First Things First - Austin Reaves signs extension, NBA Draft, Nick’s World Cup Tiers, Celtics should trade Jaylen Brown?

Episode Date: June 24, 2026

(0:00) Celtics still have Jaylen Brown, NBA Draft reaction (27:22) Will Giannis regret joining the Heat?  (37:36) Like Joe Brady’s fit with the Bills? (47:19) Nick’s World Cup Tiers (01:05:42) Drake Maye’s mentality with Patriots (01:18:27) Austin Reaves signs max extension  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The excitement of the FIFA World Cup is now streaming live on Fox One, the official English streaming platform to catch every unforgettable moment. Fox One brings the action straight to your screen so you never miss a goal. Download Fox One and experience the FIFA World Cup live. Off goes Cancelo delivering the cards. So here we go. It's Nuno Fernando. Neto sprinting down the right.

Rinaldo through the middle. It's Cristiano Ronaldo for Portugal. Big five, no win for Portugal. Cristiano Ronaldo has arrived at the party. Bumped off it. Here's some Ghana the other way. A tour Fatao rolls it in, long-rending. There's a shout potentially of a foul there,

because Conte ends up making contact with getting no ball. Kane picks it up. Rogers, James, into the middle. Live from New York, it's a show that's going to start calling for VAR if they don't agree with a take that they've heard. First hour of first things first. KW tried to call for VAR and our little pre-show competition. Well, I was trying to nutmeg you and you were trying to just kick the ball across the studio.

That's usually you try to gain possession. Nick did score on you. Thank you. There was no scoring. Oh, really? Then why do we have two cameras set up? There's no goal. You're supposed to kind of like get possessed you.

I was trying to get past me. I was trying to get past you. Now we are going to be on Nutmeg Patrol in the game. the office. I will have the ball at all times and I will just be you are putting it through everyone's legs at all times. You are in better shape than me. You are stronger than me. You play soccer because you have young boys and I do not. I however am much much much, much younger than you and because of that I have an grandfather.

It's true. First hour of first things first. Today new coaches, new starts, different reports out of camps for Josh Allen in LaMalle. which approach do we like better? Very interesting test for you, bro. Yeah, yeah. You didn't like it. Okay, interesting. Meanwhile, day two of Janus in Miami,

is there a chance that he will regret this move? And we try to predict Miami's starting five, which doesn't look that intimidating, to be honest with you. And finally, a fresh edition of World Cup tiers. How high will Argentina be? And what's going on with Nick's Brazil team, which plays today? I've got a stunning take of the tears. Wow.

Really? Stunning, yeah. Be honest, before we get to the full tiers. You guys were impressed with the committee's work this week, quite a. I wouldn't say that. There was just so many teams, I think it's really good. I was impressed that you went so deep on the- And I like that you started to get behind the good old US of A.

I have, I don't like how you're trying. trying to frame the audience as if you're the only person. I'm the USA guys. We're all pulling for you. You're trying. Pull it for it. After he. I'm the USA guy.

He now has been like, are you giving up there? I'm not. I'm also. And you've said Argentina. I like, no, I talked about Argentina's merch.

Uh-huh. Yeah. Start in Boston where Celtics GM Brad Stevens talked about not trading for Janus. And the potential that Jalen Brown could still be traded. Take a listen. Jalen Brown's a big part of us. Like, you know, I'm not going to, I'm never going to predict the future. But like every indication, everything that I think about is with over the past few years has been building around those guys.

Right. And so obviously, you never know. But at the same time, I think the one thing I want to make very clear is how valued he's always been. Okay. Should Jalen Brown want to leave the Celtics? I wouldn't blame him at all. And I wouldn't blame them. And I think they are going to trade him.

You do? Yes. Oh, yeah. I wasn't here yesterday. I did listen to the entire show, but I forgot some of it. Yeah, I think that right now, I'm not saying it's definitely going to happen. But if I had to pick, will Jalen Brown be on the Celtics or not on the Celtics game one of next season? My guess would be not on the Celtics.

and this press conference further, it pushed me a little further towards that take because he had the option of being like, listen, I'm not going to get into specific reports, but when a player like the one you guys are talking about, Janus comes available, we of course have conversations, we of course discuss things.

With that said, Jaylen Brown did X, Y, and Z for his finals MVP, you know, we definitively are moving forward with him. He didn't do that. I'm not saying you should have. But that I think they are continuing to shop Jalen Brown, and that's one of the reasons Brad Stevens didn't want to throw cold water on it because he knows it could be reported in the next few days.

He's been offered for something else. Jalen Brown has made hundreds of millions of dollars, has won a championship, has been a finals MVP. The one thing he has not done is really seen how far he can take a team as the lead guy, and we got a glimpse of it last year. heard from him was. It was the most fun he's ever had. Now, I don't think it will be as successful as I think he thinks it would be. I think a team with Jalen Brown as your number one, as your best player has a ceiling similar to what Brew and I at least thought the Celtic ceiling was last

year without Tatum coming back. You can have a good regular season. You can win around in the playoffs potentially, but you are not going to compete for a championship. But if Jalen Brown says, I've checked off all these boxes, and I feel a little disrespected by the fact that it's pretty clear that for Brad Stevens and the Celtics, it's not everyone's available. It's everyone but Jason Tatum's been available since we've been together. And I think Jalen feels like he and Tatum are absolute peers. So for all those reasons, I wouldn't blame him at all if he's like, yeah, I want to go see what I look like in Portland or Atlanta or somewhere.

Look, that makes a lot of sense what you said, but I'm going to say no. Now, if he is traded, I don't think it should rock his world and he can't handle it. Because like you said, he could go to a Portland or in Atlanta or a situation that's good and he'll be the best player and they can, you know, there'll be a competitive playoff team. But I would say be careful what you wish for it. Jalen Brown is in a phenomenal situation. he is playing with the flagship franchise in the league

he is a perennial contender great front office great head coach he's a superstar he's 1A 1B I mean we get Tatum is slightly ahead of him

but we'll see next year how does that go maybe they're even or Brown's a little ahead and he is in the spotlight like if he you leave there and you don't

know where you could end up. You could end up going somewhere averaging 25 and 5 for the rest of your career, making a couple all-star games here or there. Your team's not any good. You might be a lower run playoff team and you're off the radar. He is

very much on the radar right now. Yeah. And Russell Westbrook leaving Oklahoma City and now you're traveling around all over to Kevin Durant leaving Golden State now you're all over. Like it doesn't work out for everybody. When Kyrie left Cleveland.

He wanted to leave Cleveland. A few years later, he wanted to reunite with LeBron. He's in a great situation. I get it. They offered you for two of the best 20 players ever. Kevin Duran and Janus. Yes. And you're, I mean, no matter how big you're not LeBron James.

You're not Michael Jordan. Like, you're, you got offered. It's almost a compliment. And I'm just saying to trade J.W for Bob Costis. Right. Are you going to be that upset? I get it. Throw in Josh.

I get it. So I just think I understand what you're saying. And there might be a part of him that would like to go somewhere and be the number one guy and see what he can do. But he needs to realize, don't demand it. That's what I'm saying. Don't demand. Don't ask for a trade. if they end up moving you fine,

but you are in a great situation. Question for you, even though I did, was that my son's graduation? I did listen to the whole thing, but I didn't take notes. Yeah, no problem.

So I apologize. Gianna, we didn't post a YouTube yesterday so he could do so much. I know, I didn't, I still, because I got to watch every

camera angle. Yeah, individual camera angle, so it's actually like 5X the normal person's viewing. If he wanted to leave, do you think the Milwaukee trade was still available if he would have committed to signing an extension.

Oh. I thought that he basically nixed that. No, I don't think he nixed it at all. Because he's like, I'm not going to sign an extension. What nixed the Milwaukee? Yeah, he basically, like, poisoned the well of, like, Jalen Brown. They got him locked up. No, I mean, I don't think.

I think maybe had he made it very clear, the first chance I get, I'd sign an extension, maybe that would have. because there was some reporting Jimmy Haslam was nervous about him wanting out. But I don't know. I don't think that's the case. I mean, you would still have him for three years. Three years, which is in these days, almost the max you have any player. Can I add one other thing on this before we move on?

Yeah, of course. So here is what I think is the trickiest for Jalen Brown. There are two teams that are contenderish that, again, and one of the, I'm not saying these trades even would work or even what the pieces would. be. But that Jalen Brown would be a perfect fit for. And if they went there, I think it would be like, oh my goodness. Like he is a perfect fit for that

team they can win the title. The Lakers and the Nuggets. That if they, like the Lake Luka with Jalen Brown, it is exactly what Luca needs. And Joker with Jalen Brown, that's exactly what, you know, the Nuggets need.

I would put Minnesota in there too. Okay, sure. If they could get, I don't think they need. But what do all of those teams have in common? He wouldn't be the number one guy any of those places either. And so that is where the rub here for, if I were personally advising Jalen Brown, it would be, the grass might be greener in other places. And maybe you are, you know, a little, feel disrespected by the Celtics organization.

But there is no place, as I say all the time, you can't have everything in life. There is no place of the 30 NBA teams where you can check the box of, I am unquestionably the best player and I am in as good of a position to win a championship as I am right now. That does not exist. And so, like, that's, that is the tricky part. Now, the fact that he's won a championship, won a finals MVP, and if he were watching and heard Bruce say, you know, be the number one guy in average 25 and 5, he's probably like, I was the number one guy last year.

I averaged 30. We weren't fighting for the play. Which, again, I agree with your take, but I'm saying, like, he might say, you guys are still underestimating me. Like, why can't I go be that guy? And he seemed to imply after they lost in the first round that one of the reasons they lost in the first round was they went away from what they had been doing all year long, which was, to me, a not so subtle dig, if you will, at the reacclamation of Tatum. But not entirely unfair. not entirely unfair. Now, Tatum wasn't there for the game seven,

and they had an opportunity to hold on to that 3-1 lead with Jalen Brown and friends, and they weren't able to do it. I also think the scenarios you mentioned, he would be the distance between the number one guy and him is greater with Luca or Yolkich. For sure. And maybe even and is close to Taylor. And is viewed as much on another level.

And in the West, you're not guaranteed at all of getting to the conference finals, let alone the NBA finals. We're in the East. You have a better shot. So do you think he starts, training camp starts September 29th? Do you think he's there? I mean, I think he very well could get traded,

and I think they're right to listen to offers, maybe shopping, see what they can get. I'm just of the position that if you're not, if you don't definitely get a trade that makes you better, don't do it because you think his feelings are hurt. And Brad Stevens talked about, we've had candid conversation, so they may have been very open and honest with them. I'm not setting the deadline at training camp. Kat was traded right before the start of the season.

Hardin was traded this years ago. Hardin with Oklahoma City was right before the start of the season. I am saying, so I think he could be the Hardin traders, the Oklahoma City. The original Hardin Trade. There's so many Hardin trades. And that was a week into the year. Right. And so I quit in Sacramento.

And so, no, I'm just saying by the first day of the season, the regular season. Meanwhile in Brooklyn, NBA draft went largely as anticipated at the top. DeBonsta to the Wizards, Peterson to the Jazz, Boozer to the Grizzlies, some interesting comments afterwards. Caleb Wilson to the Bills and Keaton Wagoner. Meileney. Who are you liked? To the clippers. Who was the biggest winner of the first round?

Chet home group. Interesting. What a take. Because Oklahoma City at number 12 drafted a day Mara 7.3, 260 pounds. And they're calling him the Wimby stop. It's just out there. It's just out there. Have you seen it?

Have you seen it on the meeting? No, no. No, but it's been out there. Wimby's enforcer was the guy in the Spurser draft. Yes. The Wemby Stoffer. But here's the deal. If this guy guards Wimby, right?

We'll see if you have much even plays. But the thing is Wimby Stopper, if Wimby's hearing that, maybe he will turn his ire toward Mara and away from check. Great take. All right? Now, check, you might be in the –

we don't even play the same position. We don't guard each other. I'm a forward. You know, Marra's our center or whatever. Yeah, like Wimby and I don't even play. put us in the same sense anymore. But seriously, I do like what they did. Look, we'll see what this guy can do at the NBA level.

He is a very good passers. You can see. And I think that could, if he gets some playing time, that could open up their offense in ways where it's not just, you're not so as relying on Shay creating for himself off the dribble. This kid can maybe, you know, they can run a little motion with their offense with his passing. And then I actually liked them getting the shooter from Iowa to Bennett Sertz.

So I like that. But the team, yeah, I think he could be good. The team I really quickly want to point to is Utah because Utah could make a nice little jump next year. We know they tanked. We know they could have been better this year. But this is their starting lineup with Darren Peterson at number two. You got him. You got Keonté George.

They got three 20-point scores in their lineup without Peterson. Ace Bailey had a nice rookie year. He's the one that's not a 20-point score. And then Mark and then who averaged 26 last year and Jaron Jackson Jr. And that's not even mentioning Walker Kessler. Right. So I think they are going to make a, now they got to fit all that together because those guys can score, but they have some talent.

They obviously have a good coach too. So I think they're going to make a little jump and surprise. And listen, at number two, you have to draft best player available, not base it on fit. I think they are thrilled the draft fell the way it did because this was the best fit and they thought the best player available. You know what I mean? I do think it's the, well, you don't think they wanted DeBonza? I think DeBonza would have been their first choice, but I think this is a better fit.

So, yes, I think DeBonza is who they would have loved to have. My point is they didn't, had they draft had Washington taken Peterson and Devons is there, yes, you obviously are thrilled and you take him. Like, let me do it. But they don't, it doesn't fit as well. Like this was, it was the way the draft fell, it was best player available and best fit. So that's great. I am, I'm going to go with just picks three and four quickly.

Okay. I think of the top four prospects, Camboozer has. is the least likely to be MVP and the least likely to be a perennial first-team All-MBA guy. I think he's the most likely to have a 12-plus year super solid productive career. I think he has, it appears to be the most, and I think a lot of these, this sounds insulting to the other guys, but the most mature, most adult of all the guys in part because his dad was a pro and he's kind of been prepared. sharing this for so long. And I think that is exactly what Memphis needs.

I think Memphis needs stability, mature face to build their new team around once they move on from JAA this summer. So I think that was a smart and great pick for them. And then the Bulls, I think that it is, I would put, to steal a line from you, on the roulette wheel of takes, a few chips on, this kid's going to be the best player in the draft. It's, I'm not, and the, the bulls being able to sit there, get a guy who I think his upside is as high as DeBonson Peterson.

It is not to me as sure of a thing as DeBanza and be able to get him. The comp I would give for maybe the older audience, I guess a bit, is like a rich man's Germain O'Neill, and Germain O'Neill was awesome. And so, like, again, I'm not trying to insult Germain O'Neill's career, but like higher upside than that. And so I just think to be drafting four and get a guy who I think in three of the last six drafts would have been the number one pick and Caleb Wilson, I think is great. And so those are the two. Best prospect they've had since Derek Rose.

Oh, yeah. She drafted Derek Rose. I didn't even think about that. Yeah. So, yeah, no, I like it too. Good. North Carolina in the red and black too. Yeah, they got a history, right?

KW, real quick. Pretty good. Just take. Bonus take. Bonus take. Throw the graphic up, Dust. Other big winner. Rivals High School rankings.

Here are the top 10 players of last year's high school class and where they went in the draft. One, two, three, 13, four, 27, 6, 37, and 10. Of their top 10 guys all got drafted last year and seven of their top 10 were drafted in the top 10. The rivals high school rankings. Back-to-back years with all freshmen in the top five. So it's not.

Yeah, but that... But just freshman. I understand. And I'm saying, but there's... You rank all the incoming freshmen, and they were correct in how good they were going to be. Brew and I like this, the pedigree in the high school rankings. No, no, I don't think that's necessarily true. What do you mean?

I don't think that Brew loves high school and rivals rankings. He does for, he does for the basketball. He doesn't for football. He does how many times when he talks about the spurs? No, but for basketball, he's like, those are blue chip talents. Listen, the thunder, they have nice players, but they're not blue-chip talents like the spurs. We hear it all the time. He's trying to.

No, it's true. He's with me. He's with me. Back to the World Cup, Portugal, Uzbekistan. Ronaldo scores twice, becomes the only player to score in six World Cups. After his two goals, he was asked two messy questions, and here was his answer slash non-answer to the second. Ayer Lionel Messi He made two goals

Inbape, no, Holland, and you still demonstrating that you're going to... Okay, your reaction to Rinaldo's post game and game. I want Brue to go, but first, there was more. He also was asked about Messi again and we'll play it

and we have it captioned. You can hear as he's walking out, he's asked again, and play that if you would, Dust. Thank you. Thank you. I don't care of one actress. What did this is about it?

I don't care about anybody else. And then he's like, Mbopé scored two. So good. I like the way he responded. You did. Yes, because Messi, he is clearly motivated by what Messi is doing.

It's his peer, who is out there playing phenomenally. And you saw. yesterday. I'm not saying he wouldn't have had a great game anyway, but all the other, you know, big names have been scoring, getting braces and scoring two goals, all that. But he,

Messi in particular, is his peer, and he's doing it. And I think yesterday, I mean, you saw Ronaldo look great. He turned back the clock and played well. And I think he's not just motivated by Messi to play. to play well individually. I think he is now, he's been motivated to win, obviously.

But I just think it's a little extra something to win as a team. Because we saw in game one, he was criticized because some thought he was playing selfishly. Yesterday with the free kick, he gives it up to Mendez. So I just think that he sees what Messi's doing. He's motivated.

But don't throw it in my face. I don't want to hear it. But inside, yeah, I'm going to bring it because he's bringing it. So I like it. I would like to see them meet up this World Cup. That was what- Quarter-finals in Kansas City. Is it in Kansas City?

Yeah. I think it's July 11th. If the bracket holds Argentina, Portugal, in the quarter-finals, I believe in Kansas City. Again, if that happens, that would be one of the greatest games ever. Yeah, yeah. Holy cow, that would be nice. Right now, I don't feel like the goat conversation is close.

No. I feel like Messi had a lead and then just started to extend his lead. And the fact that Rinaldo is still kind of, I don't know, brushing off Messi. I guess that's what you need from a competitor. But I didn't think this response was excellent or admirable by any sense. I mean, it might not have been polite, but I don't care about being polite in this situation. So I don't, I agree with you, Brew, that I don't. I didn't care about the, for lack of better term, rudeness of it.

But I do think, and this is where I think you are, it was a little revealing that this actually, he is pressing. That's what it felt like he's bothered by it. Like if you wanted to play a cool. And like that, it might have a legitimate impact. I did great. While it doesn't show up against Uzbekistan, it might have a legitimate impact on how he plays or approaches games,

particularly if they do get a game against Argentina to make the semis. So I also think that, and there's, you know, this, as you guys would say, you do a long podcast on this. And I'm sure many, many have been done. But the flip of the way Ronaldo's career at the World Cup started, when it was right as he was 21 years old, kind of entering the scene as, is he already the best player in the world? The next year after the 06 World Cup, the next year he finished second in the Ballandor and the year after he won it. Portugal kind of shockingly makes the semis, and it's like, wow. And meanwhile, Messi's career at the World Cup, up until last World Cup, had been one of some disappointment. And in fact that Portugal has never gone on a deep run since then.

Argentina now won it and is one of the favorites. Messi went from a guy who had eight goals through his first four World Cups to now the all-time goals leader. All of that, I think, has been, you know, really impacting. I think that rivalry is real for them. And I think Ronaldo didn't see this much of a switch coming in short order. And I think that's, I think it bothers him immensely. Portugal, Columbia on Saturday. We'll see how he plays.

That's another huge. I'll be there in Miami. I am going to beat you. Oh, do you want to come? No, it's my mother-in-law's birth. birthday, but otherwise I will be. Maybe I'll ask her. Bring her.

Why don't you give her tickets as a present? Oh, speaking of World Cup champions. Seven hours, Scotland, Brazil. Brazil's got to win by margin to win the group. Well, then, yes. Brazil's got to win by margin. Morocco's playing 80. Well, then Morocco's going to try to win.

They play at the same time. They're going to try to pour it on. Yeah, I know. It's in seven hours and 30 minutes. When we come back. That's also in Miami. Yonis in Miami. What he's also?

Wow. Everybody's in Miami. Yonis should be there. At the game? Yeah, take him out. What a way to introduce you something. Welcome back to first things first four hours until Canada takes on Switzerland in Vancouver.

You were looking at Canada's Jonathan David coming off a hat trick against Qatar. We'll see if you can get on the board again in Vancouver. Determines the winner of the group. I'm rooting for our friends to the north. It'd be nice. It's been a good. Yeah, I mean, the host countries, it would be three for three on winning the group.

And remember, this is your battle with flags as well. You brought it. Well, I do like the, I like the arrogance of the Swiss flag. I just like it. The fact that they go square, and the only other place that does is Vatican City. I think there's something to it. Yannis will start year 14 in Miami. He had the fifth best odds to win the championship, which of course would validate the move

if they win another championship. Yanis is finals MVP. But let's explore the other option here, bro. What are the chances Janus regrets going to Miami? Unfortunately, I think they are very high. Because one, I don't think he's going to win a championship there. And people are already talking about in Miami. Every time Pat Riley gets a superstar player,

he ends up delivering a championship. And it is true that everybody they've had on Janus's level, LeBron, Duane Way, Shaq, they all won championships there. And so when Janice does it, which is my prediction, unfortunately, I think that that's going to be held against him. And secondly, when you, if it doesn't work out in Miami, and you know you could have went to Boston. That's the piece of.

And he could have been competing for a championship this year. And really the rest of his prime, he would have been competing. competing for championships, maybe in the finals versus Wimby, which just would have been incredible, you know, the one-on-one matchup. So I do think he will regret this because I don't see Miami. And I don't see in the near future them even having the tools to improve, you know, their team. So listen, I know you reviewed the tapes and heard, Bru and I heard about this yesterday. I have to.

If you want to reiterate. No, no, no, no, I have to admit. My apologies, I was busy watching England cost me a lot of money yesterday. Again? You got to stop. Every time you come on, it's like I lost. I know. I'm on.

Just put draws. Just put a little money on draws. That's what I should have been doing. Instead, I'm betting huge favorites, and they're losing or drawing, and it's just ruining me. But I, we move forward. Point is this. I didn't have time to review the Kevin Wilde's podcast network where I know you did an emergency trade reaction. So do you want to get your initial TV thoughts on this before I give mine?

Oh, you already did it on the pod. The world's already heard. Because here is where I stand. It's not only that I totally agree with Brew. And I, listen, I argued with Colin a bit about. this yesterday when he talked about how great of a defensive team Miami can be. And I think Miami will be an excellent defensive team. Absolutely.

Now, I don't think Janus is still a top three defender in the league. Now, maybe that was... But with that help? Yeah, and also, maybe that's also... He wasn't competing for championships. And so, like, you know, maybe he'll get a little boost on that side of the ball. But I think they are going to be a mediocre offense. And they are going to be a bad shooting team. only reason that what will make the offense give it some life is Janus's 30 and 30 and I don't

high efficiency. But I asked this question yesterday, which is Janice's career in Miami, pick which door you think is more likely. He wins a championship, never makes a conference finals. And to me, that is a clear cut door number two is more likely. Now, the most likely might be door number three, one good season where they, you know, make a semi-deep run. But of those two, and then compare that if the news was he was in Boston, traded for Jalen Brown. And it's like wins a championship or never makes a conference finals. I would have found it incomprehensible that Boston with Tatum and Janus would never make a

conference finals. Like it was, they seemingly make it every year. I mean, the last two they haven't. But, you know. Exactly right. And so I understand all the respect. And I have been one of the pipe pipers of believing. in the heat since we've been doing the show.

But over this part of the decade, as good as the heat and Pat Riley have been, the Celtics have been better. The Celtics have been, you know, as high, they have been a higher functioning organization. They both are very good at turning role players into very good role players, but the Celtics have won at a higher level and competed at a more consistently higher level. The heat did dispatch of the higher ranked Celtics and went to the. finals, right? If I was a huge heat. Which is another thing quickly on the Janus. They also. Jimmy Butler, who's not on Janus's level, led them to two finals. And again,

if he doesn't get them to a finals or a championship, that will also be thrown in his face. And I think the East is harder than it was the years Jimmy Butler got them to the finals. And this is my, like right now, KW. So I think I'm stunned that this is, that Janus is good. with this and I am even more stunned that Vegas is as optimistic as they are. Because I, for next season, expect, like, I would be pretty surprised if New York, Boston, Cleveland, or Detroit are not better in the regular season. So as far as that those are the teams with the better regular seasons. Detroit up.

I have no reason to think Detroit's not going to be good in the regular season. And they took their playoff lumps, their young team. but I mean maybe not. And I am not certain which of these teams I would bet a lot of money. Now part of that's because I have no money left to bet.

But bet a lot of money that the heat will definitely be better than next year in the regular season. Indiana, Orlando, Atlanta. And then I will include Toronto and Philly as possibles. I've now said nine

teams. I'm not saying those nine teams are better than Miami. My point is, what do I anticipate W? That at the All-Star break, there's at least a moment where Yanna says, wait a minute, we're fighting to stay out of the play in here too. Like, and now maybe Riley can make magic in coming off seasons, but when you've traded away your picks, when you've traded away your young role players, I don't see

the maneuverability there. That you don't think there's another move coming outside of, I mean, Winnhorses talking Chris Middleton. that Chris Middleton doesn't do anything. We were hearing the same thing with Milwaukee. We said Miami of Milwaukee South. I said yesterday, Wilde, Norman Powell is so important for them.

They have to keep Norman Powell. And he's a very good player, but I'm talking about him like he's a perennial all-star. But they just need, that's how depleted their roster is right now. And they are probably the most likely team to be like, you know what, we'll take a spin on the Jiamer,

and Aunt Will? I would love that. But that does, I can't shoot. Yeah. And he, John, I still think he could be a great player for soon. Well, South Beach will be the perfect recipe for him to reach his full potential. I like, you might have to, look, where else is he going? Like, who else is going to be interested in Jive?

But so this is, but so maybe you can do something there. I think it would be a terrible sign for Miami if that's where he ends up. Because you know what teams, what the types of teams that would be like, you know what, let's roll the dice on John Morant? Desperate teams. Miami's not supposed to be desperate right now. They just made a move they think makes them contenders. Like there is no A-list contender that we're like, you know what, roll the dice with John Moran. We usually don't need John Moran if you're an A-list contender.

But this is, I need him. So that, I am trying to measure my time. commentary a bit with the fact that there's only four teams in the league that have better title odds. So there's, there are people out there, there are people out there, brew, that clearly think, oh yeah, Miami, listen, they're not Boston and New York, but they're right there. They have better title odds than the Timberwolves, than the Nuggets, than, like, Cleveland and Detroit are interesting because we don't believe in them in the playoffs, so I understand that piece of it. It just doesn't make sense to me. I don't think they have a fully formed roster

and I don't think they have a way to get a fully formed roster. And I just don't think they have enough shooting at all. No, to me, that's their biggest problem, is lack of shooting. Yeah. They have got to, for instance. I like John. A lot. All right, a new attitude in Buffalo will it lead to more wins?

And we are counting down to Morocco, Haiti, live from Atlanta at 6 p.m. Right here on FS1, it will be happening at the same time as the Brazil game. We'll scoreboard watching. And I'm going to come in tomorrow. a winner. I am. You know what? You come in every day a winner.

Whether or not you win, it's not the type of attitude you need to happen. I'd like to say that. But if Morocco and Brazil don't both blow out their competition today, Haiti, we're going to be in trouble. Haiti played Brazil to a draw in the second half.

That is not a thing. It is. Brazil wanted to light up the board two. Three-nothing is a line. Afternoon headline, sponsored by Ram Truck. They're built to serve. It's a new day and a new vibe in Buffalo.

Bill's open their stadium yesterday. Look at all this. Wow. And celebratory smoke cannons notwithstanding, the team is operating with a breath of fresh air. Tim Graham writing in the athletic high-ranking bill staffers, watch player whooping around the practice field and remark how Brady's a breath of pressure air. More than football drills, field day competitions like tug of war,

obstacle courses took place at OTA. We're obscene music blared across the practice fields. Players rave about how cool Brady is. Wow. Coach, it's a cool teacher in the grammar school in Field Day and was swearing. Do you like this? You know, most music has obscene lyrics. Right, nowadays.

That's kind of commonplace. Here's how I feel about this is it's in line with how it always works in the office. So if you've got a disciplinarian, you go and get a players coach. If you got a players coach, you go and get a disciplinarian. And that's common. And guys will talk about, you know, how great it is that we've changed the philosophy and what a big difference going to make. Now, the tightrope that he walks is he was part of the last administration.

He was there for all the good things they did. He was there for their shortcomings. So now he's got established with the players that the things that he's doing differently are really going to impact things in a positive way. So not just make guys more comfortable, but it's going to allow them to take the next step. And it's a very unique situation because when you come in and guys aren't used to you

and haven't seen how you operate and don't know the decisions you made and how much you were part of the process, it's a different equation. So it's great to be the cool guy and the fun guy. and, you know, everybody wants to be that. But at some point, you're going to have to make really tough decisions about whether it's cuts or discipline or all those things. And being the cool, fun guy isn't necessarily going to serve you as well as you hope in that moment.

And, you know, we'll see. Yeah, because both styles work. There are some coaches that are, you know, more laid back, more players coaches than it works. And some guys who are harder disciplinarians. but we do have to wait and see when I was covering the Knicks I was covering them when Jeff Van Gundy quit after 10 games

and Jeff of course was a hard-nosed disciplinarian type coach and Don Cheney who's a great guy was an assistant on the staff he became the head coach they won their first game and it was kind of sloppy they blew like a big league but they still won

and over the next couple days all the players were talking about how man it's just it's so because Don was more of a players coach. So it's so great, you know, we're not doing this. We're not doing that. The only player, LaTrell Spreewell said, we'll see. I mean, sometimes you need a hard coach,

the LaTrell said it, disciplinarian type coach. I'm paraphrasing, but he was like, I don't know, we'll see if this works. They lost 16 in their next 19 games, and it was just, it didn't work out. So for some guys, it'll work, but we, like coach said, we do have to wait and see. if this is going to be what they need.

Because McDermott, we always talk about, got the most out of that defense. One way you do that is you really are hard driving on guys. So I understand what you guys are saying kind of in the abstract, like how it works generally in the NFL or waiting to grade this based on how it goes down the road.

I'm looking at this very specifically for this team in this moment. Why did Sean McDermott get fired? there's only one correct answer because Josh Allen was crying in the locker room because of the emotional devastation of that loss because there was so much pent-up tension around that team and everything

that it felt like I don't want to call it change for change sake but it almost felt from the owner that's what it was. They weren't expecting to fire McDermott but everybody was so emotionally wrecked from that moment. So because of that, I do think, even if he doesn't want to be this type of coach long term,

even if he knows that I'm about to have to, and that can be a hard pivot. I know go from players coach to hard as. I don't think it would certainly be difficult. But like, I think you had to have, whomever was going to take over from that moment needs to have almost a group, multi-month-long team building stuff. Like when you have to do, you know, ropes courses. in the woods of really trying to like... Press the falls.

Yeah, exactly. Of trying to make everyone feel a little less anxious when they're going to work because of how last year ended, the added pressure that is going to happen locally for that team because once again the rest, Bob, and also, by the way, we have this brand new stadium and all of the hype that's going into it. So for all of that, even though I have been pretty ambivalent over whether or I think Joe Brady is even the right coach, I think this is the right move. I think this is the environment you have to create for this specific team in this specific moment. And we all, I mean,

you see from different leaders throughout history, we all know how well, like, unemotional, unthought-out decisions work out, you know, like those, you know, the quick reaction, not evaluating the whole situation, just moving forward, those typically work out really well. I mean, I think in New England, they moved on from a disciplinarian to a guy that was cooler with Gerard Mayo. And, you know, I'm sure there's a breath of fresh air in the building. But they, go ahead. You know. I'm known as, like, the fun guy on the show, you know?

You used to be. Brew clearly is that now. He's the funniest guy. You want to be the fun guy? He is. I thought you were wise and, like, tough. Well, I'm all to that. Much like a lot of people, they go from wise to, like,

quirky uncle. Like the old actor. Yeah, exactly. You're a peanut collata for me. He's always got a peanut collata. It reminded me of Pete Carroll and the Raiders change of culture. And it's like, all the Raiders that've been down in the dumps and, you know, there's such a tough franchise.

And then we saw this video come out of, I think it was OTAs or, or, you know, I forgot what it was, but, and we're like, you know, we asked a similar question, do we like this for the Raiders? Well, it turns out they were the worst team in the entire league. I just think as the second most fun person on the set, I hate to say this. I think fun might be overrated. I think it might be vastly overrated. Nobody's saying that when the chiefs are doing ring around the Rosie and winning Super Bowls.

But Andy Reid runs the For all his Loves hamburgers and Hawaiian shirts But he runs the tightest training camp And they got to stay in these tiny dorms One of the guys even had to stay in a prison It was a county jail Oh, it's not a prison

But But I just feel like now It's like well, you know Disciplinaryian are fun You know tomato tomato I don't I just think fun stinks Yeah look I was in an organization

that wasn't the most fun for quite a while. But Bill Belichick and Nick Saban, and you hear them all the time talk about it, what's fun? Winning is fun. And those times were hard. Every day was hard. Every day, there was a lot of pressure. Every day there were high expectations, but it forced you to do your best on a consistent basis. And the winning was a lot of fun. You know what's also, go ahead. Well, look, I've been on the other side of it where it's been a much more fun environment. We didn't win but at the end of the day it was more it was a lot more difficult overall than you know what's also fun k w what great reaction time play the video hubs we got it on video

oh no bam okay that's great this is going to be a pita violator we're gonna hear from them oh he couldn't even fly that thing one he couldn't even fly oh you're trying to go you have to blow What are you talking about? He wouldn't even fly it. He's a walk. I don't play it on loop. My goodness. In five minutes, how high will Brazil be on our third edition of World Cup tears?

That's just a guess. No. For the second. Second edition of World Cup tears. I'm going to tell you how high there's going to be. Exactly how high they deserve to be. Brazil's, all these other teams are drawing to teams way worse than Morocco. And everyone's like, oh, it'll be fine.

Brazil, draws to Morocco, who's the top 10 team in the world, be able to freak out. It's outrageous. I'm... It's outrageous. I'm not high on Brazil today. Seven hours, 12 minutes to Scotland, Brazil on Fox. You know, I'm into the Tartan Army.

Tartan Army is from Florida from Miami. This episode is brought to you by Activia. You might already be eating yogurt, but not all yogurts are created equal. Activia contains over one billion probiotics per serving to survive and reach the gun. alive. When it comes to gut health, Activia is the number one

family doctor recommended probiotic yogurt brand. Choose Activia. Feel good from the inside out. Visitactivia.ca for more details. Live from New York, it's a show that killed a fly. Second hour, first things first. Trust it. I said,

I'm not to save Coach's life. They carry a disease. It's dang fever. Look it up. Coach really was leery of that fly. Well, I've never seen a fly when you smash it

and, like, blood explode. It was really, that fly might have been a hundred. I don't know if flies have blood. Oh, it was all over my hand in coach's paper. They definitely have blood. Do flies have blood? I didn't know either prior to us. Something's pumping through them.

Exactly. That fly was a good five ounces. It was a big fly. Five ounces. I don't think it's five. Poor fly. That's not really know how much. I don't know what he is, but he was a huge. He couldn't even fly. It was walking.

That's why Nick, a gram or two. A gram or two. Five ounces is a lot, I think. He's a lot of a pound. I just know he wasn't a pound. He was slow, though. If you ever were anybody could have nailed that fly. No, no.

He's walking. Today, no one had that worry. Ready to put all concerns about Ronaldo and Portugal to bed after two goals, a brace. Meanwhile, Drake May. Basically, the new Tom Brady, according to several reports, if you read between the lines. I'm saying if you read between the lines. But right now, let me get you caught up to speed on what's been happening. Last night, after carrying 10 bags of ice to his son's eighth grade graduation,

only to have the cooler's small drainage spout break off and leak all over his pants. That was you, not me. That was me, but still. An elite group of analysts, experts, and a guy who keeps making the VAR sign to diffuse any conflicts within the group. Fought and toil it to burn the midnight oil to deliver the best segment in all sports. It's an honor and a privilege. It's time to go to the tears. Again, a lot of tears today might be a little off because typically the introduction tells little inside jokes or embarrassing facts about my life.

Yeah. Instead, you're talking about you. I wasn't here yesterday to gather the info. Yeah, no, you were, you had a picnic. So here's the other thing that I have been informed of. There is a chance that the tears are revealed all at once. If that happens, just as an audience. Like as a graphic error?

Again, point thumbs, not fingers. I'm sure I sent it in wrong. I'm just saying, all at once tears. I'm saying if that happens, there is a chance. You know, sometimes they have to put the line. little warnings that like there's flashing lights like be careful like it could be overwhelming awesomeness just just like try to give yourself little blinders and go is it definitely happening yeah I don't know oh no all at once

48 teams in the world oh my some have already been eliminated I'm fairly certainly eliminated graphic is just going to be the eliminated graph who Turkey New Zealand Panama Uzbekistan Haiti Carousel Tunisia Iraq Jordan They're all eliminated. That's nine teams, by the way, that have been eliminated, which means seven more are coming before we get to the knockout round. Now here's the big moment. On the brink.

Let's see what we have for on the brink. Yes. What a day. Too much. Epic. That's too much. Take it down. Take it down.

It is blind. It's like blinding. It's blinding. Oh my God. Wow. Should I just, what should I do? Top down. You gotta go through.

No, go out of home. Put your hand on your screen. On the brink. South Africa, Qatar, formerly known as Qatar, Ecuador, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay. It would be stunning if any of these teams make it to the knockout round. And I want to say for Ecuador and Uruguay, you're embarrassing the South America. African Confederation. You need to be better.

I'm serious. Strong words. I didn't. Wow. You know how like in the NCAA tournament? It's like, oh my God. Yeah. The ACC is three and seven.

It's like you're embarrassing the conference. Like you're making. Yeah, that's not great. Yeah. All right. Two in, two out tier. That is, as you can see, Chechia, again, formerly the Czech Republic.

I'm a little confused by some of this. Bosnia, Erzegovina, Iran, D.R. Congo. So if there's nine already eliminated, five more there on the brink, that means a maximum of two of these teams are going to make it. But two will make the knockout round. Happy to be there. That is Scotland, who I think KW believes in today. Australia, Paraguay, Kate Verde. Shout out, Cape Verde. Austria, Algeria. They all will just be thrilled to make the knockout round. Also, Austria, Algeria, have a very potential for a very odd final match of the group stage that maybe we can talk about more tomorrow with Dax, where neither team is incentivized to win. Both teams are incentivized to tie.

There's also a history there of Austria once doing that. I think in a game against West Germany to keep Algeria out of the knockout round. Now Algeria can be a part of it. It doesn't matter. They're just happy to be there. Go get a game. These teams, South Korea, Canada, Switzerland, Ivory Coast. Sweden, Ghana.

They're probably all going to be underdogs in the round of 32. However, they absolutely all could win their round of 32 game and get to the round of 16, which was where formerly the knockout round started. Now, I was supposed to do a big thing here, but you guys can already see it. There's 18 teams left. All 18 teams who have not yet been revealed, but they've been revealed. Their fans right now are like, why not us? Why not us?

So they all could go on a run, starting with Mexico, Japan, Egypt, Belgium, Senegal, Colombia, and Croatia. I think Colombia and Senegal are legitimately dangerous. And I understand Senegal has been in a brutal draw as far as, you know, flying France and Norway already. But I think they've acquitted themselves well. if they get a win in their final group stage game, they should advance. Croatia has a history the last two years, the last two World Cups making the semifinals, but all those teams could go on and run. Power of personality tier for very different reasons.

Cristiano Ronaldo, pardon me, Erling Holland. Power of personality when it comes to Portugal is they are, the discussion of how good or dangerous Portugal is, is really directly tied to how we are in the moment feeling about Christiana Ronaldo, even though he's probably not one of their six best players on their team. But he's one of the greatest players ever. He's one of the most famous people in the world. So the conversation follows there.

Meanwhile, Norway has no business being considered a real contender, except for the fact that Erling Holland is that great of a striker and that awesome hair and that cap-duding personality. So that's where there. Brutal draw. This right now, Netherlands, Morocco, is a round of 32 game. First knockout round game, Morocco, Netherlands. Now, by the way, if Morocco jumps above Brazil and the group,

then that first knockout round game would be Brazil, Netherlands. I don't want that to be the case. With that, and by the way, whoever wins that game gets a little respite, potentially in a round of 16, and then sitting there in the quarters is France or Germany. So it's just a very unlucky where they're falling in the bracket. The ultimate revenge. What were you guys doing 250 years ago? Tell you what?

I wasn't born. True? I was in kindergarten. What if 250 years after the American Revolution, America says, you know what? It took the country. take the sport too. We're going to go further than England

in our World Cup on our home soil. And you know what I'm hearing a lot of from the international visitors? Why doesn't the U.S. always host this tournament? I have not heard that, but I like that. I didn't know this, Josh. We can talk about this after the show. The United States stadiums compared to the Premier League

stadiums, a big difference here. They're impressive. We could host it again and not even double-dip any of the stadiums. we got so many great stadiums. Now, is that a misallocation of tax dollars and maybe a problem for other infrastructure? Maybe, but in the moment, it's awesome.

We're doing with hockey. And by the way, the United States, everyone's like, oh, the United States, you know, don't overstate what they did against Paraguay and Australia. You know who Paraguay and Australia are ranked way higher than Ghana? And you know what England couldn't do yesterday? Get a goal. Get a single goal.

Don't let one game fool you. For Spain and Brazil, Brazil, that one game was opening game draws. Now, Spain's came against Cape Verde while Brazil's came against Morocco. Meanwhile, Germany's opening round game against Carousel, scored seven goals. After a while. People view, you know, that right now, I think people are still having their head as Brazil. How good are they? Germany seems like big, bad super contender. Spain, people, I think, are not as high on as they should be. Again, and Brazil looked really, this looked good since then. KW doesn't like the second half.

They played Haiti to the zero zero draw. The ultimate team, France. I don't know. Remember when Pucatino said about the U.S. and the 100 best players in the world? How many of those 100 best players are on the French team? 12 of them. Like some of the, do they have a top 100 player or two

that isn't even starting for them? Probably. And then atop the tier is the ultimate player. Leo Messi. And by the way, they also might have the best defense in the whole tournament right now, two clean sheets. That is first ever, fully revealed all the ones. Fully revealed cheers, I liked.

I'm going to say something that I've never said on this show. Something that I never thought I'd say on this show in a million years. My goodness. Something that, to be honest, the thought of it has never even crossed my mind. Nick, you nailed it. Wow. I knew it. I knew it was going to like it. I was looking for

problem. I was looking for something. Like, I said, okay, let me move France ahead of Argentina. But Argentina has two clean sheets against better competition so far. I said,

let me try to move Spain up. But Yamal, it hasn't even played a full game yet. You know, I'm sure he will going forward, but hasn't. So, I, I, there's one, there is one problem with it, but I will leave it to wilds because I had the same thought he had. That was the same thought that I had.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. The same thing. I think I saw it on the sheet. That Portugal's back. I was going to move. I would move Portugal up. That's the one thing. There was nothing else I was, I could.

So I would move Portugal up. If I'm going to take the first game against D.R. Congo and say, put that aside, a little warm up game. Ronaldo came back. He had a brace yesterday, almost had a hat trick, and announced that he was back. I said, you know what? I'll start to believe. Here are the stats with Ronaldo by opponent. Uzbekistan, they won 5-0. He had two goals. He had five shots on target. He had 34 touches. So that was excellent. It was interesting that you had him on, or Portugal on the same tier with Norway, which is really, really their Holland show, where Portugal is really the opposite.

So obviously a lot of guys got into it. Here's the stats on, this is the last three major tournaments. So this is World Cup in Euros, right? Two Euros in a World Cup. Rinald's got three goals, Bruno Fernandez got three. Mendez has got one that he got yesterday. I also liked this kick that we thought it was gonna be Ronaldo's goal.

It was an unselfishable. And afterwards, he points to his head. He's like, no, you know, basically I'm a savvy player. Nothing like an unselfish moment to tell everyone. I did that. I tricked you guys. So I would like- He's growing.

I'd like to have Portugal up. And before I threw you the ball. Bonus take! Wow! Bonus take! Flying under the radar, old school soccer powerhouse. This following, I don't know, 30- seconds doesn't lead to a goal.

But, oh, caught my eye last night, Columbia versus DR Congo. Just the control of the ball all the way up the pitch. It's three minutes into the game. Yes. So it's Portugal, Columbia Saturday, early take from old KW. I've got Columbia winning this game. So it's a bit of a... Wait, what?

What do you say? I don't get portugal should be moved up. I know. That's where we. I can't. I honestly, I would, I, you know what? There are times. No.

No. I, you, there are. Put closet and put Columbia above. There are times you give takes. And you know how much I love you. I text you guys on Father's Day. I really do love you guys. There are times though you give a take that angers me less than if I found you in my

dressing room stealing money out of my wallet. Which is all you don't have any money. You doing a whole thing on Portugal. That being said, and then saying, and then saying, you should have done Colombia. You could have just said Columbia,

Nick, yes, Columbia is dangerous. But did you try to then be like, and I've got Portugal losing. I got caught in it, though. That wasn't, that's not how I entered the take.

I just started hearing the music, and I just went over for it. I just started to get excited about. That was your announcement. It was supposed to be a bonus take, but all of a sudden, I'm like, maybe I like Columbia more than it just came out. Heart wants what the heart wants. I'm a Columbia guy now. I think Columbia is dangerous. What I would say is for the theater of the World Cup, Portugal winning that game on Saturday that I'll be at, winning that group and being on a quarterfinal collision course with Argentina is. pretty ideal.

I would be rooting for that, but I'm a Columbia guy now. See, this is... I am. Then why didn't you build your whole take around Columbia instead of this... I could have done...

And also, by the way, Drew, I've got a bonus fact. And I put fact in quotes because I, again, this is based on Wikipedia. And I didn't check all the sourcing on it, but I believe it to be true. And there's no disrespect to any of the athletes involved. And I think some...

is one of the cooler things with the World Cup is some of these countries, these guys have to have real jobs. But you know how like in the NBA Twitter, people are like, ah, they were playing against plumbers and firemen. Not the Twitter, the Lakers coach. Oh, yeah. JJ Redick then also said it on TV from Twitter. I do believe Uzbekistan's goalie's full-time job is he is a plumber in his home country.

I think, yes. And so I'm not, again, good for Cristiano Ronaldo, but I do think it's going to get a little harder. As they advanced. I think that's a fair time. We're counting down to Scotland, Brazil from Miami tonight at six. But first, here's James Corden. Take a listen.

The Scottish fans are invading Vice City and very much embracing the local culture, singing the unofficial Miami theme song. Welcome to Miami Pianbenito Tartin Army Coming down from Boston with the kilton alarm We're all the teams that we're taking on We're going to Miami We're the famous Tartin Army

When I look at that, I think, yeah Not as easy as it looks, is it? Singing in a car, you know, you think you know what to know, but it's tough. Not easy. Don't tell you what though. The Scottish fans, for me, have been so incredible this World Cup. I'm sort of almost, I'm already dreading when they go home.

Because I feel like every city they're going to, the city's just going, this is amazing. This is amazing, yeah. They're going to Miami right now. They are. The sunburns that are about to happen are going to be studied by medical science for the next hundred years. You're completely right. With as much as they're drinking and as unused to what happens in Miami as they are,

Yeah. People might, I mean, people either going to die or procreate to such an extent that, like, Miami's going to have a Scottish accent in the next 20 years. Welcome back to first things first. Morocco, Haiti at six tonight. Morocco is likely through, but we'll be looking to run up the score on Haiti to try to catch Brazil in goal differential. Nick, do you have a pick on this game? I think Morocco wins. I do not think Morocco catches Brazil in goal. I'm not in on Brazil.

Not at all. They have not looked sharp. It's just not true. That's according to... It's just... Morocco's awesome. Brazil Morocco is probably the only group stage game between two top teams. Played 45 minutes against Haiti when they wanted to score.

They just did nothing. They just passed the ball around. Head to American football. Drake May growing stronger mentally. Chad Graf, we're writing, during minicamp, the Patriots purposely didn't give May a play to run out of the huddle. What do? You think he's lost his mind? Fine, no. The goal was for him to study the opposing defense. He's actually his own defense, but still. Figure out a play that would work against it

and communicate the plan to teammates and then execute it. Guess who else used to do this? Guy named Tom Brady, number 12, ever heard of him? Tom Brady once mastered this Josh McDaniels-led offense. Now the Patriots want May to do the same. Yeah, I think so. We were very successful for two decades. You guys have a reaction to this stuff?

I loved it. Well, this is a very important part of the learning progression that you go through. And it's very different executing a play, so that's what you have to do. That's the what. But when you have to call a play, then you have to understand the why. And then you've got to put it into a context of where am I in the field? Am I in the red zone? Am I backed up?

Is it third and short? So the contextual part of it is important also. And then from a coaching perspective, it allows you to be a lot. allows you to understand the way the quarterback thinks and processes and what he's comfortable with. So when you're thinking about building a play sheet for him and you get into those got-a-habit type moments, you can defer to the things that you know he really feels good about. So that's part of it.

We've all been through that phase where we're learning and you can recite information, but that's different than when you can teach it. And when you call plays, you know, that's the level of teaching. that you're looking for. And what we would do is we would have a whole period where the quarterback would be able to call his own plays, but we did it defensively too. So for three or four plays,

the middle linebacker, the signal caller would caller would call it defensive play. And we'd have someone in the secondary, he'd be able to call plays, because then the players are absorbing it, and you're getting a feel form, and you're also getting an understanding of, they're getting an understanding of the way that you, you are trying to work the system and present the system.

I have two takes. Yeah, let's hear him. Take number one is courtesy of one of my old radio colleagues in Houston and longtime NFL defensive tackle, Seth Payne. You probably coached against Seth Payne a little bit. What year was he? I think the 2000 aughts is when he was playing. But regardless, he said Tom Brady's mind is Randy Moss's 40-time inversion.

vertical leap. But because we can't see it, people are constantly assuming other guys can do it. And his point was nobody, you never heard another being like, hey, we think he's going to be the next Randy Moss because it's like, well, the guy is 6-6 and could run. It was the fastest guy in the league. I don't like that take. And his point was because of what Brady's superpower was, was not visual, like you, that people assumed other guys could be. more easily duplicate what he did. And so whenever I see any, and I get obviously with the Patriots

and with the quarterback for the Patriots, there's going to be more Brady Combs. That always jumps to mind. But here's my, that's my more thoughtful take, which is why it came from someone else. Here's the Nick Wright exclusive take. I've had about enough of the Josh McDaniels stuff.

Oh, I don't know. He's just the greatest all-fame offensive coordinator. So again, so I don't think you will be. That's first of all. Second of all, if we are really going to, like, when you guys won those Super Bowls, who would, remind me, who was the offensive coordinator when you were there and you guys won three Super Bowls? Charlie Weiss.

Now, Josh was there as the offensive coordinator when you guys lost the Super Bowl to the Giants and he had to really piece it together with Tom Brady and Randy Moss. I get that. And then he has been, I think he's an excellent offensive coordinator. He also then came back after not working as a head coach. and got 12 year into his career, that mind of Tom Brady, and Brady reached heights he hadn't reached before. So I'm not taking anything away from what I think is fair credit to Josh McDaniels.

But this idea that he has this magical, not potion, pixie dust, that he can just sprinkle on Drake May on this stuff that I think you really believe in. I don't think if we are ranking offensive minds in the league, he's not one of my top five. Now, it's because almost all the other guys who are ahead of him are head coaches. But he, for some reason, has not been able to do that. And so I just, I don't, there's a lot of McDaniels was there with Brady, therefore he's there with May, that I just don't fully buy.

And I don't buy that. So why were we so good? Why did we make it to the Super Bowl last year? I think with a wide receiving core that was nobody was singing their praises, a running game that was okay, skill position guys, just like fine, and a second year quarterback with a losing record. Because I do, I think your quarterback is awesome. I think you have a very good offensive coordinator.

I just don't think he is at the caliber you have him. And I think the biggest difference in your team last year was you went from who I always believed, and I think you disagreed with me at the time was one of the worst coaches in the league in Gerard Mayo to an excellent head coach and you spent all that money in free agency on defense the defense got better. The credit pie piece is kind of what I'm trying to get to.

Sure. I would just have a much smaller slice for Josh McDaniel than I think you do. I have a huge slice. Well, then you're taking it away from Great May. I have a gigantic slice. I have always had a gigantic slice. The one area where I'd push back on

on the evaluation or the comparison of Brady's mind to Moss's skill set is the whole concept of 10,000 hours where that you can, you can work on things, work on things, work on things, and become an expert at him where you could work on your 40 times. You could physically, it's not the same thing, but mentally, I do think you can make real strides. You can make real strides, but there's still, I, that to me is kind of the point that I was making. I think you're right. You can make real strides, but I think there is a genius level of like football understanding that was that Tom Brady you saw you saw little bits of it even in his college career at Michigan now he got overlooked because of the the physical limitations but I don't think you can study yourself or draw yourself or learn

yourself into Tom Brady's level understanding of NFL defenses I don't believe but I do think this is the right approach though because May has all the physical tools so now Now, even if he, I mean, I agree, it's doubtful he becomes Brady mentally. But if he can just get anywhere near there, like the thing is just improving him mentally and then package that with his physical tools. And now they've given him better weapons. And I think the good thing there, too, is like, like, obviously he's not and they're not resting on his laurels. Oh, second an MVP, scout to the Super Bowl. they'll never rest on their laurels,

especially when Vrable and McDaniels, who were part of the Brady era, are there. Because it's like, okay, maybe if they win the Super Bowl, that's great. The other guy won six, you know, so like they'll keep, like the bar is just going to keep getting higher, higher as long as he can keep hitting these levels. So I think it's a great approach.

It's not like being in Chicago where there's no great quarterback that you're comparing yourself to. So, you know, anything that someone, Young comes in and does, it's like, oh my God, it's the worst guy ever. Thank you. There's a huge level of comparison. And I will say that the effect of coaching is the ability to shirp a guy's long and to show them the shortcuts and to be able to maximize the time that they have.

And I think that has real value too. Can I ask you a question, Coach? This is a very basic way that I'm looking at the Patriots offense, and I'm sure it's wrong. if Josh McDaniels has years of playbooks and even like in his little hiatus he's went out and like learned more from other coaches. So I assume he is sitting on a binder, multiple binders worth of plays. Does he give Drake May more plays? Is it actually like, hey, this was, you know, sophomore year math and now here's junior year math.

It's more and more complicated. Yeah, you're drawing on that aspect of it is how much can you give them. And you're evaluating his ability to process. Are you giving him too much, too little? But that also is you're drawing on your experience of all the other quarterbacks that you've worked with over time. This worked really well for this guy, and he had a skill set that's similar to Drake in this way. So you're eliminating a bunch of the mistakes that you've made over the course of your career with other guys.

You're maximizing the lessons that you learned over the course of your career with other guys. And that's the real value for a young quarterback is you get all the mistakes that Josh McDaniels made over the length of his career. Now he's able to hopefully eliminate the mistakes and maximize the upside in the time that you have. What are you drawing? Draw him some plays for Josh McDaniels if he needs some for A.J. Brown. He could have used him at any of his style. that didn't have Tom Brady or a superstar in Drake May?

That's the only point I'm like I am. Everyone gets fired. No, no, no, hold on. Well, he wasn't a good head coach. Wait, but no, but so listen. The Raiders? Wait, wait. He has been.

Denver? Hold on. Can I can I just say something? It's like it is that you, everyone gets fired and there's a lot more to being a head coach. There's a lot. I get all of that. The point that, but the, the point I am, it was alluding to is it's not. as if you at those other stops when he didn't have Tom Brady and now Drake May that you saw it's like, well, that offense is humming, but it's all the other stuff. Just, you know, he doesn't have those tools. And so I just think, you said you're giving a huge slice to Josh McDaniels. And that's my only point is like the old credit pie thing, like that slice comes from somewhere else. So in a weird way, I think I'm just giving a bigger slice to Vrable and Drake.

Mike May than you are because there's only so much credit to go around and I think if you are I think he is more replaceable than I think you think he is if I don't know I like I would I would be very upset I think he's great for that situation I don't know if Mac Jones feels the same way right I mean Mac Jones had a really successful career or start to his career with Josh and you know it seems like he's trending in the right direction now but He kind of discounted the value that Josh had it. And the head coaching come on of it, sometimes when you become a head coach and you're still the offense coordinator, there's so many other things pulling at you that you're not doing the best job you can do as the offensive coordinator. And that, to me, is one of the problems of serving in both roles.

Coming up next, Chechia, Mexico is tonight at 9 on 5. Oh, and breaking news. In breaking news, Austin Reeves gets extended with the Lakers, We're also counting down nine hours, 21 minutes, 30 seconds to Chechnya, Mexico, from Mexico City. Welcome back to first things first. We're counting down to Switzerland, Canada at three today from Vancouver. Switzerland has outshot their opponents 39 to 11 so far. Canada got their first win against Qatar in their second game, 160.

And Switzerland drew Qatar. The other, the game that's going on during this game, Switzerland, Canada is Qatar, Bosnia, Orkina, or Skiavina, if Qatar wins that game, that's probably who the U.S. plays in the round of 32. I mean, if Qatar wins that game, that would be massive. Yeah. And also, this is from Vancouver, which Brew called one of the most beautiful cities in all of North America, correct?

Yeah, absolutely. Might be the most beautiful. Might be number one. It is really good. I need to get out there. The architecture and everything is saying. What? The most beautiful city in North America?

Most Vegas. Cleveland? Cleveland. I mean, that's what you're saying. Oh, I'm sorry. Is there an Eiffel Tower in Cleveland? Are there Venice Canals in Cleveland? There's the Rocky Roll Hall of Fame.

We've got a nice... Austin Reeves has signed a four-year $185 million deal of return to the Lakers. This is a sham. reporting. Your initial reaction to this news, and then we'll get to what do you think this means for LeBron. So, congrats to Austin, and the fact, I'm sure he's happy that even though the Nets and Bulls cap space dried up a bit, he's still got, the most any team other than the Lakers could offer him was four for 179. My guess is that when we get the real details of this, This is four for 180 with those last five million being incentive-based,

like that he can get a million-dollar bump. So the Lakers basically said, hey, we will make it so. You make more money staying here than you could anywhere else, but we're not just going to snap give you 5-241, which is the most we can offer you when nobody else can offer you more than 4-4-179. So losing Austin Reeves for nothing would have been a catastrophe. He is coming off the best year of his career that, you know, unfortunately was derailed by injury. I do think it is a fair question of if this is the only max other max guy than Luca you're going to be able to have on your team, is he the best skill set fit with Luca?

And my answer to that question is probably not. like that's not you'd rather have a guy who isn't a you know ball dominant primary score even though he's not as ball dominant as Luca but the Lakers don't have how about some athleticism is what you you know like or a needs or defender you know what I mean something just Austin Reeves might be as good of a player

around the same tier as like Jalen Johnson but Jalen Johnson's a way better fit for what the Lakers need but you don't believe Luca wanted him. Luca, like there's all the sports that. And Luca made the finals with Kyrie, who has similar skill set, and so I get that. Yeah. If these are going to be your two best players, then you really need some athletes and defenders around and shooters, obviously.

But that's what they need to do. And for LeBron, LeBron has clearly earned the right to do whatever he wants. And I think that that's where he and the Lakers got to figure it out. And there is a world in which I can say, you know what, if the three of them are healthy, because last year they played really well together, the three of them are healthy if LeBron doesn't decline too much next year, give it a shot and see. They didn't get their shot really again. They didn't get a shot in the playoffs this year because Reeves or Luca was injured.

So you can do that. But then there's another part of me that is like, you know what? they need to go all in on just the Luca era. LeBron should go somewhere else. Because it's just, I don't think they're going to win the West next year. No. And Luca's not getting any younger, but he is getting more fragile. And they have to build this team.

They may not be as good without LeBron. But they got to start building around Luca for the long term to try to start competing with OKC and San Antonio. So there's a lot of tough decisions. You would call LeBron into your office and say, you know what? It's the Luca era. Like I said, I think LeBron's earned the right to, you know, and he could stay there and be effectively.

I just don't think they're going to win the West next year with LeBron. And they could be good and maybe better than they be without him. But it is the Luca era. I don't think they're trying to win the way. next year. I think that they somehow are still like maybe one more transaction cycle and then this team will be ready.

I was stunned the Lakers made that draft pick last night. I tried to get this into the show or a hundred different ways. I'll get it in this way. I think teams that are in win now and are don't have a complete roster don't make picks in the mid-20s. I think that,

you that what you do is you use that along with maybe a future pick to and what they did have expiring contracts and try to get a player to help you right now because the Lakers can have the most cap space of any team in the league that is going away very quickly as evidenced by this they are you and when we talk about all the different things they need first of all nobody's a free agent anymore second of all you're not going to get all of those things even though you have the most cap space. Like I don't. That's where it might be that you bring LeBron back and you give it a fair chance.

Give it a chance. And I just think just like we saw and maybe it will be different with the new ownership once they fully take over and all of that. But they say Jeannie and, you know, friends are going to be running the team for a while. As you saw happen this year when things looked like they weren't going well. We'll just blame. We'll whisper to everyone. LeBron's kind of holding us back still.

We want to respect him and we don't want to move on. But, man, he's the reason. LeBron is not the reason the Lakers on a fully formed roster. LeBron last year earned his salary. The year before he was sixth in MVP voting, he is not a sunk cost on your roster. It is not with respect, like the late great Kobe's final deal. It's like, okay, that's not who he is.

They don't have a fully formed roster around Luca because they never really made the fully formed roster around LeBron post the Russ book trade. They never recovered from the athleticism and the defense that they gave up to get Russ. And so I just, I'm very happy for Austin. And I do think Luca and Austin and LeBron, it's like, oh, that'll be interesting. But you're going to win, you're going to win, forget four rounds. You're going to win three rounds. In round two, you're going to go toe to toe with the athleticism of San Antonio or Oklahoma City.

and round three you're going to go toe to toe to with the other one? I mean, so I just... The best team they could have next year will probably be to bring LeBron back and just give it a shot. We'll be doing the same topic next year. Yeah.

I'll run it back for me.