PMS 2.0 1296 - LIVE From the NFL Combine, Jim Harbaugh & Joe Hortiz, Adam Schefter, Nick Caserio

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Pat McAfee Show – PMS 2.0 1296 - LIVE From the NFL Combine

Introduction and Personal Anecdotes Pat McAfee opens the episode from Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, emphasizing the significance of the NFL Combine. He shares heartfelt stories about his recent family vacation to Disney World, highlighting moments of joy with his daughter and expressing gratitude for returning to work. Addressing rumors, Pat reassures listeners that he and his show are firmly committed to ESPN.

"[00:00] Pat McAfee: It's time to talk ball. It's time to talk sports. It's time to talk hockey. Maybe in a bigger, bigger way."

USA vs. Canada Hockey Showdown The hosts delve into the intense Four Nations hockey final between the USA and Canada. Pat describes the game as "the most devastating loss" he has experienced in sports recently, reflecting on the heightened emotions and national pride involved. The conversation touches on cultural tensions and the passionate responses from both teams' supporters.

"[04:53] Tone Diggs: Unreal."

Return to the NFL Combine Back at the Combine, Pat and his co-hosts discuss the bustling atmosphere and the competitive spirit among the prospects. They highlight the introduction of open quarterback competition, particularly focusing on Anthony Richardson, the Colts' quarterback.

"[02:12] Boston Connor: Hey, boys. Good work, boys."

Interview with Chargers’ Jim Harbaugh & Joe Ortiz Pat welcomes Jim Harbaugh and Joe Ortiz to the studio, engaging in an in-depth discussion about the Los Angeles Chargers' team culture. They explore the importance of finding players who "love ball" and fit seamlessly into the team's established ethos. Harbaugh emphasizes mental toughness, talent, and effort as key traits for players.

"[18:59] H: That's big up there. You know, we just got done draft meetings before we came out here, and that's one of the things we talked about."

NFL Free Agency & Aaron Rodgers Discussion The conversation shifts to free agency, focusing on Aaron Rodgers' uncertain future. Pat and the guests speculate on potential moves, including Rodgers possibly joining the Los Angeles Rams or exploring retirement options. They discuss the complexities of NFL contracts and team strategies in retaining star players.

"[09:27] Adam Schefter: Yeah."

NFL Draft and Combine Insights Pat and Nick Caserio, the General Manager of the Houston Texans, discuss the intricacies of the draft process. Caserio highlights the importance of player interviews, cultural fit, and the role of open competition in building a successful team. They debate the depth of the current draft class and the impact of aggressive plays like the "tush push" in special teams.

"[25:20] Pat McAfee: Southern cap gymnastics."

Specialist Showcase and Live Show Dynamics During the live broadcast from the Combine, Pat narrates the Specialist Showcase, where kickers, punters, and snappers compete. Technical issues briefly interrupt the show, but the team quickly resumes. Pat emphasizes the significance of these specialized roles in the NFL.

"[60:00] Boston Connor: Just a quick glance in case something gets left on."

Interview with Houston Texans’ General Manager Nick Caserio Nick Caserio joins the discussion, providing insights into the Texans' strategies post-General Manager stint in New England. He underscores the importance of cultural alignment, player discipline, and adaptability in team building. Caserio addresses recent controversies, contract negotiations, and the ongoing search for talent during the Combine.

"[136:02] Nick Caserio: So this is D'Amico's opportunity to really meet some of these players for the first time."

Closing Remarks and Final Thoughts As the episode nears its end, the hosts recap key discussions about team culture, player evaluations, and draft strategies. Pat emphasizes the importance of mental toughness and adaptability in the ever-evolving landscape of the NFL. The episode concludes with light-hearted interactions and acknowledgments of upcoming events.

"[155:01] Pat McAfee: I'm very fascinated by this draft class because like, you know, with college game day..."

Notable Quotes:

• "Any Canadian." – Pat McAfee [05:37]
• "Houston, Texas." – Nick Caserio [153:09]
• "Talent, effort, and toughness." – Pat McAfee [27:30]

Key Topics Covered:

1. Team Culture and Player Fit: Emphasizing the significance of cultivating a cohesive team environment where players are not only talented but also align with the team's work ethic and values.
2. Free Agency Dynamics: Exploring the complexities surrounding star players like Aaron Rodgers, including potential trades, contract negotiations, and retirement considerations.
3. Draft Process and Player Evaluation: Discussing the methods teams use to assess and select players during the Combine, highlighting the balance between physical performance and cultural fit.
4. Specialized Roles in the NFL: Highlighting the importance of kickers, punters, and snappers in the game, and how their performance can influence team strategies.
5. Current NFL Landscape: Analyzing recent developments, such as the Chargers' open quarterback competition and the Texans' approach to building their roster.

Conclusion: This episode of The Pat McAfee Show offers a comprehensive look into the NFL Combine, featuring expert interviews, strategic discussions, and personal anecdotes. Pat McAfee successfully blends professional insights with relatable stories, providing listeners with a thorough understanding of the current state and future directions of NFL teams and players.

Transcript

[Pat McAfee]

Hello, beautiful people, and welcome to Lucas Oil Stadium in beautiful Indianapolis, Indiana, the forever home of the scouting Combine. This program starts now. Combine is what it's all about. The reason why we are in this glorious stadium on this magical set with that majestic jib and back from a very, very long vacation. It is an absolute honor to be here celebrating the future of the NFL, knowing that the current of the NFL is the greatest league on earth. Now I do have a little bit a sun kiss on my face and my entire body. The past two weeks post super bowl, my wife, my daughter, my family and I have had a wonderful time. Went down to a beautiful island, even though tiny Hinchcliffe says opposite Puerto Rico. Had an absolute blast. The people were amazing. Went to Disney World. Shout out to Michael, shout out to John, shout out to Kelsey for making that a magical experience for my daughter. And watching her have pure joy whenever she ran into those characters actual brought tears to my eyes. Am I a big sappy softy now that I have a daughter? I think so. It was magical. It was majestic. Shout out to Mike Foss from espn piecing that together. And while we were down there during our break with how long it was, some people were wondering, I've heard in the industry, oh, Pat McAfee and the show are never coming back to ESPN. They thought we were going to sail off into the sunshine, never come back. Then I pop my ass into Disney and I think, is this not enough of a mention? I am literally in Mickey Mouse's town having the time of my life. We are so incredibly grateful that we get to do this. I think that was a lot of the thought while we were gone is just gratitude, perspective, appreciation, Appreciation. And also, it's time to get back to work. It's time to talk ball. It's time to talk sports. It's time to talk hockey. Maybe in a bigger, bigger way. Maybe the NBA's got a little bit of juice with this trade that took place and with Luka doing a triple double against the Dallas Mavericks last night right in front of Nico's face. And it's time to talk about what's going to happen on this field and in these suites around this glorious stadium. Obviously, I'm not alone. I am surrounded by the greatest group of dudes that you could ever gathered. Ladies and gentlemen, the talks of tables here at Boston. Connor at Ty Schmidt. One half of the Hammer done Cowboys. Tone Diggs is here. All the boys are in the back in the truck. Way to go, boys.

[Boston Connor]

Hey, boys. Good work, boys.

[Pat McAfee]

Hope you guys Had a great break. And obviously Gumpy doesn't get a solo shot there. He's off by himself. Fox. There he is. Okay. Good to see you, Gumpy. Hope you boys had a. There's Nick. Okay, I hope everybody had a great break. Let's start with Yukon Man. I see the USA jersey, the USA tarp shout out to our friends at seatgeek. You were actually at that.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

Devastating.

[Tone Diggs]

No doubt.

[Pat McAfee]

Four nations finals against Canada. And let me tell you, I sent this in the group. That was the most devastating loss. Okay. That I have experienced in sports in some time. Sure.

[Tone Diggs]

No doubt.

[Pat McAfee]

I was at Disney World with my family, watching my daughter dance with Goofy and Minnie and Mickey. Watching my wife have the time of her life, watch her daughter do her thing. So much courage, so much moxie out of our daughter. We did a breakfast with the characters the first morning we were there. Didn't even have a negative thought in my mind until two tables down, Mickey shows up. And there's a full meltdown from two kids. Full meltdown. Scared to death of Mickey. Minnie shows up even more scared. Kid tried to flip the table. Kid tried to get out of there. It was at that moment I realized, oh, this could go bad. This could go really bad. What if mackenzie's scared to death of these characters? This is going to be a terrible weekend. They come over, she starts dancing. She starts at that time of her life. I'm like, this is gonna be amazing. It was. I don't know how many people leave Disney World. Parents say, it was a great time. We are very lucky. We got the whole hookup from Mike Foss, from Michael, from John, from Kelsey. I'm living the high life. I'm a dad. I'm in Florida. It was 65 degrees.

[Tone Diggs]

Oh, perfect.

[Pat McAfee]

65 degrees.

[Tone Diggs]

Interesting.

[Pat McAfee]

It was perfect. I pop on that final against stupid Canada. Sorry. Sorry.

[Boston Connor]

No, you mean it.

[Ty Schmidt]

You said what you meant in that context.

[Pat McAfee]

With everything going on with USA and Canada right now. And obviously there are some very serious implications which. Listen, we're not a part of all that.

[Ty Schmidt]

No.

[Pat McAfee]

But there was a lot of chirping going on between the Canadians and the Americans. Four nations thing that happened for the NHL All Star, for USA to play Canada, and for the first time, for them to boo our national anthem. Okay. With everything going on. And then our boys used to be like, three fights in nine seconds. You're talking about 10 million people watch it. One of the most anticipated hockey games of all time. And I could not wait to wake up the next morning in Disney World. And say, sorry, game now. Okay, it's our game now. Instead, the leader of a country that stepped down. Did he then he stepped down.

[Boston Connor]

Tweet like he didn't.

[Tone Diggs]

Someone called him something and he got a little emotional. And I think instead of stepping down.

[Pat McAfee]

When he was out of that ski resort.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

So he steps down and then he's like, our country, our sport. It's like they earn that. But with that being said, what a game. What a sport.

[Tone Diggs]

Unreal.

[Pat McAfee]

And shout to our friends at sea, Geek. You were actually there on the ice, Con man. Yeah.

[Tone Diggs]

Shout out seatgeek. Shout out you for putting it together. It was incredible. The best atmosphere I think I've ever been a part of. We're good with 50. We don't want Canada still holds true. I thought maybe Mexico still don't want them either, but it was amazing. This was the national anthem you mentioned. Atmosphere. That was the loudest national anthem I've ever been a part of. You know, been to a Super bowl. That was honestly better. When it comes to environments, the boys were flying around in, in the hate was real. You know, when everyone was coming out, it was. Nobody was sitting down, everybody was on their feet. You know, I had to kind of bite my tongue multiple times because I wanted to say bad things to people in, you know, Canada jerseys, both children and grown ups. And I decided.

[Pat McAfee]

Any Canadian.

[Tone Diggs]

Exactly.

[Pat McAfee]

Hey, buddy.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah.

[Tone Diggs]

Anybody wearing red to a certain point. But, you know, you also have to kind of read between the lines a little bit. The tension in the air was palpable. The entire game was amazing. You know, for it to go to overtime, even just made it into a better atmosphere. And of course, like you mentioned, it stunk that the game ended how it was. But I think the biggest thing for me was how awesome hockey is, truly how great of a game it is. And, you know, as football ends now, you know, we still got the combine, we still got free agency, we got these other things happening.

[Pat McAfee]

Draft rumors. Bullshit. Yeah.

[Tone Diggs]

All that, you know, fun stuff. Stuff. But thinking about where hockey is now, you know, Matthew Tkachuk was on one of the Tonight shows, you know, talking about the game. And that's the other thing about Matthew tkachuk. Him, Charlie McAvoy, like, those guys potentially are out for the rest of the NHL season. And that's not really a talking point because how much of a success the entire thing was. I went to the Sweden game on Monday. Sweden. Sweden. Usa. Before the final. And that was just as electric. And then, of course, you know, the Canada USA game Start to finish, overtime. It was one of the best experiences.

[Pat McAfee]

Austin Matthews got to put that top. Chad. We obviously got to cover Mick Jesus. Even though he doesn't like the name, that is what he looks like on the ice. It was amazing for the sport of hockey, and obviously I was bummed out that we weren't live while it was taking place. Yes. Then I woke up on Friday morning after we lost. I'm, like, happy. We don't have to talk about that. We don't have to talk about that. Last night, other things happened during the break. How was your break, though? Good?

[Tone Diggs]

Oh, fantastic. Yeah, Wonderful.

[Pat McAfee]

Thanks for representing the program up there.

[Tone Diggs]

Thank you for getting it done down there. Those were not the cheapest seats.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. $40,000 in tickets. Shout out to Seatgeek. Sea Geek got us the tickets. Cheapest tickets price that you possibly, possibly get. That's what they do with everything. Sea Geek is the greatest ticket buying platform on planet Earth and the moon. As we echo through the lobby of the concourse here. If. When we go.

[Tone Diggs]

If we went.

[Boston Connor]

We did.

[Pat McAfee]

Did you dive into that anymore? Yeah.

[Tone Diggs]

And I am further in my beliefs.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay, all right. We don't need to dive into that. We've never been to the moon. Day one. We ain't never been.

[Tone Diggs]

And there's nothing wrong with that.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay. And the birds thing, I mean, I watched video this morning. There's a lot of conversation. We're back. What are you. Okay, so hockey. We lose to Canada in the finals. It's your game until, I think the Olympics are coming up right around the corner. Yeah. So it'll be ours then. Delayed. Okay. Anything worth having. It might take a little bit. We'll take your sport at another time. Congrats again, Canada. Sure. Thank you.

[Gumpy]

Thank you very much. Been delayed for a while now.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay. Gump. We won curling. You remember when curling. Matty Hamilton won into Canada, said, this is our game now. You remember that? When you guys throw that rock on the ice and you curve it like it's bocce, but we win it. And, Gumps, weren't you pulling for America at one point? Not against Canada, but against the other teams?

[Nick Caserio]

I always am pulling for America.

[Pat McAfee]

You guys are my brothers.

[Nick Caserio]

And I wasn't even going to tweet. I was just going to enjoy the tournament. And then Taylor Lawan actually decided that he invented hockey, so I just couldn't keep quiet anymore.

[Pat McAfee]

I had to let him out.

[Boston Connor]

Is this guy coming live from US or Canada?

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, he's in America. Dreams come true. Obviously. And, Gumpy, we Love you. We appreciate you. Congrats to the Canadians. Actually have to take a trip to Canada this weekend. And I had a wardrobe already fit.

[Ty Schmidt]

Sure.

[Pat McAfee]

Already ready for everything that was going on.

[Boston Connor]

Big bald eagle can still wear it.

[Pat McAfee]

Was going to. Don't. Now if I wear it, it's a little different in connotation. Changes now if I wear it, it's like, yeah, we won.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. And I'm not in that conversation, you know, because I GRE at Niagara Falls, the Canadian side, going to old Casino, New Casino, Wild mushroom whenever I'm like a teenager, because you gotta be 19 up there. My brother's four years older than me. We look very similar. So I had a good time in Canada. Whatever the case, they'll let. I'll let everybody else handle that. I just hope we win the hockey stuff going forward against them because hockey is awesome. Now. Other things happen during the break. Ty, I hope you had a fantastic break. The jets told Aaron Rodgers. Yeah. He was not wanted over there.

[Adam Schefter]

Yeah.

[Ty Schmidt]

And, you know, apparently, you know, they slipped up a little bit yesterday. Darren Bougie, you know, we'll get into that. Okay, sure. But, I mean, we expected this to happen. I don't think this was crazy news. But now where's Rogers going to go next? This is kind of like the best part of the. Of the offseason in general. You know, you got Steelers fans. Maybe they want him, maybe they don't. I don't know. But then all of a sudden, there's the rumor coming out, actually, you know, with Matt Stafford maybe on the move, maybe Rogers fancies being an LA Ram. Maybe he, you know, wants to play for Sean McVay, and. And maybe he's going to bring Devonte with him as well.

[Pat McAfee]

We are gone for two weeks. It feels like so much had happened in our world. And obviously, we're keeping track of everything while also checking out, refreshing, resetting, but also keep everything because we get to talk about sports, so we have to know our shit, especially whenever it involves one of our guys. I mean, Aaron's one of our guys front of the program. A lot of people around here on this concourse don't love that. No, but that's just the reality of the situation and how it goes. But Aaron from our source says currently out of country. When gets back, potentially next week, we'll join the program. Okay.

[Nick Caserio]

Awesome.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay. I did ask about Ram's situation to our source. Open everything attached to nothing. Big fan of Sean McVay, though, so.

[Tone Diggs]

Hold on.

[Pat McAfee]

I don't know what all Goes what doesn't? But I think right now, everybody's trying to figure it out. And also remember Aaron Rodgers. Open to everything, attached to nothing. Potential retirement, too. Sure. So, like, there is a lot of conversation around that. That took place during the break. That was awesome. And since the combiner started. Tone, I hope you had a fantastic break. You look amazing. Congrats to Tone. By the way, stick with this diet thing he's doing. He carries around one of those hydration bottles.

[Boston Connor]

Just Gatorade bottle?

[Pat McAfee]

No, it's not just a Gatorade. It's an oversized one, and it stays cold all the time.

[Tone Diggs]

It clangs.

[Pat McAfee]

In there. You do it in public. Whatever the case, we're proud of you. Congratulations. Congratulations. Speaking of being healthy, something happened during the break. And before we get to you, Tony, we'll talk about another Italian. I don't know if I should break Gumby. Is this already out there?

[Nick Caserio]

Yeah, it is out there.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay. So Conceifa head coach Tony Meola suffered a heart attack last week. Had 100% blockage, I believe, in one of his arteries. Came out of nowhere. I got a text the night of, and then I got a chance to talk to Tony. I think either the next day or the day after that. And he said that the doctors told him, like, a week. In a week, he'll feel better than he has felt in a long time because of how clogged that was. But it was like real cardiac arrest. There was a real moment like that. So to Tony Miola, we want to let you know, thank you for your service to Conceifa this past year at tst. But also, the whole world's pumped. You're still with us, brother.

[Tone Diggs]

Okay, coach.

[Pat McAfee]

And he sent a magical text message. I don't know how many people got it, but it was like a message of like, hey, boys, let's lock in.

[Boston Connor]

Scared me a little bit, too.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, he said, like, let's lock in. Cause I think he let himself go. You know, he even admitted that he was back on the path. I think he had lost 30 pounds since we had seen him or 40 pounds since seeing him. But he thinks, you know, he'd probably done too much damage already at that point. And sent, like, a very heart. It was like a very. Like, I almost got tear to my eye. It was like, hey, let's remember, boys, that this all can change in an instant. Whenever you have this type of situation, you think about that, especially when you're on the other side of it. His son, I think, was the one that Potentially, yeah. So it's like. It's a full thing, so we're very happy and we're thankful that you're the asshole carrying around this thing to make sure you stay hydrated. Now, our ears have to deal with it, and our eyes have to deal with it, and everything you're around, we have to deal because we hear it hitting everything. But we're not going to joke about you getting healthy. We're proud of you. Thank you.

[Boston Connor]

I appreciate it.

[Pat McAfee]

Now, a lot of things have happened in sports with Four Nations. Talk about Aaron. Obviously, the NBA had the biggest trade with Luka and Anthony Davis, and they're potentially coming back into the forefront of conversation. I think they need more likable superstars. Thought about the NBA a lot during the break because Tyrese Halliburton, friend of ours. And the Pacers have the best record in 2025.

[Tone Diggs]

Oh, okay. Hang the banner. Okay?

[Boston Connor]

They will.

[Tone Diggs]

Who gives a shit? All right. The Celtics are gonna win the NBA.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay. Yeah. That's the problem with espn.

[Tone Diggs]

It's real.

[Pat McAfee]

But I thought about it because, like, Tyrese is front of the program, and I thought to myself, like, is Tyrese the only likable superstar in the NBA? So you start going around. It's like LeBron was. Obviously, he's been famous for 25 years at this point, so it's not his job to carry league. It's not his job to be out there. But all the other superstars, it feels like they don't really care if people like them. And it's like, hey, I think whenever you're a league, to get the casuals in there, there has to be some sort of connection. You know, it has to be some sort of likability. So for the Pacers to have the best record in 2025, I think is good news for the NBA, because Tyrese Halliburton hopefully going to get a little bit more. When you talk about a guy with moxie flair, he's a little bit of a nerd. Little bit of a nerd, but a dog out on the court. He's a guy that's very. I think there's. And he's not scared to, like, talk. You know, he gets it. He understands that people, like. He wants it to be a show. He wants people to like. I think that's the NBA's biggest issue now. When Luka going to LA, especially with what he did last night, I think there's a chance that the NBA is in a good spot. Let's get back to the NFL.

[Nick Caserio]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

Combine starts earlier this week. Didn't know that was the case. A lot of things have happened. We have some early headlines quickly from the headlines of the press conferences that have already taken place from this particular combine. Tone.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah, a lot of people are talking. All the GMs, almost all the coaches are talking.

[Pat McAfee]

And.

[Boston Connor]

And I figured we would start right here in Indianapolis. Colts GM Chris Ballard was talking about his quarterback, Anthony Richardson.

[Pat McAfee]

Everything's on the table. It'll be open. That's correct. And of course, it's got to be somebody that can really challenge from a production standpoint, too. It's got to be the right guy to create real competition. But we want to create real competition. I think it's good for the team. I think it's good for Anthony. I mean, I don't like when we draft. We drafted Anthony High knowing it was going to take some time, all right. And we knew there's going to be some hiccups along the way, and it's, it's, you know, I know we all want to finish product right now. I do. You do, fans do. We all do. But I think as he continues to progress in his young career, us adding competition, I think we'll will help up everybody's game. Yeah, I think it will up everybody's game. And that's obviously big news because a guy that was drafted number four overall just a couple years ago, he's only played like 14 games in two years, has obviously a litany of injuries, question marks, huge amount of talent, which is what you draft somebody on, hasn't been able to play as much team hasn't really had much success. And whenever you walk around the building, you start hearing some things. This building that we've been in here for the last couple days, where it's like, Colt's got a lot of things to figure out. Okay. But maybe they will be able to. And if it's open competition, it's quarterback spot, maybe that sends a message to the rest of the locker room. Maybe everything gets tightened up for a lot of talent in one locker room, and maybe the Colts are on the go. Open competition is quite a phrasing for a guy that was number four overall pick a couple years ago. But interesting. Certainly happening to start the week here. Yeah. Yeah.

[Tone Diggs]

It's funny you mentioned us being around here because I was actually around here as well, and I've actually heard that it's worse than what you said.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay.

[Tone Diggs]

Now, the things that you said were one thing, but, you know, it's actually worse than what's being projected out there. And I just want to let the people in the Apples know, those two Super Bowls before 2030, it ain't happening.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay.

[Tone Diggs]

You better go for 2050. I don't think we're getting one, Pat. I think this is over. I want my taxes back.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay. No. Building sucks. I mentioned it. Taxes. A lot of conversation about taxes while we were gone. Yeah, we don't need to get into those talks. We don't get into that. But yeah, I don't think it's just Indianapolis, you know, where we're hearing these horror stories from people that we know around this combine. Everybody in the NFL is here.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. We happen to know a lot of people. We just happen living Indianapolis, so we don't get to see a lot of people. A lot of conversation. There is potential culture issues in places. Yeah. Okay. Let's talk about a culture that has been built though. A culture that has been established. Ladies and gentlemen, I think you got to lift that. So the legends will join us, the men who were tasked with taking the Chargers to the Super Bowl. Justin Herbert, Michigan man, National champion. Jim Harbaugh and Joe Ortiz, Chargers.

[Boston Connor]

Let me give you guys.

[Pat McAfee]

Oh, coach. Coach. Yes, Coach. I need it up top. Okay. One this one and then two that one. And then the audio control. Yeah. One or two. It should be able to get over to you.

[Tone Diggs]

She ain't that.

[Pat McAfee]

There you go.

[Ty Schmidt]

There it is.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah, Works perfect.

[Pat McAfee]

Can you hear us?

[Gumpy]

I can.

[Pat McAfee]

Can you hear us?

[H]

Yes, sir.

[Ty Schmidt]

There it is.

[H]

Yep, got me.

[Boston Connor]

There we go.

[Pat McAfee]

Let's go. Hey, it's 2025. NFL general manager. I got the mic. Okay. We will figure this all time. We're talking about. So, coach, as you guys know, and Joe, as you guys know, this is like a spring break almost for the entire NFL. Used to be, at least everybody comes here, everybody meets here, everybody gathers here. A lot of conversations. A lot of the ex players that I know have been talking about potential culture issues in places, whether it's work ethic or. You okay?

[Boston Connor]

Yeah, I'm great.

[H]

I'm great.

[Tone Diggs]

He was.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay. So with that being said, good culture there. Didn't even have to say anything. Kind of looked out for each other, but it feels like a lot of guys are talking about right now. It might not be as easy to find a guy who loves ball or is as committed to work. Maybe some teams are having that kind of ooze through an entire locker room. And culture is the biggest thing. We got a chance to go into your building. Your culture seems magnificent. When you're at this place, I'll start with you, Joe. Finding guys that love ball that fit your culture, is that the most important, important part of this entire thing?

[H]

That's big up there. You know, we just got done draft meetings before we came out here, and that's one of the things we talked about. Coach sat in them. And that's one of the questions we have. How much does a guy love ball and will he fit into our culture? That we've established already, and that's what we're here doing, interviewing guys with.

[Pat McAfee]

How do you do you ask questions like, how do you figure out if a guy likes ball or not?

[H]

Well, I tell you what, if you sat in the meetings with us, watch coach work in there, and his energy, when they match his energy, you know, they love it.

[Pat McAfee]

Coach, let's talk about that. As soon as you got in the NFL, we were excited. We celebrated. Oh, yeah, we said, jim, back in the NFL, this is good news.

[Gumpy]

Thank you.

[Pat McAfee]

We love you. But we also know that as soon as a hardball comes into a team, just like at Michigan, just like at Stanford, just like at San Francisco, just like every. I assume back at San Diego, everywhere you go, physical team. Yeah. This is what we do. This is how we describe. Oh, yeah.

[Gumpy]

Kenny Powers, one of my favorite actors right here. Connor.

[Pat McAfee]

Absolutely. Hey, but coach, that's a real deal. That's how we describe your teams. That's how we describe your teams. So, like, when you're at this event, finding those types of guys, he talked about these meetings. Do you know immediately or how do you know if a guy is a hardball type guy?

[Gumpy]

Well, I mean, there's. I mean, it's just not a hardball guy. It's a football guy, you know, I mean, how can you tell? I mean. Yeah, you can. Some, you know, in the interactions, I mean, some guys are just. You can just tell that they're them, you know, they're not trying to bull crap you, you know, and. And mainly they just, you know, look at the tape, you know, I mean, what you do speaks so loudly that we don't even have to hear what you say. And the reports that they get from the, you know, from their coach at the school. I mean, you know, just. How do we know? I mean, you talk about our culture. You were there.

[Pat McAfee]

I mean, fantastic.

[Gumpy]

You were there in the weight room.

[Pat McAfee]

Your culture is fantastic.

[Gumpy]

Center of player development. You know, I just look at how guys train, you know, how they work on the field and how they work in the weight room and you know, the. We just looked at our report card. You know, our players gave our weight room, our training environment, an A plus. Great.

[Pat McAfee]

So as they should get. Trying to get into the Silver Bells Club. There you go. Obviously, something. That is what everybody is trying to do.

[Gumpy]

That's Ben Herbert. That's all Ben Herbert.

[Adam Schefter]

Herb.

[Gumpy]

You love Herb, right?

[Pat McAfee]

Love Herb Yinzer, right? I think he's a Yinzer. Yeah. Yeah, yeah. He's a Yunzi. He's from Pittsburgh. Yeah.

[Gumpy]

If you don't love Herb, then, yeah, you don't like to train. You don't like to. You don't like to get in there and move weight, and that might be.

[Pat McAfee]

The way to figure it out. Let's bring Herb in here. Let's have a conversation for two minutes. What do you think of that guy? I love him. Deal. What do you think of that guy? A little bit too much. Sweet. Let's get you the hell out of here. He was electric whenever we talk.

[Gumpy]

I totally wanted to do that, too. I mean, I've been saying that.

[Pat McAfee]

I said we talked about it.

[Gumpy]

Hey, let's get. Let's. Let's bring Herb here to the interviews. Let's get a guy in front of herb for 15 minutes. I mean, we're gonna.

[Pat McAfee]

You legitimately, I think it would. Because it's.

[Gumpy]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

And.

[Gumpy]

And Herb. Herb preferred to stay back and train guys. Of course.

[Boston Connor]

That's how he's built conflict.

[Pat McAfee]

Absolutely. Okay, last question for me, and then the boys will have something. We appreciate you guys taking time legitimately. I know you're very busy. Welcome to Indianapolis. Welcome back to Indianapolis. Obviously. Yeah, you're a ring of honor here, coach. Let's go.

[Tone Diggs]

It's near Colts Nation.

[Pat McAfee]

I think it's over. I think.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah, yeah, right there.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, right there. Yeah.

[Tone Diggs]

Yeah. Up top center.

[Pat McAfee]

Boom, boom. Ted Marchabrota, right before Colts Nation. Jim Harbaugh. Now, you didn't spend a lot of time here, but you are beloved here. Okay? You just need to know.

[Gumpy]

As are you. As are you.

[Pat McAfee]

That I think that is accurate. I think that is. Brought Royal Rumble here, got wrestled.

[Gumpy]

I need so many more high fives now. Just people just randomly on the street, you know, I get. Get a high five saw.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah.

[Gumpy]

The McAfee Show. That was so cool.

[Pat McAfee]

That high five plaque that we got you.

[Gumpy]

It's.

[Pat McAfee]

It's.

[Gumpy]

It's front and center right there in the desk.

[H]

Still going strong.

[Gumpy]

I give him at least one high five a day.

[Pat McAfee]

That was the goal. Tim McAfee would be pumped to hear that. Last question. For me, though, before the boys have theirs. Coach, you've been there for a year now. Okay. Last year, going into the season, you talking about the Chargers was a lot of. Justin Herbert is. Yeah, we found the golden goose, so we got this guy. We're going to protect this guy. Justin Herbert is the guy that you're looking for whenever you're trying to look for a guy. That was the entire messaging. We're going to build around them. One year with the Chargers now obviously had some success. We thought we're going to go much sooner than I think a lot of people were projecting you guys to get your thing in there. You won a lot earlier one year in now. What did you learn about the team? What'd you learn about Herbert and, like, kind of, where are you as a Chargers head coach?

[Gumpy]

Yeah, all those things. Super excited about version 2.0 with the team. I mean, we did not. We did not achieve the ultimate success. I mean, there's. There's only one team that's happy in the NFL right now, and that's the Philadelphia Eagles. Regarding Justin, he's everything that we thought he was. All of us, I mean, why we're here, I mean, is to level up, level up, level up our game. Joe's doing it, I'm doing it. Just getting up every single morning. We got to level up for Justin, for Derwin, for Khalil, for Joey, for Rashaun Slater. I mean, incredible group of guys didn't get the ultimate success, but there were some. There was definitely unmitigated success along the way. And keep building, build, build, build, get better, better, better.

[Pat McAfee]

I feel like everybody knows what they're going to get in your building at this point. Like, we were even talking to, like, the chefs. I mean, the chefs.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah, Phenomenal.

[Pat McAfee]

The whole building, Joe, is magnetic.

[H]

All going in the right direction.

[Pat McAfee]

Everyone's moving together from the RV till now. Feels like you guys are already rolling the boys. You mentioned a name in there. I assume that Connor's going to ask about.

[Tone Diggs]

Well, Joe, I was actually curious about the salary cap right now. The huge conversation, you know, of course, is with the Bengals, how they have so many great players.

[Pat McAfee]

Right.

[Tone Diggs]

And it's hard to retain all those guys. And for you guys as well, you have so much young talent on there. Rashawn Slater, Sure. You know, Joe, Walt Lad McConkey now is a guy, and they're still a few years out, but how do you kind of project when to pay people? Like, how do you know when's the right time? How much do you do. You try and always go to the top of the market for some guys, if they deserve it, or how do you know when the timing is right? Because obviously some teams get into cap hell. We don't really believe in the cap space.

[Pat McAfee]

Southern cap gymnastics.

[Tone Diggs]

Yeah, we think you can do anything you want to pay people. The Eagles are one of those teams. They just did it and they, you know, won the Super Bowl. So how do you kind of project those things?

[H]

Yeah, you know, you just, you look forward, certainly when you have young players, you know, you can't sign any of them until after three years, you know, in the league, unless they're undrafted free agent. But you forecast it, you want to get ahead of it. But there is a. There's a fine line, there's a delicate balance, when to strike, when to do things. Obviously, we got there this year, both new to the organization, so we wanted to get there and feel out the team and get to know the guys. And now we're moving forward and starting to address those issues in those contracts. And that's what we're working for this offseason. We'll work towards during the season and try to stack them, keep as many good players as we can.

[Gumpy]

And the guys who play, who play 17 games, who play all the games, I mean, that's. That's the ones. That's the ones we want to pay the guys that are, that their, their availability is their best ability. Guys that are playing 18 games out there, you know, fighting, giving everything they can for their. For their teammates, you know, that's. Competitors welcome. Los Angeles Chargers. What better place to compete than on game day?

[Pat McAfee]

I think that's a sign right in the building. Competitors welcome. Or you said it in here. And I remember going into the last week of the season, it was already locked in your seating and everything like that. Everything was already figured out. And there was a lot of conversation around the league about who's playing, who's not playing, who's going to try to play, who's not going to try to play. And there's a lot of, you know, conjecture every single year about, well, you get cold, you get rust. Is it rest or is it rust or rust? Yeah. And then we talked to you, and I asked you, I'm like, so, what are you going to do? This was in the cafeteria, and you said, I think we're about one week out from our toughness level, our peak toughness, that we need to be going into the playoffs. I think four more quarters will harden us to where we need to be at the toughness level. So, yeah, we're playing. Yeah, that is. That's kind of my idea. My thought. Do you. It sounds like you truly believe that toughness, number one thing for a football team, you think what. What is Obviously talent you have to have, but toughness is the number one trait that your team needs to have it.

[Gumpy]

It'd be right there tied with talent and effort. Those would be the top three.

[Pat McAfee]

Talent, effort and toughness and whatever.

[Gumpy]

By your talent and effort, you will be known as a football player.

[Pat McAfee]

You know, a guy that's known. Khalil Mack. What are you gonna do?

[Gumpy]

Come on, Joe. Come on, Joe.

[H]

Khalil knows how I feel about him and we'd love to have him back and we're gonna work towards that. You know, we had good conversations right after the season.

[Gumpy]

Pay the man, Joe.

[Pat McAfee]

Right. That is amazing. So, but back to his question about paying people.

[H]

Yes.

[Pat McAfee]

When you pay people. Yes. And we're talking about the Sally Cap gymnastics and it being fake and people doing that. You kick can down the road, inevitably it comes.

[H]

It does. You play the piper.

[Pat McAfee]

You got to hit on draft picks, right? Yep. In that kind of. The supplement that is like a huge part of roster construction is whenever you pay guys at the top end, you're gonna need your cheap young guys that you drafted are on limited contracts for at least three years, undrafted guys, whatever they need to perform at a high level. When you're at a combine, how many people are like a draft? I don't know how many picks you have. I should have had done the research, whatever it is. How many people are you trying to get out of each draft? Like, what is a proper projection of, like, teams hitting in a draft?

[H]

Yeah, I mean, you know, we try to hit on every one.

[Pat McAfee]

Exactly.

[H]

I mean, that's the goal. That's. I mean, if that's not your goal, you're approaching it the wrong way. So we're going to try to hit nail every pick. That's why we pour so many resources into it. We have the coaches here, we have all the scouts here. We're at pro days and, you know, ultimately, will you hit on everyone? Probably not. But that's our goal. That's our mindset.

[Pat McAfee]

Probably not. Stats say yes. There's going to be guys that don't make it in the NFL that get drafted. I love that your mindset is like, yeah, maybe. I mean, that's the pat. That's not our decision. Never know. I can't wait to watch what you guys get out of Here, especially with talent, effort, toughness.

[Boston Connor]

T E T oi, oi, oi.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. H T E T oi, oi, oi. Ty has a question for you.

[Ty Schmidt]

Speaking of all that and being here, how important is it actually being here in Indy and seeing these guys face to face? Because I think the last several years, as the combine's gotten a much bigger deal, like, we'll see, teams will be here Monday through Wednesday. They do the medicals and then they head out like they're not even here for the player interviews. They look at, you know, all the tape and all that kind of stuff. But. But for you guys, how important is it to actually be boots on the ground here and get in front of these guys face to face? Because it happens a lot. Someone will get drafted, and then, you know, a year or two years down the road, something pops up and it's like, well, how didn't this come up in the. In the draft process? How did the GM or the head coach see? So how important is it actually being here and kind of getting the most out of the combine?

[H]

Yeah, you know, just with the interviews itself, it could be our only exposure to the player, you know, and chance to sit in the room with them for 18 minutes, get a feel for them. And it may be for this year's draft. It could be for four years down the road, you know, when they become free agents. You know, we're making connections in there and trying to get a feel for the players in that room. And it's a great opportunity for us and the coaches. It's certainly the coaches first exposure to them, and then just seeing them out here on the field, just watching them compete on a level playing field, going against each other, you know, performing in front of us. It's a great opportunity to let the cream rise to the top.

[Pat McAfee]

And what are you doing? You're just being awesome the entire time you. Whenever you're out here.

[Gumpy]

Oh, just. I mean, spring, if you like football, where would. Where would you pick a better spring break destination?

[Pat McAfee]

Indianapolis.

[Gumpy]

Indianapolis for the combine?

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. It's beautiful this week, too, especially coming from la. You know, obviously everything that happened in la, nothing but positive vibes to everybody over there. I assume you guys had people that were very like, that was devastating, obviously, so nothing but positive vibes. But we talk about LA. Sean McVeigh was like the first one. I think that was like, I'm not coming to the competition. It was after they won the Super Bowl. And the only reason why we pay attention, obviously, is because it's here in Indianapolis. So anytime the contract is extended, the entire city celebrates. Like, we are very thankful that we host the combine and it is the NFL spring break and I think even like the service industry here very much understands. Like we are very thankful that the NFL is here. Places stay open.

[Gumpy]

They do an incredible job.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, people stay open for them to have meetings. So I think like that's when it kind of started. Combine will always be a thing, Coach. Combine will always be a big deal. Always.

[Gumpy]

I hope so.

[Pat McAfee]

What do you think that. What is your thoughts on it, like as the combine has gone? Because now it's like they'll flex the ratings. They will flex the ratings this weekend. It'll do better than any NBA game. It'll do better than any NHL game, which is a bummer. NHL is absolutely fantastic. But what are your thoughts on the combine, Coach Harbaugh, and where it is right now?

[Gumpy]

I love it. I mean, maybe I still look at it as a player, you know, with players eyes, but I mean, I, you know, couldn't wait for the combine, prepared for the combine. I mean, it was a chance to go and compete, you know, and I know some guys won't because for various reasons and they'll do what's best for them and I have total respect for that. But it's an opportunity to compete. Go Dazzle. You know, go knock the socks off of Joe Ortiz. And so yeah, I just, it's a, it's. Where else you're going to find that kind of opportunity?

[Pat McAfee]

I was, I wasn't invited to call him by. Thanks, Joey.

[H]

We voted for you, you know.

[Pat McAfee]

Hey, thank you, man. Thank you. I appreciate that.

[Gumpy]

But a guy will say he's a competitor. Hey, I'm a competitor. I'll compete at anything. I'll compete at tiddlywinks, you know. Okay, well, here's football, you know, you got an opportunity. Yeah, let's, let's go see it.

[Pat McAfee]

I would have. So I think it helped me though, build a, like, obviously a lot of spite and like motivation that I wasn't invited to the combine. So I thought like even the NFL doesn't think I'm supposed to be in their league. And I kind of use that as like the motivation of it all.

[Gumpy]

Oh, there's a lot of guys like that, you know, they'll have their opportunity at pro day, prove somebody, prove the people wrong who didn't invite them to the combine. I mean, that's, that, that's a, that's a great motivator too.

[Pat McAfee]

Hopefully there's a Great pro day, man. I had a great pro day. I felt real good coming out of the pro day, walking out of it. I'm like, maybe I did something there. And it was a little dry for a couple days. I'm like, oh, maybe I didn't.

[Adam Schefter]

Maybe.

[Pat McAfee]

Maybe it didn't do well. Because I don't think a lot of these guys, I mean, nowadays, because we have so much information and 4, 2, 1 last year, right? So now we have so much information. But like back in the day, you didn't know much. So, like, when you got on the field next to a guy, it was the first time seeing a guy. Like whenever we would play against team. This is coming from player, kicker, punter, low end totem pole, but still opportunity to be there whenever we want. Cyphers, who was the Chargers punter, he. That was the first time I was ever standing next to him and watching him do his thing in warmups. And warmups is like where kickers and punters, if they want to which most. It's like, hey, let's put on a show here. Let's see what you know, like, for me, I wanted the balls beat up. Like, hey, warm ups here. I want the corked bat. Like, I am hitting bombs. And the reason is Mike Cipher stood next to me and he hit a ball in this stadium. I will never forget it. It was towards this window. I thought it was going out of the window. He hit a ball that was so big and I was like, holy shit, I'm not supposed to be here. It was like one of my first couple years. I think that's the combine. Like, I think getting a chance to like be next to a quarterback, like just, hey, let's see how these balls in the same exact setting, same exact wide receivers. I think there's like a moment where you can really like find out. So I hope people keep competing out here legitimately. I hope.

[Gumpy]

Did you do putt, pass and kick as a kid?

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, national champion. I think I had to record for a while.

[Gumpy]

I apologize. I'm sure that's well documented.

[Pat McAfee]

No, it's not. No, it's not. It's quite. I got my ass booed when they announced. We don't talk about it much. I was representing the Steelers. Steelers played the Titans. It was a wild card game. I think it was in Tennessee.

[Gumpy]

Is there video footage of that? Like. Like Andy Reid, where he's like. He's like.

[Pat McAfee]

Like, you did pump as a kick.

[Gumpy]

I never got past. I. I won the. Every single time. I won the local But I couldn't get past the regional.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. Local is the. I went to a tiny little school in, like, a town next to Plum. I think it was in New Ken. I think I went into a school. There was like 13 guys, like, maybe at my age level. The champion, the reigning Pittsburgh champion was there. And he went there because there wasn't a lot of people. My mom and I did not know the scouting. Like, you can go to these that don't have a lot of people, so you can kind of get your way in there. And then your numbers get measured amongst the rest of the city, and then you get invited to the Pittsburgh 1 coach. When I talk about having perfect days, I mean. You're talking about the local one. I had a perfect. I hit the line. I hit the. Like. You know how they had a measuring stick?

[Gumpy]

So you won it all for your age group?

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, whole thing. And then when I got announced in Tennessee, they were playing the Steelers stadium. Booed me.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yep, there it is.

[Pat McAfee]

There it is. Hold on. That's not me. You got sound on this. You got sound on this. I throw the shocker here in a second to a coach. I mean, it's a nightmare. But, yeah, there's. And then here's me.

[Gumpy]

Wait for it.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. And I get booed. We don't have sound. All right. If we had sound. I get booed by the stadium. And then the commentators actually.

[Gumpy]

Yeah, they're booing right there.

[Pat McAfee]

Hold on.

[Gumpy]

The Steelers.

[Pat McAfee]

Hold on. Turn it up. Is there sound that sounds like music?

[Gumpy]

Yes.

[Tone Diggs]

Montage.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, that's my.

[Gumpy]

So got the trophy. The big trophy.

[Pat McAfee]

But the first one.

[Gumpy]

The first one was like the. The football player standing kind of straight up with us. And you won the second one football. I thought it was like a goal post, maybe trains.

[Pat McAfee]

And then got to a football. When I got a kick, I was.

[Gumpy]

In Iowa city, Iowa. I'm 8 years old, and I got a ride from. There's four other kids in the car. We drove to, like, Ames, Iowa, I remember. And I lost three. Three of the kids. Three of the five of us came back with this trophy. And the. They got him, you know, sitting there in the laps in the car. I'm. I'm by the window. I'm looking out the window.

[Pat McAfee]

Oh, no, that's a tough one.

[Gumpy]

I got tears coming down. I'm like, God, next. Next year, I've got to.

[Pat McAfee]

What was it, the punt or the kick that got you?

[Gumpy]

It was the kick. It was the kick. The punt was good. The throw was really good, and the Kick. I was a straight on kicker and it went sing like way off to the right.

[Pat McAfee]

Just killed me. The way they measure it is they put a, like a tape measure.

[Gumpy]

Tape measure.

[Pat McAfee]

Straight down.

[Gumpy]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

And then forever yard. You're off.

[Gumpy]

That gets taken off.

[Pat McAfee]

Subtracted Y. I hit the thing. Punt. Hit the thing like my punt. Hit the thing. Zero, subtract zero.

[Gumpy]

Oh, hit the tape.

[Pat McAfee]

Throw. Hit the thing. Zero, subtract like great day. Like I, I'm talking. It was down in Tennessee in a thing. It was. And Andy Reid is the greatest of all time at punt, passing, kick. Coach, let's go. Oh, it is amazing.

[Boston Connor]

80 yards.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. I mean look at the guys in the vest. They were so impressed. They had no idea. They couldn't even pull the grip. Andy Reid, that guy would go on to win multiple Super Bowls, be in the middle of a dynastic run, then lose to the Philadelphia Eagles in dramatic fashion. How will he bounce back? What do you think about how that game went, Coach Harbaugh, or the Super Bowl?

[Gumpy]

I just know how I felt. I mean, I felt the same disappointment that the Chiefs felt. They, they were probably less disappointed than we were because we didn't make it to the super bowl. And maybe there's teams that were more disappointed than us who didn't make the playoffs, but yeah, that's. I felt the same disappointment. You know that as I said, only one team's happy. The team that wins the Super Bowl.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay, so Joe, that's a question for you. You know, hard about football. We're going to be physical, physical. Team won. That's the team that won the super bowl right now. Knocked off the back to back world champs. Does that change anything with how you're building team or is that just kind of solidify your thoughts?

[H]

I think it solidifies what we, we, what we're doing. I remember on my, on my interview, coach was there and we talked about being physical, tough during my interview process and, and he's nodding his head and you know, so that's. We're both of the same mindset. We want to be out there and build the bully and not knock teams off and knock them off the ball.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yep, there it is.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah.

[Gumpy]

Football, football, football right there.

[Pat McAfee]

Football's always going to be that.

[Gumpy]

Yeah. In the trenches. In the trenches. Right.

[Pat McAfee]

I mean, always will be. I think there's some people that are trying to forget about that, you know, when they're building their team and when they're talking to the people that they're trying to get in their locker room. It's like, hey, gotta have tough people. This is gonna be a sport that you're gonna have to be tough. And I played punter, and that. The only reason why I'm saying that is because I'm watching a locker room, and it's like this guy is scraping, clawing to get to Friday, let alone to play on Sunday. It's like, you need to have tough people in your building, and that is.

[Gumpy]

You need to tell everybody you are national champion. I mean, you should be telling everybody. Pat.

[Pat McAfee]

Hey, I.

[Gumpy]

That should be on your gravestone right there. National champion part of it.

[Pat McAfee]

I will add that to him. Right. I should be more proud. I should be more proud. I didn't know that. Jim Harbaugh, captain, comeback, ring of Honor member, national champion. Gonna go down as a Hall of Famer. First ballot as quick as possible. For someone in. I don't. You're probably already in college football. I don't even know how many hall of Fames are already in. You're gonna do that to hear that you didn't win one. And then I won literally the only one. I mean, that makes you feel like it was a little bit more of an accomplishment.

[Tone Diggs]

Pretty cool.

[Pat McAfee]

So I should be proud.

[Gumpy]

Respect.

[Pat McAfee]

Did you. You would end up winning, though, right? You would go. You would go on to win one.

[Gumpy]

Or never at punt, pass, the kick. Yeah, I only won the locals.

[Pat McAfee]

Oh, so you literally never did.

[Gumpy]

I never.

[Pat McAfee]

Oh, no.

[Gumpy]

In three attempts, one in Iowa, one in Ann Arbor, Michigan. I could never get. I could never win the second one.

[Pat McAfee]

The state, the city, the stadium.

[Gumpy]

Yeah, the regional. I couldn't get past the regional.

[Pat McAfee]

I'll tell you.

[Gumpy]

Never got to a stadium.

[Pat McAfee]

You're a champion in our book. You actually are. Tone has a question.

[Boston Connor]

Coach, couple guys from your Michigan team coming out this year, and Kenneth, Grant, Mason Graham. Those are our first round tough dogs. You. I mean, I know you took Joe Alton and a couple Michigan guys. Guys last year. We. We looking at those guys this year.

[Gumpy]

Oh, absolutely. And. And Colson Loveland. Yeah. And Will Johnson. I mean, yeah, they all.

[Boston Connor]

They could all be first round.

[Gumpy]

I mean, they could. All four. All four could be first rounded. We looked this up. I said, I don't think there's ever been four first round draft picks from Michigan in. In. In the history of the draft. We looked that up and there's the most is three, so could be four, could be five, there could be a fifth that jumps in there. We'll see. You know, but yeah, super proud of those guys. And you know it's. We have the 22nd pick. We. You get one pick every 30. Every 32 picks. So yeah, you can see where the, where the good players are and the odds are you're gonna be playing against them. But, but we're gonna, we're gonna, we're.

[Pat McAfee]

Gonna get a good one.

[H]

We're just not gonna get all the good ones.

[Pat McAfee]

Pay them. Pay them. Joe.

[Gumpy]

Khalil back pay.

[Pat McAfee]

Pay the match. Draft them. Good.

[H]

Hopefully Ed's listening right now.

[Pat McAfee]

Maybe you guys need a punter to fill in. Middle of the season. Coach Harbo, we found this on the Internet of you about to. Looks like good flat drop table there. Looks like you're swinging a little bit outside of your body, but might be trying to go a little Aussie cross field. What is the swing here, coach?

[Gumpy]

Yeah, I don't know. I don't know what that swing is.

[Pat McAfee]

I mean look at the practice.

[Gumpy]

Look at the focus and concentration. I like the drop.

[Pat McAfee]

Great drop.

[Gumpy]

I went with the side straddles. Is there, but.

[Pat McAfee]

Well, you're coming across your body I think a little bit. So maybe you're trying to chop it on the returner because this is obviously punting to the returners so your punters don't have to punt a thousand balls.

[Gumpy]

Yeah, probably try to get. To try to get the cross field hook going. Hook roll.

[Pat McAfee]

They're doing some magical stuff with those footballs. I'm actually hosting the. The.

[Gumpy]

Yeah, tell us about that. We're all excited about that. Especially this morning. We heard, we heard music and so they were practicing.

[Pat McAfee]

So that was with local high school kids.

[Gumpy]

Okay.

[Pat McAfee]

They were running through all the drills so they can test all the different.

[Gumpy]

There's some youth kids out there in the morning too. Like 8 o'clock there was some. They were doing. They were doing pat and go.

[H]

Yeah, the high school kids.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, they were warm. That was the warm up for the. They did a full combine. I was watching some of the kids out here. There was. There was a punter that was hitting the ball like 55, 60 yards, turning it over. High school kid. But they were trying to get the camera angles on it. So then they had a bunch of kids running to 40. There's a D tackle, nose tackle kit. I don't know if he's a junior high school. He ran a 4 7. He looked like he was like 333, 35. So they were like running all these practice reps out here this morning.

[Gumpy]

But you got the kickers and punters and they're in the Snappers. They're going to be going day one and you're organizing it.

[Pat McAfee]

No, Randy Brown, who's the senior.

[Gumpy]

We know.

[Pat McAfee]

Randy.

[Gumpy]

Randy Brown.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, yeah. From Baltimore.

[Gumpy]

Yes.

[Pat McAfee]

He has been in the NFL for so long. He is so good. His brain, whenever it comes to this special teams is so good. What Baltimore did with Sam Cooke in the punt game changed the. I know everybody says the Aussies do and the Aussies certainly did. And they certainly, the Aussie style of punting changed football forever. And the Chargers, I think had one of the first ones way back in Darren Bennett. Darren Bennett, Yeah, I think Darren. Ben Bennett back in the day. Yeah. Big Dog too. I heard he could hit the ball very, very well. But what Sam Cooke started doing was like all these different cross punts and like misdirection shit.

[H]

He's a mechanic, dude.

[Pat McAfee]

It was so like for me, it changed my entire career. Cause I like watched it and I'm like, like, oh, we could probably do that a little bit. And we did. And it became the, it became so like. Well, I have massive respect for Coach Harbaugh, your brother, and obviously you, but him for the special team. What Randy, did you hold? Yeah. In college. I did not. I lied right. To Bill Pollion. But I did, I did hold for Vinnie. That was nerve wracking as shit. But like Randy was breaking down my holding to me yesterday that I never heard.

[Gumpy]

Like he said, you ever throw a pass, run a ball? Did you ever have a fire? Fire.

[Pat McAfee]

So my average, you know, I have the highest passer rating and potential QBR on Thanksgiving Day didn't go for a touchdown. Cause Antonio Brown tackled a tight end named Eric Swope out of Miami who was a basketball player, who was great special teamer for us. Thanksgiving Day we're playing the Pittsburgh Steelers. Little roll right? Punt, pass and kick that thing.

[Gumpy]

How far to go?

[Pat McAfee]

I don't remember.

[Gumpy]

How could you have the highest QBR without it being a touchdown?

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, it's that we made up. He did say on Thanksgiving Day. Yeah. But I think they say should have been a touchdown. Should have been a touchdown. Yeah. Here's punt, passing, kick. Coach Harbaugh, do you guys do any of this with the kickers and punters? Any athletic whenever you work them out?

[Gumpy]

Yeah, we, we, we J.K. scott, he's got a, he's got a good throwing arm. We threw one this this year. We had a fake against Atlanta. Did not, did not pick it up.

[Pat McAfee]

But those are always the worst.

[Boston Connor]

We didn't.

[Gumpy]

We actually did. We did. We didn't we didn't. We didn't.

[Pat McAfee]

He.

[Gumpy]

The throw was good, the route was good. We didn't execute the blocking as. As well.

[Pat McAfee]

That'll happen. That'll happen. You like a good fake or. No, you're taking. Yeah, you're taking.

[Gumpy]

When they work. When they work.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay. So whenever I was young, I used to play, like, scout team quarterback for the defense. First three years here at the Colts. Okay. So I'd work out the linebackers and then I would go throw on the shell, basically. Card. Whole thing.

[Gumpy]

Like seven on seven or were you throwing to a position?

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, yeah, we had no. Yeah, whole. Had like, linebacker, safety. I don't know what it's called.

[Gumpy]

You 7 on 7.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, probably with the. But it was. Yeah, I was throwing this skelly, so. Yeah, maybe. Skelly. Yeah, that's it. That's the word. Yeah, I was doing skelly. Skeleton. Yeah, we got it instead of the trenches. Got. Yeah, that's what I was doing.

[Gumpy]

Well, you had to be good then, if they trusted you to do that.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, I was spinning it. I was spinning a little bit, but I wanted to. I wanted to take it into a game. I want to take it into a game, you know?

[Gumpy]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

So I present him like, hey, fake punch are dope. You know, the NFL. I see it. I can spin it like, I can. I can throw it. I feel very good. Played quarterback growing up. Whenever we played backyard or street football was one of the first ones to go telephone pole. Telephone pole. Okay. I could get it the whole length of the field. So I was all time quarterback a lot of the times. Let's do this thing. And I think it was Coach Caldwell. Oh, maybe it's poly. I forget. I forget who I was having a conversation with. I was doing it in jest, but certainly suggesting, you know, it was like, come on, let the boys, like, you know, like kind of one of those. And the answer I got back was, so let me get this straight. We're gonna take Peyton Manning off the field. Okay. And I laughed so hard. I laughed so hard. I was like, yeah, all right. Maybe there's a better idea. I think there was Andrew Luck. And it was like, yeah, all right. Yeah, if we get one of these, that'd be good news.

[Boston Connor]

They had the free kick this year.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. That was awesome. Yeah.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah, that was cool.

[Pat McAfee]

So how long were you waiting on that?

[Gumpy]

Were you emergency quarterback?

[Pat McAfee]

Yes, sir.

[Gumpy]

Okay.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, I used to take, like 20 snaps. I had four. We had four runs. Could flip them. And then obviously we had one over the top in there.

[Gumpy]

If they only had the tush push in back when you played, they would probably put you in for the.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay, thank you for hosting the show and bringing up a topical thing that I should ask you about. How do you feel about the tush push? This is very topical. How much, how much of a conversation is actually happening behind the scenes about maybe getting rid of it and how much are you guys being actually listened?

[Gumpy]

You think I'm not, I'm not really involved in it. I mean, right now it's. I mean, it's a legal play. You gotta, you gotta, you gotta stop it or get good at it at running it yourself. I guess with the.

[Pat McAfee]

Incident for a push on special, it's a good point.

[Gumpy]

Getting ban on there, that could be the. That could be the basis.

[Pat McAfee]

I'm not saying they should. I'm just saying they have done like this before. And talking to you changed my entire opinion on the hip drop tackle. We were at the owners meetings last year and I, I saw you in the hallway. You were doing an interview with Schefter and your brother, which ended up being awesome. I don't know when they aired it this year. Whenever the hard probably whenever you guys played each other or whatever. But I said, how do you feel about the hip drop tackle? And I thought you would be a guy that hated it because, you know, football were taking away tackling and you were like, just, this can't happen. Just the. And you grabbed me. I was like, yeah, Barbara still got it. And then you did like the ripping motion. You thought it should have been gone. And like, I respect the way you view things. And right there on the tush push, it sounded like guys did a great.

[Gumpy]

Job across the league, didn't they? I mean, it was. I mean it got. It needed to get out of the game. It was out of the game. And I just thought. I mean, the players responded beautifully.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay, so, Joe, so riddle me this. Who would make that decision?

[H]

The competition committee, which is coaches, players? Well, no, it's. It's the group that, that sets out. They get the future of football, suggestions the board, and then competition committee gets together this out here and then they present it to us at the owner's meetings.

[Pat McAfee]

What a process. So much crazy. So many different levels.

[Boston Connor]

I think Tomlin's. Tomlin and Vrabel were on it before.

[Tone Diggs]

Yeah, I don't know, a couple years ago.

[Pat McAfee]

Need Jim horrible on that.

[Tone Diggs]

Yeah, it should be.

[Pat McAfee]

I don't want to give you another job. Right, but sounds like something you should be A part of you epitomize everything that we love about ball Coach. You need to know that. That and Mr. Ortiz, appreciate it. Yeah, we love bow, man. We really do. Mr. Ortiz, phenomenal work, man. Absolutely. Every time you talk, we like you more. And every time you do something with your team, your team gets better. So I think those are two things that are very good for somebody that's in your position. And we can't wait to watch you guys grow.

[Gumpy]

Appreciate it.

[Pat McAfee]

Hey, thank you for stopping by. Appreciate it. Ortiz and Coach Harbaugh. Yeah, yeah. I think you guys just get up. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Hey, hey, Coach. Coach.

[Tone Diggs]

Yeah, I'll take one of those as well. Thanks, Coach.

[Pat McAfee]

Coach. Appreciate you, man. Thank you.

[Tone Diggs]

Pleasure.

[Boston Connor]

No, you're all us.

[Pat McAfee]

That was not us. Hey, you're the man.

[Gumpy]

Appreciate you making me cool and popular.

[Pat McAfee]

No, do that yourself. Ah, that's him talking, I think. Yeah.

[Ty Schmidt]

Thanks for making me cool, popular.

[Pat McAfee]

That's probably.

[Boston Connor]

I think he was being genuine.

[Pat McAfee]

That's awesome. What if, like, somebody presents him, like, hey, McAfee would like you to go on the show. And then he watches the show and he's like, he's making people look cool and pop.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah, I'm in for that.

[Pat McAfee]

I want to do that. He's the best. He is the best man. National champion. With everything that happened that year and then everything that we've learned afterwards, it's like, for him to remain who he was, it's like, yeah, I love this guy. Yeah. He is always himself.

[Boston Connor]

He's only got one way. And you asked what I was going to ask about the Eagles winning. Winning. Like, does that, you know, kind of give you guys confidence because you guys, like, heart. That's exactly what Harbaugh did at Michigan. And then Joe comes over from Ravens, whereas basically, you know, O line. D line. Howie, like, and he said it. Yeah, he's like, yeah. That made me think, like, we're doing the right thing.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, I think so. And it's. I appreciate that Coach Harbaugh learned in real time that that is what we do whenever we talk about yourself. And he like, yeah, he likes it.

[Ty Schmidt]

He likes it a lot.

[Pat McAfee]

What if.

[Tone Diggs]

I mean, Tim's gonna have to create.

[Boston Connor]

One of these for his desk.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. I don't know if we get the robotics to work in that entire thing. I saw some robot. What's that?

[Tone Diggs]

Well, his thing, too was, like, not Disney World.

[Pat McAfee]

The things they got operating. Oh, robots.

[Boston Connor]

Oh, the thing you said this morning, like, Ursula.

[Pat McAfee]

No, I'm not talking about that. I'm talking About Disney.

[Boston Connor]

You talking about Ursula?

[Pat McAfee]

Hey, I'll tell you what, he's got some robot birds. Connor, have you ever. Have you ever been to Disney World? Have you ever rode any of these rides?

[Tone Diggs]

I've been one time and then I've also been to the Universal Studios, which is awesome.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay, so I have never. You know, that's not something. I've never watched a Disney movie. Like, I don't really know. I guess they. Mighty Ducks is a Disney movie.

[Boston Connor]

It is.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay, so I've watched Heavyweights. I've watched. Yes. So I've seen those. But I've never seen. I've never seen the animated ones. Yeah.

[Tone Diggs]

Pocahontas, snow whites, the princesses.

[Pat McAfee]

Never. Not one. I know nothing. I still like. I've learned. I learned the names. I got the names in there, but it's like I never really experienced it. So with MacKenzie, it's like my first time experience a lot of this stuff. Sure. I'll tell you what, it makes sense. So high quality stuff. High quality, high quality stuff.

[Tone Diggs]

No doubt.

[Pat McAfee]

Like this Mickey Mouse clubhouse. The amount of dances and songs, great show things they're teaching.

[Boston Connor]

Stretch break.

[Pat McAfee]

The stretch break, stretch, break is great. You need to. It's almost the boom. But. But, you know. Yeah, as I was watching, I was doing it all. But as. So Disney World was complete, complete foreign entity. And we're doing these rides. They got the old school rides. Obviously, we hopped on Dumbos, which was cool. Tea cups was very, very cool. But the amount of money they spend on these rides to get these LED robot things that they're creating, man, that was. It was a great experience. It was very. I had a very, very great experience. I was obviously the people at ESPN and Disney hooked it up. Sure.

[Tone Diggs]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

I mean, I. Weren't you a big time asshole at one point during that trip, I heard about. Okay, Foxy.

[Tone Diggs]

Who's that?

[Pat McAfee]

That's what I heard. That's what people are saying.

[Tone Diggs]

So Darth Vader walking around.

[Pat McAfee]

So I. So wife and I with mackenzie doing this for mackenzie. Want to hit the Avatar ride though.

[Ty Schmidt]

You're there.

[Pat McAfee]

So shout out to Kelsey, who is one of the security that was with us, and John and Michael, who was walking us around. John been at the park for 35 years, dog. Michael been giving tours nine years. Guys from Columbus, Ohio, knew the ins and outs.

[Ty Schmidt]

Like we're talking cranes.

[Pat McAfee]

It was. It was fantastic. So not a very relatable Disney experience is what I'm learning from having conversations with people who have been to Disney. All the bad things of Disney. From what I've been told, it was 62 degrees, 65 degrees. So it was, like, super packed. Everything was. It was not super packed. I mean, I didn't even know. So they had me. Just me and Mackenzie. It was. I can't thank everybody. Included enough in that. And I think Foss had a big part of this entire thing. And obviously, Disney doing it was very, very kind. But after we write Avatar, we're ready to go home. And Michael goes, you gotta ride Guardians of Galaxy.

[Ty Schmidt]

Oh, that is a good one.

[Tone Diggs]

Sounds good.

[Pat McAfee]

It's the greatest roller coaster ever created. He said. I say, he got whoopi Whoop. Okay. Cause I. I'm from the home of Kennywood, my man. Okay? So old whoopty whoopty woos are no problem. So he said, no whoopty woos. But still, greatest of all time, he's like, you gotta go ride it. We gotta go to Epcot, though, which is experimental, something P. Community of Tomorrow is what Epcot stands for. Shout out to Michael for the stat on the way over there. So as we go there, we're driving over there. Once again, I have no idea about Disney or Disney World or any of this. He. He asks guardians, you guys are so good. He's giving us, breaking us down, everything. And he says, you want your own train? Okay. And I say, yeah, sure, sure. I don't know what that means. I just. He was asked. I said, absolutely. So most of these rides, we. We pay. You pay for this thing, but the option to pay for it, I think, is optional, you know, I don't think it's, like, a thing that's just, like, presented. So we just got, like. Right. All these things. We just got, like, back door right in. It was paid a lot, but it was certainly. And nobody saw us. Nobody. Okay. So it took away the guilt that you certainly would have had.

[Tone Diggs]

Sure.

[Pat McAfee]

Guardians of Galaxy, own train. I'll tell you what that means. That means you're the only one on the entire thing. Okay? That's what own train means. And they walked me and Sam right in front of everybody. Everybody. Oh, God. That's. All those people. All those walks right in front of them. Go to the front. The front one, too. The front one they put us on. Nobody else. Yep. All those people. Sam and I walked right in. Biggest of all time. Boom, boom. Everybody see you. I felt so terrible. I felt so, so terrible. So if you were in there, I'm so sorry. I did not know what I had signed up for.

[Boston Connor]

This episode is brought to you By Lifelock.

[Pat McAfee]

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[Boston Connor]

To a lot of places between payroll, your tax consultant, and the IRS.

[Pat McAfee]

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[Boston Connor]

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[Pat McAfee]

If your identity is stolen, they'll fix.

[Boston Connor]

It, guaranteed, or your money back. Don't let identity thieves take you for a ride.

[Pat McAfee]

Save up to 40% your first year. Visit lifelock.com podcast terms apply. Combine is majestic, isn't it? We're taking a look at the future of the greatest league in the NFL. You know, some guy will come into this particular building in this glorious city and change their future entirely. Some guys, and I mean, there's a little static in the ears. I think we're catching up somebody else's maybe signal. But the reason why that could be the case is because all eyes are on this particular stadium, where some guys could potentially project themselves a whole new Life. You run a 4:2 out here and nobody knows your name. All of a sudden, everybody knows your name. You run a four. Three out here. Four four out here. Let's say you're 295 pounds. Nobody's really talking about you. From a small school. You come out here, you run a 4 6-547 or something like that.

[Boston Connor]

Oh, yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

All of a sudden, holy hell. Is this guy an NFL guy? Lives change at the combine, and we're incredibly lucky that we are here. And as well, we're fresh off of vacation. In the first hour, we had Harbaugh and Ortiz, the two that are paired with changing the culture of the Los Angeles Chargers. They're obviously out here for medical and to chitchat with the players of the future. Speaking of chit chatting, it is difficult to do with the amount of static that is in my ear currently. Let's head over to the boys that are also here. The toxic table. I have bossy Connor at Ty Schmidt. Are you guys hearing what I'm hearing? Yes.

[Ty Schmidt]

Certainly feels like a worm is crawling through my brain right now. Like a couple chewing.

[Boston Connor]

Like a couple crickets probably having sex is kind of what it sounds like.

[Pat McAfee]

It does sound.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

On top of each other.

[Tone Diggs]

Some alien communication, perhaps? I don't think we can rule that out either.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. Whatever the case is, there's a chance we see some aliens out on this field today. Today the kickers will take the field. Okay. And that is something that was not being reported by any of the NFL journalists. By any of of the NFL insiders. You know, everybody is talking about what's going on on Thursday, what's going on on Friday, what's going on on Saturday? All right, elimination chamber Saturday night. By the way, after your combine. Actually, go ahead and check in. There's going to be some insane in Toronto, Canada. Look out then Sunday, what's going on? Nobody's talking about what's going on today on fu. Kickers, punters, snappers are about to have a specialist show showcase. And in this showcase, they will be competing against each other. And this is completely run by special teams coaches. In the past, this used to be a scouts thing. Scouts come out, hit some field goals, hit some punts, hit some kickoffs. Now they're like teaming up kickers, points, potential, like pressure punts, gonna have to happen. They want to find out if guys are able to do it whenever there's some stuff that's happening around them. So I think it's going to be pretty electrifying out here this afternoon. 2:45, I will be on the microphone on the field on NFL Network and NFL plus. And I think we're going to try to steal a little bit some as well on YouTube. Okay. I don't know how that's going to go now. Just.

[Boston Connor]

Just a quick glance in case something gets left on.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, I don't know how long you're allowed to just quick, Lance. No, it's just part of the situation.

[Ty Schmidt]

The wires got crossed.

[Pat McAfee]

So I'm very excited for these guys to put on a showcase today legitimately. And there's jobs opening up. There's jobs in the NFL whenever it comes to kickers, punters and snipers. So they are legitimately kicking off the NFL combine right now. Foxy, if you want to cut to the field, they currently are kicking off, like, actually, I think this one matters. Okay, let's go, bub. Here we go. This is from the 35 yard line. Now, remember, there is a landing zone, but I believe this workout will be done in a fashion in which. Foxy, do you want to zoom this thing out whenever it goes where they will be asked to blast some balls? I don't think that was a.

[Boston Connor]

Huh.

[Pat McAfee]

That must been a Lance. That's good lanes. That's good land. I hope. I hope to God that it's the case. So that is the interesting thing as they're trying to piece together what kicks, what punts, what kickoff, it's like, do we want to see how strong their legs are? Because that's going to matter late in the year, right? You know, for these kickoffs offs or do we want to see if they can hit in the landing zone. So I think they're hitting, like, three deep, three landing zones, trying to get as much as they can. So that could have been a landing zone kick, but nonetheless, we are officially off and running here on the scouting of tomorrow. Yeah.

[Tone Diggs]

You wonder how long the landing zone is really going to matter, just because. How many landing zones do we have in the Super Bowl?

[Pat McAfee]

None.

[Tone Diggs]

Every single kick was kicked out the back, like, so. They're going to change that.

[Pat McAfee]

They're saying it's your microphone. They said it's your microphone. That's great.

[Ty Schmidt]

You.

[Boston Connor]

Oh, great, Connor.

[Tone Diggs]

Looks like we know why they're trying to shut me down because I brought up the birds in the first.

[Boston Connor]

Oh, it is. It was Connor.

[Pat McAfee]

Connor, I'll tell you what, buddy. I love you, and it's been great to see you. Yeah. I. I'll say this in if. And nobody. Could anybody else hear that noise? Like, could the show hear that? We heard it.

[Tone Diggs]

Oh, I could hear it.

[Boston Connor]

So, like, going out to the.

[Ty Schmidt]

I heard that.

[Boston Connor]

Did the TV or YouTube hear it?

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, that's what I'm saying. Like, was the stream. Yes, YouTube heard it as well.

[Tone Diggs]

Okay, great.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay. Sorry.

[Tone Diggs]

I heard only one ear works in this thing, too. Har's a dog for powering through that. There's nothing over here.

[Ty Schmidt]

It was awesome. Ortiz was stepping on his.

[Tone Diggs]

He didn't say.

[Ty Schmidt]

He just looked down at.

[Tone Diggs]

Just yanked it.

[Adam Schefter]

Just yanked it.

[Boston Connor]

I was watching the whole thing.

[Tone Diggs]

It was incredible.

[Pat McAfee]

I didn't watch.

[Boston Connor]

Joe, come on.

[Pat McAfee]

I didn't watch the.

[Boston Connor]

Someone's in here.

[Pat McAfee]

We lo. I don't know what that even means. Wasita just said we lost the first hour of YouTube, but it's loading back up. We don't know what happened. It's going well here at Combo. Very d. It's going well. Hey. It's going well. All right. All right. It was an awesome. To be here in theory. We're gonna. Yeah. This is good. This is. Okay. We're currently live. We're back in. Good. Okay. All right. We were only down for 20 seconds on YouTube.

[Tone Diggs]

Oh, man.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay. Sounded pretty. I mean, the. The straight. The news. They were delivered.

[Tone Diggs]

Well, I'm assuming Bill, you know, a brick and that, and he got into Zito's ear and then maybe some wires.

[Boston Connor]

Got the foxy's always the voicer. That's where I go.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay. And let's learn from this going forward. We should probably do day before back, you know, so we can work through some stuff, you know, because we're off for a long time. Yeah, long time. And also day before, potentially, you know, a little bit more setup lead up. But if we're. If we work yesterday, we can't set up down here. But if we're not setting up. Did we set up down here?

[Ty Schmidt]

It's kind of tough.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah.

[Tone Diggs]

Maybe just a little. Go live. Shoot the breeze. No one actually watches. Yeah, no one actually watches in private. Make sure everyone kind of gets this led board.

[Pat McAfee]

Insane, right? Yeah.

[Tone Diggs]

So sweet.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. Combine. Awesome. Is that ours? Did we. Yeah, we did. Yep. We had. We added it in last minute because there was a black. You can see it. The black tarp right behind there. And that is NFL Network on the other side.

[Ty Schmidt]

Oh, wow.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay. Wow. Yeah. Everybody.

[Boston Connor]

Like rich and DJ and boys, I believe.

[Pat McAfee]

And I. I seen rap. I've seen rap por kind of roll around a little bit. And the guy talks. No, he doesn't. Good guy.

[Boston Connor]

Well said.

[Pat McAfee]

Rap brings a lot of business to this city. Remember? That's true business.

[Boston Connor]

He's had some good tweets lately.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. Joining us now. What.

[Tone Diggs]

What do you tweet?

[Pat McAfee]

A senior NFL insider for ESPN Michigan. Man. Friend of the program, ladies and gentlemen. Adam. She's doing it right.

[Tone Diggs]

A real guy.

[Gumpy]

Real, real.

[Pat McAfee]

Wow. Was really good. Operating the right.

[Tone Diggs]

You jack shift.

[Pat McAfee]

Hey, this one. This one here. This one here would be you. If you can't hear your other ear, let me know.

[Adam Schefter]

I. Let's see. I got.

[Boston Connor]

Can you hear in both ears?

[Adam Schefter]

We're good.

[Ty Schmidt]

Okay.

[Pat McAfee]

We are good.

[Adam Schefter]

This is. This is a big time operation.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, it's a lot. It's. We got in here and we saw it and we're like, massive thank you to everybody involved in setting this thing up. There's 1,000 lights in front of us. Yeah, the lighting is. It looks. It feels like top notch, like a steak. Because we kind of are here. Everybody behind the scenes, massively well done. So thank you for joining us, by the way.

[Adam Schefter]

Great to be in your city again. I was driving into the airport from the airport last night with a guy. I gave him a ride. I said, how old are you? He said, 31. I said, I've been coming to the combine longer than you've been alive.

[Pat McAfee]

Holy hell. Okay. So thank you for enjoying our city and coming to Indianapolis. A lot of things happen here that aren't just on the field, obviously. Obviously a lot of business gets done here. Is that still the case? That was always kind of the rumor. Is that still happening?

[Adam Schefter]

Always.

[Pat McAfee]

You're wheeling and dealing last night, learning Stuff or is there? How's it going for you versus how's it going for the NFL team?

[Adam Schefter]

I go to bed early, Pat. I'm not one of those guys. I'd rather go to bed early and get it. Get started early.

[Pat McAfee]

But really, always how early? So you're not wheeling and dealing around Indianapolis?

[Adam Schefter]

No. I can tell you this. Most reporters, everybody's going out all night drinking, hanging out. I don't do that.

[Boston Connor]

Take advantage of the driver drunks. There's loose lifts when they start drinking.

[Adam Schefter]

Shifts, by the way, there's fights that break out. It's like, what?

[Pat McAfee]

What?

[Adam Schefter]

Oh, yeah, there's been fights over the years.

[Tone Diggs]

Vanderfield versus rap.

[Pat McAfee]

Hold on.

[Adam Schefter]

Kinds of stuff.

[Pat McAfee]

I think that. I think the big thing. Everybody could potentially like, kind of jog a memory of what does happen in Indianapolis during his combine. Remember, Jerry Jones took it down and Dean Blandino was on a bus, and they took it from. I think they took it from like, Kilroy's to maybe like.

[Ty Schmidt]

Like.

[Pat McAfee]

Like whatever. It was like, right down the road and he comes off the bus, and everybody's like, what the hell's going on? And it felt like everybody was like, let's relax. Let's not. Let's not be talking about this. Let's move. Because it is. It has always been just like a legal tamper. Like I would. To me.

[Adam Schefter]

To me, the combine is always the unofficial start of the off season because we've got the new league year beginning in two weeks. You've got every coach here, every front office member here, every agent here. Every agent is looking to see what his client's worth. Every front office guy is looking to see how he could get his team better. Every coach is evaluating the prospects. It's all happening. It's one big football carnival that goes on in.

[Pat McAfee]

So this is like a kickoff happy hour to the off season here at.

[Adam Schefter]

Indianapolis, for lack of a better phrase. That's a good way of describing it.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay, so what are we hearing around Tom? Because let me tell you what certainly caught my eye. Anytime a guy who's in the NFL who is warranted of a massive. Oh, and we might have breaking news from a lap of shefter. It's right in between his lap, I.

[Tone Diggs]

Was going to say. What are you looking.

[Adam Schefter]

Yeah, I'm looking down at my groin or something.

[Pat McAfee]

I don't know. Hey, I'm looking down, like, excited right now.

[Nick Caserio]

I don't know.

[Pat McAfee]

We can move you that side table if you wanted. We could get you a little side table. You Want to put the phone up there if you want to. Instead of where you just want to look down?

[Adam Schefter]

No, we're good. We're good, right?

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, just look down. That's where I put. That's. By the way, that is my preferred placement.

[Tone Diggs]

It's where you put your phone if you're cheating in school.

[Pat McAfee]

Is that.

[Tone Diggs]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay. So I was. I went to high school in a time. Nonetheless, I would never put. Anytime a wide receiver who is warranted a lot of money is at an organization that doesn't normally pay everybody, obviously not everybody does. But the Bengals, certainly, in a conversation of their own, he puts out a tweet that's just like, one emoji, a blue cap. Yeah. Just saying. Hey, that's bullshit. What's going on? That man be capping out there. That is a lie. What are you hearing about the T. Higgins, Duke Tobin situation where he talks about paying him and getting something done and, like, kind of saying it's gonna happen and he's gonna be big time, top of the market, and then T immediately responded with cap. What does that mean? Is there, like. What are you hearing about that entire situation? How do you think it works out?

[Adam Schefter]

First of all, I never love, in this day and age, when we're trying to decipher emojis.

[Pat McAfee]

That's real life, though. That's real life. Welcome to real life.

[Adam Schefter]

Well, it means capping, right? It means, like, he be capping.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, he be capping, going dummy.

[Boston Connor]

Going mad dummy.

[Pat McAfee]

On. Capping on.

[Tone Diggs]

Capping.

[Gumpy]

Yeah.

[Tone Diggs]

Duke Tobin.

[Adam Schefter]

I didn't know. I didn't know what this means until last night. So I'm getting up to speed on my emojis.

[Pat McAfee]

It means bullshit.

[Adam Schefter]

Am I capping terminology. Look, right now, the Bengals have their stance, and T. Higgins has got his. I think, in the end. Look, if we take out what everybody thinks, it's probably good business from the Bengals standpoint to tag the guy to control his rights. Hold on.

[Boston Connor]

By the way, that's a Patriots fan.

[Adam Schefter]

By the way.

[Boston Connor]

He's pissed.

[Adam Schefter]

Well, hold on. We're gonna get to him in a second. We're not done.

[Pat McAfee]

I'm not out on. Please, I'm on change. Please, please.

[Adam Schefter]

Connor, sit back. We'll get the punchline.

[Pat McAfee]

Enjoy the ride. Enjoy the ride that Adam Schefter's taking you on.

[Adam Schefter]

Okay, so in my mind, it's probably wise for them to tag him. The tag is $26 million on the open market. He's going to get over 30, 30 a year. Right. So, of course, you Tag the guy and you try to work towards a long term deal. But that doesn't preclude the possibility of tagging and trading.

[Pat McAfee]

What are the rules with the trade? What are the rules with the trade? What do they owe if you're tagged?

[Adam Schefter]

Well, I think in this particular case, I did brush up on my terminology, but I think he could negotiate with other teams and then he could agree to sign some kind of offer sheet and the two sides could negotiate compensation.

[Pat McAfee]

But I think it's like two picks is where it starts. Two ones or one one or something like that.

[Adam Schefter]

Yeah, but they could agree to the compensation. They could agree.

[Pat McAfee]

Oh, so they can get around that. So that is not something.

[Adam Schefter]

It's not going to be two ones hard and fast or even a one hard and fast.

[Pat McAfee]

Boom. Like the Patriots are not just a deal.

[Adam Schefter]

Let's put this. Let's put this, put this out there right now. The Patriots are not getting a pick. Number four for T. Higgins, no matter how good he is. It's just not going to happen.

[Pat McAfee]

It Right.

[Adam Schefter]

So now the question is, okay, so what is doable if that is the team that they decide to engage in and New England has all the cap.

[Pat McAfee]

Room and, and they got compensation and.

[Tone Diggs]

Opportunity, got high picks in the second and third round.

[Pat McAfee]

Rabel's cutting bars out there. We got compensation and opportunity up here in New England. Yeah, if that's what you're looking for, I guess we're the right spot.

[Adam Schefter]

You're not going to. I don't think the Patriots are going to be able to or the Patriots or any team will be able to just go sign, sign T. Higgins and move on the way that is the case with some true unrestricted free agents.

[Pat McAfee]

All right, let's stay in Cincinnati then. Let's stay in Cincinnati. Trey Hendrickson came on our show Radio row and he's a strapping line.

[Tone Diggs]

He really is.

[Pat McAfee]

He is a strapping great guy. Great guy. Sack king.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

Last year he said they love him in the organization Inc. Not that much.

[Adam Schefter]

Well, you know.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, we'll find that. Yeah.

[Adam Schefter]

Who's see anyway, continue on.

[Pat McAfee]

No, that's what I was asking. Yeah. He said you either pay me or like trade me kind of. He kind of said that now he said in a much more professional and kind.

[Adam Schefter]

Correct.

[Pat McAfee]

But it was like, hey, come on. Because he didn't want to do it. No, like he. I feel as like he didn't want to do it. He thought he probably earned like, hey, I'm not the one that should be having to do this. But if we're just going to be talking about stuff, like something needs to be said. So I respect him doing that and appreciate him doing it. But now, what is the other side of that, you think for Duke, you said they respect him in the organizations. I mean, they're going to get a deal done. Or they can be like the Cincinnati Bengals, which they are the Cincinnati Bengals.

[Adam Schefter]

It's a hard deal to get done. It's a hard deal to get done because you're talking about a guy that led the NFL in sacks this year. And you're looking at an off season in which T.J. watt is going to have his deal adjusted. You're going to see a deal adjusted. There's a few defensive ends. There's. There's a couple of others. Garrett Miles. Garrett.

[Boston Connor]

Micah is coming up.

[Adam Schefter]

Micah is another one. There's. There's a few of them. Josh Sweat's gonna kill it in free agency. So Trey Hendrickson, what is his production worth when he has gotten more sacks than guys who have gotten big deals in recent years? Like, like Josh Allen Hines in Jacksonville? Like, I think there's a team out there that's going to be willing to pay him.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. And he's awesome. You talk to him, he's the kind.

[Adam Schefter]

Of guy you want to have on your team.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. He's a great culture builder. Like, it just feels like that as soon as he walks in. Good luck, Cincinnati. This is like.

[Adam Schefter]

Well, here's the thing.

[Pat McAfee]

That's what happens whenever Jamar Chase still on.

[Adam Schefter]

And Jamar is going to be, they said in their own words, the highest paid non quarterback in football history. The Bengals said that he earned it. So hold on.

[Pat McAfee]

They could be capping, though. We don't know. We haven't seen.

[Adam Schefter]

By the way, you could make it such that Jamar's cap number this year is conducive to getting deals done for everybody else. But there are a lot of players to sign. There's a lot of money to lay out. I think the Bengals are saying all the right things, but let's see what they actually do.

[Pat McAfee]

You got it, Tone. Got a question for you, Chef D. Yeah, I do.

[Boston Connor]

If we were to play quarterback, musical chairs, let's say, with Stafford Rodgers, Justin Field and Russell Wilson, what do we think is going to happen? Is.

[Pat McAfee]

That's a pretty interesting.

[Boston Connor]

Well, those are. I mean, is. Is Stafford the first Domino to fall 100%.

[Adam Schefter]

And unless Pittsburgh feels like there's no chance we're going to get a deal done for Matthew Stafford, we're Just going to go sign.

[Pat McAfee]

Oh, those are all quarterbacks for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

[Boston Connor]

No, no, those are the quarterback names that are out there right now.

[Pat McAfee]

Free agency. Yeah.

[Adam Schefter]

And they're all tied together to a certain extent. And they're all, I believe, waiting on Matthew Stafford.

[Pat McAfee]

All teams that are interested in quarterback right now are interested in Matthew Stafford.

[Adam Schefter]

Well, let's see you give me the teams.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay, so Giants, obviously.

[Adam Schefter]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

Raiders.

[Adam Schefter]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

Pittsburgh.

[Adam Schefter]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

Indianapolis Colts.

[Adam Schefter]

Haven't heard them with him.

[Pat McAfee]

Browns, of course.

[Tone Diggs]

I mean the Vikings.

[Pat McAfee]

No, not the Vikings.

[Adam Schefter]

For Stafford. No.

[Pat McAfee]

Oh, for Stafford.

[Adam Schefter]

No, not for Stafford. Who are you talking about?

[Pat McAfee]

No, yeah, we're talking about Stafford. But you said not for Stafford, so they. That means Aaron for the Vikings.

[Adam Schefter]

No, Aaron.

[Pat McAfee]

Oh, wait a minute. We're him.

[Adam Schefter]

Hauling around. No, no, no, we're him. I. Give me. Give me a moment to answer the question. Come on, man, how many moments do you need?

[Tone Diggs]

Moments do you need?

[Pat McAfee]

We need to get to it.

[Adam Schefter]

I don't want Pat saying, like, he's withholding information. Like, what am I withholding? I'm trying to hear.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, tell us.

[Adam Schefter]

Come on, man. With Aaron, I think we start with the fact that you have to see where Matthew's going to go. Is Matthew going back to LA or is he not going to la? Because if he's not going to la, I'm sure that LA appeals to Aaron Rodgers. That would be my guess, and you would know probably better than I. But I believe that Aaron wants to play. I believe he wants to play at least another year. I believe he's got a chip on his shoulder that he wants to come back and play this upcoming season and show people that he still has the juice and still can get it done. So I think he's going to play. Now, you may have some different information. You can correct me at any mind. I don't want you withholding information either.

[Pat McAfee]

Whoa, whoa, whoa.

[Tone Diggs]

I'm.

[Adam Schefter]

Don't withhold information on us, Pat. Don't withhold information on us, Pat.

[Pat McAfee]

Lads, please. I reported earlier that my source have told me that they're out of the country right now and they've also told me that they're open to everything attached to nothing. Okay. Okay. Which certainly means retirement as an option. Okay?

[Adam Schefter]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

Always has. Yeah, yeah. Last couple years, I think, especially at that age, with that resume, with the amount of money accrued, I think he's the highest paid guy ever. Ever in there. So, like with. With everything. So now it goes back to that he cut a promo about football on our show about why he loves it. And it's like his need for competition, like, he needs to compete. And the NFL is his outlet basically to compete against others. And although he is a hippie and although these past couple years with the jets have certainly gone horrendously. That's the jets, maybe, probably. Don't you want that to be answered? Is how I. Is how I kind of.

[Adam Schefter]

Do you think he wants to go out like that?

[Pat McAfee]

So I would say AJ is the closest person to Aaron Rodgers. Okay. AJ not with us because he's got Buckeye Cruise. Okay. Congrats to the Buckeyes. Going out on a cruise.

[Tone Diggs]

That'll be fun.

[Boston Connor]

That's gonna be a good one.

[Pat McAfee]

We will see him next week. AJ is. I think. I don't. I don't want to speak for. Once again, don't want to speak for Aaron, But I think A.J. very close with Aaron. I think A.J. would tell you if he was here. It's like, maybe, but maybe something happens and it's like he's back in and then maybe. But I don't think he. I think Aaron is literally open to everything. Right? I think he is. He's a deep thinker, too.

[Adam Schefter]

Of course.

[Pat McAfee]

So he's a hippie. He's a deep thinker. People have their issues with a decision he made during COVID and everything like that, but, like, whenever it comes to, like, being a competitor and like, everything that's on the line right now, like, I think he takes it very, very, very serious. Like, incredibly seriously. Especially because it's like legacy stuff.

[Adam Schefter]

You know, anything could happen with him. But you said it yourself, your mind. The last two seasons went horrendously. I have a hard time believing that when there's going to be a team that is interested in having him come in with this way the last two seasons went, that he's not going to do it.

[Pat McAfee]

Agreed. I agree with you. I'm saying. But I've not heard that from soreness. That's what I'm saying. And we've talked about as soon as the jets turn over, it's like he's probably not going to be there either. And I think he's still. I think he was very cool with going back to jets and like leading maybe potentially a younger guy helping in the thing and making it right with the jets people. I think he legitimately did not like that the jets hype beforehand and how happy jets fans were and how much hope there was and then not delivering on that. I think that actually like, kind of wait. So I think he did want to go back. I think we all talk about football every single day. We're like, new gm, new coach. That's probably not going to happen, you know, in reality. So I. I think he's going to play still. I think a lot of people think he's going to play still, but.

[Adam Schefter]

And again. So let's go through this for a moment. If Stafford decides to move on and the Rams decide to trade him, if.

[Pat McAfee]

Why would that happen? Why. Why is this happening?

[Adam Schefter]

It's a great question.

[Pat McAfee]

It's.

[Adam Schefter]

Every year feels like that's. I think that's part of the problem. Like it keeps coming up, Up. And why does he keep coming up? It shouldn't be coming up. I think that he should be happy with them, they should be happy with him. And there are issues that both sides have been working through. And I think in this particular case, he's on a contract where he's scheduled to make 27 million, no guaranteed money. You have to adjust the contract. You've given the.

[Pat McAfee]

I think that's probably.

[Adam Schefter]

Hold on, hold on. So now you've given the agent permission to go out and see what other teams would be willing to offer, and you probably find that other teams are willing to offer more. Right. So now it comes down to what Matthew Stafford wants to do. Do you want to leave a place where you've had a great run here, where you've won a Super bowl, where your family is set up, or do you want to go for more money to another one of these franchises that's interested in a city you haven't lived in? And I think that basically is where we're at.

[Pat McAfee]

And do you think there are franchises in a city that he's never lived in that are interested and willing to pay?

[Adam Schefter]

Yes.

[Pat McAfee]

And willing to pay?

[Adam Schefter]

Yes.

[Pat McAfee]

And trade?

[Adam Schefter]

Yes.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay, so when's that happening? Is that just going to happen? Is that what we assume?

[Adam Schefter]

He might want to be in la? He may decide that. Okay, you know what? That. I think that's what.

[Pat McAfee]

Oh, so he's allowed to listen offers right here. Like, we're just listening to what people.

[Adam Schefter]

Okay, so. Okay, right. So you're willing to offer me this and you would do this, and you. And I'm talking to the Rams and they want me back and they're willing.

[Pat McAfee]

And they have an offer, too, obviously.

[Adam Schefter]

And they have an offer too.

[Ty Schmidt]

Like.

[Adam Schefter]

Okay, but. But their offer might not be as long or as much as other teams, so. Okay, well, what do I want to do? It seems like you're showing me more Love. And you're showing, but you also haven't won and you haven't won and you're not close to winning. But. But I'm in a place where the hell. No disrespect.

[Pat McAfee]

No disrespect.

[Adam Schefter]

And so.

[Pat McAfee]

And so.

[Adam Schefter]

And so here I got the rams, and it's not exactly perfect the way I want it to be, money wise, but I don't have to move to you or you or you. And I'm probably going to be more competitive. I feel like my best chance to win maybe here. Although I'm confident enough that I can help you win. I can help you win. I can help you win. I can turn on all your franchise. So what do I want to do, man?

[Pat McAfee]

I'll tell you what, dude, that was good acting. That was.

[Tone Diggs]

That was. Chef Needs his own ride at Disney.

[Pat McAfee]

That was really good. Was that sag? Those awards? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Those were fun. Timothy. Timothy Chalamet. Yeah.

[Ty Schmidt]

Oh, yeah, yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

Get the guy, Mike, please. Yeah.

[Ty Schmidt]

What are we doing?

[Adam Schefter]

Timothy Chalamet. Did you meet him? You're at game day. He's. That guy's unbelievable.

[Pat McAfee]

He's the best.

[Tone Diggs]

He's a doll, dude.

[Pat McAfee]

He is a dog.

[Tone Diggs]

Should listen to him in that new Bob Dylan movie. It's so good.

[Adam Schefter]

Off the charts.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah.

[Tone Diggs]

He crushed it.

[Adam Schefter]

He's gonna win the Oscar this Sunday, right?

[Pat McAfee]

I. I don't know. I don't know that world and I. Enough. Ty would know.

[Ty Schmidt]

I don't think so.

[Pat McAfee]

Who? Who? Who?

[Ty Schmidt]

Adrian Brody, I think the brutalist, they're saying, is gonna really sweep everything.

[Boston Connor]

He was.

[Pat McAfee]

He won.

[Tone Diggs]

He was brutal.

[Adam Schefter]

That's. That is brutal.

[Boston Connor]

He stole my breath.

[Ty Schmidt]

It's the kind of movie that's made to win those type of awards. I. I just don't think Chalamet is gonna. Although Rami Malik won it, you know, not too long ago, there's a chance.

[Boston Connor]

Well, he was great.

[Tone Diggs]

And those movies that win all the awards, they're the poopy movies, but they're. People love them.

[Pat McAfee]

No. Yeah, yeah, I've seen. I've seen all of those movies. Movie. That's what I find in my world when I watch these award shows. Wow. Nice outfits. And then I learned, oh, I don't know any of this shit. Yeah, I don't know. We're talking movies, soundtrack songs. I don't. I don't. Actors who pop up there.

[Adam Schefter]

You don't know much about Bob Dylan, so.

[Pat McAfee]

I know Bob Dylan. When Timmy popped up there. Now you. You asked me if I know Timmy. Yeah, I know. Timmy, shall please call your cell phone.

[Adam Schefter]

Like, we FaceTime him.

[Pat McAfee]

We're not that close. I. I knew nothing of him. Him before game day, college game day. And then he came in, did the kick, then he did his picks, knew his.

[Adam Schefter]

Oh, my God. He knows stuff.

[Pat McAfee]

But he was, like, cool. Like, very. Like, this guy's a superstar guy. Yeah. Like. Like, people were, like, going cra. Like, people were going crazy over this guy.

[Tone Diggs]

Brought his mom to the SAG awards.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. Like. And he was dapping these people up. The way he was interacting, I was like. And he was so. It was. He was awesome. Like, he was is.

[Adam Schefter]

He's gifted.

[Pat McAfee]

I like that he said too, like, Michael Phelps and Michael Jordan are also inspiration. Like, I'm not just trying to be here. And his mom, 35 years in Union or whatever. It's like, I didn't know he grew up in this space. So this is like just like Peyton.

[Adam Schefter]

He grew up an apartment in New York and his family was in that.

[Pat McAfee]

In.

[Adam Schefter]

In theater. Right.

[Pat McAfee]

He loves ball, too. There's. There's footage of him from back in the day at the Knicks game.

[Tone Diggs]

I think A huge basketball guy.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. He loves ball. So I'm. That's a sports guy. In my eyes, that's a sports guy.

[Adam Schefter]

When you watched him on college game day, you could not speak the way that he did with the depth of knowledge that he had and not be a huge sports. That guy was. He was incredible.

[Pat McAfee]

So I saw some people that were haters, and everybody has them and they will always exist. The. They said, like, well, he just. He just studied. He's an actor.

[Ty Schmidt]

Memorized.

[Pat McAfee]

He just memorized the notes or whatever. It's like. Yeah, but the way he was talking, that guy knows ball, like, the way.

[Ty Schmidt]

Confidently.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. And it was. And the things he was saying, little things that were like, oh, yeah, like actually knows ball. Here, now this. You can hear some of the things. It's like, oh, you do what I do in the show. Okay. Where.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

You know, like, that is. That is because there's so many teams, so many humans, so many games. It's like, you try your best to keep up with 132 schools. That's going to be a tough thing to do. But then you heard some. Yeah, I. I view him as a sports guy. Go get them all, Tim.

[Adam Schefter]

Is he an NFL fan, too, or not?

[Pat McAfee]

I assume he knows ball. I assume at some point he's in New York, though, so he's been just kind of brutalized by those teams. Giants interested, huh?

[Adam Schefter]

Well, there's a lot of teams interested.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. But I've heard it feels like the Giants are the ones, right. That are like super interested.

[Adam Schefter]

I think they're all interested.

[Pat McAfee]

Everybody's super interested.

[Adam Schefter]

I think everybody's super interested in Matthew Stafford.

[Pat McAfee]

Any teams that we have not brought up yet.

[Adam Schefter]

No, we've, we've, you've run the gamut.

[Pat McAfee]

Raiders, Giants, Saints, Steelers and.

[Adam Schefter]

And others have checked in. Others have checked in. But I, I think I, I viewed that as kind of the playing field, so to speak.

[Pat McAfee]

Ty has a question for you.

[Ty Schmidt]

Chef D. So one quarterback that we. He's technically available, but maybe not Kirk Cousins. Terry Fontenot said yesterday, like, hey, we're comfortable with just sticking with this guy. He'll be the backup. We've talked that like that's probably not going to be the case. The Browns might make some. Is he completely separate from the other guys? Like does he. What happens with Stafford, does that matter at all to what is going to potentially happen with Kirk Cousins?

[Adam Schefter]

Yeah, I think, I think he's separate. I think he's a separate case. And I know the Falcons have said all that they said. I. The Broncos said something similar last year about Russell Wilson and then they wound up releasing him. And I'd be surprised if Kirk Cousins is in Atlanta this season. However it plays out. I mean that, that I just don't see it that way. But if they want to pay their backup quarterback more money and sink another 10 million in guaranteed money into him, then, then I guess he can be there.

[Pat McAfee]

So what happens? He gets entered into the quarterback sweepstakes that are happening.

[Adam Schefter]

Well, the thing is if it see he's got a no trade clause, you see, so he would have to sign off on, he could veto every trade. So eventually I think the Falcons gonna have to release him. And if and when he is released, you would hope it would be sooner rather than later while there are quarterback chairs because if he waits later they don't owe him anything. But they could do it later. And then he doesn't really have an ideal landing spot. The sooner they let him go, the more options he would have. And the Falcons already are paying his salary, which is why a team like I'm not telling it to be the Browns, but the Browns make sense because. Because they've got other financial commitments and obligations. He's got a relationship with Kevin Stefanski. He's a midwestern guy.

[Pat McAfee]

What came out about Stefanski today on the report card?

[Ty Schmidt]

He was one of the three lowest coaches coaches.

[Adam Schefter]

Stefanski, lowest coaches in what?

[Pat McAfee]

In what players, brother. This is the players speaking. You know, you guys used to decide who gets heard. Now the NFLPA does a report card, brother, and they say this guy is what the players are saying. That was that locker room. The proper people to be reading their judgment. Good question. You know, that's the whole. That's now that's the follow up debate. Like, hey, that team stinks. So do we care what they think about these things?

[Adam Schefter]

Did he not win the coach of the Year twice?

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, but that's from you guys, not me.

[Adam Schefter]

I'm not a voter.

[Ty Schmidt]

Well, actually, are you not, Tony?

[Boston Connor]

No, I voted KOC one time.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, let's talk about the Vikings. Who are they? So they're just Sam Darnold's going back. What's.

[Adam Schefter]

Hmm, we'll see about that.

[Boston Connor]

Ooh, jj.

[Adam Schefter]

Well, if you listen to the general manager Kwesi Adolfo Mensah talk yesterday, he certainly talked like a guy whose team was committed to J.J. mcCarthy. That's what that was My read between the lines. They haven't said anything and we'll see what they say.

[Pat McAfee]

We want to spend more money.

[Adam Schefter]

Just talked about, you know, how much confidence they have in JJ McCarthy. And JJ's a great guy and I think he's got a really bright future and he's got a chance to be really good quarterback. And they invested the high pick in him and I think they absolutely believe in him. And because of all those factors and the way that it finished at the end of the season for Sam, I think that they have an interest in Sam. But what is the number that it's going to be for Sam? And is there another team out there that is willing to pay Sam more? And so now we're back to Matthew Stafford, because is Matthew Stafford staying in la? If he's staying in la, well then the Raiders didn't get him. And if the Raiders didn't get him, I think the Raiders would have an interest in Sam Darnold. But what if the Raiders get Matthew Stafford? Then what happens to Sam Darnold? Then there's one less option. So you could see where the tentacles of the Stafford situation reach out and impact guys like Sam Darnold and Aaron Rodgers.

[Pat McAfee]

So Kevin O'Connell, we feel like, can make anybody a good quarterback. So, like it feels like that is who he is and who he's going to be as a coach. And then we heard that clip from the locker room where he's chewing the boys out and it's like, hey, Kevin O'Connell, coach of the year for good reason. This guy knows ball. So if you don't want to spend as much money on a quarterback, maybe it makes sense. Yeah, maybe it makes sense.

[Adam Schefter]

I think that they have an interest in Sam Darnold, but they have an interest in Sam Darnold at a certain number. And now let's see how strong the market is for Sam Darnold and whether there's a team out there, whoever it is, that's willing to pay him more than the Vikings are.

[Pat McAfee]

Go ahead, Connor.

[Tone Diggs]

Yeah, speaking of markets, obviously we're at the combine here, here. It's wonderful. Indianapolis, Lucas Oil, what's the status with the number one overall pick? Borgonzi has said, you know, he'll listen. Is there a guy this year where it's like a lot of teams are picking up steam? Cam Ward has been mentioned and the Raiders are one of the teams that's been mentioned. I don't know if that is legitimate or not. Where do you see the draft kind of falling? Is it going to be everyone kind of stays Pat or do you think there will be some movement in and the quarterbacks will be the top couple picks before like an Abdul Carter, Travis?

[Adam Schefter]

I think that the Titans have hired a new GM and Mike Borneganzi and they've rearranged their front office. And because of that, I don't think that they are as far along as some of these other teams that didn't have any changes on their board. And so the teams that have checked in with the Titans to see whether Tennessee would be willing to trade pick number one have been told, hey, we might but we're not there yet. We need to see how this process is going to play out. We want to go to Indy, we want to go to the quarterback pro days. So we could eventually see Tennessee trade that number one pick. But I don't think we're going to see anything happen with them for a while. Like we saw the Carolina Panthers trade for the number one overall pick from the Chicago Bears on March 10th. We saw the New York jets go from wherever they were one year to number three to draft Sam Darling. I believe that might have been in early February, certainly no later than mid March. I don't think the Titans are going to make a move that early. If we see something with Tennessee, I think it'll go into April before they have a decision about what they're doing at one. I think they're open ended in a lot of different ways. So there's not clarity at the top about what Tennessee's going to do. I do believe that Cleveland will go quarterback at 2 no matter what. And to be interested to see if they decide, hey, it's important enough, let's go from two to one to lock in the quarterback we want. Maybe that winds up happening. We'll see. But it's too early to play because to say how it's going to play out because Tennessee really is still an information gathering mode.

[Pat McAfee]

If you have Adam Schefter's number, please text him while he is speaking.

[Adam Schefter]

I got a lot of text here already.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, we got anything cooking? You could definitely do the checkup there if you want to because we're at the combine. So you could sheffield, you could do your thing while we chat about the point you just made there. So two, Cleveland Brown's taking quarterback. That'll be interesting. Oh yeah, that'll be interesting. Like if that's the first quarterback that's taken, obviously who knows who goes up to one to potentially maybe get a quarterback that they want if they miss out on free agency or whatever the case is. It's like whenever you're Talking to your NFL Insider, been around more combines than a 31 year old guy he was talking to outside. He was born and raised in Indianapolis, Indiana. So you're talking to everybody around here. What are they saying about this draft class? What is the conversation about this?

[Adam Schefter]

A few things. I think that the strength of this draft according to the people who have really done.

[Pat McAfee]

Insiders. Yes. All the people you've talked to. Yeah, yeah.

[Adam Schefter]

Personnel people, middle rounds, 3, 4, 5. Lot of good depth and talent there. And I think the feeling is that the player you get at number 10 in this draft is similar to the player that you get at 35.

[Pat McAfee]

Jeez.

[Adam Schefter]

So there's a group in there where there's not a huge separation.

[Pat McAfee]

Huge payday difference.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yes.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah.

[Adam Schefter]

Oh, yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

Drafted 11 overall, 34 overall. Man, if you're in that bubble, let's have a big week here at Indianapolis. I mean, how do you feel about the Shador not throwing? We saw that on a tweet.

[Adam Schefter]

Well, we don't, we don't know whether Cam Ward is still like Cam Ward has been preparing like he's going to throw. Throw. He's worked up a bunch of stuff like he's gonna throw. Doesn't mean he's gonna throw. Hasn't made a decision yet to the best of my knowledge. We'll see how he decides to handle it. But Shador is not gonna be here working with guys that he hasn't had timing with. He's gonna wait to do it as pro Day.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay, so we just had Jim Harbaugh on here. And Jim Harbaugh talks about guys going out there and doing it.

[Adam Schefter]

He left. He probably love. He wants everybody out here.

[Pat McAfee]

Well, he said just, hey, you have an opportunity to compete right now. You have an opportunity to compete, right? Because guys will come into meetings and they say, I want to win in everything. I want chess, I want to win a bocce ball, I want to win at croquet. And he's like, well, here's an opportunity football. You can come win out here with the same group of wide receivers, the same balls. Now, granted, you could get a crop wide receiver every round because there is a chance lottery. You get the seventh wide receiver, second quarterback, whatever, running back in that thing. So you can get a bad mix for people. But if you come out here and do a show like. And everything I've seen from Cam Ward and Shador Sanders clips because they're training together down there in Dallas, Cam Ward is coming out here to do this. Yeah, that's what I think that is. Like, who Cam Ward. Like, that feels in those videos.

[Adam Schefter]

That's been. I think that's been the idea now, whether he actually does it or not, we'll see. He hasn't committed one way or another, but I. I think. I think he's going to wind up.

[Pat McAfee]

Throwing here for the Cam Ward gimmick in those videos. He definitely comes out here and throws and then he dunks on Shador the next day. And training winning for not doing it like that is kind of the entire series that I'm seeing. The clips at least that I'm seeing out of the entire thing.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah, for sure. And if you're Cam Ward, why would. If you know Shador is not going to throw out there, why wouldn't you come, you know, light this place on fire and then definitively be like, yeah, I'm the number one quarterback here. Like, so we can do whatever we want, but I'm going to be the first quarterback taken.

[Adam Schefter]

But is what happens here, is that going to elevate him that much more and separate him?

[Boston Connor]

Like, I potentially has a.

[Adam Schefter]

There are certain guys that have certainly.

[Boston Connor]

Boosted their stuff stock here before everyone throws here. Has Jackson's art become the clear three right now?

[Adam Schefter]

That's what it sounds like. And it sounds like he's going to be a one. That's what it sounds like.

[Pat McAfee]

How many QBs don't know that yet?

[Adam Schefter]

I'm not there yet.

[Pat McAfee]

Will Howard, Is he in a conversation as a 1?

[Adam Schefter]

I, I don't know that. Yeah, I don't, I don't think so.

[Pat McAfee]

That's our highest stake out of these Michigan guys.

[Ty Schmidt]

True.

[Tone Diggs]

That's fine.

[Pat McAfee]

So I like, obviously I didn't get.

[Adam Schefter]

My invitation to cruise. I'm not happy. Will Howard's gonna be a mid round pick.

[Pat McAfee]

Listen, I'm hearing what I'm hearing, okay? I don't know what to tell you now.

[Adam Schefter]

If I was invited on the cruise, I'd have Will Howard in the top 12.

[Pat McAfee]

That's what people worry about with journalism these days. But I, I, I understand that that is not how it actually works with you, especially with the NFL. Jackson Dark can spin it, man. He's got the moxie that you want to have in Elite. And then Cam Ward, obviously, these series with Shador, I'm learning a lot about him. Love this guy. And then they talk about what he did down in Miami and then Shador. I think the thing that doesn't get talked about with Shador is how tough that Shador is. So tough. Shador got sacked more than anyone, any quarterback in the history of football, maybe. And he got up every single time. So he has the watches in the flash and everything like that. But he does not like. It's not like he's a prima donna or soft. Like it's the complete opposite almost. He feels like he has to go the complete opposite direction because of who he is and the life that he has lived. And everybody thinking like, oh, you just get this because you're Deion's kid and everything. So it's like he can spin it. And obviously he's got Tom Brady as a mentor since high school. Tom Brady owns the Raiders. Ran the entire interview process out there. And it's like his dad's Deion. So there is potential bloodline of greatness there, you know, that is in the. He knows what it takes to be a pro. So I mean, there's so many different conversations happening about all these guys. It's pretty wild to think about what a day out here could look like. Even though Shador's not throwing. Yeah.

[Tone Diggs]

Jackson dart. Ole Miss guy, though. So you're gonna have to check in on his father, make sure everything kind of. Yeah. Just to make sure.

[Boston Connor]

What do you mean?

[Tone Diggs]

You know, the right kind of culture type of guy.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, he's is Jackson Dart of Ole Miss's dad snooping around, which happens at Ole Miss.

[Tone Diggs]

I mean, that's kind of a situation.

[Pat McAfee]

That can have you had, you Heard about Ole Miss.

[Adam Schefter]

I've been there. The Grove.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay, so you know about that. Yeah. So you have not heard about the last. Last 12 hours?

[Tone Diggs]

Oh, it sounds like not.

[Boston Connor]

There's a menage.

[Pat McAfee]

That is really captivating.

[Tone Diggs]

Boy, oh, boy.

[Pat McAfee]

I'll tell you what. There's some Greek life getting called in question. Look out. Learn a lot about the KDs.

[Tone Diggs]

I think parents weekend's gonna be lit.

[Pat McAfee]

Well, I think they're actually not doing it this week. That would make more sense from what I've been told. Donner. And have you heard anything about any of this? No. Just wait, because we said it. Your algorithm's gonna pick that up and you. Yeah, you'll hear it.

[Adam Schefter]

I'm gonna Getting things about men.

[Pat McAfee]

No. Well, that's the problem. It's actually a triangle. It's a triangle. And there's a lot going on. Yeah, a lot moving parts. And one of them's a lot older than the other one. The other two actually. Yeah. One of them actually was right angle situation.

[Gumpy]

What.

[Adam Schefter]

What did I miss here? The last.

[Pat McAfee]

Some kid dad. Some kid's dad. There's a lot to it. It's some kids. It is not a good situation for all parties. Trust is gonna be ruined forever by.

[Ty Schmidt]

Oh, yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

Just forever. Like some old miss frat bro.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yep.

[Pat McAfee]

Sir. Okay. Had KD girlfriend. Allegedly.

[Tone Diggs]

This is the story. We know.

[Boston Connor]

Allegedly.

[Pat McAfee]

At this exact moment. This is what is being reported by everybody on the Internet. Dad had sex with son's girlfriend. Yeah. Not great.

[Ty Schmidt]

Not great.

[Pat McAfee]

And then it was made public, which. So now it's absolute worst case situation.

[Adam Schefter]

So where. Where is Jackson Dart in all this?

[Pat McAfee]

We're just wondering if he's dad's. Okay. We're trying to combine evaluate.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah.

[Tone Diggs]

Ole Miss dads are slinging meat right now.

[Adam Schefter]

So we got to get Jackson Dark Stad cleared.

[Pat McAfee]

Yes.

[Adam Schefter]

Before he can be elevated.

[Pat McAfee]

We would like to hear from Mr.

[Adam Schefter]

Dark that he's innocent.

[Pat McAfee]

Not in this case, just in general. We would like to maybe get. We have some questions. We have some questions on Ole Miss dads at the moment. We have some questions on Ole Miss debt. He can spin it and his moxie's insane. And we haven't talked about it much either because Ole Miss hasn't played in money meaningful, you know, since season. And there's not a lot of meaningful football games. And that college football playoff was long. It's almost like the NBA playoff. Where the NBA playoff. You forget the entire season because how long the NBA playoff is. You only remember the teams and the players that play in the playoffs in the NBA, that is a matter of fact. LeBron James was in the playoffs the longest for like 20 straight years. Obviously that helps because how great he is. But that's why. That's why most people know him as the NBA as a whole. Still the case. So whenever you talk about the college football world, we haven't seen Ole Miss play in forever. Jackson Dart, you remember the face paint, you remember the moxie, you remember all that, but you don't really talk about them because you haven't really watched their team play. You put these highlights on, it's like, wait a minute, him and Lane Kiffin were slicing and dicing down. They were hanging on sec defenses. And all these sec defenses can play good on certain days. Not saying they do on every day. I'm just saying on certain days they can play well. So maybe Jackson Dart is the forgotten guy in this entire thing.

[Adam Schefter]

Those highlights, they look a little bit like Bo Nix.

[Pat McAfee]

Is that the comparisons you're hearing, Shefty?

[Adam Schefter]

Well, I'm just telling you, like last year, nobody was talking about Bo Nix as a one and he winds up going as the 12th overall pick and fares pretty well. And I'm just watching the highlights of this guy right there on the monitor and the return and it looks like that looks a little Bo Nixish to me.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay, well, let's move away from the quarterbacks that are going to be drafted and let's move to the kickers and punters that are going to be drafted. Shefter, just the other day you reported to everybody. Well, well, well, the NFL is back on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday. This is everything. You completely missed. You completely missed the actual kickoff to the NFL combine. And it's happening as we speak. The specialist showcase.

[Adam Schefter]

Did you put up my apology right after?

[Pat McAfee]

No, we don't do that. Okay, you did apologize. You did try to make it right. The field goal part of the combine, the specialist showcase is currently happening. I believe this is redhead. This is Buddy from Ireland. This is. Oh, Bob would snap. Does he make the kick? Yes, he does. That should be talked about. So the interesting thing about this, snappers getting judged, punters getting judged for their holding abilities and their punting, kickers getting judged for their field goals and their kickoffs. All of these kicks, two teams are now you see a separated either side. I believe it's Fossil and John Brown, special teams coach for the Philadelphia Eagles has one team, Bones has the other team and each made kick is one point. So this would be. You didn't miss that.

[Ty Schmidt]

No, I made it.

[Tone Diggs]

No, I made it.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay. Geez. Tough angle. I was about to say. I thought I did, too, buddy. I've missed those short ones before. Those will stick with you the longest, especially at the combine. So these guys are trying to put on a show. Why didn't you want them to do this? Why didn't you want people to know that this was happening? Lives could change. Just international. When you want to talk about spreading the game internationally, go to the ball kicking sports, countries, brother. And that's how they're going to get in. Australia obviously came in in a big way. Now Europe's hitting. We got a couple Irish guys, Ireland, that are obviously bombing balls. Rugby players, Gaelic football players, soccer. Football, soccer players from those places. Pat, show some respect.

[Adam Schefter]

There's a missed opportunity that you are not on the field. I will be 245 intermingling with these guys as they're doing this.

[Pat McAfee]

245.

[Adam Schefter]

Okay, good. No missed opportunity.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. This is the beginning. So they're all. They're kicking. I forget how many kicks. There's six guys on each team. They're all kicking like maybe 10 different spots. I think I'm going to catch the tail end of it. And then we'll go into the punter portion of the contest. There's a couple kids out there that like the pick kicker, I believe his name is Solz. Everybody likes him. Like, everybody's like, hey, this guy's an NFL guy. Then there's a guy out of temple, obviously has 260 plus yarders. Maddox, I think his name is. He has two 60 plus yarders in games for Tempo. Remember he had a 61 yarder. Yeah. And I think one of them was in Lincoln Financial. So that, like, if you hit a 60 plus yarder in any stadium in a game, obviously all awesome. I mean, Bates hit it in UFL up there in a dome up there. But in Lincoln Financial, where it's Philly, it's like windy. Like, that is a tough place to kick. So I think there's a lot of, like, real promise. And in the international guys, there's four international kickers, I think, and like maybe four international punters or six international punters. So they're trying to grow it. They're trying to grow at Shafter. They're trying their best.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah, that's combine, baby.

[Pat McAfee]

That's combine. And you didn't want anybody to do it.

[Adam Schefter]

No, no, no, no.

[Tone Diggs]

Screw it up.

[Pat McAfee]

Hey, a lot of kicking situations potentially opening up this year. Any positions or conversations happening that have startled you this week in Indianapolis. Like, oh, I didn't know that was potentially possible. Like, for instance, Stafford being able to go seek a trade for me was, oh, that's like the first real public step. Like, they almost announced on Facebook that they were together, like, because this has been something that's been talked about for a while, and then now that it's like, yeah, they can. Basically, he's available. That felt a little bit alarming to me. Do we know that was coming? Is there anything else?

[Adam Schefter]

Not that he's a. Well, I guess he's not available.

[Pat McAfee]

He's definitely available. He's. You said he's taking. Taking offers.

[Adam Schefter]

Well, he's. Again, part of the Rams thinking was to allow him to go out to see what his value is. They had an idea what he was.

[Pat McAfee]

Worth, so they can still say no, of course.

[Adam Schefter]

But, but again, Matthew also has to be comfortable with what's going on in Los Angeles and the offer that's there. And maybe he's not. Maybe he, now that he's spoken to other teams and I know you're offering me this. You're offering me this. You're offering.

[Pat McAfee]

Oh, we're back in the play.

[Adam Schefter]

Yeah, we're back in the play. You know, hey, I, I, it feels like these teams are valuing me more now. I guess if you're the Rams, you'd say, hey, listen, we've worked together, we've got a relationship, we've got a history. Of course we value you. We're offering you this.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay, so that was startling. Anything else that you think has been a little bit startling that may be lingering around the combine that could potentially come out of nowhere over the next few days?

[Adam Schefter]

Well, well, I, I honestly believe it starts with Matthew Stafford. I think that gets the ball rolling on everything. I think that that holds up all the quarterback movement. So I think the pass rushers are going to get paid a tremendous amount of money. And I think that the success that the Eagles had in the super bowl, combined with how many pass rushers there are and the cap going up the way it has, you're going to see some big numbers for some of those pass rushers.

[Boston Connor]

Is there any movement on Miles Garrett at all?

[Adam Schefter]

You heard Andrew Berry yesterday, the Browns general manager come out, and he's been as steadfast as he could be that they're not trading him right now. So could that change in months? Sure. Again, Khalil Mack was traded Sept. 1 of the off season, in which they continued to insist. We're not trading and we're not trading, and we're not trading them. And then they wound up trading him. So teams positions shift. Players positions shift. But where they are today, Miles would like a trade, and the Browns say, we're not trading them today.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay, so let's talk Khalil Mack right there. Because we talked to Harbaugh, Harbaugh, and Ortiz. Harbaugh hit Ortiz in the leg and said, pay that man about Khalil Mack multiple times. Oh, yeah. Hey, that man jacked up about it. Hey, that man, Khalil Mack. What do you think happens there?

[Adam Schefter]

Well, what's interesting is last year they had decisions to make at both defensive end spots with Khalil Mack and Joey Bosa. People were wondering whether they have one. Both neither back. They figure out a way to get both back, and now they're in a situation where Joy Bosa may have to restructure. We'll see what happens with his contract. Khalil Mack is set to become a free agent. Probably going to be tough to have both those guys back this year. I think if they could get back one of them, probably be pretty good.

[Pat McAfee]

But we missed on Bosa. We should have followed up. Yeah, that's on us. We had him right here. Here.

[Adam Schefter]

You know what you should have said? Talk about a missed opportunity. Pat should have been like, hold on. Pat should be like, we got Adam coming out at 110. We got Jim Harbaugh, a guy that he knows. Let's get Adam and Jim. Let's have him on together. And then Adam could weigh in and ask him about.

[Pat McAfee]

No.

[Tone Diggs]

Jim said no. Jim said he didn't want to.

[Adam Schefter]

Well, there you go.

[Pat McAfee]

Your schedule, Chef, you could have texted some questions, too. You know, you could say, but you were in bed nice and early last night.

[Adam Schefter]

I was.

[Pat McAfee]

Is that so? That is completely opposite of what I thought.

[Ty Schmidt]

Well, they say that everything. And I mean, I guess for a guy like you, it doesn't really matter, but they say everything here gets done. You know, post 11pm.

[Adam Schefter]

I was having a sweet dream at that point.

[Pat McAfee]

Sweet dreams all made of. Who am I to disagree? Agreed.

[Adam Schefter]

I was up early.

[Pat McAfee]

No, you traveled the world. Everybody's looking for something. That's what the combine's all about. Combine.

[Adam Schefter]

Everybody's looking for something.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. And we thought those were happening late night, but instead, Chef, you get the job done early. We can't thank you enough. What, did you take time off? We took a long time, too. Too, too long, probably. We.

[Adam Schefter]

You.

[Pat McAfee]

You.

[Adam Schefter]

It looked like you had a good vacation.

[Pat McAfee]

Great. It was awesome.

[Adam Schefter]

Disney World. And where before then?

[Pat McAfee]

Puerto Rico. Great place, Tony.

[Tone Diggs]

Yeah. Re evaluate.

[Boston Connor]

Not me, Tony.

[Pat McAfee]

You too? I love Puerto Rico East. Go check. It was awesome. Diner. It was great. Have you ever been to Puerto Rico?

[Boston Connor]

I love everywhere except for Canada.

[Adam Schefter]

I don't think I've been to Puerto Rico.

[Pat McAfee]

First time, first time I've ever gone. It was.

[Tone Diggs]

It's incredible.

[Pat McAfee]

Weather was great.

[Adam Schefter]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

I mean just.

[Tone Diggs]

Yeah. In the ocean.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. I looked at it. Okay. So I felt like mentally I was in there. Sure. I was taking mental reps of everybody. I was down in there.

[Adam Schefter]

And when you're down there, you detach. You don't think about anything.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Yeah.

[Ty Schmidt]

You didn't bring your phone with you?

[Pat McAfee]

Actually, yeah. Is that right? After I put together an entire show. Speaking of tickets coming soon, we have a massive show in an arena in Pittsburgh coming up.

[Boston Connor]

Okay.

[Ty Schmidt]

Okay.

[Pat McAfee]

The biggest. Haha. This is an aggressive. So to your point. I go to Puerto Rico and I let loose a little bit carefree with the wife, have a good time. I start thinking of things should do this, should do this, should do this, should do this. And then like next morning it's like wait a minute. Yeah, we should do that. Reach out. See, boom boom, boom boom. Reach out to people that are very good in this world. Like the fine people at the wwe.

[Adam Schefter]

I knew you were gonna say that. I knew you were gonna say that. It's an arena show in particular.

[Pat McAfee]

It's an arena show. It's an arena show and I get to work with the wwe. So it's like watching what they do in an arena show wise I get to. I get the best seat in the house. I get to look around and all I do is I watch wrestling. Obviously. So incredibly lucky. But then I just watch the people like I just watch, watch the people and their reactions and it is awesome. And what you can do with those things and what WWE does for people and how you can make a show. It's like I put together a show that I don't think has ever been done before. I think it is going to be. It's going to be tough to describe but just know it's going to be a big night at in Pittsburgh. When is it date to be announced? Ticket sales coming soon, but within the next couple months. Months got pieced together pretty quick. I'll tell you what, it's an expensive one. It's going to be a good one. It's going to be a good time. We are very excited to be a part of it. I kept texting the boys more and more information. Then I would FaceTime the boys. Like, listen to this. Think about this. Just think to yourself, if you. Never mind. That's where we're going to leave it.

[Ty Schmidt]

That was a good little break.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, yeah, that was. It's Che. That's what happens to me, though. Yeah. So I get a chance to think about something else. Like, that's kind of my issue, you know, like, hanging out with the wife. We. We chill. She's so smart, too. Like, and by. Like, she knows me obviously very, very well, like, more than anybody, but she'll, like, mention things, you know. You ever think about this shit that I haven't really thought about, and then it becomes like a. A banter, and it comes back and forth, and then it's just like. And she's like, really? Like, yeah, go. You should like. It's cool. It's very, very cool. So I get to think about other stuff. Family very much. Like, Hanging out with MacKenzie was the greatest. Man, that was so cool. She's. We dance a couple of times. Pink Pony Club.

[Adam Schefter]

I didn't realize this was a karaoke.

[Boston Connor]

Sometimes.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. Yeah. It can happen, you know. Pink Pony Club.

[Adam Schefter]

Not the Pink Pony Club.

[Pat McAfee]

You need to listen. Yeah. Wake up. It's a banger. We.

[Adam Schefter]

You know, when my daughter was low is the Wiggles.

[Pat McAfee]

I understand. There are those. There are those. All right, we will continue on YouTube, Tik Tok Live, ESPN plus, and Disney Plus. Shout out to Disney for the time down. Disney World. We'll see you tomorrow. Goodbye. Okay, right on the screws there. See that zero I was extending to get to that point. So there's nothing else in the football world that we need to know as of this moment? On a Wednesday right now? Not to my knowledge, because we're off for two weeks. So, like.

[Gumpy]

Yeah.

[Tone Diggs]

What about. What about the child they hired in Jacksonville?

[Ty Schmidt]

Oh, Jimbo Gladstone.

[Tone Diggs]

Jimmy Col. Stones. Yeah. That guy's, like, 17 years old.

[Pat McAfee]

He's a whiz kid.

[Adam Schefter]

Smart. Looks like he's a very smart guy.

[Pat McAfee]

Has to be if you're.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

I don't want to say inexperienced, but it looks like he has not been through a lot. Okay. Just with how clean and young he looks, it's like this guy's brain must be gigantic. That must be the case. He look. What's that? What do you.

[Adam Schefter]

He looks like Timothy Chalamet.

[Tone Diggs]

Okay, well, don't. Don't come at Timmy like that.

[Ty Schmidt]

Poor man. This guy looks like a.

[Pat McAfee]

He looks like. Exactly. He does look like a streamer. He looks like a streamer or a young actor. I could see a young actor out of him. Artist of some sort. But instead, his art is football. 2016, senior assistant to general manager. 18. Senior assistant to general manager. Been there. Okay. Been there. 19. Director of Scouting strategy. During his time with the Rams, he won four NFC west division titles, appeared in the postseason. He won a Super Bowl.

[Ty Schmidt]

See, I hate that. I hate that he won a Super bowl, especially with the Rams.

[Pat McAfee]

He's a senior assistant to the general.

[Boston Connor]

Manager, the athlete of the year.

[Ty Schmidt]

Okay, so he got less. Need coffees. You know, I mean, senior assistant to the. But I hate when they put the. Went to the postseason six times, won a Super bowl, especially when he was a part of. And everyone talks about McVeigh being like, he's the guy. So, like, all these guys get. He was McVeigh's OC. Well, McVeigh's calling all the players.

[Pat McAfee]

Two time captain of the football team.

[Ty Schmidt]

But I'm not taking any potshots at that because that's a big deal, especially college.

[Pat McAfee]

And name to the BSN All American Team as a wide receiver. Gladstone.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah.

[Tone Diggs]

BSN team.

[Pat McAfee]

Just like McVeigh, by the way. McVeigh, former wide receiver who had a lot of success, was able to run a team from a coaching standpoint. What do we know about Gladstone? Because I know they're down there in Duvall. Oh, boy, he's here. We saw him yesterday.

[Ty Schmidt]

Apparently, the security lady gave him a hard time getting in because his credentials were all twisted up. And she said, listen, un. Untwist that. Right now, I need to see who you are.

[Pat McAfee]

I got checked for you this morning. My credential. My credential was in my back pocket. I was a little loose with it. Always am. Sure.

[Ty Schmidt]

Sure.

[Pat McAfee]

Always am. Just because I enjoy the interaction.

[Adam Schefter]

You don't need a credential in the city.

[Pat McAfee]

No, I do. This place like Area 51, they lock it down. Yeah, yeah, this is. I don't expect that at all. These cars right here, but I do. Enjoy. Yeah, you see, this is a race in town, brother.

[Adam Schefter]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

That's a funny car right there.

[Adam Schefter]

By the way, what are they building opposite St. Elmos? Is that apartment buildings?

[Tone Diggs]

Massive, massive new hotel. Oh, it's going to be incredible.

[Boston Connor]

Seasons indeed.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, I don't think it's Four Seasons. I don't think it's.

[Tone Diggs]

Yeah, it's gonna be very nice, though. Very nice. New hotel coming.

[Pat McAfee]

With that being said, we host so many things. Things. It's when J.W. merrick goes up Right before Super bowl, obviously. Smashing success. It's filled up every single weekend. I think this is a good place to build a hotel, you know, because there's only more things happening, more events happening. How long is this going to be here for? Sign through 2027.

[Adam Schefter]

Is that what it is? I thought it was the next couple years at least. Like, it's so central. It's so simple. It's so easy.

[Pat McAfee]

It'll always exist.

[Adam Schefter]

Well, the combine will always exist. You'd like to think it'll be in Indy. I don't know. It seems like there's been a little bit of a dance.

[Pat McAfee]

No, I'm just saying the combine that. You think combine will always exist, I would guess.

[Adam Schefter]

Yes. Yeah, there's got. There's got to be a common. Common area where the. The college prospects can be medically. That's what this was about, them getting medical testing. And it evolved into the drills and the interviews and the football carnival that it's become.

[Pat McAfee]

Oh, so that's why some of these players are like, I'm not playing these games. Yeah, I'll go do the medical. I'll talk to the team.

[Ty Schmidt]

Teams.

[Pat McAfee]

I'm old school. Shadork would say he's old school. Yeah, I talk to the teams. I'll do the medical. I'm not doing it. I'm not doing a whole dog and pony show. It is great, though, for us. And the number is going to be huge. The NFL never sleeps. And I think you do, though, every now and then. Yeah, that's what you said. Sweet dreams. Interesting. And a maid of the. Who am I to disagree? Sounds like you don't care about learning wine songs. About. Next time that song comes on, you're gonna wish that you listen.

[Ty Schmidt]

One of the words. I don't know the words.

[Pat McAfee]

And did anything happen? Anything happen while you're looking down there in between the legs?

[Adam Schefter]

John lynch said that contract negotiations with Brock Purdy are underway.

[Ty Schmidt]

Okay, congrats.

[Pat McAfee]

Brock paid a lot of money. He's gonna pay a lot of money.

[Boston Connor]

He deserves it.

[Pat McAfee]

So he's quarterback of the future.

[Adam Schefter]

Contract negotiations are underway.

[Pat McAfee]

What about everything else potentially at San Francisco? Always have something looming. What's looming in San Francisco other than Brock Purdy?

[Adam Schefter]

Debo. They're gonna have. Yeah, they're gonna. I think they're gonna be able to trade Debo. Yep, they'll be able to trade him. I think he obviously asked for that trade. They gave him permission to seek a trade. I think people have wondered if they'd have to release him. I think they're gonna be able to trade him.

[Pat McAfee]

I'm gonna come here to Indianapolis, maybe change culture a little bit.

[Tone Diggs]

Well, probably because, you know, nobody can do that. This is a racing city, brother. Their team stinks. No one gives a. About football here, man. I've.

[Ty Schmidt]

I've. I've been more firm in my. My commitment to that. It is right. I don't think the Colts are ever gonna win until they get all this goofy out of here. You got to get all the.

[Pat McAfee]

You know what?

[Ty Schmidt]

Race cars and crap.

[Pat McAfee]

That's funny. Funny car.

[Ty Schmidt]

I understand. That's a funny car. That's goofy. Get it out of here.

[Boston Connor]

Wait, they play football here?

[Pat McAfee]

Yes. Place out every time. That's not true. And it's also funny.

[Tone Diggs]

It's also funny. In the intro, I noticed. Put a American flag on the floor.

[Pat McAfee]

That's art there.

[Tone Diggs]

The Melon King camp. Do that. Is that how that goes?

[Pat McAfee]

It's a piece of art.

[Tone Diggs]

Okay.

[Pat McAfee]

Mellencamp, Indiana artist, obviously. Yeah. It's a racing time, dude. It's a racing time.

[Ty Schmidt]

Get Peyton up there.

[Pat McAfee]

Get. Peyton's right up there.

[Ty Schmidt]

Get him up there spinning on, you know, spinning on that circle, and there's a 60 car.

[Pat McAfee]

Can you show them Peyton, please? Scott. Scott from Louisiana on the jib. He takes a left hand turn.

[Tone Diggs]

The flag on the ground is Matt.

[Adam Schefter]

Is McAfee up there?

[Pat McAfee]

Should be. No, brother. That's a Super bowl team. That's a Super bowl champion team right there.

[Tone Diggs]

They put them up there so that when fans leave after a loss, they're like, why can't we get these Peyton.

[Pat McAfee]

Guys back in the building? Hey, can you go to the right there? I think Joseph Adai is over to the right, dog. Absolutely, dog. Great football player, great leader.

[Boston Connor]

You should be up in the ring of honor. You give this place two, three good years, they'll put you up there.

[Pat McAfee]

All right?

[Tone Diggs]

I mean, we're up there. Colts nation, baby.

[Pat McAfee]

I got retired by this chapter. You're not a part of Colts Nation. Don't act like you're in this whole thing, okay? Colts Nation is up on the ring of honor here because. Because the fans are appreciated. Fans show up even when a team hasn't won the AFC South 12 years. Yeah.

[Tone Diggs]

They may not be showing up much longer.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, they will. Colts are going to get it right, especially here at the combine. Shefter, we appreciate the hell out of you, man.

[Adam Schefter]

Hey, guys. Pleasure. Nice to be in your city. Your city.

[Pat McAfee]

When will you be here till.

[Adam Schefter]

I'm going home Friday night.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay. Work is Done.

[Adam Schefter]

Work's never done. But I'm going home Friday night.

[Pat McAfee]

Sure.

[Adam Schefter]

Sports Center, 7:30am from the house.

[Boston Connor]

Tell you what, when you leave, we'll take over, okay? We'll go out, we'll hit the streets. When you leave Friday, we'll clock.

[Adam Schefter]

You could take over tonight for me. I won't be. I won't be on those streets late.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay. So what, do you go right to your room?

[Boston Connor]

What do we have a good, nice dinner.

[Pat McAfee]

Do you contribute to our city at all?

[Adam Schefter]

Absolutely. For 33 years. 34 years.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. You don't go out. You just. You sit in a hotel room service.

[Boston Connor]

You enjoy a nice steakhouse.

[Adam Schefter]

I took somebody to dinner last night.

[Pat McAfee]

Oh, you took somebody out to dinner. Who was it?

[Adam Schefter]

Pat called during dinner. The server knew his wife.

[Pat McAfee]

Wife, yeah. Smoked weed with Sam.

[Adam Schefter]

Small world.

[Pat McAfee]

That's gonna happen. That's gonna happen. The. So the last night meeting that you have at dinner, I was gonna bring it up. You did. You. You set that up. Just as a, hey, let's annual thing, touch base.

[Adam Schefter]

There's people that you see, you know, I. You don't get to be around a lot of these people all the time, so it's nice to be able to be in the same city as them and sit down with some of them.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, I agree. We have the same situation here because we're an indie and we don't travel to New York or LA much, so we get a chance to see people, catch up with people, get yelled at by people. It's. It's awesome. We're so thankful it's here legitimately, and we're lucky to be here. And we're appreciative that you join our show. Great. Watch, Chef D. Adam, you look super cool. You doing any other tv? Ladies, look at these. Why don't you dress like this on tv? Because you always do this. You gotta do the suit thing.

[Adam Schefter]

I would go on TV like this. I don't. I, I. Somebody might say something like, I might hear from somebody, hey, put a jacket on or something.

[Pat McAfee]

Oh, because you don't look. I think you look super cool.

[Tone Diggs]

You shouldn't give a.

[Adam Schefter]

What they say you're Adam, but I do.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, you're Adam Schefter. Never forget it. And we appreciate it.

[Adam Schefter]

I appreciate you guys.

[Pat McAfee]

Ladies and gentlemen, we'll take a break. We'll be back on the other side, I believe we got Casario from the Houston Texans, who will be joining us in a matter of moments. And then. And also the specialist showcase that is kicking off the NFL combine. Even though Schefter hates that it's happening. No, no, he's taking place. Oh, yeah. Chef, do you have any questions for Casario?

[Adam Schefter]

I got a lot of questions for Nick.

[Boston Connor]

Go on, write them down.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. Now's the time.

[Tone Diggs]

Same.

[Adam Schefter]

You want some questions?

[H]

Yeah.

[Adam Schefter]

Where are they at with Stefan Diggs? Where's Tank Dell? In his recovery. What do they do at wide receiver to replace some of those guys? Guys.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay. You don't want to ask him about the elimination chamber coming up on Saturday.

[Tone Diggs]

Cuz he's going to want to talk about it.

[Adam Schefter]

Elimination chamber on Saturday. Absolutely.

[Pat McAfee]

He is going to want to talk about.

[Adam Schefter]

What's his favorite song to sing? Karaoke.

[Pat McAfee]

See, now you're starting to get it. That one. Yeah. It is.

[Tone Diggs]

Better.

[Pat McAfee]

That's what he loves.

[Ty Schmidt]

That's his favorite song.

[Tone Diggs]

He does it.

[Pat McAfee]

That's it.

[Tone Diggs]

All the time, Every day.

[Adam Schefter]

I'm so glad I brought that on.

[Nick Caserio]

Thank you.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, good journalism.

[Adam Schefter]

Thank you, buddy.

[Pat McAfee]

Come by. Scott, you missed it. Scott, you missed the beat drop. I mean, I. I've never heard somebody. It's never seen somebody miss a beat drop like that before.

[Tone Diggs]

Governor Jeff Landry would be disgusting.

[Pat McAfee]

Governor Jeff Landry is going to be. I don't even know if we should tell. Ain't going to explore his face. I don't know even if you should tell him. Welcome back, Scott. You're the man. This jib is awesome. As is the opportunity to be live from the NFL combine. The toxic tables here at Boston Conner and at Ty Schmidt. Then one half of the Hammer Cowboys, Tone Diggs as well. Tone, anything we missed while we were talking to our guests as we await our next guest from the Houston Texans.

[Boston Connor]

Now we covered all the big things throughout the show that have kind of come from the press conference and stuff like that. We talked about the Colts in the open quarterback competition. We talked about the Bengals paying their wide receivers. Oh, actually, one thing we didn't talk about about the Chiefs and their, their, you know, future Gold Jacket tight end Travis Kelce. You know, Brett Veach said there was still the fire. Travis Kelce still had the fire. They expect him back. And then Andy Reid said, you know, we're going to give Travis some space. We're gonna give him some time to relax and make his decision. So I guess there is the question mark out there about what Travis is going to do with his future. But other than that, we have pretty much covered everything that. That has kind of come out of the GM and coach press conferences so far.

[Pat McAfee]

What do you Sound like it sound like they were alluding to him coming back. Right. That's what I sounded like that for sure. Andy Reid was like, hey, bud, you go do what you got to do and then talk to me.

[Gumpy]

Right.

[Pat McAfee]

That's kind of what it was.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah. It seemed like, I mean, I don't know, just me personally, I didn't think there was ever a chance he was going to retire. I mean, I guess maybe, but it seemed like this was kind of something that was like created because people were cherry picking the play from the super bowl with him, like not, you know, peeling back and blocking. I think when Mahomes took off or something and it was like, hey, this guy doesn't. He just. He doesn't have it anymore. You know, he's kind of past his prime.

[Pat McAfee]

14 touchdowns.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah, exactly. It just, it seemed like if he would have retired, to me that would have been like out of nowhere.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. And I think during super bowl media night, where do you see yourself in five years, three years? He said hopefully still playing. Yeah. You know, like that is. I love. He's a football guy.

[Boston Connor]

He is.

[Pat McAfee]

And that was a devastating loss. I think it would be hard to make any decision about anything after that loss. After the season, I had the very fortunate, lucky opportunity to ride the coat wings of the team that won the super bowl, built Lucas Oil Stadium here in Indianapolis on the tail end and go to another super bowl with them against the New Orleans Saints and Drew Brees. And that loss after the season, that was. I walked into a locker room, it was the most devastated place I've ever watched. Like it was. We're talking about just. No, it was just soulless operation. Like just blank stares out of everybody. Just like drenched over. You're walking through another team's confetti, you know, how lucky and how hard it was to get here. And everybody just thinks to themselves, we're never going to make it back. So whenever that situation takes place, especially if you're trying to do history and you've won back to back world champions, well, you've already won back to back. It's like, yeah, well, that's what they expect to do. So whenever that just gets taken away from you and you get.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah. Killed.

[Pat McAfee]

Absolutely pounded. Just absolutely pounded. I assume mentally it's not the right time to make any decision, but the fact that it's being talked about means that somebody thinks that it's possible. And for me, I don't think it's to anybody's. Everybody's point. It's like at Radio or. Yeah, I think radio. No media day. I guess he said no. He's gonna be back. But then you've won a bunch of Super Bowls, you've made a bunch of money, you've represented our sport very, very well publicly. You know, nobody in football will want to give him that credit. A lot of super football, football people are like, I don't care, he's dating Taylor Swift. It's like, how about how he's put on for the football world while dating the biggest star on earth? And then how about them being a genuine like, you know, like everything we know. He's football guy from Ohio representing and doing. I am a massive Travis Kelsey fan. I think on the football field, he's unguardable as well. Now, granted, he can be guarded if you put three people on him, but then he opens up for everybody else and then in the big moments, whenever you needs something, he's going to show up. It's like that guy's certified already at this point. So maybe that creeps in. If you're having an off season with the biggest star on earth and you're experiencing like what billionaires experience because once again, that is his significant other, that is a billionaire for real. And people don't like, give credit to people. It's like, she is. She might be the one. Like, she is so impressive. So maybe there is a chance that after you leave, lose and you get devastated, you're like, I don't want to sign back up to ever feel like that again, especially after everything I've accomplished with the offseason. But I don't see it that way. Just like I don't see with Aaron, you know, like, I just don't believe that these football guys don't want to play football.

[Boston Connor]

He's got, you know, he's got a part in a movie coming out and, you know, unlike another tight end, he actually could probably have a lucrative acting career. So what do you think about that?

[Tone Diggs]

Easy.

[Pat McAfee]

There's no reason for that shot. That's the news. You took a shot at Rob Gronkowski there because his agent, whenever. Rob's agent, whenever he retired, came out and said that he's going to pursue a lucrative acting career kind of cart before the horse. And I don't think Gronk wants to be acting. He wants to be himself. And that has done certainly great things for the Gronkowski family and himself. But yeah, it came out during the break that he's potentially going to go back to the playing field, back to the gridiron he's going to play for the Denver Broncos. Loves Bo Nicks, loves Sean Payton. Hey, maybe Rob Gronkowski leaves the desk at Fox, leaves all the commercial money, leaves all the living and having a good time out the door and comes back with the Denver Broncos and Sean Payton. I would believe that he'd be great. Looks like he's still in the shape that he was in whenever he was playing. Rob Gronkowski, whenever he was playing football, just dominant.

[Tone Diggs]

The goat.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. If he was able to play longer, like in the playoffs, he showed up every time. That's why the Travis Kelsey Rob Gronkowski playoff records are the ones that should be talked about about the most. But Rob Gronkowski is a pivotal part of so much in the history of the NFL. If he was come back and play ball, how would you feel as a Patriots fan? Because obviously you watch him with the Bucks.

[Tone Diggs]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

Go win a Super bowl with Tom. And then if he gets called in as a Super bowl assassin for the Denver Broncos, how would you feel about it?

[Tone Diggs]

I'd feel pretty good, you know, because I've already experienced Bucks. Yeah, exactly. It's kind of like whatever. Especially because it wouldn't be as tough because it's not as if he's going to play with Brady. But yeah, his last game, what he had five catches, two touchdowns, 70 yards in the super bowl and that was against the Chief. So I, I, I don't see any reason why he wouldn't go back and absolutely dominate.

[Pat McAfee]

Well, there is a reason.

[Tone Diggs]

Oh yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

Jordan Schultz reported that he asked Rob.

[Tone Diggs]

Gronkowski what the hell guys?

[Pat McAfee]

Schultz got the news. Schultz got the news. I didn't see this follow up is on me. I asked Rob Gronkowski about a so called NFL comeback. Schultz's reporting and Gronk said, crazy, bro. They must know something about me that I don't. I wish I still had those powers because that would be cool if I did, but I was just in Australia for a few days now it's time to relax a little. No football.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah. I saw one of the senior insiders as well, I can't remember which one it was, said this did not happen.

[Pat McAfee]

But maybe if we keep floating out there when I see Gronk back out there. Yeah.

[Boston Connor]

Chance Gronk play football.

[Tone Diggs]

Gronk and Sean Payton, former teammates at Fox.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, everybody at Fox loves Sean. Literally everybody said they love Sean Payton over there. Feels like they're trending in the right direction. Bo Nix is a guy. Yeah. Future of the NFL is very bright, like legitimately the young stars in the NFL are very good, which leads to the concern that there is a lot of buzz around this. He said third, fourth, fifth rounders.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

Well, if their third, fourth, fifth rounders are so good, why aren't they second round? I never understood, you know. Yeah, like whenever they describe that they're like late in the thing, it's good, it's a good crop. So it's like I thought so why.

[Boston Connor]

Wouldn'T they be say the like. Because everyone is talking about the D line and the running back super in those two tight ends. Yes, as well. But no, he, he went to the third to fifth round, which, you know, the.

[Tone Diggs]

Yeah. Them saying or him saying the 10th pick isn't as different from the 35th.

[Boston Connor]

We've had years where that's happened though. I think it was like two years ago where they said, you know, first round grades on 10 guys or whatever.

[Pat McAfee]

But I think the difference is how good all the young players are playing. Oh yeah, those young guys take up roster, roster spots and they're not that expensive. So draft picks normally get opportunity or supplement whenever a vet is either gone absent or looking to get paid and go somewhere else. We can't handle it in salary. So the young guys get opportunity. That's how you get in there, you know. So that's why the combine, the draft is so special. But there's a lot of young dudes taking over big time roles in the NFL. It's great for the game, it's great for the league. I don't know how it is for this particular draft class, but legitimately I think it's good around the league, especially at quarterback.

[Boston Connor]

And the thing that's been going around a lot is, and Shefty said it too, he expects the Browns to take a quarterback at number two specifically because that quarterback is going to be most likely very talented but also very cheap. Because of their situation cap situation with desean Watson, they need to get a cheap quarterback who is going to play. Obviously desean's not complaining because of the Achilles and other reasons, but they know they're going to bring in a quarterback. And if you've got to pay desean, there's nothing but better than getting a great first round quarterback potentially and then also not having to pay him a ton for a little bit at least.

[Pat McAfee]

I'm very fascinated by this draft class because like, you know, with college game day, with the simulcast, we have followed this, these guys, right? And this is like Herb Street. So Herb street obviously does college ball for so long he makes a transition to the NFL. And I think he, you know, because the way Herbie is, he always thinks he's going to, like, super, like, humble mistake. I'm not supposed to be like, herby, get it together, bro. You're Kirk Herb, bro. Let's over prepares for every. Like, over preparing is good. Like, I think it is good. But there comes a point where it's like, you're Kirk her, bro. You're prepared. You know everything about everything that's legit. He was worried when he came into the NFL that he wouldn't know enough about the NFL game because he hadn't spent enough time in the NFL. He thought the NFL people would like, kind of scoff at him too, because he wasn't NFL guy. Then he realized, oh, I know all these guys. Watch all. I literally know all of these guys from them, how they were at their schools. Now it's gonna be like transfers. Why they transfer, how much money they got paid. Like, all the information that we're gonna have on these guys coming in the combine now and going forward, let alone guys going back into school that are maybe these top end guys, second round guys, first round guys, early third round guys going back to school because of what the nil is. I mean, it is. We're in an interesting transition phase, I think, for this, you know, kind of drafting part of the calendar going forward.

[Tone Diggs]

Well, and it's interesting too. Like, Joe Ortiz kind of mentioned this. Like, we talked about the whole culture situation, you know, like, how many young guys have then, you know, started somewhere and then gone somewhere else and been much better. Like, you wonder the situations, how bad some of them can be and how, like a player can go and then completely stink and we're all out on them and then four years later, later end up at a place that he's meant for and then become an unbelievable player.

[Pat McAfee]

Aaron Rodgers, what's he. Where does he end up at a TP in Cuba? You think so?

[Tone Diggs]

Puerto Rico?

[Ty Schmidt]

There's no way he's retired.

[Tone Diggs]

I just don't.

[Ty Schmidt]

There's no way.

[Tone Diggs]

I don't see why.

[Pat McAfee]

I think you think he's retiring.

[Tone Diggs]

I. I don't know if he's retiring. I just.

[Pat McAfee]

You've read all the books.

[Tone Diggs]

If, if, if there's not a great situation and the jets going into it was a great situation, even though it's the New York Jets. But, like, if there isn't like a. Like, Pittsburgh would make a lot of sense, but if Stafford's the guy everyone wants, then, like, where's he gonna end up if he's the number two guy?

[Boston Connor]

I think it hinges on Minnesota. Like, if they really want to just move forward with jj, then I, I think Aaron would make a ton of sense in Minnesota. But if Minnesota doesn't want Aaron and they want to move forward with JJ at this point, then like, is he gonna go? I assume Aaron wants to go to a place where he can win and obviously go out on a high note. And how many of those teams exist?

[Pat McAfee]

Ty, you know this better than anybody on this particular show. And I think maybe in society, Aaron loves the Packers. Whenever still during the packers season, during the seasons, even when he's been with the jets or whatever, he starts, he'll ask you questions about what's going on with the Packers. Is he going to do the whole Brett Favre potential Jets into the Vikings.

[Boston Connor]

Time is a flat.

[Pat McAfee]

And if he was to go to them with Kevin O'Connell, Justin Jefferson.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah, that one would, that one would hurt more. I mean, the Favre one, because it happened so long ago, you know, and, and they, they almost went to a Super bowl with Favre, you know, like, that was really, I mean, he kind of did the same thing. He went to the jets and it wasn't quite as disastrous as it has been with Aaron. But then when he went to the Vikings, like having to see, having to play him twice a year and, and that Vikings team is unbelievable. Like that with Rodgers, that would really, that would suck to see him. But, but I think, and you know, I have talked to Shefte about this on his podcast. Like, we still don't know because the Stafford thing, it could be like the Lamar situation where he requested the trade and then it was all, it was basically like, hey, well, maybe these other teams are just letting other teams do the legwork work for the Ravens to see what his, you know, market value is going to be like. It kind of just took that whole. If Stafford does leave the Rams, I think it's a no brainer that Aaron Rodgers is going to go to the Rams.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, because Malibu, he's la, especially with everything that's happened we brought up with the Chargers. But like LA fires like his friends, his. He got his Achilles. I mean, like, yeah, he's back home. That's like his community in LA.

[Ty Schmidt]

And, and a guy like McVeigh and him I think would get along long, very, very well.

[Pat McAfee]

McVeigh younger than him. So McVeigh probably fan of Aaron. Like, not that a fan isn't like I'm saying, The respect that McVeigh probably has for Aaron. And once again, we've heard from our source there's a lot of respect and love the other way, you know, in this entire thing, because how could you not with mcvan.

[Ty Schmidt]

And they do get. And they have a chance to win. Like they. They were a yes.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. What Schefter was saying is he's gonna get paid.

[Ty Schmidt]

He wants you 5 mils. Like the of you know where it starts.

[Pat McAfee]

That's a lot of money.

[Tone Diggs]

What he said about Minnesota, though, like, if there's any place where it's. Hey, the quarterback, of course, is important, but not as big of a deal. It's Minnesota because Koc. So like with JJ, I could just see them riding with JJ McCarthy. Like Koc is going to figure that out and then where does he end up anyways?

[Boston Connor]

They use the first round on him, so they're going to want to see.

[Tone Diggs]

Yeah, exactly. You got to find out now.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay, let's pivot away from the quarterback talk and let's go to a general manager talk. Ladies and gentlemen, six time super bowl champion general manager for the Houston Texans. Hey, Casario. Lads, lads, Dads. Lads. You got those on clouds on. Those are so comfy. Oh, yeah, right here. Wow. Purple.

[Tone Diggs]

I like that.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, you're accessorizing too.

[Nick Caserio]

Look, I've got like 10 pairs of clouds. Love them, dude.

[Pat McAfee]

They came through the world during COVID It felt like, right? Didn't we get introduced to the on clouds?

[Ty Schmidt]

So they got super popular.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, and he's got. I mean, he's wearing them.

[Nick Caserio]

I had like the basic ones when it first came out. Now I got like. I mean, different shapes, sizes, whatever they are.

[Pat McAfee]

You should lower that thing just a little bit. Yeah, there you go. No, yeah, right there. Perfect. Okay.

[Nick Caserio]

All right.

[Pat McAfee]

It was on your nose.

[Nick Caserio]

My mouth. My nose is very big. So it doesn't take. It doesn't take much.

[Pat McAfee]

So I just. You said it on me, but like, I have a big nose as well, but I was looking over at that thing and I'm like, that mic is right at that nose. And I did look at the nose for a second and I was like. But no, guys, go. It's a pazon nose. Okay, paisano, let's talk about it. Indianapolis, what do you utilize this time for most? You think not? Are you embracing all of it? Is it the medical? Is it the meeting? Is it the gathering? Like, what is the big thing you think? And the importance of scouting combine in Indianapolis to you number.

[Nick Caserio]

Can I include this show or is that not part of it after that?

[Pat McAfee]

No. The.

[Nick Caserio]

The big thing is probably the interviews. So it's, you know, it's only 15 minutes. But I think the big thing is each player has a story, you know, trying to get an understanding of their story, their background, how they've got to this point. Some kids have honestly dealt with a lot, and the fact that they're even sitting in that chair, you can't have nothing but respect and appreciation for that. And it's really the first touch point for the coaching staff.

[Pat McAfee]

So.

[Nick Caserio]

So this is D'Amico's opportunity to really meet some of these players for the first time. We've accumulated a massive amount of information. August, September, October, our scouts have been in the schools. I mean, we have a database full of information from the school about what we think the player is. We've talked to some of them at the Senior bowl and some of the All Star games as well. So now we're starting to piece it together, just trying to create a profile of the player and just so we can make a good decision when it comes draft time.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay, so obviously, immense success up in New England. And I think every day that rolls by, the more credit you're getting. I don't know if you've heard your name. Your ears have been burned. I know you got a big sniffer, but your ears, they should be a hefty size as well, because there's a lot of people talking and singing your praises about what you did up in New England. I think we're getting more glimpses of what you did up in New England. More hands on. You go to Houston, you have a vision of what your team is going to be. I assume you start creating that in New England. What your vision of your team is going to be, and is how close are you to what you had envisioned as your football team?

[Nick Caserio]

Yeah, look, I think there's a lot of people in New England that deserve a lot of credit for the success that we had. I mean, my job is. I mean, I've said this is just. Was to support Coach Belichick and just kind of behind the scenes and.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, but we've talked a lot to Belichick and Lombard. Everybody's been paying their respects as far as.

[Nick Caserio]

As far as our program. Again, when you take over a new program, you can't take another program and just drop it in. So you kind of have to. All right, where are you? What do you want to do? What do you want to emphasize? What's important. We obviously went through some coaching changes. We had to make some modifications. And I think when we heard D'Ameco, I think the big thing too systematically, like defensively, like that system, this system is different than how I was trained. So how you evaluate players, what's important, what you prioritize. So you have to maintain an open mind as you're piecing that team together. But I think the traits and characteristics and profile of the player, of what you want in the person when they walk in the building, that's remained consistent. So you have to have a certain level of discipline. You have to be committed to that. If you prioritize and say this is important, their competitiveness, are they a good teammate, do they put the team first? Do they have mental and physical toughness? If you say those things are important, who are the players that have those qualities? Like that's our job and responsibility and you have to stay true to that. If you start to veer off, well, these are important. But you know what? This guy ran 4:1 and he's not a good kid. All right, well are you really staying true to what you believe in? So I think philosophically D'Amico and I are aligned that respect.

[Pat McAfee]

There's a lot of whispers in the hallways and restaurants about maybe a potential culture situation around the NFL. And culture is always this buzzword that's talked about, but culture is basically how people judge your program, I think personally or how those within judge the program. And it's like the tough teams and like the teams that stick together, the hard working teams, the bought in teams, they seemingly win, People are saying now finding the guys to buy in because of the world that we live in is much harder than it had been maybe 10, 15, 20 years ago. Do you agree with that? Finding guys that love ball, maybe finding guys that buy in, fit into being role as opposed to being superstar.

[Nick Caserio]

I would say this Pat. They're out there so dogs, they're out there so you have to be able to identify those. And ultimately culture, I know that word get used a lot. Ultimately the players are responsible for that.

[Pat McAfee]

It's your responsible for bringing the player in though.

[Nick Caserio]

Well, it fits together so. And the players are very aware and perceptive. If you say look, these are the things that are important. And then a guy walks in the building, they're going to look and you go, wait a minute, what are you talking about? Right? I mean, players don't get enough credit for their overall awareness and level of understanding. They're very astute. So like you can't bullshit them. So you got to Be consistent. You got to be, you know, stay true to what you believe in, and your actions have to back your words. And I think D'Amico and I really, really strongly believe in that.

[Pat McAfee]

Your quarterback was a guy that you told us, I think, last year, that greatest rookie season of all time. Then Jaden comes. It's like, I don't know what the hell's going on with these young quarterbacks, but it'd be great to get one. You want to trade anyways. Straight up. Young. Ours is younger. Ours is.

[Nick Caserio]

We love our guys.

[Pat McAfee]

He drives the ball real, real far. Nonetheless, I don't even know if I have the power to trade him. Okay, maybe, maybe, maybe I'm not having such an open competition, but when you talk about CJ Stroud, you said the same way. He talked in front of a small group. He talked in front of the entire building. He is who he is, and he is a guy that we love, and since day one, he's been bought in. Now he's going to have a different offense coordinator. Right. We got a whole new offensive coordinator. He went through a little bit of struggles this year, had a lot of injuries, obviously happening around him, but nonetheless, much different than year one. What did you learn about CJ Stroud this last year and what is your job now for. And with CJ Stroud?

[Nick Caserio]

Yeah, that he's as motivated as ever. And I think any player, sometimes you have to go through some trials and tribulations and you learn a lot about yourself, and you learn about a lot about the program and about the team. So I think CJ Is going to have a really good off season. He's going to be committed to making himself a better football player, which is. That's where the focus should be. We'll see kind of where we end up offensively. Nick's got a very background, trained kind of in New England systems. Been around Coach McVay here, you know, for a couple years. So I would say offensive football continues to evolve, and at some point, you're going to kind of need everything. It's offensive is kind of a hybrid of a lot of different things. Kind of have a foundation. What works, what doesn't work. All right, a little bit more of this, a little bit less of that, and then figure out a best way to accentuate the strengths of the players and put them in a position where they can go out there and execute.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. And C.J. stroud is so. I can't wait to watch next year. And you're right, the trials and tribulations can drive out and drive people to be even better than maybe further or first expected. Adam Schefter said he wants to know about Stefan Diggs. What's going on with Stefan? Digitized Diggs.

[Nick Caserio]

Tell him to ask you. He doesn't talk to me, so.

[Pat McAfee]

No, no, that's what he said. That's what he said. Actually, he said, I got a lot of questions for the Houston Texans. Is what he said.

[Nick Caserio]

I'm talking to you.

[Pat McAfee]

He told me to ask you.

[Nick Caserio]

Oh, okay.

[Pat McAfee]

He said. He said, ask him about this Stefan Diggs. What's going on with he and Stefan Diggs or the Texans and Stefan Diggs?

[Nick Caserio]

Yeah, no, we'll continue to talk to Steph. I mean, Steph did a great job. You know, glad he was on our team last year. He helped us win some games. Unfortunately, he got injured, so. So we'll kind of work through the process with him, but we're open door policy, so we don't rule anything out. So we kind of keep an open mind and we'll try to figure out like, you know, what makes the most sense and if there's a fit. So.

[Pat McAfee]

So many injuries last year. Yeah, so many injuries. And you can't make excuses.

[Nick Caserio]

I'm not. We're not going to make excuses.

[Pat McAfee]

But with that being said, we will introduce a statement of fact. A lot of injuries. What did you learn about your culture?

[Nick Caserio]

Yeah, you got to navigate through it and you got to be. In the end, this league is about mental toughness. So you got to be able to fight through things and whoever is available, you got to go out there and play like, nobody's going to feel sorry for you if you don't have your full complement of players. So you find a way. This is a find a way league and that's the mindset that we want to permeate the building and our players, like, understand that and that's what the expectation is. We're never going to make excuses. D'Ameco is not going to make excuses. We don't want the players to make excuses. Things happen. We got to deal with it. And ultimately we got to come up with solutions. We got to fix problems.

[Pat McAfee]

We're talking to Nick Casario, general manager of the Houston Texans. Connor has a question for you.

[Nick Caserio]

Yeah, Nick, we want to talk about hockey. Talk about the.

[Tone Diggs]

I want to talk about that.

[Pat McAfee]

Do you want to. We don't want.

[Tone Diggs]

If we're talking about anything not football, it's going to be elimination chamber. But what do you. What are my favorite parts coming up.

[Pat McAfee]

WrestleMania it's going to be.

[Nick Caserio]

Are you in it?

[Pat McAfee]

There is six.

[Nick Caserio]

Okay.

[Pat McAfee]

No, don't even think. There is no chance. Yes.

[Nick Caserio]

Okay.

[Pat McAfee]

You never know. You never know. But I do. Yeah.

[Nick Caserio]

No, there's not.

[Tone Diggs]

Maybe down.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah.

[Nick Caserio]

Don't roll it out, Nick.

[Pat McAfee]

Well, yeah, hold on, hold on. You do.

[Tone Diggs]

You look like you're in shape a little bit now.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, it's the tan. I just got back.

[Tone Diggs]

Oh, were you in Puerto Rico, though? Who else lives in Puerto Rico? Okay, whatever. Yeah, a couple wrestlers, too. One of my favorite parts of last season from you was when that whole Aziz thing went on, you kind of went. You did a press conference conference, and you basically stood on business for your team and kind of the entire situation. He got three games suspended. Obviously, that was his first suspension for everything. How do you feel like those situations have been handled? Do you think there will be kind of a, you know, another look at all those situations because of how drastic some of these suspensions were?

[Nick Caserio]

Yeah, look, I think we respect the league and the processes they have in place. I think our responsibility is like. Like, our focus is on our players, and, you know, we just try to do the right thing. We're going to support our players and, you know, get their. Have their backs. And again, I don't think I would necessarily change anything that was expressed. Everybody has varying opinions about that. So we're respectful of our opponents. We're respectful. We don't want to see anybody injured. You know, I'd say in a Z situation, you know, we just felt like, you know, just given everything that took place, you know, that's. That's how we felt. So, I mean, ultimately we're going to support our players now. If they're wrong, ultimately, like, we'll be accountable and, you know, we want to do the right thing. So have a lot of respect for Aziz. Have a lot of respect for, you know, Jacksonville Jaguars. Have a lot of respect for Trevor Lawrence. And I think the league ultimately just wants to do what's right by everybody involved. So whatever the rules and regulations are, we'll certainly abide by them. And I think the big thing is just everybody who wants to have clarity and just have an understanding so that you can coach it and teach it, you know, the right way. But I mean, I think, you know, having your players back and supporting them, I mean, that's part of our job and responsibility. We're focused on the Houston Texans and just trying to do what we think is best for our players and for our club.

[Pat McAfee]

Hey, like, I don't Know if you heard AJ Everybody that was on our show, immediately after you're doing that, former players were like, shout out to the gm, like calling a press conference basically to be like, hey, we're with this guy.

[Nick Caserio]

We actually are already scheduled it.

[Pat McAfee]

No, no, it felt like you called it.

[Nick Caserio]

Vouch for that.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, it felt like you called it and like came out. Well, if you schedule it, it was like perfect timing before the entire thing. Your messaging was phenomenal and your team did change after as he's. And I think you knew that how important he was to the team as well. So you going out and getting your players back, I think was well received by everybody that we know. So shout out to you. Anthony DiGiulio has a question for Nicholas Casario.

[Nick Caserio]

Nice.

[Boston Connor]

Obviously, Bobby Slowik's out. Nick Haley is in. Does that change. Does the new offense coordinator change anything about the draft process?

[Nick Caserio]

No, it's a good question. It's probably going to be case by case. So I think having an understanding, Nick, and looking at our team, who are the players that we have coming back, what are some of the things that you prioritize are important when we're evaluating the players here? Hey, what is. What is important? What are some of the traits and characteristics? You know, same thing in free agency. So whenever we're going to kind of square peg in a round hole, we're going to figure out what's the role, what's the vision, and then when a player walks in the building, we're all going to be aligned in that from that perspective. So kind of go through that process here a little bit. They're evaluating our team, he's evaluating our team, he's evaluating some players in free agency. We've given them some players in a draft to evaluate. So we want to kind of see, like, how does it match up? What do our scouts think? What do the coaches think? All right. We're not going to necessarily agree on everything, but if we're. If there's a large discrepancy, all right, we'll pivot and go to something else. We're not beholden to one particular player, so just try to find guys that fit. And then when they walk in the building, like you're committed to the vision that you have for that player.

[Pat McAfee]

Tight end and what deep this year?

[Boston Connor]

Tight end, tight end, D tackle, running back is what they're.

[Pat McAfee]

They're saying, okay, so, oh, is that.

[Nick Caserio]

Like, for us, that's what we're supposed to be doing.

[Pat McAfee]

That's what you guys said.

[Tone Diggs]

So.

[Pat McAfee]

Oh, and Then Schefter said something which.

[Boston Connor]

Once we told Bean wide receiver last year, and then he went and drafted wide receiver. So I think it. Yeah, whatever we tell you.

[Nick Caserio]

All right, so what. Give me that again. Tight end. What else you got?

[Pat McAfee]

Running back.

[Nick Caserio]

Okay, so if we pick one of those three, do you want to make the phone call? Call to the player. Can we make that?

[Boston Connor]

Yeah, that happen.

[Pat McAfee]

Oh, my God. Can I do it from home or I got to be in a war room.

[Nick Caserio]

We'll talk to Omar about.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay, yeah, we'll set it up. We'll set it up. That'd be great. Now what I was asking is Shefter, who you dunked on earlier. Awesome.

[Tone Diggs]

Sweet.

[Pat McAfee]

Absolutely awesome. That is so good.

[Tone Diggs]

Catch him in the chamber.

[Pat McAfee]

I did love that. Yeah, man. Why not? Yeah. I mean, it was a chance. He said that. The people he's been talking to said this is a third, fourth, fifth round, very deep. What does that mean? If there's. If it's that good in that round, why aren't they in the second round? I don't. What are your. What is your take on this particular draft class as a whole?

[Nick Caserio]

Here's what I would say. There's good football players pretty much littered throughout. So wherever they get drafted, they get drafted. Like, honestly, we don't care where they get drafted. So some of our best players, I mean, like say Henry Towato was a fifth round pick. I mean, Aziza wasn't drafted. We took Nico Collins in the third round. So however you add players to your team, you can find good football players.

[Pat McAfee]

How do you feel about this draft?

[Nick Caserio]

No, there's a lot of good football players. I think there's some. I mean, I think Hunter and Carter, you know, arguably two of the best players in the draft. So, I mean, we're not going to see those guys at 25. So we don't have to worry about Abdul.

[Pat McAfee]

Carter's gonna be. But you're not trading on. We've seen you make some plays.

[Nick Caserio]

We only have six picks right now, so we're not gonna pull a Mike Ditka and like give up our whole draft for Ricky. I don't think at this point.

[Pat McAfee]

So I wish I would have worked. I wish I would. That would have been so cool if that would have worked.

[Nick Caserio]

But I would say, you know, there's decent depth in this draft. I mean, I think you can find players in just about every round, so that's. We're going to try to do.

[Pat McAfee]

Ty has last question for you.

[Ty Schmidt]

When that kind of narrative is out There. That there's. Oh, there might. There might only be 10 guys with first. First round grades. How often does it happen, though? Because we talked before the show started today, like, there will be three or four guys whose draft stock goes through the roof based on what happens this weekend. In your experience, how often does that happen? Because you obviously talked about the scouts and how much work you guys do. But how, like, is there a chance that someone will do something out here that you're like, oh, we weren't prepared like this. This guy literally came out of nowhere.

[Nick Caserio]

You got to be careful. I mean, you're not going to see like that big of a jump. I think what you saw the player do on the field, it shouldn't be that drastically different. Or if a guy has a bad day, I mean, maybe he had a bad day for whatever reason. So you got to be careful about putting too much stock in one particular thing here. So. And I'd say, like, relative to first round grades, and it's kind of an ambiguous term because every team probably has a different process that they use. So we're kind of a role specific. We assign the grade. Here's what we think the player will be. So. And then, okay, you draft them at a certain point that you feel comfortable. So just have to be careful about putting too much extra stock about, you know, what the guy does out here. So. Honestly, some of the drills are ridiculous. Like, you can't. Like, you're not.

[Pat McAfee]

Can you change these drills? You can't. You.

[Nick Caserio]

No, I have not. No influence, so I'll try to stay out.

[Pat McAfee]

How come everybody says they have no influence? Yeah, what's that all about?

[Gumpy]

General manager.

[Nick Caserio]

Try to stay out of.

[Pat McAfee]

This is literally a general manager's thing. How about the tush push? You gonna eliminate that or what?

[Nick Caserio]

No, I get asked about this a little bit already. I don't think you can penalize a team for good execution.

[Pat McAfee]

So I have some stats. I have some stats on it.

[Nick Caserio]

I mean, what Nick and, you know, Coach Stoutland have done. And their quarterback squats a thousand pounds. So, like, he's going to generate. He's going to generate. Move.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay, so the stats on the tush push and maybe you guys should do a little bit more. Okay, here it is. Eagles 87%. They've obviously done it the most amount of everybody. It's become their thing. You know, the brotherly shove is also another name. 87%. 108, 124. The Bills with Josh Allen, 6 foot 6 or whatever he is, and I.

[Nick Caserio]

Would say like, when you watch those two teams, they kind of do it a little bit differently. Like, Josh has a good sense. I mean, you go back. I mean, look at Brady. Like, Brady wasn't a traditional kind of push, push person, but he converted. I think every quarter. Go back and look at the stats on that one. I think he converted multiple. I mean, I don't know what the percentage was. It might have been that much, but he converted a lot of quarterback sneaks. And then even, I think it was a divisional round. He reached the ball over the goal line and, you know, Lewis hammered him in the hole, and he was perpendicular to the ground. So I don't think you can penalize a team for a good execution and something they do well. And then, you know, the way Josh does it a little bit different than the way Philly does it. I mean, look, you got to get a yard. Can you get a yard? How can you get a yard?

[Pat McAfee]

How do you feel about the aggression of deciding what you're doing? Some teams, punters might as well, you know, like, legit. Unless it's 4th and 27. Like. Like the Detroit Lions, commanders down the stretch, Commanders are going. I mean, there's so many teams that are just.

[Nick Caserio]

You've seen a little bit more of an aggressive mindset on fourth down, so you have to prepare for that, you know, defensive side of the ball when you're on defense. Okay. It's.

[Pat McAfee]

You used to have headset on, though, so we know that you're dialed in on strat strategy. Do we know that you are. How do you feel about that? Type of.

[Nick Caserio]

What, me wearing a headset?

[Pat McAfee]

No, no, no, no, no. People being real, real aggressive.

[Nick Caserio]

I think it's great. So you got to do what's best for your team. You got to understand your team and understand the dynamics and game management, how you manage the game. Ultimately, games are won and lost in those critical situations. So how you handle third and eight puts you in a position or what are you going to do on fourth down? So there's a lot of calculus that goes into a lot of those decisions that are made.

[Pat McAfee]

I know my calculus. It says, you plus me equals us. So my told my daughter that it's a good combination. You know that song?

[Nick Caserio]

Vaguely, yes. My kids are a little bit old. My girls are a little bit older. So we've kind of graduated.

[Pat McAfee]

Have you been able to pay attention? We're on The Road to WrestleMania. He brought it up early. Have you been able to pay attention?

[Nick Caserio]

Not as much as I probably should have. You know, do I need to know anything. So, La Knight and the Miz, aren't they, like, the same person? Like, they're like. I mean, I saw that. I saw.

[Pat McAfee]

Watching right now.

[Nick Caserio]

One is a little more Jack Cleveland guy, so he's probably going to be like that Jack. What's he talking about?

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, the Miz is watching this. He's texting me already, like, 30 minutes ago. So he definitely just heard that this is gonna be. So. Yeah, maybe if he does it for 20 years.

[Boston Connor]

By the way, Tom Brady. 90.

[Pat McAfee]

90 on.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

Sneaks.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah.

[Nick Caserio]

Yes.

[Pat McAfee]

Look at you. You maybe a show host.

[Nick Caserio]

I'd love to work with you guys.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, we would love to have you. Sweet. Other than that, we know you got to get to work. We appreciate you stopping by. It's always great seeing you, and. Sorry. The year goes how it goes, obviously. That's football. That's life. Excited to see what your building does on the other side of that.

[Nick Caserio]

Appreciate you having us on. Really enjoy it.

[Pat McAfee]

You got a mouse in your pocket?

[Nick Caserio]

No mouse.

[Pat McAfee]

You said us. You talk about you. The Texans, you guys.

[Nick Caserio]

Us. Yeah. Houston, Texas.

[Boston Connor]

Another AMC South Check championship, though, so we'll see.

[Nick Caserio]

Got a lot of work to do. We got a bunch of paisans now in the AFC South. On defense, Ann Arumo Campanelli came the.

[Pat McAfee]

Time I forgot about. He's. It's going to be tough to find a meal.

[Nick Caserio]

Lou's a good coach. He's a really good coach. A lot of good coaches in afc.

[Pat McAfee]

I'm pretty excited he's on our team.

[Nick Caserio]

Yeah, he's a good coach. Ls a really good coach.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. Every once in a while you go to oh, geez, Olive Garden.

[Nick Caserio]

That's not real Italian.

[Pat McAfee]

Thank you, dude.

[Nick Caserio]

Actually, there was one we went when I was younger, so pretty good. That sort of counts.

[Pat McAfee]

Delicious. I went when I was younger. Yeah. I did the whole song in days. Bread and the olive oil.

[Boston Connor]

Unbelievable.

[Pat McAfee]

I want to let you know, we are the most Italian show.

[Nick Caserio]

It shows.

[Pat McAfee]

It definitely shows a lot of Italians around here, and we're from Pittsburgh, so that's how it goes, you know? So where are you from originally?

[Nick Caserio]

Cleveland. Northeast Ohio, so.

[Pat McAfee]

Oh, that's why you brought the Miz.

[Nick Caserio]

Yeah, exactly.

[Pat McAfee]

Do you follow the Browns much? I don't think it's a lot of fun. We're gonna try to get Miles Garrett done it.

[Boston Connor]

He already fleeced them one time.

[Nick Caserio]

We can't afford them.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, of course. Yeah. All right. You're the man. Have a great week here in Indy. We appreciate you Coming. Thank you for stopping by. You're the absolute man. Thanks. Great accessorizing. Literally. That is the most. Yeah, that's the most Italian gm. That's the most Italian GM you can see by mile. Shoes matching the shirt. Coming through.

[Nick Caserio]

Yeah, Got the.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

Hey, Galaxy. All right, boys. I gotta go host a specialist showcase down on the field. Hey, thank you, boys. See you. Texans. Maybe let us win the AMC South. Yeah.

[Boston Connor]

It's been 12 years.

[Pat McAfee]

All right.

[Tone Diggs]

They could try and they. You still want to get it done?

[Pat McAfee]

Avis Roper here, former PR of the Colts. Legend works. Everyone was with the Giants. Who's with the Colts now? I forget where he is now, but he's somewhere big. When he was here, we were winning.

[Ty Schmidt]

There you go.

[Pat McAfee]

Maybe bring Avis Rover. I don't know if we can afford him. I assume we can't. With that being said, I'm heading down to the field. On NFL Network at NFL plus, the specialist showcase will take place. I will be miked up. I don't know all these guys names.

[Tone Diggs]

It's okay.

[Nick Caserio]

They're color.

[Boston Connor]

They'll give you.

[Ty Schmidt]

Iowa's got a long snapper down there.

[Pat McAfee]

So is West Virginia. West Virginia's long snapper is like. I think he's projected.

[Boston Connor]

He's not hard Ed.

[Ty Schmidt]

That's a good point.

[Tone Diggs]

He would have been. He would have been.

[Pat McAfee]

Spring practice started at West Virginia yesterday. Heard a lot of stories.

[Boston Connor]

Hard edge.

[Pat McAfee]

We're getting it and we're gonna find it. Yeah, if you ain't got it, you're gonna get it. And that's the road. I think I couldn't even fathom just getting dropped into a Rich Rodriguez spring. If you had been in the Neil Brown camp.

[Boston Connor]

Sure.

[Pat McAfee]

Neil Brown. Thank you for representing in such a professional manner. As the head coach. I think a lot of boys are learning about a little bit of, hey, new era. We're a fast, tough team now, okay? That is. That is what we are gonna do. And if you're not fast and tough, I think you are gonna not enjoy your time on these things. But just know West Virginia's back. Give me three years. Give me three years. All right. Maybe this year, maybe legitimately, anything can happen on transfer portal. Yeah, it's been nice to be an assistance of that particular program. Sure. With that being said, I'm gonna head down there. Boys, great work. Talks to table. Way to go back one half of the hammer. Done. Cowboys ton digs. Great work, bud. Great to do. Let's go to the truck. Boys in the back. We're out. What a great job.

[Boston Connor]

Work truck.

[Pat McAfee]

Work truck. Great to see you guys. Foxyland put himself on.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah, it's kind of.

[Pat McAfee]

There you go, boys.

[Ty Schmidt]

There it is.

[Pat McAfee]

There you go.

[Tone Diggs]

Sorry, boys.

[Pat McAfee]

Good to see you guys. Foxy kind of has all the control, literally. Yeah. You'll see who I want you to see. It's good to be back, boys. It is great to be back.

[Ty Schmidt]

Good to be back.

[Pat McAfee]

Tomorrow we'll be back even more. All right, I'm gonna head down there, do this thing. I can't thank you all enough for allowing us to do this for a living. Be a friend. Tell a friend something nice. It might change your life. We're interesting together. Team on me. Team on three. One, two, three. Team. I'm gonna head down there. Yep. All right. Goodbye.

[Nick Caserio]

Hey, if you've been thinking about going back to school, here's your shot.

[Pat McAfee]

National University's Year of U scholarship can.

[Nick Caserio]

Get you up to $6,000 a year on your bachelor's or master's degree. And don't worry, their flexible online courses fit your schedule, so you can stay in the game while you study. Plus, you'll get free tutoring, career counseling.

[Pat McAfee]

And a lot more.

[Nick Caserio]

Make this your year and apply by February 28th at nu.edu. terms and conditions apply. Check out the site for details.