OverDrive - Willson on the Lions leading the NFC, Campbell's coaching approach and Hill asking out of Miami

Episode Date: January 6, 2025

TSN NFL Analyst Luke Willson joined OverDrive to discuss the headlines around the NFL, the Lions achieving the No. 1 seed in the NFC and Sam Darnold's rough performance, Dan Campbell's leadership the coaching dismissals in the league, Tyreek Hill asking out from the Dolphins and more.

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Let's go. New year, new you. New you. New you. Explore it all. Feel brand new. At iHeartRadio.ca and on the free iHeartRadio app. New year, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you calls himself now. Partzy, can you explain the People's Commish? Yes, I can. Partzy, first off, it's good to hear your voice. Yeah, man, I miss you, pal, and I'm sorry about what happened. I'm sorry that we did

this to ourselves. Don't worry, Partzy, I've got a lot to say today. But the People's Commish, I'm now the Player's Commish. I had to retire as a people's commission okay I sat here I watched the World Juniors I will say parts you were electric on you were electric on TSN but outside of that there was not much electric things going on there what happened to hockey well we were just saying part see how we need somebody to oversee things and the selection committee and for the players to get out there and be electric maybe That the players commission is the guy to oversee the hockey team Listen, I will gladly do that. But this is what I'll say

And you tell me where the lie is here. I think of 1972 in the summit series I watched that in school when I was probably 10 years old and what everybody forgets is when bobby clark came by in broke buddies ankle you know where's that guy where's that Canadian hockey well part two i hate to interrupt you but i think that that that is ridiculous to think that that would be necessary

we talk about part of the fabric of Canadian hockey is just some toughness like run somebody over How about we start with that save the ankle breaking for the regular season in the CHL? But let's just start with some team toughness part C. I Agree, and that's why I said the CFL is going shot here now I don't think they're gonna do it especially based off the backlash I got But I'm like people still like toughness and you can see it through the, like the TV. When you turn on a sporting event, regardless of the sport, and this is, I'm being serious

for a sec, and you got guys that are really trying and it's a very physical endeavor and there's bodies flying everywhere and there's pure carnage. To me, that's what brings fans with the combination of talent, skill, et cetera. And that's what brings fans with the combination of talent skill etc and that's what as much as you want to dog the NFL for weird quirky things they've done it is still a very violent game you turn that game on yesterday the Anzaloni hit on Jamir Gibbs my goodness hearts you want a super bowl man you know you know you want a super bowl how much like every snap how much guys put into it and if you get to the finish line How much like every snap, how much guys put into it. And if you get to the finish line,

how much like it means so much more when you get a team like you had in Seattle. And you talked about Pete and the leaders and what they put into it and the physicality. And day after day, it's worth it at the end of the line. 1000%. It's funny because I sit here and I gotta be very careful what I say now

but you go online and it just seems like you know it's all about oh let's promote this let's do this or these videos floating around okay and I'm like what happened to the camaraderie brotherhood and bond in a locker room and you said it where you're out here taking the body sacrificing yourself to win a ball game or a hockey game it doesn't exist you know where it can exist? The CFL. But we're stuck in 1800 with rugby rules. That's why the People's Commission is going to have to clean this thing up. And that's where the commission comes from. We got to adapt.

I know there's some CFL hardos that don't want any changes, but the reality is, if you want new eyes, which is going to potentially bring new money to that league, you've got to adapt with the times and people want to see fast violent football We do not love punting. We do not love to announce and I'll end my rant because I'll probably crucified by some CFL Pardo online about how it's the real rugby rules and I'm making the game gimmicky Well, I that's where I was gonna go all of a sudden I'm reading Twitter and you are just in one fighting with a bunch of CFL fans. Like what happened there? Because I think,

I honestly feel like you were trying to help and then why did you upset so many fans? Like they just don't believe in the two and out, three and out, they believe in punting. Like where was the disconnect between you and the fan base? Noodles, I'm glad you asked me that because I sit here and when I put that out there, I was like, this should create a little bit of buzz for the CFL. My intentions were very pure. I know a lot of guys in the CFL, I like them,

and I think there's a lot of talented football players in that league, and I think the league can grow. And what I was met with, not by everybody, but like you said, by a lot of talented football players that league and I think the league can grow What I was met with not by everybody like you said by a lot of CFL fans We basically shut the hell up and stay in your lane go away So at that point I was like how did this you know tweet that was supposed to help out? backfire into the most Short amount of idiots I've ever had in my life coming after me is that the one tweet that made you the players commission instead of the people's commission? Well it's funny you're gonna laugh I got a call I'm you're this is what gets funny is I got a call from two or three players that I know

and they're like man the entire league feels the same way that you do and there's a lot of issues we have as players but the reality is you've got these CFL gurus, if you want, that wants to keep the game in the stone ages because it's part of Canadian history or whatever. And again, I understand that I'm not saying it's a bad thing, but they need to realize that the end of the day, by us not progressing football to and I'm not saying you got to make it the NFL, please. I'm not sure I'm saying, but by them not trying to progress in advance the guys who suffer are the players that are in there in terrible facilities not getting paid as much as

they should for being pro athletes and risking their body every week so that's kind of in my rant and I'm dying on this hill on Twitter right now as Noodle said I am I'm defending the trolls for the sake of the players now I'm graduating the players commission. All right well in terms of the National Football League where do you stand on the the coaching turnover Black Monday they call it. Dorad Mayo's out in New England, Doug Peterson's out in Jacksonville that's not a surprise. Mayo is one and done I mean one season and he's out. Chicago's gonna be looking for a coach. The Jets are looking for a coach. Like

there's some vacancies out there. Any of these spots, do you find any of them compelling? Any of them stick out in terms of where you would go if you were a coach looking for a job? So hey it's tough because I don't know owners like I should but when I come to rosters and things that I look at, to me, and this might be crazy for a lot of people to hear, but it's the Chicago Bears. You know, I look at this roster, the defense could be good. They were good two years ago. They had very good games this year at times, especially early. And then I go to the offensive side of

the ball and I say, okay, you stroll out here with Kenan Allen, who had a great year for them. I know he's an older guy, but had a really good year. Ro Ro Mo do Zay is supposed to be a perennial talent. You know, he had flashes this year and the whole season was a bit of a fire sale on offense. DJ more is probably the most underrated receiver in the league. So now it's, you put Caleb Williams in there, you get him a real coach, you get

him a real football culture, and maybe you turn this thing around. Now the thing I do worry about is the quote unquote culture of that team. Like there's some bad body language by a lot of different guys. I think the Bears as an organization has obviously struggled. But I think from a roster standpoint, I don't believe that that roster's that far away. We're on the flip side, like I look at New England and I do have very high hopes for Drake May

and I think he can be a great player in this league. But after that, offensively, I don't like, Stevenson's a good back, Gibson's a good back, these guys are not perennial stars by any mean. You look at the wide receivers, nobody really jumps out of the film. Like I would be very nervous if I was a coach going to New England,

unless my name was Mike Brable, because Brable will probably get the patriot way back on and win with a less talented roster and a more disciplined team. In terms of what we saw last night, Detroit, I thought that was a significant statement by them. I was thoroughly impressed with the way they played, specifically on the defensive side of the ball.

Even the last game like that, I know that first place was up for grabs, but you put that much stake into it, huh? I do, because of what was on the line there's a sub e a huge difference between the one seat in the five seat the vikings have to go to the rams now they're gonna play l a on a monday night

but matt stafford's waiting for him shah mcveigh's waiting for him and now detroit can sit pretty and they got home field throughout it's not i thought it was a huge that was a playoff game last night and the lion showed up for it and I didn't think the Vikings did Sam Darnold didn't look great I mean what are your takeaways from what we saw last night so you know hey the most concerning thing for me is definitely Sam Darnold the Lions are an incredible team obviously and they have a great great offense and when they get ahead they can really pour it on which they

did yesterday where they're potentially, they can really pour it on, which they did yesterday. Where they're potentially weaker, they're still obviously very strong, is in those tight games, or even if they're trailing, because then you don't feel as comfortable calling those run plays. I sit here and say, like, man, early in this game, Minnesota's defense did well, you know, caused two turnovers, made some stops

and Sam Darnold just missed throws. And I know that, you know, throwing the ball in the NFL is not easy, but if you want the one seed, you have to make those throws. All the red zone failures, again, tip your cap to Detroit for that. And then the next thing I'll say that I thought was a huge momentum swing, because you know, I got to take my shots at kickers But you go down there at the end of the first half You kick a field goal to go 7-6. There's 20 seconds left and my guy kicks the ball out of bounds There is I will guess right now that there is probably

Three million people on planet Earth or more that could go into that situation and not kick a kickoff out of bounds, including everybody on the show. And what happens? The Lions go take the ball on the 40 and a couple plays at one time out and they race the field goal. I thought it was a huge momentum swing. And then later on, the kid misses a 57 yarder when they desperately needed him to make it And I get I get it far. I understand that but now all of a sudden Jared Gotham lines have a short field

I was sitting over there the producer of Jay on right shows a big Vikings guy said we're cooked This thing's done a couple plays later the game's out of control So, you know the lines are that good you can't make mistakes which is a testament to them but I do think if you're a Vikings player right now or in that front office you're a little sick because you really helped the Vikings out a lot of ways that you shouldn't have. Part C last year your confidence level in Dan Campbell was basically below zero you're like this guy's gonna do something stupid Where are you at this year the following year like do you still think that there's a chance in a big moment in a big game?

We saw it with that. What was it a fake? Kick return and like with two minutes left a couple weeks ago is ridiculous Like what is your confidence level that this guy's not going to be a donkey come playoff time? So it's still falters, you know, and I think he's by far coach of the year You know you tip your cap He's the best coach in Lions history in my opinion I know he hasn't been there that long but there was a moment last night that kind of gets passed over because they they won the game by so much but You're kind of sitting there and you're thinking hey man

You still are playing Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, TJ Hawkinson. You know, your defense still has had issues at times and the Lions were up 15 and it was a fourth down again and I sat there and was like, I get that you go for it on fourth down here, that's your MO, but you kick a field goal, the game's over. I believe it was in the fourth quarter. You know, you go up 18, your three score's clear now. You've made the Vikings completely one dimensional and you're winning that game unless something outrageous happens.

And we go for it on fourth down and they get it and they end up scoring a touchdown and I sit here and I say to myself, hey, it looks great and they score and now it's even more. But in the same breath, it's like, man, if you don't get that first sound and Sam Darnall hits Jefferson for a goal ball, which is not an unrealistic situation with that type of talent. And now all of a sudden your 15 point lead is eight. And if you want for two at seven and the games completely flipped.

So where I get nervous about him in the playoffs is if they get up on whomever, you know, and they've got a chance like a simple short chip shop field goal put them away sort of like they had last year against San Fran and they decide like, no, we're fourth down team. We're going to go for it and it burns them. I think it's going to be tough. So I do worry about that. But then the same breath part, see they're so good right now. You know, does one coaching decision matter?

I guess we'll see. But yesterday was, it was definitely a very impressive outing. What I found interesting is they actually triggered an offside last night at the end of the game to effectively put it away when it was a fourth and two or whatever. That was because Minnesota clearly is like, they're actually going for it. Like they're not trying to draw us off line, offside. You know what I'm saying?

Like so many teams you know it's just fraudulent. They're wasting people's time. You're going to go out and you're going to try your hard counts and you're going to try to get people to go offside, but you're actually not fully committed the defense Niff sit out Dan Campbell has thrown off the opposing coach to the point where they actually think they're going for it on fourth and short yeah he has and it benefited them last night it is you know I don't know if that'll carry over in the playoffs but it actually worked last night the game was

probably over anyway but that's in that I find interesting is that as much as he could self-implode and do something stupid to screw over the Lions I do think his unpredictability in his riverboat gambling can actually mess with the opposing coach a little bit too Luke. Yes and that's a great point and what I'd say too about that moment was in that second half, I, obviously the lions had run the ball so well and they were getting so much push. Now part of that, I think they just wore that defense down, but now all of a sudden you're sitting there on fourth and two and you're like,

Hey, we've ran the ball down the team's throat. The D line is just like, Hey, it's all hands on deck. As soon as I hear the snap count, you know, I got to get off the ball and try and not get driven back you pull the double counter the hard count and i give a free five yards most demoralizing thing in football mentioned for town right so there's definitely another avenue look at the gambling work you're feeling it

and you make the right call can help you out a lot as well with luke wilson get out here and i reek ill uh... and we'll get you out of here on Tyreek Hill. Who pulled the shoot in the fourth quarter last night. Like that story by all accounts like McDaniel said after the game he was just told he's not aware he's not available anymore in the fourth quarter but not due to injury. So it sounds as if Tyreek Hill basically made a business decision game was over they were done Denver had already won I think they were aware of that so they weren't going to the playoffs in Miami but sounds like Tyree Kill pulled the shoot in the fourth quarter and then after the game said I'm out like I can't I don't I don't basically I gotta go somewhere where I can compete he's a wild card at

the best of times worst of times he's not a young guy anymore I don't know if he's worth the hassle that's and he can he like this year now two of being injured affected him Luke big time but he was not anywhere close to his explosive. He was not an effective player this year like to the level that he's been in the past. Yeah. Where do you see this going with Tyree kill? You know a couple of things one you can't do that as a guy as a you know, I understand they're knocked out of the playoffs but you can't do that and Having any sort of winning culture in that locker room if you have him back next year unless he gives some sort of grave apology Etc

We had a moment like that and with a player in Seattle one year is kind of middle of the year He was traded the next week for pretty much a kick cap bar. Um, it was like, you can't take yourself out of the game. That's just, it's like the cardinal rule of playing football in the NFL. If you're suited, you're going until you can't, no matter what the situation is. So to hear that, it was very disappointing. I understand that he's angry and frustrated and a couple things I would say is like one,

not the time, you know, don't quit in fourth quarter. And two, like in all fairness, this is a guy who could have taken less money and played with Patrick Mahomes, you know? And I am not the guy to sit here and say, you should take less money Because it's for him and probably was 10 15 million bucks. That's a lot of cash Yeah But in the same breath like if you leave Andy Reid in Kansas City in Patrick Mahomes

To go to greener pastures or to make more money You can't be upset when it's not as fluid as things were and then the last thing I'll say it scares me about Tyreek is not as fluid as things were. And then the last thing I'll say that scares me about Tyreek is, you know, you look at it in the sense of, when I look at Justin Jefferson, I say, okay, obviously he's very young still, but he's tall, very, he's got great range, great hands, can run, that sort of thing. And sorry, I'm into female right now, boys. I got people, they're big fans of the show.

They're screaming at me. Shout out. I'm playing why I'm into it. OK, but, uh, you sit here and it's like. I think that he's not one trick pony. That'd be obviously ridiculous for me to say, but he's a little more limited. Like when he loses his speed, he's not six five, you know, he's not necessarily the most crispy route runner

I've ever seen so now all of a sudden it's like that one step is a big big difference where there's other guys that will be able to learn and kind of use other tools so I do worry about him if he's not up to you know snuff in his own physical speed or we lose a step how much that'll affect him parts I really want to thank you for doing this today and I'd also like to mention no matter what happens in the playoffs I will never ever want to be a teammate of Hayes or bro like it's me and you for the end of time brother I'll never go to the dark side. I

Just want to say something to address that first off. You know, I love you parts of you're my guy Secondly, I got to learn I got to wear this year was a tough year now. Don't be fooled This is my first thing I would say don't be fooled if you ask do you and I don't think and run the banner right now of Individual records we got jammed up by a couple pushes I believe we lost them when it comes to total wins i think they they had one maybe two more total wins i'll tell you what our record is right now let me tell you the record all right you guys you guys were 29 and 26 29 and 26 31 and we were 31 21 and 2 yeah doogies at all brothers house

games of punkers down having chocolate chip muffins talking about what games they want to do but it is a fraud and i don't know the comment what i'd say is and that what happened albrother went in hong kong my Alaska and ended up going on absolute care i just said i'm on route to Tofino for five days And I did it for the sole purpose of cleansing the mines here boys. I'm coming back on an absolute heater on Saturday I'm not sure we'll miss a pick Might be over wild card weekend might be over wild card weekend. Do you know what my partner's doing right now?

He's on a cruise. He's literally on a cruise. Is he on a cruise again? Literally, right now. You are jobbing me right now. He is on a cruise right now. How many cruises can one guy go on? Although I saw a documentary on TV a couple months ago, somebody said, me and my husband just live on the cruise ship. Oh, you can- They don't come off! You can live on that. It's like 20 bucks a day on a cruise who's mad you can just literally imagine the rest of life away take if you lived on a year it's just outrageous the behavior happening on a cruise I don't think he gets off the cruise like he talks about these ports I don't think he's ever stepped foot off the crew no he just stays on the boat yeah he's on the boat he's he's got he's

looking his clocks and can we leave like get people back? He's not about culture. He's about Cruising how many little sausage rolls do you think he stacks on? I don't know man, but it helps him because he comes back with a clear mind He does a clear mind and I think my partner and I are going to absolutely go on a heater So you better bring your a stuff. We will we'll be there red hot the way you guys stumbled down the stretch Pathetic pathetic the way you guys are seeing the board right now. That's just a fact to Fino or otherwise Luke. You got to own it Listen, oh, we'll put our money where our mouth is. I'll see you boys on Friday We'll make our pitch and just know that we're gonna be hanging the real banner at the end of the year congrats on your first season when like i said means nothing we're ready to rumble

right the hats away for you guys we got hats for you get a win some first again i know all like that thing on fire right now i don't know if it's something to get it i would enjoy yourself out there be good catch up with you later in life here's guys as the quilson