OverDrive - OverDrive - January 20, 2026 - Hour 2 - Jeff Saturday

Episode Date: January 20, 2026

Join Bryan Hayes, Jeff O'Neill and Dave Feschuk for Hour 2 on OverDrive! ESPN Football Analyst Jeff Saturday on Josh Allen's subpar performance to end the season, the Bills' head coaching search and the conference championship matchup. The guys go around the sports world in the latest edition of Confirm or Deny and the FanDuel Best Bets.

With corporate traveler, you get a dedicated travel expert and 24-7 support. So business travel feels effortless. Big meetings land. Business grows. With corporate traveler, the booking is just the start. Search corporate traveler today. Power 2 overdrive continues, powered by Fanduel, bringing you everything from the opening line of the final score. Confirm and deny a little bit later in the hour.

Jeff, Saturday coming up. We still have to break down the Mark Davis gear from last night. What I want to know is, what was the expression on Brady's face when he saw that guy's gear picking him up in the car? Because Brady is, like, I just want to break things down here with this cat, starting with his wheels. He has a sketcher shoe on, okay? And look, you can wear what you want, but the guy is a billionaire. A sketcher shoe with just like a Marksworth. warehouse trouser, and then some type of secondhand white blazer.

It's not tailored. He's holding a hat that he got at a golf tournament. And the mullet, like the Lloyd Christmas is insane a world. Like, I just don't, like, good hair can kind of make or break you, and he just kicks, he tops it all off with a Lloyd Christmas bull cut. Yeah. I don't understand it. Like if he kind of had some kind of cool hair do, it could save him.

It could save him. Well, yes, it would go a long way in doing that. The hair is just, he's established it, right? Oh, yeah. His trademark. That's his cut. Good look. It's a spectacular look.

No, it is. It's distinct. It's not a good, fast joke. It's not a good look. It's trademark. You would think, and I offer some advice once in a while, just if I like, I don't like a tie, I like a tie. Hey, that's just my personality.

How has Brady not pulled him aside and said, we're going to give you a full makeover and I'm going to make you look cool. Let's go. We'll get a stylist. We'll go to a mall and I can't walk around with you looking like this. It's insane, dude. Put that image up again. Brady is trolling around with this guy at events.

The juxtaposition between this guy of Brady is, as extreme as it gets. Like Brady would be in a $25,000 suit with a $250,000 watch on, hair that is dialed, shoes that are one of one. Someone made them specifically for him. I mean, Brady almost looks fake now.

It's too far over. He looks AI. He almost looks AI. When you actually look at Brady his face today compared to when he came into the league, it's a completely different person. It does. It looks like he's actually had work done, which is insane. Yes.

And I, he's working everything. Well, come on, dude. How is that natural? How at 50 can you look more youthful than you do when you're 23 years old? Like if you, Joe, find the shot. Find Brady in the booth. Like there's Brady. Dialed in.

And there's Mark Davis with, you know, I guess he just goes in there probably every week and gets the exact same haircut, right? Because I don't think there's ever a hair out of place. Maybe it's like a godfather thing. Like, you know, the old, like, mafia guys would go get their haircut every single day. Yeah. Maybe he goes every single day.

Like five in the morning, he goes for a shave in a cut. But I would just like to crawl in to Tom Brady's brain. In the back of a limo, when he just looks to his left when they're having a con, like a combo, and he just has a good once over of that guy's skull. Like he must just think

I go to battle with this guy Yeah Yeah Like if they ever win a Super Bowl Those two are going to be partying together And parading down Las Vegas Boulevard Oh yeah Yes

Late night parties everything And that guy's your wing man Well like the jacket I have such an appreciation for Because it is It is right off the rack And nowhere close to appropriately side No.

You know, like for a guy who is worth a Play-Dose closet jacket. Like, there's all kinds of weird stuff at Plato's closet. And he got that there. And he, the Skecher, the Skecher Monarch version, it is a crazy-ass look, man. It is, I just would love to know what Brady,

when he does a once-over, like when Davis is talking to somebody, and Brady just goes up and down once. I want to know what goes through his head. It would be amazing. Oh, Doug, I'll tell you what, you know, you hang around pro sports, you come in contact with some pretty rich people. And one thing you notice, not a lot of people like to tell billionaires the truth. You tell billionaires what the billionaire wants to hear.

Right. You pump them up. You look great, Mark. Oh, great to see you, Mark. All they do is. Love that jacket on you. That's what I mean. What I also understand about some billionaires, they don't give a rat's ass what they put on their body.

Yes. I have a great appreciation for that. There's a lot of them that could not care. us. Like slacks that are seven times too big and just a terrible kind of runner or a black runner with no name on it. I saw some gear. I'm not going to get into who it was, but it was insane gear.

Like they don't care what they wear and as they shouldn't. Hayes, you know exactly what you're talking about. I'll tell you another one too. It's like the richer sometimes you see people are, the more they take pride in not spending money. They do. I'm not spending thousands of dollars on suits. I got this.

I got this. This is secondhand. Look at this thing. Like, I'm fine. It's wild, man. Tom Brady and Mark Davis is just a wild duo. It's just a wild duo. Wild, wild duo.

Like, can you imagine two hot babes? Like, you know the wingman philosophy. Like, the one girl would say to the other, like if she has to chew on it and take Dave. Like, she would say to the other girl, you owe me your life for chewing on this one. That said, Mark, Davis, a lot of cool stories, owns a team, right?

And he's a majority owner. He can stuff Brady in a locker if he wants to. Brady's got like 10% of that team. Yeah, I don't care, man. He calls his shots. He calls his shots. All right, here's the man right here. ESPN football analyst, Super Bowl champ.

Here's Jeff Saturday. How you doing, Jeff? Doing fantastic. How you all doing? We're doing great. While we were watching that championship game last night, and, you know, it's always tough to get a read on exactly how someone's going to look from college to the next level, but

I don't know how much you track college football, but it sure would, you got to believe Mendoza's going to go first overall after winning the way he did all season, playing he did the way he did last night, winning the Hizman, you know, Brady was there, Davis was there. Do you get the impression that Fernando Mendoza, his game will translate to the NFL, and he's a guy that the Raiders can build around if they take him first overall? I do. I mean, look, he's checked all the boxes, right? and I know people are talking about he's not,

he's not a generational talent, whatever that means. I don't even know what that means. But they're like, well, he's, but I will say, in the biggest moments, he plays his best. And as a guy who, you know, you go out and block for these guys and lay it on the line week in and week out, when the moments are big and they make those plays, man, you feed off of that.

And you saw the run to get in the end zone, which will be an iconic, you know, poster, and every young kid's room in Indiana for the next 25 years with probably in between the bracket arms of Kirk Signetti holding up the touchdown sign, right? It'll be a perfect poster that goes up. But it's not just that, right? It's the fourth down throw, the back shoulder,

it's all the different moments throughout the season that he's done and put under his belt that you so appreciate. The biggest thing, though, for me, is, and you said it. Like, what do you surround him with? more QBs are ruined in our game than developed. And I think so for me, I want to know the process. How are we going to get this guy? What are we going to surround him with, you know,

offensive line-wise? You know, you got Bowers. I get it. You have gentie. I get those. But you're going to have to improve the offensive line. They got a bunch of money. But the other thing, and I say this all the time.

I think it goes way under-discussed is a great defense, right? Like, there's not a bigger friend to a quarterback than not worrying about having to go pun it because, you know, your offense is stalling a little bit. And just look at all the teams that have made it deep in the playoffs, how many great defenses there are. And the guy that's drafting them being Tom Brady, boy, he sure did benefit from those defenses early in his career. And I know because I played them. And I can still remember all the names of all the jerseys, of all the freaking guys who, if they're not in the Hall of Fame or going in the Hall of Fame, because they were legitimate, man. And having that balance, I think, is the biggest key for the Raiders is you, your money-wise,

don't forget, don't just neglect the defense. Make sure you have that piece and part in place because it sure does take the pressure off the QB of not having to perform each and every drive, especially a young one. Jeff, you just mentioned Signetti, that coach. I can't tell if he's going to be like the next Saban or he's a guy that's Google's quotes and tries to be funny and he flames out and just amounts to not much. Like if those were the two extremes, where do you think this guy falls? Like, basically, what is he all about?

Yeah, yeah. I mean, look, when you see, yeah, when you see this guy, I'm telling you right now, I said this on television today, if I'm an owner or a general manager, I'm called, this dude would be, you know, I don't know that I would hire him, but he would dang sure be in my office, and I would be talking this guy up. If you think about the way that he goes, he goes and works with Sabin in his 50s, then leaves Sabin and goes to a program no one hears about, no one knows about, and then basically builds his way up, makes JMU a legitimate team in the country, and then gets to IU, the losing this program in history.

And in two years, he loses two games last year and then goes undefeated to win a national championship. like he knows process and that's with zero five stars right so when you think about getting the most out of of your players like there's not a better coaching job that's been done over the last 24 months at any level in football and so when I look at him he would be a guy that I would come in and be like hey what do you need and he can specifically tell you and he's in his thing he's done this man like this is he understands what he needs and you can tell he believes in loyalty because his coordinators have been with him for dang near a decade, if not more. And those guys have grown with him.

And so, I mean, I love the story. Again, I played all my ball in Indianapolis. So, you know, I pull for them. I was excited for them. But Signetti, man, he's the real deal. Like, he's not just a flash, but, you know, flash in the pain. This guy knows what he's doing. With Jeff Saturday.

Well, a bunch of things you just said, you know, leave me to the bill's conversation because, you know, the bills are now short a head coach and everything you said about building a defense and making sure the quarterback feels good about it probably applies to Buffalo with Josh Allen and where he is and what he wants to see happen with his team in the future. Where do you stand on the type of coach the bills should hire and, you know, how much change do you expect to happen here

with the bills this offseason? Trying to take advantage of, you know, Josh Allen and him still being in his prime. Yeah, you know what? This is, this was the biggest shock for me in the NFL this year. And I had heard this was a possibility. And, you know, throughout the end of the season. But I'm just going to be honest with you, like, being not getting it and McDermott getting it shocked me.

And I heard the whole, you know, conversation about this is Josh Allen's best chance to win it because of, you know, teams that aren't in it, but the team was not there. It was not there. Like, I'm just telling you, like, as I looked at them, you weren't scared to the defense, you weren't, you know, you weren't scared of any receiver they had. You know, they ran the ball especially well. And look, Allen didn't play good, you know, last week. He played bad.

Like, you know, he was part of the problem, right? You got to protect the football. He did not protect it. But as I look at that team, this would not have been the year where I would have laid that on McDermit. And so I was surprised by the fire. And I would say this. Like I would want to get a, you know, a manager of all.

I wouldn't just necessarily go get a offensive coordinator or, you know, I would go get a guy who I felt like can help me in all three phases. Because you just heard what I said, and I believe strongly in, they got to get their defense better. And, you know, drafting two pro bowlers since you've had Josh, since you've drafted Josh, that ain't enough, man. I'm just telling you, like surrounding your best player. with other great players is vitally important. And right now, they're just not there. And so they've got to either do it to the draft through free agency, but getting a guy who can manage all three phases is really the most important to me.

The culture's there. The stability, the vision that McDermott had will stay in place. And I live through this with going from Jim Mora to Tony Dungy. We were already a pretty good team. We had a bad year with Mora. They fire him. Tony comes in. I think we won 12 games, I don't know, eight years in a row, whatever it was.

But it was all, you know, but we had a good foundation. Buffalo's got a good foundation. They're just, they weren't good enough to get where people thought they should get to. And so whoever comes in, they better be ready for a, you know, a firestorm. Because if, if Bean and people believe that this team should have gone further this year, you better go win the Super Bowl because there ain't, you know, You get to the division and win in playoff games each year, and that not being enough is that is a tough, a tough ask in our game, especially watching what the Patriots have just done this year and knowing that's going to be a division foe for the next, you know, next decade with maybe, if it may stay healthy. How much does it fall on Josh, though, Jeff?

I mean, you just mentioned not managing the football. Like, that seems to be like a three-year-ago problem where it was like this guy makes bad decisions in big times and big games. and then he got through that, and then all of a sudden it was Mahomes was a problem or Burrow was a problem or the defense couldn't make a stop. I don't think most people on the bingo card would have managing the football as an issue at this particular time in his career. So how much of is it on Josh? A large majority, this past week, you know, he was culpable for the loss.

Like when you think about the end of the first half and just being lack of days ago the ball, even the interception, like the, the, the, the, deep over on the right side. That ball is underthrown, man. Like, if he throws that ball out in front, it's not an interception. It might not be a kid, but it's definitely not an interception. So he threw bad balls. He didn't protect the football.

And so, you know, and so, you know, here's the difference. Like, I'd never blame Josh Allen. Like, when they walked off the field with the lead against Kansas City, whatever it was, 18 seconds. I can't remember what the time. But you know what I mean. and they end up losing that game. But Josh Allen played well enough to win.

He did not play well enough to win last week. Now, even if they did win, I would have told you that. He didn't play well enough. The team around him, you know, carried him in this one. He didn't do his, and he didn't. And he knows he didn't do his part, you know, that week. And that's just unfortunate because it's the biggest game of the season and you don't play your game and you play probably your poorest game.

And to your point, regress back to what you did, you know, quite a number of years ago, which is we're not expecting that. It was disappointing. I've said it on television this morning. Most disappointing, you know, a player for me this week was Josh Allen. I never thought I would say that because he has more than stepped up come playoff time, but this was a poor performance, and unfortunately you got to own those the same way you own the good ones. Jeff, I'm not sure a lot of people would have had these two conference championship games in the preseason, Patriots going on the road as favorites to the Broncos, the Rams, going on the road to the Seahawks, you know, these two games.

Which game do you think is going to be more compelling, and who do you like? Well, you know, I hate that Nix is out. So on those stidams coming in, everybody's going to talk about, you know, Sean loves him, and I guess, you know, I'm sure he does, right? You know, your backup quarterback is always your most popular guy in the locker room. They're great. And, you know, you wish him well. That's tough sledding.

And so, you know, I don't think it's going to be like an embarrassing loss with the defense that the Broncos have. If Drake May doesn't protect the ball, like he didn't protect the ball at all this past week. If he does that, then Denver will stay in the game. If he protects it, smart with the football, they play, you know, laser-in. I'm leaning more towards the Patriots than that one. The other one to me is the game that we all wanted to see, right? third time, Seattle, Rams. And, you know, I'm all here fighting with Chris Canty this morning on the first take about it.

And he's talking about how, you know, Josh, I mean, Sam Arnold has exercised his deal. I'm like, what are you talking about, bro? Like, they were down. They had a two-point conversion that nobody knew was a two-point conversion. They had all these crazy plays to end up winning this game. But the Seahawks have run it super efficiently. few weeks. Rams have not been nearly as physical since like week 13 on the defense. This is going to be a freaking game for the ages. Brian's fired up for this one.

I hope that McVeigh runs the ball more than he did against the Bears because I thought he got out of his game. But I am as fired up for this one as you can be, man. I mean, you talk about Sam Donald, who's played about as good a quarterback as you can play without winning big games, you know, like playoff games and championships. he has a chance to unseat a Hall of Famer and Matt Stafford, let's go, baby. I mean, like, it don't get better. This NFC one, it's something to talk about, man.

I'm fired up for it. Yeah, it's going to be a great weekend. Absolutely. It always is. Great catching up with you, Jeff. We really appreciate it. We'll do it again soon. Appreciate you, fellas.

Have a great one. There's Jeff Saturday of ESPN. Super Bowl winner joining us here on Overdrive. Appreciate his answer on Josh Allen. A lot of people take the high road, and they're like, oh, he needs weapons, he needs this, he needs that. Sometimes he just needs to be better. 100%. You know, and you bring up a great point. That was a big conversation around him a few years ago. It was protecting the football,

can't turn it over, can't fumble the ball at the wrong times. You know, he was, he played really poorly. Like, there's, there's no way of denying it. Like, he didn't play well enough. And his team, I thought, did enough. His coach did enough to put him in multiple situations to win the game. Yeah. And that's what I thought, Hayes. I thought those turnovers was a three year ago, thing problem. Well, the fumble at the end of the first half was as reckless of a play as you will ever find from a quarterback. I mean, the crazy how reckless that was. The only defense, the only defense

of Josh Allen that I find compelling is the idea that because they lacked so many things in terms of personnel, you know, and Jeff Saturday just outlined it. Like they, they, they were missing so many pieces that they, you know, a team that's serious about winning should have. You almost got the sense that he was trying to do too much. Like, he, you know, they, they were missing. You know, they were missing. You felt like I've got to make every play. I've got to be Superman. And he was doing stuff he shouldn't have been doing it and he knew he should have been doing it, but he felt like he had no other choice. That's the only explanation I have for the way he he played. But the great ones don't do that though, Fess Chuck. It was like Mahomes during his

run. It was just he did what he needed to do to get the job done. It was never like, do too much. Like if he had to run, he ran, like he just made it happen. Yeah. And I think that's a difference with the guy that just makes it happen no matter what. Like there was games where Mahom, the offense. wasn't, he would run it himself and his legs were the weapon. I don't know. He just found a way to get it done. Mahomes is one of one, man.

He's as good as it gets. I mean, and I don't know if that's the term that Hayes always brings up a lot and he brings it up when it comes to football player, especially starting quarterbacks. And it's just, is that a part of the clutch gene? Where it's like subconsciously your mind just takes over and it's like, whatever I got to do here, it's going to happen no matter what. And some guys do it and some guys don't in all sports.

Yeah. And there's different, it applies differently. to every position, but the quarterback position, you're on such an island. You have the football in your hand on every single play. It's different than if you're a hockey player,

if you're a baseball player. Yeah. You know, like you're, if you're O'Tani, you're getting a four or five at bats. You might be pitching that game, but you're only going to give like five innings, tops in the World Series. You know, you got to rely on other guys. And obviously, you have to rely on other people,

clearly, if you're a quarterback. Of course you do. You got to, you know, you got to get the blocking, you've got to get the right schemes, right weaponry, you've got to have a defense you can rely on. All that kind of stuff is valid, 100%. But when it comes down at crunch time, like it was on Saturday on multiple occasions, like here's your chance, man. Yeah. And it just didn't happen.

And now you've got to go back to the start with a new coach. And I'm very interested to see where they go here. You know, like do they go progressive? Do they go kind of new, modern, offensive coach? I wouldn't be surprised. I wouldn't be surprised if they tried that. Like McDermott is your old school defense first type of culture-setting coach, and he did a great job throughout his tenure here or in Buffalo.

Would you ask around the football world and just say, like, what's the closest thing to McVeigh out there? What is that? Where he's not like, I know he seems new age, but he seems like a motivator, and he just seems like everyone. I don't know. it seems like he would be that type of guy would be the fit for Alan. That's what everyone wants.

They want McVeigh. They want Shannahan. Oh, yeah. You know, in a way they want LaFleurred, not to the same extent. But those guys all came from the same tree. Oh, yeah. There was a joke a couple years ago. If you shook Sean McBay's hand, you all of a sudden became the smartest person in the world.

They all worked for Mike Shanahan. Yeah. That's where they all worked. And they all, you know, McVeigh is the only guy that's one. Shanahan hasn't won. he's been to the Super Bowl multiple times. Lefleur goes to the playoffs every year, but they're all younger,

you know, they're just wizards offensively. Mike McDaniel's a part of that. Again, I have a different view of McDaniel than some people do. But we'll see. I mean, they've got to get this right because... You're a big thumbs down on McDaniel?

Yeah, I wasn't really impressed. And especially in Buffalo, it doesn't feel right in that town. I don't know. There's something about Buffalo. coming down the stretch were ridiculous. Really strange. Yeah, he didn't know what he was talking about. He was like, yeah,

you know, well, if you lose, you lose, but we don't try to lose and that he lost me at those. It seems like he'd be a better coordinator at his best. All day I'd take him as a coordinator. All day, I'd take him as a coordinator, but I just wouldn't want, I don't think he's a lead-the-charge guy personally.

We'll see. We'll see what happens. And I think that's important. You see how, like, people, like, that, that locker room loves McDermann. Yes. They love that guy. Some guys were pissed with their comments anyway. They're not going to be happy there because McDermott was a guy they loved and they trusted. And now it's like Bean and the owner who are running things. Obviously the owner is going to, but Bean is in that corner now.

Wow. When you get promoted? Yes. After a loss, you get a promotion. That means the owner is basically telling the world, you're my guy. Right. Anything that happens around this team send it to me. And Bean sending it to them.

And they were gaping holes in that roster this season. Yeah. And they did, by all accounts, didn't want it. hear it and there are reports let's see what's true and what's not that McDermott has addressed them with them that effectively said hey this team's not as good as you guys think it is

and they didn't maybe want to hear that billioners don't want to hear the truth man yeah they don't that's the truth don't tell them the truth because guess what happens when you do trouble yeah trouble all right confirm it tonight coming up best bets later this hour overdrive continues up on YouTube live

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Austin trades Andrew Raycroft to Toronto in exchange for the rights to Tuka Rass. It's been my honor and a privilege to serve as the general manager of Toronto Maple Leafs Hockey Club. It's time for confirm or deny. you regret giving all those gentlemen the no trades or no movement clauses? I can either confirm

or deny that. I can't confirm or deny. All right, confirm and deny. Very simple stuff. Statements are made. We go around the table. We either confirm them or we deny them. All right? We're all ready to go. Let's go. Confirm or deny. The Maple Leafs should sign Bobby McMahon, Scott Lodden, and Troy

Stetcher to extensions. All three get an extension. mention. All three, I'm going to have to start on this one, and I am going to deny on all three. I think Troy Stetcher, I love his energy. If he wants to sign something to kind of be, look, as good as he's played, I'm sure people need to understand this, or they do understand this, that he is a guy, and it just happens with every organization he goes to.

He comes in, he plays well, and you can't, you don't fall in love, but you're like, man, this guy's awesome he can skate he can move the puck and then come a playoff series he doesn't play so there's a reason for it right like if he wants to sign some kind of depth contract where i don't know he is one of those guys who's in and out of the lineup i'd have no problem with it scotty lotton and a lot of people have complaining about the first round pick he's played damn well the last couple months i really like the way he's played what number he gets to i don't know bobby mcmand same thing. You want to pay Bobby McMahon $5 million on a long-term deal?

If that's something you want to do, I don't know. There's some inconsistencies there where he winds up on the fourth line and you wonder what you got and you're still paying him $5 million. So I don't know. If there's inconsistencies at the age of 30 where you go up and down the lineup and your offense disappears for a while, that's kind of what you are. But if you have to, if you believe that it's worth $5 million to it and you need that roster spot filled by Bobby McMahon making

five cheats and that's what you got to do. Yeah, I'm going to deny it too. I'm with O'Dog. There's a lot of question marks about all three of these guys, right? And look, Scotty Lawton's been great of late, but you know, didn't give him what they hoped he'd give him in the playoffs last year after spending the first round pick that everybody

talks about as a very expensive price. McMahon to me is yeah, he's the ultimate in terms of a coach's nightmare in some ways because he's been in up and down the lineup. He's been, you know, in and out of the doghouse throughout his career in Toronto. Now, if you're going to get him at value,

at which you perceive his value, given the fact he can score goals, given the fact he does have speed, I mean, you get it. But to your point, O'Dag, like, I'm not overpaying and I'm not rushing to overpay a guy like that. And Stetcher's in the same boat. Like, Stetcher was a guy on waivers. And as MJ said, like, he overachieved out of the gate here on his, what he thought was maybe

his last NHL chance, but it's difficult to sustain that. You've got to be careful what you spend on it. Yeah, it's a deny. around the table. And I think Stetcher's the odd man out here. The other two guys, like McMahon is a product of the Maples, you know, came up through the system,

was a Marley, came out of nowhere. Remember he had that hat trick that one game when I think Tavares got sick. He wasn't even supposed to play and then he's never really looked back. I would be okay with keeping Bobby McMahon. I would negotiate diligently though.

There's no, hey, we love you. Okay, what are you thinking? will give it to you. Like that is a real back and forth. You know what he's thinking, though, Brian? He's thinking I'm 30. I'm going to cash. Possibly.

Possibly. And maybe he will, but maybe he won't. Maybe he gets to the offseason and there's not the market that he thinks because he's 30. And at times he plays on the fourth line, like you pointed out.

So, you know, if I'm the leaves, I'm pushing for not a hometown discount, but I'm trying to win that negotiation. The same thing with Lodden. Like Lottin's not a young guy. Lotton's a fourth line player on this team. Like you've got to be reasonable. You know, I like him a lot.

I think he's played really well. I think he's been good. I like his kind of attitude, his approach. I like that he plays with some fire. I think he's got a different kind of personality on the ice that holds a lot of value here. But he's playing like 12 minutes a night. Yeah.

You know, there's only so much you're willing to give in to grant him that extension. And Stetcher is a classic example of, Only in Toronto. Like, oh, you mentioned it, I think last week when we were talking about Matthews and his comments to Masters about Marner, and we disagreed with how he handled that. But you said this is the kind of thing in Carolina, you'd never. Here's another example.

A guy plucked off waivers is not talking extension six weeks later in Carolina. That is complete Joe from the bridge fabrication slash buildup, and it's insane. It's crazy to be even. saying Carolina about a guy that's picked off waivers, they're like, I can't wait until this guy's gone. We never have to watch him again. Probably. Here, it's extension. Yes, it's insanity and it's a sign of the market that it's even a conversation.

Troy Stead, like an extension, unless it's a two-way. Here's what it's also a sign of. It's a sign that they have no defensive depth. Well, all the guys, like, we said at the beginning of the year, they had six guys and number seven ain't pretty, right? No, it's not. That's why Troy Stetcher is here. Valid, and I think it might be a sign of possibly the future of Chris Tannov. Right.

The concerns about his future and what could be happening with him and, you know, what's going to happen with him? We don't know. But there is some concern there. I get that. But, you know, at some point, hopefully Danford is a guy that's prepared to play, right shot defenseman on the right side. Well, if he was, he'd be in. Yeah, I mean, he's in the junior right now, but I know what you mean. I mean, he would be a guy they would pencil and say we, or he would have made the team,

maybe I'm at a camp. That's what I mean. If he was even close to ready, he'd be up for consideration. Possibly. Because that's how desperate they are. Yes. But I guess the final point on this is if Statue was on waivers now, someone else will be on waivers next year. Right. Or in the summer, there'll be a PTO,

whatever. All right, moving on here. Confirmed that I, Austin Matthews has been the Maple Leafs MVP this season. I think it's, yeah. I think he is. I'm going to confirm this. You look at William Nealander.

there's been injuries, there's been some weird stuff going on, the coach, the yelling match. I get it, his performance has been great, but Austin Matthews had a tough start, but you can't deny what he's done lately. And the best thing that great players do that no one else on the team can do, their worst stretch of 12 games,

they still end up with like five or seven goals or something where they're not completely out of range of... Do you know what I mean? It's almost like as bad as they are. They almost hold the fourth down as far as, production goes. And then when they catch up and get into form, they just completely destroy everything. He's playing great right now.

Yeah, he is. Yeah. Like, he is no question their MVP. Look, I'm going to deny it because it's recency bias. Like, lately, he's been really good. You know, I agree with you. He's been back to something very close to the Austin Matthews. We came to know as a guy who was in the running for hard trophies, a guy who could,

you could pencil in as a favorite to win the Rocket Richard. But let's not forget. He was very slow out of the gate here. And that's contributed to the fact that the Maple Leaf still are outside of the playoff picture looking in. Like the first 20-plus games of the season, I think the MVP was probably Nealander. And the fact that he's obviously been hitting some obstacles here with injuries, that's changed things. But Nealander's still their leading score. If you look at the kind of the whole broad picture of the season, when Matthews was kind of snoozing out of the gate,

you know, Neelander was the guy carrying them offensively. So I don't think you wouldn't want to vote on MVP yet would be my point. But if I had it to vote on it today, I would deny it. Well, it's interesting. Like, he's, Matthews played six more games than Nylander, and he's six points behind him. Yeah. Yet he scored eight more goals.

He's averaging, you know, more than two minutes a night on ice more than William Nealander. It's, you know, honestly, the tale of two seasons. Willie, the first 20 games and Austin, the last 20 games. Right. where that's why I'm going to deny it because I'm going to say it's Joseph Wall. I know what he did last night. I didn't love his game the other night.

Was it in Vegas? Yeah, in Vegas he didn't play very well. But his, like, Stolar, as part of him coming back, it was a mess. And what really turned them around is they started getting goaltending. Yeah. You know, and Stolars, his numbers were really, really bloated. Wall's numbers have been great.

Now, they have started to inflate a little bit. Curious who plays tomorrow night, Berube wouldn't say. It leads me to think he's going to play Held to be. I'm getting the Stolars itch, though. For a while, I was like, you can sit and watch because it's just a frustrating injury. Nobody knew what the hell was wrong with them.

I was like, that's the cost of doing business in the big leagues, man. You can sit there and wait and rot on the bench or in the stands, but now I'm kind of worried about the other two, and I'm like, I need some Stolars action here. Maybe he's the tonic that can get them, you know, get them through a stretch here. because that's what they're going to need.

They might need all three of these guys coming down the stretch to give them 10-day segments at a time. I think you're right. People talk about, you got goaltending as a position of strength. You should trade a goalie. I'm like, the minute you trade one of these guys, you're going to be wishing you didn't. Because one of them is going to get hurt, and then you're going to be going to be, like, going to be, like, going to be, like, going to be, like, going to be, rid of a really good threesome here because we need all three. Yeah.

Well, and, you know, we were going to do this last week, our list of the MVP's, and I think I would have wall at one. I'd have Ekman-Larsen pretty high. Like I know great. He's been really good. He's easily their best defenseman. And he plays every night. He's played every single game. Only him and tomorrow has played every game.

So he's been available to you. He's up to 31 points. He plays like basically 21 minutes a night. You know, defensively is it perfect? No, but neither is anyone else. Oh, not even close. You know, neither is anyone else. He plays with heart.

He's accountable. He fights around the net. Exactly. Like Ekman Larson, I think I'd go wall one, maybe Echman Larson too. And then I'd, Matthews, or Willie would be wrong with you.

Matthews, Wall and Ekman Larson ahead of Austin Matthews? It's possible. You said some dumb-ass stuff around here, but that is... The first 25 games, he was brutal based on his standards. You can't deny. He was awful the first 25 games. Before

Christmas, like we were all saying, he's not what he was. He looked awful. Flashes of what we should be seeing. Where is he? Yes. He's been phenomenal. The last 12 games, 15 games, he's been the best player, the most valuable player. The most valuable player without question. He's been phenomenal. Well, how about this? At least

the first month and a half he was putting his gear on, and I'm not criticizing Wall, but he wasn't even around. Sure enough. Okay. Was not even... Okay, but it. Okay, they'd take Wall out of it. Ekman Larson? Like, where do you stand on Ekman-Larsson? The guy plays every night. He plays hard every night.

Okay. You know, and he gives a big... It's pretty pathetic, if you're just going to say, because the guy plays hard, he's the MVP. I agree. It is, but it's an example of why they're in the position they're in right now. That this is even a conversation. You know, it's, and I think it's a reasonable one, but it speaks to why they are where they are.

Matthews has been phenomenal recently. He's been unbelievable. And if he didn't have the start he had, you know, he'd be way up in points and goals and MVP chases. He wouldn't be maybe in the McDavid-McKinnon chat, but he would be right behind them. But that's why you're paying him what you're paying him, because he's supposed to be the no-brainer MVP of the team.

Yes. Right, you're supposed to be right there with them. All right, confirm it tonight. Josh Allen will win a Super Bowl before Patrick Mahomes wins another one. Man, recency biased. It's just, it's hard to say yes right now. It's hard to say yes with what's going on and who knows what the roster looks like. And I told you guys, there's some quarterbacks that are going to get off the mat

and have something to say next year. And they'll be like starving hungry. See Eric B. enemies back in Kansas City. That's an interesting higher. Watch out, dude. That's an interesting hire. That's a connection with Mahomes. That's right. They went to the guy that said, let's bring the Mahomes master back.

I'd have to deny it, unfortunately, right? Like, it's just, it just doesn't feel like, like you just saw something that didn't make any sense to anybody for the GM to be promoted after a season like that, for the coach to get fired when he's beloved in the locker room and it didn't appear to be a coaching issue. Like, it felt like that was their chance. This season was their chance to do it before Mojones did it again, and they missed it. Yeah, I am concerned about Bean moving up. Like, it feels like there's a Terry Pagula.

They lose. The coach gets fired, Hayes, and they said to Bean, you're not the GM anymore. You're the president? or like explain the move up that he made. Well, he basically got a new title. He didn't really get, he got, he was GM and now he's president of football operations. So is he still the GM? Yes, so basically he went from, I don't even know how to explain it.

Like he just got an extra title, probably more money, and I suppose more power, although obviously Pagula has the last call on everything. But from what you read in the reporting out of Buffalo, it's essentially like he has Pagula's Yes. And in a way that him and McDermott were kind of competing for it, the head coach also had Pagula's ear. But clearly, if there was a power struggle or if Pagula had to choose between who was in a fault here and who did he trust more, he chose Bean. And that's why McDermott's not longer working. That one guy gets fired and the one other guy gets elevated. I find that to be crazy.

And that's what, that doesn't give me a good feeling, O'Dag, that these guys are on the precipice of winning a Super Bowl next year. Yeah, I worry about Pagula. I saw, I have this bookmarked here. Tim Graham wrote a piece in the, in the athletic about Pagula, not knowing about an executive that used to work for the team and now works for the team. And like, that's really concerning stuff, you know. Like if that, if you got an owner who's like, you know, I'll read it here. Pagula was always miffed by angry fan sentiment that Russ Brandon meddled with football decisions

and once asked me why people think a business executive, have such influence. I said it stemmed from the three years, Brandon was Bill's GM under Ralph Wilson's ownership from 08 through 10. Pagula pushed back about that being true. He did not know Brandon was once the GM of the team he owned. So, you know, I don't know. He was the owner at the time, but yeah, you probably should know the

probably should know you're from Buffalo, you claim you're a Bill's fan. You didn't know the GM of the team. It wasn't back in the 70s. No. Anyway, I mean, the point being is the guy, Pagula is a bean guy. and we'll see what comes of it. I want to say, I want to confirm this because I want to believe in Josh Allen. I want to believe in a lot of different things.

I want to believe Connor Hallibuck. I want to believe Connor McDavid will win a cup someday. I want to believe that. I want to believe the Leafs will win a cup at some point in my lifetime. I want to believe that. In a long life. Yeah, I hope. But the problem is you're going up against the guy who's already done it

and it makes it routine to get to the Super Bowl all the time. And Mahomes, if he's in the same position, Alan was just in, I believe, would have won that game. So it's difficult to do. All right, quickly here. Confirm it tonight. Boba Shett will get booed when he returns to Toronto as a New York met. I don't think so. I just don't.

I think everybody loved him here, and he didn't leave on bad terms. He just took a bag. I think he'll be cheered Canada Day very heavily, Bo Boshet, and I'll be the first one in the stance. I'd like you to sit beside me right behind. I'll be there. I love that he's coming in. End of June and July 1st he'll be here. Probably an afternoon game. Tickets go on sale soon.

Probably not, sure. We won't be there. We'll be working. That's a very valid point. July 1st we'll be here working. Disregard. Cut that from the podcast, do you. Yeah, you know, I'd love to deny it 100%. I still think, this isn't Jerry's percentage. I still think I would deny it like 80%. I still think they'll be booze. It won't be the full stadium booing them. But there's people who resent the fact,

the people who do resent the fact that, you know, he wanted to leave and take a bag, you know? Okay. I think the people always resent when athletes leave after they were homegrown. And as good as he was, as clutch as he was, I mean, clearly, you know, the money was the motivator here.

And I think most of the world nowadays doesn't hold that against people. Like, you've got to go get you back. Think about the player, though. He was great in Toronto. he had some injuries the last two or three years. He had a massive home run in the World Series. He played hurt. He put it all in the line.

And as soon as the season is over, they lose the World Series. And all the talk about is about the team you just poured your guts out for, the team you've performed for for so many years. And all the chatter is about they want Kyle Tucker. And not one rumbling about Boba Chet. He's like the secondary option. Wouldn't that piss you off a little bit? If that was me, I would say whoever comes up with the bag, I really hope it's not that Blue Jays, because I'm going to stuff it to them.

Well, I think that factors into this too. Like, the reporting's starting to seep out that the Jays weren't really pushing to keep them. So you can't blame Bichette. No kidding. You know, like if the Jays were like, we're trying to get someone else or other guys or we don't love the idea of how your body is aging, I don't know what they're thinking was. Or, you know, you're going to take it bats away from other guys if we signed you long term. I think the Js have kind of got to own this too.

You know, like maybe they didn't really want him that badly. They didn't want him with the numbers he wanted. Well, that's most certainly. That's what we're talking about here. They would have taken him back at the number that they wanted. Right. He didn't want the number they wanted. Sure.

So he got a much bigger number elsewhere. Yeah. In a place where, you know, clearly, like, they think he's going to be a third base one. Well, newsflash there. He'll be getting booed. He'll be getting booed in New York. Absolutely. People realize he ain't a third base.

They got Lindor. They got Simi in there. Like, I don't even know how that works with Bischad. But I'm going to deny it too. And I think in large part because he left. The American League, he left the American League. He's coming in as a Red Socker, a Yankee. All bets are all.

Well, that's a good point. Totally different story. He's not. He's coming in as a med. All right, there you go. Confirm it, deny. Best bet's coming up. Overdrive continues.

TSN 1050 and up on YouTube live. With corporate traveler, you get a dedicated travel expert and 24-7 support. So business travel feels effortless. Big meetings land. Business grows. With corporate traveler, the booking is just the start. Search Corporate Traveler today. I'm Dylan Playfair.

And I'm Tyler Smith. We're putting loneliness in the penalty box by talking to some of our favorite athletes about the importance of friendship. This is Bromance. Bromance is brought to you by Charm Diamond Centers, proudly Canadian-owned and operator. Charm has been part of your love stories and bromances for over 50 years. And you can find Bromance on the IHeart Radio Network or wherever you get your podcast. All right, so we mentioned that the Amex this weekend and Scotty Sheff was going to be there. We know Scotty, he'll be at the players.

and this is your chance to win a golf trip of a lifetime. We're sending one fan to the Players' Championship in Florida, and you're not just watching. You're going inside the ropes, courtesy of TSN 1050 and the PGA Tour. It's an unbelievable giveaway. You've got to get on this. Get to TSN1050.C.

For all the details. You get in flights, hotels, cash, once in a lifetime VIP experience. Again, courtesy of the PGA tour. You've got to send an audition tape. TSN1050.ca. I would probably go with, like, Better than most.

Is that the most famous call at the players? Pretty good. Probably is. Better than most. Tiger Woods double triple breaker 60 foot putt on the 17th green. What a role, man. Unreal. Better than most.

That's a great call. We miss Johnny. Yeah. Great call. So I would maybe go with that. You could get creative and basically do anything you want, golf related, PJ tour related, players related, maybe overdrive related, do whatever you want.

There you go. Anything you want. Just a side note, boys. That was our friend Gary Coke. Johnny Miller's the one that said, how about in? How about in? That's right.

Gary Coke, yes, because he was like, yeah, this is going to be, this is tough to get anywhere close to the hole. Guys have been blowing it past all week or whatever, right? And then he's like, and they fired his ass. That guy should have never been taken off golf coverage, Gary Coke.

Yeah, they did. After better than most, that was like basically the end of the road. That's disappointing. Anyway, Best Bet's powered by Fando and make your picks assemble the same game parlay in seconds on the Fandrell Sportsbook app. Weird vibes in Ottawa.

Weird vibes. But I'm going to go with the James Reimer show tonight. Wow. I'm laying a little bit of juice in Columbus, the James Reimer show. I think the fact that it's not Maryland and he's been sent to the miners is a positive. And I'm on it tonight. Yes. And I'm going to parlay that with Tampa tonight.

The sharks were in Florida last night, back to back the lightning waiting. Daselovs. You got to pay juice on that. parlay it, though, about even money. Best bets, powered by Fandual. Make your picks and assemble. Same game parlay in seconds on the Fandual Sportsbook app. Please play responsibly 19 plus, physically located in Ontario.

So I saw a lot of people throughout town today. It was great. We saw her friend Sam. She did a, like, a TikTok video of you, oh, years ago. One of your biggest fans might be your biggest fan. I saw Sam today. Sam said, please say hi to the O Dog. I said, I will not forget.

Wow. Shout out. Sam and everyone else out there. Is that the one who saw me in the Scotia Bank Arena or something? Yes. And she said you look great, right? She said she's looking forward to seeing you at the Super Bowl. On the couch.

On the couch. Not behind the couch. No, I'm telling you right now, I'll grab a mic and I'm behind the couch. Behind the couch guy. I love that. I love it. They go viral. That could be viral.

Yes. Here's the O-Dog, behind the couch guy. I love it. Yes. It's a look behind the scenes into the, Super Bowl. Let's go behind the scenes to the Odo. Okay. Thanks to everyone behind the scenes for helping

out. We appreciate it. Everyone for tuning in today, TV radio, podcast, web, and of course up on YouTube live on TSN's YouTube channel. We're out of here. Enjoy your evenings. Enjoy the games tonight. We're back tomorrow at Mark Davis. Let's start fresh tomorrow. 4 p.m.

We'll chat then. The newest tracks. Let's go. Music. And the next big thing. Always on the new music first. Your first place. Hear it all? Because you're going to like it, love her, want to play it twice. I'm playing now.

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