First Things First - LeBron to Heat rumors, Patriots & Bills’ future, Nick’s Tiers, Can the Chiefs win Super Bowl LXI?

Episode Date: July 22, 2026

(0:00) Leaked LeBron to Heat stream announcement, Can the Chiefs win the Super Bowl? (28:52) Patriots or Bills have a brighter future?  (38:12) Will Wemby sweep the awards next season?  (45:53) Nick’s Tiers (01:06:33) Jalen Hurts over or underrated? (01:17:12) Could LeBron James be a good fit with the Warriors? 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, it's a show that's trying to get Brue to frame some of his old New York Times articles. The Grey Lady. Yeah. For a keepsake.

Because the New York Times doesn't often, and maybe never now, since doesn't have a sports section anymore, have sports on the front page of the main paper. I'll do it the other day, World Cup. I said doesn't often. I didn't say it doesn't often. And so Brew has some front page. The next one.

The Patrick Ewing. This is what I'm talking about. Just saying the World Cup and the next two times. He can't let that, if that side of the table is going to be in the spot. This was the first time in 53 years they won. Yeah. U.S. Open? I might have.

At the last front page, Nick story, maybe. I'm just saying you had an amazing career. Thank you. Or having an amazing career, but an amazing career in print journalism. You should have it printed. You hear that slip up? I'm a hazeman. No, that's not what I'm a has been.

You're a has been of print journalism. You're now rolling it on stretchers. First hour. You're singing on television. Today, Jalen Hertz revealed on the NFL Top 100. Should he be happy with his spot? Also, we're having quarterback creep on this list. I put pen to paper.

Too many quarterbacks are going to end up on this list. Well, when Bryce premiered at 97. And also, you're going to be stunned. There's three quarterbacks who haven't been listed, who we now know won't be. It's going to be 18 quarterbacks on this list. Rogers? Rogers, Stroud, and Jaden. Not going to make it.

Well, Jaden didn't play enough. That's fine. But we'll discuss in a second. This is just the T's. This is just the A1. They're going to be 18. No, yeah. There's going to be 18.

One NBA Hall of Famer says Wemby is winning every award next year. Does Brew agree? And the latest accolade for Wemby? He got an accolade? He got another accolade yesterday. He did actually today? I saw him at the World Cup. They showed him at the World Cup.

Did you see him? Yeah, he said he was rooting against both teams. What? Yeah, because he's French. He had a jersey on. He was like, he was like, I hate both of these things. He thought France was going to be in that game. And finally.

He might not have taken that day. discount before if he had known to you're going to buy a sweep of the World Cup. 49 days until NFL kick off a special edition of NFL tiers. Yes. A lot of rumors going around. You're going to be too tired to do this one too since we need to do Moehmus Mountain yesterday. Wasn't because I was tired? You thought you say you were exhausted?

No, that is not at all why I said I wasn't doing it. I didn't think it was topical or in the zeitgeist. I like to be ahead of the story, not behind the story. Everyone is doing quarterback lists right now. That's right. And so I didn't want all of a sudden. to Mahomes Mountain like we're trying to ride their way. That's exactly right.

So it wasn't about tiredness. There's a lot of things you can throw my way. Dusty's saying tired. Dusty's incorrect. Fatigue would that make you do? That sounds better. But none of it's accurate. I am into fatigable.

That's what they always say about it. In Kansas City, Sports Illustrated's Connor or listed 14 teams that can win the Super Bowl. They can. 14. Just can. Just can. Not on the list.

Have a shot. The Arizona Cardinals and the Kansas City Chiefs amongst others. Almost everyone else on it. We'll focus on the Chiefs. Or explain that he was, this was not a troll take. Sure. He really believes it. And acknowledged Mahomes was excellent.

Yeah, great. First or second best QB in the whole league. But here's his quote, I don't see how they, the Chiefs, can simply replace the losses of Jalen Watson and Trent McDuffie while also running back essentially the same version of the offensive line for another year, especially if the team's most significant offensive upgrade was at the running back position. I thought that was a good point. Yeah.

A little shot. I mean, I think it's, I think it's risen in the last few. I agree, bro. There's no offensive line moves. No, but that, so let's start there at the most boring part, then we'll get to the actual news of it. it is stunning to me how many people in the national media from going into the draft to right now

still have no clue what the chief's offensive line is. You had, I think, the majority of supposed experts saying the chiefs might have to take a lineman at number nine. They didn't take a lineman in the entire draft. And Connor is flatly... I mean, I don't want to say he's wrong, but he's wrong. wrong. The Chief's offensive line is

new from last year because three-fifths of it was out last year due to injury. They have a first-round picket left tackle who missed more than half the year. They have a second round picket left guard. They have the best center in football in Creed Humphrey. They have one of the highest paid guards

in Trey Smith who missed 40% of the year. And Jalen Moore is a journeyman tackle who, by the way, also missed a lot of last year. They were on their fourth string right tackle by the end of the year. So the upgraded offensive line is guys coming back, getting healthy. So there's that piece of it. And I like Connor or he gives us a lot of content. And so it hurts me to say this. This is one of the worst lists I've ever seen in major media. And while he can say he is not

leaving the chiefs and the Eagles off, you know, to be trollish or to get attention, you cannot make a 14-team list in a 32-team league that anyone will pay any attention to unless the noteworthiness is who's off it. Because who's on it is the playoff teams from last year plus Detroit, Baltimore, and Dallas with Pittsburgh, Philly, and Carolina out. That's it. It does not take a lot of journalistic courage to be like, hey, here's half the league that can win it. And the only way it's The only way it's relevant is if it's who can't win it. And so here's my biggest gripe with it. I would argue that there was no point in time in NFL history where reasonable people thought a team that might have the best coach and might have the best quarterback can't win the championship.

Now, if that's all they have, you're blind on the rest of it, can a team, not should they be the favorite? Not are they, you know what I mean, a top three pick, a top five pick. But if you go into the season with a guy who, you know, even Brew, who despite the down years and Bruce shows the numbers, says, I still think he's the best quarterback. And certainly a lot of people still think Andy Reid is the best coach. Can that team win the Super Bowl? I actually don't think it's going to be that long of a segment

because I don't think any of us here are going to say Connor's right. Half the league can win the Super Bowl the Chiefs can't. It's impossible. It's ridiculous. Well, with all due respect to Connor, who as you said does a good job,

just a little note for the audience out there. Last year he did a list with the 12 teams that could possibly win the Super Bowl. And he didn't have Seattle or New England on there. Just letting you know. I'm just saying. So take this with a grade of assault, this list. I actually, Nick, you mentioned Philly and obviously the chief.

The New England thing was right. We could not win, though. I mean, that's one you can. Look, I don't think many people thought Seattle would, but could? I get the Patriots, but maybe Seattle. But anyway, I actually, not my pick, but I think Cincinnati could. Like, he left them off too. Cincinnati, Philadelphia, and Kansas City.

Now, Kansas City, I'm with you, Nick, in that just having Patrick Mahomes, he's 30, or soon to be 31 in September, not 41, you know, so he's still in his prime. And he said, Connor, in the article, as long as Buffalo has Josh Allen in his prime, they're a Super Bowl contender. The same is not true for Mahomes? Clearly not. In his defense, we haven't proven nearly with the bill. I mean, so now look, I get why there are a lot of question marks about the Chiefs,

including Mahomes just he's got coming off to ACL. Will he be back right away for game one? How healthy will he be? How well will he play? Travis Kelsey is old. Kenneth Walker to third, I love the addition, but he's not, he's not an elite running. Right. He's a good running back.

He's never rushed for 1100 yards in the season. But he's, he's an upgrade. but he's not like a superstar. And then the receiving court and the defensive backfield. He mentioned they got three out of four starters. There are a lot of question marks. Yeah, a lot of question marks. And look, and you might not like this.

I think, I don't know what I'm going to pick, but I think it's on the board that they could miss the playoffs, the Chiefs. Definitely. On the board. However, the question was, can they win the Super Bowl? and there's no way I can completely write off Mahomes and Andy Reed any year. There are two years from playing in the last

Super Bowl. KW., you can ask you a quick question? Of course. You just said definitely when he said it's on the board, they missed the playoffs. And I don't even turn to argue about that. What's the list of teams that it's not on the board? I mean, that's a great question. Is it every team but Buffalo? Because Allen seems indestructible. The Rams look amazing. They also have question of left tackle. and a 40-year-old quarterback. Like, barring, like, crazy out of the blue injury.

Buffalo. Barring their quarterback getting hurt. Not great, because the injuries are, it's a guarantee, guys, getting hurt across the league. No, that's a good point. That's a very good point. I just think in the NFL, like, it's, there's, I don't know that there's any team that it's on the board that they don't make the way.

Because, I mean, balls board isn't. I mean, going into just like how shocking it would be. The Chiefs, I said it. The Chiefs were. You know, they had made seven straight conference championship games. It was not all on the board. They missed the playoffs. Would you be, how about this?

Would you be shocked? Would I be shocked if the Chiefs missed the playoffs this year? Yes. Do you think it's a fair take for people not to be shocked if they don't make? Sure. Like, I think what the happen to the, so this is my general, and I want you to go. I didn't want to. That's a good conversation.

I think the Chiefs lost a lot of the benefits. the doubt last year. I think the chief certainly lost the aura of invincibility. That's obvious. And I think the, if people want to, even if I disagree with it, start to say, Andy Reid's not the best coach in football. Like, here's who I think is. Patrick Mooms isn't the best quarterback in football. Here's who I think is, as opposed to prior to last year when they were coming off three consecutive Super Bowl appearances, those being unacceptable opinions, those being opinions I disagree with, but you know what I mean? I'll listen to it. I think all of that is fair, but going from moving all the way to that half the league has a better chance of winning

a championship than them is an absurdity. Like it's just like and can I talk about the Kenneth Walker thing for a second? Yeah, because I have something on that too. I think that sounds smarter than it actually is. Like, oh, all they added was Kenneth Walker. I think sometimes in sports, you have a hole that is disproportionately large to the position that it actually is or even the talent of the guy that's filling it in. So I'll mix metaphors a bit. But I don't think Isaiah Stewart is probably one of the 75 best players in the NBA.

But if you were to say, hey, Nick, I mean, I don't want to belabor it. He was so great in high school. I know. But if someone were to be like the spur, would the finals have gone different? Would we have a different champion if Isaiah Stewart were on the spurs? I'd be like, yeah, maybe. Sure. You know, like they had, they were so.

Look at what the role Mitchell Robinson. Right. They were so dead when Wimby went off the court and they needed toughness and all of this. Score. That's, that. Again, mixing metaphors a bit, that's how I look at the Kenneth Walker edition. It is less that he, but it's less that he is a great player. He's a Super Bowl MVP, maybe he will be a great player.

He has not yet had a great career. He had an unbelievable end to his time in Seattle. But I thought the Chiefs were at such a massive deficit at that position, that having them getting an above average running back, which he definitely is, is. such a ad from it being as such a net negative, I think it has a bigger impact than if

the lions who have Jemir Gibbs added Bijon Robinson alongside him. Like, you know what I mean? Like that's, Bejon's better than, you know... And especially with Mahomes coming off the injury. Right. And so that's why I think that way, and I think it's why they prioritize that, and I think it's why

they didn't prioritize the offensive line. I thought the point about the offensive line because we've seen so many teams have a great offensive line, running back goes down. The backup running back comes in. Like, wow, this guy can cook too because a lot of times your production is a byproduct of a strong offensive line. Do we have the chief schedule dust? I didn't ask for it. So if we don't have it, it's okay. Broncos first. So I pulled the run defense ranks last year. And again, that defensive ranks kind of fluctuate year by year.

But the Broncos had the second best run defense. The Colts had the seventh best. Dolphins and the Raiders were not good at all. Then you have a buy. So those were easy. The Chargers had the eighth best run defense. Seattle had the third best run defense and then back to Denver, which had the second best run defense. Maybe it's number one or maybe it gets worse by week eight. So I wonder that in a, in the chunk of your schedule where Mahomes is going to be the most vulnerable, never mind, I even talk about the sack rates of those teams, where Mahomes is the most vulnerable vulnerable. You're also going up against the second best run defense, seventh best, eighth best, and third best and Kent Walker's former team. Yeah, but.

We know what he's going to do. So I wonder if that's going to be as effective out of the gate as you are planning. Listen, I think it'll be effective because it'll help the passing game. And I think Patrick Mahomes in week one is, I think we are going to find out when we go on vacation that Patrick Mahomes enters training camp, full participant 100% full of them. Like the, he, and so I don't, I, even if it's, I think that they hopefully will have a heavier run pass balance in favor of the wrong. early on. I think Patrick is going to be, have no listed limitations going into the season. That's what I think. We'll see. I mean, we'll see, but I, you know, I was the first report to be dancing at Travis Kelsey's wedding.

Time to play a game of something or nothing. The Miami Heat posted a YouTube live stream titled LeBron James introductory press conference. One problem. LeBron James is not on the Miami Heat and there is no introductory press conference yet. Then they took it down. Their explanation was that the social media team was preparing, Drew, for the possibility that James would sign with Miami. Is this

something or absolutely nothing? I bet we could get some great brew newspaper stories right here. About pre-writes. About people that haven't even died yet. Their obituaries and all that are already written. Ready to go. Yeah, I don't think it's anything. Now, I'm not

saying he couldn't go there. He may go there, but I think this, I actually believe the Miami Heat, first of all, their social media doesn't know where LeBron's going. But I believe it was a mistake. They are preparing for in case it happens, as probably are all the other teams where he might go. And I think that's what this is. So I, look, when he went, we have to remember when he went to Miami in the first place, they didn't know for sure until he announced it on the decision.

Well, I think when Liv, I remember being like, oh, oh, live was setting up a party. Well, a lot of people, including myself, were reporting he was going to Miami, but they did not know for a fact until he said it on the decision. Same thing when he went back to Cleveland. Cleveland didn't remember Dan Gilbert almost made a move that would a complicate. Yeah, yeah, exactly. So they didn't know until they saw the article in Sports Illustrated where he announced he was going.

And he did not even have a press conference when he went back to Cleveland or when he went the Lakers, to like an introductory press conference. So I don't, I, and especially the way it worked last time he went to Miami when they had the big party and celebration and didn't win it that year, I would expect that there won't be a ton of pomp in circumstance wherever he goes, particularly if it's Miami. So I just think, I honestly think, Nick, this was an honest mistake. They are preparing for what they're going to do. Maybe it's a young person in social media that hit the wrong button.

Or an older person. Yeah. Right. Maybe more and more likely an older person. You're right. But yeah, I don't think it's anything. There is a zero percent chance with how closely. I believe, and I think you might disagree with me on this,

I believe LeBron and Rich that he has not 100% made up his mind yet. I think he has a significant lien right now, but I do not think he has, that he knows definitively. But let's say I'm wrong. Let's say they actually have decided. I would be utterly and thoroughly gobsmacked if it has leaked to the level of Gianna for the Miami he knows. And yet not a, or Miles, who's in for Gianna this week, and yet not a single person covering the league is able to report it.

Right. That to me is, just because if it gets the, level of that many people know, then it gets out. Like that is, you know, the, I mean, and so, so that is where I'm saying, I think this specific thing is nothing. I also think he's going to end up in Miami. Just my, again, I said it yesterday, I will say it again. They are not talking to anyone that is based on nothing other than my gut feeling and maybe

a little bit of what I am starting to think is his best chance for a fifth ring. Because I don't think he's playing only one year. I do like the idea of the reliability. I know he's been banged up as of late Janus. The upside of

Janus. The stability like Kenny Atkinson versus Eric Spolstra is a big golf. Pat Riley's final act, if you will. Janus is the best player. Janus is the best player of any of the Many of the guys he could play with by far.

And I am talking myself into this top eight. That this team in the Eastern Conference, if we show what the top eight guys of the Miami Heat are, that okay, those first five guys are your starters. Davian Mitchell's your point. Wiggins is your two. Bron, your three, Yon is your three, Yon is your five. Hardaway and Portis off the bench shooting.

Yovic had a brutal year last year, but his name does sound like Niko Yogan. And that plus the little allure of South Beach, you know, for buyout guys or whatever it is, it is interesting to me. And I like the fit more than Cleveland and I like the story more than Philly. And I don't, I just think the Warriors failing to get Anthony Davis made that. I don't want to say it's impossible, but I think it's unlikely. So I think this is nothing, but I also think he might end up picking.

Miami and people are going to say, see? Social media. Giadis knew. Also, he's old and it's warm. And it's great golf. And it's great golf. I know it's like, well, when you look at the advanced analytics of how he would play with Bam,

it's like, and I've been living in California and I do not want to go back to a cold cold. Do you think Miami? It's home. Now I do. Oh, you think this is something then. I think this is something. Look. You think Pat Riley hit that button.

A little false flag. A tiny bit of false. No, I just think it's like, I've been there. It's really nice there. He's done it. It's really warm. It is nice. People who live in L.A. do not like the cold.

You think they don't like the cold? Just chat with someone from L.A. Hey, in December, how is it there? Oh, it's 10. Oh, not me. We came back from the cold. We came from L.A. back to you. You can only get out there.

It is tough. long. I also thought Pat Riley doing that sit down with Levitard wasn't nothing. Pat Riley doing that, sit down with Levitard being a little more open, talking about LeBron. Like, that struck me as, make sure he knows. Yes, that struck me as not nothing. Not everything, but not nothing. World Cup final. Final numbers are in. Spain and Argentina sets a ratings record. 39 million people watch Sean Fox. Peak of almost 52 million. It's a record for a soccer broadcast beating the previous record, which was also set this year, 33 million for USA Belgium. Nick, we'll start with you. What do the record

ratings tell you about the future of soccer in the United States? I think that there is going to be a decent percent of these 39 million people that now work soccer either domestically or internationally into their sports diet. That's what I think. I think that this World Cup was a supercharged, no pun intended, five-week drive to survive what F1 got from Netflix.

It was called Drive to Survive, right? And where, listen, that didn't have 40 million people watching the episodes, but it was on long enough with enough popularity that it clearly, and you can see the data created a new fan base of Formula One in America.

And I think that soccer is going to ride a similar wave. I do not think it is going to, I think it will have a bigger impact on soccer's popularity and viability on shows like this and in sports bars than it's going to on us having the next Levinia Mall. I don't think it's going to have as much of an impact on the U.S. national team winning a World Cup, as much as it is on the next World Cup being super, you know, relevant in the sports, zeitgeist and the major soccer events in the over the next four years leading up to it, having not World Cup level relevance, obviously, but more so to where someone

might be like, oh my God, you see, you know, who won the Champions League, which would be a very niche conversation prior to this in America. Yeah, look, I was not very much in the soccer before this, but really totally enjoyed the World Cup and him still in a little bit of withdrawal. I mean, really, like probably the rest of this week. It'll be nice to be on vacation and get it out of my system. But I loved it and I think a ton of Americans feel the same way and I agree with you, Nick, will begin watching more and more soccer.

I'll say this about the player pool. Because of this jump and a lot of people being like, man, I really like soccer and seeing the athletes and just, you know, all that combined with the decline in young people playing football, tackle football. Now, those people that aren't playing tackle football because, and I know a ton whose parents won't let them or whatever reason, they're playing flag right now.

But I would imagine some of those really great athletes who could play football but aren't playing tackle, instead of playing flag may start playing soccer. And they're in the same seasons. If you're a young kid, you know, soccer and football happened at the same time. So you pretty much have to choose one or the other. So I think that could increase the athletic ability.

You obviously have great athletes playing soccer. But this will add the pool gets wider. And more athletes are available to play it. So I do think it might be a boost in just the number. of young people and even high level athletes playing soccer. That's, I kind of lean, I totally agree with you and I lean towards you, Brew, that the fun part about this is we only need 15 guys. Yeah.

And really 11 starters, right? So can you get, have, were 11 kids affected by this that could get us to the next level? And there's a fun article on the athletic by Paul Tenorio that Landon was 12 and he saw Argentina to play Romania in 1994. So Landon was already on a path to being a great soccer player, but did that give them a little bit of an extra boost? And, you know, was someone in the stadium with you that is the next Landon Don and then our next Christian Polisic?

It's a fun conversation. And I do think our sports appetite, I wrote, I was a little more saccharin than it. You know, when you have one child, you know, you're like, how could I, and then you're going to have another child or multiple kids? You're like, I can't imagine how I'm going to love another child as much as I love my first child. And then you realize your heart gets bigger. That's how I felt about soccer. My sports heart got, looks like I'm watching Bundesliga now.

Just open something. I also have a classic category one that Fox Sports has honored me to where I get to announce it. Wow. Fox Sports PR. They have not yet announced this. we are announcing it here. Wow. The overall markets for the World Cup,

which markets were watching the most soccer? Oh, looky there. Oh, that's nice. As I told you all, congratulations. The number one soccer market in the country, my hometown, Kansas City, Missouri. And that second number is share,

which means when there was a game on, 20% of all TVs that were on in Kansas City were watching the game. That's interesting. I view that as almost a story around, let's call it, like, baby blue. That, like, since Messi was there in Argentina, and maybe it even, like, got more into the Kansas City fabric and the fact that no one wants to watch the Royals.

I think that helped. That's very true. Boston is rolling in the United States. I said going into the tournament, this was going to happen. You got, you made the same bad jokes. It happened. Shout out Kansas City. You know what? Shout out Kansas City.

And thank you to Fox Sports PR for letting us announce that on this show. Cut out Wild Royals, Jack. Do the Patriots have the brightest future in the entire NFL? Are you going to keep using the food fighters? Who knows? I can't get this song out of my mind. First, I couldn't get a start me up out of my mind. Now it would be nice if I do one word.

It's next on FS one of Fox Sports Channel on series six end. There's no shortcut for saving time, but saving money is simple. Just combine your car and home insurance with Bel Air Direct and save. Get a quote at bellair direct.com. Fresh trivia up on our YouTube page. Nick, what was the question that Miles had? MVP Wild Card Super Bowl champions and the MVP of that Super Bowl. Pretty good.

That's a tough. And Parkins forfeited. No, Parkins is in such shame from the, last trivia that he's on a suspension. Oh, tough one. Check out our YouTube and podcast. It's been excellent. Friend of the show, Aaron Schatz, ranked every NFL because I'm friends with him.

Okay. Well, then just a friend of yours. Well, I'm on the show. Friend of the show usually means he's been on the show. I like Aaron. He's friends of the show. Nacho's been here. Aaron Schatz works for ESPN.

Yeah, I know. Invite him on the show, but he's a friend of the show. Okay, fine. Fair enough. A long time ago. Fair enough. That's right. Friend of the show ran shots,

ranked every NFL team based on under 25-year-old talent, especially after I saw this article. Rekindle our relationship. Coming in at number one, the Super Bowl silver medalist, aka the Argentine of American football world, the New England Patriots. Coming at at number 29.

Yikes. The Buffalo Bills. 29's not good. Now, for what it's worth, the Rams were dead last. But they want to be. They trade their first round picks. Oh, yeah.

They don't like it. Or they draft backup quarterback. Yeah, that's right. Which team has a brighter future, the bills are the Patriots? Long term, I think obviously the Patriots, because Drake May is what, 23, 24? 23. 23. Maybe 23.

Soon to be 24, I believe. 23. And Josh Allen is 30. And so long term, I think the Patriots for sure, short term, which, you know, is future, the bill. because Josh Allen's better than Drake May. I'm sorry to say. He's better than Drake, man. He's pretty good.

And I actually think Joe Brady's going to do a good job. I think the offense is going to be even better. I think, and I'm actually now, because my question has been how is that defense without Sean McDermott? I think Jim Leonard, the new D.C. I love him. He's going to do a good job. He's obviously his track record as well.

So I think he's actually going to keep that as an elite level defense and maybe even take them to another. level. So I actually think Buffalo is going to have a really strong season and be good the next several years and maybe at some point. Several years. I mean, Josh is 30. So that's, he's got five years left at least. He's got a great quarterback. You think he's going to start to run less and less. Yeah, but I think he'll still. I mean, he hasn't. I still think you still be great. You're going to be taking hits at 34? Not so he'll run less. So this is, so my question is what is the future? Because if we are, here's my answer, over the next three years, I will take Buffalo.

And from that point forward, I will take New England. I think for, I think, I don't know how much longer Josh is going to play. I assume quite a long time. But I would assume that the next three years he will still be an MVP caliber quarterback. That plus the experience, plus the age of the roster. won't really kill them over the next few years. But it will eventually. Not having a lot of good young players is a death sentence in the NFL.

The Rams don't care about it because they are, you know, their quarterbacks almost. And their quarterback's almost 40. So they're like, you know what, we're going to reset anyway. So we're good with it. And Trent McDuffie who they traded for didn't make this list. He just turned 25. You know what I mean? So they still have, it's not like they have, but they traded away a young superstar

star edge rusher for a 30-year-old super-dooper star edge rusher. So I like the, for a lot, you know, mixed metaphors again. I like the Patriots for the next presidential term. I like the bills for the rest of this one. Can I ask you, can I make an argument for you to like the Patriots right away? Immediately, sure. They won 14 games. Yeah.

Yeah. They split with the bills last year. I expect Drake May to be better this year, even if the record is not better. I do think we're going to see Drake May get smarter and benefit from the experience. And I also get physically bigger if you're watching Drake May's photos online. He looks good. You used to say that about Mac Jones. Yeah.

No, I never said that about Mac Jones. I did never like that. No, I didn't. In fact, I hated it. He's working out in ankle sites. We used to show it all the time. I did not like it. Drake May is just drinking protein shit.

He looks good. I don't know if maybe Josh can get a little wiser, but I don't think Josh Allen has another level to get to you. Oh, I disagree with you. You think Josh Allen can become a better. I think he needs to become. He needs to become smarter. I'm saying you're wise.

Well, that's better. But if his, how much, I think Drake May has this much to grow and Josh is already up here and has this much. So I, again, I'm not trying to be argumentative. I think the part that Josh Allen, it might only. be this much, but it's the most important piece. Also, it might not happen. A hundred percent might not happen. Tom Brady's like, stop doing that.

He's like, okay. What do you know? Just from last year, did the bills actually get better last year? Roster-wise. From last year. Yeah. They added DJ Moore.

We added AJ Brown. We did have, wherever you think about our first round draft pick, whether he's going to be great or not, we do have one. And they didn't. They traded back and sort of stockpiled picks when they lost their draft pick because of D.D. anymore.

And finally, the coaching, the big question of coaching is, do you value real continuity with defense, offense, head coach, or do you value this, like, kind of continuity, half measure, kind of brand new thing that they're doing, where we're going to get rid of the head coach, we're going to elevate the OC. I just don't. It's whether or not Joe Brady's good or not.

Right. You know what I mean? Like, it's an unknown. You guys do have a known question. quantity, but I don't know if you necessarily, when we're talking about down the road, because this question certainly is not just about next year, want to do that they didn't have first round pick because you guys didn't trade back to get out of first round pick. You guys traded away next year's first round pick for an aging player.

That's what you can do when you're the number one team. No, for sure. And so I do not think that I view the Pat's young players quite as highly as Aaron does, except for Drake. It was really a Drake, Christian Gonzalez, with the dash of Healthy Will Campbell. Yeah, but even Aaron in his article talks about another one of their guys,

first round pick Caleb Lomu, who he says, might play left tackle, which I have said repeatedly, and you've yelled at me on and off the air, and I quote, you make the show look dumb when you say things like that. I don't say dumb, I said. I also think, so I think Christian Gonzalez

is another guy that, I think Christian Gonzalez is your Trent McDuffie for me previously. An excellent young first-round pick corner that we both viewed as he might be the best in the league. And I don't think people outside of New England or Kansas City viewed him as quite that. Like I was ready to go to the mattresses that why is Sauce Gardner better than Trent McDuffie? You know what I mean? And I felt very strongly about it. He was first team all pro, all of that.

He got a nice trade return, not with Saul Scott. You know what I mean? The answer was kind of there. So I don't view Christian Gonzalez quite. I don't know. We would have lost the sewer world by 50 if he wasn't out there. He had his best game in the biggest moments, and we still got cooked. But he's going to get a big contract coming up.

So I think, but do you think, do you expect, not hope, expect that Pat's to be better than the bills this year? Yes. So you think you guys aren't going to take a step back? That is a significant one. Because the bills you don't think are going to win nine games. The bills are going to be a playoff team. The bills, look at the bill's schedule is very similar to our schedule last year. Right.

And we were better than the bills. And we, and Drake May in his second year has gone further than Josh Allen ever has. I think that has to be worth something. Now, is it just, was it just random luck that? So, but you think 13 wins for you guys then? I don't know. It's not, it's not predictions week. I don't want to be.

No, but if you, I want to temper expectations. Hold on. Well, that's, then I'm. But you expect them to win the division. Yes, I expect to go back to winning the division. Well, then, yeah, I think that's at least, unless Joe Brady's a disaster. You know what I mean?

Then that should, it should take 12 wins to win a division with Buffalo. I think the bills are pretty more vulnerable than everybody thinks. Wow. I don't know. I haven't looked at their schedule like you did. I thought you were saying the bill's schedule this year is like the bats last year. No, no. I'm saying the bill, when it's like the Patriots had an eating.

schedule last year. Both of them last year. Both of us pretty much had the same schedule. I thought you were saying last year. There's a few different like placement, but like we're both playing largely the same teams. That sound? It means summer's biggest event is here. The fashion is unmatched. The crowd's buzzing. The bets are down. This isn't just a race. It's the Kings Played. Canada's most iconic day of the track. World class racing, live music, gourmet food and pure hard pounding thunder. Saturday, August 15th, Woodbine Racetrack. Tickets start at $35. Don't miss out. Lock yours in today at kingsplate.com. The Kings played. Rule

the day. Must be 18 plus to wager. No one to take the reins. Responsible gambling.org. Friend of the show, Tracy McGrady. He hasn't been on the show, but I'm also friends with him. Like Tracy. He likes. He took his hand in the airport once. That counts.

Has high expectations for Wemby this year, bro. Here he is on the pod with his cousin, Vince Carter. Take a listen. I'm sure he's not happy with the way he played. So that's going to motivate him in the offseason to even kick it up another notch. I'm sure he's going to come back bigger and stronger. I'm sure he's hearing where he needs to operate for him to be most effective for his team. He's going to win defensive player of the year.

He's going to win MVP. He's going to win the in-season tournament MVP. He's going to sweep. Okay. Here's the age at the time of the first top three MVP. finish. Bronn was 21. KD. was 21. Wemby's 22. Final's appearance. Brown was 22. KD. 23.

Wemby 22. Entitled, 27, 28. LeBron and KD and we're still waiting on Wembe. Your reaction to T-Mack saying Wembe's going to win everything? I tend to agree with Timak. If he plays the necessary 65 games,

defensive player of the year is almost a lot. I think he will be the best team, best player in the world next year. I said he was, you know, became arguable this year. I think next year he definitely will. And I think there'll be a little bit of maybe SGA fatigue for MVP. Yokic is a year older.

So I think Wembe is the clear favorite for MVP defensive player year. I think T-MAC was kind of jokingly throughout in-season tournament. The suite would be finals MVP. Right. And I think they have to be the favorite in my view. Like, because their best three. players, if you take out Dearen Fox, they're going to get better.

Dylan Harper, Stefan Castle, and Wimby, they're going to be better. I don't know that OKC is going to be better. Well, they lost pieces. They lost some pieces. And the next lost one important piece. Yeah, absolutely. And will there be a natural, not let down, but, you know, they just won the biggest

championship in, you know, 53 years for the city. So I think that a sweep is absolutely on the board. The only thing I might, and I hope this is true. But the one thing I'm not totally certain about what T-Mack said

was when he said, you know he's been hearing what he needs to do, where he needs to play to be, yeah, to operate. Yeah, he should, if he just goes down to the block a lot more, not all the time, but more, and just little turnaround jump hooks, nobody could stop that.

And here's the thing, Nick, Jordan, when you look at how Jordan, LeBron, Larry Burr, Magic, Kobe, all these guys guys, and I put Wimby potentially could be in that class, how they responded to disheartening losses. They came back better. They improved their game and they took off from there.

And I expect him to do the same thing. I also believe, I bet you Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and maybe even Manu Janobli have been in his ear at least a bit of a small bit of time and talk to him about 2013 when they blew it against the heat. and then they came back the next year with a vengeance. And didn't just want to win the championship, wanted to play Miami. I bet they want New York.

They'll take whoever they if they can win it. But I bet they want New York because of the way they lost leading those games so big and then losing. Okay. So the one obvious reason he wouldn't do this is 65 games. And listen, he's played three years. He's averaged 60 games this past year when he said he was won at every single award.

He had to play in game 80 years. plus get credit for the play-in championship. Like, if you go to his basketball reference page, it says he played 64 this year, but it was 65 because he got credit because of the play-in championship game. Not the playing, sorry, the in-season tournament championship game.

So that, but let's just assume he plays it. To Vince Player of Year, I agree with you. To win league MVP, I do think he has some holes in his game offensively that I was, you know, concerned about going into the playoffs that really were on display against the Knicks to a degree offensively you need to improve on. Which brings us to a tough conversation for the show because it's not very often, Bru, that you're on an island and Kevin Wilds and I are on the same side.

Dust, I know it's 60. Can we please have two minutes here? Victor Wenemeyama is not a great three-point shooter. Oh, no, I agree with that. Oh, okay. All right. I think he's a good three-point shooter. So I don't know that I think, I don't, okay. Is Luca? So, well, hold on.

I'm going to do the, I'm going to. So last year, there were 88 guys that took as many threes as Wimby. He was 65th in percentage. In the playoffs, there were 44 guys that took as many threes as Wimby per game, not total, but per game. He was 24th. Here are five guys, he's one of them, who took almost the exact same amount of three. Cade, Lou Dort, Ace Bailey, Scoop.

I don't look at any of those guys as good three-point shooters. I don't look at them as bad three-point shooters, but it's the same, like, I think it's totally fair. Like, it's not like a three is a bad shot from them. But of all those guys, certainly for Wimby, the opponents like love it that he took it. So I think if he's going to be a dominant offensive player, one of two things that has to happen. He has to greatly improve on this or change the shot diet. Because he

wasn't in France. In France he shot like 31% from 3, but they looked amazing. The forms go. He needs to do both. Okay, so like he just, I think he believes he's a much better shooter than he actually is. And I think that works against him.

See, I look at, and I agree, as I said, he needs to play inside more. He's letting the defense off the hook when he takes a 3. But I'm fine with him taking four or five three is a game. I do. When I look at the form, I look at his free throw shooting,

which he's an excellent free throw shooter. That tells me he can be, he will improve his three points. Like I think Luca's a good three point shooter. His percentage is very high. But Luca also, but Luca is taking twice as many a game and much tougher ones,

which I think he's actually worse than those numbers. Wimby? Because the threes are so wide open. for him. Like, comparing him to Lucas, like, Lucas doing crazy contested threes. So when you look at their numbers, they're like, oh, wow, Lucas's a little bit better. Whambi's are step up. I'm at the nail letting you have a deep three, and he's still shooting only 35%. Listen, I don't, we don't know if Garnett would have been a good three-point shooter. He just took the long twos. But Garnett had a good free throw rate, had a good form. But, you know, I think he was as smooth as Wembe. So I just, I just don't, I'm not as

confident on his brain shooting as you are what kato you know what you know what brew's analysis came down to on his threes i test yeah no i see he's got good four yeah he's got good for that's that's what the shooters see the ball go in the good four yeah he's hit some huge three who was it here no he hit one from 40 feet against okay c rose in lasagna medium power 15 minutes sounds like ojo time let's play Feel the Fun with Play-O-Joe, the online casino with all the latest slot and live casino games. What you win is yours to keep with no wagering requirements, instant payouts, and no minimum withdraws. Hey, I just won.

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No, you're not. Just like Wendy. It wasn't performed. going to do that. I'm going to be in a park. I'm going to draw us. I might go to Central Park. You are a good artist. Well, I'm a good. You doodle. No, you're a, no, you're a draw. I'm going to draw you way, way above average artist. Wow. That's really the nicest thing you've ever said. No, I say a lot of very nice things about you. Mostly in, you know, public. Yeah, mostly on podcast. Yeah, I say very nice things about you public. Then real life.

Real life, yeah. This guy's got bad. I didn't text you today. You might have saved my life. Caleb Lomu. Second or first place for us. Today, heat rumors. Is LeBron going to Miami? It's nice there. And on the other coast, what are the chances that Stefan LeBron could work? I'm kind of out on this. Yesterday, you were all.

It just feels like it's yesterday's news. Meanwhile, Jalen Hertz's debuts on the top 100. Are we happy with his spot? Should he be happy with his spot? We discuss. But right now, let me get you caught up to speed on what's been going on last night, while shopping for yet another bucket hat, this one for vacation.

An elite committee of experts, analysts, and grandfathers fought and toiled and burned the midnight oil to deliver the best segment in all of sports. It's an honor and a privilege. It's time for a 49 days till the start of football season tears. Indeed it is seven weeks away, kind of to the day. Yeah, seven weeks of the day.

Kind of. Until the season starts, we have our first look at the start 26 tears, which is different than the end of 25 tiers. End of 25 tiers. At the end of the season, whoever won the Super Bowl, always is atop, the final tiers. Just one? They only get one time a time.

Sometimes they do. Sometimes they don't. Oddly, it seems like the committee has respected the Chiefs Championships more than some others, but we'll see. Bottom of the tiers, no teams eliminated. Shocking. These teams wish they were already waiting for 2027. Dolphins, Browns, Cardinals, Jets.

One of our interns told me I was disrespecting the Jets. I told him, no, I'm not. Dolphins literally, they're all in on the tank. Browns, you know, they... You think they are? I mean, see what should do or Deshaun? Well, no, no, no, though. I said the dolphins are all in on the tank.

The Browns, I think, would like to be surprised by pleasantly surprised by Shador doing something, but also because they now have all those extra picks, thanks to Miles, Garrett trade and all of it, they're okay with it. Cardinals, to me, are adrift in the Jets of the Jets. Pick your sleeper. Next tier.

One of these five teams, I hope we have it. Nope. Well, maybe not. We'll see. Pick your sleeper. It's the Saints, the Titans, the Vikings, the Raiders, and the Giants. The Giants and the Vikings are going to be the popular sleeper teams. they both finished last in their,

oh, no, the Vikings technically did. They felt like they did. They felt like they did. They were going to be so popular that by the time we get around to the season, I don't know if they'll even qualify as sleepers, but in a weird way, the giant sleeper status got buttressed today by that terrible

John Harbaugh speech that you tweeted out because I think it took some of the steam off of them. It's unbelievable. And then Saints, Titans, Raiders, those are legitimate sleepers. Do you have the monopoly on the Saints? Just because Bruce Sard's like Smith and the Bible. Yeah, I mean, I can always claim it if they're good.

No, but you can have them. Okay. You can have them. You can have them. I'm thinking about it. All right. This is a, it's back to football. So remember Marshall names the tears.

Of course. This is one of the meaner tier names, so we'll go quickly on it. Bored to tears. I'm not interested in talking about any of these teams for any more than just right there. I know Aaron Rogers. on one of them don't care. Bryce Young, 98 best player in the league. Sweet.

Anybody checked on Daniel Jones Achilles? Do they have a plan otherwise? Anthony Richardson still on the day. Good QB battle in Atlanta. Atlanta quarterback battle. Yeah, there we go. There's our coverage of those four teams for the year. Okay.

Too many holes. These teams actually, contrary to board to tears, could be exciting and fun, and particularly on the offensive side of the ball. But I think, I don't know if any of the three, have an above average offensive line. I don't know if any of the three have an above average defense or maybe mediocre in that. So just too many holes overall on the roster, even if you love Jaden or Baker or Burrow or some of their weapons, too many holes. Should have everything they

need. Excellent head coach. Check. The great defenses. One great defense one good defense. Check. Chargers, offensive linemen back healthy, adequate weapons, fine running games. The question for both these teams is do they actually have a star quarterback? I think most people right now are very down on C.J. Stroud. Most people, this is just the time of year that most people are the highest on Justin Herber. Oh, yeah. Far and up away from the playoffs and before the games actually start being played. August is going to get real hot. So if those quarterbacks play well, those teams should be legitimate AFC contenders. We'll see.

Certainly enough talent. And these are three marquee franchises. Cowboys Niners Eagles. Check out our old friends at our lads. They're depth charts for these teams. You can't make the argument that they don't have enough firepower on either side of the ball. And shout out to the Cowboys for quickly rebuilding that deal. to where the defense, I don't think they'll have a great defense, but I think the defense is going to be good enough to where it's not going to kill them like last year.

They certainly, any of these three teams have enough talent. I think wouldn't be crazy at all if any of the three, if any of the three won the NFC. They made it to the Super Bowl. Obviously, the Eagles and Niners have made it to four of the last seven in the NFC. Cowboys have made it to zero of the last 30, but they should have maybe the best offense they've ever had. certainly enough talent. These are going to be controversials here. Don't care. There's no biases here. Sustained success or one-off.

Broncos, Jags, Patriots. He teams won 13 or 14 games last year. These teams, two of them, the Broncos and Jags, have what I would call polarizing quarterbacks. I don't think Drake May is polarizing all. I think everybody likes it. And this is the year. they can, if they are, they don't have to be as good this year,

but if they make the playoffs with double digit wins this year, even as a wild card, then those teams just become stamped as, oh, okay, they are one of the AFC perennial playoff teams to be dealt with. I don't expect all of them to make the playoffs this year. I wouldn't be shocked if two of the three missed the playoffs this year. I'm not even saying which two, just two of the three. Any of them that missed the playoffs this year, until further proven otherwise we'll look at as last year as a one-off.

Like, hey, you know, magical year, great you weather. It's the number one seed for the Broncos. The 13 wins for the Jags, making the Super Bowl for the Patriots. So this year is, you know, a little bit of an inflection point for how nationally we view these three AFC teams. No, I think that's why. And my Jags are on there. The, you know, the Broncos won the division finally. You're pets.

bounce back or else my chiefs Bruce Rewards you can miss the playoffs one time season from hell quarterback's got hurt had in the Chief's case

coming off three consecutive 20 plus game seasons in the Ravens perspective just Harbaugh run his course you know what I mean we needed something else need something new throw that season away move on yeah

You miss the playoffs again. It's like, oh, okay, massive overhauls needed. Now, the Ravens already did a minor overhaul by changing the coach. The Chiefs, if they were to miss the playoffs again, would have to really look at how they have built the team. The Ravens, I think there would be a lot of scrutiny, fairly or otherwise on Lamar, particularly as we, is he getting the new contract?

Is he not all of that? I expect both of these teams to maybe varying levels bounce back. If they don't, it is. is a changing of the guard in the AFC for sure. In FC North Bloodbath, again, Packers, Bears, Lions. Last year, the Bears won this division. The Packers looked position to win this division. Micah went down and lost four straight games limped into the playoffs.

The Lions, we showed at the midway point of the season, what, were the third favorite to win the Super Bowl? We showed yesterday they ended up finishing last in the division. And I think all three of these teams have good to excellent quarterbacks. I think all three of these teams have good to excellent coaches. I think all three of these teams have good enough defenses, assuming Micah comes back at some point looking like Micah Parsons. But man, oh, man, going to beat each other up.

And that is, you know, that is a major concern. Who's the champ here? Seahawks Bills. at what point over the last six years could I have told you Sam Darnold's going to win a Super Bowl before Josh Allen Seattle's going to win a Super Bowl get to a Super Bowl, win a Super Bowl before Buffalo gets to a Super Bowl

that you would have believed me. When Russ was finishing his career there, no. When Gino was there, no. When Darnold was bouncing around the league, no. These are two of the best teams in the league. It is stunning that the one here that actually has accomplished something, accomplish the biggest thing, is Seattle, because Donald and Josh Allen, same draft class,

picks three and six or three and seven. Like, it is, it's unbelievable. It's where they are. I also think going into this year, they're around similar likelihood of winning this year's Super Bowl. But then atop the tiers is the Rams dream team. That doesn't always work out. Right.

I think they're the best team. I also, and I can't explain it, it's just a gut feeling I have. Adding Aaron Donald's a bad idea. Wow. It would feel like it's too much. This gain and a lot of momentum. I know it is, and like I said, I can't explain. It's my job to come on TV and explain things.

All I can tell you is my gut feeling is that it would not actually be good for them. And I don't know if it's because he's a few years removed and it's the... We don't know how great he would be or if it's just it would, you know, the dream team that I'm referencing, obviously, is the Eagles seen from more than 15 years ago that it was their backup quarterback that coined the phrase the dream team. It was Vince Young. He was like the final added piece and it's like, wow, but he was backup quarterback. Still, that didn't go well.

I have him atop the tiers, but I would, I think the adding Miles Garrett, we thought they were going to be excellent Before they traded for Miles Garrett, trade from Miles Garrett and at Aaron Donald, I don't know, maybe a little too much. Just a clarification. We claim Vince Young came up with a dream team? For the, he is the one that called that Eagles team a dream, the dream team. Gotcha. Obviously, it's the 94-192 Olympic team. That's the dream team. But the first time it was used in the NFL parlance was that Eagles team that had Vic, that signed Namdi Assamois, that had, and then Vince Young said it.

Everyone thought they were going to be awesome. fell in their face. So that's what it is. Yeah. Well, look, first of all, props to Marshall. Yeah. Great job. The names are always on point.

Yeah, he's great. The order, though, I go by the order. Yeah, of course. And so I'm a big believer in the Chargers this year. What? Why? Huh? I'm going to tell you why.

And I'm fact, I'm moving them all the way up to the third tier. What? With that crew from the NFC North, here's why. When did you become a church? It's like that's Parkinson's territory. Believer. I'm an objection. objective analysis.

I know, but just like show-wise, that's like Parkins territory. But they're a good team. And where's Parkins? Is he here? They're a very good team. Jim Harbaugh is an excellent coach, took him from five wins to 11 immediately. All right? I love you go, no, the addition of Mike McDaniel.

Look what he did with Tua. What do you think he'll do with Justin Herbert? I don't know. Some people think a lot. Tew was taken ahead of Justin Hover. I think he's going to do huge things. with Justin Herbert. I like the receiving court as you mentioned. Quentin

Johnston I think is going to take another step under McDaniel. He needs to. I love Ladd McConkie. Really good number two of Johnson can become that number one. Two good running backs, Hampton, you know, Maron Hampton is here. The defense has Harbaal always has them

as a top defense. So I think they're going to be good so I'm moving them up. And I got a couple of bonus takes. Bonus takes. Nick will probably, I think you will like this one. We'll see. I don't like, like if the Ravens found themselves standing across the Chiefs in the playoffs, I'd shudder a bit. Yeah.

Yeah. No matter how the seasons went. Of course. 15 and 2 versus 9 and 8. I'd be shuddering a little bit. But I like the Ravens. Right now, I like the Ravens versus other teams better than I like the Chiefs. You think the Ravens deserve to be ahead of the Chief?

Yes. So I would move the Ravens ahead of the Chiefs. And Seattle, I think, a tag. too high. They're really good teams. I just think Nick, it's hard to even get back to the Super Bowl, let alone win it. They have, and I know you don't have them

doing it. You've got the Rams ahead of them. But they only three teams this century have gotten to back-to-back Super Bowl. Brady, Mahomes, and Seattle with Russell Wilson, but I'm not sure if I'm ready to give Donald that credit. So just a little down. I would feel badly

badly moving Seattle two part down. No, they deserve a little love. They deserve some love, but I don't think they're going to win it again. Crazy thing that they won the Super Bowl. They were unbelievable during the regular season. Yeah. So you think they're going to win it again? No, I mean.

I can't move it further down. I'm not moving them behind the Packers. Just slightly. Just maybe join that. That third row could be long. The third row could go. He wants the chargers and the Seahawks on the same row. I didn't see any of Bruce takes coming.

Not one. Okay. We're in. You thought I was just going on. I just know. It was very interesting. I didn't know you were a Chargers guy. I think, I mean, that's not a fandom thing.

I think they're going to be good this year. Okay. I don't. Texans. This is just another. No, it's not. No, it's not. I like to stop waging Patriots proxy wars.

I'm a Texan guy. I might go to Houston. You're like Erling Holland. Mm-hmm. I love tech. I might get a cowboy act. I'll become the Texans guy. All right, here's the thing about the Texans.

They're on the same row as the Chargers. Justin Herbert has yet to win a playoff game. It's been six years going into seven. How did CJ Stroud's like- How did C.J. Stroud consistently wins playoff games. Does it look pretty when he leaves? No, it doesn't look pretty when anybody leaves. But won a playoff game in each of the last three seasons.

It's the standard of excellence, the bills, and the Texans. They win a game and then they kind of hit their ceiling. Yeah. Okay, that's fine. I don't know if that's a Shroud take as much Texans take, but I like... Texans. Yeah, that's fine. Yeah, it's fine.

That's not Justin Herbert. I'm just saying, yeah, it's fine. It's good. You're saying, oh, well, he doesn't belong on same scale with the mighty Buffalo bills. You're probably right. The Texans probably deserve to be ahead of the bills, considering that Josh Allen can't beat the Texans. In fact, no real quarterback can beat the Texans. Josh Allen's one and four against the Texans.

This is... This is not... This is Josh made this. Stafford kills. This is chronological order. Okay. This is chronological. This is the beginning of their year.

It's not. It's beginning of the year. Those are the end of the year. That's what I'm saying. Stafford came out. Absolutely cooking. Baker did okay. Trevor, that's the two games against the Texans.

Darnold did okay. Bo Nicks, not so much. Josh Allen was horrible in that game. He had was, he had through two interceptions. And that's the game. I think it was on Thursday night game. He had eight sacks for 70 yards, one of the worst games of his career. How did he do the previous year?

Oh, thanks for asking. That's when he went nine for 30 and at 131 yards. Patrick Mahomes there. That quarterback rating can't even drink. 19.8. Hey, can I get a beer? Can I see an ID? Oh, I'm going to leave.

19.8 is wild. 19.8 is a wild. I remember that game. Yes, 19.8. Does the game Andy went forward? on fourth down. Yeah, the Rogers, obviously he couldn't do anything against the pass rush. And Drake May, it was, look, it was raining, it was cold, you're in New England.

Look, did he have 100 pass-or-winning? He did, but still. Is that the game he had four fumbles? The ball slippery shirt is that incorporated and faster rating quickly on C.J. Nico Collins, other friend of the show, a big day for friends. He actually is a friend of show. He's on during the Super Bowl. He missed that Patriots game.

You love these wind targeting stuff. We got target a guy. You love him. He wasn't there, so it hurt CJ. CJ was hurt by, he missed Nico Collins. Tank Dell was out there. Did we pull that video, Tank Dell running around? He looks good, so I'm rooting for Tank Dell.

I am rooting for Tank Dell. It was a terrible injury. Yeah, so he looks good. And then their offensive line, they got Wyatt Teller from Cleveland, Braden Smith from the Colts. Their first round pitch was from Georgia Tech. So hopefully that offensive line can protect CJ. Not a bad.

Here's the only problem. The Texans way up. And again, it's defense wins championships. Yeah, that's great. I'm a Texan guy. Here's the problem. So, Brew, I was a little late to work today. I actually wasn't that late, but I missed the meeting today.

Because I had doctors appointment, annual physical, everybody, guys out there don't go to the doctor enough, go to the doctor. That's me. I don't go. I just have mine. Did he really? Did you make the meeting? Didn't even know. And so I wasn't there for the meeting.

And I walked from the doctor's appointment. On my walk, I get a little text. What's on you from you home? Someone on the staff. Tears had not yet been sent in. I don't need to do that. And I get a text, bro. Check the rundown, Doc.

I open your phone, Google Doc, check it? Who did this first of all? Check it. Tears, not yet in there. Under Tears, Kevin, colon, move the Texans up. He didn't even know where they were gonna be. He doesn't matter. I'll go to a restaurant like I'm having the chicken part.

I don't even know if it's on the menu. I don't want the chicken part. Oh, this one's with a rule. This one's with saffron rice. I don't know. It's not pre-ordering. It's like before the food gets there saying, steaks over-cooked.

It's a critique of something you haven't yet seen. No one believes in the Texas. A lot. Guys, I need to start working. I got 10 graphics out of here. You're giving out bonus takes. I had to write. I had to write that Mahomes drinking joke.

Jalen Hertz underrated. We could do this for the last 10 years. Going back to high school. Welcome aboard via rail. Please sit and enjoy. Please sit and stretch. Steep. Flip.

Or that and enjoy. Via Rail, love the way. Summer of soccer rolls on MLS. Double ahead. Our first at eight Eastern, Charlotte FC, Atlanta United, then LAFC taking on real Salt Lake, San Diego Luna. Remember I wanted him to make the team. He got a little banged up. We can see him in the MLS.

MLS tonight right here on FS-1, Summer of Soccer, NFL Top 100. Super Bowl MVP minus one year makes his debut. Number 56 for Jalen Arts. He's the eighth quarterback on the top 100. He's three spots above Bo NIC, seven above the Prince. 13 above Lamar. Dusty, what graphic do we have? Do we have the quarterbacks?

Yeah, we have this one. He's bounced around this list quite a bit. I mean, that's from third to 15th to 19th to 56. Dropping is every year. Well, the guy was a Super Bowl MVP and it drops. No, I understand. I'm just telling you. Just I mean, what's supposed to.

Well, I mean, that. Well, but again, we think they may do it in the playoffs. But again, can I say something before we go on? Sure. And I, I. I am not the sports media ombudsman. In fact, I bite my tongue often to make sure I am never criticizing anyone in the media.

Next time we do this list, maybe let's see how the playoffs play out. Here's the problem. Because it throws a little bit of a wrench in the system. Can I now let me as the sports media embudsman defend the people making the list. They distribute the forms or whatever in locker rooms. That's how they get the votes back.

So you can't wait until even the playoffs start because then half the league is no longer in locker rooms. And you can't wait until after the playoffs because then everyone's gone. So the only way to actually do the list is... Send an email. I know, but just the guy wins Super Bowl MVP. Like Sam Darland's going to appear like, man, I...

But he, okay, that's fine. But he didn't last year win Super Bowl MVP and he's been dropping. That's what it is. He dropped to anyone? He plummeted this. Too high, too low, just right. Humor me, fellas.

Oh, yeah. Love it. Because I'm going to go on a little tangent. Wonderful. Shout out to LeBron James. Okay. Yeah, why not? Shout out to LeBron.

Because remember, when LeBron went to Miami in 2010, and everybody hated on him, he made a list of all the people he was going to prove wrong. I didn't know that. You knew that? You serious? No, I've never heard that story. He was asked about it in press comments.

Oh, okay. Yeah. He made a list. And I think Lamar Jackson should be making a list. Of all the guys that the players, his peers, all the quarterbacks put ahead of him. Now, I don't know if Lamar will do it, but I'll do it for him. I'm making a list. Okay.

I don't mind the usual suspects, the Mahomes, the Josh Allen's, the, Even Stafford now. Do you really mind Hertz being out of him? Yes, yes, yes. And I like Jalen. But he is not better than Lamar Jackson. Oh, he's been better in the playoffs or in the Super Bowl. Obviously, he's been there.

But overall, I think Lamar is a better quarterback. I think that's clear. And so I think Lamar should be ahead of him. Now, for Hertz is 56. I mean, look, the numbers, it's hard to compare the different positions, right? I'm more looking at him in comparison to quarterbacks. So I think I can help that discussion, if I may, on this. I like him ahead of Bo and Trevor.

That's right. He's going to be behind Justin. So he's going to be behind, I think, more quarterbacks than KW will like. So can we put up my list? This isn't my list of how I would have it. I think there's 10 more guys that are coming. Mahomes, Allen, Stafford, May, Borough, Caleb, Gough, Darnold, Herbert and Dad.

Yeah, I do have some issues with that. No, no, no, but just hold on. I know you do, but just real quick, do you agree with me that those 10 guys aren't going to be off the list entirely? There's no one on that there that's not going to be in the top 100. They should. No, it feels like every one of those guys should be on the list. I'm trying to think if there's anybody else.

Jaden, Stroud, and Aaron Rogers. But I don't think Jaden, Stroud, or Aaron Rogers are coming in the top 50. Jaden is just going to be an injury. Right, and Stroud had a bad year. So I think, again, this is, put that back up if you would. That would make Jalen Levin. Correct. So that would, and I, and the Danny would be mad.

A lot of Danny drops today. I think that if I were making the list, I think the only guy still to come that I would have Jalen ahead of is Herbert. I think I'd have all those other, Dax's a close call, but I think Dack is, I think Dax better than it. Better than the regular season. No, but again, it's... Better doing... In the regular season, he is. I think that I...

But again, throwing the ball around. Well, that's the thing with Herbert, too. But that's been a big winner. I mean, the consistent winner in the regular season. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So if we want to... Yeah, that's... So is Jalen.

Absolutely. No, no, no. But I was saying, Dax not just like empty calories. No, no. But no, I think I thought... So my point, to answer this question is, I think it's about right. Because I agree with you, Brew.

I don't care about 52, you know, how he compares to the best, third best detackling league. Where would, I would, I think Jalen Hertz right now is somewhere from the ninth, at best ninth and at worst, 12th, the best quarterback in football. And so him being, he comes in, I think he's going to come in 11. So I think it's about right. But so I think that's helpful because it's less abstract about. how these guys are being ranked.

I think the question is, how much do you value playoff success? Yep. And when the stage gets bigger and the lights get brighter, does your game get to another level or do you shrink a little bit? Now, the argument against Herbert

is on tape, he's a better quarterback than Jalen Hertz. In the playoffs where God awful. And I don't want to dim his candle to make. No. But Jalen Hertz has been excellent in the play. He won the Super Bowl MVP, and he's outplayed Mahomes easily. And when he lost, he played pretty good.

You could say he had a fumble. No, he played an awesome Super Bowl and a very good Super Bowl. I do think, I also think, but I don't think he has a spotless postseason resume. I think the two years they went out in round one, he played very poorly in both of those games. Those weren't games he played great, and the team let him down. when the team quit as a team essentially quits strong, but the supernatural, the supernatural funk in

and last year at the end of the first round playoff game when they were a home team, a favorite against San Francisco and what, they scored in the teens, I don't remember. I remember the season ended poorly.

And so like I don't. That being said, just the counter to that is there's guys on the list that didn't make the playoffs. So Lamar didn't have a bad postseason because he wasn't there. Mahomes hasn't had a bit, you know, it's kind of like you're very similar to your Jordan and LeBron argument. Where it's like, yeah, LeBron had a bad finals. You weren't there.

It's a cousin of it. Yeah, sure, go ahead. That's all I'm saying. I think that, but so where would you have him? Because I think even your Jalen Hertz. I think, I think, I think, ever took a hit life. You will put him ahead of Herbert. I put him ahead of Herbert.

I put him ahead of Herbert. I put him ahead of Jared Gaul. I put him ahead of, I forgot someone else on the list I didn't love. Well, I mean, you're going to run a. I put him ahead of Jack. You're going to run a dangerous race on the, these guys get hit because they don't play well in the playoffs for a guy you're not going to put them ahead of. Who? Your guy.

Who was in the Super Bowl? Who didn't. I didn't say it didn't, don't, hasn't won games in the playoffs. I said did not play. Your argument for Jalen Hertz was not a moment ago. He has had all the. these great playoff game. I'm sorry, it was not that he made the Super Bowl. It was that he played great. It was that he played great. He played great and they win game. I don't think you should be penalized

for playing three of the best defenses in the entire NFL and having your numbers sink when it happens to every quarterback. I don't, okay, so I think that's a, again, I don't think you should necessarily be penalized massively either. I think you're understating, I think you're overstating, I think you're overstating how much guys numbers sink in the playoffs compared to what Drake's sunk in the playoffs last year. I think that is just statistically accurate. It wasn't the normal drop. It was a significant drop.

It was also a, I don't want to argue Drake May, but it was a significant drop because he was number one way out of head. So he gets penalized. Like, wow, this guy ran a much slower marathon. Like, well, he always the marathon leader. Okay. There's a little bit of that. His numbers wouldn't drop if his pass rating was around here.

I understand, but I do think we had a graphic that it's the biggest drop from the regular season of the playoffs this century. And we've had other guys who had great regular season to play tough. But again, I don't think that to be... I don't think anyone thinks he's as good as Drake May. So this is where I think the

hurdle for you against the public is. I agree with you. I think there's a lot of people who think Drake May is not as good as Justin Herbert. I think there's a lot of people that right now... They should come to the show. But buddy, how many lists are we have? You could argue Jay over Drake. If you want,

Drake's only done it one year. Yeah, and he's done it twice. When you said they just, we just did the ESPN list that had her, like Herbert ahead of Drake May is not a contrary, like a crazy opinion. None of us think. I'm shocked by it.

Well, that, that ESPN, that executives, coaches, scouts list had Drake eight and Herbert six. So I'm just saying, that was wow.

That's why this is the year for Herbert. If he doesn't play well, right. No, if he doesn't play well this year, I think, All those people that love him are going to be like. And Jalen wasn't on that list.

And Jalen wasn't. Jailen deserves. It's not white as good as Drake May, but he's very, very good. The Hulu original series Furious is coming to Disney Plus. Starring Emmy Rossum, Furious follows FBI agent Alice Black on the hunt for a mysterious and calculating serial killer. Both walk their own paths toward justice. And as their lives start to intertwine, the line between right and wrong began. to blur. Don't miss the three-episode premiere of the Hulu original series Furious on July 27th,

only on Hulu on Disney Plus. Saturday night baseball on Fox. Dodgers taking on the Matsotani-Wan Soto Saturday at 7, only on Fox. What do you want? An update on the Red Sox. Yes, they won this afternoon. They're going for the record, franchise record, tonight. Thanks for asking.

Dremont kicking around the idea of LeBron. the Warriors and how that would affect his role if he stayed on the Warriors. Take a listen. It'll be Brian and I'm a D.P.J. Tucker and go become the greatest corner three-point shooter ever. If you got LeBron James and Steph Curry in the pick and roll, like, yeah, I'll always have that ability to go get in the pick and roll and if you got LeBron James and Steph Curry and pick and roll, you better go find a role. You better go find a spot so you can be valuable. Okay. Brooke, did you see this working in

Golden State? Well, look, I love Draymond's attitude there. It's like, I know it's the LeBron, James, Steph Curry show. I will get in where I fit in. If more players understood that, hey, they're better than me. Let me find how I can be effective,

you know, then it'd be a lot of better teams around the game. And that's where Draymond's relationship with LeBron is super helpful for this. Right. Because I think there are other players that might be a better pick and roll partner for stuff that if they went to the Warriors drum and be like

I'm, I'm going to stay in the role I've been doing. I think their relationship really helps in that. But go ahead. And people might initially scoff at the three point. Now he's certainly not going to be the greatest corner three point shooter. But he is actually pretty good. He's a career 32%

shooter overall from three. But from the corners, which is the easiest three in the league, he's about 37, 38%. So he could be effective there. So I actually think with that attitude from Draymond, obviously LeBron's got the ball in his

hands, Steph doing this thing. Yeah, it can definitely work. I think they would fight for home court advantage in the first round of the playoffs, meaning the top four seed. I just don't think they could beat O KC or San Antonio, but I think they could be as good as anybody else

in the West. So listen, I echo what you said about Draymond having this mentality. I think it's the only way LeBron in Golden State could work would be Draymond drastically changing his role because it is correct that on offense it's weird because there's such different players

but for the Warriors LeBron would be taking on Draymond's role on offense Playmaker role pick and roll partner with Steph as far as NBA skills that you can learn mid-career corner three point shot seems to be the number one draft pick of things. I have seen guys learn. You know what I mean? And PJ Tucker is the perfect example of it.

PJ Tucker came into the league not as a non-shooter. And then as he got older and had a much longer career than otherwise he would have, his role was defensive stalwart very often against the Steph KD warriors for those rockets. and a guy who stood in the corner, waited, and shot an incredibly high percentage on very limited attempts. And so, I mean, shoot, Andre Drummond has added, like, that is the one, like, if you really drill on that,

you can become a specialist on that. So I do think that in that regard, it could work. I just don't, I look at the Warriors, and the guy that I think is, the super high level, because I think Draymond is a great, historically great player for his role. I don't think he is still a great player in the league.

I think that of the best players on the team, the one that I'm least worried about injury-wise, is Bron. And so Steph is a concern. Jimmy Butler's coming off a knee. Chris Stapps is, you know, sadly, is an old 31. He is an old 31 injury. and illness.

And so all of that. And then the fix is trade for Anthony Davis. Right. You know what I mean? So Draymond is durable and available and that's good. I just,

I am, I was, I wasn't into this idea of him going to the Warriors. I then I then became into it as you had been. Yeah. And then when I saw some of these other teams

that I thought competing for a championship was not so much of a pipe dream. Like if no, if there was. They're the worst. of the four. I think that they would be the least viable championship.

I agree with that. But number one, for me, and this is, can you throw up to my age graphic? I'm more interested in seeing this team. Oh, I forgot about Horford. So LeBron's 42. Would that be the oldest team ever? Did you say that earlier? I didn't say that, but it's...

I mean, they even have an old rookie. Yeah, right. 24. Even their rookies. Yeah. So I'm interested to see what type of basketball this is and it is a little bit brew of like a personal pipe dream of like when you

were a kid and you went to the YMCA and a group of old guys ran you off the court but on the highest level. It's like oh we're just smarter and more experienced than you guys. Like oh shoot. Like would that actually work in the NBA? I think like I said I think it will

work to a significant level but I just, I think the OKCs and the San Antonio's would just be way too athletic. If you put that back up, who's the athletic, you know, long-ranging? The best athletes prime. Yeah, it's not there. They don't have it. Pods. Right.

It can't be. Yeah. And they got rid of the lacrosse kid. Yeah. So that's, where do you go? I thought he was, maybe I'm wrong. And also, he's got a brother, you know. They're going to be, they're going to miss so many games for injuries.

This is what the, this is what the, this is. This is what the roster would look like. Yeah, Pods is your athlete. Moses Moody. They're going to miss so many games with injuries, too. And even though LeBron and I agree with you. I don't even know when Jimmy's back. Yeah, yeah, it's going to be.

I mean, I know Jimmy was tweeting the shams. I'm questionable for the play in. Like, he was not questionable for the playing. I think they are in my own personal, you know, handicapping. I think the Warriors are at this point. the least likely of the four. Oh, shoot. That's where I'm at.

You want to see that. I want to see it because I think it's interesting. And I don't think winning a championship is necessarily... It would be fun. My number one goal. That's just more fun to watch than the Heat. I've seen LeBron in a Heat jersey. See him in a Cavs jersey.

Sorry. Investing, trading? That isn't a personality. You don't need the voice. You don't need the jargon. You don't need the podcast. You already know how to trade. You've done it your whole life.

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