NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal - Super Bowl Kickoff and Marc’s Man Cave with Myles Garrett and Denzel Ward

Episode Date: February 8, 2024

In a convention center full of heroes - Dan Hanzus, Gregg Rosenthal, Marc Sessler, and Colleen Wolfe kick off Super Bowl week LIVE from Las Vegas. The heroes open the show by giving their one big thought to start the week (11:18). After the break, a new ATN segment is debuted with Myles Garrett and Denzel Ward (21:52) before the show is wrapped with an update on news surrounding the Super Bowl (34:57) and X factors for Super Bowl LVIII (01:00:29).  Note: time codes approximate. NFL Daily YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nflpodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. The Around the NFL podcast is live from Radio Row in Las Vegas. Hello and welcome to Around the NFL presented by Draft Kings. Yes, and Jason Zumalt, he told you what you needed to know about the setting. Here we are in Las Vegas, Nevada at Mandalay Bay, in the, what are they called? The media center. No, this is the...

The epicenter. The command center, radio, whatever it is. The convention center, I believe. It's the center of it all. And a beautiful set provided to us by IHeart, the good people at IHeart. And we are thrilled to be here. Dan Hansis, got heroes, Greg Rosenthal, Mark Sessler, and you heard her voice, Colleen. Whoa.

Hey, oh. And Colleen, can I just say, I am... the thrill that you're here. Me too. I mean, I was worried. You went up yesterday with the Air Force Thunderbirds. These are the guys, these are the dudes that do the flyover before the Super Bowl. Uh-huh.

And you went up in there to grab some Gs to take some G, some of the G power away from Triple G. Uh-huh. Did you go more than triple G? You don't understand G power if you think that it's an inexhaust. resource. There's G's for everyone. How many G's, Colleen, did you go? I pulled nine Gs.

Nine G's. Tripled your G output. Oh, my God. The cotlets been thrown down. This was the coolest experience of my entire life, and nothing will ever top it. So I don't know now where that leaves me mentally, but I'm still processing the whole thing, and it was the most amazing experience. Wait, what does nine Gs mean?

Are you worried that your husband, John Gonzalez, saw you say it was the best day of your life and thought like, well, I've spent a lot of days with her, but this wasn't one of them. No, John was so excited about it. I don't even know how to describe what yesterday was like. First of all, I had to do so many hours of like briefing and training. Like as soon as I got there, they were teaching me how to cut lines on a parachute. I had a pocket knife and my jumpsuit in case we had to eject. I had to do all sorts of like egress training and they teach you how to breathe to handle the Gs because if you don't breathe through it,

you'll pass out immediately. So I had a G-suit on, which was really cool because it's like plugged into the plane so it's automatic. It just starts compressing when you start pulling Gs. And you have to, basically they were like if you're going to pass out,

if you're not breathing, right? You lose your color vision first and then you start to get the tunnel and the tunnel will close in until you black out. And when we went up. I've seen the Top Gun sequel. I'm aware of how it works. Yeah.

Pull up. Pull up. Yeah. I was watching that and very closely. There was all sorts of like codes that we had. Like ease. If I was feeling sick. There was a gang load in case there's a fire in the cockpit and you have to go full like

oxygen. Bail out, bailout, bailout is ejected. Egress, egress. There's like a canopy thing that flies off. So we go up and there are. He's like, okay, we're going to, let's do a G warm up. So we're just going to do like the human body, essentially, I learned this yesterday, can handle four to five G's. And then after that, you have to breathe through it.

And so we did five Gs. And I lost my color vision. The tunnel started to close. And I was like, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, not on this first thing we're doing. And so I tried really hard and I, like, did the breathing. And I was able to reverse the tunnel and come out of it. And I was fine. We did all sorts of tricks.

They were doing spins, loops, barrel rolls. We were flying upside down. Stop it. Over like the snow-capped mountains. It was so cool. And then we did nine Gs. And I feel like I've accomplished the most insane thing of my life from not passing out, not throwing up.

And to make it all even crazier, my lucky number is eight. And I went up with Thunderbird 8, so it was 8 on the plane. and his call sign was triple. Mm. How about that? Triple G. Little triple G.

I was like, this is so perfect. It was so fun. Wait a minute. At some point you lose color vision. Yeah. Are you seen in black and white then? What is it? What does that even mean?

That's basically the oxygen is not, like the blood flow and the oxygen is not going to where it needs to go. Like you were on the way to passing out, essentially. Exactly. So then once I was able to reverse the tunnel vision, then my color vision came back. and it was fine. I was so disoriented after the flight, though. I did not expect it to be a full body workout.

I was completely drenched in sweat. I am so sore today because you have to tense up your whole lower body and do all of these, like, breathing exercises. And when I woke up this morning, it felt like I had been on a week-long bender where I only drank and did all sorts of drugs. And I felt, and mind you, I went to bed Like a summer of Connie.

Maybe. Not even like that. I've never experienced. I was so hungover feeling this morning. And I was in bed last night at 8.45 and did not have one drink. And I still feel like a little off. I have my oxygen. Since I had it up at 100%, they said for a couple days, the oxygen will have to escape from my head.

So I'll get crackling in my ears. So I'm doing a lot of snapcrackle pop right now. And my head feels a little funny. but I made it and I did it and it was so cool. Wow, we're very proud of it. Thank you. I am. These are the guys that are going to be doing it before the game.

Yeah. The same guys. Yes, these are the same pilots that are going to do the flyover. And they fly like 18 inches apart doing all of these tricks. It's unnecessary. Give a couple more feet. I don't understand how when you hit turbulence, how you guys aren't hitting each other when you're that close. Why is a wing not just being pulled right off the craft?

And it was so interesting because they said because they are flying so close together, they all hit the turbulence. once at the same time. So they moved together, too. Yeah, but like, what if that doesn't happen one day? Yeah, just once. I don't know. Everyone's dead.

Mark, how are you? And Colleen, that is, please don't do it again. I just, there was very stressful hearing. My dad was there. He was in the Air Force. He was here, and that's great. That is unbelievable. I think I have to join the Air Force.

Mark, how are you, by the way? I have about a fourth of my voice. Yeah, what is going on? Now, you drove here. Yes. Immediately like, uh-oh. No, no, no, it's actually... We got the text that you were in Barstow last night.

Well, so Barstow is literally halfway between Los Angeles and Las Vegas, unless it is pouring rain from, like, the deep heavens, and at one point snowing. Then it's like three hours and a half. But, like, got to a hotel, fell asleep within five minutes, woke up, came here. It was a very smooth trip. In fact, got here hours before the show,

and, you know, not much else to report, except I'm drinking lots of tea. That's good. And we've got to get you through the next four episodes here from Las Vegas, of course, here for Super Bowl 58, Chiefs, 49ers. We're going to get into the game in a minute. I just want to say for the listeners, this is a very special week where, like I said, we have this beautiful setup that IHeart has been kind enough to give us. I feel like we got some juice here on the floor at Radio Row.

It's gorgeous. Is this real marble? I mean, I'm just, I'm impressed. I saw Jerry Rice walk by just a few minutes ago, and he kind of looked up. longingly, like, wow, my set's not that nice. I had a great Jerry Rice moment on the set right next to us. I was speaking with our friend, MJ Acosta, and MJ knows everybody. So Jerry, not Jerry, rolls in with his contingency and says hi to MJ.

They exchange pleasantries. Know each other somehow. And then he looks at me, and he was like, am I supposed to know who this guy is? So he just stuck out his paw, and we shook hands. And I was like, yeah. All right, Jerry, I interviewed you once in 2011 in Andy Fenelon's office. Oh, and he remembered. He's like, oh, yeah, of course.

No, he didn't remember it. Mark Sessler, because of the Super Bowl Week, we are a show that's always innovating. It's how we win awards. We just did win an award. What award was it again, Greg? It was the Sports Podcast Awards given out in the UK. Yes, and what an incredible achievement by around the NFL, and we were just nominated for the best NFL podcast.

and the IHeart Media Awards, which I believe they'll be sending us to the award show. I haven't asked yet, but we'll see. The competition's pretty rough there. It's the best sports podcast. We're going up against Club Shay-Shay.

They just did about 70 billion downloads. The Travis Kelsey Show. Who's that? New Heights. Who's that? Levitard's in there. Levitard. Who's that guy?

Oh, also the pro football talk commentator got the... Pardon my take. Part of my take. Of course. Heavy hitters. That's one where it feels okay that we're just kind of in the group. It feels good to be in the group. It feels nice to be nominated.

But the reason why we are nominated is because we continue to innovate. We always roll out different, you know, satellite programs. And we have a great one debuting today with Mark Sessler. You know, you've won awards for this guy gets it. I mean, that we all know. I don't like to talk about it, but there have been multiple awards. You never bring it up. But we have another.

So humble. We have another offshoot that I think could be the Frazier to Cheers coming up in just a little bit. We're going to have some guests coming by, and it's going to be Mark's stage, and we're going to go into Mark's Little World with two very special guests. Should I say who they are? I mean, they'll see it on the podcast title. Yeah, I think so. I think so.

Cleveland Browns, all pros, stars, Miles Garrett, the presumptive or possible defensive player of the year. We'll find out on Thursday at NFL honors. and star cornerback, Denzel Ward. Sit down with Mark Sessler and Mark Sessler alone just in a couple minutes. Your thoughts, Mark? I will say these Super Bowl weeks, like things happen to you because everything's happening in a flurry and like a visual snowstorm and then suddenly you're on a plane home.

Like having just gotten here a couple hours ago and now this is happening, and this was just, this plan was just hatched this morning and there was some back and forth on how it should look and like I'm just praying it goes well, basically. That's how I am. I can feel the anxiety from hundreds of miles away over text, but it's going to be beautiful. It's a little different than some people that you'd interview. I mean, even from like an NFL perspective, like Miles Garrett is a top five NFL star.

And it's like, I've created some questions that I don't know how they will go with these two figures. What have you scribbled your questions on over there? Well, there have been some technical issues. So I put it on a little 1989 piece of paper from the Cosmopolitan Hotel. So that's coming up in just a little bit. But before we get to that, why don't we open up Super Bowl Week here from Mandalay Bay with one big thought. And, you know, listen, this is a huge, enormous stage, enormous, little Francesa, enormous stage for Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid. I mean, think about this.

I did some research on this. So the standard, of course, is Brady and Belichick, and they won six together. Paul Brown and Otto Graham won seven, but that's different. A.AFL, four, three in the NFL with the Browns, who are going to be on the show in just a bit, the faces of the Brown's defense with Mark Sessler. Vince Lombardi and Bart Starr won five titles together, but some of that, of course, predates Super Bowl as well. The Super Bowl era, which started in 67, I believe. Chuck Knoll and Terry Bradshaw, they won four.

Hallis and Sid Luckman won four for the Bears. Those are championships, but that's, again, pre-Super Bowl. So on the Super Bowl era, Bill Walsh, Joe Montana, they produced three. And Brady and Belichick six. And I'm thinking about those two combos. And now it's Reed and Mahomes. And Mahomes have been in the league seven years. And he's been the starter for six years.

and they've been to six AFC title games. This is their fourth Super Bowl, and they're going for their third Super Bowl championship. And I can't... You just don't know, Greg, you're a Patriots historian of their big run. The gap between the last pre... Their third and fourth titles.

Yes, how long was that? It was 10 years. Ten years. So the idea that we could just pencil in Mahomes and the Chiefs, with Reed to get back next year or the year after. No, like it during, over the course of a career, even Brady and Belichick, the standard bearers, they went a long gap before winning and starting that second run. So you got to make good while the, while the good is there to be made, winning this one,

getting the third one in the bag with another 10 to 12 years of his career ahead of him. And who knows how long Reed is ready to go on, but he's not looking to retire based on what he's been saying this week, it's such an opportunity for them. They're already legends, but to enter that different stratosphere of all-time greats. And we're here for it. And we're kind of lucky because as difficult is for me to watch the Patriots up close the way we got to do in that second half of their run, to go from Brady to Mahomes, to see two of these legends, all-time greats. It's pretty cool. I have tried to not take greatness for granted because like a lot of people, I was disappointed

that the Chiefs made it to this point. I wanted fresh blood. I wanted it to be the Bills finally getting over the hump or the Ravens in Lamar for the first time. That would be exciting. And as we've gotten closer to the Super Bowl, it's like, don't be bored with greatness. I think what you said was perfect

because I think about Andy Reid a lot in terms of his trajectory. And when he was with the Eagles, I thought he was the best offensive coach in the league. As much as Kyle Shanahan, I think, in the last 10 years, I thought Andy Reid changed football. Like I thought he was a Hall of Famer before he won his first Super Bowl. He was that good a coach, but he couldn't quite get over the hump in terms of winning the Super Bowl with the Eagles.

To see that guy paired with Mahomes, which there's no comparison for Mahomes. I mean, you're saying, okay, this puts them in a certain class. In a certain way, Mahomes is in his own class. There is no quarterback remotely similar in terms of their first six years. First six years, I agree with that. In terms of the individual accolades, his individual excellence, just how great he is and the team success. He is the greatest player in terms of his first six or seven years. So for those two guys to come together.

His first year as a start or as a start. Like it was immediate. He was the best player in the league. Yeah. All right. How about you, Mark? Get us going with yours. One big thought.

It's on the other side. It's Kyle Shanahan. Because to me, he's the great what-if coach. He lost 28 to 3, biggest stage possible. we were just here a couple years ago in this same matchup. These two teams are quite different, and yet the Niners had a lead in that game

and fell apart when it mattered most. And in general, this is someone that you could look at say he could have five or six Super Bowls if things had gone differently. He's lost multiple NFC title games, and it's tough to get back, but he does, he has brought this Niners team back years, years, years in a row.

And yet this feels like a different team to me just because you're getting the quarterback play you wanted, no matter what say about the Brock Purdy situation and experience, he's done fine by the Niners, done everything that a Kyle Shanahan quarterback be asked to do. But it is a top heavy, weapons-rich offense that you don't know who to protect, who to stop. And I think this is Kyle Shanahan's chance. And it's like, I just feel if this doesn't happen for them, that the Kyle Shanahan legacy, you know, like Mike Shanahan went years until he finally won those two with

Elway. Elway went obviously years, losing multiple Super Bowls before winning two. And neither to what Elway retires, but Mike Shanahan never got back to those heights ever again. That's your lesson from your own father that even if you get there and you win, two might be the crown. One might be the crown. And to lose a third Super Bowl, one as an offensive coordinator, this weekend, would just be crushing. I think it just takes so much resilience from not just him, but everyone else to get back. And there is a fair amount of weight, I think, on certain Niners players that were here last time that feel that where the chiefs, to me, it's not house money for everything you just said, it matters so much.

And it's like, I just watching a little bit of, like, opening night, media night that, like, the chiefs feel kind of loose to me. Not that the Niners feel butt tight, but the chiefs just feel kind of like they've been here and loose. And I just wonder if it gets into one of these key fourth quarter situations, like, which team do you trust to pull it out? Shanahan, I do think one thing. After what happened last week in the NFC title game, defense fell apart in the first half, you're down by a ton that was a different

type of win for the Niners I'm kind of glad that happened for them it was instructive Colleen your big thought okay my one big thought is also about one of the coaches involved in this game but I'm going to go with Steve Wilkes

I think that his performance in this game and the way that this game goes could really change his trajectory in the NFL because everyone is talking about spags in this game everyone's talking about

Shanahan and Andy Reid, but Steve Wilkes against Andy Reid, like think about all of the Niners D.Cs that have gotten head coaching jobs in the NFL, Robert Sala, Domingo Ryan's. If he has a big performance against Andy Reed and Patrick Mahomes on the biggest of all stages, he's going to set himself up for a potential head coaching job in the future. Big, yep, big one. And that's been cottage industry, D.C. for the Niners. get a gig. And it hasn't been

always a smooth ride this season for them, but we'll see. Greg, close it out. One big thought. My big thought is more about where we are right now. To just, like, take a moment and realize we got C.J. Stroud standing over here in the Las Vegas. Go get a mark.

Like, in Mandalay Bay. And it all seems normal now. This show is presented by Draft Kings, and we've gotten used to that over the last couple years. But it's freaking crazy. Five years ago, actually seven years ago now, 2017, Roger Goodell is quoted saying we're not changing our position as it relates to sports gambling. We don't think it's a positive thing. Like 10 plus years ago,

and he was asked about that this week, he says, I think it's bad for the sport because he was worried about how people would question the integrity of the game and as it relates to gambling. And I don't think that's really happened. We're hearing all the jokes about the scripts and stuff like that, but I don't think it's really related to gambling. But it's just a totally different world. And I don't know exactly how it's going to go. But the fact that the NFL has completely embraced Vegas to the point where they sort of fast forwarded giving them a Super Bowl, they had to prepare for the Super Bowl because New Orleans backed out faster than any city ever has, like less than two years. And we're here and there's NFL slap machines and there's everything. It's just

freaking crazy because at one point I was like a 17 year old kid whose two favorite things in the world were weed in sports gambling and I would have never I would have never imagined a world little has changed well one has changed quite a bit because

of our employment like I would have never I would have never So it's still a heavy drug user no no actually that's died down relatively but it's still a beautiful thing like we should really dive into that but the fact that we're living in this world where where both of those things are legal

and they're encouraged that they are funding a lot of what's going on here and I think we're in this weird sort of in between there's been a lot of laws in the UK that have kind of pulled back some of the regulate like it's been an industry that's been regulated a lot more and right now we're just kind of in the wild west where like anything goes

and I think we'll look back at this time is like wow that was kind of crazy everything that happened back then we understand why this has been a remarkable development for you and all of us. No doubt. Although I did stop gambling well before I came to this place in the NFL. All right, we got it, right.

You're safe. It was too stressful. I just looked over my right shoulder and an enormous, enormous superstar for a certain team out of Cleveland is ready to join us. So we're going to take a break. And when we return, it's a debut. Now I'm watching them too over the latest spinoff. Spinoff of the Around the NFL universe, Mark Sessler, lead the way, our friend,

and then we'll be back on the other side of it. We shall do it. All right. Be right back. Now it's time for a trip to Mark's Man Cave. Brought to by Debra McGregor. All right, everyone. Welcome back to the Man Cave.

very special guest today. We have got two actually huge NFL stars from the same team, teammates, Miles Garrett, possible defensive player of the year. We'll find out this week. Pro bowler, pro bowl cornerback Denzel award. Incredible season this guy, this year, the guys, I want to just ask quickly, like, the immense change between last year's Brown's defense and what happened this year under Jim Schwartz, you know, that's why he's up for potential assistant coach of the year, why you guys are up for all these awards. What was the difference? Like, how did, with so many of the same players, how did it shift so quickly?

Man, it's so much I can say. So much I can say about Coach Schwartz. I think just his attention to detail was a key difference. Just being in the meeting rooms and him being able to coach us all and take us through what's all expected of all of us. And just the energy out the field. I mean, you've seen us out there having all these handshakes and celebrating everything. I feel that stuff played a huge part in our success this year.

And he was one of the key reasons as to. while that was. How about you? I mean, one of the main things is, you know, he always preaches about, you know, celebrating me with your teammates, you know, swaggery and badassery, you know, keeping that attention of detail, you know, awful. What he said before, you know, we were,

always in a meeting room. He always led, you know, the meetings, you know, himself. You know, he always went through each position, you know, detailing what each guy is going to do. And, you know, it might have been, you know, down to nitty-gritty with our own position coaches. But, you know, he was always,

and everything that we did, making sure that it was just how he wanted it. But that energy that you see on the field, it's also no couple with the energy that he has every day, that passion that he shows every day, and that kind of stuff is contagious. When you hit the league, it was popular to talk about the fact that you were a poet off the field, that you practice poetry, that words matter to you.

Could you give me a few words to describe your teammate Denzel Ward? A few words? Lockdown. Respect. Relentless. I like that. How about in reverse? I'm not suggesting that you write poetry off the field,

but you could just use the same exercise? Yeah, definitely. I'll say miles is an electric. I'll say electrifying is one of the key words that pops out when I think of Miles gear. Electrifying and dominant. I like that. You know, so one of the reasons that I'm,

we've got a number of people on the show, but I have been a Browns fans going back to 1986, So, you know, the Marty Schottenheimer's, the Bernie Cozars, the Frank Minifields, Hanford Dixon's, Clay Matthews of the world. This defense was different to me. There was a bit of a controversy I thought early on in the year when they put Brownie, the elf back at midfield. And there was, I don't know why people had such a reaction. I think it's historical. It goes back to the earliest Browns teams.

I would ask you personally, though, and I'll start with you, Miles, like elves in general, do you believe that at some point on this earth, like a mythical creature like an elf actually exists? or does that not sit well with you? Do I believe that? I haven't seen it, so I can't particularly say that I believe too strongly in it, but maybe I just need someone to make me a believer. All right, elves, your take. See, so I'll ask what exactly is a elf?

Well, I mean, you're looking at one at the 50-yard line during each of these games, but it is typically, you know, a bean that I believe uses invisibility is good with a bow and arrow. existed in, you know, in the woods, typically. So is that a wood elf? Are we talking high elf, dark elves? I think that it runs the whole gamut.

I mean, if you get into, I'm not, you know, I'm sort of an affringe elf individual, but like the fact that I think some people thought it doesn't represent a tough, you know, football player. Well, there's a lot of things happening with elves that could cause a problem for the Ravens or Steelers, I think, depending on some of their powers. So we'll leave it out.

We'll leave that right there at that. So I did, I've had a question always about, like, when I, you can tell that I probably played football one, point of my life way back when, but I, we would have these pregame meals where like some dad on a grill would create like immense amount of food and we go out and we all just pig out and then 40 minutes later you're out getting your butt kicked by Wilton High School because you just want to be taking a nap at that point. Like what do you each eat and ingest from the morning you wake up until like the 1 p.m. kickoff. What goes into your body? A smoothie, smoothie

and water. You keep it light. Smoothie water, uh, gator light. Yeah, similar. I'm not a big eater. game day. I'm drinking a smoothie, probably eat some fruit, banana, and that's about it. I don't eat nothing too big. No, I like that. So you're here for Bounty. And I love Bounty, good product. It's helped me in my house often. Like, how about for you? Has there been a situation, I don't know, maybe some sort of major fiasco in your own household or life where Bounty has saved the day for you? I mean, I got dogs, man. There's all kind of fiasco is happening. So, Bounty's come to save the day multiple times. Okay, so you use the product that you're pitching. I like that.

Oh, definitely. I mean, I have parties all the time with my family and everything. So there's always a mess being made come party time. So Bounty definitely saves a day when using that. Okay, just a couple more. Denzel for you, do you believe that Steelers fans have ever read a book? Do I believe Steelers fans ever read a book? Yeah, I'm sure they read a book here and there. That sounds about right. At some point, yeah.

Sounds about right. Last one for both of you, you know, I think this was one of the most surprising seasons. And it's the Joe Flacco of it all. It's you playing your best football of all time, the teammate in general. I mean, just the way that the Browns came together, I think for Browns fans, it's unusual. They've been through a lot of ups and downs. Kevin Stifansky coach of the year candidate. It was really joyful to watch down the stretch.

But then it ends the way it does. And obviously, I would just, what is your goal? Where do you want to be a year from now when we're sitting here at Super Bowl week? what are the Cleveland Brown saying to their fans at that point? You'll be talking about us on the radio and you won't be able to have us sitting here and we'll be preparing for a game. No more Elvin conversations a year from now.

Well, maybe the post-game, we're talking, we have a trophy in the hands or maybe a bottle or something. We're celebrating a win. I love that. Yeah, exactly, man. That's the ultimate goal. It's to get to where the Chiefs and the 49ers are playing right now. So that's where we're going to work hard to do this all season

and come back better than last year. All right, good luck. Thanks for stopping by, and we appreciate it. Thank you. Thank you. This is being a trip to Mark's magic. Brought to you by Deadlin McGregor. All right, welcome back.

Oh, man. Sestog, the premiere of Mark's Man Cave. And I got to say, Mark, I bet you're feeling great now because you got that off the plate. Yeah, I hope the people are still listening. Again, it's like when you're dealing with like 60% of your voice and they didn't want to wear like cans headphones. So like I was, you know, it was a bit of a stage moment. You're suddenly on stage. It was an interesting experience for us because we're watching our own show for the first time.

and we couldn't hear what you were saying. So we'll be listening like the fans. By the way, because I know Greg and Colleen haven't heard it, we are always looking to monetize the show and build the empire. This is the name of the program that everyone just heard. Now it's time for a trip to Mark's Man Cave. Brought to by Devil McGregor.

And Devin McGregor is a placeholder. We're looking for sponsors. And I thought Man Cave Mark is perfect because on the heels and the momentum of your Dejornos and really pushing your Everyman appeal out there a little bit more. Yeah, I think so. The idea of people coming down into your cave, it's just an extension of that brand that we're building. So anybody including, I'm just going to say Dejornos, like if you want to extend the brand connection with the Cestog, Man Cave is open for business.

McGregor, just, just a placeholder. Yeah, I don't know what the hesitation is on the part of that one particular pizza vendor. I continue to have hope that they'll, you know, perform and come out of the shadows. They did tweet at me. They did. Yeah. That's great. That's big.

That's a start. Yeah. You could lead a de journos to water. Right. But can you make a drink? We're going to find out. That's true. We've done this show for 10 years and it's been great making podcasts.

We're podcasters. The next 10 years, influencers. That's really. That's really what. Time to level up, guys. That's what we're happening. That's where the guap is. You need the perfect setting, the perfect squad, the perfect eats,

and the perfect plan to keep everyone pumped all night long. I feel like I'm, you know, punishing someone. Or else. Well, actually, can I say, I did. Like, Gail Godot, it's like having to eat that pizza all of a sudden. We're not going to play it back because I don't want to make light of it because it's an important cause. But the latest ad read that's out there about the getting professional help,

very different tone. respectful and somber. Well, yeah, I received some coaching before I recorded that. And I tried to pay attention. Connie, where's your headspace at? Where's the oxygen levels? My head is in the cloud still, guys. If things went sideways, I did prepare something for this show.

Okay. Is it a eulogy? Colleen was an amazing woman, funny, kind, vivacious. And that laugh, oh, that laugh. A wild Irish rose, she was bringing serenity. and warmth to this crazy garden we call life. And then we just all start to share memories of you, but don't need it, so we're good.

That's so nice of you to think ahead and plan that way. Thank you for thinking of my death. I mean, you're going up in a jet. Yeah. With the jets, how close are they? 18 inches? Well, that's when they're flying with the other planes. Can we make it 18 yards next time?

18 inches. There was this one up there, right? You weren't flying two. No, it was just one. It was just me and triple up there. By the way, these guys, I saw, maybe it was the man that you were up there with. Triple was here. He just texted me, but they just left.

This guy out of triple. By the way, a lot of people coming for your triple, your G's. I mean, it's hard to ignore this. Like, Colleen literally tripled your G's. Like, she tripled triple G. I did. And let's talk about brand invasion. I'm taking this as like an opening serve, essentially, and I will return fire at some point.

But this guy that you. you went up in the air with whether if it's him I don't know but right out of central casting oh oh you you guys have no idea like the every everyone that is part of the thunderbirds they are all like I don't know what the interview process is but it was like a bunch of Ken dolls and all of the girls are gorgeous everyone is a fighter pilot or a fighter pilot adjacent and I truly think I might have to join the Air Force but I think my window has passed at this point So Top Gun is real It really is, truly

I mean you guys should have met fire If you guys would really have liked him Really? Yeah How many women Thunderbirds are there? There is a few But also each Each jet has its own mechanic And has its own like sort of team

And so it's like Are they hot mechanics? Everyone's good looking Everyone is really good looking What an experience The janitorial service Just a bunch of nines and tens And they're all cool

And they all get along with each other Like the vibes were honestly so good there. Well, don't, you know, Colleen, don't judge a book by cover. There could be something going on underneath the fingernails. Well, I think that you could find out

what it was. You should go over there next. I'm going to bring down the Thunderbirds. You know who... Take them down a peg. You know who's going up today with them? Matt Ryan. Oh, if Matt Ryan passes out,

too many Gs. Well, so they were explaining to me why, as I had mentioned, that women are more like physiologically capable of handling the G's. It's because, and I didn't realize this, shorter people are better handlers of the G's because of like the blood flow. So it is, I'm a little nervous for Matt Ryan.

He's six, five, six. So you're saying, it's in a tough spot. I could be an absolutely superior. You could. Ten G's. Ten Gs is the only way to beat Connie, double digit the G's. I wanted to hit like one of the mok. This has been a great week for the small man.

I mean, Mike Vrable can't get a job because he's so big and athletic and strong. They're just passing out jobs to 5'540-pound guys. What a moment here at Super Bowl Week from Las Vegas. All right. Let's do some news, get caught up on what's going on around this big game. Hey, I'm here all day. You walk with the road. What?

You walk with the world. You walk with the world. You walk with the world. You go with the world. You go with the world. See, it's important to remember because he's mild-mannered, right? Patrick Mahomes, but he's got that dog in him. That was from the quarterback series on Netflix when he was going toe-to-to-to with Max Crosby.

It's one of the best rivalries in the league, Crosby and Mahomes get after it twice a year. Thought Crosby right in the corner when I walked in. Oh. And, yeah, like Mahomes, part of Mark what has made this guy who he is. Like, you do not F with this guy. And we collectively, as a people, doubted him this year. And I know it's not just him, but the way he's locked in and leveled up, and we're going to do a Super Bowl picks at the end of the week,

it's just like, could you possibly pick against Mahomes and feel good about it? I don't know. I don't think I can. I feel like if you pick against him, if you pick with Mahomes, I should say, and that they lose, you can't walk around the streets beating yourself up about it because there's no way that wasn't a logical move. And I think the reason we haven't seen so much like wildfire and anger and venom out of him is because things have been pretty good.

It's like this... Less Kidarius Tony's dropping balls. Yeah, I mean, that was what I thought that was instructive. It's like he will get on his teammates. He will go crazy. He will show his emotions. He's got all that. I think he's able to keep it under the cuff a little bit more than others.

But the chiefs in general, outside of like, you know, Kelsey taking, you know, Justin Tucker's helmet and whipping it into the back of the end zone. Like, they're able to like, in the big moments, not lose their cool for the most part. And it's interesting, the chiefs, like the pay, again, Because you have to draw the parallel, the last dynasty to this team, which I think absolutely if they win, you can't deny it's a dynasty of the chiefs.

You could already call it that considering the success they've had. But getting that third is a big deal. I think they're the first team, the second team, the only team in history that's ever made four Super Bowls in five years other than the Patriots. Wow. In the salary cap era, it's unbelievable. Anyway, the Patriots are easy to root against. There were elements around that team, including some controversies they were in,

and then just how often they were in the picture. People just got sick of them. The Chiefs, not always that case, but it's starting to happen now where people are turning on the Chiefs. They got booed loudly when they entered at the opening night of festivities on Monday as they took the, you know, they emerged. And Mahomes was asked about that how things have kind of changed and how they're seen. And I really think, like, and this is some toxicity, we don't need this. But I really think the Taylor Swift pushback has been born that's come down and worked against the Chiefs as well because she's obviously connected and aligned with them and bros are tacky.

But also the booing from opening night was a little misleading because the Chiefs fans were there first for the Chiefs podiums. And then they sort of cleared out. And then they had the joint appearance, the Niners and the Chiefs. So then the Niners fans came in, and it was mostly Niners fans that were left. So on the broadcast, it sounded like it was just all booze, but it was also a little bit of the timing and the run of show. And also, you're taking the drive from the airport to where you're staying in Allegiance Stadium. The Raiders, you know, Death Star has a gigantic Chiefs helm on it.

So, like, some of the overflow of people that were just here as Raiders fans were also like, I think which team I'm going to be booing will be the Kansas City Chiefs, Not a big problem there. So, but let's keep the storyline intact. I'm going to wipe all that from the show. Here's Patrick Mahomes on being the villain. Not necessarily. I think I just like winning.

If you win a lot and that causes you to be a villain, then I'm okay with it. But at the end of the day, I'm going to enjoy playing the game and try to win as much as possible. So, you know, he knows what to say. Not much there. Your boy, Mark, Brock Purdy, meanwhile. He's on the other side of this.

And everyone is talking about Brock. And what is he? Where does he fit in? this Niners team how should he be celebrated it's been quite frankly it's become an exhaustive storyline at this point uh including oh that guy's just a game manager here's purdy on being called a game manager like i feel like it's it's it can be a compliment at times where it's like all right you get a guy that can come in and and run the system well um i feel like that's a compliment i think that's you know you're doing things right mentally and and obviously you're good enough to be

able to hit guys that are open and make plays? So, Mark, like, yes, but also the pejorative nature of it is this guy isn't a playmaker, he can't do it on his own, but he might be hoisting a trophy in a few days, and nobody would care what you call him. He would be a champion. I mean, he's refusing to, in a way, look at the definition, the way that it's been for 20-plus years. And I more agree with Baldi that he's a silent assassin. He fits beautifully into that attack. And, like, I feel like I've talked about Brock Purdy from my point of view so often.

It's, like, I couldn't support him more. I don't know what you need a quarterback to do in today's NFL in an offense like this. It's not because of the offense. Like, Purdy does so much well. And I think we just, like, we can't reconcile the fact that he wasn't, like, a first-round draft pick. I think people are still struggling with that, that he's come out of nowhere and that no one recognized who he was before the draft, too. I think a lot of people have some weight over around the fact that Purdy's blown all these expectations have been a complete surprise.

But he's not a game manager. He is the furthest thing from a game manager. The funny thing is if you look at the stats from this year, Patrick Mahomes would be the ultimate game manager. Like, no one throws the ball shorter depth of target than Patrick Mahomes. He's not taking any chances. He hasn't thrown an interception in six playoff games, which is outrageous. No one's even gotten close to an interception on him this year.

Like, he is doing exactly what needs to be done. Brock Purdy's the opposite. People that are calling him a game manager aren't watching these games. Like, he's been a little up. and down in the playoffs, certainly the first half of that Packers game wasn't good, or parts of that Packers game. But he takes chances. I looked this up this week, because I had a feeling. On PFF, they have big time throws, big time throw rate. Four quarterbacks in the NFL are in the top eight of big time throw rate and turnover worthy play rate. Wouldn't that be like the opposite

of a game manager? So, Brock Purdy, I thought was exceptional in terms of the good throws he made in the NFC Championship rewatching that. I was really impressive how many low percentage plays he made. So he's one of the four quarterbacks that are in the top eight in big time throws and in the top eight of turnover worthy plays. He is a risk taker. I don't think you can take that out of him. He's not really a game manager. The other guys on that list are like Stafford, Trevor Lawrence was on the list, and Gino. It's kind of a weird list, but it does make sense to me. It's guys who are going to take some chances and it's not always going to work out, but they're kind of fun to watch. And Flacco was way above the rest of them if he qualified.

Baldi talked about that, too. He said that the nature of the Niners' offense is to attack in the middle of the field. And to do that, you're thrown into traffics. And that's, I think part of that is built into what his skill set. He's not known for having a cannon of an arm. So he can't maybe hit some of the throws that Stafford can hit. So they attack in a different way. You're not going to hear me going into this week going after Purdy too hard

because I really thought the way he responded when the house was on fire. in the NFC title game, kind of told me what I needed to know that he is a silent assassin. Like he's not going to shrink in this moment. He might make mistakes, but he's not going to collapse. Just look at his yards per attempt this season, 9.6. That was the best in the entire league. He was the most efficient quarterback. He was top five in yards and touchdowns and passer rating.

How can you call him a game manager? But I guess at the same time, it's almost like X factor. Everyone has a different definition for these things. and it feels like it's sometimes fluid because you could make the case that every single quarterback who has ever played the game is in some way, shape, or form a game manager. Sure, that's kind of the job.

Where is he? Where is he in relation? This is an off-season conversation, but in relation to the Dalton line. It's funny you say that. Brock Purdy? Yeah. Like, I think he's in front of it, but how comfortable he was. So he's way in front of it.

And that's why I... Well, yeah, I'm saying, I agree he is, but is he like a top top? 10 quarterbacks? Yeah. Top 12. I think right now, to me, he would be, it's tough to remove him from the system, but he'd be somewhere in that 8 to 12 range for me, where if you were starting a team, you would go with about 8 or 9 guys first, and then he's somewhere in that, that mix of 8 to 10, which is exceptional for any second year quarterback. Imagine if Justin Fields was a top 10 quarterback in his second year. I mean, like, it's exceptional, and it's okay 49ers fans.

like you it's okay that he's not a top five quarterback what would what what would he need to do to change your opinion to get him into the conversation of like a top five quarterback a top like what would he need top five top 10 quarterback maybe wouldn't just need to see more you know see him in a different offense he involved as a round longer yeah I don't know it's he is he is gifted by I think cut down on the the mistakes I mean he's he like like the turnover or the play thing I I was talking about. It's a reason why you wouldn't put some of the other people that I mentioned. It was Gino, who was it?

Stafford, you put in there. Like, he takes too many chances now, and I think he'll pull that back while still having the playmaking at some point. To Dan's point, though, he bounces back from that. I think he's very mentally tough. Like, there's something about him the way his teammates talk about him. But for me, like, seeing him in a different offense, and I get where you're coming from, Dan, but, like, half the league is Shanahan offenses now.

It's like he's got, it's not just the scheme, I mean the players around. Sure. He has potentially But he also's made every one of those players extremely effective and some of them, like Brandon O'uk has had a star season with him at quarterback. He adds to the game of the people around.

It's one of the most age-old conversations around this time of year. At one point, people kind of thought Joe Montana was a game manager, was a system quarterback. Who should really get the credit, Bill Walsh or Joe Montana? Because at that point,

he had already gone through and had success with all these other guys. And that's like football. It's like you can't really separate it. And the beauty is like they're only great together. And there's no question to me. This is the best 49ers offense we've ever seen. Like it's not even close.

One of the things that like Jordan loves a great example, I would have him probably ahead of Purdy right now. And part of that is because not that he doesn't, those guys around Green Bay aren't talented, the young players around him, the past catchers. But I think he made them. better and is Purdy making this core better or is he just fit in nicely as a piece that is

making the most of them you know what I think love is making that surrounded cast better I think Stroud did the same thing is pretty he's right behind you right now stroud is he oh yeah it's so crazy you got a lot very strange in my let's uh let's move on hey this is always on my radar a little bit just because how much things have changed in um in our world like 20 years ago you were playing the Super Bowl on like green concrete and everything was always terrible and now every year teams are complaining about the turf is bad here

the grass is too slippery here this and that so Kansas City is training at the Raiders facility and they are singing just Ozana's about it Hosanna like they're going nuts because it's great we love it here

what a great team what a great facility Blah, blah, blah. So the NFC team is at UNLV, and they are not happy with it. In fact, the union director, do we know who the executive director of the players' union is now? It's important because it's no longer D. Smith. Greg? I mean, usually I have a computer in front of me.

I took the computer away when Mark did his thing, and I forgot to bring it back. Well, I was curious if you knew it. Lloyd Howell. Anyway, he said today... D. Smith liked to get to get. in the news, too. Lloyd Howell, maybe not so much. Well, wait till the next labor negotiation. He'll be in a plenty. But the UNLV

practice field, quote, really isn't up to snuff for what our players deserve. So, I just wanted to mention that they're unhappy with where they're practicing and the chiefs are loving it. But I guess if it was the other way around and they were in the AFC, they'd be at the state of the art facility. But that's just how

life goes, deal with it. Yeah, but something seems like you could have months ago realized that might cause some problems. Truth. It's a little. bit of a knock on Vegas as a Super Bowl city that they don't have too high quality facilities. I think they just put that sod down like the NFL though to make sure that that facility is that's a thing like you there's a lead up to this. We didn't just announce the city. Right but you can't just like create out of thin air like you know a football facility.

So they I guess you and LVE was the best they could do and next time around hopefully better. It's a good point. In other news, Greg, you mentioned it and your one big thought that got us going. How the NFL is, you know, for years was like, stay away gambling, stay away. And now we are fully in bed. I mean, we are presented by draft kings today for an example. We also, by the way, just so people know the rules, so all of the NFL employees did get a sternly worded email from Rogg himself about, hey, you're in Vegas to work, you're not allowed to gamble. Obviously, you can't go in the sports books.

You have to avoid all those things. But no slot machine. No, nothing. Nothing. You can't go on the casino floor. I'm glad I did not read that email, so I'm glad that you apprised me of that. I didn't know that that part about the slot machines. Are you a slot machine guy? No, I mean, actually it was like...

I thought you need like an oxygen tank. You know, I feel like when you walk through a casino and I'm just like the noise of it, it's like a Dave on Busters on LSD. It's like I need to be shotgun again. We are the same in this. Like, it's just overstimulating to walk through a casino. The colors, the noises, the people. It's a lot.

Sorry, Greg. You would imagine... Jack Butt, baby! Once again, you would imagine that both these teams, and there have been stories, you know, go look up the name Barrett Robbins is an example. There are stories of players that go crazy, Super Bowl Week, get themselves in trouble.

Where did Barrett Robbins go? I think he went to Mexico. Yes, I think it was Tijuana, or parts close. I think he was the starting center of the Raiders. Right. Look it up. It's a wild story. They got waxed the next day by the Bucks.

They sure did. There was the Falcons, you know, Walter Payton Man of the Year. Eugene Robinson. Eugene Robinson. That was a toughie dude. Got caught with a hooker that we... That's a lady of the night, Greg. 86 or 85 Patriots had some issues before they destroyed by the bears.

That's why they lost. So strong. No, it's not. It's a word. I don't know. Don't look at me. Anyway, Reed, the coaches, Reed and Shadahan and league representatives, as soon as they touch down in Vegas, they're talking to the players.

But here, you can't, you got to, know what you can and cannot do. Here's what Reed said this week. We had the league security rep come in and talk to the guys right when we got here. I mean literally when we got here. And that was part of the conversation, was gambling. He made it very clear restating the rules and regulations and temptations here, obviously in Las Vegas.

So that was addressed. Oh, man, I got a feeling. I don't want to put a sandwich on it. And we'll do our Super Bowl sandwich props later. We're going to get a story this week. It might come off this day. Yeah, so I don't know, but someone is going to be a storyline about some... You got to put a sandwich on it?

I'm not ready to do that because I don't... It's probably not going to be good, so I don't want to root for bad news for somebody, but... That's Mark's thing. Something. Well, maybe it won't be a bad story that comes out. There will be a story. Like, what would be a good story? Well, there's always some crazy things to happen.

The guy put a, like, 17 parlay, you know, where he put like 20 bucks up and won, like, a million dollars. There's those sort of stories. Those are happy stories, I guess. Good news is not typically news. If it bleeds, it leads. Am I right? Yeah, they got the chart back in the old day. I agree, so I can say that.

Eric B. Enemy, former OC of the Chiefs. He's got rings with this team, and he left Casey and became the offensive coordinator of the commanders this year, but he got fired over there. So now he's looking for work. Guess what? Andy Reid said Wednesday in his press conference. that Eric Bienemy spent time with the Chiefs before the AFC championship game.

He talked with the offensive guys and hung out with us in our meetings. He's still up for a couple of jobs. He couldn't really answer if Bienemy would be part of their staff next season. I guess if he doesn't get a job. But I feel like it's should that be allowed? Like you get another coach now on your team and it's a guy

that, you know. It's happened before. Fangio with the Eagles as a recent example. It is a weird little Netherworld loophole. that that could happen. But ultimately, he's just, you know, he's just helping out the team he already worked with.

I'm sure he's getting paid for it. Yeah. The enemy was with the chiefs from 2013 to 2022. He was the O.C. from 18 to last year. I thought it was interesting how Reid answered one part of the question was that they asked what he'd be there next year potentially, just like if all this could shake out. He's like, well, they're in space for him right now. I mean, you can create space for anyone if you want.

Yeah. But I think it's, you know, it would be intriguing to see him come back. But there are a couple people on that staff. I think maybe Reid would rather. have B. Enemy over? It's like the Patriots, you know, they hired Van Pelt. They hired our old friend, uh, why am I blanking Macadoo, you know? They consulted with Chip Kelly. Greg, like we didn't, we couldn't get Bianami in there for an interview? Some of these Pats hires, I mean, I don't know, man. And that's coming from a Jets fan. I, I, my coaching staff

has Nate Hackett on it still, but you got Ben, you got Ben in the building. That's what I'm saying. You couldn't, you couldn't bring. It's nice to see you out here. It's good news for the bills. Put it that way. Not like the enemy would have a little different. Maybe a little bit different. Hey, by the way,

finally we have a quarterback from the vaunted QB class of 2018 in a Super Bowl. We haven't talked about this yet. It's Sam Darnold. Here's a quote from Darnold, by the way. He was approached media night. I always envisioned going deep in the playoffs with New York. and being able to make a run at the Super Bowl.

Obviously, that's what you dream of as a kid. Right when I got drafted by the Jets and still to this day, it's my goal to be able to bring a championship somewhere. And now he has that opportunity as a backup for the Niners, but I just want to put it out there. Sam got there first, 2018.

Draft class. Who we got Baker? We got Josh Allen. We got Lamar. We got Josh Rosen. But only one man got there first, Mark. Sam fucking Darnold. This is the most awkward ax to grind that of your many awkward axes.

It's interesting that Darnold didn't dream of getting there with the Panthers. He knew that was a failed operation. Look, Sam Darnold, he's a backup quarter. He might see him in this game like we saw in the NFC championship game last year for Brock Purdy leaving. But he should wear that Super Bowl ring proudly. I saw Colleen Wolf introduce Maurice Jones Drew on our network as Super Bowl champion Maurice Jones Drew and he holds up the rig and they offer the viewer no context that MJD got it as the broadcaster for the Rams. I was like Sam Darno deserves that. So I never introduce any of our

analysts who have won a Super Bowl as Super Bowl winning except MJD because fans get so upset about That's amazing. And that's like more of an inside, like, troll job. I know, but he holds it up and you guys didn't explain it at all. He just holds it up. You know those viral videos of the guy that destroys his TV when his sports team loses? That was Greg after you didn't provide the context. It's my favorite thing to do.

I mean, it did make me laugh and troll-be. I know you're calling it an awkward axe to grind. I'm just, these are facts. That's all, Mark. Number one. The first one with a bullet. They are factual from an angle. You are creating, you're not creating.

in facts, but you're putting them into a certain stew that tastes a certain way. And it's delicious. Here we go. Pennsylvania Man faces up to four years for illegally flying a drone over the AFC championship game. Can we not? Can we stop doing this? How many commercial breaks

where everyone's confused for a second? And the crowd starts booing and the announcers are trying to figure it out. And then the ref finally comes down and goes, we are stopping the game for a official's timeout and you see some people looking up as they go to commercial. It's like, some the damn idiot just flew another drone over a stadium.

Go to jail forever. Send a message. Wow, that's aggressive. I was going to go the other way. Wait a minute. Pennsylvania, man. So he flew it from Pennsylvania to Baltimore? Right.

He probably was visiting. Okay, I would you say, that's impressive to me. It's an awesome drone. It sold so many drones. It's powered on nuclear energy. Now that we know this, maybe fly it more. Four years feels a little steep. You know, I think so, too.

Our country does imprison more than any country in the world by leaps and bounds. I feel like four years for a drone is the reason why. Hang them. That's what I say. This is a good axe to grind, Dan. You want to go 12 years at least for this guy. Dan hates drones and people to fly them. Next 10 years like...

I hate extra commercials. These games are long enough. Next 10 years, like we're going to be influencers and Dan's going to become big on capital punishment. It's just going to be his thing. I'm going to run for office. My main campaign will be about drones. and how they need to be eliminated.

Oh my God. Will you please do a campaign ad? Please. I will. In fact, we got a lot of off-season episodes to get through. Drones may not fly within three miles of stadiums at seat at least 30,000 people during NFL games. So there you go.

And relatedly, here's a headline from the New York Post that came out today. Content Creator, that's us on some level, climbs Las Vegas sphere in shocking scene to quote, raise money for a homeless pregnant woman. This happened today. Wait, what? Yes. And a guy climbed the giant sphere where you two is playing and I think fish is there next. And the grateful dead and friends, Mark.

How is he raising money? Okay, yeah, like how does what in one connect here? Crime. This is the crime beat. I'm saying why, where is the money coming from that he's raising? Oh, oh, see, that's a great question. Well, wait, no, he could have been on, if he's an influencer, he could have been on one of the many platforms and people are donating. could do it on TikTok or whatever.

That's the world that you guys are going into, the influencer world. Mark is leading us there. I know, but I'm more like, how do you climb a circle? That's the best question of the day. These news stories have deeper questions attached to them. How about he's known as the pro-life Spider-Man? You know what? I'm going to bring him along on my campaign tour.

Yes, of course you are. I got him. I got you, Pro-Life Spider-Man. Dan is transforming before our eyes. Oh, my God. All right. There we go. And that's it.

That's what's happening in the news. Anything else to add that you've seen in and around the big game? No, I mean, I just thought it was interesting that Andy Reid opening night was asked about foods that he likes and dislikes, and he said the only thing he dislikes is liver. Never tried it. I've never had it. Oh, I love liver.

But what? Of course you do, Greg. How is it cooked? Like, to me, it sounds absurd. Like a paté, certainly. Like a croix? I thought liverwished, or liverwurst? Liverwurst? No, it's tasty.

It's fine. Is it salty? What kind of, what is it? What would you? We're trying to get marked back to me. I'm not, you don't want to. This is certain things I'll just never do.

A little tangier, I would say, than regularly. Oh, that is not a selling point. It's a texture issue, though, a little bit, right? I think I would, I think it's because my, my German grandfather was a liver guy, so it's just, like, baked into me. Villelhelm Rosenthal. Heinz, Heinz was his, Heinz Rosenthal. Don't do it, Greg. I know what you want to do.

We're at the Super Bowl, Greg. Yeah, let it, you know. Just let it. That's time and place. You're doing it. I'm not just talking about amazing food memories with livers. I just really need you guys to behave yourselves here. I'm in place, Greg.

Yeah, this show is off the real. All right, we're going to take one more break. And when we come back, we're going to have one more conversation about Vabe game. All right, welcome back. Uh, before we go, uh, this, this will, this is where we show our bona fides as real football people. This segment is called X factors, basic bros, and lazy ladies aren't even thinking about. Yeah. And you see, you see how I did that.

What? You included women? I included women. Because that's important. You know what? It's equal representation. We have, we're, we're going after everyone. So there is no one that is safe.

in this segment. It's also important, like, when you do mention women that you ask for the credit of mentioning the women, that's important. Part and parcel. It is extremely important that you understand that this industry of ours populated by all types of people. I've done it again. So here we go. Let's get into it. So nothing, nothing basic, okay? Nothing basic. Nothing basic, nothing lazy. Mark, give us something. Give us something deeper. What's an X factor for this game?

I love that Colleen mentioned Steve Wilkes. I want to just go from a different angle a little bit that, like, he called them out. Like, everywhere that Steve Wilkes has been, like, win or lose on some of these teams, like, the thing I keep reading about him is, like, Alpha Male, like, his power and, like, absolute vitriol at times in the locker room and in certain speeches to players and the way he plans, like, affects the players. And, like, there was, I think, tension between Kyle Shanahan and Steve Wilkes this entire season. And you brought them down from the booth to the sideline, and I think that's made a difference. But then you go and get gashed for 182 yards on the ground by Detroit.

In a game that you barely won, and your defense would have been the reason you didn't. And it's like we saw that we've become so accustomed under, like, D'Mico Ryan's and coordinators past, where this defense played at a certain level. And Wilkes came out of the woodwork this week very strongly and just said, nope, not. acceptable and like you can point at the coordinator but a lot of the players came forward and said in the NFC title game of all games we did not put forth the right effort and like that can all sound like locker room nonsense but I do think that there is I like the kind of that that happened to them what was that I don't

know it's like a huge piece of metal just fell from the ceiling safe go hunt I don't know almost hit the deck I don't know what was that that was concerning but tied into like the fact that they nearly gave their entire season in a way last week. Like, I still have legitimate concerns about their defense, but, like, look at the players. Some of the better players on the defense were not playing up to who they are. So it's like, does that refocus help against Kansas City?

And do you not let Kansas City in the first half, make a statement and don't let Isaiah Pacheco and others come and rush for 100 plus yards on you? Isn't that such a weird? Because that's been floating around. You've heard that. Like, the effort wasn't where it was needed to be. Not the execution. Like, and maybe that's just a poor choice of wording.

But if your effort is not all the way there in the NFC title game, what the hell is going on? It was the touchdowns. It was the pursuit on the Jameson Williams touchdown and the Jamir Gibbs touchdown. Something's rotten. This is something the lazy Lainees. Is that it? Ladies. Ladies.

Well, I was just making it, you know, specific to a specific woman. Like a Lainty box. But it was too close to ladies. Yeah. Lazy Lisa. Lazy Lyses. Lazy Lyses. Lacey Laura.

And, uh, Bone-headed berries. Now we're getting into like weird territory. Yeah, now it's like focused on the women's failures. I'm saying and the bone-headed berries. What these people like aren't paying attention is connected to me is I think like we could see Clyde Edwards Halear have a big time game. We could see some of the kind of designer runs to the outside that take advantage of what's been kind of a dumb defense.

And I think that's what like I get, I get. guess it's great that you're calling him out and saying the effort's not there, but something's rotten. Like, no one's kind of pointed out that this is a bad defense. Like, it's been a below average defense. And it's not, it's not like a small sample size. It's not the two weeks that mattered the most in the season, which are pretty important. And they've gotten pushed around. And, like, they're very lucky to still be playing. It's like the six weeks before that. It's the last three games that mattered. Baltimore handed it to him. I can say the Packers handed it to them. The lions handed it to them. Most of the stops that they got are just because the lions

dropped the ball or made, made mistakes. That is very concerning to me. And I think very specifically, it's on the edges of their front. And it's even sometimes those linebackers who get a lot of pop for being over-aggressive. So it's guys they paid a lot of money to. It's Armstead. They brought in Chase Young. I think the chiefs, they don't have to have a meeting and talk about getting their minds right and getting their effort right in a championship game because their championship material. And the 49ers defense to me has not been championship material for a while. But when Steve Wilkes gets that head coaching opportunity, everybody can sit down. No, I mean, you're exactly right, though.

Yeah, well, see, we've given now both sides of the story. Well, you're right, though. We want a fair and balanced podcast. You're right, though. If they have a great game, he's going to get a head coaching job. That's how that... No, he won't. Not this year.

He'll get some pop. In the future, he's respected. I'm not putting it all in him. People will forget everything that happened in the last six to eight to ten weeks if they have a monster game. And they have the players to do it. They have Bosa. They have Hargrave, the number one free agent. They have all these different all pros.

Connie, how about you? Okay. I am going with an offensive guard. Because if we're talking X factor, I feel like the offensive linemen, they are always getting overlooked. It's not fair. And Nick Allegretti. Especially on the interior of that line. You're right.

Exactly. And especially in the run game because Joe Tuny's probably not going to play in this game. Aligretti started last week. He's a really good run blocker. He has lots of experience as a starter for Kansas City in the past. This is a seventh round pick who's only started 13 games in his entire career. And now he's starting a Super Bowl. And listen, the only time we've ever seen.

seeing the homes look mortal in the playoffs, really, was that Super Bowl against the bucks when the line was all beat up and it was a turnstile. I was thinking how connected to your point and your point, I don't know if Chase Young has big-time football left in his body at this point. And this is such a huge game for him, Gregie. We've talked about the free agent. He's about to be a free agent, and he's probably not going to get a big contract regardless. But if you could come up with a couple sacks and do something and be a difference maker

and you got Bosa on the other side, they have, you would think, at least a name grand talent, the ability to F up Mahomes and cause havoc, but it just hasn't really happened. And he's made a couple plays, and I think they will run on him. You're right with a little Allegretti pop. Both of these defenses, where they're vulnerable is to the ground game. So it's all this quarterback talk, and yet you can see a lot of rushing yards. Greg, what's your... That was mine.

See, I just seamlessly... Oh, that's wonderful. We almost partnered. I just felt like, okay, it was so connected. And you guys did it so well. It felt seamless. It was like Mike and the Mad Dog, 1995 level chemistry.

Well, that's proud territory. What about a little Jake Moody, too? Ooh, yeah, it's a little expected. You just got two in, and that's unfair. Wait, why would you do that? Why would you do that to me? It was a bonus. Was that yours?

How could you? How could you? Well, tell us why didn't even go yet. Tell us why didn't. Speaking of Mad Dog, Chris Russo. Now everybody. and everybody needs to get Rousseau on their show.

We have always been the true Rousseau fans, our podcast. Yes or no, Greg? We were first to that corner. First on the scene. And Mad Dogg's going to be on our show on Thursday. Just one of many great guests coming up. I think before he had a later career, like, explosion almost. This third act of greatness, yeah.

You know, he was in a different stage in life. He talked to us about that. Like, we courted him annually on this show, and I think brought the proper respect and understanding and context of who mad dog is. He's coming up on Thursday. We're going to let him know that because we love that man.

What a moment. Now, let's go to the Kickers Club. Okay. But nice setup. Yeah, that's what I'm here to do. Now, nobody ever talks about this stuff because, oh, who cares about Kickers? As if these guys aren't in many cases

deciding the games. And Jake Moody versus Harrison Bucker is an obvious mismatch here. on papers, on paper in terms of experience, in terms of what we've been seeing from each of these guys in recent weeks. Handsomeness, hair. I'm not going to go there. That's

inappropriate. Let me Google real quick to check. I haven't. Let us know, Colleen. Yes, let us know if Greg's right. Oh, he's got great hair. Is one and a go? Is that what you're saying? No, I could be totally wrong. I can't even I just think Bucker has great hair, so he's got to outshine Moody. Anyway, Bucker, I haven't been tracking

this closely. I haven't really seen it, but he's been locked in. He's made his last 15 kicks, field goal kicks. He's been perfect on PAT's. How are we looking at him? Now I'm just on an image search for his hair. Moody's fine. Moody's fine.

In terms of what we've seen from each of the guys in recent weeks, Butker has made, he's been automatic. Of course, he made the game winner. Connie, last year against the Eagles. He was a chip shop, but still with the Super Bowl on the line. Big deal. Moody, you know, you hear the whispers and the way he was spoken about on the telecasts that you wonder if there's been some concerns about if he's cut out for the stage.

He missed a field goal in each playoff game leading to this. He missed a P-18, week 18. He's never kicked in the stadium. Yeah, that's a little. That matters. It feels like the stadium, though, it's like a nice controlled environment. Butker's done it many times or multiple times at this point. But I will say this for Moody, although Butker is the guy to trust way more to make a big kick on Sunday.

Like the quarterback, I think Moody did show something in the NFC title game because he could have spun out after missing that early kick. And instead he locked in and he was piping it. I made everything after that. So does that carry over to the new biggest game in his life? He obviously has a high pedigree. He came in as a hot shot draft pick. I think he got drafted so highly,

specifically because he hit so many big time kicks in the biggest Michigan games. like in the college football playoffs. It has an all-time kick. So maybe those big game memories. So that is something to keep an eye on and how the kickers impact the game. Because I have no concerns about Butker. He's shown that he is nails.

He's, to me, a top three kicker in the league, and he has been for several years now. Just another element of the chiefs, by the way. Like, there's some balance. It's not just Mahomes. They've really built out credit to that organization in all the phases. All right.

All right, there we go. So that's the first show of Super Bowl Week here from Radio Row. Again, we'll be back on Thursday. We have a lot of guests coming in the next two days. Coming up. And then back on Friday with our last show, more guests, more fun. And then we have a couple days or we have a good time. Yeah.

Ed Wolf's in town. He sure is. Mary Wolf's about to be in town. Mary Wolf is rolling in. Oh, yeah. Oh, you mentioned he went to your airplane experience. Is it the base? Greg and I both spoke to him before we started today.

Proud Papa. The man has much flight experience himself, but it never went nine Gs like his little girl. How about that? Yeah. It's pretty cool. Pretty cool. So, anyway, and then on Sunday night, of course,

we will have full coverage of Super Bowl 58. So that's it. Hit the music. There's that Sam Spence Music Championship Championship. That's what it's all about, Greggy. There can only be one. It's a beautiful thing. Thank you to Eric right there, who did perfect work today.

Until Thursday, he's the call.