PMS 2.0 1305 - Free Agency Frenzy Tuesday, Ian Rapoport, Rich Paul, AQ Shipley

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Pat McAfee Show - Episode PMS 2.0 1305 - Free Agency Frenzy Tuesday, March 11, 2025

In this electrifying episode of The Pat McAfee Show, host Pat McAfee, alongside his dynamic panel including AJ Hawk, Darius Butler, Tone Diggs, and special guests Ian Rapoport and Rich Paul, dives deep into the tumultuous world of NFL free agency. The episode, titled "Free Agency Frenzy Tuesday," released on March 11, 2025, is packed with insider insights, strategic analyses, and the signature humor that fans have come to love.

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1. Introduction and Big Night Announcement

Pat McAfee opens the show with exciting news about an upcoming event dubbed "Big Night," set to take place on Wednesday, April 9th, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He shares enthusiastic details about surprise appearances, massive giveaways totaling over $1 million, and a spectacular collaboration with WWE for in-arena production ([00:00]-[04:48]). McAfee emphasizes the unique blend of entertainment and community celebration, thanking listeners as the driving force behind such ventures.

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2. Major NFL Free Agency Moves

a. Daniel Jones Joins the Indianapolis Colts

A significant highlight of the episode is the announcement that Daniel Jones, formerly the Giants' quarterback, has signed a one-year, $14 million deal with the Indianapolis Colts. McAfee is visibly thrilled, describing Jones as a "freak athlete" ready to lead the Colts to their first success in years ([04:48]-[12:29]). The panel discusses Jones's athleticism, decision-making skills, and the potential impact on the AFC.

b. Anthony Richardson's Future and Competition

The conversation shifts to Anthony Richardson, the Colts' recent first-round pick. Despite a challenging season with a 47.7% completion rate, the panel remains optimistic about his potential. McAfee and Butler compare Richardson to other quarterbacks like Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield, highlighting his "massive upside" and the importance of professionalism and work ethic in his development ([05:22]-[11:42]).

c. Laramie Tunzel's Trade to the Commanders

Another major move discussed is the trade of Laramie Tunzel from the Houston Texans to the Washington Commanders. Ian Rapoport breaks down the Texans' strategy to rebuild their offensive line, emphasizing the need for younger, more cost-effective talent ([38:22]-[39:22]). The panel debates the implications of losing a veteran tackle and the prospects for Tunzel in Washington.

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3. Potential Destinations for Aaron Rodgers

A focal point of the episode is the speculation surrounding Aaron Rodgers' next move. The panel debates whether Rodgers will sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers or the New York Giants. Evan Fox expresses a strong preference for Rodgers joining the Steelers, citing the potential for immediate impact and long-term success ([16:12]-[17:17]). Rapoport provides a nuanced view, discussing the complexities of negotiating with a high-profile quarterback and the strategic needs of both teams.

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4. Additional Free Agency Insights

a. Minnesota Vikings and J.J. McCarthy

The Vikings' decision to sign Will Fries for $88 million and their potential quarterback strategy with J.J. McCarthy are analyzed. The panel is optimistic about McCarthy's fit with the Vikings' system and his potential to become a leading QB in the league ([74:30]-[84:37]).

b. San Francisco 49ers' Offense and Defensive Moves

Discussions also cover the 49ers' recent acquisitions and the ongoing challenges with their offensive line and quarterback position. The panel highlights the importance of strategic signings and the balance between defense and offense in building a championship-contending team ([40:25]-[55:01]).

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5. Rich Paul Joins the Conversation

A standout moment is the appearance of Rich Paul, founder and CEO of Clutch Sports. Paul shares his journey from selling jerseys out of his car to becoming a top-tier sports agent representing stars like LeBron James and Anthony Davis. He offers valuable insights into the business of sports management, emphasizing the importance of professionalism, accountability, and client relationships ([98:03]-[101:45]).

Paul engages in a thoughtful discussion about the evolving landscape of the NBA, the role of agents in shaping player careers, and the impact of NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) deals on young athletes. His perspective enriches the conversation, providing listeners with a deeper understanding of the off-field strategies that influence on-field performances.

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6. Lighthearted Topics and Event Preparations

Amidst the heavy discussions, the show intersperses lighter segments about video games, mosh pits, and humorous interactions between the hosts and guests. McAfee talks about preparing for the "Big Night" event, highlighting the collaboration with WWE and the logistical challenges of hosting a large-scale show ([137:14]-[174:07]). The panel shares anecdotes and jokes, maintaining the show's entertaining and relatable atmosphere.

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7. Closing Remarks and Upcoming Attractions

In wrapping up, McAfee reiterates the excitement for "Big Night," encouraging listeners to secure their tickets and anticipate a night of unparalleled entertainment and giveaways ([174:22]-[181:05]). The panel shares final thoughts on the NFL free agency landscape, the potential success of key players and teams, and the anticipation for future episodes.

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Notable Quotes:

• Pat McAfee [04:48]: "Hello to the great times. Daniel Jones is now a quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts... He's a freak athlete and he's ready to lead a team to success."
• Darius Butler [05:30]: "There are players who can hit that trajectory as well."
• Evan Fox [16:12]: "I want Aaron Rodgers to be the Steelers quarterback... in Pittsburgh."
• Rich Paul [98:03]: "If you can have a Jason Tatum, you want a Jason Tatum... That's how I look at it."
• Ian Rapoport [38:22]: "They have to rebuild that offensive line. Chris Ballard is still cooking... deploying young talent to enhance the team’s structure."

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Conclusion

This episode of The Pat McAfee Show masterfully balances in-depth NFL free agency analysis with engaging conversations and humor. The addition of industry insider Rich Paul provides a unique perspective on player management and the business side of sports, enriching the show's content. Listeners are left with a comprehensive understanding of the current NFL landscape, exciting prospects ahead, and the anticipation for the upcoming "Big Night" event.

Whether you're a die-hard NFL fan or someone interested in the intricacies of sports management, this episode offers valuable insights and entertainment that caters to all.

Transcript

[Pat McAfee]

Hello beautiful people and welcome to our humble abode, the Thunderdome on this big off season. Tuesday, March 11, 2025. This program starts now. Football is alive and well and obviously we'll dive into all that because there is colossal news in the great state of Indiana. But before we get to all of that, I'd like to make an announcement. This morning I released a video that Foxy pieced together stating the facts of Big Night. It'll be Wednesday, April 9th at PPG Paints Arena. Tickets will go on sale this Thursday, March 13th at noon Eastern. There will be not a single ticket for sale. That's over $100. The cheapest ticket to get in will be 20 bucks. We're going to try to pack that place out and have a magical evening that is unprecedented, incomparable. And to be clear, I don't know if there's anything that will ever be able to compare the amount of people that will be making surprise appearances is going to be like, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa whoa, whoa. There's going to be over $1 million given away in the arena that evening. It should be a fun night, a celebration of life and hopefully we'll bring people together as society enjoys the greats from around the globe enjoying a night in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Big laughs, big sing alongs, massive giveaways, A big night. And we thank you all so much for even allowing this to be a possibility. The fact that you watch this show is the reason why things like this happen. The boys will obviously be a part of the show, but it be this particular program. It'll be at 8pm on Wednesday, April 9. We expect it to run about, you know, two hours or so and the surprises are in abundance. The show has come together nicely and I'll be partnering with the WWE who will be doing the in arena production, the staging, the lighting, the cameras, you name it. It's going to be a spectacle and it should be an absolute blast. Wednesday, April 9th. Tickets go on sale Thursday, March 13th, just two days from now at noon Eastern. And 20 bucks to get in. No ticket more than 100. Buc shall see you there. Now, this particular big off season, Tuesday, March 11, 2025 had some big news early. CJ GJ has been traded from the Philadelphia Eagles to the Houston Texans. In return getting a guard back and a pick swap in the fifth and sixth round. And obviously yesterday, massive news. Larry Me Tunzel was traded away from the Houston Texans to the Washington Commanders. And there's been other moves that have been made since we've last Been live. But ladies and gentlemen, the big one is. We got them. The Indianapolis Goats have signed their quarterback not only year, but of the future. He's from Duke, he's a freak athlete and he's ready to lead a team to success for the first time. Long time. Sometimes you gotta run into a few walls before you get to the championship title. Sometimes you gotta slay a few dragons before you get to the princess. Sometimes you gotta be on the Giants, then on the Vikings, and then you find yourself in Indianapolis. Ladies and gentlemen, Danny Dimes, Indiana Jones has signed with the Indianapolis colts on a one year 14 million dollar deal. And look out AF, look out AFC. We got our guy. Now there is a clip circulating and I don't love this from 2023 when I was talking about the Daniel Jones, Shane Steichen partnership and how magical it could be. It could be something special. What Shane Stichen was able to do with Jalen Hurts now obviously Jalen Hurts is now a Super bowl champion and Jalen hurts is making 51 million a year. And Jalen Hurts has never been cut. Actually, others have been cut. Kenny Pickett actually sent to the Cleveland Browns yesterday, he was his backup quarterback. DTR now comes into Philadelphia to back up Jalen. So Jalen has never had the situation that Daniel Jones is at. But if you look at the body, look at the legs on Daniel Jones, look at the upper body on Daniel Jones, look at the running ability of Daniel Jones. And obviously he can spin it with some slants and he can hit whenever he has to. Now, will he be able to make the right decision all the time? We shall see. He's a Duke guy, should have a high iq. But he and Shane Steichen, with Pittman and the boys. Hello, goodby to the bad times. Hello to the great times. Daniel Jones is now a quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts. And I'll tell you what, I'm pumped out. Way to go, Ballard. He's been making a lot of moves. Nine year NFL vet, former Indianapolis Colt, host of everything, db, Good D, Bad D. Darius J. Butler is here. D Butts, you and me both saying the same thing. We got our guy. 14 million, one year. Daniel Jones steal. Not a lot of money in the quarterback room. And if this guy can come waltzing in here, if Indiana Jones can solve the mystery of how hell to make this Colts team a professional team again and make them a good football team, I'm all the way in. Welcome to town, Danny. And I know you feel the same exact way.

[Darius Butler]

Dan, I wouldn't Go that far, unfortunately, you mentioned everything. DB Dan Jones has made a few appearances on there on both sides. You know, he's made some plays, but he is. He's given. He's given up some as well. But we, we all always talk about on this show, the Sam Darners of the world, the Baker Mayfields, the Genos. He can. He can kind of hit that trajectory as well, getting here with Shane Steichen and figure it out and hopefully turning that corner in his career. Chris Ballard talked about it to combine. He's going to bring in a guy to compete with Anthony Richardson. And this is what this is. 14 million. That's a lot of money. You expect this guy to have a real chance to get out there and start.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah.

[Darius Butler]

I saw Dan O say, hey, does AR ask for a trade? No.

[Pat McAfee]

Should. Yeah, yeah, absolutely.

[AJ Hawk]

Fresh start.

[Pat McAfee]

Fresh start.

[Darius Butler]

He doesn't ask for a trade.

[Pat McAfee]

Massive upside. If you're one of the other 31 teams and you know, Kevin O'Connell comes over to AR immediately after the game, says you're a great football player, you everything true. Hey, don't think about it, you know, especially with, you know, Daniel Jones coming here now and Tom Pelissero is reporting that JJ McCarthy in line to be the starter for the Minnesota Vikings. So congrats to JJ, excited to see him do his thing with JJ and Addison and Hawk and Aaron Jones and Kevin O'Connell. But I think if you're one of the 31 teams, remember what you thought about Anthony Richardson. Lot of upside. Guy's got a ton of potential. It's going to cost you. You don't just got for number four overall pick for just a sixth or seventh rounder. No. Obviously going to put value on this man because that is the ability. But, you know, maybe he does ask for a trade and maybe a fresh new start somewhere else is what Anthony Richardson needs. And you know what? If, if that's the case, if he does look to go somewhere else, we will appreciate the hell out of his time in this city and we will be thankful that we were able to be like grade school for him to learn how to play football and be a football player and be a professional and everything. And I think he would have massive success somewhere else.

[Darius Butler]

I mean, look, he's got to learn how to be a pro for sure. And, you know, Coach Nation's torn on Anthony Richardson and Coach Nation has.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. The more they learn about him, though, they probably wouldn't be torn if I had.

[Darius Butler]

We've been on a QB carousel since Andrew Luck retired. You know you're going from Payton. In the great years of Payton, Andrew Luck had a good run and then since then it's been that cycle, it's been Philip Rivers, it's been Carson Wentz, it's been this guy, it's been that guy. So do we look at this as a long term answer? No.

[Pat McAfee]

We're so he's 27 years old.

[Darius Butler]

There is a chance.

[AJ Hawk]

At least 10 years.

[Darius Butler]

There is a chance, but guys are.

[Pat McAfee]

Playing in their 40s.

[AJ Hawk]

Exactly.

[Darius Butler]

We made some great moves on defense.

[Pat McAfee]

Forget the great moves. We will get into great moves on defense. Shout out. Mooney coming to town.

[Darius Butler]

Hell yeah. All pro.

[Pat McAfee]

Mooney, the prize. Possession at corner. Where's he coming? Indianapolis. Kevin O'Connell was over salivating over Daniel Jones. Sorry about it. But he's coming to Indianapolis. I mean we, we made some plays. Let's go to the talks and table. We have Boston Conner and Bruce Brown sitting in once again for Ty. Please send all your love to Ty and his family. We can't wait to see you soon, Ty. Con man. The New England Patriots had a great free agency start. We will get into that for sure. But when you talk about the Indianapolis Colts, feels like Chris Ballard is making moves to try to change a little culture and let's heighten the professionalism of this operation a little bit.

[AJ Hawk]

Oh yeah, no doubt about it.

[Pat McAfee]

A lot of it.

[Tone Diggs]

Yeah.

[AJ Hawk]

Mooney Ward and then also Cam Bynum. Huge for their secondary. Especially when you look at, you know, the teams in the division with CJ Stroud throwing the ball all over the yard and you know, Trevor Lawrence, you assume they're still going to be spinning it. So those are too massive in the secondary. But looking at Daniel Jones, this is the first real competition. Real like hey, we're not just bringing in some vet to show you the ropes now. We're bringing in a guy who's in his 20s who can really put the pressure on you, who really could be the future of this team. So if you are ar sure Flacco last year, you're looking at one of the all time greats, you know, behind you. But he's more so there to kind of help you along. Now when you're looking at Daniel Jones, if you're Anthony Richardson, you're looking over your shoulder at one of the possible all time greats. I mean we can't, we don't know.

[Pat McAfee]

15 guys left.

[Darius Butler]

Did I miss a pre production meeting?

[Pat McAfee]

This guy's 26.

[Evan Fox]

Did you watch the playoff game?

[Pat McAfee]

Hold on, hold on, hold On. Don't say anything. Don't say anything. Actually, Foxy, can you go back to the beginning? Let's go ahead and turn some sound on. What? What did you miss? Everything, apparently. Hit that, please. Oh.

[Darius Butler]

Oh, shit.

[Pat McAfee]

This what you missed.

[Evan Fox]

Oh, wait, is this a playoff game?

[Boston Connor]

Yeah, it might not be, but.

[Pat McAfee]

Oh, yeah. Get it.

[AJ Hawk]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

Stiff arm. That's what you miss. That's what you miss.

[AJ Hawk]

What's up? Patrick Peterson.

[Pat McAfee]

Boom. That's what he did. Boom. Oh. Boom. Ah.

[AJ Hawk]

Darius Slayton. What?

[Pat McAfee]

Uh. Oh.

[AJ Hawk]

Meet your new best friend.

[Pat McAfee]

Give me another one.

[Evan Fox]

Oh. See how tight that spot? I could have cut glass.

[Darius Butler]

Spin it.

[Pat McAfee]

Just listen to music, bro. Get lost in the music. Look at this dart touchdown.

[AJ Hawk]

Isaiah Hodgkins.

[Pat McAfee]

Who? That's playoff touchdown, brother.

[AJ Hawk]

Meet Alec Pierce.

[Pat McAfee]

That's playoff touchdown right there, brother.

[Evan Fox]

Three for 301 and two tutties at the playoffs.

[Pat McAfee]

Is that good? Look how tight that's. Yeah. And I don't want to remind everybody every single time I talk about this Anthony Richardson, obviously massive upside and can still continue to get better. But as we watch these darts from Danny Dimes from 10 years ago, let's. Let's make sure we remind that, of course, Anthony Richardson, okay? His 2024 completion percentage, 47.7 NFL average is 65.3 relative to the league. Richardson had the least accurate passing season in the history of the NFL. Okay. Now, let alone everything else that's potentially happening, not on the field, the professionalism part, and being a leader of a team and, you know, did he even have a chance walking into that locker room with how they were operating? Probably not.

[Darius Butler]

Tough.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, probably not. Especially whenever he only played like five, six games throughout the entirety of his high school and college career, somehow, and is still as good as he is. You, when you talk about just walking into a place and having no idea what to expect or what's going on, I think that's Anthony Richardson, number four overall pick, massive upside. Is he going to be able to get there? We have no idea. Idea. We have the work ethic to get there. We have no idea. We have the professionalism to pay attention to every single detail about how he presents himself, how he operates and how he goes about his business on the day to day, you know, treatment, in meetings, in workouts, and being on time, being early. All these things about being a professional. Will ar do that this offseason? Maybe especially now that there's a little bit more pressure and that they publicly announced that we're going to bring in some competition. But for Me, Danny Dimes, sure, he's throwing some pick sixes.

[AJ Hawk]

Yeah, yeah, no doubt.

[Pat McAfee]

Sure he's looked terrible at times, he's tripped over, but he doesn't have a 47.7 completion percentage. I assume he shows up on time to everything.

[Boston Connor]

Certainly.

[Pat McAfee]

I assume he'll be a guy that'll be like, yeah, I'm an NFL quarterback, I'm going to be a professional. So nonetheless, it'll be good for AR to either see it or it'll be good for a 27 year old to get paid $14 million as a starting quarterback in the NFL with a Shane Steichen offense. Now, I don't know if Chris Ballard is done with the, you know, the big prize hunting and everything like that in this free agency period, but I think there's some trades you could probably make too to make this team even better. Some really good pieces on our team that we could certainly get the hell out of town and maybe get some things back. So we have a massive draft as well. You're talking about a couple more pieces being added in here and if Danny can play good football like we saw with that incredible beat behind it, look out for the Indianapolis Colts. Look out for Danny Dimes resurgence just like all the boys had.

[Darius Butler]

I'm sure Bruce agrees wholeheartedly.

[Pat McAfee]

Giants fan, you've seen him more than anyone.

[Boston Connor]

I'll tell you what, yesterday I may have been a little hard on Danny Dimes, but this morning, thinking back over it, 2022, we were just watching the playoff win highlights. 2023, we let him get sacked a thousand times. He, his legs snapped in half, he had a neck. He, you know, he basically, basically died on the field in 2023, comes back in 2024, a little shell shock and now he gets a fresh, fresh start right here. And of all the knocks, the turnovers, the fumbles, the not being able to set a protection pre snap, all that stuff, you do not have to worry about him coming in, working hard, putting his head down no matter what. And he is a tough son of a gun.

[Pat McAfee]

And with that being said over rush yards, always a hit for Danny. So that's good for us, especially in a state that has legalized gambling. And also something you need to think about. Okay, Sam Darnold, what happened whenever he went somewhere, 27 year old Baker Mayfield, when he went around and came back to another place, even Kirk Cousins will say, whenever he went around to a new place, you know, you learn a little bit, you get a little perspective. And whenever he has Shane Steichen calling the place. Shane Steichen took Gardner Minshew to the Pro bowl. Okay?

[Darius Butler]

He did.

[Pat McAfee]

Don't ever forget.

[AJ Hawk]

I thought we weren't doing that anymore.

[Boston Connor]

Damn near playoff.

[AJ Hawk]

I thought we weren't doing that with the Pro bowl anymore. We made that decision.

[Pat McAfee]

I know. He was like the 15th alternate. Doesn't matter. Still had a Pro bowl jersey. And we're one play away from winning. The AFC south posted a playoff game with Gardner bench, no offense, Garden dog Gardner vastly different than Daniel Jones. So let's have a little faith that Shane Steichen maybe gonna be a little bit more of an accountability driven coach.

[AJ Hawk]

Hope for maybe.

[Pat McAfee]

Maybe the building will get like that a little bit.

[AJ Hawk]

Maybe.

[Pat McAfee]

But also with him drawing up plays. He understands Danny Dimes weakness. Dan Dimes understands his weakness. Danny Dimes already been paid. So Dan Dimes ain't gonna be scared of. You know what I mean?

[AJ Hawk]

No, yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

We got a little bit more of this.

[AJ Hawk]

He's gonna.

[Pat McAfee]

A little bit more of that.

[Darius Butler]

You know.

[AJ Hawk]

Yeah, he's gonna have some rp.

[Pat McAfee]

You were all in this morning.

[Darius Butler]

Well, you know, back and forth. But you guys, you know, you.

[AJ Hawk]

Yeah, it was a tough scene for sure. But my real worry is that Shane Steichen does completely just turn into shite stinking.

[Pat McAfee]

Because what with.

[AJ Hawk]

With the O line. With the O line, now that is left. I mean, Bill Fries and ryan just got $88 million.

[Pat McAfee]

We missed him last year.

[AJ Hawk]

I realized, yeah, yeah, he got hurt early. And the offensive line's a huge problem, you know. And when you're looking at Daniel Jones, the biggest thing when he was with the Giants, hey, the offensive line stinks. So Daniel Jones used to it ipso facto stinks. No. Yeah, used to. Stinking behind a shite O line. So you got to worry about best skill positions he's ever played with by far. He went to the KOC Middle school, if you will, of quarterback. And now he's with Shane Steichen, hopefully, who stays as Shane Steichen. And not shy. Stinking. Because we've seen how it turns. It turns bad, brother.

[Pat McAfee]

We just saw the Houston Texans trade Laramie Tunzel. Okay. We can package together a couple Pro Bowlers and we could probably get a couple big boys come right in here to Indianapolis. I think Chris Ballard is still cooking. Now with Danny Dimes coming here to Indianapolis, the Minnesota Vikings quarterback job would be the big conversation piece because Sam Darnold signs with Seattle yesterday for $100.5 million. But allegedly Tom Pelissero of NFL Network is reporting that is J.J. mcCarthy's job. So what does that mean for one half of the Hammer down Cowboys? Tone Diggs. What are the Pittsburgh Steelers thinking about all these decisions that are being made at the quarterback position and where do you kind of sit right now on day two of the free agency frenzy? Yeah.

[Evan Fox]

On this quarterback musical chairs, NFL situation, it is basically down to the Steelers and Giants on Aaron Rodgers watch. The loser gets Russell Wilson. I believe.

[AJ Hawk]

Whoa.

[Evan Fox]

In that situation. Now I am in the minority when I say that I want Aaron Rodgers to be the Steelers quarterback.

[Pat McAfee]

Are you really?

[Evan Fox]

Oh, yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

In Pittsburgh or just everywhere?

[Evan Fox]

Pittsburgh, big time. I'm not sure why they were super high on Justin Fields. And like I said yesterday, Justin Fields was a great teammate. But you know, when you have 30.

[Pat McAfee]

Mil guaranteed to the jets, it's a.

[Evan Fox]

Lot of money for Justin Fields. When you have DK and you have gp, you need one of the all time great ball throwers.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay.

[Evan Fox]

And that is. Aaron Rodgers talked about it yesterday. The blueprint is out there. Manning to Denver, Brady to Tampa Bay, Rogers to Pittsburgh. Now you guys said it yesterday, he went to the Jets. Like I said, that's not a real situation. That's not a real program. Okay. That doesn't even. I don't even. I don't even think that counts on his record.

[Pat McAfee]

Won't even be chatted about. That'll be at the end of his.

[Evan Fox]

Career that those stats and stuff. That'll be.

[Pat McAfee]

He tore his Achilles whenever he's jets and then he was able to bounce back, blah, blah blah.

[Evan Fox]

We think that'll all be expunged if we lose out on Aaron. If Aaron Rodgers is in our quarterback, I don't know who's gonna be okay.

[Pat McAfee]

Russell, Russ.

[Evan Fox]

What if he doesn't like what he's just sitting there, be like, oh, twiddle his fingers like I'm gonna go back to this team that obviously clearly doesn't want me that offered. Justin is waiting on Aaron. Like, what if he's gone about Joe.

[AJ Hawk]

Milton for T.J. watt, brother, I. I gotta, I gotta.

[Pat McAfee]

Frames stealing.

[AJ Hawk]

Yeah. When Patriots signed a backup quarterback, Joe Millen, we saw what he can do. He can spin the rock like nobody else. And maybe George Pickens should throw him in there.

[Pat McAfee]

To be clear, I've heard Pittsburgh Steeler fans in this office this morning go, there's a chance Joe Bros are a quarterback room Pittsburgh Steelers. Who is that, Nick? That was Joe Milton from New England.

[Boston Connor]

We make a simple trade for him, you know, maybe like a fifth, sixth round pick, something like that and then we look to the waiver wire, the free agent market, and we see someone no one's talking about. An old familiar face, Joe Flacco, just.

[Pat McAfee]

Sitting there waiting to be plucked. Steelers will be. Did he play for the Bengals ever?

[Evan Fox]

No.

[Boston Connor]

No.

[Pat McAfee]

No. Okay. So that'd be the third team obviously in the AFC north that Joe Flacco would have played for. And Joe Flacco can still spin it. Now, he didn't all play as well as I hoped for the Indianapolis Colts. Kind of put me in a bind.

[Boston Connor]

No.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. It kind of put me in a little bit of a spot. Now, the more we're hearing about what was happening behind the scenes, Joe Flacco should have been starting much earlier than that particular game. But Joe Flacco can spin it, and he was able to do that with Cleveland. He took them on a playoff run fresh off the couch. I think he's able to be a great vet for you. Is he a starter for the Pittsburgh Steelers this upcoming season? I think Steelers fans would be a little bit flustered, but better than a potential alternative. You have no quarterbacks on the roster. There is crazy. Chris Boswell is the quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers. What pick do you guys have?

[Evan Fox]

20.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay.

[Darius Butler]

Okay.

[Pat McAfee]

So, I mean, there is Will Hard.

[Evan Fox]

Also, Steelers fans are freaking out because Florio put out an educated guess that Aaron will probably get 2 years 90 million. Pretty sure. That's. That's not.

[Pat McAfee]

Pretty sure.

[Evan Fox]

That's not true.

[Pat McAfee]

How. Why are you saying you're pretty sure?

[AJ Hawk]

Pretty sure.

[Pat McAfee]

Ah.

[AJ Hawk]

What do you know?

[Pat McAfee]

What do you know, Sarah Rogers? I. I don't know. I don't know.

[Evan Fox]

I just. I just know that it's not going to be two years, 90 minutes.

[Pat McAfee]

How do you. How do you know that they're happy to be so sure.

[Boston Connor]

Offered it.

[Darius Butler]

Sam just got 33.

[Pat McAfee]

Huh?

[Darius Butler]

Sam Donald.

[Pat McAfee]

Oh, no.

[Evan Fox]

Aaron's worth that.

[Pat McAfee]

Of course.

[Boston Connor]

Certainly.

[Pat McAfee]

I don't know.

[Evan Fox]

Maybe he's just market looking for Marcus. I don't know. Pat, what do you think?

[Pat McAfee]

No, don't. This is on you.

[AJ Hawk]

Don't go on.

[Pat McAfee]

You're the one correcting reports.

[AJ Hawk]

How do you know, Tony?

[Evan Fox]

I was just thinking in my top of my head, I think, you know, Aaron is. Is looking to go in and just be with a great franchise and take a nice deal.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay.

[AJ Hawk]

I don't know.

[Pat McAfee]

Is that what you're here? Is that just in your. In your brain? Like, are you just. That's what you're hoping for or thinking or why are you.

[Evan Fox]

I feel like. I feel like Somewhere around here said that.

[AJ Hawk]

I mean, bitcoin's down. I think he might ask for 50.

[Rich Paul]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

Is Bitcoin down? Are we done?

[AJ Hawk]

It's crashing, brother.

[Pat McAfee]

I thought bitcoin was going up, though.

[AJ Hawk]

It's crashing.

[Evan Fox]

No, you got to break it down.

[Ian Rapoport]

To build it back up.

[Pat McAfee]

Hold on now. Buy the dips, right? And it's kind of the game now. It sucks for everybody. I feel bad for everybody that's currently doing. I am not a person that plays the market or any of the crypto. Been offered a lot of crypto over the years. Hey, we got a lot of money for you to be made. All you gotta do is push this, push this, and then on the back side, you'll be able to do this and yada, yada. That doesn't sound real. No, it is. Everybody's doing. Look around. Everybody's doing it. My eye. It's. I'm not smart enough for all that stuff. But I do know there's been a couple times where we could have got in on bitcoin. And then over the next few weeks, I watched that fucker just go straight up. I'm like, if this is real money, which I don't know if it is, I don't know how it works. Once again, everybody does. If this is real, boy, we really missed out on this. Like, we could have been in a few times. You're saying. You're saying he's coming back down. You're saying it's coming back down.

[Boston Connor]

Well, we're in correction territory right now, you know, down, you know, 8, 8 to 10% across the board. Basically every equity in the world.

[Pat McAfee]

Bitcoin real, though.

[Boston Connor]

I don't know what the jury's house on.

[AJ Hawk]

True.

[Pat McAfee]

You've been pushing this since day one.

[Darius Butler]

Pushing anything for entertainment purposes only. Bitcoin is real.

[Pat McAfee]

As a financial advisor a few years back, came on the show. Yeah, you guys need to get into this crypto.

[Evan Fox]

That's a lot.

[AJ Hawk]

He's got his jump.

[Evan Fox]

He's got his jump drive on him every single day.

[Darius Butler]

I told you, too. Bitcoin, Ethereum, anything else out of my lane.

[Pat McAfee]

Now, to be clear, we do apologize to everybody that is in the market. When I wake up in my phone app just has red on. I go, I'm so sorry to hear that for you guys.

[Darius Butler]

Part of the game.

[Pat McAfee]

It is part of the game. From what I've been told. I don't know. I got money for the first time in 2009. Do you know what happened in 2008? Yeah. Every rich person lost every dollar they had. So for my first time meeting rich people, hey, how's it going? Money was not great. You see what happened last year? No, what happened? Oh, we lost everything. You didn't get to enjoy it? No. Boof. Just like that. So I made a conscious decision then that if my money's going to disappear, at least I'm going to enjoy it. And I've kind of carried that in the 37. I got a lot of people telling me I'm an idiot. Gotta let your money work for you.

[Darius Butler]

You're in the market.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. 401k with the NFL shout out to them. I'm sure I'll remember to get that out, however that works. I don't even know how that thing works. I'm sure I'll live long enough to be able to pull that. I'm just not smart enough for it all, you know, CFO Phil dabbled in there a little bit, started learning about it, and he tried to explain it to me, and I'm like, this ain't for me, bro. I'd rather just see what it's going. But I would like everybody to know we're. We're sorry that that's happening. But in this alone game you guys always talk about, you're playing chess.

[Boston Connor]

No, Exactly. Like, if you bought that day in 2008, it went up like, you know, 200% to present day.

[Pat McAfee]

Bingo. Yeah. Could have been there. But the 2008 thing is going to.

[Boston Connor]

You know, it's always.

[Pat McAfee]

Never happen again, hopefully.

[Boston Connor]

No, it's always lurking. The dreaded R word, recession. It's always lurks.

[Pat McAfee]

It's a cool word to start that recession. I love recess. Everybody loves. I absolutely love recess. Anyways, good luck to everybody. Big money has been spent, though. Just yesterday, Bruce Brown, how much money was spent?

[Boston Connor]

$2.45 billion total. 921 million guaranteed. 724 million on offense, 1.5 billion on defense. The Panthers and Patriots leading that charge. The Panthers filling out their speech. The Patriots obviously leading the way with Milton Williams. 104 million total. That was the highest total on the day. The Vikings just 84 million yesterday, but a big splash this morning. They are now up to 261 million total with Will Fries getting that 88 million. They also brought back Byron Murphy. The Colts obviously on defense with Charvi, Charvarius Ward and Cam Bynum. The Giants also making some waves with a debo. And we got, you know, a nice little tackle and. And spent about 140 million.

[Pat McAfee]

Nobody knows That's a great breakdown of all the money that was spent out yesterday.

[Darius Butler]

Go ahead now. The Giants got Javon Holland, too.

[Pat McAfee]

Yes, that's a big deal. Obviously everybody's talking about him. But we have news happening right now. Ladies and gentlemen, A bag has been delivered. This one at the home of the Chiefs are given a two year, $20 million deal to Chargers Corner Christian Fulton with 15 million fully guaranteed. Deal was done by Todd France of A1 athletes 1st D Buck quick. Christian Fulton baller. Chiefs making this move.

[Darius Butler]

How come you think good coach, good system over there. He is a good player. Was on that dominant LSU team coming out of there. So he was one of the young guys on that team. But he's been good. Still find his foot and I think this is a good deal for him. I am interested to see where Justin Reed ends up safety that has been on the Texans and then forming on the Chiefs back to back champ. So I'm interested to see what his market is and where he ends up with all these safeties getting big deals.

[Pat McAfee]

Joining us now is the man who broke this news, senior NFL insider for NFL Network, Ian Rapoport.

[AJ Hawk]

Yeah, Rap Sheet.

[Pat McAfee]

What's up, Rap Sheet. We had a chance to talk to you. Yep, you found it. I like how you lose some tie for us and then you TV straight up into that. Smart.

[I]

I mean, the neck, it just, it's just, it's ties are sort of out now except when we got to do this kind of stuff. So it's, it's there and it's just kind of here and it's just, just.

[Pat McAfee]

A lot super casual and talk to the boys.

[AJ Hawk]

Happy hour chilling.

[Pat McAfee]

There's a little happy hour networking.

[I]

Can't come soon enough.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, absolutely. Especially on these days. We were talking to you this morning and you were super antsy. You know, you're super antsy. I'm like, hey, is there going to be more stuff coming today? You're like, well, maybe start doing all this weird shit. Daniel Jones, obviously to the Indianapolis Colts. CJ GJ Getting traded and now Chr. Christian Fulton getting signed by the Kansas City Chiefs. Is today going to be a big day and continue to be a big day, or what is your feeling and expectation here on day two of Free Agency Frenzy? Yeah.

[I]

So when, when you FaceTimed, I was getting ready to hit send on the Chauncey Gardner Johnson tweet, you know, the trade with Kenyon Green. And I'm like. And then I answered and I'm like, oh, my God, did I accidentally like hit Send. Because you got to make sure that all parties are informed. Like, you know, draft pick trades are easy. Those are fast. You don't have to inform the draft picks. They're traded. They don't care. Right. But if it's a player, that's one call. If it's two players, that's two calls. So you have to find both players. Call them. So I was waiting to hit send, you FaceTime, and I'm like, that would actually be really annoying if I accidentally hit send while it's queued up on my phone.

[Pat McAfee]

And our fault. That's on us. That's on us.

[I]

No, no. Gotta take ownership. That's on me. But I didn't happen. So we ended up getting this trade, which was actually like, It's a really interesting trade. So the Texans were trying to find a safety. I know they had some interest in Javon Holland. Javon Holland goes to the Giants today for a bag. 345.3, I think is the deal with some upside there. So that was sort of a splash for the Giants, and then it was sort of like, all right, well, obviously the Texans still need a safety. Is there any available. I had heard rumblings that Chauncey Garner Johnson could potentially be available. They do the trade, Eagles get some offensive line help. And that was sort of a. That was a thing. You had the Daniel Jones thing, which. Indiana Jones. I. I didn't think of that.

[Pat McAfee]

Shout out, Billy tubes. Yeah. Bill McComas, who is die hard Indianapolis Colts fan, has been his entire life. As soon as Daniel Jones comes over his brain, his little meathead brain goes. Indiana Jones come. The same thing. Yeah. So that was his immediate thoughts. You could have put that out in your tweet. You did not. So you did miss it. Bailey McCarthy's got you.

[I]

Think of it like, when I can't do. You know, I'm. You know, I'm pretty funny, obviously. Like, I can't really do comedy when it's, like, serious like this. It just. It doesn't work in my brain, so that I. That's. That one's on me.

[Pat McAfee]

I blew that. Oh, yeah, I forgot you can't spell comedian without Ian. Yeah, I forgot. That was from a few years back. We haven't got a chance to chat with you in a while, you know, because you made me look like an asshole. Do you remember that?

[I]

I do.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. Yeah.

[AJ Hawk]

Classic.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, you did. You did. But now that I'm learning more about your place of work, maybe you had no idea, you know, that. That is. That is kind of the. You know, it's an interesting time is a flat circle. It is a flat circle. And we're back.

[I]

I'm happy to be back. I love you guys. I missed you.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, we missed you, too. We told you that in person. Especially whenever, you know you were going to beat Schultz's ass at his dad's coffee shop. You did not call security. We broke that news. We're thankful you did not. Because. Because we would not have been able to talk with you if that was the case. Especially if there was no.

[I]

That would have been lame.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, exactly.

[I]

That would have been lame.

[Pat McAfee]

And listen, people do that. You got to be safe. Just. We probably won't have you on our show now. Speaking of time being a flat circle, Minnesota Vikings, they miss out on Daniel Jones. Daniel Jones comes to the Colts. J.J. mcCarthy, now, I believe Tom Pelissero tweeted, is looking to be the starter for the Vikings. Is that accurate? And does that mean Aaron Rodgers to the Vikings? No. Aaron Rodgers, Giants, Steelers. Probably the real conversation.

[I]

Yeah. So we'll get to the JJ McCarthy thing first. So the Vikings were in on Daniel Jones. They made a strong offer. It was more to, like, I would say, like, competition in the QB room. Like, it was an offer similar to what he ended up taking with the Colts. So it's like sort of bridge starter money. But like, if you're in Minnesota, they really like J.J. mcCarthy and Camp. Obviously he didn't play last year because the injury. But like, like, the upside is a lot. I mean, they are. They. He's barely played, but they really, really like him. So it's like, all right, didn't get the sort of backup, slash bridge starter. Like, let's roll. And I think they're going to add a veteran anyway. But I don't get a sense it'll be like, competition. I get more of a sense it'll be depth. It sounds like it's going to be J.J. mcCarthy's time. And like, if you're, you know, we. We've seen some young quarterbacks do very well very quickly. He had a year to learn, came all the way back from an injury. He's going to get coached by an exceptionally good coaching staff. Like, and with, you know, if you're a quarterback and you get to throw to Justin Jefferson, like, that's pretty good. This is an incredible situation for him. I had wondered about Aaron Rodgers because I had heard that Rodgers really liked the Vikings as a destination, which, you.

[Pat McAfee]

Know, if you're a quarterback. Yeah, who wouldn't? Right.

[I]

And it's like, like, you know, now following Favre thing is sort of like whatever time.

[Evan Fox]

Circle.

[I]

But, you know, the. I would say to me, it is Steelers or Giants for Rogers. Sometimes you can get a feel for these things. Like, I felt Daniel Jones, for instance, was headed to the Colts, like, late last night. I've gone back and forth on Rodgers and like, I can say, like, I actually, I don't know, like, it's a really hard choice. I have some thoughts, but I don't know which way he's leading.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay, so is. I legitimately don't know. We'll ask AJ in the next hour. You're assuming that Aaron has told people. You're telling us that Pete, teams think Aaron is coming back to play. Because that was the first question, right? Like, does anyone want to sign up to do the entire football thing again when his legacy is already cemented as a Hall of Famer, Mount Rushmore player and he's the highest paid quarterback or player in the history of the NFL. Now, these deals might change that as we go into the next couple years for guys. Congratulations to them. But it's like from what you're hearing, Aaron having conversations. Aaron interested and Giant Steelers, you don't know which one is more in the lead in this particular combo, is what you're saying.

[I]

Yeah, I mean, I've kind of gone back and forth because, like, you know, if it's, if it's the Giants, first of all, he doesn't have to move. Second of all, it's a team they've added in free agency. They still got some weapons. They are a team that when they've had a good quarterback or even decent quarterback play, they've won. I mean, they had Drew Locke playing well in a game, you know, late in the season, which, you know, really would have been better for them if they had lost, but that's a whole different story. That's a pretty intriguing situation. And then you have, you know, the Steelers, who've lost a lot in free agency, but it's, it's still the Steelers, right? I mean, you got that defense, you got the fans, you got the stadium, you got Tomlin. I can understand why it's a tough decision. Like, I, you know, the.

[Pat McAfee]

These.

[I]

We in life rarely face these kind of decisions like these players do. You know, usually it's sort of obvious like this is. These are real tough decisions, you know.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. Legacy. Especially with how the jets went, you know, with how the jets went.

[I]

Exactly. Right.

[Pat McAfee]

With everything it's set up. And once again, Aaron has not Told me he's probably told aj even though AJ refuses to say anything because AJ will just lie. Right. To all of us so bad. Yeah, exactly. He uses his friends as friends. What a weird thing. You're the one that's been telling him for years he needs to use his friends as sources.

[I]

I mean, it would be helpful to us if he did.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. To you. To me, it'd be, I'm completely okay either way, however it goes.

[I]

But it would be complicated.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. For me, it'd be very interesting. Inevitably, we'll find out what the case is. Has to happen relatively soon. Is that the expectation for this particular convo rep?

[I]

Yeah, I think so. I mean, because reality is, if you're a team, like, let's say I actually don't know what you're going to pay him. Like, trying to figure out what you pay Aaron Rodgers is actually like a real challenge. I mean, I feel like it'd be sort of like, what would you take to come play for us? You know, that's when you get to this point, like, that's kind of the negotiations.

[AJ Hawk]

Right?

[I]

It's like, we'd like you can you just figure out a good salary, but teams need to know where the money's being spent. Now, I would say nothing's more important than the quarterback. So, like, if you're the Steelers or Giants, you'd like to know, but you're not going to hassle Rodgers and be like, hey, like, I know you're, you know, going for, like, a swim in the ocean or something, but, like, you know, or whatever. I don't know. But can you, like, answer the phone?

[Pat McAfee]

What are some other hobbies. What are some other hobbies you think Aaron's doing right now? Swimming in the ocean. What else?

[I]

I don't know if there's like, a plant medicine retreat that could be going on right now. Like, you got to put your phones away for those things. I've heard, obviously.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, you've never done it, obviously. We know that.

[I]

So, yeah, put your phone away and then answer it whenever. So I think you'll let them know when he lets them know. But I personally would rather it'll be today.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay, so you would like to be today. Is that a possibility from what you're hearing?

[I]

Yeah, I think it's a possibility.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay, so we will keep that on the docket. Now, one of those teams obviously has great representation on this particular program. Tone has a question for you. Rap as you do your business, and if you need to, you just do what you got to do. We can talk right around. Yeah, rap.

[Evan Fox]

Let's pretend you're a team with no quarterbacks on it. Aaron Rodgers doesn't pick your team. The Patriots signed Josh Dobbs yesterday. Does that mean Joe Milton's available?

[I]

Yeah. So I. I wondered about this too. I would say I have not heard any traction toward a Joe Milton trade. I haven't. I've asked plenty. I've not heard any traction.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay.

[I]

I will think about this. Like I always think about quarterbacks. It's like, yes. Could the Patriots get value for Joe Milton? They really could. Like, they really could. He is cheap. He is promising. When he played, he looked good.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah.

[I]

Here's the problem. He may have to play for the Patriots. I have no idea what's going to happen with Drake. May, God forbid, something, you know, gets injured or something, which would be terrible, but sometimes does happen. He might have to play. So what would be worth it to the Patriots to trade him for where you say, like, we have to deal him, we're getting this and we're not going to worry about, you know, our backup quarterback. Like, maybe the Patriots will be good this year. Maybe they'll be better and maybe Joe Milton will have to play in a meaningful game. Would it be worth it for like a second round pick or something? Like, I don't know that it would be. Teams hate to trade quarterbacks who might have to play.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. Joe Milton not worth a second rounder is a crazy thought. Good for Joe. Congrats to Joe.

[I]

Maybe he is, but just that. I'll tell you what, I have no idea what's going to happen with Joe Milton's career.

[Pat McAfee]

Him.

[I]

But there's a lot of people really like him.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah.

[I]

Like.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. After watching him, how could you, I.

[Darius Butler]

Mean, need to see him start from somebody?

[Pat McAfee]

Bazooka Joe. I mean, he could throw the ball forever and he just do a standing backflip with ease. So anybody that has that type of athleticism can throw the ball like that. And let's assume, you know, he's in New England for a year. Even if he stays for another year with Braves, like he's going to be ready to do something. You need to see Joe do his thing. We've seen a guy be at an all pro level. He got traded yesterday. Wow. At a position you would think that the Texans would need. DBOT has a question for your wrap.

[Darius Butler]

Yeah, I know it's free agent frenzy right now. We've had huge trades. DK Metcalf, cj, gj, But Laramie, Tunsil. We rarely see Great quarterbacks, great pass rushers and great left tackles available. Any insight onto why the Texans moved on for Laramie at this point?

[I]

Yeah, that was. Of all the things yesterday that was probably the most surprising. Like, heard a whisper, checked on it and was still like, all right, hang on. Like, is this really true? So he has made a lot of money from the Texans. He is an awesome player. One of the best left tackles of, I guess the last decade. Right? I mean, him and, him and Trent. There's a couple of him and Trent Williams. I mean, he's, he is awesome. And the commanders take the commander side of it first. They were in on a bunch of tackles. They were in on Ronnie Stanley, they were in on Dan Moore. When it became clear that they were either not getting those guys or weren't going to put up the money it would take to get them just value wise, they quickly pivoted to like, who's the best left tackle who could potentially be available? The Texans have paid Larry McTunsville a couple times. He is getting up in age. He is still awesome. But, you know, might he want another contract? Possibly. And I think if you're the Texans paying third or fourth contracts, whatever it is, like, even at a premium position, even for an offensive line that struggled, it's a lot. It felt like to me it was probably time. And look, they got to rebuild that offensive line. Ken and Green got traded today, Tunzo yesterday. You know, they, they, they've got some work to do, but they've got draft picks, they've got a little bit of money. And I think that's priority number one now for the Texans.

[Pat McAfee]

I'll tell you what, did everybody know Laramie Tunzel was available?

[I]

Yeah, they, they, you know, they kind of, I don't want to say shopped because it's not like, it's not like they were like, shopping is more like we're trying to get rid of them. If not, we'll cut them. They talked to some teams who are in the tackle market and some of those teams opted for younger or cheaper versions.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay, we'll see.

[AJ Hawk]

Bad move.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, we will. We'll see.

[I]

No, it's. This is like the really interesting stuff to me. It's like several teams who either signed tackles over in the tackle market had the chance for Tunsil, decided not to. Like, we're going to see how it goes.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, we will. Yeah, I know how it's going to go with Tunzel. Tunzel's going to do, do his shit. That's how it's going to go. CJ's wondering what the hell's going on. Jaden Daniels is going. Thank you. To everything going on in Washington right now. They bring in Debo, they bring in Laramie Tunzel for him. I mean, what they're doing in Washington, trying to flip this culture and continue to go, not just have a one off. Good for them. I'm pumped for them. When I saw Laramie's name move, I was like, what? That was right after we went off the air. Yeah, I think it was like 20 minutes afterwards. I was surprised. Very surprised.

[Darius Butler]

I mean, money obviously always makes sense. I just assume maybe locker room or something that we aren't privy to because once again, you don't see these. These type of guys at that position move. And then with how shitty the Texans offensive line was last year, to move on from him was definitely a head scratcher.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay, let's move away from the AFC south, which who has changed rolling over the last 24 hours for sure. Let's go to the NFC west with a team that always has something going on. Connor has a question for you. Rap.

[AJ Hawk]

Yeah, rap sheet. Obviously, the 49ers have lost a lot of people. We just mentioned Deebo getting traded to the Commanders. And then yesterday, I believe all their players combined. Yeah. They earned $276 million elsewhere.

[Pat McAfee]

Wow.

[AJ Hawk]

In different spots around the league. And. And you know, now it's kind of being in question. What's going on over there is a Brock Purdy massive contract. Is that something that's coming soon? Is that the reason why they're kind of letting all these guys go? And then when it comes to the Bosa situation, it was reported that Joey Bosa got an offer from San Fran and Miami for around 10 million. Is that kind of the expectation he's going to one of those two places? And when can we see some of this stuff starting to happen to the 49ers? Because I know their fans are kind freaking out right now.

[I]

Yeah, this is. Yeah. Well, first of all, I think that's right on both. I think he's gonna have some other options too. But I think those teams are definitely in the mix. That makes the number makes sense. And joining his brother, to me, also makes sense. But I want so two things. One, I was looking at the list Jalen Moore is. I would guarantee that 98% of NFL fans have never heard of Jalen Moore.

[Pat McAfee]

Yes, he was the guy.

[I]

You did not.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, yeah. When it got signed, we're like, okay, Jalen Moore. All right, so.

[I]

So he Was the guy who filled in for Trent Williams for like seven games over the last however many years and no one noticed him because he played really well. So like if it's the Chiefs and obviously they've needed a left tackle, like they are buying the upside. The price is for really good for a players barely play. But if he's a starting left tackle, it's good for both sides. They weren't going to resign him. They have Trent Williams. But so about the 49ers. I'm sure their fans are going crazy. I'm sure. But this is what really good teams should do, right? You should let guys who are looking for third contracts or guys who you can't afford to pay leave and you draft and develop behind them. Like that's what you know, for the Patriots for years did that. The Ravens do it. Steelers do it. Like the really. The Chiefs certainly do it. The really good teams can let their big ticket free agents go knowing that they have the confidence in the personnel department to draft behind and it doesn't get any head. Like I think the Ravens, I don't know that have. Have they made a move? I don't think they made a move yet. But like this is what they do. Last year they let their whole offensive line go, it felt like. And they just replenished them in the draft, like kept it rolling.

[Pat McAfee]

That's what the good team. They signed Chuck Pagano.

[AJ Hawk]

Oh, yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, they signed Chuck Pagano, senior advisor. You didn't know who Chuck Pagano was? Okay.

[AJ Hawk]

Made some changes.

[I]

I was sitting next to Pelocero in Mobile when he broke and I was so mad.

[Pat McAfee]

You're mad? Why? Because he was leaving our program?

[I]

Yes. No, because I didn't break it. I'm like, seriously? I'm like, I got it.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay. So Pelissero gets to break the Chuck Pagano news. That broke our heart.

[AJ Hawk]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

Whenever it got officially announced, Brock Purdy's the other part of that conversation. They're going to have to pay him. What's that number going to be?

[I]

Yeah. So I don't get the sense it's like imminent. Imminent, but it's always coming. So like teams do budgeting on out, they know it's coming and they do have to account for it. You know, what's the number going to be as interesting? So Josh Allen got 55. Dax at 60. You know, you got the Trevor Lawrence at 55. You got Jordan Love at 55. My sense is that's probably the target. Is it going to be higher or low? I don't know. 49ers have been, you know, unless they get to a point where they, like, are right up against the season, they've been, you know, like with Brandon Ayuk last year, that was a big contract, but generally they've been, you know, pretty conservative with these contracts. I'm going to be fascinated to see where this goes, but, like, in that range right there is where you're looking. I just don't know where it actually fits in.

[Pat McAfee]

All right. And Josh Allen obviously changed the game completely with 250 million in guarantees. Congrats to him. And Brandon beat.

[I]

That was a nice deal.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, that was a very nice deal. Brandon beat four years left, or whatever. So you know what? Yeah, yeah. And Brandon Bing came on our particular program and said, every time a new quarterback deal gets done, Josh Allen looks at me and goes, is that right? And then just kind of walks by. Great relationship, great vibes at Buffalo. They've made a lot of plays, and he is obviously incredibly welcome. Oh, really? Yeah, yeah. He said it's been happening for, like, the last couple years. Oh, I heard. You know, Trevor Lawrence. Could you imagine, Josh? Trevor's a good player. Trevor's a good player. Do you see what he did? And then back signs for six.

[I]

It's actually a funny bit.

[Pat McAfee]

I think so, too, walking into Bean's office. Good morning, Bean. Good to see you, dude. Dak Prescott. Oh, wow. All right, I'll see you, man. Just walking out of there. I think they got a great relationship, though, which is a part of the Buffalo Bills culture. And the more you hear Bean talk about Josh Allen, the more you're like, oh, what a perfect quarterback for Buffalo. Like, this is. He is Buffalo, basically, at this point now, I mean, got a Hollywood lady, but she spent the entire. She was like, I think, oh, yeah. I think it's becoming like she's a.

[Evan Fox]

Bit of a dog, too.

[I]

I like Buffalo.

[Pat McAfee]

Huh?

[I]

Like, I like Buffalo.

[Pat McAfee]

Yes. Cold as. I mean, cold is cold as hell. And yeah, obviously a lot of snow. But in the summer when the sun's out, lakes up there. I mean, it is beautiful for like, two months there. Two and a half months, and then everything else.

[I]

Rest of the time, very cold.

[Pat McAfee]

Bars stay open till 4am though. I mean, like a good time culture. Obviously. Any city that creates Buffalo wings is a okay with me. Piece of Americana. So Josh Allen being their face for the long haul is good, and I think Bean knew that. And. And the Buffalo Bills now know exactly what their culture is, and that's a good place to be, especially when those Chiefs are lurking every single year. Now, let's go to our last question because we know you got a lot of to do on this day. Bruce Brown has one for you. Yeah. Rap.

[Boston Connor]

So yesterday it was reported that Cooper cup will be released if they cannot find a trade partner by tomorrow. Is his market already shaping up? Do you have any insight into where cup might land and is the trade dead or is there still a chance they, they, they might pull one off here?

[I]

You know, there's a chance they might pull it off. I'd be surprised. So Cooper cup broke this news himself during the super bowl week. He said, basically, Rams are going to try to trade me and I'm going to be somewhere else. And like, it's kind of odd because once you do that, it actually becomes much harder to trade. So, like, I haven't sensed a ton of, I haven't sensed a big trademark. I know teams talk to the Rams. It's got a big contract, $20 million. You'd have to be, you know, redone. So if it's sort of like if you're Cooper cup, you're not going to get the 20 million anyway. Like, wouldn't you rather be free? You know, like, wouldn't you rather you're gonna get the money is going to be the money anyway. Wouldn't you rather just pick where you go? So that's kind of my sense. I, I would expect him to be released unless he knows where he's going and he set on the money and tells someone, like, give a seven to the Rams. But like, I think either way he'll probably have a new home very quickly.

[Pat McAfee]

You, you talk about, wouldn't you rather have a choice? That's like people that are getting drafted in the back half of the seventh round versus being an undrafted free agent. You gotta pick the situation as opposed to being drafted to a situation. Cooper cup having, I assume would have many offers depending upon the price for him to join their wide receiver corps. What were you saying? D Bucks?

[Darius Butler]

No, when. Because Rap she said once you put that out, it makes it more difficult to be traded. And then obviously, if you have the option as a free agent to pick your next destination, that's what you ideally want. So I'm like, hey, maybe he saw this from a 4D standpoint and that's why he put it out. But that's interesting. I would love Cooper cup on my team. He still got a lot of miles left. And which one of my teams is a great question. I would charge you because he'll be a great guy, not only on the field, but I think in the meeting room. We talk to Puka Nakua all the time. He just talks about the impact he had on his career. So I would love him around my youth, young wide receivers and quarterback.

[Pat McAfee]

All right, Rap, what's going to break today? Anything we need to keep an eye on, pal?

[I]

Hopefully your frequent regular guest makes the decision that would be helpful.

[Pat McAfee]

Aaron, just heard you do that and go, what a. Sorry. Pathetic.

[AJ Hawk]

Yeah, looks like I'm waiting.

[I]

Yeah, but so look, if we're being fair, he probably thinks that anyway.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, definitely. Definitely.

[I]

It's not like I'm like, you know, breaking any news here. Like, I. I guess he's there already.

[Pat McAfee]

And we're waiting on him. If Aaron wants to say anything. Our entire lives, just waiting. Aaron going, I just got done watching the dolphins in the ocean. Ian thinks I'm swimming in there. Yeah, right. I just. Look at that thing. Just got out of a darkness retreat, maybe in the house. Living his best life. Does he want to play ball again? There's a couple places that want him. Yeah. Why not Go try to win another Super Bowl? Why not? Aaron Rodgers.

[I]

Why not?

[Pat McAfee]

Why not? All right, we appreciate you. Ladies and gentlemen, Senior NFL Insider, NFL Network. Ian Rapaport. Super catch. Casual.

[Boston Connor]

Oh, yeah. He's just chilling, opening it up a bit.

[Pat McAfee]

He does too. He comes literally from tv. Like, we don't get to watch it, but I assume the way it goes, he goes from looking this way in his office, camera with a suit and tie on, and then to our show. He turns the thing. What's up, boys?

[AJ Hawk]

Just happened. Hey, guys.

[Darius Butler]

Earpiece out.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, exactly. Want you to know that this is possible at any given moment. Retweeting. Exactly. Reposting and retweeting. Breaking news from teams. Wow. On air with us. Rap, she. What a. What a lad.

[AJ Hawk]

You guys like Pierce.

[Pat McAfee]

I'm so thankful he was able to join us yesterday. Very busy day. Not it. You know, not a lot of, you know, not a lot of people were able to stop by.

[AJ Hawk]

Yeah, that was clutch. Especially because he was getting everything right, you know, and that. That was a big part of yesterday.

[Pat McAfee]

Speaking of clutch, Rich Paul will be joining us at 1:15 Eastern. Today, CEO and founder of Clutch Sports, which is an agency and a management group that represents players in every major league. At this point, he went from selling jerseys out of his car. Okay, you're talking about one of the greatest American hustlers of all time selling jerseys out of his car to now being One of the most influential agents on earth. We are appreciative of Rich Paul. He is a friend of the program. And obviously Rich Paul reps a lot of people. LeBron James being one of them, Anthony Davis being another one of them. And then you just go through the list of around the NBA of people that he does business for and his agents do business for. It's like, I think we can. I think we can get a nice clear picture on where the NBA is right now, where the NBA is headed and what the season looks like. And also there was a little bit of a dust up.

[AJ Hawk]

Oh yeah, big time.

[Pat McAfee]

A little bit of a dust up, you know, and that's getting clarified and then reopened and then dropped back in it between Stephen A. LeBron James. Rich Paul's name was actually said by Stephen A. Smith in his response on first take after the LeBron James situation occurs at the Lakers game. So. So, you know, I'm excited to chat with Rich Paul.

[AJ Hawk]

Oh yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

And I think he actually likes our show. So we, we talk to him as if he's one of us. And yeah, I assume some of the shit's pretty offensive or not supposed to be asked about, but Rich Paul just lets it fly.

[AJ Hawk]

Yeah.

[Darius Butler]

Yeah, I like it.

[Pat McAfee]

I like Rich Paul.

[AJ Hawk]

Rich NBA too.

[Pat McAfee]

What's that?

[AJ Hawk]

NBA's heating up too. This is kind of where, you know, after free agency there's this little lull where it's just, you know, pro days. And that's kind of where the NBA takes back over with the NHL.

[Pat McAfee]

What an amount of money that you put out there for the 49ers on the way out. I mean, it was an actual gold rush from the San Francisco 49er at other teams. Yeah. And let alone jus check getting cut. Yeah, yeah. Juice, a 14, 15, 20 time Pro Bowler fullback for the San Francisco 49ers. He's been released by the. This seems to be like an every year thing where it's like, is Juice going to get another deal or an extension or is he going to be released? Is it going to. It feels like every other year, every year this convo happens. So yesterday when it was reported that he was officially being released, I think I took that as a bit of a surprise because that I just assumed he would be in San Francisco forever. Maybe the Niners weren't able to get one of those vests that I got from Mrs. Uscheck. Could have been. Maybe John lynch was like, hold the phone. That vest from super bowl was sweet. Where's mine? We're out limited Ed Dish. So maybe that was a part of the entire convo. But with that being said, there's going to be teams that would like jus check on their team.

[Darius Butler]

Oh, yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

Dog beloved. At a position where I know the fullback is technically not a part of every offense, yet we're getting back into for sure we're getting back into pound the ball offense. So I think fullback is now a time to kind of start to blossom yet again. But he also plays tight end. He's an H bat. He does. He does so much with how athletic he is and he's a super genius. Their entire run game two years ago when Christian McCaffrey goes bananas was basically going right off the ass of this guy. We broke it down on in the trenches with AQ Shipley, and it's like you follow wherever Juszczyk is going. That's where the run game's going. And he's done great things with the Niners. I assume he's going to do great things no matter where he goes.

[Darius Butler]

Debo on that same page, very versatile. You mentioned it. Very smart. I'm sure when he comes into a building, he'll have some ideas from that 49er run game that he's been a big part of for a long time to bring into whatever building he goes into, but kind of piggybacking on something. Rap said, with a team like San Fran, like you just this is your time where you rebuild free agency, the draft, more importantly, because what's going on with in San Fran same thing in Philly. Like they. You look at the players that they've lost from their super bowl run. Like it's so many people that leave every year because we know how bad other teams want to pull from winners. So they just got a John lynch and Shanahan just got to rebuild. Once again, everybody got paid.

[Pat McAfee]

Us Jack's going to get signed. Maybe the Patriots.

[AJ Hawk]

Yeah, don't look now. I mean, that would make a lot of sense, especially in McDaniel's offense kind of coming back. But to the entire thing with. With the Niners. What was that?

[Pat McAfee]

Harvard, right?

[AJ Hawk]

Yeah, Harvard guy. He, you know, is from Ohio. Vrabel obviously, is an Ohio guy, as we all know.

[Pat McAfee]

Wait a minute.

[AJ Hawk]

He's very familiar with the area, you could say. And so that would make a lot of sense. He should be a New England Patriot before, you know, the clock strikes midnight tonight.

[Pat McAfee]

But wouldn't mind Taxachus. It's either just came from Taxifornia. Sure.

[AJ Hawk]

Well, I mean, it doesn't even matter for him. He runs some hedge fund. I'm sure he's a Harvard guy, right. Wherever his money is, it's doing well. We talk about money working for itself with. With this. You know, I'm not going to call it a recession, but with that looming recess, I doubt. Yeah. Use checks. Worried about recess right now because his money is probably somewhere safe in some bank offshore. But that's just.

[Pat McAfee]

I don't know if that's.

[AJ Hawk]

That's cuz he's so smart.

[Pat McAfee]

That's just cuz he's so smart. That's what smart people do.

[AJ Hawk]

But this does kind of go to the entire. Like you can pay everybody but. But eventually it is going to come back to kind of get you. And it feels like right now it's getting the Niners. You know, they got to ship Debo out. Obviously, you know, the IUK situation is different. He got hurt. That just stinks. Jus check is gone. You know, a lot of those guys on defense, ward dudes that they would probably like to still have Dre Greenlaw, but they just can't do it because of the contracts they have. And you wonder with Trent Williams if he's somebody who all of a sudden might be kind of available because he's getting so much money and he's old.

[Pat McAfee]

If they trade Trent Williams, I will be mind blown. Laramie Tunzel on the move and Trent Williams on the move. When we're getting back to needing an.

[Boston Connor]

Offensive line football and Jaylen Moore's gone now you got to replace the replacement.

[Pat McAfee]

So we assume that that won't happen. But if it.

[AJ Hawk]

I mean, I guess, who knows.

[Pat McAfee]

Larry Kunzo just got traded and the Houston Texans you thought were going to try to reload on the offensive line and maybe try to make it better after last season. But going back to the Niners, no use. Check. If there's no Christian McCaffrey, I think that is. Just remember that got dropped four days before the season.

[AJ Hawk]

Nuts. They're cooked. Game week.

[Darius Butler]

If there's no Christian, they are cooked.

[Pat McAfee]

What was it? Achilles? Arthritis?

[Boston Connor]

Tendonitis?

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, Achilles tendonitis or arthritis or something.

[AJ Hawk]

It was in one and then they.

[Pat McAfee]

Said, well, it's actually in both.

[AJ Hawk]

And then it started getting the other one. But yeah, exactly.

[Pat McAfee]

Anytime I hear that a word that rhymes with Chili's, I. I start to really wonder if everything's okay. That's scary. You know, know, we've made such great medical advancements on the knee. You know, like the ACL used to be it. You know, the Hip back in the day. Used to be over. Acl, used to be over. Modern medicine has been able to figure out the Achilles. Obviously, Aaron came back and Kirk was able to come back, but it is a. That is a sustained for, longed away time that takes a lot to kind of come back from. On the other side, we hope that medical will be able to get that one a little bit more. But anytime we hear Achilles, and we heard it four days before the season started with Christian McCaffrey, it was like, did we know there was any Achilles stuff going on? I guess it was 10 tonight, so it wasn't a tear. So hopefully they're able to get that to settle down. They said it kept flaring up whenever he'd come back. Is that over and dealt with? We shall see. But that's the story of the San Francisco Brock Purdy getting paid. Brock Purdy being Brock Purdy. Okay. Best player on the field, whenever he's on the field is Christian McCaffrey. If he can't play, I think they're in some shite yet again. If he can, I think they're in a good spot. It's as easy as that. Yeah.

[AJ Hawk]

Not having Debo to kind of play that, you know, hybrid running back role too, definitely doesn't help them either. But the Achilles, too, it's not just like, hey, you recover from it and then the year that you're back, you're back. Like we saw it with Rogers, it took him a couple. Yeah. And Kirk. Well, Kirk, I mean, you could argue he never came back. Yeah. And like Rogers, it took him, you know, what, 10, 10 weeks. You could make the case for him to really feel comfortable again and be able to move around and take all those shots.

[Rich Paul]

He.

[AJ Hawk]

He still did that early on, but it felt like he wasn't really himself until kind of that point.

[Pat McAfee]

Now, those were tears, obviously. Yes.

[AJ Hawk]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

And this is not what Christian had. Christian had 10 and ice, but never heard of this. Me neither. And we didn't hear of it till four days before. And a lot of people do fancy football were like, ah, could we have got this news before?

[Boston Connor]

I need my money back.

[Pat McAfee]

He was number one in everybody's draft. I guess that's how late that information came. Football is magical and very much alive. We get a chance to talk about it every single day. And we can't thank you enough for being the reason why we do the toxic tables here. Although it looks a little bit different at Boston. Connor once again wearing his Coach 50 Patriots jersey. Yeah.

[AJ Hawk]

I just want to stay locked in, you know, good vibes for me yesterday. Want to keep it going. Obviously it does say head coach. There was some debate that maybe I put supreme commander on it because it is supreme commander variable. But we decided to go with head coach because there's not enough letters back there to get them all in. And yes, it is. Is meant to have pads actually underneath it. That's why it looks so old school pads.

[Pat McAfee]

It looks like it's meant to have like the old school. Exactly. Yeah.

[AJ Hawk]

The AJ High school pads.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. Eddie George, Congrats. Bowling Green. New head coach for you though. Is that 4x? Like, why did you get that?

[AJ Hawk]

I do believe this is X. It is a double X. And I got it because, first of all, I had to have it and they didn't have any other sizes. And I wasn't gonna get, you know, the new white or new blue jersey because Rabel never wore that. He wore. He wore the throwback red. So how do you feel about the.

[Pat McAfee]

Patriots city and what VRA's vision is?

[AJ Hawk]

I feel fantastic.

[Pat McAfee]

We're four days removed from him at a blackjack table moving all his chips. Yeah. And now we're looking at a brand new New England Patriots team. What are your thoughts on the team that they're assembling?

[AJ Hawk]

I feel amazing about it. I really do.

[Pat McAfee]

I feel spent a lot of money.

[AJ Hawk]

They. Yeah, they spent a ton of money. $254 million, I think on their own. That feels great. It feels like with Drake May they're kind of putting and a lot of trust in him. They're bringing in, you know, basically on offense strictly Morgan Moses was the lineman they brought in. Mack Hollins on the outside. Makes sense just because of Josh McDaniels. He played for him when McDaniels was the head coach at Las Vegas. So that is the connection there. A guy that understands McDaniels offense, which is huge. Help out that receiver room that nobody had played for McDaniels who is currently there. So that is great news.

[Pat McAfee]

Really.

[AJ Hawk]

It feels like the 2021 free agency with the Patriots. You remember after the COVID year and Cam Newton, you know, they went seven and nine. I think it was a terrible year in the standard of New England. And then they go out and they spend $150 million on the first day of free agency. That feels like this kind of situation. That year they won 10 games, they went to the playoffs, completely flipped the entire team. And it feels like that's what Vrabel did here.

[Pat McAfee]

Great karma too. We saw frames reading to an elementary school or a boys and girls club up in Boston. Two weeks ago this morning, he was at an event with Joe Missoula, Sam Houser and Joe Andruzzi. Granite saving by shaving event. It's expected to raise about 300 or 3 and a half million for Boston's Children's Hospital. He's taking the top off. He's going bold for the city of Boston and for the children there, as is Joe Missoula. Can't wait to see his chrome dome walking the sidelines. But this is. It feels like he has very much embraced being back in the New England area. And it feels like New England has embraced him being back in the air.

[AJ Hawk]

People love Rabel, you know, everything that he's about. And it feels like the style of football that people from New England like to watch is kind of that gritty grind and pound, like, we're going to punch you in the math type of football. And that's what Vrael brings back to the table, which. Which is massive.

[Pat McAfee]

You started that, Bruce. Yeah.

[AJ Hawk]

Oh, yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

You're half ass. I don't know if you saw.

[AJ Hawk]

He's not.

[Pat McAfee]

He's like, normally, normally I'm in the back. Back is this. This would be when we would start to get.

[AJ Hawk]

I do it every time.

[Pat McAfee]

That was one of my favorite things.

[Boston Connor]

To do in the.

[Pat McAfee]

You should have had some confidence there. You should add some confidence. You should have just started immediately. And a southpaw one I don't think we've ever had. Program. That's weird, bro. Bring it, brother. But you're talking. That is Varal football and that is Patriot fan. They enjoy that style.

[AJ Hawk]

Yeah, exactly. It's incredible. And, you know, defense being a good defensive team, that's something everyone's used to, especially from the Belichick. Everyone started with Rabel when he was playing, you know, outside linebacker, pass rusher for New England. And the Missoula stuff school Missoula's talked about before, like, hey, the four jobs. When it comes to professional sports in Boston, like, that needs to be a brotherhood between those four guys. Because it is, you know, it's a sport. It's a professional sports town. There aren't college sports that people care about, aside from, you know, maybe hockey, but it's. It really is predominantly professional sports when it comes to New England and Boston.

[Pat McAfee]

And I think Joe Mazzulla said it. He said it is not me. I'm just the keeper of this seat right now. Like, the Celtics are going to live on long after me, and they've Been successful long before I got here. I'm just the one who has the honor to be currently holding this title. So I think frames Also feels like whenever he gave that speech at the hall of Fame about, hey, hold onto this for dear life.

[AJ Hawk]

That's special.

[Pat McAfee]

You have no idea what it's like in other place. I'm coaching the Titans right now. Holy shit. Basically what he said. Yeah, I was at the Texans. You had have no idea what it's like in other places. Didn't say that. Sure sounded like it. With the words that came out of his mouth whenever he was talking about how great New England is now. I don't necessarily believe that whenever you put somebody else up, you're not putting somebody else down. But with him definitely stating a comp to other places with New England, I feel like he loves that place. I think he has a lot of pride in that place. I think him going back there is a beautiful thing. And you guys spending money on seemingly right pieces that you would want, and then also plucking Milton out of Carolina when that was allegedly being reported as like, hey, they're finalizing a deal. And then all of a sudden it's like, no, I don't think so. Actually, we want you up here, pal. It's like, if I'm a Patriots fan, obviously I'm very excited all the time because of how much we've already won and how many parades we've already had. But at the moment, it feels like a special time almost. I don't know about this year. I mean, who knows? Maybe. But it feels like you guys are going to get back to being able to be the loud, obnoxious, arrogant massholes whenever it comes to NFL conversations again, as opposed to looking forward to the draft guys, which we don't. We're not used to hearing from you all.

[AJ Hawk]

Yeah, exactly. And I think that's why people are so excited, you know, getting back to the more so, hey, let's compete for what really matters here at Lombardi, not the draft. And you mentioned the draft, having that fourth pick is massive. We get like a Travis Hunter. All of a sudden you do start to believe, holy shit, we could win 11, 12 games. You hope that they can add like a Cooper cup or something. But to your point about Milton Williams insane stat, I had no idea. I just assumed this was fake and something that, you know, somebody made up because of the fact that the patriots have won six Super Bowls, been to, you know, nine, 10 of them. Milton Williams just became the highest paid player in New England. Patriots history with $26 million a year, which is just insane.

[Pat McAfee]

Congratulations to Milton. Yeah, they've done a lot up there.

[AJ Hawk]

Yeah, we love you, Milton.

[Pat McAfee]

We love you more than anybody.

[AJ Hawk]

Yeah, yeah, truly.

[Pat McAfee]

If you favorite player ever. If that's how you showcase love, they certainly do. And Bruce Brown obviously sitting in for Tom Ty. Send our love to Ty and his family. Hopefully we see him very, very soon. Bruce, big news this morning that Bailey McComas has illustrated beautifully. Danny Dimes is coming to your city here in Indianapolis, Indiana. And when Indiana Jones arrives, you're going to get a chance to see him play his absolute best ball. Bruce, you've been doing a great job.

[Boston Connor]

And important note on on Danny Dimes coming to town. No flip cup game is safe. He is is seasoned in the sport and he is lethal on the flip cup table. We might see him D a little bit.

[Pat McAfee]

Hey, I'm okay with that. Listen, as long as you're not missing treatment or missing meetings and showing up and working hard and you know, they can tell how much film you're watching if, if they, you know, all that stuff. Go flip all the cups you need. If he wants to go old school. Listen, if this Duke guy wants to be an old school football player, hell, if he wants smoke cigs on the side, I think he might be okay.

[Boston Connor]

Might loosen him up.

[Pat McAfee]

Just work your ass off, bud. Is all anybody wants. But you're right, that Eli Manning Danny Dimes in a boys flip cup video when they're playing flip cup on a roundtable, I believe. Yeah, it was a roundtable. It's tough to do obviously because of the amount of distractions and lack of area. I appreciated him getting down with the boys, having a drink with the boys and I'm excited to see what he does in an open competition with Anthony Richardson. Good luck to all parties. Shane Steichen has, you know, two options at quarterback going and now let's go to a team that has no options at quarterback. Currently 1/2 of the Hammer Cowboys. AP Tone still no quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers, but this has been a great free agency, I believe over the last 48 hours for the Steelers.

[Evan Fox]

It has for sure. I mean getting dk, like it didn't matter what else happened after getting dk, we finally got the wide receiver that we've been, we have coveted for the last few years. But yeah, now we got to find someone to throw him and George Pickens and Pat Frmuth and Calvin Austin the football ball. So it and you know, we're just waiting on a Decision from Aaron Rodgers. It feels like Steelers and the Giants are. Feels like it's down to those two. Now that, you know, J.J. mcCarthy is basically, you know, going to be the starter in Minnesota so far, doesn't come to Pittsburgh, I'm not sure what's going to happen. We'll just. We'll take Russ and pretend like everything's fine.

[Pat McAfee]

But I do appreciate that whenever we talk free agency, you're strictly talking from a one team perspective. I like that. Yeah. Yeah. Just one. Hey, listen, we need one guy. Hey, Ton. Free agency is pretty good. Yeah, it could be. We don't have a quarterback. I love that that is how invested you are right now.

[Evan Fox]

That's what me.

[Pat McAfee]

No, but I am pumped that that is how you feel. Because I think all Pittsburgh Steelers fans expect greatness. They expect to win. They have one. Not enough. Feels like Pittsburgh is at the point where we want to be able to see a team on the field that can win a Super Bowl. That is. Look, I feel like all Steelers fans won. Yeah, we're going to have a winning season. Yeah, we're going to lose in our first round of the playoffs. And I know there's teams that didn't make the playoffs, so, yeah, we're certainly a better spot than you, but we are sick and knowing that we got no shot of winning the super bowl, even though we're going to win too many games to get a pick 20 in the draft. So I think that's where all Steelers fans are, whether it's with Aaron or not. They just want to see a team that can win a Super Bowl.

[Evan Fox]

Yes, 100% to get over the hump. You know, it's been a long, long time. Time since they won a playoff game or, you know, I saw a tweet out there that Aaron Rodgers is either going to get us over that hump or it's going to be so bad that we are finally going to get, you know, in that top five pick range to get our coveted quarterback of the future.

[Pat McAfee]

Just so I have this understood, Just so I have this understood, there's people that think Pittsburgh Steelers worse with the addition of DK Metcalf and Aaron Rodgers to the offense, where it could go so bad, then maybe we get a top five pick and we keep it moving. Strictly because of what happened with Aaron at the jets this past year, I assume. Yeah.

[Evan Fox]

People on Twitter. Yes.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay, well, there's people not just on Twitter, I assume. In real life.

[Boston Connor]

I feel that because George Pickett doesn't run the red line, so everyone's worried that it'll just spontaneously combust and the offense will blow up.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, I just, you know, at the end of the season last year when Aaron was back to moving and felt like his. And Aaron probably thought his Achilles was back earlier in the year, I think he probably had to feel that way to go into the season, feel confident. But at the end of the year, they look like the jets team that the jets fans thought they were getting maybe two years beforehand. Let's go to nine year NFL vet, host of everything, db, good D, bad D. Darius J. Butler looks super cool. Obviously. Every single day you look cool. Aaron Rodgers still a guy that can lead a team, especially if you have DK Metcalf gp. A good offensive line, I think is what people are saying. Maybe, yeah, maybe not great yet, but has a chance to do that. And then as Steelers defense, defense that is always going to be good, we assume, especially if the TJ Watt deal gets done and understood and they bring in Darius Slade to add to that defensive side of the ball. Special team is going to be good. Sandy AFC north, very difficult. Do you think the Steelers have a chance? Are they one quarterback away from going on a run?

[Darius Butler]

I think Aaron Rodgers gives any team and definitely the Steelers a chance to win. I think he definitely still has a lot in the tank. I think he was playing through some other injuries last year that he'll probably never talk about. I like, you know, these, these OG kind of quarterbacks, just kind of how they go about their business. But the thing about it, when you're bringing a OG like this into your building, it does come with other things. Not necessarily bad or good, but it just comes with other things. So you have a building like that has the leadership of like a Mike Tomlin. That would be a good building, I think, for Aaron Rodgers to go into. No way. If Aaron Rodgers is playing that, it's worse in my opinion, what it was last year, the last couple years. Now, I thought you were coming from the standpoint of, you know, just not signing a quarterback and saying it. Let's go into the season and go, you know, 2 and 15.

[Evan Fox]

We do have Skyler Thompson on the roster.

[Darius Butler]

Archie man in next.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay, I did not know that. Yeah, yeah, he could take snaps.

[Evan Fox]

Yeah, he's, he has, he's, you know.

[AJ Hawk]

He'S been, who knows, opportunity started a playoff game.

[Pat McAfee]

What's the deal? He can. I've seen him.

[Darius Butler]

I got respect.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, I know. I've seen him though. He can start in the playoffs in.

[Evan Fox]

The, in the division Though you got LaMar Jackson, former MVP. Joe Burrow's been Super bowl, could be an MVP. And then you got the guy that just won the super bowl, kneeled the ball out for to win the super bowl for the Philadelphia Eagles.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, you guys had him too. You guys had him too. We did. He had to go elsewhere to go win a Super Bowl.

[Evan Fox]

Yeah. Kenny Pickett's the starting quarterback of the Cleveland Browns right now.

[Pat McAfee]

And there. There is a chance that that happens. And the way I saw him come in and start spinning and I forget.

[Darius Butler]

What game it was commies.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. I mean, Kenny Pickett has experienced a lot of things. I assume there's been a perspective change too for Kenny Pickett. I think him getting out of Pittsburgh was very good for his psych. I would assume especially guy coming from Jersey, went to college there, had massive success, became the guy there, goes to Pittsburgh Steelers just the other side of the building, doesn't work out as great. And then Pittsburgh people start saying like, get this guy the hell out of our town with everything he's done at the University of Pittsburgh and wins the ACC championship for Pitt. Hasn't happened in a long time. Then he goes to the Steelers hometown. This is a hometown guy. Even though he's not from here. It's pit guy going to lead this team. Doesn't work out. That's never good. That situation can be obviously pretty heavy. He goes over to Philadelphia, gets a chance to win a Super bowl, gets a chance to see how they operate and do their thing. Experience the highest to highs. And he was the last person to take a snap in this Super Bowl. He's now with the Cleveland Browns. His DTR is traded over to the Philadelphia Eagles. Fascinating. Browns are a fascinating team. Yeah. And we will certainly watch how it goes. Joining us now, ladies and gentlemen, is a college football national champion, a Super bowl champion and a Roddy cup winner, A.J. hawk.

[AJ Hawk]

Yeah, Hawker.

[Pat McAfee]

Hawker, how you doing? Are we growing the whole hair out? Is that what we're doing?

[Tone Diggs]

No, I just haven't got it cut in a while. Hopefully maybe get a cut tomorrow. We'll see.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, we're all hoping the same thing on this end as well. We just talked about a lot of things. Don't know where you would like to pick up or chitchat about. Could be Aaron Rodgers maybe leading the pitch.

[Tone Diggs]

I want to know what does Pitt do? What does Pittsburgh Steelers? What do they do if they don't sign Aaron? Like Russ just. Russ is just hanging out like, okay, what are Russ's other options that he could possibly do.

[Pat McAfee]

I don't know. Like, I wonder if the Giants are having the same combos. Like, I wonder if it's. Here we go. One of you is going here, one of you is going to the other place. And if it is Russ at the Giants, you could see him mentoring somebody for a year, certainly. I mean, everything that we're talking about with Aaron going to the New York Giants, Russell Wilson could still spin it. Russell Wilson has had a lot of experience, a lot of success. Russell Wilson can hopefully showcase exactly what it is to be a professional as long as somebody's willing to kind of accept it and learn about it. Just like Aaron would be the same exact situation. So I would assume. Assume. And I don't know how often it's been reported. I would assume they're talking to both guys. Both teams. Yeah.

[AJ Hawk]

Seen Tennessee as well for us.

[Pat McAfee]

Oh, yeah.

[AJ Hawk]

That. That has been floated out there recently with him possibly going there to do that for Levis too.

[Pat McAfee]

Sierra back in Nashville.

[AJ Hawk]

Country album on the way to Nashville.

[Pat McAfee]

Smart in the country music world. So we would assume that's what's going on with Russ. And I would say this. After having Russ on our program, I enjoyed my conversation with him a lot. I hope he has. Has massive success now. It did feel like Steelers fans did not want him back in Pittsburgh. Is that an accurate.

[Evan Fox]

It didn't end great.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay. It only ended great for one team, right? Well, even the other team, it ended worse.

[Evan Fox]

Worse than a lot of teams. I think we lost, like, five or six straight.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. Got real ugly late, however, which happened in Philadelphia Eagles the year before. And then obviously they make some change and then they go and win a Super Bowl.

[AJ Hawk]

So.

[Pat McAfee]

So, I mean, there's a chance. Yeah. But that would be with Russ as quarterback. Oh, yeah.

[Evan Fox]

Well, the blueprint's out there.

[Darius Butler]

You guys lost Naj.

[Pat McAfee]

Naj just signs with the Chargers. Chargers. Congratulations to Naj. Getting some money to join Jim Harbaugh's team. You know Jim Harbaugh. Ortiz. Ortiz. Football. Oh, yeah. Is. We need to run it. Naj can certainly pound it. I mean, he ran better this year, I feel like, than ever before. I don't know if there was, like, the moment that Eddie George had with Derrick Henry. Remember at the beginning of Derrick Henry's career with the Tennessee Titans, he was not the current Derrick Henry that we know. He had to evolve. He had to change. He had to get better. Because in high school, Derrick Henry was obviously bigger, stronger, faster than everybody. So he could get the edge and he could power you and stiff arm, you college. He was the same damn thing. Then he gets the NFL. And although he is bigger, stronger, faster than everybody, there's a lot bigger guys. So I think he was a little bit more of a finesse runner than a power runner at the beginning. He thought he could get the edge, and everybody saw the same thing. It's like, dude, you are 265 pounds. Just run some people over. Allegedly, Eddie George had a conversation with Derek Henry. Eddie George, former Tennessee Titan great, now Bowling Green head coach, former Ohio State legend. I still remember his big ass in that gray jersey on TV with those huge helmets, huge shoulder pads, and he is a mountain of a man. Allegedly, he talked to Derrick Henry a little bit one offseason, was like, hey, I think you're missing this in your game. That changed Derrick Henry's career. I mean, completely. He became the most dominant running back in the league quickly. The Tennessee Titans had massive, massive, massive success. And then he would go on to the Baltimore Ravens and transform that offense, which was already incredible. He's there yet again, and their season didn't end how they wanted. Najee Harris seemingly ran his best this last season. I don't know if there was a conversation somebody had with him, like, hey, it's you. You can run like a running back that is your size. Like, you're allowed to be a physical guy. You can be a physical guy. I don't think Pittsburgh Steelers fans, notoriously or like, yeah, get Naj back here to be a Pittsburgh Steeler, but I think all Pittsburgh Steelers fans have a respect that n played his best ball this last season. Yeah.

[Evan Fox]

And respect.

[Pat McAfee]

He.

[Evan Fox]

I mean, he was there for four years and he played 17 games every single year for four years. So his best ability. Sorry, best ability is availability. He was there every single year, rushed for a thousand yards every single year. Also for Naj, like, three of those four years was a very, very much rebuilding off offensive line. Like, it didn't run behind the best offensive line. Also not with the best offensive coordinator. For a lot of time. There was a lot of shotgun sidecar. That's just not who Naj is. I'm excited to see what he does with the Chargers in that office.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. And Harbaugh is going to have a plan. I mean, I assume we know what it's going to look like. And the Chargers, I love. Hey, every time the Chargers do something, I'm like, yep, they got it right. Najan somewhere else, I'm like, I don't know if that's it. Does the Chargers. I'm like, par ball figured out.

[AJ Hawk]

Awesome.

[Pat McAfee]

That dude wins, man. He just wins.

[Darius Butler]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

And the whole culture is bought in over there. You've been a believer for a long time. I'm not saying. Does Naj put him over the hump? What else are you looking for for this Chargers team? Why not?

[Darius Butler]

Yes. Got to get a dynamic playmaker on the outside, maybe two. I love LAD and what he does, and I think he'll only get better going forward. But I think you need a guy that can take the top off of defense. That causes matchup issues for defense and secondaries. Just changes the math altogether on the outside. That.

[Pat McAfee]

Ladies and gentlemen, let's pivot away from the NFL and a free agency frenzy. A.J. hawk. Let's. Let's go to the association, the NBA, and let's talk to a man who is maybe the greatest hustler in America's history. Okay. Start out selling jerseys out of the back seat of his car. Now, he's the most influential agent in the NBA, and he's a founder and CEO of an agency that represents players, most of them the highest paid, at every single position across all major sports leagues in the United States of America. Ladies and gentlemen, Rich Paul. What's up, man?

[Ian Rapoport]

Thanks, Pat. Hustler turned board. Board member.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay. Hustler.

[Ian Rapoport]

Board member.

[Pat McAfee]

What a story.

[Ian Rapoport]

Yeah. What a story, right?

[Pat McAfee]

Hold on. You do have the book. Yeah. Bang. Lucky me. The Story of a Hustler to a board member of Rich Ball, founder of Clutch Sports. Hey, that's a sweet hat. Is that the Clutch. Is that. Is that the K logo there?

[Ian Rapoport]

It's Clutch Apple Athletics, not Clutch Sports. This is Clutch Athletics. Totally separate. I'll send you guys.

[Pat McAfee]

Hold on. Okay.

[Ian Rapoport]

Yeah. My partnership with New Balance, they sold out on Lids. They were on lids.com. we sold out pretty quick. But they're restoring, so you can find them at your local lids [e-mail].

[Pat McAfee]

Okay, so clutch Sports is the agency and management. Clutch Athletics is the apparel brand that you partnered up with New Balance.

[Ian Rapoport]

Yes. Yeah. So we can sign Pat McAfee if we want to.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, you could. We'll see. I'm also said hustler to board member, and we can have a good negotiation. I'll say the logo looks sweet. I'll say that the hat looks awesome. And all the jumpsuits. I went through your website the other night. Look good. Feels like you're murdering life, Rich. And we would like to say congrats. Now, let's get into some ball. Let's get into some Ball. Shall we? Your name obviously was said by Stephen A in his apology to or his explanation of a situation with LeBron James in the NBA fields. Like players, media, fans, much more intertwined because of the proximity of the fans and everything to the sport for the lack of the helmet. And also the coverage is only on a few people. How do you feel about the situation between LeBron and Stephen A. And how often has this thing happened over the past that maybe has been diffused? Like how many different situations with NBA players wanting to say something to somebody that said something out of pocket has been diffused? That we never.

[Ian Rapoport]

Yeah, I mean, you know, I didn't think it was much, but I, I think that, you know, as adults, you try to handle things the best way possible. And so I was glad they were able to move on, but, you know, it's tough, you know, anytime you have media platforms and there's so many today and these guys, you know, as. As much as critique, sometimes the critique could. Could be felt as if it's a little bit more than that. And so there's a balance there to, to try to maintain. And so, you know, for me, me, I just try to focus on, on the business of it and keep the personal stuff away. But, you know, sometimes you have those things. But we've moved on and it was, it was, it was a dust up and we moved on.

[Pat McAfee]

So happy to hear that. And I think what we've seen over the last couple weeks here, you know, at the NBA All Star Game, I think I talked to you around there with what hockey did with the four nations and how the different directions that kind of went with the conversations. I was legitimately worried about the NBA. I. I'm like, I don't know how they get out of this. Feels like people have turned over the last few weeks. It feels like players have defended themselves a little bit more. Feels like players have talked a little bit more. And I think with that massive trade of Luca to la, feels like there's been a lot more interest in the NBA and conversation and chatter. Do you agree with that? Feels like the NBA has kind of right, kind of the course of everything and how it's going. Yeah.

[Ian Rapoport]

But I also, I would have liked to see some people on the platform today that they, that they lead protect the NBA a little bit more. You know, having guys come on platforms and speak about the NBA as if they know enough about the NBA and critique in a way in which was a little bit misleading for the viewership. I was a little disappointed in that. You know, these guys, they play a lot of basketball. They obviously try their best. And you know, there's no question, I've spoken to Adam a number of times and there's no doubt he's trying to do his best to, to turn the All Star weekend around. But I just thought that what came out of that was a little bit misleading, especially for those that don't play this game. But I agree with you. There is some excitement around the game. Obviously, trades and things like that shakes things up and gets people interested. I think that's a bigger thing to pay attention to as well as free agency. Those are really big platforms for our sport. And you know, the game is great. And I think that when you speak about the game, it's great to critique it, but you also have to give us. Give it its flowers. It's changed a lot of lives, including mine and so many others. And so we're appreciative of that.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. And the level of play right now is absurd. I mean, it's absolutely insane. The amount of talent. We watch these old documentaries. And I don't want to speak for current basketball players. Players. But my take legitimately, I think for the last five years, since we've been doing this entire conversation and as you know, sports media for a While was, is MJ or LeBron the greatest of all time? That was like. Years of conversation. Yeah, years of conversation. Currently I'm like, I guess it's still happening. I guess it's still bringing it. Still bringing it in the entire conversation.

[Ian Rapoport]

The towering conversation.

[Pat McAfee]

Yes, certainly. But when I'm not a big basketball guy, so I was always like confused because I watched the Last Dance and I watched some of these other documentaries. I grew up in Pittsburgh. I didn't grow up in like a basketball or NBA town. When I watch basketball back then versus basketball now, we're talking about two different sports. It is, it is a very. It is very. Same game, obviously, same concepts, but the way it's being played is so vastly different. And it's like, what's happening now? You got guys like when Jordan and I look, I mean, shit. Okay, so I am, I am a fan of this entire thing. When he dunked from the foul line, from my understanding, place went crazy. Holy.

[I]

Yeah, yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

This guy dunked from the foul line. You got guys that might be able to dunk from a high school three point line coming up here in like a year and a half. Exactly. So it's just a different game.

[Ian Rapoport]

It's like, yeah, it's like the black and white TV and like the iPhone, it's. It, you know, the evolution of it is what it is. And I think that, you know, for those that have the platforms to talk about the sport, they're going to always lean and be biased towards sports when they played and. Or the previous years. But it's supposed to get better. You know, just like anything in life. You know, when you look at the cars, the Model T today is. Now we have electric cars or the Model T of yesterday. Today we have electric cars. It used to be horseback riding. You know, everything is different. You know, Walkmans to ipods to. Now we have itunes. Everything is different. Right? Taxis to Ubers. There's an evolution, right? And so. So we have to allow that to be the same in our sport and, you know, not just try to judge these guys and have them chase goats all the time. We have great players in the league, as you can see. Look at the Cavs. Look at what Boston's been able to maintain and do. Look at OKC and what Shai is doing leading that team. Jokic is, I mean, phenomenal. Giannis. And the list goes on and on and on, and that's just to name a few. In addition to the guys that we already know, the older guys, that's been. Had some consistency there and. And so, you know, you hate to hear it, but they get paid the big bucks to talk about it. It's. Again, it's not all true. This idea that these guys couldn't play in the 80s and 90s, that's false. You know. You know, you just go back and watch when some of those guys that played in the 90s were still there in the early 2000s, when guys like LJ and others came in, they were stuck in the mud on defense, they couldn't defend them. You know, you had guys, no one ever had to face a team that. That was all five positions. The guy was 6, 7 and above, with the ability to dribble, pass and shoot.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah.

[Ian Rapoport]

No disrespected. No, no, listen, one thing about me, I'm a historian of the game. I respect all those that came before, but you gotta allow the guys that tell it, tell and tell the truth while doing it. You know, guys like Isaiah Thomas was great for his time.

[AJ Hawk]

Invented it.

[Tone Diggs]

Koozie, he.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah.

[Ian Rapoport]

Cousy was great for his time. Pistol Pete was great for his time. But, you know, what would Kyrie Irving do in that. In that, in that time?

[AJ Hawk]

Peace.

[Pat McAfee]

That would have been so much fun.

[Ian Rapoport]

To watch, by the way. They didn't Even make the shoes to be able to handle the style of play for a guy like Kyrie. They didn't have the shoes for him to play in, let alone. So, you know, we want to be respectful to the ones that come before. But. But we have to give the flowers to these guys today. We have. Just see what Ja did the other day. It's incredible. I mean, come on, man.

[Pat McAfee]

Like you can't be good whenever Jaw's playing. Jaw is always a lightning rod whenever it comes to playing basketball. And obviously we watched him hopefully mature in front of us in real time in the spotlight, but whenever he's on the court, it's electrifying. He'll double pump that. Yeah, you know, I'm not dunking anymore, he said. Then what? Two days later, he did a double pump baseline on a guy's head. And it's like, yeah, this dude is maybe one of the shortest guys in the league, but instead he has the most confidence and ability to fly. Yeah, we agree. We're on your side in this entire thing. And also, this does not mean that Michael Jordan couldn't play in today's game. Michael Jordan could play any sport that he wanted to play in any era. So that's how I feel. Now let's talk about the current game. Number one heavy in the NBA right now in the talking point, obviously SGA is a guy. Cavs is. Thanks. Celtics are doing it. LeBron James hurts his groin whenever the Lakers are playing their absolute best basketball with him. And Luca seemingly starting to gel perfectly, and JJ Redick seemingly putting together the perfect starting five with a bench that is loaded. Now, is that all put on hold for one to two weeks with a groin strain? What do you think this kind of ends up being for LeBron? And long term, how much does this slow down the development of the Lakers this season, do you think, Rich?

[Ian Rapoport]

Well, I, I think you have to manage it. Obviously, you see the reports that's out there and you were able to, to pay attention to LeBron in terms of his, his post game interview. He knows his body better than anybody, so we kind of have to follow him there. But look, you know, he's played a lot of basketball. All these guys, we forget the Olympics, they, they played across our league. So there's been a lot of basketball played for the older guys. When you have this type of injury, injury, you have to manage it properly. You know, unfortunately, AD had the same thing, a little bit different, but. And he even mentioned that, you know, soon he did it. That's the first thing he thought about or the second thing he thought about was that. So you have to manage it with grace. Obviously, the Lakers had a tough schedule coming up. I think they got six games in eight nights or something like that. And they play some pretty top heavy teams. They got the number six schedule, most difficult schedule to finish the season. Out, out. It's tough. You know, look, they have a lot of work to do, regardless whether he was there or not in terms of just. Just with the roster. But those guys have been playing unbelievable game of basketball. And JJ has those guys prepared. They lost the other night by not being prepared. I didn't think they executed well on either side of the floor. And, you know, they were able to. They were not able to beat the Nets last night, but that, that comes from. From, you know, I think in some cases not respecting your opponent. They're still the NBA and anybody can beat you on any given night. So. But you got to handle it with grace. And so I won't put a timetable on it. I'll let LeBron decide what's to be done there. He has a great trainer and medical staff with the Lakers and Mike Mancid leads that for him. And so, you know, I'll just be lockstep with those guys.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay, so LeBron and Lagroin, we're pulling for the quick, speedy recovery because LeBron Chic was a fun era to watch. And last question for me on that before the boys have some rich. How does you know? Because the thought is, will LeBron be able to play with a guy who is so ball dominant like Luka and obviously Kyrie point guard? He and Kyrie were able to have massive amount of success. But would LeBron be able to handle playing alongside a guy like Luka Luca? It looked like it was working out perfectly. Why do you think that is the case? Why do you think LeBron and Luca were a good mix early on and starting to have success almost immediately?

[Ian Rapoport]

Well, I think whether it's LeBron and Luka or anybody else, I think it's just. It's just when you have high iq, you're able to adjust and, you know, in terms of being able to take somebody off the ball that's used to being on the ball, if they have an understanding of when to cut, you know, when to seal, when to set a screen, how to come out of those screens, you know, have the ability to catch and shoot. And now you turn a guy like LeBron into your secondary playmaker, that's pretty tough for anybody. I think any coach Anybody that's knowledgeable to game would say, you know, that's a pretty tough thing because now, you know you got one of the best playmakers ever, if not the best, becoming your secondary playmaker, you know, that's just tough to defend. So, you know, again, I don't get into all the experts, but you know, I know the game enough to know that when you have a great IQ and you have great habits and you understand how to play the game for others, you can make anything work.

[Pat McAfee]

JJ seemingly a good coach too. I mean, that was obviously a question early and we have heard stories about how competitive he is. And he told us a story one time whenever he was at Duke, he was back at his girlfriend's house at a different state, I forget what state it was, maybe Iowa or something like that, Wisconsin. And he was working out at a local gym. Him and some kid talk on him and didn't know who he was and he said he beat him. 11 0. Then he played again. 11 0, 11 0. 11 0, 11 0. Like JJ Redick is like an absurd competitive human being. Like everybody is at the top. So whenever I heard he wanted to get into coaching, I assumed he would have the work ethic to do as such. But would he have the players respect? Would he have the ability? Obviously he does. Is that normal that a guy is just able to pick up coaching like this? We saw Missouri, Missoula obviously get dropped in as a young lad, but he coached in college and kind of worked his way up.

[Ian Rapoport]

Yeah, but when you look at Missoula, when you look at jj, when you look at, you know, when you demand effort and energy, you know, when you, when you, when players look at your habits as well, they look at how you prepare and you demand that respect right away. And so I think one of the best things JJ did right away was he kind of wedged himself in between two ex head coaches and Scotty and Nate McMillan. So that's him having an understanding and wherewithal of the position he was in as a first time head coach. And so, you know, you're not always, you don't always have to do that, but it's good to have that around you. T Lou did it as well with coach Drew. And so, yeah, you know, there's no doubt that he could be successful. And the success isn't always in the win and loss. You know, it's about really just how you're developing these guys, you know, how you prepare coming out of timeouts and things of that nature in game adjustments and Stuff like that. And so he's been able to have some success there. I know he's not satisfied, knowing him. And when you see those young coaches like that, whether it's in okc, in Boston, even down the job that Mitch is doing down in San Antonio with all the injuries and things like that, when you watch those guys play, even Jordy, even with the net, when you watch these guys play, those kids are playing hard. Young men are playing hard every night. And, you know, they're in the game, they're coming out of timeouts and executing properly. And sometimes talent just beats you. But in these cases, you're trying to watch the habits of guys and see which guys you can keep in which areas you need to replace. And so, yeah, he's doing a great job as well as others around the league.

[Pat McAfee]

Guys are smacking a wood for these guys.

[AJ Hawk]

Hell, yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

And we like that, you know, no free buckets over here, Rich. Okay, no free buckets over here. I like everything about it. And J.J. just at the press conferences, speaks his mind on the sidelines. Speaks his mind. I like how he is just assumed the role like you are head coach. This is how you go. Obviously, had Coach K. He had plenty of great coaches that he's been able to learn from. You talk about the head coaches he has on staff. We're happy for JJ because he was great on tv, too.

[Evan Fox]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

Oh, yeah. Great on TV and doing a great job as a head coach. D, Bud has a question for you. Rich.

[Darius Butler]

Yeah, Rich. Been the business a long time, so it seems like, you know, you know, the bigger markets are kind of always going to dominate. You know, what's talked about on tv. But how do you feel about overall coverage, especially this year in the NBA with the Cavs pretty much dominant and then OKC dominating on the other side and being in smaller markets.

[Ian Rapoport]

Yeah, I think, you know, I think, look, OKC and the Cavs are doing an unbelievable job. This is some of the best basketball to watch. It's fun to watch. Guys are spraying the ball around, having fun, rooting for each other. I think the camaraderie they have amongst the teammates is incredible. We watch it every night. I don't miss many games or so. That backcourt and even the bigs that the Cavs have. But Darius and Donovan has really been leading that charge there. The resurgence, just not the resurgence. The surgeons of a guy like Evan Mobley and how he's just grown his game, which was no surprise to me, honestly. And then when you talk about just. Just guys Like Jared Allen, who's able to be a pro and take a step back and allow his teammates to have the success and him rooting them on as well. He probably should have had four All Stars this year. They went and added DeAndre Hunter who was big for that team. And then the work that Ty Jerome and just all those guys do night in and night out, you know, they haven't played their best basketball over the last six, seven games and yet still they've been able to come out with the win on a 14 game winning streak. So that's, that's been incredible. When you look at OKC again led by Shai, who is probably going to be the mvp, is right there with him and Jokic. But I would love to see him win it this year after not winning it last year. But you know, again, any given night they set their whole starters. The other night still came out with the win. I think Jalen Williams, the other Jalen Williams, big, had a triple double and you know, you just see selfless basketball with those guys. And it's not necessarily about the name on the back of the jersey. They're really doing it for the name on the front. And when you run an organization like Presti and the job that Kobe, Altman and those guys are doing, this is what you want to see. At the same time, we still got to have a balance. You still want the big markets to do well. The New Yorks, obviously Chicago's not where you would want it to be, but the la's and then Steph is Steph in that market. And so. So it's been a good year for the league. You know, I pay attention to all, not just my guys, the guys I represent or the stat sheets every night, but the business and how, because we all benefit from it. And so I think it's important to care about it enough. And the parity in the league is great. And again, we can't forget about Boston. You know, they are doing an unbelievable job of leading as defending champs. They're still a team that obviously in everyone's opinion are probably the favorites to beat until somebody actually beat them. They've earned that right. And so it's great, man, it's great, it's great. It's great basketball. But the real season is in a couple weeks or a month and a half, I must say.

[Tone Diggs]

Oh yeah, yeah, it is Rich. What do you think the game looks like over the next three, four or five years? Like coming from a football background, a lot of us on this show like football it continues to evolve, but also we see a lot of old school things that continue, continue to come back in basketball. We have so many young studs all over the world, not just America. Like, how does the game look over the next three, four or five years? Do you think it changes drastically? Like little things here, there? What's your thoughts?

[Pat McAfee]

You know, that.

[Ian Rapoport]

That depends on the players. You know, look, I think when you get paid a lot of money, that can be the end all, be all. I think the care for the game, your approach, your professionalism, how you conduct yourself matters. You know, the things within the game and you know, the integrity that you carry matters. And so the league can be whatever the players want it to be. You know, I think the league has to be looked at as a partner. It can't just be looked at as a bank. And I've said that before several times. And I also say that to my guys. You know, there's a responsibility and accountability that comes with being a professional athlete. It's even a higher level of that that comes with being. Being a star or a budding star or, you know, one of the legendary guys in the league. And I know we had that face of the league conversation. And I don't think there's going to be a next quote, unquote face of the league. I think there'll be a community, just like it was when Jordan left in 98. It became a community. And so I think we should embrace that. It's not so naming somebody, if it becomes one face, then that's because that person earned. But I think it comes in, it's multifaceted and so. But I look forward to it. I'm really just enjoying a lot of these guys and I'm glad they're getting their flowers. But there is, I do want them to remember there is a responsibility. Some days you have to play hurt, some days you have to. You know, everyone's not 100% when you get to this part of the season. And so. But, you know, I think the league is in a good spot. Obviously they got the TV deal done and, you know, I think there are some things we could improve on. Like everything else in life, none of us are perfect. We're all under construction. So that's just a matter of how we want to improve. And so, you know, we'll see. But I'll do my part for sure. Whether it's for my clients or whatever. Adam, you know, leans on my, not necessarily advice, but any type of opinion that I may have or whatnot. I'M a creative at heart. And so at the end of the day, I'm always thinking the next thing and how to evolve and how to better position ourselves.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay. So I love to hear that. By the way, in the line about using the league not as a bank is one that is, you know, awesome to hear because I think that's a great way to describe potentially not just NBA. It happens in all sports, not just the NBA. Big time professions. I think the way you talk about the league you is coming from a guy who obviously cares about it a lot, wants it to have success. And I think after our first convos with you, I don't think a lot of people fully understand about you. The way you talk to your clients like, hey, we got to do this, we got to play a little bit injured. Like, I don't think that is the normal first thought about NBA players as a whole or about you because all it is is Rich Paul runs the NBA. Rich Paul has this, Rich Paul has that.

[Ian Rapoport]

And that's. Yeah. And that's not true. You know that. I mean, look, I'm not a tiptoe agent. I'm not a stat sheet agent. That's not what I do. I think it's important to educate these guys and hold them accountable and responsible for their actions and they do the same for you. You know, oftentimes if you're in my position, you know, you try to create this. Yes. Environment so you can keep a client. That's not the type of business I built and that's not the type of business I lead. You know, today is AD's birthday, by the way, so we should say happy birthday to ad.

[Pat McAfee]

Godspeed.

[Ian Rapoport]

Wherever you end up.

[Pat McAfee]

Wherever you end up. Maybe Rich knows, actually wherever you end up or however this. This all goes, Happy birthday and Godspeed.

[Ian Rapoport]

No, he's in Dallas. He'll be fine. You know, he's embracing again. He's. He had that injury as well. And you know, it's unfortunate Kyrie went down, but. But you know, AD is taking. He's progressing properly and we'll see where it leads. You know, one thing about ad, he loves to play the game. He wants to play the game. And so as we see the first two quarters that he had against Houston, you know, when he first got to Dallas was what that could look like. And so that excitement was there and unfortunately he went down with an injury, but he's progressing properly. So we'll see. I'll be able to get next to him at some point and see how he's feeling, but we keep an open mind about everything. But, yeah, you know, it's one of those things where, you know, if you want something to be in a great position, then you have to really, you know, handle it with care, just like you do anything else.

[Pat McAfee]

The grass is greenest where you water it. You know, that's what they say. The grass is greener. The grass is greener. Well, it's greener wherever you want it to be like, that is the answer. And hopefully the NBA continues to be a league that is led by folks like you behind the scenes that love it and want the water to be or the green. You get it.

[Ian Rapoport]

It's not a bully thing, though, Pat. You know that we talk about it a lot. It's not a bully thing for me.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, of course.

[Ian Rapoport]

It's an insightful thing. You know, I know everything about the league and the ins and outs of it, the business around it and things of that nature, and so. But this also is my 24th year around it. It's my 24th season.

[Pat McAfee]

Wow, you look like you're 25.

[Ian Rapoport]

Yeah. It's not like, you know, people think he just got in or obviously, the LeBron opportunity, but it's my. It's going on my 13th season on my own as, you know, leading the agency and then. And then my 24th season. But, AJ while I got you, you know, we had a clutch football. Had a great, great day yesterday. You know, between, I mean, Garrett and Bynum and Chase and Milton Williams and Byron Murphy. We had a great, great. I'm happy for my leadership group over there. Our agents and obviously Zeke and Bilbo and, you know, Rick Roberts, Kelvin Crenshaw, and then obviously Nicole and the job that they're doing.

[Pat McAfee]

So, you know, the football group, what's going on?

[Tone Diggs]

You're taking over the NFL, too, now?

[Ian Rapoport]

Well, we're not trying to take it over. We just want to be able to exist. Exist within, you know, and represent the guys we represent and be able to represent guys like you had. Like you.

[Pat McAfee]

Like.

[Ian Rapoport]

Like yourself, AJ and others. And so just. We're young in the business, but. But we've been impactful throughout the years, and I think this year we had 28 people invited to the combine. We should have the first two rounds or three rounds of the draft. We should be pretty heavily slotted there to have some impact there. And, you know, we're just trying to continue to grow. But we got a good group. We got a good group. We got all two, you know, from Jaden and Devontaine, and a lot of guys we have in the Eagles, Milton winning the super bowl, now to the draft combine, 28 people invited, and then also now free agency. So it's been great. It's been great. I'm excited, man. This is. I never thought we would be in this position when we started the company in 2012, but it's been great. It's been great. I'm really. I'm really appreciative. You know, we can't be us without the. Without the clients allowing us the opportunity, and so we're always thankful for that.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. I'm Rich Paul, and I'm just here to just, you know, just kind of be a part. That's all. Just thankful and lucky to be here. You know, we had three guys on super bowl and obviously reset the market whenever they were signing. Just signed the biggest contract in the history of the New England Patriots. Miles Garrett, I don't know if you heard this. He's getting quarterback money. Now he's defensive end. So we're just.

[Ian Rapoport]

Hey, yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

We're just trying. Trying to get into the NFL. It's a great league.

[Ian Rapoport]

It's a team effort, you know.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah.

[Ian Rapoport]

Don and DJ really backed our agents, and we was able to come through for a lot of guys. And I know the Miles Garrett thing, I was. I was glad that, that, that. That we were able to turn it around. Nicole did a great job leading that group there. And, you know, Jimmy and Andrew Barry, it was. I was glad, you know, we was able to turn that around. You know, I'm from Cleveland, obviously. I'm a Browns fan, a huge Browns fan. Jimmy and I, you know, talk pretty often, and Andrew is someone that, you know, we represent, so it's always. That's a little difficult, but I was able to. I'm glad we were able to come. Come around. And, you know, Miles deserved it, man. He really deserves it.

[Pat McAfee]

He's.

[Ian Rapoport]

He's the ultimate professional. There's nothing wrong with a guy wanting to win, but like you said, the grass ain't always greener. And so I was. I'm glad he was able to stick around.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, he's about to run the NFL. Like this is about to happen. Like this. This feels like. As you start rattling off names in situations, you know, I'm from Cleveland. Talk to has him a little bit. He was part of the deal. Andrew Barry, great guy. I love everything about it. How many different ownership groups, you know, is clutch sports potentially, I would assume. Oh, my.

[Ian Rapoport]

Well, now it's becoming so so, so, so, you know, so much synergy between, you know, owners being a part of the NFL and the NBA. And so it's kind of like a one stop shop pretty much.

[Pat McAfee]

And get one, you get all. Are you doing nil stuff too, or no?

[Ian Rapoport]

Yeah, we're doing nil. We approach it a little bit different. You know, we don't try to crowd the space with it. We do have a lot more on the basketball side because you got to get in so early and. But the NIL piece, we really focus on development from an NFL and collegiate nil perspective. On the football side, we're just now starting to really get some bearings around it and figure out how we want to approach it, what the strategy around it is. I think NIL can be misleading for a lot of these young men and their families. They make it a cash grab, which I think is the beginning of developing a bad habit and not valuing expertise. And so we want to handle that with care. It's a very slippery slope in IO. I'm happy for the kids getting the money, money, but, you know, we got to get it the right way. And so, you know, we'll see. We'll see. I got some ideas.

[Pat McAfee]

Good luck. Yeah, I'm sure you do. I'm sure you do. Can't wait to watch it all unfold. Let's get back to the NBA now. Boston. Connor has a question for you.

[AJ Hawk]

Yeah, Rich, you should tell Mel Williams. We love him already in New England. He's going to be a superstar no matter what.

[Pat McAfee]

Let's go.

[AJ Hawk]

He's one of our favorite players already. But with the New England area, obviously the Boston Celtics are a massive part of the sports culture. And, you know, we asked Tyrese Halpern about this kind of just the discourse around Jayson Tatum. Obviously people don't really like him and he went to Duke. And, you know, the Celtics aren't a team that many people like, but it seems like every other night someone is saying something, you know, derogatory about Jayson Tatum on Saturday night. You know, obviously he. He elbowed LeBron pretty, pretty bad. Almost broke his. But more so people were kind of pointing at, you know, wow, Jason Tatum played 42 minutes. This guy, you know, this is their game seven where those same people who are saying that are, you know, bitching and moaning about guys not playing every night. So you really just can't win. It feels like with Tatum, you mentioned, you know, being in the league and being involved in the league for 24 years. Why do you think player a Player like Tatum kind of gets this much flack, you know, public from people when they're talking about him, especially when, you know, the records that he's set in before turning the age of 27 predominantly were records that only, you know, LeBron was involved in because he's drama free.

[Ian Rapoport]

You know, I think people like drama, obviously, and he's drama free. He plays the game the right way, and he's a dream client. You know, I know Jayson Tatum. I know him very well. And so, so, you know, it's hard to appease everybody, but if I was coaching Jason Tatum, I'd play him 48 minutes. He's just that good. So, you know, this idea of, you know, people not liking Jason Tatum because he's so accomplished and he goes to work and go home, to me, that sounds like the perfect client, you know?

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, I could imagine. And Boston's thinking the same exact thing. Oh, yeah, we love, we love this guy. Yeah, he.

[AJ Hawk]

We all think, think he's the face of the league, but you watch the.

[Pat McAfee]

The NBA.

[Ian Rapoport]

Yeah, I mean, he's definitely one of them. He's definitely one of them. Look, he's one. He's been to multiple, you know, Eastern Conference championships. He's Olympic. Olympic gold medalist.

[AJ Hawk]

Wow.

[Pat McAfee]

Wow.

[Ian Rapoport]

You know, there's. There's not, you know, he's a perennial all star. He's a perennial all NBA guy. You know, you, you, you. Again, people gonna have things to say about you, no matter how accomplished you may be. But I tell you one thing, Thing, in any part of our business, if you can have a Jason Tatum, you want a Jason Tatum, you want them, you want to coach him, you want to be a. You want them on your team, you want them as a client. If you're in my position, if you're a brand, you know, you want to associate yourself with them. So there's. There's so many. So, you know, like, again, I don't understand what goes through the mindset of people, but we see all these platforms and we know what gets to clicks, we know what gets to aggregations and things like that, that people love drama and, you know, and so they're attracted to that. I'm personally not attracted to that. I'm actually a vegan when it comes to that type of stuff.

[Evan Fox]

So.

[Pat McAfee]

No beef. Yeah, we don't want any beef, brother.

[Ian Rapoport]

No.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, yeah.

[Ian Rapoport]

No, not at all. But, you know, it's all good.

[Pat McAfee]

Tatum, we watched that. What I was gonna say is we watched that docu series. It's like the big Takeaway is, this guy's boring. This guy's a nerd. This guy's boring. Nerd. And you talked about the, the clicks and then you mentioned another word. The aggregators is where the world is now. The people that are aggregating news and they have a lot of big platform and I guess we could be considered an aggregator of sorts. But there's people that, you know, take things, put them out of context, and then they're seen by a lot of people, and then that's the story all of a sudden even nowhere near true. There's some truth to it, but the way it is delivered, completely different in how people read it in the context. It's. It's like that's a real part of our society now. That is. I mean, I'm on a receiving end of it a lot. I read it.

[Ian Rapoport]

Yeah, I mean, I think we all are, Pat. Yeah, we all on the receiving end of it. And, you know, that's part of it. And so, you know, again, look, we can't expect everyone to be like somebody else, right? There's a lot of things that God gave give these guys, but he can't give them everything. So at the end of the day, Jason Tatum, whether you think he's not exciting or not, great, then don't, don't, don't buy into his excitement. Buy into somebody else's excitement and buy into the things that he actually does well. Well, that's how I look at it.

[Pat McAfee]

Hell yeah.

[Ian Rapoport]

Don't look for him for excitement.

[Pat McAfee]

Consummate optimist, Rich Paul. We're wrapping up here on ESPN. We'll continue on YouTube, ESPN plus Disney plus and TikTok live. This is Rich Paul, founder and CEO of Clutch Sports. Conversation with him continues for a few more moments and then we'll wrap up today's stories in the next hour. Be a friend. Tell a friend something nice. It might change the their life. Rich, you've done a really good job here. You've done really good. We'll continue on digital. Goodbye. See, went for it too early. Had 8 seconds, had to fill there at the end. We're off of tv. We are now just on digital. Last question for me, Rich. And we can't thank you enough for joining us. Well, I guess I have two. Will we see you next week? And have you wrote any new songs for Adele? I know you said that has been.

[Ian Rapoport]

No, no, no songs. And then let's see what happens next week. Yeah, I, I would love to come on and talk. Talk the game. You know, I Love to talk the game. And so if we can make it work with. With every. I know sometimes things pop up, you know, impromptu for you guys, and so just let me know that was. I love the show. I love the show. I love hanging out with you guys. Talking the game. I don't want to just talk about my clients. I love to talk about the game. And so this is all. This is fun for me. Okay, well, we like these reps. I like these reps. We appreciate you.

[Pat McAfee]

And we like you. We. We think you are a great American dream star story. And obviously, boom. Is a wonderful tale for anybody, and we would love to chat with you. And what he was talking about with the impromptu thing is we're supposed to have him on last week. I completely forgot. And then, you know, I had to send him a text. This guy's super businessman. He's got agencies all over the place and be like, hey, Rich. Yeah, I forgot. That's just 100%. It's okay.

[Ian Rapoport]

I don't take none of it personal. Don't worry about that. I'll make sure to get you guys out some gear, some hats.

[Pat McAfee]

Yes.

[Ian Rapoport]

And, you know, know, please support clutch.com, man. We think we got a real opportunity, and in this sportswear brand space. And, you know, I'm looking. I'm excited about it. I'm excited about it.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay.

[Ian Rapoport]

Got some cool things coming up, Pat. Some cool things coming up.

[Pat McAfee]

Happy to hear that. I assume you're gonna have cool things coming up forever because just the way your mind works. And we will buy this, so we support the biz, brother.

[Ian Rapoport]

I appreciate that.

[Pat McAfee]

We will support the biz. If you want to send some hats now.

[AJ Hawk]

Yeah, I need one of those.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah.

[Ian Rapoport]

Some hats. If you guys support. You got nephews, you got nieces, you got birthday presents and. And graduations. You got all those different things. So it's all good. I appreciate it.

[Pat McAfee]

We're proud of you, brother. We don't know you as maybe others. Incredibly proud of you. And thank you for joining us, Ladies and gentlemen, the founder of Clutch Sports and Clutch Athletics, Rich Paul. Yeah, Rich. Yeah. We're just trying to, you know, fit in, just be a part.

[Tone Diggs]

Yeah.

[Evan Fox]

Good for you.

[Pat McAfee]

Miles Garrett Nicolin. Jeez, 40 million a year. Yeah. Max Crosby just got 35 and a half million. Oh, that's cute. Yeah, I know what the. I know what the market's saying. We're just telling you what it's going to take and that when you get to that point of negotiation, that's the best, you know, And We've obviously been at every stage of this business from hey, here's a link. Let's count how many people you actually have watching the show to get into business with people and paying you per usage of your link, which is the very beginning of the digital marketing world into maybe a little bit bigger deal with more comps and reads into, hey, this is what you have to read. This is what you have to do this many times whenever you do this. So now where we're at, it's great to be at this spot and it is really good to be at this position of business which it feels like Rich Paul is all the time time whenever he gets into the business. I know what you're saying. I'm just telling you what it's going to take. Like this is. This is. This is what it's going to. This is just what it is. So we happen to know the numbers as well and this is the number. Well, that doesn't make any sense for it. Okay. Don't have to do it. Once again, this is completely okay. We're just letting you know that this is what it's going to take. And for Miles Garrett getting that deal going back to Cleveland. I hope they do have success, genuinely, I hope they do have success. And I don't know how, okay. I don't know if they are set up to in any fashion with that quarterback deal that they signed just a few years ago eating up the market. And now with this deal obviously being as big as it is, even though this number four defensive ends and pass rushers are going to get here probably within the next two, three years anyways, regardless of this particular deal happening. But the Browns set up for success? We have no idea, but I hope.

[Darius Butler]

So they got a pathway. It's hitting on your quarterback. You hit a quarterback, that can change shit real quick. Starting Houston. So, you know, you hit on a quarterback in this draft or whenever you get one and they can definitely change the tide of a franchise. But just talking about Rich, like you would think being an NBA agent, obviously starting off being. Well, not starting off, but being LeBron's agent, one of the face the face of the league for the last two decades and then just being in that sweet spot where you're almost like to Scott Boris like he is a baseball, that's what Rich is in the NBA. For him to even be in the spot where it's like, you know, I want to do more. I want to do. I want to get to the NFL, I want to have apparel, I want to have these deals with new balances just kind of lets you know where his mind is. Business while crazy.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. Non stop. You know, if you're driving around. Stop, stop. With jerseys in your trunk.

[Darius Butler]

Mm.

[Pat McAfee]

Selling them. Okay. You. You obviously have like these. These kids who sell shoes nowadays.

[AJ Hawk]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

Like there's early indications of a hustler, like directly in front if this person is willing to do this to make 8 bucks on this particular. And, you know, everybody kind of mocked the whole thing after a while. But like Gary Vee talking about the garage sales and the yard sales and going and getting something for 10 bucks and then selling it for 14 bucks on Marketplace. Boom. You just made four bucks. Now, did you lose that in gas traveling to this place? Potentially. But in the end, you know, like that type of stuff, Rich is always going to have some sort of angle. What's the angle? Rich is going to have an angle, but the way he talks about it, he tries to do it the right way, I think. Yeah. You know, it feels like he's trying to do it all the right way, which I appreciate. And that's like Deion Sanders. Deion Sanders is an old school football coach. Like he is. He's an old school football coach. He expects this. He expects this. You're going to act this way, this is how you're going to operate. Yada, yada, yada, that is what he is. But everybody, because he's so flashy and they see the behind the scenes vlogs whenever he's with his kids and his family, they don't know that. They don't understand that. So they just assume, oh, he's running a soft operation up there. It's like, that's not the case at all. And I think with people, with Rich Paul, they're like, well, he's LeBron's friend and he's just friends with all these people. It's like, I don't think that's how Rich Paul operates at all. I think if you learn more about how he does, he's an old school type business guy. It feels like whenever you chat with him and the way he's like, I want to hold my guys accountable and teach them, like, this is how we go. And for college, nil. He says, I don't want to just a chase a bag. Like, let's do this the right way so we learn stuff. I think we need more of that in society. Legit, AJ I think we need more of that in society.

[Tone Diggs]

He's super professional. Like, every time you see him anywhere like, he seems to be super professional and he doesn't take things personally. Like, it's about business. Like, I, I, I would assume he has great relationships with all the front office people in the NBA, NFL, probably every other professional sports league now too.

[Pat McAfee]

Rich runs the league. Con man. He doesn't like us to say it. It's not a bully. It's just, I just have conversations.

[AJ Hawk]

Well, and that's the other thing too. Like he, he said, you know, the NBA NFL crossover with ownership. Like, you would assume at some point LeBron's going to get a basketball team. And I, everyone said, like, you know, the Vegas team, if they eventually get an NBA team there, that is something, you know, LeBron wants to be a part of. And you would assume Rich Paul and Maverick Carter and those guys that are part of LeBron's team would also be involved in those, you know, ownership conversations when it comes to an NBA expansion team. So you, you, you kind of can see he carries himself almost like an owner already. And the fact, and how he does business and everything and he's just incredibly successful.

[Pat McAfee]

A vegan.

[AJ Hawk]

A vegan of beef to the beef, vegan to the drama.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, they had a little dust up. Happy. They both moved on. Is that true? I don't, I don't know. Yeah, he's just like, yeah, they did, they did. Let's move. What we doing here?

[AJ Hawk]

LeBron was laughing about.

[Pat McAfee]

Not outside, boys. What are we, let's keep this, let's keep it moving here. I, he's like that with everything. I've called him a couple times off air whenever something's happened and he's just like, I don't love that. We all know that this is happening. Like, that's always his kind of like, let's just come on this, this game has been good to us. It's all been, we are living great lives right now because of this. Let's not let kind of get in the way and let's make sure we take care of it, which I respect. We have a bag. In Dallas. The greatest example of the new dynamic kickoff was by this man, formerly of the XFL. I do believe the Cowboys are now finalizing a 3 year, 18 million dollar deal with wide receiver and return specialist Cavante Turpin making the NFL's highest paid special teamer. Sources tell Tom Pelisser and Jane Slater, Darren Jones of Maven Sports and Derek Gilmour of Day One Sports and Entertainment did the deal. Two agents, one returner, highest paid special teamer in the history. Do you Think they each get one and a half percent? Do you think that is? And how do two different agencies work together? And if two different agencies are working together, are they one agency? Interesting questions from me for all of these things. But with that being said, congrats to Turpin. Man did not have an easy run road obviously to become a very wealthy and successful football player. He has earned it along the way for being absolutely electrifying wide receiver. Obviously has the ability to get the ball in his hands and make some time or make some hay if they give him some space. But as a return specialist, especially with this new kickoff and with punt return and everything they got going on, I love everything about it.

[Evan Fox]

Turpin's awesome. But did you happen to see now I didn't fully vet the Tweet, but the three year 18, that's what, $6 million a year?

[Tone Diggs]

Yep.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah.

[Evan Fox]

You see a tweet that the Cowboys have not signed a free agent in 10 years. That has been more than $6 million a year.

[Pat McAfee]

I did see that tweet as well. I did not vet the tweet either, but we did see that age and that's kind of been the topic of discussion with Jerry Jones. He says he's going all in. He says going all in. This guy never does anything interesting bringing somebody in from the outside. More than 6 million a year. Interesting with the Dallas Cowboys, nonetheless, they keep turning Turpin who's a weapon age.

[Tone Diggs]

It makes me think of was it big Bill Belichick say that on this show or maybe with. With the Mannings when who some team kicked to Turpin and Belichick lost his mind. He just couldn't. Yeah, he couldn't believe that he actually kicked. Yeah, right down the middle. That's what. Whenever I think of Turpin, I think of Bill being so distraught. And the fact that they kicked it right down the middle too.

[Pat McAfee]

That's probably not a good idea.

[AJ Hawk]

It's like week two serpent.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. As a punter, I mean, what it was, I was like, you're right.

[Tone Diggs]

Yeah, you're right.

[Pat McAfee]

Bill. Why would you.

[Tone Diggs]

Why would you kick the ball to that guy?

[Pat McAfee]

A.J. what would you do every time you.

[Tone Diggs]

Punt right out of bounds? Give me about a. Maybe a 49 yarder out of bounds.

[Pat McAfee]

Perfect. Perfect. I love it.

[Tone Diggs]

Do that every time.

[Pat McAfee]

I could not do the out of bounds. I did not have that much control. I could get it into spaces for sure. I did 49 yard like 4, 9, 4, 8 hang fair catch. Yeah. That was my go to that's good.

[Tone Diggs]

That works too.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, for sure. Yeah. You give up the 65 yard, you know, bombs that make people go, ooh, you know. So you just have to come out early for warm ups and lets people know you still got it. Okay, listen. Still got it. I'm playing the course today, but I want to let you know the big driver is still out there. I'm going to be hitting a lot of three wood today. Okay? You're going to see it and that's for the beneficial benefit of our team that we're out here. But just know it's still in there if we need it. That was the last five years of my career.

[Darius Butler]

Does the directional take a little more time? Like it gives you like more chance to get it blocked or not.

[Pat McAfee]

So the only reason why directional would affect the block is if you were to get out of the pocket. If you get out of the pocket now that everybody runs a four or five or quicker, that is on special teams, block team. The edge comes a little bit quicker, you see, the edge comes a little bit tighter, you see. So staying in the pocket matter. Sometimes whenever people, people are kicking directional, they go out of the pocket and then boom, they get taken advantage of on a short angle or a short end or whatever. Time wise, everything's a straight punt, you know, so you should be able to do it as quick as possible. But if you stay in the pocket, you should be a. Okay. You know, the thing is, can you commit to it? You know, because if you commit to that small of a field and you miss, you know, that is, that's not great. Like for me, the Aussies helped me out immensely because I hit the end over end punt to the left left. Because anytime I was going left, I was scared to death the ball was going to drop in like this and I was going to have a 14 yard shank inside. So if you drop the ball and it turns like this inside your leg and you're trying to kick here, it's a gar. It's almost. You got no shot. And I don't know how other punters.

[Darius Butler]

Let go figured it out.

[Pat McAfee]

I, I, I, I literally I watch people punt right footed to the left and they'll just hit these perfect balls. And I'm like, mentally, I don't know how you do it, bro. Anytime I was standing there in my head I'm like, that's 10 yards, that's 10 yards. So I just started doing only Aussie punts to the left. So I would hit just an end over end ball I would look like I'm going right, too. Then I would hit it back to the left and it would go like 48 to 50 yards. 4, 8, 4, 9, hang time. And it was a fair catch every single time because the returner thought I was going this way. So they had to sprint this way. And then obviously with the way it's coming down, don't want to bobble it. And boom, we get a 48. 48. And feels good. That's. Hey, I'm jogging right off field as we got. Job well done there. Now you got to swing hard, which is probably why I blew out my knee. You know, last three years, they were going full bore on this thing every swing. But yeah, there's punter money actually just came. I believe the Bucks just signed Riley Dixon from the Denver Broncos to a $6 million deal. They formerly had Bradley Pinion. Two years, $6 million deal for Riley Dixon, formerly of the Broncos. Now he goes down to the Bucks. I think the Bucks, or maybe was the Falcons, had Bradley Pinion. Whatever the case, that's a good deal. 3 million per for Dixon. Go ahead and bomb some balls down in Tampa Bay and enjoy the no taxes of Florida. All right, let's get to a break on the other side. We'll wrap up all the storylines of today. Con man, how do you feel about the Patriots? Any moves today?

[AJ Hawk]

No moves today, but kind of expected a quiet day. It feels like we talked about about it yesterday. The waves that happened with this free agency. Always a big one on Monday. Tuesday slows Wednesday. New league year officially starts. Another big one, you know, so even today has just been a little bit of teams getting under the cap. But I. I got some hope for some guys. Got my eyes on a few players that I think would look good with this logo.

[Pat McAfee]

The Bruins have a game night.

[AJ Hawk]

Yeah, they're playing the Panthers. Brad Marchand coming to town.

[Pat McAfee]

No. Really? Yes, I heard. I heard Brad Marchand dropped into group text with the lads and just started chirping immediately. He's fit in like gangbusters with the Florida Panthers team. Did you hear that?

[AJ Hawk]

Yeah, I ste. But he falls the team.

[Pat McAfee]

You're a Florida Panthers.

[Darius Butler]

Great, great press conference. And he honestly, he sounded a little bummed out. Not as bummed out as Connor, but KLO sound a little bummed out that he couldn't get work things out in Boston. But we. Hey, look, the boys are all in right now. In the back to back. All in. Look at him getting a skate.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, here's him this morning. Skate A.J.

[Tone Diggs]

Look at him.

[Ian Rapoport]

He's that guy who got suspended.

[Darius Butler]

Debuts Ecklat.

[Pat McAfee]

What was he doing?

[AJ Hawk]

What. What's his name?

[Tone Diggs]

What happened? What he do.

[Darius Butler]

Don't worry about my team, all right? Worry about your team. Worry about my team, all right?

[AJ Hawk]

This is why it's e. Blad.

[Pat McAfee]

Worry about my team.

[Darius Butler]

Worry about my team.

[Pat McAfee]

Oh, what game did you happen to see?

[Evan Fox]

What good DB Scott?

[Pat McAfee]

We'll see the Florida Panthers. Big one tonight against the Boston Bruins at clad. It's. He's not gonna be playing, so that's good for you guys. And with the way you treated Marshan on his way out. Okay. I hope tonight goes well for you, because if not, I think it's gonna be loud here tomorrow.

[Darius Butler]

It won't.

[AJ Hawk]

I'm not talking. I'm not talking about it. No way.

[Tone Diggs]

Marchand tried to stay.

[Pat McAfee]

Tried in there and fought. He went in there and fought to remain a Bruin.

[Tone Diggs]

He competed.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah.

[Tone Diggs]

He competed for his job to stay on the team. He was gonna make some compromise, and they said, nah, we'll see you, you guys.

[Pat McAfee]

Pete caroled him. Just kicked his ass out of the meeting. Right.

[AJ Hawk]

I'm watching Celtics and I'm watching football. I'm not. I'm not talking about the Bruins ever again.

[Boston Connor]

So.

[Pat McAfee]

Wow.

[AJ Hawk]

Until they. Until they change everything over there. That.

[Pat McAfee]

What?

[AJ Hawk]

Yeah. McAvoy pot pasta. Who owns. I love him. I. I legitimately. If Don Sweeney got hit by a bus, Whoa. I'd start drinking. I'd celebrate that guy forever. Forever, man.

[Pat McAfee]

Marchand was the team. Like, he was. He was the guy.

[AJ Hawk]

This would be the first time. Think about this. This would be the first time since 2002. Chara. Patrice Bergeron or Brad Martin. Marshawn aren't playing.

[Boston Connor]

You guys Ranch are out of town too.

[AJ Hawk]

Little different.

[Pat McAfee]

He played, like, four or five more years.

[AJ Hawk]

He wanted to stay a little different. And Nick, the. The thing with Nick that's the worst is that if you chirp him about Crosby or the pens, he gets pissed. But then he'll do this.

[Pat McAfee]

Well, you shouldn't have chirped us about Crosby in the pens.

[AJ Hawk]

Look what happened, like, week two. Yeah, look what happened. Okay.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. Karma, he says. You know, we remembered. The hockey gods remembered when you were saying about Sid getting traded up to Boston instead. You guys are the ones selling all superstars.

[AJ Hawk]

You. You were the one that approached the question, is Sid gr. Traded?

[Pat McAfee]

Just. It was a wonder, you know, with the way that team.

[Tone Diggs]

Does Sid want to get traded was my question. Does he want to go somewhere and.

[Pat McAfee]

He doesn't thank you.

[Tone Diggs]

But would you blame him if he's like, hey, I want to go get. I want to go win another Stanley Cup?

[Pat McAfee]

Absolutely not. Which is why I brought the question up as a Pittsburgh Penguin fan, because it does suck whenever you see all the hockey standings and you hear the hockey conversation and we're nowhere near it.

[Evan Fox]

Nope.

[Pat McAfee]

We are nowhere near the conversation.

[Darius Butler]

I hope you guys figured out that.

[Pat McAfee]

Was a sport that I could always have in my back pocket at any given moment.

[Darius Butler]

Good to be the champs.

[Pat McAfee]

All right.

[AJ Hawk]

I'm not tired. I'm done with hockey for sure that.

[Darius Butler]

Is your youth coach still coaching?

[AJ Hawk]

I'm him too. I'm not talking. I'm not talking to you about hockey. I'm not talking about hockey. I'm not talking because one. He comes over to me with the. With something earlier this morning. But then eclat. Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

Oh, I said a wrong name. Okay. You know my bro, you got.

[AJ Hawk]

There are three hockey fans in this building. It's me, Nick and Gumpy. Four.

[Pat McAfee]

About. Exactly. And no, you don't. You guys give a. About sports. So.

[AJ Hawk]

My team.

[Pat McAfee]

My 30th birthday was a Pittsburgh Penguin birthday cake. You fucking happen. Oh, when was that? What was that? Seven years ago? Okay.

[Evan Fox]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

And you. You don't give a. About the hockey team. The Pengs suck.

[Ian Rapoport]

Yeah, exactly.

[Pat McAfee]

Stop the packs to care. And they're bad. Okay.

[AJ Hawk]

Guppy's team's great. That's awesome.

[Pat McAfee]

Next team sucks.

[AJ Hawk]

He gets it. But he still cares.

[Pat McAfee]

And it blows.

[AJ Hawk]

But Butts comes in here.

[Pat McAfee]

Oh, Tampa bay lightning fan.

[AJ Hawk]

4 years I've been a Panthers fan. 31 years since they're in session. This guy goes on.

[Pat McAfee]

This guy goes on Wikipedia and tries to study the demons. No, I watch. I watch. Yeah, you guys got me over.

[Darius Butler]

Guess what? What a chance.

[Pat McAfee]

This boy's great.

[AJ Hawk]

Brutal. The worst. Listening to you. Marks can't even skate.

[Pat McAfee]

You know what? You guys are hockey fans. Let's go to a ring. How about that? Let's do that. I could get around. Yeah, let's do that. Friday night. 5$. All you can say, please.

[AJ Hawk]

I can get. I can get around on a skateboard. Doesn't. Doesn't mean I know how to skateboard.

[Pat McAfee]

See, I can't. That's what I'm saying.

[AJ Hawk]

Me neither.

[Pat McAfee]

But I could. But if we do ball hockey, bub clap on top Ch.

[AJ Hawk]

That's not hockey. That's why they call ball.

[Evan Fox]

I hope that's not.

[AJ Hawk]

Cuz it's not hockey.

[Pat McAfee]

It's called deck hockey. Actually. I was just trying to right for everybody outside of Pittsburgh.

[AJ Hawk]

Hockey's not played on the deck, brother. Played on ice.

[Pat McAfee]

I'll tell you what, if I was to get ice skates along right now, I think everything from knee down would cramp up immediately. The shins, calves, shins, feet, probably, you name it. And I would just look like I'm on like stilts going around. I'd be able to skate. I'd be able to skate. All right. Congrats to your Boston Bruins making one of the biggest moves in the history of hockey. Send their captain down to Florida Panthers.

[Darius Butler]

Thank you.

[Pat McAfee]

And tonight they meet for the first time. And we'll keep you updated because you're not watching. There's a chance Bruins win. Chance Bruins win. We'll talk talk about it. We like hockey, so we'll talk about it. Right?

[Darius Butler]

Yeah. Me and Zeke talk hockey every morning. He just gave him his new goalie.

[AJ Hawk]

Hockey.

[Pat McAfee]

Thank you. Special night.

[AJ Hawk]

You still like the Pens even though they treat you like or how's that?

[Pat McAfee]

I forget.

[AJ Hawk]

I forget how that works.

[Pat McAfee]

Con man.

[AJ Hawk]

Because. Because basically everybody in here gets stuff from the team, but they treat you like a bag of. Bag of donuts.

[Pat McAfee]

So we're old school. Okay. Depends. Are old school.

[AJ Hawk]

Okay.

[Pat McAfee]

You know, that's what. What they are. They play an old school style, too. A little slower than everybody else. Okay. It's not great in 2025, but when it comes back around, we got it. Hockey's awesome. Never forget it.

[Evan Fox]

No one has more draft picks in the pens than the next two drafts.

[Pat McAfee]

That's right. And we're going to use them. Right.

[AJ Hawk]

And you care about those too.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, I don't know.

[AJ Hawk]

When it comes to the NFL, you care about draft picks.

[Tone Diggs]

When it comes to the NHL, you care even more.

[Pat McAfee]

The NHL draft is certainly an interesting one. I. That is, I mean, certainly an interesting, interesting draft. I watched it out there in Las Vegas. Boys are coming over to America.

[Boston Connor]

Oh yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

Cross a couple ponds and they can't wait to get on with us with the last name that I'll never be able to pronounce and maybe a few years until we see them, but when they get on that ice, it is magical. Playoff hockey. Deservedly of a watch. Like, no question about it.

[AJ Hawk]

NBA playoffs this year. Look out.

[Pat McAfee]

Should be great. So much better. God bless you. Okay. Talking about the first.

[Tone Diggs]

God bless you. God bless you guys as well.

[Evan Fox]

And also with you.

[Pat McAfee]

And also. I don't know if that's. I've never been to a service over there, but if it go, I will. I Would love to, actually. As would I. I've been to a service where they kapow. Jesus Christ. The spirit.

[AJ Hawk]

They shoot you.

[Pat McAfee]

Try Dragon Ball, zip the floor, let the bodies hit the spirit. Yeah. And then they get caught by two people and. And then they put a towel over top. Yeah. Kind of keep warm as they got the spirit kind of running through their soul and then they ran out of towels. So there was people that spirit hit a little harder than maybe the others.

[Evan Fox]

Sure.

[Pat McAfee]

So they were still dying. They were still wrestling with the Holy Ghost and. And they needed the towel. So they wasn't just kind of got it off of there, the cloth, I guess. And then they would go put it on a new person went out there. I saw somebody get concussed. Yeah. Yeah.

[AJ Hawk]

Saw someone get brought back to life.

[Pat McAfee]

Right. Well, there was somebody at a funeral I went to where they said if we all believed hard enough. Funeral, my bad. That would come back to life. That was a tough moment for all of us. So I explore. I enjoy the religious world and you know, whatever. Hey, whatever you believe in, more power to you. But Akyush was wondering if you were potentially Jewish because of the yarmulke look. Joining us now, ladies and gentlemen, a man who is married to a Jewish lady has obviously learned immensely about it. Also has a cross tattooed right on his arm. Ladies and gentlemen, Akush. How you doing, Akush? I feel like I can say a.

[Rich Paul]

Lot of these things because I'm part Jewish now.

[Pat McAfee]

Yes. You're. You're kids.

[AJ Hawk]

You are your kids.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah.

[Rich Paul]

Bingo.

[Pat McAfee]

I don't know if you are. I don't know if you've made the. The job.

[Rich Paul]

We're get.

[AJ Hawk]

We're working on that.

[Pat McAfee]

Maybe. Yeah, you got a big cross there. You know, had. Had to cover it up for a wedding. Obviously we're not going sleeveless out here, just going to make it all. But it does look like a yarmula. But the fact that you sent that and it's accurate, made us all say we need to talk to AQ Shipley. It's been a lot of offensive line moves, Bob. Now, if you'd like to finish your thought on the yamaka. Okay. Okay. If you'd like to dive into any of the offensive line moves that you've seen thus far that really caught your eye, go ahead and do that as well. AQ Shipley, ladies and gentlemen. Super bowl champion, 12 year NFL vet and coach. What are your thoughts? Aush.

[Rich Paul]

Well, first thought is, A.J. you got to get that cleaned up. We got. We need a Haircut.

[Pat McAfee]

This is. Don't have to. It's okay.

[Rich Paul]

No, we have to.

[Pat McAfee]

We have Hawk.

[Rich Paul]

His last name's Hawk.

[Pat McAfee]

And there are people that ask for the haw cut. I've done that before. So there is people wondering. I. I understand what you're saying. Okay. I understand what you're saying. Yeah. But if you are Jewish, aj, Mazel completely.

[AJ Hawk]

Okay. It's a different Eric, the Rothchild.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay. What's that. What's that about?

[Tone Diggs]

What's that mean? Can you explain that?

[Pat McAfee]

I don't know. All right. There's a lot of conversations on the Internet. Hey, Kush, let's talk about the offensive line. Conversations that are happening on the Internet right now. Which move in free agency either shocked you, you or which move in free agency did you absolutely love? Yeah.

[Rich Paul]

The interesting thing is when. When you look at these moves, I think the biggest thing that shocked me is the Kansas City Chiefs let Joe Tunney go and they replace him with a guy who's got 15 starts in 51 games. So don't. I mean, it's those. Those situations happen, right? Like where you shine in those 10 to 15 games and boom, you get that. Big deal.

[Pat McAfee]

But it's still.

[Rich Paul]

It's not a ton of tape. So that move shocked me. I think Dan Moore, I mean, just being a Pittsburgh guy, guy. A lot of guys were not thrilled about Dan Moore over the last couple years, and he gets 80 million bucks, right? Aaron Banks is a guy who, you know, he's in San Francisco, he plays, he's a little bit injured, but he hasn't been quite what they thought he was going to be, obviously enough to let him out of the building. And he goes and gets 80 million from green Bay. Drew Dahlman. I love. I love that pickup by the Chicago Bears. I think they've completed their offensive line, right? They went and got their two guards with trades, they got their tackles in the draft, and then they go get Drew Dahl moment. So I absolutely love that move. Obviously, I'm gonna pub my guy. Robert Haynes. He 21 million for the big boy.

[Pat McAfee]

Big move.

[Rich Paul]

Big move going down to Jacksonville, re reuniting with Liam Cohen. Super pumped for him. Just a quick plug, obviously. I mean, I think he works harder than anybody on planet Earth. And I've worked with him the last four years, so I'm pumped to see him get his opportunity to be the guy. But I think probably the big move, right? Drew Dahlman complete in Chicago. I think Ben Johnson real what he had in Detroit with the offensive line there. They're they're literally like a piece or two away. I mean, like, like I'm sitting here thinking if they can go get a running back, maybe. I mean, they got it. They got everything they had in green. I mean, in Detroit, to go and take over the NFC North.

[Pat McAfee]

If you have a good offensive line, you can compete. I think that's what we've learned over, you know, the last couple years within the trenches. I think we've tried to spotlight that even more so. And I love the fact that Ben Johnson understood that too. That means in Detroit he understood it as well. Whenever he was there with the boys, I assume his conversation with the offensive line was very much as one that is very grateful, a lot of gratitude shown to them. And as soon as he gets to Chicago, he's sending a message to Caleb and everybody, hey, we're going to, we're going to play football now. You know, like we are going to do what football calls for. You didn't mention it there. Laramie Tunsil traded huge from the Texans to the Commanders. Great for Jaden Daniels, obviously. And I think Rapaport said that they're just going to bank on somebody else being able to do it. If all the teams that signed a tackle that we maybe hadn't heard of were in on Laramie Tunzel and they decided to go another way to see if somebody else can maybe prove or younger or grow into it as opposed to getting Laramie Tunzel, who we know is a guy right like every week, that is what Laramie Tunzel is.

[Rich Paul]

Laramie Tuns was an absolute stud. And honestly, in my opinion, Houston had a very lackluster offensive line last year. This was the only guy in. Now, I think the one thing he needs to clean up for being a guy who is as highly coveted as he was coming out, is as highly coveted and paid as he's been in the National Football League. An interesting thing is when you get a left tackle that's an absolute stud, typically you don't let those guys out of the building. I guess the concern is this is his third team already and he's under the age of 30. I think that's, that's one issue. He has a lot of penalties. I think he had something like 30, 30 something penalties or something last year. So I think those two things, he gets cleaned up, but he goes to a place where they value offensive line. There are a couple pieces away as well. Now you, you, you go in with obviously one of the best young quarterbacks in the National Football League. They make a Move. Go get Debo Samuel. This is an exciting team to watch. They lost their right guard last year with an acl, but I think they might be able to move a tackle, Coleman, who was playing left tackle last year, into one of the guards. Might have to do some reshuffling, but this is a huge piece for the Washington Commanders.

[Pat McAfee]

Makai Becton obviously pulled it off this past season, won a Super bowl and re, you know, reset his entire career, seemingly after people deemed him a bus. So maybe there is a little bit more reshuffling for the Commanders to do. You mentioned a lot of names in this offensive line chatter. You didn't mention two. They're pretty big. Tone has a question for you.

[Evan Fox]

Yeah, Kush, Ryan Kelly and Will Fry, a couple ex Colts, are going up to the Vikings. Is that strictly because the Rams just bullied the out of him in that playoff?

[Rich Paul]

Yeah, that has something to do with it. Their offensive line wasn't good. They needed to retool it. Their right tackle's awesome. Obviously they have Garasa, right. Like, they got two really good tackles. Their interior has struggled over the last couple years and they did give up a million sacks, obviously to the Rams. Will Fry's great pickup. Former Penn State guy. Love him. Love that move, the Ryan Kelly move. You know, I think, hey, that. That confused me a little bit. I love the move. I like Ryan Kelly. I think he's a really good center going up there. But they had Bradbury, who they'd have invested in. Former first round pick.

[AJ Hawk]

Pick.

[Rich Paul]

Seems like Bradbury's probably on his way out at this point, which. But I love what the Vikings are doing. I think on the other side of the ball, getting Jonathan Allen and Hargrave is huge. I mean, they've already had a good defense with Flores and now you add those two pieces. They resigned Byron Murphy, obviously. I mean, I think. I think the Vikings are going to be a damn good team.

[Pat McAfee]

Next, who's going to be their quarterback? You know, that's the big combo. Sam Donald's in Seattle. Daniel Jones, he's in Indiana. Indianapolis. Tom Pelissero tweeted this earlier today that all eyes are JJ McCarthy basically going to be the starter. And then Mike Silver, who's been covering the NFL for a very long time. He just said that Kevin O'Connell's opinion on who plays quarterback weighs heavy in that building. And there's a lot of interesting conversations happening. What does that mean? What is.

[Rich Paul]

What does that mean?

[Pat McAfee]

I don't know. It seems like until something is said from the Vikings or decided by the Vikings. It's still very much, much open. And I. I mean, the Daniel Jones.

[Rich Paul]

Move to Indy has to assume they're leaning J.J. right, like that. That's what that has to assume. Give him or. Or somebody else. You thinking Aaron? What are we talking?

[Evan Fox]

Yeah, that's the until eight signs somewhere.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, exactly. It's like Aaron Rodgers now. Maybe it's number eight, you know, maybe. Maybe it's a new number.

[Evan Fox]

Well, 12 is ret. Retired in Pittsburgh, so he's eight.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay, well, fair. But maybe it's a new number. You know, maybe it's. You know, who knows what it could be? I'm sure there's some ayahuasca number that we could. We could find the symbol. But you think I don't know. You tell me. H. You tell me. With all the.

[Tone Diggs]

He would have to, like, you know, put in a flyer with the league to try to appeal to get a symbol is what I think. Tone is on the right track. Symbol or something.

[Pat McAfee]

Would it be the TP that they go into, or would it be the ayahuasca flower? Like it. You know, the artist formerly known as.

[Tone Diggs]

So many options.

[Pat McAfee]

Hey, Rod, get it done with Rog, you know, infinity.

[AJ Hawk]

Eight sideways.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, maybe it is eight sideways. That'd be awesome.

[AJ Hawk]

Infinity.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. Still a lot, nonetheless, him playing. Yeah, he's. He's in a hotel. His kids are on spring break. He's got a lot going on over there. Got a lot. Aaron Rodgers playing quarterback for that Vikings team. I think we talk about it and think about it more just strictly because we are fans of Aaron and friends of Aaron. And it's like a lot of people hate Aaron. A lot of people talk a lot of shit on Aaron. I think that's Aaron's life. I think that's kind of how it's always been. But if you watch those last few games like we did, because we were talking to Aaron every single week, and you. You kind of see what the jets were able to do. And now, granted, who are they playing against, the games, didn't matter, blah, blah, blah. You could say all that shit. It's like they played in his Rams defense very good, and they played very well at the end of the year. So if you know Aaron a little bit and you saw what he was able to do at the end of the year, you still think that his arm is there. Like, if you still think Aaron's arm is there, which we do after watching the end of the year, it's like Kevin O'Connell can have his ass, he can have an offense that is on time and all you need is to be very accurate. It's like Aaron has those things and Aaron can see every single defense. Aaron knows exactly what's going to happen before the play even goes. It's like you start thinking about it more and more. It's like that would be a really good relationship for Aaron Rodgers and the way he plays. And also the Vikings if they were to go that way now, do they want to do another one year quarterback like they did with Sam Darnold? Do they want to put JJ McCarthy in right now and see what they have? Like, there's so many of those questions that have to happen. But me personally as somebody that watched him play at the end of the year and sees what this Vikings team is and now we know Justin Jefferson, Kevin O'Connell, Kwesi like we know, it's like that's a, that's a cool team, that's a good team. And they were one game away from being the number one seed in the NFC last year. It's like how many question marks do they want to have? I don't know. It's just, it's a fascinating development. And then everybody in Pittsburgh thinks Aaron's going to Pittsburgh because that just, that's best for them. Not everybody in Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh wants that, but people in Pittsburgh think that is very much a, an option at this point. So there's a lot of chatter about Aaron right now. There ever isn't.

[AJ Hawk]

Who knows how much J.J. was in there. Like you're talking about this year for sure. But the future, you know, the, the years after, it would be better for the Vikings too just because of how the, you know, Aaron can teach JJ so much stuff. And people will say what they want about Aaron as the, you know, mentor type player because obviously there's a lot of flight fodder around that with Jordan Love when those, you know, few years were there. But clearly he was a great mentor to Jordan Love and how he has progressed and become immediately one of those really, really good quarterbacks in the NFL. I mean, it doesn't make any sense for him not to be in Minnesota, it feels like, but also, you know, maybe Minnesota just loves JJ so much and they're confident in him coming off two knee surgeries.

[Pat McAfee]

AJ What's Aaron want to do if you talk, talk to him, you know, more than anybody.

[Tone Diggs]

I honestly have not talked to him. I, I would love to know what he wants to do. I, I selfishly think he should go To Pittsburgh. I think that would be a great spot. I think it would be awesome to see him play there, especially with DK coming in. George Pickens hopefully still in the roster. But I don't know. I don't know when it could happen either. It should happen soon, right? Like I would imagine over next couple days.

[Pat McAfee]

The Rapaport was begging for it to happen today. If you do recall from earlier in the show. Yeah, maybe. Maybe. Did it happen? And does it. Hopefully.

[AJ Hawk]

I did see him make it a little bit better.

[Evan Fox]

Technically, he's a jet till tomorrow.

[Pat McAfee]

Granded. Get up, Greeny.

[Tone Diggs]

Does it have to wait till at least tomorrow?

[Evan Fox]

I don't think.

[Pat McAfee]

No, no. All these deals we've already got ao Greeny ended get up with, hey, Maz, what day of the week is it? And he said, it's Tuesday. Well, you know what that means, potentially. And I was like. He was alluding to Aaron coming on our show, and I'm like, did somebody tell. Did somebody tell Green? Is it somebody. Somebody needs to stop lying to Greeny. We have. No way. I have. No. I was literally watching the show. Like, is Aaron coming on the show?

[AJ Hawk]

Hold on.

[Pat McAfee]

Is that. What. Is that. Is that what Greeny's saying? And I had to check in. The latest we've heard from AJ Hawk is we'll get a chance to chat with him soon. Yeah, that was last week, Last Friday, last Thursday.

[Rich Paul]

That soon could also mean a month, right?

[Pat McAfee]

Whoa. Depending. Because soon in comparison to three years, a month is very soon. It's relative, you know? Relative. Yeah. Everything's relative, brother. Everything's relative. You know, the man with no shoes was bummed until he met the man with no feet, you know, so everything is relative, brother. That is literally life in a nutshell. Okay. What do we not talk to you about that? We should talk to you about Makai Becton.

[Evan Fox]

Where's he going?

[Pat McAfee]

Okay, Makai Becton.

[Rich Paul]

Where's he going? That's the question mark, actually.

[Pat McAfee]

D bots wants to ask you this particular question.

[Darius Butler]

Exactly. I was going, actually. Why? I. I know I expected him to get a bunch of money coming off of the year he had with your trenchy award winning O line up there in Philly. Any ideas to why he hasn't signed yet? Especially all these guys getting big money that we haven't necessarily heard of.

[AJ Hawk]

Yeah.

[Rich Paul]

I think probably the biggest question mark when you see something like this is he overvalues himself. Right? Like he over. Like. I think Aaron Banks probably set the market. Will Fry's price. Set the market. It Looks like it's going to be in that at somewhere between 80 and 90 million over four and five years. Like, that seems to be the number for the top guard. I think teams are probably a little bit scared because his first three or four years were not. They didn't go as expected. He was almost considered a little bit of a bust. And then he. He gets put in a situation in Philadelphia, which I think you got to look at it, and that's the way I look at it as well, is like, okay, was he a product of everybody else, everybody else around him and also a product of the damn good coaching that he gets from Coach Stoutland, or is that who he now is? Right. I think that's the biggest question mark you have to ask with that. And because you haven't seen that deal happen yet, he's probably sitting there thinking, hey, I was the top guard on the market. I just won a Super Bowl, I reinvented myself. And he's probably putting himself a little bit above what these other guys got. And then now all of a sudden, these other teams are like, well, there's some. There's still some question marks you've done for one year. And, and a lot of times that happens. But I think there is still something in the back of some coaches and GM's mind. We're like, is this the new guy or are we getting the old guy as well?

[Pat McAfee]

The thought of who would be in the market. I was just asking a room here, scanning the room. Who would be in the market for Maai Beckton? Who? Like, who?

[Rich Paul]

If I'm, if I'm Houston, I go get him right now. Okay, Houston. Houston clearly has made the moves to go get skill, right? But they've unloaded their entire offensive line line.

[AJ Hawk]

They've.

[Rich Paul]

They've gotten rid of Laramie Tunsall, they got rid of Shaq Mason, they got rid of Green, the former first rounder, who they obviously sent to Philadelphia in the trade. Right. They've bolstered areas of their team skill wise with CJ Stroud, you know, obviously mixing, and they went and got Christian Kirk. Like, they have skill galore. But we all, we all have seen it. If you don't have an offensive line, you can't win games. Guys can't do it.

[Pat McAfee]

But if you have the best offensive line, you can't win the Super Bowl. Remember that?

[AJ Hawk]

Yeah, that was it. His whole thing.

[Pat McAfee]

That was AQ Shipley's entire thing. You remember that? Aq.

[Rich Paul]

All right, all right, all right. I changed my tune on that I just thought they were going to lose to LA, which they almost did. And, boy, was I FaceTiming you boys when the comeback was happening. It was coming.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. You were very proud of yourself. I told you. I told you. They can't keep up with these young boys up front. They can't. They can't do it. Jalen's gonna have to make some plays. He's not gonna be. They were so dominant. Oh, yeah. I think they change everybody. I think they change everybody. Aq, we've talked about the physicality coming back to ball and how important the offensive line is over the last few years. If you had the most dominant offensive line and dominant run game, you were going to be one of the last teams standing. It just kind of hadn't been put in the forefront yet because the super bowl champion was Patrick Mahomes. Now, Patrick Mahomes won his last super bowl running the ball and playing great defense. But it wasn't really chatted about. It was like, still. Quarterback Travis Kelce, Philadelphia EAGLES it's like run game is the thing that can win a Super bowl for you. And once other people see that, you can win it all doing something they normally tend to buy in, you know, copycat league. I think it's a good time to be an offensive lineman, aq, don't you?

[Rich Paul]

I certainly do. Because there's some guys, like I said, I wish I was still playing. I wish my neck didn't end this thing, actually. I Wish I was 25 years old playing in this era right now. Because you get 15 or 18 games under your belt, you're getting 20 million. It's a beautiful thing right now.

[AJ Hawk]

A beautiful thing.

[Pat McAfee]

You did sound like a little bit of a hater at the beginning. We know why now. Now we know I played and I had two jobs. These guys are getting paid 80 million bucks. Never heard of them. Never. I've never heard of these. It was a lot of NBA signings yesterday at the offensive line. We'd see these names pop up and it's just like whenever a seventh man off the bench of the NBA signs for 100 million. Well, who. Who's getting that? We did appreciate the emphasis on the trenches, and that's why we appreciate you. Have a good one, man. Enjoy the rest of whatever you got going on in that hotel.

[Rich Paul]

I appreciate you boys keep crushing it.

[Pat McAfee]

Where are you? You're in spring break right now?

[Rich Paul]

Yeah, we're just doing a little staycation because it's keeping them in our.

[Pat McAfee]

Keeping them.

[Rich Paul]

Our house is no good.

[Tone Diggs]

No Good.

[Pat McAfee]

No, good.

[Rich Paul]

They just cling, but you get. You get it. You get a different hotel, even in the same area, and they. They all of a sudden think they're in Disney World, you know?

[Pat McAfee]

Oh, that's a good play.

[Darius Butler]

It's a good gimmick.

[Pat McAfee]

That's. And you can run home if you have to. Bingo.

[Rich Paul]

Still sleep in my own bed if I need to.

[Pat McAfee]

Well, don't. Don't leave your kids.

[Tone Diggs]

You're on vacation.

[Rich Paul]

I might. I hate hotel bed.

[Evan Fox]

Like I say, I hate my kids.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, they are the ones. No, no, no.

[AJ Hawk]

I'll be back.

[Rich Paul]

I'll be back before they wake up, you know.

[Pat McAfee]

Listen, I hate hotel beds. I hate my kids. Those are two things. Those are two things. Get me out of there. Love the kids. Love the kids.

[Rich Paul]

Love the kids.

[Pat McAfee]

Hey, Dusty, I saw a good baseball in the backyard, I think, didn't I?

[Rich Paul]

Yeah, son. How about that? Pretty good, huh?

[Pat McAfee]

Guaranteed. Guaranteed money in baseball. Guaranteed money in baseball.

[Rich Paul]

I'm seeing these baseball contracts. I don't even know if I'm going to introduce them to a football.

[Pat McAfee]

Don't put dirt. Not one time. Only time the hand goes in the dirt whenever he trips and falls. Yep, that's it. You get a golf club in that hand, you get a baseball bat in that hand. Basketball, I think, especially with your hall of Fame. Yeah. You know, your height ability. Yeah.

[Rich Paul]

Your six, six, six one white guys with short arms don't usually make it in the NBA.

[AJ Hawk]

That's a great shooting build in 2K, though.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. Because you're like that robot that they created where your arms can only do one thing. You know, it's like, you see that took on Lethal Shooter, took on the Machine the other day on. What is Lethal Shooter? Why is it not on a team? How come this doesn't get talked about?

[Darius Butler]

I understand it now.

[Pat McAfee]

Now he's got a miss on purpose to make one, so now he's got to go on the second one and make it. Obviously, I don't know how long all this is taking. Okay. I. None of us know that. The fact that any of these shots go in still and will get me every single time and we'll get me every single time. But him having to miss one on purpose and then go. I understand it. And then locking in and hitting the next one, it's like. That's even more difficult now. Now it's even more difficult. Difficult in there.

[Darius Butler]

I'm not even impressed by any of the basketball he does anymore when he's throwing, like a full court gummy Bear into a Coke can bottle. Yeah, that, like into that water bottle. Like, that's the crazy.

[Pat McAfee]

Why is he not on a team? I've asked him maybe 10 times through DMs.

[Tone Diggs]

It's different.

[Pat McAfee]

Why aren't you on a team? And I think he had a surgery. I think he had like a. I think he had some sort of surgery. So then he got into coaching. He could still shoot. I, I don't know. I don't know the ins and outs of it, but like lethal shooter, we've been following along long since the beginning. He's offered to come in here and teach us how to shoot.

[AJ Hawk]

Yeah, he needs to tell people that he had a surgery because I think a lot of people just assumed he can't slap the floor.

[Pat McAfee]

And you don't think he can play defense.

[AJ Hawk]

That's, that's what a lot of people assume because if you can shoot like that, it doesn't even matter.

[Pat McAfee]

You don't have to play defense.

[AJ Hawk]

That's what I'm saying.

[Tone Diggs]

Defense is just effort anyway. You just post them up and shoot threes all day.

[Pat McAfee]

Five on four, who gives a.

[AJ Hawk]

That's my point.

[Darius Butler]

You got to be able to get open and stand right there.

[Pat McAfee]

Six foot guys stand in the, the Duke corner.

[Darius Butler]

I mean, I don't, I never seen his film, but it's like when you see on Internet, I don't know if.

[Rich Paul]

He could handle the Duke 68 yard.

[Darius Butler]

Field goals and it's like, all right, you get in the game. Can you hear.

[Pat McAfee]

Oh, yeah, you're right.

[Darius Butler]

4:45 yarders in a row.

[Pat McAfee]

The trick kickers had a little bit of a run and boy, I didn't hate them enough at the time. They were talking to actual kickers and punters and it's like, yeah, you can all go do what you're doing. Right. Okay.

[Boston Connor]

Onside kicking in their living room.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, I, I actually enjoy that guy. His name's.

[Evan Fox]

Oh, through the door.

[Pat McAfee]

He's unbelievable. Yeah, I, I don't know what the ball is. I think it's an arena ball that he's sitting there. He is very talented at those things, John. I don't know. I got added. I'm. So many people are talking to me about that guy, I just muted the whole thing. So I don't see him as much smart. But everyone's. Yeah. Which is my problem with the trick. That's kind of what happened. It was like, come on, come on, come on. That guy couldn't do. I don't think anybody could do what he Does I just would like. Like that to be known. But with the shooters, I mean the. He's doing is impossible.

[AJ Hawk]

Some of the best shooting ever.

[Darius Butler]

Yeah. Impressive.

[Pat McAfee]

Great content and then the ideas. He's a Red Bull sponsored athlete for shooting. I think that's a. That's a great deal. Now, aq, maybe that is what you need to dive into because we just pulled up an old clip of the Hammer from Moon Township. Aq Shipley, that guy thinks he's going to block the round mound of man. Yeah, yeah, right. No chance. No chance. I got a barbed wire tap, brother. None of them are connected because I don't want my soul to be trapped. But I will certainly put this ball in the bottom of this bucket. Probably going off the glass here, if I had to guess. We're going off the glass here.

[Rich Paul]

Guaranteed. Two points guaranteed.

[Pat McAfee]

And you're putting an elbow through that guy's chest, I assume after this.

[AJ Hawk]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

And if.

[Rich Paul]

If he thinks he's got any chance, the next time down, drop step, elbow. Put him in the bleachers, baby.

[Pat McAfee]

Let's go. Okay, okay, okay. Great arm length on. On, old buddy. He's reaching over your little. That's AQ in the paint, though. That's AQ football. All right. We appreciate you, man. Ladies and gentlemen, man is currently on spring break. Will he stay with his family or not? That is the question. Yeah. I need to get out of here. That's a good thing about vacationing in the town that you live. You could leave the kids and they don't even know.

[AJ Hawk]

Go sleep in your own bed.

[Pat McAfee]

Hotel beds do suck.

[AJ Hawk]

Terrible.

[Evan Fox]

Yeah, not so much. Well, for me personally, yes.

[Pat McAfee]

It's the pillows, the whole process.

[Evan Fox]

Why are they so flat all the time?

[Pat McAfee]

Because think about how many pillows they have to buy.

[Evan Fox]

Sure. In every hotel, but even the nice hotels.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. Think about how many pillows they have to buy for any hotel. And I. Because I've asked this question numerous times because I have a massive head. Sure. So, like big head. Not great for any pillow. That isn't good. You know, like, I'm going right to the mat. I just got like. I just got some paper wrapped around the back of my head.

[AJ Hawk]

Like a neck pillow.

[Pat McAfee]

Exactly, exactly. It's one of those. It's a little bit of a snuggie there around. Around my head. That's basically all it is. And I've asked before, you know, the people that are in the hotel, hospital management. That's a whole business. And so if you start piecing together the amount of sheets, pillows, Things that need to be ordered just for one building. They're not that they're necessarily going to take the cheapest price every time, but they're not going to take the highest price every single time. So you get what you pay for in that particular world. And I think the hotels are paying for like the mid range one, nice hotels and then cheap hotels are paying for the cheap ones. And we could tell, you know, we can certainly tell. You can have a nice room, beautiful room, great views and then you lay down, it's like, ah, going to sleep like great to be here. You know, Great to be here. Then when I get up, the. The refrigerator stocked. Uhhuh. It's got. They got good options for the snacks too. Peanuts for 45 bucks?

[AJ Hawk]

Sure.

[Pat McAfee]

Are those cashews? Are those cashews? Yeah, I think I'll do that. Why don't they spend the money and get a little better pillows? Be nice.

[AJ Hawk]

I think it's why Airbnb is so awesome.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. Now you're using somebody else's pillow. A whole nother.

[AJ Hawk]

Yeah. Yeah. But I mean at a hotel, are you not using someone else's pillow anyways?

[Tone Diggs]

At least you know it's washed. Most likely the pillow cover.

[Pat McAfee]

You hope. You hope for sure. There's those. Are you one of those? No. You're not. Those germaphobes, when they get into hotels, they're awesome. Have you ever walked into a germaphobe's room?

[Tone Diggs]

I don't. I know people are. I haven't walked into their room. What are they doing?

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, I met. I forget who it was. Hey, we're meeting at this room. Had a suite. Had a suite. So met at the room. Had to go piss. Oh, there's one in the bedroom. So I walked through. Bedroom. We had that wrapped like they were moving out. They wrapped that thing like they were moving. It was unbelievable. Wrapped with like some sort of Saran Wrap or some sort. And then they had their on top of it. Like a sleeping bag of some sort on top of it.

[AJ Hawk]

That's a nightmare.

[Tone Diggs]

Yeah. On the.

[AJ Hawk]

Feel bad for those people, bro.

[Pat McAfee]

I walked in. I walked in.

[AJ Hawk]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah.

[Evan Fox]

That would have been my first thought too.

[Tone Diggs]

Like cellophane wrap around everything.

[Darius Butler]

That's crazy.

[Evan Fox]

Are you sure they were germs and they weren't murdering someone?

[Pat McAfee]

I mean, maybe they're murdering somebody, but bills. I brought this up. It was not Bailey mc. He did not have a suite that we were having a meeting in. But when that starts happening, let me know. I am very excited. I Especially if he's coming up with the memes that he's coming up this morning. I think that time is coming much sooner than we could expect. But yeah, I immediately, as soon as I got out of there, hey, this guy's got a Saran Wrap bed right now, you know, and he. And then that person told me a whole story about, like, these German crazies and yada, yada, yada. There's people that bring, like, black lights to hotels. Yeah. Do the whole thing.

[Evan Fox]

Why do you want Michael Cole do that? Like, with the announcing desk?

[Pat McAfee]

Too cold. Sleeps in the cold. Stay in the worst hotel in any town as long as it's close to the hotel. If it's airport. If it's close to the airport, he's in.

[AJ Hawk]

Cole saran wrapping his bed because he likes to get pissed on. There's a difference difference between the two.

[Pat McAfee]

All right, on that note, we're going to get out of here. What a show. Last night. Madison Square looked awesome.

[Tone Diggs]

Awesome.

[Pat McAfee]

20,000 plus in there. It was like three hours before the show. The numbers were coming in. It was like 17,400 something. And then, like, as it continued, I think they released more. Release more. They had pe. I mean, I looked up and I. I don't think maybe I'm been in the Garden, Madison Square Garden before. I'm not 100% sure if I have. Okay. So I had been in there, but I hadn't taken it in like I did last night. Like, last night was the first time. I'm like, it's Garden. Like I should try to. And also I got lost going in there. I was in the theater at one point. I was in the back door. Yeah, I was. So I saw the Garden last night.

[Evan Fox]

Hell, yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

I mean, I saw it. I saw the. The. The freight elevator where everybody takes the photos, does the whole thing. I was in one of those strictly because I was in the wrong side of the in. I just walked in there, and the person working the elevator told me about how famous this freight elevator was. And I had never seen any of the photos myself. But then security guy gets on, or maybe a teamster worker gets on. He goes like, did you take the photo with him? Like, oh, shit, this must be a real thing. And then Jim Kelly, head WWE security guy, is like, yeah, it's a real thing. You fucking. He's from New York. You know, it's his hometown. He's the one who was, you know, trying to make. Make me not be lost anymore. But I really, like, took it in. Like, I Got a chance to see the Rangers locker room.

[AJ Hawk]

Nice.

[Pat McAfee]

I saw Rempe. Rempe's locker. I wanted Russia. I saw his in there. Saw the room a little smaller than I expected. Yeah.

[Boston Connor]

Because it splits. Right. Like, the Knicks are on one side and then the Rangers are on. On the other.

[Pat McAfee]

And I think hockey has like a locker room and then a change room. Yeah. As well.

[Boston Connor]

I think that's the. Shared with the. With the Knicks.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay. The change rooms, which is in the back. So, like, they have like a show locker room.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

Where they have.

[Tone Diggs]

For the media. For the media. So they're not sitting with their dongs out doing interviews. They have like a one locker room for that. And then I was like, man, that's a great idea. Football should have that great idea.

[Pat McAfee]

In. In the back. It's like they have like. Like I didn't get to see theirs because theirs was locked up, but the Las Vegas Golden Knights we saw. And there's like a hangout section, like a lobby. There's, like, treatment, there's showers. There's every, like, behind the wall almost. It's like, here's our locker room. Then we have a change room over here. Here. That is basically where everything goes. Brilliant idea. Brilliant concept. So I got a chance to see that. Walked in there. I was looking around, you know, like, look, they had people on top seemingly, of the court. Two rows of these people that were just placed on the ceiling. I don't. I don't even know if there's seats up there. I have no idea.

[Boston Connor]

It's relatively new. When they did the, like, most recent renovations, it's called. They call it like the Chase Sky Bridge. It's almost scary when you're up there. It's just this straight, straight down view from essentially the roof of the. Of the Garden, just right down onto the. Onto the course.

[Pat McAfee]

People were packed in there. I mean, it was electrifying. And obviously the stars were out. I didn't know some of them. Okay, sure, I know something.

[AJ Hawk]

I knew one of them that might have been one of the people that you weren't aware of. But he. He's one of the characters in that show, the big door prize in Abbott Elementary. He. I forget his.

[Pat McAfee]

Pronounce his name wrong.

[AJ Hawk]

No, I don't think you pronounce his name wrong. But I. I thought. I noticed from the tone. It was like, who the fuck is this guy? He's a. He's a great actor. I'm a huge fan.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay, everybody. Everybody that comes out is great at what they do. Of course, and we're very thankful for it. But yeah, we, we're just getting handed cards of people that were here and normally like the WWE is in conversation with these people, you know, and it's like we know going in who's going to be here, who accepted the shout out. So that's a whole nother thing. Like, I saw a lot of people talking about Drake with the WWE and no shout out up eliminated chamber. It was like, I, I don't know if he said no or if they didn't. Like that is something that is like a full on. Hey, is it okay if we show you like, the WWE doesn't want to just assume that people, even if the WWE gets people tickets, I don't even think they're like automatically assuming like we're going to put you on camera. So normally there's a full give and take about that. That happens. There's people that are at shows that don't get shown on camera on a regular basis. They're sitting either to the left or at another spot down here to the right. So it's like, that's not abnormal. But last night, I don't know if these people just came to the show or if other people got them tickets because throughout the entire evening there was just cards showing up and it was first time they were ever handwritten, like writing them. And the person's handwriting was incredible. Mustache on Josh. Josh, Yeah. I enjoyed his energy. I did enjoy the way he operated dog. But he was certainly a guy that I, I, I did not know of before last night. It was a handwritten one. Okay, so I'm reading. Okay. The handwriting, which is very 1998 of the entire. Great handwriting in there. But after I saw the way he was acting, I was like, yeah, hell.

[AJ Hawk]

Yeah, I like this guy barking for Braun.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, exactly. Kevin McAllen. Monster got a big pop.

[Darius Butler]

What was she, what's that? Was he throwing up? What's that? He been.

[Pat McAfee]

What are you talking about? Oh, he said something. I love you. I think it wasn't, I don't think he was throwing up gang signs. Maybe. I don't know. It could have been. I'm not 100 sure. You know, he has family trauma. His mom and dad left him numerous times.

[Darius Butler]

New York City.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, a couple times.

[AJ Hawk]

His brother's a sicko.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, Yeah. I mean, let's see. I don't think I've ever seen him before. Kulkin, his brother there next to him wearing a Canada shirt, thought that was a shot directly at me. Boom, bang. Pow. Is that sign language, though?

[AJ Hawk]

I love you all.

[Evan Fox]

Something that's a gang sign.

[Pat McAfee]

The first couple, maybe. Gang signs. Yeah. Then the I love you at the end.

[AJ Hawk]

God, he's got the best pizzazz.

[Pat McAfee]

His brother, too, got big pop at the Netflix premiere, and he was there the day of that. And I think he said, no, it's all good. I don't need to be intro. So I. If I knew sign language, like, I think I do. I think he just said, hi, everybody. I love you all. Yeah, I think is what he just said.

[Darius Butler]

That's what I'm Brian.

[Pat McAfee]

As opposed to like.

[Tone Diggs]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

Could you imagine Kevin McAllister throwing up the east side? Yeah. His entire thing.

[Darius Butler]

Maybe Internet will find out.

[Pat McAfee]

He got big pop, people.

[Tone Diggs]

Die Hard wrestling guy. He's been a Die Hard wrestling fan forever.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. I think his whole family. I think his whole family's in which we appreciate it. Every time it comes out. I. We say we talk. I'm like, this is so, like, it's crazy. It's cool that I just get that. Bob McCall.

[Tone Diggs]

You don't call him Kevin. You don't call him Kevin, do you?

[Pat McAfee]

Every time. He loves it every time.

[AJ Hawk]

His wife knows Ball too. She just went, like, viral last week. I think about her interview about the LA Rams and like, the Lakers and the Clipper. She's like a huge sports fan.

[Pat McAfee]

Let's go, Kevin. I love it. Fabulous was there. I walked out, I sit down, and Cole goes, there's a bunch of people around us right now. And I'm like, who? And he goes, just celebs. Rich Kid was there. I guess I'd never met Rich Kid. It was good to see him. There was a Jacksonville rapper, Nardo Wick, I believe was there last night. There was the Selling the City group back here to the right that was on Netflix. And he said, back to the right, back to the left, left, back behind. So, like, we're trying to do, like, the casual. I'm trying to do the casual. Like, look around, you know, like, just get the lay of the land of what's going on. Because there's billions, billions of dollars being represented right over here.

[AJ Hawk]

Sure.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay. You know where Schultz, he was sitting. Shout out to Schultz, by the way, his new special Life on Netflix for my wife and I was my wife and I. And. And if you've watched it, you'll see my wife and I balling, crying, hugging each other, having a moment. Like 40 minutes, 45 minutes into Schultz's stand up. Obviously, laugh, laugh, laugh. But there's a moment in there. That's like a real. Like, for me, a real, real moment. I think a lot of people. So I. I literally watched that the night before. So I go in there next day, and I see Schultz's wife and Schultz, and it was like, I just learned a lot about you guys last night. So it was so cool to see him directly next to. To him. Okay. To his left. We're talking billions of do. Just so much money. The people that were in there last night, sure. It's like the WWE is reaching and talking to everybody. So Turkey, as soon as I sit, I. I did not see Turkey. I was. I was pretty pumped, for sure gonna be there. But as soon as I sat down, I look around and I tell Cole about the money. You know, Cole's telling me about everything he's been told. I'm like, cole left. There's a lot over there. He goes, you're such an. I'm like, that's who we. That is what you. We just need to know they're in the building here. So I turn around, I start looking at everybody, and I see Fabulous sitting right behind me, and I'm like, holy. Fabulous. Thank you for everything, sir. I just want to let you know that F A P O L O U S. I'm 37 years old. You're run. Okay. Right during my life. And you're, you know. Yeah. Freddie Roach got introduced last night. He has a new fighter from Ireland, has king across his knuckles. He has a fight coming up that was great. Amanda Serrano was there, but, yeah, good pop. Saw Fabulous. I just, like, stopped. I was like, holy.

[AJ Hawk]

Legend.

[Pat McAfee]

That's literally what I said. Holy. He looks at me, goes, what's up, man? I'm like, thanks for coming, dude. Thanks for everything. Thanks for everything. You've done 30. Yeah. Did the whole speech. So I try to unite. I try to take it all in, try to enjoy the moment. But last night, it was. It was pretty cool spectacle in there.

[Darius Butler]

A cage match.

[Pat McAfee]

Awesome. Oh, yeah, man. Awesome. And then the OGs are wrestling in the back. You know, you talk to, like, Bruce and Heyman and everybody, and I go, hey, before I go out there, just some things, you know, about the Garden, and they just get into, like, this love story about what the Garden has done for the business and for the wwf, the www. Wf. The WWF and now the WWE and the amount of history and how big of a component in the. You know, the territorial kind of jousting that led to what we have now with the wwe, how important it Was obviously the first ever host to Wrestlemania. So it was like last night, he felt like. Like, I'm like, I'm gonna take in the garden, you know, I'm gonna take this whole thing in. Getting there was something.

[AJ Hawk]

Well, that's New York City, baby.

[Pat McAfee]

Or something.

[AJ Hawk]

That's the Big Apple.

[Pat McAfee]

Great weather, though. Active city. Lot of running, lot of bikes.

[Boston Connor]

It's all the way back.

[Pat McAfee]

Impossible to turn. Yes. Yeah.

[AJ Hawk]

One per light.

[Boston Connor]

Especially over there by MSG before a big event. It's just a nightmare.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. And then good thing for the driver that I had is he was like, you know what? Let's park it right on the sidewalk.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

So literally thousands of people will be walking around our car and. Yeah, that's okay. Well, he doesn't speak my language. I assume he said this is okay, right? In his language.

[Boston Connor]

Drop you off at Hooters, right across the street or something. Great location.

[Pat McAfee]

Is it still open?

[Tone Diggs]

They're all going under.

[Boston Connor]

Assume so.

[Evan Fox]

They haven't all closed yet.

[Pat McAfee]

They went bankrupt, though, so I don't know how it works.

[Evan Fox]

Yeah, Red Lobster went bankrupt. I still think they're open.

[Pat McAfee]

We got a Red Lobster.

[Boston Connor]

Private equity.

[Pat McAfee]

They're coming back.

[Tone Diggs]

You got new seats.

[Darius Butler]

Yo, I'm seeing Blake Griffin all over some Red Lobster ads.

[Evan Fox]

Yeah, me too. Yeah, the cheddar bass.

[Pat McAfee]

I love that. I can't wait till those pop into my algo because you guys just said it.

[AJ Hawk]

Oh, yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

My phone needs to smarten up though. I'm sick of it. I couldn't load the video last night. Couldn't load the video for the big night out of video. Cuz I couldn't at the. The. Literally I'm sitting in there and I'm just staring at it.

[Evan Fox]

That's New York too.

[Pat McAfee]

I'm staring at it just like this. And then the show's four minutes out and it's like, well, I just lied to everybody.

[AJ Hawk]

Too late.

[Pat McAfee]

The video would not be going on tonight. And it is 100% my fault. On it all. I had somebody say who I responded to. You opened your mouth and said something you weren't supposed to say. It's like, no, I'm just. It would be much better actually to get this out now because the day the tickets are going on sale is Thursday and it's not going. And that's not great. I. I don't love everything about that. But this morning, obviously, letting the world know it is on Wednesday, April 9th. Tickets go on sale on Thursday at noon. Age. I'm pumped for it. I'm very Pumped for it.

[Tone Diggs]

Especially the fact that you say WWE is handling all like the, the in house production. I mean, so I'm, I can't even imagine pyro like what's going, what's happening? What's going to be happening. Don't worry about it.

[Pat McAfee]

Listen, everything will be a surprise.

[Evan Fox]

Options are endless.

[Pat McAfee]

Everything.

[Tone Diggs]

I know, that's what I'm saying. Like, I'm just thinking, I think of the wwe, you think of live events that they are, they are the, the cream of the crop when it comes to that. So there's, there's like, there's no boundaries.

[Pat McAfee]

There's.

[Tone Diggs]

They can do anything.

[Pat McAfee]

It was, I mean everything you just said there is accurate about the wwe. They do what, six shows or five shows a week in arenas around the country. They've been in every single arena. They've been in. The PPG paints aren't arena a lot. They kind of know the lay of the land. They know how to set up, they know how to get workers to set up. They know how, how to cover an arena where they need cameras, where they need lighting. How's the audio? You know about that? What about the audio on these things, let alone everything else. So whenever I, you know, I go over Nick Khan, I go, hey, I have an idea. It's been a few years, I've been looking to do this, but there's no way me and my boys will be able to accomplish this. So if this is not in the cards for the WWE to be able to partner with me on, I understand. We'll just push back another year. I mean, fuck, I've been sitting on this for three years or whatever. And I lay it out and Nick Khan looks at me and goes, have to do it. We have to do this right? And I'm like, I think the show will be good. I think it'll be a pretty good show. He goes, so you'll handle show. And then we handle just like the in arena stuff and logistics stuff. And I'm like, that would be wonderful. And he goes, all right, let's do it. And then literally two days later, I'm in a meeting with everybody from the wwe, the departments that'll be a part of it. And they tell me to lay it out, you know, and what we would need. And there was a stenographer in there, Gumpy, maybe the fastest typer of all time. There's a, there was an assistant in there of somebody. I don't know who. There was an assistant in there somewhere. Could be Nick's, could be There was a lot of people in this meeting that were, you know, pretty and typing everything that's happening. I don't know if actual stenographer or just a recapper, but that's the first time I've ever been in a room that had somebody doing that. And as soon as I hear that, I mean, it's just immediately like, all right, let's up the words per minute here, just to see how many we can get in. I started speaking at maybe a thousand words per minute in the middle of this pitch. I started laying out all the ideas. I started thinking about things that could happen two years ago. I thought, maybe we're going to be able to do this. But instead, now that I know the situation that we're in, especially in most of these arenas with people we're talking to, I mean, there's a chance we're going to have to do this. If we have to do this, that's where we need your department to be able to call this department and be able to get the lighting. If we're not able to get the lighting, we're kind of. Now, the wristbands that I see at these certain concerts, how do we go about plugging those into the things? And like this lady just right over my left shoulder. And then I stopped, like 45 seconds, seconds in, you know, and saw a little delay and then a stop. Every word was important, you know, and big pop in the room, obviously. And it has taken a full team effort by everybody at the WWE that's been a part of this for the setup. We're talking about building the staging, building the lighting. Like, it is a all hands on deck type situation. There's a guy named AJ who is an absolute weapon at the wwe. Anytime I see anything coming from aj, I know, like, okay, we got some magic around the corner. Fatim Marty been working their asses off. Lindsay Lloyd, formerly of espn, now with the wwe. She is all over it. Lee, Nick. I mean, you're talking about. It's been a great collab sesh. And during that break where we took steps, 16 days off or whatever it was, I was able to think about, you know, hanging out with family, obviously, Amazing. Hanging out with wife. Amazing. Hanging out with baby girl, Amazing, you know, but at night when I don't sleep there, it was nice to be able to think about other stuff. So it really came together then. And I think we pieced together a pretty good fucking show. I think we got a good one Wednesday night. Okay. The reason why it's on a Wednesday night is because, you know, a lot of the guests, the surprise guests normally booked Thursday, Friday, Saturday, so wanted it to be able to be something that could add to potential schedule already. And the people that are gonna be at this, I think. I think people are gonna say, holy fuck. And everybody's mission is the same. It's like we're gonna give away a shit ton of money and we're gonna put on a great show and just hopefully people have a big night. So it's. It's cool, man. And hopefully it works out and hopefully we're able to do some more. It is a. It is a big investment. You know, all those big stages and lighting.

[Boston Connor]

Oh, yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

That all costs money out there, you know. And this is a Pat McAfee ink production. So I appreciate all hands on deck. I appreciate everybody that's helping. And if you're able to get a ticket or if you do get a ticket ticket on Thursday, we're gonna. I'm telling you, everything we could possibly do to make this the greatest show you've ever been to, we are doing. And you potentially walk out of there with a lot of money. We're gonna be doing massive giveaways. Massive giveaways, aj. So it should be fun. Should be fun.

[Tone Diggs]

It's an arena. I mean, that's awesome. Like, it's an arena. It's a big deal.

[Pat McAfee]

It's not.

[Tone Diggs]

It's not a theater, not a comedy club. Like, it's an arena.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, it's pretty crazy. And has to be an arena. If you understand the show. Like, if has to be. Can't happen in a theater. No, can't happen. That was a conversation that happened a year ago whenever I was like, I'm gonna do this. And I tried to hire somebody that was able to do what the WWE is gonna do, and they were like, they should definitely try this in a theater first and then kind of get our bearings. I'm like, can't do it in a theater. Okay. That's just not even possible. So that's a good call. But can somebody dangle from the roof if need be? Not saying. Not saying it's happening, but. But if. If somebody was to. Is that going to look or what are we. How do we go about doing? Well, you would have to enter it. Thank you. I don't think you're thinking the same way I'm thinking. This is going to be a big night. I think so. Thank you to everybody that comes in advance. 18 plus, 18 years of age or older, because we're Going to be giving away a lot of money. So that, obviously, is a big part of it. And, yeah, I'm part pumped about me. I'm very excited.

[AJ Hawk]

Oh, yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

I'm gonna be. So I. I think I'm gonna get a little emotional afterwards.

[Evan Fox]

Oh, yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

I think, obviously, when it goes great, there's a lot of aspects of it that. There's a lot of things that need to come together. But that's why you have wwe. That's why you have the WWE kind of doing it. There's gonna be some now. Hey, we got some.

[Tone Diggs]

I think. I think people are. Would expect that, you know, you're putting this situation on. They know you're not just going to go in there, there and, you know, give an hour and a half lecture to people and be boring.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, yeah. And I. I. Yeah, talk. Gonna lose a lot of money on this particular show. A lot of money. But I think if we put on, like, this legendary show, definitely, like, there's no questions asked about was it worth it or not? It's like. Yeah. Just want to. Just want to know if this is possible. Like, I need to find out if this is possible, because I've been thinking about it forever. So we're gonna do it April 9, Wednesday, at the PPG Paints Arena. There'll be $20 tickets available, and no ticket will cost more than a hundred dollars. It's gonna be electrifying. You'll sing, you'll laugh, you'll cry. Maybe have the time of your life. A big night. All right, thank you, guys. Aj, are you coming? Yeah. You're a part of it. You've been. You've been put into the. The. Into the show. So you need to know that I'll be.

[Tone Diggs]

I'll be dangling from the ceiling, hopefully.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay, maybe. Maybe we readjust what the show is. That is. Everything's fluid. Everything's fluid. Everything's fluid. AJ dropping down like a bat in his football pants. Of course. Yes.

[Tone Diggs]

They could harness me up. I'll do it.

[Pat McAfee]

Just you coming straight down from the middle out of nowhere, swinging around, then.

[Tone Diggs]

Not knowing how to get down. So I'm just hanging there for the rest of the show.

[Pat McAfee]

It would be me being the one that would just. Yeah. What's up, aj, how you doing? Stop pushing me.

[AJ Hawk]

Like a tetherball.

[Pat McAfee]

Stop pushing me. You're supposed to push this. This button right here. Just push the button. Aj, what are your thoughts on the show tonight? And then we'll have somebody pull you back up fast.

[Tone Diggs]

I'm in.

[Pat McAfee]

Vomit all over the place. Pull nine GS on your way to the top of PPG Paints Arena. We're not saying. Saying that's happening, but we are saying legitimately, anything is possible at this show. That is how you should be viewing it. And it's been a cool process. Been a cool process. All right. Be a friend. Tell a friend something nice if I change their life. We're back tomorrow. I don't think we're on, are we? We're on ESPN today, weren't we?

[AJ Hawk]

Yeah, I think definitely on that TV.

[Darius Butler]

If that TV's on ESPN.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay, so we're on ESPN today. Tomorrow we are not. We're on ESPN news, I do believe.

[Evan Fox]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

Because there's basketball championships happening. I think it's going to happen a lot over the next like month or so.

[Darius Butler]

March, baby.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, I think we're here. Are you guys in? Yeah, we'll be.

[Boston Connor]

Oh, yeah. 80 to 1 to win it. Buy stock now.

[Pat McAfee]

Are you, are you on the Huskies? Of course.

[Boston Connor]

Talking about Madison Square Garden. Grew up going to Biggie's tournaments there. Kemba Walker crossing over that west Virginia.

[Evan Fox]

Gary McGee has a name.

[Boston Connor]

Gary McGee. There it is.

[Pat McAfee]

Who is the dude? Julius. Who's the dude? Who's the dude from Julius Fields?

[Evan Fox]

Levance Fields.

[AJ Hawk]

Oh, there it is.

[Pat McAfee]

That was a great crew. They showed up at Boyce park one time. Got a chance to watch them play.

[Evan Fox]

Those are. Those, those teams were awesome.

[Pat McAfee]

They're awesome.

[Evan Fox]

Brandon, night one.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah.

[Darius Butler]

First time 80. Who's that?

[Pat McAfee]

Patino. Yeah, they're so good.

[Boston Connor]

Jam.

[Pat McAfee]

He has a documentary, right, doesn't he, doesn't he like the edge or something?

[Darius Butler]

Yeah, he's dope.

[Boston Connor]

Hard edge or storm? Storm brewing. Cuz they're, they're the Red Storm. So I think it's a storm pun.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay, well, college basketball is certainly something. They're not the hard edge. Okay. There's only one basketball's version that's trying to find hard edge right now and that's West Virginia Miners.

[AJ Hawk]

Going to take some time here, huh? Let's make sure we'll remember the hard edge in October. Let's remember it's going to take some time.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, we're going to find it.

[AJ Hawk]

Oh yeah, Always do.

[Pat McAfee]

And when we get it exactly. Big 12 we look at. This is what's coming. AJ for those West Virginia.

[Tone Diggs]

I'm all in on Rich Rod.

[Pat McAfee]

You know that he's given great interviews. I mean every press conference is getting more and more comfortable and you know, I'm letting them know this is where we. Hey, this Is where we need to be. Okay? You are exactly who you are. West Virginia is who West Virginia is. Don't be scared to just be yours. He said shit. He was like, I guess I shouldn't swear. It was like, no, Rich. You should be Rich Rodriguez. You are Coach Rod. He banned TikTok dancing from the locker room. That was over the weekend. I couldn't. I didn't get a chance to hear his promo about it. But I assume the promo that he cut about the Tick Tock dancing. Electrifying. Yeah. The guy's an orator. He loves ball. And West Virginia's gonna be back. West Virginia's gonna be back. We got a team. We're gonna find one. Need transportal come through. Both guys getting out and guys coming in. But we will. We certainly will. Dogs wanted in Morgantown, West Virginia. Dogs are required in Morgantown, West Virginia. Might not be able to feel the team. All right. We're okay. We got dogs. Yeah.

[Boston Connor]

Volunteers. Now he's 22.

[Pat McAfee]

Bingo. Dogs not hostages. What happened today? Big signing this morning. C.J. g.J. Gets trained. Big signing this morning. Daniel Jones. Yep. Is now with the Indianapolis Colts.

[AJ Hawk]

Huge Vikings.

[Boston Connor]

Fries.

[AJ Hawk]

Fries.

[Pat McAfee]

Viking signs fries to 80. I didn't even hear the subtle disrespect to the Indianapolis Colts there.

[Tone Diggs]

No competition. Makes everybody better. Either AR Or Daniel Jones is going to be better, whoever's starting.

[Pat McAfee]

Amen.

[Darius Butler]

Both.

[Pat McAfee]

This contract's up. Both.

[Tone Diggs]

Maybe both. Maybe both of them get better.

[Pat McAfee]

Both will get better. We did.

[Tone Diggs]

There was two QB system do that?

[Evan Fox]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

No, I'm okay with it. Okay. Ebot's not okay with it. I'm okay with whatever the case. Whatever helps us win games, you know? Yeah. The Indianapolis Colts. That contract for Daniel Jones is 1 year, 17 million. I do believe he has 3 million in incentives. He has 13.15 guaranteed.850 in some bonuses and then 3 million and something else. So, you know, if he goes on and wins for us and plays for us, I think there's some money to be made. And that's a good deal if he's a good quarterback for us in the AFC South. We have some breaking news out of Los Angeles. Oh, Puka Nukua. He's changing his number to 12 after the 17 debate with Devonte Adams. Now, Puka Nuku was very upfront with us. Whenever he was asked by D Butch about the number 17, he said he grew up watching Devonte. Obviously has massive respect. Respect for Devontae. Loved his vibes. Said, maybe you give me unlimited Taco Bell for The rest of my life. You get this number. No problem. Because I know you've been wearing it longer than I have, but I've been wearing it longer here than you have. So they had a conversation, and obviously they reached an agreement. Puka nkua, now number 12, like it was back at BYU. The Cougar Ooze and Devonte Adams now flanking Matthew Stafford. And the boys with a defense that is ready to hunt rams are the real deal. And that's a great edit. That is a. That's sick. That is a great edit. And that took some time to make there. That took some. Some time to create. So shout out to the Ram social media team and digital team and shout out to Puku.

[Darius Butler]

Yeah. Just shows you how obviously what type of young man he is and also what type of respect he has for devonte, because you can argue that Puka is on a Hall of Fame trajectory, where his career has started and where he's going. And we know who Devonte Adams is as well, coming into that room. This is dope, you know, And I'm figuring we've been in the locker room, so we know the locker room politics when it comes to, you know, getting your number and, oh, geez, come in and however that goes. So I'm glad they figured it out. I don't care if we ever know how they figured it out or what deal got done, but stoked to see, and I can't wait to see him on the field together.

[Pat McAfee]

Aj, I love Puka. I do. And I don't know, devonte as well. Feels like they're going to be a great dance. Yeah.

[Tone Diggs]

Devontae's awesome as well.

[Pat McAfee]

Like.

[Tone Diggs]

Yeah. And they both want to win. I think they're both unbelievable players. But, yeah, I'm not. Not shocked to see Puka do this. I mean, Puka turns everything into, like, everything's positive for him. I feel like there's no. There's no like, negative outside stuff that feels like creeps into him.

[Pat McAfee]

Now, what if they did play pig, though, and devonte came in there and just swept.

[AJ Hawk]

Kicked his ass.

[Tone Diggs]

Devonte can play. He can play.

[Pat McAfee]

Poker's real. Hooper, too. Yes. And I love that that was his first thing. Let me go to this guy's Instagram, see if there's any. Yeah. Any basketball. Highland. How's this guy as a Hoover?

[Tone Diggs]

What's this jumper look like?

[Pat McAfee]

Pretty good. Remember we saw him in the locker room in Oakland or Las Vegas? Sorry. That was a big thing. Remember they brought the mini hoop back and it was Devonte just pulling up on people. And I assume Puka either respected that or he experienced that and. Or, you know, 12, 17. No problem @ all. All right, we're back tomorrow. There's gonna be big news tonight. Huge tomorrow show. Huge. Yeah.

[Tone Diggs]

Wednesday's always over.

[AJ Hawk]

Cop will get released tonight or tomorrow morning.

[Pat McAfee]

Tomorrow's big day.

[Tone Diggs]

Rap sheet's right. He should want to be free and be able to choose where he goes.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, agreed.

[Boston Connor]

Buffalo.

[Pat McAfee]

Maybe Buffalo. Maybe the Chiefs. You think about the Chiefs? Obviously. Any of these conversations. New England serving those Packers.

[Tone Diggs]

What about Green Bay for Cooper? Cooper Cup. They would love him. He'd be a stud.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay, Cooper Cup. Maybe the packers had another weapon over there. Washington Commanders are making plays. They just had Debo. He likes him to the Chargers. He wants some of the Chargers over here. Didn't you and weren't you the one who was pushing him to the Chargers? Who was pushing?

[Rich Paul]

I like.

[Darius Butler]

I know. I like DK to the Chargers for sure. But I think, you know, lab with what he does in the slot.

[Tone Diggs]

Too many guys like him, you're saying.

[Boston Connor]

Too exciting.

[AJ Hawk]

They can't have too many white guys.

[Darius Butler]

No, no, no.

[Tone Diggs]

Too much explosivity.

[Darius Butler]

It's nice.

[Pat McAfee]

Zito just said Vikings. You know, Maybe he goes with Kevin O'Connell back.

[Darius Butler]

Chicago, sure. Somebody say Chicago. Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

Nobody said Chicago.

[Darius Butler]

Keenan with Keenan Alley leaving.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, because they've invested in the offensive line. Now Keenan's out. Do you need another weapon in Chicago? Who knows? See so much to happen. We got Shaquille O'Neal on the show tomorrow.

[AJ Hawk]

Ch.

[Tone Diggs]

Yes.

[Pat McAfee]

Shaquille O'Neal's new product. That'll be a good convo tomorrow. To be a good.

[Tone Diggs]

You know what it is? I see his. The Shack gummies that all the time, like at gas stations.

[Pat McAfee]

The sour ones are next level. They're actually good. Phenomenal.

[Evan Fox]

Oh, yeah.

[Tone Diggs]

My kids get them all the time.

[Pat McAfee]

Very good. I'm not a sugary candy person. I don't do that stuff. I'm more chocolate guy. But the Shack gummies, we got sent a bunch of them over here. The sour ones were.

[Ian Rapoport]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

Very good texture. I like that. Good texture, good flavor. This next one is all. This next one's awesome. This is for DJ Diesel. I think this is for DJ Diesel. Yeah. Have you seen one of this?

[Darius Butler]

I have.

[Pat McAfee]

For the mosh pits. Conor McGregor said, if you're going to Olympia tonight, I'll be in the middle of a mosh pit over there in Ireland.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

If you want to get your jaw broken. You know what he said?

[Boston Connor]

If you want your jaw broke and your eyes ripped out.

[Pat McAfee]

I don't think I've. I. I didn't think about that being a thing because I've never been a part of them. Mosh pit. Been at a place where a mosh pit was happening. Had eyes on mosh pit. Oh, they're really doing it. Yeah, like that. They're. They're really doing it. All right, lads, have a good one. And then heading to another stage. You know, as it was taking place. I don't. They're people up in elbows. They. They.

[Darius Butler]

I. I saw one once in. In the flesh, and it was definitely an experience.

[Pat McAfee]

That's a Caucasian thing. I feel like, run around watching people.

[Darius Butler]

A diverse one, really. Actually, Travis Scott was. Oh, Brandon, that was here.

[Evan Fox]

Wow.

[Darius Butler]

Here. Concert. Big concert. And the artist had a floating stage, I think, wherever the Pacers play Gang Break. And like, wherever the stage, it, like, moved throughout and like, wherever under the stage was kind of like a light. It was just a mosh pit.

[Pat McAfee]

What?

[Darius Butler]

Travis Scott and I didn't know who Travis Scott was at this time.

[Pat McAfee]

Full chaos for Boom.

[Darius Butler]

And then he just got out of there. Somebody was crazy.

[AJ Hawk]

Tony.

[Pat McAfee]

Those mosh pits are real deep deal. I. I mean, the one I watched.

[Evan Fox]

No, I was not there.

[Pat McAfee]

There was a blind side coming. There was a couple blind sides coming.

[Boston Connor]

Just out of nowhere.

[Pat McAfee]

People kept saying, you're out. And once you punch a guy, you just act like you're right. And then I'm like, well, I love what you're getting emotional. You know, I think people are training for these mosh pits. Yeah, I think there's people. I think these people training for. I don't know how ESPN News hasn't picked it up as a sport after that. Tire wrestling be better. Surviving monsters. Mosh. But last 25 minutes in here, there's three MMA guys in here. You got two somewhere. You don't know who they are. It's like Joe Schmo show. Got two boxers in here if you want to keep an eye out.

[Evan Fox]

You figure it out pretty quickly.

[Pat McAfee]

Those who survive will win. 20 minutes on the clock. Metal music on. And then everybody's just rocking. Boom, boom. Arm bar may be in there.

[Darius Butler]

When do you know when to start? Have any of you boys been in the mic wash bit?

[AJ Hawk]

No, I wish.

[Pat McAfee]

That's a bummer. Yeah.

[Tone Diggs]

More than a helmet and a cup.

[AJ Hawk]

Missed my window.

[Evan Fox]

Nick. Nick would be no mouthpiece.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, yeah. Nick's not a bad guess. Why would that be your bet, Tony?

[Evan Fox]

Because you were in a car club and you are Car club.

[Tone Diggs]

What's the car club?

[Pat McAfee]

Nitrous rush was a good group. Okay. Just unfathomable amount of lies coming out of your box right now.

[Tone Diggs]

Nitrogen rush. Do you have jackets?

[AJ Hawk]

Duh.

[Pat McAfee]

Car stickers, bro. Just listen. Whenever that thing would pull up on you, you know, come from the guy.

[Boston Connor]

Who had his own name on his license plate and his number. This is tough.

[Pat McAfee]

This is tough to hear. Digs 11. Driving around town.

[Darius Butler]

Touchdown to see.

[Tone Diggs]

I didn't know that.

[Evan Fox]

Listen, it was a Chrysler lhs. It wasn't a souped up. I'm super impressive.

[Pat McAfee]

I'll tell you what, Nick. I don't like that he immediately thought that you'd be the guy that might have been in a mosh pit before. But I thought that as well. Maybe Nick did find his way into a mosh. No moshing for me.

[AJ Hawk]

I don't even know who.

[Tone Diggs]

I don't even know who M. Bill.

[AJ Hawk]

What are we talking?

[Pat McAfee]

Friends that have done it. And they say essentially you link eyes with someone from across the mosh and you say we're doing this. And then you link up and smack each other. Okay. Where's Bailey McCom?

[AJ Hawk]

Bill's done this for sure.

[Pat McAfee]

Sure. Bill. Bill, introduce us and teach us of your mosh bid ways. And they call it moshing. Or is it called pit?

[AJ Hawk]

You. You ready to mosh doing this?

[Pat McAfee]

We moshing and I or we.

[Tone Diggs]

Bill probably carries the knife. Bill stabbed.

[Darius Butler]

Grooves of engagement.

[Pat McAfee]

Can you imagine they're standing. I can't imagine that.

[AJ Hawk]

That's where you absolutely got ice pick.

[Tone Diggs]

He's got double ice pick.

[Pat McAfee]

Look out in the crowd here tonight. There's a guy with two eyes.

[AJ Hawk]

A massive guy for sure.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah.

[AJ Hawk]

I was at a day to remember show, I think it was 2014 or 2013 at White River State park and there was a mosh pit that broke out and I was on the. I was on the outer perimeter cuz I'm not going to get in the center of that thing. But it's. There's fists flying, there's feet flying, there's people getting uprooted like full flips.

[Pat McAfee]

Did you get hit at all or you're just on the front? You're pushing people back.

[AJ Hawk]

Yeah, I was kind of just like, yeah, go guys. Go in the very back. Oh, so you're the wall of the mosh.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. There's a tornado happen to humans in here and you don't.

[AJ Hawk]

You don't leave.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. You don't want to be in the eye of this storm. You know that's a target there. All right. So Bill, you have been. You've had an assist on a mosh pit.

[AJ Hawk]

I've been mosh pit adjacent. He's been pitting.

[Evan Fox]

Okay.

[Pat McAfee]

I don't know if he's been marshing, but he's certainly been part of the pit.

[AJ Hawk]

He's been pitting.

[Pat McAfee]

He made the pit.

[Darius Butler]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

Maybe we go someday.

[AJ Hawk]

You guys have fun.

[Pat McAfee]

Seem like an old.

[Tone Diggs]

Seems like an older.

[AJ Hawk]

Enjoy that.

[Boston Connor]

White river definitely has some moshes going on down there.

[Pat McAfee]

Bruce would be the one, I guess after what we saw with him. With.

[Boston Connor]

There was some like.

[Pat McAfee]

Great.

[Tone Diggs]

He tried to get it going there.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, he did. He was doing a full on. Oh, yeah. Come on.

[Tone Diggs]

His head button.

[AJ Hawk]

People 2ft taller than everybody.

[Evan Fox]

Everybody.

[Tone Diggs]

The best.

[Boston Connor]

Networking in the middle of the mosh voice. You just got to get in there, maybe throw a couple elbows.

[Pat McAfee]

Have you ever. Have you ever been in the middle of a mosh pit? No.

[Boston Connor]

No. I. So I was actually going to go to White river for a concert of a random band that I had found and enjoyed, but I found out that they. They moshed, so I did not partake.

[Pat McAfee]

Oh, you were scared to go see your band?

[Boston Connor]

I was scared to go see my band.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah.

[Boston Connor]

I'm not.

[Pat McAfee]

Put some armor on. Get out of there. No, go support the lads.

[Darius Butler]

Elbow pads frowned upon.

[Pat McAfee]

What?

[Evan Fox]

What's that?

[Darius Butler]

You know, we get padded up. This guy go out there.

[Pat McAfee]

I put Skelly on. At least put Skelly on.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

Did you see the.

[Evan Fox]

Wear a spider?

[Pat McAfee]

Did you see the new era shirts? They were wearing a combine. Why they have little pads on the shoulders?

[AJ Hawk]

I don't know.

[Evan Fox]

I hated it.

[Darius Butler]

Yeah.

[Boston Connor]

Sensors maybe?

[Pat McAfee]

No, no, no. They were. They're like.

[Tone Diggs]

But they wear under your pads.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, they're like little Skelly kind of. Maybe 7 on 7 has them. I don't know if that's what 7 on 7 wears. I thought it looked pretty stupid to.

[Boston Connor]

Simulate a in game situation where you have on your shoulder.

[Pat McAfee]

I don't know if they thought maybe there would be contact too. I don't know if they thought maybe because there'd be at least a little bit of pad like seven on seven. There's like those little. Yeah, like those little pads.

[AJ Hawk]

Seen those ribs?

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. And then they got the little. Yeah. Just in case there's casual, like kind of contact. I don't think it's combiner was ever going to be any of that. No. Maybe they're selling these 47 on 7, though.

[AJ Hawk]

Promotion.

[Tone Diggs]

Stupid.

[Pat McAfee]

I thought new era had some good Good. We got some of the good stuff. You have a jacket.

[AJ Hawk]

Awesome.

[Pat McAfee]

No, I don't.

[AJ Hawk]

I have. Oh, you're talking about the combine numbers. Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah.

[AJ Hawk]

I thought you were talking about the new era hat. Because they said. Well, they sent a couple things that I think got left behind. But yes, the combine hoodie was. Was sweet. And then. Yeah, the sleeveless was cool too. And the long sleeve.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, I thought they had some good. But the things they were working out in. I didn't. That didn't.

[Boston Connor]

I was confused.

[AJ Hawk]

We didn't see that stuff either in the. They didn't give it any of those.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. We're not in the game.

[AJ Hawk]

No, no, not quite.

[Pat McAfee]

How are the video games that. Were you guys playing video games now?

[AJ Hawk]

When is the video playing? I was playing a game.

[Tone Diggs]

Your Swedish gaming device.

[AJ Hawk]

It was NHL. No longer playing.

[Pat McAfee]

You quit the game. Oh, yeah.

[Boston Connor]

Don't let Don.

[AJ Hawk]

This is what happens when you're a real fan of a team.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, this is.

[AJ Hawk]

There's a couple games coming out here soon. March is a big video game month when it comes to releases. Huge.

[Pat McAfee]

I heard a lot of people saying we got a cena turn heel before GTA 6. What happened? So this allegedly been coming out, what, the last 10 years?

[AJ Hawk]

No, not even. People have just been waiting and waiting and waiting. But the thing is, everyone played GTA are still playing Grand Theft Auto 5, which came out in freaking 2013. So, like, there was great game. Yeah. But Red Dead Redemption, like the network that makes it Rockstar Games, they've released other games similar to gta, but it's like Red Dead, it's old times. Like cowboy also. Yeah. Western.

[Pat McAfee]

Great.

[AJ Hawk]

So sick. But now GTA 6. Yes. Is finally coming.

[Pat McAfee]

Am I hopping on, like, instead of in cars, stealing cars, I'm so hopping on horses.

[Boston Connor]

Literally. Exactly that.

[AJ Hawk]

Robbing trains, robbing old time banks. Like it is. It's one of the greatest games ever, actually.

[Pat McAfee]

Right. Then with that redemption.

[AJ Hawk]

Redemption, you get to choose if you're.

[Boston Connor]

High honor or low honor. Basically good guy, bad guy. And it changes the storyline as well. So like a Goosebumps novel kind of.

[Pat McAfee]

Really? Yeah.

[AJ Hawk]

It's next level.

[Pat McAfee]

Better than gta.

[AJ Hawk]

I know.

[Pat McAfee]

I'll tell you what, when I go on missions on gta, I have it on my phone. So I have it downloaded on my phone. So if I'm in a plane or at a time where the. Every once in a while, go in there and hit some missions with my guy. Driving around those towns just like trying not to cause any.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

You know, because you don't.

[Boston Connor]

Very hard.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, we don't need Hootie Hoo coming after us.

[AJ Hawk]

Bump into a cop accidentally, it's over.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. Now I'm all, now I'm being chased for the next 45 seconds.

[AJ Hawk]

Well, that's the thing. Now you got to kill them, you know.

[Pat McAfee]

Exactly. I don't want to do that.

[AJ Hawk]

No, no.

[Pat McAfee]

And then all of a sudden we got more. Yeah, I enjoy a GTA every once in a while.

[AJ Hawk]

Yeah, it's coming out in the fall.

[Pat McAfee]

I think that's. But they've been saying that for years. Right.

[AJ Hawk]

That's the thing. They haven't really ever said like it's coming out now, it's coming out now. It's just been, people have been so eager about it. And then I, I believe they released the first trailer last year and they were like 2025. So then people are like, oh, let's go March, April, they're going to release GTA. And then they announced like December 2025. And people were, of course we're going to have to wait again.

[Pat McAfee]

But that's going to do very, very well.

[AJ Hawk]

That, that'll be the, the most sold, the highest grossing video game of all time without a out.

[Pat McAfee]

Hey, that means we need to lock in on GTA 5. Yeah. Starting with GTA 6.

[Tone Diggs]

Is it more gory? Can they. Is there like the blood more realistic. You chopping dudes heads off. Like what is the new one?

[AJ Hawk]

I, I don't think they even have to do any of that. They don't have to up anything. They just have to release a new one.

[Boston Connor]

Bigger map.

[AJ Hawk]

Yeah, the map's three times the size is kind of New people. The new appeal. Yeah, new people.

[Pat McAfee]

I played this GTA game on my phone. I'd say 20 times. Okay. Most I've ever played a video game. Maybe Mario Kart. Cuz Mario Kart was kind of just like something that was dropped in everywhere. Yeah, I can see why. People, people. How long do people normally play that game?

[Evan Fox]

10 hours at a time.

[Boston Connor]

I beat it cuz I'm, I'm very casual. I beat it like maybe two years ago and it been out for a decade.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay, so how long do you play at one time though? Oh, I, that's not one of those games people get lost in, is it?

[Boston Connor]

Oh yes, you certainly can really like.

[Pat McAfee]

The Dungeons and Dragons.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah, you can play it for like six hours straight.

[AJ Hawk]

You can do it.

[Boston Connor]

You certainly.

[AJ Hawk]

I've beat it multiple times just because it came out so long ago. So when it first came out Obviously I played it and then like, I don't know probably what to what Bruce said like a couple years ago. I like, I haven't beat GTA in a while. So I redownloaded and played it again one time.

[Pat McAfee]

It took us six hours to be like a bank heist.

[AJ Hawk]

You can play online and you're just, you're.

[Pat McAfee]

You're in there the whole time just.

[Boston Connor]

Doing one mission over and over.

[Pat McAfee]

When you eat toast break. Yeah. You just go get some pizza rolls.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

Pause real quick.

[Evan Fox]

Is that the one you guys kept falling off that cliff or whatever.

[Pat McAfee]

Shocks. What was the group.

[AJ Hawk]

Yeah. Hungry Shacks.

[Boston Connor]

Hungry Hungry.

[AJ Hawk]

The Shack Gang.

[Pat McAfee]

Shocking.

[AJ Hawk]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

That was a good time.

[AJ Hawk]

There are. There is also like people who have been in that game so long that they become like billionaires. Not like the human person. Their video game character.

[Pat McAfee]

Now they're playing Sims and they got a king.

[AJ Hawk]

Exactly. And it's like an illustrious achievement. Like there's only four people, I think in the online game game who have earned over a billion dollars and they're.

[Pat McAfee]

Just living in there every day.

[AJ Hawk]

And they. Yes, they do.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. If I was a billionaire, I guess in a different world, I'd want to be living in there.

[Boston Connor]

That's what the metaverse was trying to be. But it actually already existed. It was just gta.

[Pat McAfee]

You remember when they were selling land in the metaverse? Yeah. That was. That was quite a good money grab.

[Tone Diggs]

How's that going?

[AJ Hawk]

500K.

[Tone Diggs]

It's already gone. We already missed it. We missed the window.

[Pat McAfee]

You're getting the spot next to Snoop Dogg spot. Yep. Well, how the do you know that? Is that really real? Yeah, look and they pull up a picture. Snoop Dogg spot. This is your spot. You can buy it today.

[Boston Connor]

Yep.

[Pat McAfee]

And you can even get access to Buy More in the future. Okay. I was boxing in there like every day. I was actually in. Yes. I was actually in that world every single day while it was happening. Because it was a great workout boxing in there. Thrill of the Fight, I believe is the name of the game. And Ugly Joe is on the COVID And it's a great, great workout. And you're throwing. You gotta throw bombs. You know, you can go. Leave it to the judges, I guess if you're like Evan Fox and Darius Butler and many others technician. I'm in there throwing bombs, like trying to. Great workout. So I actually felt like I was kinda kind of in, like I know how to operate.

[Darius Butler]

Almost killed.

[Pat McAfee]

Took exactly. Chuck fought Ugly Joe. And Ugly Joe's chin that day certainly had a little bit More than we thought it was. Sturdy Chuck Pagano somehow survived a three. A three round fight with ugly Joe in there. And I still think he might be sore from that particular. But I felt like I. I knew the meta world a little bit because I was in there so much. So whenever they started offering these things up for sale and it was like a lot of money. Remember 500 grand?

[Darius Butler]

Oh, yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

Live next to Snoop, they were selling a lot of. I'm like, it was just tough to. How would that work? I don't know how that works because I can just change my thing to face this way. Like I, I change the world just by hitting a A on this thing. And now all of a sudden I'm taking batting practice in New York. But wait, I want to face this direction. Let me just do this. So where is the space locked down at? Well, this is Snoop spot and you're locked down right here. It's like, but what if I just look this way? Am I. Yeah, don't worry about it. It's for sale.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah. People bought that $50,000.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah.

[AJ Hawk]

So many different people actually buy it.

[Tone Diggs]

Or they get gifted it. They're like, celebs get gifted land.

[Pat McAfee]

I think, I think people were selling it and I think people bought it. Like, I think there was people buying, buying, like saying they created a world in there and you can get space within the world. And it's like, okay, maybe possibly you can create a game within there. I get it. But like selling property inside this is quite a hot. It's scary.

[Tone Diggs]

If he didn't buy a bunch of it, then we know it's not real.

[AJ Hawk]

No, no to the. The celebs were gifted it, but that's how they sold it as like, hey, you're near Snoop Dogg. Like, that was the big one. So like the celebrity people, I don't know if they bought.

[Tone Diggs]

How many people can be near Snoop Dogg? Because we've heard that a million times.

[Pat McAfee]

That was the. Remember we were live. I think we're live while it was happening.

[Darius Butler]

Yes, there's a lot of L. You.

[Pat McAfee]

Ever see the Floor? You ever see the Floor on Fox? Good show. The hole. Hole is a great game. Needs to come back. The floor is. Who's the handsome guy? Rob Low. No, John Ham. Rob Lowe is the host at Jackham is very.

[Evan Fox]

Of the Floor.

[Pat McAfee]

Rob Lowe is the host of the Floor.

[Tone Diggs]

Oh yeah, I've seen.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay, so you've seen this before. The. It's interesting whenever you say a lot of land touching it because the goal is to get A bunch of the other people's spots and you're like kind of taking over. And then whoever you're connected to is who you can attack, you know, and like, do a trivia head to head against. And every once in a while, there's people that will just take over, like 30 spots from one thing, and it's. All of a sudden it's like over. You're not a favorite. I wonder in America a thing if there was like a. You could buy the whole place 2 million bucks. If anybody pulled the trigger on that. Because there was a lot of scams going on. There was the meta world. That was real estate that was being sold. That was alongside every other coin that was being dropped. At the same time, there's a lot of like, hey, you're getting a lot of money right now from the government because everybody's stuck at home. Why don't you spend it on this? This is good investment for your future. I was always too dumb to understand it.

[Darius Butler]

The. The monkeys, the apes.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah.

[Darius Butler]

And if these tiny six figures.

[Tone Diggs]

Remember the cards you opened live on the show one time that were part of that situation?

[AJ Hawk]

They are currently in a lawsuit, I.

[Pat McAfee]

Believe we had that guy on. Remember, he was the expert.

[AJ Hawk]

Oh, that's awesome.

[Pat McAfee]

And I kept clearing it up. I kept saying, what if. What if I screenshot it, though? What if I just.

[Tone Diggs]

You don't own the ip, but it's same looking here.

[Pat McAfee]

I have it as my background on my phone, though, so is that. I don't understand how I don't own. Own it now.

[Evan Fox]

You still have that one card. You're gonna be rich.

[AJ Hawk]

Zion Williamson, his first dunk dunk against the kings.

[Pat McAfee]

Oh, 50 bucks for. If it was 50 or 500, we bought it.

[Boston Connor]

I think it was 500.

[Pat McAfee]

500 bucks.

[Tone Diggs]

Cards physical cards are back. Kids are into cards now for sure.

[Pat McAfee]

Tops fanatics.

[Boston Connor]

Panini.

[Pat McAfee]

Panini.

[Tone Diggs]

They're doing however they did it. They did a good job getting kids like, oh, they're. It's back 1998 again. 95.

[Pat McAfee]

The card breaks. Breaking is. We do it with WWE every show. They basically talk about the cards and everything. I. I think if you listen to left go talk right Years back. You listen to Gary Vee talk. Years back, there was like, cards are real. You need to get cards. And I'm like, I'm not collecting cards. I apologize. Now it's like, there's a lot of card collections going on around right now. Maybe we should get ahead of that. This is the thing. I always think everything's A scam. I still got a Gary Veemon right here.

[AJ Hawk]

Hell yeah, I got a couple.

[Tone Diggs]

I got a couple of them too.

[AJ Hawk]

Yeah, I got them right here. This. This one was owned by. Two of these are owned by Gary Vee. Guess which two.

[Pat McAfee]

The Eager Eagle and the Gnome.

[AJ Hawk]

Oh, man. These two.

[Darius Butler]

Whoa.

[Pat McAfee]

And the. The Petty Pony.

[Evan Fox]

Dickhead Donkey.

[AJ Hawk]

The Eager Eagle. And the Hype Horse.

[Pat McAfee]

The Hype Horse.

[Tone Diggs]

What exactly are those?

[AJ Hawk]

What exactly are these? Fucking wake up. Welcome to the 21st century, dipshit.

[Pat McAfee]

These are trading pawns. These are Gary Vmon.

[AJ Hawk]

You can trade them. You can play with them. See, look, I'm the Hype Horse.

[Pat McAfee]

You.

[AJ Hawk]

But you're gonna do great today.

[Pat McAfee]

Let's go get Hype and shout out to America. Shout out to America in your right hand. Right there.

[AJ Hawk]

Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

America.

[AJ Hawk]

Let's go.

[Pat McAfee]

I'm the Eagle. Let's get eager about life today. Yeah. Feels like you're mocking it. I don't like it.

[AJ Hawk]

No, that's what you can do with them.

[Pat McAfee]

We're not getting in this again. We're not going through all sure.

[Boston Connor]

Wine crossover.

[Pat McAfee]

A likable leopard. I'll tell you what, I haven't seen that in a while. How about like a sponge? I like. I like that. And the love. The loyal lobster.

[AJ Hawk]

I'm a legit llama dog.

[Pat McAfee]

I'm a logical lion.

[Tone Diggs]

Level headed lizard.

[Evan Fox]

I haven't seen Gary get boozed up.

[Pat McAfee]

On a stream lately. What's going on? Yeah, how come we're not house and wine? Breaking cards.

[Evan Fox]

Ten balls of wine.

[Pat McAfee]

That was awesome. I forget what night that was. We were just watching him. He's just hammering bottles of wine. Hammering him like Gary Vee's kind of boozed up right now. In a stream. Breaking cards. Beating the boss. The loyal lion will really end the day.

[Darius Butler]

Yeah, well, intuitive and iguana.

[Pat McAfee]

What about the lit lamb, brother? What about the lit lamb?

[Darius Butler]

It's a good one too.

[Pat McAfee]

High Porce. Not a bad name.

[Evan Fox]

I love that.

[Pat McAfee]

What about the High Horse? They got a lot of those on there. I doubt it.

[AJ Hawk]

They're just the Hype.

[Pat McAfee]

Let's get out of here. See you tomorrow. Be a friend. Tell a friend something nice of my. Change your life. We're gonna send together team on me. Team on three. Hey, great work in the back. Boys.

[Tone Diggs]

Boys.

[Pat McAfee]

Graphic boys. Way to go, Graphic boys. Team on three. One, two, three. Goodbye.