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
Patriots vs Seahawks SuperBowl LX w/ B Kirms
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
A wild Championship Sunday set the stage: New England’s disciplined defense and Drake May’s composure outlast Denver, while Seattle capitalizes on Rams’ miscues and sharper decisions. We weigh coaching choices, special teams swings, and how roster strengths map onto a pressure-soaked Super Bowl.
• Patriots’ defensive surge and Barmore’s impact
• Weather, field position, and the value of field goals
• Schedule skepticism and Vrabel’s coaching case
• O-line concerns vs Seattle’s front and game plan keys
• Seattle’s playmakers: JSN’s routes and Walker’s burst
• Special teams turning points in Rams vs Seahawks
• Super Bowl matchups, predictions, and pressure moments
• Offseason needs: a true WR1 and line upgrades
• NBA snapshot: injuries, rising contenders, playoff outlook
Welcome And Guest Intro
SPEAKER_00And welcome, welcome, welcome, everybody, to another episode of Real Talk. Doc. You doing all right today?
SPEAKER_01Yes, yes, I am, man. We got one of our best friends, the best callers on Shino Sport. Do the intro, man.
SPEAKER_00And he once was the uh pound for pound. I don't know if he still has his name, the pound for pound greatest tweeter of all time in the shine box, but V Kerms joins us. What's up, Kerms? How you doing, man?
SPEAKER_03I'm doing good. As far as I'm concerned, I'm concerned. I'm still the best town for pound.
Setting The Agenda: NFL Then NBA
Patriots’ Playoff Run And Broncos Game
SPEAKER_00I like it. I like it. Welcome aboard, brother. Let's do it. Yeah, so thanks for having me. Yeah, yeah. Championship Sunday, AFC, NFC Championship Games. We'll dive into that. Let's do a little bit of uh NBA at the end of the episode. Um the Rams of Seattle, of course, it was an amazing, uh, amazing, amazing game uh from top to bottom at the stuff. The Rams are great. Uh and but Seattle came out on top 3127. But we're gonna start with your game uh the cards. And I I avoided talking to you for for a while because I I had full confidence that my charges will go in there in the 216 that had to stop scheduled at defense like the chargers and we we couldn't get anything going on offense, but you guys ended up coming off defense at least 63. And then last week we housted in which we got a lot uh in that, but nonetheless, you guys still play, you guys play defensive breakfast amazing. Uh and then here you are now. Uh you go in which most people I think have shifted a little bit with Bonex being out uh to where you guys, I believe you guys were favorite in this one, or I believe it was even. Um but yeah, so what were your thoughts overall on the game and uh your thoughts on the playoffs thus far for the Patriots?
SPEAKER_04Well, I mean, uh the game was definitely a bit of a surprise. Um, but I do agree with you, Marlon. They they kind of had some nice uh, I guess chips fall their way this whole uh playoffs. I mean, if Knicks played the game, um, I think that would have changed everything. I think they said Stidham was the first quarterback in God knows how long to start a conference championship game without throwing a pass. I mean, that's pretty um significant for a team as well as the Broncos are. I mean, they're well coached, uh, they have a ton of talent. I mean, that team's gonna be really good for a while. Um, sorry to tell you, Martin. I know they're in the same division as you. Um, but um, you know, the way the game went in the very beginning, um, I thought the Broncos were gonna dominate, especially in the first quarter. But then uh, you know, things just changed. Um, the weather definitely had something to do with it. Um you know, May, I think, is just gonna be a significant player going forward, and the defense just looks great too. Like you said, Gonzalez is just an excellent player. Um, Christian Barmore is just a stud. I'm watching that game like, holy crap, is this guy fast with his size? Um yeah, I'm just really impressed with what the team has done so far. I mean, you know, I know we talked um before the season started, and you all asked me if the team was gonna make the playoffs, and I thought they were probably the last team getting in or getting out, but I mean, uh just very impressed with what the team has done in one year when you win eight total games uh in two years combined to getting to the Super Bowl. Uh it just shows you that coaching matters, getting the right quarterback matters, and team chemistry is just everything. Now, the one thing that worries me about this team going against um Seattle is what May is doing is great, but they don't really have that great playmaker at wide receiver. Nothing against Stephon Diggs, he's a nice player. Uh, I think Booty has really been the surprise on that whole team. But you're going against Jackson Smith and Jigba, who's been absolutely incredible. I mean, the man's gonna get a ton of money, if not this offseason, next offseason. Um But you know what? The fact that they made this far is just incredible. And we'll see what happens in two weeks. Um, I hope they win. I think the spread is up to about four and a half. But like I said, the fact that they just got here is just nothing short of just spectacular.
SPEAKER_01Well, B. Karen, let me weigh on this real quick because I agree with you totally. Nobody thought this was just possible with a second-year quarterback. But by the same token, I think Vrabel hands down is the coach of the year. But people saying that you play the last place, you ain't played nobody. You played the people in front of you based on last year's result with four wins, and there's nothing you can do, you know, and it's one of those things where you brought it all together, man. That should not be held against you relative to your schedule. That's just me, you know. Your response to people saying that. What do you say?
SPEAKER_04Well, Doc, I agree with you. This isn't college football. You don't get to choose your schedule every single year, you know. This isn't like when people say, Oh, Notre Dame plays nobody and they're not on conference or something like that. You you have no control of that in the NFL. Um, you know, people want to say it's a soft schedule. Fine. You could say it's a soft schedule, but results are results. Um, the team, the the what they got is what they got. You know, when the season started, when you lose the first game of the year against the Raiders, you don't think you're gonna go very far. But, you know, that's just that's just the way the ball bounces. But like I said, this isn't college sports. You don't get to choose your schedule. You it is what it is. So if anyone wants to say, oh, you didn't your schedule was soft or the chips, you know, fell your way, that's fine. Um, you can say whatever you want. But the reality is this um the team made it to the Super Bowl, and I'm sure the Bills fans are probably kicking themselves saying, man, if we beat the Broncos, we probably would have beaten the Patriots on Sunday, and there's a very good chance they would have. Especially what happened to Knicks after the game with the broken ankle. Um, but the reality is this the Patriots in the Super Bowl, they had their schedule, they beat the teams they had to beat, and that's that.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
Weather, Run Game, And May’s Growth
SPEAKER_01Yeah, yeah, man. I agree. And Marlon, I think you'll agree that yesterday's results was uh uh a microcosm on how the Patriots season has gone, because I think Sean Payton B. Currents blew that game by going for it on several occasions in your defense, hell, why not take the points, you know, and this, that, and the other. It was a low-scoring game. They tied in 10. It's a whole different type of game, man. But, you know, you took advantage of it and you took it from there in adverse weather in the second half, too. So I think your running game is underrated, but I think Peyton blew that game in front of his home crown, B earns. That's just me. And you made just enough plays by the quarterback running, you know, not throwing, running, that uh he is who he is. He's still a young player. And it's not fair to say, okay, well, you know, in his second year really hasn't played anybody. But it's one of those things where he made plays when he had to, throwing and running. And that last run in the B curves to secure the first down, iced the game. And this is Drake May. He's a young man. And uh you've done that all year, you know, despite averaging four sacks against May all season. In fact, my Falcons, I believe, sacked him four times. But here you are, brother. That game yesterday, and you play in cold weather, so I don't think the players were adversely affected for the pass. Uh, but I I I do commend you on making this uh this run here, you know. So good job on that.
SPEAKER_04On the um I appreciate that, Doc. Yes. And I think one of the biggest differences, too, in that game was the running game. Um, but the Broncos couldn't do anything running the ball. I mean, nothing against RJ Harvey. I think he's gonna be a nice player, but this isn't like your old Broncos running back. They didn't have Clinton Portis, they didn't have Ruben Jerome, they didn't have former Jersey Shore running back, no Sean Moreno. I don't know, Josh. Former George Bulldog.
SPEAKER_01Exactly. I remember him. Uh I do good point on currents.
SPEAKER_04I do remember Yeah, he he dropped about, I don't know, 20 miles from me and stuff like that. And man was really good. But yeah, I mean, you know, a lot of times when you when you think of the Broncos, you think strong running game and great defense. They had the great defense, and I think they're gonna be good going forward, but the running game just wasn't there. Now, I don't know if that's just the quest. Uh they just didn't have the talent on the road, they it just didn't work that day, or just the Patriots defense stepped up. But uh that I think was really the biggest difference. And the weather, yes. I mean, unless the coaching staff is watching the weather channel every five minutes, which I'm guessing they did not, um, then you know, that's just something you can't control. Um, but as I say, as I stated before, um, you know, it is what it is. You can't control certain things, and the Patrick won the Super Bowl, and that's that's just that.
SPEAKER_01Well, Marlon, real quick, I if I may, I want to ask B. Currently, are you any in any way, shape, or uh, or form concerned about the offensive line, especially the rookie tackle out of LSU, Will Campbell? I think it's going to be a great player, but right now he's been a six. And you're going against Seattle's market D-line. Your take there on that offensive line, and and then the fact that May has suffered sacks the whole year and still winning. What's your take on the big game against that D-line and Will Campbell in particular? Number one draft pick. Go ahead, Currents.
O-Line Concerns And Seattle’s Defense
SPEAKER_04Um, yeah, I agreed. Um, I like the pick to start the season with Campbell. I mean, our offensive line was awful last year, and I think um, yes, he will get better, and when no matter what happens in this game, they definitely have to improve it because Drake May is young. They have to protect him for years to come. And um, yeah, I mean, that's really just the gist of it. I mean, I I hope. I'm pretty sure that over time he is going to get better uh for sure. Now, I don't know if it's just Ray Bull, maybe they just need a better offensive line coach. Uh, but yeah, I mean, you you watch Seattle. I mean, they have got some playmakers on the defense, especially that secondary. I mean, and like I said, yeah, New England doesn't New England does not have the greatest um receiving core. So if they try to throw deep on, you know, Tariq Wollen or Devin Witherspoon and uh Emmanuel, the rookie out of uh South Carolina, they're just gonna have a hard time on that. So then what's the play going forward? They like their tight end. I mean, do they do a lot of like, you know, slants up the middle? Do you do a lot of screenplays with uh Henderson and uh Stevenson? You know, do they do a lot of play action and does May run the ball? I think they're gonna have to run the ball effectively uh to win this game because if they're gonna try to go deep on that secondary, I don't think they've I don't think it's gonna be successful.
SPEAKER_01That's a very good response. Go ahead, Marlon. Yeah.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, when you look at this, when you look at this game uh and and really for the playoffs in general, there were a lot of games that ended in in about a three-point span. And there were some I'm not gonna go and break down every one of them, but I know that we can kind of go back and look at a time where a coach could have just kicked a field goal and not try to go for it because it would have been a different result at the end of the day. So I just said John playthrough, uh, and then we're gonna get the comments like both sides had a headback games, uh, just trying to be too aggressive. But I do think with uh again, you know, going with the with with S and okay for a backup quarterback. You're not expecting them to go out and and dominate and and you know take over the game. Uh the weather with the course of factors to a horrible, horrible uh game active. Uh but uh it it was earlier. Off the five fifteen would make a Super Bowl. Maybe maybe not make the playoffs of those but great, great season. Um it's definitely a better tweak for uh the AFT for certain with the Bills. But uh yeah, it was it was a great great year for them, and you've got to play those on your schedule. So uh again, congrats to you B. Kerbs. It's kind of weird to see the Patriots with just winning four games last year, and here they are back in the Super Bowl.
SPEAKER_04It's really crazy. I mean, who like I said, um I I don't know what the betting odds were at the start of the season of them uh winning the Super Bowl, letting alone getting to the AFC championship game. But uh yeah, it's pretty special, especially when the AFC this year was preloaded. Um so yeah, we'll s we'll we'll see what happens in 13 days. Absolutely. Absolutely.
Rams vs Seahawks: Decisions And Special Teams
SPEAKER_00And then we got and then we got the other game. Uh I feel like every Rams game they play, it's just a close matchup. Their defense isn't you know they they struggle a little bit, but they make up for it with the offense with all the weapons that they have on offense. They end up losing this one. Um, and Doc, I'll go ahead and start with you. Uh I know we were talking about coaching and and you know not being too aggressive, taking the points and all that, but yeah, Doc, the floor is yours on this one. What do you think of the game?
SPEAKER_01I think Sean McVay, who has a veteran head coach with a chip, he blew this game out of his ass, man. And the fact that they play Seattle twice a year, they know each other. This is one game where you got to play close to the best in adverse weather conditions. And it's okay to be aggressive, be Currents and Marlin, but this is the game where McVeigh, when he looks at the tape, is going to be scratching his head. Now, Stafford is an MVP cannon, more likely the MVP gentlemen, but you have to take the points late in the game and be down by one because you know you're gonna get the rock back. And I love their defensive personnel, Brady Fisk and uh Jared Furris, and so but that trouble is on the back end, it's in the secondary. And you can burn them in the secondary. And I think the fact that, you know, Sam Darrell went off and had his best career game in the history of his career, you know, it speaks volumes to how McVeigh coached that game and, you know, how uh Sam Darrell threw against that secondary. Um, but you got to take the points, B. Kerbs. And it's one of those things where we talked about Sean Baton. Sean McVeigh is surprisingly getting heat, and rightly so, for not coaching the game the way he usually does, as far as uh, you know, uh taking points and all that. He got an MVP quarterback, you know, and I think he trusted him too much in the red zone, especially on fourth and four. This is fourth and four. Kick the field goal and take your chance with your defense, and we'll take it from there, you know. Again, these guys play each other. And uh Williams had a solid game, the running back for the Rams, but he wasn't all that. But I think Kenneth, Kenneth Walker III, really showed why he was uh uh uh uh all-American at Michigan State three years ago, B. Kerr. He ran off, got fake legs, and you already mentioned JSN, the best receiver in the sport. And the Rams secondary had no answer. You know, and then they threw the tight end. The tight end caught a touchdown pass. But this game turned, fellas, on a month punt, punt return by that kid. How the hell are you gonna fall backwards B. Kerms, you know? I'm not the most athletic fool, but I know I'm gonna either let it go or, you know, I'm not gonna back up and touch the ball and then next play, Seattle scored a touchdown. I believe it was 7-7 or 10-7 at the time, and from there, it was 17-7 when uh Darn hit the tight end in the middle. It's special teams, and they fired the special teams coordinator, gentlemen. So then they have they fired the dude, the mid-season, and then it seemed like he got worse on special teams, but that's a no-no. I would have finished his ass, I would I would have did something. And uh you just can't let the game turn on uh a gap like that, you know. Let it go. I'm sure he's coached to do that, but pressure becomes is a bitch. And that's when in my mind, the game turned from there. But you gotta give it up to Sam Darnold and the running game and the offensive line uh for the uh Seattle Seahawks, led by uh, you know, uh Adam interviewed him some weeks ago at the rookie 76. So props to them, man. It's gonna be a vaunted task going forward. But to answer you a question going forward, McVeigh blew this game right here, you know. Nothing against Seattle became, but McVeigh out uh got out coached.
JSN, Walker, And Darnold’s Rise
SPEAKER_04No, I agree. It's that uh that muff punt really just changed the game. And then the next play they threw it to a receiver name. I think his name was Nick Bobo. I can't imagine what the any time the top is. Yeah, Bobo. I can't imagine what the the odds were on him for an any time touchdown and stuff. But uh, yeah, Doc, I gotta agree with you with Kenneth Walker. Um, I think the fact that he he's had a nice career so far barring the injuries, but he could have had more touchdowns this season. I know this because I had him in all my fantasy leagues, but they would just give the ball to Charbonnet um inside the five every time. And the fact that he got hurt prior to this game, I think this maybe he was playing with a chip on his shoulder, saying, Hey, I should be the top dog in this backfield, and I think he clearly showed he is. Nothing against Charbonnet, he's a nice player, but Walker is by far the superior athlete. As like you said, Doc, you watch a Michigan State, you're like, this kid is gonna be a stud. Um that's kind of like how that's kind of like how I feel about Henderson in um in New England. Um, I think he's you know, they use Stevenson more towards the end of the season, and I get it, but Walker is gonna be a stud. The question is, what are they gonna do going forward uh with that team? Because I don't know. I think Walker's contract is uh is coming up. So do they extend him? Do they let him walk and keep Charbonnet and draft somebody else? I don't know. I think they're stupid if they let him go. Uh team seems to have a ton of chemistry. But yeah, like you said, doc, I mean JSN is just a stud. And I was, you know, I was telling my wife yesterday, we're watching the game, and I said, you know, said JSN, you know, Ohio State's had so many good receivers in the last, you know, five, six years, but I thought he was the best one to come out of Ohio State in that time. Nothing against Garrett Wilson, nothing against Chris Olave, they're really good, but I thought JSN was just that good. I think Buga's got a really good chance to be great at the NFL, but JSN I just thought just the uh athleticism and the routes he runs. I mean, you saw that one-handed catch he did in the first half, like about it in the random. Yeah. That was that was ridiculous. But um, yeah, Seattle's just got a ton of um ton of great playmakers. I think that Barner kid from from uh tight end is gonna be really good. I'm not saying he's gonna be Travis Kelsey or anything like that, but he's a heck of an athlete. He can make he's definitely been stepping up more the last uh you know couple months of the season. And uh, you know, like you said, Doc, you know, good for Sam Darnold. I mean, yeah, he was in my division with the Jets for a couple years. Um he stunk, but it's just the Jets. We don't have to really comment more on that. And then um, you know, he goes to Carolina, goes to Minnesota, you know. I figured, you know, if you're in Minnesota, why would you want to leave? You got Justin Jefferson, you got Kevin O'Connell, you got Jordan Addison, you got a great organization there, and you got a chance to win division every year. Why would you leave and go to Seattle? And uh they draft JJ McCarthy and uh I guess Darnold thought, hey, you know what? I I feel like I should be the number one guy here, so I'm gonna leave and go to Seattle. And, you know, probably a lot of people thought, hey, you know, let's see what Darnold does going to a Fort team in seven years or whatnot. And uh he's proven a lot of people wrong.
Super Bowl Predictions And Matchups
SPEAKER_01So I say good for him. Well, I'm happy for him, B. Kearns. And Marlon, you agree out on the West Coast, they thought he was just a UFC, uh, another dropout or another failure, a pumps, if you will. And uh get a guy credit. He won 14 games for the Vikings, as B. Kearns alluded to. But this guy, he must have upped his game and and then did something for Seattle. And I I credit the coach. He's very much underrated in and of itself. I say Brave was my coach of the year, but Seattle is 1A as far as the guy in the coach of the year, man. Uh, I think his name is uh Martin or something like that. And it's one of those things where you gotta give him credit for upping the game for Donald. Donald. And uh ironically, Left B. Kearns and Marlon, I know you've heard it. He's the first quarterback of that 2018 class of Lamar Jackson and uh and Baker Mayfield and Josh Allen to make make it to the Super Bowl. And who would have start back? So props to Darn on his work ethic in the offseason in the Pacific Northwest to up his game from even last year when he was the comeback player of the year, I believe. So they did win 14 games. And I and I and I blame uh O'Connell in Minnesota for letting him walk because to me, JJ McCarthy wasn't a number one draft pick, and I said that at that time, and he's coming off with significant injuries and other disappointments. So I'm happy for Darnell. Uh, real quick on um Kenneth Walker, the third gentleman. I fake the fact that Speed Kerm's alluded to more than he's got a chip on his shoulder, and it's one of those things where he's he had three touchdown runs last week, you know, just last week against the Niners. And he comes back a week later and has a solid game uh against his division rival. So yeah, I think he's he's auctioneer next year or something like that, B. Kearns. But they better have they better not let him walk because Charbonnet's coming off a significant injury, and now you're gonna have nothing. I don't think I think the Seattle brass is smarter than that, you know, giving McDonald's success and how to utilize. You know, JSN was a slot receiver last year because they had DK Metcalf. You put him outside, now he's other worldly Calvin Johnson type numbers. So somebody's doing the right decisions there. Because they did not keep him in the slat, they slot, and they let go of Tyler Lockett. So, yeah, there you go. Uh, right there. Let's get the predictions of the big game, fellas. Let's go. Your turn, Marlon. Real quick.
SPEAKER_00Oh, man. I I mean, uh I'm sorry, B. Kearns, but this Seattle team from top to bottom, I I just they're just so much better from their receivers to their their running game, their their defense, uh, they're they're lights out. And definitely did not see them. I mean, they're the number one seed for a reason, but they're the as far as the NFT, there's a lot of competition uh along the way. But yeah, I I got Seattle uh running away with this one. I think it's gonna be something along the lines of 27 to 13 curves.
SPEAKER_01Wow. Oh wow, B. Kerns, you kind of responded in. You know it. Come on, retort, baby.
SPEAKER_04B. I don't think it's gonna be that much of a blowout. Um, you know, I I agree. I think Seattle is the better team right now. Both teams are playing with house money. Uh, there's no question about that. Um, whoever wins this game, now if New England wins this game, especially if it's like the field goal game, I can't imagine what the uh what the headlines are gonna be the next day. I I can only imagine the conspiracy theorists are gonna be like, oh, this is gonna be the start of the next New England dynasty. They want Drake May to be the next Tom Brady. We can't have Sam Darnold win a Super Bowl, etc., etc. I'm not saying that's gonna happen, but I wouldn't be surprised if that does happen. But um right now, I mean, I just look the spread is four and a half according to the DraftKings. Um I hate to say this, but right now, I would actually take the points. I would lay the points to Seattle. Um, I like what New England do is doing. Both teams, though, are just playing with house money right now. And if both teams are playing with house money, I mean, better quarterback, you gotta give it to New England. Better coach. Rable's awesome, but you gotta give Mike McDonald a lot of credit what he's doing with that team. Um, but if you're just talking about like athletes and playmakers and whatnot, Seattle's a better team right now. Um, so right now, I would say Seattle, I would I think Seattle's gonna win the game. Um, I hope not, for my sake, but um this also could be a revenge game from uh 10 years ago when uh when they should have ran the ball with Marshawn Lynch on the one, but they didn't do that. So I'm sure that is uh creeping in the back of their minds. I don't know if anybody from Seahawks is still on their team, but I'm sure there's a mindset within the organization. Um but yeah, I mean let's we'll see what happens again in 13 days. I think it's gonna be a very good game. And um, you know, I'm hoping for the PACs win, but if if Seattle wins, I wouldn't be surprised. I think they just got better, um, better athletes right now on the on both sides of the ball.
SPEAKER_01Well, be careful, that's a good point, but Super Bowl is a bitch, pressure. We've seen some funny things happen to these big games, you know, and things like that. You know, Darnell is still Darno. You know what I'm saying? And he can propensity to throw the interception, yeah, four against the Rams the previous game when the Rams and the Seahawks uh played off. But I I just think that uh, you know, it's gonna be Seattle 31-28. And I say that with all due respect to UP Kearns because, you know, you you ref you referenced it. You know, the offensive line, the running game, the receivers. And even though I like Barmore and his fourth year out of Alabama defensive line, I think your secondary is going to be exposed somewhere by JSN and some of the other cats and uh and the running game in and of itself, because your boy Kenneth Walking catch the ball out the backfield. Now, that being said, as I reference, things happen in funny ways, you know, and I I think uh Drake May might have a great game, if you will, with two or three touchdown pass. That's why I say 31-28 Seahawks. I think the story right now is Donald, right now, you know. And uh he would not he would love nothing more than sticking to his previous teams. So I'm going 31-28, you know, uh Seattle right there. Yeah.
SPEAKER_04Good job. I get a talk. I get a doc. And crazy things happen in the Super Bowl, like you said, you know. Remember, Tom Brady lost to the Eagles in Nick Foltes. I mean, did anybody really get Nick Foles? Did anybody really do Nick Fol Nick Foles win a Super Bowl? So I mean, if Nick Foles can win the Super Bowl, and no disrespect to Nick Foles, um, yeah, Sam Donald can win a Super Bowl. I mean, like you said, yeah. Playoffs are a bitch, so crazy things can happen.
SPEAKER_01Well remember that great Patriots team, gentlemen, with Randy Mars and Brady, they lost to the Giants, who were a wild card. I think they were nine and seven. But Justin Tuck and Uman Yor and and uh the other characters the Hall of Fame, I forget his name.
SPEAKER_02Straight.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, they they they Yeah, Strayhan. They put it on Brady in that game. That was one of the all-time great teams in the history of the sport, and they lost. So, yeah, because from a fan standpoint, I get you, but I'm sticking with 31-28 uh Seattle. Go ahead, Mona.
SPEAKER_04I get it, I get it, Doc. No, no disrespect at all. I mean, like I said, I'm I try to consider myself a pretty reasonable uh Patriots fan. You know, I'm I I I always hope for the best. I knew after Brady and Belichick left that it was going to take some time. Um, but yeah, the fact they're just playing with house money, and Seattle is too. But, you know, to be honest, you watch both these teams and you watch the athletes and and whatnot, and Seattle's definitely got the better players.
NBA Check-In: Contenders And Injuries
SPEAKER_01Yeah, you have to have a big game, big game tackle going against that D-line. That that D-line is led by Byron Murphy, the big defensive tackle in his third year out of Texas, you know, and then he got linebackers. So yeah, there we go. That's a good prediction, fellas. You know, let's do it. Go ahead, Marlon.
SPEAKER_00Absolutely. All right, Doc, what you got for us on the NBA? We got a lot going on. I know that uh All-Star break is uh right around the corner, uh and of course leading into the playoffs in uh May. But what you got for us on the NBA right now?
SPEAKER_01Well, it was a great game Saturday night between the Lakers and the Mavs. And I think uh, you know, Lucas 4-0 against his former team in two years. It was just a great game because the Lakers actually came back in the fourth. They were down 15. So props to Luca and some of the other supporting casts like Hunter Moore and Vanderbilt. And LeBron had a solid game. I think he had 21 points and nine rebounds, something like that. The potential is there, but something's still missing. I know Austin Reeves is still out, but the Lakers are right now, as your speaker, in the fourth, uh, fourth seed terms. And then, of course, in the east, you know, Joel Embiid and and Maxime are balling out, but the Knicks beat him in Philly. And uh the Knicks are up and down. They had a little slide with nine out of eleven, they lost, but don't discount the Knicks to write this ship on a Coast Brown over there. But Wimbeyama, San Antonio, can he stay here because it's a freak of nature? You know, and it's one of those things where he's had success against OKC, gentlemen, and and and OKC just had a stunning loss at home to Toronto. So it leads me to believe this thing is wide open, man, even though OKC is young and you know the defending champs. It's gonna be interesting. And then you had the devastating injury to uh in Golden State to uh my man, uh, you know, shoot ACL. Jimmy Butler. What's his name on it? Jimmy Butler. Jimmy Butler, yeah. And uh it's one of those things where this West is wide open, B curns, and you're in the East. Oh, the East really has nobody but Detroit and they're young, K Cunningham, and the Knicks. And and then you might want to put Philly in there, it depends on MB's health. But yeah, it's we're coming up with midseason, and LeBron didn't even make the all-star team. That's news in and of itself, fellas. Okay.
SPEAKER_00And uh uh Giannis is uh speaking of being hurt, Giannis got hurt too as well. So he's gonna be out, I think, for about a month. And so they're not even in playoff contention right now. So he's definitely only got 18 wins left. Milwaukee Bucks. So he's gonna take his time coming back. Um, I think it's uh it's pretty top-heavy when you look at uh Detroit. And I believe Jake said it the uh last week, uh if I'm not mistaken, it was Detroit and OKC, I believe, uh were his predictions. But um Celtics are they're always relevant, the Raptors are there. Uh next, uh, of course they're gonna be up and down Cleveland and Philly, which we haven't seen Philly uh be relevant for a while, and Miami's gonna be always there and you know to go down the list. But you know, I was hoping for um uh the Millow Ball to possibly be traded uh because it's not gonna do anything down there in Starlet. I mean they're they're 19. They're always gonna stake, but you have somebody of that talent. You know, if anyone wants to go somewhere, I mean they're not gonna let them go. They're not gonna move and think they're still well. You know, you need somebody that probably should be moved because the team's not going, the team's not going anywhere, at least not anytime soon. So you've got to wait for Kyrie to get back, and you don't want to return back, they might wait till the next year to bring them back. So it's just a lot going on in Dallas uh with that. But yeah, it's it's with with these teams, it's uh and it's and the Lakers actually dropped down to fifth, fifty. So yeah, they'll they'll I think they'll figure it out, they'll get it together, but uh LeBron just has to know hey, this isn't your team anymore. Just continue to be that role player, take your time off. We're gonna need you down in the playoffs to take over when we need you to take over.
SPEAKER_01Well, JJ Reddit's getting heat out here because uh coming for the podcast, yeah, he's had some uncharacteristic losses at home at uh at their home stadium. And uh, you know, yeah, they had a big win on the road, but can that be sustained? You know, they're kind of the locker has you lost the locker room with JJ Reddit. And fellas, before we go, we we didn't even mention the Celtics. You're in the Northeast, big curves, and they don't have Jason Tatum, and yet they're the third seed. So Jalen Brown is doing something with that guy and the kid that they uh uh the other guy, White, Derek White, whatever your name is. So don't forget about the Celtics in the East. Yeah. So uh yeah, there you go, right there, man. Yeah. Relatively early, gentlemen. But go ahead.
SPEAKER_04Yep. Yeah, definitely, Doc. I mean, like I said, um, I don't follow the NBA that well, but I I pulled up uh ESPN and I'm looking at the uh at the standings here. Um if the season ended, I would think the networks would be really happy with the markets that would make the playoffs. You've got Detroit, Boston, New York, Philadelphia, LA, Denver, Houston. Um, I mean, that's great. I mean, first off, like I said, I don't follow the NBA very well, but to see the Detroit Pistons as the number one seed in the Eastern Conference, yeah, Cade Cunningham was an awesome player at uh at Oklahoma State. I mean, it's not just it's not just great for the Eastern Conference. In a way, it's kind of good for the city of Detroit, too. I mean, their sports team seemed to have gotten better in the last decade between them, the Lions, the Tigers. Hell, I might even go to Detroit next season. And I'm looking at the Patriots' um future opponents next year, and they go to Detroit. I've never been to the Motor City. Um, I might go there as long as it's in September, October, because I don't want to freeze my ass off. And I'm also seeing here that the Patriots' way schedule goes to Seattle. Can you imagine if that's the opening game of 2026 season?
Super Bowl Plans And Fan Life
SPEAKER_01Wow. Gosh, yeah, I never thought of that. Good point, brother. Real talk. Yeah. Yeah, but you it it goes noted that you you reference Detroit because I think they're good enough to win it all, or at least come back, okay, see another young team. And I love Kay Cunningham, who's up for the MVP of the entire league. If not for SGA, but good point on that, man. Detroit. Yeah, right on, B. Kerns.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, we'll see. I'd love I I like I said, Doc, I've never been to Detroit. I love the Midwest. I've been to Chicago, I've been to Minneapolis, and uh Yeah, just you know, Midwest, just wonderful people, good food. Um, the weather stinks, you know, this time of year, but uh it does here in Jersey. Like I said, I got anxious of snow and whatnot. But uh yeah, like I said, it's great, it's great for the Pistons to do that. Um, you know, I'm waiting for the NBA playoffs. I'll watch it more as it gets closer to the end of the season. But uh I know a lot of people in this area are hoping for the Knicks to do good things, and uh we'll see what happens. But uh from what I've been reading and whatnot, uh, it seems like nobody's beating Oklahoma City.
SPEAKER_01Well, it begs the question before we sign off. Uh, this is good dialogue, by the way. Good job, B. Curns. What you're doing for the Super Bowl is why if you're gonna make you uh have a big party, a big spread, or you go into somebody's house in the Northeast, uh, what's gonna happen? Because my wife, she can we're gonna have like ten people over and she's gonna make the uh soul food thing. What you doing, B. Kurns, your team's in it.
Offseason Dreams: Justin Jefferson To Pats
SPEAKER_04You're calling. I'm glad you I'm glad you asked that question, Doc. Um, I'm actually gonna be leaving Rhode Island that day. Um, my sister lives up there, and my niece turns three that weekend, and um, my mother lives up there now. So we are going up there for the weekend to celebrate my niece's third birthday. And part of it, we're gonna do something for my mom's birthday too, because she's a couple days after that. And then um that Sunday we leave Rhode Island and we're going to a um family friends uh to watch the Super Bowl. So uh that's pretty much our Super Bowl plans. It should be a lot of fun, and I'm hoping for a pass win. Yeah, absolutely. What about you, Marlon, before we go?
SPEAKER_01What you doing?
SPEAKER_00Oh man, I'll be at home, man. You know, it's it's uh It's it's 5 30 uh in Dallas. 5 30 is when the game starts, but that's really about 5 45 ish. And then when you talk about kids and getting them all set up and ready for bed and all that stuff, by the time halftime's over, it's about time for me to get up into bed and chill. So uh, you know, we we may have we may have a few people over maybe before a little pregame or something, but nah, at this point in my life it's at the house. My wife will cook up some, make some wings, and and uh, you know, it's kind of like a whole uh you know Super Bowl theme stuff where she's making all different types of stuff. So, oh yeah, I'm gonna be sitting my butt down and watch the kids run around and you know I'll be killing. But I just at the end of the day, this can be a good game. A good game. I'll have my translator on when uh bad buttons on there so I can know what he's talking about for halftime. So I just want a good, solid four hours of football where I can sit there, watch TV, hear the game, and so yeah, I'm I'm good. With the obviously with the charges running it, but I can at least be stress-free watching the game for the last game that we'll have uh before uh shoot August. So uh I'll I'll enjoy it. Yeah, I'll enjoy it.
SPEAKER_01Everybody gotta enjoy it, man. So this is good dialogue from a Super Bowl participant like B Kerbs. And uh I'll I'll be pulling for you, but man, we both know and round predictions stand. I wrote it down. So God bless all y'all. This is good stuff, man. Dialogue. And and we'll get into the NBA in full force after the Super Bowl morning. And but we got the draft in April, and uh we'll expect that to have B Kerms to come back on. Yeah. 86 days.
SPEAKER_0086 days, Doc. It's right around the corner. I can't wait. I'm hoping Chargers can make some trades. I want to see a lot of action uh, you know, during that that first uh round and even that second day, uh, you know, rounds two and three. I'll I just want to see some action, some trades, a lot of teams and a lot of help in a lot of areas. So uh I'll be interested to see what they do. But but yeah, as far as this game, I'm looking forward to it, and um just hope that uh everybody can get an entertaining Super Bowl. Weather shouldn't be a factor out there in um uh San Francisco or San Jose, whatever you want to call it. But yeah, so it's just it should be fun.
SPEAKER_01That's right. Well, there you go.
SPEAKER_00Well, we appreciate you for joining, Kirk.
SPEAKER_04Yeah. Thanks, Doc. Yeah, we'll see. Uh I'm I'm excited to see what the Packs do after this season in the draft. Um, we definitely need a number one wide receiver. Um, I'm gonna make a crazy prediction or guess what's gonna happen. Doc, I'm curious about your thoughts on this. And you too, Marlon. The Packs have the most salary cap money going into this offseason. Do you see a scenario where maybe they call Minnesota and ask what do you want for Justin Jefferson? Because you think he's really happy there in Minnesota with McCarthy?
SPEAKER_01No, he's not, and that's a very good point. You can make that trade, and I think Vrabel is an astute football mind, and astute football mind, mind you, and and he would do that and go to his management team and say, look, we can give up uh uh uh uh a two or whatever it is. Uh is he a free agent, B. Cairns, or is is uh I don't know.
SPEAKER_04I don't think he is I don't think he's a free agent dog. I think he signed a a contract like a year or two ago, but I'm just curious what his mindset is, you know, going forward with the team, because you know, he did not have his best year based on, you know, his standards he's had. And it seems like whatever quarterback he has, uh he's done very well. But um the team desperately needs number one. They have the money. I'm just curious if Minnesota would do that. I mean, I will jump through the raptors if that actually happens. I mean, I think it's probably 50-50 that it actually could happen, but uh we'll we'll see. I mean, that's just something I'm really hoping happening happens this offseason because in the draft, they're not getting Carnell take. He's gonna go in top ten, top twelve picks more than likely as we talk about Ohio State receivers. But uh that's my crazy prediction. I wouldn't is that Justin Jefferson's gonna be a member of the Patriots.
Cap Space Reality Check And Closing
SPEAKER_01Well, you got a young quarterback, and as you referenced, you got salary cap room, and you'll give up a late one, either 31 or 32, it depends on if you win. And uh I could do that. I could you throw in a a third, maybe, or maybe next year's uh two. You give up one this year, and next year's two, and uh that means you have two ex-Vikings because I believe Diggs played for the Vikings too early in his career. So yeah, uh get him out of there. You know, he doesn't want to be Chase McCarthy is trash. You don't want to be uh uh a guy, a guy with his stellar athleticism and playmaking ability doesn't want to be around a guy that still has to grow. So you take him to a big game quarterback like uh Drake May, I would do it, man. But you gotta give up a one, and next year's two, and then you take it from there.
SPEAKER_04Yeah. I agree, Doc. And like I said, it they're if they give up their late first round pick for Jefferson, I'm okay with it. Jefferson's still only, what, twenty six, twenty seven years old. He's he's got a lot, he's got a lot of years to go. At that late in the draft, maybe you can find a good wide receiver that late. I mean, if not, you can always find somebody in the late rounds. I mean, look, you find someone like And Rusting Brown or Marcus Colson or who knows what. But uh Yeah, but they're not Justin Jefferson. Yeah. No, they're not. No one is Justin Jefferson. Justin Jefferson is great.
SPEAKER_01And so you need a number one. You need a playmaker, as you referenced earlier in the show, relative to having somebody you can say, okay, this is my go-to guy. And again, Diggs is getting older. Plus he's got some legal problems in the offseason that's going to surface. So yeah, I would do it. Yeah. Go ahead.
SPEAKER_04Yeah. Yeah. Exactly. I mean, the only thing that maybe the reason why the Vikings wouldn't do it is two things. One, he's Justin Jefferson, you don't trade him. And number two, what's going to happen with Jordan Addison? You speak about legal problems, Doc. He's got some leg legal problems of his own. I mean, it seems it looks like he got out of some stuff, but let's not to say he's going to get into more. He's only been in the league for two, three years, and he's already had one suspension. I mean, who knows if the league is going to suspend him again for these other incidents. But um, yeah, like I said, it's kind of hard to imagine you trade Justin Jefferson, but uh, hey, crazier things and h crazier things happen. Like the Bengals are going to the Super Bowl.
SPEAKER_03That's right. That's right.
SPEAKER_01Good response, brother. I love that thought, though. Yeah. Go ahead, Marvin. Okay.
SPEAKER_00And Kerms, I don't know what chart you're looking at, but uh you guys do not have the most uh money to spend. But uh, because I know that for a fact because it was the Chargers before today. We signed our DN or one of our D linemen uh to a three-year deal. So I dropped us down to third. But I mean you're sitting there, I think, at like 12 or 13, so you're there. You got you got a little money to spend, but it threw me for a little loop. I said, okay, I said, hold on for a second, but yeah.
SPEAKER_04But anyways, uh I know so I know starting the season they were up there. They were like they had a lot of cap cap space. So I haven't checked in a while, so my bad on that.
SPEAKER_00No, it's all good. Yeah, with the with extensions and all that stuff, it it goes and these things update quick. So yeah, with the deal we had today, it dropped us from one, because we had 103, and now it dropped us to, I believe, 87 uh 87 uh million in cap space. So yeah, but uh gotcha. But shoot, other than that, doc, you got anything else for us?
SPEAKER_01Oh no, man. This has been a blessing, man. And uh we got our prediction, it's a big game. This is it for eight months after this game. And uh, you know, it's full baseball on the NBA. So yeah, good job on that, B curves, and God bless you and your family, brother. Uh, and uh take it from there. Yeah.
SPEAKER_00Absolutely. Thank you.
SPEAKER_04Thanks, guys. I really appreciate I always I always appreciate being being on your uh on your show, and uh anytime you need me, you know how to reach me. So thank you. Right on.
SPEAKER_00I absolutely appreciate it. All right, we will catch you guys next week. Peace.
SPEAKER_04Have a good night.