PMS 2.0 1307 - Big Night AHT Ticket Release Day, Seth Greenberg, Michael Lombardi, & AJ Hawk

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Pat McAfee Show - PMS 2.0 1307

Release Date: March 13, 2025

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1. Big Night Out: Ticket Release and Event Overview

Host: Pat McAfee
Guests: AJ Hawk, Boston Connor, Ty Schmidt

Pat McAfee kicks off the episode with enthusiastic news about the inaugural Big Night Out event scheduled for Wednesday, April 9th, 2025, at the PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This marks a significant milestone for the show's history, as it ventures into selling tickets for the first time.

• Ticket Pricing & Availability:
  Tickets range from $20 to $95 (exclusive of Ticketmaster fees). Pat emphasizes the affordability to ensure wide accessibility:

  "We wanted this to be a very affordable evening for people to come have a great time."
  (00:00)

• Event Highlights:
  Attendees can expect over a million dollars in giveaways, unique entertainment, and opportunities to win big. Pat expresses deep gratitude to the fanbase for making this event possible:

  "We can't thank you all enough for allowing us to do this for a living."
  (01:00)

• Ticket Sales Performance:
  Despite initial technical glitches with Ticketmaster's website crashing due to high demand, sales have been robust. Pat shares real-time updates on ticket availability:

  "We still got some left, though. We still got like seven or... a couple hundred left."
  (04:25)

2. NFL Free Agency Highlights: Cooper Kupp and Aaron Rodgers

Guests: Boston Connor, Ty Schmidt

The discussion shifts to the bustling NFL free agency period, focusing on Cooper Kupp's potential movements and the speculative market around him.

• Cooper Kupp's Market Demand:
  With reports from sources like Adam Schefter indicating interest from 12 teams, including the Patriots, Seahawks, and Packers, Pat and the guests analyze possible bidding scenarios:

  "Cooper cup is a dog. He's a former triple crown winner... Everybody loves him. But at what price?"
  (04:25)

• Aaron Rodgers' Potential Moves:
  A significant portion of the conversation revolves around Aaron Rodgers, currently a free agent contemplating his next move. Speculation includes offers from the Pittsburgh Steelers, Minnesota Vikings, and New York Giants. The team dynamics and Rodgers' career decisions are dissected:

  "Aaron Rodgers is making a massive decision with what he's going to do at this stage of his career."
  (10:32)

  Pat expresses hope for Rodgers to join the Steelers, highlighting the team's synergy and potential for immediate success:

  "I'm a massive fan, and I would love to see him with the Pittsburgh Steelers."
  (11:22)

3. Interview with Michael Lombardi: Insights on College Basketball and March Madness

Guest: Michael Lombardi, General Manager of the North Carolina Tar Heels Football Team

In the second hour, Pat engages in an insightful interview with Michael Lombardi, delving into the current landscape of college basketball.

• March Madness Predictions:
  Michael offers expert analysis on potential contenders and dark horses:

  "The SEC could get three teams in the final four."
  (21:22)

• Team Performances:
  Discussions include powerhouse teams like Duke, under new coach John Shire, and potential breakout teams such as VCU and Drake. Michael praises coaching strategies and player development:

  "John Shire is doing it his own way... they're really fun to watch."
  (25:05)

• Impact of Free Agency on College Teams:
  Michael parallels NFL free agency strategies with college recruiting, emphasizing the importance of adaptable player positions:

  "You have to take multidimensional players that give you a chance to have a back door."
  (83:33)

4. Final Ticket Sales Update and Event Excitement

As the episode progresses, Pat provides the latest updates on the Big Night Out ticket availability, confirming that the event has sold out.

• Sold-Out Confirmation:

  "Officially sold out."
  (55:35)

• Acknowledgments and Gratitude:
  Pat extends heartfelt thanks to the team, including partners from WWE, for their pivotal roles in orchestrating the event:

  "Shout out to Marty, Fathom, Neil, Nick, obviously Lee in there."
  (104:19)

• Final Encouragement:
  Encouraging fans who managed to secure tickets, Pat vows to deliver an unforgettable experience:

  "It feels like it's gonna be a big time show and people just buying tickets on the thought of what it could be is sweet."
  (44:19)

5. Concluding Remarks and Teasers for Upcoming Shows

Pat wraps up the episode by reflecting on the successful ticket sales and building anticipation for the upcoming Big Night Out event.

• Event Anticipation:

  "We're going to make it well worth it…and I'm pumped for what we're doing and giving back to the city that obviously created me."
  (59:26)

• Farewell:
  Pat bids farewell with enthusiasm, reminding listeners of the event's significance and the show's commitment to delivering top-tier entertainment:

  "Wednesday, April 9, should be epic."
  (105:18)

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Notable Quotes

• "We wanted this to be a very affordable evening for people to come have a great time."
  — Pat McAfee (00:00)

• "Cooper cup is a dog. He's a former triple crown winner... Everybody loves him. But at what price?"
  — Pat McAfee (04:25)

• "Aaron Rodgers is making a massive decision with what he's going to do at this stage of his career."
  — Pat McAfee (10:32)

• "John Shire is doing it his own way... they're really fun to watch."
  — Michael Lombardi (25:05)

• "Officially sold out."
  — Pat McAfee (55:35)

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Conclusion

This episode of The Pat McAfee Show masterfully blends exciting announcements about the Big Night Out event with in-depth discussions on pressing NFL free agency topics and expert insights into the college basketball season. Pat McAfee, alongside his guests and special interview with Michael Lombardi, delivers a comprehensive and engaging narrative that keeps both avid fans and casual listeners informed and entertained.

For those interested in attending the Big Night Out, tickets were available until approximately 1:35 PM on March 13, 2025, but are now sold out. The event promises a night of unparalleled entertainment, substantial giveaways, and memorable moments, reinforcing Pat McAfee's commitment to providing unique and valuable experiences to his audience.

Transcript

[Pat McAfee]

Hello beautiful people and welcome to our humble abode, the Thunderdome on this glorious big night out. Tickets are on sale now. Thursday, March 13, 2025. Show starts now. Big night out. I'll tell you what it is. Big day for our particular program's history, our company's history. We don't sell a lot of stuff. Not really a big hey, you need to buy a ticket to see what we do type of program. But for the first time, long time. Tickets are currently on sale for a show that we are piecing together night in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on Wednesday, April 9th will be a night that I think a lot of people would talk about for a long time. And the tickets are currently available on Ticketmaster. You can scan that particular QR code or go to any of our social media platforms where we have basically all posted the link to get in there. Obviously there's $20 tickets all the way up to $95 tickets. That's before fees. I think the Ticketmaster fees are real, I think from what we have been learning. So the $95 ticket will obviously cost more due to the fees and the $20 t due to the fees. But I would like to say that we wanted this to be a very affordable evening for people to come have a great time, to come see things that maybe they never thought in their life that they'd ever be able to see. Maybe win big as over a million dollars in giveaways in the arena will be had that particular evening. And basically we just wanted people who don't normally get an opportunity to have a big night. Tickets on sale now. We can't thank you all enough for allowing us to do this for a living. And the fact that this is even coming together is all because you people allow us into your lives. And I will forever be indebted to that, which is why I try my best to give away as much as possible. And that'll be no different on April 9th at PPG paints arena in lovely Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Got a lot of people reaching out about tickets from, you know, growing up in Pittsburgh, being around Pittsburgh. Also some West Virginia people, Ohio people, even some people from here in Indiana are like, hey, can I get some tickets? How do I go about getting tickets? They're available right now and you can get them at Ticketmaster. And we can't thank you enough for coming and hanging with us. It's going to be. This could be stupendous, I would say. I think it's going to be stupendous. Allegedly Ticketmaster has been. Yeah, yeah, so we crashed the site. Thank you all so much for doing that. I don't love that that is the case, obviously, because I know there's certain sections that some people are going to be trying to get to and everything like that, but allegedly, the Ticketmaster site is currently not work. Okay. We're two and a half minutes in, three minutes into this entire thing. I think there's going to be a chance that this thing sells some tickets, which was a worry this morning because we don't sell a lot of stuff. I prefer to give free shows to people because I don't think people should be paying for what we're doing. But with the amount of investment and the amount of people that are going to be at Big Night Out, I think it was. Let's at least see who is going to be in there. 20 bucks feels good. I just spent 20 bucks on a coffee this morning with Doordash. That's crazy, that express fee. Yeah.

[Boston Connor]

Good coffee.

[Pat McAfee]

It was delightful. It really was. And I'll tell you a couple during the break. No, maybe it was last weekend I went and got a Starbucks. Yeah, we talked about this in the furniture this weekend. One got Starbucks, you know, and got Americano for the first time from the Starbucks in years. Maybe piping hot.

[Ty Schmidt]

Oh, yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

I hadn't had coffee hot in a long time because I doordash it every single day. And it's like lukewarm. That hot coffee, first of all, still has its fastball, but also vastly different, better taste than the lukewarm coffee I've been drinking every day that I've been paying about 20 bucks for. Right. Every single morning. Wanted it to be affordable for people. Hopefully they're able to get the tickets. Anyways, let's move along. A lot happening in sports. The talks to tables here at Boston, Connor and at Ty Schmidt. You boys could be a part of the show, the big night Out. I know you were pumped about it, con man. I also know you're pumped about where free agency has gone for your particular program.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah, very pumped about Big Night Out. Me and Ty have, you know, already discussed outfits and things of that nature already kind of getting those. Those wheels turning now. But no free agency. Absolutely. A big name yesterday, Cooper Cup. And we heard from Shefty on one of the sports Centers, I believe 12 teams involved. The three teams he listed in that segment, we're actually the Patriots, the Seahawks, and the Green Bay Packers. So we'll see if it's a bidding war. We'll see if he wants to go win Somewhere you hope it's a bidding war as a Patriots fan because of opportunity and compensation. But then when you look at some of those other teams involved, if there are legitimately 12 of them, which is what the report was and at what.

[Pat McAfee]

Price, you know, everybody, this is kind of. We'll be talking to Michael Lombardi in the second hour. The current general manager of the North Carolina Tar Heel football team. He's been around the NFL 100 years. We'll say, you know, started with the Raiders with actually Al Davis and has worked through every single building. He's multiple time super bowl champion. His life is committed to football. I mean, that has been his entire thing. And he said every time they see amount of teams that are interested, like everybody's going to call to see what the price is. You know, a lot of people are going to be like, okay, so what's Cooper expecting? What is the thing? Are they interested or are they just kind of trying to find out what the actual thing is? Now, I believe Cooper cup is going to have a lot of suitors. Okay, Cooper cup is a dog. He's a former triple crown winner and if you even count the yards after catch, I think he won all top four stats that you could have as a wide receiver just a few years back. Everybody loves him. But at what price? You know, I think at this stage of free agency where people's salary caps are, if Cooper cup is taking 10 million a year or if he's taking 5 million a year, like D Hop just signed for up to 6 million with the Ravens or is he looking for like 15 million a year because he still thinks he can be a massive mature or even a 20, like that is probably what like 12 teams are like. What is the asking price? 12 is a lot of people that'll be snooping around. That's a good spot for Cooper cup to be. If what Schefter's saying is true.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah, fantastic spot. And you would think that because of the D Hop deal, that might be something that teams are looking at. If he wants to sign a one year deal, I would, you know, think he signs more. So like a three year, you know, 50 or 40 million. Looking at what Godwin got, you know, Godwin is coming off a really bad injury and he got three for 60 something, I believe. So it feels like he could be in that range. But again, yeah, if he, if he just wants to win games, you know, why wouldn't you go to a Green.

[Pat McAfee]

Bay or a Detroit or on the D Hop deal.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah, or a K.C. yeah. On a one year, $5 million deal, and then, hey, you're 33 next year, 34 next year, you could probably still get a, a nice little deal too. Then if, if you wanted to go, then try and cash in again.

[Pat McAfee]

But if somebody's going to offer him 15 million or 12 million, New England. Yeah. Why? You know, that's a, that's the interesting game at this stage, especially with somebody who has a chance to be great. Joey Bosa signs $12 million deal with the Buffalo Bills. Now, obviously, can you remain on the field is the big question mark. But if he is able to what a hit for the Buffalo bills at 12 million to get a pass rusher. If you get Cooper cup and everything's like, can he stay healthy? Can he stay healthy? If he does and you pay him 7 to 10, that is a great price for a wide receiver that can dominate 15 million even if he has a massive year and he's able to stay healthy. Those are all the decisions that kind of have to happen with these GMs, you know, and I'm happy that I'm not in one of those seats because I'd be doing the Haslam trick. You get 40 mil, you get 230 million guaranteed. You do this entire thing. It's not easy to kind of balance all of that shit. Ty Schmidt.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah, no, I mean, and especially for a guy like that, if, like, I'm just speaking from the lens of like the packers, as a Packers fan, they, they didn't give out a whole bunch of money in the first two days. Like, we saw the contracts that came out, but the guaranteed money that they allotted, like, wasn't crazy. So, like, those guys can go earn a bunch of money from the contracts they signed. But also you look at what Cooper cup did for Puka Nuku's development, and obviously Puka is a dog, but he's told us time and time again, like, hey, he, he showed me, you know, like, how to be successful in this league, how you got to go about, you know, becoming a pro. And for a team like the packers, they have the lowest amount of salary, you know, committed to their receiver room, and they have a bunch of young dudes, so they didn't necessarily want to go out and get a guy like DK Metcalf and pay $30 million a year for him. But if you can get Cooper cup on, you know, a two year deal or a three year deal, and he's making, you know, 10 to 15 million dollars a year and he can be that vet who can, you know, bring these young guys along. Like, I think that's maybe a reason why they didn't go crazy on the first couple days of free agency.

[Pat McAfee]

Let's go to 1/2 of the Hammer Cowboys AP tone with Cowboy hat back on. Congratulations to you. Feels like you did that strictly so Shaquille O'Neal would not call you out individually during the con. That is true. Okay. Love that. Read the Just like AJ one got a haircut because Shaq was coming on. You know, he knew he was going to compliment him. You put the cowboy hat because you knew Shaq was coming on. You know, there's some people that just have that type of effect on humans. Shaquille O'Neal is certainly one of them. We talk about Cooper cup being available. How about Russell? Russell Wilson now yesterday after the show goes off air, it is reported that Russell Wilson traveled to meet with the Cleveland Browns. I believe he's also talking to the New York Giants. There's a lot of stories. And then if you go with the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback situation, which Russell Wilson was potentially a part of, not as loud anymore, especially after he visits Cleveland and Giants are still in on the convo. Mason Rudolph signed back with Pittsburgh Steelers 4 1/2 million or whatever the case is. So quarterback shuffle still happening. But everybody's waiting on a man who was on I think his own beach on Tuesday night captured by paparazzi with a long lens. You can tell it was a long lens from the quality of the photo and seems like he was contemplating a lot of things. I think that is currently what he is in the middle of. I think, you know, do I want to play still? Is this something like did the last two years at the New York jets and it's not coming from messages to me because once again I've been trying to get answers and have not been getting answers. I don't think a lot of people have been because I think Aaron's trying to find answers right now on what are he want to do, does he want to commit to another year? Did the jets situation make him want to play football and prove himself or did the jets situation make him say I don't know if I want to go through all that again. We don't know still at this case at this point if Aaron wants to play. Now you got a lot of Pittsburgh Steelers people saying he needs to give us an answer because the way it's being reported by Schefter shrags local media, basically everybody is like Aaron Rodgers is just basically holding the Pittsburgh. Aaron Rodgers is making a massive decision with what he's going to do at this stage of his career, whether it's walk away or go play in Pittsburgh for legendary team Pittsburgh Steelers or play any of the other places that are potentially interested, whether reported or not. I feel like he. After seeing this photo and once again, we have not really chatted with him much. Tried to, it's been a one way, but have not really chatted with him much. It's like, I think he's deeply contemplating a lot of shit. I mean, you're not going down to the beach. Okay. And looking out into the great unknown and going with. Yeah. Plugged into. Who knows? Could be anything.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah, we have. I have a couple theories.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, we have a couple theories, but it could be the complete opposite, too. I mean, it could be like instrumental music, the sounds of the ocean. It could be the sounds while he's next to the ocean because the ocean's not giving him enough. Maybe, I don't know, could be podcasts. You know, it could be. I mean, there's a lot of things he could be. But when I saw these photos, I'm like, oh, Aaron's like going, it feels like this. And this kind of reinforces. This is a massive decision for him. And I know Pittsburgh Steelers fans are at the point where they're like, he needs to tell us today or not. But there is a chance that he is actually trying to figure out what his life is going to look like in the football world, whether it stops or where it's going to continue.

[AJ Hawk]

Yeah, correct. It's a massive decision. It's the first time he's a free agent in his entire career and he's making a decision whether he wants to continue his long, illustrious career or not. So it is a huge, massive decision. And I got, I got news for you Anti Sealers fans. You're on Aaron's time now and so you better buckle up.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay, See, you're getting. This is you. This is you perpetuating exactly what I was just saying.

[AJ Hawk]

I'm just saying, like this. I mean, his time is a flat circle, so we have no idea how long this is going to take or whatever. But as you said, Steelers did bring back Mason Rudolph today, so at least you do have kind of have a fallback there. He started a little bit last year. He had some good times, he had some bad times.

[Pat McAfee]

We want Rudolph. That was chanted in acresher. Is that the name?

[AJ Hawk]

Maybe Heinz is currently the name. I can't remember. Yeah, it was definitely the sure. At that time.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay, good. Down the shore. Exactly.

[AJ Hawk]

He had a roller coaster career and he went to Tennessee for a year and absolutely balled out. I mean, look at that throw. You kidding me?

[Pat McAfee]

There's.

[AJ Hawk]

There's a handful of quarterbacks in the NFL that can make that 3:12 here. But no, but you also talked about Rusko and the, to visit the, the Giants and the Browns. It felt like the Giants kind of felt like they were.

[Pat McAfee]

They.

[AJ Hawk]

They realized that, hey, we're probably not getting here, and this is probably down to the Steelers or potentially retirement, so we're going to have to bring in Russ. I feel bad for Kenny because they brought in Kenny and Russ was kind of the guy that kicked Kenny out of Pittsburgh last year and now he's trying to do the same to the, to the Browns up there. But no, it's. There's still a carousel going on. There's some answers coming, but still the big chess piece is Aaron Rodgers. And I brought it up yesterday. There's a full blood moon tonight going into tomorrow morning. So if he's looking for answers at the ocean, which the moon does control, feels like my theory is not so crazy.

[Pat McAfee]

Is it, guys? Okay. When the moon hits his eyes like a big pizza pie, is he still playing ball or not?

[Boston Connor]

I mean, I believe, you know, there's a chance. Mother Ayahuasca told him, when the moon turns red, Aaron, it's time to call your career.

[Pat McAfee]

So there's been a lot of these over the last, like, year. Hasn't it been much more prevalent of these moons that we're not supposed to see? What was the blood orange? There was an orange one. Obviously the blue moon is something that's supposed to once in a blue moon.

[Ty Schmidt]

But, like, happens all the time.

[Pat McAfee]

It feels like we've been seeing it a lot, the blood moon. Okay. This was last year. I think I remember it reflecting off the lake and it's like, awesome. I mean, all these things are awesome. But it feels like the moons have been a little bit more active.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

And maybe it's just we're paying attention.

[Boston Connor]

More or maybe someone's inside of it. Light it up.

[Michael Lombardi]

You think there's somebody with, I don't.

[Pat McAfee]

Know, something with a, I don't know, manner there?

[Boston Connor]

I mean, allegedly they landed a drone on it last week. Then why don't we have a live feed? You know, you got live feeds on Mars?

[Pat McAfee]

Then what? Yeah, that. The Mars thing's interesting. Yeah. Because we're just calling them up.

[Boston Connor]

I don't know.

[Michael Lombardi]

I don't know, man.

[Pat McAfee]

I think they have a landline. Are we just calling it. Like, how's that get. I don't know how any of it works. I don't know how I FaceTime with my wife and I'm just like two blocks away. Sure. I don't know how I call somebody in California and FaceTime and they just answer and there's no delay. How about people in Hawaii? You FaceTime with them? I don't know how any of that works, but I think it involves, like, satellites and then coming back to us. So they just open up that some bitch and they just shoot it to Mars.

[Ty Schmidt]

They must.

[Pat McAfee]

It comes.

[Ty Schmidt]

But then there would still have to be some sort of, you know, telephone pole or signal on Mars that we installed at some point, you know, or maybe a rover, you know, set down at some point. It makes no sense.

[Boston Connor]

Through the space station, perhaps. I mean, technology is crazy. You can watch entire wars online if you want to, you know. How does that even work?

[Pat McAfee]

Well, I heard.

[AJ Hawk]

Not anymore.

[Pat McAfee]

I don't know if that's the.

[AJ Hawk]

I heard.

[Pat McAfee]

I don't know if that's the craziest technology.

[Boston Connor]

I think it's pretty crazy, man.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, I mean, it's certainly crazy. Yeah, certainly. There's a lot of crazy technology. It's just fascinating that that's the one that you want with. Nonetheless, the war right now that's happening in Pittsburgh is, we want a quarterback now, Aaron, do you want to be a Steeler or not? Is how they feel, and rightfully so. But also on the flip side of that, understand that there's probably a chance that Aaron is contemplating a lot right now in his life already. Hall of Fame, already wealthy, already has a lot of other shit that he can go do. I mean, there is a lot of those things that happen, but that's what. When you don't have a quarterback on your roster, like, that is one of the things you kind of have to deal with, especially if you're going to get a goat, one of the goats.

[AJ Hawk]

You see a lot of the reports coming out now that, hey, oh, it's. It's not about money. Wonder, wonder, what show said that earlier in the week. The show gets no goddamn respect when we report stuff.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, well, I think the issue is the way we deliver it. People don't know if we're being serious or not.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah, that's fair.

[Pat McAfee]

But then whenever we're making jokes about something, they take it as if we're serious. So it's almost like it's on purpose. It feels like it is.

[Boston Connor]

Could argue that.

[Pat McAfee]

Feels like it's targeted. Feels like they're trying to maybe paint like Michael Lombardi. He'll be joining us next hour. In the morning, it was reported that Unc. The football team will be doing Hard Knocks off season this year. Everybody on the Internet heard this. Boom. Unc People heard everybody. Okay. Bill Belichick. We're getting a look inside of that. We have Michael Lombardi, the general manager of the team, on literally two hours later, and he sits down next to us. He goes. I wouldn't say that is necessarily done. A lot of people reaching out to us to kind of do this entire thing. So we'll figure. Figure that out. Nobody even listened. Nobody even cared. Continue to run. What they're doing hard knocks. They're doing a hard knocks. Everybody gets excited about it. Then next week, somebody has to come out and say so in a turn of events. They're not doing hard. It's like never were.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

You know, but we. I thought we got it. I thought we journalized that. I thought we did some journalism pretty well. They always circle back, though. What do you mean? Like when they're.

[Seth Greenberg]

They're wrong and we were right.

[AJ Hawk]

They always circle back and let people know.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. People remember that. Good. Yeah. Yeah. What do we know, though? Nothing. We're just. Bunch of doofuses in Indiana. Luckily lucky to do what we do. We'll be talking to Seth Greenberg here in a few moments because March Madness has begun. All the conference tournaments are beginning. I believe Gumpy was at one of the Big Ten games last night that went into double overtime. Ended at about 11:30. Who was playing Rutgers in USC. Yeah. It was an absolute banger. Unbelievable. Iowa, Ohio State.

[AJ Hawk]

Very good game before it as well.

[Pat McAfee]

Big Ten tournament heating up against today.

[Boston Connor]

Let's go.

[Pat McAfee]

What is this? Tiaa. It's from their website. I don't know what that stands for.

[AJ Hawk]

It's TIA Craft.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah.

[Ty Schmidt]

TIA Craft.

[Boston Connor]

Oh, yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

So they sold the naming rights to the tournament.

[Ty Schmidt]

They must have.

[Pat McAfee]

I don't love everybody doing that. Can we not hold at least the title in a pretty high regard? Like if ti. Oh, so it's the TIAA Big Ten Men's Basketball tournament. Cool with that? If they start calling the. And then the tournament bracket is by if. Okay.

[Ty Schmidt]

And I thought the Big Ten was in a good spot. I thought they didn't have to do this kind of. You're talking, remember Big 12.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah.

[Ty Schmidt]

Having to sell every football. Yeah.

[AJ Hawk]

But you know, basketball. You still gotta pay the bill.

[Boston Connor]

Doesn't got the juice.

[Pat McAfee]

No, I understand. Okay, so it's the tia, which we did not know was a company. It is a company. And boy, what TIAA does.

[Boston Connor]

Is it tia you talking about insurance.

[Pat McAfee]

Is what Bruce is saying. Oh, tia. Tia. Okay, yeah, we're pronouncing it wrong. It's tia. Tia. Men's tournament is obviously happening here in Indianapolis. Very thankful that Indianapolis is the host for that. You get some magical games. Now we're going to have Greenberg on, obviously, because he used to coach and he covers it every single week on that college Game day show with Rhys Davis and Jay and Cheney.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah, Cheney, I believe, as well.

[Pat McAfee]

No, no, it's Andrea. Yeah, Andrea is out there. Good show. I watch on Saturdays, I see College Game day, and I thought the first week it was on, I didn't know I should know more. I don't pay attention enough. I apologize. I thought it was like a recap of, like, football clubs. So I'm like, college game day. What is this? I wonder what they're doing. And it was the basketball one. I'm like, oh, yeah. Reese host the basketball one as well. This past weekend, they were at Duke unc. So obviously it was a great environment. Yeah, Bill Belichick stopped by. It was. It was a good show. Seth is great on there, though, you know, and he is the person that will obviously help us understand who should be playing well, who should we be looking out for, and also who can we make money off of in the tournament. Ladies and gentlemen, joining us now, college basketball analysts on ESPN. He coached from 1978 to 2012. Holy shit. D1 head coach for 22 years, two time ACC coach of the year. Ladies and gentlemen, coach Seth Greenberg. How you doing, coach?

[Michael Lombardi]

Honored to be on with you guys. How's life?

[Pat McAfee]

Fantastic, now that you're joining us. And we heard, heard that whenever you were asked if you wanted to come on our show, you were like enthusiastically. Yes, we would like to let you know, as an ESPN analyst with that type of response. We appreciate the hell out of you. That's very kind of you.

[Michael Lombardi]

Let's go. Let's go talk some ball. And it's a great time of the year. I mean, like, we can educate the folks and give them kind of a little insight. We're here in Nashville right now. I'm sitting on the balcony. Got a good look right there. Got hurt a little bit the other day. Hurt my hand, but I played hurt. I mean, it's so all about.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. What happened? Did you punch somebody?

[Michael Lombardi]

I wanted. I want to give you A good start. I really do, but I can't. I tripped coming back from the bathroom, landed on the side of the bed. Six stitches, actually. The 7 o'clock sports center. Hit first, then went to the hospital and got the stitches.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. Played through injury. I mean, that's the type of ball we're looking for. That's the type of basketball mindset that we love and enjoy. This was in the middle of the night or this was in the morning. When did you didn't see the bed?

[Michael Lombardi]

The middle of the night. So I just kind of put some rubbing alcohol on it, wrapped it up. When did my hit? In the morning. Then drove to the emergency room, got stitched up. Six stitches.

[Pat McAfee]

Stop. The toe too off the bed or just.

[Michael Lombardi]

No, no, no, the toe was fine.

[Pat McAfee]

It was just.

[Michael Lombardi]

It's a bad landing, Pat. It was a bad landing. I mean, I. I have pretty good agility for no fart, but I'm a little disappointed in myself. I mean, my. I'm only. I'm gonna make the excuse my wife. I always have my workout gear right next to the bed, so I get in the morning workout.

[Pat McAfee]

Of course.

[Michael Lombardi]

So I want to say she moved it, but she didn't.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay, yeah, blame the wife. I mean, that's good move. I don't know how long you guys have been together. I'm sure that'll go over well. Well, thank you for joining us.

[Michael Lombardi]

38 years.

[Pat McAfee]

Congratulations. That's awesome. That is awesome. As a bunch of married men here with one, you know, looking for love, currently maybe possibly finding it at the moment. We have mad respect for that. Now, let's talk a little bit about basketball here. I looked at some of the numbers, and I think duke is like minus 160 or something to make the semifinals. I think they are like the odds on favorite this year. Is that accurate? And what tournaments should we be looking at to be the most electrifying? Is it an SEC year? Is it acc? Is it Big Ten? Which conference is really the one that's going to be most electrifying through these conference attorneys? And who are the big dogs that we need to pay attention to?

[Michael Lombardi]

Coach, SEC is ridiculous. Every single game is not a game. It's an event. I mean, the level of playing the SEC is second to none right now. Look, here's the deal. How did the SEC get so good? Because they invested. Your investment equals your expectation. The sec, like they do in every other sport, they invested. They invested in coaches, infrastructure, nil facilities, and they're just ahead of the curve right now. But this conference, this tournament is absolutely ridiculous. Every single game is potentially a top 25 matchup. And some of these teams are trying to play their way in still. Like Texas had a big win last night. They got a shot at Texas A and M tonight. Texas A and M turns over and rebounds like their best offense is a missed shot. Texas A and M and Texas has got a dude that's a lottery pick. Reminds me of Ray Allen and Trey Johnson. So that game is going to break in. John Cal per. Anytime he plays, it's an event. Probably did a better job with this team than any job he done with his Kentucky teams the last few years. Amazing. They're winning games. You know, Missouri, Dennis Gates has done a great job in Oklahoma. Jeremiah Fears, if you want to watch a game, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Jeremiah Fears, whose brother Jeremy Fears plays for Michigan State. Jeremiah Fierce is a freak, an absolute freak. He's got a little bit of Kyrie Irving in his game. So like the games are just great. You know, Florida to me is the best team in the country. Auburn's right, right there. Obviously Duke stands by themselves, but the SEC could get three teams in the final four.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay, so that is abnormal. Normally it's the ACC world. Duke obviously representing the acc. UNC had a bad year. I only know that because I saw the Duke UNC stuff. I watched your guys's college game day from down there. Got a lot of info and intel and then I checked in on the game later. Duke was doing their thing. I think they were up like 13, 14 in the second half and there was like an. Somebody dunked in the middle of the UNC people. And I was like, yeah, this feels like a one sided rivalry at the moment. Who else out of the acc? It's a Duke game. They're representing the Atlantic like it's Duke and Louisville.

[Michael Lombardi]

The guy, the job Pat Kelsey's done this year approval is unbelievable. It took a team that was in disarray and has absolutely done a mind boggling job. Went to the portal and he got all guys from winning programs. So we got Chucky Hepburn from, from Wisconsin. He got Terence Edwards from JMU where he won. He got this guy, Rain Smith, a left hander, was a big time shooter. He fit the pieces together. So they are legit. Clemson's legit. Clemson could be an elite 18. Clemson, Brad Brunell, he's picked the right guy. He's got an experienced backcourt he could name. Chase Hunter. Matched him up with a guy named Jaden Zachary, transfer from bc, got a Victor Locking kid Who transferred from Cincinnati. They're legit. Those three teams are really good. Carolina's got to play their way in. They're on the outside looking in right now of the tournament. They've got a game tonight against Wake Forest. They win that game. That's a quad two win, which does helps them a little bit. They're 1 and 11 in quad one games. I don't know how that would equate to the college football playoffs. But one in 11, even though they played a tough schedule, that's not good. If they win today, they get Duke. That'll be an opportunity to get, you.

[Pat McAfee]

Know, obviously quality win. Quad one, good teams, quad two. Okay teams, quad three, crop teams. How do you do against good teams? UNC 1 and 11. Exactly. Okay, got it.

[Michael Lombardi]

Yeah, but they played really good teams. Like they've lost to Auburn, they've lost to Florida, they've lost to Alabama. You know, they've lost the really good teams. But eventually you got to beat the good teams to get in. And they got an opportunity against Wake Forest. Wake Forest beat him early in the season. Carolina's playing a lot better. They're getting some play from their front court. That'll be an interesting game to watch. Duke by far has separated themselves. What John Char has done at Duke is pretty amazing. I don't know how you would equate it to football. He signed the best recruiting class in the country with Cooper Flagg, who's just an absolute monster. He's a freak.

[Pat McAfee]

Yes.

[Michael Lombardi]

I mean he impacts the game every single time. And then he retained. He retained two guards, one Tyrese Proctor, which is really important.

[Pat McAfee]

Important.

[Michael Lombardi]

But the rest of that freshman class is good. This kid Cannibal is a big time shooter. They got a shop locker, mallet, watch. And then he went to the Portal and got like winning dudes like, like legitimate, like tough ass winning dudes that all they want to do is have a chance to play in the final four, win a national championship. So he put that all together and he's not Coach K, he's John Shire and he's doing it his own way. It's kind of cool to watch a guy that stood by the guy, the man and said, you know what, I understand how he did it. Like, I can't do it that way. I'm going to do it and be comfortable in my own skin. And that's exactly what he's done. They are really fun to watch every.

[Pat McAfee]

Once in a while. You can't get out of that shadow, you know. And then all of A sudden you start doing stuff your way, Winning, boom. All of a sudden you're an equal. And hopefully you'll be able to do it for 30 years down there. Duke, obviously, that's what they're hoping for. Had a chance to go down there for the rivalry against UN unc, for football, for college game day. What a campus. What a campus. Oh, it is beautiful. Same with unc, from what we've been told from Lombardi and them. Okay, so big 10, big 12. Anybody dancing from those two conferences in your eyes?

[Michael Lombardi]

Yeah. I mean, I think the Big 12 is an interesting one. I got a couple of sleepers at the Big 12. I think BYU is a sleeper in terms of the NCAA tournament. What they do is they play it wide open and style play where they're going to shoot over 50% of the shots for the three. They can really shoot it. They got an international cred. Jaguar Demin, who's a Croatian kid, if I'm not mistaken, or a Russian kid who can really pass it. This kid, Richie Sanders, can really shoot the three. They're like my sleeper. Sleeper to make a deep run in the NCAA tournament. Because style of play, like in. In the NCAA tournament, it's all about matchups. It's 100% about matchups. So style of play is like the most important thing. Can you oppose your style of play on your opponent? So if you can do that, like a play a school like byu, they can do it. Like, Iowa State's a dangerous team because they're so physical. They defend. They've got a toughness about it. Kansas a little bit down right now. The depth of the Big 12 is good. Like, Arizona is good. BYU is good. The depth of the conference is good. I'm not sure they have a national championship, except maybe Houston, who just plays like they place like put shoulder pads on and just beat the crap out of you.

[Pat McAfee]

Love that.

[Michael Lombardi]

For 40 minutes, wear your ass down. I mean, they just. Just wear your ass down. Yeah, they rebound, they turn you over, and eventually they make a three in the big.

[Pat McAfee]

In Big Ten. You think Michigan State has a chance? Because Izzo's in there.

[Michael Lombardi]

I love Izzo. It's like one of my dear friends. I absolutely love the guy. This is his best team since his last final 14. And Jason Richardson obviously played for way back. Kind of a cool thing for Tom to coach his son, Chase Richardson, and he's the most. Tom said to me that he's their most efficient and player that he's freshman he's ever coached. Now the dude has coached some good freshmen. Like he's coached some like really good freshmen. Jerry Jackson, he's coaching. He's coached like big time Frenchman. Michigan State's built for the tournament because they rebound the hell out of it. They're relentless defensively. They beat in transition. The one thing they don't do, they don't shoot it very straight at times, but they get extra possessions by offense of rebounding. The three. The three is a little suspect, but they wear it down. They've had nine different guys lead him in scoring.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay, nine different guys. That's good news and potentially bad news, you know, because if, if people start.

[Michael Lombardi]

Chase Richardson's their guy.

[Pat McAfee]

He's a dog. Okay, all right.

[Michael Lombardi]

All Chase Richardson is a bad dude.

[Pat McAfee]

Worst three point shooting team in the Big Ten and they still won the Big Ten. That makes no sense at all in this day and age. That's Michigan State fan foxy right there, coach. Okay, last question for me before the boys have some. What's the no name team? What's the mid major team that we're going to see go on a run? Who has the makings or what? Couple teams have the makings to potentially be the Cinderella storyline through March Madness.

[Michael Lombardi]

I think Drake does. I mean Drake has a. Ben, Ben starts as kid. They, they start three D2 guys. Now think about that. They start three D2 guys and those three dudes are just balling. They're just balling. And Ben McCollum, their coach, longtime D2 coach, like four national championships, like eight Final Fours. He'll be one of the hottest coaches in the country this year in terms of movement. Might end up at Indiana for all I know. And he's got three D2 guys. They run a really, really sophisticated offense. They share the basketball. They turn it over a little bit. About 18% of possessions. A little bit of a concern defensively though, they take it away. More like Virginia esque offensively and defensively. Except they create more turnovers. They're one. And if BYU makes it, they should, even as an at large. Watch out for Ryan Odin, another hot coaching candidate throughout the country. They start basically five seniors, six fifth or sixth year guys, terrific backcourt. A guy named Matt Shuga who's an international kid who could really play. Jack Parker played in the Final Four last year. I mean they're really good. So I would say VCU and Drake are two. That depending on matchups they can make a little bit of a run in the tournament.

[Pat McAfee]

Drake, you said 3D2 guys. That's like Indiana hoosiers. That's what they. Kurt Signetti led Indiana Hoosiers. They basically take a bunch of FCs.

[Michael Lombardi]

That's a good one.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, they went on a run too, you know. Does their coach talk?

[Michael Lombardi]

I'll give you Kurt Signetti story. He rented my apartment. Apartment for me when I was at Pitt. I left Pitt. I got fired. A pit. I had to leave. I had an apartment. Kurt Signetti rented my apartment from me. I think he still owes me money and I think he can afford.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, you're certainly not getting it either. You need to know that. You can put a little tax on that. But yeah, he brought in a lot of guys that had chips on their shoulders, maybe overlooked, but played a lot of ball and they were able to rally that. Maybe that's the. A recipe for the tournament. Now there's another team you haven't brought up with a legend. Go ahead, Connor.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah, Seth, tell me about Rick Patino's Red Storm. I for one am not really a fan of any specific team in this tournament, but it feels like I'm riding with the Johnnies. I already placed a couple bets on them. That's the team I want to see go, especially with the Rick Patino story. But do you think they also are one of those teams that could go on a massive run and possibly win the whole thing?

[Michael Lombardi]

The Godfather.

[Pat McAfee]

Oh, yeah.

[Michael Lombardi]

Rick pitino. Since I'm 13 years old, he played the same parts that we played in New York. And he's. He, he's a savant. He takes his team and beat you. He takes your team and beat you. I mean, the guy is that good. He's a like, like he's relentless. I mean, that's just the way it is. The guy's a bit. I mean, like, he just. His teams wear your ass down. Elite defensive team, they turn you over, they press, they foul every play, but they redefine a foul so like you can't call on fouls. So eventually they just beat your crap out of here and wear you down. They really good offensive rebounding team. I really like them. I think they're a leading potential fighter for another team that doesn't shoot the three that great. But at the end of games, remember these two names. Kadari, Richmond. Guys, it's his third school. He's been all over New York. He started at Syracuse, he went to Seton Hall. Now he's in the New York point of Madison Square. Guard. He's a 6, 6 point guard. And he just gets downhill, sees over the defense, make plays and rj Lewis is a great closer. They've got two really good closers, and they got a savant coaching them. And if they let them play, this team has a little of that Louisville Rick Patino in them. Not. Not. Not the Providence, not the Kentucky, but the Louisville Rick. The team, you know, that just physically wear you down so they can make a deep run because it goes back to style of play. Can they impose that style play on you? Yes, they can. And when they do that, they get exercises on the glass, they get exercises on their defense. They get to the free throw line. They just got a toughness. And like, the dude, like, think about this. Here's Rick. The team we started at Boston University, work for Rick Eubie Brown. Ended up coaching the Knicks. Went to Shanghai LA in Kentucky.

[Pat McAfee]

All right.

[Michael Lombardi]

Left to go to Boston Celtics. That was a disaster. Didn't get Tim Duncan. If he was guaranteed Tim Duncan, it would have been different. Goes to Louisville, goes through all that stuff, goes overseas, and then comes back from Iona. And now he's literally the godfather of New York. There's not. I mean, like, if you like the New York Post. I'm a New York guy. I grew up with the New York Post. Like, he lives on the back page. I mean, he's taken over New York basketball in a year where the freaking Knicks. Yeah, I grew up. I was there when Willis came out of the tunnel, man. I mean, I grew up with the Knicks. I mean, like, Rick is like, hey, Fitz. You guys, wait. All right, Jalen Brunson, we'll see you in a couple of weeks. Right now, we're taking over New York.

[Pat McAfee]

I love to hear that. You know, New York Post hasn't always been great to us, but I respect everything that they are for the people of New York. And Patino, I think, has a documentary going on right now, too, right? Yes. Oh, yeah. Behind the scenes.

[Michael Lombardi]

It's hilarious if they.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. Every quote he has, every. He said, I love them because how hard they play. His. His most recent quote is like, I love him because how hard these guys. Here it is right here. Here's his most recent quote that we saw on the Internet. Love everything about it just being this wide open.

[Ty Schmidt]

How much enjoyment are you taking coaching this group?

[Pat McAfee]

Well, it's. It's twofold, Anson. I'm having a great time because they give me everything they have when they shoot the free throws and when they shoot from the field, I want to kill myself. And he means it. Sounds like he means it. These guys can't shoot threes, but we're definitely tough. I can't wait to watch it. Maybe Regular Storm Rising is the name of the documentary Pitino. I will certainly check that out to learn more. One of the legends. Love that he's back in New York doing his thing. Ty has a question for you, coach.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah, coach, obviously everyone knows about Cooper flag and then you got broom from Auburn. Outside of those two guys, though, who do you think is the best player in the tournament? And then who do you think is someone who might have like a Steph Curry, Jimmer Fredette type run and really make a name for themselves?

[Michael Lombardi]

Oh, those are good. Those. Those are really good. That's. That's a really good question. Jeremiah Fierce could turn into one of those dudes that like, you just want turn on a watch at Oklahoma. Like, I watched him last night. Like, all I do is watch Paul. I mean, I'm a really simple guy, you know, I mean, like I coach for 33 years. I'm doing this thing, pump faking my way through life. I mean, I just want my fears yesterday. And I'm like, oh, like, like, like this dude's got like all kinds of crap in his game. I can't say that other word.

[Pat McAfee]

You.

[Michael Lombardi]

You guys can get away with it. Save and get away with it. I'll use crap. But like, like, like, no.

[Pat McAfee]

Allegedly saving can. Allegedly. There was complaints. I just read online that people were complaining about save it. It's like, why don't you shut your hole up, okay? Why don't you do that? Use crap. Got it. Got it.

[Michael Lombardi]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah.

[Michael Lombardi]

But anyway, like, he's different. There's a guy named Yakachon at Illinois. You want to watch a dude that owns the tempo of the game. Like, you put the ball in his hands, he just controls everything in the game. I'm going to give you a little bit of a sleeper. Illinois started the season really good. Then they had all kinds of injuries, and then they got set. They had a bunch of guys with the flu and like a period of time where they weren't playing without their dudes. They got their dudes back and they got dudes. I mean, they got dudes. And this dude, he's like 40 minutes of hell tonight.

[Ty Schmidt]

I know that.

[Michael Lombardi]

He's like the. He's like the maestro. I mean, so like, like Illinois is a team. Yakotis is a guy you want to watch. Like, he's just fun to watch. Like just how he plays, just his game in general. But any of these games in like the SEC today, I mean, you go up and down like you know you have a Kentucky team like Kentucky. Kentucky is good. Walter Clayton and Florida is a freak. Like Florida team. I don't know how much you guys have watched Florida. Florida is as good as any. Like Florida could win. That's championship. I, I would not be shocked. Florida wins a national championship. Just give you a little background on Florida. They got a bunch of dudes that were mid major transfers. That's how they belted. Walter Clayton started iota playing for Rick Patino, which is amazing. Will Richard started at Belmont. This guy Chinul comes off the bench. He started at Washington State. But they've got terrific guard play dogs at the guard position, like flat dogs. All right. Then up front they got these really skilled international dudes and Chingulu just like beats the crap out of people. All game long they go 90. Florida's really good. I mean like, Florida's really, really good. National championship. Good Kentucky style of play. Dangerous in the tournament. Like, the SEC is no joke. It's, it's, it's, it's, it's no joke. Like I said to someone the other day, I grew up, I coached in the ACC for a long time. The SEC is what the ACC used to be.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay? And that's because you work for espn. No, that's SEC spn.

[Michael Lombardi]

That's both. Because here's what happened. You know what happened. The accident, they, they were high on their horse and they just figured that this is the way it's always going to be. And it was the acc. And what happened is the presidents and the athletic directors and the infrastructure that you need today, they didn't have a place. They didn't have a place. So no one was. I'm saying, like today you got to hire the right coaches. You got to give them the resources. Like, there's a bunch of turnover in the acc. Obviously Coach K went and coach and you know, Tony Bennett went and Boeheim went and that's great. But you can hire coaches, but if you don't give them the resources, they got no shot. So they don't have the resources to do what you need to do. Nil. Infrastructure GM is all the things that the really good programs in college basketball have. Most of the schools in the ACC do not have that. Duke has it, North Carolina's hiring it. But if you look at the drop off, that's been the drop off in the acc.

[Pat McAfee]

Same story in college football. Everything you just said, same exact situation in college football. I think we're all kind of excited for what the future looks like. So there's like a set of rules for everybody. I assume the basketball world's trying to get the same exact thing or no.

[Michael Lombardi]

Yeah, they are. But let me tell you something. Like, do you really think. All right, obviously, the revenue sharing, like, do you really think in your heart of hearts, I mean, with all the wisdom that you have. All right. And all the experience you've had, do you really think when they say, all right, we're gonna start 21 million and you're gonna distribute it throughout. Any way. Which way you want to distribute it. Oh, by the way, we're gonna look under a microscope and really make sure those nil deals are legit. Do you really think, number one, that's gonna hold up in a court law?

[Pat McAfee]

No. Yeah.

[Michael Lombardi]

Do you really think that's gonna really fly? Like, your story's a great start. Your story's a great start. I mean, you went from kicking it. Wow. I was a pit guy now for three years. You went from kicking at West Virginia to like, you're like, this is a Cinderella story.

[Seth Greenberg]

This is.

[Pat McAfee]

This is. Thank you. Mid major. Mid major. Mid major. On a run. Yeah. Yeah. We're in the middle of March right now.

[Michael Lombardi]

I mean, like, so, like, you really think that's going to stop the people that want to get stuff done. Stuff done. From getting stuff done?

[Pat McAfee]

Well, and I think basketball, too, you guys have been known to, like, recruit 12, 12 year olds, right? In that kind of. Let alone the shoe deals and everything. That's kind of gone alongside of it.

[Michael Lombardi]

Exactly. There are partnerships. Like, I mean, so if. If a shoe company wants X school to continue to be good, why wouldn't they stop? What would stop them from signing that guy to an early shoe deal? Nil. That's what real nil is.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. You know, what's the comp for a shoe deal? Well, it could be anything. Guys are getting paid 100 million.

[Michael Lombardi]

There'll be ways to get around that. I mean, like, that's just the way it is. So, I mean, that's the way it starts. Now, I, like, some schools, like, UConn doesn't have a ton of money, but what they. What they're doing with their revenue share, they're giving basketball. A large number. Yeah, a large number.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. Football.

[Michael Lombardi]

And my man, my man's gonna get it done. Him, because he's the best.

[Pat McAfee]

So are they good this year? We'll be able to talk about you.

[Michael Lombardi]

They are good, not great. They have no true point guard. So, like, short clock. They don't have a guy to go Make a play. They don't really defend the ball. They're tough in the tournament because of their style, play, and what they do. But he's a savant, man. I mean, like, I go there, watch them all the time, and I've gotten really close to their staff and what he does and how he coaches them. He's not afraid to coach.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah.

[Michael Lombardi]

I mean, dude coaches him hard.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, he'll coach the refs, too. Yeah, he'll coach those refs up, too.

[Michael Lombardi]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah.

[Michael Lombardi]

They'll fall down. He'll do all that stuff, you know? I mean, I know some people. You either like him or you look. He's one of those guys you'd like, you don't like.

[Pat McAfee]

We love him, though, that you're in. You're in the company of people that love Dan Hurley. We love Dan Hurley.

[Michael Lombardi]

He's authentically himself. I've known him since he's a kid. You know, his dad. I've heard players from his dad's team. It's my will, behavior, favor. That's the way the Hurley family does things. You don't have one foot and one foot out yet. Both feet in. There's no, you know, walk in the line. You just like, let's go, let's. And let's get after that. The thing he's done with this team, and I've. And I've been on him a little bit. Just maximize this team's potential. That's all. You're not going to win a national championship every year. He set the bar all the way up here. That's the goal. That's obviously what you want to accomplish. But, yeah, you know what? Go back to your, you know, Wagner days. You know, go Back to your St. Benedict's days. Go back to your, you know, Rhode island days. What was your goal? To get everything you can out of your team. Isn't that a goal of every coach? Like, you played for great coaches. Like, what makes Belichick Belichick? Because, like, do your job, do to Invest your ability, maximize your potential. That Sue Daniel earlier. That's how he coaches, and that's what he expects. It's not just the standards of standard. You want to win national championships, but just be the best you like. And that's what he's really focused on with this team. And they are hard to prepare for because all that stuff you're showing on there, like, how do you scout that? If they win the first game in the NCAA tournament, you got 36 hours to prepare for the next game. How do you prepare for UConn. How do you prepare for the physicality of St. John's how do you prepare for the three point shooting at BYU? Like, when you look for upsets in the tournament, that's kind of how you got to think, can a team impose their identity on the game? Are they a tough prep in the second day of the tournament?

[Pat McAfee]

And that's why Patino and that Race Storm are going to be a problem.

[Boston Connor]

Look out.

[Michael Lombardi]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

I can't wait to watch it all. Coach, thank you so much for making us smarter here today.

[Michael Lombardi]

Honored. Honored to be on with you guys.

[Pat McAfee]

You're the man, ladies and gentlemen. Let me get this stat right. 22 years as a head coach in basketball, now crushing it on espn. Sorry, SEC SPN Coach Greenberg. Yeah, yeah. Thank you, coach. Thank you, coach. Okay, we got a couple hundred tickets left.

[AJ Hawk]

I'm sorry, what?

[Pat McAfee]

In total, there's a couple hundred tickets left. Yeah. Right now, currently tough because I'm getting text messages from the people that are kind of monitoring the Ticketmaster. On the backside of it all, a man named Justin and his team from the WWE are sending me text updates. I guess there's a few hundred left. Okay, so they were doing a rollout of these tickets, right? Didn't really know. So then that first batch goes. That's when it was like, there's nothing. Then there was a new batch that comes in. There's a new batch comes in. So, like, we currently have a few hundred being like kind of let in there right now. So been pretty good day, I think, whenever it comes to the sales of the big night. But I think if you're going to go, which we would like you to, and we think you're gonna have a blast. And if you're in the area, I think you should try to get these tickets. I think they're gonna be gone soon. And if they're gone, they're either gonna end up on a secondary ticketing app or you're not gonna be able to get in. So only a few hundred left. What a moment. What a time.

[Boston Connor]

Oh, yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

What a day or show it's gonna be.

[AJ Hawk]

Oh, so you're saying it's doing well?

[Pat McAfee]

It's doing well right now. Yeah, it's doing well. We still got some left, though. We still got like seven or. Let me get the exact number. I don't know, because there's a couple like, loaners, too.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah, exactly. Solo tickets.

[Ty Schmidt]

Let's be gone in about 15 minutes, though. So if you do want to go, you're probably Going to want to go get them right now.

[Pat McAfee]

They've been rolling pretty good. Yeah. I get. I get a text at like 1234 and it says we had 8200 sold, and then at 1237, 8750. So it's like they are. And that was after the first wave crashing, going down and going to start. So feels like these tickets are moving. If you need them, you should go get them. And if you want them, you should go get them. And if you do, we will be incredibly grateful. And I'll tell you what, we'll put on shows, say, you know what, I'm happy, I want and did that whole thing, you know, I don't know what the secondary ticket prices are going to be. Obviously, our friends at SeatGeek, the greatest ticket buying platform on planet Earth and the moon, we assume that those are always going to do what they're going to do. And hopefully, if there's ever any opportunity, one of these, we'll figure out a way to, you know, maybe lock it in a little bit more. But with that being said, it feels like they're moving pretty good and we can't thank everybody enough. Well done. We're not there yet, brother. We still got to move them. We still got to move them. I was very worried this morning about how many we're going to sell because there's a lot of hype, you know, coming out of the people of Pittsburgh that I know. A lot of text messages coming, a lot of people asking for free tickets. Shout out to all those people, but them also talking about who they're hearing from, and they're like, we think it's gonna do good. And I'm like, thank you, thank you, thank you. But what does that mean, you know, because this is an arena. This isn't like a theater, you know, not that it's a stadium. People have obviously done stadiums before and shows have done stadiums, but an arena's big. And I get to go to Monday Night Raw. Every time I look around, it's like, holy shit, there's so many people in here. This past Monday, I was at Madison Square Garden, and Obviously that was 20,000, which is much more than what we're gonna have for big night out, especially because of the staging that they're using at Madison Square Garden versus staging we're gonna use. But I looked around, I'm like, there's no. Like, that's a lot of people. Then a week before, I'm looking around like. Like, there's 12,000 people in here. I'm like, that's about. That's about what we're going to be at. So I'm looking around, I'm like, there's no way, you know, but it turns out, especially for a show concept that nobody even knows what the fuck's going to happen.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah, exactly.

[Pat McAfee]

That's pretty wild. So I was very nervous this morning. A lot of good messages being sent from a lot of people, including the boys here. So thank you so much for going to get those. There's still some available, but I believe you're gonna want to get those pretty quickly. I believe you're gonna want to get those pretty quickly. Over a million dollars in arena giveaways will be done that night. Over a million. Don't know what the exact number is gonna be. And you'll find out why that'll be the case whenever the show starts, but it'll be over a million dollars. And the acts that are coming through, big, big names, friends of program, big names, good people, great people. And I think people are gonna do a lot of. What? What. Speaking of Duke's down to Georgia Tech. Is that what I'm hearing in this ACC Tournament game?

[Boston Connor]

Yeah, I saw it on the ticker over here that we have in the office. It was a 14 point lead for Georgia Tech, but here it comes again. Duke is now only down 6,41 seconds left in the first half. So if you are a fan of Duke, I'm sure there was a little worry in the beginning, but I did see on the TV when we turned around, that was the largest deficit of Duke's entire season. So maybe they just a little slow start and now they're rolling again.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay, so Patrick Everson at Patrick Evegas says this is not good. Flag limping off court for Duke. This was in the first half. This is when the score was 2917. So obviously Duke has made a little bit more of a comeback. You said made a little bit of a tighter game, but Cooper Flag, I guess seen limping off court. Cooper Flag and Malik Brown both went to locker room with injuries for Duke. Oh, that's not good.

[Boston Connor]

That stinks.

[Pat McAfee]

Especially with everything we just heard from coach. That's not good at all.

[AJ Hawk]

I just watched it.

[Boston Connor]

Was it bad?

[Pat McAfee]

How is it bad?

[AJ Hawk]

Didn't look great.

[Pat McAfee]

With somebody that tall. The basketball guys with how big they are, that athletic. Yeah. Like any little thing could be a big, much bigger deal, you know, Especially without not saying their limbs are different than ours, but they are. Especially with the leverage and everything. That's kind of Set up with how tall they are. Hope they will be a. Okay, we can. This is the Cooper flag injury in the group text.

[AJ Hawk]

I put it on the back wall.

[Boston Connor]

Okay. Is that bad?

[AJ Hawk]

No, it's just. I don't.

[Boston Connor]

I mean, if. If you're a Duke fan.

[Pat McAfee]

Cooper flags up top there.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah.

[AJ Hawk]

Comes on the rebound.

[Pat McAfee]

Oh, that's an ankle. Okay. So he got a little heat whenever he went down to land. That's gonna be some sort of sprint. I'm not doctor. Some sort of sprain. That's not fun. And you know these guys. The low top shoes everybody wears.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

I never understood it. You know, everybody does it. I'm not just saying just Cooper flag. Everybody does it. Was there some study that came out and said, like, you're not doing anything with the high tops. It's not helping at all or something like that? Because once I started seeing NBA guys start wearing a look like, I think kd, maybe his lowest had. The first one was, like, super low. It helped out for me because when I put the shoes on, my ankles don't, like, rub into it. Yeah. Kobe was one of the first ones, and I think his thought was always that soccer players do it. Why can't NBA players do it? And. But I assume they taped ankles or.

[Boston Connor]

Something like that, so they have, like, inside the. Like, before putting on their socks, there's like these kind of like rubber type latex that they put around their foot. Like a sock inside the sock. And then obviously the socks they wear too are almost like padded a little thicker. But yeah, even Tyrese's DX shoes yesterday that we showed, those are low tops too. It doesn't make any sense.

[Pat McAfee]

Feels like everybody's gotten into it. They almost like a generation was just like, we're not wearing the big blocks that you guys wore as somebody in a pickup basketball game at Boyce park who's gone up and come down on somebody's ankle. That is terrible. You think it's all over at the moment? I wore low tops one practice rolled my ankle. Never wore them ever again in my.

[Boston Connor]

Life, so I broke my ankle.

[Pat McAfee]

And you notice that LeBron always wears high tops, and he's pretty sustainable.

[Boston Connor]

Well, he's got low top shoes too, though. Let's not. Let's not just go there, foxy.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay. Man. I don't know. I'm just. I'm trying. Waiting on updates right now for the person behind his stuff to dive into. That sucks right there.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

Cooper flag. Yeah. That doesn't feel like that is a. Hopefully that doesn't feel like that is a.

[Boston Connor]

That's just a throwaway. Hey, get back in the game.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. I don't think he's going to be playing. Yeah.

[Boston Connor]

It does not look like what I'm.

[Pat McAfee]

Saying for March Madness.

[Michael Lombardi]

Oh, yeah.

[Ty Schmidt]

As a whole, lucky for them, he doesn't really need to.

[Pat McAfee]

That didn't feel like that was a. You know, because these conference championships, you listen to some of these coaches talk, and I'm just picking up headlines and quotes from some of the coaches. It's like if you go all the way to the championship and then you play and then you have a game, like some of these teams are okay not winning the conference title because then they get like a week almost a break going into the March Madness tournament. And if you win the regular season conference title versus the conference championship tournament, it's like, where do you kind of balance those entire things? So I don't know if people are as like the high end teams. Obviously, every team wants to win that because it's an automatic bid into March Madness. But it feels like the way I've heard coaches talk over the year, it's like winning that tournament at the end, certainly a good thing. But also if you lose, not that terrible if you're already in the tournament. Yeah.

[Ty Schmidt]

I mean, if your seating is kind of up on the line, I guess, like, because it could push a team that like maybe was going to be like a three seed, and then if they win a major conference tournament, they might get a one seed, but a team like Duke, who is like kind of firmly already on that one line, like, if they win today and then get beat next round, like, they're probably still going to be a 1 overall seed. So it really doesn't do much for them having to play all their guys, you know, an extra hundred minutes over the next three days and then turn around a week after that and play again.

[Pat McAfee]

All right, let's get Back to the NFL. Mac Jones has signed a deal with the 49ers. If you do recall, on a draft night, we were right in the middle of all of it because allegedly, Mac Jones was beloved by Shanahan and the 49ers, which is why they made the massive trade to get up in the draft to become the second overall pick. Fourth overall pick. Third. Third overall. Yeah.

[Boston Connor]

Trevor. Zach Wilson, Trey.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay, so the third overall pick, the Niners made this massive move to get up to third overall, and the narrative was that Shanahan loved Mac Jones. Jones. So Mac Jones going to number three overall was just Kind of set in stone. The sports books, the conversation, the narrative was, this guy from Alabama's going out to the Niners, going to be part of Shanahan's offense. How are they going to cook? That was literally the convo for like a month leading up to draft. Then day of the draft, we get a call from a source or source says and say, it ain't Mac Jones at number three. And I go, no, everybody says it's Mac Jones number three. I know what everybody's saying. It's not Mac Jones. So we literally lead our show. Now, we weren't on espn, so obviously I don't think the networks took us serious, but the sportsbooks did and everybody else around the Internet did, and it shifted that line and the odds crazy. Like in a matter of 10 minutes after we said it on our show, it's not gonna be Mac Jones. It was a surprise to all parties. And now, inevitably, Kyle Shanahan gets his guy. Mac, I thought you'd be a guy for. From the jump. I didn't get a chance to work with you. And what happened in New England, that wasn't you. What you did down in Jacksonville, obviously good, but that wasn't your best ball yet either. What? I had visions for you. We still have visions for you. Mac Jones signs with The San Francisco 49ers, obviously to back up Brock Purdy. But there's been a few games in each season that Brock Purdy has played where the backup has had to come in and play. Will Mac Jones do that? We shall see. Will he do it? Well, we think so. Former Pro Bowler, obviously, you have the New England Patriots. Now he's back with Shanahan, where we thought he was going to be all along. Yeah.

[Boston Connor]

Super accurate, too. You know, I feel like that's a very important thing when it comes to both Shanahan's offense and just being good at quarterback in general. But, I mean, look what happened with Sam Darnold. He did. He did one year in San Fran, and then the, you know, the tide kind of turned on him, even though he didn't play much. And it was like, hey, maybe this guy deserves a shot. Maybe Mac Jones is kind of on that trajectory now because of the quarterback needs for so many teams.

[Pat McAfee]

DeMarcus Lawrence has signed a three year, $42 million deal with Seattle, including $18 million guaranteed Seattle Seahawks in the game. Now they're in a whole new era. Yeah, DeMarcus Lawrence, obviously going to be a big piece of that from the Dallas Cowboys. We watched CD Lamb's reaction to that whenever he was with Neon. Streaming with Neon. He's in the back of a car.

[Boston Connor]

Let's see.

[Foxy]

That was.

[Pat McAfee]

That was good. I think that is Neon. You didn't recognize Neon. I mean he's seemingly always on the wrong end of stuff. Neon. Yeah, seemingly. That's like kind of his. Anytime it gets into my algorithm, something not great. So now we hope you just keep going. Man. I don't know what what you did or if you deserve it all. I don't pay attention enough. But seems like you've been through it a little bit. Keep rolling. DeMarcus Lawrence through Seattle does it ever feel like you're a marketing professional just speaking into the void? Well, with LinkedIn ads you can know.

[Seth Greenberg]

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[Pat McAfee]

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[Seth Greenberg]

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[Pat McAfee]

Wait, did I say job title title yet?

[Seth Greenberg]

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[Pat McAfee]

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[Seth Greenberg]

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[Pat McAfee]

As the number and severity of third party breaches continue to rise, companies are increasingly vigilant not just about how they handle their own data, but how their vendors do as well. For security and compliance leaders, this means more security reviews are coming across your desk every day and valuable time is being wasted on manual security review. With Vanta Questionnaire Automation, security and compliance teams can complete security reviews up to five times faster, giving you time back to focus on running your security and compliance programs. Over 8,000 global companies like ZoomInfo, smart recruiters and NOIBU use Vanta to save time on security reviews. Visit vanta.compodcast to learn more about Questionnaire automation. That's Vanta podcast. Hey, that was much better than the first one. Obviously practice makes perfect for the boys. Big night out Tickets from what I just heard, I don't know if there's any available. I I'm not 100 sure. There's some in shopping carts. I I've heard that have been maybe kind of bob about to go away. There's a chance that you can snag a couple tickets here like literally in the next minute or two. Then I think it's going to be officially sold out or whatever. So shout out to everybody that's going to be coming on Wednesday, April 9th. I think you can steal a ticket or two right now before it gets shut down. But yeah, this has been overwhelming, all of it and I Promise the show will live up to the hype. I promise that what we're bringing to Pittsburgh will be something that whenever they leave or the people that go, we'll leave, we'll say, you know what? That was worth it. All of it. You know, that was worth going through the tunnels, getting all the way downtown. That was worth finding parking. That was worth walking in the arena, finding our seat, grabbing some drinks, sitting down. And for two to two and a half hours, we just thought to ourselves, holy shit, what the hell is happening in front of us? This is awesome. Had no idea that person would ever come to Pittsburgh. Why is that? Oh, my God. I can't believe that. Holy hell. Oh, this person just won a massive amount of money. Okay, so that is. The night is supposed to be a bunch of. Whoa, whoa, whoa. Holy hell. This is awesome. And an escape from the world. And it's coming to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Wednesday, April 9th. Tickets currently available. $20 tickets. All the way up to $95 tickets. That's before the fees and we've been seeing some of the fee costs. Holy shit. I didn't know that was happening. I guess this is why all this lawsuits probably take place. And once again, we are seatgeek people always have been, literally since day one. Shout out to SeatGeek, the greatest ticket buying platform on planet Earth. And Ticketmaster is the contracted vendor of the PPG Paints arena, which is kind of a part of a live nation Ticketmaster thing that happens with a lot of venues. Seatgeek, obviously a secondary ticket buying platform app, and I assume there will be a few on there. Not that I love that, but I assume that there will be some on there. But if you don't get the tickets now, I think they're going to be at a much higher price here literally in probably 20 minutes or so. So toxic tables here at Boss Connor at Ti Schmidt, 1/2 of the hammer done Cowboys AP Tone from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, literally grew up on the same street as I. Pretty cool that we're going back to Pittsburgh doing something awesome.

[AJ Hawk]

It is shout out Hialeah Drive. And I. I think obviously Pittsburgh was. It was the perfect choice to do this for the. For the first big night.

[Pat McAfee]

Hot.

[AJ Hawk]

It's going to be awesome. Like, and just. Just you talked about the amount of people that reached out to you. Like, soon as it was announced, a billion people reached out to me as everyone. The city is a buzz. I think more than just the city, it was. I think there's going to be people from everywhere, but just like West Virginia.

[Pat McAfee]

Obviously People are going to travel up Ohio. People can travel over. I read a guy from Seattle, Shane, Big Shane, I think is his name, is flying over there. I think there's going to be some people from Indiana that are going to be traveling over there. You know, Pittsburgh, obviously not in the middle of country, but it is certainly a place that a lot of people Northeast Gettable can kind of get to. And I'll tell you, the city of Pittsburgh would be a good time. It's a Wednesday night. You know, a lot of people said, you know, I'm a worker, I'm not gonna be able to go on Wednesday. It's like, well, take Thursday off. Okay. It's first day of the Masters anyways. True. Think about that. And I'm not saying you shouldn't work, I'm saying you should always work. But if you want to come. Not saying you should, but if you want to come, take off Thursday. Enjoy a Pittsburgh Wednesday. You know, go down a casino afterwards if you have to. And I think you're gonna say it was a blast. I'm pumped for it. Ladies and gentlemen, joining us now from an attican Ohio is a college football national champion, super bowl champion Rodger cup winner, and a man that is a part of big night, A.J. hawk. A.J. how you doing? The new yarmulke. You is the best. You. How are you doing on this glorious big night out? Tickets are available Thursday.

[Foxy]

Yeah, I'm doing great. Obviously pumped to see the, the tickets flying.

[Pat McAfee]

Like I, I think I told you.

[Foxy]

I know you like to always worry about whether the tickets will move or not. You know, they absolutely were going to and, and they have so far. I know people from Ohio that are already planning on going. I don't know if they were able to get tickets in time, but I know, I know people have already told me they were, they're going to come over for that.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, that's the interesting thing. We've been trying to get on the website to buy the tickets. We haven't been able to get them.

[Ty Schmidt]

No.

[Pat McAfee]

But then I'm getting updates from behind, like, ah, there's like, like 300 tickets left. It's like, well, how come my ain't leading? And I got my mom, you know, my mom wants to buy some tickets for her friends back in Pittsburgh. I'm like, mom, you should just ask, you know, for these tickets where everybody else is asking for tickets. I'll be here. No, no, I wanted to. She hasn't been able to get the, the, you know. Yeah. So Sally's battling Right now, I think Tone's been battling during the break.

[Boston Connor]

Wouldn't work.

[Pat McAfee]

I don't know if I've been able to get on, but nonetheless, it has been cool. This has been a very cool experience to see these go because, yes, I was very worried that there was a chance. You know, I read a lot of terrible things about me on a regular basis. There is a lot of horrendous things said about me for good reason. Hey, I've certainly earned a lot of it from a lot of people seeing every once in a while, whenever you get outside of your bubble, you start to wonder what it's going to be like. And I can't wait to get back to Pittsburgh. And I'm excited for what we're doing and giving back to the city that obviously created me and many others in this particular program. Now, let's chit chat about the stories happening around sports. A.J. hawk, what is Aaron Rodgers doing, bro? I saw him on the beach on Tuesday night. Was he talking to you? Was that. What was that? Was that a recording of your voice that he was doing there? And let me tell you how I took this. I took this as him legitimately contemplating a lot, you know, and I don't know how everybody else viewed it, obviously with the big towel or the blanket around him. Taking a stroll on a beach is a beautiful upside of having a house on a beach. But whenever I see these photos, I don't know how often he does this. I assume on a regular basis, but it made me realize, like, there's a lot of contemplation happening right now with Aaron about the future of his career. Does he want to play? Where does he want to go? First time he's ever been a free agent. I mean, there's like, I assume a lot going on in this hippie's brain right now. AJ how much have you chatted with him and when you saw these photos, what was your first thought?

[Foxy]

Yeah, so when I saw these photos, I mean, I'm sure this could be any day that he is in town at his house. I bet he cruises around, you see the, the corded earbuds, you know, he's not wearing anything, Bluetooth. He's got to keep all that, that harmful radiation coming towards his brain. So it's very on par with what he's doing. Maybe he took a little dip. That's why he's got the big old towel. I don't know. But yeah, I mean, it's, it is kind of some weird shots. I wonder how far away this person was probably one of those super long lenses, huh?

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, for sure. We're creeping with one of these bad boys. You. You know, I obviously grew up in Pittsburgh, one school, West Virginia. Live here in Indiana. Now. The paparazzi thing, very confusing to me. So I would obviously travel out to LA every once in a while if a friend of mine had an event or, you know, just go see some people go to events and, you know, handshake and see what the world is about out there. And I run into a couple people that like deal with paparazzi. And I'm like, is that not the creepiest thing of all time? Like you just have these people stalking you pretty much and taking these photos. And then I learned, you know, not Aaron, obviously. A lot of these celebrities are telling these fuckers where they're headed so that it's like a part of their business plan, like would like to get tracked and stalked. I'm like, what is wrong with you? You know, like, that is a very weird part of your life. But I guess that's a part of being the, you know, the public Persona that some people think is right. I don't think Aaron wanted anybody taking photos of him on his beach, behind his house. So I assume this guy is. And they're creepy, these paparazzi. They will pay thousands of thousands of dollars so that they can creep the shit out of you from long range. This might have been a 50 cal. This might have been a 50 chance type type photo here for Aaron. You can tell because it is a little blurry for today's standards. So it might have been far away, but who knows if the upload was right? But yeah, man, he's got a lot going on. Have you talked to him? Have you chatted with him at all? Because city of Pittsburgh, okay, he's never played there. He has never come out and said, yeah, the Pittsburgh Steelers are one of the teams I'm contemplating playing for. Everybody else has kind of said this. I don't think he has said anything about it. City of Pittsburgh saying, hey, listen, we're buying Big Night out tickets and Aaron Rodgers is telling us whether or not he wants to be a Steeler because we're tired of waiting. That is literally what City of Pittsburgh is kind of feeling at this exact moment.

[AJ Hawk]

Yeah, majority is already sick of it. I mean, it's been two days, three days since free agency has started and well, actually it's been less than 24 hours since Aaron has officially been a free agent from the jet. But we're not on his time. On our time.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay.

[AJ Hawk]

We don't have a. Well, well, we didn't have a quarterback. Okay, we do now. So we've eased off a little bit.

[Pat McAfee]

But it is bananas to think that this every. Listen, I love Yinzers. Okay. Lucky, obviously, they're not in Pittsburgh. Yeah. Yinzers are like, this guy don't want to play for the Steelers. Okay.

[Boston Connor]

The hell.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay. That's exactly what is taking so long here. Okay. You're welcome. We even gave you an invite. You know, that is kind of how Steelers fans are feeling at this moment. They have no idea if Aaron Stewart wants to play. They have no idea, you know, what all Aaron could be potentially contemplating. They just know that they've heard from multiple national sources that the Pittsburgh Steelers are waiting on Aaron Rodgers. Is that real? We don't know. Does Aaron know that? That is kind of the narrative. Literally don't know. But Pittsburgh Steelers fans heard from Shregs. They heard from Shefty. They've heard, obviously, from Florio a bunch. They've heard from local. Jerry Dulak, who covers the Steelers. All the local media being like, now we just went for Aaron Rodgers to decide whether or not he wants to bless Pittsburgh with his presence. That is. That is how it is being presented. And Aaron just looking at the ocean, trying to figure out, what the fuck am I supposed to do with my life? What an interesting dynamic to happen. And once again, this is Aaron Rodgers football. This is kind of how it goes. Everything about him. This is kind of how it goes.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah. And I feel like we've talked about, you know, the Vikings and Aaron and how perfect of a matching that would be and how great he would be in Minnesota, but I think Pittsburgh fans also are pissed off. And, Tony, you could definitely correct me because you're an actual Steelers fan. I'm just speculating here. Like, every year, the entire thing is, hey, they have a winning record. They have a winning record. Like, we're talking about Pittsburgh kind of lesser than we are with the Vikings because, you know, the Vikings have Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, all those things.

[Pat McAfee]

Like the coach of the year, coach.

[Boston Connor]

Of the year, everything like that. But Pittsburgh wins. Like, it feels as though if Aaron were to go there, like, to act as if they're not winning, you know, 12, 13 games. Like, we're acting with the Vikings, even though everyone in the Vikings division is getting exponentially better. And the Steelers have multiple teams in their division. Like, if he goes and plays the Bengals twice a year, like, guess what? I'm playing safety for the Bengals this year. So it feels as though, you know, Aaron Rodgers will have a very good day against a team like that. Obviously, the Browns are the Browns, the Ravens are good, sure. But every team has, you know, at least one dominant team. And. And it feels like Steelers fans know, hey, we're going to win 12, 13 games if Rogers comes.

[Pat McAfee]

The New York Times, the Athletic reported yesterday, you know, via Diana Rossini and Mike Silver of NFL Network, I think is where Mike Silver works. If I got that wrong, sorry, I don't pay attention to you. The Vikings are weighing the possibility of signing Aaron Rodgers as they ponder potential veteran options at quarterback to pair with J.J. mcCarthy. Rogers is intrigued by the possibility of playing for Minnesota. Okay, interesting, because Mike Silver, once again, sorry, been in the NFL, around the NFL for a very long time. He reported a few days ago, like, J.J. mcCarthy is not necessarily the starter here. Kevin O'Connell has a lot of weight in the decision making over there. And they are, you know, still thinking about bringing in a veteran quarterback. It was like, oh, that veteran quarterback would be Aaron Rodgers. Now, nothing has been said from the Minnesota Vikings definitively that they are interested in Aaron Rodgers. Giants, yes. Steelers, yes. Minnesota has just kind of been something that's just like, could you imagine? Could you imagine now with the New York Times Athletic reporting that, like, hey, they are certainly weighing the option of bringing Aaron in. You have to bring that into the contemplation for Aaron. Aaron loves the Green Bay Packers.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yep.

[Pat McAfee]

And if you listen to him speak, he loves. I'm not saying Brett Favre didn't, you know, but with everything, with how that went, Aaron when he was on the Jets, Aaron, whenever he got done with his darkness retreat. Everything that Aaron has talked about since leaving the packers, about the packers is that he loves that place, loves the organization, loves the people, loves the city, even the people that wanted his ass out of town. I think Aaron, like, even doesn't even think about that because of everything that happened in Green Bay. So going to the Vikings, I don't know how much he's contemplating or wondering about or what they're offering, but if that is a real thing taking place, I think Aaron has some little drawbacks too. Just strictly because what that would mean for his relationship with Green Bay. Tai Chabad.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah. And I almost think too, like, with no malice, like, for him, it'd probably be pretty cool, like, if these are like the last year, last two years, he's gonna play, like, he'll be able to play at Lambeau two more times, which obviously, like that place is super special to him and he loves going back and playing there. But I think maybe this, this has to do something with the hang up. Because if that is a possibility, possibility, like we, we saw how good the Vikings were last year, almost were the number one seed in the nfc. If that at all was a possibility, then it'd almost be irresponsible for him not to wait, you know, just a little bit and see if that could happen. Because when you look at the Vikings, you know, we talk about all these other veteran quarterbacks, like Aaron is kind of the only one who's left right now, where if he goes into Minnesota, he's probably going to be a starter. Like I guess you could argue that with Russell Wilson. But, but chances are a lot of these guys who are kind of left and haven't signed places, like if they're going to go to Minnesota, there's a good chance that they're going to be that veteran behind J.J. mcCarthy. Whereas Rogers knows, like, hey, if I go in there, like I'm probably going to start and I'm going to have the best core of receivers I've had since Devonte and Jord and Jordy Nelson.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. And you know, Kevin O'Connell drawing up plays is obviously a beautiful thing. The hang up could be though, you know, maybe his love of Tomlin is potentially drawn away from the Vikings. You know, there is so many things that could be in it. A.J. you've said for multiple days that you would selfishly like to see him with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Like you said you would like to see him with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Is that because you're the all time leading tackler for the Green Bay packers or why is that particularly the case? And what are your thoughts on him at the Vikings?

[Foxy]

No, I mean, I think the thinking of Aaron on the Vikings is crazy to think if you plugged him in there with the team with the talent that they have around, around him. But the Vikings are the only team that's left. I feel like in this whole sweepstakes to try to sign him that like, like Ty said, you have to, they, they have to actively think about, hey, what does the future look like for JJ McCarthy? What will this do to him if we bring Aaron in? Aaron's not coming in to be the, the vet backup that JJ McCarthy can lean on. Like that's not the case. So what does it do for JJ's his progression for what he's going to do? Like how does he handle it if you bring Aaron in? Is he on Board. I don't know. All that stuff, I would imagine, is going on behind the scenes, but the Vikings kind of have to be. They probably got to be careful publicly, what they say just because they do have a guy they drafted in the first round last year that. That played well until he was hurt. We haven't seen a ton of stuff on him, and, yeah, I mean, he is the future of the Vikings. But do you take, like, a year or two and let Aaron have a run at this thing? I don't know. That's what I. I would imagine. I would love to hear the Vikings, like, behind the scenes that their front office, like, hear the test text. I don't know if they're putting in text. I'm sure they're using WhatsApp, hopefully, or something like that, but they just seem.

[Michael Lombardi]

Trying to.

[Foxy]

It's more secure then what's going on.

[Pat McAfee]

You don't want.

[Foxy]

They don't want anything on there. I mean, I know I should probably use WhatsApp. I don't. All my stuff's out there. But I'm just saying, like, now every.

[Pat McAfee]

Message you send is screenshottable. Is how you should view. Absolutely. That is how you should view everything. That's why if you're gonna send one that's a little negative, make sure it's at least hilarious, because whenever it gets out, people will be like, yeah, up. I've. That is my. That is my mantra. If I have to text somebody something negative, like, they've certainly earned it. Like, hey, you need to go yourself from me, and I will do it in a way that if it was screenshot and put out there, people would be like, yeah, I was pretty.

[Boston Connor]

That's all.

[Pat McAfee]

That's pretty good. You know that. That is pretty good. So you're right with that whole thing. But the Minnesota Vikings, they could go to bed one night thinking one thing and literally wake up the next morning thinking another thing. And I think it's the same thing for Aaron right now, too. You know, I think it's potentially the same thing for Aaron in the same reason why it's probably taking so long is the same reason why he's pretty good at football. You know, he's a deep thinker. Like, he is a deep, calculated, very calculated, quiet, wants to be prepared, wants to know all the. Like, he's a hippie for sure. But also in between, Mike Thomas got.

[Foxy]

To be selling it, though. Sorry to cut. Mike Thomas got to be selling. Hey, man, like, you see, like, I don't have losing seasons here. You've seen what I've been able to do, what this team has been able to do. Can you imagine what it looks like with you? I know he's 41 years old and all that, but can you imagine what this team could do with you at the helm? So those conversations have to be fun.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah, exactly. Like with the Jets. And I know people are, you know, kind of thinking that Aaron stinks because of the jets situation, but the jets are not an NFL franchise, okay? They are not legitimate. They are a terrible, terrible group. They will never win. Maybe they can with Aaron Glenn. I doubt it. But when you look at the Steelers, like, that's a completely different situation. And Mike Tomlin, like, you have a real leader. You know, how many times has people come on here, Michael Lombardi in particular, talking about supreme leader. Like, the Steelers have that with Mike Tomlin and they know exactly where they're going. And now they have DK Metcalf and George Pickens and they have a couple running backs and they have Muth. It's like we're acting as if the offense with Minnesota is levels and levels above. Just Justin Jefferson absolutely is, you know, one of one. But like DK Metcalf, George Pickens and Pat Friarmuth are no schlubs. Like those three together would be unbelievable to play with for.

[Pat McAfee]

Especially it's got a running back. Right. Who to gain?

[AJ Hawk]

Well, Ken Gainwell.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. Good player.

[Boston Connor]

Jalen Warren.

[Pat McAfee]

We're all fans of any offensive line getting better. Okay? So that's the big question.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah.

[AJ Hawk]

Vikings also got sacked, I don't know, 10 times in the playoff game.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, I agree. One game. But they had like a top five, top three offensive offensive line.

[Ty Schmidt]

Spent a bunch of money on the offensive line and free agency.

[Pat McAfee]

And they spent a lot of money in free agency as a whole. Yeah. The Minnesota Vikings are like, now is our time. Which is why the JJ McCarthy convo is like, our whole team is built for now is the time. Is J.J. ready right now? That's a tough conversation to have, especially with how great he was then an injury happening, how people bounce on the other side. I got faith in JJ Being a guy. I do. Especially with everybody around him that I respects. Opinion says, like, this is a guy. This is a guy. It's like, do the Vikings want to have him have a year behind a pro for behind the scenes Morphy in the meeting room, you know, like everything that happens as a professional quarterback that I wish, you know, a lot of these younger guys would have an opportunity to be able to do I even said I wished Andrew luck even though he took our team to the playoffs his rookie year. I wish he would have been able to watch Peyton operate as the CEO of a football team in the NFL. Like how you got to, you know, how you can. What you're allowed to say, what you're allowed to do, who you're allowed to talk to, what you're allowed to say to people. Well, you're allowed to be like, nah, I don't like that play. I'm not doing it. I don't like that player on my team. I don't want him out there. I don't trust this guy. I would rather do this. What about when we're doing this? Like the. The quarterback taking ownership in understanding who he is and what he is is a massive piece to teams having successful. So, like, is J.J. that guy? I think they've said he's a great leader. I think they've said JJ McCarthy has been ready to be a professional quarterback since high school through IMG and everything like that. But do you want to give him an opportunity to watch Aaron for another year? Is the convo that's happening right now. And then in Pittsburgh, it's like, Bob, we're trying to win right now, too, in the afc. North's only getting better, and the AFC has obviously been dominated by one particular team. But if you watch that super bowl, there's people in the AFC thinking like, maybe, maybe, maybe now the Chiefs are getable. I don't necessarily understand that thought. Joining us is a man who brought up the supreme commander tagline that you talked about, Tomlin. Certainly that whenever you think about the Pittsburgh Steelers and has been for a long, long time now he's the general manager for the UNC Tar Heel football team. Ladies and gentlemen, Michael Lombardi.

[Seth Greenberg]

What's up, guys? Busy, man. All that money going out the window. Everybody's busy. Just let's not forget. Let's not forget who was. Who won free agency last year and how did that end up for most teams, right? I think that's the memory you have to always kind of everybody. Jacksonville's always won every free agency, every single year they haven't gone to the playoffs. I think this is just a little bit of the part of team building, right? I think you got to put this all in perspective.

[Pat McAfee]

How do you. Let's put it in perspective if you're Aaron Rodgers. Okay, let's say Aaron Rodgers wants to play football again. And I know you've been very busy down at unc. I assume you've been paying attention to what's going on in the NFL because you have kids in the NFL, everything your life is football. So I assume, you know, the conversation right now in Pittsburgh is when is Aaron going to make a decision? That's what everybody's thinking, but I think Aaron is contemplating a lot. It hasn't come out from Minnesota definitively that they're interested in Aaron Rodgers, although the New York Times, the Athletics said they're certainly interested. But like Schefter saying, I don't have any real info about the Vikings being interested in Aaron. The Giants though are saying, you know, we're waiting on Aaron. Steelers seemingly the same exact thing. If you're Aaron and you're playing again, let's assume that is the case first. What is your, what are you thinking about more so than anything if you're Aaron Rodgers before you make the decision?

[Seth Greenberg]

LAMBO well, I want to get the bad taste of the jets out of my mouth and I think that, you know, look, last year Minnesota wasn't supposed to win anything. Remember they had Sam Darnold and how could they ever win with Sam Darnold? And I think what that proves is what Bill Walsh said to me in 1980. Very few people can coach the quarterback and even fewer can evaluate them. And I think when you look at the Minnesota Vikings and what Kevin O'Connell is able to do with the quarterback there, I think you have to give that strong consideration. I think the strongest point for Pittsburgh, obviously Mike Tomlin managing the game, not trying to win the game with offensive football and doing, doing things that put the quarterback in really harms way is Arthur Smith is an outstanding offensive coordinator. I think he knows how to run the game. He knows how to, how to win the game. That's the most important thing. It's not how many passes are we throwing, it's how are we going to win the game today. And I think O'Connell and Arthur Smith and Mike Tomlin do a good job. So if I'm, if I'm Aaron Rodgers and certainly he knows more than I do, I'm looking at a situation where I'm going to be part of the team, not have to carry the team because that carrying the team, we saw that with the jets last year, you know, that just makes you the target, no one else.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. And a lot of people are holding obviously the last two years with the jets against them. Tone Diggs, obviously a big time Steelers fan also Connor, big time Patriots fan, have been like can we really judge at the jets though because the jets is the Jets. Did you see anything on Aaron at the end of the year that makes you think, you know what, this guy can still win a Super bowl, especially if he's put in a good spot for me. Yes, I'm friends with the guy, A.J. yes, we're friends with the guy. Everybody here. The last like three, four games, Dominique Foxworth led off with a QBR stat that I did not expect actually this morning about how he ended the season on first take or get up, I forget which one it was. And it was like I remember watching the jets towards the end because we actually watched the games because we had to, because we're talking to him on Tuesday and they look like what the jets we thought were going to look like with the entire staff that they had. He was moving, he was running, he was escaping, he was throwing dime, they were getting open. It felt like he was back to being a guy again. What are your thoughts on that and when do you know if a guy still got it?

[Seth Greenberg]

I think when he be able to throw the ball down the field, make plays. I think Aaron still can do that. I think when you put him with the right quarterback coach, somebody who's going to demand from him, kind of going to ask him to do things behind an offensive line that can protect. I think what Minnesota's done in free agency, they've signed, you know, look, they've won me over. They signed two good defensive linemen, assuming Hargrave is healthy, and two offensive linemen that can really enhance their team and they had a good team. So I think if you go to a situation where we put so much on the quarterback that he has to lead us to victory. And we hate the term manage the game because we think that is condescending to the quarterback when in reality way you set up the game for the quarterback to have success is part of the program. I mean, Patrick Mahomes is tremendous, but Andy Reid sets up the game for him to have success. That's what Kevin O'Connell did for Sam Darnold. I mean, that's the challenge out at Seattle. Can Sam Darnold maintain that level of play without the same coach? I think those are the things you have to take into consideration. And I think that Aaron's smart enough to know that he's got to go to a team that is about the three phases, offense, defense and the kicking game, and not have all these expectations all over them.

[Foxy]

Lombo, is it possible that like this, this Minnesota Vikings team, are they sitting there and worry about possibly Stunting the growth of J.J. mcCarthy or how he would feel if they brought a guy like Aaron in to be the starter for a year or so.

[Seth Greenberg]

I think, to me, I'm not sure we think it's J.J. mcCarthy's healthy. I think there was some concerns going through the season that maybe that knee injury was going to take a little bit more time. Look, look, any young quarterback, it's year two of his contract, they got five years. What are we in a rush for, right? If they sign Aaron Rodgers and they have him in their program, they're able to play one year, get him going, and maybe he takes over the starting job. He looked good in preseason, but we have learned this so often that guys that look good in preseason doesn't always translate into the regular season. I mean, look at Dorian, Thompson, Robinson. I mean, he had two great preseasons. The Browns thought he was going to be the next great quarterback for their franchise, and now they've traded him to Philadelphia. So I think you have to really temper down what happened in preseason. Only Kevin O'Connell and the people in that Minnesota Viking organization know where we're going with McCarthy. But more than anything, they've got to be concerned about that knee.

[Pat McAfee]

He is by all accounts a dude, you know, but a lot of dudes get into the NFL, take a little time to learn. I don't think it's a bad thing. And if he has a 15 year career, we won't remember, you know, the 12 years that he kind of waited one year getting injured one year, maybe watching behind Aaron, especially if they have the success and if he goes to Pittsburgh, it's like the Pittsburgh Steelers fans I know right now, they're like, come on, come on, come on. As soon as he starts slicing and dicing for the Steelers, they'll be completely behind him. Let's remember a couple days here in March, we might get a little bit antsy, but whenever season comes around, if you're winning ball, that's the only thing that matters. I think that is the only thing that cares or that Aaron cares about as well. Now let's move to free agency as a whole. Con man has a question for you.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah, Lambo, how do you feel about the contracts that have been given out? Obviously, some of the, you know, wide receivers have gotten lower deals, and then we see a lot of D linemen, a lot of O linemen getting massive deals. The packers gave Banks a huge contract at guard. The Patriots gave Milton Williams the most money they've ever given a player in the history of the franchise. So how do you feel about some of those contracts? And are you surprised by any of them, position wise, that are getting a lot of money?

[Seth Greenberg]

No, I, I think the contracts that have been given out is a lot to do with the popularity of the sport.

[Pat McAfee]

Hey, watch that pollen count down there in North Carolina. It's got a pollen.

[Seth Greenberg]

Yeah, you got it.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, absolutely.

[Seth Greenberg]

I, I think this is a reflection of how popular. Popular our game has and how big the salary cap has grown. I mean, it's remarkable. I mean, look, the value of a player is determined by what the cap is. And I think Williams played really well down the stretch, and there was probably a bidding war for him, and that's why the market went way up. I mean, we've learned this a long time ago. If you're trying to sign offensive and defensive linemen in free agency, you're going to overpay. There's no question about that. That's why you have to do a really good job of drafting them, you know, and you've got to do a really good job of finding them. I mean, look, the Chiefs signed, you know, they had to respend money on a left tackle who was the backup at San Francisco because they so desperately need a left tackle. They got exposed in the super bowl by their offensive line, and now they're trying to recreate it again. It's hard to do in free agency. It's hard to do in college football. Look, that's where we're going to spend all our revenue sharing money as an offensive and defensive lineman. We have to. You know, everybody's going to start talking about how many receivers are going to go in the first round. Meanwhile, the Chiefs lost the super bowl because they couldn't block. Meanwhile, the Eagles won the super bowl because they could rush the passer. And everybody wants to talk about how many receivers are going to go in the first round. The game's about offensive and defensive linemen, and that's why they get taped.

[Pat McAfee]

Hell, yeah.

[Seth Greenberg]

Boom.

[Pat McAfee]

And that's every free agency period over the last few years at least. Least the first couple days have open guards, offensive lineman, defensive lineman, D tackles. Everybody's trying to get it right. Obviously, what Howie was able to do over there in Philadelphia, have a top three, if not top one offensive line, top three, if not one defensive line. And Nick Sirianna has literally come in there and said that is his only O line. D line. Howie, him and his dad. That is literally how they see football. Why doesn't everybody see it that way? Why doesn't everybody see it that way? Lombo?

[Seth Greenberg]

I don't know. But let me say this to you, Pat. I worked for Jeff Laurie for a brief time, for two years, ran a draft in 97 for him. And going back to that time when I was there, Jeff Laurie was all about offensive and defensive alignment. I mean, look how he does a great job. But this philosophy starts from the top down. The owner of the Eagles has always mandated offensive and defensive linemen are the priority for the franchise. And when you get that tenor coming from the top down, that means a lot like he wants to be. Not saying they're not going to draft receivers. Obviously they drafted Rieger. They didn't hit with him. They've got Smith, but they got to fix the offensive line. When Bill Walsh told me to go do a project on three receivers, Jerry Rice, Al Toon and Eddie Brown, he said to me, we are now finally in position to draft a receiver. Our, our team is really good. We can add a great receiver. That's been my motto the whole time. Everybody wants to talk about how many receivers are going to go in the first round. If we can't block them, we ain't getting anywhere. If we can't rush the quarterback, we're not going to win. So to me, this is. We're into the. How many receivers are going in the first round draft status right now.

[Pat McAfee]

Let's talk about the offensive lineman going in the first round. Will Campbell. Yep.

[Boston Connor]

Kelvin Banks.

[Pat McAfee]

That's it. Like Missouri. Yeah. There hasn't been a lot of, you know, because there's allegedly, there's allegedly an epidemic of not having offensive linemen anymore because of the way college ball has gone and high school has gone. So, I mean, you'd be in this more than anybody. All right. You guys are trying to find people to become offensive linemen. Aren't you in that like one?

[Seth Greenberg]

Well, absolutely. You, you know, if you take an offense, let's, let's just say we're at North Carolina. We take a kid who plays right tackle and then we get him in our program and he can't play right tackle, can he play guard? And if he can't play guard, we're going to have blown the pick. We're going to blow in the recruiting process. So you have to take multi dimensional players that give you a chance to have a back door to give you a chance that if we don't hit here, we could play them here. Right. And so that's really important. You have to, what we call second order. Think you've got to be able to see the player and say, what would happen, what would have to happen for this player not to work out? Right. And so when you take a player that can only play one position, you really better hit with that. And that's a hard thing to do. You know, for me, I think this has always been the case. You've got to try to find the best lineman that you can. And everybody talks about it. But let me say this to you. You need a great line coach. You need a great line coach. I'm a better personnel guy with a great offense. I'm sure Howie feels the same thing about drafting offensive lineman with Jeff Stoutman as his line coach. And you need a great defensive line coach, too, because without them, you can't get player to belt. Milton Williams, when he got drafted in the third round, do you remember the scene in that draft room where how he turned that card in and Tom Donahoe, who was working for the Eagles at the time, there seemed to be some form of disconnect in that draft room at that moment. And it was over. Maybe Milton Williams, that's who they turned the card in. Now he's making 26 million a year. Pretty interesting.

[Pat McAfee]

How do you feel about New England and what they're doing? You know, Vrabel came out and literally said, we have opportunity and we have compensation. At the combine, he knew that they're probably gonna have to overpay for some people to become New England Patriots. Obviously, the story's coming out about Chris Godwin going back to the Bucks, turning down a massive offer from the New England Patriots to stay in Tampa. But it felt like Vrabel looked for culture guys around the league. He felt like he was looking for people, people bringing in Landry III from Tennessee. He already knows about bringing in people that he thinks could fit his culture and then spending big money on Milton because it feels like that is a guy he really wanted. How do you feel about what Vrabes has done here with his first real free agency run?

[Seth Greenberg]

Well, I mean, they really have gone heavy into it. I mean, this is a team that typically has not been heavy in the free agency. If you go through the time when Bill was there, they were always in the bottom 10 of the bottom, bottom 3 of spending. I mean, Boston knows. Boston kind of knows that as well as anybody, but they put some money in. They had to. They've got to kind of get back. It's a large gap to close on on the Buffalo Bills, but with a young quarterback that they have now is the time to spend money. Because eventually you're going to have to redo Drake May's contract when he's good enough. So now's the time to add good young players to your roster. When you have a rookie on a quarterback on a rookie contract, this is when you have to hit with all those draft picks. I mean, look, The Eagles have 10 picks going into this draft. I mean, this is a critical draft for the Eagles. I know they won the super bowl, but this is how you reestablish your team and rebuild your team and maintain excellence. Hard thing to do in the NFL, but that's how you have to do it. Need, you know, you just can't have one year.

[Pat McAfee]

Need the draft picks to perform if you're going to pay a lot of guys. That is just a matter of.

[Seth Greenberg]

And New England's got to do it this year. This is why. And look, Fable's going to help him win games just by the way he manages a game. He's smart, he understands how to avoid losing first. He's a really good head coach. And with Josh McDaniels working with Drake May, I think they'll be very good offensively and I think they'll be more cohesive in what they're doing offensively and defensively.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, I'm pumped to watch the Patriots. I'm pumped to watch Boston. Connor, you know, he's all in. He's got a head coach, 50 jersey and all this shit. I mean, it is. It is a good time to be a Patriots, but. But hey, who won the off season last year? Who won Free Age? This is Lambo's voice, not ours. Let's go and continue to talk about a team that is evolving quickly right in front of our eyes. Ty has a question for you.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah, Lambo team kind of on the other side of what you're talking about with the patriots is the 49ers. They know they're going to have to pay Brock Purdy here soon. And we've seen them cut so many people this offseason. A bunch of people, starters on defense and, you know, a couple other guys on offense moving forward. Should Fans of the 49ers, you think, be worried about where they're going, like, because this team, obviously, it seemed like they put a lot of eggs in the hey, we're going to get bosa basket that didn't work out. And outside of that, it seems like they're kind of just losing everybody and this is going to be a brand new 49ers team next year.

[Seth Greenberg]

Yeah, I think they certainly have a gap to close, but they, they do it, they're going to need to do a really good job. John lynch and his staff scouting are going to have to find some really good young players. Look, I think sometimes we see players that they lose and think, oh my. Because another team played them. Perhaps the 49ers weren't really as aggressive to sign some of the players that they lost. And I think they think they could replace them. I mean, look, Jaylen Moore wasn't going to play for them. I mean, obviously he was the left tackle. He helped when Trent Williams got hurt. But they just redid Trent Williams contract last summer, so they need to get him back. I think the super bowl ills of losing has gone away. I would suspect the Niners come back recharged. I fully expect them to get Brock Purdy's deal done and I think they're going to have to add players to their team. Look, Deebo wasn't the same player. I said all year on this show and everywhere that Deebo is a very challenging player in terms of running the offense with because he's so talented with the ball in his hands. But he's not the purest route runner and so you have to kind of be creative to get him the football. Now maybe Washington can incorporate that into their offense. San Francisco kind of lost a little bit of that and now I think he's recharged to come back. So sometimes when teams lose marquee players, we in the media all think, oh my God, the end's coming to near. We said that last year at Minnesota, no one thought Minnesota was going to be as good as they were. Right. No one thought the Rams would be as good as they were. Hell, the Rams are too. The Rams played the Eagles better than any team in the playoffs and if they don't blow the protection twice in a row down on the goal line, they might have beaten the Eagles and throwing the ball in the end zone.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, Jalen Carter is going to beat any protection whenever he want. It seems like he going for the long term will be able to do that. And obviously what you just said is the exact same reason I think, why Matthew Stafford stayed with the Rams because he understood how close they were, how young they were, how talented they were. And now they bring in Devonte Adams to go alongside Puka Nakua and everything that Sean McVay is able to draw up with a good run game. I'm pumped about the Los Angeles Rams and a move they made. You brought up the Washington commanders there because obviously they bring in Deebo. They made a lot of plays. That Tuns will play was a big one. Obviously, Deebo coming in there. They're spending money now. That's because once again, they have a rookie quarterback. Right?

[Seth Greenberg]

No question. And he played so good and he's only going to get better. And if they can protect him, you know, they struggle with the offensive line getting tons who, you know, really gives them a legitimate left tackle as a pass protector. He may not be the best run blocker in the league, but he gives them a pass protector that. That Houston line. And I think it was clear by the trades they've made, the Houston line did not play well. They had three offensive line coaches down in Houston. Everything was kind of a mess. Nobody really was on the same page. Run game, pass game. I think they fixed that now. And I think that obviously they feel they can find a left tackle moving forward, but Tunsil can re energize his career in Washington, and I think with a guy like Jalen Daniels, that certainly can help. Look, I think the other thing we can learn from the Eagles is they did a great job of understanding what their team needed, and they went out and addressed it in the offseason. They did exactly what they needed to do. I think Washington has to do exactly the same thing. And if it works out, they can take another step.

[Pat McAfee]

How about anytime a team makes an offensive line move, we like it, you know, and obviously Washington doing this with Laramie, and hopefully he's able to continue to go. Hopefully they're able to take the next step. But you. I don't think you're the only one. But you. A lot of people, I just kind of reiterated the fact there, but have said, you know, Chicago has no idea what type of team they're supposed to be. Chicago plays in Chicago. Chicago plays in the elements. Chicago gets his quarterback. And they're like, well, how do we take care of him? We get wide receivers and then they have like the worst offensive line in football. Tone has a question for you.

[AJ Hawk]

Yeah, Lambo, how do you feel about the Bears now? Ben Johnson comes in finally. Yeah. They bring in the best free agent center and Drew Dahlman, finally.

[Seth Greenberg]

Last year, they won the off season. They won the off season. They were the greatest team in the off season. They did it all that we were giving Ryan Pace the general manager of the year award because he signed two receivers. Oh, my God, it was great. Everybody loved them. Oh, finally he figured it out. Maybe our line does stink. I said it for how long? How long? Did I say it like, unless they count the five Mississippi, we're not going to win a game. And so finally he brings in some guys. I mean, it took a bad year. He's fortunate he held on to his job. I mean, I would have gotten fired in that job if I would have.

[Pat McAfee]

I would have.

[Seth Greenberg]

They would have fired me. He got lucky. I mean, Matt Eberflus is pro. Is sitting down in Dallas saying, why the hell didn't they do that for me last year?

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, well, there's a lot of GMs that are thinking I, I probably still shouldn't have a job here. Ryan polls, though, if they turn this around, nobody's even going to remember all the other stuff because he's still so wildly young. And he had to be a part of the assistance of getting Ben Johnson to the Bears as opposed to anywhere else that they wanted him.

[Seth Greenberg]

13 million got Ben Johnson to the Bear. Let's not forget that. 13 million got Ben Johnson to the Bear. But, you know, nothing says, hey, Pat, one thing we learn in the off season, it's the great Arnold Rothstein line. He says this all the time. The great. The guy who fixed the 1913 World World Series. He said, nothing says I'm sorry. Better than money, right? Nothing says I'm sorry. Better than cash. Look, Miles Garrett, nothing says I'm sorry. Better than making you the highest paid player in the league. Oh, I'll come back on the team. You know, Ben Johnson, 13 million. Nothing says that. You could coach here. Come on. That's what we were talking about.

[Pat McAfee]

Guy who fixed the 1913 World Series, Alan Rothstein, he was a money guy.

[Seth Greenberg]

Arnold, Arnold. Arnold Rothstein. Arnie.

[Pat McAfee]

Arnie Rothstein was a big money guy or what? What? He was just.

[Seth Greenberg]

He was brilliant, Pat. He was. He was a monster back in the early century. I'll give you a little. But he was so smart that every guy that. That worked for him, bodyguards and all, he had a life insurance policy on all of them. And so when they died, guess who was the beneficiary of.

[Pat McAfee]

Who's that?

[Seth Greenberg]

Arnold, of course. Arnold was. That's why he was. Every death. Arnold was making money.

[Pat McAfee]

Arnold, you should do that with us. Arnold, se. Yeah, boys got life insurance policies on all you. Yeah, coming right back to me now.

[Seth Greenberg]

It's you, Pat. You learn a little more. Ever just. It's not just about football, right?

[Pat McAfee]

No. Especially whenever we're talking about rosting back in the day. He cooked it. He cooked a 1913 World Series. His Nickname was the brain Genius.

[Boston Connor]

That's awesome. Law abiding citizen.

[Ty Schmidt]

Great character in Boardwalk Empire.

[Pat McAfee]

Really great character. That was during the prohibition era where they were hustling Nucky Thompson.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yep.

[Pat McAfee]

Nucky Thompson. What a character. I wanted the Nucky Thompson 4 loco. And they banned it. I'll never forget it. Yeah, they banned Four Loko. And I wanted to send all the boys out to go buy as much as they possibly can right now from all the stakes states that was possibly available. And then we're going to run an underground operation to sell four Loco. Because I'd seen numerous people change their lives completely whenever they would be on Four Loko. Most Nick Barrauda was super chill guy at the bar, super chill guy at the club. You get 14 loko in there and that second word would take over his body. And Nick was leading dances, walking over, buying shots. I'm like, this guy, this guy comes alive. And then they were in a bandit. I'm like, like, you're taking this guy's life away. So Nucky Thompson was obviously able to do his thing. I thought we'd be able to do it. Turns out it would not have been worth the. The juice. Wouldn't have been worth. Sure, sure. Yeah. So we lost Four Loko forever. And we lost that Nick forever too. But Nick, we know we found you a couple different times.

[AJ Hawk]

Rest in peace.

[Pat McAfee]

Thanks, man. Thanks. Walked into a country bar in Pittsburgh. This guy's leading up in the front with the guy dressed in all black.

[Boston Connor]

That was sweet.

[Pat McAfee]

I walked in. I just got back from Indianapolis. I drive back from Indianapolis. Big night. And taking a vacation in Pittsburgh, which was my standard operating procedure. Friday night we walk into the country bar. I forget what his name. Saloon, something downtown. Saddle Ridge. Saddle Ridge. There it is. Walking to Saddle Ridge, trying to find the boys. Where's everybody at? Is that Nick? Nick is leading the square dance in this entire thing. Then he sees me, obviously, comes dancing over, tells me I need to get on, dance for him like this. This is a whole new human being here. Four Loco, brother. It's the greatest thing of all time. And then we just go right into the night. It was a good time. Dangerous. I, of course, very, very dangerous. Just like the beatbox I chugged yesterday. I don't know if you saw that. Shaq's drink has like 11.1% alcohol in it. Lambo. We chugged one on the show yesterday. I felt it like I was. I couldn't drive. Probably two, three hours after that thing legitimately. Just one of these things. It's like I'm happy I don't do that anymore. But Nucky Thompson was a dog. Sounds like Mr. Rothstein was maybe the brain behind it all. And I didn't know that person existed until today, and that's because this guy's brain is gigantic. Lombo, we appreciate the hell out of you, man.

[Seth Greenberg]

Thank you, guys. Always good. Always good. Thank you.

[Pat McAfee]

How's UNC? How are we doing at UNC?

[Seth Greenberg]

UNC's great. You know, we're excited. We got a basketball game today. Hopefully our men's team can get into the tournament with a win against Wake Forest if they can keep going. Our women's team is going to host a couple games, which I really excited about. I'll go watch them play. So. And our baseball team. Pat, you got to come down and sit out in the outfield. One of these. The baseball, of course. Great. So, I mean, good here.

[Boston Connor]

Life is good at Chapel Hill lacrosse team, too. Lambo, you guys have got great.

[Seth Greenberg]

Thank you. Yeah, yeah. Both. Both men and women's lacrosse.

[AJ Hawk]

You guys are stealing all the.

[Boston Connor]

Poaching them.

[Pat McAfee]

That's what I'm saying. Did the men's lacrosse coach say, hey, hey, hey, we don't need all of our players playing on your football team.

[Seth Greenberg]

Okay, we understand the football general manager is saying we don't need to recruit just all lacrosse players.

[Pat McAfee]

We saw this from one of the basketball games last week. Look at the big dap. Hey, how we doing, boys?

[Seth Greenberg]

We had a great weekend. You know, we had a bunch of great players that. That young man there is going to play for a state championship in basketball. He's one of the best basketball players in the state. Great football player. So there's a lot of great players we had there. We're really excited about it. And look, look, when you have the greatest coach of all time, people want to come spend time with them, you'd be shocked. You would love to sit in on those meetings when Bill's sitting there watching tape with a young player and showing them what they do when they're playing high school tape and then how they relate to the Patriot players of old. So it's a lot of fun. We're having a blast.

[Pat McAfee]

Do you guys only dap up now around, or is there still handshakes or are we not touching? Because I think that was a big surprise by everybody on the Internet, including former Patriot players. Saying. Saying Bill Belichick's dapping everybody up. That was a. Yeah. How long we've been working on that? And is that how you two greet each other every morning? Salt Mike.

[Seth Greenberg]

No, no, no, no.

[Boston Connor]

We're.

[Seth Greenberg]

We're. We're still in that we got to get better mode. Yeah, we're a long way.

[Pat McAfee]

I'm back to work. Yeah, I got it. Are you dapping? Are you dapping as well?

[Seth Greenberg]

Yeah, I'm loving it. I mean, I'm out there, going there. I even know. I even put the word vet on text now, Pat. I mean, now I even know lingo. I got a bet. I even know what that means. I was getting these texts from players saying, bet. Like, what the hell does that mean? You know? And I finally figured it out.

[Pat McAfee]

You. You should respond with. You with a hat emoji. Okay. And just send that. Send that back. Just send that back. It should be great. All right, Lambo. We appreciate you guys. Are you allowing Tick Tock dancing in the locker room or no?

[Seth Greenberg]

I don't know about that one. You know, I don't have Tick Tock, so I don't even know what that is, but I'll. I'll look into that.

[Pat McAfee]

Rich rod bandit, you're allowed to have Tick Tock. Just don't want you dancing on her. Okay? No dancing on here. That's not type of players we want. Matt Rule, I think, is banned. The dancing on Tick Tock as well. Feels like this is potentially a. A thing that's going to continue to unfold. Might help, you know, if UNC guys are dancing on TikTok with Bill Belichick. I love everything, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you. All right, so big night out. Sold up.

[Boston Connor]

Nice.

[Pat McAfee]

Officially sold out. I guess there's singles, you know, that are available around the arena, which we'll probably do giveaways with, or doubles that are, like, maybe one seat separated from each other. So I guess it is deemed officially a sellout. I think it was at 1:35, I got the text message from Justin at the WWE. What an absolute beast. He has been in for us in all departments because of the way the ticketing has to be in relation to the show. You see, there's actually a ticketing element to the show, and once you get there, you understand that because it's very important. You know, how many people are in each row, how many rows are there? How do you do the whole thing for the giveaways that are happening, you know, so it is. It's been a lot of work by a lot of parties. Old Justin Scalise at the WWE has been a lot of help, and he sent me a text at 132, sorry. And said, boom, sold out. And it was like, all right, that's pretty cool thing. That is a very cool thing. Now the show is going to, going to deliver. And to the people that spent their time today going onto that website, probably whenever it would crash and wouldn't be able to load and continue to maintain the effort to get these tickets, I can't take you enough. And we're going to give you a goddamn show. It is going to be going to be a big time show and people just buying tickets on the thought of what it could be is sweet. And we're going to make it well worth it. And AJ this is a cool day for the program here. This is a cool day. It's Pittsburgh, you know, it's the city of Pittsburgh. PPG Paints arena, home of the Pittsburgh Penguins. You know, the team that I've literally been a fan of since I'm a kid in the city that I grew up in. In an event like this happening, there is something that, you know, as I was kind of dreaming it up, it felt like it was perfect place to do it because not only is it like a thank you from me to Citi, with how much money we're going to be giving away, but also a moment where I think me and the boys are probably going to look around and go, holy fuck, I can't believe this is all happening. So shout out to Pittsburgh and the surrounding areas for making this happen. Everybody that's traveling in. This can be a moment that's probably on the. The old documentary someday or something that's going to be chatted about in the history of my existence, my family's existence, existence. And yeah, it's all pretty surreal right now that it's gonna happen. And thank you so much. Thank you, people.

[Boston Connor]

Oh, yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you. Thank you so much.

[Boston Connor]

Good job putting it all together too. A lot of. A lot of went into it as well.

[Pat McAfee]

Pretty cool. Yeah, pretty cool. Doing this entire process.

[Foxy]

It's been a lot of moving parts.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, a lot of moving time zones too, you know, so people have questions and people want to set up meetings at different times day. And that hasn't necessarily been the easiest. And we're working on other people's schedules, you know, this is. This. Other people's schedules. Had to pitch a lot, you know, had to pitch a lot. Had to pitch a lot to a lot of people for all these things, you know, because whenever you're booking people that are friends of yours, they obviously have Business happening. Which is why we are asking them to be a part of the show. Because obviously they are very. No notable individuals. So you obviously have to get the okay first from said act like, yeah, something I'm definitely into now. We gotta go to team now. We gotta. There's haters in team, too. There's people that do not think that this is. What are we. Why are we. This is the guy that pissed off all Canada. Are we. Are we sure we want it? So there was a lot of that with, like, every. And it's. It's been fun. Different languages have been spoke. I mean, there is. There is a lot. There is. It was. It's been fun. It's been a lot of extra shit, you know, it's been a lot of extra shit to do, but it's been, like, an enjoyable experience because it's so different than what we do here every single day. But different.

[Ty Schmidt]

But similar.

[Pat McAfee]

Similar. Yeah. Booking is always booking. You know, that is. That is kind of how it is. Doing a show is always doing a show. It's just. What are the different elements, you know, and with the elements that we have for this one, I think. I think it's gonna be a great show. I. I think it's gonna be well worth it. You know, I'm losing money, a lot of it on this show, and it's like, it's worth it completely just to see if it's possible and also to give back and say that it's like, it's a cool thing to be a part of, but there's gonna be people that say, you know, money grab. For, like, anytime you sell anything, people automatically, radically say, like, money grab. I would like to let you know this one is a. This one is a shovel going right out of our company, right back into the city I'm from, and the people that make it all possible. So I'm excited about it. I'm pumped about it. Wednesday, April 9, should be epic. And now we have. We have a crowd. And that is a cool thing to think about at this exact moment. Aj it's probably the hardest part.

[Foxy]

I mean, you took care of that. Like, that's the thing. Like, how do you. How do you fill a place? This place is an arena. And the fact that it's already.

[Michael Lombardi]

Already.

[Foxy]

All the tickets are already gone. I mean, that's. That's the toughest thing usually.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. So talking to these people, you know, all the selling. Yeah. And I go, don't want to use anybody's name. Want it to be a complete Surprise, like if the name gets out, I might cancel. Like, that is. That is how I. I would like the pop of the person. Just like in wrestling, I would like the surprise of the person showing up so that everybody just goes, what? Holy. You know, that type of. That's the react. I would like a lot of those reactions on Wednesday, April 9 for the good of the show. For the good of the program. For the good of the program. I would like it to be complete surprise. So obviously all the business people, they don't want their person being used to sell tickets, right? Like, hey, who's. If you're using our name and everything like that, it's like, no want no names. Like that is. I want absolutely no names out. Like, that is the goal of this entire thing. And then they go, are you gonna be able to? And I'm like, I think, I think we'll be able to. I think we'll be able to. And then there was a lot. That was a lot of a selling to people too. Like, you know, because it would look bad for us to show up in the places not, you know, so if you were to have to use our name to sell it, I'm like, that's not like, don't want to have to use name at all. So we'll have that conversation if we have to, but do not want to have to. So shout the fucking Pittsburgh.

[Boston Connor]

Oh, yeah, that's really cool.

[Pat McAfee]

That is. That's really cool. Because it was a small little program, just small, little, little program. That's all, you know, regional show. How about all the people at the WWE that are just like, yup, we'll help. Yup, we'll help. Yup, we'll help. The production in the arena is going to be absurd.

[Boston Connor]

Says a lot about the WWE versus like other companies we've worked with too, you know, or that you've worked with.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, I think so. And you know, with the idea of this show being like three years old, thinking of this show, now is the right time. And like literally told wwe, folks can only do it if you guys do the in arena stuff. Like, nobody else could pull off what you guys could pull. And I've never approached any company that we've ever worked with about like, hey, could you help me with this? But I think you guys are the only ones that could pull it off. And everybody over there is just kind of bought in. Shout to Marty, Fathom, Neil, Nick, obviously Lee in there. This guy named AJ I just met, he's a behind the scenes guy that I Don't know if a lot of people know at WWE weapon. This guy just graphics being shown to me about what things could look like. It's like, yeah, that's awesome. Got it. No problem at all. I'm like, thank you. Aj, Lindsay, Lloyd, obviously on it. She's over WWE and then everybody else that has helped piece this thing together. I can't thank you enough. You know who you are. Wednesday, April 9, sold out PPG Paint arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It'll be a big, big night. Peace out. We'll see you tomorrow. Goodbye. Yeah, I'm happy we did that. That was cool. All right, let's take a break. I'm gonna go. I'm gonna go gather myself here, and then we're gonna do it next hour. We're gonna talk sports.

[AJ Hawk]

Nice.

[Pat McAfee]

Wombo gave us a lot of gospel there.

[Foxy]

He did. I mean, he. I love it.

[Michael Lombardi]

He.

[Foxy]

I love when he listened to his podcast that he used to do before he took that gig, talking about teams winning free agency. Nothing pissed off Lambo more than that.

[Pat McAfee]

Hello.

[Foxy]

Things pissed Lambo off. So it's always fun to hear his opinion. And the guy lived it for so many years, and he continues to live it. So, yeah, he knows what he's talking about.

[Pat McAfee]

I think whenever he was on a great team and maybe they won or something, and then in the offseason march, they're talking about all these shit teams being great, and they're not talking about their team. It's like, we just, well, we're the actual team, and now we're getting put down because we didn't add. But some shit team is being talked about as being heroes because they signed a bunch. That's probably where that comes from. Yeah, there's probably a perspective of, oh, yeah, we're not good. Okay? Because this team is overpaying this guy. How he feels probably about every deal that happens around the NFL. I love that perspective, but I also appreciate the teams that try in the off season, and I think that's why fans love them so much, because it's like, at least this team's trying. They're spending money. They're trying to catch up. Yada, yada, yada. It's the optimism, and Lombardi's on the other side. Like, let's just talk about the good thieves. Why are we talking about, yeah, the.

[Ty Schmidt]

Chicago Bears, Jacksonville, you know, they win the free agency every single year.

[Pat McAfee]

Every single year.

[Boston Connor]

But every year, there is that team, like the Commanders Texans the year before.

[Pat McAfee]

Bengals four years ago, when they go to the Super Bowl.

[Boston Connor]

It happens every year.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, Longboat doesn't want to see that.

[AJ Hawk]

A lot of those were draft, though.

[Pat McAfee]

A lot of those have to have good. You have to have good draft picks. Like that is the. Throughout all this, what we're learning. This modern era, you can pay damn near everybody if you want, but if you do that, your draft picks have to be good, have to be able to play. You know, there's some teams, I guess, that can't pay everybody, some people that don't pay everybody, but some of these teams that are winning are paying a lot of the people on their team, a lot of them a lot of money. And then just it's because. Because the draft picks do well, they're cheap and they're able to perform. I think the Chiefs two years ago, when they won the super bowl, they have two rookies, a corner or safety or something like that, it was like they had two brand new guys on the team playing very important positions. And if they don't play as great as they do, they have no chance. But these young guys of each scouting department spangs, everybody puts them on it. They play great. It's like, that's why you can do that. Eagles, same exact shit. The young guys play great. So you. You can pay, but you gotta hit in the draft and then you gotta be able to coach. And I think that's where a lot.

[Foxy]

There's a lot to it. There's a lot that goes into winning, especially being the team that wins the super bowl every year, man. Like so many people from the top down have to be very, very good at their job.

[Pat McAfee]

Everybody has to be aligned, too. Remember, that's the big thing. Everybody has to be seeing the same exact thing whenever they're looking at either strategy and a player coach. That's why he went in for 25 years or wherever the it was up there in New England is insane.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah, exactly. And Belichick stinks at drafting. But in 2020, think about it, too. When the Chiefs lost to the Bucks that offseason, they got Joe Tuni, and then they drafted Creed Humphrey and Trey Smith.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, all these good guys, all these good teams seemingly do it one way y. And there was everybody else trying to.

[AJ Hawk]

Recreate Eagles, I mean, on rookie contracts. Milton Williams, Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, Nolan Smith, then both. Both their corners.

[Seth Greenberg]

Both corners, yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

That's good.

[Boston Connor]

Mai backed in for a bag of balls.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

What do you got over here, Philly? And I know, I know Big Dom had some thoughts about that always. All right, let's get to a break on the other side. We'll wrap up this glorious Thursday. We'll talk about the basketball games that have been taken taking place while we're on. Haven't done as much talking about the games that are on while we're live because if you wanted to watch or hear about that, you would watch that probably. That's like kind of my mindset but I just want people to know there are games on right now. It's Seth on we talked about March Madness as a whole. Feel like we covered it.

[AJ Hawk]

The first round of the tournaments.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah, Monday will be cool post weekend, you know, semi and finals of these tournaments even tomorrow.

[Ty Schmidt]

Like those games will be much better than the games today.

[Pat McAfee]

Duke's up 6658 currently with 222 left in the second Cooper flag got hurt in the first half with a rolled ankle. Got it taped up, got brought back to the bench. I don't think he has been put on the court yet because they've been in the lead since he's come back so probably just resting him. But if they were to be in a battle or start to lose, I think they'd probably put him out there to see how it goes. That's just me watching and keeping up with what's been going on on this monitor right here. Not sure if that's true. Duke should get past Georgia Tech by all accounts but they are down early. A little bit of a scare where they just kind of, you know, half assing against the yellow jackets.

[AJ Hawk]

Sure.

[Pat McAfee]

Potentially I can say to my new Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, hey, find a keto friendly restaurant nearby and text it to Beth and Steve. And it does without me lifting a finger so I can get in more squats anywhere I can. 1, 2, 3. Will that be cash or credit? Credit. 4 Galaxy S25 Ultra the AI companion that does the heavy lifting. So you can do you get [e-mail] compatible with select apps. Requires Google Gemini account. Results may vary based on input. Check responses for accuracy. I was never really a runner. The way I see running is a gift. Especially when you have stage four cancer. I'm Ann. I'm running the Boston Marathon presented by bank of America. I run for Dana Farber Cancer Institute to give people like me a chance to thrive in life even with cancer. Join bank of America in helping Anne's cause. Give if you can@b of a.com supportann what would you like the power to do? References to charitable organizations is not an endorsement by bank of America Corporation. Copyright 2025. Big night. Okay, that's way to go. That's it. Time.

[Foxy]

My delay.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, you did great. Yeah. Obviously the delay will get. Get you kind of miscobobulated on a regular basis, but at least you attempted, you know, especially with the audible that was thrown here that maybe wasn't texted to you. Exactly. Because you've had the wrong word a few times that you're yelling or chanting. You've opted out of a lot of team unifying situations. So for you there to even attempt it with the at at the end. Proud of you, man.

[Boston Connor]

Good on you.

[Pat McAfee]

That's a lot of you. We're in a good spot. Haircut looks phenomenal as well. Still has a little bit of the poof. That's my thing.

[Foxy]

It's gonna be my thing, I guess.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. What happened? Do you think we changed. Did you change the lighting in there or something? Or did you dye your hair jet black?

[Foxy]

Does it look.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, I don't.

[Foxy]

I did not change the light. Every day is a different lighting situation in here and camera situation. I try to adjust it and make it look like the day before, but it doesn't really ever work out.

[Pat McAfee]

The toxic table is here at Boston Connor and at Ty Schmidt. The mullet's flowing.

[Boston Connor]

Hey, thank you very much. Not as much a mullet anymore. You know, I'm growing the sides out currently.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. A lot of people saying, why you keep wearing a hat? Why you keep wearing a hat? Why don't you let it go? He's in the middle stages on the.

[Boston Connor]

The awkward long hair now. Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah.

[Boston Connor]

Well, not yet.

[Pat McAfee]

I'm.

[Boston Connor]

We're getting there. We're almost there. Probably about a month out.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. Because he's at the weird stage with this. The side, but then his hair. Yeah. Really long, sweet curls, though.

[Foxy]

Those nice natural curls.

[Boston Connor]

My hair is extremely curly. Yes.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, he's got a little boss to the eye volume. That's. I should make great hair right now.

[Ty Schmidt]

Oh, yeah. You know, I'm about ready to get it cut, but I can't.

[Pat McAfee]

No, can't.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah, no, I know. I got about another six month and a half before I can.

[Pat McAfee]

Why is that?

[Ty Schmidt]

Well, you know, I just. I like to grow it out this time of the year.

[Pat McAfee]

Every year?

[Ty Schmidt]

Yep, every year. Just grow it out for a while, you know, until like the end of April. And then, you know, eventually I just say it. I notice too many grays and I say I'm tired of seeing these.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, but you wear suits this time of year. Glasses. Yeah.

[Ty Schmidt]

You know, it's Just.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, yeah.

[Ty Schmidt]

It's just to remind you that spring is sprung. You know, I like to do that when, when we got 71 degree days outside.

[Pat McAfee]

You know, I love having the worst area.

[Ty Schmidt]

Exactly. Let's grow my hair out, make it hotter. Let's put suits on, you know, and, and do that kind of stuff. It's, it's really what this, this time of the year is all about.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. Why? It just you love giving football takes too, in a passion fashion.

[Ty Schmidt]

I mean, maybe, you know, maybe that draft here, there. Yeah, exactly. NFL draft right around the corner. Who doesn't love that? There's just a lot of reasons to know. Grow your hair out and slick it back and you know, poof it up and put a suit on.

[Pat McAfee]

This time I think I speak for everybody. Thanks for your commitment.

[Ty Schmidt]

You bet.

[Pat McAfee]

You know, hey, you got to commit something. Yeah. Yeah, you certainly do. And you have. And that's good thing. 1/2 of the Hammer Cowboys AP Tone waiting for a commitment from Aaron Rodgers. Ain't that right?

[AJ Hawk]

That is true, isn't it?

[Pat McAfee]

Any updates? Any updates in the last hour as we've been celebrating what's happening in our world right now?

[AJ Hawk]

I DM'd them, so. Okay, we'll see. I, I, I said him a picture of the Steelers symbol.

[Pat McAfee]

AJ have you texted him at all?

[Foxy]

I have not. But I mean, Tone did tell us tonight is what the blood moon situation. So I assume something I said on.

[AJ Hawk]

The Steelers symbol, I said if you look at that blue that's, that's just like that ocean you're looking out at. And, and I saw in the, in the pictures, you know, there was a nice yellow glow coming off the ocean. That would be that, that sunset and then the red moon tonight and all those combined. At least you coming to Pittsburgh. So I, he hasn't got, he hasn't got back to me yet.

[Pat McAfee]

But how's he feel about. Oh, was that what he was.

[AJ Hawk]

Oh, probably.

[Pat McAfee]

I don't even think about that. Or skull chance sticks potentially never do that.

[Ty Schmidt]

I don't think we can say never if he signs. Maybe he would never preemptively do that before he's a Minnesota Viking ever.

[Pat McAfee]

Well, I saw Michael Strahan waving a Philadelphia Eagles flag. True. Before the super bowl for like 100 million or something like that. Did you see that?

[Ty Schmidt]

Oh, yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

Giants fans were real excited about that.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah, they were big fans of it.

[Pat McAfee]

So if, if Aaron Rodgers goes to the Pittsburgh Steelers are the Minnesota Vikings. Who's going to the New York Giants?

[AJ Hawk]

Russell Wilson.

[Pat McAfee]

What if Russell Wilson goes to Cleveland Browns. Who's going to the New York Giants?

[Boston Connor]

Shadir Sanders.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay, so that's what it is then, right? It's like, okay, we need a rookie quarterback. I think that's the statement on Matt Stafford. Allegedly. $100 million. Remember that was alleged, the deal that they offered Matt Stafford. Now they're allegedly in on Aaron Rodgers, allegedly in on Russell Wilson. They've made it very well known. We would like a veteran quarterback. What if they can't get a veteran quarterback? Then they're going all eyes to the draft.

[Ty Schmidt]

Well, they did resign Tommy Cutlets.

[Pat McAfee]

I forgot about old Cutlass. I forgot about Davido spinning the pill.

[Boston Connor]

They might say it and call Atlanta and just offer, you know, a high draft for Kirk.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah.

[Boston Connor]

And grab Kirk.

[Pat McAfee]

Feels like that is probably the next on their list. If they. If this is to fall through. Aaron to Minnesota is something that we talked about for a few weeks now. It's being reported. Potentially an opportunity. Aaron of Pittsburgh, something we've talked about for a few weeks, could be awesome. Aaron of the New York Giants. Okay. Hasn't been talked about much on this show, but other shows have certainly talked about it a lot. We have not talked to Aaron. All three storylines. Definitely intriguing. Let's continue to chit chat a little bit about more stuff happening around the sports world. Viral moment, I would like to say. Algo got a right moment. Mm. Did you see Fat Perez down there?

[Foxy]

Oh. At the players recreating Tiger's iconic putt here.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. Yeah. I don't know if he just put the ball there or they ended up there or whatever the case was. I don't know how we got to this particular point, but rolling this fucker home with the eyes of the PGA on you. And I know he's a great golfer. Okay. I know that Fat Perez and the boys are great golfers over there, and he most definitely is. But at this moment, on this iconic green, with what Tiger did there, rolling that thing home and then the way he went about it, putting the hands in the pocket. This guy walk his back. That's fallen, I think. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Take her home. What a moment. Yeah. That's awesome. And you know, the YouTube golfers are certainly being talked about at the moment. Rory McElroy's giving his take on it. It's like, I love golf. I love golf more when I'm watching it than playing it because of how bad I am. But these content creators with their incredible ability and freedom to be able to do so much shit, I love everything about it. H. I love everything about what Fat Perez just did. Yeah. Why.

[Foxy]

Why'd Rory take that dude's phone? He was pissed off in the practice round because the guy, like, was taking loud. Was he. Did he have his ringer on as he's taking pictures or something?

[Pat McAfee]

I have no idea. I did not get that far. I just saw the quote, and then I saw Robbie Burger, obviously, answer. And he does sports in a fantastic way. And I'll tell you what, his love of a Caesar salad is really something that should be talked about more. But, yeah, I've just basically kept up from, you know, just following along, whether it's foreplay boys, or it is brilliantly Dumb and Fat Bread and all those guys. And I just kind of follow along and see the clips. So I don't know if Rory. Rory got pissed off at somebody at a putting green and went up there and just started at a tee box.

[Foxy]

He went and just took a dude's phone up. I don't know where he took it. I mean, I wish he would have putted it into the pond or something. If you're going to take it, you got to do something with it.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. Huck.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

Or a Spike. Like Jason Kelsey or Spike. Maybe that guy was saying the same thing that was being said to Jason kelsey. Yeah. Not 100% sure of it all, but I. I think golf's in a good spot, and I think what those dudes and ladies of golf content creation on the Internet is good for the sport as well. Yeah, I am a massive fan. I see those clips year round. Obviously them talk in the interviews and the stories and the shots and the golf courses they play. They play a lot of golf courses that I would obviously never get to see unless it was a pga. So I'm in on the golf content creators, even though Rory's completely out on it. Yeah.

[Boston Connor]

Sweet event. Like, for them to put together this, you know, the day before the players was great promotion. Like, as someone who, you know, doesn't follow golf as strictly as other people and, you know, like, Foxy basically was the one that told me that the players was this upcoming weekend. But seeing all this stuff, like I knew today waking up like, oh, yeah, the players is going on now, and, like, moments like this are unheard of. I've. I saw some bad moments as well that were also just as funny. But I think nobody won more than, you know, brilliant Dumb and Fat Perez, Iowa Hawkeye legend.

[Pat McAfee]

Oh, Trent Ryan, foreplay pot. He had a. He had a shot. He had. He had it that was tough. I mean, they had him at a tough angle and he took a hack at that thing confidently. That ball went nowhere but the ground. And I respect that because that's more my style of golf as opposed to rolling in Tiger's butt.

[Ty Schmidt]

Well, and that's also why, like, you know, I think people are like taking a shot at Rory or some people where it's like, hey, if you're a professional golfer, like you're not watching people on YouTube playing golf. That's like, you know, someone in the NFL isn't spending time like watching people play two hand touch football. Like, it's not, not the same thing. But you also see like these guys, they're playing at the Players Championship. Like, that's a very, very difficult golf course. So if you're not, I mean, like in fat. Perez is like a scratch golfer. He's an absolute stick. But you see the discrepancy between like, you know, watching pros play and watching guys who are just really good at golf. Like, you can get exposed out there because it's a very difficult course.

[Pat McAfee]

So I will say this from Rory's perspective whenever, like, there was a kicking trick shot run while I was kind of in the league and there would be people that would like be talking out of pocket about the NFL guys, you know, like comparing kicks that maybe happen on a hundredth take or aren't realistic or kicks that any kicker could do that was a good kicker, especially if they just set their mind out to do it now. Creative concept certainly. So I'm not going to knock that. But like some of those people's fans would start like going after like actual, actual kickers. So I would assume Rory has heard some about people and how influencers are better golfers than he is. So I assume Rory also has that angle. But roar, it's good for the game.

[Boston Connor]

Come on.

[Pat McAfee]

Just like it was good for kicking all these guys. I never, you know, it was good for kicking people being interested in kicking. But you, you would hear some comments made to like, not venetarian necessarily, but basically every other kicker about like, this guy should have your job. He'd be a lot cheaper. And not everybody's saying that, but people are saying that. And it's like, I could go do that with both of my feet if I wanted to. A little bit of a different level. And I'm sure the actual golfers feel like a lot of that YouTube, I can do that on both sides of the golf ball if I wanted to. So I think that is probably where they get pissed off is whenever there's a comparison of some sort.

[Foxy]

Well, they miss a putt or they're standing over a putt and people are yelling. Fat Perez would make that one. Like that that probably happens. And then they get upset.

[Pat McAfee]

Bingo. Yeah, like there's like those moments that probably, probably happen with the gallery or even on Twitter, you know, or in comment sections of anything that people see and they're like these guys, you know, like, that is, that can easily happen, I think, from a professional stuff. But you got to remember, go for a game and the people that actually have a brain. No, you know, that is the, that is what I think. Like, Rory should kind of understand, like, people know that there's, there's levels to this 100. And at the end of the day, there is nothing better to watch in the form of golf than the back nine on a Sunday of any good tournament. And Rory knows that. So, yeah, it's all good. Yeah, it's best content. The best, the best golf content is Sunday big turn. Bingo. Now, granted, by far, me seeing some of these golf courses that I've never seen before. And like I'm watching these dudes play and I'm like, yeah, that is beautiful. Like, I would never. And then some guy who has like a similar handicap to me hits a stroke or some celebrity does like, okay, hey. Or you watch somebody just be the work. Like the Miz. Oh, you feel like we watch, we watch a Miz golf online and it's like, how is he not getting better at the sport? Like, how do you.

[AJ Hawk]

I thought he's good now.

[Pat McAfee]

Those are modern marvels, you know, like the Miz golfing is a modern marvel.

[AJ Hawk]

Is he not good now?

[Pat McAfee]

I think the Miz will always be exactly what you think.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah.

[Foxy]

How does he hit the ball so poorly with such a good looking swing.

[Pat McAfee]

And with all the effort and time that he puts it.

[Foxy]

Oh, it consumes his life.

[Pat McAfee]

I feel, feel like he's either wrestling, he's with his, with his kids, but he's moved to a golf course. Like he moved his family to a golf course so they could hang out with the family and do golf. Like, he loves the sport, which is sweet. I like how much he loves it. But the fits, the shoes, the clubs, he invests as if he is a PGA guy. Oh, yeah. Time and everything. And it's just like, I don't know if he's ever going to get good. No, I don't know if he's ever. I don't even know if he has the possibility of getting good.

[Boston Connor]

I know. I know that he's never gonna get good.

[Pat McAfee]

And that's a shame, isn't it?

[Foxy]

Loose. He needs to trust his instincts and just let it loose. Like, he has so many thoughts. I feel like in his. His pre shot routine with the arm and all this stuff, like.

[Boston Connor]

No, he needs just a lot going on. He needs to get in a pickle ball. He doesn't need, like, look how good.

[Foxy]

This swing looks, though.

[Pat McAfee]

Everything. The setup is exactly what you do with the pros. Let me go center this thing. There's the arm. Let me do a little wiggle. He did. He did say. He sped that up. And look at that. That is.

[Boston Connor]

That's not real.

[Pat McAfee]

That is possible.

[Boston Connor]

That's fake.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, but that he. He'll have one of those, you know, because the swing and everything somehow lines up with the universe because. And actually hits the ball. But then the next one. Yeah, he's saying that he chips this up and he didn't. Like, we know that's four or five. We know that that's four or five. But he did have a birdie on one of the holes he did in Tahoe. And just know this hole that we're watching right now literally probably took 20 to 30 minutes. Yeah, no question.

[Boston Connor]

Good putt miss.

[Pat McAfee]

Did he make this one? Oh, yeah, he did. All right, There you go. He's pumped about it.

[Boston Connor]

Was that a par?

[Pat McAfee]

Watching miss golf is awesome, though, you know, and the reason why it's awesome is because you go, how is this guy still not able to play the sport with how much he's committed? So I'll watch the Miz golf, I'll watch the content creators golf. Whole day, I'll do that whole thing. But nothing's better than Sunday at a real tournament.

[Ty Schmidt]

To your point, Foxy, watching miss golf is one thing. When you have to play 18 holes with this guy, that's enough. It was a. It was a six and a half hour round.

[Foxy]

It's too fast for us.

[Ty Schmidt]

No, it was. There were plenty of times where you and Pat were up on the green and me and Connor were doing the stuff, you know, the videos. And we're 275 yards back with Miz just having an engaging conversation with his cat. What do you think? I, you know, not a nice little baby draw here. Maybe catch the ridge up there.

[Pat McAfee]

And it's like his caddy, though, wasn't part of. Oh, yeah.

[Ty Schmidt]

Oh, yeah, absolutely. He was, you know, swing thoughts on.

[Boston Connor]

Everything and then sliding them, you know, feeding them.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, we all see what's going on.

[Ty Schmidt]

Caddy, let just let him hit a worm burner on the ground, you know, 75 yards. And then let's, let's get this thing going. Let's get the. The double and pick it up and move to the next hole.

[Pat McAfee]

Caddy probably a good guy, probably too good of a guy to actually entertain all the things that were happening, happening. But it was like, Miz is getting better, though. You saw the arm was quick. Oh, yeah, that looked a lot quicker. Feels like he's taking constructive criticism a little bit.

[Boston Connor]

He sucks at golf. He'll always suck at golf. Like he doesn't have enough time in a year to consistently get good every single week.

[Pat McAfee]

Another magical viral moment is a brand new New York Met, highest paid player, I think, in the history of baseball having a moment during spring training with a member of cry. There's this guy with long hair in a green or yellow polo yelling at Juan Soto. This rat looking fella says to the highest paid player in the history of baseball, he's overpaid and overrated. Cut off polo, great pony. No worries in his life at all.

[Michael Lombardi]

No.

[Pat McAfee]

Having the time of his life at spring training, letting Juan Soto know that it's all bullshit, what the Mets just did. And then later, his next at bat, Juan Soto would do this. To who? To where? Yeah, fucking. The guy hits it to the guy. The guy wipes shit, eats shit. And Juan Soto gives a shout out and some kid gets the ball. What a moment for Juan Soto. As that ball is flying directly towards that guy, he has to think to himself, I'm the greatest baseball hitter of all time. Obviously that's a professional pitcher. He doesn't know what's coming for him. To potentially try to snipe a guy how many feet? 450ft away?

[Ty Schmidt]

Probably like 350, 375.

[Pat McAfee]

375Ft away. Had to be one of the most fulfilling, gratifying moments in the history of Juan Soto's base baseball career. And that rat ended up on the ground. But he'll go home with a story. Congrats to all parties here. Honestly, congrats. All parties made a spring training game awesome. And also probably made one sort of dial in a little bit more. Let me see if I can put this on that guy's head.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah, I'm gonna try to kill that guy.

[Pat McAfee]

And he did. He did. Yeah, that.

[Ty Schmidt]

I mean, to be a play, to be able to do that, like, remember that guy and be like, I'm gonna hit this guy in the forehead. I'm gonna kill this guy 375ft away and actually do it. I mean, it's remarkable. Remarkable. I. You know, defensively, he is a liability. So maybe that's. I was talking about being overpaid. Overrated. But at the dish, he's. He's fucking unbelievable.

[Pat McAfee]

Sounds like you're a little bit of a hater because you're a New Yorker.

[Ty Schmidt]

Not a hater.

[Michael Lombardi]

He gave me.

[Ty Schmidt]

He gave me a great season in pinstripes that I'll always remember.

[Pat McAfee]

Well, speaking of a great season that you could remember for the Yankees, I guess they're never having a good season again. Have you read what's happened here? I do not know this, because I've been bringing a boom. You know, I love bringing a boom.

[Boston Connor]

Still bringing it.

[Pat McAfee]

I love any family that's completely committed to a professional wrestler. Dad's gimmick, okay? They've actually had AEW matches. They've gotten into this thing. Big Costco, Little Costco. I love what they've done with their family. Has to feel so good doing it alongside the kids, too. Get a chance to go experience all these things, I guess. The Yankees have done absolutely garbage since they brought the boom. Do they need to bring them back and double boom to maybe offset this? Or are the Yankees fucked forever? Ty Schmidt.

[Ty Schmidt]

I think the boom they need to bring is Aaron Judge needs to take a bat and hit big Justice. Not big. Excuse me. Big boom. AJ in the head and kill him.

[Pat McAfee]

What?

[Ty Schmidt]

That's the only way.

[Pat McAfee]

That is a Yankees Die Hard fan. I don't want that.

[Ty Schmidt]

The only way this can be reversed, you got to let Aaron Judge come in, hit. Hit you in the head, you know, like a hundred times, and kill you if you're an act. If he's an actual Yankees fan, I don't know. He lives down in Boca Raton. You know, he acts like he's from, you know, New York or whatever.

[Pat McAfee]

What are you saying? I am a boom fan. We are boom fans.

[Boston Connor]

Don't bring the book of BE beats, boys.

[Pat McAfee]

I was.

[Ty Schmidt]

I was. But hey, listen, the proof's in the pudding, okay? Garrett Cole is having season ending Tommy John surgery, okay? That's our ace. All right? Louie Gill, who won rookie of the Year last year, he up his elbow, he's gonna be out three months. John Carlos Stanton, who is maybe one of the most ripped, muscular human beings on the planet, has both of his elbows so up he can't even pick up a toothbrush. So how's he gonna swing a baseball bat this year? It's just, you know, it's one thing after another. And not to mention, you know, obviously, the. They lose. They lose, Soto. So if this, If. If Big Boom AJ is as big of a Yankees fantasy acts like he is, then you got to let Aaron Judge hit you in the head like a hundred times and kill you.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay. Okay. I don't know.

[Foxy]

I'm not gonna take a hundred. It won't take 100 shots.

[Ty Schmidt]

Well, I mean, he's got a big head.

[Pat McAfee]

You gotta.

[Ty Schmidt]

You gotta get the demons out. You gotta beat him to a bloody. Oh, I mean, no way. You gotta leave. No doubt.

[Pat McAfee]

We can't have Big Boomer gone.

[AJ Hawk]

We want blood splatter on Judgy's face.

[Pat McAfee]

No, we can't do that.

[Boston Connor]

Glorious past.

[Pat McAfee]

Listen.

[Ty Schmidt]

Exactly.

[Pat McAfee]

I understand the thing. Things are not going well for the Yankees, but it ain't the boom's fault. Okay? You need to know. They brought the boom. They tried to bring good spirits, good vibes to the Yankees because it's been a while since you guys have been the team, right? Has it not been.

[Ty Schmidt]

Oh, yeah. I mean, they went to the World Series last year, but it's been. They haven't won a World series since 2009.

[Pat McAfee]

And now the Mets are new.

[Boston Connor]

No, they're not.

[Ty Schmidt]

Let's pump the brakes there. I mean, they're taking.

[Pat McAfee]

They got a batter from your team. They do put it on a guy's head from 375ft away. Not in BP, in an actual live at bat, Polar Bear.

[Ty Schmidt]

And, you know, I'm guessing that guy who threw that pitch is probably like, you know, the 65th guy on the. He'll probably be playing single a ball for the Phillies or whoever the fuck they were playing. You know, another thing that no one's really talking about is the. The Mets signed the Yankees closer last year who choked, lost his job, couldn't get anybody out. They signed him and said, hey, you know what? You're gonna be a starting pitcher next year. So we'll see how that pans out. You know, you. You can't. Baseball is one of those things. You can't score, you know, know 8, 9, 10 runs every single game and think you're gonna win that way. You're gonna have to squeak out a couple two one ball games.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. But they got old trumpets coming back.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah.

[Ty Schmidt]

Okay.

[Boston Connor]

Polar Bear Pete, who hit those sweet home runs in the.

[Pat McAfee]

Oh, yeah. And the playoffs. Yeah. Save the season and a home run derby.

[Boston Connor]

He's a winner.

[AJ Hawk]

That's all he cares about.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah. That is all he cares about. But you know, that's okay.

[Pat McAfee]

You sound like a hater, right?

[Ty Schmidt]

No, I just, you know, the King of New York stuff. Like. Like let's. Let's see the mess. Do it before we crown them. Okay. And once Aaron Judge hits Big Boom AJ in the head and kills him.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay.

[Ty Schmidt]

We are not gonna be back.

[Pat McAfee]

We need Big Boomer. We need Big Boomer on.

[Ty Schmidt]

I'll settle with Big justice then.

[Pat McAfee]

No, Lil Boom is staying. That is not the case.

[Ty Schmidt]

Maybe the mom. One of them's gotta go.

[Pat McAfee]

Do you.

[Michael Lombardi]

I don't know.

[Pat McAfee]

What if they. What if they just delete the video? What if they say, you guys need to delete the video? We regret doing the video. I think the only way you get out is they do another video.

[Ty Schmidt]

Or you think, you know, what you.

[AJ Hawk]

Think they're gonna say? They're gonna admit fault.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

Maybe they've seen the same stuff we've seen with this Yankees team.

[Ty Schmidt]

Remember what they did to Texas Roadhouse? You think they're gonna just say, okay, I mean, you know, Texas Roadhouse rolls out the red carpet for him, gives them comps him a meal and everything that comes out. I mean, the steak is chewy. It's no good.

[Pat McAfee]

It's not. I don't.

[Ty Schmidt]

You know, the sides are cold.

[Pat McAfee]

I don't. You know, I'd love to give.

[Ty Schmidt]

I'd love to boom this place out. You know, we love to do that, but I can't do it.

[AJ Hawk]

I had Roadhouse this weekend. I actually was pissed eating it, thinking about wife.

[Pat McAfee]

And I went last week, Texas Roadhouse. Had a little day date. Went up to Texas Roadhouse, sat at the bar, had all the TV set up, had some peanuts, had the bread and the butter. Had this cold chilled salad.

[Ty Schmidt]

Oh, sure was pretty good, right?

[Pat McAfee]

Chicken fried steak, head in there.

[AJ Hawk]

Oh, how was it?

[Pat McAfee]

Great.

[AJ Hawk]

Yeah, exactly.

[Boston Connor]

So maybe they do a video with Mets G gear on.

[Foxy]

Yeah.

[Boston Connor]

Instead of killing them, which I understand your qualm. That would make sense.

[Ty Schmidt]

Or make him take like, do like a simulated game. Him and. And Big Justice. They go in and let's put Max Freed out there. And he gets to buzz the tower. Hit him in, hit. Hit him both in the head with like a 98.

[Pat McAfee]

They are not the reason the Yankees haven't won. They are not.

[Ty Schmidt]

They're not. Need to be some sort of repercussions.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, I don't know. All right, let's get the hell out of here. What a day. There's a lot of basketball games on. Let's Watch him.

[Boston Connor]

Hell yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

Let's get in here tomorrow for a nice feel. Good Friday. The weather is magnificent here in the middle of the country. We hope the same wherever you are watching from or listening from. Ohio, same right. 70 degrees today.

[Foxy]

Oh, the best. It's awesome.

[Pat McAfee]

Love it. It is the sun shining? Sit outside a little bit. Yes. You know, let the. Let the wind hit the face a little bit. Breathe some fresh air. Foxy will go try to hit a hole 185 times and seemingly come closer than any human has ever come. It's been a tough go, to be honest. You're in and out of that hole so often. Honestly, I would have thought I'd made like eight or nine of them at this point. I've only made one.

[Boston Connor]

Only made one on both holes.

[Pat McAfee]

On both holes though. Yeah. I've been going for the 75 yarder now since last summer and I have not even made it yet. I've not even made a 75 yard. There was a time where this was. I would have made this by now. Yeah. It's unbelievable. I know. It's sky, maybe seven foot putt. Foxy, it's a hole in 1 75. How many balls I'm hitting though? I'm hitting a lot. You're just. You're being a bit of a. An arrogant prick. Right. It's a green to yourself. You're being an arrogant prick to yourself. Acting like that. Should have already. You shouldn't have one on both. Both of them is what we're saying. Yeah. The 100 yarder was all luck. That thing went straight in. But yeah, I mean, probability wise, I probably out there at least three days a week at least. You think I would make more than I have. How many balls are you hitting per day out there? One bucket. I haven't counted how many. Let's just say one small bucket is 50 maybe. So that's a lot of balls. He's out there a lot. He always comes back in. We see him walk back in. He's holding his shoes. Yeah, didn't make any today. You put golf shoes on just outside shoes? Yeah.

[Foxy]

Oh, yeah. Walk in the mud to pick them up.

[Pat McAfee]

Very muddy. Yeah, yeah, exactly. And we don't need that getting dragged through a Thunderdome because the dirtier the Thunderdome is, the more we have to hire people to come clean it. The more times we have to have it come be cleaned, the more we have random people walking around the office. So, you know, one thing leads to another. Let's not have as many random Folks in here, let's try to keep it as clean as possible. With that being said, shoes are a real problem. They drag shit in. Especially with gym floor. Anybody that's ever had a gym floor floor knows that the shoes are the ones that kind of ruin everything. So we try to keep as clean as possible. And Foxy, very nice. Foxy's got his little grass cutters. He wears in and out of this entire place. But anytime we see him come back in and grass cutters are down, head down, he's holding his club. Just comes GoPro.

[Foxy]

The GoPro that he has to go set up too.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, set up. And then he has to delete this footage, I guess. Yeah, yeah. Plugs it in. The computer has a hole. I don't want to have to watch these again. I'm gonna make it today. Today's a good day. Yes, it is. Yes, it is. All right, let's get the hell out of here. Big night out. Sold out. We covered everything that has happened in the world and, you know, maybe AJ Hawk will get an answer for the city of Pittsburgh. You know, maybe.

[Foxy]

It feels like with the moon tonight, it is the. This is the deadline.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay?

[Foxy]

2:00Am, 3:00am Maybe.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay. When the moon hits me, I love.

[Foxy]

How Tone said Aaron's listening to ocean sounds while he's walking three feet away from the ocean.

[Pat McAfee]

Just in case there wasn't enough kind of quiet waves tonight. I want some big boys.

[Boston Connor]

Heavy chop.

[Foxy]

I need a break. I need some heavy chop.

[Pat McAfee]

I want this thing to crash.

[AJ Hawk]

If you do get a chance to talk to Aaron, tell him if he doesn't do it by time the mills let out tomorrow around 4:30, 5:00.

[Pat McAfee]

All the drunks they get and they.

[AJ Hawk]

Get to a bar and they put their. Their paycheck down on that bar. Every hour that goes by, it's going to get worse and worse.

[Pat McAfee]

It's just going to get loud. But hey, that's Pittsburgh football actually through and through. That's why I can't wait to get there on April 9th. That should be a good time. All right, we're back Tomorrow. Watch some college basketball. I'm going to have to because I don't know shit about it. Seth Greenberg gave us a great amount of information. I mean, he really broke it down. Drake has an opportunity, VCU has an opportunity to go on a run. How about Florida? He mentioned them like five times. He wanted us to know that he really likes Florida. Then he talked about Duke was shire new coach. The way they rebuilt this entire thing. Big ten's got a couple schools now. Big Ten's got a couple schools. He likes Michigan State because he and Izzo have known each other forever. You know, that entire thing. The SEC is loaded. He loves that the ACC only has a couple teams. Big 12. He likes Houston. And then he said, basically, Pitino's boys are going to be a tough out for anybody.

[Boston Connor]

Patino's boys, BYU team that shoots the lights out, and then Illinois, who's kind of getting healthy and hot at the right time right now.

[Pat McAfee]

Head dudes got hurt, got sick. He said, I don't know if it was the flu or whatever, but now they got all their dudes back, so everything. And I think the name of the point guard, crazy name is the Maestro. He said.

[Boston Connor]

Josh Yaka Binas.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, yeah, it was something like that. He said, he's a maestro out there. And they got dudes. I think college ball is going to live up to yet another magical march. I hope so. There's always those moments, you know, and every year, I got to say, I don't know anything about any of these teams, but I'm a ride. I'm a ride the wave here all the way until one shining moment. A.J.

[Foxy]

Yeah, it's crazy that here. Lambo said, like, North Carolina needs a couple wins to get into the tournament. Like, why North Carolina should always be in the tournament, should always be competing for Final Fours.

[Pat McAfee]

Seth Greenberg said that you're saying all older folks look the same. I respect that. I. I do appreciate that. That Seth Greenberg was great on the program today.

[Foxy]

Seth is great. I. Seth, honestly, is awesome. I think he's, like, very entertaining. And he's also worked and coached with every person that's ever played basketball.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. And I think he was trying to let us know that there at the beginning. Yeah, I've known this guy since he was a kid. Yeah, we grew up in the same pox, me and Patino. Like, the way he was talking is like. Just would like you to know that I do know these people. And I watch him on game day every week. I think he's really good on game day, and he was pumped to come on the show, which I like. Oh, yeah, that never happens.

[Foxy]

I've talked to him at different things over the. Over the years. I've seen him. A few things pop up and. Yeah, he always talks about coming on.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay, I'm happy to hear that happen. I'm happy to hear we potentially got a guy here.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

What was he. He was out on the patio of a hotel with a pool yeah, Nashville. He was in Nashville.

[AJ Hawk]

Might have been on Broadway.

[Pat McAfee]

Might have been. It sounded like there was a good time happening behind him. Yeah, Nashville's a great town.

[AJ Hawk]

Is there a tournament match?

[Pat McAfee]

That's where the SEC is.

[AJ Hawk]

There you go.

[Pat McAfee]

BYU also about to knock Iowa State out and they were underdogs in this game. Oh, so the BYU call is a good one. Yeah.

[AJ Hawk]

Dumpy's a big fan of byu.

[Pat McAfee]

They're very good. They went into Arizona and won. Like they've been road dogs all season long. What tiny score you have you been betting on? That's potentially the tournament. Fordham just had a big time win. Right for them.

[Boston Connor]

Huge.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. The Dukes just got knocked out by felt woes, boys.

[AJ Hawk]

So unnecessary.

[Pat McAfee]

Saint Bonaventure. That's why I forgot to ask Greenberg about how are the Bonnies? They got a gm. They used to know everybody about every. Everything about everybody. They've been very good this year. And Arkansas is playing right now. They're kind of. I think they're going to make a run with Cal running it. Oh, yeah, I forgot Cal end of season. Cal teams normally much better than beginning of season. Cal team, they've been getting better as the season's gone on. Yeah. Patino's team Dogs, they foul on every possession. But what's a foul? That was a funny line by Seth Greenberg. Patina's. It's a gritty A. That's what. That's what Patina. That's. And then he didn't say later. He called Patino's teams a to play against and then he wouldn't say later. That kind of confused me.

[Boston Connor]

He said, I thought.

[Pat McAfee]

I thought you slipped. But he was, like, hesitant to say after he said that their teams were a twice.

[Ty Schmidt]

So he might still have some, like, pain mess. And it's from six stitches. He might not have really been.

[Pat McAfee]

Oh, yeah, because he's. He hit the bed. He fell. Wanted to blame the wife. Couldn't even. Married 38 years. We love love around here. Love, love around here. All right, let's get to a break. We'll be back tomorrow. Be a friend. Tell a friend something. And thank you to everybody. Thank you to everybody. Big night out. It's gonna be a good show. Yeah. Got text from everybody's part of the show saying, congratulations.

[Ty Schmidt]

Nice.

[Pat McAfee]

Oh, yeah, it'll be awesome. I bet they can't wait to get there. Can't wait to get there. Can't wait to get there. Can't wait to have you. Can't wait to be there. Be a friend. Tell a friend. Something nice. It might change your life. We're in this thing together. Team on me. Team on three. One, two, three, team. Good night. All right. Let me ask you something. Ever feel like you're juggling at all, work, family, responsibilities, and still trying to keep your eye on the ball? Yeah. You're in Ander and National University gets the hustle. That's why they have flexible online classes and support services for folks who are balancing jobs and kids and everything in between. If you're ready to take the next step, National University can help you level up your education and score your goals. Check them out at nu Edu to learn more.