The Focus
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The Focus
Season Nine Ep 35
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Octavia's first NFC East segment of the new season kicks off tonight. Ray breaks down the Mystics seven game win streak while Cardell shares keys to tonight's matchup with the Aces. Don't miss what the team had to say during Take it or Leave It, especially on Shady McCoy's latest comments!
Welcome everyone to another week of Big Focus TV. We have Octavia White here, Carlton, Cardinal Dudesley Jr., Raiden Lyons, Wilson Tarby Jr. Get straight to it. The Myths has been busy. It's all good news though, Ray. Let it let the good folks know what's going on with the Mystics.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, man. Don't know when the last time we were able to say this, but the Mystics, the hottest team in the league. They're riding a seven-game winning streak that um goes back to before All-Star Break, but uh since the break they five, um, that's that seven games uh stretch is the longest win streak in the league this year. Um you know, they they just hit their stride, man. Um Kara Austin's playing the best basketball of her career. She was just named uh player of the week for the second consecutive week. And man, things are just looking up. Um everybody seems to be just kind of falling into their role. Um, you know, Sonia, she's um she's back on track offensively. Uh Kiki, she's you can pretty much just pinch on a double double for her every night. Um, but you know, we we kind of expected uh Shakara, Sonia, and Kiki to do the heavy lifting. Um what's really been uh the catalyst for uh for their success outside of them is you know the others have started to come to form. Um Cody McMahon, she's she's just becoming uh their most reliable player off the bench, which has uh, you know, which has paid uh huge dividends for them. You know, she's in the midst of her most successful stretch this season. Uh she had a career high 18 points a couple games ago. And you know, she's just getting more and more comfortable and her decision making is improving. Uh Wilson Cardell has talked about how she's been able to um kind of control her pace and um outlook recently, you know, beginning of the season, she's just 100 miles an hour every time she gets the ball. Um now she's kind of switching things up, deciding when to go full throttle, when to kind of bring it back a little bit and um, you know, and allow things to develop. So uh so yeah, that's been a huge um huge uptick for her. Um defensively, they're they're just back to their beginning of the season form. You know, we said initially that that was gonna be where they kind of make their identity. And um and yeah, man, and they've they've held to that. They have um they've been putting teams in hell. Um and another thing, they've just been taking care of the basketball better, giving them an opportunity to actually set up on defense. So uh, so yeah, they they're they're in the midst of a hell of a run. Um yeah, hopefully this can continue. But uh, but yeah, man, they're they're playing awesome basketball. Uh they're they're catching the attention of um uh of everyone in the league, basically, which uh which is well deserved because they're they're kicking everybody's ass, basically. Everybody they've seen, they they just got the built. Um, you know, it's funny because now on on social media they're starting to get a reputation of playing too physical. Like you, you they were nobody was saying that when they was hovering around 500, but now that they done put it together and won seven games in a row, people got a problem with it. But and nine times out of ten is the fans of teams who play terrible defense. So um, so yeah, we we not going even give that any credence, but you know, it it's just great to see them kind of um you know hit their stride at this point. You know, we always talk about how young this team is, so it's good to see them kind of just develop and grow right before our eyes. Um, you know, it it's they fought through some things, and not to say the journey is over yet, but you know, they're definitely not the same team that we saw uh starting the season, and uh, and they've shown that with some recent wins.
SPEAKER_03All right, we'll transition to what they have going on now. Um tonight, uh again, those seven games that Ray mentioned, franchise high streak, uh tonight and Thursday night, they're taking on Rainbow Chiefs, uh, they're taking on the Aces. Uh the Mystics lead this series 1-0 at this point, winning a thrilling game at home before all-star break. Uh, Washington is 19-12 heading into this one, um, which has them in great position. And tonight's game, these two games this week, actually, they have uh playoff, heavy playoff implications depending on how these things shake uh shake out. So the aces are 22 and 11. They're coming off a loss of the Liberty, which you know, you if you want to put asterisk next to it, you can. It's your choice either way. Their big three did not play in that game. Um, they are they have been rested and should be ready for tonight's contest uh and Thursday's contest against the Washington Mystics. So, Cardell, we're gonna take a little page out of Mystic's Pre-Game, do that live right here. For the folks that don't know, we got Mr. Pre game before each and every Mrs. game, whether it's home or away. Uh tonight, that wonderful 10 p.m. start time. We're gonna just do that right now. So, Cardell is always uh won't be up on the screen, but keys in the nice game if Washington wishes to not only continue to win stream, but most importantly, these are pivotal games. Washington can come out on top. That kind of won that kind of propels them a little bit even further in the standards.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, common sense obviously start with you you gotta neutralize Asia Wilson best you can. Um in the last night with the Messix held on the win, she she almost she almost took it from her, you know what I mean, on their home court and the Messix won that 199. Uh, that's the at the beginning of this streak when they should then they started. You know, I know that was a confidence boost to just be like, all right, we can we can we can do some damage now, you know what I mean, to beat the champs or whatnot. Now that she's on the home court, and I'm pretty sure they didn't forget that. And it's ironic that they wanted some rest right before this two-game or three-day stretch with the Mystics. Some games, we know what time it is tonight. So yeah, I expect Asia to be MVP Asia, which she probably is well on her way to getting again, you know, averaging 26.3 points, 9.7 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.5 steals, two blocks on 52, 42, 85 shooting splits. I mean, I mean, they be, you know, they throw out that we take certain great players for granted sometimes. We definitely do that with her because that that's insane. And and and all she's done is just add stuff to a repertoire. Now she's complete as hell as far as offensively with the way she's shooting the ball from deep, man. So you gotta neutralize her. And what that means is the Mystic's defense, which is ranked second in the WNBA last I checked. Um defensive rating and points allowed. Um they they have to bring that for a full four. Remember how I keep saying that the last game, considering the competition was probably the game, most complete game they've had, they have to put together a complete game tonight to beat the aces on their home floor. Because it is literally last 15, whatever, so games for or even less than that for both teams. We know what it is, man. And and they're trying to everybody trying to fight for home court advantage and and solidify uh high seed in the playoffs stands. And in playoff standards, man, it's simple as that. And with the Mystics being this young and being in this position uh for the first time for a lot of these players on this stage. Obviously in college they did a lot of damage, but on this stage, um, yeah, uh you gotta it takes a team effort. You know what I mean? Uh you barely won to one on on your home court. So now it's gonna be even tougher because they want to get back. They're fighting for playoff positioning and they're trying to build momentum as the postseason comes to try to get another ring. Simple as that. So uh you you have to put together a 40-minute game of great defense. Uh uh Shakira. The way she's been playing, keep playing like that. You're gonna need it tonight, like Missy's needed. You know what I mean? You you gotta you gotta make Asia have to, all right, I gotta deal with her. So everybody else can have individual matchups and then they get y'all to do their thing. Uh Jackie Young, we can go down the list. Chelsea Gray, you know, all world players, we can talk about that. Um Jewel Lloyd off the bench, we know she's capable of doing, you know, she's playing a role, we know she can get on the heater and kind of be like a microwave scorer and things can get interesting, but it's the total team execution um that has my attention. Uh, I don't think people understand their number. The Ace is a number on the league and fouls. Like, they don't file. They defend without fouling, man. You know, they only foul them 10. Which means they don't put you on the free throw line, which is what the misses thrive off of punishing teams inside, punishing them on second chance points with offensive rebounds and things like that. They don't, they, they, they don't give you that opportunity. So on one hand, the missus will get there, but they gotta hit them. It's just not gonna be as much where they can overcome not hitting a good amount of free throws because they ain't shot 30 free throws. I doubt that happened unless the the aces just have a bad night defensively, which I doubt they're they're gonna have. Uh the aces are third and turnover, 12.1. They don't turn the ball up, so they don't beat themselves. The Mystics can't beat themselves. Um, they're number one in blocks. Obviously, a lot of that has to do with aging. So yeah, you know, Kiki Shakira's on being on one, but sometimes Kiki's been up and down with the efficiency and how she's scoring. She missed a lot of layups. She gotta make those tonight. You know what I mean? Like, you know, with the day after the last game, I was like, do you think the Mystics, uh Kiki and Shakira are they up there front court wise as one of the best in the league? And we was thinking about the Liberty, but I was like, Asia's a whole front court by herself. You know what I mean? So that that that made it kind of tougher to try to rank them or whatever, but we know they're up there. Um they're six in rebounding, they're 33.8, but we know the Mystics are tops in rebounding. So that has to continue. You know, that's that's one way they can neutralize Asia. Don't get wrong opportunities if they miss, get bored. You know what I mean? Um this way it gets really tough, man. The Aces are number one in the field goal percentage, 48.8%. And then their third in the WBA three-point shooting percentage, 35.8%. That's why the Messi's defense has to show up. It has to on their home court, because we all know any team, they shoot better on their home court, they're familiar, they know all the dead spots are they know where everything is, man. It's just you just more comfortable. And the thing is, the role players that didn't play well in DC, they're gonna play well now because they're at home. And that's what they gotta try to neutralize, and they gotta be on the string or whatnot. And then here's an underrated aspect of the tonight's game that people may not understand. The Aces, the Aces are fifth in pace in the league, um, 79.7, so they get up and down. Mystics, on the other hand, they're 14th. They're 14th in pace, 77.2. So they don't get up and down as much, you know what I mean? So that could be something that the aces try to exploit. So that it if they don't get back or talk on and communicate on defense consistently, the aces can exploit that because that's when the Mystics lose. When teams are running on them and they're not scoring, or they're turning the ball over across matchups. You know what I'm saying? It gets crazy. So now it might end with Shakir on the point guard and Georgia's on Asian. And if that happens too much tonight, we we know what's gonna happen. So they can't have that. So they gotta get back on defense, call out their man, and and make them have to execute. And then if both teams are bringing what they do well to the table, it's a wheel game. We got them who got the bigger wheel. And um that's something we gotta see because again, the Mississippi's been winning. They be some good teams. Um Minnesota Aces before the All-Star Break or whatnot. Uh but now that they got the league's attention, I want to see how they act, you know, tonight and Thursday against the Aces. And then to me, this will tell the tale of just how far along they are, or did they just hit a hot streak right now at the end of the season?
SPEAKER_03All right. Uh, Ray, uh, one of the things I wanted to ask you about, we know that they got uh Benaja Lady Hamilton off waivers. Uh no, she's not on the injury port tonight. Obviously, don't know how much she'll play, but just want to get your thoughts possibly on what she can bring, uh, assuming that she makes her debut tonight. Uh, and any other final thoughts before we move on on tonight's game?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, definitely her um her impact on both sides of the floor. Um, that's that's obvious. You know, she was a critical part of that um 2024 uh Liberty Championship team. And also with this team, you know, just her veteran presence and her experience. You know, we already saw her kind of um you know leading huddles uh at the beginning of last game. So she already like has their ear. So that's that's definitely a good sign. And um she's gonna be able to kind of guide them through those situations they haven't experienced yet. You know, so that's um that's definitely a plus. And to have her at a game like this is um is going to do wonders because like Carl said, pretty sure the Aces got revenge on their mind, and she's gonna be able to just to kind of calm them and help them weather the storm. So yeah, man, well what she brings is is really invaluable. You know, I and I think to bring her in at a time like this when the young team is uh sort of turning the corner, that would it it was perfect timing, man. You know, because um, yeah, they they're gonna need that. Like Carol also mentioned, a lot of them haven't been been in this position before, you know, heading down the stretch of the season into the into the postseason. Things are gonna turn up. You know, those those lights are gonna get brighter the closer we get to um you know to the second season, pretty much. So uh, so yeah, that that was one of the best personnel moves this season, pretty much, as far as I'm concerned. You know, just adding her to the mix with um, you know, what she's able to do on the court, obviously, but uh, you know, off the court as well. That's that's gonna um gonna add another layer to this team. So yeah, man, um excited to have her here uh and excited to see what she's gonna bring.
SPEAKER_03Just a reminder, Mystics folks, tip off it's at 10 p.m. Eastern. So we'll see y'all as Cardell prefers later this evening, uh, depending on your time zone for Mystics outlook. Um Octavia, we're gonna shift gears over to the end F of L. Uh it's training camp, you know, uh joint practices, people fighting, people going crazy. Everyone's undefeated, so everybody's has this ridiculously uncalled for rosy outlook on the season when some of their same teams are going to be picking in the same places that they've been picking for the last decade. But you know, hey, uh first MC East Segment, what you got for us?
SPEAKER_02Absolutely. Before I start, I definitely want to echo everything you guys all said about the Mystics. It's been amazing watching them play the last couple of weeks. Shakira back-to-back, Eastern player of the week. Cody is out there bodying chicks. Like, I get so excited watching the games. Like, I literally be in my room, like just like screaming like I'm in the like I'm in the stands. Like, they are playing awesome. Um, I love the pickup of Benaja. And I even love the fact that they were able to bring Rory back on a developmental contract as well. So I just wanted to say you guys did a great job with that, but I'm I'm here for it. I will do my best to stay awake tonight to watch everything as well. Um, no promises. Um, but yeah, we are finally back into my favorite time of the year. I love football. Um, I just wish it was a little bit cooler. Um I can't wait till we get to the fall part of this because it's hot as Hades outside. Um, but we are in full effect, full swing of the training camp seasons. We're about two weeks in. Um last week we did have the Hall of Fame game that I'll slightly itty bitty touch on because Wilson said that everybody is undefeated. One team has lost a game. I know it's preseason, but still. Um, but we'll go just through some notable things going on through training camp so far for the NFC East. And like I said, I'll touch on the Hall of Fame game because I'll be honest, it was one of the better Hall of Fame games, preseason games, that I have actually watched in a very long time. Usually the Hall of Fame games don't really give you too much. We had a 33-30 victory 14. It was actually very entertaining. Um, but we'll start with, of course, your reigning NFC East champions, the Philadelphia Eagles. Uh, currently they are practicing, of course, in training camp. They are one of the teams that are not having a joint practice this week, but they will be very, very close to us as they will be traveling up to Baltimore to play against the Baltimore Ravens in their first preseason game this weekend. Um, of course, the biggest storylines coming out of the Eagles camp is all of the offensive changes that have gone on. We know that there's a new offensive coordinator. We know that A.J. Brown is no longer in the building, and we know that for whatever reason, every year the Philadelphia Eagles personnel is on the hot seat at some type of point. I don't know how many memes, pictures, things I've seen that have Jalen Hurts at the top of a hot seat for all of these and all these other quarterbacks who haven't even sniffed a playoff win. It's just crazy to me. But here we are. We know that this is, I don't know, the sixth or seventh straight season of him having a new offensive coordinator, having a new ear, a new voice in his ear. And we know that this is now the first time in a in a while. Okay, I can't really, I don't think he was there when he started, but of course, now there's no more AJ Brown, and everybody is looking to Devontae Smith step up as long, as well as rookie Mikhail Lemon. Both of them have had a little bit of injuries recently. If they've missed some time in training camp, both with hamstring injuries. Um, Mikhail Lemon had some early on in the mini camp earlier this um summer, but neither one of them seem to be huge issues. It just seems to be precautionary. And of course, we're in preseason, and we know typically Nick Stiriani is very cautious about his players in preseason before big games. I mean, we can go back to the whole Saquon, you're not going to get the record because we need you in the playoffs. Same difference. Um, but it's really just seeing how the office is going to adapt to this new play calling with Sean Mannion. Um, and the new players that are in the fold now, uh completely revamped wide receiver room with Devontae Smith as the lead, Mikhail Lemon. You have Dontavian Wicks, you have Marquise Hollywood Brown. Um, and there's a sneaky kind of storyline around Darius Cooper, who has been playing well since a lot of, again, Devontae Smith and Mikhail Lemon have missed some time. So those other wide receivers have gotten some extra work in. Um, there's been a mixed bag both sides. Um, there's been some good days, there's been some bad days, but I always say this is the time to do it in training camp. Um, they're seeing a lot more Jalen Hurts under center, a lot more footwork. Um, and it's just gonna continue to progress as time goes on. Um, if anybody I have faith in to be able to adjust to a new system is Jalen Hurts, who's done it year over year over year over year. Um on the other side, we definitely got to talk about Jalen Carter getting the bag. A man got a hefty extension, as we know, that everybody was waiting for to see if it would fall this year or if they would have him go into the season um without it. But Jalen Carter did sign a four-year, $152 million contract, up to $160 million with incentives, including $106 million guaranteed. This deal made him the highest paid defensive tackle in NFL history at $38 million per year. That is to go along with earlier this offseason. Jordan Davis also got some money. Uh, he did a three-year $78 million, including a $65 million guaranteed. So those two are short up for a good while. We lost some good pieces on the defensive side. Uh Nakobi Dean, uh Jalen Phillips. Uh, so that makes way for uh Nolan Smith, uh Jonathan Grenard, who came over for the Vikers as well. But he also did recently just get injured. He opened the camp on the pup list with a pectorial injury. Um, potential concern that it could extend into the regular season, but they're playing it very close and keeping a close eye on what's going on there. Um, but all in all, everything just seems very on schedule there isn't any huge massive injuries that we have to worry about right now. Um so the biggest question is just can the offense maintain and continue to progress as with this new this new play caller as they're used to every year. So I I look forward to it. I look forward to everybody staying healthy and we will see what happens in week one of preseason when they'll go against the Baltimore Ravens. Next we'll go to the Dallas Cowboys who are having a joint practice this week against the Rams. As we all know the Dallas Cowboys start their training camp out in California. So it makes perfect sense that they have a joint practice with the Los Angeles Rams who they'll be playing in their first precinct season game this Saturday as well. Well I'm sorry they play on the 11th well this week coming up Dallas has had a lot of buzz. I feel like they have a lot of buzz every year though but I feel like this year it's slightly different. We all know that the offense has not been the issue and has not been anything that gives you a lot of pause when it comes to this team. We know in the last couple of years it has been that defense. And of course the biggest thing coming out of their camp right now on the defensive side is their rookie safety Caleb Downs. He's one of the most talked about players in camp receiving excellent rave reviews from everybody who is around coaches and teammates have praised his football IQ and he has emerged as a key piece of Dallas's defensive rebuild while working extensively with the first team defense. I mean we've seen it in college we know what it is now we also have to remember they do also have a new defensive coordinator. He's a rookie as well they have a lot of things but they also did shore up a a good piece for themselves as well outside of course rookie Caleb Downs uh they did also re-sign Quinn and Williams to a three-year deal um that's also a big chunk of money as well um he agreed to a three year $105.9 million dollar contract deal locks him through the 2030 season and includes 101 million in total guarantees I mean I've never seen Jerry pay people so it's kind of weird to see it happen um and to kind of see a play this happen this quickly but um there was some notable things that came out recently that it seems like they love his leadership which seemed like a direct shot at somebody who used to be there but I won't start those rumors. But yeah there's of course a lot of confidence I think that their coach has them all really feeling like and I feel like last year this time when they were just really naming their head coach a couple of months prior that everybody was kind of like I don't really know how this is going to go but it seems like he has gotten a buy-in from the team so it's really just the defensive side is really going to hold them back and we'll see how things really shake out with them. We know George Pickens is playing on a franchise tag as well um and there are a lot of people who are going back and forth saying who is wide receiver one and who was wide receiver two. I'm not starting those issues as well it's too early in the season but those are things that people are constantly talking about. But Dallas has I think I feel like every year they have a really good chance to do a lot of damage um during the season sometimes things just don't happen to shake out for them. A lot of times it's been their defense um and sometimes it's been Dak. But Dak seems very focused but again I feel like he's focused every year. So we really just gotta wait till it all happens. They'll play against the the Rams this week in their first preseason game as well. So hopefully we'll see some things. You know of course we know how it is with preseason take it with a grain of salt um these are a lot of players that are potentially fight fighting to make this team but potentially make any one of the other teams that are out there as well so I'll be interested to see who gets some burn and who doesn't next we will go to your hometown Washington Commanders who uh as well are having joint practices this week against the Miami Dolphins. They'll have their preseason game against the Dolphins this Friday um they took a huge blow this week uh Laramie Tunsel suffered a torn tricep and underwent surgery he is expected to miss significant time and could potentially miss a season that is huge as we all know Jaden Dams is coming off of I don't know how many injuries he had an elbow injury had a hamstring injury I believe he had a knee injury last year and they went out and got him last year from the Texans and to lose him this early on in camp is definitely going to be tough. But at the same time you know hindsight 2020 it possibly gives them a little time to be prepared as opposed to you know it happens in a game and you're really trying to figure things out but I'm sure either way it's a huge significant blow to them and their offensive line um while we're talking about their offensive line I and we know the issues that they had last year a lot of their issues also were on the defensive side um and they also picked up a key rookie as well and Sonny Styles as well as Odafe Owe who have both been having also raid reviews out of camp as well. They are expected to help improve one of the team's biggest weaknesses during the last season which was that defensive side so they're hopeful um but they have a lot of changes that they've gone through as well they also have a new offensive coordinator um it feels like pretty much everybody in the NFC East has either a new coordinator or a new head coach um or both in some spaces but they definitely have a long way to go um a lot of people are definitely looking to see how Jaden Daniels back bounces back after the injuries that he has suffered. I believe Dan Quinn has come out and said that Jaden's put on some weight as much as you can because of course he is a naturally small framed person. So it's not going to look like a whole lot but hopefully he's put on some muscle hopefully he's able to make some better decisions. Hopefully his coaches are able to make some better decisions because there were some games he just should not have been in I don't care what anybody says I don't care what he says. He just should not have been in the game. So hopefully especially knowing that that is the franchise JD5 is the franchise protect him at all costs. So hopefully they take it you know I won't say they didn't take it seriously last year but hopefully they take it more serious than they did last year. And then lastly we know that their wide receiver room was a little bit lackluster. Debo Sams did not resign uh Zach Ertz even though he's not a wide receiver in tie-in he also is still a free agent who also came off of a gruesome injury at the end of the year as well and it was really just Terry uh Traylon Burks I believe he also was a little bit injured during training camp as well but they have sent in reinforcements in the the in the areas on Stefan Diggs who we might as well just call a mercenary at this point third team in the in three years um and he's done well in the last two stops of course he's been in we know what he unlocked for Josh Allen we know that of course he just came off of a play uh a Super Bowl appearance with the Patriots um and now here he is in Washington and if he continues to play like he played last year that's gonna be good for them not good for everybody else in the east um so I'm really excited to see how that shakes out for him I'm hopeful he stays out of trouble. I always feel like there's a little bit of a we talk about it with the with the Wizards at times like it's kind of hard when you get in the city. Now of course the wizards are dead in the city and you know the the commanders are in in Virginia and in Landover but we'll see um but being from here um you you hear a lot of times stars from here don't necessarily like to play at home so I'm hopeful he'll stay out of trouble as we know that he does have a keen sense for trouble as well but on the field and that's all that really matters in this space he's a great player so I'm looking forward to see what he brings to them. Last but not least the New York Giants uh they will have a preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings this week uh I mean the Giants is really a toss-up I feel like every year they look good on paper um and things just kind of fall apart. I think the biggest thing coming out of this of course is the fact that they have a new head coach in John Harbaugh. He's brought over some of the philosophies as well as the players from his previous team in Baltimore. And I think he'll be the adult in the room um we know that they have some questionable personalities um out there and there's some possibilities for immaturity and things of such they've had a lot of offseason noise uh from league neighbors from Jackson Dart from Cam Scattable from uh Abdul Carter uh there's been a lot so I'm very interested to see how and then of course Dexter Lawrence who asked for his way out and was granted such who is now Cincinnati Bengals um so they've had a lot but I feel like John comes from that old school thing where I always love the quote that Mike Tomlin would say like we we want volunteers not hostages. You don't want to be here let's let's let's get it over and done with um so definitely seeing how that's going to play out um with their new coaching staff most of it really just depends on how quickly their young players will develop into contributors um we know that Malik neighbors is also coming off of that ACL injury um he was able to avoid starting the year uh training camp on the puplist remains on track for week one hopefully no setbacks um as he continues to recover from that ACL injury um I have I I think I forgot what exactly where Cam is but I believe I mean he's doing backflips of what is it fan phonetics whatever thing it was so hopefully he's good I would hope he's not doing backflips without that and then of course Jackson Dart just making sure that he stays smart uh I think he had he was evaluated for four concussions last year they can't have that and um the defense just showing up you know Dexter Lawrence although he probably didn't put up gaudy numbers last year he's still Dexter Lawrence and I'm wondering if how much they're gonna miss him and who's gonna step into his place even though I mean they have a bevy of people on the defensive line that might not be Dexter Lawrence but should be able to make notable um moves for them. So Giants is always a wild card at this point. We'll see how that shakes out for them. Last but not least just to go quickly Hall of Fame game we had the Carolina Panthers and the Arizona Cardinals like I said it was actually very interesting very good game. It was nice to see Carson Beck play it was nice to see the quarterback uh Haynes King oh great game it came down all the way to the wire um I believe he has a hamstring injury now so they had to sign somebody else but uh I think that they all played well in that space um I'm sorry for the Cardinals everybody thinks they're gonna be bad this year and they lost this tough game as well but everybody knows the Panthers you know they have a chance they won NFC South last year. So I was just wanted to give it kudos to that game because usually nobody pays attention to it. It's usually just talking about the new Hall of Fame class which of course was a great class that just went in um but it was actually an interesting game and it was actually not boring to watch. So I just wanted to shout them out for that. But yeah we'll see how things check out next week.
SPEAKER_01Yeah we're gonna start with take it or leave it and we're gonna stick to the NFL side of things. Minnesota Vikings have named Kyler Murray their starting quarterback. Coach Kevin O'Connor confirmed today it was the expected conclusion to the team's quarterback competition despite a rocky series of practices leading to the decision. Murray has been a heavy favorite to win this yard from the moment he signed a one year $1.3 million dollar contract Marchdro following his release by the Arizona Cardinals who pay him $35 million. The decision pushes JJ McCarthy the number 10 pick of the 2024 draft to the number two quarterback role after 10 career starts and raises questions about his future quarterbacks Carson Wentz and Max Brosmer also remain on the roster. O'Connell said that although it was an open competition between Murray and McCarthy he had always planned to make a decision in this timeframe to give the team clarity before the preseason began he said Murray had quote shown enough of his command of the offense to marry the nine quote in my opinion O'Connell said he's got the skill set and abilities not just from the standpoint of accuracy and his ability to affect the game with his athleticism but he's also proven to be smart very hardworking and be able to take it take in a lot of information and turn that out and we really want to give him the opportunity to really start building a comfort level not only with the system but with the guys.
SPEAKER_02I'll say we're gonna start with you uh take it or leave it Kyler Murray starting taking it taking it 100% um we saw what JJ did last year let's just keep it a buck um and I think it goes back to those situations where there are just some quarterbacks that aren't ready to play as soon as they hit the NFL they need additional time to progress and learn and and have time to sit behind somebody like we talk about how all these great quarterbacks sat behind somebody before they were able to really get out there and shine now I'm not comparing JJ McCarthy to them not exactly um but the concept is the same um Kyler Murray you know he's an established veteran quarterback who has been in kind of a teetering spot he's had good years and he's had bad years um and I think a fresh start for him will help um he doesn't have to do much that's the good thing for him throw the ball up to Justin Jefferson throw the ball up to Jordan Addison hand the ball off do what you're supposed to do. They have the quarterback whisperer and and and Kevin O'Connell um they have a lights out defense um yeah he's definitely and he's used to playing in a tough division even though like the NFC North has become a tougher division now even though it's not tough tough but it's becoming a little bit tougher him coming from the NFC West and always kind of been at the bottom of that. But yeah um I think like you said and it was always trending to go that way I know a lot of people were talking about that Kyler Murray didn't have some good practices but pretty much everybody else I believe that's in their quarterback room was there last year. So give a guy a little bit of grace. We know how hard it is for him to focus and learn stuff because he's probably playing PlayStation or something but um give him a little bit of grace training camp just started um I'm sure he'll he'll kind of come into his form a little bit more but I think it'll be good for JJ to like I mean I know he had the year of the injury where he was out and sitting behind somebody and learning but it's different when you're not really in it. And then last year it was just a bunch of back and forth still being injured. I don't really think I love Carson uh Carson Wentz of course um but I don't know if he was the best person for him to be behind and to learn from um for an extended period of time. And not to say that we know what Kyler Murray would be as well. But I just think it'll be an interesting space but I'm definitely taking it I think that it was kind of a no-brainer was Kyler's to lose but JJ still gotta stay on his his his toes um never know um I think they said like 64 quarterbacks played in the in a game last year so you never know when your number can be caught yeah 64 that's crazy man a lot of bad evaluations that's what that and bad development yep by these uh geniuses in the front office uh Raven taking it or leaving yeah I take it as well um it pretty much seemed like a full gone conclusion when they brought him in you know um yeah JJ didn't have the best year last year uh but like based on the comments it doesn't seem like they were overly impressed with Kyler either it was just kind of a he was just a little bit better than the other guy so yeah I don't I don't know that how they're gonna navigate that but um but yeah it it was JJ clearly wasn't ready and he needs you know just needs some time to kind of um kind of watch and absorb you know sometimes they say the the bench is the best seat in the house you know so um yeah he it just need a little bit of time man but uh but yeah it it it don't sound like they were uh they're overly excited about uh having Kyle understand it either but you know that's that's their issues to work out in that mind uh hope I I wish them the best and um yeah man we'll just see how it goes we'll see to be unserious for a second to buy into the Kyler Murray and Call of Duty Call of Duty next comes out Call of Duty 4 releases Worldwide October 23rd hey do he play GTA because that's that's right behind it.
SPEAKER_03Hey man we'll find out we'll we'll check back to their record and his play during that portion of the year for sure people been waiting on GTA for like 12 years. As far as like like this I mean you gotta take it I mean I feel like it was a foregone conclusion when they signed him um and Cardell to your point you know we've talked several times on here about the uh the inability for coaches at NFL to develop uh these quarterbacks and also the lack of development happening at the stop before the NFL for these youngsters too where it's so much of a shock like to me that whole quarterback room that's just like last chance you um collar your your job is literally just don't crash the car you got a top five defense over there you know o'Connell runs one of the you know those schemes it's it's off one of those trees where again don't crash the car keep the offense on schedule it's gonna do the things for itself it's one of those jimmy g offenses literally just don't crash the car also I'm sure he's very happy you're out of the NFC West brother now if you fail this after leaving the mutant league again that's it there's no extra chances here Minnesota's gonna be looking for a quarterback uh but yeah I just take it I felt like it was Kyler's job once they signed him just because it was kind of an indictment on the room um you have a lot of guys where it's like nobody really capitalized on their opportunities again not solely on those guys because we can look around the league it's dry out there at that position it's been a problem for the last 10 years um folks are like you know people are very excited when they're coming out of college and then we don't hear about anybody until they get cut traded or released for that last gasp opportunity um like it's sad like what's it was the last time y'all heard uh what's my man on the coast Anthony Anthony Richardson from an I would have a system man I don't know yeah like he's somebody where I wouldn't be shocked and I hope it doesn't happen but like that's one of the type of guys with this insane talent that somebody who has time and knows how to develop might just take a flyer on and get something out of it to where you get the a la Sam Darnold type of thing where it's the guy with the great traits that never got coached or developed properly. And it took a while for Sam but man we got to call that man a champion right now. Because somebody like a couple teams took the time to do it the right way where I know you know much was made by this time and Sam Frank sitting behind Brock or whatever but he speaks of it like it was a life changing moment where football finally made sense to him which is crazy because that was like year six in the NFL for him. So that meant like along the way nobody really got like think about that. There's a whole bunch of coaches nobody really got it through it's not like he's setting the world on fire but that's a Super Bowl champion barely turned the ball over in that run like it's a Super Bowl champion no one can take that away from him. So yeah I'll take it for Kyler but uh that's a nasty quarterback run.
SPEAKER_01It's a nasty quarterback I'm sorry not in a good way and because of what you just said Wilson I'm taking it and that's all I need to say because it is and and that's why the OGM got let go and and what was he how on analytics that A word man moving on uh this one should create a spirited response from guys uh man former all pro running back LaShawn McCoy believes Antonio Brown deserves first ballot entry as he's set to become eligible for the 2027 Pro Football Hall of Fame for the first time uh he even went as far as ranking Antonio Brown over three times Super Bowl champion and Hall of Famer Jerry Rice sparking a lot of backlash across the NFL community I ranked faces hey man yeah you did man um McCoy took the discussion a completely different direction during the latest episode of the Speakeasy podcast where he made a bold comparison between Brown and Rice quote it might sound crazy but Jerry Rice or A B I'm taking A B McCoy said uh co-host Emmanuel Ako look back on utter disbelief as the rest of the panelists were taken by surprise but the former Philadelphia Eagles star Octavia Octavia held his ground uh he said what am I saying wrong what can Jerry Rice do that A B can't do um Jerry Rice had more yards and touchdowns after the age somebody's gonna chime in said Jerry Rice had more yards and touchdowns after the age of 30 than Antonio Brown and his entire career. Don't listen to people like this. Your thoughts on it just not taking the leaving because I know where y'all gonna go, but just taking the leaving as far as McCoy trying to hang his hat on this this and this hot take. We're gonna start with you, Ray. Your thoughts.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I so I was um I was scrolling earlier and I saw I saw the video, but I didn't like read the caption or or um or watch it. But when I saw who was talking, I knew he was saying something stupid and you just affirmed my beliefs. Like, come on, man. Jerry Race is unquestionably the best receiver to ever touch a football. Stop. Please stop. Like I don't CTE, brother. That's that's who we're working with. Like that that's just foolishness, man. And I I don't I don't understand why people are doing this sensationalist crap. I mean, I do, but like you've been in between the lines, dog. You know better, man. And that's just the problem, man. We just putting anybody in front of a mic and they just saying stuff for clicks and views. Yeah, for him to say that, and I'm glad, I'm glad the NFL community is checking him on that BS. Because it put A B, who is extremely talented, but putting him next to Jerry Rice, don't do that. Like that's that's just disrespectful in every way. So yeah, I'm glad it was immediate pushback and it wasn't even no toe on the line just saying, dog, you tripping, because that's that's all that was, man. But yeah, uh we gotta we gotta stop giving stupid people attention. Because at this point, this is a track record. So either he really believes this stuff and his brain don't work, or he's just saying radical things to get reactions. Either way, he shouldn't be on anybody's platform.
SPEAKER_01And that's funny that you said uh uh NFL analyst Mitchell Rench said uh after that he tweeted out another example. Just because you played in the league doesn't mean you know the league or can talk about it. That's crazy. Uh Wilson, I already know where you're going with it, but just elaborate on this hot take.
SPEAKER_03Stats between 35 and 40 body your career. There's nothing to discuss. He couldn't run any agile numbers. You were healthy. Like the man put up my player numbers in a sh a lock, a lockout shortened season. Also, he did that when people could actually hit you. You got hit like twice in your brain scramble. Like people were murdering cats. My man was just running slants into death row every week with that slow 40, just getting up out of there. Like, I get sense uh sensationalism because you know, people out here like clout and attention is like a drug these days. Shady, I wish I was shocked, but hey man, you know, I'm just gonna leave that there. We're not gonna diminish anybody, but that's just sad, man. Like, find something else. You know how you know how offended I was today that I had to agree with Samuel Acho on anything on God's Green Earth because you went that far left? Like, my soul hurt today. I made the same face Acho made because of you, you did that, sir.
SPEAKER_04You did that fresh coming off Acho misunderstanding DJ Carrington because words don't make sense to him, and you got me agreeing with him less than 24 hours later because you said this nonsense. I love A B.
SPEAKER_03He was very talented in keeping it just between the lines. Whatever you want, let it go.
SPEAKER_04Just just just let it go, man.
SPEAKER_03There's some people that just don't need to be touched, like just leave it alone. If somebody gets in that that stratosphere, we don't need to argue and and and debate about it because you got there. That's one of the reasons we're like, that's where it'll just nobody needs to say that out loud. We all know who it is. You can say other things, but you know who it is in your heart when you say it. Like, this is the face of somebody who just wanted some attention. Nobody, why are you that grown as a grown man wanting that much attention to say something this crazy? That's that's nuts. Your whole unserious panel turned up their face at you, and the bell community agrees on nothing together, but they agreed that you were tripping. Look at you uniting folks that don't even like each other. That's how far left what you had to say was. That's super disrespectful, man.
SPEAKER_04Like, that's that's crazy. Like, honestly, you not even like better than some of the dudes Jerry made. Like, you gotta chill. You just gotta chill.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, um, I think these people go with these hot takes because they think it would draw more attention, they're not slick. But honestly, I think it just turns a lot of people off. If if they're stable thinking, you know what I mean? It turns people off because it's just like I'm not even gonna watch that stupid stuff. Because why would you say something that's stupid?
SPEAKER_02Uh well, I would like to first say that his Super Bowl wins was not with us, so I don't even know if we want to count like him like in that space, you know. Because I mean, this is still the same person that did the ALS challenge and literally had his Super Bowl trophies, so I could like he did something in those, but you know, Shady, I I I I loved him from the time he played here, but he's smoking crack. I don't, I don't know. Like, I just I don't understand it, and I 100% agree with Wilson. The fact that you make me agree with Acho is wild because I hate both of them. I hate Acho. Like, I just like what are you talking about? Like, what are you talking about? It's like these two take turns of just annoying everybody. Like, oh, I went last week. I guess it's your turn this week. Like, it makes no sense. Like, I literally had to like look stuff up. Uh, I didn't have to look it up, but it's just nice to see it in like a round number. They said Jerry Rice played 20 seasons, finished with 1549 receptions, 22,895 receiving yards, 197 receiving touchdowns, which are all NFL records, are still NFL records today. Um, his 208 total touchdowns are a league mark at 13 Pro Bowls, 10 first team all-pro selections, and 303 games, more than double Antonio Brown's 146. What are we talking about? Like, what are we even talking about? Like, bruh, like LaShawn, LaShawn, LaShawn. Like, he can't even be called Shady in this point. His name is LaShawn at this point. Like, there was that's like the most S and I think I've ever heard in my life. And the sad part about it is I wish that I could blame it on, you know, the kids and the prisoner of the moment, and they weren't around and they don't do their research and they don't look good. Bruh, like, I can't even blame that on that. Like, it's literally like just stupidity at this point, like, or just like you guys have said, clickbait, rage bait at this point, which you have actually succeeded in. Congratulations on that, because that's just some crazy stuff to ever say out your mouth. And the fact to say it out your mouth and have it recorded, like you ain't say it in like the corner nowhere where you could kind of like try to say, like, no, I ain't say that. You got this joint all wax for the whole world to see how ignorant your take is. It's just crazy. And I love Shady, but he's ridiculous for this, completely ridiculous. And that right there is probably why you guys had to start your own podcast and and you're not on national TV anymore, even though national team said that much better. But I digress.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, man. My my I feel like not only is Jerry Rice the greatest wide receiver ever, he's the greatest football player ever. Um like you literally can get an average quarterback and he will make him look like an all-bro. He's durable, he's gonna catch everything. He runs every route amazing. Like, I know everybody has seen the practice clips of this man torching 49 to the DB back in the day. And he runs a what four, six, four, seven, and all that, and he making dudes running four threes and four twos look like they were running four, six, four, seven. Just destroying them, man. Best hands, all that. This is the only dude I ever really seen give Deion Sanders work. Like, like game work. Dion had his wins, but Jerry, like Dion had to work, dog. Now against everybody else, they don't even throw that side of the field. Dog, look, I mean even the clips before this adjury. He was 42 with the Seattle Seahawks looking like he he he 22, man. It's like come on, man. He giving Dion work. They didn't throw on that side of the field when Dion played, man. They ain't look that way. We just gonna stick here because he he's too good. Like, what we doing, man? It's some dudes just can't be touched. Like, it's it's like the mic, like he's for me, Michael Jordan uh of uh the NFL. Leave them alone, man. It's too much damage done. And when you if you if an athlete comes along that has really all around totality challenge that, we'll speak on it. We like we will speak on it. Because you because it'd be something that's not normal, because guess what? It's not normal. They're the only ones that's done it. And and that Jerry was cold, man. And and the thing I love about Jerry, he took he took his job very seriously to the point like some teammates felt like man, he was too serious, man. He needed to lighten up. But I'd rather have that than somebody who don't take it seriously enough. And that's what made him great. Like, like Antonio Brown was cold with the pin spot. Don't get it twisted. He was a bad boy, bad boy. But his longevity, you see what I'm saying? It's just look what he was doing at 42. That's after Oakland. That's that and and obviously Oakland's same division as my Broncos. That was older Jerry, and we couldn't do nothing with him. So I can only imagine if we had to deal with 49er Jerry every year in the same division. Like, that's just a no-go, man. So and I've heard like T.O. and Randy say they was better and all that. I can listen to them because of what they did and all that. I can listen to him, but it does get to a point quickly, it's like, all right, dog, like chill. I understand what Jerry did. But no, Anthony Brown's nowhere near. Like, no, leave that alone, man. And I just don't understand. And why can't you just say I feel like he's a Hall of Famer without bringing Jerry into it? Let him stand on his own merit and his credentials. Just say that. Like, I feel like he should get in. I know he has some off the field stuff, but let football-wise, he deserves to get in the first ballot. You could have just said that. People would have respected it. But I don't understand why in this time, when people discuss like all like sports and stuff, they gotta try to compare and diminish an all-time great, especially the elite of the elite. In that, you see what I'm saying? Like, I mean, Larry Fisher just went in the hall of fame. Salute to him and all that. You know what I mean? His OGs were Randy Moss and Chris Carter. If you put A B in that room, he ain't better than those three. So how you touching Jerry? I'll close with it. It's like what Dion says about the Hall of Fame. He said they letting anybody in the Hall of Fame. He said it's a Hall of Fame, and then this should be another wing for guys like me. We really the best that ever did it. You know what I mean? That's where Jerry is. So you can get in, but then you gotta knock for some access to get into the room that all those other dudes and and and that's the and that and that's the and and didn't he lose the season with Warren Sap talking around when he tore his ACL. Didn't he lose the whole year or something like that and still did those numbers?
SPEAKER_03And one of the years with ATL, he came back in and put up numbers. He came back in the same season, he ain't even missed the whole year.
SPEAKER_01Right, any route, even when he got old, they put him in the slot, dog. Still putting in word, dog, like going across the metal. Come on, man. That's greatness, man. What he did, uh like that's real greatness, man. That you just keep I would like to know what the hell made him retire, dog. You know what I'm saying? Because I was look 42 stuck like that. That's impressive. And I forgot about that stage. Well, it's on uh it's on you, Wilson. We just kind of getting close.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, shout out to Shady for shutting stuff down tonight with something so stupid. Uh, we didn't even need rapid fire or anything else. Because you you you out you uh I'll kick your coverage. Great job, sir. Like that was literally the dumbest thing I've heard so far this summer. And we still got time to go in August, man. Like, that is again, all you had to do was say what Cardell said. A B, off the field stuff aside, deserves to be a first battle fan, which is your opinion. That's great, cool. You might even have half a leg to stand on. But no, you didn't even go throw in like another Hall of Famer or somebody who didn't get in. You went to go get the wide receiver, as if that was gonna help you make your case. A dude had like five separate all-pro careers within that range of time, like that's why it's the dumbest thing ever. Like his proteges were better than you, like, Jill, just stop, like let it go. Just just let it go. Then, like, I saw the new thing now, and again, had to close the app for two seconds. Uh, when you first brought it up, I was looking at stuff. The new thing now is because of the lack of advanced coverages, Jerry had it easy. I can't with y'all, y'all about to do the Jordan thing to Jerry Rice, and I refuse to participate. So, look, I would simply say I appreciate y'all. Y'all have a great week, a great evening. Enjoy the first week of the rest of the league having preseason football. I tell you, we'll be back next week for more uh in the parent so the NC East Mystics, folks. Again, tip offset 10. We'll see y'all later this evening. Don't forget to head over to focustv.com for stay up to date with everything we have going on. For the latest episodes of this weekly show, along with our 24-7 live feed, uh, which is up on our channel on Roku and Amazon Fire TV devices, that feed plays our most recent content. Uh, the latest news, along with interviews and highlights, are all available over at the focustv.com. I will happily could hit this button because Shady McCoy needs me. I need to take a break because he got me just like, what is wrong with you? It's really I used to not get why old people got so frustrated when I was young. Thank you, Shady. I get it now. I I get all the faces, those reactions, because some of us must have been saying something like you. I don't feel like I ever did, however. But for you to say this at this age is crazy.
SPEAKER_04But y'all have a good night.