PHLY Philadelphia Eagles Podcast - Safety IS NOT The Eagles’ Biggest Concern Entering 2026 | PHLY Eagles

Episode Date: May 26, 2026

Drew Mukuba might not yet know who will line up next to him in Week 1, but whether it’s Marcus Epps, Michael Carter, Brandon Johnson, Grant Delpit, Cole Wisniewski, Mr. Gush or someone else, Brandon... Lee Gowton believes that’s not the most pressing depth chart concern entering the summer. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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Starting point is 00:00:03 Hello everybody and welcome to the P.H.O.I. Eagles podcast on a beautiful Tuesday afternoon live from the Xfinity Lounge and presented by our friends at Ashley, Bo Wolf, and the great Brandon Lee Goughton saying hi to all you sickos watching live, including we've got some people doing the chores in Norway. Love to see that. Fantastic BLG. How are you? Thanks for joining me. I am super sweaty, so I'm so sorry to everyone here. Let's get into it. For me, probably ruining this chair. That's okay. We've got a few new ones
Starting point is 00:00:38 so that we can rotate that one out if we need to. I feel like the leather is good for, you know, it'll go off eventually. A little wicking action happening there. Beautiful weather outside. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:00:49 So you walked, which in the first place is going to get you a little bit moist. That's right. And then we get here and I get on the elevator and I check Slack and there's a message to everybody
Starting point is 00:01:02 that says the elevator is broken. And as I'm on floor three or whatever, well, the elevator breaks. It would be nice if someone put some signage there to ward people away from on the broken elevator. So I sat there for a little bit, you know, kept a cool head, hit the button.
Starting point is 00:01:22 Eventually the thing started dropping and went all the way back down to one, even though it said it was at four and a half. So I warned you. And then we both had to take the... big long trek up those rickety stairs. What'd you think? Well, it's really one thing to hear about them when you guys talk about on the podcast. You know, you've heard it all about the stairs. And it's a whole other thing to live it. So, you know, these are the rigors of, you know, the work we do here
Starting point is 00:01:46 doing podcasting. That's the physical challenge that we arise to. Yeah, this is blue collar. Yes, my luncheails just behind my seat here. But you look great. No worse for where. Appreciate it. All right. So we got, we got some Eagle stuff to get into. We're going to talk about some overplayed and underplayed concerns for the eagles. We both have one on either side about Ledger. I have some questions for you about this project. We're undertaking trying to put together the best 25, 26 Eagles of the century. Going to throw some things at you.
Starting point is 00:02:16 And then you and I, we are Survivor fans, and we have not talked. We have purposefully not talked since the finale. So if you are likely or likewise interested, we'll have that conversation at the end. Before we get to it, I have a question for a big playoff game tonight for our Little League team. As an Eagles fan, when it's a big game, it's a playoff game or something, do you find yourself doing the magical thinking of like trying to bring good juju into your life because it's a big game? Like, oh, I'm going to work out today because I feel like that will, you know, that will help me with the football gods or, you know, you give to charity that day because you're trying to give some goodwill.
Starting point is 00:03:02 Do you dance with that? I think it's just about not being able to sleep. I think I'm waking up early that morning. Maybe I take a walk. I'm just, I'm not able to rest because I'm just anticipating the day. If you want to get really embarrassing with it, before the Super Bowl 52,
Starting point is 00:03:20 I was in Minneapolis covering the game as well. And I think it was the day before. Talking about freezing. Yeah. And I might have done this for the 59 too. I can't remember. Definitely 52. I was watching like old Rocky videos
Starting point is 00:03:32 and getting really emotional watching those and kind of like emotionally ramping up for the game. Yeah. Trying to expend the energy that you were maybe to get to get it out early? Maybe. Maybe as like a yeah, kind of just really or just trying to put myself in the moment. I think the feel, the magnitude of everything.
Starting point is 00:03:49 But you didn't dance with the idea that you could you could affect the game somehow by just, you know, doing good deeds. No, I'm not as big of a believer in that. Yeah. Lindsay, how about you? Do you do that? Like do anything on game day?
Starting point is 00:04:03 Yeah, big game. You're like, you want to try to do, like, you know, let's say your husband is a coaching in a state championship game. Are you trying to do anything to, you know, increase the juju? Give yourself some good luck. Oh, I don't do anything. He's not too superstitious either. I don't think.
Starting point is 00:04:19 I don't know. I kind of think it's like there's too many people in the world. If everybody's doing their superstitions, then like can't really affect. You got to have a little bit of main character energy, you know? You're the only one You're the only one live in your world Okay, I guess not Super chat early
Starting point is 00:04:36 Before we get to this conversation About what is an overplayed Concern for the Eagles Jake Arders Just a nice generous super chat Thank you Jake We appreciate that Okay, BLJ
Starting point is 00:04:47 Your idea for this It started, I believe With you think That the hand-wringing Over who was going to start Next to Drew Maccuba is a little bit overstated. Is that fair?
Starting point is 00:05:00 That is entirely fair. I feel like I have a good pulse of, you know, seeing this. Yep. Whether it's social media or on bleeding green nation in the comments, Reddit, any kind of thing you're seeing like, who's going to start at safety? Who's going to start at safety? It reminds me of what was a fair question.
Starting point is 00:05:17 First of all, I think that is a fair question for sure. Okay. We don't know what it's going to be yet, but yeah. Where people are coming from. But when we go back to last year and we look at, cornerback too, which is the big bugaboo. Yeah, okay. It was a valid concern.
Starting point is 00:05:32 No one looked great in train camp. It was going to start opposite Queenieff, Mitchell, yeah. It ended up not being really, like, I think, a top whatever reason the season was bad last year. Like, the defense was not sunk. The team was not sunk. They still had one of the better defenses in the NFL. And I don't think people are like, Dory Jackson. That was the reason why the 2020, 2025 Eagles went wrong.
Starting point is 00:05:55 Okay. But here's my devil's advocate on that. In that comparison. In that comparison, you have Quignan Mitchell, you have Cooper de Gene. Maybe the third corner is a little bit overstated. In this situation, I think the concern about who's going to start opposite Drew McCuba is wrapped up in, well, Drew McCuba might not be that great himself. Sure. Right.
Starting point is 00:06:20 And so if it was Brian Dawkins, he's playing, I mean, unfair, but, you know, if it was Rodney McCuble, cloud he's playing next to. You're like, okay, well, as long as they get passable play from somebody, they've got enough people to throw at it. But if Drew McCuba himself is not ready for prime time, then all of a sudden maybe you have two trouble spots back there. And that's a fair question, because we don't even know the extent of Maccuba being able to ready to practice this offseason. We'll get a better sense of that, I guess soon with OTAs starting up here. But to the play devil's advocate, to your devil's advocate. I would say like Marcus Epps. I think people are. Angels advocate.
Starting point is 00:06:57 Angel's advocate. I think people are kind of sleeping on him. And Vic Fangio essentially said as much in his press conference last week. I held that opinion before Vic said that. Yeah. But, I mean, this is a guy who's been a credible starter, not only in the NFL, but for the Eagles as well. And certainly as recently as the last time they were on the field.
Starting point is 00:07:15 Exactly. Yeah. So I, and I think the way Vic framed it isn't that Marcus Epps is going to be an all-pro player for obviously not. But he said, I think, will be fine. And that's where I'm coming to from it, is that I think they will be fine there, not only because of who they have,
Starting point is 00:07:32 and could still potentially add, mind you, I don't think it's like, oh, they're just definitely done there 100%. It's also the fact that every other spot on the defense is looking pretty good. So if that's the one pain point for them, I think they can live with that. Yeah, I mean, every unit has to have an 11th best player, right?
Starting point is 00:07:52 So it's going to be somebody. I'm with you on EPS. He sets a nice baseline for you, and you hope that, you know, if Michael Carter has a great summer, then maybe he could ascend beyond that. And what amount of turkeys would you put on how making an addition here, like a trade? I would go low end of that. Your Grant Delpit type.
Starting point is 00:08:13 Yeah, I'm going to say, I'll go 18. I think it's really, yeah, I don't think he's rushing. I just think what they have done with their actions tells us they don't really want to invest a lot in that position when you look at read Blankenship when you look at the fact that maybe it's just how we don't know how they evaluated
Starting point is 00:08:35 Emmanuel McNeele Warren the time they drafted Eli Stowers instead I just think they're not really looking to spend big at that position if there's an opportunity that comes along with a value is just like a no-brainer that's almost kind of like what it was when they got CJGJ the first time
Starting point is 00:08:51 sure but I don't think they're paying a premium to add to that position I think you're right. But I would go a little bit higher on the turkeys. I think it's possible how he has somebody your mark there. And the thing is it's not like there's not like there's a young guy here who you want to make sure he gets the reps. If there is somebody that they want, I think they could just go get him. Marcus reps.
Starting point is 00:09:15 Marcus reps. I like that. Okay. I think that's fair. And yeah, I think you're probably right that the Eagles' 2026 season is not going to sink or swim based on. how well the second safety plays. I think part of it too is you get to this time of year and you look at the roster and there's not a whole lot
Starting point is 00:09:31 going on so you're so fixated on that one thing and also kind of lose context of there's a lot of teams. I think almost every team in the NFL has some spot at least one where we're like kind of looking dicey. We don't feel great about that. Yes, I think most other teams have a much higher priority position that is what the fan base is hemmy and honing about this summer. All right, I will give you my overstated one
Starting point is 00:09:53 And this comes from a conversation on the Anthony Gargano show this morning with Cuzz. It was about Nick Siriani. And it's, you know, it's a familiar conversation. What does, what does Nick do? What, you know, what advantage is he bringing? And to me, the, the overstated thing here is, I don't know how much impact I feel like Nick Siriani himself has on the outcome of the 2026 Eagle season. And by that I mean
Starting point is 00:10:24 Vic is in charge of the defense if Sean Manion is truly taking over the offense which I think that we believe I don't know how much of an impact Nick is having on all of the moving parts on this new offense and there's only a little bit of latitude between him being aggressive in-game and not making those end-of-half mistakes
Starting point is 00:10:45 and going for it more on fourth down and the other version of that. We know what he's going to do culture-wise. think he's going to have the locker room behind him. He's going to have everybody playing hard. All that stuff is expected. It's almost like, um,
Starting point is 00:10:59 I, I don't know, I don't know what variance Nick himself is bringing to the table this year. Does that make sense? So it's almost like other people saying, what does Nick Siriani do pejorative, premonstices pejorative and you're saying, what does Nick Sirireani do complimentary?
Starting point is 00:11:17 Like in terms of like, yeah. Yeah. It's not, he's not going to stink the team either. Correct. You're not worried about that. I think that is largely right.
Starting point is 00:11:27 It also kind of goes hand in hand with the conversation of what certainly I'm part of, where I struggle to articulate, like, where he's giving them this tangible edge. Sure. It's probably more of nitpicking. It's probably, it's unknowable stuff. It's also probably maybe manifesting, like, in a moment that could be an outsized moment when you look back at the course of the season in terms of, like, they should have went for it on this fourth down in a playoff game that they lost.
Starting point is 00:11:51 Like, you know, we could be talking about that for sure. But short of that, yes, but also that is, I think, how the team is designed. Yeah. I mean, listen, am I going to be angry if they don't try to score points with 30 seconds left in the second quarter? Everyone's speaking. And we've won, of course. But I think the larger impact of Nick Seriani on this season, it's like, it's already sort of the road has been built. There's not a lot of repaving to be done.
Starting point is 00:12:19 Okay. I don't know. I still, I go back. I worry about, not worry. Do you agree that Sean Mannion has a bigger effect on the relative range of outcomes for the Eagles this season? Yeah, absolutely. And I think it kind of, you know, look, this is getting ahead of ourselves a little, but let's do that since we're here in late May.
Starting point is 00:12:43 But like, they're probably not going to get rid of Nick if the offense is awesome. But it's almost in a weird spot of where if this happens once a year, where the offense, you bring in the offensive coordinator, it works out. And I guess because of who the other guys hired, they hired this offseason like Gerard Johnson and so on, so forth. Josh Grazard. They're maybe kind of trying to get ahead of that a little bit. Right.
Starting point is 00:13:10 Because I don't think they're just going to promote Somani and head coach. That would require a very specific set of outcomes. Right. So, yeah, I think. I think if I phrase it this way, I think if Nick Siriani has an 80th percentile season for a head coach and a 20th percentile season for a head coach, I think that's changing like two wins from the Eagles final total. Whereas I think if Sean Mannion has an 80th percentile season for an offensive coordinator and a 20th percentile season for the offensive coordinator, I think that's like a six-win swing. I think that's a fair framing. Okay.
Starting point is 00:13:47 That's all. All right. Now we'll take us to our first break on the PHA YGO's podcast. On the other side, the other side of this coin, what are the concerns we have that maybe people aren't worried enough about? Find out after these words from our sponsor. What if? What if you could have reliable and intelligent Wi-Fi
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Starting point is 00:16:05 Bo and Brandon Lee Gouten of BleedinggreenNation.com. Thank you for joining us, BLG. It's time now for Wawa Taco Tuesday. Your new craving. Check it out at any participating Wawa. Get yourself some tacos BLJ, the other side of this coin.
Starting point is 00:16:23 What is the concern if we are too worried about safety, we are not worried enough about the interior offensive line. Good one. And real quickly. These guys went to Columbia. They're going to be fine. I also went to Columbia.
Starting point is 00:16:39 I did not go for stem cells. Went for cocaine. I cannot say that is true. By the way, Wawa Tacos. I have a list here. I don't know if you can see it. That's just things to eat. And Wawa Tacos is actually number one on there because that's true. I want to try those that has been on my to do list.
Starting point is 00:16:58 So excited to try. Love that. Things to eat. I've heard you guys talk about them. As for the actual concern. Okay. I appreciate that. Overrated concern here.
Starting point is 00:17:10 Is that, or underrated, sorry. Concern is the interior offensive line. I mean, you talked about the stem cell treatment. I mean, like, I guess good that they're. trying things. Yeah. But bad that they're in a spot where they feel like they kind of have to do something maybe more experimental.
Starting point is 00:17:29 And also just, I feel like the Eagles were in a really tough spot with this, this offseason from a standpoint of if you just had a clear knee to position, you can attack that knowing we have to get better here. Yeah. And you don't have anything committed. Whereas kind of like, not the same approach, but where the Eagles were with cornerback too, they didn't have anyone. But they can sign Rick Wollen, great.
Starting point is 00:17:54 Boom. Interior offensive line, you're not going to sign Tyler Linderbaum, you know, and for agency to come in and start over Cam Jurgens, or at least if you did, then Cam Jurgens probably is never playing again at all. So I don't really know what they were supposed to do, but I think Howie will tell you, hope is not a strategy, but I think they're really just hoping that Cam Jurgens and or Leon Dickerson just aren't dad now.
Starting point is 00:18:20 Well, you're right. It was a difficult dance they had to make because it's not like you're going to bring in a guy to compete with those guys. Those guys, if they are healthy, they are starters. I think where they would have hoped in a different situation, they could have come down here, would have been if you use that first-round pick on a guy who is supposed to be Lane's replacement eventually
Starting point is 00:18:45 but can kick inside to guard. And having to replace AJ, Brown completely changed the calculus for them there. Now listen, you know, is Mikey Levin the tough, top guy on their board over Maxi Hunter, whoever? I'm sure he was, but they moved around to make that be the case. I think in a different situation. If you hadn't lost AJ, you're probably drafting an offensive lineman there. And so you think, okay, we'll get a guy eventually. But then the one offensive line me drafts in the first three rounds is Mark Howbell, who can't play guard at all? Of course not.
Starting point is 00:19:19 Like, he's just not a thing that is possible. So now the depth on the interior offensive line is it does leave you under well. And when you've got two guys of the three who are real injury concerns, you would have thought or hoped that there would be one swing guy in the middle who you really want to, you know, pound the table for. I think some people in the building feel that way about Drew Kendall. That requires a bit of a leap of faith. But even beyond that, I mean, there are no veterans there who really move the needle for you at all.
Starting point is 00:19:53 And so you're hoping that between Michael Morris or whoever else that some guy is going to be reliable. And I think that you're right. That is a big leap of faith. And it is, of course, rolled in with, well, is this offensive line coach going to get these guys ready? it's all part of that and just going through the depth chart I did a piece for bleeding green nation last week and I was
Starting point is 00:20:15 we talked about the starters there but looking at the depth I'm like man this is like even thinner I guess than I realized when I was really laying it out and I think losing someone like Brett Tooth was huge like that's a sneakily big absence
Starting point is 00:20:29 from a standpoint of he played 363 snaps last year it's like just over a third of the team snaps and that's what Tyler Steen like playing basically all of them right guard the whole year. And I feel fine about him, by the way. I think people kind of are a little too down
Starting point is 00:20:46 on Tyler Steen. I think, you know, there's been a lot of clamoring for bring Mackay Beckton back, still a free agent, by the way. Yeah, that's possible. But I think also kind of speaks to how he might not have been quite as vital. At least the Eagles don't view it that way.
Starting point is 00:21:01 Different position coach and everything now. But yeah, so it's not just the starters. Like I said, it's the backups there as well aware. And like you said, I know EJ has reported that they feel good about Drew Kendall. And I like what I saw from a Drew Kendall last year and more so in the preseason. But that's a big leap of faith for someone who has no, no experience. I mean, is it, yeah, so you're going to be the backup at all three spots? Like, Toethless. Like, that's, that's a big ask. It's a big ask. I agree. You're two. And then there's nobody else beyond him. And to a larger point where I kind of,
Starting point is 00:21:33 it's the opposite. What have I said? It's safety in terms of like, I don't think that's going to sink their season. Poor offensive line play could very much sink the season like it did for this team last year. And conversely, when they've been at their best and been able to win Super Bowls, the offensive line was, if not the best, one of the very best in the NFL. Well, I think you've given Eagles fans something to not be able to sleep over. Sorry.
Starting point is 00:21:57 There you go. BLG is Taco Tuesday, presented by our friends at Wawa. I think that's fair. Yeah, somebody mentions Willie Lampkin in the chat. You know, we know how much I love Willie Lampkin. Intrigued. would like to see him do some stuff in the summer. But yeah, there's no doubt that this is a, still a concern.
Starting point is 00:22:15 They have not solved this. My underrated concern here is the wide receiver position, which I know that it's hard to say that that is an understated concern, but I have it written down here on mine. What I mean by this is, okay, they're moving on from AJ Brown, and we've all sort of internalized. There's no replacing AJ Brown. but they're going to do the moneyball thing.
Starting point is 00:22:39 They're going to try to recreate him in the aggregate, right? And with Michael Lemon in the slot and Dantabian Wicks winning with man beaters and Hollywood Brown can be a deep threat, I think it's very unlikely that you're going to get the 80th percentile outcome for all three of those options. Dantavian Wicks, that is a Packers offense, that is a team that wants to win the Super Bowl, that is incentivized to do so,
Starting point is 00:23:09 they're given up on him. Now, it's not like they got a huge windfall. In theory, it's because they want to create snaps for Matthew Golden, last year's first round pick. But if they thought Tom Tavian Wix was really good, they wouldn't do that. Okay, so this is a guy you're expecting to be one of the top three starters.
Starting point is 00:23:25 Mackay Lemon, I like Mikey Lemon. A bunch of teams passed on him. He did not go that high. It was a bad draft for wide receivers to begin with. Wide receiver hit rates in the first round, especially after the top 10 are not great, there's a real chance that McIalleman doesn't make that much of an impact as a rookie at all.
Starting point is 00:23:43 And then Hollywood Brown, the idea that he's a like a difference making deep threat really has not borne out at all through the course of his career. His yards per catch are like, you know, are not that impressive and they've actually stayed steady his entire career. Like there's a real chance that
Starting point is 00:23:59 this wide receiver core despite the fact that they have improved the like average player there that it just really leaves you wanting and there's nobody who can get open. On the Hollywood Brown point. Aside from Devante of course. Like we've seen examples maybe
Starting point is 00:24:18 of him having speed, and that's what the player he was in theory coming into the draft. His career guards per reception is 11.6. And I think it's been like between like 11.3 and 12 like every season of his career or something like that. And Dallas Goddard's is 11.4.
Starting point is 00:24:32 Like that's crazy. Yeah. Now, obviously, Goddard's pretty good for a tight end, but, and I'm willing to see how that looks. I'm not, like, out on Hollywood Brown. I just think that you're kind of what you're saying here is when you're looking at it, the cell that Eagles are trying to make, it's like a little rosier. I'm in on the cell. I can buy it.
Starting point is 00:24:52 And, of course, it's going to be about how they're used. It's really more of a Sean Mannion question than a wide receiver talent question. But I don't know. If they're not put in the best scenario as possible, I don't think that those guys are going to just go out and get open on their own. I have this as an understated concern, wide receiver, specifically losing AJ 2,
Starting point is 00:25:13 in part because of the timing of how this is happening. I feel like because we've just been so resigned to it and it's been treated as this inevitability, which it has been, it kind of almost lessens the impact as if it happened in March and it just kind of was like, bam, AJ Brown's gone. and now you're like kind of really feeling it more. Well, it is as if Eagles fans are trying to have it both ways
Starting point is 00:25:36 in the sense of, I mean, AJ Brown is worth more than a first round pick. This guy's unbelievable. We should be getting two ones for AJ Brown. And at the same time, oh, we'll be fine. Kyle Levin and Donovan and Don Tavian Wicks, it's not going to be a problem. Devante's going to take it over. Right. Both things can't really be true.
Starting point is 00:25:52 If he's that good, it's going to be pretty tough to replace him. I totally agree. And even in a down year last year, AJ has the, 31st most receiving yards ever in an eagle season like okay it's pretty good for like your down year yeah and the other ones are first second and 22nd um when it comes to lemon i think you guys have made interesting points about him that i agree with in terms of i think that what you've talked about specifically last friday show i believe is you want to see him looking good right away yeah and o'tia's i think especially and you just touched on it there too part of being concerned i think part of the
Starting point is 00:26:27 sell of Mikhail Lemon is like he has to be ready. Just like they're counting on volume from him. Yeah. To some extent, maybe he doesn't have to be the number two if Wix is looking really good. But I feel like you probably want him to be a top three guy at the very least. I hope so. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:26:41 Like to trade up for him like they did. I think we're going to know either way on McKay Lemon early on. I think I will be quickly sold that if I see it in OTAs and he's crushing it, I'm going to be quick to buy in training camp. Yeah. Um, if I don't, I'm going to probably be, have more. heightened concerns and not to be like, well, let's just get to the regular season. Yeah, well, it's tough because he is in theory, you know, he's not the fastest guy.
Starting point is 00:27:05 He's like part of the bill, the cell on him is the toughness and the spatial awareness. Like that stuff doesn't always pop out in the spring. But still, I want to see him like, I want to see him doing stuff. Again, the volume to me was part of the cell. And watching his highlights, it wasn't always just about being the most physically impressive player as much as he just got open so much and was there and was reliable. It's a different player, but it almost reminded me of like part of, and it's part of what made Zach Earth so great.
Starting point is 00:27:31 It's just his ability, he wasn't the flashiest player with the ball in his hands. Right. Quite the opposite, but he would just get open and not such a skill in being able to do that. And I want to see Lemon look reliable from the jump. Yeah. I'm with him. Shout to Lucas from Brazil. It was in the chat watching the show.
Starting point is 00:27:49 Lovely international listeners. If you're watching live from somewhere in a different country, please let us know. All right, do you have other ones on your list there? I do. I have two other ones. I didn't talk about that so far. Tight end is one of them. Okay. Fair.
Starting point is 00:28:07 I think Dallas Goddard being a year older and making even less money, I'm wondering what the blocking looks like this year. I guess if you could try to sell me on it, maybe he's just resigned to this as his situation now. Whereas last year he had bigger ambitions. Yeah. Maybe he's more willing than he. he was. I am still, I mean, it is very funny that we watched the tight ends last year not be able to
Starting point is 00:28:32 block and how we gave us the lip service about it when we talked to him in February. You know, I got to reevaluate how I build that position. Like I got to have a more focus on blocking. And the group that they are likely to bring back as the 53 men roster tight ends is the exact same except you're adding a guy who didn't block at all in college, somehow a worse blocker. but don't worry we got Johnny Munt. Like so much of the idea that they have solved the blocking here relies on this one guy who is like 32 years old and doesn't play that often.
Starting point is 00:29:07 Like it is, I mean, is like he's fully like holding the wall of like the, like it's all, it's all depending on Johnny Munt. It's like, can we have one other guy? I wrote that down to my notes. Like apparently Johnny Munt is going to block for the entire team. Yeah. That seems like to be the cell. Wouldn't it be fun if that was true, though?
Starting point is 00:29:27 It would be fun. If, like, just Johnny Munt alone, like, solved the Eagles blocking? And if he did it, that would be, I mean, given the MVP at that point. Maybe that's the interior offensive line. They're just going to move Johnny Munt. I mean, they're asking him to be the guy. I think it's a fair. I think it's a fair.
Starting point is 00:29:40 We're not worried about that enough. I think Stowers is a big part of it, too, and I'm not trying to reprise the refrain role here today. But I just, the biggest hang up that I have with him is the playing time going back to. Of course, E. E.J. thinks he's going to be the leading receiver. ever in the NFL and he's going to play every single snap. Yeah. It's just the numbers, they're really stark in terms of not being a full-time player.
Starting point is 00:30:03 I mean, shout out to our good friend Josh Norris from Underdog Fantasy. Love a Nordog. Who was highlighting this. I mean, he was on the field to block just 127 out of 307. It's about like 41% of their rushing plays last year. Okay. And in total is on the field. Right.
Starting point is 00:30:19 So plays that they're not even, he's not even, right. I understand. 59% of just their total snaps. They just took him off the field. That's, and that's where blocking, like, we can be like, how much does this actually matter? It matters when the coaches don't trust him to play. So that's part of the concern I have there as well.
Starting point is 00:30:37 Fair concern. All right, what's the other one? And the last one real quick is just, I mean, I don't know how much we need to get into special teams. I feel like you're a pretty special teams doesn't matter. No, I don't think I don't think it doesn't matter. Okay. I just, I don't know if this is a Jake Elliott thing.
Starting point is 00:30:53 It's the biggest part of it. Okay. I kind of forgot how bad of a season Jake Elliott had last year. He ranked 37th out of 40 kickers and field goal percentage. And you look at the only three guys under him. It was Matt Gay, young Waku, and Josh Cardi. All those players got cut during last season. And the Eagles instead guaranteed his contract.
Starting point is 00:31:15 Jake Elliott's contract. You took a pay cut, right? Slight pay cut for an exchange million dollars, I think, for exchange for guarantee. Yeah. So I don't think Jake's going anywhere. Like now, but that's a concern. I think it's fair. What did you,
Starting point is 00:31:30 did you care about the, the little thing that Michael Clay mentioned about and falling back in love with the game? I don't, what do you make of that? I think I'm, I think probably nothing. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:31:42 And really more of just like lip service to like getting back in the process again. But it could be something. I mean, I think Jake's a prideful guy. I think he wears it. I don't think he's just like, oh, whatever. I won two Super Bowls.
Starting point is 00:31:54 I've made all this money. Oh, for sure. I think he's... I mean, this is a guy who has been used to being like the best athlete and everything that he's been doing his whole life, right?
Starting point is 00:32:05 So yeah, I think I would imagine there's some real existential like what is wrong with me stuff going on. And this could be it. I mean, if he doesn't... If this isn't the year he rebounds, then it's just, it's over probably.
Starting point is 00:32:16 Yeah, probably so. And then real quick, very, very quick. I mean, long snapper. I have a note here from... Rocko. Oh. Bob McGind's draft. From who?
Starting point is 00:32:25 Rocko Grundle. No. But from, I will say, by the way, I forgot, Darwish, big Darwish fan, excited about him at tight end. So looking forward to that. But I was reading through Bob McGinn's draft series, which real sicko stuff for,
Starting point is 00:32:41 I feel like Bob McGinn to have gotten quotes from scouts on long snappers. That is nuts. And for you to have found it. Yeah, correct. I'll read you the quote here. You can check out the draft series that Tyler Dunn's substack go along.
Starting point is 00:32:54 He's the, this is the full quote on Underwood. He's the best-looking athlete, but probably the least accurate. Really? He's had a couple of unplayable snaps and in some critical spots. Oh, interesting. An unplayable field goal snap this year and an unplayable punt snap over the guy's head the year before. I like how detailed this guy. That's interesting.
Starting point is 00:33:16 So two bad snaps over the course of two years. Okay. And he said he finishes up by saying NFL. snappers just don't have that. You don't ever see that, but it happened to him a couple times, and that's really, really bothers me. I don't know. I'm intrigued by that.
Starting point is 00:33:32 Yeah. I also, I do think that there's probably not enough of a difference between the 27th best long snapper and the 36th best long snapper. Yeah. To really matter. And so even if Underwood isn't good enough, there will be someone who can do it, right? even maybe like the 26th and the 40th
Starting point is 00:33:58 is there's always guys coming in for triath but I think they would kind of like to have a cost-controlled young guy I think they're going to take a look and then if they need to bring let's say Charlie Hewlett back you think he's still out there or there's a couple other veteran for agents out in the market but it's that and the last thing I would say is just I have no idea who the returners are going to be on this team
Starting point is 00:34:17 which you know I don't know how much that matters but I just I was looking at the depth chart and I'm like tank basically too good too good on offense to be able to use his superpower as a kickoff returner. I don't know that Britain Covey is, I think he's their best punt returner, but I don't think he's going to make the roster. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:34:32 So I don't know what they're going to do there. Good question. That'll be... Oh, don't you love the first day of training camp writing down everybody who is taking punt return reps and you see like, oh, this guy bobbled a punt remove. I don't know about that. Oh, I love that.
Starting point is 00:34:49 I always like to see... I think Jalen Reger always struggled catching punts. I was like, okay. Yeah. It's funny to me. to see those groups too because there's certain players who are like actually very conceivably in the mix for that job right and there'll be people there too who it's just like why are they there they're not they're not actually going to be doing that at any point yeah got to get the reps got to
Starting point is 00:35:09 get the reps all right let's take our last break here not our last break our second break on the p hosy eagles podcast on the other side a little conversation about big picture eagles this century now who who would your rank as a better eagle leh sean mccoy or saiquan Barkley. Think about that. Join us on the other side. Hi, it's me, E.J. Smith. And as you may have heard, Aston Villa, won the Europa League, or going to the Champions League, and as such, I have taken the summer off. And you know why? Because I do not like when that heat and that humidity kick in, frankly, because my HVAC's not ready. So while I'm sending me picks back and forth to my buddy, Ed, I'm worried about the quality
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Starting point is 00:37:24 birds fan experience. Back in the PHA Yigos podcast, Bo and BLG. And so here's the deal with BLG. We're doing a little series coming up this summer. We're going to be ranking the top 26 Eagles since 2000.
Starting point is 00:37:42 And I got a couple of big picture questions for you that I want you to think about. First of all, how do you feel about a guy like Sequin, T.O where it's one unbelievable
Starting point is 00:37:55 historic season, but in the context of 26, 27 seasons, do you think that that guy would make your list? Tio was tough for me from a standpoint of I might be one of the biggest
Starting point is 00:38:07 Tio fans there is when it comes to Eagles fandom. He was like the guy who got, he was my gateway into Eagles fandom as a kid. So I have such like a nostalgic place for him. But to answer like the conceit of your question.
Starting point is 00:38:23 I think it's different with those players in the sense that... Like a T.O. or a Todd Harriman. Yeah, okay. A guy who started 100-something games but was not a pro-bow level player. I think I do lean towards the high watermark a little bit. Yep. Because I think you typically remember what was best. And you kind of...
Starting point is 00:38:40 This is also my kind of case against Eli Manning when it comes to the Hall of... In terms of you have to count for the bad too. You can't just look at that. Okay. But I think that's natural people just... kind of look at what happened and the best. And with Sequin specifically, I mean,
Starting point is 00:38:55 to have, I think that was maybe, I think that was the best running back season in NFL history. When you include, when you count for the playoffs to and the accomplishment of the Super Bowl, that carries so much weight. Okay. So what about there are four guys who the last two years
Starting point is 00:39:14 have played at that level, right? Sequin, Cooper DeGine, Quignon, Bonn, do you think any of those other three guys would be in the conversation? Hmm. I remember when Zach Bonn was breaking out into the scene in 2024 and being like, is this the best linebacker the Eagles have ever had? Right.
Starting point is 00:39:37 It seems kind of crazy to ask and everyone was getting really mad. I think we did that at one point, but it wasn't even like a statement. It was like, but isn't he? Because he's doing things I just don't recall. Right. And he'll certainly. I mean, that was the best. season
Starting point is 00:39:50 for a nigo's linebacker probably this century. And certainly in modern, you know, I can't comment on Chuck Ben, Eric's, you know, other than what I've heard,
Starting point is 00:39:59 but I'm sure, you know, belongs up there, obviously as well. I said, Joyner was doing, was doing similar things. Joiner.
Starting point is 00:40:05 But, so yeah, I do think, I think you're, they're in the conversation. I don't know. I think they're, you know, under what Seekwan did,
Starting point is 00:40:11 ultimately. Okay. Let me throw a couple of, um, borderline guys at you. Yeah. And give me just a quick, gut reaction straw poll.
Starting point is 00:40:19 do you think this guy would be in or not? Brandon Brooks. No. Sheldon Brown. No. Jalen Carter. No. Oh, interesting.
Starting point is 00:40:32 Brent Selleck. No one's going to be on my team. No. Landon Dickerson. No. Dallas Goddard. No. Hugh Douglas.
Starting point is 00:40:45 No. George Milata. I'm really just a harsh judge here, apparently, but no. John Runyon. I think yes. Sante Samuel. I feel like if I say no, you're going to jump over here and attack.
Starting point is 00:41:02 Yes. Lido. No. Slay. No. Devante. Yes. Michael Vic.
Starting point is 00:41:15 No, but I think he should have a stronger case than a lot of people would think. Okay. John Andrews. No. Okay. I'm a little surprised you can go Devante. Yeah. I'm the other guys that you said no to.
Starting point is 00:41:28 Tell me why. Well, so we're just accounting for past accomplishment only. We're not looking into the future as well at all or accounting for that at all. Is that? Correct. Yeah, we're going as if, yeah, the future doesn't matter. Hmm. Because I think that's, okay, maybe not then.
Starting point is 00:41:43 But I do think what he has done as, I think it's going to age really well is part of the thing. Because I think it's part of a larger story. Yeah. And I think he's been great. And I think he's been undershadowed and overshadowed and underappreciated just for how good he has been because of AJ, he being here as well. Yeah. So if we're not accounting for the future, then I lean no. But I think, again, looking at the bigger picture, it's hard to pull that out.
Starting point is 00:42:11 Yeah, the question I teased before the break. Saquan or Shady, who do you think you would rank higher? I have to give it to Seekwon just because. Really? Yeah. It was such an incredible season. And I know Danez will be mad at that, perhaps. But, and I wouldn't respond to something he had said.
Starting point is 00:42:29 The last time he was here, my good friend, the professor, I do think when he talks about, you know, the offensive line, how, like, it wasn't them, or it was them, you know, them not getting enough credit. When we look at last year, I think you have to have a threshold still. And I don't think a threshold was met last year. And I'm not even like I'm Sequin's number one fan or anything. But I do think that has to be calculated there.
Starting point is 00:42:52 So I would go Seekwon over it. Would you go Shady over Seekon? My initial reaction is I would go Shady because I think he had if you were ranking their seasons I mean, you know, Sakev only played two seasons but it would go Seekwan, Shady, Shady, Shady, Shady, Shady, Shady, Shady, then Seekwan, right?
Starting point is 00:43:12 And Shady was special for three years or so. But I don't know. I could be convinced on this one. I don't feel dogmatic about this. hard. My initial reaction is shady. I think part of the Sequin thing for me is he was just so inevitable. Like he was just so clearly going to have a big moment in these games. And he basically did except for the Super Bowl where even that was kind of like a down game
Starting point is 00:43:38 for him and he had over 100 yards from scrimmage and was clearly the focal point of the chief's defensive plan and opened up opportunities for everyone else. So I just think that was like the most, one of the most dominant Eagles performances I've ever seen. Let us know in the comments if you would go Shady or Seekwan. What about Brian Westbrook? Love Brian Westbrook. I just, I don't think he's quite there.
Starting point is 00:44:02 Your gut reaction is that he would be third? Yes. I think in my mind, I might go Shady Westbrook-Sakwan, but I don't feel strongly about that. I got to get in the, in the minds. Really work this one out. B West has that nostalgia thing for me that I'm trying to I think kind of weigh against
Starting point is 00:44:30 I think you can make a case for B West as number one okay I don't know I think he was probably the most unique of all those players yeah and his ability you know as a pass catcher and what he was in that time of the NFL where it was more about I think just the pure runners
Starting point is 00:44:46 and he was kind of on the forefront of that and also had some just big moments in terms of the special teams plays that he made as well I think that's right All right, last one. If you were thinking about the top spot, and we take quarterbacks out of it, so let's not get into the value of quarterbacks here.
Starting point is 00:45:07 You've got considerations like BDoc, Kelsey, Lane, BG, Jason Peters, Fletcher Cox. I think those are the big sick. What is your gut reaction? It was Jason Peters. Really? Yeah. Oh, that's surprising to me.
Starting point is 00:45:28 I think JP kind of lost, I think he's underrated in terms of how he was underrated, because of kind of what I said with Eli at different levels, but I'm saying in terms of he wasn't quite, he hung around to a point where people started to get frustrated
Starting point is 00:45:45 in that and didn't fully appreciate him still, the player he was in his prime. And I think that the way that it very fortuitously for the Eagles worked out, where Lane immediately, like Lane kept that going, probably has robbed the luster of JP a little bit. My lot of too.
Starting point is 00:46:04 My lot of two. But I think if it had gone like JP to my lot, I don't know. I mean, JP was amazing. Yeah. You know, part of this comes down to when you say best,
Starting point is 00:46:14 is it, are you defining that as it the best player relative to the rest of the league, all contributions to the Eagles. But I'm surprised to hear you say, JP. Well, it's also how other players talked and viewed him too. Sure. viewed him as like this like godlike figure yeah like i don't think there was a single player who
Starting point is 00:46:33 was like eh Jason peters actually isn't that good i think they kind of like were like afraid of him in a lot of ways in terms of just the respect he commanded not only as a talent but also the personality he was yeah okay food for thought much more coming down the pike on these discussions so stay with us for now we took our last break on the phto yigo show on the other side stick around if you want to hear BLG and me talk Survivor We had a meeting with our
Starting point is 00:47:04 bosses just going over content ideas for the next couple months trying to figure out what we can do to live enough to show and there's this new executive guy his name is Ray he's in charge of content and he says
Starting point is 00:47:15 Hey I think you should add a Lisp to your repertoire I don't think you have enough of a Lisp on the show I think that would be a really good idea and I said Ray that's a good idea I will take your advice because I am obligated to do so as your underling. But you think you're being a little bit shady.
Starting point is 00:47:32 Things did not go overwork very well about that, but I did have to do what he told me to do. But that's not the shady rays that we're talking about. No, no, no. Here's the wild part about Shady Rays. The great sunglasses company. If you lose or break your shades, even on day one,
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Starting point is 00:48:55 last so the next time you're at Wawa customize the perfect taco for you and find your new go-to order. All right, back on the PHA Yagles podcast. Spoilers ahead for anybody who is like catching up on this season of Survivor. Before the finale,
Starting point is 00:49:14 we texted and we both correctly predicted that Aubrey was most likely to win. What were your big takeaways from the finale? I thought it was, I've never been like an Aubrey Stan, indifferent more. Like slightly favorable. I do think it was really satisfying
Starting point is 00:49:33 from a narrative standpoint for Aubrey to be this person who was the should have won person back once he originally played in 2016. Yeah. Went up against Michelle Fitzgerald who won instead. That was like, I think maybe the first...
Starting point is 00:49:46 Oh, you're dropping last names. This is, yeah. This is a... I am very much a survivor casual. Yeah. I'm coming in, I'm watching the season and I'm forgetting everything the second it's over.
Starting point is 00:49:56 Right. You are a true survivor sicko. Deep in the lore. But even that's, I feel like I'm casual compared to the podcast and things I listen to. It's, they're at a whole different level and can like remember every boot order from every, I can't do that. But I do like it a lot. And for Aubrey to lose in her first time she ever played and being like, I probably one of the most. Was that a close vote?
Starting point is 00:50:19 It was a close vote from what I can remember. And also, I think it was the most, especially kind of. kind of with the presence of the internet at that time, unlike, you know, the early aughts being there was so much, I think that was the most, like, people ever were like, this person should have won instead. Okay. And it was so much vitriol.
Starting point is 00:50:37 Okay. And also turned into this thing where I think that was the majority opinion in terms of Aubrey should have won. Right. But then she came back and played some other seasons and didn't do as well. Okay. And didn't come off as well in the edit.
Starting point is 00:50:49 Yeah. Or then people were like, well, this is why she lost. Yeah. She never should have won. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And then the person she had lost to went to the final three of the all-winner season and season 40. Didn't get a vote, but still like, you know, kind of strengthened. I think her case that she actually was legit.
Starting point is 00:51:05 Her resume, okay, yeah. So I think for Aubrey to win in this way. And also, I think from a standpoint, too, of I was trying to think other literary and like film examples of this, where you have the character who kind of tries really hard to accomplish something time and time again. It might get close. They don't do it. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And then they kind of give up in a way,
Starting point is 00:51:26 or they like kind of let go of that, like trying so hard to get that, that that's when it comes. As soon as you let go, I guess the one I thought of was like in Shawshank Redemption, when you have read, go to the parole board. And he's getting rejected, rejected after making all these pleas, like, I'm chains.
Starting point is 00:51:45 I remember, and he finally goes in and he's just like, hey, it is what it is. Yeah. And that's the time he finally actually gets released. I feel like this is a common, wrestling trope. Okay.
Starting point is 00:51:54 This is like a common arc for a wrestler. Yeah. But yes. I think that's kind of what happened here with Aubrey. It's like going into the season, which is a huge season, Survivor's Season 50, there were,
Starting point is 00:52:06 she kind of seemed to want it less than everyone else. Or at least wasn't in a spot where she's like, I need this. This is going to define me. Kind of was like, eh, I'm here. What happens,
Starting point is 00:52:16 happens. Okay. And I think that kind of worked to her advantage, letting go and being able to play in a spot where she didn't feel so... Tied to everything and worked the middle and was able to be more open-minded than I think she would have if she was holding so tight
Starting point is 00:52:34 and playing so scared and playing not to lose. Sure. Yeah, I mean, she deserved to win for sure. Yes. I didn't think that it was like... She certainly wasn't like one of the three best players of the season. It felt like, you know, she did a very good job of helping to make sure that the better players were all...
Starting point is 00:52:53 taken down. I loved I loved the way the vote worked out with the people who voted for Jonathan. And easily, easily the best part
Starting point is 00:53:05 of the whole finale was the total package. Really? I mean, keep it in your pants, lady. Wasn't really a question. She was supposed to be asking a question. It was more just kind of...
Starting point is 00:53:18 Why are you the total package? And then she writes it on the thing. Yeah. What are you doing? That was so weird. Former Phillies players, Kyle Kendrick's wife, I believe. That's right. I forgot.
Starting point is 00:53:29 You told me that. I forgot this. Hendricks' wife. Yeah, she's a monster. See. But it's funny to see, like, the three people who vote for Jonathan, versus the people who vote for Aubrey, like they don't know what game they're playing.
Starting point is 00:53:43 I think, yes, that's more of like what I think people would call it old school mindset. I think Jonathan played a respectable game. I think he probably played a better game than I was giving him credit for. I feel like you would think that's like Joe Walker up there. Yeah. Yeah, he did do, he did some stuff. Yes. I saw, but I've seen like now on my Instagram feed, I'm getting served survivor content.
Starting point is 00:54:05 And it's like I have several things about him being like, well, he played a better game. Like he really thinks he deserved to win. I, and that Aubrey got votes because of past seasons worth of story. I do think that's not untrue, the Aubrey part in terms of like, I think that's part of the equation. but I don't think that's why she won the game. I think that's part of what people were feeling. But I don't think Jonathan played a winning game. I think he played a second place game.
Starting point is 00:54:29 And that's a good outcome for him, especially. I don't think anyone thought he would have been there. I think it probably puts him in the conversation of coming back in the future, which is a big win for him personally. So he seemed to be really kind of salty about it, which was weird. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:54:44 Because he should have. What happened to, it's in God's hands. Whatever happens is what God wants. Well, also, too, like, by this point, you know what the votes were, or at least you have some idea if you won the game or not. It's not like a surprise given what you would talk about with your other cast speeds. Right.
Starting point is 00:55:02 I don't know why he would be so surprised. Have they talked about what the votes would have been like if Aubrey had gone out fourth and it was Rizzo with the two guys? I have not seen, like, that confirmed in terms of what people said they would do. But I do think that would have been probably the most interesting final three. from a standpoint of, like, I think that was probably Rizzo's best case to win. I also think that was Jonathan's best case to win. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:55:27 And I don't think Joe could have done anything. I think Joe was drawing dead. No, I agree. But which is also fine when you make it to the final three twice in the two seasons you play back to back. Like, there's worse outcomes than that. I think Rizzo should have won if that was the case, but I don't know that he would have. I don't think people respected him.
Starting point is 00:55:44 And I don't think that's entirely fair because I think part of that is just like an age thing or at least how he comes off. I feel like the comments have completely stopped. Yeah. I'm sorry, everybody. That's okay. Sometimes you've got to do it for your own indulgence. It's late May.
Starting point is 00:55:59 Yeah. We're looking for something to talk about. We're going to see OTAs this week. We haven't seen them yet. Who do you think would make, I was trying to think of Survivor Eagles tie-ins. Who do you think would make for some good contestants on the show? Oh, good question.
Starting point is 00:56:14 Because I have won that comes to mind right away, if you need some time. I think Jordan Milotto would be great Of course you would want Jordan Milato on there Would be great To do good in the challenges Would I think it's very sociable Yeah very sociable
Starting point is 00:56:27 Would keep his tribe entertained You could sing you know I think Jordan Davis I think along the same lines Absolutely would do very well Now they are targets because they're so big Sure You might also too want to look for someone who Is a little bit more normal
Starting point is 00:56:42 Jonathan's huge now But you know you're trying to Someone saying Who are Bernard You know who I think would do really well and is maybe just unassuming enough to not fully be clocked as that guy's definitely a professional athlete? Zach Bond.
Starting point is 00:57:02 Okay. I think Zach Bond could be a chamele in his way as a normal person. I agree with that. And he talks like a normal person to normal people. I think that Zach Bond might be a good sleeper. I like that because I don't, like you said, I don't think he would be recognized. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:57:19 Which also matters because if you are, I think Jordan Milada or Jordan Davis is going to be more recognizable and what would still be very good in the challenges, which isn't everything, but it's a part of the game. And I think Zach is also savvy enough to understand the game. Yeah, is a smart guy. Yeah. Yeah. I like that.
Starting point is 00:57:37 Okay. I mean, just to say. It would be the worst survivor. Is that unfair to ask? Find out in. Not quite yet. We need another 15 seconds. Let me just say,
Starting point is 00:57:55 boy, do I love Surrey. Oh. Who doesn't? Package. Oh, my gosh. See, she's on Big Brother, and I didn't love her. She did Big Brother?
Starting point is 00:58:05 Yeah, with her son. Yeah, they were on the same season. No one knew. But let's talk about it more in. Lindsay time. You didn't like her? No, I didn't like dislike. her but like I just feel like the survivor people who also watch great brother like loved her you know
Starting point is 00:58:23 like you guys like that makes sense I just feel like you gravitate towards anybody you like kind of know and she did go pretty far which like I'm also like you rest of you are idiots she like plays games like this like get her she's like should be the obvious first target but she was like kind of good because she's a little older in the game as long as they did yes she's like a little older than everybody who was like in the house so I feel like she like played like the mom Yeah, she's good card. But nobody knew it was her son, like, the whole time. Oh, that's interesting.
Starting point is 00:58:54 That's cool. I think, like, one person, like, kind of was like, he seems familiar because they were, like, a big fan of hers. Yeah. I don't think they ever, like. Interesting. Yeah. That's fair.
Starting point is 00:59:08 You have a worst survivor part? Oh, yes, my worst eagle survivor. I would say, let me quickly buzz through the roster. I mean, are we saying they go with? with the baggage of who they are? I guess. Like people know who they are. Like,
Starting point is 00:59:23 because if Sequin goes on the show, like, I bet Sequin would think he would do well, and I think he wouldn't do that well. I think that's right. I think he, there's, I think players fall into the,
Starting point is 00:59:35 certain players fall into the trap of, is a just physical challenge show when it's not that. Maybe he falls into that. Who do you have in mind? I don't think Jalen would be, Jalen Hertz would be great. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:59:48 have no interest. That Survivor. Yeah, also don't think he would do it. Not even a viable contender. I'm looking at the roster here. I don't think I have one. It would be funny if you had a very specific backup to throw under the bus here.
Starting point is 01:00:05 I'm going to say, yeah, Isaiah King. It would not be really good at Survivor. I guess I don't have anyone who stands out. I think Willi Lampin would be great. Yeah. I think, I don't know. I don't have a bad one. Yeah.
Starting point is 01:00:23 Yeah. Yeah. Sorry, I asked a bad question because I don't have an example. I mean, I feel like, uh, I mean, maybe Rocco Wonderwood because, you know. Is Survivor the same as Big Brother where it's like about who like, it's like that's about that less, right? Because you're forced into teams on Survivor. Yeah, and they change up the teams. So it's like less about who like likes you or dislikes you as in Big Brother. Like if you're really disliked, people will just be like, they're annoying. Let's get them out of here.
Starting point is 01:00:52 Yeah, yeah, yeah. Although then sometimes they want to keep them. enough it becomes a reason to keep you around because it's the only going to vote for that guy to win. Yeah, yeah. That's yeah, yeah, it's same on a big breath. I was thinking like maybe AJ Brown would be like a little too like Yeah. Not like
Starting point is 01:01:06 annoying but just like I mean they're voting off the island now yeah Yeah, exactly. That's right. What did you make what did you think of the mechanics of the game? Really good for the most part in terms of I think there's always concern they might do a little too much. You know
Starting point is 01:01:22 you're trying too hard or it's nice to think outside of the box but you're like forcing it and I don't think they did that except for... There was a little bit too much forcing I thought. Okay. I thought well I thought they experimented in a good way with some things with the double vote out.
Starting point is 01:01:39 I think we both like that. I like the double vote out. I like that. Yeah that's a good little like game mechanism twist to add. And I know you loved Mr. Beas being on the show. The Mr. Beas thing was so bad. I don't understand how he could be so uncharismatic. Be careful. This is his platform. On TV. It's crazy. That's like this is, because they're not using his editing. He's just sitting there with that goofy, weird smile,
Starting point is 01:02:06 uh, was completely like un-magnetic and was bizarre. Now, the thing that they do, the coin flip, like, okay, great idea. That's fine. But what really turned me off about it, beyond his lack of charisma was, was, was the, the way that Jeff Proops kept just being like, oh my God, how much fun is this? This is the biggest moment. Like, stop telling everybody. It's a huge moment as we're in the middle of the moment.
Starting point is 01:02:36 Like time after time after time, there was way too much gassing up of Mr. Beast by Probs. Like, Jeff, this is your show. You got to be the guy here. Don't give too much credence to this devil. The super fan You know Overliance on super fans this season
Starting point is 01:02:58 Was a bit much Obviously there's the country singer episode Which like dominated Way too much of the screen time In that one The Billy Elish Idol doesn't even have any kind of payoff Like why did she doesn't want to come in the show Like what that was so weird
Starting point is 01:03:14 I heard some I didn't actually listen to this podcast But I heard people on the Survivor podcast I listened to talking about Shout out to Rob as a podcast I'll give him a blog He does a good job. Rob.
Starting point is 01:03:25 That former survivor player, Rob Sester Nino, played in Amazon and All-Stars. Not Boston Rob. It's famously not known as that one. He is, quote-unquote, the Rob Who Sucks, as he refers to, has been referred to. I forgot where I was going with that. Billy Elish. Billy Elish, no payoff. Oh, she kind of like was like almost acting what it seemed like too cool for it.
Starting point is 01:03:49 I was like, yeah, I guess like, you know, I had some involvement. I don't know if that was because it was such a dud or just because she just wasn't trying to see. Why use her name? I don't know. It was really weird. So there was some weird stuff with that. And the Jimmy Fallon one was terrible. That screwed Christian over.
Starting point is 01:04:06 I wanted to win. It was my favorite player. Really? Okay. Yeah. I like Christian. Christian Rick Devons. I love both of those dudes.
Starting point is 01:04:14 That was really an unfortunate. I really dislike when Survivor. There's a luck element, obviously. Sure. But it can't be to the point. where you just get in a spot where you're drawing dead and you basically can't do anything about it. And it was especially punitive to him where not only does he have to vote for himself, he has to announce it to everyone, which basically just makes it a no-brainer for everyone to vote
Starting point is 01:04:38 for him at that point. Right. That was, it was too much. Yeah. You could do the vote for yourself thing, which is a little silly, or you could announce that like, even to announce like next tribal, I have to vote for myself. But, Yeah, to just make it just like that was a little bit. And he's great at puzzles, and he couldn't do a puzzle. So, like, is that challenge, what was, was that challenge even truly fair? Yeah. That was tough.
Starting point is 01:05:02 Tough to lose him. Tough to lose Genevieve, I thought, who had found both of the Biliotic titles and didn't get any benefit from it whatsoever. Yeah. Kind of funny that she ends up, she gets taken out and ends her main op from the season who wins the season. So, there was that. I like D.
Starting point is 01:05:20 D, great player. I thought. Bringing back winners was kind of a misstep because they had brought back three and I just think they were kind of drilling dead. Yeah. I didn't love that casting decision. I thought the cast as a whole played out pretty well.
Starting point is 01:05:32 I'm happy with it for the most part. Yeah, too much, too much. We need to make this a moment. Yes. I thought. And then... The beauty of Survivor is when you just let the people play. Speaking of moments,
Starting point is 01:05:46 the spoiler revealed by Jeff during the live reunion. Yeah. I thought it'd been really, they wouldn't do this. I thought it'd been really good if it was a fake out. And so actually didn't, he won the challenge. That would be funny. And they messed with us in the real time.
Starting point is 01:06:02 They wouldn't do that. Is there a theme of like recurring players or something that you would like to see for a season? That's a good question. I do think we need to bring themes back. It's been a long enough time. There was getting to a point with the themes, I think heroes versus healers versus hustlers is a great example. of this guy.
Starting point is 01:06:22 What are those other two things? Okay. After the heroes, like, yeah. Is that a real thing? But I don't, I don't know that I have any top of mind. We do need to get more returning player seasons
Starting point is 01:06:35 because we also went too long without that because it had been since season 40. Okay. And we went all of 41. Oh, really? Yeah, 41 through 49 was all new players. Oh, I didn't know that. Except for, there's like one guy in there who like got voted out early
Starting point is 01:06:48 and they brought it back one time, or he got medevact. But yes. and Jeff did say apparently that we're going to not have to wait as long for returning players so I'm encouraged by that I think it's really impressive
Starting point is 01:07:01 just that they have 50 seasons of the show that's not easy to do and I think Jeff deserves a lot of credit for that in terms of I think his passion is what keeps the show alive in large part doesn't mean I agree with everything he does but I do think that he's a good thing for the show and I'm very happy
Starting point is 01:07:19 that the show is still on If they did Survivor of Eagles beat writers, how do you think it plays out? So that's a great question. I mean, I feel like you and I might have an advantage at some level of knowing the game. I think that's part of it, especially now, having seen so many seasons and so many scenarios play out,
Starting point is 01:07:41 we have more information. In terms of survivor skills, what would you be good at? What would you be bad at? I think I'm good. at not needing to drive a vote. I think I can... A big part of it is being able to say yes,
Starting point is 01:08:00 to yes and things. And I think I can do that well. I can collaborate. I think I'd do okay in the physical challenges. I'm not the best athlete, but I'm tall. Yeah. But that's something. There's certain challenges where I...
Starting point is 01:08:14 Yeah, right. I did see someone say Brandon Leggoughton earlier. I like that. That's good. Not out to them. Okay. Who do you think? What would you be not bad at?
Starting point is 01:08:23 Or what would you be not good at? What I would be bad at finding idols. I'm not good at finding stuff. I really think about that in terms of the, like when you look at it on TV, it seems so harmless when you're sticking your hand in the trees and stuff. Yeah. There's like snakes and spiders out there. I don't know. I don't know.
Starting point is 01:08:41 You're reaching under a tree. I don't know what's in there. Yeah, I don't really love that. I'm not the biggest bugs family. Yeah, the living and the elements. I think I could do. I think the hunger is obviously. That's the number one thing.
Starting point is 01:08:53 That would definitely get me. I like to eat. I think I'd do okay with not being able to sleep super well. That's easy to say, you know, sitting here too. Yeah. I am not good at this will surprise you. I am not good at pretending I like someone I don't like. No, I don't believe it.
Starting point is 01:09:17 That would probably be my turning point. Yeah. That would be my downfall. some super chats. Alex Medina, unrelated, but I was just listening to yesterday's show
Starting point is 01:09:27 and wow, what can I do to be a favorite Alex? Yes, of course we had our conversation of the favorite Alex and very generous super chat, Alex.
Starting point is 01:09:35 That's a good way to get yourself on the mantle. I'll put you in the top 100 Alexes. Wow. Yeah, why not? You have a favorite Alex. My best friend, Alex Reno. Alex Reno.
Starting point is 01:09:47 Got it Alex. C. Reed, big Survivor fan. Thoughts on Cal. she's spoiling the season. I didn't know this. I saw some discussion about that. I had not seen it actually. I was unspoiled going into it, thankfully. I had to watch it on a delay, but still unspoiled. Why did you have to watch it on delay? What was I do? I was doing something last Wednesday that I can't remember now. Did you make sure you got done that night? No, I watched the next day. Rachel, my girlfriend, Rachel, was at a work thing. So she, she. I hope it's not my wife.
Starting point is 01:10:21 It is not. I don't think so. Okay. So, yeah, I had to wait to the next day to watch it. So how did you go about that? Do you like truly avoid social media at all costs? I feel like I can't do that for what I do for work. I have to stay plugged in.
Starting point is 01:10:39 You were able to make it happen? So I was sent a text that kind of alluded to, I had in a sense of there was something that went awry in the live finale. I didn't know exactly what. it was, but I had seen it. Someone texted me in the morning, and I opened it, and I quickly just, like, swiped out of that to not actually fully see it. But it's tough out there. The, man, one of the worst spoilers I had was a couple seasons ago when it was someone, and I hope I'm not, we, I think we gave a good warning that we're not going to be this for them.
Starting point is 01:11:10 And it's also been almost a week now where it was someone who just does never tweets about Survivor at all. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's just like, strictly. You get blindsided by that. And I was like, where's this coming for? And also, it's also. wasn't even about like, oh, hey, here's the winner, here's my thought on it. It was such like an aside that they were making a point on. That was the details in there. I was like, why?
Starting point is 01:11:31 Why would you do that? Oh, yeah. It's obviously the world we live in. It's tough to avoid, but frustrating when it comes from somewhere, you couldn't have reasonably even guarded against. I've been there. Avery's Super Chat. Bo!
Starting point is 01:11:44 My wife and I are concerned that you aren't giving the Lori Berkner Halloween album its proper respect. It can be listened to. year round. Thoughts. Avery, I gotta tell you, I don't, we don't spend that bad boy
Starting point is 01:11:56 too often. I'm gonna, I'm gonna, I'm gonna, I'm gonna, I'm gonna, I'm gonna get to work here. You give,
Starting point is 01:12:00 you have given me some good homework. I'm gonna check on the LB Halloween album and, and get back to you with, with more thoughts.
Starting point is 01:12:09 I'm, I'm sure it's a banger. I like Halloween. That's, that's all I've got. Big one. All right. Well,
Starting point is 01:12:18 that'll do it for this episode of PHA by Eagles podcast. Let us know in the comments. Once again, Seiquan, Shady, who would you vote for for the top Eagles of the century? We will be back tomorrow. 2 o'clock.
Starting point is 01:12:30 Frane Duffy joins us. Thank you, Lindsay. Once again, thank you, BLG. Hopefully, we're able to get down to the first floor with that honey hassle. Have a good night, everybody. Thanks for watching. We'll talk to you later. And as always, we love you.

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