Subpar - Matt Ryan talks his 36-hole day with Mike Commodore, joining 'The NFL Today'

Episode Date: August 13, 2024

On this week's episode of GOLF's Subpar Colt Knost and Drew Stoltz are joined by former NFL MVP Matt Ryan. The quarterback turned analyst talks his move from the booth to 'The NFL Today,' his favorite courses to play while at home in Atlanta and the first time he played golf with Mike Commodore. -- Thanks to Ralph Lauren, the Official Outfitter of GOLF's Subpar. The RLX Golf collection is available in select Ralph Lauren stores, exclusive private clubs, and resorts, and online at https://RalphLauren.com. -- This episode of Subpar is brought to you by our friends at Cincoro Tequila. Cincoro is an award-winning portfolio of luxury tequilas founded by 5 NBA team legends on a mission to create the most delicious tequila anyone had ever tasted.  If you’re interested in learning more about Cincoro or if you’d like to give Cincoro a try for your next time on the course, you can follow them on Instagram @cincoro, visit their website https://Cincoro.com, or head to your local spirits retailer to pick up a bottle. -- Subscribe Now: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCt5ESUx6omMUsMoEKvMTzlA Shop The Birdie Juice Collection: https://fairwayjockey.com/collections/birdie-juice Follow Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/golf_subpar/?hl=en Follow Twitter: https://twitter.com/golf_subpar?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

All right, here we go. Welcome back to golf subpar with Colt Nost and Drew Stoltz. Before we get going, Sleeves, as always, you look fantastic in your RLX gear. You got the polo on. I've got the workout shirt on because that's what I do. I work out. At RLX, Ralph Lauren, timelessness has been at the core since the beginning. Born on the course, but drawing on the tradition of polo, RLX celebrates classic and iconic products that are meant to be loved and during this test of time while focusing on performance-driven design by blending the sophistication of style with the precision of sport. RLX seamlessly blends performance wear and elevated sportswear. From sophisticated styles to the most technologically advanced fabrics available, RLX is the ultimate and functional luxury and provides pieces that are ready for whatever the conditions bring both on and off the course. Ralph Lauren is the official outfitter of the United States Rider Cup team and partner of the AJGA. Ralph Lauren is proud to continue its sponsorship of golf ambassadors,

Andrea Lee, Billy Horshiel, Davis Love the Third, Devin Bling, Doc Redmond, Jonathan Bird, Nick Watney, Sean Foley, Smiley Kaufman, Todd Anderson, Tom Watson, Trevor Werblow, Troy Taylor the 3rd, Tyler Strafati, and Zach Johnson. The RLX collection is available in select Routflorn stores, exclusive private clubs and resorts, and online at ralphorne.com. That's how you read, Sleeve. That is how you debate right there. That's right. Well done, my man.

Scoop yourself a little RLX if you're out there listening. How are we doing? You're up in Minneapolis. Got a little U.S. AM coming up, huh? Back to Minnie again. ever played it? Four weeks. Yeah, done all right at the USAM, believe it or not.

This was actually the site of my second ever USAM. Hazelt team, National Golf Club. Didn't make match play, but it propelled me to win the next year at Olympic Club. It motivated you. This one, Billy, I believe Billy Horsel shot 60 piece on the secondary. At the Chaska Town Club, yeah. That is correct. And Richie Ramsey was your winner.

That's right. Richie Ramsey. Thought he was going to be a world beat. That's time. Yeah. Shout out to him. But it's, man, I'm pumped to be up here. This is my second time covering the USAM.

It is, I mean, as you know, it's just an awesome event. Someone's life's going to change at the end of this week. They're going to lift the Habemeyer and, I mean, get in major championships, always be known as a USA Amateur champion. It is a cool week. And we got a loaded field. Stroke play started today. They player number one, two, three in the world together.

How about that? Gordon Sargent. Okay. Jackson Coivin. And then the guy who almost stole the show. last week, Luke Clinton. By the way, finished the PGA tour event, finished fifth, jumped on a bird, came over here, teed it up at 209 today.

Yeah, good thing you got the afternoon teetown. By the way, he played 39 holes on Sunday. Just 39. And it was not cold down there. And he had a chance. I mean, finished on the back nine. Like, there's a weird world with all that went on with Max Graceman, we'll get into where he could have actually won that thing.

But regardless, dude, his third top 10 in six starts on the PGA tour, he's only what going to be a sophomore i believe it for to say like the kid's a joke he's got to be i don't know if he's got enough left in the tank like that's a long long sunday and then fly there play the biggest amateur event in the world on a hard hard golf course he had the easier one today but then get into match play hopefully and then can be a long week from there i mean i know he's young but damn that's a lot he's even par through 17 holes as we record this right now on the easier easier course which is t 81 so he's got a he's got to get after it gordon sergeant three over that's a problem.

And then the other one in that group, Jackson Coyvon, is one under. Our man Preston-Summer-Hase shot is one under through nine at Hazeltine. That's pretty good. That's pretty good because I was looking at the top ten earlier right before I came here and like the first nine, we're on the second. We're not at Hazeltine. So it's clearly a lot easier on that second one. But yeah.

It's a big difference. Brown was one under. Cruz, I believe he was one under at Hazleton. He's my early premature pick was just medalist at the junior amb, but got ousted in the second round. How about he became, he took a picture with Tiger. How about that? Things have changed a little in a couple years for the fellow.

Be the first kid to ever be medalist at the USAM and the junior. And like in succession, by the way. Tiger's done it, but it wasn't in one after the other the same way. Blades was medalist at last year's USAM and this year's junior am. So he's, there's so many good ones. But what Luke Clanton's done is going to joke. He didn't ask, he didn't ask to take a picture with you and Kitty. He didn't ask to take a picture with you and Kitty?

I was sensitive at the time was a close match, you know what I mean? We're just pen pals now. Yeah. But I'm looking forward to watching him. I can let you know. He did get it in the house at 1 under at Hazeltine, so that's pretty good.

That's up there because I think 3 under was the lowest I saw at Hazeltine when I left there. But that's going to be a sweet event. Legitimately, dude, one of my favorite events of the year to watch on television. I like it more than most of the professional golf tournaments outside of the major championships. It's a fun one, especially when it gets down

of the last few matches just because all that's on the line. Also, like, no money. And I just enjoy watching, like, the kids play as opposed to the pros. It's a little more relatable, although they are disgustingly good. And they just show so much emotion. I mean, it just means so much to these guys. The gallery's walking down the fairways. It's just such a cool atmosphere. Yep. That'll be awesome. You'll be up there covering that thing. We'll be looking for you. Hopefully, we'll get a big time matchup. Hopefully Gordon Sargent turn that thing around. like we'd like to have world number one into match play, but he's going to have to go tomorrow on the hard course.

As you know, I've not been very hot with my picks, and on the plane right here, someone asked me on Twitter who I like, and I said, Gordon Sargent, I think it's his time, and he's three over on the easy course. Stay hot. Perfect. Perfect. We're running hot. Actually, I got some hate on the way over on Twitter from a lady from Canada.

I think a cat lady from Canada. I went a little hard on synchronized swimming, apparently, on the radio today, and she just bashed me about it. She said it was voted the next. most athletic people at the Olympics based on. I was like, okay. I was synchronized swimmer. More athletic than LeBron.

I got it. I'll go tell A&K.D. There's shit athletes. Yeah, it was beautiful. But, yeah, we'll stay hot. We'll stay hot with the picks. Well, let's get into the wind, dude.

There's a lot of shit. I'm honest. Real quick, though. I'm obviously a happily married man, but look out ladies of Minneapolis. I'm cruising around in a sick minivan this week. It's a nice piece you got there. A little astro.

A little shagging wagon. The Toyota Sienna, it actually, by the way, seats incredibly comfortable. It's massive, but it rides kind of nice. I kind of dig it. Actually, if you can get over just them being atrocious and like your old man river in them, they're actually pretty nice on the inside. They are. They're actually pretty solid.

You fill out people in there. So have yourself a time out there in many. It's awesome. But let's talk about the Wind of Championship. Aaron Rye picks up his. first PGA tour. And this guy's been knocking on the door. It was a ridiculous week. I mean, no golf on Thursday. Then we played 9,000 holes in like 12 hours. My feet are rather tired. I need a couple days to recoup. But Aaron Rye, man, he's been knocking on the door as of late.

I didn't realize Trevor read off this stat. As far as strokes gained, as far as like the best ball strikers on the planet, one two and three are no surprise. One Scotty Schaeffler, two, Xander Shelfley, Roy McRoy is third. Number four was Aaron Rye. I mean, he's a ball-striking machine. If he makes any putts, he contends, yeah, it is, he's slower and shit. But other than that, he's a hell of the player. He's not setting any, that final round, by the way, was a joke. It was like 520 or something.

I mean, we talk about all the time. It ain't ever going to change, but Jesus, that is, it's so brutal to watch. And to call it, I mean, it's miserable too. But Aaron Rye, we went over his stats today on radio, and it's mind-blowing how good he is and, like, virtually everything. And he probably gets the least love from anyone. I mean, he hadn't won until just now. And by the way, even with this win, Colt,

I would argue for a first time winner, the story is less about him after the win than any other event I can think of this year, just based on what was going on around. Max Gracerman, the meltdown, which is just brutal to watch unfold. I just felt like a nightmare. I was like, all right, even after the Quad,

eagle quad, quad, then the bird. I was like, okay, he's regrouped after the bird. He's going to come back. He's going to be fine now. And then, four-wiggle. I mean, it was just tough to watch, but I feel like all the attentions on Max Grayson and his kind of collapse, as well as Matt Coocher,

and his decision there on the 72nd to stop play, finish in the morning. Yeah, man, that was a wild situation. I was in our green room in the compound, just waiting on the tournament to finish, and I was in a sudden I hear Doddy Pepper saying, and Matt Coocher is not playing any more golf. I'm like, are you kidding me? Like, this is a joke, right?

It's like, nope, he's done. It's dark. He doesn't want to be out here. Listen, I don't think it had anything. to do with where he was on the leaderboard. I think he was frustrated with how the day went. The pace of play was horrendous. They only got 10 minutes between their last round or the third round and the fourth round. They were told they were going to get 30 minutes. He's 46 years old, doesn't enjoy playing 36 holes. This is just my opinion. I've not heard this from him. I think he thought Max Grazeman

wasn't going to finish. That's what he said in an interview also. But I just think it was a kind of a FU to everyone involved. He was frustrated with how things went for the day. He didn't play well. it had nothing to do with being tied for 12 but then he came out the next morning got a drop from a scoreboard all of a sudden it ends up making par. That's honestly more, I might have more questions about that.

I'm totally in agreement with you. I think it was more of a screw you, PJ tour. You guys should have called this 40 minutes ago. We shouldn't have been out here if it wasn't the FedEx Cup playoffs we wouldn't be playing and you're forcing us to go. But I'm a little confused, Cole,

because it looked like he kind of, he didn't race over there, but he went over to 18T and he teed off while he didn't know he was down there, but Aaron Rye was getting ready to hit the biggest shot of it. his life and Cooter teed off and pulled it into dead man's land. And that's where I, he picks it up. I have a multiple still shots from the camera right behind him, bending down, marking his ball.

You cannot even come close to seeing the golf balls like ankle height, Bermuda Ruff with trees directly in front of him. And at that point, I was like, dude, just punch it out and finish the hole. Like you got, you know what I mean? Like, you're not doing anything with his shot. Then the videos come out the next morning and I'm watching ripping a hybrid from the opposite fairway, which he still doesn't get to the green, by the way. But somehow, he convinced Kintak it. I mean, rules officials don't just give you drops. He convinced him, but that is

the salesman, the sales job that he had to put on to be like, from this lie, I'm thinking to hitting a low hybrid under these trees that screams. And that scoreboard is right in the way of where it could go. I just can't really see it, but you use the rules to your advantage. I know where the scoreboard is and I have

a feeling. Like I wasn't there. I didn't hear the discussion at all, but I'm guessing Kintaggit's like, I want to get the hell out of here. Just drop the ball. Let's go. I'm so over And if that had happened the night before, Cole, let's just say, propose this earlier. I was like, say Coucher was leading the golf tournament and hit it over there.

And then wanted to have that relief. I'd be like there would be no one in the world saying, yeah, go ahead and drop it over here in the fair. It just seems like even if that leaderboard is in the way, like that's the closest place is 25 yards over there. Just into the fairway, by the way, where you can get a hybrid on. It just seemed really weird,

and he's getting destroyed on social media for it. Good thing is he's not on social media. He said my agent called me and said I'm getting dragged pretty good But I don't really think he cares But it sucked for Aaron Wright because it did take a lot of a lot away from his win Which was so impressive final round 64 to get in there and just like I said Been knocking on the door but to finally walk through it really impressive and congrats to him And I want to say congrats to our CBS team

That was our last event of the year That was also the last event of my contract but we had a hell of a year It was wild we had wind cancellation when Wyndham won at pebble We had grace and Murray pass away We had Scottie Shephler get arrested. We had a complete rain out here. I mean, it's been a wild year. Yeah, there's been a lot going on.

Shout out to you guys, the entire CBS crew. You did a great job. Do you want to use this opportunity being that the contract is up? It's the contract years. A number that you would like. I'm a free agent. I'm going to hold out like CD Lamb for $100 million. Take it or leave it.

You think they'll have the same urgency as Jerry Jones? Oh, they're going to panic. They're going to write me a check immediately. Yep. Just say a number. Say a number. Speaking of football, the Broncos are back. I don't know if you saw Bone Nix playing preseason against the Colt's backups.

Here we go. We are. Now you're all about Bow Nix. We'll save it for another day. I'm a big Bo Nix guy, dude. I've always told you that. I'm high on this kid. High on this kid.

You know, Sean Paine knew what he was doing. You said it all along. Exactly, dude. That's something we should have got into with our next guest, who knows a little thing or two about playing quarterback. But, Colt, I got to tell you something that's a little bit special we've got today, okay? Tequila that's as smooth as a perfect swing on the course.

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former Atlanta Falcon quarterback, and now broadcaster, the great, Matt Ryan, joins us on subpar. Here he is. All right, here we are live from the ACC Championship. We got a special one. Longtime NFL quarterback. Now making his way into the studio.

Yes. Matt Ryan joins us. How are we doing, brother? I'm doing great. You guys doing all right. All the great athletes end up on TV. That's right. When you can't play, you talk.

Also, talk shit about everyone else. Congratulations, Atlanta Falcons Ring of Honor. I just saw the way they did it. I saw the video. That's really cool. It was really cool. I had no idea. It was coming.

Rahim Morris had asked me to kind of come in and talk to the team. And it was cool. You know, I was excited to do that. But then he kind of surprised me there at the end. And it was special. So I'm excited for that. This coming fall,

it's going to be a blast. Well, we were talking before we went on. You and Sleeves have actually played golf together. That's right. There was also a very special human in the group. One of our fan favorites by Commodore. Comey was in there.

Yeah, commie was in there. So my commie story is, it's my first time ever being at Whisper Rock. and DA kind of set it up for us. I was there with a couple of buddies. And so I think it was me and Matthew Stafford were playing together that day with Comey.

And we played 36 holes of golf. And, you know, about like four or five holes into it, you know, he gets a couple cocktails, right? And he's like, nobody can drink tequila with me. No one can. And me and staff are like, we're not trying to do. We're good. We believe you.

I'm like 34 years old at the time. I'm like, I'm comfortable with, you know, myself. So anyhow, we play the entire day. We play 36 holes of golf. We go into the men's grill, which is I still think like one of the greatest places on the planet to hang out after, you know, around the golf. And we're, you know, having drinks or whatever hanging out in the men's grill. And we all make this plan to meet up at one of the bars in Scottsdale. I think we might have been.

I don't know what it is out there. But we end up going to one of the bars in Scottsdale. And so we all go back to our place, shower, change. We head back, grab a bite to eat, and then we show up at this bar and comment. He's sitting at the bar and we walk in. We're like, Comey, what's up, man?

And he, like, turns around. He had no idea who we were. He had no, he took 36 holes, like nine hours we spent together that entire day. So I want to picture and make it quick.

He was in, like, a blazer and everything. He was looking good. He was so special. By the way, we're going to get it back on zero. Speaking of air drops. Yeah.

Oh, hello. Speaking of tequila. No one can drink. You couldn't handle this, bud. That's right. We're going to have, I would say he is probably our listeners, number one. We have him ever, at least once a year. Probably should have him more just because we just want, he just, you just let him go.

Yeah. But it'll be beautiful to have him back in and to tell his version of that, which I think we'll. I'm sure he doesn't remember any of it. Yeah. You can't remember any of it. He is a beauty. Yeah, he's the best. He's, he could play too, man.

He was, he was fun. The day we played, he got better than more he drank. I remember playing with you that day. It was the first time I played. Matt, as well, like, I was blown away by the two of you guys, how good it was. Like, Matt, you could tell, up like his fundamentals are all like he's gotten lessons and stuff like that um but like what's your digit right now uh it's it's like right around scratch but i've been playing shitty honestly uh lately

but um i'm i'm hitting it pretty good i just can't get off the team my driver goes all over the good good news here you don't have to hit driver you don't have to hit two iron everywhere which is perfect for me for you this place is very short it's good very narrow ball goes forever uh so try and hit a lot of two irons but I love playing to me it's like you know it's hard when you're done right like your whole life you're wired to go work out you know go throw go do that kind of stuff I love practicing to be honest with you like I like going to the range I like hitting balls I like chipping and putting for me it's kind of like therapy well you're a quarterback that's a quarterback 100% that's a quarterback I feel like you're so used the routine to get better watch the tape do

all the stuff 100% you do the same thing in golf and it's like it's like the perfect amount of time I've got three young kids right so basically I'm like Kami I'm I'm like the Uber driver for our family, right? Like, he was out there doing it professionally. That's humbling, isn't it? It is humbling. But my windows are like during the week. So I'll either practice or play with the old guys at the club, like Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at like 9 o'clock.

Where do you play at? I played a place in Atlanta called Cherokee, Cherokee Town Country Club. So good spot. Yeah. There's a lot of good golf in Atlanta. Yeah, there is. Give me the top few in Atlanta. Obviously, I mean, Augusta's outside of Atlanta.

It's two hours down the road, Atlanta East. But, I mean, to me, my favorite place is there. Peachtrees, I don't know if you guys have ever had the opportunity to play. I haven't played it, but it gets brought up every time I'm talking to someone from my lawyer. Man, it's so much fun when you get a chance to go over and play there. I've been lucky, you know, to be over there at different times with friends. And that place is awesome. I mean, I'm excited to see what East Lake's going to look like after we redo.

I mean, I love that place, you know, because of what they've done for the community around it. I think it's, like, really special how they've impacted the community around, you know, the golf club but to me I think it was you know it was time it was time for you know a little bit of new grass around there maybe a little bit different look and um from what I've heard it's going to be incredible so I'm excited to say it last year was my first year there and I mean I liked it how it was yeah yeah it's old school but yeah he's gonna make it even better I'm sure I'm excited to see that golf club of Georgia how far is that that's a good one yeah golf club club yeah golf clubbed Georgia yeah I played a lot there so I used to live like my first three years in Atlanta I live like

10 minutes away from golf uh golf uh golf club of Georgia it's over in like Johns Creek and I lived in Duluth. So one of my buddies, his wife worked there. So we played over at Golf Club of Georgia all the time. And it's sweet. I mean, both courses are good. They're hard. I mean, you've got to drive it good over there.

But that's, I mean, there's tons of, like, there's tons of good golf. I mean, maybe not like crazy, you know. I'm not talking to Hampton. Yeah, top 20, top 25 in the country. But there's a lot of, like, good golf courses in and around Atlanta. I used to be a member of Golf Club of Georgia that they took it away. What happened? Like when you win the USA, you get a membership.

And then I guess the new ownership took over and they're like, no, y'all are out. Yeah, you're out. It's not like I think I went once. Yeah. I mean, I'm paying dues. You got to cut the dead weight, you know what I mean? I don't like paying dues. It's pretty far off.

Yeah, one and done. One and done's good. Who do you got in Atlanta? Is there any other like football players, former football players or athletes or stuff, do you like to go out there and mix it up with? Yeah, man. I mean, there's, in Atlanta, there's so many guys that are retired, that end up retiring, like in and around that area.

John Lester, I get to play with quite a bit. He's a member at the club I'm at in Atlanta. He's a ton of fun to play with. He pounds it. I mean, he's a big, big dude. Doesn't he play this before? I think I've seen him hit it out here on the long drive and he smashes it. He can smoke it, right?

And so he's a ton of fun to play with. I have backup quarterback that I played with five years in Atlanta matchab. Shabby's a good dude, a ton of fun to play with. And, you know, I mean, just everywhere he pop around. Jerome Bettis, you talk about the Braves pitchers. John Smoltz is in and around there all the time, too. So there's a good crew. You should go play with Sung Jay.

He moved there. Yeah, he's up at Sugarloaf. Yeah. He's up at Sugarloff. So one of my best friends is the director of instruction at TPC Sugarloaf. And I've taken lessons from him for years. And I go up there every so often to play. And he's always, he grinds, dude.

Yeah, I was going to say, do you like to practice? You should go hang out with Sung. I don't like to practice that. There are no days off. None. He didn't buy a house for like multiple years on the PJ tour because he just played every single week. He's like, I don't, I just stayed in hotels. I mean, that's not for me.

That's a grind. Yeah, it's a grind. Let's go back to the playing days a little bit. I mean, I want to know. because we were talking about earlier. I mean, you're a quarterback. You get hit. We were talking about JJ Watt earlier.

He admitted he knew how many times he sacked you. Twice, yeah. Twice, JJ? What a weird memory of that. I got a sacked like 400 times or something. Yeah, it's on your O line, by the way. That's on my ball. Yeah, that was O.

If you can remember, who got you the best? So the hardest hit, honestly, the hardest that I ever took was in college. So we were playing against Clemson, and people can check this out. You can just, like, type in Matt Ryan, Clemson hit. And I got, I think the guy's name was JJ. Dunham. He didn't end up playing in the NFL, but this dude absolutely smoked me. I thought I was like dead on the ground for a little bit, but hit me right through the chest. So that was probably the hardest I've ever been hit. But in the NFL, Julius Peppers hit me. I think it was maybe the

fourth game of my rookie year, smoked me right across the chin. I threw an interception that got returned for a touchdown, but it got called back because, yeah, illegal contact to the head and neck area. But that was, for me, it was like one of the hardest hits I've ever taken. And kind of at that time too where it's like oh shit like this is going to be a grind every week is going to be a grind so he was that was the hardest he was a special freak though like basketball and football at carolina like that's at carolina that's like that's different we had rules for him like every time we played against him like if we had screens going his way because you know trying to get a screen to a running back or something like that we would like check out of it because he was so long like

there was no way to get it around him and he had such a good feel for like sniffing it out I think after I threw like one or two interceptions on it, they were like no more. We'll go the other way. We'll check out of it. We'll do something like that. He was such a stud. He's a different piece. Give me another player.

Like when you were like preparing, you're like, good God, this is going to suck. Aaron Donald. Yeah, I figured that was going to be. Trey McBride was talking. It was a rookie, or was a rookie tied in for the Cardinals. A brief career so far, but he's a stud, by the way. And we were asking him, who's the scariest dude? And he had that.

His job was like to basically cut block Aaron Donald on. So we, that job sucks. He's like, dude, not. Yeah, I don't feel like doing that. We played against them in the playoffs. And it was kind of, so it was maybe like 2017. I mean, he, like, everybody knew who he was, but it was before he was just like the absolute, absolute game wrecker.

And I remember Steve Sarkesian was our offensive coordinator. And so we come into this plan. We had like this whole plan about what we were going to do, all that kind of stuff. And at halftime, we had a lead. And he was like, you know, the game plans out. He's like, we're either going to run the ball, we're going to throw quick game, like three-step drop, get the ball out of your hand, or we're going to throw screens, and I don't care with the down in distance. It's the rest of the get.

We can't block them. And we did it, literally, the whole second half. And it's the only time that's ever happened in my career. I remember watching hard knocks when it was with the Rams and watching him go through the ladder drill. I'm like, that's not human. No. I mean, that's just a whole other level. No.

Freak. Freak. I mean, the hardest, like, one of the hardest things for me to realize when I got into the NFL was that I, I was that I, I was the weakest and the slowest player on the field at all times. And you guys are big, big dudes. Dude, we walked by Joe Flacco earlier. He's huge. All of us turned out.

I was like, he's a fucking giant. Like I had no idea. And when you stand next to these dudes, the O. Lyman and stuff like that, you look like nothing. You look like a regular guy. 100%. All five of us were walking around. I was like, oh, there's Joe Flacco. I was like, God, damn he's huge.

Next person, damn he's big. Damn he's big. God, dude, these guys are all monsters and they can run. Right? Like, that's the D. The D-Lyman, it's unbelievable how fast and how athletic they are. These combine numbers, they like linebackers are running. Their height and weight and their speed now, I'm like, dude, this is like, I feel like we've passed. 100%.

Like, you shouldn't be able to be like 6-6-280, like 6% body fat and running like 4.4. 4-5. Yeah, exactly. It's wild. Look at that. Look at that other quarterback over there. Romo out here. No, the CBS guy.

Antonio. Antonio. Oh, yeah. You've got three CBS employees right here, Sleece. By the way, he was supposed to be out of, he sent a text. I'll be at the range at 1.15. Look at your clock right now. What time is it?

I don't know. I think the range closes like four minutes. The range closes in four minutes, exactly. It's almost five. Yeah, shocker, Tony was late. He's like, I'll be up there at 115. Here he shows up. Tony, the range closes in four minutes, bud.

He doesn't care. He'll hit till 10. He doesn't care. I'm a little bit surprised Aaron Donald retired, going back to the football thing. And also, are we convinced? So I know you have a good relationship with him, work with him coming up. J.J. Watt, is he done?

I mean, for a guy that's done, he's saying it's a pretty damn good shape. He's yoked. The pitcher he posted the other day. It's like he looks bigger than when he was playing almost. 100%. I mean, I was with him a few weeks ago. We were doing some promotional stuff for the season, you know, for the upcoming season. And he still looks like he could play.

I'm sure, you know, part of it, too, is like when you're done, you're just so wired to keep training. and I'm sure like it was such like a passion for him, you know. So for me, I like feel good. I feel better about myself, whatever, when I'm doing that. And I'm sure it's the same for him. But I hope he stays in the studio with us, but he sure looks like he could still play. He's a shock.

I don't think he can give up like the working out. I think that's in the DNA. Like he'll be 60 and he'll still be like waking up and tired to look like how he long. How'd you like your first year on TV? You're with my man Andrew Catalan. I was with Andrew Catalan. He was, he was awesome to work with. I mean, he was so, so good to me.

I had no idea what I was doing going into the season. And he kind of held my hand through it for the first, you know, six or eight weeks. But help me out a ton, a ton of fun to be around Colt, as you know, right? Like, I mean, he keeps it light. He keeps it light. He's always prepared. He was great. I got to work with Tiki Barber, too, who was fantastic.

AJ Ross was, you know, our sideline reporter. So for first year doing it, I mean, you're lucky when you're around people that you enjoy doing it with. You know it. I mean, your guys' crew is as good as it gets. And I was fortunate to be able to do it with those guys the first year. I tell everyone, like, working with Jim Nance is a dream, and I can't believe I actually get to do it. Yeah. But the weeks when Andrew Catalan comes in, I mean, it's just so fun.

Yeah. There's so much shit going back and forth. It is. He talks a lot of shit. He does. He does, right? He's pretty good at it. He is pretty good at it.

He likes to chirp a little bit. He watches, like, every, I mean, every sport. I mean, he knows, like, college football. We would do, like, college football picks and stuff during the season just to have fun. within the crew. And I mean, he's picking like random Mac games and stuff like this. And I know this guy, like, whatever. He's a sports nut, but he's a ton of fun to be around.

He's awesome. He'll call into our radio show every now and then. It's just to fuck her out. 100%. Tiki is, you know, we were with Tiki and Tiki's on WFAN in New York every day. And Catalan was listening like all the time. He's like, I had to bite my tongue so many times from calling it and be like, Tiki, that's bullshit. So I got to ask because I just remember this about one of the games,

because a lot of people took some shots. of Catalan about the 28 to 3 comment he made. Can you tell the story? He told you what happened. I know the story but forever because like he took a lot of shit for it. He took a lot of shit and I felt bad for him because it didn't look

it didn't look great. Teams getting blown out half time, right? Yeah, it was our first game. I think we were doing who were we doing? We were doing Minnesota versus Tampa. It was a season opener and we finish up at halftime and we're grabbing a bite to eat before the second half comes out and I jokingly am like guys it feels like it's 28 to 3 like this thing's over and like

tiki left and I think Catalan was thinking about something and like didn't really put two and two together and went off and like whatever he does his vocal exercises or whatever during half time and I don't think he like thought anything of it and then he comes on air and says it like right out the half and I'm like oh that was not for air not for air so really it was me making a joke beforehand and he was just totally locked in so don't give Cadillan any shit for that I mean he's yeah you can I'm just saying people

out there take it easy on him I remember seeing the clip of like oh Cadillade boy there's no margin for error in that game in the like broadcast game you say one thing and like oh wait why did I say that 100% you're getting pounced on it dude I was shocked at how tired I was

after the broadcast so like it would click on right and you don't I mean I wasn't doing anything I was just standing there trying to do replays, explaining what was going on, but it moves so fast, right? And there's so much going on in your headset and those kind of things. Like, the game would finish and I'd be like,

I would be wiped, man. I was exhausted after those. It was, I mean, it's cool, it's fun. Yeah, not everybody's built for this team. Not everybody is built. It's a fissileon. You've got to be stallion. You got to walk and talk.

You got to stay there yourself. Impossible. You're going to the studio now, though, yeah? Are you excited about that? Do you want to be, or do you like the, you know, in game? I'm pumped. I'm pumped.

I like doing both. So I did the games for all of the regular season. And then in the playoffs, I got to go up to New York for one of the playoff weekends and then was lucky enough to kind of do some of that for the Super Bowl as well. And I enjoyed it. Like I had a blast doing that. The team I'm going to work with up there, James Brown, I mean, he's just a legend when it comes to broadcast. And Nate Burleson, Nate's like, he's so good. He's so good.

100%. He's so good when you watch him do his thing. And then we got Coach Cowher, who's a legend, and then JJ, who's going to be on, you know, with us at different times throughout the season. So, again, I get to do it with cool people. It makes it a complete, you know, it makes it a game changer when you're doing it with good people. 100%. I was telling somebody earlier, like, growing up, I'm a diehard cowboy fan. So there's certain people you just hate because you have rivals with them and Cowboys, Pittsburgh, early in the 90s were big rivalry.

So I hated Bill Cowell. And then Ross Malloy has his golf trip, the Ross Cup. So I was a captain, and Bill Cowher was the other captain. Oh, man. So we get to hang out and play it and I get to know him. And I'm like, God, I wanted to hate you so bad, but I love you. He's the man? He's the coolest dude on the planet.

Dude, he's the man. He's like the best guy in the world to sit down and drink a beer with. He's awesome and has been really good to me so far. So he's fun to be around. He comes across like a dude on TV. That's exactly how he is in real life. 100%. There's a bunch of people that don't.

I'm like, that's not the real guy. I feel like he is how he is. 100%. He's like the nicest guy you'll ever meet. He's super intense, but like, the nicest guy you'll ever meet. Fun to be around. Loves football. And so for me, that's like the perfect combination of the guy you want to be around.

I got to ask, there's a man coming into the booth next year. It's making a little noise. Yeah. You should get one of his contracts, by the way. It's Tom Brady, making a little bit of money. How do you think he's going to be in the booth? I think it'll be good. I do.

Yeah. I mean, listen, he's thoughtful, has always been thoughtful, and he knows it as well as anyone, if not better. And I think the insights he'll be able to provide are going to be unique to listen to. I'm excited to kind of hear what he has to say, albeit on a different network. But, you know, I think he'll do great. It's like, I think the hardest thing is going to be like the technical side of it, right? Like understanding when to get out, how quickly to get out.

But he's super sharp. He'll figure those things out quickly. Yep. He'll be prepared. I'll tell you that. 100%. He's going to be prepared. Hopefully he's good at it.

You know, he could use some good things happening. Yeah, he hasn't. Such a tough run. Did you watch the roast? Yeah. I watched, so I started it. No, so I started it and then it was like, I can't really watch this, right? And so then I saw, I saw like the bits and pieces of it.

The highlights? I saw the highlights. He got got got, man. And that's what I was like, and I really liked Tom, right? And so it was like funny, but then I'm also like, oh, man, I feel bad for my guy right now. Yeah. There was some stuff, I mean, obviously the family stuff, but I mean, look, he knew what he signed up. 100%.

And Nikki Glazer just was unbelievable. Yeah, she was really, really good. Tony Hinchcliff was spectacular. He shut it down. But I thought it was just good for like the world, honestly. It's like, Tom is like, you know, he's an icon. But also like, hey, we could tell us some jokes and say some things and it doesn't have to be the end of the world. Like no canceling anybody and all that.

100%. It's a lot with, at least in the NFL, it's a lot what the locker room is like, right? Like you walk in every day and if you're, you know, you got a new haircut or you're wearing something that looks stupid. Like people are going to be on your ass every day. And you just get thick skin. You get used to it. And I'm sure that was the same in New England. And you like it.

100%. 100%. Like, no, 100%. And nobody gets a pass. No, no, no, no. It's almost like the, you know, the more notoriety you get, the more shit you catch in the locker room. Yeah.

I think that's fair. Then the bigger the contract, probably, too. You know what I mean? That's also a nice part of it. I'll take all the shit when I'm making $50 million a year. Yeah, that's a big deal. Yeah. Say a team's making a playoff run, loses their quarterback.

your phone rings. I'm good, baby. I'm good. I'm drinking a tequila with a little orange slits in a place. If I get slimmed up a bit, I mean, I'm sure that's just natural. 100%. I've lost probably like 10, 12 pounds since I played.

And no, I mean, listen, I'm proud of what I did during my time. And I'm comfortable kind of moving on. And I'm happy that I've got this incredible job at CBS and can still stay around the game in a way that I want to. But, you know, my time's done. These guys are, this young crew, like, this is what I think is so good about the, NFL right now. The young group of quarterbacks that we have in the league right now,

I think is going to be special, right? And they're going to be fun to watch for the next, you know, 10, 12 years. So the league's in a good place right now. All right, well, let's put you on the spot. I mean, it's a long ways to go, but let's get a little Super Bowl prediction. Denver versus who? Denver versus Dallas. One of them might have a chance. Look out for Bo Nicks and Zach Wilson. We're going to run a two quarterbacks set this year. They're the same guys. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. Zach Wilson's got to start early. I, I don't know. I was a assume early. I mean, both places Boe played, you know, like systems are night and day from what

Sean Payton has done historically. I'm sure he does, but I think it takes time, you know, so I don't know. Denver will be interesting to see my way too early, you know, Super Bowl prediction, like, let's not overthink this. Kansas City. I mean, they, against it. I think the NFC is what's interesting to me, right? Like, I think Dallas will be good. I do think Dallas will be good. I think Philadelphia bounces back. Like, the end of the year, last year was weird. You know, I think my team in Atlanta, I think, is going to be good.

You bring in Kirk Cousins, they draft Michael Pennix, like, kind of an interesting, big topic of the offseason. But when you look at the rest of the team, I thought they were very good last year. You know, on defense, I thought they, you know, offensive line played well. Skilled positions are good. I think they'll be pretty good in the NFC South. And then San Francisco, I think, is going to continue to be good. I played for Kyle Shanahan for two years. He's good, man.

He knows how to dial it up. He knows how to put guys in a position to be successful. I think they'll be contenders. And I like L.A. too. I like the Rams. Staff's a buddy of mine, but like I like what they did in the second half of the season last year. I thought they started to play some good football, particularly on the defensive side of the ball. They got a young group on the defensive side of the ball.

So I think the NFC is wide open. All right. So you got to make a pick. Kansas City from the AFC? I'm going to I'm going to go San Francisco I think we get I'm going to go with the rematch

It was a great game last year right Yeah that's a great game That would probably be my early early pick Jackpot Kansas City Subject to change though As soon as we go on We'll get a midseason update We'll get a midseason update

Yeah okay During the course of year No problem If you bring Tommy on I'll come back in This will be after the tournament ends Let's give a prediction Where's Matt Ryan finished this week? I don't know

if I drive it okay, I think I'll do fine if I can keep the ball in play. So hopefully, I don't know, hopefully I shoot some good scores. I don't know where we end up. Isn't that what? These very media savvy. Isn't that what all the guys say everywhere? I just want to, you know, play some good golf play my game. I would just love for someone bringing it.

I'm going to come out of people's ass. If I lose to anyone, I'm going to be shot. I don't know, there's some really good players. We'll see. It's going to be a lot of fun, man. Thank you, thank you guys. I'm a big fan of the show, man. We'll run it back.

We'll play some more golf next time, I'm going on A Z. And maybe call me. I actually need to meet you finally. I'm Matt Ryan. I was quarterback of the Atlanta Falcons. Nice to meet you, Mike. All right. That was Matt Ryan, joining us on subparts, please.

I told you, the dude is awesome. Oh, he's a spectacular. I actually completely forgotten, but I played golf with them like a handful of years ago at the Rock. We had a hell of a time. He's just like all the other, like, quarterbacks. He can swing it. He's got pretty good fundamentals.

They got great hand-eye. And he, by the way, he hit like a sneaky rocket or way bigger rocket than I was expecting. in the long drive competition, by the way. Man, he is awesome. He is so talented. And I love his comedy story. Commie had no clue who he was.

I spent 36 holes with him. Typical commie. That was beautiful. Also, got to spend some time with my man, Andrew Catalan in the booth last year. I know that was a lot of fun. I should have had him do his little voice exercises as he does right before he went on air.

But we don't want to embarrass Catalan like that. And then he did give us a Super Bowl prediction, and he's saying rematch Chiefs Niners. What do you think about that? You think he knows ball? You think Maddie knows ball? I don't think he's really going out on a limb, so I can't argue with it. Yeah, it's tough.

It's tough. I don't know. After watching that Broncos Colts preseason, shit might have changed. You know what I mean? A lot of people talking about that. Oh, Nick. Look out. Here he comes.

All right. Well, that was a lot of fun. Thanks to Matt Ryan for joining us. The playoffs are here. FedEx St. Jude Classic, one of the coolest events on the PGA tour. Everything they do for that great hospital and charity. It's awesome. But 70 guys, going to be down to 50 after this week.

Let's make some picks real quick. I'm going to, because I got a rush real quick. I got the Fern Dog waiting on me, who you know. And the big man gets a little impatient. So I'm going to give you my favorite and my Dark Horse. My favorite, I think we agree on, going off around 12 to 1, Colin Morcawa. He's a ball striking machine. This golf course is perfect for him.

And then going down the list, I was a little surprised considering his record here. I believe he's played five times. He has four top 15s with a win. Justin Thomas is going off at 45 to 1. Okay. Here we go. JT. And by the way, we're getting JT as dark horses now, which is different. But you've been playing some pretty good golf. Yeah, Moracawa, I'm on the same page with you. 12 to 1, I don't necessarily love, but 13th last year, fifth year before game suits this place perfectly.

For my long shot, Colts, I'm going, this isn't a limb. We would probably didn't think we'd get this guy at 80 to 1 ever. But I'm going to get Max Homa. Okay, he was sixth tier last year. Hasn't been great like the last two months. It hasn't been terrible, but he's making cuts and just finishing towards the back of the pack. It hasn't been awful, but he's had like three weeks to kind of regroup, get a little time off, kind of cool down and gear up for these FedEx Cup playoffs. So I think at 80 to 1, that's worth a taste for Max. All right. Well, everyone enjoy the start of the playoffs. Make sure you tune into the USAM.

It's going to be incredible. And we'll talk to you on next week's subpar.