OverDrive - OverDrive - March 10th, 2025 - Hour 3

Episode Date: March 10, 2025

Join Bryan Hayes and Jonas Siegel for Hour 3 on OverDrive! Longtime Head Coach Rick Bowness joins to discuss the coaching perspective of the NHL Trade Deadline, the player transition to teams and the Atlantic Division power. They also discuss Mitch Marner's contract views with the Maple Leafs and Gerrit Cole's surgery with the Yankees. NFL on FOX Analyst Mark Schlereth joins to discuss the major moves around the NFL Free Agency and Bryan hands out his FanDuel Best Bets.

And you're all set! Enjoy your new phone on Bell! Thanks! Whoa! What is happening? What is this feeling? Are you feeling giddy and bouncing with energy? Yes! Yeah, I like to call that new phone vibes. It's that time of year at Bell. It's so good! Get in on those new phone vibes. Switch to Bell, Canada's fastest 5G plus network, and save over a thousand dollars on amazing phones with eligible trade-in. Visit a Bell store or Bell.ca slash spring for details.

Bell, getting a new phone just got better. Final hour overdrive continues powered by FanDuel, bringing you everything from the opening line to the final score. Brian Hayes, Jonah Siegel of The Athletic. Rick Bone is coming up here momentarily. Mark Schlereth later in the hour on a lot of NFL news today. Leafs in Utah tonight will get to our best bet. Al's brother, Will, I believe have his clue later this hour. We look forward to where he is. Right? We got Leafs Utah tonight and then Leafs Panthers on Thursday here in Toronto and

Aaron Echblad will not be there. So breaking news, this hour Aaron Echblad has been suspended for 20 games for taking a substance that violates the NHL and the PA Performance Enhancing Substance Program. He has issued a statement and he is owning it. Give him credit for that. Aaron Echblad just issued this statement. As the NHL announced, I have been suspended for violating the NHL and NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program. The news that I had failed the random drug test was a shock. suspended for violating the NHL and NHLPA performance enhancing substances program. The news that I had failed the random drug test was a shock.

Ultimately, I made a mistake by taking something to help me recover from recent injuries without first checking with proper medical and team personnel. I have let my teammates, the Panthers organization, and our great fans down. For that, I am truly sorry. I have accepted responsibility for my mistake. Will be fully prepared to return to my team when my suspension is over. I have learned a hard lesson and cannot wait

to be back with my teammates." End quote. So not fighting it, not saying this didn't happen. Claiming, you know, ignorance to, oh, I didn't know and I took something, blah, blah, blah. Who knows the true story, but I'll give him Credit like he got hit he got caught 20 games and he's not Challenging it. He's not saying this is ridiculous. This is a witch hunt. He's like I got on this one

I'll let everyone down and I'll see in 20 games Well in the timing is brutal not just for like the team and everything like that Like he's a free agent free agent at the end of the year and they just got set jones yeah it's like suddenly it's like where does he fit they could still sign him i guess yeah big opportunity for seph well not going to be easy like you're just going to come back for game three of the playoffs i guess yeah i mean he'll step right in he's a really good player but um big opportunity again for the Leafs and for Tampa for that matter like Tampa's right there. Tampa's a point behind the Leafs.

Yeah, it's a race for 1-2-3 in the division. It's right there. And it feels like a borderline must win for the Leafs tonight. You've lost three in a row. You've got to get Utah. And then you've got to beat Florida. Like you've got them three more times. You have to go at a minimum two and one. Yeah. And if you go three and oh, like you probably win the division.

It, it's right there in front of you. Like it's right there in front of you to win the division. They play Tampa, I think one more time. And once you get through this road trip, they do go through California, which is not a crazy tough skate. You should be able to beat San Jose. It's a short trip.

You're out there. It's a business trip. Anaheim has been better recently and they've been better at home, but you should be able to beat them You've got to beat San Jose and then LA is a challenge, but at least they're a bit inconsistent right now, too Like there's no reason you can't go through California and get four or five points How would it's still right there for the leaves? How would you rank those three teams coming out of the deadline? Tampa Toronto, Florida on paper in terms of projecting cup success. Just like who do I think's got the best chance of winning? Sure. Who do you think is the best of those three teams in order? Because you could really go any order. I'd go Florida one. They deserve the benefit of the doubt.

Okay, I think about cup finals. Yeah, and you know, again, Echblad out is a hit, but it's just got Seth Jones. Yeah. And you presume he'll be back for game three. And let's let's say we didn't know about this. It was just on paper based on you asked me Friday night after the trade deadline. I think them pick it up. Marshawn is a really crafty like savvy move, man. I just think he fits in so well there and I fully expect a Chuck to return for game one too. But these are outliers like it maybe could trucks not ready and act like game three like he says moving on he's jumping on moving train

they put a lot of hockey the last two years now it's not a layup for them to have playoff success but i think they deserve to be number one camp in toronto i see is kind of a tie now. I know that's a kind of a cop out but I don't see much of a separation. The question is in net for me. Vasileski, your boy, has been outstanding recently. Anytime you bring him up you guys slander my name.

You were very hard, very harsh. Do you know what, do you remember the context of what happened? Is he didn't play the game before against the Leafs. And one of you guys, I think one of you, now I'm gonna slander you. I think one of you guys said like, oh, he doesn't wanna play the Leafs. And then I brought up the fact that his numbers against the Leafs

suddenly aren't as good, like in regular seasons. Like didn't he, they played them earlier in the year and he didn't have a great start. And then I think Tampa came into Toronto and Johansson played it was like that's right weird because they had another game the next night it's like well why isn't he playing this second night and then that's how we got in the conversation that's right about the playoffs and he hadn't been as good last year I think he had a 901 save percent and the Leafs have gotten to him the last

couple years that was the context yeah like the Leafs have played Tampa well the last couple years. That was the context. Yeah, like the Leafs have played Tampa well the last couple of years. Like the Leafs I think feel pretty comfortable playing them. So all reasonable, but Vasilevsky's been very good recently, like outstanding recently. Like the second or third best goalie. And the Leaf goalies have hit a bit of a wall here. Like Joseph Wohlgoot tonight, he needs to bounce back.

He's gotta have a start tonight. Yeah, you have to have a start. And you know, Stoller's looked a little uncomfortable against the Sharks going in and relief against Vegas. The right. I you can't even evaluate that. I didn't love his game on Saturday. I thought he was underwater a lot because the team kind of hung him out to dry at times, but he gave up a couple goals that you can't give up. So they've hit a bit of a wall. And the fact is Vasilevsky is an all-time great goaltender and the Leafs goalies, you know, are not at the same level. So that is the breaking point. Which Vasilevsky are you going to get and which Anthony Stollers or Joseph Wall are you going to get? Well, and I liked what they did at the deadline in Tampa. Like they had Gord is

their old third line center and then they get Bjorkstrand who can kind of fit anywhere. Yeah. That was kind of their need. I think all three teams did very well. Sure. Like I think Florida, Toronto and Tampa are all better today than they were before the trade deadline. Yeah. You don't agree with that? No. Yeah. Which one, which team do you not agree with? I agree with all of them. I don't think the Leafs is as... Markedly improved? I think they improved.

I don't think it's as big a swing as the consensus. Is that based on Lott in particular? That's based on Lott. Yeah. I mean, he's a true third line center. Like, you've got to be realistic with what you think you're getting at. Maybe. He might be a third line winger, but anyway

We can talk about he's always played center, but except this year for four months So you say him as a winger for four months the first four months of the season He played on the wing and he played like everywhere in the lineup. He was on their fourth line at times so like I don't think he's as perfect a third line center as The consensus. Yep, that's reasonable. Nor does he score that much. Anyway, we can talk to Rick about these things. Let's bring him in here, man. The guy coached for a long, long time in the NHL. Now you see him all over the place and he's been on our show a bunch. It's always great to have him on. Here he is, long time NHL head coach. Here's

Rick Bonas. How you doing, Rick? Joe, I? Doing great things. How are you guys? We're doing very well. I mean we're somewhat relieved I guess that the trade deadline is over. I'm curious how you felt about it throughout your career. Could you sense a difference in terms of the mood in the room once the trade deadline finally passed? Oh absolutely. You know as a coach you always try to control the noise around your team as best you can. You get there that week, two weeks before the deadline and it's everywhere and that's all the media and everyone wants to talk about. So you try to avoid talking about it as much as you can but the reality of it is in the locker room you know the players are talking

about it every chance they get and they're watching the news and they're reading social media and they know what's going on. So yeah, as a coach you're happy it's behind you. You're also very, very happy when everyone, teammates included, believe you became a better team out of it. But there's no question it's a bit of a distraction. And the challenge again is for every coach in that league to keep as much noise out of the locker room as you

can, especially during the day of a game. You don't want them talking about potential trades or who's coming, who's going, but the other thing you had to do is when you have a player that's being mentioned every day about possibly being traded, you have to have constant communication with him and let him know where he stood and what was going on. You just couldn't ignore it. Some of those are tough conversations,

but nor can you be afraid to have those. But if a player you had was being mentioned every day in every trade going around the league, you certainly had to address that with them. I'm always curious what is more challenging for a head coach after you acquire a couple of different players? Is it making sure those new players are comfortable or making sure the carryover players

that are getting pushed aside to an extent to make room for those new players are comfortable. If you understand what I'm saying, like the new guys are coming in, you got to make sure they know the system and they know what's going on. But if they're coming in and they're plugging in, someone's moving down the depth chart and maybe they're not overly ecstatic about that. Which challenge is more of a priority for a coach post-acquisition? They're both very very challenging there's no

question now a lot of that has to do with the person or the player that you're bringing in and I and I'll use Seth Jones as an example. Seth Jones walks into that Florida Panthers room every player on that team is excited to see him and yeah one of their teammates that they battled through all year is gonna lose some minutes, is gonna lose some ice time but every one of their teammates that they battled through all year is going to lose some minutes, is going to lose some ice time. But every one of them knows this guy has an immediate presence in that locker room. And you know, he's going to help you win, he's going to help you have challenge for the Stanley Cup.

If you look at Dylan Cousins going into Ottawa, okay, now he's coming from a team that hasn't made the playoffs, so what is it now 13 years? And the team is underachieved the last little bit. He's coming in for a very very popular teammate Okay, so you know they they love Josh Norris as you can see the reactions from go from Brady and on mark So he's walking into a totally different. It's a totally different room So those players are sitting there a little apprehensive saying, okay, we traded for you. We hope you can come in and find your game again,

because everyone's talked about he's having a tough year. Players are well aware of that. We hope you can find your game and help us. And it's up to the coach to mediate that. You got to help that new player with the video and supporting him in every chance you get, you've got to go to your captain, your leadership group and pretty well everyone on the team.

Okay. We just lost an important part of our team, but now, you know, management feels this guy's going to make it down the road is going to make us a better team. Something had to be done to tweak the room. So we've done that now. We all have to support it. Don't have to like it.

And as we all know, hockey is the greatest game in the world, but we also it's tough business coaches and players So yeah, yeah, you just look at those two scenarios Jones is one thing Cousins is another and it's up to the coach to handle both of those But you'd much prefer handling the Jones scenario than the cousin scenario well Rick how does the off-ice component affect you as a coach? Because obviously, you know the player is probably like their head is spinning. Like, have you found that that's something that really affects some of the players that come into a new team after a trade where they're kind of just like the on-ice stuff is actually easier for them than the off-ice stuff?

the on ice stuff is actually easier for them than the off ice stuff? Yeah, yeah, I agree with that. Your job as a coach again, you make sure that players feels wanted and feels, you know, they're walking in with an open arms and we got you, we think you make us a better team. And then you start working with them every day, you're talking to them to see how he's doing off the ice, see how he's doing on the ice. Now the communication between not only the head coach, but certainly the assistant coaches as well, is to make him feel welcome and make him feel part of the team.

Because a guy like Dylan Cousins going into our, he knows he got traded for a very popular player. Okay, so he's just got to fit in, be quiet for a little bit, let us play, do all the talking for him, listen to everybody and just be ready to go and work your butt off every single day. You know, he read all year, I'm going to read him all year, he's going to get traded, he's having a tough year.

That's tough on the kid's head. Now you've got to get rid of that baggage as quick as you can with that player. And you've got to welcome with open arms. You've got to get your teammates on board. And as a coach, you've got to watch those interactions, okay? On the bench, on the ice, in the locker room. Like you've got to have your finger on that pulse as well. You can't just trust the players to do it on the loan that they need some help from the players. If there's something you see you

don't like right away when you bring a new player in you've got to grab the guys and address it right away because the deal's been made. It's not going backwards so everyone's got to work together to make that guy feel a big be feel very welcome and feel a big part of the team. Chatting with Rick bonus so the Atlantic Division Florida Toronto Tampa they all were active leading up to the trade deadline all brought in multiple players and it's a race for that number one seed it currently stands Florida's got a 83 points the Leafs have 79 Tampa's got 78 and you know you got anywhere between 18

and 19 games still left to be played and a bunch of games against each other so this is really up in the air. When you when you look at those three teams, Greg Florida, Toronto, Tampa, is there one in is there one team that you have above the rest? Like do you have one team that you look at and say that's my favorite to win the division and that's my favorite to probably come out of the division come playoff time. No not really. You give a little heads up to Florida because they've won the cup but that's back to back trips to the finals as well. I think that those three teams you talk

about they went out and addressed their needs. Toronto as we know when Tre and Chief took over last year we have to be harder to play against. They've got enough skill up front, they do. When they're healthy and they get everything quick and they're going to score goals, they had to be a much harder team to play against as they saw in the playoffs. So they bring in the guys that are more physical, and it started last summer, but they're hard to play against.

They're big bodies and they're in your face and that's what the tree in chief were looking for. So they've improved that aspect of the game. Florida they lost a couple of key defensive last year and Ekman Larson and Montour you go get Seth Jones right. So yeah you know they made a great move because again those players know this guy's a great player and he's going to help us win the Stanley Cup. So again, look at Tampa, they went out and you're going to go into Tampa. You're like, they have that winning culture. You go get Yanni Gort.

He was part of that winning culture. He's not intimidated by that and he'll help Bjornist get acclimated in that locker room. So, but again, those players are saying, okay, these two guys are helping us. So I don't know who, I don't know who the favorite is. All I know, all three teams, none of them, none of them want to finish second or third. Because that second and third battle, man, you're, and it's the same as the central division, you're going to lose a a really really good team in that first round so all three teams did what they had to do to avoid being put in that position and you know

all three teams are cutting for that first place and it's gonna be a great race to watch between now and the end of the year. Absolutely it will be great catching up with you Rick we appreciate you doing this. All right that was a pleasure guys. Take care, have a good night. You too, there's Rick bonus. Yeah, three good teams chasing that top seed. If not, you want to home ice, I would think you want the second seat at a minimum.

Yeah. But that's what's unsettling at this point. It could be any of those. I have a good question for you. Let's go through rosters. Who is the best forwards of those. I have a good question for you. Let's go through rosters. Who is the best forwards of those groups? I guess you could say any of them. If you if you yeah, like again, are we presuming health like everyone's healthy? It's weird with Florida right now with Marshawn out and Kichuck out. But if everybody's healthy. Let's say it's a draw, because that's close. Yeah, it's very close. Who is the best defense in that group?

I think the best top four, I would probably go Tampa, but it's close. Close. And then who is the best goal-tenning? I think you have to go Tampa, Florida, Leafs third. Okay. That's really close. Yeah. Because the Leafs top four is actually a nice place. The Leafs defense, yeah, like they Leafs- That's really close. Yeah.

Because the Leafs top four is actually- The Leafs defense- A nice place. Yeah, like they gotta play better than they have recently. They've really struggled. Tannif's still hurt. Like Tannif's not playing tonight. Remember when they said that it was just, yeah, it's gonna be a week.

Totally fine, back skating. Like the Leafs, how many times this year have they just completely misled people with injury reports? I don't know what to make of that. Yeah. I mean, honestly mean honestly you don't like he's skating and he seems to be revving it up. Yeah but if it's a shoulder injury like cool he's skating. Yeah exactly is he even close to playing? You got Florida on Thursday night like that's a game they have this there's they have that game circled clearly. Yeah and then Ottawa on Saturdays. It's very tough and Ottawa plays them

very difficult. Yes. And Ottawa's you know that's a tough game to come back. It's very tough and Ottawa plays them very difficult Yes, and Ottawa's you know, that was a big comeback win over the weekend and now just made trades Yeah, and cousins exactly play perform pretty well like that. It's not gonna be an easy Two games in three nights, you know, is the best goal differential the three is it Tampa Tampa by like yeah of the three is it Tampa Tampa by like yeah fair bit we got some breaking news in baseball Garrett Cole Tommy John done for the year the Yankees are in one man like now you got Soto your boy who left greatest hitter ever greatest hitter of all time and their ace is done for the year all of a sudden the Aleast but they did make some moves like yeah got Bollinger East. But they did make some moves. Like they got Bollinger, they got like, they did things.

And they're the Yankees. They find a way to patch things together better than anybody. But this makes you wonder, will Cole be back next year? Like we'll be available next year. He just signed the deal, right? Like they, there was a lot of debate. What's he gonna do?

Where's he gonna go? And you could tell like Cashman was speaking over the weekend that he was preparing for the worst, what's he gonna do, where's he gonna go? And you could tell, like Cashman was speaking over the weekend that he was preparing for the worst, hoping for the best. That was him saying, we know what's coming. Like they know when you're having forearm issues or elbow injury issues, they know it's trouble. Anytime you see like Pitcher X when he met with someone

about his elbow, Tommy John, every time. Yeah, and as JP said, Giancarlo Stanton too, he's got both elbows are an issue. Yeah I think he's gonna miss it here. Well if he has surgery on both, he's done. So Stanton who was red hot down the stretch last year and into the playoffs, a big playoff performer. Stanton done, Garrett Cole done, Soto gone. That's big man. The Yankees are in trouble.

So if you're the Blue Jays, now you can counter, not to the same extent, but Eric Swanson, here we go again, going to start the year on the IL. He's having issues. That happened last year and his season was a complete write off. That trade does not get brought up enough how awful that trade was. Which trade was that? Teosca Hernandez straight up for Eric Swanson. Horrendous trade.

Horrendous. And you know, Swanson, they were banking on a big bounce back and that bullpen was a mess last year. You got Hoffman who had his physical issues over the off season. What's he going to be like? Sounds like Varsho starting to throw. I don't know if he'll be prepared to play come opening day that's the issue he can hit he's hitting throughout the spring but he's he's not comfortable throwing but they got to figure out what they're gonna do but you know if the Yankees

are gonna take a step back that's big yeah if you're Baltimore if you're Boston Boston Toronto step forward yeah they could and they got a great farm system in Boston that's another thing that's coming. Like they have three or four kids that are gonna be arriving. The number one prospect. I believe they've got the number one farm system. And the Jays over the course of the weekend, I saw were ranked like 27th or something by,

is that Baseball America or Baseball Prospectus or whichever one it was. Like their farm system is just a mess. All right, we've been talking about this Mitch Marner situation all day. Something that Chuan brought to you by Boston Pizza, Canada's favorite sports bar. Enjoy a $15 lunch at BP where you get an entree,

a side and a drink and you'll get it all in 20 minutes or less. A fast lunch doesn't have to be fast food. See you for a $15 fast lunch at your local Boston Pizza asking people simple questions. Do you want Marner to stay with the Leafs? Like beyond this year year 49.4% yes 49.4% yes that close 30.4% no I don't know why Doogie put this third option for some reason

there's a third option unsure 20% what the hell does that mean that's like you know like who are you going to choose each in polivier or carney unsure i don't know i'm still trying to figure this out i don't know why we put unsure in there but doogie went with the unsure maybe that's what doogie did when he voted there doogie seems very cross anybody yeah he just goes in there rips up his ballot seems very he just goes in there rips up his ballot. Has he voted? Do you think he's voted? Doogie? No chance. No chance. No, no chance. So I guess I would take that as a 50-50. Not in exact science. It's online. But I think that speaks to it. Like Marnard being a polarizing figure and a lot of it, it is the contract in the playoffs. Like that's at the core of it for every Leaf fan. Like there's so many layers to this story.

We've talked about it endlessly and we will continue to. At the core of it for every single Leaf fan, the eternal optimist, the eternal pessimist, and everyone in between, just winning the playoffs. And everything is different. Like if they had a modicum of success in their history, it would be a completely different tone. And it's a borderline miracle and this is unique to Mitch right now because he's the one

that's up. Willie's signed so he's not going anywhere, Matthew's is signed, not going anywhere. If Marner just accepted a deal a week ago, this would be over. People can yell and scream but it's not gonna make a difference. He's not going anywhere. The fact that it is still possible they could move off him or he could want to move or they could make a change to the core four philosophy is What makes this whole playoff run so fascinating and why it continues to come up because if they just had playoff success Everyone would have a different viewpoint. Yeah, and actually as everybody as people cover the team pretty closely

viewpoint. Yeah. And actually, as everybody, as people cover the team pretty closely, that's one of the things that I don't think has sunk in for them, just in my dealings with them. That's where a lot of the criticism comes like the players don't don't see it doesn't it hasn't like, I remember being kind of astonished after the playoffs last year where it was like, kind of the reaction you got after the playoffs was like, well, it was game seven, it can go any other way, like what do you want? It's like, guys, like this has happened a lot. Like you kind

of got to be like, you kind of want to hear like the Nathan McKinnon thing, like I'm tired. I'm so sick of this. And you haven't heard that. And it's almost like the criticism is unfair. And it's maybe some of it's unfair, but ultimately, it's not asking that unfair yeah it's not like again any other three pack i can think of in the league like nathan mckinnon said it after the game on saturday night he did an interview with hockey and i thought it was a great interview where they asked him about um the picture taken after they won the stanley cup of i think there were five players who were on that team that finished with 43 points or whatever it was and it was it was McKinnon and Landisgog and Ranton in I don't even know if the car was

There yet was Nikuskin one. It might area. I don't know. He might have been in Dallas. He started his career in Dallas I'm not sure he was I Can't I can't remember who the other players were? But McKinnon said like it, it was a miracle that, I think three years after that, they won the Stanley Cup. And he's like, it was a miracle that they kept us. And then, you know, the panel kind of laughed.

He's like, I'm being dead serious. Like, we were horrendous and going nowhere, and they actually kept us all and gave us a shot. And we knew if we didn't in the next three or four years win a cup not around a cup that they're going to say we can't keep doing this. That's yeah. And that is at the core of all of this with the Leafs is that their philosophy is we're just keeping the same guys and then it gets spun into oh you're attacking these players why don't you love the players. Not about the individual player it's about the team. Great players. Exactly.

All-time players in Toronto history. They have all been together, the three of them in particular. I put Tavars in a bit of a different category because he was older when he showed up and he wasn't here at the start, although still he's got to be a part of the last six years. And Riley, who's been here the longest, plays a different position. But really it started with the like the Nylander draft, Marner draft, Matthews draft they all show up at the same time, rest is history. I can't think of another three pack of superstars that would be given in any sport in any sport eight years and now into their ninth where if you have playoff success or not,

it doesn't really matter. You're just, you're wanted to stay around. And two of them are guaranteed to, Matthews and Willie are not going anywhere. That conversation will not come up. Like again, they can get swept in the, move Marner aside, they could lose in the first round, get swept.

Matthews is horrendous. No one is going to suggest they should move off him nobody well and I think that can have anything with Willie like it'll just be a you guys stay I'm sure that connects all this that Matthews doesn't get criticized the same way as Marner does and I production in the playoffs it's not like it's that different I can't argue against that I do think what is the reason for that and I think it goes back to the contract honestly. I think the contract, I think the local guy, I think the way he plays a little bit and and now unfortunately for him, I'm like you know

I'm not pitying any of these guys they're making 11 million dollars a year and they get to play for the Leafs. Like the idea that anyone could spin this as a woe is me to me is infuriating and insulting to people like oh how could you possibly do this to them they've been treated like gods by this organization since they arrived they go to the playoffs every single year they they make a fortune they've all made more money than they probably should have based on the way when they originally signed now they played up to their value and they earn their money and all that kind of stuff the rest of the way but they got sweetheart player friendly deals

when they were all restricted free agents unprecedented in the league and what's different here with mariner that opens the door for people to poke at the idea of him leaving if that he's the one that hasn't signed yet when he was out of the line will assign he was asked about after the game on saturday and he didn't exactly kind of reassure it.

Yeah. Interesting. And it will be interesting. We will talk about this. I mean that is the truth. Like if Mitch was like so uncomfortable, then he could just say, you know, forget it guys, I'm changing my stance. Let's negotiate.

Let's work out a deal tonight. And they probably could. Yeah. Not doing that. That would be something. Breaking news tonight. Actually. All this, I want it behind me.

Moving on. Mark Schlereth will join us from the NFL on Fox. Aaron Rodgers to Pittsburgh. What would that look like? What does he make of the quarterback carousel? What are the Rams doing they want to move off Cooper Cup, but they're bringing in Devante Adams There's a lot of news out there in the NFL's free agency has arrived We'll get to our best bet still to come as well overdrive continues TSN 1050 in on TSN 2

And you're all set enjoy your new phone on Bell. Thanks. Whoa, what is happening? What is this feeling? Are you feeling giddy and bouncing with energy? Yes. Yeah, I like to call that new phone vibes. It's that time of year at Bell. It's so good. Get in on those new phone vibes. Switch to Bell, Canada's fastest 5G plus network and save over a thousand dollars on amazing phones with eligible trade-in. Visit a Bell store or bell.ca slash spring for details.

Bell, getting a new phone just got better. All right, best best later in the hour. Al's brother's clue of the day. We'll get that one right. We'll get to that a little bit later on. NFL free agency is open and it's, you got a quarterback carousel going on and Josh Allen made a lot of money, deserved,

but I'm guessing that'll open up more flexibility for the bills this offseason in terms of moving the money around on the cap and but where's aaron rogers gonna play is he gonna go to pittsburgh now that appears to be something that the steelers are looking at maybe rogers would be intrigued by to chat about it we're joined now by former nfl player super bowl winner nfl on fox analyst and host of the stinking truth podcast Mark Schlereth. Mark we've

been talking about this this afternoon I'm curious your thoughts on that if Rogers went to Pittsburgh and played with the Steelers do you think it would be successful? Yeah you know it's interesting is you look at the last nine games of the season Aaron Aaron played exceptionally well and yeah I did a game late in the season a Jets game late this season it sat down one-on-one for about 45 minutes with Aaron and you know not making excuses but he had an ankle and a calf and a hamstring early in the season and that really limited his ability to move around in the pocket and obviously the Jets couldn't run.

They were a bit of a mess, um, offensively and you know, then they fire their head coach. So there were a lot of, um, extenuating circumstances within Aaron Rogers, kind of what went on early in the season. But last, like I said, nine games of the season, the guy was exceptional. Um, I think he had 14, 15 touchdowns, like two interceptions or three. He had really good stats. I called him in this game, I called this game in, I watched him warm up with a bunch of 25-year-olds, and he threw the ball way better than anybody else on that football field.

The guy can still play, so do I think he would go to Pittsburgh? He told me point-blank for me to play again this year is going to have to be a perfect situation I mean he has a lot of reverence for Mike Tomlin. He has a reverence for the Pittsburgh Steelers as an organization I would say that Minnesota would be the best landing spot based on the weapons they have and based on the offense that they play because Aaron played for Matt LaFleur which comes off that you know that Kyle Shanahan Sean McVay Kevin O'Connell like system so like he's familiar with that offense but I would think that Pittsburgh would intrigue him with the weapons that just signed DK McCaff so I would think that that would be a good landing spot for Aaron. If he ended up going to many who do you think would want to see him less in the division the Packers or the Bears? Well I mean you know obviously

you look at Minnesota I don't think either of those teams would be really excited about playing them when they have, you know, Justin Jefferson and Addison and TJ Hogginson, they just resigned Aaron Jones. So that that offense is pretty complete. And oh, by the way, I think that Aaron's an upgrade over Sam Darnold. Like I know he is from an understanding standpoint and operating that offense San Darnold was in it in San Francisco you know as a backup and played last year with 14-3 during the regular season so but I still think Arrow would be a upgrade over that so it would be it would be interesting certainly you know certainly nobody would be excited about playing the Minnesota Vikings for sure

yeah well he's on the Bears all right and the Packers like his history the idea you know certainly nobody would be excited about playing the Minnesota Vikings for sure. Yeah well he's on the Bears though right and the Packers like his history the idea of them having to face him twice it'd be compelling. Go ahead Jonas. I was going to ask you Mark like I'm curious what you think the dynamic would be between him and JJ McCarthy is that the right quarterback to pair with McCarthy? How do you think that would work? right quarterback to pair with McCarthy? How do you think that would work? Yeah, I think that, I mean, you look at J.J. McCarthy, we don't know what he is.

I mean, he was a guy in the college game that didn't have a lot of snaps, you know, coming out of Michigan. And then he, you know, tears up his knee and there was a report that he had another procedure in November on top of the one he had early in training camp. So, you know, I mean, ultimately Aaron Rodgers, when I sit down and talk with quarterbacks,

when I'm calling games for Fox, Aaron Rodgers is probably, he and Tom Brady, the two smartest guys I've ever sat down and discussed football with. And Aaron, I had a conversation with Aaron, I was talking about the Jets and the pathetic running game that they had. And Aaron spent probably 25 minutes

talking to me about the run game and the lack of understanding of what they're doing based on a coaching staff understanding with the Jets. And it was a fascinating conversation. And then on Sunday I saw him on the field. He goes, that's the best run game conversation I've had in years. Like he loves that stuff.

He loves the intricacy of football. So I would think if you were smart, if you were, you know, if I was J.J. McCarthy, I know I wanna play, but also to be able to pick the brain of a guy that has done at the level that Aaron Rogers Has done it for the number of years. He's done it I would think that would be invaluable to me as I'm trying to groom myself into being a Legit NFL quarterback with Mark Schlerer Super Bowl winner NFL on Fox analyst hosted the stinking truth podcast a

Couple weeks ago. It sounded like Miles Garrett was done with Cleveland, wanted out, wanted to go somewhere where he could win. And then Cleveland, I guess, offered him more money than anyone's ever received the history of the NFL playing his position. He said, all right, I can do that. What do you make of this? You know, I guess his change of mind, you think this was a negotiation tactic the whole time?

Why is Garrett deciding to stay in Cleveland? Yeah, a couple of weeks ago it was Friday, you know? I don't remember exactly. I think it was Friday. Yeah. Yeah, Friday, the report was that he requested a sit down with the owner, Jimmy Haslam. Jimmy Haslam said no.

And then this weekend, you know, they, I mean, apparently Jimmy Jimmy has said no and then this weekend, you know, they, they, I mean, apparently Jimmy has them said no, cause he was at the bank clearing funds. Um, you know, I believe, I was foolish enough to believe that he didn't want to play in Cleveland anymore, that he wanted a chance to win a championship. But you know, I guess you have to weigh out championship or a 123 million guaranteed money. I'll take the money please and hope that maybe they find a quarterback somewhere before I retire.

So we will see. It does look like, you know, he said he didn't want to go from Cleveland to Canton, but that's the guy who, what it looks like it will happen. They were a playoff team a couple of years ago with Baker Mayfield. So we'll see, and even last year or the year before last, excuse me, you know, with Joe Flacco. So like maybe they're not as far off. Obviously the quarterback situation has been an abject disaster since they signed to Sean Watson.

So they've got to clean that up, but he certainly, he certainly is an absolute freak show I mean I was at an event a couple two years ago now the old line the mat the masterminds old line clinic and he's working out at in Dallas where we host that but that oh line deal and I'm gonna tell you right now dude was you know walking around without a shirt on and if I was put together like that, I would never wear a shirt ever. I mean, that dude is 295 at six foot whatever six and chiseled from a pea lot of ounce of body fat on the dude. He's got like a six pack abs and he is just an absolute freaking nature.

Mark, I'm curious which fit you like better, Darnold in Seattle or Gino in Vegas? It's interesting. Gino is like Gino can flat spin it. And Gino is a guy that I really have a lot of respect for how he turned his career around and his ability to play. And so I love him reuniting with Pete Carroll because Pete Carroll just has so much belief in him. And I like, you know, some defensive pieces of the Raiders. Obviously, Max Crosby is as good as it gets. But I still think there are ways away in that division.

I think Seattle, a lot of people are concerned on no DK Metcalf and we're moving on from Lockett and all those things. I think you look at them, Mike McDonald wants to play stellar defense, wants to run the ball, wants to take some pressure off the quarterback position. I think they're going to be better than people think. I probably like Sam Darnold to the Seattle Seahawks better than I like Gino to the Raiders,

but I don't hate either of the moves. Can you tell me what the Rams are doing here where they're gonna cut Cooper Cupp, that's coming out. If they can't make a trade work, they're gonna cut him. But then they bring in Devonte Adams. I believe they're the same age. I know Cupp's been more injured recently, although Adams hasn't been exactly perfectly healthy either

But what is the reasoning for cup going and Adams coming in in LA? Well, I think you I think you look at cub He has been injured and you know what they ask him to do There's a ton of blocking involved in what they do and their three wide receiver sets He really plays tight end in those positions motion really heavily involved in the run game but so is Puka Nakua and so I think they looked at those two receivers that they're essentially the same guy but Puka you know is in year two and we're gonna get more wear and tear out of him running that. Devontae Smith is a guy that can play X, he can play F, he can play Z,

he plays every position across the board, can run the entirety of the route for you. The dude is big time. He's a big time player. He has not been asked to do the things that Cup Cooper Cup has done in this league. So I think you look at it and say, Hey, he might be a year older than Cooper or two years older than Cooper, but from a production standpoint, he's incredibly productive. He's incredibly versatile. We can run them on anything.

And he hasn't been asked his whole career to be a battering ram, to be essentially a, you know, a tight end in their 11 personnel. So they really, I think they really just looked at Cooper Cupp and said, hey, diminishing returns, body is beat up, he's still a really good player, but we've got that guy that can do those things in Pukka da Cooa, so we're gonna move on.

Always great catching up with you, Mark. We appreciate you doing this. My pleasure, guys, take care. There's Mark Schlerer with the NFL on Fox. Yeah, still some moving pieces out there in the NFL. How would you feel as a Packers fan if Aaron Rodgers played for the Vikings? I think it'd be an incredible story.

It would, he's just morphed into Brett Favre. Yeah, that's the amazing thing is that Favre went to the Jets and then the Vikings after a great career, after kind of getting pushed out, after the Packers had enough of everything he represented, and it would just be full circle. It would be Aaron Rodgers literally morphing into Brett Favre.

But he feels more like a heel than Favre did, no? I don't know, people were pretty sour on Favre because he was so indecisive. Remember how many times he retired and then he came back? Was Jets before or after My thinking is wrong farve went Packers to the Jets to the Vikings and Rogers would be doing the same thing It is pretty funny and the Vikings team was really good that Roger that farve went to they went to an NFC championship game

And his Vikings team was really good if Rogers goes there. I don't think the Packers would, I think it'd be incredibly compelling. I'd actually love to see it happen because I think it would be a really cool story. But I don't think Green Bay would love it. I know Bears fans would hate it because he has owned the Bears forever as a Packer.

The Bears have been, you know, they're the fourth place team every year, including last year and they they've made some moves. They've made some improvements. They're trying to build up their line um, we'll see if You know, kayla williams is the real deal and ben johnson's there now like we'll see where the bears go But I don't think they'd want anything to do with aaron rogers

Who do you whose chances would you like better the packers or the vikings in that case? Because I think we still have detroit one Yeah, det chances would you like better, the Packers or the Vikings in that case? Because I think we'd still have Detroit one. Yeah, Detroit would still be number one. Toss-up? Yeah, I think it'd be a toss-up. Green Bay needs some help. Like they, Green Bay's gotta find a number one wide receiver. That became very clear.

Jordan loves, you know, he kind of flatlined last year. You gotta take another step. Gotta stay healthy. And, you know, what are they gonna, is J or Alexander gonna stick around? What are they gonna do with the pass rush? Are they gonna, I think they could use some help on the defensive line.

So the Packers have got to get active. They got to do some things too here, but they're always a good team, like Green Bay. They're always in the hunt. All right, Al's brother, you ready for this? Is he there? I believe he's here. We hunt. All right, Al's brother you ready for this? Is he there? I believe he's here. We've sent him out, Al's brother into the city with another pair of Leafs tickets and you have to guess where he's hiding for your chance to win them. Hey Overdrive fans, it's Monday which means it's time for a new set of clues to help you get

yourself a pair of Leafs tickets. You got to find out where I am this week and you'll get yourself a pair of Leafs and Ames tickets on March 19th. Here is your Monday Clue. This iconic spot is one of Toronto's most popular tourist destinations and it's probably gonna attract quite a lot of people over March break. All right there you go. T tune in tomorrow for another clue the first caller threw on Friday With the correct location wins a pair of tickets to see the Leafs play the Avalanche March 19th Finals brother brought to you by McAlpine Ford in Aurora our family the Ford family and you Come back with our best bets and tee up Leafs hockey club

One more time overd Overdrive continues, TSN 1050N on TSN2. And you're all set. Enjoy your new phone on Bell. Thanks. Whoa, what is happening? What is this feeling? Are you feeling giddy and bouncing with energy?

Yes. Yeah, I like to call that new phone vibes. It's that time of year at Bell. It's so good. Get in on those new phone vibes. Switch to Bell, Canada's fastest 5G plus network and save over a thousand dollars on amazing phones with eligible trade-in. Visit a Bell store or bell.ca slash spring for details.

Bell, getting a new phone just got better. All right, Best Bet's powered by FanDuel. Leafs have got to get this tonight. Leafs on the money line pay a minus 118. Fan duel. Leafs have got to get this tonight. Leafs on the money line, pay a minus 118. Leafs on the money line. Mitch Marner to score a goal, plus 240. Scored two beauties the other night. That parlay paying plus 355.

Mitch was not affected one way or the other by these reports. I think two guys that are due neil under matthews well man he's got points in twelve straight games areas scored much and i'm not scoring at all but i don't remember having great chances the other night uh... in his best best power by fando yeah i'm with you like you would think that matthews is gotta get going here

uh... i'd like to see them shake it up in the top six a little bit. Like it feels to me a little stale with the top six. Well it sounds like Pontus Holmberg is off for Bobby McMahon. Right, that's like just like cool. Yeah, well I think that shocked most people that Pontus Holmberg post trade deadline is in the top six. Yes.

But I agree with you. He's like he's just committed nice Matthews Marner. That's it. Like that's just the line and that's the way it goes. And nothing is going to change it. Yeah. And I don't, I'd like to see it just kind of mixed up. It just feels like we're at that point in the year, change it up, spark something like Newlanders.

It's been colder and I don't know. Yeah. I would try to put Nylander with Lawton to try to get like Lawton feeling comfortable. Yeah. I don't think Lawton's offensively gifted enough to make that work. Willie's kind of been caring people anyway all year.

He's caring, yeah. Like he's played with Pontus Holmberg and Bobby McMahon. I think his most frequent line mates are Holmberg and Tavares. Yeah. So yeah. And like, listen, John's had a good year. Productively.

Yeah, he's had a productive good year. But just, I'm with you, spice something up, but it doesn't look like that's going to happen. Yeah. All right, Jonas, we'll see what comes of it tonight. We will see. 10 o'clock. 10 o'clock game. Tough.

Yeah, you can hear it right here on TSM radio. These are tough. Monday night at 10 with the time change and everything. I'm all out of sorts, man. I got my kids at home for March break. We went to like snow tubing today. I'm exhausted. I have been exhausted all day.

So tonight will be a grind, but we'll make it through and a full breakdown tomorrow. Thanks to everyone from behind the scenes for helping out. We appreciate it. Everyone for tuning in today. TV radio podcast web. We appreciate it. Everyone for tuning in today TV radio podcast web We appreciate that good seeing you Jonas. He's Jonas Siegel of the athletic. We're out of here. Enjoy your evenings Enjoy the games tonight. We're back tomorrow at 4 p.m. We'll chat then I heart radio is taking you backstage with Kane Brown in Quebec City

Meet him interview him an I heartRadio experience you'll never forget. Turn up the night like that radio. With flights, hotel, and $500 included. Be like that. How we feeling tonight? For your best chance to win, enter daily at iHeartRadio.ca. Thank y'all so much, yeah. Kane Brown's new album, The High Road, is available now.