OverDrive - OverDrive - July 14, 2025 - Hour 2

Episode Date: July 14, 2025

Join Bryan Hayes and Jonas Siegel for hour 2 of OverDrive! TSN Baseball Insider Steve Phillips joined the show to discuss internal improvements that the Jays have seen. The guys also discussed ESPN’s top ten quarterback list, FanDuel’s NFL MVP odds, and why the NHL should platform Mitch Marner’s return to Toronto.

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The station that champions Canadian music. Loud, proud, and all yours. No passports required. Just press play. Tap into Made in Canada now on iHeartRadio.ca or the free iHeartRadio app Our to overdrive continues powered by FanDuel bringing you everything from the opening line of the final score Brian Hayes, Jonas Siegel of the Athletics Steve Phillips coming up in just a moment. We've hit the all-star break

Jays 55 and 41 a two-game lead on the Yankees three game lead on the Red Sox and all of a sudden the Rays can't win anything but like the Sox just swept them but sets up for an awesome second half and we've touched on you know the questions that have kind of been hovering around me the last ten days I'm sure you're experiencing the same thing like water cooler you ohovering around you? Well, I mean, you run into people and they wanna talk Blue Jays, like there's certain things,

you know, that kinda follow the Jays chat. I think probably from coast to coast. That's a good segment for you to do. You think so? We gotta workshop it a bit, but it's like, what's like the water cooler, nobody does water coolers anymore, but like, it's like.

What's following you around like what what what are you what are you being asked in the streets yeah you know um and i i think what they're going to do at the trade deadline is a big one we'll ask steve phillips about that i think vladdy i don't even know how to describe his season like he's got 12 home runs just the powerless nature of and he was he really didn't perform all over the weekend. It was terrible over the weekend and you know again that last game in Chicago was you could point to him on a couple of occasions where he cost them. So Vladdy the offseason no-shows which we've

talked about Santander Scherzer you know Jimenez they really haven't brought much but internal improvements is what sticks out as well because we goofed on that term so many times last year. Ross Atkins, Mark Shapiro, internal improvements, but ultimately that I think is why they're in the position they're in it. Yeah. Like Alejandro Kirk, George Springer, Addison Barger, Ernie Clement, these are all internal improvements. But do you think they actually believe that or that that's just something you say when like-

It's a catchphrase. You miss on Soto and like- Yeah, I'd say please leave me alone for a minute. It's like when you go up to talk to the bosses, you have to be like, well, we're counting on internal improvement. That's what we think is gonna happen. Great way to just kick the can down the road, isn't it?

What's your, how do you intend on improving this year? Well, internally is one way. It's gonna be better. Internal improvements, man. Everyone's gonna pull their socks up that much more. It is the emptiest of empty calorie comments. Yet again, I think it arrived. It's arrived for the Blue Jays.

Sure. It's funny, like you mentioned, Ladi, for the first like month and a half, my guy, Juan Soto, signed an incredible contract and was really scuffling. I was getting worried. And then he just like took off and now he's like, the all player. Although the all-star game, what happened there? He got snubbed, but like, look at his numbers the last like month and a half, he's back to being unreal. Well, when you sign, was it a 15 year deal? Think so, seven, it was something like that, 14 or 15 year deal. You don't, like the first month and a half

is probably not going to really define what's gonna happen. Like with him, it wasn't a 15 year deal. What's gonna happen with Soto is what you do down the stretch and what you do in the playoffs. And he's a playoff monster. Absolutely. So.

Yeah, the Mets will be good. Like they'll be fine. They'll probably be active, I would think. Yeah. Between now and the end of the month. Yeah, Dodgers haven't been like amazing. Like remember we talked about 120 wins? Remember they went to Japan and they they skunked the Cubs that two-game series punked them and then came didn't

they start eight and oh or ten and oh or something like that and at that point we were legitimately having chats about the oh one Mariners 116 wins like they're gonna pass them 120 wins. It felt conceivable like they're gonna past them hundred only wins conceivable like that this seven deep rotation aid to whatever top ten players and you know i mean i get that freddie freeman not far off the end like he's really falling off and say go man but that's sportsman like that's when we get into the mariner stuff which again i i got you should just do a

problem or not twenty-four i got more on that twenty minutes okay including what the league should do but I'm certain they won't do about it when it comes to his return we'll get to that in 20 minutes you see the first games they scheduled what are they doing why is Chicago Florida right on the first game of the NHL season it's Berg's playing somebody it's like yeah the Rangers Berg to start the year. I know. But this is, listen. Insane. It's insane, but it's the hockey market.

It's like, who remembers the first game? No, I know. People are excited for the first game, and that's your first game, really. But I guess they're looking at it like, we need Chicago, we need Pittsburgh, we need New York. Like, that's the way they operate. It's always the kind of Midwest and Northeast United States.

That's what matters. And it's almost again an admission like we can't just sell Florida because no one down there is going to watch. Like I don't know scheduling but why wouldn't you just do Edmonton Florida start the year? Totally agree. Start Edmonton through that even if it's a one-off. Like I know that that's very difficult to justify. I get it. So if you're down there you got to play Tampa then you got to play Carolina. But imagine the buzz heading into that game Yeah, right after that finals Cup champions against the team. They just beat twice. Yeah right off the bat McDavid We don't know what's happening like who knows will know is going to play Tampa. I have a major rival

Yeah, and if you want to get those other teams in there have Billy play Boston or New York play Boston like Chicago Florida. Well Chicago like the Bedard conversation this year is gonna be fascinating for me. So many different ways. Yeah like does he he's got to have a great season, has to, has got to have a launching pad season doesn't mean you got to win the hearts or be in contention you don't have to individually drag your team anywhere. That's too lofty of expectations. They're not good enough. But I think he's got to be touching up on like 35, 40 goals, point of game, and looking

more like a professional player and like a dominating player in the future. But he sold tickets when he arrived arrived I don't think he does that anymore like I think he's got to win the crowd bad every year is this this will be your three third year man to be bad three years like that's we're all entry-level where does Bedard rank for you like you have the luxury of seeing everyone play mm-hmm where is he for you like when you look at the sked for the Leafs and you're like, when is Chicago rolling through town?

Where... That does not cross my mind. No. No. Just because like they're bad, like that game is not going to be interesting. He's interesting, but the team is like just... No, I hear you. And honestly, like I haven't studied Chicago's off season, but it does, like I don't know

what they're doing. Like it doesn't... I don't think anyone really knows. It's like, what is this team? Yeah, they're going to be... I think they're doing like it isn't I don't think anyone really knows like what is this team yeah they're gonna be I think they're gonna be terrible again I think yes I mean I fully expect they're in on Gavin McKenna next year yeah which would be pretty fun if he went there yeah but like but he's not in my perspective he'd are really no but he probably was as a

rookie like it was for me yeah like I'm excited yeah see there you go year two I want to see him. Like Celebrene would probably be higher on my list than Bedard for what I want to see. Now obviously, you know, McDavid's going to be at the top and there's a bunch of superstars you want to see play. But that's the thing where like sports is so like we just have the MLB draft is last night today and forever. But it's like you get into the situation and it's like you're kind of stuck a little bit by your situation like if you have a crappy

situation really can screw up your career like even just think like you can think of all the different NFL players quarterbacks whoever if you go to the wrong team like I don't know yeah if you go to the Jets you go to the Browns like that might have been bad no matter where he went maybe not I guess that was I don't know. Yeah if you go to the Jets, if you go to the Browns, Jaguars. Like Zach Wilson might have been bad no matter where he went. Maybe not. I guess that was an okay situation. Like they had a good defense. I don't know. But the Jets are the Jets. But they're the Jets. You know what I mean? Yeah they stink. Like they will find a way to damage themselves. Like that's the way the New York Jets operate. And they have they made the playoffs in what? 14 years? Yeah. Like Buffalo, like you

Yeah, the Sabres. Unfortunately, if you get drafted by them, you're like, Oh, really? And then like, look, it's what what's happened to some of the guys who've left there. And they go on and say, Oh, he is good. Yeah. But you got to get you got to get out, you got to get out. And you got to keep like your willpower alive, man. It's tough. Must be hard.

Yeah. Losing all the time. Well, and that's what I worry about with Bedard. You know, I worry like what if it's another horrendous season, where's his head gonna be at? And at what point does he have the right to start putting pressure on the team to start doing something? He can sign an extension, I think right now.

Yeah, I guess he could. Yeah. And it's like, maybe you just kind of play it out and be like yeah I'm gonna see what's happening here. But don't you think the team has to be thinking that a little bit too? I would be terrified if he left wouldn't you? It's not about him leaving it's about what what's he making? Like through two years he's been good, he's been very good at times. But I'm just thinking like we have Steve coming up I'm thinking like watching Mike Trout now and it's like he's having like an okay year and the Angels have been like a

little better than expected but like terrible there's they're bad his whole career is gonna pass by and yeah just good I think he's fine with it cuz he made all that money he loves Southern California yeah like yeah like if you wanted out he could have get out sure Mike Trout chose like Otani said I'm out Trout's a different bc doesn't leave uh... joining some maple to the hotline user tsn baseball insider steve phillips a to st i do a great guy to be with you had great to be with you are you a home run

derby guy or was that uh... for thirty four years ago now i'd like to learn derby and I actually broadcast, called it a few times, with Chris Berman and Joe Morgan and back in the day. I actually enjoy it, I do. I like the show, I like seeing the players laugh and smile and celebrate each other's greatness. I think the reaction of the players to the players is the part that I think is

really so much fun to watch. Well, something I didn't foresee happening, and I don't think you did either when we were chatting during the winter months and even leading into the regular season here was the Blue Jays would hit the break sitting atop the American League East, 55 and 41. If there's one particular reason for why they're in the position they're in, what would that reason be?

Yeah, I think it's the depth of the lineup. You know, they out of nowhere you get Ernie Clement and Addison Arger and you know, Alejandro Kirk putting together an amazing offensive season and you know, then Nathan Lucas comes up with hits and Springer a major bounceback season. I mean, I don't think any of those could necessarily have been anticipated. I mean, you hoped that they would all be better, but I think they've gotten even more production than I think they even anticipated right now. And, you know, it's made up for the fact that Vlad is not quite been his best. Okay. We dropped them.

We're having a tough time here with Steve. And he's late getting them and we'll having a tough time here with Steve. He's late getting them and we'll see if we can get him back. But that's the point to pick up on with Ladi. Ladi, you're a glass half full guy. Yeah I don't know what to expect from him the second half. Like to your point like he's never outside of the one year he's never been like a huge power guy. But this is like he doesn't barger have as many home runs as he does? Yeah, he's got 12. And Cal Raleigh has 39?

Yeah. The amazing thing about Raleigh is like he's having such a remarkable year and Judge is breathing down his neck in every category. Did you see that stat with Judge with 350 homers? No. So he's the fastest player in MLB history to get to 350 homers. He's like 200 games ahead of Mark McGuire's pace. Right. Is that insane? Yeah. And yet he's in his 30s so he didn't get to the bigs till he was 25. All right Steve we got you and you're talking about

Vladie there and that's a big conversation up here even with you know again the team being in a position they're in the pressures got to be on this guy to perform a lot better in the second half yeah it does because at some point you have to expect regression towards the mean for some of the other guys that they're gonna fall back a little bit the league's gonna make an adjustment and that's when Vlad is gonna have to put the team on his shoulders you get five hundred million dollars you got to carry the team from you know you got to be the one leading the way and then you know other guys could pick you got to carry the team from you know you got to be the one leading the way and then

I know other guys could pick you back and top of what you're doing and and you know I'll push it to for that matter. He's in the walk here the deal He needs to hit for more power and give them that and if those two guys can become You know their fast then I think it takes so much pressure off everybody else And I think that it can sustain this winning streak they've got on Yeah, they've been red hot. I mean up until the last couple games I guess in Sacramento and the getaway game down in Chicago they lost three or four coming home but still they're sitting atop the American League East and we're inching

closer to the trade deadline and that's the next conversation now that we're through you know the draft last night you know we expect Santander to return off the IL at some point expect V time there to return off the aisle at some point expect for sure to return to the lineup at some point what do you think is reasonable to expect ross ackins and march of power to do uh... leading up to the trade deadline yeah i think they're gonna focus on pitching i you know i you know that they've got production of the bottom part of the lineup here they expect her

that there are so to be back they start more from Blattie. I think it's going to come down to chatting. I just one starting pitcher. You know, I think I could deal with it. I'd like it to be a fun guy and then, you know, a lesser reliever. But if you can't get a front end guy, a Zach gallon or something, then I could get a depth piece just to protect with, with Scherzer and his help.

And, and if Eric Lauer sort of falls off a little bit and then I'd get a closer. I'd get Helmsley from St. Louis, I'd get Emmanuel Classe from the Guardians, there's some talk that he could be available and there's a couple years of control there. But I think they've got to think big with it. And if they don't get end of the game relievers, I think I'd get to. I think they need some help from the left side in the pen. And, but I think pitching's the way to go right now. And they've got to hope and expect that Santander and Varsha give them something more.

Yeah. And it's interesting you mentioned the closer because we've been talking about the off-season moves that haven't done anything. Santander being one of them. Scherzer's been injured. Jimenez has done basically nothing at the plate. Yet Hoffman, you know, has been healthy. He's got a five ERA. You know, like what does your read on what's up with him? Because he's not blowing a lot of saves. I think he's blown four saves so far and, you know, he's available for them. But like you get a guy in a position like that where his ERA is up over five, that's trouble and it's trending towards it being very troublesome once the lights of the brightest Yeah for sure and I think that you know

It's one thing that you know your dicey in the regular season you may blow a game here there the regular season You want predictability of the playoffs that that you've got a lead you're gonna close it out You're gonna get the win Because you know one blow and save in the playoffs costs you a series, and you can't afford to do that. And that's why I prefer to get the closer, move Hoffman to the seventh inning, eighth inning. It's really where he's spent most of his career,

as opposed to the ninth. And that way, you've got some depth, you've got some options in case your other closer is used for three days in a row, and you need to bring it off, and you can do it. I just want to take the burden off him i just don't see him as necessarily that lockdown guy and i think they need to find one

so it's out of here with a question about the american league east in general because the the jays just want ten in a row they're sitting atop the division the yankees are two games back the socks just wrapped up ten wins in a row which obviously that winning streak will continue post-break Where where do you project this going blue Jays Yankees red Sox the Rays are sputtering? But they've been pretty good this year like how many teams you think make the playoffs and who do you think wins the division? Yeah, I think you've got a chance to have four teams in the American League East make the playoffs

Wow, I do I think Tampa Bay, Boston, the Yankees. You know, I don't really believe in Seattle. I don't think anybody else in the Central is going to put them. And I think Tampa Bay is really good. Now, I think the Blue Jays can hold on and win this division. But I think a general manager may decide who wins the division and who's the wild card teams and how they line up accordingly, right? So the Yankees, you know, they need to fortify their pitching with some of the injuries they've

had. They could use some bullpen help as well. The Red Sox need more pitching too, and I think they're going to let the young kids play. Tampa Bay, they're already starting to fortify the bullpen. They got the Baker kids from the Orioles, and I think they're going to focus more on pitching as well. So I think the general managers in this division are going going to focus more on pitching as well. So I think a gentleman,

the general manager's Mr. vision and to decide the order in which they finish tonight. They're that closely matched. Always great catching up with you, Steve. We'll do it again soon. Terrific guys. Thanks for having me. Appreciate it. Steve Phillips or TSM baseball insider joining us here in the Maple Toyota hotline drive the built in Canada fuel efficient, funded drive to drive Toyota RAV4 gas or hybrid models available visit mapletoyota.com that's an interesting way to phrase it that the GM will determine who wins and who doesn't like when you're that close you know like it's a five and a half game spread between the J's and the Rays with the Yankees and Red Sox in between. Lots of baseball left to be played. 70 games. What do you do? Like famously in 15 that's when the Jays were 50 and 51 and Anthopolis put all his chips in the

middle and said we're going to get Price, we're gonna get Tulowitzky. Was that the Josh Johnson? No that was in 12 or that the year 12 or 13? That's when they got Burley and they got Reyes and in 15 was when Donaldson had arrived. I love the aggressive approach as you know. Yeah I mean listen I get it I mean that that team went to an ALCS they ended up carrying it over went to the ALCS in 16 as well I think that team was better than this team, like top to bottom, they were a better team. But yeah, I agree with them in terms of pitching. I think that's what they're going to attack. You know, try to find another arm for your rotation, load up on an arm or two in the bullpen, and hope

that this offense that you've seen will only improve with Laddie getting better, Bichette could be better, Santander and Varsha return. That's your team. I was gonna ask you, who would be your game one starter today? Barrios? Yeah, I think Barrios. I think I go Barrios, Gozman. Bassett?

Yes. I mean, Scherzer is intriguing to me. Like, what is he? If he's healthy, he might be your game one. Yeah, like if he's healthy, and he's got stuff, like what is he if he's healthy he might be your game winner yeah like if he's healthy and he's got stuff like he is alive and his arm is alive and he looks because you know like he is built for a moment like that he's like a big game pitcher as like it gets yeah but like that's like old him right but not old him like modern baseball like starters they want you to go twice through the rotation that's what they're asking for like basically get me get me famously here yeah exactly. Marios out who was it Kikuchi that went in. It didn't

go. Didn't go so well but that's that's the way it goes I mean they you basically say can you give us give us three innings, four innings, and then we're going to hand it over to the bullpen anyway. So it's not like you're looking for Scherzer to give you some masterpiece 115 pitch eight inning, you know, Kurt Schilling type outing, you're just saying, can you give me 75 pitches strong and get out? I think it's possible it's him. Don't you feel like there will be pressure on the front office to actually have playoff success this year? Like obviously that's built in, but they've been here a really long time and they've won nothing? No games. Zero playoff games. Zero playoff games.

Okay. Yeah. So it's like... I hear you. I mean, I think it would be valuable to their resume If they picked up a wild card win, maybe you lose in game three instead of game two But they've been in the playoffs twice Well, it's a little bit deceiving because Shapiro was here in 16 And I was like an top I know exactly. So if you start the clock in 17 and move on, they've been to the playoffs twice and they lost both in two, right? The twins in Seattle. Yeah. Remember that Seattle game there or they winning 8-1 I think and they lost 10-8 or 9-8. Remember that game when they just threw it away? I think Alec Manoa was he pitching he was pitching game one of that series he had a

rehab start didn't go so well it's kind of interesting that he is like back in the mound and registering a box score at a minimum like Alec Manoa is back in the Blue Jays universe the likelihood of him ever pitching for this team again, I would say is incredibly thin. But that's the ultimate redemption story. Like if he could ever battle his way back to the majors and perform, forget getting back to where you were, where you were expected to be the ace for the next decade. Just be a guy who makes it and pitches. That'd be a really cool story.

This is not a perfect comparison, but do you remember Rick Ankeel yeah of course pitcher and hitter right and like he kind of flamed out if I recall as a pitcher mm-hmm and then he came back as an outfielder and like hit for power played like he's good I was like that's pretty cool yeah that was a cool story so maybe he should become a youstop. You think Minowas should start swinging the bat, become a power? Who does he, I don't know what he hits, left, right, switch hitter, who knows. All right Keegan Mathison in about an hour. Luke Wilson coming up as well. The Argos had a bye week this week. Sounds like Chad Kelly though right around the corner. So catch up with Luke at his take on that. What else he's seen throughout the CFL.

Rookies reporting for camps throughout the nfl and he has been just released their top ten quarterbacks in the nfl according to execs they pulled like executive scouts gm's it i want to guess right now before i see the lessons that when we come back you can guess okay will go through the list and i gotta take on marners return

what the NHL should do but what I don't think they have the stomach for. Nice. Overdrive continues TSN 1050 and on TSN 4. Alright, Luke Wilson in about a half an hour, something to chew on brought to you by Boston Pete's and coming up as well. So ESPN has polled executives, coaches, scouts, and asked them to rank the 10 best quarterbacks in the NFL. Top 10 QBs for the upcoming 2025 season. All right, Jonas, you want to guess?

Yes, I made my own top 10. You want to start at one or get down to 10? How are you going to do this? Which do you want me to do? I think we all know, like, as you get higher up, we all, we know the names. So why don't you start at 10? Okay, Jaden Daniels.

Okay, he's on the list. He's not at number 10. He's number 10. Nine, CJ Stroud. Stroud is not on this list. Okay, I was worried about him. He had it down here last year Matthew Stafford 8 Stafford is on the list. He's not at number 8 on this but he's on the list Justin Herbert Herbert's on the list

Where's six Jared Goff Goff is on the list number five Jalen Hertz Hertz is on the list number four Joe burrow burrows on the list and I believe Joe's at number no he's not okay Lamar number three yeah Mars on the list to Josh Allen course and one patty Patrick Moe's all right now wait can I tell you these are my here's what I say DJ Stroud is the only one you missed Stroud is not okay so do you think is in in so these were the candidates I think this is gonna surprise you, but go ahead. So I was debating between Dak, Purdy, your boy Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold, Caleb Williams,

Gino Smith. Who are you going with? I'll give you one trade. Stroud out, who's in? You did name him one of those guys. Pretty. Baker Mayfield. Baker is number 10 on the list, which I find fascinating. Wow. You talk about, we were just talking about Alec Manoa. Like you talk about a guy, first overall, Cleveland. He brought him in mid-season. Get out of here. Carolina.

Yeah, they punt him out of there because the Sean Watson's got to come up. And since he got down to Tampa, this guy has been a beast. Yeah. Like he has been a beast. They make the playoffs the last two years. He's been consistently good. He's fearless. He's got, he's got. He's a gunslinger. I love Baker Mayfield, man. I gotta be honest. I love Baker. So Baker's at 10. Okay. Baker's at 10. Jalen hurts at number nine. Wow. Yeah, I thought I had him a little low at five. But that's nine, nine, to me, is giving too much credit to the rest of the

team, even though they're a great team, they just won the Super Bowl, but just taking too much away from him. Yes, they have a very good offensive line. Yes, they have great weapons. They got a great defense. But hurts can play man. Like he's a leader. He can play. You get him at the goal line. The guy is, but his appeal feels more. He's going to run. He's going to scramble. Yeah. And I, as a pure quarterback, I understand that. And that's probably why he's at number nine, because I think scouts would look at it and say not as good in the pocket, not as pure of an arm,

doesn't trust maybe the way he reads defenses as much as other players. So I get it, but he's been to two Super Bowls. He just won one, he won a Super Bowl MVP. They win a lot of games every year. He's a really good player. Like, yes, he's a product of his environment to some extent, but everybody is.

But let's look at, keep going through the list. Jalen Hurts in nine, Jared Goff at eight. Same thing. Goff over Hurts is fast. But that's the thing, like Goff is in a great position in Detroit. The best. Maybe the best online in the league, two back system, weapons everywhere.

Yeah. But- Great coach, Ben Johnson is OC. So pretend like the Packers can just have golf or hurts who would you take? I Think he might take golf It's crazy. I might but here's what here's why I take hurts what scares me a little bit about golf Is his splits like he's away home. Yeah, he's on turf Started his career in LA. Like I don't know what he's like in the elements outside. Hertz in Philly, he gets it done outside. So if you're asking

me as a Green Bay fan, I might, I think I'd take Hertz, he's younger too. Okay, Jared Goff at eight, these are the top ten quarterbacks in the NFL according to GMs, coaches, and scouts, courtesy of ESPN. Number seven, Justin Herbert. That's right, Adam. I think that's appropriate but like he's got to start winning in the playoffs. Yeah the talent he's got to start performing. Is more than the result. Yeah but year two with Harbaugh there like they have a real chance I think to keep growing. Like so Herbert at seven, Stafford at six. Wow. Matthew Stafford. Now I know Luke Wilson

will agree with this. Luke is his biggest booster. Luke played with him for a short period of time in Detroit. He said you wouldn't believe the way this guy slings it. He, this is I think an example of how people like inside the game look at a player compared to outside the game. Now anyone that watches football would know Stafford's a great player. But I think within the game he's perceived as like this masterful quarterback because he can sling it, he's tough, reads defenses well. Well if you had a game you need to win.

And he's a winner. He's gonna be like one of your five. One of Super Bowl, yep. Yep, for sure. And he's tough, like he takes hits and he's tough. So Stafford at six, Jayden Daniels at five. So his rookie year was so phenomenal, but I am skeptical of a second year quarterback.

C.J. Stroud just did it. First year he did basically the same thing. Rookie of the year, dragged his team to the playoffs, was outstanding. Second year took a big step back. Now Daniels in the playoffs was so good though. Yeah. That's what Lee... And he's accurate. Yes, man. Remarkably accurate. That's fascinating that they have him ahead of Stafford, ahead of Herbert, ahead of Goff.

Yeah, like that's the league paying notice to a first-year player and saying this guy's... like if you're the fifth ranked quarterback in the league you could win an MVP and no one's surprised by that. That's effectively what they're saying. Like if the fifth best quarterback in the league, you could win an MVP and no one's surprised by that. That's effectively what they're saying. Like if the fifth best quarterback in the league based on rankings in July wins an MVP, no one's surprised. Mahomes won it his second year in the league, Dan Marino won an MVP his second year in the league, but it's very, very rare for young quarterback to do that.

Check the odds on Fanvel. I'll bet you he's around fifth. Because we all know the four guys. 15 to 1, 20 to 1, something like that. Look that up guys. Yeah, look up what Jaden Daniels MVP odds are on FanDuel. So we're shorter than that. Okay, so now this is where everyone knows it's, you know, Mahomes, Burrow, Allen, Jackson. Like those are the four guys clearly the Mount Rushmore of modern football Lamar at number four they have Jackson at four you'd agree with that yeah yeah I'd have Joe Burrow at four I like I just trust burrow a little more yeah but the injury stuff and the injuries he's also got the best

weapon yeah like Jamar chase of all the other guys. I know that's true. He got hit hard last year and their defense was garbage awful You can't go wrong with any of these guys. Yeah, Jayden Daniels plus 750 to win the MVP Wow So who's the four other quarterbacks ahead of him? Yeah, go on your mic there Ryan, go ahead. There you go. We have Lamar Jackson plus 500, Patty Mahomes plus 600, Josh Allen plus 600, and Joe Burrow also plus 600. Wow. So Lamar is favored at 5-1.

He's in it every year. Yeah. It's interesting that Allen, Burrow, and Mahomes are all tied 6-10. I guess how could you separate them? I feel like Casey's gonna be better this year. Well let's continue with this list so Lamar Jackson at four, Joe Burrow at three, Josh Allen two, Patrick Mahomes one. Yeah that's right. That's right like for me Mahomes still holds the crown. I know statistically his numbers weren't great last year relatively speaking but

he's done it all during the regular season. He's for 5,000 yards he's thrown for 50 touchdowns he's won multiple MVPs like the regular season is a tune-up for him they also didn't have any weapons last year exactly Rashid Rice was hurt Pacheco was hurt yep Kelsey's old yeah Kelsey during the regular season as much play right like who is their best receiver and their line wasn't great like their interior line's okay their tackles weren't great he got hit at times last year's completion rate his completion percentage was the best of his career so like for me mahomes still clears all these guys it's a little, I mean, the debates are like a Brady Manning, Josh Allen thing. Do you think Allen is who? Peyton Manning? I don't think he's as good as Peyton.

No, Peyton won five MVPs. Yeah, Peyton is Peyton was like all time. You could argue, could argue the greatest quarterback ever. I wouldn't, but you could. Josh Allen's not in that category. Knows nowhere close to this list. Jordan Love. Unfortunately, that's accurate. Really worried about him. Well, he'd be somewhere between 11 and 20. Yeah, so he's not better than Dak. Same ballpark. Purdy? Yeah. Purdy, we'll see with Purdy, man. Park pretty yeah a pretty I will see what pretty man you talk about a guy who had best offensive line best weapons Shanahan is his coach okay pretty I don't I don't know if he's better than Jordan love Darnold I'm taking Jordan I think don't have one year loves upside is higher than way more don't have what

let's see what he does in Seattle. He had one great year in Minnesota. I'm not convinced Sam Dornal has now arrived and he's here for good. I'm not convinced of that at all. Caleb Williams? Love, but Williams has a real potential this year. Like with Ben Johnson now, they've improved their offensive line.

They have weapons. Like revisit that by the end of the year, but I'm still, I would take Jordan Love. Do you know? Love. Okay. Jordan Love. That's all I got.

Yeah, so, you know, Kirk Cousins, Michael Panics Jr., Drake May, these other young guys, C.J. Stroud, I'd take Stroud ahead of him. Yeah, true. But, yeah. All right. We'll see what Luke has to say about this. Like what sticks out from this list. We'll get into his take on what's going on in the CFL.

He was out in the Prairies. You see him out in Saskatchewan this week. And he had to delay the game and Luke was out there. It was a golf show. But he's making noise, man. Luke is making noise from coast to coast so we'll catch up with Luke in just over half an hour and I'll tell you what I think the league should do with Marnas return that I don't believe they have the stomach to

do all right we'll get into that more so to come overdrive continues TSN 1050 and on TSN for the biggest songs in the world you've heard them countless times. Now, learn the details of how they came to be. Join Ruby Carr for Encore, the stories behind the songs you love. New interviews and newly unearthed archive footage make for a fascinating weekly deep dive.

Stream Encore encore the stories behind the songs you love on iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts. All right Luke Wilson coming up Keegan Matheson something to chew on brought to you by Boston Pete's a little bit later this afternoon home run derby tonight. The NHL revealed their opening night schedule Florida against Chicago such a great rivalry there Pittsburgh New York and then what was the third game LA against that was against Colorado yeah LA against Colorado that's pretty good game yeah yeah not within the division but still pretty good game and on Wednesday we will get the reveal of the

full schedule. So I know what you're gonna be doing and what I'm gonna be doing and every Leaf fan is gonna be doing. When is Vegas in town? When is Vegas in town? What is your prediction on when Vegas the Golden Knights will make their their their sole arrival into town. Their only game in Toronto next year. How could I guess? Just like, guess a month? Well, give me a day.

Give me a game, give me a day. December 4th. December 4th, was that a Tuesday? I don't know. Okay, what I'm driving at is, I think that's what will happen. Like, kind of bury it a little bit? Absolutely, I think that's what will happen. I think- Like kind of bury it a little bit?

Absolutely, I think Vegas will be pushing for it. I think the league will do them the favor because they're Vegas. So why wouldn't you want to make sure that Vegas is happy? And they're going to play in Montreal the night before and they're going to fly in night before. There'll be no morning skate and they're going to allow Mitch to get in and get out.

And I'm not saying this through the scope of the Toronto marketonto market is going to be such a massive game i have one piece of advice for gary betman believe the owners the tv partners do not allow that to happen this is the biggest story in the sport right now really this this offseason has been what's been bigger than mitch

marner okay in the biggest hockey market in the world the prodigal son from up the road leaving to go to vegas make sure it's on a saturday night and make sure that he's in town early and make sure that it is promoted as a massive

piece of entertainment because that's the business you're in. Because I can't imagine if LeBron James or whoever you don't even have to use LeBron but if there was a scenario in the NBA where you or the NFL that might happen we we haven't talked and we'll get the LeBron happen let's say the NFL let's say there's some some crazy you know Mahomes leave he's returning to Kansas City think that games played at 1 p.m.? That would be like the first game of the year. Sunday night, football, under the lights,

build it up, everyone wants to see it. Totally. If you're the league, and I get it's complicated with the scheduling and there's different, you know, balls in the air, and I understand the complication of it all, find a way to make sure it's a prime time game. And find a way to make sure it's a prime time game and find a way to make sure that

there's build up. Vegas is in town a day before and it's not about like getting Mitch or whatever. It's about giving it the appropriate platform it deserves because it will be the most anticipated regular season game I can think of maybe in my lifetime in Toronto. Close to it. Whoa. Really? I think so. Give me examples of games that will be more hyped than that. What game comes to mind for me is being in Long Island when Taveras went back there for the first time. You're right, but that was the other way. That was in New York. Yeah. But you're right. That was like it was it was terrible crazy venomous like literally people holding snake signs like yeah and crazy pretty good chance like honestly

like creative but it was relentless and like honestly I felt bad for him. I understand that. But wasn't it incredible entertainment? It was incredible entertainment. Wasn't that what sports was all like as crazy as it was? But this is going to be, like, he'll get booed the whole time when he comes back, right? It won't be as vicious as Tavares. It won't. I don't think it'll be. You don't think so? I don't think so.

I don't think it's in the nature of Toronto sports fans, Leaf fans. It's not in the nature of that building. It was a different, it's viewed a little bit differently I think. It's a little more complex. Yeah like Matthews is still here you know like John was the guy like he was the captain, he was the man, he was the face of the organization. Marner's one of them but he's not the man. But there's an example I'm curious I don't remember when that game was was that it was a midweek game. I don't remember it that game was was that it was a midweek game. I don't remember it all I just remember like walking through because like where they play have you ever been to that? No, I never have so the old Nassau Coliseum is in like the middle of kind of nothing

It's like in freeways and the hotel like the only hotel is like across the parking lot so you would walk from the hotel across the parking lot and fans are like they're having beers and stuff. They're tailgating before the game. And like that's when you saw the stuff of like people like burning his jersey in the parking lot. It's just like what is going on here? Like they are they really dislike him and dislike him for leaving. There's no tailgate here because it doesn't work that way. I could see it being quite that venomous. No, I just don't think it's in the nature. Like those are New Yorkers, like New York sports fans. The Islanders have, Long Island is a

little, and they got like a self-esteem issue because the Rangers are bigger and all that. Like the Leafs, it's, it's, I think it's different. But Ryan saying that that was a Thursday night game. So I don't know what that means in terms of profile. But also the Islanders are not the Maple Leafs. Like this is Toronto. This is the epicenter of the hockey world. This is Marner's return.

You have to platform this. You can't bury it. It's going to be just an incredible buildup, an incredible story. Like it's worthy of a prime time, like Saturday night. That's what it's worthy of. Where you rehash everything and... Yeah, it's... But it's not even...

Is it possible to play in Vegas first? Yeah, that's possible for sure. I don't think you can predict that. But that doesn't matter. Like him playing... That'll be, they'll meet, you know, there'll be shots before, the guys hugging and, you know, all that kind of stuff.

And the media will get down there and talk to him. The Toronto media will be there, and he'll, I'm sure do scrums and Mitchell talk, but it'll be different when he comes back here. But if I'm the NHL, like I am, I am making sure that that is a big platform game because all the Western teams, they do Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, usually three games in like four or five nights. And it may work out that I wouldn't be surprised if again, he's in Ottawa on Tuesday, Toronto on Wednesday or something like that or a Monday, you know, Sunday,

Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday, and it's, you know, something like that where he's in and out quick. But I platform it because once once it's done the first time, that'll be it. If you were going to go to the game, I will be at that game. Okay. But you're going to go to the press box. Yeah. I probably won't be in the seats. Let's say you did go in the seats. What would you do? I'm not booing or anything like that. Like I would you're just doing I wouldn't do that I'm and that's not like oh, I'm so cool or anything like that. I just I don't know I would feel uncomfortable personally doing that. Yeah, I Wouldn't do that, but I want to experience what it's like because I really don't know what to predict

Like I'm not I do think it'll be loud. I think there'll be a lot of booing. I think there'll be some cheering. I think the team will play the montage, right? Welcome back. They better do more than a montage. What would you expect them to do? You can't do the same thing for like.

Pierre Engvall. Pierre Engvall that you do for Mitch Marner, sorry. But what should he get? A silver stick? I don't know. A center ice? It's a good question. Like what do you do in a situation like that?

Because those things are all. Does he really want it? Do you think he question. What do you do in a situation like that? Because those things are all- Does he really want it? Do you think he'd want more of a profile on a night like that? Yeah, like something that, yeah, I don't know what he wants, but I think he deserves that. Like he's one of the 10 best players in the team history. Maybe five, I don't know.

No, he's not. He's not in the top five. Okay, well in terms of- I don't think he's not in the top 10 either. In terms of talent, he's top five.'s not in the top five. I don't think he's not in the top ten either. In terms of talent, he's top five. In terms of talent? Yeah. He's fifth in points. I get it. He's been here for nine years.

The only guys with nine points per game are Matthews and Gilmour. He is... I don't know. His legacy is so complicated because there's so much good and so much nothing like the team has ever seen. He's not a top five leaf ever. I mean that there even if he resigned I would say that He's not a top five leaf ever. He's not greater than

He's not greater than Matthew's not greater than Gilmore in my opinion not greater than Sundeen Sittler's Salming Okay, you can go on it. I could say you're right. He's probably he's top 10 Yeah, and I mean I haven't even mentioned, you know the Dave Keons and the guys that actually won when they were Maple Leafs, you know, Syllaps and Tim Horton, guys like that. I mean, it's difficult to go that deep into the history, but you have to consider them.

Okay. I think he's gonna be underrated in time. I get it like the playoff stuff. How can you not factor that in? But like he's like nobody the team has ever had and maybe like the team will never have again I keep like how many players are like that in the league where you're one of the best defensive forwards but you're also like this a plus passer and your vision and I don't know. It's too like honestly like I said I wrote a big thing for the athletic a few weeks ago looking back at everything. It's just sad like that it

ended the way it did. Like I don't care. Like I'm not a fan. It doesn't matter to me. But it should have been an amazing story. Yeah. It's too bad like all these little pivot points. They screwed up. The team screwed up, he screwed up. Yep. Yeah, they both they're both totally guilty of the position. Not have happened. You're right. You're 100% right. Well, then, you know, as you transition, you mentioned LeBron, where this is quite something because he by all accounts, he opted in because the Lakers wouldn't give him an extension. So the Lakers are basically like, you can either opt in or you can leave, like it's your call.

So he opts in for the first time in his career. He's a lame duck player. He's never been a lame duck player in 23 years. And the- When he was a lame duck, he was like, it was his choice, right? There was a player option. He had a player, always a player option.

Yes. That's, this is basically the Lakers saying at the end of the year you're probably out of here but i don't think they own him anything like now it's lucas team lebron is taking care of lebron for twenty three years and the teams have benefited greatly from that and in his prime he had all the power and he'd you'd earned all the power he's not as price your're 40 41 years old now The lakers don't owe you anything It's luke his team now like they made that decision when luca became available clearly

You've got to put all your eggs into that basket. Do you see the statement or the rich paul statement? Which one so rich paul released a statement. I think it was to espn and maybe it was to the athletic Basically saying lebron wants to be on like a championship team and he hopes the Lakers are prioritizing. They're not gonna do that. Of course they are like what do they... it's like so passive aggressive what do you think they're doing? Like do you think they're just like wow we got Luka we can just relax? No. But I don't think they feel like LeBron can contribute to that. Like I think... That's true they were the number three seed in the West last year. Yeah they got pumped man they lost five. Well they had no center. They've but they haven't really addressed that. They have eight.

Good luck. I don't know man. It's like this stuff like I love LeBron but like this stuff is kind of. It's very LeBron like that this is how it's gonna end with kind of like a disruptive woe is me passive aggressive it's like you could have just it's 50 I think it was 50 million 52 million something like to opt in so you could have just given away that not taking it and just signed anywhere he wanted for less way less yeah but instead I'm gonna opt in and then act sour that you're not treating me properly come on dude the thing is you mentioned rich Paul that's a big part of this teams are terrified of him.

Sure. So I'm curious how much of it is. I gotta respect LeBron, but I also, I gotta respect Rich Paul. Cause LeBron will be done at some point. Rich Paul's not going anywhere. AD is not on their team anymore. That's a Rich Paul guy.

No. They don't have, they don't care. I know, but he's got everybody. I'm talking five, 10 years down the road. Rich Paul's still working. LeBron won't be. Luke Wilson, Keegan Matheson, best bets still to come. Overdrive continues. TSN 1050 and on the TSN app. Unmistakably Canadian. It's the music that raised you. The artists raising the bar. Hi, this is Brian Adams. Hey, my name's Brett Emmons. I'm from the Glorious Suns.

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