Halford & Brough in the Morning - Matt Verderame Talks NFL + What We Learned

Episode Date: September 9, 2025

In hour three, Mike & Jason discuss last night's Monday Night Football action with Sports Illustrated NFL writer Matt Verderame (1:26), plus the boys tell us what they learned (27:00). This podcast is produced by Andy Cole and Greg Balloch. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Media Inc. or any affiliate.

Third and one right here. He's at the 14 of the Bears. Thieland in motion. Shotgun snap to the quarterback. He fakes it to run of himself. Over the right, tackle the 10. Got a block at the 5. Sideline, pylon, touchdown.

J.C. McCarthy, with a touchdown run of 14 yards. This quarterback in his NFL debut is doing it all. 8.02 on a Tuesday. Happy Tuesday, everybody. Halford, Brough. Sportsnet 650. Halford and Brub in the morning is brought to you by Sands and Associates. Learn how a consumer proposal could get you on the road to being debt-free in just two weeks. This is them online at Sands-Trustee.com. We are now in our three of the program. Matt Verde-Ram from Sports Illustrated NFL writer is going to join us in just a moment here to kick off Hour 3. Hour 3 of this program is brought to by Campbell & Pound, Real Estate Appraisers. trust the expertise of Campbell and Pound, visit them on the internet at camel dash pound.com today.

We're coming live from the Kintech studio, Kintech footwear and orthotics, working together with you in step. Guests on SportsNet 650, call in on the haul line powered by PowerWest Industries. Don't get caught in the dark when it matters most. Visit them at powerwest.ca. Today, they keep the lights on. I'll tell you what. We're going to go now to the Power West Industries hotline. Matt Verde-Ram from Sports Illustrated joins us now on the Halford & Brough show on SportsNet 650. More than Matt. How are you?

Good well, guys. How are you? We're good. Thanks for taking the time to do this. So last night, through three quarters, the Vikings had a grand total of 65 yards of offense on 28 plays. Through three quarters, did you have any inkling, any thought, any notion that J.J. McCarthy was then going to go for 164 yards and three touchdowns in the final quarter of that Monday night football win? no I don't think anybody did I was assigned to cover that game for Sports Illustrated and it was a game that looked at after McCarthy did that 74 yard pick six you kind of felt like the game was over and it was only 17 to 6 in the third quarter

but it just felt like that Minnesota's not generally anything you have no offense it felt like O'Connell was very scared to let McCarthy play is very safe in his play calling but you know the Bears committed the Cardinals in that game they left the minute forever the bear's offense did nothing I wrote my column I get the exact numbers but after the opening drive, they're like nine drives. They scored a total of three points. And they just, they killed themselves with penalties. It's something that the Bears have done all off-season.

I was at their campus. I know if the A's, that was a huge problem for them with false starts and different pre-snap penalties. And the Bears just kind of let McCartee and the Vikings hang around and to the Vikings credit they found the way. We will get to the Bears side of things because there's some major storylines there, especially blowing that lead at home on the Monday night season opener. But I wanted a couple more on.

the Vikings here, and especially with McCarthy, what's the big takeaway right now? Because you can't ignore the first three quarters, but you also can't deny what he did in the fourth. It's actually, it's a tough one to kind of break down because I don't really think we've ever seen it from an NFL quarterback making his debut. He said all kind of records in the fourth quarter. What was your takeaway, or is there one definitive takeaway from what happened last night? Look, I mean, as far as long time, I'm just going to have to wait and see.

But to me, that fourth quarter washes away the first three. Like, he went out there and was just dumb it. Fourth quarter, and he made real throws. It wasn't like he threw a screen pass, and the guy went 70 yards. You know, that, okay, fine, whatever, sure. He made real throws down the field, across the middle, tight windows, showed mobility, showed some moxies. Like, I'm a big believer with quarterbacks. Some guys just have it.

They just do. And their teammates can feel it. McCarthy in that game just showed whatever that it is that we always talk about in sports. He was able to overcome the big mistake to lead them down the field multiple times, like three times in a row, and they needed points. He did everything that they needed. And I think if you're in Minnesota, you're walking out of there feeling a lot more confident. You know, they play Sunday night against Atlanta.

You feel a lot more confident letting the reins go a little bit. All right, let's call the game like we called the fourth quarter. Like when we needed to score, when we needed to be more aggressive, he played well. And I think I would take a lesson from that from the Vikings. Okay, well, with that just said, perfect segue. Where are you at on Caleb Williams right now? I think it's early in his career. I mean, we're like 18 games, but let's be honest.

It's not been great. He was really good at the first drive of the game. and then after that was fairly atrocious for the rest of it until they had a time driver that

fighting the freight in time for points too many times he holds the ball Troy even pointed out a few times on the telecaster he checked down

he had a guy opened down the field that's a shot play you've got to take that shot he doesn't do it you know the bears had

opportunities both to put the game away and then even when it was starting to turn to kind of stem the tide. And I'm not putting it all on Williams, of course, but they did nothing.

They didn't do anything in a positive direction. And I just feel like if you're Williams, you can't have drive where you have three incompletions in a row. He just misfired three times. You can't have drives where you're holding the ball. I mean, there was even a drive where they missed the field goal early in the fourth quarter of 176 where he takes intentional grounding. Just throw the ball away.

And then they end up missing the field goal, you know, the ball sales at the end. I mean, if you're 10 yards close, it's probably good. And it's just a play you cannot have. And I felt like, you know, McCarthy had that moxie of Adam. Williams didn't in that game. I thought he was a huge part. Do you think he's scared to make mistakes?

I'm talking about Caleb Williams. I think there's a little bit of that. I also think there's a little bit of the, he's not, he's not seeing the game quickly enough. It feels like, he feels like he's on the freeway in times. You know, the past rush is coming. And to his credit, he had a couple of times. He did a great job getting away and creating some yards of his legs at a rushing touch snap.

But there's just too many times with him where it feels rush, it feels forth. There was even a play early in the game. It was an inconsequential play, but I thought it was telling. Like, it was a wide receiver screen to DJ Moore. And it was like third and two, third and three. And if he throws the ball and Moore, Moore is wide. More of a walk for a first step. And he just, he rushed it and he threw it like on like low in behind him and more caught it, but he had to go to the ground

and then he got tackled for a loss. And it's stuff like that. It's just you got to make that play. That's an easy drive-extending play and he misses it. I just feel like for him sometimes the game is almost turning on too fast. He doesn't settle down enough.

We're speaking to Matt Verde-Ram from Sports Illustrated NFL writer here on the Alford and Brough show on SportsNet 650. Okay, Matt, I want to jump around to some of these other major stories in the National Football League before we start looking ahead. to week two. Things that happen in week one. I want to go all the way back to Friday in Brazil where the Chargers finally took care of business and actually beat the Chiefs. Chiefs suffered a pretty big injury with Xavier Worthy. There's some level of concern coming out of Kansas City

because I think people assume that a lot of the things that ailed them last year, yeah, they went to the Super Bowl, but a lot of the things that ailed them last year maybe aren't necessarily corrected. How much concern do you have for the Chiefs, especially offensively right now? It's a nuanced answer with them because on one hand, even if they don't lose to Philadelphia this way. They're the Chiefs. Like, that people go 11 and 6,

they're Rice and Worthy back and then just stomp everybody in the playoffs. I mean, they're, if they get in the playoffs, they don't care if they're three-seat or, they've proven that. I think offensively, they're actually,

like, I actually was really encouraged offensively by the second half of the game. They had, I think Jesse Newell of the athletic tweet out a stat where the chief scored in the last five possessions of the game, and out of a possible 223 yards, they got 214. I mean, look, Mahomes look terrific.

I thought Simmons played well, but the next handful of weeks, however long worthy is going to be out, it's going to be tough because they don't have worthy or rice. And you just, at that point, your offense is Mahomes and basically him creating magic. The bigger concern for me that game was actually defensively. They couldn't get a rush on Herbert,

despite playing it's a really bad offensive line. They couldn't cover it all. And I don't understand why, because, look, McDuffie should be in the slide. You've got a lot corner football. And they're trying to put them outside. And, you know, they signed Christian Fulton for that reason. So, McDuffie could slide back in.

And yet in the first game, they didn't play Fulton at all in the first half. And the second half they did. But they still were barely, they were just kind of rotationally. Like, I think Spragnoll is going to figure out some of that stuff. You do good of a coordinator or not to. I think offensively they'll be fine, assuming they get worthy back here, and Rice went off the suspension. But the first six weeks, if you get the Eagles in there,

the lions in there, the ravens in there. I mean, if you're the chief, you want to get through the first six. weeks three and three. And then after that, their schedule is pretty light. So I think that's kind of the goaler. And I was just to survive this first month, month and a half. Speaking of those Ravens, we've now all had a good amount of time to digest the the masterpiece that them and the bills put on Sunday night football.

But for the Ravens, it didn't end the way that they wanted to. After playing 50 minutes of fantastic football, all really fell apart at the end. You wrote about this on Sports Illustrator, Ravens show that talent matters, but playing smart football matters more. break down some of the things that went wrong for the Raven in terms of not playing smart football. You know, it's for everybody, I mean, that game was incredible. It was probably going to be a game of the year, right?

And the bills deserve a lot of credit for finds no way to win. But at some point, too, that game is also kind of a referendum on with Baltimore's been for years. Baltimore does this all the time. They blow these double-digit leads. Harbaugh has blown more from over the last decade than any of its coach in football. And you'll get a game, and, you know, the Ravens are winning by 15 points.

four minutes left. Now, look, the touchdown to Coleman, there's nothing you can do. The ball gets deflected. It just lands in his hand. Okay, fine. Then you come out, you get a first down, and Henry's got it. Henry's 31 years old. Like, you've got to put two hands on that football.

That's crazy. You can tackle. Who cares? Like, go down, man. Like, slide down. It doesn't matter. They fumble the ball. Then they immediately give up a touchdown.

They do hold on the two-point conversion, which is an odd call, but the bills start to fade there. But to me, the big. you sin in that game, you have a fourth and about two and a half. If you pick it up, Gainesville, I don't want to hear Lamar Jackson after the game. Oh, I was cramping. Well, they called timeout.

Figure it out. You know, hand off to Derek Henry. Throw a little quick pass to flower. The bills couldn't stop aiming at that night. I mean, they were even nine yards of play. How in the world could Harbaugh sit there and think his best shot to win that game is to punt to the bills there? You're not going to stop them. You're going to walk away and throw off the television when he punted that.

I don't know what you do look you don't get it fine you'll live with it but that was to me that is everything of why Baltimore in big games is a paper tiger until proven otherwise because they just they fall apart

in those games you know bills ever want a Super Bowl but the bills credit usually because they just find out of the homes like the Ravens just create ways to lose games and yeah it was fun it was exciting as 440 points but you're Baltimore you're walking out of there like how the heck did we lose that game, but it's something

they've done a lot over the years. Who do you think? This is a very open-ended question. Who do you think has the best defense in the NFL? Houston. Houston or Denver? I think one of those two. And judging on the way the two offenses play for those teams, they're going to need those.

I mean, Bo Nix, oh my God. I mean, it was almost like he was playing for the Titans in that game. And then on the other side of the coming, Houston, I actually feel for Stroud honestly. I think it's a terrific quarterback. They can't do anything around them. Can't block. Can't

consistently run. Collins is the only guy on the outside that does anything. Now we'll see about Higgins, Noel, and everything else for the rookies. But, you know, I think the two defense is there. The Rams are up there. I think the Rams are really good defensively. You know, the Packers could be very good, obviously. But, yeah, Houston's defense, they got playmakers at every level. I would say the same

with Denver, you know, assuming Greenlock can get healthy here. But those two defense, and like I said, seriously, they're going to have to be. Because I think offensively those two teams, I was going to win a lot of games, you know, 3027. The Miami Dolphins, how bad could it get there? And what could some of the fallout be? And I'm not talking about at the end of the season. I'm talking about during the season. Right, right, right.

Listen, I actually went up to a alliance practice in the summer, and they were having a joint practice for Houston. I have a buddy up there that covers the alliance, and they had just had a joint practice the week prior of Miami. I just asked him, so, you know, what did you see? And he said, it was the worst practice from a team I've ever seen. He's like, to the point, I actually thought they might call practice. And it was evident on Sunday that his assessment was correct. they did nothing. Tool was awful.

They couldn't play any defense. They're completely outcoached. Daniel Jones looked like Joe Montana in that game. Look, here's what I think about Miami long term here. They got New England coming into town this subject. Then they play a Thursday night road game up in Buffalo. Good luck to them in that game. If they lose to New England and assuming they lose the ball,

and they're all in three, I've got to think at that point, you start taking phone calls on a lot of guys, number one being Tyree Kill, who has a $10 million base salary this year, so that's your acquiring if you're trading for him. Next year, his cap number in Miami is like $52 million. He's not going to be there. So you might as well get something for him.

He clearly doesn't want to be there. And speaking, we talked about Kansas City earlier. Yeah. I got to tell you, I think Kansas City's on the phone with them yesterday about Tyree Kel's the second to come to the album. I have to imagine, I don't want to say to the leaders in the clubhouse, but like they've got to be making. in a phone call or two

and you know he'd want to go back there. So, listen, it's going to, Miami to me is a team that they bet on a lot of older players, a lot of big money, they bet on the quarterback that was very, you know, so-so, what are you going to get out of them? And all those bets have just come up negatives.

I mean, it's just, it's a team that needs to be completely overhauled. And I think that might start here in the coming week. If they lose to New England, they might be in fall on free fall. Capwise, could the Chiefs pull that off? Yeah.

Yeah. I mean, the Chiefs, so you think on a pro-ration of $10 million, so let's just say it's a quarter of the year in, see, they eat like 7.5, the Chiefs would have to move around about $5 million. Okay. And then next year, you know, they would just extend them and smooth out the cap hit and probably give them like a, you know, one year extra on the deal. But, yeah, they could do it.

I mean, they wouldn't have any problem getting them in there. And I just think if you're the Chiefs, even if Worthy's going to come back, if you're the Chiefs, you don't want Rice Worthy and Hill. going into the playoffs with Mahom's. You wouldn't even need to fix your defense. It's worth 35 points a game. So I think the chief would absolutely be making that phone call.

You mentioned Daniel Jones there and granted it was against Miami but anytime a team or a player leaves, let's call it a bad organization and goes and looks pretty good in his first game people are going to be wondering maybe there might be something there.

Could there be something there for the Indianapolis goal, too. They've had a few quarterbacks over the last few years, just a handful here and there, and I don't know, maybe they've found one here. Well, you know, there's two ways of looking at it. One is they just

played the Dolphins, and that's the best game, Daniel Jones is going to play all season along. The other way looking at it is, to your point, the Giants have been a bad organization for a long time, and Jones now goes to a team that has weapons. Warren looked terrific in his debut.

you have Pitman, you have Pierce, you have Johnson Taylor in the backfield, you could do worse. The offensive line isn't great, but I think it's young with upside. And you've got a coach in Stuyken, who knows how to use your talents if you're Jones. And that, to me, is the thing. Like, people, I think, miss the mark a little bit with the whole quarterback competition in Indianapolis. A big part of the reason is Stakein went with Jones is because Jones completes a high percentage of his passes. He's got some mobility, and he won't turn the ball.

it wasn't necessarily about oh, Richardson's just a disaster. Yes, Richardson hasn't played well, and that's a big part of it. But it's also just the stability of Jones. They look at Jones like Alex Smith, like, hey, he can just go in there and he's not going to get his killed. And we can, Louana

Rumo is our new defensive coordinator, and he can coach up the defense, and we can win games 17, 14, 2016. I think Jones, if he could just do that, look, that division is not exactly a powerhouse. I mean, Indianapolis is probably looking at We win nine games.

It might be a four-seat. So I think that's where the Colts were out with Jones. He played well. And I've got a big test with Denver coming in in a game. If you win that game, you're 2-0 and you're feeling really good about yourself. Before we let you go, let's look ahead to Thursday night football. What did you see specifically from the Packers and the new edition on defense, Micah Parsons, in their big win over Detroit on Sunday that could carry over to Thursday

night football? Yeah, I'm going up there to cover that game, and I'm excited to do it. listen, I thought the Packers, I thought it was the most impressed team a week one. I mean, we can talk about the bills, I told them to understand anybody who wants to say that. They gave up like 9,000 yards in that game. Like the Packers

played really, really good football. That game wasn't as exciting because the Packers killed the Lions. Parsons was on a pitch count and was dominant. Even on Snap, he didn't make the box score. You watched them, and he just was destroying

Penny Soul. He was destroying, the guards on these loops and stuff. And when you're doing that, the timing of the play's just gone. And a guy like Allen or Mahomes or a mark, they can get out of the pocket and extend and make the play work. Goff can't do that. Like, Goff is, the plays over if you do that.

And so, you know, I thought the Packers, listen, their corners are a question mark, but the rest of it's really good. I think Halfley's done a hell of a job there since coming over from Boston College a year ago. And, you know, there's a team that, listen, and they were one in five in the division last year. I talked about Florida this off season,

so we've got to figure out a way to win these games. Our division record killed us last year. Well, off to a great start. Matt, this was great, ma'am. Thanks for taking the time to do this today. We appreciate it. Enjoy the games this week, including that Thursday night football game.

Let's do this again soon. Absolutely. Anytime, Gus. Thank you. Appreciate it. That's Matt Verde-Ram from Sports Illustrated here on the Halford and Bruff Show on Sportsnet, 650. Can I start off what we learns?

Yeah, buddy. Sure can. My first what we learn that we need more of what we learns into the Dunbar Lumber Text Line 650 650 Metro Vancouver's trusted choice for contractors and Renner Warriors for over 50 years

visit them at one of their three locations to serve you or online at Dunbar lumber.com I tweeted again but hopefully this won't get me in trouble like recently? Just about five minutes ago and it is

related to an article that Pierre LeBron wrote for the athletic on Sidney Crosby and his penguin's future. And what I highlighted in my tweet was Pat Brousson, super agent to the stars in the NHL and also Cid's agent, was asked by Pierre, if it is possible that Crosby will enter a trade out of Pittsburgh, entertain a trade out of Pittsburgh one day. because Crosby in the article kind of danced around it. Sure.

As he does. Classic. Pat Brassan said, let's put it this way. It's always a possibility, you know? It's been three years they haven't made the playoffs. It all depends on how Sid is going to be and how the team is going to do. I maintain the same position that I do believe that he should be playing playoff hockey every year, in my opinion. I'm glad Brassan came out and said it.

I'm glad he said it. Could we be living in a world where maybe at this time next year Connor McDavid and Sidney Crosby were playing on different teams? Yes. After we were just lamenting the lack of transactions Yeah.

Brassan, why did you wait till now to do this? I've always found it peculiar that, not that Sid wants to stay in Pittsburgh. I think I get the loyalty part. Sure. I think I get that he, in terms of crafting his own legacy and maybe he wants to be a one-team guy for the duration of this. It was like the Seneens.

We saw it with the Seneens. Yeah, that's fine. Yeah. But to not acknowledge, and at least someone from his camp did it, that this has been a profound, profoundly disappointing end, potentially to the chapter in Pittsburgh. I feel like we're just all, like, kind of dancing around, like this huge elephant in the room there,

that they're wasting. Yeah. And it's not like it's a swan song right now. He's still playing at a remarkably high level. He's one of the, you know, driving forces of a Canadian national team that's got some very, and already has had very important international competitions. Like he is front and center. And he could be.

I think he could be a good two C. Sure. Certain places. I think that. The rumors are much real, by the way. Yeah. Well, that's the one that's. For numerous reasons.

first Sid grew up. Was his old man drafted by the hams? That was it was okay. But Sid, I mean, he's Atlantic, Atlantic, well, you know, if you grow up in Nova Scotia, there's a lot of Bruins fans there. He played the queue.

But there's also, you know, a lot of Habs fans there. And they've got Suzuki. And however you want to go, one C, two C, whatever. They've got Suzuki in the top six and he's a pretty good player. And I think he's going to push

to make the Olympic team as well. well. But after that, they're kind of like, oh, we don't know if we got, we got the right pieces here. You know what would, I mean, I hate saying this out loud, but you know what would be amazing is if McDavid ends up on the Leafs and Crosby ends up on the halves. Wow. Did you imagine? Could you imagine? But let's just, let's just imagine one of these happening. Why didn't even get greedy and imagine both of them happening? But could you imagine what that matchup would do, what the numbers would do with the

What the universe would explode, I think. Yeah, hockey universally. The Eastern media would, like, if we're our griping about it dominating already, imagine. Just imagine. Let's not get excited about that because it's the NHL, you know, it'll never happen. Either of those things are happening. The only reason I brought it up is because you made a remark last week, like, if I'm Toronto, I'm keeping the powder dry in case.

For sure. If I'm Montreal, I am not doing anything of consequence. I'm leaving that money and that spot. and that possibility open because it makes too much sense to me. If you're going to... If you're Crosby and you're going to acknowledge that I will play for another organization,

is there anyone that comes even close to making as much sense as Montreal? What other one makes even remotely close to the sense? Someone will say Colorado and I'll be like, no. Colorado only makes sense because he's buddies with McKinnon. Hey, Crosby, we have this $8.7 million hole in our lineup. Would you like to slot in there? But seriously, where else would it make sense?

Colorado would be the other one. But he's got no ties to Colorado. I mean, I'll do respect to the organization, but it's not like a storied franchise. Well, Vancouver makes sense if you want to talk about it. But not for him. I got the Rutherford connection. Colorado's pulling a Ray Bork. That's all it is.

Following in Ray Bork. Okay, I can live with that. I just think Montreal makes so much chance. And on a personal level, if there's going to be a Canadian team, and we're on record singles, we have no sort of like deep-rooted ill-will against the Habs. Montreal's never hurt me. Yeah. I think it would be great.

Yeah. Right? There's been, there have been, you know, and there has been a lot of players that I always kind of wanted to go to Montreal that never happened. Like, I always wanted Vinnie La Cavae A to go to Montreal at one point. I thought it would have been great. It just never worked itself out.

City of Montreal would be incredible. And the city would. Absolutely incredible. If there's a city and a market and a fan base that would appreciate it the most, that's the other thing with Colorado. Like Denver wouldn't appreciate it as much. They wouldn't. They wouldn't.

You know, they just wouldn't. What else they got going on? The Rockies aren't doing anything. Yeah. What are the Broncos doing? It's Americans, you know. They just wouldn't appreciate it. They would appreciate it enough, but just not as much as Montreal.

Well, did they not appreciate it? Ray Bork? Probably not as much as they should have. It was a big deal down there. Yeah, probably not as much as they should have, though. And hindsight. Shots fired to Denver. Yeah.

Hey, look, it's a fine place. It's a fine hockey market. The Broncos have a great defense. Yeah. We just heard that, yeah. But we've gone to Colorado countless occasions, and we've, like, where do they fit on the hierarchy and it's like with most American cities when the team is

winning they matter and when they're not they don't and that's it it's cutting dry I've you've almost talked me into this Montreal thing I think now that Bresson has put this out there he may as yeah like that's like his agent his agent said

put it this way if Sid was on the downward I don't want to call a spiral but if he was in the swan song of his career and kind of on his way out like Malkin was. Effectiveness, I would say, okay, play it out in Pittsburgh, right? Gino's on fumes at this point, right? And it won't be long until Sid is. So why waste it? Mm-hmm. You know, why waste it? Uh, Bukow. Way up against it for time. We got to go to break when we

come back. Maybe more of our, what we learned. Definitely some of yours. Get them in. Dumbar, number text line is 650, 650. Tell us what did you learn over the last 24 hours in sports? Hashtag at WWL. You're listening to the Halford & Brough show on Sportsnet, 650. Now for my favorite part of the show, what I say? Talk to the audience. Oh, God, this is always dead. It's what we learn time.

It's what we learn time. It's what we learn time. on the show 835 on a Tuesday happy Tuesday everybody Halford Brough Sportsnet 650 Halford and Brough

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We are in hour three of the program it is what we learn time hour three is bratsed by Campbell and Pound real estate appraisers trust the expertise of Campbell and Pound

visit them on the internet at Campbell-Dash pound.com today. All right. Jason did his what we learned. Pat Frizzan's comments about Sidney Crosby. Very, very interesting. Laddie, you got a quick one, I believe you described it as, just a quick little what we learned.

Yeah, well, last night, once again, the Dodgers Dave Steebbed themselves. I watched it. I watched it. Got to the ninth inning with a no-hills. hitter intact, and it all went away. They actually pulled out the win this time. They didn't blow the entire game like they didn't against Baltimore, but it was the Rockies

who they were playing against, so that's kind of expected. But, yeah, the Dodgers, two out of three games, no hitter in the ninth, you don't get either of them. They pulled Tyler Gladz now, whilst he was in the middle of a no-hitter. I was beside myself. Games gone! I said, yelling at the

screen. The game's gone. It's... That's insane, man. It's September. I know their pitching staff has had a ton of injuries and I know they're trying to be cautious and I know that it was you know they had given up a run it was 1-1 and he was throwing a no hitter

God forbid but still you got a no-no going you got to finish the job it's September what's more important man Glass knows health in the playoffs or a win against the Colorado Rockies on September 8th you don't even have to throw hard don't try and ruin this with logic

I was very disappointed So on all of the tickers of all the different sports channels They're all flashing news alert news alert Yeah No hitter going in the eighth Going into the eighth And then I flip it over And I'm like that's not Tyler Glass now

That's what's the other guy's name? Trennan Trennan Trinen And then you know who blew the no hitter was Tanner Scott Yeah Sounds like a hockey player

Tanner He's on the fourth line of the Washington Capitol Isn't he Tanner Scott? It was very It was very disappointing I was disappointed in baseball yet yesterday. It was a good walk-off win by the Padres in Cincinnati, though. That was fun, or was that in San Diego? Anyway, they beat the Reds in 10. So there's a lot of good baseball

going on late last night, but I was very disappointed by the Dodgers and Tyler Glasnow. Should have finished a job. In San Diego. Thank you. Let's muckew all that. So at a few hours time, Canada is going to face Wales in the second of, I'll call it a two-leg international friendly. They played on Friday in Romania in Bucharest. I got a solid 3-0 victory. An impressive and eye-catching 3-0 victory because it got the attention of a lot of managers, including the Welsh manager, Craig Bellamy.

This is what he had to say about booking this friendly and then going up against Canada today. Listen to the, this is, Craig Bellamy and Wales are in the middle of their World Cup qualifying right now. They don't have matches this week. They were top of their group. after they got a win last week,

but now they've dropped a third because I think Belgium and Northern Macedonia jumped them because they're on a buy. This is what Craig Bellamy had to say about playing Canada. Canada. I chose them. I was like,

give me the toughest opponents. I'm fully aware I could get beaten. I could get my arse kicked. He said arse because he's... Yeah, yeah, yeah. But what we would gain from playing a lesser team, nothing. This is a tough game where there's...

and intensity. We'll see where we are at. So weird. So weird. It gives us a good opportunity to get that much better. They are ranked better than us in the world. So that's a definite incentive for us. So yeah, we pick the best team that we feel is available for this game and we're going

to try and get the best result. Insecure, Jason, with a follow-up question. Like, you know you're playing Canada, right? Canada's head of the middle. And not at ice hockey. Soccer. And. Then soccer.

playing them in a friendly when they've got big matches coming up against, like, North Macedonia and Belgium to qualify. By the way, Jesse Marsh buttered up the Welsh press yesterday. He said he fully expects to see Wales in the World Cup along with Canada, because obviously Canada is going already in 2026. This is going to be great. By the way, I don't know if you saw this or not, but in the Romania match, Marsh subbed off Ismail Kone. Yeah. Made way to the- He had his public apology yesterday. is Malconi and guess who is sitting right

beside him at the podium. Jesse Marsh Right. Just wanted to back up one of his guys. Read it. Yeah, with a gun at his back. Did you see the Italy Israel game? I did. That was wild. Five four between Italy and Israel and I think there was three goals in the 80th minute and beyond including the winner for Israel or Italy

sorry. Yeah. A 5-4 win. I think Italy scored in the 91st minute I want to say the winner. It was a bunch of own goals too. It was crazy. It was wild. The Italian scored twice in their own net. And you've got to remember, like, it's been a long time since Italy's qualified for World Cup. So these are crucially important matches for them. Did they qualify? Oh, they did qualify for the 94 one because they famously lost Ireland in New York. It was England that didn't qualify. And then famously lost penalties to Brazil when Bajos skided over the bar. Right. Of course. Mucow all that.

They famously lost that group stage game. Also the final. The World Cup. with one of the most famous mispenalties of all time. Okay, I think we're good. Adog, you don't have a what we learned, right? I'm going to say it anyway. You know A-Dog learned yesterday what freets are. Oh, yeah, okay. On our group chat, you definitely learn something.

On our group chat, Jason threw out a link to a new steak-freet restaurant that's in the West End, right? Yeah, it's like a block from my house, and I didn't even know it was open yet. Apparently, it's all the rage on the social media is because I think all they do is steak and fries. That's it. I looked at their menu. It's actually pretty well priced, too. Yeah, I think that's the catch behind it. So, Andy then proceeded to ask, what are frets?

Yeah. To which we said it's fries. Why is there tea in there? So why don't they just call them steak and fries? Then Greg, because our dogs are very cultured. Greg's in like, why can't they just call them fries? And at which point I lost it, I'm like, it's a traditional French dish, you mouth breathing bumpkin.

It's just meat and. fries. How is it a traditional French dish? I'll tell people what you really said. I can't say half the words. I said. I would be canceled. Mouth breathing bumpkin is about as close as I can get. I still don't get it. Yeah, I've never had steak and freets. There's a lot. I've had steak and fries. Steak freets. Steak fritz. That's, that's, you just say it. That's set treats. Steak fritz. Yeah. You just, it's a very common French. I mean, I've had steak and fries. Isn't that what that is? Yes. So why not just call it that? It's like

to say you know cocavin which is also something i don't know right that's that's like a chicken you can't say give me chicken and wine she made the final of the u.s. open did yeah right she did good for her there's certain dishes you just have to embrace where they're from and the name behind them we can't so why don't we call them french freets we can't why do we call them french fries we can't americanize and by americanize i mean dumb down we can't dumb down everything all the steak frights please the steak fried is going to order the steak and the freedom fries. Yeah. Freedom frets.

I'd like some extra freedom fries, please. Can I get an extra helping? Get out. Mooko that. Mooka out that steak. Fire up the dot matrix. Humanoid submissions. What we learned brought to you as always by AJ's Pizza on East Broadway. Our favorite, the AJ's sauce pie, an upside-down version of the bar pie with fresh mozzarella and basil only at AJ's pizza.

Order online at AJ's That Pizza. Woodrow the eligible bachelor with what we learned, the more we talk about this season, Canucks team, the more I'm reminded of the 06-07 team, which was AV's first year, and I'm Vinio. Can the Canucks build Luongo on aggregate with Demko in

Lankan? Lingu played 71 games that year? He was so good that year, too. It was a robbery. Absolutely robbery. The worst Vesna decision of all time was not giving it to Luongo

that year. Was that the one Flurry one? No, Broder. Breder, sorry, yeah. It was... But it was like a make-up for Broder, because he'd missed out previous years because of Waugh and hatching. And he had a...

I mean, he played a lot of games, too. He might have even played more than Luongo. It wasn't as effective as Luongo, though. L'Ongo was incredible. All I remember is they had a hard time... Where am I here? 20607. Yeah, they had a hard time trying to explain

how Roberto Luongo finished second in MVP voting. but couldn't win the best goalie award. No one could do the math on that. I'm like, well, if he's the second best player in the NHL, and the best player is not a goalie, I think he's the best goalie. I think the MVP, I think it solved the problem. It was the throw brodera bone.

It fixed the riddle. It was very, still, to this day, it gets me worked up. Still, did Lou, did Lou ever actually win a Vezna? No. He never did. That was the year. Yeah, he got totally robbed. That was the year.

The crazy part, and you know what else? Now that I'm going down on the rabbit hall, I remember this time. Someone had the audacity to give him a third place Vesna vote. Who's the other goal he had in front of him? Kippersoff. That was from Calgary 400%. Let's have Eric Francis on the show. Who did you vote for?

I don't want to say it a lot of, but Francis, I got my eye on you. I see you. Mike, with what we learned, if Sid doesn't leave the penguins, it will be the biggest waste of the tail end of one of the greatest careers in NHL history. I don't even care where he goes, just go somewhere relevant because I need to see him take on the younger generation in the playoffs. I'll be very curious to see, let's say Sid does get traded halfway through this year, how much gas he'll have left in the tank by the time the playoffs, rolled around. I thought, personally, that even during the Four Nations, he was great early on,

I thought he ran out a bit of esteem, ran out of steam, ran out of steam a little bit as the tournament progressed. Really? Yes. If he plays this year and goes to the Olympics, he's going to the Olympics in February. He's going. And if he plays a full schedule and then has to play the playoffs, I mean, I want to see it. He's incredible. but you're asking a whole lot there. But I want to see him in the playoffs. Crosby at the deadline would be wild. It would breathe life.

That's another, when you talk about the lack of transactions, Laddie, the deadline is stunk for forever now. Crosby at the deadline would just inject such life into that whole. I don't want to wait that long. Crosby now. You think so?

Crosby now. No. I think he's starting to... Before the season. He's starting to year. Pittsburgh's season has to go completely after rails first. Yeah. Which might take, like, one Miami Dolphin style game.

Possibly. Because I guess they could theoretically surprise. Wow. And they could hang, like, I mean, Calgary surprised last year. I don't know, but I don't think they have that spirit in Pittsburgh. No, we know what Pittsburgh has is Sidney Crosby. Yeah. I don't know.

I mean, I don't see it either. Maybe not for long. Yeah. Adam, the former bath guy, what we learned, I learned that when you get to be of the stature and age of Don Taylor, you get a four-day work. week. Yes, that was the big announcement, I guess.

Congratulations to Donnie, who gets to take Fridays off. That whole video explanation was hilarious. Dollywell yelling about Fred Latrimo. I was like, what's happening? What are we doing? What are we doing? Oh, my God. Congratulations to Donnie.

You deserve it. Absolute legend in the Vancouver sports radio industry. in sports media. Kyle from Nova Scotia, hashtag WWW what we learned. I learned, this sounds weird. I learned that photos of the milf, that's the Jake Milford, I learned that from photos of the milf,

that Nils Oman is still a Kinnock, and he could very well end up being R4C this season. No. That was the first, if Kyle from Nova Scotia hadn't written this, I would have absolutely forgotten that he was still on the team. Because he didn't get name checked. Remember Alvin had the interview with IMAC the other

talking about the options at center. Yeah. And he said, we even have Max Sasson. He didn't mention Nils-O-Mond. Because I don't think there's any upside with Nils-A-Mond. But he's there. Yeah, we know what he is, though. No, I know, but he's there.

Okay. And he's played games in the past. I know, but there are, like, multiple guys ahead of him. I'd even put Coots ahead of him as possibilities to make the Canucks out of training camp. You know, I think... You know, Nils-O-Mond's played 130 games. for the Vancouver Canucks. Yep.

No. And he still gets stopped by security. Nils-O-Mond played 68. This doesn't, this is like a lie. Yeah, you get stopped by security because they're like, sir, I just want to tell you, you are very handsome. Thank you. We get that a lot.

You can't tell me that every day. I'm going to go to HR soon. Yeah, if you would, I would have never guessed 130 games. Yeah. Okay. Tyler, with what we learned. Yeah. Why are adults so terrible with items, when items leave the playing surface,

hashtag ballgate hashtag fillies oh that's taken on a life of its own right now they're okay there's there's two two things going on in the world of sports there's a there's a spitting epidemic and there's a taking stuff away from kids epidemic and it is crazy that anyone would put themselves in that position just give the kid the ball or the puck first of all it'll make you feel good when the kid's eyes light up I've done it a few times with Pucks at hockey games and you're like here's a puck

means everything to the kid unless it is like a home run record baseball or puck that you're going to be able to sell for thousands of dollars in that case fight the kid because he hasn't earned it yet but just it's it's a baseball or it's a puck Yeah, it's been part of a major league gamer and NHL game.

Who cares? Who cares? Just give it to the kid. I don't understand a grown adult wanting a foul ball or a home run. So what are you going to do with that ball? What are you going to do? You should have a kid back home that she's going to give it. You're going to put it on your mantle? Sell it?

for how much maybe she had a kid maybe she's a kid at home maybe she wants to bring it home maybe she had a tiny little Karen at home that she wanted to bring it to that is the excuse that she should definitely go with

by the way you know this story it's taken off in a totally different direction right so now the online warriors are going after the dad well what is the dad done they didn't fight hard enough yeah he didn't stand up for his kid

but he cowered in the face of a Karen he didn't want to start a brawl in the stand because he's proper though He's a grown-up. He's like, it's a ball. Fine, you wanted that badly. You can have it, you loser. My kid's not a loser either.

You are. Here's your baseball. Even if the lady had a kid at home, the kid at the ballpark supersedes the kid at home. And it was his birthday. It was his birthday, too. Oh. Makes it even worse. Add that a cherry on top of that whole thing.

But in a very weird way, although very reflective of us as a society, we've now pivoted because, and I think it's the 24. hour cycle. Instead of focusing all of the angst at the woman that took the ball, it's now been redirected at the father. I don't know. He was maybe being a soy boy. I don't even know what that means, but I think that's what it is. We existed a place

where every opinion is out there. So anyone involved in any situation is going to get... You've got to fight for your kid. You're going to get blowback. No matter what you did. But we all need to remember it's an inanimate object. Yeah. Just let the kid have it.

It's, it's just a baseball, you know? Like, yeah, but it was, it was part of a major league baseball game. Uh-huh. It's just a baseball. I mean, maybe if the baseball, it cannot hug you. I mean, maybe if the baseball was worth like a million dollars and you knew you could get a million dollars for it. That's what I allowed. That's what I allowed.

That's when you, because, like, well, the kids haven't paid the price in life yet, right? Like, that's when you're like, listen, kid, I, who, do you have a mortgage? I've got a mortgage. I'm getting this baseball. That is the only time I will allow it. And frankly, if you're in that position where a guy can hit, like, the home run record, the kids shouldn't even be in there.

Like the Aaron Judge Ball was not the last one that sold for a ton. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, go after that one. But if it's like, you know, regular season baseball. It's like a Marlin's game, wasn't it? Or a puck goes into the stands. The first thing you do, the first thing you do is look around for a kid to give it to. Okay. It's a good form.

Table saw James Oh, we got one more What we learned Hopefully someone doesn't take something from a kid And then spit on them That really gets you canceled You can take the ball Don't spit

Okay, we gotta get out of here for today We will be back tomorrow Thank you all for listening And thank you all for contributing For now though We gotta say goodbye Signing off I have been Mike Halpert He's been Jason Bruff

He's been Adog, he's been Lattie This has been the Halford & Brough show On Sportsnet 650 Thank you.