REAL TALK! with Doc and Marlon
Doc and Marlon bring you the best takes from all of sports. #REALTALK #THATSRIGHTBROTHA
REAL TALK! with Doc and Marlon
March Madness Predictions: Upsets, Snubs, Doc Mock 22-32 & More w/ @BigAnt5432
We dive deep into March Madness bracketology, breaking down tournament snubs, bracket analysis, and championship predictions with special guest Big Ant. The committee's questionable decisions like placing Michigan below Wisconsin despite head-to-head results and Louisville's surprising eight-seed placement spark heated debate.
• Region-by-region analysis reveals Duke, Florida, Auburn, and Tennessee as our Final Four picks
• Compelling upset predictions including Yale over Texas A&M and Drake over Missouri
• Cooper Flagg's injury status could impact Duke's championship hopes
• NFL Draft discussion focuses on the Giants' options at pick #3, with Travis Hunter emerging as a potential selection
• Yankees offseason moves examined, including Gerrit Cole's contract situation and Juan Soto's departure
• Team outlooks for the Cowboys, Falcons, Vikings, and 49ers heading into the new NFL season
Listen on all major podcast platforms and follow us for more sports talk that doesn't hold back.
And welcome everybody to another episode of Real Talk. Doc, how you doing today, man?
Speaker 2:I'm doing fine, brother Blessed, I'm amped about today's show man. You know, I got my buddy Big Ant coming on Northeasterner. Let's do it, baby Yukon's finest.
Speaker 1:Absolutely how you doing. Ant Good guys, hey Doc, hey Marlon, thanks for having me on. All right, a little life, as Mad Dog would say. A little Doc, hey Marlon. We're recording this on Monday and we had some snubs, we had some seating issues and all that stuff. So get it off your chest is one of my favorite segments that we have on the show. So, doc, without further ado, the floor is yours.
Speaker 2:I think it's an absolute disgrace that the committee, you know, did what they did. It's not like they're, they act like they're not watching the games. Man, michigan beat Wisconsin, you know, and lo and behold, the next day Wisconsin's a five seed and Wisconsin's a three seed. How can you put a team below a team you just beat, you know, and not really a big team fan, but it goes noted, man, that competition head to head should mean a lot. I think the committee not only messed that up, but they messed up Louisville. Louisville should not be an eight seed man. They went 18-2 in the vaunted ACC, although they lost to Duke but who doesn't lose to Duke? You put them in an eight seed. You know Louisville's had a great year and it's one of those things where it's just those two snubs alone. I know the Tar Heels, north Carolina, chaz's North Carolina team. They only had one quad win. For those people in the audience that don't know what quad is, that's high-level competition and North Carolina had one quad win but they were undefeated in a two-quad win, which is a step below, like mid-major. Yet they got in over a team like West Virginia whose main star was hurt. So that's a big thing, but the big thing for me, man, the committee does this every year.
Speaker 2:This was egregious, you know, relative to Michigan getting the fifth seed and being two spots below Wisconsin, who Michigan just beat just yesterday. And of course I just mentioned the awful mention of Louisville, who's 18-2. They're better than the eighth seed man. They need to get off their ass and watch the games, you know. And one of the committee members, the main one, he's uh 80 in north carolina. So it begs the question did he have something under the table? Big ant and marlin be, given that north carolina uh made the tournament, maybe a hundred thousand dollar bonus, you know, allegedly left the room, but you know he gave a little wink to put the Tar Heels in there and the Tar Heels are a brand, but they're not my chance really. So there are a lot of people in this team. You know good basketball, fair basketball, other teams you know that deserve, if you will, getting in it and not no BS going around. That's it.
Speaker 3:Antonio Antonio will getting in it and not no, no, no bs going around, that's it, antonio. So I agree with most of what you said, doc. Um, you know, chad wicks, uh, unc cargills have no business being in the tournament right, I think our friend adam shine, uh, it just has a big ACC bias. You know his historically. You know ACC team Syracuse, yeah, wink, wink. But that kind of goes to your Louisville thing though, and I'm going to disagree with you on Louisville a little bit.
Speaker 2:Okay.
Speaker 3:They had a great season, especially with their coach. This is their first year, his first year there, so for his first season there he's definitely improved the team, but the ACC has just been so weak. I did not see them having four teams in here. You were going to get three, because Clemson deserves to be in there for sure and Louisville deserves to be in there for sure, but I don't have a problem with their seeding. To be honest with you, their best win, I think, was probably Clemson.
Speaker 2:You know, again.
Speaker 3:they're a good team, but they're not beating Auburn or any of the SEC teams. They didn't really have to face any great competition. In my mind, and you know, they obviously lost to Duke. Like you said, Everybody lost to Duke pretty much in the ACC, for sure. But I just think the ACC is so weak that I'm okay with them getting a little bit of a let's call it a snub with their seed line.
Speaker 2:You know what about Michigan? Big Ant, you got to have an opinion on that. That's a great decision. Yeah.
Speaker 3:So the thing that I'm thinking of with that is, yeah, the fact that Michigan beat Wisconsin is kind of like one of those straight-up things you should be like all right. Well, you know they should be ahead of them and I would probably be. I'm okay with the argument there, but the way Wisconsin has beat some of these teams, like UCLA if you watch that game you know they handled their ass.
Speaker 3:So I do think Wisconsin's overall body of work is a better team than Michigan. But you know recency bias, you know you saw Michigan just now beat them, so you know you kind of have both ways of thinking about it. I do think body of work, though, wisconsin and you know skill-wise talent are a better team than Michigan overall.
Speaker 2:Right on brother Right on.
Speaker 1:Absolutely All right. So really quick, I want to see and I know you guys have your brackets out right now so if we wanted to look at each region, so right now we can look at the South. We were just talking about Michigan, so obviously, if that's one, I want to ask what pick, what seed do you love, what do you hate? Just something about each region right now. So, south Doc, I'll go ahead and start with you. So, looking at the South region, what's one thing that you love and what's one thing that you hate?
Speaker 2:Well, I love Coach Izzo at Michigan State. Even though I lost to Big Ten in a conference, I like what he brings to the table Defensively. They're a rugged team and you can't never count out Coach Izzo in the NCAA tournament. I mean, I'm going way back to managing. They've had McKean Cleaves, they've had a lot of other great players.
Speaker 2:Auburn you know Bruce Pearl, he usually blows up. They had a talented team that was number one for most of the year. I could see them losing to Louisville the aforementioned Louisville, if Auburn doesn't bring it. I love Jani Broome, you know, possibly the player of the year he should be, you know. But Auburn lost on the last second shot to Alabama in a crucial contest and then they got smacked down, you know, recently against Florida. They've lost to Tennessee, I think. So you know there's questions relative to when they come to the big spotlight, even though they have a superstar player. But I love Michigan State and Bruce Pearl does concern me in a big spot. Also, texas A&M Keep an eye on them, man, you know they're one of those things where they can do some damage, even though I got them losing to Michigan. But A&M is tall and length and all that. And how about Mark B Kelly's Iowa State in the South? I don't expect them to do much, but it goes to note that they made it out of the Big 12. That's it.
Speaker 1:All right, big Ed, one thing that you love, one thing that you hate in the South region.
Speaker 3:So just the South region. I mean, you talked about Texas A&M. There I'm taking Yale. My bad, I'm taking Yale. Wow, wow, I really think you go ahead, big Ed Go Continue, I think so I, I think, you know, I think this is a rematch from last year, if, if I'm not mistaken. So, uh, you know y'all, y'all might have a lot of tape, uh, on the aggies there. Um, I'd love to say that you know the big east, you know crate in there against louisville. I think that's going to be a great game.
Speaker 3:It's in Louisville so it must be nice as much as the Louisville could complain about and folks complain about the seed line. They're playing a home game there Creighton, I guess not too far away in Omaha, but I think Louisville got that game. Creighton, historically, I think, doesn't really perform well in the tournament, so we'll see how that goes.
Speaker 3:They almost lost to DePaul in the Big East tournament so they had a double overtime game there, which was exciting, and you know what are you going to do. But yeah, I have Yale. I'd love to say Marquette too. Uh, just being a big east guy is gonna go you know far, but I got, I got the lobos there. Man, I like new mexico in that game too. I think both big east teams actually go down in the first round out of the south region and mark bicali can be happy. I do not have Lipscomb upsetting the Cyclones. I do not.
Speaker 1:I just checked my watch. That's right, brother. Good job, all right. Looking at the East Big Ant, we're going to stick with you. Obviously, you got Duke in there, oregon, you know, bama. So tell me what you love, what you hate. How are you feeling about the East?
Speaker 3:Yeah, I mean, I think Duke is just going to run away with this. It doesn't really matter who they're going to face. I think Alabama, they deserve a two-seed Great team, but that Nate Oates team great coach, but all offense, if you can defend them in any capacity, you've got a good chance to win. Uconn handled them pretty well last year too, so I like that. The Grizz, our favorite lawyer. Does he even know that Montana has a basketball team?
Speaker 1:I don't think so. He just knows Broncos and that's it. That's all he knows. Yeah, he might not be aware that that program exists.
Speaker 3:But hey, the big sky man.
Speaker 1:Big shout-out to Tim in Montana. We'll get him on the show soon. Tim in Montana, big Broncos fan. I don't know what other teams he likes, but big Broncos fan.
Speaker 3:Yeah, so I like VCU. I like VCU. I think that Oregon-Liberty game is actually going to be close. I think Oregon's a little bit of a fraudulent team Just I haven't watched too much of them but the new teams with the new conference there, I don't like the Big Ten either. So I think Liberty has a shot. I really do. So I think Liberty has a shot. I really do.
Speaker 2:But overall, the East is definitely going to be owned by the Blue Devils.
Speaker 3:Yeah, yeah, that's a very good point, big Ant. Good response man, wisconsin could get them. Wisconsin could get them. That's the only threat in my opinion. But you know, we'll see how it shakes out, but I do think dude could will be wisconsin if it comes to that yeah, absolutely man.
Speaker 2:The east at marlin and big ant is. There's a lot of intriguing stories here. Arizona with caleb love, a former tar heel that played in the uh championship game two years ago. He's with arizona now, you know, know, you wonder if Arizona's going to show up big. But BYU, you know BYU. What I like about BYU is nobody's really talking about them. They're big. They got shooters out there in BYU. It's one of those things where the Cougars a Mormon school, if you will, they can sneak in there and do some damage. Man Big admission mentioned Alabama. You know I like the skill set you know at the guard position, especially with Phylon, you know.
Speaker 1:And the other cat.
Speaker 2:But defensively they're a mess. And the coach there, nate Odom, has blown a couple of games, especially against Tennessee. And then you can bring up the Texas A&M game. But he did rebound and beat Auburn on the last second shot by a star guard. But you know you worry about Alabama defensively. But BYU I'm on record man, you know those shooters, they can do some things, man. And when you talk about BYU you think about Danny Ainge in the late 70s, early 80s at BYU, but also Vanderbilt. People don't think Vanderbilt belongs and I think Vanderbilt they're going to have a good show. 14 teams made the tournament out of the Southeastern Conference. That's a sick number. But Duke's going to handle that thing as a whole in the East, no question about it, marlon.
Speaker 1:All right, and then we're going to go ahead and go to the West. So we have obviously Florida in one seed, the big-ass UConn Huskies at number eight, memphis at five, texas Tech at three, st John at two. So, doc, we're going to stick it with you. What do you think about the West region?
Speaker 2:I think Florida is the team to beat in the West man, obviously because I think they should have been the number one overall seed. And it's hard for me to say that, being a Georgia fan, but Big Ant knows St John, he's a Big East guy, St John's. If they play their absolute best I might give Florida a fight in the long run, but St John's just doesn't have enough offensively to test Florida. It's just a tournament. Crazy things do happen, gentlemen.
Speaker 2:I think St John's, patino's second year, is a big-time story. You got UConn, but they're going to get blasted by Florida. Uconn will win their first game. I'm sorry, big Ant, two-time champs, but the Gators just are it. You know, what I hate is Arkansas. I really don't know how Arkansas make it. I love Calipari. Arkansas is as bad as the moon is great, you know. So I don't know, but you got some of the coaches in this region. You know the Florida and their new coach. But Calipari at Arkansas, patino at St John's that storyline in and of itself. But ultimately Florida's going to handle their business. You know what I'm saying.
Speaker 1:All right, and.
Speaker 3:The firepower they got. Clayton, martin, richard, just all those dudes. They're the real deal, doc, I'm not going to lie, I'm a little scared as a UConn fan but I'm going to put my UConn hat on for a second.
Speaker 3:So my hat is on. They're going to either lose the first game or win the whole thing. This team is just so up and down. This team beat great teams and lost to the dredges of you know. Recently we talked about you know what is it West Virginia. People say, oh you know, the Chadwicks of the world will be like oh yeah, west Virginia lost to Colorado. Guess who else lost to Colorado? The UConn Huskies. They lost to Seton Hall too. So they're losing to these quad three, quad four, quad 19 teams too.
Speaker 3:But you know they're so streaky. The thing that scares me the most about UConn, especially going up against an SEC team, is they're terrible on defense. So that's going to be a major problem facing Oklahoma. So just keep that in mind. You know they want back-to-back championship, but when you start, you know, throwing some real money on you know these games, just keep that in mind. And Ken Palm, they're like, I think, over 100, rank over 100 in defense. So offense great, offense, great, offense, great. But Florida is going to be a tough out, no matter what. I want to talk about Drake for a minute.
Speaker 3:I like them.
Speaker 3:They only lost three times this season Now yes they're in a weak conference the Missouri Valley but look up this dude, bennett Sturtz. This dude is the real deal, star player, star player, good player. So I like Drake St John's. I agree with you you know Doggie had this point today too about the Big East being a little bit weaker than usual. They faced a lot of weak teams early in their conference season and I wasn't a believer until they started beating the Marquettes, the Yukcons, all the better Big East teams. They handled them well. So I doubted them and now I'm a believer. So I do think St John's has what it takes to get to at least the Elite Eight. But when they're starting to face, you know, some more stiffer competition it might be difficult.
Speaker 2:That's fair Right on brother. All right, I love it I love it All right.
Speaker 1:Going now to the Midwest, Ant, we're going to go ahead and stick with you. Obviously, Houston, the powerhouse, they are at number one. You know you have Tennessee, UCLA, Kentucky, a lot of great teams in there. So what are you thinking about the Midwest?
Speaker 3:Well, I always want to like Tennessee, you know I like their football, but not so much, you know, I'm like Chad in that way, where I, you know, like different sports, different schools.
Speaker 3:But, UConn doesn't really have a football program to speak of, so that's my excuse there. But you know I can't take it. I'm kind of, like you know, shine a little bit here. You know, like you know, rick Barnes' team is very difficult in the tournament, kind of like Bill Self a little bit, even though he did get it done. You know, purdue's not the same as last year, gonzaga I don't think it's the same as last year. Bulldog, bulldog game, doc.
Speaker 1:I like your.
Speaker 3:Bulldogs in that game, so I don't know if that's good or bad for you.
Speaker 2:If I like them, it's probably bad.
Speaker 3:But yeah, Mike and OC, my man, he's upset that UCLA is on that seven line. I think they could get beat too. So this is kind of a. I think this, the Midwest, is kind of the hardest for me to pick, because I kind of like Clemson, I like Houston. They're really good, but they never really put it together. You've got the same kind of storyline with Tennessee too Illinois great last year, Lost a lot of players, but still kind of in the mix. This one is the most difficult for me to figure out.
Speaker 2:I agree with you, big Ant. That's a very good point. I'm glad you brought my Georgia Bulldogs team up because Mike White is in his second year and he's trying to build his thing, where they're a perennial power at a football school I think Mark Furyk and Zach and I love them, but there's no pressure on them and so they're kind of a dangerous team with not the pressure. But I think my Bulldogs and I am happy about this Marlon and Big Ed that they can win one, I think, in playing the best ball remember this is a team that beat Florida in Athens, georgia, so they know how to win a big spot, you know, against a great team and I'm not calling Gonzaga a great team, but you know it goes. Noted that I am happy that the Bulldogs are there.
Speaker 2:You mentioned Tennessee, big Ed. I think Tennessee's length, the guard, plays a little shaky, you know. But Tennessee has some wins this year that you'd be like man, they're awesome, they got length, you know, and you know, even though the coach there, barnes, has failed miserably in the tournament, I think Tennessee might make some noise if everything falls right. You know they have that kind of team, remember they're in a rugged SEC but ultimately Houston. You know, with Kelvin Sampson, if they had DeMar Sheard last year they would have won it all, but Sheard got hurt. This is Kelvin Sampson's arguably best team, the University of Houston. And this is when you talk history, you think Fire Slam or Jammer with Drexler and Larry Michaud and Olajuwon. But this is a different era. You know the name fact, the brand Houston Cougars. I'd like Kelvin Sampson to win this region. You know it would take a yeoman's effort for Georgia, after getting by Gonzaga, to shock the world and beat Houston. I'm not even going there, you know, because we just don't have enough in Athens.
Speaker 3:But yeah, I agree with you about Sampson though. Yeah, I want to pick Houston, I really do. You know their guards are top-notch and you've got to remember they, you know, moved I think it was last year to the Big 12. So it's not like they're not battle-tested. They had a stiff competition in the conference play, so it's not like they're playing those American conference teams anymore. You know they're playing the big boys. So, yeah, I'm liking them more and more as we talk here, Doc.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's a good point, brother, and I'm glad you brought that up too, because I like Sanchez too. But what I hate is Kentucky. You know Kentucky. They've been underachieving. They've got these five-star, one-and-done guys. They've got a guy that's going to be in the top half of the draft, maybe five or ten, and I don't know the new coach there. He's trying to build a coach there after Calipari got blown out. But Kentucky to me, if you had to pick one team that had some shocking upset, losing to little people when they shouldn't lose, it's Kentucky man. So we'll see what they do if they perform up to par. But you can make the argument that they should not even have made the tournament in and of itself, but they are named, so you have to get them in there.
Speaker 3:So yeah, there, you go right there. Go ahead, doc. You know that school tried to get my guy Hurley, you know, along with the Lakers. So you know I haven't forgotten about that. You know Mark Pope got the job Definitely a downgrade from Danny Hurley, but a huge downgrade. But you know we'll see how that goes, you know um, just uh. Yeah, I agree with you kentucky's a name, kentucky's a name.
Speaker 1:We're dealing with jj reddick right now, but yeah, definitely would have loved some uh dan hurley with the lakers. So, um, all right. So, looking at the uh, the first round that we have, we obviously starts on, um, uh, thursday and friday. So, looking at the first round, what's some first round upsets that you guys have? And I think we'll start with you. You gave us, I believe, one I forget who it was, but you gave us one but what are some first round upsets you may have?
Speaker 3:all right. So I I love drake. So out of the west, you know, against Missouri, just because I've seen Bennett's third. I've watched way too much of this Missouri Valley so I'm biased just because I've seen. I don't know why, but I've just seen enough of their games. I like that guy a lot. So we're going to go with 11 Drake over six Mizzou. Okay, going up to the South, I mentioned Yale. I like Yale. That's kind of an out there one. But we'll see how that goes. The Ivy League has done some stuff in the tournament before. If you remember Princeton, they had a little thing going recently. So we'll see. Let's see what else did I like there. Let's move over to the other side.
Speaker 3:Liberty has a chance, but I don't think I'm going to go there with Oregon Liberty. I think I'm going to stay away from that, like VCU. So another 6-11 against BYU Doc's the other way. He likes the Mormons out there. But I'm going with Virginia Commonwealth there. Well, if you count Georgia, I mean they're at 90. I probably wouldn't consider that too much of an upset. But as far as seeding goes, sure, I'm going to take your Bulldogs. You're a Bulldog, Doc.
Speaker 2:Thanks.
Speaker 1:I like that, ed, I like that.
Speaker 2:Yeah, good response, brother. The upset has happened every year. You've seen six teams beat a one. I think Shacheski got upset at commercial one year. But for me, brother, if there had to be an upset, I think Louisville can shock Auburn. You know, I really do. Auburn's lost three out of four. They let the foot off the gas a little bit after wrapping everything up in the regular season. I think Louisville could do that.
Speaker 2:Clemson you know, I got Clemson beating McNeese State and then they'll beat Purdue If they get to Houston. Clemson is the kind of team that even though they love Samson, they're a dangerous team man. They can upset Houston on a good night, you know, I just think that. You know, it's one of those things where Houston has to play every game. They don't have the unusual signs, they have their chemistry. But you know, keep an eye on Clemson.
Speaker 2:I mentioned Caleb Love at Arizona. I don't know if beating Oregon would be an upset, but I really didn't watch Oregon this year. Arizona let me down against BYU. They've had some meltdowns. That's a game to keep an eye on, oregon and Arizona. Maybe Oregon wins with that. Vanderbilt-alabama is interesting because they play each other in the Southeastern Conference and Vanderbilt's the type of team that can shock an Alabama team that's underperformed. I mentioned Nato. He's blown some games, man. You know a couple. In the last second A&M game sticks out Also the Tennessee game. When they use a timeout, vanderbilt. If they shoot the lights out like they have sometimes, keeping an eye on that Vanderbilt-Alabama, that might be a thing. Yeah, you know what I'm saying.
Speaker 1:So that's a body out. I love it All. Right, big M. Before we go ahead and get into some Yankees and Giants, talk your final four predictions.
Speaker 3:Your final four predictions. And who do you have winning the tournament? Well, if UConn's in there, they're winning the championship. According to my bracket, every time it's automatic. There's no variance. And I've got to say they've had enough times, like when they were the seventh seed against the Kentuckyentucky eighth seed that season. You know, no one had them. Uh, they've had these surprise runs where, kind of out of nowhere um, obviously last year was not the case, that was not the case. A lot of people had them last year but yep, I don't think about you know, that's just automatic for me.
Speaker 1:So you know.
Speaker 3:As far as the Final Four goes, I honestly I'm going to be honest with you guys I have not filled out a bracket yet.
Speaker 1:I have not filled it out. Off the top of your head off the top of your head, as Dog would say. Your life is on the line, you know. You already know who you're picking out of one, so just go ahead and pick three more.
Speaker 3:It's simple.
Speaker 1:Okay, you got the bracket in front of you. Just do it. It's easy, man, it's simple, alright.
Speaker 2:I'll take Auburn.
Speaker 3:I'll take the Chiefs out of the South. We got the West with UConn Automatic. Out of the South. We got the West with UConn Automatic. Oh, you're trying to convince me on Clemson, doc, you know why, not Clemson out of the Midwest and then I'm going to go with Wisconsin out of the East. No, no, I said, duke, I said Duke already. I think it's going to come down to Wisconsin and Duke, but I'm going to take Duke. Okay, duke already.
Speaker 1:I think it's going to come down to Wisconsin and Duke, but I'm going to take Duke, okay, all right. Now, doc, did yours change or you still got the same four?
Speaker 2:I still got the same four man. I just love Janiah Broome at Auburn man. He reminds me of a young Marcus Jones. A smooth power game, got a little J, you know. But Bruce Pearl does bother me.
Speaker 3:So I got Auburn. He's another one like Rick Barnes.
Speaker 2:Yes, absolutely Good point, Big Ant, good observation. So I got Auburn, florida, duke and Tennessee. The only reason I got Tennessee is because their length man, you know, barnes, this is a team that he has to win with. You know, I know the guard play has been shaky, but I think they can get by Kentucky and all that and they're part of the bracket. They'll blow out UCLA and I hate that. Mike's probably listening, but I think Tennessee has what it is, just to get there to the lead eight and then, you know, take it from there to the Elite Eight. And then, you know, take it from there. You know, so it bothers me though with Tennessee.
Speaker 3:Though I'm sorry, I meant to interrupt.
Speaker 2:Yeah, go ahead, go ahead but last year.
Speaker 3:You know they had that dude that was on the Lakers that they thought they were going to. What's his name?
Speaker 2:Oh yeah.
Speaker 3:Don't.
Speaker 2:Connect, don't Connect.
Speaker 2:Like last year was supposed to be their year, so it's like we say it every year you know, yeah, I just have a difficult time with tennessee, but yeah, I got him I got him in my final four, which means they're going to shock houston, you know, and, and, and and. That being said, you know I'm putting it on the line a southeastern conference battle-tested team. It's easy to pick four ones. I got three ones and a two. Tennessee is a two for a reason. And then Florida and Duke and the championship game fellas, with Duke winning, assuming Bragg, I mean, you know, the freshman starts playing like he's doing after the injury. Should he sit out? Let me ask you guys this Should he sit out the first weekend, especially the first game, just to make sure that ankle is right?
Speaker 2:Because if that thing, flares up Cooper yeah, Cooper Flack yeah.
Speaker 1:I mean, they don't need him. They don't need him, but go ahead. Ant.
Speaker 3:I'm not a proponent of that. I think he should play Okay. It just kind of shows up your opponent. I don't think Duke is in danger of losing, but I just I get why people are saying that and I understand it. However, I just I don't like the look of it and I don't think being in a competitive tournament to start out kind of like that, with that mentality, is a good idea.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I see your point there.
Speaker 3:We got this, we don't even need him. You know, I don't think that's the right mindset to be in.
Speaker 2:Well, that's a good point, but there's a lot of variables now, because now you got his parents and now you got the agent in his ear. It didn't used to be like Big Ant Marlin Players played because the coach said you're going to play now, you got the kids, future, you know the nba back into the first pick. So all that variables coming in. Suppose he plays six minutes in the first half to get his legs right and six minutes in the second half. The old man on esp and I forget his name mentioned that so he could be good to go later in the weekend. They won the ACC tournament without him. So it's one of those things that's going to be interesting.
Speaker 1:So this is my thought on that. Let's say, for instance, because you always have to play that, okay, well, let's just go ahead and play him. We think Kevin Durant, when he had the sore calf dude, pops his Achilles in the finals. You know, you just never know it's, it's, you just never know how bad it could get. So in this first round they definitely don't need him. But if he wants to go out there and maybe in warm-ups, go ahead and go out there and warm-ups, that's fine. But we don't need you, go ahead and rest, and we need you down the stretch. That's the last thing we need is for you to be you and just drive, do what you do and mess around and mess it up again. And now we're screwed if we get to the Elite Eight or whatever the case is.
Speaker 2:That's a good point.
Speaker 1:If I'm a coach, I just know how some of these injuries are. If you're 60%, I'd rather have you sit and wait and then at that point, once you get to about maybe 75%, 80%, then okay, go ahead and push it if we need you. But we don't need you for this first round, we don't need you, yeah.
Speaker 3:Well, can I tell you a quick story, marlon, go ahead. So when I first moved down here, I went to the games in Greensboro. This was in 2012,. Okay, duke was a two-seed Greensboro this was in 2012. Duke was a two-seed. So I went up to the games in Greensboro Duke's a two-seed and I knew I wasn't going to be going to the next session when Duke would play At halftime. This is when you had paper tickets. Still, I sold my tickets to a Duke fan because they're a two-seed. They're going to advance, obviously. Well, they ran into Lehigh and CJ McCollum and lost.
Speaker 3:So, I was happy I sold my tickets to some Dookie Pukie fan, but that definitely isn't going to the game anymore. But just don't. I know it's far-fetched, you know American you know, or the other team that could get there. I get it, I just.
Speaker 2:St Mary's, st Mary's, you know, that was another 215.
Speaker 3:You know, it's just I know what you're saying. We've seen it happen and that's with Coach K. You know, is John Shire really going to? But you make a good point, marlon, with the percentages, kind of like what you said. Like if he's 60% I think he should not play. Yeah, and you just don't want that.
Speaker 1:I'll agree with you on it looked bad and so.
Speaker 3:It looks worse than it is.
Speaker 1:Yeah yeah, and even though he's young, he'll be fine, he'll heal up and all that stuff, but it happened. What was it about less than a week ago?
Speaker 2:Yeah, Thursday yeah.
Speaker 1:I just I don't know that. I feel comfortable with just pushing him out there and as a kid he's going to want to play. This is probably the biggest you know tournament he may ever play in his life. Whatever, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. He's going to want to play, but at the end of the day, I need you down the road. I know you're not a LeBron guy, ant, but obviously now I don't mean to bring up the Lakers in this, but LeBron, we don't need LeBron necessarily right now, but we're going to need him in the playoffs, so it's like we need it.
Speaker 3:They brought him to the Mets, bro.
Speaker 2:They need LeBron.
Speaker 3:I'm paying, I'm watching you. I'm watching you, man, yeah.
Speaker 1:But all right, so we'll go ahead and switch Lose to the Hornets. Come on now. I'm watching you. It's bad in Lakers' name. We're falling down like no other.
Speaker 3:But anyways all right.
Speaker 1:So, ant, before you know you want to laugh about me, I'll laugh about you Kind of sort of not really, but with the Yankees right now. So how are you feeling? Obviously, you guys had a great offseason up until about a week or so ago. You know going forward and you know kind of getting prepared to hopefully see the Dodgers in the World Series. So how are you feeling right now? And what's next for your Yankees, going forward as the season gets ready to start?
Speaker 3:How are you feeling right now and what's next for your Yankees going forward as the season gets ready to start? You know I was obviously upset that Cole got hurt and he opted out of his contract initially. Then two days later they kind of pretended like that never happened and kind of like he opted in as if with the Yankees, pretended like that never happened and kind of like he opted in as if with the Yankees. So I'm glad he's.
Speaker 3:you know he was looking for a payday and you know he realized that, oh, I'm getting paid enough and you know they worked themselves out. But with the injury, you know, upsetting, but it's like I don't know how to. It's like just more of the same with the Yankees, like my expectation level, I expect to be disappointed at this point, like with Aaron Boone and just the makeup of this team. You know, I'm glad they signed Max Fried you know your guy Doc that's good, I like him.
Speaker 3:You know I guy Doc, that's good, I like him. You know I'm okay with Soto moving on. I think just the way he went down with the Mets, you know, oh, wow, they gave him a sweet, so okay, whatever, you know, enjoy Grimace and Hoctua and all that bullshit. You know what I mean. Like good luck over there, mets dancers and all that foolishness. Like okay, you know he was looking for green. You know Sean is correct in that area.
Speaker 3:But yeah, it's difficult to get so amped or so low about this team because you know they've got the firepower, they've still got Judge, they've got some better pitching. I don't know what they're going to do with their closer, because we don't really got one in my opinion, but you know they could run the World Series this year from all I know, without Cole that would be very Yankees of them kind of like you know, when all things are stacked against them, then they'll, you know, win.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I got a lot of mixed feelings, as you can tell. I'm kind of all over the place, but I'm not confident that Aaron Boone is ever going to win a World Series. Brian Cashman has been there like 98 years.
Speaker 3:No GM has ever lasted this long. So I just I fault Hal Steinbrenner the most out of everybody, though that's something that I think. I don't think Shine or any of the Yankee guys mentioned enough. This guy is, in my opinion, like Jerry Jones. He wants a great team on the field. He wants to win games. He doesn't really care about winning the championship that's my opinion. Maybe he does, but he's a businessman. He's still getting a lot of money from this team. He's making a lot of money. Ticket prices are crazy. We pay them. I just think he's nothing like his father, Nothing. So I guess this counts as my rant, since I'm going after Hal here. But he's a businessman and he's said as much. So he's doing what he has to do to just make us happy enough to have that hope and win and that fire, and we can do this, but just can't get it done, and I think he's okay with that. To be honest, that's kind of the sad part, in my opinion.
Speaker 2:That's a good dissertation, brother. You know, Marlon, before Big Ant leaves, we have to be remiss of Big Hockey guy. Two things, man.
Speaker 1:Who are?
Speaker 2:you picking in the finals in the NHL and number two your Giants pick. Number three, Big Ant, who you looking at? Shigeru Sanders.
Speaker 3:Travis Hunter. Look at Doc man Willie. Pleb baby, yeah, we talking hockey.
Speaker 2:Yes, let's go baby.
Speaker 3:We talking hockey with Marlon and Doc.
Speaker 1:That's why.
Speaker 3:I listen to this podcast every time you guys put it out for the hockey coverage Of course. Great, it's the best.
Speaker 1:Breaking down Ovechkin and all these other guys fighting USA, canada. That's what we do, big Ant.
Speaker 2:Yeah, right, yeah.
Speaker 3:Who are you picking in the finals?
Speaker 2:brother, yeah, your call.
Speaker 3:Were you guys into that at all.
Speaker 1:Oh, I was into it all day man. Absolutely All day. That's cool Watched every game.
Speaker 3:I know Marlon went to all the games, but hey, absolutely All day. That's cool. Watched every game. I know, Marlon went to all the games.
Speaker 1:But hey, doc, doc, doc, true story, true story. Ant bought me a.
Speaker 3:Dallas Stars hoodie. That was the only time I wore it, that's good he was getting a baby gift and I sent him a Dallas Stars hoodie.
Speaker 2:That's good stuff, baby. Willie Platt, lana, flann, me and the big aunt talk about that all the time, but it goes noted. The question stands, brother, who do you think is going to win the finals? Is your team going to be there? The two teams in the NHL finals right now? Your call.
Speaker 3:So I'll tell you, I'll kind of keep it high level here. So the Hurricanes definitely were the forefront of the trade deadline. The trade deadline has now passed.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 3:They got Mikko Rantanen for six weeks, and that includes the break, so really only a few games. They traded for. You know, he came from the Avalanche Chad's team. I gave him a lot of shit about that and then, right before the trade deadline, they traded him away because they found out after they got him that he didn't want to be there and he didn't want to sign a long-term extension. He would have been a rental. He's a free agent at the end of the season, so that ended up being. You know, the Hurricanes looked like horse's asses during this whole debacle. However, they've won every game since. So it's like I don't know which way is up with them. You know, when you think all the chips are down, they just go on some crazy win streak. So we'll see. So I'll say my final is the Dallas Stars. They have Igor Antrim.
Speaker 3:They got him. I don't know if Marlon knows that or not. They signed him to a long-term deal.
Speaker 1:Long-term baby.
Speaker 3:And they're looking great. The Dallas Stars are looking great.
Speaker 1:Phenomenal.
Speaker 3:So I'm going to take the Stars out of the West. I'll take my Canes out of the East, why not? I think, it's kind of up for grabs. The Capitals are in first position by a lot, but they're smoking mirrors. You've got Ovechkin. He's doing his thing, but I don't think they're going to be there in the end. So yeah, we'll go with the Canes.
Speaker 2:Oh, that's fair man. You mentioned Alex Ovechkin. Do you think he'll break the record, the all-time record, that the great one, wayne Gretzky set this season? A handful of games left. Your call, you're on the spot.
Speaker 3:If you asked me this a month ago, I would have been like, yeah, it's a lock, but you know, we still got time, we still got time. We got one month to go. I think he's got. I know he's down to single digits, but you know that is a tough ask. You know we're talking about we're getting down to almost the goal of the game now, so I'm going to say no at this point. But if you asked me a month ago, I would have said oh yeah, definitely.
Speaker 2:Yeah, Well, that's the thing, brother, from my end. Number three the Giants pick. Who are you taking your call? You're on the spot.
Speaker 1:Well, for one Doc, before you answer that are you open to Rodgers or Wilson? What are you thinking about that? And then, who do you think you're going to pick at number three?
Speaker 3:Do you want to hear who I think they'll go with or what I would do? What?
Speaker 2:you would do.
Speaker 3:All right, bring aaron rogers to give him whatever he wants and draft travis hunter and hope it's way back into the first round you know, probably later and get jackson dart. That would be my optimal scenario that's a good pick, man.
Speaker 2:Jackson Dard at Ole Miss, Arguably one of the stronger arms in the draft. I like them too. I watched them in the Southeastern Conference. Aaron Rodgers to me, man, he's just holding teams hostage. He, to me, is the head case, the head problem. Ego, he's in Malibu with the beach. You know these teams, like the Steelers and the Giants, want an answer and he's over there chilling. So it goes noted, man. You know Travis Hunter would be your pick from the draft, but you want Aaron Rodgers.
Speaker 3:Yeah, they can't. They've got to get a quarterback, you know one way or another. So I guess I would be fine if they drafted Travis Hunter without Rodgers.
Speaker 2:if they get Jackson, dart would be fine if they drafted Travis Hunter without Rodgers, if they get Jackson Dark.
Speaker 3:Yeah, right on brother.
Speaker 2:Where do you think Jackson Dark's going? Jackson Dark to me, if he goes to the Vikings at 24, that would be good for the Vikings because the kid's coming off in a severe injury. I know he can't divest two rookies if you will, because McCarthy will be a rookie, but they need something because the other boy is in Seattle. So if you're a Vikings fan you're desperately thinking, oh my God, if we don't get Rodgers, we got JJ McCarthy. They had 14 wins last year but you've got to have some stability if the kid gets hurt again. So Jackson Dark there. Otherwise the other teams above the Vikings, they all have quarterbacks, man, you know you know he's not going two or three.
Speaker 3:That makes me happy. Yeah, that makes me think that the Giants can execute my plan. You know, in theory. You know if you have Jackson Dart going towards the end of the first round, I think it's possible. Now, if they don't get Jackson Dart, if they don't get Shador at one, you know, we think Shador and Cam Ward are going one-two right.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 3:So if they don't get Jackson Dart and get somebody else, even if it's Travis Hunter at three, and they don't get Jackson Dart, I'm going to be pissed.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, brian Daybold, he's hanging on by a thread. So that's a good point, good response. Brother, you know this stuff. You know that's all for me for Big N. I know it's late back east Marlon.
Speaker 3:You know what I'm saying? We're going to do something different that has nothing to do with what I said.
Speaker 2:I'm going to be pissed off. Who do you?
Speaker 3:have going.
Speaker 2:Who do you have the Giants picking at three in the Doc Mock? Oh man.
Speaker 3:I got them taking Shadurah Sanders man, you think he's going to be available at three.
Speaker 2:Yeah, because the Browns to me. I got one of them, the Browns, picking Abdul-Khawd and one of my Mocs and Travis Hunter at two and another one. They got a lot of money tied up with your boy and he got hurt again. And you know, allegedly they're looking at another quarterback, maybe Russell Wilson. But you know they need players, they need people, they need people. You know, the only.
Speaker 3:New York player that I want to see Russell Wilson on is if he you, if he plays for a one-day contract because he technically got drafted by the New York Yankees. That's the only time I want to see Russell Wilson in a New York game.
Speaker 2:That's good brother, that's good. Yeah, that's all I got for Big Ant brother. This was a great one. If you have to go, I want to do my last part of the Doc Mock, if you want to stick around for Big Ant.
Speaker 1:You want to stick around for the rest of the episode, Ant.
Speaker 3:I will hold on and listen.
Speaker 2:Yes, you know I went through first one through 21 because I snuck the Steelers in that last episode. Marlon and Big.
Speaker 1:Ant, but in their last episode Marlon Yep, yep.
Speaker 2:But number 22,. I got Marlon's Chargers. Let's go Taking, yeah, emeka Abuka from Ohio State, a receiver, let's go. You got a young cat, you know, to go with Ladd-McConkie, even though you got Mike Williams back. You need a guy like Emeka Abuka who has 4'3 speed and you put Ladd in the slot because he's not a wide receiver one. I got the Chargers taking Emeka Ibuka at 22.
Speaker 2:Number 23, the Packers Big Josh Simmons, the big offensive tackle from Ohio State to protect Love. Love took a beating and I know they lost Brian Beluga or whatever and they struggled at that one tackle spot. So Josh Simmons at 23 goes to the Packers out of Ohio State. Number 24, we just talked about it, you know Jackson Dart. You know. But if they don't go there, derek Harmon, a big defensive tackle out of Oregon, would help out that front for the Vikings. You know, because you still got JJ McCarthy I'm just not so sure coming off a severe injury really. That's why I put Jackson Dart and mentioned it. But officially, derek Harmon, the big defensive tackle going to the Vikings at 24.
Speaker 2:Number 25, the Texans Big Kenneth Grant, you know, 6'4", 357, out of Michigan. The Texans need a big plugger in that division. You know, you got the big running back for the Colts. You know and you got. You know ETN and Jacksonville and they need people to play alongside Will Anderson. So I got Kenneth Grant he's massive on a mission going to the Texans. The coach is a defensive guy and an ex-linebacker.
Speaker 2:Number 26, the Rams you know Mike Young's Rams. I got them taking an offensive lineman. You know, let's see Jonah Savilea out of Arizona. You got to protect Stafford. That old line is one of those things where they're aging and all that. So you take a big Samoan kid out of Arizona, all-time 10 or something like that. I got him going to 26 for the Rams. Number 27, the Ravens you know, let's go offensive tackle for them. You know Josh Connolly Jr out of Oregon. You know, massive 6'6", 6'7", whatever the case may be, to protect and block for Lamar Jackson. You know, I know your boy Henry ran for two grand, but they're not getting any young on the O-line and you want to you know, try to keep your boy healthy.
Speaker 2:Lamar Jackson, I got him taking the Oregon big tackle. Number 28, the Lions this is a no-brainer. Fellas Hutchinson went out O'Hutch Edge. He's due back, but they need somebody on the other side. Man, I got them taking Mike Green Edge. Rush out of Marshall, who's a scouting combine. Phenom had 16 and a half sacks. Whatever the case may be, I know lower competition, but he has the quick pitch, if you will. Mike Green edge rusher goes to the Lions to help out Hutch 29, the Commanders Defense.
Speaker 2:I got them to take Tyleek Williams, a defensive lineman out of Ohio State, to help out because they lost. Was it Devon Payne or Allen that left in free agency? So they got to replace that defense. Tyleek Williams, defensive lineman, big, massive kid, 330 at Ohio State. Number 30, here go the Bills. Josh Allen you know Adam Schein loves those Bills. This is Clover in Texas.
Speaker 2:Luther Burden III, the wide receiver out of Missouri you know, I know they got the kid from Florida State last year. He's pretty much a bust. He might grow in his second year but Luther Burden III can walk in right now and be a wide receiver one, you know. And the big kid out of Missouri 4'4 speed. He set all kinds of Missouri records. So I got the Bills going there.
Speaker 2:Number 31, you know the Chiefs, all right, you know this is interesting. You saw them get beat up on the whole line against the Eagles, you know. So Donovan Jackson, another Ohio State offensive tackle. You know, big guy, 6'5" I think he'd be, because that number 74, he always jumps outside the right tackle, you know. And Mahomes needs protection and I don't think they're happy with that number 74,. Whatever his name, he always lines up outside penalties and holding. So Donovan Jackson goes 31 to the Chiefs the kid out of Ohio State and number 32, the Eagles. They just won it all, man, you know, let's give them another offensive lineman. I don't know why, they just won it all, you know, but hey, they lost one though.
Speaker 1:They lost one, though, to the Chargers. Why they just won it all, you know so. But hey, they lost one though. They lost one though To the Chargers. Yeah, yes, they did.
Speaker 2:Yeah, they lost Makai Beckton. So Josh Connolly, the big tackle out of Oregon, you know he can play inside or out, so you got to plug him in to take in Makai Beckton. He's a day one starter man, you know, josh connelly, so we'll go right there with that. You know, take it from there I love it.
Speaker 1:I love it. Yeah, and speaking of uh and obviously this may change the draft is probably in what? About a month and a week or so. But, um, yeah, I you know, looking at my charges, we we definitely need a receiver, so definitely we'll take Bouquet. And just looking at the offensive line, in general I'm happy with where we're at. We got all of our offensive linemen are all, except for our center, are all under 25 years old.
Speaker 1:So we're trying to build a nice little wall for Herbert and for us to do whatever we have. We have Najee Harris, as you said earlier. We got Mike Williams back. If we can get Keenan back, I'd be okay with that. But you know, if it doesn't work out, I 100% understand we may want to try to go a little bit younger and not just go for a you know, a fair world tour with Keenan Allen. So you know, so far, with what the Chargers are doing, I mean, at first it was looking a little shaky. I was like why aren't we going with DK? Why didn't we get Devontae? What are we doing? But I'm okay with where we're at right now.
Speaker 2:So sometimes you've got to just trust the process and sit back and just watch what happens. Hey, that's great, that's great. I'm happy for you. Man Mekhi Becton, I made a severe mistake. I had Josh Connolly going to the Packers at 23. So this guy I'm looking at several papers here I can't give the Eagles Josh Connolly if I have him going to the Packers. So the Eagles I got them taking the edge, rusher out of Boston College as if they need that. Because, boy, I think Brandon Graham retired or he's on the way out. Let's go James Pierce Jr out of Tennessee. They say there's some baggage there. That's why he lasted so late. Attitude problem. I don't think so. Let's go James Pierce Jr to help out the Eagles in that awesome defense On the other side. Giving that Brandon Graham I haven't heard anything about him, did he retire? Let's put him at the Eagles. So I apologize sincerely. I'm better than that. Josh Conley going to the Packers at 23 and the Eagles, james Pierce Sr. Edge Rush out of Tennessee. Okay.
Speaker 1:All right, and Ant, are you still there? Of course, Okay, All right For taking it. And Ant, are you still there? Of course, Okay, All right. So what are your thoughts on the Bengals, given this actually happened last night? What are your thoughts on them getting T Higgins getting four years 116, and Jamar Chase getting an extension four years 161?. What are your thoughts on that?
Speaker 3:I was shocked. I couldn't. This is the most un-Bengals thing in history. I just you know Joe Burrow did campaign hard.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 3:You know what are they going to do. Say no, I mean they have before They've been cheap. You know what are they going to do. Say no, I mean they have before They've been cheap. You know we shot and poked fun at what, marv, you know, the Thursday night with the always used to make fun of the coach there. Marv, what's his face? Doc, I'm drawing a blank Marv Levy. There you go. I was trying.
Speaker 2:What's his face, doc, I'm drawing a blank Marv Levy.
Speaker 3:There you go. I was trying to say Marv Albert, but I knew that was wrong yeah.
Speaker 3:But anyway, just the most un-Bengal-esque thing ever. I feel happy for my guy Jai. I mean I got no ill will for the Bengals. Being a Giants fan, I'm fine with Cincinnati getting their due there, especially for that fan base. It's been rough being a Bengals fan, especially last year too. You know high hopes, high hopes, and you know I'm crashing down kind of like being a Jets fan. But yeah, I'm glad they got it done. I was shocked. I was making fun of Gi saying that T Higgins is going to get, you know, sending him AI images of him in a Giants uniform. But you know.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's a good sign.
Speaker 3:I'm happy for him, I'm happy for him?
Speaker 2:Yeah, me too. Joe Burrow threw for 41 touchdown passes Again. Were you talking about the old Bills coach Marvin? What are you talking about the current coach for the Bengals? The current coach is Zach Taylor for the Bengals no before that. Marvin Lewis. Oh shoot, I'm forgetting Marvin Lewis. There you go. Yeah, marvin Lewis. Yes, that's what it was yeah, Marvin Lewis yeah.
Speaker 1:Thank you, Colin. Hey, anytime, man. That's what I'm here for, buddy.
Speaker 2:That's right.
Speaker 1:Yeah, doc, what are your thoughts on the trade? I mean not on the trade on the signing.
Speaker 2:The signing. Yeah, joe Burrow is your franchise guy. If you want to compete with the Kansas City's and the Baltimore's and the Buffalo's, you've got to sign both of them, even if you have to let go of Henderson, the edge rusher. You know, because even with him they sucked on defense and he did lead the league in sacks for a second consecutive year of 17 and a half. But it goes to note that both these receivers are young, they're talented, they're fast and they did it right, man, because you've got the quarterback wrapped up, you know. Now you need your two receivers, and Chase got the most money. And then T Higgins, if he could stay healthy he's always hamstring probably missed two or three a year. So he got what he got. Now they need a dependable running back, you know, because the running back they had is in Houston. But you might ask well, what about the defense? You know I hope they draft a defense. You know what I'm saying.
Speaker 2:I hope they draft it, but you never know. Relative to Zach Taylor and all that, they got all the offense they need. But to keep Joe Barrow healthy, to answer your question, they had to get this done, man, you know, and nobody's tripping. So it's done, man, you know, and nobody's tripping. So Keith Higgins is not saying, well, why did Chase get more money than me? Because Chase is a superstar, arguably the best in the league, if it wasn't for Justice in Minnesota. So the both guys are happy and you got to keep the quarterback happy.
Speaker 1:That's your question. So we'll do rapid fire before we get out of here. Ant, I'll go ahead and start with you Looking. I'll go ahead and start with you Looking at what the Commanders did with getting Debo Laramie Tunstall as well. Looking at what they did, and just with some of the free agency acquisitions that they got, do you feel that they're ready to compete with Philadelphia?
Speaker 3:Definitely. I think they might have surpassed them. I think you know I hate the Eagles so I mean it kills me that they won the Super Bowl. But I might have been one of the few handful of people that were rooting for the Chiefs there. But you know, as a Giants fan, you know can't root for Philadelphia.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 3:But you know, the only thing, that kind of they've loaded up, They've done everything they're supposed to do. The commander's got the new owner. He's doing everything right it seems like GM's doing a good job getting these guys in the door.
Speaker 3:The only thing that kind of got me a little that I would be a little wary of is we see this sophomore slump all the time with these guys. We saw it in Houston. We see it all the time with these guys. We saw it in Houston. We see it all the time with these guys. Now that the league has seen Daniels, how's next year going to go? I do think he's dynamic enough to make it happen in his second year too. How often do we see that? That would be my only concern if I on the commander's side and you know that's. You know problems of kind of first world NFL problems, right right.
Speaker 3:They did everything right this offseason, absolutely, that's right.
Speaker 2:They did.
Speaker 1:All right, Doc. Minnesota Vikings. Is JJ McCarthy ready to take over and fill in to take this team down deep in the playoffs?
Speaker 2:It'd be hard for me to imagine Marlon and Big Ed that they win 14 games back-to-back years, especially with the quarterback who didn't even take a snap. Can he stay healthy A and then B? Even though Justin Jefferson is great, will he have to make an adjustment with the young quarterback to make sure that he's learning and has a positive growing curve, if you will? So no, they're not going to win 14 games Now. They're that competitive NFC North. I think mentally he's into the game. You know some people question why he was the number one draft pick to begin with. Then he got hurt. He didn't win the Maddie, so he knows how to win. But to answer your question, it's unrealistic to think that they can repeat last year's 14-win season and success. So yeah, I think you're playing them a rookie contract and you get them in there and see what he can do. You know he's lost weight.
Speaker 2:He has to put that weight back on. But yeah, it goes noted.
Speaker 1:Absolutely All right and this kind of hits a little home and sorry to bring it up to you, but this is how the dominoes fell with the question. Looking at matthew stafford with the rams, you know we know the trade possibly could have happened or whatever with going him to new york or whatever, but anyways it didn't happen. So with him staying in la, with him getting davante adams but losing cooper cup, do they have enough to still be competitive in the nfc west?
Speaker 3:yeah, I think so. I mean, I don. I don't think the Cardinals are ready. I think the 49ers have taken a step back and you know the Seahawks. You know we'll see if Donald will do it again. You know we'll see. They got rid of DK Metcalf there. But you know the Seahawks have made some moves, but I don't think they're going to be better than the Rams. I think the Rams ought to be the favorite in that division. I think Devontae Adams is actually a step up over Kup at this point. I think Kup they realize that he's not the same guy as he was a few years ago. He's receiving. He actually has been in the league a little while. I think he's approaching 30, if I'm not mistaken. It's not like he's a spring chicken anymore. Cooper Cupp Still, I'd love to have him on the Giants, since we don't have anybody except for neighbors. I like the Rams out of that division for sure.
Speaker 1:Okay, all right, staying in that division, doc, we'll go ahead and go over to you, San Francisco. Are they just doing a full rebuild? I mean, what's going on in San Francisco?
Speaker 2:Well, they're in chaos. In my opinion and I know Mark McCown hates to hear this, but CMC has to prove that he's healthy, back from the calf injury. They shut him down after one good game and I think, mccann, they lost the backup. The backup went somewhere else the kid from Georgia Tech. So CMC has to stay healthy. They lost Debo. You know Iuke has a headache but you still have Kittle up there.
Speaker 2:And what are you going to do with Purdy? Does he have attitude because he hasn't had the big $50 million, $60 million contract, and is he worth it? What can Trent Williams that left tackle? One of the best in the history of the sport? What can he give at age 36? Do they go tackle in the draft, as I have them taking at number 11?
Speaker 2:So there's a lot of questions that your coach up there, shanahan, has to answer. Mainly it's about Christian McCaffrey. He's not a spring chicken and there's a lot of wear and tear. Hell, he used him big time in Carolina. So you know they did make a Super Bowl with McCaffrey, but he was hurt last year. And the calf injuries those things linger as you get older and for a running back that's deadly. So you might want to go young at several positions, but that's detrimental to challenging for the division. And can Purdy win it by himself if McCaffrey goes out again? I don't think so. You know, debo was a huge loss. Say what you will about him, but they lined him up everywhere and he produced, even though this last year he was kind of nicked up. Iuke, brandon Iuke, he has to be a wide receiver one night. He's talented but he got hurt. So a lot of injuries there and you know, take it from there. So yeah, I would say they're halfway rebuilding. How about that?
Speaker 1:They re-signed.
Speaker 3:Juszczyk their favorite.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah, they released him and then re-signed him back to a one-year deal. I don't know what that was. I don't get it, I don't know. Alright, so the last two questions I have for you guys. One question for you guys each. Both of you guys know these teams very well and I will start with you. The Dallas Cowboys they did get. Demarcus Lawrence is gone, he's in Seattle right now. Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb they did restructure some money around, so I guess the team itself is doing a little bit better, but you still got to pay Micah Parsons, that's coming up soon. So what's going on with Dallas Ant?
Speaker 3:That feud between Lars and Parsons was great. I hope it was real. I hope it wasn't like some stage On the side they're like oh yeah, this is funny. I hope it's legit because oh man just seeing the Cowboys go down in flames is just. There's nothing better I would rather see. I think at this time of my life of my sports fandom career. Let's say I'd rather see the Dallas Cowboys lose epically than probably the Giants win. That's how great it is.
Speaker 3:Yeah, big Marlin shout out. So they've got a lot of work to do. You know, culture clearly is an issue Got brought to the forefront, you know, by Lawrence there. You know I never trust Dak in a big spot. He turned out to be a better quarterback than I thought he would. But I think he's kind of like he said there, lawrence, he's just good enough to get the job done, not make, you know, dallas too upset. But I don't think he's ever going to win the big one, so I just don't think he's big time. That's just me and I'm a biased Giants fan.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's a good response. Good response, brother. Right on, I'm with you.
Speaker 1:Yeah. And then, doc, your last question your Atlanta Falcons. I mean, you got Leonard, Floyd and Diablo and Hughes, you lost Jared Grady. But you know, do you feel Pennix is ready? And also too, are you guys just okay with just letting shoot? I forget the guy's name. No quarterback, kirk Cousins, just sit there and just cash checks. What's going on in Atlanta?
Speaker 2:Well, we gave $10 million roster bonus for Kirk Cousins and we're in no rush to move him. I beg to differ, but the front office down there, they want to hold on to him as long as they can. Pennix is ready. It's Pennix's team. Small sample size, of course you mentioned Leonard Floyd. You know how much juice does he have left in the legs? Can he walk off the team bus and give you nine and a half ten sacks? I think so. Anything's an improvement over 31st in the league and pass rusher rate, you know, per PFF. Mike Ford, our corner, he's coming back.
Speaker 2:I just don't think we need to go edge either Jalen Walker, the kid from Georgia, or Mikel Williams, even Shamur Stewart out of A&M, 6'5", 287, 290. We still need to attack the defense Offensively. Drake London, it looks like we're going to keep Kyle Pitts, but it all revolves around B John Robinson asking you a question. You know we got some other cats to help out Greg Lennon, our number one receiver, but defensively we're a sieve. We gave up 44 points Big Ant and Marlon in the last game At home, a game we had to have to Bryce Young, who was benched early in the year. 44 points, you know we scored 38, but we couldn't stop nobody. So, leonard Floyd, he'll give you seven and a half, eight and a half sacks. I'm happy Jerry's 31, 32, went to Georgia. But we need to get one of these young edge rushers in the draft and I'm a 15.
Speaker 2:So, yeah, we're ready, man. And NFC South is wretched. You know. I know Tampa's won it the last two years, but we gave it up last year. We're in first place twice and the coaching staff messed it up. So yeah, we're ready to rock and roll, brother, but as long as we stick with defense the entire draft.
Speaker 1:I love it. I love it, guys, this has been a great episode. Before we get out of here, ant, do you have anything else to get off your chest or talk about as far as with NCAA, your Giants, your Yankees, anything else?
Speaker 3:So I'll say this. You know a lot of folks don't like Danny Hurley, especially when he interrupts the Shine Box with his interviews on Mondays. However, he is the character that the Big East needs. Doc, you'll remember all the characters that were in the Big East In the payday, that's right. Massimino Carneseca, big John Thompson.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 3:My guy Jim Calhoun. We need trash talking back in the Big East. So when that dude, neal, when Creighton beat UConn, he threw down that slam dunk and you know Hassan BNR on UConn got a little mad about that. We need more of that in the Big East we need that tough. You know trash-talking. That is good for the conference, not bad. We don't need to be. You know the. You know we do everything. Goody-two-shoes Dukes of the world? Nope, we are not that I don't want to be that.
Speaker 3:I want to be the badass conference again.
Speaker 2:That's right. I feel you and I miss the Big East Mondays and all the players, man, you know, syracuse and Walter Berry I mean St John's and Walter Berry, you know. And Willie Glass, syracuse, pearl Washington, dirk Coleman, I know what you're talking about. Ruff and Tumble, blue Collar, big East. So yeah, tough throttle. It'll take a yeoman's jaw to beat Florida in the second round. I'm pulling for you. I'm a Georgia fan, but it's unlikely. So yeah, I agree with you.
Speaker 3:All right, my UConn hat off. I don't think they're going to win the championship this year. Go ahead, florida is definitely a favorite.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 3:My UConn hat off.
Speaker 1:Absolutely All right. Well, ant, it's been great to have you. We'll definitely get you back on. You know, doc, we could pencil this in around the Stanley Cup finals. You know, because, Doc, you and I, we're going to watch every game. Definitely, we can get Ant back on so we can break down every game. We'll absolutely get that going. Other than that, doc, you got anything else for us?
Speaker 2:No, I love you, big Ant, thank you. Good job, fellas.
Speaker 1:Absolutely All right, man, no problem. No problem, we will catch you guys next time. Peace, peace.