PMS 2.0 1289 - Peyton Manning, Shams Charania, Nick Sirianni, CM Punk, & AJ Hawk

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Pat McAfee Show - PMS 2.0 1289

Episode Overview

In episode 1289 of The Pat McAfee Show, released on January 31, 2025, Pat McAfee, along with AJ Hawk, the Toxic Table, and Tone Digs, delves into a comprehensive discussion surrounding the NFL's Pro Bowl games. The episode features insightful conversations with prominent personalities such as Peyton Manning, NFL coach Nick Sirianni, and WWE star CM Punk. The panel examines recent Pro Bowl innovations, upcoming sporting events like the Royal Rumble, and various NFL and NBA news, all infused with Pat's signature humor and candid commentary.

---

1. Pro Bowl Games: Evolution and Critique

The episode kicks off with Pat McAfee expressing enthusiasm for the Pro Bowl's recent changes aimed at revitalizing the event. He appreciates the NFL's efforts to innovate and make the Pro Bowl more entertaining.

• Pat McAfee (00:00-05:43):
  "It's nice to see the best players compete, I believe. The relay race was incredible... a celebration of the greatest players."

Pat and the team discuss the new Pro Bowl activities like the quarterback carnival, relay races, and dodgeball, noting both successes and areas needing improvement. AJ Hawk highlights the excitement of innovative events, while Ty Schmidt emphasizes the unpredictability added by these changes.

• Ty Schmidt (04:25):
  "The relay race was the innovation that I needed to see in the Pro Bowl."

---

2. Peyton Manning on Preserving the Pro Bowl Legacy

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to an upcoming interview with Peyton Manning, who joins the show to share his perspectives on the Pro Bowl's evolution.

• Pat McAfee (18:34-25:41):
  "Whenever the Pro Bowl was back in Hawaii... you were a big piece of setting up what was going on... it's called the Buddy Way."

Manning emphasizes the importance of mentorship and camaraderie among players, advocating for the Pro Bowl as a platform for veteran players to guide rookies. He underscores the necessity of preserving this tradition to honor the league's finest.

• Peyton Manning (18:34-25:41):
  "Anytime a young quarterback can be around a veteran, I think I annoy the heck out of him... It's important to pay it forward."

---

3. CM Punk's Unique Take on the Pro Bowl and Super Bowl Preparations

CM Punk joins the show to discuss his unconventional role in the Pro Bowl, including a humorous segment where he plans to kick a field goal against Eli Manning during the Super Bowl.

• CM Punk (38:19-40:44):
  "I don't have to be great. I just gotta be better than Eli, and that's the key."

Punk shares his struggles with field goal kicking and his preparations to outperform Eli Manning, injecting humor and personality into the segment.

• Pat McAfee (37:19-40:44):
  "I've been practicing. I've been practicing. I can't tell you how sore I."

---

4. NFL Coaching Dynamics: Brandon Beane and Nick Sirianni

The discussion shifts to NFL coaching changes, specifically focusing on Brandon Beane of the Buffalo Bills and Nick Sirianni of the Philadelphia Eagles.

• Pat McAfee (50:18-66:27):
  "Brandon Beane has been very good to our show... Josh Allen is going to have to continue to go for this."

Pat critiques the Bills' coaching decisions and highlights the challenges Nick Sirianni faces as an Eagles coach, especially dealing with public perception and maintaining team morale.

• Shams Charania (66:27-87:00):
  "Doug Peterson had to rebuild the team... We're going to have to try to start at the bottom of the mountain."

---

5. Super Bowl Ticket Resale Market and NFL Policies

The panel scrutinizes the exorbitant resale prices of Super Bowl tickets and the NFL's stringent policies against ticket scalping.

• Pat McAfee (52:47-57:58):
  "Average resale price currently for this particular Super Bowl is over $10,000 right now... The NFL needs to address this."

They discuss how the NFL regulates ticket sales, the challenges players face in distributing tickets, and the implications of high prices on fans' accessibility.

• Shams Charania (54:21-57:58):
  "The resale price is not what the NFL makes, obviously. It's whoever the person that buys the ticket makes."

---

6. Serious Allegations: Justin Tucker Case

Pat addresses serious allegations against Justin Tucker, the former Baltimore Ravens kicker, drawing parallels to the Deshaun Watson situation.

• Pat McAfee (57:12-60:30):
  "Serious allegations coming from multiple massage salons... he has stated this is completely false."

The conversation underscores the importance of safeguarding professional relationships and the potential impact such allegations have on the sports community.

• Shams Charania (60:00-60:30):
  "I just hope the truth is found... It's very serious."

---

7. Nick Sirianni on Team Leadership and Strategy

In an in-depth interview, Nick Sirianni discusses his leadership philosophy, the team's offensive strategies, and the importance of maintaining fundamentals to secure victories.

• Nick Sirianni (86:34-98:11):
  "Our job is to win football games... We try to continue to get better at your fundamentals."

He highlights the adaptive strategies employed by the Eagles, the significance of a strong offensive line, and the dynamic between star players like Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley.

• Nick Sirianni (93:27-98:11):
  "Jalen is selfless... Our job is to make sure we're doing everything we can to put this team in a position to win football games."

---

8. WWE Royal Rumble and CM Punk's Participation

The episode concludes with excitement surrounding WWE's Royal Rumble event, featuring CM Punk's imminent participation. AJ Hawk and CM Punk discuss the logistics and anticipation of the event.

• AJ Hawk (144:08-147:48):
  "Every match is the biggest match of my life... I'm stoked every day to see everybody."

Pat engages in playful banter with AJ and CM Punk about the upcoming Royal Rumble, blending sports talk with wrestling entertainment.

• Pat McAfee (141:02-147:48):
  "You're going to have to figure that one out... Happy Royal Rumble Eve. Happy Royal Rumble Eve."

---

Notable Quotes

• Pat McAfee (00:00):
  "Football is wonderful... an extremely uncommon combination of insider expertise, insightful perspective, and relatable ridiculousness."

• Ty Schmidt (02:20):
  "Con man, you look awesome as a Pittsburgh Steeler player."

• CM Punk (18:34):
  "I had to fight a little bit, you know, but it all worked out."

• Nick Sirianni (86:34):
  "Our job is to win football games... We try to continue to get better at your fundamentals."

• AJ Hawk (144:08):
  "Every match is the biggest match of my life... I'm stoked every day to see everybody."

---

Conclusion

Episode 1289 of The Pat McAfee Show offers a multifaceted exploration of contemporary sports topics, blending NFL insights with wrestling entertainment. From the transformation of the Pro Bowl to in-depth interviews with legends like Peyton Manning and Nick Sirianni, the episode provides listeners with both informative analysis and entertaining banter. The inclusion of CM Punk adds a unique flavor, bridging the gap between football and professional wrestling, making this episode a must-listen for sports enthusiasts seeking both depth and humor.

Key Takeaways:

• The NFL is actively trying to innovate the Pro Bowl to make it more engaging.
• Peyton Manning remains a staunch advocate for preserving the Pro Bowl's legacy as a celebration of the league's best.
• CM Punk's participation in the Pro Bowl introduces a novel entertainment element, blending sports with wrestling theatrics.
• The Super Bowl ticket resale market faces scrutiny due to exorbitant prices and restrictive NFL policies.
• Serious allegations against Justin Tucker highlight ongoing issues within professional sports regarding personal misconduct.
• Nick Sirianni emphasizes the importance of fundamentals and adaptive strategies in leading the Philadelphia Eagles.
• The upcoming WWE Royal Rumble garners excitement, with CM Punk poised to make a significant impact.

Listeners who missed the episode can expect rich discussions, expert opinions, and a blend of serious and lighthearted moments that encapsulate the essence of The Pat McAfee Show.

Transcript

[Pat McAfee]

People, and welcome to our humble abode, the Thunderdome. On this Royal Rumble. Feel good. Friday, January 31, 2025. This program starts now. Football is wonderful, and obviously the Pro bowl games will continue on Sunday. And obviously what started last night is something that everybody's saying is, that's good. Yeah, that's what we want the Pro bowl to be. That's how we want to celebrate our greatest players. That's how we want to celebrate the league. You know, a week out from the super bow and everybody that was a part of it, I assume while they were doing it was saying, yeah, this is a home run. This is what we want to do. Here's the quarterback carnival. All right. Obviously, it's nice to see guys who have incredible arm talent of the sort. Joe Burrow, Jared Goff, Sam Darnold want bananas. Drake May performed yesterday. Obviously, he makes the Pro bowl as a rookie. I think two years ago they had this thing figured out. I like that they continued to think on it and say, how can we change it? How can we change it? How can we change it? Don't think. You had to think you had it figured out a couple years back. Nice to see the quarterbacks do their thing. The wide receiver catching things. Certainly. Let's go back to the drawing board. Relay race is going to be what it's going to be. The spike zone thing. Okay. We're doing carnival stuff, trying to figure it out. And then the dodgeball was awesome. It had a chance. It's. It's pro ball games.

[AJ Hawk]

Yeah.

[Connor]

Hulk hands.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. Yeah. And I don't know how much people know about what they're getting into whenever they sign up. Who knows if Justin Jefferson had to put those Hulk. If he knew. Knew he had to put those Hulk hands on until he got there about four minutes, five minutes before he had to do this. And then, you know, a diving catch is obviously beautiful and Justin Jefferson might go down as great as wide receiver of all time. We have no idea. Literally, when it's all said and done, there's a chance he goes down. So I appreciate him giving effort and I appreciate this being on TV to celebrate all the great players and thanks for the effort. With that being said, we'll be joined by Peyton Manning in 13 minutes.

[Connor]

Okay.

[Pat McAfee]

We'll get his thoughts on what was supposed to happen, how it was supposed to go, what was potentially going to take place. What was the idea thing. I think we can continue back in the drawing board. The toxic tables here at Boss Connor and that Ty Schmidt maybe should just wear Those helmets and get out there on the field and protect each other. Con man, you look awesome as a Pittsburgh Steeler player. Yeah, I know.

[Connor]

I meant to cover that up right before the. The entire show. But also, I mean, yeah, Pro bowl games, we might be able to wear these during the season, brother. There's leather hats. Look at those things go, you know.

[Ty Schmidt]

I mean, they do not budge.

[Connor]

They don't. It's incredible. But, yeah, the pro of games for something. I think if they called it maybe like the big stinking spike or kind of made it even more zany, it would have been better. But at the same time, you know, it's nice to see the best players compete, I believe. Quinn Williams.

[Pat McAfee]

What were you guys doing? What were you guys just so I.

[Connor]

Welcome to 1960, brother. That's what they used to do, man.

[Bruce]

Yeah.

[Connor]

I mean, trying to honor the games of the past. Could you imagine what the Pro bowl games will look like in 1960?

[Pat McAfee]

Oh, I bet.

[Connor]

Beers and cigs everywhere. Yeah, maybe we do that.

[Pat McAfee]

Maybe. Maybe. Maybe that's what saves it. I appreciate you guys doing that. I had no idea that was. That was coming.

[Connor]

We didn't until it was three, two, one on the countdown.

[Pat McAfee]

Oh, you guys can really feel it.

[Connor]

We said we were about to do it right before the show started.

[Pat McAfee]

Smashing helmets a little bit like, let's wait.

[Connor]

Let's wait till it starts. Let's wait till it starts.

[Pat McAfee]

I mean, you guys are really good at. That was more intensity than what we saw last night's Pro bowl game, without a doubt.

[AJ Hawk]

Oh, yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

And that's part of the problem.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

You know, the issue. The issue here is. All right, I'm not even going to get it.

[Ty Schmidt]

Well, I will say.

[CM Punk]

Come on.

[Ty Schmidt]

I will say.

[Pat McAfee]

Because I can't just say the issue. I think there's a lot of things that need to go into play here. I think the NFL was trying to save the Pro Bowl. Remember the football game that we thought was terrible? Whenever they were just hugging each other and it was 30%, maybe 15% effort, and everybody's saying this is a mockery of the game. I think we look back on those times and say, maybe it wasn't that bad. You know, whenever we're watching some of the stuff from last night.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

So I think they're trying to be creative. They're trying to create, you know, a celebration. Celebration of the greatest players. They're trying to save this thing that has been a part of NFL history. I think some bitch is a little bit too Mickey Mouse, no offense. But I think inevitably they'll fall in something that's maybe worth watching. I think, at some point.

[Ty Schmidt]

I think so, too. And last night, we found at least one thing that damn near saved the night. The relay race was incredible. It was incredible. I mean, like, that's why we turn on our TVs. I mean, look at this. Look at this. You get two brothers leaving everything they got out there, you know, trying to win for their respective conference handoffs. You know, the hand. I mean, it just. It was great. It was great. I'm. I'm getting to the point where it's like, hey, you're starting to lose me a little bit. But then, you know, we got some. We got some fumbles here. We got, you know, you don't know who's going to win. Is it going to be afc, is it going to be nfc? Some of the, you know, who. They decided to actually race each other a little bit suspect. You know, it's like, okay, well, we're kind of stacking the box here. But, you know, I mean, this is the type of innovation that I'm looking for in the Pro bowl games because we didn't have this last year. I believe this is a new event.

[Pat McAfee]

Calvin Noy drops the handoff.

[Ty Schmidt]

A lot of fumbles.

[Pat McAfee]

A lot of fumbles. Not a lot of practice, I assume, which is a whole nother thing. Like, how long are people there practicing, trying to learn what the hell they're doing. How many people know what's supposed to happen?

[Ty Schmidt]

Right.

[Pat McAfee]

You know, because I guess while you're watching, there was a couple moments where it felt like nobody had a clue what was going on or what was happening next. Got a lot of money invested in this, a lot of brains, a lot of very talented football players here. A lot of great representation of the league possible. And, yeah, we hope it all works out. Jonathan Taylor and Jameer Gibbs down the end.

[Connor]

Oh, it's going to be a good finish, too.

[Pat McAfee]

It was going to be a good finish. That was going to be a good relay race. Anyways, flag football. The game is on Sunday. That'll be the real pinnacle of the entire Pro bowl games weekend. Eli Manning and the NFC are currently in the lead, I believe, over Peyton Manning in the AFC team. We'll see how Peyton feels about that this morning. You know, he's got half the points of Eli's got and, you know, everything seemingly was going the NFC's way. Maybe on Sunday it changes. Now, with that being said, we don't have one half of the hammer done. Cowboys AP Tone because he's at home being a dad. Hey, Sienna, peace and peace. Get better. Uncle's here. And shout out to dad Tone right now. Taking care of his daughter as wife is out of town. We appreciate him doing that. So instead we got backroom guy from Hammer Dad. Bruce. Brad. Bruce, you watched Pro bowl games last night. Obviously got you zeked up, geeked up. And how pumped are you for this weekend? Not only the flag football, but Royal Rumble here in Indianapolis, Indiana. I am fired up for, for both.

[Nick Sirianni]

Of those, the Rumble especially. I'm pumped for Roman Reigns to, to, you know, remind everybody.

[Pat McAfee]

Oh, you really, you think, you think everybody's going to be acknowledging, right? I might, I might leave if he gets eliminated.

[Nick Sirianni]

To be completely honest with you. I, I don't want any of the nonsense.

[Pat McAfee]

I just want Roman Reigns, maybe one spear, two Spears, Superman punch.

[Shams Charania]

Superman punch.

[Nick Sirianni]

John Cena into, into, you know.

[Pat McAfee]

Whoa, whoa, whoa.

[Ty Schmidt]

Time is now.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, yeah. Your time is up. His last time is now.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

And people forget that. We do have a pretty big announcement to make. Peyton Manning obviously joining us in about eight minutes, excited to get his thoughts on Pro bowl games as a whole because back is the real Pro bowl back in Hawaii. Like, Peyton was like the king of it. He was like the mayor of it. He took a lot of pride in it. Obviously his family grew up in the NFL. So celebrating the greats, which is what the Pro bowl is supposed to be about, those who actually carry the league, all the merch, all the eyes, all the needle move, that's what the Pro Bowlers are, what it's always has been. That's kind of the story. Peyton Manning took a lot of pride in that. So I think he has felt very invested in this iteration of trying to save it. We'll be excited to see his thoughts on how last night went. In the second hour, we'll have Sean Charania joining us because I guess there's some basketball news. Oh, yeah, there's some things happening with the Sacramento Kings. Yeah.

[Connor]

De'Aaron Fox, he's one of the best point guards in the league. He's on the move and allegedly wants to be traded to San Antonio, team up with Wemby and then Jimmy Butler. That saga continues. He's been suspended indefinitely, I believe. So who knows what happens with him. But De'Aaron Fox, kind of new breaking news this week.

[Pat McAfee]

February 6th is the trade deadline. We'll talk to Shams. Obviously, if we're talking about on court action, we'll only be talking about the Pacers who had the best record in January in the entire NBA. Technically that good? You tell me. I don't know. Tyrese Halliburton is the star that was promised for the NBA. And Spicy P has made the All Star after we traded for him last year. He's been a great addition for the Indiana Pacers. We'll talk about them then. We have coach Nick Sirianni joining us at 1:30 Eastern Time. The head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles, a man who's been through a lot of rough waters, turbulent waters, with how people talk about his tenure as the Philadelphia Eagles head coach. As recently as, like, week 13 of this year, week 14 of this year, people are saying that this guy ain't the guy to be leading the Philadelphia Eagles. Then whenever he wins, you got people saying, what does he actually do? The head coach of an NFL team is somehow in a position of never receiving any good praise or credit from some people, not everybody, but some people excited to see how he has kind of shaped all that in his mind. And then also to his players, who are one and a half point dogs, and I think a lot of America's pulling for them to knock off the Chiefs. So how do you feel is almost not being an ir? You are an underdog, but you're actually a favorite. And everybody's buried you. But now Philly's on your side. Like just the entire mental framework there. How is Sirianni battling it? Cannot wait to see it. And then to wrap up the show, 1:45 Eastern, because we only get 10 minutes with coach Sirianni, obviously very busy preparing for the Super Bowl. CM Punk will be here. What? Yeah, CM Punk will be here. Chicago made Punk. Chick Magnet Punk.

[Connor]

Hell, yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

See me Punk. Yeah, CM Punk will be here.

[Connor]

Let's go.

[Pat McAfee]

First time coming on the show. Yeah, he's put on every other show. He goes on everybody's show. Yeah, he always does all these shows. Never does our show. Does he die?

[Ty Schmidt]

No, he doesn't. It's interesting.

[Pat McAfee]

What's that all about?

[Ty Schmidt]

I don't know. I don't know. I thought we all love Punk. I thought we were all, you know, on Punk's side, but maybe not. Maybe there's some bad blood there. What do you see?

[Pat McAfee]

So we can normally play all WWE entrance music because we have a relationship business wise with the wwe. Can't play his entrance music, though, because it's not a WWE song. It's an actual song. So that is the song that will be what we just did. There was a rehearsal for when he.

[Connor]

Comes out Worked out too.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, I think we nailed it.

[Connor]

Oh, that was perfect.

[Pat McAfee]

I hope we hit it on the same like frequency. Showtime. Too many bad act. You know, People kind of get sick of us barking.

[Connor]

Need you here, Bruce.

[Pat McAfee]

How could you not get too excited though? It's Royal Rumble weekend.

[Connor]

Awesome.

[Pat McAfee]

Downtown Indianapolis is alive. I went down there last night for a nice dinner. Saw a lot of the folks from WWE. Nice little meeting, nice little chat and 60 plus thousand I don't know how many. It's going to end up being biggest Royal Rumble of all time happening here in Indianapolis. And everything kicks off at 5pm today.

[AJ Hawk]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

And Cole and I are going to be hosting that. And then I believe there's a chance we maybe on, I don't know, we'll see. And then tomorrow, obviously. 6:00 kickoff for Royal Rumble. 4:00 countdown start for Royal Rumble. It's going to be a magical weekend here in Indianapolis. We can't wait for the world to watch. And even if you're not a wrestling fan, this is a good one. Royal Rumble is a good one to watch.

[AJ Hawk]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

Especially in the stadium. It's going to be very loud. There's going to be ridiculous moments that are going to happen. There's going to be people here from yesteryear that maybe you saw whenever you were growing up. There's going to be surprises, there's going to be shocks, there's going to be dramatic, there's going to be wild moments. It's going to be an insane show and we're incredibly thankful that they brought it to Indianapolis. And I think Indianapolis and the Midwest is going to show up in a big way. Speaking of showing up back to the NFL, no coaches from the Buccaneers are going to be able to show up for Liam Cohen in Jacksonville. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have denied requests by the Jacksonville Jaguars to interview offensive line coach Brian Piccucci, who left Kentucky with Liam Cohen to go to Tampa. Jags were able to hire Cohen, but not Pachucci. Teams have the right to deny interview requests for other teams. Also, offensive line coach Kevin Carberry, he is not allowed to do the interview with Jacksonville. I believe if we heard it accurate, Baltimore Ravens are a team that are like, hey, assistant coaches are under contracts as well. So, like, hey, can we interview your coach? They're very apt to be like, no, they're under contract. I don't know if it's just the Ravens. I think there's many teams that do that and honor the contract. With the way things ended with Tampa Bay and Liam Cohen, I think we probably could have seen this coming, but normally it's just like, hey, if there's a chance to up your status or move up in your coaching ranks, teams will give you the ability to do that. I wonder what Liam's going to be able to do here, because if they just joined this Tampa Bay Buccaneers team coming with Liam from Kentucky, they probably have multiple years left on their contracts. How many coaches is he going to be able to give that he knows he's only been in the NFL or around the NFL like four or five years. So who's going to be his coaching staff? It's an NFL job, so he's going to be able to get great guys. But this move by Tampa Bay I think was probably rather expected, but I assume whenever Liam and Jacksonville hear about it, they go, oh, they don't want him to come to the great county of Duvall. And he said that's because they're scared of what we're building right here in DU Ball. Am I going to be able to fill coaching staff up in the beautiful county of DU Ball? Yeah, I am, because we're building a monster. But if they're scared of the team that resides in D ball and the hell with them. Yeah, that's what Liam's saying this morning.

[Ty Schmidt]

I think we can put to bed the whole, like, hey, nothing really happened between, you know, there's a miscommunication between the Bucks and Liam. Like, like this is, you know, like you said, a lot of teams probably do operate under the, hey, these guys have contracts, so, no, you can't interview them. But this is also the Bucks being like, hey, fuck you, buddy. Like, you're not taking any of the coaches that are on our staff. We haven't forgotten the way you left here. He did just hire the packers linebackers coach. Yeah, the Tony Campanile who had only been in Green Bay for one year as his DC but the packers ended up having a top 10 defense this year. So I think that's a, a pretty solid hire, but we'll see. I mean, like you said, like, who else is out there? We don't know. Obviously, there are a lot of good coaches in the NFL, but, like, the longer this kind of ticks on, the tougher it's going to be to fill staff.

[Pat McAfee]

Here's coach Comp. I like that Liam Cohen is bringing this guy in this mindset into his building. Here's from Hard Knocks when he was with the Miami Dolphins.

[Shams Charania]

It's going to stop you from doing what you want to do, okay?

[CM Punk]

Everybody understands as whooping, okay? I can go to Greece and somebody.

[Pat McAfee]

Start getting their ass whooped.

[CM Punk]

We all understand what's happening, okay? We're all speaking the same language, right?

[Pat McAfee]

We might not be able to communicate, but if somebody got their ass kicked, nothing's lost in translation, okay? All over the world, they speak asshole, okay? To the day you die, okay?

[CM Punk]

So here's what I'm saying.

[Pat McAfee]

Let's eliminate that factor.

[CM Punk]

They can't outwork you.

[Pat McAfee]

Eliminate that and let's see what the happens. Let the chips fall where they met. That's. Let's all just commit to each other. That's what we're gonna do.

[CM Punk]

Don't stop throwing punches.

[Pat McAfee]

Don't stop attacking the ball. Don't stop finishing blocks. And then we'll see what happens. Hell, yeah. I can't wait for paisan to get down to beautiful duvall. That's the O.C. yeah, that's D.C. i'm excited to see what Jacksonville becomes once again. Let's reserve judgment. We think they're going to be great. Joining us now live from an attic in Ohio, ladies and gentlemen, college football national champions, super bowl champion, Ryder cup winner, A.J.

[AJ Hawk]

Hay.

[CM Punk]

Hawker.

[Pat McAfee]

Hawker. How you doing, brother?

[Shams Charania]

Doing great. I think Ty's spot on, saying the. The relay race was the innovation that he needed to see in the Pro Bowl.

[Pat McAfee]

Did you watch Pro bowl games last night? Yep.

[Shams Charania]

I didn't sit down and watch it from start to finish, but I've seen pretty much the whole thing now over the course of last night.

[Pat McAfee]

Today, 90 minutes of magic. Obviously, the clips are going to go on the Internet. Shout to Terry Crews hosting that thing. He had the. The trivia contest, which led into the quarterback carousel. And then, you know, the new games, new challenges. They got rid of the egg toss and the water balloon toss.

[Ty Schmidt]

They did.

[Pat McAfee]

They did add some other zany things as they try to kind of get this right. A.J. if you were to sit and watch for 90 minutes, your big takeaway would be what, Mr. Hawk? Oh, I.

[Shams Charania]

Okay. Honestly, like, I try to.

[Pat McAfee]

This is.

[Shams Charania]

Okay. The quarterback stuff is cool. I like the stuff flying through there. It's nothing. Nothing is like the old school with the chalk on the end of the ball when it hits the targets driving by like we used to see back. Back in the day, 20 years ago. But they did make the big. What do they call it? The big spike. The great spike. This is actually a much better setup than we watched yesterday.

[Pat McAfee]

Correct.

[CM Punk]

Remember that?

[Shams Charania]

What we saw yesterday in the net, like, you couldn't even See what was happening this. Now we might need some kind of like, reference to like, okay, is that a good number? Is that a bad number? Like, we need to bring in, like, some civilians, I think too, to throw.

[Pat McAfee]

The ball, jack him. Deville just caught that on the other side. Yeah. Maybe we should have a normal human spike a ball and like the ref.

[Shams Charania]

Spike one, like the ref say, and he gets like 120. So then if someone gets 2,000, like, oh, okay, those guys are pretty strong.

[Pat McAfee]

That's like, you remember whenever they used to have the punching bag at the bars with the numbers on it, and you'd see some drunk go up there and swing and it's like 222. And then you see a barbarian walk up there and it's like 9, 24. It's like, okay, there's clear different on who's making real connection and who's not. Similar situation potentially for the big spike. Joining us now is a man who might have more of the answers because not only is he a coach, I believe his company is a massive piece of bringing this thing. And I think he is very steadfast on trying to keep the Pro Bowl a thing and a celebration for the NFL forever. Ladies and gentlemen, Goat hall of Famer, super bowl champion multiple times, Peyton Manning. Yeah, Peyton, how you doing?

[CM Punk]

What do you say, guys? Thanks. I'm just like Harold, going to ride all the rides, but, yeah, down here for the Pro Bowl. And I agree, Pat. I think the NFL should have one weekend with the best players in the world come together and it's a good thing and hopefully we can keep it going.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay, so I talked about this a few moments ago before you're on and thank you for taking time from Disney World. Can't wait to. You need to get on that avatar ride. That Avatar ride where you're in the middle. Yeah, that's. It's. It's the one. Enjoy it down there. You've obviously earned it. So I, I talked about how whenever the Pro bowl was back in Hawaii and we obviously see the nostalgia clips, the quarterback challenge, the bench press, the running, and the resort was kind of all saved for NFL. It was like an NFL family almost out there in Hawaii. You were a big piece of kind of setting up what was going on, and a lot of people called you the mayor of it. It. So whenever there's this conversation about the Pro bowl maybe no longer being relevant, I feel like you have tried to jump in and say, like, this is an event that needs to be saved. Where do you think we stand with the Pro bowl games. How do you think this continues to evolve? And what are your thoughts on last night and what's going to happen on Sunday?

[CM Punk]

You're right, Pat. I mean, the NFL does a good job. Kind of like Hawaii, they have a hotel. It's just the NFL players and their families. And of course, you know, to be able to go to Disney World and, you know, celebrate that with your families is pretty cool. But look, last night I saw Drake May having a conversation with Baker Mayfield. And to me, there's room in that, in a young quarterback like Drake May learning how to be a pro, learning how to go through a coaching change, which Baker Mayfield has done several times. Right. That's the value. How do we keep these players at each position learning from a veteran player? And look, I realize some of these guys work out together. And you can play in a charity golf tournament, concentrated weekend, where, like I said, the best of the best from some veteran quarterbacks. And that's where I saw Ray Lewis have a conversation with Patrick Willis. I saw the Dalian Tomlinson have conversations with Adrian Peterson. That's how we keep the game strong. That's why I think it's important.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, I think so, too. I think that camaraderie behind the scenes at the Pro bowl of all the greats is a massive ordeal. I think celebrating our greats is a massive ordeal. I'll be excited to see how it continues to evolve. Go ahead. A.J.

[Shams Charania]

Peyton.

[Pat McAfee]

Who were.

[Shams Charania]

Who were some of those guys? Maybe some of those old school quarterbacks when you first got in the league that you used to bug at events like that, the Pro bowl, or maybe when you see them before a game.

[CM Punk]

Well, the first Pro bowl that I played in, Rich Gannon was there, Mark Brunel and just a couple of veteran guys. I mean, like I said, I had a chance to be around Dan Marino and be around Troy Aikman at a couple of other events. Anytime a young quarterback can be around a veteran, I think you annoy the heck out of him. You ask him, him as many questions as you can up until he says, all right, enough, kid. Leave me alone. I gotta hit this shot. So, like I said, it's important to pay it forward. I've always believed, whether it's through our football camp or anytime a young quarterback had a question for me. Look, don't keep all the secrets to yourself. Pay it forward. Teach a young quarterback, teach a young running back what it takes to be a pro. And I think it's. I think it's Good for the game and, and hopefully that'll continue. Now listen, like what? I like to beat Eli in this Pro bowl very much so. He's two and oh, he's talking about a three peat. That's annoying, it's offensive and I'm afraid if we don't win, they'll fire me and I won't get to come back. So look, did I have 10 bud lights with George Kittle last night? Yes, I did, but I'm still studying film and putting in a good game plan.

[Pat McAfee]

Well, that, hey, I don't know if you've done that the last two times when you've lost. Maybe we up. Maybe we up the number.

[CM Punk]

I think you're right, Pat. I think the past two years, going to bed early, drawing up plays, watching film, that's out the window. Bud Lights with Kittle. I think that'll be my winning edge this year.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, it's a smart play. And I can't wait to see the super bowl commercial. You, Shane Post, Malone and many others out there. The jean shorts you had on on Shane's social post last night were phenomenal. You just pulled those right out of the closet. We know that I did.

[CM Punk]

Yeah. It was a BYO. BYO jean shorts.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. I understand. A 3 Pete watch. Eli, he can't be selling any merch with 3 Pete. Pat Riley owns that shit. Have you heard about this?

[CM Punk]

That's right. He patented. Right, with the Lakers. Right?

[Pat McAfee]

Genius. This guy's made money off of so many people. He's made. Pat Riley's just raking in money and he'll do it for Eli for sure. Let's hope. Go ahead.

[CM Punk]

I hope. I hope Pat sues Eli just for using it. Especially when it's not going to happen because the AFC is going to take care of business.

[Pat McAfee]

Of course. Hell yeah, you're down bad right now, but yeah, yeah, you're going to make it. You're going to make it happen. I like you getting George boozed up too. He's on the NFC's team. Maybe you need to drink every NFC player under the bar and just get exactly. Yeah, that's not a bad play. I like what you're doing. You talk about older players being with younger players and you take immense pride in the Manning passing academy. You know, that's been going on for a long time. I think since late 90s or early 90s. And you've made a documentary about Buddy Tevens, who is a massive piece of the Manning passing academy. I got a chance to read a write up that you did about Buddy and about why you chose to do this. Can you talk about this a little bit more in the buddy way, I believe is what the special is called.

[CM Punk]

Yeah, no, thanks for asking. It's funny. All six of the Pro bowl quarterbacks were counselors at the Manning Passing Academy. And Russell Wilson was actually a camper at the Manning Passing Academy and is a camp that my family started. And Buddy Thebans just ran the organization and logistics for all 28 years that we've had the camp. He was the head coach at Tulane, Pat. When we started, that's what that was, the New Orleans connection. He, you know, went on to coach different places. A longtime coach at Dartmouth, wherever he was, he came back and ran the logistics. Positive, just high energy, guy. Look, it's an organizational nightmare for 1500 kids in south Louisiana, 150 coaches. Buddy just ran it as smooth as can be. One of the first coaches to hire women, one of the first coaches to get rid of tackling and practice created this mechanical dummy by some Dartmouth students that he helped create to cut down on concussions and head injuries. And so an innovative guy and growing the game lost his wife way too early and wanted to pay just kind of his legacy forward letting people know who this guy was, what he did. And it's called the Buddy Way and it's out on ESPN plus.

[AJ Hawk]

It's a.

[CM Punk]

It's an inspiring, powerful story that I think everybody would enjoy watching and learning about him.

[Pat McAfee]

Hell yeah, Buddy. You've done good, Buddy. Yeah, that's beautiful stuff. Your write up was powerful, man. I read was a very powerful write up and obviously came from a place of a lot of passion for a human and obviously a lot of respect. So I can't wait to watch that. Now we have some questions around the NFL about some burning topics. Connor has a question for you.

[Connor]

Yeah, Payton, obviously this week with the Josh Allen and Bills losing to the Chiefs and Mahomes again, the big narrative is, you know, will Josh ever be able to get it done versus Mahomes in the playoffs? Because obviously he's on the fee in the regular season. What is that kind of like as a quarterback who kind of can't get over that one team, that one player every single off season going in with the same feeling against the same team. How do you think the Bills and Josh Allen can kind of get over that hump?

[CM Punk]

Yeah, look, I can relate. I mean, I lived that life and I sent Josh a text voice memo after the game and just telling him how much I enjoyed Watching him play this year and how well he competed and just to keep his head up, keep grinding, keep sawing wood. Look, I live that life. You know, we, Tom Brady and the Patriots beat us back to back playoff years. Once in the AFC championship, once in the divisional round, and that's. That's all you hear about all off season. Yeah, but had a great season. Yeah, but you can't beat the Patriots in the postseason. And then two years later, we did it. We beat him in the AFC Championship, win the Super Bowl. So what are you going to do? You going to go crawl in a hole and feel sorry for yourself? Are you going to just keep. Keep fighting and keep grinding? I would rather. And I think Josh Allen and Lamar feel the same way. Had their hearts ripped out in the AFC championship by three points as opposed to finishing seven and 10.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah.

[CM Punk]

And you probably smoke a cigar in that locker room after that last win because you're kind of in a good mood and you feel kind of good. You're so. The truth is you're a bad team and you're so far away. Would you rather be 7 and 10 or have your heart ripped out by being close? I'd rather have my heart ripped out because that means they're close. And Josh Allen's close, Lamar's close. They will get there. I believe it. It's just. Look, they're not losing the bad teams. Last time I checked, Mahomes and the Chiefs, there's a reason they're in the Super Bowl. They're a good team. Right. We lost to the Patriots. It sucked. I hated it. But they were the better team. And so I think Josh and Lamar will both get there. But until then, they have to own it. And they are doing it. They're not hiding from it. And I think their time will come.

[Pat McAfee]

You talk about smoking cigars after going 7 and 10 because you win the last game of the season. Jim Ursay told the coach Colts that they're undefeated in 2025 y because they won that last game of the sea. I don't know if you saw that. It was. It was awesome. It was. It was really cool. It was really cool to see. It was really cool to see as a, as a season ticket holder. But on that note, you talk about them losing to a very good team in the Kansas City Chiefs, Patrick Mahomes. And obviously, I'm sure you've had to talk about him numerous times. We've asked you about him on this particular program. He's already a Mount Rushmore guy. He's only 29 years old, obviously trying to accomplish something that's never been done done in the modern super bowl era. Win three straight. What do you think it is about him that he's been able to continue this and not get comfortable or content? His contract is nowhere near what some of these dudes are. Never hear a peep. He shows up. He had a kid a couple weeks ago, middle of the season, could be exhausted, still shows up. What do you think it is about Patrick that makes him so special? And this Chiefs team as a whole that makes them so special? Peyton.

[CM Punk]

Yeah, look, I'm not sure anybody can speak about Patrick, about what it is, except him, because it is. It is unique. It is different. I think he could beat you in so many different ways. You know, people say you got to keep him in the pocket. He'll shred you that way. Hey, you know, let's. Let's force him out of the middle. You saw some great runs you had against Buffalo. He throws the ball on the run as well as anybody in the league. And he just doesn't really sweat out there. I think he likes getting behind and creating a little drama. Good TV ratings, knowing he's going to lead you down for a two minute drill. And their team has been there and their team never flinches because they're like, hey, we've been here before. We were down to this team. We can come back. And they've been that way all season. So look, they're the bully and they've earned it. And everybody said they kind of had an off year this year. They lost one game and they got the. They got the home field and now they're back in New Orleans. So they're the bully, and until you punch the bully in the mouth, they're going to keep bullying you. And I think that's the case until somebody does it.

[Pat McAfee]

I love all season. This team isn't that good. This team isn't. They're not that good. Yeah, back to back, super bowl champs. They're 15 and one going into the last week. It's like they haven't even played good football yet. It's like, okay, well, tell us when they play good football because all they do is win. Now they're taking on a team that prides themselves as a bully, though. I feel like we're gonna be talking to coach Sirianni in about an hour. But that's their style of play. It's like a 1990s team. Go ahead, Ty.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah. Peyton. His counterpart, Jalen hurts. We've seen all the stats about guys going to the super bowl and then never making it back. You know, he's obviously done that a couple years after. But for you particularly, how much did you learn after your first Super Bowl? Whether it was, you know, handling the week and all that kind of stuff or like the game itself. Like, how much more comfortable do you think Jalen Hurts will be in this super bowl as opposed to the last one when they play the Chiefs?

[CM Punk]

Yeah, like, I think he'll be way more comfortable. Look, Mahomes, you know, gets his mail sent to the super bowl every year because he knows he's going to be there. Hertz. I remember talking to him a couple years ago about kind of, hey, what's any advice? What's the routine? And like, he didn't call me for that this year because he knows it. And, and I think, yeah, the more comfortable you are during the week, the better you're going to play. And you know, Sirianni, I talked to Nick about it and you know, he said, do you have any thoughts? I'm like, Nick, you know what to do. You know, I think they'll kind of put the game plan in this week is that they were going to play kind of Sunday and then, you know, next week you go down and review. But look, Jalen is probably one pass interference from a couple years ago from being a Super bowl champion quarterback. He is a championship quarterback from college, so he thrives in these type moments. And I see him playing well. I think a lot of attention is going to be on Saquon, as it should, including from the Chiefs and Spags. So I think Jalen and Brown and Smith are going to have to do some things in the passing game and he certainly can do that.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. On your point about Saquon, AJ Has a question for you.

[Shams Charania]

Yeah, Peyton, Everyone expects Saquon to go off and have a monster day. I mean, I do too. Every time you turn on the TV and you watch an Eagles game, the guy's breaking another explosive run. Do you think the Eagles are going to need a huge game out of Saquon to even have a chance to win this thing?

[CM Punk]

I mean, I think it's easy to say that, but look, Saquon's presence is, is the factor, the fact that Spags is calling, you know, run blitzes and defensive schemes to stop him. Extra defender down there in the box. That means one on one coverage for Brown and Smith and Jalen knows that. So look, I mean, Saquon doesn't have to have a carry because they're going to try to have a guy down there to stop him. It's the presence, right? It's Edgar and James next to you and the defense going, we can't let this guy run it down our throat. So we got to play one on one. And now look, one on one coverage is what you want as a quarterback, as a receiver. So no, I don't. I think the answer is no. I just think as long as he's in uniform and standing next to Jalen, his presence can create some real passing game opportunities for the Eagles.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, Jalen threw for 300 plus in the last super bowl he was in. And then in the NFC Championship, he had some of his best throws of the entire season. Obviously going to need that to beat the Kansas City Chiefs. Not going to be able to make any mistakes. How'd you feel about the narrative all year that like, you can't win with a great offensive line in a dominant run game anymore in 2025, NFL football feels like they're debunking all of that right now. Now.

[CM Punk]

Yeah, totally. I mean, everybody wants to, you know, establish some trend and just be the first one to say it. I remember when I was playing in the middle of my career, they're like, there's no more place. There isn't a place for the drop back quarterback anymore. I was like, God, I hope that's not true. I really like playing in the NFL. I'm out of a job. Brady's out of a job, Eli's out of a job. And it just won. Drew, look, there's different ways to do it. It. And I think the smart coaches are the ones that design plays based around who they have playing. And that's what Andy does, that's what Sirianni does, that's what Sean McVeigh does. I mean, that's. That's what it's about. So there's a place for everybody. He's got to figure out how it works in that particular system.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. What's best for your team with that offensive line. And then they bring in Saquon from the Giant. I mean, what a sign. What a historic free agent signing there, I think Hayden.

[CM Punk]

No, it was awesome. And you know, look, obviously if they win at all, you know, look, the fact that they're here probably was the right decision not to play him in that last game. I would like to have seen that record broken because it's NFL history and like, for all those offensive linemen to have that on the resume that I blocked for the all Time, single season rusher. You could tell Dickerson loves that record and did not want it to be broken, and that would have been cool. But look, if somebody would have gotten hurt in that last game and they're not in the super bowl, that was probably the right call. But awesome year by Saquon, and like you said, awesome year by those guys up front.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay, so my rookie year was completely undefeated year until the decision was made to lose the last two games to jets and Bills. And obviously I was way too young to have a thought and I'm a punter, so let's not do it. But I remember there being a lot of upset people, people in the building that that decision was made because the 72 dolphins are still popping champagne for being the only undefeated team. Was I reading that situation right? You guys all wanted to go for that, right? Am I wrong in saying that?

[CM Punk]

Well, look, I mean, look, it was, you know, it's easy to say now. It's what we should have done. But look, nobody got hurt. We made it to the Super Bowl. We didn't win, but we got there. Like, I can't remember if it was the year before or that year Wes Welker had gotten hurt in the last game for the Patriots. I want to say it was against Houston. I remember that was kind of just on our minds, like, you know, and that kind of affected them, you know, that year or whatnot. So, look, it's. It's all about, you know, you make a decision. As General Patton once said, you make a decision, you do it like hell and you just go forward and everybody's gonna second guess or whatnot. Like I said, I wanted Saquon to go for it, but had, you know, him or Dickerson or Lane gotten hurt in that game, we'd be killing Sirianni. He would be fired. You know, how would you do that? That's selfish or whatnot. So, look, it was their call. It looks like it was the right call. And here they are, you know, getting ready to go at it in New Orleans. So, you know, good for them.

[Pat McAfee]

Super bowl obviously has great commercials. You're going to be a part of a few of them. It does sound like one of them has our attention. Bruce Brown has a question for you. Yeah, Peyton. So obviously Eli's kind of had the jump so far in the Pro bowl games, but how are you feeling about the field goal kicking deal during the Super Bowl? Do you think you can get them there or what do you think?

[CM Punk]

Not great. Yeah, not great as far as how I'M feeling. I'm sore, Pat.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah.

[CM Punk]

I've been practicing. I've been practicing. I can't tell you how sore I. Yes, the inner growing. Eli pulled a quad. Eli pulled a quad.

[Pat McAfee]

Oh, he's going in there injured.

[Connor]

Oh, boy.

[CM Punk]

I think. I think that should be out there on the. You know, on the report. He's recovering, but much respect, because you kick, of course, you go in there, you say, I'm going to kick 15. When you go over 15, you kick, you know, 25 more and you're more sore and you can't practice for another week. I was going straight on for a while, and Lutz, who's kind of been my consultant, you don't want anybody to know that based on how I kick, if I kick poorly, he's like, don't tell anybody I've been helping you. Yeah, but I was kicking straight on with the square toe. And he's like, I gotta tell you, Peyton, you don't kick well like that, and you look like a fool. They're gonna kill you on social media. So at least now I've gone soccer style. I look better. I'm not saying it's great.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah.

[CM Punk]

But I don't have to be great. I just gotta be better than Eli, and that's the key. So I've been working at it, though. I have been working at it.

[Pat McAfee]

How long is the field goal?

[CM Punk]

20 yards, 25 yards. Make, make, kick again. Miss, miss. Go up to the 21st one to make. I think we have about a 45 second window, so I think it needs to be done quickly. Gronk said there was wind last year for him. I've been kicking indoors at the Broncos. I don't want anybody to see me. So they said I could kick it down here at the Pro Bowl. I'm like, no chance. That means people can watch. I'll wait for my live event in New Orleans on Super bowl Sunday.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. 130 million people get to watch it. Yeah. First time I'm seeing. I want the whole world to watch this. As soon as I heard you were doing it, I sent you the. The boot, the front, the flat boot. Because I do that field goal kick on game day every single weekend. And these people that have never kicked us off soccer ball before, they have these boots on. I'm like, you just need to go straight on and just swing as hard as you can. So I wanted to give you that. And you said, yeah, I tried that. It's not good. So I'm going soccer.

[CM Punk]

Let me ask you because like, I'm bringing my own balls to the kick footballs. That is. If somebody wants to bring their own football to game day, are they allowed to, Are you giving them a football? It's got to be this one.

[Pat McAfee]

Interesting, interesting. We do, we do not have any ball regulations. I think if somebody was to show up with their own ball, as long as it was at least a college ball can't be like a small niche ball. If it was elite. What are you taking NFL balls?

[CM Punk]

Oh, yeah, I bring them. Yeah, I bring, I bring in my own, you know. You know, bringing my own. They keep saying, hey, we'll have something. No, I'm, you know, I, I have lines drawn on them where my foot's supposed to be placed. Is that legal?

[Shams Charania]

Yeah, yeah, it is.

[CM Punk]

I don't think they made any rules.

[Pat McAfee]

Gets as long as it's beat up. The beat up ball is a smart play. That's a vastly different than a brand ball.

[CM Punk]

Yeah, I got, I, I, I got, you know, I got my Broncos equipment guys, I got Frog and Colts equipment guys giving me feedback. So look, if I don't make this, it will not be from a lack of, you know, full preparation. And so anyway, I'm, I'm, I'll be ready for it, I guess.

[Pat McAfee]

All right. Rip that hip flexor off the bone, brother. It'll be worth it. It'll be worth it. We appreciate you. Good luck on Sunday beating Eli so he doesn't just have a full sweep of your ass into Pro bowl games.

[CM Punk]

Hey, I got Joe Burrow, I got Brock Bowers. Burrow likes the pressure, so I feel good about it.

[Pat McAfee]

All right.

[CM Punk]

I appreciate it.

[Pat McAfee]

And you got Drake May. Yeah.

[Connor]

Yes, you do.

[Pat McAfee]

Got Drake May. Never forget tips too young, stud. Yeah, he should be picking your brain. I assume he is. Ladies and gentlemen, gentleman coach of the AFC hall of Famer, a man who's gonna kick a field goal on Super Bowl Sunday. Peyton Manning. Thank you, buddy. Just with the hat and the headphones.

[Connor]

Okay?

[Pat McAfee]

Driving around Disney World.

[Connor]

Sure.

[Pat McAfee]

Just so dad right there.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah.

[AJ Hawk]

Daddy.

[Pat McAfee]

Dad. Manning just rolling around Disney World. I did have 10 beers last night. That's awesome. With George Kittle. I hope you don't think anything up. I love that he's dead. That's what the Pro bowl used to be, though. Like, I don't want to, you know, say like, hey, everybody just got shit faced out there. But it, that's what, it's a good time. That's what the Pro bowl was. The Pro bowl was. And you know, I've Always said this. I think a team comes together much better around a keg than they do Kale, you know, And I think that is a part of, like, just having a good time with each other. Get a little loose, a little comfortable. Have a good time, you know? Hey. Hey. You want to. Yeah. Cheers. A. Here's toing. I mean, that is, like, out of your element.

[Shams Charania]

Something other than the normal element that you see each other in every single day.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. And they're all normally positive. Now, obviously, that can all go too far. Yeah. Yeah. We've all seen it. We've all done it.

[Shams Charania]

So it makes it. That's what makes it fun as well.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. That's the craps table of it all. You know, at what point is this thing 7. Okay. Everybody's a little bit too hammered, but it is. That's what the Pro bowl is, you know, And I think the more that that happens, I think the more they'll try to make it an entertaining show because they're in there together, they're with their friends, and it's. That's how bonds get made. But they're gonna have to figure out how not to do so much zany stuff.

[Ty Schmidt]

A lot of zany stuff. But you've talked about it, too. Like, that's. That's why it's so important that. And Peyton mentioned it. Like, hey, they rented out that entire, you know, hotel, because, like, when you went, it's like you have, like, a business conference. And, like, guys. Guys can't be themselves. They can't feel comfortable because. Because you got people coming up, you know, hounding you for autographs, and heaven forbid, like a player, you know, Kittle and Peyton are there, and. And they're drinking 10, 15 beers at the bar. And then kiddo punches guy.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah.

[Ty Schmidt]

Some point, Dexter comes up and starts ruffling some feathers. So, like, you know, I mean, because, well, it was. It was one of your Pro Bowls, right? Where it's like you can't even be yourself. And then it's like, you can understand.

[Pat McAfee]

Flooded the lobby.

[Ty Schmidt]

You can understand why guys would be like, yeah, I'm never coming back.

[Pat McAfee]

Flooded the lobby, jerseys, the whole thing. Sat down at like. Like, I. I think it was. I think I sat down with one of the Bennett, bro. One of the Bennett's Martellis, maybe. Sure. Kelsey was there and Connor Barwin was there, and we were sitting, like, at the bar, and I was like, this is what we're here for, you know, like, this is first night. Like, AQ was there. We're like, okay, we're having. This is what we're here for. And then just four random marks just sit down at the bar and you see everybody just get locked, like, shelled up.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

And it's like, I'm not going to do anything. And then you start realizing, like, oh, this isn't just an NFL hotel. It's like, oh, there's other conventions going on at this hotel, and these people are able to just walk around. And then you automatically get, like, mad. It's like everybody wants the players to take it serious. Well, what about the NFL tickets? Like, what do we even. These guys make all the money for your league, and you won't even get the whole hotel for this. So then obviously, they've had to go through some things. Things to get back to the point where they get the whole hotel. But it's like, I think all parties are going to have to come together and decide whether or not this is going to be worth a fuck, you know? Yep. Because I think a lot of people are watching this stuff, going and saying, what do we.

[Shams Charania]

I'm sure it's still got good ratings. I'm sure they had big numbers.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. You know, I don't know. And that's just like whenever social media people say they got big numbers, we need people that know ball in there making decisions. That's all we ask. People that know ball offering ideas and making decisions. That's. That's all we ask. That's not too much.

[Ty Schmidt]

No, not at all.

[Connor]

Because you see what they're trying to do, like. Like, you kind of get the. You know, they're trying to still do football games, the big spike. They're keeping it all ball. They're doing the Gronk or the Hulk hands catching and the relay races with the football as the baton. Like, you get. They're trying to do different types of stuff. It's just not working. And it hasn't been working for a few years. I mean, it's real. It just hasn't been working for a few years. And then you even look at the quarterback challenge. I know, you know, the led boards and the tech is sweet, but, like, last year was way cooler because they had targets and the ball would go through the actual target with the, you know, number of points on it, and then smoke would go off.

[Shams Charania]

We need smoke to shoot out. Yeah, we need smoke to shoot out. Just like American Gladiators back in the day when they got, you know, when you're shooting at the obstacle course or whatever.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. But once again, we're happy for all the greats celebrating ball.

[Connor]

No doubt.

[Ty Schmidt]

You can see why they changed it because they. It used to be that whole end was closed off, and they're like, all right, well, we could sell, you know, 500 more tickets if we kind of get these LED boards.

[Pat McAfee]

I did see some people potentially get sniped whenever Justin Jefferson had his Hulk hands, and that ball went right through his hands. It's like, that ball's coming hot. And then they were throwing a deep. It's like, is this ball gonna smoke some people in the back? Great energy out of the crowd. Oh, yeah, great energy.

[Connor]

It's added to it.

[Pat McAfee]

It's like a TGL crowd. It is enjoying the experience and I assume live. It's a little different. Let's talk about some news happening around the NFL. The Justin Tucker story is very serious. Obviously serious allegations coming from multiple massage salons in multiple massage therapists about sexual actual actions from Justin Tucker, kicker, everybody assumes future hall of Fame kicker for the Baltimore Ravens from 2012 to 2016. Pretty wild that it is 2 20, 2025, and we're hearing about this, especially with everything that happened with desean Watson in a very similar vein of conversation. Now, I don't think it was 30 some people around the country, which is what the Desean stuff was. This is all Baltimore related. They've gone back and found some tweets from, like, 2021 when people were alluding to this. I have no idea how we're just now hearing about this, but we want to let the world know that if this is happening, we are vastly against it. And whatever the punishment is he deserves, he has come out and said that this is completely false. I have done nothing but be a professional, and I have zero other things ever said about me. This is not real. And I assume he will fight it as much as he possibly can. Interesting timing, crazy allegations, and obviously all very serious. AJ in the world of professional sport, because massage therapy is a massive piece of professional athletics. Lactic acids and getting a recovery and everything like that. They go hand in hand. Which is why when Deshaun Watson stuff happened, it was hard not to be like, this doesn't mean that massage therapists, like, I think people are like, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Like, people contrarians are talking about it like, this is a big piece of professional athletics and it will always be. And I hope it, you know, doesn't continue to have situations like this that kind of soil the conversation or the relationship between the profession of massage therapy and professional athletics.

[Shams Charania]

AJ Yeah, I Don't know what the answer is. Like, when it comes. I guess it's always going to be. Yeah, it's just such a weird situation. This happens in 2012-2016, they say. And then when you. You bring up these old tweets and then, of course. Yeah, like he's denying it. Like, what. What did happen? Do you ever. Can we ever figure out exactly what happened? No, because there's not cameras and there's only a couple people there, I guess. But how long has he been dealing with this, too? I know in his thing, he's talked about how he was going back and forth trying to like, they. Before they actually published this piece, I guess he knew about it. But going how far back? Because this would be. Can you imagine, you know, this is on the horizon coming out and you disagree with it and, you know, like, that would definitely be a lot to handle.

[Pat McAfee]

That is Worst year that he's ever had. I assume there was some information potentially found out by him this year because, I mean, in kicking, you're. This is the difference between being a Hall of Famer and being never in the NFL. Had his worst year by far this year, obviously, probably the mind with that heavy. I mean, that's very serious. And we hope the truth is found in the entire situation. And yeah, that's. It's just. We. It's. It's just weird.

[CM Punk]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. You know. Oh, it's weird because you're getting the massages for a reason. Like, you know, and a lot of these massages that guys are getting, like, it's not. I don't want to get into it. It's not like, I feel good. Like, these massages usually.

[Shams Charania]

Yeah, the good one. Like, it hurts. It usually hurts. Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. So it's like such a weird, weird dynamic in it all. Nonetheless, we will follow along with that story as the truth is hopefully found in obviously very serious allegations. Doug Peterson, former head coach of both the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Philadelphia Eagles, former quarterback in the NFL, and also the guy who called Philly. Philly after Big Richard, Nick Foles said, hey, I want to run. He goes, all right. Okay. Okay. Yeah, let's go. Let's do it. In the biggest moment, numerous teams have reached out to him about being offensive coordinator. Remember, he was not calling plays for the Jacksonville Jaguars, which was a massive piece of the conversation. Like, why you. You got the head coaching job because you're a great play caller. Why aren't you? Why aren't you calling plays? And then he would be asked about it. He Goes, I wish I could tell you the whole. What's he going to do? Last time he ended up leaving the Eagles, he took a year off, took a tour around the NFL. Kind of went and saw some old friends, learned some new things, gets a head coaching job at Jack Jacksonville. I assume he'll probably do something similar as he's done in the past. Obviously, he hasn't taken anybody up on their offer yet to be their oc.

[Connor]

Yeah, maybe. Also the Saints, like, you wonder if Kellen Moore is kind of the leader in the clubhouse. They're bringing in another offensive guy who has also had head coaching experience. It feels like the Saints are maybe going to have to spend a little more money to get some guys in there because of the fact that they're going to be so late in the process hiring all three head coach, OC and DC so that that would kind of make sense. But even, even a place like Houston, like, you know, after all the, the way everything went down in Jacksonville with, hey, who told the owner this was the best team ever? You know, that type of stuff, you know, great way. Way to get back at him. Just head on over to Houston, you know, coach up CJ Stroud and beat the hell out of Jacksonville.

[Ty Schmidt]

Really, any of these openings, because you look like the Raiders, too, you know, like Pete Carroll. No one really knows. Knows what he's going to do with his staff now. I don't know if they have any prior relationship, but, I mean, it is one of those things, though, where these guys who are kind of always in the cycle, like, if he, if he just. If he does just wait a year, like, he is going to get head coaching interviews next year because we don't know how many openings there are going to be. So it's really whether or not he wants to get right back into it.

[Pat McAfee]

Doug Peterson, we love his style.

[Ty Schmidt]

He's the love, though.

[Pat McAfee]

We love Doug. Doug. We love Doug.

[Connor]

I love Doug the man.

[AJ Hawk]

Yes.

[Pat McAfee]

That press conference where he was just.

[Ty Schmidt]

Oh, I don't know. Who told you that?

[Pat McAfee]

I don't know.

[Connor]

Was it me?

[Pat McAfee]

I don't know. Who said that the owner had the greatest roster? I don't know.

[Ty Schmidt]

I didn't say that.

[Pat McAfee]

You don't know. Have you seen our roster? How come you're not calling plays? I wish I could tell you the. I'll think about it. Yeah, just like everything about that one press conference is like, all right, Doug, we heard all we needed to hear from you. I assume he's going to take a tractor another round. Yeah, you Know, I think he's big Mike.

[Shams Charania]

I think he's probably how nervous? Like, not nervous, but how. I would assume some coaches are worried to get out of the coat. Like, they want to stay in that head coaching cycle. So do they think, hey, I need to be an OC to stay in that and keep my name out there?

[Pat McAfee]

Maybe. I mean, maybe he does want to, like, get back into good football, too, you know, And I guess that's all up for him, and he's earned that situation, so good for him. Speaking of earning a situation, when you get to play in the super bowl, you get a chance to buy tickets for people. Here's Justin Reed of the Kansas City Chiefs. Chitchat about these super bowl tickets that I assume everybody's expecting him to hand out. Tickets are. Prices are running up, man. It's like, I got 30 of them. Yeah. So, I mean, we gotta make sure.

[Connor]

I mean, we're excited to go play.

[Pat McAfee]

And, you know, we're chasing glory, but we gotta win. Just for me to break even. 30 of them. Let's go to the Seatgeek graphic that we have for the average resale price currently for this particular super bowl. It's over $10,000 right now. 10,417 bucks. Average resale price. Obviously, there's tickets that are vastly more than that. There are a few that are less than that. This is just. Just the average ticket price currently. You can use code PAT250 for $250 off. We know that that does not make much of a dent on these super bowl tickets, but at least it helps. At least it's 250 bucks off. Everybody's kind of confused. They think the players get free tickets and free jerseys and all these things. Home games don't even get really more than two tickets. Away games, you don't get any tickets. Super bowl tickets. I think you get five or 10. I forget the exact number. 10, maybe everything on top of that, you have to buy. Maybe it's four. I forget what the number is, but you get a couple, and then everybody's like, I want guys. You playing Super Bowl. Remember we. Remember we talked about these days when you were a kid, you could play Super Bowl. I'm gonna come watch. It's like, yeah, okay. Yeah. $11,000 to give a guy I haven't talked to in 10 years to the Super Bowl. That's real. I don't think people truly understand that, A.J.

[Shams Charania]

No, it's absolutely real. And the fact that Justin Reed said he's got 30. He had to absolutely work his ass off to find 30 to buy. To buy him from teammates. Like, you can't. I think I. When we went, you got the option to buy four that were actually decent down, like in the first level, and then six more that were the top row, very last row of the whole place.

[Pat McAfee]

I was a rookie when we played in the super bowl, so the Mac fees were. And Nick Moraldo were up in the. Those are great seats. They were up at the top, touching the roof. Brookie, punter. Yeah. You can. Yeah, sure.

[Ty Schmidt]

We got a couple.

[Pat McAfee]

You be. You saw us pregame, though. You wave. I did. I did see you guys. You know, the Miami Stadium was pretty nice down there. Pretty nice little place. But, yeah, it is fascinating that people think the players are getting a benefit of the doubt. They are not. They just maybe have more cash to spend it on these tickets. And the NFL doesn't mind that, either. Yeah, buy the ticket.

[Connor]

Give him back.

[Pat McAfee]

Now, granted, the NFL, unless they're running a secondary market scheme, which. Which we do not think they would because it would get. The resale price is not what the NFL makes, obviously. The resale price is whoever the person that buys the ticket makes. There used to be a little bit of a racket of players, you know, getting a chance to buy four tickets and then maybe moving those four tickets.

[Connor]

Really?

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. That weren't in a Super Bowl. That was a thing for a long time. And then, boy, they tried to crack down on that. Hard. Do you remember that? They were telling. They were telling players like, the IRS is going to. What you're doing is fraudulent. You're not allowed to do what you're doing. They would, like, send out memos. They had people come speak to teams like, we heard you guys think you have it figured out. Huh? We heard you guys think you have it all. You can't do it anymore. And then as soon as you leave from that meeting, somebody be like, I got a guy who's paying 7, 500 bucks a pop. 7,500 bucks a pop. You want to get rid of this? He's like, no, I don't want to do it. Obviously, we're not doing it. It's illegal. It's illegal. It's not illegal. You have a ticket. You're allowed to sell a ticket. Well, then how come they just. Because they're trying to scare the. Out of you. So that's kind of. Wasn't it. Mike Tice, the former Vikings coach, he.

[Ty Schmidt]

Got in a lot of trouble for scalping his tickets.

[Pat McAfee]

So then they started Saying that you weren't able to sell. You had to pick up your tickets at the thing with your. Like, they really have been combating.

[Shams Charania]

You used to be able to sign up? Yeah. When I first got in the league, there'd be one guy who. On the team who was like, a broker who was trying to put tickets together, and you could sign your tickets away to him. He's like, okay, we're good. But then they made you go in person, pick him up with your id, all that.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. The NFL wasn't happy that the players maybe haven't run a little rack in this entire thing.

[Connor]

Isn't Thomas Morse giving them away for charity? Isn't there a way to do it like that as well?

[Pat McAfee]

There is, but he's gonna have to go get those.

[Connor]

Go get them.

[Pat McAfee]

It is. They've really. They've made you have to jump through hoops to get these. Oh, these players Think they're gonna pull one over on us? I don't think so. You buy the tickets, you assholes. You don't sell the tickets. The IRS is gonna get you. Hope you're happy. You want to go to jail, Wesley Snipes? Is that what you want to do? Whoa. Keep selling your tickets. Dare you? It's like, we won't. We won't. They walk out of the room. I got a guy. 7,500ft. I got a guy. 8,500. Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Who's the guy? Is that cash? Is that happening right now? Obviously, I'll write it off. I will report to the earnings. The big game is almost here, and it's your last chance to get in on the action. Don't miss out on the final football game of the season with prize picks the best place to cash in on the big game. The app is really simple to use. Pick two or more players across any sport. Pick more or less on their projection.

[CM Punk]

And you can win up to a.

[Pat McAfee]

Thousand times your money. Join Prizepix, America's number one daily fantasy sports app, available to play in more than 40 states, including California and Texas. Join now because Prizepix is giving away a free pick for the big game, where a quarterback will only need to throw 1 yard to win. Prizepix, the best place to cash in on the big game. Download the Prizepix app today and use code TPMS that's code TPMS on Prizepix and get $50 instantly when you play. $5. That's code TPMS on PrizEPIX to get $50 instantly when you play $5 Prizepix, America's number one daily fantasy sports app. Win or lose, you'll get 50 bucks for just playing. Guaranteed. Prizepix run your game must be present in certain states. Visit prizepix.com for restrictions and details.

[AJ Hawk]

Taxact knows filing your taxes can be complicated. And that's why we have live you with any questions. They can hold your hand through the process, beginning to end, metaphorically, of course. I mean, they can't actually hold your hand in person. I suppose you could hold your computer mouse while you chat with the expert about capital gains or whatever, which is sort of like holding hands.

[Pat McAfee]

Sorry.

[AJ Hawk]

Point is, our tax experts can make filing easier.

[Pat McAfee]

Tax Act.

[AJ Hawk]

Let's get them over with.

[Pat McAfee]

Football. It's wonderful. That's A.J. hawk. The toxic table's here at Boston Connor and at Tai Schmidt. Are you guys okay? They're saying you maybe got a concussion from the first hour when you guys are bumping leather heads.

[Connor]

Hear this guy?

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah.

[Ty Schmidt]

We go all day.

[Connor]

We're fine.

[Pat McAfee]

We go all day.

[Nick Sirianni]

Good.

[Ty Schmidt]

These things are probably honestly safer than current helmets.

[Connor]

No doubt. This is basically two guardian caps.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

Just think about all these people, okay, that hate that we have a show on this hate it. We're taking up their friend spots. You know, two hours. You got a lot of people in a building up there in Connecticut that prestigious sports me. You know, that whole thing was that last week we have the Hulksters press conference.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

A block hour one. And we got coach Tyree Oni. Yeah. And then now we got you two bumping heads screaming for 30 seconds. I want to let you know it's a nice reminder of what football used to be.

[AJ Hawk]

That's right.

[Pat McAfee]

We're a throwback. Yeah. Nobody ever says that.

[Ty Schmidt]

They don't.

[Pat McAfee]

This is a feel good throwback Friday.

[Ty Schmidt]

It is.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. It's a way back Friday, if you will. Boom. Maybe this is what they should do in a Pro Bowl. It's not a bad idea. Tackle football with leather helmets.

[Connor]

Yes.

[Pat McAfee]

And then we can just kind of see if that's the right answer. Because there's still people that believe you want to get the concussion in the head out of the game. Keep it as tackle. Have them wear terrible helmets. Because players, whenever they have those helmets on, like this meathead right here, they view it as a weapon. Ain't nobody thinking that's a weapon, right?

[Ty Schmidt]

No.

[Connor]

No way.

[Pat McAfee]

Just your own skull is the weapon. That's right.

[Connor]

Yeah, exactly. And to be completely honest, I think you could still play normal football with these. And you'd be fine.

[Pat McAfee]

Well, that's what they're saying. Yeah. That's the entire thing.

[Shams Charania]

With no face mask. With no face mask changes it.

[Ty Schmidt]

Don't need it.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, that's the entire thing.

[Connor]

And you can still use your head. I think you'd be fine.

[Pat McAfee]

Oh, you're saying still.

[Connor]

Yeah, Same game. Yeah, Same game as same game.

[Shams Charania]

Same game.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, same game.

[Connor]

I think you'd be okay. I truly do. I don't think you need face masks either.

[Pat McAfee]

It looks like ties. Fits a little better than yours. Really? Yeah.

[Connor]

I thought. I thought mine kind of fit like a glove. I don't know. I don't know what you're talking about. I think Ty made the comparison. Almost look like a 1610, like, Celtic warrior with this thing on a little bit.

[Pat McAfee]

I was thinking you look like the Czech. The goalie. Wow. Thank you. Those are like the soccer goalie helmets that they used to have to wear an indoor soccer as a child.

[Connor]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

And then Peter Check said, I'm wearing this for the rest of my life. And he looked awesome.

[Connor]

This is a smart move.

[Pat McAfee]

I'd show up at an indoor soccer tournament, I'd see these kids wearing these helmets, and it's like, I want to get away.

[Connor]

Target acquired.

[Pat McAfee]

I want to blast a ball through this guy's helmet. But those. These kids would just be diving into these.

[Ty Schmidt]

Oh, into the. In the post.

[Pat McAfee]

In the thing. So they said, you're going to wear these helmets. It's going to save everything. Just made them look like. Sure. But I assume it saved some CT from some of these soccer goalies. But I appreciate you guys really going all football today.

[Connor]

Oh, yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

We needed it after last night. Last night was the future of football.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

You guys remember what it used to be Exactly.

[Connor]

Exactly when it was a royal Rumble every Sunday.

[Ty Schmidt]

Well said. Well said. Now again, I will say the tech innovations in the spike o meter. We're getting close. We're getting close. The relay race.

[Connor]

Great.

[Ty Schmidt]

On Sunday, we get the great football race, you know, before the flag game. So we still have a couple opportunities here to kind of save the weekend, save the Pro bowl in general.

[Pat McAfee]

They're gonna have to follow the Royal Rumble.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah, that's gonna be a tall task.

[Pat McAfee]

That's gonna be tough. That's gonna be tough with what the Royal Rumble is gonna be tomorrow, starting tonight with smackdown. And we have a kickoff to the Royal Rumble weekend starting, I believe, at 6:00pm Eastern Time on Peacock and on all the social media platforms. 5:00pm okay. Of course, 5:00pm Yeah.

[Connor]

I think someone said the Rumble actually starts at 6:00pm tomorrow.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, tomorrow. I'm talking about the kickoff show tonight. Tonight it's at 5pm It's a little early. Yeah. Per Devo, that shows at 5pm tonight. Just learning that I believe me and Cole were a part of hosting that 5pm that thing is starting.

[Ty Schmidt]

Okay.

[Pat McAfee]

Tonight it's. You got a police escort, dude. I cannot wait. I cannot wait to kick off. Roll Roll. Are you doing a three hour.

[CM Punk]

Are you doing a kickoff show that's longer than the actual show?

[Pat McAfee]

That's what it sounds like. That's wrong. That's what I'm kind of looking at right now. And I just realized that, baby. But I'll tell you what. We got a lot to talk about. It's Roll Roll Weekend. Anything can happen. Surprises are in store and legacies are going to be changed forever. Let's go to the back room of Hamilton. Hammer down Bruce. Brad.

[Connor]

They meant back room. Hammer down Cowboy bubble gum.

[Pat McAfee]

You might be that stuff.

[Connor]

Huh?

[Pat McAfee]

You might have. Oh, no, I mean, rattled your cage a little bit.

[Connor]

Not. Not even a little.

[Pat McAfee]

Brain might be bouncing around.

[Connor]

Not even a little bit.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. A little rock brain in there. It might be with you going. That might be happening. Right.

[Connor]

To be clear, honestly, when you started talking about the rumble, one song kept playing in my head over and over again a little bit. So I. I'm just. Just very excited about the possible Bandit. Which who knows, might happen.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah, I know what you're talking about. Don't get too excited.

[Pat McAfee]

I know, I know. I won't. I won't.

[Connor]

I'm just saying.

[Pat McAfee]

You're talking about a Hardy Boy look.

[Connor]

Perhaps they're in the city.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay, well, everybody's in the City for WrestleCon. That is happening down at the convention center. It is really treated and it feels like a WrestleMania weekend.

[AJ Hawk]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

In Indianapolis, Indiana. And maybe. I have no idea. But that's what the Royal Rumble is.

[Connor]

Exactly.

[Pat McAfee]

Anything can happen. Including toxic table. Maybe making an appearance.

[Connor]

Yeah, I got somewhere to be tomorrow at 6. I'll just say that.

[Pat McAfee]

Oh, yeah. Is it Lucasol Stadium?

[Connor]

Maybe.

[Pat McAfee]

Wow. Let's go to the back room of Hammer. Dad. Bruce. Brad. Bruce. How you doing, bub? I'm good.

[CM Punk]

How are you?

[Pat McAfee]

It's not bad. You know, the Pro bowl games yesterday, we're fantastic. Really kicked off this weekend in beautiful fashion. And thanks for asking. You know, nobody really. Nobody really sends it my way. It's a staple. Yeah, it's Bruce Brown. That might be like a shirt.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

Good. How are you? Just send it on back I appreciate that. There's some NFL news. Brandon Breen. Brandon Bean, the general manager of the Buffalo Beals, had his postseason and presser. We love Braden Bean, absolutely love him. He's been very good to our show. He's been very good on. On our show. He is a guy who actually speaks. You know, I think he's an actual human. Here's him chit chatting about the end of the game, having Josh Allen as his quarterback. Yeah, it's frustrating. You know, there's only so much I can say, you know, I don't. You know, we. We work with the league to try to get clarity. And I'll give them credit. They've. They've taken our calls, they've sent video and things like that.

[Shams Charania]

I just, you know, I wish, you.

[Pat McAfee]

Know, if you're talking about, like the.

[Shams Charania]

Fourth downplay, that was, you know, I'm. I feel like he, you know, he got that.

[Pat McAfee]

I feel. I still feel like he got that. I felt that in the moment, and I know nothing has changed my mind on that, you know, and. And, you know, the, the play that we challenged, I thought was a good challenge. I think. I'm not sure either player had possession on the bishop worthy play. When the ball touched the ground, you have to. You have to have possession. It's like, what is possession? And what Matt says is possession might not be what Elena says is possession.

[Shams Charania]

You know what I mean?

[Pat McAfee]

It's a little bit. But when the ball touches the ground, someone has to have established possession. And, you know, again, they've given how they see it, and that's their job, but it is what it is. I mean, that's. Those are just like plays we didn't make in a game, too. So by no means are we saying that's why we lost the game. He's saying, hey, listen, they've sent us a bunch of angles and they've answered our calls in the moment. I thought he got the first down, and I haven't seen shit that has made me believe that we don't. I appreciate him saying that because his fans are going to want him to say that. And I appreciate him not just taking like the corporate. Yeah, they said, daddy, they weren't able to overturn it and call on the field. Yada, yada, yada. Bean's living and dying with us, too. We talk about Josh Allen obviously having to lose to the Chiefs every single year and how he is going to have to deal with it. We talked to Peyton in the first hour about Josh Allen having to continue to Go. Brandon Bean too. He knows he's staring down Veach in this Chiefs team until he's done. That's just kind of how it is. And I respect the hell out of him. And I think all of us who know him hope at some point he's able to get to the Confederacy. But that's going to be a tall task age. And I think everybody kind of understands that.

[Shams Charania]

Yeah, they do. And I think he handed it well where he didn't use it as a cop out. Didn't say like, you know, didn't freak out and say this is why we lost the game. Didn't really use it as an excuse. But he definitely let it, let us know that, hey, I completely disagree with what the league is telling me. Yeah, they're communicating, but they're wrong. And I still feel the way I feel. But yeah, what do you do? We got to move on. Like Peyton said. What are you going to do, sit there and feel sorry for yourself?

[Pat McAfee]

Bishop Worthy situation, He said nobody had possession of it at the time, but somebody had to be in control of it enough for the ball not to move when it hit the ground. And I assume that's where the NFL is coming from is like even if they were both in possession of it, the ball didn't budge when it hit the ground, which is what the modern ruling. I don't know when they changed that because obviously what's a catch, what isn't a catch has been debated ad nauseam over the last 10 years. Calvin Johnson, you name it. There is so many of those moments. But I think the common understanding now is if as long as the ground doesn't affect the ball or help the catch at all, they are not going to overturn it or say that the ground, it's down. So when that ball hits and it doesn't move, even though it was very clearly who's in possession of it, I think the NFL can say, well, we don't care. It's about did the ball move or not on the ground. And brain of Bean, he doesn't want to hear that. Brandon Bean doesn't want to hear, well, nobody's in possession of it hits the ground, shouldn't it be, Isn't that dead if somebody's. If we're touching it, we're out of bounds, it's dead. This one touches grass, Nobody says shouldn't be. So I could see why he's upset. You know, and all the things that the Internet's conspiring about their Chiefs getting the refs call think about what Bean and the boys behind the scenes are going. You know, they're kicking. Yeah. I assume every aggregated video of every call that has not been made or the Bill is getting screwed. They've watched that in the building a thousand times. Thank you. These people are going to bat. Thank you for doing that. Brandon Beane had to rebuild the team. Josh Allen is going to have to rebuild the team again. They're going to have to go in and try to start at the bottom of the mountain to get all the way back to the AFC championship next year. And I think we all believe in Bane and we all believe in Josh Allen stinks for Bill's mafia that you continue to have to go for this. But at least like Peyton said, it happened at the end of the season as opposed to to or at the end of the playoffs as opposed to at the end of the regular season.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah. Josh is starting to get into that point now where like, you know, Rogers was for a long time, where Mahomes is where it's almost like no matter who they bring in, receiver wise, Josh is going to elevate them and make them much, much better. But you also have to wonder. Excuse me.

[Pat McAfee]

Oh no, I know.

[Ty Schmidt]

You just got a little swallow bug choked up. Yeah. Getting choked up by the old school football. Exactly.

[Pat McAfee]

And Brandon Bean has all.

[Ty Schmidt]

All the above.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah.

[Ty Schmidt]

But you have to wonder if they did bring in like a high end wide receiver one like how much that would help and just open up the entire offense because the team was better overall and maybe you know, like some of the stuff, like the locker room stuff with Diggs, like they kind of avoided that and didn't have to deal with that this year. But it's also no question like if Diggs is out there, you know, does he make that catch on third down? Not to throw, you know, Dalton under the bus, but like they need a guy that when you absolutely like, like the Chiefs going out and getting. God, what's the. Who they traded for? Yeah, D hop like getting a guy who, you know, hey, third and eight, like we can go to this guy. He's going to catch it. He's going to move the chains. Like I feel like the Bills still need a guy like that for Josh Allen so he doesn't feel like he has to do everything on his own.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. King Cade was almost going to become that guy for them. I think they're still trying. Shakir became great weapons weapon for them and will continue to grow in that particular role. You lose wide receiver 1 Stefan Diggs they said it got better as a whole, you know. And then obviously a conversation as soon as it's over is like, well, if you had a number one and they're going to find things, you know, you're going to find things to kind of throw at the rustic construction. If you don't win a Super bowl, that's certainly when it's getting brought back up. Yeah.

[Connor]

Also kind of not being talked about like what. What happened to Amari Cooper. You know, like Amari Cooper when he got traded to Buffalo obviously was known as that guy, you know, and kind of everything. Did he not play as much? Like, to be honest, I don't really remember him being on the field early.

[Pat McAfee]

I think didn't get targeted early on, like a little. Yeah. Quick.

[Connor]

Yeah. But yeah, it feels like he either never like got fully used to the offense or something because he is that guy. Like he is someone you can rely on on an every down basis. And you know, we heard Saban talk about him. Like all the guy does is work. So it was just weird kind of how they used him or how they didn't use him. And I wonder if there is more to that just because like Mack Hollins kind of became their deep ball.

[Pat McAfee]

He had the most touchdowns of the wide receiver room for the Buffalo Bills. The animal costume. He had a great catch. Yeah, he did.

[Connor]

Who, Elmo, you mean?

[Pat McAfee]

I think it was animal. Was it animal?

[Connor]

I thought it was Sesame Street.

[Pat McAfee]

Was it?

[Bruce]

Why did he go back on the.

[Pat McAfee]

Field with the animal suit on after I saw that? Was that real? I didn't. I don't like. How does he exit these games?

[Connor]

You know, like same way, just. Just with his head down just a little more.

[Shams Charania]

Just last.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay, well, hey, I respect that he is who he is.

[Nick Sirianni]

I think it's like a TikTok gimmick and he does a lot on there.

[CM Punk]

Oh, dressed in those costumes.

[Pat McAfee]

I know. They need to figure that one out.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah, they do.

[Pat McAfee]

They need to figure that one out. Hopefully the Bills are able to continue to be great with Josh Allen as quarterback. We assume that'll be the case. Matt Collins, obviously. Obviously. A dog walks around barefoot everywhere. Good for them. Only one team is going to be happy at the end of the year. Only one fan base is going to be able to say we had the best team in the league. So no matter when you lose, it's going to suck. And people are obviously going to throw, you know, accusations on which good done better. Joining us now is a man who does his job perfectly, Senior NBA insider For espn, friend of the program, ladies and gentlemen, Sham Sharanya Shami. We talked about, about the Buffalo Bills, you know, and they made some decisions and they felt like they had a better locker room culture, environment, team aspect of that all. You know, that's a conversation around the NBA a lot. Where do we stand on the Jimmy Butler, Miami Heat saga? Because I did see Jimmy Butler's card got declined because he was unemployed because he started suspension. So he's acknowledging that it's an interesting situation. Where do we sit currently with the Heat in Jimmy Butler, Butler and how likely is it for him to be moved by February 6th?

[Bruce]

Yeah, he's definitely not unemployed. He might be unemployed right now because he's suspended. But between now and the February 6th NBA trade deadline, by the way, big week, you got wwe, you got super bowl week next week and then the NBA trade deadline February 6, Miami and Jimmy Butler, they have the same goal right now between now and next Thursday, and that's finding a trade for Butler out of Miami. They are an active conversation. And tonight actually on espn, I would call it the Jimmy Butler Bowl. I know we got the super bowl next weekend, but this might be the Jimmy Butler bowl tonight between the warriors and the Suns. They're both two of the teams that I would look at right now that are shaping up to be likely landing spots for Jimmy Butler. The warriors, we know all season they've been trying to get a star player to go with Stephen Curry and Draymond Green. And now when you think about Jimmy Butler and the motivation that Miami has, has, I think a lot of people are looking at the warriors right now in a potential situation. Do you strike right now with him? And we know Phoenix, we've been talking about Phoenix for the last month and a half, two months. Regarding Jimmy Butler, that pursuit remains strong. It might be a deal that, that takes three, four, five teams. But the Suns are trying every avenue to potentially get a deal done. He has been suspended indefinitely. I, I think, you know, the Miami has done a little bit to kind of poke him, you know, to an extent. You think about it, he comes back to the team after a two game suspension, shows up to their shoot around earlier this week and basically Eric Spolster, from what I'm told in front of the entire team, tells Jimmy Butler, tells the rest of the roster that Jimmy Butler will be coming off the bench moving forward for the Heat this season, that Haywood Highsmith will be their starter. And from that point on, Jimmy Butler, I'm told, just exited stage right, stage left Whatever you want to call it, he left the shoot around. And that might be the last time Jimmy Butler is going to be around the Heat. But Miami wants shorter term contracts. They want draft assets, and we'll see if they're going to be satisfied with that between now and Thursday.

[Pat McAfee]

Boys, how we doing? Welcome to shootaround. As we all have talked about and agree, this guy sucks. And yeah, you're not starting for us anymore. This guy's going to. You'll be coming off the bench and while you're sitting on the bench all the way at the end, get away from our. We even want trainers, physical therapists and security people separating you from the rest of the team. And if you get some minutes, you'll get some minutes. Okay, Jimmy, Is that okay? No, it's not okay. What are you going to do? You're going to leave? You going to leave?

[Bruce]

He walked right out, Pat. The last time Jimmy Butler played in a legitimate game, I think he had 36 points, 19 rebounds, 10 assists. So Jimmy Butler can play. We haven't seen him play much for the Heat, though.

[Pat McAfee]

The NBA is the greatest. Okay, let's. And continue to talk trade deadline. Connor has a question for you.

[Connor]

Yeah, Sean's a guy that kind of popped up this week. De'Aaron Fox, allegedly, I believe you said, or maybe it was someone else said that he wanted to go to San Antonio, possibly team up with Wemby. Is that still where we stand with Fox, or have there been other teams kind of sliding in there trying to get him?

[Bruce]

BC De'Aaron Fox, from my. From sources that I've heard around the league, he wants to play in San Antonio. That is his. His targeted preferred destination. He's a free agent in 2026. So theoretically, could the Kings just wait until the summer? Could they just wait until next season? Of course. But I think what we've seen here is the Kings getting out ahead of the inevitable and the inevitability of a trade around Dieren Fox happening in the summertime. And they are in. Engaged in conversations. They've got dozens of calls, offers over the last 48 hours on Darren Fox. They're in conversations with multiple teams, including San Antonio, from what I'm told. So I expect them to continue these conversations with multiple teams on a Deer and Fox trade between now and Thursday. Another guy with a potential likelihood to get traded. He completely jumps to the top of the available market. You know, unless there's another guy that pops up between now and next Thursday, I don't know if we're going to See an in your prime superstar player, that's a max contract guy, pop up like we have here with De'Aaron Fox. He changes the game. He's a prime time player and you pair him with the Victor. Wemanyama, we've been talking for the last year, when are the spurs going to get Wemby some help? When are they going to get him some help? Here's their opportunity, here's their chance, and we'll see if the spurs sees it.

[Pat McAfee]

What would that mean for Chris Paul?

[Bruce]

I mean, Chris Paul, I think he has a role with the spurs organization. He's shown as a leader. I have not heard whether he would be a part of these conversations. I mean, theoretically, if the kids kings, if, if the make or break part of the deal were Chris Paul, I don't know how San Antonio would react. My feel for the situation is Stefan Castle, Devin Vassell, all the draft picks. They've got up to nine first round picks. They've got dozens of second round picks. They've got all their pick swaps. So San Antonio has a ton of assets and players that they can send to San Antonio. This could be a salary lacing deal with a bunch of picks. This could be a young player or two with a couple picks or maybe one pick. But that's what they're trying to figure out here in these negotiations.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, the spurs have something special in Wemby now. Granted, they can't beat the Pacers in France. Okay. What have you done for me lately? They lost. That's what they did. They lost.

[Connor]

They played twice.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. But the last time they lost, they lost. Yeah. So the Pacers flew out of France Victors as the Americans fly back to Indiana.

[Bruce]

I think you got to flush both games. I think both teams have to just flush both. That's what I think.

[Pat McAfee]

Pacers walked into Wemby's hometown and said bonjour Sava and then handled it.

[Ty Schmidt]

Gama ain't flushing that.

[Pat McAfee]

Wemby's special. Right. He's a special, special guy. When will that team have a chance to actually compete? Or is it right now because they have him?

[Bruce]

Well, if you get Darren Fox, then you put yourself in position to compete for a playoff berth. And I don't think you look at, at a situation where you're going from 0.8 all the way to championship. It takes steps, right? Even Oklahoma City the last few years, they went through a couple years of tanking, gradually got better and better, make it to the playoffs, get bounced, and then now you're looking at Them as a perennial title contender. We'll see Chet Holmgren hopefully back second half of the season. But I think San Antonio is looking at his gradual steps. You bring in Dear and Fox potentially at point guard or another point guard in the summer and then probably the next area of, of of growth or potential AD would be the wing position. They have Harrison Barnes right now. I think they're very content with him as, as a, as a veteran. But how can you continue to surround Deer and Fox with players? I think that's what Deer and Fox or and women. Yama, if you have Deer and Fox, how do you surround them? But this would be a step 1000%.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay, let's stay in the Western Conference. AJ has a question for you.

[Shams Charania]

Shams. What about the the Lakers and J.J. redick's first year as head coach? Are they going to be active all before the trade deadline and what's the outlook like for the rest of this season?

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, it's every year.

[Connor]

Need a center.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, every year. Anthony.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah, it is.

[Bruce]

Anthony Davis told me a couple a week ago, week and a half ago that he wants a center and he wants a guard potentially as well, but that he feels more comfortable playing the fourth spot and having a five. Well, I will say they have two first round picks they can trade. They got one in 2020. Now they got one in 2031.

[Pat McAfee]

I want a coach give me a wig. I want to win a royal rumble. Ownership of the team.

[Bruce]

Well, listen, listen, I think if the priority on the priority list, I think the center spot is probably top of mind for Anthony Davis. I think Anthony Davis and LeBron James, from my understanding, they don't want the Lakers to go mortgage their future. That's not what this is about. But it's how can we be aggressive? How could we be active before the trade deadline to go get a couple pieces? Anthony Davis told me, I think we're one or two pieces away from a championship. And when you're a player who's in the prime of his career, 31 years old, he just had a 4020 game the other day. He's going to be out some period of time next week. He's going to be reevaluated with an abdominal strain, which was a tough setback. But you get him back in the lineup before the all star break and he obviously wants a center. We'll see if they'll be able to do it. But they have two first round picks they can play with. They have some tradable contracts as well. So I do think the Lakers will be some, you know, active. I, I think the Lakers are doing their due diligence right now. I think Rob Plinka in that front office, they are trying to see what can they get in the market right now.

[Pat McAfee]

I saw Bronnie with a nasty and one. Are they thinking about trading Bronnie James? Are they thinking about maybe picking up a first round or, or any other pieces, Bag of balls?

[Bruce]

Yeah, Pat, you know, I've, I said on the show in the spring, LeBron James, to my knowledge, is going to play one more season, maybe two. LeBron James then went, went on the record about that and said he probably has one or two more years left. I, I don't see them doing anything with Bronny James. I, I hate to break this news. I don't see the Lakers doing anything with Bronny James while LeBron James is on that.

[Pat McAfee]

This was a part of the entire process, right? This is why he's on the Lakers. Yeah. Like, hey, this is. There's going to be growth.

[Bruce]

He has played a lot better in the G League.

[Pat McAfee]

Oh, yeah.

[Bruce]

You know, that's 32 points. That was a part of all this. That is a part of all this. And honestly, when I watch him play it, I think playing the point guard spot, I think seeing him handle the ball more, he's able to do that more in the G League. We saw him do it a little bit in summer league. I really think point guard is a spot that, you know, he has to continue to be comfortable with and embrace. And I think that is the maturation, that is the any, any type of maturation with a player that came up really as a combo, as a two guard. How do you define yourself at the NBA level?

[Pat McAfee]

Love that. Can't wait to watch him continue to develop because you got people on our channel on ESPN saying, LeBron, stop doing this to your kids, kid. Yeah. This week. Oh, yeah.

[Nick Sirianni]

As a parent.

[Pat McAfee]

What are you doing? Stop it. It's like, I don't think LeBron feels that way at all. No, no. I think LeBron feels the complete opposite. And they probably assume in a year from now everybody's gonna have to eat their words. Maybe that'll be the case. Lakers always looking for something in it.

[Ty Schmidt]

Always.

[Pat McAfee]

Lakers are always looking for something. Hopefully they're able to get it this year. Speaking of get it this year, we're getting some superstar down there in New Orleans. Ty has a question for you.

[CM Punk]

Yeah.

[Ty Schmidt]

You know what's coming, Chami. What's going on with Zion? Now listen, he. You Know, he's taking a lot of shit for being hurt and, and sitting out and everything. Actually, I. Okay, yeah, we have the clip. Can we just please run this?

[Pat McAfee]

Let me make this clear to everybody out there, okay? If I can play in the back to backs, I would. I, I physically, yes, I can. But, oh, yeah, I work for the Pelicans. They have decided that based off the numbers, you know, it's not smart to do that right now. So, you know, if that's what they feel, I'm rocking with them on that. But, yes, if I could play in a back to back, I would.

[Ty Schmidt]

Okay, so with that mind, first of all, Zion looks jacked.

[Pat McAfee]

Yes, he does.

[Bruce]

I've been saying, I've been saying on this show for a really long time, he is in the best shape. He is the lightest he's weighed. He weighs to it. He lists at 284, I'm telling you guys.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah, exactly.

[Pat McAfee]

But, oh, I love that he looks good out there, too.

[Ty Schmidt]

The question, though, is, is the rubber going to meet the road at some point here? Because it sounds like he, he wants to play. And the Pelicans are still saying like, hey, listen, pal, sit down and shut up and maybe eat a couple more beignets, get fatigue in so that, you know, this can be your fault and not our fault.

[Bruce]

So let me translate what Zion Winston is saying. He's basically saying him and the performance staff, the medical staff with the Pelicans, they have a plan, man, in place on how they want to see their. The second half, the final stretch of this NBA season playing out. He just came back from a hamstring injury here. He missed almost two months with a hamstring injury. That hamstring of his both legs, it has been something chronic. He's been having hamstring injuries throughout his NBA career. He is in the best shape. So it stinks in a lot of ways that he had this hamstring injury this year, because in the past, you could say maybe his conditioning was right, whatever. But now to have it when he's in the best shape of his career year, it is difficult.

[Pat McAfee]

But he.

[Bruce]

They have a plan in place. Of course Zion Williamson wants to play back to backs, but you look at the plan that they have in place for him coming off a hamstring injury, and then the fact, like, let's look at it where the Pelicans are in the standings. If you have a player, a franchise player, we have already seen evidence when Zion Williamson is healthy. He is a game changer for an organization they really believe that in New Orleans. So why throw him out there after two months of hamstring injuries? I mean, just logically. This is just me talking logically.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, you've been talking logically for the Pelicans for the last three years, and.

[Ty Schmidt]

We'Re sick of it.

[Pat McAfee]

I'm tired of it. He's gone one, two. He's gone two on two. He's gone three on two. He hasn't done three.

[Bruce]

That's their protocol. That's their protocol.

[Pat McAfee]

It's like, put the guy on the damn court. Let the guy.

[Bruce]

I will say, though, this is interesting that he spoke out like this.

[Ty Schmidt]

This.

[Bruce]

And I think he wanted to make it very clear that me potentially not playing back to backs me, you know, a couple years. I think it was a couple years ago in the playoffs, his. His stepdad went on the radio in. In New Orleans and said, my, you know, my son can play. They're just not throwing him out there. Like, you know, I think we saw a pattern right, where it's like, oh, he's ready. Or he might be physically there, but the Pelicans want him to go through xyz. I think this is the first time we've seen Zion speak up. So that part. Part is very interesting, but to my knowledge, these sides are on the same page on his quote, unquote, protocol.

[Pat McAfee]

All right, chums, we appreciate the hell out of you, man. Keep doing what you're doing. Have a great weekend. Happy Royal Rumble weekend, ladies and gentlemen. Can you feel it? Can you feel it, AJ what am I feeling? We have maybe the greatest coach of all time about to join us. Oh, yeah. In a matter of seconds.

[Shams Charania]

I can feel it.

[Ty Schmidt]

You're right.

[Shams Charania]

I can feel it.

[Pat McAfee]

Two Super Bowls in his first four season as a head coach.

[Ty Schmidt]

Maybe he's not some big dumb dip.

[Pat McAfee]

Guy'S been chastised for everything he has done.

[Ty Schmidt]

Maybe he's not some big dumb dip.

[Pat McAfee]

Guy who ended up with home field advantage in the NFC Championship game somehow. Maybe he's not some big dumb dip. All people wanting to say all year is that this guy was definitely a big dumb dipshit.

[Ty Schmidt]

Lower thirds were saying, this guy's a big dumb dipshit.

[Pat McAfee]

Then the next week he would say.

[Ty Schmidt]

Still a big dumb dipshit.

[Pat McAfee]

Then they'd win again, and he would.

[Ty Schmidt]

Say, may have won despite the big dumb dipshit.

[Pat McAfee]

Ladies and gentlemen, joining us now is a guy who might not be a big dumb dipshit. Paisano. Head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles, Mick Shayani. Coach, how you doing, man? Good.

[Nick Sirianni]

How about you guys?

[Pat McAfee]

Good. Hey, so as we were trying to fill time there, as we were connecting with you, we had to relive the entire season that was that you were getting talked about all year, and all you did was continue to win games, win games, win games. And all anybody wanted to talk about is, is this guy a guy that can lead a team? And then whenever your team starts winning now, everybody's saying, what does this guy even do? It's like a head coach. You get next to no credit for anything. Do you let that into your world? Have you let that into your world? How are you framing everything at this standpoint? Because two Super Bowls in your first four seasons, historic. Shit, brother. You're doing great. You're doing great, Coach. Thanks.

[Nick Sirianni]

Yeah, yeah, thanks, guys. You know, you try not to let outside noise in and, and, and listen, obviously you got to hear some of it when you. When you go through media circuit and everything like that. But, you know, I, I find it. I find it a moment where I can kind of connect with the guys that are going through, that are going through things, right? You know, going through criticism, going through things like that. So I really look at it as a positive in that aspect that, you know, I can relate with guys that are going through some of the. Their own things that they go through.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay, so let's talk about that. And I'm sure the boys don't mind, you know, sharing that moment with you. Quarterback Jalen hurts. He's talked about a lot. Everything he does. He looks too cool, he acts too cool, he sounds too cool. He's had too much success in his life. He has haters for those reasons. Then people started questioning his arm. He can't break down a defense. He doesn't know what he's doing. He's coming off his best game of the season, I think, in the NFC Championship. How do you feel about Jalen hurts being your team's leader? And how do you feel about. About the mentality of Jalen going into another Super Bowl?

[Nick Sirianni]

Yeah, I think. I think Jalen and I go through a lot of the same things in that aspect, which we can relate with each other on that. All I know is all he does is win, and he puts us in positions to win. He's selfless. He doesn't really care how we win and just goes about his business every day. And so I don't think that's talked about enough about how well he's done as far as just leading the football team, team playing quarterbacks. More than the stats that show up on the paper at the end of the game. Right. It's getting in and out of plays. It's, it's taking care of the football. It's making the right throws and the right reads and then the, you know, knowing the right time to run. But he's just been in complete control and comes to work every day unfazed by anything. And yeah, I can't say enough good things about him. I said, I said what I said about him at the, you know, after the post game last time on the podium there. You know, I just think he's a stud and wouldn't, wouldn't want anybody else leading this football team.

[Pat McAfee]

He wins all the time. He also has to deal with another offensive coordinator in Kellen Moore this particular season, Kelly Moe. If you go back to whenever he was at Dallas, he was blamed as a guy who's a quarterback who wants to run up the numbers and throw the ball all over the place. This year, you guys get. Maybe the greatest free agent agent signing in the history of the NFL was Saquon Barkley. You have the best offensive line in the league and he has been very comfortable relying on that, even though it got really loud. How has it been watching Kellen Moore work? How has it been knowing that your team is a run first even though you have the ability to throw offense in 2025, which is very abnormal?

[Nick Sirianni]

Yeah, I think obviously hats off to Kellen to be able to adapt and our coaches being able to adapt to whatever we need to do to win again. We don't, we don't get enamored by, you know, what everyone else thinks it should look like. We just. Our job as coaches, our job as players is to win football games. And so, yeah, I really admire how Kellen has called the games and how he's, he's led the offense, he's done a great job. And again, this is why you, this is why you block out anything that, things that you can't control. Because at the end of the day, all our job is to do is to win by any. We, if we throw it 50 times and run it once, great. If we throw it, if we run it, vice versa, whatever, run it 50 times and, and, and, and pass it once. We don't care as long as we are doing the things we need to do to win and that. You know, again, I know every, a lot of people have an opinion after games and this and that, but that's not our job to listen to that. Our job is to make sure we're doing everything we can do to put this team in a position to win football games.

[Pat McAfee]

You guys are a run first team. The stats say you have like 700 and some rushing attempts, 500 and some passing attempts, but you have two absolute star wide receivers. They were the ones that dumped the gatorade on you. Devonte and A.J. were the ones doing the bath. There was sometimes during the season, which is going to happen, I think, especially with a team that you're leading where they were trying to drive a wedge, maybe like, hey, what do we have these stars for if we're not going to throw the ball? Them. This is 20, 25 and running the ball. Them being the ones to do that, I think was a big message. How have you communicated with your team this year with those guys in particular, knowing that they're going to have to make a huge play in a huge moment regardless?

[Nick Sirianni]

Yeah, yeah, I noticed that too. And I, I really am close with devonte and AJ And I think it's my, my past of, of coaching and playing wide receiver. I always take a liking to those guys that are, that are out there on the perimeter and, you know, for them. And I said that to him. For those guys to be the ones that, you know, dumped the Gatorade on me at the end of the game. That meant a lot because of the relationship I have with those two guys. And yeah, they're studs and, and how selfless they've been throughout the entire season of. Because they know they can take over games and, and Jalen knows he can take over a game and, and Saquon obviously can take over a game and, you know, it's, it's. This is the way we've won and the way games have played out. And if you watch the tape, when you, when you watch the tape, right, you're, you're seeing some of those Saquon runs. Like, I don't know, I saw some stat about Saquon having 60, you know, seven runs over 60 yards, which is some sort of record. Well, that doesn't happen unless you get blocks downfield from the wide receivers, right? It gets past the first level with the offensive line and the tight ends and Jalen holding the backside. But those, those big ones turn into even bigger ones when those receivers are blocking down the field or running off down the field to run their man out of there.

[Pat McAfee]

Everybody's bought in. Maybe this guy isn't a big dumb dip shit. Maybe, maybe, maybe not. I don't know. Maybe not. Go ahead, AJ Coach you guys brought.

[Shams Charania]

In Vic Fangio as the defensive coordinator this year, and your defense is, like you said, when you watch the tape of these guys, it's fun to watch them attack back the football and seem to be such disciplined tacklers and just a great defense at all three levels. What is, what kind of confidence, I guess, has big, big Fangio brought to you and the rest of that team?

[Nick Sirianni]

Yeah, a ton. A ton of confidence. Just his experience. He's been a experienced coordinator from the. In this NFL, a successful coordinator in the NFL for a long, long time. You know, decades, not years, decades. And so you. You have. It's. That's so comforting, you know, on my end. And he's just. He just does a great job of calling the game, leading the defense. Can't say enough good things about him. And, you know, I think that exactly what you said, the first couple things you said is, I'm happy you talked about the tackling first, because I think we can get so enamored with, oh, look at this scheme and look at that scheme and look how this is. This happens here. But at the end of the day, the truce of football from when we played as little kids to high school school to college to professional level, the truth of football is, did you tackle better than the other team? Did you block the struck better than the other team? Did you take away the football better than the other team? Did you protect the ball better than the other team? Did you catch the ball better than the other team? And did you. And did you block better on the offensive side of the other team? Like, that's where the big plays happen. That's where the explosive things happen that are set up by the fundamentals of the talented players that are playing the game.

[Pat McAfee]

What did Coach Sirianni's dad say was most important part of a team?

[Ty Schmidt]

O line. D line.

[Pat McAfee]

Howie. So we talk about your O line, your run game, your D line. I mean, obviously you got dogs across the board. This Jaylen Carter guy, he might be superhuman. They're talking like 98% of the snaps, and I know the rest of the group is great. Can you talk about that front and how important that is to the rest of the team?

[Nick Sirianni]

Yeah, like. Like you said right there, the. You. You got to be in great. You guys know, you guys got. You got to be in great, great shape to play that percentage of plays. There's not a lot of defensive linemen that are playing that percentage of plays. And. And, you know, because the coaches will take them out if they feel like they're gassed a little bit to put them in. So what a. You know, we all see the. We all see the film of what Jalen Carter can do, right? And all the things that he's shown. This is why we're talking about him right now. But the off the field things that he's worked so hard on to be in great, you know, weighing what he's supposed to weigh, being in great shape, practicing his butt off, you know, working on the fundamentals. I mean, you talk about a guy who knows how to take away the football. He's got a knack for taking away the football. And again, you know, some of the plays that you're seeing is him defeating blocks, getting off blocks, and then being able to take away a football. The way we kind of see, you know, DBs take it away. You know, to be quite honest with this, how he. How he kind of comes after the ball. So. So can't say enough about Jalen and his work ethic to put himself in this position where he is playing 98%. And then, you know, the D line, as you guys know, has to work as one, right? It is such a. You know, those. Those guys have to be one, right? It's a group rush mentality. And I think our guys have really embraced, you know, not caring who gets what group rush. This quarterback, however, we need to. To make sure we're getting the pressure we need, need to get and letting the secondary do their thing in the back end.

[Pat McAfee]

Everybody's all in. Maybe he is in some big thumb dipshit, maybe not. Brandon Graham tears his tricep week 12. We saw that you guys opened up the practice window yesterday for him, and obviously you don't want to give any competitive advantage away, but that would be a huge story if he was back for your team. I assume back in the building. Active is already a big boost for the boys.

[Nick Sirianni]

Yeah, you know, he. He's never really left. He's been here through the whole. The whole time, and he's been at every meeting, every practice in here getting rehabbed to see if he could put himself in a position to be able to play again if we got to this point. And here we are. We'll see. You know, we'll see. Had a good run yesterday and, you know, we'll see where that goes. I don't know yet, but I know the guys and myself and the coaches, Coaches are really excited to have him back because he's a great leader and a great teammate. You can't. I don't know. I Don't know if you all have talked to bg, but you can't have a bad day when you talk to him. He's going to bring everybody up with him. And that's what you want from one of your captains.

[Pat McAfee]

Oh, yeah, he's all in. Maybe he is in some big, dumb dipshit. Maybe not. Maybe not. I mean, I don't know. Maybe that's the case You. He did something that was massive for the turn of the season. Connor has a question.

[Connor]

Yeah, Coach. After you won the NFC Championship, a lot of people were pointing back to the beginning of the season, said, hey, when this guy shaved his head, everything kind of came together. Maybe he has to do that every single year. Do you feel the same way about that? Was that some sort of kind of ritual for you in order to turn the team around? And did Big Dom shave your head? Is that who kind of put this whole thing together?

[Nick Sirianni]

If I felt that that had anything to do, like, I'm the last person who's superstitious, and in fact, my superstition is to break everything that. What did I do last week? All right, I'm doing the opposite.

[Pat McAfee]

Nice.

[Nick Sirianni]

And so if I thought that was something that helped, I would definitely do it, but I don't think that it didn't really. I don't think that had any effect on anything. You know what, at that point, you know, Fridays are the days we usually get haircuts here. And I had a busy Friday, and I did what I did.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, you gotta do what you gotta do. Take it off. Hey, good shaped head. You got a good shaped head for the future. If you end up losing that thing, you know, if that thing becomes a convertible and then you just want to take it all off, I think you're in a good spot, paisan. Now, obviously, we appreciate you taking time out of your schedule. Biggest game of the year, you've done it twice. Now, Ty has a question for you.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah, Coach, first and foremost, just keep winning. And you can just shove everything negative people say right back down their fucking throats, you know, so they'll give you respect eventually. But I am curious, is there anything that you can take away from that first Super Bowl? I know obviously the rosters are different, but some of the key components are still the same. Is there anything you can take away from the first time you played the Chiefs in the super bowl to now that you think will set you up for, you know, success this time around?

[Nick Sirianni]

You know, that's a good question. And every time you go through a Different style a game. You kind of. You kind of look back and say, hey, what are the things we did well? What are the things we didn't do well? And I'm talking about the stuff off the field and that, you know, you do that with every game, every time you play, play, and what can we do better? And so that was definitely a conversation we had two years ago, you know, and we got back and there are some things that we're doing, you know, without getting into them, really. There are some things we're doing differently, you know, you know, based off some schedule things, some. Some travel things. And, you know, because at the end of the day, getting back to it, right, we got. When we got to the playoffs, you know, we talked about what's going to be important for the playoffs. You don't get to the playoff. I'm talking in game now. You don't get to the playoffs or get to the super bowl and say, okay, here's what we're gonna do now. It just doesn't. It doesn't work that way. You do the things you've done well. You. You try to continue to get better at your fundamentals, you're tackling your ball security, all those things that I mentioned, and you just try to get a little bit better, get little increments of getting better each day to put yourself in a position to succeed on, on Sunday. And so that's what we're doing. But there are definitely some schedule things that we tweaked and some travel. A couple travel things we tweaked as well.

[Pat McAfee]

Coach Saban, whenever the coaches would call him before these playoff games, he would say at dinner and on game day, he'd be like, if there was a better way to do things, shouldn't we be doing that every week in that. Don't you think. Don't. Don't you think we should maybe do that at the beginning of the season? Then we, we kind of have it all. Scheduling, though itinerary for super bowl vastly different. And dealing with all the bullshit that comes with the Super Bowl. 10,547 bucks Average resale ticket price right now. It's going to be a zoo down there. Coach Sirianni, last question here for you.

[Shams Charania]

From AJ Coach, on the lighter side, what have you got your ticket situation all settled? Do you have your family and everyone all, you know, on board? This is obviously not your first road, so you understand, but have you gotten that squared away yet?

[Nick Sirianni]

Yeah, we tried to take care of everything early in the week, and then What I said to the guys, like, again, I'm big and like, if I'm saying something to the guys, then I better be doing it myself. And so early in the week, we had to get. We had to get everything taken care of. And then if you have to do anything past Wednesday, you pass that thing on to your. To your wife. You know, you pass that thing on your girlfriend, you pass whatever you need on to your mom, you pass it on to the people in this building. All our mindset should be. Is focused completely on the game. And if I'm telling them that at all times and I'm scurrying around trying to get a ticket for my buddy, then I'm full of shit. So that's not. I'm not doing that right now. I've passed all that on. And, yeah, they're handling it now.

[Pat McAfee]

Last question for me, and I know you're very busy. Once again, thank you for the time. You guys are like, favorite your underdogs in the game by one and a half points, but America's, like, pulling for you. This is very abnormal for, I think, Philadelphia Eagles and for a Nick Sirianni led team. Have you told the boys? Have you talked about it? They're saying, like, the percentage of tickets sold, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, the percentage of bets, Philadelphia, like it is. The world's kind of rallying around you right now because you're going against the Chiefs, obviously. Have you talked about that with the boys? And does it feel weak, weird? Because that's never the case for you guys.

[Nick Sirianni]

Yeah, we. We have. I haven't talked to him about that. But, you know, I know Philly fans travel, and I know they. They travel well, that it really doesn't matter where we've been all season. We've had so many fans there. So just because, you know, it's the Super Bowl, I wasn't expecting anything different. So it's going to be exciting to have, you know, our, our fans there, making sure it's loud in that game for the Chiefs to be able to handle. And so that doesn't surprise me one bit. As far as about being the favorite, you know, I don't know. We don't care about that. We don't care about that. Sometimes you like being in the underdog, so we'll just pretend we're the underdog.

[Pat McAfee]

Well, you are by 1 1/2 points, but America's pulling hard for you, so good luck. We appreciate you. We'll see you down in New Orleans, Coach.

[Nick Sirianni]

All right, guys, thanks for having me.

[Pat McAfee]

On Ladies and gentlemen, a guy who.

[Ty Schmidt]

Might not be a big, dumb dipshit.

[Pat McAfee]

Coach Sirian, he's the man.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah, the man.

[Pat McAfee]

He's the absolute. Every time we said that, his face was over here, just like. Like. Cause he would like to. Oh, yeah, he would like to say this, I think. You know, like, I assume he watches Coach Tyriani and there's some things he's.

[Ty Schmidt]

Like, ugh, okay, I wouldn't say that.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay. That is not how I feel. Then there's some things you're saying. He's like, thank you, somebody. Yeah, yeah, somebody saying, the guy is a damn good ball coach and his team's all in around him. You know, he's talking about Jalen Carter. There's questions. Is this guy going to be able to commit full time to being a professional? It's like he's all. Why is he all in? Devonte Smith, A.J. brown. They talk about the past game needs to get fixed. Oh, they're trying to splinter. They're going to be fractured. It's like they're the ones dumping the Gatorade bath on Nick Sirianni. It's like, well, how do you think he manages relationships? How do you think he gets everybody? And that's a head coach's job. He's done a great job creating a culture. This episode is brought to you by Allstate. Some people just know they could save hundreds on car insurance by checking Allstate First. Like, you know, to check the date of the big game first before you accidentally buy tickets on your 20th wedding anniversary and have to spend the next 20 years of your marriage making up for it. Yeah, checking first is smart. So check Allstate first for a quote that could save you hundreds. You're in good hands with Allstate Savings. Vary terms apply. Allstate Fire and Casualty Insurance Company and affiliate, Northbrook, Illinois. Speaking of a culture, ladies and gentlemen, a man that oozes aura, he's looking to win the Royal Rumble to main event WrestleMania for the first time in his career. Ladies and gentlemen, the Second City Saint, CM Punk. Wow.

[CM Punk]

What an honor.

[Pat McAfee]

What an honor. Oh, hell, yeah. Yes. Clap it up.

[AJ Hawk]

Huh?

[Pat McAfee]

Come on, clap it up. Let's see.

[CM Punk]

I don't know.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, it's got a little war on. Bruce.

[AJ Hawk]

Oh, did you know I was coming with your little Stanley Cup?

[Pat McAfee]

Chicago hasn't had one of those in a long time.

[AJ Hawk]

I mean, we won three in 10 years. So, you know, we're paying the. We're paying the bill right now. Now, still, brother, you're Talking to a.

[Pat McAfee]

Penguins fan, we are in a terrible position at all. Hey, welcome to Indianapolis.

[AJ Hawk]

Thank you.

[Pat McAfee]

Happy Royal Rumble Eve. Happy Royal Rumble Eve. Thank you for making time to stop by. How do you feel? How's the body? You look like you're in the best shape of your life. I've said it a couple times. Whenever you come out on Monday Night Raw, do you feel like you're in the best shape of your life? And how do you feel going into tomorrow?

[AJ Hawk]

I think I was in the best shape of my life when I was like 26, when I, when I set out, when I set out to get this job, job, and I was like, I'm just gonna bust my ass so hard that they're not gonna be able to deny me. I was probably maybe in a little bit better shape back then, but.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, but you look good. I feel good too. Yeah. Yeah, I do.

[AJ Hawk]

I do.

[Pat McAfee]

What's playing for Royal Rumble tomorrow?

[AJ Hawk]

Beat everybody. Win, win, win. All the belts, make all the money. Everything. Everything across the board.

[Pat McAfee]

What'd you learn from last year? Obviously got injured. That's no fun. Yeah, Drew McIntyre danced on your grave afterwards. Everything like that. Do you take anything from last year's Royal Rumble? Do you take anything from this last year's voyage to this moment that can obviously change everything?

[AJ Hawk]

Yeah, absolutely. I, I think we, sometimes we fly so close to the sun and you fall and you realize that like, oh, here, this, me tearing my tricep in the Rumble wound up being like a huge gift. Cuz look at we did with it, you know, to me, I've done the best work of my career. When everyone else is maybe assuming that I'm like, winding down, I feel like it's cliche. I'm just getting started, you know, And I, I, I draw inspiration from like a great many different sources, but, like, I felt like that was a moment where I could, I could be inspiring to myself, you know what I mean? Like, I could turn the worst thing that's ever happened to me, you know, like this big return and this we're going to, you know, rocket, rocket ship and, you know, and it all got halted in the, in the blink of an eye. So what I learned from that is, you know, the hell with it, like, nose to the grindstone, bust your ass, like, come back better, stronger, and, you know, I, I think I did the best stuff of my career in the last year.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, it's been fun to watch. It's been fun to have a front row seat to watch you work and do your thing. And I'll say I made this up. Hashtag station. I think your name chanted the most in the history of any name in arenas, you know, because even for 10 years, whenever you weren't around, your name was getting chanted in every arena, basically every single night.

[AJ Hawk]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

Now every arena, every single night, three syllables, one name. CM Punk getting everywhere you started.

[AJ Hawk]

That.

[Pat McAfee]

Is that a lot of pressure? Is that a lot of pressure to live up to the hype, knowing that every city is eagerly awaiting your arrival?

[AJ Hawk]

I think it is. But I, I, I love it. Like, I, I. There's still a huge part of me that's just like, oh, oh, yeah, they remember me. That's strange.

[Pat McAfee]

That's weird.

[AJ Hawk]

There's, I still have that. You know, when you're gone for 10 years, even though they're still chanting your name, you know, you wonder if, like, the stuff you did prior to all that, does that matter? Do they, does it, Is it relevant? Did I resonate? Did I, do, you know, like, and we're in the business of making people feel something, so I, obviously, I, I made people feel something.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, you certainly did. And then when other superstars are in the ring and your name's getting chanted, I, I don't want to say I can see just joy being sucked out of their bodies.

[AJ Hawk]

No, say it. Yeah, they hate it. They hate it. And for the longest time, you know, like, it's, it's probably honestly why a lot of them don't like me is because they, they were here holding it down for so long and they're just like, Every time we go out there and we're busting our ass and they're, they're chanting for some guy who's not even here, like, that's, that's gotta suck, man. That's disheartening.

[Pat McAfee]

That's been talked about a lot. You're the guy that left. Every single promo that you get into.

[AJ Hawk]

With somebody, there's a bunch of sensitive folk around.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, they always say that, but yeah, I mean, that is the reason why they're saying that is because that is like, you know, I mean, there's a lot of context that needs to be added to the entire conversation. But certainly we're not there for a bit, you come back, feels like you're back at home, though. Yeah, I think so too. I think the way everybody feels is like, I obviously was not here during the time where you decided to leave. I've just always been a fan. So whenever I see you come back, I get excited. Like, I'M pumped to see you. I think everybody is. You get pumped to be back every single time.

[AJ Hawk]

Every single time. Like, I hate traveling and I don't like not spending time with my wife and my dog, but it's literally dealing with that, but also being like, man, I get to go to RAW today, I get to go to smackdown today. I get to stop by NXT and do all these fun things.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, we'll be back on Monday. Yeah, we missed the heart out.

[Connor]

That was pretty good, though.

[Pat McAfee]

Continues. You did great there. That was. That's a professional out of you. Wow. On a microphone. You crushed it. You didn't even know. You heard the music and you said, you know, we got a problem.

[AJ Hawk]

I did. I just figured that was your cue. I'm just a guest. You're the. You're the professional here.

[Pat McAfee]

No, I am not.

[AJ Hawk]

So we not on the air anymore.

[Pat McAfee]

Still live.

[AJ Hawk]

Oh.

[Pat McAfee]

ESPN plus Disney plus YouTube. Tick tock live.

[AJ Hawk]

Okay.

[Pat McAfee]

I would say this. This is. More people are watching this. More people have seen TVs that have the ESPN on. You know, it's kind of the interesting thing. Every airport has ESPN on.

[AJ Hawk]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

Every cafe has espn.

[AJ Hawk]

Fascinating.

[Pat McAfee]

You know, all the restaurants, but digitally massive numbers and these people had to give. Get here. So I think actually listening. So it's a nice.

[AJ Hawk]

Okay.

[Pat McAfee]

It's an interesting dilemma on what matters more in my eyes. It's a digital team, but we come from the Internet, you know, so it's a little different era. Does that make sense?

[AJ Hawk]

No.

[Pat McAfee]

All right.

[AJ Hawk]

I don't understand the Internet. Really? I don't.

[Pat McAfee]

You run the Internet?

[AJ Hawk]

Yeah.

[Connor]

I understand.

[AJ Hawk]

You don't.

[Pat McAfee]

Are you on there? How much are you on there?

[AJ Hawk]

I just have Instagram so I can look at dogs.

[Pat McAfee]

Do you read comments?

[AJ Hawk]

No.

[Pat McAfee]

You ever get on X? Never get on X.

[AJ Hawk]

No. No.

[Pat McAfee]

Never read mentions on X.

[AJ Hawk]

Can't do it. I stopped because of all of that. Like, that's too much.

[Pat McAfee]

When did you stop doing that?

[AJ Hawk]

I mean it. Two, three years ago.

[Pat McAfee]

I think life much better.

[AJ Hawk]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

Not having to hear it.

[AJ Hawk]

No. Just. Just drop out. Like, why do I need to hear a bunch of people who don't like me say what they think about me? Why do I care?

[Pat McAfee]

Dude. Yeah, I read that all the time. It's. It's a lot. So cool. It'd be so cool. Not ought to read it. Maybe I'll have enough.

[AJ Hawk]

You can't make everybody happy. There's always going to be somebody who's like, you know, entire identity is like, oh, I hate this guy. And it's just so strange to me. Somebody I can understand, like, hating a sports team like the Penguins or something like that, but, you know, like, individual hates Penguins, except for maybe Ron Francis.

[Pat McAfee]

Don't you even start talking about it. And if you want to get into Yarmer Yager, Ron Francis. Mario Lemieux can't ragged the entire crew back then, okay? Tommy Barrasso goal. Used to stand on his damn head. Okay? If you want to get into the greats, we can certainly do that. And if you want to get in the next iteration of our team, we were great then as well. Blackhawks. You guys are good. Oh.

[AJ Hawk]

The first. The first monetary bet I made my entire life was. I think it was like in the fifth grade whenever the Hawks and the. The Penguins were in the finals. And I. I bet this kid five bucks. I was like, the Hawks are going to win. And we got swept.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, of course.

[AJ Hawk]

So I hate Ron Francis to this day. For $5.

[Pat McAfee]

Ron Francis, a dog. Ron Francis, absolute dog. All right, let's talk about Chicago sports. Connor has a question for you.

[Connor]

Yeah, you probably didn't see it then, but when you were on Netflix on Christmas and you said that the Bears had to sell the team in order to turn it around, that went huge.

[Pat McAfee]

Huge.

[Connor]

People loved it. People were, you know, kind of singing your praises about it. How do you feel now with Ben Johnson kind of at the head home? He turns his back on Detroit, and now he's all in on Chicago. Do you feel like the Bears are finally going to make a little run at this thing with Caleb Williams?

[AJ Hawk]

No, I feel like. I feel like it's. I feel like it's Groundhog Day. We've been here before. Lovey Smith. Oh, we're going to get this great coach. He's going to write the ship. He's going to correct everything. No, like, the Blackhawks in the 2010s were the model for all these teams, teams that actually want to win. If you. If. If you want to win, look at what the Hawks did, you know, Unfortunately, Bill Wirtz had to die for things to change. But, you know, like, I. You got to get rid of the McCaskeys. You gotta. I'll buy the team. I'll offer right now. 100.

[Connor]

Okay.

[Pat McAfee]

Wow.

[Ty Schmidt]

There we go.

[Pat McAfee]

RT3 was doing something like this when Washington was up for sale.

[AJ Hawk]

I will buy. I will buy the team, and I will be a responsible owner that doesn't care about where they play or what cut of the concessions we get. Who owns the stadium. I just Want to win.

[Pat McAfee]

You know, that's kind of your thing. That has been your thing about doing right. You don't care about the bottom line. That's sport.

[AJ Hawk]

Well, I'm a. I'm a sports fan and I'm. I'm a Chicago sports fan. So it's. It's been a painful life and a painful existence, but it's just like you look at all these other sports franchises, the ones that just want to win, you win. You know, like you. You do what it takes to win. And I understand there's politics and people's feelings get involved and there's big money deals and all these things gotta to go on, but if you're an owner.

[Pat McAfee]

Power.

[AJ Hawk]

Yeah. If you're an owner. Come on. The bear, the 85 bears should have been a dynasty. And we weren't because of, you know, feelings and politics and, and all that other bs.

[Pat McAfee]

And like, do you think because you're from Chicago, it has helped create you as the guy who is going to be the one that's going to say something when nobody else say something?

[AJ Hawk]

Why do you think. I mean, I definitely think I'm a product of my environment, so that probably has something to do with it. And just in my, in my, in my, My old age, I've just tried to bite my tongue a little bit more.

[Pat McAfee]

Why?

[AJ Hawk]

You know, just because I, I just. I just don't.

[Pat McAfee]

You don't need to fight every war.

[AJ Hawk]

I don't. I don't want to. I don't want to deal with people. I think. Yeah, I don't want to engage.

[Pat McAfee]

No reason to fight everything.

[AJ Hawk]

No, you tell me, you know, four plus four is. Equals five. I'll just go, yeah, all right. You're right.

[Pat McAfee]

Fair. You know, I mean, I don't know how you got there.

[AJ Hawk]

Cross you off the Christmas list.

[Pat McAfee]

This guy's a dip. Ty has a question for you.

[Ty Schmidt]

Going back to the rumble. So you've obviously been to damn near like every arena all over the world, been in front of huge crowds, but they're saying there's potentially going to be, you know, 70,000 plus out there. Biggest rumble ever. When you come down that ramp, like, how. How much can you feel that is that palpable, kid? Like, will, you know, right away, like, holy. Like, this is a really hot crowd.

[Pat McAfee]

Like.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah, I'm not used to this.

[AJ Hawk]

Like, it's. It's like if you're in a building that has 10,000 people or in. You're in a building that has 15,000 people, you might not be able to tell, but, like, it's so exponentially bigger. 70,000 people. That's a lot of human beings, you know, That's a lot of hot dogs. That's a lot of spilled beer. It's just. It gets. It gets pretty crazy. And the first time I ever experienced something like that was, like, at a WrestleMania. And now we're past packing 70,000 people in for a rumble. It's pretty impressive.

[Pat McAfee]

Well, that's why you say, look in my eyes. What do you see? Coat of personality.

[AJ Hawk]

Feel like I'm blushing.

[Pat McAfee]

So when you were riding over here, is that the only song you listen to? Like, when did you do Spotify? Wrapped your number one song, Call to Personality?

[AJ Hawk]

I don't have Spotify, so I can't do a Spotify rap thing.

[Connor]

Apple?

[AJ Hawk]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

You do Apple music?

[AJ Hawk]

I have Apple music, but I also still have an ipod.

[Pat McAfee]

And it just has one song.

[AJ Hawk]

No, it's got a lot of songs. It's got a plethora of stuff. I actually. It's an old ipod, and I shattered it. It was destroyed. It looked like it got run over by a car. And I remember I was in Chicago, and I walked down the street. Street. And there was a place that said, like, we repair whatever.

[Pat McAfee]

IPhones, crack screens.

[AJ Hawk]

Yeah. And I walk. I walked in there, and I threw it on the counter. I go, is there anything you can do? And the guy looks at me and goes, I can't fix that. And then he looks up at me and he goes, are you CM Punk? I was like, yeah. And then he just picks it up and he goes, give me two weeks. And I said, all right. And he fixed it.

[Pat McAfee]

Hey. I said, anything for CM Punk.

[AJ Hawk]

It's the only time me getting recognized after actually led to something, like, positive.

[Pat McAfee]

When you were away from the business.

[AJ Hawk]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay. Were you still getting recognized everywhere?

[AJ Hawk]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

You were still every moment of your life. And how long has it been that everywhere you go, at least one or multiple people know you? And how do you deal with it?

[AJ Hawk]

Like, how often do I get spotted?

[Pat McAfee]

No, you're seeing. Everybody knows you. How long has it been that everywhere you go, people know you? And how do you deal with it? Do you talk to people? What is your. Your kind of every.

[AJ Hawk]

Every. Every single interaction is its own little. Own little special universe. It all depends. Like, if I'm at an airport, chances are, unless you're super polite, you're not gonna be able to get my attention, because my job is to. I'm trying to get somewhere. You know what I mean? Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

Glasses, headphones No, I just.

[AJ Hawk]

The earbuds, you know, hat, whatever.

[Pat McAfee]

Hair looks very good. Yeah. Clean.

[AJ Hawk]

Thank God my hair plug are holding up.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, that's what they're saying on the Internet.

[AJ Hawk]

I think so.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, I think it looks good. Yeah. Great. I think it looks very good.

[AJ Hawk]

I'm the greatest professional wrestler of all time. I've made. I've made people so angry that I've tricked them into thinking I got fake hair or something like that.

[Pat McAfee]

You are the best in the world. The best in the world. Maybe that is a part of the gimmick.

[AJ Hawk]

I love seeing people. I love great fan interactions, and a lot of the times the best ones are just walking down the street and somebody's like, yo, punk, big thank. Fist bump. Like, that's amazing to me. Like, but if I'm walking my dog, I have learned to. I have to set boundaries. Like, you know, because my dog's gonna try to bite you if you get close to me.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah.

[AJ Hawk]

Protect and people. Yeah. Like, people. You know, people get wild in the streets, but I get it, too. Like, I just met Tina Fey for the first time the other day. You know what I mean? Like, I was just, like, so thrilled, and I was just thinking, I'm gonna be murdered by my wife if I go home and I tell her, like, yeah, I was in a room with Tina Fey, and I didn't say anything, you know, so I. I like, you know, hunch my shoulders and I try to look smaller than I am. And I walk over and I was like, excuse me, it's Tina Fey. I'm a really big fan. And, you know, and she was nice as pie. It was great.

[Pat McAfee]

So you marked out a little bit for tina fe.

[AJ Hawk]

Oh, 100%. Hell, yeah. Why? Yeah, why wouldn't you? Yeah, absolutely.

[Pat McAfee]

You don't have too much ego to mark out for Tina Fey.

[AJ Hawk]

And I. I will be very contrarian now. And I'll say, like, fans, if you see people, like, yeah, you have to. I understand. Like, you have to take your shot. But, like, also, like, if you recognize that situation we're in, like, oh, he's over there eating. Like, maybe we shouldn't read the room. You know what I mean?

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. So when you look back on your career, any, obviously, everybody thinks about the pipe bomb being the big moment. Do you have a favorite Mount Rushmore moments of CM Punk's career? Do you think about that ever? Do you do a lot of reminiscing on everything you've accomplished? Because you said, greatest professional wrestler of all time. Best in the World, they changed Your name for 10 years whenever you weren't around for good reason. You've been there, done that with a lot of things. Do you have like many moments you look back on or are you like in the moment, move forward?

[AJ Hawk]

No, I, I've been super fortunate to like have this long career, you know, Like, I, I think there's a lot of, even some of my devote fans don't realize like, how long I've been around, how long I've been doing this. So it's always cool to see, you know, you've, you've made a new fan by coming back or. But then there's people who, you know, talk about this and like, to me, my favorite moments are the ones that most people have probably never seen, they probably never will see. As far as stuff that's been like, on TV and with wwe, you're talking.

[Pat McAfee]

House shows and behind the scenes, just house show stuff.

[AJ Hawk]

Stuff when I was on the Indies, like getting to work with like legends like Terry Funk, Eddie Guerrero, Tracy Smothers, like all the people that wound up being so nice to me when I thought that they were just, you know, like, not necessarily they were gonna be dicks to me or anything like that, but just like, they didn't have to be as gracious to me as they were, you know, like. So like that, I guess, kind of being accepted by like this group of old school guys. Like, Dusty always loved me. Harley Race loved me. I can tell stories about being on Harley Charlie's boat, like, might actually get us kicked off espn.

[Pat McAfee]

No, no, we're on the Internet.

[Connor]

We've pushed it on.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, yeah, we've, we've, we've attempted to do it all. So you think as you were breaking in, as you were coming up, all the OGs welcoming you into their world and their fraternity was a massive piece for you.

[AJ Hawk]

Oh, that's the biggest, that's the coolest thing I've ever done, you know, because when I was a kid, like, you know, 1993, my first year of high school, like I tried out for the football team, I tried out for the wrestling team because I knew I wanted to do something, I just didn't know what it was. And both times, like, I made the teams, but it was still very much like a jocks versus punk rockers kind of situation where I was from. And I had like a purple liberty spike mohawk and the coach was like, you got to cut your hair. And I was like, I will you. Yeah, yeah. I was much more interested in being the opinionated punk rock kid. I was like, I can't cut my hair, you know, like, you know, and all the jocks would, you know, call me.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah.

[AJ Hawk]

Names and slurs and all kinds. Some hard Fs, you know.

[Pat McAfee]

We've been around jocks.

[AJ Hawk]

Sure. Yeah. So it was, it was always. I, I just kind of always like assumed that like, that's the way everything was going to go. Like this weird, odd punk rock kid with a big mouth wasn't going to get accepted it into this, you know, this man's world.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, well, they love you.

[AJ Hawk]

I was pleasantly surprised.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. It was because you had talent.

[AJ Hawk]

I had to fight a little bit, you know, but it all worked out.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. Talent, kid, I assume, is what the message was through. And you still do at this age. How many years are we into the business, though?

[AJ Hawk]

I don't know. Do you count when I left? I don't know.

[Pat McAfee]

Sure. Let's just say from when it started.

[AJ Hawk]

God, I mean, I don't know. I'm going to write a book someday day, you know, and I don't know when I'm just going to tell the story. So, like in 93, I started rolling around in backyards with my friends.

[Pat McAfee]

Trampolines.

[AJ Hawk]

No, no trampolines. No, we weren't that smart. We also weren't that rich. We had no trampoline. We just used the ground. And then we would maybe one, one year we borrowed some materials from various construction sites in and around Chicagoland area and built ring, you know, and at about 90, like 96, 97, 97, I, I went and I think we bought a wrestling ring. Bought like an old wrestling from some guy in Texas, you know, just. And started running shows. And we were very, we were very outlaw, as our friend Jim Cornette would say. And I think around like 90, 98, 99, I went and I, I was introduced that there was a wrestling school and I was like, oh, you actually have to learn how to do this.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah.

[AJ Hawk]

Interesting ring together. Yeah. It was shocking to me because it's not like there's a pro wrestling program in school. You know, there's football, there's wrestling, there's, there's all kinds of sports, but yeah, and then the, the rest is history. They beat the crap out of me for being a backyard kid and I, I earned my, my, my stripes.

[Pat McAfee]

So it was like your whole life pretty much that you've been doing this at least since you have.

[AJ Hawk]

Make me feel old man, adult memories.

[Pat McAfee]

But then you disappear. How many times did you just want to get back in the ring. I assume that's a real thing that.

[AJ Hawk]

Happened whenever you weren't around when I. When I was out. No, I was out and I was out, man.

[Pat McAfee]

Oh, you. There was no, like, yearning or missing?

[AJ Hawk]

No, no, no.

[Pat McAfee]

Like, because of how it ended.

[AJ Hawk]

I think definitely because of how ended. It just really didn't seem like there was even an avenue. And I'm a guy that's not going to dwell on, you know, know, anything from the past. I'm just going to keep moving forward. And that's what I did.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay. I didn't know if there was a CM Punk chant that happened. And you're like, man, it would be nice to maybe get back in there and.

[AJ Hawk]

Dude, my wife would wrestle on tv. She was, she was at the company for like a year after I left. And like there, like, I think sometimes, like, me and her probably got into arguments because she was maybe a little bit mad that that was going on and like, you know, you know, and I. But I get it. I get it.

[Pat McAfee]

Speaking of your wife, Hot Topic for the ro. You've been dropping clues.

[AJ Hawk]

Now there's no clues.

[Pat McAfee]

No, I've heard them. I've heard them.

[AJ Hawk]

All right.

[Pat McAfee]

You said, big surprise. That's what you said.

[AJ Hawk]

That's not what I said.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, I heard words.

[AJ Hawk]

That is not what I said.

[Pat McAfee]

Oh, huge surprise. Only me and a couple people know liars. No, that's. I heard that's what you say. You never know who's going to show, huh?

[Connor]

Look out, Lucas Oil, huh?

[Pat McAfee]

Could be. Could be significant others of people on.

[Connor]

A Saturday maybe, huh?

[AJ Hawk]

She's at home watching Larry.

[Pat McAfee]

Chicago is very close. Today's Friday though. Yeah. Rumble's on. What day?

[Ty Schmidt]

Saturday.

[Pat McAfee]

Three hour drive, huh?

[Ty Schmidt]

52 minute flight, 70,000 people.

[AJ Hawk]

Hey, how are you getting to Cleveland on Monday day?

[Pat McAfee]

Flying.

[AJ Hawk]

Okay.

[Pat McAfee]

You want to come with?

[AJ Hawk]

Yeah, all right, I do.

[Pat McAfee]

It'll be after the program, so it'll be a little later in the afternoon.

[AJ Hawk]

Oh, I might. I might have an earlier call time than you. I'm not fancy. I don't get to walk in late.

[Pat McAfee]

I don't walk in. I walk in right on time. Right on time. Perfect time every time.

[AJ Hawk]

Every time.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. Michael Cole is going to be traveling with me on Monday, so.

[AJ Hawk]

Oh, man, we can't have a show without YouTube. You guys better get there.

[Pat McAfee]

Thank. Thanks you. Thank you. I agree. We will. We're gonna try.

[AJ Hawk]

We're gonna try to get up like who. We're gonna. Who we're gonna put on. On you.

[Pat McAfee]

Oh, you'd be A great commenter.

[AJ Hawk]

Not again. I miss be fired within the first 90 minutes.

[Pat McAfee]

No.

[AJ Hawk]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

You get promoted. Oh, well, maybe Michael Cole might get fired.

[AJ Hawk]

Like one of those promotions. Like, we're gonna send you over to the New York firm because you've caused too much heat here in la, and we're gonna give you a raise and we're gonna shuffle you over here.

[Pat McAfee]

AJ has a question from Ohio he's been eagerly wanting to ask.

[Shams Charania]

Yeah, I got a question about the. The rumble. So yesterday, Seamus was actually sitting in your seat, and Pat tried to give him some advice that. What if you laid face first and just kind of held on to the turnbuckle? Do you think they may not even see you and possibly all of a sudden you stand up and it's. It's you and one other person. You get to battle.

[Pat McAfee]

I didn't think you would be disguising yourself. I. I just said if you're laying down and then holding on to the bottom rope, that feels like a good idea.

[AJ Hawk]

I think it might be a good idea for anybody but Shane Famous because he's so white. Like, you're. I. You know, like you. I mean, do you think you're just gonna be invisible?

[Pat McAfee]

No, I didn't. He added the camouflage. Yeah, I. I said. Yeah, I said you're going to be seen, no problem at all. But you're just. You're willing to take it and you're just laying on the ground and you're around that bottom rope just like this.

[AJ Hawk]

Well, when you get in, why don't you try that and we'll see how it goes.

[Pat McAfee]

Whoa. Me? Whoa.

[Connor]

You're getting in.

[Pat McAfee]

I don't know about that, Mr. Mr. Punk or.

[AJ Hawk]

I feel like maybe don't give this advice to, like, you know, I don't know. I. I don't know who's in the rumble. But say, like, say Tyrese Halliburton isn't, you know, because that'd be something, right?

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. What if he did go in there?

[AJ Hawk]

You know, that'd be sick. Hold on. Be getting a phone call from Adam Silver, wouldn't he? Like.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. Middle of the season. They got a game at 5:00 tomorrow.

[AJ Hawk]

Do they really?

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. 5:00.

[AJ Hawk]

So. So he. So he can make it.

[Pat McAfee]

He can't. Yeah, well, that's the. Oh, buddy. Depending upon how the show is set up, none of us know. Obviously. Nobody knows what matches or when, but yeah, there's a whole. There's a lot going on in that. Moving pieces.

[Connor]

Fade the Pacers tomorrow. What yeah, without a doubt. Hawks are going to win by 20 because all Halliburton is going to be thinking of is he's.

[AJ Hawk]

He's going to be royal rumbling in his head. Yeah, yeah.

[Connor]

Bingo.

[Pat McAfee]

No, he's going to be trying to get that game over with quicker. So he's going to hang maybe 50 in the first half. So we got to run a clock in the second half.

[Connor]

Too many timeouts. See, that's a good point. I'll take his under instead of. Instead of the Hawk.

[Pat McAfee]

No, he's going over.

[Connor]

If he keeps missing, that clock keeps rolling.

[Pat McAfee]

No, he's going to make every shot.

[Connor]

I don't know.

[Pat McAfee]

And then he's going to go in there, he's going to hang on to the bottom rope, and when somebody does it, I want to let you know. We told you, we told you about the idea. You want to go main event Wrestlemania or not? Hang on to that bottom rope.

[AJ Hawk]

I mean, it'll probably work for a little bit and then you're going to get stomped in the face.

[Pat McAfee]

So what, you go unconscious? What, are they going to lift your carcass up?

[AJ Hawk]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, they will, actually. Yeah, they will.

[Pat McAfee]

All right. Final, like tonight.

[AJ Hawk]

Yep.

[Pat McAfee]

What will be.

[AJ Hawk]

What is tonight? Today is Smackdown, right?

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, Smackdown. Gonna be great. Over.

[AJ Hawk]

I'm. I'm shot. I flew in on a red eye and I'm just, you know, brother.

[Pat McAfee]

Me too.

[AJ Hawk]

Haven't had my coffee yet today.

[Pat McAfee]

You want this one?

[Connor]

You want a Mountain Dew?

[AJ Hawk]

No, thank you.

[Pat McAfee]

Sure?

[Ty Schmidt]

All right.

[AJ Hawk]

I'm good.

[Pat McAfee]

We got diet dude, too. Is it dude? Zero. And did you see the. We have four pallets of Gatorade. Glacier free. Zero if you on the way out.

[AJ Hawk]

That stuff's delicious.

[Pat McAfee]

That is the best. Yeah, it showed up on an 18 wheeler. You want an ice cold real American beer. That's right.

[AJ Hawk]

I certainly do not.

[Connor]

Well, that's certainly a back.

[Pat McAfee]

That's in the back. That's in the back. Back row back there.

[AJ Hawk]

I was like, who's the voice of God?

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah.

[AJ Hawk]

Why would you ask me that?

[Pat McAfee]

Well, because we heard what you said.

[Connor]

It'll wake you up quick.

[AJ Hawk]

It's not. It's not the he's straight edge thing that we're going to offer him a. A beer.

[Pat McAfee]

It's just because we got some weed too, don't we?

[AJ Hawk]

I mean, big note of that, dude.

[Pat McAfee]

We don't have it, by the way. It's Indiana. We would never, never. We would never have it. Just joking out.

[AJ Hawk]

That was just a skunk outside that I smelled.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, Yeah, a lot of skunks here in Indiana. Yeah, you said. You said if Hulk Hogan got his old ass in a room, Rumble, you throw his dusty ass over the top rope. Tonight when you go to bed, night before the Royal Rumble, you win the Royal Rumble main event of WrestleMania. I know that is something that everybody holds over CM Punk's. Yeah, they really do. Tonight, what is the last thoughts? And then whenever you're heading in, walking down the ramp to join the Royal Rumble, what will you be thinking? What will you be saying?

[AJ Hawk]

So rumble is what, the first of February? That is going to be exactly 365 days from my surgery injury on my elbow. So I'm gonna be thinking a lot about that. Try not to dwell on it because, you know, I don't want to live in that negative headspace because anything go wrong at any time, you know, like, a skylight could fall on me right now. You know, it could be all over with. But. Oh, good. Yeah, I. I look to my list of fears. See, now you're paranoid because of all the skunks. Now it's okay.

[Pat McAfee]

No, no call calms me down, actually. The skunks.

[AJ Hawk]

Every. Every time I lace up my boots and I'm in front of a crowd, even if it's just like, you know, microphone, I got my hokas on or some Jordans or whatever, like, I am so beyond, like, I'm overly. To like a cheesy point. Like, so grateful for every single experience, you know, getting to come back and kind of proving myself right. Right. This last year and just doing box office stuff and having fun while doing it. I'm on top of the world. So, like, you know, when I'm. When I'm walking into the Rumble, like, I feel like I'm the luckiest kid in the world, you know, that's. That's what's going to be going through my head in there. And then when I get in there, I'm just gonna start punching people in the face and throw them all over the top rope and, oh, yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

Hell yeah.

[AJ Hawk]

Gonna be fun.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. An attitude of gratitude is a beautiful thing.

[AJ Hawk]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

And then when. If we get in that ring, maybe you say, say, look in my eyes. What do you see?

[AJ Hawk]

AJ's the only one not singing.

[Pat McAfee]

Well, that's the problem.

[AJ Hawk]

He doesn't participate.

[Pat McAfee]

Never does it, mister.

[AJ Hawk]

He'll be like, oh, well, there's a. There's a lag in between.

[Shams Charania]

We knew you were smart. We knew you're smart, punk. There is a little bit of a delay. I would Ruin the whole thing.

[Pat McAfee]

No, that is. That's his excuse. Every time.

[AJ Hawk]

I think when it comes to singing, it might be right.

[Pat McAfee]

No, he's not. He just doesn't want to participate. Wiz Khalifa told him, put his hands up. Put your butcher hands up. He was two feet away from him and he looked at Wiz Khalifa and he said, how about this? Hands in his pocket. Everybody else in there. He says, I'm not your puppet. That's what he said. All right. Well, that's why he's a big CM Punk fan.

[AJ Hawk]

You got to respect that.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, we have one of your biggest fans here, actually. He's a 355 pound Steve D3 National Champions Champion debone. He looks good.

[Nick Sirianni]

He's been doing the Celtic work.

[Connor]

355.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, he's been. He's here. Hurry up. Did you get a chance to say hello to Mr.

[Nick Sirianni]

Punk?

[AJ Hawk]

I met him. When I walked in, he.

[Pat McAfee]

Did he mark out?

[AJ Hawk]

I don't. I don't know. I don't think so.

[Pat McAfee]

When he found out you were gonna be on the show right now, it was. He got a little bit of a zipper burn. He's tucking it right now. You know what I'm talking about?

[AJ Hawk]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

Do you have any words of advice for CM Punk, the man that you would like to see win the Royal Rumble tomorrow?

[Connor]

No, man, just go kick some ass. Do what you do.

[Pat McAfee]

That's right.

[AJ Hawk]

I'll do the best I can. That's all I can as a D3.

[Pat McAfee]

National champion football player.

[AJ Hawk]

Where for where? North Central College in Naperville. Okay.

[Pat McAfee]

Biggest scene of Mark in the world.

[AJ Hawk]

You did say really?

[Pat McAfee]

Okay, no. Well, so there's a little bit of a conflicting thing here. CM Punk, look in my eyes. What do you see? But he will every once in a while. You can't see me. So, like, that's the thing. How do you feel about Mr. Cena?

[AJ Hawk]

I love him to death. I'm. I feel spoiled that I get to witness whatever. Whatever journey he's about to embark on. On. I think it's exciting. I selfishly am looking forward to Saturday. Hopefully there's a moment where me and him, I think everybody can have a. Have a moment, you know, but it's just so many guys, so many bodies. I don't know if it's in the cards, but we'll see.

[Pat McAfee]

You did a wink, wink, non nod to him two weeks ago maybe or pro or three weeks ago during a promo about him having his last time is now and his run and who he's gonna go with and yeah, yada yada, everything like that. The world obviously, obviously exploded just at the thought of it. He certainly.

[Ty Schmidt]

Oh, yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

Just even thinking about it all over. He's special though, man. There's a lot of those guys, you're obviously talked about in that same air as those legends and I assume you don't view yourself as that. There's a lot of legends in the WWE right now and obviously it's at an all time high. Cena coming back, Rock coming back. Obviously you guys had a moment, the Vegas press conference last year, which I enjoyed.

[AJ Hawk]

I mean, you talk about legends, you talk about me being just stoked at where I'm at that and like, just grateful and enjoying myself. What was it? It was Raw. Was it Raw? I think it was Raw. Where were we at Monday?

[Pat McAfee]

We were in Atlanta.

[AJ Hawk]

Yes, we were in Atlanta. And I remember I was just. I like walked into one of the locker rooms or something like that and there's, There's Rey Mysterio.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah.

[AJ Hawk]

You know what I mean? And I, I just, like, every time I see, like every time I see Rey, it's. I, it could be like an old guy thing because every time I see Rey or every time I see Truth, like in the hallway, we all just look at each other and we just like grab each other and just give each other a big hug. Like, hey, man, like, look at us. This is crazy. Can you believe this? Because I've known those guys.

[Pat McAfee]

Not just doing it.

[AJ Hawk]

Yeah, I think I wrestled. I wrestled Ray2001. I've known him a quarter of a century. You know, Truth, same thing. Like, you know, I knew him when I was doing Wednesday night TNA pay per views at Nashville Fairground. Like, so there's a bunch of us that it's just, it's cool to look around and kind of go, hey, man, look at us. Yeah, we're still here. We're still doing it too.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, absolutely. And you talked about, you know, you created your own promotion there in Chicago in high school as a punk rock kid. You had some Ring of Honor times. Obviously. You just mentioned TNA there. We don't have to get into the, you know, the drama at the Elite place, but how do you feel about tna, WWE working together? It feels like the forbidden door that there had been for a long time is much more open now with Mr. H in charge, I think, is it for the good of wrestling?

[AJ Hawk]

I think he's receptive to other people's ideas, whereas maybe, you know, Vince wasn't, you know, like, he Was like, I'm the boss. We're doing this, and this is how we're doing it. And that's great. Like, yeah. If you run a company, you need somebody who is the yes and no man in the final say. But I. I think Triple H thinks he's surrounded and oftentimes is by a lot of really, really genius wrestling minds. And if he has an idea or sees something one way, like, he'll look at Michael Hayes and be like, what do you think, Legend? He'll turn. And the boys look at Paul Heyman, you know, like. And these are people who have bona fide resumes. They have literally done everything you possibly could do in. In. In the sport. And the. I think their voices should be heard now. Not. Not a lot of time, you know, Everybody's gonna have this dynamite idea. But I think the best. The best idea always wins in today's wwe.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, I think it's awesome. Everybody's happy, too.

[AJ Hawk]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

Feels like the vibes are immaculate.

[AJ Hawk]

I hate. I actually don't like talking about that. And I like. Because it sounds stupid to say. Well, it just sounds like. It sounds like. Because it's the same. Because I've been in situations where everyone's like, yo, everybody's happy here. This is great. And I'm like.

[Pat McAfee]

And then you're choking people.

[AJ Hawk]

You guys are a cult. Like, what are you talking about? Like, everybody hates everybody. Like, it's just super clicky. Like, so, you know. And also, like, I'm very. I try to set the boundaries. Boundaries of, like, this is work. It is a job. It is a corporation. So, you know, But I. I can't. I can't lie. I. I come to work, and I'm stoked every day to see everybody.

[Pat McAfee]

You're not the only one.

[AJ Hawk]

Stoked to see you on every Monday, you know, like, it's. It's great.

[Pat McAfee]

I show up on time.

[AJ Hawk]

Sure you do.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. I'm always there early. It is great to see you every time because I'm amongst, you know, legends. You talk about Rey Mysterio. The first time I went into tvl in Rey, Mysterious Mysterio is getting changed in there. I was like, oh, I should get out of here. And he's like, no, no, no. All good. And I'm, like, sitting two lockers down from Rey Mysterio. It's like, man, I got a thousand questions right now.

[AJ Hawk]

You should ask him.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, it's all. It always starts with, like, one. Like, hey, you remember when Brock, like, just did the. He goes, yeah, the funny Thing about that. And he'll get into like a full on. And it's like, oh, he doesn't mind at all. Like the OGs don't mind sharing the game at all. And you talk about those genius minds you mentioned. Paul Hymon, you're one of the first Paul Hmon guys, I believe. The first Paul Hmon guy.

[AJ Hawk]

I mean, I. I'm the one who labeled it. Yeah. I mean, there was. There was amazing Paul Heymon guys before, you know, for my mouth, you know, like labeled it and gave him a bunch of merchandise money. But sounds like you're pumped about it.

[Pat McAfee]

It sounds like you're bumped.

[AJ Hawk]

I never got. I never got my cut.

[Pat McAfee]

We'll figure that out. The wise man.

[AJ Hawk]

I am a giving. I am a. I'm a giving.

[Pat McAfee]

He owes you. No, no. He does, doesn't he?

[AJ Hawk]

No.

[Pat McAfee]

Oh, he doesn't.

[AJ Hawk]

No. Paul doesn't owe me anything.

[Pat McAfee]

Well, aside from the shirts. But in. He definitely owes you.

[AJ Hawk]

Oh, the favor. Yeah, I suppose.

[Pat McAfee]

Oh, yeah, yeah.

[AJ Hawk]

We don't got to get into it though, you know.

[Pat McAfee]

Want to. I'm all about good public pressure. If you need. I'm a mouthpiece. If you want me to go ahead and apply a little.

[AJ Hawk]

I won't. I won't fold. No.

[Pat McAfee]

Let's go all in then. Don't fold. Yeah, yeah. Don't get bluffed either.

[Connor]

Cars on the table.

[Pat McAfee]

He owes you. Don't ever forget it. I won't let you forget it.

[AJ Hawk]

Oh, thank you.

[Pat McAfee]

Paul Heyman owes you. Now, I do acknowledge my tribal chief.

[AJ Hawk]

Good for you.

[Connor]

As we all should.

[Pat McAfee]

Do you? Do you?

[AJ Hawk]

Do I, do you?

[Pat McAfee]

No, you. Oh, what are you talking about? We acknowledge our tribal chief.

[AJ Hawk]

I'll just do one of these.

[Pat McAfee]

Oh, geez, guys. Okay. He didn't acknowledge. Let the record state, he did not acknowledge our tribal chief, which was expected, but would have been a nice little pleasant surprise here on royal rumble eve. Dangerous, if you would have maybe put that one to the sky. Paul Heyman owes you. Don't ever forget it. And speaking of, Owen, we owe you for making a stop all the way out here, especially on such a busy weekend after a red eye before the biggest day of your life. Life tomorrow.

[AJ Hawk]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah.

[AJ Hawk]

Biggest, biggest, biggest day in my life.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah.

[AJ Hawk]

Well, I mean, second to marrying my wife, I don't think anything else really compares to that.

[Pat McAfee]

But, you know, that's greatest.

[AJ Hawk]

Biggest match of my life.

[Pat McAfee]

Greatest day of your life.

[AJ Hawk]

It's the biggest match of my life.

[Pat McAfee]

Biggest match your life?

[AJ Hawk]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

Biggest royal rumble.

[AJ Hawk]

That's the Cool thing about where I'm at right now is like, every match is the biggest match of my life. Yeah, it's super neat, but definitely tomorrow. Yeah, 100%.

[Pat McAfee]

All right, we'll talk about it. Thank you so much for joining. Good luck tomorrow.

[AJ Hawk]

Like for losers, boys.

[Pat McAfee]

What's that?

[AJ Hawk]

Luck is for losers.

[Connor]

Love that. Oh, yeah.

[Ty Schmidt]

Punk.

[Pat McAfee]

You're so punk rock, dude.

[AJ Hawk]

Ah, come on now.

[Pat McAfee]

Hey, just real quick, look in my eyes. What do you see?

[Shams Charania]

Kills it.

[Pat McAfee]

Delay.

[Shams Charania]

You know that, aj.

[Pat McAfee]

I can't with the delay.

[Shams Charania]

You know that.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, that's what he's waiting for.

[Nick Sirianni]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

Aj.

[Shams Charania]

Aj.

[AJ Hawk]

Wish, Wish. Did you wish Cena was on the show instead of me?

[Shams Charania]

No, no.

[Pat McAfee]

Bob Backlin, actually.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah.

[Connor]

Eugene, maybe.

[AJ Hawk]

Nice.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, he loves him.

[Shams Charania]

Either one. Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah.

[AJ Hawk]

Well, he's just a hop, skip and a jump from here, isn't he, Bob Back, Eugene.

[Pat McAfee]

I think so. He's everywhere. Yeah, I think he's everywhere.

[AJ Hawk]

He's around here somewhere.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, he always will be.

[Connor]

Don't even get him.

[AJ Hawk]

I don't know.

[Pat McAfee]

All right, we're gonna get the hell out of here as well as we let CM Punk continue to promote, prepare for the biggest match of his life at the biggest Royal Rumble of all time, which kicks off tomorrow at 6pm Eastern, live from the beautiful city of Indianapolis, Indiana, at the Loud House. Lukas. All stadium for myself, aj. All the boys in the back into. Hey, Nick. Happy birthday, buddy.

[AJ Hawk]

How old are we, Nick?

[Pat McAfee]

Tomorrow?

[CM Punk]

39.

[AJ Hawk]

39. Wow. Do you remember? Do you remember 39?

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. I haven't been there yet, but I know it looks like I have been. Thanks, CM Punk. Maybe I should live a little more straight edge, you know, so I don't age like milk, but. Happy birthday, Nick. It's an honor to, you know, experience life alongside you and you become a phenomenal dad, a great husband. And on the ones and twos back there, so damn good. We appreciate you. Happy birthday, buddy. Thank you. Appreciate that greatly, folks. How about CM Punk just. Happy birthday. That was pretty sweet.

[Connor]

That was huge.

[Pat McAfee]

Thank you, Mr. Punk. You missed 38 of his birthdays. If you'd like to.

[AJ Hawk]

Yeah, yeah. Well, I. I mean, what do you want, 39 chops? What do we. What?

[Connor]

Get your ass out of here, dude.

[Pat McAfee]

Maybe haven't even thought of that. Get your ass beat for your 39th birthday.

[AJ Hawk]

Get Sheamus back here and we'll have Sheamus.

[Pat McAfee]

Sheamus comes in and does the whole headline number.

[CM Punk]

He's.

[Pat McAfee]

He's.

[AJ Hawk]

He's a stiff prick and.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, yeah, that's what I'm there's guys, you know, going in like, hey, this one's going to be.

[AJ Hawk]

Oh, yeah, absolutely.

[Pat McAfee]

Is he at the top of one of those?

[AJ Hawk]

Yeah, I think so.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, I think so.

[AJ Hawk]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

You got JBOD close.

[AJ Hawk]

Yeah, yeah. Nightly for, I don't know, like six months straight. Yeah, yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

There's people like, as a fan that I've watched that I'd be like, if I'm ever lucky enough to become a professional wrestler and I get into the wwe, I'm going to try to steer.

[AJ Hawk]

Clear of that particular human n. You can't avoid it. Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

You going to have. Yeah, that's why I don't do it in there. Yeah. Every once in a while I'll get in there and I realize, wow, this really hurts. All of it.

[AJ Hawk]

And that's the secret. That was the secret of Terry Funk's punches. I found out the first time I ever wrestled him. You watch Terry Funk, you're like, man, this guy's. These guys punches. It's a work of art. And then he punches you in the face and you're like, oh.

[Pat McAfee]

Oh. It's a real.

[AJ Hawk]

That's why they look so good.

[Pat McAfee]

Got it. All right, well, we're gonna get out of here.

[AJ Hawk]

Again. We're leaving again.

[Pat McAfee]

We are. You got anything to say? Say?

[AJ Hawk]

No, I got nothing to say. I gotta head over to, I don't know, Fanatics Fest or something. I'm. I'm. I'm shaking babies and taking pictures and smiling and shaking babies.

[Pat McAfee]

I don't think you should shake.

[AJ Hawk]

Oh, I. Yeah, sorry. Kissing babies.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, I know. You know what? I would rather.

[AJ Hawk]

I don't want to do that either.

[Connor]

Yeah, yeah.

[AJ Hawk]

Sickness.

[Pat McAfee]

A lot of sicknesses.

[Connor]

Careful.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, yeah. Maybe you should just. Whenever they show up, you should just say, look in my eyes. What do you see?

[AJ Hawk]

I'll see you in the Royal Rumble.

[Pat McAfee]

I'm not in it, brother.

[AJ Hawk]

Yeah, you are.

[Pat McAfee]

What? Was your wife.

[AJ Hawk]

My wife?

[Pat McAfee]

Is your wife in a Royal Rumble?

[AJ Hawk]

Why would my wife be in the men's Royal Rumble? That's ridiculous.

[Connor]

Maybe not the men.

[AJ Hawk]

Ridiculous.

[Pat McAfee]

You're giving it anything away. Please.

[AJ Hawk]

It's ridiculous.

[Pat McAfee]

Not on this show. We don't want.

[AJ Hawk]

Grow up, guys. All of you.

[Pat McAfee]

All right? Be a friend. Tell a friend something nice. It might change their life. Have an incredible weekend. Royal Rumble tomorrow. Kickoff show for the entire weekend. Starts at 5:00. Then smackdown. Then we got the Pro bowl games on Sunday. Yes. It's a massive weekend of sport and this is going to be awesome. We can't thank you enough for allowing us to do this for a living. We're going to try to enjoy it all. Be a friend. Tell a friend something, Ice. It might change your life. We're in this thing together. Team on me. I like that.

[Shams Charania]

Hell, yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

Any final thoughts? It's kind of jockey if you want to speak to the group here.

[AJ Hawk]

Every day above ground is a good day.

[Ty Schmidt]

Boom.

[Pat McAfee]

Team on three. One, two, three. Team goodbye.