Games with Names - Dudes on Mike Alstott and John Madden

Episode Date: May 29, 2025

We're back in Boston and we're talking about two absolute legends from the world of football! Rob talks about his wild weekend at The Indy 500. Jules breaks down his weekend at Patrick Mahomes' charity golf outing in Vegas. We get on what makes Mike Alstott such a legend. We talk John Madden's incredible impact on the world of football. We wrap up by reacting to some of your hottest takes in The Chillest Dude of the Week presented by Coors Light. Support the show: http://www.gameswithnames.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an iHeart Podcast. Why is a soap opera western like Yellowstone so wildly successful? The American West with Dan Flores is the latest show from the MeatEater Podcast Network. So join me starting Tuesday, May 6th, where we'll delve into stories of the West and come to understand how it helps inform the ways in which we experience the region today. Listen to The American West with Dan Flores on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Why should you listen to Armstrong and Getty on demand? We're not boring. A lot of news is boring. And tedious. And depressing. And makes you angry. You don't want to live your life like that. Hey, I'm Jack Armstrong. He's Joe Getty. we're too hard on ourselves.

We get down on ourselves on not being able to, you know, we're the providers, but we also have to learn to take care of ourselves. A wrap away, you got to pray for yourself as well as for everybody else, but never forget yourself. Self-love made me a better dad because I realized my worth. Never stop being a dad. That's dedication. Find out more at fatherhood.gov. Brought to you by the U.S. Department of Health beyond the edge of what we know. I clinically died.

The heart stopped beating. Which I was dead for 11.5 minutes. And returned. It's a miracle I was brought back. Alive Again, a podcast about the strength of the human spirit. Listen to Alive Again on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. John Madden is so legendary, they already have to your favorite shows. John Madden. So legendary.

They already have a movie coming out about John Madden. You got Nicholas cage playing Madden and I seen some pictures of him. He kind of looks exactly like Madden. They got his titties and everything. I'm going to be watching the movie. You remember man used to have some, he used to have man boobs. We all love Mads man boobs. What do they do? Fill them up with pillows. Yeah. I mean, when I used to fill myself up with pillows, I'd be in one corner, my brother would be in the other corner,

and we'd call it zooms, and you'd just get as big as you possibly can, stuff as many pillows as you can, and then you would run full speed at each other. Let me explain something to some people out there. For all you people that think like, oh, I got a baby Gronk in my house, look at this kid. His form of entertainment was running full speed into a wall with pillows, okay?

Into another person, not a wall. Built different. Into another wall, into another person. The form of entertainment was playing hockey downstairs and running into each other with pillows. Full contact. Okay, back to Matt. Welcome to Dudes on Dudes. I'm Julian Edelman. I'm Rob Gronkowski. And this is the show where your favorite dudes get to talk

about their favorite dudes. And today we're talking about a couple of folk heroes from the world of football. What are we talking about today? The legend of Mike Alstate. He is the perfect four-minute back. He could play in any era any era What made John Madden such a great broadcaster? I mean John Madden set the standard his name is synonymous with football and also what it's like to be on the cover of Madden You're looking at your boy, you know, the be recognized like that. You know, it's an honor. EA Sports in the game. And then we wrap it up by reacting to some of the hottest takes in this week's chillest dude of the week presented by Coors Light. Stick around to the very, very end.

Let's go. Dudes on Dudes is a production of iHeartRadio. We're here in Boston, brought dudes on dudes back in Boston. We are back in Boston. And every time we come back to Boston, does it not feel like home? It feels like home every single time, especially when the flowers are blossoming,

the sun is out, it's 65 degrees. It's a beautiful spring day. You know, you see just people happy walking the streets. I feel like I belong, you know? And that's the best feeling, you know? That's when you know it's a home, is when you feel like you just belong here. And we both belong here in the city of Boston. It will be a home forever, Jules.

And it's Memorial Day weekend as well. So we want to recognize- How come you wait, first off, explain why you know what this means? Yes I know what Memorial Day weekend is because Bill every single time a holiday comes up he explains what the holiday means and what it represents especially if it has something to do with the military. So every single time Bill would call up the team meeting we would usually have off Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, which everyone loved. We had a four day weekend off of OTAs.

Shout out to Gally. Bill would bring you up in the team meeting, bring the team together in the meeting, the final team meeting of the day on Thursday before he lets everyone go for the whole four day weekend. And he would explain what Memorial Day Weekend is and what it represents remembering all of the veterans that have fallen and sacrificed their lives for our Country so we can have the freedom that we have to this day

And that's what we want to do right now before we get started is Recognize and give tribute to all the fallen soldiers out there that have paid, you know, their duties and did the ultimate sacrifice for our families, our country, for their families, for our friends, and putting it all on the line. So we thank them, we thank their families. And let's give them a quick, you know, five seconds of moment of silence right now, Jules. There we go. That was touching, Rob. That was touching.

I learned from Coach Belichick. Yeah, but we're also a big military podcast. You do a lot of, have you visited, where have you gone? You've gone some crazy places. Last year I did like a USO trip. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But it wasn't technically a true USO trip. I did it with Monster because Monster did so many USO trips.

They always combined, but they kind of separated a little bit. So Monster just went off on their own and brought me to Poland last year. And I visited four different military bases, United States military bases. And it's just so cool and it's so touching because the people there get excited.

The troops there get excited because they do the same thing every single day. They grind, they shoot their tanks, they're replicating a mission. And it's kind of the same thing on a regular basis. So I got to show up, got to switch up their routine, got got to switch up their routine, you know, got to meet me, they got to show me all the tanks that they get to shoot. I got to shoot some tanks, shoot some guns. Um,

and it's rewarding to them. It's rewarding to me as well. Uh, and it puts a smile on their face, which is the most important thing. And it gets their mind off of what's going on on a daily basis with all the war that's going on over there, you know, overseas and what they're preparing for. So, whenever I have a chance, I get to, you know, I love to do things like that. Yeah. I went out and visited the USS George Washington and stayed a night over in Brazil when they were on a mission going around the whole continent, South America, while they were on their way up to, I can't give

going around the whole continent, South America, while they were on their way up to, I can't give disclosed locations because you know, I don't want to piss off Cap. You know, he's from Alabama, big Bama, roll tide guy. Cap, I won't say. But just- Who's Cap? The captain of the ship.

Oh, okay. Captain, captain, okay, I gotcha, I gotcha. But I will say, like you said, it gives you a perspective when you go into their day to day life. We stayed and we visited every part of the ship. You know, we visited the fire department. We visited the mechanics.

We visited the guys that the pilots, the people that got the food ready. The like it's a whole community. There's like 4000 people on this big ass ship. And the craziest thing to me is that the average age was like 19 years old these are young people that are are essentially joining the military to allow us to do what we get to do and let's talk stupid shit on this stupid camera in this dumb microphone so like it's because of those people that fight for our freedom, that sacrifice their

freedom so they can go out and fight for ours. That that's class act. My grandpa served in the Navy. You have some family that served. So, you know, big military podcast, shout out to all the fallen soldiers. That's what Memorial Day is for. And, um, it's, it's kind of the kickoff to summer.

Memorial Day is the kickoff to summer, not summer quite yet, June 21st, but it is the kickoff to summer. And it's also like when you expect the weather to be above 70 degrees every single day, and if it's not, say if it's like 50 and rainy here in the New England area, you get pissed now. It's fine that it's cold like in an April beginning of May, but once Memorial day

hits and that weather drops, you get angry. It needs to be 70 plus every day now and sunny. And let me tell you, it just feels better. It feels better. It's just pops up here when it's sunny because it's not sunny for about eight months around here, seven months. And when it is, who, it feels like Florida during spring break. It does. It does.

That's why I love it up here at this time. So, Robbie, you were, I watched on TV on Fox, the Indianapolis 500, one of our favorite race events right in Indianapolis. I think three million people go to that thing. It's like the biggest sporting event in the United States of America, which people don't really realize

if you're not a race guy. Well, it's actually the biggest sporting event in the whole entire world. Oh shit. For one given day. There has never been a sporting event besides the Indy 500, where there's over 350,000 spectators watching the race.

And I would probably say over 400,000 people just around because then you got everyone that go and tailgate, you know, and that they don't even have tickets So it's the biggest spectacle out there in the sporting event world and it's phenomenal It was my first time there for I'm telling you it's amazing Julian Whenever you get a chance you should go next. And this year was the first time that Fox was airing the Indy 500. So I got to be a part of it because obviously I'm with Fox. So they put me up to some duties. I got to be the grand marshal of the snake pit. And I had absolutely no clue what I was getting into.

They were like, hey, you want to go? You're going to be part of the snake pit. And then a week later, it's news all over the place that I'm the grand marshal of the snake pit and everyone's hitting me up. They're like, bro, do you understand what you're getting into? It's kind of like what's that festival and like the Woodstock Woodstock like Woodstock, but it's in the middle of the lawn, you know, in between, you know, in, you know, inside a race track.

And there's going to be over 30,000 people there just going absolute bonkers, and that's what it was. It was so much fun. Fox put me in a situation for me to thrive and succeed, and I sure did, baby, I sure did, that's for sure. You know, that's good leadership by Fox. I mean, I saw the coverage. You were there, I saw Jeter was there,

I saw A-Rod was there. Was Big Poppy there? No, Big Poppy wasn't there. Who else was there? Yes. Was Tom, Tom was there. Tom was there. So Fox assigned us all to different duties.

And clearly me being me, they signed me to the grand marshal of the snake pit, which made so much sense. Without a doubt. Yeah. And then you had stray hand there. Stray. I mean, the guy can break down any situation at any given time, whatever it is. Which made so much sense. Without a doubt. Yeah. And then you had stray hand there. Stray. I mean, the guy can break down any situation at any given time, whatever it is.

So they probably had him doing everything, breaking down the race because he has knowledge of everything. From pop singer to race car race. He can break down any situation. He can go from pop singer to scandal to NASCAR to Ind, to football, to BTS. Like this guy knows everything. Interviewing Bill Balachek. Interviewing Bill.

At his hottest moment last week. I mean, no one else. He can do it all. That's our guy. So not sure what his real duties were, cause I was busy being the grand marshal of the Snake Pit. When you're doing that, Jules, you don't really know what else is going on.

But Tom was there as well. I think he did a hot lap before the race. Not 100 percent sure what Jeter's duties were. But I heard him get announced. You got a big round of applause. A-Rod was there as well. I'm sure they were on TV breaking down some of the races and all that, you know, talking to some of the drivers while I was doing my duties at the snake pit once again.

I can't stop talking about it. Stink bits. You know, I was raging with the DJs, getting the crowd hyped. I was in the microphone. Thirty thousand people, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the snake. Everyone just erupted. It was it was. So everyone was erupting. What did they do when Tom's name was in? I heard they boot on the boot.

And they boot them, which is which is rude, which is rude, but it's honestly predictable. Yeah, understand. Understand, boys. 500. They couldn't beat him for freaking 30 years. Well, actually, that was one of my points I made when I was, you know, live in the snake pit. I said, I feel like I'm at home right now because I've owned the cults my whole entire career when I was on you know, live in the snake pit. I said, I feel like I'm at home right now

because I've owned the Colts my whole entire career when I was on the Patriots. And when you own a team for so long, you feel like you're at home when you're in the city. And I hit them with that, but then I evened it out because I was like, well, the New York Knicks beat my Boston South Dicks and the Pacers are playing the New York Knicks right now.

So go Pacers. So even it out. So they like me again. I'm a genius. That's crowd work. That's how to work a fucking crowd right there. And you know, Robbie G knows how to work the crowd. No, but you remember we went to the Super Bowl and what was it? Eleven. We were we played an Indy. Didn't we have we had like a family event at the Indianapolis 500, which was fun.

That was like our only taste at the Indianapolis 500 which was fun. That was like our only taste of the Indy 500 Awesome that you got to to go talking about myself what I did over the weekend I saw that you were at Patrick my homes golf event. Yeah. Yes What um, what's the charity named 15 for my homes the home my homies my homies 15 for my homies my homies Yes, that's a really cool name. That's pretty cool name. That is it's clever my homies, my homies 15 for my homies, my homies. Yes. That's a really cool name. That's a pretty cool name. That is it's clever. My homies. I love when I'm talking to some people sometimes and they're like, yo, yo, I'm a big fan of instead of saying my homes,

they say my homies. I've heard that before and I just started to laugh. I think it's really good. It's really clever. And he should like amp up that nickname a little bit more. He should take it in. My homies is just great. you know, it really is. So how was that golf event, Jules? Spill the beans, who was there? Who did you golf with? I heard Dola was there as well.

What was Dola doing there? I know he's a golfer as well. I know, like he belongs there, but I'm saying what was he doing there? Was he having a good time? Spill all the beans, Jules. I don't know. It was a standard event.

Saw Kelsey, Trav wasules. I don't know. It was a standard event. Uh, saw Kelsey. Trav was there. He made an appearance. Patrick was there. Clearly. I saw Mr. Mahomes dapped him up. I said, Hey man, I'm with you over here.

Uh, I saw the fight against crook or whatever that one dude in rocker, um, and then, uh, I wanted to see that fight go down. I wanted to say, I think he made sure. Yeah. Well, we let's not get in that. But also, Dola, he, you know, Dola was just doling around. AQ Shipley was there or he's awesome. Oh, Shipley, he's a man.

I play with him for a year or two. And Tampa, we found out like, I never really met him, but I watch him on the McAfee show. And I love his segments where they always breaking down the offensive line play and shit, and it was cool to connect with him. He's who I talked to probably the most. We had the same birthday. Born the same year, same birthday, so pretty crazy.

Well, happy birthday month to you, Jules, to myself, and A.Q. Shipley, baby. A.Q. Shipley, awesome dude. There was a bunch of dudes areas standard golf event. You know a bunch of people with a lot of money Paid a play golf and it was a scramble Shadow Creek in Vegas Spectacular course like everyone keeps on always saying Augusto. I don't know I heard that like a million times like hey Doesn't this remind you kind of August I like I'm not that smart, but I heard that like a million times. Like, hey, doesn't this remind you kind of August? I like, I'm not that smart, but I heard it like five times. People, they were, what is it called?

A comparing. They were, that's a hard word. They were comparing to Augusta, but nothing like, you know, it was fun. And it was for a great cause. 15th, 15 and my homies, I think he helps a bunch of kids that, you know, it was fun and it was for a great cause. Fifteenth, fifteen in my homies. I think he helps a bunch of kids that, you know, mentoring in sports, need sports equipment.

Very awesome thing. And I know they raised a bunch of money. Always great to see that. Let's shift over to who did you golf with first? Who was in your course with? I golfed with this these oil traders, you know, big money, you know, homies, the oil guys, all the Texas guys, you know, they're talking about that oil. I had no clue. I said, hey, I'm a California tech guy. They said,

yeah, buddy, you got to get in that liquid gold. I said, what's the liquid gold? They said that oil. I think oil is more than liquid gold. It's probably liquid, liquid platinum. Yeah, there we go. Now we thought now we talking But yeah, they were cool dudes. One of them was from New Hampshire They were all lived in Texas and they were all oil traders It was cool that great food well talking about you know, the golfing and and the oil guys and being from Texas

One of my favorite shows right now is Landman with Billy Bob Thorne. Was he there? Did you get the golf with him? By any chance, dang it. Love Billy Bob Thorne, love his wife as well, well his ex-wife in Landman as well. You know that's the same chick from Varsity Blues.

Yeah, the one that put the whipped cream all over her body as a bikini. Yeah, that was gnarly. Who doesn't know that? Well, I if Billy Bob was there, I would have been infatuated to see what he would have been wearing because I've seen this guy doing the press tours. You see, he looks like Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean. I've seen him with some hats and scarves and shit.

And he plays like these like podunk dudes. But then he comes out when he does all this media and he's like super creative and like fucking pirate II and shit like Let's see. Look at this Billy Bob Thorne was there. I love long ride on Jules. He's fucking Jack Sparrow He got a With a hat and all this shit, dude But you gotta be a cool dude to be dressing like that And he's a cool motherfucker and to be able to just change character like that at all times like the character that he has

Is a land man does not represent him at all the way that he is dressed there. That's when you roll You are a legit actor as well when you're the best of the best out there is when you can just be one guy one day Then just another guy another gay Before we get into Our guys we also should you know? Give a shout out to jim ursay Um, you know, he was a I think he was one of the longest standing owners For the league took it over from his dad when his dad passed

You know, there's a lot of beef between our organizations, but you know, we respect the hell out of. Yes, we do. You know, the Colts and Mr. Ursay, he did a lot for this league. I remember him always being heavily involved in, you know, the lockout stuff. And whenever you hear a Colt player talk about Jim Ur or say with whatever craziness you think all love,

it's all love. I mean, McAfee went like an hour, two hours of his show, just telling stories. That's how big of an impact he had on, on McAfee. I mean, he just seemed like a guy that people love, the guitar collection. He had a, he had a bunch of talents, weightlifter. So shout out to Jim Ursay.

You know, we lost one and he was a big key pivotal guy for our league into where it's going. So. Yes, rest in peace Jim. RIP Buff. Thank you for everything that you have done for the NFL. Thank you. Should we get into some dudes?

Yes, we shall. All right, well, let's give us the AI summary. All right, let's go us the AI summary. All right our first dude standing six foot one inch tall Weighing 248 pounds this bruising fullback was selected

35th overall in the second round of the 1996 nfl draft he grew up in Hortiet, Illinois, and starred at Purdue university and the NFL. He was known for his punishing running style and versatility. He earned six pro bowl selections, a super bowl ring, and remains the all time touchdown leader and Tampa Bay Buccaneers history. Let's get on Mike All-Stop. Oh my god. And Jules, what's the

first thing that you think of when you hear the name Mike All-Stop? For me, for me though, real quick before you, like I believe that he was bigger than the Tampa Bay Buccaneers organization. He was the Tampa Bay Buccaneers organization at that time, you know, that era when I was growing up and watching him and that's what You know the first thing that comes to my memory is that he's a Tampa Bay Buccaneer. No. Yeah For me neck roll. Mm-hmm first thing there we go mine. I like that and then freaking boomer just going

Remember on all his highlights he go Like this good I mean just a bruiser and I just remember like He started out as a fullback and then he was getting tailback touches and he was producing crazy amounts of yards if Like the most north and south guy you could ever think of. And if you were a white guy that was a lineman, you know what I mean? White lineman that were like in high school,

I just always remember that they loved Mike Allstop because he was like the epiphany that maybe this is what it would look like if I got the ball. And you know what I mean? He gave so much hope to every freaking little white lineman that was like six foot, 240 in high school, that played fucking guard center or anything, like you know what, if I hit a growth spurt,

I could potentially be Mike All-Star. That's the truth. Was he like a super superstar in college? I know only about him when he was on Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but did he actually like get handoffs in college as well or did that start once he got into the NFL? I know because he was that beastly of a fullback.

Like what was his style in college as well? Like what was his stats? All right, so he played a hundred, no that's his NFL stats. What was his college stats that got him drafted in the second round? Because being that beastly at the fullback position, he at least had to show some skillset that he could still run the ball as well, you know, at that fullback position.

I mean, he had three yards. He had three seasons over 1200 yards. Okay. The fucking monster. So that's why absolute savage in college as well. I never knew his college. Fourteen touchdowns back to back over a thousand yards. Three years as junior year and senior year, 800 yards as sophomore year. And as a freshman, he had like 200 yards. So that's what got him drafted in the second round as well,

because he was showing the ability that he could run the ball as well. It's his rookie year. He has 65 catches. I mean, he was a great out of the backfield. He was a great out of the backfield. He was a great out of the, Tom Rathmann-esque. Just overall, just a great back. Shout out Tom Rathmann. Including being a full and a running back. He's a back.

Yeah, he's just a back. He could play in any era, any era. He could play in any era. He could play right now. He'd be great right now. He would be. It would bring back that old school mentality. Imagine him air. He could play right now. He'd be great right now. He would be. It would bring back that old school mentality. Imagine him on the Baltimore Ravens right now

with Lamar Jackson and Henry. And then he's the fullback and then he also has the option to hand it off to him too. Yeah, they do. What's his name? Fullback Ravens, big boy. He's the old defense alignment number. He's like 290 pounds.

Ricard. Yeah. Ricard's a fucking monster, too. He is. He's but he's not. You can't run like all side. He gets a couple here and there. The little. Yeah. Waggles. Do you look at him? Just I'm going to get right into it.

Do you look at him as the best fullback of all time? I think he's probably the best hybrid fullback of all time, because you look at Neil, that guy. I mean, he was the fullback for like four rushing champs. You know, I mean, so Mike, also, that's the best fallback of all time as the best running fullback, the complete package. The best running fullback of all time. OK, and I'm not trying to downplay his blocking because War done had some

fucking yards with him as well. But I'm just saying like downplay his blocking because work done had some fucking yards with him as well but i'm just saying like Riggins was insane There was a bunch of guys that the fullback position what he did is he revolutionized The fullback position it used to be the fullback Usually used to just get a concussion every day because he had to hit a linebacker 10 times in a row full speed or the d tackle on a wh or a bat. You know, I mean, he's just getting concussions. He as in Michael Stott literally revolutionized it.

We're like, hey, maybe we should give this big ass dude the ball on a short yardage play. Started doing that. And then all of a sudden he starts running for fucking 55 yards, jumping over, dude, blowing people up. You know what I mean? So it's hard to say he's the best of all time because the guys before it, I don't think they got the opportunity like him,

which he earned that opportunity because he showed it in practice. He showed that he had the speed and everything to be able to do it, but he's definitely up there. He's the best running fullback of all time, I believe. We'll be right back after this quick break. Made for This Mountain is a podcast that exists to empower listeners to rise above their struggles, break free from the chains of trauma, and silence the negative voices that have kept

them small. Through raw conversations, real stories, and actionable guidance, you can learn to face the mountain that is in front of you. You will never be able to change or grow through the thing that you refuse to identify. The thing that you refuse to say, hey, this is my mountain, this is the struggle, this is the thing that's in front of me.

You can't make that mountain move without actually diving into it. May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to conquer the things that once felt impossible and step boldly into the best version of yourself to awaken the unstoppable strength that's inside of us all. So tune into the podcast, focus on your emotional well-being, and climb your personal mountain. Because it's impossible for you to be the most

authentic you. It's impossible for you to love you fully if all you're doing is living to please people. Your mountain is that. Listen to Made for This Mountain on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Amy Robach and TJ Holmes here. Diddy's former protege, television personality, platinum selling artist, Danity King alum, Aubrey O'Day, joins us to provide a unique perspective on the trial that has captivated the attention of the nation.

Aubrey O'Day is sitting next to us here. You are, as we sit here, right up the street from where the trial is taking place. Some people saw that you were going to be in New York, and they immediately started jumping to conclusions. So can you clear that up? First of all, are you here to testify in the Ditty Trial? Aubrey will offer her opinions and expertise

based on her firsthand knowledge. From her days on Making the Band as she emerged as the breakout star, the truth of the situation would be opposite of the glitz and glamor. It wasn't all bad, but I don't know that any of the good was real. I went through things there.

Listen to Amy and TJ presents Aubrey O'Day, covering the Diddy Trial on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. The American West with Dan Flores is the latest show from the Meat Eater Podcast Network, hosted by me, writer and historian Dan Flores and brought to you by Velvet Buck. This podcast looks at a West available nowhere else. Each episode, I'll be diving into some of the lesser known histories of the West. I'll then be joined in conversation by guests such as Western historian Dr.

Randall Williams and bestselling author and meat eater founder, Stephen Rannella. I'll correct my kids now and then where they'll say when cave people were here and I'll say it seems like the Ice Age people that were here didn't have a real affinity for caves. So join me starting Tuesday, May 6th, where we'll delve into stories of the West and come to understand how it helps inform the ways in which we experience the region today. Listen to The American West with Dan Flores on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. What happens when we come face to face with death?

My truck was blown up by a 20 pound anti-tank mine. My parachute did not deploy. I was kidnapped by a drug cartel. I just remember everything getting dark. I'm dying. When we step beyond the edge of what we know. I just remember everything getting dark. I'm dying. When we step beyond the edge of what we know. To open our consciousness to something more than just what's in that Western box.

And return. I clinically died. The heart stopped beating. Which I was dead for 11.5 minutes. My name is Dan Bush. My mission is simple. To find, explore, and share these stories. I'm not a victim, I'm a survivor.

You're strongest when you're the most vulnerable. To remind us what it means to be alive. Not just that I was the guy that cut his arm off, but I'm the guy who is smiling when he cut his arm off. Alive Again, a podcast about the fragility of life, the strength of the human spirit, and what it means to truly live. Listen to Alive Again on the iHeart Radio app,

Apple podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. What I love about Mike Allstock is that he just represents a football player as well. Let me see. This guy was a football player. Like if you had to describe a football player, what a football player does, that's Mike Allstock. Just the way he had no fear. And I don't envy these fullbacks. I'm telling you that right now. I love blocking tools, but I love blocking a guy that's, you know,

his hands down right in front of me, right on the line of scrimmage. I'm talking, these guys are tapped, brother. I got two brothers that are fullbacks. One played three years, the other one played about two years in the NFL. And the way that they just line up in the backfield, run five yards at a linebacker that has a full head of steam running five yards as well and just has that big huge collision. It's like a car crash on a daily basis. I don't envy that they're tapped to another level. They're special. It's wild that gene that they have that they want to do that. Like James Devlin, absolute Savage as well.

I just tried to call James. He's probably need him. Pick up James. We're trying to call you. I'm trying to call him because he's a neck roll guy to neck roll. That's what that's what you think of when you think of fullback neck roll. Daryl Johnson, don't forget him. So what people don't realize. The fullback. Throughout the week, Wednesday, Thursday, which are the two hitting days,

we have these nine on seven practice drills where it's like you're it's just run game inside run game. And I remember watching this and every freaking play. It's just Dante Hightower going full speed at James Devlin head to head combat. Every single play. These dudes are fucking calc calcified their heads are That's what they do. They hit they they fucking their bricks I wonder how he was in the weight room. Mm-hmm, cuz I bet you he was just a fucking like every fullback They have dedicated weight room time. Well, though, you know, like whenever the fullback is in the weight room It's like his weight room, you know, there's, there's like a box of smelling salts.

There, his knees are wrapped, the elbows are wrapped. And I'm just talking off of like James Devlin and the guys that I play with, but I can only imagine it's the same way everywhere. There's usually like a bottle of NO explode right before, like right next to them. So they could take a shot every time they're about to hit the squats. That's what the full back energy is. I mean, the guy trained by pushing a car 100 yards, that's full back energy as well right there. What kind of car though?

A Jeep. Oh, there he is. I remember that. I fucking remember that picture. Jeep ain't easy to push, man. A Jeep is an off-roading machine. No. That thing is technically a decent sized car. Jeep ain't easy to push man. A Jeep is an off-roading machine. No like that thing, you know

It's technically a decent sized car. So that's kind of describes Mike all start as well He's like the off-road Jeep, you know that could also you know have some talent to maneuver on the highway and juke some dudes And all stop was the guy like had the neck roll He's a guy that looked like he could never juke a defender ever. Like he's just gonna run over an opponent, which he did on a daily basis. But then all of a sudden out of nowhere, this guy had footwork that looked like a running back

and he would juke a safety, a defensive back, or a linebacker in the open field and go for an extra 15. It's like, oh, where did that footwork come from? Like unbelievable that he had that in him. And that's what made him so great as a ball carrier as well. And then also what made him great too. I feel like, yeah, he had those jukes, but when he was running over guys and blocking guys,

this guy kept his feet moving and they always emphasize that great coaches, offensive line coaches, you know, tight end coaches when you're in the blocking game or when you're running at someone or trying to get, when someone's trying to tackle you, keep your feet moving. Keep the high knees going. And Mike Allstock was the perfect example of that. If you watch his highlight film,

boom, boom, his feet were always rolling. He never stopped them. And that's what makes you great. That momentum never stops. And you just keep trucking over mofos. And that's what he did. You know what? And hold on, let me finish on Mike Allstock real quick.

The greatest thing about him, if you wanna get the chills, if you wanna see what a true football player is, you wanna get amped up, you watch one of the greatest highlight films of all time and that's Mike Allstock. It is. It'll get the hair on the back. It'll get the hair on the back lifted. Now I just had a thought in my head.

If Mike Allstott was a car, you know what he reminds me of? He reminds me of the new Escalade with the Z06 engine in it. Where that thing, have you heard those fucking cars? It's the Corvette engine in the Escalade. So it's got giddy up, but it's a big fucking piece of mass. And that's what he was. He was the Escalade, the new Escalade with fucking... It's a big piece of mass. And that's what he was. He was the Escalade, the new Escalade with fucking. It's a big piece. It's a big car.

But look at the horses under it. Look at look at look at the engine. I think it's got a six point three supercharged Corvette engine. These things are fucking fast. My buddy got one. I don't even have a fucking escalator or anything. This isn't an ad or anything. This is just literally what I thought. Supercharged, supercharged, fucking six point3. That's, that's my call stop. Supercharged Escalade. Maybe a little

bit too fancy. Like you got to switch it up. Maybe add some tires to it or something that's still American. How about put some like, you know, like key to key to Escalade a little bit, put some bruises on it, some scars. You just change the tires. You're not going to have rims on it. But once it gets dirty, never wash it either. on it, some scars. Well, you just change the tires. You're not going to have rims on it. Well, once it gets dirty, never wash it either. That would represent a little bit more to the exact T. But OK, performance-wise, makes sense. I remember that game.

Go back. The two touchdowns in the division round versus the Niners in 2002. 17 carries, 87 yards, two touchdowns. Bucks stomped the Niners 31 to 6 en route to the NFC Championship. Was that with Jeff Garcia? He'd have like only 87 yards, but you didn't see the third and four or the third and two where he like just blew up four dudes. And he'd have such great situational runs. Like he was he is the perfect four minute back. Four minute being like the last four minute.

It's a situation that we all play out in our head when you play football. The last four minutes of the game, how if you have a lead, how do you sustain the time and take the time off the clock? You have to have long sustaining drives, but you also have to keep the clock running. A guy like him would be a four minute fucking running backs wet dream. And another trait that he had,

which never has really been talked about, because as a fullback, you usually don't have patience. You're ready just to rip someone's head off and you're just ready to run with a full set of you know Full head of steam and just go take somebody out and there's no patience. This guy had patience He had a full back and that's rare because like I just said you're trying to run just full speed to just level someone But with the ball in his hands, he let the play develop, you know He was patients, you know with the way that he ran north and south patients.

Good jump cut. Yes. Great jump. He was more north and south, but he just had that it feeling for the game of football at the fullback position as well. You know what? And people don't realize that he was great out of the backfield catching the ball. I remember him. I remember watching him catch the ball a bunch to on those little wide routes him and work done on those double Wide routes him and work done together were a great little combo work

Don't was one of my favorite little running backs too and they ronde barber on the other side Derek Brooks This was a fucking legendary team John Lynch. Shout out fucking break your neck over the middle Like this was a these teams. I'm glad lynched in play when I was playing dude He so my rookie I would have been knocked out like four more times Like this was, these teams. I'm glad Lynch didn't play when I was playing. Dude. Yeah. So my rookie year. I would have been knocked out like four more times off that seam. And Tom wouldn't have cared.

He would have still thrown me the ball. Like, oh, that's John Lynch. I'll let Rob get, you know, leveled. John Lynch was, he used to murder people. Murder. I remember I did a thing with, what's the sporting goods store out here? Models. I did a thing with uh, what's the sporting goods store out here? Models I did a thing with Models and on the clearance rack. It was like my rookie year There is a bunch of John Lynch

Patriots jerseys because he was on the team for like a camp and so they probably ordered a bunch of jerseys I saw some can come pick it up and another thing that I'll start You know had in his tools is that, which is actually the most important thing I feel like is leverage. He knew that the game of football was dependent on leverage. And he was the perfect size to get that leverage so he can blow up whatever defender he needed to or break a tackle. And like to get low like that and underneath someone else's paths, he was the

master at it and that's kind of what made them. So like when you were in Tampa for that year, couple of years, did, did, was there like a all-stop aura in there? Could you know, did you know he was part of the organization? I mean, whenever he came around, you had that, he came around a lot. I'm not a lot, you know, Michael, I know he's big in the community. Yeah. But you know, he came around every once in a while, but whenever he came around and I got to meet him, I was kind

of in awe because like I said, All-State, one of the baddest ass football players to ever live. Uh, you know, you got to show respect to the ones that were before you as well. And he kind of is similar with the style I play, but I would say that he's even a you as well. And he kind of is similar with the style I play, but I would say that he's even a notch above me and he did it at a higher level than me of that aggressiveness and playing the game of football, especially at the fullback position, which takes a lot more to do. But you feel that presence when he's around and you appreciate it and you're respected to the highest level. Now, well, who's a Mount Rushmore of power runners? Let's get it. Give us a let's see what the power runners are cuz he I think he'd be in there Riggins would be in there

Who else Kazanka Larry's aca There he's onka power runner. Wow. What about the guy on the giants back in the day? Well, when we were kids, oh, love, love, Brandon Jacobs. Yeah. Brandon Jacobs, man. Or what about a Peyton Hillis for that one year? Oh, Peyton Hillis.

Yeah. He's definitely up there. He was on the cover of Madden for a year. I mean, Jim Brown was a fucking power runner. If you watch him, like he was the biggest, fastest man on the goddamn field. Like no one can, I remember him punishing people like Derek Henry. Derek Henry, definitely. Steve Ridley had him to read.

I loved when Rid was at full strength. That's why it was his second year. He went over four thousand yards, but Red ran over a couple of fools as well. Remember the game in London? Yeah. Versus at the time, the St. Louis Rams just put his freaking shoulder down just plastered Plastered him Earl Campbell. Mm-hmm. He was a physical runner. You remember those forearm shots? He would give guys trying to take him down I would go

Mount Rushmore of power runners This gonna be this gonna be going hot in the comments section probably. But you're putting running backs in there as well. Michael thought it was a fullback, but we're just gonna combine them all because he has such a power,

a powerhouse of a runner. You gotta go, all right, I'm gonna put, I'll start one, I'm gonna go John Riggins, two, you. There's only four I'm going to put. I'll start one. I'm going to go, John Reagan's to you. There's only four spots you got to. I'm definitely going to put my cost out up there. And that's what you could take all star three. I'm going to Campbell.

I fucking love Darrell Campbell as an oiler. I didn't love him. I just remember watching his highlights. Kidding and blown for. I'm going to go with for the one year just overall. Oh, actually, no, no. My mind just changed. Last one. I'm going to go with for the one year, just overall. Oh, actually, no, no. My mind just changed. Last one.

I was going to give it to Payton hell. It's just for the one year, two years they had in Cleveland cause it was absolutely absurd what he was doing. He was running. He was, he was on the man cover. That's how good of a year that he had. And he was running over our Joe Dennis, Marshawn Lynch. I'm going with Jerome Venice, the bus, the bus.

How can I not go with the bus like that? That's all the guy did was run with power. Marshawn Lynch was fucking powerful as fuck too. Especially late Marshawn when he got a little bigger. So many good ones. It's hard to have a Mount Rushmore of power runners. Jules, who created this like this is stupid because they're all great. What a rookie card on a on a heart.

What is it? A Harley? That's when you know, you're badass You're on the motorcycle looking like a stud, you know feeling out your chin Just already eyeing down all the cheerleaders just you know during your photo shoot guy Absolute stud those look like 22 inch arms to dog those arm. Hey, look at his forearms I bet you he could hit a baseball. Looks like an actor there. He does. He looks like a beefy fucking. Looks like he blocks it in Top Gun.

He. Yeah. You know what? He's a pilot. I don't do. He may be too big to be a pilot. Definitely. Those little cockpits. Mm hmm. Man. Love that he had frosted tips for a little while. Did he? Yeah.

I mean, that was fucking late, late 90s, early 2000s. Everyone did. I mean, Enrique Iglesias brought that shit out Remember that we all had this. Yeah, the little spice tips. Actually, I never messed with my hair ever before We wish I had spice tip. I went to private school. So we'd put like Spray the shit in your hair and get in trouble. Mm-hmm. All right, what kind of dude is Mike all stop? I mean, he's everything he's got dog tendencies He's definitely probably it was he do you have dude dudes kind of vibes? I mean when you're blocking your face off like that for your to your always a dude

You're always a dude no matter what no matter what whiz he's kind of whiz he innovated But a fullback to be a tailback. There would be no Peyton Hillis if there was no fucking Mike all startak of nature. He's definitely, I mean, he's too sick. He's also stud though. You see that? Yes. You see that?

That rookie photo? That's exactly what I thought. I said, what kind of fucking guy has a rookie photo on a Harley with his goddamn forearms that are 18 inches? His biceps are 22. That's studly. It really is. On three, one, two, three, stud.

He really is. I mean, he's well-rounded. He's well-rounded. He was also the face of a team. There's no, like dogs aren't usually face, you can be a face of a team. Face of a team that didn't even get much attention. But then went out and won a Super Bowl with him.

Yes. You know what I mean? And he was a huge part of it. Can't forget Warren Sapp and the Derek Brooks and that great defense, Don Ronde Barber, Kiffin fucking Collin. Like they had some, those were some great teams, but everyone knew Mike Allstock.

You know, we were on the West coast and that was like Tampa Bay Bucks Mike Allstock. Yes All right. All right. Let's get in our next guy. Let's do it I got the AI summary right here in my hands standing six feet four inches tall and weighing around 250 pounds during his playing days. He grew up in Daly City, California And played college football at Cal Poly San Luis and played college football at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

As an offensive tackle, he was drafted in the 21st round of the 1958 NFL draft by the Philadelphia Eagles. My mind was just blown because I just learned something, Julian. There was that many rounds in the NFL draft back then. The 21st round. How many rounds were there total? 30 rounds total? That's absurd. That's absurd. I'm glad they a lot of money first round. Yeah. How many rounds were there total? 30 rounds total. Yeah, that's absurd. That's crazy. I'm glad they knocked it down a little bit. That would be, that'd be way too much if there was 30 right. It won't even make sense. Won't even make sense. You'd have better have the lower drosters. Oh, but was there less teams? Is there

only like 10 teams? Is that why there was 30 rounds? They're just throwing out and it's like kind of getting drafted to go to the military and if someone showed up, they're just throwing out. And it's like kind of getting drafted to go to the military. And if someone showed up, they showed up then great. Kind of. But if they didn't show up, well, he didn't show up. That's why we had to go players. If you're drafted in the military, you got to go. That's when we know they just didn't have it. You're going to draft 50 guys back then.

And the ones that don't show, we already know they don't have it. More like baseball. Yes. Military. But yeah, we'll take it. And he went on to become one of the most successful head coaches in NFL history Winning over 100 games and securing a Super Bowl title in 1977 after his playing and coaching days were over his football

Intellect and natural charisma helped him become a legendary broadcaster pitch man video game pioneer and cultural icon Let's get on John Madden. John Madden. And Jules, what's the first thing that you think of when you're here to name John Madden? The turducken. Ooh, turducken. Who doesn't think of the turducken? This guy used to cut the damn turducken with his fingers, those big ass offensive line sausages that he had.

He cut the turducken on Thanksgiving and he would reward the MVP of Thanksgiving Day with the turducken turkey leg chicken Whatever the thing is whatever leg it is. He would give it to him. We all know about it because of John Madden Thanksgiving John Madden football when you watch it John Madden if you're a kid that's in his 30s or lower 40s, maybe even early 50s, taught you the game of football through his video game. John Madden is one of the most important names for the NFL. One of the most important names

for the National Football League. I mean, you got kids out in Tokyo and Africa and India playing American football because of John Madden video game. I don't know if that's actually true. I know it's the highest grossing American video game of all time. But, you know, it sounded good. It sounded good. That's all matters.

That's all. But, you know, he Daily City, I love John Madden because he he's a fellow college, college of San Mateo alum go Bulldogs went to CSM the same Juco that I went to He's born and raised in Daily City So he had a huge Bay Area Bay Area influence and then he also coached the Raiders Legendary got them their first was it their first Super Bowl? Got them their first Super Bowl with Al Davis with that cornerstone organization and the history of that organization to be the guy that brings them their first. I mean, he's just he's an absolute legend. His

name is synonymous with football. Here's a question for you being a California guy. How did being a NorCal guy shape his approach to the game? That's a question I just do at you. I mean, it's not even just John Madden. How is just being a NorCal guy overall? I mean, John Madden set the standard, but how did that change the approach? Or how did he see it approaching the game,

just being from California? Well, if you look at him on and how he was on TV, very approachable, very like there's always the stories of how John John Madden took the bus everywhere and was always big in the community that he was visiting would be go up to people. He was like the most famous guy in football and he would go hang out at like the local restaurant. And I think maybe. And that's what the Norer cow-ness he has,

is being able to be a very intellectual dude, but be able to break it down to simple for everyone to understand. Kind of techie, kind of techie. I mean, he's C++ and shit. There we go. That's the answer that we're looking for. And then all of a sudden.

All the techies are from California. That was the answer. He's coding shit for you to understand. There it is. He's basically coding football for the regular viewer to understand. I mean, Daly City, the freaking cloudiest place in the world, but awesome, right by the SFO.

Literally, it's like- That's why they're geniuses, they don't go outside. They don't, it's so cloudy. It's cloudy, what's the point of going outside? There's no sun, you just stay inside, you become a tech master and tech master. And that's kind of what he was. Well, in the Bay Area, that you have this mountain range

that is along the whole coast and it funnels all that fog right from both north and south right into like Daly City. And so Daly City always freaking foggy. Shout out ceremony. that's over there. Saramani was this mall where everyone would go get their Air Force ones, it was in Daily City. Shout out. Is he the greatest broadcaster of all time?

Greatest broadcaster of all time. He was definitely one of the best broadcasters of all time. There's so many good broadcasters now, no doubt about it. I would say in that era and being that consistent for that long of a time. Yes, you got to give it to him. I would say right. Who would be up there in that competition? There's a lot of great ones.

I mean, I don't know. John man is the guy. He is just the guy and that's why he got the video game cover. Doink. Hey, I like WAP. I want to say WAP. WAP. He's just I like WAP. I'm going to say WAP. WAP. He used to go BOOM.

Just the way that he broke down plays too. Like you said. He invented the telestrator. That's why he is who he is because you said it. He made the game simple. And the game of football is not simple. There's a lot going on, especially for you, the quarterback. You got to know 15 things going on in a matter of a split two seconds. You got to know where

the safeties are, who's, who's blitzing off, what the defense alignment is doing, what your wide receivers are doing, what are the calls at the office line position. And then when he broke it down and John Madden broke it down on that little, you know, chalkboard or whatever he was doing. Yeah. He's the one who started that type of shit too to break it down with the fans. He made it simple for fans to understand the game of football for people that don't play the game of football. But it's hard to understand the game of football if you don't play it. And if you can break it down easy, it gets the fans more involved. And that's also what made him so iconic is he got so many fans involved in understanding the game of football because he broke it down so easily.

And that's kind of how I am too. I appreciate when it's simple. Jules, when McDaniels was calling 50 calls at the line of scrimmage, you got to do that. When the blitzers, I'm like, no, it's a lot for me. You got to think I like when it's simple and McDaniels found that out too. As I also according to, he's like, I'm just going to keep it simple for Gronk and that's when you thrive the most.

So I appreciate John Madden for keeping it simple. You understand it and you can just go out there and do what you got to do. They call that kiss. Keep it simple, silly. My dad used to say stupid though. You ever meet John Madden? I didn't get to meet John Madden.

I never have either, but it feels like I feel like I know we ever did me Oh, yeah, it's like you know, you're good friend. You know, he also did like he brought in the telestrator he brought in You know Madden I remember hearing stories that they originally wanted to make it eight verse eight because they didn't have the technology to do Eleven verse eleven Hanna. He was like hard No, if we're gonna teach football, we're gonna teach it correctly He taught football to the viewer the telestrator What that did and what that showed was that gave an inside look of how a coach coaches a player

You know, they're the great telestrator coaches that we had I had Scotty O'Brien Where these guys would sit up there for 20 minutes and they'd be doing John Madden shit. All right, you guys. He draw like a butt here, a butt here. You got to get up there and go and these guys get on these telestrators and they think they're fucking Picasso or something. And, you know, and it's, you know, it brought the best out of it.

It brought the best. And it was a form of entertainment. And it was. And it broke it down simpler as well and made it simple. And he was the first John Man was the first to show people. That's how we broke down film. That's how like probably in those days, they had overhead projectors where they would show, all right, guys, this is what we're doing. And like that that little thing right there is so huge.

And now you look at like how they show games now. Everyone, every network is always trying to look for that new thing. That's like the telestrator with all the different camera angles, the fucking camera that goes in behind and everything like all that stuff. You could he's a pioneer. A lot of that shit. You know what I mean? The Madden game. I mean, I mean, John Madden is so legendary.

They already have a movie coming out about John Madden. You got Nicolas Cage playing Madden. And I've seen some pictures of him. He kind of looks exactly like Madden. I don't know how they do that. Nicolas Cage is a skinnier guy. And like, what do they do? Fill them up with pillows.

Yeah, I mean, when I used to fill myself self up with pillows, I'd be in one corner. My brother would be in the other corner. We call it Zooms. and you'd just get as big as you possibly can, stuff as many pillows as you can, and then you would run full speed at each other, and just crash right into each other, kind of like Mike Alstott versus any linebacker,

and you would meet at the line of scrimmage, and then we would just go flying backwards, but our protection was the pillows, so that's what I guess Nicolas Cage is doing right now. Let me explain something to some people out there for all you people I think like oh, I got a baby Gronk in my house. Look at this kids His form of entertainment was running full speed into a wall with pillows. Okay into Another person not a wall built different into another wall into another person shit

Mm-hmm. He literally the form of entertainment was playing hockey downstairs and fucking running into each other Oh rules full contacts. Look at that looks like Madden. That's Nicolas Cage. Holy shit. Yeah They got his titties and everything. I'm gonna be watching the movie We all love mad man boobs We all love Madden's man boobs. Would you have rather played for John Madden as you know with him being the head coach or would you rather have been his broadcast partner? I'd rather play with him played for him. I heard he was an awesome players coach. Well, I took a picture recently in a bathroom. I forgot where I was and it was a quote of John Madden. He goes, guys, what was it? I took a picture recently in a bathroom. I forgot where I was and it was a quote of John Madden.

He goes, guys, what was it? I think it was like, you can't break, if you don't make a lot of rules, guys can't break them. It was something like along that line. Didn't I send it to you guys? The fewer rules a coach has, the fewer rules there are for players to break.

Keeps it simple. Keeps it simple. The rules that he has probably get followed so well because there's not so many rules. And I think he did only have three rules. What were they? They were simple beyond time. Pay attention.

This is like kindergarten. I love it. I could have thrived. I could have gotten an, a, you know know playing for John Madden back in the day and Play hard when I tell you I like that So what if he doesn't tell you to play hard you don't have to play hard you're probably just playing your game But then like when he really needs and that like that team to step up his team step up to another level Brings him in the huddle. Hey motherfuckers

I need you guys to play hard right now and whoop the motherfucking asses. And then they go out there and play hard. I bet you he has. He probably had some great like pregame speeches. I mean, the guy knows how to talk savvy, savvy, clever. And it was like, oh, he's like entertaining time, like the booms. And, you know, he would come up with names

and he would like, he analogized the regular man shit to like. I really look up to people like John Madden that just have that wittiness to them. There's a lot of people like that. Greg Olson has a stray hand, has a, you know, Terry Bradshaw has it, like you put them in any situation and they can just be witty with whatever's going on

and figure out a way to explain what's going on or a way to ask a question of what's being evaluated right there. John Madden had that, the words he would come up with, the way he would explain things. You gotta be born with that trait. I mean, you can develop it a little bit. I got it in a way, like,

but they have it to a whole nother level. And it's like, I envy it. I got it in a way like but they have it to a whole nother level and it's like I envy it. I love it. I love what they just do and John Madden had that and that's what made him so great as well and that's what made him such a great speaker and a guy to explain the game and broadcaster and coach because you can relate to people when you can you know speak like that and I relate to people when you can, you know, speak like that. And I, I, I love, I love people like that. And it's crazy. He's, he's one of the only, he's the only broadcaster to go on the, the four big networks, NBC, CBS, ABC,

and then go into Fox. He did all four. He did the big four. That's when you know you're good. Hearing old stories from Shanks, one of our bosses at Fox, he used to say that like John basically Gave the template of how we're gonna call the game like and it was basically like a Playsheet of like how they you would prepare for a game like the information groups

Like building a scouting system. There's, he taught the people on like what information he wanted to see, like what the coaches request for all the film guys for when they're breaking down an opponent, I heard like he was a huge part of all that. I could be completely wrong and may have just thought that through my brain, but I remember Shanks talking about a lot about Madden. No, definitely

He was one of the first guys that brought in the interviewing With the players night before whenever you hear like, oh are we talking to this guy? You know like that was John Madden and that's a true inside perspective into the game is when you get inside the heads of the player and John Madden started that like you said and that helps You out in the booth as well and it gives gives, you know, a better perspective to the fans. And that- EA Sports, in the game. It's in the game.

All right, before we get on though, and figure out what type of guy he is, Jules, I got a question. What was your best Madden rating? I don't know. Yeah, you do know. I really don't. Come on, you don't know?

I was in the 90s. I'll tell you mine. You were a 99 clubber. Yeah, I was a 99 clubber, babe. That's why I asked you that. So I can boost my ego up a little bit. 99 clubber. A couple times as well.

What was I? I don't think I really deserved it. Like one of the years, but I was a 99er a few times. My best, what was my best? 95? 95, that's not bad. 95 is really good overall. It must have been your speed that knocked you down.

Yeah. Your quickness is definitely a 99. Should be elite. What's your speed? What was your 40 by the way? 448. Oh, that's not bad actually. 451.

Yeah, but your quickness is just through the roof. Through the roof, Jules. 95 overall, that's not bad. You were on the cover? Mm-hmm. What here 12 You're on the cover man. Yes. Yes, Jules. I want so much cool shit. I forget. Yes. Yes. Thanks, man I appreciate it. It was really cool, man. I think it was 2017 you didn't get hurt after the curse was gone. It was it was gone

I forgot the guy before me broke it. Who was on it the year before me. Oh, I do remember that. But yeah, I was groin spiking on the cover. I mean, it was special, dude. It was really special to be on the cover of Madden. So I just want to give a big shout out to John Madden for creating Madden and giving me the opportunity to be on the cover.

And it was special, dude. It really was just, just to, you know, it's an honor be in that category, you know, to be recognized like that, you know, that was one of the coolest things that happened to me while I was playing, you know, in the NFL. It really was. Hell yeah. I mean, that's a huge honor. And I didn't know my score, but like I remember back when we were playing,

we all looked at our score. I knew I was in a high 90 of some sort and my best. But like that was a huge thing in the locker room. I mean, you got guys that like, what the fuck? That's all they care about. Now, that's all they care about is their goddamn rating. I mean, what was it? The New York Giants? They were or was it the Jets? They were cutting guys based on their Madden score?

I mean that's what they said. Yeah. I mean the grandson was running it. Yeah I mean that that just shows how influential yeah influential and how legit Madden is. Let's get into what kind of dude is John Madden. I think this one's easy. Easy. I mean, he's definitely a stud drafted in the 20th round. Maybe a freak. We all see the man boobs. That's out of love.

Definitely had some dog in him because I've seen a mother F some people. You see a mother F in the old footages. He used to yell and he used to remember he used to have all those great commercials He's have a lot of great commercials. He's definitely a dudes dude. Mm-hmm But I think it's easy what he is on three one, two, three whiz Why do you think he's a whiz? He's a whiz. I mean like you said he broadcasts it for all, you know Four of the major stations. He was a head coach. He was a player In just the way he broke down games. You got to be a smart and intellectual guy in order to do that.

And I would say that's his number one aspect of who he was, was just his knowledge. And when you got that knowledge, you're a whiz. He literally got inside the game as EA would say because of John Madden. We'll be right back after this quick break. Made for this Mountain is a podcast that exists to empower listeners to rise above their struggles, break free from the chains of trauma,

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Aubrey O'Day is sitting next to us here. You are, as we sit here, right up the street from where the trial is taking place. Some people saw that you were going to be in New York, and they immediately started jumping to conclusions. So can you clear that up? First of all, are you here to testify in the Diddy Trial? Aubrey will offer her opinions and expertise

based on her firsthand knowledge. From her days on Making the Band as she emerged as the breakout star, the truth of the situation would be opposite of the glitz and glamour. It wasn't all bad, but I don't know that any of the good was real. I went through things there. Listen to Amy and TJ presents Aubrey O'Day covering the Diddy trial on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

The American West with Dan Flores is the latest show from the MeatEater Podcast Network hosted by me, writer and historian Dan Flores, and brought to you by Velvet Buck. This podcast looks at a West available nowhere else. Each episode, I'll be diving into some of the lesser known histories of the West. I'll then be joined in conversation by guests such as Western historian Dr. Randall

Williams and bestselling author and meat eater founder, Steven Ronella. I'll correct my kids now and then where they'll say when cave people were here. And I'll say, it seems like the ice age people that were here didn't have a real affinity for caves. So join me starting Tuesday, May 6th, where we'll delve into stories of the West and come to understand how it helps inform the ways in which we experience the region today. Listen to The American West with Dan Flores on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. What happens when we come face to face with death? the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. dying. When we step beyond the edge of what we know. To open our consciousness to something more than just what's in that Western box. And return. I clinically died. The heart stopped beating. Which I was dead for 11.5 minutes. My name is Dan Bush. My mission is simple.

To find, explore, and share these stories. I'm not a victim, I'm a survivor. You're strongest when you're the most vulnerable. To remind us what it means to be alive. Not just that I was the guy that cut his arm off, but I'm the guy who is smiling when he cut his arm off. Alive Again, a podcast about the fragility of life, the strength of the human spirit, and what it means to truly live. Listen to Alive Again on the iHeartRadio app,

Apple podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. All right, let's get into the chillest dude of the week. Brought to you by our favorite beer, Coors Light. Get Coors Light delivered straight to your door. Visit CoorsLight.com slash dudes and celebrate responsibly. This is my favorite time. Every time on the podcast is when I get the crack of Coors Light.

Cola's the Rockies, because every time I sip, I feel more relaxed. I feel more chilled. So cheers. Celebrate responsibly. I look at them nice and blue. Blue's Clues, Blue's and for this week's chillest dude of the week, we're reacting to some of your hottest sports takes. Let's get into it. Let's go. Jules Gronk, Sam from Northeast Ohio here.

My hottest sports take is this. The Kent State Golden Flashes football program is a million times better than the Arizona Timber Kittens football program, past, present, and future. Hey Gronk, Wildcats? More like the mildcats. You know what? I can't argue that. I think that's a good take.

Who the fuck is this guy? I think that's a great take. I know you're not going to argue that. And I know you think that's freaking a good take. Northeast Ohio, shout out! I think that's one of the worst takes of all time. You guys are having so much fun in Arizona. Your Kent State Golden Flashes can't even beat the Buffalo Bulls where I grew up right down the street. I think I was over when I when when my friend when I got to Arizona, my friend Pete Bittner

was off into lineman and he won the Mac. Kent State was nowhere to be found. And that was in like, oh, wait, you got that. James Stark as the running back. Only reason why I knew about Kent State was, well, once I got to meet you, you put can stay on the map. And because that was just a team, the Buffalo Bulls ran over. I got to give you credit.

This guy fucking hot takes pretty funny, you know, a comedian thinks he's funny. Peanut Gallery, Arizona, Timmy Kittens. I mean, you're talking about the sorority girls and yes, he's right. He must have visited there and and saw what it was all about and got caught up in that and forgot that we have All right football program. He's kind of right in that our football program very mild I think this is what he's trying to explain. Let's hear it if What about our basketball program though? What about ours? We've been to a lead eight I mean we were in the Sweet 16 the last four years.

We went to Elite Eight in 2001, maybe three, with Antonio Gates. But this is what he's trying to get to, Rob. This is what he's trying to get to. Okay, I know what you're gonna say. Kent State. Oh, in the Mac. Have you been to Kent State?

Never have. I've been to Miami, Ohio. Great school. Great school. Love it, Brick Street I've been to Miami, Ohio. We did school. Great school. Love it. Brick street. Shout out to brick street. Drink plenty of these course lights there.

And I have my Jersey hanging up. Miami, Ohio is in South Ohio. We're Northeast Ohio. So you're right by a big ass Lake called Lake Urie. Okay. Well, we just talked about Lake Urie too. We just talked about Daly City being damn cloudy. Kent is probably cloudier, okay?

If Kent was in the beautiful desert with a lot of kittens running around like you talked about, I think that our team would be better. So that's what he's trying to say. With all your facilities, the beauty of your campuses, the great weather that you have, he's basically saying you guys have a dog shit program because that if you guys were to ever come and set foot in Northeast Ohio, you guys would be 10 times worse than us. That's what he's

saying. I got no more. Next call. I didn't, I didn't go to Arizona for the football program, buddy. Just put it that way. You like, like we were three in ten the year I committed to Arizona. I offered the Ohio State Clemson. They were all top two in the world in college football. I went to Arizona not because the football program was, you know, rank top ten every year. Well, I went to Ken State because we invented the plasma TV.

Well, we have a very good NASA program. We send a lot of rockets to space. We're top five in fashion programs. We have a top 25 business school that I was in that I dropped out because my brother was in and it looked really hard. So I dropped out to marketing and science. Well, you're not gonna beat this one.

Yeah. Kent State on my official visit told me we have a top two tasting tap water in America. While talking about top two tasting things, I learned what jungle juice was because of the University of Arizona and that's a top tasting drink. Can't beat that. Next call. All right. I knew Arizona was better. This season, Drake may will be a top five MVP candidate. Oh man. These are some hot takes that last take was hot. This one's even hotter. I think the breaks, pump the breaks.

Drake mays a great quarterback has a good team around him. Now I can see him being a top five candidate for MVP in the future. Maybe year three, four or five or something along those lines, but he's not going to be a top five candidate this year. I mean, Stefan Diggs, a great addition. We still don't know how he's gonna be coming off the ACL surgery. Sure, it looks great and all right now.

He had to come in off the worst line last year. New head coach with Vrabel. Obviously everything looks great. But to be a top five candidate in MVP, pump the brakes too soon. A little too soon. He's well on his way becoming a good football player, a good quarterback. You can't throw him great yet. No. You know, it's just, it's just there's too many variables in this sport. Yes. Too many. Just have that crazy of a lead. Yes. New offensive coordinator, so he's gonna be juggling new protections,

new calls, new language, new players to get used to. Now you expect Drake to be a lot better this year because he's got a year under his belt. He knows the area, he knows the team, he's a little more comfortable. Now it's up to him to go out and he has to learn again. You got to learn a new system again He's gonna learn a new this again. He's got a new learning new players again

so this is all part of the the the The process of building this kid, but I you know, let's pump the brakes Let's just try to make the playoffs before we talk about MVP. Mm-hmm. Next question. I think Please try to make the playoffs before we talk about MVP. Next question. I think the addition of George Pickens to the Cowboys team is single-handedly the reason the Cowboys will win the Super Bowl this year. This guy has definitely drank way too many Cori's Lights. I mean he's out of his mind.

He's probably 25 beers deep. He's got to be. It's just the addition of George Pickens. I mean there's so many other things that the Cowboys had to address and they had one of the worst off seasons of All time this year that they're saying I mean just because you add a talented player Doesn't mean you're gonna be that much better. They had a Great wide receiver group last year and they didn't even make the playoffs. They got worse from the year before But no, I don't think that makes them a Super Bowl team this year. Yeah, I think

The best you've gotten out of Dak Prescott is when he's had a really good running back and he could be a play-action Quarterback, I think George Pickens gonna help he's gonna be helped, you know on the X He's gonna help CD lamb who could break the intermediate part of that coverage and you got Pickens going down deep. He's going to be able to make 50-50 balls. He's going to be able to make those back shoulder catches. But you know, when they're trying to win a game, four minute offense, they don't have Ezekiel Elliott. They don't got one of those guys that they can give the ball to with their new fresh offense. Ezekiel Elliott and his prime. And his price, you know what I mean?

But like that's when these guys were really good when they had Zeke and they had a, who was the guy Pollard who was playing really well when they've had a really good running back, that's when the Cowboys have been really good. And that's when Dak has been really good. Amen to that. So I like the addition and I think Joel's Madden right now. Well, Iules. I like the addition. And I think. Jules Madden right now. Well, I think, I think, I think,

I think Dak will be able to, Dak's got the personality to be able to handle both pickings and CD. Cause those guys, you know, those, those are some, those guys want the ball. You know, it's tough for a quarterback, but I think if they get it, they gotta get a running back. So let's pump the brakes on the Super Bowl.

Last one. Here we go. Let's hear. I love these hot takes. What do you say? They don't be damn safe. Aaron Rodgers may not want to come down here. I don't want your ass anyway, pal. Whatever cornerback start for the Saints throwing a thousand more yards in his ass. You could print that. All right. Well, first off, you said Aaron Rodgers may not want to come down here.

Well, he doesn't. It's not May. There's not even like a question. Is he going to possibly come out? He's not coming down. They're not going to stay there. He's too old to live in Louisiana and he's too old to play for the Saints. And your hot take, whatever quarterback is starting for the Saints, if Aaron Rogers does even play this year, if he does, he may retire.

That's why he hasn't signed with the team. He's still contemplating. I mean, some shit going on for him. I mean, the guy deserves it. He's in his forties, played this long, that star of a player. He can do whatever he wants to take a, however long you want to take. But if Aaron Rogers does sign, what's an NFL team, probably the Pittsburgh Steelers, preferably I prefer that as well, because it would make the NFL that, that much better and it would make that be

fun as well. He will not throw for a thousand yards less than the New Orleans Saints quarterback. No, he's gonna throw for more whoever, who's the draft? Who is the Saints quarterback? You don't even have a quarterback. That's why you're mad.

Tyler Sloan, the guy will be too busy playing with his ding-a-ling because that's his name. Kellen Moore, can you get him right? I mean, look, you can say what you want to say about Aaron Rodgers. He was looking pretty good the back eight of last year when his Achilles started to feel good. You know, so I'm not saying any of those.

No chance. No chance. No chance. And Rodgers is gonna throw for more yards in the New Orleans Saints quarterback. If he plays. If he decides that he wants to play in the NFL. I think so. I think so too.

I think it's gonna happen. I really do. We need. I like when Aaron's here. Yeah, it makes it better. Even though the Jets had the worst year, it made the Jets that much better to talk about and to watch even make it watchable. You will ever watch the jets. No one, it made it watchable.

Oh, the Patriots are playing the jets. It's Rogers quarterback. Let's watch the Patriots. Yeah. He has that it factor to bring in the fans, bring in the crowd be talked about. And And imagine just him on the Steelers. I mean, Pittsburgh is gonna be involved big time. Everyone, all the eyes are gonna be on him in Pittsburgh. Everyone's gonna be ecstatic there. The whole outside world too is gonna be watching.

And every Pittsburgh fan's bitching a moan about it. Once Aaron Rodgers goes there and they may start like two, three and oh, they're gonna love him. If you win in Pittsburgh, they love you. It don't matter. Yeah. It doesn't matter what you do off the field, in the locker room, what you're doing while you're taking a dump. If you win, you're loved in Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh loves you. Yeah. That's that's the goddamn truth. I cut kind of like any NFL city. Yeah. But that's like to another level.

Yeah. Pittsburgh loves football, man. Yeah. All the freaking Pittsburgh people went to Kent State. So I saw them all. Oh, I was, I was, where was I at the Indy 500 yesterday? Some Pittsburgh fans. Oh, ghost dealers. I said, I'm I'm made of more steel than you're all city. And they loved that. You know, I was just the way I said it. And then they looked at me like, you're right. You just dominated us. You were made of more. So I was like, that's right, buddy. I got him got the most lovable guy. Yeah goes and talks shit to steal Yep, rob, you're right. You're right guy didn't argue anymore

Didn't argue told told him I'm made of more steel than this whole city and that Was the chillest dude of the week? Thanks to our favorite beer cores light get cores, get Coors delivered straight to your door. Visit CoorsLight.com slash dudes and always. Celebrate responsibly always. And every time I swear, I take a few sips of this, you know, through this segment, I get turned up way more than the whole entire segment. I'm telling you, it's the Coors Light.

It's definitely the Coors Light. Well, that's been another episode of Dudes on Dudes. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music or wherever you listen to podcasts and comment on a dude you want us to do, rate and review. Call in and ask questions on the Chill Line at 561-203-5789. Remember to follow dudes on dudes on X, Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat. Don't forget TikTok. It's still there and we'll see you guys next week. Dudes on dudes is a production of iHeartRadio. For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

Why is a soap opera Western like Yellowstone so wildly successful? The American West with Dan Flores is the latest show from the Meat Eater podcast network. So join me starting Tuesday, May 6th, where we'll delve into stories of the West and come to understand how it helps inform the ways in which we experience the region today. Listen to The American West with Dan Flores

on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Why should you listen to Armstrong and Getty on demand? We're not boring. A lot of news is boring. And tedious. And depressing. And makes you angry.

You don't want to live your life like that. Hey, I'm Jack Armstrong. He's Joe Getty. We're Armstrong and Getty. We try to bring you the truth. And help you figure out this crazy modern world. How about something about a comedic tone? We have a winner! Yes!

Listen to Armstrong and Getty on demand on the iHeart Radio app. Apple podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. We asked parents who adopted teens to share their journey. We just kind of knew from the beginning that we were family. They showcased a sense of love that I never had before. I mean, he's not only my parent, like he's like my best friend. At the end of the day, it's all been worth it. I wouldn't change a thing about our lives.

Learn about adopting a teen from foster care. Visit adoptUSkids.org to learn more. Brought to you by AdoptUS Kids, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the Ad Council. What happens when we come face to face with death? My truck was blown up by a 20-pound anti-tank mine. My parachute did not deploy. I was kidnapped by a drug cartel. When we step beyond the edge of what we know...

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