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The Pat McAfee Show
PMS 2.0 1452 - NFL Week 11 Preview/Picks, TNF Recap, Pitt Head Football Coach Pat Narduzzi, Nick Saban, & AJ Hawk
02:46:31
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- [00:01]
A
Welcome. Feel good. Friday, November 14th. This is the Pat McAfee Show. I'm A.J. hawk sitting in for Pat here at his desk in Indy. He's in Pittsburgh. Huge matchup, boys.
- [00:13]
B
Football.
- [00:15]
A
It's what we're all talking about last night, obviously. The New England Patriots take on the New York Jets. The Patriots get a nice decisive victory. 13 points, I believe. Is that right boys? And the line was what, 12 and a half. Funny how that seems to to play a factor. Those guys seem to always know what's going on when it comes to the sports world. Drake May, another solid solid performance. Trayvon Henderson, three touchdowns. Unbelievable as a rookie. Stepping in, playing well, Boston, Boston. Connor especially you guys. Feeling pretty, pretty damn good about yourselves, aren't you?
- [00:43]
C
Yeah, no doubt about it. I have a and grin on my face for a long, long time. It was a hell of a night. Could have been a little more dominant, but hey, it's a win. Yeah, you go from 8 and 2 to 9 2, that's the only thing that matters.
- [00:53]
A
It is a win. Pat, what's going on, man? I know you got a nice beautiful setup over there at acrisure Stadium, buddy.
- [00:59]
B
A.J. i appreciate that. Every time I bring you onto the show, you know, I let the world know you're a college football national champion or a Super bowl champion or a Rider cup winner, you know, I appreciate you just saying, you hell with it, Pat. You're standing somewhere that is incredible. I appreciate you, A.J. you're the greatest. Thank you for traveling to Indiana. You look good, brother. You look very jacked. You're the best. Now talks to tables, Boston. Connor is obviously very excited that New England Patriots team was able to say hello to the world last night. And I don't think it was just the boys on the field. Now obviously that's a talented young bunch. I mean Trace Vaughn, Henderson going for three touchdowns. And them being behind the left side of that offensive line, which is a rookie left tackle in a rookie left guard and a rookie running back running it in from the handoff of a second year quarterback. It's like all the pillar positions are seemingly up and to the right for a long, long time. And then you think about Mike Vrabel being the perfect supreme commander of this team. It felt like we've watched it all season. Connor's eyes, you know, when we're watching the Colts games and Connors down there wearing his Patriots gear in the Indianapolis Colts stadium and he's watching the game behind us, we hear him losing his mind to the team. Not just this year, but in years past as well. This year felt different. From the beginning, it felt like Mike Vrabel had the boys ready to roll. And they talked all night about how, hey, there's a lot of first times happening for a lot of guys on the Patriots and Mike Vrabel might be the perfect guy to lead them. He's one of the coaches who feels like he's still in the locker room. He's the alpha of the Locke locker room after the game as the tunnel was kind of there. All Vrabel's doing is dapping up literally every single human as they come back into the locker room. He clearly has a personal connection with everybody. And I think Drake May is special. I think I'm not the only one saying that. Obviously he's the odds on favorite for an MVP. And not only does he. I think in the first half he was like 14 of 16. I think he damn near had a perfect first half. And it's like he's in his second year, first year with Josh McDaniels. He's only going to get better. But every decision he makes is seemingly right. Everybody was worried about his fundamentals and his technique. That new ball whenever he was coming out of UNC because he's a freak athlete. Well, turns out if you work on it and you're really, really athletic, you can figure it out. While also having the ability to extend plays that play obviously spectacular. There was one to the right where he's almost out of bounds and he shot puts it to Stefan Diggs for a first down. And it's like the shot put even had a perfect spiral on it somehow. So this dude is only going to get better somehow. And this Patriots team is special. And Connor, I appreciated the fact that the New Englanders were able to celebrate that thing that was late in the game. We all kind of knew it was over and that place was filled to the gills. I love the Patriots fans are able to remind everybody, yeah, we still got it. And yeah, we're back. Is that how you felt watching the game, Connor? And obviously now looking back on it, we should have sent your ass to this game. I apologize for not thinking about that earlier.
- [03:56]
C
Do not apologize. The jets are not worth my time. But yes, that is exactly how I think everybody feels in New England. The. The team being all the way back is one thing, but the fans being all the way back is a whole nother thing. I mean, look at these throws. If you look up in the stands, everyone's standing as well. They're not Just sitting there to, you know, watch the game. They're there to be a part of the game. And I think that is a big thing in New England sports. It's. They want the home field advantage across all four of the major sports, but especially football, because football, it just means more. You mentioned all guys and how awesome it is. I think the left guard, Jared Wilson, rookie from Georgia, shout out Kirby Smart, bloody Tuesdays. He had like a perfect, you know, all the stats people, perfect, whatever the hell you want to call it, pass protection, run blocking, the whole nine yards. Will Campbell, I mean, they did a spotlight On Will Campbell versus Will McDonald. And Will McDonald's a great player. I believe he ended up getting a sack, actually. But Will Campbell held his own and that was a huge thing, not just against the jets, just all season long. And then he buries Michael Clemons. It's after this little swim move from Michael Clemens, who I believe is a vet. We saw him walking in with a bat and spikes around it when Aaron Rodgers was playing with the Jets. So it's not as if he's just some guy. He's a bit of a dog. But Will Campbell is a bigger dog. And the post game, first of all, Amazon has the best pregame, halftime and post game show in the business by far.
- [05:25]
B
But I agree, by the way. I agree. Yeah, yeah, they're very. They're worth watching, I think.
- [05:30]
C
Yes, they're worth staying up for, like both with the players, but they also do stuff that you don't think about now. Bring in a Ryan Fitzpatrick in from New York when there's probably 2000 different Ryan Fitzmagics littered throughout Massachusetts. What are you going to do? But still hilarious that they did that in that post game, though. You know, they asked May about Mike Vrabel and everything he means to him. And, you know, May talks about how he helps me. He's coaching me on the sideline, not just with throwing the ball, but with everything it takes to be a quarterback. And May says in it too, like, yeah, I'm taking the next three days off. I'm not going to be there until Monday. And Vrabel actually talked about too, you know, hey, look, I'm 50. These guys I'm coaching, you mentioned it, Pat, they're rookies. They're 21, 22, 23. My youngest son is 23. So it does feel almost like a fatherly supreme leader. To what you said and to what Drake May mentioned about not being there, you know, for three straight days, I was kind of like all Right. Well, don't love that Drake. It's cool. We're 9 and 2, but you can easily still finish 9. 8. It is the NFL. But then Mike Frable had this to say in the locker room after the victory.
- [06:36]
A
Listen to me, I want to recognize a couple of things, okay? So we're giving one clap pile push, touchdown.
- [06:43]
B
And then the last one is fourth down and three. Dell Pettistav. And I would say you could file Dell under the guys that just take.
- [06:52]
A
Advantage of their opportunities, okay? I would file Dell on a guy.
- [06:56]
B
That takes advantage of his opportunities.
- [06:58]
A
So we know what that leads to, okay? More opportunities. Fellas, let me just tell you real quick one thing. After 11 games, we got three days off, okay?
- [07:07]
B
When we got here, okay, we wanted.
- [07:09]
A
To put a program together for you, okay? And that not just me and the coaching staff or the players, okay? That's everybody in this building, okay? So before you leave here, okay, with the treatment and the equipment and the video and everybody around us, okay? I'm thanking you for where we're at right now, okay? We all got a long way to go, okay? And you guys are going to help.
- [07:29]
B
Us get there, okay?
- [07:31]
C
Together.
- [07:31]
A
But that was the plan. Not just the players, not just the coaches, the entire program, okay? Everything we do, okay, we're doing to help you to go out there and make plays, to perform and to ultimately win, okay? I'm proud to be your coach, and I appreciate how hard you play, okay? But I'm also going to enjoy a couple days away from you.
- [07:53]
B
Now, man.
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D
Be safe.
- [07:54]
A
See y' all boys on Monday. Love you guys, man.
- [07:56]
E
Hey, Pats on me.
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C
Pats on three.
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A
One, two, three.
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C
Just immaculate.
- [07:59]
B
That pat's on me. I love that. Pat's on me. Pat's on three. And I appreciate the fact that they've had a long road here to start this season, you know, so these three days, I think Vrabel also, AJ Is maybe showing these guys how to be pros. Like, hey, we have a Thursday night game if you want to take the next couple days off. It's the middle of the season. We've had a long run thus far. You could certainly do that. I'm going to get the hell away from you now. There's going to be work put in, though, because I think that's a team that they're building. I just appreciate his leadership and I appreciate the buy in that we see seemingly from everywhere. Vrabo is A.J.
- [08:29]
A
Yeah. I mean, for young people that might not know of Rabel as a player in New England, like, he was an unbelievable player. We know that. But it could there be a better fit for a head coach of a franchise? When you think of the NFL, when you think of Mike Vrabel, the fact that he's there and that they were able, you know, they had Mayo for a year, obviously didn't really work how they planned and to bring him in, it's like such a seamless transition. Are things going too well for the Patriots? Guys like Boston, Connor getting nervous, you think?
- [08:52]
B
No, I don't know if things are going too well. I think they're only going to get better. And I think that's the fear of every other team that the evil empire is back up.
- [09:01]
C
Are these Patriots.
- [09:01]
A
Pat, sorry to cut you off. Are these Patriots easier to root for maybe than the old Patriots, though, or is this a team where I guess nationwide, not just in Boston?
- [09:10]
B
Well, so I think Tom Brady did a little bit of a babyface play, right. Tom Brady, whenever he kind of retired, did a little bit of a babyface play because he was out of the evil empire. I think we saw them fail a little bit. We saw Boston people, Massachusetts people, revolution, region people kind of have to go through it a little bit in football, turn their attention to basketball again. Yeah, we got Celtics at most.
- [09:31]
C
Yep.
- [09:32]
B
You know, whatever the case is. So I think we all got to experience that. And then we watched with Gerard Mayo, and I think, you know, not a lot of people thought Drake May was going to be good. So it feels like Drake May is maybe an underdog story. We saw Vrabel get fired from the Titans. I think we all think the Titans are stupid for that. Everybody kind of agreed with that. So it's almost a couple redemption stories for some people that I think we're naturally going to get behind. But if the Patriots win a couple times here now, they start making some real runs, which looks like they're going to. Everybody will hate them again. I think that is very clear, and I think that's what you heard from one half of the Hammer Cowboys AP Town. Is that what your takeaway is, that you like the Patriots right now and you're planning on hating them? Or that they're all the way back and they're going to be a part of the picture and people are going to inevitably hate them again?
- [10:17]
F
Correct the latter of those situations, and it's strictly because it's not the people. Because Raves is awesome.
- [10:22]
D
Absolutely.
- [10:22]
F
Love Mike Rabel. Drake May is awesome. Travion Henderson's awesome. Will Campbell's awesome. Everyone on the team is awesome. But the colors and the team and you can't, you can't like or root for a team that's already won six Super Bowls in the last 25 years. Like, that's just not something you can do if you are a football fan of another team. Like, we can't like them. Okay, please let the people on there.
- [10:44]
D
Awesome.
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F
You can root for them individually, but as a team, you could not root for them.
- [10:48]
B
The Patriots, though, seemingly likable. Yeah, yeah, very much. I don't, I don't, I don't want to, I don't want burst the old let's hate them bubble because I would certainly see how that would make sense. But even Treveon Henderson, I heard him talk after the game. First time I've ever heard him speak. Have you ever. Did you know that? Have you? He's maybe the most humble person I've heard talk.
- [11:07]
C
Oh yeah.
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B
Drake May speaks. Most humble person that you hear speak from a quarterback, especially one who's the odds on favorite to win the MVP at this point of the season, in his second year, even coming out of college, it's like youngest of three brothers, younger, younger, younger brother, kind of beat down. I don't think he's ever going to become some arrogant prick, you know, like, I don't think that's ever going to take place. And then Vrabel is a guy that I think we all believe we'd like to have a beer or whiskey or maybe smoke cigarette, an entire tin of coke with, you know, like that. I do think it is a very like, like crew. And then Stefan Diggs, even I think Stefan Diggs, because of everything that has kind of happened in the past, there's maybe one belief about him and he's in a very, very, very loud relationship. Congrats to them. I think congrats to them. Having a baby. And obviously publicly relationships and personal lives have been documented. They seemingly are having a good time together. And anytime two people find love and happiness together, we are happy for them. So congrats to them on doing that. But Stefan Diggs buying into this team completely, like there's never any shit. Last night he goes for 100 and some yards on nine catches. It's like Drake May understands who Stefan Diggs is. People are saying that Stefan Diggs, back to being the Stefan Diggs that you thought he was going to be on the field. And it's like with Vrabel, it feels like you have a guy that Stefan Diggs, you know, probably respects. I think so like, I think there's a chance that it all just kind of goes very swimmingly for them. They even have their own handshake. We even do our own handshake. They went backhand there. I don't know if you saw that. He did slap hug with everybody else. Literally everybody else, including equipment staff with Stefan Diggs, they go back. Yeah, backhand on that. So it's like when you talk about like chemistry superstars to brand new guys, everybody's bought in. It's like, here's Stefan forces like stats, by the way. I mean, Hambo sent him some stats. I just saw these down on the, on the thing. Stefan Diggs Force multiplier 201920 bill scoring offense went from 23rd to second whenever he arrived. Allen's QBR rank went from 24th to third. Okay with his arrival. Now granted, Josh Allen got a lot better in the offseason. He didn't have a lot of accuracy, deep balls. Stefan Diggs certainly helped that. Now 2024 to 2025, Patriots scoring offense goes from 30th, 8th and May. QBR goes from 17th to 4th. Once again, Drake may put in a lot of work. Josh McDaniels we assume is a much better offensive coordinator. But Stefan Diggs comes in and helps a lot and I think they respect and appreciate him. So hopefully, you know, there's not the other side of the entire thing. Right, Con man, that's kind of the hopefulness.
- [13:32]
C
Yeah, yeah, exactly. And I think that just goes back to variable. You know, Stefon Diggs isn't on a, you know, the, the signing was three years, $60 million. But that's not how the contract was laid out. It was a prove it deal. It was more so like a one year, fourteen million dollar deal. Hey, let's see if you can earn all that money. And he did. He earned everything that you know he is going to get because of, you know, what Mike Vrabel is able to get him to buy into. I believe there was a report that Diggs actually chose the Patriots over the Broncos in this offseason, which to me is a massive deal because going into the season everyone was kind of aware the Broncos with Sean Payton, that offense was going to get it done. It's nice that Vrabel was able to kind of open Stefon Diggs his eyes to how much better Drake May is than Bo Nix. But that, that's the biggest deal for me is that just Diggs is one of those players that had this reputation of being a diva of Being a wide receiver of. And you're still getting it for me, I'm still getting it on the Internet. Well, just wait. You know, when it's week 15 or it's the playoffs and he only has two catches. No, that is not how Mike Vrabel operates. And I think Stefon Diggs understands that. And he also knows at this point in his career he's being called the diva, the receiver, the prima donna, all those things. So the biggest thing for him is winning, is kind of proving to basically everybody else that he's not just, hey, if I don't get my catches, if I don't get my touches, I'm going to be pissed off. It is about winning for Stefon Diggs, and that's showing up, up right now. It's incredible.
- [15:02]
B
Yeah. And then on the flip side, A.J. you know, there's a tough offense on the other side now. They walk right down the field. Yeah, they walk right down the field whenever they get the ball. 7 Nothing. New York jets, hold the phone. I heard con man say earlier today, is there a prop bet for them to have negative offensive rushing or negative offensive yards as a whole? They start the game, walk right down the field, score, touchdown. Hold the phone. Maybe the jets are going to be dynamic. Maybe the jets are going to spoil this. New England Patriots, prime time hello to the world that we are once again the team in the NFL. That's why I thought they're early. And I'm like, I should have known there was two. We were way too loud. We were way too loud. Way too loud about the Patriots just beating hell. And then the game ends. Patriots cover the underhits and the other team is now on a rate that would be historically terrible. So when you think about what's going on with the New York Football jets, okay, they're averaging A League Low 139.9 passing yards per game. That'd be the lowest in the NFL since 2022. Bears 130 and a half. It was worse. Justin Fields, quarterback. So I like Justin Fields. I don't want to bury Justin Fields, okay? I'm not going to bury Justin Fields. I like Justin Fields. Great athlete, good dude, works hard. They told Aaron Rodgers, get the out of here. Okay? That's what they told Aaron Rodgers to do. Now, I'm not saying Aaron Rodgers is going to win the MVP this year, but they, in their mind, were moving on to a new quarterback. Quarterback's most important position. They seemingly, without even having a conversation with Aaron Rodgers, they had Made up their mind, we're getting him the hell out of here. Yep. What are you going to do at quarterback? Well, we'll get somebody better for sure. We'll definitely do that then. There was multiple quarterbacks that were available this offseason. Obviously we saw some moves happen in some OGs, go take places. Joe Flacco is just kind of hanging out to potentially available wherever you're talking at. So whenever you think about what they did, they made a decision on a quarterback. They paid Justin Fields $30 million. They outbid the Pittsburgh Steelers on Justin Fields and they've already, this is going to be their quarterb. So the conversation now is like, well, the jets have all these picks and they're gonna be able to rebuild this and they get rid of the old money and now they'll have new money. It's like, who says that these people are making the right decisions in the most important part? Ty, am I judging that way too harshly? Because I think we were just so close to the story with Aaron coming on saying, I fly four and a half hours to this meeting. Like, the way Aaron talked about this, Aaron was cool with whatever would have stayed there. I'm not saying they should have kept him. We were very okay with them moving, but just like they seemingly made a decision, we're getting a new quarterback and they chose Justin Fields to be the quarterback. And now it's going how it's going. So who says that they're going to be able to just choose the right one? I think that's a much harder decision than many people are talking about. Ty Schmidt.
- [17:49]
D
Yeah, without a doubt. And I think they actually, like we, we talked about this at the start of the season. It kind of came from the jets building and then from a lot of people who were talking about the jets as a whole. Like, the primer was basically, hey, we're going to have to play really good defense. We're going to have to run the ball and we can't, can't turn the ball over. Like, they knew Justin Fields wasn't going to be a guy who was going to throw for a bunch of yards and throw a lot of touchdowns. And I just, in the NFL now, like, that is not a formula. You can, you can't throw for 138 yards a game and win. You just can't. And he's obviously dynamic what he can do with his legs. And I don't know if you need to go to, hey, can you imagine? Maybe this guy takes an off season and tries to be Like a receiver or something, because when he does have the ball in his hands, he's electric. But to your point, like, does it matter. Matter how many. I mean, we were talking about this a little bit out there, and it's just like, do you think any of these guys that we see in this upcoming draft class, or you can even do the next one, are you confident? And if the jets were to take one of those guys that who they have in place is going to be able to get that guy to a point where they can restore the franchise to where it was, what, 25, 30 years ago? Like, I don't think you can make that case right now. It seems like no matter who they get in there, there, they are doomed to fail.
- [19:00]
B
Yeah. In evaluation, I think, is a big piece of building your team, especially if you're planning on rebuilding your entire team. And I'm just saying there's been a couple of decisions we've already seen them make that seemingly not going the best. You know, there. There is. I don't want to be the bearer of bad news for the jets, for the future, because I believe in Aaron Glenn. Mr. Mujee. Yeah. Okay. I assume he's going to do a great name. I mean, he's a great name. He could certainly get bougie with Moji. But it's like, we're going to find out. And this is the same way I was talking Guten Koontz. Whenever we're gonna find out, when he hadn't made a lot of decisions, he decided to move on from Aaron. So this is not me just talking in a new fashion. It's just like, what do we know about this team? What do we know about this franchise? What do we know about this organization? Well, we know before these guys, not good. And with these guys, we're assuming gonna be good just strictly because we believe in Aaron Glenn. Is that kind of why? Because I believe in Aaron Glenn. Is that why we're kind of believing in the right decisions being made? We see bad decisions made all the time, A.J. like in the NFL, there's bad decisions.
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A
Made all the time every single day.
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B
And what if it happens again for the Jets? Exactly.
- [20:01]
A
If you don't evaluate, if you don't, you can build up all these picks you want. If you don't bring in the right people like you, you continue to set your whole franchise back another year. Like, it's just. Yeah, they have. They got to figure something out pretty quick.
- [20:12]
B
I feel like they're paying them $20 million this year, $10 million guaranteed next year, $30 million in total to be the quarterback for the jets. And maybe they were just kind of looking to next year and they have good eyes, we've been told, and they'll be able to find a talent that maybe we can't. Speaking of the talent, we are standing in a state. I am standing in a stadium here that is obviously held a lot of talent on this ass grass field down here. I will, I will say the grass field down here looks spectacular. I think the spray painters were probably out all night last night. But on that note, this place is going to be electrifying tomorrow. And Connor, don't you have some stats on Pitt football's history here as we get set up with the man that's been leading it for now, 11 seasons at this point, Con man. This, this University of Pittsburgh, although, you know, hasn't hosted college game day on a Saturday for 20 years, and although they haven't, you know, maybe been in the national championship game in the last long time, they create legends around here and they have won national championships here and it feels like there's a little special thing brewing with this new qb. Con man, tell the people a little bit about the University of Pittsburgh football program. Kenya.
- [21:23]
C
Oh, absolutely. Pitt. We were kind of looking into it. First of all, I had no idea they have this many hall of Famers. Tony Dorsett, Larry Fitzgerald, Aaron Donald, Dan Marino, Mike Dicka, Bill Fralich, Mark May, LaShawn McCoy. Not sure if LaShawn McCoy's in the hall of Fame just yet, but still. Notable alumni. Curtis Martin, Tony Saragusa. No, I'm not just reading that for the first time. Holy Tony Saragusa went there. Let's go. Darrell Reavis, James Connor, of course, still bringing it. Notable pick coaches. Pop Warner. Come on now, everybody play Pop Warner. You guys know where it started. Started in pit, baby. Nine national titles for the Pitt Panthers. Top 20 in all time, FBS wins, 12th most college football hall of Fame inductees. I mean, the, the list kind of goes on and on. And not to mention, you know, it's in the beautiful city of Pittsburgh, baby. I mean, they're, they share, they share a facility with the Pittsburgh Steelers. That's kind of the coolest thing of all time when you're talking about college football teams and what you're trying to grow, grow into a professional football player. So, I mean, pit Panthers, don't look now, but they, they're kind of rolling. Hawker.
- [22:30]
A
Yeah, don't look now, Pat. What's. I know you guys Got set up there with another legend there at Acrisure Stadium. What's going on?
- [22:36]
B
Ladies and gentlemen, the man who has led this 7 and 2, number 23 ranked Pitt Panther football team this year and for the last 11 seasons, I believe as a whole. Head coach Pat or Daisy, it was a little delay on the clap. I didn't like that either. Coach. How are you feeling, Bob?
- [22:54]
G
I feel great.
- [22:55]
B
Huge weekend, it feels like for your football program, but obviously just next weekend for you. Is that the mindset?
- [23:00]
G
That is the mindset. You know, it's just another game for us. You know, we're excited. You know, we got a great team coming in here. We got a great football team. Should be a great show tomorrow.
- [23:07]
B
Okay, so let's talk about what you said earlier in the week. You stepped in a little bit. Yeah, it's me.
- [23:13]
G
I am Italian.
- [23:14]
B
Yeah, you're gonna step in it a little bit.
- [23:17]
G
I'm gonna step in a little bit. We step in it.
- [23:19]
B
You know what I'm saying? I step in it all the time. But also you. I intent was what you would later say is like, I wanted my team and everybody to know, like, hey, for us our season is not derailed by whatever happens on Saturday. But obviously national audience immediately hears that and goes, what is this guy even saying? How do you kind of get to the point of what your messaging is, what your mindset is and how you're trying to kind of build a narrative each week?
- [23:42]
G
The most important thing is our football team. We got a great football team. The most important thing is our guys in that room, in our team room and their belief. And I think our guys got a ton of belief in what we have ability wise, you know, for tomorrow at noon. And that's the only thing matters is what our kids think.
- [23:57]
B
Yeah, I think so too. We started chat about it yesterday and some of the boys at the toxic table actually said Nardu said that. Said that. So that.
- [24:07]
C
Yeah.
- [24:10]
B
Nardu said that. Because then Freeman's got to answer questions about winning 103 to 10. Was this a little. Was this closed Sicilian? Were you potentially doing a little chess play here to put all the pressure on Notre Dame?
- [24:21]
D
You know what?
- [24:21]
G
I don't know. I have no idea. Oh, you know, I don't know what you're talking about. I'm just worried about what we do out on the field tomorrow. It's about executing one play at a time and we'll get it done.
- [24:30]
B
Hey, listen, you tell me. I don't. Maybe I did do that a Little AJ Hawk has a question for you, Coach, back at the Thunderdome.
- [24:36]
C
Yeah, coach.
- [24:36]
B
A.J.
- [24:37]
C
Hawk.
- [24:37]
A
Yes.
- [24:38]
G
Hey, let me first.
- [24:38]
D
A.J.
- [24:39]
A
A.J. What's up, coach?
- [24:40]
G
Coach Dantonio talked about you all the time.
- [24:42]
A
Oh, he's the Coach D. Coach D.
- [24:44]
B
He talked about you.
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G
He loves you. He loved you. You were his man.
- [24:47]
A
Oh, man, I love Coach Danton. He scared me to death every single day of my life. I played for him, but I respected him. I would. I would die for that guy. So I, I appreciate that and appreciate what he is doing. But speaking of, of great defenses, coach your defense, especially stopping the run, you have some stud linebackers, obviously, and you guys do a great job of stopping the run. Jeremiah Loves comes into the. Comes into town, I guess. What is it? When he playing great run defense, what do you have to do? I always say there's no secret thing you can do. It's just a gap sound. It's all the boring, cliche stuff. But what do you guys do so well and how do you continue to do that?
- [25:18]
G
You know, A.J. we do what we do. I think that's the main thing. We're not going to change our defenses. I've seen some people change what they do structurally, you know, playing Notre Dame or some other, you know, teams around the country. And the great thing is our guys get to go out and execute our defense and see how we match up against a great football team. You know, we're going to play with three linebackers as you talk. Kyle Lewis, Braylon Lovelace, Rasheem Biles will be ready to roll. So we're excited to have him back. And, you know, we're going to go out and play defense. You know, it starts with that front four, but we're four, three. We're not at four, two, five. And we think, you know, Kyle Lewis, you know, could play safety. As you saw that one interception against Stanford, that was as good an interception as ADB could have. We're just going to go out and play our. Our game.
- [25:59]
B
Okay, let's talk about your game. It certainly looked a little bit different on the offensive side. AP Tone Plum native, who He's Duquesne guy. So you know how. Well, you've probably heard a couple things he did say, but he loves what you're doing on the offense the last few weeks. Go ahead, Tone.
- [26:13]
F
Yeah, Coach, I do. Obviously you start the season with Eli Holstein and now you have Mason Heinschel come in, who is a true freshman. How, like, how early did you know in his career since. Because I know. I believe he enrolled early. Was there, like, before coming into the season, did you know there was a chance he was going to play or like, because Eli obviously had a great season last season. When did you know it was going to be Mason and just talk about him a little bit, how incredible he's been as a true freshman?
- [26:38]
G
Yeah, he's done an incredible job. He's a heck of a competitor. He's a preparer. No, but we didn't think we were going to play Mason this year. We had, you know, total trust in Eli and still do, but we had a couple bad games and we had to try something just to shake it up a little bit. And, you know, I could have looked like one of those paisans making a bad decision.
- [26:55]
B
We don't like that.
- [26:57]
E
And.
- [26:57]
G
And, you know, it worked out for us. We knew he was. When he came in, we're like, this guy's special. You know, the first time I saw him, he was our scout team quarterback in bowl practice, you know, before he even enrolled and took a class, we were like, woo. You see him throw that ball. I mean, he can throw it. You know, he made our defense better in bowl practice. And, you know, so we knew there was, you know, the ability to get it done. But, you know, did we know it was going to be this early? Absolutely not, Coach.
- [27:21]
B
We rattled off all the hall of Fame out of the University of Pittsburgh, obviously all the deep history and tradition. Feels like a lot of them coming back for this particular game. It's going to be a huge environment, not only because Aaron Donald's numbers getting retired at halftime, Tony Dorset's getting acknowledged. There's going to be everybody seemingly in the history of pit football here tomorrow in special. Ty has a question for you about all of that.
- [27:45]
D
Yeah, Coach, with all that in mind, is there any plan to have any of those guys maybe address the team or talk to them and kind of remind them about the. The history and like the excellence and tradition that pit has had. We saw the Steelers this happened a couple weeks ago where Coach Cower came back and the 05 team was being recognized. And we basically saw a new Steelers team on that Sunday. They looked unbelievable and you could tell, you know, kind of being reminded of the history and the tradition from people who had done it at the highest level. It added a little extra juice for the game. Like, are there any plans for that going into, obviously, this massive tilt this week, weekend?
- [28:21]
G
Yeah, we always got a plan. The first plan is, you know, Darrell Rivas is starting at the beginning of the game. So we're starting him at bound corner.
- [28:29]
B
Okay.
- [28:30]
G
That's the first thing. Tony's going to come in and give me the old Heisman pose as well. We may get him a couple snaps as well. You know, Jimbo Covert, you know all those guys. But you know, to answer your question, you know, we always have someone come in on, on game day, speak to our football team. We've done it for a long time. I got. Got that A.J. you guys probably did it Ohio State day. Antonio got it from probably Jim Trestle. But we always have an honorary captain come speak to our team. So we've got, you know, an honorary captain coming in. I won't mention his name here because it's a special guest, but we're excited about the new guy coming in. You want me to break it to you today?
- [29:05]
C
Yeah.
- [29:05]
G
Tyler Palco is coming in.
- [29:11]
H
For you.
- [29:12]
G
Break it on.
- [29:13]
B
I appreciate you doing it and also I love Tyler Palko. The Palko family, legendary football family in Pittsburgh, obviously. He used to have the sick flow. His left hand spin was outrageous. And he's a great talker. He'll go, he'll keep that thing colorful tomorrow. From my understanding, he will.
- [29:29]
G
He's kept it colorful after a game. I think you might even have to play that. You know, his post game. Do you remember his postgame?
- [29:34]
B
Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. That's what we need tomorrow out of him. No doubt for a big one. There. There was a stat that was sent over to me. I think it was 2017. Miami came in here, number two ranked team. They were like 12 point favorites or something like that. Obviously Pitt ends up beating him. It was a massive upset. Whenever you think about what's on the line tomorrow for the other team, you've already acknowledged it. Yeah, a little bit too much maybe. But whenever you think about what's on the line for the other team, do you tell the boys about that, about a spoiler possibility? Do you use it as motivation or is it something not for you?
- [30:05]
G
I had one game. We'll talk about it afterwards. We've had some major upsets throughout. I mean, we went down in 2016 and beat Clemson at Clemson. But, you know, what happened in the past class doesn't really matter. This is 2025. You know, what happened in 23 when, you know, we went to, you know, South Bend, what happened in 20? None of that's going to matter. I mean, you know, Tony Dorsett being here, that's not going to matter. It's going to be about what we do tomorrow.
- [30:25]
B
Well, Aaron Donald being here.
- [30:27]
G
Aaron Donald, I forgot to tell you, he's starting to do this. Yeah, yeah, he's starting too. I forgot to mention him.
- [30:33]
B
I forgot those were they got.
- [30:34]
G
But he's actually starting the second half after he gets his jersey retired. Then he comes out.
- [30:37]
B
Oh, new number.
- [30:38]
G
Yeah, yeah, we're trying to retire that after this game. We'll retire both. Both his numbers.
- [30:43]
B
I love. They got G league players signing for college basketball now, so you might be able to sign Aaron Donald, especially because he's going to be able to play forever now. Speaking of Aaron Donald, I think he's given back massively to the program, if I'm not mistaken. Connor has a question for you about all of that.
- [30:57]
C
Yeah, Coach, first of all, I had no idea Bill Goldberg was an alumni.
- [31:01]
B
Of the Pit Panthers.
- [31:01]
C
I didn't realize his jersey was hanging in those rafters. Pretty cool. But one thing that's kind of different, you know, we, we mentioned before, is that how you guys share a facility with the Steelers. Is there any, you know, advantages that you see on a day to day basis that kind of process be, I mean playing in, you know, Acreshire Stadium, formerly known as Hines Field. That also just being around their facility, kind of seeing how they operate. What are the advantages and do you have any aspirations for wanting Pitt to have their own stadium, their own facilities, or do you enjoy kind of the camaraderie and togetherness of sharing it with the Steelers?
- [31:39]
G
Yeah, Connor, you know, the, the ability to practice next to Mike Tomlin and the Pittsburgh Steelers is, is absolutely probably one of the biggest advantages we have at Pittsburgh. You know, in the summer our guys will be out there watching their team practice. We get to watch the tempo recruits come in, watch what we do there with the Steelers. You know, we're out there on the field at the same exact time practicing. You know, they're on one end, you know, Mike Tomlin's walking down, seeing what we're doing, you know, we're, you know, walking off the field watching what they're doing. I think that it's a major advantage if all of our guys want to play in the National Football League. But for our guys to go watch how it's done at the next level at the same facility. And you know, as a coach, coach, I mean it's special for us. I mean, you know, whether it's OTAs, we're out on that, we've got a patio overlooking their practice. We can walk out there, see what they're doing, whether it's special teams, offense, defense, and just pick up, you know, different things. My first year here, I remember sitting at my desk looking out the window. All of a sudden I saw them doing, you know, down and punts inside or. Yeah, punts inside the, you know, the 10 yard line. And watching them out there with a volleyball is like what a heck of an idea. I mean you talk about just those little things that you can pick up as a football coach comes down to the details and the little things certainly. But you know, they were using a volleyball, you know, which is going to bounce better for you so at you can practice and have, you know, success it down in that ball. I thought what a great idea. So I mean, there's all kinds of things. That was one of the first things I picked by just looking out my window and I'm like, you know, getting off the phone, running out on the patio to watch more.
- [32:58]
B
Hey, maybe I should be watching these guys practice. Maybe Tomlin's got to figure it out. Maybe the NFL does. Let's talk about your team and figuring it out. Obviously when Kenny Pickett was quarterback, I think he's. The last time you guys won the acc. You're still in it right now. The ACC is wide ass open. Obviously.
- [33:13]
G
Notre Dame. We play Notre Dame tomorrow.
- [33:15]
B
Pat, get.
- [33:15]
G
Will you get locked in like you're worried about the next step? We're worried about just one football team. Come on, man.
- [33:22]
B
No, no, but it didn't sound like that from the earlier.
- [33:25]
G
We're in the past. Were you thinking about the next game?
- [33:27]
B
No, no, sure.
- [33:28]
G
I just want to make sure when you played well.
- [33:30]
B
I just want to. For. Okay, so winning the ACC for the pit program would obviously be gigantic right now in the world that we're in. I think you tell me more actually, because we're in this modern NIL recruiting world that we're in. I think having success is a great thing in the market, especially trying to get this younger generation that understands brands and business and everything more than ever. Feels like Nil Pitt's going to be in a good spot. I mean, we just mentioned Aaron Donald. He's giving back immensely. He's getting his number retired and he's a college game day guest picker. And I think he has like a part of the locker room that he has given back. Nil. Good transfer portal stuff. Easy. Because you're in Pittsburgh. You talk about tradition. If you win a championship, that's like, what is the modern world for Pitt whenever it comes to recruiting and finding players and how much do ACC championships and shit like that matter over all, maybe all the others.
- [34:21]
G
Yeah, winning every weekend certainly matters. I mean, it's your brand. We still have our pit brand. I think, you know what we do as coaches, we develop players. I don't know if anybody's developed a football team like we have. I think we've done it with less in Pittsburgh and all that nil stuff is great. I want guys that love football. You know, we're going to take that lesser guy, maybe the guy that's not making as much or you know, got two stars or three stars and develop them. I mean look at Kelsey Cancie and Savoisier Dennis. Some of the guys have gone. Kenny Pickett. I mean, I think Kenny, you know, Kenny made peanuts when he was here. It was the first year of nil. But guys that love football is the key. And winning a championship, you know, we've won one. I think there's only been three teams win an ACC championship in the last 15 years. Clemson, obviously, Florida State and Pitt. So we've done it, we've been there and. But we're going to take it one time, you know, one play at a time and one game at a time.
- [35:04]
B
You guys have been paying players for a long time up here, haven't you?
- [35:07]
G
Back in the day.
- [35:07]
B
Yeah, back in the day.
- [35:09]
D
They did.
- [35:09]
G
Did they not give you enough or what?
- [35:10]
B
They didn't offer me anything, but. But now I'm starting to think maybe that one game, I think you remember 13, nine. Maybe they should throw that out. Maybe we should get a win for that. Yeah, maybe because you guys are paying players around here. I'm going to investigate that. I'm going to get to the bottom of it. I want to let you know that. But I love the way your team plays. You always have a hard nosed team. I think that is something you would like your team to have up. Obviously you said you're looking for guys that love ball. Being tough too feels obligate. An obligation from Pittsburgh. Is that an accurate depiction?
- [35:35]
G
Yeah, we talk about attitude, effort and toughness and you know that effort and toughness is critical. I mean we want to be a tough team. Whatever happens on that field tomorrow, you know, people walk off the field, they're going to get hit by pit.
- [35:47]
B
That's kind of a bar. Yeah, hit by pit. That's kind of. I don't know if I can really say it that often in my life.
- [35:52]
G
But look at that night. Hit right there.
- [35:53]
B
Hit by piles.
- [35:55]
G
He's back.
- [35:55]
B
Yes.
- [35:55]
G
Look at that, look at that catch.
- [35:57]
B
Is this a bios highlight tape here certainly is. It's.
- [36:00]
C
Look at it.
- [36:01]
B
It's a defensive highlight, I think, for you guys. Absolutely.
- [36:04]
D
We are.
- [36:04]
G
We are tough football team. We know what to do. We play fast, try to keep it simple and let our guys go.
- [36:08]
B
Go ahead and hunt a little bit. AJ has the last question for you here, Coach.
- [36:11]
C
Yeah.
- [36:11]
E
All right, A.J.
- [36:12]
A
You mentioned recruiting these tough guys that love football. How do you know? Is it tougher now to figure out if somebody truly does love ball with all the Nil situation and the money floating around?
- [36:21]
E
You're.
- [36:22]
G
You're exactly right. I mean, I think that's part of the evaluation. That's part of those phone calls that you constantly have. What's important to a kid, just digging into who they are. You know, I'll say this. You know, when we get in conversations, our coaches are in schools talking to guys, when the first thing comes up is, is money and what are you going to pay me? Probably not a pit guy. Okay. I want someone to tell me who's going to coach me, who's going to develop me. To me, those are important things. There's time to make money in the National Football League. And obviously, you know, I love that we can give our kids money now in Nil and Rev share. But, you know, you know, that's all great, but we want guys that want to go out and play football, win championships.
- [36:55]
B
I'll say this, Coach. I didn't expect you to have Air Force ones off on when you walked in. Hey, looks pretty.
- [36:59]
G
My equipment guy's good now.
- [37:00]
B
Yeah, you look pretty. I mean, you look good. Hey, you look good. Not enough sauce. I think for the pies on that. You have maybe a pinky ring for tomorrow if you want to take down the Irish. You know, tomorrow's big enough.
- [37:09]
G
Will you have an extra one for me?
- [37:11]
B
Maybe in the box? I'll get you one. Yeah, I'll get you a lucky one. I used to wear one. I had a 0.01% Italian to me 23. Andme told me that. So I felt like I could really do all the. I had a pinky ring. I throw it on two chains. I did it all, you know. You get it? You understand?
- [37:22]
G
I get it. I know.
- [37:23]
B
Well, I will let you go. Guys know right there.
- [37:26]
G
No, no horn. I used to have a horn. I think I lost that in the ocean one summer.
- [37:30]
C
You know, it's the oceans now. Yeah.
- [37:32]
B
Waring off evil spirits.
- [37:34]
C
Basketball team might need one.
- [37:36]
B
Look at Nardo still.
- [37:37]
G
Let's not go there.
- [37:38]
B
Did you hear about Last night.
- [37:39]
G
No, I did not. I've been locked in. I got. I'm focused.
- [37:41]
B
Oh, let me update you.
- [37:42]
C
Yeah.
- [37:43]
B
West Virginia, Guess what we're doing. We're. We're smack. I mean, we are. We're bopping wood. We're. We're tough. Hey, we're a tough out. West Virginia. We're a tough outfit.
- [37:53]
G
But did Bob Huggins come back last night?
- [37:55]
B
No. Ye.
- [37:57]
G
You know, my dad tried to hire Bob Huggins at Youngstown Stadium. Let me just tell you this. It's about finishing. You know, it's not a one game season. It's about finishing. You can. You can win a big game, but can you compete and do it week in and week out? Pitt does that.
- [38:12]
B
All right. We appreciate your coach.
- [38:14]
G
I don't. I don't want to hurt your feelings.
- [38:17]
B
You did.
- [38:18]
C
We beat you.
- [38:19]
G
You didn't beat us. We beat ourselves. But it's okay. Go put the video on.
- [38:24]
B
We won that note. Game day.
- [38:26]
G
They don't call legal procedures anymore.
- [38:28]
B
Go ahead. Next. We won. Having game day. Come here. Feels like the city is alive and excited for tomorrow morning. We can't wait to experience it. Thank you for the hospitality, brother. We very much appreciate it.
- [38:42]
G
You got it. Where are you going to dinner tonight? Where's your special spot? In Pittsburgh?
- [38:44]
B
So I eat Rudy subs every time I come back. Also, Dallas.
- [38:47]
G
That's for lunch. What are you having for dinner?
- [38:48]
B
So seraphinos. Maybe I might stop by there. Is that your spot?
- [38:51]
G
That's my spot. Now I can get you reservations because they probably won't let you in, but I'll get you reservations. Just let me know.
- [38:56]
B
I've been in there under somebody else's reservation. I have been in there. The guy that owns it.
- [39:00]
A
Joey.
- [39:01]
B
Yes. He's making it and then he's delivering it and then he's telling me where Bill K's from. Right down the street. I love that place.
- [39:08]
G
Yeah, that's a great place.
- [39:09]
B
That's my spot.
- [39:10]
G
That's one of my spots. I got plenty of spot. There's so many great places out here.
- [39:13]
E
Yeah.
- [39:13]
B
So many. Oh, there's everywhere.
- [39:15]
G
We. You know, this is the best spot to eat food. I can guarantee you that. That's why I love Pittsburgh.
- [39:19]
B
Italians everywhere. So. So I go out to Indiana. Okay.
- [39:22]
A
Nothing.
- [39:23]
B
No Italian.
- [39:23]
G
East Lansing.
- [39:24]
E
Nothing.
- [39:25]
B
It's a culture shock.
- [39:27]
E
It is.
- [39:28]
G
I'm sure it was.
- [39:29]
B
I go from Pittsburgh. Exactly. Fazoli, he just said, like, Garden is.
- [39:33]
G
The closest great gravy bravo in East Lansing. That was it.
- [39:41]
B
But I'm telling you, in Pittsburgh and then West Virginia as well. Mor it. 10 Italians everywhere. So you just assume that you can get a good something.
- [39:48]
G
Never eat a meal down there. I don't think I ever will. I'll get poisoned. Try to kill me.
- [39:54]
B
Yeah, I think it's a good idea back. You know, we got that hard edge. I know you're trying to nard edge. All right. We appreciate the hell out of you.
- [40:01]
C
All right.
- [40:01]
G
Appreciate it. Thanks for having me on.
- [40:05]
A
I tell you what, I appreciate Coach's passion, his energy. He's. He's pretty pumped up for this, this game against Notre Dame. And I know there's a bunch of other good games. Tone, that we see as we pop up this. The slate of college football games popping up this weekend. Tone, what's the most intriguing game here for you?
- [40:19]
F
Yeah, Narduzzi is a great fit, but all of these, like starting Notre Dame at pit. If Notre Dame loses, they are out of the College Football Playoff, most likely USF and Navy. The winner of that one is first place in the American, which is most likely going to be the conference that gets the 12 seed for the College Football Playoff, is not outside of the group of five or whatever. Virginia at Duke, the winner of that most likely going to make the ACC champion. Iowa and usc.
- [40:43]
A
That's.
- [40:43]
F
USC has got to win to keep the chances. Most likely for the Big Ten to get a fourth Big Ten team in there. And then those other two, those two SEC games, the Oklahoma and Texas, I believe they're ranked 11 and 12 right now, or 10 and 11 right now, if I'm not mistaken, in the College Football Playoff. So if they win, they jump up. If not, they could potentially come out and other teams could get in and then Alabama and Georgia would just solidify their spot in the playoff. All those games have huge playoff impact implications this weekend.
- [41:08]
A
Yeah, a lot of teams that they have to win or they.
- [41:11]
B
Yeah.
- [41:11]
A
Or their playoff hopes are dashed, I guess. I think. I don't know if Pat is still talking to Coach Narduzian. I like the. The nard edge.
- [41:18]
B
Yeah.
- [41:21]
C
He does have some nard dog in him. But it's crazy seeing that college football sleep pop up and it's week 12. Like, the season really is flying by. It's awesome that we're here because it's the most important. But I mean, sure, football. Football is flying right now.
- [41:35]
A
It goes way too fast. Pat, I believe Coach Nardu's got back with the squad. Hey, he was bringing it today. Pat, were you. Were you surprised at how juiced he was for this game.
- [41:43]
B
Every time he's been on the show, he's been great on the show, you know, And I forget how Italian he is. Yeah. I mean, that is the perfect coach for this city, I would say. And I appreciated how he kind of laid it out. Hey, we're looking to develop guys, you know, two, three star guys. Let's go ahead and build them. Let's go ahead and get after it. I appreciate where he's at. Him saying the 100 to 10 thing. I think, potentially a little.
- [42:05]
D
Yeah.
- [42:06]
B
Go ask Freeman if they win by 100 to 10. Go ahead and ask him. Yeah, put that on his tape. Yeah, they should win 110. They're a very good team. Yep. All right, go ask him about it. And then have their players hear that as well. And then have Notre Dame think to themselves, yeah, yeah, yeah. That whenever he said to me, I don't know, maybe you tell me, I'm like, wait, did Nardus. I'd be giving Nardus a lot of credit doing that.
- [42:30]
C
Italians are good at that gamesmanship.
- [42:33]
B
Maybe they are. And him saying, oh, I got so many spots around town.
- [42:38]
A
He loves it.
- [42:39]
B
He's been to every Italian place in town, every single day. I love it. And this game is going to be gigantic. Literally, every. I think every person that is alive, that has their name in this building is going to be here. Like, not just University of Pittsburgh guys. I think there's a bunch of Steelers coming, too, because obviously bus. Jerome Bettison, Notre Dame Dame guy. And I think Jerome Bettis has a couple events happening, like fundraisers. So I think all his teammates are potentially coming as well. So, like, I think it's going to be. I don't know, from my understanding, this is going to be a Pittsburgh football. Just everything basically in here, and that's incredible. Yeah. I can't wait to kind of wake up tomorrow and see what it's like.
- [43:16]
F
If I'm. If I'm not mistaken, either, I believe his son is a wide receiver on Notre Dame. I think he got his first catch last weekend. I saw. And then I believe Ike's kid, I. Taylor kid, is still on Notre Dame as well. So the ties are. There's a lot of ties tomorrow between the Steelers and those two schools.
- [43:31]
B
Yeah, it's. It should be pretty electrifying here in the city of Pittsburgh. I cannot wait to try to eat all the food that is going to be sent my way. I mean, there's a lot of Italians reaching out, saying, hey, we Got a little.
- [43:44]
C
Yeah.
- [43:44]
A
I assume you're they're going to get a bunch of meat delivered to game day set tomorrow, right?
- [43:48]
B
Yeah, tomorrow. Tomorrow's food deliveries will be pretty epic.
- [43:53]
A
Feeding Sabin, you know, tomahawk steaks again, you know, all of it.
- [43:58]
B
Pittsburgh, brother.
- [43:59]
A
Hey, can't do tomahawks there.
- [44:00]
B
Tomahawk steaks, you just said. I mean, we certainly can do steaks. If you would like us to do meat, we can do meat. I don't know if that's what you like, but you got to remember who. What is this entire.
- [44:10]
A
Put some pasta on the side or something. You could spoon it.
- [44:12]
C
You could do that.
- [44:13]
A
You could twirl it in the spoon for them and put your hand under it and feed Coach. You know how people do that?
- [44:18]
B
I will do this. The big spoon with the twisty suit.
- [44:21]
A
Please don't put your finger. The hand underneath the fork thing. That just makes me crazy. For some reason, they don't want to drop. You know if someone's like. You see people on movies trying to feed somebody and they put their little hand under the dumb spoon.
- [44:32]
F
Yeah, I don't want anything to drop.
- [44:34]
A
Or the fork, you know, they don't want to. Didn't want to spill anything on the table.
- [44:38]
C
You see people feeding each other a lot.
- [44:39]
B
That's like.
- [44:39]
A
Yeah, in movies and shows. I do. Yeah, of course. Like, get your stupid hand out from underneath the fork. If it falls on the table, I'll wipe it up.
- [44:49]
B
You seeing somebody. You seeing somebody put their fingers over their nose when they jump into a pool? Don't do that. You accidentally see somebody doing this in a movie.
- [45:00]
A
I don't like seeing the visual right now of you doing it. Honestly, it's like.
- [45:02]
D
That's one of those.
- [45:03]
A
It's like nails on a chalkboard to me.
- [45:06]
B
Yeah, but, you know, like, the person that's doing that is trying to portray like, I care. Like, I care a lot. You know, like, that is what that is for. And you get disgusted.
- [45:14]
A
I think it's somebody saying, hey, I'm gonna big dog you here. Here we go. I'm the king here. I'm your master. And they him.
- [45:20]
F
I can't wait.
- [45:20]
B
Oh, you're talking like, scoo with that taco was.
- [45:23]
D
I was just going to say, I cannot wait until we are at the next thing where we all have a meal together and everyone does that to you all night long.
- [45:30]
A
I'm just going to be smacking forks all over. Smacking forks of spaghetti out of here.
- [45:35]
B
Hey, who's the Big boy. Exactly.
- [45:39]
A
That's exactly what it is. You're right.
- [45:42]
B
All right, I'm going to do that tomorrow.
- [45:44]
E
All right.
- [45:45]
A
We stew it to save him. I want to steal it to saving does.
- [45:48]
B
All right. Yeah, I can't wait. Okay, let's talk about some news happening around the NFL here before hour one wraps up. I'm live from Acreshore Field. Right. Is it Acker Stadium or Aure Field?
- [45:58]
F
Acer Stadium.
- [45:59]
A
Oh, yeah. There it says on the thing.
- [46:01]
C
So what's the field? Poop field.
- [46:04]
B
Hines Field. But and just like I said, I don't think there's any Heinz bottles in here. Remember, that was a big thing.
- [46:11]
D
Oh, yeah.
- [46:12]
B
Are they going to keep.
- [46:13]
A
Sorry, is hind still or not?
- [46:15]
F
They still got 84 lumber, so.
- [46:17]
D
Yeah, that's huge.
- [46:17]
C
Okay, that's fair.
- [46:19]
B
UPMC, obviously still doing it. Still bringing it. UPMC huge for. Oh, I guess I could do this number here, I think. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
- [46:29]
A
Ptz.
- [46:30]
B
Oh, no, that's. That's on that. Yeah. And I'm not on the wide. Let me go ahead and figure this one out.
- [46:35]
A
Boom.
- [46:35]
B
Yeah, brother. Yeah, brother. Yeah, brother.
- [46:38]
D
Oh, yeah.
- [46:39]
B
So yeah, you see the Ford fan zone there. And then obviously you see the. So right in that area back there used to be a Heinz bottle that people really celebrated with. Yeah.
- [46:52]
F
Right on top of this.
- [46:53]
E
Right on top.
- [46:54]
C
Damn.
- [46:56]
B
Poor dime. Now it's Acor, which we all know what that is. The glass building that's standing tall above that is in every single photo of the city of Pittsburgh is ppg. Obviously, that is an incredible building. Glass, they said. People marveled at the architecture when that thing was pieced together, they said. And then bridges, you know, that's on that jumbotron right there. We have the most bridges of any city in the world. I believe even Venice counting is that accurate.
- [47:25]
F
I believe so.
- [47:27]
B
We have the most bridges in the world here in Pittsburgh, obviously, because our city is surrounded by rivers. Two of them lead into one. The Allegheny and Monongahela lead into Ohio. So we basically birthed that state. You're welcome, A.J.
- [47:41]
D
Hawk.
- [47:42]
B
And that is. And let alone steel, we built every city as well here. So we have a lot of pride. The people from Pittsburgh in the city of Pittsburgh, but not everybody in Pittsburgh are Pitt fans. There's actually some people within the city of Pittsburgh who don't like Pitt. Like, actually hate Pitt.
- [48:00]
A
Who do they like?
- [48:02]
B
Tone Diggs is one of them. Tone, would you like to speak on that a little bit more potentially, how the city and the university within the city have an interesting relationship. And when you say Pitt, you're talking about the university. When you say Pittsburgh, you're talking about the city. So people say, let's go to Pitt this weekend and watch the Steelers. No, that would be the university you'll be heading to. The city is Pittsburgh. The school is Pitt. So there is quite a dilemma in the city about all of that. And there's a lot of Pitt people right to me, my left, who I don't think have ears it. So that is why I'm talking like this. I don't think they can hear me, but that is a very real thing in the city of Pittsburgh. D, can you back me up on that a little bit?
- [48:42]
F
Yes, I can back you up. Pittsburghers. It drives them crazy when people call the city Pit because that's the university. The city is Pittsburgh. But no, there's a lot of college football fans in the city, and they are divided between Pitt, Pennsylvania, Penn State, West Virginia, Ohio State, mostly because Duquesne.
- [49:00]
D
Obviously there's a huge fan base as well.
- [49:03]
F
Bobby Moe, all those Carnegie Mellon, but like Penn State, West Virginia, Pitt, Ohio State, all within three hours. So, like, there is huge fan bases of all. All those schools. So it's not like, hey, just because the college is in the city means that everyone in the city is huge fans of the University of Pitt. No, there's a lot of. There's a lot of different other college football. Football, you know, fan bases in the city. And, you know.
- [49:25]
B
Now, on that note. On that note, Tone, every one of us know a lot of pit people.
- [49:30]
F
Oh, yeah.
- [49:31]
B
So we all know pit people, but not everybody is pit people, if that makes sense. I don't know. And I think tomorrow, from what my understanding, is game day potentially going to be a football celebration. I know Pitt's going to show up. I know the Pit fans are going to show up. I can't wait to see the pit fans. I'm excited for that kind of banter, actually. I'm pretty pumped up to see them on a spotlight. But I think a lot of Pittsburgh people are just. Just coming for football. Like, I think you're going to see a lot of yinzers just for football celebration tomorrow. And I think that's. That's kind of what should be talked about, because the University of Pittsburgh represents a city that is football. Like, this is football town. Like, that is 100% what it is, through and through. So tomorrow should be epic, AJ Is what I'm thinking.
- [50:10]
D
And it's a.
- [50:10]
F
It's a professional sports town. And I just got word from a source. One of the Heinz bottles is down in the Great hall, which is underneath the stands in the stadium where all the.
- [50:20]
B
All the.
- [50:20]
A
Like the underneath. So we can't see it.
- [50:22]
F
No, you. The Great Hall. You walk through it. When you walk. Believe it's gate. That's not Gate A. Gate B or C on the side.
- [50:27]
B
Buried it. They buried it. That's what I heard.
- [50:29]
C
No, no, no.
- [50:29]
F
And then they put the other one in the. In the Hines museum.
- [50:32]
D
So.
- [50:33]
F
Sorry.
- [50:33]
A
I mean, that doesn't help the Steelers.
- [50:35]
B
I don't see it.
- [50:37]
D
I heard they remember going to get a red gold bottle in there.
- [50:41]
A
Shut up out there.
- [50:42]
B
I'll mute you. Shut your. Shut your mouth. And that is one thing that we all agree on, okay? We all agree on that in the. The entire city, whether you're a pit person or not, the fact that there is even other ketchups available agrees are. Is scary. That's a scary thing for society. So you get your red gold tie.
- [51:02]
D
Hey, I didn't say it. I don't like red gold. I hate when we go around here somewhere. You go to a nice restaurant, you sit down, you want some ketchup with your French fries? Oh, let me get some Heinz. Oh, nope, that's red gold. I'd rather piss on the side of my plate and dunk it in this stuff. So. I don't love it either. I'm just saying what I've heard. Oh, you love it. See, there you go. Here's your guy.
- [51:23]
A
Yeah, I'd much rather dip it in red gold or hunts than urine. I mean, that's just common sense, right?
- [51:30]
D
I figured you'd be with the one guy who.
- [51:32]
C
Yeah.
- [51:33]
D
Soak them up.
- [51:34]
B
Yeah, I think so, but I. I think it's just a part of it, you know, I think it's a part of being from here. Very proud of the Heinz ketchup and everything that Heinz has done. So, yeah, I move out to Indiana. I think Red gold is actually from Indiana.
- [51:46]
D
I believe it is.
- [51:47]
B
And back. Back before anybody. I mean, I had a little bit of a following on Twitter around Indianapolis. Pretty good. It was pretty strong following around Indianapolis on Twitter. And I walked to some place, and they had red gold in front of me. And I put a tweet out. I was like, this is disgusting what.
- [52:03]
A
We'Ve been doing here.
- [52:04]
B
And I get called into the Colts office. You know, Red Gold's big sponsor, Big sponsor of the Colts. And they were wondering if I would change it. And I. I know not. They're not sponsoring mine. If your guys Twitter account wants to say they're good, sweet, you go ahead and do that. They haven't given me anything except for nausea when I see them on a, on a table or whatever. And go all the way up to Jim, you know, Jim was asked to talk to me about it. And Jim goes, brother, can you just not kill him? Like you can just. Just don't kill.
- [52:34]
A
Imagine the owner being brought there like that comes to the owner's desk. That's the best. Hey, we got. You know, Pat's just. Pat's killing one of our ketchup sponsors. You got to talk to him.
- [52:43]
B
Our only dude, they're from Indiana. They got Colts logos all over the ketchup bottles. They're in the entire facility. I think I actually took a picture in the facility. That was before I really knew business. You know, like they're probably paying to be in here if I had to guess. So I took a picture of that thing like, yuck, I can't believe this world feeds professional hazards. And turns out they're from India. We like to thank them for their ketchup. Fanhood of Heinz. Being a fan of Heinz and trying to honor them by creating their ketchup. But on that note, I ain't doing it ever. Not if, if I'm paying for it. Ty, huge things happened in baseball last night. Congratulations. First time back to back MVPs in both leagues. Is that accurate? And Aaron Judge and Shohei having the seasons that they had going into the year. These are the two biggest stars. Then boom, they back it up for baseball. Everything up into the right MLB wise, especially with these two winning the MVP or. What are your thoughts, Ty?
- [53:40]
D
Yeah, without a doubt. I mean this is kind of the perfect scenario if you are Major League Baseball. You hope that the two biggest stars in the league could be the MVPs. Shohei was kind of a runaway in the NL. Very hard pressed to find another guy who would even, you know, maybe be mentioned in the same sentence with him. It's kind of what he's doing year after year now. That's his fourth MVP award already, which is crazy. I don't think it's nuts to say that like, you know, Barry Bonds had seven MVPs in his his career. Shohei, could you. I mean this guy could win 10 MVPs. It seems like he's got a pretty solid path to potentially winning one every year. And then in the al, that was where there was a lot of kind of discussion and it ended up being One of the closest votes ever. Judgy Aaron Judge ultimately did win the mvp. This is his third MVP award and like you mentioned back to back and he got 17 first place votes and 13 of the second place votes. And Cal Raleigh flipped that around. But if one voter would have flipped these guys around, it would have been a tie. And a lot of people were saying, hey Cal, righ should win this award. You know, historic season, unbelievable. And while that is true, I was a little surprised he didn't win it. I just asked Gertie, I just said, hey, can you just, you know, just maybe put their stats side by side so we could kind of put this thing to rest. So you'll see Cal Riley, yes, he did hit more homers. He did have.
- [55:06]
B
That's his game. That's the game that is. Runs bring the tickets. Home runs bring the views. Who, who had more?
- [55:15]
D
Yep, exactly. Now granted, he didn't hit 20 more than Judge. He hit seven more. And you know, so it's not that bad. And you down there, if you go down a little bit more, Judge's batting average was about 100 points higher. He did win the batting title. He's the first person to post a batting average and on base percentage and a slugging percentage of that magnitude since Barry Bonds, who a lot of people think is the best player of all time. And listen, right, wrong or indifferent, whether you like it, the MVP is kind of like the MVP in the NFL. It always, it, you know, it's going to go to a quarterback. In this case, it pretty much goes, goes to the best hitter. That's just how it goes. So a lot of people are saying, well, why don't you account for Cal Raleigh catching and all. He didn't win a Gold Glove. He obviously adds a lot of value for his team. But when you look at Judge's numbers, like if you don't give it to him, it is just because it's fatigue. Like he is the best hitter in baseball Now Shohei is the best player in baseball.
- [56:10]
B
On which side of the plate? On which. On one side. That seems like pretty easy. Imagine if Cal Rawley just won on one side of the plate. That'd be pretty cool.
- [56:20]
D
Yeah, it would be. And you know, he'd probably do decent. Now granted, you know, I don't know if he just hit on one side of the plate if he's going to raise that batting average 100 points. That's a pretty big margin when it comes to that. But no, Cal Riley had an unbelievable season. Judge is just one of the best five hitters of all time.
- [56:38]
B
And on that note, both Cal Raleigh, Shohei and Aaron Judge came on our show so we're very thankful to all of them. And Aaron Judge. Congrats brother. I am just clearly talking shit to Ty Schmidt in this particular case. Aaron's a dog and I'm very thankful for the season he had for the good of sport. Same with Shohei and Cal Raleigh. This Marshawn Beast Mode Lynch Prize Pick is making sports season even more fun on Prize Picks. Whether you a football fan, a basketball fan, it always feel good to be right. Right now, New York users get $50 instantly in lineups. When you play your first $5, the app is simple to use. Pick two or more players, pick more or less on their stat projections, anything from touchdown to threes and if you right you can win big mix and match players from any sport on Prague picks. America's number one daily fantasy sports app, Prize Picks is available in 40 plus states including California, Texas, Florida and Georgia. Most importantly, all the transactions on the app are are fast, safe and secure. Download the Prospects app today and use code TPMS to get 50 instantly in site credits after you play your first $5. That's code TPMS to get 50 in site credits after you play your 1st $5. Prize picks it's good to be right.
- [57:56]
G
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- [57:59]
I
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- [58:06]
B
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- [58:08]
I
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- [58:11]
B
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- [58:27]
I
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- [58:33]
A
Welcome back Outward to the Pat McAfee Show. I'm A.J. hawk sitting in for Pat here in Indianapolis, Indiana. Pat's in Pittsburgh, Notre Dame pit big matchup, boys football. Pat, you mentioned something. I'm sorry? You mentioned something. As you're coming back, you got a situation going on over there. What's happening? It sounds like something, something's on the loose.
- [58:56]
B
There's nothing happening over here, aj. There's nothing happening over here. It's more so where you guys are. I don't know if you know this, but Fox59 News in Indianapolis is reporting that there Is a chimpanzee on the loose at the zoo currently. Now listen, these chimps are certainly a fantastic creature. When you look at them, you think to yourself, wow, that might be a damn human, just a little miniature version of it, but goddamn, it's going to be stronger than any human could ever be. So if you're around the Indianapolis Zoo area, don't only look on the ground, look in the sky. These things are great climbers. That chimp could be already in Ohio. We have no idea. Now Fox59 is obviously breaking the news down and we appreciate them doing that. But you guys need to be on a lookout for Thunderdome. We need no wires to be chewed on. We need nothing to be pulled out. We have no idea where this chimpanzee is going to head to. Let's make sure we have that place on lockdown. Maybe have Bill on night watch tonight outside sitting on the roof, any things like that. Let's not take this for granted that there is a chimpanzee on the loose. Now Zito just sent a text into the group asking if we should send Mitt. I think that's a good idea. I think we should, should send. What's up dude?
- [60:16]
D
Great movie.
- [60:17]
B
They said they need you back in there. Great movie.
- [60:22]
F
Your dad and Bill are going hunting tomorrow. So I think they have the rifles on them. So if they want to get started early.
- [60:27]
C
Don't. Don't shoot the chimpanzee. Run, chimpanzee. We've seen those conditions. You need to run.
- [60:33]
A
Get out of here, chimpanzee. Go on now.
- [60:35]
B
Out. You're talking about the orangutan.
- [60:38]
C
Yeah.
- [60:38]
B
Free them too. But now to be clear, the Indianapolis Zoo is a very good zoo. It is the one on preservation of animals and yada you all that stuff. They take care of a lot of stuff. Visitors say chimp on the loose at Indiana Zoo. Fire crews called for animal bite. Okay, well, we don't know. We don't know what's being real. This Fox 59 News reporter. I will say I have a, a lot of respect for the people that run that zoo. Private zoo, no state money.
- [61:08]
E
It's a.
- [61:08]
B
They run it themselves. It's a, a wonderful zoo and obviously great for our community. But chimpanzee on the loose needs be. I've seen dealt with whenever it. The Indianapolis Zoo says the loose chimp has been sedated and safely recaptured.
- [61:24]
C
Okay.
- [61:25]
B
No staff were injured and the zoo has since been rejected.
- [61:34]
A
So he was loose.
- [61:34]
B
Thank God.
- [61:35]
A
He's loose for 12 minutes or what happened?
- [61:37]
C
I don't know. That's a long in chimpanzee minutes. That's two years, right?
- [61:41]
D
Yeah. Long enough to go get RPG from the basement of the zoo and safely get it back to where he needs to go.
- [61:47]
B
I. I'm happy though that they got Caesar. You know, when you get, when, when he gets Caesar back, it feels like you get the entire flock. What are monkeys? Group of monkeys called Cackle. A murder.
- [62:01]
A
Pride.
- [62:02]
B
Crow.
- [62:03]
A
A collective.
- [62:03]
B
That's a lion collective. A collective because they're humans, obviously. They're like the committee in the committee of the committees. I appreciate that they're back. It's a beautiful Friday here from Pittsburgh as tomorrow Notre Dame and Pitt will play. Notre Dame needs a win to continue their national championship hopes. And tomorrow for Pitt will be an absolutely insane scene. Jerome Bettis, obviously living legend in Pittsburgh for what the boy was able to do winning super bowl in his own hometown of his retirement game up there in Detroit. He's coming back obviously because he's Notre Dame legend, has a lot of events around, so we assume that entire team is going to be back representing as well. And then for the University of Pittsburgh, Aaron Donald will have his number retired at halftime. So all the Pitt greats are going to be here as well. Should be a fantastic weekend of ball and college football is going to do great. I think Sunday is going to be spectacular and last night we had a great game to kick it all off for week 11 up there in New England. Drake met in this New England Patriots team. Trace Vaughan. Henderson, running back out of Ohio State, goes for three touchdowns. Drake may almost has a perfect night. Stefan Diggs has over 100 yards, Will Campbell and the other rookie playing left guard named Jared Wilson is an absolute beast. Vrabel obviously supreme commander on the defensive side after giving up a touchdown on the first drive, basically shut it down for the rest of the way. Huge night for Patriots fans to celebrate. Anything we're missing there, con man? That hasn't been talked about enough about last night's AFC Easter battle where the New England Patriots say we're the best team once again in this division.
- [63:35]
C
I think just to hammer home the buy in from the entire team. Fox, if you actually go to the start of the video of Rabel dapping everybody up and just pause it. Milton Williams, who is the highest paid player in the history of the New England Patriots, which is crazy to say, D tackle, he's actually standing behind here on the right side, waiting right there on the right side. Also waiting to dap Everybody up. He didn't finish the game. He left with the ankle, went to the locker room, came back out, tried to get back in the game. And Vrabel basically said like hey, let's get ahead of this and let's relax a little bit. He's on the right side there. And he waited with Vel to dap up everybody basically for New England. The other thing too that was really cool is just he was tweeting from, from the locker rooms was during the game, during the game. I don't know if you want to pull it up Bruce, but if you go to his, his account Christian Barmore hasn't had a sack in a while. But he actually said in his tweet I think it was you know, two years or a year for Christian Barmore because he had the last year he had the really tough situation with the blood clots. So he missed most of the year. So he hadn't had a sack. And when Christian Barmore did get a sack last night, Milton Williams just tweeted and it was at like 11pm the game was damn near over. But he tweeted just like hell yeah bmo. And I think that's the biggest, biggest thing because we talked about the digs buy in. But even just the Milton Williams, the highest paid player, he really doesn't have to you know, one battle to be out there. But two do stuff like this, which is really cool. And then the other little thing I think just to highlight was the Mac Hollands entrance. He wore the 988 suicide prevention line while he's walking into the game. And like I just think that's really cool. Not to mention Chris Gonzalez. He's, he does a lot of help with one of the mental health places, the charity and I'm forgetting the name now but that's kind of his you know, specialty foundation if you will. And then Mac Holland's doing that, you know, with everything going on like the Marshawn Nealon situation, one thing but just everybody on a day to day Matt Collins doing that in prime time. You know, we know he does wear the funny stuff and he does all.
- [65:45]
A
The sweet Instagram videos where he's like fixing a washing machine or he's changing the oil in a car or doing all kind of like great stuff. Like I enjoy his content.
- [65:53]
C
Yeah, exactly. Like it's, it's typically funny and like the, the videos he makes are hilarious. He's wearing like a, like a three piece suit as he's breaking down like the Bermuda Triangle sometimes. But him Doing something like that in prime time, I just thought was really cool. And it's just the team as a whole, it's crazy that, you know, as we talk about the rookies and everything, you know, Pat mentioned the left tackle, left guard being rookies, but it's just the premier positions in general, like, yes, Drake May's 23 wolves. Campbell, you know, he's 21 and he was locked down once again, and he's gone up against, you know, T.J. watt, Max Crosby, Miles Garrett, who had five sacks but still has been battle tested throughout the season. It's incredible when you think about those positions being as young as they are. You know, Christian Gonzalez kind of being lost in the fold because you never hear Christian Gonzalez's name. You just don't. He flies up and makes tackles. He actually had five tackles last night, so I. It was a little bit more. But he's 23 in this thing that he does for the last two weeks. Last week he wore Bobby Orr. This week he wore Larry Legend. Stuff like that is so cool. Just because you're kind of seeing the players on the team, the young guys specifically on the team, like, embrace not just the Patriots in the city of Boston, but embracing the history of sports within the city of Boston. Like, that in itself, I think, reflects a lot about kind of the knowledge Mike Vrabel brings. Christian Gonzalez was never doing this before this season as far as those type of shirts. But now, you know, seeing that, that kind of makes me think, like, oh, okay, so Vrabel is also educating them on, like, the sports fandom, how special it is.
- [67:30]
A
I'm sure he tries to tell me, guys, it's not like this everywhere else for you players, that this is the only NFL experience, you know, like, it's not like this every. I was in Green Bay for nine years, and guys would leave and come back or they'd come from other places and they'd be like, man, this is. This place is special. Like, it doesn't. They don't do it like this everywhere. As we're talking about legends. Gronk, what do you call it? What did he do?
- [67:48]
C
The keeper of the light.
- [67:49]
A
He's the keeper of the light here. I don't know.
- [67:52]
D
Damn near yank that kid off the top of the lighthouse.
- [67:54]
A
Look how high up they are, too. Gronk is just. Everything he's doing is full go. Like, I. I love this whole situation with what Gronk. He was. He was. Yeah. Here we go. Smashing guitars. Who's he singing with here?
- [68:06]
C
Yeah. I don't think it was jbj. John Bon Jovi, and I think. I think Kenny is back on tour.
- [68:13]
A
I'm assuming it's just almost killed that.
- [68:14]
C
Cameraman, one of the, one of the locals, maybe Dalton and the sheriffs. But, yeah, Gronk being back as well is just so cool to see. For me, as someone who grew up with him and, you know, him going to Tampa, everything that's all forgotten. He's a patriot for life, baby.
- [68:28]
A
Were you surprised? Like, you can't be surprised. Yeah, we're glad he, he retired as a patriot, but, like, you weren't surprised by that. There's no. He was in, what, was he there two years?
- [68:36]
C
Yeah, yeah, he. He was there for two years. But, yeah, it's not something you're, like, surprised by. It's just more so the gesture. Like, we know Gronk is retired. He obviously isn't coming back to play football. But the. Just the gesture of, hey, I'm going to make it a point that I love this place way more than anywhere else. And even though I played for Tampa and won a Super bowl here, that doesn't discredit all the time I spent in New England. This is where he grew up. This is where he met his girlfriend, longtime girlfriend. Like, so many things had happened in New England just before the game.
- [69:04]
A
Sorry to cut you off before the game. No, I blew up with the whole crowd.
- [69:07]
C
I think this is halftime, actually. I think he's trying to get the people going at halftime because his hole before the game was the keeper of the light thing. So it's, it's just, it's awesome to see stuff like this. And it just goes back to how much football means to the people in New England.
- [69:21]
A
Yeah, football means a lot to, to most people that watch us fans all over the country. And Pat, I believe, is sitting down with our. Our Friday legend with you, Pat.
- [69:29]
B
Here we go.
- [69:29]
A
Here we go. Coach Nixon.
- [69:30]
B
Yeah, I think that's a great descriptor there. The Friday legend, ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Friday Afternoon, Nick Saban. Yeah.
- [69:38]
E
Thank you, guys. Thank you. Thank you.
- [69:39]
B
We appreciate the hell out of you, man. How's it feel to be here in Pittsburgh? Your thoughts on the city of Pittsburgh as a whole? You coach for the Cleveland Browns, obviously the Pittsburgh Steelers. Cleveland Browns have and have had for a long time that rivalry. I don't know how many, how much University of Pittsburgh history do you have and what are your thoughts on us being here?
- [69:58]
E
Well, I love being here because a. About 125 miles down the road down I75 is where I grew up. So to come to Pittsburgh when I was a kid, whether it was to go to Kenny. Kennywood park, see the Steelers once a year, see the Pirates once a year, that was like it, man. That was it. So. And then of all things.
- [70:18]
B
Tell me more about Kennywood, please.
- [70:20]
E
I love it. The. What was it? The Pip or something?
- [70:22]
B
Yeah, certainly.
- [70:23]
E
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I still remember that. Yeah. From when I was a kid. But what year was.
- [70:30]
B
Ironically, if you had to guess what.
- [70:31]
E
Year, year that was, you know, 60s. Yep.
- [70:35]
C
Hasn't changed a bit since that.
- [70:38]
B
Okay, don't. Don't listen to him, but go ahead. I'm sorry.
- [70:40]
E
So then, ironically, everyone where I grew up is a Pittsburgh Steeler fan. I've been a Pittsburgh Steeler fan all my life. And then I go to the Cleveland Browns. So when we play Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, I got to get 100 tickets for Steelers fans. And then when I get getting a bus to leave the game, they're all out there fighting. McBrown's fans.
- [71:02]
B
Exactly, exactly.
- [71:04]
E
None of them rooted for me.
- [71:05]
B
Yeah, I mean, that's a Pittsburgh story in a staple there with the fighting in football, but it is a football town, like, very much a football town.
- [71:12]
E
You can feel it, no question.
- [71:13]
B
And I think tomorrow morning is going to be special. Tell me about this pit team, what you've learned from watching. We just talked to Narduzzi and he said everybody that's on his team, he wants to love ball, he wants to be tough. Obviously going to have a lot of greats back. What do you think about this current pit team? And can they knock off Notre Dame from the College Football Playoff? That's what's on the line tomorrow, basically.
- [71:30]
E
Well, I think part Pat Narduzzi has done an outstanding job here, no question. I think this is a tough job, and I think the job he's done this year with this team, this freshman quarterback, I mean, this guy is the real deal now. He's athletic, he can run really good passer, and they're throwing it 63% of the time. So to me, this is the type of team, when you have a passing team that can make explosives of plays and they're going to air it out all the time, they're the type of team that can upset a team that's better because as long as they can protect well enough and the guys can make plays, they got a chance to score points. So that can always, you know, when you're. I call it wide ball team, like you're Running the ball, running the ball, running the ball and you play somebody better. That's hard. This not so hard because you can take advantage of making big plays. Now the question to me is going to be how does Pitts receivers match up against Notre Dame secondary? Because Notre Dame plays a lot of man to man. So if they can't be man to man, they'll have a tough time even though they're going to throw the ball effectively.
- [72:34]
B
And Notre Dame has quite the advantage, I assume in recruiting for DBs. They got NFL DBs all over the place. Not the Pitt doesn't have NFL guys. But I'm just saying Notre Dame has been built basically with five stars. So on the outside whenever you talk about about wide receiver DBs, that's a great athlete out there normally and you're talking about wide ball whenever you play a better team. That's only because the D line better athletes than what the offensive line is used to, right?
- [72:57]
E
Yeah. Now you're creating a matchup with, you know, is our O line good enough to block their D line where it's a lot easier to get receivers and a quarterback that can make throws and just get in their way long enough until we can throw it.
- [73:10]
B
And you think that's not. Doozy's playing tomorrow and what do you think? Not Notre Dame's plan is just a standard. Let's play how we play. We run the ball over this team and kind of dominate from beginning to end. You think that's what Freeman saying?
- [73:19]
E
Well, I think, you know, they're scoring 39 points a game. So Notre Dame's got a pretty powerful offense and it's balanced. You know, they can run it, they can throw it. So I'm sure they're, they're going to think that we can continue to do these kinds of things. But Pitts defense has been really good against the run. They're one of the top teams in the country and stopping the run. So if you can make them one dimensional, I think you got a chance. But I think what Narduzzi is thinking is I'm going to try to affect the quarterback. They pressure like 40% of the time, try to upset, you know, Carr as a quarterback and then can we make enough plays on offense, throwing the football to score enough points to have a chance to win this game.
- [73:57]
B
A lot of Italians where you grew up.
- [74:00]
E
Yeah, a lot, lot. A lot of Eastern European people and Italians.
- [74:03]
B
Yes sir, Eastern European. I like that.
- [74:06]
E
I'm Croatian. That's why I have to say Eastern.
- [74:08]
B
European because you're you're describing to us on a map where the hell Croatia is. That's what you just did to me.
- [74:15]
E
Most people don't know, but it's Eastern European.
- [74:18]
B
I knew that. Yeah.
- [74:19]
C
It's right by Turkey.
- [74:20]
B
That would be for the rest of my life.
- [74:21]
F
Yeah.
- [74:22]
B
We love Croatia. Don't we have Croatia?
- [74:24]
A
Right?
- [74:24]
C
Oh, yeah.
- [74:25]
H
Come on.
- [74:25]
A
DC Brati.
- [74:28]
B
Do you know Brucevich is actually married into a. Getting married into a. Or. Yeah, no, getting married into a Croatian family. He speaks a little bit. Do you speak Croatian?
- [74:38]
E
Oh, yeah, I know dobra. Good. Yeah. You know, I mean, my grandparents spoke Croatian and, you know, when I was a kid. But how's Croatian food?
- [74:46]
B
Croatian food, good.
- [74:48]
E
I went there once and visited and was not that impressed.
- [74:53]
F
You got to try the chavapi.
- [74:55]
A
The chavapis are phenomenal.
- [74:57]
E
I never heard of it. I like Italian food, man. Terry's Italian, and she can cook here in Pittsburgh.
- [75:08]
B
There's like a thousand Italian spots. I'm excited to see what you end up doing, what you end up getting into. This place has great food all over the place.
- [75:15]
E
Yeah, well, you know, Sal was on our staff South Sincere.
- [75:18]
B
Yes.
- [75:18]
E
And I guess his family has a little deli or something here, and we used to bring the, you know, sausage and all that stuff in. It was good.
- [75:26]
B
Yeah. Yeah. Sincere's have one. There'll be a right down the road, and then there'll be supa da pupa da pini around the corner, and then you get a pepe there, and then you'll get a Dallas salad. Then you'll get a dijuio, Then you'll get a moraldo. Then you'll get a Master Giacomo. Then you'll get a perono, Then you'll get an impavito. These are just people.
- [75:45]
C
I grew up with the beppo.
- [75:47]
E
Sounds to me like you're pretty expert.
- [75:49]
B
I know a lot. Yeah. And I took a 23 of me and found out I was 0.01% Italian, and. And that really changed a lot of things that I'd said. Nick, I'd like to let you know that was a big moment in my life. Don't you think, Nick? I think that was a big moment for the way I'd been operating. Don't you agree, Franklin Moraldo up there?
- [76:06]
A
Absolutely. Yeah. That changed a lot of things. You know, you had viewed a certain.
- [76:10]
B
Group of people a certain way, and then when you realized you were a part of that group, I think you became more enlightened. No, no. That is. I don't Think that is exactly right. I was like the only Irish guy. Okay. Was all Italians. I was the only Irish guy. So obviously football town, talking town, only Irish guy, all Italians. You could probably assume how that probably went, especially with me being involved. Then I found out I'm actually part Italian. It's like wait a minute. So we got to go back and try to change some things. But great. We make great food. I mean we, we make great food and you talk about Kennywood. You need to go back there. They're opening up for you tonight if you want to go.
- [76:45]
E
Stuff I hadn't been there for probably be 50 years.
- [76:49]
F
Go ahead tonight.
- [76:49]
B
Everybody looks still going.
- [76:52]
E
Yeah, I'd love to go.
- [76:53]
B
Shut up, A.J. i heard a little negative stuff out there. We don't need to talk about that. AJ actually has a last question for you on this particular game before we move on to the rest of the college football slate.
- [77:01]
A
So coach, that field behind you gets a lot of play. Gets it gets talked about a lot. We've seen some situations, the turf there some is not always stable. I don't. Were you a coach that made your players like. Did you ever talk about the field conditions going in? I know in the NFL coaches do this where, where sometimes they'll make their players wear screw ins in certain situations. Was that something that you actually talked about or you cared to talk about with your team?
- [77:23]
E
Yeah, what I talked about with my team was that's a bad field. Get some shoes that work. It was really simple. I wasn't going to try to pick the shoes for them. And then they come to me saying these hurt my feet. Get some shoes that work. But don't look at me when you slip and fall and you could run for a touchdown because I'm going to just look at you and say get some shoes that work. It's a simple.
- [77:44]
B
Coach Shavan said this in the, in the meeting. He said, I told the boys as long as it's 53 yards wide, 100 yards long, we're going to play football. It doesn't matter what it is. I followed up immediately. Coach Shaven said that as a man that doesn't have to run a single yard on that particular. But it is real. If both teams have to play on it. Let's not talk about it. What are we even talking about?
- [78:04]
E
Basically that's right. But you know, but every stadium that I played in, as soon as I walked in this room and looked at this field, I remember playing the Steelers here when I was a coach of the Dolphins and You know, we worked so hard. They would Corner Cat. Dick LeBeau was the defensive coordinator, but most of the time when they corner cat, they played three deep zone. And we worked hard when they went to 2 trap because it was always throw it hot to the X. Dante Culpepper, take the cat hot to the X2 trap, pick six. It's the first thing I remember. I mean, why can't I remember good things when I go to the street?
- [78:41]
B
You remember them dancing into that.
- [78:44]
E
Dancing in the street, baby.
- [78:45]
B
Absolutely. The grass does look good. Now, granted, with where we're sitting, we're not able to get as good of a shot, but the grass does look good. Now, granted, they do spray paint it too. I mean, that is just, as a matter of fact, that they do. And I don't want to. I don't want to get on that.
- [79:02]
A
It looks much better than I thought, honestly.
- [79:03]
C
Yeah, it looks good.
- [79:04]
E
It looks impeccable. But, you know, the problem with the field is, you know, people like to use zoysia grass on a field because that makes a really nice field. But then it doesn't grow when it's not warm enough. So you have to put rye grass to complement it to make it green. Now, this is a problem, and I never wanted to do this. So I said, we got to get some grass that grows until football season is over. Because when you put rye grass on. On a field, the blades are really thick in the rye grass and it makes it very slick, especially if it's damp at all and people are slipping and sliding because the cleats don't go in the ground. Because the grass is so thick.
- [79:42]
B
Yeah, because. So it's kind of like your cleat sticks on top of it. So it's almost like you're on actually skids once the grass is thick. I know exactly what you're talking about as you're explaining it. I had no idea you had a green thumb. I'm a Kentucky bluegrass fan myself. That. That is my favorite style of grass.
- [79:57]
E
Yeah, well, I just wanted something that, you know, the players wouldn't because, you know, you get this happening in practice and you lose players and get hurt with twisted ankles and all this kind of stuff because you got bad footing. So I was a sticker on that big time.
- [80:11]
B
What about Bermuda grass? That's pretty good grass as well.
- [80:13]
E
Oh, yeah. But it doesn't grow when it gets cold either. So you got a problem.
- [80:17]
B
Bermuda grass, soft ass grass, super grass. Teams not being able to play in the cold.
- [80:23]
E
That might be true. But they sure as hell can play in the Southeast.
- [80:29]
B
Yes, they can. Speaking of the Southeast, Diggs has a question for you. Coach.
- [80:34]
F
Yeah, Coach, let's go down to Saban Field at Bryant Denny Stadium. Alabama has a big one this weekend, but overall, I want to talk not only about this game, but over their overall picture. They are 120th, I believe in running the football. Can you win a national championship or get to a national championship being a one dimensional offense in, in your opinion?
- [80:54]
E
Well, I think it's hard, I really do. But if you got a good enough quarterback and you've got good enough receivers, which, that's the strength of their team to me, you know, Ty Simpson and the receiver corps and they make a lot of explosive plays. Now they have struggled to run the ball. The offensive line is going to have to continue to improve because they have pretty decent backs, but they just have not been able to sustain a finish in the run game at all, which puts them behind the sticks a lot. But they make more explosive plays on run downs. This is that play right there that you're watching right now is a first and 10 play. So I'm like, throw the ball when they think you're going to run it and just keep making explosive plays that way. And if you want to run it better, run it when they think you're going to throw it and maybe you'll do a better job and develop some confidence in your ability to run the ball.
- [81:43]
B
Okay, so on that note, the SEC has a lot of, of games. Okay? There's a lot of games left with a lot on the line. Ty wants to ask you about a big one down in Athens. And it's crazy to think all the teams at the top of the SEC are going to have to play each other, you know, and you're going to hear a lot of the SEC people say, isn't that convenient? Okay, all the best teams have to play against the best teams. So now the number in that second column, the loss number is going to have to go up for some of these good teams. Are they going to beat the hell out of each other? Ty has a question about Athens, Georgia. Coach.
- [82:13]
D
Yeah, Coach. That Texas, Georgia game, you know, Texas over the last four weeks, obviously they're four. No, but they. A couple, you know, tight overtime games. And then, you know, the Vandy game last week being tighter than, you know, maybe some people thought it would be, but Arch has looked unbelievable. And then on the flip side, you know, Georgia kind of just, you know, Workman like they just continue to win and win? Do you. How do you see that game going? And do you think that most of the questions that people had about Texas, you know, a couple weeks ago have maybe been answered? Because they're kind of, you know, coming back pretty strong here. And I think a lot of people see them as okay. You know, this is maybe a little partially the team we expected to see coming into the season.
- [82:55]
E
Well, I think Texas has improved for two reasons. I think in the last two games, Arch has played better. He's playing with a little more rhythm, not hurrying everything up, and he's been more effective and efficient and his, you know, completion percentage is way up and all that. And the offensive line has played better. So those two things, I think have made them show improvement as a team, but they still haven't been a dominant team. I mean, even the games that they won, they either had to come back and win, win in overtime or, you know, just barely beat Vanderbilt. And then they had terrible issues last week in the secondary where they gave up over 300 yards pass. And so they still have issues on their team that I think they need to resolve now. They're going to play a really good team, and this week would be a great week to do it. But I'm telling you what, this Georgia team now, their offense, I mean, they can run it. Gunner makes plays. They got some decent receivers who can make plays. I mean, they're a good team. The only thing that is Georgia's issue is they don't have a significant pass rusher and they don't create a lot of negative plays on defense. And they haven't been able to get off the field on third down like they historically have been able. So that allows the other team to keep the ball. So those are things that they can improve on. So both teams have some flaws that they need to improve upon, and whoever can do it in this game best will have the best chance to win.
- [84:16]
B
Now, on that note, Georgia very much in the running for a national championship right now. They pick up a loss to Texas, it will be a huge conversation about them losing to Texas. Texas, at some point, I think they're going to play Texas A and M as well. They're going to pick it. But if they pick up two wins here, with how the entire season has gone, all of a sudden, Texas right back in the conversation. What's the conversation about Georgia? What's conversation about Alabama as they've gotten through the hardest schedule that maybe the entire college football season has had? It's like you guys down the south are certainly going to have a lot of reasons to be pissed about whatever happens at the end. And it is because of the scheduling. But we want these big games to happen. So it's kind of like a, an interesting delay dilemma right now in ball.
- [84:53]
E
Yeah, I would like to have the good games. I think that's good for fans, I think it's good for football. I think players love playing in games, you know, like this game here or like, you know, the Oklahoma, Alabama, Georgia, Texas, Texas A and M Texas later on. But when it comes to getting in the playoffs because of the way it's set up, it's not necessarily in your best interest to play a tough schedule right now. But when you got seven teams in the top, top 15, which you don't want to admit, the SEC is worth a damn. They gotta play, they gotta play each other, Mr. Big Ten over here. So they're going to play each other. So somebody's got to lose. So somebody's going to end up with three losses and they're not going to be able to get in the playoffs. But yet they may be a better team than some of the teams who get in the playoffs.
- [85:42]
B
It happened already last year. You know, the first, last year was the first year of the 12 team playoff and you know the BCS model where there was a bunch of different. Then we pick which one's the national championship and then the four teams was obviously a big expansion. Everybody was pissed about who's the fifth team now with the 12 team one. Now everybody's pissed about who the 13th team is because you know, the five highest ranked champions. Is Notre Dame going to get a spot? Well, everybody in football, the SEC, Big Ten, Big 12, ACC definitely everybody's pulling for Notre Dame to lose at some point. But Notre Dame Dame still has a track to the college football playoffs for sure if they win these games. And that takes away a spot. Now from one of these teams you're talking about that has to play one of these schedules and that kind of goes to Ohio State's conversation. Now Desmond Howard's been bringing it up for a few weeks because he's obviously Michigan guy, but also I think he's been tasked with doing some Ohio State, you know, research basically for college game day. And he's like, listen, Ohio State hasn't really played anybody. Now granted, every game you could lose in college football, you're talking about 18 year olds to 22 year olds. I guess there's some 45 year olds playing in certain situations, but you know, it's A younger group and having everybody show up every single week is part of you being great and why you're the goat. So winning every game is certainly impressive. Dominating every game, definitely impressive. But when you look at who they've played, you don't really see anybody on the schedule. So I think we don't know Dan Orlopsky yesterday comes out goes, we don't have their good team. We'd never seen them lose it in the fourth quarter. Kind of contradicts himself there. We don't know if they're a good team. They've never been down in the fourth quarter. It's like, wow, wow. You know, if they were not a good team, I guess they would have some times where they're down at some point in the game. But I think what a lot of people are saying, they haven't been tested. So, like, how do you look at an Ohio State team because they have been so damn dominant, but it feels like they haven't had, like a staple win other than Texas at the beginning of the year. And everybody thought Texas at that point was nowhere near what everybody thinks they were going to be now. You know, like, how do you judge the Ohio State kind of run that they've been on?
- [87:33]
E
Right? Well, they've been dominant. I mean, they're only given up like seven points a game defensively, and they score a whole bunch of points. They've got good receivers. The quarterbacks played well. They don't run the ball great if they have a flaw. But at the same time, I always wanted our teams to be tested. I always wanted to play against good teams because I wanted to see. See how what the competitive spirit of our team really was, what the mental toughness was, how we could overcome adversity. Because when you dominate everybody, then you get in a tight game, people start getting frustrated because they're not dominating. That's not. You gotta win, you know, I mean, you can't get frustrated just because you're not dominating the game. So. But I do think Ohio State has a good team. I think there's three teams that's kind of proven they're a couple above A and M, Ohio State and Indiana. Those three teams have kind of shown that they're cut above the other team. The other teams are good enough to beat them, but they all have a little flaw or something that they need to overcome. So it'll be interesting to see how that works out down the stretch here.
- [88:37]
B
Okay, so in the NFL, they say, like, the people in the know, after the season starts Everybody kind of understands that there's probably like seven to eight teams that could actually go in the Super Bowl. And college, it feels like there is tears each year on who can actually win and then everybody else that is in the good level. That's why people saying if we go to 16 team playoff or if we go to whatever, like does it matter? Because a lot of these teams are just going to get the doors blown off. And whenever they play against the good team, how many teams are those normally? Three, four teams that are like built for it. And did you know your teams were national championship teams during the season or did you think with some of your squads, like maybe we're not at the, the level that we need to be to be actual national championship? I don't know if that makes sense in the question.
- [89:17]
E
Yeah, it does. And most of the time I didn't know because I think when you're coaching a team, you're always looking at what do we need to improve on. So you're not actually trying to compare that team to all the other teams. But I do remember one thought I had. You know, we won the national championship in 20. Waddle broke his leg at Tennessee on a kickoff return. Shouldn't even brought it out, but he did and he got hurt. So. And I'm saying we had Smitty, we had Waddle and we had a really good quarterback, you know, Mac and I said, you know, this team's got a chance, but we got to do it because we have the good skill guys. And when Waddle got hurt, I said in my mind, it went through my mind as soon as they told me he was hurt and he was out. We won't have a chance to win now. But we did.
- [90:05]
B
Yeah, and Waddle played right, if I recall, in the national table.
- [90:08]
E
Played a few plays, he could run in a straight line, but he had a hard time changing direction and he wanted to play. Oh yeah, and he caught a pass or two. But you know, Smitty had a phenomenal year and won the Heisman Trophy and you know, we had balance on the team, but that's the only team that I remember ever thinking that something happened.
- [90:26]
B
That it's going to be tough, it's.
- [90:28]
E
Going to be tough. When Tua got hurt, had the same feeling because that was one of the best teams we ever had is the year two of broke his hip. That was one of the best teams we ever had because we had four first round draft pick receivers and I like them receivers, man, they scored fast and they, they get on me about, you know, me thinking being a defensive guy, we're scoring too fast and protect the defense. I loved it. I loved it when we scored.
- [90:51]
B
Yeah, but the reason why they think that is because watching old school Alabama, you were winning, but it was just like so boring. You know, you were just handing a ball off. You guys are just running all over people and then, all right, your defense is going to dominate the other side. And it was like, it was 1970, 1980. We're just going to beat the hell out. And you guys did. And that was like the. We're a tough football team. We're going to pound the shit out of you. Quarterback never really got a lot of credit. It was always everybody else. So then when you make that change to become like an explosive offense and keep up basically with what football it became, everybody did assume that you hated it. They're like, oh, Saban's yearning for, for the days where we're all falling asleep in the third quarter as they're just pounding another team into oblivion. The people thought that about you, coach.
- [91:33]
E
No, they probably did. But I actually figured out when people were throwing RPOs and going no huddle fast and starting to scoring 40 points a game that we will not be able to win playing this style of football. We have to be able to utilize, you know, make people defend the whole field vertically and horizontally, have great skill guys, get a great quarterback and score more points. And, you know, we won some championships by outscoring people rather than playing defense.
- [92:04]
B
Yeah, I'd say you won some championships. The trophies are all over the house, literally falling out of the shelves. Seven time national champion. The national championship odds right now are sitting with Ohio State at +185 at the very top of this thing in Indiana, +450. Texas A&M +750. To your point about the three teams above, they also have Alabama in that. If you were to look at the odds, not that much different from Texas A and M, Notre Dame at +1000, big one here at Pitt. There's going to be a lot of energy here in this building. I think it's going to be a tough one for them. Georgia plus 1300. Texas plus 3500 down there at the bottom, obviously meeting Oregon in the mix. Texas Tech, Ole Miss, and that rounds out the odds.
- [92:43]
E
But you know, one thing about this whole thing, and you know, you say Ohio State hadn't played a tough schedule, but just taking Alabama, which I'm closest to because I live there, this has been A tremendous grind for this team. I mean, they've played like four or five games in a row against really top opponents. You know, now they're going to go play Oklahoma, who's a top opponent. You know, LSU is no slouch regardless of what you think from a player standpoint. So they've been through this gauntlet. So can they actually build on the momentum that they have or are they going to get the poor me's, I call it, because sometimes your team gets the poor me's at this time of the season. You know, poor me, I'm tired, poor me, I'm hurt, poor me, this and that, all that. And if you get that, then you don't practice as well, you don't prepare as well, you don't play as well, and those things start showing up in your performance. And I'm just hoping this team can sustain their way through it and prove that they are where they should be.
- [93:43]
B
I love you. Just looking at a guy saying, oh poor me, I love it. That's where it all came. I call it the poor me's. The amount of time you've seen somebody patent or think in certain way. Oh, poor. It just in your brain coming up with the poor me's. I wish I was there for that moment. Sounds amazing, but the fact that you have motivation for every single situation is why you're the goat of college football. And we're lucky that you chat with us every week. Let's talk about sports as a whole and let's talk about the game that happened last night. The guy who's the odds on favorite to win the Heisman is in his second year. Drake May. Boston Conner has a question for you about him.
- [94:16]
C
Yeah. Coach Greg Olson put out a tweet kind of about basically the importance of recruits playing other sports. He does a foundation Youth Inc. And it's just all about getting kids into all types of sports. And he kind of tagged it with a photo of you and Sark at Drake Mays High School. I believe it's the Mustangs he represented in high school and it's you watching him play basketball. But I just wanted to ask you about the importance and what you would do when recruiting players. You know, was there ever a time where you went to watch Julio Jones or a Derrick Henry and they were maybe hitting a baseball 600ft or dunking a basketball from the free throw line and you honestly had more respect for what they were as an athlete and a football player. Was there ever a time, time too where where you damn near wanted to recruit a kid and get. Get him to commit early. So he didn't, you know, go to the NBA or go to the MLB within a year. And what do you think about that when it comes to, you know, recruits now who typically focus in one sport and then, you know, in their offseason are playing that same sport or preparing for that sports next season? Do you think that recruits all over should be playing at least two sports? And how much does it show you when you get to see a guy outside of football compete in a different field?
- [95:32]
E
Yeah, well, first of all, Drake May was one of those guys that you're talking about in the first part of your question that really impressed me by the way he played basketball. He probably could have played basketball at North Carolina, too, and was going to out of high school. And one of the reasons that, you know, he was committed to us for a long time, his family was all killed. Carolina, which I knew would, you know, eventually be an obstacle, but he wanted to play basketball as well, and so. And he probably could have because I was very impressed watching him play basketball. Man, this guy was a good player, and he obviously is everything that we thought he was going to be coming out of high school as an NFL player now and also had a great college career. So he was one of those guys that impressed. I was never a guy. I liked it when players played multiple sports because to me, that. That says something about them as a competitor, you know, that they love to play, they love to compete. They wanted to play whatever was in season because that's how I grew up. That's how we all did it, you know, back in the day. And I love to see guys do that. And I think other sports tells you a lot about a guy. Like, baseball is basically boring. I.
- [96:41]
B
But to me, no, no, no, no. Baseball good. Baseball's good, but.
- [96:45]
E
But I love guys that played baseball because to me, even though it's a slow game, you have to have more athletic intuition to play the game than other games. I mean, you can run track and one track meet and have no athletic intuition. You're just fast. But in baseball, you got to make lots of choices and decisions about, is it a ball or a strike? Should I hit it? Should I not hit it? What pitch is he throwing from the time it leaves the pitcher's hand and gets a home plate. Nobody can teach you that ball judgment, you know, I mean, how many DBs do you see that have terrible ball judgment? I used to like to recruit track guys to play corner and after they'd give up big plays because they couldn't judge the ball. I started recruiting baseball players. I knew they could judge the ball. So, you know, these are all things that I think you can learn about players when you watch them play other sports. And I loved it when guys played other sports. And I was never opposed to guys playing other sports because I didn't think it ever affected their development in terms of what they would do in the future.
- [97:43]
B
Okay, so let's talk about that, because I think there's a lot of gurus and specialists and experts that are telling a lot of these young guys and young athletes. I have a daughter, she's two and a half. She hasn't been in it yet. I think AJ Would be able to maybe speak to this better than all of us in Ohio. I don't know how it goes and how AJ He's a professional athlete and played every single sport, so I'd assume A.J. agrees with us. But what is the sell, A.J. they're saying that you've got to spend every single minute that you have working on your craft if you want to be able to become a professional. Is that basically the sell for these people to only do one sport year round that you've experienced with your kids, or that they pitch to other kids?
- [98:16]
A
Yeah, I mean, I've kind of experienced it all and talk to all different kinds of coaches. From what I found that bad coaches want their. Want kids to specialize in one sport. Like coaches that aren't great, they want to specialize. They just make it really tough. You have to be an absolute stud to play like three sports in high school now, because basketball is going on all year round, lacrosse is all year round. Football is the one that's like, hey, football is football season. Yeah, you have off season stuff, but I just think they make it tough because there's so many things you have to miss if you do want to play other sports. And. But if you, you just got to be good enough, you got to be too good to where, hey, guess what? I'll be there. Once this basketball season's over, I'll. I'll show up at lacrosse, but I'm that good, you're going to have to play me. That's kind of how it is right now. I feel like.
- [98:56]
B
And on that note, A.J. i think all these experts and gurus that probably never made it, and you know, they probably blame the fact that they didn't make it because they didn't solely focus maybe on one sport. So they're projecting themselves onto Younger athletes. It's like, I think you develop in your main sport by playing other sports. Even though you're missing out on some reps, it's like, what you're gaining, your point about ball judgment, everything like that. These other sports make you better at your sport. So it's like, I don't get it. Now, granted, I had schools looking at me in three different sports coming out of high school. I don't know how many people have that. But on that note, it's like I grew up playing every sport. I didn't play video games as much because I had add. So I was playing sports, sports, sports, sports, and everyone fed into the other, seemingly. And I don't know how that kind of gets missed.
- [99:42]
E
Yeah, but to AJ's point, it's more difficult for guys to play all sports. When I was in school, I played whatever was in season I played. But football ran into basketball, especially if you got in the playoffs. But we might miss a few games, but then we'd come and play well. It's harder to do. But my point is, the best player is the best player. I don't care how much you try to develop him and how much he specializes, growing up and all that. Like Michael Dean Perry, he didn't like to practice. All right. But when I was at the Cleveland Browns and we'd put him on the sled, and it was, how fast can you hits a sled? His hands would be on the sled, and all them other defensive linemen, their hands still be in the ground. So he was just that much quicker than everybody else. So did he have to specialize in his sport from the time he was 8 years old to do that? I don't think so.
- [100:32]
B
He said it feels like people are trying to make decisions that have already been made for most people and how they were created. That's awesome, aj.
- [100:39]
E
And kids get burned out.
- [100:40]
B
Yes, absolutely.
- [100:41]
E
I mean, how many tennis players and people like that did you hear about that? They start specializing when they're 8 years old, and by the time they're 16, they want to quit.
- [100:49]
B
So we have CFO. Phil is a pit grad. He's all excited about this, obviously. Oh, yeah. Super bummed about picking a little bit of love. Little celebration for the University of Pittsburgh. He's got boy. Little Phil. Okay, Little Phil. Really good hockey player. Hockey, you know, is one of those sports where it's a lot of commitment. They move out of their hometowns, you know, and he's very good. But they have made a conscious decision. I Think at this stage of his life where you're still playing baseball, we're still doing other sports because it's going to help hockey. But at some point he's going to have to fully commit to hockey because the amount of time that it kind of takes. It's interesting what sports have become, I think to you and AJ's point, like some of these sports are going to commit. How about those Olympic sports? Like let's just say figure skating, swimming, like those things are like the amount of. It's like 4am you're in the pool and you need to be in the pool for three hours and then you're going to do school and then afterwards you're in the pool, it's like, how do you do anything? I don't know. I guess that's tough to balance.
- [101:46]
E
Aj, so I have a question for you. So from a hockey standpoint, you know, these guys get drafted when they're 17, 18 years old, they can still go to college and play. They can go to some, you know, league somewhere in Canada or wherever they're from and play and then they turn pro when they're 21. You think that's ever happening in football?
- [102:08]
B
It's already happened. They're pro whenever they get recruited and then they transfer and then they transfer and they're already pro. So yeah, I think it's already happening. Yeah. IMG yeah, but the NFL, 19 year.
- [102:18]
E
Old high school, that's different.
- [102:19]
B
Oh, you're saying the having the rights out of high school.
- [102:22]
E
Yes.
- [102:23]
B
Develop somewhere. So like teams draft high schoolers and then send them to Ohio State to develop or something like that?
- [102:29]
G
That would.
- [102:30]
B
Yeah. Oh, wow.
- [102:31]
E
And then the other question I have is now that they let guys come from the G League, back to basketball, college hoops. College hoops. Is the New York Giants going to be able to send their third team quarterback to Penn State to develop at some point? These are my questions.
- [102:49]
C
Definitely not Penn State.
- [102:51]
B
These are my questions.
- [102:52]
E
He says, you guys ask me questions.
- [102:55]
D
I'm asking questions never thought about.
- [102:58]
C
I mean it's happening with hockey right now. To your point, Gavin McKenna, he didn't. I don't think he's been drafted yet, but he's been the number one recruit prospect for the NHL for multiple years now. And kind of out of nowhere he decided to go to Penn State this year instead.
- [103:13]
B
They have money because the amount of money that they're paying their Penguins first instead of going to the.
- [103:17]
F
Sorry, go ahead, go ahead, Tom.
- [103:18]
B
Go ahead and say the Penguins first.
- [103:19]
F
Round draft pick Is at Michigan right now and he's leading the college hockey and scoring right now. So they have his rights and he's playing in Michigan, leading the ncaa.
- [103:27]
A
My brother in law did. My brother in law drafted number in NHL and he went and played in Michigan two years and then went to the NHL.
- [103:33]
B
Okay. Is that just because the team he got drafted to? I guess we should ask Nick. Nikki skates in the back there. Frank Paisano. What is it with hockey? They still keep your rights? They can send you to any school or. How's that kind of work? No, and I mean, it's different.
- [103:46]
A
It's case by case circumstances.
- [103:47]
D
So like in AJ's case there, I.
- [103:50]
A
Believe Jack was, Jack Johnson was drafted to the Columbus Blue Jackets or I'm sorry, Carolina Hurricanes.
- [103:55]
B
He may not have been ready to.
- [103:56]
F
Make the pro team.
- [103:57]
A
He said that? Yeah, he said he was old. He admitted to me I, I was not ready. I needed to go play in college.
- [104:02]
D
So they give him a couple years.
- [104:03]
F
To develop and he gets to, you.
- [104:05]
B
Know, he has free reign of where.
- [104:06]
A
He goes to school or if he.
- [104:07]
B
Goes to play junior or anything like.
- [104:08]
F
That, but then he goes.
- [104:09]
B
Did they do this in baseball? Tie. Is this baseball too or.
- [104:12]
C
No.
- [104:12]
B
Are they designated for the minor? Sorry, go ahead. Is that a hockey? You still have hockey?
- [104:16]
E
Yeah, no, I was going to ask. They still keep the rights for two or three years though, right?
- [104:20]
A
Oh, yeah, yeah.
- [104:21]
E
When they draft a guy out of high school.
- [104:23]
B
So on that note, baseball, Pat White, whenever he was with us, he got drafted like four times because they wanted his rights. I think just in case football didn't work. Ty, is baseball doing this with college too? Because I know, like, don't guys get drafted and then choose to go to college? Do their rights remain with the guys that they got drafted to or.
- [104:39]
D
No. So it changes. So like we talked about this with Kyler Murray, like in that instance, like if he were to go back and play, like the A's still have his rights, but if you get drafted, drafted first round out of high school or first overall pick, a lot of times what will happen is they can't agree on a signing bonus or something, you know, or the team sucks and they don't want to go there and just kind of wither away in the minors. Those guys will go to college and then when they become draft eligible, their, their rights are open again so they can be drafted by anyone.
- [105:09]
E
Three years.
- [105:10]
B
Yep, three years.
- [105:11]
E
Yeah, got it. So you mentioned a guy there, Pat White.
- [105:14]
B
Yeah.
- [105:14]
E
Guess who he was committed to?
- [105:15]
B
Yeah. I heard you don't want to play quarterback.
- [105:18]
E
Yeah. And again, what a dumbass.
- [105:21]
B
I'll tell you what. I watch his ass take the snap and run all over every field. And I wrote his coattails through some big moments. I mean, it was awesome.
- [105:29]
E
It was fantastic.
- [105:30]
B
He was cool, man. He's a great leader, too. Like, incredible leader like that. That's the thing about him. His dad fire chief? I think so. Like his dad, obviously.
- [105:38]
E
Mobile.
- [105:38]
B
Yeah, Mobile, Alabama, the home of Mardi Gras. That's where Mardi Gras actually created. Then it went down in New Orleans. I learned all this at Senior bowl whenever I was very intoxicated. Missed my flight to the ESPN skills kicking contest. Missed it.
- [105:52]
E
Why does none of that surprise me?
- [105:55]
B
I should have been a little bit more locked in, especially with how I understand how it all works now. At this point, could you imagine? I go down to that ESPN kicking contest. I show I missed the first meeting because I missed the flight out of Mobile, Alabama. There's only, like, two flights a day out of that place, so obviously I'm stuck there. I missed the meeting, missed the rehearsal, missed the rules, missed the engagement, miss all the gifts, the swag. Everybody knows that I missed a flight, and I assume they know why I missed a flight. I show down there, win a contest or two, and then I kind of get out of there wearing pink cleats. And I think everybody goes, you either like this guy or you hate this guy. Thank God Bill Polian said, we like this guy, and he got a little boozed up. Bill Polian said, who cares? They want a Senior bowl, let's do that. But, boy, I could have certainly been making sandwiches here in Pittsburgh for the rest of my life, and it would have been at Rudy subs. And you might learn a little bit about Rudy's tomorrow. Tone Diggs, watch your mouth and your tone whenever it comes up tomorrow on the Internet, okay, Tone?
- [106:46]
D
I always.
- [106:46]
F
Rudy's is my favorite, best cheeseburger sub in the country.
- [106:50]
A
Is that basically like a meatball sub?
- [106:52]
F
Nope.
- [106:52]
B
Coach. Coach, I'm sorry. You got to deal with this, okay? I don't.
- [106:56]
E
These guys, though, they're really good. They bring out the best in you, too.
- [107:00]
B
Thanks, Coach.
- [107:01]
C
Coach, you like meatball subs, Coach? Coach, you like meatball subs?
- [107:04]
B
You like meatballs?
- [107:05]
E
Oh, yeah, Absolutely.
- [107:07]
D
Yes.
- [107:07]
B
Meatball subs or just meatballs?
- [107:09]
E
How about pepperoni rolls? You guys know? Yeah, these guys don't even know what pepperoni rolls are. Make the best. She's made them before.
- [107:16]
B
Yeah, she brought Alabama I think we had them in Alabama. Listen, a lot of Italians around, we know what pepperoni rolls.
- [107:22]
C
Oh, yeah, we do understand that.
- [107:23]
B
Meatball subs, though. Can't have it. Mashed potatoes. You like mashed potatoes?
- [107:28]
E
Not my favorite.
- [107:30]
A
50.
- [107:30]
C
50, 50, 50.
- [107:32]
B
We like that. How about pizza? We eat pizza. You look.
- [107:34]
E
Oh, yeah, I like pizza.
- [107:35]
B
You're in very good shape. What is your diet? Do you eat? Do you eat?
- [107:39]
E
I try to work out. I always save up for a good dinner. Spaghetti, whatever.
- [107:47]
B
Oh, so you're. We're fasting almost during a day. And then housing dinner.
- [107:51]
E
Yeah.
- [107:51]
B
Because you look good.
- [107:53]
E
I appreciate it.
- [107:54]
B
I'm gonna try to force.
- [107:55]
E
You know, when you're my age, you gotta get ready for 90 now. So that's my theory.
- [107:59]
C
Smart.
- [107:59]
E
Gotta work out a little bit, Stay in shape.
- [108:01]
B
And that's why you're Nick Saban. And you know what I'm thinking about? I ain't gonna make the 40. Ladies and gentlemen.
- [108:10]
D
Yay, Coach.
- [108:12]
A
Coach does look good, though.
- [108:13]
B
Yeah, he looks really good.
- [108:14]
F
Skin's glowing.
- [108:15]
A
He is glowing. Everything about it.
- [108:17]
I
He's.
- [108:17]
A
Every single week, it feels like the guy gets better. Better looking, gets better in shape, and he's better. More and more comfortable on tv.
- [108:24]
D
Fun up there. You can tell he, like, legitimately enjoys doing it where. Whereas early on, you know, I think it might have been like, man, what am I doing up here? I'm sure that's so jarring when you've coached your entire life to all of a sudden, like, you know, you're talking about some.
- [108:38]
A
The.
- [108:39]
D
The eighth best Big Ten game or something like that, and it's like, what. What the hell am I doing? But you can tell he, like, he genuinely enjoys it and has a lot.
- [108:48]
C
Of fun up there and like, changing his viewpoint to your point, like him having. Having that idea about the media as a coach for your whole life being like, don't listen to them. They're stupid. They don't know what you're talking.
- [108:59]
A
Avoid them at all costs. I don't. I don't want to talk. Oh, hey, Coach, you want to do. No. My first answer is no. Every single.
- [109:05]
D
Feed him and keep them in the dark.
- [109:06]
A
Yeah, now you're. You're part of it. So it's a. It's a whole situation, I guess. I think Pat might have some. I don't know if he has Rudy subs. I don't know what he has going on over there.
- [109:14]
B
You know what I have?
- [109:15]
A
Oh, you got meatball subtitles. What do you got?
- [109:18]
B
No, no way. This Is my sack of subs, baby.
- [109:23]
C
Hell, yeah.
- [109:24]
A
What kind you like?
- [109:26]
B
Whole Italian, hot lettuce, onion, mayo. Thank you so much. Yes, definitely grilled, cooked. And I would like some fries on the side with a little bit of cheese. The issue is, I think this has been here for a while, so it's a little bit chilly. It'll still be. Let's not get it twisted. It's really. See, I need Marcaboli's cargo pocket to maybe do nature's microwave in this entire thing. But, yeah, I mean. Yep. And that. That's cold when we don't want to eat that.
- [109:51]
A
Here we go. Gump, you got a microwave over there.
- [109:53]
D
There's got to be in the sweet, right?
- [109:55]
B
Yeah. So I think the only thing I'm worried this one feels. We'll figure it out. There's a sack of six subs here. Me and Gumpy will be damn fine, but I have not eat. I've not ate. Eaten, eaten, Eaten. Yeah, I've not eaten strictly because the amount of food that I'm about to have to go eat, you know, because there's of lot a lot of this about to go happen. And I owe a lot of people that have a lot of food places around town. And I'm trying to show love and obviously say hello. And also the food here is so good. So it's like I literally have not eaten. Is that what you're upon?
- [110:24]
A
Sure.
- [110:25]
B
I've not eaten in, like, since yesterday before show. Last night I had, like, couple peanut butter balls before bed.
- [110:34]
D
Oh, nice.
- [110:35]
C
Delicious.
- [110:36]
B
Keep me over. And then this morning, I had three cups of coffee. I think this morning a little bit too much. As I was drinking the third one, I'm like, what am I doing? I need to get a water.
- [110:45]
F
I love this for you.
- [110:46]
B
Yeah. I chug another one. So I am very hungry coming out of this show here, and I'm about to go eat, like, 15 different restaurants, I think. So I cannot wait for that. I'm excited for that. And, you know, it's nice to be just. Look at this place, dude. Look at the city of Pittsburgh. Could you ask for a better Pittsburgh day than that? Is it gray out? Yeah. Is it awesome? Of course. Are we preparing for a massive football weekend? Let's have one here in Pittsburgh. Lucky to be here. And I'm going to eat the hell out of all their food. So that's the thing. I talked to Narduzzi about it when he was talking about going up the Lansing. There's just no Italians up there. It Is. It's a culture shock. Aj. There's Italians over there in Ohio, right?
- [111:27]
A
Yeah, there's definitely different pockets where there's. There's more than. Than others. But yeah, there's Italians. Youngstown, Youngstown.
- [111:32]
B
Especially the Irish.
- [111:33]
A
Northeast. Yeah, you get it.
- [111:35]
B
The Irish and the Italian create this city, you know, like, that is kind of. What a plum. Super Italian place. Obviously, there's a lot of times everywhere, but I am excited to see how many Fighting Irish fans there are tomorrow. I think. What is your.
- [111:46]
A
I think a lot.
- [111:47]
B
Yeah, I think so. Yeah. I think it's going to be. I think it's going to be pretty because the Irish are heavy here in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
- [111:53]
C
Tony.
- [111:54]
D
Yeah.
- [111:54]
F
I made a mistake when I was. I was talking about Ohio State, Penn State, West Virginia and Pitt. I should have also included. Included Notre Dame because just growing up, like, there's just. There's so many Notre Dame fans all over the. All over the country. But also when you grow up, Italian, Catholic town, there's also a lot of Notre Dame fans there. I also made a mistake earlier in the show. I misread something on the Internet. A group of monkeys is actually called a troop, not a collective. So I just wanted to get that off my chest as well, because it's been burning a hole inside of me for the last hour.
- [112:22]
D
Yeah. Wow.
- [112:22]
C
Troop of chimpanzees. It also sounds incredible.
- [112:25]
D
Incredible.
- [112:26]
B
Yeah. Collective sounded right, though, because he sings like the gossip.
- [112:30]
A
So.
- [112:31]
D
So I.
- [112:31]
F
When I looked it up, a group of. Like, when you look up, hey, what's this group of animal? Whether it be, you know, a murder for ravens or a troop for monkeys, I believe that is a collective noun. So I read collective and just spit it out of my stupid mouth.
- [112:45]
B
No, don't. It's okay. It's okay. Dude, journalism.
- [112:50]
E
You correct.
- [112:52]
B
Thank you.
- [112:52]
D
Thank you. That's important.
- [112:54]
B
Group of chimpanzees is called a troop or tribe. Tribe would have been better. Tribe would have been cool, too. I think I'm going to. I think I'm Use the word. I think I'm going to use the word tribe tomorrow when describing Yinzer. So just a little inside pick. Yeah.
- [113:08]
A
Okay.
- [113:08]
B
Yeah, we go.
- [113:09]
A
So that's your. That's your ideal right there. Your go to.
- [113:11]
I
Yeah.
- [113:11]
B
Oh, yeah, yeah, look at that.
- [113:12]
A
Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, that looks good.
- [113:15]
C
Yummy.
- [113:17]
E
Look at the bread.
- [113:18]
F
The Mancini's bread.
- [113:19]
C
Yeah, the bread looks fantastic.
- [113:21]
A
Oh, they make their own bread in house.
- [113:23]
F
Well, they get it from man down a strip.
- [113:27]
E
Yeah.
- [113:27]
B
Jesus.
- [113:28]
A
Okay, I thought. I assumed they Shifted in from somewhere somehow out of state.
- [113:31]
F
Sicily. You're kidding me.
- [113:32]
B
Out of state? You think we're getting from out of state for this stuff? What are you. Right here is just fine, buddy. Okay, now I will say this thing's been sitting at the bottom of this bag.
- [113:42]
C
Yeah, that came through a little bit.
- [113:46]
A
Yeah.
- [113:48]
B
In the bite or the look?
- [113:49]
D
In the look. It certainly looked a little saggy.
- [113:54]
A
Commercial.
- [113:55]
B
It's not about how it looks. You need to show some respect, please.
- [113:59]
A
That's part of it. Is that flatbread or you put that under a brick. You drove over it in the bus.
- [114:05]
B
The bottom of a bag. It was at the bottom of a bag.
- [114:09]
A
Could probably sit on that for two days.
- [114:11]
B
He's got a lot of Rick.
- [114:12]
A
Maybe.
- [114:14]
B
Maybe. Oh, my God.
- [114:18]
A
So good still.
- [114:19]
D
You guys.
- [114:19]
A
Still good.
- [114:21]
B
Oh. All right. Have an incredible weekend. Football is going to be amazing. We're very appreciative of it. We'll be back for overreaction Monday, game day. Tomorrow morning, we'll be live on X and on espn. It should be electrifying More morning in Pittsburgh. We'll see you then. Goodbye. Felt like I really nailed it and almost choked on show. Will be live on X, though.
- [114:43]
C
Nice. Love that.
- [114:46]
B
Last week had a little, I don't know, I guess we would call it Internet outage in Indiana right before one live. So we had to battle through that quickly as it got started. And the boys did a great job back at the Thunderdome. Tomorrow we'll be once again live on X from the city of Pittsburgh. Going to have a great backdrop. I mean, we're right alongside the river. The stadium's going to be right around the corner. The city of Pittsburgh is going to show up in a big way to celebrate football. And there's a massive Notre Dame pit game that's going to be kicking off immediately afterwards. The stars are going to be in abundance. Pittsburgh royalty is going to be everywhere, and we can't wait for the morning. And, you know, there is a dispute going on between, you know, two parties, and there's a lot of people missing ball and missing the three things that they love. Just know that on X tomorrow, game day will be live. And for free, shout out to espn. Jimmy Pitaro, Burke Magnus, Old Fosso and everybody that says, yeah, let's continue to do that. That's good for our fans, that's good for football, and that's good for unifying ball fans, which is certainly something that we need at this point. So we'll be live on X tomorrow and it should be a scene tomorrow, I believe is how they describe these types of things.
- [115:51]
A
AJ Yeah, I think it's going to be an interesting, like, collection. I know we're talked about, what, 50, 50. You think fans pit to Notre Dame, like, what's in. I want to know in the stadium, when's it going to be loudest? When who's on. You know who say Notre Dame's on. Offense are the pits. Fan. Pit fan's going to be louder than when Notre Dame.
- [116:10]
F
Constant noise the whole time.
- [116:11]
E
Yeah.
- [116:11]
F
Incredible atmosphere.
- [116:12]
C
Like the World Cup.
- [116:13]
A
I think it will be incredible atmosphere. For real.
- [116:15]
B
I do wonder what the percentage would be. Who would know that. Seatgeek would know that. And right now you can get $30 off tickets if you use the code Pat McAfee. P A T, M, C A, F, E, E. That works for all event types. Football, MLB, concert, Broadway, you name it. If it has tickets, SeatGeek has your tickets. And you can get $30 off with the code Pat McAfee. It doesn't matter if you're a new or repeat purchaser. $30 off with P A T McAfee restrictions apply. Obviously you're gonna pay attention to those. And we appreciate the hell out of SeatGeek. The greatest ticket buying platform on planet Earth and. And the moon. That's right. A.J.
- [116:56]
A
Are we going back?
- [116:57]
B
There was an event that was going to be had. Well, I've heard. We've been there six times. Somebody said that. Kim Kardashian.
- [117:01]
A
I heard. We are going back.
- [117:02]
D
We are going back.
- [117:03]
A
Who. Who's doing it? Do we know the guy?
- [117:05]
F
United States of America.
- [117:07]
C
A chimpanzee that escaped the Indianapolis Zoo.
- [117:10]
E
Yeah.
- [117:10]
A
They used to take chimps into space right before they took humans just to test, see if it works.
- [117:15]
C
Just make sure they export.
- [117:16]
A
They. Were they good with joystick? Are they good pilots?
- [117:18]
D
Great pilots.
- [117:18]
A
That's what I heard.
- [117:19]
B
Yeah.
- [117:20]
D
Really?
- [117:20]
B
Well, they don't get. They don't get distracted, I guess. No chimpanzees have add, so that's a big part of. For whatever.
- [117:29]
D
For whatever reason, too. They were just excellent at being able to land the lunar module, you know, and actually lock it into the dock. It took a while for our. Our, you know, actual, you know, male and female.
- [117:41]
A
They trained our astronauts. Correct.
- [117:43]
D
Exactly.
- [117:43]
B
Yeah, dude.
- [117:44]
C
Cool.
- [117:45]
B
Yep. They did this. The more you learn this.
- [117:47]
D
Exactly.
- [117:47]
B
Sign language. Everyone was like, holy.
- [117:50]
D
Yep.
- [117:50]
B
Yeah.
- [117:51]
E
Whoa.
- [117:51]
B
We need to do that when we go to space.
- [117:52]
A
But why is he still. Why don't you put a diaper on his poop? All over still.
- [117:57]
B
Well, the pooping thing's quite an issue for a lot of animals like fat corgis and also chimpanzees I think. But didn't we just caught. We just caught something. I just saw something.
- [118:09]
H
Bezos.
- [118:10]
C
Yeah, Bezos. Bezos Blue Origin became the second company to be able to successfully land the rocket it. After it took off.
- [118:16]
A
Yes.
- [118:17]
B
But didn't that catch something from the moon or Mars or something? I think there was something alongside of that with another place that whether it could catch something that comes back or it did catch something that's coming back, I'm not sure.
- [118:29]
D
Yeah, the thing I read was that it's like testing to see the, I guess like the something about the sun basically changing like the atmosphere around Mars. And like why that is like I think that's what the ultimate goal is. I don't know if that's actually happened yet, but apparently scientists have noticed like hey, something's going on with the suns and it's, it's changing what's going on with Mars right now.
- [118:51]
B
That was an interesting theory that I, I didn't really think of is like the sun basically took Mars atmosphere.
- [118:58]
D
Yeah.
- [118:59]
B
I think is basically what this talked about.
- [119:00]
D
Correct.
- [119:01]
B
So see it as the red. We see it as a red planet. What this particular tweet that I read and who knows if it's real, basically said it's red because it was fried to a crisp basically by the sun. The sun basically just took its entire atmosphere. Which makes you wonder did they, you know, did they potentially go in? You know, because they're not in there and did they do their entire thing? Hopefully we learn that. You think it's in our lifetime. We learn about any of the other shit.
- [119:25]
F
Yeah.
- [119:25]
A
I mean they'll be going to Mars in our life. They'll be going to Mars within the next five, ten years. Right. Sending humans.
- [119:30]
B
How long does it take to get there? Like nine months?
- [119:32]
A
No, it's not like a nine month one way or a year one.
- [119:36]
B
That's Avatar you're talking about.
- [119:37]
F
They're trying to train, training to do it. She's, she knows she's not coming back.
- [119:41]
C
Yeah.
- [119:41]
A
They don't. We don't have one way missions. We know that.
- [119:43]
C
They say that I think in the next gen like in your guys's kids generation is when it'll happen. Lifetime. I don't know if like we might be on the like the very end of when it's happened when we go.
- [119:54]
A
There when we have a T and we build things and we Live there. You're saying A.J.
- [119:59]
B
Hawks to A.J. hawks Point. Internet tells us it takes seven to ten months to get to Mars, A.J. i like that.
- [120:05]
A
I like that because I started, I got overwhelmed when I heard, like people were going to be in a spaceship for nine months traveling one way, and then you get there knowing you have nine or 10, 11 months back. Like that's. That's a mental test. That's more like. That right there freaks me out.
- [120:18]
B
Well, maybe they put them like Jacob Sully in one of those tubes and he's gonna put you to sleep for six, seven months.
- [120:22]
C
Yeah, I've been cryop.
- [120:24]
A
Nice.
- [120:25]
B
Yeah, you don't even know. It's just like kind of a sleepy six months. Take a nap, wake up or two months out from Mars. Okay, well, I need to learn a lot. What are we doing up there? And then on the way back. Yep. You know the deal. Putting your ass to sleep until we get to around the moon and we'll wake you up, send you back into America. Now the thought on that just becoming reality is kind of what Elon has talked about, right? He talked about just being able to pick up and just.
- [120:47]
A
We're going to have to. Right. He's saying, okay, there's going to be a time we have to go live on another planet.
- [120:52]
B
So he's an alien, right? We.
- [120:54]
A
I mean, sure. Precisely. Hybrid.
- [120:57]
B
All right, let's take a break and then on the other side, let's make our picks and then let's have it. Hell of a Friday, shall we, AJ and by the way. By the way. Yeah? Rest in peace.
- [121:07]
A
Oh, you already finished?
- [121:08]
B
Housed already. Yeah. It doesn't matter if it's sitting at the bottom of a bag and it's crushed and it's a little bit chilly and it's supposed to be hot. Still delightful around here. Still number one out here. All right, let's get to a break. On the other side, we'll make our picks, and then we'll get the hell out of here for the grand greatest weekend in the history of weekends. Because it's the next weekend. Be a friend. Tell a friend something nice. It might change their life. Take five.
- [121:41]
D
This is Kevin Clark for manscaped. Look, being a man doesn't mean skipping self care. I do this show three times a week, and every single time, I do a little self care beforehand, okay? Grooming the hair, everything. You guys see it?
- [121:57]
B
You don't wake up like this. You don't wake up like that. You got to do. You got to get the stubble going. You got to get rid of that.
- [122:03]
D
Awful mustache I had last spring. Listen, I tried. I thought the mustache over the.
- [122:08]
B
Over the stubble was a good look. Not a good look.
- [122:11]
D
It wasn't a good look.
- [122:12]
B
You have to learn that the hard way. Manscaped makes it easy to feel confident.
- [122:17]
D
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- [122:36]
B
Because real confidence starts with a clean.
- [122:39]
D
Cut and the right gear. Get all the manscaped products you need right now at your local target.
- [122:46]
B
Introducing Oakley Meta Vanguard, the new performance AI glasses designed for for athletes with hands free capture on an action ready ultra wide camera. Powerful open ear speakers and built in Meta AI that syncs with your Garmin devices for real time insights while you train. Take your performance to the next level with Oakley Meta. Vanguard Athletic intelligence is here. Learn more on Meta.com.
- [123:18]
C
Feel good.
- [123:19]
A
Friday, November 14th this is the Pat McAfee Show. I'm AJ Jayhawks sitting in for Pat here in Indy. There's a big one this weekend. Boys.
- [123:30]
B
Football.
- [123:32]
A
Oh, we got Goop. What's up goompy? I see you. Your Dolphins actually looking pretty good. We'll see what happens in the pick the picks these days. I might, might actually jump over and pick the Dolphins here, I think.
- [123:42]
B
Okay. Great work, aj. Yeah, this is Gumpy. Okay. Gumpy is the greatest Internet splunker on on earth from Canada. He is a Miami Dolphins fan. My name is Pat McAfee. Thank you so much. I am from this city in which I am currently live from for game day here for pit Notre Dame tomorrow. We love the way AJ kind of handles his business, doesn't he?
- [124:02]
E
Hi, baby.
- [124:02]
B
Hogger.
- [124:03]
A
It's hard. Gump is such a presence, you know. Sorry about that. He's such a pres. I lift my head up and I see Gump right here.
- [124:09]
B
Yeah, I understand. And we get excited when we see Gump. But maybe not everybody knows who the hell Gump is. Well, well, Gump is here to help us navigate this NFL Sunday slate and make sure we're getting all the right picks. It's not just us here. You see on screen there's the toxic table as well at Boston Conner and at Ty Schmidt. Boys, we need all the info we can get whenever we're making these picks because we're trying to have a perfect slate today.
- [124:29]
C
Con man oh, hell yeah. We got it all locked in. A lot of trade, a lot of stuff moving. Actually not trades at all. It's way past the deadline, but injuries, things of that nature. We got it.
- [124:40]
B
Ty Schmidt, I hope you and the packers faithful didn't hear what a radio guy down here in Atlanta said. I don't know if you heard what he said. He basically said, source says that he trusts and he respects or saying maybe, maybe the floor. Not that sweet up there in Green Bay. Listen to this. Ty.
- [125:05]
I
I got an interesting phone call earlier in the week from somebody I trust in the media.
- [125:10]
B
Okay.
- [125:11]
I
Who told me to put something, something on my radar, said, okay, all right.
- [125:14]
G
Who put it in the back of my mind?
- [125:15]
I
Now the problem is I'll forget. So I had to bring it up here or else it would just, it would escape. I was told by somebody to keep an eye on Matt LaFleur. And I said, tell me more because we're here in the midst of the Raheem Morris discussion about short term, long term. We know the Raheem Morris era will end at some point with him being fired. Whether it's at the end of this year, I don't know. Monday, next year, five games into 2020, I don't know.
- [125:39]
B
Holy.
- [125:40]
I
But I was told that the packers, who are one of the more stable franchises in all of the NFL, might make a switch at quarterback or at head coach, excuse me, if they don't make the playoffs, which I was shocked to hear. Matt LaFlor's record with the Green Bay packers is 72, 36 and 1 in seven seasons. That's one of the great starts to a career anybody's ever had.
- [126:01]
B
And he's handled the whole transition to.
- [126:02]
E
Jordan Love thing beautifully.
- [126:03]
D
He's.
- [126:05]
B
There's never drama.
- [126:06]
I
They don't attract free agents. That's why the Micah thing was so big for them because they just don't do stuff like that. But I was told that he still has a connection with the Falcons, a good relationship and would be interested in coming back here. And I will tell you 100% that is the perfect choice for this franchise that could save them. Like I'm talking about if Green Bay was ever. And this to me, would be short sighted if they're ever in the position where, like, we just can't move forward with Matt Laflor. If Raheem's employed and Matt LaFleur is not, Raheem's unemployed the next day. You go get Matt LaFleur as your head coach. Play sheet in his hand. Bring stability in a way. You ready for this? That Dan Reeves brought it in the 90s when the break when the Falcons were following Jerry Glanville and June Jones and they needed stability, Dan was further along in his career. But remember what Dan brought experience winning. He could work with young quarterbacks. Matt La Flor can bring all that stuff because you and I both know this. Charles, after you go back to back first time head coaches, what do you have to do?
- [127:03]
B
Oh yeah, you got to go experience guy.
- [127:05]
I
I think Arthur's going to say we need a commodity now. My fear is that would be Mike McCarthy and that would scare the hell out of me because Mike McCarthy doesn't do much for me. But if Matt LaFleur, if what I was told is true, that the packers would even consider moving on from the floor if they missed the playoffs. If I'm the Falcons. Snap him up. No brainer.
- [127:22]
B
Hey, turnip nose to turn off nose down there.
- [127:25]
C
680.
- [127:26]
B
The fan in Atlanta. And Ty, do you hear the way other teams are speaking about your coach and does that make you change your tune a little bit? I heard a good record there. Gump did. Our years were the only ones that heard that record.
- [127:37]
H
That is a good record.
- [127:38]
B
70, 20 and 1 or something like that, I believe is what he said. And then I heard somebody fart into a microphone. I don't know if that was in Atlanta or back there at the Thunderdome. But Ty, that's who your head coach is. Let's remember that. You know, one team's potential perspective track is another's. What, what do they say? One trash, one treasure.
- [127:55]
C
Yeah.
- [127:55]
B
The other way. Does that change the way you think about this season, Ty, knowing now how Atlanta's turn off potentially feels about the.
- [128:02]
D
Floor, I mean, it certainly is a bit startling and that makes sense. You know, I. I could see Matt LaFleur, while his team is five three in one and in the middle of a division race and trying to get into the playoffs, I could see him being like, you know what? I wouldn't mind going back and coaching in Atlanta. I could see that happening. So that certain certainly makes sense. No, you know, hey, listen, this would be a home run for Atlanta if. If this were to Happen and Matt LaFleur were to be let go and Atlanta hires him. I mean, you want to talk about winning the off season, winning the coaching cycle, certainly. But what I'm more concerned with is every opportunity Peter Schrager gets, he's opening up his goddamn mouth and saying, hey, Jeff Halfley to the Giants. You know, just last year the Ben Johnson had the opportunity, opportunity to, to go into Chicago with the Lions and remember, they beat them like a drum. He, he did everything in his playbook and that really wowed Bears ownership and, and you know, everyone in that organization. That's why they went to hire him. And Jeff Halfley has that opportunity to do that this Sunday. So the floor things one thing, listen, if they don't get the def. The offense fixed, his ass probably is going to get fired. And if they don't make the playoffs, I think it's very fair to say that Carmen Policy is going to say, all right, pal, there's a reason I didn't give you an extension before the season. Hit the bricks. But I need Schrager to stop trying to get Jeff Halfley out of town as the defensive coordinator on every single one of these fucking shows. He's been doing it for several days now, and I'm sick and tired of it.
- [129:32]
B
Yeah, I think the conversation around policy making moves is certainly a policy that we like. Him not giving the extension to guten Cooper and LaFleur was almost a message, don't you think, A.J.
- [129:43]
A
Yeah, of course. I mean, when you go in there, it's like a prove it year, I feel like, isn't it? Hey, you go out there and you. I don't know exactly how far he has to go to make Guten Coots and the rest of the. The organization happy. I mean, how, what does that, what does it look like? How many you got to get to the Super Bowl?
- [129:57]
C
Well, I mean, I don't know about super bowl, but like, there has to be some sort of growth. Like they've done the whole, hey, we're going to make the playoffs, win a game, and then that's it.
- [130:05]
A
You definitely need to start scoring more points, obviously.
- [130:07]
C
Yeah, that. Of that, of course. But also like, Policy is a dog from day one. Didn't he come in and say, like, yeah, we're not just going to extend these guys for no reason. Like, they got to prove it.
- [130:17]
D
They. They already had that. Oh, sorry. Go ahead, Pat.
- [130:20]
B
No, I was going to say, and then he makes that huge mica play. It's like, hey, we are different than what we used to be, is what he's saying. Ty to kind of echo what Connor just said.
- [130:28]
D
Yeah, without a doubt. And this has not been the way the packers have operated, obviously, for quite some time. But when they made the playoffs a couple years Ago know in Love's first year, like that was like the big surprise. Like, wow, this team, this super young team, they won a playoff game. But you know, it. It's the same deal with the Steelers like and the packers like you pe after a while, getting to the playoffs and then getting beat like a drum in the first round. Like that doesn't mean this team has is, you know, one of the most storied franchises in the NFL. Like you need to at least make a deep run into the playoffs because again, Jordan Love isn't on a rookie contract. He's making $55 million dollars a year. You traded for Micah Parson. Like you have two of the highest paid guys in the NFL on both sides. So like you got to go do something with that. And I don't think getting into the first round of the playoffs and getting beat is like people want to see a Super Bowl.
- [131:18]
B
Yeah, let's talk about super bowl teams. Let's talk about the Sunday slate. Last night we both picked the New England Patriots to cover by 12 and a half. They did. The Hammer boys told us the under was the right bet. That hit as well. Are we seeing the board better than ever? We shall see. Look at doordash delivering for everybody on their game days. We appreciate that. We're one and oh heading into the weekend. Washington Commanders taking on the Dolphins. Dolphins favored by 2 1/2 in Madrid, Spain 9:30am kickoff, which is obviously spectacular for ball fans. Gumpy, let's hear what are your thoughts? Your favorite in a game. Way to go, dude.
- [131:58]
E
Way to go.
- [131:59]
B
Dumb.
- [132:01]
H
I don't know if everybody knows this, but Miami actually been adopted as Spain's team. They're going to continue to.
- [132:07]
B
Why would you do that to a new country?
- [132:09]
H
Well, they're just where you hear that go.
- [132:12]
B
That's how it is.
- [132:13]
H
We're going to be go. We're going to be going there every year. We gave up home game to go there. This year this is what's going to happen.
- [132:18]
B
No, but Spain is like a great place. Remember we've been seeing out of the espanol following with J.J. watt. In the morning we drink coffee and then we play. It's another goal. Yeah, like we like these people, don't we? We like Spain. Why would we place the Dolphins upon them? That's like the kids that are born jets fans. We watched them last week with Sauce Gardner when he got traded and they're running around crying and everybody's like, yo, that's first amendment kid. Just get used to it. That's kind of what it is. Why are we doing that to Spain? You wouldn't wish this life upon an entire country, would you?
- [133:05]
C
Why?
- [133:05]
B
Why would you? Why would you say that?
- [133:07]
H
I mean, if I was a fan in Spain and I just saw what the Dolphins did to the Bills and they're marching into Spain, I'd be happy to then be my squad, you know.
- [133:14]
B
Two and a half, half point favorites. You like that or.
- [133:16]
H
Yeah, I mean, they love us there. Malik Washington, he's going to score a touchdown. He got a jersey from Fernando Torres. Liverpool Atletico Madrid legend.
- [133:24]
B
Okay, AJ who do you like? How do you like it?
- [133:27]
A
I'm not gonna lie. I've been leaning Dolphins for a while. But you know what? I trust my instincts. I'm taking the Commanders on this one.
- [133:32]
B
Wow.
- [133:34]
D
Okay.
- [133:34]
F
You can get three if you want.
- [133:35]
E
The commanders.
- [133:36]
A
I'll take Commanders at plus three then. Yeah.
- [133:38]
B
All right. I'll take Commanders plus three as well. Okay, let's go to the next game. Chargers versus the Jaguars. Chargers favored by two and a half going in the Duvall. Obviously heartbreak last week for Jacksonville. In the end, Chargers starting to find themselves. Anything we need to know about this line, tone? Dig. 69% on the Chargers.
- [134:01]
F
We see there 69% on the Chargers. It is two and a half or three. So you get Chargers minus two and a half or the Jaguars plus the three, obviously. We know with the Chargers, they had their offensive line issues as far as injuries are concerned and how PFF feels about them, but other than that, everything is pretty up and up as far as the starters and things like that.
- [134:23]
B
As you know, Travis Hunter, obviously out. Trevor Lawrence. What's the question for him? Is he a guy? Is he not a guy? Well, the Chargers defense is certainly problematic. AJ who do you like? How do you like it?
- [134:34]
A
I have a hard time picking against. I really like this Chargers team, but for whatever reason, I like the Jags here at plus three at home.
- [134:42]
B
Okay, you got the Jags plus three. I'll take the Chargers minus two and a half. Carolina Panthers taking on the Atlanta Falcons. Both these teams, I guess, who knows more? So Carolina Panthers feel like they could be good. Atlanta Falcons. Down, up, down, up. They're like a Catholic church session with the way they kind of go about playing this season. Ty Schmidt, Carolina Panthers, Atlanta Falcons. Your immediate lean is what I'm going to say.
- [135:07]
D
Panthers, you know, I know Rico Dowdell is once again a bit banged up, but I think last week was a little bit of an aberration, you know, like the Panthers have been kind of up and down, but the Falcons are just like one week and it really hasn't been like this for a while early on in the season. One week they look like world beaters and then they looked like. And then I feel like they've kind of bottomed out in the last few weeks. So I like the Panthers.
- [135:31]
C
Something we need to think about too as the Falcons continue continue to play against the Panthers is the Rams have the Falcons first round pick. So right now the Rams have a top 10 pick in the NFL draft and they're also super bowl favorites. So the Falcons are either going to really screw the entire NFC by sucking and then giving the the rams a top 10 pick, getting, letting them get a great player and or their future at quarterback. So you know, Atlanta might need to pick it up a little bit here. We're going to, we're going to need you here.
- [136:01]
B
You.
- [136:01]
C
Yeah, they're 10th right now. A loss to the Panthers would not be good because I don't think their schedules is too favorable certainly in play.
- [136:11]
B
To potentially get a top five pick. I mean, depending upon what the rest of the year looks like. I think there's going to be some draft conversation on the show tomorrow. I'm happy that we got that list in there. Who do you like? How do you like it?
- [136:20]
E
Gump?
- [136:21]
H
I like the Falcons just because they're at home. They seem to show up at home and they lost 30 to nothing away to the Panthers. Maybe a little bit revenge here.
- [136:28]
B
AJ who do you like?
- [136:30]
A
I like the Falcons here as well. I mean three and a half feels like a lot, but I will take the Falcons at home. I think Raheem Morris, he sees those comments being made about his job and his job security. He wants to make sure he gets a win and shuts that up.
- [136:40]
B
Okay, can I get four or four and a half on this or is.
- [136:43]
F
It just three and a half across the board?
- [136:45]
B
Is do not playing? Is that what you said?
- [136:48]
D
He's banged up, but I think all indications are that he he should be able to go, but it hasn't been confirmed yet.
- [136:55]
B
I'll take the Carolina Panthers plus plus.
- [136:57]
C
Three and a half post Germany one o' clock game.
- [137:00]
B
True.
- [137:01]
A
Yeah.
- [137:01]
B
Hey, that's tough for Atlanta.
- [137:04]
H
Time game. Yeah, good point.
- [137:06]
C
Overtime Germany game.
- [137:08]
F
Second flight out. We've learned.
- [137:09]
E
Yep.
- [137:10]
B
Yeah, I just saw them play good against the Colts.
- [137:15]
C
How much do they have left in that tank?
- [137:17]
D
Colts kind of bottled up.
- [137:19]
C
Bijan though Raheem Morris knows too now. Like dude, if I don't win Frickin mountain floors. Coach.
- [137:26]
B
Turnoff says it gotta happen. All right, give me the. I'll take the Panthers. I think the Panthers plus three and a half. And on this field right behind us, the Cincinnati Bengals will be traveling to take on the Pittsburgh Steelers. Now, it'll come one day after Notre Dame pit on this exact same field. That has certainly been questioned before, so look for it to be a little bit of a mutter on, son. Who does that help? Who does that hurt? Four and a half is the current spread with the Steelers being the favorite. Tone Diggs, what should we be thinking in this as 66% of the bets are on the Cincinnati Bengals plus four and a half.
- [137:59]
D
Yes.
- [138:00]
F
Everybody loves the Bengals. I saw for the Bengals. Shemar Stewart is out as well as Trey Hendrickson. So neither of those guys will be back for the defense. That has not been great so far. Steelers in one o' clock window right where we want them. And we already blew a primetime game against the Bengals this year, so we already got that out of the way. So I'm actually feeling pretty good about this one.
- [138:19]
B
Conor, man, I'm sorry. Connor, what is the story? Joe Burrow has been practicing the last few days. Doesn't mean he's playing, but just means he's back to potentially playing. Is that the story we're getting?
- [138:27]
C
Yeah. Bingo. Three straight days of practice for Joe Burrow. He's already been designated to return off the ir so his windows open. It's looking like it's not going to be this week, but it seems as though next week that he might practice. I mean, I mean play rather if you do three straight. If he's doing stuff like this on a turf toe, he must be pretty healthy. Everything we heard from Jason Glazer kind of indicates that he is feeling good. And he attacked his rehab. Kind of butchered that, but whatever. But. So I would assume that the vibes at least in the Bengals are pretty good. And they know, hey, if we win one of these next three, at least and then Burrow comes back, then they got a shot.
- [139:08]
B
Green sweats. Why is he wearing green sweats?
- [139:10]
E
What?
- [139:10]
B
What's going on out there?
- [139:11]
A
What? Yeah. What kind of sweats are the other guys wearing? There's team issues.
- [139:16]
B
Black, black, black, black, black.
- [139:20]
H
Look at Joey Flack moving.
- [139:21]
A
Yeah. Why is he wearing green?
- [139:24]
B
I don't know. I don't like that at all.
- [139:25]
D
He's a fashion guy.
- [139:26]
C
Yeah, exactly.
- [139:27]
D
He's.
- [139:27]
C
He's got that pizzazz.
- [139:28]
A
At least they're not super baggy though.
- [139:30]
B
Yeah, I Don't care. This is. What do we.
- [139:33]
A
It is kind of weird.
- [139:34]
B
Gave me the Pittsburgh Steelers. Whatever. I don't. I don't like that that's happening. I don't like. I don't know. That's not how I. Man, I just feel a lot of.
- [139:44]
A
Coaches would send you back in. A lot of coaches send you back in and get your team issue on.
- [139:48]
B
It seems like such a small detail, but I feel like I just learned a lot about Joey Burrow and the Bengals right there. AJ like, legitimately, I feel like I just learned a lot about it over there. Yeah. Just by the color of the sweatpants. And people are going to say that's ridiculous and absurd for me to say. I get it. You've never been a part of an NFL team either. But, like, that's a decision and a choice. And then everybody else sees it as well. I don't know if I like that at all. And I love Joey Burrow. I feel like I'm one of his biggest fans, actually, given the Steelers, if that's allowed to be happening over there. They obviously got everything out of control.
- [140:17]
H
I'm sure Zach Tal. Zach Taylor put the hammer down, though, after he saw that.
- [140:21]
B
Yeah, he might have actually put the pants in his locker for him to.
- [140:24]
A
Wear.
- [140:27]
B
And different to everybody else because he is, by the way, Joey Burrow is different everybody else. Flacco certainly been great. This Pittsburgh Steelers defense, you know, throughout the entirety of the season hasn't been fantastic, but as of the last couple weeks, they've been much better. Will Joey Flack at the Pittsburgh Steelers back to back as a Cincinnati Bengals quarterback? I don't think so. I like the Pittsburgh Steelers -4 1/2 here at Ackershire Stadium. What are your thoughts, A.J.
- [140:48]
A
Yeah, I'm going to go Steelers minus four and a half at home. I feel like Steelers the have to find a way to double Jamar this game or whatever we saw. Remember last time they same game. It was a Jamar show for no doubt he's going to get his. But maybe they won't give him 12 or 14 catches.
- [141:03]
B
Why he wear.
- [141:04]
A
Someone might have poured hot coffee or something on his original pants. His black one.
- [141:08]
B
Right.
- [141:08]
A
As you were going out to practice.
- [141:10]
B
Yeah, but it's. They're black sweats, so you can have coffee, but it's probably hot.
- [141:13]
A
It's hot all over my dong area.
- [141:15]
B
Like I got to change. Okay.
- [141:17]
H
200 Eagles logo.
- [141:19]
B
Then it'll be too cold. Maybe it'll be too cold because once you get hot coffee on your dome area. It's hot. Yeah. But maybe it was mayonnaise, too. Dropping out of one of these Rudy Sub sandwiches he was eating. And anytime you get mayonnaise on the. The groin area, especially with black sweats, everybody automatically assumes this guy's got come on his face.
- [141:41]
D
Yep.
- [141:41]
B
So maybe. Maybe that's what happens.
- [141:44]
C
That's a good point.
- [141:45]
B
That's true.
- [141:46]
A
Imagine this conversation if he was running with white mayonnaise all over his dong area.
- [141:50]
D
Pat, you would get so I was.
- [141:52]
F
Excited to be back playing ball.
- [141:54]
A
Yeah.
- [141:54]
B
And the Bengals don't want that to be the narrative about the entire thing, and neither is Joe. Okay. So I get it now. All right. I didn't even think about that being an outcome. I'm happy we kind of worked it through. He dropped mayonnaise on his pants. We've all been there. People judge you. He said, give me the green sweats, even though everybody else is wearing black sweats. That's Joey B. Football. Okay. We appreciate him doing that, Justin. Seems like we all like the Steelers. Let's go. Houston Texans, favored by five and a half headed into the team that has the projected number one overall pick again, the Tennessee Titans. Anything we need to know about this one, Tone?
- [142:26]
F
Titans coming off of a buy. We all know how good coach McCoy is off of the buy. And then C.J. stroud is still out with a concussion. So we will have Davis Dougie Mills starting again on the road for the Texans.
- [142:42]
B
26 zip in the fourth. Right. For the Texans. That's what they're coming off. So what that sounds like to me is Dougie Mills figured it out in Dougie Mills going to Music City. I think he's about to sing quite a tune. I like the Houston Texans minus five if I can get it.
- [142:56]
E
Yes.
- [142:57]
F
Yes, you can.
- [142:58]
B
A minus five. Houston Texans in Nashville. Even though I love the. That city. Go ahead, A.J.
- [143:03]
A
I'M going to take the Houston Texans minus five. I think. I think old Davis. Dougie Mills showed us some stuff last week. I think he's. He's going to continue to ride that heater.
- [143:12]
B
Yeah. I was about to say not just last week. Doug's been putting tape. We like him.
- [143:17]
H
I love Dougie Bills. He should be starting for an NFL team.
- [143:20]
B
Well, he is. He's got full time.
- [143:22]
H
Maybe not my team, but, you know, somebody's.
- [143:25]
A
How many. How many teams you got?
- [143:26]
B
You guys would love to have.
- [143:28]
D
Oh, my God, two.
- [143:29]
H
Spinning it right now.
- [143:30]
B
I understand he's spinning it, but for the good of Spain in their football.
- [143:34]
H
Fanhoods Spain would love Dougie Mills.
- [143:36]
C
Yeah, Dougie Mills's neck in Spain. They might try and keep him there.
- [143:41]
B
Ooh. All right, let's go to the next game. Tampa Bay buccaneers, Buffalo Bills. J.J. watt is on the call. Both these teams coming off a loss. 63% of the bets are in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers getting six and a half. Or can they get even more?
- [143:55]
F
No, it's actually. I'm seeing five and a halfs across the board and there's one six out there now.
- [144:00]
B
Okay, so now it's down to six, I guess is what you get if you like the Buffalo Bills. AJ Your thoughts on how the game's going to go?
- [144:07]
A
Man, the Buffalo Bills are.
- [144:09]
B
They're.
- [144:09]
A
I. I mean, I was picking them to win a Super bowl before the season. I still don't count that out, but I like the. The Tampa Bay Bucks here coming off a loss, getting what?
- [144:16]
C
Six?
- [144:17]
A
Six and a half.
- [144:18]
F
You get six?
- [144:19]
C
Yeah. Bucky Irving is out. Chris Godwin is out. I believe Hassan Reddick is also out. I'm not sure about Anthony Nelson, the player who got one of BA's balls a few weeks back for his performance against the Saints. And then Dalton Kincaid also did not practice yesterday. Yeah, there it is. He is out. Another D lineman for them. Federian Mathis. Unbelievable. Spelling he not playing is actually huge because they are so banged up on the D line for Buffalo.
- [144:50]
B
Okay, so I like the Buffalo Beatles. Minus five is what I heard. I can get. AJ who are you on?
- [144:58]
A
I'm on the Tampa Bay Bucks here at what?
- [145:00]
F
Plus six.
- [145:01]
A
Plus six. Okay.
- [145:03]
B
Okay. Green Bay packers, fresh off a great performance taking on the New York giants, favored by seven and a half at MetLife. 63% of the bets are on the Green Bay Packers. Ty Schmidt, doesn't sound like you've been as optimistic about the Green Bay Packers. Packers long term, but seven and a half point favorites on the road with 63% of the people betting on him. Feels like the rest of the world likes Green Bay this weekend. How do you feel about it?
- [145:26]
D
Yeah, I mean, I guess there is a part of me that thinks this could be like the Jameis coming out party where he throws for a bunch of touchdowns and a bunch of yards. But we were talking before the show and. And Connor mentioned, you know, in the wake of Travion HENDERSON Having that three touchdown game last night, B.A. saying how rookies basically just need to be ready to go. Like right now. The Packers, I think expected a lot of Matthew Golden. He didn't play last Week, but he's a guy they need to get going this week big time. Ever since Tucker Kraft got hurt, they haven't really been able to run the ball like they need. Matthew Golden. I kind of expect him to have a big game. And yeah, I think this is a good bounce back spot for the packers because everyone is kind of, you know, potentially exaggerating their demise pretty early here.
- [146:10]
B
Aj, who do you like?
- [146:12]
A
I like the packers here. I think, you know, James might, he might have a little bit of magic in him, but I like what this packers defense is able to do and hopefully the offense finds a way to get going.
- [146:20]
E
Six and a half.
- [146:21]
A
Okay.
- [146:22]
B
Packers at minus six and a half alongside A.J. hawk. Chicago Bears, Minnesota Vikings, NFC north battle. 61% of the money is on the Chicago bears heading into J.J. mcCarthy's world. I'm sorry, Nine's world. There Nine is favored by two and a half. What am I not seeing here?
- [146:38]
D
Ty Schmidt, Bears defense is very, very, very banged up.
- [146:43]
E
Yeah.
- [146:43]
C
They just announced TJ Edwards in the middle. He. He's their leader on defense. He's their middle linebacker. He is out on Sunday.
- [146:51]
B
JJ's going to get a win and he just feels like that's who JJ McCarthy is.
- [146:55]
H
I already beat the Bears once in Chicago.
- [146:56]
D
That was his coming out party. That's, that's why, that's when nine was born, if you will.
- [147:02]
B
Yeah, no, nine's been there, brother. Nine's won a national championship. Nine was on the, on the bench last, last year getting reopened, rehabilitation, but it was always down in there. It's all about controlling nine. So we can keep the competitive stamina and the spirit throughout all four quarters. How do you keep nine on track? Well, if nine wins more games, people are going to have to respect 9 and JJ for the time that he does on a football field. I guess I'll take the Minnesota Vikings minus two and a half. Even though I don't love it at all. I love Ben Johnson. I'd love to hear go better base. Never let race go to better, better. Because I love that quote personally. I've certainly known it for a long, long time. No, that. Give it a Bears.
- [147:41]
C
Yeah. Also for the Vikings. TJ Edwards being out for the Bears. Big deal. Jonathan Granard hasn't practiced this week for the Vikings, so not sure if he's going to be good to go.
- [147:54]
B
I just thought of like no Chicago Bears stole that one last week. Give me the Vikings. I'm going to take the Vikings minus two and a half. I'm gonna take The Vikings minus two. And I still believe in the Bears long term. But I like the Vikings this weekend to win that game. What do you think, A.J.
- [148:08]
A
I'M kind of with you. I mean your, your waffling back and forth got me, I got me thinking for sure. But I was leaning Vikings early. I'm going to stick with it. Vikings -2,2 at home.
- [148:17]
B
This is a good football game. This is a good football game. We, we like that. This football game is having a lot of them across the slate, including a San Francisco 49ers, a Brock Purdy I do believe favorite by two and a half. Flying into beautiful Phoenix, Arizona to be taken on the Arizona Cardinals. 72% of the money is on the San Francisco 49ers and Brock Purdy will return as the San Francisco 49ers starting quarterback versus Cardinals. Kyle Shanahan told the 49ers game plan which is a great show. We love 49ers game plan. Oh yeah, we turn that show on every week and we. Because of the YouTube ESPN dispute, we've actually had to find different ways to watch football. 49ers game plan and we've certainly been able to dodge, duck, dip, dive and dodge our weight. Being able to hear the 49ers game plan show because that one's the show. Is it not coming?
- [149:01]
H
Especially with Shanahan.
- [149:03]
B
When he stops by, he always says something.
- [149:05]
H
It's good ball talk.
- [149:06]
B
He's got such a good flat bill on. He always looks cool and he says Brock Purdy is our quarterback. I think Brock Purdy crushes this weekend. Give me The San Francisco 49ers minus two and a half. AJ Yep.
- [149:16]
A
Give me the San Francisco 49ers as well, bro. Purdy, I think he's been. Can you imagine how like the pent up energy this dude has to get back in the field. He's heard con man say that that Max taking his gig, he's not gonna have a job anymore. So he's ready to get out there and show us that he's still the man.
- [149:29]
B
Somebody's playing drums on the microphone. If you could stop doing that, that'd be great. You're blowing out my eardrums. The Seattle Seahawks are taking on the LA Rams. 75% of the bets are on the Seattle Seahawks. That's wild to think about is the Rams are favored by 3 1/2 and they're going to be in their midnight mode jersey. Matthew Stafford is going to look so damn cool. I cannot wait to see how that turns out in so far 4:00 clock slate absolutely loaded this week. We feel Seattle Seahawks one of the best teams in ball. 75% of the money is on the Seattle Seahawks. Is it plus three and a half? Plus four. What is the most we can get, Tone?
- [150:03]
F
Yeah, you can get the most you can get if you want. The Seahawks is plus three and a half or minus three for the Rams.
- [150:10]
B
Okay, so give me plus three and a half. Seattle Seahawks LA Rams might win the game. This is a two for him. I don't want to put it on the official record.
- [150:18]
C
Love that.
- [150:19]
B
No, never mind. Completely forget what I just said. Seattle Seahawks plus three and a half. I like where they're at. I like where they're at a lot. I don't know who wins, but I like the Seattle Seahawks plus three and a half. I think this is in a road game. McDonald on the road has been damn near unstoppable. And. And yeah, I think this is a big one for Sam Darnold to continue to be Sam Darnold of now as opposed to Sam Darnold of yesteryear. AJ who do you like? How do you like it?
- [150:44]
A
Man, this is a tough one too. When you think about me, the Seattle defense what scored twice last week. I like the Rams here I can get the Rams at minus three, Tone. Is that right? Okay, I'll take the Rams at home. And what are they called again? What's their. Their dark uniforms? Midnight.
- [150:56]
B
Midnight mode.
- [150:57]
A
I like midnight mode. Midnight mode. Matthew Stafford. He stays on track to win the mvp. Possibly give me the Rams.
- [151:04]
B
Okay. There's a chance both good con man. You were going to say something I think before I cut you off.
- [151:08]
C
No, no.
- [151:09]
A
All good.
- [151:09]
C
Not at all. But Sam Darnold, I I think they were talking about it earlier on on the broadcast tv whatever the it's kind of a redemption day game for Darnold. Last time the Vikings. When he was with the Vikings they went and played the Rams. He got absolutely kicked. So they were talking about that angle. Also for the Seattle Seahawks. Now the Seattle second week with Rashid Shahid in the lineup. So their offense probably going to be firing on a much higher cylinder. And of course the Cooper cup return. We talked about it yesterday. That's seemingly a big deal. Puk Naku is already like I can't wait to see N I can't wait to see Cooper Cup. I can't wait. It's going to be awesome. So he might not be thinking About.
- [151:49]
B
Ball Man 9 and Dime podcast hopefully has another episode maybe before the Game was to Stafford and Cup 75% of the money on Seattle is crazy. Congrats to the Seahawks. Getting some respect. That's what that says to me. Kansas City Chiefs at the Denver Broncos. Chiefs favored by three and a half with 58% of the money. Gumpy, your first thoughts on this line?
- [152:10]
H
This feels like the Chiefs, you know, AFC West, Broncos at the top right now. This still the Chiefs division, and I think they show it in a big way. Broncos kind of been skating by lately. They've been winning games, but they've been tight. I don't think they can do that this week.
- [152:23]
B
AJ your thoughts on what Gumpy just said and how you see this game going?
- [152:26]
A
I mean, as much as I. I hate to say it, I. I completely agree with Gump. I kind of have a same thought. I want to think about can I get him at minus 3? And I don't mean I hate to say. You know, as you were saying though, Gump, I was just co signing every single statement you had. I'm. Give me the Chiefs on this one.
- [152:40]
B
Is there any. Is it minus three or is it minus three and a half across the board?
- [152:43]
F
It's three and a half or four. So if you wanted the Broncos, you get a four.
- [152:47]
B
Okay, I'll. I'll take the Chief. The Chiefs minus three and a half. You know what? Minus four actually. Give me the Chiefs minus.
- [152:52]
A
Okay, I'll take that.
- [152:53]
B
No, no, actually, no, I don't want that. I would take that half point. I just got over.500 for the first time last week. Ravens, Browns. Ravens favored by seven and a half with 78 of the vote. Yep, I'll run it as well. Give me the Baltimore Ravens minus seven and a half in Cleveland. I like Dylan Gabriel, though. I don't think he's bad. And that's kind of quiet. Not been a story anymore because until Dylan Gabriel plays full ass cheeks, which is definitely going to come. Maybe this game, maybe the Baltimore Ravens defense can fully click and confuse the young quarterback, but I see him spinning it, making good decisions, and it's not really a conversation. So good for Dylan Gabriel. Good for them and all of it. But Ravens are on a comeback revenge tour after starting the season like absolute bums. Sportsbooks had them as the favorites in the AFC north, even. Even whenever they only won one game in the first six or whatever the case was. That's because they know what they have. 78% of the money doesn't scare me because it's already hit this season at 80% rate. Give me, the Ravens -7 and a half. I love what they're about to do in Cleveland, man.
- [153:55]
A
See, yeah, Lamar, he missed, what, one practice with just a sore knee, but they said he's fine, he's full go, he'll be okay on Sunday. You know what, for whatever reason, I like the Browns here. I think the Browns find a way, their defense finds a way to keep this game close. So give me the Browns plus seven and a half.
- [154:10]
C
What do you guys think about the situation with the quarterback, Pat? Because, like, I agree with what you said, especially after the Patriots played the Browns, like, Dylan Gabriel is solid. He is a good quarterback. He'll be in the NFL for a while. But at what point do you think that they say, okay, we've seen Dylan, he's great, we can, you know, have him be our guy? Do you think there's a time where this season where it's like, let's just put Shador out there just to at least see, because, say he goes and plays, plays really well, then he could be a trade piece or Dylan Gabriel could be a trade piece. Do you think that's a possibility at some point?
- [154:46]
B
Well, I'm not 100 sure. You know, maybe Shador could play for the Plum Mustangs. We'd certainly love it. But fifth round, fifth round draft pick, rookie. Third round draft pick, rookie. If they think Dylan Gabriel is their guy for the future, they should give him more reps, right? Like, yeah, that's kind of the balance. Like, if you think he's the guy, you should give him more reps. Like, backup quarterback aren't getting a lot of reps in practice because the starting quarterback is who they want to go with. So if we do want to get a look at Shador, I love it. I certainly would. Wouldn't mind watching Shador Sanders play football in the NFL again. Certainly would enjoy that. Watch him play football just in general. But if Dylan Gabriel is your guy, more reps the better. Like that. That is what we're trying to get in this entire thing now, I think. Do they think long term Dylan's the guy? Do they think he's not? I think they're probably trying to figure that out, but that's why they. The conversation is what it is. Whenever they draft him in the third round, then they draft Shador in the fifth round, then they bring in Kenny Pickett, they bring in Joe Flacco, it's like, how are you going to be able to manage it all? And what if you do find a guy as everybody else can Be able to find. Well, we're going to trade Joe. We're going to get Kenny out of here, and then we're going to play Dylan Gabriel. And then Shador, is he the backup? Well, we'll see. It's like, all right, well, you're everybody. That is. It's an interesting dynamic, but if Dylan's your guy, I think you got to give him reps. I'm not saying he is. I'm just saying if he is, the more the better. Aj, that. That is kind of how I would view it if I was on the team.
- [156:03]
A
Yeah, if he. If. Yeah, the fact that they draft him the third round, they. They want him to be the guy. So, yeah, he needs to get every single possible look he can in practice and the game.
- [156:11]
C
So.
- [156:11]
A
Yeah, I agree with that.
- [156:12]
B
Yeah, I think so. Now, granted to your point, though, Connor, like, can we just get a look at this guy?
- [156:17]
A
Like, you guys, I would like to look at you.
- [156:18]
E
Right?
- [156:18]
A
It would be good to see him in. In real game, actually.
- [156:21]
C
Even if he, like, like, even if they say to Dylan, hey, you are a guy, but we're just gonna give, you know, Shador a game, like, throws.
- [156:29]
A
Four touchdowns and he's not.
- [156:30]
C
Yeah, not mid season.
- [156:33]
H
But if they've got desean Watson too.
- [156:35]
B
Oh, yeah, come back at some point.
- [156:38]
A
He's out. Come back, trail at some point this year. He will be healthy enough to play, won't he?
- [156:42]
E
I don't know.
- [156:44]
B
But Connor, I just think if they think Dylan's their guy. Reps. Yeah. Yeah, we need as many as is possible. Like every situation is good situation because it's a situation and he needs more situations, you know, like that is how. If they think he's the guy, if they don't think he's the guy, why not try to see what Shador's got? Like, that is certainly something a lot of us would like to see. But that all comes down to what they think is actually going to be the future there.
- [157:08]
C
Yeah, that's just what I thought about watching the jets because, you know, as you're watching them, it's like, okay, this team's nowhere close, but you know what happens if they get a quarterback? And then you just start going through, you know, the draft and what, what draft pick they'll have and stuff. And then you start thinking like, there are guys out there who have like, Shador who haven't had an opportunity. Like, do you. Do you take a flyer on one of those guys and try and pull them out? Do the Browns even trade A Shador. But yeah, it's just a crazy situation.
- [157:35]
B
Very crazy situation. And obviously all those teams could have drafted Shador. Yeah, Baltimore wanted to draft Shador and then they were told no because they didn't want, you know, the potential sit behind Lamar, even though Lamar may be incredible guy to sit behind and learn from. But now there's Cleveland. We'll see how it all works out. We would like to see Shador play football, but also we'd like the Cleveland Browns to make good football decisions for their team, which I think Cleveland Browns fans say, ha. Yeah, right. That's not how it goes around here. Detroit Lions, Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday Night Football. Thank God we got a banger.
- [158:07]
E
Yep.
- [158:08]
B
Because we're actually going to be, what, waiting all day for Sunday night. Jared Goff and Gibbs going to Philly fights. Jalen hurts in Sirioni with AJ Brown saying, where's the ball for me? So they got a lot. They got a lot going on in Philadelphia. Always. They were able to win a Super bowl with always having drama somehow. Like, hey, don't have distractions, don't have drama, don't have negative vibes. Philadelphia is like, yeah, right, brother. We're going to have it every day, all the time. We're going to win games and people are going to be pissed off, including our own fans. They're going to call for our head coach's job after we're fucking 6 and 1. They're going to say, we need this guy out of here. Then we're going to go on to win a Super bowl somehow. And then on the flip side, the Detroit Lions, they've completely sent saved an entire city of football fandom by having some greatness with mcdc, who's not scared to be a tough guy, and Jared Goff, who's resurrected his career from being a guy who was kicked out of the city of Stars to a guy whose name is chanted all around Detroit Rock City. Who wins? How do they win? Is there any different lines? Tone diggs and 82% wow. Of the public bets riding with the lions plus two and a half.
- [159:27]
F
There are no other lines in the is two and a half across the board. And then when you look at injuries, Lions Terry and Arnold, Kirby Joseph and Sam LaPorta did not practice. Lane Johnson did practice for the Eagles. So that's your injury report for the game, Foxy.
- [159:42]
B
82% of the people are betting on your team. Congratulations. Being at this point of life, how do you feel getting two and a half points in Philadelphia on Sunday night? I love it. Got a quick stat for you. Jared Goff. 22, 2 and 10 against the spread as an underdog with the Detroit Lions. I assume that's why 82% of the people are riding with the Detroit Lions. Like you mentioned, the Eagles are kind of a mess right now. The media at least is making it that way. Which, as a fan of the Lions, I actually don't like. Because that means I think they could come in, you know, rally and make this a really good game. But I like where the Lions sit. I like where mcdc sits. Calm plays. So we'll see how this goes. This is a big, big test for our Lions. Oh, I forgot about four eyes. MC DC back behind the wheel. Oh, yeah. Gumpy, your thoughts, Your thoughts on this game here?
- [160:29]
H
I love the Lions, but it reeks. Smells like a square dog a little bit. I wouldn't be surprised if the Eagles win, but I would, as a betting man, I would like the Lions. And the points.
- [160:40]
B
82% of the bets plus. Plus two and a half for the Detroit Lions is what he is referring to as stinky. AJ who do you like? How do you like it?
- [160:48]
A
I mean, Dan Campbell calling plays. Jameer Gibbs, Jared Goff. I have to go with them. Give me the Lions plus two and.
- [160:54]
B
A half, hook, line and sinker. I'm going with the Lions as well. Hey, you got us sportsbooks. Exactly what you wanted us to do. We did it. Okay. Congratulations. They might be running closed Sicilian against us. You know, it's great to have this plum football hoodie on. It's great to be back in the city of Pittsburgh tomorrow. We'll be a hell of a celebration of the greatest sport on earth, football here in the city of Pittsburgh. We hope you will join us. College game day will be live on espn. It will also be live on our X account. If you cannot get to ESPN due to any disputes that are taking place. Aj, I know you're going to doordash and you can win every week with doordash streak. Save up to $250 this season when you were on game days. AJ, I know you like that pizza.
- [161:38]
A
I like the white. The white, like linen glove. Holding it like that all awkwardly with your thumb over top. More.
- [161:43]
B
Actually, aj, I. I don't. Pizza.
- [161:46]
A
There you go.
- [161:48]
C
Wow.
- [161:49]
H
Right through the paper.
- [161:50]
B
The paper is part of the problem there.
- [161:53]
C
There you go. There it is. You got short arms, dude.
- [161:55]
D
Yeah.
- [161:56]
B
Hey, Jay, tell us. Tell us about that pizza that you're holding right there.
- [161:59]
A
It's beautiful looking. Not that pizza. Actually doesn't look that good. So I don't know why this Muppet or whatever this thing is doing holding it like it is, but maybe that's why.
- [162:07]
G
Because he's.
- [162:07]
A
He's so disgusted by this piece of pizza that he's gonna hold it with his thumb all weird.
- [162:12]
B
Oh, you think he's about to throw that piece of pizza?
- [162:14]
A
He's trying to throw it.
- [162:15]
B
I haven't even thought about that. So what? The Muppet or the duck that is holding that piece of pizza, he's saying, get this out of here. Let me doordash some good pie. And I'm gonna do a lot of that here in Pittsburgh. I couldn't even fathom all the great pizzas in the local spots that are on Doordash here in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Holy. Have you thought about that, tone?
- [162:33]
F
Yeah, I just did. There's one in mind.
- [162:36]
B
Just thought. I. I literally just thought of it. Ton. I'm sorry. Go ahead.
- [162:39]
D
I.
- [162:39]
F
But unfortunately, I know a lot of those mom and pop shop owners, and they're saying, we ain't letting Door Dash take any of our way.
- [162:46]
B
Oh, yeah, you're right. You're. Marc just opened it, as you were saying. And I just thought of that, too. Like, you think Dallas salad is letting Door Dash do anything?
- [162:55]
C
Not a 10, but it's just. Just because the quality. The quality is so high. And DoorDash does a great job of actually transporting your food in the concealed bags to keep them warm. But with those mom and pop shops, they just have so much strength, honor, and respect for their product that they know it just means more when you come into the shop.
- [163:12]
B
Yeah. Strength and honor, obviously, is what we're looking for whenever you're having a slice of pie around here. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Hey, great work back there in Indianapolis, boys. Trust it this week, brother. Big week behind the glass. Oh, it was a big week. I completely forgot about it. It was huge week, right? Work behind the glass, boys. Work, boys. Graphic design, boys. Way to go out there. GDP There you go. GDPS GDP m really good work. M almost saved the chimpanzee today. M. Tough week for the McMahon family. Mitt showed up every single day. We appreciate him doing that. AJ thank you for traveling to Indianapolis, Indiana. Here at the Thunderdome, you're the greatest man. You are truly one of a kind, and nobody will ever dispute that.
- [163:59]
A
Appreciate that. Good job, you guys. You and Gump gonna have a nice dinner tonight. Where are you going?
- [164:04]
B
I'm about to eat, like, seven.
- [164:05]
A
I'm.
- [164:05]
B
You got to eat a lot you.
- [164:07]
A
Got a lot of people asking to come eat, don't you?
- [164:09]
B
Yeah, there's a lot of food that's about to be enjoyed. Great food. So I'm here for it.
- [164:13]
C
But go.
- [164:14]
B
It's gonna be one of those ones. I've talked about this whenever. When I got arrested for public intoxication, I was put in the NFL substance abuse program. Okay? Three months in the first phase. I aced it, and then they moved me into the second phase. I wasn't happy about that. Second phase was just like the first phase, but it was 24 months long. So in total, 27 months of substance abuse program. I was tested over 200 times. Eight times a month, I was tested and, you know, couldn't do anything. Couldn't be seen with a beer, couldn't do anything. I used to vacation back in the city of Pittsburgh. I'd come spend Thursday night, Friday, Saturday, Sunday back in Pittsburgh, and we would just do one thing and one thing alone, and that would be hammer booze. I mean, we would just absolutely hammer booze. And I had to stop, you know, for. For 27 months. I had to completely cut it out. And I was getting tested a lot. I learned a lot about myself, cold turkey on everything. And then the lockout happened. And the lockout was no. No testing, okay? Because the lockout was out. There was no testing. So I said, I'm a booze every day of this lockout, so that when it's over, I don't want to booze anymore. You know, like, that is. I'm going to. I'm going to really do it. That lockout ended up being 100 some days. I'll tell you, I did not expect. But lo and behold, by the end of that thing, I did not want anything to do with booze. And I would like to thank the city of Pittsburgh because they were a big part of that time during the lockout. I'd like to thank Nick. Nick's liver, kidney, and insides also took a big hit through that time. Thank you, Nick. Thank you for everything during the. But, yeah, I appreciate that. I know we won hard. We didn't expect that lockout to be that long. I don't think any of us did, but, boy, we certainly went. And by the time. Time it was over, it was like, all right, I'm not drinking anymore. What today is going to be is, I'm going to eat so much food today from here, where it's like, all right, I'm good until the next time I come back to Pittsburgh, because there's so much good food. So I'm about tomorrow. Tomorrow you're going to see me probably 262, 70. I'm about to be stuffed like a pig. But on the way out, I'm not going to want to have it. And I'll be good without it for at least the foreseeable future. So, A.J. this should be a great time here in Pittsburgh. Lucky to be here. Can't wait for tomorrow morning. Thank you for trying. Traveling safe travels back to Ohio and, yeah, let's enjoy the hell out of the greatest weekend of all time. Be your friend. Tell a friend something nice. It might change their life. We're in this thing together. Team on me. Team on three. Have a good one, boys.
- [166:35]
F
You too.
- [166:36]
A
You too, man.
- [166:36]
C
Feel the love of the city, dude.
- [166:39]
B
Well, Rivers Casino could show a little bit more.
- [166:42]
D
Oh.
- [166:43]
H
Still number one.
- [166:44]
E
Good luck.
- [166:44]
C
Yeah, a lot of love.
- [166:45]
B
Still six card. 20. 20 ones. Fuck. Out of my face. That changes. I'm not going out to see that.
- [166:58]
I
No.
- [166:59]
B
Team on me. Team on three. Have a great weekend. We love you. Thank you for allowing us to do this for a living. One, two, three. Goodbye.