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A
You're going to hate my last pick, and no one's going to get it. And I've done this before where I've said things that no one gets, and I've been proven true. It's Mike McDaniel, and here's why. Stay with me. Don't fall off. No, don't fall asleep. Don't roll your eyes. He looks kind of crazy to me.
B
You think there's some screws loose up there.
A
I feel like he does, like, some Jim Carrey crazy things that you're kind of like, whoa, I am. This guy's actually certifiably ins.
B
Foreign.
A
Welcome to another episode of Throwbacks. Two weeks. So we had two buyers back to back. Bye weeks, bro.
B
I gotta be honest with you, bro. I usually love a good bye week. Two weeks is. Two weeks is too long from not seeing your face. I just feel like we have so much to talk about and so much.
A
Happens in two weeks. It's. It's almost like you forget, oh, we. We're actually gonna do like 40 podcast episodes in a row now. That was. That really was our last two weeks off until. Because we're entering college football, NFL, we're gonna go like 40 weeks straight.
B
Isn't that crazy? I was talking to someone the other day and we're talking about the pod and like, you know how it works in the episodes. And I'm like, yeah, I think we've done like 38 episodes or 39 episodes. They're like, what? I'm like, yeah, dude, this. This week to week, baby. It's. It's. By the way. But two weeks is a long time.
A
What's a. What's an NFL bye week? Like, though, like, when you're. When you're starting, like when you're the guy, you're starting quarterback, right? Like, is it the same feeling like you. Are you just so happy to have some off time and then you get excited to come back? Or is there still like a malaise in coming back? It just depends. Almost.
B
Yeah, no, it's a good question. I think it depends. Well, first of all, when we get. And I. I can guarantee you I speak for everybody that's still playing when you get that schedule release, you immediately say, wins are by. We. We immediately look at the first question. Oh, it's. No, it's. The first question is like, we just. I just all. If I get on my phone, like, all right, where's our bye week? Oh, okay, it's week nine. Where's the Thursday night Football game? Okay, that means You. Because typically when you have a Thursday night game, you can kind of. You get Friday, Saturday, Sunday off sometimes. Exactly. Which is, which is still like a buy. So it's nice to, it's nice to know where that is. So like as far as the feeling of it, it's freaking beautiful, dude. It is like, are you allowed to leave town?
A
Are you allowed to travel?
B
It just depends. It just depends. Like every organization is different. Like you could have, you could have a light walkthrough on a Friday and hey, we'll see you Monday morning. So you're gone. So you can go. You can. Yeah, you can now like I think did it Romo do that one year where.
A
Well, that's what I was going to say. But the. I think the big deal with that was they were the one seed. So it was a first round. But I wasn't like say middle of the season by. I would say for a playoff game.
B
Yeah, I would say most are not really going anywhere. You're just laying low at the house, you're spending time with the kids again, you're relaxing and you're just kind of like resetting. Now if you're, if you're three and six, like the bye week's not fun. Like you're just like, oh man, this sucks. But if you're 6 and 3 or 8 and 2 or whatever it is like it's just nice, you know, it's just a reset. It's perfect. But yeah, you look at that. The bye week comes. The bye week is glorious, dude.
A
Well now there's got to be so many. Like you mentioned you would. The first thing you would look for when you were playing was bye week stuff. Now there's so many things, I guess as a player for this, like are we going to Germany or London, which I, which I. Now there's Christmas Day, Thanksgiving Day, Black Friday. Like are we playing on a holiday? Because there's so many more holiday based games.
B
Yeah, there's a lot that goes into the schedule release. You kind of look at the Monday night game. You look at when you can, when you have an off time, you look at the opponents you're playing and where and when and all that. Yeah. And then, and then you. And then you just.
A
All right, before we dive into catching up real quick, since we're on a great topic too, do you know what? I all, all gamblers like myself would always overread this thing in football. And I know it's probably meaningless, there's no rhyme or reason, but the team from the west coast, like, you, when you were at the Cardinals, traveling east, and it was always like, oh, they take off an extra point because, you know, is that anything? Is it real? I mean, I'm sure it's not easy, but could you actually, like, take a point off on a point spread? Because you have, like, the Chargers traveling east or whatever. Because if they're playing a garbage team, that can't. Did it ever affect you. You play west coast team?
B
It's. There's two. Two areas that I. I do think there can be. You can be affected. I do. I believe that. But the other one is the altitude. Right? Like, so going to Denver, that was a real thing.
A
That's a real thing.
B
That was a real thing. We would go. We would. Technically. And that time difference when I was west coast, because Arizona. I mean, Arizona's mountain time. Or when I was in Oakland, right, We went to Denver. I believe we went on Thursday because that is no joke up there, dude.
A
You have to acclimate.
B
You have to get an extra day. And now some. Again, it's all just. There's theories and scientific stuff, and some teams may just go the day before. Some might go, too. But, like, I think when you're looking at betting and that there is some validity to, oh, the Chargers are going all the way up to New York.
A
Phil Rivers killed me. He killed every east coast team he played. Oh, I always bet against him, and he killed me going, yeah, it's.
B
Again, it's just the team as well. Like. Like, they're all professionals. But yeah, I mean, there. There's some. There's a little bit of truth that. But also depends on who you're playing to. Like, if you're playing, like, if you're going from Chargers up to Buffalo, like, yeah, Buffalo's a pretty good. Although the Chargers are good, too. Buffalo's a pretty good team. Like, you know, you're probably going to take Buffalo, but one.
A
One day, we got to just do a solid minutes on plane stories. Like, team plane stories. I love the team playing. I. You know how much in. I am so into all that minutia of, oh, dude, you know what you pack, who sits where? What do you do on the plane? I don't know. I'm into that. I know it might be boring for you, but we're gonna have to. 10 minutes on that.
B
I'm already thinking of who. Of who we could have on. I mean, it's.
A
Right. Who's snoring, who's like, I know it's not the 86 match.
B
Well, I will say this. We had. We had my. And this is just me. My Houston years. I was there for two years. Our team planes were the. Dude, we had a blast, man. And I. I know a lot of other teams do too. And again, it is based solely on organization, on the people and on the people. Like they're like, hey, treat us like men, treat us like pros. Go do your thing. Just don't be idiots, you know, like, especially after, after a loss like you. I don't want to hear the plane rowdy in the back when we just got our ass kicked. Right. That doesn't mean you can't have fun like and whatever. Like it is what it is. Like we're men. Like you're not going to win every game. So Houston, dude, I'll come. We. At the card games we had. Yeah, I told you I would love that.
A
I would love that. I mean my favorite part of being a professional athlete I think is the fight.
B
I would love the gambling that we did in the car and the. In the shit talking. And it was. It's the best camaraderie, man. Like the locker room and the flights. It's what I miss, honestly, the most.
A
I don't think it's talked about enough. I want to, I would love to know like, I would love to talk to players for like a. Do almost like a documentary on it. Give me like the top five team plane scenarios because you always know who.
B
We need to have on who. Who would be great is. Is my boy, Dave Anderson. So Dave Anderson was like Colorado State's all time leading receiver. Yeah. Receiver.
A
Yeah.
B
With the Texans.
A
He's with that Owen Daniels.
B
Yeah, yeah, those are the two.
A
I love those guys.
B
So it was like D.A. kevin Walter, Andre Johnson, Owen Daniels in his prime. Arian Foster. Like we were loaded, Dude. We had great teams. DA Was a great. Was a big slot receiver. Played for Houston for like five or six years. Lives near me. I see him all the time. He. He was like. I think was he. Yeah, he was my seat partner or we were right there. So we all were in the back of the plane and he. He. He was in the middle of some of those freaking gambling stories. Dude. And we almost made his ass.
A
Let's get him on.
B
We'll get him on for dude. We'll just, we'll just talk. We'll talk plane stories. It is so much fun.
A
Well, speaking of flights and time zones, you went across the pond. Scotland, by the way.
B
I didn't look on the map. I had to look on the map. And I was like, God damn. I am far away.
A
I'm far from Manhattan beach, four kids and my wife.
B
I. I made the. Probably a dumb comment. I was. I was golfing that Tuesday. Not. I'll. I'll recap it with you now, but I was golfing Tuesday. And I'm like, we're right on the ocean. And I'm like. I'm like, guys, I was talking to caddy. I'm like, this probably a dumb question, but is that. Is the water cold here or. Or, like, is it warmer? And the guy laughed because he. I don't. He said it in his Scottish accent. He's like. He's like. He's like, dude, it's the North Sea, man. Antarctica is like, literally right there. He's like, that is freezing.
A
And I was like, just go put your feet in. Go put your feet.
B
Oh, my God. Where are we on the globe, dude? Full recap. So freaking sick. Dude left Sunday night, got there Monday. Shout out to. To the Travis Matthew crew. Like, they're awesome. We had a fun dinner Monday night. I actually, like, caught up on sleep Monday night. I felt pretty good. Tuesday, Golfed at the Castle course, which is hard. Not my favorite beautiful, but impossible. I. I mean, I picked up, like, 15 balls.
A
Just so hard. Yeah.
B
Because the rough is like two feet of grass. Like, it's just that it's beautiful and it's hilly and it's all these things, but it was beautiful. Wednesday was cool as man because I golf with Reggie.
A
Yes.
B
I golf with Austin Reeves, and I golf with his boy, best friend, like, manager Trent, this kid named Trent, who's awesome. So overall, I say this to now because I'm. I'm entrenched in the golf world. It is a bucket list golf item. The golf culture, the golf history, the pictures on the walls at the ball. I mean, it's like. It's pretty. It's pretty cool.
A
Let me ask you this, because every time I am, you know, we. We did the big Entourage reunion episode. That episode did, you know, big numbers for us. Every time I'm with those guys, like, I even. God, what did I put? Oh, like, we talked last time about, you know, I put up. Oh, it's been 21 years since Entourage photo got millions of views. So you posted an awesome photo at Reggie all decked out. That's kind of your version. Like, I imagine when you two. Like when people see the four Entourage guys together, like, holy, they're all together. Right? I always say, like, not that, you know, we're not as worthy individually, but when we're together, it's just a big thing. Do you have a similar thing with Reggie where it's like, when you two are together, people must be like, holy fuck, that's liner.
B
You know what? It's right there. Yeah. It's interesting because we worked at. We worked at Fox together for, like, three years. So we were together a lot, but I think. And we're not anymore. And I think just as you get older and it was such a. Like, like, again, it's perfect example. You guys were an iconic group, right? Everywhere you go, you're known for Turtle. But, like, when you're together, it's like, holy hell, the guy. Like, they're back. This is amazing. Yeah, it just brings you back, right? You're like, the memories, right? And so as a sports, as athletes, you know, like. And honestly, I didn't even think about that when I posted that. And that first picture is just a dope picture of me and Reg hanging out, like, right outside the course, like, before dinner one night. And then you start to read the comments and you're like, like, you know, the most iconic duo in college football. You just start, you know, thinking. You're like, Damn, dude, like, 20 years ago. Like, it's crazy. You know, you always, like, he and I talk about it too. Like, sometimes we're like, man, it's. It's wild. Like, 20 years ago, we were. We were doing this, right? We were a part of a dynasty. We were, you know, whatever. So it's always. When I see Reg, it's always. It's just always easy and fun because.
A
Of that, like, no time has passed.
B
Yeah. When you see each other, you know, we don't even. God, we don't even talk that much. Football, we were talking golf. It's just like, you know, we always say, like, that's family. That's my brother, man, forever. And even if we don't see each other that often or he's doing his thing, I'm doing my thing, it's always. It's always fun to. To get together and just, you know.
A
I feel like I saw something too. I didn't text you about it. You commented on some random social post where they did. Like, these would have been the top 10 nil people, right? People and liar. It's like, shrug, like, yeah, I saw that. Getting someone, bro.
B
I don't even know if. I don't know. It was online.
A
That was nuts. You weren't on that list. That's not a real list. I, they, they discredited whoever posted that. They're not like, to quote, I literally, I did that.
B
With your shrug and that thing. Yeah, I got so many. I'm like, I'm like, listen, dude, like, come on, come on, bro.
A
I want to shoot my own horn. With all.
B
No, with. No. Not even. With all due respect, I'm making millions in college if I back. Dude, are you kidding me?
A
I thought the same thing.
B
By the way. That whole list, a lot of those guys are making, but I looked at like 8 and 9. I'm like, I'm definitely making more money than like Jamus Winston, who I love, or like, I don't even know if he was on the list. But like Manzel is making bank.
A
I think you're making more than Cam Newton too.
B
Tebow's making bank. Cam is making bank for one.
A
Yeah, but like, but you're not, not making bet. Like you guys are up there. Maybe you're separated by a million or two, but it doesn't matter. You're on that list, bro.
B
You're on that list. All good. Dude. What? I know you had a lot going on too.
A
I've had a lot going on. I. Well, I just had my family from New York visiting. I'm actually gonna save what I wanted to talk about with my 16 year old nephew visiting. We're gonna do, we're gonna, we're gonna talk about it in our Nitza spot coming up in a second because I think it is a crossroad for him. I think my nephew's at a serious crossroad and we're gonna have to talk. 16.
B
Damn, that's early.
A
Yeah, but it's not, it's not a life cross. He's at a sports crossroad and we're gonna have to talk about it.
B
So.
A
No, everything is over here. Been good. Like, I'm starting to get a little anxious because for me football now has started like my nephew. And I watched all the preseason games, which I don't usually watch preseason, but I wanted to, I wanted to look at Shador a little. I wanted to see my guy Jackson Dart, Cam Ward. And then Hard knock started. I kind of fell out. I'm going to say it now. Hard Knocks is back. Like for me it fell out over Covid when they were doing the Chargers all on zoom. And I never quite got back into it. Bills, Josh Allen, Hard Knocks. I'm. I'm back in loving it. It's good how season has started for me now.
B
How, how hard is it to hate Josh Allen.
A
You can't.
B
You can't. And you're like, one day, maybe we're not really. You're not really, like a Bills hater, right? You're not in the same division and all that, but, like, you're a giant.
A
Not at all.
B
I would be happy, but I'm just saying, like, in their fan.
A
I know.
B
I. I know Josh. He's just the ultimate dude. Like, he's such a great dude. And it's like when you watch, you're just like, man, like, it's like Lamar. It's like, I don't know if there's one person that can say, like, I hate Josh Allen. Like, you just can't. And if you do, you're just a hater. Like, there's not one person that can say, like, man, I just don't like Lamar Jackson. Like, no, like you. There's no reason to not like him. You can just be an absolute hater and just.
A
Well, the one thing that bursts off the screen on episode one of Hard Knocks is the team kind of feels that way too. You know, they got Josh Palmer now wide receiver and some other.
B
And it's easy to root for the Bills, man.
A
But they're now also doing like, man, I get, you know, I get 10 reps with Josh Allen throwing me the ball. Like, I gotta make these count. One. I forget one. Like, tight end was like, he. Josh Allen sweated on this towel. I'm just gonna keep it. Like, there's the team.
B
Absolute superstar. Yeah, he's the quietest superstar married to Haley Steinfeld and the quietest superstar, most normal dude that you could imagine. Loves golf, hangs like just a guy's guy.
A
So it started for me, the anxiety that I started to get now. And I'm curious for you now because you now have three little ones to go along with Cole. I know I just have the two and dad's mom's parents out there. I'm not gonna just, you know, make this a dad thing. But the football watching as you have kids get certainly gets more challenging. Right? How do you balance the weekend with that? Last year, I made a great deal with Bri where she would take the boys out of the house. I had to watch football for throwbacks, much like I'll have to do this year, season two.
B
You got a built in excuse, bro.
A
And my thing was like, all right, well, while I'm watching, I like food prep. You know, that was my thing. I'll chop up some veggies. I'll get the chicken ready. I'LL just like, I'll do.
B
Because then you'll do something so that you don't. She doesn't say, get off your lazy ass off the couch.
A
She wants more because I didn't really hold up my end. So we're early negotiations.
B
Well, your first problem is that you're gonna cut up veggies. Like, come on, dude, you're not gonna cut up veggies.
A
I did it for like, the first three weeks of the season, and then it was over.
B
That's a terrible.
A
So, but what's it like for you now? Because this is now your first season because your daughter was born right at the Super Bowl. This is now your first season as a father of three young ones. It's harder Sunday, like, in the liner, dude.
B
It's harder for me, man, because I travel Thursday to Saturday night, right. So I miss. I miss the weekend pretty much. So I miss Friday. I miss Cole's football games on Friday nights was kill me. I missed Saturday morning soccer, baseball. Some. Some things are on Sunday, but, like, I think baseball's on Saturday.
A
Everything happens on Saturday.
B
Yeah, like. Like here, here in the fall, Sundays are football. Sometimes, like, they're sad. So, like, you'll get that. But I pretty much miss everything of my kids. And that's just how it's been. Josie's. It is what it is. Like, we're. It's okay, and it is what it is. But when I get home, Saturday night, I get home, and then Sunday morning I'll wake up with the kids and like. But then to your point, dude, I got a decision to make because it starts at 10am over here and Sunday, you know, like, I'm not going to be glued to the tv. But make no mistake, I'm very well aware of what's going on.
A
So, yeah, my whole thing is I. I'm actually going to ask the audience. Feel free to hit me. Or throwbacks. Yeah, write me. Like, I need some ideas that could just make this. Because I'm very much. One o'. Clock. I want to be on. I'm a red zone guy between the bat, you know, because I'm in a legal gambling state. So I got the bets, I got the fantasy, I got the Giants.
B
That would be tough.
A
Multiple TVs. I'm all over. So I actually need help from guys out there phoning a friend in the audience. What can I offer my wife? Yeah, again, she's not going to be like, no, you can't watch. But that just. I want the four hours uninterrupted I don't. I. I want. I don't want to move from that spot for four hours. I don't like to be in and out. I do. In and out for, like, night games. The west coast game, then I could pop it out. But Those East Coast, 1pm because it's you. I just need it. I have to have it. I have to have the four hours.
B
Yeah. There's gotta be. I mean, fellas out there, there's gotta be some negotiation or is there just like, hey, don't bother me on Sunday if you don't. If you don't have kids, it's a lot easier. But if you do have kids.
A
Yeah. Send help. Please tell me now if your kids.
B
Are getting to the age where they can sit and watch a little ball with you, which yours are getting there. We're getting there. You're close. You're close. We're. We're. We're close, too. But, yeah, it's.
A
I don't know how much preseason you watch. Like I said, I don't. I always, like, watch preseason, but I don't watch, like, big, big, big time. But I did because I was really interested in all the quarterback stuff. And look, I don't. I do not fall for the pre. No one should fall for the preseason stuff. I just don't think you can. Who the hell knows what any of it means? All I know is my, My. My takeaways from what I saw from the QBs. And I'm curious to hear yours and the what. What's real and what's. Just like, hey, that's good reps, but don't know if that actually matters when you play an NFL game that's not preseason. I. The Browns, man, that is going to be a media frenzy. What I mean by that is like, if. If Flaco is like one in three looks 40 years old, Shador plays maybe one more good preseason game and then we don't, like, they're gonna be calling for. Every talking head show is going to lead off with Shador said, like, what are they doing? It's going to be everything.
B
It's the most.
A
The biggest story in football.
B
Yeah. Well, first of all, I will say this. I do. I do. I will tell you this. Every. As a quarterback especially, every preseason rep matters. So whether it's Jackson Dart, whether it's cam board, every situation is different. Right. There's not a ton of pressure on Jackson Dart to go out there and ball. There's just not. You got two dudes that have played a long time, and he's not going to start week one. There's, there's, there's, there's almost not even a lot of pressure on Cam Ward, even though he's the number one pick. And he's in a way, like he's going to start regardless. So you just go out there and you get better. There's. Expect, there's not expectations yet, right, for Cam Ward. Like, Tennessee has been bad. The Shador Sanders thing is, is, is crazy, right? It's like. And everybody's talked about it, but I, I looked at that game last week and everyone's like, oh, he's set up to fail. And all this, like, at the end of the day, that's be. That's bullshit, dude. Like, it's the NFL. Like, you, like, if you don't get first team reps, you get mental reps. Like, you get maybe backup, you get third. And, and you go in there and if you ball out, you've like that. You've changed the whole narrative. If you don't, then you don't, man. It's, it's, it's football. It's like the opportunity. So, like, all of that when people are saying is just stupid like that, that makes no sense. Now, all that being said, the kid bawled out dude like, he played really well. And I think if anything, it shows for him that, like, this dude has had a bullseye on his back the minute that draft started for whatever reason, and then he gets drafted in the fifth round, and then he's fourth on the depth chart. He's still fourth on the job. Even after the game, he's still like third or fourth on the depth chart. Like, it's just like you said, it's a story. And it's always.
A
It's gonna, it's gonna get, it's gonna be.
B
What he showed was not. What he showed was not only can he play because he can play. No, everyone. Everyone knows he can play. He can play at that level. I think he can be a starter in the NFL, given the right guys around. Like, he for sure can I just. I believe that now. You know, it's up to him. But he just showed, man how to handle. Like, he handled all of that and went out there and just ball did his job.
A
He balled out, did his job, preseason, whatever.
B
For me, when I'm looking at young quarterbacks, it's like we know they all have the physical tools. Every, every quarterback that gets drafted can throw it can run, can whatever, you know, and he's got a High iq. He's been around the game. His dad's a, you know, Dion, all these things. But to be able to handle that, all the other mental stuff, that's like 80% of the game, dude. Can you just handle pressure of being a quarterback in the NFL? I know it was only one game, man, but like I took a lot from that. Like, the dude basically shut up a lot of people. He went out and played really well in not great circumstances. Right? Cause he doesn't, he doesn't get a lot of reps and he's. He is going to make it really hard on the Cleveland Browns.
A
That's what I'm basically saying. We are heading toward that moment.
B
But real quick, Jerry, he's. This, it's. This is a preseason. Coaches always told us this. Even vets. It is a job interview every time you step foot on the field. And by the way, every practice too. Because when now they have all these joint practices where you. I'm in Arizona. We play the Giants five straight days. Like the Giants are evaluating our roster too. Just like we're, you know, like, so you're like, sure liner ripped us apart three days in a row. Like, we like him. Like if they ever cut him, like, hey, like grab them. That. That happens all the time. So that's why like every practice, even in one on ones, every practice and every rep matters for all positions. So every time you step foot on a preseason game, like you are putting film out there for all other 31 NFL teams to either pick you up on a practice squad to sign you, you know, as a. Under as a free agent, to put down in your notes like, hey, we really like Shador. Like maybe if something happens next, like they are making notes like, this is professional football.
A
I just like I've felt I, I will never fall for this thing. And I think this is relevant for football as it is with me with acting. You know, we always talk about like the table reading and like these rehearsals. All these things that are like, look, it's a table read. Like it counts, but it doesn't count. Go there. You have to like kind of know your lines. You have your script in front of you. You're not supposed to act it out hardcore, but give them enough. It's for the writers to hear what's work. I've seen more people fired off of the table read. That doesn't matter. I've seen Maybe in my 20 some odd year career, I've seen seven people fired off a table readings that don't matter. Yeah, so you're right. It's the same thing. If you love Wendy's Classic Frosty flavors, we have some big news for you. There are all new Frosty Swirl and Frosty Fusion flavors. So it's the same creamy treat you've always loved now with the flavor refresh.
B
So what are these new flavors? Well, thanks for asking. There are a lot, so I'm just gonna list them. Okay, we've got the Frosty Swirls, strawberry brownie batter and caramel. Then we've got the blended Frosty Fusions, Caramel crunch Oreo brownie with swirled thick brownie batter sauce and crunchy Oreo cookie pieces and pop Tart strawberry with a sweet strawberry sauce and chunks of crazy good pop tarts pieces. Not to mention that, yes, you can still get your classic vanilla.
A
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B
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A
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A
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A
Intelligent four wheel drive. Cannot prevent collisions or provide enhanced traction in all conditions. Always monitor traffic and weather conditions. I'm excited for what we're about to do right now. Okay. I've been waiting for this is going to involve my nephew and some scorching hot takes. Okay. But I thought it was good to do it with nhtsa. Okay. Because now we're doing Crossroads. Presented by nhtsa. The next time you're out drinking, call a ride, share a taxi, a sober friend or a designated sober driver. The only decision that will change your world for the better is the decision to call for a sober ride. Drive sober or get pulled over. Now we discussed a few crossroads that we could do. We like to look back at our careers and think about Crossroads. So I just had the visit from the family out of New York came to visit me. 16 year old nephew, senior in high school, about to play his last year football. Love sports, really into football. Now Matt, he is in a crossroads. Okay. His crossroad is are you gonna be the scorching hot take guy that just says the thing to get people infuriated and start a sports argument. Because that's all he did for five straight days was throw things out. I kept a log.
B
Oh, I want to hear. Well, let me. Let me tell you something really quick. So he's 16. So he's 16. So he's still Gen Z.
A
Yes.
B
Because Gen Alpha is like this newest one, which I believe is 2012 and on or something. So he falls under the Gen Z, which so does Cole. So I. This generation is just full of.
A
Yeah. So I'm gonna read you a few. You can tell me if they're. Oh, yeah, like hot takes. You like. Or they like our friends. A freezing cold take. Right.
B
Okay.
A
And again, some. I think we're trolling. And then I got his ones that he was dead serious about.
B
Okay.
A
Here was his biggest one is he's dead.
B
He's dead serious.
A
This one, I. I believe he's dead serious. He will walk it. If you ran into him on the street and you brought it up to him, he would walk it back because I just annihilated this take. But when he said it, he was serious. Okay.
B
Okay.
A
He believes Justin Herbert is better than Joe Burrow. That's the first half of the take. Part two of the take is, if Justin Herbert was on the Bengals last year and had that roster on offense, he would have maybe led them to the Super Bowl. Hot scorching take you like, or ice cold take?
B
I think that it's so. It's funny. I think it's a. I don't think it's the. A right take, but I don't think it's that.
A
It's not ice cold.
B
It's not ice cold. I. I do think, well, one. Burrow again. Burrow better than Herbert. Like, I mean, yeah. Based on the body of work and based on like, like, consistency. He's been like all that. I. I would say. Yeah. Now they're in completely. Again, this is where you just dive into it. Right. Completely different offenses. You know, Herbert doesn't have Jamar Chase and T. Higgins and like, they don't throw the ball of a yard. They're much different. So, like, in that regard. Okay, I can see, but I. Burrow is at this point, he is better than.
A
What do you want the guy to do? What more could he do with that offense? Burrow, like, what, the defense was the problem.
B
No, I know. And he still had an MVP year.
A
Yeah.
B
So. So I agree. I. I think that's wrong. Now, if you could put. If you Put Herbert. These are all the hypotheticals.
A
Right? So I know, I love it. But I, I think.
B
But if you put Herbert, you put Herbert. Herbert in the Cincinnati Bengals. Are, is he going to have better? Are they better? No, they're not better.
A
They're not.
B
Now he would be better. I think he would have similar type of numbers because Herbert is freakishly talented. But to say they're going to go to the super bowl, like you still, like you said, like their defense was trash.
A
All right, so we'll call that a. So that's not, it's lukewarm.
B
That's, that's a, that's a. You can have an opinion. You could probably back it up with some of your own facts that you think. But to say Herbert is better than Burrow at this point, his career is, is false.
A
Well, buckle up now because now these are the ones he is dead serious about. There's no hedging. Okay. Josh Allen.
B
What if I agree, what if I agree with one of these?
A
That's great. No, I, I, I agree with some of what he says. Josh Allen, who he loves, who we just discussed, wins backto back MVP and the leads the Bills to the one seed. Back to back MVP for Allen and the one seed for sure. That's for sure. So hot take you like, that's, that's.
B
That'S not that hot of a take.
A
Okay, well, this one is pretty hot. Chiefs don't win the division. So now you're looking at Chargers or Broncos, because I don't know if the Raiders with Gino, by the way, everyone's on the Broncos band.
B
That's a great freaking take. I like that. Is it though.
A
Everyone's on the Broncos bandwagon and I get it. Like, but so Bo Nix is gonna unseat. Like you could almost write the Chiefs in for like 13 wins every year, even when they're bad.
B
Yeah, no, that's true. I just, I don't, I don't think that's that far off.
A
Okay, this one. Lions don't win the division. NFC north, he has the packers. And he, he even has the Bears two in the division, being sneaky, winning way more games than people think. But he has the packers winning the NFC north and he does not think the lie. He thinks the Lions will fall back a little bit this year. I thought that's a freezing cold take.
B
I don't think so. Dude, they lost Ben Johnson, dude. Ben Johnson.
A
He has another take involving Ben Johnson coming up.
B
By the way, what's your nephew's name again? Anthony, I love this kid. I love this kid. By the way. I think, look, I mean, break down the lines. Culture's there. It's a tough team. A lot of guys are in place and they had a lot of injuries last year. Like, they're going to be healthier this year. But they lose a freaking stud as a play caller. Like, they just.
A
Yeah. And you. You got something you believe in.
B
It is just talk about that so much. Like with golf and the way they. Like, they. They lose that. So that it all depends. Now that's a winning team now, which is crazy to say about the Lions, but, I mean, the packers are right there every year. Like, that's not. Like, that's one or two games away and then the packers win. I. I don't think the Bears are there yet either. Like, there's too many question marks, but I am not. I'm not. That's not that freezing of a take. That's a hot take, but that's not a freezing. That's not.
A
I think it's freezing cold. The Lions are just loaded. I know they lost Ben Johnson. I get it. Unless Goff has to have Ben Johnson. They're so loaded. This is a fantasy take and it involves the Bears and Ben Johnson. DeAndre Swift will be. Will have an elite fantasy year because of Ben Johnson. Than the fixed offensive line if he.
B
Yes.
A
Because it's hurt too much.
B
Well, that's what I'm saying. If he stays healthy, which is a big. If he could have a Jameer Gibbs type role in that offense that he. That's who he is. DeAndre Swift is explosive. You got.
A
Yes.
B
You got to think, man, I'm like Kyle Shanahan, oc. He's a head coach, but he's an oc. How great those off how. Just how well, like the strategy, the game plans, they're just. They're second to none. Sean McVeigh, same Kingsbury, I think is up there. What he was able to do Jaden Daniels last year with not a lot of pieces around him.
A
Yeah.
B
Ben Johnson is just. He's proven that now head coach, you have a little more responsibility, but he's still going to call plays. DeAndre Swift is like a fantasy sleeper this year. If he can stay.
A
I draft him every year.
B
Yeah. I know when he's one of those, it's like, yeah, four or five games that are great.
A
And then he has like that Eagles season was sneaky great. So while. And then fell apart.
B
There's an opportunity there for DeAndre Swift to have a Massive year. I totally agree.
A
I'm going to skip over these other ones.
B
They're not really that even these aren't that bad.
A
So the last one that he sent me just now from football camp. Okay.
B
For.
A
He took a break on his water break. He sent me a scorcher.
B
The fact that he has his phone out there on the practice field just.
A
Says, well I, I'll give him grace. Maybe he hasn't arrived yet because it's only 12. He was going to camp. Tyreek Hill will have a very rough year and officially be deemed washed. That's.
B
That's a tough one, man.
A
Saying that for like three years he left. The chill is going to drop off.
B
But last year, so. Yeah, so it's so funny because I'm, you know me, I'm dialed in on fantasy. So like Tyreek Hill is, is, is showing up on like every mock draft that I do for sure in like the third round. Like he's definitely, he's definitely fallen. But a lot of that is a lot of that because it's Tua. Like Tua missed like six games last year and they had nobody. So like, dude, you can't like just nothing you can do when you have a quarter. Like. And I don't think they had a great. Like they just didn't have a lot at that position last year. So he's getting one catch a game. So that's why there's obviously some, you know, hesitancy coming into this year. I think again to a healthy Tyreek's gonna have a big year.
A
Like it's a. Yeah, I think it's a freezing cold take because also if Tua.
B
Who are the Dolphins backup quarterback though I know they drafted Quinn Ewers, but.
A
Yeah, I don't know actually Andrew, I don't know if we know off the top of our head did they get.
B
Somebody new because, well, they were not.
A
I just look at it like this. If. God forbid and I don't ever want to see Tua get hurt because he's had too many injuries with two is hurt again. Dolphins having a rough year. Is. Is Tyree Kill not a trade candidate? You would think because. And then if you, if you put like if you put Tyree Kill. Oh, go. Zack Wilson is their backup. I guess he could be a little frisky.
B
That's. That's much better than what they've had. So.
A
But if Tyreek Hill gets traded to like the Chargers, Justin Herbert, I don't really see a big drop offs. I think that's a Freezing cold.
B
Take it's Tua. Tua. I mean Tua what two years ago played. I think every game right. Like I know a couple years ago is bad. Like he had a year and then Tyreek had a massive year. That's why like Jaylen Waddle is going like fifth round because it's like they just don't know like they, those guys are solely reliant on to a being healthy because some other teams have good backups. They can still distribute the ball. He's still going to get your points but like Dolphins now Zach Wilson's a major upgrade. Like Zach Wilson can play like he's, he might not be a long term starter but the dude can come in and play for three come in and.
A
Win a game as he proved.
B
Yeah and he's got good weapons and he's got, and they got, he's got McDaniel who's a great coach, offensive minded coach. So yeah I'm. Look I want to say this dude, I don't, I don't necessarily think all of those. I think the Herbert better than Burrow is a. That's a cold. Is a freezing cold take but everything else I'm kind of in alignment. I don't know alignment with our boys.
A
I would book your guys as bets. If you wanted to bet that the Chiefs won't win the division and the Lions won't win the division, I would book all those bets. I think everyone's falling in love with the Broncos and they're falling in love with the packers and they're good teams but they are not the best team.
B
I would put more money on the Chiefs winning the division than the Lions. I just think, and I think the Lions are really good. I just think you lose a play caller like that and again they might.
A
Not miss a beat but they're getting Aiden Hutchinson back. That's gotta.
B
Yeah, but Green Bay, Green Bay. Green Bay is really good too. Minnesota I think is going to be sneaky good. I think J.J. mcCarthy's gonna be pretty good.
A
Good stuff.
B
Who do we have? We have Detroit. Oh Chicago, Chicago. I'm not, I'm not Chicago finishing second in that division though, that's for sure.
A
Shout out to Nitza and to my nephew Anthony who is getting his license soon. So buckle up. No texting and driving, none of that stuff. We'll have that conversation a thousand times before you get your license. Do you have any excitement for Madden 26?
B
I always do. I just signed a. Signed my, signed my signature to be in the game.
A
You're in Madden.
B
Yeah, Madden in, in college football.
A
Well, college football for sure. So are they on what I want?
B
I mean, I don't know who's playing with me in Madden, but I think I'll be on a roster.
A
Look, if you get a Madden ultimate team liner juiced up to like 95.
B
With lefty, I mean my rating has got to be like a 55.
A
No, no, no, that's ridiculous. You're not.
B
Yeah, I've, I, I, Madden college football, those are about the two games that I'll play.
A
Well, I played, I played with my nephew while he was here and like not 26, 25. I know the trials out and like it was fun for a second, but I'm like, I, I need the rookies, I need, I need the update. So there are seven 99s in Madden so far.
B
Seven 99s in Madden.
A
And I have the positions because I think it's hard to just blind guess them. But let's do a little blind because I have not looked at this and I don't think you have either. No, there's two QBs, two wide receivers, a running back, a right tackle and a D end.
B
Okay.
A
I have not looked at this either.
B
I don't know. 7. Well, I mean I should guess both quarterbacks.
A
QB's has to be Josh Allen, right?
B
Yep.
A
And is it, I'm gonna stick with Mahomes.
B
No, I would go Lamar Jack. Lamar Jackson.
A
Yeah. Okay. All right. I think, I, I, I don't know. Mahomes is just always a 99 to me.
B
I'll go receiver first because this one's easy. Jamar Chase.
A
Yep. For my number two I had, I was gonna go Justin Jefferson.
B
It has to be Justin Jefferson. Okay, so Josh Allen. Mar Jackson. Jamar Chase.
A
Now interesting running back because I can make the case for two guys. I can make the case for two guys.
B
You're going off of last year. Dude, just put his name down. It's very simple.
A
Saquon.
B
Yes.
A
I was going to make a case for Bijan.
B
Yeah. But he hasn't or just rushed up 2,000 yards. So they're going off of last year and like he's on the best team in the NFL. Right tackle, bro. Let's see how much NFL you know. I have one name in mind.
A
I don't even know. It's the only one.
B
Yeah.
A
And is he definitely a right tackle? I'm hoping I'm correct. Pen Se.
B
I was gonna say, I was gonna say Trent Williams.
A
Trent Williams. No.
B
Wrong. No.
A
Oh, the dude from the, the Bucks. Oh, who's the. The tackle from the Bucks.
B
No, give us one. Give us one more letter.
A
Give us. We have someone, right? NFC East.
B
Oh, Eagles.
A
Andrew Thomas. Johnson. Lane Johnson's a 99. That's crazy. Okay.
B
D.N. all right. This could be one of two. I think it's, I think it's an obvious one, But I got T.J. watt. I was, I was gonna put Micah Parsons.
A
Micah Parsons. No, no.
B
Oh, I know, I know. I got it. You're Miles Garrett.
A
Miles Garrett.
B
Yeah.
A
Miles Garrett. Okay, those are our 90 nines.
B
So seven 99s. Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Jamar Chase, Jay, Jetta, Saquon, Lane Johnson. Miles Garrett. That's solid. That's solid.
A
Yeah, I know. I. The Lane Johnson one broke my brain a little bit.
B
Well, that's because you don't know many offensive.
A
Well, what. You know, we watched the draft together. We were at the draft. What? I always love the rookies. What rookie? Just after four games. Madden the regular season when they do their Madden updates, what rookie is going to get the biggest point overall?
B
John, I'm looking right now. You know what, you know what I think is. See, I think Ashton Genti is going to be an absolute star. Yeah, just he's going to walk in right away and be a 1400 yard back. Especially the way like Pete will use them like they use Marshawn and just to run the ball. And I think I kind, I think Travis Hunter, dude, like that seems obvious. Yeah, that seems obvious. But like no one's really talked about him and like the first game he had what he. He start at. He started at receiver and he played like 10 or 15 snaps on defense, which I think, I mean he's just like he's going to have a bunch of catches this year. Like he's just going to have a good. I mean he's going to have probably 70 to 80 catches this year as a receiver in that offense with him and Brian Thomas and then on defense, like if he has, you know, a couple games, picks like that, like talk about a skyrocket overall. I don't even know what his overall is. Can we find out what's his overall going in? He's probably in the 80s maybe.
A
Yeah, he must be. I'm gonna be a homer here. I think it's gonna be Abdul Carter. Oh, but I like what you said about Hunter is like because he can get the boost on offense and defense, so he might actually gain the most points that way. But from all I'm hearing, Abdel Abdul.
B
Carter is just another another one Omari and Hampton, he'll be going to start for the Chargers at running back and we know what Jimmy we know what Jimmy H likes to do out there. Run the ball and then the other one who's making some noise who's going to be good is a Mecca Buka the first round Ohio State wide receiver. He's in Tampa. So they throw the ball all over the yard. I think Godwin is still out right? Godwin's hurt. Evans is. Evans is awesome but he's getting older. Like they'll Baker throw the ball 50 times a game.
A
Well I want you. I want you one on one in Madden online when it drops officially. I wanna we should stream it.
B
You don't want oh you don't want.
A
That smoke dude I want all I want.
B
Every time you challenge me to a game, you. You leave getting your feelings hurt.
A
Do you know Matt trivia for you.
B
Matt's mad in my.
A
I was gonna ask you that. I didn't know if you saw it in the chat. Your rookie rating in Matt.
B
81.
A
81 man. 2012.
B
What a ball from Grace.
A
But you weren't a 55, buddy.
B
81 to 73 is actually not that bad of a jump over that big.
A
Of a fall off. Not that big of a fall off. I think it would have been. I think they should do that for actors. Like so I was still actors 2008.
B
I was in 85. Yeah but that's because I played 06. My 06 I played well. 07. I played five games and I was playing while I broke my arm. I was out. So going into 08 I was still projected probably be the starter or at least compete with Kurt. And then, and then, and then it was downhill from there. What was my speed though?
A
That might have been a 55.
B
Gotta be in the 50s.
A
That might have been 55.
B
Yeah, that's fine dude. Running on my forte, I'm probably faster now than I was 59 speed for.
A
Matty Ice the real Maddie Ice. Hey dude, you're still in the game and you're back in the game. So good times. You know sometimes having a lot of options can be a good thing. But just as often it could feel a little bit overwhelming. I know me when I'm trying to even figure out which TV show to watch or what movie to stream to sit down with or even sitting down in a restaurant sometimes you get those giant menus that have 150 options and you just can't figure out what to order.
B
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Drive sober or get pulled over. Paid for by nhtsa. Are you feeling more fulfilled now that.
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You'Re back to work this Friday?
B
No, I need a vacation. See the movie that critics are saying is an awesome. Look at that crowd pleasing fist pumping. All that brawl of a film.
A
Right.
B
About that.
A
They're coming after our family. Go fix this.
B
Oh my. Nobody too.
A
Rated R only in theaters Friday. All right, we're back and it's time for all time adventures driven by Nissan. The 2025 Nissan Pathfinder. Rock Creek Adventure ready and free from new tariffs. So usually we like to discuss a Personal adventure that we had. But there's something that stuck out to me this past weekend, all throughout preseason. And I don't know, I guess for me, he kind of is like. If you would describe a coach as a car, I feel like Vrabel is like the. And I mean this in a great way. Like, he is like the. Like a Pathfinder. Rock Creek, I think tough, adventurous, rugged, off road with them, could kind of do whatever you need.
B
Versatile.
A
Well, Bravel was left bloodied after diving into a skirmish during a joint practice between the Pats and the Commanders. Matt, we're going to do a little Snake draft of coaches we would most likely want on our side of the fight. But right before we do that, if you saw your coach dive into a skirmish at one of those. We all see the videos of the joint practice fight and he got up bloodied. Are you like, oh, hell yeah. This is my guy right here. Does that fire you up or are you just like, what is.
B
I mean, I'm like, why is he jumping? I feel like someone like Vrabel, you don't need to feel that way because of who he is and his personality. And he played linebacker in the league forever. So, like, and he's already tough and hard nose. So I think it's more like when you see that you're just like, oh, oh, coach. Coach just got. Coach has gotten a fight. Like, I think you're just more like laughing at it because that's just the type of attitude he already has, you know, I mean, like, if it was someone like, like, even like Pete Carroll, Pete Carol used to dive in, like, dive in walkthroughs on goal line and just dive over, like, no helmet. Just because he was so energetic. But like, sick. 72 year old Pete Carroll, like diving in in the middle of a skirt, coming out bloodied. I would like, I like, okay, Pete, you still got it, you know, like, so it all depends on who. But yeah. Brayball, dude. What a beast. All right, well, Snake drafted.
A
I feel like there's some obvious ones. You.
B
So whoever.
A
If I.
B
If there's only two of us, if I get first pick, then that means you get two in a row, then I get two in a row and then you close it out for three. We're doing three.
A
Yes, we're doing three.
B
All right, well, I'm gonna go Dan Campbell.
A
Dan Campbell. Absolutely.
B
Campbell. That's just someone you want in the trenches. If you're walking down an alley and you want. You want Dan Campbell on your side.
A
100. And then to that degree, the obvious next choice is Rabel. 100%. My next snake pick. He's kind of quiet when they cut to him on the sideline. You don't really know what he's thinking. He was a big, strong dude. I just feel like he. When he goes, he becomes the Incredible Hulk. I'm going, Todd Bowles, Tampa. I don't know, man. I feel like when he.
B
You missed. You missed an obvious one.
A
Who?
B
Tamiko Ryan's, bro. Tamiko Ryan's played in the league. He's a middle linebacker for 12 years in the NFL. I played with them. Demiko Ryan's is a super nice guy. He's the best, but he's. He's an animal, dude.
A
So, like, he handles it.
B
Oh, bro, that's. Yeah, you missed that one. That. That. That's a no brainer. All right, so one more. So I'm going more. I'm gonna go more youth than like a Todd Bowles, because Todd Bowles is tough as nails, but he's a little bit older. I'm going Sean McVeigh. You like that, don't you?
A
I do like McVeigh. And he's jacked. He's jacked.
B
I feel like if you're. Like, if you're in a fight with McVeigh, because I, like, he's not that tall. I feel like he's just going straight for the ankles. I think he's just going down and like, he's like kicking you in your shin like a UFC fighter. And then he's just like. He's just. He's like a bulldog. He's a bulldog.
A
You're gonna hate my last pick, by the way.
B
I mean, I'm already. I've already completely dominated you, but.
A
Okay, you're gonna hate my last pick, and no one's gonna get it. And I've done this before where I've said things that no one gets, and I've been proven true.
B
Can I. Can I get a. Can I get. Can I get like a division?
A
So I have one AFC east, and it's not variable. So there you go. You have three picks left.
B
So AFC east, you got the jets, the Dolphins, and the Bills.
A
Go back. It's not Sean McDermott, it's Mike McDaniel. And here's why. Stay with me. Don't fall off. No, don't fall asleep. Don't roll your eyes. He looks kind of crazy to me.
B
That's for sure.
A
I feel like I. I. Not. It's. I.
B
You think there's some screws loose up there.
A
Physical. I feel like he does like some Jim Carrey crazy things that you're kind.
B
Of like, whoa, I am like Jedi mind tricks. Yeah.
A
Certifiably insane. Also, wouldn't be shocked if he was like a fourth degree Brazilian until.
B
Until.
A
Would you be shocked if you heard that about Mike McDaniel, bro?
B
I love Mike McDaniel, but he's probably.
A
Like, he just chokes out Tomiko ryan.
B
Probably a buck 75 soaking wet.
A
With my McDaniel pick, I'm hoping it actually doesn't get physical. And he just, like I said, he just acts crazy and does some crazy and everybody's like, we're out. We're leaving this alone. That's why I might be a Daniel pick. You got to have a personality. If you can't just pick the biggest, strongest guy. I didn't always be.
B
Sean McVeigh's actually quite small.
A
He's still kind of jacked. He's probably got 30, 40 pounds on Mike.
B
I did. I do love, though. I do. I think I do love the Harbaughs. But, you know, again, Jim. Jim doesn't walk very well. Jim. Talk about some screws loose now.
A
But you feel like it'd be like a Nolan Ryan. Robin Ventura. Yeah, you know, I'm just.
B
I'm thinking, I'm thinking more youth. Full. Right. Like, Dan Campbell's still younger. Dico's like my age and McVeigh is younger than me. So, you know, like, there's just. They got more energy, they got more juice.
A
Before we talk about our Wendy's flavor, I. I do want to tease something. We're gonna be in LA next week in person, in studio, which we, you know, we don't. We get to do every now and then. Ah. I don't want to say it's huge throwbacks news, but it is a pretty big. There will be some big breaking news that we're gonna break on the show next week. I'm not going to spoil anything more. Don't ask questions. You like to try to get hints out of me and stuff like that. It's not. I'm not giving any hints.
B
Bigger. I mean, bigger than. Bigger than Taylor Swift joining the podcast world, I think. Are you breaking news? We're breaking news on throwbacks next week.
A
I'm going to break some news on throwbacks next week. So make sure you set your reminders on the YouTube. Our episode will be coming out next week.
B
Is it like, is it excited? Is it. Will I be excited about, like, what?
A
I don't I think it's good news. We're breaking good thing. I'm not saying, like, I'm stepping away from the show for a little while. It's good. It's a good. It's good breaking news. Look for that. Let's go look for that next week. And if you're lucky, I will even bring you a Wendy's Frosty fusion flavor. Okay. Because it is now I get to see you.
B
Hold on. I get to see you in person for a week. And we get breaking news.
A
And we get breaking news. We're gonna get the boys together.
B
Yeah.
A
My kids are gonna get to see what other kids we got a born athletic look. Funny.
B
I. I don't want to laugh, but it's probably partially true. Yeah, it's probably partially true.
A
Hey, look. What, what they don't have in height, speed and strength, they make up within grit, determination and witty, cute wild behavior. So, yeah, it'll be fun getting them.
B
Oh, that's gonna be fun. Oh, man, I'm excited, dude. All right, let's break the Internet next week.
A
Yeah, we're gonna break some stuff. What we're not gonna break is our flavor of the week presented by Wendy's. Find your new favorite Frosty fusions flavor today with choices like Oreo brownie caramel crunches for you and pop Tarts strawberry. Thought long and hard about this one. When looking at this past week events, did you follow the Portland Pickles fan appreciation night story? A story that not many people are probably covering on their all I saw.
B
All I saw it. All I heard and saw was fan comes from the stance. It just hits. Hits an absolute nuke over the fence. That's all I saw. I'm like, oh, that's pretty cool, right?
A
The, the, the backstory is they selected a random fan where air quoting random fan to come down, take that bat. He walked in his first at bat, stole a baseball, eventually came around the score. So they give him another at bat and he homer just.
B
Yeah.
A
So now on social media, all the conspiracy theorists think they uncovered something that Dixie appears to be Eli Steinhaus, a sophomore college baseball player at D3 Lewis and Clark College. And there's a whole Reddit thread saying that he's an intern. Actually, the truth comes out is this conspiracy. I think this flavor of the week.
B
I think it's for sure. It was for sure staged. Now, now the dude still hard to.
A
Do as a D3 ball player.
B
I think for that like hitting a home run is just icing on the cake. Now in the pitch, like, the dude just threw it right down the middle like a meatball, right?
A
Yeah, yeah.
B
Yeah. So that part to hit an actual home run just made it even bigger and made it exactly what. It's become a viral video. And it's.
A
What a story that would be if he truly was like, I kind of play on, like, D3. I'm not really playing. Just comes out.
B
That'd be like, my ultimate dream, like, doing like we did. The. It had. This has very Savannah banana feel.
A
I was gonna say it feels like they borrowed from the Savannah.
B
Yeah. When you look at. Because I. I did a little deep dive and I saw a couple videos and they, like, they'll wear, like, big gloves. Like, they'll do some fun. Like, some more fun interaction stuff. But.
A
Well, if this were for real and we were actually gonna throw a fan in a sporting event and let's just say he's like a D3 athlete, right? Like, he's good athlete. He's not D1, but he's not. Like, I've some of the guys, like, you know, who do, like, free throws at a basketball game. They even look athletic but can't reach. They've never played basketball before. Let's just say a mildly decent athlete. What's the most doable.
B
A professional sporting game?
A
Now I have some really hard ones and some maybe more doable. Hitting a home run like this kid.
B
Did, I mean, that's impossible.
A
Almost getting a yard as a running back. I know Saquon answered that question on new heights, right? Like, can you. I feel like I could sneak out a yard, Matt. I really. If I just get it and just dive low. I'm so short. I'm so short.
B
But you're already. You're already starting, like, six yards back.
A
I know if I just run and I'm so short. Like, who?
B
You're not. You're not moving, though. Like, you have no lateral movement. So you're just. You just pray to God that there's a hole that's one yard. And by the way, that hole closes just like that any last time.
A
But again, I feel like I will have the lowest. There's only been, like, two running backs who are even remotely close to my size. So I just think that no one's used to tackling a5.5 running back. I think I could do it scoring a goal in hockey, hitting a three in basketball. But now, remember, you're getting covered, though. You're getting covered.
B
Yeah. No getting yards.
A
Someone could just get, like, a sack fly. I feel like that's doable. And a birdie on like a pebble beach or even like in the Scotland on a par three, which I think that's probably the most doable.
B
Well, I'm telling you what's not is baseball a random semi. Like, okay, like, I'll just put myself good athlete. Obviously, I was a.
A
But like, at this age, played a lot of baseball.
B
There is no chance I'm hitting a 98 mile an hour fastball. There's no chance. There's no chance I'm hitting a 79 mile an hour Clayton Kershaw curveball. So. And I mean, you can get lucky and hope that you put your bat on it. But even like hitting a home run, I think the baseball. I think catching a touchdown pass take baseball out.
A
Zero chance. I think catching a touchdown pass too, that's a zero.
B
No, I feel like if they're playing zone and you're like, if I'm lined.
A
Up against sauce garden catch, hitting a.
B
Three in basketball, that's possible just because the D. I mean, again, it just depends. Are they just throw? Are they playing? Are they. Are they covering you like a glove?
A
Let's just say they don't know the three is coming. Right? Like, I think if, like, oh, then.
B
I think, I think you could hit a three in basketball. If they're not.
A
Remember, no one's like, they're. You're right, you're right.
B
They don't play any defense. You're just running around. All of a sudden you, you, you get a kick out. You could hit a three if you have any. Scoring a goal in hockey is. Would be virtually, I would say, in my opinion, getting 1 yard as a running back or hitting a 3 in basketball, because I do think as a running back, you could line up like two yards behind the quarterback and do like a tush push type of thing. Ideally, I would hurt.
A
So.
B
Yeah, that would hurt you. You would, you would not like that. You would not like that feeling. You'd probably break multiple bones just by getting hit once.
A
I just think I could get a yard, dude. I'm not saying every time. I'm not saying I'm getting one yard every time. I think I have like a 50, 50 shot of getting very close to getting one yard. You might have to bring the sticks out. You might have to bring the sticks out and measure it. But I think I'm getting very close. I'm thinking fall down.
B
I think a birdie, a birdie on a tough par three. If you, if you have got it, I guess you could hit.
A
That's probably dude. Because you could hit like worm burners. You could like.
B
Yeah, but like a birdie. Like you have to hit a ball.
A
And you have to hit the putt.
B
Yeah, they have to hit the putt. That's hard, dude. I'm gonna go with. I'm gonna go with hitting a three in hoops and I think getting a yard as an rb, even though I. I really think that's challenging but I think you could scheme to where you could get a yard.
A
I mean you at like 65 with 59 overall speed and Madden.
B
It was tough for me to get a yard and I was even when the pocket broke down running, I'm like.
A
Oh my God, dude, let's do two mailbags. I got one for you and then I'll take one. Okay, this one is from Dennis in New Orleans shuck territory. Matt, I think we all assume that the bush push and you just saw your boy Reggie was your favorite touchdown of your career. But do you have a favorite or memorable touchdown from your career that's not the bush push?
B
That's a good question. I mean my first ever pass I threw in college was a touchdown. First ever start, first ever pass. We got a fumble.
A
What was it? What's the. Yeah, give me the details.
B
We were. We. They fumbled. We got the ball in like the 10 yard line going in in the first quarters. My first ever start again. Auburn was legit. They were like top five. Yeah, we ran a little stick nod which is like a little five yard out kind of and then nod to the middle of the end zone with Mike Williams and I threw a touchdown. So that's pretty cool. I would.
A
One for one for. With one TD as your.
B
I would say this my most by the one that sticks out is obviously your first like NFL touchdown pass I threw against real one was against the Chiefs on a freaking. On a deep post to Anquan which is pretty awesome. My first NFL rushing touchdown. Dude, I played.
A
How many NFL rushing touchdowns do you have? Is that your first and only?
B
Maybe three. I had two that year. That's probably it too. So I had one against them and I had one against. I had one against the Detroit Lions. My first one like week eight or nine. And I remember running in and I was like. And I remember taking the ball because I'm like this, I'm taking this. My first rushing touchdown. I kind of go across a goal line and I kind of turn like just because there were guys there. But DBs don't want to hit in the NFL? Not really.
A
So it was like QB draw. Like, you know, it was just like.
B
A broken down play in like the five or six yard line of pass. I just kind of rolled around and then I just kind of dove in and I kind of turned and kind of just dove in with my back kind of facing, you know, like, like to like shield for a hit. And no one touched me, so. But I got a touchdown and I spiked the. Out of the ball, which is awesome. I think I still had that ball. It was like, you know, Detroit Lions, October, whatever, 2000.
A
Did that just feel great? Like getting a rush.
B
It was just fun, dude, because like I. Yeah, because I don't run the ball. And I remember, I think Larry or Anquan were like, bro, what are you doing? Like getting up. I was like, I don't know. So fired up. And then honestly, while we're on the topic, my other touchdown that year was against the Cowboys and it was against Roy Williams. Was it Roy Williams, field safety for the Cowboys? Stud. Yeah. So I'm running a bootleg on like the two yard line, right. So I'm faking. I'm. And I'm. I keep the ball to run like one of those, like a really good design. I think we leaked someone out in the back, but it was designed to go in and dude, it's so good. I threw the foot race. I threw the old okie doke fake pass to nobody against Roy. He jumped up and I scored. Dude, I'll know. That's got to be. It's got to be somewhere on. On highlights. You got to find it. It was a. It was the old, like run it and he's right.
A
He left his feet on the pump fake.
B
He left his feet because I went. I look back and I go, boom. The old fake. And he goes. He just jumped a little bit. And then I beat him to the corner of the end zone against Roy Williams. That was fun.
A
See, that must have felt real good because that. You look like you do that stuff all the time.
B
Yeah, but I just wasn't a great runner, dude. I just was. Like, I wasn't slow. Like, I'll say this, I wasn't. I was just big and gangly. Like, I wasn't like super slow. Like, I could move well enough. Like, back for sure. Like I really could. Like, I wasn't like a statue. Like I could move a little bit, get some yards and all that. Just never had to. But like, obviously I'm not the guy what the guys are today. All right.
A
I'M gonna take this one. Which one?
B
Kyle?
A
Yeah, From Los Angeles.
B
Oh, this is for me or for you?
A
For me. This one's for me.
B
I remember you saying that Edron James is one of the best teammates you ever had, Jerry. From an acting standpoint, who are the best teammates that you had?
A
So I thought about this a lot when I saw these mailbag questions.
B
And that's a great question.
A
It is. But I'm gonna flip it because the. There's just obvious answers, right? Like my stuff with Kevin Dillon, who played Johnny Drama, like, I just had a front row seat to watching what I think is one of the funniest dudes unintentionally and intentionally funny ever to be on screen. So it's easy to say Dylan and the Entourage guys. And I even had a great, you know, power cast. But I'm just gonna segue off acting for a minute because there's so many departments on the crew, right? I did this movie Sully, about Sully Sullivan who landed the plane in the Hudson River. Clint Eastwood directed movie. Now I got cut out of most of the movie and I was told it's not my fault. That why I got cut. It was a time length thing. Sure, I'll accept that, Clint. But I played one of the, like, Coast Guard rescue crew divers who dive into the Hudson and start rescuing people, passengers, right? And we did that in the Hudson river. And I had to jump out of a helicopter, not. Not as many feet as you would think, but into the Hudson river and start saving people in full scuba gear. And then we had to do the rest of it in the water tank. I think the same water tank they shot some Jaws stuff in at Universal. And they should have used like a real person. I did the stunt and the stunt team on that. Dude, I was so scared.
B
I was about to say the helicopter.
A
Jumping into the Hudson river in full scuba gear. And then I had that ring people and like, swim them in and I. I prepare.
B
You probably had to learn how to like.
A
Yes.
B
Yeah, that's. I did that once shark diving for. On a tank. And it took me a few times to come up and like, get the. Breathe the breath down. Because once and once you get the breath down, it's fine. That's gnarly, dude.
A
But it's still a lot of gear. And I just was so scared to the point where I was gon back out. I'm like, they should just hire like a real person, because then I have like two or three acting scenes. I have like two or three Acting scenes, right? So they cast me for the acting. You would have thought they would use a stunt double, but Mr. Eastwood wanted to get in close on me and see that it was really me. And I almost, I tried to quit like three times. I'm like, so they didn't use that.
B
Part in the movie or they did.
A
You would never know it was me in that part. Now I have a few other scenes where you could clearly see it's me and I have one like acting scene.
B
Were you semi kind of pissed? Like, bro, I just, I thought it.
A
Was pissed at the time. I just was so thankful to the stunt crew and the stunt coordinators because they a hundred percent got me through that whole thing and made it a good experience. But that's just talk about like having my back. That's my Edger and James, like, that's. Those were my guys. They got me through it.
B
Before we wrap. What was it like working with Clint Eastwood? And even if you have a small part like, is that pretty cool to be in like the same room as him?
A
And yeah, so the, the, the myth of Clint Eastwood, there's like two main ones. One is he doesn't like really call action or cut. And he does one take, right? That's the one of the biggest awesome one take, maybe two and you're out. And then the second was like, he works like eight hour days now. He gets big budgets, so you could afford to do that. And I will say both those myths are roughly true. I'm doing one scene with this guy I remember and like he, Clint at the time, he had his own monitor. So he's not at this big video village. He has his own monitor off to the side. And he doesn't call action. He'll come up to us and I'll just say, start whenever you're ready. And he walks away. So now it's me and the other actor and I have the first line. So that's got to be a little bit harder, right?
B
I don't know.
A
I just want to hear action. It's like our start.
B
Boom, you're on, right?
A
It's like it's calling hike, right? The play begins when you call action.
B
That's kind of interesting.
A
Got used to that. And then so he's like notoriously used the same crew forever and ever. And you know you have the union rules, like you have to take like an hour lunch break. I think the thing was like you could, he lets the crew decide every day. We could work through lunch and an hour earlier. And now you look, you could eat still and that's saying you're not allowed to eat. You still eat while you're doing your job. Or, and you could stick around to eat. Food will be here. Or we could take the hour break, which is usually an hour and a.
B
Half by the way. I'd rather go through it.
A
I think a hundred percent of the time they say go through. Yeah, but you know, it was cool so we went through. But you would think people then like run home after that because they have a lot of people stuck around to eat and hang out and talk. But it was, they were clocked out. So like the pressure's off. You're gonna eat and go home as opposed to eat and go back and do another four hours.
B
And then about the. Well, so that was the eight hour days. So the days were where the day.
A
The days were eight. Like you learn, show up at nine and you're out by five o'. Clock.
B
That's like similar to like football coaches is like, why are we, why are we, you know, why are we installing 900 plays? Like, let's be more efficient. Let's get home early. Hey, let's do what we're good at and then let's move on. Like, like don't overthink it, right? Or don't over coach. Or like don't over direct and over like that. Like, hey, one take, two take, boom. Let's go on. You guys are all professionals. That's awesome, dude.
A
So I think the core is why maybe it doesn't happen as often with movies. Number one, that kind of schedule you need a large budget for. It's just as time is money, right?
B
Yeah.
A
And I think for you with football, it's almost.
B
He's also Clint Eastwood, so.
A
And he's Clint Eastwood. And I think. And maybe I don't. Maybe if it's, if it's different for Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, maybe there's not a 900 play install. But also maybe with football it's like, well, look, hey, if we're only going to install a smaller amount, you just better be able to run those things.
B
Yeah, you bet. Like, no, because we have an option, you know, mental assignment, mental errors or Emmys. Mental errors.
A
Yeah.
B
Hey, no mental errors will move on. And then if everyone's on it. Yeah, you move on. You get rewarded for being prepared and all that.
A
Yeah, that's the show. I'm going to see you in like three days.
B
I can't wait one to see you. I can't wait to hear this freaking news. You're about to break. It's crazy.
A
Don't. I see you're ready. Don't text me.
B
I'm going to be thinking about it all weekend. See the kids. Oh, it's going to be fire, man. It's great to be back.
A
And maybe we can throw on a preseason game on. We'll come over or bring the boys over. We throw on a little preseason action.
B
Yeah, there's a lot going on. Remember, everyone out there, like, subscribe.
A
Yeah.
B
Throwback show.
A
We're back 40 weeks in a row.
B
Season two, season two coming back. Dude, we're fired up.
A
I always say next week we talk a little fantasy. I think it's time we dive into it.
B
Yeah, dude, I'm. I just. I just started my email or my group chat to one of my. My groups about, hey, this is the date of the first draft. My boy. His draft sentence at the other group chat. I have three more drafts I'm a part of. That one's already done. That one's in person here where I live. That's like, I don't know, like a Monday night or something.
A
Dude, I got a draft one and hope for WI fi on the plane. It's on my flight to la.
B
Oh, don't be. Well, that's. I want to talk about. Don't be an auto drafter, bro.
A
Well, no one want.
B
They get. They get kicked out of league. We'll figure it out. Don't. Don't fly on this. Don't fly on.
A
Figure it out. It affects you, buddy. We want to take a later flight. That's less time you and I have to work and hang out.
B
What airline?
A
United, I think. I mean, there's Wi Fi. The question is, does it.
B
It's 50. 50 and get.
A
By the way, the show up.
B
Give me your login. I'll draft. I'll draft for you.
A
You're definitely it. But do you want to know who my emergency. If I don't have WI fi, it's auction.
B
Your nephew Anthony. Auction.
A
Okay, Ferrara.
B
Auction. I can't do. So you're out of luck with.
A
Well, he's my emergency gm, so we'll recap that whole thing next week. Thank you. Everybody listen. And Maddie, I will see you in la, buddy.
B
Yes, sir.
Podcast Summary: Throwbacks with Matt Leinart & Jerry Ferrara
Episode: NFL Coaches You Want in Your Corner & the Newest Additions to the Madden 99 Club
Release Date: August 14, 2025
In this episode of Throwbacks with Matt Leinart & Jerry Ferrara, hosts Matt Leinart, a former Heisman Trophy winner, and Jerry Ferrara, known for his role in Entourage, delve deep into the world of NFL coaches, team dynamics, and the latest updates in the Madden video game series. The conversation seamlessly weaves through personal anecdotes, expert insights, and engaging debates, providing listeners with a comprehensive look into both the professional and personal lives of the hosts.
The episode kicks off with Matt expressing a controversial opinion about NFL coaches, specifically naming Mike McDaniel as his least favorite pick.
Jerry adds his skepticism regarding McDaniel's coaching style, comparing him to a "certifiably insane" character.
The hosts discuss the qualities that make a coach desirable, emphasizing stability, strategic thinking, and the ability to handle pressure.
Transitioning into the topic of NFL bye weeks, Matt and Jerry explore their personal experiences and the broader implications for players and teams.
Jerry explains how bye weeks can serve as a crucial reset period for teams, particularly for those performing well in the season.
They delve into the logistics of team travel, time zone adjustments, and how these factors can impact player performance and betting odds.
A significant portion of the discussion revolves around the camaraderie and unique experiences players share on team flights.
Jerry reminisces about his time with the Houston Texans, highlighting the fun and camaraderie during flights.
They discuss potential guests like Dave Anderson, Owen Daniels, and Arian Foster, envisioning engaging stories from their team plane experiences.
The hosts share insights into their relationships, particularly focusing on their bond with Reggie.
Jerry reflects on their past collaborations and the enduring friendship that enhances their podcast dynamic.
They also touch upon social media interactions and the impact of public perception on their personal and professional lives.
A highlight of the episode is the introduction of Matt's 16-year-old nephew, Anthony, who shares his fiery opinions on current NFL topics. This segment adds a fresh and youthful perspective to the conversation.
Jerry and Matt engage in a spirited debate over these takes, offering their expert counterpoints and fostering a dynamic dialogue.
The hosts categorize Anthony's opinions as "lukewarm" or "freezing cold," providing an entertaining critique of his perspectives.
Shifting gears, Matt and Jerry dive into the latest Madden 26 updates, discussing the newest additions to the Madden 99 Club. They each attempt to predict which players will receive top ratings based on current NFL performances.
Matt Leinart [40:50]:
"I'm gonna stick with Mahomes as a 99."
[41:00]
Jerry Ferrara [41:12]:
"It has to be Justin Jefferson."
[41:19]
They create a list of seven players they've dubbed the "Madden 99s," including Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Jamar Chase, Saquon Barkley, Lane Johnson, and Miles Garrett.
The discussion highlights their passion for the game, strategic insights, and personal preferences in player statistics and potential.
Towards the end of the main content, Matt and Jerry share memorable moments from their football careers, providing listeners with personal anecdotes that underscore their deep connection to the sport.
Jerry Ferrara [63:04]:
"My first ever pass I threw in college was a touchdown against Auburn. We ran a stick nod and I threw a touchdown to Mike Williams."
[63:12]
Matt Leinart [64:18]:
"Catching a touchdown pass is a zero chance, but I could get a yard. It’s doable with some strategy."
[60:08]
These stories not only entertain but also establish their credibility and experience within the football community.
Before wrapping up, Matt hints at exciting developments for the next episode, promising breaking news and an in-person studio session in Los Angeles. This teaser builds anticipation and encourages listeners to stay tuned.
They conclude by urging listeners to subscribe and stay engaged with upcoming content, emphasizing the continuous 40-week schedule leading into the college football and NFL seasons.
Notable Exclusions:
This episode offers a rich blend of professional insights, personal stories, and engaging debates, making it a must-listen for fans of sports, particularly those interested in the intricacies of NFL coaching and the latest in Madden gaming.