PMS 2.0 1419 - BA Day with Bruce Arians, MNF Doubleheader Recap, Matt Stafford, Darius Butler, & AJ Hawk

Summary

The Pat McAfee Show 2.0, Episode 1419 – "BA Day" with Bruce Arians, MNF Doubleheader Recap, Matt Stafford, Darius Butler, & AJ Hawk

Date: September 30, 2025
Host: Pat McAfee
Guests/Regulars: Bruce Arians (“Coach BA”), AJ Hawk, Darius Butler, Boston Connor, Ty Schmidt, Bubba Gumpino (Tone Digs), Matthew Stafford

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Overview

In this lively, wide-ranging episode, Pat McAfee and crew celebrate "BA Day" with legendary coach Bruce Arians. The show recaps a dramatic Monday Night Football doubleheader, discusses the ripple effects of Tyreek Hill's devastating injury for the Dolphins, takes a deep dive with Rams QB Matthew Stafford, and spins through the latest in NFL narratives, college football, and even Ryder Cup fallout. The energy is unapologetically irreverent but packed with sharp football insight and genuine emotion.

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Main Topics & Key Segments

1. Monday Night Football Doubleheader Recap

Timestamps: [00:36]–[10:13]

• Dolphins Victory & Tyreek Hill Injury:

  • Praise for Miami’s offense and Tyreek’s leadership—“He looked incredibly pumped up… if you got a tight end who's good in the middle of the field, you know what that does for the people that are outside...” (Host, [00:45])
  • The heartbreaking details of Tyreek’s gruesome knee injury and long recovery:

    “We thank him for being absolutely electrifying. It's gonna be a long road back and recovery, and rehab for this is gonna suck…” (Host, [01:16])

  • Darren Waller’s arrival as Miami’s new weapon (“the Darren Waller Miami Dolphins era has begun”—Host, [07:14])
  • Defensive playmakers highlighted (Jack Jones, Rasul Douglas)
  • Move to other AFC East teams:
    • Jets’ offensive struggles and bleak outlook: “They ran that thing 60 straight times…” (Host, [07:47])
    • Boston Connor, lifelong AFC East fan, doubts Jets’ future:

      “Until they change their colors or move their team, they’re never going to win anything.” (Boston Connor, [08:38])

• Broncos Dominate Bengals:

  • Broncos’ defense proves legit; Bengals’ O-line gets dismantled.
  • Arians’ classic critique:

    “They might want to try investing in the offensive line.” (Coach BA, [10:13])

  • Extended debate: Are the Bengals fundamentally broken due to repeated O-line failures and roster approach?
  • Discussion of roster-building philosophy: “Right now, it feels like trenches are back to being the number one thing…” (Host, [10:44])

Notable Quote:

“You can find a wide receiver in the third round... you can't find a tackle very often that can handle the pass rushers we have to see now in the NFL.” (Coach BA, [16:52])

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2. State of the AFC & NFL Storylines

Timestamps: [39:01]–[47:12]

• “BS or No BS” with BA:

  • “The Bengals might be dead, dead.”—No BS, everyone agrees.
  • Coach BA: “That’s no BS because they can’t block anybody. Right now they can’t stop anybody.” ([39:43])
  • Panel laments the Bengals’ failed roster construction and hints that prime time games (e.g., Thanksgiving) are about to get much less enticing with Cincy involved.

• Overtime/Tie Rules Debate:

  • Coach BA confesses to supporting shorter 10-min OT but now advocates for college-style shootout—each team from the 8-yard line.
  • Pat proposes “Golden Boot” (kick off/shootout) option; crew votes for keeping stars on the field ([47:22]–[51:13])

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3. Matthew Stafford Interview

Timestamps: [20:21]–[34:30]

• Stafford’s Health, Longevity, and Perspective:
  • Reports feeling great: “The arm feels live... still trying to make some things happen out there…” ([22:18])
  • Reflections on Rams’ culture, McVay’s brilliance, and how the team stays successful.
• Chemistry with Receivers:
  • On Puka Nakua and Davante Adams:

    “I feel lucky and blessed to be the guy throwing them the rock... I just gotta pick and choose.” ([23:13])

  • Host hails Stafford’s history with all-time WRs: Calvin Johnson, Cooper Kupp, Nakua.
• Evolution of NFL Defenses:
  • “There’s been a huge evolution... as offense changes, defense catches up, and vice versa. It’s been a fun challenge.” ([26:04])
• Division Rivalries and Favorite Stadiums:
  • Calls Seattle & SF the toughest away games; picks Lambeau as his favorite stadium outside Detroit/LA/Athens.

    “You feel like you’re part of history when you play there.” ([34:10])

Coach BA’s Testimonial:

“He’s the only guy I went out and watched warm up every time we played him... amazed at the throws he could make in warmups.” ([27:43])

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4. Rushmore on X Preview

Timestamps: [15:52], [51:45], [116:42]

• Pat previews a new debate show on X where legends (Tom Brady, Peyton Manning) build their receiver Mount Rushmore.
• Teasers highlight spirited debates, inside stories, and all-time greats.
• Coaches and players comment on Gronkowski’s place in history:

  “He can block like a tackle... total mismatch.” (Coach BA, [53:49])

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5. Eagles' Wide Receiver Drama & Team Dynamics

Timestamps: [69:50]–[80:49]

• AJ Brown Tweets, Siriusani Manages:
  • A.J. Brown’s cryptic tweet after limited targets in Philly’s win sparks panel analysis of receiver mentality.
  • Arians’ insight: “It's your job as a coach to get him the ball... sometimes you need to get the stars involved early, even with cheap catches.” ([73:11])
  • Pat: “Winning covers up a lot.” Panel agrees drama amplifies with losses.
  • Further discussion on elite WRs needing touches to maintain morale, even in run-heavy offenses.

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6. Ryder Cup Fallout & 'Coolness' of Europe vs USA

Timestamps: [84:58]–[97:59]

• The crew debates why the US Ryder Cup team seems less ‘cool’ or unified than Europe, with banter about moxie, celebrations, and the need for more fiery personalities.
• Reflection:

  “They were the more mentally tough team in a hostile environment.” (Darius Butler, [96:18])

• Some tongue-in-cheek argument about “Team Europe” being cooler; Pat isn’t having it.

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7. NFL/International Talk & College Football Preview

Timestamps: [100:16], [144:32]

• International Expansion Skepticism:

  • Coach BA: “I don't want to see a team over there... somebody’s going to get screwed in that travel.” ([101:21])
  • Panel agrees—regular internationals are great, but full-time European teams present huge logistical/roster challenges.

• College Football Hot Topics:

  • Recap of Bama’s restored dominance, Penn State heartbreak, and next big matchups
  • Praise for transfer QBs/OCs transforming programs; debate if college transfer portal is good for long-term player development.

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8. Special Teams and Trick Plays Trends

Timestamps: [169:55]–[173:47]

• Rise in blocked kicks leads to speculation: will this catalyze a wave of fakes (punts, FGs) and strategic cadence changes?
• Coach BA: “It slows everyone down... For the offensive lineman, that's not easy: you can’t move, these 360lb D-linemen are coming for you…”

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9. Chicago Bears Culture Change

Timestamps: [165:15]–[169:04]

• Extensive breakdown of Ben Johnson’s impact on the new-look Bears; underscored by intense postgame locker room speech and team buy-in.
• Coach BA: “Ben Johnson starts with the running game. Got a great play action game... great knack for when to throw the gadget.”
• All signs point to a new, tougher culture and fans should be optimistic.

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Notable and Memorable Quotes

• On Tyreek Hill:

  “Everything he’s done for football up to this point, we thank him for. You were electrifying, brother.” (Host, [01:16])

• On Bengals' Offensive Line:

  “Three man rush sacks. Doesn’t matter if Joe Burrow’s out there or not.” (Coach BA, [10:19])

• On McVay as a Coach:

  “He got great background and his coaching ability and his knowledge. And he knows how to teach it.” (Coach BA, [35:36])

• Arians on Receivers vs. Tackles:

  “I can find a wide receiver in the third round... you can't find a tackle very often that can handle the pass rushers.” (Coach BA, [16:52])

• On blocked kicks:

  “Any time one of the big guys gets a ball is electrifying.” (Host, [147:01])

• On Eagles’ WR Drama:

  “If they weren't winning, it'd be a big problem. Winning solves a lot of these issues.” (Coach BA, [74:06])

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Quick Hits & Inside Jokes

• Pat and crew repeatedly roast each other and the NFL’s digital ad prompts and online shopping experience.
• The ‘shopping cart’ analogy for fan disenchantment (“I’m about done with that, just let me proceed to checkout...”)—[05:50]
• BA’s classic “No risk it, no biscuit” line, plus the long-standing “BA Day” jokes.
• Long segment on “sweet, spicy, tropical” tequila ad-reads—deadpanned and ad-libbed into the show’s running banter.
• Spirited, tongue-in-cheek debates about international sporting events, American vs European “coolness,” and even the difference between white and Black barbershops.
• College football talk includes playful shots at coaches, culture, and the power of NIL (“You can change the entire culture of your university overnight.”)

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Final Thoughts & Themes

• The show is, as always, equal parts football nerd-fest, locker room wisecracking, and celebration of the game’s unique characters.
• Main takeaways:
  • The NFL is about adaptability—offensively (tackles, receiver roles), culturally (Arians on coaching, player buy-in), and logistically (international expansion debate).
  • The human factor—injuries, motivation, star power, and locker room dynamics—remains the heart of football storytelling.
  • Everyone on the panel, from ex-coaches to ex-players, brings both war stories and a willingness to laugh at themselves, each other, and the sports world.

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Episode Highlights

• [00:34]–[01:16] — Heartfelt Tyreek Hill tribute
• [10:13]–[13:08] — Bengals' O-line failures, BA classic roast
• [20:21]–[34:30] — Matthew Stafford in-depth interview (health, Rams culture, WRs, division rivalries)
• [39:01]–[47:12] — “BS or No BS” — Bengals are “dead dead,” and overtime rules brainstorm
• [69:50]–[80:49] — Eagles WR drama, coaching relationships, offensive design
• [116:42]–[118:44] — Rushmore on X sneak peek and production stories
• [144:32]–[154:32] — College football, transfer QBs, and “culture change” themes

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Tune in for football, stay for the jokes, and you’ll leave with a far better sense of both what’s happening on the field—and what it takes to keep a team, a show, or even a tailgate truly great.

Transcript

[Host]

Hello beautiful people and welcome to our humble abode, the Thunderdome on this BA Day, September 30th, 2025. This program begins now.

[Boston Connor]

Football.

[Host]

Love that. That's 47 year football coach, multiple time super bowl champion, absolute stud. Ladies and gentlemen, our coach, BA BA Coach. Good to see you. Thank you for joining us. The shirt is electrifying. No risk it, no biscuit. And today it's BS or no bul. Thank you for joining us. We love you, man.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

It's my, my pleasure, brother. It's the most fun I have all week.

[Host]

Okay, I'm happy to hear that. That will continue today. There's a lot to talk about in the football world. 2 Monday Night Football games last night. Congrats to the Dolphins. Wow.

[Ty Schmidt]

All the way back.

[Host]

Now granted, they lose Tyree Kill, who is obviously a unicorn. His explosiveness, his ability to get open, everything he does on a football field, only Tyreek Hill can do. And we all remember obviously the incredibly glorious days where he was the number one player in the entire n. Now towards the back half of last season and then obviously to begin this season, it didn't feel as if it was the same Tyreek Hill in Miami. But last night, I will say, before the game started, this is the first time he has not been voted captain for the Miami Dolphins. Before the game started last night, they had to circle, you know, around the war and Tyreek was in the middle of it, leading it, and he was actually punching people's chests. He looked like he was incredibly pumped up. It's like, oh, wait, is Tyreek Hill all the way back, invested and all the way back in with this Miami Dolphins team? Look at this. That's. That team likes that guy.

[Darius J. Butler]

Yeah.

[Host]

That is not a team that hates that guy. Right from my, from what I am watching here, and I thought that was a wonderful thing. Thought he was gonna have a huge night. Instead, it's the night where we witness him have a absolutely gruesome knee injury that they wouldn't even re show even though some people captured it and posted it on the Internet and it was kind of maybe force fed. Nasty knee injury, obviously a dislocation, some ligaments torn. This is one of those ones that they talk about in being a devastating injury to you know, what? Recovery, career, everything, you name it. So we would like to let Tyreek Hill know that everything he's done for football up until this point, we thank him for. You were, you were electrifying, brother. It's gonna be a long road back and recovery and rehab for this is gonna suck. This is gonna be a very painful experience, obviously. And with how explosive he is, how will they get it back to that? I have no idea. But Tyreek on football, hey, we appreciate what you did. Now punters are gonna and have been, you know, sleeping a little bit more sound since he stopped being an which is certainly good news. But the game will miss you on the field. And also if this Miami Dolphins team is about to be good and Darren Waller is about to be another very viable threat. If you got a tight end who's good in the middle of the field, you know what that does for the people that are outside there. You know what that does for Tyreek Hill potentially. Obviously he will not be there. But just thinking about how bummed out we are that Tyreek gets hurt all of a sudden this Miami Dolphins offense goes back to potentially being the one that we had read about, talked about and heard about whenever McDaniel was brought in. They were hanging 70 points on the Denver Broncos, which we will certainly talk about in just a matter of moments as they expose what the Bengals for what maybe the Bengals actually are which was a top 28 free. The Broncos just beat the hell out of the Bengals. And it was ugly. I mean it was absolutely ugly. But this Miami Dolphins team, let's go to nine year NFL vet, born, I'm sorry, raised in South Florida. Miami Dolphins fan is his first team that he loved. Darius J. Butler, Darren Waller top play. I mean he is all the way back. Yeah, what a debut.

[Darius J. Butler]

I mean Gunt was all over it. He was saying it from the moment he walked in the building yesterday. Waller in the paint tonight. Waller in the paint tonight. He showed up. Tua hasn't had a target like that since he's been the quarterback of the Miami Dolphins. Especially down in the red area. You would have loved to see him in the middle like you said, with Tyreek and Jaden Waddle, Jalen Waddle on the outside. Unfortunately, we won't have that. And this kind of game reminded me of what BA Used to tell us all the time, hey, it's gonna be a five star game. You know, prime time, back against the wall. Tyreek is obviously one of their five stars and he started in the in the middle of the huddle pregame, getting the boys hyped up. He looked like he was off to a great start even when he went down and made an unbelievable catch. So it's unfortunate he'll be out. But Dolphins still got a chance to piece some games together. They can be competitive in The AFC east after the Buffalo Bills, obviously. But it was. It was a tough. That kind of takes the wind out of yourselves if you are on that team, if you're on that roster. Because when you talk about long term, maybe potentially making the playoffs and missing one of your best players, one of the best players in the NFL when he's healthy, that'll be tough. But hopefully they can. They can continue to fight and, you know, make something out of the season.

[Host]

Darren Waller was on the hands. Team guy hasn't played in years. Yeah. And they had him on the hands. That's how much confidence they had in Darren Waller. I think them rolling him out here this deep into the season, I think was good. Get him completely comfortable, get him completely in the game shape. He took over. He was exactly the Darren Waller that we fell in love with on the football field. That was stealing the show with the Raiders. And whenever he was over there with Gruden, him and Gruden obviously very tight, he was maybe the best player in all football. Then he goes over to the Giants. It doesn't work out. Obviously, things don't go the way that anybody thinks. And I think he was going through some shit potentially. We all heard about and learned about that. So whenever he resigns or whenever he signs with the Dolphins, Gumpy's like, first. Gumpy's. At first, he's like, oh, great, we get rid of John who, and we bring in Darren Waller. You know, that's what Gumpy's reaction is as Miami Dolphins fan. Then he starts seeing Darren Waller and he starts talking a little bit. Then he starts watching some highlights, and all of a sudden Gumpy 10 days ago is like, Darren Waller is back on Monday night. Like, he called this, like, literally 10 days in advance. There's no way you thought it was going to work out this well. Let's go to one half of the Hammer.

[Boston Connor]

Done.

[Host]

Cowboys. Bubba Gumpino, a man who has rode alongside this Dolphins team, almost gave up on them.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah, close. Almost had the order. Had the NFL hat in the. In the shopping cart, if you will.

[Host]

In the cart. Proceed to checkout. They tried. They added another thing for. Are you sure you want to do it? He said, I just want to buy this thing. And these apps are going, oh, you sure you don't want to juice with this? No, I want to fucking proceed to checkout. Just let me do. Are you sure you don't want to buy. I'm about done with that. You already got us buying online.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah, I know what I want.

[Host]

Okay. I Have the shopping cart. I don't need 45 of other things.

[Boston Connor]

I'm not a rol.

[Host]

Okay. Yeah. I'm a human going through this.

[Boston Connor]

I know what a motorcycle looks like.

[Host]

I've made the. Exactly.

[Boston Connor]

I'm sick of the bridges. I'm sick of the stoplights.

[Host]

Yeah, I know. Exactly. That is how I feel with these apps. But nonetheless, he had the NFL hat just sitting in that shopping cart. All he needed to do was go down to that part of the app and then proceed to checkout. And they would ask him 45 questions about something else. You get some NFL pants if you want. Maybe some NFL sandals. Maybe some of it. Do you want milk? We can get you some fucking milk alongside groceries. Go ask that. But Gumpy was this close. Then they sent him that jacket.

[Ty Schmidt]

Exactly.

[Host]

Then he put the. The dark uni on.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yep. The dark waters.

[Host]

Dark water.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah.

[Host]

And he was walking around this Thunderdome after hours last night. Just peacock. I mean, he was. And then they were showing Tua. And then Tyreek's headbutt started happening. Then Darren Waller's running, and Gumpy's like, here we go, boys. Did it work out? Obviously, the Tyreek Hill thing is just such a bummer. That's very Dolphins. It feels like just for the Dolphins fans to experience one great thing, and then something devastating happens on the other side. We apologize about that. But the Darren Waller Miami Dolphins era has begun. Is this going to save your season, Gumpy?

[Bubba Gumpino]

It's really our only hope. He looked unbelievable last night.

[Host]

And the defense, too.

[Bubba Gumpino]

You talk about the defense, let up a bunch of yards. I get it. But big plays by Jack Jones, Rasul Douglas. That's the secondary everybody was worried about. They made massive plays. And Tyreek injury, obviously devastating. But it's time for Jalen Waddle to step up and be that number one. He's a top 10 pick. He's been paid like that. And it's time for him to take over as wide receiver. One for the Fins.

[Host]

Yeah, we need to see a lot of these. A lot of waddling. And the AFC east, obviously. Buffalo Bills world. Then you got the Patriots over there. Everybody thinks Drake May's a guy, hopefully. And then the Jets. I think everybody's lost a little bit of hope. They ran that thing 60 straight times. They did. I mean, I don't know if that was the actual number, but there was two pass attempts in the first seven hours of that game. It felt like I want. I put my baby girl up to bed. Came. That's a little bit of A time came back down, game had started pretty good. Then I go up there, come back down and I hear Chris Fowler go, that was his second pass attempt. And I looked at him, I'm like, damn. They are just two fumbles obviously out of the gates, one on the half yard line and then Justin Fields has the other one. But the Jets, I, they're paying 20 million a year for Justin Fields. I don't know if anybody has hope in the Jets. This year is. Let's go to Boston. Corner AFC east fan from, from birth up there. Jets dead. How do we feel about the Jets?

[Boston Connor]

I mean, I think you should just feel about the jets as like until they change their colors, move their team, they're never going to win anything.

[Host]

Name. Name to.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah, name, sure. Maybe, maybe they do become the first team that has a New Jersey in their name that actually plays in New Jersey. It's just never going to be one of those things with the jets that you think they're going to go until they prove it to you. Like they really never do. Typically they, you know, and it sucks with what happened to Braylon Allen too, who got hurt, but typically that is kind of their M.O. they have terrible things happen, show a lot of fight because they did. I mean, Justin Fields, his 43 yard touchdown was so sick. Like the way he rolls all the way, right? Turns around, sprints back around, you know, weaving in and out of people. Touchdown. Like electrifying football. But I don't think anybody in the NFL who's competing for a Super bowl will ever take the jets seriously until there is some sort of like, hey, they're building something. Like there hasn't been any of that for so long.

[Host]

All right, let's go to the next game. Broncos hosting the Bengals. That one kicked off at 8:15 and well, Broncos, really good team. Yeah, Broncos, really good team. The other team might not be really good. Now, obviously they don't have their quarterback, their franchise quarterback. They have their backup quarterback. He obviously had some success, successful football last year, but so did Bo Knicks. And this Broncos team obviously loses to a really good Indianapolis Colts team. Okay, so a lot of people I think just kind of lost faith in them. A lot of hype coming into the season. Way to the Broncos. They beat the hell out of the Bengals last night. Coach Ba what are your thoughts on this game and is this Broncos defense for real, like everybody thought it was at the beginning of the year? Oh, I don't think there's any doubt.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

About the Broncos defense, but the Bengals, they spend a Lot of money on wide receivers. They might want to try to invest something in the offensive line.

[Host]

Oh, really?

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

I mean, three man rush sacks. It doesn't matter if Joe Burrows out there or not, because Joe wasn't going to get shit off either.

[Host]

Okay, so let's talk about the. What you just said there about paying your wide receivers and paying your quarterback and get a deal done with Trey Hendrickson where he gets 30 or 50 bucks.

[Boston Connor]

I think it was 12 news.

[Host]

Yeah, it was something. But they dragged that entire thing out this entire offseason. We had a conversation on this show with a lot of football people. We said, hey, since beginning of football, the way they're building their roster, can you win like that? Especially with what the Eagles just did, you know, like what the Eagles did. Usually what the super bowl champion is, is an indicator of what, like, probably the game is, or at least it's going to be just like in basketball. I think whenever Steph was on top, everybody was trying to kind of follow that particular path. Right now it feels like you need trenches. Like you need trenches bad right now. Maybe not as much five, ten years ago, even though you still need to protect. But the way the game was set up, the way it was structured, the trenches weren't like the determiner on whether or not you win or lose. Right now it feels like trenches are back to being like the number one thing that's deciding whether or not a team is good or a team is bad. And it's like the Bengals last night obviously looked horrendous on the offensive line, but there was no effort. And on that note, there's been a lot of moves that they've made to that offensive line.

[Boston Connor]

A lot of moves.

[Host]

Connor, whenever you ask Himbo, you say, hey, Humbo, how many offensive linemen have they tried to bring in and it not work. He rattled off a bunch of names. This Bengals offensive line has been a problem. Yeah, it has been for a long time. Even on the run to the Super Bowl, I think Joe burrow got sacked 11 times or something like that.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yes, and nine times in.

[Boston Connor]

In games, not total.

[Host]

Yeah. In one game. Yeah. Against the Tennessee Titans, I think he got sacked like 11 times.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah, it was like a record.

[Host]

And then he got sacked like nine times. And then in the super bowl, obviously it ends with Aaron Donald throwing him. If he had any time, he would have been not saying anybody would stop Aaron Donald, but if he has a half a second more, he probably hits tomorrow, they might win the fucking Super Bowl. So protection has obviously always been A conversation. They've tried to make it better. For their sake, I would say, yeah, big time.

[Boston Connor]

2024, they drafted a Marius Mims and again, a lot of these stats we don't know, but these are the stats that they're giving us and I. Qualified tackles, all that stuff. Amarius Mims, 66th among 72 qualified tackles in pass block win rate the last two seasons. That was 2024. Draft pick. Orlando, he's in the third year of his four year contract. They paid him a lot of money. I think it was, you know, between 60, $70 million. He's 55th among 71 qualified tackles in pass block win rate. Again, I don't know. But still Pro Bowler, before he did make it to Cincinnati, he was a four time Pro Bowler with Zeus. Kc. Yeah, exactly.

[Host]

There's a reason he got paid. He got brought in from Kansas City to protect Joe Burrow. Because they've never been able to have an offense, the line.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah, just for some reason it just hasn't worked. L. Collins, he signed a three year deal. He got cut after one season. He did get injured though. Riley Rife, he signed a one year contract. He ranked 64th out of 68 in qualified tackles that season in 2021. And then Kappa, who actually was really good from, from the Bucks, I believe he went over to the Bengals and then he ended up retiring or going back to Tampa. Like it just hasn't worked for them.

[Host]

Okay, so what is it? Scheme system? Because doesn't Sean McVay who has a similar system have good offensive line or has the ability to turn over offensive line? Like is there something to an offense not being good for protection? And does Taylor have an offense that nobody can protect? Like I don't because we have good offensive linemen going over there.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah.

[Host]

And it not working for whatever reason.

[Boston Connor]

And every time this happens, everybody brings up like, well, they could have drafted Penny Sewell instead of Jamar Chase every time.

[Host]

Yeah, they seemingly have tried their best to add some offensive linemen at least. But is there a system potential? Is it. Coaches like a lot of people, I think want to know how we've gotten to this point.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

Yeah, I think it's all the above. You know, the system is the same one that, that everybody comes out with, Sean, you know, and it's, it's not working for a couple of those guys and it's a couple different spots right now because I think the NFL in general right now has a tackle problem. I mean too many, too many tackles getting hurt first of all. And but there's so many great pass rushers. There are not enough great tackles to block them all. And you can't throw it fast enough. But when, when they beat you with a three man rush right off the bat, something's wrong.

[Host]

Okay, so do you think the tackles, the size of the tackles, athletic tackles these days potentially becoming tight ends because of where the game is with the necessity of. Some of these tight ends are monsters.

[Boston Connor]

I mean Darnell.

[Ty Schmidt]

Darnell Washington. Yeah.

[Boston Connor]

I mean like he's a tackle.

[Host]

Yeah, he would be a tackle. I mean we even talk about this because we were talking about Rushmore, which we'll certainly get into. Show is great. Tom Brady and Peyton manning give their Mount Rushmores. It's at Rushmore on X. Full episode, 30 minutes, very digestible and good. Tom Brady, Peyton Manning share a lot of stories. Ari Emanuel is the host and Ben Persky is the host. They basically all give their own Rushmores and reasons for why they have the top four at the receiver position. And then at the end they have to come down to just one Rushmore and there is some real fire debate between Tom Brady and Peyton Manning. It is a great episode. And then they just have more Jimmy Iveine, Rick Rubin talking music, Al Michaels, Bob Costas talking about like the history, sports, you name it. There is everybody. Shaq and Reggie Miller are on here talking about dunkers and power forwards and they're wide open. I don't know if they were boozing. I have no idea. They're wide open on this thing. And they are definitely. And then Elon Musk is on this thing talking about video games and I don't know shit about video games. Elon does. He does. I mean, he is very, very invested. But the receivers, it turned into receivers and tight ends. The conversation basically because Tom Brady was like, we can't make this without Gronk. Gronk is. He's the best receiver that I've ever. He just. The way he talked about Randy Moss as well in there and. But the way he talked about Gronk and you chatted about Gronk could be a tackle with his size, but he could also slim down and be a wide receiver with his athleticism. It's like a perfect tight end. Do we think some of the bigger guys are maybe going to defensive end because the amount of money that's potentially coming or to tight end? Is it like potentially one of those issues where we're losing the body types that are tackles to other things? Is that the problem or is it Development and tackling.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

I think it's the development in college too, because you gotta have some sand in your ass.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

You can't just be long. You gotta be able to stop people from the bull rush. It starts with the bull rush. Then you gotta be athletic enough to take all their moves on. And it's a very hard position to.

[Darius J. Butler]

Play.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

When you look at the draft. A couple years ago when Tristan Wurf came out, there were like four really good tackles. And like, hey, we're going to get one. And we made sure we went up and got Tristan Wurf and it changed our whole team. And so it's like, there's a premium on those guys. For me, I can find a wide receiver in the third round. I can find a running back in the third round. You can't find a tackle very often that can handle the pass rushers we have to see now in the NFL.

[Host]

TJ in the fourth round, Max Crosby.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

I mean, that used to be. I will get those guys later, Michael. All right. Big, tough, strong guys. They fly by your ass so fast, you can't. It's like a swinging door, you know? But now if you're playing for some teams just want to pound, pound, pound. Yeah, they're good, but you got to throw the ball to win.

[Host]

Yeah. Which is the jets story there. I don't know if that style of football is ever going to win them a Super Bowl. And it was tough to watch, to be honest. I was very thankful.

[Ty Schmidt]

So many penalties.

[Host]

Yeah, yeah.

[Ty Schmidt]

Turnover, like a ridiculous amount of penalties.

[Host]

Troy, I think in that. That was the other game.

[Ty Schmidt]

Right.

[Host]

Troy talked about it in the other game. He was like. I don't know what I'm supposed to say here, but this is ass, basically, is what truly said.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah, that's the right call. It's completely unnecessary. We don't need to be throwing this flag.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

It had nothing to do with the play. It always drove me nuts. Yeah, it was a penalty, but it had nothing to do with the outcome of the play. It was like 10 yards back here. It was a blindside block.

[Host]

It wasn't even a tough one, you.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

Know, just a little peel back block. Had nothing to do with the play. Put the damn thing in your pocket.

[Host]

Yeah, like there's like a little hold potentially happening, but it's on the complete opposite side of it. It's like, are we going to stop this entire game for something that has nothing to do with the outcome of this game? And it's like DBs get stuff for holding backside plays whenever it's thrown. Yeah.

[Darius J. Butler]

The complete opposite contact 50 yards away from the play is terrible. But I thought the worst call in that, in that game when it was still a game was the false start on Ted Kerris on the center.

[Host]

Oh, the headlight. Oh, yeah.

[Darius J. Butler]

And then he does that every snap. And I don't know if they're cracking down on centers in general because they had one in another game where it was like on the half yard line and he.

[Ty Schmidt]

That was the packers game.

[Darius J. Butler]

Moved the ball up, move the ball. Centers have been doing that forever. So I don't know if that's a point of emphasis on centers in particular, but that take care is called. Was. That was unbelievable.

[Host]

Yeah. Very aggressive call to make.

[Boston Connor]

Yes.

[Host]

Hey, I'm going to decide the game.

[Darius J. Butler]

Fourth and two, early fourth. That was huge.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

He's only been doing that on every single play the whole game.

[Host]

And also that's a conversation with the refs right before, like long snapper. Our long snappers, Matt Overton and Justin had to talk to the refs beforehand about their movement and whole thing. I think centers had to do the same thing. I think AQ has had to talk to the refs because the refs, if they get a complaint from the other, the ref comes and tells the center normally, like, hey, they said that your head bob's a little bit too violent or something like that. Like that conversation takes place. So to call it on a fourth, I mean, that is a wild thing. Joining us now, ladies and gentlemen, is a man who's played through so many different eras, both in what you're allowed to do, to try to draw people offsides. You remember back in the day, quarterbacks were allowed to go, hey, it was an entire. Then they cracked on. You're not even allowed to move your hand in an aggressive way. Don't even think about moving your head forward. You got to stand exactly still. This man and I were drafted 221 picks apart, okay? And boy, I will say, from the beginning until now, there's vastly different levels to this shit for good reason. This guy is one of the greatest ball throwers of all time. He's a Super bowl champion. Ladies and gentlemen, the incredibly handsome man who was in the Super Duper Live Forever tube. Oh, yeah, training camp. Ladies and gentlemen, LA Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford. Come on, guys.

[Matthew Stafford]

How we doing?

[Host]

Hey, how are you? Thank you for joining us. We know it's a short week. Obviously you guys just had a massive win over the Indianapolis Colts. Can you tell? Hey, we're a good team. Colts Good team. Oh, yeah.

[Matthew Stafford]

Good football team. Good football team. Big physical football team.

[Host]

Put it on the ticker. I do love hearing that as watching that game, though. Obviously, I thought to myself, the Rams are one of those teams you're trying to figure out if you're going to be able to win in the playoffs. You guys are that, especially because of everything that you've done. It feels like you've had a couple different eras of this Los Angeles Rams team. Why do you think you guys have maintained success and why do you think your culture is kind of implemented in there so quickly, basically, since you get to Los Angeles?

[Matthew Stafford]

Yeah, I mean, I feel like the success comes from continuity. We have enough coaches. You know, it starts with Sean. He does an unbelievable job that guys come into the system, they know exactly what it's about, they know what they're going to do. And then I think our front office does a hell of a job about bringing in people that know what the Rams are all about. Hey, come in here, fit in, get in the locker room. Obviously, learn our system, but learn what we're about as a team and how we go about our business. The older guys try to carry on that, that tradition, keep the guys understanding what it's all about. Then we go out there and play.

[Host]

I enjoy watching your squad. I enjoy watching you play because I don't know if I'm 38. How are you? 37.

[AJ Hawk]

37, yep.

[Matthew Stafford]

37.

[Host]

Okay. I don't know how you're still. I mean, brother, the. You're. Huh. We're pretty. We're feeling pretty good still. I mean, I know you great ball throwers. I think I've heard Aaron talk about this. I assume there's been some baseball throwers, like, I'll always be able to spin it. Do you feel that way? We talked to Josh Allen about that. And how have you been able to maintain your health and physical capabilities? Is it that trailer tube that you wanted? What was it? The immortal chamber with a. I'm.

[Matthew Stafford]

That's right.

[Host]

What are you doing? How are. How is the body feeling? And you seemingly have only gotten better somehow, throughout the entirety. Whenever Father Time is supposed to slow us down, brother.

[Matthew Stafford]

No, I'm feeling good. Little touch and go during training camp. Little back issue. But as far as being able to spin it, man, I feel really good. You know, my body's been holding up, you know, really good for the first four weeks of the season. The arm feels live. Still trying to make some things happen out there, throwing the rock to, you know, the likes of Puka and Devontae. So it's been fun, it's been a good start and just trying to keep it rolling, man.

[Host]

Last question for me before the boys have some. And Coach BA is here as well. He sang your praises all morning. I don't know if your ears were burning at that early ass time of la, but let's talk about Devontae and Puka. Obviously it's a great time to have Devonte Adams on your team anytime. If you're a quarterback. How about whenever you got a guy like Puka who is maybe best wide receiver in NFL right now and then you got devonte Adams as another option off of that. How have those two paired so well together for you? And can you tell us about Puka kind of developing into the guy maybe in the entire league?

[Matthew Stafford]

Yeah, I mean they're both really talented players in their own right. Different, you know, play styles. Puka, big physical guy that, you know, run after the catch player does a nice job really in all phases. Devonta is an elite route runner, has been for forever. Ball skills. When the ball's in the air, the guy makes unbelievable body movements to catch it. I feel lucky and blessed to be the guy throwing in the rock. I think our coaches do a hell of a job dialing up stuff to, you know, let those guys be successful in their own right. And then, you know, I just got to pick and choose where the defense tells me to throw the rock and they do the rest. So I'm a lucky one.

[Host]

Knowing where to go is seemingly been your thing for a long time. Let me share some stats with you here, okay? From Hembo. Stats, guys, not always good for people. That's life depends on how their stats look. Okay? Kickers, punters, quarterbacks, pitchers, hitters, you name it. Not always great, these stats. You're going to enjoy hearing these and you're going to have to take these complimentary stats and enjoy them and really digest them. Okay? Don't be uncomfortable, don't be awkward. First four games of a season in 2012 with Calvin Johnson, Austin, Matthew Stafford, 29 receptions on 43 targets, 423 reception yards, 21 first downs. Okay? Okay. 2021 with Cooper Cup. You remember these? All of these throws, I assume. 30 receptions on 46 targets, 431 receiving yards, 18 first downs. Okay. 2025 with Pukinakua. 42 receptions on 50 targets, 503 receiving yards, 26 first downs. Johnson and Cooper cup wound up with the two largest yardage seasons in the history of the NFL. Okay. Which, oh, yeah, this guy has. So, hey, you and Puka are on a historic rate right now, brother. And you've been with them the entire time. That has to feel pretty good. We love UCE over here.

[Matthew Stafford]

Yeah, no doubt. It's. It's pretty cool. He's a special player. Obviously had an unbelievable rookie campaign. Set some records there and then, you know, he's only built off of that. So just continue to try to find him when we can and let him do his thing. Man, I'm just. I'm so happy to get to play with guys like that. They are special. You name three pretty unbelievable players right there. And so I was lucky enough to play with all of them.

[Host]

Yeah. And I think all of them would say we're lucky to have that tough son of a Georgia bulldog from Texas as the ball spinner. On that note, being tough, you, we've seen you. Broken neck, I think broken ribs back.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah. Threw a touchdown or like an 80 yard pass.

[Host]

Don't touch me. Don't touch me. Don't touch me, please. I got a broken collar button right now, actually. They're going to try to fix it during the timeout, but don't touch me right now. DBut has a question about all of that.

[Darius J. Butler]

Yeah, keep represent for the 09 class, making us proud. But you've been doing this for a long, long time. Pat talked about it earlier, Sean McVay, his offense, he's, you know, put out so many head coaches. The offense has been trying to be stopped for a long time. How have the defenses kind of evolved throughout your career, especially when it comes to kind of slow you in this offense down?

[Matthew Stafford]

Yeah, it's been a huge evolution. I mean, I think back to when I first got into the league. It was, you know, Tampa 2. We're bringing just, you know, old school smack and wham and playing three deep firezone behind it. Then it kind of went to the Seattle three morph, you know, when they were winning their Super Bowls and doing all that. Then Vic Fangio kind of came around and was doing a bunch of his stuff, catching things from depth. There's a bunch of great coordinators. As offense changes, defense catches up and vice versa. It's been a lot. It's kind of a fun challenge for me, to be honest with you, to try to remember what it was like back then. And now what. Now what we're facing is a whole lot different, but it forces everybody to kind of keep up and change with the times. And it's been a whole lot of Fun.

[Host]

I think Drew Brees, as you get older, you're just trying to keep your body up with your brain. And then when you're young, it's like you're trying to do the opposite. So when you talk about brain and you say you just rattled off a bunch of the defenses you face, there's a cyclicality to football. It feels like, are you pulling from early days right now? Whenever you're seeing some stuff or thinking of that, is that happening to you before every single snap? Are you like, how do you. Yeah, sometimes.

[Matthew Stafford]

Or if I'm watching tape during the week, I'm like, oh, you know what this reminds me of? This is kind of what so and so used to do. Maybe out of a different front or. Or they run this, you know, pressure off of a different front or something like that. So, yeah, I'm always. I'm always talking about that. Talking about, hey, where did this defensive coordinator come from? What tree is he in? Oh, he learned from him. This is the thing he might pull from the past. All that kind of stuff I'm sitting there wasting my time thinking about, for sure.

[Host]

Yeah, I love that. And dissecting the defense is what you old fucks can do, you know, that is the. The entirety of it all, especially if you can still just. I mean, just so good.

[Darius J. Butler]

B.A.

[Host]

What'D you say earlier today?

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

He's the only guy I went out and watched warm up every time we played him. And just because I was amazed at the throws he could make in warmups.

[Host]

I think I watched him and Kelly Moe up there in Detroit during war. I think you guys hit crossbar, like six straight throws alternating each other, and it was like the dumbest display of ball throwing that I've ever seen. We ended up winning that game, though. Hell, yeah. I didn't do anything. I didn't do anything.

[Matthew Stafford]

Still one that Andrews, fourth down, scrambling.

[Host]

Avery, we had so much fun. That was a walk off, brother. We went running up that tunnel. Yeah, I didn't do. I had a great time. It was awesome. I'm sorry that happened to you, but it was a great night and in Detroit for me. Yeah, that place was beautiful. On that note, throughout the history. Go ahead, con man.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah. Matt, Unbelievable game winner on Sunday. Although it felt. It feels as though me, maybe BA Ty could have made that throw just because nobody was around.

[Host]

Easy.

[Boston Connor]

Is that the easiest game winner you've ever had? And then when you realize there's 10 men, or actually, did you realize there were 10 men? And if you did, did you kind of have to, you know, hide yourself from smiling or realizing that, oh my gosh, the Colts just gave this game away.

[Matthew Stafford]

Well, well, it was a nice, you know, it's nice of them to leave one off for me. I wasn't expecting that out of the timeout but, but it really didn't affect that play because, because Tutu still had a guy on him. Tutu just ran an unbelievable route and you know, it's, I said this, you know, I think in a press conference after the game, but it's kind of like a clear out route. It's, it's the back, it's the fourth real like progression read we're looking at. But in, man, it kind of comes alive and just happy for him. He's kind of had an up and down start to the season, but an unbelievable way to finish it, man, just happy for Tutu, I think I watched.

[Host]

A mic'd up between Peyton Manning and Ray Lewis and Peyton Manning was telling Ray that he only has 10 people on the field. It was red zone play. You only got 10, Ray, you only got 10. And then you see Ray's head start looking around and then he calls a timeout and then they actually did only have 10. Is there? And now obviously what an interesting give and take by Peyton and Ray Lewis to have. Are you a chirper out there? Do you talk? How much are you? Because you do get fiery. We see you get very fiery out there. Is there chatting from Matthew Stafford at the age of 37, still on the field?

[Matthew Stafford]

I don't talk to the other team too much, you know, but I, I, I wear the helmet, I wear the pads. I play on Sunday so that I can go act like an idiot and be crazy out there if we do something good or bad. I get the mic'd up sometimes sent to me, the full uncut version and it's some off the wall shit. So I'm just, I'm happy that not all of it makes it to the airways, but I do have a lot of fun playing out there.

[Host]

Shout out to the LA digital and social team and the NFL films people looking out for all these years. NFL film film's been looking out for guys for a long time. Yeah, it's going into a vault, but somebody's going to have access. Don't worry about it. I said a lot of terrible things about like my own coach there. It's gone. Don't worry about it. Are you sure? Because if anybody shows that to him, I'm out of a job. Yeah, I, I am sure. That, you know, there's a lot of those things happening. Shout out to NFL films. And I appreciate the fact you're still human. Still love it, huh? Love it.

[Matthew Stafford]

Oh, love it. Have a blast. It's a. It's a hell of a challenge, but I. I still love doing it.

[Host]

Every day you wake up excited about ball. Is it like we're on the 16th hole, 15th hole? Just, hey, let's try to enjoy the hell out of these last. Like, are you. Have you changed your mentality of, like, who knows how many of these we have? Or have you always been like that? Have you seen that through the progression of the years?

[Matthew Stafford]

No, I think you always try to be that way, but it's. It's obviously a little bit more evident at the moment. I mean, I got a lot of great in this beard right here, so I don't know how much longer we'll be doing it, but I do enjoy the heck out of it, man. And. And I think, you know, with experience, you know, I gained perspective on. On how much I love this stuff and. And really missing time in training camp, man, it just gutted me that I wasn't out there. So that's a good. That's a good sign for me to know that I'm still loving what I'm doing.

[Host]

We were worried about you. Everybody was. Because it kind of was ominous. You were in that tube and then you were out, and then you weren't practicing. You're supposed to practice and weren't practicing. Was there scary times in training camp? Was there a worry? Yeah.

[Matthew Stafford]

Yeah, definitely. My clone's having a first, you know.

[Boston Connor]

That's wonderful to hear.

[Darius J. Butler]

Good clone.

[Host]

All right, so Matthew Stafford has the records with Calvin Johnson and Cooper Cup. The clone version is about to have.

[AJ Hawk]

The record with Puka.

[Matthew Stafford]

He's dealing to Puka right now.

[Host]

Well, I'll tell you what. These teeth.

[Matthew Stafford]

You'Re right.

[Host]

Clean. Clean uneasy. Let's talk about the Rams turnover on the other side of the ball. It has to be fun to watch. Go ahead, Ty.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah, Matt. You know, when you guys get rolling, I think everyone understands what your offense is capable of. And last year, right before you went on your big run, the kind of talking point was like, well, is this defense going to be able to get there because it's so young? And then obviously Jared Verse comes out of nowhere, finishes the year. Incredible. What has it been like watching the development of that defense over, like, the Pl the past year to where they're at now?

[Matthew Stafford]

It's been awesome. A bunch of Young guys, a couple key veterans in some spots that have really helped solidify it. They were outstanding on Sunday. They've done a hell of a job against the run so far this year. And then when the ball's in the air, those guys in the back end are making plays on it. Cam Curl with two picks is, you know, what more can you ask for if you're the quarterback? So it was. It was awesome. It's fun to watch them. It's hell to practice against them, to be honest with you. Our front is rushing like crazy. So it's a lot of fun to sit on the sideline and have a ton of confidence in the dudes that are out there going out there and making a play.

[Host]

They hunt, man. Yeah, they. They really do. It is a fun. You're a fun team to watch, just in general. I think it's perfect for Los Angeles. Last question. Here comes from B.A.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

Yeah, Matt, the. The division right now. Nobody's got a losing record. I mean, it looks like the toughest division in football. Where is the toughest place for you to go play, personally, in the division?

[Matthew Stafford]

You know, Seattle, traditionally. I mean, they've just done a hell of a job with. With their crowd. San Francisco, you know, is tough as well. Those two, you know, are the biggest. The biggest two challenges. Arizona.

[Ty Schmidt]

Arizona's obviously tough.

[Boston Connor]

They're there. Well, no, it's true.

[Matthew Stafford]

I mean, you look at us, we went there and laid an egg last year at Arizona.

[Darius J. Butler]

So, like, they're.

[Matthew Stafford]

They're a tough place to play, too. So it's all three. B.A. you're right, man. To me, it feels like the best division of football. Quarterbacks playing at a high level. Defenses are playing really good. It's tough football out there in the NFC west right now.

[Host]

How about favorite place you've ever played? Can't be Detroit. Can't be Sofi. Can't be Athens.

[Matthew Stafford]

Lambeau is my favorite spot. I love Lambeau.

[Host]

The tradition.

[Matthew Stafford]

Walk out that little tiny tunnel. Feel like Bart Starr walked at that tunnel. I mean, it's just an awesome feel, and I love the history of the game. And you feel like you're a part of it when you play there.

[Host]

We appreciate you joining us. Good luck the rest of the way. And hold it down for the old guys.

[Boston Connor]

Oh, yeah.

[Host]

Hold it down. You look great. You're spinning it.

[Matthew Stafford]

Appreciate it, guys.

[Host]

Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, super bowl champion Matthew Stafford. Thursday Night Football, 49ers versus the Rams. Rams favored by five and a half. Brock Purdy. Yeah.

[Boston Connor]

Why is he on the graphic is he definitely playing?

[Host]

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. 200 some million. 200 some million dollars.

[Boston Connor]

Just wonders toe is hurting.

[Darius J. Butler]

Short weeks, sore toe.

[Host]

Could get him a two weeks break. Could get a potentially two weeks.

[Darius J. Butler]

Hey, you better play Brock after that stinker.

[Host]

We love Brock.

[Darius J. Butler]

Gotta get out there and play ba.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

You gotta be out there, baby.

[Host]

You gotta be out there.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

It's all about availability.

[Host]

Yes, it is. The greatest ability is availability. That game is awesome for Thursday Night Football and the Los Angeles Rams. Exciting brand of football. Like always going to be seemingly technically sound. Okay. Sean McVay's literally running routes with them out there. He's a good ball coach. Right. It feels like Sean McVay not just obviously incredibly handsome, good talker, fast talker and everything like that. Substance wise as a coach, he's a great coach. Like that doesn't really get talked about much with Sean, I think because he's so young and he looks like he's 12. They're always good, it feels.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

Yeah. When you look at that lineage where he came from, you know, through the Shanahan system and all the people he's been with, he got great background and his coaching ability and his knowledge. And he knows how to teach it. He knows how to teach it and he brings a lot of enthusiasm to his guys.

[Host]

I like it.

[Darius J. Butler]

That's the thing you see most, like. Cause in the league, you gotta coach with intellect number one. Like, we gotta know we can trust you, that you're gonna put us in good positions. But it seems like he has the intellect, he has the energy, and like he can communicate. Like he can get what he wants across to the team, set their vibe. They always look like they come ready to play. You talked about the defense, so. So it's going on both sides of the ball. And you talked about not. Not only the coaching tree he's come from, but the coaching tree that he's already put out there. Being so young in his career, so many head coaches out there running some form of his offense.

[Host]

On that note, just got a text from Orlovsky. He said what? Zach Taylor's running is very different than Sean McVay now at this stage. And yes, I think the system hurts the offensive line. If you were wondering. Unsolicited. Okay, is what. But Dan or you don't know so.

[Darius J. Butler]

Much run game in. In. In McVeigh and the Rams. I think Ky Williams had like over 300 carries last week, so some of his personnel and Joe Burrow, Matt Stafford, both phenomenal quarterbacks.

[Host]

Different though I. I Saw it at the very end. We should have thanked him for it. Did you see the drawing he had of me up there?

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah, the top right for us.

[Host]

But what's Armis?

[Boston Connor]

I forget what the name is. They always do something zany, right?

[Host]

Yeah, they are zany bunch. Yeah, we appreciate that.

[Boston Connor]

Love that. Good energy.

[Host]

Stafford.

[Boston Connor]

So good.

[Ty Schmidt]

He's a ball player.

[Host]

I think it was. That was old. Old cba. That was old. Old CBA would have been a good time to be a number one overall pick. Yeah.

[Boston Connor]

Who was the last one?

[Host]

I think it was like 50.

[Darius J. Butler]

Bradford.

[Boston Connor]

Was it Bradford?

[Host]

Yep.

[Boston Connor]

That lucky SOB year before Cam.

[Darius J. Butler]

I think Cam was the first in the new CBA.

[Boston Connor]

Oh, geez, Cam.

[Host]

So sorry. I mean, it was vastly different and.

[Boston Connor]

He didn't get nil.

[Host]

Yeah, it was fast. That's a good point. It wasn't called NAL back then. Just to be clear. Deserved.

[Ty Schmidt]

Without a doubt.

[Darius J. Butler]

Every penny.

[Host]

Absolutely deserved it. Okay, let's get to if it happened.

[Darius J. Butler]

Legend, man.

[Host]

That Under Armour deal was so awesome though, that I bought Under Armor because if it's good for there, that's maybe the most athletically gifted person I've ever seen in my life with these eyes. If Under Armour is good for him, it's good for me. I think it was a good business decision. Whoever made said business decisions, whenever made said business decisions, people forget about Cam Newton. I think that is happening. He was unbelievable. Even the JUCO days where he's freestyling in front of the entire team, it's like this dude has always been front minded, like legitimately. He's got interesting hats.

[Ty Schmidt]

I will say he does. Look at the roster he was on at Auburn and how many guys played in the NFL when they won the national championship.

[Host]

And then people would say, look at the. Look at everything else.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah, look at the Panthers.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah, exactly.

[Host]

Yeah. Cam was special talent. Now on that note, that's no BS. It is time for one of our favorite segments of the week. BS or no bs with bs. Okay, we're gonna say statement that has been made by somebody somewhere and we've seen it. It's not us saying it. No, just like the P you blow it column.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah, exactly.

[Boston Connor]

It was everywhere. On the Internet. I. I couldn't stop.

[Host]

We were just trying. We're trying to figure out whether or not it's BS or no BS. All right, here's the first one. The Bengals might be dead. Dead. So a lot of people are saying after last night, especially no Joe Burrow here for the foreseeable future, no protection at quarterback anyways, if Joe burrows in there, inevitable almost for him not to be playing this season. Seemingly a reoccurring thought. They gave a lot of money to two wide receivers. Trey Hendrickson still not happy, not around long term. And they just got their asses beat on prime time. So the statement is the Bengals might be dead dead. Is that BS or no BS BA.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

That'S no BS because they can't block anybody.

[Host]

Okay? Okay.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

Right now they can't stop anybody. I mean it's. It's amazing to me that that is a very talented football team. And Jake Browning's had had games, but even he, he didn't have a chance to back foot last night a few times. And they're all over him. So if they don't get a running game, they're going to kill him.

[Host]

Okay, so the DC leaves obviously Luannaro. There's all the drama in the offseason about the deals that still haven't really been figured out going into this offseason. Trey Hendrickson most specifically. Are they going to think about being sellers, you think? Is that the. Would the goal be here to punt on a year? If you're the Cincinnati Bengals, like what do you think their mindset is if they are in fact, no bullshit dead dead at this point?

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

No, I think they're gonna go fight, fight, fight every week. You know, I mean, you're never gonna give up in this league and you know Zach's gonna be fighting for his job again and you know that defense, they gotta have some more pride about him.

[Host]

D butt. You think they're dead dead?

[Darius J. Butler]

Yeah, definitely dead dead. No historically bad run game too. I don't even know the exact number. Numbers. But Chase Brown and he had a decent year last year, but no run game. So you talk about, you know, coming from that McVeigh tree, you got to have run game, you got to have play action. I don't care how talented your receivers are on the outside, you can't be a drop back passing offense, especially with your backup quarterback.

[Host]

So everybody here with football brain session.

[Boston Connor]

We just saw him, we saw, we.

[Darius J. Butler]

Built the team in the offseason. Now you have an MVP caliber quarterback, he can cover up a lot of that shit. When you don't, shit can get ugly real quick.

[Host]

And it has. And we all had to watch it last.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah. Never again.

[Host]

Never again.

[Ty Schmidt]

Like let's. Let's do that right now.

[Host]

But aren't they.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah, probably.

[Host]

But they are. Thanks.

[Ty Schmidt]

Oh yeah. They are on Thanksgiving. Change it right.

[Darius J. Butler]

What?

[Ty Schmidt]

Change it right now.

[Host]

I think the Cincinnati Bengals are scheduled for prime time.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah.

[Host]

Thanksgiving.

[Darius J. Butler]

Can't have it.

[Ty Schmidt]

No, can't.

[Host]

That's a lot of eyes. Now, we had the Lions for a long time on Thanksgiving. Yes, we did. At noon. Yeah, you're right. It kicked off the day.

[Ty Schmidt]

And you can eat the tradition part of that, because that was part of it. It's like, hey, you wake up up, you're gonna have Thanksgiving lunch with your family. You're gonna watch the Lions get their asses kicked.

[Host]

No, they always put up a good fight. It was just devastating.

[Darius J. Butler]

Yes.

[Host]

It's a part of tradition to watch them lose.

[Ty Schmidt]

Exactly. We can't just be throwing in the Bengals because. Why not? Okay.

[Boston Connor]

Especially.

[Ty Schmidt]

And again, I said it yesterday. It's. This is not. This is not Jake Browning's fault. Okay, Look, I mean, you see it last night, but we don't need to be watching them on Thanksgiving night. Okay.

[Host]

Especially because we're all gonna be a little tired.

[Ty Schmidt]

Exactly.

[Host]

At that point, we won't watch. Good ball. That kind of carries us through. That kicks off the entire holiday season. The Cincinnati Bengals are going to be tasked with kicking off our holiday season.

[Ty Schmidt]

Not on my watch.

[Boston Connor]

And they're gonna have a lot more primetime games because Joe Burrows. So freaking cool. And Jamar Chase has so many cool dance moves. I hate the Bengals, dude, this sucks. Like, genuinely sucks. And. And he mentioned.

[Host]

Why do you hate the Bengals? They got a lot of cool stuff this whole offseason.

[Boston Connor]

We talked about just, I hate them. Can't even go into how much they suck. They probably have four more prime times games. But to what Pat said that Dan Uflovsky told them is, can he just change the offense? Like, can Zach Taylor just go out there and be like, okay, we're going to. Do you know what the Steelers kind of did? We're going to put six tackles out there when we run the ball, and then when we throw the ball, we're going to chip and help the O line. Like, why aren't they just doing that?

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

I mean. Yeah, that's a good question. Mean, you got to help your guys somehow.

[Host]

I don't know.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

The jump that they were getting. The Broncos were getting.

[Host]

The tackles weren't even out their stance. No chance.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

And the guy had no chance. So you got to chip, help something and. And run the damn ball some. And I think that's the big difference where they've gone to a 50 pass attack every week.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

Even with Joe. Joe does some super stuff, you know, that Jake can do.

[Host]

Well, they did the they're doing 50 passes because they just paid 60 million a year to the two wide receivers on the outside. And we asked the question to your point, DButtony offseason, you've been around football a long time. Somebody's been around, is this how you build a winning football team? Everybody with a football brain was like, nope, never have, never will. This is not how it goes. The wide receiver thing, he even said it there earlier whenever he was chatting tackles. You trade up and get one of those wide receivers. You get one of those guys in the third round, it's like, I don't think you can get a chase in the third round or a tee in the third round. But what they're saying, all the OGs of football is like, you can have an operable offense with maybe not an outright rock star at wide receiver. You can't have an operable offense if you have a bad offensive line like that, the wide receiver does not matter. You cannot get the ball to the wide receiver. You got to figure out this first. Inside out, I think is how everybody talks about building a team. And it did feel like all offseason the Bengals were literally starting as far out as they possibly could. And then they started going in and now granted they were put in a position where. Sucks for them to have to make those types of decisions, obviously, especially with talent that they had and have grown and everything like that in relationships. But everybody that knows ball was like, that's not a winning recipe. And then we watch on Monday Night Football them score three points and the quarterback is just getting absolutely brutalized. And everybody says, we told you so. That is basically what everybody is saying to the Cincinnati Bengals team. And I don't like that because unlike Conor, I don't hate Cincinnati Bengals. I like that they're a gritty football team, family owned football team. Wish they'd be smarter business wise. Think they've tried to. And their fan base treats it like it's a college team down there. You know, it is a great environment. The tailgating is insane. They always fill up. It's like, like it just feels like this, this particular roster construction might have to be re.

[Boston Connor]

You don't like the Bengals H. You don't like.

[Ty Schmidt]

Well, you, you don't hate.

[Host]

They were selling their TV's outer stadium to their fans.

[Ty Schmidt]

That was a. That was one of the better things they've done.

[Host]

That's a good hustle.

[Ty Schmidt]

55 inch TV for 80 bucks. Yeah, I think so. But it's not in the parking lot.

[Host]

They're doing that. Set up a tent.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yep. And when they're gone, they're gone. So get down here now and get them is basically what they're doing. It has nothing to do with hating them. You bury these guys at 1pm on Sundays.

[Host]

Okay. Thanksgiving.

[Ty Schmidt]

Can't have it.

[Host]

No, I want to have a good Thanksgiving.

[Boston Connor]

Me too.

[Ty Schmidt]

You think I want to be yelling at my mom and, you know, my. My grandma and stuff like that? My. My brothers? No, because that's what's gonna happen. We're gonna look up. It's gonna be 28 nothing with 11 minutes left in the first quarter, and we're gonna be saying, what are we gonna do here?

[Host]

We're gonna talk to each other.

[Ty Schmidt]

You know, we're gonna. Leftover.

[Host]

You have to talk now. There's no distractor.

[Ty Schmidt]

And because you're gonna have to do that, what are you gonna say?

[Host]

Politics, religion.

[Ty Schmidt]

I'm gonna go get. I'm gonna go get liquored up first, and then I'm gonna come back, and then we're gonna talk politics and religion, and we're gonna be doing that boozed up, and it's gonna be maybe the worst Thanksgiving ever.

[Host]

And that's all because the Bengals are on prime now.

[Boston Connor]

Who do they play do.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

Doesn't matter.

[Darius J. Butler]

Well, because.

[Host]

No, hold on. The Browns. If it's the Browns. Miles Garrett jumping over the offensive line and doing belly to back German suplexes, F5. But if he's doing release.

[Darius J. Butler]

Super Bengals. Browns.

[Boston Connor]

If it's Bengals.

[Ty Schmidt]

Browns on Thanksgiving night, they should fire Goodell right now, I don't think.

[Host]

Ravens. Browns. Oh, it's even worse right now.

[Boston Connor]

00 on Thanksgiving night.

[Host]

I think Jake Browning will slice a dice at Ravens defense right now.

[Boston Connor]

True.

[Host]

I think there's a chance.

[Boston Connor]

And whoever's behind Browning.

[Host]

Yeah. They just need to do what the Steelers did with Darnell Washington. They just need to bring in. That needs to be 12, 12 personnel. Even whenever they're trying to throw the ball, they need two assisters, they need tag teams, as many guys as you got. And you know what? Let's get a full back in there as well. Let's have one wide receiver, let's have one route on the outside. We got.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

We're paying them too much.

[Host]

They gotta both be outside. Oh, yeah. Okay. You're right. We can't even more because we gotta have both of them out there. Good luck. Bengals are pulling for you. All right, let's go back to BS or no BS With BA Go ahead, con man.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah, Bruce. Saturday Night Football. Football we all watched it and we were all pissed on how it ended. NFL games should end in ties and that is definitely the right decision. BA Is that BS or no bs.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

I think it's BS And I'm part of the problem, you know, because I was one of the ones that in the league meetings opted to go for a 10 minute overtime.

[Host]

Oh, this is your fault. Micah's return to Jerry world. He's a 40, 40, 10 because of you.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

One of the reasons, yes. We had a game with Seattle and we had 106 offensive plays. We couldn't even practice that week yet alone. If we'd had to play Thursday night, we'd no chance. And it was about a player safety. But I have a recommendation that now if it's a tie, both teams go out. You get the ball in the eight yard line, you score, you get the ball, you score until somebody wins the game. There are no ties.

[Host]

Okay, so it's not going to put.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

A lot of plays in. It's not gonna take a lot of time.

[Host]

No. And it also lets the stars decide.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

Let's go.

[Host]

So I had golden boot idea, okay? Golden boot idea. Have the snap, hold, kick from 55 against each other. 60, 65, 70. So player health and safety. Kickers can kick forever. And also it's electrifying what you just laid out. Golden boot, much better. Okay, so eight yard line, both sides. I think offense and defense on separate sides, on the field at the same time. I think break beforehand. Quarterbacks meet at the 50. There's a coin. It says first or second. Quarterbacks aren't even picking. It's just a first or second thing. And then they shake hands, then they walk back to their team. If this team's first, obviously they go, they don't score. Holy shit. Let's look down at the other end. Okay. This game, this play is about to start right here. As soon as this play ends, this play is now on play. Clock down here. And if they stop, we go back. They have to go first then that time. Right. And then they go back the other way.

[Darius J. Butler]

Well, you can't do it.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah, like college overtime where it's like offense, defense and then defense. Offense.

[Host]

Yes.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah.

[Host]

Defensive team. Yeah.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

Be very, very fast. And would be that many plays added to the game.

[Host]

Guys gonna be exhausted down there. Imagine three straight eight yard plays. Oh my God, the D line. Everybody's gonna be chasing their asses off at the end of that whole thing. That'll be electrifying. Somebody gets a big time stop down here.

[Ty Schmidt]

Oh, I like the inch line.

[Host]

Oh. Because eight yard line. There's some yak potential.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah.

[Host]

And there's some big. Yeah.

[Ty Schmidt]

Big shots.

[Host]

Big shots. There, there. Boom. Big shot knocked out of bounds at the half yard line. Obviously. Rest. Blow it dead.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yep.

[Host]

No, no, let's go down to the other end.

[Darius J. Butler]

Wait, you can't do that.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah.

[Darius J. Butler]

What if it's a jack, huh? Got Travis Hunter if he's on one end, he's got a jaw all the way down. You don't want Liam Cohen. You don't want him.

[Host]

You want to kill his back. We don't want problems.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah.

[Host]

You know what we didn't judge in that tail of the tape yesterday is Liam's got a little bit more. Yeah.

[Boston Connor]

He's like you now.

[Host]

Salah being six' four, I think is problematic for maybe everybody but Vrabel, mcdc and a couple others that are coaching currently in the NFL. Kelvin Shepard. I would give the advantage to over everybody. And any former players that are younger and still very fit, I would give them an advantage. Well, Cohen is going six two. He said.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah.

[Host]

Okay, let's make sure this gets a correction.

[Boston Connor]

Why did we change that?

[Host]

Why did we not change? This is outrageous. There was a clear omission of facts. He was six two. He's. He is six two. He's not six one. Said six one. He's six two. Internet said six one. That's Wikipedia. His actual college one said. Yeah, he was 62 actually. Yeah. Might have got shorter. Yeah, well, we don't know how to get older. And I'll tell you what, Solomon might be 270 at this point. We don't know what China. He could be heavy organ.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah. Especially if he knows he's about to get into a fight. You know, he might pack on some.

[Host]

Weight, but I like the eight yard line. Eight yard line shootout. That's. That's brilliant. I think that keeps the stars on the field. I think there is an exhilarating and I think it would end like it would have a, a prompt ending and people would feel justified that they got the win. I think if that was.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

Yeah. Everybody got. Everybody's got a fair shot.

[Host]

You did it, B.A. you ruined it. Yeah, you ruined it by voting for the 10 minute thing. But then you did. Now you're making it right, B.A. all right, last one here. This, this is more. So a question. Which Rushmore is BS and which Rushmore is no BS Rushmore on X debuted today at Rushmore on X. On X is where you find the full episodes about 30 minutes. Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Ari Emanuel, Ben Persky. Sit down and try to figure out the four best receivers, ball catchers. Because tight ends got added to it. Because I believe Tom and also everybody said, well, with how much the tight end catches the ball, if you want to put one on there, you can. They did. There's debates, there's battles from these two Rushmores and Ari and Ben's. Then one final Rushmore is created. There's heat, there's stories. It's a great show. It is a great episode from these two Rushmores that you see Peyton Manning's Rushmore of wide receivers, which is Jerry Rice, Marvin Harrison, Raymond Barry, great throwback in Tony Gonzalez to Tom Brady's Rushmore. Jerry Rice, Randy Moss, Larry Fitzgerald, Rob Gronkowski. You've coached numerous dudes that are up here, Peyton and Tom included. Which Rushmore is BS and which Rushmore.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

Is no bs BA I think they're both no bs. I mean, I don't know how you take any of them off. They're just eight great players and different eras. And I might throw John Mackey in there.

[Host]

Oh.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

Who has a war named after him and was running the premier tight ends ever or back in the day. But because I am a little old school.

[Host]

Yeah, you are old school. Tell me about Larry Fitzgerald, though. Tell me Rob Gronkowski. I don't want to spoil the episode. Rob Gronkowski. We all get a reminder, I think.

[Boston Connor]

Yes.

[Host]

Because everybody sees Rob having a great time literally everywhere. Doesn't seemingly take anything serious. I love that he is still just always himself, seemingly now. I think he's a genius too. I don't think a lot of people give him credit for being a genius. He is everywhere, seemingly getting paid all the time too. So let's make sure we acknowledge the fact that he has big time brains when it comes to being retired. But what they talk about him playing football, both Peyton and Tom, they start debating with each other basically about how great Gronk is. And maybe Gronk's the greatest. Yeah, maybe Gronk's the greatest of all time. They get in that entire thing. It is a great conversation. You got to coach Gronk. And Fitz, what are your thoughts on Gronkowski? I think people appreciate Gronk. I think they like Gronk, but I don't think there is like the Tom Brady's the Goat. I don't think there's a lot of like, hey, Gronk might be one of the greatest players of all time narrative out There. Do you think that should be and what did you see from Gronk behind us?

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

Yeah, I definitely think it should be because he's such a unique animal. He can block like a tackle. He could catch over the middle and you can put him out wide and he catch the phase one hand catching the guy. He's just. Just unbelievable skill set all over the field. And it was such a. He's a total mismatch.

[Host]

We thought Darren Waller was a little.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

Bit of a mismatch the other night. That's Gronk every day.

[Host]

Okay, so let's talk about that. This is what Tom had to say about Gronk on Rushmore on X. There are very few guys that could.

[Matthew Stafford]

Could get open on someone. Rob Gronkowski could get open on Darrell Rivas on the best corner of all.

[Host]

Time when Ocho Cinco couldn't. When to couldn't. When other guys couldn't. Gronk could get open on with his size and length. So you're talking about. The best cover guy in my mind that I ever played against was Darrell Rivas. And there were plenty of times where I threw balls and I practiced in 2014, Reavis was a teammate and I would put Gronk on Revis and Gronk was the best I ever saw it getting open on Reevis, and that was because of size. It was a tough matchup. Wow.

[Ty Schmidt]

But that's the only.

[AJ Hawk]

That's the only reason.

[Host]

That's a. That's a tremendous compliment. I mean, like, you know. You know, corners are supposed to be able to cover tight ends, but they can't. That means the guy, the guys. The guy's unique. Yeah.

[Boston Connor]

So he's a beast.

[Host]

Yeah. This was. There was final spots being up for grabs here because there's only four, obviously. So Tom just continued to pile on for Gronk.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah.

[Host]

Because Randy. I think everybody knows Randy Moss going to be on there.

[Darius J. Butler]

Got to be.

[Host]

I think everybody knows Jerry probably going to be on there. Those final two spots for the one Rushmore from Peyton and Tom's brains coming together, it got really heated in there. I'm going to be honest. It is great conversation, great football conversation. But the Gronkowski memory lane was fantastic. And I think a lot of people forgot about it.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah, it's incredible. I forgot about it because once, you know, ba stole Brady and Gronk. Go to hell. Everyone from New England kind of forgot those errors of them when they're in the Patriots. Seeing the Gronk, you know, highlights are unbelievable. Believable Especially when you think about his time in Indy when he just pissed on both of you guys constantly.

[Host]

Hey, it doesn't get talked about though.

[Darius J. Butler]

I was with him as a rookie in his first practice. You knew he was going to be special. Would have probably been a top 10 pick if he didn't have some back issues coming into the draft. But just a freak show in the run game and in the past game. You look at the other tight ends receiving Wise, Gonzalez, Gates, Kelsey, now it's the conversation. But when you talk about a total package run game, receiving, not a conversation.

[Host]

Tom Brady talked about how we were running behind him. Our rush game was Where's Gronk? Our pass game, where he's grown. I mean he's like the way they start talking about it, especially during the greatest dynasties of all time. And we asked BA to put together his quarterback rush more. He has Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Terry Bradshaw and then he cheated a little bit. Johnny Unitis and Otto Graham will share that one up there. Any quick thoughts on why you couldn't make just four?

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

Yeah, you got to go old school a little bit, you know. And Otto Graham had the best quote I've ever heard. He came in our locker room in Cleveland one Saturday morning. He said he looked at Tim Couch and Kelly Holcomb. He said, look, I never threw a bad pass in my life. Even the ones that got intercepted would hit my guy right in the chest.

[Host]

I love that. Gotta have that type of moxie on Mount Rushmore. If you agree, let us know. If you disagree, let us know. This is Joe Buddy Button.

[Darius J. Butler]

You and I make decisions every day. But on prizepix being right can get you paid. So I'm here to make sure you don't miss any of the action this football season with Prizepix where it's good to be right. With millions of members and billions of dollars in awarded winnings, prizepix is the best place to put your daily fantasy.

[Host]

Takes to the test.

[Darius J. Butler]

The app is really simple to use and available in 40 plus states including California, Texas and Georgia. Just pick two or more players across any sport. Pick more or less on their projections and if you're right, you could cash in. With simple stats and fan friendly policies, prizepix is the best place to make your picks. Most importantly, they don't play about your paper. All transactions on the app are fast, safe and secure.

[Host]

Click here to download the prizepix app today and use code TPMS to get $50 in site credits after you play your first $5. That's code TPMS to get $50in site credits after you play your first dollar five. Prize picks it's good to be right. Must be present in certain states. Visit prizepix.com for restrictions and details. Eight years ago I blew my football career.

[Boston Connor]

He dropped it at the one yard line.

[Host]

Chad Powers has arrived on Hulu. If I can't play as Russ, I'll play as someone else. My name's Chad and last name Lieutenant from executive producers Eli and Peyton Manning. Remember, you're wearing a prosthetic mask. This is acting and starring Glen Powell. He thinks you're a rubber chew toy. Not rubber. I'm a man made of flesh.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

The Hulu Original series Chad Powers is.

[Host]

Now streaming on Hulu and Hulu on Disney plus for bundled subscribers terms apply. New episodes Tuesdays Football that's a good cadence. Had a 47 year coach. Super bowl champion coach BA here. Great to see you coach. No risk and no biscuit. The toxic tables here at Boston Connor and at Ty Schmidt. Nine year NFL vet Darius J. Butler is here. Congrats to your dog. Dolphins. They look like a great team. The board Also congrats to 1/2 of the hammer dad Cowboys. Bubba Gumpino, congrats to your Dolphins last night. You, you've certainly rode the wave here of emotions with this team. Are you all the way back in? I know the Tyree Kill news is certainly devastating and he has posted thank you for all the prayers and love. He's at the hospital. We assume that his recovery and rehab is going to go well and smooth. But that's a devastating injury. I mean that's a, that's one they talk about long term. Yeah. Like your knees side especially for how explosive, how athletic he is. It's, it's sad. It is very, very sad. But away from that particular which is tough to just say hey, away from the guy that we paid more money to than anybody we had ever paid money to and we reset the entire wide receiver market and we said we're going all in offensively with McDaniel offensive guru and paying Tyree Kill. We think he's unguardable. We're bringing in two zero. We're bringing in a big system. It's hard to say without the Tyreek Hill news. That has to be one of the best nights you've had as a Dolphins fan in a long, long time. Gumpy.

[Bubba Gumpino]

By far this season for sure.

[Boston Connor]

By far.

[Host]

What about last year? What about last year? How'd it go last year?

[Bubba Gumpino]

2 it was hurt a lot. So it was pretty rough. Remember we had Snoop Huntley, Skyler Thompson, Seattle, 0 points. It was a little of a rough run. We got a four game stretch here. Browns, Panthers, Falcons, Chargers, you got a chance. Four games, you got to get back in the mix.

[Host]

Yeah, absolutely. And you know, you win three of those, it's gonna be good to have Darren Waller against that Browns defense. Is that in Cleveland?

[Boston Connor]

Three.

[Host]

What's that?

[Boston Connor]

Three of those gums?

[Bubba Gumpino]

Well, you have to win three to get back in the mix. Two's not enough.

[Host]

Don't be saying we're gonna playoffs. We're in a Super Bowl. It's overreaction Tuesday right now for Dolphins.

[Boston Connor]

No, I know. I just, I want to let them know. I don't think you need that, man. I mean the Bengals are banged up, the Texans are shite. Like all of a sudden those seven teams, you know, in week one that you thought were going to make the playoffs, there's a few that are definitely right now out.

[Host]

Wild card spots, potentially available, Ravens 1 and 3. What are they going to be? Yeah, Lamar Jackson, let's stay in that conversation for a second. I believe the Adam Schefter podcast who that you were co host of, you guys do a great job. Was talking about this morning something about Lamar Jackson and, and I just kind of assumed that this would be the case, especially because he ended up not playing for the last quarter and a half of a game in which it was only a 17 point deficit in a huge game against the Chiefs. And him being on the sideline obviously was alarming to all of us. He had a hamstring strain is how it's being talked about. There's now kind of indicators for what's happening this weekend. Right. Shefter was saying.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah, Shefty said that where things sit right now he gets the feeling that Lamar Jackson is not going to play Sunday against the Texans. And I can't remember who they have the following week, but then the week after that they have a buy. And he said obviously, you know, it's too early to say that, but he, he's wondering if they don't try to maybe sit Lamar the next two weeks, get him through the buy to get him healthy. Because he said Harbaugh did say, hey, even if this wouldn't have been a close game, like Lamar wasn't good enough to come back in. So he has a legitimate hamstring issue. So we'll see, Yeah, I mean we'll see what happens on Sunday, but after of right now, on Tuesday, Chef, he doesn't think he's going to play on Sunday.

[Host]

Joining us now, ladies and gentlemen, is former Cincinnati Bengal. Everybody forgets about that. That's right. College football national champion, super bowl champion Rider cup winner. Ladies and gentlemen, the all time leading tackler for the Green Bay Packers, Hofnom AJ Hawk Hawker. We know you from your Cincinnati Bengal days and obviously you grew up in Centerville as a Cincinnati Bengals fan. They seemingly are in trouble, especially after losing last night. 283 Baltimore Ravens seemingly in some trouble. Cleveland Browns have a chance at this thing, even though, you know, there's really no expectations offensively for them to be great for that long of a time. I mean, the fact that the Browns might actually.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah. Come out of this.

[Host]

And then the Pittsburgh Steelers, obviously. Yeah, they make some plays there. Then the Pittsburgh Steelers like the AFC North North. Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers all of a sudden sitting in a very favorable spot to potentially make it to the dance. A.J.

[AJ Hawk]

Yeah, it is. And starting with the Bengals. Yeah, this is. It was a tough one to watch, I think. And B.A. hit on it. Like when you have, you know, they're running a three man rush and they're both outside rushers are getting off the ball so quick. Our guys aren't even out of their stance yet on the outside. That's. It's just tough, man. I don't know what it would be like to be on the Bengals right now throughout this stretch and what they have coming. Coming, you know, in the future without Joe Burrow for the foreseeable future, that's for sure. I don't know what you do, but yeah, AFC North. What are you talking about? The Steelers have to feel very, very good about where they are.

[Host]

We had a point now, Coach, where these teams know who they are. Like do we think teams are starting to find out who they are by week five or so? I know nothing matters till Thanksgiving like Bengals playing primetime Thanksgiving night. We can't wait to that. But do you think teams are starting to figure out who they are and if they're.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

Yeah, they should really know who they are right now. These should have your identity down pat. Now, injuries change a lot of things. You know, when you lose your quarterback, are we going to become a running team? We got to change things. Lose a couple of tackles. We got to bring tight ends in. That changes things. But you should know who your football team is right now.

[Host]

All right, let's talk about some drama around the NFL. It's only continuing to build. A.J. brown, after a huge win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Philadelphia Eagles continue to be dominant. It. I mean, the Philadelphia Eagles just go into somebody else's house and beat them. Phil half. What's that?

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

Four half.

[Boston Connor]

Don't matter if it was a half.

[Host]

Quarter of that game, coach. I mean, there was almost some more Cardiac Baker coming back and four straight comebacks in the fourth quarter would have been electrifying and great for the Baker Mayfield tail. But the Philadelphia Eagles do what they do. They're solid block, get a big block in the kicking game. Jalen does his thing. The tush push innovative. And they don't even need to really throw it to the wide receivers. BA what are your thoughts? Did you. Do you feel good about where Tampa Bay is after losing to Philly and what are your thoughts on Philadelphia before we dive into the drama?

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

Oh, yeah, I feel real good about Tampa Bay situation because there's still all the injuries and guys that are missing, but I mean, they didn't complete a pass in the second half and they dug too many block kicks for the Bucs. But I kick every week. That's how to change. But I love the imagination Nick Sirianni and Kevin did last week with the tush push and the little shuffle pass and I mean, everybody's got him. They knew, they knew they might get stopped going up the middle. But it was great coaching.

[Host]

Yeah, Philadelphia Eagles are on fire right now.

[Darius J. Butler]

I mean, that defense, like, I love their defense. Zach Bond is awesome. Campbell, I think he's going to be great. The rookie linebacker they have.

[Host]

But.

[Darius J. Butler]

But two. And we talked about it preseason, my sophomore superstars, I had two Eagles, Quinion Mitchell and Cooper DeJean. And like, those are probably the two best corners playing like Quignon followed Ibuka a lot in his face. One of the best press corners in the league already. And Cooper DeJean played some outside corner, played a nickel. But like his awareness, physicality, like those two, those are two young superstars. I'm talking about, like top 10 players, years on defense.

[Host]

Right now, Cooper De Jean's playing outside and inside. A little bit of a hybrid.

[Darius J. Butler]

Yes, absolutely. And they need, they need help on the base because they're the outside corner. You know, you had Odor Jackson out there. You traded for Jacorian Bennett from the Raiders. So they've been kind of looking for somebody out there. He can play out there like 1,000%. But when they do go sub, which they play majority sub with that quarters kind of show that Stafford kind of talked about with Fangio, like, you got to have Cooper Dean in the interior of that defense when it goes up.

[Host]

We're so proud of Cooper. Yeah. Aren't we?

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah. I'll take a bullet for that guy.

[Host]

Great Hawkeye.

[Ty Schmidt]

He is one of the best ever.

[Host]

How come? He's going to start a trend, isn't he? This is going to become a new thing.

[Darius J. Butler]

What's that?

[Ty Schmidt]

I don't know if they're making a whole lot of Cooper de Jeans out there.

[Host]

What are you saying? What do you mean?

[Ty Schmidt]

Just uber, uber, uber athletic white guys. Well, I just don't know how many of those guys are growing on trees.

[Host]

You're talking about Caucaso points out there.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah, exactly. Guys who can go. Go line up in the NFL. And. And you're not like, oh, Jesus Christ, there's a white guy out there.

[Host]

We know. Seahorn. Humble.

[Boston Connor]

Exactly so.

[Host]

Good. Think about the things that have been said to these wide receivers in the NFL in meeting rooms about Cooper Dean locking them down legitimately.

[AJ Hawk]

Just think, don't let this guy lock you down. You cannot let this dude lock you down. You know that's happening.

[Host]

I might argue that Cooper Dean causes the most amount of talk maybe in the history of professional sports.

[Darius J. Butler]

I would say he's got some to him, too. Oh, yeah, he got. He got a taunting penalty, came down, made a great tackle, kind of did the AI step over, which I love. And I hate the tone. I know it's a point of emphasis coming into the season, but he definitely got some to him.

[Host]

What was it? Jordy Nelson? Jordan? Ears don't walk over, I believe. Yep. Give me that. That. Give me that.

[Boston Connor]

It's football.

[Host]

Lou Donner. Right. I believe that's who he steps over in that entire thing. But the. The thought of Cooper Dean being maybe the greatest of all time. Okay. Greatest white of all time on defensive side of the ball.

[Boston Connor]

That's a huge cornerback corner.

[Darius J. Butler]

Yeah, he's already here.

[Host]

Wow. What about. Already the greatest.

[AJ Hawk]

What about Denver?

[Host]

Yeah. What about.

[Ty Schmidt]

Oh, yeah, he's good.

[Darius J. Butler]

He's good.

[Host]

He.

[Darius J. Butler]

He's good. He's good. He's. You got to pick it up a little bit, but it's not a question for me.

[Host]

The greatest white DB of all time, not db.

[Darius J. Butler]

We got Harrison Smith. Got Eric Weddle. I won't go db, corner cornerback, without.

[AJ Hawk]

How many are to choose from?

[Host]

It doesn't matter, A.J. doesn't matter. We got it. We got you, co. Congratulations. I tell you what, you put them out there on that island. A little bit more sunscreen. Yeah. Okay. It's a little brighter out there. Okay. There's a lot of that stuff, he's the greatest of all time. We need to celebrate that. It's. It's early. That touchdown Super Bowl.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah, exactly.

[Host]

I mean, this guy is, yeah, huge. So you'd think he'd want to be teammates with that guy. So this is what happens, Coach B.A. this undefeated football team just got out of super bowl, okay. They also paid wide receivers, very good wide receivers. And what we have learned in the NFL, which is why we're so impressed with what Sirianni was able to do last year, is if you got two stud wide receivers in their entire legacy, their entire bag and career depends on how often either offensive coordinator is deciding to get them the ball or a quarterback is deciding to get them ball, or an offensive line can protect for a quarterback to get them the ball. A lot of things depend on other people for how they're going to be remembered and how much money they're going to make. So I think the wide receiver in nature is naturally a little bit louder than everybody else, you know, a little bit more demanding. We would say the position as a whole kind of has that. So balancing two superstar wide receivers as they were a run dominant team last year, I thought Nick Sirianni did an incredible job with that. The wide receivers were actually the guys that dumped the Gatorade on Sirianni, Devonte and A.J. brown. Then A.J. brown gets targeted nine times, has two receptions, and they don't complete a pass in the second half. Half of a game in which they go to 4, 0. AJ Brown, who's a guy that we saw him go for 100 plushes a couple weeks ago, still got it. Absolute beast. He puts out a tweet, says if you're not welcomed, not listen to, quietly withdraw, don't make a scene, shrug your shoulders and be on your way. Now, doing all that, does the complete opposite of everything in the middle of that particular take there. But he didn't outright say anything, so I think he's still good. He's just saying, I mean, worse people wouldn't do it the way I'm doing it right now. So good for me. Here's Nick Sirianni answering to AJ Brown about his importance on the team. Yeah, yeah.

[AJ Hawk]

You know, obviously AJ Is very important to this football team. You know, I know he wants to contribute. I know he wants to contribute and, you know, do the things that he's capable of doing and, you know, but yeah, I mean, so it again, he wants to contribute into, into these wins and, and he's had a couple games where he hasn't been able to, you know, and for different reasons of why we haven't in these games.

[Host]

So.

[AJ Hawk]

But I question nothing about, you know, his. His desire to play great football, his desire of being a good teammate, his desire to be here.

[Host]

We'll go to Jeff Nyberg and then John McMullen. Nick, how do you go about addressing a situation like that with AJ Is it something you talked to him about last night after it happens? Do you talk to him today?

[Ty Schmidt]

Have you talked to him and what was that conversation like?

[Host]

Good question.

[AJ Hawk]

Yeah, obviously, you know, always talk to him. Somebody I talked to on a daily basis. I try to reach out to all our guys on a daily basis and won't get into, you know, any private. Private conversations that we have with any of players about any topic.

[Host]

Right. That's a.

[AJ Hawk]

That sacred relationship between the head coach and players, and we'll always keep that private, but always in constant communication with. With all these guys.

[Host]

Okay. Coach BA Wide receiver position and head coach relationship is obviously one of those ones that has been seen publicly. You're a part of one of them with AB Obviously, with how that whole thing goes. And from what I've heard, AB Worked his ass off, showed up at everything, but obviously expected ball as well. A lot of other wide receivers, same situation. How do you think Coach Sirianni handles this, and what do you think A.J. brown's like, end game is here? Do you think he wants the ball more? Do you think this is a way to try to get the ball more? Do you think he wants out? What do you think it is and how would you handle.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

I think he just wants to contribute to the winning. You know, they've had so much success. I think Nick's handling it perfectly. It's a personal thing between he and the head coach, he, the receiver coach, and the quarterback. And they've got so many weapons. There's just one ball, you know, and one guy can't get it all the time. So if you're doubling him, Devonte might get it, or they might start doubling devonte. He'll get it. I think there are ways to get cheap, cheap, cheap, cheap catches.

[Darius J. Butler]

All right.

[Host]

Do you feel like you got to do that sometimes people, hey, we got to get him into game.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

I got to get him. He's got to have a ball in the first five plays because they're looking at the script. When am I getting the ball? Where's my play?

[Host]

First 15.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

Oh, yeah. I mean, first thing. And I've had a few of them, like, okay, I'm Good. I'm going to get this screen. I'm going to get. I'm going to get this ball on this one. Okay. I'm happy. I'll play my ass off.

[Host]

All right. If you don't say, I didn't even think about getting the first 15 either a couple days beforehand or the night before and just being like, whoa, I'm not even a part of this.

[Boston Connor]

The fuck is this?

[Host]

And so you go into the game mad almost.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

Oh, hell yeah.

[Host]

You're going into the game pissed. And then whenever it ends up happening how the script kind of laid out to it, then there's even more. And A.J. brown's like, I don't want to be. He's kind of Trey Hendricks in this. He's kind of Trey. I don't want to be the guy that says this, but what the fuck Is what he's basically tweeted there in Sirianni having the juggle. That's going to have to be a real thing for this team because they're very good without throwing the ball. I mean, they're 40 right now. They're fresh off a Super bowl champion. I mean, like, they. There's no end in sight for this team.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

If they weren't winning, it'd be a big problem. Winning solves a lot of these issues, all right? If you're 1 and 3 and this shit's going on, it's a whole different story.

[Host]

Do you think one loss brings this conversation to the forefront yet again?

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

No, they're still be in first place. And I think. I think this. This team's pretty tight. You could tell. And I think there have never been a great wide receiver that I've coached that didn't want the damn ball.

[Host]

All right?

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

It's your job as a coach to get him the ball.

[Host]

So you're saying you think maybe the script will change a little bit. Let's go ahead and just put him at running back here. Yeah, we can wheel route this thing. And if he does, he doesn't want it to be a rush. He wants it to be a reception. We'll have Jalen back up a foot and kind of just give him this ball. Do the run drop. Let's get him. Let's get AJ Brown in this game. You think that happens? And that's what he's doing this for? For sure.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

I know it happens. We've done it many times.

[Host]

Go ahead, Connor. Yeah.

[Boston Connor]

This is like the third straight year AJ Browns do this. So either say your piece or shut up. Stop doing it, it's annoying. But when for you, like when, when Debun and Pat talk about like hey, BA would say, hey, there's a five star game. You know, we're gonna need our five star players to show up. But then sometimes you say like, hey, this is a one star game. Like we need our one star guys to contribute.

[Host]

Utter guys, the utter guys.

[Boston Connor]

When it is like a one star game and you know that the other team is going to take out like a Mike Evans or they're just going to completely eliminate like a Gronk when you had them like what, what do you say to those guys? Because it feels like the strategy for most of these teams was like, hey, we're going to make them make Jalen throw the ball, but he's still not getting the ball. So like what, what do you say as a coach to your five star players when you know it's going to be a one to three star game?

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

Yeah, I mean exactly that. You just put it out. Hey look, you're probably getting doubled the whole game. Your, your touches are going to be down. So and so is going to have to step up in the middle. You know, it might be a K. Dotten or whoever your young tight end is. He gets 10, he gets 10 targets and I, I think now as a coach too, you move those guys around where it's hard to double them, stack them, release them, get them, get them little screen passes, just get any, just get him the damn ball somehow.

[Host]

So I saw the Vikings and Steelers do that this weekend. Justin Jefferson was force fed the ball. DK Metcalf was force fed the ball and I love seeing it AJ because too often I don't want to poke fun at play callers or offensive head coaches. Too often it feels like, well, they just took that guy out of the game. It's like, guy's really good. Can we just not get him the ball? It sounds like BA is like there is definitely a conversation to be had about getting these guys to ball even whenever we can't. I like that the Steelers and the Vikings did that this weekend. I hope that continues. Now. Justin Jefferson's going to get. He had 18 catches in what, like the first half?

[Boston Connor]

Yeah, like 25 targets or something.

[Host]

And they go into the game saying this guy can't get the ball. So KOC definitely does that. But like DK getting force fed the ball, the studs getting force fed and offensive coordinators making them get the ball happening around the league, I think feeds into A.J. brown going like, we can definitely Figure out how to get me the ball.

[Boston Connor]

Puka.

[Host]

Yeah, Puka. Naku is getting rock. Devonte's getting the rock. Can they. This is if they win though? Who cares is how everybody views it, I guess. AJ yeah.

[AJ Hawk]

As long as you win, things can get.

[Host]

They.

[AJ Hawk]

They do get kind of swept under the rug. It'll eventually. I mean, if it continues to go on and on, he's not getting any. The amount of targets he feels he deserves. Yeah, it could be an issue, but I mean, that's the problem about having a good team. It's one of the good. It's a good problem to have as a coach, I guess when you have a lot of talented players that they all need and want the ball. But BA is right. You could find a way. I would imagine a guy like AJ Brown, any stud receiver would appreciate when a coach finds ways to get him the ball easy and early on in the game. I think of it more from a quarterback's perspective. Like imagine a young quarterback and having that kind of pressure of trying to force feed the ball to certain stars, cars. I can imagine that would be an issue. I don't know if BA had to deal with that at all as a coach, but I. For a young QB to have one or two guys that somehow will continue to be unhappy if you don't push in the ball enough, what does that do to a young guy?

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

No, it's hard, man, with those young guys in the huddle and that guy's looking at you like, I'm going to be open, dude. No, you're not. You guys say, no, you're not, bro. They're doubling you. It's like, throw the damn thing anyway. I'll get it.

[Host]

Okay, so. So there was a moment, I think Costanzo tackle jumped off sides on a play. Play was designed for Reggie to get a touchdown. I forget what the play was like. Reggie has a walk in touchdown. And the way Costanzo tells the story is he jumped off sides. Oh my God, what an idiot. Then he gets back to the huddle. He already wants to physically damage himself, you know, because that's how he is. And he's in the huddle and then Reggie's just sitting there basically in the huddle, just like looking at him. And it was at that moment Costanzo realized, fuck this guy too. It was like, like the way Constanzo tells the story is like one of the best stories I've ever heard. He's like, I already think I'm getting fired and I think my career's over. And I'm heading back into the huddle and then I realize, oh, there's one particular guy that hopes all those things potentially are happening at this exact moment. It was the guy that was supposed to get. They walk in. Touchdown. And we're talking legacies and careers and everything. There's so many things dependent upon for a wide receiver to get the ball.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah, yeah.

[Host]

I mean, that's real, though.

[Darius J. Butler]

And that's the other part of it. We always talk about how much of a business this is. Like, he signed a great deal a couple years ago. You looking around the other guys who are in kind of his tax bracket, they're proof producing. They're getting numbers, they're getting targets. And I'm not so winning, obviously, that that covers up a bunch of it. And ultimately, we want to be winners, but to everybody's point, you want to feel like you contribute. And all we know the wide receiver. Wide receiver, 1. The egos and the things like you need like that. And that's what makes them great, is being a part of the game, being the guys that can change the math. And these defenses are keying in on 11, too. You coming in every game. They're going to have their game records on the board. It's going to be 26 and it's going to be 11 in the past game. So credit to them and the Tampa Bay Bucks. Looks Morrison, he's a. He's a young dog as well. I think he's going to be a great cornerback in this league for a long time. McCullough, they got some good, good DBs back there, good defensive coaches who are going to take him out. So the offensive coaches got to do a little more to get 11 the ball, too.

[Host]

Yeah, I hope so. I hope we get them. I hope they continue to go. They have a chance to be real. This team has a chance to be very real. You talked about the defense, special team. Yeah. We're talking dynasty in. Siriani is the leader of. Like, this is a hilarious. This is the complete opposite of the Bills. Bill Belichick. Yeah, like, literally the complete opposite of it. It's like showcasing that you can win in a variety of fashions, but you still need the same shit at the end of the day, no matter how you implement it. And it's like Sirianni is going to have to jump. This is two years in a row where this is going to. It's a gift, but it's certainly a curse as well.

[Darius J. Butler]

Been dealing with his whole career, though.

[Host]

Well.

[Ty Schmidt]

And that's what nobody Talks about it, but like, you know, because same deal, you want to take his first press conference and like, he is. He's just. He's a bit of a different dude, but like, like, you have to have a very high emotional intelligence to. To be able to deal with this for this long. Like, he said it right there. He's like, you know, I got to check in with AJ Every single day. You know, like, there's a couple guys who he knows. Like, he's not happy. I got to make sure I can at least massage this a little bit. Because it's not just that, like, look who they've beat so far. They've beat three of the best teams in the. Like, they beat the Cowboys first week, but they beat the. The Chiefs and the Ram. Yeah. The Rams. And then. Yeah.

[Boston Connor]

Beat the. Out of you.

[Host]

Beat the hell out of you. Bruce and I, I heard Sirianni was like, is this the house that Bruce Arians.

[Ty Schmidt]

He was talking to Baker. It was awesome.

[Host]

Be Baker and Siriani. Yeah. Oh, my God.

[Ty Schmidt]

He's chirping him like all game, like, follow going up and down the sideline. Like, that's Sirianni, though.

[Host]

Have you met Sirianni?

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

Oh, yeah. Very well. I like, I like Nick a lot.

[Host]

He is. He's awesome.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

I mean, he's himself.

[Host]

They try to kill him. They tried to kill him. They were winning games last year and it was like, this guy, the reason the Eagles aren't going to win.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah. When they lose, it's going to be his fault.

[Host]

They've won five straight. Yeah.

[Boston Connor]

Doesn't matter who's the weakest thing.

[Host]

But. But it was a lot of that for Sirone. Now it's the offense coordinator.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah.

[Host]

Now the offense coordinator is the one that's like, need.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

He was a genius this week, man. Look what he did with the tush push.

[Host]

I agree. First of all, sweet.

[Boston Connor]

The Philly Jones are real pissed they already used that play. Is that a thought for coaching? Like, why are they using this right now instead of, you know, the divisional round?

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

No, because they would have lost the damn game.

[Host]

They didn't score. Well, that's Buccaneers Bruce right there. So that is. That is how he. 270 yard touchdowns kind of brought it back. What? Go ahead, A.J.

[AJ Hawk]

It helps their tush push as well. Because now you got to think about, hey, they. They're not guaranteed to run the tush push. They can run outside as well.

[Host]

Anything you put on tape. Tape is good for the future. But on that note, if they would have just continued and Then in the biggest moment, drop that out there. Sirianni would have been genius. Yeah, I am a genius. I. You fall for the trap. Now, granted, that's Vita Ve over there, too. Remember Vita Ve and the Bucks did.

[Ty Schmidt]

Beat the Tush, kind of the antidote.

[Host]

So them actually just being like, yeah, we're not doing that again. No way is Vita versus on the team. Yeah, he's so. Oh, remember we beat the Levante. David said we handled the touch.

[Boston Connor]

We'll be ready for it.

[Host]

We'll try to do it again or whatever. And that's like a probably. I assume Tampa Buccaneers defense is very proud of that.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

Like, oh, yeah.

[Host]

This game, this play that was going to change rules of games because nobody could stop it. We stopped it. And then all week, Sirianni's like, look at them down there. They're gonna. We got it. We got it. And then just hook, line, and sinker. We're going right now.

[Boston Connor]

What T. I see what we do.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah, wait till I see what we do.

[Host]

Genius, man. And then A.J. brown's like, can we not have put me in there maybe?

[Boston Connor]

Yeah, Hand me the ball.

[Host]

Okay. Couldn't I've done the little skippity doo dah in there instead of the guy you just paid two years early in the entirety of it all. Good luck to the Eagles.

[Ty Schmidt]

With the expectation after all of this happens and he puts out that tweet, like, would you expect A.J. brown to have 10 catches for 150 yards next week?

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

Yes, I would. At least 10 targets. You know, whether or not he gets 10 catches, but the ball's coming his way for sure.

[Host]

This is like when OBJ joined the Rams. Remember, like the first drive. Yeah. Was just Stafford to OBJ every single play. Antonio Brown to the Patriots, I think same exact thing.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah, it was like five catches and a touchdown on the opening drive.

[Host]

In Miami, there is a statement that can be made to these guys like, hey, you are a very vital piece of this entire thing. Even though if the rest of the of the game, we're not able to because we got Saquon Barkley back here and we got the offensive line. You can, you're saying, extend a relationship or an olive branch and saying, hey, we still appreciate you and we're going to need you through this, because you never want to give up, right? Never even clear out routes, blocking. You never want to your stars to just say, what am I doing this for? Am I just here at track practice? The hell AM I running 70 yards of a clip every time. If I'm never going to get the rock. You can see why they're upset. But also they're undefeated.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah.

[Host]

So it's hard. It's hard. You know, doesn't really matter. Yeah, it's a really hard thing to kind of go to bat for. Let's talk about some other stuff happening around the sports world. I hate to say this.

[Darius J. Butler]

Oh, no.

[Host]

I've really enjoyed watching this European team Enjoy this rider company. Oh, jeez. A.J. have you seen this? Yeah. They.

[AJ Hawk]

They seem to know how to have a good time.

[Host]

All of them. They get along so well. I mean, Ro, Ro, listen to this. Oh, my gosh. Oh, my God.

[Boston Connor]

Shut up.

[Host]

Okay, so that moment's happening. That's my first thought was, too. That's a good song. I'll need to hear you guys doing that. And then you go to the press conference when Rory is asked about a couple give and takes in the crowd. Not just listen to Rory, listen to the whole team. Listen to the jocularity and how. How well this team gets along. God. Running foxy.

[Boston Connor]

With all that in mind, everything you.

[Host]

Go through, how satisfying it is it.

[Boston Connor]

To turn around to someone and say.

[Ty Schmidt]

Quote, shut the F up, and then.

[Host]

Stiff it to two feet?

[Ty Schmidt]

Very satisfying.

[Host]

Congratulations. Congratulations. It wasn't stiff.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

It wasn't stiff.

[Ty Schmidt]

I had to put it.

[Host]

The jocular Shane Lowry, who goes from one don to winning the entire thing with one incredible hole, the in and a great putt. This guy's standing on bars. Drink.

[AJ Hawk]

This is great.

[Host]

Look at this. I mean, and then they head to downtown New York right next to the Brooklyn Bridge, and take one of the coolest photos that I've seen and tell some truths, a lot of truths, in the middle of this thing from Broadway to Beth Page. New York was built on the backs of Europeans. And it's like, damn, this was planned out. They had all this, hey, we're doing this photo shoot. We're going to go ahead and have all this. It's like they had a mindset that they were going in here to win for the fifth time ever, that Europe has gone to America and won. You know, the four stripes on their jersey was to. Or on their polos was to indicate the four other times that they've won away. But it's like they had a plan. They seem to be team and they had so much moxie. And they showed that while they were playing, while they were putting. And now in their celebration. I can't help but respect it. Honestly, AJ I can't help but respect it.

[AJ Hawk]

Yeah, I respect it. But I mean, it's a true. Like this. They, They're a team we talk about all the time on this show. Like, you can't really measure what puts like a great team. And you. We've both spoken. Hey, the best teams I've ever been on. The guys, we were the closest. We hung out off the field all the time. That's what you get like when you, you get that feeling when you watch these guys, especially when you watch them celebrating all their little side comments back and forth during the presser. Like, these guys, you could. They feel like they've all grown up together and that they're all best friends and it's. There's a reason that they play well together and they win. I mean, that was ridiculous.

[Host]

He said that? Yeah. He took the thing for a stroll legit, and then fist bump to the crowd. What? Think about making putts in front of that.

[Ty Schmidt]

Oh, yeah.

[Host]

And then they were just locked in. But I think it's because to AJ's point that we were kind of talking about them being a team. They've been on like a group text for like two years. These guys, like, they, they, like, they're real family. It feels like their wives and girlfriends, old friends. It's like they're a real team that came in here and kicked our ass for the better part of two and a half days throughout the Ryder cup. Ba, we know you're a big time golfer, obviously, big team guy. And just like all of us would like to see United States win anytime we're taking on anybody else. On that note, what was your thoughts while watching Ryder Cup? And I think we need a, you know, like right now in the soccer team, they're going through this with Ponch, trying to find our style of team for soccer. Like, Ponch is not necessarily just going with who's been on our national team. He's trying to find dogs to kind of fit in with our stars. Trying to change the culture and mentality more so to be American, that American team. Foxy's biggest takeaway whenever he looked at the roster was, we had no mock. We got no swagger, no moxie. Is that gone from our entire United States, American golf, or do we need to maybe pick and choose our team a little bit better so we have a little bit more. Like, if Keegan Bradley's playing, we have more moxie. Do you think they need to think about that?

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

Oh, totally. I was hoping Keegan would play, you know, because he is that guy. He's that fiery guy and he respect the position too much, you know, of being the captain. But hell, we couldn't make a four footer for par.

[Host]

Yeah, it was embarrassing.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

I mean on our greens for America.

[Host]

On our grass.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

On our grass. Come on, bro. They're supposed to be fast for us. They couldn't miss. They made everything they looked at. And we couldn't make a four footer for part of tie.

[Host]

Can't have it. No, not on our grass. I didn't think about. That's our grass out there.

[Ty Schmidt]

Well, that's what they said. We weren't expecting it to be as slow as it was. I mean it's just, you know, and Keegan said, you know, course mismanagement was a big part of it. But it's like they care our guys. You know, they care after the fact when you get embarrassed. But you could coming in like these guys. That's what they said. Like we. Rory mentioned it after they won in Rome. Like we're going to Beth Page in two years and we're going to win there. Like guys like Scotty Scheffler, like that's the other thing. He's the number one in the world and he maybe isn't built for this format but like he can't go one in four.

[Host]

He just can't talk about the crowd there being obnoxious and an embarrassment to United States of America and all that type of stuff.

[Darius J. Butler]

Long island football.

[Host]

Yeah. We'd like to say the location and also the outcome early. It don't love that it's reality but I felt like that was reality. If especially we're getting smacked.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah.

[Host]

United States of America was just getting.

[AJ Hawk]

Trying to do the celebrations, the. The non organic chance and stuff. Those videos are embarrassing for America.

[Host]

Agreed.

[AJ Hawk]

Like and for our fans. It really is. They couldn't even figure it out.

[Host]

And then the throwing a. Like there are certainly things that I don't like at all but like the chirping. You're going into Long island and then America's just gonna get bopped in the face. It's like I think there's gonna be some intoxicated people there on Long island that are potentially gonna. It's a bunch of. It's. They go 10000 Bruce's out there just getting smacked around by the European pump full of whiskey. Waking up at 4:30am with the national anthem playing at 5:00am yeah. It's like I think. I think there's a potential chance that some people are going to act not great. And I don't love that. Okay. And we'll get better for the next time. Hopefully.

[Darius J. Butler]

Hopefully.

[Host]

Kind of an expected outcome, but also, we can't lose. We get our asses kicked. I think that only ignites it even more. But then there was a conversation had in the office earlier. Did you hear this, Connor? I think you were sitting right there.

[Boston Connor]

I'm not sure when golf. Now that golf is getting brought up after the Ryder Cup. Yeah, no, thanks.

[Host]

Your ears kind of go off.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah, they turn off.

[Host]

Well, it wasn't really about golf. It was more so about. I heard just adult males. Yeah. I heard as a whole. Let's go to Hammer 1/2 of the Hammer Cowboys. AP 10. What was your take on it all? I heard you had a. Had. Had a take on it all. About the celebrations from the boys, the reaction from the boys, and how the crowd acted. Every. As a whole, you said something this morning that I. I don't think I ever expected somebody's mouth to say, but it was certainly a. A topic of conversation immediately after it came out of your mouth. Would you like to reiterate what you said this morning?

[Bubba Gumpino]

I don't know if I'd love to reiterate was. It was kind of a broad statement, and it. It didn't include you or Debuts or AJ Or Coach. But I said in general, maybe there's. The Europeans are. Are cooler than the US Guys. You know, that's just when I think about it, every European that I've ever met, I'd much rather hang out with them than me.

[Boston Connor]

So.

[Host]

I didn't like it. I immediately wanted to fight Tone. I almost kicked him out of the company. Just one of the. Tone was almost fired today. AJ that almost happened. It came out of his mouth three feet away from my ear. And it was almost an immediate. I don't want to work with this guy ever again. I don't want to see his face ever again. And then there were some points that were being brought up and then some states and some maybe generations and some demographics being brought up, and then some videos were even being displayed. And it's like, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. We can't be thinking like this. This cannot even be a conversation right now. We need to let everybody know America's cool.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah.

[Host]

Yeah, we're cool.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah, yeah.

[Host]

Europe. Europe has a lot of songs that they drink and they have a good time. There's live music in every single place, and they all got a personality. It seems like we got Nashville. Yes, we do. People forget about that.

[Ty Schmidt]

I will say this.

[Bubba Gumpino]

This is okay.

[Host]

This is your fault. Whatever it is. Hold on.

[Ty Schmidt]

It is.

[Bubba Gumpino]

It's always my fault.

[Matthew Stafford]

Always is.

[Host]

Pretty dramatic there.

[Bubba Gumpino]

Yeah, well, no, I was every area of my life.

[Host]

Okay. Hey, us too, brother. Yeah, we understand what you're saying.

[Bubba Gumpino]

I think if you live in the US you shouldn't be allowed to play on European team. And there'd be, like, two guys on that team.

[Host]

Well, I do appreciate what Rory said.

[Ty Schmidt]

It's the best country in the world.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

He did say.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah, but he was sweet in us.

[Host]

Yep.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah, exactly. That was just a pure bait. The real issue here is that if you take away all the cool accents, you take away the names, the. The jerseys and everything, the clubs, all the gimmicks. If you mute the videos, you would just hope that the team that was Europe was America. Like, you would think in your head, like, that's how the American team should be acting. Fleetwood's got cool hair. Shane Lowry's got a great. How to describe it? Bag of leaves body. Like, there are so many things.

[Host]

He is a little wobble.

[Ty Schmidt]

He was a wobble body. He's lost a lot of weight.

[Host]

Exactly. American dream.

[Boston Connor]

I mean, you're right. America's all about right now. So the fact that that is coupled with the fact that all those. All those videos, they are unmuted. Okay. You get to hear how cool those accents are. You get to hear Rory and I don't know if you heard the Donald Trump one. They also. They got Trump as well. It was awesome. Trump posted on his social media. Very funny video. Good jab from the Europeans. Like, they got moxie. They're funny. They got cool acts. I can't do this anymore, actually.

[Host]

Why would.

[Boston Connor]

I'm not watching golf until the next Rider cup it.

[Host]

I don't think that should be the next thing you watch. If anything's gonna like this. Shoot.

[Boston Connor]

You're right. I'm not watching the Rider cup anymore. It's only majors from here on out.

[Host]

Okay. I like that. You're gonna miss out on some good USA chance. Maybe.

[Darius J. Butler]

Maybe.

[Boston Connor]

Because you know what else happened this weekend? Amazing college ball all day Saturday. Amazing NFL football from 9:30am Till midnight on Sunday. I. Ryder Cup.

[Darius J. Butler]

Who?

[Host]

You know, why not? Friday is going to be tough to get through. I think everybody on Earth is talking about Friday and.

[Boston Connor]

No doubt. Yeah, Friday was a long day.

[Host]

Friday was tough, and we just got obliterated.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah, they put their theoretical pipes down our theoretical throats.

[Ty Schmidt]

Well said.

[Boston Connor]

Talking about smoking pipes. It's not. Don't do that old school. You know how they do it in Europe Also cooler than in America. They use the pipes.

[Host]

I think they smoke six, too, over there.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah, they just call them that other name, and we don't do that.

[Host]

Which.

[Darius J. Butler]

That's what I don't like. That's what I like. I actually became more of a Rory fan after the Rider cup on our home soy because, yeah, you could say Euros are cool. Who's cooler? It was never and is never a conversation of who. Who's tougher. And they were the more mentally tough team in the. On the.

[Ty Schmidt]

I would never say that.

[Darius J. Butler]

Hostile environment. Rory making the putt.

[Boston Connor]

F you. F you.

[Darius J. Butler]

F you. Like all that. Like seeing Shane seeing all the boys, Justin Rose walk, first of all, telling Jibo, hey, out of the way. Making a putt, that whole back and forth there to him walking in the punt from, like, all that. Like, that shows, like, mental toughness. You go into a hostile environment playing football, it's like, all right, it's just us against them. And that's. That was their thing. So for me to come out of this and seeing Rory in the European team as a whole as the more mentally tough team, that. That's.

[Host]

So they're mentally tougher. They're cooler. Aj, how do we feel about the state of America right now all of a sudden, with what tone just brought up? I don't. Like, he almost got fired, and then a lot of points were thrown in my face.

[AJ Hawk]

Yeah, I think we need to start. I mean, hopefully they started a couple days ago already, getting the Ryder cup team situated for the next, what, two years from now. Where are we playing?

[Host]

Ireland?

[Ty Schmidt]

Is that.

[AJ Hawk]

Oh, no, we better figure it out. We better start recruiting some super soldiers to become our next golfer.

[Boston Connor]

I don't want to be that guy. I. I think there's a chance, me and you specifically, maybe we dawn the Irish flag.

[Host]

No, no, we're not doing that.

[Boston Connor]

Let's just think about it for a second. Where did golf start? Ireland? Scotland.

[Host]

Scotland. Yeah, Scotland, whatever. Let's.

[Boston Connor]

Let's do it, man.

[Host]

I know. And to the point of their tweets, you know, with the photo about New York and Europeans and everything like that. Yeah, they might be right. You do 23andMe or any of those things, they steal your genetics, I think. And then who knows where.

[Boston Connor]

That's a fact.

[Host]

But then you find out where you're from, and it's like that area over there, a lot of history over here, and that needs to. To stop being made. Okay. Us doesn't lose on American grass ever again.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

No, ever.

[Host]

Boy.

[Ty Schmidt]

We need people to go over there. And we need to one up Sunday's Dublin game and have the most U.S. people going over to Europe in for the Ryder cup since the war times.

[Host]

We have a few Fact checks for McQuade. I think he's spot on, right?

[AJ Hawk]

He was spot on with what were.

[Host]

Some of the stats that McQuaid had for the Dublin NFL game? If you could definitely get to the TJ Watt one, that be good.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah, the, the TJ Watt one was, if you remember, after, you know, TJ Watt kind of baited Carson Wentz into throwing it over the middle of there. He got his big paws up and got an interception. He actually ran over to the Hogan stand and punted one into the crowd. And it was an ode to Gaelic football.

[Host]

Okay, so certainly possible we asked TJ and TJ's response was stands look pretty far. Yeah, I want to see if I can make a punt over there. So it might have been a tribute to Gale, like football might have also been TJ just seeing if he could.

[Ty Schmidt]

Bomb the ball real quick.

[Host]

What was the other one? The most amount of people since war time?

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah, the, the. Well, there are 74,000 fans at the game in Dublin, lads. That is the biggest movement of us souls over to Europe since. Since the wartime. Okay, Since World War II, obviously.

[Host]

And then obviously we found out maybe the Olympics had a cup double triple.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah, quite a bit more, actually. So that, that one was on the.

[Host]

Quid outside of the Illinois Olympics.

[Ty Schmidt]

Outside of the Olympics, a massive movement. Maybe the biggest sense war times, if you exclude, like a couple big events that were overseas. But the other big one, and he, he, he said, listen, NFL came into my ear. Someone, one of my producers, they said, 22 jerseys in this. In the crowd right now. McQuaid, get it out there, get it out there lot. Say it, say it. So he wasn't going to take ownership for that. And he did, you know, mention to debut's point, hey, you know, there may have been a couple Houston Oilers jerseys out there, maybe a couple Earl Camp jerseys and, you know, things of that nature. Maybe like a Steve McNair jersey as well. So that one was correct. That one was correct. And then he just had to reiterate the touchdown to DK Metcalf. The longest touchdown, you know, in Ireland slash UK game history. That was for just ordinary touchdowns passing play, maybe running play, if you will. That discounts anything special team, like a 96, like a 96 yard punt return or kickoff return, obviously. So, you know, it got lost in translation, lads.

[Host]

Yeah, you're right. I forgot about that because.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah, exactly.

[Host]

Ireland.

[Ty Schmidt]

Exactly. Ireland clad, not ironclad. McQuaid was effusive in his. In his praise for us for not really killing him because he said, listen, lads, I gave you five stats and four of them were wrong. Okay? I just completely made him up, lads. Someone told him to me before the game. I was excited about the Ireland game, about football coming to the island. I up hand up on me. Still love you lads.

[Host]

Okay. We still love him too. Yeah. And we appreciate him. Selling at the island games seemingly was a big success. BA what are your thoughts on the international expansion and what are your thoughts on the Minnesota Vikings? Pittsburgh Steelers game? Pittsburgh Steelers go all in this year. You think they can win a Super Bowl. And for the Minnesota Vikings, the Carson Wentz experience was awesome. If you could just tell me about Sunday morning for you and your thoughts on it all.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

Yeah, I thought Steelers look really good and obviously getting the ball DK Metcalf helps and that is still our country and Ireland is still the country. Ambassador Rooney kind of set that up a couple years back when he was the ambassador over there and got college football to go over there. I think it's fantastic. I don't want to see a team over there.

[Host]

None of the.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

No, I don't want to see any kind of expansion over because somebody's going to get screwed in that travel.

[Boston Connor]

Yep.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

They ain't no be open dates coming back and it's hard. That's hard on players. It's hard on everybody.

[Host]

I don't know. Are they still talking about the team over there? The conversation shifted almost like a division might be over there where. Yeah, there's like multiple teams.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

Somebody still got to go over there to play them.

[Host]

Yeah, I think the way. Yeah, exactly. I agree completely. There's going to have to be away games, but allegedly they were going to play all their games over there and then they were going to have a home base. That was like one of the. Yes, that was one of the last conversations they were going to have. So you're going to have to build four headquarters in Europe and then four headquarters in America for these teams and they'll play nine straight away games in America, I guess, and then maybe some of them will be from Europe. So some games will be a home game at 17 straight away games, basically.

[Ty Schmidt]

Logistically, that makes no sense.

[Host]

And is there enough players? Is there enough good players?

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

No, I don't. We don't have enough tackles now.

[Host]

Yeah, yeah, tackles, quarterbacks, you name it. Is there enough Players to add four more teams. I don't know. The international team is always a good conversation because. Because we understand what the NFL wants, which is total global dominance. And it's good for football if there's total global dominance. But I think just games and festivals are a good way to spread it. The logistics. Remember Concord? Yeah, the Concord flight. Jim Irsay told us this rest in peace legend. He was the most unfiltered owner that would tell us what was going on in those one per club meetings and what the future was to look like. I think they thought that concept Concord plane was going to be the key to having a team in London because it was supposed to be like a.

[Ty Schmidt]

Three hour flight from New York to London.

[Host]

Yeah, it was like a three hour flight. It was a super jet or whatever.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yep, supersonic.

[Host]

Supersonic jet. They thought that was going to be the connector. I assume they weren't the only business. I assume business. Business thought that, finance thought that. And then I think that thing blew up. Right.

[Ty Schmidt]

And then one of them did.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Ty Schmidt]

And then. But now they're trying to bring it back and they said like 2030 and is like the expected date of when the like the new version of the Concord is going to be here.

[Host]

Because if they make that a three hour flight, I think then there's going to be a lot of conversation about.

[AJ Hawk]

Like we need a training camp and off season though. Does a team work? Do you. Are you there for camp? Are you there for your off season?

[Host]

I think you would have to have your headquarter. You'd probably be at home because the amount of players you got to work out, it's like working out players too. Like how do you sign players during the season? It would have to be the home base back in America would have to make that decision. And then, oh yeah, home base back in America is about to be your full time home base too. So you have to build two full. That would be a lot.

[Ty Schmidt]

You'd almost need a dedicated staff for like the United States portion and the international portion.

[Host]

The international games are awesome though.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

They are. I mean they're a lot of fun. I mean I've been a part of a few of them broadcasting and. And coaching. No luck winning, but it was other than Munich.

[Host]

Game.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

Game.

[Host]

But Blake Bortles punted a ball right in the stands against us. He had a hell of a game. But I think Ireland showed up in a big way. We appreciate them doing that. And shout out to McQuaid. Just gassing some numbers up.

[Ty Schmidt]

Exactly.

[Host]

Speaking about gassing Numbers up. Are we in the middle of baseball right now?

[Ty Schmidt]

Yes.

[Host]

Okay, baseball's really happening. We're on ESPN2 right now because on ESPN there's an actual baseball game. Is this.

[Ty Schmidt]

The playoffs have started today. The wild card starts today. Tigers and Guardians are currently playing right now on esports ESPN. We have the Padres at the Cubs at 3pm on ABC. Red Sox at the Yankees tonight at 6. And then the nightcap is the Reds at the Dodgers at nine these so best of three series and they're going to play for the next three days consecutively. All these games, kind of weird in the wild card round are at the team with the better record. They're all at their place. So like the Red Sox play all three in New York at Yankee Stadium. Reds had to travel cross country. They play all three in LA against the Dodgers. And then obviously the same for the Padres and the Tigers. But if you haven't been invested at all, like now's the time to start watching baseball.

[Host]

Tigers are up one zip right now.

[Ty Schmidt]

Huge.

[Host]

What inning is it, Bruce? Third inning. Third. Okay, so we got four more hours of that game.

[Ty Schmidt]

No, no, not anymore. Not anymore.

[Host]

No. Everything's fast. Everything's fast.

[Ty Schmidt]

And Tigers have Tarek Scubal on the mount. He was one of the best pitchers in the majors, maybe the AL Cy Young. Like anytime guys like that are pitching, the games typically go a little bit quicker.

[Host]

Okay. Jerry Jones did some conversation about how long the games were. Actually he did a weekly hit and he chit chatted about how these games need to maintain in the three hour window. Okay. It's very important to try to attain a three hour window. Now. I immediately said Jerry's lost his fastball because when it gets to overtime, there's no time, time frame for that. We want more of the electricity. You know, like good business is to have more electricity. And then d. But immediately counterpointed, he said if it's a one o' clock game though, and you got Bengals verse, whoever, anybody, and then you've got Eagles verse Rams waiting on deck at 4 o' clock. And then you have to stick around this overtime game for whatever reason because it goes on forever and ever and you missed that, that's certainly terrible. But when it's prime time game, okay, Sunday night Football and we get to 4040, this thing is, this is now, this is electrifying. I don't think we need to worry about three hour windows, but I do appreciate that all the other games, other than the primetime ones, we're worried about how long these games are. BA said in the first hour, AJ that it was his fault basically. For the 10 minute overtime. Is that what you're saying?

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

Yes.

[Host]

I was there. We played Seattle. We had 106 snaps. These guys were exhausted. We can't. We can't be doing this. This can't be a forever overtime thing. We. Do you want a 10 minute clock on it? Yes, I. Yes, I do. He said BA BA Said that I am in for that. Then gets the Micah Parsons return to Jerry World. Now we got a 40, 40 tie in the biggest game, the most hyped game of the year and everybody hates it. He put out an eight yard line start for each offense on either side and kind of handle it like it's a shootout back and forth. Obviously one team goes. If they score, the next team goes. They score, we carry on to the next one. The team that went second goes first, then the team that went first goes second. And then you just kind of continue on. What are your thoughts on where we're at with the tie conversation and if you digested completely what the perfect answer is? If you could write the rule right now. What are you doing, A.J.

[AJ Hawk]

If I could write the rule right now, I would write some form of what BA Was saying. What do you say? Eight yard line and you, you guys are on both sides of the ball. So, yeah, guy like Travis Hunter, he may be jogging back and forth a little bit. You might have to do that every once in a while, but it would go very fast. It would limit the amount of plays that these guys would have. So it wouldn't be crazy. Extra 40 plays on the players, most likely and the game. It would be quick and we would find a decisive winner and it wouldn't be, I like your golden boot situation too. But some people would say, hey, let the, you know, let the 11 on 11. Let these guys. I want to see DK Metcalf in the game. Not a kicker.

[Host]

So I guess they would have. Okay, it sound like you would say that and I agree.

[AJ Hawk]

I'm just speaking for people.

[Host]

Yeah, I understand. Yeah, people saying classic situation there. We do that a lot on this show. Somebody did say it. I assume at some point pick six would be a winner. Guess it can't be on the field, huh?

[Boston Connor]

It would have to be kind of cool though. Get off, get off, get off.

[Host]

22 on 22 though. Oh, yeah.

[Boston Connor]

They turn around and then offense has.

[Host]

To block dog fight football.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah. What if they both get pick sixes?

[Host]

Oh, so.

[Ty Schmidt]

Oh, same time.

[Host]

Yeah. No, no, because Happy Dog fight football though. Pick six. It's over. Pick six is over. But we got 22 guys on the field on the other side. In my eyes, I just learned we got to take that.

[Darius J. Butler]

We can't have.

[Host]

Can't have you on the field. Sure.

[Boston Connor]

Well, because especially in Travis Hunter situation, they're playing ends snap offsides.

[Host]

Yeah. Because he is right.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah. Clock starts right away.

[Host]

That's not a bad play.

[Boston Connor]

Set, go. I'm throwing this in the end zone either way.

[Host]

So everybody's on the sideline. I guess if they're not potentially up. But they better hustle.

[Boston Connor]

They gotta be ready.

[Host]

What if they're just around the end.

[Boston Connor]

Zone that they're going into like the other offense and defense like line the outside of the end zone also the.

[Host]

Other guys are out there practice.

[AJ Hawk]

It's like a joint practice goal line period.

[Darius J. Butler]

If they're two gimmicks the ball.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah, two gimmicky.

[Host]

I'll tell you, we do need something though. Some form of a shootout. What does the NFL not have that other sports that aren't as entertaining have a shootout? It's like you can have a shootout now. Like that is a. And when do we get to it? When there's already been 70 minutes of football? Like this isn't like.

[AJ Hawk]

Yeah, look, think about hockey, Sock. Like hockey is. Shootouts are awesome when it goes that. Like soccer as well. When was that soccer? What last this past year we saw the US In a shootout, right?

[Host]

A couple.

[AJ Hawk]

But there's a tournament every weekend. I know that's the next World cup, but we watched something happen recently. Three, six months ago. I don't know where the US Was in a shootout. Dudes were standing on their head. The goalies.

[Host]

Yeah. So yes, I remember. That was with the backup goalie. Yeah.

[Ty Schmidt]

Gold cop.

[Host]

Gold cop.

[Bubba Gumpino]

They were going after 90 minutes too. They weren't doing the regular half hour extra time in that tournament as well.

[Host]

So I don't think we should do that. I don't think it should just be game straight into shootout. But if it's game, then over time, why not find out how we can do it at the day end the of of it your fault.

[Darius J. Butler]

Oh, why not Game. Straighten the shootout.

[Host]

Oh, no overtime.

[Darius J. Butler]

I mean what.

[Host]

Yeah, straight to eight yard line.

[Darius J. Butler]

Oh, we got action.

[Host]

What was that four point play? Is that what the. What was the eight yard line? Do we remember what that was? I don't remember. Cuz you go for one, two or three. I think after a touchdown, going for one was at like the two Yard line. Going for two was at like the five yard line. And I think going for three was maybe the ten yard line.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah, it might have been something like that.

[Host]

I want now. The XFL is nothing like the NFL. Okay. I would like that.

[Darius J. Butler]

This is OG xfl. Like he hate me xfl.

[Host]

Yeah. No, this is you. Yeah, this was.

[Ty Schmidt]

Did they not do that in the old one too?

[Bubba Gumpino]

I don't think there was three point conversions in the old one.

[Host]

No, just any new ux.

[AJ Hawk]

You watch still going on?

[Boston Connor]

No, I did somewhere.

[Host]

Did you watch?

[Ty Schmidt]

They're bleeding like a stuck pig. They got to figure something out.

[Host]

They were losing a lot of money and then their quarterback jacks were what did a holdout.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah.

[Host]

It's like you guys. It's been publicly stated you guys lost 40 billion.

[Ty Schmidt]

I want $20 million.

[Boston Connor]

Other, other.

[Host]

Do you watch the UXFL? They ever ask you to coach in that thing?

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

No.

[Ty Schmidt]

What the uxfl.

[AJ Hawk]

You did combine them?

[Host]

I guess they did, yeah. And they should not have got the X out. No, they turned that into ufl. You should have kept the. The X was really.

[Ty Schmidt]

The X was what made the league.

[Host]

It was really the only extreme. Is it still happening? Got to the uxfl.

[Darius J. Butler]

We got.

[AJ Hawk]

Jake's gonna winner, right?

[Host]

Jake Bates legend. We got a couple.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah. Kavonte Turpin. Yep.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah.

[Host]

Kickoff idea as a whole.

[Boston Connor]

Puka Naku is brothers in the UFC now.

[Host]

What. What's that?

[AJ Hawk]

Is he really.

[Boston Connor]

No, he just. He punched fan that one time. I was joking, but he could be. It was a good. It was good. It was a swift hook.

[Ty Schmidt]

It was destroying. Broke his back during that game.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah.

[Host]

That was scary. Scary as hell. I did not like that at all. There's stars in the UXFL and we happy. We're happy that spring ball exists and there's more opportunities, everything. That was terrible to watch though. You know, that was. That was a tough brand of football to watch. You almost watch the crowd like in D.C. when they were drinking beers. Yeah. Yeah. So maybe it'll catch on. Maybe BA should coach a team.

[Ty Schmidt]

Oh, there you go. You want to head back to.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

Head down to Birmingham. Yeah, the Birmingham NFL Europe, where we allocate players, put those young quarterbacks, put those young tackles out there and let them play in the spring against each other and get better quality and then bring them back to camp. That's what we did with the NFL Europe.

[Host]

Maybe you do NFL Europe, they're trying to get a thing in there. Maybe you reinstitute NFL Europe, then get some of the local guys. Maybe play like Viny Terry in a local Amsterdam guy were kickers. So a guy from Amsterdam was a kicker. And then Vinnie was also a kicker. So there's two kickers on the team. He was soccer player, star, beloved over there. Vinnie just trying to make his way on the Amsterdam Admirals. A lot of stars came through NFL Europe and I think now would be a good time to launch that. Yeah. Now that Europe's kind of getting into it.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

Great time.

[Host]

Especially get some OGs in. Tom Brady back playing football.

[Boston Connor]

He is. Yeah.

[Host]

Gronk's back out there too, right?

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah.

[Host]

Well, I think. AJ have you seen Rushmore on X? Did you watch it yet?

[AJ Hawk]

I've only seen the clips. I want to watch it though. It looks awesome, dude.

[Host]

It's very good. It is. They get in some real in there.

[AJ Hawk]

What'd you say? What'd you say? I don't know if these guys are boozing or what, but they are wide open. Open. That sold it for me.

[Host]

Yeah, they are. Well, it's not just Tom and Peyton who are wide ass open in this. Shaq and Reggie wide ass open. Yeah.

[AJ Hawk]

Nice.

[Host]

Elon and the other guy. What I mean, you're talking. This is the most authentic I've seen any of these people. Yeah.

[Ty Schmidt]

Costas and Al Michaels is an awesome episode too.

[Host]

Sitting on a couch next to each other. Yeah. Like this.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah.

[Host]

Just sharing stories from the last hundred years of sports. Basically it is is available now at Rushmore on X. Tom Brady, Peyton Manning go through the Rushmore of receivers of football throughout the history of the NFL. Obviously you can catch the clips on any of the platform. Full episode available on X. We're thankful to be a part of it. Shout out to Ari and Ben. Coming through. Earlier today we have an interview with them. We're gonna roll out tomorrow. It's. It's a good time to be alive. We'll be back tomorrow. Be a friend. Tell a friend something nice. It might change your life. Goodbye. Okay. I didn't do the digital toss there, but I did toss on Rush. Rushmore next. AJ we really did this now, like this show, this Rushmore next day. It's the first time we've really gotten the opportunity to do this. You know, a lot of other sports production companies get called for everything and I'm not going to say like we're friends with some of the good ones. There's some ass ones out there who have never made anything true and somehow they're like an authority just strictly because they can accomplish the Task like. Like, we can do that for you. And then they do it, and it's ass. Every single. Like, that is the sports media world. Somebody has an idea, they pitch it. We've heard a couple different guys now come on the show and be like, we want to be the home for sports content. I think Glenn Powell literally just did it yesterday with his studio box Barnstormer. He's like, we want to be the home of sports meeting. And I assume Glenn Powell will have people around him that will be able to create good content, but there's a lot of people that have these. These hubs or production companies that I don't think they've made a single good thing, and somehow they're still able to fundraise and they're still able to get deals and all this. So I talk on these people pretty good. Like, pretty loud, you know, Pretty. Pretty loud. I. I two people, I say, this guy makes ass. Why would I ever. Why would I ever do something with that? Yeah. So this show got shot audio. And you'll hear some audio glips through the entire thing. We tried to fix. The shot's not really our thing. The booking, all Ari, like, everything was basically done, and they had a couple episodes made. And Ari was like, what do you think about this? And I said, where's this going? And he said, it's gonna live on X, which is a huge deal for us because we use X a lot. So them investing in shows on X is a good thing. But the people that edited it clearly have never been on X in their life. Like, never has use the thing. So I watched it, and I said, I think this is shite, to be honest, but this. This is really good booking. Like, the episode was like an hour and, like, 20 minutes or something. Like, I was like, this is not. I don't know what you guys think you're doing, like, on X. This is just. I don't know what you. Because he's friends with Elon, so he's like, why don't you edit it? And I was like, okay. And they just started sending us files. Literally just started sending us files just a couple months ago. So then we talk. Bailey, Dirty D, Bone, Foxy, myself. I guess you could include me in that thing. We go to work on this thing, and we start creating these shows, and all of a sudden we're watching them. We're like, this is a really fucking good show. These are really, really, really good shows. And then all of a sudden, we become the production company for this. So this is Our first time getting a chance to do this. The guest lineup is absurd. Oh, yeah, it's breaking down. I think some. Some real. Maybe walls on what X is going to try to become too, because X is trying to get into the content game. They're trying to do some YouTube. X is trying to be everything. We want to be YouTube, we want to be X. We want to be Instagram, we want to be this. So them, you know, getting this deal for X exclusivity and then us being a part of it. We're very lucky and we think it's a good show. Like, I think it's a very, very good show. I wish we would have rolled out a couple episodes, but that decision was made before I was allowed to speak. So next Tuesday, another episode coming. That's incredible.

[Ty Schmidt]

There you go.

[Host]

Is what you need to know. AJ. It's teaser. Yeah. The lineup is fucking outrageous.

[AJ Hawk]

AJ, what's the additional content available on YouTube? The Gram and TikTok.

[Host]

Those are all the clips. So the. We're gonna clip on all the other platforms, full episode available only on X, exclusivity on x. So we. YouTube is up and running, and once again, this show had zero handle. No, Nothing. Nothing.

[Darius J. Butler]

No, I would have that.

[AJ Hawk]

It's kind of important for. To be. To carry it where it's carrying.

[Host]

I mean, Ari and Ben just got X accounts.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah.

[Host]

You know, like the host of the show, just the people that were editing it. I don't think it ever been on. It was. It was honor to be a part because Ben and Ari, I don't even think they knew this while they're doing it. They created a show that nobody else on earth could create. Gate, like Ari's relationships through business throughout all these years has ties with all these people that are the top of their industries. And it's like he gets them to open up. It is. It's a very good show. We're lucky to be a part of it. I do wish we'd have another episode to follow up on.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah, for sure.

[Host]

Tomorrow.

[Ty Schmidt]

But, you know, any name you don't next Tuesday.

[Boston Connor]

Their story's unbelievable. And you're gonna want to know their name too. Like, just looking at that list.

[Host]

List.

[Boston Connor]

I forget those names. But then I think of the episodes that they're in, and it's like, oh, yeah, that guy invented insert. Coolest you've ever made.

[Host]

Moguls. All moguls. Really? You got a lot of mogul talking here. Yeah, there's a lot of business conversation in here. There's a Lot of debate. There's stories, there's insights, there's history of things that I could have never fathomed wanting to know about. And then all of a sudden, I'm learning, like, this is a pretty good show. I. Nobody wanted to say it to Ari, you know, because Ari is hori. Right. But, like, telling him, like, hey, this is a pretty good show you put together here. What I. You think so? You think it's pretty good? You think it's okay? It's like, yes, I do think it. We watched every single episode as a group, and we were all captivated. And I would say we're pretty harsh critics. So, yeah, it's a pretty good show. Yeah, I'd say congrats to them on a great show.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah, boys.

[Host]

And what if this is. This is another avenue we get a chance to do? What if we get opportunity to do some more shows?

[Boston Connor]

That'd be sweet.

[Host]

Would be cool. Watching Taco through it was awesome. Yeah. I asked him a question, and his face.

[Boston Connor]

He's got the indent on his head.

[Host]

Yeah. He has one headphone on for this, and then he has an AirPod in this ear. So the. The. He's like a DJ with it off his one ear. But then in this ear, it's not free conversation. It's AirPod in here so you can hear something else. And then. Yeah, the indent on his head from his headphones. And then he's always sitting at his computer, so I. I'll ask him a question about something or, like, I don't think that's the right color. Who you look up with a sigh, like a eye. What. It's been. It's been a lot of fun.

[Boston Connor]

Exactly what it is.

[Host]

It's been a lot of fun to kind of go through this. A lot of work, though. I mean, a lot of. He did a great job. Yeah, it's a lot of work. A lot of hours of. And a lot of guests, and we got to make them all look good. That's Taco and Ben.

[Darius J. Butler]

That is Taco.

[Host]

It's talk.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah, but Taco Tuesday.

[Host]

All right, let's get to a break. It's Ba Day. It's not taco Tuesday.

[Boston Connor]

Excuse me.

[Host]

Excuse me.

[Boston Connor]

LeBron invented that.

[Host]

I'm not.

[Boston Connor]

I'm not trying to step on any toes.

[Host]

There was a run there of LeBron creating everything, and, boy, that was bad for his image.

[Ty Schmidt]

I think it was.

[Host]

But I don't think he knew that everybody was trying to attack. I think he was just trying to.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

Have a good Time.

[AJ Hawk]

I love the time.

[Boston Connor]

You tell me he didn't invent Taco Tuesday.

[Host]

Don't tell me that Barbershop conversations potentially as well.

[Boston Connor]

What do you mean?

[Host]

Like, as a whole, I think people at barbershops did not talk.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah.

[Ty Schmidt]

That had never happened before they did their show.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah.

[Host]

You walk into a barber shop.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah.

[Host]

And then you throw that key out.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah, yeah.

[Host]

Shut the up.

[Boston Connor]

And then Braun was like, yo, we.

[Host]

Should talk in here. And then I kind of launched it.

[Boston Connor]

I love that guy, man.

[Host]

Pretty good. Do you see how young he looks at camp right now?

[Boston Connor]

Look out. It ain't his last year.

[Host]

He's wearing Lakers stuff too. A lot of question marks.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah, we'll see halfway through.

[Host]

What do you mean? AD's wearing goggles?

[Boston Connor]

Yeah, exactly. And I'm. I'm wondering if the Lakers collapse in a last year compared to contract with one last ride on his mind. If LeBron decides, why don't you send me down to Dallas so I can play with my guys? AD and Kyrie.

[Host]

Could you imagine if Nico.

[Boston Connor]

Exactly.

[Host]

That guy. What if they make a winner?

[Ty Schmidt]

They're in a pretty good spot.

[Host]

How's Coop? Have we seen anything out of him?

[Boston Connor]

So I'm dapping up Michael Jordan and guess what?

[Host]

What?

[Boston Connor]

He had a goatee. He ain't 18 anymore. This kid's going. This kid's going places in the league.

[Host]

The main event's gotta go. Team.

[Boston Connor]

That's right.

[Darius J. Butler]

It's a cool picture too, with all the number one picks him. AD and Kyrie thought that was pretty cool.

[Host]

Okay.

[Boston Connor]

Is that guy 45 or 18? I can't tell.

[Host]

What do you think? Michael Jordan saying? I would have cooked you four way.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah.

[Boston Connor]

All right. See you later, Duke.

[Darius J. Butler]

Yeah, you're right. But I do got a question of going back a few minutes. The barbershop. How is it in the white guys barbershop? You guys have the same type of banter or is there like a two American situation?

[Host]

To be honest, I'm not 100% sure. I don't spend a lot of time in white guys barbershops. Never really have. Okay. So not really my thing. I believe in a good fade. Okay. Salon. Potentially as young buck. Because when mom gets hair dyed, I'll get my cut just at the same time.

[Boston Connor]

Very good time.

[Host]

Not a bad time. Was a little boy. Salon's good time. As a little boy. You know, mom getting the hair bleached down.

[Boston Connor]

Get a lollipop.

[Host]

Yeah. You get to hang out there. They're. They're having Instagrams. Male White barber shops. I'm not 100% sure.

[AJ Hawk]

Pretty lively. It's pretty lively.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah.

[AJ Hawk]

It depends where you go, but it's pretty. You know, it depends on which one. Some of them have more of a younger vibe. Some have more of like old people, old stooge vibe where they don't. They don't talk much.

[Host]

What's playing in there?

[Ty Schmidt]

Bad Bunny something times.

[AJ Hawk]

Depends which one you're at. Is it.

[Host]

Is he.

[AJ Hawk]

Is it English or Spanish?

[Host]

What is it? What? Baban. Yeah.

[AJ Hawk]

Is he going to do. Is he going to sing in English at the Super Bowl?

[Host]

Don't you worry about Sham.

[Boston Connor]

Went through his catalog. Unbelievably sounding music. It sounds great.

[Host]

It is just kind of. We got to view it as a techno song.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

Song.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah.

[Host]

And the words are just another sound.

[Boston Connor]

Boom.

[Host]

That's okay.

[Boston Connor]

Exactly. That's a great. Yeah, techno.

[Host]

I'm a huge lyrics guy. I would like to hear the story being told. Okay. I would like to hear that. I. When I listen to music, I enjoy the story being told. I enjoy the lyrics. But for a Super bowl halftime, I guess I'm just gonna have to view it as all sounds. That's a great instrument. Whatever that. That's like in the.

[Darius J. Butler]

And in the show too. He's. He's gonna put on. And maybe. Maybe that is a difference. Cuz I'm not a huge lyric. It's probably five songs. I know every lyric to about. I do have friends that know every. Like a beat walking beat jukebox.

[Host]

I have to. I have to respect the story before I can respect the song me so that I talk.

[AJ Hawk]

I don't even know the story.

[Host]

What's that?

[AJ Hawk]

I usually don't even know the story or what the literature, to be honest. As you're saying, everyone. Everyone digests it differently.

[Darius J. Butler]

Yeah, true.

[Host]

So on that note, I actually had this theory about why people hate me so bad. Because they. They just hear the sound. They're not listening to the words that I'm saying. So it's like some people listen to music just for the sounds and then some people listen for the lyrics that are happening. So I think there's a lot of people that hate the way my music is. It sounds. And I'm like, you listen. What I'm saying is making sense. I don't hear your words. It's like, okay, now I'm learning. Aj this guy hasn't heard a thing I've said seven years.

[AJ Hawk]

I'm saying a song you can't have unbelievable, like unbelievable lyrics is just a Poem like. But you need to put some great beat to. I need a beat to that. To where I can follow along a little bit of energy. So like I. I like it's a mixture of both. But I. I need a good beat for me to get it in like invested in the song.

[Host]

So I need clarity, clever lyrics or good lyrics or I'm not supporting like that is it like it obviously has to be a banger as well. But I can't be having the grass is blue. You know, just lyrics pins on the beat. I can't do it. I mean now granted do host Mish. He's foreign language. You have nothing and there's terrible lyrics to that. I'll get after it. So this is just techno music is how we have to view Bad Bunny.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah.

[Host]

He's a DJ coming out there. That's how we got it. Our simple non Spanish speaking minds.

[Boston Connor]

Exact.

[Host]

For American football's biggest game. We just have to utilize the lyrics and sounds is what we got to view it.

[Boston Connor]

It's Calvin Harris, Tiesto Bob Bunny. But to your point, like people also didn't like it because of like the change that was going on. And there's a lot of like this guy's acting like this for three hours. Like you're like this 247 and no one really knows that. So it's like those, those people. It's a lot of assumptions and.

[Host]

Yeah. But it's hard for them. I understand where you're coming from. I'm with me all the time. It's a nightmare. Let's get to a break on the other side. We'll break down every storyline that we haven't talked about yet. And obviously BA's got to tell us something magical about. About something that happened in the past.

[Boston Connor]

Here we go.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

Bruce.

[Host]

I feel like we learn about football. History would be here. You know why? Because this was in the book. Yeah. Everywhere. Hey, you remember like Bear Brian. Yeah. You watched a documentary on a guy that created what do I need?

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

Wishbone.

[Host]

The wishbone. Yeah. Friend of mine created a wishbone. You need to watch a documentary about it. So we'll learn more about ball and we'll cover everything that needs to be chatted about, including there has been a flex to a game.

[Ty Schmidt]

Thank God.

[Host]

So we like that.

[Boston Connor]

Good.

[Host]

Great move, huh?

[Darius J. Butler]

Thanksgiving.

[Ty Schmidt]

No, that's coming. Don't worry.

[Boston Connor]

No, like a really shitty Saints pats game.

[Host]

Week six.

[Boston Connor]

Don't.

[Host]

Don't. Week six. The 49ers and Bucks will go to 425.

[Darius J. Butler]

Okay.

[Host]

Instead of the Patriots and Saints.

[AJ Hawk]

It's a good move.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah.

[Host]

I mean, we like when they do this. We gotta like when networks do this, we gotta be happy about it. Executives, I think, are sometimes scared to pull the trigger because they want to to piss off ownership or fan bases or maybe ruffle any feathers at all. Just kind of let's go through a season. The flex is a weapon. And for the good of ball, we need some of these people in some of these powerful seats to be willing to take it on the shins from a couple fan bases for the overarching good of everybody's soul. Hell yeah.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah.

[Host]

And that is something that is very real and that needs to be said and it needs to be weaponized. We need to utilize the flexibility. We need to start doing that, especially if we know what some of these teams are.

[Boston Connor]

And we need to write down the people who get upset when their team gets flexed out because those people are so delusional beyond saving because they think their team's good enough to play in.

[Host]

Those primetime games and they're bad for ball.

[Ty Schmidt]

Bingo.

[Boston Connor]

Talk about stepping up.

[Host]

It's time to level up your game.

[Darius J. Butler]

Introducing the all new ESPN app. All of ESPN all in one place. Your home for the most live sports and the best championship moments.

[Ty Schmidt]

The electricity is palpable.

[Host]

Step up your game.

[Darius J. Butler]

With no annual contract required. It's the ultimate fan experience.

[Host]

Level up.

[Darius J. Butler]

For More on the ESPN app or at stream.espn.com Sign up now.

[Host]

This isn't just another ESPN fantasy football season.

[Ty Schmidt]

It's your shot at greatness. With a refreshed design, the ESPN fantasy.

[Host]

App is sharper than ever.

[Ty Schmidt]

So you can draft like a pro.

[Host]

And dominate your league.

[Ty Schmidt]

And introducing Gridiron Gauntlet, a new game.

[Host]

Mode where the best compete to be crowned the number one fantasy football player of 2025. One app, one shot, one champion.

[Ty Schmidt]

Download the ESPN fantasy app and sign.

[Host]

Up to play ESPN fantasy football today. Football that's 47 year head coach, football coach Bruce Arians. This is AJ Hawk. The talks at tables here at Boston, Connor and that Ty Schmidt. Good luck to all the baseball teams today.

[Ty Schmidt]

Thank you. Thank you.

[Host]

You came in wearing like a full uniform today.

[Ty Schmidt]

Pretty much had to. This is go time. This is go time. When you watch 162 regular season games, give or take, like it, it matters. It really matters.

[Host]

Connor just did the. You and me both, brother. When he talks about watching 162 games. Been a long season. A lot of ups and a lot of downs.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah, I mean big time, you know, they're A point where I didn't think they were going to make the playoffs, you know, after going to the World Series last year. You know, it's just really fun. And it's nice when, like, we don't have. We don't have football the next couple days, you know, to have something to be, like, incredibly invested in on, like a Tuesday or a Wednesday. It's. It's awesome.

[Host]

We have somebody joining us from the baseball world. Bruce, who's joining us.

[AJ Hawk]

Somebody's joining us.

[Host]

Yeah. He's in short, isn't.

[Ty Schmidt]

It's tomorrow, sir.

[Host]

Yeah. That's what I'm saying. Yeah. Is joining us tomorrow. Yeah. This is a big deal. So I am. I'm very excited about this. Schwarbo is hilarious.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

Imagine, brother.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah.

[Host]

You're a baseball guy.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

Oh, yeah.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

Baseball is probably my best sport.

[Host]

You okay? So you're a pitcher?

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

No, I was a catcher.

[Host]

Oh. Did you see what Cal Raleigh did this year? Year. Oh, baby.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

Unbelievable.

[Host]

He deserves the mvp, doesn't he?

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

Yes, indeed.

[Host]

Because he was a catcher. And he's also hits from both sides of the plate. He had more home runs. This guy's a part of everything. I mean, maybe one of the greatest seasons of all time. Whenever it's all.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

I'm far for a catcher.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Ty Schmidt]

Thank you for that designation, Coach. For a catcher, certainly. Yeah, certainly. We don't have to do this. Like, Eric Judge led the mlb. Not just the al, the mlb and basically every statistic, statistical category except for home runs. But don't Worry, he had 53 of those, too. So, you know, I know Cal rally hit, you know, eight homers, more than Judge. You're right. Let's give me mvp. Let's do it.

[Host]

It wasn't just that. He said on both sides of the plate. He said on both sides of the plate. He's doing it all.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

Catching every day.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah.

[Host]

He squats in and he's on every single pitch.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

I had both my knees replaced because.

[Host]

I was catching Cal raw. He's leading the league. Wow.

[Ty Schmidt]

I get it. I get it. He's very important. Important player. Very important player. Seattle doesn't get where, you know they get without a guy like Cal Raleigh, so. And you know what if he. Nah, I'm not gonna say that. Never mind. Never mind.

[Darius J. Butler]

How many MVPs does Judge have?

[Ty Schmidt]

He has two currently got robbed. One Altuve, one one when that little was cheating, when he had the exoskeleton on.

[Host]

That's not that. Jeff Passon said that was proven to not be true.

[Ty Schmidt]

He didn't have the exoskeleton. I would. He cheated it for, like three years.

[Host]

So they were doing what other people were doing, just at a larger, Larger. Much larger extent.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah, exactly. No one, no teams had any problems with what all the other teams are doing. Like the Apple watches, like, hey, let's do this kind of stuff. And then those guys had to be jackasses and take it 100, you know, 100 steps over the limit. Which is fine. It's fine. They won a World Series. It worked. But no judge should have. I mean, so this should be winning his fourth mvp.

[Host]

Fourth or fifth one here this year. But there's a chance, from what I've been told, maybe because of how good Cal Raleigh season was and what he did for the Seattle Mariners, maybe he wins it because, you know, you never might not have a destiny like year like this year for Cal Raleigh ever again.

[Ty Schmidt]

And that's okay, because guess what? In the grand scheme of things like winning the MVP matters to me. Judge don't give a fuck. He wants a ring. That's what I want. So if he doesn't win the MVP and the Yankees go in the World Series, like, who gives a shit?

[Host]

I don't know what this tweet is from Ben Verlander, but I'm excited to read it live on air for the first time. MLB attendance and viewership numbers from 2025 are in, and the growth is insane. Okay. Baseball, wow. Way up across every platform. Fox says baseball up 9%. Fox Sports 1 says 10%. ESPN says up 21%. TBS 29%. MLB Network, 13%. I don't know what that one is. And then MLB TV plus 34%. What is NHK?

[Ty Schmidt]

I have no idea.

[Host]

Is that North Korea? Is there?

[Ty Schmidt]

Better not be.

[AJ Hawk]

I think so.

[Ty Schmidt]

Although I have heard that Kim Jong Un throws heat like gas.

[Host]

Well, then he also has a knuckle ball.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yes.

[Host]

And he has a curve and a slider.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah.

[Host]

He has everything you could potentially need.

[Ty Schmidt]

He does. I think he has, like, the. Well, I don't think. I know. He has the fastest recorded pitch ever. 274 miles an hour.

[Host]

It is not North Korea. It is actually Japan. Okay.

[Ty Schmidt]

Okay.

[Host]

There we go. It wasn't. Okay, so it's Japan, which is obviously makes sense because the amount of Japanese talent in the mlb. In MLB right now, obviously immense. Shohei Ohtani leading the way with it all. We're very lucky for that. And then third straight year of attendance growth for the first time since 2007, 71.4 million fans. I don't know how that number comes together. Social media Most viewed season 17.8 billion views. Once again, I don't know what accounts those are coming from, but I do know baseball is much more prevalent. Baseball star show up. So shout out for those stats from Ben Verlander. Shout out to baseball. Making some changes to the game and seeing some benefit. But also their stars showing up in the biggest moments, which is why this wild card should be electric.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah, that's the biggest thing. I mean to even have this discussion like Cal R versus Judge. That's like two. Two guys. And then Shohei obviously Schwerber. Like there are a handful of guys around the league where like the MLB simply can't afford for those guys to get hurt or not play or not play well. And all those guys just continually. And it's been like the last couple years now. But when like the spotlight has really been on and they're kind of trying to make a push a little bit. Like it seems like one of those guys is doing something special like every night.

[Host]

That's why we need Paula Skeens and the Pirates to make some big money investments this off season.

[Ty Schmidt]

Without a doubt, he should be pitching.

[Host]

This time of year.

[AJ Hawk]

Put him on a different team for sure.

[Ty Schmidt]

Without a doubt.

[Host]

Whoa.

[Darius J. Butler]

Got to.

[AJ Hawk]

Hey, don't let the rest knock out the. Don't want the Reds knock the dog Dodgers out and get this star power out of the the playoffs. But Reds are pretty sneaky out there.

[Host]

Okay, I'm happy to hear you're pulling for all the platforms during the playoffs because Shohei Otani is the needle mover and the Dodgers Kershaw's final ride here.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah, exactly.

[Host]

I mean there's a lot of storylines through the Dodgers. The Reds ruining that would be terrible for baseball.

[Ty Schmidt]

They've already said if it goes to three games, Shohei will probably start game three.

[Host]

Three. So as a pitcher.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah.

[Host]

Let's go.

[Ty Schmidt]

I love that.

[Darius J. Butler]

Is this.

[Host]

What do you mean you don't love that?

[Ty Schmidt]

Well, you don't want to pick first and foremost. I hope this thing doesn't go three because if it goes to a winner take all, like Reds are scrappy now. Scrappy ball team play small ball like they don't care about hitting homers. I just. I. I just don't. I. I don't love Shohei. Let him focus on hitting.

[Host]

So what did you see? This is. You're a hater.

[Ty Schmidt]

I'm not a hitter.

[Boston Connor]

Jersey on.

[Host]

Yeah, that's what babe. That's what the Big did. Isn't that what I heard early on?

[Ty Schmidt]

Early on. And then he just started hitting because that fat on would call his shot and he'd hit a homer every time and that's what we needed him focusing on. We don't need you throwing 92 mile an hour lollipops right down the middle.

[Host]

For sh is going to hunt though.

[Ty Schmidt]

No, I know sh throwing a lot harder. I'm just saying, you know, he hasn't been otherworldly pitching this year. That's all I'm saying.

[Host]

I saw a couple of tweets from some people throughout the year saying this guy just won five innings. No hits.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah. And strikeout.

[Host]

His.

[Ty Schmidt]

His last start was good, you know. Five, five innings. No, but I mean.

[Host]

Oh, so that was literally his last start.

[Ty Schmidt]

I saw that from his final start of the season.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Ty Schmidt]

He threw five innings. Yeah. Shut out ball.

[Host]

A.J. they've never said I wasn't a what have you done for me lately Guy. They've never said that about me. I. I don't think that's accurate. But shout out to baseball, man. We're happy for baseball. Cincinnati Reds knocking out the Dodgers. Kirk Herbstree would be so happy. Oh, is he the. Is there a die hard contingency of Reds fans that are feeling something special about this particular group of boys that are out on the diamond for The Cincinnati Reds? A.J.

[AJ Hawk]

Yes, of course. And they are led by Kirk Herbstream, Tito Francona. We know the, the great manager at the Reds have. This guy is invested. He is all in. So yeah, imagine the Reds going on the road three road games. Maybe they don't even get to three. Maybe they just won the first two. And we call it a day.

[Host]

A lot of. A lot of baseball chat here today. Tigers Guardians 1 1.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah, as. As of the last. Last time I checked, still one one. There we go. Instead of pictures duel top of six.

[Host]

Top of six is KG affair. That's baseball. Hey, that's wild card baseball.

[Boston Connor]

Hell yeah.

[Host]

I want to see home runs and stuff, but that's wild card baseball.

[Ty Schmidt]

We were never gonna get home runs from this early one. These next two games that, that's where your opportunity. Well and. And the Dodgers obviously those were gonna be your. A lot of home run opportunities in those games.

[Host]

The Cubs have any chance here, you know? Yeah, we have some friends that are die hard Cubs. Sure.

[Ty Schmidt]

It's in Chicago. They're good. I mean Padres got a lot of power. Padres bullpen very, very, very strong Cubs maybe not so much so you if you're the Cubs I think you're hoping it's maybe a bit of a slugfest. Cubs could absolutely win this series.

[Host]

Red Sox, Yankees. Then it comes down to this. One of the greatest rivalries in all sports. I, I believe there is a rivalries. Rushmore coming out here in, in a few weeks. That's Bob Costas and Al Michaels chit chatting about him. Yankees, Red Sox obviously mentioned throughout the entirety of it. Boston team. You, you've really enjoyed this squad.

[Boston Connor]

Oh yeah.

[Host]

Is Tony. Tony, still playing?

[Boston Connor]

Tony. Tony unfortunately got hurt, terrible injury. But he was still celebrating with the boys in the clubhouse once they clinched him.

[Host]

That's Tony. Tony baseball. I can't wait. The boys are good though.

[Boston Connor]

Oh yeah.

[Darius J. Butler]

I guess.

[Boston Connor]

I mean, you know, you guys know me. I'm locked in 162, 365 when it comes to baseball. But yeah, what it do? Bingo. But yeah, I, I mean Teddy Williams, the shades of Teddy Williams are going to be in New York City for Boston.

[Host]

Did you not know who's Jersey.

[Boston Connor]

I completely blanked. If I grabbed. I forgot if I grabbed the Williams or the Damon this morning. I don't know and I shouldn't have because I just said Babe Ruth and I was like, oh, fucking Babel, Ted Williams, old baseball guys, those two. But no, I mean I, I like. I love the Sox. It's just one of those teams in Boston where, you know, you like it when they're good and when they're not, you don't give a fuck. So guess what?

[Host]

We're good.

[Boston Connor]

And I care. And we got a picture tonight and all these Judge stats are cool. Would be a real shame if old Aaron Judge laid another egg in the postseason to the Boston Red Sox. This might destroy Judges, you know, whole entire. A big tall guy, that whole thing. If Judge lays an egg against the Red Sox in the first season, you better grab some Devil's Reserve. He's gonna need a lot of booze to do something like that. I'm just throwing that out there. And I know he's nervous. I know you're nervous. That judgy maybe, maybe he does have some yips in the playoffs and that might.

[Ty Schmidt]

That's very old. It is. Oh yeah, it is. No.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Ty Schmidt]

And if they do do lose to the Red Sox and he doesn't play well, like it will be very, very loud. And the guy going tonight for the Red Sox is one of the best pitchers in baseball. But oh yeah, you know, it's. It's go time. It's go time. Guess what? If you can't beat the Red Sox. You don't deserve to win a world.

[Host]

Amen. I'll tell you what, Connor. Playoff baseball is sweet, tropical, and spicy.

[Boston Connor]

Isn't it? Amen.

[Host]

You really fit.

[AJ Hawk]

Hey, man, I thought I saw something.

[Host]

Pop up on the screen, so I was like, oh, it's got to be this. It's gotta be. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Boston Connor]

I thought. I thought I saw the colors, but, yeah. Sweet, tropical, spicy. All the greatest you've ever had. I actually had a bunch of Cuervo last night. It was wonderful. Especially when I can't find. I can't find the text brutes.

[Host]

I'll tell you what, you snuck it in pretty good, though.

[Ty Schmidt]

I mean.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah, well, the thing is, I'm not sneaking it because I love it more than anything. This.

[Host]

More than anything.

[Boston Connor]

More than.

[Ty Schmidt]

Did say that.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah, you guys heard me. I was like, holy. Dude, you guys got this double reserved yet? No, but for.

[Darius J. Butler]

Shoot.

[Boston Connor]

I do love this. You can go to. You can go to your local liquor store or go to Cuervo.com to purchase your own bottle of Mischief. But Remember, must be 21 years old. Hand over again. I just hate that sentence, man. But. But remember, must be 21 years old, old and over, and please drink responsibly. But. But genuinely do love the Devil's Reserve. I am not a tequila guy. Never have been. Tried some of this, and it was good. So I. I will dabble in the reserve.

[Host]

Was it kind of a little bit sweet?

[Boston Connor]

Sweet, Spicy? All I know is that it was devilishly good, boys. I mean, that. That's what. That's what. That's what it says, baby. Reserva Jose Cuervo Devil Reserve.

[Host]

Man, you did so good. You did so good.

[Boston Connor]

I do like it, though. I mean, I suck at this, but I like this booze. I really do.

[Host]

You are not great at this. That's why it's a good time for all of us for you to be the one that.

[Boston Connor]

I have fun, too. Especially when Bruce sends me sentences like, but Remember, must be 21 years old and over, and please drink responsibly.

[AJ Hawk]

I went back to the drawing board on that one, and it stumped me, too.

[Host]

I don't even know how to.

[Boston Connor]

I don't even know how to.

[AJ Hawk]

It's 21 or over.

[Darius J. Butler]

21.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah, it must be 21 or over.

[Host]

That's the. What are we talking about?

[Ty Schmidt]

We found it.

[AJ Hawk]

Great work.

[Host]

Holy. We split the atom.

[Boston Connor]

Now it's registering with me.

[Host]

That. That.

[Boston Connor]

That. That's a thing. 21 plus over.

[Darius J. Butler]

I think for a. Wow.

[Boston Connor]

I knew that. I knew that Again. I'm one of those, like, hey, if there's a prompter in front of me.

[Host]

I'm gonna read it.

[Boston Connor]

You know, I, I, this is, this is what? This is what the.

[Host]

Or they shut it down and then.

[Boston Connor]

I mean, you know. San Diego.

[Host]

Yeah. What did they do there? All right, let's go over to Hammer Town. College football is back a thousand. Talk about ratings being up for baseball. College football is the same exact thing has been all year. Did you have a sweet, tropical, spicy take on college football or. I hope so. What? How should we be viewing how the college football season's going right now?

[Bubba Gumpino]

I always have a sweet, tropical, spicy taste on college football, Pat.

[Host]

Oh, it's like Devil's Reserve.

[Bubba Gumpino]

God, I love a Devil's Me. And me and Connor polished off a whole bottle last night.

[Host]

Totally.

[Boston Connor]

Don't tell everybody about that.

[Host]

What do you guys, where was it? Was it with your, your daughter or where were you guys at?

[Bubba Gumpino]

No, I went downtown.

[Ty Schmidt]

Oh, nice.

[Host]

You join the downtown boys for a bottle of sweet Tropical.

[Ty Schmidt]

Listen, when you have a double header.

[Bubba Gumpino]

That good, you can't miss out.

[Boston Connor]

And he's not talking about the game.

[Host]

He'S talking two of those. The Devil's Reserve.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah, two. Two bottles of which. Yeah, we drank the other one.

[Host]

We would not recommend drinking two bottles of those. No.

[Boston Connor]

Especially with only two people.

[Host]

Maybe patting that one one too. Drink responsibly. Did you guys have that one in there? Did you find that?

[Boston Connor]

No, I think it says must drink responsibly. I mean, you gotta.

[Host]

21 or older too, is crazy.

[Ty Schmidt]

I know.

[Host]

Just piecing that together.

[Darius J. Butler]

Yeah, to get you.

[Boston Connor]

It will get you.

[Host]

A.J. you, you ever have any of this?

[AJ Hawk]

Oh, yeah, it's beautiful. Sweet, spicy, goes down smooth.

[Host]

Tropical. Tropical. Yeah. Tropical.

[AJ Hawk]

Tropical.

[Darius J. Butler]

Yeah.

[Host]

All right, let's. You know, it's not tropical everywhere in college football, but the University of Miami Hurricanes, that is a resort down there, they're still rolling. They got a huge one this weekend. What? Are we sure. What should we be chatting about in the college football world, Tone?

[Bubba Gumpino]

Let's start with this past weekend, just in case anybody missed it. We start in Happy Village, Happy Valley State College, where you were for game day. Penn State was down 17:3 in this game. And then they stormed this fourth quarter comeback to make think it's 17. 17. They score first in overtime, obviously, and then, you know, Oregon tops that to take it to a second overtime. And, you know, unfortunately, that's where things turn. Penn State. Penn State. That's just kind of what they do. Oregon gets a. A easy touchdown on their first play in the second overtime. And then obviously Drew Aller throws the interception in the second overtime on their possession to it to Tiananmen who was transferred from Purdue.

[Host]

The huge transfer. Yes, he is.

[Bubba Gumpino]

Don't forget it. D. But so that was a huge one obviously in Happy Valley. And then the other big one of the day was we went down to Georgia where they were on a 33 game home winning streak between the Hedges and Alabama came out early and often they scored 24 points in the first half and that was all they needed. That's Kaden Proctor, their left tackle, getting the wide receiver screen right there. Tell you what, it is not De Bover. And especially when DeBoer wears that black hoodie. He is undefeated wearing the black hoodie. I don't understand why he doesn't wear the black hoodie every single game. Just something to think about.

[Host]

Yeah. It should be a big night with that. What you say?

[Boston Connor]

I love this is the best play. I mean, Katie Proctor is the man.

[Host]

Yeah. Coach Arians, how come they're not giving him the ball every time? BA why don't we just the ball to him every play?

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

Definitely down on the five yard line for sure.

[Host]

Man.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

He looked like a wide receiver spinning in there. It looked like who you feed?

[Host]

Vita Vea, right? We got the ball a couple times. V cut a touchdown.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

Yeah.

[Host]

Whenever you're drawing a place for these, these guys get excited about this.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

Oh, God.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

I said, vita, just work on a good dance because it's going to be a touchdown. I got to see a good dance. And he froze on me.

[Host]

Oh, no.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

He. He got excited to come running off. I said, where's the dance, brother?

[Host]

Oh, not anymore. Now a lot of aura. The big guys though, that lifts the morale of the entire team.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

Oh, yeah.

[Host]

Legitimately.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

Yeah. And we'd always holler Vita Scolan. He'd come screaming down, you know, defensive line, they'd stop practice watching. Oh, he's going to get a pass this week.

[Host]

That's amazing. Anytime we did fake punts or something like our fake field goals, fake field goals, always throw it to a fat guy. Okay. Even if the ball is definitely going to tight end in game, there's always going to be some tackle releasing downfield or somebody dragging behind and it's a huge guy in practice. We're running this fake. Never throw it to the tight end. Never throw it to anybody. You get it to the fattest guy on the field. Every single time. And the reaction from the entire building anytime one of the big guys gets a ball is electrifying. When they were practicing that with Proctor, I assumed the building was electrifying whenever they were going through it. And I think this Alabama team, AJ hey started out the worst they could have possibly started. Now they're rolling and I like that they're doing this with Proctor.

[AJ Hawk]

AJ it's awesome what they're doing with Proctor but I think they, you know, they just need to do this a few more times, get some more victories, some, some blowouts to, to have that like that Alabama, that aura, that mystique about him that the Patriots had for so long in the NFL that Alabama had for so long under Nick Saban. I think they can kind of regain that a little bit. They lost it early in the season but I think get that back.

[Host]

A lot of question marks for what the future was going to be down there in Alabama. Feels like the future for us is going down there for them. Taking on Vandy isn't that crazy? We're going to Alabama Vandy this weekend. That's a, that's a incredibly large compliment to to Diego and everybody at Vandy but also like they've earned it every step of the way. This Vanderbilt team is fun and they're the team that everybody's going to look at during this nil Trans report over and say hey, you can change the entire culture of your university overnight. Have you watched much of Diego play?

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

He is special special personal against Virginia tech and scored 34 unanswered in the second half and now I guess he's trying to get a seventh year.

[Host]

They're going to give it to him too.

[Boston Connor]

I assume they should.

[Host]

They're going to give it to him.

[Boston Connor]

Now but they should.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

He's. He's a. He's a hell of a football player now.

[Host]

A lot of moxies.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

Oh tough and they got a big strong offensive and defensive defensive line. They did a great. They did it. They built their trenches in the right way.

[Host]

You talk about him being tough. I saw a video he did maybe with on 3 I forget who it was. It was a tick tock or a real and build the perfect quarterback and it was like who's they are asking him. It was like a rapid fire and they're like football IQ or something like that. I think he said Peyton or something like that and then he said like mindset and he said Tom and he said athletic ability or he was like Lamar or something like that and then he Said toughness. He said, me. Then the next one, he won. And then it was like, arm strength or something. He said, vic, like, he. He put together, like, the perfect one. But when it was toughness, he, like, he was very proud that I am a tough motherfucker. And I was like, I love this guy more and more the more I hear him talk. And it takes that type of guy, underappreciated, undervalued, to go to a place and have enough confidence in himself and damn near arrogance. You have to have that you can take on and be something that your school has never been before. What a match made in heaven down there for Vandy. I'm so pumped that we're going to a Vandy game, actually, because I wish it would have been in Nashville, because I don't. First of all, I love Nashville.

[Boston Connor]

It's a great place.

[Host]

Love Nashville. I do love Nashville. But also these schools that don't get game day a lot, you know, and we feel honored that game day game means something that is very, very cool, that I'm a part of something where that actually means something. But whenever we go to a place that doesn't happen, it is outrageous. So now that it's a Vandy game, I still think it's special because it's not normal. But going down to Bama here with Kaylin deboer Saban on set should be electrifying weekend.

[Boston Connor]

Well, and that's what might be kind of sweet is Bama is one of those places you would slot as. Like, hey, they've won so much. Don't really care about game day because of the Vandy Bama Sabin debacle last year. Like, all of a sudden, Vandy's coming in like, well, we're gonna beat Bama. And Bama's also looking at it as, hey, we kind of have to get Saban's back. They a little bit dunked on him after. After they beat us last night.

[Host]

Not just a little bit.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah, a lot of it.

[Host]

There's a lot of dunking on Saban's head from the vanity people who've not won as many games as he's won national championship. Yeah. So that. That was a wild time, but he certainly. All right, I. I stepped in at this time. That's rat poison. I did it. You know, he. He's. He's awesome on tv, but I like that we're going down there. Tone, what else should we be thinking about whenever we look ahead to this weekend? Tone Diggs.

[Bubba Gumpino]

Well, yeah, that is a big One in the. The cool part is of the SEC this year is they played the exact same schedule that they played last year, but just the home and way are flipped. So this game last year was after Bama beat Georgia with the Ryan Williams spin move or whatever, Bama becomes the number one team in the nation, then lose loses to Vandy. So there's a lot of implications this year. Same exact situation except for Bama's at home and they're looking for revenge. So that's interesting. The other big game, not as big as it would have been if Florida State didn't lose on Friday night in Virginia in that awesome game. But Miami going to Florida State, another test for Miami early in this season. Obviously they've played Notre Dame already. They've played Florida already. So another one going to Florida state.

[Host]

State.

[Bubba Gumpino]

Miami vs. Florida State is the other top 25 vs. Top 25 game of this weekend.

[Host]

Okay, I'm gonna ask you D. But Florida State, Miami guys, a lot of commonalities there, right? Yeah, that. That is like the Florida has Florida boys, of course, but Florida State and Miami normally similar recruiting process.

[Darius J. Butler]

That is the. Like. That's the rivalry for especially south Florida kids. Florida fans when um.

[Host]

Is.

[Darius J. Butler]

Um. You are always look forward to that Florida State game. Florida Gators when they're good, obviously that's the thing too. But this is the rivalry regardless of the. What the records are. Wish Florida State would have had the business last week and won that game to make this an even bigger deal. But their offense showed up. I think it's still going to be a good game. I. I can't wait to see it. But yeah, this is. This is the one. Especially when you talk about, hey, the U is back. The. The mystique, the swag, the. Or all that shit. It's about what's your record? Just like at Ohio State. What was your record against Michigan at these different schools as a Seminole or Hurricane, what is your record against the OP?

[Host]

Okay. And that's ACC football down there. Yeah.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

This is old Big east football too.

[Host]

Oh, yes.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

I mean, these guys been going batting for a long time. And like I said, the kids all know each other. They got recruited together. So it's. And it's a big game for Carson Beck. He's been playing really, really well on his little redemption tour. And I can't wait to watch this one.

[Host]

How do you feel about the transfer in quarterback? It's worked. Yeah, it has worked basically everywhere across the board. Yeah. Will Howard wins the national championship. Riley Leonard was in the national championship finals, obviously, Diego transfers in, transforms Vanderbilt entirely everywhere. Kind of basically Oregon hire an assassin.

[Boston Connor]

Dante Moore.

[Host]

Dante Moore. Dylan Gabriel Matier at Oklahoma. They brought in the oc. It feels like this is how you. I know you're a part of the Virginia Tech hiring process. Yeah. But it feels like a quick way to win is get a very good quarterback and maybe the coordinator as well.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

There's no doubt about it. And I think. I think it's hurting quarterbacks, but it's really helping college football. I mean, to get. To get over the hump quickly to go get. Go get a quarterback, get the coordinator with him, and all of a sudden you're playing in the championship.

[Host]

Hurting quarterbacks, though, because they're not developing.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

They'Re not staying in the same offenses. And I don't think they're to going. Getting better prepared for the National Football League. You know, talking to Tom and Peyton about the same thing. They were the same guys in college for the whole time. And you. You learn that way. You get better that way. Bouncing around. You make a lot of money now.

[Host]

Yes, yes.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

Totally different. Totally different.

[Host]

It's not about.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

I can make as much money now than I can my first two years in the NFL, so I'm all for it.

[Host]

Good for the game. Does it sacrifice future talent, Allen, you know, that is what's good for now. Is it good for later development?

[Boston Connor]

For sure. Right. That's kind of. It's like being proven damn near right now just with quarterbacks, especially like Danny Dimes right here.

[Host]

Even Peyton and Tom. Yeah. Good development is happening him. Mac Jones took like four years to develop and he was in like an NFL system with Sark down there in Alabama.

[Boston Connor]

Baker.

[Host]

Yeah. Baker Mayfield, I guess took him a little bit, even though, you know, whenever he came into the NFL, he had success.

[Boston Connor]

True. Yeah. Forget about that. He broke the touchdown record for rookie.

[Darius J. Butler]

Yeah.

[Ty Schmidt]

It'd be like they'd be like a top two to three favorite in.

[Boston Connor]

What happened.

[Host]

What happened with their defense? H. With the Cleveland Browns defense and just Baker Mayfield playing anywhere near where he's playing right now with Judy. Oh, my God. And then the running back situation, just like.

[Darius J. Butler]

Yeah, he wants a playoff game for the Cleveland Browns against the Steelers and you.

[AJ Hawk]

And he has that demeanor, too, that would go like the. The Browns fans, like, with how Baker is and how he plays and how he puts his body on the line, like makes perfect sense.

[Bubba Gumpino]

He lived in the stadium.

[Boston Connor]

They unlocked beer when he won the game.

[Host]

He shotgun beers at numerous guardians games. I. I think send them To London.

[Boston Connor]

That's who we're sending to London to be the trial run for a team over there. Cleveland and their home base could be Cleveland still. But get the out. Okay, this sucks too.

[Bubba Gumpino]

The jets and Browns should combine teams and go to London.

[Host]

The Jets, I don't know if they're ever going to win like that. I was watching that game and I was like Michigan won a national championship like this. Okay. Michigan just was able to be more dominant than you. We don't have to throw the ball, we're just going to run it. I don't know if that's going to work in the NFL. Like I don't know. That was interesting last. What was that messaging you think last night? What, what is the. What is.

[AJ Hawk]

What do you mean? They're trying, they're trying whatever they can to win a game, I guess. But what they turn the ball, right? Three fumbles as well. I mean I guess that's the one positive you could take. Hey, we fumbled the ball three times and we only lost by six points. So that maybe it's a moral victory.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

And 15 penalties tall. 10 of them pre snap tall.

[Darius J. Butler]

A lot of sins.

[Host]

Can't do that to yourself.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

It's just beating jets, baby.

[Host]

Is that ever going to stop Aaron Glenn?

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

Yeah, I think, I think Aaron's going to put, he's going to put some discipline in the program. I, I really like Aaron Glenn. I think his, his personality, he hasn't had a chance to really build this thing yet. I think next year they're going to be a totally different.

[Ty Schmidt]

To play devil's advocate with the way he is. He's pretty intense guy. They're saying, you know, the media was on the other side of the locker room, could hear him just the team for 20 minutes after the game.

[Host]

10 pre snap penalties, 10 pre snap penalties.

[Ty Schmidt]

You know all that stuff he said, that was the first thing he said, hey, we're going to clean up the penalties. That is not going to be the way we play football inside that locker room. Let's say this continues. They go 0 and 8 and you got a guy just riding your ass non stop. I mean is there. I'm not talking mutiny, but when do guys start saying like this guy. Matt Patricia, Bingo.

[Host]

Eric Manini.

[Ty Schmidt]

Bingo.

[Host]

There's been a couple other situations where this was seemingly the storyline. Mangini in Cleveland, you were coaching in Pittsburgh at that time. Okay, so we were in Indianapolis and I think I was a rookie and I was hearing from other people in our locker room what they were hearing from their college teammates. What was going on. Cleveland, I think they were doing 6am Oklahoma. It's the rookies.

[AJ Hawk]

I was hearing the same thing that was going throughout the league. That wasn't just to you. We all heard I had a guy teammates. Yeah. Everybody was hearing about that.

[Host]

Me as punter, gassing it up so much. Like, boys, I would be there. I'd be there right on the sideline letting you know, like, let's get after it, boys. Everybody had the same reaction that thank God I'm not in Cleveland. I couldn't even imagine what the. The Browns players were thinking. Yeah. As was going through. If you win, it's good.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

It's a crazy story. I was supposed to go in for the interview on Saturday for. To be the head coach for. He heard here Eric on Thursday, I think.

[Host]

Oh, so you. So we had Baker.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yep.

[Host]

Potentially had BA he going away. Sir bowl is a head coach obviously, in that entire thing. Cleveland's made a lot of decisions. You know, they certainly made a lot of decisions. But if you. If Mangini would have won when he was doing Oklahoma drills at 6am Everybody would have bought in. If the Lions would have won when Matt Patricia was doing whatever Matt Patricia was doing, everybody would have bought in. But whenever you don't have success, the locker room immediately goes, so this sucks worse than everybody else and we're not winning. I don't fucking think so. Yeah.

[Boston Connor]

Phil o' Brien time.

[Host]

There's another instance right there. Like, this sucks. We're not doing this. But if you have success, you gotta almost be like, win immediately. Does that worry you with AG or. No.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

I know for his personality. No, not at all. No, he. He's a corner man.

[Host]

He forgets that quick. Yeah.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

And. But his. He's not gonna. I don't think they'll mutiny on him at all, even if they're 0 and 8. Because I just want to see get better and better and better clean the upper. And it goes back to Peyton's three and 13 year. You know, we weren't. But we got better each week in practice. And the guys never quit. They say we're getting better, you know, and the next year we're 13 and three.

[Darius J. Butler]

And the players got to take ownership too. Like, it's not him fumbling the ball. It's not him jumping off sides or false starting and shit. Like, you can look at each other and say, hey, hey, it's us. Now we hate players only meetings. But like, you got to police your own, you know, your own locker room. What he's preaching, I'm sure he's preaching on all the right shit he played. And the difference between a lot of the coaches name, like he played in the league for a long time and then he went kind of the long route to get to this job. He was a scout, he was a coordinator, he was a coach. He's been around other good coaches. He's been around a turnaround. It was terrible. What was your record first year?

[Host]

0 and 10.

[Darius J. Butler]

We started 0 and 10 in Detroit. But you stuck to it. And a lot of that started from the ownership level. Ownership level came in and said, hey, this is our guy. We got his back. This is how we're going to do things. It's got to be the same way with the jets now. Before that, in our lifetime, Detroit hadn't done anything right. And it's the same kind of story with the jets now. Will they start to do things right from the top down? We'll see.

[Host]

Let's talk about the other guy that left the lines. Ben Johnson. He might be hitting here.

[Darius J. Butler]

Yeah.

[Host]

His team might be kind of fun. Now. This would be considered early, I think, in a culture shift. By week five, kind of everybody bought in. Maybe even by week week four, it was already bought in. That's when like the. His speech in the locker room afterwards, very intense. But everybody, yes, sir. Everybody, yes, sir. It's like, holy shit, this guy might have flipped this group into being what he envisions them to be. And obviously they can only get better. That's like a exact conversation point that we're having right now. Feels like Ben Johnson's got Chicago buying in to what he's been pitching. And everybody says he's a hard ass, accountability driven guy. Guy. It's like, kudos to Caleb for buying in. Kudos to the defense for buying, like, congrats to everybody seemingly buying in and it working out for them. And maybe this is a whole new era. The Ben Johnson era is one that brings success to Chicago.

[AJ Hawk]

AJ Yeah, I mean, I think anytime you bring in a coach that's drastically different from the guy you had before, there's going to be like a little bit of an adjustment period for the team. And Ben Johnson, like, I think players know and it's like a corny thing.

[Host]

Thing.

[AJ Hawk]

But if you're co. If you think like, even if your coach yells all day every day and he's crazy and he does this, if you feel like he cares about you and he like truly cares about you as a human, like, in each player feels that Way, I think you'll do anything for him, especially if you can win some games and you see, like, oh, okay. He's not just yelling at me to yell at me. He's put me in good position to make plays. And when I step out of that, that's when I make mistakes, whatever. If I do what he's kind of guided me through, I'll be all right. And I think now they. They have some hope early, and they did not have any hope.

[Host]

Hope.

[AJ Hawk]

They didn't have hope, what, three weeks ago, People were pretty upset.

[Host]

I didn't have hope that I thought. I thought the Caleb experience was going to be a bad one. I thought it was going to end with him going to a couple different teams and then maybe finding his shit down the road, which I was bummed out about, I want to let you know, because generational conversation was happening whenever he was coming out of usc, and I thought, man, this ain't going to work. This is what they talked about last year with his recollection of the defense and what they were trying to put on, then what Ben Johnson was trying to put on his plate and then how it was looking and the conversations that were taking place. And it's like, well, does Ben have the power in that room or does Caleb have the power in that room? We'll see what the future looks like now. It's like, wait a minute. Ben Johnson is the right guy to get the most out of Caleb. And maybe that was this personality type that Caleb needed, or at least at this point in his life needs to become the best quarterback he can be. Because if Caleb can get that ball right there is insane. That is an insane throw right there. That's a second window down in between linebacker, corner, and safety on a line. It's like, that's a filthy throw, that. That is just a disgusting ball. Do we think Caleb is starting to come into maybe realizing. Understanding what offense he's running, what the defense is doing? And do we think there's still potential massive upside for Caleb with Ben Johnson? Oh, I don't think there's any doubt about that.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

I mean, the guy is so talented. And you go back to that first one, he completed 10 in a row. He's taking his check down, so he's doing everything. Take the Superman cape off. Just leave it on the bench. Just go play quarterback, all right? We don't need no Supermans out here.

[Host]

And.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

And I think Ben's going to do that for him. And he's done it. Look at Jared Golf's career just took off with Ben, I think. I think Caleb can do that same thing.

[Host]

I hope so.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

And they got players around him, too now.

[Host]

I gave up hope, D. But I gave up hope on Caleb.

[Darius J. Butler]

I know you did.

[Host]

I mean, the gq, I'm like, man, he's falling in love with everything that isn't football, investment funds, the whole thing.

[Darius J. Butler]

And that matters.

[Host]

It.

[Darius J. Butler]

It does matter. Personality, leadership in the locker room, all that definitely matters when he has the talent. I said it earlier. Forgot talking about Sean McVeigh. Like, in the National Football League, you have to kind of lead with intellect. Like, we got to know. You're putting us. You're putting me in a better position. Especially if you're a guy like Caleb Williams, who was five star recruit number one pick. All these things.

[Host]

Things has.

[Darius J. Butler]

Has had all the answers up until this point. You got to be able to swallow your ego and say, okay, this guy's gonna put me in a good position. You got to have that energy. You got to be able to communicate. Looks like Ben Johnson kind of has all those things. And then BA Would know this better than I would. But the staff he has around him, too, on the defensive side of the ball, you got a former head coach of Dennis Allen. You got Al Harris on that staff who's a great player in the league. For a long time, a lot of people thought he should have probably been the defensive coordinator in Dallas before he left there to come to Chicago. And they've kind of been kind of makeshift in that secondary and putting pieces that they didn't expect coming into the season to play big roles. So I think they're doing a good job. And the. The intensity factor that we get from Ben Johnson, I didn't know this when he was a coordinator of Detroit. You know, you never see the coordinator speak and talk as much. Now you have. You got to set that tone not only in the locker room, but when you're doing things outside the locker room, Press conferences, meetings, all these different things. And it looks like the boys are buying in.

[Host]

Yeah, this. This was a cool moment, I assume, for Ben, but also if you're a Bears fan, I think when you watch this video, the boys are all bought in. Like, this is a moment where you can find out if the boys are bought in or not. The yes, sir responses out of everything is go back to the beginning. Can we run this with sound? Let me tell you something, man. That's a character win right there.

[Boston Connor]

Yes, sir.

[Host]

Character win. And it took all 60 minutes.

[AJ Hawk]

Yes, sir.

[Host]

And you know what it took. It took belief. Yes, sir.

[Boston Connor]

It took belief that we were gonna find a way.

[Host]

Because at the end of the day.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

Gentlemen, that was two teams that were desperate.

[Host]

Yes, sir. Both teams, I give them a lot of credit, man. But you know who wanted just a little bit more? Chicago Bears. Chicago. That's Chicago. I got. I got a few game balls. I just see the two interceptions. All right, but you talking about big time tackle when we needed it. Let me get a little Kevin Byer action. Listen, coach said it the other week.

[Darius J. Butler]

The book on this team is that if we get the game close post, we was gonna lose.

[Boston Connor]

And what the we do today culture with fellas. We talk about changing the culture. That's how you do it.

[Darius J. Butler]

Fellas, let's go into this bye week, man.

[Host]

Let's get this going, baby. Man, we wouldn't have won that game.

[Boston Connor]

Had we not gone 4 for 4 on field goals.

[Host]

Love this little Cairo.

[Darius J. Butler]

Hey, hey, hey.

[Boston Connor]

Hey, man. Like, like I said earlier in the.

[Matthew Stafford]

Year, I'm inspired by all you guys.

[Boston Connor]

The best teammates o line, you know, come through every.

[Host]

It doesn't. It's not just me.

[Darius J. Butler]

All of us.

[Host]

That's right. All right, man. And you know, game on the line when we needed it most.

[Boston Connor]

Come on.

[Host]

When we needed the most, we need someone to step up to the plate. Josh Black.

[Boston Connor]

Come on.

[Host]

That's a great culture. Yeah, that feels like they're bought in. AJ A lookout NFC North. There's a new powerhouse coming from the midway Monster.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah, I certainly don't love seeing that one bit. I don't. I mean, I just especially like where the. Because in years past, like the. The Bears losing that way week one to the Vikings, like, especially with a new coach and Caleb and everything. Like, you could see that thing just nose diving, like, okay, that's. That's all they needed to kind of tip things over. And you look at where the packers were at Week one and where they're at now, like, and, and even as like a Packers fan just watching, you said a lot of things about, you know, Ben Johnson or whatever. Like, their offense does look different. Like there will be like five to six times a game. He'd be like, Jesus Christ, that was a great pull play. That was a great point like that. That does happen pretty often. So yeah, as a Packers fan, don't love seeing that. But here we go.

[Host]

What does Ben Johnson do as a play caller or play designer that has made him be the bell of the ball for the last three off seasons in the coaching carousel?

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

He's had a hell of a group around him, you know, and my man, Antoine Randall, he handles some trick play stuff. He actually put one in that he ran back. And when he was a stealer, we tossed him the ball. He ran the shot shuffle. Play us back.

[Host]

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

And so he listens. He listens to his guys. He puts input, which when you listen and, and they see their plays again called guys work harder. Coach, I'm. I got more for you. I got more for you. And he listens. He puts it all together extremely well.

[Host]

What type of. Is there a style in which he calls plays that makes him very good? Like some people are chess players, I guess, whenever they're calling that. Ben Johnson, he, he, he starts with the running game.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

He got a great play action game. He's got a great knack for when to throw the gadget. All right, when do you throw the flea flicker? When do you throw the, the reverse? When do you do this? The gimmick, especially in Detroit, you know, when they start throwing the lineman and throwing in the middle of a game, throwing a lateral on a short end, he pitch it back to the other. That, that takes a lot of guts. Takes a lot of creativity, too.

[Host]

How about the. Is it a feel thing?

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

Whenever it's a total feel thing.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

I think some guys have it, some don't. Some just are computers. Computer says I do this. All right, guys at Andy Reid, the people have been doing it for a long time. They have a feel for the game.

[Host]

Ben Johnson's fun to watch. That Bears team might be problematic.

[Boston Connor]

Actually, I have a question for you. When it comes to these block kicks.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Boston Connor]

Do you think we're going to see a ton more fakes now, both punts and field goals, just because they're so aggressive, because there's so much success, like now, are they going to start trying, like, because some of these teams are blocking? I mean, the Eagles have like three.

[Host]

Block punts already and there's been three games, I think decided on block kicks, literally game winning blocks. So Greg Olsen spotlighted it on Sunday morning, which once again, this is Greg Olson going into detail about something that's so minor, but such a good piece of information for the people at home to have. So for field goal snaps, normally it's the holder opening his hand like this. Okay. Can't move the hand forward, can't move the hand back, can't move it up, can't move down. Just has to keep it in exact spot space and you're allowed to open your hand. But you're not allowed to move forward or it's a. You're trying to draw them off.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah. Like the Stafford thing you're talking about.

[Host]

Bingo. Yeah. You can't move at all. Yeah. If I was to give cadence, which I did blue with the hand, I would do that. I wasn't allowed to move my helmet forward whenever I was doing it. Walt Anderson. That I did get people to jump off sides and I was very proud of it. Only could do it though because Vinatieri could handle it back there. But you need to be going on two, you need to be going on three, you need to be going on one. You need to switch that up. If they have a jump on your operation like old buddy said that they had it on the long snapper.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah. On the Raiders line snapper, they always move the ball just like an inch right before he snapped it.

[Host]

So they're watching for all that. Like even in warm ups. Other long snappers or maybe us watching the other long snapper. Some guys like move their fingers like right before they like readjust their fingers. All the guys that are trying to get the jump are looking for something like that. Whether it's the holder, it's the snapper. Sometimes the kicker will even do something where they'll put their hand down or they're all something.

[AJ Hawk]

They all got something that gets a little bit of a tell. So now they're going to have to go change that, aren't. It's like a quarterback changing signals or trying to. Hey, this is a. We're. This is a fake or we're going on. I'm going to open my hand three times. Like we're going to see a lot more of that, won't we?

[Host]

It slows everybody down. Not just the edge. It slows down the middle down too. Like when I. When we would hard count at home. That is for the offensive lineman not to just get. Get steam because as soon as those guys just go ears back this thing's going and it's off. They're. They're not even trying to block the kick. They are just spearing the offensive lineman. So like not only does it slow down the outside guys, they can't get a jump on the edge. But also in the middle it slows them down too. So I think just switching up the cadence, which sounds so basic but I think that's. I don't know. How do you slow people down? Isn't that how you slow people down? I think get same thing same through.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

That silent count with the center. You Know, people nod, they spin, they double twister. I mean, they got five snap counts. Baiton had five or six.

[Host]

Oh, yeah.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

And Saturday was great at it. You know, hey, we're a double twister. He twists head both sides, but it.

[Host]

Makes everybody's life easier.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

The defensive line's going. I didn't see that one yet. One. Oh, he got one off sides.

[Host]

All right.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

Had Cincinnati done that one time, you know, maybe that wrestler would have slowed down last night.

[Host]

Yeah. Talking about Ted Karras doing the head. And then they call it on him, actually the entirety of it all. But it's like you just got to slow him down somehow and. But everybody's got to be on the same page and good. You know, it's like, there's always a conversation about Aaron Rodgers is like hard counts and shit. It's like, is he doing too much for these young guys? It's like, no. All these guys need to figure it out.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

This is not hard to count to three, brother.

[Host]

Yeah, but the sounds and the inflection, I don't know how offensive linemen don't budge with how big they are. Yeah, and obviously some of those offensive linemen are really good at, like, readjusting and moving the call. But like D lineman being able to stunt and move and shade down and 360 pounders aren't allowed to even budge is insane. And then for the lack of. With the sound people moving, I think we should applaud offensive linemen for not fucking jumping off more than they do. It's like they've actually gotten too good at holding their water and then jumping right before that. We all think they're cheating. It's like, how about them not being allowed to fuck? Hey, freeze. Literally. Yeah, you got.

[AJ Hawk]

You got beat a vea. Six inches in front of your face, too.

[Host]

Don't move. What's he doing? Well, he's allowed to actually get a little running start. He's going to start off the line, actually, and then he's going to come down. Perfect timing. Don't even think about thinking about moving your hand because if you just. Boom. Right there. He moved. He did. You saw it. Got him first down. And you're the biggest doofus of all time. I love that. All the little intricacies of the little game, but it does feel like special teams are starting to take over. Let's stick with the Chicago Bears and wrap it up here. Ben Johnson and Adidi had a conversation coming out of halftime time. This is how it went during the game. Your offense has struggled to take advantage of those takeaways. Okay, so what did you tell them to get things going? That. That it wasn't our brand of football. We're capable of a lot more. And so we're hitting the reset button here at halftime, and we're going to come back and establish our identity here.

[Ty Schmidt]

In the second half.

[Host]

You need to change what you're doing.

[Ty Schmidt]

I don't know.

[Host]

You think so we're going to be just fine, and they end up being just fine. That was his message. Adidi, I think she said that it was a question or a reiteration of what he was saying, even though it might have sounded like, so you need to change what you're doing. And he said he didn't really. This was his response to it whenever he kicked off his press conference. And, you know, if you care to address this, I know there's been some buzz about your halftime exchange. Can you relay what. How you interpreted that. That conversation?

[Boston Connor]

Yeah.

[Host]

You know, in the moment, I honestly, I didn't think too much of it. I'm kind of in. In game mode. But then when it.

[Darius J. Butler]

When I look back at it, you.

[Host]

Know, I am a little bit disappointed with what that looks like. You know, I didn't hear very well, and that's not an excuse. But when I thought I heard that it was not a question, but that I needed to make some changes, I didn't take that very well. So I'll do a better job with those going forward. Yeah, I didn't like the way it was. And Adidi's been around ball a long time. I assume she was not the one that was offended by the interaction, but those are tough moments to have an interview. You know, that that is a. Especially if your team is not playing well and you want them to play well. And if it's loud and you hear somebody that has not been at your practices or in your team meetings or know anything about your team not saying football, but just your team in general. So you need to make. It's like, yeah, can we do this after the game? Like, that is almost immediately the thought. Obviously, guys that have been around a long time are much more seasoned vets in those moments. But I appreciate Ben Johnson acknowledging, but I didn't think he had to, A.J. i didn't.

[AJ Hawk]

I don't think he had to. I mean, it's coming out of halftime or going into halftime. Doing an interview as a coach, I think is almost impossible. It's so like, you have so many things on your mind. I can imagine now college Coaches doing these interviews, the smart ones know in the back of their head, hey, I'm recruiting. Anytime I'm on camera, I'm recruiting. These heights school kids, these young kids watching me or these kids I want from the transfer portal to come over. So that gives them like another reason where they can almost, you know, fake it easier, I guess, and makes make themselves, I don't know, just make it a little bit better.

[Host]

Anytime on camera. We're selling, we're selling. And for Ben Johnson, he's on camera, he's trying to answer questions about his team. Let's go to a guy who had do a lot of these. We feel like there's a couple timings of interviews that what are we doing right before the game? They'll get players now as like after introductions, as game is like starting like 30 seconds away. They're talking to players now. That's a part of the new TV deal, I guess. And then the halftime conversations with coaches. I feel like we really never really get anything good out of that. How did you handle those and what was your mindset as you're doing those?

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

Let's get this over with quick.

[Host]

Okay, exactly our point.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

I'm not gonna say anything. I'm not gonna tell you. I mean, thank God. Laura Oakman. I was just ripping some of fish on, I was probably red as a hornet and came over. Are you okay? You okay? She was worried about me. I said, no, I'm good. Honey, what do you. What do you want to know?

[Host]

Yeah, you got to be able to compartmentalize, I guess. But on that note, you got a lot going on, a lot of jobs. I mean, there is a lot of things on, on the line for every one of these games. In the middle of the action, just stopping and dropping out and going into the real world. Because there you're talking to the fans. You're talking to the fans, you're talking to everybody. You're not talking to your team. And you're in the middle of a game, which is your team's moment. It's interesting. I know the NFL wants more access, but I think some of these timing, I think the people should be able to opt in or out of them. Like, I think Ben Johnson should be like, nah, I don't really want to do this right now.

[Darius J. Butler]

Yeah, I hate it. I'm a fan. You know, just being a fan now, like, like it's nothing. Like, I. I don't want to hear from the coach.

[Boston Connor]

I don't want to hear from a.

[Darius J. Butler]

Player right before kickoff. Like As a fan, it's not, it's not even that engaging or entertaining. I understand. We want the access. And then to BA's point, like all that adrenaline, like you are in the middle of out. And that game was a dog fight. One one point game came down to the last play, last kick. So like too much adrenaline. I can understand in that interaction how it kind of got lost in. Trent. You're in the middle of a stadium, loud stadium. And she was trying to say, okay, so you need to change something up. He took it a different way. And then I also understand why he addressed it too, because as a head coach, as a player, first of all, you're, you represent organization. We know how that organization specifically hear that. And then like you don't want to ever become a distraction, so you just own it. You say whatever you say to it and then you move on from. So now nobody's asking about that today or anything else to that. So I understand kind of the, the weight he has to bear as a head coach, but I think, think. I think he handled it well. I think to your point, Adid be fine.

[Bubba Gumpino]

She's.

[Darius J. Butler]

She's been in the firefight. It's different being down there. So I get it. But I, I hate the, the mid game interviews like.

[Host]

And also now that we know Ben Johnson a little bit, think about what he just got done doing insane in that locker room.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah.

[Host]

I told him we're hitting a reset. He didn't just say, boys, we're going to hit a reset.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah, yeah.

[Host]

That is. That was a loud and very intense reset.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah, yeah.

[Ty Schmidt]

Slamming his head against the.

[Host]

I assume there was a reset button that was imagined in the sky.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah.

[Host]

And that thing was not tapped. No, that thing was. We are.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah. 100 times.

[Host]

Then he comes out. You need to make some change. Oh, okay. Everybody has answers, huh? Okay. Just that whole series of events, just thinking for Ben Johnson's angle, just like, is this real?

[Ty Schmidt]

What you said?

[Host]

Is this a real. We'll be just fine. Thanks. Thanks. Happy. I did the. Roll it back. It's like game mode, bro. That's like Luke Keakley as a human verse. Game mode. It's just like there's like a, a switch that actually gets flipped for some people. Most, almost all people now granted, the drastic change from one human to their competitive element element of themselves versus maybe like the most. Like Luke Keighley, I think think was actually the most drastic. I, I think he's potentially Troy Paloma, Brian Dawkins. Oh, okay.

[Darius J. Butler]

Yeah.

[AJ Hawk]

Troy spoken crazy White minister.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah, there's. There's probably.

[Host]

I don't know. Luke. Luke Kely.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

Glasses.

[Host]

We're talking.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

He's there too.

[Host]

He's there.

[Boston Connor]

Didn't he play like eight man football and then he went to BC just like.

[AJ Hawk]

Like N. He's from Cincinnati. He put.

[Boston Connor]

Okay, so 411.

[Host]

Okay. How you doing? Very nice to see you. Good to see you. Yes. Do you want to go through some physicist? Like, that is how he is. And then on the field. Yeah. Full chaos. Who were some others that were there were.

[Darius J. Butler]

Reggie White, Troy Paloma. Troy.

[Host]

Troy. Oh, my God.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

Unbelievable.

[Host]

That was in between every play. He was talking to the Lord and then all of a sudden the ball gets snapped.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah.

[Host]

Where everybody over the top.

[Boston Connor]

The Teo spikes. Brian Dawkins. Dawkins story. Yeah.

[Darius J. Butler]

Brian. Yeah. Brian Dawkins was like. When it turned to game time, like, didn't he have. He was one with two lockers, right?

[Ty Schmidt]

I believe so, yeah.

[Darius J. Butler]

X or whatever. His other alter ego. So, yeah, those guys that have, like, alter egos or like Josh Norman when he turned into Batman or whatever, you know their gimmick is.

[Host]

But yeah, imagine them getting interviewed, though. Like, that's what I'm saying.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah.

[Darius J. Butler]

In the middle of.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah.

[Host]

We don't need like Ben Johnson might be. Be that human, you know, like when he's coaching. What he is verse. When his eyes. Good building.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah.

[Host]

Remember this place? Great. Really nice. Yeah. Okay, let's get better. I hate this place now that we.

[Ty Schmidt]

He's. He's an intense son of a psycho. Yeah.

[Host]

Football sicko.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah, yeah. Psycho sicko. Sick.

[Host]

Whatever. A lunatic success.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah, it's awesome.

[Darius J. Butler]

You see his pregame smelling salt?

[Host]

Oh, yeah. And we knew that kids bring your own smelling salts, too. So he's not leaving that at home.

[Ty Schmidt]

No, no.

[Host]

Did you read smell insults, guy?

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

No, never.

[Host]

Come on, ba. Coach. Not just one time.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

I didn't need it, brother. I was already up there.

[Host]

Yeah, you're right. You're right. When did you get a. You got a. You were a consultant. It was the year after. It was the year whenever you weren't the head coach, but you were still there on golf cart practice. And then you're on the sidelines during games and you almost fought somebody in New Orleans.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

I got banned from the sideline after that.

[Host]

I don't need any smelling salts, brother. I was a consultant.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

Marshawn Lattimore and me.

[Host]

What a good give and take. I assume you're a good talker.

[Boston Connor]

Oh, oh, yeah.

[Host]

I assume that was a man Take.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

A lot of pride in it too.

[Boston Connor]

Hey, Amen.

[Host]

As you should. Amen. Tone, did the public win or the sports books win this past weekend? How do we sit against them sportsbooks once again?

[Bubba Gumpino]

We saw the tweet again. One in four against the spread for the top five games they. We did as a public win last night, though. Dolphins and Broncos were a good result for the public in both of those. I think it was 55 for the Dolphins and 67, 68 for the Broncos. So we got got back a little bit last night.

[Host]

Right? All right, well, congrats to us. Why don't you come out here, Tone? Why don't you leave hammer? Done. Done. A.J. great. Hut. H. You hear that? I got a pretty good one.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

That's pretty good.

[Host]

Thank you. That's from down here.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

You got to go deep, brother.

[Host]

Yeah. Yeah. Down. Yeah. Who is the hot gut? Who is the hot gut?

[Boston Connor]

Coach Wy. Wy.

[Host]

W. You know W. Yeah. Oh, yeah. Yeah. How do you not know W? Him on training so good.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah.

[Host]

I think there it is.

[Boston Connor]

Bingo. There it is.

[Host]

Do it again. My fault. Here we go. I'm not a quarterback. Obviously. You can tell.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

Stretch is way overrated.

[Host]

Did you know World War I, World War II, all those guys that fought in that war, right? They did push ups, jumping jacks, sit ups, climbed the open ran, but none of this fancy, okay? Right.

[Boston Connor]

And they won two world wars.

[Host]

Two world wars. By doing jumping jacks, push ups, and sit ups. Two world wars. You think they were worried when they're running across Normandy about stretching?

[Darius J. Butler]

Are you kidding me?

[Host]

Do it again.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

My fault.

[Host]

These creatures live within football facilities all around the country.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

Okay?

[Host]

These creatures, these football guys, this is literally what these people are. I know 10 to 15 of them that have no idea about any world events. They have no fucking clue about what's going on on earth right now. They are in a football facility watching football film, trying to game the system so their team can win a game. And for that, we thank them. A man that was one of those guys for 47 years. BA thank you for another week. We appreciate you. D. Bucks. Great work. Toxic table. Phenomenal job in the back. Great work, boys. Way to pull it all off. Big day today. Huge day today. To the Rushmore Team talk. Bill. Dirty Bone Fox. Congratulations, boy. Huge launch. Hell yeah.

[Boston Connor]

Good work, boys.

[Host]

Elon Musk retweeted. Yeah.

[Boston Connor]

Congratulations.

[Host]

That's gonna do numbers.

[Boston Connor]

Awesome.

[Host]

So we'll consider that a success no matter what happens the rest of the way.

[Boston Connor]

No bigot.

[Host]

And on that note, it Was a great Rushmore on X. Yeah, I did it. We did it. It's a great show. It's an unbelievable show. I'm happy a lot of people are gonna see it. Got another episode coming out next Tuesday. We'll obviously put out more clips and look for the Rushmore run X account on X to be rather active. Should be a good time and a good follow. Just like tomorrow. We're gonna have a great program. Schwarba is coming along. Hell yeah. It's gonna be baseball. Oh, baseball. AQ Shipley's gonna be here. Yeah, football. Thank you.

[Ty Schmidt]

Oh, right, sorry. He lives close to Alex Bregman and Stephen Quan. They're both playing in the playoffs.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah.

[Host]

Tonight. So maybe he shows up wearing.

[Ty Schmidt]

He might. Yeah, he might.

[Host]

He's him. Did he play baseball?

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

I don't think so.

[Host]

I don't think so.

[Boston Connor]

Ate a bunch of them.

[Host]

He.

[AJ Hawk]

He could have.

[Darius J. Butler]

What position did he play?

[Ty Schmidt]

First base.

[Host]

Okay. No slug.

[Ty Schmidt]

Aq.

[Host]

Aq. Be a catcher, brother. He's center. He'd have that thing. He wouldn't even wear one of those things.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah, you're probably right.

[Boston Connor]

Probably has an absolute cannon for an arm.

[Host]

He does have an arm. He would tell you at least you know a couple of those out there. He's great at athlete. His dad, massive Pittsburgh Pirates fan. I assume he did not follow suit cuz he saw the misery his father went through for a large portion of our lives. Hey, Ton, you're a Pirates fan. Are the Pirates going to get some hitters so that Paul skin can be thrown during super duper wild card day? Like what we have today where all the stars are performing? No.

[Ty Schmidt]

Don Kelly's coming back though. Salty ball.

[Host]

You look cool.

[Boston Connor]

Paul SK took a long walk around Fenway park when he came came to visit. I don't know if you guys saw that.

[Host]

He does it everywhere. He wants to know.

[Boston Connor]

No, no, this one. He went underneath the Monster. He went up the ladder in the Monster and he went on the seats in the Monster.

[Host]

He likes baseball.

[Boston Connor]

That's. That's a trifecta, baby.

[Host]

He saw where Gumpy was sitting when Gumpy was posting every night of his life. There was a time there where Gumpy went to seven straight Boston Red.

[Boston Connor]

So my guy who actually walked watches162.

[Host]

And he was in Indianapolis in between those games.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah.

[Host]

So we're going to go check out the the Red Sox and then come back to Indianapolis and then their next home stand. When's that? Four day. I'm gonna go sit on a monster again. And come back and they did it again. He was really over there. Rang. I experienced the green monster through Gumpy. One week run of going to every game. Beautiful seats. You're literally.

[Darius J. Butler]

That's the.

[Bubba Gumpino]

That's the best seat in sports. You're on top of the field. It's incredible.

[Host]

It's baseball. Let's remember that.

[Bubba Gumpino]

I'm just saying if any sport was played there on top of top of the field, pretty close.

[Host]

Well, good luck to all the baseball boys. We appreciate baseball.

[Boston Connor]

Aside from that one seat for the Utah Mammoth that hangs over the ice.

[Host]

That is the.

[Boston Connor]

That is the only one that might be better.

[Host]

How about them selling that seat as if it's. Ah, this is a shitty seat. Let's go and sell these things. I got a ticket for 14 bucks from Se Geek. Okay, where am I sitting at?

[Boston Connor]

Oh, what the.

[Host]

Like a nightclub? VIP booth over top of the $25,000.

[Boston Connor]

For that ticket a night.

[Host]

I do think it was first game. I don't think they had no idea. And then second game, I think it did become good, if I do recall. But they redid their whole.

[Boston Connor]

Oh, yeah.

[Host]

Overnight.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah. Smart. That's gonna be. And the mammoth thing.

[Host]

Wait.

[Boston Connor]

Wait till we see the mammoth statue. Oh yeah, that's coming up here soon.

[Host]

You're right. Hockey.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah.

[Host]

The boats had a run down.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

Had a great one, man. My man Stamos.

[Host]

What's his name?

[Boston Connor]

Stmer.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

He's gone.

[Host]

Stmer's in Nashville.

[Boston Connor]

Oh, you're talking about the coach.

[Host]

Bsky.

[Ty Schmidt]

Oh, goalie.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

Oh, yeah.

[Host]

You know your lightning. Yeah, that was great.

[Boston Connor]

Of course.

[Host]

Who's the goalie down there? Huge Ms. Vasi. No, the goalie. That's him.

[Ty Schmidt]

That's fascy, baby.

[Host]

No. Who's the guy that hit me? Is that Tampa?

[Darius J. Butler]

Oh, yeah.

[Ty Schmidt]

Pabo Luango.

[Host]

Huge mitts. I mean, his hands are gigantic. He hit me on the shoulder blade and the tit. Somehow that was one.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

That last Stanley cup team. They were all big boy. They were like six one, six two.

[Host]

That was like six five.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

I mean, that was a hell.

[Host]

I think they're pretty big boozers too. I think they had a good time down there.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

Good crew. They had a boat party. They had a boat parade.

[Host]

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

They started them.

[Host]

And then you guys followed suit and said, hey, you know what? We're gonna black out on these waters as well. That's what it's all about. Sports, baby. Be a friend. Tell a friend something nice. It might change your life. We're in this thing together, Ba. Any final thoughts for the team here.

[Ty Schmidt]

Great day.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

Better day next week.

[Host]

No risk it.

[Coach BA (Bruce Arians)]

No biscuit.

[Host]

Team on me. Team on three. One, two, three. Goodbye. Eight years ago, I blew my football career.

[Boston Connor]

He dropped it at the one yard line.

[Host]

Chad Powers has arrived on Hulu. If I can't play as Russ, I'll play as someone else. My name's Chad and last name from executive producers Eli and Peter. Peyton Manning. Remember, you're wearing a prosthetic mask. This is acting and starring Glen Powell. He thinks you're a rubber chew toy. Not rubber. I'm a man made of flesh. The Hulu original series Chad Powers is now streaming on Hulu and Hulu on Disney plus for bundle subscribers terms apply. New episodes Tuesdays. A 20 year old soldier goes missing.

[AJ Hawk]

From a u. S. Army base.

[Host]

How can she go missing on a military base? That's too ridiculous. What would come to light is horrifying and ignites a movement that sparks a reckoning in the US Military. Listen to vanished what happened to Vanessa? A new series from ABC Audio in 2020. Listen now wherever you get your podcasts.