First Things First - Lamar Jackson MVP form, Bills vs. Patriots, Burrow playoff woes, BUD List, Caleb Williams clutch?

Episode Date: July 23, 2026

(0:00) Bills or Patriots more trustworthy? (24:34) Is Caleb Williams as clutch as any QB in the NFL?  (39:55) What would another year of missing the playoffs mean for Joe Burrow? (45:20) BUD List (01:08:46) Hey, What’s Going On? (01:19:16) Who will be the next QB revealed on the NFL Top 100? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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You can enjoy a punch just like Reacher. Entertainment meets fast delivery. It's on Prime. Live from New York and the show it's going through it. Trying to debut a segment. Look, you've got to break a few eggs, okay? That's what you've been saying for six years. You've been on the show for six years.

At what point are we done experimenting and we're just doing a show? Well, you can never step in the same number twice. I will give you credit for it. He's wanted to do this for almost a year. I wanted to do taking the day and score it. We did it one day. I was gone. You guys did it two more days without me.

And then when I came back, you said it was over. Oh, yeah. Take in the day. It's me again. It's me talking. Well, nothing. Poor DeMons. What the heck?

All right. Today, after a magical sophomore season is Caleb, the most clutch player in the entire league. Meanwhile, Sean McVey says Aaron Donald is thinking about a return. But the sneaky reason, this might be bad for the Rams. And finally, the most motivational segment in all of sports, the Budlis. Looking forward to the Bud List today alongside Christy Star. I'm always looking forward to it. I'm Kevin Wilds.

I'm always looking forward to it too. Right before. Also, it's our last day before vacation. Yes, that's what I'm saying. Perfect. Motivation, headed into vacation. What I need, you're going to be on a sunny vacation. Don't get a first thing's first bucket hat.

The ratings will tank. Hubbs is in Barbados, our producer. He bought a Barbados bucket hat and said Barbados. 2030 World Cup incentive to me. He did. I don't like it. All right, we're starting. They won't make defeat.

No, me. Starting in the AFCs, the athletics, Mike Jones highlighting overrated NFL teams in his latest article. Both the Patriots and the Bills make the list. For the Patriots, he notes a lack of a pass rush and a rough early schedule, three of the first four games on the road.

And for the bills, he, like me, notes the growing pains of a new coaching staff. So who do you trust more this year? the Bills or the Patriots. The Bills, and we let Kevin Wilde get away with something tricky yesterday. What did I do? That when it happened, I was so confused by it

that I had you say it again, and then I was still a little confused, so I let it go. Because last year, the Patriots won 13 games, the Bills won 12th. They played each other twice, won one, and the final score of those games was 55, 54. So, it combined.

So they were pretty close, but the Patriots had the win edge. And we always bang on the Patriots for that soft schedule. For the softest schedule the league has had by any team this century. And KW just slipped in there. It's like a bill's basically played the same schedule. That's true. Except for.

Yes, they did. First place. Hold on. Yeah, it was basically the same. I'm just going to, again, they finished one game separate in the standings. And you're right, for 14 of the 17 games, they had the same schedule. Here were the three differences. Yeah, let's see him.

When the bills had. the Philadelphia Eagles, the Patriots had the New York Giants. When the Bills had the Houston Texans, the Patriots had the Tennessee Titans. Okay. And when the bills had the Kansas Chiefs, the Patriots had the Las Vegas Raiders. Okay. Even if the Chiefs. There's two games.

What do you mean? The Chiefs is a huge difference. I hate to say it, the Chiefs is not a huge difference. Really? The Raiders had the number one. Was Mahomes? We lost to the Raiders. Was Moehm's?

Yes. For that game? Yes. Yes, Mahomes was healthier. There's no difference. Mahomes had a losing record as a starter this year. I'm just saying there are two AFC West teams that did not make the playoffs. Yes, that part, they are similar.

But to say there is no difference is disingenuous. You got caught. There's two buckets. There's teams that made the playoffs winning. You put me into, Drake May into two buckets. He can beat winning. That's fine. He can beat losing teams, can't beat winning teams.

Hold on KW. That's fine. Then Nicole can't, if you want to sit here on national TV and say the chiefs and the Raiders are the same, you don't think the Texans and the Titans are. No. And you don't think the Eagles and the Giants are. But when we played the Texans, we won. And when Josh Allen played the Texans, he lost.

So the point that I am making is, I do think it is fair to say that last year when they were that close and, in my opinion, had that difference of that three-game sample that had you simply flipped the schedules, maybe the Patriots are 12 and 5, and the bills are 13 and 4. Maybe it's worth a one-game difference. That's a fair. So then, like, it is not, you know, I would if we were making the case, who do you trust more, the Chiefs or the Broncos going into this year. I trust the Chiefs more, but that's an eight-game delta in wins. The Broncos won 14, the Chiefs won six. You really have to chalk a lot of last year up to down year for the Chiefs,

perfect year for Denver. Bills and Pat's were much, much closer. So then, to me, the bills each of the last six years have won. 11 or more games and at least made the divisional round. Now that the Chief's streak is over, they have the longest streak of seasons with a playoff win. They are just to me flatly, KW, more trustworthy than the New England Patriots. You could argue, depending on how you feel about the Chiefs and the Eagles this year, the Bills might be the most trustworthy team in the league as far as having a rock solid season.

Not necessarily to win the Super Bowl or not on an upside trustworthy. I think it's clearly Buffalo. Do you want to go? Do you want me to go? I think I want to hear what you say. Okay. Well, about my, you guys also do something tricky, so I built my own graphics to counteracts up.

Okay. It's the whole Drake May against winning teams, Drake May against losing teams. Yeah. And I'm like, well, you know what? Last year was a little bit funky because, first of all, there was a lot of teams that were just bad, like really. bad, so it kind of skewed the numbers. So this is every sort of star quarter of back against

winning teams and losing teams. Stafford was great against both squads. Drake May was four and three. This includes the playoffs and 13-1. So he really did not let any losing teams besides the first game against the Raiders eat him up. Trevor, 500, but was really good against losing teams. Josh Allen was below 500 against winning teams with Drake May. Wasn't, and he went 10 and 2. He lost. to the Falcons, Patriots didn't lose his Falcons. He lost to the Dolphins. Patriots didn't lose the Dolphins. Golf was really bad against losing teams.

Lamar was terrible, and Mahomes was really bad. Yeah. So I just feel like, hey, he's four and three. Look at all these drops. I feel like it is par for the course to not be great against winning team. I think it is, I agree with you that it is part for the course for your win for your win percentage to look like this. If you're a great player, like Drake's did, if you're a great player, if you're a great

player where you kill the bad teams and you know you split with the other teams of your caliber. We just had to have a piece done a lot of bad teams. The it is the number of games against bad teams and then it's the other thing that you couldn't show in that graphic but individual stats yes it is the

the basically perfect football from a passing perspective against the bad teams and then below league average in every category against the winning teams. Now again everyone's numbers go down a bit when you play the teams. That delta, I think, is what causes pause for people for a quarterback who doesn't

have a track record. I think that is pretty much fair. I would just swing a little bit more into the Patriots direction when you're playing Seahawks, Broncos, and the Texans, which are, I think, one, two, and four in total defense. And I feel like people are like, ah, that's just okay. That's just an okay. Not the greatest quarterbacks, but. No, but Rick May doesn't get to play the quarterbacks. So that's my That's my No, and then my final

text, I get thrown it off. I just don't, I think you can point at transactions that the Patriots made. You'd be like, oh, they're better. A.J. Brown helps. The first round draft pick on the line helps. I think the continuity helps. I don't know if you can do that for the bills.

Well, the bill's added a wide receiver too. Helps. I think AJ Brown's better than DJ Moore. Yeah, that's all. No, I agree with that. I think you made a valiant effort. Thank you. I've got one more in the chamber, but it's not nice.

The graphic was nice. It's clearly the bills. I'm sorry. It's not even close. Like, I agree with it. Like, if you might even agree with me on this. If we said one of these two teams is not making the playoffs, you're saying it's the bills?

It's a great question. I, I, there's no way I don't see the bills making the point. You know what we believe in on this side of the table? Due dates is one of them. Due dates is correct. It's their due to miss the plan. We've, Lamar and the Holmes missed it last year.

Okay. Joe Burroughs missed the playoffs. A lot. Joe's, Joe's missed him more than he's made. He's due to make the playoffs. You know, when's the Super Bowl misses the playoffs?

He got hurt. But, yeah. Yeah. Josh has been super steady, and I don't want to put injuries there. No, he got banged up at the end of the year, though. He did have the broken foot or whatever it was, broken bone in the foot. No, I don't want to be an injury thing. No, but.

But the star quarterbacks have all missed the playoffs except him. So, like, is he going to just be on this making the playoffs? I'm not talking about an injury. I'm talking about, like, you have a coaching turnover. We don't know if the defense is going to be good. Okay. The Patriots jump you, you don't have a bunch of games, and all of a sudden you miss the wild card.

I think that even though I believe Drake May is going to be for the next decade, really, I believe for the next decade he's going to be, I'll be liberal with it, a top six quarterback in the league, because there's a real argument over who the top five is, so I add a spot. I think that's the caliber of player he is. That's what I believe. But we don't yet know he's a star quarterback. I think he is.

I believe he's going. to be. But for the same reason that Bruce's been saying, like, you're talking about these other star quarterbacks are due to miss the playoffs. We, the, the, there's a possibility that there was a one year perfect storm

not, I don't want to call one year wonder element to this. It's not what I think is the case, but when we're talking about what we trust and what is more likely to repeat, I am also very curious what the mean graphic is. I'm sure it's about Patrick. No, no, no, that wasn't. That was just like my, I didn't want to

like he's due to miss the playoffs. It just feels negative. Oh. Trevor also was great, very, very good. Top 9 MVP finish. Yeah. And then two down years. So I'm, I'm kind of with Nick and that.

I think Drake is a really good quarterback. But I can't, off one year, I'm not ready to say he's arrived. That's all I'm saying. That's all I'm saying. Josh Allen clearly arrived. And Nick mentioned 11 wins and the last. It's six great years. It's six great years and a playoff win.

Only once 11. Three of those years, they had 13 wins and the other two, they have 12. It helps that you're beating up on the Patriots, though. Part of those 13 wins. But this year they're both going to get, I think two of the three worst teams in the league are in your division, which is good for both you guys. I think the Dolphins are going to be the worst team in the league. I think the Jets likely are going to be a bottom three team as well. Can I ask you this for a move on?

Yeah. Because I think, I might be wrong. I think this might be at your most honest how you feel. Okay, here we go. You trust the bills more to not have a seven-win season. You would be more shocked by bills going seven and ten than the Patriots going seven and ten, and you also believe the Patriots have a better chance of winning the Super Bowl.

If one of the teams were to win only seven games, like a healthy Josh Allen winning seven games is hard to win. It seems impossible. But can the bills win the Super Bowl? I've never seen in my entire life. And I've seen the Patriots. So I, by the way, I don't think I, maybe I'm trying to foist onto you what I might feel. I might feel like the bills have a higher floor, but the Pats might have because of the

known quantity at the coaching staff, because there could be a jump from Drake for all those reasons the patch might have the higher scene. I'll be, you know what? Remember how I debuted that new segment, the Men in Black Take? Yeah. Where if I'll say something and then you guys can never repeat it again, yeah. I was looking at getting Patriots tickets. Me and the boys like to go up.

We like to get a one o'clock game so I can watch the rest of the night and get back. I also like to get a little early in the year. So it's a little bit warmer. It's just kind of nicer. Can you put up the Patriots schedule if you have it there, Dust? Who's ready to move on? It's scary. It's rough. It's at first.

So I'm like, well, I'm not going to the Seattle. And I went to the Steelers last year. I'm not going to Jacksonville. I'm not going to Buffalo. So I'm like, all right. And I don't want to see the Jets. I'm like the Raiders game. Mendoza.

Week five, it'll be a nice win. It crossed my mind. Uh-oh. Are we one in three on that Raiders game? Yeah. Like we'll certainly, I'm not saying it will be. There'll be an intensity. Could there be an intense.

intensity to that game. We're like, hold on, we have to win this game. Again, and in Black, take, don't hold it against me. Again, Vegas odds are just what they are. But you are underdogs in your three road games leading up to it. Yeah, I don't think that's- Lines are set. Your underdogs in Seattle, Jacksonville, and Buffalo.

Now those are three, that's the Super Bowl champion in two, 12 and 13 win teams from last year. Yeah. So there's no shame in that. The game that I think we should circle and maybe talk to Fox about, even though it doesn't appear to be on Fox, is Chiefs at, or sorry, Patriots at Bears. Oh.

Patriots at Bears at Soldier Field. Fields is pretty fun. That's interesting. We've already gone in there. Drake's already gone in there and beat Caleb. Oh, yeah. We could do it again, I guess. You'll be three and three.

Three and three would be good. Not for everybody. All right. Lamar Jackson starts training camp with new head coach. Look at that. Jesse Minter and a new OC, Declan Doyle. New helmets? Yeah, they did.

Yeah. Open the season of September 13th. I think it's the indoor lights. It's the lighting. Usually we see them there out in like a pasture. Yeah, that's right. They got a new facility. Are you expecting Lamar to return to MVP form?

I would be stunned. Absolutely shell shock. Shell shock. If he's healthy for 17, 16, 17 games, and he is not playing at an elite level. I'm not going to predict where necessarily in the MVP. Of course. But if he doesn't play at an elite level, I will be shocked.

He's 29 years old. All right. And last year, we know he was hurt. And here's why, because Nick, there was when he starts sitting out practices and stuff, you at least felt, and I think maybe some other people, is this contract related? Well, the fact that he hasn't raised the stink about the contract in this offseason, I think proves that he really was hurt.

Like whatever it was, he just was banged up. I don't think it had anything to do with the contract. And so when I look at his first three games, he got hurt in game four against Kansas City. And Kansas City has been his kryptonite in some people's words, right? But the first three games of the season, against some pretty good defenses, not stellar, but Buffalo, Cleveland, and Detroit.

Pretty good solid defense. defenses. This is what he did. I mean, he was, he was on a tear. And then he got hurt. And then his numbers started getting shaken. Now, the team wasn't necessarily winning. This is three games. Yeah, but he, but you know, he's got a career long sample size. I'm just saying, we're doing full screens for three. I mean, it'd be one thing if he had never been a great quarterback. And it was like, oh, wow, the first three games of last year was awesome. He was great the year before. the year before and it has some great seasons before

that. That puts the Trevor Lawrence graphic to shame. You don't understand late? Look at this six games. Look at the six game sample I picked out. It doesn't. Those are the three games last year. We know he was healthy. We know he was healthy those. And again,

it'd be one thing if he was James Winston or somebody who really hadn't had a great career. That was vintage Lamar is what those stats were. So what I'm saying is when he got hurt, his numbers went down. And even so over the last three games, his numbers went back up skyrocketed. So Nick, I think he's going to be great. He seems to be hitting it off with Declan Doyle, the new O.C. I think he's revitalized and more excited about

the new coaching regime. I agree with that. And so I really, yeah, I would be totally shocked if he doesn't play. So I do think on the health side, this has to be said. Over the last, you know, I've shown this, I've shown a graphic, we don't have it today, a hundred times. But I think it's either the last six years, last five years, whatever it is. He and Joe Burrow play the same number of games.

Yeah. And we look at Burrow as this huge injury risk. And Lamar, so at some point it stops being about bad luck and more about, hey, it's the bonus if you play the full season. Three of the last five years, he's missed a third of the season or a quarter of the season or more. That's a real sample. One of the reasons I looked askance at some of his missing time with injury was because his coach was looking askance at it. When they kept giving us quotes, you know, if he's not back, you know, what am I happy about after the buy?

Get my quarterback back. No, you don't. It's surprised he's not playing. It wasn't just blind speculation there. There was something there. And what I, I read the contract thing, I guess, a little differently than you in this regard. If he doesn't get, and I think he still might, get a contract extension before the year starts, I'm very anxious if I'm a Ravens fan if he gets at all banged up.

Because the years prior when he was waiting on a contract, that was when he got banged up at the end of the year. And there was once again, oh, we'll have him back, we'll have him back. and no, he's not back. And so I think Lamar, his history is, if the team has not given him, and I don't actually blame him for this, given him long-term financial security as far as contractual security,

I know he's made a ton of money. He's not going to, on non-guaranteed money, play less than 100% or whatever less than the number is. So that part would concern me as a Ravens fan. The other thing is, How old is 29 when you play like Lamar Jackson? That I think is, I just did a very basic, the quarterbacks with the most rushing yards in history,

how old were they when they had their last great season? Vic, again, unique career because he had to go to prison. His last great year, he was 30. Cam's last great year, he was 28. Russell Wilson's last great year, he was 32, also greatly changed the way he played like it feels like Lamar is trying to. Randall Cunningham is a weird one. His last great year was 29.

He then went down, down, down, retired, came back as a Viking and had an MVP caliber a year at age 35, but he was out of the league for his season. Steve Young is another weird one because he didn't become a starter until he was old, but he had eight awesome years. He had eight awesome years and then was out of the league because of concussions. Josh is 29. Josh is on that list. Josh, as you mentioned last year's first time we saw injuries creep into it,

even though he played every game. But do you think Josh, Lamar's plays like Josh? I don't think he plays like John. Like he's like sliding more. And the thing is about running quarterbacks. And you look at Lamar's injuries and even other quarterback's injuries. They happen typically in the pocket. And because when you're running, especially Lamar, now Josh Allen and Cam Newton are different.

They run into tacklers. They run over tacklers. Most Lamar braces himself. slides, gets, you know, when you're running, you actually can shift your weight so that, you know,

don't catch the brunt of the hit. So I actually think the way Lamar has run, like I don't worry about that as far as his injuries. It's more in the pocket. So it's less about me saying he's going to get banged up on running plays. And more about is the cumulative wear and tear of just that style of play.

Does it shorten your? or prime. And historically, the answer is yes. I would say none of those guys other than Steve Young and Josh Allen, if he's in the conversation, are on his level. And then Cam, and Cam is the greatest example to me of a short, Vic, as great as he was, was not on the Marr's level. Cam was, is the greatest example of a running quarterback having a shorter career, but he

ran like a fullback. Right. And Cam was delivering blows like John. is to a degree. And he didn't pass it, even if you think Lamar is limited. No. But Cam only had one year that can measure up to three of Lamar's passing seasons. I agree with all that, which is we've had this discussion a few times.

I think the most likely outcome is Lamar has a very solid year. That the Ravens win 11 games, that Lamar is the seventh best quarterback. So you don't see him. You don't see him getting close to his MVP. So that's what I was, I certainly think that's possible, but I think the opposite's more likely. I think if you're like, and I've said it, but I'll say it again, I think that the most likely outcome, really good year, teams good. But if that outcome's off the board and it's like it is either a year that follows last year's trajectory, a down year, or he is in week 14 in the MVP mix, top three-ish, I think the bad year is more likely.

Wow. I think I don't love their weapons. You know, it's a question about the coach. I think there is real injury concern. And I, I, and this is where you and I disagree, I think that if he does not demonstrate early on in the season, I am still a devastating running threat. I think it drastically impacts his threat as a passer.

I think teams will defend him differently, and I don't know that he has the wide receivers to really bail him out on that. And so that's my concern. Lamar's record in September, 13 and 11 in October through January, 63 and 20. He's been a slow starter. Not for those three games, though.

No, well, they didn't win. No, that goes 13 and 11. You don't put any stats. They were one and two. Just three. I think they were they 0 in three? One in one. I started going to one and two.

One and two. Wasn't his fault. I mean, the numbers. Is Caleb the most clutch player in the NFL? That's next on first thing. This is going to be a great time. The Fox Sports Channel, Sirius XM. There's no shortcut for saving time, but saving money is simple.

Just combine your car and home insurance with Belair Direct and save. Get a quote at bellair direct.com. Podcasts, YouTube, everything digital. Hop on the old TikTok of first things first. Rolling. Great numbers for our social media team. Shout out to you, Miles. Shout out to Gianna and everyone that works on.

I was doing this thing this week. Amazing, like the YouTube numbers in particular. I was seeing a chart with like 100 million views in a certain time frame. It's excellent. It's worth more money than you think these days. Head to Chicago. Kevin Fishbane and Dan Widerer of the Athletic. Talking about Caleb,

making the leap. Fishbane Redding, how many quarterbacks in the league right now? Would you rather have with the ball in their hands in the final minute of a close game than Caleb Williams? It's not wrong. Stats bear it out. Caleb, including the season, the first three quarters, he's okay. But in the fourth quarter, he's out here cooking. Looks like Caleb Williams.

14 touchdowns, three interceptions. Passer ring still below 100, but it does pop up. and he had six game winning scores in the final two minutes or overtime, some magic moments. So the question will ask that. How many quarterbacks would you want at the end of the game, not named Caleb Williams? One. One? Yeah, in this scenario, it's not fourth quarter overtime.

It is exactly what the guy wrote. Final minute, close game. I assume that means trailing. Trailing or tied. You know what I mean? Final minute you got to make a play. Mahomes the only guy I'd rather have them. Holy cow.

I don't think he's the second best quarterback in football. I don't, you know, I am, I don't even actually know if I think as much as I like him, if I think he's the best quarterback from his draft class because of how fond I am of Drake May, despite how unfond I am of Kevin Wilde. But I, in that scenario, I think he is scarier than any quarterback other than Patrick. He hasn't failed as much as other quarterbacks that I have seen, and now he hasn't as many opportunities. And if I think of the five best plays from that type of scenario from all of last season,

I mean, we're going to show three of them here. So can I just play this out, Brew, for a quick second? You're the head coach of a team, a new team. Kansas City, Nick Wrights. I don't think I name them that. Bob Johnson did that with the Bobcatsboro back in the day. Yeah. Yeah.

And your football team is there, and you've got Caleb and all of a sudden, Josh Allen in this scenario. I don't think Josh is, I don't want to give you the ball. I actually don't think Josh is great in this specific scenario. I have seen Josh. He'll make a mistake. He'll make big mistakes. I saw him last year against Philly Miss, a wide open guy to win the game. I've seen him consecutively in Kansas City in the playoffs,

be in this scenario and get 17 yards or get zero points. I saw him last year in the playoffs in this scenario, throw an interception and overtime. Josh is not my pick in this. Lamar feels very boomer bust in this spot, so he's not my pick. Again, Stafford, Stafford is because of his age and lack of mobility, there is an element of Stafford of,

if an offensive lineman gets beat, it's just over. Like there's no, he could do everything right and it's still cooked. So for me, in this specific question, he is my second draft pick to Patrick. And I, like, I don't think that's a crazy take. I hate to pour water on the hot new thing theory or whatever. But I am the elder statesman. Yeah, that's true. And I've been around the block a few times.

I just, it was one year of doing this. A year before that, wasn't it Jaden Daniels doing these late game heroics? That was my answer. Go ahead, go ahead. Show the Jaden Daniels graphic dust and I'll throw it back to you. Yeah. And he was better at it. Right, right.

So go ahead. No, I mean, there's that. I just would have to see this more. So I thought the same thing about Josh. Josh might be Superman, but he also might throw a crazy interception or a fumble or something. Obviously, Mahomes is out definitely ahead of him. I would take Stafford. I get it with the mobility, but I'd take Stafford, the mind and stuff.

And here are some possibilities I take. Jordan Love has had moments in big games. Bo Nicks last year led the league and come back, you know, game winning drives with seven. And then Baker, I would consider. I just want to see it a little more. Baker is good. I want to see it a little more. Yeah, Baker's permanently in from that Rams game.

I mean, if Caleb does the same thing this year. But what's interesting is Bo Nix led the league in game winning drives last year with seven. Caleb was second with six. Guess who he was tied with Bryce Young. And then Trevor was next with five. So my point is these inconsistened. young quarterbacks who didn't play great during the first three quarters and then come away at the end.

I just haven't seen enough to say this is who he's going to be throughout his career as far as the late game. I get that. And let me, the Jaden thing, the reason I think I'm less moved by that than you guys is always in sports. If one guy has like both guys have done it once. Yeah. But one guy did it most recently.

But it's like one year. No, I understand. But it's one year for Jaden as well. different is my no I'm saying it's a one year difference no I I get that but I'm saying like the so I'm not as moved by the Jaden thing

because Caleb to me did their like the the gap is in because on those numbers touchdown interception ratio it goes in Caleb's favor the yards per attempt were identical the gap is in the completion percentage which is why the pass rating gaps there which is fine but the effectiveness

was the same so to me tie goes to the guy who just did it rather than the guy coming off an injury I I'm the reason reason I was surprised you wanted this in the show, KW, and I want you to go, was because I thought this was the one thing that you actually loved about Caleb. Yeah, no, it's fan. There's magic and it's great watching. At the same time when we were, when their season switched, really, Jaden and Caleb was based on the Hail Mary. Yes. Is it reasonable analysis to be like,

A little bit of this is luck. Of course. The Hail Mary, a little bit of a little bit of this was. Oh. A little bit of it is good fortune. Yeah. And that can just flop back at any time. Right.

Where Mahomes, I don't think, is, with luck has been, he is superseded luck. But so who. And Josh Allen has superseded luck just from the. I don't think Josh has been good at this. Just because of the last gate, like the, the push push gone wrong? No. No. No. I mean, what do you mean the touch push gone wrong?

when they were driving down the field. No, it's three. He has been presented with this exact scenario in three consecutive years in the playoffs. His teams have gotten zero total points. It's not like he has come through a little bit. They've gotten zero total points. We have seen the, I remember Josh Allen being in this scenario, actually the opposite. They were trailing in the final minute against the Vikings.

And he fumbled the snap and the Vikings in a winning. Last year against the Eagles, They go for two down 13 to 12. He misses wide open, whoever number 10 was on the team. You guys know how good I think Josh Allen is. Josh Allen is not one of my, I think he is, in a lot of ways, his resume is kind of opposite of Caleb. He's really good the first three and a half quarters,

and he's not in this scenario that much, but in this scenario, I don't love him. The thing about Caleb is he doesn't throw interception. I know he did last year against Green Bay at the end of the, game but in general he doesn't throw a lot of picks that's a difference between him and john of a big deal you ended your whole season on it's how jordan no i know i'm just saying like he does he's not a high interception guy and it wasn't against green bay right they beat green bay it's against the rams in the playoff game right right he was against the rams in the playoff game

but like the where do you have a long are you saying you'd take jaden over him in this spot no but i think that nobody would mention jaden and i think that's just because jane has fallen off of our the zeitgeist of great fourth quarter comeback because it's been a year that he was the year he was hurting the team. I think, but I think it's less, the magic stuff with Caleb feels a little more sustainable because it's why he was the number one pick.

It's why he was the number one player. He has been this, oh my God, like Coach Manjini, who is not wowed by much of anything, when he was on about Caleb coming into the pros, talked about how much he loved the fact that he could make plays no one else could make. And so I understand that that is a hard thing to build the plane out of, so to speak. But this isn't talking about building the plane out of it. And I do think a lot of these scenarios, the part of NFL games that is most like backyard football is two-minute drill trailing.

You know what I mean? Got to figure it out. a negative play is not as damaging because we have to get positive plays, so throw caution to the wind. I just think he's spectacular. Yeah, I mean, he's earned the right. I'd be interested to see if that's a sustainable. Yeah, I think they hope to be in far less of those scenarios. That'll be interesting, too.

Head to San Francisco, Matt Barros of the athletic rating. Two Purdy themes to follow this season. How quickly he can build a rapport with his new wide receivers, Mike Evans. He's just old veteran. Throw it up there. He'll grab it. Oh, yeah. And whether he can reduce his interception rate, your expectations for purdy this year, bro.

I think he's going to have a very strong season. I think he's going to have a pro bowl caliber season. Like legit pro bowl? Like named on the initial ballot. And I don't, I mean, you got Stafford. The NFC is full of quarterbacks. I'm just saying whether he makes it legitimately, yeah, he'll be like have that caliber of season.

The receiving court, look, last year, these are his numbers, and it was, I guess, a so-so season for him last year, but these are his ranks. I mean, he's top 10 in basically everything. And that was with Joanne Jennings as his number one receiver. Now you got Mike Evans. Christian Kirk, I like, is the number two. And Ricky Pearsall could be the number two if he stays healthy.

So I actually think they have a good receiving core. And so I expect he does throw interceptions. Yeah. How many games did he play last year? Nine. Nine. Played half the games. Don't stop.

No, because let me address this. You're just. It's one thing if a guy doesn't have a track record. I mean, am I wrong, Nick? I'm saying. If a guy, are you going to tell me. It's back-to-back. Hold on.

Let me ask you this. Look at this part of the year. If Tyrese Maxie next year. Uh-huh. gets hurt. But I show, and then he's about to come back after being out for two months. And I show a, what's he going to look like when he gets back? And I show a graphic, well, the first five games of the season before he got hurt,

he averaged 27 and 7. I think he's going to be good. Would you say it's freaking five games or would you say, yeah, that's what Tyrese maxi does. I would say that's what Tyrese max does. But you can't say that about Brock. or Lamar Jackson? I know you want to be cute and all that and make things. I'm not trying to be cute.

This is not the lane. I think it's looking at a truncated season when you didn't play opponents that maybe weighed other teams down. You're just trying to fight the Mac, or the Drake May proxy war here. No, I'm not. You're not? No, I swear, no, but I think there's, I think putting up a guy putting up a court, like look at a, like look at a, his ranks through nine games versus another quarterback who played

17 games. So how about we just look at his ranks or his numbers compared to the other quarterback for the Niners? So this is why I think, Drew, he's going to be solid because you're just going to be solid playing for the nine. I mean, not everybody's been solid playing. It's been, it was eight years ago, Brew, and the guys. There's a lot

of those guys. There's, again, who was it, Mullins? Nick Mullins. If you are a top 40 quarterback in the world, and you get drawn. I'm saying that for Mac Jones. I'm not saying that for Brock. But I'm saying Bethard and Mullins were not that. And you get dropped into this offense. The floor is super, super high.

But for the second consecutive year, you like the weapons more than me. Last year I was here. Last year you liked Joanne Jennings going into the year. As a number three receiver. Last year, you said all Ricky Beersaws do is not get shot pro bowler. Pierce all is good. Pearsall was hurt again last year. That's his problem. He gets hurt all the time. Mike Evans will be good. I mean, maybe.

I mean, maybe. I mean, Mike Evans is an injury risk. He's an old. He's what, 32, 33. I think he actually got hurt twice because the year before last member, he had to come back at the end. They did all that fancy stuff to get him to the thousand yards. Oh, yeah. I mean, he's old.

He's an old player. And Kittle is coming off a devastating injury. My biggest concern for Purdy. I have two major concerns for the Niners. One is I think it's the least talent they've had defensively in a long time, and Salah's not there to work his magic. I think that's a concern. The other one is, I have always believed,

and it's been the subject of a lot of consternation on this show, that the number one reason for the Niners' offensive success is the coach, and over the last few years, the number two reason is Christian McCaffrey, far before we get to whomever is playing quarterback. they pressed the McCaffrey button so much last year. That worries me. And last year you even saw it, Brue, impacting his per-attempty numbers.

Yeah, yards per-yard-per-carry or yards per reception, but they just kept mashing that button. And I wonder for him, does that have a knock-on effect this year? Because I think he is what unlocks that offense, particularly with Kittle coming off such a bad injury, even if he thinks he's ahead. They need to stay healthy. But I just don't think...

I don't think Ferdie Brew will ever have that. Yeah, the training, McCaffrey looks like he's ready for... Yeah, remember we just hit Caterporn like that. Frozen lasagna, medium power, 15 minutes. Sounds like Ojo time. Let's play. Feel the fun with Play-Ojo. The online casino with all the latest slot and live casino games.

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19 plus Ontario only. Please play responsibly. Concern about your gambling or that of someone close to you. Call 16-531-2600 or visit connexonetrio.ca. Albert Breer writing about the mounting pressure on Joe Burrow and then Burroughs putting mounting pressure on the Bengals themselves. Brewer writing, if you listened close enough to Burrow this off season, you heard the attendant urgency in his voice.

He knows chances at a championship aren't endless. What would another year of missing the playoffs mean for Burrow? Well, look, I think we all have to admit a big part of this is how would it look and why would they miss the playoffs? Like if he misses significant time again, like say half the season. Last year he played, what, nine games, 10 games? That's bad for him. Right. So if he misses half the season because of injury and they thus miss the playoffs,

I really, I think one, we're just going to have to be like he's injury prone or he's. His career is not going to be what it could have been because of injuries. And I wonder, I would hope it wouldn't be the case, but I would wonder would he contemplate retirement? Because remember there was thought about that last year. Secondly, if he plays 17 games and looks great as he did two years ago and the defense just stinks and they missed the playoffs, you're just like, hey, he's still a great top five quarterback. but the defense is horrible and then you wondered

should he ask out I think there'd be a drum beat for maybe he needs to leave he would lose top five quarterback status for me if he really if he did what he did two years ago in 2020 leaves the league in yards passing touchdowns there are

while I am not a quarterback wins guy I am a top five quarterbacks don't go a half decade without playing a playoff game guy but a lot of that would have been injury. A few of those years, few of them would have been injured. Well, no, I really think just to me it would be just last year would be injury.

Because the first year that he got hurt, they were a 500 team with him. Jake Browning was the, and then the year, the, um, and what you really, if he threw 40 plus touchdowns, I just, I didn't say he's bad, but he can't be a top five

quarterbacks. I just don't know the instances of, I'll have to check, you know, my football reference of guys that were just locked in to the top five because they're an MVP? Okay, well, he isn't. Because they've won a Super Bowl? Okay, well, he hasn't.

Because prior to this drought, they always made the playoffs, no, he's done it twice. Like, at some point. Well, I don't know if we always were listing it. Like when Matthew Stafford, I know he wasn't a top five. He wasn't viewed his top five, but obviously McVeigh loved him,

had faith in him. A lot of people loved. No, I think that's, so that's kind of my point. They missed the playoffs this year. I'm totally fine with looking at him the way people looked at Stafford in Detroit Wow, it's a super talented guy That's really, but he would have gotten a team to a Super Bowl

Yes, no, that's that's but go ahead, sorry, I interrupted him. Well, no, I was just saying I think the third instance was If he doesn't play well If he doesn't play well then I think we just have to say the injuries and the hits have taken their toll and maybe he's no longer an elite quarterback Crystal ball Crystal ball new segment

It's not a new segment You are dying for a new set. Dust, mark this, save it for the archives so we can play it. What's today's date? July 23rd, 26. I want to be the first to report. The head coach of the 27th Cincinnati Bengals, Nick Siriani. Nick Sirian.

That's a double take. It's a double take. It's that Siriani's not back in Philadelphia next year because Bruce is going to be right about the Cowboys and the Eagles are not going to stand for that. And that the Bengals, because what I know if they missed the playoffs, is they're firing Zach Taylor. That button has to be pushed. And the Bengals are the type of franchise, I believe.

That would be like, doesn't want to roll the dice with a first time head coach again. Guys won a Super Bowl. I think if Siriani were available, he wouldn't necessarily have 100% of teams that have openings. Would be like we want to get in that business. But I, do you guys agree? Has that been connected at all? No, I just did it. He played college football in Ohio.

I did not know that. I just didn't write that. Check that, Josh, Mount Union, Division III. It definitely was Mount Union. I don't know where that is. Yes, in Ohio. Okay. You would know you're the Ohio guy.

You guys agree if they missed the playoffs. They have to fire the coach. Yeah, probably. You miss the playoffs. Like, listen, Drew Brees went nine and seven, three straight years. Or was it seven and nine? Seven and nine, three straight years. Missed last three straight years.

And then had four. five straight years of legitimate contention. They made the playoffs, whatever, and then it was over for him. Like, you can't because I do think Burrow is certainly one of the five most talented quarterbacks in the league. And to me, he's one of the scarier

quarterbacks in the league. You can't go through the guy's what is, half the guy's prime and not playing a playoff game. It's unacceptable. Like, that has to fall in the head coach. It would be a very interesting season for Joe Burrow. Yeah. It's some interesting press conferences.

Yeah, maybe Joe Burroughs should be on the Bud List. Wow. Is he? Is he? Maybe a late change. Coming up the most motivational segment in all the sports of the Bud List. And a nice letter. Welcome aboard Via Rail.

Please sit and enjoy. Please sit and stretch. Steep. Flip. Or that. And enjoy. Via Rail, love the way. Live from New York, the show that's out on chat, cheap.

You're Claude guy now? Nah, not in a Claude. I actually... What? I was using chat GPT. You use it all the time. Well, I use it to... You know what it's good at?

Travel planning. No, that... That's the whole point of life, man. Where you have a... Exploring. No, I need to find a hotel from in between point A and point B. I'm going to drop my kids off. You in chat, GPT, bro?

No, bruise not into chat. A little bit. A little bit. Not... Not a track. That need to be. Second hour. first things first. It's our last show before we go on vacation. Where am I going to be? I don't know.

Wherever the robots sing. I hope they shouldn't do to a haunted hotel. That would be great. Up for some adventure? Who's next on the top 100? Or who should be at least? I thought it revealed in batches. Dusty ripped us on the meeting. I thought his tone was wild. He crushed us. Yeah, he was bad. I felt bad. Meanwhile, I hurt my feelings. Meanwhile, a fresh edition of, hey, what's going on? Not a fresh edition. The world premiere. World premiere edition of, hey.

The pilot episode, as some would say. Well, that's good because then it has. It can get canceled. No, pilots get canceled all the time. Can't cancel a pilot. No, it gets things. It doesn't get picked up. It doesn't get picked up.

But right now, of course, time of the most motivational segment in all at sports. Also time where we read viewer mail. Oftentimes I'm going straight to the post office, talking to the postmaster general. Not today. I looked on the old internet and found a real comment, bro, that I think would warm your heart. Real.

They're all real, bro. Believe it or not, I talked to Ramsey, and this gentleman is making his second appearance on the Budlist. Really? Yeah. That makes it seem like we don't have a lot of comments. Right, we get a ton of comments. Or just, he's got hits. Okay.

Buff librarian. Do you remember the Buff Library? I do, of course. The Buff Librarian? I don't. Yeah, he works in libraries. He works out. Yeah, that's a cool name.

Here was this quote, bro. You're inspiring people. I'm putting you, reading this now on the bud list. Whatever you're setting out to achieve, go get it done. I believe in you. I had 300 thumbs ups. Well, you know, the internet could be a nasty place. Not everyone liked it.

The first comment, I don't like this. They love it. You love it. The but list really out here inspiring, the audience as well. If I may say also, that is the exact mentality and personality I want my librarian to have.

Buff or not. That is that, whatever you're trying to do today, I believe in you. Go do it. Let me help you with this card catalog. Spotted at the gym. You ever go to the gym?

Maybe he's both. It's buff. He made a side job. I don't know how much librarian pays. Maybe he's a big of a librarian. You've been at the gym bench pressing and somebody just random person comes up and spots you. You like that?

No, not right. No, I think that's a foul. You can ask someone. Yeah, but you don't want somebody just rolling up. No, you can't, you can't do the roll up on somebody. Have I ever? What if, what happened to you a few months ago at the gym when the bar gets you in your, that happened to you?

No, of course. Was I supposed to talk about it? No, that hasn't happened to me just over the little. You had a lot of heat up there. No. You had a lot of weight. I would always ask someone, safety first. But I don't need that.

Fine. Maybe I don't push myself. All right, time for the butthless. All right, here we go. Justin Herbert at number three. Justin. Bruce guy. Well, everybody loves you.

Everybody loves Justin. All right? That's really what is happening. The players, players put out their little top 100. of Raymond. Yeah, but they put out their little player rankings, and they're going to name you a top 10 quarterback. Obviously.

Right? Jeremy Fowler talked to coaches and executives, talent evaluators around the league. They had you as a top seven quarterback, seventh best to be exact. Last year, Nick, he even got a lone MVP vote despite a mediocre season statistic. Not like showing up on someone's ballot. He got a first place vote. All right. There's only 50 of them.

He got one of them. And this is all despite you, the fact that you have been an abysmal playoff quarterback. I mean, there's, I'm not going to sugarcoat it. It's been rough, all right? You're 0 and 3 in the postseason. Not all your fault, but two touchdowns, four interceptions, 64 passer rate. But still, people love you.

And I got to admit, as these two can attest, I'm in that group. Yeah. I like you a lot. And I am expecting magic, magic this season. All right, Mike, maybe I'm a, maybe I think too highly of Mike McDaniel. I don't know. But I'm expecting him to work magic with you, Justin. But here's the thing.

If it doesn't, if you don't return to deform, you showed your first three years in the league. Because Nick, you know, first three years in the league, Justin Herbert was fantastic. It's already been in the playoffs, yeah. Second, last three years, these last past three years, you have not been there. You've been okay.

But, and then you've been terrible in the postseason. So I'm expecting the pressure is on. This is why you're on the bud list because I'm expecting you have a great year and you better have a great year. Justin Herbert, I believe in you. All this Mike McDaniel believe, is a not so subtle Tua this.

I totally agree. Tua had a great year. But that's the point. You think Mike McDaniel is a miracle worker based on the fact that you're like, look at what Tua did with him. I mean, they score 70. Yeah, yeah. 70. All right, anyway, Aaron Donald number two.

Wow. It's tough. And I hope this isn't taken the wrong way. It's tough when you retire prematurely. Interesting. And Aaron Donald retire at just 30. years old, had only played 10 seasons.

So he had, you know, it's possible the body just needed a rest, but he probably could have kept playing. And so now he's got this tough decision to make. He still was a first team all pro when he retired. He's highlights her in a shake. Yeah.

Yeah. And so now he's got this tough decision to make because he did walk away early and he still obviously has that football bug, that itch that wants to be scratched. And so it's a tough decision because

Aaron, I imagine you want to come back playing at a certain level. Like Nick's talking about these highlights. That's what you want to do. Look, if you're not first team all pro caliber, nobody's going to, you know, say anything about that. That's not really expected.

But you definitely want to be starting caliber. Oh, yeah. You want to be still very good and disrupting. on that front line. So I like the way you're approaching this. You guys know he's been at, he's at their facility,

he's got pads on. He's going, I'm out, I didn't hear that. Yeah. He's got pads on? He's at the facility. He's been in pads and going through drills, not with players like hitting,

but he's going through conditioning. He's going through other types of drills with the pads on to see where he's at. At some point, that becomes a, of salary cap of circumvention. He's not on the roster. You're only allowed 90 guys.

Maybe there is his own pads. I don't know, but he just show up. Shefter, the report, he's in, he goes there. He's in his pads and he's just going through the workouts to see where he's at and how he feels, which I like. I think that's the right approach. This is fascinating. I didn't know he had pads on.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Shepter reported it, like I said. Anyway, here's my two cents, Aaron. if you do come back I look I don't know how y'all feel about this come back for training camp come back for the whole season

I'm not into the half season quarter season showing up in December let me play three regular season games and then the playoffs I it's not technically I guess cheat I just don't like it it feels like cheating to me

Like if a guy can, if you're legitimately hurt, that's one thing. But if you sit out most of the season and then come back at a certain point, play a few games, and now you're in the press. So, if you want to see a guy perform, you want to see the full season. I just think, what I just, I'm asking to clarify. I'm asking to clarify. That's a different segment. Go ahead, bro. So, Aaron, I believe in you.

And whatever you do, I'll support. But I think you should come back for the whole season. if indeed you are coming back. At number one, speaking of comebacks, returns. LeBron James. All right, LeBron, you have a tough decision to make as well. No pun intended.

No pun intended. Now, LeBron, you have obviously had a spectacular career, but you know what else, Nick, and I know you agree with this. LeBron has, you have managed your career. It's been spot. practice. I know he's polarizing and people, some people don't like him and all that. But he really has just managed his career. It's been pretty much pristine. People can not like him if they want. But I'm just saying you've got every place you've gone, you've delivered a championship for

every franchise you'll play for. Obviously you have a lot of individual records. You set up some of your childhood high school friends from Akron to be their business moguls themselves now, some of them. You've set all that up, you start a school, you're a family man, your family's doing well. Obviously, your son's in the NBA. No scandals, any of that. So you want this last chapter to match your career and be fitting for your career. And so it's a tough decision to make. You want your swan song to be up to par.

So I say a few things keep in mind. Obviously, your family is going to be a bad. big part of this decision. And here's the question, winning a title or having fun? And I don't mean that in a flippant way, but having a really last year, two, three, whatever it is, enjoying them. Because the thing is, even when, even despite your incredibly long career, when you retire LeBron, I think, I mean, you might challenge this, but you'll still be a young man.

I mean, you will stay at 45, you still will be young. So you do want to get every last ounce out of this career in these last couple of years or year, whatever it is going to be. And so I think you just have to do I really want to just try to win this championship or do I want to just be in a situation where I can just enjoy my last hurrah? And so that's what you got to think of. My suggestion is that you go back. And my desire, my hope is that you go back to our home area. That's right. But wherever you go, I'll support you.

I believe in your LeBron. It's going to work. The batteries are in. Time now for- I don't know why the button doesn't like it. Media Ombudsman. Thank you, KW. I've had some pretty impactful and positive sports media ombudsman

over the course of the World Cup. Yeah. This one not so positive, but hopefully impactful. And it might ruffle some feathers. Oh, my. The NBA media needs to turn up the heat a bit on Adam Silver. Ooh. Adam Silver started his tenure.

and his original not only claim to fame, but moment that still stands out is months after he took over, you had an awful scandal involving Donald Sterling. And Adam Silver, despite the fact that he's a lawyer, took quick, decisive action and was almost universally applauded for it. And it said, lawsuits be damned.

This guy's got to get out of the league. And I'll take the bullets if I need to. And he really set, I think, the tenor for his commissionership. I fear because while I don't know Adam, I know enough people that do know Adam, and he's universally held in high regard, universally respected, that he has lost that path a tiny bit in two separate things, but both of which, in a weird way, he could have learned from his own lessons from Sterling. The first one is, who's Kauai play for?

Is he suspended? Is his contract valid? Can the Raptors actually field a team this year? Where's Brandon Ingram supposed to live? Does Grady Dick need a work visa or not? We don't know any of these things because we are waiting on Wachtel and whomever that law firm is to come with their reading. And then there's going to be another reading of that.

And then there's going to be an appeal. Then it's going to go to an arbitrator when Listen, I've read the relevant portion to the collective bargaining agreement. You have pretty wide-ranging powers to be like, you know what? More probable than not this happened. Here's my ruling on it. I understand not wanting to be rash. I understand not wanting to be flippant about it.

But this has gone on too long. And at some point, it's up to Adam Silver to put an end to it. He has the authority to do it. So that's the decisive action. The other thing that seems to be happening is we might have let a fox into the henhouse when it comes to the 30 owners in Tom Dundon in Portland. Now, early on, the story was, the guy seems cheap. There's nicer ways to save the guy seems cheap.

Don't want to pay for late checkout for the assistant coaches, doesn't want to travel to G-leaguers, whatever it is. Some people make the argument, you can make the argument, ah, corporate bloat, you know, he's cutting down. But then you hear more stories. It's like, well, they won a championship his way in Carolina. Yeah. And then of the 55 spots on the Stanley Cup, he put him and his family and his kids on eight of them.

That wasn't great. Then you all of a sudden here, Astory Brew wanted us to do a emergency episode of. Wow. It's overruled. Hires a new head coach, non-guaranteed contract. Well, that's not a great precedent. Yesterday, what might be the most popular league pass broadcast crew, Kevin Colabro and crew, They're gone.

If, you know, Calabro said, and I, I don't want to miss quote, but I think he said it was essentially, I'll paraphrase, an insulting offer to bring him back. Okay, so the guy's not spending a bunch of money. He bought the team, so be it, I guess he can decide everyone wants to spend the money. But now, are we holding Portland hostage? Are we going to maybe move a team? Not because, like Oklahoma City, I didn't like when they moved the Sonics,

but at least it was businessmen from Oklahoma City. bought the team to move the team there to their hometown. I didn't like it, but we kind of knew what was happening when it was happening. This guy's from Dallas. It's not moving team to Dallas. He doesn't have, there's not a specific place he wants to move team. People's not having a moving team to my hometown, Kansas City. In theory, I'd like that, but actually, it's not fair to Portland.

It's just a negotiating ploy to try to get the city of Portland to pay for the stadium. I don't like that one bit. Pacific Northwest already doesn't have a team. and Seattle lost a team, you lose that team. To which I say, man, oh man, it is ultimately on the,

a lot of people, more than one person wanted to buy the Blazers or more than one bid. At the moment, it would appear one of the bigger, if not the biggest misstep of Adamson Silver's tenure is letting this guy own a team.

And I don't know how much he can put his finger on the scale but he needs to put his finger on the scale to make sure the Portland Trailblazers stay in Portland. It's the only pro sports team in that city. It is like it is a diehard fan base. They've won a championship. They have a real

history. And so I just, I think everybody likes Adam Silver. And because of that, I think he is getting a touch too much of a free pass on what have been. I think the two biggest potential demarits on his resume are happening right now in front of us.

No, I do know, Adam. He is a nice guy, and you're right. I think that's why he's getting a little pass. He's had to follow who I think is the best, been the best commissioner in the three major sports in America, David Stern. But I agree with you, Nick. He's got to get these two situations underhand.

And Portland, you cannot, I mean, that's terrible. Because that is darn near a flagship franchise. It's the closest thing to be in that without being it. But they did when they did. the championship back in 77 with Bill Walton, and they have always been well run in a mostly a good franchise and good team.

So even to threaten those people with that, and look, they're still trying to get a team back to Seattle. They know, even though Oklahoma City's been great as an NBA city, they understand how losing Seattle was a big loss. Can't say it lost the Kings six months

after I was born. You lose a team, you might never get it back. Yeah, yeah. Like the, it's tough. You'd hate to see Portland be without a team. So I agree he's got to get this underw. I'm putting John Harbaugh on the bud list. He had not an introductory press conference, but in the opening day of training camp,

he talked to the assembled team. Got everybody fired up. Take a listen. Standing up here in front of New York Giants. The New York Giants. It's a New York Giants sitting in this room. The New York. Giants. Wow. It's an honor. We've been working heavily. We've been working early and we're

getting ready for today. Today. Sitting in this chair and this seat. Getting to work. Getting started. Our beginning. Some cushions. Arm rests. Rest your arm. We're not resting in the building. That head rest. It wasn't training it. It was the off-season program part of the documentary that the Giants are putting together. The Giants put that out? The Giants put that out. That's a bad job.

So you didn't like that? I did not like it. You love it? No, I didn't love it either. That being said, there's a long history of first forays into the social media world with coaches, not going well. Oh. Here's a blast from the past. Nick Siriani.

The first part of being smart is knowing what to do. We're going to know, we're going to have systems in place that are easier to learn. The parody is so tight in the NFL. You have one player that's just as good as this player and one coach is going to call a good play and this coach is going to call a good play. So what gives there? Fundamentals. Hey, turns out horrible press conference. won a bunch of games, won a Super Bowl.

9-8, 14-3. It was a horrible press conference. You actually might have been nice in those clips. Dusty edited it. He came into my shared office. He was like, I don't want to make. I'm like, no, dust. It's a positive Siri.

He's like, dude, do you want to put the paper rock scissors thing in there? I said, no. I was hoping. No, it was the introduction. And, of course, more recently, Liam Cohen, take a listen. Jacksonville, the community. Duval. Bad press conference, great season.

Six and points, ninth and big plays, a red zone touchdown. Defense was great too. They went 13 and 4. So John Harbar, a horrible social media clip there. Didn't get anyone fired up, but maybe it has no...

We know he's a good coach. Let me say something about this. He's a great coach that was recently fired by your favorite team. Yeah. But maybe we're in for a surprise. At first, see, when I first saw that clip, I felt as you did. And I think as Nick did, like, what? But the more I thought about it, I said, you know what he's doing?

He is, because he keeps saying New York Giants, the New York Giants, the New York. He is getting those, but most of those players. In fact, I'd say all of those players, none of them were playing on the Giants or maybe even in the league, the last time the Giants were like a good team, a significant team. And so it's possible they think they just play for this terrible franchise. The problem is. He is letting them know you are the Giants. Yeah, that didn't matter.

We are a legitimate football franchise. We have one chance. We stop the Patriots from having an 18 and 0 season. That's what he's saying. That was good, bro. But that's not. Yeah. That's what he's trying to say.

That's not what happened. And the other problem is the Siriani and the Cohen thing were at press conferences where it's going out live to the world. If you screw up, there's no there's no taking it back. The Giants chose to release that. I'm not saying their social media director is a Joe Shane laurelist, but I'd check the emails. Oh, coming up next, the debut. This is grapick. What's going on?

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Here's the debut of a segment that defies expectations. You know, we come across some stories obviously positive. We've come across some other stories, obviously negative. We come across a lot of stories. that we can't quite define. And for those stories, they fall into a new segment called, Hey, what's going on? First story, Vikings starting camp with two QB-1s,

which means, bro, I don't want QB1. Rappaport saying he expects the battle between Kyler and JJ to go right up to the start of the season? Huh? QB battle right up to the start of the season? Hey! What's going on? What's going on?

So I empathize with Kevin O'Connell on this because I think this is actually ultimately bad for the Vikings. Because I think Kevin O'Connell wants, I don't know if I have the right tone here. I'm just trying to get through it. You know what? We're all stakeholders in the segment. It seems like you're a little down.

I'm not a down. I'm not down. Well, this is bad. I mean, it's just good quarterbacks. big deal, dude. Kevin O'Connell is a complicated system. Kevin O'Connell also is of the belief that the quarterback figures out

his system and gets something paved with him. They have very high ceiling, at least in the regular season. He obviously thinks Kyler is the best option because Kyler almost assured Lee is the best option, even if you're low on Kyler like me. So getting Kyler all the first team reps is objectively what's best

for the Vikings. But Jay-J. McCarthy was the 10th overall pick and has 10 career starts. And if you don't give him any first team reps, you are flatly saying that was a wasted disaster of a pick. So you have to, in theory, that's what's going on? Yes, I think he knows Kyler is the, I think he knows Kyler's the starter, and this is something of a charade that he has to go through, but I think it's actually damaging that they're going through it.

So that's what I think's going on. That's pretty good. Thanks. That's pretty good. That's interesting. Look, they haven't done a ton yet. They had the, you know, minicams and stuff. Yeah.

But it would seem to say to me, Kyler hasn't looked as good or maybe picked up that offense as quickly as they expected. Because it seemed like when they signed Kyler, it was like he's going to be the starter. I mean, they didn't announce that, but you know what I mean? That was the general team.

It's clearly the intention, yes. Yeah. And so, again, it seems to say he hasn't impressed him as much as they expected. And so I, look, Ian was just saying he expected. is to go on for the entire training camp. I think if one of the guys emerges, if Kyler's way just playing lights out and better than JJ,

I think he will be the guy. Or what would be best for them, I think you agree with this, would be if JJ played light. Now, that might be a huge if. But if he played lights out, took the job, that would be what would be best for them going forward.

But look, I expect Kyler to win the job. I think if they're both close, Nick, then you have to start Kyler because if he doesn't play well you can go to JJ if you start JJ and he doesn't play well and you go to Kyler

that essentially means JJ's done there if not I'm probably not in the whole league but he'd be done there so I think that's what's going with the Browns last year and I think the Steelers when it was Russ and Justin Fields the coaching staff tried to keep everything

close to the vest and like oh we're not naming quarterback And then the reporters were like, well, this guy's getting all the QB1 snaps, and then the other guy comes to us. And then they would ask about it, like, we haven't made a decision. And then the next day, it would be the same scenario. Do you think we're actually just going to get reporting? Like, oh, no, Kyler's got all the first teams. He comes out on the field first, and then Jay-J-J-G-I think they're going to alternate days.

Then that doesn't work. And I think they are doing it in the, this is the old sunk-cost fallacy thing I talk about all. I think they're doing it in service of we don't want to fully admit the McCarthy-Porty, pick is bad, which if if Kyler had, you remember, remember they? I understand, but if Kai, but I got to think Kevin O'Connell had a okay, you're not going to draft a quarterback 10

overall that you're, you know what I mean? Offensive guru coach isn't okay with. And they let Darnell go. Yes, so I think they have a lot of organizational equity in J.J. McCarthy, but they're hedging their bet, but they're not going to give Kyler the best possible chance to succeed

because I think he needs all the reps. And that's what's going on. Tyreek Hill released episode three of his comeback documentary. It's on YouTube. It's called The Cheetah Runs Again. That's pretty good jumping out of the pool like that. Now, Tyreek, it's reported, and this made headlines. He said he doesn't have power in his leg.

And at the same time, he said the timeline is looking real good. Kevin Potra of NFL Thatcom writing, whether or not the 32-year-old plays in 2026 remains to be seen. but it appears he's pushing for a comeback. Tyreek's comeback. It says no power, but he does look good. And he says the timeline's looking real good. Brew, hey, what's going on? I think Tyreek running, what, a 4-1?

Is that what he ran? No, no, no. 4-2? 4-2. I think his definition of power in his leg is different from ours. I agree with that. He's running a 4-6 now, right now. He'll get below that, I'm sure.

But look, it might not be, he is an older receiver by receiver standards. It probably is best for him, and he may not see it this way. But if he sat out this season, just rehab, worked out, got himself in the best possible shape and that leg in the best shape, then I really do think he could come back next season and be a very productive. But I don't think coming back and not be in. 100% is going to help him, you know, extend his career.

Don't you think a team would give him a shot if he sat out a year? Yeah, I think. Yes, but I just think the timeline of that, like if he ever wants, even on a one-year deal, to make, you know, more than a few million dollars, he would have to show he can play

at some point this year, and then next year, you know, sign one year, 10 million bucks or something. If he waits this year, The next year he's on a minimum. Now we're talking about a really old player. I said three years ago on this show that I'm excited to see Tyree Kill as a member of the Kansas Chiefs in 2026. I am a little less excited now for on and off field reasons. However, I feel like we are right apace for that.

I think a late season edition of Tyree Kill as a, you know, DeAndre Hopkins that you did it with, right? Yeah, DeAndre was at least in the league. You know, they traded something. They trade DeAndre? Do you get cut? I don't remember. But yes.

I think they traded late round pick for DeAndre. But a late season edition where he obviously knows Bienaimi, knows Patrick. Like there would be, especially because Biennemi's back, there would be no missing a beat there. I just, I don't know how good a average athletic. Tyree Kill is. You're saying, like the, there are plenty of receivers that can run a four, six, and be awesome. I just don't know that he's one of them. I'm not saying he's not, but I don't think he is.

I think it would be surprising to me that if Tyree Kill, if you remove what made him so special, if it's like, well, yeah, but watch my technique. I mean, Greg could tell me if I'm different and wrong about that. No, he did. And so it was all about his acceleration and just he was, there was a point in time where he was, in my opinion, the single best athlete in the NFL. And that's, I mean, that injury was not a typical knee injury. It was as catastrophic as it gets.

That's going on. Let's check in on the Super Bowl silver medalist, Christian Gonzalez. Had a great Super Bowl, but still no deal because Super Bowl gold medalist, Devin Witherspoon. Both are repped by the same agency, and the Patriots might have to wait on the Seahawks to sign Witherspoon before they make a deal. And Witherspoon might get $32 million a year. That's what's going on.

Are you going to ask me? What do you think is going on? People change in the channel. Seeing what else is on. What? Hey, what's on? Let's see. Because the first things first, my otherwise finger on the pulse topical show

is talking about roughly the two great defensive players in one story. The 49th best player in the league. Okay, I'll tell you what. I'll tell you what. Buddy. I'll make a deal with you. I mean, we look at NFL top 100.

Listen, where he comes in. I mean, well, I mean, if he has, I think they released 49 today. So if he's not on it yet, that's fine. I can't believe you forced this end of the show. It's hey, what's going on? I said we've got to break a few eggs. What's going on is nothing. It's a good but not franchise changing player who is on the same timeline as most first round picks that are good,

but not franchise-changing players. That's what's going on. Do you want to say? Brew doesn't have anything on this, I guarantee it. Well, that's the premier episode of, hey, what's going on? Worked a little bit. It's a pilot episode.

Did you have anything on Christian Gonzalez? Yeah, we should sign them $32 million deal four years. Sign in to our social media, talk to Miles directly, or Gianna and see if you want to, what do you say on radio? Keep it or something? scrap it. You know what I'm saying? Pump it or bump it. Yeah, that's what it is. Pump it or bump it? What do they call it? They do it on Hot 97.

Crash it, or? This episode is brought to you by Accenture. When your advertising operations fall out of sync, everything else follows. Spotify and Accenture are working together to reinvent the rhythm of ad sales, using automation, analytics, and smarter workflows to simplify campaign delivery and access better data across the business. The result? Less time spent on operations, more time connecting brands with the moments and fandoms that matter most.

Learn more at Accenture.com slash Spotify. Saturday night is baseball night on Fox. Otani. What did you see this highlight from Otani? And one taking on Juan Soto in the mess. It's an odd play. Nick was mocking Otani. I was not.

I just. He's the boat. He's never one of Sy Young and he's only even. the best hit him for baseball three of his eight years and he's the best player of all time. You got four MVP in seven years. NFL 100. They spoke in baseball.

It's a little weird. They give two a year. That's true. I'm just saying it's half an MVP. We're focusing on the QBs. We started with Bryce Young at 98 and we counted down. Purdy, Baker, Jordan Love, Lamar came in at a controversial 69. Trevor, Bo, Nicks, Jalen Hertz.

Now Nick assumes that we have these 10 guys still to come. And you guys agree with me. I think we could have a watch. Wild card in there and Aaron Rogers legend to pick. No, no. I never know. Rogers, Jayden, and Stroud would be the ones who, but there's no chance those guys.

Mack Jones if we're just doing eight games. Go ahead. Who's next? Who should be next? Who could be next? Okay. It obviously isn't Mahomes, Allen, Stafford, Burrow. Time.

Or I would say may. I'm not obvious. There's one obvious. Those guys, it's not, okay? Then I don't, well, I'm just going to give my answer right now. Caleb. I don't see how you can put, obviously, the guys I mentioned, Drake made was second MVP last year.

Based on last year, they tell us, right? I don't know how you put him ahead of golf. Dak, when Dak's healthy, he lights it up every year. Darnold won the Super Bowl It's a voting quirk, but Right, okay, so maybe it could I guess, I guess it should be or you think it will be. I think it will and it is should to me.

So to me it would come down between Caleb and Herbert. And I think it's possible I'm wrong, but I think they'll go Caleb next. And you're right, you are absolutely right. They don't know Darnold won the Super Bowl if they voted in December. So maybe it's darn it.

But I think it should be Caleb. All right. So I think it, my should is someone I think it has no chance of being. I think it should be Herbert. I would have. If there's any chance at this Herbert? No.

People love Herbert. I think Herbert deserves to be behind Hertz, Trevor, and Lamar. Yeah. For me. So I, like, I would have, I would have Herbert, you know, around 12, 13.

The lowest he can be is 10. I don't think he's going to be. I think the next one is going to be either Darnold or Dack. And Dack, because of being banged up last year, I think hurts him. But Darnold doesn't get the Super Bowl bump. And so my guess is the next quarterback will be Darnold. I think that it is, I'll go a step further. I think it is going to go Darnold, then Caleb, then Dack, then Gough.

And then it gets interesting. So you got hurt. You think Herbert is going to be what? Six. Yeah, I mean, yes, I do. He was seven. Lamar is so low, it almost feels like an error. But it could, I mean, again, if you just say, if, I mean, giving them the benefit of the doubt, if it was, hey, he was injured or hurt.

But Burrow was also, I mean, I don't know what argument. you're making that Borough on this for this lists parameters. What's the argument? Lamar missed the playoffs. Joe Burrow missed the playoffs. Lamar was banged up. Joe Burrow was banged up. But their regular, you know,

Joe Burrow went to a Super Bowl. Lamar's got to. So I don't know why Lamar was penalized so heavily for having a down year and missing games. And Burrow wasn't that we're going to still have Burrow's top five. The Lamar thing almost feels like, I don't know. I would...

Who do you think's going to be next? Or should be or will be? Do you... If I use Lamar as the benchmark, it should be Borough. We're penalizing guys who didn't play the full year. Dak played the full year. Golf played, you know, everyone else had an NBA. Trevor's way too low as well.

Trevor was in the MVP race. Trevor won a bunch of games. Trevor's like raw numbers are fantastic. That they're not up with... I don't... It's a very strange list. It's not a good list. I mean, I'm just keeping it.

You got Lamar Jackson that low on quarterbacks. And it's not the only one, but I'm just saying that's, it's not a great list. It's like Mahomes is still on because he has the legacy. Well, we'll see how far Mahomes drops. That's the thing is. Like, I mean, nobody even, Mahomes could have gone three and 14 healthy last year. Nobody would think he shouldn't be in the top 18 quarterback with his resume. Like, so I think there's a limit to how far you can drop.

If you can drop off entirely. 11, 12, 13. So I guess my question boils down to this. I'm shocked that Lamar's resume didn't lock him into top 10. Because Mahomes's resume as it shows, locks him into a top 10 court. It's silly. I think it's some of the voters feel,

some of these players feel the way some of, as frustrating as it can be for you, the media and some coaches and scouts or whatever, which is when they are asked who the best quarterbacks are, what they are actually answering is who the best passers are. And I know Lamarer's great passing numbers, but I'm saying he gets dinged for that in a way, like Justin Herbert gets bonus points on that,

and Lamar, even if it's erroneous in people's eyes, gets dinged the way Hertz gets dinged. And I'm just telling you, that's the only reading of it. That's the only, it's. Like Caleb's like, Well, we'll see where they fall. But people don't doubt Caleb as a passer. How can you not?

I'm just telling you, again, you can, it is, you're trying to make me make a logical argument or something I'm not even agreeing with. What I'm saying is people don't say, ah, how does Caleb Williams throw the football? They don't say that about him. Maybe you're saying, maybe they should, but they, that's never been the knock on him. There's a knock on Jalen. At one point was a knock on Lamar. It's hard to shake. You know what I thought was when I saw it.

this list? A great group. Hey, what's going on? Nick got it. I put it on a platter for you. He got it. Sorry, investing, trading, that isn't a personality.

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