Roll Tide! With Mark Ingram on Bama GOATs, Saban Recruiting and Philips Rivers Comeback

Summary

Throwbacks with Matt Leinart & Jerry Ferrara

Episode: Roll Tide! With Mark Ingram on Bama GOATs, Saban Recruiting and Philip Rivers Comeback
Date: December 11, 2025

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Overview

This lively episode brings NFL veteran and Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram into the fold for an authentic, entertaining dive into college football legacies, NFL comeback stories, media antics, and sports culture. Hosts Matt Leinart and Jerry Ferrara (with Annie Agar joining for trivia) leap from the return of Philip Rivers to Mark’s days at Alabama under Nick Saban, sprinkle in fantasy drafts of Alabama greats, and dissect the unique brotherhood of sports locker rooms and studios. Expect a dynamic mix of personal stories, friendly ribbing, football insight, and signature show banter.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Show Opener & Energy Check

• Matt and Jerry discuss recent NBA trash talk and the show's “locker room” vibe even during commercial breaks, setting the tone for a camaraderie-rich episode.
• Matt hypes Mark Ingram: "He's the star of our show. Everybody loves him everywhere we go. He treats everybody well. He's hilarious, he's fun." (02:39)

2. Philip Rivers’ NFL Comeback at 44

• The group is amused and intrigued by the news of 44-year-old Philip Rivers potentially starting for the Colts.
• Matt recalls, “He just coached his son's high school football team wearing a headset, drawing up plays—apparently drawing up the Colts’ plays, which is hilarious.” (06:00)
• “He doesn’t run. He doesn’t really need to be in shape. His arm needs to be in arm shape. That’s it.” – Matt (06:28)

Memorable exchange:

• Jerry: “Philip Rivers has a kid older than Riley Leonard.” (58:54)
• Annie: “That’s hilarious. Actually, he has ten of them.” (59:01)

3. Locker Room & Heisman Brotherhood

• The show highlights the deep bonds between athletes, especially former Heisman winners and TV colleagues.
• Matt on the show's culture: “It’s the closest thing to a locker room feel that we get as athletes... talk, make fun of each other, have fun, go on TV.” (02:39)

4. Mark Ingram: Would He Come Out of Retirement?

• Mark jokes about only returning for a true Super Bowl contender:

  “If I’m getting off this couch and going be picking up blitzes in the A gap… I need to be playing in The Super Bowl.” (13:02)

• Refuses hypothetical offers from teams he views as non-contenders:

  “I’m not going to Pittsburgh… They don’t have a shot, man.” (13:39)

• Admits if Sean Payton called from the Broncos, he’d “have to consider it.” (13:20)

5. Recruiting Stories & Early Days at Alabama

• Mark recounts being a late bloomer in recruiting, considering Iowa and Wisconsin before Saban enters late.
• Describes Saban’s eerie recruiting prophecy:

  “Saban called it verbatim – ‘First year will be pretty good, second year we’ll win the national championship.’ And that’s exactly what happened.” (20:11 – 20:39)

• Shares how Saban knew his parents from Michigan State days, showing the depth and oddities in big-time recruiting:

  “Coach Saban used to have to make sure my father and Andre Risen… went to class. He would call my mom, and my mom would tell on him.” (16:10)

6. Life With Saban – Famous Coach Stories

• Mark details Saban’s singular focus post-Heisman:

  "He didn't give two shits that you won the Heisman… ‘You can’t let this goddamn change... We got a championship to go do.’” (22:13)

• Mark felt “like did I just fumble on the damn goal line? I just won the damn Heisman Trophy!” (22:04 – 22:10)

7. Heisman Night Celebrations

• Mark reveals his post-Heisman NYC night:

  “Went to 4040 Club… Jay Z and them, the hostess comes down, man, she fine as hell, takes us up to the VIP. We drinking, we living. And I’m like, I’m kind of young, but I ain’t gonna tell nobody… I was 19, bro.” (23:18 – 24:09)

• Matt shares that back in his day, winning the Heisman meant “you have a key to the city.” (22:40)

8. Alabama Fantasy Draft (Wendy’s Fresh Take)

• Mark assembles his Alabama all-time college fantasy team:
  • QB: Bryce Young
  • RBs: Jameer Gibbs, Derrick Henry
  • WRs: Julio Jones, Devonta Smith, Amari Cooper
  • TE: Ozzie Newsome
  • Defense: 2011 Bama or Rolando McClain (as an individual pick)
• Mark: “2011 Alabama defense… National champions. Didn’t let LSU cross the 50 yard line.” (34:18)
• Matt: “That’s the scariest backfield I’ve ever heard.” (34:20)

9. White Running Backs: A Comeback?

• Mark’s Mount Rushmore of white RBs:
  • Christian McCaffrey
  • Mike Alstott
  • Peyton Hillis (with banter about the Madden cover)
  • “Scatter Boo” (Jack ‘Scatterboo’ from Arizona State)
• Brief debate about other white running back legends (Riggins, Zonka, Burkhead, etc.) (30:16 – 32:15)

10. RBs in the Modern NFL & Longevity

• Mark credits NFL split-back systems for extending his career:

  “The blessing of being in backfields where I had to share the rock was I was able to stay fresh and play a long time.” (42:17)

• Shares recovery routines: massage, acupuncture, stem cells: “Lots of body work, lots of money on body work.” (42:17)

11. The Famous Derrick Henry Photo Incident

• Mark recounts the viral image:

  “I go out to the coin toss… I’m like, ‘damn, this motherfucker huge’… five-ten vs. six-five & 250 in pads.” (47:06)

• The photo becomes an instant meme among teammates, with Landon Collins telling him, “Damn, they got you, bro.” (48:05)

12. Showdown: Alabama vs. USC & College Dynasties

• Fun banter over what would have happened if Saban’s Bama met Leinart’s USC.
• Mark: “That USC team was ridiculous... I grew up a big fan of that team.” (36:53 – 37:05)

13. Media, Crossover & Triple Option

• Mark previews going to Army-Navy with the Fox crew and shares excitement for playoff coverage.
• Discusses the crazy media cycle and trolling backlash when he critiqued Alabama before the SEC championship:

  “They were not happy with me... but if you go into a championship game and you look like shit, bro, you should probably be punished for it.” (50:35 – 51:17)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On only coming back for a true contender:

  “I need to be playing in The Super Bowl.” – Mark Ingram (13:02)

• Saban’s recruiting prophecy:

  "He called it verbatim… 12-2, 14-0. He called that." – Mark Ingram (20:39)

• Saban after the Heisman:

  “You can’t let this goddamn change the way you think… We got a championship to go do.” (22:13)

• On the viral Derrick Henry photo:

  “I’m looking at them, I’m like damn, this motherfucker huge… when I go to the grocery store I’m bigger than most people, but here… you go out here in the middle of the field with mutant alien.” (47:06 – 47:36)

• On white running backs:

  “We got some white boys now.” – Mark Ingram (29:56)

• Fantasy football misery:

  “I hated it, bro. Like, it made my Sundays miserable.” – Mark Ingram (32:43)

• On NFL running back longevity:

  “Lots of body work, lots of money on body work… always getting massage, acupuncture, stem cells.” (42:17)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Talking Philip Rivers’ comeback (NFL): 06:00 – 09:44, 57:03 – 61:13
• Mark Ingram joins & Retirement banter: 10:43 – 14:11
• Alabama recruiting stories: 14:17 – 18:05
• Nick Saban coaching stories: 20:11 – 22:13
• Heisman Night partying: 23:18 – 24:09
• Alabama all-time fantasy draft: 33:14 – 35:37
• White running back discussion: 29:38 – 32:24
• RB split systems & NFL evolution: 38:53 – 41:49
• Running back longevity: 42:05 – 43:56
• Derrick Henry viral photo: 46:15 – 48:11
• Alabama vs. USC dynasty debate: 36:01 – 37:50
• Alabama playoff/critique backlash: 50:35 – 51:18
• Trivia segment with Annie Agar (Chiefs/2014): 64:09 – 70:15

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Additional Highlights

• Annie Agar Trivia:

  • 2014 Chiefs season, NFL MVP, and rookie-year questions drive a fun, competitive mid-episode segment between the hosts.

• Lockroom Vibes & Media Behind-the-Scenes:

  • Regular mentions of the behind-the-scenes fun and the parallels between locker room and on-set dynamics.

• Golf Talk:

  • Mark looks forward to picking up golf again post-college football season; Urban Meyer’s “sandbagger” reputation surfaces. (48:41)

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Summary for New Listeners

This episode is a blend of high-energy football talk, nostalgia, inside jokes, and in-depth stories from those who’ve lived the big moments. Mark Ingram delivers both humor and insight on topics from Nick Saban’s intense focus, the realities of NFL backfields, the joy/celebrity of Heisman nights in NYC, and the enduring Athlete Brother- and Sisterhood. The episode’s freewheeling style and deep sports knowledge make it both informative and warmly entertaining—even if you’re joining in for the very first time.

Transcript

[Mark Ingram]

I got that thing.

[Matt Leinart]

Yeah, you do.

[Mark Ingram]

Oh, yeah, baby. I got that thing.

[Matt Leinart]

My dog.

[Mark Ingram]

Yes, my Heisman brother. You know what's going on?

[Jerry Palmieri]

All right, welcome in, everybody. Another episode of Throwbacks. However you are taking in the show today, we appreciate it. Subscribe on YouTube. It's free. Press that button. Follow on Apple and Spotify. Leave comments on all the pages, and then definitely go to the social handles at Throwback show. Stirring the pot a Little bit, Evan. Mr. Evan Turner got the pot stirring a little bit, saying he was going to purple Klay Thompson.

His words, not mine.

[Matt Leinart]

Our guy Chandler Parsons comes in talking a little. Lou Will comes in.

[Jerry Palmieri]

I heard Lou Will talking a little.

[Matt Leinart]

Yeah, you know how they do those celebrity boxing matches? I. I mean, let's get Chandler and Evan Turner and, I mean, Chandler's a big dude, too. Let's get those two boys in there and go throw some blows.

[Jerry Palmieri]

So was like. Was Chandler saying that, like, you can't fight. I would. I would beat you up, or was he saying that, like, come on, we all can't fight. We're in the NBA, come on.

[Matt Leinart]

I mean, everything said, the NBA guys are the big. They. They, like, they talk so much smack to each other's face on the court, but nothing ever happens. Like, what are they gonna do? What are they gonna do? But, yeah, that was hilarious. We gotta. We gotta get those guys on.

[Jerry Palmieri]

Oh, that would be. We gotta get Chandler on. Chandler would be a good Chandler. Yes, too. I've hung out with. For some reason, Chandler Parsons calls everyone, but every. Mainly me. Every time I'm with him, he calls me coach. I don't know why. Like, hey, Chandler, we're gonna meet up, play some.

[Mark Ingram]

God.

[Jerry Palmieri]

Ah, Coach can't do it today. I'm like, what do you. Why you call him can't do it today, coach? Sorry, sorry. So it's kind of like his thing. Love him. But the guest today, it's not Chandler Parsons, but somebody that I know is very, very near and dear to your heart. I'm getting to know him a little bit through you. We got Mark Ingram, triple options. Oh, big trust Mark Ingram. Big noon's own big trust Mark Ingram coming on. Matt, thank you for arranging this and just watching you guys on big news. I even sent you the picture from dinner this week. I was watching you guys. It just makes me so happy. I'm at dinner with 30 people and obviously it's Cleveland. So you know that OSU game was. But, like, just seeing you boys doing your thing, I'm like, you guys got to be having even on the commercial breaks. Like everyone always asked me with entourage behind the scenes in between takes. It must be fun, you guys. I know it's high stress environments, live tv, but you guys look like you just have a blast on that show.

[Matt Leinart]

We, we have a blast. And when Mark came on a couple years ago and I know Mark before through you know, just fraternity, right? The football fraternity. Heisman, Heisman, Heisman for sure. Because we've done like commercials together and you just kind of randomly see each other and Mark was always. Is kind of what you see is what you get high in life. Great energy, always positive. Just like always like the light in the room. And when he came on the show a couple years ago, I was telling him like, man, he's going to fit right in. You know, he'll learn the TV stuff and he'll learn that, right? That's a different thing. But like as far as like a locker room guy, a vibe guy, someone that will bring the squad together. He's a star and he's been that man. Like he is, he is the star of our show. Everybody loves him everywhere we go. He treats everybody well. He's hilarious, he's fun. And yeah, like I mean commercial breaks, we always, we just do. We just talk, we just. It's like, it's a lot. It's always this. But our show, it's. It's the best show in the world for us because we get to, we talk ball, right? We get paid to talk ball. But like it's it, it is the closest thing to a locker room feel that we get as athletes. Being able to be with our group of guys who are great, talk, make fun of each other, have fun, go on tv, talk a little more and that's it, right? So Mark is, Mark is one of my brothers. He's hilarious. He's got great stories. I mean, you know, one of Heisman played with Saban. He had a terrific and had one of the more underrated NFL careers when you really look at it. Played 12 years in the league. He's a dude, man. It's. He's, he's a fun. Listen, I'll say that he is a fun list.

[Jerry Palmieri]

Yeah, his NFL numbers are crazy interesting because he's in so many split back shared carry situations. But then when he gets kind Baltimore, it's like oh, 10 touchdowns rushing, five receiving, like monster numbers. And I still say if you're going to analyze one player's just single season, you know, you, I mean you won a national championship. I mean Mark Went Heisman national championship and MVP of that. And then he literally was on the COVID of NCAA 12. That's like, that's a hell of.

[Matt Leinart]

That's a good run. That's a good six month run right there.

[Jerry Palmieri]

And yeah, first Bama player to everyone Heisman. So we're going to bring on Mark in one second. But you mentioned something interesting. You know, your show does look like the locker room a little bit sometimes, probably behind the scenes. And I always hear a lot of players, the things they miss the most are the locker room.

[Mark Ingram]

Right.

[Jerry Palmieri]

So we are welcoming back NHTSA into our show because it's time now for the Crossroads presented by nhtsa. The next time you're out drinking, call a ride, share a taxi, a sober friend, a designated 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. Someone must have been missing the locker room most recently because all obviously we all know Philip Rivers back in Indy. We don't know if he's going to be starting. And then of course I want to talk to people about this, but I want to save it for our pod because you know, Philip river is a little bit older than you, Matt, but you guys are relatively in the, you're in the same level. You're level four.

[Matt Leinart]

He's got years on me, dude. And I feel, I mean, I feel pretty good now with the new hips.

[Jerry Palmieri]

But my God, what were your thoughts when you saw that 44 year old Philip Rivers may very well be taking a snap in indie this weekend in Seattle?

[Matt Leinart]

Oh, he's taking a snap, dude. I mean he's saying just in case he's taking a step. I kind of like, I kind of had to look twice. I was like, wait, what? Philip, honestly, it's not shocking. I mean it's shocking, but it's not shocking like we, we saw in this era. Like we saw Brady. I know, I know Phil's been retired, so it's a little different. But we saw Brady play till 45. Rogers is 42. Vinnie, Tessa Verde played to 45. Like it's not, it's not out of the realm anymore. But this dude just coached, he just coached his son's high school football team wearing a headset, drawn up plays, apparently drawing up the Colts plays, which is, which is hilarious. Ben is just sitting on the couch with his 13 kids, his grandbaby probably having some dinner, watching ball. And he gets a call and he's. And they're like, hey, we want you to Come work out. We're gonna sign you. Like, what? What the hell? Are you kidding me? By the way, I. I told you this. I've told you this. He doesn't run. He doesn't really need to be in shape. His arm needs to be in arm shape. That's it. And I guarantee he's throwing everyday footballs with the sun, the high school team. Like, if I'm on a. Every time I'm on a football field with Cole, I'm always playing catch on the sideline, even his practice. So God bless him. Good luck. Don't pull a hammy. He's playing. Who they playing this weekend? Houston, I think.

[Jerry Palmieri]

No, I think they're in Seattle.

[Matt Leinart]

Oh, in Seattle.

[Jerry Palmieri]

So it's a tough place to go play, but he does have a lot of weapons around him.

[Matt Leinart]

He's a good old ball off 30 times to Jonathan Taylor.

[Jerry Palmieri]

Right.

[Matt Leinart]

They're going to run play action. He's got. He's got some pretty good guys on the outside.

[Jerry Palmieri]

Tyler Warren might have 15 receptions for 45 yards.

[Matt Leinart]

By the way. I got Pitman in fantasy, so I'm hoping he just peppers Pitman with just targets. That's it.

[Jerry Palmieri]

But, yeah, last two things. Yeah. Matt, if you literally said, I'm going to take a year, I'm not going to play or anything, but I want to just see how close I could get. My arm strength, or maybe it's not that far away from when you were sort of. Maybe not even your prime. Maybe the tail end of your physical prime is arm strength. They always talk like, basketball, like, shooting always stays when you're older. Like, does arm strength care? Unless you had shoulder injuries or elbow injuries, does arm strength stick around well into your 40s if you're keeping it lively?

[Matt Leinart]

Yeah, I mean, obviously, I'm a very different case because I never had a. A great arm to begin with, so. And obviously I didn't play, like, to the level Philip Rivers played consistently. But.

Right now, like, my arm feels as good as it's ever felt. I mean, take that for what it's worth, right? Like, could I go out there and throw the ball 100 times? Like. Like 50 times a day in practice every day? Maybe not, because I'd probably be sore as hell, but, like, as far as strength and, like, just spinning it and all that, like, yeah, it just. It feels good. So. And that's me. I mean, like, look, I'm not gonna. Like, I couldn't go out there and play right now. There's not even close. So, like, someone like Philip Rivers, like, if he's healthy, like his arm, he never had shoulder issues. He, you know, he retired because he was getting older and he was done. The arm will be there. Like, it'll, like. And he never had a big, big arm anyway, you know what I mean? So it's gonna be fascinating. I'll tell you what, everybody can't wait in this country is going to be watching that game. And it's a big game. I mean, it's a meaningful game for both.

[Jerry Palmieri]

Yeah, Paul just sent this to us, too. In 2023, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said Rivers was the team's contingency plan should it have advanced to the Super Bowl. Both Brock Purdy and John Josh Johnson got hurt. So it sounds like Rivers probably. Each and every year, the teams that are in contention that have some quarterback issues call him and say, how you feeling, Phil? And he's probably like, I'm all right. I'm all right.

[Matt Leinart]

Dude, I bet you. I bet you Brady's gotten calls.

[Jerry Palmieri]

Yeah, I mean, I would be surprised.

[Matt Leinart]

Those are shut down real quick. But I guarantee you Brady got a call last year, last year, like, hey. And he probably is like, no, I'm good.

Man. I can't wait to see it. What if he wins?

[Jerry Palmieri]

Philip Rivers at his crossroad. Thank you to Nitza. And again, remember, drive sober or get pulled over. All right, enough said. Let's. Let's bring on the entree of the episode, your boy Matt Big Trash Ingram. Okay, here we go. Today's guest is a Heisman Trophy winner, a national champion 12 year NFL vet, and one of the freshest voices on Fox Sports, our podcast cousin hosting the triple option alongside Urban Meyer and Rob Stone. Look, he survived. Nick Saban survived the NFC south, survived blitz pickups against guys twice his size, and now somehow, like me, survives sharing a set with Matt Leiner every single.

[Matt Leinart]

That's my dog.

[Mark Ingram]

Hey, man, I appreciate the intro. You, you, you, you the intro king. You like Bruce Buffer, like on the intros. You know what I mean?

[Jerry Palmieri]

Listen, I usually. Matt takes them. I don't. I don't like doing it because I get a little. Yeah, it's the only time I get nervous in the show that I'm just gonna like that.

[Matt Leinart]

Why? You don't like it?

[Jerry Palmieri]

Well, imagine if you just get a thing wrong. Mark's like, no, I played 13 years in the NFL, not 12, so get that right next time.

[Mark Ingram]

Yeah, we missed some accolades, but we'll take it. No, I'll just play. I'll just.

[Matt Leinart]

I was gonna say there's a lot more accolades on there.

[Mark Ingram]

Yeah, we miss some, but it's all good. He the intro, man. I appreciate you putting your, you know, nervousness aside and intro. Introing your boy on the Throwbacks podcast, man. I'm a big fan of Throwbacks podcast, by the way.

[Matt Leinart]

First time on here Deuce.

[Unknown Announcer 1]

Let's go.

[Mark Ingram]

When I'm. I was like, shoot, I'll be seeing all y'.

[Matt Leinart]

All.

[Mark Ingram]

I'm like, I ain't a list enough to get on the throwbacks. You know what I mean? Like, you know, y' all a listers. The A listers. I'm like, dang, we need some more clout on my pod, you know?

[Jerry Palmieri]

You know, so we were. We were just talking before we started rolling about our kids and then obviously somehow started talking about Philip Rivers and his kids. This is not the direction we were necessarily going to start with.

[Matt Leinart]

You.

[Mark Ingram]

I'm going to ask.

[Jerry Palmieri]

Matt, don't. You don't answer this. Max, I'm going to ask you this later. But, Mark, if you get a call right now from Philly, Baltimore somewhere, they're like, hey, Mark, we need you to come eat up some carries for three weeks right now.

[Matt Leinart]

Like, report.

[Jerry Palmieri]

Can you report tomorrow? What are you saying? And more importantly, what are you doing?

[Mark Ingram]

Listen, it would have to be a true, true contender. I don't know. My Ravens looking really rough right now.

[Jerry Palmieri]

Yeah.

[Mark Ingram]

You know what I mean? Philly, they looking rough right now. So if I don't know, I need another.

[Jerry Palmieri]

Yeah, let's.

[Matt Leinart]

How many zeros are on that paycheck?

[Mark Ingram]

I could do it, but it had to be for someone I know is going. It's going to be playing like in February. Yeah.

[Matt Leinart]

Let me ask you. The Pittsburgh Steelers are seven.

[Mark Ingram]

I'm not going to Pittsburgh.

[Jerry Palmieri]

He didn't even let you.

[Matt Leinart]

They're lead. They're leading the division. They're 7 and 6.

[Mark Ingram]

They don't have a shot. They don't have a shot, man. They don't have a shot.

[Matt Leinart]

Jacksonville Bay. Yeah, you go up to Tampa bay. Tampa Bay, 7 and 6. They're leading the division.

[Mark Ingram]

Not going to Tampa. They don't have a shot.

[Matt Leinart]

What are you talking about?

[Mark Ingram]

Jacksonville don't have a shot. They don't have a shot.

[Matt Leinart]

So you don't need a sh. Only go. You're only going.

[Mark Ingram]

Hey, if I'm getting off this couch and I'm going be picking up blitzes in the A gap and getting short yardage and goal line carries, I need to be playing in The Super Bowl.

[Jerry Palmieri]

All right, I got one for you.

[Matt Leinart]

You want. You only want a Super bowl contender.

[Mark Ingram]

That's it. That's it. A Super bowl contender.

[Matt Leinart]

If. If Sean Payton calls you for the Denver Broncos, who are 11 and 2.

[Jerry Palmieri]

They could use a mark.

[Mark Ingram]

I would consider sp. I would. Sean, you know, he drafted me. I played for him nearly 10 years. I. I would have to consider it. I would have to consider it for Sean.

[Jerry Palmieri]

They could use a mark.

[Mark Ingram]

Any.

[Matt Leinart]

I could tell you that Deuce would go in there. Just see.

[Mark Ingram]

Listen, all I need is. Listen, I could be great in pass pro. I ain't gonna get Bo Nicks hit. I could be great in short yardage. I could come out the backfield and catch the ball. Give me the ball in space, you know, I could get us some goal line carries, but I don't need 50 plays. I got 20 snaps for you.

[Matt Leinart]

You're gonna be winded as shit.

[Mark Ingram]

Oh, I'm gonna be tired, gonna be sore. You know what I mean? You know, so. But I mean, Philip Rivers coming back. What did I. Did I hear Jason Pierre Paul signing with the Bucks.

[Jerry Palmieri]

He signed with the Bucks on the practice squad. Yep. Yep.

[Mark Ingram]

So, hey, your boy is next. You know what I mean? Big Noon is over. Shoot, boy.

[Matt Leinart]

Oh, man. Let's go back. I want to go back to.

Your recruitment to Bama, but just in general, We. We've talked about this, and I. I told Jerry a little bit, but I think it's always fun to hear the recruiting stories and. And what other teams recruited you. And you got a funny. You got the funny one when you went out west and you were like, man, I'm. I come. I'm kind of a fish out of water here. But kind of go back to some of the recruiting stories and. And what you remember about some of those teams that were recruiting you, man.

[Mark Ingram]

So I started off and I was. I was not a real big recruit. Early on. My father played at Michigan State. My grandfather played at Michigan State. So I probably. I had Michigan State early, probably before I even deserved it. You know what I mean? They probably like my sophomore, junior year, they probably. Early junior year, they probably offered me before I even deserved it, a lot of Mac schools. But then after my junior year, I transferred, had a huge senior year. And when I. After that, I started getting a lot of traction. So I remember I took Iowa. I remember Iowa was high on my list. I went there. I had a great time. It was lit and like.

I wanted to commit there.

[Matt Leinart]

Like, I was city fire, Jerry. I was.

[Mark Ingram]

I wanted to commit there when I was on my visit. But my dad was like, no, bring your ass home. We're gonna talk about this. You know what I mean?

[Matt Leinart]

Smart. Smart.

[Mark Ingram]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Matt Leinart]

So.

[Mark Ingram]

And then Wisconsin went to Wisconsin, Watched them beat Michigan. When Michigan was like a top three team. That was. That was. That was lit. Wisconsin was great campus. They always have great running backs, good old line. So that was appealing to me as well. I had. Michigan State was a great visit. I remember Draymond Green was there.

[Jerry Palmieri]

Oh, no way.

[Mark Ingram]

Yeah, we were all on the same visit. Like, we had a great time. East Lansing be jumping too, like, when they good and. But Alabama was. Is a funny one. So, like, they came and offered me tour after my senior football season. Like, so what, that's like November.

[Jerry Palmieri]

Ish.

[Mark Ingram]

And what signing day is like, what, February Ish. January.

[Matt Leinart]

February.

[Mark Ingram]

I don't remember that time. But, yeah, I think it was. Yeah, yeah. They come up there, you know, I'm like, alabama. I'm like, I ain't going no Alabama. Like, that's far. Like, you know what I mean? And it was like, man, just. Just come check it out, you know? My dad had some history with Coach Saban, my mom as well. Coach Saban was a defensive backs coach when my father played at Michigan State. And funny thing is, Coach Saban used to have to make sure my father and Andre Risen, who were both from Flint, they were troublemakers. He used to have to make sure they went to class. And so when he couldn't. When my dad wasn't at class, he would call my mom, and my mom would tell on him. And so he was sitting in the. He was sitting in the. In the living room, right? Yeah, yeah, he was in the living room. And she was like, you used to call me, asking for where Big Mark was at. He was like, I remember that. But I didn't want to say anything because I didn't know if you were to steal the girlfriend. Like, you know, so he was like, you know, yeah, he kind of gangster for that. Like, he ain't want to, like, you know, drop the beans, but. So, yeah, we took a visit there, fell in love with it. I remember I landed GA Was there, two attractive young females picked me up. I'm like, okay, first impression. I like this. But I went there, man. If you love football, you love history, you love tradition, you go there, you see all the trophies, there's the stadium. You have no choice but to fall in love with it. Then I took. So I came back home, and that was great. Then Arizona State, which Matt was talking about. I went to Arizona State. I took my final visit to Arizona State. Yeah, it was like, January, and I'm coming from Flint, Michigan. I go on a big south pole, bubble coat, Timberland boots. I land. I don't see no grass. It's hot. I'm like, bro, what is going on out here? But I had a great visit there as well. The recruitment process is crazy, man. You know, these people just pampering you, trying to get you there. I can't imagine what it's like right now with the nil and all that, but u. It was great time, man. Great, great, great, great memories from the recruiting days, man. I can share all the stories on here.

[Jerry Palmieri]

The only thing I ever know from recruiting. One of my favorite sports movies of all time is the movie the Program. I don't know if you remember the program about college. And they recruit Darnell Jefferson, tailback played by Omar Epps. And there was all this fanfare. Girls pick. Tyra Banks picks him up.

[Matt Leinart]

Y.

[Jerry Palmieri]

And then. No. Or was it Halle Barry? Halle Berry, actually. I tired learn. But then when he actually comes back to school that semester, everyone's gone. There's no big fan fair. He's like. I just. He just walks in. He's like, where is everybody? Yeah, that was for recruiting.

[Mark Ingram]

That was for recruiting. Now it's real deal. Yeah. They get you here your first day, you're running 16 110s and. And doing max squats and stuff like that. You like. All right. The. The pampering days is over. It's real now.

[Matt Leinart]

I bet recruiting weekends were better than. Than they are now. Given, like, now. I mean, obviously money, but, like, social media, like, you just can't. You can't get away with anything now. Back, like, back then. Yeah, you had. You know, you just had your setup. You had your routine. Like, this is where we're gonna go on the Friday night. This who's gonna take care of us on the Saturday night. This is who we're gonna call to be a part of the. Like.

[Jerry Palmieri]

It's just.

[Matt Leinart]

You can't really do that.

[Mark Ingram]

Yeah, you can't. You can't function how he was functioning because it's cameras everywhere. Everyone's trying to f. Everyone's. The paparazzi. Everyone's tmz. And we. We. We was functioning. You know what I mean?

[Matt Leinart]

We was. You know, I want. Okay, so I. I'm sure you've gotten asked this. I don't know if I've ever, like, playing for Nick Saban. Right. Because I always get asked, like, I always get asked in our time at usc, what was Pete Carroll like, man? What were the sidelines like, all the celebrities? Like, that was much different than Tuscaloosa, obviously. But. But you all were Bama, and you guys were. I mean, you guys were the Dynasty before the D and all that. You are a part of that. And Saban and Carol are both great. Saban's the greatest of all time, but very different personalities. I would love to hear your. A famous Nick Saban story that you were a part of that you can share. Maybe he. You at some point or just something about Nick Saban that we don't know. Because I would love to know what it was like playing for him.

[Mark Ingram]

I'll tell one from recruiting, since we were talking about recruiting, and I'll tell you one. After I won the Heisman, so recruiting, he's sitting there in my living room. I'm like, all right, if I come there, how do you think we'll. How do you think the team will be? He was like. He's like, if you come here and, you know, we finished signing out some of our recruits. He was like, I think we'll have a pretty good team your freshman year. I'm like, all right. And he's like, I think you're. I think the second year will win the national championship.

[Matt Leinart]

Wow.

[Mark Ingram]

The first year, we went 12, 0, lost in the SEC championship to Irvin Meyer. They went and win the national championship, and then we lost in the Sugar bowl, and we had a bunch of other stuff. So 12 and 2, pretty good year, he said, right? Second year, 14, 0, national championship. Like, he called it verbatim in my house. He was like, it was just recruiting. I'm like, bro, you literally called it verbatim. Sitting in my house as a recruitment. Like, yeah, we'll have a pretty good year. Your first year. Your second year will probably win the national championship. 12, 2, 14, 0. He called that. So that's a good one from recruiting. The second one, after I win the Heisman Trophy, we're walking from what's. What.

[Jerry Palmieri]

What's.

[Mark Ingram]

What's the place called, Matt? Where they had it?

[Jerry Palmieri]

Is that Radio City?

[Mark Ingram]

Yeah, we're walking from Radio City.

[Matt Leinart]

Then. It was Radio City Music Hall.

[Mark Ingram]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Matt Leinart]

That was where the draft was.

[Mark Ingram]

Yeah, that's the draft, so. Yeah, so was. I forget.

[Matt Leinart]

We're walking from wherever.

[Mark Ingram]

The Heisman.

[Matt Leinart]

I know you're talking about.

[Mark Ingram]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. We're walking from the Heisman back to the Marriott Marquis, and this dude, man, he is on my ass, dog. He was like, you can't let this change the way that you think, the way that you prepare. People are going to be looking at you differently. You still got a championship to go get. You can't let it affect you. I'm like, I like, fall back to like, you know, our media dude. His name's Josh Max. And I'm like, yo, dude, did I just fumble on the damn goal line.

[Matt Leinart]

And lose the game?

[Mark Ingram]

I'm like, I just won the damn Heisman Trophy.

[Jerry Palmieri]

Did I fumble the Heisman on the way out or something?

[Mark Ingram]

And this dude is like, he didn't.

[Matt Leinart]

Give two shits that you won the Heisman.

[Mark Ingram]

He's like, you can't let this goddamn change the way you think, the way you prepare, the way people look at you. You can't do it. We got a championship to go do. And you can't let it affect the way you prepare or your mindset.

[Matt Leinart]

I'm like.

By the way, I guarantee you went out and had a night.

[Mark Ingram]

I did. I had a great night. Hey, New York City. Times Square. My name up in Times Square.

[Jerry Palmieri]

Nokia Theater, right?

[Matt Leinart]

Nokia Theater.

[Jerry Palmieri]

Does that sound better?

[Matt Leinart]

Yeah.

[Mark Ingram]

Hey, Mark, I remember what that thing was called.

[Matt Leinart]

I don't. I've never. I want to know what you did on your Heisman night. I'm going to tell the. My brief story because I don't. I think, Jerry, I've told you this. When you. Back then, when you won the Heisman, they gave you a key to the city. Like you could do whatever you want. You have a limo. You have the club and Mark Marriott or the marquee was fire. I don't know if that's where you went. We went there Saturday night. We had. We were next to the Adam Sandler, the Longest Yard. They were shooting with Chris Rock and all them. They were like celebrating something. Their table was next to us. We had. There was. I mean, we were just raging with them. What was. What was Till. I don't even remember. I don't remember much after that. But what was your night like, you in the Heisman?

[Mark Ingram]

So we first, you know, you get back, you do like media. They give you the big suite on the top floor. So we went to the huge suite. I'm with my family. We eat and then we take a. We go get the limo. We go get in the limo. We go get like a New York slice of pizza. We go around the city. We just spend some time together with the family before then I took they ass back and I said, Nah, it's time to go get activated. We went to 4040 Club. Went to 4040 Club Jay Z. And them the hostess comes down, man, she fine as hell. She take us up to the damn VIP room. We drinking, we living. And I'm like, I'm kind of young, but I ain't gonna tell nobody.

[Matt Leinart]

What were you not. What were you 20?

[Mark Ingram]

I was 19, bro.

[Matt Leinart]

I was.

[Mark Ingram]

I was about to be 20 in a few weeks. Oh, yeah. I was the youngest to win it at that point. And I got in the club.

[Matt Leinart]

Oh, that's right.

[Mark Ingram]

I don't want to. I hope 44. I hope they don't get no strays, but. Yeah.

[Jerry Palmieri]

Nah, you're fine. Statue of limitation is over on that. They're not gonna get strays.

[Matt Leinart]

But I remember.

[Mark Ingram]

I remember Toby Gerhardt came out and kicked it with me because he was up there as a finalist, and we had a great time, man. But yeah, went to. Went to the. Got lost in the city. Had a great night.

[Jerry Palmieri]

Dude, that season must have just been crazy for you.

[Mark Ingram]

It was.

[Jerry Palmieri]

Defeated national championship mvp. That Natty too, right? And then. And also because I'm a gamer. Sneaky fact cover.

That's the perfect thing to round out maybe one of the best single athletic seasons in a sport. I mean, that was insane, dog.

[Mark Ingram]

It was crazy. And, you know, I wasn't starting my freshman year, so to come in my second year and start. And I had Trent Richardson I'm sharing with. He ran for like, over 700 yards and damn near 10 touchdowns. And so, like, it was just like, I was really just running to keep his ass off of me. You know what I mean? Like. Like this little dude running, too. I'm like. But no, we just had a great team, man. Obviously the coaching staff. Coach Saban Signetti was on that staff. Kirby Smart was on that staff. We just had a great group of people who all bought into the process. And I was fortunate to be the beneficiary of being with a great team, great coaching staff who won a lot of football games. And I just kept doing my job. My job was to run, to be the best I could be. I kept putting good games together, and before I know it, I go for 240 yards on Saturday night. South Carolina, they're talking about, this dude's a Heisman Trophy winner. I mean. I mean, a Heisman Trophy contender. And then I. I just kept rattling off a 100, rattling off a 100, rattling Off a 100. Went to Auburn. They held me to 30 yards. I got A hit pointer. I'm like, damn, I definitely lost it. Then I went against the SEC championship. That's why I always hold my vote for championship weekend. Had 200 scrimmage yards, three touchdowns in the SEC championship one, verse, two.

[Matt Leinart]

Boom.

[Mark Ingram]

I feel like that put me over the hump. Won by 28 votes, the closest in the history.

[Matt Leinart]

Yeah, I actually really. I thought, you know, I really thought Toby Gerhardt kind of deserves that as well.

[Jerry Palmieri]

He.

[Mark Ingram]

He got the flex on me because he won the dope walker that year. So, you know, I know, and I know you're still. You're still super salty about that. I went to the ESPN Awards, Jerry, man. You know, they're giving out all the player of the years. They give her the dope walker. He's like, man, I lost Nathan. I won Nathan. I got nothing from there. I'm like, no doak. No player of the year nothing. I'm like, why am I going?

[Matt Leinart]

But you got the ultimate prize, bro. You got the ultimate prize.

[Mark Ingram]

I got that thing.

[Matt Leinart]

Yeah, you do.

[Jerry Palmieri]

I love. Yeah, you got, like, look at this.

[Mark Ingram]

Look at this thing.

[Matt Leinart]

My dog. Yes.

[Mark Ingram]

My Heisman brother. You know what's going on.

[Jerry Palmieri]

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[Matt Leinart]

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[Jerry Palmieri]

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[Matt Leinart]

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[Matt Leinart]

I want to talk about white running backs because I feel like white running backs are making a comeback.

[Jerry Palmieri]

Well, we just did our. Also we just did our starting five white and white American NBA players. And that took us.

[Annie Agar]

Yeah.

[Matt Leinart]

With Evan Turner last week. That was fire.

[Mark Ingram]

Our boy's going crazy.

[Jerry Palmieri]

He's on there. Austin Reeves. He's on there.

[Matt Leinart]

Yeah, bro. We got a lot of white dudes on the Lakers, too.

[Mark Ingram]

We got some white boys now.

[Matt Leinart]

But I wanted to ask you.

Because Christian McCaffrey's just setting the tone for the running back position. You know, white or white or black, your top five or three, whatever you want to your top few white running backs of all time.

[Jerry Palmieri]

Yeah.

[Matt Leinart]

Like for you, 20 years. I mean, know, back in the day.

[Mark Ingram]

All right, so, I mean, you got to give it to Christian McAffrey number one, right. And then you got to go Mike allot. Boom. You got to go with the big allot. You got to go. Let's see. Peyton Hillis.

[Matt Leinart]

Yeah. Cover matter.

[Jerry Palmieri]

Cover Hillis.

[Matt Leinart]

Bro, come on.

[Mark Ingram]

What?

[Matt Leinart]

Come on.

Guess who.

[Mark Ingram]

Scatter Boo.

Come on, bro. We gotta go. Scatter Boo, man.

[Matt Leinart]

And then, hey, I told Jerry we've Been talking about Scatter Boo since he was like three years.

[Jerry Palmieri]

I know, Well, I, I, I, you know, I've been following them too. But when we did the draft house shows, right when we were at the draft in Green Bay, I remember even just saying, like, is there a chance that the Giants could get scatterable? And I think Mark, you were the one. Like, if Scatterboo goes to New York, look the fuck out. You're the first person I really heard say that.

[Mark Ingram]

Yes, man. Scatter Boo. We just been admiring him from afar. Like his style, he could run the ball, he could catch the ball, he's tough. And like, we got to New York that he would be a big figure because he's always built for it.

[Matt Leinart]

We were doing like random highlights of Arizona State. I remember that. And like, we didn't really cover him. This was like three years ago. And we're like, who is this dude? He's just trucking dudes. He has like 150 yards every game. And then we just start say, guess who sc. And then he became a dog, man.

[Mark Ingram]

He did not. Everybody knows about sc.

[Matt Leinart]

That's it. That's all we got. Four white running backs.

[Jerry Palmieri]

That's it.

[Matt Leinart]

That's fine.

[Mark Ingram]

Old, old, old head.

[Matt Leinart]

I mean, you got Riggins, Riggins.

[Mark Ingram]

John Riggins.

[Matt Leinart]

Oh, Larry Zonka.

[Mark Ingram]

Larry Zonka.

[Matt Leinart]

Yeah, yeah, but that's, that's.

[Jerry Palmieri]

But then you're like literally going like I call them the heads. Burkhead and Burkhead and Burkhead.

[Mark Ingram]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. So them honorable men, you know, which.

[Jerry Palmieri]

If you, if you, you definitely have confused Woodhead and Burkhead at some point.

[Mark Ingram]

I played with Burkhead in Houston, man. So I'm a Burkhead fan.

[Jerry Palmieri]

Hey, look, Rex Burkhead, no joke, won me a fantasy league. He had like a three game stretch with the Patriots a few years back and he sneakily at flex won me. You play a little fantasy, right?

[Mark Ingram]

Mark? This is my first year playing fantasy and I hated it.

[Matt Leinart]

Margaret asked me every week, hey, who should I play in this?

[Jerry Palmieri]

I hate it too. I hate it.

[Matt Leinart]

Jerry hates it though.

[Mark Ingram]

I hated it, bro. Like it's, it made my Sundays misera like. But then here I am, you know, on the waiver wire trying to pick up the hottest news, you know, you're.

[Jerry Palmieri]

Picking up Philip Rivers this week.

[Mark Ingram]

Who you kidding?

[Jerry Palmieri]

You're starting Philip.

[Mark Ingram]

Well, I didn't make the playoffs. I'm in the losers bracket or whatever. It's trash, bro.

[Jerry Palmieri]

Well, I asked you that because, and I Know, Wendy's is big with triple option as well. They're one of our great sponsors. So we kind of do our Wendy's fresh take of the week, join team Tendies and enjoy a lineup like never before. Crispy, juicy tendies now at Wendy's. Here we go.

[Matt Leinart]

See that?

[Jerry Palmieri]

We wanted to do it with you this week, Mark, and since you're a fantasy guy and a Wendy's guy like us, we thought it'd be fitting if you did, by the way, make your Alabama fantasy team. What I mean by we're going quarterback. Two running backs, two wideouts, tight end.

[Matt Leinart]

Sure.

[Jerry Palmieri]

If you want to go.

[Mark Ingram]

Yeah, yeah.

[Matt Leinart]

And defense. Defense. You could pick one player.

[Jerry Palmieri]

It's a player. Idp. One defense.

[Mark Ingram]

One defensive player.

[Jerry Palmieri]

Yeah, just one. Oh, yeah. For.

[Matt Leinart]

For.

[Jerry Palmieri]

For fantasy. So you want sacks or picks or a lot of tackles.

[Mark Ingram]

Well, you could just pick a defense because we get to pick a defense. Right. So I'm a.

[Jerry Palmieri]

You could do that too, if you want to go for a year of a defense.

[Mark Ingram]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay. So quarterbacks.

[Jerry Palmieri]

Yep.

Tough, right? Remember, it's fantasy. It's fantasy.

[Mark Ingram]

Boy.

[Matt Leinart]

What? Your boy, your boys, your boy.

[Mark Ingram]

I'm going title. I'm gonna go. We're going straight college. I'm gonna go Bryce Young. I'm gonna go Bryce Young. I get one quarterback.

[Matt Leinart]

Yep.

[Mark Ingram]

Okay. Bryce Young, then. I'm gonna go receivers. Oh, my running backs. I'm gonna go Jameer Gibbs and Derrick Henry.

[Jerry Palmieri]

My God, that's the scariest backfield I've ever heard.

[Mark Ingram]

I'm gonna go Jameric Gibbs and Derrick Henry. My receivers. I'm gonna go Julio Jones, Devontae Smith and Amari Cooper. And then tight end. I'm gonna go Ozzy Newsom, hall of Famer, college and pros. I'm gonna go defense. I'm gonna go 2011 Alabama defense. National champions. Didn't let LSU cross the 50 yard line the entire game. And I think statistically, they're one of the best defenses in ever. So I'm gonna go 2011 Alabama defense. But I have to go one Alabama player defensively.

[Jerry Palmieri]

Yep.

[Mark Ingram]

The best player that I played with, his name is Rolando McLain, middle linebacker. And he was just a dog. Just six'4, 255 pounds. He could. He knew he was a coach on the field. He was physical, he was nasty, he was a leader. And I'd have to go all time somebody I played with who was just an enforcer, a dominant person who. You had to know where he was at. Blitzing, run, stopping, dropping into coverage. A big enforcer. Rolando Mlan.

[Jerry Palmieri]

Row.

[Matt Leinart]

I play with Row in Oakland. I told you that I was. Everyone was scared of that dude.

[Mark Ingram]

Yes. Yeah, he's a scary figure.

[Annie Agar]

Yeah.

[Jerry Palmieri]

Have you guys.

[Matt Leinart]

What's up, bro? And I just kept walking. I'm like, what's up, dog?

[Jerry Palmieri]

Before we move on to a little NFL stuff, have you guys ever been out like after a big noon show or before production night? Let's. Let's get a drink and eat some dinner. And then you start talking about 09. Start talking about. Have you guys ever just started talking about your teams and done the whole like. Ah, we would have did all right again against you. Nah, we would like. Have you ever done that?

[Mark Ingram]

We talked about it, but it's usually coach and him. It's usually Coach Meer and Matt.

[Matt Leinart]

By the way, Coach. Coach Meer. Congratulations. Got into the hall of Fame this week. We were all together earlier this week on Monday, and I was there with. I was talking with Alex Smith, who is his coach at Utah, who's great, and Dan Mullen, who. Dan Mullen was coach's oc so that's. They. They kind of invented their like spread offense and all this kind of stuff. And you know, they, I mean, coach and both coaches were.

[Mark Ingram]

Were on.

[Matt Leinart]

They were liquored up a little bit, you know, and they were talking so much shit to me in front of Alex. And Coach Mullen goes, literally, he's like in the season, regular season, probably not, but you know, like for one game, for a natty bowl game, hey, just, just flip a coin. I go, I go. You got to be fucking out of your mind. Coach Utah and your silly ass little spread. And oh, that year against our defense. That year, no chance. We have the number.

[Mark Ingram]

That USC team was ridiculous. I grew up a big fan of that team. Lindell White, Reggie Bush, Matt Leinert. I forget who all they had on defense. Who do y' all have? Maluga, like Clay, Matt.

[Matt Leinart]

Oh, four was like. Sean Cody was a beast. We had Terrell said Ellis. But all those guys were young. Like Maluga said, they were all like backups or like start kind of backups. On the 04 team, it was Lofa Tatupa, who's a Pro Bowler in Seattle for a long time. Eric Wright who ended up being a Pro Bowler in the NFL. But he got, he got kicked out of school after that year. He went to some. I think he went to unlv. Darnell Bing was a freshman All American. Mike Patterson played for the Eagle. We were just, we just Had a good team.

[Mark Ingram]

They were loaded. That team was just ridiculous. But me and him haven't really went head to head on what would have happened on our games. It's usually him and Coach, but yeah, that would have been. I got a lot of respect for Matty and them trophies.

[Matt Leinart]

They were the dynasty for the Bama.

[Mark Ingram]

They were the dynasty before Bama.

[Matt Leinart]

Yeah.

[Mark Ingram]

Then it was kind of like Florida, Florida and then Bama and then Georgia and then. Then we won six and then, you know, now Georgia, we. We had to stop them from winning three in a row. You know what I mean? They got kicked. We beat them in the SEC championship and they got put out of the 14 playoff. Remember that?

[Matt Leinart]

Yeah.

[Mark Ingram]

So. Yeah, yeah. But no respect to the dynasties, man.

[Jerry Palmieri]

Well, you know, you get drafted to the Saints and I was doing some research, just looking, because I feel like. And you would obviously be able to say this better to me, like, you know, those Saints teams, the offense was so sick, but you also had so many talented running back. You, like, you were not alone in that backfield. And I really feel like that's when. And I know this from a fantasy perspective, that's when there was a lot of split carry situations. And I feel like, in a way, now we've talked about. I think we talked about this at the draft too. If you look at all the best teams going to last year's playoff, they all had their, like, guy there, cow running back. So I feel a little bit like it's going on less and less. And then you look at, like Detroit.

[Mark Ingram]

I mean, it depends on. It depends on the system, Right?

[Annie Agar]

Right.

[Mark Ingram]

Sean Payton loves to have three backs. You saw him with JK Dobbins and RJ Harvey. But now rj, I mean, Dobbins is hurt. Now RJ Harvey's taking over. Where did Coach Campbell come from? The Coach Peyton system.

[Matt Leinart]

So.

[Mark Ingram]

Yeah, but keep going.

[Jerry Palmieri]

No, I was gonna say, like, do you look at. When you think of like those duos and stuff like that, like, do you think we'll ever. Are we kind of done with the 30? We might see Jonathan Taylor get 30 carries with Philip Rivers this week, but I think playoffs. Playoffs, I guess it all gets smaller, right?

[Mark Ingram]

Yeah, Well, I think it depends on the system because, you know, you have McCaffrey getting the touches. You have.

You know, like you said, Jonathan Taylor getting the carries. You have shit.

[Matt Leinart]

Even Gibbs is getting like 20.

[Mark Ingram]

They still do series. You know what I mean? They still do series because David Montgomery is an extremely good back in his own right. But yeah, I think More and more you're going to see, you know, combination backfields because it's tough on one runner to stay healthy for 17 games and get 30 touches and, and recover and do it over and over and over. So now you see, you know, a Thunder and a Lightning and then a specialty third down back where you see, you know, you got your two guys splitting a series, then you see a two minute back come in. And it just depends on the system. That's kind of like what Sean Payton did a lot. He kind of, you know, liked his personnel. He had his packages, he had a certain plays. He'd call one Thunder and I'd go in. He'd call one Lightning and Spros would go in and then he'd call, you know, Pony and we both go in and, you know, then he'd have like Rhino and it would be a bigger fullback that was going in for some type of pass protection or something like that. So it, you see it. I think it depends on the system. You know, Sean Payton, he loves to do that. That's why you see Dan Campbell doing that a lot. Dan Campbell was, was there with me and Aaron Glenn was there with me at, in, in New Orleans. So when I, when they went to Detroit, I knew Detroit, it was just a matter of time before they, they turned up. And so, yeah, I think that you'll see a lot of, you know, committee backfields, but I think when you have a guy, you kind of need to let him go because it's a challenge mentally when you have to go in, go out, go in, go out, go in, go out, like. And it's something that you have to kind of learn to thrive in and be prepared for. That was a challenge for me early on. Luckily I did that with Trent Richardson at Bama, but, you know, being, you know, kind of pigeoned, like, you know, I mean, when I came in, I was like, they were, I was a lot of short yards, a lot of bass, like. So I was in there with a fullback and three tight ends and like. Or I was in short yardage and.

[Matt Leinart]

Then like against eight man boxes.

[Mark Ingram]

Yeah, yeah, eight, nine man box. I'm running to a brick wall. I'm like, yo, help me. Like, help me help you. You know what I mean? So. But it's good, it's good, it's good. But I know backs. You want to tote that rock, man.

[Matt Leinart]

So what was. Because you played 12, I mean, Henry's got, Henry's on what, nine or 10, Henry's here. And the shot, the shell, the Shelf life, as we know, the running backs is always shorter. Right. It's just a tough position to play, but you play for a long time.

[Jerry Palmieri]

Yeah.

[Matt Leinart]

What do you think the key to your longevity? I also say, like, a little bit of luck, you just got to stay healthy, all those things. But, like, what was the key to your longevity as a running back who had a shit ton of carries? I mean, God damn.

[Mark Ingram]

I think for one, the blessing and the curse was the health, the longevity. So I had, when I got to the Saints, it was me, Pierre Thomas, Darren Sprouls, Chris Ivory, and then it was, you know, then it was me, Kyrie Robinson and, like, Tim Hightower. And then it was me, Adrian Peterson. It was like me, C.J. spiller and somebody else. Then it was like Trevor's Cadet. And then it was me, Adrian Peterson, Alvin Kamara, and then it was me and Alvin. And so, like, I think now if. I think I would have had a much more statistical career if I wasn't in those backfields. Who knows if I would have been healthy enough to play 12 years and still feel good three years after being done. You know what I mean? Knees feel good. I had surgery. Shoulders feel good. But I think, you know, the blessing of being in backfields where I had to share the rock was I was able to stay fresh and I was able to play a long time and not really have a doubt, not really have a drop off, because I was able to share those backfields. So, you know, like you said, a lot of body work, Lots of body work, lots of money on body work. I was always getting massage, I was always getting acupuncture. I was always getting, you know, stem cells, some. Some type of stuff to make my body recover and perform at a high level. So I think those things, I could attest it and obviously, you know, God is good, man. The health, you know, overcome adventure, injuries. Like you said, a little luck, man, and, you know, mindset. You know what I mean? So all those things, it kind of contributes, bro. All those things kind of contribute to it, man. So.

[Matt Leinart]

But I'm thinking I would, I would. Getting to know getting, obviously, like, getting to become boys with you through Big Noon. I would have fucking loved to play with you, man.

[Mark Ingram]

Bro, I would love to play with you, too.

[Matt Leinart]

Just it was just a locker room alone. Vibes would be great.

[Mark Ingram]

Heavy vibes in the locker room. Like, heavy.

[Matt Leinart]

I swear, like, I play with Hightower. Tim and I play together.

[Mark Ingram]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. But I. I just swear, like, the person you see, like, right now, like, I was a completely different person when it was time to put the helmet on. Like, you know what I mean? Like, you have to be. You got to turn into this whole different human because, like, it's grown men out there trying to. Trying to take what's yours, you know, they trying to take food off your plate. They trying to make sure you go home and don't have no lights on. So you got to make sure that you bringing that same energy, you know?

[Jerry Palmieri]

Well, that's always the thing. Like, I say some pretty stupid things on this show sometimes, but, like. Like, one of my stupider things was like, a couple of weeks ago. I'm like, giants need to, like, shut down dart, like, because he's gonna get hurt. All this. Like, what. What are they doing? And, you know, Matt's always like, you just don't do that in football, though. And even like, Jaden Daniels, like, all the Commanders fans are mad because he's hurt again. And, like, why are you playing them?

[Mark Ingram]

But then you ain't got nothing but what but.

[Jerry Palmieri]

And I hear that, and that's what I always say. But I've started to come around more to Matt's point of, like, even, like, with Burrow, why bring Borough back? Well, you know, if they win out, they maybe could sniff the playoffs.

[Matt Leinart]

And also, you know what Burrow said? He's like, man, I get. I love to play football. Yeah, it's like Mahomes, the Chiefs are going to be mathematically out here in the next week or two soon. Yeah, he's not gonna. He's not gonna give up.

[Mark Ingram]

It's just something that's in you, bro. It's just something that's in you. Like, you gotta finish and, like, you can't quit. Like, it's just not in you, you know?

[Jerry Palmieri]

And people coming for your spot. People are coming for your spot.

[Mark Ingram]

Yeah. There's always younger, fresher, newer, cheaper bodies that could come in the game. And if you ain't putting on good tape, if you ain't putting on good performance, not only do you have not a chance to, you know, be extended by your current team, you're. When you play well, there's 31 other teams watching as well. So you always want to put your best tape on.

[Matt Leinart]

Deuce. Before we wrap up here, I. I gotta. I want to ask you, don't hate me because I know we talked about it. The infamous Derrick Henry photo.

[Mark Ingram]

Oh, man.

[Matt Leinart]

It's just a gift that keeps on giving online. And I just. I wanna. We. What do you talk about the other week? You're like. And Derek Henry's one of the biggest human beings we know.

[Mark Ingram]

Yeah.

[Matt Leinart]

And I don't think it was a bad angle, like you're gonna say. Because we just know it was what? Just go. Go back to that. And when it. When it came out and the reaction and just like, just take us through.

[Mark Ingram]

In the grand scheme. In the grand scheme of things, I'm glad that it actually looked how it looked because I had a torn rotator cuff and I had a sling on, so I took the sling off. Imagine if I went out there and it would have been like, he whooped my ass or something. You know what I mean? Like, like, imagine I'm out there like this, like, slingo. You know what I mean? Yeah.

Bro.

[Matt Leinart]

How many texts did you get when that came out?

[Mark Ingram]

I go out to the coin toss. I'm a guest captain. I'm like, the refs over there, I'm looking at them and I'm like, damn, this motherfucker huge. Like, you know what I mean? I'm like, I'm 5 10. All right.

[Jerry Palmieri]

He's a running back.

[Mark Ingram]

He's like 65 with a helmet on and shoulder pads. The clamor's closer to him and they hitting the angle on me, I'm like, damn. You know what I mean? When I go to the grocery store and I go to the movies, I'm bigger than most of the people, you know what I mean? But you go out here in the middle of the field with mutant alien.

[Matt Leinart]

He really is a mutant alien.

[Mark Ingram]

And then it's like 5, 250 pound running back with helmets and shoulder pads on. I'm like, damn, this dude huge.

[Jerry Palmieri]

And now that picture lives on. And I know how I would be. I'm like, you guys asked me to come here, and now I gotta deal with this. You asked me for the favor to be.

[Matt Leinart]

This is one of the greatest, like, mean pictures.

[Mark Ingram]

And it didn't take one minute, Jerry. I got to the sideline. I'll never forget Landon Collins was like, damn, they got you, bro.

[Matt Leinart]

I'm like, damn.

[Mark Ingram]

I had just came from the coin toss. I just made it to the sideline. That boy like, damn, they got you, bro. Atlanta cows.

[Jerry Palmieri]

I'm like, so you're just not used to it, Mark. That's been every picture I've taken from my whole life. When I take pictures with a fucking liner, they call. They say awful things to me, bro. I know I'm short, but I'm not five foot.

[Matt Leinart]

Yeah, but center 50 yard line next to Derrick Henry.

Yeah.

[Mark Ingram]

That's Brady Quinn. Him. I'm like, I'm five, ten, bro. These dudes are six, four, six, five. I'm like, bro, I'm grown, though. You know what I mean?

[Jerry Palmieri]

Well, dude, last thing for me. How's the golf game feeling?

[Matt Leinart]

Good.

[Jerry Palmieri]

I mean, you got the good weather, so you've been playing. You could play all year.

[Mark Ingram]

I haven't been playing much at all since this college football season, but.

[Jerry Palmieri]

Yep. But now you got time.

[Mark Ingram]

I'm about to pick my sticks up and get going. I'm about to knock the rust off. I'm about to pick my sticks up. That game gonna be right by March.

[Jerry Palmieri]

And true or false. True or false. Coach Urban Meyer is a belly putter. Is that real? Is that for real? Because he's a belly putter.

[Mark Ingram]

I thought he like Ben. He's not a belly putter.

[Jerry Palmieri]

Oh, okay.

[Mark Ingram]

He gets like. He gets like, real low. Like.

[Jerry Palmieri]

Oh, okay. I thought somebody said he uses a.

[Mark Ingram]

You don't have sweeper.

[Matt Leinart]

Okay.

[Mark Ingram]

No, no, no, no.

[Jerry Palmieri]

Said it. Bruce Feldman said.

[Mark Ingram]

No, no, no. He. He probably looks down, like, real low, like. Yeah.

[Matt Leinart]

Coaches. Coaches A stick, though.

[Jerry Palmieri]

Well, I gotta get out there.

[Mark Ingram]

Coach is a sandbagger, bro.

[Matt Leinart]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Mark Ingram]

He wants to say he's a double digit handicap. You a lie. Played a hundred rounds this year.

[Jerry Palmieri]

He's getting any competitive advantage possible.

[Matt Leinart]

He's got. No, I wouldn't even say it. He's got the greatest week coming up in golf. I won't even say.

[Jerry Palmieri]

Oh, me?

[Matt Leinart]

No.

[Mark Ingram]

Well, I mean, he's had like three greatest weeks in golf this whole season.

[Matt Leinart]

He played.

[Mark Ingram]

He played the links in Ireland. He.

[Matt Leinart]

He's golfing. He's golfing with the most powerful man in our country.

[Jerry Palmieri]

Okay.

[Matt Leinart]

And after that, he's flying over to Augusta. To fly Augusta. Oh, and before that, he's going to. Well, you are too. You're going to Army. Navy this weekend. Yeah, we're going to Army. Awesome. Which is like. Yeah.

[Mark Ingram]

Triple option.

[Jerry Palmieri]

Triple option is going to be there.

[Mark Ingram]

Yeah.

[Matt Leinart]

Yeah.

[Mark Ingram]

I was going to be at Oklahoma, Alabama next week, first round. That's right.

[Matt Leinart]

I heard that.

[Jerry Palmieri]

Oh, that's gonna be fun.

[Mark Ingram]

Yeah, That'll be great.

[Jerry Palmieri]

So you guys doing any. You getting any player interviews there? Are you just kind of covering the game when you.

[Mark Ingram]

I have no idea. I have no idea exactly what was the game? So I don't know if we're gonna have.

[Matt Leinart]

Oh.

[Annie Agar]

Day of the game.

[Mark Ingram]

Oh, yeah.

[Matt Leinart]

Last one, last one. Quick answer. How was.

[Annie Agar]

How.

[Matt Leinart]

How was the backlash of just. Just ripping on the Tide.

[Mark Ingram]

They were not happy with me to.

[Jerry Palmieri]

Say it got picked up. It got picked up everywhere.

[Mark Ingram]

Oh, it was doing numbers, Jerry. I'm like, at least we going.

[Matt Leinart]

We're on set. And Mark's like, yeah. It's always one of those things where it's like, but. But you.

[Jerry Palmieri]

Honestly.

[Matt Leinart]

But you're great because you're like, I'm always tied. And look, they don't deserve to be.

[Jerry Palmieri]

I'm always.

[Matt Leinart]

The way they play, they're in. And you're always tied. You always support them so they can say whatever they want.

[Mark Ingram]

Listen, do I want them in? Of course. If they were not in, would I have been surprised? No, because you go out there and you, for one, you're on the bubble, number nine. Then you can just get stomped in the SEC championship game. Now, I understand the people's mindset. Like, you can't get punished for an extra game, a championship game. But like, bro, if you go into a championship game and you look like shit, bro, you should probably be punished for it.

[Matt Leinart]

Yeah.

[Mark Ingram]

Not wrong, but I'm glad that Alabama's in with that being said. And roll. Damn Tide. And I don't give a piss about nothing but the Tide. I got way too much bam in me. Let's go. Let's make a run.

[Jerry Palmieri]

You got. You got all those views still, too. I can make a run.

[Matt Leinart]

You never know.

[Mark Ingram]

Let's make a run for it.

[Matt Leinart]

Playoff. Hey, they're going to get. They got to get a. They got a rematch.

[Mark Ingram]

I'm telling you right now, when we play to our ceiling, we're as good as anybody in the country. But that bottom is blew out as.

[Jerry Palmieri]

You seen that bottom.

[Mark Ingram]

Yeah, that bottom is. Is endless, dog.

[Matt Leinart]

All right, Deuce. Appreciate you.

[Jerry Palmieri]

Thank you enough for taking the time. Enjoy the travels.

[Mark Ingram]

I appreciate it, man. I've been waiting my time. My time to shine on the throwback.

[Jerry Palmieri]

We gotta do another throwbacks triple option crossover. We gotta find another. Maybe it'll be the draft again or something, but that was a lot of fun.

[Mark Ingram]

Yes, it was. I appreciate y', all, man. Love y', all. Boys, blessings.

[Jerry Palmieri]

Thanks, Mark.

[Matt Leinart]

This episode is brought to you by DraftKings. All your favorite NBA players are back. And DraftKings Sportsbook, an official sports betting partner of the NBA, is the place to bet on NBA stars this season. New customers bet just five bucks and get three months of NBA League Pass, plus score $300 if your bet wins, paid in bonus bets. Download the DraftKings sportsbook app and use code TB. That's code TB. Bet five bucks and get three months of League Pass, plus get $300 in bonus bets. If your bet wins in partnership with DraftKings, the Crown is yours. Gambling problem. Call 1-800-Gambler in New York, call 877-8-HOPE NY or text Hopeny in Connecticut. Help is available for problem gambling. Call 888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org Please play responsibly on behalf of Boothill Casino and Resort. Pass through of per wager. Tax May apply in Illinois 21 + age and eligibility varies by jurisdiction. Void in Ontario, restrictions apply. Bet must win to receive bonus bets which expire in seven days. Minimum odds required. NBA league pass Auto renews until canceled. Additional terms at DKNG Co Audio Limited.

[Unknown Announcer 1]

Time offer There's a reason Chevy trucks are known for their dependability because they show up no matter the weather, push forward no matter the terrain and deliver. That's why Chevrolet has earned more dependability awards for trucks than any other brand in 2025, according to J.D. power. Because in every Chevy truck, like every Chevy driver, dependability comes standard. Visit Chevy.com to learn more. Chevrolet received the highest total number of awards among all the trucks in the JD powered 2025 US Vehicle Dependability Study awards based on 2022 models. Newer models may be shown. Visit jdpower.com awards for more details. Chevrolet Together Let's Drive.

[Jerry Palmieri]

This episode is brought to you by McAfee.

[Annie Agar]

Yes, playoff tickets. Just need to click here and wait. What fake site? Good thing McAfee threw the red flag.

[Jerry Palmieri]

That would have been 400 bucks gone. McAfee blocks risky sites so you don't.

[Unknown Announcer 1]

Pay for seats and other things that don't exist. Plans start at just 39.99 for your first year. That's cheaper than parking on game day. Learn [e-mail] online protection.

[Jerry Palmieri]

Okay, everybody, Annie Agar joining the show courtesy of Twisted T. As she does each and every week, grab a refreshing Twisted Tea today. Annie, you got that packers wind glow. You got that packers win glow.

[Annie Agar]

Big week, you guys. We're feeling good. I you know, in I told people in Chicago I will literally not leave my apartment if we lose that game so I don't have to move now. So that's great. That's good news.

[Matt Leinart]

I got someone hammering a wall next to me, guys. I apologize. Why? What's a new setup? Andy? Are you just in a different.

[Annie Agar]

I know it's just a different side of my room. I just pivoted because over there is a lot of brand stuff which Is.

[Jerry Palmieri]

But is that where the magic happens?

[Matt Leinart]

I was going to say that's our.

[Annie Agar]

Videos in that corner. That corner right there is where I spend three hours of my day just talking to myself.

[Jerry Palmieri]

So that corner of your of your place generates millions of views on all social platforms.

[Mark Ingram]

I love it. I love it.

[Jerry Palmieri]

Well, real quick, Annie in the win in the packers very fun, enjoyable victory over the Bears. Did you. You know, everyone kind of hates on the Bears haven't beaten anybody. They lost. I kind of walked away feeling like, look, the packers are better, but the Bears are not that far off.

[Annie Agar]

I know, I know. They look really good and I like as much fun as I make of them. Caleb looked great. He'll have some throws where you're like, oh, you can't miss those. I mean you guys probably know this better than I do, but some throws you're like, oh, like you can't like that fourth. And I don't know what everybody said DJ Moore was open because it was before though the role left the throw was. It was left his hand. So don't sit there and say he had a bad read. Like it was. It was the right play call. I think it just execution. He held onto the ball a little too long, but he looked like that. There's one throw that maybe only Mahomes could make. Well, I forgot they were in the red zone and it was like insane on the run across his body. Like some throws you. You can't even process that he threw that. Other throws you're like, what the hell were you thinking? So it's a weird thing for Bears fans, but I will give them their props. I. I think they played a pretty good game.

[Matt Leinart]

Caleb Williams is going to be a star. Everything that we and by we like media talked about, like he makes these insane things and the uncoachable traits and the Mahomes style and then they have some accuracy issues. All that I'm telling you right now, like he's. He's going to be a star. Like he's already starred now you now with Ben Johnson. And I'm sorry Andy to say that, but Jordan loves. You know you got two great young quarterbacks in that division. But I think Caleb. Caleb's having a great year.

[Annie Agar]

It's scary, scary.

[Jerry Palmieri]

Matt, if you got a phone call from your agent that was like, I.

[Matt Leinart]

Know where this is going.

[Annie Agar]

I was going to lead the show off with that.

[Matt Leinart]

I was going to say someone texted.

[Jerry Palmieri]

Me this dude Baker needs like two weeks off to let the shoulder heal. Can you come in, buddy? And Buddy, jump on the practice squad. What's in the tank for you? And then let's please talk about what could possibly be in the tank for Philip Rivers.

[Matt Leinart]

Buddy, I, I, I, When I watch these college football teams play on the sideline, I'm terrified. I'm like, how on earth did I get hit by these guys? Can you imagine going into an me walking up to a line of scrimmage against Miles Garrett, all £210 of me and just saying like, yeah, I can go, I can still go play. No, I can't play. Not at all. By the way, Philip Rivers, I mean Philip Rivers is like 6525 big boy. He's put some weight on so like he's going to absorb some hits. The, the, the, the offense he was running, this came out this week. The offense he was running was the same offense that the Colts run.

[Annie Agar]

Because this guy for his kid, right? Yeah.

[Matt Leinart]

The same concepts that his son is coaching.

[Annie Agar]

He talked to Steichen about it too. They'd like talk about the.

[Matt Leinart]

I, I think it's, I think it's awesome. I, there's, I guarantee you if Philip Rivers plays this weekend that he will go out there and complete a bunch of passes. I guarantee that like he will go out there and he will be, he'll be efficient for sure. He never ran. Like, that's the thing. He, he, he's always sat in the pocket. So I think it's awesome, man. I, I, I think it's hysterical. Dude, I can't wait to see him play. He just, and he talks shit too. Like he's going to talk shit five years off the, you know, out of his 14 kids and nine grandkids and stuff. Like it's unbelievable. For me the answer is no.

[Annie Agar]

The Texas defense, he may die.

[Jerry Palmieri]

Oh, that's right. They're playing the Texans. Oh my God.

[Unknown Announcer 1]

Yeah.

[Jerry Palmieri]

How about this?

[Matt Leinart]

They are going to. I picked them up in two of my fantasy leagues.

[Jerry Palmieri]

Philip Rivers has a kid older than Riley Leonard.

[Annie Agar]

That's hilarious.

[Jerry Palmieri]

That hit me really hard.

[Annie Agar]

Yeah, actually he has 10 of them.

[Jerry Palmieri]

And, and Steichen was Rivers QB coach on the Chargers. So there's definitely a big history.

[Matt Leinart]

I don't think there's gonna be like a drop off in the sense like he's gonna go out there and he could run an offense like guaranteed.

[Jerry Palmieri]

And they're loaded on offense. They got Jonathan Taylor still, they got Warren. They're loaded.

[Matt Leinart]

But like, like what are they, what are they doing though? Like they, they're, they're trying to get in the playoff. Like, they have a tough schedule. They're right there.

[Jerry Palmieri]

But it's like, also, what are you doing? Like, Anthony Anderson with. I know he's got the Ey.

[Matt Leinart]

Yeah. He broke his face with a band.

[Jerry Palmieri]

Yeah.

[Annie Agar]

Yeah. And it. Apparently it was bad. Like, there was blood everywhere. It was like his orbital.

[Matt Leinart]

Guys, can I tell you a quick really story about a band? So I feel his pain. So I was doing, like, a shoulder band, like a elastic thing. It had a metal clip and then the handle.

[Jerry Palmieri]

That sounds like a terrible idea.

[Matt Leinart]

I put it. This was like. This is while I was still playing, like, 2011. Say something like that. I put it in the door. It's one of those things where you can kind of put in the door, shut the door, and you're just doing your shoulder exercises or. Well, for whatever reason, the door never shut. Like, it never latched. So I go to yank it, and it just slingshots right at my eye, dude. Right at my. It hit me, and I had a little scar. It hit me. I think it hit me in the eyebrow I was down. I thought I went blind. It was. So when I read that kind of.

[Jerry Palmieri]

What happened when I read that, I'm.

[Matt Leinart]

Like, dude, I feel for you. It was. It was so. Thank God it missed. My eye hit me right here. But my whole eye was swollen. Honestly, I would have been blind, dude. There's no doubt. I would have been blind if I had. So when I read that, I was like, dude, I feel his pain, bro. That hurt.

[Annie Agar]

That's terrible.

[Matt Leinart]

Like, he broke his face doing that.

[Annie Agar]

Yeah.

[Matt Leinart]

That's wild.

[Jerry Palmieri]

Anyway, well, now I'm feeling bad about fun story. It's okay.

[Matt Leinart]

You can still make fun of me.

[Jerry Palmieri]

To put a bow on Philip Rivers. I am thrilled about this story. I think it's a fun story.

[Matt Leinart]

Well, you're gonna watch the game because of that.

[Annie Agar]

So excited.

[Jerry Palmieri]

However, my workout yesterday, I'm like, this guy's playing in the NFL and I'm over here trying to do some burpees, and I'm nauseous after 12 burpees. And this guy's about to go face off against Will Anderson and the Texans defense. Like, 44, verse, 46. Not comparable.

[Matt Leinart]

This is a great trivia question that we're not going to do for. We're going to do it here.

[Jerry Palmieri]

Yeah.

[Matt Leinart]

There have been 10 guys who have started a game.

At over 40 years old in. In the NFL. Can you name. Let's say, can you name six of them? Well, Brady, Philip isn't on this list yet. Like, this is it.

[Jerry Palmieri]

Oh, Rogers.

[Matt Leinart]

Rogers.

[Jerry Palmieri]

Peyton. Nope. Manning. Wasn't there. Okay.

[Annie Agar]

Ben.

[Jerry Palmieri]

Big Ben Roth.

[Matt Leinart]

Nope. This is actually, this is a good trivia question. You've named two older guys.

[Jerry Palmieri]

Montana. Wasn't Montana 40?

[Matt Leinart]

Nope.

[Jerry Palmieri]

Why did I say that?

[Matt Leinart]

There's a handful of names you'll know.

[Jerry Palmieri]

What older.

Brett Favreau.

[Matt Leinart]

That's three. One more. One that just recently retired.

Drew Brees.

[Jerry Palmieri]

Oh, I didn't realize you went up to that.

[Matt Leinart]

So all day in the rest. So Steve Deberg was number two at 44. Vinnie Testaverde. Vinnie. We played against him at 44. Warren Moon for the Chiefs at 44. Fluty for the Chargers at 42. Rogers Breeze, Earl.

[Mark Ingram]

Morale.

[Matt Leinart]

I don't know. 41. Brett Favre and then George Blanda at 41.

[Annie Agar]

Wow.

[Matt Leinart]

So Philip will be this, I guess second or third oldest anyway.

[Annie Agar]

That's crazy.

[Matt Leinart]

All right. Yeah.

[Jerry Palmieri]

Should we, should we do some trivia? Because I was gonna ask you guys more about quarterbacks but we don't. I think we just covered it all because I, I, I driving the other day I tried to figure out like who had like who are the five best quarterbacks in the NFL? Not like take history out. Like I'm saying have played the best. The five best QBs this season. Don't. You can't look at momes from last year. Like just this year, just this year up until this point. Who have the five best quarterbacks been?

[Annie Agar]

Josh Allen, May for sure. What a weird year.

[Jerry Palmieri]

May Allen. I kind of put a. Stafford. May Allen, Stafford.

[Annie Agar]

Y. Sam Dar.

[Matt Leinart]

Sam Darnold.

[Jerry Palmieri]

I got, See, I got Dak and either Love or Darnold. I think Love's been great this year.

[Annie Agar]

Yeah.

[Jerry Palmieri]

And you might disagree. I don't know.

[Annie Agar]

I, and I'm, I'm biased. I'll probably be the harshest judge of him. But during Toyota thon. Yeah. He becomes like the best quarterback of all time. Have you guys heard that?

[Matt Leinart]

Mace. Yeah, Stafford. I mean golf has been really, I mean Baker was.

[Jerry Palmieri]

But they haven't won since the 20 game in the World Series. Yeah, Caleb, Caleb's coming on strong.

[Matt Leinart]

I'm just saying like numbers wins. Like there's a. Yeah, that's Drake Bay. I mean definitely Stafford's going to win the mvp I think though.

[Jerry Palmieri]

But outside of Allen, I don't think any of the like obvious choices that we would have said before the season are really in there.

[Matt Leinart]

So.

[Annie Agar]

Yeah.

[Matt Leinart]

All right.

[Jerry Palmieri]

Should we have some twisted trivia? Let's go. Matt has a week to week lead. He has a very healthy Overall lead.

Let's see if I could break the pattern of, like, getting the first one right and then just tanking the rest of the challenge.

[Annie Agar]

Yeah, yeah. There you go.

[Jerry Palmieri]

Very motivational. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. You could do it.

[Annie Agar]

Speaking of quarterbacks not performing very well, let's talk a little bit about the Chiefs. We're going to do. All this trivia is from the year 2014, which is the last time the Chiefs missed the playoffs.

[Jerry Palmieri]

That's such a random year. 2014 year.

[Annie Agar]

It is. It is a really weird year. Long, long time ago. Doesn't feel like that long ago, but it was. Okay, number one, ready. Who was the offensive rookie of the year for the 2014 season?

Offensive rookie of the year. This is a tough one.

[Matt Leinart]

Hint, please.

[Jerry Palmieri]

Jerry.

[Matt Leinart]

There's no clue.

[Jerry Palmieri]

Yeah. No, it's so random. 2014. No, I'm trying to. I always go by Giants championship. So I'm like, giants won the Super Bowl 2011, 12. Go fast.

[Annie Agar]

It's a. It's very close to Jerry. Jerry was close with what he just said. This person is known for their career to kind of going downhill for after being on a boat.

Yeah. Wow. That was like.

[Matt Leinart]

That was for me for sure.

[Annie Agar]

That was.

[Jerry Palmieri]

There's no way.

[Matt Leinart]

I started. I started Odell. Before you start Odell. Any guys, can we.

[Annie Agar]

I mean, we need, like, instant replay on that. That was Ty said Ty.

[Jerry Palmieri]

No, we have to go to the booth. They're bringing in Sea Caucus.

[Matt Leinart]

No way.

[Annie Agar]

I said.

[Matt Leinart]

I said Odell first.

[Annie Agar]

I couldn't even tell a difference. It sounded so in sync to me.

[Jerry Palmieri]

I, I. And plus, I was already on the tip with the Giants. Come on. He wouldn't even be thinking Giants.

[Matt Leinart]

So that's a tie. It doesn't really matter now.

[Jerry Palmieri]

I know the season.

[Mark Ingram]

Okay.

[Matt Leinart]

Even though that wasn't a tie, we'll. We'll go back to video because I'll guarantee I win that one.

[Annie Agar]

But number two, who was the MVP for the 2014 season?

[Matt Leinart]

Don't throw out a hint. Don't throw out a name, because I have a name.

[Jerry Palmieri]

I have the name I want to say.

[Matt Leinart]

But you're not going to get a hint then.

[Jerry Palmieri]

You don't even have a name. That's what's funny, because I'm not going.

[Matt Leinart]

To blurt out random names because you.

[Jerry Palmieri]

Don'T even have idea who it is. I'm going to say that's who I was.

[Matt Leinart]

Say.

It doesn't matter because you have no balls. That's fine.

[Annie Agar]

That was amazing.

[Matt Leinart]

I don't know why you're getting so excited. You're getting your ass kicked in this game.

[Jerry Palmieri]

And I know I said old EL Beckham first, but that's okay. Fine.

[Annie Agar]

Number three. Who led the Kansas City Chiefs in receiving yards that season?

[Jerry Palmieri]

I think I know it. I think I know it. I'm scared to say it. I can't say it. I can't say.

[Matt Leinart]

I'm gonna say Bo.

[Jerry Palmieri]

Yep, that's what I was gonna say. I was gonna say. I was gonna say.

[Matt Leinart]

Where's your big balls on that one, Jerry? But I'm not sure.

[Jerry Palmieri]

I don't think he ever led the team. I think that's the only receiver I.

[Matt Leinart]

I think he led the team one year. He made the Pro bowl one year, I think.

[Annie Agar]

Yeah.

[Jerry Palmieri]

All right, Andy, I will take a hint since okay. Has to sit out for a play.

[Annie Agar]

Currently playing and not very well.

[Mark Ingram]

Whoa.

[Jerry Palmieri]

Currently playing. Oh, Kelsey.

[Annie Agar]

Yes.

[Jerry Palmieri]

Okay, I'll take it easy.

[Matt Leinart]

No, that was a layup.

[Jerry Palmieri]

Assisted layup. I'll take it.

[Annie Agar]

Sorry.

[Jerry Palmieri]

I'll take it.

[Matt Leinart]

This is where we enter the charity case for Jerry. This is the charity.

[Jerry Palmieri]

And by the way, they're saying in the chat, I'm up 2o again. No, I'm up 20 and 1, apparently. But in my mind, I know I'll.

[Annie Agar]

Do well with that.

[Matt Leinart]

Run the tape back. It's fine.

[Annie Agar]

Okay, two pictures. Now. You have to guess this player.

[Jerry Palmieri]

Yeah, here we go.

[Matt Leinart]

Guess the cheese player.

[Annie Agar]

Oh, God.

[Jerry Palmieri]

First picture, please be Tony Gonzalez.

[Matt Leinart]

Jamal Charles.

[Jerry Palmieri]

Number.

[Annie Agar]

Yep. Wow, that was quick.

[Jerry Palmieri]

Very nice.

[Annie Agar]

I was going to say from the 2014 season.

[Jerry Palmieri]

Very nice. Awesome Madden player. Awesome Madden player.

[Matt Leinart]

Great beast.

Tamba Ali.

[Jerry Palmieri]

No, no, I'm not. I haven't.

[Annie Agar]

I would not have guessed.

[Jerry Palmieri]

I have no idea.

[Annie Agar]

It's a line back.

[Matt Leinart]

That's not Tomba Ali. It's not Derek Johnson.

[Jerry Palmieri]

I have no idea.

[Matt Leinart]

He was an outside linebacker.

[Jerry Palmieri]

No idea.

[Matt Leinart]

Damn it. I know. I know the. Once he says that. Once you say the name, I'm gonna.

[Jerry Palmieri]

Dad, say the name because I. I don't even have.

[Matt Leinart]

Hold on, hold on.

[Jerry Palmieri]

Guesses. I haven't over. He went to Joseph Johnson.

[Matt Leinart]

I said Tom Holly. That's all I said.

[Jerry Palmieri]

You're wrong.

[Matt Leinart]

So guess.

[Jerry Palmieri]

I'm not guessing. No, I'm running out the clock, taking a knee.

[Annie Agar]

Let me tell you.

[Jerry Palmieri]

I don't know who it is. I don't know who it is.

[Matt Leinart]

What's his last name? Start with H.

God. What's his.

JH Are the initials J?

[Annie Agar]

H?

[Mark Ingram]

I don't know.

[Jerry Palmieri]

Just give it to us. We're out.

[Annie Agar]

Justin Houston.

[Matt Leinart]

Justin. Nice.

[Jerry Palmieri]

Yep, yep, yep.

[Annie Agar]

I would not have gotten that one.

[Jerry Palmieri]

I would not have gotten that. No disrespect. I remember him now.

[Annie Agar]

Right?

Sweet. All right, so I think.

[Matt Leinart]

Yeah, we are really, really. You didn't even. You didn't even.

[Jerry Palmieri]

You didn't even get one guarantee.

[Matt Leinart]

Guarantee. When we go back. I got Odell, but I did get one. I got Jamal Charles, and I got Odell back.

[Jerry Palmieri]

You got you Charles.

[Annie Agar]

So actually, he's counting the OBJ one, too.

[Jerry Palmieri]

You can't. He can't.

[Mark Ingram]

You still.

[Matt Leinart]

Well, actually, no one got that one. So once I get the Odell, it's a tie. We'll go back.

[Jerry Palmieri]

That is a victory.

[Matt Leinart]

I. I know that I said Odell. Oh.

[Jerry Palmieri]

And I know that.

[Matt Leinart]

But it doesn't matter. It's.

[Jerry Palmieri]

And we're both on the. If we're both on the Internet, where there are delays of things, and we've.

[Matt Leinart]

Made it clear that mine is way more delayed than yours.

[Jerry Palmieri]

And if I'm saying I. I know I said it before you, but you.

[Matt Leinart]

Said that the last time, and everyone has said no, you're wrong.

[Annie Agar]

You've.

[Matt Leinart]

You. Every time you say it remotely close to me.

[Jerry Palmieri]

One person in the chat said. I think it was Matt.

[Matt Leinart]

That was.

[Jerry Palmieri]

That was the. The booth review.

[Annie Agar]

It's all good.

[Jerry Palmieri]

I'll take it.

[Matt Leinart]

I mean, you're like. You're like Brady, dude. It's like, I win the week arguing with Brady. Like, just dominating you, dominating you.

[Jerry Palmieri]

Give me the week.

[Matt Leinart]

And we have to lower the. But we have to lower the bar for you.

[Jerry Palmieri]

Didn't lower any case. Didn't lower. Didn't lower one bar.

[Annie Agar]

This is my favorite part of the whole week. Just so you guys know.

I feel like I'm babysitting just the two of you arguing.

[Jerry Palmieri]

We'll review the tape. We'll get back to you. I'll take it. Shout out to Twisted Tea. So, Annie, are you. Do you rehearse in that space behind you? No. You just go in there and shoot.

[Annie Agar]

I just go in and shoot. A lot of it's just scripting during the games and writing up jokes and stuff, and then in the process of filming is when I come up with more stuff, so.

[Jerry Palmieri]

Well, thanks for letting us see behind the curtain.

[Annie Agar]

You're welcome. It's like eyes, you know?

[Jerry Palmieri]

All right, well, have a good rest of the week. Good luck, Philip Rivers. Matt's going to go work out with the bucks to give Baker a few weeks off and. And the Entourage reboot's happening. All men thrive. No, I'M kidding. All old men are thriving. Old dudes thriving. Thank you, Andy. Thank you, Twisted T. We will be back next week.