OverDrive - OverDrive - September 15, 2025 - Hour 2 - Luke Willson/Aaron Ekblad

Episode Date: September 15, 2025

Join Bryan Hayes, Jeff O'Neill and Jamie McLennan for Hour 2 on OverDrive! TSN Football Analyst Luke Willson joins to discuss the Week 2 headlines, the Chiefs' winless beginning, Joe Burrow out for three months and Hayes and Bro and O'Win Willson's selections for Monday Night Football. Florida Panthers Defenseman Aaron Ekblad joins to discuss winning the Stanley Cup, re-signing in Florida and the Panthers' triumphant culture, Bo Bichette's injury status and Bryan gives his FanDuel Best Bets.

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Conditions apply. See dealer for details. Hey, uh, seriously, can I get one? Power to overdrive continues. Powered by Fanduel, bringing you everything from the opening line of the final score. Brian Hesiodog, Jeff O'Neill, Jamie Noodles, McClennon. And there's Luke Wilson in studio.

Luke Wilson in studio. go, a little pro-athletes salute. Go ahead. Hopefully we can't get his ear, please, figure it out, so we don't have to have Al's brother on at the very end. What a great plan. Yeah, yeah, you like that, all? I'm picking up on a conspiracy. These adapters don't work right here.

Yeah, so now we can't have Al's brother on. Nor do we want to have this guy on, because you and him yesterday tweeting Dynasty, you missed your pick. You went over yesterday. The only reason you're now plus two is because we got jammed by a false injury report. Well, that's fine. If I would have known the

J.J. McCarthy wasn't healthy. We wouldn't have sided with him. Oh, really? Of course not. You would have taken Michael Panix, Jr. to go on the road to fall out. He's out for two weeks, they're saying now. Yeah, two to four weeks, yeah, with a high ankle sprain. He didn't look good last night under the leg.

He looked really bad. He looked young and small and, like, spray out. I don't know what he looked like, but he didn't look like an NFL court. What was, you know, and what was tough was like, you know, and there's one thing when they're like, hey, there's just growing pains. This is growing pains. Growing pains to me are like, okay, I was a little late on a throw, or I misread the coverage, or I didn't understand the protection.

Yesterday, it's fourth and one, first quarter. We fumble the snap on a quarterback sneak. They're in the red zone, and we drop the ball on a fake pitch. We've got Justin Jefferson on third nine later in the game, and we short hopped to him with no pressure in our face. Naylor late in the game, we missed that by six yards. Like, these aren't, that's not growing. That was just like I'm having a really tough night. You know what that looked like to me?

The guy who read his media all week, how great he has been. Possible. I mean, and listen, you only get to play the Bears twice a year. You can't just show up and go, hey, I'm, you know, I've been great in college. I started great. Like, he was out to lunch last night. It's possible. He really was.

Yeah, it's possible. I mean, he's a young guy trying to figure out the league, you know, but you're right. It was ugly. It was McCarthy's stat line was terrible. He couldn't make throws. The league comes out of you fast when the coach is pumping you up after your first win, and everyone's like, yeah, this is our guy. Yeah.

And the next week. Yeah, but the teams are studying. They read all the same media. Yeah, of course. And they're like, okay, we can get to this guy. Also, I do think, you know, it's not his fault, obviously, but I don't think, like, having a child in the first. I tried to warn you.

Your second game. Did I not say that? You did. I said, dude. I wouldn't know. I don't have any children, but I would imagine. There was no way he was prepared for that game. Yeah.

Like, there was just no way he was prepared. And now he's got the injury. He's going to be even worse when he gets back, because now he's. He's going to miss time. But what's going to get funky. This is what's going to get funky. Kevin O'Connell is known to be a quarterback guy.

This is a guy who took Kirk Cousins to the next step, next level. Not that Kirk wasn't already ripping. This is a guy that plucked Sam Darnold from the graveyard and got him paid in Seattle, considered a top 15 guy. What's going to happen with Carson Wentz? What's going to now happen if Carson Wentz? wins plays well, and all of a sudden, Minnesota's in the conversation, because they're going to have to go on a run, is it, hey, do we immediately go back to JJ? I thought Collinsworth was correct last night.

When JJ's had one good quarter of football out of eight. Yeah. Like, this is a big, you know, if, but if Wenz plays really well. San Darnold talked heated up pretty quick last night. It was like, why did you get rid of them last year? Yeah. It's like. For this guy.

And again, what's tough is when I watched that game last night, Minnesota's defense is elite. Now, they're not necessarily an elite group of individuals, but as a unit and with Brian Flores, it seems like, hey, Flores, the first drive is a bit rough, and then he sits there and is like, okay, what do I got to do? They played out of their mind. Like, Pennix looked terrible last night as well.

Barely threw the ball. It was not, I mean, Bijon had a lot of yards, but even those, I'm like, this guy, Bejohn is doing it all himself at points. So I do think that Minnesota views themselves as a contender. I don't know if I'm putting them that way. No, I think so. Based on last year, and they just need a competent quarterback. And I think it's probably too far gone per Carson Wenz,

but if one guy is going to pull it out, it probably would be O'Connell. Now, can I ask you guys something? I was told that there were some disparaging things being said about the Kansas City Chiefs earlier. Well, there was. We were going to bring it up to you. What's going on? Who's saying this? I think we all kind of said.

Are you concerned? Owen 2 and Travis Kelsey doesn't look great. Mahomes, he is. didn't look like Mahom, like there was some special moments, but he was also overthrowing guys. Like he did not look. Well, he's doing it on his own effectively. But like that, okay,

let's, let's unpack it. Unpack this. One, it started with Kelsey when they lose, all of a sudden this guy's very unlikable. He's extremely unlikable when they're losing. Pushing Andy Reed and a Super Bowl, snapping on the sideline. Like that drop, he's got to make that catch. He's got to make the play. Has to make that

play. This is what I'll say. I'm going to offer a different narrative here. Okay. Okay. You go to the Super Bowl last year, this Philadelphia team beat the absolute breaks off of the squad. They come in week two without their two best offensive weapons outside of Mahomes,

Rishi Rice and Xavier Worthy. Kansas City's defense absolutely dominated yesterday. Play great. The rush attack of Philly, average 3.6 yards per carry. You are taking that all day against Saquan and Hertz. All day. Every team in the league is thrilled with that

output. Jalen Hertz threw for a hundred and one total yards. It was utter domination. On the flip side, the interception was in the fourth quarter to go up four points. You guys tell me right now, if Kelsey hangs on to that ball and they're out four, you think Philly's going to come back and push the ball down the field? Jalen Hertz is throwing one deep ball in two games. And all of a sudden we're like, man, Kansas City just knocked off the Super Bowl champs. When they get Worthy back and they get Rishie Rice back and all this anger gets brought to the forefront, they'll have a nice team meeting. This team is going

to be hungrier than ever and absolutely collecting souls by the end of the year. I think they're better than last year. Oh, I disagree. Totally. At what plate? Better than last year, they're 15 and 10. For starters. Yeah, I mean, their record's not going to be better, but I think as a team, their offensive line is better. I think

you're overstating Rishie Rice and Xavier Worthy. What? Well, this is not Randy Moss and Chris Carter we're talking to. Yeah, but you don't need that when you got Mahomes throwing the pill. But for starters, Rice is clearly a liability. You know, like, he's out for six weeks. I don't know what the hell this guy is going to be.

Off the field liability. Worthy is young. He was cooking down the stretch last year. He had a great Super Bowl. He's young and he's small. He got hit by his own guy. I don't know when this guy's going to return. Let's see, like I'm just saying,

I'm not willing to just accept that Rice and Worthy return and all of a sudden that offense is completely cooking. I'm not saying that. Kelsey looks done. The run game to me isn't great. It's not great. And I'll grant you the defense is still very good. The defense is really good.

And Mahomes is still that guy. But O and two is tough to come back. from when other teams, I think, are still hungrier than them. No way. You're telling me the bills aren't hungrier than the Chiefs? Have you ever been 0-2 in your career? I think in Detroit we were 0 in a million at one point. That doesn't count.

Every year doesn't count. Well, what I said to start to show, the one thing I took out of this whole week is you have to win the Super Bowl this year if you're the Buffalo Bills. You have to. Because Borough's done. The Bengals are done. The Chiefs are 0.2. They're going to fight. I think they could still make the playoffs.

They play the Giants next week. They're going to be one and two back sailing. But still, like Broncos are now one-on-one, but Vegas is better than people thought. Chargers are going to be a fight for them. There's no guarantee they win the FC West. I wouldn't be surprised if they're like 10 and 7 and they're a wildcard team. If you're the bills, that division is a joke.

Joke, six and O in the East. Great take. I agree. You already beat Baltimore. You have the one seat. 15 and two, one seed, everything comes through Buffalo. This is your year. You've got to take advantage.

And that's what came out of this week more than anything else. I agree with one caveat. And I think that's exactly what's going to happen. Dude, that's a vision. Oh, my. I agree with one caveat. Right now, after two weeks, okay, if I had to, you know, see into the future, your big three are still your big three.

KC., Buffalo, Baltimore. Your sleeper is the chargers. There's your one that can create a little noise. After that, there's a big drop off, in my opinion. Okay, I agree with everything you said. They have the weak division. They should get the one seed. but Baltimore is still Baltimore.

That game, 41 to 40, where for three and a half quarters, Baltimore really was in complete control, did whatever they want offensively. So I don't know if I can say, like, if they go down to the playoffs and Baltimore beats them and it's another game where they have the one point go against them, I can't be like it's a failure of a year for Buffalo. I can't say that.

Well, maybe Baltimore is the one exception because the same expectation should apply to them. Only one team can be standing in the end. I hear you, but let's be honest here. Back to Kansas City. It's a Friday night in Brazil where you lose a one-possession game to Justin Herbert, which, by the way, he threw more than he ever throws under Greg Roman. There was a lot of things that I don't think they were prepped for.

Steve Spagnolo, defensive coordinator, the more film he gets, the better he's going to be. They were this close. A situation with Kelsey and Mahomes being off a little bit in the Reds zone, which won't happen later in the year. You don't think they're fading a little bit? Last year, they went 10 in 0 and once a year. I agree, and they're 0 and 2 this year. Exactly.

Because that's natural. That's the way the sports works a kick. It's going to flip the other way. I don't think so. You can't last year be like, well, everything breaks away because of this. I think Kansas City wins 12, 13 games this year. You do. I do.

I think they win 1213. They win the division. I'm not convinced they win the division. It's them or the Chargers. I don't think the Broncos. Denver's still good. Denver's still good. They got jammed yesterday.

They're still good. That was a stupid. That was so dumb. That was a joke of a penalty. I'll tell you what, I know this is going to be a cold take, but I respect it. The Urse's daughter, who's now running the team, how she's on the sideline with her headphones in. Nothing gets me more jacked up than that. Why?

I'll tell you why. She's apparently in meetings, like team meetings and stuff. I'll tell you why. He was writing on play cards yesterday. Yeah. I'm sorry, if Jerry Jones is doing that, we are blasting that guy for two hours. Yeah. Like we're destroying him.

That's Jerry Jones. He's a history of things. There she is. There she is. Carly Ursaid Gordon. Look at the play cards. Let's see the chain around the second. We should probably run a play.

It's worth $3 million. Have you seen? 100%. Have you seen the quote, she said, though? She's like, if I'm going to pay these guys millions of dollars, I want to know who's full of BS. As far as what? Coaches or players? The coaches.

She's there for, she's been very adamant. She's there about the coaches. Do you trust her evaluation, though? No. Because every other owner would be like, what the hell do you know about football? Why would she be different? So here's what I think is, she can at least be like, hey, on the headset, this guy was the one pushing for this. This guy was the one saying this, because oftentimes, and I've seen this firsthand, coaches will come out here with their great ideas, and I won't, you know, the saying in the NFL is poop rolls downhill.

We use a different word, clean it out for the radio. But it's like the coaches will be like, oh, man, I'm not going to sit here and take accountability because that'll be canned. So what do I do? Put it on the players. Go into the meeting and be like, oh, this is. guy can't get it done. Get rid of him. And it's just a bunch of BS. And I think you've heard this, not to bring in Tom Brady, but he was on a podcasting with

Collinsworth the day and it went viral. And he talked about how, you know, there's a lot of quarterbacks that didn't have the support he had in New England as far as learning, plays, coverages, all these things. So all of a sudden now, it's like she can sit there. And Anthony Richardson is a prime example where it's like, hey, who's the one, why hasn't Anthony Richardson developed. You know, the front office is going to say it's the coaches. The coaches are going to say the front office should have never drafted them. The only way to really tell what's going on is being on that headset.

And not from an evaluation of was it a good play call? But it's like on that headset, you'd be like, hey, I really like this match up, Pitman versus here, let's do this and isolate and call this play. So do you think she could be a trailblazer? Do you think there's going to be other owners saying, man, a Colts are 2 and O and Danny Dimes all of a sudden looks like he knows how to put. At one point, they had no puns. I know, but what is an owner's daughter?

Or what is the owner taking stake or interest in what people are doing have to do? This is what I think will happen. You think it's people stepping up saying I've got to prove my worth? I don't know. I've never seen anything like this before. I honestly do. What did Keith Pelley standing on the bench? Okay, then it's genius stuff then.

How could you ever complain about it? Yeah. Well, I'm not saying it is. I don't know if it's going to be genius or not. It's very unique. Even at this, like, I'm on Jay last night. It seems a little bit overbearing. If one of the vice presidents

was sitting in the background, like, hey, I want to be in the meetings with Luke. I want to be sitting here to see how this whole, you know, thing is made? Is Luke doing good? Is he doing bad? I better be accountable in that meeting. I better be like, hey, man, you know, we go on and perform. If he doesn't like what's going on, which I think

to a degree in Indianapolis, there has been a lot of bad ball. They're probably trying to get a forensic audit of what the hell is going on here. So, right, be in every meeting, the sidelines is a bit rich. They're technology these days. I'm pretty sure that she could be wired in from sitting in a luxury box.

Part of its performer. For sure. For sure. Look at me. I'm on the sidelines. Yeah, I mean, right beside the coach. The chains are wild to me. But that's why I was like that. The Cuban-linked diamond-incrusted chain. Every guy on that team is like, love the owner's chain because it is, million to dollars. But with technology and stuff, she could be in the press box, listening to everything that's going on.

You know, technology and stuff. There's bravado there. That's my point. Yeah. Exactly. I don't hate it. I guess everyone's dogging her. I don't hate the idea.

No, I'm intrigued by it. I do think it's, I think it's a little bit strange that an owner's on the sideline with a headset, like following the players. I think it's a scenario where right now everything's positive in Indianapolis because it's 2 and 0. They lose two or three in a row. That's going to become a bigger story. Then it's like, are the players getting uncomfortable? Why is the owner down here? I just personally, I'm of the view historically, again, having not play professionally,

but generally owners lurking around the sidelines, it's bad. Get out of here. Yeah. Go up to your suite. Get out of here. This, I understand her reasoning behind it. I just don't know if it's going to work. All right, quickly, Joe Burrow.

Joe Burrow out for three months. Yeah. Who's this, who's at fault here? Because this guy's had a lot of injury problems. He's never had a good offensive line. So this is what I'll say. I kind of went down this round. Habit hole last night is, okay, early in his career, they had a lot of offensive line issues.

They went out and got a left tackle in Orlando Brown, Jr., paid him an ungodly amount of money. They paid the center. I think the center is like the ninth highest paid guy in their team. So you got, I think the left tackle is like four or five. The center is like top ten. Your right tackle, I believe, is a first round pick. So then you go to the two guards and like you're a bit weaker at guard, but it's like, so you've invested in the draft. you've invested in free agency

like you have tried to address the offensive line and then the weird one for me was up until now Joe has not missed as many games as I thought I think it was somewhere around like the 16 mark in five or six years like he's played got hurt

you know missed the end of the year he's played a lot of full seasons as well so I'm not ready to sit here and be like it's the offensive line fault it's because they have put money into it Like, now whether it's the right guys. They don't get production out of them.

Correct. They're investing, but the O-line stinks all the time. That's the next question. On analytics. Is like, is it an offensive line coach? Is it a head coach thing? Is it like, are the protections not set up? Is the front office signed free agents that we didn't want?

Like, there was money invested in this offensive line. I guess that's my point. It's a tough break. Like, the toe, too, is like, it's an injury that really like it nags you. Oh, yeah. Even when you come back. It's turf toe, man. heard of surgery on a turf toe, but...

My guess is that it's not, like, even turf toes not, like, a medical term. Like, whenever I got it, they, like, gave me the full, like, explanation. And turftoe, in today's day and age, can mean, like, 30 different things with your toe. Right, ligaments and all that. Yeah, even, like, a broken sesameoid bone at one point they were calling turf toe. I'm like...

The term doesn't match the pain. Pain. To me, when I hear that, I'm like, there's a piece of grass stuck in this... Yeah, exactly. Or they stubbed it. Yeah, you stubbed your toe. It's a... step above a stub. Yes. And it's not.

It's extremely, I'm sure, painful and lots of, but it's from the outside, it doesn't look like, the guy shouldn't be dropping because a turf toe. Totally. Taped it up and move on. Right. But like you said, there's broken things involved. And the tough part I was telling somebody this last night is that with these toes,

you know, if you get injured, let's say you injure like your shoulder. You go into rehab in the morning, and there's a million exercises. You're doing your arm stuff. You're doing weighted things. part of why the toe is such a dagger is that there's nothing to do. Like I remember when I had the toe was like, take your foot and like move a,

you'd pick a marble up and just move the marble. Gavely. Gain a lot of respect. Gained a lot of respect. Yeah. It's like, you know, and then it's like,

or like you crinch up a towel. Yes. But you're also in the training room. Guys are literally battling through and you're like picking marbles on it. Get the hell out of here. Go through that. Right. And there's only so many marbles and so many towel crunch.

as you can do. I can't breathe on the one table and you've got a toe problem. It's tough for the ego. With one of those shooters or whatever. Yeah. It's not good. Exactly. Yes.

Let's bring our boy in here. Yeah, there he is. The face of a dynasty. They're calling him Brian Trotcheon on the streets. There goes Dennis Potfan. Guy missed his pick yesterday. It doesn't matter. Listen, it's a rope-a-dove.

You know you guys are going to jam yourselves, and we're going to get right back on it tonight. We got jam, Part C. Well, you went against your Seahawks, and they got smoked. Sorry, I didn't calculate smoked. They got blown up. I didn't calculate that a rookie would let the ball bounce over his head and sit in the end zone. That is one of the dumbest places ever. I like when the coach goes, they ask the coach, do you guys ever practice that?

He goes, every day of our life. Some of that. Every day, like, that's not. But it's funny. Every day of our lives. I mean, it was the play of the game. Well, the game was tight. It was a three-point game.

This is what I was annoyed with. Every day of our lives. It's a three-point game, and this is after. Look at this. He's like, we're done here. No, you're not. Touchdown. Jogging off.

And we had, I'm sitting there. Aaron was driving, and then he has the really bad bounce pick in the end zone. And then they give up a field goal. And I'm like, all right, Aaron will go down there and drive and at least tie this thing up. this happens. It's crazy. And the other guys in the special teams are probably like, dude, are you kidding me? We're blocking,

we're putting our lives on the line. You can't hold on to this football. Yeah, that one stung. But that was good for us, I was brother. Anyway, we're on the first. There's two Monday nighters tonight, which I appreciate, because it's staggered. It's not, you appreciate it. I'm going to be here until 2 in the morning. You're going to be here all night.

You're going to be here all night. But it used to be like 7, 15, and 8.30, and it was annoying. Now it's a staggered start. We're on, boxed Texans, which is clearly the more difficult game to pick. Texans are laying two and a half. Is that still the number, do you on Fandul? All right, Alice, brother. Where's your head go with this one? Yeah, this one's a little bit tough, as you mentioned. I mean,

these are two teams that I think are very evenly matched. But to me, I think the dogs are barking in this matchup. I do view it almost like a pick-em. So for that reason, I think we should just take the points, take the two and a half. The problem in this game is both teams have issues. on the offensive line. They're banged up, missing key starters. So I'm not expected a whole lot of offense in this game. But I think the Bucks, they got the better run game.

I think Baker has more weapons. And if the Bucs just take away Nico Collins, there's nothing else really that that offense can do. Just like last week, he was limited to three for 25, and they only put up nine points. So I think if they take away Nico Collins, I think that limits that offense of the Texans, I think it's to be low scoring. So I think we take the points in the Bucs. I like that too, man. I'm pro bucks this year.

You know I love Baker Mayfield. And this does feel like a big statement game for C.J. Stroud. A huge statement, considering what happened to him last year and how the team played and performed. Again, not the greatest offensive line in Houston. Really good pass rush. But I think Baker finds a way, I'm with you, two-minute drill, puts them in a position,

late-game field goal to win it. We'll lock in the bucks. We'll take two and a half going into this game tonight. Yeah, I mean, I don't hate the pick, but you can't sit there and just gloss. over like if they can find a way to stop Nico Collins. Yeah, it can. Oh, yeah. With what secondary?

I'm not concerned about that. Oh, yeah, I would be about it. I always find it crazy how both of you guys do this. You like dream up the end of the game. I find that to be bizarre. It is really a... I see this being a close one and this guy does this at the end and then you get a kick and then you're good. I'm like, how are you dreaming that up? Deep-rooted

deep analysis, man. That's how that word. Nick Chubb. Does Nick Chubb go wild I don't see it? I don't see it. I think this is a Bucky Irving game, man. I think Bucky Irving. I think Bucky goes wild. Listen, you guys also didn't fail. You failed to mention this Texan's defense is elite.

At the pass rush, they are for sure. This Texan's defense is the real deal. I'm not worried about protection tonight. I'm not worried about protection tonight. Baker will get the ball out quick. Get the ball out quick. They'll run the ball. It'll neutralize the pass rush.

I'm not worried about it. This is a lot. We're on a box plus points tonight. All right. Fire the cannons, boys. Fire the cannons. Chargers laying three and a half. still the case on Fandu, laying three and a half

against the Raiders, your boy, Pete Carroll. Yeah. And Bowers is playing tonight. That's big. Partsale. I got to go Chargers. Yes. You got to go. Oh, my goodness. We got jammed. We got jammed. Don't, oh, my goodness. This is a classic. Cargers jammed themselves up. Yeah, this is.

I am worried about Pete. I'm worried about Pete. I'm worried about Pete. Getting the boys ready. They obviously got to win last week. But they played nobody last week. They played the Pats. Okay. They should beat up on the Pats. Brock Bowers has had some injury issues all week I believe he is rolling

but he has a super healthy The wide out situation I was almost at Oakland in Las Vegas is not ideal obviously they have some great tight ends The next thing is like Harbaugh has a very very good run defense and I think

that these guys are going to be up front are going to bully and stop Genty and here's what's even crazier you look last week I mean they threw the ball all over the Chief's defense. This Raiders defense is not the Chief's defense. Again, I want to go with my guy, Pete.

But I got to be honest, I don't see them cover today. Okay. Is that fair party? I like that half. I love it. I think they're going to blow a lot. Different Charger team. Different Chargers?

Different Chargers? Different Vegas team with Pete Carroll. I think Gentie goes off tonight else, brother. Goes off. Well, I just, you went against, the Twelves are going to hate you. You go against the Seahawks this weekend. Now you're going against her. boy Pete Carroll. I mean, that's absurd for you to do. But Gino threw for

362 last week. So even if they do bottle up Gentie, I mean, that guy can throw. Like, that guy can get the ball out and he can throw all over. It's got nothing. It's a divisional game. Three and a half points. A big spread. In Vegas? Okay, I'll tell you this. In Vegas. Would you have taken the Raiders? Would you have taken the Raiders? I would have

took the Raiders. Yeah, if it was two and a half, probably would have gone chargers, but it crossed over three and a deal. You guys take the Raiders, and if they don't cover, it's two points for us. Oh, we don't need to do that. Put your money. We're a dynasty. I'm giving you a two-po.

Ryan Trachier and Billy Smith. Hey, take the Raiders and you can get two points. We can't change the world here. Al Arbor wouldn't allow us to do that. Yeah, yeah. We're well coached. Right else, brother? That's right.

It's fun to watch you trip over yourself. That's almost like a win for us anyway. That's right. I think we see any tush pushes tonight with the illegal... That annoyed me. That should have been implemented. Matt Lafleur was ahead of his... time. Packers were ahead of their time.

Because it's impossible to officiate. There's too much going on with the tush push. I didn't think it was that impossible. Dude didn't sat the football. They're way offside. You can't stop them if you're allowing to go offside. I mean, I agree. That's why I said it was disgusting, but I don't think it's that hard to officiate. Like, yo, if the ball hasn't been sapped and there's

movement on Philadelphia, it's a five-yard penalty. Like, what are the refs looking at not once but twice? Another reason why we need to not panic for Kansas City. Because both of those jammed. I do believe that the refs had a tough weekend. a brutal weekend. Kickers kickers had a weird weekend too

man. It's too easy for guys to kick in the NFL right. 64 yards. What gets strange is you see Aubrey kicked that and then like you'll go to the next guy and it's just like shank shank, shank. Was it it was the Patriots guy missed the first two extra points?

Just flat out missed it. Not blocked. What could said on the sideline after the miss? Here's the thing that's funny and I don't know if we can pull this up but even at like you don't know the kickers. I don't know these guys. Maybe you do, but I was laughing because Youngway Coup for the Falcons

was benched. He got that, which never happened. Yeah, they benched the kicker, but I don't know if you saw the end of the game, I think it was, Parker Romo. He didn't even know who Leonard Floyd was. They introduced each other on camera after they won. He goes, do you even know your teammates? And he looks, he points and goes,

I know Bejohn, I don't even know who this guy is. The kicker says that. That's a baller play. That's a baller play. That's a, this is my town. And I can't remember who was running the interview. I'm the captain now. That's Leonard Floyd and they like shake hands. I'm the captain now. Like we don't communicate with these guys. We don't know them.

They're kind of like teen pets. They help you in? Oh, there's her kicker. There we go. All right, boys. How's brother? Great pick, pal. We're taking the points with the Buccaneers and Owen Wilson are laying the points. A big number of chargers three and a half on the road in Vegas tonight. It's a big swing

night. Yeah. Big swing night. It is. Big swing night. Dogs are barking tonight, boys. The dogs are They're barking to night. I can't wait. They're hungry. See you guys in the group chat. All right.

There you go, Alice brother. Good seeing you. Luke. Good seeing you as always. Luke Wilson. Al's brother joining us. Aaron Eckblad coming up.

We'll get to our best bets as well. Overdrive continues. TSN 1050 and on TSN4. All right, best bets coming up later in the hour. Big night. We got two Monday night football games. We got Jays,

Ray, you Savage making his debut tonight. I'm looking forward to that. Just feel like it's going to be a positive night. Why wouldn't it be positive? Everything else works out for the Jays right now. And even if they fall behind five, nothing, they'll win. Yeah, they'll find a way. In 10. Saturday's game was so much fun.

Like yesterday, they just, Baltimore is just trying to get to the finish line. Yeah. Baltimore is pulling a white, Chicago white socks. Remember how the white socks were so bad, and they had that one positive turnaround a year, and then they were just garbage again? That's Baltimore. That's effectively Baltimore again. Just terrible, no pitching.

They got prospects and they got names that you know and you think, have the opportunity of putting up numbers. I guess have a time. I mean, there's a chance. It could be a setback, but it looked like they were going to take control of the east. Yes. Yeah. It's weird.

It's been a strange season where, like, the Jays and the Ores have flipped, basically, and Baltimore's just got their bags pack. Get me to the finish line. Get me out of here. Told you that when we were signing off for the summer or whatever, like in June, the Blue Jays were not in a great spot. They were not on a heater necessarily. No. Or closing in. back, and now they've been

the cream of the crop. You know, they've been great. Any type of setback, they've found their way out of it. That's the one thing. They're a resilient group. They really are. Like, and the Bichette injury is a great example of that. Like, that had the real chance of kind of sucking some life out of the clubhouse.

Drop off, yeah. And it hasn't. Next man up. They go out there. They keep winning, beating good teams. And I don't see why they're not going to do the same thing tonight. Exactly. Everything's positive. For Tray you Savage and the Jays. So we'll get to that, the Monday nighters a little bit later in the hour. Everyone's doing their golf tournaments today. Seems like the whole

league is basically, we're going to have a golf tournament today. I know Florida would do that. Is it too hot to golf down there in the afternoon? Every day is a golf tournament for the I guess you could have it at any point if you want to. But camps, they come by quick if you go to a cup final. And our next guest, I'm sure, is ready

to go. He re-signed down in Florida this past summer, two-time cup champ. He's been there his whole career. Former first overall pick. There's Darrenette Cloud. What's up, Aaron? Hey, guys. Thanks for having me. Yeah, thank you for doing it. This is your third year in a row with a short offseason? Is this just becoming custom now? Does it still feel short for you or what?

I'm not going to lie, this one has felt the shortest, to be honest. It's been a quick turnaround. Obviously, having to wait a little bit to get the deal done with Florida. Made it a little bit stressful at the beginning, but it's been great so far. how was it doing the contract everyone was talking about how many teams were interested i know you wanted to stay just kind of take us through that and how much it meant to you to stay a panther yeah i mean well obviously i don't know exactly what the market was because i never got to it um but at the end of the day it was always florida um we had some work to do to get it to a position uh where it was you know the right thing to do was signing it um but you know they came around and

and I'll be a Panther for life, and I couldn't be more proud and excited. Take us through the thought process down the stretch, because we were talking off air. You were a team that started on the road in every series. It wasn't like, you know, hey, we won the division. Hey, we were just kind of cruised and protected our health. You know, in the end, you kind of had to put it all together once the playoffs hit. You know, was there any concern in the dress room,

or did you feel like you would be able to kind of turn it on when it mattered. Yeah, I didn't think there was any concern in the dressing room. Our game kind of is the same, no matter what, all the time. I think the idea to get guys rest is important. I don't believe that home ice advantage matters until game seven of staying like a final where you're, you know, you're having to travel. That extra, you know, travel day is kind of tough.

And, you know, we saw that in the Edmonton series a couple years ago. it's not that easy to do that. But otherwise, I don't think it's a big deal to be on the road to start series. I think it's sometimes even an advantage when you can get that first game. Well, how is that established? Like, is that a Paul Maurice initiative? Like, that's a mentality you guys need to just develop or you've just naturally developed that as a team where you guys are so comfortable regardless of where you play in the playoffs?

it's just the idea of like the games is the same no matter what we're not changing anything so yeah you get your matchups at home but everybody plays the exact same way we do the exact same thing every forward every defenseman you're required to do the exact same thing whether it's going to get pucks and breaking it out or dumping it in every single time and you get to the red line i'm sure we got the most dumpins of all time at this point it must make you laugh though looking at other teams that are trying to reinvent the wheel and they talk about, I found it fascinating some of the clips from you guys in the finals and the playoffs where it's not about all these high-tech things and numbers and different stats. It's very simple. Get it in, go after it and

get it back. Yeah, we have some rules, right? Obviously, I'm not going to say them on here and give it all away. I mean, it'd be pretty obvious. I'm sure if you watch some of our games, but there's some rules that we follow as a team and we've been able to add to those rules as we've gotten more comfortable year over year. And, you know, be more dynamic team because of it. And, you know, there's only, we're only getting better out of year over year. With Aaron Eckblatt, when you say add to those rules, like, what do you mean by that? Like, allow more freedom because you guys have figured it out and Paul knows you're going to abide by the rules. But how do you add rules after you've won a Stanley Cup?

Because you can only focus on so many things every single day until they become second nature and then you can grab a few more things. Sure, there's a little bit more freedom, of course, within those rules. But, yeah, without giving too much and too much detail, it's, yeah, just as you get comfortable, you have the same team year over year, the same players, everybody gets comfortable with it. the guys that have left our team could, I'm sure, tell you all those rules, right? It's a simple

thing. How quickly did it take Brad Marchand to settle into the room and, you know, really take that third line to the next level? Oh, he's incredible. Playing with Lucy and Lundy, that line was so damn good. I guess that's a question for him, how long we take to settle in. It didn't seem like very long with the playoffs that he had. With Aaron Ekbladden, you guys, it's almost become like this folklore, the camaraderie you have, you know, and you've spoken of it, Chuck spoke of it. Marshall, everyone did. You all go for, you go for dinners together. You go ice cream. You go, you know, saunas, everything. Like, is that, is that a hundred percent accurate or are you guys putting it on? Like, are you guys fully committed to all team all the time, or is it easier to

project that after you've won so much? No, I mean, we're obviously a tight team, and it helps when we've been together for a long periods of time. In the playoffs, it's all team all the time. You don't go for a dinner without, you know, all 30 guys and the trainers and everybody. In the regular season, obviously, we're not, you know,

doing dinner as a full team every single night, but we have a ton of team dinners, a ton of team events. We all live close to each other in Fort Lauderdale. That's the best part. Well, living down there, like this is, like noodles, you were a Panthers alumni, and you had the Cadillac

and your... Nine games for... Yeah, nine games, but still you're... Yeah, but I had the caddy. Panthers, Panthers alumni, it was a very different time. Like, with all the respect to your portion of Panthers' history, it wasn't like you guys were winning a lot or going to the playoffs necessarily. There weren't a lot of people kind of buzzing. And now when you consider what has been created, and you've seen both ends of it, Aaron,

like when you got there, you were a first overall pick for a reason. They were not a good team, you know, and it was... They were not at the forefront of any NHL conversations, and this is all you've known at the NHL level, but like how much is it developed in terms of the marketplace and how much of you benefited and do you think your team benefits from being as good as you are, as connected as you are, but playing in the market you're playing in where you guys are big and you're popular,

but it's not like, you know, maybe with the Leafs or the Rangers or the Havs would have to deal with on a daily basis. Do you think that benefits you guys? Yeah, no doubt it does. I love it. Obviously, I think it would be almost difficult for me at this point to play in a big market because I just, I wouldn't know what I'd be stepping into. It was funny. The Stanley Cup the other night, two nights ago, it was at True Lux on the beach. There was probably 10 of us players. It was Tim Wittenauer, who's one of our manual, like, head athletic trainers.

And it was his day with the Stanley Cup. And we were just having, you know, just some cocktails. at True Lux and there was like I said 20 30 people there and Stanley Cup sitting outside and nobody even really stopped to look at it like it is amazing right so it's that's that's how Florida is it's it's quiet but you know the fan base that we do have is awesome and they've been nothing but great to me over the years so yeah pretty crazy I couldn't believe it like even the car is driving by no one even noticed it and it was just sitting on the balcony that's wild Anybody could have just walked up and came to see it.

Pictures, selfies, whatever. Oh, we're good. I guess I've seen enough of it at the elbow room after you guys have won back to back. True enough. How many overdrive updates do you get from your brother? I get all my updates from my brother. I'm not like the biggest student of the game. So, you know, when they were texting me to do this interview,

I've gotten a little bit picky and choosy with what I do, and because he's a fan of you guys and obviously former players that's the ones I say yes too the most so Hayes is a fraud I did find out that you are I did find out that you are a Barry alumni

that's right, that's right man I laid the framework down for you man I was I crawled so you could walk up in Barry I brought the I brought the Stanley Cup to I think

it's not the Molson Center anymore yeah I don't know what it's called not the Moulson Center anymore not the Molson Center, but... Yeah, the Sadlon Arena. Yes. Cool, man. Yeah, that's a great rink.

I brought up there. Brought up there on my cup day. Out of boy. There you go. Beautiful. How about that? It's a couple of alumni. I could tell that made you feel good.

Well, a bit of a big... At least I'm included. Fraud to start off with. And then backed it up and said you actually played for the Barrys. Which is natural. There you go. Which is natural. Shout out to the whole Eckblad crew.

Good luck. year man you guys needless to say are the favors to do it again like four years in a row have you even have you put any thought into that you said it's a short summer once you guys get running again like the whole league's chasing you down no one's done that

since the Islanders I believe four years of a row going to a cup final like is this going to be the most difficult one you think yeah we're gearing up for another hard training camp so that should be fun yeah I mean it's it's normal at this point obviously

when you look back on it, back-to-back, Stanley Cups, and three trips to the finals, it's crazy. It's hard to believe, especially with where we came from. But, yeah, I'm really excited to get going. Well, you guys are the Pacecar, and you have been for a long time. So, congrats on all the success. Congrats on getting a deal done back in Florida, like you said, a Panther for life.

And best of luck this season. Thank you for doing this. Awesome. Thanks, guys. Thanks for having you. Take care. Aaron Eckblad. First overall pick.

Former Colt. Former Colts. Exceptional status, too, which is rare for defensemen. You don't see that a lot for a defenseman. He was a 15-year-old one up there. He was a big dude. Yeah. He probably had the size back then and then just needed to fill it in.

But great player. Rookie of the year. Great career, man. Two-time Cup winner. We didn't ask him about Canada. Like, we'll hopefully catch up with him before the Olympics. But he's a lot of mock teams out there. Like, everyone's got their own mock team.

Ekfod's on a lot of those mock teams. You know, it's funny how it goes. goes from like skilled D-man can move the puck. Now he's like the ultimate competitor. Now it's like. But his games evolved? I know. Like that's how it evolves.

It's like you can be young and move the puck and play on the power play and tow drag. But when you bring the intangibles and you're a gamer in big games, that's what people want. You played for Paul Maurice. Do you know what those rules are that he's talking about? Probably just simple situational stuff. Like D-Man pinches got to fill in. Yeah. You know, I think there are, like, non-negotiable, no fancy plays, odd man rush it, or if it's not an odd man, just simple stuff.

Like, it's probably not that complicated. I've got to be at the net, people at the net. That's all they talked about, at the net, get the puck to the net. I had a video guy tell me, and pointed out a clip that said they had a two-on-two. You have Reinhardt and Barkoff on a two-on-two entering into the offensive zone, Reinhardt dumped it in. and the winger, I can't remember who was playing with him, if the Chucky or whatever, went and got it on the other side or the D-pitched in.

So it was like he was joking about the most dump-ins. They play a certain way and everybody's on the same page. You imagine, you know, trying to sell that to McDavid or Dryside over to, hey, you know, dump that puck in, it's two-on-two. And they're trying to make a play. There was space there. Reinhard just dumped it in. Like they play a certain way, but everyone plays it to a T.

Well, that's why it works. Yeah. Right? They're all, they're all so committed to the game plan. Yeah. And I don't know if it's, it would be a rule that needs to be established or not, but they have that kind of one guy's in the fight. Everyone's in the fight. I wouldn't be surprised if that was a rule. For sure.

Which should be standard procedure for every team of the league, but it's not. It's not. There's people checking their skate laces the minute that there's some. All hell breaks loose and it's, uh-oh, yeah, it's going, I was going for a change. Saddle down, guys. Yeah, come on, guys. Everyone just relax in here. Yeah.

All right. Thanks to Aaron Eckblad. Come back with our best bets powered by Fanduel. Jay's raised tonight. Tee that up next. All right, Best Pets powered by Fanduel. Make your picks and assemble the same game parlay and seconds on the Fandual Sportsbook. Yeah, Pall's brother and I believe the dogs will be barking tonight.

Be good games, though. Yes, taking the points, bucks plus two and a half. Taking the points, Raiders at home plus three and a half. Divisional Battle home game. Chargers will charger. That's something I'm. fairly certain of the Chargers will Charger. So we're on both dogs tonight.

Best bets powered by Fanduel. Same game parlays this NFL season now include passing touchdowns and receptions on the Fandil Sportsbook. Yeah, please play responsibly 19 plus physically located in Ontario. Jays raised tonight. Kagan's down there in Tampa.

John Snyder speaking. That Boba Shett is in Dallas getting a second opinion on his left knee. Schneider calls this a normal part of the process, not to to anything new, and we should know more in the next day or two. When a guy says a normal

part of the process, he's crapping his pants and he knows he's out for the year. We always had a plan that he'd go for a second opinion in Dallas. Like, we mapped this out. That's their Germany. Weeks ago, man. That's a prayer. That's basically knowing he's done for the year and just

second opinion. That's my concern. That means the first opinion was not a positive opinion. They didn't like it. So they're like, we want to talk to somebody No one goes for a second opinion when they really like the first opinion. You'll notice that. He's fine. He can play tonight.

I don't know. I'm going to Dallas for a second opinion. Don't believe you. Don't want to believe you. Can't believe you. Will not believe you. That is concerning. Very concerning.

Yeah, that is. That is concerning. Man, he's been so good, Boba Shutt. Up for a contract, too. He was the MVP. Yeah, him and Springer. Yeah. I think it's, yeah, I think I'd go Springer one,

Bo, two, probably, Kirk three. Kirk has been good. Kirk's been very good. His numbers are slowing down a little bit, but that was a big sack fly the other night. Like, that's all he knew. That's a professional at bat. Professional at bat from Alejandro.

Didn't you make it home from first? Yeah, he'll do a first to home. You put, you find a, like a power rally out there. And you give him a hot stuff. start. Alejandro Kirk can get cooking, man. The guy might be one step behind him, but he'll get there. Yeah, he will. It'll be a play at the plate. Yeah. That's for certain.

Yeah. Play at the plate. If he's going first to home, there is a play at the plate. Yeah. He was good, though. Yeah, Kirk's been great. Yeah, and listen, again, it sucks that Bow's banged up. We'll see. We'll see what the Jay's have to say tomorrow in the next couple of days. But Jay's raised tonight, you savage, getting the start. It's going to be an exciting night. We get two Monday night football games. The Leafs are back in action. or back on the ice in a couple of days. It's going to be a really fun week.

All right. Thanks to everyone behind the scenes for helping out. We appreciate it. Everyone for tuning in today, TV, radio, podcast, web, up on YouTube live on YouTube, TSN's YouTube channel. We're out of here. Enjoy your evenings. Enjoy the games tonight.

We're back tomorrow at 4 p.m. We'll chat then. The biggest songs in the world. You've heard them countless times. Now, learn the details of how they came to be. join ruby car 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 the stories behind the songs you love on iHeart radio or wherever you get your podcasts