Jared Allen on the Hall of Fame, Sacking Matt Leinart, the REAL Sack Record, The Art of the Pass Rush and more!

Summary

Podcast Summary: Throwbacks with Matt Leinart & Jerry Ferrara

Episode: Jared Allen on the Hall of Fame, Sacking Matt Leinart, the REAL Sack Record, The Art of the Pass Rush and more!
Date: January 29, 2026
Hosts: Matt Leinart & Jerry Ferrara
Guest: Jared Allen (Pro Football Hall of Famer, former defensive end, current curler)

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Overview

This episode features Pro Football Hall of Famer Jared Allen—a legend in the NFL both for his dominant pass-rushing prowess and his larger-than-life personality. Matt and Jerry dive into Allen's Hall of Fame journey, the controversies around the all-time sack record, what separates elite pass rushers from the rest, the business side of the NFL, and Allen’s second act as a competitive curler. The conversation blends hilarious stories, technical masterclasses, and candid reflections on fatherhood, football, and life after the game.

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Highlights & Key Discussion Points

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1. Fatherhood Updates & Life Off the Field

[01:05 – 05:29]

• Jerry’s Impending Third Child:
  Jerry discusses his nerves and excitement as he and his wife prepare to welcome a third child, keeping the gender a surprise and navigating the anxiety and joy of the experience.

  “I can't just wait. I can't wait to see this kid, you know, boy, girl. I can't wait. I do have moments of excitement and I have moments of terror, pure terror when people start asking me stuff.” – Jerry, [02:32]

• Matt’s Advice and Jokes:
  Matt teases Jerry about the transition and jokes about forming an MMA family vs. becoming protective if he has a daughter.

  “If we have a third boy, I'm just going to put mats in the basement and build an octagon. We're going to be a full MMA family. If it's a girl, I think I'm going to become a gun nut and just... have a Hurt Locker in my room.” – Jerry, [04:47]

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2. Jared Allen Joins: Hall of Fame Reflections

[08:05 – 11:50]

• Feelings About the Hall of Fame:
  Jared describes the surreal honor of being recognized, mingling with legends and the sometimes frustrating voting process.

  “Chris Carter told me, he's like, Jared, he's like, once you get in, it doesn't matter how long it took. He's like, no one ever asks. It goes away. All the animosity seems to fade or the frustration seems to fade.” – Jared, [09:30]

• Experiencing the Camaraderie:
  Meeting Mean Joe Greene, sharing the moment with his family, and realizing the deeper meaning beyond statistics or gold jackets.

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3. Memorable Career Moments & "Welcome to the NFL"

[14:09 – 19:32]

• Sacking Matt Leinart in His First Start:
  Jared humorously recalls his first sack of Matt, the dynamics of facing massive linemen, and Ty Law’s prophetic interception call.

  “Ty Law just looks around... ‘All right, Jay, how you doing up there?’ I was like, ‘Man, I'm getting to him...’ [He says] ‘Cover me deep. By the way, guys, I'm picking this ball off right now.’” – Jared, [15:50]

• Jared’s "Welcome to the NFL" Moment:
  Getting dominated in practice by Willie Roaf, realizing the enormous gap between rookies and established stars.

  “He just lifted me up, ran with me for like 5 yards, dumped me on my head, and as I tried to get up, speared me in the back. And I was just like, stay down. Oh, crap. Like, there's, there's levels to this.” – Jared, [18:05]

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4. NFL Business and the Vikings Trade

[20:21 – 24:52]

• Trade from Chiefs to Vikings:
  The rarely-seen blockbuster trade, contract disputes, DUI incident, and the sometimes cold business side of football, including how front offices negotiate and the influence of star players like Dwight Freeney on market value.

  “All of a sudden we had this just smack in the face of what the business side of football is. And, man, it was. It was tough, man. You sit in these rooms and you get beat down. People telling you they want to sign you and pay you all this money, but then also telling you all your faults.” – Jared, [23:24]

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5. College Football Landscape: NIL & Loyalty

[24:26 – 29:48]

• Would Jared Have Transferred for NIL Money?
  Allen admits, “I'd be gone. I mean, come on, really?” (24:53), reflecting on the shift away from loyalty in the new NIL era.
• Matt on College Lifestyle:
  Contrasts today’s player benefits with his own, “I lived off a card and training table... like, we were living the dream, dude.” – Matt, [25:45]

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6. Pass Rushing: The Art and Science

[36:02 – 44:41]

• Hand-in-the-Dirt, One-on-One Edge Rushers:
  The evolution of the position, the value of traditional pass rushers vs. today’s hybrids. Matt and Jerry extol the rare breed of pure D-ends like Jared, Miles Garrett, Maxx Crosby.

  “I got chills just now thinking about it too.” – Jared, [36:34]

• Detailed Masterclass on Pass Rush Technique:
  Jared delivers a must-listen breakdown—film study tricks, understanding tackle sets, developing a “move and a counter move,” inside vs. outside leverage, hand fighting, and adapting to tackle weaknesses. He emphasizes knowledge, leverage, violent science, and MMA cross-training.

  “You have to know like how to practice... understand yourself... know what your strength is... For me, it's fully understanding the basics of my alignment and my get off... watching their rhythm, run game tape is really important... The best way for a young pass rusher: if you can get a tip on a play action pass, game over.” – Jared, [39:33–43:12]
  “There is massive contact in pass rushing. And if you're afraid of that, then... you might have a year, good year or two, then you're gonna get washed out.” – Jared, [43:23]

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7. Pass Rusher Influences & Football “Tells”

[46:11 – 51:31]

• Who Jared Watched & Learned From:
  Banned from watching Dwight Freeney film (“You Gumby mother...If I ever see you watching another Dwight Freeney... you’re done!” – Jared, [46:37]).
  • Idolized Jason Taylor, Bruce Smith, Leslie O’Neal, Derek Thomas, Chris Doleman
  • Learned get-off tips from Derek Thomas (watching QB hand drops, not the ball)
• Notable Technique Insight:

  “Almost 90% of all quarterbacks drop their bottom hand right before they're ready to get the ball... My coach is like, he's watching their hands. So in practice, we would just study hands, hands, hands.” – Jared, [47:43]

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8. The Real Sack Record & NFL Stat Debates

[33:07 – 36:02]

• Discusses controversial sack stat changes and the infamous play with Aaron Rodgers (“They gave it to me that day then they took it from me on Wednesday.” – Jared, [33:29])
• Defends Myles Garrett’s pursuit and shouts out the new breed’s old-school mentality.

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9. Life After Football: Curling

[51:31 – 56:03]

• Jared's Curling Career:
  Details about transitioning to competitive curling, the Olympic dream, and the creation of the Grand Slams of Curling in the US.

  “Once I'm one of those persons, one—I'm in, I'm all in. So I hired Olympic coaches... Played four nationals... Now I'm invested in the Grand Slams of curling.” – Jared, [52:10]

  • Describes the thrill of competition, the camaraderie, and the challenges.

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10. Coaching Offers & Lifestyle Choices

[56:03 – 57:13]

• NFL Coaching Life? No Thanks:
  Jared jokes about Sean Payton’s offer to coach pass rushers in Denver, but rejects it due to the grind and good family life.

  “I have no problem helping out. I love teaching the art of pass rushing, but the idea of having to be there unless it was a head coaching job where I could set my own hours⁩... I'm good.” – Jared, [57:13]

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11. College Football Talk & The Evolving Landscape

[57:17 – 59:24]

• Quick takes on bowl game opt-outs, the coaching carousel, the need for a college football commissioner, and the challenges players face in the transfer portal.
• Importance of future reforms: “There’s going to be a commissioner, just like the NFL, there’s going to be a players union...” – Matt, [57:43]

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12. Wendy’s Fresh Take, Twisted Trivia & NFL Pop Culture

[61:07 – end]

• Hall of Fame Voting Debates:
  Discussion about Bill Belichick not being a first-ballot Hall of Famer, implications for Tom Brady, and the weirdness of Pro Bowl voting ("Who thought we'd live in a world where Bill Belichick's not a Hall of Famer and Shedeur Sanders a Pro Bowler?" – Annie, [63:33]).
• Coaching Carousel & Interview Follies:
  Humorous insider stories about failing interviews and the quirks of the coaching and draft process.
• Twisted Tea Trivia Segment:
  Annie and Jerry compete in Patriots-based trivia, with Jerry ultimately victorious—and Annie jokingly bemoaning the difficulty (“That’d be like doing 1979 trivia for me. I’d just guess Terry Bradshaw for every answer!” – Jerry, [78:48])
• Closing Super Bowl Content Tease:
  Promises more Super Bowl analysis and picks in next week's episode.

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Film Study & Technique:
  “I don’t watch film of tackles kicking the crap out of somebody. I want to see how they get beat, and if I have that in my repertoire.” – Jared Allen, [39:33]
• On Sacking Matt Leinart:
  “He just looked... ‘You had big Leonard Brown [at tackle]... Just turn the corner, I'd be right at Matt’s feet, and he’d just land on me. Dude, my ribs hurt for two weeks afterwards!” – Jared Allen, [15:00]
• On the NFL Business Side:
  “Back then, you’re playing for loyalty... and all of a sudden, you just get smacked in the face with what the business side of football is.” – Jared Allen, [23:24]
• On the Changing Pass Rush Role:
  “Now it's so much hybrid... but it is kind of nice when you see just an old-school D-end put his hand in the dirt and just go one-on-one against a tackle. It gives me chills just thinking about it.” – Matt Leinart, [36:02]
• On Not Taking Coaching Overtime:
  “Unless it was a head coaching job where I could set my own hours and everybody was home by 5, I’m good.” – Jared Allen, [57:13]

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Structure & Flow

• The episode is energetic and informal, blending deep football analysis with plenty of laughs and personal stories. Jared Allen’s segments in particular are gold for young players, coaches, and football fans fascinated by the nuances of line play.
• There is a strong sense of camaraderie between the hosts and guest, enriched with stories about the realities of sports beyond the field.
• The latter part of the episode shifts toward NFL pop culture, Hall of Fame politics, the quirks of legacy and Pro Bowl voting, plus a fun trivia section to close.

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:05] – Fatherhood & Jerry’s Big Week
• [08:05] – Jared Allen on Hall of Fame Induction
• [14:09] – Story of Jared sacking Matt & Welcome to NFL moments
• [20:21] – The Chiefs/Vikings trade & NFL business stories
• [24:52] – NIL & College Loyalty Debate
• [36:02] – Breaking Down the Art of Pass Rush
• [46:31] – Favorite Pass Rusher Influences & Technique Exploration
• [51:31] – Jared Allen’s Curling Journey
• [56:03] – Coaching Life—Temptation vs. Family
• [61:07] – Hall of Fame Voting, Coaching Carousel, and Twisted Tea Trivia

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Conclusion

This episode is a must-listen for anyone curious about the mindset of an elite NFL pass rusher, the transition from the field to post-football life, and the real behind-the-scenes grind of football at every level. Jared Allen’s self-deprecating humor, technical wizardry, and honest takes on everything from stats to family to contracts make this a standout conversation.

Transcript

[Jared Allen]

So, no joke. Sean Payton, a couple of years ago. We're on. We're on spring break. Hey, you want to. You want to come coach in Denver? Be our passenger guy. And I was like, what hours are we talking about?

[Jerry]

Yeah, I like my life. I like my life.

[Jared Allen]

And dudes are there till, like, 10, 11 o' clock at night. I was like, my kids, you know, I put my kids to bed. My wife's like, we've never had a babysitter or anything. We're not hiring them now. Like, what? No. Like, we're not having other people drive our kids to sporting events because you were working till midnight.

[Jerry]

All right, welcome to another episode of Throwbacks, everybody.

[Matt]

Please don't forget.

[Jerry]

Yeah, don't forget. Give us a follow on all socials at Throwback show on the YouTube, like, and subscribe at this throwback show there, too. And I hope you're not. I hope everyone's brokering out your football coverage just yet, because we got a good episode for you. Don't go in too big on the super bowl stuff. You got a long way to go still till we get to that game.

[Matt]

We do.

[Jared Allen]

It's.

[Matt]

Well, it is a long way to go, but then football's got to be over before you know it, dude. Then what are we going to talk about? We're going to talk about your New Year Knicks and how sad you're going.

[Jerry]

To have to watch basketball.

[Matt]

Jerry, just real quick, man, we got to get this out there. You know, it's been a journey for you. About a year ago, we talked about uni off air. The thought of the prospects of both of us having another kid, another baby. My daughter is about to be one years old, which is crazy. And for months and months and months, you just.

[Jared Allen]

You.

[Matt]

You were. You were in your corner, dude. You were ducking, you're diving, you were jabbing, you were keeping Brie away. You're like, I don't want to do it. I don't want to do it. But here we are now with the final week. Could happen any point, dude, could happen right now as we record this episode.

[Jerry]

That's true.

[Matt]

You're having another baby, which is the greatest gift of all time. And it's so exciting. You're gonna give your two boys a little brother or a little sister. My question to you, and we usually ask all our guests, you know, like, prep and game day and what this final week day, minute of prep. What are you like, and what are you doing personally to prepare for a third child?

[Jerry]

Well, first off, I want to just say, Matt, as I look right into the camera. You had a lot to do with this. You were just telling me, just do it. It's awesome. Do it. It's great.

[Annie Agar]

Do it.

[Matt]

It was awesome.

[Jerry]

And I'm. And it is. Let's just say when Bri and I talked this out, if you remember those early Mike Tyson fights, the guy, he was always fighting in the beginning, tried to look confident, and once he got one shot from Tyson, you'd see him panic. That's how my conversations went with Bri. I was confident in holding my ground until I got punched in the face. And then I just was like, all right, whatever you want. All kidding aside, I am very excited. It has been very cool for this one to. For this third time to not know if it's a boy or a girl. We knew it was a boy for both. So that is definitely added to this experience of I can't just wait. I can't wait to see this kid, you know, boy, girl. I can't wait. I do have moments of excitement and I have moments of terror, pure terror when people start asking me stuff. I'm now getting invited to things in like March, like, hey, you want to go play Shadow Creek or you want to go do this? I'm like, I don't march.

[Matt]

That was supposed to be the compromise getting into this. You were supposed to be allowed to do whatever ever you really wanted to do.

[Jerry]

Which she knew the whole entire time was a loaded. She was just like, I'm a loop him in. And then once she. Once he sees that kid, it's over. So I am very excited. I remind now it's like any day. So like I'm all over her. Everything she says, like, you okay? Is it happening? But then like when we get to like 9 o' clock at night, I'm like, maybe it don't happen tonight. I'm really tired right now. I don't want to wake up at 1 in the morning.

[Matt]

You don't wake up at 2am like.

[Jerry]

It'S time to go. And she has to birth a child. And I'm over here complaining, I'm gonna lose sleep. But she's the rest too. She's a trooper, though. And the boys, our two boys are really fired up. You know, we were talking a lot to them about what it's gonna go on and not try to make it sound like, hey, all of this is going to change because of this baby, right? Because we're trying to make the best enhance how everything is going to be because of this baby. So. Yeah, man, I'm ready.

[Matt]

Best of luck, dude. The next time we do our show, hopefully you would think. You would think it's con. It's coming, man. And my guess is it's a. A baby girl.

[Jerry]

Okay.

[Matt]

You all right? Your two boys and the girl. Probably. One of your boys is probably going to be pissed and the other one's probably going to love. That's how mine were. It's pretty funny. And then they both switch. But it'd be, well, I told you.

[Jerry]

Too, off the air, like, if we have a third boy, I'm just going to put Matt's in the basement and build an octagon. We're going to be a full MMA family. If it's a girl, I think I'm going to become a gun nut and just. I'm going to have a Hurt Locker in my room. Like, what do you want to do?

[Matt]

Well, we'll be thinking about. We'll be thinking about. More importantly, we'll be thinking about Brie as she gets through this and you guys. But, man, it's gonna be awesome, dude.

[Jerry]

Yeah, it is humbling when, like, you start thinking about. Yeah, I'm excited. You think about everything that the mom does and you're like, wow, I'm really just a useless piece of.

[Matt]

Yeah.

[Jerry]

It'S like you're doing, like a Herculean thing and I'm over here just.

[Matt]

Like, we're just sitting there like, you're.

[Jerry]

Doing a great job so well.

[Matt]

It's gonna be awesome, dude.

[Jerry]

Yeah. So we do have a. A good one for you today. Again, you're going to get lots of super bowl content. We're going to talk a little about the super bowl with Annie Agar in our twisted C spot coming up later. But we decided to continue the pass rushing onslaught we hit you with. Von Miller last week, one of the best pass rushes of all time. Just had nine sacks. This week, we're hitting you with an absolute legend, Matt. You want to say who it is?

[Matt]

Hall of Famer Jared Allen.

[Jerry]

Jared Allen. Here's what I will say. Previewing this episode. First of all, if you're interested about pass rushing, you're going to be pleased. But secondly, if you're a young player, a young coach, an old coach your kid loves, he goes on 10 to 15 minute.

[Matt]

I got chills just thinking about it. Yeah.

[Jerry]

About the art of the pass rush that should be memorialized in the hall of Fame because he just broke it down and I was blown away.

[Matt]

Von Miller said something last week, but it was totally a different approach that he takes because he was a different player than Jared Allen. Jared Allen was your traditional 6, 5, 6, 6, 2, 60 hand in the dirt and just go off the edge. And this 10 minute just artistry of breaking down what he looked for in film and how he attacked tackles and how what made him successful and I'll give a little tease, what made him successful wasn't necessarily the talent, but it was understanding situational football and Vaughn said the same thing. So for all the young guys out there, this is one of those you got to listen to. He's fantastic. I mean the dude is a world class curling player now, which is unbelievable. So you go from fricking a hall of fame D lineman to now in curling, but he's incredible. So much wisdom. Such a great dude. My first ever start. He tells a great story. I'll let you guys have to listen to it. But he tells this great story about how he got me. He got, when I, when I played for the Arizona, I didn't remember he got me, but he got me when I played for the Cardinals. So yeah, man, Jared Allen, this is fantastic. Dude is awesome. Awesome to get him on throwbacks.

[Jerry]

All right, well, I guess without further ado, number 69, Jared Allen. Okay, our guest today is a hall of famer, a four time first team all pro, five time pro bowler, two time sack leader, holds the record for most career safeties and safety in the season and he should hold the record for most sacks. We're going to talk about that for sure. And now he's a world class curler. We're definitely going to talk to that.

[Matt]

Mind blowing.

[Jerry]

By the way, Jared Allen, welcome to the show. My guy Rob.

[Jared Allen]

Thanks for having me. Big fan of both you guys, you know, you know, so this is an honor.

[Matt]

What's up, dude? How you doing, man? How's it. By the way, how does it feel to be a hall of Famer?

[Jared Allen]

You know what, it's, it's cool. And then you go back to being dad and Uber driver and all the fun stuff. Well, Uber driver, he was paid, so you know, go for whatever you want to call it. So. Yeah, no, it was, dude, it was a great moment. It was, it was a cool deal. The process is a little frustrating. Be real honest because you know, I was a first ballot finalist with Peyton and all those guys and you just think, okay, maybe I don't get in first ballot but the next year I'm sure shoeing. Right. And then you don't know because that's the problem with the, with the process, you don't know what the metrics are, right? You don't know. You're just like, okay, what they're looking at. Yeah. Then, you know, Eric Allen, you know, we were talking about it this, you know, because he was in my class, right? And he was like, the hardest thing about it is, is you start getting competitive with guys that you like really like. And like, you know, you're like, I'm super fancies. But then you're like comparing, like, am I better than this guy? Is that you're like, why am I going down this road? And you're only competing around mine and you're trying to figure out, you know, how you can better yourself to possibly get into next year. But then you're like, there's nothing I can do about this. This. I, you know, I played 10 years ago. So, yeah, it's, it was an interesting process. But, you know, once, once you get in, you know, Chris Carter told me, he's like, Jared, he's like, once you get in, it doesn't matter how long it took. He's like, no one ever asked. It goes away. All the animosity seems to fade or the frustration seems to fade. And he. Right. The weekend was fantastic. Couldn't ask for a better class, guys. Couldn't. Couldn't have asked for a better experience. We had like 195 guys come back and the hall did a great job taking care of the family stuff. So it was, it was a good deal. And now, yeah, now you go about your business like normal.

[Jerry]

Yeah. I can only imagine. I was on a flight one time. It's a little bit of a name drop, but I was on a flight with Michael Strahan after he was already in, and he gave me, like, the voting. He's like, take a look at this. He's like, how are you supposed to pick between these guys? And you look at the names, it's like, it's as impossible to re. You can't litigate it. Like, well, it's just all unbelievable stats and unbelievable players. So. Yeah, I get what you mean. Like, who the heck knows what they're voting on year to year and that.

[Jared Allen]

And that's the tough part, right? So you're sitting in a room and then you don't know who has influence, who doesn't. You know, there's certain presenters hold way more weight in the room than other guys. Then you have, you have stories where guys will be eligible for many years and they jump in and they're and you're like, whoa, what? Like, you know, so, you know, my way I looked at it, I was always mad with the year I did get. They'd be like, are you upset? I'm like, I'm upset because they. They made me upset for, like, three days, right? For, you know, 52 weeks or 51 weeks out of the year. I didn't think about it. Then you get up to that week of selection, and then you're like, all of a sudden care. And I'm like, well, dog's still gonna go crap in the yard. I got chores to do, so let's get back to work. But, yeah, but it's definitely. It's one of those things. And. And you get there. The best part about me for. Was, you know, I got, you know, Mean Joe Green. I was sitting there talking to me insane, and he knows my name. I'm like, fanboying out, like, this is the coolest thing ever. Sitting and talking to some of the old guys, widows who still show up and hearing the stories from. You know, from. From the family's perspective about these guys that we know, we all watch growing up as kids. It was a great thing. And then just, like, I said that. That camaraderie and getting to see, like, you're. You're just, you know, I'm sitting there having lunch with Steve Larkin. You know what I mean?

[Matt]

Like, so cool.

[Jared Allen]

What is that ever gonna happen? So that's what I took of it. And. And it was. It was great. And, you know, you really.

[Matt]

Do.

[Jared Allen]

You rec. You realize the importance in the. Or the. How it's special, and it's important to continue to give back and go see those guys, because there, you know, Mike, I will say the hall of Famers being there that Friday night, you know, kind of gold jacket Derek dinner, where you kind of do this gauntlet, right? If no one shows up, then it's not nearly as impactful. But, you know, when all the guys come back, it was a pretty special deal.

[Matt]

I was. I was. I did not. I did not make the NFL hall of Fame, but I was fortunate enough to make the college. But the same point. I remember being in the back room, and I. And Peyton. Peyton was in our class, and Marshall Falk is really awesome, but the person that I was most excited to meet was Kirk Gibson, old Dodger great. So, yeah, it was like, I'll tear up thinking about it, because Jerry knows this. I'm a lifelong Dodger fan, born and raised, my dad. And we're sitting in the back room And Kurt was an all American receiver at Michigan State, so not a lot of people knew that. Obviously played baseball, too, and went on to play mlb. But we're sitting back there and I'm watching my dad, like, talk to Kirk Gibson. The 1988 home run. Like, it's. It's like one of those few sports memories where I remember I was. I was five years old and like, the three of us. So, like, I. I can feel that with you. It's like you're. You're in this room with just absolute legends, man. And, like, Kirk Gibson was that. For me, it was such a cool experience. I can imagine sitting in that room and that.

[Jared Allen]

That College Football hall of Fame is hard to get into. I. You know, every time I see the class, sometimes I'm like, that guy's not in there yet.

[Matt]

Yeah. Again, I don't know the voting process either, but.

[Jared Allen]

But no, yeah, that's a cool deal. And I think that's. I think that's what true. Like, you know, competitors that compete, guys that compete at the highest level. Right. You know, anybody that ever says they came out like their goal was to be in the hall of Fame is full of it. Like, your goal is just to be the best, right? So every year I'm just trying to outdo the year before that. I'm just trying to be the best, to have my team be the best. And, you know, the byproduct of that is. Is. Is, you know, maybe one day you're good enough to be in the hall of Fame. But I think, you know what, Morgan, where I talked is those moments that everybody remembers, right? It's not the ceremony. It's not the gold jacket. It's not the ring. It's not the honor. It's not the. My name's. You know, you know, they talk about, oh, you're. You're in football heaven or immortality. It's the fact that I get to go back and have conversations with. With guys. I mean, we were. And we were just at one of the receptions and my dad sitting there. Him and Jim Kelly are like, you know, best buds, all this. I'm like, oh, poor Jim. My dad is wearing this dude out, right?

[Jerry]

Wow.

[Jared Allen]

And then, you know, they're just back and forth. I grew up, you know, weird being from Northern California. I grew up a Raiders and Bills fan, right? So I don't know why Bills, but they were awesome. Steve Tash was like my favorite player ever.

[Jerry]

And little Don BB Action. A little Don B.

[Jared Allen]

Bounced off his head like, they so.

[Jerry]

Good it's still like.

[Jared Allen]

I'm like, talking to Jim Kelly, and we're just. I'm like, this is fantastic.

[Matt]

Oh, man. We were. Jerry. So Jerry and I were talking before you came on, and I'm like, I haven't seen you. I mean, obviously, I always respected you were a hell of a player and watched your career. And I was like. I think Jerry was like, did Jared Allen ever sack you? I'm like, honestly, dude, like, I can't remember. But my first ever start, which, by the way, you did. You got me. Because he just looked.

[Jerry]

We have the data if you're interested.

[Matt]

And I was like, my first ever start was against the Chiefs at home. And that was, like, kind of the start. And then. And then we had, like, the Monday night game, the Denny Green game the following week where we lost to Erlacher and those guys, and they made that epic run. What do you. I don't remember much from that game other than, like, we. We. We kicked a field goal to tie at the end.

[Jared Allen]

So, yeah, that was. I was telling you guys, I had a story about interception you threw, right? So that game. Crazy. So we.

[Jerry]

You had big.

[Jared Allen]

Leonard Brown. Brown, yeah.

[Matt]

Yeah. Left tackle. Yeah.

[Jared Allen]

400 pounds, dude. And I'm like, oh, my gosh. And I think with Leonard, I mean, when the dude is that big and that strong, like, I was like, he's a much better guard.

[Matt]

Leonard Davis. Leonard Davis.

[Jared Allen]

Davis. Sorry. No.

[Matt]

Yeah, Leonard Davis.

[Jared Allen]

And dude was a. One of the nicest human beings ever. Yeah. And. But I mean, I was like. And I remember you guys kicked him out the tackle. I mean, he played guard, I think, in Dallas. I can't remember how ever went from tackle to guard, but at one point, he was a guard. I'm like, thank goodness he's in there. But he came out there, and I'm like, getting this dude's ham. Getting him. But he kept landing on me. Just turn the corner, I'd be right at Matt's feet, and he'd just land on me. I do. My ribs hurt. For two weeks afterwards, I was like, I can't breathe. I did hit him with an inside move and sacked sag matt in that game. But we were down 21. We were down 21. 14, I believe. And so we're sitting in the huddle, and Ty Law just looks around. He's like, all right, Jay, how you doing up there? I was like, man, I'm getting to him. Like, he's gonna. All right. And then he looks at Greg Wesley. He goes, hey, G. Cover Me deep. Because by the way, guys, I'm picking this ball off right now.

[Jerry]

Called his shot.

[Jared Allen]

This dude took one shuffle back, sat on an out rap, right? And he just.

[Matt]

I remember.

[Jared Allen]

And took it. And then we. Then we came back, tied the game. We were gonna score. Ty, I believe in him. I'm not sure if we won that. I don't remember.

[Matt]

You guys won. You guys won.

[Jared Allen]

Okay. Yeah, but I was like this. He. He just called that. He was like, I'm going to pick this ball up. He just said, all right. Hey, we know. We need. We need a turn. I'll take the ball right now.

[Matt]

Well, it would have been nice to know that.

[Jerry]

Was that your first read, Matt? Was that your first read?

[Matt]

I don't. I just remember.

[Jared Allen]

I don't.

[Matt]

I don't. I remember throwing it up the right. Yeah, it was like. It was to the right. And Ty's a Hall of Famer. I mean, Ty was just so smart. Yeah, he's so savvy. He was so smart. And that was late in the game, too.

[Jared Allen]

And then.

[Matt]

Then we did. We went on a drive. At the end, you guys were up. I think you won by three. You were up. And then we missed a field goal to tie.

[Jared Allen]

But, yeah, I was. I was just. I was like, this dude just called it. And I mean, he knew. He. I mean, we were in the huddle, so it wasn't like he saw the formation and was like, oh, there's a good chance of running an out route. He was in the huddle and he. His word, verbatim, was like, all right, you might as make sure you get. Get. Get as much pressure as possible. Safety, take me over the top. I'm sitting on this out route. I'm picking this ball off right now. Did you.

[Matt]

Did you have a. Did you. So. So my. I always. You always have, like, the welcome to the league moment, right? Mine was really probably the next week when Erlacher just. Blasphemy. You remember, Erlacher was just. They ran a lot of COVID too. He's in the middle. Was six, four.

[Jared Allen]

They all did. They gave you a zero look every single time.

[Matt]

I know they were. They were. They end up. They went to the super bowl that year. They lost to Peyton. And I just remember him just blasting me, dude. And I was just. I almost broke my wrist. I'm like, did you. You were 04, right? Was your. Did you have a moment like that? Whether it was a tackle or just someone just.

[Jared Allen]

Oh, dude. Yeah. That's what I was talking about in my hall of Fame speech, dude. So my rookie year, I, you know, I had. I had the pleasure and displeasure of practicing every day against Willie Rof, which, you know, again, Leonard Davis was about 385. I think they had him listed pushing 400. Yeah, Willie was right in that same range. But I mean, and then, and then the dude had feet sneakily could move and, and just was a monster. So we're doing a little half line drill. And I smacked really right underneath the chin. I locked him out. G West came down. I mean, murdered Priest Holmes in the hole. Right. Defense is like loving it. Coach for meal was pissed. The ticket to the super bowl, dog cusses the offense. And so, you know, that time. So Casey Wigman was our center. Brian Waters, who's in the, you know, Chief's ring of honor.

[Jerry]

Yeah.

[Jared Allen]

Perennial pro Bowler all pro guy. And then, you know, then, you know, big old Willie Rove, hall of Famer. So he's like, you got to do it again. So I'm like, oh, and mar. This time. So I, you know, I was, I played my first couple years around like 275, 280. They made me big before it slimmed down to like 255. And so I hit William again. Bam. Locked him out. All of a sudden, I'm going backwards and I can feel I'm like on my tippy toes. My feet are. Dang, you're off the ground. He just lifted me up, ran with me for like 5 yards, dumped me on my head, and as I tried to get up, speared me in the back. And I was just like, stay down. Oh, crap. Like, there's, there's levels to this, like, level.

[Matt]

And you're a big dude too.

[Jared Allen]

Everything, right. This guy still kicked my ass. And so that moment forth, I was like, I'm gonna make him my best friend. I asked Willie, I mean, I'm like, if I can figure out how to be Willie Ro, I'll have a long career in this league. And so that's what I did. I just, I was like picked his brain about everything, how to beat him out of this. But yeah, that was my moment. That. And it was like, okay, well, that's, that's the.

[Matt]

I got a lot of work to do.

[Jared Allen]

I'm right about here right now.

[Jerry]

So I want to ask you something about that run with the Chiefs, because also, I'm a huge gamer, right. You were my guy in Madden in that season with the Chiefs. And I still can't believe, like the. You don't really see especially Back then, like there was never tons of NFL trades of like big names. And the year you got traded to the Vikings, you, I think you tied for the lead in sacks or you had the lead sacks like, and like I said, you were my guy in Madden. So that's the trade for me. I remember like that happens in basketball and baseball all the time in the NFL, rarely. That was the first like shocking NFL trade to me. I just couldn't believe that you and me both. I was, that's what I say. Were you as well. I'm just, I'm. Again, I'm not trying to like re. Make you relive that because then you went on with the Vikings and it was, it was unbelievable.

[Jared Allen]

So you know, I got, you know, I never understood it. I got into, I got in trouble my, my third year right in, in you know, obviously preseason and you know, got a dui and so you know, was dealing with that. But I, you know, so I went to them and, and that's the part that was frustrating about that was. So I was only on a three year deal back then, you know, you, you know, Matt was probably on a four year, you know, first round pick quarterback or maybe a five. But back then it was like, you know, I'm fourth round pick, so I'm three year, trying to get, trying to get, you know, to free agency as fast as possible. So they had, they had tendered me, right? So after that third year, which would have been I guess been an 06 season, you know, got that trouble. But anyway, so I came to him, that office, I was like, hey, let me, let me prove to you guys that, you know, he's just a dumb kid making dumb mistakes, right. You know, did it, did all the class, did everything, ate the suspension, you know, you know, was in the program for two years. Didn't have a, you know, sip of alcohol for two years. You know, just let him like, hey listen, I was young, dumb, immature. Let's, let's, let's move on. So we're all good and good and so, but so they, you know, so I signed my tender. You know, that year they hit me with a first and third round tender. And so, but I told him I was like, if you guys try to franchise me, like we're gonna have problems, right? Yeah. And so no joke. And I and Dwight Freey, I, we, you know, every defensive end owes Dwight Freey the world. So we gave him, I gave, we gave them an offer. You know, at that time, you know, it was like a seven, you know, APY number because I think it would have made me like the fifth highest paid defensive end in the league. I mean, because, I mean, Jason Taylor at the time was only making like 8 million a year, right? And so I'll never forget, it was a. It was a six year, $42 million contract we put in front of them. And I'm in my mic. This is the most money I've ever seen in my life. Yeah, on a freaking ranch. And that was poor. So. And they're like, no, not happening. And they started like, oh, you know, he's at risk this, that. And they franchised me and I was like, oh, I'm like, so everything, you know, now they're trying to. Now they're just, you know, doing the whole media thing, playing things. And we were supposed to be on a conference call with, With Carl Peterson. And you know, we're sitting, me and my agent sitting on the phone with the. Denny Thom, who was the assistant GMA at the time. Like 20 minutes later, he's like, oh, Carl jumped on a plane and got. And he's out of the country now. I'm like, you guys scheduled this call? Like, we didn't schedule this call. So I just called and I was called Clark straight up. And I was like, hey, you know what? I think, you know, my time here is run. Run its course. I need to go. Someone that believes in me, obviously, and, you know, so here's your options. You can rent me for two years for 20 million. I'll pull my hamstring week, you know, week six, both years, and we can, we can go that route. And then, so they agreed to let me try to trade to. To Tampa. And we got, you know, obviously that they had to agree to it because I was still, you know, I was, I was under. I was. I was restricted, right? And so then Minnesota jumped in and, you know, that was. That was it. They had to give up all the picks and stuff like that. But yeah, it was. It was one of those things. We had to work hard behind the scenes to try to make it happen. And I was under the impression like, oh, there's no way. But during that time span, Dwight Freeney signs this massive deal, right? Becoming the highest defensive player ever. And we're all looking at our stats and I'm like, yep, that's market value.

[Jerry]

We got current market value, baby.

[Jared Allen]

But he did. And then every, you know, and then obviously the floodgates opened after that. But it was one. It was a crazy time, man. It was one of those things because coming from college as you know, Matt, like you're you back then to still. You're playing for loyalty, right? You know, I mean, I'm an Idaho State kid, so we're playing for championships, we're playing for our teammates. It's still like North Dallas 40. You're just out there. You're the biggest meat sticks, you know, just. We're just playing ball to play ball. And all of a sudden we had this just smack in the face of what the business side of football is. And, man, it was. It was tough, man. You got. You sit in these rooms and you get beat down. People telling me they want to sign you and pay you all this money, but then also telling you all your faults because their job is to get you at the lowest possible rate, right? And you're like, I'm sitting right here, people. I'm in the room, and I'm in the room. And so it was. It was nuts. And, and I, you know, I didn't know if I was going to go to Minnesota because they were trying to force the trade to Tampa. But then, you know, we knew Gruden was probably out of there soon, so, yeah, it was, it was crazy. And then, like you said, you just didn't see that happen. For the Minnesota to give up that many picks and the, the salary at the same time. I mean, now it happens, you know.

[Matt]

Quite often, but when you go back to Idaho State and you were obviously great there, and, and now you talk about the business now with Nil and college, which I'm sure you. It's just, it's wild, you know, me covering college football, I just saw it all the time. Hypothetically, you go back to your days there. Like, like, would you, you pro. Would you have chased money if someone threw a lot of money at you? One of the bigger schools. You talk about loyalty and commitment, but I think that's like, for sure gone.

[Jared Allen]

I've been gone.

[Matt]

You'd be gone.

[Jared Allen]

Yeah, I mean, I mean, come on, really? And you got kids talk. Because the NFL, especially knowing what you know now you don't get. NFL doesn't care about loyalty. You know, I actually had a phone call with a, with a parent of a kid that's in one double A and asking about that. Well, they want to be loyal. Why they're going to use that against you. They're going to use small schools against you. They're going to say, oh, why didn't you go and try to make a mark at a bigger school? I mean, let's be honest. Because Football is not guaranteed. So, you know, getting paid in football is not guaranteed. So if someone's going to put a million bucks in your. In your pocket as a young kid, hopefully you're smart enough to, you know, to not just blow it. But, yeah, I'm glad we didn't have it. I would have been dead. You would get.

[Matt]

I get asked all the time, and I'm thinking, like, shit, I don't know if I really wanted to have make money at that point, because that would have changed everything.

[Jared Allen]

I was making $436 a month on the stipend check, and I thought I was wealthy, you know what I mean? And we were living out of control on that, dude. I've done. I was.

[Matt]

I was telling you guys before, I just, you know, moved my. My son into college and they're getting paid now. Like, they're getting rev share, which is guaranteed money. Every month they get some nil that, you know, they have a shot to make real money. But I'm telling him, I said, listen, dude, I lived off a card and training table. And like, when I spent money on, like, like, I would check like, oh, I got 200. My bank account. Let's go get, like, a T shirt at, like, Lawson's. All that. Like, we were living the dream, dude. Now he's like, well, dad, I'm only making. I'm like, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, that's not. No, you're gonna live off that little credit card. You're gonna go to freaking Chipotle and all the places that you can eat for free all week. Because that's how we did it, man. But, yeah, it's just a different world.

[Jared Allen]

I was jealous because, you guys, the big schools had training table, we didn't have training table. So we had to choose. We either had to choose our stipend, right, or live on campus, where you got to go to the cafeteria on your meal card, right? But you couldn't have both. So if you lived off campus. So my 436. So no joke, my 436 was my. My. My freshman year, so I had to live in door for freshman year. So my sophomore year, I got 520. By my senior year, I was like, oh, this is. Oh, yeah. 80 buck increase.

[Jerry]

Eating good, baby. Eating good.

[Jared Allen]

And. But yet we had to pay rent and feed ourselves. Yeah, and that's wild, man. Yeah, we had no dude there. I. I was. I was another problem. Like, you know what? Because I. I had committed to University of Washington and all that stuff. I Thought I was going, you know, pack 12. I pack 10 at the time, back then, right? And. And I'm like, well, Idaho State is gonna be great. This. I'm gonna be big fish, small pond. It's gonna be just, you know, football central. And that was. I couldn't have been more wrong out there. You have to go to school, sir. But, you know, we could have been teammates because my sophomore year coach up Oressa, left Idaho State and went to USC and became the online coach there. And so they offered me a scholarship. And because I. Well, I had my. So I had my. I still had my red shirt because I didn't. Red shirt, right. And so I was like, yeah, I'm in. He's like, but back then, we'd have the transfer portal, so you had to go and get. Your coach had to release you, and they wouldn't give me my release. He's like, no, I'm not releasing my best.

[Jerry]

That's a pretty big what if, right? That's a great what if.

[Jared Allen]

And so, you know, I was like, okay, now, so you can still leave. But you couldn't accept money. And at the time, like, we laugh. I mean, now it's cheap, right? USC at the time was 18, 000 a semester, right? And I was like, we can't afford 18.

[Matt]

Was that 03? Would that have been 03?

[Jared Allen]

Would have been. No, would have been 02. So my. So, well, 2000, 2001. So I graduated 2000. 2001 was my first year. And then. So I was. Came out. I was like 13, mall American my sophomore year. So it was after my sophomore year, you know, all the preseason, all American stuff, and so. Oops. Bales, right? And I remember he was our oper coordinator, and he was like, call me. And then he's like, you got. You got to let me know. He's like, I got to get the scholarship with someone else if you can't take it. I was like, well, talk to Lou.

[Matt]

I wonder who. I wonder who got that scholarship.

[Jared Allen]

I don't know. Yeah, I was. I'll never forget sitting in the office and my coach is like, nope, ain't happening. And I was like, well, I guess I better. Better make doing what I got here. So. Which probably for the best. You know what I mean? Who knows what happens? You go, you get. You get to an sc, you're, you know, red shirt and you're probably, you know, I, you know, I end up with great D line coaches, so. But yeah, that's always my. My client affair. Me and would laugh about it. Ryan, I was like, could have been teammates, bud.

[Matt]

Yeah, I see Ryan all the time. You could have. What was I gonna say? Oh, Coach Ogeron, Coach Ojron would have been your D line coach.

[Jared Allen]

Okay. Was he. Was he the D line?

[Matt]

He was our D line. He took the Ole Miss head coaching job.

[Jared Allen]

You.

[Matt]

You would have been already gone in 04. But he was a D line coach for all. I mean, he was great. He was a nut, though.

[Jared Allen]

You guys were. I mean, sc.

[Matt]

That was. We were rolling that era.

[Jared Allen]

Yeah, I'm good. It had to be. I mean, close to a decade. You guys ruled the Pac 10. I wanted to go to UW.

[Matt]

Washington was great too. They had Tuyasa, Sopo and those guys.

[Jared Allen]

Yeah. Once I realized I didn't have anywhere near the graves to get into Notre Dame to play for Lou Holtz, I was like, all right, better bring it back closer to home.

[Matt]

Oh, man, what if that been cool. Wendy's really outdid themselves with these new biggie deals. At $4, $6 and $8, the new Biggie deals are bigger and biggier than ever. I know what you're thinking. How could the Biggie get even bigger and better?

[Jerry]

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[Matt]

Feeling something medium, get yourself a $6 Biggie Bag with JBC, four piece nuggets, a small soft drink and a Junior Fry. If you want to go full Biggie, you can get the $8 Biggie bundle with your choice of two sandwiches, a small soft drink and a Junior fry.

[Jerry]

The choice is yours for a pretty Biggie deal. Gotta be Wendy's. U.S. price of participation may vary. Single items at regular price, prices may be higher in Alaska, California and Hawaii.

[Annie Agar]

Guys, it's officially playoff season. And we know what that means. Our weekends are booked and played around kickoffs. What spot on the couch is the lucky one and hoping your neighbors ignore the yelling?

[Matt]

When you're yelling at the tv, everybody can get it. Refs, the coach, even the quarterback. But while you're losing it and pacing during the first drive, you need something to keep you going. And Twisted Tea is the answer.

[Jerry]

And Twisted tea is a refreshing hard iced tea made with real brewed tea and 5% alcohol. Which means it tastes like iced tea because it is iced. Tea, just with a little kick, no.

[Annie Agar]

Carbonation, super smooth, full of flavor. Perfect for that stressful moment when your kicker's lining up for a 44 yarder with the season on the line. Too soon?

[Matt]

Yeah.

[Jerry]

Sorry, Baltimore. It happens to all of us.

[Matt]

Twisted tea keeps the good times going all postseason long. So crack one open season, settle in, and remember, your team might stress you out, but your drink shouldn't.

[Annie Agar]

So grab a twisted tea today and keep the playoffs twisted.

[Jared Allen]

Close your eyes, exhale, feel your body relax and let go of whatever you're carrying today. Well, I'm letting go of the worry that I wouldn't get my new contacts.

[Annie Agar]

In time for this class.

[Jerry]

I got them delivered free from 1-800-contacts.

[Annie Agar]

Oh my gosh, they're so fast.

[Jared Allen]

And breathe. Oh, sorry. I almost couldn't breathe when I saw.

[Annie Agar]

The discount they gave me on my first order. Oh, sorry. Namaste.

[Jared Allen]

Visit 1-800contacts.com today to save on your first order.

[Jerry]

1-800-Contacts. How much? Because, you know, I know you got kids and you got a lot of things going on. How much NFL do you currently watch, if any? Again, because I know, like I said, the minute you have kids, all bets are off. But what you could actually sit down and watch because I'm going somewhere at this question. But I wanted to gauge that first.

[Jared Allen]

You know what? More honestly, more the last, probably like six months. Ish. You know, this last season more than I have. You know, when I first retired, I didn't watch any. But you know, just enough. Especially when you're kind of, you know, constantly with. Through the hall of Fame stuff and you're doing interviews. You don't want to sound like a complete idiot. So just enough to like catch up. But I very seldom do I get a chance to watch a full game, like playoffs. I'll try to watch a game or two here, but a lot of times it's just kept, you know, keeping up on, you know, what the scores are, box scores, you know, so I got my buddies, the GM over at Denver. So I keep up with them, obviously, keep up with the Vikings and cheers and stuff like that. So enough to know what's going on, but not enough to, you know.

[Jerry]

Right. Were you tracking at all the Miles Garrett. Because look, I, I am so happy Aaron Rodgers went on the record in that video and said that was 100 it's. And when you. I watched it since I like he said that. And I watched that play a million times. Like you were the only person to affect that play anyway. Like you were on them. You, your only person that touch him.

[Jared Allen]

Like he reestablished possession, right? Even though he had the muff, he reestablished possession and he could have thrown it. That's where that was my argument. And they gave it to me that day and then they took it from me on Wednesday. But it's great, you know, and every year has this. I mean, you can go back to, you know, Reggie White when they had 14 games, right? But you could go back to, you know, so when I first got a league, a mu. Like a snap over the head, first person to touch him got the sack.

[Jerry]

That was a sack.

[Jared Allen]

Yeah, I mean, and then you. Even you. So then they switched it. Now, it used to be like, let's say, you know, a guy had full tack, you know, if you caused the fumble, you used to get the sack, right? It didn't matter. Now sometimes split it or now they'll say, hey, this guy, we came in late caused the fumble. He already, you know, now first contact tennis gets the sack. So there's been, I mean, I lost probably a handful of things over the years from half sex here after, but that one, yeah, but I always laugh at the one. You know, this is my own dumb fault. In that same game, I hit Aaron on a blitz, right? And I thought he was down and I went off and celebrated. Well, he stayed up, I guess.

[Jerry]

And Antoine, he didn't go down.

[Jared Allen]

And Antoine Winfield got the sack. And I was like, oh, I thought I had three in that game. And I then Wednesday I had one, I was like, what, what happened? But yeah, no, Miles Garrett. I am a massive fan of Miles Garrett. I, I think, you know, I like about him because we're in this world of college football, there's everybody specialized, right? And you see the trend of everybody wants to go these hybrid type defenses and have these, you know, fast rush coverage guys. And, And Miles still predominantly plays the right side, right? He's predominantly going to go against the best tackle. And he's on a team where, you know, he's the guy. So, you know, to be able to sustain the level he sustained, being that guy in those conditions, that league, that environment, and to do, I mean, honestly, it's just if you don't respect talent, then, you know, then you're not a true competitor and you're not, you know, you don't truly love the game. And so for me, any record I hold, I hope, I hope a worthy adversary, you know, you'll beats it. You know, somebody comes along that, that loves the game, that I'm A fan of puts forth the effort and, and that's what Miles does. And like I said, I mean the dude's a four down player, you know, I mean the guy that, that can go down and play at three technique and probably be a beast. He reminds me a lot of the Julius Peppers who I'm massive fan of. Um, and so, you know, watching him chase it, I honestly, I thought he was going to hit 30. I mean he had, I think he had 10 in three weeks.

[Jerry]

Yes, yes.

[Jared Allen]

And I'm just like, this is, this is an insane pace. And then you're looking and I'm like, and then they're playing Pittsburgh and you saw what happened in the playoff game, right? Their line wasn't the best. And I'm like, this guy might have five. And you know, my guy Aaron, my guy Aaron didn't let it happen.

[Matt]

Yeah, I was, I was telling Jerry this week, I'm like, like just to your point, there's only like the true art and you're one of the best to do it. I, I, I want to pick your brain on this, but like you kind of look at a guy like Max Crosby, who's there, Miles Garrett, it's almost a rare breed now because it is so much hybrid now. A lot like even Micah Parsons is fantastic. But he can stand up, right? He can play coverage, he does a lot of things. So it's like, I don't say it's a dying breed, but it is kind of nice when you see just an old school DM put his hand in the dirt and just go one on one against a tackle. Like, it gives me chills just thinking about it.

[Jared Allen]

I got chills just now thinking about it too.

[Matt]

Dwight Freey, you know, back in the day too.

[Jared Allen]

And it's crazy. So I, Michael Parsons is a stud, like absolute damn. What I look at guys too is, is, you know, I, I, I look at their tackles. Be honest with you, right? And I'm like, you gotta try to at least have 40 plus tackles on top of those sacks, right? You see guys that got 15 sacks and got 20 tackles. You're like, so what? 45 plays of the year? I know, I know it's not relative to just that they're making impacts, but I like guys that are trying to make impacts across the board, right? The reason I played D line was to make have first crack at every play. I didn't want to be known as a passer. I'm a football player, right? I'm a defensive football player and that's what I see with guys like, you know, you know, Michael Parsons, you know, Max Crosby, the Garrison World, and, And even, you know, you know, TJ Watt and stuff like that. But you're right. So the problem, the reason is the hybrid. People go to hybrid because, you know, you look at Sean Merriman when he first came in, remember? So the Chargers were really kind of that first really aggressive. Three, four. I know they weren't, but, you know, you had Sean Phillips and Merriman, and our offensive line would count them as linebackers, so they weren't big. So a lot of times you're full sliding. So let's say they say Sean Phillips is the, is the big. So they're going to slide to him. Now Merriman's one on one with a back and as you know, backs and that back then weren't. You can't. You're not supposed to cut. The back is not supposed to cut because the fear of the, you know, the, the linebacker going into the quarterback's knees. And so I'm like, these dudes are getting one on one blocks with running backs. We're taking the chest. I'm getting cut by every running back. Normal man. I'm trying to figure it out, you know, am I jumping?

[Matt]

Yeah, you're right.

[Jared Allen]

And so I used to get so frustrated on the matchups they would create. And so to your point, to see Miles and see guys that are, you know, going against bigs, going against the best, you know, and I, I'm. I'm one of those rare people. And then again, me and Max have communicated over the years a little bit. I think Max could be even better. I think there's some stuff he could do that that could, that could, that could clean up. And I say that with all due respect. I think there's some things that, you know, he could really take advantage of. How fast twitch he is and what. And how lengthy he is to set up some more of his. His rushes. And he could. I mean, those guys look like they can get to a game, you know, and so I like watching some of those new school guys that have the old school mentality. Micah has that when he lines up and he's that added, like you said, but he can come from the middle, he can come from wherever, and he creates a matchup nightmare, which as a defensive coordinator, you love. But as a purist, again, best. Best in. Get on the right side, go against the left tackle, and let's see. And then from an offensive standpoint, if you have to chip on the left Side, you got a weak left tackle, you need a new guy.

[Matt]

I, I, so I, I want to ask you, and I hope maybe we're going to blast this out. I hope young pass rushers watch this because when you, when you watch, you know, as a quarterback, your film study is a lot and you know, you're getting tells and defenses. All that for you when you watch film and when you went against maybe certain tackles. Just take us through your mindset on how you went into a game every week and how you were going to attack that tackle one on one.

[Jared Allen]

Yeah. So you obviously film study is massive, right? And you know, that's kind of what I tell young guys too. I'm like, you have to know like how, how to practice is, is huge, you know, but you also have to understand yourself. So first off, know what your strength is, right? So I tell you to have one move and a counter move. You know, you can have a progression to how you get there, like with your long arm progressions and stuff like that and, and leverage the technique. But it's really. So for me it's, it's fully understanding the basics of my alignment and my get off first and foremost, right? Those are the two most important things and understanding where that tackle is going to go. So my first thing I want to watch on a tackle is how is he set? Which is he an angle A, which I would call, which would be straight back, or is he an angle B where he's coming out at a 45, right? Is he a rhythm puncher? So is he gonna, is he gonna give me the same set over and over and over? And then, you know, then how does he play into. I don't, I'm one of those guys, like, I don't watch, I don't like watching films of them kicking the crap out of somebody. I want to see how they get beat and then do I have that in my repertoire to beat them? And if I don't, okay, crap, well, I'm not gonna go learn a new skill set, right? And I think that's the thing a lot of young pass rushers do. They tried to change their skill set to try to beat the tack, you know, to be better at the tackle versus how do I set this tackle up to make my skill set better? And so again, just, just watching their rhythm watch. And then in run game, again you run game tape is, is really important too, because if I watch a guy getting beasted in the run game or if a guy comes off the line and he, and he has to Move his arms and expose his chest before he can move. I'm like, he's got bad feet, right? So now we can take advantage of his feet. And then, so after your stance, you start. My first, my first priority, no matter what, I got to capture the inside half, right? I got to kill the inside half of that body. So the other mistake guys make is they try to kill the outside. They think the outside half is, is the problem. So they're going to rush, try to knock that outside arm down, you know, try to run the corner. Not understanding what they're trying to do. But all that tackle has to do then is just, you know, kind of drop, step open and run them around the corner. And, you know, they'll, they'll willfully, yeah, it's getting a tackle. You're going to run eight yards deep, that's fine. The quarterback better step up, right? So then understanding how I, you know, where my contact points are, how I got to set that, you know, that tackle up to shut down his inside half so then I can shorten the corner, right? Trap an arm on that, and that's something like that. So, you know, that's kind of, that's always a progression I went through. And so for me, anybody that was going to give me their hand, they were dead in the water. That was my, my bread and butter hand fighting, being able to set someone up, grab an elbow, flip hips, you know, I trained MMA for like eight, eight years, eight seasons with jiu jitsu and stuff like that, which was fantastic for pass rushing. And then, and then the other, you know, then like, so, you know, take now go the other side. If I got something that's just kind of sloppy in my way, which are the hardest ones to go, sometimes guys are just bad in your way or there's drifting straight back. So now I have to, now I have to mess with my, with my alignment, right? So as a dn, width and depth is my issue, right? So as a D tackle, you have a depth issue. As a defense fan, I got whipped in depth, right? So how far am I off the ball and how wide am I? And so you mess with that. So for me, I want to try to get as tight as I can get without affecting his set. So if that tackle is going to kick out to me wide every time, right, how tight can I get to him to where he's going to kick? So on my third step, he's already overset me and I'm going inside. And so those are the different angles you play. And then you know, going through your long arm progression, if a guy's not going to be heavy with his hands, you got to go through your long arm progressions on that. But which really just then gets. It forces him into a hand fight, right? And so yeah, that's, that's how that still film study works. And it's just frame by frame, play by play watching, you know, watching, you know, then on a grander spin is understanding the totality of the offense. Right. You know, how can I. The best way for a young passer, if you can, if you can get a tip on a play action pass, game over.

[Matt]

Over.

[Jared Allen]

If I can jump to a nine technique when you guys think I'm going to be head up in an eight, it's just that Titan has no chance. But. Yeah, but that's why I love the game and that's why even you said it's far for me. It really is.

[Matt]

I love it.

[Jared Allen]

It's a science to it, right? It is a violent science. And that's the other thing is, is young guys gotta understand there is massive contact in pass rushing. And if you're afraid of that, then you're just gonna, you're gonna be one of those guys. You might have a year, good year or two and then you're gonna get washed out because the offensive linemen are just going to attack you.

[Matt]

Jerry. How special is that right there?

[Jerry]

Did you understand anything?

[Matt]

It's like football porn, man. It's, it's the greatest thing in the world, man.

[Jerry]

I just feel like we got the Jared Allen pass rushing camp audio.

[Jared Allen]

We're gonna get there. Oh yeah, you know, I guess so. I did, I did. I went up to Denver. I worked with those guys a couple years ago doing some consulting work and just working with the guys with Bonito and Cooper and them and, and Jamar can at the, the D line and Pastorish coach up there, he was new then and so worked with him and stuff like that. But that, that's the part I love because it is, it is an absolute science. And you take like a Nick Bonito, I mean he's one of the, this dude, he's got like that Dwight spring, you know, Remember how fast Dwight was? Like he was running like a fourth.

[Jerry]

Spin move was and you're just like.

[Jared Allen]

Oh my gosh, like this is insane.

[Matt]

And Nick's not that tall, right?

[Jared Allen]

No, he's taller than Dwight. I think he's probably like 6 3, 6 2, 63 maybe.

[Matt]

Yeah, but it's small for, you know, it's not as yeah, yeah, he's not. Dwight was. I told Jerry Dwight was five, 11, maybe max. And like, just.

[Jerry]

That's crazy.

[Matt]

Yeah, it was, what he did was unbelievable.

[Jared Allen]

Oh, it was insane what he did. Like, guys like Jonathan Ogden were so hard for me, right. Because he's taller than me. We're lever. I mean, just, he's. It's an awkward pass rush and the way Dwight could just close that, that hit space and put him on his heels and then spin 13 different times was, was impressive. But you know, you get to a guy like Bonito and that's where I'm like, you know, for him, we have just been like, dude, you are so talented, so fast, so quick. If you, if you have great technique, nobody will stop you. And I think that's the big thing. Guys lose when they, when they, when they try to rely on their athleticism. And you don't go through, down the rabbit hole of what, what football is about right at each position. How. And, and if you do that, and now you take away those little micro, you know, half step here, half second here, this, that and the other, that's where guys become dangerous. And to bring it full circle back to what my Miles Garrett does, I mean, just look at that last rush he had. People can say, oh, Joe Burrow stepped up, laid down. I mean, Joe Burrow was either getting sacked by Miles and sacked by that D tackle, but did you not see his stance? I mean, his start was. He was off the ball, no problem. That dude dipped around that corner. That tackle had no, there was nothing that tackle to do. He made that corner so short. And he did it by, by taking away that hip cushion and not allowing space for that tackle recover. It was beautiful. And, and so I look back at those guys like that and I'm like, you know, well deserved. And so hope the young guys, you know, are getting taught technique at a young level too. I was blessed to have great coaches and. Because that's, because that's what's going to happen. I mean, that's happened. We have to be the, we have to be the counterpoint to you guys, right? You have a great quarterback. You have to have someone that can neutralize that.

[Jerry]

All right, so each week we do a, a Wendy's Fresh Take of the Week segment. And we like to loop in our guests here because my question for you for our Fresh Take of the Week is who are some of the past rushers that you watched as a young guy, whether high school, college, or even when you first got into the NFL, who were Some of the past rushers you admired that you just had to get a look at.

[Jared Allen]

Oh, that's a long list. I'll tell you who I wasn't allowed. I got banned from watching Dwight Freeney film.

[Jerry]

Okay.

[Jared Allen]

I got banned. Funny story, my second year I came into OTAs and we were in one on ones. And we're not supposed to be doing one on ones and OTAs, but we were and I threw a spin move and my coach, God rest his soul, Bob Carmelo, he dog cussed me. He's like, you Gumby mother. You're leveraged that you don't know. If you. If I ever see you watching another Dwight for. If you ever throw a spin move when you don't get chipped, you're on the. You're done. I'm firing you. I was not against that move guy. But like you said, Peppers are you. So I, I like watching guys that, you know, that I. That were technique we were similar to. Right. So Jason Taylor. Huge fan of Jason Taylor. Obviously Bruce Smith. Growing up, I watched a ton of film of Leslie o' Neill and Derek Thomas. When I first got to Derek Thomas. Yeah. That's how I learned how to get off the ball. Right. So Derek Thomas, I mean, I was like, how does he get off the ball so fast?

[Matt]

So.

[Jared Allen]

And. And Matt, you got. You might know that you do this. Actually a question for you. Do you guys even know that quarterbacks do this? But almost 90 of all quarterbacks drop their bottom hand right before they're ready to get the ball. Right. Like, you know, it's that bottom.

[Matt]

Yeah. You have a feel.

[Jared Allen]

Yeah, yeah. And so we. I go off the hands. And so I would always go off the quarterback's hands. Never. And Peyton was the only one I ever saw like on two would drop his hand, try to get.

[Matt]

So you never really watched the ball, you just watched the hand.

[Jared Allen]

Never. Because you watching the ball, you're already late, right?

[Matt]

Yeah.

[Jared Allen]

And so I. And I learned that from Derek Thomas. I was like, how does he get out the ball so fast? My coach is like, he's watching their hands. So I would just. In practice, we would just study hands, hands, hands. And. And you know, that's another thing on. On watching quarterbacks, right? Does he drop his hand? Does he have a tell like Drew Brees will have like on pass plays, foot sneaks back a little further. Right. So, you know, guys like that were. Were instrumental. And then, you know, massive fan of Chris Dolman. I mean, Dolman was another just. He was light years ahead of his time. And then, you know, during, during the year, like I said I would, I would. You know, it was Peppers, it was, it was demarcus Warehouse. You know, really try to watch as much as those guys, Jason Taylor, when he was playing of those long, you know, long leverage technique. Guys that are gonna, that are gonna work that process. And so. But yeah, I mean, there's, there's so many greats, you know, there, there really is. I mean, Reggie White, I mean, you just want to watch him as a fan. I couldn't do anything. Reggie White. I tried to throw a hump one time, I blew my shoulder out. I was like, okay, that's not for me. For me, we're gonna put that one in the bag.

[Jerry]

But yeah, you just described it in like a poker player way with the tells, man. Like, it's really like reading someone in a poker. It's like a chess game tell. And when you find that tell, you don't want to let the opponent know you got it. It's like rounders.

[Jared Allen]

And the silent count is the best. And you know, we picked up on a silent count tell playing my, I guess my second year playing. And so I'm all excited. I mean, it was rhythmic, right? Head up th. One snap. You know, I get three sacks that game. So they asked me in the media afterwards and I'm like, man, my coach told us about the head bob and I, I just spilled the beans. He was like, shut up. He's like, when you know something, don't tell anybody. They're gonna change it. But yeah, silent count and then, I mean, things like a lot, you know, guys pick up at it more now probably, but the play clock is your best friend, especially in the, in like a two minute drill or anything. I mean, if that play clock's under three, I'm going on the first sound, right? If I'm off it is what it is. Guys don't. You know, that's the other thing too. Guys don't really realize hard counts in the red zone, especially, like, only, I guess you'd call it lower red zone, Matt. Right. 10 and in 10. And if you get caught on a hard count down there, what you're gonna, you know, especially inside the five. I'm going exactly, yeah, I'm going on first down every time because it's, you know, they lose five yards, what they gain? A yard and a half. Yeah, so it's those, it's those, those vet things. And I had great vets that, you know, taught us along the way. But that's again, little skill sets you learned when I was watching films of these greats, right. You look at Bruce Smith, yeah, he had 200 sacks, but you know how many disruptive plays he had? You know, I mean, that Bill's team was great. He had Bryce popping, you know, Cornelius better from a linebacker standpoint. So, you know, again, that, that question. I know, I just.

[Matt]

Are you kidding?

[Jerry]

You're giving. This is like, this is gems right here.

[Jared Allen]

It's a, it's. It's such a. It's such a complex thing because you start going down like one. One guy leads you to the next guy. Right. At least for me it did. Like, you know, you're like, oh my gosh, this dude. And then, you know, you see something. Then. Then all of a sudden you hear Deacon Jones talking trash about Reggie White. You're like, now I got to see what Deacon Jones is all about. And then you have mean Joe Green, who, you know, you hear other players talk about him. And like I said, this is the first time I got to meet him in person, you know, was in Canton. And the nicest guy ever. It was fantastic. But you hear stories about how he came in as a rookie and dudes were genuinely afraid of him. You just like to be able to instill that type of, you know, prowess and just, just control over another grown man is fantastic. So those are the guys I loved watching.

[Matt]

Well, dude, we could. Before we let you go, we could listen you. We could talk ball all day, man. This has been awesome. We do want to switch to curling. Okay. Because I think I know you. I know you're. You're into it. You are like fully invested, world class curler. Just the backstory. And then also I'm actually curious. Will you, will you go to the Olympics? The Winter Olympics coming up to see. To be a part of it?

[Jared Allen]

No, I won't. So I won't be at the Olympics, unfortunately. I had a chance to be on Corey Dropkins team this couple years ago as an alternate and the USOPC blocked it for some reason, I guess they didn't want. Why did they block.

[Jerry]

I don't like them. Everyone's messing up.

[Jared Allen]

I wasn't a part of their program. Right. That's. That was the gist of it. And so, so. But you know, I competed. Goodness. So I put long story short, I took a bet from a buddy to try to make the Alumni Olympics.

[Matt]

Right.

[Jared Allen]

We chose curling. I went. And then once I'm one of those persons, like one. I'm in. I'm all in. So I hired like Olympic coaches and you know, guys to come out and train me here. Mark Bulger opened up a curling facility here. Oh yeah, ice. And we're just like just constantly rolling and then, you know, covet hit. So teams changed, but me and our skip, Jason Smith stayed together and we played on a bunch of teams. I think I've been to four nationals. I think fifth was the top. We finished or something like that. And then, so then I ended. I had an opportunity to invest in a company like me, Kittle Hawkinson and all those guys. We, we invested in this company up out of Canada who we own the Grand Slams of curling, right? So Grand Slams of curling are like like the majors of golf, right? There's five events you have to be top 15 in the world to participate in. And so we had our very first Grand Slam in the United States ever. I summer up in Tahoe, Lake Tahoe. So I helped connect that and get that put together. So they called me. I, I didn't curl for a year after not getting, you know, put on Dropkins team. And then the format for the trials kind of changed. It used to be eight teams and it went to six and it was four and so there was really no chance but not having my team put together. And so Buddy, his CEO, he's like, hey, you want to, you want to curl in the, in the slam? And Tom. And I'm like, well, yeah, I guess so. I haven't curled in a year. Might as well go play against the best player in the world. Why not?

[Matt]

Do you get, do you get nervous for that? Is that like, like, is it the same feel as being on a football field?

[Jared Allen]

You know what, dude, if you're a competitor, right, I always said there's two types of flutters. Guys that are going to, you know, get punched in the face and keep coming back and you know, let's have you have that self confidence that hey, I can, I can figure this out and get it done. And there's that there's those guys and you know, I mean they're in the league. Like they get shook, right? Or they, they, they. Something bad happens about the highest level and they're like, oh. Or they don't want to risk it because they don't want to expose themselves potentially not being good, right? So I've never had that. I don't get nervous in the sense of like, I'm just like, well, my whole philosophy is I will not be the reason we lose. And that's my mindset. Like I Might not be the best. I dang sure won't be the worst. And. And so, you know, I ended up. I mean, now my team was pretty stacked. My buddy Jason, who was the 2010 Olympian, and then Johnny Morris and Wayne Mada, who are two of the greatest Canadian curlers ever. Both like multiple gold medals, like multiple world champions, but none of us had curled in, like, over a year in years. And so we're like, well, screw it. So we. We practiced for like three weeks. We went out there, first game, we. We tied the number five team in the world, and that's our hat on. And we were not. I played fantastic. I think I need 9% for the whole tournament. But we. It was just a buzz sauce. So we played. We played White from Scotland. They are the top five team in the world. Then we had to play a Dean, the Swedish team, you know, who wins every gold medal known to man. And then we had to play Mowatt, which is the number one team in the world. They just won the world championships. And we had some chances, but we had a last. I love.

[Matt]

Awesome, man.

[Jerry]

Swedes are the heavy favorites going into the Olympics, right?

[Jared Allen]

Remember the Scots? Probably so. Moet's really, really good, those guys. And. And these. These countries are putting, like, building massive facilities now around curve.

[Jerry]

Oh, I'm watching. You've inspired by the.

[Jared Allen]

So much fun we got him because. Because we're watching. I'm like, all right. Most people start at the age of 40. I'm like, cool, that works. The loser. The winners have to buy the loser's beer. I'm like, I'm in. Let's. Let's work for me. So. But yeah, so now we're kicking a league off. You know, we start. We start the Rock League right here after the Olympics. Little spring league for curling. But, yeah, it's. It's a massive growing sport. And the company we got, you know, is fantastic with a whole bunch of, you know, media. It's a, you know, content around. Curling is great as well, so. But a great sport. It's fun. It's. It's challenging, but, yeah, that's how I got into it. And then I'm all it, dude.

[Jerry]

Can't thank you enough, man. This was truly. As a guy, like, I always admired watching as a fan, this was awesome to have you on. And, man, you're gonna get lots of calls. We had, like, when are you gonna come coat? You're gonna get lots of coaching calls after your.

[Jared Allen]

I like Sean. No, so no joke. Sean Payton a couple years ago, we're on. We're on spring break. He's like, I'm sure.

[Jerry]

Yeah.

[Jared Allen]

Hey, you want to. You to want. Want to come coach in Denver, Be our passenger guy? And I was like, like, what hours are we talking about?

[Matt]

Yeah, I like my life.

[Jerry]

I like my life.

[Matt]

Does he give you.

[Jared Allen]

Talking about and how. What are the hours? And he was like, well, typically, you know, I was like, so he's like, well, it's hybrid.

[Annie Agar]

Let's just get.

[Jared Allen]

Let's just bring you in, you know, a couple days a week. You know, we'll figure it out and you'll see if you like it. And dudes are there till like, 10, 11 o' clock at night. I was like, my kids, like, put, like, you know, I put my kids to bed. My wife's like, yeah, I'm. We're not hiring a. You know, we've never had a babysitter or name. Like, we're not hiring them now. Like, what? No. Like, we're not having other people drive our kids to sporting events because you're working till midnight. And I. So I was like, I have no problem helping out. I love teaching the art of pass rushing, but the idea of having to be there unless it was a head coaching job where I could set my own hours and everybody was home by 5. I'm good.

[Matt]

Yeah.

[Jerry]

Well, you're.

[Matt]

Appreciate you, man.

[Jerry]

Thank you. Enough.

[Matt]

This is so fun.

[Jared Allen]

My pleasure. But I know I got. I got to get your perspective, though, on Matt from college football, though. A. I know. Why would Notre Dame not play? Why would they not play?

[Matt]

Oh, what, the bowl game?

[Jared Allen]

Yeah.

[Matt]

Yeah. I don't know.

[Jared Allen]

And then how do you correct the coaching situation? I mean, the nil thing is. But let's be honest, it was. Precedent was set by no coach ever having to honor their contract. The link, of course, absolutely absurd.

[Matt]

I know. And he's done. I mean, I love Lane. I had Lane at usc and he's kind of done that everywhere. I think the biggest thing is, like, just the calendar. The way the calendar is set where you have these situations that arise and there's nothing you could do about it. Even. Like, we were just talking about it this week. The national championship game was earlier. You know, earlier. And it was like three weeks off. And next. Next year, the national title game is like January 25th weekend, which is like. It's absurd. So, like, the calendar. Yeah, the calendar of like, the coaching. The portal. Now, there's only one portal, which just closed earlier this month. But. But I'm with you, man. Like the, the, the, the calendar, they're neat. What's going to happen, Jared, is there's going to be a commissioner, just like the NFL, there's going to be a players union. And that's the way I think it get all. Gets fixed. Some of all the others.

[Jared Allen]

You heard what Utah is trying to do, right? Yeah, Utah was talking to private equity.

[Matt]

To come buy a football team, which is.

[Jerry]

Yeah, it's wild to think that.

[Matt]

I will say this though. It's all of this like, like kind of quote unquote negative stuff. Like the game is still unbelievable. And the parody with, with Indiana, the parody has never been better, which I think is awesome for the game. But yeah, they need to fix some of the other stuff. And the coaches and players leaving every year and all, they're just like thousand. There's four or five thousand kids that got stuck in the portal because they thought they had another place to go at the end, which is sad.

[Jared Allen]

That never gets talked about, right?

[Matt]

It doesn't. Yeah.

[Jared Allen]

Because you're done then, right?

[Matt]

You lost your scholarship from the previous school. Maybe you go to JC or maybe. Yeah, it's just like it's. Yeah, there's a lot, there's, there's. There, there's a lot of negative, there's a lot of positive and hopefully we can kind of clean all that up. But. Yeah, man, appreciate you, brother.

[Jared Allen]

Yeah. Well, I'll be, I'll be listening to your tutelage to know what happens next. You guys have a good one.

[Jerry]

Okay? Annie Agar joining us courtesy of Twisted Tea. As she always does, grab a refreshing Twisted Tea today, Annie. I know for our listening audience, Annie is wearing a hoodie that looks like it's like a Michael Jordan Air. Jordan. Jordan hoodie.

[Annie Agar]

Thank you.

[Jerry]

And the Jumpman is kind of Jordan love. So that's what we're doing.

[Annie Agar]

I mean, it is a little love underneath, so it's literally Jordan love. So I think it's the coolest thing.

[Jerry]

Is this in response, whoever made this hoodie to the fact that Caleb actually has the football jump, man. And this is a little.

[Annie Agar]

Yeah, that's right. I forgot about that. That fourth down throw, he looked.

[Jerry]

Is that sour grape? Caleb has the. Caleb has the throw.

[Annie Agar]

You know, I'll just say I didn't. And the wind show up on my TikTok shop until after that throw. So I don't know.

[Matt]

Is that, Is that from TikTok Shop?

[Annie Agar]

It is.

[Matt]

By the way, they get you every time they.

[Annie Agar]

Every time it's curated to just to get Those little things that you don't need, but you also need.

[Jerry]

So what do you mean? I bought this whole contraption that's going to make my jaw stronger. I have to like, chew on this piece of rubber. Apparently that's going to make my jaw stronger. That was an Instagram buy.

[Annie Agar]

I need to know. I feel like there's a whole story behind that because I've never seen those before.

[Jerry]

Well, before we get to our twisted trivia, we got to talk about a couple of things today. First and foremost, is it now over for coaches to be first ballot hall of Famers and Bill Polian who everyone said, which a joke, by the way.

[Matt]

That's a joke.

[Jerry]

Doesn't Bill Polian kind of need to show his vote, though, to prove his innocence? Because everyone blamed him. And I was like, what do we mean? I voted for him?

[Annie Agar]

I need to know. And maybe you guys know, or maybe Matt, what is the reasoning? Is it because of the whole, like, cheating allegations?

[Jerry]

The flake Gates Spygate were apparently big.

[Annie Agar]

What would be their reasoning for not having him be first about.

[Matt]

I listen, I listen to the shows and our buddy, my buddy Peter Schrager, who's awesome, kind of broke it down. What he potentially thought, okay, that could have happened was they vote like in a room, whatever they do, they vote. And based on the other people that were on the ballot because, because he was a first ballot, I think it was like, you know, Roger Craig, there's some other ones that have been on the ballot before. Yeah, he thought maybe that it's broken down by. Some of these people are like, well, Bill's gonna be a Hall of Famer no matter what. My vote this year is gonna go for someone who's, who needs it, who, who needs it to get in potentially now. And, and again, there's like, there's no like, morality clause like there is in baseball. Baseball, obviously we know why some of those guys aren't in and probably will never get in football. There's not. And so I do think my just my opinion is there's probably some people on there that don't like them. There's probably some people on there that are going to use Spygate and I mean, deflate Gates, the biggest joke of all time. But Spygate, like, oh, they cheated. I don't, I don't know that he broke it down. That's like, oh, he's going to get in regardless. He'll get the votes at some point. My question to you guys is, is this like, is this a one time thing or Is this like one of these, like, almost a coup to keep them out amongst people. People like, like, like Barry Bonds or a rod or some of these people. You know what I mean? Like, that's going to be fascinating.

[Jerry]

I want to believe what Schrager's saying because it does make sense. Like, hey, this is this guy's last shot to get in. Or, you know, it makes sense. So. Okay. But then, like, if you move the ball again on him, like the second timer, I just think it's like, it makes it hard to really. Not that we overly care too much about the hall of Fame as fans, but like, it makes it really hard to take it seriously that, oh, so that guy's not a first ballot hall of Famer. It makes it really hard look at the first ballot hall of Famers and be like, yeah, of course. Like, Tom Brady's gonna be a first ballot hall.

[Matt]

Well, that, that was. Other people say was like, well, does that mean Tom Brady's not a first ballot hall of Famer because of which he was a part of both of those things.

[Annie Agar]

Yeah. It's just, it's like setting it up for. It's harder now in the future to explain everything and, and give you a reasoning. Who thought we'd live in a world where Bill Belichick's not a Hall of Famer and Shador Sanders a Pro Bowler? Crazy.

[Jerry]

Crazy that I don't even understand. And I know the Pro bowl doesn't matter anymore and no one cares and guy, I, I actually, I think we said this off the air, Matt. I'm like, thank, like, of course, like, don't play football when it doesn't matter. Like, that was always a bad idea. It's crazy that went on as long as it did. But what's the meaning of this? I know, like, did so many guys say no that we got to like the 20 best quarterback.

[Annie Agar]

How do you go to him? Like, of all. I don't know. I don't get it.

[Matt]

So we used to the, the whole Pro bowl, it's, it's changed now, but when I was playing, we would get a sheet of paper and it would be every team and we'd vote for the Pro bowl and it would be every team and like, you know, whatever, maybe or every position and it'd be like the top seven or eight guys based on like tackles or whatever. And it was always, always like just a name. He had a name. You'd vote for him.

[Jared Allen]

Right.

[Matt]

So that's why a lot. Which it was like we were guilty of we're just like, all right, middle linebacker. You got Brian Erlacher, Ray Lewis. And it could have been someone that was like 150, like, had the best year, should have been a Pro Bowler. So the voting process was always just skewed. And then over time, just no one. Like, it used to be in Hawaii. So you, like, you could, like, take a family. And I know people win. They're like, oh, it was a great family vacation. It was just kind of like a getaway.

[Jared Allen]

Right?

[Matt]

And you play a little football, whatever. And people stopped watching. The product was so bad. Now people just don't want to go. And they're just like, there's no incentive anymore for them to go. Like, for what reason it's in. I don't know. Is it in the city of where the super bowl is now?

[Annie Agar]

I think it is this area.

[Matt]

So wasn't it.

[Annie Agar]

It was like, in Orlando or things.

[Jerry]

And.

[Matt]

And look, that's. And that's not Shador's fault. It's just the whole process of how this is being voted on is ridiculous. But.

[Annie Agar]

Which, in that case, it shouldn't be touted as, like, you wouldn't say, like, tyler Huntley, Pro Bowler Tyler. Like, it shouldn't be this high.

[Jerry]

That's why in our intros, we got to maybe stop listing how many times the player was named to the Pro Bowl. Cuz. Sanders, Pro.

[Matt]

Maybe it's a big incentive.

[Jared Allen]

It.

[Matt]

It. It kind of clicks. A incentive that's.

[Jerry]

I mean, maybe there's a half a.

[Matt]

Troll for Shador, but, like, for other people to go.

[Jerry]

A little bit of a troll, like, all right, you know what? This kid got kind of taken through the ringer all year long. His name was thrown around. You know, put him in the Pro Bowl. Let's just.

[Matt]

I mean. Yeah, it's just. It's kind of.

[Jared Allen]

It's.

[Matt]

It's kind of a joke. And it's also like. I don't know.

[Jared Allen]

It's.

[Matt]

It's. Yeah.

[Jared Allen]

And I.

[Matt]

You know, whatever.

[Jared Allen]

I don't know.

[Matt]

It's crazy.

[Annie Agar]

Good for him, though.

[Jerry]

He needed Annie. Who are you pumped for now that we almost have every job secure except for what, The Raiders? Or the rate as we tape this. Raiders. The last one. Cardinals. And the Cardinals. Those are the Cardinals and the Browns, right?

[Annie Agar]

Brown.

[Jerry]

They got monkey.

[Matt]

Monkey.

[Jerry]

Yes, monkey.

[Annie Agar]

Just like an hour ago, maybe. So while you guys were filming.

[Jerry]

Who do you. I mean, who are you? Just like, it's almost like if you think of your videos as a show. Right.

[Annie Agar]

Yeah.

[Jerry]

These are your new cast Members. So who are you?

[Annie Agar]

That's true, Jerry. That's a great way of putting.

[Jerry]

Who are you excited and fired up to write for? I think you're gonna. And I have. I have the one. I think you're gonna get awesome stuff from.

[Annie Agar]

Oh, thank you. Most excited about. I already have content for Joe Brady. Like, around Joe Brady. So I think that hire is hilarious. Somebody tweeted out how funny would it be if he hired Sean McDermott as his new DC hilarious. Just peak comedy.

[Jerry]

Yeah.

[Annie Agar]

So that just. The whole Bills organization alone gives me a ton of content. And I'm a fan of Joe Brady. Like, I think he's a great play caller. Just as hilarious how, like, somebody said he's gonna call the first play of the season next year should be a screen. But this, man, nobody's gonna keep him in check now to not call screens. He's gonna call it every single play. So I don't know. I think that's gonna be a fun one. Who are you thinking?

[Jerry]

I think you're gonna get gold from Salah and D. Oh, yeah. One, two, punch. I think you're gonna get.

[Annie Agar]

They're both from New York, too. Hilarious.

[Jerry]

So it writes itself, essentially. I think you're gonna get gold. Gold. And then I think whoever honestly ends up in, you know, Vegas or Arizona is all that's going to be the real comedian.

[Annie Agar]

Yeah. Also McCarthy. And I already have jokes written for McCarthy because of my years watching him. That's. That's going to be peak. Peak comedy.

[Matt]

I think Kubiak's going to get one of these jobs.

[Jerry]

He's probably Raiders, right?

[Jared Allen]

I think so.

[Jerry]

He's been with the number one pick. You want to get an offensive mind, a guy knowing, you know, you got the 1 pick.

[Annie Agar]

Who do the Cardinals get?

[Jared Allen]

I don't know.

[Matt]

Nobody wants to go there.

[Annie Agar]

Right.

[Jerry]

Because I know Shula was a big name, but the Rams defense has not. If you look at the Rams defense, like, the last six weeks, it certainly hasn't been like, a lockdown defense.

[Annie Agar]

All I know, guys, is Jonathan Gannon coming to Green Bay is going to be. Hopefully doesn't take the bus. Gonna be. It's gonna be a great time. I'm very happy about that. Higher out.

[Jerry]

Cole, just text us in our chat. Chris Shuler reportedly bombed his Steelers interview. I do believe people throw interviews. I do believe, like, if that's not a place you want to go, you take.

[Matt]

I know a couple people in the cycle or that have been. That have been in the cycle that were just terrible, terrible. Terrible interviews. And the reason why they don't have a head coaching job, which I won't say on here, but I do know.

[Jerry]

Yeah, a couple names, which I will text.

[Annie Agar]

So it's a thing, though, people, if you. If you don't do well in your.

[Matt]

Interview, like, just bad. Like, like, so bad that you're like, wow, this. He cannot lead our team. They could be a great coordinator. But.

[Jerry]

Yeah, well, that's the same.

[Matt]

True.

[Jerry]

Matt.

[Jared Allen]

Right.

[Jerry]

When you're in the draft process, when you go through your interviews, like, if you kind of flunk your interview, it could really hurt your draft position. So it should be the same thing for coaches.

[Matt]

And those interviews are. That's for another time, man. I sat with Sean Payton and the saints for, like, 30 minutes and just grilled me, dude, is it like X's.

[Jerry]

And O's Grill or, like, personally?

[Matt]

I mean, we could talk about it. So it was.

[Jerry]

We have to set up.

[Matt]

It's. Well, there were two. So the J. Well, the jets came out because they picked fourth. They ended up drafting DeBrikishot Ferguson. But they came out for the weekend, like, two days and. And interviewed me. Private workouts, the whole thing. And we were probably three hours up on a board going through the playbook and. And that was probably a strength of mine, like, just retaining and all that kind of stuff. But then it's just, like, they just ask you oddball questions, man, like. Like keep you on your toes. Like, I remember, man. Genie asked me, like, what was the last book I read and just ran just stuff like, I'll be drawing a place like, hey, man, when's the last. What was the last. What's the name, last book you read? And, like, I don't remember my answer, but. But anyway, no, I was at Saints. It was. You're in the hotel in Indianapolis, and they, you know, you basically have scheduled interviews depending on, you know, where you're drafted or quarterback, whatever. And I had a bunch. And the Saints were picking second, and they ended up picking Reggie. But there was real chat, like, they were real chatter to draft me because it was breeze, the shoulder and all that kind of stuff. And he. I sat in, there was him and like, their whole crew, and he was just grilling me about my entourage and the people around. I swear to God, and the people around me and why.

[Jerry]

Peyton loves the show, by the way. Peyton, why do you have a quarterback coach?

[Matt]

And who's this agent you have? And, like, it was just bombarding me, dude. And I.

[Jerry]

And I did.

[Matt]

Well, I was honest, like, it was. But it was. Yeah, it was just like. Like, it was crazy. I. I went out there too, for a visit. Like, they really. They really did their homework on me.

[Jerry]

It was close, but. Why does your dad come to every game, Matt? Well, I don't understand.

[Matt]

Who are all these people around here?

[Jared Allen]

You.

[Matt]

You got this guy, this guy, this guy. I'm like. I had like a quarterback coach and like, I. It was like my agent, but it was like, you know, it was the whole Hollywood thing. They were just tearing me apart. Wow.

[Jerry]

Anyway, yeah, Annie, that's good. That. That's. That's a good. I mean, you probably will thinking that, but like the interview process for some of these coaches interviewing draft. I'd like to see Mike McCarthy in the room.

[Annie Agar]

Oh, yeah.

[Matt]

Well, those guys, I mean, for. For the older school guys, they've been doing it for so long. Like, it's like. Yeah, they have their way of doing it. They've won, you know, but. But the new guys is. That can be nerve wracking because you've never been. You've never been a head coach. You've never been in that situation. So you get all sorts of crazy questions, right?

[Annie Agar]

So that's wild.

[Matt]

Especially in college, too. Now college is. Is crazy because the whole nil. And just a different.

[Jerry]

Well, now I can't even believe. I don't even want to. I don't even imagine what those questions are like. Anyways. All right, should we. We have a little twist on the twisted tea trivia?

[Annie Agar]

Yeah.

[Matt]

Well, yeah, since the Dominated this. I had not. I did not dominate Annie, though. I did not dominate Annie. It was only two to one, I believe, but Jerry has been a distant third. I am taking over the duties, guys.

[Jerry]

So this is the loser bracket.

[Jared Allen]

We'll go.

[Matt]

We'll go like a best out of seven with you, and then you guys can come back to the champ and see if you guys can beat.

[Annie Agar]

There we go.

[Matt]

But. All right. We talked about Belichick a little earlier. The theme, all right, 1996. Six Patriots.

[Jerry]

Oh, is that even fair for any.

[Annie Agar]

This was the year I was born.

[Matt]

The last time they played a Super bowl without Brady and Belichick.

[Jerry]

Annie, if I. If you beat me here, I'm gonna.

[Jared Allen]

I'm gonna.

[Jerry]

I need a minute. No offense.

[Matt]

I mean, we should. We should. You guys. We should be all right here. Okay. You guys ready?

[Annie Agar]

Yep.

[Matt]

Yeah. All right, first question. Who was a safety and cornerback? Fans called the law firm.

[Jerry]

Oh, oh, hold on. I got it. But I'm being smart.

[Annie Agar]

The second I knew okay, the second Eddie said these are gonna be, I'm.

[Jerry]

Gonna guess I knew Ty. Law and lawyer Malloy.

[Matt]

Ding, ding, ding.

[Jared Allen]

Yes.

[Matt]

Okay, very good.

[Jerry]

Annie, you might have been sabotaged today.

[Matt]

That. That probably.

[Jerry]

Annie was, like, three years old, running around.

[Annie Agar]

No, I was born in 96.

[Matt]

All right, so 1 010, Jerry. All right, second question. Okay, you got. You got this. Who did they beat in the conference championship to advance to the super bowl that year?

[Annie Agar]

The Patriots.

[Matt]

Who did the Patriots beat in the conference championship to advance to The Super Bowl? 1996.

[Annie Agar]

I know. In 2015. Let's take a stab. Let's see that.

[Jerry]

I think I. I think I know it. Broncos.

[Matt]

Okay. No. And you get a chance or you get a hint.

[Annie Agar]

Ooh, I'll. I'll throw some out there. The Colts.

[Matt]

Nope.

[Jerry]

All right, let's get a hint. Annie, you and I. I think I have a guess now, but.

[Matt]

Okay. This team made the playoffs this year.

[Jerry]

Oh, do I. Oh, I think I know.

[Annie Agar]

Anybody guess?

[Jerry]

Sneaky one. It's a sneaky one, I think.

[Matt]

Oh, this.

[Jerry]

Jacksonville Jaguars.

[Matt]

Yes.

[Jerry]

Dang it.

[Annie Agar]

That was gonna be my next guest.

[Matt]

You think it's Keenan or it might have been Gerard? Oh, it probably.

[Jerry]

No, I think it was.

[Matt]

Yeah.

[Jerry]

AFC champ.

[Matt]

All right.

[Annie Agar]

Oh, that was a good one.

[Jerry]

That was a tough one.

[Matt]

All right. Yeah. You still got a shot here, Annie. Okay, ready? Okay, last question.

[Annie Agar]

Can't get this one.

[Matt]

Who was the assistant head coach, Defensive backs coach for the Patriots that year?

[Jerry]

I'm guessing it's got to be, like, Went on to become an awesome coach.

[Annie Agar]

Yeah.

[Jerry]

D backs and assistant head coach.

[Matt]

Yep.

[Jerry]

And D backs coach.

[Annie Agar]

Oh, this is going to be wild. Because we're going to know, right?

[Jared Allen]

Only assistant head coach.

[Annie Agar]

Who. Can we get a hint, or do we have to take guess first?

[Matt]

You guys. Well, you guys can both get a hint, or you can both guess.

[Jerry]

Let's get a hint, because I'm.

[Annie Agar]

I was gonna ask who's like. Yeah, what?

[Jared Allen]

Who would.

[Annie Agar]

What team?

[Jerry]

It's someone who's probably, like, a coach now. From the Belichick. Well, no, he wasn't a Belichick guy.

[Matt]

He. No, he no longer coaches in the NFL.

[Annie Agar]

Oh, geez.

[Jerry]

This one. I mean, my brain is hurting.

[Annie Agar]

See that?

[Jerry]

So he became a head coach, and he no longer coaches in the NFL.

[Matt]

In 1996, he was the assistant head coach. DB Coach of the Patriots. For the Patriots.

[Annie Agar]

Patriots.

[Matt]

The hint is he now no longer coaches in the NFL, so he coaches somewhere else.

[Annie Agar]

Is this, like, a super obvious answer?

[Matt]

You guys haven't Even guessed one yet.

[Annie Agar]

I don't want to guess and sound stupid.

[Jerry]

I'm just trying to figure out who the head coach, who I know who that is, would have as his, like, assistant guys coach.

[Annie Agar]

Is it. Is it Bill? Was he.

[Matt]

Annie, you gotta guess.

[Jerry]

Just guess. You got it.

[Annie Agar]

Is it. Did he just get rejected from the hall of Fame? Was it Bill? Was he a DB?

[Jerry]

Oh, wait.

[Jared Allen]

Was it.

[Matt]

Go ahead, say a name.

[Jared Allen]

Yes.

[Annie Agar]

I didn't want to sound stupid because I was like.

[Matt]

Well, he's no longer coaching in the NFL. He's coaching college.

[Jerry]

Wow. Okay.

[Annie Agar]

All right.

[Jerry]

The pictures matter here.

[Matt]

Okay, the pictures matter. We close, and we got two photos. Now we will close the eyes, and as soon as the picture pops up, I will tell you to open your eyes.

[Jerry]

Okay?

[Matt]

Right now, Jerry's up two to one.

[Jared Allen]

Oh, God.

[Jerry]

This sounds like a meltdown. Now I'm gonna lose.

[Matt]

Close your eyes. The first picture and open.

[Jerry]

Oh, wait. Oh, oh, oh, wait. Be smart. Be smart, Be smart.

[Matt]

Come on, Annie.

[Annie Agar]

Oh, no.

[Jerry]

Is that Theo Ryan's?

[Jared Allen]

I'm thinking.

[Jerry]

You doing a coach? Are you doing. Is it coaches still, bro?

[Matt]

It's still theme. 1996 patriots.

[Jerry]

Oh, 96 patriots.

[Matt]

Annie, you get a free guess here.

[Jared Allen]

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.

[Jerry]

She gets a free guest. Damn it. I know it. I know.

[Matt]

Come on, Annie.

[Jerry]

Oh, damn.

[Matt]

You got to stay alive.

[Annie Agar]

I'm not.

[Matt]

I'm going to get. I'm going to give Annie a hint.

[Jerry]

Give her a hint, because I got it.

[Jared Allen]

We.

[Matt]

What?

[Jerry]

He was.

[Matt]

He was a running back.

[Jerry]

He was a running back.

[Matt]

He was a great running back.

[Jerry]

Great running back.

[Jared Allen]

I. I know.

[Annie Agar]

Oh, no.

[Jerry]

For the record, I thought in my mind we were still doing coaches. That's why I look, I was like, it's a coach.

[Annie Agar]

I don't know. All right, I'm gonna know, but I don't know.

[Jerry]

Taking it to me.

[Matt]

Yeah.

[Jerry]

For the win, it's Curtis Martin.

[Matt]

Yep.

[Annie Agar]

Dang it.

[Matt]

Yeah, Curtis. Okay, let's put up. Close your eyes. Let's do. Let's do one more for points totals. Let's put up the last picture even though Jerry's up. Three, one, shoot. All right, pictures up.

[Jerry]

Go, Willie McGinnis.

[Matt]

Yeah.

[Jerry]

Annie, you got set up. Annie, you can't.

[Annie Agar]

You weren't even.

[Matt]

I will say this. I, I. It is easier when you have the questions. I think that Willie Mack is easy. And I thought the hardest one was probably the. The Jaguars, who they beat.

[Jerry]

See? But I do remember that game because I remember being shocked at the Jaguars, who were only a few years Old. At that point were already in the AFC championship game. Annie, you got set up. I think, like, that'd be like doing 1979 trivia for me. I just guess Terry Bradshaw for every answer. Terry. Me and Joe Green. Terry Bradshaw mean Joe Green.

[Jared Allen]

No.

[Annie Agar]

That is a fun one, though, because that. Yeah, I don't really know.

[Jerry]

Go on to, like, careers still later. And, like, you've heard the names, but, yeah, you got. You got set up there Agar. If I were you, I'd file a grievance off the air, because that was rough.

[Annie Agar]

I'm like, you two. I don't take technicalities. You know, I'm just kidding.

[Jerry]

I'm so mad. I said d', Amico.

[Matt]

Ryan, Demiko. Ryan, dude, that even.

[Jerry]

Look, I. In my mind, I thought we were, like, standing still doing coaches. So I'm like, who's a current. A current coach?

[Matt]

I should have re. I should have reset it up as the 90s.

[Annie Agar]

It is very interesting how your brain works when it's trivia quick like that. Like, you just go to whatever. I don't know, whatever the thought process is. That was a tough one.

[Matt]

Good job, Jerry. Jerry. Jerry. Back in the win column.

[Jerry]

I need something.

[Annie Agar]

I'm glad I could. I'm glad I could help with that, Jerry. I'll take.

[Matt]

I'll take the loss battle for second place.

[Jerry]

So, Annie, you have a week now. Next week, we'll do some super bowl picks within the three of us. Okay?

[Annie Agar]

Okay.

[Jerry]

Maybe we'll even throw something on line because we're probably going to see each other out there, guys.

[Annie Agar]

We won't be sick of talking about the super bowl yet at that point.

[Jerry]

No, I'm trying to avoid all football. Like, I. Like I don't know. I'm just trying to avoid all of it until we get to, like, Wednesday of next week and then lock back.

[Annie Agar]

All I know is, like, Radio Row by that. That Wednesday or Thursday, the guys are so over the two because there's only so many story lines you can go with, you know, And I.

[Jerry]

What do you see more? What do you think we'll see more? We'll end on this. What do you think we will see more? The Malcolm Butler the interception or Sam Darnold, like, seeing ghosts versus the Patriots? Like that. That shot of him on the sideline where he's like, I think we'll be.

[Annie Agar]

More sick of the Malcolm Butler. The whole. I've already seen it a million and one times on Twitter, and everybody's saying.

[Jerry]

Like, marshawn lynch is gonna have another Christian Gonzalez. Yeah. Marshall. Unless you have another chance to just.

[Jared Allen]

Yeah.

[Jerry]

Go after your boy Pete.

[Matt]

By the time. By this time next week, Jerry should be a new dad once again.

[Annie Agar]

That's right. I forgot. How's she doing?

[Jerry]

Moment. She's doing great. She's, like, ready to. To get this party started. I'm like, all right, yeah, I gotta get to Santa Clara.

[Matt]

You're like, it's happening. And then all of a sudden you're like, yeah, I'll be ready. Then all of a sudden, sudden it happens. You're like, holy.

[Annie Agar]

If you. Would you go. If she. If she goes into labor before, like she has the baby before.

[Jerry]

Yeah. There's like a cut off date, basically. Like, if there's no baby by, like, February 3rd, 4th, she's like past her due date, then I'm not. I'm not going to risk it.

[Annie Agar]

Yeah.

[Jerry]

But if it happens in the next couple of days, and as long as everything goes well, and I do have to make sure that she's feeling okay, you know.

[Annie Agar]

Yeah.

[Jerry]

You know.

[Annie Agar]

That'S why.

[Jerry]

Let's wrap it up. Let's wrap it up. Shout Outs Twisted T. Thank you, Annie. Thank you very much.

[Annie Agar]

Of course.

[Jerry]

We're out. We'll see you guys next week. We're definitely gonna make some super bowl picks. I'm gonna win some money next week. I'm on a heater, so I'm gonna win some money.

[Matt]

I need the Seahawks to win, baby.

[Annie Agar]

Yep, same. Let's go, let's go.