First Things First - George Pickens receives franchise tag, Lakers lose to Suns, Alex Palou joins, Brou’s MVP Ballot

Episode Date: February 27, 2026

(0:00) George Pickens gets franchise tagged, Lakers lose to Suns (27:57) Over/Under for 49ers, Chargers, Raiders (41:12) Brou’s MVP Ballot (47:52) Title Pie (01:06:30) Should the Vikings sign Aaron Rodgers? (01:15:44) Alex Palou joins the show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Live from New York. He's gonna fit it in. It's the show that learned a valuable lesson. Be careful what you wish for. How? We've got title pie coming up. And I'm like last episode with a pie, the pie slows the segment down.

And I said, Dusty, what type of pie do we get? So we didn't get one this time. I said, why not? I said, this is the last one. He's like, you said you didn't want it. So pies are gone. That's good for bro. It is good for it.

I'm trying to eat better, watch my weight, and the mud pie is tough to resist. Brew's got a, you know, got a wedding to attend. Oh, yeah. Well, you can lose weight at the wedding, so many activities. Yeah, right. I mean, the dancing. It's going to be great. It's going to be great.

It's really fun. First hour of first things first. Today, short-handed. We watch this every day since I've been back from now. Every day. They just kept the same way. It's eco-friendly topic bars. You just recycle

them. Is it panic time now or is it even more panic time? Meanwhile, IndyCar champ, Indy 500 champ in front of the show, Alex Polo joins us. Nick's guy. My guy. I mean, undeniably my guy and maybe

the future goat. Yes. That is on the board. Yeah. A.J. Foyt. you know, has something to say about it, but maybe the future go. Scott Dixon, his teammate is something to say about it? So if he's AJ, if he's AJ point, that's a disappointment. Is that what you're saying? Yeah, that's exactly right.

Mario andreddie, I think is. Mario Andretti has something to say about it. Yeah. Yeah, I know. Al answer. I think he might have already passed him and his son. Wow. Yeah.

I mean, he's got four championships in six years. He just keeps dragging up. Four in his six years in the sport. And finally, Brew's ballot for MVP and a special no piety. and a title pie I'm excited for. Title pie has some really small little slivers. Yeah, little, yeah, exactly. I wanted those out.

Yeah, I was a little surprised. Can I make the argument for an hour ahead of time? This far out from the finals, I feel like the pie should be the most inclusive. So I included every team that I thought had even at all a chance. So it's kind of an insult if you're not. on the pie. Does that you and as how big was the Pacers slice?

No, he's talking about this point last year. That's a great point. Probably. Right. That if I had only included the top six teams at this time last year Pacers wouldn't have been on it. There you know. So now you know, live and learn. That's what they say. We've got how many? We got it. We'll do it at 4 o'clock. Eleven, 12 teams

on the pie. Wow. The Lakers shouldn't be on there. We're going to start with the Lakers. For goodness sakes, it's panic. time. Three for Royce O'Neill fell with a second to go to give the Suns the win, give the Lakers their third straight loss. J.J. Reddick on the other end designs up a cool play. Yeah, great play to get a three for Austin, but he misses it. It's a good try, though. For 0.9 down three, that's about as good as you can hope. Lakers now in sixth, only a game ahead of the Suns, who won last night without Dylan Brooks or Devin Booker. Here's JJ Reddick. We talk about this as his staff. Like our losses are. louder than other teams because we're the Lakers and because of the way we lose, you know,

you get this deep in the season. And again, tonight was a one possession clutch game, which, you know, now we've, you know, lost a few of those. But we've been great for the most part in the clutch all year. Our losses are louder. I would say so we had some adversity tonight. Did we not respond? We made mistakes just like, you know, I make mistakes. I don't think Jordan not coached a perfect game. I don't think their players, you know, Grayson Allen kicked our buddy. He's nine for 24. Like it's, that's the game. And so I think our guys responded tonight. They win? No, listen. I think he's talking about within the game.

Yeah, I mean, listen, JJ Reddick. They were down. Yeah, they were down. I got breaking. I got breaking. JJ Reddick continues to be JJ Reddick. It's just like for a JJ Reddick. If you're a sports fan, J.J. Reddick's been in your life for 20-some years. I like him. No, I'm not even. This is not an insult. Yeah, 20-12. It's just an observation.

From Duke? Right, from, he was a super famous college player. He was probably at his lowest level of fame early in his NBA career. And then he just... He had a solid career. Yeah, solid career. And then right into the media where he was, and now, listen, he's smug. And he's always been smug.

And it's, I think he'd tell you he's smug. And so it is not surprising that he is not necessarily the best at the podium when things aren't going well. That doesn't shock me. I do think the two Laker games we've talked about at the end of the games, he's drawn up two awesome, either game tying or game winning shots. One, Luca didn't take. One Austin took and just didn't make. But I am going to go, I guess, little picture for a moment and pick it one thing about JJ Ruddick outside of the. press conference stuff.

I think he needs to have the strength in his convictions to give Luca the Steph Curry treatment at the end of games, which is there was a timeout with the sons having the ball, tie game, final possession. And there aren't a lot of MVP caliber in their prime guy. who gets sat on the bench for those spots, offense, defense substitutions, but one of them is playing right now and is a universally regarded all-time legend and Steph.

There was no reason for Luca to be on the court if there's a timeout before that possession, none whatsoever, especially because the Lakers had a timeout of their own where if they were to have scored early, you can just call timeout yourself and get him back on there. That does not fix all of the Lakers problems. It's not all of it. But I agree with it.

But I'm just going to admit to the audience, I fell asleep last night before this game ended. So to Luca. So I didn't see the very end. So I woke up this morning. First thing I saw was the final possession. And I assumed it had happened in the flow. Like the Lakers missed, the suns went down and you didn't get a stoppage. And then when I went back,

and rewatched the second half of the game, and I saw what happened. I'm like, that's just a mistake. That's just a mistake. The larger issues. Right, that you've got to go off in defense because Luca getting beat off the dribble at the point of attack is not that surprising, which led to the breakdown,

which led to the open three. Yes, you are absolutely right. There it is right there. LeBron has to come over and help, so he's out of, now the rotation is all jacked up, and you see what happened. The question is, am I surprised that, They lost to the short-handed sons.

Considering the fact, what do you think I'm about? No, I like this. I like this setup. Considering the fact that the Lakers had lost their previous two games, and the noise was starting to get a little loud to use Reddick's term. All right. Considering the fact that Phoenix is a team you are battling for that six to stay on the final, yeah, a playoff spot at least before the play in.

considering the fact that Phoenix had their two best players and two leading scores, Dylan Brooks and Devin Booker out, and considering the fact that Phoenix had lost seven of its last 11 games, and considering the fact that Phoenix, without those two guys I mentioned, has averaged Nick 87 points a game in regulation in their previous four games. And they put 1-13 on you? I mean, we know the defense is bad. But considering all of those factors, yes, I'm surprised that the Lakers lost this game.

And here's the deal. I thought we were getting it too, KW. I know that whole thing was a setup for a misdirection. What in the world? KW. And I are looking at each other. We're all excited. Are you joking?

You're just doing regular analysis? You don't get it. What? That was a misdirection. Oh, I got you looking for the misdirection. I got mock good time. Both of y'all. It's been a while since I got Nick.

Oh, wow. Go ahead, sorry. But no, no. So you don't know where I'm. No, we don't. We don't. I'm throwing on. I will say this, though.

I, look, I have been critical of Luca Dantzich, who last night, by the way, have 41, 8 and 8. I think it was like. Pretty good. It would be enough. Right? Okay. He puts up his numbers. Bob being critical of him for his just incessant complaining with the referees,

his ball dominance and, you know, one-way style of playing heliocentric, whatever you want to call it, and his lack of defense. I've pointed out even how they've been the numbers with LeBron on the court don't look that good, that they're negative. All right. Now I got to look at J.J. Reddick. J.J. Reddick, I get it that your team, I've said, the pieces don't fit together. But your job as a head coach is to figure out the best way for the players you have to play.

All right. And anytime, Nick, if you're coaching against me and you have the worst players and I have the best players and you beat me, you out-coach me, period. You got two all-stars. You got one super duper all-time great player. And I mean, Luca. Yes. In his prime. And then in LeBron, who's still playing great.

And Austin's better than anyone the sons had last night. You got two all-star, all-stars, and another all-star caliber player in Donch's. Or in Reeves. So you have to figure it out. And I, look, I'm not saying it's easy, but they're paying you millions. of dollars because it's not supposed to be easy. Can you, can you start to talk to Luca Donchage and they couldn't do it in Dallas?

So I'm not, again, not easy, but can you start to talk to Luca Donchich about, we got to play a little differently? Well, so what do you make of this graphic, Brew? Can I show you something real quick? What the usage rates. So last year, Lucas at 34, Reeves at 24, bronze at 30.

This year, Reeves went up. Luca's career high and Bronz career low. So like Luca this year, LeBron is, you know, people can say he should have the ball even less than he does. I don't agree, but fine. It's the lowest he's ever had it in his career. This is just Luca with the Lakers, right? No, this is, no.

Yeah, that's this season and last. But last year, it's his number for the full year. Full year. Oh, for the full year. Oh, just the. Just the Lakers. Thank you. Sorry.

I did not expect. And again, I agree with you, Brew. I think criticism of Luca is fair. I think in some quarters it has gone too far. As I, you know, I don't know if you remember KW, but I predicted last year at the end that Luca was going to fall out of people's top fives or top tens. And now, like, well, I mean, right. Definitely not out of top.

Well, no, but the Simmons and Kellerman did a whole thing today about how Jalen Browns is better than Luke at Onchich. Like that is where kind of like right now he is at his lowest in the public consciousness. Yeah. And I think some of that is overstated. I also did not expect Brew his usage this year to go up for many years it was in Dallas. I didn't expect that. Look, I don't necessarily think that's by design. But I do think that is the head coach.

just letting him do whatever he wants to do. And LeBron's going along with it, and Reeves is going along with it. And so again, and when you're a bad defensive team, that's on coaching too. Now, you don't have the greatest defenders, obviously, and the greatest athletes, but still, you can create a mindset where they have to defend.

And I agree with you. I had that on, you see my sheet? I'm going to take the neck. I can't read it, but there's a lot. I had, he should have had Jared Vanderbilt in the game. Whether you want to take Luca out or you can take Austin Reeves out. They're both horrible defenders. At that last play where Phoenix scored, one of them should have been out

and Jared Vanderbilt should have been in. That's what he's there for. Right. Six-eight long defender. So Reddick needs to look in the mirror because the last two coaches they had. The last one got, and I'm not saying he should be on the hot seat, but the last coach got fired for getting him to the Western Conference finals, Darvaham.

The coach for him won a championship and got fired. JJ Reddick got eliminated the first round of the playoffs last year in five games. So, again, I'm not saying he was allowed to sub. Or should be right. And it had some unprecedented playing rotation. But JJ has to look in the mirror. I almost feel like, and I don't want to keep going on. Like, they're looking toward next year.

Yes. Not, maybe not consciously, but certainly sub-conscious. That to me is unacceptable. Well, I just mean, I don't think. I don't feel like they're like watching the games. Yeah, I don't feel like they're like we don't care about this year, but because they are so focused on next season, it is bleeding into this year. Just quickly, I wanted to give people an update on Clint Capella Gate. I love this.

Clint Capella. Wise words from him. Yes. It felt like, you know, Aiton took a shot at him. And I thought this was kind of gracious. You've got two of the best Lord Generals in the game, my dog. Lock in. Yeah.

That's great. He's right. He has great advice. Also, Josh made this graphic on how they did last night. Aiton, who does not want to be Clint Capella, and the real Clint Capella, who is Clint Capella, had four points. And also, Clint's three bucks.

The Lakers would love that line. And Clint Capella, by the way, is not, again, this is, Hubbs is going to kill me. We don't want to spend more time on Clint Capella. But Clint Capella is old now and at a different phase of his career. Yes. Young Clint Capella was very valuable and knew his role great and made himself 100.

million in this league knowing how to do his role. Lakers in Golden State next up. Meanwhile, back to Houston where Clint Capella plays. Rockets win in Durant hits a milestone. He becomes the sixth player in league history to get to 32,000 points. Also became the sixth player all time to get to 32,000 and six points. He scored 40. That's just how the math worked out.

After the game, Reed Shepard said 32,000 is wild. Thank you, Reed. That's it. That was the quote. Most 25 points per game seasons, LeBron's at 20. KD's at 17, Jordan at 12, Kobe at 12, and then Carl Malone also at 12. So is KD the best scorer of this generation? I have what I think is a very controversial opinion, even though to me it's very obvious.

No, he's second because LeBron is in his generation. And here's the, I will just kind of machine gun at you numbers. Katie for his career is at 27.2. Bron for his career is at 26.9. So Katie has him there. LeBron is at 50 and a half percent field goals. Katie's at 50.2. So Bronn has him.

However, we want to do the, you know, age piece of it. At this point in Braun's career, he was also at 27.2. You know, and so the last few years is going to dip down. And Durant might, Durant might play forever. But this is what I think. And, by the way, Durant got. got to 32,000 in his 1,178th game, LeBron got there in his 1,179th game. Wow.

Which is really, that's crazy. Isn't that? It also means if Durant just had a regular scoring night last night instead of going off the way he did, they would have done it in the exact same. Holy cow, that's amazing. But this is the thing that I think people will be surprised by. Seasons averaging 30. Durant 2, Bron, Brom 3.

playoff runs averaging 30. Durant 3, Bronz 6. LeBron has more, has 575 career 30-point games. Durant has 430. Now he's played more, obviously, but I don't think percentage-wise that much more. Playoff games scoring 30. LeBron 123. Durant 77.

LeBron has more 40-point games. LeBron in the playoffs has scored 40-29 times. Durant 14. times. Again, LeBron's played more, but he hasn't had a twice as long career. LeBron has scored 50, 14 times, Durant nine times. LeBron has scored 60, Durant hasn't. And so I think these are, you know, obviously, two of the greatest scorers ever. I think because LeBron does it differently and because he doesn't have a silky jump shot,

people don't look at him as a scorer. But I think the all-time leading scorer is the greatest scorer, certainly of this generation. Oddly, that is a hot team. It is a hot take. No, it is. It's like a wildly hot take. The guy with most home runs is the best home run. I agree.

No, because best score ever is so subjective. And what is your criteria? It's like bag. What's your bag? Is it just handles? Is it your moves around the rim? Is it scoring in trouble? Whatever.

But I think people when they, because this is a common view that Durant is the best score of this generation. some say the best score ever and I think they're just focusing on that he does have a phenomenal jump shot especially for a seven footer and he's got the handle I used to say he was before he went to Golden State

I used to say he's like a seven foot version of Steph because he can take you off the dribble he can finish at the rim he's got the incredible jump shot that you can't even disrupt because of his height I hear you on LeBry and I've made similar comments as far as Shaq was a great score I don't care that all he did was dunk

and little jump hooks you couldn't stop it right I think the argument against LeBron is in terms of score people would say he didn't have the greatest jump shot particularly for a good stretch of his career his jump shot wasn't good and earlier in his career

even parts of his prime you could play often yeah that's what San Antonio did in the finals a few times and it gave him trouble. I have two issues, and I'll say this too, if LeBron or Yokic, because how is Yokic not a great score? Like, Yokic can hit the three,

can post you up, can shoot the mid-range, like, he can do whatever he wants. If they only scored, if LeBron and Yokic only scored. If they were worse passers. Yeah, worse passers, worst playmakers. And that then maybe. they would be viewed more as just scores.

LeBron, again, the lack of that jumper early in his career, notwithstanding. But I would, I'm fine with saying Durant, if you want to say he's the best score, if you have your definitions, just jump shot and things like that. I've got two issues, though, with Durant. Like, I think Jordan's clearly the best score of all time. Like, I don't even think it's, it's debatable. But Durant, my two issues with Durant as a score. One, and we've talked about this, he should shoot more threes in this day and age.

Now, I get it earlier in his career when it wasn't as big of a part of the game. He is a, the last three years he shot 40% plus from three. His career, he's 39% from three. He's shooting, the last three years he shot less than six three-pointers a game. All right? He should be at eight or nine. And I get it, and I've said it before, I get it. You are, you and your rhythm, your whole life coming up early in your NBA career,

you are shooting the mid-range. That's your, so your rhythm is in there. But you know what? You got a bunch of off-season when you saw the game is going to the three-point line. He should have worked on that to the point where that, he was now in rhythm for eight, nine, 10, three-point shots a game. Like that's all-time leading score of Brooke Lopez did. He adjusts his game.

The second thing with Durant is, and this is why, like, I don't think he's the best score ever. Physical play, I've watched physical play bother him. And I particularly point back, there could be other instances, but when he was with the Nets, and the Celtics swept him. Oh, it's close. And they played physical defense with him, kind of 90 style. And he had trouble. He shot 38% from the floor, was turning the ball over.

physical play could bother him. So when people say you can't defend him, you can slow him down and make him inefficient if you really get into it, which they would have been doing in the 90s. So all-time great score, phenomenal player, top 20 player of all time.

But I wouldn't say the best score. Because I think a lot of people watching right now are like when I said Bronn, they're like Carmello was a better scorer than LeBron. Like, you know what I mean? Like people have, I hate to say it. I agree with it. Yeah, I know. I knew you were going to say that.

KD is 292 points behind Jordan, so we'll revisit this at the end of the month. Wow. That's amazing. Yeah, March 23rd, if everything goes to plan. News out of Dallas franchise tag for George Pickens. He'll make $27.3 million next year. Maybe for the Cowboys, maybe for someone else. Only one tag to go around. So that means your guy, Brennan Aubrey, Nick, won't get tagged.

No. Here is Pickens stats last year. ninth in targets, eighth in receptions, third in yards, third in yards per reception, and had nine touchdowns. So do you like this move? Yeah, I like it in the interim. Just one clarification. He will only make this money for Dallas because if he gets traded,

the team's got to give him a new deal. Immediately? Well, you can't trade him. That's part of it. But he can negotiate. But he also can negotiate with other teams. Correct. He can negotiate with other teams.

and then if he see if the a team can flat take him from Dallas for two first round picks that will absolutely not have what are the years on those picks like it's this year or next year but that's has or the next two years no it has never happened for uh certainly a non quarterback and I don't know who it's happened for but what what can happen brew is he can negotiate with a team and then that team can go to Dallas be like what do you want for him and that's what should happen right listen Jerry Jones, you won the George Pickens trade. You got George Pickens for essentially a third round pick. You got a super productive year at $3 million. And now you are able to trade him for assuredly a second round pick. What a great trait. Did it? You turned a third round pick into a second round pick and a super productive season from

a player. Perfect. That's what you should do. Because what Bruce said the other day is correct. Like you have other glaring needs. You don't actually have this huge surplus of draft capital post the Micah Trade anymore because you then made the Quinn and Williams trade. You also already have a very expensive wide receiver who even though he wasn't last year better than George Pickens.

I believe C.D. Lam is a better, more reliable player than George Pickens. And so I like this move as a placeholder to a trade. I will not like this move at all if they don't entertain trades. and this turns into a four-month off-season saga because George Pickens is not going to report under the franchise team. Yeah, I was going to ask you, what if he, Pickens just, somebody gets in his ear and makes sense to him, like, look, the last few games where you kind of got lackadaisical,

that hurts you. Why don't you go out, have another great year? You're going to make $30 million this year. And then next year you play well. Then it's fine. But you would be fine with them just keeping Pickens. If George Pickens was like, I am three. thrilled to be a Dallas Cowboy and play for this one-year deal,

and I'm going to be here for the off-season, and I'm happy. If George Biggins were happy about this, then, yeah, I'd be fine with it. But I just don't think that's a realistic scenario. Well, look, I would love it if, you said it's not going to happen, but if another team negotiated with Pickens during this time and made him an offer and then the Cowboys declined it and got the two first-round picks, I think that'd be great. because my whole thing, and I, Pickens is, I think Pickens is more talented than C.D. Lamb.

Like, he's not more reliable, but last year he was better than C.D. Lamb. I just, if I could get that George Pickens every year, like you do with every other great receiver, right? Yeah. Yeah, I would, I would be fine with it. But I just, if I'm the Cowboys, I've got too many holes. That's where you're going to have two really highly paid receivers. your quarterback's the highest paid in the history of the game. You got a few other,

Brandon Aubrey's going to be making some money. Like, how are you going to build out that defense? You're going to be Bengals South. And so I agree that if Pickens is happy, okay, I'll take it. But the team's not going to be very good. Offense is going to be a light show. But your defense is going to be a light show too for the other team. And so I would trade.

I would trade him and try to get some defensive players. Who should call? Who should call for? for George Pickens. I think the 49ers should call. 49ers, correct. They're on your list? Oh, wow.

Yes. I think Baltimore should call. Baltimore. So not Buffalo? I think Buffalo is once bitten twice shy on that kind of

peculiar. Yeah, the personality. New England? I don't think that's a fit. I'm trying to... Because. Because of the personality? I mean, Diggs is a fit.

I like Diggs was locked in. I mean, look, Piggins, there's a reason he's not signed. I mean, we get it. The Mike Tomlin, goodbye, weighs heavy on my mind. Mike Tomlin says, actually, I'm good, better off without you. I hear it. Maybe they should call. That's a good one.

Acha call. The Chargers. There's people listening on the podcast. The podcast is popular. Check out the podcast if you get a chat. chance and our YouTube channel. I think we got a one billion, 11 million views. No, gotta be more than that. I don't think so. There's more than 11. I looked at it the other day because I wanted to say we're on the road.

The honest is more than 11. It's not. A fresh round of over under is 49ers, chargers and the Raiders, which, you know, maybe. Some people believe in them. Start with Brock Purdy's often injured squad, bro. 12 and 5 last year. You know, before the year, they did have the easiest schedule in the It ended up being tough. Well, over under is 10.5. Non-division opponents, Broncos, Raiders, Eagles, commanders, dolphins, and Vikings at home. Then on the road in Dallas, Kansas City, the Chargers,

the New York Giants, and the Atlanta. And four against Seahawks and Rams. Yeah. Which I'm not on there because we don't show the division, but that's a tough spot. It's a Cardinals. Over under 10 and a half, bro. This is your team kind of.

It's tough because with them, health is always an issue. Always, all right. But they're like the team version of Anthony Davis. Great tape. You got to throw it out there. Great tape. I'm not even sitting on it. It just came to my head.

It popped into my mind. But I'm going to give them, yeah. When they're healthy, Kyle Shanahan wins three of the last four years, they've been healthy. He's won 12 plus games, 12 or more games. Two years ago, they weren't. They win six. I'm going to say they're going to be healthy. Fred Warner, Nick Bostle will be back.

Ricky Pierce, all will play 14 games. Were they even healthy last year? No. I was going to say they weren't and they still won't. So I'm going to say over. Now, look, I hate losing Robert Sala. Good for him. He's got the head job in Tennessee.

But he was a huge part of that. Yeah. And now they'll get the starters back or some of their best players back, but still, you know, you got to have the right skate. But I'm going to go over because I think they'll be healthy. And when they're healthy, they win games. Under, under, under. Really?

I hate losing Sala. I would hate even more losing Trent Williams, who they might. So what is Trent Williams going to fall off the club? Why? But the thing, well, but he hasn't yet. And, you know, he, Trent Williams is a future first ballot Hall of Famer on the field and a future first ballot hall of famer at the bank. He is very good at me.

making sure he's going to get paid. He's going to get 37? And I also think that's the salary. But they need you. They need you. I think that's his age and salary. They need him. And so that concerns me greatly.

I don't love the wide receiver room as much as others. Does somebody love it? They got to upgrade it. It's good, but they got to upgrade it. And I don't even know that I think it's good, is I guess, what I'm saying. And I am terrified. for Christian McCaffrey next year. They used him like a mule all year.

That was every full screen we showed. It's like, well, on a per touch base, it's not that good, but he sure gets a lot of touches, so maybe he's the MVP of the league. So all of those things, plus the brutal division, just feels, it felt like the defense overachieved its talent because of Sala. Now, you're right, they should get those guys back from injury,

but I just, I love Shanahan, but that's an under to me. Trent Williams will be 38 in July. Okay, yeah. You think the 49ers are going to sign up and give him 30s? No, he's already under contract. He's already under. I thought he was in the good. No, he is under contract for, I think, the cap hits like $39 million next year.

They want him to take a pay cut, and he's like, I'm still your best player. Right. And so like that's, so that's the, you're right. But he's definitely playing. He said last year he was playing late last season. Oh, he's going to play. The question is whether or not he's going to all of a sudden hit free agency. It's this weird mix of like the Patriots, for example, obviously need to fortify their line.

Do you want to give 38-year-old Trent Williams? For one year, maybe, but do you have Will Campbell play his natural position left guard? No, Will Campbell's not moving. Well, then they're not in the Trent Williams' whoopsakes because he's a left tackle. Maybe for Trent Williams. I'm taking the over. Okay. You took the over last year based on schedule alone, and you were right.

I feel like doubting Kyle Shanahan and your guy, Brock. Purdy is just a bad decision. Next up, depending on what block of the, yes, depending on what block of the show you're catching, either Justin Herbert is God's gift of football or maybe the 12th best quarterback in the league. Here are his opponents next year. Cardinals, Texans, Patriots, Jets, 49ers at home, and then on the road in Baltimore, Buffalo, the Rams, Miami, Seattle, and Tampa Bay. Look at those road games.

That road, look at those road games. Plus in Kansas City and Denver. I hate that. Yeah. I hate that with a passion. And those home games aren't no treat either. Some of them are, but you still have home games against Kansas City and Denver. Patriots, greatest defense of all time, the Texas.

I got to be honest. It feels like every schedule we've thrown up over the last three or four days. It's been like, wow, that's a tough schedule. Because here's the thing. We only, because the- Doing the good team. Yeah, and the way the divisions broke as far as which division plays which division, a lot of the teams we don't talk about a ton

have like oh my God they have the Patriot schedule from last year and then yeah and so I'm if I may I'm the under for the I don't like them losing Jesse Minter I don't like that schedule at all and I don't we've 10 wins is the Chargers typically last year they won 11 typically

are a 9 or a 10 win team both of those would be the under and, you know, the coordinator lost, the tough division, the tough schedule to me is an under. Look, at the risk of sounding like Danny Parkins, I am a strong over. I'm high on the largest. I was high on the last year. When Slater went down, I cooled a little bit, but I think they're the best team in that division. All right, and they, assuming they have both of their tackles back, Slater and Joe Alt,

Harbaugh is just a great coach. I mean, he's a great coach. And I hear you about Mentor, who was great for their defense. But Harbaugh doesn't have bad defenses. In San Francisco, with the charges, he always has a top 10-ish defense or better. Now Mike McDaniel is going to team up with Justin Herbert. Unless Herbert just is not that guy. And I think he'll be that guy in the regular season.

Now, we'll see about the playoffs. In the regular season, I think he'll be great. And he'll have a phenomenal season. and I'm going over with them. Don't pop my answer because what I wrote and I've reconsidered. Are they going to sweep the Chiefs? No. Are they going to sweep the Broncos?

Probably. No. They couldn't sweep the Chiefs. They swept them last year. One game without, I don't, was Patrick Mahomes there for both games? Yes. Yes, he was. It was week one of the season.

And it was the game he got hurt. Which again, we don't know how he was trying to win that. They're down three ball in Mahomes hands, still alive for the playoffs, everything. You lose to the Texans. You scored three points against the Patriots. You'll lose to them. The Ravens, Bills, Rams, or losses. And the Seahawks are the world champs.

You'll lose to them. That's eight losses. Lose once to Denver. Lose once to Kansas City. Under. Do it. Okay. You're going to be wrong.

Why didn't you want to pop your answer? I'm telling you. Because I originally had written over in my document. I didn't realize it was moderately a moderate easy change. Oh, okay. Just on the schedule. I got bad news if you're a Raiders fans, like our friend Hubbs. The poor Raiders have the seventh toughest

schedule. Because it's who they play. Yeah, the division. Yep, it's because of who they play. No, I'm in. Nailed it. Because of who they play in the division. New coach, new QB, new win total.

They only won three games last year. But they're at five and a half this year. Home against the Bills, Rams, dolphins, Seahawks, and Titans. Uh-oh. On the road against the Cardinals Brown's Patriots Saints. That's not a road line. Doesn't look tough.

Cardinals Brown's Saints, Jets is not a rough road slate. No. Titans at home. My sleeper squad. Dolphins. Jets's also my sleeper's squad. It's just that they're a bad team, so any schedule looks tough. Under, all right, and I get it.

Five and a half is a tiny number. I know, but the division's tough. They could go, they'll probably win one division game. Against two. I mean, they'll upset somebody, you know. I mean, it's rare a team goes over six in the division. I don't. It could be the chiefs.

It could be the chiefs. It depends on what the Chiefs are. Don't let the Readers beat the Chiefs. Yeah, go ahead. But no, I'm in under, I think you got a new coach, you've got a rookie quarterback. We'll see if they have Max Crosby, one of their, you know, corner post. So I think it's just tough sledding in Vegas for now. Totally agree.

All right. And that division, we're, you know. I don't do it. We're going to make fun of you all year. I am. I'm completely annoyed because me. saying that I think the Raiders can go six and eleven. We're going to rip you.

It's just going to make you guys. Last year you had a great guy for next year. This past year I was and I was wrong. Don't do it. I'm going over. It's five and a half. It's five. What a gift.

It's five and a half. I do not think that Pete Carroll and Chip Kelly did a bang up job last year. so I think they'll be better there. They will either, I think Gino could be there for the beginning of the year and then they go to Mendoza. I think, listen, Gino had a bad year. I don't think Gino's a bad player. I don't.

But he's 35. Like, he may have had his little run. No, that's possible. But again, bad, really bad teams. The Vikings won eight games last year. Like, you just talked about the Saints. They won eight games. last year.

Winning six games is not that hard. Saints were in a bad division. I hate to say it. The Raiders won three last year. I know they were terrible. And one of them was against the Patriots who went to the Super Bowl. Yeah, which is to the point that you can even, you know, just steal a win. I just knew coach.

I didn't think that schedule was overwhelming. And, you know, if Mendoza is ready immediately, that's good. If not, you have Gino. I still like Gentile. I think it'll be an improvement. I'm not going to pick them to go to the playoffs again. But again, six wins is what we're talking about here. Six wins.

But in that division, six wins is a nice little numbers. The hubs can you throw their schedule up there again? The Chiefs had six wins last year. I understand. So do you think the Raiders are going to be as good as the Chiefs? No, again, that's just six wins. With respect, that's such a ridiculous way to phrase it. Well, two six and 11 teams.

So here's what I think. Let's say we're right that they win one divisional game. Okay. One divisional game. And these are not all wins. I'm just listing games. Five. Five.

Dolphins, Titans, Cardinals, Browns, Saints, Jets. That's six games. Can you go against those six teams four and two? Against the, again, Cardinals, Browns, Jets, Titans, dolphins and then you get to five and then you need another one. And then one surprise like the Patriots.

I'm going to use your own thing against you. Not bad. I don't hate that. You know what the Cardinals Brown type. Yes, they're all, they're all excited. They're saying the same thing. I agree. Look at the Raiders. I agree. But I'm just telling you as a lifelong gambler, you know what people do. They look at the projected win totals

and the good teams, they just bet the over and the bad teams they bet the as if those win totals are not set, you know, with some fourth thought. It's five and a half. It's got to be the lowest number in the league or second lowest number in the league. I'll take the over. The Titans didn't get there. I mean, why are they different than the Titans are with Cam Ward?

Because Cam Ward showed you something at the end of the season. No, I'm saying, but Cam Ward didn't get to five wins last year. No, of course they, yes, and a lot of bad teams got to seven. is my point. Teams that we think are awful found their way to seven wins. I'm talking about six weeks. I knew they were going to do this too much. I made right. I can't believe. Even if you thought it, you should have just I owe the audience honesty. We're just going to rip you all. I know that. That's why it annoys me. I felt bad about it.

2025's MVP is back in action tonight to face the 2024, 2022, 2021 MVP. So who's going to win the 2026 MVP. Well, let's find out in Bruce Ballot. Dan, da-da-dan. Well, look, oh, I like that. Obviously, we've got the 65 game rule where you have to play at least 65

games and be eligible for these awards. I'm not taking, so far everybody's put, you know, on, they still got enough games. None of those, these guys have missed 18 to where they're out. So I'm not projecting like, oh, they're not going to make it. So I'm going with guys

it. Once you missed it, you're off the ballot. All right. At number five, Jalen Brown. Nice. I don't know if people thought he'd be higher. He's having a phenomenon of your career high in points, rebounds, assists, second seeded in the east. Fourth seed overall as far our fourth best record in the league. Great season. Great two-way player.

Could be maybe first. It has a shot, I guess, at first team all NBA. And so congrats to Jalen. And he can move up. Again, if some guys are eliminated because of the games. All right, at number four, and this was the battle. Which one do I take Cade? Do I take Jalen?

I went with Cade ahead of Jalen because when you watch them, not obviously Jalen is the superstar for the Celtics, but you watch Detroit, everything runs through Cade. Yeah. Because he's really, their only guy that can consistently create his own office. They don't even have like a Peyton Pritchard type guy that can create some stuff. So Cade is doing it all.

He's a phenomenal defender. I was talking to a Hall of Famer this week who said Cade Cunningham reminds him, whether you agree with this or not, of a Ron Artec with point guard skills. So he's talking about his toughness, his strength, his defense, all that. He's not as good as the defender as Artes,

but he's big and strong, yeah. So the Hall of Famer that he was talking to, Basketball often? Yes. But famous enough that you don't want to mention who it is. Yes. Very famous. What?

Heck yeah. You think you know who it is? I don't know who it was. But you wouldn't just be like, you know what? I actually talked to. No, no, no. Somebody. Like, oh, that's nice.

Oh, wow, you talked to. He's a big name. He also doesn't want to air out what might have been the most confusing player comp I've ever heard. Hey. So he's like on our test. If our test played differently and if Kade were back, better defense. All right, number three.

Number three was a battle. I thought about making him number two. I knew you would. You thought I was going to. No, I predicted this. Okay. Wimby at three, you know, it speaks for it. So he's going to be defensive player at a year if he makes the 65 games,

leading the league in blocks for the third straight year. Obviously got it offensively as well. So Wimby at number three, for them to jump from 34 wins to, Right now, the number two, see what, one loss behind OKC. If OKC loses tonight against Denver, then Spurs would be right there. Technically number one because they have the tiebreaker with OKC. All right, at number two, this is it. I got Shay.

I got Shay. All right, now, Shay, a lot of people have him number one, have him as the front runner to win the MVP. He is, Nick, right now on pace to become just the fifth player ever to average 30 or more. more points in four straight years. Can you name the other four? What a question. Thank you for asking me. Michael Jordan, obviously, Wilt.

Yeah. I do not believe Kareem did it. Nope. I do not believe Iverson did it. Nope. Durant didn't do it. Oh man, this is unfair brew, but I like it so much. I'm going to say the three years without Shacken the next year.

Kobe. No. Oh, I lost. I lost. Oscar? Okay, yeah. And this one, you probably wouldn't have gotten. Adrian Dantley.

Oh. Adrian Dantle. Big score in Utah. I was going to say him next. All right. So look, SGA, right now SGA is the odds on favorite right now. But I got Yokes. Who's one?

Oh. I mean, here's the deal. First of all, he's on pace to become the only player ever. to lead the league in assists per game and rebounds per game. That's a historical, I mean, that's a phenomenal, like, accomplishment. You just don't see that combination ever. And, oh, and he's also averaging 29 points. On 58% shooting, 41% I believe from three, and 83% from the free throw line.

I would have to imagine the only guy's, the only guy who's ever, led the league, led the league in assists and led the league in rebounds in their career is Will. Well, Wilts, yes. Will, actually the year he, he led the league one year in total assist. But Oscar Robertson was assists per game. Okay, so then he didn't do it. Like, Will it was at 8.6, I think. Oscar was 9.7.

And yeah, but he led the league and rebounded then. Okay. How do you know that? I'm just an encyclopedia when it comes to. There's nothing to do with it. Here's the other thing, though. And this is the thing. Look, I threw out the rebounds and assist.

That's his story. But check this graphic out. Oh. He is on pace, Yokic, to have the highest P.E.R. Player efficiency rating ever for a single season. That's the top five. So nobody's ever hit 33. He's at 34 plus right now.

Now, look, Big men get the advantage because of the rebounds. But because he gets so many assists, that's why he's always high. Jordan has the eighth highest ever. He's the only guard in the top 10. LeBron has the ninth highest ever. He's the only forward in the top 10. So again, Senators get an advantage. But that's incredible.

So I just think, Nick, it's hard to deny those historic numbers for him. And that's why I got him ahead of show. That being said, if SGA wins tonight, he's the MVP favorite, right? Well, he's the favorite anyway, not on Bruce Ballet, but he's a favorite. favorite overall. Would it switch on Bruce Ballot? Live from New York, it's a show that never forgets about Adrian Dantley. What a score.

He was a big time score. 30 points four straight here. Come on, any points a day. We don't talk about Adrian Daly, though. I mean, we do. Part of a big trade. Well, he went to Detroit. Went to Detroit, Mark Aguire. Then they traded him for Mark Gras. Second hour of first things first. Today.

But Aaron Rogers end up with Minnesota. Where he kind of... We have tried to get into the show for three days. Keep on floating. Keep on keep it. Because we're talking about aging and Danlet. Even then, I want to talk about Andy Richards.

I'll float it again. Meanwhile, Alex Pillow joins the show. Indy car season starts this weekend. He's going for yet another championship. And then another Indy 500 in a few weeks. But right now, well, it's time for the inaugural edition of title pie. And it's a little bittersweet. No pun intended.

Unfortunately, yesterday, I said, I don't want to have the pie anymore because it slows down the segment. And Dessie said, fine, no pie. So I don't even know how to introduce the segment. So I apologize. Yeah, you really blew it, if I'm going to be honest. You thought this is just a funny comment, and it came back to bite you. No pun intended. Yeah, a lot of, yeah.

So there we go, Title Pie. Maybe we'll see, maybe we'll find out that we do need it. So, we do. And I don't even need it. KW took issue with. how liberal I was with teams making the plus. It's like half the lead. 12.

12 teams made it because we're not yet to March. Yeah. And hope springs eternal. And I am, if we can, you know, bring up other teams of yesteryear. I'm old enough to remember a six seed going on and winning a championship in a year people thought they didn't have it, the 95 Houston Rockets. I'm old enough to remember seven seed Lakers making it all the way to the conference finals recently. We have seen teams that seem to be left for dead go on runs and it's early.

So with half a percent, a one in 200 shot, the Los Angeles Clippers and the Los Angeles Lakers. Wow. Both based purely on, I don't know. Maybe Kauai can just, we've seen him go on a playoff heater before. And I don't know, maybe Luca, we've seen him go on a playoff heater before. No Hardin. Right, no Hardin is a positive. And so I think both of these, for very different reasons, are very flawed teams.

I obviously don't really believe in them. However, if you were to be like, hey, Nick, I'll give you 200 to 1.4. which is what a half percent chance is. I'd be like, okay, 200 to 1. I took the bed in my office. Well, you did the opposite. I gave, I gave KW. $1 because he's like, Lakers don't have half a percent.

And I was like, fine. Put your money where your mouth is, handsome man. I gave him a dollar. The Lakers win the title. He owes me $200. I basically got a free dollar. I tried to get him to take $1,000. That way he had to really be nervous.

200 grand to take out a mortgage. Two percent chance. I'm higher on the Sixers than bro. sure are. Maxi is awesome. Embed's been fantastic. The East is in flux to a degree. The Pistons have been

great. They right now have the best record in the whole league. I'm trying to take anything away from them. But they, we haven't seen them on a deep playoff run and they only have one definitive star. And again, that was the profile of the Thunder last year and they won the title. So I'm not saying they can't do it. The Sixers, though, when you watch them and Embed looks like Embed, at least on the offensive end, you like Edgecombe, you like, you love Maxie, 2% chance.

I get a very different feeling watching this team. Three percent chance. Cleveland Cavaliers. Wow. I don't, listen, Donovan Mitchell's unbelievable. And Donovan Mitchell, he has had some playoff letdowns, but he also has had a bunch of very high level playoff moments. But he's the only guy on that team that can say that. Evan Mobley hasn't had good playoff, you know, a ton of good playoff moments. Jared Allen, obviously James Hardin. And there is a little bit of scar tissue of this team winning 60 games last year and then falling so flat in the playoffs.

Now they want to blame it on Darius Garland and the toe and all that fine. I am not as much of a believer in the calves as some others. 4% chance. Rockets. Team vibes don't seem great. Well, that's fair. The injuries might be too much. No Van Vleet, no Stephen Adams.

Vland Vliet would help them all right. A lot, especially because Udoka does not seem to just want to lean into Reed Shepard. And Reed Shepard's a flawed player, but you took him in the top. He gives you some offense. You've got to play him. Yeah, I agree. You've got to create more space on the court. With that said, they were a frisky two seed last year that lost in a battle.

They still are a very deep team. Durant is way better than Jalen Green. And we'll see if, you know, if KW is right that I underrated Shingoon. 5% and rising in Minnesota Timberwolves. I like it. Rich Paul came out and said Anthony Edwards best player in the league. I disagree with Rich. However, who's Anthony Edwards represented by?

I'd have to check. Is he a clutch client? I didn't even know. Here is the thing, though. Last night he looked like it. On any given night, he can look like the best player in the league. That part's true. He is not night to night over the course of the season,

the best player in the sport, but he can go if they play the Thunder in a playoff series, I think it's absolutely on the board that for those two weeks, he's better than Shea. I think that he has that ability. I think that's reasonable. He's in that class. And he's been in a back-to-back conference finals. I think Finch is an excellent coach.

Give him 5% chance. Now the slices get bigger. The Knicks, 8%. I'm not as down on them as Brew. They are healthy. They have been building towards this. Everyone knows their role on that team. And Jail and Brunson's all.

playoff killer. Now, we'll see if come the playoffs, the Tibido out, Mike Brown in move was worthwhile. They obviously thought that's what they needed to get over the hump and to be a better playoff team. We'll find out. But I am giving the Knicks more than a puncher's chance to, for the first time this century, win the Eastern Conference. And then you see, 10% chance, Detroit basketball. It is a perfect team for that city's basketball history, a tough hard-nosed team with, you know, one star who always has the ball on his hands

and then guys who know their role. They are overflowing with confidence and toughness. And Cade has all the checks, all the boxes of Super Dooper Star. You know, the number one pick, the great pedigre. all of it and having an MVP caliber season. 12% Boston. This will jump. This is including, oh, so this isn't including.

Here's, this is, if it were announced today, Tatum was out and not coming back, I'd put them around where Philly is. If it were announced today, Tatum is coming back next week, I'd put them at like 20. So I split the difference. You know, and so this is, it's higher than they deserve this moment. It's lower than I would have them with Tatum.

But I think with Tatum, they can win the championship. And I don't think they need Tatum to be first-team all-N-Ba Tiedom. I just think they need to be better than Baylor Shireman Tatum and they're a better team. Just above Boston, Bruce San Antonio Spurs and Victor Wimbenyama. We haven't seen it since Bill Walton in 77, where, like, Your best player has never been to the playoffs, and it's just like, well, I'll just win the championship my first year. Walton had similar hype, by the way, as Wimby. Different, but Walton's greatest college player of all time.

And they seem better than most at being able to withstand the inevitable playoff injury. Not to Wimby, but because of the depth and because they have enough. quality role players. They could have their second and third best guy miss a couple weeks and maybe be okay. And then up at 20% the Denver Nuggets, who, listen, they're just 17 and 16 in their last 33, which is not great

after the awesome start they had, I think 21 and 6. But they have withstood the Aaron Gordon injury. I think come the playoffs, Michael Porter Jr. out, Cam Johnson in, will be good. and Joker's as good as ever, which is why they are just barely behind the Oklahoma City Thunder, who we will find out,

Brew, if this Thunder team is different than all of our last half dozen defending champs. Because, and I've said it for, but I'll say it again just quickly, it's not just that no one since the Steff Durant Warriors in 1718 has repeated. No difference. defending champion since the Steff Durant Warriors has made the finals. No defending champion since the Steff Durant Warriors has made the conference finals.

Every single defending champion has lost by round two or earlier. We will see if Oklahoma City can. That's interesting. Yeah, they have all lost. The Warriors missed the playoffs outright. The Lakers lost in round one. The Bucks lost a heartbreaker in seven games when Middleton went down. to your Celtics.

The Raptors post-Kauai were not a contender. The Nuggets lost in round two to Timberwolves and Rudy Gobert and the Celtics lost in round two to the Knicks. No one's even come close to defending their title. It's interesting. It's not bad. I got some bonus takes.

Oh yeah. He wrote bonus takes incoming. Bonnest takes incoming on fleet. This is just gonna be a lot. Yeah. Got some bonus. Yeah. All right.

First bonus take. Get the Clippers and the Sixers out of there. Zero chance. Yeah. I'm sorry. I would love nothing more than Joe L.N.B. to fulfill his potential. I got to see it to believe it.

All right. So no. Zero chance. They're 12 and 14. I said to yesterday when he doesn't play. Maxi's great, but by himself, he's not leading you anywhere. All right.

So they're out. Lakers, I'm just going to drop. from 0.5 to 0.001. All right, that's how much chance they have. That's just respect for LeBron, just throwing them on there for that. And Luca and Luca. Minnesota, I'd switch them in the Knicks.

Just switch them in the Knicks. Okay. And Boston, you know, I hear you. If you're not, I was thinking, okay, you're including Tatum, giving them 12%. I wouldn't go as high as 20. even though I think they'd have a good chance with him. But I'll let that slide.

But my real take is San Antonio. I'm just going to, I think the order is fine. I might in a few weeks move San Antonio ahead of Denver. But I'm going to move San Antonio's piece to 18%. So 22, 20, 18. And I think with some of the pieces I've taken out, you know, it fits. So look, that Portland team, you mentioned Bill Walton, similar in that he was great defensive player,

led the league in blocks that year like Wimby, great passers. Some people would say he's the best passing big men of all time. Some might still say that. I think it's clearly Yolkich. And he was not a huge score. I mean, Wimby's at 24. Both played chess.

I assume. Very smart. Both of them. Very smart. So, yeah, similar to, and that team had never been to the playoffs. Not just Walton, the team. Portland, so.

I'll be honest with you, the bonus takes just in the regular take are very similar. The bonus takes. So I, so I had a feeling you were going to have, I was curious what you're going to say because I thought you were going to say the Spurs deserve a bigger piece. I was interested if you were going to say they deserve to be ahead of either of those two teams. But I think the point you made yesterday does give the end of this regular season real juice in the Western Conference, which is the one seed really matters.

Not just for home court. No, yeah, I'm not even talking. It would matter if it were the bubble. I'm not talking about home court. I'm talking about that if we think Thunder Nugget Spurs are cut above, the one seed is only going to have to beat one of them, and the other two are going to have to, you know, and they might be worn down by the time they get to the finals.

Also, Nick is officially now the Clippers guy. He put the Clippers on there. The clippers. I've never been the clippers guy. KW. Nine? You're the clippers guy, dude. If anything.

That's right. If anything is proven. How you put it in a win there? By this, by the, all of my takes post really Mahomes's injury. Yeah. I am just ensconced, cloaked in nothing but fairness. That's true. There's nothing.

I wish I wasn't. There's a 10th seat, but they got a chance to win at home. I'm out here advocating for the same. Celtics, I'm defending Josh Allen. I'm saying the clippers have a half percent chance. I just have to be fair. I think you're totally fair. If you watch this show, I feel like you can tell when we're passionate about something

and you can tell when we're a little bit at odds with ourselves. So, for example, Brew as a student of NBA history, knows that an injury-plagued superstar is basically drawing dead for the championship. And that's why you say things like Philadelphia, zero, passionately. Brew also is the show's Wembe guy. But he also knows and is a huge fan of experience. You're holding on to that Bill Walton cop. But you know, outside of that, the rest of the 75-some-odd years, it hasn't happened.

Because you're a fan of experience, I'm actually glad you did not take this team, although it was part of your bonus takes. Minnesota, I'll pop them up around 10%. You'd do the math on what you want to do. So they're ahead of the Knit. Maybe, maybe, yeah, I'll put them at 10% or more. Most playoff wins in the last two years. Pretty good. OKC won the championship.

The Celtics won the championship. Pacers got, you know, 23. And the wolves are right there with, well, how many? They have 18. Now, the challenges, Brew, as you know, historically, it's hard to go to the finals after losing back-to-back times in the conference finals. It only happened a handful of time. The Pacers in 2000, the Bulls won the title, and the 1974 Celtic.

I thought it was a good thing. I did not know that. I don't know either. I mean, I don't know how many teams have actually like are in the running for it. But I thought, I believe in Anthony Edwards. I believe in Chris Finch. I do think that team somehow gets better as the playoffs approach. The weird thing about this team and why their seat is not so high,

they will fall asleep at times. They have lost to New Orleans. They've lost to Memphis twice. They lost to Chicago, Utah, Brooklyn, Sacramento. I like that. You like that they fall asleep? I like that because I didn't know this either. That they have dumb losses?

Yeah, because now I feel like that means by definition, their record against the best teams is better than their overall record would suggest. They get okay, C twice. Right, it means that when they're playing when they're up for a game, their game competition. Even in the playoffs they have those games.

Like, we lost by 30. Like, we'll get them next time. And then it works. So I'm moving Minnesota up until 10 or 12. I like that. I don't dislike that at all. I think that Minnesota's the issue is going to be

this is going to sound obvious. But if we think, that with what the Lakers are looking like, that it's not like there are six viable Western Conference teams, there's five. Obviously, making sure that you can just get Houston, I guess, is the team you want in round one if you're Minnesota. You certainly don't want any of the three teams above you

and you're not going to catch the three teams above you. And then, I don't know, I just would feel, I guess we've seen Minnesota beat Denver. If Denver, I guess, I'd be scared If I was Denver, I'd be terrified to draw them. Yeah, so maybe that's the team they would want. Listen, I don't want to play Luca either. I respect, well, they trounced the Lakers last year.

I just don't want, I just don't, I still. But that wouldn't be, the only way I think Minnesota could play the Lakers realistically is both won in round one. And I think that's unlike it. Vikings, Aaron Rogers, maybe. Huge top 10 showdown, Fox College Hoops, number three, Michigan. Number 10, Illinois. who I have going to the final four.

I'm calling an Illinois upset tonight. I'm gonna go over to my father house and watch this one tonight, 8 o'clock Friday. Who's the Illinois? Oh, yeah, graduated from Illinois. Oh, wow. My mother-in-law and father-in-law. We're big a line.

Alignite guys. If you came to my house, you'd see we have an Aligni helmet, but that's basketball. Vikings just watch a QB that walk win the Super Bowl. Sam Darlin, 14 wins, 4,300 yards. None of the shake a stick at. Next thing you know, guys, covered in confetti. So they're, meanwhile, they're trying to still

address their QB situations. Here's what Kevin Sefer wrote, Vikings EVP Rob Vosinski today on their QB options. I don't know that we're ruling anything out. We have not a ton of time, but we have a couple of weeks, so we're exploring every option that could be out there. It's casting a wide net, I guess I would say.

Do you think that wide net includes Aaron Rogers? I don't know that it does, but it should. Wow. They are the one team in the NFL that I think. should go after Aaron Rogers. Just, oh, that's it. They're the only one. I can't think of another place that fits.

Like Pittsburgh, it's time to move on, you know. I can think of one when you're done. I want to hear, because I look at this. This is the one I think fits because of this reason. They're built to win now. Everywhere else on that roster, they're built to win now. You got Brian Flores and a good defense that I think would be even better than it was last year if they were competitive.

You know what I mean? If they felt good about it. their offense and so on and so forth. Obviously, you got great receivers. Addison's a good number two, not to mention Justin Jefferson at number one, T.J. Hawkinson, tight in. Like, they are ready to win. Now, the fact that they won nine games last year with abysmal.

In that division, with abysmal quarterback play. Correct. And J.J. McCarthy, look, some would say it was stunt his growth. It would not hurt him to sit under the feet at the feet of Aaron Rogers. learn for another year. Roger sat three years. This would be the third year for J.J. McCawley. Now, it would probably kill that

him getting this huge contract initially, but that's not the focus for him right now. The focus is just proving you're a starting caliber quarterback. The focus is staying in the league. Yeah, so you sit behind, you learn under Rogers, you sit for a year, and then

maybe a year from now you can be the guy. And look, I don't, you guys know how I've talked about Rogers' struggles in the NFC title games, and I kind of feel like there's a cap. Obviously, won the Super Bowl early in his career. I don't think they'd win the get to the Super Bowl, but I think they could get to the playoffs and have a good year.

And I think the owner is looking for a look. We need some Ws. And Kevin O'Connell is a great coach. Shouldn't be on the hot seat or anything. But he needs to have some Ws too. So I just think this would be, they're a team that if you just, Nick, make the playoffs,

win or lose a playoff game, that's a good season. And you also want Justin Jefferson the like to return it to his life. Because he's a good guy. At some point, he may say something, he'd be within his rights.

But you want to keep him happy and help him put up some numbers. So I agree with a lot of what you said. And in part, before I get to my surprise Rogers team, I just, here's the full list of quarterbacks who either are available

or could be. available and what you're going to see is man it is slim pickings yes so Daniel Jones we believe is just going to stay with the Colts but he is a free agent and he's not helping Achilles right Malik Willis is going to be expensive and then you're down after that it's a lot of oof the old guys post Achilles Rogers and Cousins Kyler who you're gonna have to trade for and he has a well you go get cut to eventually I think Kyler I think Kyler might actually have just enough trade value where he doesn't get cut.

They get like a fifth round pick for him. Mack Jones, you'd have to give up a... They don't want to trade him. No, but if somebody offered the 35th pick, I don't know. Oh, yeah. Yeah, because Mac has the opposite situation of Kyler, which is it's such a good contract. You know what I mean? People would might want to.

And then your Gino, Tua, Anthony Richardson, we're going to talk about in a minute. And then guys who I think are just backups in Jimmy G and Field. So if you don't have a starting quarterback and you don't get Malik Willis and you're not drafting Fernando Mendoza, Aaron Rogers might be just your best option. So you might have a lot of options. With that set,

what have I said Patrick Mahones is going to be doing this offseason? Oh, he's going to be dancing at Travis Kelsey's wedding. And then what is he going to be doing in week one? Starting week one. Okay, I didn't know. about the wedding and shit. Maybe cornhole

to have like a fun stuff. I have said that repeatedly. I have not reported that. It's just what I believe is going to happen. I think there are worse options for Aaron than if

if we find out in the off season. Listen, the chiefs are targeting week four for Patrick. What a take. What a take. For him. I love this. For him to be like, hey,

yo, this is a really kind of cool end note where you can't end on a down note. You're there with a team that can win the Super Bowl. You are the stabilizing force the first few weeks of the year. And then you're in the background. I think there's... But I love that.

I mean, you love it because he's Mr. Chief and he's saying the Chiefs. But I don't think that makes sense. Like, if I'm Rogers, why do I want to be a backup? Well, the thing is, I totally agree. You don't want to be just a backup. But if it's like, what's the good comp for this? It's like Alec Baldwin and Glyn Gary Glenn Ross. I have like a very small, defined role where I am the star for 15 minutes.

I am, you know, I'm the. But that, remember, that team wasn't strong last year. No, I know. Those first four games, he could go one in three, oh and four. No, so listen, you would have to believe, I believe, I believe, last year for the Chiefs was an aberration. If you think, no, they're just now not going to be a good team, then that's an awful job.

But now without my homes, I don't, like, you think he would play well enough? He's not mobile. He's going to be getting rid of that ball quickly. I think that being the starting, again, I think Patrick's going to start week one, to be clear. But if Rogers is still unsigned and we're into the off season, it's like, okay, Patrick's target date is October 1st. or whatever.

I think that is a really cool potential in, I think it is a potentially a better story for the end of his career than going 9 and 8 in Pittsburgh again. I think that's, I love it. If it's a Viking story, I feel like from the list of quarterbacks you put up, it's Kurt Cousins case. If it's in Aaron Rogers.

Yes. I just think. He has the jersey. He's like, I have the jersey. A lot of it's just. But what are you going to do with, now, you're right, you would put up numbers and Justin Jefferson would,

but you're not. I don't know that Rogers is much better than Cousins right now. No, I agree with that. I'm just saying the feeling around that team, if Kirk Cousins is there, I don't think the feeling is he's going to lead us to the Super Bowl. With Rogers, even though I don't think he'll lead him to the Super Bowl, I think they would look at it like, oh, this is Aaron Rogers.

If I'm Justin Jefferson, like, let me pull up my stat sheet with Kirk Cousins throwing a ball. But what about playoff wins? I love your theory on Roger. but reverse, obviously. Well, that's the... I'm in at the end. So that's the other thing that I could... End of the season, Philip Rivers stuff.

Where if you're Rogers, you could wait until August. Yeah. And see, like, if the Chiefs thing happens, the... Thanksgiving. Yeah, that's what I'm saying. Wait until and see if somebody goes down. The risk there is... Nobody goes.

The risk is unintentional retirement. Right. Meaning the only like that, the team, that are viable contenders, their quarterbacks stay healthy. And then it's like, oh, man, I was ready to step in for a Colts Daniel Jones situation. It didn't happen. Bo Nix goes down. Say it again?

Bo Nix goes down. You can't bank on it. AFC championship game. You signed Aaron Rogers? Right. The Phillip River situation. What in the world? I'd be very nervous. No, it would have been Aaron Rogers put on the Broncos jersey. Alex Palo, Frank.

of the show and four-time Indy car champ. It's probably going to win on Sunday. I would imagine. I'll be rooting for him, although I also root for New York. Pillow will win for validation, vindication for Alex Palo. He has won the Indianapolis 500. It is Indy 500. Alex Palau was brought his wreath.

Good to see you, champ. Good see you. No, I don't want to try your gross milk. Watch this. It's not cold. Because there's a lot. I think he tastes that creed. I just said it.

Your champion, Alex Palo, his 10 Honda and Gadassi racing. Alex Palo celebrated with the Astor Cup for winning the season. He did come in second to Joseph Newgaard. This guy is unbelievable. I'm saying one. Thank you so much. I don't like that introduction, but thank you. Alex Bo, always a pleasure.

We'll see you when the season starts. Joining us now as friend of the show, Indy Car Champ, Indy 500 champ. Alex Blow, Alex is preparing for the start of the new season in St. Petersburg. Thank you, as always, Alex, for making time out of your busy day to join us. Absolutely. I can never say no, guys. It's great to be back here. It's also great to get the season started finally.

And yeah, we're ready to go. So, Alex, last year we talked about how there was one only thing to check off your list, winning the Indy 500. You had already a three-time champ, back-to-back champ. You then won the Indy 500. You won your third straight championship. You won half of the races on the season. How is it realistic, if it's a lot of it. all possible to duplicate much less to excel past that this season?

It's tough to replicate, man. I think 2025 for us was magical. It was one of those seasons where I had the best car, I had the best team. I had a lot of confidence on myself with a car. We got lucky when we had to get lucky and we're able to execute perfectly. So although I would love to repeat and I would love to get another 500 and another championship and eight wins, I know that it's pretty tough to do. So we're working towards that.

Like we prepare this offseason as like if we had a terrible year in 2025. We just know that everybody's working hard to catch us. So yeah, we're excited. We're excited to get started again. I'm excited to try and see what we can bring in 2026. But at the same time, I know matching 2025 will be tough. When you've accomplished so much, Alex, like, Do you draw on anything for motivation?

Michael Jordan used to famously kind of make up slights, you know, that would get him motivated. Do you do anything like that or is it just in you like, I want to be the goat? I want to win every race or do you have to look for something else? Look, what I really like about racing and motorsport, it's just spending time on track, working with my mechanics, my engineers, my team and trying to be the best that day. For me, today was, I was super motivated not for the end goal of winning the championship or on Sunday. It was about today and just trying to be the fastest we could. So I don't really have like an end goal, honestly.

I think we need to give 100% every day to try and win as many races as possible. And I just love working with cars. So, yeah, I don't know. I just hope that I can continue to do this for a long time and keep on fighting for wins, championships, and 500s, but I don't really have something that motivates me. It's just the love or the passion for this sport.

Alex, if you were looking for something, and I do like that you're so locked in, and I'm surprised you didn't mention it, bro. But we had paddle award on the show, and Brew declared I'm a paddle guy from now on. Now, we didn't know you were going to be on.

We thought maybe paddle would win some races before India, and then all of a sudden, we got Alex Palo on. So I I'm surprised you didn't pass yourself in that role. You, Nick has hogged you. No, no, let me, please. Let me, let me speak. This is my turn now.

I didn't want to bring it up, but you said it. I know Nick is my guy. I know that we are, we're brothers. We're more than that. I skipped the Patto interview out of loyalty to you. I wasn't even there. I was like, we're talking to another indie racer. I'm leaving.

That's okay. He has to do that. That's part of his job. But I know he's pushing for me. I needed somebody. Wiles got New Guard. Yeah, I mean, I needed somebody. Alex, this is from Bob Pock Russ on Fox Sports.com.

Top 10 indie car drivers of all time. You know, we got Mar. You have some legendary names, not just an indie, but in overall sports. Mario Andretti, Al, Anser, A.J. Foyt, Michael Andreddy. And then there you are at 10. Do you think about your place in racing history, or is that just a distraction to you? I don't think about it, but I saw this graphic today, and I just, I cannot believe it. I feel like I'm still that five-year-old guy that has an amazing life and an amazing opportunity to drive fast,

for living and for me to be surrounded by those names and those great drivers it's insane but now that we have the opportunity to try and go up that that great and we're P-10 now hopefully in a couple years we can be up in the top five or top three but honestly that that just fuels me it gives me amazing energy to to try and continue to work harder and improve just my game yeah and also I I mean, I'll say it, Alex doesn't have to, with respect to Bob Pockress, who does great work. I mean, a little low. I mean, the guys won.

Guys had five seasons on the indie, six season on indie, one four championships, one three in a row. I mean, I think it's top six at least, but it doesn't matter. I got a question for you. Utah, I want to ask you two questions about your offseason. One is offseason work and one is non-work. I totally just intuitively know, like when a basketball player is like, yeah, I was working on my game in the off season, what that looks like. When you say, you know, in the off season, working to get better, how much of that is physical fitness? How much of that is, this is sound ridiculous, driving practice, and how much of that is working on the car and making sure the car is to your liking?

Like, what does your offseason training really entail? I would say 50% is physical because that's really the only training we can do. For people that don't know, we are not allowed to go test. like other sports where you just start practicing your own sport, like basketball or football. We can only do simulators and we have a couple days of testing on pre-season, which we've done this past month. But we only get like three days of testing with our car

and like all other competitors during the year. That's it, that we don't practice anymore. So for me it was 50% physical, but the other 50% it's all about like watching video, watching onboard cameras, watching the TV fits and seeing like what we can do and a lot of data with my engineers to see how can I, how can I improve, like checking, how can I break a little bit later, a little bit deeper, how can I manage the tires better? Like there's so much stuff that we can do as drivers to prepare and to improve year to year that, yeah, there's a lot of work

that we can do behind the scenes. Okay, and when you actually do have downtime, I'm always interested in this with drivers because our show is very distinct kind of driving personalities if you will brew drives a literal race car like a literal fast race car sports car k w doesn't even drive that's not his wife she prefers to drive gun she likes to drive him because and I quote you drive like an old lady and so she doesn't let him drive I drive I am here for you I could see you feeling like anyone else driving is maddening or you're like, man, finally, I don't have to drive.

So when you're back home in Spain or you're actually taking time off, are you driving? Are you a pretty aggressive, insane driver? Like, how does that work? I'm not aggressive. Well, I think I'm not aggressive. There's some people on the road that irritates me.

Like when you're going on traffic, like I guess like for everybody. But honestly, I'm a very safe driver. I think I'm very lucky that I get to go fast on track, so I go only at the speed limits on the road here in the U.S. and also in Spain. But yeah, I like to drive. I don't like to do, like, huge road trips, but I like to drive.

If it's less than three hours, I love it. I've got an interesting question for you. So Phoenix, the desert double. They're going to have the Indy car and the NASCAR on the same. track, same weekend. I think IndyCar March 7th, the next day NASCAR. Any thought about doing both? Have you ever thought about that? I love watching NASCAR. I would love one day to try one of those cars, but I feel like our way of driving is very different. I think I could maybe be quick on a one lap, but I know I would get destroyed on races just because of how those cars are. And also how

they race. They race very aggressively and I think I would get destroyed there. So maybe one day in the very future. But yeah, not now. I'll just be a fan for now. Is there any other style? And I apologize. You maybe have done this and I just, my research is bad, but like 24 hours Lamonds, the different things like that. Like do you as, I know you have a long indie career in front of you and you talked about wanting to run down those guys on that list. But on like the, you know, Ultimate Racing Career bucket list. Are there certain little check marks that you're like, hey, one day I want to win that.

I want to compete in that type of thing. Yeah, I'm doing actually this year with Akria. I'm doing Daytona and I'm doing some endurance races. I did Le Mans two years ago. I believe in 2024, 2023. With our schedule is tough, though. Like that's in the middle of our summer schedule. Like we're super busy.

This year I won't be able to do it. But it's one of those races that, as you said, it's on my mind to try and fit it on my calendar and try and win one day. It's a very different style of racing to what we do. It's like 24 hours, as you said. But I love it. I think it's one of those events that if I have the opportunity to be on a good car, I need to take it. Well, Alex, thank you again for your time. Best of luck on Sunday.

IndyCar season kicks off. We will see you probably in the winner's circle and also in Indianapolis. So have a great season. We'll see in Indy. Thank you so much, guys.