Two for the Win
Mike is a U.S. Navy Veteran and Bryan has more than a decade of civil service experience. Together, these blue collar guys dissect the latest sports headlines and events.
Two for the Win
Two For The Win - Episode 13
Can you imagine a world where cultural representation meets the football field? Join us as we uncover the unique story of Charles Du, a walk-on cornerback at Notre Dame, who boldly sports his name in Chinese characters on his jersey. We also explore the evolving landscape of college football, highlighting key matchups like Notre Dame versus Penn State and Texas against Ohio State. With a keen eye on quarterback dynamics and team strategies, this episode promises to offer insights that challenge the norms of college sports.
As the NFL season reaches its climax, we analyze the highs and lows of playoff positioning, team dynamics, and coaching shifts. From the Browns' struggles in the AFC North to the surprising performance of the Bears against the Packers, we leave no stone unturned. We also take a close look at the implications of draft strategies and how they might shape the future of teams like the Titans and Panthers. Plus, we discuss the potential career milestones of seasoned players like Aaron Rodgers, adding layers to the complex narrative of the NFL.
Basketball fans, rejoice! Celebrate Derrick Rose’s legacy as the Chicago Bulls retire his jersey, and witness LeBron James' remarkable achievement in the NBA. We reflect on the evolution of basketball, appreciating the nostalgic game dynamics while gearing up for the excitement of the NBA playoffs. With plenty of sports action spanning MLB, NBA, and NFL, this episode of Two for the Win with Brian and Mike promises to keep you informed and entertained as we navigate the thrilling twists and turns of the sports world.
January 7th 2025. Welcome back, everybody for our second episode of the new year. I'm Brian with an eye and I'm Mike, and we are two for the win. Mike, I know we got a lot going on tonight. We probably gonna be all over the place with the NFL. What do we have? What else do we have going on tonight? We're probably going to be all over the place with the NFL. What do we have? What else do we have going?
Speaker 2:on this evening. Well, we're going to discuss some MLB moves, we're going to check in with some NBA stuff. We're also going to discuss the college football playoffs and the upcoming schedule and, yes, we will be touching on a lot of NFL news and action as we lead into the playoffs this upcoming weekend and also all of this sounds exciting. Let's see here. So, starting off with the MLB, we're kind of overloaded in their infield so Gavin Lux was expendable to them, so they traded Gavin Lux to the Reds Nothing really a note coming back to them as much as they're getting rid of Gavin Lux to the Reds. So he'll be a good addition to the Reds. And the Royals signed starting pitcher Michael Lorenzen to a one-year deal.
Speaker 2:The Yankees are trying to discuss trying to get Luis Arias from the Padres. Now there's been a little back and forth. The deal isn't finalized, they're just discussing, but they're trying to get him and he's been a really good batter these past few years, so they're trying to add to their roster again. Not a bad thing if you can get Arias. He's a darn good player. But one of the shocking moves that just happened recently, justin Verlander signed a one-year deal with the Giants, so we'll be seeing Justin Verlander in a different orange uniform. He won't be with the Astros, he'll be with the Giants on a one-year deal.
Speaker 1:So hopefully he does well. Interesting stuff happening around the MLB right now, so hopefully he does well.
Speaker 2:Some interesting moves, interesting stuff happening around MLB right now For sure, for sure, as far as offseason is going.
Speaker 2:I mean the thing that happens every spring training is, you always go into spring training and you see these games and you're like, wait a second, I thought he was with that. When did this? Who? Like? There's all these moves that happen where somebody gets traded, somebody moves on to another team or somebody retires and then you see him as a bench coach somewhere and it's like you, all these moves happen and it's kind of like low-key.
Speaker 1:they don't really get discussed much so that's why on our show we're trying to it's almost like go out and let you know, so you don't have to go hunting it down it's almost like a game of odds, like a ve Vegas game of odds. You know money ball anybody. You know the game ends or the season ends and then all the pieces switch places and then they start the season again.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it does feel that way sometimes. I mean a lot of the core players don't move. I mean you know, like Aaron Judge is still going to be a Yankee and you know you'll still have Shohei with the Dodgers, those kinds of things are not happening, yeah those players are staying those players stay where they're staying. But we've got some NBA to talk about as well. I mean beyond the games themselves. But we've got actual things happening.
Speaker 1:We've got actual things happening. We got actual things happening. Yeah, the Chicago Bulls retiring Derrick Rose's number one jersey this season. That's pretty significant.
Speaker 2:The Bulls drafted Derrick Rose. He was their number one pick a while ago and he wore number one and they're going to put that in the Raptors. He's from Chicago. Yeah, I was actually just about to say that.
Speaker 1:He's a Chicago native, not only drafted from there, but the youngest MVP in NBA history. So it makes sense to enshrine him not just as a, you know, integral piece of their organization, but also as of the basketball community overall.
Speaker 2:Yeah, injuries kind of slowed his career. I mean he still had an NBA career but he bounced around from team to team and was still putting up some good minutes. But he bounced around from team to team and was still putting up some good minutes, but he wasn't quite as explosive. You know, having had all the injuries that kind of slowed him down over the years. He's another one of those players, you see, and you just wonder, man, what if?
Speaker 1:Dang.
Speaker 2:What if he didn't, if those injuries didn't slow him down? What if? Because I mean early days of Derrick Roserick rose highlights man, it was so much fun watching him play. He'd come up the court, make some crazy cuts and, you know, cross a guy up and go to the rim and you're just like, oh yeah, it's so much fun to watch.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah, I mean I. I can imagine just on a side note here, like watching the NBA today, watching the NFL today, watching the MLB today. You know baseball, all these other, you know organizations. Things are so much different and I'm sure that generations before our generation felt similarly when we were coming up. It's just so much more different now.
Speaker 2:The way things.
Speaker 1:The mechanics of these sports and teams move, as well as the mechanics of the games.
Speaker 2:Unfortunately, I feel like today's NBA is nothing more than who can make the most threes. They're just going back and forth jacking up threes.
Speaker 1:That's part of what I'm talking about. Just watching how these games have evolved from what they were just merely 20 years ago yeah, I kind of me personally.
Speaker 2:I kind of miss the older NBA only because it felt like there was more of an emphasis on ball movement and it wasn't just dribble to the to that three-point line. Pass the ball around the three-point line until somebody gets an open look and jack it up man, let me tell you what the baggy shorts era was a hell of a time well, I, I remember, I remember the era of Allen Iverson and the practice Practice.
Speaker 2:We're talking practice. Yeah, I mean I don't know the game is different. I mean they definitely call a little bit more games. I'm not going to say the game's not physical, because it is physical. Guys are putting in work and fighting for rebounds, more games. I'm not going to say the game's not physical because it is physical. Guys, guys are, you know, putting in work and fighting for rebounds and you know there's, there's still some physicality to game but there are some blood on the floor but there are some calls that are just like okay, the guy touched him with his pointer finger.
Speaker 2:Like can we let it go the guy? The guy barely affected his shot. Like let's not call a foul and send him to the line when he made the shot, just let it go.
Speaker 2:An affectionate poke. Well, I hate when a game turns into send the guy to the line, every other player, and then we're sitting there waiting for them to get to the line, they shoot their shots and they've got to get daps from all their teammates and then, whether they make it or not, and then we go down the other end. Somebody else is fouled, just let them play. Just let them play. A little physicality in the game is all right.
Speaker 1:There is a social aspect to the game.
Speaker 2:Oh, I'm not saying there isn't, I'm just saying like but that being said, you know we have a hair.
Speaker 1:more Jimmy Butler drama here Jimmy Butler would want now.
Speaker 2:Well, it's kind of the same drama.
Speaker 1:It's kind of the same drama, but you know, here we get a little more depth into what's going on. The Miami Heat have actually suspended Jimmy Butler for seven games for multiple instances of conduct detrimental to the team, particularly over the last several weeks. I mean this seems to be unwinding for the worst.
Speaker 2:I think that part of this comes from last season and when Jimmy Butler wasn't playing with the team and they were losing in the playoffs, jimmy had made a statement about if he had been on the court they would have won. And Pat Riley, who is part of the front office of the Heat and was a coach for a long time, he kind of said, if you didn't play, shut your mouth. But he didn't direct it at Butler. But you know, when your most popular player says something when they didn't play, you can kind of put two and two together.
Speaker 2:So I kind of think that might be a little bit of a.
Speaker 1:Player discipline is a thing you know, it's just, we'll get to that part in a little bit.
Speaker 2:I think Pat Riley and Jimmy are at odds, and I think that's why he wants to leave.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I mean, I like Jimmy Butler, so.
Speaker 2:I like Jimmy Butler too, but I don't like when Jimmy Butler gets in his feelings and starts acting like a diva.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I mean, you've got to determine which battles you're going to pick.
Speaker 2:True, Sometimes you let some things go.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:And maybe consider consequences of, if you respond, how it's going to play out bond how it's going to, you know, play out so well in this case, some, some something being letting go is probably going to be butler being let go to another team, because they're probably at that point where they're going to be done with his drama well, hey, he gets.
Speaker 1:He gets some fresh daisies in the air. They may get some compensation. Everybody wins. Let's move on.
Speaker 2:Yeah, speaking of moving, on.
Speaker 1:Yeah, speaking of moving on College playoff football schedule. College football playoff schedule that's this week. However, we want to say it whatever you want to call it, Tomato tomato.
Speaker 2:Saltines and saltines. The first game coming up will be Thursday night. It'll be the Penn State-Notre Dame game, and that'll be 7.30 on ESPN. Well, 7.30 Eastern on ESPN. But, interesting little fact about this game. Brian, you want to touch on that?
Speaker 1:Oh, yes, this is cool. You know, I just happened to come across this thing because the jerseys Notre Dame was wearing, you know, with the gold lettering and the gold words, and one of these things came across our feed and I thought it was particularly interesting. Charles Du is a walk-on cornerback from Beijing, china, and I thought this was particularly interesting because these jerseys were hot enough. He's opted to have his name not in English. His name is in Chinese writing on his American football jersey. By the way, I think this is awesome and if you go and find it I know we're a podcast, can't show you a picture of it, but if you go look it up online Charles Duh, notre Dame cornerback.
Speaker 2:It's actually really rather cool looking and I hope this kid turns out to be a hell of a star one day, because I know I forget the player but I know in the NFL there was an offensive lineman on the Chiefs who actually got his doctorate and just needed to go through a residency and stuff to become a full-fledged doctor. I mean, he was a doctor but he wasn't, like he hadn't done his residency yet. So he actually petitioned the NFL to have the doctor part, the DR dot, his name, put on the jersey and they denied him and I just thought that was such a huge miss by the NFL.
Speaker 2:Like you should have done that. So, like by Notre Dame doing this for this player. I mean think about not only the branding that is available from doing that, but the growth you include your team Like. You're going to grow your team beyond the States. You're going to grow your team beyond the States. You're going to grow your team beyond just here. You know and by showing that you have a player in the NFL that has a doctrine you know because, like most people think you know football players meatheads they don't know anything.
Speaker 2:But like there are some guys that you know graduated from Harvard or Yale or you know there are some Ivy League players and other players who got you know big-time degrees. But to shine some light on that is a good thing. And Notre Dame, by letting their player choose to have his jersey done in the Chinese characters for him. That's going to be really cool because you know people that probably know him, and his family and his family's friends will all probably be watching the game and be like, oh look, he's representing our culture.
Speaker 1:I wish they'd let him take it a step further and put his number in Chinese too, for real.
Speaker 2:But you know that's not realistic.
Speaker 1:You got to be you know, or maybe put it on the sides, you know, but keep the big ones obviously.
Speaker 2:Regardless, I think it's a cool thing. I think so too. It's a good step.
Speaker 2:This will be a really fun game aside from that, like having penn state and notre dame oh yes, yeah, this is gonna be a blast of a game here, okay, um yeah, because, notre dame, they, their defense was playing really well last week and if they show up and play that kind of defense against Penn State, I mean that could be a really, really tough game for Penn State. I'm not saying Penn State doesn't have a chance, because they certainly have a chance. They've played well all year, but you know, Penn State's pretty tough, don't get me wrong.
Speaker 1:Uh, I really I'm partial to Notre Dame here. In this one I like Notre Dame to get the win. I won't be mad whoever wins, but uh yeah, I'm not.
Speaker 2:I don't really have a horse in the race, but I know a few folks that went to Notre Dame so personally and I know they want their team to win. So when you know people personally that have a horse in the fight, you kind of need to lean that way.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I agree with that.
Speaker 2:Either way, what I want to see is a good game. I want to see a good game, and I don't think we'll be disappointed Thursday night. I don't think so either.
Speaker 1:I think that's going to be fireworks of game Next. Well, yeah, after that Texas-Ohio State.
Speaker 2:That's going to be Friday evening on ESPN at 7.30, again Eastern Standard Time. That's going to be a really good game for the fact that you have Texas just go back and forth with Arizona in their last game and end a double overtime and pull off the win, and their prize to moving forward is now you get Ohio State, who has looked like a very different team in these playoffs?
Speaker 1:Are they still letting Ewers start or have they moved on to Arch?
Speaker 2:Ewers is their quarterback. After this season he's probably moving on to another college because they want to really get Arch going.
Speaker 1:He is because I saw we discussed this last show where they're the NIL saw. I don't know. We discussed this last show where they're the nil, like there's. Well, yeah, he's got to have something in. I have. I saw something recently, in the last day or two since since that recording. That's why I was confused for a second, because, um, I saw something he said he's in the, he's in the portal and he wants to go to. He's interested in going to any school with texas on their schedule.
Speaker 2:So texas, he's putting a bullseye on texas oh well, wouldn't you be upset if you're being pushed out? Absolutely, especially if I, especially if you know that you're good like well, I mean unfortunately, when you got a guy behind you that has two uncles that are Super. Bowl winners.
Speaker 1:The pedigree.
Speaker 2:And his grandfather was also in the NFL. So you're kind of set up to fail there if you're not like ten times better than him, which you know. Unfortunately for him he didn't have. You know the two uncles with Super Bowl wins that could come in and teach him things and tell him how to play the game. And not only have a grandfather, that could do the same.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I see what you're saying now. Yeah you're right, it takes a lot of work, determination.
Speaker 2:What's that thing having a silver spoon?
Speaker 1:Oh, yeah, or being born on third. Yeah, I was born on third.
Speaker 2:But the interesting thing is you remember a few episodes back. We were talking about Ohio State when they lost to Michigan and how you know, people in the alum of Ohio State have been sitting here going fire him, fire the coach. Well, your coach has you one game away from being in the national championship.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:One game away from being in the national championship. Yeah, so I mean, if he wins this and goes to the national championship, and let's say he goes to the national championship and he loses, if you fire that man, that would be completely dumb Considering that he kind of he has his team playing way better than they were a few weeks ago when it they just didn't seem like they could get their passing game going. I mean, when I say they couldn't get it going, it's like you have, like some of the best receivers and it it seemed at times like they were just disappearing at times on the field. Now it doesn't. Now they're hitting on all cylinders.
Speaker 1:Now they look like the team that everybody thought they were yeah, and I mean I agree, I don't see why I don't. I don't think they should fire them, especially as far as they can. I mean, ohio is arguably playing their best football right now exactly they're really hot they.
Speaker 2:They knocked out the number one ranked team yeah, I mean they might be.
Speaker 1:I I have a. They might be texas. I'm kind of pulling for texas a little bit, but they might beat texas I honestly think they're going to beat texas yeah uh, sorry for anybody who's a texas fan, but it's the cold hard facts that.
Speaker 2:And and just remember, they were playing against arizona state and almost got knocked out. Now, granted, that was some damn good coaching by arizona state to get what, get what they could and take them as far as they did. And you know it did also come down to a couple of his field goals by texas to to get them there. But you, but nobody wants to hear about the if, woulds, coulds, shoulds, they just want to see who won.
Speaker 2:And Texas won, they moved on. They're going to have to show up and play a much more sound game against Ohio State, otherwise they're going to be out.
Speaker 1:Yeah, no, I agree, I mean it's make or break time for all the teams. It has been for a couple weeks now. But yeah, Texas needs to step up and probably play their best ball of the season to hang with Ohio State so, and I'm eager to see who makes the championship. I mean, all four of these teams are powerhouses.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I'm eager to see who makes the championship. I mean, all four of these teams are powerhouses. Yeah, I'm eager to see it too. I feel like, unlike in years past, where we've had some bowl games where it's been complete blowouts, these games have been pretty good. I mean the first few games. I mean, yeah, Penn State did, you know, beat the crap out of Boise, but you know it happened. But Boise made a showing at the end of the season, didn't they?
Speaker 2:They did. But what I like is it seems like the competitive balance is more balanced than it has ever been in college football, and I like that. So I feel like we're getting a better brand of football. We're getting better competition between these teams.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:I would agree with that. Yeah, was it. I think North Dakota State just won their championship.
Speaker 1:Yeah, congratulations, north Dakota State.
Speaker 2:Yes, congratulations to them too. I think they've won it multiple times now.
Speaker 1:Didn't Carson Wentz come from there?
Speaker 2:I believe so. I believe so, and so did Trey Lance, and actually Trey Lance's brother is a wide receiver on there.
Speaker 1:All right.
Speaker 2:Actually caught a touchdown in that game, nice, pretty impressive one actually.
Speaker 1:Hopefully his brother will actually be better than the first two we mentioned. That's saying all that would.
Speaker 2:Yes, definitely.
Speaker 1:I think that game's going to be fireworks as well. That one, january 10th, 7.30 pm, and once again Penn State, notre Dame, january 9th, the day before that one, also at 7.30 pm. So going to be rocking going into wildcard weekend. But before we get to wildcard, let's do one last time. Let's take a recap what happened here in week 18? Because that's going to give us some answers as to what we're looking at here. Going into the playoff wildcard weekend, let's start out here.
Speaker 2:You do realize that we're getting Thursday night. We're going to have a football game. Friday night have a football game. Saturday, have a football game. Sunday, have football man. It's going to be a great four days.
Speaker 1:Yeah, all they're doing is moving Mondayay night football to friday. Well, yeah, we are getting a little bit extra two college.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's right because the two college games.
Speaker 1:I know I'm just saying in my head you know how it would work out mathematically speaking, but it it doesn't, so it doesn't matter. But I think you're right. We are spoiled. We get college playoff games, we got NFL playoff games and if you weren't excited enough, just around the block is the XFL.
Speaker 2:I don't know that anybody's getting super excited for it, but I get what you're saying Just more football, more football.
Speaker 1:I'm just excited for more football. But you know we focus on bigger sports as we come into the springtime, even though the XFL will probably be focused. But here we go.
Speaker 2:We do have a playoff picture in focus because of Week 18. So let's discuss these games from this past week that shook out this playoff.
Speaker 1:All right. Saturday was all about the AFC North Browns and the Ravens Bengals and the Steelers. Look, is anybody surprised by the Browns' late season collapse here?
Speaker 2:I think the Browns were just trying to get through their last game and get to the offseason. Everybody's thinking about their vacation.
Speaker 1:Good answer.
Speaker 2:It also doesn't help that in the game you keep switching from Bailey Zappi to Thompson Robinson or whatever the other quarterback's name is Skylar Thompson. No, it's not Skylar Thompson, it's like Thompson.
Speaker 1:Thompson Bryson.
Speaker 2:I don't know, I don't know. I don't follow Brown's backups. Anyway, they kept switching back and forth between their quarterbacks. Neither one seemed to really be doing anything. I mean, zappi did get some decent throws in there, but they looked inept on offense. They were working with Dante Foreman as their running back, so they didn't have a lot of their key pieces on offense. They just looked inept going against the Ravens who were hitting on all cylinders.
Speaker 1:Absolutely horrid.
Speaker 2:Although they might be in a little bit of a worrisome state because Zay Flowers did go down with a knee injury and didn't come back. All we know at this point is it's day-to-day. We don't know if that means that he's going to be ready for their next game, which is Saturday night, or if he's going to be out. I mean, I still think that they'll be okay if he's out, but you really want to have Zay Flowers if he can happen.
Speaker 1:I don't know he kind of needs Zay Flowers. I mean not to knock Bateman, but if Bateman went down, they'd probably be okay, but Zay Flowers, I think they need Zay Flowers. We'll see what happens, though. They'd probably be okay, but Zay Flowers, I think they need Zay Flowers. We'll see what happens, though, but you know, in Cleveland, let Myles Garrett go. I thought of that just a second ago. I just wanted to put that out there.
Speaker 2:I don't think he's going to go anywhere Let that man go somewhere where he can thrive. They're probably going to do the same thing that some other teams have done, where they hold on to a player to the point where he's almost past his prime and then let him go and have one good year somewhere, and then he'll be past his prime the next year.
Speaker 1:Well, maybe the seventh offensive coordinator will be good for him. We'll see what happens.
Speaker 2:And now but the yes, bangles and Steelers game followed that.
Speaker 1:That's what I was going to say. Yeah, Steelers man, four games skid to close out the season I don't know what to say somehow they're still in the playoffs they.
Speaker 2:This is, this is like the team that has double digit wins that you're just, you're not scared of. Yeah, who was scared of the Pittsburgh Steelers?
Speaker 1:They're like the idiot cousin that stumbled into the championship somehow.
Speaker 2:Like I don't understand. Okay, I saw this game and it confused me that you have a short yardage situation and you bring out your smaller back in Warren and try to have him run it, instead of bringing in your big back in Harris and let him run it.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:And you had three shots to get this first down and you couldn't do it. Three shots to get this first down and you couldn't do it. So, like I, I don't understand what they're doing at times with their play calling yeah, and I don't understand their usage of their big back. Really, it seems like they want warren to beat the lead back, but then when they need bruising runs, he can't do the bruising runs because he's a smaller back.
Speaker 1:He's a speed back, he's a receiving back. He should be the third down back but they're using him to change the pace.
Speaker 2:If you want to do change the pace, but they use him so weirdly. They'll bring out Najee Harris, run it once with him and then bring Warren in and he'll run it you know, six, seven times for them, and then they'll bring Najee Harrison for one play yeah, it seems like they're running Warren Moore and Najee.
Speaker 1:Let I did.
Speaker 2:I have noticed that too it doesn't make any sense, like why are you using your big back less? Yeah and using your option and change of pace, third down back more and, if anything's clear, their o-line definitely probably needs help, because aside from their poor.
Speaker 1:Well, they're young, but aside from the poor running game, russell wilson's absolutely getting pummeled this season.
Speaker 2:Yes, he is, he he's definitely have, I mean god I mean, there's plays.
Speaker 1:he don't even have time to run for his life, he's just.
Speaker 2:Yeah, he's been struck down before he has a chance. But I mean, it was a tight game. They put up a fight.
Speaker 1:I mean, they kept it close Final score was 19-17. And kudos to the Bengals' defense for stepping up.
Speaker 2:They've been playing considerably better. What defense was that? Because, like, where's that been all year?
Speaker 1:They'd be so much farther ahead. They'd be in the playoffs, yeah and not the Steelers Kind of spoiled there.
Speaker 2:Yeah, Bengals did not make it. They needed some things to fall in their favor. They needed Broncos to lose and they needed Miami to lose. They got one of them. Yeah, they didn't get the other.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2:But so that was the Saturday slate games. You had the Bengals and Steelers, with the Bengals winning, and the Ravens and Browns going, with the Ravens winning 35-10. So one game that had some playoff implications that you wouldn't have thought of was the Panthers and the Falcons. Now, the Falcons they needed this win and they needed for Tampa to lose to give them the option of getting into the playoffs.
Speaker 1:But Panthers showed up to play man. I am excited for this Panthers team in 2025,. Man Bryce Young seems to have broken out here at the end of the season. Chuba Hubbard Is Chuba Hubbard in a long Well, he got hurt. Well, yeah.
Speaker 2:But it's not something that's going to require surgery in the offseason. They just kept him out for the rest of the game.
Speaker 1:Well, that's okay, He'll come back. Yeah, he'll come back. This offense is rocking and rolling and this defense is playing too.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah, the defense is playing tough, but the Atlanta Falcons, even though they didn't make the playoffs. You've got to have some enthusiasm after seeing what Penix has been doing.
Speaker 1:Oh gosh, I was hoping you were going to. I was hoping for this.
Speaker 2:I mean, yeah, you didn't make it in. It does suck when your team doesn't make the playoffs, but you've got to have hope. You know, by seeing this, hey, they're.
Speaker 1:You know, you either look like a genius or an idiot, and I say the Falcons organization.
Speaker 2:Look like geniuses right now going out and get Pennix after signing cousins. Yeah, after so many people were like, why are they doing? What is wrong with them? Why did they do man? It's called an insurance policy yeah, to see they were looking for their. They were looking for their uh state farm well, and it's not just that.
Speaker 1:Not only do they put up points I mean, cousins could put up points here or there, oh, but do you look at the way Pennix is operating?
Speaker 2:I don't know. These last few weeks it didn't seem like Cousins was putting up points he's putting up picks.
Speaker 1:Well, he's putting up picks. He's putting up points for somebody, Anyway, but do you look at the way Penix operates this offense when he's under center right? I think he's got a very bright future. I think this is the guy in Atlanta.
Speaker 2:Oh, no doubt. I don't think Cousins is going to come back.
Speaker 1:And he made some throws. Man, I'm just the NFC South y'all. We need to watch out because these guys are coming up.
Speaker 2:I like that meme that you sent me where it basically said checklist it had. Does the quarterback have a left arm? Throw left-handed Check? Yeah, what was it? It was like left-handed quarterback Check.
Speaker 1:Yeah, what was it? It was like left-handed quarterback Check Drafted.
Speaker 2:Drafted in the first round.
Speaker 1:Drafted in the first round. Check, check by the Atlanta Falcons Check. And then he was like, so it was like, if you change the letter, If you change one letter in the person's name, does it spell? Something infallible.
Speaker 2:Yes, check, all right, cool so it's like you got mike vick and yeah but yeah, mike, vick and pinnix, you know where we're going with that. I'll let you use your imagination, change one letter, what do you?
Speaker 1:get. So yeah, that was funny one, that was cool, but yeah, nfc south internet's undefeated looking, looking, very bright. Uh, you know we'll get to the other two teams that division here shortly.
Speaker 2:Uh, let's get on over here to a very forgetful game sir, you should feel sorry for your team right here you should look, I've been, I've been feeling sorry okay, so what we're talking about here is the, the washington commanders going against the dallas cowboys, who dallas was basically playing backups and I think washington was. I think washington doing.
Speaker 1:I think they wanted to win, but I think they are you sure, I think they didn't want to play hard, right? I think they're like okay, we're gonna win, but so we're not to play hard, right?
Speaker 2:I think they're like okay, we're going to win, but we're not going to play hard. What you're saying is they were playing with their food.
Speaker 1:They've been trying. Look for the last two to three weeks. I swear these guys have been trying their hardest to lose, but they've been winning.
Speaker 2:Well, they can't do that this next weekend, but we're not going to get there yet. We're going to keep talking about these games.
Speaker 1:Anyway, forget the whole game, because it has zero impact.
Speaker 2:We had the divisional. All these games are divisional matchups, but we had the classic Bears versus Packers.
Speaker 1:Man, let me tell you what. Where has this Bears team been this season?
Speaker 2:Not on the field, it seems.
Speaker 1:Because they handled the Packers.
Speaker 2:They played the Packers tough. But it also helps when you have and unfortunately for the Packers they're not going to have Christian Watson for the playoffs because he went down with an apparent knee injury and it's a torn ACL non-contact injury. Everybody knew the moment. They saw it, nobody touched him, he just went down and then he was grabbing at his knee. So it's a horrible sight to see, especially this late in the season and especially when it's a big-time receiver for your team who seems to show up at times when you really need them to, and unfortunately this is a huge hit for him. Hopefully he recovers well.
Speaker 1:Recover well, see Watts.
Speaker 2:But they're also not only dealing with that, but they're also dealing with their quarterback. Love has got some injuries to deal with himself. He's got a groin injury right now.
Speaker 1:He's been fighting hamstring and groin injuries for pretty much the entire second half of the season and I think this all started. Is this in the same leg? He had that injury week one in.
Speaker 2:Hey, look, all I know is he's probably still dealing with it. Because you can't exactly go into the locker room and say, hey, you know, I need somebody to rub out this injury or something. You can't be love and jump up on the table and be like I got a groin injury.
Speaker 1:He's in the chair. Come on y'all. Somebody get my stanky leg.
Speaker 2:Only one quarterback has done that. Yeah.
Speaker 1:Let me just drag my stanky leg.
Speaker 2:Good old Massage Watson.
Speaker 1:Drag my stanky leg back to the locker room here.
Speaker 2:Massage Watson will tell them that's not a good idea.
Speaker 1:Green Bay almost came back, if they did.
Speaker 2:Emphasis on almost.
Speaker 1:I think that they would have switched spots with us in the bracket if they would have, but they didn't and that sucks for them.
Speaker 2:Either way, they're still in the playoffs, so it's okay.
Speaker 1:Jacksonville, Indianapolis, 23-26.
Speaker 2:No real implication other than on draft status. But in fairness, it was a good game. They did take it in overtime.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:You know Jacksonville had to tie it late with a deep field goal and they did it and they took it in overtime and the Colts came away with the win.
Speaker 1:I agree with them parting ways with their head coach. They have plenty of talent to work with and they're just not quite getting there.
Speaker 2:I thought they fired their defense coach.
Speaker 1:I thought they fired Doug Peterson.
Speaker 2:Oh, you're talking about Jacksonville.
Speaker 1:Never mind, yeah, jacksonville. Never mind, yes, you're right.
Speaker 2:Jacksonville, fired Doug Peterson. Oh, you're talking about Jacksonville.
Speaker 1:Never mind, yeah, never mind. Yes, you're right, jacksonville fired Doug Peterson.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah, We'll get into all that.
Speaker 1:We'll get into all the hiring and firings. Yeah, you're right. These are side notes, though, for some of these conversations though. But you're right, yeah, the Colts did fire the defensive coach. Jacksonville fired their head coach.
Speaker 2:So, moving on to the next divisional matchup of Buffalo versus the Patriots, and the more shocking thing here maybe it isn't that shocking because I mean, did Buffalo really need this game? No, they had already locked up the two seed.
Speaker 1:They played backups.
Speaker 2:They threw in backups Mitch Trubisky was at quarterback for them and Patriots just took advantage and played them hard and got the win, which really probably was a bad idea for them because that affects their draft status. So now they don't sit up there with the number one pick, they move back a few spots.
Speaker 1:But we could probably get into draft status and spots I mean, unless you're, unless you're taking a quarterback or an offensive tackle, do you really need a top three pick?
Speaker 2:if you're looking for a quarterback in this year's draft, you need to be in the top three but I don't think they're looking for a quarterback. I got drake may no, I know they got drake may. But if they wanted oh, I don't know draft capital got Drake May. But if they wanted, oh, I don't know.
Speaker 1:Draft, capital draft, you know draft.
Speaker 2:No, no, no, no, no. If they wanted a Travis Hunter, you need to be up there in those first few picks if you want that. If you don't want that, then yeah, sure Back up and go somewhere else in the draft order and get whatever you, whatever you want.
Speaker 1:But well, I agree with you. Honestly, I think if you're in the top five, you're in a really good position, because most teams in the top five are looking for quarterbacks, uh or I don't know.
Speaker 2:That's a good position to be in the top, because if you're in the top, that means you're not in the playoffs well it's usually when you're in the back half strategy wise, I'm talking-wise, I'm talking about strategy-wise as far as those teams.
Speaker 1:Being in the top five is not bad, because you can still deal that for multiple picks or you can take one of the top players.
Speaker 2:I don't think anybody's jumping up in this draft. I just don't. This is not the draft for quarterbacks. It really isn't no. But moving on, we got the Giants taking on the Eagles and with the Eagles squeaking by and getting the win.
Speaker 1:The Giants are so horrible I don't know who's more sad them or the Browns.
Speaker 2:Final score being 20-13, Eagles playing backups and stuff and they've got a bit of an injury concern going into playoffs as well. Jalen Hurts is still in concussion protocol.
Speaker 1:They're getting ready to go play against the Packers. Kenny Pickett, give it up. Kenny Pickett is playing competent football for them, though.
Speaker 2:He is, but there's a couple picks, but he's playing fairly competent. It's a whole other animal when you're in the playoffs, so I don't know how this is going to shake out. It is different.
Speaker 1:And their first seed, but we'll get to them in a little bit, but just taking a quick check, their first seed is against Green Bay and their quarterback is also dealing with injuries. This might not be too bad of an offset matchup but here we go.
Speaker 1:It would be the backup bowl Getting into the nfc south here, the saints forgettable matchup for them, firing their head coach. Did try to play spoiler to the buccaneers but the buccaneers pulled it out. Uh, baker mayfield, probably playing some of the best football of his career, maybe even of his life right now.
Speaker 2:A good side note from this game was Mike Evans had an incentive If he got five more catches in this game and 85 yards, he would get a bonus, and he got his five more receptions.
Speaker 1:He got seven yards.
Speaker 2:And he got his five more receptions. He got seven yards and he got his he needed he was 82 yards and he got 89 on the day. Well, yeah, yeah, which records his I think, 11th in a row thousand yard season.
Speaker 1:Yep, yes, sir.
Speaker 2:Thousand yard seasons, tying Jerry Rice for the most consecutive thousand yard receiving seasons, which, when you start including your name with players like Jerry Rice, yeah you're doing something. I mean Mike Evans he's a no-doubt Hall of Famer when he hangs it up.
Speaker 1:I mean Super Bowl winner, multiple-time All-Star, just like come on Lifelong Buccaneer, career-long Buccaneer, and you know it'll be sad to see him go when he does and I'm also excited. I think Mayfield is the future for them. I certainly hope he is, he looks like it. But I'm also excited about Bucky Irving for these guys. Yeah, they've got this running back, running man.
Speaker 2:What a deal for them that they got Baker at the price they did. You know, they gave him just a bottom line kind of contract. I mean, don't get me wrong, he's still. I think he's like what 35 mil a year or something like that, which is very low compared to the rest of the starting quarterbacks that have gotten new deals because it's next man up. But he is a steal for them and I think it's one of those situations where they benefit each other. Baker being with them and them having Baker is a match made in heaven.
Speaker 1:And he came in, I think, in what like 22 or so 21 or 22 to the Buccaneers to compete for a bridge quarterback job, similar to what happened with Geno in Seattle, and he ends up not only winning, but look at him now you know. So congratulations to them and the Buccaneers organization. I know they're very excited.
Speaker 2:uh, tennessee and houston, texans man now they're again divisional games, but uh, this game, this game was a little closer than it needed to be now. Granted, I'm sure houston wasn't exactly looking to play real tough because they were locked up in their seating for the playoffs and they're pretty much ready. I mean, they're just ready to get into the playoffs.
Speaker 1:Yeah, they're ready to go ahead.
Speaker 2:Kudos to the Titans to try to put up something, but the one thing they took away from this game was securing the number one pick in this upcoming draft. So, and they might take a quarterback, so we'll see what happens with that.
Speaker 1:We'll see what happens on their GM search, which we'll get to here momentarily. How about from your team man, take it a bludgeon 24-47.
Speaker 2:I'm sorry I'm not laughing at you, arizona Cardinals. I'm sorry I'm not laughing at you, arizona Cardinals. I mean honestly, this is just the cap off to a horrible year that we lose in this fashion. But in fairness, we did put the Pastronaut Josh.
Speaker 1:The Astronaut.
Speaker 2:No, the Pastronaut, that's his nickname, the Pastronaut.
Speaker 1:Sounds kinky.
Speaker 2:Dobbs putting him in at quarterback, and it didn't look so great yeah, because we lost the way we lost.
Speaker 1:Hopefully Josh Dobbs has a career.
Speaker 2:Side note from the stance of the 49ers.
Speaker 2:Side note from the stance of the 49ers Javarius Ward, who, if you guys didn't know he had a tragedy strike him during the season.
Speaker 2:If you're a Niners fan you already know he unfortunately, during the season his one-year-old daughter passed away and that's why he was away from the team, for reasons unknown, unspecified or personal reasons, as the designation was, and he's openly already said that he might, because he's a free agent, he might just go ahead and go elsewhere to have a fresh start, being that there's a lot of emotion and a lot of ties to the organization and to the area with losing his daughter. So for him, I'm sure that being in that area just weighs heavy on him and is a constant reminder that he lost his one-year-old daughter just weighs heavy on him and is a constant reminder that he lost his one-year-old daughter. And you know, being a Niners fan, I wish him nothing but the best. If he returns, we would love to have him back, but if he goes on to play elsewhere, I certainly don't blame him. Sometimes a change of scenery is best when you've gone through something as horrible as they did.
Speaker 1:Yeah, truly, truly sad for their family and the best wishes to them going forward.
Speaker 2:Moving on to a happier note, the next game was the Broncos and Chiefs. And if you're not, a fan of the Chiefs, you loved this outcome. The Broncos won 38 to nothing. They didn't even let the Kansas City Chiefs skip the end zone.
Speaker 1:I don't think the Chiefs were even really trying in this game.
Speaker 2:Well, I mean they put Carson Wentz in and took basically all their starters at every position out. So no, they weren't worried about it, they had the one seed locked up. But go ask a Broncos fan if they don't feel good about that.
Speaker 1:I mean, they probably feel great, I mean they needed the win, Especially since they're in the playoffs now. They probably feel great about it Exactly they needed that win to be in the playoffs now.
Speaker 2:they probably feel great about it, Exactly.
Speaker 1:They needed that win to be in the playoffs. They had to get it. So the Chiefs kind of do them a favor there.
Speaker 2:I think the Chiefs, they did a favor to them but did a favor to themselves.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Because, think about it, what's the one team that has kind of given the Chiefs fits? The Bengals. And by letting the Broncos win, bengals are out, they have no chance. They needed the Broncos to lose and they needed Miami to lose in order to get in.
Speaker 1:That's true too.
Speaker 2:So by letting them win, they did themselves a favor. No Joe Burrow, no Jamar Chase.
Speaker 1:And look at this Sean Payton team with Bo Nix balling out in year two. Bo Nix is year one Already in the playoffs, Competitive as hell and a very what's shaping up to be a competitive division.
Speaker 2:They've got a really good defense.
Speaker 1:So good job for them. Seattle and the Rams. Seattle edging the Rams 30-25. Defense so good job for them, seattle and the rams seattle edge in the rams 30 25.
Speaker 2:It wasn't enough, though, because the rams are still in and seattle's not yeah, I mean, but from from a standpoint, seattle needed to come away with this win just as a as a morale victory, because they they have played well for the majority of the year and they just had some rough stretches there that you feel for them, because it just seemed like they had kind of a similar thing that the Niners did.
Speaker 2:Just when you're getting things going, somebody goes down hurt and just when you feel like things are turning your way, here comes a big opponent that you have no chance of beating.
Speaker 1:And their offense. I know we're going to get more into it, but their offensive coordinator getting the short and the stick, kind of like Gerard Mayo. The offense didn't play too bad this year, but he got the shaft. And then down here Chargers and the Raiders 34-20. Chargers are in, raiders are not.
Speaker 2:Yeah, chargers have been playing really tough, really good ball and, with their first year with Harbaugh.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:And here's the thing Like they moved up in all categories defensive stats, offensive stats with the only thing really changing and being Harbaugh being there.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:You know, and a few signings here and there in free agency, namely a running back position, but still he's. He's done a good job turning the team around year one, yeah and I think, I think, as a charger, as any charger fan, should feel at this point, no matter what happens in the playoffs, you should feel like, if this is what you get with what you already have in-house, imagine what's going to happen when you build, when you get pieces.
Speaker 1:Yep, justin Herbert must be excited.
Speaker 2:Harbaugh's excited.
Speaker 1:So some of these teams looking rather attractive here.
Speaker 2:Moving on down. So the Jets and Dolphins the next game, with Jets pulling off a win 32-20, which you know the Dolphins did their part and lost to allow the Bengals to try to win and get in. It's a terrible spot, but you know, Chiefs being spoilers and letting the Broncos win, meaning that the Broncos are in bangles out, dolphins out. But could this be the last time we've seen aaron rogers on field?
Speaker 1:you know? I think, I think it might be, but there's something significant here that happened for aaron rogers. Aside for it possibly being his last time probably definitely his last time in a Jets uniform, I'm pretty sure he may even walk away. We'll see what happens. There's a lot of rumors floating around right now, but he got his 500th touchdown pass of his career.
Speaker 1:I believe he I don't remember the exact stats, I had them written down somewhere he has the lowest touchdown to interception ratio in the shortest career span of any nfl quarterback in history, so he's actually been remarkably efficient.
Speaker 2:He's put up some numbers and I still hate him, so a lot of people do, but I think that I think he'll be back. There's going to be a team out there because it's not a strong quarterback draft, and there's going to be somebody that needs a quarterback and wouldn't mind maybe a Giants.
Speaker 1:No.
Speaker 2:Hey, let me tell you, if their goal is to build a team and bring in a quarterback you know, a rookie quarterback through the draft, this is not the year to do it because they're too far back to get one. But maybe get a bridge quarterback to get them to the next year's draft.
Speaker 1:Maybe I could see him landing.
Speaker 2:You don't like it because he'd be in your division.
Speaker 1:No, I don't like it because it just doesn't make any rational sense in the universe we live in.
Speaker 2:What do the Giants do? That's rationally sense. Come on now.
Speaker 1:I know, first of all of all of the personnel that was fired throughout the NFL this year. The Giants probably should have fired both their GM and their head coach this year, and they kept both of them. Both of them are on the returning for 2025 list. If I'm Gerard Mayo and Ryan Grubb right now, I am fuming over Brian Dable keeping his job right now. I'm just like I'm fuming over Brian Dable keeping his job right now, like I'm just like I'm fuming.
Speaker 2:So I agree, I would be fuming too, but one does not have anything to do with the other as far as their job status.
Speaker 1:Two totally different organizations making decisions.
Speaker 2:The one game that probably everybody was interested in seeing was the Sunday night game for all the marbles. If you don't know what game I'm talking about, I don't know what football you're watching, because you're not watching NFL football the Lions and Vikings. This game was for the number one seed, the bye and the division. All you had to do was win this game and you get an automatic bye and the number one seed and everybody has to come to your house to get to the Super Bowl. Well, the Lions, they showed up.
Speaker 1:The final score being 31-9. Boy, did they?
Speaker 2:they let them know who's in charge here, okay, so I think the more impressive thing not not the fact forget the offense forget the offense, because the offense did what they've always done. They played the way they played. But they have been decimated by injury and the defense, aside, has been the one who has taken the brunt of most of those injuries. But their defense played lights out they did they played so well. They stopped them on fourth down in the red zone. Was it like three, three times?
Speaker 1:Yeah, they did. And let me tell you what. The defense aside, Jameer Gibbs, four touchdowns on the ground. Bro, they handled Minnesota like a bunch of ragdolls.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I mean they were giving Sam Darnold fits. They were ready, they were in his face a lot rattling him.
Speaker 1:They were ready, and, I think, rightfully so, and I think that the Lions needed to not just win this game. I think that they needed to make a statement, and they certainly did here. No, this is us this year.
Speaker 2:You know, you might think, after seeing this and seeing the way that Darnold played, that you might go. Maybe we'll have reservations about giving them the money. Maybe we'll have reservations about him being the star for the Vikings. I don't think so. One game does not dictate a player, because there's been plenty of players.
Speaker 2:You can even go back to Payne Manning when he threw multiple picks his rookie year yeah you know, multiple people probably said he was a bust then and it was total and utter BS because look, he became, you know, multiple time pro bowler and and multiple time, uh, super Bowl champ. So you can't just judge off of a game and a great defensive scheme, which I wouldn't be surprised if the Lions lose both their defensive and offensive coordinator to head coaching jobs in this offseason.
Speaker 1:The Vikings, I think, hit panic mode rather early in this game because Going for it on fourth down.
Speaker 2:too many times Going for it on fourth down.
Speaker 1:You know they didn't game plan for that and that's probably why those situations didn't work. They probably game planned with the intent to obviously score touchdowns. But just take the points. Sometimes you just got to take the points right Now. I know the age of the NFL we're coming into.
Speaker 2:It's very exciting Go for it on fourth down, let's go for it on fourth down. Especially for the Lions.
Speaker 1:Fourth and short, but at a certain point okay, when it's 10-3, then it's 13-3, then it's 16-3. At some point you've got to compromise and just take points and start shifting the momentum in your favor.
Speaker 2:Exactly, but Lions come away with the win, the division, the number one seed, the bye and now the Vikings moving to fifth spot. So all of these games have shook out this upcoming weekend for what we're going to see for wild card weekend. So starting Saturday, January 11th, wildcard weekend. So starting Saturday, January 11th, we're going to have the first game at 4.30 pm Eastern on CBS. It's going to be the Chargers versus the Houston Texans.
Speaker 1:That's right.
Speaker 2:That should shake out to be a pretty good game. That's right, that should shake out to be a pretty good game. Two former coaches with the Niners heading up these teams and we're going to see Herbert in another playoff game in the wild card again. Hopefully, for his sake, it's a lot better than when they played Jacksonville.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah, I'm eager to see this game. I think it'll be an interesting game. Houston historically hasn't lasted terribly long in the playoffs, but maybe they change that. I like Jim Harbaugh's team here.
Speaker 2:I think they're going to work out some of the kinks that they've been having. Yeah, and Houston down the stretch. They've lost some key players, namely Tank Dell, who was when they were playing the Chiefs. It looked like they couldn't stop him and they were going to come away with a win in that game, which, sad to say, he got hurt. And they lost Stephon Diggs during the year. So they've been depleted on their offensive side, but they still have weapons. They still have the ability to move the ball down the field.
Speaker 1:Yeah, they got Nico Collins back.
Speaker 2:Yeah, they got Nico Collins back and Joe. Mixon has been pretty good for them all year yeah.
Speaker 1:I think they'll play a good game.
Speaker 2:I think it'll be a solid matchup. I really do.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I'm not saying that LA is going to wipe the floor with them.
Speaker 2:No, it's not going to be a blowout. It's going to be one of those games that the more aggressive, tougher-willed team that wins in the trenches is going to win. This game.
Speaker 1:But I think Jim Harbaugh is going to get an edge here because he's very well-versed in dealing with mobile quarterback dual-threat quarterbacks.
Speaker 2:He's very well versed in dealing with mobile quarterback, dual threat quarterbacks. Yeah, this isn't going to be, you know, a flashy. Throw the ball around the yard the whole game long. You're going to have to rely on the run in this game.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I think it'll be a bit of a grind, but you know we'll see what happens. You know number four Texans hosting the number five Chargers. One is 11-6, one is 10-7. We'll see where they end up. Next up on Saturday night, follow that game, 8 pm. We've got the Steelers at the Ravens. The Steelers shouldn't even be in this playoff picture.
Speaker 2:Just a note. That game will be on Prime, so you'll have to have Amazon Prime Video in order to watch that game.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah, yeah, that game will be on Prime.
Speaker 2:So if you want to watch that game, you've got to stream it. Yeah, that's just another round of Steelers-Ravens, another AFC North battle.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I mean, I honestly don't even think the Steelers should be in this. I think the Broncos are a better pick in the playoffs than the Steelers are, I'm not trying to bash them.
Speaker 2:This is a game where we're going to find out a lot about the Steelers, because if they played like they did this past weekend against the Bengals, they're not winning this game. They need to find a way to move the ball and get better passes to Pickens, and Pickens needs to actually catch the ball.
Speaker 1:There's a few times he just dropped it. It's been like what, four years since Russell Wilson's played in the playoffs?
Speaker 2:Oh, I don't recall how long it's been.
Speaker 1:I don't recall how long it's been. I saw a stat line. I don't recall how long it's been. It's been a few years.
Speaker 2:But I know he needs to show up.
Speaker 1:He needs to show up or you know, I hope they show up, but honestly I don't think they're going to get past the Ravens Not here.
Speaker 2:You know, I hesitate to say that only because we have seen it in the past, where a team they get in as a wild card and everybody's like no, no chance, namely Giants 0-9. Yeah, you know no chance, no chance. They won the Super Bowl. Like you, just got to get hot at the right time. Now, granted, you can't back your way into the playoffs losing multiple games in a row, like they have, and I mean they're like they're gonna be on a hot street yeah, I don't, I, I don't see it but and one of those was against the ravens.
Speaker 1:Yes, by the way.
Speaker 2:Yes which they are going into the Ravens' house, like they did last time when they lost so odds kind of strongly in the Ravens' favor.
Speaker 1:I think so. I'm checking the Ravens here Moving over to Sunday at 1 o'clock, predominantly on CBS. Denver at Buffalo. I think this game is going to have some fireworks in it. I like Buffalo to get the edge, but I honestly think if Denver plays it right, that defense could shut down Buffalo. Buffalo's got an awfully potent offense.
Speaker 2:I don't know if you can shut them down per se as much as you need to slow them down, I still think Buffalo's going to awfully potent offense. I don't know if you can shut them down per se as much as you need to slow them down I still think Buffalo's going to score some points I agree with the slowing part.
Speaker 2:They score fast. But if you can kind of keep it to where they have long drives and you keep your team with possession of the clock and keeping long drives on your end and keep the game close, you have a better chance. Now if you just try to get in a shootout battle with them, I don't think the Broncos can get into a shootout battle with them.
Speaker 1:No, I don't think so either.
Speaker 2:I think they need to play a lot of. You know, grind the clock, keep the ball.
Speaker 1:Play keep away pretty much ball control. Play keep away pretty much.
Speaker 2:Try to play. Keep away and try to keep the bills when they're on the field.
Speaker 1:Keep them in long drives, do not let them yeah, don't let them find their edge, don't let them get into tune or gel. They need to stay slow. Three and outs you start letting them come out and throw on you. I don't think they're going to that. Against this denver defense, though I don't, I don't know.
Speaker 2:It's gonna be interesting matchup for sure. I I really, I really think buffalo will come away with the win, but hey, I've been wrong before I mean we'll see what happens.
Speaker 1:we're moving on to the next game, the 430 slot, Fox Green Bay at Philly. Both these teams are kind of busted up skidding into the playoffs.
Speaker 2:We might see a game of the backups in that one, because we don't know what's going to happen with Love. I mean they say he's playing, but you know a soft tissue injury. I mean he may play and then be out. We don't know. We haven't heard anything about Hurts playing, so this might be a game-time decision. If he really is going to play, that's right.
Speaker 1:Kenny Pickett's going to do his best impression of Nick Foles and take Philly to another Super.
Speaker 2:Bowl, he can just sit there and give it to Saquon. This might wind up being a running game on both sides, because you've got Josh Jacobs on the other side, who's been a good back all year for Green Bay, who they could ride the running game.
Speaker 1:They definitely had LaShawn McCoy back then, didn't they?
Speaker 2:Eagles.
Speaker 1:Yeah, when Nick Foles was playing with them, when they went on that run.
Speaker 2:No.
Speaker 1:With Wentz.
Speaker 2:No.
Speaker 1:Oh.
Speaker 2:No, he was long gone by then.
Speaker 1:That's terrible.
Speaker 2:Anyway, anyway, he's getting his years mixed up.
Speaker 1:The 8 o'clock slot.
Speaker 2:The one that he's interested in.
Speaker 1:Washington, tampa Bay bay, 8 pm nbc. Sunday night football. Uh, I think washington has a problem here.
Speaker 2:I like washington, that's my team, but if they let baker may, yeah you you, you got, you got the crap one dealt to you here having to play tampa, yeah, in tampa I honestly I'd rather play tampa than play philly with hertz, though um under center, well, I mean I think right now would be the perfect time to play philly, but you guys don't have them but I think I would rather take on tampa or the rams, but obviously I'm not in control.
Speaker 1:But if they let mayfield come out here and start slinging the ball on them, they're to run away with it, because that's exactly what happened in week one. They came out and they could not stop the pass and they just got crushed.
Speaker 2:I mean they didn't get crushed, but they lost a pretty good match. Well, keep in mind, though, they don't have Godwin, because he's hurt and done for the year they have everybody else though they still have mike evans and they're the one rookie receiver uh mcmillan yeah, mcmillan, who's been playing lights out. He's got a string of touchdowns these last few weeks I'm gonna change his nickname to mclovin but yeah, you guys definitely have a rough matchup.
Speaker 2:I don't think anybody wants to face tampa right now with the way they're playing. That doesn't mean you guys can't beat them, it just means that you're going to have to, you know, play a high-shell defense to kind of prevent the over-the-top stuff and keep everything in front of you and hope that your middle linebackers can handle the run on their own without needing additional help.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's the other thing. They're going to have to stop the run. They're going to have to stop the pass and the run. I don't know if they can do both. Like you say, this Tampa offense is very potent.
Speaker 2:If you can stop the run game, the pass game will become a little easier to defend because you're not going to fall for the play action.
Speaker 1:I think it's similar to what we were talking about up here with Denver. It's just play ball, control, play keep away.
Speaker 2:That might be a thing, but you guys aren't exactly weak on your pass game. You guys have Rising Star and Jane Daniels, who has found a love affair with Terry McLaurin and throwing him passes down the field.
Speaker 1:I think they'll run a methodical game plan here and really just try to chew off the clock. I think their goal is going to be just to limit their opportunities Moving on into Monday night. Here L rams, minnesota, espn. I expect minnesota to come out with a chip on their shoulder. They got a bad taste in their mouth right now.
Speaker 2:Well, I don't think the rams I don't think it's necessarily just because of that game. They just played against the lions. If you don't recall, these teams played each other earlier in the year and there was a non-face mask call against the Rams on Darnold in the pocket. That would have gave them 15 yards and would have kept their drive going yards and would have kept their drive going. But that was a crucial play that wound up going in the rams favor and the rams won that game barely they. They fought.
Speaker 2:So I mean this might this might be a little bit of a. They're salty about the game they just had this past sunday night and they're still salty about what happened against the Rams, and they're going to come out with a fire lit under them.
Speaker 1:I mean, I think it's, I think it's possible, I think it'll be a good game, but Minnesota needs to come out and make a statement in this game. Uh, if they really still want to be in the same conversation as the Lions, because right now they're not.
Speaker 2:I mean personally. I would like to see the Vikings win, just because the Vikings have been really good all year.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I agree. I'd like to see them win.
Speaker 2:The Rams benefited from the division they're, in which everybody in the division kind of beat up on each other and they kind of edged ahead, pushing Seattle out of the number one spot midway through the year and just kind of took ahead and kept it. So I would really like to see the Vikings continue on, not because I'm salty about the Rams themselves being a Niners fan, no, I just think that the Vikings moving forward would be a better story, in my opinion.
Speaker 1:No, I agree, I like the Vikings moving forward. I haven't been too hot on the Rams. I mean I know they've been playing competent football, They've overcome a lot of adversity. On the Rams, I mean I know they've been playing competent football, They've overcome a lot of adversity. But you know, I just If the Vikings can come out swinging, I like the Vikings to win this. But we'll see how it goes and then we'll move into the divisional round.
Speaker 2:Well, you know, this past week, in a football action didn't just also tell us the playoff picture, but it also preluded what was going to happen this past Monday, which, this past Monday after every season, the Monday after the last week, is kind of, you know, dark Monday, black Monday, whatever you want to call it whatever you want to call this particular Monday.
Speaker 2:But, it's the time when, all of a sudden, you start seeing the chop block happen. All the teams start going. We need a new coach. We don't like this guy, we don't like this GM, we don't like this front office. And then the firings just start happening.
Speaker 1:And I mean, let me tell you what Heads were rolling even before the season ended. But let me tell you what Heads were rolling before we even got to Monday. They were rolling as soon as Sunday afternoon. We'll start out here. The Raiders let Antonio Pierce go, obviously. Occ's gone. Quarterback coach, offensive line coach your head coach is gone. Pretty much everybody belongs would be gone too.
Speaker 2:Yeah, they're clearing house and they're probably going to try to bring in a more experienced coach.
Speaker 1:Do you think he should have been fired? How do you feel about this one? Do you think he should have been fired? How do you feel about this?
Speaker 2:one. I mean honestly, they didn't really give him much in the way of players. I really think the Raiders were hoping that Penix was going to drop, because all the projections, all the pre-draft before, showed that Pennix was going to drop to where they were drafting.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:So I don't think they felt the need to jump up. And then they saw Pennix go to Atlanta and, oh crap, we got to do something. Get a veteran quarterback who's out there? Gardner Minshew. Okay, well, you get Gardner Minshew, he gets hurt. You don't like his play when he does come back or when he is in. And you put O'Donnell in. He didn't really do much either. So you kind of really didn't set him up for success and you trade away, uh, adams, in the middle of the year you're taking more away from them, making it even harder for them to get stuff going.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and they don't seem to have any sense of direction, because, while all these other teams have been on the move requesting interviews and conducting interviews, the Raiders haven't done anything.
Speaker 2:I don't even have any news for them let's not forget that Antonio Pierce was also part of that Giants team that snapped the Patriots undefeated streak in the Super Bowl. Who's in ownership now, with the Raiders one, mr Tom Brady. Well, maybe there's a little bit of get back going on there now with the Raiders One, mr Tom Brady. Well, maybe there's a little bit of get back going on there.
Speaker 1:Well, maybe they're in talks of bringing them back. I know earlier.
Speaker 2:No, no, no. I mean, maybe that's a little bit of retribution, brady's, like you're fired.
Speaker 1:Well, I could also see that happening. You're not wrong there, but you know who knows what they do. I feel bad for you. Antonio Pierce was another one, Because you really I hate to see coaches after year one go. I really think they need at least three.
Speaker 2:We'll get to that. We'll get to that.
Speaker 1:We'll get there Tennessee Ties. They didn't do much. They fired the gm, but the new gm they bring in is likely to let go of the head coach oh, undoubtedly.
Speaker 2:But I feel like you fire. You fire that gm with good cause, because point to somebody he's drafted that has been worth it, because this is the same guy that thought that trading away aj Brown was a good idea.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Because they were going to draft Trey Burks.
Speaker 1:Can anybody?
Speaker 2:tell me what Trey Burks did this year.
Speaker 1:This is the same GM that won the power struggle with Mike Vrabel.
Speaker 2:Yeah, Right now. Who's the hottest commodity right now in the coaching interview cycle?
Speaker 1:mike fable is right, right, so I think they're kind of kicking themselves right now and I think ownership knows the new g this is.
Speaker 2:This is kind of like a trent bulky harbaugh kind of situation. They fired the wrong person. They should have kept Vrabel and fired the GM, and they didn't do that.
Speaker 1:So and they haven't done much for moves just yet either. Um.
Speaker 2:But next up Indianapolis Colts defense coordinator Gus Bradley out um which kind of makes sense, because, gus Bradley, that defense they have, they have some good players on that defense and they just looked inept and it doesn't make any sense.
Speaker 2:You know, when you have a middle linebacker who leads the league in tackles the year before, and then you bring in another player to put beside him who also shows that he can tackle nobody's business, and then you have decent pass rushers up front. I mean, the back end can be a little questionable, but when you have good pieces you should be able to coach them up.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:But constantly this team in games they should have won. They become shootouts or become blowouts because they just couldn't stop teams, and it's evident by their record. But it's also not his fault though, too, because quarterback play was kind of horrible. So another team who would probably be looking for?
Speaker 1:something in the quarterback realm. Same thing Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb out. This one was a little more controversial, given the way Seattle's offense played.
Speaker 2:I honestly agree with this move because, with all the weapons they have for their offense to look as bad as it did at times, it made no sense. Now, granted, I know they had a carousel of players being hurt, but the the offensive line was a was a bright spot two years ago, and now it just looks a shell of itself yeah and you know you're, you're.
Speaker 2:you've got a great core of receivers to throw to. But I mean, there's moments like Tyler Lockett just disappeared all year. I don't really remember him ever having a huge game, and you know, dk Metcalf, who's your star receiver, doesn't just, at times seem like he didn't exist on the field.
Speaker 1:Yeah, he disappeared a lot. Lockett stepped back, Jackson Smith and Jimba he had a breakout season.
Speaker 2:He had a pretty good year, but it just.
Speaker 1:Jazz is sauce.
Speaker 2:You expect more out of this team than what you were seeing on offense, and that's why I'm not surprised they fired him.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:I feel like the firing was warranted.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I don't think that's wrong. Next team Bengals. They're just clearing out. Defensive coordinator.
Speaker 2:How far we have fallen, lou, amarillo or.
Speaker 1:Amaromo, amaromo.
Speaker 2:This guy was being touted as next possible head coach candidate a few years back, when they still had Jesse Bates and they still had a lot of their good defensive pieces still on the team.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:But now people have left through free agency and some people have been traded, and now that the defense is a shell of itself and they looked horrible this year, there's no doubt about that they were just a net in all facets.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I mean the defense didn't play well. Speaking of which, while we're on the Bengals, I missed a stat earlier. There's a couple of these coming up, so bear with me. Jamar Chase is the only player in NFL history to have 1,700 yards and 17 touchdowns in a single season. So congratulations, jam chase, on that, on that milestone in your career. Uh, I thought that was an interesting stat for him. Uh, moving on down the line here, jacksonville jaguars fired head coach doug peterson I thought surprise I see, yeah, I think we all saw this coming a mile away.
Speaker 1:I thought it was gonna happen last year. Be honest with you I didn't.
Speaker 2:I didn't think it was gonna happen last year, but this team, this team was coming out this year as possible division winner in a lot of people's pre nfl rankings and they just they didn't look good at all.
Speaker 1:there's too much talent on this team for them to be where they're at, and I mean Etienne, just where's he been All year?
Speaker 2:he just underperformed, you know, I mean the one bright spot they had was Brian. Thompson Jr.
Speaker 1:Yeah, brian Thomas Jr. Yeah, Thomas Jr. Sorry, but you know the Gabe Davis trade didn't really work out Well.
Speaker 2:Gabe Davis has been hurt, and then Kirk goes down hurt and dumped for a year.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so those things don't help. You can't help that one though.
Speaker 2:But you still had Sunshine.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and honestly I think Sunshine's a top five quarterback, but you've got to get them there, man Trevor Lawrence. Trevor Lawrence.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I like to call him Sunshine.
Speaker 1:Everybody has a negative name.
Speaker 2:Moving on to the New England Patriots and the one that's really a head-scratcher Gerard Mayo being fired after his first year.
Speaker 1:This probably stinks the most of all of them.
Speaker 2:I'm so confused by this but at the same time I understand. So apparently it was written into his contract that he would be the coach to follow Bill Belichick. Now Kraft got rid of Belichick after last year and did so kind of quickly because, if we all don't remember, it was almost immediately after season was done. He was, like Belichick, out.
Speaker 2:So, Mayo kind of got thrusted into the role and I don't know if it's because of his stuff with the media or if it's because of the way he was coaching or what it may have been internally, but there is no debating that this is the one team in the NFL that probably has the least amount of players to work with.
Speaker 1:It could have been how he handled Drake May's situation early on.
Speaker 2:I think he handled it correctly. I think he did well.
Speaker 1:But they might not have viewed it that way, but I don't think he should have been fired again.
Speaker 2:He did what most NFL teams should do. When you have a rookie quarterback, you don't start him beginning of the year. You let him sit and watch a veteran and learn how to be a veteran quarterback. Learn how a veteran handles the day-to-day, learns how to be the guy that leads the offensive side of the ball and learn how to do in-game stuff, like you know two minute drill. Learn how to not saying that he didn't learn that. Drake may didn't learn this stuff in college, but you need to work them into it, which he did, which a lot of teams in years past this. What was the model of doing this?
Speaker 1:was you bring them in slowly and I know that vrabel is also close to the uh craft family here, so I I think that vrabel being available has a lot to do with this as well but they haven't requested an interview with vrabel.
Speaker 2:The only coach they've requested an interview with right now is Ben Johnson.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I mean.
Speaker 2:I mean, yes, there is ties with Vrabel, but I don't think that that's going to happen.
Speaker 1:I think they're going to go after Vrabel, though I think they're going to go after Vrabel.
Speaker 2:I mean, we'll see, we'll see, we'll see. So, moving on to the next firing the Cleveland Browns, let go of Ken Dorsey, their offensive coordinator, and let go of their offensive line coach Andy Dickerson.
Speaker 1:Yeah, he's. I mean the OC down below him. It doesn't even matter, because they're all going to be gone once the new OC comes in. They've requested. We have the list. We'll get to them in a little bit, but I was trying to hit them as we go down.
Speaker 2:Moving on to the Bears. The Bears, of course, we already know.
Speaker 1:We got one more thing for the Browns, though I wanted to hit on. We already know. We got one more thing for the Browns, though I wanted to hit on Deshaun Watson. They've agreed to a contract restructure to ease the salary burden for them, so that should help them attract a new coach to fill those positions. What?
Speaker 2:do you mean free agents?
Speaker 1:Well, free agents, but that should also help them when they're trying to bring in a coach that wants to bring in mean free agents. Yeah well, free agents, but that should also help them when they're trying to bring in a coach that wants to bring in better free agents as well. Right right, right. The deal also signals that Watson will likely be with the team next year.
Speaker 2:Well, they don't get anything by cutting them, so yeah, not much at all. So the Bears? We already know they cut ties with Iberflues during the season.
Speaker 1:Ever floating away.
Speaker 2:But the offensive coordinator was also let go in Shane Waldrop.
Speaker 1:You already look, you already knew like, once again, once the head coach is gone, everybody below him is probably going to be gone too.
Speaker 2:Well, I believe they fired him mid-year because they elevated. The guy that was the interim coach was acting as offensive coordinator and then they moved him up to the head coach. So you know, the front office is like guys, we got to do more paperwork now Stop moving this guy up. Yeah, I feel like they knew they.
Speaker 1:guys, we got to do more paperwork, now you stop moving this guy up yeah, I feel like they knew they weren't going to run with them, but he did do an incredible. He did do really well on the fly for what he had to work with, um, but you know, such as such. And then in new orleans, dennis allen's name has fallen from grace. He's out.
Speaker 2:That's not the first time he's been pushed out before.
Speaker 1:No.
Speaker 2:But you know they'll be looking for another coach. There's been some names floating for them.
Speaker 1:And then, obviously, you know the Jets they fired both Robert Saleh and General Manager.
Speaker 2:Joe.
Speaker 1:Douglas Saleh. Whatever, robert.
Speaker 2:Saleh and Joe Douglas. His name could be Christmas Saleh and General Manager Joe Douglas Saleh.
Speaker 1:Whatever Robert Saleh and Joe Douglas, his name could be Christmas Saleh for all I care.
Speaker 2:I'm telling you right now, the Niners would love to bring Robert Saleh back and be their defensive coordinator.
Speaker 1:Do you think it's possible?
Speaker 2:I think it's very possible.
Speaker 1:Well, let's see it might, but you know.
Speaker 2:It's all on whether Saleh wants to come back, because our defense coordinator we had this year he was not good.
Speaker 1:But those are all the major firings we won't get terribly into too much of. You know head coaching personnel. You know Raybrow's hot. We know Ben Johnson's hot. The Bears and the Jaguars seem to be interviewing everybody under the sun.
Speaker 2:Now. So I have a problem with what the Bears are doing. The Bears have known since what beginning of November that they're going to be looking for a new coach.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:If you have as many names as they've requested, with Brian Flores, aaron Glenn, ben Johnson. What was that, mike?
Speaker 1:Mike McCarthy. I think it's interesting. He denied them, though, mike.
Speaker 2:Khalifa Todd. What is it? Munkin Todd Munkin, David Shaw, arthur Smith, anthony Weaver and Mike Vrabel.
Speaker 1:Mike Vrabel.
Speaker 2:yeah, If you have that many people on a list of coaches that you're possibly thinking of bringing in, I really feel like they're missing the point of the position you're in.
Speaker 1:Well, I think there's.
Speaker 2:You don't have a list that long when your biggest issue is you need culture.
Speaker 1:Well, I mean the commanders went through a laundry list of coaches and GMs.
Speaker 2:But your team isn't Okay. At the end of the day, what did your team do? Your team went out and got a culture builder. That's all they need. They need a culture builder and they need to fill that office with people that can do offense and defense and let them do that on their own. They don't need to go and get a ben johnson I think he's never been a head coach.
Speaker 2:He, he, you don't even know if he'll make a good head coach. You're bringing in brian flores who, if nobody remembers, it was not a a very good breakup with him in miami where he was ready to sue sue the Dolphins, because he said he was fired.
Speaker 1:I gotta disagree with you. I gotta disagree with you on Ben Johnson, because he's being rumored as the favorite to land that job, even though he hasn't scheduled an interview yet, which they said his interview is going to be after the first round.
Speaker 2:I can tell you right now that it's not the place he needs to go, because I don't care that they have Caleb Williams and that they have offensive pieces and he would be perfect as an offensive coordinator. You don't know that this man can even be a head coach. That's what they need. They need somebody who can be a head coach. Ben Johnson has been a good offensive coordinator. I don't know that the man can be a head coach.
Speaker 1:I mean, you only have one way to organize everything as a head coach. There's only one way to find out yes, there's only one way to find out.
Speaker 2:But, being the Bears, you have one chance at this. Before you start putting regression on your number one draft pick, you can't just, you know, plug in and fire the jay cutler going. Oh, I hope this works jay cutler era.
Speaker 1:I mean, jay cutler was an issue in his job, but jay cutler was an issue in his own.
Speaker 2:He didn't care enough. But like so, but the the point I'm trying to here. They need to have people who are serious candidates.
Speaker 1:I mean some of these look like serious candidates to me.
Speaker 2:Arthur Smith is not a candidate Take him off. Brian Flores is not a candidate Take him off.
Speaker 1:Well, I agree with that, but I think it's interesting that Mike McCarthy denied them here because he came from Green Bay before he was with the Cowboys.
Speaker 2:Yes, but here's the thing Whether you like Mike McCarthy or not, you just said why you should interview him because he did coach in that division.
Speaker 1:Well, he denied it.
Speaker 2:I know he did. Yeah, I know he did. But I'm just saying you proved the point of why you would bring him in. He's coached that division, he knows that area, he knows those teams, he's been part of it.
Speaker 1:I mean, I agree, I think he would be a good fit and you should. You're going to need an offensive-minded coach.
Speaker 2:I don't think Aaron is going to be a good fit for this. I'm going to need an offensive-minded coach.
Speaker 1:I don't think Aaron is going to be a good fit for this.
Speaker 2:I'm going to tell you what the Bears need to do, right out, straight up, right now, what they need to do. They need to get rid of all of those you know Brian Floreses and Arthur Smiths. No, get them out of there. You're not interviewing those guys because they're not the ones. They've been head coaches but they did shitty as head coaches. I mean.
Speaker 2:You bring in a guy like a Mike Brable because he showed it. He proved it. He built a team. He took a team in the Titans into the playoffs, which was a team that looked inept and bad until he got there.
Speaker 1:Well, I agree with you, but he had to be a first-time head coach at some point himself. Nobody knew if he could run a team either. But if I have to pick one name on this list, I know Ben Johnson's the favorite favorite, according to rumor. I like todd munkin. He's he's been working under a stable organization. He's been working under a stable head coach who's been around for some time. He knows what he's doing. He has, if anybody's as good a candidate here, I like Tom Munkin as the favorite for me.
Speaker 2:How'd that work out for Seattle?
Speaker 1:What Tom Munkin?
Speaker 2:Seattle has a guy from that same organization as their head coach, mike McDonald.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I mean, this was his first year, though he was the defensive coordinator.
Speaker 2:He was the defensive coordinator for the Ravens before Todd Munkin came in as the OCU there.
Speaker 2:Yeah, but he's, I think yes, todd Munkin is an interesting candidate. Okay, the problem I have with some of these choices that the Bears have made, because I feel like their list should be a lot smaller. They should be fine-tuned into the right guys, the right candidates. Now, if you want to bring in a Ben Johnson, sure, but I don't think Ben Johnson's going to go there. I don't think he's going to go coach against his, his former team and I, if anywhere, I think Ben Johnson should find himself into Jacksonville.
Speaker 2:That would probably be the only place I think that would make sense for him, because he automatically gets a decent quarterback. Or go to the Patriots and you know you'll have a long leash and time to build because they have a quarterback but they just need pieces and their owner knows that and he's shown that he can be willing to wait, except for this year for some reason, which which I feel bad for Gerard Mayo being let go like he was. But yeah, this is just a situation where I feel like the Bears need to be what they haven't been when it comes to coaching candidates and making the right move. Don't sit here with a long-ass list coaching candidates and making the right move.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I mean, don't sit here with a long-ass list. You've had time to already look at these guys. You've had time to figure it out. Having a list that long, it just looks like they're just picking up anybody who's interviewing with another team.
Speaker 1:I mean it's very possible. They have no idea which direction they want to go.
Speaker 2:I mean, some of these guys are defensive. That's exactly what I'm saying.
Speaker 1:Well, yeah, I mean, I see that. But some of these guys are defensive coordinators. You know you're going to want somebody who's going to work with Caleb. Like you know you need an offensive-minded. Now don't get me wrong. Dan Quinn in Washington is a defensive-minded quarterback, defensive line quarterback. We went out. Cliff Kingsbury fell in our lap. It wasn't supposed to be Cliff Kingsbury.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:So I don't see that situation happening with them. So you know right off the bat, the first guy you bring in his number one priority is going to have to be Caleb Williams.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:And you're going to want a guy who can do it. So anybody that has a defensive anything in their scheme here, they should automatically not even be on the list, in my opinion.
Speaker 2:Well, I don't agree in the fact that if they are a defensive coordinator, it needs to be somebody who is willing to be hands off with the offensive side of the ball, somebody who's willing to say OC, you got it.
Speaker 1:They need to. Yeah, if they do that, they need to already know who they're going to bring.
Speaker 2:Like if I'm interviewing him.
Speaker 1:All right. Who do you want to bring in to work with Caleb Williams?
Speaker 2:Exactly. And if they're a defensive coordinator, they don't have an answer to that question. Give it to them.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and I agree with that.
Speaker 2:And again, why is Brian Flores up there? I wouldn't bring him in.
Speaker 1:I don't think a lot of people would, but I'm not calling him a bad coach.
Speaker 2:I just think how things went with Miami. He's a good coordinator, he's not a good coach.
Speaker 1:Yeah, he's got to play politics a little bit better too. But now do you think down in Miami, Mike McDonald that's not his name who head coach?
Speaker 2:I'm blanking for a second oh geez, you hit me on the spot, damn it. I'm so much better with faces no, I just blanked.
Speaker 1:I have the notes, but hey, coach um well, they're not my.
Speaker 2:It was mike mcdonald, right, or mike uh dang, why you do this to me, man mike mcdaniel.
Speaker 1:Yeah I wanted to say, wanted to say McDonald's so bad.
Speaker 2:McDaniel.
Speaker 1:I know, man, it's crazy. Mike McDaniel, Do you think he should have been out with how things are going in Miami? I mean, I know Tua had a concussion and there's all that thing. But you know, given the situation, I'm going to shift gears a little bit from the head coach and the personnel search to Mike McDaniel, because there's things going on in Miami locker room right now.
Speaker 2:I hate to say it, but I think he's probably going to be looking for a job.
Speaker 1:Because I really like the guy, but I'm like you know the whole. First of all, he's not handling the. I don't know if he's handling Tyreek Hill's situation very well Okay.
Speaker 2:I think at this point, if anybody wants to pick up Tyreek Hill, do so at your own risk, because if he's sitting here posting pictures of Antonio Brown, when he had his situation situation, leaving off the field and by the way, similar situation.
Speaker 1:What was the name of that guy in the 49ers that didn't finish the game? Tyreek Hill just did the same thing in Miami. He basically refused to play in the fourth quarter.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you don't want that on your team.
Speaker 1:Bro, that Miami Heat is getting nuts. Okay, what is with the Miami heat and these damn receivers? Okay, first Antonio Brown, now Tyreek Hill. Okay, get somebody with less heat. Get somebody slow the fast way. I agree, you don't want that. If I'm Mike McDaniel, first of all, I'm doing exactly what the 49ers did. Well, it's the end of the season now, but I'm suspending him through the end of the season. At this point, do you think anybody would even trade for Tyreek?
Speaker 2:I don't know. I mean, yeah, somebody might. But if it was me and I'm Miami, I'm going to trade him to the place I want to send him. I'm not going to send him where he wants to go and be like, oh, it's about your career, okay, have fun with the Titans.
Speaker 1:Now 20, 30 years, even before, situations like this didn't occur.
Speaker 2:I would find the team with no quarterback in the worst situation, and that's where I would send them.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I mean that'd be fun, but you know these situations didn't used to happen.
Speaker 2:I'm not saying this because I have beef or an issue with Tyreek Hill. I have an issue with the way he's acting. Things didn't go your way. You went down there because you thought you were going to get into a situation where the team was going to be lights out and you were going to be in the playoffs and going for super bowls and all that, and then, when things don't go your way, you're throwing a hissy fit. I'm sorry, but this has been proven time and time again. The NFL and the NFL teams are bigger than you. It's about the team, it's about the collective, and when you decide that you're not going to go in a game, or when you decide that you're bigger than the collective don't need you, don't have time for you. So, yeah, I don't enjoy that type of behavior. So he might be looking for a new job.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I think it's possible, especially with the way things are going, and I think player discipline is slipping right now. But you know, we're starting to run out of time for the show. We actually had a number of things, but we're running short on time here, so we're going to go ahead and wrap it up.
Speaker 2:I mean, we can still hit on a few things if you want.
Speaker 1:Well, I mean, there's one thing I wanted to throw out there. This was going back to the NBA. I missed it earlier again. I just wanted to throw it out there. Lebron James now has, after his game this last week in Atlanta or versus Atlanta, he now has after his game this last week in Atlanta or versus Atlanta. He now has the most 30-plus point games in NBA history. So you know, another accolade to add to his resume, you know.
Speaker 2:So it's just another stat on a stellar career.
Speaker 1:Yeah, another stat on a stellar career. Yeah, another stat on a stellar career. But you know we're coming hot into the playoffs now. Things are picking up and thank you everybody for joining us. Mike, do you have anything you want to add?
Speaker 2:No, I was just going to say thanks for joining us and we're going to wrap up the show. Enjoy all this playoff action in the football world and definitely watching things heat up in the NBA and MLB offseason and one final time.
Speaker 1:I'm Brian with an I.
Speaker 2:And I'm Mike.
Speaker 1:And we are Two for the Win.