I kept Netflix

[Co-host/Analyst]

after the Christmas day games. I don't, I just don't know people that don't have Netflix.

[John Middlekoff]

I, I've had Netflix for like 10

[Co-host/Analyst]

years and I love it. I watch it all the time. I'm not even saying that because they're paying me. I legitimately have been a consumer of it for a long, long time. And now with my wife, I watch probably even more of it. Question for the dad Diaries. I actually showed my wife this question.

[John Middlekoff]

I'm like, are you cool with me kind of answering this?

[Co-host/Analyst]

She kind of gave me some guard

[John Middlekoff]

rails the past fall. A buddy of mine had his first kid and he recently told me that he and his wife haven't had sex in over six months.

[Co-host/Analyst]

I'm not going to read this guy's name to give him away so his buddy could out him.

[John Middlekoff]

I was pretty shocked and didn't know what to say. He and his wife are both healthy and he told me it's just because the kid is taking too much focus. Not trying to Be weird.

[Co-host/Analyst]

But is this normal?

[John Middlekoff]

Doesn't seem very healthy to me. Since the bedroom is a pretty big

[Co-host/Analyst]

part of a healthy marriage, in my opinion. What advice would you give me or my buddy? I would say, well, first and foremost, and I learned this when you have a baby, we had a C section and if you have a normal birth, she's on injured reserve for like a month and a half. C section, like six weeks. She's got stitches in there. You're not, you're not allowed. Right. And I, I can't speak to the other way, but I'm pretty sure it's kind of same four to six weeks.

[John Middlekoff]

So the first month is a pretty big whirlwind.

[Co-host/Analyst]

You're just trying to survive. Feels like Navy SEAL boot camp.

[John Middlekoff]

Never been in the Navy SEALs.

[Co-host/Analyst]

Got to be some similarities though.

[John Middlekoff]

Not much sleep. You got to keep it mentally together

[Co-host/Analyst]

and you're just trying to get step by step, you know, like day by day. You're just trying to make it like minute by minute.

[John Middlekoff]

To me, after a month, then a half, two, six months, like my first

[Co-host/Analyst]

reaction is like something's a little off. So something, I, I got that one red flagged. That to me is beyond egregious.

[John Middlekoff]

I, I, I can understand a couple months, six months I'm with you.

[Co-host/Analyst]

I mean, a huge part of a relationship, especially once you have kids is like, I remember my, my mother in law at our wedding said like never stop dating. It is the first again. I will give any couple, especially their first child, a little bit of a pass on a couple months. It's a lot depending on how much help you have. You don't have family, you're both ready to tap out, but like after a

[John Middlekoff]

while you get in a little groove.

[Co-host/Analyst]

And I don't want to say life,

[John Middlekoff]

your previous life is never the same.

[Co-host/Analyst]

So your life before, which I, I mean, I question, like, were they that active before? Like, were they, you know, it's not exactly Bonnie Blue over there, but yeah, I, I would say that's a little weird. That, that's insane to me. That's insane to me. So I advice, I don't know what advice. Like, you guys can't find like five minutes. So you got six months. You might only need like 30 seconds. I mean, the baby's not awake 24 7, you're in bed together. A little weird. That was a weird one. My wife is like, don't you dare give details. Like, Maria, I'm not, this isn't, this isn't Summer house. My guy west who I met at the, I met at the super bowl party. I felt like I already knew him because I'd been watching. He was awesome. I'm a big fan. Obviously he in the news right now. If you haven't seen that has nothing to do with babies and just has to do with sex.

[John Middlekoff]

North Dakota wide receiver Bryce Lance is

[Co-host/Analyst]

getting overlooked as a prospect.

[John Middlekoff]

This guy is a freak. 43 speed, great ball skills. Kid could be the best wide receiver in the class.

[Co-host/Analyst]

Mark my words.

[John Middlekoff]

What goes into NFL teams?

[Co-host/Analyst]

Scouting smaller school guys like the FCS side question.

[John Middlekoff]

North Dakota State is moving to Mountain West. Can they compete right away?

[Co-host/Analyst]

I had a coach at the combine. We might have been four or five course lights in and I'm just peppering them with questions. Combine is the best. Once you start drinking you can just, you can just empty the Rolodex on prospects on you know, gossip. What's this player like? What's this coach like? You work with this guy. What's his deal? And he brought this guy up out of the blue. He's like, you know, one wide receiver I love and he's like people aren't talking about him is he called him

[John Middlekoff]

Trey's brother but my guess is this

[Co-host/Analyst]

guy goes in the second round. That's my guess.

[John Middlekoff]

I haven't watched the snap.

[Co-host/Analyst]

Don't know anything beside my buddy liked him. My buddy's on guys so 43 speed.

[John Middlekoff]

Big time athlete.

[Co-host/Analyst]

Remember almost said Deshaun Watson. You know I'm a little, I feel like you know, you just, you get

[John Middlekoff]

farther away from football your mind's not

[Co-host/Analyst]

firing at the same level.

[John Middlekoff]

The Watson on the packers that ran like 4:3 speed.

[Co-host/Analyst]

Where'd he get drafted? Top of the second round.

[John Middlekoff]

And if you remember his stats it

[Co-host/Analyst]

wasn't like he was, you know, Devonte Adams in college. So my, my guess is he's a lock second day pick.

[John Middlekoff]

My, my issue with like when you

[Co-host/Analyst]

say going to the mountain West I

[John Middlekoff]

don't who's even in the Mountain west because isn't like Fresno State and San Diego. Aren't they all going to the pack 12.

[Co-host/Analyst]

So I, I honestly I don't even know who's in the mountain.

[John Middlekoff]

It's like UC Davis and SAC State.

[Co-host/Analyst]

I would say North Dakota State is going to compete wherever they're at unless they're in like the SEC or the Big Ten. They will be pretty good.

[John Middlekoff]

You mentioned on last Friday's pod when you're on the herd there are days that you're finished by 7:30am if the show is pre recorded. Do you still have to stick around until 12? Also when Colin moved to Chicago did J. Mack and the rest of the crew relocate?

[Co-host/Analyst]

When I mean we're done by 7:30. I mean the preparation for the show. So you know I, I walk into

[John Middlekoff]

this meeting room at like 6:5, anytime

[Co-host/Analyst]

between like 5:55 and 6:05 and typically if I walk in at 6:05 the

[John Middlekoff]

room is packed and usually Colin, they're

[Co-host/Analyst]

on a big screen because I'm in Los Angeles, he's in Chicago, he's got three of his crew members, Ryan, a couple other producers. One guy's actually Cal Poly guy and it feels like you know some of

[John Middlekoff]

those scenes you see in the movies

[Co-host/Analyst]

like, or, or like the presidents, how they sit in the situation room and you can, you can communicate. It's that it's, it's incredible technology and there's this big table of I mean a decent amount of people and when

[John Middlekoff]

we're done at 7:30 the show is still live.

[Co-host/Analyst]

So like the show you see from nine to noon Pacific standard time that's not pre recorded. So when I, I maybe I misspoke.

[John Middlekoff]

Nothing is pre recorded.

[Co-host/Analyst]

We're just going over time, segments, takes, angles. It's like a think tank of takes. It's

[John Middlekoff]

people. Honestly he could charge for fans to

[Co-host/Analyst]

be able to see the, the, an hour of the meeting. It's, it's the first time I ever did it. I'm like this is pretty cool, this is pretty cool. Now I just walk in coffee, pop in a, pop in a lipper and just kind of enjoy it. And every once in a while they ask me a question and I, I try you know, it's these guys deal, I'm just kind of there along for the ride. But it's cool, it's, it's a, it's a high functioning operation but nothing's pre recorded. So then from 7:30 or 7:40 go down in the dressing room. You know I usually just show up in like pair of jeans or shorts and like a T shirt. You change into nicer clothes and you get a little, little powder on your face. They, they have this lady who hits me, Erica. She's like what do you need anything? I need smoothies, breakfast, lunch. It's, it's pretty cold. Brews just get delivered whenever I need them. It's awesome. So the, when 9 o' clock hits he's the Colin you see on television is, is live.

[John Middlekoff]

Thanks for helping me get through the grind at work. After the trade for waddle it's pretty

[Co-host/Analyst]

clear the Bronco Broncos are all in

[John Middlekoff]

considering it's probably the biggest trade they've

[Co-host/Analyst]

made since Russell Wilson. It definitely is the biggest trade since Russell Wilson. Probably one of their biggest trades in the history of the franchise. Like how many first round picks have they traded for players? I'm not a die hard Bronco fan, but just thinking off top of my head, it feels like Russell and Waddle. I don't remember that many during the Peyton Manning time they were using those picks on players. Maybe some happened in the Shanahan era, but I, I can't remember off the top of my head.

[John Middlekoff]

My question is about Davis Webb. I had no idea there was a

[Co-host/Analyst]

major market for him, especially as a head coach.

[John Middlekoff]

What do you think he accomplished to

[Co-host/Analyst]

gain interest from other teams?

[John Middlekoff]

I also feel like the transition to having him call plays could be risky. The Broncos are essentially in the super bowl window. Someone explained this to me when I

[Co-host/Analyst]

was at the combine and I, I talked about this on the pod. Davis Webb, it became the play caller because clearly if he wasn't going to

[John Middlekoff]

be a head coach, people were going

[Co-host/Analyst]

to pay him a lot of money to be their offensive coordinator and call place and Sean Payton wouldn't have been able to keep him. So basically fired people to do this to keep Davis Webb. But as a coach again over a couple cocktails was like, John, do you

[John Middlekoff]

think this the offense, literally the offense is means as much to Sean Payton

[Co-host/Analyst]

as like his daughter does that in

[John Middlekoff]

a game if they're just down 10 to the Chiefs or the Chargers, unlike Sunday Night Football, he's going to be like, ah, just keep letting it rip Davis. So it's Sean Payton has been calling

[Co-host/Analyst]

plays his entire career.

[John Middlekoff]

Career.

[Co-host/Analyst]

And especially this Broncos thing with Bo Nix. It's going to be interesting. It's not an easy spot for Davis Webb.

[John Middlekoff]

I definitely think he had a lot

[Co-host/Analyst]

of interest to be a coordinator. I don't know if he was a lock to become a head coach because it would have been pretty risky, let's say the Raiders. In what world would Davis Webb be a better option than Kubiak? Kubiak's proven he's called plays for multiple years with multiple quarterbacks. He just had a fantastic year in Seattle, obviously win the super bowl, but just his play calling start to finish. And I, I don't know if he was going to become a head coach now. Would he have become the Cardinals head coach?

[John Middlekoff]

I don't think anyone wanted the Cardinals job. I think Laflore took it because like how do you turn down money?

[Co-host/Analyst]

That. That's what I feel like happened. He just couldn't turn down the cash. It's like, well, I'm going to get fired in a couple years.

[John Middlekoff]

I'm curious, do you review listen to every episode you release and or guest appearance on other podcasts, like reviewing game film to self critique, look for ways to improve. Would. Would think no way, since you put

[Co-host/Analyst]

out so much content.

[John Middlekoff]

When I first got into the space,

[Co-host/Analyst]

I would definitely listen back to like when I would do. I remember the first, like probably 10 podcasts I did. This was like 2014, 15. I would listen to them. I haven't listened to a podcast back in a long, long time. I don't have time. I mean I spend several hours getting ready, several hours putting thing together and then doing it. I mean, I have a life. So I just said, no, I don't anymore.

[John Middlekoff]

I have a pretty good idea.

[Co-host/Analyst]

I'm like, wasn't that great of a show? That was kind of a fire topic. That one's gonna work. But yeah, I just, I don't do it anymore. Sometimes if I, if I do something, you know, before I send it off to my guy Adam to post or my guy Shane for the video side, I will like listen back to some of the audio to be like, did I.

[John Middlekoff]

Am I allowed? Can I say that?

[Co-host/Analyst]

But that, that's pretty rare. And sometimes I will slip up. Like the other day, Spy Tech had text me about. Remember it kind of went viral. I. I heard Coward talking about this. I didn't even know what happened, that Fernando Mendoza ran his pro day and I started texting around.

[John Middlekoff]

I'm like, had that ever happened?

[Co-host/Analyst]

I take like 10 people and I looked and Spy Tech was one of the guys that responded. He's like, I've never seen that happen. And I, I said that on a podcast and that'd be an easy one to like post on social, you know, I was like, you know, I didn't ask him for permission to say that. Now I don't. It's. It's pretty well documented that it never happens. Like, everyone's been talking. No one's ever seen that. But it's like I'm more conscious of that stuff than the overall show. I'm gonna slip up. I'm gonna mispronounce people's names. I'm gonna say the wrong things. It's part of doing what I do. Kind of numb do. I would say the worrying if I also think you can over edit, right? Or you can overthink things. Part of this podcast is like what you hear from me is what I. What I said, you know. And that's what thrives, I believe and what I enjoy when I listen to like authenticity.

[John Middlekoff]

Give me your take, give me your thought.

[Co-host/Analyst]

I don't have to agree.

[John Middlekoff]

Do you think the Raiders are a playoff bound with their recent signings in Fernando Mendoza?

[Co-host/Analyst]

I would say that's feels a little bold.

[John Middlekoff]

I do think they're one of the

[Co-host/Analyst]

teams that could be, you know, the double your win total.

[John Middlekoff]

Right.

[Co-host/Analyst]

Go from first to. Wouldn't shock me if they're drafting like 15th and be a competitive team.

[John Middlekoff]

We'll have to see like who's our starting quarterback.

[Co-host/Analyst]

Does cousin start week one? Is Fernando just to starter week one and cousin backs him up. I, I don't know how it's going to play out but the Raiders listen. It's hard to not respect Pete Carroll for what he did for USC and Seattle, but I don't know what that was last year. That. That was. That was bad.

[John Middlekoff]

Almond milk is horseshit, brother.

[Co-host/Analyst]

Don't drink it and don't let Jack either. Well, trust me, Jack is not. The difference is I've never drank almond milk until I got the allergy test and it said I'm lactose intolerant. So I try to avoid dairy. Obviously I still eat some dairy or drink some dairy, but I, I try to avoid normal milk. It's just not good for my. My stomach feels messed up. I, I don't. I'm not on my high horse here because I think almond milk is. Whatever about the cows, I know a bunch of dairy farmers. It's just simply because it's not good for me or my body doesn't process it. Trust me. My son is plowing down breast milk right now.

[John Middlekoff]

My buddy is a huge Niner fan and because of him I watch the team closely.

[Co-host/Analyst]

My question is about the tight end position.

[John Middlekoff]

Considering Kittle's age and coming off injury to go with Tanja's, would you trade for say Michael Mayer with the Raiders

[Co-host/Analyst]

or draft a guy?

[John Middlekoff]

I followed him in college and he was a stud, but he's behind Bowers

[Co-host/Analyst]

and in Las Vegas he hasn't seemed to get going. I actually think Kubiak's gonna like multiple tight ends. They don't have any. Who's the wide receivers on the Raiders?

[John Middlekoff]

If I was the Raiders, you got two guys on rookie contracts. Mayor was a second round pick. He's cheap.

[Co-host/Analyst]

I, I would keep him. I think. I think Jake Ton is a pretty solid player, so I wouldn't be shocked if the if the Niners.

[John Middlekoff]

I don't know if this is a

[Co-host/Analyst]

great tight end draft beside the Oregon guys, pretty elite but I was talking to someone yesterday. What if the Chiefs draft like Bane at 9 and trade their 27th or 27 first round pick and move up like 15 spots. You get aggressive and end Thursday night with Bane and Sadiq be like damn Chiefs. Keep an eye on the chiefs for using 29 to to come up. He takes two to tango. But if I I wonder if they're I think they're going to be aggressive but to me I would keep mayor if I'm because Bowers is Bowers is essentially a wide receiver. I kind of mentioned this earlier.

[John Middlekoff]

Coward picks a team to double their wins and go from worst to first the following year. Curious to hear what teams you would be doubling their wins this upcoming season.

[Co-host/Analyst]

I actually think I have two teams really high in the draft. I would say let's go standings.

[John Middlekoff]

I would say the Raiders three wins.

[Co-host/Analyst]

To me the Raiders can easily win seven. And same with the Titans. I can see both those two teams being three to seven or eight. They would be my two now worst of first you would say the Titans. That feels a little strong because the Texans are so good and the Jags are good but the Jags lost some players. Browns? No chance. Jets? No chance. Vegas. The division's just too good. The Giants would be the sexy pick. I might go with Detroit. You know actually I, I'm gonna go with the Saints.

[John Middlekoff]

I'm.

[Co-host/Analyst]

I'm picking the Saints to make this, make the playoffs next year. Saints are definitely a playoff team for me next year and that's before they draft and they got high draft picks.

[John Middlekoff]

Can I tell you all my friends at Quints, a well built wardrobe is about pieces that work together and hold up over time. I've known as I've aged I've needed to get some stuff that you know, I can wear to a high level event that I can wear to a nice dinner with my wife. Look at me, I'm wearing a cashmere sweater. If you would have told me that five years ago, I never would have believed you. But that's where my friends at Quint comes in because they work directly with factories and they cut out the middlemen. So you're not paying for brand markup, just quality clothing. Everything is built to hold up to a daily wear and still good season after season. This is going to last me for years.

[Co-host/Analyst]

I really like it.

[John Middlekoff]

I'm going to take the San Francisco for the Super Bowl. So here's the thing. Refresh your wardrobe with quince. Go to quince.com3 and out for free shipping on your first order in 365 day returns. Now available in Canada too. That's Q U I n c e.com the number three and out. Free shipping and 365 day returns. Quince.com Three and out can I tell you about my friends at Factor? You know, for me, eating healthy, it's not a willpower problem, it's a setup problem. That's until I found Factor because especially with a young child podcasting running around, it's like don't have time to meal prep. And that's where my friends at Factor come in. They have meals built around my goals. Every meal is crafted with functional ingredients. Lean proteins, veggies, whole foods, healthy fats. Fresh, never frozen. That's key. So if you want to try the newly launched Ready to Eat salads with vibrant ingredients like elote corn and miso edamame, they got you covered. Head to factor meals.com john50off and use the code JOHN50OFF to get 50% off and free daily greens per box with new subscription only while supplies last until September 27, 2026. See website for more details. Today's podcast is brought to you by Ferguson Home. Whether you're a homeowner creating your dream space or a pro managing multiple projects, Ferguson Home is where it all comes together for Ferguson Home is designed for the way you want to shop. Experience today's top products by brands like KitchenAid first hand by visiting a Ferguson Home showroom, where you'll explore stunning displays featuring today's latest products and innovations, or browse their extended selection of products online. Ferguson Home understands that every project is made up of countless decisions, and that's why their expert consultants are committed to helping homeowners, builders, contractors and designers bring all the details together. You can count on support from them start to finish, from choosing the right products to coordinating deliveries with your project schedule. Book a one on one consultation at your local Ferguson Home showroom or shop [e-mail] whether you're working on a new kitchen, a new bathroom or a whole home remodel, you'll find the latest designs and technologies from the brands you trust. At Ferguson Home, life moves fast. Work, family, friends, weekend plans, and somewhere in between, you find the moments that really matter. That's why Toyota believes people are the destination. It's not just about where you're headed, it's about who's beside you. From early mornings to late nights, from packed schedules to spontaneous adventures, the Toyota RAV4 is built for real life. Whether you're heading to a game, meeting friends for a watch party or chasing the next big moment gives you the space and comfort to enjoy the ride no matter what the day brings. When people are the destination, ordinary drives become shared memories. Learn [e-mail] and find the vehicle that fits your people. As someone who's from the Boston area, what are your thoughts? What are your honest thoughts on Drake May? Do you think he can stay in the MVP conversation this year? Exceeding my wildest expectations and coming from back to back. Dumpster fire four win seasons.

[Co-host/Analyst]

I'll take it. I'll take losing the super bowl on the chin. I mean I would say his future. It's hard to have a much brighter future than a third year guy right now. Injuries, you never know year to year. Like most people don't just go on to have 12 year all star careers. It's very difficult. A lot of players have had good seasons. He's got a couple things going for him. One, he's obviously a big time talent. Two, he's got a coaching staff like Mike Vrabel's going nowhere and where's Josh McDaniels going?

[John Middlekoff]

So in theory his offensive coordinator and

[Co-host/Analyst]

his offensive scheme should stay for a long time. Like I, I would say it'd be a little stunning if Josh isn't there for the next five years. He's not going to get a head coaching job in the NFL. I guess he could always take a head coaching job in college. That definitely does not feel like Josh McDaniels and he's getting paid a bunch of money. Hell, the Raiders are still paying him.

[John Middlekoff]

So my guess is that Drake, it

[Co-host/Analyst]

just is a Pro bowl level guy

[John Middlekoff]

for years to come.

[Co-host/Analyst]

Now this year they still got some question marks. You know, they signed Romeo Dobbs. They're going to need Kyle Williams, the wide receiver from Washington State to step up. They're going to need Hendrickson Henderson to become like more of a complete back and utilize him to become like a key guy. They're gonna need the offensive line clearly to be better. But I, I would be very bullish if Drake May was a stock I'd, I'd continue to buy.

[John Middlekoff]

I'm 30 years old, just got engaged and have a good career. My question for you is this outside of sports, career pursuit in the gym. What advice would you give to someone starting their 30s for individual growth? I've started reading a lot Traveling to different countries and made an effort to reach out to friends on a more consistent basis.

[Co-host/Analyst]

You got a lot going for you, buddy.

[John Middlekoff]

Traveling to different countries and reading a lot.

[Co-host/Analyst]

Well rounded individual. I, I actually thought about this because I, I looked at these questions yesterday. I would say one thing and I, I actively try to do this. Put your sits self in situations to just be around other people. And however, for me, a lot of that is through golf. But through golf I get to meet all these people. Like a lot of people I play golf with are business owners. And it doesn't have to be like Jeff Bezos to be like, yeah, this guy owns an H VAC company or this guy runs a financial company, their own. And I would never have met these people without that. And I, I wouldn't, I wouldn't be that social without golf. So I, I use golf.

[John Middlekoff]

It's a big key for me to

[Co-host/Analyst]

meet other individuals and it's helped, I would say, keep me well rounded and forced me to meet other people.

[John Middlekoff]

So one key as you get older

[Co-host/Analyst]

because it's pretty easy to kind of stay insulated with the people you know, especially when your career and you're making money and everything's going the right way.

[John Middlekoff]

The growth you can get from meeting

[Co-host/Analyst]

new people is something that matters. Talk to people, put yourself in rooms with other people. However, I don't have a great, you know, plan for how to do that, but I think that is extremely healthy. And through that you can organically meet and become friends with people.

[John Middlekoff]

You know, I never want to be

[Co-host/Analyst]

someone that just says like, I stopped making friends when I was like 35 years old. You know, I, I think it's cool that I've moved here, didn't know anyone, have met people that I would call friends and hopefully that that list and number just gross. Now your relationship, as you get older, some of these people are not going to be like the people you've known since you were 10 or 15 or 20. But to me that is very, very important because it just expands, I would say, your perspective on life and they can give you, they can help you out. It just expands your network of people to lean on with questions for everything. You know, like, what do you think about what should we do with the baby? What should we do? Hey, I'm thinking about doing this, you know, rental property or whatever. I, I don't know, I, I think it's extremely important to the pursuit of continuing to meet new people, ideally organically, you know, however you go about doing that. I've been Talking the out of people in this we my gym got a new infrared sauna which is insanely hot. I mean the old sauna was just your run of the mill sauna for probably the history of saunas. After you do it for a while, like I could sit there, no problem for 30 minutes. This one you get to 15 and you're like every ounce of sweat is out of my body. You have great conversations in the sauna. Not necessarily meeting friends in the sauna, but that was just a side tangent. Avid Packer fan.

[John Middlekoff]

What's best and worst case scenario?

[Co-host/Analyst]

Do you see the packers next season?

[John Middlekoff]

I know we, we won't be highlighted as a Super bowl favorite, but one and done trip to the playoffs I think could be disappointment regardless of injuries.

[Co-host/Analyst]

Also, curveball question.

[John Middlekoff]

I see reels of new college coaches out with their teams. Kiffin Campbell. What do you think the barrier of Jimbo Fisher getting another opportunity. You know what's funny about Jimbo?

[Co-host/Analyst]

I listen to college radio sometimes on Sirius. You know, just I, I flip around between the serious sports channel. Sometimes I'm driving around the afternoon and

[John Middlekoff]

Jimbo has a channel and he's really

[Co-host/Analyst]

good and engaging and you just think like now he got paid $70 million to go away. He was already rich before, before that,

[John Middlekoff]

but his career is just over. Like I, I don't think he has. I, I don't think he's getting another job.

[Co-host/Analyst]

I, I really don't.

[John Middlekoff]

And now this influx of younger guys,

[Co-host/Analyst]

I, I just think people will not view him highly and then also especially a job that he would take at this point in time.

[John Middlekoff]

Elko comes to a. M and he's immediately good and they're in the playoffs.

[Co-host/Analyst]

So I was like jimbo, what.

[John Middlekoff]

What were you doing?

[Co-host/Analyst]

So I, I would say Jimbo, I, I don't think he's. I don't think he's coming back, man. Who knows? Maybe he doesn't want but he's honestly, he's not bad on radio. I find him pretty entertaining, especially his voice. He's got just a distinct southern draw. The Packers, I mean they were my super bowl pick this year. They've got a lot of new players. So I and, and LaFleur clearly didn't love whatever the vibes were. So I would like the Lions and Bears more in the Packers I would say sitting right now but you know they've proven historically just don't sleep on them. I think they'll be solid lose halfly which was pretty important.

[John Middlekoff]

Who's there? See I. Early April I'M just not as dialed. It's like who's their defensive coordinator?

[Co-host/Analyst]

Thinking honestly right now, I don't know. I do know, but just currently on a Saturday afternoon, I, I don't know though. I just think Halfley, he was, he was good. How about Juwan Jennings of the Bears?

[John Middlekoff]

Ben can get him open and he's

[Co-host/Analyst]

one of the best blockers in the wide receiver position. Seems like a Ben Johnson kind of guy.

[John Middlekoff]

I think all those type teams would

[Co-host/Analyst]

like Juwan Jennings, but he's just not

[John Middlekoff]

going to go to the bears for like $4 million.

[Co-host/Analyst]

Well, he might eventually, but that ain't happening for a while because if you're

[John Middlekoff]

dug in this much on whatever he thought his value was, he's pretty in deep. So to me, if his market or what he's willing to sign for changes to a manageable number, I think a

[Co-host/Analyst]

lot of good teams are going to be interested.

[John Middlekoff]

But for him to be still available

[Co-host/Analyst]

early in April shows you that like

[John Middlekoff]

whatever his price is, no one is interested. And the only reason I bring that up because it's clear he had an

[Co-host/Analyst]

issue last year with the 49ers, that he was underpaid.

[John Middlekoff]

So the money aspect and he's a

[Co-host/Analyst]

guy that hasn't made, I mean relative society's made a lot of money. But you know, in his mind he was around like

[John Middlekoff]

Brandon Ayuk. He saw the guy get $30 million a year and he's thinking to himself,

[Co-host/Analyst]

I can't get 14. I'm trying to see his career, what are his career earnings? So he made $24 million. So I mean, you know, 28 years old. So I'd say he's doing pretty well. But you see some of these guys already make a hundred and again he's not.

[John Middlekoff]

To me, depending on the team, he's

[Co-host/Analyst]

probably a five or six million dollar wide receiver and I like him.

[John Middlekoff]

Can you please talk about the NFL's refusal to award the Bears third round compensatory draft picks Free and Cunningham? It seems like a weird hill for the NFL to die on, especially for a rule that is supposed to promote diversity. The Bears did everything right and he still got screwed. Here's where I think the NFL is caught up with.

[Co-host/Analyst]

I'm not, I don't know much legal

[John Middlekoff]

jargon, but it's pretty clear that like

[Co-host/Analyst]

precedent is a big thing in the courtroom, right? This is based on precedent. I think the NFL is uncomfortable because I'm with you.

[John Middlekoff]

He's the gm, he's picking the players, he's running the draft meetings. He's running free agency. But when they hired Matt Ryan, they go, well, we've seen this role filled

[Co-host/Analyst]

before, like a John Elway, like a John Lynch.

[John Middlekoff]

And I understand Matt Ryan's title's a

[Co-host/Analyst]

little different, and those guys were truly the guys picking the players with the coaches.

[John Middlekoff]

But I think they're just hesitant. If Matt Ryan didn't exist and it

[Co-host/Analyst]

was just, obviously they would get him.

[John Middlekoff]

But I think that role, they're uncomfortable with saying, like, I. I don't know

[Co-host/Analyst]

that that's my only guess, that they

[John Middlekoff]

don't want to set precedent, that there can be a guy above you that is clearly a football guy, even if you're picking the players. But, like, technically you answer to him.

[Co-host/Analyst]

I don't know. It's just kind of this weird ground.

[John Middlekoff]

Again, I'm with you. They should get the picks. If I was the Bears, I'd be pissed. I saw someone said they should sue the league. It's.

[Co-host/Analyst]

But.

[John Middlekoff]

But the reason they're not getting them and it's not.

[Co-host/Analyst]

It's not his fault. Like, he. Obviously, he would probably be the first

[John Middlekoff]

say I give him the picks. Because again, you're not taking these picks from someone else. These picks do not exist. They're just created from thin air. They're not like, well, you get their pick. No, they just add picks at the

[Co-host/Analyst]

end of the round, third round, fourth round, whenever the picks are slotted for. This would be the third round. But I don't know. It's not happening because the NFL denied their appeal.

[John Middlekoff]

I'm curious to hear your thoughts on this little tidbit about the Jalen AJ Relationship. Did you know Hurts is the godfather to Brown's daughter? I find that to be incredibly hilarious, given their dynamic.

[Co-host/Analyst]

What are your thoughts?

[John Middlekoff]

There was clearly because several years when they traded for A.J. brown, one of the big selling points,

[Co-host/Analyst]

beside he's a really good player, was like, him and aj. Jalen and AJ had a very close relationship. And that was like, oh, damn. And then immediately worked. Something happened.

[John Middlekoff]

I'm not privy to all those details.

[Co-host/Analyst]

That stuff that Howie Sirianni, Dom and obviously those guys and the team knows. But something broke. You get in fights and spats with your family. You get in fights and spats with

[John Middlekoff]

your wife or significant other business partners. Like, it's part of life. And to me, the question is, because

[Co-host/Analyst]

if you're Howie, you can think like, if we're not get.

[John Middlekoff]

Can we just. Can these guys figure it out?

[Co-host/Analyst]

Is there common ground or is it too far gone? And only the people with the Eagles truly know that answer.

[John Middlekoff]

What do you think of the idea of a transfer fee in college football? For example, soccer clubs have to pay a club they are buying a player from in order to keep the smaller club competitive. I went to a Mac school and our kicker got poached by Bama and we got nothing. Here's my issue with that. I think you should 100% I, I

[Co-host/Analyst]

saw I, I didn't click on the article but Trump put push some executive order, you get one transfer.

[John Middlekoff]

I'd be fine with one true transfer

[Co-host/Analyst]

at the power 4 level.

[John Middlekoff]

Like if you sign with Iowa, you're allowed to transfer one time to another Power 4 school. If you're sweet, you go to Bama, Ohio State, wherever. Or you start at USC and you want to transfer to Oregon or, or vice versa, whatever, I'm cool with that. But you get one to me, when you're at the lower level, you never would have gone like that kicker at the Mac, he never would have gone to school there if Alabama liked him and knew about him in high school.

[Co-host/Analyst]

Right? So I, I'm a small school guy. I, I, my football career started at Fresno State.

[John Middlekoff]

We would have lost all of our team. But the reason those guys were at Fresno State is because usc, ucla, Oregon, those schools didn't offer. If they had, they wouldn't have gone to Fresno State. So I, I never have any issue

[Co-host/Analyst]

with the small school guy going to

[John Middlekoff]

the Power 4 program because their dreams are playing college football at the highest level. Just like most people's dreams are doing whatever they're doing at the highest possible level. And sometimes you're a late bloomer, you get overlooked.

[Co-host/Analyst]

You're just not, you're just not that

[John Middlekoff]

good at the time and you get way better. I, I don't believe the transfer fee.

[Co-host/Analyst]

I, I got no issue with a big school stealing from the little school

[John Middlekoff]

because that, that's kind of making the kids dreams and he's getting paid. You mentioned a lot about AI taking over. However, I'm an airline pilot and I'm wondering, your take is on the profession as far as AI, would you ever be comfortable flying in an airplane with a. No. With no human pilot or maybe only a pilot? Obviously my other pilot buddies are biased in their opinion. Curious. Someone with no ties.

[Co-host/Analyst]

Obviously not.

[John Middlekoff]

And when I say I, I actually

[Co-host/Analyst]

don't think I'm pounding the table like AI is taking over all these jobs.

[John Middlekoff]

It is going to take over jobs like eventually when you call these companies

[Co-host/Analyst]

and I start with the automated and then I get to a human you

[John Middlekoff]

will be able to and I've heard

[Co-host/Analyst]

some people tell stories of they've been on the phone with an AI agent and it sounds just like a human being stuff like that or the entry level positions of like data pushers and excel people at law firms wherever can get overtaken. But there are some jobs like I100 would not get on a plane with no pilot. I've never been in a Waymo. I've never been in a Waymo so

[John Middlekoff]

like yeah, I, I don't believe I trust me, anytime fear is pushed, it's

[Co-host/Analyst]

always overblown and stuff like this every

[John Middlekoff]

job's gonna be gone. I, I've never bought into that but I've used it enough and seen some of its abilities to go yeah, some of this stuff is going to go away.

[Co-host/Analyst]

I'll tell you one thing that might go what about the classroom?

[John Middlekoff]

I, I, I'm just baffled by what my son is going to learn in class. Like the stuff I learned in school feels so irrelevant beside basic stuff, reading, writing, basic communication. But like a lot of the stuff in the tests looking back, how does this have any relation to what's going to happen in real life? And that speaks for college too.

[Co-host/Analyst]

Some of the college courses, some of the fields do. My guy flying to the moon right now, no big deal. Cal Poly grad was like an aerospace engineer genius badass. What's his name? Victor Glover. No big deal. Learn by doing. But a lot of the classes I took Cal Poly were useless. You're good. That'd be my take. Pilot. You're good. I, I, I feel pretty comfortable for a while. Could be wrong but I, I, I wouldn't, I wouldn't lose too much sleep about it. Plus don't you guys have a union? Okay, we'll end on this.

[John Middlekoff]

I watched an interview with Greg Cosell and he said the Eagles ran a collegiate style offense. I was surprised they traded for Dalton, but I was wondering is he supposed to be the teacher for the west coast scheme to hers? He's not that good anymore and I thought it was crazy they traded for him. Also they don't have a good backup since McKee looked pretty bad last year and McCord is on the Packers. Do you think the Dalton trade is connected to the story?

[Co-host/Analyst]

I hadn't thought about that actually but yeah, probably some. You know I'd have to look at all Dalton schemes but I mean he's been around for 20 years. I, I would imagine some of that is to teach and to Help out. Yeah, I think it's less about. I saw the quote how he said that I sleep better knowing we got three quarterbacks, you know, who could function. Dalton hasn't looked good in a while. I, the McKee thing, he looked good in preseason, looked bad at the end of the year. But weren't they playing a bunch of backups in that game? I don't the game was that against Commanders the last game? I mean it was bad. I mean I had that on one of these TVs. It was not good. But I, I, Does Dalton have any history with, with Manion or maybe some of their new offensive coaches? Potentially. So there's, there's probably that happens a lot in the NFL. The backup quarterback, his cohesion. You know, look at Kubiak and Cousins. If Kubiak had never been around Cousins, they probably wouldn't have been active and given him $10 million guaranteed in 27. But he spent three years with the guy. Two of the years he was the quarterback coach. So I, again I, I have to look at the coaching staff and the connections. But that, that plays a massive role for backup quarterbacks.

[John Middlekoff]

I know you, you know the scheme.

[Co-host/Analyst]

We got a guy learning a new scheme. So I. You might be onto something. You probably are. Have a great day. We will talk soon.

[John Middlekoff]

Peace.

[Co-host/Analyst]

The volume.

[John Middlekoff]

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