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The Pat McAfee Show
PMS 2.0 1392 - Peter Schrager, Damien Woody, Andrew Hawkins, Jason McCourty, Darius Butler, & AJ Hawk
02:29:08
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- [00:02]
Peter Schrager
Let's go. Out of The Gate Path McAfee Show. Yeah. What are we talking about today? Football. How was that?
- [00:14]
Ty Schmidt
That was great.
- [00:15]
Peter Schrager
Pretty good.
- [00:16]
Tone Diggs
It was good.
- [00:17]
Peter Schrager
Pretty good intro. I'm Peter Schrager. Yeah. What camera do I even look at? Where is it?
- [00:22]
Boston Connor
You're right here. Right there.
- [00:23]
Peter Schrager
Hello. Right. What a blast. We just were listening to the Luke Combs, Alex Warren, ordinary. I'm like lupin. We're fired up. I'm in from New York City one day only. In for one great. Pat McAfee who FaceTimed me, asked if I wanted to do this. And I was on the next flight out. So honored to be with the boys. Let's do a quick intro of everybody we know, the guys. We've got our man Boston Connor. We've got our man Tyshmid. We've got our wonderful man Tone Dick Darius, Butler in the house and boys in the truck. We are going to do it. We are loaded with football today.
- [00:56]
Boston Connor
Oh, yeah.
- [00:57]
Peter Schrager
Loaded.
- [00:57]
Tone Diggs
Love that.
- [00:58]
Peter Schrager
I wanted to start though, because last night I was in the hotel, I couldn't sleep. I'm like, all right, what do we got on Netflix? I'm doom scrolling. I'm looking at all these beautiful women on these vacations that I'm like, right. Looking at all these not so beautiful men on vacations with these beautiful women, I'm like, all right, doom scrolling. Doom scrolling. I'm in an Indianapolis hotel room. It's fine.
- [01:19]
Boston Connor
It's all right.
- [01:20]
Ty Schmidt
Beautiful city.
- [01:21]
Peter Schrager
And I click Netflix and I put on this Cowboys doc. Cause everyone's like telling me, you gotta check it out. One of the greatest minute soundbites I've ever heard. Let's share it with everybody. This is from the new Cowboys documentary. Take a listen.
- [01:40]
Boston Connor
When we turn that well on for.
- [01:42]
Peter Schrager
The first time, I knew it was a gusher. When I heard it screaming. It actually screams. It's so powerful, Jerry. And it started spitting just like any mammal would spit. And it started coughing. And then all of a sudden it started roaring and it roared like being at Niagara Falls. And with that single well, I made out with a hundred million dollar. Now, I always knew what I was going to do with that money. And I knew it put me in a position that maybe I could realize my ultimate dream. So I took that money and took a bigger risk than I took drilling that damn well. And I remembered looking at that oil and I said to myself, jerry, you just bought the Dallas Cowboys. Bam, Bam, bam, bam.
- [02:55]
Ty Schmidt
Pretty good clip.
- [02:56]
Peter Schrager
It was spitting. How do you say it?
- [02:59]
Boston Connor
Spitting like A mammal.
- [03:00]
Tone Diggs
Coughing.
- [03:00]
Boston Connor
Yeah, coughing.
- [03:02]
Ty Schmidt
And then it was roaring.
- [03:03]
Peter Schrager
And it was roaring. Good, bad, the ugly. Who's Enrique?
- [03:06]
Ty Schmidt
Ennio Morricone.
- [03:07]
Peter Schrager
Ennio Morricone. The music is fantastic and you're sucked in. That's the first, like opening of this documentary. There's several episodes. You said you're how many episodes there?
- [03:16]
Tone Diggs
I am about two and a half. Fell asleep during the third episode. But it was great. The one liners, obviously, you know, Jerry and his quotes. Michael Irvin, he is. He's unbelievable throughout it. Troy Aikman getting into that, I was just. It's crazy. Like I didn't even know that it went straight from Tom Landry to Jimmy Johnson. Like I didn't know that was the transition. But just hearing Jerry's story, I got so much more. You know, everybody has the thoughts about Jerry Jones and how he runs the Cowboys, but I got so much respect for him about the family aspect of it. Like when they had a shot of like the family, like his office going to, like his sons, his daughters, other son. Just seeing, you know, being in and seeing how involved his family is with his business, how much he loved the Cowboys, you know, what he built it to with the brand it is today. I mean, it's electric. We know all the big time players, but there's so much that we don't know behind the scenes. So I'm excited about, you know, continuing watching it.
- [04:09]
Peter Schrager
Charlotte was right out of college, was 25, and little Jerry Jr. Was 19. And he basically tells them when he buys the team, like, this is your new living. Like this is how you will make a living. You are with me through thick and thin. And the first episode, you talk about Michael Irvin, you talk about the Tom Landry deal. You gotta understand, Tom Landry was the only coach of the Cowboys for years and years and years. They lose three seasons in a row. And there's some reports Skip Bayless is on there talking about how he's sleeping in meetings. And Michael Irvin says before one of the games says, let's keep it close against Pittsburgh. And Michael Irvin's like, I cannot handle it here.
- [04:41]
Boston Connor
Yeah.
- [04:42]
Peter Schrager
And Jerry Jones comes in and first thing he does is fires Tom Landry. Yeah, fires Tom Landry. A legend. Hires his guy, Jimmie Johnson. Away we go. The next thing they do, they trade for her. They trade the Herschel Walker trade. They get all these picks, unpopular moves.
- [04:59]
Boston Connor
Oh, yeah.
- [05:00]
Peter Schrager
And he says he always likes being the one who goes against the grain. It's kind of how he made his money. He was $50 million in debt, spends $800,000, drills a hole into the. I don't know. I'm not an oil trader. My friend Jordan is an oil trader. I couldn't. I don't know that world. I know football. But I know that this guy rolls the dice and beats to his own drum. I say that because it sets up the context for all these conversations. I'm watching all the morning shows that we do. I'm on to get up and first take a bunch. I see all the stuff on NFL Network. I see all the talk. If you think you're dealing with a rational or standard or down, it's like this is a totally different individual than what you're used to dealing with in business and in life. He is a landman, he is a gambler, he is a maverick. He fancies himself as someone from the old West. And even with that Johnny Cash music about Arkansas, when he first comes in, they didn't like him in Texas because he was an Arkansas guy. And Jethro Jones, they called him. Who is this guy buying the Cowboys? He buys the Cowboys. This is his. This is his life. He loves this. So with that as the context, do you think Jerry Jones is backing down or intimidated by us being critical of how he's handled the Micah Parsons contract? Jerry hasn't paid Micah Parsons when he was up after his fourth year. Jerry is not paying Micah Parsons right now. And then we get this tweet from Adam Schefter yesterday, who's the top in the game and is as plugged in as anybody. I see these two sides headed towards divorce and it makes no sense. Rational thinking, it makes no sense. You've got this great player, you've got this team that loves, you know, striking gold, if you will, on a player that is homegrown. He's delivered, he's been wonderful. He's. He's everything you'd want in a star defensive player. He's the next Lawrence Taylor. And yet Jerry is sitting there and he will not be bullied, he will not be pushed around, and he's certainly not going to. To engage with someone who is demanding a trade. Something that CD Lamb didn't do, something that Dak Prescott didn't do, something that Ezekiel Elliott didn't do. But I look at it as if you're looking at the situation on paper. It makes no sense. Why isn't Michael. And then you watch this documentary and you understand the man behind these decisions. He's self made.
- [07:27]
Boston Connor
Yeah.
- [07:28]
Peter Schrager
He's totally on his own path. And beats to his own drum. And the more we talk about it, he actually relishes it.
- [07:38]
Boston Connor
Loves it.
- [07:38]
Peter Schrager
But he also likes knowing he's the one who holds the keys. And he's not going to get bullied around by a player or by a player's agent who he doesn't even seem to want to deal with or acknowledge, which seems like a great insult to Jerry Jones. I'm the owner of the freaking Dallas Cowboys.
- [07:54]
Boston Connor
Yeah, exactly. Like, even when they talked about when his first press conference was there and they fired Tom Landry, the GM, too, was the President GM for 29. And he basically wasn't really sure what was going to happen to his job. And in his opening press conference, Jerry Jones actually says, I want that guy's job, and points at the GM of 29 years. Then he got let go. He did a press conference. He's crying. Tom Landry got a hero salute. Literally got a parade through Dallas. 100,000 people. Yeah. Came out to see him. They're, like, interviewing people, and they're saying, hey, if Tom Landry is not the coach of the Cowboys, I ain't. I ain't watching. I ain't a fan. And then Jerry comes in to do that. I mean, the Herschel Walker thing, you mentioned the business side of it. I didn't know that's how it works. Herschel Walker gets traded for five players, and then it was conditional upon them, you know, being on the team. And if they got released, they got five picks, five draft picks, which led to.
- [08:47]
Peter Schrager
I'm sure we could do a full screen, but I think it was Emmett and Darren Woodson and a ton of different offensive and defensive players that ended up building up this team. Brings in his guy Jimmy. But even the Jimmy stuff, like, Jimmy had won two straight Super Bowls. And you're out.
- [09:01]
Ty Schmidt
Yeah, you're out.
- [09:02]
Peter Schrager
Disagreement. You're out. Jimmy Johnson told a great story at his hall of Fame induction speech. And it was basically, they play in, like, the Tokyo bowl in the preseason in, like, 91. And there was this cool trophy of, like, a guy with a sword. Like a samurai with a sword. And Jerry Jones wanted this trophy. So preseason, just what all he cared about, this dang trophy. And it's a guy with a samurai sword. And they're in the preseason, and Jimmy's pulling starters after a quarter, and Jerry's freaking out, like, I need that. They lose the game. Trophy goes to whoever say, the Houston Oilers. The entire flight back from Tokyo, Jerry Jones is fuming at Jimmy Johnson because he wanted that samurai Trophy. They go on, they win the Super Bowl, Lombardi trophy years later, and Jimmie Johnson says, better than the Samurai trophy. Yes, but that's Jerry. Like Jerry wanted that samurai trophy and Jerry doesn't want to pay Micah Parsons.
- [10:00]
Ty Schmidt
See, I think that's the thing that is kind of hard to wrap your head around though. Like as, as a fan or just someone who follows the league is you see Jerry's relationship with these former players and like just the reverence that not only these guys have for him, but he has for them. And everyone views Micah as that guy. Like, we looked up his stats yesterday. Like, I mean it's, it's undeniable. He is one of those guys. He's one of those guys you could see being a first ballot hall of famer and being a one helmet guy going into the Cowboys ring of honor. So it's just weird that. And I understand like the personal stuff like that. I mean, it makes sense. Jerry's his own man. But typically with these kind of guys, like these are the guys Jerry goes to bat for no matter what, you know, so it's just, it's crazy that.
- [10:40]
Peter Schrager
And he has.
- [10:40]
Boston Connor
Yeah.
- [10:41]
Peter Schrager
So like Zeke, everyone was like, ah, don't pay a running back. Zeke goes to Cabo. Took care of him. Dak Prescott last year. I'm at the Fox set and like you know, 12:01, it's Jay Glazer, like, hey, this just in. Like that got paid. Of course that got paid. That's Jerry's guy. You go through it, Zach Martin, he always takes care of his guys. Something about Micah, he didn't want to take care of him last year. He hasn't taken care of him this year. And the story you'll hear, whether it's been reported or not, is that they had a handshake agreement. That's ridiculous. Jerry's an 80 year old billionaire talking with a 24 year old kid. Like, of course you bring in the agent. But something must have really rubbed Jerry wrong about Micah, the person in addition to the players. So even the quotes you're getting in training camp don't add up. Like why would he talk publicly about this guy if you are going to trade him? It only hurts his value. It doesn't even make sense.
- [11:31]
Ty Schmidt
Jerry doesn't care.
- [11:32]
Boston Connor
But yeah, he's like in a wild wild west. Like what you said, he's an old school wild wild west guy. So like when I hear the handshake thing, that's what makes sense, is that if he is the old school wild wild west which this documentary, by the way, the word is bond. Yeah, yeah. Boom. This documentary, like Hammers Home. That he is an old school, wild, wild west gambler. Like, he really does. The way they have the names and the sound effects and the. The sets they use for the interviews, like they're hammering that home. So I think it makes sense if they had a handshake agreement and then, you know, Micah and Mole get to get together and they're like, no, that actually isn't happening. Like, if that was the case, I could believe that just based on Jerry being like, well, we had an agreement, no doubt. Now you're saying we don't go to hell. Like I could see him doing with Dak and Zeke.
- [12:20]
Peter Schrager
It's Wednesday right now. Tomorrow's Thursday, as the calendar goes.
- [12:23]
Boston Connor
Yeah, sure.
- [12:24]
Peter Schrager
They play the Eagles in two weeks. He hasn't taken a snap, hasn't done anything. He's just sitting there. You start thinking about it and it's like, all right, so Jerry hasn't won since 95. They haven't been to the NFC championship game since 95. The number one song in America was Mariah Carey and Boys to Men One Sweet Day.
- [12:44]
Boston Connor
So good. Great song, Bruce.
- [12:47]
Peter Schrager
Cute. I love it. I mean, this is decades. He wants to win. That's where I'm like, he's the riverboat gambler. He's 80 something years old. Screw it. No one makes megatrades like this anymore. If someone offers two first round picks and a starter, like, I wouldn't be surprised, especially if Schefter saying a divorce is on the way. They're like, tomorrow we wake up and Micah Parsons is a blank. And he's just basically sure. And he's just like, you know what? I've done it before. I'm going to do it my way. And we go from there. In closing, you've watched three episodes. Biggest takeaway from this documentary so far.
- [13:24]
Tone Diggs
Honestly, I just like a trip down. Not even really memory lane because I was so young. So just seeing, you know, I remember as a kid, I think we all kind of do. The reverence you have for the Cowboys. Like, everybody knew a cowboy fan. You remember the Super Bowls, the great players, the Emmett Smith, the Michael Irvings, the Deion Sanders, Jimmy Johnson. So I just love. My biggest takeaway is just seeing the. The background of, like, how the practice is going and them going from a shitty team to a good team. Even like, you know, Aikman been healthy and not getting back in there because of how Jimmy ran the team. Yeah. Michael Irving, guys Said, hey, relax, you know, this is the pros now. We do things different. Celebrating too much. Like, I remember those conversations, you know, in the locker room where you, you get into a pro locker room and you do have to change. But thank God Michael Irvin didn't change that much, you know what I mean? On the field, he remained himself and actually built. It's so many takeaways just because it is. It's the most valuable sports franchise in the world. So there are so many lessons to learn from it. Regardless of how you feel about Jerry Jones and even Whitwatch, then knowing he's a gambler and knowing Wild Wild west, like, it's still Michael Parsons. It's a premier pass rusher in the prime of his career. It's like, okay, if you. We know he cares about. When do you want to win the Super Bowl? You would think Michael Parson would be a big, big piece of.
- [14:39]
Peter Schrager
You're a player in that locker room.
- [14:40]
Tone Diggs
Uh huh. The current locker room.
- [14:42]
Peter Schrager
Current locker room. I haven't heard any of them speak publicly now, apparently there's a text exchange with Dak. I don't. That's not for us. That's for something else. Not one player has come out and done the. That's our guy. Pay him. Does that raise any red flags to you?
- [14:58]
Tone Diggs
Not really. Because it's different. It's different in Jerry's world.
- [15:02]
Boston Connor
There was.
- [15:02]
Bruce
I don't want to get on Jerry's bad side.
- [15:03]
Peter Schrager
Yeah.
- [15:04]
Boston Connor
There was a tweet though, the cd.
- [15:07]
Tone Diggs
Yeah, yeah.
- [15:08]
Peter Schrager
Then they changed their emojis or their avatar.
- [15:10]
Boston Connor
He did that last year when he was in his entire introvon.
- [15:13]
Tone Diggs
And they did the press conference, they did the joint press. So I feel like from the outside looking, I can still see that the guys respect Mike and they want him there, but I feel like the operation is different in Jerry was Jerry's world, as opposed to being in different buildings. And we all know, you know, everybody has to handle their business, you know, a different type of way. And as a player, I got to handle my business as well. I got to be ready to go out there and do my thing. And I don't want to be under that microscope of the ownership or the front office any more than it already is day to day. So it's not a big red flag. Everybody knows in the NFL world what type of player he is. And now it becomes down to personalities. And that's the thing that people don't talk about as much. But Dan O. Has kind of been saying it like, this is Different. It feels like Jerry doesn't like Micah. And then for Shefte to come out and say he's heading towards the divorce. Divorce, yeah. It kind of is in line with what you're saying. Like, it's something different here. It could be the handshake agreement, which that's not a real thing. And at this level, we talking about hundreds of millions.
- [16:11]
Peter Schrager
Come on, man. What if Micah proactively sought out Jerry this summer and was like, I want to do a deal. Let's talk. This is all hypothetical.
- [16:19]
Tone Diggs
Yeah.
- [16:20]
Peter Schrager
They go, they do something, they make a handshake, and then a week later, Micah comes back and is like, actually, I have this agent. Like, would that. Would that not be something that you think Jerry would be pissed off?
- [16:32]
Boston Connor
Yeah, I could see that. Seeing the doc makes me think, like, he could view Mike as Herschel Walker. Like, he could view him as like, okay, I am in my 80s. Like, I am an older guy. Is the team that I have right now going to win a Super bowl with Micah? And if his answer to that is no, I could see him viewing Micah as like, okay, well, we can completely flip this team in a year. You know, the first year of Schottenheimer could be terrible. But if we get, you know, three first. They have three first round picks next year. Let's say he's an asset and let's say seconds.
- [17:04]
Tone Diggs
Yeah, they.
- [17:05]
Boston Connor
And they decide, you know what? Maybe we don't want a player in this draft. Maybe we want to go after, like, an Arch Manning or something along those lines. And then, you know, he even uses another year with the Micah picks.
- [17:18]
Peter Schrager
Like, they didn't make the playoffs last year with Micah Parsons, where first round exit. You could start in circles in your head and say, you know what? He's not a quarterback.
- [17:27]
Boston Connor
Yeah. And when Dak was healthy, they. They lost at home to the packers, and they're, you know, so. So I could see him even going back to that, like.
- [17:34]
Peter Schrager
Well, and if you're watching the dock.
- [17:36]
Ty Schmidt
That loss to the packers is the worst loss ever.
- [17:38]
Boston Connor
Bingo. This is our worst loss ever.
- [17:40]
Peter Schrager
Death. Remember that one?
- [17:41]
Boston Connor
Hell, yeah. Yeah. Like, love him a lot more, though.
- [17:46]
Peter Schrager
He.
- [17:46]
Boston Connor
He is the man. Like, going back and learning all that stuff. It. It. It was very cool. And also, if you played quarterback before 2010, good luck. Hats off to you. Because some of the hits they were showing Charles Haley putting on some guys were absurd.
- [18:00]
Tone Diggs
And Michael could also take a page out of Charles Haley bingo playbook.
- [18:05]
Boston Connor
Go take a piss on the GMs.
- [18:07]
Peter Schrager
GMs desk stories speaking of a guy from that era, that pre2010 era and a legend in his own right. Our first guest of the day and I've had the pleasure of working with him on get up and First Take. The first few months I've been at espn. With no further ado, we go to the hills of Jersey. Mr. Damien Woody, welcome in on the show. What's up? How we doing?
- [18:32]
Damien Woody
What's up, fellas? How you guys doing?
- [18:34]
Peter Schrager
Doing great. We're talking about Jerry and Micah, obviously, because it's ESPN and it's 12 o' clock and we're going to do it all day. I asked Darius Butler here the question, like, if you're a teammate and you see they're not taking Micah, taking care of him, does that affect you or is it more just, hey, I, I'm worried about my own job. We got football in 13, 15 days. I got to do my thing.
- [18:56]
Damien Woody
Yeah, I think, listen, in most cases, guys are just like, bro, I got to focus on getting myself ready for this, for the season. I think Jerry's world is different from everyone else. If you look at down. Look at the players down in Jerry's world, I think it's. There's a lot of corporate players. You know, Micah tends to go, you know, he has a big personality. I think that's part of the reason why this thing. There's a disconnect here is because Michael Parsons is unlike any other guys in that building. You know, he's very vocal. Obviously he has his own podcast. He's gonna say what he wants to say. That's not necessarily the case with a lot of the guys down there with the Dallas Cowboys. So I think those guys are like, you know what, I'm just gonna worry about getting myself ready. I'm not gonna get involved on the business side. You know, Jared's paid me. I'm not gonna, you know, I'm not going to ruffle the feathers down here in Jerry's world.
- [19:44]
Peter Schrager
D I look at this team and Orlofsky was on with us a couple weeks ago on get up, and I looked at him side eyed because he said they cannot possibly win without Micah Parsons. Do you feel that way about the Dallas Cowboys that like the season's over already if he's not on the field week one?
- [20:00]
Damien Woody
Yeah, I mean, listen, they're much less a team. Obviously you got a dynamic player in Michael Parsons and. But listen, at the end of the day, you know, how much did they win last year? I know Dak Prescott was out, but you know, the quarterback position is always the most important position. And I heard you guys talking about, well, you know, kind of playing devil's advocate as far as Micah's impact on the team. And this team hasn't been to an NFC championship game since what, 95 or whatever it is. They've only won one, one playoff game. And so if you're going to play, you know, pay somebody 41, 42 million per year, I think you rather you want to have more bang for your buck, you know, if you're the Dallas Cowboys organization. Now, I'm not absolving the Cowboys because we know how they do business down there and we've talked ad nauseam about this whole handshake agreement that Jerry thinks he has with Micah and that's leading to all this nonsense that we're going through. But listen, at the end of the day, the way that the Cowboys do business is not the way you want to properly construct a roster. How they wait till the last minute to sign their stars, which is, you know, adds on millions of dollars. And those are players that you could be signing to build depth within your roster. So I think this whole thing is a mess. If you're going to trade Michael Parsons, quite honestly, I would have done it in March. I actually talked about it early in the off season. Like, listen, I don't know if Dallas, I don't know if we see the Dallas Cowboys as a, as a Super bowl contending team. Why not trade Michael Parsons and try to start rebuilding this roster the way you want to? Because he's the most dynamic player that you have on your roster.
- [21:35]
Peter Schrager
I want to say the Khalil Mack deal came on Labor Day weekend. I remember covering it and I remember that happened. So it's still like this could happen. I remember the Vikings and Eagles traded for Sam Bradford Labor Day weekend. Like this is the time after rosters are set. Okay, what's the move? But this would be one that had been in the works. Two time super bowl champion Damian Woody. Of course you played for Bill Belichick. We are now less than two weeks away from seeing his collegiate debut as head coach. Big picture, you've known Bill for decades. Your thoughts on this whole entire thing as they were about to kick off for this regular season.
- [22:12]
Damien Woody
For me, it's like the, maybe the biggest story in college football. I mean, you're talking about arguably the greatest coach in NFL history. Now going to now is Chapel Bill down in North Carolina. And listen, I went down this off season and saw them in spring practice. You know, listen they had a long ways to go. And Michael Lombardi, who's a friend of the show, and Bill Belichick. I talked to both of those guys and they knew they had to remake the roster. And obviously with the transfer reporter, you can absolutely do that. Listen, the one thing I'll say about North Carolina, they will be prepared. There is not a coach out there who will make sure that you are more prepared than Bill Belichick. And I look at this, this Carolina schedule, guys, they could easily get to eight wins easy. I mean, it's not like they got a bunch of cupcakes on their schedule. So I think Bill can come out of this thing in year one looking pretty doggone good.
- [23:04]
Peter Schrager
Vrabel's back too. You played with him. Your thoughts on the Patriots now that Mike Vrabel is the head coach?
- [23:11]
Damien Woody
I've been saying I'm bullish on the Patriots. Hell yeah, bullish. Listen, we all know, we all know it's been a disaster in New England for the past couple years, you know, for a variety of reasons, whether it's personnel, coaching, all of the above. But now you got Mike Vrabel in the building and everyone knows Mike Vrabel is one of the better head coaches that we have in the game. You know, you've added a ton of players, whether it be free agency or via the draft to really improve this roster. I can make the argument that the most the biggest acquisition was getting Josh McDaniels back as the office coordinator. I think he's going to do wonders for Drake May in his second year at the quarterback position. And so I think New England's going to have a. A damn good defense. And I think Josh McDaniel is going to have, is going to coordinate an offense that's going to complement that defense. Don't be surprised. You see the Patriots in the playoffs this year.
- [24:06]
Peter Schrager
Let's go.
- [24:06]
Boston Connor
Hell yeah.
- [24:07]
Peter Schrager
D Boston. Connor, your response?
- [24:09]
Boston Connor
Yeah, I mean, what do you basically said it. That is an incredible thing. But as a player with Mike Vrabel, what is he like? Just, you know, on the day to day, just because it does feel as though, you know, guys like Vrabel, mcdc, even in the beginning, like they aren't viewed as football, you know, masterminds are just more viewed as, you know, those football type guys who are going to have a tough culture but aren't actual brainiacs. I think everyone who knows Mike Vrabel, though, feels like he is one of the smartest football minds out there. What do you think he's Going to bring strategically to both the defense, the offense, the special teams and just culture wise because it has been ugly in New England and everyone up there does have a very high hope for this season.
- [24:56]
Damien Woody
No, listen, I played with Mike Vrabel as a teammate and the one thing I knew as a teammate, I'm like, Mike Vrabel is going to be a head coach in this league. There's bar none, no questions asked because his football IQ is through the roof. Like that's one thing that you know, that's one thing you can say about Mike Vrabel is that man knows X and O's. Like he's going to make sure that he knows office defensive, special teams. Those guys are going to be prepared in the same ilk. Listen, I don't like making these comparisons with, you know, Braves and Bill, but I'm just talking about from an X and O, like just make sure guys prepare. Mike Vrayboy is going to have the New England Patriots prepared, okay? And he's a very hands on type of guy. We've seen all the stories this offseason where, you know, you've seen him in scuffles, we've seen him running drills, you know, himself and so that shit's Braves being Braves, man. He said he's one of the dudes, but he's a very smart X's and O's coach and he knows the pulse of the team and knows how to push the right buttons with players.
- [25:56]
Peter Schrager
My first little nugget that I'm going to drop today, little inside info. The name to watch is Stretch. Do you know who Stretch?
- [26:03]
Boston Connor
Oh yeah. Striking striker.
- [26:05]
Peter Schrager
So John Streicher is the, is the like game management coach that followed Vrabel from Tennessee, went to the Rams for a year and now is in New England. There is, you know, thoughts around the league about who's the best offensive coach, who's the best defensive coach to a man everyone says no one knows clock management, game management, you know, down in distance better than variable.
- [26:25]
Bruce
Is he new Ernie Adams?
- [26:26]
Boston Connor
Yes, this is.
- [26:27]
Peter Schrager
And this is his Ernie Adams stretch. So you're not going to.
- [26:32]
Tone Diggs
Look, you start comparing guys, you just throw around legend respect here.
- [26:39]
Peter Schrager
Stretches. Ernie Adams. Ernie Adams for the, for the Gen Z folk.
- [26:47]
Boston Connor
He could have a career arc like Ernie if all goes well.
- [26:50]
Peter Schrager
But I mention him because fra it comes McDaniels, it comes stretch, it comes a whole different coaching staff and there's a professionalism around it that they didn't have last year and that's no insult to Gerard Mayo. I think that staff might have been overwhelmed, might have been a lot of situ a lot of situations there with the roster. They just feel like they are significantly better and much improved. Ty Schmidt, what do you got?
- [27:11]
Ty Schmidt
Yeah, D. Wood curious your your take on the Steelers. Obviously they've went all in this off season and you know, their offensive line I think has improved or Steelers fans would say it has, but there's still a lot of question marks. Do you think they're good enough to keep Rogers upright for the for most of the season and are they a legitimate super bowl contender with all the moves they've made?
- [27:33]
Damien Woody
Listen, I think the office align with the Pittsburgh Steelers is the is the biggest unknown and I think the biggest factor in how well this Pittsburgh Steelers team can can play and how far they can go. Because I think if the if the Pittsburgh steals are getting the Aaron Rodgers that we saw like towards the end of the season last year when he was healthy, I think the Pittsburgh Steelers will be hell to play against because listen, first of all any Mike Tomlin coach team is always going to come prepared to play. We know that identity lies on the defensive side of football. But the one thing when you saw the Pittsburgh Steelers last year when they collapsed, the primary reason why they collapsed is because they couldn't get anything generated on the offensive side, particularly quarterback position you didn't get anything out of. I don't think that'll be the case with Aaron Rodgers. Here's the key, I think running the football in this Arthur Smith offense, I think that's going to be the key because you what you don't want is for teams to start teeing off on Aaron Rodgers getting the third and long and all that type of stuff because you can't run the football. If they can run the football with these two tight ends, Friarmouth and John New Smith and DK Metcalf on the outside, I think the Pittsburgh Steeles will be cooking and this going to be a team that we're going to be talking about a lot late on the year and in the postseason.
- [28:52]
Peter Schrager
If you got a fantasy draft coming in the next two weeks. Late round flyer Calvin Austin, I think a lot of attention is going to be to the tight ends, a lot of attention to the wide receivers. I know that early on Austin's been a stud in camp and already they're talking about him being a legitimate number two. So I would think Sealers offense should be better. Tone Diggs, what do we got?
- [29:12]
Bruce
Yeah, I loved hearing you talk about that D. Wood. But let's Talk about the team that Aaron came from, the team that they play in week one, the team that you finished your career with, the New York Jets. It feels like they actually finally have an offensive line through the draft. They got their tackles and then in free agency, kind of Armand Menboo Shregs.
- [29:32]
Peter Schrager
I got killed.
- [29:33]
Bruce
Do you feel good now about both lines of scrimmage being the, the kind of strengths of that team and what's your, what are you hearing out of camp about Justin Fields in the quarterback and how he's coming along?
- [29:43]
Damien Woody
Yeah, listen, I, I think that, I think the line of scrimmage, particularly the offense line is going to be the strength of the Jets. They going to want to run the football. I've said before when it comes to this jets team, if they're not leading the league in rushing attempts, I don't know what the hell they're doing in Floring park because that's exactly the formula they should go. We know that you know that they. This is not going to be some Air Coryell type of offense in New York. They're going to get off the bus and you're going to know exactly what they're trying to do with bad intentions. They're going to want to run the football. And you got a dynamic quarterback in Justin Fields and I've always said like they should incorporate some of that early Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens type of offense. You got to play to this young man's athletic ability. And I think when you got a three headed, you know, backfield with led by Breeze hall and Braylon Allen, okay, the athletic quarterback and offensive line, that's going to be the recipe for them. They got players on all three levels on the defense. So it's going to be defense and running the football for the New York jets this year.
- [30:42]
Peter Schrager
I got a lot of friends back in New York who are jets fans. One of my buddies, Danny is a longtime season ticket holder. At the end of last season, gave it up. Wow, I'm over it. They had one preseason game where the guy had four 38 minutes of offensive possession against the packers in the rain and he's like, all right, I'm intrigued. Then this past week it was awful at practice for apparently the offense. And then preseason like Dwood, you're there in Jersey, you know many guys like Danny, my friend who's a die hard jets fan even though he gave up his season tickets. Reason to be optimistic this season or are we talking this is just a bridge year, let's get a quarterback next year and let's move on.
- [31:23]
Damien Woody
I think, you know, listen, here's what, here's why I'll be optimistic because of Aaron Glenn. Aaron Glenn has set the tempo in that throughout the whole organization. They want to have an identity. They know who they are and they're going to play to those strengths. Okay? Anyone who knows ag, he's not a, he's a no nonsense type of guy. He's not going to take any bullshit from anyone. He's going to call you out. And that's been like a long, that's, that's, that's been a far cry from the way it's been at Flor park over the last four or five years. And so those, those players over there are going to be accountable. I don't know how many wins they're going to have, but the one thing I do know, what's going to be what they're going to be, they're going to be disciplined, they're going to play tough and they're going to play smart and then let the, let the chips fall where they may.
- [32:07]
Peter Schrager
Dee up.
- [32:07]
Tone Diggs
Hey Woody, now two time super bowl champ, you've been in locker rooms and even, I'm sorry, more teams that could have won the Bowl. What, what teams do you see out there? We know the Eagles, we expect them to be dominant again. The top of the AFC is absolutely stacked. But what other teams out there that you can see from the outside looking in that, okay, they maybe have what it takes, you know, offense, defense, special teams and then head coaching and organization wise to make a deep run in the playoffs and maybe raise that line ball at the end of the year.
- [32:34]
Damien Woody
Listen, I've been on them, I've been talking about them for a while. Denver Broncos. Okay. I think the Denver Broncos to me are a team that not a lot, not enough people are talking about. They could all, they could have the best defense in the league this year. Like they, they were damn good defense last year and they only improved throughout the off season this year. Bo Nix with Sean Payton in year two. You know, we know how these things go year one and year two. This is usually when you make your biggest jump. I think Bo Nix is going, is going to light it up this year. Obviously you got Cortland Sutton, people out on Troy Franklin, another young wide receiver that I think is going to break out. They're going to be able to run the ball. They got, you know, talk about offensive lines. They may have the best offensive line in football in Denver. And so when you look at everything that the Denver Broncos got going on. I'm telling you right now, do not sleep on the Denver Broncos this year.
- [33:31]
Peter Schrager
You bold enough to put them over the Chiefs.
- [33:36]
Damien Woody
I'm not there yet because I know the Chiefs have improved. But I will say this, this will be the hardest journey in the Patrick Mahomes era, you know, in this, in this, in this division and in this conference. Because that team that I just talked about, I think Denver is legit. I think they're going to be one of these teams that we're going to be talking about late in the season that's going to be a contender in the AFC for a Super Bowl.
- [33:59]
Peter Schrager
Before we let you go, you're in Jersey, obviously, you hear people talking right now. There is a lot of Giants optimism. And you saw Jackson Dart, how well he played against the Jets. You see the energy. Jameis is doing videos with Eli. Of course, you got Russ, who's going to be the starter? Giants. Just looking at it now on August 20th. Your thoughts heading into this season?
- [34:23]
Damien Woody
Man, I think the Giants are better than what people are talking.
- [34:28]
Peter Schrager
Okay.
- [34:29]
Damien Woody
Like, we gotta stop sleeping on the Giants. I don't know if people have. I don't know if the national audience have really peeped out their front. Their front four.
- [34:37]
Bruce
Oh, yeah, they.
- [34:38]
Damien Woody
I think they got the best front four in football, like Dexter Lawrence, Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeau and Abdu Carter are going to give people hell out there. Okay. Like, they're going to be really good on defense. They got a star wide receiver in Malik Neighbors. Okay, here's my Peter, here's my only question. Yeah, can they play with the lead? Yeah, can they play with the lead? If they can get leads with that defense, the New York Football Giants will be a problem. And oh, by the way, that young quarterback, Jackson Dart. Big time Juice. Big time Juice. I don't know. I don't know how much longer Russell Wilson be able to hold that young man off. Because what I've seen the preseason, I would be intent, I would be like, inclined to start him and just let it go, let it rip. Just go play like that out the gate.
- [35:35]
Peter Schrager
One of the great things that I can do being in New York, I was able to go to those joint practices and you go to the joint practice and Russ has started taking the ones and Jameis is the hype guy. Dart, though, Dart has. And I, I don't know if the word is swag or it's just like. But Dart is carrying himself like he belongs. And having watched Daniel Jones and Zach Wilson there's been first round picks that are like, all right, we think maybe this could pop Jackson Dart. And I'm not comparing him to Daniel Jones just yet. I'm not comparing him to Zach Wilson, who was a number two overall pick. Jackson Dart was walking around that practice field like he belonged. The players were responding to him, and there was, like, a carefree feel to it where the pressure of the world is not on him right now. This could be the perfect situation. Let Russ start a couple games. Let Russ go as far as Russ can go, and then when it's time, everyone will know. All right, let's give Jackson Dart the ball real quick as we end Brian Dable, a guy, you know, obviously give us a good Brian Dable story there.
- [36:39]
Damien Woody
Oh, man. I put, like, confetti and Brian day balls like air vents. This is back. This was, like, in New England, and so we always play pranks and stuff like that. So day ball got pissed as hell, got red as hell. That was the first time I seen him, like, get ticked off. But, man, we got so many stories. Like, we don't even have enough time on the show to really go over all that stuff.
- [37:01]
Peter Schrager
Okay. All right. We do, but. Okay. We appreciate you coming on. Thanks so much for jumping into the show. You're the man, guys. Fantastic.
- [37:14]
Boston Connor
Yeah, yeah. Great.
- [37:15]
Peter Schrager
He's the best. Yeah, that guy's good. Broncos not getting enough love. I feel like they're getting.
- [37:20]
Ty Schmidt
Everyone's talking about him right now.
- [37:22]
Peter Schrager
So we have Damien Woody on the show. We clap him up. The second he hangs up, I'm like, that was wrong.
- [37:26]
Boston Connor
Well, it's fair. I mean, the. The biggest problem is, like, that division is amazing. It's better than any division Brady's Patriots were ever in, but Mahomes and the Chiefs.
- [37:36]
Bruce
But to his point, they're not getting, like, when everyone's. They're not getting super bowl love, they don't do that.
- [37:40]
Peter Schrager
People are saying, oh, watch out for the Broncos. But the Chiefs, I can't.
- [37:44]
Bruce
Yeah, they're good. I mean, it's. It's rightfully Chiefs, Bills, you know, Ravens.
- [37:50]
Ty Schmidt
I also. I understand that they might have the best defense in the league, but, like, I. I still don't think b. Knicks is like, if b. Knicks is going and they have to play Buffalo again, like they did last year. Like, Buffalo beat the. Out of them. They killed the run.
- [38:01]
Boston Connor
The.
- [38:01]
Bruce
They didn't run the ball for.
- [38:02]
Boston Connor
Yeah.
- [38:03]
Ty Schmidt
So we'll. I mean, we'll see.
- [38:04]
Peter Schrager
Yeah. They drafted Harvey in the second round, right? RJ Harvey. And they obviously Got Dobbins they brought. He's coming off the achilles and Jaleel McLaughlin out Youngstown of state, a nice running back. So they got four running backs. When I look for these teams, though, and we can look that up again, that division, I was like a sleeper, to me isn't a team that made the playoffs. So you got 32 teams. And two years ago, the Texans came out of nowhere from the second worst team in football to make the playoffs. Last year, the Commanders came from second worst team in football to make the playoffs. There are 32 teams, but there's really only like eight to 10 teams that could be your, like, sleeper sleeper. And I think we're going to hit that a little bit more.
- [38:47]
Boston Connor
And that's why the Broncos, that's a tease.
- [38:49]
Peter Schrager
Okay.
- [38:50]
Boston Connor
Yeah, the Broncos makes like sense as one of those teams because they are plus 325 to just win the. Just to win the division. But like, when you're talking about those sleeper teams, you're just kind of looking the. The bottom two in every division like that. That's what's interesting about the Cowboys. Like, if. If all this stuff wasn't going on with Micah, I feel like I would feel pretty good about the Cowboys with picking and, you know, CD and Ferguson getting paid and them finally having a running back again. Like, I score. Yeah. You know what I mean?
- [39:18]
Tone Diggs
That division is always.
- [39:20]
Boston Connor
It's always 20 straight years.
- [39:22]
Tone Diggs
Every year it's going to be somebody different.
- [39:23]
Peter Schrager
Giants plus 3000.
- [39:26]
Bruce
That's insane.
- [39:27]
Peter Schrager
Is that plus 3000? Yeah.
- [39:30]
Tone Diggs
Seems real.
- [39:31]
Peter Schrager
Couple things go their way. Good defense.
- [39:33]
Tone Diggs
That's how the Browns, they have the.
- [39:35]
Peter Schrager
Worst odds of any team. Oh, they're not the Browns than the Browns.
- [39:38]
Boston Connor
No, no, The Browns are plus 3,000.
- [39:40]
Peter Schrager
Giants are plus 3,000.
- [39:41]
Tone Diggs
That's kind of wild.
- [39:42]
Peter Schrager
Speaking of the Browns, we're going to bring on another guest and I love this guy. Great, great ESPN personality. And I love that he's hopping on with us now because I've known him prior to his ESPN days back when we were NFL Network colleagues. With no further ado, former Bengal, former Brown, Mr. Andrew Hawkins. What's up? Oh, he's got the slap shot jersey on. Yes, the Hanson brothers kind of care.
- [40:06]
Andrew Hawkins
Got a ramp.
- [40:07]
Peter Schrager
Go on.
- [40:07]
Andrew Hawkins
Johnstown, Pennsylvania native. Johnstown, Pennsylvania native.
- [40:10]
Bruce
Shrek, I know you're from Johnstown.
- [40:12]
Peter Schrager
I didn't know that.
- [40:12]
Andrew Hawkins
Oh, yeah, baby. Central PA Yinzer.
- [40:15]
Bruce
I visited UFO a few times. It's a dry campus, but other than that, it was great.
- [40:19]
Peter Schrager
Dry campus, Is that right?
- [40:20]
Bruce
Upj.
- [40:21]
Peter Schrager
Upj. Okay.
- [40:23]
Andrew Hawkins
I don't do my town like that, man. Fun time.
- [40:26]
Peter Schrager
Hawk, I love you, man. I love you joining the show. One of my favorite guys, I. I go to Cleveland when I think of you, because you spend all those years there and you grow up in Ohio, obviously, when you were not. I guess you grew up in Pennsylvania, but you always were around that Browns team. What do you make of Flacco being the starter and then Shador now being fourth on the depth chart?
- [40:47]
Andrew Hawkins
Look, it's a process, man. I think they named Flaco the starter because it quieted the noise. And that's also helpful for Dillon and Shador as they keep battling. I mean, look, the reality is, yes, we see what Shador is capable of. And I would say if you go back to the draft and you redrafted it, I think everybody would agree that Shador would go way higher than what he did in the fifth based on what he's shown so far. But that being said, he's still a fifth round pick and there's certain things that come with that. You got to work and you got to grind and it's not going to be handed to you. And I don't think the Browns bought him in to what some people say are sabotaging him, but he's going to have to go earn it and he's going to. He's going to have to go take jobs and that is the position that he's in, which is a new position for him. But so far, so good. If you're. If you're asking me what my opinion.
- [41:28]
Peter Schrager
Is, does it feel like same old Browns or does it feel like they're actually like they have a plan here. Andrew Barry, we trust. Stefanski is a former coach of the year. We trust. Like, let's give them the benefit of the doubt here.
- [41:39]
Andrew Hawkins
Yeah, I think so. I think they have a plan. I think they got more than what they bargained for with both those quarterbacks like Shador. Again, that was like the talk of the week whenever he started his game and he performed the way that he did. But I would even say the same thing about Dylan Gabriel. Like, Dylan Gabriel is undersized, but if you look at some of that ball placement, it's like next level, especially for your first NFL game. And that's the special part about both of them. So I think they got more than what they bargained for there. I think they also get Isaiah Bond as an undrafted free agent, which is crazy because he's essentially a first round talent there. You mix that with some of the other draft picks, and they're starting to build this stable around them, right? So if, depending on what Flacco does, which I feel like, you know, what Flacco's feeling is like, I'm not expecting Flacco to come out here and light it up. And I don't think the Browns are expecting Flacco to have a career year. If you want to know what Flacco is going to do, take his 17 seasons, average it out. And that's probably what you should expect with the Browns, right? And if some of these young guys can continue to mature, show something special in the third preseason game, continue to develop throughout the season, maybe early in those weeks, and they feel like, yo, we're looking at a ceiling here that's a lot higher than what Flacco is showing us at the moment. That's when you might have fireworks.
- [42:45]
Peter Schrager
Hawk, what year did you come out of college?
- [42:49]
Andrew Hawkins
2008 draft. Would have been my draft.
- [42:51]
Peter Schrager
2008 draft. Pre social media, tick tock, pre all this stuff. Who would have been the player that you think would have been the biggest social media superstar back from when you were coming out of college if they had really been in this era today?
- [43:08]
Andrew Hawkins
Good question. The biggest social media star from that era, you mean, like, that was coming out of college when I was.
- [43:16]
Peter Schrager
Yeah, the guys, like, who are the guys that you think, if you dropped them into 20, 25, would have the podcast, would have the Instagram following, would have the State Farm ad with Jake, you know, whatever, whatever.
- [43:28]
Andrew Hawkins
Darius Butler.
- [43:31]
Boston Connor
Good answer. Yes, good.
- [43:34]
Andrew Hawkins
I take that elite athlete personality that people didn't even realize was there because he was just a. A DB that just went to work. Social media in that day and age. Come on, man, forget about it.
- [43:43]
Tone Diggs
My guy right there, no doubt.
- [43:45]
Peter Schrager
I ask you these questions because I always think of you as so much more as just football. Because when you were done with football or while you were even doing football, you were at Columbia getting a master's degree and then you got this amazing company coming up, and I want you to explain to the viewers the virtual reality company that you did create and that you did usher in and how people are actually using it. And I'm gonna bring up something else that Boston Connor and I are gonna discuss with you, but talk about your virtual reality project and kind of how you broke off and did something different than just being ex player talking ball.
- [44:17]
Andrew Hawkins
I appreciate that, man. I think we, you know, as football players and even as analysts, man, we love this game. And for me, growing up in Johnstown Pennsylvania, which is football country. Everybody are Steelers fans in Johnstown, And I'm like, this is my life's work. I've been six years old. All I've ever wanted to do was football. And I didn't want that to end when I was. When I was done playing. And so I've tried to always do things off the field, whether it's in business, whether it's in technology that affects the game, and that are things that I want to see out in the world. So with Status Pro was created by me and my. My co founder, Troy Jones, who also played quarterback in college at Maryland in Western Kentucky. And we're able to recreate what you see on the field in a simulation to give a viewer a better view of what it's like to be the player. And we have a video game besides the media product, which is the visualizer on espn. We have NFL Pro Air the video game, and we have the best offensive coordinator voice that money can buy.
- [45:09]
Tone Diggs
Hell yeah.
- [45:10]
Andrew Hawkins
You know, and when I thought to myself, what is a distinct voice that the people will always remember that'll make the people feel something?
- [45:16]
Peter Schrager
Hell yeah.
- [45:17]
Andrew Hawkins
We got one Darius Bug.
- [45:21]
Tone Diggs
Hell yeah.
- [45:21]
Peter Schrager
Ho.
- [45:22]
Tone Diggs
That's why I love you. Hey, but speaking. You know what? I'm gonna pivot a bit.
- [45:24]
Boston Connor
Little.
- [45:25]
Tone Diggs
Little bit. Speaking. You just. Just got my mind going. Offensive voices. And I remember as a lifetime Dolphin fan, it was one guy that. That. That. That put his neck out, that stood on a pedestal for Mike McDaniel. It was you. You called him a genius. You called him a football savant. And now going into this season, for a lot of people, it seems like he may be coaching, you know, for his job. Him and Chris Greer. What's your outlook on the Miami Dolphins? And Mike McDaniel is a head coach. How do you see them kind of taking that next step, just showing us as Dolph fans, Some promise.
- [45:56]
Andrew Hawkins
I. I look at it like a contract year. Like, imagine with the players that we watch or we talk about, and it's like, man, I. This guy has to get us to his potential. We see it there. We've seen it in spurts. We see him have success. And then in that contract year, it kind of all comes together because the money's on the line. That's the situation I think Mike McDaniel is in. And I. I actually think the Dolphins will be a lot better than people suspect them to be. And the reason why I was such Advocate for Mike McDaniel is because when you're in this football game, we all, you know, hear the same things over and over again, especially as players, because it's a lot of regurgitated information that is passed down from the coaches that were talking about it in 1950 to the coaches that are talking about it in 2025, which is good and okay. But when I was with Mike McDaniel and the Kyle Shanahans, you know, and obviously they come from the McVeigh, you know, tree as well. It's like these are guys that innovated the game. I had. I heard things that I had never heard in the game of football at 28 years old. And me being a student, I'm like, man, this is crazy. And then I would see it in practice or I would see it in the games, and I would see it put, you know, to test, and it would work to an entirely different level. And so that was what was always special about Mike McDaniel, is that if you're looking for a ball knower, there is nobody better than him because he's like a mad scientist. Now the question becomes, can you get your players to live up to that expectation and to play their best? And that'll be the biggest. The biggest key for him. I think when you look at that team this year, there's a little less star power, right? They've moved the pieces around. And the hope is that it'll be addition by subtraction because everybody will be pushing on the same page in the.
- [47:27]
Peter Schrager
Same Accord Hawk who was on that squad? Because I remember Brian Hoyer and Menzel were the quarterbacks. You had you. Josh Gordon. Josh Gordon on that squad.
- [47:34]
Andrew Hawkins
JG was on that squad, too. He was suspended for a number of games. Miles Austin was on that squad. And I'll say this about Miles Austin. In my entire career, there was never a player that I pegged wrong more than Miles Austin. This is like, when I came to Cleveland, he had been. He was dating Kim Kardashian, Cowboys. And I'm like. I'm like, man, here we go with this dude. You talking about my favorite teammate of all time. Like, maybe even my favorite person of all time.
- [48:03]
Peter Schrager
The pride of Bondmus.
- [48:04]
Andrew Hawkins
That's my Mike. My Mike Austin story.
- [48:06]
Peter Schrager
I love that. And then Kyle Shanahan's the offensive coordinator. Mike McDaniels is what? Mike, the wide receivers coach?
- [48:13]
Andrew Hawkins
Receiver coach.
- [48:14]
Peter Schrager
Yeah.
- [48:14]
Jason McCourty
Okay.
- [48:14]
Peter Schrager
Who else? Petton's the head coach.
- [48:16]
Andrew Hawkins
Mike Penton was the head coach.
- [48:18]
Peter Schrager
Oh, my best.
- [48:19]
Boston Connor
Jeez.
- [48:20]
Andrew Hawkins
Half me was the DB coach at that time. Who else? Yeah, we had some. It was a wild time In Cleveland at that. The Johnny Manziel Experience. Johnny's my guy. Like, I want to say that sincerely and truly. However, that was a. That was a movie, like year, though, for us. It was. It was kind of crazy. I'm not going to lie about that.
- [48:40]
Peter Schrager
No, we love Johnny, too. I. That year you guys started off, I'm not mistaken. You guys were like six and four. Brian Hoyer beats Tennessee. Big comeback. And then it all fell.
- [48:49]
Boston Connor
You're going to put these blows. Me?
- [48:51]
Andrew Hawkins
You're going to put these scabs off, aren't you?
- [48:52]
Ty Schmidt
Sorry.
- [48:53]
Peter Schrager
I remember.
- [48:54]
Andrew Hawkins
You want to open these wounds up for all of America. Yes. We started off 7 and 4. So here's my thing. I was with Cincinnati the three years prior, and I grew up a Bengals fan because my brother played for them when I was a little kid. So I'm playing for my childhood. My childhood team, right? And I go to the Browns, which is still in Ohio, and I'm like, cool, I'm staying in the state. I'm gonna. Everyone thinks when they go to the team, you're gonna be the catalyst to turn this thing around, right? So here we are. We're seven and four. I'm the leading receiver. I'm a number one receiver. All five, seven of me. Never in my wildest dreams that I think I would lead an NFL team and receive it. And I'm killing it. The coach calls me, we're seven and four. He's like, hey, I think we're going to put Johnny Manziel in. And I start laughing because I think he's joking, right? Because if you talk to Johnny, Johnny's like, I wasn't trying to play. I wasn't ready to play. He was not joking. Within two games, we put Johnny in. Hoyer, you know, he had some tough games that made it a little easier of a transition, and we end up losing the rest of those games. And I'm sure Johnny is like, if I had a better number one receiver, I'm sure I would have did a lot better. But we did not go to the playoffs. And I was not the catalyst to turn the Cleveland Browns around. Drake, that's the. That's the end of the story.
- [50:08]
Peter Schrager
Boston. Connor, you were talking before the show that Microsoft, there's a new AI deal.
- [50:12]
Boston Connor
Let's talk about this. Yeah, Hawk, I mean, you graduated from Columbia, so you're probably the biggest brand we're going to have on here in quite some time. So I'm going to ask this question for you specifically, especially with all your VR experience. But AI and Microsoft are partnering basically to increase the insights from coaches to players, from the sideline to helmet. What the hell is going on? Are the AI is going to be telling these coaches where the quarterbacks seem to be looking based on some sort of future mathematic problem that none of us are going to be able to know except for the AIs?
- [50:47]
Peter Schrager
Or.
- [50:47]
Boston Connor
Or is this something that's just going to make these offenses even more ridiculously good as they are now?
- [50:55]
Andrew Hawkins
Short answer? Yes, it is probably going to change football. I don't know how quickly it's going to change football, though, because you got to realize this, and I always say this about sports technology and its implementation in the NFL is that most of the coaches that are there would rather use a lucky pair of draws than they would any data, because that's just the world we live in. We go off a gut feeling. So basically what AI has the capabilities and will have the capabilities to do is instead of having to search all week for those football brains that can find those tendencies to say, hey, this receiver is playing with his gloves before every pass play. Or, you know, I noticed that that left tackle, he's like a little more weighted back or his knuckles are a little white, which tells me it's a run. AI will be able to do all of that in real time. And it will also say that, you know, hey, Coach, Boston Conner has been coaching for 10 years, and every time they're plus 45 and a third and 10 down by a touchdown, he runs this defense. So this is what you should be prepared for. And they'll be able to have that recall and that, that baseline database to essentially be able to tell you exactly what's going to happen, because we're still human. And every time the bullets are flying, we're going to go back to what we know.
- [52:04]
Peter Schrager
So this is interesting. So for the last 15 years, all we've heard about me, it's like the rise of analytics and how everyone's hiring these kids from Harvard and these stats guys. And there's. Every team's got the, the old play with your coach, with your gut coach isn't in danger. I almost feel like AI is going to eliminate that whole class of the Harvard grad who does the math, because we could just pop it into the thing and get the same answer pretty much.
- [52:30]
Andrew Hawkins
I mean, but that's, that's across the board. Even the gut coach, right, like, like Bill Belichick is always like, you know, obviously doesn't say much. He eyeballs Certain things. But his brain works like a computer. So just because he is not a data scientist, he doesn't use analytics any less than the analytics guy that came from Harvard. He just inherently has it in his system. And I think a lot of the good football coaches that you talk about in this way are like that. Again, they're not data scientists, but their brain kind of thinks in patterns and recall and they can see it and there's indicators for him. Well, now it's essentially going to even the playing field. My question is, is that what we want? Don't we want the gut feeling? Don't we want like man, subjectivity?
- [53:14]
Boston Connor
100%.
- [53:15]
Andrew Hawkins
5 7. But there's just something about him.
- [53:17]
Peter Schrager
Stregg, 5 7, wide receiver. I want a coach all over. Johnny Manziel to the sideline, pretend like he's whispering to him. And then you get that fake play. I want that.
- [53:28]
Boston Connor
Hell yeah.
- [53:28]
Peter Schrager
I can't get that from AI.
- [53:29]
Tone Diggs
Those guys be there. They'll never die off.
- [53:33]
Boston Connor
I hope so.
- [53:34]
Andrew Hawkins
I want the robot.
- [53:35]
Tone Diggs
Belichick kind of, you know, and Ernie Adams were kind of that guy. Fourth and two game, my rookie year going forward on fourth and two. That was analytics. Everybody would do that now. But like that was 2000 Kevin Falk Pass, like that. And, and he got killed in the media after that. His, his first thing to us was like, look, I'm, I'm always going to make the best of season. I feel like is best for the team. And I'm never, I'm not going to play scared. You know, that's, that's how I felt the game was going. And as a defender, that second half we couldn't, we couldn't stop Payton. He figured us out. He figured out what was going on. He found the matchups and it made sense. If you have a chance with Tom Brady, Wes Walker, Randy Moss, Kevin Falk to get a first down, basically win the game. You take that chance.
- [54:15]
Peter Schrager
And that's maybe where I have an issue because everyone has access to the AI. I might not have the Microsoft co pilot, hello Arkansas corporate sponsors, but we do have, you know, whatever you can type in anything and they will say, third and ten, this is what you should do. So like everyone thinks they have the answer, but then you actually have to play football until the Boston dynamic robot comes in and knocks us on our ass. Like there's actual players.
- [54:35]
Tone Diggs
They don't have a chance.
- [54:35]
Boston Connor
Yeah, they're not allowed.
- [54:37]
Tone Diggs
Yeah, they don't have the, they don't have the heart.
- [54:39]
Peter Schrager
They don't have the heart.
- [54:40]
Tone Diggs
Lateral quickness, peripheral vision.
- [54:42]
Boston Connor
Yep.
- [54:43]
Bruce
Can't measure the.
- [54:44]
Boston Connor
Can they put cleats on? No, can't.
- [54:46]
Bruce
The heart of a 350 pound offensive lineman as a 27 inch. 27 inch arms out of Penn State University.
- [54:53]
Peter Schrager
You know, I. I'm scared of these robots, though, bro. I think they.
- [54:57]
Boston Connor
You should be.
- [54:57]
Ty Schmidt
You should be terrified of them, you.
- [55:00]
Boston Connor
Know, you should be more scared of the AI See, that's the real problem. That's why I'm everyone.
- [55:04]
Peter Schrager
The shiny objects, the robot.
- [55:05]
Boston Connor
Yeah, it's AI we let in. Yes.
- [55:07]
Ty Schmidt
No, I mean, we're talking the AI the heart. You get the AI in the brain or the heart of these robots.
- [55:13]
Damien Woody
Yeah.
- [55:13]
Ty Schmidt
Equip this thing with a machine gun. Yeah. We got problems. You ever seen Terminator?
- [55:18]
Peter Schrager
Yeah.
- [55:18]
Boston Connor
IRobot. Yeah. I did not kill him.
- [55:20]
Ty Schmidt
Yeah, right.
- [55:21]
Peter Schrager
Irobot. I thought he was wrongly accused.
- [55:23]
Ty Schmidt
He was.
- [55:24]
Andrew Hawkins
I watched. I watched iRobot last week with my kids.
- [55:27]
Peter Schrager
Why?
- [55:28]
Andrew Hawkins
And there was like. It was all because I wanted to see, man. I'm like, all right, great movie. Maybe this is the scouting report.
- [55:34]
Tone Diggs
Yep.
- [55:34]
Andrew Hawkins
I got to see what the. What's going on. And so they have like a scan to pay. And it was like they like zoom in on him. Scanning to pay. Like, it was so futuristic. And my kids were like, why would they zoom in on that shot for Apple Pay? And I'm like, well, it wasn't no Apple Pay back then. And there wasn't FaceTime. There was no Siri. But they're like, this is the dumbest movie I've ever seen because it's self driving cars worse than the technology we have now.
- [55:58]
Peter Schrager
It's crazy, man. I know. I was watching, like, I forget what it was. It might have been Sopranos or Seinfeld or something. And like, they didn't have a cell phone. So like. Oh. I'm like, well, no, you just call them on the phone. Oh, they don't have one of those. So like, they're in the pay phone. I'm like, this makes no sense.
- [56:12]
Bruce
Better times.
- [56:13]
Peter Schrager
Better times. Before the robot.
- [56:15]
Andrew Hawkins
Really old right now.
- [56:17]
Peter Schrager
We are Hawk, I appreciate you. We appreciate you. Awesome job on the show, man. We'll be seeing you soon. Thank you. Pretty good first hour.
- [56:26]
Bruce
He's almost too smart for us.
- [56:27]
Peter Schrager
He's great.
- [56:28]
Boston Connor
Yeah, he. Yeah, he's unbelievable. That's crazy. What that AI thing will do.
- [56:33]
Peter Schrager
What he said is really resonating with me. AI is actually the heart. The robot's just the physical.
- [56:37]
Boston Connor
Exactly. The boat.
- [56:39]
Andrew Hawkins
Yeah.
- [56:40]
Tone Diggs
And they got a long.
- [56:41]
Damien Woody
If you Will.
- [56:41]
Peter Schrager
Yeah. And they're just starting.
- [56:42]
Tone Diggs
Yeah. Long way to go.
- [56:45]
Boston Connor
It's scary.
- [56:46]
Ty Schmidt
Wait till they equip them with weaponry.
- [56:48]
Peter Schrager
I know it's happening.
- [56:51]
Boston Connor
Things of that ilk scare me.
- [56:52]
Bruce
Yes, they do.
- [56:52]
Ty Schmidt
Things of that ilk are frightening.
- [56:54]
Peter Schrager
Guys, we have another hour coming up. Pat McAfee Show. I'm in here. Peter Schrager. Loving it. Thank you for having me on. Stay with us. Football is finally back and so is the hard hitting credit iron action on prize picks. Kick off the season right and get 50 instantly inside credit when you play your first five doll.
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Ty Schmidt
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Peter Schrager
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- [57:22]
AJ Hawk
And if you're right, you could cash in.
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Peter Schrager
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Ty Schmidt
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Peter Schrager
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- [57:46]
Ty Schmidt
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Ty Schmidt
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Peter Schrager
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Ty Schmidt
Your game must be present in certain states.
- [58:01]
Peter Schrager
Visit prizepix.com for restrictions and details.
- [58:04]
Damien Woody
Race the rudders.
- [58:05]
Tone Diggs
Race the sails.
- [58:06]
Damien Woody
Raise the sails.
- [58:08]
Peter Schrager
Captain, an unidentified ship is approaching. Over.
- [58:11]
Boston Connor
Roger, wait.
- [58:13]
Peter Schrager
Is that an enterprise sales solution? Reach sales professionals, not professional sailors. With LinkedIn ads, you can target the right people by industry, job title and more. We'll even give you a $100 credit.
- [58:26]
Andrew Hawkins
On your next campaign.
- [58:27]
Peter Schrager
Get started today at LinkedIn.com results, terms and conditions apply including football. Nail it.
- [58:40]
Boston Connor
Y yeah.
- [58:41]
Peter Schrager
Nailed it.
- [58:41]
Boston Connor
Hell yeah, nailed it.
- [58:42]
Peter Schrager
We're having a blast. We're joined by the wonderful Boston Connor, Ty Schmidt, the great Tone Diggs, Darius Butler, the Bushback. And now I want to introduce one of my favorite players to cover when I was a budding journalist over@foxsports.com and he was a former top five pick leading his team to not only playoffs every year but also a Super bowl championship. He's become a good friend of mine and one of My favorite people's faces to just stare at. As Pat McAfee is talking, Mr. A.J. hawk joins the show. Oliver.
- [59:12]
AJ Hawk
What's up, Shregs?
- [59:13]
Boston Connor
I love it.
- [59:14]
AJ Hawk
You starting off the show talking about you doom scrolling old creepy guys with young girls on vacation.
- [59:20]
Peter Schrager
My life. That Instagram is trouble. What happens is you start scrolling and then they suggest things and you say, well, why not? And then you start seeing that and then suddenly you're in a hole you don't want to be in. And then you got to dig yourself out and just look for some quality good content.
- [59:35]
Ty Schmidt
Slop shots, flop shots, slop shots.
- [59:37]
Peter Schrager
And one of the things I saw was first day of school photos. So AJ Hawk. I see that and I love that. And that's where. That's the good stuff. That's the good stuff, right?
- [59:45]
AJ Hawk
Yeah, that is. That's the great stuff. I guess that's what it's for. Like the old school Facebook update, your parents.
- [59:49]
Peter Schrager
Yes.
- [59:51]
AJ Hawk
I don't know if you see this, right? You see this L Wrap Shrek. You see that Dr. Pepper staring right back at you.
- [59:55]
Ty Schmidt
I was gonna say, speaking of the good stuff, the official drink.
- [60:02]
Boston Connor
Why don't you pop one of those bad boys? Boys.
- [60:04]
Peter Schrager
Dr. Pepper is the official drink of Fansville. Is now the official drink of Thunderdome. The Thunderdome.
- [60:09]
Ty Schmidt
Is it game day?
- [60:11]
Peter Schrager
Is it Saturday? Not unless you're drinking Dr. Pepper some today. Let's go.
- [60:18]
Tone Diggs
Cheers.
- [60:19]
Peter Schrager
Thanks.
- [60:19]
Bruce
Also, while we were doing the Jerry thing in the first hour, AJ Texted in and said he's also three episodes in and absolutely loves it.
- [60:26]
Peter Schrager
Yeah. AJ Hawk, let's get your thoughts. You were someone who played against the Cowboys for all those years. You want to super bowl in Dallas. The documentary thus far blown you away.
- [60:37]
AJ Hawk
Oh, it's awesome. I mean, Debunt talked about it. Is cool how Jerry brings his family along and they know nothing about it. And here we go. Hey, here. We're running this whole thing and we're going to make it gigantic. But it's the documentaries are made by the people that are getting interviewed. Like, Michael Irvin is a dream, I would imagine, for somebody that is doing a documentary. His reactions, how he speaks, how I I. He's all. He's awesome. And they have that whole place. The whole thing is filled with so many unbelievable old players that played there that are also huge personalities that you don't really see anymore.
- [61:07]
Peter Schrager
I think.
- [61:08]
Boston Connor
Yeah, that's what's sick too, is that the first three episodes, those at least from what I've seen, the personality is Michael Irvin you know, he's kind of the one. They do Charles Haley, which is very interesting, and they do Emmett Smith and Jimmy Johnson and stuff. And Jimmy's unbelievable. But Irvin's there, and then I haven't seen it yet, but I guess prime has. Yeah, I saw a clip as well. Has a large thing about, you know, himself, so I'm assuming he starts to take over. Hawker, you strike me as someone who would have loved when Jimmy Johnson didn't let the team eat on the. On the plane after a loss. Is that something. Is that something you looked at and you were like, yeah, I would have loved to play for Jimmy.
- [61:50]
AJ Hawk
I don't know if I would say I would have loved it. But I think once you get over that and you realize that, hey, this guy's just trying to win. But what's awesome, too, is they talk to Jimmy now, current day, and he. And he has no remorse for it. Like, he has. No. He's not back down one ounce. And he talks about playing Berline over Troy Aikum. He's like, I didn't care about anybody's fields.
- [62:09]
Boston Connor
I'm trying to win a football game. Yeah, I loved it. It's really good, him cutting a player that fumbled on the spot. They talked about how a guy fumbled the ball and he was coming off the field, and Jimmy Johnson said, you're cut. Get out of here.
- [62:21]
Tone Diggs
And then when he said. When he. When they asked him about it, he said, you know, coaches say, you know, cutting players is, like, one of the toughest part of the job. It's not for me. I'm trying to win his games. And then what he said, like, and I don't want to ruin the doc.
- [62:33]
Boston Connor
No, no.
- [62:34]
Tone Diggs
He was like, yeah. You know, once took the job, you know, I was all in and everything kind of just had to go, you know, and it was like, Jimmy tells his wife of 26 years, we got to get a divorce.
- [62:43]
Boston Connor
Yeah.
- [62:43]
Peter Schrager
Oh, wow.
- [62:44]
Tone Diggs
I've never seen or heard any shit like this. Obviously, people will prioritize things and maybe other things just wither away. But him just making that decision and him just being all in, that's all he cared about and how he ran that team. That was crazy. That's tough to do with pros when you come in, especially coming from, you know, the college level and coming up to dealing with these guys and all these different personalities. But Jerry Jones and he was obviously on the same page, so it worked out until, you know, obviously it's.
- [63:10]
Peter Schrager
It's of the moment to talk about the Cowboys, Doc. But I also, I love the chief stock. Have you been watching the Kingdom at all? It's on espn and you get this Clark Hunt story, which is completely different. And it's. Clark Hunt was this entrepreneur who took on the NFL, comes over from the AFL and it says, okay, well if you're not going to give me a team in Dallas, Texas or if I want to do it, just a wild history there also. And AJ I think of your career, you go to Green Bay, there was no owner, there was no patriarch of it all. What was the dynamic there when you were at the Packers?
- [63:42]
Boston Connor
Peter? Just, just a real quick. Ty is an owner, so I do.
- [63:46]
Ty Schmidt
That is fair.
- [63:47]
Peter Schrager
That is fair. So that is fair.
- [63:48]
Ty Schmidt
I didn't win. AJ Played though.
- [63:50]
Peter Schrager
But to not have that Jerry Jones, Clark Hunt, like patriarch of the family or a Mike Brown or Amara or a Rooney, was that weird?
- [63:59]
AJ Hawk
It's, it is kind of weird when you think about. But I was drafted there, so that's all I knew at the time. My, my 10th season, I went to Cincinnati and that's the first time we had an owner. I'm talking to Mike Brown. And it's a very unique situation too. They have in their front office compared to what other front offices might look like. And, and they're very open about it. It's another family run business like that, another family run team. But it's pretty sweet because think about it. If you're a football team and there's no owner trying to siphon off all the net, net profits, those profits go back into the team and they take very, very good care of you with facilities and everything that you could possibly need in Green Bay. So yeah, there'll never be a situation like that again, will there? Shregs, where the community owns a team.
- [64:37]
Peter Schrager
There would never be a team. There would never be an expansion team in a city like Green Bay. It just wouldn't happen. They wouldn't put one in a town like that, which is what makes Green Bay so charming and makes it so, so wonderful.
- [64:47]
Boston Connor
Yeah, I mean that was the biggest takeaway from the draft this year for me at least was like, oh, okay, so this is an entire town dedicated to this team. That is the role they play in that town. And they love it. Clearly based on, you know, the draft and how sweet it was, it is surprising that like a commissioner just never like anointed one, like wanted to for the Packers. Now it's just at the point where there's no way they'll never have one now.
- [65:14]
Peter Schrager
Ty we're two weeks out. You're our resident packers fan. How are we feeling about the 2025 Green Bay Packers? There was super bowl buzz early, then people were discouraged after the left hand injury. Now Love is already going to be set back for week one. Like, are you feeling this is a Super bowl team? Yeah.
- [65:31]
Ty Schmidt
I mean, I think you kind of have those hopes every year with the packers just because, you know, if they can put everything together and get hot at the right time, you know that, that they could because it's tough. I mean, I think it all comes down to, to Jordan Love, like if he plays better or you know, like he has like a jump on like what he did when his for his first year as a starter, when they went to the playoffs and beat the hell out of the Cowboys and took the Niners right down to the wire and almost went to the NFC Championship. Like, I think he was just kind of hurt all last year. It wasn't a good start. He got hurt again in Jacksonville and it kind of never meshed. They were playing arguably like their worst football the season going into the playoffs. And then obviously Philly was a juggernaut at that point. Point. So we'll see. But I mean, Josh Jacobs is going to be the, the, the key to this thing. You know, like he, he was unbelievable last year. They're going to rely on running the football because by and large, everything you've heard from camp is like, Matthew golden is going to be the go to guy. And although he's unbelievable, obviously, like, we'll see. You know, anytime a rookie receiver is kind of your clear cut number one guy and you need him to have a big gear if the defense is a improved again. I don't know, I mean it's, it's tough because the NFC north, so tough.
- [66:42]
Peter Schrager
It's such a. But it's like, all right, so let's go around the horn here. Just NFC North, Caleb Williams, Jared Goff, Jordan Love, J.J. mcCarthy. I'm going to go around the horn, A.J. including you. Which one of those quarterbacks has the most pressure on them this season to perform?
- [66:57]
Boston Connor
Probably Goff, just because he will get murdered and everyone will say, oh, it was Ben Johnson the entire time. That's the only reason, reason he was successful and golf's great, I think. So that's why.
- [67:07]
Ty Schmidt
Yeah, I agree with that. I would say Caleb Williams just because there's so much hype with him and it was supposed to be like, hey, Ben Johnson is the guy who's going to unlock you and you will be a top five quarterback in the NFL. And I don't think if he has like a moderate improvement or he's a little bit better, I don't think that'll be good enough for people in Chicago and people in the media.
- [67:24]
Bruce
Caleb Williams is, is my number one. But Jordan Love is a close second because he got paid. And then they, they're going to say he got paid off a lot one season and it hasn't produced since then.
- [67:32]
Peter Schrager
AJ what do you think? Yeah, I mean, I, I was going.
- [67:34]
AJ Hawk
To say Jordan Love all along just because I think if he doesn't play well this year, if they don't have a good season, people are going to start questioning whether he's the guy or not. And they paid him like he is the guy. So, yeah, I think obviously they all have a ton of pressure on him, but yeah, where Jordan Love is at in his career, he can go one way or the other. I think this year.
- [67:49]
Peter Schrager
Yeah.
- [67:50]
Tone Diggs
First response would be Caleb Williams because of the Ben Johnson thing. No excuses, great weapons around him, too. But another guy after that year that Sam Darnold had with the Vikings, McCarthy been handed the keys. Obviously get drafted, you get hurt, you don't get opportunity. And then you just say, hey, we're going to go move on from a former top three pick who had a career year and we're going to hand the keys to you. And everyone knows, just like Ben Johnson, koc I mean, I would say even more so because he's done it from the head coach position. He can call the game, he can get production and great play out of the quarterback regardless of who's taking the snap. So I would say J.J. mcCarthy because of everything around him and, and him being handed the keys after the year that they had last year.
- [68:28]
Peter Schrager
Think about this division. Then we just went around the horn and you can make the argument for each one of the quarterbacks. I actually go with Connor. I look at Jared Goff, he's got all these accolades. He's been to super bowl, he's been to two NFC championship games. He's led two franchises from the wreckage all the way to the top. And yet we headed to the season and people are still shrugged shoulders. And you said you're not doubting him, but people are like, is he good? I don't know.
- [68:50]
Boston Connor
Let's see him.
- [68:51]
Peter Schrager
Let's see him without McVay, let's see him without Ben Johnson. And like to me, that's the ultimate insult to what Jared Goff's career has been. Pro bowl all pro, all this stuff.
- [68:57]
Tone Diggs
Agreed.
- [68:58]
Peter Schrager
Chanting his name. And yet I think there's a lot of people around the league who are like, all right, now you're the guy.
- [69:03]
Boston Connor
Yeah.
- [69:04]
Peter Schrager
Can you do it?
- [69:05]
Boston Connor
He falls into, like, the Purdy category for me.
- [69:08]
Peter Schrager
I mean, to me, that's. That's not insulting, but it's like, whoa, it's not insulting.
- [69:11]
Boston Connor
It sucks for the player. It's like they're. They're amazing, but they'll never get credit for it. It had an important Brady for the first, you know, 10, 11 years of his career. Like, if Purdy wins the super bowl, people will talk about Shanahan and the team around him. I feel like it's the same with Goff. And last year was the first year where, you know, mvp, like, in the finals and people, I feel like, had a lot of respect for him, but I don't think anyone's thinking, like, if Goff has a bad game, you know, they don't have a chance. Like, with Gibbs and Amon Ra in the old line and now Hutch being healthy and the defense, like, I think a lot of people do look at Goff and say, hey, if they don't win or go to the super bowl, it's probably because of this guy. And granted, the same thing could happen again as it did last year, where everybody and their mother gets hurt and they go into the divisional round with half a team. But I feel like now is. You know, when we talk about windows, the Lions window is as open as it's been, and, like, they kind of have to get it done now. Whereas, like, J.J. mcCarthy, no matter what, he gets a year. Caleb, I. I feel like Caleb pride does make the most sense, because, like, if you. If you're just talking about pressure, if he doesn't get it done, you. You're assuming Ben Johnson's the one that can tell the ownership, like, yep, let's put Tyson Bajan in, because I can win with him.
- [70:23]
Tone Diggs
Just signed a new deal today.
- [70:24]
Boston Connor
Hell, yeah.
- [70:26]
Tone Diggs
He'S spending it this preseason, but, yeah, that. I mean, it'd be interesting, but it's crazy that Jared Goff gets that kind of disrespect. I understand you. He's had great play callers and he's had great players around, but dude's the number one pick.
- [70:38]
Peter Schrager
Yeah, he paid twice. Monster.
- [70:41]
Tone Diggs
Yeah, got paid. Went to a Super Bowl. So, like, you can have great coach, you can have great players. You still got to have a trigger man that can read it, that can make those type of throws. So I Think Detroit is getting behind him. This will be a big year for him though. Post Ben Johnson. Obviously he will have that pressure viewed on him, but he is easily the most established. I would say I would have the most confident confidence in the quarterback in that division would be Jared Goff.
- [71:05]
Peter Schrager
Easily for me. The guy's name is John Morton. He's the offensive coordinator. He was in the league forever. He was working with Peyton in New Orleans and then he's been with the Jets. Like John morton's been a 30 year coach and he's now the new offensive coordinator. So this isn't one of these 28 year old whiz kid exit. This is a guy who's been in the league for a long time. I don't know if that's a good or bad thing. Mark Brunel is the quarterbacks coach. They lost Tanner Extreme before Shregs.
- [71:27]
AJ Hawk
Has it called plays in the league yet?
- [71:29]
Peter Schrager
John Morton has. Yes. He's been a full time.
- [71:31]
AJ Hawk
That's a big thing. That's a big thing.
- [71:33]
Peter Schrager
Not with great success.
- [71:35]
AJ Hawk
Not still though. Still you learn. I cannot imagine how much you learn. Like the first time you're at. You're the actual play caller. Like there's, there's. So that's such a difficult job that the. The great ones are great and the ones that suck are pretty bad.
- [71:46]
Tone Diggs
Oh yeah.
- [71:47]
Peter Schrager
Zero. Can we see the. The division odds again? I just want to see the NFC North. So Lions are favored. Packers two, Vikings who went 14 and three last year are third and then the Bears are there in fourth.
- [72:01]
Bruce
It's all tight.
- [72:02]
Boston Connor
Yeah. All plus money.
- [72:03]
Peter Schrager
All plus money. That is a. That is a tightest of a division.
- [72:06]
Tone Diggs
Division.
- [72:07]
Bruce
Yes, it is the tightest division.
- [72:08]
Peter Schrager
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
- [72:10]
Damien Woody
By.
- [72:10]
Boston Connor
By a lot it seems.
- [72:11]
Tone Diggs
NFC worst that in the West.
- [72:13]
Peter Schrager
Yeah. West gets weird though after. Yeah. The Niners are favorite of the Rams. Huh?
- [72:18]
Bruce
I. I find that kind of shocking too.
- [72:19]
AJ Hawk
I don't know if close because Stafford's back or what.
- [72:22]
Boston Connor
We kind of talked about this yesterday where people are saying every single one of those teams is going to be good this year. And we're like that. That.
- [72:29]
Peter Schrager
Watch out for the Cardinals. I like the Seahawks.
- [72:32]
Boston Connor
Yeah. That's what everyone is.
- [72:33]
Peter Schrager
But I'm finding that with all 32 teams like here, here's what you get now in August and Jason McCourty is going to join us and he'll laugh because he knows this is like an NFL Network special. Now that we're all partners, we could say three people on director's chairs in a Polo with either ESPN or NFL Network. And it's a, you know, a cheap polo made from like, you know, whatever. Name the company Gildan and you're sick. Yeah, you're just. It's a good confidence. Not take that. Whoa. And the, the. The coach comes over, everything's rainbows and roses. And who's the young player that's stepping up? Well, this guy. And everyone wants to drive in F. That's 32 teams. And that's what it is. It's two reporters are hosting a reporter on a director's chair with an ex player and then us just glazing over the coach, the young quarterback, everything. Everyone's awesome. But as we know, not everyone's going to be awesome. And I don't care so much as like, this, this team could be good. Is that your pick? Like, if you're saying I think the Cardinals are a sneaky, possible, maybe possible dark horse kind of maybe contender, I don't care. Are you picking the Cardinals to win the NFC West? Like, I like the Titans because Cam Ward brings it. Like, are you taking the Titans? So back it up because to me, in 32 teams, like everyone loves everyone right now.
- [73:48]
Boston Connor
Well, and that's the combo with the Broncos. Like, that's the thing with the Broncos we were just having is like, yeah, you can like the Broncos and think they're going to.
- [73:56]
Peter Schrager
How much do you like the Bronco?
- [73:57]
Ty Schmidt
Yeah.
- [73:57]
Boston Connor
Do you think they're going to beat the Chiefs in the division? Like last year I fell for it last year. I was like, the Chargers are going to do it, man. They're finally going to beat the Chiefs. And this is their year with Harbaugh and it's not, you know, and it's probably going to happen this year. Like again, I made the comparison earlier and with the Chiefs Now, Brady won 17 AFC East Division championships. So I can't even imagine how many times going into the year it was like the Bills or the Dolphins or the jets, you know, like with Rush, Ryan and you know, those teams. But it never actually is. And I feel like the Chiefs, it's the same exact thing. Like the Broncos could probably go to the playoffs for the next 10 years. But if you also told me they never won the division, I believe.
- [74:36]
Ty Schmidt
Yeah, well, this stuff will dissipate, too. We have two weeks until the season kicks off. So like if, hey, if you want to get those shots in, you got to get them now. Because if you're picking the Cardinals to win the division right now, if they get beat by five touchdowns Week one, you know, you'll look like an. But, you know, right now you don't.
- [74:53]
Peter Schrager
But it's like, you know, I like the Texans this year. Someone said to me, I forget who it was. I really like Texans. How much do you like them? You pick them to win the afc? No. Well, they did that last year. They went to divisional round the last two years. So what? What's the next, like, the same?
- [75:03]
Boston Connor
You mean is that, you know, like.
- [75:04]
Peter Schrager
You like them just because they were. Yeah. Jason McCourty is going to join us right now. One of my favorite people in the world, and he's doing us a solid here. Look at him there.
- [75:14]
Damien Woody
Amen.
- [75:16]
Peter Schrager
So Jason and I co hosted Good Morning from Football on the NFL Network. I consider this man a brother. And now we are here on ESPN airwaves together. J. Mack, how's the summer been, man?
- [75:28]
Jason McCourty
It's been awesome. I've just been sitting here thinking about which teams are going to make it. I think, you know, the commanders, if they get Terry McLaren there, they're going to be the favorite in the NFC East. But if Michael Parsons gets his deal done before week one, they may be the team. But can you imagine if Jackson Dart is as good as Jaden Daniel was as a rookie? The Eagles have no shot in the NFC East. That's just. That's all I came in to say.
- [75:51]
Peter Schrager
Just for this, but J. Mac, you know what I'm talking about. This is what we do in August. It's like we visit a camp for literally three hours. You come out and you're like, wow. I mean, gosh, the Bengals. I know everyone has a team, but, like, who is the team right now if I'm putting you on the spot because I trust what you say, who is the team that maybe not everyone's talking about that you at least have your eye on? And not maybe sort of, but like, hey, I'm going to roll with this team this year.
- [76:16]
Jason McCourty
If I'm picking one and everybody's talking about them, I would say. Or they're mentioning their names. I think the Denver Broncos, and not just saying that to say, all right, they're going to be good as a good football team. I think the Denver Broncos can compete and be a team that we're talking about later on in the season as a possibility to get into the playoffs and go on a run and be talking about them as a Super bowl type of team. I think Bonicks has that ability to take the next step. Sean Payton is a head coach that has been in this position before and has been building for this. As good as they were on defense last year, you go out and you sign Talanoa Huanga and you sign Dre Greenlaw to come over to that side of the defense and go and be able to dominate and run around. So when I look at them, RJ Harvey in the backfield, another explosive weapon, Evan Ingram, another guy on the offensive side of the ball. This was a team last year that when they were in the playoffs and we started talking about them and they were in close games against the Kansas City Chiefs, losing by a block, missed blocked field goal, we all were shocked. We had no idea Bo Nicks was going to be that type of player last year. There's going to be a little bit more of a target on their back this year, but I think they've made improvements where it's not just, all right, they're going to make the playoffs, but they're a team that I think can go out there and can compete and beat every team in afc.
- [77:32]
Peter Schrager
You were down in Miami for a bit at the end of your career, and their team that everyone's immediately writing off saying they're done. I. I'm actually. I've turned completely. I've turned the top. I think I'm in on the Dolphins. Like, I like the fact that no talking about them.
- [77:46]
AJ Hawk
And how in are you, Shregs?
- [77:49]
Tone Diggs
How much do you.
- [77:49]
Bruce
All the way in, AJ all the way in.
- [77:53]
Peter Schrager
I honestly think the Dolphins, this is like. And I got to kind of work this. You know, we workshop, like, my reason. But I feel like any, any, like anyone that Mike McDaniel wanted out is out. And that might be Jalen Ramsey. It might be some of the other malcontents that Ramsey wasn't a malcontent, but, like, guys that maybe weren't all on. On the plan. I feel like Mike has all of his guys now and it's like, if we do have one more year to show it, like, at least I'm gonna do it my way and we're gonna roll and we're gonna play offense and we're going to do our best with defensive guys getting back. You were in Miami. Couple guys are still on that team. Tua, of course, was a quarterback that you saw close up. Like, has the train passed by Miami or are we now back thinking maybe they are still that team that put up 70 on the Broncos two years ago.
- [78:41]
Jason McCourty
Right now I don't see it. And you mentioned they've gotten some of those guys out that maybe Mike didn't want there. But my question is, who of the guys that you brought in to replace those guys? When they were talking about trading Jalen Ramsey and then finally Delta into Pittsburgh, my concern was, all right, you got rid of Ramsey. All right, Kendall Fuller, who's your starter last year? He's gone. Who are the cornerbacks that you're bringing in that are sure fires that you're like, all right, these are going to be our two guys on the outside. And that's not to mention A Cater Cole and Artie Burns all getting injured. So when I look at this Dolphins team, the little bit of the stress they went through last year and have diversity and the Tyreek Hill stuff at the end of the season and all of these different things, we continue to say the same thing about the Dolphins every year. And I go, I know my guy deep Bud is out there in South Florida. You're saying they're not a team that can play in cold weather. They're not a tough football team that can run the ball when it matters. What has changed from the last few years to this year that you're going to say, all right, we see this team and they're taking the next step and they're going to do this or that. I just haven't seen, seen those moves in this offseason to really get behind them. Are they going to be a solid football team? Absolutely. You got two. You got Jalen Waddle, you got Tyreek Hill, you have those explosive players. What is Darren Waller going to look like just activated off pup out of football for an entire year? Can he come in and have a type of impact that John Smith had last year?
- [80:01]
Tone Diggs
I don't know.
- [80:01]
Jason McCourty
There's a lot of question marks to me with that.
- [80:03]
Peter Schrager
Yeah. Before we go around the horn, one of the guys you played with there is now a New York Giant. Get Giants fans excited. Tell us about Javon Holland, who was a fellow defensive back with you at the Miami Dolphins.
- [80:13]
Jason McCourty
That's my guy. And all I've heard all training camp is that he's been a complete ball hawk dog. I think for all of these young guys, when you sometimes you get drafted by a team, you're there for Javon Holland. He was there with three different defensive coordinators. A lot of change that happened around. Sometimes you need a little bit of a new scenery. I don't think he was even offered a contract by the Miami Dolphins. So now you become a member of the New York Giants. They paid him, they believe in him. So now you get a chance to go out there and be one of the older guys in that secondary and become a true leader. This is a guy that became a captain in his second year, and he's a football player. So I think his ability to get out there, conduct everything, play in the deep part of the field, move up, be able to blitz and do the things he did when Flores was there with Josh Boyer as a defensive coordinator, I think is going to help him a ton. So I'm really excited about what Javon's going to bring into the secondary. And, hey, the Giants are a team that got a lot better.
- [81:05]
Peter Schrager
Here we go.
- [81:06]
Jason McCourty
I ain't saying they're gonna be a playoff team, but they got a lot better football.
- [81:10]
Peter Schrager
You're there in Jersey. What's the vibe? What's the.
- [81:12]
Tone Diggs
Like.
- [81:12]
Peter Schrager
I know you go into a. A Wawa, you're stepping into your shop, right? Someone's gonna stop you and want to talk Giants. What. What's the vibe on Giants right now in Jersey?
- [81:21]
Jason McCourty
The big Wawa guy out here, we finally got him up in North Jersey, not to South Jersey. People are fired up. D is in my town, so I see Dave's all the time. I'm rocking my Franklin Lakes peewee football gear on. He's out there with his son and his daughter. People are extremely excited because when you turn the TV on and you're watching a Giants game, you get excited about what you see in Jackson Dart. When you see Russell Wilson throwing a moon ball down the field 80 yards, you get excited about that. When you log on to social media and you see Jameis Winston talking about guys going to chapel and believing and hitting the crossbar on the throw at the end of practice to get them out of meetings, you get excited about that. There's just so much positivity right now that surrounds the New York Giants. A year after they have planes flying over was saying, this is a dumpster fire on game day over, over top of the stadium. It's a completely new hope right now with this New York Giants football team. And then you have Abdul Carter tweeting out and calling out the jets and talk about BT like this. A D J Mac, I know you're.
- [82:24]
Peter Schrager
Kind of old school. Did you like this?
- [82:26]
Jason McCourty
I did, but it just. It was Michael Parsons a few years ago with Leonard Fournette, where it's like, I'm a D lineman. I literally had one of the coaches on my peewee team that was like, man, Abdul Carter, man, this kid's not any good. Did you see him get hit in the game? I'M like, did you watch any of the game or did you just see one highlight of him getting chipped? He's been dominating out there. So I think everybody just loves this New York Giants team. Is trash talk a little bit. It's hard nose. This is what you want. A little bit of flair and all of that.
- [82:54]
Peter Schrager
Did you guys know that Jason McCourty was once on Saturday Night Live?
- [82:57]
Boston Connor
What? What?
- [82:57]
Peter Schrager
J. Mac, tell him the story.
- [82:59]
Tone Diggs
Didn't know that.
- [83:00]
Peter Schrager
Hey.
- [83:01]
Jason McCourty
Well, you're an identical twin and you grow up single mom and we got to create income however we can. Moms is driving us in and out of New York City, auditioning for this, auditioning for that. Obviously we weren't too damn good because you didn't see us in anything. But we ended up getting casted on Saturday Night Live. It was a Martha Stewart special and we was just extras. We're just sitting on the ground while they're doing the skit. And that was our big claim to fame. We was in Saturday Night Live. No one knew we were there. Our names probably didn't even roll into credits at the end. But we were able to live and tell that story. It was all day. I hated it. I wanted to just play sports as a kid.
- [83:39]
Peter Schrager
Of course. All right, let's go around the hood here. Boston. Connor. Yeah.
- [83:41]
Boston Connor
Now your real claim to fame is being a Super bowl champion for the New England Patriots. Thank you for your service, brother. I very much appreciate that. But looking forward to this season. I wanted to ask you, you know what young DB you're excited about, but really, the. The young DB everyone's kind of got their eyes on is Travis Hunter now playing both ways? How do you think that is going to go? Realistically, D Butt told me that in Madden, his conditioning is 100 and he never gets tired. So if that happens in real life, then he should be okay. But do you expect him to do both the entire year? Do you think it'll be kind of split between one and full time, the other? What are you expecting to see out of Jacksonville and Travis Hunter?
- [84:20]
Jason McCourty
I'm expecting him to do both. I think it's going to be extremely hard. I still have question marks about his ability to be able to do that throughout a 17 game season. But if I'm the Jackson Jaguars and I drafted him as high as we did and made moves to get up there to get him, you don't draft him just to go out there and play wide receiver and provide that access for Trevor Lawrence to get the ball to him. You don't pay him to go out there and just play defensive back and go cover a receiver. You need this guy to be explosive, to be exciting. Fans coming up wearing their Travis Hunter jerseys because you don't know where he's going to align. So I expect it to maybe be a game by game thing where it may be, hey, we need him to match up a little bit more defensively with this guy this week or hey, offensively, we think we can find mismatches to get him the ball in certain situations. So I very much see them having him go out there and playing both ways and doing the most that he can. Unless something stops him physically from being able to do that, I can't imagine him not doing that. But as far as young DB's, wait, you know, Baron on the Broncos, I'm excited to see what he can do. Blitzing and covering and doing all of those things.
- [85:27]
Peter Schrager
I hate to cut you off when you're doing a Baron bit. I, I, I wanted to ask you though, because you know the defensive coordinator in Jacksonville very well, right? You know, camp, tell him about who that man is and what you think he might bring to that team.
- [85:38]
Jason McCourty
People that got a chance to watch the in season Hard knocks and Miami Dolphins. You got to see just a preview of what Anthony Campanelli is all about. When you mentioned New Jersey, when you think of what New Jersey football is like at the high school level, it's the Italian guy screaming at the top of his lungs, getting people fired up, slamming things in the, in the room, throwing a chair through the window. That is coach camp. And throughout the course of the week, he loves every single guy that he gets a chance to coach and come in contact with. So Anthony Campinelli is going to be one hell of a defensive coordinator down there in Jackson.
- [86:14]
Peter Schrager
AJ what do you got? You got a question for J. Mack?
- [86:16]
AJ Hawk
Yeah, Jason. Speaking of defensive coordinators, the Bengals brought in Al golden this year to try to shore up things in the defensive end. We know Joe Burrow is going to put up points and how good that offense is, but what do you expect from this Bengals defense? And I guess what do you expect from them as a, as a team?
- [86:30]
Jason McCourty
Well, watching them against the commanders, I don't expect a damn thing. I look at this for Al Golden. I'm coaching peewee football right now. If we go play the neighbor in town and all of their kids are 6 foot and they look like monsters and I'm rolling out there with little twerp 9 and 10 year olds, it don't Matter how great of a scheme I have, we have no shot for the Bengals. They have to figure out to get these young guys that they've drafted to play at a high level right away, finally find a way. Pay Trey Henderson, get him the money. They need as much good players on the defensive side of the ball and as possible. If I'm Joe Burrow, I'm standing on the sideline and I'm watching this, I'm in everybody's face, slamming helmets, dude, we got to figure it out, make a trade, do something. There's no way we're just going to hit repeat on exactly what we did last year. That defense was ugly. And I know it's just a preseason and all of that, but I always think about this when you look at the preseason, whatever was the point of emphasis from the season before, it better look good now. In the preseason, we talked about Caleb Williams not holding on to the ball, all of those things. In the preseason, it looked better. It looked like something they were working on. I don't know what the hell the Bengals was working on last week, but we need to see more from that defensive side of the ball.
- [87:45]
Peter Schrager
Who do you have week one? I know you do CBS games and you got a great crew with you. You're with Andrew Catalon and I believe Charles Davis this year. Who, who's, who's your first game?
- [87:54]
Jason McCourty
We're at Indy. We got Daniel Jones and Miami's coming in town. Daniel Jones. Jones.
- [87:59]
Boston Connor
Sorry, man. Sorry, man. Hey, you're gonna enjoy Indy, but, yeah, sorry about that, brother.
- [88:04]
Bruce
Which, which quarterback would you rather face to AR or Daniel Jones?
- [88:08]
Jason McCourty
I, I, to me, I, I would hate to see AR out there because if I'm on defense, I'm terrified of the unknown. You don't know if this guy's going to scramble and run you over as a db. You don't know if he's going to flick his wrist and throw the ball 60 yards down the field. So I would much rather face a Daniel Jones. And that's no disruption, respect, but Anthony Richardson creates, creates that unknown. That to me is terrifying as a defense.
- [88:31]
Peter Schrager
Ty.
- [88:32]
Ty Schmidt
Jack, just curious. What. How do you feel about the packers defense going into this year? Throughout. As a Packers fan, all off season, they kind of let everyone from their cornerback room walk. And they, they did sign, you know, Nate Hobbs from Vegas. But then a lot of the talk was, hey, Bo, Bo Melton, this receiver, we're going to put him at cornerback and we're going to see, and, you know, they've been saying he's been doing great. But they were much improved last year with Jeff Halfley. Obviously their safeties are very good. Do you expect them to, you know, take another step up this year? Because I feel like if they want to do what everyone thinks they can do, their defense needs to be much better again this year.
- [89:09]
Jason McCourty
DBA where did Bo Melton go to school?
- [89:12]
Tone Diggs
I hope he didn't go up that shitty school up in Jersey. I hope not.
- [89:17]
Jason McCourty
You damn right, baby.
- [89:18]
Peter Schrager
That's a fellow scors, baby.
- [89:21]
Boston Connor
Jesus.
- [89:21]
Jason McCourty
Why do you think they put so much trust in my guy? I look at this packers defense and you're hoping they take a step. But when you lose guys, it typically takes a little bit of time to gel and build that chemistry for everybody to be able to come together. So it's not going to happen right away. You lose a guy like J. Alexander, who played a lot of good football, has been banged up the last few years and now you're throwing guys out. You mentioned Nate Hobbs, you mentioned bringing Bull Melton from the offensive side of the ball to the defensive side of the ball. You're not going to just hit the ground running and everybody just pick up. It's going to take a little bit of time, but in that division you don't have that much time. So I look at this packers team. Yes, Jordan Love, Matthew Gold and his addition, the defensive side of the ball, I think they're going to be good, but I don't see that step forward happening right away. It's going to be throughout the course of the season. How much better can they improve from a week to be week standpoint and getting guys on the outside that can play more Manto man and get them out of the COVID two and the COVID three, which they played a lot of last season.
- [90:20]
Peter Schrager
I got a tweet to saying when we're in the dome, it's not around the horn, it's around the dome. So let's go around the dome, not around the horn.
- [90:26]
Boston Connor
Oh, I like that.
- [90:28]
Peter Schrager
Yeah.
- [90:28]
Bruce
Jason, we talked about Jalen Ramsey earlier and him going to the Pittsburgh Steelers. As we know, the front seven there has been incredible, will be incredible. But getting Jalen Ramsey, getting Darius Slay, they are very, very happy with those two. How do you feel about the Steelers defense as a whole, the Steelers secondary and can they lead them deep into the playoffs?
- [90:47]
Jason McCourty
Hey, I think we're going to see a lot of Ramsey on the inside in the slot. I think that's where he's going to be most effective, where he can Blitz and do all of those fun things. Man. When you have pass rush that the Pittsburgh Steelers have, assuming Cam Hayward is gets back out there and everything is settled with his contract, man, that makes life easy when you got 30 year old DBs out there. Darius Slay played his butt off last year on a Super bowl winning team. I don't have a reason to just guess that he's going to fall off a cliff this year. So him and Ramsey out there I think are going to be special. And then Joey Porter Jr. I think for those guys you have a Joy Porter Jr. On the outside that can go and follow around the other team's number one wide receiver. Which makes Slay and Ramsey's job a lot easier. The issue they're going to have is when you show up on Wednesday and you start game planning, who's going to be content with covering the number two or the number three wide receiver? Because all of these guys at points in their career have been that guy. So I think from a confidence standpoint and what they're bringing on the defensive side of the ball, they have nothing but dogs out there. So now it's how do we implement this thing and put it going forward so that we can go out there and dominate on the defensive side of the ball. But it's exciting to see the because this is what we've always known the Pittsburgh Steelers franchise to be. Guys going out there winning the game on defense and then having an offensive go out there running the football and making the plays necessary.
- [92:06]
Peter Schrager
Where do you stand on Pittsburgh? You in on them going to season? People are either in one or two camps. They're. Rogers is toast and I don't want to do this all over again. Did with the jets last year. I got excited or they're all in. I'm all in. Like where do you stand with the Steelers?
- [92:19]
Jason McCourty
Well, I don't think they're the Jets. I think that comparison and just because Rodgers was there isn't fair. This is a team that has been winning, has been in the playoffs. They're not bringing Rogers in there to save them. So I do like the Pittsburgh Steelers. I like them to win a playoff game this year. I like them to get there.
- [92:34]
Peter Schrager
Wow.
- [92:35]
Jason McCourty
So I look at them as a team that I think, I think they do take those steps. I don't have them as a Super bowl contender though.
- [92:41]
Peter Schrager
Final four is pretty good though.
- [92:43]
Bruce
I think we would take that at this point.
- [92:45]
Peter Schrager
Yeah, that's it.
- [92:46]
Boston Connor
Championship.
- [92:47]
Tone Diggs
So Jason, you played. I know you played for Bill. Con man mentioned your super bowl championship up there in New England, I believe you overlapped a little bit with Mike Vrabel. Not maybe in Tennessee, maybe in Cleveland. What are the similarities and differences between Bill and Mike and what's your expectation for Pat's Drake Mays Year two and then Vrabel, you know, the prince that was promised back in New England, the.
- [93:10]
Jason McCourty
Press that was promised I got a chance these last two weeks during the Patriots preseason games of being around Braves and the team a lot. The similarities, I think is the expectation that he has for the guys out there on the football field. It is all football with him and he expects guys to go out there and know what they're doing. And if you're not, he is not afraid to tell you about it. Talking to Drake May a little bit, he mentioned that when they get in there in the team meeting room, RA Will put a play up and talk about somebody not doing their job. He's not afraid of anybody when it comes to that type of stuff in the room. I think where they differ a lot, which you can appreciate this as well. D. But is Vrabel is a guy that he very much loves, that personal connection with his guys. If you've seen him on busting with the boys with Taylor and Will and those guys and busting their chops like he loves to do that. We're sitting there and I'm watching him make fun of Jabril Peppers as we're talking about, man, Jabril being a part of the 06 Cleveland Browns. That part of coaching I think he loves just as much as he loves teaching the guy. So I think it's extremely high expectations for Drake May in year two of taking that step. The thing talking to Josh McDaniels with Drake may is as soon as they got there, they unloaded and they gave him everything. Last year he wasn't calling it at the line of scrimmage with, hey, we're going Mike here. We're setting a protection. All of those things they gave him all of that and he has loved every part of it and the growth that he's had since he's been there, the leadership and speaking up and all of those different things.
- [94:39]
Peter Schrager
What's your vibe on Belichick, college coach? Because that's. I mean, they got the Patriots fans here fired up. But like, yeah, we talked to Damien Woody. He's like, I think it's the most fascinating story. Are you in on that? Like, do you think that suddenly Belichick is going to take the North Carolina Tar Heels to Prominence or this is just a cute story.
- [94:56]
Jason McCourty
Whoa, man. Those are two drastically different things. I'm not going to call it. I'm not going to call it a cute story.
- [95:04]
Boston Connor
Smart.
- [95:04]
Jason McCourty
But I'm. I. I think for me, I'm intrigued because either they are going to find a way to win games, or to your point, it's not going to be a cute story. It's going to be a train wreck. So I think just watching is going to be fascinating to see. The one thing with Bills has always been about eliminating every single single distraction and all of those things. And since he's gotten there, all we've talked about is everything except for football. So seeing these clips are fascinating because it's just like, this is the Bill that I know.
- [95:31]
Peter Schrager
Oh, he actually.
- [95:32]
Jason McCourty
Yeah, exactly. Twirling of the whistle, looking at guys like, I mean, what are we doing? You gotta block the guy in front of you. We talked about this. Like, that's the Bill that we all know and love.
- [95:45]
Peter Schrager
He ain't give a damn about.
- [95:46]
Jason McCourty
About asking me about how my wife's doing, how my kids are doing. Hey, Jay, when you show up, what's your assignment on cover, too? That's the only thing we talked about. So this is the Bill Belichick that I want to see. And this is the Bill Belichick that's going to be winning games.
- [95:59]
Peter Schrager
Were you surprised when you saw, like, all the Instagram stuff last year with Jordan when they were doing, like, the mermaid on the water and all that? I don't know if I'm even allowed to talk about it.
- [96:07]
Tone Diggs
It kind of eliminated the distractions.
- [96:09]
Peter Schrager
What did you think of all that.
- [96:10]
Tone Diggs
Last month or so.
- [96:11]
Peter Schrager
She wasn't working for North Carolina when that stuff was going out. Just by the way, dude, there's not.
- [96:16]
Jason McCourty
A guy that played for Build. That's not going to say they weren't shocked by that. He was. He was on the beach with her, lifted in the air, for one. We didn't even know he was capable of doing that. So, like, that was the most impressive thing where you would hit the group chat and be like, damn. Like, go ahead, Billy B. Like, live your life. But it was like, you can't imagine he would be the guy out there doing those. Those things. But hey, hey, life is short, man. You gotta enjoy it while you can.
- [96:42]
Peter Schrager
We both have sons the same age. I'd be remiss not asking. Give me an update on your son Kaden's athletic career. Where are we at? What are we playing? And what is the future for this young man, man, we're.
- [96:52]
Jason McCourty
We're in our second year of tackle football. And because he probably not watching the other day, we know the pads go on. So we start coming up with all these hitting drills. You got to get them fired up. Like, you got to go in there and lay a sword.
- [97:03]
Bruce
Older.
- [97:03]
Jason McCourty
So you know my son. So I'm match him up with some of the best kids on the team. So we have another kid that's really good on our team. Kaden's the tackler. He's running the ball. He drops the shoulder.
- [97:12]
Peter Schrager
Boom.
- [97:13]
Jason McCourty
Kaden hits the ground full of tears. I'm sitting there as a dad. I'm just like, come on, man, get.
- [97:18]
Peter Schrager
Your ass up, man.
- [97:19]
Jason McCourty
You gotta be out here embarrassing the family. Now everybody know McCourty's name's on the back of the jersey, man. You can't be doing this. But he's doing good, man. He's finding his ways to a little speedster. He has some accordion, so he's doing good, man. Appreciate that, Jamie. I'm trying to get him to be as good as Mel Schrager out here shooting hoops and knocking down the three ball.
- [97:38]
Peter Schrager
My little guy has been working on that jump shot all summer. We'll see how it goes. We'll see how it goes in the Brooklyn Basketball Academy. We'll see. We're talking youth sports. You know, Little League is going on too, of course. Fairfield.
- [97:49]
Boston Connor
Yeah.
- [97:50]
Ty Schmidt
Jaluti, though.
- [97:51]
Boston Connor
Yeah. Jo Joey. Jaluti.
- [97:52]
Ty Schmidt
Jaluti from Irmo, South Carolina.
- [97:54]
Peter Schrager
That kid's no joke.
- [97:55]
Boston Connor
They roll junk.
- [97:56]
Peter Schrager
Yeah.
- [97:56]
Tone Diggs
Connecticut plays today, right?
- [97:57]
Boston Connor
Yeah. Fairfield. Last two undefeated U.S. teams. Nevada, vers. Fairfield, Connecticut.
- [98:02]
Peter Schrager
South Dakota lost.
- [98:03]
Boston Connor
South Dakota lost. They got their pumped by. Oh, let me check. Fairfield, Connecticut.
- [98:07]
Peter Schrager
Is that right?
- [98:08]
Boston Connor
Who would have thought?
- [98:08]
Bruce
I worry.
- [98:09]
Boston Connor
Yeah, they better.
- [98:10]
Bruce
It doesn't matter. That Taipei team is.
- [98:12]
Boston Connor
Yeah, they have the home run kick. They do have the home run kick.
- [98:15]
Peter Schrager
Tell me about. Give me a scouting report on Taipei.
- [98:17]
Bruce
The first game that I watched, he stepped up, hit a home run run, and then was throwing 83. Little League, which I think was like 106 in the main.
- [98:25]
Ty Schmidt
It's like 115 MLB equivalent.
- [98:28]
Bruce
So good luck is what we're saying.
- [98:30]
Peter Schrager
I've never been to Williams Sport. Have you guys ever gone?
- [98:32]
Boston Connor
Never.
- [98:33]
Peter Schrager
Little League, World Series, anyone?
- [98:34]
Boston Connor
It's in like the middle of Connecticut. Like the no one cares part of Pennsylvania. Oh, oh, there you go. Yeah.
- [98:44]
Tone Diggs
Connecticut. Like that.
- [98:45]
Peter Schrager
The same.
- [98:45]
Boston Connor
She told you?
- [98:46]
Peter Schrager
Yep. It's all good, J. Mac, Good luck finishing up One more Patriots preseason game. And then you'll be on the road all season with cbs and you'll be doing stuff with espn, I believe, as well. So, J. Mac, thank you, bud.
- [99:00]
Jason McCourty
I'll be there, baby. I'll see you.
- [99:01]
Peter Schrager
All right, that's the man. Let's clap it up. Yeah.
- [99:03]
Boston Connor
Kill it, J. Mac.
- [99:09]
Andrew Hawkins
Hey, guys, it's Ceedee Lamb, wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys.
- [99:13]
Peter Schrager
I'm partnering with Abercrombie this season to tell you all about their viral denim.
- [99:17]
Jason McCourty
All you need to know is denim.
- [99:19]
Boston Connor
Should fit like this.
- [99:21]
Peter Schrager
My jeans need to check a lot.
- [99:22]
Andrew Hawkins
Of boxes fit first, trend second.
- [99:24]
Jason McCourty
They need to go with whatever I'm feeling. And Abercrombie Denim has it down whether.
- [99:30]
Boston Connor
I'm throwing on a tee or putting.
- [99:31]
Peter Schrager
A whole fit together.
- [99:33]
Jason McCourty
Shop Abercrombie Denim in the app, online and in store.
- [99:40]
Peter Schrager
This episode is brought to you by State Farm. Checking off the boxes on your to do list is a great feeling.
- [99:46]
Boston Connor
And when it comes to checking off.
- [99:48]
Peter Schrager
Cover coverage, a State Farm agent can.
- [99:50]
Damien Woody
Help you choose an option that's right for you.
- [99:52]
Andrew Hawkins
Whether you prefer talking in person on.
- [99:54]
Peter Schrager
The phone or using the award winning app, it's nice knowing you have help finding coverage that best fits your needs. Like a good neighbor. State Farm is there. It's called Taipei. What is the Chinese Taipei? I don't know if I'm like, what is it?
- [100:13]
Ty Schmidt
No Chinese Taipei.
- [100:14]
Bruce
Yeah.
- [100:14]
Ty Schmidt
We don't need to start.
- [100:15]
Peter Schrager
I don't want any problems. We already started with the AI robots. I don't need a world war here either. What's. Give me the latest. You guys watching it?
- [100:22]
Boston Connor
Oh, yeah.
- [100:22]
Ty Schmidt
Every day.
- [100:23]
Bruce
It's on every day after the show.
- [100:24]
Boston Connor
It's not every day after. So lose. Today is the winners brackets for the US Side. It is the semifinals. Winner goes to the United States championship.
- [100:33]
Peter Schrager
Okay.
- [100:34]
Boston Connor
Loser plays. Oh, I love Dr. Peppers. Loser gets Dr. Pepper because they're feeling like. And then they get Dr. Pepper. Feel better. And loser also plays in the championship game of the United States side. So this is the last two unbeaten United States today lose one game.
- [100:51]
Ty Schmidt
Double elimination. Yep.
- [100:52]
Boston Connor
Plays Joe Galudi's boys to get back into the United States.
- [100:55]
Peter Schrager
South Dakota's already South.
- [100:58]
Boston Connor
South Dakota, I believe.
- [100:59]
Ty Schmidt
They played Jaluti.
- [101:00]
Boston Connor
They played Jaluti. To go to the. The losers.
- [101:03]
Peter Schrager
Nevada.
- [101:04]
Ty Schmidt
No, Irmo. South Carolina.
- [101:05]
Peter Schrager
North Carolina.
- [101:06]
Ty Schmidt
Yep.
- [101:07]
Peter Schrager
Go.
- [101:07]
Boston Connor
So right now there are brackets. Yeah. Since there's two sides. There's three games left on the United States side.
- [101:13]
Peter Schrager
Okay.
- [101:13]
Boston Connor
And three games left on the international.
- [101:15]
Tone Diggs
Kid strikes a visual.
- [101:16]
Peter Schrager
I needed something. Jesus. What we doing back?
- [101:21]
Ty Schmidt
I think.
- [101:21]
Boston Connor
I think it ends either, like, Monday or Tuesday, really, of next week.
- [101:26]
Ty Schmidt
Oh, I was going to say, I would have just guessed that Sunday will be the championship. There he is.
- [101:29]
Boston Connor
There it is. Here we go.
- [101:31]
Ty Schmidt
There's Galuti.
- [101:32]
Peter Schrager
So is the pitcher. Yeah.
- [101:33]
Ty Schmidt
Through two games, he hadn't yielded a hit yet, so. And again, you know, you got 85 pitch counts, so these kids are getting pulled a little bit early. But, boy, if you see Jaluti on the bump, no sense in even bringing a bat to the plate.
- [101:46]
Boston Connor
Turn and run.
- [101:47]
Peter Schrager
A.J. hawk, you heard Jason McCourty talking about his kid in youth sports. Give me a good youth Sports story as A.J. hawk, the sports dad.
- [101:54]
Boston Connor
He's. He's a coat. He's the coach right now. You see the photo from. Yeah, okay, good.
- [101:58]
AJ Hawk
Yeah, I don't know. I've coached. I've coached girls basketball in the past for my daughter earlier on.
- [102:03]
Jason McCourty
That's.
- [102:04]
AJ Hawk
That's obviously its own thing. That was fun watching the girls come together. Like, I tell you what, if you want to coach some competitive people, coach some girls, fifth and sixth grade basketball, because if there was a girl on the other team, that was a punk, they were not scared. All 10 of them were ganging up and they were going to go at that girl the rest of the game. So I respect it. I loved how they had each other's back like that. But, yeah, I'm coaching a little tackle football out of the. A lot of the kids, it's their first year in tackle, but like, as McCourty was saying, if a kid gets trucked, if he gets run over, like, kids always talk, oh, you're getting trucked?
- [102:31]
Peter Schrager
Yeah, from.
- [102:32]
AJ Hawk
From playing Madden and stuff. And I'm like, when a kid gets run over, I get juiced and I go pick him up and bring him up off the ground. And then I yell at the rest of the kids that are acting like it's a big deal.
- [102:42]
Boston Connor
I'm like, why don't you.
- [102:42]
AJ Hawk
What are you talking about? At least he had no. I'm saying this guy's got the courage to get run over. I haven't seen you guys even put yourself in position to get run over. You try to, like, pump them up. Like, hey, I respect. I don't care if you get run over 50 times in a row. Like, at least you're gonna put your head in there and give it a chance. So. So I think it's. Football is a great sport, I should say, for that. It really helps you learn a lot about yourself.
- [103:01]
Peter Schrager
Absolutely.
- [103:01]
Boston Connor
Amen.
- [103:03]
Peter Schrager
All right, next thing I wanted to show before we we wrapped, we were talking in the pre show. There's already a mock draft out. Field Yates put out a mock. Oh yeah, this is gonna go horizontally and then down. So one to four as you see because you might be saying wait, Caleb Downs too. So field just through teams out there. Don't get caught up on where he projects your team. He's a nice guy. Field Yates is not going to have a crystal ball and tell you exactly where it's going to be. The more important thing is the players. So I like seeing this because it's 32 names for me to kind of watch this season if I'm an NFL fan. And you go across here, he's got Arch Manning as the number one overall pick and Lenora Sellers as the two club nick, the three. I'm looking for Nussmeier. Nussmeier. Nussmeier. 16 all the way down at 16 I was told Nussmeier is going to be the guy. Is this controversial that Nuss Meyer is all the way down there?
- [103:51]
Bruce
Well, so first off for Field, unlike this year, he has six quarterbacks here in the first 16 picks, five in the first 11 picks of next year's draft. It has been touted as one of the better quarterback drafts in years. Obviously last year was, people were saying was not one of the best quarterback drafts in recent years. But no, everything that I heard coming out of the Manning passing academy, yeah was that Arch Manning and Lenore Sellers were in a different category from the rest of everyone else. They said that Arch and the Norris, the way the ball comes off their hand, the way how big they are, the way they carry themselves, they were in a different tier. And then it was that the Garrett Nessmeyer, Kate Clubnik tier. I didn't hear much about Sam Levitt. He, I mean he popped onto the scene last year at Arizona State.
- [104:40]
Boston Connor
He was a transfer, great mox transfer.
- [104:42]
Bruce
From Michigan State, but people are on high in them. And then Drew Aller, I believe didn't go to the Manning passing academy. So I didn't hear a ton about him. But obviously we know him go. He's a big, with a huge arm, he's athletic.
- [104:54]
Tone Diggs
So I know most we watch, we watch him last year.
- [104:56]
Bruce
From what I'm hearing, most of this, most of this kind of checks out. As far as the quarterback.
- [105:01]
Peter Schrager
Can I ask? This is dumb. I, I'm just looking at where's the Florida quarterback. I love that he not come out yet.
- [105:05]
Boston Connor
He's not eligible.
- [105:08]
Tone Diggs
And what about.
- [105:08]
Peter Schrager
What's his name? Ladway. I love that kid.
- [105:11]
Ty Schmidt
Yeah, yeah, he's a ball.
- [105:12]
Boston Connor
What you say?
- [105:13]
Tone Diggs
He's a monster. I know. Arch's grandpa basically says, no way in hell he's coming out and entering the draft. I think Arch came out, said, I don't know where he got that from. So where are we right now with Archie? Is he going back? Is he standing? Feels just said effort. I'm gonna put him on my.
- [105:28]
Bruce
A lot of, A lot of us felt the way that Archie did his. His granddaddy about Arch, that Arch would be there for two years just because that's the Manning way. Peyton stayed till his senior year, Eli stayed till his senior year. So we figured, you know, Arch would do the same. Now Arch said, you know, that's not exactly the case. He's just taking things one day at a time. And a lot of people are suggesting, just reading the tea leaves that maybe that's based on who has the number one.
- [105:52]
Ty Schmidt
I was gonna say could be he may have seen Fields mock draft and said, yeah, my, my grandson ain't going to play Cleveland. Okay. We wouldn't let Eli go to San Diego. I'm sure he was Jets. Yeah, exactly. So that, that could be, you know, something to talk about.
- [106:07]
Peter Schrager
Is this unanimous? I like Arch Manning. I mean, because I was on with get up and again, I come in as an NFL guy and we had Heather Dich who is great, and Paul Feinbaum who is great, and Jordan Rogers. And Jordan Rogers, who I respect because he does it SEC network and watches it all, was like, Arch might be the fifth best quarterback.
- [106:23]
Bruce
Yeah, that's crazy.
- [106:24]
Peter Schrager
But yeah, I've seen him number one overall. Is that just based on speculation or.
- [106:28]
Bruce
No, I think Field maybe just has. Has a better read of the situation. Yeah, I do.
- [106:33]
Peter Schrager
There's difference between college quarterback and an NFL.
- [106:36]
Bruce
Yeah, there is for sure. 100%. But. But no, like everything that I was like, Arch and Lenore are the guys right now. But I saw another, he works for ESPN too. Matt Miller, NFL draft scout or whatever. He had Cade Klubnick going one overall. So, like right as of right now, before the season starts, there's a lot of quarterbacks who have the potential to go.
- [106:55]
Peter Schrager
So if you're a Browns fan and you're hearing this, there's six quarterbacks in the top 12. Are you really getting so worked up about Shador Sanders? Because, gosh, we have the Jacksonville first round pick and we have the Cleveland first round pick. We're going to root for our team. But even if we packaged them and move up a couple, like there might be the next guy and we'd have to wait 10 months, you know, seven months.
- [107:14]
Boston Connor
Yeah, that would suck more. Interesting what you said about fine Bomb. Don't think that's the case.
- [107:19]
Peter Schrager
But he loves, he loves Arch, right?
- [107:20]
Boston Connor
Oh, I have no idea. I was just talking about what you said about him. But Arch though.
- [107:25]
Peter Schrager
Got it.
- [107:26]
Boston Connor
The thing Arch might be thinking about and granted it really doesn't matter in his situation but like next year with all the lagway hype, you know, not. Sorry the 2027 draft like he is like his grandfather is claiming with all the lagway hype, like that might be another thing too where Arch is looking at, you know, his situation. Maybe it is a, a good first overall pick this year and he's like, well, why would I take my chances? Like I might as well just come out this year. Like, you know, I don't know, just a team that would pop in my head that has like a good team around them that maybe everyone thinks going to be good and they kind of fall off. Like what if Seattle has a really bad year and then all of a sudden the Seahawks are the one.
- [108:06]
Bruce
What if Stafford's back flares up, they have a bad.
- [108:09]
Boston Connor
Well then they get Anthony Richard and Gollum and sexual.
- [108:11]
Peter Schrager
I don't.
- [108:11]
Tone Diggs
I know, I know. We're talk. I don't think, I don't think Arch think about any of that. No, you know, he, he, he is.
- [108:17]
Peter Schrager
He.
- [108:18]
Tone Diggs
The keys are handed to him. He has all the expectations in the world and with the people around him, his family, I'm sure they're to, hey, it's one play at a time. It's one game at a time. Who cares about the expectations? And you asked was it unanimous earlier. I'm sure it. It's not. It's especially with like the football guys because a lot of, like a lot of us, we gotta, we gotta see it. We've had phenoms, we've had, you know, highly rated players and with all the things that are around him, you would definitely bet on him. You're def. Most people are bullish on him, but you still got to see it on the big time level in the SEC playoff. How does he perform? All these different things, all the other things on the outside that come with being a franchise quarterback, even with his name. So I'm sure it's not unanimous, but if you're a betting man, he's what, the Heisman favorite going into the Season without, you know, first year as a starter. So the expectations are there, but a lot of people, you know, you got to see it and believe it.
- [109:08]
Boston Connor
Well, to your point too, the last two guys who were just like the. Yep. Number one pick no matter what. Caleb Williams and Bryce Young. And it was CJ Stroud and Jayden Daniels right behind him.
- [109:17]
Peter Schrager
Yeah.
- [109:17]
Boston Connor
So like even if it is right now, everyone. Yep. Arch Manning for sure. Typically, at least the last five years, the. The. For sure number one pick has been the one that has taken much longer versus the. The. You know, the number twos that come in that maybe aren't the unanimous. You know, C.J. stroud's thing was that he did bad on that fake test. Yeah.
- [109:37]
Ty Schmidt
Or the S2 or whatever.
- [109:38]
Boston Connor
James Daniels thing was his age in his elbow and all that stuff. So.
- [109:43]
Peter Schrager
And it's. And his weight.
- [109:44]
Boston Connor
And his weight.
- [109:45]
Tone Diggs
Yeah.
- [109:47]
Peter Schrager
You got. First week of the season is Ohio State, Texas. Such a matchup, but also Clemson, lsu. So like two monster games.
- [109:55]
Boston Connor
Bama.
- [109:55]
Peter Schrager
Bama plays who Florida State, Miami, Notre.
- [109:59]
Bruce
Dame is a top 10 as well.
- [110:00]
Peter Schrager
Miami, Notre Dame. I'm curious about UNC TCU. Like, this is a really good week. Where do we. Did they announce where game day is going to be yet?
- [110:06]
Boston Connor
So it is. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
- [110:09]
Peter Schrager
I don't want to embargo anything.
- [110:11]
Bruce
Yeah.
- [110:11]
Ty Schmidt
Ohio State. Yeah.
- [110:13]
Peter Schrager
So that game's on Fox, but the Texas. Okay. So I like that when game days where the Fox game is, that leads to some good stuff back and forth with their pregame. Right. A little bit.
- [110:22]
Ty Schmidt
You can say that.
- [110:23]
Peter Schrager
They got Portnoy, we got McAfee. Let's go. Okay. Everyone got quiet out here. Looking at these matchups. Is there. You know, lsu, Clemson. Is this one of those deals if Brian Kelly loses again in the first week of the season, is everyone just calling for his head?
- [110:38]
Bruce
Yes, I. I believe so. Probably because that's four years in a row that they would lose week one, which is insane.
- [110:46]
Boston Connor
Tough seat.
- [110:46]
Peter Schrager
It would.
- [110:47]
Bruce
It would be. I know things. He's not exactly on the hot seat, but it's. That would warm it up pretty quickly, I think.
- [110:52]
Peter Schrager
Yeah.
- [110:53]
Boston Connor
Yeah. How. How much does that recruit? That they got help? Because I. I saw a clip of a 65 guy playing cornerback for LSU and he's the tallest corner in the history of the. Of football. Is this correct?
- [111:05]
Peter Schrager
That.
- [111:05]
Bruce
And they also got N's little brother just committed there. So he's. I mean he's doing good recruiting, everything like that. But unless he wins on the field, it. That doesn't Matter at all.
- [111:14]
Peter Schrager
Yeah. Notre Dame, Miami. Last year Cam Ward was a superstar, you know, breakaway star and Miami was back in relevant. What's the view on them to start the season tonight?
- [111:23]
Boston Connor
Aren't they the early favorites to fall off a cliff and crash and burn.
- [111:29]
Tone Diggs
Cc, we got a nice sketch.
- [111:31]
Bruce
There's a potential chance. I mean last year at this time I bet you in Fields mock draft Carson Beck was probably somewhere in the first round. Obviously the season didn't go like it wanted. He had some turnover issues.
- [111:42]
Peter Schrager
What's his vibe right now? I don't see his name anywhere. This guy was.
- [111:45]
Boston Connor
It's a good thing.
- [111:46]
Bruce
Good thing. Well, he's coming off of the UCL surgery that he, that happened in the SEC championship.
- [111:52]
Peter Schrager
He broke up with that girl?
- [111:53]
Bruce
Yep. Yep.
- [111:54]
Boston Connor
Then they got back together.
- [111:55]
Ty Schmidt
She broke up with him.
- [111:56]
Bruce
Oh, are they back? I, I'm not aware. I know they broke up. I'm not aware if they're back together or not. But you know, it's, it's just all for Carson back now down in Miami.
- [112:05]
Peter Schrager
I doubt I mean is anyone going.
- [112:06]
Bruce
To go to that game or is a Miami Hurricanes fan that's going to show up?
- [112:09]
Tone Diggs
Of course.
- [112:10]
Boston Connor
Yeah. They're going to have at least from the 35 to the 35.
- [112:13]
Tone Diggs
Should be better on decent buck was that guy.
- [112:15]
Peter Schrager
He was the number one guy. Like we're hardly even talking.
- [112:18]
Tone Diggs
That's good. I'm sure these guys, they don't love. Well, some of these guys maybe do, but I like when you kind of fly under the radar.
- [112:25]
Peter Schrager
See that schedule again. Next Saturday is a monster day.
- [112:28]
Boston Connor
Oh, monster.
- [112:30]
Bruce
And then the Notre Dame Miami is Sunday night and TCU North Carolina is.
- [112:33]
Boston Connor
Monday night, which is, which is honestly better because they're standalone. Like I, I, I love when there's.
- [112:38]
Peter Schrager
The, you're a Boston guy, you're a Patriots man. You're rooting for Bill to succeed or you kind of want to see the shot and fraud. I've seen him fall on his face here.
- [112:44]
Boston Connor
No, I, I absolutely want him to succeed and I do think that he will whether it's this year in three years. But I do think they're going to be very good. And I'm assuming the quarterback they got from South Alabama is going to be so good at football and they're going to find a way to win games for sure.
- [113:02]
Peter Schrager
What about you guys?
- [113:04]
Tone Diggs
I'm root.
- [113:06]
Peter Schrager
You know, there is a, there is a contingent that's like I would like to see this be complete mess.
- [113:10]
Bruce
Crash and bur obviously our, our, our Good Pisan friend Michael Lombardi. Being the GM there helps our rooting interests. It is a tough. It's a tough matchup week one because tcu, they got a lot of returning guys on that offense, and they score a ton of points. So we'll see how Bill and that defense is and hit him and his boy are dialing it up for week.
- [113:26]
Peter Schrager
One before we wrap. AJ I think you're. This is important. We were talking pre show. I was not familiar with Justin Herbert and his game, and I was not familiar Madison Beard. You know who that is? Yeah. What's going on?
- [113:41]
AJ Hawk
No, but I did see he's pictured what he play. He said he's playing chess with her now. What is her.
- [113:45]
Peter Schrager
Sounds like they're not together. They are together now. I would never usually, you know, dance in these waters because typically I'm in just all ball. But after Josh Allen got married to Haley Steinfeld and Travis Kelsey is with Taylor Swift.
- [113:57]
Boston Connor
Stefan Diggs is with Cardi B. Stepan.
- [114:00]
Peter Schrager
I think it's fair to say. Okay, it was. But I said this. I'm embarrassed. I wasn't familiar with Madison Beer. I didn't know who that was. And then I have a crew here that did. Who would. Who would like to explain who Madison Beer is?
- [114:14]
Boston Connor
I can do it without Bruce and his profanity because of how disgusting he was earlier. But Madison Beer is a musician. Artist. I guess she is from the Olivia Rodrigo type era. Artists of that ilk, if you will. Singer, songwriter, and allegedly the song Driver's License by Olivia Rodrigo, Very popular tune for the gen Zers. I. I believe. I believe that is about Madison Beer. So she is.
- [114:42]
Peter Schrager
In a good way or bad way?
- [114:43]
Boston Connor
In. In a bad way. Driver's license. A bit of beef, if you will. Yeah, yeah, exactly.
- [114:49]
Peter Schrager
Confirmed.
- [114:50]
Boston Connor
Not confirmed, but also not denied. So I. I believe we can't just completely rule it out.
- [114:55]
Ty Schmidt
I. I did read on her Wikipedia, she blew up because in I want to say, circa 2014, 15, Justin Bieber posted a link from one, like, to one of her YouTube songs, and then she exploded after that.
- [115:09]
Peter Schrager
Yeah, she's a Long island girl. I like that.
- [115:11]
Bruce
We just want Herbert to be happy.
- [115:12]
Peter Schrager
I just want her to be happy.
- [115:13]
AJ Hawk
A chess tournament, too.
- [115:14]
Boston Connor
Everyone to be in. Just Grandmaster Justin Herbert. Take her life.
- [115:18]
Tone Diggs
We got a chess tournament here.
- [115:19]
Peter Schrager
Chess tournament. We love it. Awesome show. Thanks for having me, everybody. This was fun. We're gonna be wrapping up now, and I will tell you this. This was an ultimate honor and a dream. Thank you, guys.
- [115:28]
Tone Diggs
Knocked it out.
- [115:29]
AJ Hawk
Thank you shakes.
- [115:30]
Peter Schrager
And now we go to YouTube.
- [115:31]
Boston Connor
Hell, yeah.
- [115:32]
Ty Schmidt
Nailed it. Well done, Shrek.
- [115:34]
Peter Schrager
Well done.
- [115:34]
Boston Connor
I've got more Multiple texts that you're the best. Holy.
- [115:38]
Ty Schmidt
This Trager guy's good.
- [115:39]
Boston Connor
Don't have Hawker back. He's not just good. Just keep trades.
- [115:43]
Peter Schrager
AJ is the man. AJ texted me. He's like, I'm gonna be with you tomorrow. I'm like, hell, yeah, you are. I can't do this without you. So, aj, I appreciate that.
- [115:50]
AJ Hawk
Shregs. I love your juice Drags. I was watching the open. It was beautiful. You were, like, running in place. You almost jumped through the ceiling.
- [115:55]
Boston Connor
Yeah, it was so great.
- [115:56]
Peter Schrager
Well, it's like, I want to bring the energy. I want to equal what you brought yesterday and what rap she brought Monday. And then I want to do the brand service, so I maybe go overboard. I got a text from one of our executives saying that they thought you might have to, like, hold me down because I was a little bit too excited, but.
- [116:12]
Boston Connor
Yeah, but that's. That's what you want. Just like. Just like, I forgot what coach it was or. Yeah, it was car. You're right. You know, you want. You want to, you know, toe the line. Yeah.
- [116:22]
Ty Schmidt
You.
- [116:23]
Boston Connor
You want to be yanking those dogs back.
- [116:24]
Bruce
We don't pushing you forward. Who said that?
- [116:26]
Peter Schrager
Which coach?
- [116:30]
AJ Hawk
Not go. Yeah, I'm going to say, whoa, not go.
- [116:32]
Bruce
A lot of these coaches have a saying for that.
- [116:35]
Boston Connor
Whoa, not go.
- [116:36]
Tone Diggs
That's a good one, too.
- [116:37]
Bruce
Yes, it is.
- [116:37]
Peter Schrager
It is.
- [116:38]
AJ Hawk
It is true.
- [116:39]
Peter Schrager
I like the woe.
- [116:40]
Bruce
Not go.
- [116:40]
Peter Schrager
That's it. The. The. The beauty of this show, though, is, like, I've done a lot of other shows, and it's. To those shows, Good Morning Football or Fox Kickoff or even get up. Whatever. It's like, here's the rundown. We're go. You guys basically were like, what do you want to talk about today? And we did. And for two hours, you're talking with your boys. It's like, that's a dream. So this is unbelievable. And you guys are awesome. So the questions we asked are great. Our guests were really good. This is really awesome.
- [117:04]
Bruce
The conversations end on their own volition.
- [117:06]
Peter Schrager
Is that right? Is that. How was that? Is that the term?
- [117:09]
Bruce
Is that the Seinfeld line?
- [117:10]
Damien Woody
Nick, he wasn't.
- [117:12]
Bruce
He wasn't listening.
- [117:13]
Peter Schrager
He wasn't listening.
- [117:14]
Boston Connor
I. I heard you.
- [117:14]
Peter Schrager
I'm just not sure.
- [117:15]
Boston Connor
Tony, it's very, very line. If you cut.
- [117:19]
Peter Schrager
No, it's not. No, it's not. What's the line?
- [117:23]
Tone Diggs
How have you been enjoying the host? And though You've been hosting a bunch of shows on the network.
- [117:27]
Peter Schrager
The suit and tie is different for me. Yeah. I never did.
- [117:30]
Boston Connor
Sure.
- [117:30]
Peter Schrager
Oh, yeah.
- [117:31]
Bruce
But is that mandatory?
- [117:32]
Boston Connor
Yeah.
- [117:33]
Bruce
At the New York show.
- [117:35]
Peter Schrager
No, you know, it's not mandatory because I don't think. Get up. I don't think Greeny wears one, but I don't like not wearing one if I'm gonna wear the full other thing. Yeah. I'm showing chest hair, so I wear one. And then the first day I came in, the first take, like, one of the producers was like, oh, no tie. And I'm like, yeah, no tie, pal. You.
- [117:56]
Boston Connor
Yeah, yeah.
- [117:57]
Peter Schrager
Men's warehouse. Or like, Jose Bank. And I got the. The tie on. I'm like, am I good? Like, yeah. So it's been great. You should have wore.
- [118:05]
Bruce
You should wore a full suit today.
- [118:07]
Peter Schrager
I was thinking about.
- [118:07]
Ty Schmidt
I thought you were going to.
- [118:08]
Peter Schrager
I was thinking black tank top. That would have been.
- [118:14]
Boston Connor
Yo. If I. Yeah.
- [118:15]
Peter Schrager
If I saw you viewers at home, like, what you see is what you get. These guys, all our best friends, like, you come in, and it's just a hang session. That's. That's what I would want to watch. Yeah. What do we.
- [118:25]
Bruce
You know, what's good pertinent in the football world today? That needs to be discussed.
- [118:29]
Peter Schrager
And we did it, and we do it, and it's fine. AJ we didn't get your thoughts on the Micah thing yesterday. You spoke about it, obviously. But a day later, shefter saying, you know, that it's a divorce on the way, whether it's immediate or it's next year, just your big takeaway.
- [118:45]
AJ Hawk
I. I think it. It has to get done. I know when Chef says this. Yeah. It makes me think, all right, this is much worse than I thought. But I don't know. Like, I. Triggs, have you. Did you. I don't think you talked about it. Like, has Jerry ever drafted a guy and then let him not get to a second contract? Especially when the dude is a franchise player and one of the best players in the NFL. Like, does that happen?
- [119:03]
Peter Schrager
No. But it seems like this guy, for whatever reason, Jerry has no affection for. He doesn't seem to feel the same way he does about his homegrown guys. He loved. Jerry loved DeMarcus Lawrence. Jerry loved, you know, Travis Frederick. Jerry loves. If he drafts you, like, Jerry loves you. And I see no love for Micah Parsons in any of this.
- [119:24]
Boston Connor
I mean, DeMarcus Ware.
- [119:25]
Peter Schrager
Yeah.
- [119:26]
Boston Connor
DeMarcus. That made me think of it. Did he. Was that a free agent thing?
- [119:29]
Tone Diggs
I feel like that was kind of.
- [119:30]
Peter Schrager
That was.
- [119:31]
Ty Schmidt
End of his.
- [119:34]
Peter Schrager
Cut. Yeah, he might have been cut.
- [119:35]
Boston Connor
I. For. Yeah, that's what I mean. Like, I know it was a long time.
- [119:37]
Damien Woody
He was still great in Denver, but.
- [119:39]
Boston Connor
Yeah, he. He was still.
- [119:41]
Bruce
Yeah, he was drafted there. Was there from 05 to 13.
- [119:44]
Tone Diggs
Yeah. So he had him and then played.
- [119:45]
Bruce
Three more seasons with the Broncos.
- [119:46]
AJ Hawk
But straight he can't play this year. Like Shefty said, oh my. I don't know when it could happen after this. So you're telling me he's gonna come back and play this season?
- [119:53]
Boston Connor
Like, that's what I don't. Yeah. And then they're gonna. And then they're just gonna be like, okay, like, not now. Now we're gonna tag you.
- [119:59]
Peter Schrager
If he doesn't. Doesn't get the money this year, it's his choice to not play. And then he's getting fined crazy amounts of money every week he misses. I think of Chris Jones in that week one game when he was with the Chats. They're playing the Lions. He's with the Cats brothers up there just watching and like they're like, all right, so we'll get it done. But like, is that what happens with Micah if it's not done or is he not gonna show his face at all? I don't know.
- [120:21]
Ty Schmidt
I just.
- [120:21]
Bruce
I saw him at practice yesterday.
- [120:22]
Peter Schrager
Like he's there.
- [120:23]
Bruce
He has to be.
- [120:23]
Peter Schrager
Yeah, because he gets fined if he's not. So he's a whole holding in. But it's so awkward.
- [120:26]
Boston Connor
Why wouldn't.
- [120:27]
Ty Schmidt
Why wouldn't you trade him right now? Like, let's just say he. He plays this year and he doesn't have as good of a year as he has had and he has seven sacks or something like that. And he gets banged up a little bit. Like, his trade value then is way less than it is right now. Everyone who would. Would trade for him right now. Like, you are getting the Khalil Mack package. Teams will trade three first round picks and maybe like a defensive starter and. And maybe another pick. Like you run the risk of if he doesn't have another all world season, then like, and you're not going to resign him. You don't envision that. You don't plan that anyway. Then you're just cutting what you could get from him in half completely. Almost.
- [121:03]
Peter Schrager
Yeah. I think his market value right now is as high as it's going to be because if he doesn't play this year, it's only going to go down and then the Cowboys don't have any leverage. What's the fair compensation though? Like, so Mack was. What do we have that it was like. It was first round picks. It was.
- [121:17]
Boston Connor
Yeah.
- [121:18]
Bruce
And they. It was two.
- [121:19]
Boston Connor
First in the other team and then like a third, a fifth, and then the other. I think the, the Raiders got like a second pick.
- [121:26]
Peter Schrager
Okay.
- [121:26]
Tone Diggs
I feel like. Yeah, the market has kind of changed a lot though since. Because remember, Jamal Adams went for like two first round picks too. So, I mean, but Micah is of that ilk, as we like to say, where he will demand at least a couple first round pick and maybe like two seconds. I can see him.
- [121:44]
Peter Schrager
Maybe that doesn't help the Cowboys now though. Right?
- [121:46]
Tone Diggs
So Cowboys still got.
- [121:47]
Boston Connor
There it is. There's the truth.
- [121:48]
Ty Schmidt
And I don't know if it's accurate. Ricky the Dog didn't tweet it, but someone did tweet that the packers offered two first round picks and a second round pick for Micah. And, and they said no, as a Packers fan.
- [122:00]
Peter Schrager
Well, first of all, Jerry's not saying he's looking to trade him Jerry. That's all Micah saying, I want to trade it.
- [122:05]
Ty Schmidt
Right.
- [122:05]
Peter Schrager
Like, Jerry's like, I don't care as a Packers fan. What's that do? Like, hell yeah, I like it.
- [122:12]
Ty Schmidt
I, I would, I would say if the packers today offered two first round picks, a second round pick and like Quay Walker, you know, because the, the Cowboys need a linebacker, I would say.
- [122:21]
Bruce
And we need to keep A.J.
- [122:23]
Ty Schmidt
Yeah, do that right now. Do that right now. Because Rashawn Gary is good. They paid him like a premier guy, but he doesn't get the type of production Micah does. A lot of people have been saying, like Lucas Van Ness, who was, you know, I think the 11th or like the 13th overall.
- [122:39]
Tone Diggs
Unleash him, man.
- [122:40]
Ty Schmidt
Unleash the beast. I've been saying that for a long time. Like he. And a lot of people have saying he's been unbelievable in the preseason so far, but we still haven't seen him. Yeah, exactly. Like they need guys to get home and get to the quarterback, especially if their secondary isn't going to be quite as good this year. So like, yeah, this guy is a top three to five defensive player in the NFL. If, if it's, if it's an option, get rid of those two picks because you're, you're imagining those picks are going to be in the late 20s anyway.
- [123:08]
Peter Schrager
That's the thing. That's a key part. So like, let's play roll roles here. All right, so you're Jerry. All right. You're you're Brandon Bean, man. But all right, great role.
- [123:18]
Boston Connor
I'm so.
- [123:19]
Ty Schmidt
I know.
- [123:20]
Boston Connor
Sorry, you guys. I know we all want to be Jerry, but they're going to be one.
- [123:23]
Peter Schrager
Two first round picks and Ed Oliver.
- [123:26]
Boston Connor
Get the fuck out.
- [123:29]
Peter Schrager
Two Bills.
- [123:30]
Boston Connor
Seen it too.
- [123:31]
Peter Schrager
Two Bills, first round picks. So you're.
- [123:34]
Boston Connor
You're looking at my point. None of those, none of those teams can like, unless they're in at OL is a great player, but like, they just gave A D tackle $90 million.
- [123:43]
Peter Schrager
Yeah.
- [123:44]
Boston Connor
So, like, why would they, you know? And the Bills are like, you were just about to say they're the last five picks of the first round. Like, those teams just don't make any sense. What I mean, unless it is, you.
- [123:56]
Peter Schrager
Know, three team that's going to pay him huge money once he comes. So he'll get it. So it's like. And there. And if I'm Micah, I'm kicking and screaming, do not send me to a nothing team.
- [124:06]
Boston Connor
Like, that's what sucks.
- [124:08]
Tone Diggs
He has no leverage, though, as far as where he gets.
- [124:11]
Bruce
Here's. Here's the thing also, I was looking at this yesterday because it's his rookie contract, I believe. Like, he's only. He hasn't made like a ton of money, which is to the point why. Yeah, relative. Which is why he is at practice. But like, so what, he's made 3, 6, 10, 16, $17 million. Like, yes, that's a lot of money. But relative to the NFL, like, he's supposed to make 25 million this year.
- [124:38]
Peter Schrager
Oh, this guy should make 40.
- [124:40]
Bruce
No, no, I know what he should make, but due to 25, he's gonna make more this year than he did his previous four years combined. Yes, like by $8 million. Like, is that a reason not play? Yeah, like he's. Or he's. Hey, this is like 25 million.
- [124:54]
Peter Schrager
I'd love 20.
- [124:55]
Bruce
Yes, you are gonna. Listen. Mike is gonna get 100, whatever million guarantee eventually from someone. But yes, 25 million.
- [125:01]
AJ Hawk
They gotta get it done.
- [125:02]
Peter Schrager
Still have to get money.
- [125:04]
Tone Diggs
So. AJ Week one, Michael Parson's a cowboy.
- [125:08]
AJ Hawk
I don't know if he's playing or not. Week three, I think by then, yeah, he's in there because let's say the first couple weeks he doesn't play and they don't really get any pass rush. You don't think Jer's gonna run to the. Run to the dotted line and sign him up?
- [125:19]
Ty Schmidt
Sign this right now.
- [125:22]
Peter Schrager
We didn't talk about McLaurin today because I'm kind of tired of it hasn't really done anything. Hasn't. Hasn't changed. No.
- [125:26]
Boston Connor
Really, they're gonna reset.
- [125:27]
Tone Diggs
Stalemate.
- [125:29]
Peter Schrager
Stalemate is what it is. He wants a certain number. Commanders see it a different way. I would think those did you see.
- [125:35]
Bruce
There was a video floating around the Internet where there. People were lip reading. It was him and Adam Peters talking. And it looked like.
- [125:42]
Peter Schrager
It looked.
- [125:43]
Bruce
Looked like I. Terry. It could have been AI, but it was from far away or whatever. But it looked like Terry say, I can't do less than 66. Which kind of makes sense because all the talk has been he's been looking for 33. So I'm assuming the 66 over two years was guaranteed. But then the.
- [125:58]
Peter Schrager
The.
- [125:58]
Bruce
Everything else we're hearing is that the commanders are probably not gonna. They're not gonna go there.
- [126:03]
Peter Schrager
He's a wide receiver. One in the NFL.
- [126:04]
Bruce
Yes.
- [126:05]
Peter Schrager
The going rate is either going to be 20 to 30, 35 or 40. Like, to me figure it out.
- [126:11]
Bruce
Yes.
- [126:11]
Peter Schrager
But I do see the side just in a vacuum, not thinking about, hey, we came so close last year. We brought like, Terry McLaurin to me. And I. You guys crushed me when I said it two months ago. Like, I don't see him in that. Jamar Chase, Justin Jefferson ascending. I said, Malik, neighbors, and you guys lost your minds. Yeah, Malik has looked that way because Malik had 108 catches in his second year player.
- [126:31]
Tone Diggs
Like, Malik's a dope.
- [126:33]
Peter Schrager
McLaren's 30. It's hard to. And I know what Pittsburgh's paid for dk, but I would also look at DK as a different body type and maybe a different type of receiver for what they're doing. But to me, it's not about what he's worth in the matter of principle. To me, it's like, we're all in. Like, we're. We're here. We just got Tunzel and Debo. This is the year we need Terry McLaurin pay.
- [126:55]
Bruce
You need to watch.
- [126:56]
Boston Connor
He's also never played with another legitimate guy in. Debo could be not. Not even including Jaden. Yeah, Like, Debo is finally there. Like, he finally has someone on the other side of the field to him. That can take a little bit of pressure off.
- [127:10]
Peter Schrager
I hate this is saying to sound negative term. Like, you're up at night thinking about Jamar Chase the night before a game. You're up at night thinking, Jamar Chase is different.
- [127:18]
Tone Diggs
Jamar Chase, Justin Jefferson, you're thinking about those. Those guys are.
- [127:21]
Peter Schrager
Are you losing sleep over Terry McLaren.
- [127:23]
Tone Diggs
As a defensive one on one. Yeah, he's a game wrecker. He's still a game wrecker. Now Chase Jefferson, those guys are, you know, kind of on a, they're on like an all time great trajectory. But if you look around the NFL week to week, like as a corner, as a defensive back, okay, we got T. Mac, you know, week four, we got like, he's, he's definitely a guy that you're circling, that you're game planning for. 17. Okay, where is he on third down? Where is he in two minute? Where is he in a red area. And he can impact the game and in different, you know, different ways. DK Metcalf is also a guy that you have to game plan for and you got to be aware of because any point in the game, number four now can, you know, take the top off a defense and be explosive. Now the big thing about it is 17 McLaurin, he's there every week. That's a big deal too. You know, you look back on healthy, yeah, you look back on like the great Jamar Chase, he's pretty much there every week. Like these guys who are there every week. Not like, okay, he has a great four to six week stretch and he's going to be out for a couple weeks with a hammy or a calf or something like that. Up until this point, that hasn't been the case with Terry McLaurin. And for Jaden, man, like you're a second year, you want to build that rapport with Terry. And then for Terry, this is the first time I believe he's returning with the same starting quarterback. So as a big time receiver and as a big time ascending quarterback, you want those things in position. You don't want to be trying to figure shit out in week two that you could have figured out, you know, two weeks before the season started. So Adam Peters, they got to figure it out. I understand both sides doing why they're kind of out of stalemate, though.
- [128:51]
Ty Schmidt
And you would think that no matter what it's like, hey, the, the only goal here is we have to make sure that Jaden Daniels, his trajectory is going to continue to rise like this because like, Debo obviously is a nice piece. We've seen what he can do. He's great. But that's not nearly as attractive if Terry McLaurin's not on the field. No, it's like if Terry McLaurin is on the field, it's like, oh, look what we can do with, with Debo now. Like you just, why, why would you run the risk of Jaden Daniels had an all time great rookie year, and now we're talking about the commanders, like, hey, could this team.
- [129:24]
Peter Schrager
You have the money to spend.
- [129:25]
Ty Schmidt
Exactly. And you have this ownership that since they've come in, have basically said, like, hey, we're going to spare no expenses. You need new practice fields. Let's do it. You need new everything. You know, like, like, we're gonna, we're gonna do it. Yeah, exactly. Tunsil, like, you're doing all this stuff and then it kind of goes back to, you know, like how we've talked in the past. It's like, does that send the right message too? Where it's like, this guy has done everything you've asked for, and he has been the consummate teammate, consummate professional, and you're just gonna. And you're gonna squabble over a couple million dollars and potentially ruin that relationship. Like, it just feels like they're. They're so hot right now, and this could really be like a ticking time bomb that ruins everything.
- [130:03]
Peter Schrager
The commander's fans, who are very vocal, the sentiment went from pay him, pay him. What are we doing? What are we doing? To now it feels like they're almost like, okay, well, if those numbers are what he's really asking for, back to the team being the team, like, now we're pro team, because, well, wait, no, he shouldn't make that. He should make this. He should make 31. He should make 30, not 35. At the end of the day, though, all that, it's great. Like, it's. It's millions and millions and millions of dollars. But to me, it's, at this point, Adam Peters, the gm, doesn't want to just give in after now digging his heels in. And Terry McLaurin and his agent, I believe, Buddy, Buddy Baker, indie guy, they've dug in their heels. So there has to be a compromise, and I assume there will. But, like, you're right. Whereas you might say Micah does a podcast, and Jerry doesn't love that. And maybe Micah is not this or that and that. And I, I think Micah's pretty clean off the field. You look at Terry McLaurin, he's everything you want. And if you don't pay that guy, what does that tell the rest of the locker?
- [131:03]
Ty Schmidt
Yeah, yeah, exactly. So, I mean, but he got paid two years ago. Yeah.
- [131:07]
Peter Schrager
Hey, times have changed.
- [131:08]
Boston Connor
Exactly. Yeah. That also wasn't from them.
- [131:11]
Ty Schmidt
That's how it works.
- [131:12]
Boston Connor
They weren't there two years ago.
- [131:14]
Peter Schrager
Yeah.
- [131:14]
Boston Connor
So if anything, you know, hey, you guys are new. I'm I'm the elder state statesman. Like, you need to pay me, you know, I need to get what I get. Because I'm sure he also sees on the horizon, like, oh, well, if I'm out there this year and Jaden does better, that means Deebo does better. Does that mean there's less money for me if, you know, they have to pay Deebo because Debo's on a one year deal now. He got the whole Stefon Diggs rework that Stefon Diggs did when he went to Houston. So, like, it's not as if Deebo isn't going to be looking for a bag after this year.
- [131:45]
Peter Schrager
He's going to be motivated, too.
- [131:46]
Tone Diggs
Yeah. And for Terry, you would have to think like, this is the last big payday.
- [131:50]
Boston Connor
Yeah, probably.
- [131:51]
Tone Diggs
So you got. You got to dig your heels in. And then for Adam Peters in the front office, this is their first, you know, real adversity, you know, as far as when it comes to a big time player. And okay, now how do they handle hold ins or hold outs or whatever contract?
- [132:05]
Peter Schrager
I don't think they can trade them. Like, like, if New England comes in, says, we're giving you a first round pick, it's something else for Terry McLaurin. I don't know how Adam Peters can look to the fans of the Commanders being like, we got this close last year with this group and we're going to trade them for a pick. I don't see it. I feel like. I feel like they have. You can't. McLaren's that guy. You got to keep them.
- [132:28]
Boston Connor
I agree.
- [132:29]
AJ Hawk
Guys like you, though, comments they can leak through the media. Hey, this guy was asking for $50 million a year. Of course we have to trade him. Like, that's what they can kind of try to craft the narrative that, hey, he was asking for way too much.
- [132:39]
Peter Schrager
And that's already begun.
- [132:41]
Tone Diggs
Yeah. Oh, always.
- [132:42]
AJ Hawk
That's how it goes.
- [132:43]
Boston Connor
Terry feels like the only one that, hey, they're gonna get it done because of everything that we're talking about. Like, the other two seem.
- [132:50]
Peter Schrager
Micah and Trey.
- [132:51]
Boston Connor
Yeah, Micah and Trey seem to be actual. Hey, who knows? For Adam Peters, though, like, if you're Adam Peters and everyone's telling you stuff, if I'm Adam Peters, I'm telling everyone to shut the up, saying, why?
- [133:02]
Peter Schrager
Because look what I built in year one.
- [133:03]
Boston Connor
Big go. Yeah. Like, hey, this was the biggest dumpster fire after the Texans whole entire thing. Everyone immediately looked at Washington like, oh, this is the shittiest building by a mile. Whether it's the actual building or the people working inside of it. And then Adam Peters comes in and in a year they flip the entire thing on its head. Like yeah, everybody.
- [133:23]
Peter Schrager
Yeah, but Terry's such a big piece of that.
- [133:27]
Boston Connor
And, and that's why I think it's going to get done. But, but as far as like hearing outside noise for Adam Peters, like fuck those people. I'm sure it's just like Howie Roseman, like Howie Rosen probably feels the same too. Hey, I hear a lot of outside noise. I've rebuilt two, two separate teams. Three separate teams really. But I'll still understand if you had.
- [133:47]
Peter Schrager
To stack the NFC east right now. Forget the Giants and the Eagles for now. Who are you saying going into the season? Cowboys or commanders who you would say are the better team commanders? Commanders, titles.
- [134:00]
Tone Diggs
This is no, Micah.
- [134:01]
Peter Schrager
Right? This is with Micah.
- [134:05]
Bruce
I worry about the commanders.
- [134:06]
Tone Diggs
I would, I, I would take Cowboys.
- [134:08]
Peter Schrager
I think I would too.
- [134:08]
Tone Diggs
I take the Cowboys.
- [134:09]
Bruce
I worry about the commander strictly because of, I mean how many. It was like won a lot of.
- [134:14]
Ty Schmidt
One score games last year.
- [134:15]
Bruce
It was like that Vikings, the one year where they went undefeated in one score games and then it went seven and nine or whatever the next year or whatever it was not. They have one of the best young quarterbacks in football and that gets you a long way. But they won a lot of one score games last year. I, I, it's, I mean between those teams, it's toss up.
- [134:34]
Boston Connor
Yeah, I'd probably say Cowboys.
- [134:36]
Tone Diggs
You got to pick one, Tony.
- [134:37]
Andrew Hawkins
Cowboys.
- [134:38]
Boston Connor
Like if you look at the premier.
- [134:40]
Bruce
Positions, I like the defense.
- [134:41]
Boston Connor
Like you probably give the advantage to Washington, but you, you want to go just a quarterback. Levels, levels, levels above. Yeah. Quarterback.
- [134:48]
Tone Diggs
I don't know that I would give the advantage second year, second year was.
- [134:53]
Peter Schrager
Number two in MVP two years ago.
- [134:55]
Boston Connor
You give the advantage to the Cowboys receivers for sure. Yeah, yes, yes I would. And Cowboys tight ends.
- [135:01]
Tone Diggs
Yes.
- [135:02]
Boston Connor
You could argue running backs because you.
- [135:04]
Peter Schrager
Know, I don't know about the Cowboys defense.
- [135:07]
Ty Schmidt
Well and in my mind Mike's already a packer, so you know that's, that's kind of a big part like comes in corner.
- [135:15]
Boston Connor
Dallas.
- [135:16]
Peter Schrager
Yeah.
- [135:16]
Ty Schmidt
Lattimore, Washington.
- [135:18]
Boston Connor
Yeah. Duron Bland.
- [135:20]
Tone Diggs
We got, I got, we got it. And I love Lattimore. What he's done career wise, I got.
- [135:24]
Boston Connor
To see this year.
- [135:25]
Tone Diggs
Can he, can he get to form? I love Mikey Sanders still. He's a dog. You got some other young DBs, Bobby Wags, he's, he's a savvy vet out there, but yeah, I would I think I would still lean Dallas.
- [135:37]
Ty Schmidt
I guess after talking about it right now he's like, wow. Yeah, Dallas is kind of.
- [135:40]
Boston Connor
They are overshot. They, they love Booker. They have.
- [135:46]
Peter Schrager
Who's Cunningham on the, on the Cowboys? I've gotten a lot of texts about him. Is there a guy Cunningham pass rusher.
- [135:51]
Ty Schmidt
Randall's boy.
- [135:53]
Peter Schrager
Look that up.
- [135:54]
Boston Connor
Is it Ricky Cunningham?
- [135:55]
Peter Schrager
Is there a Cunningham on the Cowboys? This is my.
- [135:59]
Bruce
I got Texas CS get seeing a Cunningham.
- [136:03]
Peter Schrager
Okay, maybe not Cunningham. Who, who's the second round. There's a BC kid. Second round pick.
- [136:07]
Bruce
Oh, oh, Donovan Azarak.
- [136:09]
Peter Schrager
That's one. And then there's another kid who they had last year that they drafted and I'm sorry, I don't have the name and the depth chart. The hour lads depth chart in front of me.
- [136:16]
Bruce
That's exactly what I'm looking at.
- [136:18]
Peter Schrager
Of course. Who Pass rushers. What do they got there? Me though. Oh, we got it on the screen. All right, here we go. I'll tell you the guy everyone was excited about someone Murray.
- [136:30]
Boston Connor
I don't see that name Buddy Johnson over shown. Oh, showing he's yeah, he's six last year.
- [136:39]
Tone Diggs
He is a player.
- [136:40]
Peter Schrager
I stand corrected. Might have been Sam Williams. I don't know. I don't know. Someone was at the joint practice for.
- [136:45]
Bruce
The I mean they paid, they paid OSA big money.
- [136:47]
Peter Schrager
They did not start.
- [136:50]
Bruce
No, he is.
- [136:51]
Boston Connor
Oh, he's just out.
- [136:52]
Peter Schrager
Right?
- [136:52]
Bruce
That's not the R lad so I don't trust that.
- [136:54]
Tone Diggs
I don't know what oh, I him behind Ken.
- [136:56]
Peter Schrager
I trust outlines. It might be Sam Williams. I don't know. Someone was playing awesome in the inner practices with the Rams and I'm and they were like, you know, Mike is obviously the best player but they got this guy, this guy, this guy, this guy. And I'm like those are not household names. Those are not household names. So they must know something if they're not shaking their boots over Micah.
- [137:16]
Boston Connor
Yeah, I, I, I don't know. I just feel like from what we've heard about the Cowboys that they're going to be better than what everyone expects. And to be honest, like from what.
- [137:25]
Bruce
We have heard, to be honest, one of the main things that I took away from draft night was that just Talking to Coach McCarthy he thought they were going to be good this year.
- [137:33]
Boston Connor
He did? Yeah.
- [137:34]
Bruce
Like he was, he felt really good about the, the team that they have coming into this season and like you would think like a coach could be jaded or something like that because just.
- [137:42]
Peter Schrager
We never unpacked that Mike McCarthy worked on this program.
- [137:45]
Bruce
Yes.
- [137:45]
Peter Schrager
For the draft. And I figured. I didn't know. I haven't spoken to him since he and Jerry parted ways. I came in there like eggshells, like, so, nothing but love for the Cowboys, Nothing but love for Jerry, Nothing but respect. And, like, he loves Dak, and he loves Dak, and I'm like, okay, so that guy could be bitter, jaded, could say, oh, let's see how they play without me. No, he's like, they're gonna be very good. Yeah, he's like, shot. He's the man. He was, like, positive on there.
- [138:07]
Boston Connor
Sweet.
- [138:07]
Peter Schrager
He's very high on Trey a lot about.
- [138:08]
Ty Schmidt
Yes, he was very high on Trey Lance.
- [138:10]
Tone Diggs
I'm not surprised to see him, you know, balling out. Obviously, if you're a Charger fan, you hope you don't see him playing.
- [138:14]
Bruce
And Trey's only, like, 25, still 24. Somehow.
- [138:17]
Tone Diggs
Future's bright, hopefully.
- [138:18]
Peter Schrager
We were talking about Trey Lance earlier with, like, Richardson. It's. You don't know. You know, it's like, you put him in this situation, didn't work out, and now he's 25 years old, and we're like, oh, Trey Lance is on his third team or whatever it is. But then you go to that preseason game, you're like, oh, that's why he was the third overall pick. But that's the NFL.
- [138:34]
Ty Schmidt
Well, and I just. Like, we've been talking. I understand if you're a fan of the Colts. That's why you would be pissed if Daniel Jones is starting and not Anthony Richardson, but, like, for, you know, his agents be like, well, we've lost all trust in the organization. It's like, hey, like, these are going to get fired if they don't have a good year. So I don't think they're like.
- [138:51]
Peter Schrager
But wasn't the writing on the wall when they signed Daniel Jones for that money?
- [138:54]
Ty Schmidt
I mean, probably.
- [138:55]
Boston Connor
Probably you knew he was going to.
- [138:56]
Tone Diggs
Get a legit shot. But you would think. And Shane was there when they drafted Anthony Richard.
- [139:02]
Ty Schmidt
Correct.
- [139:02]
Boston Connor
He drafted him.
- [139:03]
Tone Diggs
Okay. So you would think the gm, Chris Ballard, and the head coach, the guy you drafted, that's the guy you would want to win the job. But you bring in a guy for insurance and real competition. Okay, let's see. And from everything that we saw from the outside looking in, okay, Anthony Richards showed up in shape, in better shape physically. He was doing different things, learning things as a quarterback because we all knew it would be a process when he got drafted for overall. So When Daniel Jones is named the starter, it, to me, it just tells me that he earned it.
- [139:33]
Ty Schmidt
Yes.
- [139:34]
Tone Diggs
And he just won the competition. And obviously, I'm close to a lot of people in that building, so when I reach out to the people in the building, it's the same thing for them. All right, this is our guy. He won it. You know, he won the job because, you know, when we're in there, we're trying to win games, no one is.
- [139:47]
Peter Schrager
There saying, wait a second, Chris Ballard.
- [139:49]
Tone Diggs
Isn'T saying, like, let me taint for Arch or Shane Steich, like these guys, especially with a new ownership group, you know, same family, but new people calling the shots. Like, everybody's on high alert to do whatever's best to make sure that they're there the next day. So if they made the decision for Daniel Jones to be the guy, to me on the outside, looking at who isn't seeing the practice, the meetings, the walkthroughs, everything that's going on day to day, I just got to accept, okay, that's the reality. And now as a fan, you got to be optimistic about it. Now as a coach fan. Since Andrew Luck retired, it's been a revolving door. Even players have come out and spoken. It is frustrating not having that consistent continuity at the quarterback position, but this guy came in. We've seen Baker Mayfield, we've seen Sam Darnold, we've seen Geno Smith go to other places, fresh starts and become better players to kind of reach that potential. So that's the only thing you can hope for at this point. And he has the pieces around him, so, I mean, we. We got to see it. I understand coach fan been pissed. Draft the guy 4 overall. He doesn't pan out, but it's a National Football League.
- [140:45]
Peter Schrager
May the best man win. And I. I think there also is this piece to it where if you have Richardson starting and he struggles out of the gate as a fourth overall pick, this is reverse psychology. And he struggles mightily. And then Daniel Jones comes in. You're not going back to Richardson in this case. Daniel Jones starts, all right, doesn't work out. Now you've got your fourth overall pick. He had some time, and it's like, okay, now it's on your plate. Like, now it's your opportunity. It almost might benefit him if it doesn't work out for Jones out of the gates.
- [141:13]
Ty Schmidt
Either way, whatever he was going to do on the field this year was going to be like his. It's like, hey, this is your last chance. You got to prove Whether or not you're going to be the guy. So if he doesn't start and then he gets an opportunity and he comes in and he wins, you know, he goes five and one or whatever and looks good, like, yeah, they might, he might get that opportunity. But I agree, like, if he would have started and they start owing four like he's done, he's not going to be the Colts quarterback.
- [141:34]
Tone Diggs
I don't like this from the agent either.
- [141:36]
Boston Connor
Yeah, I don't like this. Shut up.
- [141:38]
Tone Diggs
Like, just shut up. Let, let. It's already enough on Anthony Richardson's plate. It's already enough noise around him. It's going to be talked about. Whenever you're in a quarterback battle in National Football League is going to be a big story. We don't need to hear these side conversations with, oh, the trust and this and that. Because when I listen to Anthony Richardson talk and this is all through training camp and then after Daniel Jones named the starter, he's saying all the right things. He sounded more mature. He's sounding like he's learning. He's no, hey, I just got to stay ready. You're one play away. So you don't want that outside, no noise with somebody that's representing you, you know, oh, we lost the trust. And it's a lot to talk about. And it's like, let him go to work and figure it out. And when his number is called, which inevitably it will be again, maybe not in Indianapolis. You want him to go out there and show, you know, show what it is and that he can do on the field when he gets his shot.
- [142:23]
Peter Schrager
NFC south is always going to be like, they could always win the NFC South. As good as the Texans are like the Colts like that division, like you.
- [142:29]
Tone Diggs
Could compete in that South.
- [142:32]
Peter Schrager
AFC South. Titans and Jaguars are probably not there yet. So like you look at the Colts, they have a lot of veteran pieces. They've got a, you know, good fan base. They've got a good home field advantage. To me, they should be competitive this year.
- [142:44]
Tone Diggs
Should be.
- [142:45]
Boston Connor
Yeah. They got a good fan base. If they're in it by week 10. That's most fan bas.
- [142:49]
Peter Schrager
They bail that.
- [142:50]
Boston Connor
Yes. But like that's the thing. People are kind of sick of it cuz they don't. They're not going to, they're not going to do anything this year either.
- [142:58]
Peter Schrager
Every week, every week the Giants would trot out. Here's Chris Snee and Justin Tuck and here's David Deal. For the last 10 years they do like the. And let's honor the 07 and 2011 champions. It's 2025.
- [143:10]
Boston Connor
Exactly.
- [143:11]
Peter Schrager
The Colts are getting towards that. Maybe when you have a new quarterback, they're there. Here's Reggie Dwayne and here's Edwin James, and here's Pat McAfee. And we're really. We're still the Colts, but it's like, guys, we. We want to be relevant now.
- [143:23]
Boston Connor
Yeah, they. And they're. They. They are still there.
- [143:26]
Bruce
It feels like it's been a decade since they won the division.
- [143:28]
Boston Connor
Yeah, they have.
- [143:28]
Peter Schrager
Is that right?
- [143:29]
Boston Connor
Yeah. They haven't won the division since, like, 2014. I think it was before Andrew Luck, or did Andrew. Rookie year.
- [143:35]
Tone Diggs
We won multiple divisions.
- [143:37]
Boston Connor
Okay.
- [143:37]
Peter Schrager
Okay.
- [143:39]
Boston Connor
I don't know. I don't know.
- [143:41]
Peter Schrager
Those had to be road.
- [143:42]
Bruce
2014. 2014 was the last time they beat.
- [143:44]
Peter Schrager
The Chiefs in the playoffs. In the wild card.
- [143:47]
Ty Schmidt
Big comeback.
- [143:47]
Boston Connor
Yeah. And then here in Indy. Then they beat the Broncos. Broncos in a divisional In Denver.
- [143:53]
Peter Schrager
In Denver.
- [143:54]
Boston Connor
And then they got pumped in New England.
- [143:55]
Tone Diggs
We got cheated, but, you know, with.
- [143:57]
Boston Connor
Andrew Luck as quarterback, that was the year. That was the deflation.
- [144:03]
Peter Schrager
Okay. Yes.
- [144:03]
Boston Connor
38, 10.
- [144:04]
Peter Schrager
Yes. In the press box that game. And I'm like, I'm sorry, bro. And he's like, yeah, it.
- [144:12]
Boston Connor
Shut up. Shut up.
- [144:14]
Tone Diggs
It's a good game at halftime.
- [144:15]
Peter Schrager
I like Rickson.
- [144:16]
Boston Connor
Oh, yeah?
- [144:17]
Peter Schrager
Yeah. I thought he was going to get some opportunities. Minnesota, they got a good front office there.
- [144:22]
Bruce
He's a ginormous.
- [144:23]
Boston Connor
He'll probably come back home next year.
- [144:24]
Ty Schmidt
Quy. Adolfo Mensa looks like Wood Harris right now. He looks like Julian Campbell. He's got the mustache pretty good. I saw it. I said, holy, that's Avon Barkstil.
- [144:37]
Tone Diggs
He been piecing together quite the roster.
- [144:39]
Ty Schmidt
He has.
- [144:39]
Peter Schrager
They have. Vikings are loaded. It says that. This kid's good. Yep.
- [144:43]
Boston Connor
I don't know. Gonna find out early.
- [144:45]
Peter Schrager
Mad Dog had a take on Michigan. They think they know the Dame.
- [144:49]
Ty Schmidt
That's a good point.
- [144:50]
Peter Schrager
You ain't know the Dame.
- [144:52]
Tone Diggs
Is that what he was mad about today?
- [144:53]
Peter Schrager
Yeah.
- [144:53]
Boston Connor
Yeah.
- [144:54]
Peter Schrager
Oh, he think they're like that. They have this, and AJ's obviously Ohio State, but, like, Michigan gets this penalty, and Michigan still carries themselves like they're above it all. And there's some class thing. Like, no, you just got drive, you know, you just got penalized. A.J. hawk, if you'd like to comment.
- [145:07]
AJ Hawk
I mean, I don't. I don't know how.
- [145:09]
Boston Connor
It doesn't matter.
- [145:09]
Damien Woody
It doesn't matter.
- [145:11]
Tone Diggs
It's all that matters between your lines.
- [145:12]
Boston Connor
We don't talk about ttun, bro.
- [145:15]
Peter Schrager
Yeah. They paid that guy, apparently.
- [145:20]
Ty Schmidt
Did they?
- [145:21]
Peter Schrager
Over what?
- [145:21]
AJ Hawk
How many years do you think he has to stay to get all ten?
- [145:23]
Peter Schrager
I don't know. Ten million?
- [145:24]
Bruce
Three. I mean, you.
- [145:25]
Peter Schrager
And They've got.
- [145:26]
Boston Connor
It's.
- [145:26]
Tone Diggs
He's there.
- [145:27]
Peter Schrager
Larry. El.
- [145:28]
Boston Connor
I don't believe any of his lady.
- [145:29]
Peter Schrager
Are like, just like, funding everything now. I mean, it's a. It's.
- [145:32]
Boston Connor
It's cool.
- [145:32]
Peter Schrager
It's cool. I mean, it's. It's something.
- [145:35]
Boston Connor
Be probably a good time to go to Michigan.
- [145:37]
Peter Schrager
Michigan's great.
- [145:38]
Boston Connor
Yeah. Right, A.J.
- [145:40]
Peter Schrager
Right, A.J.
- [145:41]
AJ Hawk
Which part? What's. What's great? They're a good football team. They're a great football team. I'm not denying that they were.
- [145:50]
Peter Schrager
Yeah.
- [145:50]
AJ Hawk
I don't have any desire to go, but yes, they are. I respect them.
- [145:53]
Peter Schrager
I have never been to Ohio State game.
- [145:57]
Bruce
Really?
- [145:57]
Boston Connor
Yeah.
- [145:58]
Ty Schmidt
You got to try it.
- [145:59]
Boston Connor
Come on, man.
- [146:00]
Peter Schrager
But to the pro day a couple times, but I've never been to a game. I've went to Michigan a few times. That big house is awesome.
- [146:07]
Bruce
You should go. Week one, Texas hostage.
- [146:09]
Peter Schrager
Week one, Texas who? And that's on Saturday noon?
- [146:12]
Boston Connor
Yep.
- [146:13]
Peter Schrager
Huh.
- [146:15]
Bruce
That'd be the one to go.
- [146:16]
Ty Schmidt
It might be something to think about.
- [146:17]
AJ Hawk
Ghost race.
- [146:17]
Peter Schrager
Something. Think about who's their cupcake in week two or three. I like seeing a win.
- [146:21]
Boston Connor
Miami, Ohio.
- [146:22]
Peter Schrager
Okay.
- [146:22]
Bruce
They do play.
- [146:23]
Peter Schrager
They play.
- [146:24]
AJ Hawk
Grambling.
- [146:24]
Peter Schrager
They play.
- [146:25]
Ty Schmidt
I know.
- [146:26]
Bruce
Ohio is also on the schedule, too.
- [146:28]
Peter Schrager
Ohio, the podcast.
- [146:29]
Boston Connor
That's who I'm thinking about.
- [146:29]
Peter Schrager
Of Athens.
- [146:31]
Boston Connor
It's one of their only home games. That's a night game.
- [146:33]
Peter Schrager
Quick trivia. Who's the greatest college basketball player out of the University of Ohio?
- [146:39]
Ty Schmidt
Clark Kellogg's boy.
- [146:40]
AJ Hawk
Yeah, Clark.
- [146:41]
Tone Diggs
Tim Kurchigan.
- [146:44]
AJ Hawk
Wy Zerbak, Miami of Ohio.
- [146:47]
Peter Schrager
Gary Trent, the Shack.
- [146:50]
Boston Connor
Gary Trent.
- [146:54]
Tone Diggs
That was Timmy Ken.
- [146:55]
Peter Schrager
Okay, we're. We're leaking gas here, guys.
- [146:57]
Ty Schmidt
Timmy K played a Duke.
- [146:58]
Boston Connor
Yeah.
- [146:59]
Peter Schrager
Who did?
- [147:00]
Ty Schmidt
He was Bobby Hurley before Bobby.
- [147:01]
Peter Schrager
Okay.
- [147:02]
Boston Connor
Tim Kirchen actually is the one that threw the pass to Laitner.
- [147:05]
Peter Schrager
No. Jay Bis. No, no, it's great.
- [147:08]
Ty Schmidt
It's Grant Hill. But I understand how you could make that mistake.
- [147:10]
Peter Schrager
Tim Kin really go to Duke or he's just B.S.
- [147:12]
Ty Schmidt
No, he's a picture of him just driving by Cal Ripken Jr. To the Cup. So straight up hooping. Yeah. Had no idea that Tim Kirkshen was a. A, a grade A Hooper. He is ball. Yeah, that's it.
- [147:24]
Peter Schrager
All right, so Texas, Ohio State, week one. Lsu, Clemson. Look at that lefty.
- [147:28]
Boston Connor
Looks like Jerry Seinfeld. He does what he Say again?
- [147:32]
Ty Schmidt
You reach.
- [147:33]
Boston Connor
I teach.
- [147:34]
Peter Schrager
You Rich.
- [147:35]
Boston Connor
I teach.
- [147:35]
Peter Schrager
Yeah. And.
- [147:36]
Ty Schmidt
And Cal Ripkin Jr. Was like, he's right.
- [147:39]
Boston Connor
He actually does. Yeah, he actually does teach.
- [147:41]
Ty Schmidt
He nutmegged him right after this.
- [147:43]
Peter Schrager
I like Cal's kicks.
- [147:45]
Tone Diggs
Both of throw, throwback, good kicks.
- [147:47]
Peter Schrager
Cal's wearing jeans. What's he got on?
- [147:49]
Ty Schmidt
No.
- [147:49]
Peter Schrager
I don't know.
- [147:50]
Bruce
Those are definitely old school. You know how we had the swishy pants and you slid on the floor of the burn mark?
- [147:55]
Peter Schrager
Cal sweating his ass off. Yeah.
- [147:56]
Ty Schmidt
Gertian's giving him that work.
- [148:01]
Peter Schrager
Walter. Walter is. JR is like the most famous photographer ever. Sports Illustrated, all the. Ali, like, that's the guy. So he took the photo. That's pretty cool. Kirch's got that.
- [148:10]
Boston Connor
Yeah, that's Timmy K. That's up in the office.
- [148:13]
Peter Schrager
Office for sure.
- [148:13]
Boston Connor
Learn something new every day.
- [148:14]
Peter Schrager
I love that. We're going to start tomorrow's show with Walter iOS Jr. Talk all his top 10 greatest SI covers. See? It's good. It'd be le. All right, so we got.
- [148:25]
Boston Connor
All right, Drake.
- [148:26]
Tone Diggs
Hey, you.
- [148:28]
Ty Schmidt
Yeah. Well done.
- [148:29]
Boston Connor
You're awesome.
- [148:31]
Bruce
Do you know how we end?
- [148:32]
Peter Schrager
No, tell me. I've never watched the full ending.
- [148:35]
Bruce
You say team on me. Team on three. One, two, three, three.
- [148:38]
Tone Diggs
Team.
- [148:39]
Peter Schrager
All right. Team on me.
- [148:42]
AJ Hawk
Little juice to it, though. Your normal juice.
- [148:46]
Bruce
Like how you started the show.
- [148:48]
Tone Diggs
Yeah.
- [148:48]
Peter Schrager
Team on me. Huh? Team on three.
- [148:52]
Boston Connor
Don't make a mockery out, okay? Right now you're making a mockery out of it. And we do this every single day.
- [148:58]
Bruce
Team on me.
- [148:59]
Peter Schrager
Team on three. One, two, three. I love it. Sorry. Thank you. You. This episode is brought to you by FX's alien Earth, the official podcast. Each week, host Adam Rogers is joined by guests, including the show's creator, cast and crew. In this exclusive companion podcast, they will explore story elements, deep dive into character motivations, and offer an episode by episode behind the scenes breakdown of each terrifying chapter in this new series. Search FX's alien Earth. Wherever you listen to podcasts.
- [149:35]
Andrew Hawkins
You'Ve seen.
- [149:36]
Peter Schrager
The headlines, heard the debates.
- [149:37]
Ty Schmidt
The three point ball has created a monotonous rhythm to the game.
- [149:41]
Peter Schrager
Has the three pointer ruined basketball? And how did we get here? The rise of the three point shot.
- [149:46]
Ty Schmidt
Can be partially traced to an eccentric.
- [149:48]
Boston Connor
Kansas genius named Martin Manley, whose story.
- [149:51]
Peter Schrager
Didn'T turn out quite the way he imagined.
- [149:54]
Boston Connor
I decided I wanted to to have.
- [149:55]
Peter Schrager
One of the most organized goodbyes in history. 30 for 30 podcast presents Chasing Basketball Heaven. Available now wherever you get your podcasts.