← The Herd with Colin Cowherd
The Herd with Colin Cowherd
What's Wright - Chiefs-Rams BLOCKBUSTER trade, NFL free agency BOLD PREDICTIONS, Kyler Murray COOKED? | Nick Wright
01:04:37
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- [00:00]
Jennifer
This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.
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Daniel Cormier
This is Daniel Cormier from the Daniel Cormier Show. This podcast is sponsored by Total Wireless, the official wireless partner of ufc. Power doesn't wait in the octagon or outside of it. You either make the move or you miss the moment. That's why you need a network that's just as powerful as you are. With Total Wireless, you get unlimited 5G data keeping you in the action from the walkouts to the knockouts. Now that's a total power move. Make your total power move today. Visit totalwireless.com or stop by your neighborhood Total Wireless Store. Additional terms apply. See totalwireless.com for details.
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Sean Duffy
Ugh.
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Jennifer
Could this vintage store be any cuter? Right? And the best part? They accept Discover. Accept Discover in a little place like this? I don't think so, Jennifer. Oh yeah, huh? Discover's accepted where I like to shop. Come on, baby. Get with the times. Right. So we shouldn't get the parachute pants. These are making a comeback, I think.
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Grainger Announcer
Discover is accepted at 99% of places that take credit cards nationwide, based on
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Damanse
the February 2025 Nielsen report.
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Grainger Announcer
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Damanse
Welcome in what driving the grind episode 431 this episode, as always, is brought to you by our friends at Boost Mobile and it is getaway day for me as about 14 hours from now I board a flight to Tokyo. A little travel screw up by me Demon say I will admit because I was not Supposed to miss tomorrow's TV show.
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Co-host or Guest
Yeah.
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Damanse
But when I, when I so I was looking for Friday night flights right when I booked this trip six weeks, two months ago.
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Co-host or Guest
Yep.
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Damanse
So I typed in to the airline website, you know the dates Friday meaning post show tomorrow and then come back Sunday. It's 15 hour flight nonstop to Tokyo. And I saw Friday 12:50am And I'm like that is perfect. And I booked it and then I realized 12:50am Friday is Thursday night.
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Co-host or Guest
50 minutes into the day.
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Damanse
Right? Exactly. And so I screwed that up and it made in the I should have been able to figure it out by the fact that we land at 5am Saturday morning. But because of the whole international dateline component of it, it screwed with my brain. So I was like oh this is great. This is perfect. This is just what I wanted. And so I have to miss an extra day of work. But you know the, the guys will be okay. But it also means next week not on the air. And then the following week we are back with our NBA play. Not quite NBA playoffs yet, but our NFL free agency getting ready to go to the NBA playoff push. Which means we will also be back with three shows a week. I think our Friday shows will be mailbag style. Listener question style. But so we're on the air today TV show today. Then I'm off for the Next call it 10 days and then we're back full force. Maybe fingers crossed with a brand new sponsor. Could be very exciting. We also might bring on the very rare what's right guest because I saw Peter King announced he's written a book and the our guest policy of only people who you can argue are the goat at something can come on the show. He is I think inarguably the goat football writer. So maybe Peter King joins us sometime post vacation. But great to see you. I keep having dreams about your baby who turns December, January, February turns four months in a few days over the weekend. Very exciting like rate subscribe review to the channel that does help us out a ton. Let's get right to it though. Straight to voicemail. Brought to you by our friends at Boost Mobile. Pal we are go ahead.
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Co-host or Guest
Wait, what Team USA survives versus the Rockies.
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Damanse
Yeah. So you know what? I screwed that up. I normally do. I normally do straight to voicemail. I screwed that up. Take a sip of my coffee. My apologies. I also want here's another interesting note. Team USA World Baseball Classic also hosting the World Baseball Classic Tokyo while I'm there the night I land Tokyo takes on South Korea. I think at the Tokyo Dome. And I think I'm going to go to the game.
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Co-host or Guest
Sounds like a treat.
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Damanse
I think seeing the. Seeing Ohtani and the Japanese team play in Tokyo would be sick. So I'll be a live correspondent from the World Baseball Classic. AJ Debinza says he might return to BYU. I don't buy that. And Timmy C, Timmy Chalamet and LeBron team up on a press tour. All right, so let's get right to the news of the day. Damanze, which is my lifelong team, made a trade with my, you know, off again on again NFC team, the Rams. Let's get to it.
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Co-host or Guest
Yeah, the Chiefs traded probably one of their best players or their best player outside of Patrick Mahomes for a nice hall of picks. Last time Kansas City did something like this with Terry Kill, they went on to make three Super Bowls. Do you find this to be a similar move?
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Damanse
So listen, I want to start on McDuffie. McDuffie is an excellent player. I think he is a good sometimes because of his size, struggles on the outside, but a good outside corner and the single best slot corner in football. I think he is the best in football at slot corner. They drafted him as demands. They mentioned they immediately went to the next three Super Bowls. McDuffie had start let's 3, 4, 3, 2. McDuffie won the first nine playoff games he ever played in his and his rookie year they went three and oh, his second year they went four and oh his third year they went two and oh until the super bowl when they got clocked by the Eagles. Obviously he was part of a historic draft class for the Chiefs that set up this era of Chiefs football. Particularly on the defensive side of the ball. He was instantly an all pro. He's excellent. He will be very, very good for the Rams. Okay, nothing. And he's only 25. He was a young player coming out of college, so he's played four years. He's only 25. He got a little ding last year. He's durable, he's an excellent player and I the Rams, let me add this to it, Damanze. I think the Rams are more all in than any team in the league. More than Buffalo, more than Baltimore because their quarterbacks got one, maybe two years left. So I think that the other teams with great quarterbacks have to weigh trying to win the super bowl every year with staying in contention for a long period of time. The Rams don't have to weigh that. The Rams are like let's go for it right now. While we have Matt Stafford and figure out the plan post Stafford when we're post Stafford. So I totally get this move from them. And they got an excellent player at the single biggest position of need for them. Makes sense. With that said, I am so glad the Chiefs management still has the stomach to do things like this because this is the only way to stay in perpetual contention. There is only one team ever that has done what the Chiefs are trying to do, which is for 15 plus years be in the mix basically every single year. I understand last year was a disaster, but at week six of last season, the Chiefs were the literal super bowl favorites. So they didn't, they obviously weren't. They didn't end up as contenders last year, but the idea that last year was destined to be a disaster year, they were the favorites to win the whole thing right around Halloween. And so in order, the only blueprint for that long of a contending stretch is the Pats with Belichick and Brady. And Bill Belichick made moves like this. He traded away Richard Seymour. He, he would move on from guys when they got super expensive. He would load up on draft picks and try to restock the talent with young cost controlled players. It's what you have to do. And yes, the Chiefs are in a different position than when they traded Tyreek. When they traded Tyreek, they weren't coming off a six win season. They also though when they traded Tyreek were not. They are as far removed from the three years before leading into the Tyreek trade. They won a Super Bowl. They lost the Super Bowl. They, they lost in the AFC championship game the three years leading into this. They won a Super Bowl. They lost a Super Bowl. They had a disaster year. The Tyreek trade netted them the 29th pick, a second rounder, two fourths and a fifth. This trade netted them the 29th pick, a third rounder, one fourth and a fifth. Or as Ian Rapaport would call it, basically fifth round value. Exactly. 29th, third, fourth, fifth, basically fifth round value. So they got, for Tyreek, they got a second instead of a third and an additional fourth. And you know what? I might have said what they got here wrong. They, I did actually. They got the 29th, a third, a fifth and a sixth, not a fourth and a fifth. So my apologies, but the, the, the by the draft charts they got essentially this is maybe a better way to do it for people to understand. By the draft charts they got the equivalent for McDuffie of about the 20th pick of the draft all in. And for Tyreek they got the equivalent of about the 14th, 15th pick of the draft. So they got call it 80% of the value for Trent McDuffie they got for Tyree Kill.
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Co-host or Guest
And situation is so much more different though considering like the need of the team like if the defense is already having trouble generating a pressure like trading away your best cornerback I think is
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Damanse
I know, I understand this Obviously for week one of 2026 doesn't make the Chiefs better. That's obviously true. But this was Trent McDuffie is about to become the single highest paid corner in the NFL because he plays on the end, he's best on the inside instead of on the outside. That already was going to be a bit of a tough pill to swallow. But when you have the highest paid D tackle, the highest paid center, one of the highest paid guards and Mahomes, you can't you've got to make these choices. And here is the reason where I went from kind of expecting this move for the Chiefs and you know, coming to terms with it to being outright happy about it. Barnwell in his off season predictions column called this trade he called McDuffie to the Rams. I think a lot of people thought this was possible but Barnwell put what he thought the trade would be demons A he thought it would be McDuffie plus a fifth from Kansas City for just the 29th pick. Instead it was McDuffie by himself for the 29th pick plus a third of fifth and a sixth.
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Co-host or Guest
Yeah.
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Damanse
So I think they got such intense value that and the free up of cap space of he was going to make 13 million this year. If you wanted to keep him it was going to be 30 million a year to add other players. I think you just have to make that move. It also gives them real flexibility in the draft. Now I do not think they're going to move off that ninth pick but they are drafting now 9, 29 and 40 and I would be surprised if they actually draft 29 and 40. It should be noted they used the 29th pick from the Tyree Kill trade to move up to 21 or 22 to draft Trent McDuffie. And so I right now the Chiefs have the six best Super bowl odds. That feels about right to me where you've got to see the health of Mahomes. But they have the ability to go out in free agency in the draft and address what are significant weaknesses on the team right now. And and let me also say this because Jalen Watson, their other starting corner seventh round pick is going to hit free agency and get paid a Bunch of money by other people, by somebody else. This is the 1 position on the team the Chiefs believe we can just coach up. They had, when they had Marcus Peters, they traded him to the Rams. They had Jas Ward, they let him go sign a huge contract with the Niners. They had Legarius Snead, they traded him to the Titans, they had Marcus Peters, they traded him to the Rams and they're letting Jalen Watson and Jalen Watson kind of is proof of concept. He was a seventh round pick same year as Marcus Peters. He was starting at corner as a seventh round rookie. They are letting him walk. They have Noel Williams who was a third rounder last year and they're going to have to address secondary but they think spags that they can scout secondary players, that they can coach them up and what they have to get better at is pass rush, running game and pass catcher. It's a lot I understand, but I think the offensive line is mostly set and obviously quarterback set. And now you have some cap space and you have a bunch of draft picks to go attack this stuff. Go ahead.
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Co-host or Guest
It's like a little word coming out that Trent McDuffie, his hit would have been about the same as Kenneth Walker next year. Well, about 14 million.
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Damanse
So here's the thing. He was Kenneth Walker's franchise tag. 14 would be 14 million. I think he'll probably sign for around 14 million. Yes, you're right. Trent McDuffie was under contract, fifth year option for 13.8 or something. But that wasn't the problem. The problem was he was going to want and it's not a problem. He's earned it 30 million a year on a new deal. And what. And we'll get to the Bengals in a bit. What immature franchises would do would just be like, well, 13 million for McDuffie. That's. That's actually not a bad deal. Let him play out his contract and then either franchise tag him and then let him walk for nothing or after this year let him walk for nothing instead. The Chiefs were proactive, which you have to be if you want to contend over a long stretch of time. Now here is the other piece of it. You have to hit on these draft picks in 2022. They crushed the draft in 2023. They seem to really. Well, the verdict right now in the 2023 draft is it's a disaster. The only truly productive player they've gotten from that draft is Rasheed Rice, who has a bunch of his own issues. So that happens. But now in order for the Chiefs to continue to be a list contenders. This draft is going to have a lot to do with it and we'll see what they, you know what they make of these picks. All right, go ahead. I know you have some follow ups here. Go ahead.
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Co-host or Guest
So just off of what you just said, Kansas City has two firsts. What can they do with those picks? Let's do a likely maybe, what if of it.
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Damanse
So listen, I think it is likely
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Grainger Announcer
that
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Damanse
with their the number 9 pick they address offensive skill position. I think that's likely. I think that whether it's Jeremiah Love, whether it's their favorite receiver, it would be a little rich for me. But maybe the tight end, the number one tight end that everybody loves, that nine, it feels high. I think it is likely they do that at 9 and then at 29 they maybe move around a little up or a little back and take a pass rusher. I am of the belief if Reuben Bain is there at number nine, you've just got to take him I the short arms be damned. And it would be utterly stunning to me if they use either of these first round picks on offensive line or on corner. I think that they are going to go wide receiver, running back, maybe tight end and defensive line. Those are the spots that I think you are going to see the those the first round picks go for. And I think the only running back would be Jeremiah Love and I don't know if he'll be there at nine. All right, I know you want to talk Mahomes for a second.
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Co-host or Guest
Yeah. So after the deal Mahomes tweeted, damn, how much are you reading into that? Do you think that was just support for his teammate?
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Damanse
Yeah. Listen, I think Patrick understands. I haven't talked to Patrick. I think he understands the business side of this. I also think, you know he's won multiple Super Bowls with McDuffie, likes McDuffie. McDuffie is a good player. You hate to see him go out the door. But I think Patrick also knows whatever, you know, he had, I would imagine a very similar relationship and had won a Super bowl with Tyree Kill and saw the same regime trade Tyreek in a very similar spot, same time, a calendar and what it turned into the right, right. Tyreek has more of a direct impact on do you think the decisions though you've got to make. They traded Joe Tuney last year. Like you've got to find ways to restock and it's why the Chiefs are not a team that's ever going to be like we just traded for Max Crosby we just traded multiple. You don't have that luxury in my if you want to contend for again 15 plus years which only the Patriots have done. All right, before we get to the RA a little more on the Rams side of it and some of the other potential guys who could be traded, let me remind you today's show is brought to you by our presenting sponsor, Hard Rock bet. Florida's sportsbook march is here and that means college basketball takes center stage. The stakes are rising, the shots are falling, and now's the time to hit the hardwood with Hard Rock Bet Hoops on every night. Every night is a shot to build the same game parlay and score a major bucket. And if you ever miss, tip off that big game of that big game. Don't worry. Hard Rock Bet lets you live bet all game long from the first bucket to the final buzzer. So you're never too late to find a winner or grab that player prop you had circled. Still riding high off watching USA Hockey win gold, you can back the Stars and stripes in international baseball too. Hard Rock Bet has you covered for all your baseball bets. Join me by stepping up to the plate and signing up today. You can double your winnings on your first 10 bets. Max $50. That's right. If you would have won a hundred bucks on your same game parlay and make that 200 plus. Hard Rock bet offers new promos daily, so whenever you're listening, just open the app and check out what they've got. Any day of the week, download the Hard Rock Bet app and make your first deposit today. Payable and bonus bets. Not a cash offer. Offered by the Seminole Tribe of Florida in Florida. Offered by Seminole Hard Rock Digital LLC in all other states. Must be 21 plus and physically present in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee or Virgin to Play. Terms and conditions apply. Concerned about gambling in Florida? Call 1833 play wise in Indiana, if you or someone you know has a gambling problem wants help, call 1-809 with it gambling problem, call 1-800- gambler Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia.
- [25:12]
Sean Duffy
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- [26:01]
Jennifer
Thy ticket lady Jennifer of Coolidge. Well, many thanks, good sir. Here is my Discover card. They accept Discover at Renaissance Fairs. Yeah, they do here. Discover is accepted at the places I love to shop. Get it with the times.
- [26:18]
Damanse
With the times.
- [26:20]
Jennifer
You're playing the loot. Yeah, and it sounds pretty good, right?
- [26:24]
Grainger Announcer
Discover is accepted at 99% of places that take credit cards nationwide, based on
- [26:29]
Damanse
the February 2025 Nielsen report.
- [26:31]
Jennifer
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- [27:01]
Damanse
All right, Damanze, let's keep going on this trade and then get to the other stuff.
- [27:06]
Co-host or Guest
Yeah. So the Rams just cleared up one of their only needs with that trade and they still have the Falcons pick at number 13. So now they are the lone favorites at plus 750 to win the Super Bowl. Do you agree with Vegas there?
- [27:19]
Damanse
I mean, it makes a lot of sense. Return punts, the. No, no, he's not going to be a punt returner. So maybe they do need to address that. But that 13th pick should be an impact player for them. It they have really struggled on drafting and developing their own corners, which is the traded for Marcus Peters, they traded for Jalen Ramsey, they traded for Trent McDuffie. So this is, you know, again, I think they paid a lot. But when you have 38 year old Matt Stafford and you've been banging on the door and he's the defending league mvp, why the hell not? And so I, you know, I, if I look at the Rams depth chart as we sit here today, let me just pull it up real quick. I wouldn't hate them. At 13 demands a considering wide receiver Just because I don't think Devonte, you know, has probably many years left, maybe just one year left. I also wouldn't hate them going offensive line to shore up that right side of their offensive line. But in reality, the Rams don't have many glaring holes. I mean, the, the, the entire secondary needs a lot of work, but it doesn't seem like they trust themselves on drafting corners. So I would be, I guess, a little surprised if they draft a corner at 13. I would not be surprised if they move down, if they tried to restock some of the picks they just traded away, you know, by moving down in the draft. All right, let's get to some of the other guys in the trade market and some of the other rumors.
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Co-host or Guest
So Max Crosby's name is being floated around. He's being favored to go to Chicago. The asking price for AJ Brown is now reporting reportedly a Quinn and Williams type deal. How does the McDuffie trade impact the market at the moment?
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Damanse
So I think the McDuffie trade impacts AJ Brown's price more than Max Crosby's price. Because I think if the Chiefs got for McDuffie very similar to what the jets got for Quinn and Williams, the jets for Corn and Williams got a first, a second and Mozzie Smith, who is, you know, kind of a sunk cost. The Chiefs got a first, a third, a fifth and a six. So the Chiefs got 92% of Quinn and Williams out of Trent McDuffie in the trade. And I think the Eagles are sitting there saying A.J. brown plays a more premium position. He's under contract. You know, if you trade for him, you don't have to immediately make him the top paid player in the league. So why shouldn't we get a late first? And something else. I think that is going to be hard for them to get. But could they get the 31st pick straight up from New England for AJ Brown? I would think so. And here's the other piece of it. Damanze. Whatever their best offer is. I want to know if you agree with me on this. I think the, I think the Eagles have to trade A.J. brown.
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Co-host or Guest
Yes.
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Damanse
I, I, I do not think they can run it back another year. Yeah, I think they regret not trading him at the deadline and I think they have to trade him.
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Co-host or Guest
Yep.
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Damanse
And so bad vibes. Maybe T, maybe teams. Correct. Maybe teams are going to use that against them. But I think especially with New England having just cut Stefan Diggs that, you know, it's sitting right there for them to trade. And Frable was with AJ Brown Crosby's a little more complicated and Crosby's older than the defensive players that we have historically seen go for multiple second round picks. And the Bears, having their center, their excellent center, just surprisingly retire at 27 makes their ability to trade multiple picks for Max Crosby maybe more in question. So I, I look around the league and I say, who are the teams that it would make sense for them to make that type of move? I wonder if the Chargers. Now, I don't know if the Bears would want to try, I'm sorry, If the Raiders want to trade within the division, if they would trade for Crosby. I wonder if Washington, whose defense has been brutal, if they would trade for Crosby. And I wonder how much pressure, if any, there is on the Bucks after last season to, you know, say, like, you know what, let's go for it right here. The Bears were the team that makes the most sense, but I, I think it's trickier because their center retired and I think that makes it.
- [32:59]
Co-host or Guest
You think the. Oh, go ahead. You think the Bears have any pressure on them to win right now, being under Caleb's rookie deal?
- [33:07]
Damanse
I mean, you do want to take advantage of when you have the quarterback cheap. But I mean, they, they also, they win. I should know this. The Bears won the division last year. Yeah, they hosted in round one against the Packers. They won the division. They won a playoff game. So like, they're right on, right on schedule. But I do think their defense has to get better and you're not going to be able to live off turnovers to quite the extent that they did last year. All right, Kyler got cut. I want to get to that in a second. But first, here's the thing. Most men start losing testosterone around age 30. It's about 1% every year after that. Same workout, same diet, but it can feel like you're just moving in mud. So when the new year hits, it's a great time for a reset so you can feel energized again and not tired all the time and worn down. Keep it simple and do something natural that supports your body. With Mars Men, it helps your body unlock usable testosterone so you can feel like yourself again. Mars Men gives you the same benefits of optimized testosterone. Energy, strength, focus without shutting your body down. No synthetics, no needles, no dependency. 90 day money back guarantee, so there's no risk at all. Worst case, you don't absolutely love it. Get your money back. But over 90% of users report higher energy levels. Thousands of guys are feeling incredible results. Just check out the reviews on the website to see for yourself. For a limited time, our listeners get 50% off for life plus free shipping and three free gifts@ Mengotomars.com it's a perfect way to kick off the new year. Strong MengotoMars.com for 50% off and three free gifts at checkout. After your per. After you purchase, they're going to ask you where you heard about them. Support our. Support our show. Tell them we sent you. That does help us a lot. Again, for a limited time, our listeners get 50 off for life plus free shipping and three free gifts@ Mengotomars.com great way to kick off the new year. Strong men. Go to mars.com for 50 off and three free gifts at checkout. After the purchase they're going to ask you where you heard about them. Tell it, tell them. Tell them you heard about it on what's Right. All right, Damanze, let's talk a little a little more NFL before we get to some sports media takes that really need some budding, if you will.
- [35:45]
Co-host or Guest
Seven years after taking him at number one, the Cardinals are splitting ways with Kyler Murray. We all know you aren't the biggest fan of the shorter quarterbacks. Where do you stand at on Tyler or Kyler?
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Damanse
I'm stunned how many people are trying to convince themselves that 7 years and 87 starts into his career Kyler Murray is different than what we know he is, which is a below average NFL starting quarterback. And you can say, oh, below average. That's. That's harsh. It's not. There's 32 teams in the league. And if right now I were to tell you stop me when I say a quarterback, Kyler's better than Mahomes, Stafford Allen, Lamar Burrow, Darnold, Caleb May, Trevor Goff, Love, Dak Hertz, Baker, Herbert Jaden. That's 16. That's 16.
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Co-host or Guest
Yeah.
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Damanse
I have not mentioned C.J. stroud. I have not mentioned Bo Nix. I have not mentioned Brock Purdy. I have not mentioned, you know, some Cam Ward, some people like Kyle or I'm sorry, Bryce though, but that's the.
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Co-host or Guest
It starts to get questionable there.
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Damanse
Yes.
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Co-host or Guest
But the fact that it's like a debate. Yeah, right.
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Damanse
So he's at best the 20th best quarterback in football.
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Co-host or Guest
At best.
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Damanse
And he is. He does wear down over the course of the season. He does have shaky relationships with teammates and front offices and he does have very questionable work habits. That's just who he is. And so that the Arizona Cardinals last year the coaching staff was fighting for its life and Kyler came back healthy from injury and they were like, yeah, Jacoby Brissette runs this offense better. We're sticking with him. I don't if people are trying to convince themselves that Kyler on the Vikings would be dangerous. No, it wouldn't. Would it be an upgrade over J.J. mcCarthy? Sure. Would they be dangerous? No. And again, Darnold got like 35 starts with the Jets. Gino got 30 starts with the Jets. Baker got I think 50 some with the Browns and showed something. Kyler has started 87 games. Kyler has started more games in this league than Joe Burrow. Like, it's not. Oh, he hasn't had the opportunity.
- [38:50]
Co-host or Guest
I mean, people are probably just saying it's the Cardinals, though.
- [38:54]
Damanse
Yeah. But when he got there, people were like, oh, man, Cliff Kingsbury traded for DeAndre Hopkins. People didn't think that was some terrible mess. Now it turned into it, but he was a part of it. And so I do. I think Kyler is a starter in this league? Yes, absolutely. Do I think that he would be an upgrade over what the Browns, the Jets, the Steelers, the Vikings are likely going to go into next season with if they don't sign him? I do. But do I think that means there's any contending possibilities? I don't now the glass quarter full would be this demand. This is the first time in his athletic life he has failed in any way.
- [39:56]
Co-host or Guest
Yeah. Some adversity he is. I mean, seven seasons.
- [40:01]
Damanse
No, but I'm saying them cutting him. Yeah, cutting him is the adversity.
- [40:05]
Co-host or Guest
Right.
- [40:05]
Damanse
He. He was the greatest player in the history of Texas high school football. The greatest. He also was such a great baseball player. He was a first round pick for the Oakland A's. He then went to college, won the Heisman, went number one in the draft and instantly as early as they could have got paid. And so it was just nothing. But everything I'm doing is working, everything's great. And now it's a real slap in the face of. No, they're paying you to go away and you'll probably sign. Make sense. Sign for the minimum because this team's going to be paying you anyway. So maybe that is a come to Jesus moment, but I don't know.
- [40:58]
Co-host or Guest
You think maybe you should switch over to baseball?
- [41:02]
Damanse
I feel like it's probably too late for that, but I think that could have been an option at some point. I listen. It seems like people loved him as a baseball player. Loved him. And he is just a sick.
- [41:14]
Co-host or Guest
He would be elite in baseball.
- [41:17]
Damanse
Yeah.
- [41:17]
Co-host or Guest
I mean, the dude he's fast as hell.
- [41:23]
Damanse
Let me see if I can. He was the eighth overall pick.
- [41:27]
Co-host or Guest
Eighth.
- [41:30]
Damanse
The. Yeah, I mean he was. I mean, he's a legendary athlete.
- [41:38]
Co-host or Guest
Yeah.
- [41:39]
Damanse
And the. I'm trying to see you guys can ninth overall pick. And I mean, God bless him for that. He is. He has been a major disappointment as an NFL quarterback. And I don't think again, he is two months old or two months younger than Darnold. Like, I just don't think he is this unpolished diamond. We'll see. But I don't. I. I don't buy it. All right, let's talk Bengals for a moment.
- [42:16]
Co-host or Guest
So the Bengals botched Trey Hendrickson. They failed to tag him. They're not going to tag him. They failed to trade him away, get something for him. How should Bengals fans feel and how should Burrow feel?
- [42:28]
Damanse
So this is just franchise malpractice to you. Add Trey Hendrickson. He led the league in sacks. He wanted a big long term deal. You didn't want to give it to him. He was pissed. You move some money around a bit to get him to come back in was 17 and a half sacks. The next year he responded with another 17 and a half sacks. And he's like, all right, now you've gotta pay me. They're like, nope, we're not doing that. So then he was super pissed. He left training camp. It was a whole mess. He then begrudgingly comes back. You then have last year, Burrow gets hurt and he's. And you know you're not re signing him and you don't even trade him for pennies on the dollar at the deadline. He then never comes back from his injury. And now you let him walk for nothing. It's just such bad business. Just indefensibly bad business. And Burrow should be livid that they either couldn't get a deal done or couldn't accept they weren't going to get a deal done and moved him last off season or the off season before or at the very least at the deadline. And to lose Trey Hendrickson for nothing's outrageous. Now I do think he will. I think you can make an argument. How old is Hendrickson? 32. That might be old.
- [44:21]
Co-host or Guest
He was younger than that.
- [44:22]
Damanse
No, no. He's 31. Oh, the. So he is. And max Crosby is 28. I should have looked these up beforehand. Bad job on me. I apologize. But I got it right. Max Crosby's 28, turns 29 in August. If I were running a team demanze, I would rather sign Trey Hendrickson in free agency for good money rather than trade multiple firsts for Max Crosby for and then resign him to huge money. Crosby's a better player and Crosby's got more years in front of him. But I the the fact that you can sign one guy and you'd have to trade multiple picks, the other guy was already good. And so here is the other question I have about Trey, because Trey, listen, he was underpaid, but it's not like he had never been paid. So Trey Hendrickson up to this point in his career has made 95 million bucks. He was making 20 million a year on this contract with the Bengals. Basically 5 year 20 million ish dollar deal after his rookie deal. If Trey wants one last huge payday, he has earned it and God bless him. I do wonder if he might want to stick it to the Bengals. And if he does, I think the Patriots, the Bills, the Ravens.
- [46:19]
Co-host or Guest
Ravens, yes.
- [46:21]
Damanse
Should all call. Yeah, particularly the Ravens.
- [46:25]
Co-host or Guest
Yes.
- [46:26]
Damanse
Like in the division, all four of those teams desperately need pass rush help and be like yeah, I'm sticking around and I'm going to right for the Ravens twice a year and for the other teams maybe if the Bengals ever make the playoffs again. So I, I've said this before, I'll say it again. There is a lot of Burrow Scentsy that reminds me of Breeze New Orleans where right after he got there they make it to a Super Bowl. Breeze won, Burrow didn't and then those Saints went seven and nine three years in a row. They missed the playoffs a lot and then at the tail end had it like a three, four year period of super high contention again at the tail end of Breeze's time but never made another super bowl where you are wasting big portions of this player's career even though he is super highly productive because you can't get the defensive side of the ball right and that's a damn shame. All right, a couple media takes. But first, Boost Mobile is proving you don't have to overpay for great wireless. Unlock the savings with 25amonth forever Unlimited plan. It's a permanent price with no contracts and no price hikes. You can keep your phone and your number, but you save up to $600 a year compared to the major carrier. Stop overpaying and switch to a fair price@boost mobile.com today based on average annual single line payment of AT&T Verizon and T Mobile customers compared to 12 months on the Boost Unlimited plan as of January 2026. Full offer details on Boost Mobile.
- [48:21]
Sean Duffy
All right, two truths and a lie. Here we go. I went to college with college football coach Jim McElwain. I began my broadcasting career doing play by play for the Las Vegas Stars, and I've been a Verizon customer for 15 years. Okay, I lied. All three are true. Verizon isn't as expensive as you think. In fact, if you bring in your ATT or T Mobile bill to a Verizon store, they'll give you a better deal. That's right, a better deal on the best network with the most ways to save on plans, streaming and phone deals. So take that AT and T or T Mobile. Build to your local Verizon store today, get a better deal and start saving based on root metrics. Best overall Mobile Network Performance, U.S. second Half, 2025. All rights reserve must provide recent consumer mobile bill in the name of the person redeeming the deal. Additional terms, conditions, and restrictions apply.
- [49:10]
Jennifer
Oh, could this vintage store be any cuter? Right. And the best part, they accept Discover. Except Discover in a little place like this? I don't think so, Jennifer. Oh, yeah.
- [49:20]
Co-host or Guest
Huh?
- [49:21]
Jennifer
Discover is accepted where I like to shop. Come on, baby, get with the times.
- [49:25]
Co-host or Guest
Right.
- [49:26]
Jennifer
So we shouldn't get the parachute pants. These are making a comeback, I think.
- [49:33]
Grainger Announcer
Discover is accepted at 99% of places that take credit cards nationwide, based on
- [49:37]
Damanse
the February 2025 Nielsen report.
- [49:40]
Jennifer
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- [50:10]
Damanse
All right, Damanze. Couple of my pals have a podcast together. It's called Game Over. Yeah, one is my buddy Rich Paul, who you met and hung out with a couple weeks ago. And the other is Max Kellerman, who I once didn't officially intern for him, but I interned for the radio show before his radio show, and he and I haven't spent much time together since. We've come across each other a couple times, but I really like Max. Like, I. I have about as much respect for Max as anybody who does what I do. And Jordan came up on their latest pod. I'll let you take it from there.
- [50:55]
Co-host or Guest
Yeah, so later, latest pod with Rich Paul Max Kellerman said that if MJ played today, he would average a 40 point triple double. For a little bit of context, Wilt is the only player ever to average 40 in a season and only three players ever have averaged a triple double.
- [51:12]
Damanse
So yeah, so listen, I don't even care about the triple double piece because Jordan. I do. I think Jordan averaging a triple double today, sure, maybe he almost did it the one year he played point guard for the Bulls. It can be done. Jordan obviously is a demonstrably better player than Russ. Russ has averaged a bunch of triple doubles. I And so no problem. The 40 point a game thing with Jordan in today's game here is the problem and this is why I'm so stunned Max said it. Because one of the reasons I have so much respect for Max, it's kind of like arrogant. The reason I have so much respect for Max is because you guys have like minded me.
- [52:04]
Co-host or Guest
Yes, exactly.
- [52:05]
Damanse
I'm like, man, that guy's smart. I like how he makes arguments. A lot of it is just he reminds me of myself. So that's kind of a. But regardless, Max very often in his arguments does what you've got to do. If you're going to have a sound argument which is tease it out and realize the full implications of your argument and the full implications of Michael Jordan could average 40 a game are. So then the guys who when Jordan was averaging 29 averaged 28, they would in today's game be 38, 37 point a game. And the guys today who are the best scorers back then would be in the low 20s. So let's. Right, because it can't only apply to Michael. The, the 90s, deflation and contemporary inflation. So let's, let's just grab some Michael Jordan seasons. So if you're saying Michael Jordan in 92, a lot of people think that is peak Jordan, second Bulls championship, the best team. He's. He's got it all figured. He averaged 30.1 points per game. Dominique Wilkins average and Carl Malone Both averaged exactly 28. So 1992, Dominique Wilkins in today's game, we're giving him 37 a night. I'm not Chris Mullen excellent player. Was it 25 and a half. And he was an even better of, you know, a great shooter on, you know, three point shooter. So Chris Mullins 35 a game in today's era.
- [54:10]
Co-host or Guest
Give it to him.
- [54:11]
Damanse
Hard for me to, you know, hard for me to wrap my mind around, but that's the implication. 95 Michael was 32 and a half and Dominique was 30, Karl Malone 27. So all those guys, once again they're going to be in the high to mid-30s in today's game. The next year, by the way, when Michael was retired, David Robinson averaged 30 a game. So in today's game, the Admiral is 38 and a half a night. I don't think so. But let's take it a step further and do the best scores of this era. And what, because what you're saying is scoring is so much easier today that those guys in Michael's era, when 30 was the high water mark then and 30 is basically the high water mark now, those guys would struggle. So you're telling me peak, OKC, Kevin Durant, who never averaged more than 32 a game, you drop him into the 90s, he's a 24 point per game guy. That's what we're saying. Because if you're saying you're going to give a 25% boost to the scores of the 90s and today, then you've got to take a 25% tax on the scores of today in the 90s. So Pete, Kevin Durant, if he's dropped into 1992, is looking up at Chris Mullen and Clyde Drexler on the scoring list. I don't think so. Call me crazy.
- [56:12]
Co-host or Guest
He really probably is averaging 40 at that time.
- [56:15]
Damanse
Well, no, I, I don't think that either because it was eight. No, just the game was slower, there were less possessions. It was, it was the, it was harder. But maybe you think it wouldn't matter. But the other thing that happens, and this is what Max said and this is just maddening and I've talked about this before, people pretend that the one weakness in Michael's game, three point shooting, was a weakness by choice. Like, well, if he wanted to be good, he would be good. As if he was Shaq and never shot him. When in reality there was a brief stretch of time when Jordan was a good three point shooter because of that, he shot a lot of them for the era. And that period was when they moved the line in and as soon as they moved the line back out, he went from 37% to shooting for a game, which was a lot for the mid-90s, to 23% shooting one and a half a game. And then after he had three years of retirement, seeing that, oh, guys are shooting more and more threes and my athleticism isn't what it once was, he came back and was a nice crisp 19% three point shooter. Again, he might be the greatest player of all time, there is a strong argument for that. But the idea that he just chose to be bad at something rather than. It was the one thing he wasn't great at. The idea that because he took over 1700 threes in his career and if you, Again, if you. I'm trying to do, I should have done this beforehand. But when in his career, because his career three point numbers don't actually look awful. It's 32.7, that's fine. But if you remove the years where they moved the line in so the years where they move the line in Michael from 3 was 39% and the years where it was the regular line was 29%. We don't have to make stuff up. I'm not going to sit here and say, you know, if LeBron really wanted to, he'd be a 90% free throw shooter. He just chooses not to be. No, he just, it's not as good as he is, as hard as he works. It's not for him to be a 90% free throw shooter. So. But again, I. If you believe Michael Jordan would average 40 in today's game, then you must believe Dominique would average 38 and peak. Kevin Durant in the 90s would average like 23. I don't think you actually believe it. Maybe more on this sports medium. Budsman on the show later today. All right, speaking of sports media ombudsman, go ahead.
- [59:43]
Co-host or Guest
All right, round two. Earlier this week, Stephen A. Smith took a shot at Zion Williamson, calling him a food addict. This followed with a Twitter war with the Pelican Social team and a 12 minute rant on first take by Steve A. Smith. The Pelicans aren't even relevant. So why, why, what's going on here? You wanted to.
- [60:02]
Damanse
So here's why I want to discuss this. I, I think the obvious take that people expect from me here is. How big it's about Stephen A's ego, right? The obvious take is you have one of, if not the biggest sports show in the country. And because the Pelican social media team put up funny clips of you, you know, at your. Not at your athletic prime, just spend 12 minutes defending yourself, you know, doing, going at them. Just a waste of everyone's time because you can't be the butt of a joke. Like you don't want to laugh at yourself. Like, that's where people expect me to go with this. That is not where I'm going with this. Where I'm going with this is we, as a public need to convince Stephen A. This is the good stuff. This is what we want. Please, like, feed that trough. Because this, unlike his Iranian war takes and everything he's doing on that political show, this is harmless fun. And you know what? If you want to explain how actually you've got a sick jump shot and you want to talk about and you want to go after the Pelican social media team and you want to say with a straight face into the camera, I am more famous than everyone on the team, than the Pelicans. You know what? God love you. That is is what we're here for. That's the good stuff. More of that. Less of geopolitical takes. More of that. Less of flirting with running for the presidency. That is where, I mean, I. We are in a perilous timeline where both of the longtime prestige hosts of First Take, Stephen A. And Skip, have felt like, well, I've waited long enough time for the public to get my takes on the war in the Middle East. Skip did it with his dog and his wife. Stephen A. Does it on. It was serious. I don't know, guys. Don't need it, don't want it. Didn't ask for it. Skip, love your buddy. Give us. I saw a clip come across my timeline the other day where Skip was like, and this is why Bronnie has a better clutch gene than Braun. And I'm like, you know what? A plus 10 out of 10, twice. You're the goat. Stephen A. Looking doing 12 minutes down barrel about why he's more famous than everyone on the Pelicans and talking about Zion hiding food under his bed. Chef's kiss, no pun intended. Perfect. More of that, less of. Here's my take on Howard Lutnick and, you know, a quick refresher on the Ayatollah's reign in Iran. So I am, I, I, I'm all for it. I, I loved it. I like it. All right, Daman listener questions.
- [64:10]
Co-host or Guest
Producer. Producers ask, are those birds?
- [64:13]
Damanse
Oh, you guys can hear the birds right outside the window. Yeah, it's finally. It's finally not 20 degrees in new York. We might have to get used to that. Yeah.
- [64:23]
Co-host or Guest
Andy asks, will Nick have respect for his fellow passengers by keeping his shoes on during the flight?
- [64:29]
Damanse
All right, I can't tell if Wilds and Brewer trolling me on this, so I will just say it to America and you guys tell me if I am wearing fresh, never worn out of the package socks. Is it at all even a little bit objectionable that on a flight I take off my shoes Honest question. I've never even thought of it as problematic.
- [65:06]
Co-host or Guest
Probably shouldn't have them like in the aisles or like stretched out across other seats. But if it's like underneath the seat in front of you, tucked under the seat, that's fine. It obviously can't be reeking like they do after you're.
- [65:19]
Damanse
No, that's what I'm saying.
- [65:20]
Co-host or Guest
Right. Yeah.
- [65:23]
Damanse
Let's assume that my hygiene is good.
- [65:26]
Co-host or Guest
Right.
- [65:27]
Damanse
And I have taken the time to make sure they're brand new socks. I'm not wearing stinky old shoes. You know, I'm wearing the. No, I don't even think it's like a little awkward and wild and brew. Just kill now. Wild says lies and says I take my socks off. That I think you should be ejected from the plane. That's like, take your socks off if you clip your fingernails. There are certain things that obviously you can't do in public, but I don't. I've never even. I try to be a super. You can attest to me for me on this demase. I try to be a super courteous person. Like in all walks of life. I try to be very courteous. I've never even considered it was a problem. Take my shoes off. And these are long flights. I'm an old. I'm a grandfather. I'm not quite to the compression socks era. But your feet swell like you got like. It's a health reason.
- [66:27]
Co-host or Guest
Yeah. No, I definitely could see how somebody could, you know, bat an eye at it, but like. But just if it's like, you know, concealed another seat like I said, but like. Because other people will have their feet like sticking out of the side of their seat, like with their.
- [66:43]
Damanse
Oh, no.
- [66:44]
Co-host or Guest
And stuff like that.
- [66:45]
Damanse
No, I won't do that. And I wouldn't go sockless. I also won't go to the lavatory without my shoes on. I'll put them back on if I have to walk down the aisle and go to the bath like this.
- [66:56]
Co-host or Guest
Yeah. Matt Collins.
- [66:58]
Damanse
Yeah, I mean, but it's a 15 hour flight.
- [67:01]
Co-host or Guest
Yeah. All right, next, Blue Whale asks Devonse, do you have any movie or TV show recommendations for the viewers? I gotta say, man, I'm pretty bad with like watching new stuff. I've probably. I'm like watching Shameless for the maybe fourth or fifth time ever. Breaking Bad. I've probably completed like six or seven times the Walking Dead, like, you know, before it gets to like season three or four.
- [67:29]
Damanse
So. Nothing new, though. There's nothing new that you.
- [67:32]
Co-host or Guest
Well, the. The what's it called the Beast in Me. That. That new Netflix show. We watched at it together a little bit. I like that one. That one's pretty cool. Good.
- [67:40]
Damanse
Did you like Marty Supreme?
- [67:42]
Co-host or Guest
Dude, Marty supreme was insane. I like, I thought that I. It had the same exact vibe of the Adam Uncut gems. And apparently it's the same producer.
- [67:54]
Damanse
Just chaotic, I think. Yeah.
- [67:56]
Co-host or Guest
Anxiety.
- [67:58]
Damanse
Funny. We were watching it together and Damante said to me, this reminds me of Uncut Gems. I'm like, man, you could be a movie critic.
- [68:04]
Co-host or Guest
Like, it's the same.
- [68:06]
Damanse
The same guy made it.
- [68:07]
Co-host or Guest
Well, yeah,
- [68:11]
Damanse
yeah, go ahead.
- [68:12]
Co-host or Guest
You know, because I was probably gonna spoil something, so. Yeah.
- [68:13]
Damanse
Yeah. I think I maybe screwed you on something, pal. Because I. I tried to log into HBO Max the other day, and instead of it showing my profile and your sister's profile and all this stuff, it just showed me.
- [68:33]
Co-host or Guest
Yeah.
- [68:34]
Damanse
Which. And I was like, what? I was like. I knew I was. I was. There's no. Just no question. My mind. I have. I'm paying for like four different versions of HBO Max. Like, no doubt about it. But here was the problem. The one that you. The one that you are watching stuff on. There's commerce. I was. I was.
- [68:53]
Co-host or Guest
Yeah, I think it's mine.
- [68:54]
Damanse
There were commercials I think I signed
- [68:57]
Co-host or Guest
up for when we were trying to watch something at the Airbnb for Thanksgiving.
- [69:02]
Damanse
Don't do that.
- [69:02]
Co-host or Guest
Cancel that.
- [69:06]
Damanse
I was watching. I turned it on and I'm like, this is hbo. It's not commercials in general. It's like, I can't live like this. I logged. I was like, let me find my other login. God knows your sister wouldn't tolerate that. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, there's no question about it. Praveen asked me if I know anything about cricket. I wish I did. I don't. I did one time when we lived in Houston, I. The parking lot of the grocery store by our house at like midnight. It was a bit. There was a big Indian neighborhood by us. And at like midnight on Fridays, these guys would have a full blown 20 person cricket match. And. And I. The. And I would occasionally watch for a little bit, but I don't. I don't understand it. So. No, I do not. All right, like, rate, subscribe, review to the pod. Huge thanks to our sponsored Hard Rock BET Boost and Mars Men. We are. I'm on TV today. And then the next time you guys will see me will be Monday morning. Not this Monday, but the following following Monday. And we'll be back with three podcasts a week. Great job. Demons A great job. Blued up. Great job. Volume. We'll talk to you guys in a little over a week.
- [70:31]
Daniel Cormier
What's right this is Daniel Cormier from the Daniel Cormier Show. This podcast is sponsored by Total Wireless, the official wireless partner of ufc. Power doesn't wait in the octagon or outside of it. You either made the move or you missed the moment. That's why you need a network that's just as powerful as you are. With Total Wireless, you get unlimited 5G data keeping you in the action from the walkouts to the knockouts. Now that's a total power move. Make your total power move today. Visit totalwireless.com or stop by your neighborhood Total Wireless store. Additional terms apply. See totalwireless.com for details.
- [71:08]
Sean Duffy
I'm U.S. transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. We all seem to be in a rush these days, from work to driving our kids around. But when you're behind the wheel, please do not speed. A few minutes saved by going faster is never worth the risk. So follow the speed limit, enjoy the drive, maybe bring some snacks for the kids. And know that along the way, you're getting quality time with your family, paid for by nhtsa.
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Grainger Announcer
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- [72:43]
Jennifer
This is an Iheart podcast. Guaranteed human.