PHLY Philadelphia Eagles Podcast - PHLY Eagles Podcast | Jason Kelce, Jalen Hurts among 7 Philadelphia Eagles at Pro Bowl. Will you watch?

Episode Date: February 1, 2024

The Pro Bowl is an honor for NFL players. Does it resonate with NFL fans? Also, the latest on Eagles news and a look at how the 2022 Eagles compare to this year’s Super Bowl teams.  Learn more abou...t your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Transcript
Discussion (0)
Starting point is 00:00:00 And welcome to the P.HLY Eagles podcast. I'm Zach Berman here in studio with Rich Hoffman, the, as I said the other day, the most versatile member of the PHLY staff, author of the outstanding newsletter each morning. You can talk Sixers and can talk Eagles and many other things. But today, Rich, we're talking Eagles. Pump for that. I'm pumped, Zach. Have a good show. And we're going to start off. Well, we have a lot to discuss in this show. Like you saw in the headline, we're going to discuss Pro Bowl. because the events actually begin today. The Eagles have seven players down there, and we'll have some fun with that topic. We'll have some Super Bowl talk in there as well,
Starting point is 00:01:15 looking at last year's team and how it compares to the two teams playing next weekend. But let's start with some news, because actually, as we were going over the show, some news broke, and that is down in Washington, the final head coaching job, the final head coaching seat is filled. Dan Quinn goes over from the Dallas Cowell,
Starting point is 00:01:35 always to become the Washington Commanders head coach. All seats are now filled, but this is one that sends ripples throughout the NFC East because obviously Washington now you know who their coach is and Dallas loses a key piece of their staff. What was your reaction when that went down?
Starting point is 00:01:52 Well, my first question, Zach, was, do you think Dan Quinn turns the backwards hat front facing now? I mean, this is a position... You sound like Colin Colin Calhard right now. I know, I know, with the Baker-Mayfield stuff. But this is a position of power. Like, is this like, Is he going to get serious here?
Starting point is 00:02:07 Or does he ditch the hat entirely? I don't know. My biggest take right away was, was the Washington job as coveted maybe as we thought it was? Because I think as somebody who's covered the Sixers for a long time, Josh Harris, not a perfect owner, but obviously a huge step forward from what they have had for the past few decades, can kind of have like a modern infrastructure.
Starting point is 00:02:29 I think somebody who, like, I don't think Eagles fans should be thrilled that they ended up being the ones who bought. the commanders. And I also thought, okay, you have this new staff. You have a new GM from the 49ers. Seems like a pretty well thought of guy, right? And you have the number two pick in the draft. Yep. And cap space. Yeah. So when you put all those things together, I thought, okay, that's going to be like a place that head coaches want to go. Ben Johnson seems like he said no. Mike McDonald, seems like he said no as well. And I guess I'm just a little bit surprised. Now, I know Ben Johnson had rumors about he has like a super high asking price,
Starting point is 00:03:08 but those guys, I think, both passed on this job, and I'm a little bit surprised by that. Yeah, I think it's a very desirable job for the factors that you mentioned, the number two pick. And in addition to that, two second round picks, a lot of cap space, and I understand Bo will tell you,
Starting point is 00:03:24 and by the way, Bo's, he's coming back from the Senior Bowl. He's going to be back in studio tomorrow, and you can check out the show that he did with Fran Duffy yesterday that's on YouTube and wherever you get your podcasts. But, you know, Bo would tell you that Cap Space can be overrated.
Starting point is 00:03:43 And I get that, but it's still from a ground zero perspective of putting a team together that is appealing to have, you know, 70 plus million in CapSpace to have those draft picks. And so, and like you said, new owner, a fan base that wants,
Starting point is 00:04:01 you know, that you're, it's not like you're following a storied head coach or anything like that. I think in that situation, Ben Johnson was the target, and they were kind of left scrambling after Ben Johnson decides to stay. Perhaps they act sooner if they knew Ben Johnson was going to stay. The Mike McDonald thing, I think he, I think Seattle and him were pretty far down the line there. Obviously, he flew out to Seattle after the second interview. that's a job that makes a lot of sense there
Starting point is 00:04:34 but I or a fit that makes a lot of sense I don't think the wait time is an indication of the way the job is viewed as much as Ben Johnson backing out or not pursuing it now you know this better than me Josh Harris's history with his first head coaching hire this is not what it usually goes like no but it with Brett Brown
Starting point is 00:05:00 they waited until like August to hire Brett Brown. Now, I know there were rumors even on draft night. People were furious about that too. How can you not have a head coach? It's July. Exactly. And that seemed to be more Sam Hinky led than anything else back then, like being deliberate. But the confined timetable that the NFL teams put on it, it's somewhat arbitrary, right?
Starting point is 00:05:26 Like you don't have to hire a coach within three weeks. Now you want to put its staff together. And that's what's going to be interesting here with Dan Quinn, is who he hires as his offensive coordinator. As you mentioned in your newsletter, these rumors of Chip Kelly as a package deal with Dan Quinn. I don't know if that's going to come to place. I heard Clint Kubiak's name out there as well.
Starting point is 00:05:44 But just from my thought exercise perspective, imagine Dan Quinn and Chip Kelly together. That would be pretty intriguing. Well, especially because it doesn't seem like Chip really wants to play in the Big Ten with UCLA, which is probably like does not have the resources. I mean, I see all the pictures of the Rose Bowl on most Saturdays. It's not what the Rose Bowl looks like on January 1st or whenever they have the actual game. It doesn't seem like he's a guy who wants to continuously fly across the country to Ann Arbor, to Columbus,
Starting point is 00:06:15 even to stay college and get his ass kicked. That doesn't seem like something Chip would like. What has Chip been up to? Like, has he been good at UCLA? I don't really pay attention. He's been fine. He hasn't hit the expectations. that they had for him, it hasn't been egregious enough where they say they, you know, it's so clear
Starting point is 00:06:36 to move on from him. And when you're in that no man's land, that might be worse. Like two years ago he had a good year. This past year, they were down, then they kind of went on a late season charge, if you will. But yeah, he certainly hasn't been what they expected when they hired him. And interestingly, they kind of have like this run-oriented offense. It's not spreading the field like they did at Oregon. Does he still have like, you know, like eight plays, nine plays? Actually, the issue for him in the past, I mean, it was a little different this year was their defensive coordinator situation.
Starting point is 00:07:13 And he had Jerry Asan Arrow there for a while. Then Bill McGovern, the late Bill McGovern was there. This past year he had Lynn, who was a good decorinator, and then USC scoops him up. But regardless, whether it's Chip Kelly or not, Would they keep Bienemy, do you think? Maybe. Now, Bieni is still under contract. And so, yeah, that could be a possibility.
Starting point is 00:07:37 Now, he might be, you know, disappointed that he got passed over for the head coaching job. But that wouldn't be the worst thing in the world. I don't know what Dan Quinn's background is with Bienme. I don't know what they're saying in the interviews there. But the offensive coordinator role is critical there because the most success Dan Quinn had in Atlanta was when Kyle Shannhanhan was there. And I thought Dan Quinn was a good head coach with the Falcons. That certainly Washington would take that type of result.
Starting point is 00:08:05 But with his background, the offensive coordinator is critical. I think his first game was against Chip Kelly, right? Monday night football? Dan Quinn's first game? Yeah, was that his first game? No, that was the first game after well, that was the Eagles' first game
Starting point is 00:08:20 after this. Actually, no. Come to thinking, you are correct. Yeah. I apologize. You are correct. I was thinking of the Thursday night opener, Eagles, Falcons. after the Eagles were in the Super Bowl. Yeah, no, the first game down there, absolutely. Byron Maxwell gets beat by Julio Jones. I remember that game well.
Starting point is 00:08:36 That's a bad name from the past. Yeah, that was the 2015 Eagles. After watching that preseason game number three in Green Bay where they scored, I think, 21 points in the first quarter. I was like, oh, man, you're all in on San Bradford. This is a Super Bowl team. Sammy Sleeves, he's the guy. And that went, I think it took about two quarters in Atlanta, and it was like, oh, yeah, Maybe the preseason doesn't matter quite as much.
Starting point is 00:09:00 Now, Kiko had a great interception in that game. Kiko Alonzo. Good memory. But wait, real quick, though. It did feel like, I think the point you made is right, though. It felt like Ben Johnson was such a Josh Harris, even in Adam Peters type of hire, right? I mean, San Francisco brings Kyle Shanahan over, get the new kind of cutting edge offensive play caller. And to go to Dan Quinn, it just seems like, I don't know.
Starting point is 00:09:24 Was he their second choice, their third choice? but it does seem, and you're right, Dan Quinn was not a bad coach in Atlanta for a lot of his time there, but it just doesn't fit what I thought was going to happen there. No, certainly you would expect offense, right? I thought they were going to go there. And frankly, I'm surprised that they did not talk to Vrable. I thought Vrable, I think Vrable is a really head coach,
Starting point is 00:09:46 a really good head coach who would make a lot of sense coming off that Titans job. But early in the search, their priority was getting the GM, right? And so they get Adam Peters, that was their top target. And it really seemed like Peters and Ben Johnson would be this package deal. So whatever happened, whether it was the initial interview, whether it was the asking price, whether it was Ben Johnson. As he said, he does not want to mess with happy, right? He has unfinished business with the Lions. I think that sent them rerouting their search thereafter.
Starting point is 00:10:20 Speaking of Ben Johnson, do you recall coordinators basically turning down the position to be a head coach, probably in multiple places? if we're being honest, considering how well thought of that guy is and how well thought of he has been for two years now, it feels pretty rare for that to happen. Yeah, it doesn't happen often. I mean, if I want to stretch your memory here and the audience is memory, Gary Kubiak, when he was with the Broncos, was known to be especially selective, right? I think the expansion Browns at one point were interested in Ging Kubiak, and he was kind of waiting for the right opportunity, and he goes to the Texans for his first, for his first, job. And there have been a few other situations where the coordinator was particularly selective, but... Two Kubiak mentions in the first time of the show. But I'm turning this into, you know, the Daryl Morey reference, but opportunity is not a lengthy visitor. Like, you don't know, hey, there's only 32 jobs. And you don't, you know, I keep hearing he's going to be a hot candidate
Starting point is 00:11:20 next year. You never know what could happen. Totally. So, um, what if they have a bunch of injuries next year? and they just, what do they have the eagle season? You know, and it might not even be completely his fault. But, yeah, I was a little bit surprised by that. And then real quick with Dan Quinn, this messes up the Cowboys quite a bit. I think he was a really good defensive coordinator for them. And, you know, we mentioned it the other day. Like, as, you know, I kind of compared him to Kellyn Moore as he was like the defensive
Starting point is 00:11:47 coordinator version, like he gave the Eagles trouble. It wasn't every time. But, you know, it feels like those defenses forced a ton of turnovers. It seemed like the guys played really hard. hard for him. So the idea that he is now kind of leaving Dallas, I'm not sure how well he'll do as a head coach in Washington, but I know he did a pretty good job, at least in the regular season, as a defensive coordinator for Dallas, and as an Eagles fan, that's a big deal, right? To put an unknown in there. And also for Dallas, like, is it Al Harris? Because, like, I feel like a lot of
Starting point is 00:12:16 the defensive coordinator options probably are off the board, right? This is kind of like the Eagles last year, where, you know, we're into February now, and they have a position to Phil. So we'll see what they do. I mean, obviously Al Harris is pretty well thought of there. Yeah, Jerry Jones said the other day that they're in Winnow mode, which I made the joke, the bow, it seems like they're always in Winnow mode. So it makes you wonder, are they going for more of an established defense coordinator? But certainly from the 2024 Eagles perspective, this is probably a good outcome because it takes Washington some time. Dan Quinn's not like the top choice, right? And then the flip side is Dallas is particularly weakened here or potentially
Starting point is 00:13:00 weakened. You don't know what the replacement's going to do. And so that does shake things up from the NFC East. And speaking of the 24 Eagles and kind of to give the behind the scenes of the show, we were debating what to say or how much to kind of get into A.J. Brown here, right? Because on one hand, you don't want to be oblivious to what the fan base is talking to. On the other hand, you don't want to kind of throw oxygen into something that probably doesn't have a lot of merit. So based on my understanding, you know, there's a WIP poll the other day. Would you trade A.J. Brown for Patrick Sartan? Then that took on a life of its own in terms of A.J. Brown potentially being traded. I can tell you, I'd be utterly shocked.
Starting point is 00:13:52 if there was even a thought of A.J. Brown being traded. AJ Brown was the best player on the Eagles last year, is one of the elite players in the NFL, is on a trajectory to be a Hallfamer. That's not hyperbole. Look at the statistical trajectory through the first five years of his career. Number one.
Starting point is 00:14:12 Number two, from a financial perspective, it would be imprudent to say generously. It would be foolish, like realistically, to trade AJ Brown. And the third part is like it doesn't make them better. He is and A.J. Brown's, he's respected. He's liked. Yeah, so I didn't want to throw oxygen into it, but at the same time, I don't want it to seem like we're ignoring what's kind of being discussed here. He made rounds yesterday promoting something and he got asked about trade rumors.
Starting point is 00:14:51 fact that it's being talked about means we can't ignore it, but I'm telling you, and I'm curious your views too, but I'm telling the audience, like, it would utterly shock me. I'm not even saying, like, if he's traded, it would utterly shock me. If they even have a conversation in that building about, like, should we, no, it is, it's from where I stand, it's not real, and it would be, it would shock me. Now, I always say, never say never in the NFL, but it would shock me. Well, it's also how modern media, unfortunately, works. And I mean, I think there are a lot of good things about the instantaneous news on Twitter
Starting point is 00:15:35 and just, you know, hey, look, Adam Schaefter tweeted out that Dan Quinn was going to be the head coach about half hour before we went on. So that helped us. But sometimes, you know, you take, whether it's a WI people, and by the way, this happens in basketball more than any other sports. sport, just the amount of free agent and garbage kind of nonsense. And, you know, then it gets aggregated. Maybe one aggregator puts an eyeball emoji on top of it. They take half of the quote. Andre Godala has talked about this a lot where you take half of the quote and you don't
Starting point is 00:16:07 give the full context and it just, it has a life of its own. The next thing, it's leading Reddit. And I think A.J. Brown, in this case, like, yeah, it was like a poll. It was like a hypothetical thing. Like you said, it's impractical and it's not going to happen. but then it gets run with, right? And, you know, he gets asked about it. The one thing I will say on the K. Adams show that he was on,
Starting point is 00:16:27 it was like a little bit of an interesting answer. I think it probably reveals maybe a little bit more about, you know, how AJ feels about, not even the organization, but just having his guard up about trade rumors and things like that. Even if we can admit that it's not going to happen, I did think it was kind of a little bit of a revealing answer. Now, hey, look, maybe he had just a bad day and he got taken off guard a little bit by it
Starting point is 00:16:49 and, you know, a very vague idea of trade rumors, maybe scares him or whatever. But I thought it was a little bit revealing his answer that he just wasn't like, no, no, I'm not getting traded. Yeah, now he's been traded before, so probably, you know, he's become jaded to the business side of the NFL. He's been traded already, too.
Starting point is 00:17:08 What's that? He's been traded already, obviously. Exactly. I also want to say, like, I'm not, you know, when I say this, I'm not, you know, casting aspersions on on like content anywhere else because like part of being a sports fan is you know throwing trade ideas out there it's it's it's more taking something that's hypothetical and then turning it into a rumor like um you know that there's a leap to go from a poll uh and you know
Starting point is 00:17:37 just discussion because like i don't want to be hypocritical we're on a show every day year round right we have all these kinds of talks right and and so if you're you're you're you're you But there's a difference between reporting something and, you know, discussing something on here. But I'm telling you, it would utterly shock me if there's even a conversation in that building about trading AJ Brown. Also, in the news, and this is real, is Dinarre Wilson, the Eagles' former defensive backs coach. It looks like he's going to Tennessee to be their defensive coordinator. To give a little background here, Denard Wilson was a popular assistant with Eagles. he interviewed for the defensive coordinator job, did not get it, therefore did not stay in Philly,
Starting point is 00:18:21 went to Baltimore since then. The Eagles are now on their third defensive play caller. Dinarda Wilson is finally going to get the opportunity to call his own defense. As somebody who was in that locker room, and, you know, has been there for a while now, I don't mean to call you old, Zach. No, I'm 37. Yeah. Somebody who has seen many an assistant coach walk through those doors of Novacare.
Starting point is 00:18:42 did it seem like Dynard Wilson at the time was maybe a more popular position coach than usual or maybe had a little bit, I don't even say influence, but just that his guys would go to bat for him more than maybe the normal position coach. Did you feel that at the time in 2022? Yes, yeah, that's a good question.
Starting point is 00:19:01 I did feel it in part because defensive backs are, that's a group that can be, they're big personalities to them. typically defensive backs, right? Think of Dionne Sanders, right? Think of Darius Lay. And, you know, Malcolm Jenkins has a strong personality. So defensive backs are a group where you often need a strong personality to coach them. And he has, he earned their respect. He did a good job developing players. C.J. Garner Johnson's another big personality. He really did a good job acclimating C.J. also from like an Eagles trajectory perspective after his first year here 2021 they gave him
Starting point is 00:19:46 defensive passing game coordinator title oh he got the title he got the title which in essence is their way of saying like you're doing a good job we value you we're going to give you this pay bump we're going to give you this title bump but they didn't hire him as defense coordinator and there are people in that in that locker room who you know wanted to see him get that job so but if it worked out great with the Sye and Matt Patricia, then you can say, all right, the Eagles made the right decision. I'm not saying everything would have been good last year had they hired Denard Wilson. I'm saying it did not go well after they bypassed Donard Wilson.
Starting point is 00:20:25 Yeah, it just seems like he and Darius Slay had an unbelievable relationship. Of course, Slay, you know, there were stories written about it. Slay, the first thing when I saw that news last night, I looked at Slai's Twitter and he was already there. Like my guy got the job. So good for Dynard Wilson. Yeah, it just didn't feel the same as like when Cori Unlin was the defensive backs coach here. With Corey Unlin had some good jobs around the league too. But this idea that Dynard Wilson was probably had kind of risen above the stature of your run-of-the-mill defensive backs coach.
Starting point is 00:20:55 So yeah, good role for him. I'll get to call some defensive plays with an offensive coach in Tennessee. Last one for you. You mentioned it in the newsletter. Mike McDonald got hired. by Seattle, not really Eagles-related news there, but the one Eagles-related thing that I should point out is that Carl Scott, a Seahawks defensive assistant who was reportedly coming to Philly with Clinton Hurt, your boy, as you wrote about in the newsletter.
Starting point is 00:21:27 The defensive line coach is. Defensive line coach. It sounds like Carl Scott's actually now going to stay with the Seahawks. that report is, I believe, from Matt Zenitz. And that's notable, too, because when you keep hearing at this stage, you know, A, I've been getting questions from fans, like, why aren't Eagles announcing these guys? You know, they haven't announced Kellyn Moore, for instance. And sometimes it's because they're waiting to announce everything at once.
Starting point is 00:22:00 And then other times, it's because they're still sorting things through. And particularly at the position coach level, a guy might think he's coming, but then someone else comes in. It's a better offer. It's more money. It's better trajectory. So until you're signed, you're not signed. The funny thing about that report, too, because it was accompanied with the picture of Clint Hurt looking like Clint Hurt. It was basically like Clint Hurt was dragging Carl Scott across the country with him.
Starting point is 00:22:27 I'm going to throw you over my shoulder, kind of fireman carry you to Philadelphia, and you're going to be the defensive backs coach. So, yeah, I think that was what he was rumored to be, right? The secondary coach. Yeah, they didn't have the official title, but that had been his background with Seattle, with Alabama. And certainly, like I mentioned he's someone who has a background with some of the members on the Eagles coaching staff. Now, real quick, as I pull up the ads,
Starting point is 00:22:56 would you want Clinton Hurt and Don DeSandro coming off the bus first? Yes. Or Jordan Milada? Who would be your come off the first? you're come off the bus first guy. Oh, I think both of them. I think they should be the first people to walk out of the tunnel before the game. Like Dom and Clint should lead them onto the field.
Starting point is 00:23:14 And maybe like, don't run onto the field. Walk, you know, even look more intimidating. Yeah, I thought him and Clint and Dom would be a great pairing together. Yeah, Clint just looks more like a defensive line coach than I've probably ever seen somebody look like a defensive line coach. Now, if that's the first off the bus, if you want to be the first off. off the plane in Clearwater for Philly Spring Training, then you need to sign up for Philly Sports Trips. The PHLY is off the Clearwater with Philly Sports Trips for our very first PHLY Spring Training Takeover. Hang with Philly's legend, Charlie Manuel, Philly Sports Trips,
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Starting point is 00:24:29 But if you want to wait to book something, then the place to do that, that would be with game time because game time is a place for last minute tickets. And you can also book ahead of time. Like I'm going to the Sixers game Sunday, pull up the app, look at the deals, and you can find great deals on game time. It's not just the Sixers game this Sunday. It's a big game next Sunday. We all know the game we're talking about.
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Starting point is 00:26:47 and that's the one that doesn't require running that much. That's baseball. Yeah. Yeah, All-Star games stink now, man. But I think, yeah, I think it has to be baseball. I mean, basketball is a complete joke. I can't really say I know too much about it. the hockey all-star game maybe that one is is good but of the other three definitely baseball real
Starting point is 00:27:07 quick by the way there is a there is a correction um i said the sixers net's game sunday it's actually saturday it's my sunday because i'm heading to vegas on sunday so it's the last day of my weekend so i'm i'm going there with my kids for a night out with them so that's why i was thinking sunday but it's actually saturday so just a correction there but yeah back to the pro bowl the eagles have seven players there okay a j brown pulled out so a jr brown is not there uh but landed Dickerson, Janwin Hertz, Lane Johnson, Jason Kelsey, Hassan Reddick, Darius Slade, D'Anne Swift. And when Jason Kelsey was asked if he's going to play in the Pro Bowl, and this was back when they were cleaning out there in lockers, Jason Kelsey said, well, he's not quite sure
Starting point is 00:27:48 that you actually play, right? There's not your typical game. It's not your typical game like the last time that he was there, but he's excited to go down to Orlando and he gets to go to Disney World. He called it Walt Disney World, as Bo would like to point. out. You got to get to Walton there. Not Roy Disney World. Not Roy Disney World. Man, he said as long as his
Starting point is 00:28:10 daughter can see Elsa, then they will be happy. So he is down in Orlando. With Dickerson Hertz is the last minute addition as his sleigh. They are both replacements. And then Lane Johnson, Hassan Reddick, and DeAndre Swift, like I said, some of the skill competitions
Starting point is 00:28:26 that are today, there's the best catch, there's precision passing, closest to the pin, high stakes, dodgeball, kick-tack toe, snapshots. And then Sunday, it includes Madden head-to-head, gridiron gauntlet, tug-of-war, move the chains. So, yeah, this is not like your Pro Bowl of your... Will you be watching at all?
Starting point is 00:28:50 No, it actually... Some of those descriptions, though, reminded me of... I played a lot of Madden in my life. I don't really play it quite as much anymore. Maybe I should buy it back to see what... Well, so, I'll tell you... when you have a son who kind of gets in the video games,
Starting point is 00:29:09 all of a sudden now it's socially acceptable again to play it. So my son is nuts about Manning, and I'm in there, and I'm spreading five wide, and he's going, like, he goes to the goal line defense because he probably plays at, like, rookie mode. And so I spread five wide, and I do a hot route, and I try to explain to him how you have to read what the other team's doing. So, yeah, I don't take it easy on him in Manning.
Starting point is 00:29:32 It reminded me of kind of the mid-2000s, like the mini-games and that. Oh, my God, I used to play those for hours. They brought those back. Like the running back challenge? Yeah, it's called Training Camp now. They brought those back. Those were so much fun. It's nothing like actual training camp, but it's like their version of training camp.
Starting point is 00:29:47 And then like the passing, you had to throw the ball through the hoop or kind of the fake hoop that video games could provide. That's what it reminds me of. No, no, I won't be watching. But I also understand why the NFL does this. because as I wrote in the newsletter today, Zach, like, I just pulled up a clip. I just let's pull up a random year and type it into YouTube. And I typed in the 2002 Pro Bowl.
Starting point is 00:30:12 And I watched about five minutes of it. Not five minutes, three minutes. The first play I watched was Jeff Garcia was on the Niners. He goes back to pass. And I get it. They're going at maybe 85% speed, but it's not 30% speed. And he gets planted into the ground
Starting point is 00:30:29 by two gigantic defensive tackles. And it made me think, like, I can't believe they ever did this. Yeah, exactly. I mean, this is the one sport where you just can't play an All-Star game. I mean, you could if everybody decided to play hard, but why would people decide to play hard? It hurts to play football. And I think going to these kind of mini-game formats makes sense,
Starting point is 00:30:52 but it's just unbelievable that for so long they played out, what was it called, Aloha Stadium? Yes, in Hawaii. I mean, and in the 2000, it's like the veteran stadium turf. It looked like veteran stadium, giant stadium, it just looked absolutely miserable. And when Jeff Garcia was getting up from that sack, he was looking around like, why am I here? This is my reward for playing well this season that I just had 600 pounds fall on me. Yeah, it's, I don't know, it's funny that they did that for so long.
Starting point is 00:31:22 Well, speaking of that, my most vivid pro bowl watching memory was the late Sean Taylor. Brian Mormon, I believe, was the punter. Do you remember they had a fake pun, and he's running down the right sideline, and Sean Taylor just decks him. And, like, I'm not even talking about, like, a normal hit. I'm like, Sean Taylor made him think that he was like, like, he went from Hawaii back to California, right? It was, it was, it was, hit him right across the Pacific Ocean. Exactly. And to your point there, Brian Mormon's probably like, I'm a punter.
Starting point is 00:31:56 If this happened in game, it'd be bad. happens in the pro bowl, right? You know, there was the time when... Can you imagine, like, showing up to OTAs and being like, yeah, I can't play. That hit from the pro ball was still... That took its toll on me. Maybe training cap. Like, this actually didn't happen in the game, but there was the famous incident.
Starting point is 00:32:14 I say famous, like everyone knows it, famous for me. Robert Edwards, the running back for the New England Patriots had a good rookie year. He was out of Georgia. He hit a good rookie year. He's down in Hawaii for the Pro Bowl, and he's played. playing a beach football game and he gets injured and it like ruined his career. Even the beaches are banned in Hawaii, right? Exactly.
Starting point is 00:32:37 For your knees. I'm sure they're fun to just surf and hang out on. Well, yeah, so I was going to ask you. I have a lot of pro bowl questions for you. But while we're on that topic, it's been in Hawaii or it was in Hawaii for a long time. That was the big perk. You know, you go there, you sit at the pool or the beach. You drink, you know, you're having mites at the time.
Starting point is 00:32:58 beach or the pool. And then it was, I've covered it in Orlando. I've covered it in Arizona. It's been in Vegas, uh, in recent years. It's been in my, it was in Miami for a year. Uh, where would you want to go? How's the media access first off? So it used to be awesome. Now, I haven't covered it since they changed the format, but, uh, I care about us. I feel like I'm giving, I, I, I feel like I'm, giving away some, some secrets here. It's the same week as the, senior bowl, right? Obviously, Bose down at the senior bowl. And the senior bowl is kind of like the place where all the media goes this week if your team, if you're not covering a team that's still in it because the coaches are there, the GMs are there, you know, you start to do your draft
Starting point is 00:33:45 work like you mentioned in the newsletter. And the Pro Bowl, everyone's like, well, how would you go to the Pro Bowl? I went to the Pro Bowl for a few years to cover because you're able to get players in a relaxed environment. Yeah. Number one. It's a few weeks after the season ended. You know, I don't want to say, when I say they're happy to see you, that's probably an exaggeration.
Starting point is 00:34:06 I can't imagine. Jason Kelsey went back to Kylie and was like, I got to see Zach today, right? But it's the type of, you know, you see, you know, I do, I've covered two pro bowlers where Jason was there. And he's always great to talk to him. But he was especially like, you know, nice and helpful because you're a familiar your face, it's not the grind of the season, right? It's a few weeks later. I mean, I've spent time with Fletcher Cox at Pro Bowls, Darren Sprouls, I'm trying to think, Evan Mathis, John Dornboss,
Starting point is 00:34:42 Cody Parky, Rick Levato at the Pro Bowl. I'm trying to think of all my pro ball interviews. What a decade of special teams in Philadelphia. I'm trying to think of all my Pro Bowl interviews. Point being, like, it's a way to talk to these guys. It's a way to talk to these guys. It's a lot. It's, It's actually, and you know this much better than me, but like the NBA All-Star game is a huge media or deal, right? I see like that media day before where those guys are surrounded. You don't even go. I mean, it's just for national media and kind of, you know, people that are looking for cheap, quick quotes. Your access is horrible there in terms of like actually talking to people.
Starting point is 00:35:18 But they're like on podiums and say it's like a whole deal. There's international reporters too. And, you know, I mean, they're just, it's kind of like the Super Bowl, right? people that are kind of asking non-hoops questions. Sure. I would just skip those. MLB All-Star Games is a big deal for the media. And I think the NHL All-Star game is too. The Pro Bowl is not.
Starting point is 00:35:40 Now, ever since they moved from Hawaii, it's not. I think there are some reporters who like getting that Hawaii trip out of it. You know, I remember one year. I'm not saying they did it. Well, I used to, I grew up reading the Inquirer, and I'd see like this byline from Honolulu and I'm like, man, I'm pretty jealous about that. But the NFL Pro Bowl doesn't get a lot of media.
Starting point is 00:36:05 So it's a way to have good conversations with people. And I can tell you some like real good quality stories that I've gotten at the Pro Bowl because there weren't as many reporters there. I don't know what it's like now ever since they changed it from a game to like this week-long event, like you said. But where would you want to go let's say you're a player.
Starting point is 00:36:26 Let's say you're, I don't know, are you Jason Kelsey? Are you Jake Elliott? Are you Rick Levato? Are you Fletcher Cox? Let's say Rick Levato. Okay, you're Rick Levado. Do you want to go to Hawaii? Do you want to go to Vegas?
Starting point is 00:36:39 Do you want to go to Orlando? I think I want to go to Hawaii once. Okay. I think Hawaii is like a once every five years type of thing. And then I think I'd rather go to Orlando. Unfortunately for you, because that's where the Super Bowl is this year. I'm not the biggest Vegas person. Neither is Julia, yeah.
Starting point is 00:36:57 In the world. You know, it's like, like, I've had some fun there. Yeah. I've gone on, you know. You do Summer League there. It's scorching hot. It's really hot. And it's just like, I don't know.
Starting point is 00:37:07 I like Vegas, but it's a place for two days or so. Okay. And then by day three, I'm burned out. And, you know, it's funny, you know, if you leave that Vegas airport on a Sunday night, which I don't know what you're leaving on a Friday. We're leaving on a Friday, yep. That is an interesting place to see. all the people who have been around in Vegas.
Starting point is 00:37:26 So, yeah, I think for Hawaii maybe once every four or five years, and then I think I would pick Orlando amongst those. I don't know. I just, the easier trip, you know, I don't know what you think of Orlando. Do you, there are a lot of, I have some friends who are adults who have gone to Disney World. Okay. And that's been a big. Like without kids?
Starting point is 00:37:47 Yeah. And not at my age. Okay. But let's say it like, you know, in their like young 20s. Interesting. And I feel like that has been kind of a controversial subject amongst us. Like, you know, some people say that's absolutely ridiculous. What's the chat think?
Starting point is 00:38:01 Is Disney World a place you can go without kids? Well, they say that there are places like, I don't know if it's, again, I don't really know Disney World that well. Like, whether it's Epcot or just some of the resorts there where, yeah, there are like bars and things like that. But I'm pretty sure these guys are actually like riding the rides during the day. Okay. So, you know, my friends are interesting people. Yeah, I went to Disney World a year and a half ago with my kids and my wife and my in-laws. And I will say that this can sound embarrassing, but I asked for like half hour to an hour to myself so I can go to the Hall of Presidents.
Starting point is 00:38:41 If you're familiar with that, I wanted to see, I hadn't been there since I was a kid. I was like, I don't think my, at the time, my son was four. I'm like, I don't think he wants to go to the Hall of Presidents. My wife didn't want to go to the Hall of Presidents, so I'm like, you know what? You can hang out with the kids. You can eat like, you know, they had these like big chicken legs. I'm going to go to the Hall of Presidents. And that was fun.
Starting point is 00:39:07 And I've also say that, you know, when I walk into, I hope this is not the other media catching strays, okay? But when I walk into like to the Eagles, you know, media house. And I'm walking in full of energy. and they're like, why are you so happy right now? Like, why are you so energetic? Well, when you go to Disney World, everyone there is like, it's the happiest place on Earth, right? So, yeah, so you fit right in when you're attacking you
Starting point is 00:39:36 with an enthusiasm unknown to mankind. But... I love that. You don't go on Space Mountain. You don't go on Splash Mountain, the Hall of Presidents. I went to the Hall of Presidents by myself, by myself. That was, yeah, I did that. But I did the other stuff with my kids
Starting point is 00:39:53 But the Hall of Presidents I did on my own Yeah, I guess if you're Jason Kelsey And you get to go with your daughter, you know, and your family Disney World's the draw I would think for I don't know what Jalen Hertz thinks I'm curious like would Jalen Hertz rather be in Vegas What do you rather be in Hawaii? Is he happy in Orlando?
Starting point is 00:40:14 I'm not down there to ask Do you think he even notices it? You know, this is just a location Yes I mean, I feel like Jalen would be like, this is a business trip. Yeah, exactly. Even though it's the pro-ball. But to your point, about it being a business trip, one thing that I hear from players,
Starting point is 00:40:30 and I remember talking to Josh Sweat about this, if you want to turn into a drinking game, I just mentioned Josh Swett, so there you go. You can take a shot. I, if it's your first, if you're a young up-and-coming player, and it's your first time there, there's something cool about being around the other great players, right? Sometimes you feel like, all right, I've made it. Sometimes you feel like I can soak this up. I mean, I think about the NBA All-Star game where you see, like, you know,
Starting point is 00:40:58 I was watching the last dance and you see the locker room how like Jordan's there and Kobe's there. You know, it's pretty cool from that perspective. So from now, I was going to say Jayonne Hertz is surrounded by these top quarterbacks. A lot of them are kind of pulling out like Gardner Minshu, no knock on Gardner Minch. but Garner Minshu is in the Pro Bowl this year, right? So it's not like you're surrounded by all of the best quarterbacks, but at some other positions, you know, you're surrounded by elite players. So that's a good thing.
Starting point is 00:41:27 And then the other thing, too, and this brings back Darren Sprouls. I remember when Darren Sprouls was in it. This was 2000 and this was after the 2014 season, so going in the 2015. It was before the Arizona Super, I went out there for the Super Bowl in Arizona, but the Pro Bowl was in Arizona, so I was there for like a week and a half. Fun time in Arizona. Arizona's a lot of bad place. Yeah, especially this time of year. And so Darren Sprouls, it was like such a sense of accomplishment because it was later on in his career. And he had worked so hard to get there. And I remember talking to Drew Breeze, Flex, but Drew Breeze was, like he felt so good for Darren Sproles to be there. And I imagine it's the same way in the end. NBA. Like when you first make it, it's a sense of accomplishment.
Starting point is 00:42:19 Tyrese probably in a couple weeks here. Yeah, good point. Like he's going to get to play with LeBron and, you know, all of these people he looked up to. So definitely. I love Darren Sprouls, by the way. Oh, yeah. I mean, Sprouls is the man. Sproles is the man. Real quick, though, with the Pro Bowl here, which event would you do best at here? I'm going to read some of these to you. Best catch. Precision passing. Closes to the pin. High stakes, which is the goal of this event, is to catch the most footballs without dropping any. Okay?
Starting point is 00:42:48 Dodge ball, kick-tack-toe, which is each team's kicker competes in a giant tick-tac-toe competition. Snapshots, which is a long snapper and center have the chance to shine. You snap football into a target of various sizes. Then I said Madden, gridiron gauntlet, which is an obstacle course. Tug of War, which is standing above a, well, we all know Tug of War. You're going to define Tug of War.
Starting point is 00:43:13 And then move the chains. which is an offensive and defensive line and strength competition that includes teams of five players collaborating to move 3,000 pounds of weight off a wall. I don't think I would do well at anything that involved catching or throwing. I think people don't completely understand this, like just watching at home, because I certainly forget it, especially, like, as somebody who's been able to go to some like training camp practice as flex as well, is the footballs are so big. They're like huge. For the average person, the idea that these guys can both throw the ball 50 to 60 yards and that, you know, somebody like Devante Smith who is just like not a very big person makes these catches routinely, like balls are derb.
Starting point is 00:43:59 I mean, it's pretty impressive. Like, it's not easy. I think kicking would probably be, I would do the best just compared to the average person off the street. I have never participated in the Eagles. Do they still do that? The kick competition? They do not.
Starting point is 00:44:13 Jimmy Kempki, Elliot Shor Park. Oh, yeah, it used to dominate it, yeah. And Martin Frank was good at it too. Yeah. So I think I would probably do a little bit better than, I'm not saying I would beat Jimmy or Elliott at it, but I think compared to the average person, anything that involved kicking, I think, you know, I could probably do a little better. What about dodge ball?
Starting point is 00:44:30 I think you'd do well, dodgeball? Yeah, well, especially too if I'm playing against, like, other writers. Okay. Not if you're competing against NFL players, you don't think. No, I think I would do poorly. Yeah, I know. Breaking news, yeah. You know what I would like to see?
Starting point is 00:44:46 If they say, if Roger calls me, Roger Goodell, we're on first name basis, right, if Roger Goodell calls me and says, how can we improve this? I would say, let's take it a step further. If you're not playing a game, let's stop doing these NFL skills things, okay? Let's see how these guys are in other sports. Let's have a three-point shooting contest. Let's have a home run derby. Let's have, I don't know if you can simulate a hockey thing.
Starting point is 00:45:13 but, you know, let's have a soccer, you know, a shot thing. Let's, let's do tennis. Let's do golf, swimming, whatever it may be, right? I would do that. And to that point, I hear you're a pretty good shooter. Yeah, yeah, I can definitely do that well. And, you know, I'm not, I don't move the same way I used to, but you don't forget how to, like, make a standstill wide open three. Unless you don't know how to do it in which case.
Starting point is 00:45:37 Unless you don't know. Yeah. Or you don't shoot. Well, you know, I listen to the pod. You're a facilitator, you know. Yes, exactly. You do the list of it. I would get the ball to you, okay?
Starting point is 00:45:46 Yeah, but I'm not shooting that three. Yeah, so that would be a good wrinkle, too. And I say that because in Eagles, in their auditorium, they have a basketball hoop, and those guys love it. Like, you know, and Nick Siriani always has these competitions. So that would be a good wrinkle to it. Well, and I remember, too, just watching Comcast Sportsnet, like in the, you know, kind of like the late 90s, early 2000s.
Starting point is 00:46:12 The Eagles, they used to do a charity band. basketball game? Yes. And it used to crack me up seeing some of the linemen. Like, they're big boys, you know, wearing the jerseys. And some of them are such good athletes that even at, you know, close to 300 pounds, they were getting up for dunks and things like that. I remember T.O. was unbelievable in those games as well.
Starting point is 00:46:31 Yeah. Yeah, I think Derek Boyko used to be the coach. And there was always a competition. There was always debate about who the best Eagles basketball player was. But they did have a team and they had jerseys and everything. And on this year's roster, I mean, McNabb was probably the best, right? He was up there.
Starting point is 00:46:49 Yeah, he played at Syracuse. But yeah, I mean, he was legit. There were a few others who could play. Jeremy Macklin, I think, could play. And on this year's team, I know what Devante plays. His favorite player was Rondo. And I can actually see, you know, with those long arms, I can see a Rondo element to Devante's game.
Starting point is 00:47:11 But I am curious who the best. would be, I mean, Jordan Milada in the Post. I don't know Jordan Milada has ever played basketball, but Jordan Milada in the Post would be tough to defend. Yeah. Anything else in the Pro Bowl? No, I think we got a lot of Pro Bowl talking there. Yeah, okay.
Starting point is 00:47:26 And again, that begins today, and it's through this weekend, and the Eagles have seven players down there. Landon Dickerson, J.1 Hertz, Lane Johnson, Jason, and Jason, Kelsey, Hassan Redick, Darius Slay, and Dianre Swift. DeAndre Swift is in his first one. Landon Dickerson, Jayon Hertz, and Hassan Reddick are going to their. first Pro Bowls because they did not go last year, of course.
Starting point is 00:47:48 Last thing, you know, we have a few minutes here, and this was actually going to be the top topic today. Everyone's talking about the Super Bowl. And I look at these Super Bowl rosters, and I say, you know, I think the Niners have a really good roster, and the Chiefs are who they are. We discussed that on Monday's show. But what jumps out to me is, A, I don't think this Chiefs team is as good as last year's chiefs team.
Starting point is 00:48:12 but B, I would take the 2022 Eagles over either of those teams. Is that me being too close to the 2022 Eagles, or do you feel the same way? Well, especially because the Niners have not been very impressive. This is not an L. I know their fans, they always talk about, you know, how impressive their regular season is and the DVOA. And good for them. They made the Super Bowl, so it actually doesn't matter. It's just winning the games at this point.
Starting point is 00:48:39 But the style points were not there in the Packers. and the Lions games. I mean, frankly, I thought they got outplayed maybe in both of those games for long stretches. Definitely. Yeah, I think I agree with you, Zach. Here is, you know, again, we've talked about a lot of the basketball crossover topics today.
Starting point is 00:48:57 In basketball, the general rule of thumb for like a Super Bowl, obviously NBA finals contender is you've got to have a top 10 offense and a top 10 defense. In football, and you can remind me if this is wrong, that's not always the case, right? Like the dominant offense, I feel like some of the Chiefs' defenses, some of the, I think like the Packers, the Patriots, like once in a while they snuck in with pretty bad defenses. That's right, right? Yeah. The dominant offense can kind of supersede. I think you have to be dominant on one side of the ball.
Starting point is 00:49:27 Like, I don't think you have to be top five on both sides or top 10 on both sides because I've heard that in the NBA as well. But I think in the NFL, if you have one side of the ball, that's like, that's absolutely elite. Then the other side, it can't be horrible. But even if it's middle of the pack, you can win games because of that one side. Well, do you think, too, I mean, I would say most times it has to be the elite offense to me. Is there a recent example where it's kind of mediocre offense, incredible defense? I mean, the 2000 Ravens, the 85 Bears. We're getting back in a lawyer.
Starting point is 00:50:03 Yeah, I mean, yeah. 85 beers. Sure. I mean, those are the ones that jumped in mind. Some of those, yeah, no, no, you're probably right because even the Patriots teams that, I'm just thinking over the last 10 years. In like the post-Rendy Moss era, you know, those, in the most recent Patriots teams, they still had Brady, right? You know, like that Patriots team that beat the Rams wasn't prolific, but, you know, they were a really good defensive team that year.
Starting point is 00:50:32 you know, they had, but they still had Brady. And, no, it is true. When you look at some of the great Super Bowl teams in recent years, I mean, the Ravens team that beat the Niners, Flacco when Flacco was elite, I think that was the 2012 season, that that Ravens team was better defensively than they were offensively, I would say. I'm trying to go through this in my head, but those would be the ones that really jump out. You know, yeah. Well, actually, here, I would say the Legion of Boom Seahawks were better defensively than offensively, but they still had Russell Wilson and they still had Marshall Lynch.
Starting point is 00:51:13 And it's not as if they were a dynasty either. I mean, they came close. Oh, yeah. Claire brings up that point. The sect, the patent title in Denver, he was not very good at the end. Yeah, when they beat Carolina. Yeah. That was pretty much all Von Miller in that defense.
Starting point is 00:51:28 Yeah. So. Thanks, Claire. Yeah. And I remember in the AFC championship game, it was like a very kind of ugly game. They beat the Patriots at the end. But the Patriots had a shot, but it was ugly, low scoring. And, yeah, like Jim Nance would always be like, well, the sheriff can he get the Broncos over the finish line.
Starting point is 00:51:45 And it was just funny because Peyton Manning for his entire career was probably the best quarterback in the league. I mean, you know, Brady at different times too, but right up there. And he couldn't win a title. And when he has like one of his worst seasons at the very end, he actually wins a Super Bowl. It's funny how that does work. But like the Eagles, for instance, were favored over the chiefs last year. Yeah, they were top five on both sides of the ball. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:52:08 And I think that this chief's team is inferior to last year's chief's team. I think, you know, now the people in San Francisco might disagree, but I think last year's Eagles team would be favored over this year's Niners team. I think so. So now, Patrick Mahomes is still a buzz saw, right? But it is accurate to say that, or it is my best. opinion, at least that the Eagles, if they could have had last year's team this year, then they would have won their second Lombardi.
Starting point is 00:52:38 I agree with you, Zach, because I think the Chief's offense was pretty dominant last year. And obviously, I think their defense has improved. But again, I'm still more scared of the one elite unit. If you have to contend with that, I think that can be a pretty tough out in the playoffs. So when I look at the two teams, I would say the Niners feel more like last year's Eagles. where they have the quarterback who's making nothing. They have the great group of skill players. Good point.
Starting point is 00:53:04 They can run the ball pretty much at will. It seems like they are maximizing their quarterback's skill set. But I would say this year's chiefs are kind of how the Eagles have to look at it moving forward. And that's really just a product of how much money the quarterback is making and roster building. You would know better than me, but it sure looks like Andy and Brett Veach. it seems like they really killed the draft defensively for, I don't know, like a two or three year span there. Like I was looking at their depth chart. And, you know, you see, I think I saw like six or seven guys that were all drafted on defense from 2020 to 2022.
Starting point is 00:53:44 It's like Sneed, Willie Gay, McDuffie, Carloftus. So it seems to me like that is how they're going to have to go about it moving forward. And, you know, the other day I mentioned, can Vic Fangio be the spats? the older defensive coordinator kind of settles into a spot at the end of his career and gives the team a certain level of continuity and, you know, gravitas on that side of the ball. You know, it's not exactly the same, right? Like the Eagles clearly moving forward and next year especially, like they're going to spend a lot more at wide receiver than the chiefs did.
Starting point is 00:54:17 But I think that is generally the model. So, you know, a lot of this is going to come down to Jalen. Yeah, that's a great point because when you do pay the quarterback, there is, I think it's a I think it's a misnomer or an overstatement to suggest that when you pay the quarterback, you can't pay other spots, right? There's enough money to go around. You just can't pay every spot. So you need to decide where you're not paying.
Starting point is 00:54:39 And at those spots you're not paying, you need to be exceptional at drafting and developing. And to your point, the chiefs have done a really good job in recent years of drafting some of those spots on defense where they're not paying. You know, cornerback is an example of a, of a, that. They haven't done as well drafting wide receiver, although Rashid a Rice, Philly guy is looking good this year and he's going to
Starting point is 00:55:04 continue developing. But they've really put their money in Andy Reed fashion, and similar to the Eagles, in their offensive and defensive lines, right? You know, like they're paying offensive linemen in free agency. I mean, they pay Joe Tunney, right? They pay Juan Taylor.
Starting point is 00:55:20 They're committed to paying top dollar at those spots. And that's where they're investing their second contract third player, you know, second contract, third contract guys. And the Eagles, similarly, the Eagles are paying their wide receivers, right? They're paying their edge rushers right now. Their defensive tackles, they won't necessarily have to pay because they're on rookie deals,
Starting point is 00:55:44 but eventually, they're paying their offensive line. They're paying corners right now, but you're going to see that start to change as, you know, in the second, in Hertz's the second contract when you get this, the Bradbury and Slay deals off your books, you're going to have to develop, you know, you're going to have to rely on Keely Ringo, and I don't want to throw Eli Ricks in there now, and maybe the Eagles draft a corner in the second round, but you're going to have to really draft and develop well, and that's what the chiefs have done in this, like, Mahomes contract era. Totally, and it's, I mean, the Eagles are still going to spend on the lines.
Starting point is 00:56:22 Like, that's clear that they are going to do that. But, you know, regardless of how many resources they spent. Now, I think this season showed that there is a base level of spending and resource allocation you need to put to the back seven. And I'm not sure the Eagles met that this season. But, like, some of it is, you know, the 49ers, they drafted Fred Warner in the third round. Yep. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:56:45 Good point. Do you have spent a couple third round picks at linebacker? Yeah, Dehion Tower did not work out. In the Kobe Dean, we will see. We will see. Certainly not the Fred Warner type impact. Yeah. the way you put it is kind of how we should look at it, where there are going to be some
Starting point is 00:57:00 spots where they're able to spend in free agency, they're able to retain players. But those other spots, I think you need to do a great job of drafting and maybe consider drafting higher in those spots and then developing as well. So, yeah, I agree with you. These are two fairly flawed teams, though, you know, like the Chief's defense, the one difference between last year is the Chief's Defense feels like a much better unit. And I think the Chiefs defense, like, give them credit against the Eagles last year. They didn't really stop them.
Starting point is 00:57:30 They had the one flu play where they scored the touchdown, and that was obviously key in that game. But it did feel like in the second half, even if they weren't stopping the Eagles, they did at the end. It was much harder for the Eagles to drive down. That's what kind of made Jalen Hertz's performance more impressive because Spaggs had – he didn't figure out the Eagles offense, but he was making them work in a way that Johnny Gans and the Eagles defense was just not doing with the Holmes by the end of that. So this is your last show before the Super Bowl with us. Do you have a Super Bowl pick or do we have to wait for the newsletter next week to find out? I think I'm leaning towards the Chiefs.
Starting point is 00:58:05 Because of Mahomes? Yeah, I think just because of Mahomes and Reed. And look, I just, you know, I've seen them now in two playoff games against two pretty good teams. Besides their great talent level and Mahomes just being great, just feels like they're not phased by this. and the Niners, I don't know. They feel a little more rickety. I have not been quite as impressed by... I mean, in the regular season, I was super impressed by them.
Starting point is 00:58:31 They would just win, you know, 35-21 every week, and it would just be very easy, and Purdy would score on six of his 10 drives or nine drives. But I just haven't been quite as impressed by them. So I think I am leaning towards the Chiefs, which I think they are underdogs right now. Yep. I'm a little surprised by that.
Starting point is 00:58:49 Because of my home, because of the history, yeah. Even last year, like, you know, I know the Eagles, we're probably better than this 49ers team, but I'm still a little surprised that the public and Vegas and all the books have settled on, yeah, the Niners are actually a little bit better heading into the game. I'm a little surprised by that. Yeah, typically, if you don't have the best quarterback
Starting point is 00:59:10 or the better quarterback in the Super Bowl, you need to be really, you need to have the mismatch on the lines of scrimmage. And I'm not certain that the way the 49ers are playing gives them that mismatch. Personnel-wise, they're outstanding on the defensive front. But they have not been playing them. Exactly, exactly.
Starting point is 00:59:31 And then offensive line, I mean, they have perhaps the best left tackle in football on Trent Williams, but I don't know if I necessarily give them a huge edge there. So I remember, you know, back in 2017, or more specifically February 2018, when the Eagles were in the Super Bowl, I kept saying it's Tom Brady Bill Belichick, Tom Brady Bill Belichick. And then as I was talking to people and as the week got closer and I kind of, you know, was hearing from the Eagles about the matchups, I'm like, this is going to be about the lines of scrimmage, right? And the offensive line played outstanding that game. And the Eagles ended up winning in.
Starting point is 01:00:04 Nick Foles put out of his mind, right? Maybe Brock Purdy plays out of his mind, but I have a hard time picking against my homes. I'm with you. And that Super Bowl, I know that the Patriots, offensive line played probably above their heads in that game. Obviously, they give up the big play to BG at the end. But yeah, like the time. when you would go against the quarterback coach duo would be, okay, this team is just going to kill them on the lines.
Starting point is 01:00:30 It's kind of what Tampa did to KC and that Super Bowl, too. Remember they just, Mahomes was running for his life the entire game. I don't really see that here. I don't like how the, I don't really like how the Niners are playing. And I obviously hope that's the case. I think I am begrudgingly rooting for the Chiefs to win here, just because, I don't know, it's the lesser of two evils. And Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid winning another super.
Starting point is 01:00:52 at the very least it makes sense like it's like okay makes sense best quarterback probably the best coach right now but yeah i don't see that mismatch on the lines you can read all of rich's super bowl coverage in the newsletter make sure you subscribe it's free and it's the best newsletter in philly and you can listen and read to all our super bowl coverage uh live from Vegas next week like rich said julia bow and i are heading there on sunday night will be on radio row Monday morning and throughout next week, noon eastern time. So nine local time. And we're still putting together a roster of guests,
Starting point is 01:01:31 but you're going to want to tune in. And we're excited to be out there. Bo is going to be back tomorrow from Mobile. You can check out all Bo's senior bowl coverage. And we have a special guest tomorrow. Tune in. It's going to be a guest you're going to want to listen to and enjoy. Yeah, it's not Professor Solomon.
Starting point is 01:01:49 That's a great guest. This is a different guest. and one that I promise you you'll enjoy. So until then, Rich, thanks for joining us today. Bo will want me to tell you that we love you. I will say, as Tony Corkenheiser says, we'll be better tomorrow. Thanks for tuning in.
Starting point is 01:02:08 You're all silly like the mayor.

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