Nightcap - BEST OF NFL Preseason Week 1 Part 2: Travis Hunter & Cam Ward's NFL debut

Episode Date: August 12, 2025

Recap the top NFL stories with Shannon Sharpe and Chad "Ochocinco" Johnson as they react to Travis Hunter playing both sides of the ball in his debut with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Cam Ward impressing in his debut with the Tennessee Titans, and much more!   0:00 - Travis Hunter debut 12:26 - Cam Ward debut 27:24 - Justin Fields Jets Debut 42:27 - Geno Smith flips off Seattle fan   (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements.) #Volume #ClubSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. I'm Jake Hofer, and this is Back 40, a limited series show on Wire to Hunt, part of Meat Eaters Podcast Network. Each episode, I'll be asking eight wide-tail hunting pros, a focused, thought-provoking question about hunting and land management. How do I hunt the best part of the farm

with less than ideal access? Should you, that's what the real question is. Stand without good access is not a good stand. Listen to Back40 on IHeartRad, app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. Get fired up, y'all. Season 2 of Good Game with Sarah Spain is underway. We just welcomed one of my favorite people,

an incomparable soccer icon, Megan Rapino, to the show, and we had a blast. Take a listen. Sue and I were, like, riding the lime bikes the other day, and we're like, we! People ride bikes because it's fun. We got more incredible guests like Megan in store, plus news of the day and more.

So make sure you listen to Good Game with Sarah Spain on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Brought to you by Novartis, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports Network. Okay, we saw the debut today. Travis Hunter Ocho saw action on both sides of the football in his preseason debut, the Jags versus the Steelers. On offense, he had 11 snaps, two receptions, nine yards. On defense, he had eight snaps with zero targets. Ocho, I might have to get a couple more jobs like you because the way they got these games spread out

and how you're going to have to pay, damn there, you basically got to pay to watch each individual game, Mocho. Listen, you know what you can do? You can use YouTube TV. You can use YouTube TV where you get most of the games. And also I have the NFL app on my phone. So the NFL app allows you to be able to go back and forth through some of the games you want to.

You can't see them all at the same time. But it's just the preseason. It's just the preseason. So it's kind of difficult to be able to watch the ones you want to watch based on location and where they are. Because most of, most of them are regional games. Right, right, right. But once the regular season gets in, you know, you'll be able to watch multiple at one time, especially the one o'clock games, obviously the 430 games, and then

those that are slated at 7.30. Right. He did have 11 snaps, two receptions for nine yards, nothing deep, nothing significant. He gave up leverage on one play. He'll learn. These guys are really good. you, hey, if you got leverage and he had leverage and letting the guy bounce outside, you ain't, you ain't getting, you ain't catching those guys. You've got to maintain your lane responsibility and integrity. But like I said, it was, it was, you know, I just wanted to see what, you know, we saw what we saw.

What, it wasn't, you know, I'm saying? I mean, how do we rate it? He caught two passes for nine yards and he had eight snaps with no targets. I mean, the one thing is, it's kind of, it's not, it's not nitpicking. One thing that he will learn to on the two-past. that he did catch. I always call it that Marvin Harrison. Remember Peyton Manning and Marvin Harrison

always having that under, that short under, six yard you're coming in. But he did so well in college that the players and the DVs in college didn't do. They would overcommit so much he'd be able to spin out the back door. He'd be able to spin out the back door. But now, now that you're at the next level,

they don't overcommit. They come the balance right away and they make the tackle. So he tried, right? And you got to be careful with that, you, Ocho. You know them big guys. Yeah, he tried to spin out both times. You know the big guys trailing now.

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. You know the, hey, hey, what happened when they see that ball thrown? They're coming. Yeah, they're coming. But you got to remember, he's coming from outside to end and trying to spin back outside. Hope the TB is out of control. But most of the time, they're not out of control. No.

So they were under control. Listen, you, you split the man in half when you attack coming to tackle. You always hit the target. So, I mean, outside. Yeah, you keep your up for you, you, you don't let him get on your outside shoulder. Because a lot of times, like you said, they overcommit and the outside shoulder is inside the man. Now he spins out. Now you, see, as long as my outside shoulder is free, I can tap for you.

Yeah, yeah. So, and that's it. That's it. He'll see it will be much more difficult to be able to do some of those tricks that you did in college because these were out of control. They overcommit. They attack in the inside shoulder, you know, and all you got to do, once you see. spin back, it becomes a foot race and you're running down the sideline.

Race them to the corner. Now, I got my inside hand. I got my steel farm free. Just still farm you and pick up yards. But yeah, those are things that, you know, as you play at this level, you'll learn a lot of the tricks of the trade. You'll know when to get down, when you can fight and struggle for extra yards because I'm telling you, those big guys and those lick hurt.

When them 300 pounds hit you, that's different than a DB tackling you now. Because he hitting, he putting helmet on you. And he put, and he putting 300 pounds exactly so um and on the on defense side like i said he just had that one that one play that i saw that he gave up leverage but other than that nothing you know really made you the right home about i don't think it's going to be really hard to judge him oh cho unless he gets significant snaps you know what i'm saying and they give him an opportunity and we see him we see them like game playing to get him to football it's hard being he caught two passes now

Listen, I thought, I thought obviously the hype around Trappist Hunter, second, second round, I mean, second pick in the draft. I thought they were going to feature them a little bit, but obviously to play. Yeah. They allowed Trevor Lawrence. They allowed the offense to flow. Whatever they gave them, they just, look, they didn't feature him. Who first play of the game, Brian Tom and Jr., got damn hits on the right side. Then I thought they would come to him at some point and just get him acclimated and then get him going.

But, no, no, they just waited when the opportunity presented itself, they threw in the ball. You know, it was simple. Yeah, me personally, I think he's going to spend more time on offense than defense. But, hey, that remains to be seen. But I do think you'll probably get a lot more. You will see a lot more Travis than what he's capable of doing once the season start. I don't think they're going to, you know, try to prove any point or make anything, you know, do anything, have him do anything spectacular in the postseason.

Because the thing is, Ocho, I want to, you know, you try to keep. most of your stuff under wraps. I don't want to show you too much in the preseason because these games don't mean anything. I'm just trying to get timing. I'm trying to get the guys, you know, get the guys in football shape. Because here's the thing.

Now with three games, you play the third game, now you got a week in between when you play again. It used to be, you know, also we played that Thursday, Friday, and guess what? We was playing the following Sunday. It's not like that anymore.

So now you play, now you got another weekend in between before you go play. And so I'm just trying to get the guy as conditioned as I possibly can let them know what it's going to be expected or, you know, the timing and all that stuff. But I think

Travis fine. Like I said, 11 snaps, two receptions, nine yards, eight snaps, zero targets. He got 19, he got 19 snaps, which is probably about what you would think if he was just a rookie playing on one side of the ball, that's probably what you thought he would get.

About 19 snaps. Yeah, I'm excited for it, man. But the most outstanding thing in the game happened when Jaguars kicker Cam Little nailed a 70-yard field goal as the first half expired in Jacksonville's preseason open against the Steelers. That would have broken the NFL record had it been the regular season. Justin Tucker kicked a 66-yard field goal to beat the Lions, September 26, 2021 at Ford Field.

now it's a lot different it's a lot different kicking outside than it is inside because you got controlled conditions you don't have to worry about when you don't have to worry about rain you don't have to worry about anything that field goal that this gentleman kicked look like it had been good for him about 72 because he boomed yeah he did he did he boomed it and look I don't care I know it's pre-seasoned it doesn't count well you go out there you go out there to the high school field and kick it's very difficult I don't think people understand how far that is even for those who are professionals you have to understand being able to kick it from that far one most people do have the leg but the problem is it's not it's not about having a leg and act

it's about having the accuracy to be able to kick from that far you have to understand the uprights have been have been changed huh they're a lot more narrow than they used to be so for the room for error the room for error when kicking you know most of the time the ball depending on if you have the consistency yes yes yes yes that you have the consistency in your follow through you can can't swing to the left or you can't leave your leg open and it'll go wide right no you everything has to be perfect that that that finish that follow especially when you kick it in that bar because if anything is off you kick in that far it ain't going to you waste one way the other and the funny thing about it is most people most people say well it is a preseason there's no

pressure as well in this in this kick there's no pressure the circumstance that that you're in you know it's preseason you know what we're going to allow you to kick will they allow them to from 70, maybe in a regular season game where it actually counts, probably not. If you do miss, you got to understand. The team is already in. Steelers didn't even put anybody back.

That was my point. They didn't even put anybody back there. So they're like, hey, don't even worry about it. Because that's the thing. That is the thing to what you're saying, is that they normally have a guy back there. And if you miss it, you got really only two guys, maybe your wings, that's,

They're normally linebackers are tied in. So those are really, you only really got two guys that can tackle. You got offensive linemen, mainly offensive linemen. Now, you might have a defensive lineman on there, Ocho, but he ain't tackler in space. No. And you know the kick, what's the likelihood of the kicker to get somebody down?

Because we saw it on the kick six, Auburn versus Alabama. We've seen Antonio Cromartie run those things back. We've seen Devin Hester run it back. I think OBJ ran one back in college. So when you put people in situations that they're not used to being in, which is offensive linemen having to tackle, kickers and punters having to tackle, especially with that kind of space.

Now, if you get him hemmed up on the sideline, you can try to push him out of bounds. But that guy and got a head of steam, and, you know, they're talking, and linemen don't really know how to get lanes, don't you? Because, you know, they're following each other. They follow them right behind one another. Bro, spread their ass out.

you we got lanes now that you have to get in and but that was I was like and why not like you said Ocho why not try something like this okay now I got the confidence because if it's a if it's a late in the ball game instead of trying to hell Mary hell I might I might let the kick come out there and try it either the tie a game or to win a game yeah I mean especially if we're in Indy or Houston because those are indoor arena and there's no factors from the outside elements. Yes, yes. So, look, congratulations.

It does not count towards the record, but you know, you know now I got the leg. The coach knows you have the leg. Hey, you know who else? Because you got to, oh, Joe, that's a kickoff. Oh, yeah, absolutely. He does a kick off. Hold on, wait a minute now.

You do know your co-host can kick just as far, right? No, you never kick that far. Hold on, timeout, time out. Time out, time out. You know there's video, there's visual evidence. There's video evidence. I don't know, Ash, is there. You have, you have a great team of people that can pull things up.

No, she on vacation. Oh, for real? Ash, can you please show, Unk? Me kicking from 60, 65 yards, please, and having even more room to go once it goes through. I think I might have been with, during this time, I might have been with Bleach Report. We were doing something.

It's online, Unk. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. I'm talking about it in the game. Now, if you can't, I saw you make a PAT in the game. It's 65 yards in the game and, or just, just doing it, you know, in the park, practicing. It's still. I have the feeling. So a guy catching the ball in the turkey bowl to just say if he's kicking the ball in the NFL.

Well, we're not talking about a guy. We're talking, you're actually referring to an actual player who plays, you know, in the NFL or played. Played. Right. Many, many, many years ago. But I still can. Mentally, I know what to do. Now, the body might not react the way it should.

Yeah, I know. I know what to do. I know how to run. I know how to, like, swing my arms and put one leg in front of the other. But doing it is something entirely different. I'm just trying to give you a small example that your co-host can kick 65, 70 yards as well.

No, maybe once upon time my co-host can kick 65, 70 yards. You know, to realize, Uncle, I play soccer every weekend. I'm part of a, I'm part of a soccer league here in Miami out here. Let me ask you a question. You think messy leg speed is the same as it was, say, 15 years ago? No, no. His speed, easy. Like being able to break out and get away from people?

I said his leg speed. Oh, no, absolutely not. No, no. Why not? Because he's much older now. I'm Jake Hofer, and this is Back 40, a limited series show on Wire to Hunt, part of Meat Eat Eater's podcast network. Each episode, I'll be asking eight white-tail hunting pros, a focused, thought-provoking question about hunting and land management. How do I hunt the best part of the farm with less than ideal access?

Should you? That's what the real question is. Stand without good access is not a good stand. Listen to Back 40 on IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. Get fired up, y'all. Season two of Good Game with Sarah Spain is underway. We just welcomed one of my favorite people and an incomparable soccer icon, Megan Rapino, to the show, and we had a blast.

We talked about her recent 40th birthday celebrations, co-hosting a podcast with her fiancée Sue Bird, watching former teammates retire and more. Never a dull moment with Pino. Take a listen. What do you miss the most about being a pro athlete? The final. The final. And the locker room. I really, really, like, you just, you can't replicate.

You can't get back. Showing up to locker room every morning just to shit talk. We've got more incredible guests like the legendary Candice Parker. and college superstar A. Z. Fudd. I mean, seriously, y'all. The guest list is absolutely stacked for season two. And, you know, we're always going to keep you up to speed on all the news and happenings around the women's sports world as well.

So make sure you listen to Good Game with Sarah Spain on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports. Oh, okay, thank you very much. We can move along. Cam Ward, NFL preseason debut tonight in Tampa. Five of eight completions, all completions coming on the second drive, 67 yards passing, at 89.1 rating, led a 65-yard touchdown drive.

Ocho, the little bit, the limited action that you saw. You like what you saw? Absolutely. Absolutely. The funny thing about it is, you know what, is these players are NFL ready. Some of rookies that I saw today are so poised in the pocket. Most of the time, they get happy feet when pressure is put upon them. but they look like they've been playing for 10 plus years.

They look like veterans, the pocket presence, the relaxness under the rest. Cam Ward showed it. Jackson Dart showed it as well. Obviously, we saw sure do it last night who also played with that same calmness and poise. And you can see the leadership qualities in the way they carry themselves as quarterbacks. And Cam, small sample size that we were able to see tonight. He didn't play much, but you can tell he's sharp. You can tell he's been coached well, not just here at the NFL level where he was at now

because it doesn't just happen that fast. It's not that fast of a turnaround to look that comfortable like you know what you're doing. So he was coached very well, obviously, when he was at UM, and so it's carried over into the NFL. And I'm excited for Tennessee Titan fans, you know, and what they had with the number one pick. I just don't like the fact that he's been overshadowed since his pick because everyone else has been talked about. This is the least talked about number one pick. I think maybe. But ever.

You were the number one pick. So it seemed like he went under the radar. No one said anything about him when most of the pressure is on a number one pick to perform because you're going to the kid that was the worst last year. Like you said, I can fly under the radar. The difference is now, Ocho, these guys come in. They've been coached by throwing coaches. since they were in high school, their freshman.

So there's not like the guys that came in 25 years ago. They were just coming to the NFL and then, okay, hey, you hire a coach right before you getting ready to go, you know, to the combine, and then you work with them up until your pro day, and that's it. These guys have these guys all the time. It's just like basketball players. They got shooting coaches and they got trainers.

now in college. So they have an upper hand. That's why they're so, when you find a guy that's ready, he's really ready to play. Yes. These receivers, they work with guys.

So when you find a guy that's ready, he's really, really ready. So guys are not coming in like you, I mean, like I came in. I mean, guys, you know, times, I mean, guys would go down there for like maybe six weeks

that worked with a speed coach. But these guys got, professionals basically training them. Sometimes they have them in high school, Ocho. So just imagine you going through the process and they're giving you pro-style advice. And you know what?

I think that's why so many different quarterbacks, obviously they looked apart but don't have all the other intangibles to be a starter. They looked apart. But Cam Ward, not only did he look apart, but he had everything else.

He had all the other qualities that make him the number one pick. Obviously you should do it. to the fifth round. Not only do he look the par, but he has all the other intangibles that made him a top pick despite him falling to the fifth round. Right.

They polished. They're polished. That's all it is. You're a rookie who's been prepared for the NFL level so you look the par once you're in a structured environment in a real live game. God damn. How the hell he's dropping back so goddamn calm?

Everybody rushing trying to knock his head off and he's sitting there. Chilling, progression, one, two, three. Okay, three's not there. Let me shoot back to one. If one ain't there, I'm either throw out of the bounds or I'm going to tuck it and run. Nah, hell, nah. If you go one, if you go one, two, three, and try to go back to one,

they're going to hit you, put your, put this helmet right up under your chin. You better take that check down. Yeah. Hey, one, two, three, check down. One, two, three, throw it out of bounds. Or take off with it. Yeah. And I think, Ocho, I think that's what we're seeing.

If you look at these quarterbacks, I mean, it used to be a quarterback throwing for 20 touchdowns in the season was like, oh, my gosh, he really did. Man, this guy's throwing for 25, 30 touchdowns. Easy. It's a, look, and I understand the rules have a lot to do with that, the way they protect the quarterback, the way they protect the receiver. The way they throw the football now is more conducive for quarterback having better stats. But I do think these guys are a little bit more advanced than when the older guys, the Montana's and the Elway's, and the Marinos when they came out. I'm not saying they're better, but they're coached more.

And so I don't, John probably never, I don't know Danny or John to be interesting. Man, you had a, you had a pro coach, you had a Tom House or you have a, what's Carson Palmer's brother name? Hey, Jordan Palmer's real deal. Hey, you have a, did you have a Jordan Palmer? Did you have a George Whitfield? Did you have any of those guys to, to help you?

All these quarterbacks, those. Offensive linemen, they're working out with offensive line coaches. They're working out with former great NFL linemen. So they're a little bit more advanced than say the guys, you know, even if you want to say 10 years ago, 15 years ago, definitely when you start going back 20, 30 years ago, they're more advanced, just like the guys are coming out in basketball. You see how, and even baseball, these guys, you know, fathers played. And so they got, you know, hitting coaches, they got pitching coaches. They're looking at biomechanics and they look at all the best.

The funny thing about it is you think about the time and the time change and knowledge is advanced and everything evolves. They have better resources. They got unlimited resources. Absolutely. It's better at said position, whatever it may be, whatever their respective craft may be, to hone that skill set. So when they do make it to the highest level, they look the par. Right. Now, it's one thing to look the part.

Everybody, I mean, the it factor can get you in the door, but you've got to have all the other stuff that comes with it to Excel. Yeah, I totally, I totally agree. But I thought Caldward played really well, especially like the second drive. You got the ball to Calvin Ridley. You know, really, hey, that's somebody he can lean heavily on because he's one of the premier rock runners.

And he started to get you, he started to look like Calvin Ridley again. Because you remember that last year that he really, playing in Atlanta. He was cutting. He was cutting. He was doing it. He was really doing it.

On the other side of the ball, rookie Shiloh Sanders delivered multiple big hits, including one on Brandon Allen on the blitz. First round drive pick, Emeka. Ibuka. Also showed off his physical attributes,

leaping 21-yard grab, backup quarterback Kyle Trask. I mean, Shudor's played really well. I mean, I've seen footage of him in camp. He did a great job of, in the one-on-one team, a one-on-one period against the tight-ins. Did a great job.

I saw him. He was on it. Because you have to understand, he started out at the corner. So he does have corner instinct. I thought he was always the same. Yeah, he started out of the corner and then moved to safety. Yeah. But when, yeah, yeah, I thought he played well.

We know he's a thump. He's looking to get, look and get down here and putting big hits on you. Yeah, but I thought he, I think it's going to be interesting, Ocho, how many special teams can he play? Because that's going to be the key. He's not a start. Now, he could be working his way into the starting lineup, but as a right now, I don't think he's a starter.

So now, what are the ways can you contribute? He'll be on special teams, whether it be field goal, block, whether it be, we'd be kickoff. Yeah, punt return. Can you be a jammer? Can you be a gunner? Yeah. Can you be on the front line?

Can you be an L, 2, 3, 4, 5 on the front line? You definitely are going to be on kickoff, obviously. Yeah. Hey, is it me or does it seem like kickoff is much more, much easier as opposed to how it was during our day, you know, you had the wedge buster, you had the wall. Yeah. Yeah, they don't really want those type of collisions. So they don't, if you see, they're not letting.

and you get that kind of running start. It's different. It's not, I mean, I think Hester said he'd have probably more return touchdowns had they had it in like that. So it's a bit interesting to see what would have happened. But the advancements, I don't have a problem with, Joe. I mean, sometimes like, man. It's different.

It's very different. It's very different. The guy that you really like in the first round, the books selected. a Mecca, Ibuka. You like him. You like McMillan,

Carolina. And they both look good. You like, did Golden go in the first round or the second round for me? Okay. Oh, yeah. McMillan.

He ran four two. First, number 23. Then it had Jayden Higgins went to the second round. Luther Burton the third went the second round. Trey Harris went in the second round and Jack Beach

went in the second round. So there were, in the first two rounds, there were seven receivers that went in the first, the first two round. Who do you expect to have the biggest impact? Probably, honestly. Out of everyone you just name, I know Matthew Golden is good. He's phenomenal. Obviously, they do have dubs. They have Jane Reed, so I don't think he will get the number of targets necessary to be able to showcase.

Reed, Dobbs, Watson. There's so many of them over there. I think he will contribute. but I really believe T. Mack, McMillan, over there with the Panther, you know, and with what he's able to do and what he showed, very small sample size, honestly, it's been one preason of the game.

But, again, I've been high on the Panthers. I think T. Mack is going to be the one to showcase his ability and what he can do. It's a mismatch every time they leave him one-on-one. He's very tall. He can run after the catch. And I'll be 50-50 ball turning to 80-20 when it is him. So I'm excited for him.

He's the one I'm highest on in hoping that not just him, but collectively as a group, offensively, as a receiving corps, I think they make the difference in Bryce Young taking the next step in his career. I agree. I thank him. I like Ibuca also for the simple fact, how healthy is Chris God. Well, God would be upon his return. Um, is the only, is he going, I don't think he's on pup, but so it's going to be

interesting to see how he used, because, you know, we know Baker can throw it. We, hey, you got Mr. Consistency on one side, Evans, Mike Evans. And then so Buka could really have a huge year. But I, but I, but I like McMillan also. Long angular guy. What is he like, six, three, six, four, make tough contestant catches. good run out to the catch. Yeah.

I mean, I think he's good. I think Matthew Golden. I mean, you look at Romeo Dobbs. You mentioned Kristen Watson. You mentioned Reed. They got a lot of receivers. They don't really have a guy that, like, okay, this is the guy that you got to worry about. You kind of got to worry about them all because in a given moment, because, you know,

it might be Dobbs weeks, one week, and that it'll be Christian. Watson. Watson's biggest thing is healthy. Hey, he can put him up and put him down. Hell, white. The goddamn, the goddamn Packers got a four-by-one team, huh? They got a four-by-one team. Dubs, Watson, Reed can fly.

Golden can fly. Man, stop playing. Yeah, I think McMillan and Ibuka would have the biggest. But I'm not going to sleep on, you know, Luther Burma. A lot of people thought he'd be a first-round draft pick, receive out of Missouri. He goes to the Bears. They got DJ Moore.

They got Roma Dunezay. They drafted a tight-in in the first round. They still have cold combat. They've upgraded their offensive line. They should be, and they got Detroit's old offensive coordinator, as the head coach, call them the place. Creativity. Yeah.

So they should definitely be better offensively. And if they are better offensively, well big number because if you look at Detroit you look at Jamison Williams had a phenomenal season you look at Armand Ross St. Brown

oh yeah had a big season you know what's funny is Armand Ross St. Brown he's one of the top five receivers depending on how you put him in numerical order in the NFL where I really don't think it didn't matter who was calling the goddamn plays

because he's so good at just route running in general. He's a polished one. You know what? I don't have to scheme you open. He's one of those where officers of coordinators and your head coach, you know, but I can sleep at night because I ain't got to worry about that one.

It don't matter who we plan. I don't have to worry about him. I know what he can do. So you add what he can do in his skill set and his DNA and then you put that with the creativity that Ben Johnson has. You get what you saw last year. You get magic.

Mm-hmm. You get magic. Now, I don't know if there's anyone like that with that type of skill set similar to Amon Ross St. Brown on the Bears, but DJ Moore is damn good. He's not that far behind. He's not,

he doesn't have that short area of quickness like that. That's not, that's not what he is. Can he play the slot? Yeah. But he's an outside the number. He and Roman, Dune's outside the number type of guys. You're going to be all right. So, uh, the good thing about it is, is Ben Johnson

is going to understand and know his player's strengths. And them in position to be able to make those plays and not allow them to be exposed in whatever that we can see is that we can't see watching from home. We don't know it. They know it. I'm Jake Khofer and this is Back 40, a limited series show on WIRE to Hunt, part of Meat Eaters podcast network. Each episode, I'll be asking eight wide-tail hunting pros, a focused, thought-provoking question about hunting and land management. How do I hunt the best part of the farm with less than ideal access? Should you? That's what the

The real question is, stand without good access is not a good stand. Listen to Back 40 on IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. Get fired up, y'all. Season two of Good Game with Sarah Spain is underway. We just welcomed one of my favorite people and an incomparable soccer icon, Megan Rapino, to the show. And we had a blast. We talked about her recent 40th birthday celebrations, co-hosting a podcast with her fiancé Sue Bird, watching former teammates retire and more. Never a dull moment with Pino. Take a listen. What do you miss the most

about being a pro athlete? The final. The final. And the locker room. I really, really, like, you just, you can't replicate, you can't get back. Showing up to locker room every morning just to shit talk. We've got more incredible guests like the legendary Candace Parker and college superstar AZ Fudd. I mean, seriously, y'all. The guest list is absolutely stacked for season two. And, you know, we're always going to keep you up to speed on all the news and happenings around the women's sports world as well. So make sure you listen to Good Game with Sarah Spain on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports.

And Justin Fields' preseason debut against the Packers Field was ultra-efficient. He was three or four on passing, 42 yards, ran the ball twice for 14 yards and didn't take a single sack. Fields orchestrated a sharp opening drive against the Packers, starting. defense, capping it off with a 13-yard rushing touchdown. This set the tone for an excellent preseason over for Aaron Glenn squad. Does field remaining calm composed in a control pocket? What do you think, Ocho, do you think, did you like what you saw from him? Yeah, absolutely.

Listen, we saw flashes of brilliance when he was with the Bears. We saw flashes of what he can do when he's with the Pittsburgh Steelers. So what we saw tonight is what we expected from Fields. It's all about him just being consistent and being able to do it. week to week to week. He's always wanted his opportunity to be a starting quarterback. I think he wasn't dealt a fair deal in Chicago because when you look at the Chicago Bears and that organization

and the way they conducted and handled quarterbacks throughout the years, it hasn't been great at all. It hasn't been great at all. It just hasn't. Now things are a little different. Got Ben Johnson there, Caleb Williams. Things are different the way they're running the system. Obviously, in Pittsburgh,

Russ was promised a starting job. Russ gets hers. Justin Field comes in, he plays phenomenal. He plays phenomenal, but obviously once Russ gets healthy, I mean, Justin Fields is bench, boom, damn it, can I just get an opportunity, can I get an opportunity to shine and show what I can do with the quarterback position? I can be quarterback number one.

If you put me in a situation that is advantageous for me and my skill set, now that's that in New York, with a players coach that played the game and understands exactly what you can and can do and going to do what he needs to do to make sure you're successful. You got Garrett Wilson. Unk, I don't know who,

and I can't remember his last name. I meant to write it down. I don't know if it was a fullback that kept making those plays tonight or a tight-in. I think he wore 47. I think he was wearing 47. Hey, young Bull popped out on film.

He popped out on film to the point well, I don't know who this is, but I guarantee you he's going to have a starting job. I don't know if it was a fullback or a tight-in, but he was balling. Just had 403 young. yards, total yards. Green Bay had two turnovers.

Time of possession was 3841 Jets, 2119. First down was 21 to 12 in favor of the Jets. Like I said, I think his name is Jay Tufle. You made a team tonight. He did. Two sacks. And he had a fumble recovery for a touchdown.

yeah he gonna be all right yeah but I think that's that's the key for him um the jet show that showed Justin Fields that they wanted him yeah they gave a two-year deal they put him he he's the starter uh they do have Tyrod to be his backup but that's what he wanted that's why he didn't go back to Pittsburgh he said no y'all already sure what y'all want y'all all already did me how y'all gonna do you you're not going to do me dirty twice listen Pittsburgh is the situation where there's a young lady that wants you She wants you. She don't want nobody else to have you, so she put you in the friend zone.

Until the dude, she really won't get his act together. Okay, now I'm going to put you off on the bench. Now I'm going to go deal with Russ. That's the situation last year. So, listen, you get smart. That ain't the situation that's ideal for me and where I want to go. New York is perfect for him. He got somebody that actually wants him.

I mean, you have somebody that actually wants you. You're able to play freely, understanding, okay, I don't have to look over my shoulder. I don't have the pressure of having to do everything perfect and do everything right. I can just play football. That's the thing. And I think AG, you know, they moved on from Aaron Rogers, basically for Justin Fields. Yeah. Mm-hmm.

And. But he made it easy for him, huh? He made it easy. Yeah, he made it easy. No, you have someone like AG. AG ain't playing with that. I'm not sure if I'm ready. I don't know if I'm buying in.

I don't know if I'm being there for training camp. I don't know if I'm going to take a dog. Man, A.G. ain't got time for that. I'm trying to change the entire culture. I need players that are born in. Whether you've been playing five years or even playing 20. I need you on the same page with me. And he just wasn't.

Only if you're a relative, do you have tolerance with BS as a person's age? Yeah. You know, you, if that person is not related to you, you know, man, you know, old people. And, you know, look, at this juncture, A.G. coming in as a new coach, he needs everybody to be balled in. Aaron being as great as he is, and being who he is, he can easily sway a locker room. So I think for A.G. is looking at it like, for me to make sure I still have control of this locker room, let's just move on. because I'm not so sure if Eric did there was there was something

did AG want to hear Aaron say something unless Aaron came with that thing turning backflips like yes sir let's let's go AG I'm ready unless he got that they probably was going to move on anyway Ocho they probably going to move on yeah and but hopefully Justin can seize this opportunity that this is a perfect opportunity

this might be the best opportunity because you know when he went to Chicago, you know he was going to be the starter. They just didn't have the pieces around him. And I don't know if that system was conducive and the coach was conducive. Now, he has another defensive-minded head coach, but I think A.G. has an offensive guy that can put Justin Fields in position to be successful. And listen, you would do, let's understand what Justin Field has at a disposal over there with the Jets as well. you got Breece Hall

you got brother Alan who looks like a Derek Henry who looks the part I mean I'm not saying he's Derek Henry I'm just saying they have a one two punch

at the runnerback position we have one of top 10 receivers in the NFL depending on where you slated at depending on where you want him at and Garrett Wilson well goddamn

who's the number two I don't know who hey chat who's the number two at receiver man with the Jets it's slipping my mind it's slipping my mind damn you think

I mean Alan Lazzar still there Alan Lazzar still there Alan Lazzar Josh Reynolds you remember Josh Reynolds I think he played for the he played for the Rams

I think he was in like Tennessee or was he in um or was he or was he in um uh Detroit I'm almost certain he was with the Rams so hold on Alan Lazard and Josh Reynolds so that's the that's the two and the three and Gary Wilson yeah but he's trying to find out we know Gary Wilson that we try to find other receivers but that is Josh Reynolds that he's with the Rams I think either with Tennessee or, did I say, or was it a,

lion, Lyon, okay, yeah. He with the Broncos? You like A.G. You think A.G. You think A.G. is the right fit for the jazz. Oh, absolutely. Listen, you need a player like that that can deal with that media. Forget in-house. Yeah. Forget the football stuff. give me somebody with a mindset and the mentality

that can deal with all the bullshit and the stereotypes that come along with being the head coach in a market of that magnitude. Once you get something that's ready for that, okay, now I can work on everything else. I can work from the top on down and AG's the right player for that.

And he played in New York. So he definitely understands. One thing about it, even though he played in New York, you understand how those newspapers are. You ain't get no cut either. We ain't give me your break either. But if things ain't going right, we're going to hop on YouTube.

But, hey, the newspaper outlets and media outlets are ruthless. And I don't know who creates some of the headlines sometimes. Boy, they so creative. That's what they say. If you can make it in New York, you can make it anywhere. Make it anywhere. Hey, just sitting here talking about all this quarterback play, man. It just reminds me of my day, man, at Beach High, man.

Remind me my days at Beach High, man. You know, I was one of those. the best in the state, huh? Huh? You hear me? I wanted the best in the state. No, you're one of the best in the state. No, no, no, no.

In the state, what I'm talking about in the world? I was one of the best in the world. I remember, hey, you know, it's funny? For me, to play quarterback at Miami Beach City High at 1996, I still remember my receivers. My number one and my number two, Dwight Sterb and Richard Lucille. That's my little zoe, Dwight, Dwight, I mean, Dwight was my home boy. Yeah, as he would grow up.

Oh, Joe. you think Joe Montana could tell you who his wife receivers were in college or at high school? You only had two or three. Oh, Joe, damn. But see, my two, Dwight's third for Richard Lucille?

That's my zoe. Richard Lucell, that's my zoe. Sapey, Richard, if you see this, you know, hey, we was at there doing work. Hey, listen, my running back was Tolbert Wilson. Oh, my goodness, boy. Tobar, hey, he was, oh, you should have saw me out there. Hey, I hope.

Okay, named the office line. Name your five offices line at Oregon State. At Oregon State. At Oregon State? I play receiver. I don't know. Exactly. That's my point. Hey, I was running the office like this. Blue 80.

Blue 80. Hey, Mike, you hot, you hot. You get two off the mic. You hot, boy. Yeah. Alert. Alert. Alert, alert, alert, alert, alert, alert.

And then I go to the gun. Hey, Uncle, I go to the gun. He didn't do none of that. Hey, hey, I used to be, hey, I used to be killing that thing, a quarterback. I had on the number two, too. And you got to remember, remember I was the baby when I was a freshman,

D. Starks was the quarterback. Samari Role was a receiver. Terry Cousins was playing running back. So you got to understand. And y'all won seven games. We was good now. Hey, Unk, you got to understand

who we played again. Seven games. And you played against some good competition, man. What you have? Miami Northwestern, Miami Central, Edison High School. Them boy was stacked back then,

boy. I ain't heard none of them player, I ain't hearing none of them name, but what your own name? All the guys that you named played in the NFL. Yeah, I'm just, I'm just telling you the quality that my, my school had. We had good quality. We had good. So what happened to the wins? Huh?

What the quality? Tell me the quality wins. I know y'all had quality players. What about quality wins now? I just don't remember the records from back then. That's a very long time ago. You know your record. Were y'all 14 and 1, 15 and 0, 13 and 2? Obviously, no. We weren't able to.

State, y'all lost to the state championship. y'all lost in the semifinals, quarterfinals. Damn, I can't remember, but I did score four. Hey, listen, what I can tell you is I scored four touchdowns in one game, and nobody, nobody's done that. Nobody scored four touchdowns in one game. Did y'all win that game? Yes.

Yes. Matter of fact, we almost beat Miami Northwest in the year they won state. One of the greatest, one of the greatest high school receivers I saw with my own eyes, Marvin Snoop Minnis, out of the Scott. projects that play for Florida State, played with Kansas City for a little bit before he got hurt. I've never seen nothing like Snoop Minnis born high school. Oh my.

Yeah. Oh, Cho. What am I supposed to do? We almost beat the team that won the state. What am I supposed to do with that? I'm just trying to relive my story of high school. That's all. Hey, I'm just sharing that story.

So we're talking football is taking me down memory lane. Can we talk about the young bulls that's going into the NFL that got an opportunity to start at the highest level and it just brought me back to where it all started. That's all. I'm just sharing my feelings and my story. That's all. My bad. It's bad.

It sucks being you, Ocho. It sucks being old. You want to be young so bad to go back out there with the past. I do, Unk. Because listen, I'm really not old. Like, it kind of makes me upset and it kind of bother me when people call me Unk and I think about it, well, why are you calling me Unk? And I look younger than you sometimes.

Like, you know, it's like, what you mean? Unk? But look at you. But you look 50. You look 60, you know, because you're drinking your life away and you're smoking it, all that. But my body feel good, Unk. You hear me?

I ain't never been hurt. I don't have no injuries. I take care of myself, you know? You go back out there, you'll be hurt. You think so? I think, I think I have the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, self-awareness and the IQ to be able to protect myself if given the opportunity

to play at the highest level. You think so? Yeah, I don't I might not have the speed. I still have my ladder movement my quick It ain't the same, but even if it's not the same, it's still better than what's out there. No, it's not. You don't think so?

Mm-mm. You don't lost too much of it. Your spotty senses don't tick them anymore. Yeah. Yeah. Because they ain't been on. You ain't turned them in a long time. It's like a car. You could have a baddest car. You could have a Bugatti pay six billion dollars for it. But don't let it run. Put it in your garage and don't cut it on for 12 years, 14 years, 15 years. You're right. You're right. You think it's going to crank? Yeah, it should. It should. No, it won't. And then you're going to have to,

then you have to go take it to the shop, get all the fluids flushed. Oh. You got to realize, don't you? You haven't run like that. Yeah, yeah. Like that, like you used to run in a very long time. You're right. You're right. You're right. I think there's a greater chance that you will hurt something than you go out there and look like your old self. Hey, hey, put a chat on my head, boy. Hey, they so. They call the all kind of names. Chad Hertz. Chad Leaf. Yeah, exactly. Chad Bledso, Chad DeVito.

Pete Carroll was asked today about Gino Smith, obscene gesture as he defended his quarterback. He said, did you see the sign? Did you see what the sign said? Next question. Well, we know what the sign said. Bigger busts, Gino or Jamarcus Russell. Was Gino and Max Crosby overreacting? Hey, I mean, eh, I wouldn't, uh, that's a tough one.

I wouldn't say overreacted. Boom, you're talking trashing me. You got a sign right in my face. All that's done for you. I'm back here in Seattle, and that's what you think of me. I laid my life on the line as your quarterback number one for a couple of years. You know, things didn't work out, and that's how you think of me. I'm coming back.

I'm coming back with grace. I love you. I did everything I could. for you as a Seahawk and that's how you feel now you feel I'm a bus what do we talk about huh if anything you should be applauding me clap for me I know as a quarterback number one you hold me to a standard as is in comparison to some of the greats I wasn't Tom Brady I wasn't Peyton Manning but I'd done all I could and laid it on the line for you week in and week out 12

Well, look, it's not even It's not even close to being true Now, if Gino Smith was Ryan Leith, okay, we have a conversation about him or Gino's I mean him or Jamarcas Don't do that as a fan. Like, come on, man.

Gino was a comeback player of the year. He threw a career high 30 touchdown, lead to league in completion percentage, and earned back-to-back Pro Bowls. So by no stretch of their imagination, is Gino Smith a bust. No, no, but I mean, listen,

fan do certain things to get up on your skin. Yep, you know, you leave a situation most of the time and you come back, some people let their true feelings show on how they really feel about you. Now, understand, you might be to the Seahawks, but all I've done, this is how you really feel about me, truthfully, now that I'm not here. Yes.

Like, come on, man, don't do me like that. Yes. don't do me like that you mean i dated you for for four five six six years and now that i'm going wait this is how you truly feel about me now that i'm no longer around because i'm a yes that hurts that stings so i can understand where the middle finger came from i understand like what are we talking about i sacrificed you to make you happy on sundays at one o'clock i was throwing touchdown the D.K. and Tyler Lockett to make you happy. Noah Fant, I, a lot of players play for,

teammates respect, coaches trust, fans appreciation. I guess you didn't appreciate me as much as I thought you did. I like that. So it does hurt. It does. When you put it, when you put what you put into it, to it. LeBron might not ever admit this,

but it hurt him going back to Cleveland, considering what he gave him. Yeah, he left. But bro, I did lay it on the line for you. I gave you seven great years. Did all I could. And then you burn my jersey,

you say all these things about, Gino's like, I had, I resurrected my career. career in Seattle all I wanted was to be appreciated I know my teammates respected me I know my coaches trusting me does when you put when you put a lot into something uh grannie used to say all the time boy I hate an ungrateful person

hmm that irks me too That irks me too. I hate ungratefulness. We see out of the best. Sometimes you better be careful what you wish for. You thought you, I guess you didn't like, you didn't like, uh, you didn't like, uh, Gino, well, ain't no, ain't no, ain't no thing that you're getting, um, what's this came from, uh, Minnesota.

What's the guy? Sam Darnel. Yeah. Ain't no guarantee. Mm-hmm. He ain't got the weapons that he had in Minnesota. Yeah. He ain't got no jettler.

He ain't got no Addison. He ain't got Hawkinson. He ain't got Aaron Jones. And he ain't got Kevin. Connor calling plays and we saw the last two games right did you see the last two games you guys oh jo what was the craziest sign you saw as a player oh man that's a good one on that's that's a good one hey oh my goodness oh my goodness I enjoy those environments too uncle i i i oh my goodness the craziest sign probably the the ocho instead of ocho

single probably ocho stinko yeah yeah yeah most of the time and then it's so funny they would have their signs they would have their signs and i would talk trash back and you know i walk up to the Didn't you sign one of their signs? Didn't you sign somebody sign? Always, yep. Always standing at sign. And listen, and they always say the same thing. Listen, we do this because we love you.

It has nothing to play for the wrong team, but you won our favorites. And everybody say the same thing. They don't really mean it, but they don't have a choice but to go against me. If you really did suck, nobody says the guy that they're getting in the game, you suck. Right, right. It's only the players that's really good that suck, which means you don't actually suck. That means you're very, very good. Ain't nobody booing Tom Brady's backup.

They're booing Brady. Yeah. They're not booed. They're not booed to pay the guy to, I guarantee you. If the quarterback, I mean, look, they're going to blue the opposing team. But the loudest booed, let's just say Tom Brady wasn't first. He was third. Right.

They're going to be looking for Brady because they want to boo him. You boo greatness. Hey, I talk about I love playing in hostile environments. I love, love. I couldn't really. Listen, playing at home, cool. That's fun. Yeah.

I like people cursing and talking trash and all that did. That was just, I was so comfortable being uncomfortable and hostile environment. Well, y'all rival, y'all rival was, was Cleveland. Because remember with Sam White? you got on the phones and said don't throw batteries you live in Cincinnati you don't live in Cleveland right yeah that was that was you guys because you both in Ohio yeah yeah about Ohio right so it's a it's a it's a natural it's a natural rivalry yeah I mean look there is no

love loss in the before they renamed the AFC North it was the LFC Central right I think it was still the AFC Central when you got in they changed it like in oh two they went to the food up for the eight the eight uh the four team divisions um because it used to be Cincinnati Pittsburgh Cleveland mm-hmm Baltimore Tennessee and Jacksonville we were all in one division oh Joe mm we all we were all in one division That's crazy. And then they, you know, they split it up and then they took Jacksonville

in Tennessee and put them in the south. You know, we used to be in Seattle used to be in the AFC West. Then they went to the NFC West. But it states the Chargers, the Raiders, us, and Kansas City. But like when you got like the Raiders, you know, obviously the Raiders and was our biggest rivals because we can. came in they came in like the airfield together the chiefs um but it's different play it's definitely different playing on the road than at home you feel it as you driving in everybody's

already tailgating and I'm saying you know what I'm saying oh they already tailgating and they do it they throw in the football they got their drinking beer all like how to hell your drinking beer at 9 o'clock in the morning yeah but they you know they get never things they get their big grilling uh Cleveland Cleveland fans mm-hmm I will give them credit or as little as they've won in the last 30 plus years the mopholes show up but every I ain't look I can understand oh Joe had they went to the emce championship game or they went to the Super Bowl and even if they lost but the way they show up for their team to not win

more than what they do yeah i ain't seen nothing like it ain't no way i'm gonna go sit that there in the cold let alone get up and tailgate right right right right that's going four and four and thirteen four and twelve oh no listen i had i had a special relationship with those cleveland fans especially big dog i'm not sure what big dog is at this point every time i do i'm on here we talk about cleveland i always curious how big dog is doing everyone that sat in that, I think that might be the north, the north end zone.

They show such love in a hostile way. And I made sure to show that love back, even though obviously they're the opposing fans, but I've always showed them respect. They've always showed me respect. And they knew, understood when it was game time, huh? When it's game time? Yeah.

Man, forget you. We're going to have some fun. And I remember getting permission. I think I might be the only person that's done that and been accepting of that is when I did, I leaped in the dog pound, remember? You remember when I jumped in the dog in your ass. So I asked Big Dog, I asked Big Dog, before the game started, I say,

listen, if I happen to score on this end, I want to jump to you. No disrespect, but let me jump to you. And he said, yeah, well, come on and do it. And long ago, you know he one person, right? Yeah, yeah, Big Dog, yeah, one part, the big, big man, big man. But there are more people in the pound in here. I know, I know, I know. I know. Listen, I scored on that end on, and I looked for him, and I saw him.

I jumped right to him. Everybody else around, man, I smell like beer the whole. the rest of the game. And then they shoved your ass out of the club. Let me right out of the club. But listen, that was a great moment for you, man. That was a great moment for me. And I was Cleveland Brown.

You wild for that one. It was awesome. It was awesome. I'm Jake Hofer. And this is back for. A Limited Series show on Wire to Hunt, part of Meat Eat Eaters Podcast Network. Each episode, I'll be asking eight wide-tail hunting pros, a focused, thought-provoking question about hunting and land management.

How do I hunt the best part of the farm with less than ideal access? Should you, that's what the real question is. Stand without good access is not a good stand. Listen to Back40 on IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. Get fired up, y'all. of Good Game with Sarah Spain is underway. We just welcomed one of my favorite people,

an incomparable soccer icon, Megan Rapino, to the show, and we had a blast. Take a listen. Sue and I were, like, riding the lime bikes the other day, and we're like, we! People ride bikes because it's fun. We got more incredible guests like Megan in store, plus news of the day and more.

So make sure you listen to Good Game with Sarah Spain on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Brought to you by Novartis, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports Network. This is an IHeart podcast.