Bald Guys On The Bench
Bald Guys On The Bench
The NFL Draft, Playoffs, and Brothers Winning Together
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
Recorded April 26th, 2026
The sports calendar tried to do too much in one weekend, so we did what any sane fans would do: turned on the games, argued about what we were seeing, and followed the chaos wherever it went. One minute it is Stanley Cup playoff bedlam and the next it is a PGA Tour finish that comes down to a long bunker shot with a tournament win and career-changing exemptions on the line.
We dig into the Zurich Classic team format, why alternate shot ramps up pressure, and how the Fitzpatrick brothers turned a wobble into a signature moment. From there we hit Ryder Cup buzz, then jump to the PGA Club Pro Championship at Bandon Dunes and why those spots in the PGA Championship matter so much to working pros. That leads to a real debate about what “earning it” looks like in golf, and who actually lives the job day to day.
Then it is back to playoff hockey where logic goes to die: sweeps, shock series leads, goaltending changes, and the never-ending argument about whether shots on goal mean anything. We break down the Golden Knights situation, give love to the Wild vs Stars chaos, and set the table for the next round.
Finally, the NFL Draft takes over with big-picture team building: trenches versus highlight picks, trading up when you are scared to lose “your guy,” and the Rams using a premium pick on a quarterback while still sitting among the Super Bowl favorites. We also get into one of the best draft-night stories: the Eagles hiding a $100 bill inside a playbook to see who actually studies it. If you like Stanley Cup Playoffs talk, PGA Tour storylines, and NFL Draft analysis with zero patience for lazy takes, hit subscribe, share the show with a friend, and leave us a review.
#baldguysonthebench #graboneandcrackone #stanleycupplayoffs #nfldraft #zurichclassic
Weekend Catch-Up And Live Playoffs
GrahamWelcome to another episode of the Bald Guys on the Bench podcast with your hosts Graham Cohen and Scott Wasco. What's up everyone? Welcome back to another episode of The Bald Guys on the Bench. Scotty Waaa, what a weekend. Playoffs, draft, so much excitement. How you doing, brother?
ScottYeah, amazing. First round, Stanley Cup playoffs, draft started Thursday night. Little excitement with that. Dude, I don't know. Crazy games, crazy series. A little golf today. Zurich in New Orleans. But you know what time it is, bro? As we always do. Grab it, crack it. Let's go.
GrahamLet's go.
ScottSo, I mean, before we even get started, you know, we always talk. How was your weekend? What did you do? I know you worked a little bit. Uh what's going on? What was the highlight? Did you go to any movies?
GrahamDude, I haven't been to a movie since uh I think the last movie I saw was the that Ryan Gosling, that Hail Mary movie, which was pretty good. Oh, I was like that's like what three weeks ago now? A month?
ScottAnd a minute, a minute and ten seconds into the episode. I'm gonna throw it out there.
GrahamWow!
ScottDude, that's right there for you, Grammar Police. Uh, it's been a while since we've been on the air, you know. We did that Stanley Cup playoff show with Navarro and TP. And I had a blast with those guys. Thanks for the love, everybody downloading this and supporting us after listening to that. I know Navarro sent it out. Uh oh, is that a penalty on the Oilers? Yeah, it is. Oh, oh, a little brawl going right now. I mean, and as we're sitting here recording, we're in the third period Oilers ducks tied two, too. The one thing I sent TP a text earlier before the show, and I'm like, what is one thing that has stuck out to you this year? And it's been all the chippiness in the in the playoffs, all the shit after the whistle. I mean, the other night in the Flyers Penguins game, we had 11 dudes in the penalty box. That's insane. It was wild. 11. It was insane. But I mean, yesterday's second period of the Hurricanes uh Ottawa game, it was insane. Dude, the Hurricanes defended two five-on-three power plays. Two.
GrahamYeah.
ScottNot one, but two. But anyhow, back to your weekend. You know, no movies and what?
GrahamUh busy week for the kid. You boys uh worked six days, only had Monday off. Tomorrow's off again. Praise the Lord. Well, it's because we're closed, but uh, you know, working a lot got my ass kicked at work the last two days. Uh, but it was good, made some good money. But just other than that, watched the games when I could, watched a little bit while at work, and then just kind of caught up watching whatever was still late after I got home, and then had to fill in through, you know, sports under stuff like that. But a lot of excitement. Didn't I feel kind of bad. I didn't get to see much of the golf highlights. I'm gonna look forward to seeing that later tonight. But I mean, from what I was hearing, I mean, look, it's the team event. I mean, they're going low. Uh I mean, what you were telling me yesterday, uh, the Fitzpatrick Brothers, what do they shoot? 15 under yesterday? What?
ScottYeah, and they had a big league going into today, and you know, it started getting a little tight on them. You know, alternate, alternate shot is not easy.
GrahamNo, it's definitely not.
ScottSo not easy. But you know, but yeah, that was pretty much for me.
GrahamHow was your weekend, brother?
ScottIt was good, dude. Just had to work yesterday, watched the draft, watched the nights late Friday night, uh, and then you know, went out with Billy last night for his birthday. Hung out with him and had a fun text conversation with Rob and everybody. Rob's daughter got married uh yesterday. Congrats to Rob. And you know, the best thing of the weekend, in my opinion, dude, was Rob's son, Trevor, aka I call him Warning Track.
GrahamAir it out. Air it out, bro.
ScottI asked in the text thread, I was like, dude, how's how's Warning Track doing? Are you letting him drink? And Rob literally texts back and he was like, Yeah, he's about 18 drinks deep. And he's trying to hook up with one of my daughter's bridesmaids. And then like then, like 15 minutes later, he goes, Oh my god, he passed out on the dance floor. Yeah. And then about 15 minutes after that, he goes, Oh my god, he just pissed himself. Get him! And all I could think was, remember back the Steelers Chargers game when I first my only trip to SoFi when Rob's brother-in-law pissed himself in the truck.
GrahamOh, yeah.
Zurich Classic Wild Final Hole
ScottAnd I was like, please tell me you got a video of it, like your brother-in-law leaving the Chargers game. And instantly he sends me a picture, and I'm not even gonna show that. But I mean, love it to death, pump for Rob. Like he told me, he was a he sent me a picture yesterday, right before awesome, awesome, awesome, awesome. I sent him a text this morning. I'm like, how y'all doing this morning? Yeah, and Rob's like, I ain't got no issues. And I'm like, of course. And last night, once Rob sent me that text, I'm like, hey, morning track, why don't you try drinking the water, bro? You know. So, anyhow, uh, much love to the Thompson family. Rob was obviously bummed he couldn't catch up on the draft because he was daughter's wedding, but understandable, obviously. Right. Um, but you know, that's all I did. Watched a little golf, uh, caught up on things, and that's about it. The our weather here went from 90 degrees to cold and rainy. We finally got some rain here. Thank God. But uh, other than that, that's about it, dude. Uh so I guess we can just jump right in. We'll go into the golf real quick before we even jump in, dude. Oh, there you go. Eminem power play scores, seven seconds in of the power play. Who was that? Oh, now they're up 3-2.
GrahamYeah. Dude, what is up with those colored jerseys or sweatshirts, jerseys, whatever you call them? Sweaters. Sweaters. Ah.
ScottWhose?
GrahamAnaheim, the orange. I guess I mean, I just don't watch enough hockey during the regular season to know that's their color, but that's just yeah. I'm I don't know, I'm just used to their old colors, and that is just so eye-popping.
ScottLike that was a line. Laser beam. What laser beam. But anyhow, so Zurich Open, heading in. Okay, you got the Fitzpatrick brothers, Matt Fitzpatrick's hottest player on the tour right now, obviously. Just won last week at Harbor Town. I mean, won in Tampa, lost by one to my boy at the players. But he's got his brother as his partner. Yeah. Okay. His brother just won a couple weeks ago on the DP World Tour. And dude, they're heading into today with a four or five shot lead. And things people didn't realize, if they win, like his brother gets a two-year exemption on the tour. That's awesome. And all the signature events for this year, the the PGA championship, and the players next year.
GrahamHello. Dude. The best part about this, he gets to hop on the PJ with his brother. Cost free. Nothing.
ScottYeah. Uh uh. But you know, it's amazing. I mean, that's how Ben Griffin made his name last year. Yeah. Ben Griffin's first win was in this event. Got in the signature events, and then what happened? Won at Colonial in a signature event, and then what happened? Uh played on the Ryder Cup team.
GrahamHey, get hot at the right time, things will happen.
ScottDude, I mean, the most ironic thing to me of the event was, you know, two years ago, Shane Lowry and Rory won. Well, they didn't play last year, and Lowry ended up playing this year with Kepka. Well, reading something either this morning or yesterday, dude, Lowry had to ask, I don't know exactly, don't hold me to it, but multiple people to be his partner this week. And Kepka finally said yes. And then missed the cut.
GrahamThat's insane.
ScottI don't know if you go out there and say people don't like Shane or what, but that's where I'm going with it. It's just, it sucks, dude, because this tournament, they don't get a lot of big name players. I mean, they get a lot of older players. It's sandwiched, dude. You go Masters, Harbor Town, this, and then now we're going to Trump Dural for another signature event. Right. It's sandwiched in. Dudes need a week off. I get it. But I don't know. It was fun to watch the guys hit play alternate shot and do their thing. But all I can say is, dude, the Fitzpatrick brothers were going in today, like I said, four or five shot lead, throwing up all over themselves during the event. They're on the 72nd hole. They need to make Birdie to win. And the bunker shot that Matt hit was insane.
GrahamInsane. Yeah.
ScottAnd by insane, I mean, your brother, who's sitting there, probably heart rate going a million miles an hour to win this event to get two years exempt on the PGA tour. Right. You left him a six-inch putt for the dub.
GrahamDon't miss that, bro.
ScottI mean, you want to talk about the best no stress putt to win ever. And I guarantee you he was stressing.
GrahamOh. 100%.
ScottGuarantee it. In fact, I want to see how we've seen it happen. Dude, his bunker shot was You were telling me earlier, wasn't it?
GrahamLike 40 yards or something?
ScottIt was a long bunker shot. Why can't I see this?
GrahamI mean, when I was watching it, I mean, it looked, I mean, 40, 30, still. The way he hit it and when it one hopped, stopped, it took like direct English to the right.
Scott35-yard bunker shot hit it to 14 inches.
GrahamI mean, uh I could do that. In Tiger Woods.
ScottWhat? The four the 14-inch putt? Yeah, you could do that. Not the bunker shot. She. And I mean, you saw the emotion and the reaction from his brother. It was insane, dude. It was awesome. Good for them. You know. I don't know. I looked at Kristen right when he hit that bunker shot, and I was like, you don't realize how hard that bunker shot was.
GrahamInsane.
Ryder Cup Captain Talk And Odds
ScottAnd he left it. He left no brainer. No stress. Thanks for playing. And when his brother made the putt, you know, he dropped to his knees. I mean, insane. Insane. What on other golf news? Uh, did you see who was announced as the Ryder Cup captain in 27?
GrahamFurick. Wow. I uh what I heard it was down between him and uh um oh, who's the guy that uh when he takes his hat the other guy that he won the what the guy is his name?
ScottStuart Sink.
GrahamThank you.
ScottYeah.
GrahamI was the only thing I'm thinking of when I think this guy is when he takes his hat off with the with the with his bald head with the white top. I'm like, I just saw him, he was playing in some what what I was watching golf channel the other night. Was the the senior players championship? Was that this week or was that last? They were playing some and dude, he finished, they were playing somewhere down in in in Bradington. Dude, in this final round, like he was in contention, dude goes out and shoots 62 for the course record to win by five.
ScottLike hey, these old dudes can still get it around.
GrahamHe just striped it. I was like, wow. But the yeah, the the commentators were saying that it was really uh, you know, his name should be in the running, and I think it was, but it's really down to him and and Furick as well. But didn't Furich man it a couple years ago, or was he an assistant?
ScottHe might have been an assistant. He's never been the captain.
GrahamThe captain, yeah, yeah, yeah.
ScottYeah, I don't know. I mean, we're on their turf. 2027, it's gonna be brutal. I just read yesterday it's already sold out.
GrahamWell, of course it is, especially after the bullshit that happened here. Of course. You know they're gonna you know those fans over there are gonna uh I don't want to say retribution for how poorly the Americans verbally assaulted them, but uh I mean they'll still do the right thing, but I guarantee you they're fired up and look, they want to stick the needle in deeper. Yeah, you know, and isn't it in Ireland too? Is it Northern Ireland this year?
ScottYeah, I forget the name of the place. It's something manor. Yeah, so I I can't think of it.
GrahamI I I mean, look, how good would it be for us to you know take it in Rory's backyard? I I just we gotta do something. I I just Yeah. I I don't how do we have percentage-wise, most of the top players in the world? I mean, I get it, it's the team event aspect. I get all of the intricacies of how the Ryder Cup works, and I love all the things, all of that stuff about it. But it's just like it just seems like when you watch the Ryder Cup, there are way too many times you're just like, how did the ball bounce that way for you? How did you all of a sudden get the greatest confidence in the world and you're gonna drop these 30 footers? How are you doing this? How are you doing that? And it's just like, look, you're living up to the moment. I get all that, but hey, it's time for us to get a dub.
ScottGraham, I'm just gonna I'm gonna go back to episodes of the show back in the day, way back in the day, when we're talking about Colin Montgomery, we're talking about Ian Poult.
GrahamExactly.
ScottYou know, we're talking about guys that can't make a putt from five feet until it's rider cup time, and they're just hooping everything.
GrahamYeah.
ScottIt happens. Hey, it's it is what it is.
GrahamIt's their major, all right, I guess.
ScottI mean, and now you got Fitzpatrick. I mean, is he the hottest player on the planet?
GrahamUh how how do how do you say not?
ScottYou don't.
GrahamYou don't so alright, here's the $64,000 question. Uh, what's him to finish in the top 10? Like minus 200?
ScottTop 10 of what?
GrahamNext week event. I was gonna say top, I was gonna say top five, but I'm like, all right, let's skirt it back a little bit. I mean, at this point, when is Scheffler not gonna be favored anymore? It's like compared to some of these other guys.
ScottDude, he's gonna be favored and everything.
GrahamI know, I know.
ScottBut but yeah, and as we speak, uh, one last little quick thing on golf.
GrahamYeah.
ScottUh, PGA Club Pro Championship going on right now, first round was today, Bayonin Dunes. And this is for PG of America golf professionals like myself. And then the top top 20, I think, in ties get to go play in the PGA championship uh next month in uh I think Pennsylvania. Yeah.
GrahamNow, is this something you have to qualify for, I'm assuming?
ScottYeah, absolutely. So out of the all the section championships in the country, and by section I mean like what section I'm in, I'm in the Carolina section, right? Yeah. North Carolina and South Carolina. When you have your Carolina section championship, which took place last year in August, top 10-ish, it depends on how big your section is, qualify for the PGA national championship. There's 300 plus players playing in this championship, which is being held at Bandon Dunes. Uh, they have it cut after two days, and then after the third day, they have another cut, and then the top 20 in ties advance. Everybody remembers a couple years ago, Michael Block doing his thing. You know, players like him are in this event. Uh some dude, our boy, romance, caddied for to get his career started. Charlie Belgian is playing in this field.
GrahamOkay.
ScottAt the Club Pro. And that's what everybody whines and bitches and moans about. And I agree with everybody. You know, if you make a certain amount of starts on the PGA tour, you are given a PGA of America card, like what I earned by going to school and passing a PAT and this and that. Interesting. Well, very dude. I'm not even getting into it.
GrahamI can see the look on your face. You're so pissed.
ScottWell, I'm not pissed. I'm I just I earned mine. Yeah. He earned his by being a good golfer. Esteban Toledo. Remember that dude? Oh, or not Esteban Toledo, shit. Smack myself. Omar Uresti played on the tour. Right. Is now a PGA of America member, teaching all day, not running a member guest, not dealing with inventory, not dealing with shit like I deal with on a daily basis, is gifted a PGA of America card and plays in these events. I'm sitting here having dinner tonight with the family, and Andrew's like, What is this? I'm like, this is PGA of America members like myself playing in a national championship. And he's like, I don't get it. I'm like, yeah. 75% of these dudes don't do what I do.
GrahamYeah.
ScottThey're directors of instruction, they teach all day.
GrahamYeah.
ScottThey're college coaches. Not saying there's not guys like myself in this event.
GrahamYeah.
ScottBut because there are. But it's just weird. Charlie Belgian, I'm not hating. Dude ain't folded a shirt in his life. Dude, uh, dude hasn't done with a member issue in his life.
GrahamYeah.
Stanley Cup Sweeps And Shock Results
ScottHasn't run a member guest. You know, whatever. It is what it is. But it's fun to watch. Uh, it's abandoned dunes. Love the place. Bummed I can't go there because uh they're sold out till 2028. If you want to take a group there, uh yeah, yeah. That's how popular that place is. But anyhow, just wanted to throw that quick tidbit out there, real quick. Uh let's jump right in. Stanley Cup playoffs. It's been wild, dude. It's been insane. A lot of craziness. You know, we had Navarro and TP on last week. And just gonna Keynes sweep Ottawa, you know, first sweep of the season of the playoffs. And then tonight, dude, Colorado sweeps the Kings. Sucked. Copatar last game for the Kings, which is wild. And if you're a Kings fan, you're bummed the guys. What did I put in the notes? Played in 1,521 games for the Kings. Won two cups for them and 12 and 14. Last game. You know?
GrahamI mean, it's uh, you know, sometimes an end of an era happens. I I just I mean, my question is, how's the text thread between Navarro and TP going after today?
ScottIt's it's fine, dude. They knew it was coming. I mean, they were pulling for their boys. Obviously. Obviously, obviously, but they knew it was coming. You know, what can you say? You're going up against a dominator like Colorado. Amazing team. What can you do? Right. What can you do? I mean, on another note, I mean the penguins win game four last night to avoid getting swept. Dude, they finally made a change. The goal. What was I saying last week on the on the Stanley Cup playoff show? Skinner sucks. Skinner sucks. Skinner sucks.
GrahamYeah.
ScottAnd Andy, Andy responded to me the whole week. Oh, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. Yeah, kind of ironic. Your first win was when he wasn't in that.
GrahamI mean, look, it's not like they're going to catch lightning in the bottle and win three more, but hey, it's hockey. You never know. I mean, miracles do happen. So I just, dude, I mean, even with Skinner sucking, those first couple games, the penguins looked flat. They looked old. Awful. They just awful. It's just I'm watching this game. I mean, look, like I've said before, everyone, the playoffs are when I actually start watching. I remember I came home after work and I was watching the penguins game, and you texted me, like, what are you doing? And I'm like, I'm losing brain cells watching these best penguins game. I'm like, this is the most boring game I've ever watched. I'm like.
ScottThe Penguins had like, don't quote me on this, like two shots through 22 minutes of the game.
GrahamYeah. Yeah.
ScottI'm like, what? And and the stat I hate more than anything is shots on goal. I hate it. Right. I can shoot from god dang the blue line, and that counts as a shot. Is that a quality shot? Absolutely not. But to only have two? It was insane. Hey, I gotta go back and give credit where credit's due. Navarro was like the Flyers are gonna dominate this series. And I gotta go back to the old saying, dude, hockey playoffs, it's weird how they don't reseed. I mean, if these are this is the seventh and eighth seed in the penguins and the Flyers. Okay, this shouldn't be a first round matchup, but it is. That's all you can say. I don't know.
GrahamI I look, as I said in the previous show, we're holding on to, and by we're the penguins, you know, they're they're they're holding on to the old guys. This is who knows if this is their last year. I mean, it it's fun just to watch them do it, you know, do it one more time. I mean, look, they're on season 19, like Jesus. So like I said, I I wasn't expecting much, but uh it's just like when you watch your team, you know, when you watch your team, like do something. Like, give us some hope. There's nothing worse than watching your team play and know you absolutely have no chance.
ScottDude, and and Crosby's flop the other night.
GrahamYeah, it was not good.
ScottI mean, everybody that listens to us knows I hate on the NBA, but I made a little joke to everybody. I was like, dude, LeBron even said that was a flop. It was bad. It was bad. But anyhow, right handed Buffalo, dude, and the Bruins. Dude, Buffalo up three games to one. Straight domination station tonight. One six to one, whatever, scored four goals in the first period. Like, oh, I'm sorry, what? Uh and the team that Navarro and TP both picked to go to the finals in the East, the Lightning, dude, they had to win tonight to even up the series at two to two.
GrahamYeah.
ScottThat that's a shocker to me. A big shocker. Crazy. Crazy. Oh, and high ties it up. Let's go. 3-3. Who scored? Tell me it was Terry. Please, God. Please, little baby Jesus. Oh, what's wrong with you little Edmonton bitches in the crowd? You don't know what to do. Uh, this is another one that's impressing me.
GrahamFor a series that you that your vi your Vikings, your your knights all in all do pretty well against. Like. I mean, I get it. It's the rivalry aspect of it.
ScottI'm just, I just, oh, what a oh, what a tip. He's on his ass and he scores. Wow. What the that was sick. Um, this is a game that is or serious. Anaheim's up two to one. Everybody in the world picked Edmonton. It's crazy. It's shocking. I love it. That's what is so fun about the Stanley Cup playoffs. I mean, what a shot on his ass. Is it still called the Honda Center? It was. We're just gonna call it the Honda Center. The Honda Center is rocking right now, dude.
GrahamWell, it says the Honda Center on the ice, so yeah. Okay. All right. In center ice, it says Honda Center, so yeah, I'm gonna go with that. Well, I was asking I'm just busting your chops. Right there, right there, right there.
ScottSo jumping into my squad that nights, you know, one game one, lost game two, lost game three. I said it going into the game Friday night. No chance we're gonna win this game. Now the first game.
GrahamNow, that being said, you were so convicted of that of that notion that I know you and I are both under the same mind frame of if there's one thing we do in sports bidding, it's not bet against your team. Considering how you've also told me to not bet against the Steelers when I would have won money, but we've beaten that dead horse a thousand times. Did you not bet against them in game three?
ScottNo, I did not. I did not. I can't do that. I'm not like Jerry last night when he bet 500 bucks for the Padres to lose.
GrahamDude, baseball is so fickle. You could go either way, like and they won.
ScottYeah, no, dude, the the main thing for me, game two, you know, we won game one pretty good. We've dominated the series, in my opinion. But in hockey, it doesn't matter. You get a bounce here, bounce there. Game two. We scored early, and literally we score on ourselves to tie the game up in the first period. Game three. We're up one to nothing. Dude, literally the goal that tied it up went off of Carter Hart's mask, bounced directly straight down off of his heel, and went in. And they've capitalized on situations like this. Dude, game three Friday night, the the mammoth literally only shot the puck, and this is goes back to what I just said a few minutes ago. Only shot the puck 12 times and won four to two. Only shots on goal registered 12. What? And one of those was an empty netter. So we'll really we're just gonna say 11 shots on goal to score three goals. I I mean right, those are some quality shots, and so people that say shots on goal stats matter, go look at that, right? Okay, it's it's insane. But the big story for us, Pavel Dory, Dorfev, our number one scorer this year, going back to last year in the playoffs, he only has three points. That's hurting. It's not good. That's hurting, dude. It's not good, dude. And you know, I knew it was gonna be a tough series. We it's a must-win game for us tomorrow night. I mean, Iichel said, is it a must-win game? No, it's not. We were down three games to one last year against Minnesota, one four in a row, kind of like you were just saying about the pins and the flyers. Uh, it's not. But dude.
GrahamIt's not, but it will help. Yeah.
ScottWe gotta tie it up, dude. Uh, I mean, I don't know. We looked so flat Friday night, like it was awful.
GrahamAnd you had two nights off. I was I I was surprised you got that extra. Is it normally two nights when do you go?
ScottEvery team gets two nights off during a series. Okay. Which, like, you guys, oh damn. I thought they were about to score. Uh, but anyhow, dude, it was Utah's first home playoff games in their franchise history.
GrahamOh, dude, they were fired up.
ScottThat place, that place was rocking, dude. And we just looked so flat. I mean, I I was just like not even interested. They were up two to nothing after the first. Then it was four to nothing, I think, at one point in the second, and then we scored a goal, make it four-one, and it was just like okay, great.
GrahamI could tell by your demeanor. We did we didn't even talk, but we just texted a little bit. I could tell in your texting demeanor, I was just like, Yeah, he ain't having. I was like, wow, I was like, I could tell you were bummed and I didn't realize what the score of the game was.
ScottAnd then I turned my phone on, I was like, oh, oh I was bummed, I was bummed, but it was one of those bummed where hey, at least it was over early. I'd rather it be over early than losing overtime.
GrahamI mean, yeah, but my argument against that would be what about the excitement of you know keeping it close?
ScottNo, I'd rather get blown out. So you I'd rather get blown out. Dude, I'm a charger fan. Do you know how many fucking close games I've lost keeping it close at the end of the game? Beat the shit out of us so I can turn the goddamn.
GrahamI don't know.
ScottI think uh I'd rather be heartbroken. I would I would rather be pissed at the beginning than heartbroken at the end.
GrahamAll right, let me counter that with on TV I could understand that. What about at the game?
ScottI don't have an answer for that.
Wild Vs Stars Series Is Electric
GrahamThe only reason I say that is just because, like, you know, when I have my season tickets for the Chargers, there's a couple games that I'm just like, yeah, they're not winning this game. And it was it was the second quarter, and you're just like, they're not coming back in this game. And I'm just like, well, I've already spent the money and I'm here. I'm like, I'm not gonna leave, but there's just I don't want to say no hope, but you're just like, all right, well, I guess I'm just gonna be here and watch this. What else do I gotta do?
ScottLike, yeah. But anyhow, moving on next series, which in my opinion has been the best series in realm one The Wild and the Stars. Facts, dude. Insane. And I insane. I don't even know what overtime games do. Two of them, right? Spin wild at least. I I don't even know the exact stats, but I think you're right.
GrahamYeah. It was like one or like the first two games or like the first and third.
ScottI'm just gonna go out and say it right now, and you're gonna hate this.
GrahamOh god.
ScottBut oh god, the winner, the winner of this series is taking Colorado down in the next round. Yes! I'm saying it right now. Write it down, take a picture. I don't give a fuck. It's happening.
GrahamLet's go!
ScottAnd for those for those that are wondering, that's a quote from Friday.
GrahamUm folks, if you've been listening to us long enough and you don't know that, uh Yeah.
ScottIt's dude, this series between the wild and stars has been insane. Yeah, it's been insane, it's been so entertaining. That's all I can say. Agreed.
GrahamAgreed.
NFL Draft Big Takes Start Here
ScottThat's all I can say. And it once again, it sucks the way we see people in the Stanley Cup playoffs. But anyhow, enough of that. It's time to jump into the sport that we talk about most of the time. NHL draft being hosted in Pittsburgh. Wait, the what? NFL draft. I said NHL, whatever.
GrahamJust make it sure.
ScottUh NFL draft. Okay. We all knew what's his nuts was going to the Raiders, Mendoza. Duh duh duh. And I think crazy pick early. Love getting drafted by Arizona.
GrahamI uh look, he was one of what did everyone rank him as a like you know, the top three player. I mean, overall.
ScottYeah. Mel Kuiper was saying if he was the Giants, he would trade his fifth and tenth pick to Arizona to get him. I mean, I'm not we're not even getting into that debate, but no.
GrahamI all I was gonna say was it's just when you hear a comment like that, it's we we've been doing this for four years now. We've beaten Mel Kuiper enough. Like, we don't need to drag him through the I mean look, he obviously knows what he I mean he knows what he's talking about, but he has takes sometimes where it's just like, look, I get why you would say that, but the two players that they got, like they need and build build the trenches, like dude, that's how you win championships.
ScottAnd build the trenches.
GrahamIt's not very many times that you had a running back, and they're the that's the guy that wins you the wins you the game. I the the worst part of me saying that is I was about to be like, well, who who's done that recently? And uh newsflash, you ever heard of Saquon Barkley? I mean, granted, it wasn't from the draft, but like it wasn't from the draft, yeah. But still, you take a running back, free agent signing. Yeah, like you add a running back, and all of a sudden it's just like wow, wow, uh yeah, let's win the Super Bowl. And I just look, he's gonna be a great player. It's the Cardinals.
ScottI I mean Once again, and before you say anything else, I heard this take and I was like, I get it, I agree with this right now. Think about you're a resident in Arizona in that area. Are you going to get fired up and buy a jersey of a tackle if you take him in the th in the third pick? Or are you gonna be fired up and buy jerseys of love?
GrahamRight? You're not wrong, right? You're not wrong, and you can make all different types of arguments for that. I I I get that. Look, you have to be a real enthusiast to uh, you know, get like yourself that got a punt a kicker's jersey or you know, someone with the D ciphers, let's go, baby. Let's go, you know, that gets a D line or an O line. I mean, you have to be a committed fan. So I I get all that.
ScottYou no, you have to be an educated fan. And this goes back, and I'm just gonna throw this out there. This goes back to when the Chargers took Alt at five, okay, instead of taking neighbors, all the Chargers fans were blasting the Chargers. Well, I'm sorry, all pro. You know what I'm saying?
GrahamI get it, but I could go I could go the other way. Since he.
ScottYeah?
GrahamSince you should have took Penny Sewell and they didn't. They took Jamar Chase and then they went to the Super Bowl the next year.
ScottYeah.
GrahamAnd and almost won it, by the way.
ScottYeah. I'm just saying rare. Very rare. As an Arizona fan. But the thing is, they don't even have a quarterback. Well, they have Bursette who's holding out. They got Gardner Minshew, East Carolina, there.
GrahamBut hold on a second. Let's back up a second. How does he have any leverage, Brissett?
ScottLike, let's I ain't saying you're wrong. I'm just saying. What? I'm just saying he's holding out. I'm not saying you're wrong.
GrahamHe kind of has them by the balls. Like, that's the worst part. He kind of does. I mean, for what he did for that team the last what two years now, or at least year, like I just uh I mean, look, with bad quarterback play, you need a good running game. You got the running game. I mean, the thing is, they have pieces. That's the problem. McBride? McBride? Yeah. Uh, dude, your stud wide receiver on your fantasy team.
ScottDon't want to bring that asshat's name up. That dude can go kick rocks, too.
GrahamHarrison Jr., by the way, if anyone forgot.
ScottAnd if anybody's wondering, yeah, you're welcome.
GrahamI I just ah I was shocked, dude.
ScottI was shocked in the first round that the Chiefs traded up three spots to get that corner from LSU. Right. He was gonna he was gonna be there at nine.
GrahamYeah, well, and Pittsburgh also thought Mikhail Lemon was gonna be there at 21.
ScottWe're not even getting into that.
GrahamNo, I know that, but I'm just saying. Pump the brace. I'm my point in saying that is it's just like I get why you would say you thought they could have got him at nine, but it's just like, look, when you're in your war room with your team, why be the guy, you know, why be the GM that's just like perfect example. What's his name? Mike Mayock, right? He's on he does all the draft coverage for NFL Network. He used to be the Raiders GM. And when he was talking prior to the draft, he said, when he was the GM, the hardest thing when you're drafting is do I use picks and trade up? Do I use picks and trade down? Do I stay where I'm at? Do I how do I anticipate what other teams are gonna do to try and jump in front of me? It's just like with all that going on, if you like a guy, and he said this after it was over. It's like if I learned anything, if you like a guy and you're afraid someone's gonna take him, you gotta do what you gotta do and you gotta get that guy. You have to be confirmed, you have to go for it, and you gotta do what you do. I just look, Kansas City, look, they've been uh they haven't been bad picking corners these last however many years. So, I mean, they seem to know what they're doing. I like look, he was still rated pretty. I mean, he was still one of the top-rated corners. I just look, as you know, as a Charger fan, we it's not exciting to see the Chiefs get better. But they also lost two of their corners, you know, to the Rams.
ScottSo it's like Yeah, remember they remember, yeah.
GrahamLike, I mean, they made moves. I I'm just real curious on what's gonna happen with them, how the season's gonna start.
ScottI was shocked they didn't draft what's his name, the tight end from Oregon, Sadiq. I was like, this is a home run play for the for the Chiefs. Home run. The dude's a stud, the dude is athletic, he gets to go there, hang out with Kelsey for one more year. Right? This is the future. I was like, done deal. I mean, is what it is, but he went to the Giants or the Jets? I mean, look, which is crazy.
GrahamWe're we're not doing draft grades, but I mean the Jets, they had some Jets solid picks. Solid picks.
Rams Take A Future Quarterback
ScottThey had a great draft. Great draft. Uh, but anyhow, the the shocker of the first round has to be what? The pick at 13.
GrahamOh, the Rams.
ScottBy the Rams. Right? Has to be. But but dude, if you think about it, is it? I mean, if you go on any sports book, DraftKings, whatever you bet on, the Super Bowl favorite for next year, top three is what? The Rams. And you're using your 13th overall pick that you got from the Falcons last year, yeah. To draft a quarterback for the future.
GrahamI mean, let's say they pivot. If they would have gone wide receiver there, or I mean, the defense is solid. O-line's pretty good. If they would have got another offensive weapon, how like look, we saw them in the playoffs. We I mean, they had that tough, you know, the tough game in Chicago. There, I just but they won. Yeah.
ScottI and then, you know, I mean, literally right now, and if a Super Bowl, Rams, number one plus 800.
GrahamWell, dude, the Rams have been kicking the bucket, you know, on all their first round picks for so long now that you can't blame them. Like they they gotta do what they gotta do to get this as many wins slash Super Bowls as they can right now with Stafford. And look, if taking Type Simpson, let him, you know, sit behind him, learn tutelage, and then with the coach, everything McVeigh, if he can learn and just you know hit the ground running, that would be amazing. Um I mean, do I think they're at the same level with Stafford? Obviously not, but there is there's just two mind frames of how you're how you're trying to play the season.
ScottDude, your general manager, his job is to look for the future. Plan for the future.
GrahamYeah.
ScottAnd that's what he did. And that's what he did. I mean, remember last year camp opened, and we're sitting here talking on our show, saying, is Stafford gonna play? Remember the back injury and this and that? Yeah.
GrahamSee, that's something. Note to self, let's write this down. Let's we need to at the end of the season review, let's let's make some bold picks at the start of the season, and let's review those picks at the end of the season and be like, where did where were we right? Where were we wrong? And what the bleep happened with everything else? And dude, we beat that Stafford situation to death. I mean, he played nothing in the preseason, which we didn't expect him to anyway, but obviously obviously the storyline the whole time was how's his health? I mean, there was legitimate concern he could retire.
ScottYeah. And then what happened?
GrahamYeah, exactly. I I just Yeah.
Steelers Draft Drama And League Rules
ScottYeah. But I don't know. We talked about it earlier. We talked about the Jets having a great draft. Uh Giants had a good draft. You know, when you said it earlier, we're not in the draft grading business because that shit pisses me off more than anything. How are you gonna give a team, a franchise, a grade on a draft when a player hasn't made played a snap? Remember, let's give a draft grade three years from that. Right. From when they were drafted. You know, I hate that shit. But let's just jump in. You mentioned it earlier, dude. Would you p Steelers were picking 21, right?
GrahamYeah.
ScottAnd Cowboys are at 20, and I'm like, dude, Eagles make the trade, the Steelers are on the phone with Lemon, and it goes sour. Right? Eagles taking obviously because AJ Brown, all the shit going on with him going to the Patriots, they need a wide receiver. Right? And I'm texting Greg, my boy, that's an Eagles fan, and I'm like, dude, what the hell? The Cowboys just drafted with the Eagles in division? What the shit? And he reminds me, hey, remember a couple years ago when the Cowboys traded with the Eagles, and the Eagles picked what's his name? The other recipe. Devonta Smith, yeah. And I'm like, wow, totally spaced on that.
GrahamYou know, uh, the only thing I'm gonna say to that is I get where you're coming at with you know trading within the division, but uh thinking back on it, I think that's more of a thing when we're talking about actual players like during the season at the trade deadline, something like that. Like when it comes to draft picks, yeah, you don't want to help with the other guys, but there's it's just so much different because of the strategy of getting who you want, you know, trading back and getting extra picks. It's just it's a different concept. It's not like when you're in the middle of the season, it's just like, all right, well, if we make this trade, I could really be like, I don't want to be helping you, or if I'm out of it, I don't want to be helping you type of thing. So I uh I'm chalking it up to that. Look, there was other indivision trades in the draft between other teams.
ScottI was just like, Yeah, there was, there was, but the thing that it boils down to, which is weird, between this trade is the rumors the Cowboys made this trade with the Eagles because of the bitterness with McCarthy. Because McCarthy went to the Steelers as the head coach, took all their assistants, and made this trade. The Steelers are bitterbetty at the Cowboys, but let's don't forget this. The Steelers could be facing some discipline by the NFL. I just you're not allowed to be on the phone with a player until it's your turn to pick. And they were. And what happened?
GrahamI just I mean organizations organizations know their things. Like, I don't like dude.
ScottLike they said on NBC Sports the other day with Florio and Sims, these dudes that are in the sta scouting departments for each team could have sent texts. Could have sent this, could have sent that.
GrahamThere's ways around things, brother.
Eagles Playbook Test With $100
ScottDude, and I don't know. It was weird as shit. I knew the Steelers were either gonna take Cooper or him until that happened. And literally was on the phone texting with Greg about it. And Mike called it. That's why you're trading up. I don't know. It was weird as shit. And then then it comes out, I was talking to you earlier about it. The Eagles sent a copy of their playbook to a couple first-round people they were interested in and taped a hundred dollar bill somewhere in the playbook with a message that said, When you find this hundred dollar bill, send this person a text. Nobody responded. Except for who? Lemon. Yeah. He texts back and said, just got the hundred dollar bill, mailed it back to the Eagles in a card, and wrote, Save this for when I win a Super Bowl for y'all.
GrahamYeah. I mean, it's a classy move. I mean, look, we were talking about this earlier off air. The fact that teams still do this is amazing.
ScottJamarcus Russell was the first one, remember?
GrahamThat we know about, I mean.
ScottThat we know about. Yeah. And he yeah.
GrahamI I just look, you gotta keep these guys accountable. You want to see who's paying attention. I mean, when you're spending all of this time figuring out who you want, you want to see who's committed to your program, who's gonna put in the work, who's gonna be there to, you know, give it all this effort. And if you're sending out your playbooks, which I'm assuming they can't be, you know, their new playbooks, that'd be ridiculous. But like to give them a concept of what they might be doing, if you're gonna send that out, yeah, like me personally, if they're sending me something, not that I would be looking through it because I uh would assume they're trying to, you know, figure out if I'm paying attention or what the deal is, but it's just like if you're gonna send me something, I'm gonna take a look at it. If you're spending the effort to send me something because you want me, like if you want me, I want to see what you're sending me. Right?
ScottIt's crazy that after all this, like I'd be flipping through every page.
Graham100%.
ScottSo I sent that to TP and he's like, dude, really? He's like, where did he say it? How do people not pass these tests nowadays with all the stories from the history? I'm like, exactly.
GrahamI just yeah. If I mean it's like you said earlier, this has been going on for so long. Do they think that it's just not a thing anymore? Yeah.
Chargers Draft Depth And Win-Now Picks
ScottI just makes no sense. But hey, I don't know. We'll see what happens. I'm happy with my Tartar's draft. I love everybody hating on us on our first round pick, drafting the 25-year-old guy. Uh he's 25 years old and he's a plug-and-play guy. He's not 21. We don't have to get him in game shape, whatever.
GrahamYeah, I mean I get that.
ScottLove it.
GrahamLook, everyone, when they think about a draft like, oh, you need young for you know longevity. The Chargers, knock on wood, if they stay healthy, are ready now. You need guys right now. Plug, play, do what you need to do, and let's get dubs.
ScottLike it was that kind of move. Yeah, it's a win now move. 100%. We just lost OA. We replaced him for a rookie.
GrahamYeah.
ScottOkay. It was amazing. And the dude, his character, the whole deal. If you go back and look at him, I'm not gonna bore you with it. But dude, from Canada, amazing guy. Whatever. The guy was an offensive lineman. He started playing at West Virginia as an offensive lineman, transferred to Miami, and the guy literally swam a mile a day to shed weight to become a defensive edge. I mean his mom was a single mom of eight. The guy quit playing football because he didn't have a ride to football. My guy walked two miles a day in snow when he decided to play football again. Wow. Yeah. Amazing. Whatever. You know, I'm just stoked, as we've talked about in the show, we only had five picks going in in this draft. And Ortiz ended up trading back, trading back, doing this, doing that. And we had eight picks total. Love it. Like I sent to you last night, McDaniel, the kid from Mississippi State, the super fast wide receiver. McDaniels thinks he got his Tyreek Hill. He said, if you're not excited about this pick, then you're dead. I love it. The craziest thing about what I like undrafted free agent. You know, after the draft's over, you get to sign all these undrafted players. We got this dude, Tucker, from Western Michigan. And that's where, remember, our defensive coordinator just came from. Uh he led the country in sacks and tackles for a loss. Undrafted. Love that. But, you know, like I said, we ain't going into grades and this and that. I'm excited about it. We just need help the health factor. Uh I don't know. I'm excited about everything. Something we forgot to bring up. Homeboy from Notre Dame. The running back. I just got taken third. Uh most money guaranteed ever by a running back. Anaheim just scored. Wow. Winner in overtime. Wow. Wow. Up three games to one.
GrahamOh, wait, they're still standing around like it didn't count.
ScottYeah. What's going on? Oh, they're most ever guaranteed money for a running back?
GrahamYeah, what's it? 53 million?
ScottYeah. Dude hadn't played a snap.
GrahamBro, all guaranteed, that just helps the running back market because now the franchise tag money for him just went.
ScottAnd let's don't forget this. His teammate from Notre Dame, taken late in the first round draft. I don't even know the dude's name. First player to ever be taken in the first round that never started a game.
GrahamI mean, if that's not the stat of the night, I don't know what it is. I mean I just I I really don't.
ScottMake it make sense. What are they calling goaltender interference? What are they doing?
GrahamI he kicked it. It went underneath.
ScottOh no, it's final. It's over. Wow. Let's go, ducks. Wow.
GrahamAnaheim leads 3-1. What?
ScottInsane. Oh, we had an early what and a late what? Turned down for what? The goalie came. Edmonton. Hey, what I tell you, Cassidy gonna be the new head coach for the Oilers.
GrahamYeah.
Steelers Draft Haul And Fits
ScottIt's happening. Write it down, take a picture. I don't give a fuck. There's a second reference of Friday. Uh Graham, we're an hour into this. We got. Oh, there's still a view in it, though. I don't know. Did the whole puck cross the line?
GrahamYeah. Yeah, we're an hour into this, and uh, I mean, I would like to take a minute at least to talk about my Steelers. We talked about that earlier. Some of the other picks. I mean, we got gold over here, bro. Black and gold. You know, for one, amazing attendance that showed up. I like how Pat McAfee brought up uh, you know, on a show, and I think he even said it on day two when he made a pick for the Colts. Pretty amazing. What? 400,000 people, no fights. I mean, all that drunkenness. That's pretty exciting. But great spectacle. I thought it was awesome to watch. I'm happy. Look, I'm happy with the picks. Was I bummed we didn't get Mikhail Lemon? Yes. But we got a nice offensive tackle. He's not raw, he's proven, but he has huge upside. I like the guy coming out of Arizona State. We traded up about eight or nine picks, and we picked up Bernard from Alabama, the wide receiver. I really like it. I've been seeing a lot of been watching a lot of things about him after the fact, and I mean who they're comparing him to. I mean, a little bit of Debo, a little bit of Jarvis Landry. Uh he's a stealer. He likes to block. He had five drops in college. I mean, is that any good? Uh, so I really like that kind of a shocker pick for us in the third move. We take Drew Aller out of Penn State.
ScottAnd just for everybody out there, uh not patting my own back, but who called that?
GrahamYou and a lot of other people, all right. This guy. You know, some of the other signings I like. You know, we picked up the dude from Iowa in the third round, because we had three third round picks, right? Uh, Jennings Dunker, the dude with the mullet, he looks like a beast. He was killing it at the senior bowl. We need a guard, so that's awesome.
ScottHe is a beast. He is a beast. Not only does he have a mullet, not only does he have a mullet, but he's a ginger with a mullet. He is a beast, he's solid.
GrahamUm, you know, we uh we picked up uh Riley, 18 syllables, last name, pol Polish guy, Noah Kowski, the fullback. He looks good. Um, and then look, we just got a couple other playmakers. We took the other kid from Iowa. He's more, he'll be special teams. Like his stats in college for his punt returns and kick returns were just insane. So we got playmakers. Look, when you look at my team, the people that we picked, it kind of seems wonky, but I like the additions to what they can bring to the team, and I'm just excited to see what happens. Look, where the Steelers roster was, we're not adding everybody, right? We only have a few spots that we're actually gonna add them to the 53-man roster, but oh, it's a goal.
ScottIt's a goal.
GrahamI really think that four or five of these guys could be plug and play. You know, our first rounder, our second rounder, Drew Rowler. I mean, look, he's gonna compete with Howard. I mean, who knows what's going on with the Aaron Rodgers situation? Um, and then some of those other guys, you know, Dunker, like I was saying, playing guard. So we have some pieces that could be plug and play. So I'm really excited about that. So that's pretty much what we got for the draft. Uh, I mean, I have two quick points, one super quick point. Uh it was made official, I don't, I think the other day, but he was live or interviewed live tonight on NBC Sports because NBC does the NBA now for the you know for the season. Uh former coach Mike Tomlin is now the new commentator on Sunday night or football in America, Sunday night football. How insane is that?
ScottYeah, that's all that's old enough.
GrahamIt's old enough, but I'm just it was his first actual interview, him being on camera. And also they were saying, Did you know that they're gonna do every game on the road now? Not from the studio.
Broadcast News And Vrabel Rumors
ScottYeah, they should. Right? That's cool.
GrahamI agree. I agree. Um, and then one last thing, I mean, we could talk about this next week, but Mike Fabral, like, what happened, bro?
ScottOh, dude.
GrahamYeah, we can get into that next week because that that story is gonna keep going. I'm just saying let's we'll tease it for next week. But from what had happened with just the little reports that came out before to everything that's been coming out recently, what the hell? Oh my god. Damn. Right now, game one, is he the head football coach?
ScottI'm just gonna go out on a limb. And I'm gonna say no.
GrahamI I mean, look, there's enough evidence that could back that statement.
ScottI how do you dude going back to whatever when he was with the Titans and this chick tweets out Brady's not on the Titans list? They're going all in on what's the name, the quarterback. I can't even think of his name, old dude from Miami. I can't think of him. I who played quarterback with the Titans. Tannehill. And the first comment after her tweet was, Are you sleeping with Vrabel? How do you know this? Yeah, I I just and not only that, my girl named her first child Michael.
GrahamI mean, if you want to talk about inside information, dude, I don't know. I it's insane. You know, it's funny. He uh before the draft of day two, Goodell was on and they were talking with someone, and that was brought up, and Goodell was like, This is not a league issue. I'm like, how is this not a league issue?
ScottExactly. Exactly. How? How is it not?
GrahamLike, what? When I heard that, I was like, well, hold on, let me rewind and make sure you said that correctly. Well, what? Yeah. I don't know.
ScottI don't know. Anyhow, Graham, get us out of here, Vrabel. I don't even know what to say. Uh I'm just glad my my Chargers didn't hire you.
GrahamUh I just and it took him to the Super Bowl last year. I mean, could you imagine if he would have won and then they would have had to fire him? That's insane. Oh my god, insane. Anyway, Scott, great time, wonderful episode. Look forward to the next one. And hey, brother, as the best homie always says, Boo-bye.
ScottGood night, friends. Good night, Vrabel. I don't even know what to say to you right now. Except for I hope it was worth it. I hope you got some motor boat and shit with Diana. If not, you're done. But you're done regardless. So, Graham, I love you. I love our show. Bubba.