The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz - GBF- Andrew Luck is Back! Mostert, Ekeler, Mike Wright, Nitro, Simms + Golic

Episode Date: September 22, 2023

Stugotz, Mikey A. and Billy react to a stinker of a TNF game. Andrew Luck returns in costume! (11:58) Raheem Mostert tell us Vic Fangio may or may not be picking on him and the guys try to get to the bottom of the Mike McDaniel vaping situation. (27:47) Chris Simms and Mike Golic join the show together to get us ready for this weekend's biggest games. (49:57) Stu Ya Gotz. (54:56) Austin Ekeler updates the guys on his injury and Billy tries to get him to turn on his backup Josh Kelley. (1:11:49) Mike Wright of The Fantasy Footballers give us some fantasy tips and is confronted by Nitro from American Gladiators. Mike Wright shows us his receipts and Nitro surprises everyone with how good he actually is at fantasy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You're listening to Giraffe King's Network. God bless football Billy Gil. God bless football Mike. Yay. God bless football Stu gots. Thank you Mike. Yay Tyrod Taylor is a giant, huh? What a sticker of a game. Can I just we're having like a picture you took away. We're having the only thing I took away that is some money from betting on the Niners. We're having like this internal debate here on the show that I'll let you guys know about because we don't want to put out like an episode on Fridays. It's completely recorded knowing that there's like a game going on. Like obviously we can't have all the guests that we have on.

We have Rahim Moster. We have Austin Eckler. We have Chris Sims and Mike Gullik together this week, which is what a treat. Nitro's back to update us on his fantasy team and to start a fight with Mike Wright of the fantasy footballers because he thinks that he was blown off in big time by Mike Wright. So that's fun. That's nice.

Yeah. Well, so here's the thing. Obviously, we can't get all those people, you know, like at seven or eight in the morning on a Friday. So we have to record a lot of these interviews. But there's also Thursday night football. So we feel bad about releasing something and not addressing Thursday night football,

especially if something big happens. So we've decided like, hey, let's get up, let's react to Thursday night football. It'll be a whole thing. And then it's just like a giant stinker. And it's like, well, this could have been out like three hours ago and no one would have missed Thursday night football recap because like,

what really happened? Brock Prattie's good, Daniel Jones sucks. Tyrod Taylor's a giant. Oh, here's Andrew look dressed up Like a meme pretending that he was in the civil war and he said the war is over and he does a trivia contest That was Thursday night football. Glad we kept you guys waiting four hours extra just so we can do that I think this should be our Thursday night football recap every single Friday you doing it Second the way you just did it and boom, we move on. I mean, it was just it wasn't a great game.

It wasn't a great. Did you guys, did you notice what was different about this Thursday night game from every other Thursday night game? No, no, it went exactly the way we thought it would. Every other Thursday night game is a weird game. You know, something crazy happens. Some player that does nothing all season. All of a sudden goes off from 300 yards. No, this one just went exactly how we thought it would. I would say Tyra Taylor being a giant is pretty wacky. I don't know.

Okay, the one thing. Hey, did you see the animation thing they did explaining Brock Purdy's surgery? Did that, did that screen, you know, give anybody else the HBGBs? Because they did this whole animation when they cut open his elbow and they sewed it up and it was, it was really hard to watch. Even like, Al Michaels was like, oh, that sucked. That's it.

What, at one point in the game was this. It was like, I want to say like third quarter like we have to be sticking around to the third or fourth quarter of that game. What if something happens? Yeah. Did anything. What if they show an animation showing up sowing up somebody's elbow? Exactly right.

Yeah. What was the Andrew Luck stuff? Post game like I don't know. I don't know who. Here's a question. You got to be in the buzz. Here's the question. What was the Andrew Luck stuff post game? Like I don't know I don't know who Question Here's the question, right Why is Amazon doing post game programming like who after that Thursday night game is like, you know what? I need more. Let me keep watching Amazon Prime video and see what else they have post game coverage here in their defense

Billy maybe the West Coast San Francisco 49er fans Maybe yeah, I suppose right, but it's not as even if like they have to get to a certain time They're not a channel so they can just do what they want to do when they want to do it like they just like I we got a fill to the 11 o'clock News no, you know Who's gonna watch the post the next morning like when are you suggesting they do it? They don't I mean, they don't. But who's gonna watch the post the next morning? Like, when are you suggesting they do it? They don't. I mean, just don't do it. Just don't do it.

You have times, you have games like last night where you could be like, well, that one went the way we thought it was. I think even our Michaels go, this game is kind of going the way we thought it was. Yeah, well, that means he had the Niners. The thing about it, Sugaz, Andrew Locke was participating

in a trivia contest on the post game show. So it wasn't even like he was doing analysis. Like he was dressed up like if he was in the civil war because of like, you know, those memes that would go around where he was writing back letters. So he's in a costume. Yeah, he was in a costume doing a trivia contest. Also, he seems like one of the happiest people on earth. Like he seems so happy.

He stopped playing football. Of course he is. I know, but he's so happy and like, you know, he's goofy. Like, he's just like he left the ESPN. Right. Well, two guys looking at his happy like, and you look, no, just two guys. No, I've been walking around like a miserable zombie. So we left the ESPN.

You're also doing a lot of traveling. You're going through kind of like, you know, I wonder when like the, and I don't mean to upset you with this, like the like older bands go on like world tours and I'm like, man, I wonder how that like affects them. I'm kind of witnessing it with you, I think. Because you're like, yeah, you're constantly on the move

and I see how stressful it could be on your body. It's very stressful on my body. There's not much I can do about it from this standpoint. I mean one daughter's at Syracuse Billy. My kids are going to you know FAU and Florida. These aren't short trips this year to Syracuse New York and it's and it's a Chicago Illinois like. Yeah, these are long trips and and you know when when Rachel plays lacrosse, I want to see every game. I'm not going to miss it, but you're right. It's starting to take install on me, my body and my brain.

You're right. And I'm glad you're seeing it. Anyways, guys, if you wanted to go to a game, I'm sure you could turn. Well, I was just going to say you got me thinking. Let's say Syracuse had a big game and you wanted to go. You could download the game time app creating account and use code gbf for twenty dollars off your first purchase terms apply look at you I was just thinking when you said that

you were going to Syracuse for your daughter just had me think about game time and how we could save people money you know a hundred percent ability speaking of a game time you know what game I'm going to over the weekend since I'm up in Syracuse. What game? Because you know how much we love the armed forces around here. Army placed Syracuse on Saturday. Wow. How about that? Who are you rooting for? Army, of course.

Oh, I don't know. You're going for family. We can't. You could be rooting against your daughter's school. It's a bit weird. Listen, I taught my daughter we root for the army. I don't care if they're playing your school or not. I like that. Good day. And she agrees with me by the way. Yeah.

F-Y-S. Mm-hmm. Anyway, do we have a draft King's game this week, Billy? A fantasy game? Oh, yeah, we do go to DKNG.co slash levitard. You can compete against us in weekly fantasy. First week I did well last week. I did horribly horribly I finished like 590th place or something So you can see that we don't really know what we're talking about and if you want to compete against us It's a three dollar buy-in and you can win some money All right, great. I have one money the last two weeks

I won eight dollars the first week and five dollars the second week about you $6 invest me got 13 bucks back not bad double your money San Francisco's really good, huh? Yeah, the Jocs are really bad. Well, I mean, the giants though have played the Cowboys who are really good and the 49ers who are really good. So like they could just be an average team that's just facing really tough teams.

I know, but when you play a team, even as good as the Cowboys are, they lost Trayvon Diggs and that's a big loss for that team. And we'll discuss that with goal. It consumes on this episode. You can't lose 40 to nothing to the Cowboys at home when you were one of the final eight teams in the NFL last year. You could lose 40 to 14. You could lose 40 to 21. 40 to 28. 40 to 35. You can't lose 40 to nothing.

I don't care how good the cowboys are. Yeah, I mean, I would say that more concerning was the fact that the Cardinals were embarrassing and they came back and actually won that game, but yeah, they appear to not be a very good team. They'd be winless if the Cardinals weren't tanking. I said it. Okay.

He said it, Mikey. Dave Totsi, what do you think? Oh, wow, lost Barclay. My mean, Dave's hot seat. What do you think? Oh, wow, lost Barclay. My boy, Joe Shane, who was he on the hot seat? Who goes first? He's not on the hot seat. He's not on the hot seat. What happened was Daniel Jones had that goddamn playoff game that first Joe Shane, the side Daniel Jones to a two year deal for a lot of money. Yeah, you did, right? Mikey had that one big game, postseason game,

got to the second round. So they want to play off game and he was kind of forced to side the end of Jones. And I'm not saying anything that three offensive liners yesterday. Right, yeah. I'm not like Joe Shane doesn't discuss this stuff with me. I'm just, it's obviously,

if Daniel Jones doesn't have that game, he's not the giant scored's quarterback, I would think. I would think that one playoff game. I don't think they're resigning for the money that they did, but they're stuck with them. So, all right, Billy, where we going first here on God bless football? Where do you want it?

We're gonna talk to Rick. So many options. Most are first this week. All right. Let's check in with Raheem Moster. the rehab master. 18 carries 121 yards to touchdown. Your team goes to 2 and 0. I mean, you must be, you gotta be at the top of the world right now, my man.

Yeah, that and rolling, man. You know, it's just, it's awesome that we're starting to season off to know, know to a, to away game to, you know, to a very tough place to play. So on top of just having a big week for you, I have to imagine that it felt good just because of kind of how the offseason went, right? Where you obviously here, where people are like, oh, should they go after Dalvin Cook? Should they go after Jonathan Taylor? This is something that they need. And, you know, the dolphins to their credits stuck by you are like, no, like, we're good at running back. And then, you know, week one,

the conversation is, oh, the receivers are so great, blah, blah. And then the Patriots kind of took that away. And you were able to kind of carry the team this week and show them, hey, like we're good with me. You do not need to be going out and getting these other players. Yeah. I mean, I, you know, during all season, there's a lot of talk and chatter and stuff like that. And the only thing I can worry about is myself and my abilities and what I can bring to the table, you know, that's something I'm always going to stand by, something I always believe in. And, you know, what do you bring to the table? And for me,

it's my power and aggression and that I've been in his offense for quite some time. So if the dolphin is due to the side of bringing somebody in at the time, it honestly didn't matter to me. Because like I said, I was just worried about my craft and what I got to do. But people don't realize it's a great question by Billy from this standpoint, Reem.

They see you on the field and that's all they focus on. And they don't really and Unfairly to you guys probably they don't really pay much attention to what goes on off the field and it's a business and so Even though you're confident in your skills your confident that you're the best running back for this football team That part of it the business side of it where you're sitting there, there are rumors of Dalvin Cook and Jonathan Taylor. That's not easy to deal with. I think fans would be interested, that's hard for you to deal with on a personal level.

Is it not? On a personal level, I mean, I'm different, but just because, and hear me out on this, the reason why I say I'm different is because I've had multiple, when I've been a part of multiple teams, I've always been the underdog guy. Throughout Purdue history, when I was playing at Purdue, I was seen as one of the underdog playmakers on the team.

So I've always had this stigma of being an underdog in general. So when another team or when the team that you're on is talking about you know drafting a running bag I That's out of my control. I can't do nothing about that when the team is talking about bringing in another running bag And often more money or whatever the case may be that's still out of my control You know the only thing that I can't control is my attitude and how I go about the business You know how I go about carrying myself my attitude and how I go about the business, you know, how I go about caring myself, you know, I'm always going to have a smile on my face. I'm always going to be grateful and thankful

for the opportunity. But, you know, don't don't mistake that with aggression and what I'm going to do to people, you know, on a week on a weekly basis. You know, that's just how I see it. And that's that's the role that you got to play. Austin, that's a lot of joins us every week on God bless football and we know we had that you know zoom conference call during the off season trying to try and to make your lives easier.

The life of a running back. What was that call like if you don't mind? Were you on the call? Yeah, I was on the call. And it was just basically just trying to check all the boxes of what you know guys have to do to be treated as such, you

know, as a as a value on the team because as of right now I mean you see what's going on with with the running back market and this definitely tough you know especially with the golfer bit and you know God you know whatever happened to Nick Chow was you know horrendous I mean I couldn't even see the video because I already knew that something like that would happen but you know if everybody says. I mean, I couldn't even see the video because I already knew that something like that would happen, but You know, everybody says that running backs are replaced. Well, I mean, there's only a select few that can actually do what we do on a consistent basis, you know, and Austin is one of those guys, you know, and It sucks that you know, we are the one and only positions on that field that has all 11 guys hitting you all in one play.

So, I mean, the durability has- Plus you gotta block. We gotta block guys that are, you know, 200, 300 pounds, two times or three times bigger than us. So, I mean, there's a lot of things that you can assure is that the fact that runbacks do have a more demanding position. And we definitely have to do more and outside of our characters than just run football. Is this the best offense you've ever been on? Yes, this is really.

Bob Barber was super bowl. You bet there was some. No, no, no, no. And that's why I say it. That's why I gave me a slight yes on that one. I mean, this team is just, there's a lot of guys on this team that can make a lot of different plays that any given time. Not to say that we didn't have that, you know, on that Super Bowl team, because that's

a Super Bowl team with a injury, especially the defense, you know. And this team is, you know, it's, we're definitely getting up there, you know, week by week. We just got to hit our stride and they keep getting better. I mean we got to figure out our flaws and work through them and perfect as much as we possibly can. Is Mike McDaniel the best play caller you've ever had as a coach? He's definitely up there. You didn't want him in SoulShadow, man, did you? Not so much in the fall, though, I'm just more so, you know, I look at it as he's definitely more corky coordinated. I would say that. The guy's he brings a lot of tenacity and he's he's very entertaining as well. Underrated funny, right? Exactly. Yeah. I think he's underrated cool too though.

Now he is. I mean, as soon as he touched down in Miami, he had the shades on, he had the look, and I was like, I definitely could buy what that one. I feel like the thing with Mike with Daniel, obviously you know him. And last time I think last time you were on, you were talking about potentially going surfing with him and you like seem to be close to him. I think you were calling him Mikey. I feel like it's fun and games while you guys are winning. But I give you guys start going on a loser like cut the ****, take off the glasses, Mikey. Like what are we doing here? Now he's always going to be, he's always going to be himself on me. He's going to,

he's going to keep them glasses on and be like the hell with it. You know I'm going to do me. So that's what you want to see. What was the deal last year with the vape on the sideline that I don't believe was a vape but everyone said was was vape that he was doing. I couldn't even tell you because I that game was so cold. So I'm pretty sure that he was trying to warm his hands up you know it's best possible or it was a pretty cool game I will say that, you know not to defend the vaping. I don't know. I don't know if he does that all that No, you're protecting him. It's fine. Right. Yeah, he was doing that. I'm not a farmer coaching Yeah, I did have some I did have some thought though. I was like is he really vaping? I know but I know but I know it was cold though it was cold.

Right. Did you ask him? I mean, I mean, I do need to ask him. I might bring it up this week. I might ask him this week. We'll just have you back for one question next week. Was he vaping on the sidelines? But you get to the bot. You do the reporting for us. Yeah, I'm going to do the investigation side of it. He posted this with us here. God bless football. Billy, little revenge game for Fangs, for Fangia, you know? Oh yeah. Yeah. Love a revenge game.

Oh yeah. Have you seen Fangia laugh? No, not at all. That was not what. Not what. Maybe a smart here. And I mean, the guy literally, they're in a preseason. I think I had a drop in practice or a game, one of the two.

And after the next day, he comes up to me and I was like, oh, he's like, oh, you just decided to have butter fingers that day, huh? And kind of chuckled with it. And I looked at him and I was into it. I was into the joke. I was into the laughter part of it. I looked at him, he just chuck, I was into it. I was into the joke. I was into the laughter part of it. I looked at him.

He just shuffled and there's just like walked off and I'm like, thank God, really God. He got me there. Last week, classic fangs, Billy. Last week, we talked to Jaylin Phillips and he told us that they call him Lord Fangs. Lord Fangs, I, they do do that though. I actually heard that.

Lord Fangs. But you had so fun. I know don't know. Oh, okay. But you have to point. I know, but he's telling it, like he seems like you love him for a guy that's called, like he never laughs, he doesn't smile, he doesn't tell jokes, he just walks around and criticism you for butter fingers. I mean, but you love the fact that where he's at.

I mean, this guy literally is in the building and all he cares about is ball. Like, we played Jacksonville and we lost the Jacksonville in a preseason. On the plane coaches sit ahead of us, right there, they're closer to the cockpit or whatever, and then there's players behind that. I can see off in the distance, it's just a preseason game. It's the last one of the season, preseason, and this guy literally the the distance. I mean, it's just a preseason game, right? Like it's the last one of the season, preseason. And man, this guy literally the entire time,

I mean, from when we were on the plane, on the tarmac to flying out, the guy was just sitting there watching all the footage he possibly could. So he's like engulfed in football. And then I mean, that's somebody that you want in the building. You know, this guy really loves football. And he takes, he takes it to heart.

Well, I don't know how comfortable you are with him and kind of going back at him. But like next time he gives you like a butter fingers, like if it's after week one, be like, Hey, Hey, Lord Feng's, how about the D keeps it under 34 points next week. Okay. I'm not doing here. He's going to be pissed at me. He's going to look at me all sideways. I don't want that. I don't want that. Billy, why are you trying to get him in trouble?

Yeah. Billy, trying to get me in trouble. I just want you to stand up for yourself. You know what I mean? This Fanger's not gonna go around bullying the dolphins. He does, he's gonna touch down. He gets Fanger the finger. I mean, that's a good thing.

I'm gonna tell him how about those butter fingers. Oh, I like that. I like that. Yeah. Is this the most confident you've seen to a playing quarterback? I mean, since I've been with him, yes. The guys just he's taking on this role so well,

and he's doing it at a high velocity. I mean, the way he's just approaching this game, you know, he's bringing some of that island vibe to him, you know, he's bringing some of that culture to him and he's really, he's really embracing this offense and he's doing his part. I mean, the guy just, he's a machine out there. He's just doing everything right. So, I mean, you just, you want somebody like that. You want a quarterback to be a leader. And he's definitely a leader. You know what's interesting?

Billy has defended two of her a couple of the years now. Like he really has. No one has defended two of more than Billy Gill. Here on God bless football. People are, but here's what, here's what I'm shocked about. People are still surprised that one two has a good game. Like why are they surprised, where he, that two has a great game,

and he's off to a great start and yet people are still surprised he's done it now for a couple of years. Yeah I have no idea. I mean there's a lot of critics that just don't believe in them. I guess they just don't want

to believe in them and I don't understand that. I mean tape speaks for itself. Um record speaks for us. I mean have you ever heard of anybody else being five and no against Bill Billichet? No. Like to be honest, like in FL history, like no. Bill Belichet is one of the greatest coaches of all time. Like can we all agree to

that? Yeah. Like he's definitely up there in top two or three. Yeah. And he knows situation on football, but yet, two is five and no against this guy. Like, that's no mistake. Like, I hate to say it like that, but there's really no mistake to it. I mean, statistics are statistics, you know? I and the sky doesn't lie. And what he's been able to do is just,

I mean, let alone for that. I mean, that should literally shut a lot of those critics up. How's the surfing going? I mean, I'm not surfing now, but on field, I've been surfing quite a bit. I can't say it's pretty good. It's celebration for him, Billy. He should like surf into the air.

There's something like that, you know? Yeah, that's for sure. It was. I think you can get in the terrible idea. You don't have to get out of here right now. No, that's terrible idea. You don't have to get out of here. Billy, you can't be up, and then you don't in the terrible idea. No, the terrible idea. You don't have to. Billy, you like me up and then you don't do it for him. Yeah.

I got a crowd surf. That's what I got to do. Oh, you can crowdsurf. How about this? You should crowd surf when it's home games and on way games. You remember how Ocho Sigo used to have like signs hidden in snow and Joe Horn had like a phone hidden underneath the pads and the upright. I feel like you need to hide a surfboard somewhere and then just whip that out of that. Maybe your teammates hold you and you're surfing on top of them

in the end zone. No, I'm not going to put my teammates on that much. I can't do that. I can't do this. Take the quarterbacks out of it, Rahim. We'll get you out of here just a second. Take the quarterbacks out of it. I think to re-kill is the best player in football. Am I wrong? No, you're not wrong about that. He definitely makes a lot of... I mean, he's 99 for a reason. He just got 99 on the... I mean, that's a video game, right? But honestly, he got plays like it every time. I mean, he wants to go out there and be his best. And when his best is required, and he goes out there, he definitely makes those plays.

Man, the plays that you're sitting back and like, wow, I can't believe you did that. It's magical. I mean, for him to do something like that, I just, I don't know, the guys is different. He's different. Who wins an erase? You waddle or hell?

Me. Really? Just right ahead 100 who different, he's different. Who wins an Array? Is you Waddle or Hill? Me, really? Just right ahead, 100 yard dash, it's you. 100 yard dash, I'm getting both of them. And who's in second? That's for them to decide. You don't care, because you already passed the finish line, right? You can't see there behind them.

Exactly, right. Exactly. Do you think Tareek would give me the same answer, if I asked them? Do you think he'd say Rahim? No, he's not gonna do that. How about Waddle, love? He's definitely not gonna do that. You guys all think you're the fastest. We all think we're the fastest. I mean, even Devon H.A. and the running back thinks he's the fastest, so. Right. Don't tell me Barry Yoves thinks he's the fastest though. Now, very else things. He's in the conversation. He's not. He's in the conversation. Spoiler, he's not.

Yeah. Spoiler. Ah, real. All right, man, we appreciate a good luck against Denver. I see, like you live in my neighborhood. So I know what you're thinking. You're sitting there. I see the golf course in the background.

It's been annoying, right? With no golf. I mean, it's first class problems, but it's annoying with no golf course, right? I know. We need I know we need to we got to get out there once it goes the course is looking good though you can you can admit that though. Have you seen the piece of it? Yeah yeah we're not there's there's these people like patrolling out there you can't really

go out there and they kick you off. But if you drive like on the first the front the front nine you'll see the green is looking good. All right so let's do it let's go play some golf man What do you want to do this? So November, I think they're finishing with the course November, December, so. Okay. Why week or my Tuesdays, I'm thinking about it.

Okay, let's do that. That'd be fun, man. Thank you. We'll bring Billy along. He has golf clubs in the back there. He does that just to pretend he's a golfer. He's not really We got a we got a poser I mean I'm not gonna argue with that

Listen we'll bring him out there and we'll teach him how to play okay, right? I will put those golf clubs to use. All right. All right. Rahim, go win one for fangs, man. Lord Fendi. Okay. Appreciate you all.

You have a go. We have Mike Golick. We have Chris Sims with us, both on God bless football. This has only happened one time before where they've appeared together. This is very exciting. But Billy is laughing at me. Golick's even laughing at me.

Mikey A is even laughing at me. As soon as there's no what's going on because he's not feeling good, but I am hooked up to a personal hotspot right now because I can't get the internet my hotel working. Billy, why are you laughing at me? I mean, because it's better than crying. This is what happened.

Chris and Mike is that we found out that you guys was not going to be in town. I think like two evenings ago, we didn't know this. Obviously, we wouldn't have scheduled this to happen this way. And we've kind of just been sitting around for a while waiting to find out what time we were going to record at. And then Stugas just kept giving us five minutes, 10 minutes,

five minutes, 10 minutes, until he finally got to the hotel. And then once you got to the hotel, we're all set and ready to go. And then he can't connect to the internet. And then we're on the phone with him, and he's ready to go. And then he can't connect to the internet. And then we're on the phone with him and he's calling the front desk and he can't connect to the internet. Then we hear a man knock on the door and that person can't help him connect to the internet. And then finally we walk him through and now he's connected via a hotspot on his cell phone.

So it's been a challenge. I will say this, it isn't accomplishment and Mike, this is not meant to be a personal attack on you. It isn't accomplishments to God's when Mike is the most tech savvy person in the call. Listen, if you had an engineer show up, there was a thousand. That's exactly right. If I were smart, if I were to touch one of the buttons, another button that I'm supposed to, I don't know what would happen. Luckily, my son has been here all week doing the show with me. So he's been able to figure it out. Once I'm alone, I'm screwed. But I will say, I'm not as,

oh, it's just stew in my head because you actually had somebody from the hotel come up and try and get you on the internet. Because I mean, I would, I don't know how to get on my own personal hotspot. I don't know how to do that. So if I didn't get that, the guy who came up to my room had no idea what he was doing. Yeah. Well, I to do that. So if I don't believe that, the guy who came up to my room had no fucking idea what he was doing. Yeah. Well, I would have not got a hotel. Are you saying that? Exactly. A real question. Where are you saying? I'm in Syracuse, New York for parents weekend. Oh, there you go. There you go.

In Syracuse. Since Syracuse, Chris. Chris, imagine it's a whole, it's a hotel with one story in the room only. I'm not like you're being a media celebrity. You two, between Billy last week who talked like he was in church and now we get connected to the internet. I mean, holy shit, you guys got problems. Not to get too technical, but Billy or Mikey A, can't you carry something with you

that gives you your own personal hotspot? That's what he's used to. Call the cell phone. It's called, oh Mike. Yeah. That's what he's using. The cell phone. Oh, my. Yeah. You were just exposed, Gullick. It's exposed. Exposing me on technology is about us. Is is easy as having a baby say a paragraph.

I mean, I think I could feel better. I didn't think I could feel better during this interview, but you just did it for me, and that's why I love you. Your own phone can be a hotspot? Yes, just turn off a personal hotspot. Shit, okay. I was this many days old when I found that shit out.

Oh my God. Chris Simms is with us, the Unbutton podcast, BFT every day with Mike Floreo, except when he's not feeling well, he hasn't been feeling well this week. That's on P cocky got football night in America as well. And before we get to go, I'm wondering on a big college weekend, I mean, you played quarterback at Texas, but I know you're making your money now with the NFL. Are you into the college more this week than you are the NFL because it is such a massive college weekend?

No, I mean I'm excited for the college games this weekend, but no there's never a weekend that I'm boring to college than the NFL. I'm just an NFL person. Even when I was in college, I was still like, yeah, this is great, but I can't wait to get to the NFL. That was always the goal. So I mean, I'll be on the couch watching the big ones on Saturday, especially Ohio State Notre Dame, you know, on the seven Eastern time. That'll be awesome to watch. I don't even know the full slate of the schedule. That just tells you I'm so into just the NFL really that like tomorrow's when I'll start

to go, oh, I wonder who's on Saturday. What are the games? Who's playing the big game at 12? Who's playing at 330? So I'm not even really aware of the rest of the matchups, other than that Ohio State Notre Dame game, just because that's on NBC and I've been hearing about it in my work all week. This is where we're very different because obviously from a player you want to get to

the NFL and play in the pros, that's what you want to do. I am definitely, and I call NFL games now on Sunday night. So, but I'm definitely more looking forward to the college schedule this week. It is, it is banging. I mean, the difference for the NFL before I do my games Sunday night, I sit there and watch the Red Zone channel

just so I can get a feel for games, you know, all the games here in college. I mean, you get to literally see the games. You're going to see Florida state of Clemson at two o'clock. You're going to see Colorado, Oregon at 3 30. Now, there's a couple that there's a couple that double up. You're going to see Notre Dame Ohio State at 7 30, but it'll be doubled up with a Florida and Ole Miss. You got the two-pac conference going on with Oregon State and Washington State. That's one of the six ranked ranked games going on. And then you have one more to stay.

Yeah, man, that's the thing. That's what you're talking about. You've got the interest it already. So, I mean, you see how you talk. Yeah. It is, the last weekend, this is a complete 180, last weekend sucked from a college schedule. This is the weekend where you're going to start separating a little bit. Billy just sent me the Trayvon Diggs. There is a report that he tours ACL and

might miss the rest of the season. Yeah. Yeah. I practice that. Yeah, I saw that. Listen. I didn't see that. This, this defense, I had him the first game against the Giants. I mean, and we saw what they've done in the first couple of weeks. Getting Stefan Gilmore was monstrous. Trayvon Diggs is always an interesting cat because he's got a lot of interception, but he gets picked on a lot too. I mean, it is, he's the analogy of baseball or home runner strikeout with him.

But boy, I haven't him and Gilmore at the corners for this defense, which is excellent on every level. That will be it. And that's a one thing no matter how much you predict or prognosticate, you can never predict or prognosticate injuries and how it's going to affect the team. Oh, that, that, that, that, that, that'll hurt. I mean, you're, you said it right.

It's feast or famine. But the way they play because that pass rushes so awesome. Yeah. They can your face and play man to man. So you can't get it out real quick and They know they don't got to cover real long because those guys are gonna get there So he's a big piece of the formula and which makes them successful and he you know So what goal except he's scary as hell, you know you might you might throw a touchdown on him

But it might be a touchdown for them going the other way too. And that's where he's a rare, rare dude. And there's really nobody he can't match up with in football. He's probably just a little too daring and takes maybe a few too many chances, but damn, big time talent. And that, that, that'll suck because, you know, the Cowboys after two weeks have been the best team in football. I don't think you can deny that. Sims, what did you make of what's going on? I'd be interested in both your opinions, obviously. We'll start with Chris here with Justin Fields, where he's, you know, kind of pointed the finger at the coaches and then said, I'm not a guy who points the finger. What do you make of that entire situation? Because field should be better. Of course,

you and I talked last year, like towards the end of the year, we were super high on him coming into this season. Yeah, well, I appreciate Justin Feudal's. He was trying to be honest and give him honest assessment. I do think that the Chicago media kind of went full blown, let's be shock jocks and throw out stuff on Twitter. I do think they kind of took things out of context to a degree. If you look at the full interview, which I have done, right?

It's not, they didn't do him, they didn't do right by him as far as what he was saying. Now, he should know better to know not to bring up the coaching thing. Like he tried to kind of you know fix the situation after practice that is locker he kind of just said I you know and he did right he's I was trying to be good to you guys I respect you guys but I should have just said it's my fault I got to be better and do all that because we know the age we're in right now you make one little you know miscorrect you know incorrect saying or whatever else there, and people run with it.

So I don't think he was trying to point fingers or do anything like that. I don't, I really don't. Now, you know, the thing, he's not playing well right now. Bottom line, that's really it. I think the thing I get frustrated at is, you know, not even Justin Fields at all. It's in a tough situation.

Is he, you know, he he still a very young kid. He's learning the NFL. He didn't really have great talent around him the first two years of his career. He's got more talent around him this year. And I think the thing you'll look at is you just don't see the growth you would quite expect. And I sit there and I don't even mean

to throw names out there, but I'm gonna throw them out there you know, I don't even mean to throw names out there But I'm gonna throw them out there right now because I don't care. I see grainy and Steven a Smith Tell us and the bears are failing Justin fields and I just want to go that's that's not correct That's that's that's the it's the opposite right now if you look at that and devaluate those that film What you know I do all the time and I'm sure you've seen plenty of things on social media this week there was people wide open all over the field last week everywhere to be had now there's a group of people that are constantly making excuses for Justin feels in that department that drive me crazy and I don't understand that and

they're going to get coaches fired even though they're unqualified to make qualifying statements which they're doing and that annoys me it pisses me off right because I know enough coaches and football that's just wrong they're doing them dirty that way but yeah just up feels nose he's got to get better the one thing I wish they would do and what I don't understand is where is the quarterback run game gone you know that's why we were waxing poetically at the end of last year because we were going, hey, he's the best running quarterback in football. All right. Now, I don't know if it's something that he doesn't want to do or if he takes a lot of hits

anyways because he holds the ball in the pocket too long and they're trying to limit that. But that's certainly one thing I look at on the Bears coaching staff to go, why is that not part of the game plan? That'll give him some positive vibes, some offensive vibes and you can grow from there but but right now uh yeah he's he's partly to blame for sure and he's got to play better there's no doubt about that now you know the coaching and the run game stuff sure that that could improve and and that department. So there's listen listen, this thing, and I agree with everything Chris said, you have to listen to the whole interview.

He was really explaining an answer, basically saying, coaches give a lot of information out there that I have to process. So it sounds like he's having trouble processing, the information at times. Basically, I think what's happening, and Chris, I want wanna get a question to you when I'm done with this,

is he's having to think too much. You think you lose. And so that's something that gonna have to be rectified, but I'm gonna get to that. But I always go with the old Sean Salisbury line, always pull the thumb, don't point the finger. No matter what, and while he was trying to explain,

I think that it was a combination of things, what was the headline? Field says it's not working because of coaching. And so I mean, it's like, wow, and listen. So we've been in this business for decades and we have definitely done that. We hear a sound bite where I go, oh shit, listen to that. But if you listen to the whole thing,

it's taken out of context. There are both sides here, but what Chris said, because I called a couple bears games last year, and I was in the booth going, why don't they have more runs for this guy? Why aren't they helping him by having him run more? That's going to loosen things up. Some half rolls, boots, planned runs. It was stunning that they didn't do it. Because back when when I played the era was college quarterback comes to the pros screw what you did in college you're going to play it our way. Now coaches are using their talents from college to play help them play quarterback in the pro. So that's

what I want to ask you Chris is what's the conversation got to be with Getzy and Fields? Because it feels thinks there's too much information and it's not working for them. They have to come to some kind of understanding, right? Aren't you supposed to sit O-coordinator and quarterback and find out what's comfortable for the quarterback and build around that? And I wonder where the communication is there. Yeah, I mean, two things.

One, I mean, you know, you said it a little bit at the out of context. I mean, one of the Chicago beatwriters says he drops their grenade or pulls the pin on the grenade. Yeah, just sensational. We do that to you all the time. Billy does. It's sensationalism there, though. And now it puts Justin Fields in a spot

that he really shouldn't be put in. I respected his honesty that way. Now, to the other point there that I was gonna go into, those are things that you wish these conversations were hashed out like before the regular season. That's where it's on. Not going into week three of the year or talking about wait, there's too it's on. Not going into week three of the year talking about, wait, there's too much going on.

My head is swimming. I'm thinking of all the coaching points you're telling me. It's locking me up as a football player. That's the real aspect of quarterback. I could speak to that for sure. Year two of my NFL career with John Grootin, right? And we'd have these plays that were 97 paragraphs long, and then we'd check it with another play that was 97 paragraphs long.

And we'd have all these different checks and things at times. And for a young guy, I was always, wait, let me just make sure I get the check right. And then you do, you forget some of your natural instincts of playing, and you're dropping back and you're thinking of the rules of the play and everything like that. And that can be hard on a young quarterback. And that's where they're going to find that fine line of pushing them, trying to be creative, but not go so far to where it's making him feel like he can't be himself. And obviously that's where they're at right now.

But that is a real thing. There's no doubt about it. I can remember my second year of game against the Seattle Seahawks and the Arizona Cardinals where we had so many things in the game plan because Grootin thought he had their defense figured out. And guess what happened when we came out like the third drive in the game? They changed everything. And our whole plan of attack was like, whoa, what do I do now? I'm underneath center. And

all the rules you told me are not going to work here. So what do I do? So now you overthink and I end up missing a few throws that I shouldn't miss. I don't feel comfortable in the pocket because I'm not sure if I'm doing the right thing. And that is tough for a quarterback and hopefully they can figure it out for Justin Fields. He's got talent, and we know that. But right now, he still looks like a really good athlete who plays quarterback instead of what I always say to you guys, a quarterback who's a really good athlete.

Chris, what do you hear it on Gov. It sounds like he's gonna be able to play Monday night, right? But you know that situation, Goalink knows that situation. As an athlete, the calf muscle. I mean, it's one wrong step. I mean, he might be dealing with this all year long. That's what's scary about this. And this is a big football game.

You know, it really is. And they're too talented to look the way they've looked on the offensive side of the ball. You guys have heard me talk about them a little bit. They're too reliant on the Jimmy's and Joe's and there's not enough X's and O's there at times. Now they get better as the season goes on when they start to figure out how deep it's his play and they dial up the right plays even though they might be simple, they're at least a proper play to run against that coverage or that look and then because they're talented at burrows awesome, they make it work. But they played two teams that were all over their offense and two teams that are talented

on the defense side of the ball. And yeah, they've looked below average right now. But this is a big, this is like about as much win of a third week game as you can get for a team that, you know, a lot of us thought was going to be in the Super Bowl conversation and this Rams team is surprised people and Rahim Morris that decordinator from the Rams first off Zactaylor came from McVeigh right Rahim's a brilliant defensive mind he's going to be all over that basic shit that Cincinnati does so they need to dress it up a little bit.

Formations, motions, whatever, think outside the box, because right now they're kind of doing a disservice to the talent of their offense. And you've got four games before they get a buy. So that calf, any soft tissue injury, if you just tweak it a little bit, it's just gonna hang and hang with you. And I gotta say, this is not a Super Bowl rematch now

in week three with the Rams and Cincinnati. Never have we heard the names Puka and Tutu so much in my life. You know, two slot receivers for the Rams and what they're doing. It's been amazing. It's amazing. It's amazing. It really is. I got to give credit to McBae and Raheem Morris and Matthew Stafford.

Like Matthew Stafford, you watch him last week. I mean, you've heard you guys have heard me kind of talk about it. It's people in a space and yeah, he just picking them apart five and eight yards at a time and, oh, I got a little time here to throw a 20 yard throw. He let's it go. He's still got incredible talent. And the fact that they're doing this on the rebuild with 20 rookies on the roster and everything like that Very impressive, and I think speaks to you know, McVeigh and his coaching style and the culture of toughness and battle test of this they have out there in LA It is rare that Sam Hartman plays a team for the first time Mike. It's up. Yeah, he's going up

He's going up against Ohio State. I happen to like Notre Dame in this game. Like I think you guys are going to pull it off only because I'm not so certain how good Ohio State is. Well, obviously they have the best receiver in Marburne, Harrison, Jr. and they have two receivers that are going the first round. The difference this year, it's kind of like switched from last year. Last year Notre Dame had two quarterbacks, neither one could throw very well. And you got to the backup, you know, in that game in Drew Pine and you had him the whole year. And the guy Trice Harbages was not a great passer and obviously, you know, the Ohio State had a great quarterback that's now in the NFL. Now it's the Ohio State. That's playing Kyle McCord. A new quarterback's got a few games under his belt, but he doesn't have the experience that Sam Hartman does. So the big matchup is going to be Notre Dame has good corners.

Benjou and Morrison wanted to top in the country, Cam Hart. And they're even kind of deeper there of how they handle those receivers from that side of the ball. The other side, Hartman asked that it's going to be a great line. The two edge rushers for a house state and the two tackles for Notre Dame. Those are four players who are going to be big time NFL players at one point all clashing on Saturday night. There's going to be, there's going to be a lot of big boy ball going on. You think Notre Dame can run the ball on, yeah, with Notre Dame, they run the ball, run the ball, they don't get yards, they don't get

yards, but they just keep going as long as they don't get too far behind, which I don't think they will. They just keep going all of a sudden, they're running two yards and they bust a six-sharter. Then they go for it. They look like 10-yarder. Estimate the running back, who's 230 pounds. He's a stud. Then he pops for 20. So they just kind of lean on you until it takes hold toward the end of the game. Right. Mike, yeah, what do you got? All right, so I'm sitting here. I'm looking at Chris Sims, football night in America, NBC. I'm looking at Mike Gold, calling games for Westwood one Sunday night. I'm going to Jets Raiders Sunday night football in November.

And I'm just wondering who's going to get me on the field pregame? Which one of you two? You actually think that game's going to make it to Sunday night? No, I don't. But it's what it says now. So so that you so you can lie to me. I'm glad you're pretty big. It's not gonna happen. I'm glad Chris said that because I didn't want to be the one to break your heart. I mean, there's no shot. There's no shot. So, so drop a love versus Zach Wilson. Get out of here. I'll do it this way. I count on you.

Mikey, I'll get you on the field. No problem. You're gonna on the field when we go cover that game. Right. You heard it. It happens. You heard it. Mikey, I got you no matter what, no matter what, I got you. I don't think it's going to end up being a Sunday night game. I'm on the way. You're going to get relegated to 1 p.m. on Sunday. Yeah. Yeah. We, we, I still I know some people and we can get you some tickets no matter what. Quickly both both you guys Billy just sent this to me. I'm Mikey. Hey, if they fail, you

all hook you up. Okay. I'm button podcast for Chris Sims also football night in America. Sunday night football every Sunday night. And of course, PFT with with my Florio on peacock checking out every single day. Thank you for doing this Chris. I know you're not feeling well. This was great. I would like to do this together more often. You guys are awesome together. Goal of please promote what you're doing this weekend. I'm doing the Vegas Pittsburgh game Sunday night. So, Chris, if you're out there, I'll see you out there. And then the going from there and me and my son Mike do go, Joeoh and Go-Lock on Draft King, Samsung TV Plus, YouTube, all the ways you can,

you know, get the streaming stuff, it's getting distributed more and more. So, yeah, Roku now as well. So, I don't know all this stuff. That's why Mike usually throws it all out. I just talked into a microphone and they distributed it wherever the hell they want. But we do it every day, eight to 10,

eight to 10, and he's turned. Yeah, there you go. And Sidney Cash eight to ten Easter. Yeah, there you go. I didn't know what the cash is the checks. Yeah, Sydney does. Yeah, Sydney pays one to one tweet for me and gives me a bill for 25k. So there you go. All right, we love both of you guys. Chris, I love it. We like to have a great weekend. Good luck to know today, man. Thanks, man. Thank you. Everybody be good. It is time for this week's edition of Steuigaths presented by Draft King Sportsbook, an official sports betting partner of the NFL, download the Draft King Sportsbook app today.

Use Goat Stu for a special offer when you sign up. That's Goat Stu only at Draft King Sportsbook. College football week four, what's seven and four a week ago, 18 and 13 on the season. Pretty good. And you're welcome. What's 7 and 4 a week ago 18 and 13 on the season pretty good and? You're welcome. Let's get to the games this week. Billy has asked me to do this quickly We have a loaded show today. He wants me to go fast. I have a lot of games Purdue plus six taking on Wisconsin was constant has no business being six point favorites over anyone on the road Therefore, I am taking Purdue not only to cover the spread but to win the game outright Purdue wins and covers they win by a field goal. Air Force three and a half at San Jose State, buy it down to minus three Air Force is sneaky good. We took them a week ago. They cover San Jose State. They're not good. Air Force wins the game by 10 points on the road. They cover Rutgers taking on Michigan. It is a big weekend in college football when you have three

You know Rutgers taking on three you know Michigan and it's like the 10th best game on the slate seriously Rutgers going to Ann Arbor taking on Michigan Michigan wins the game. They're 24 point favorites They do not cover the spread. I'm taking Rutgers here, Michigan wins by 10 points. Florida State traveling to Clemson, big, big game in the ACC Florida State minus two and a half on the road at Clemson Clemson is not good. Florida State appears to be very, very good. I'm going to take Florida State to win this game and cover the spread. The seminalinals win by seven points on the road. UCLA traveling to Utah, another big game this weekend undefeated UCLA, getting six points on the road at Utah.

Now, if this game was being played at night, I take Utah, but it's not. It's 3 30 in the afternoon. Therefore, I am taking UCLA to cover the spread. Utah wins by a field goal. UCLA covers and that's all that matters. Alabama minus seven, taking on old, missed at home, another great game. Wayne Kiffin and then boys coming in to take on Nick Sabin and Alabama.

Many people have written Alabama off. I am not one of those people. I believe in Alabama. They are minus seven at home against old mist. This is a statement game. This is a game that says we're not going anywhere. Buy it down to six and a half. Alabama wins by 14 points at home. BYU plus nine and a half at Kansas. Buy it up to 10. Take the Cougars. I like the Cougars. They're a sneaky good team. Kansas wins by a field goal. BYU covers. Wake Forest minus four over Georgia Tech.

Take the Deeks. The Deeks win and cover. They win by 10 points. Big game, Saturday night, big goalie game. Noter day and plus three. Take it on Ohio State. I like Notre Dame this year. It is rare that Sam Hartman faces a team that he's never seen before.

But he'll survive. He'll be fine. He gets no high-oh state. I have Notre Dame winning the game out. They're getting three points. And I have them winning the game out right. Notre Dame wins by four points at home. Penn State minus 14. Taken on Iowa. I love Penn State this year. I never like Iowa. Buy it down to 13 and a half Penn State wins They cover Penn State by 21 points over the Hawkeyes. We go to the NFL week three two and four last week five and nine on the season my Apologies Listen, I've been good at college. I have not had a good start with the NFL five and nine is unacceptable

It is although I had the Niners last night NFL. Five and nine is unacceptable. It is. Although I had the Niners last night. Commanders plus six and a half. They're taking a Buffalo. Buy it to plus seven. Take the commander. Sam Hamilton. There's something there. I like him. Buffalo is going to win the game. They're going to win by four points. But the commanders cover the spread at home. They're getting seven points. Dolphins minus six and a half against the Broncos. Buy it down to minus six. Dolphins win and they cover dolphins by ten points at home over Russell Wilson and the Broncos by it down to minus six dolphins win and they cover dolphins by 10 points at home over Russell Wilson and the Broncos the Jaguars minus eight and a half they're taking on the

Texans Jaguars bounce back this week at home by it down to eight Jaguars win by 10 points at home overused it the Titans plus three and a half taken on Cleveland the Titans win the game out right Why because that's what Mike variable does I am so confused and puzzled by the Titans and impressed at times by the Tennessee Titans, but they are plus three to half. They're taking on Cleveland. The Titans win the game by three points. Seattle minus six. Taking on Carolina. That's a long trip for Carolina. I'm going to take Seattle here who bounce back last week against the Lions. Geno Smith looked pretty good. Seattle wins by 14 points at home over the Panthers and finally, Sunday night football. The Raiders at home minus two and a

half taken on the Steelers. I'll take the Raiders at home. Raiders win by four points. They cover the spread. Those are the picks everyone. Good luck. Alright, we're very excited here on God bless football. Austin Ecclur is back with us for a second season. How you feeling, man? What's going on with you? I would say right now I'm in a good place. Feeling a lot of ups, a lot of downs, you know, inside football, outside of football,

obviously dealing with the injury right now, mislast game and we were on to. So that sucks. I'm an answer insult to the injury right now, Miss last game and we were on to. So that sucks. And add some insult to the injury. But hey, for the most part, looking forward and trying to progress just to get back and keep moving, moving forward and up. Well, it gets all the stuff on the fields and off the field as well. But first I want to I want to ask you about your charity, your foundation and what you're doing because I keep getting emails about making donations and I'm getting around to it. I promise you, I will make a donation out of the belly will and I'm not certain Mikey

A will, but I promise I am pledging, okay? Money to your charity. Tell us what's going on there. Yeah. So really we're starting to get more aligned in the vision. I think my vision at first was to continue to implement resources into the community and realize that's really broad. So we've done washers and dryers, we've done football equipment, we've done things that

you can use for homeless, weight rooms. And we're like, okay, let me kind of narrow this down to something that's really dear to my heart and near to my heart. And that was the weight rooms because I think there's a lot of trans-ferable skills that can be learned in the weight room. And so right now we're really looking for new opportunities to build weight room. So we just built Long Beach Poly, their weight room, renovated it. And then we're also now going up to Babo High School and going to be renovating their weight room as well.

We'll continue to build more weight rooms across the nations as we continue to kind of get more of a grasp of a flow. And so right now all the donations and the pledge that you mentioned, which is you can pledge for, I think like at least 10 bucks for every touchdown that I score to help us go build weight rooms. And so that's where all the money's going towards right now. And that's where the real focus is with the Austin Ecclid Foundation. Austin, it's been a while since we've spoken to you and not to bring it too much back into football, but it's been kind of crazy what's going on with you, what's been going on

with the running back position. So in the off season, you had a little mini holdout situation. We saw what happened with Jonathan Taylor, where he wanted more than he gets put on the Pub List. Now we're seeing all of these injuries to running backs who were not getting paid what they should. What do you, I guess, make of the state of the running back position because you have all these teams now that are out there starting running backs and it's going to impact the

team, but they're not paying the players what they should be getting paid for being as valuable as they are. Yeah, man. It was an eventful season or off season, I should say. I wouldn't consider mine to hold out because I was just looking for more value if there was any there. And, you know, I've actually got to a point where, you know, ended up getting some incentives with the chargers. So I honestly appreciate them for that because they did not have to do that at all. So they showed good faith and, you know, I just, you know, I want to stay there.

I want to be a charger, you know, as long as I'm playing in my career. And yeah, what we're seeing with with injuries, it's unfortunate, especially, you know, what we saw with, you know, Nick Chubb, where like, you know, you never want to see anything like that ever. And man, yeah, injuries are a part of the game. And we know this, you know, people are going to get banged up. That's, that's the NFL. And it comes in waves. It seems like where it's like, man, like now we got all these guys, especially when it's one position that's getting hurt. It's like, oh, there's a narrative built around it. Right. Now running back should go on through it. You know, sometimes the receivers, but you never want to see people getting hurt, right? Like we want our best

players on the field at all times because that's what makes the game exciting. And then you can bring, you can bring contracts into it, but you can't really predict injury. And so I feel like there's not too much of a relevance there when it's like, cause I made it through the last two seasons, haven't missed a game, you know? Now I miss my second game of this season, I will put that, you know, with a high ankle spring. And so you can't really predict it.

So when it comes to contracts, I feel like it's not really correlated, even though that's how it's been played out with our contracts. And that's what that's what they're utilizing basically, oh, well, it's riskier to have it running back. And it's like, is it because I haven't missed one game in the past three years. So I don't know. To be clear, you asked for permission to seek a trade.

The charges granted you that permission. And then through that, you got some added incentives from the chargers. So how it all went down was I first went to the chargers. And this is what everyone kind of misses because the only thing I really got headlines was, hey, Austin wants a trade. And it wasn't like, hey, I went to the charger right away. And it was like, hey, I want to be traded. I was like, what's up, chargers? I've led the NFL in the last two seasons and touchdowns. If I had 1600 total yards of offense last two years. And if we can, let's get an extension going. And they came back, like, sure, we can get an extension.

We are just too far apart, far as where we wanted to be. And it was like, okay, if we can't get any ground made, I would love to go seek somewhere else that maybe we can find some value somewhere else. And so that's when I requested a trade after we couldn't get anything done with the chargers. Austin, can you take me on to the field? I'm thinking about that Nick Chubb injury last night. And you guys are all ramped up to like go against each other. And all of a sudden, you see an injury like that. Like what happens like from the other side?

Like if you're, if you're playing against Nick Chubb, do the uniforms come off? Does the logos come off? And now you're just a bunch of, a bunch of people. It's so tough, man. It's so tough because yes, that does happen, I think for that moment, but then the moment we blow the whistle and we're back on it, like it becomes back to you're on that side. I'm on this side. Like I got to dominate you. Like you got to flip the switch back on because you can't play this game timid or you will get hurt. If you're thinking about injury, if you're not playing as hard as you can, then guess what? The person that is is going to pile drive your ass and you're going to get hurt from that.

Or you're going to get someone else hurt on your team for not doing your job because you need someone lit up for not blocking or not being in the right spot. So in that moment, yes, absolutely. And you see it after the game as well. You know, you see it after the game will really all come together, right? We're we're dappered up, you know, talking to people, talking about how your families, you know, bursting each other, you know, the best of luck and health going forward. So you see that human aspect, but between the whistles, man, like you got to run through, you got to run through a guy like that's, that's the mentality. And unfortunately, like I said, you can't predict injuries, but you

never want to see in that, like that that are excruciating. I meant, and just like, just something that's like, you just, you feel form immediately because you know, like he's done. He's done, you know? Austin, did you want to play, did you want to play last Sunday? Could you have played last Sunday? Hmm. If I could have, I would have. Let's just say that. I'm not just sitting out games, sitting out games. No, I know. I'm only asking because I know you can't leave it up to the player.

The player always wants to play, but I'm wondering, well, maybe they don't, but I'm just wondering. I think fans would be interested in that process, like what goes on with you talking to team doctors throughout the week. Yeah. Really, it's working with our trainers. Our doctors really just help us with the first diagnosis of like, hey, what's going on? And then it gets thrown over to our trainers

to kind of rehab, whatever is happening. So Dr. Dr. G, who's our doctor, and he's like, hey, look, looks like I got a high ankle sprain. All right, cool. All right, start treating like a high ankle sprain. Go over to the trainers, have been working through that. You know, for the past, you know, we care and been making good progress. I've played on ankles before. I've never had a high ankle sprain actually before. So this is something new that I've been dealing with and taking these proper steps and kind of feeling like, okay, am I able to run on this?

Is this something that I can, you know, tape up and brace and still actually make it through a game with. Is this something that I can you know, tape up and brace and still actually make it through a game with And so there's just it really every situation is different But that's kind of how the process goes is like we're continuing to reevaluate and you can really tell the process the progress Every day because we're so intentional on like how does my ankle feel? Where's the range of motion? It's like okay? You made it like half a inch further today than you were yesterday or the swelling's gone down like 5% 10% today And so you can really actually keep up with, you know, the track of progress. And if it goes the other way too, if like, oh, actually, it's a little bit more sore

today. It looks a little bit worse today. You have more swelling. And I'm trending in the right direction. And so when I can play, I'm going to be on the field. I'm not, I'm not out here just like, hey, I need to get this thing pulled up. It's not going to be fully 100%. But it'll be a point where it's like, okay, it's manageable.

I don't think it was so much as like you're choosing to sit out. It's almost like are they not letting you play? I guess it was kind of stewed-gots, it's an angle on that one. Okay, okay. I mean, I think there is a capacity where they could say that, but really, I don't think they can say you can't play. Well, they're protecting from yourself almost, I guess.

Yeah, they can do that. I can give you suggestions, but I can say, no, I want to tape it up. I'm ready to go. Right. I mean, I guess coaches could technically say, we're just not going to put you in, but as far as me within the training room

was like, Austin, can you go? Can you not? And they're going to give me their best professional advice and probably should lean on that because they're trying to help you get best professional advice and probably should probably should lean on that because they're trying to help you get back to the field as well. I would say no, they did not tell me that I couldn't play like I could have gone out there and played if I was ready. But yeah. That's got to be hard though, like watching watching that game unfold when you're on the sidelines knowing that if you're in the game, you could help your team win the game. And so watching it as a spectator, that has to be a miserable experience, no?

Yeah, man, it's the same emotions. I think the most miserable part is not being in the heat of the battle with the guys and feeling what they're feeling. Like I feel like I like, I almost let them down, you know, where it's like, I can't, I can't help, but I like, I'm'm here I see you guys every day, right and like I just I feel I feel I feel bad I'm just like especially when we yeah, obviously when we lose it's like man like Like I don't even know if I could have helped right if my performance would have been any better right like I'm not saying that but it's like I

Wasn't there to be able to put my my stamp on and be with you guys. And now I come back and see you guys on Monday. And I see just the feeling of after a loss in the NFL sucks because it runs through the whole organization. We all feel that on our shoulders because we're all under so much pressure to perform. And I come into the building and I wasn't even there. And so it kind of seems like you almost feel like an outsider to a point. Yeah, it's not great. How does week two compare to week one because week one was back and forth with the dolphins

and you had a great game. But at the last drive, second to last drive, there's time to, you're just on the sideline in Joshua Kelly's getting the bulk of the carries. And I'm wondering, like, while you're there and you've done, I'm happy because he has you on his fantasy team. That's our, that's our guy. Oh, the crew comes out. I just, I like this Kelly character. That's our good good good good

good good good good good good good good good good

good good good good good good good good good good

good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good No, not as much as you. So here was the thing, you know, in that two-minute drive, the last game, you know, coach looked at me and said, my running back coach is like, can you go? I was like, bro, if my ankle gets kicked or if I get tackled on it, like, I don't know if I'm like, I'm going to need to come out. So it's two-minute drive.

I can't be in the game right now. It's too much of a liability because if we only have one time out and if I have to go down because my ankle, because I can't run, then it's going to use our time out. And so it was really just, you know, a me coming to the conclusion, like, okay, I got to get my ankle looked at like, I came back and I heard it like in the third quarter and then just put some tape on over my shoe. It's called, it's called a spat, I spat it my shoe and then tried to go back in and it just, it was, it wasn't what I was expecting. Cause I'm used to the lower ankle sprains was like, Hey, tape it

up. You'll be fine. High anchor sprains. It's a little different because it deals with like the turning of your knee and like the rotation of of your knee and not necessarily always your ankle. So it was just some new, but that's why I wasn't able to finish the game then. But hey, once we get back, yeah, definitely be getting there and taking the rest for sure. Get Kelly out of there, right? For Billy, just for the rest of the guy. Hey, the thing is he's got, he's got to also get his too, because look, you guys have seen me, like, I'm 5'8", you know, 195, like, I'm not able to,

I mean, it's hard to believe anyone is, but can take every snap as a warning back in the NFL. Right. And so, if you want me, Billy, when you're really matters, which is at the end of the season, when I'm about to go to playoffs, then you need me to have Josh Kelly and they're ballin' out.

Back off, Billy, that's what he's up at. Listen, you know me by now, so you know I don't ask like hard hitting tough questions, which is why I think you come home with us every single week, but I have to ask you one here, because, and I don't mean to put you on the spot, but fans are very frustrated with your head coach. Are you guys frustrated with your head coach. Are you guys frustrated with your head coach? Here's the thing with with our head coach, like we have been on an upward trajectory with Brandon stay there. Ever since we've been here. And so there's this, there's this thing that came out the other day and it was talking about how I was talking about inconsistencies and they pulled

the clip out of it and said that I was mad with inconsistent coaching or whatever. And it was like, it was so twisted because that's not what I said. I was talking about, hey or whatever. And it was like, it was so twisted because that's not what I said. I was talking about, hey, when, if we don't play at a high level, at high standard and keep, keep our consistency, we're gonna lose games. And that, that's just in any sport.

That's not just in football. And so for us, we're continuing to try to put ourselves together, put ourselves in a position to win. And I think we're able to do that every single week. And I think we've been doing that with Coach Day. We're giving ourselves a chance. And that's what you got to ask for players. We got to we got to step up and we got to make these damn plays. You know, coaches can only do so much. They can only put you in a position to be in a to

win. And then after that, it's got to be players. Like players got to come alive and finish the damn game. And like if you look at the games that we've lost, even now, like we've been in positions to win the game. Right. So what do you want at the games that we've lost, even now, like we've been in positions to win the game. So what do you want in the NFL? You want an opportunity to win the damn game. And then guess what? The players got to come through and do it. So I think Coach Jathers done a great job. He's super knowledgeable. He's been good with the managing the game, good with managing, you know, just how we're, we're our game plans of being put together. So with that, like what do you want from your, from your head coach, you want him to give you a chance

to win the games. Right. And but also not, but also not make mistakes, coaching mistakes that could cost you a game, I guess. Yeah, that's, that's a real thing too. You know, you know, maybe you can call play that you shouldn't have been in or a defense that you shouldn't have been, but, you know,

we're all human out here. We're all trying to, you know, there's all risk and then there's, there's strategy to all of this, right? Offense is trying to be an advantage for them. Defense is trying to be advantage for them. Sometimes they get you. Sometimes you get them. It's just back and forth.

And once you have guys that really understand the game, like Coach Staley does, like I wish you can, I wish everyone could sit in on a Thursday and Friday Coach Staley team meeting and listen to this man talk about football because it is incredible. Just I learned so much from him about defenses, about motions, about tendencies, about like for example, like he was talking about the nickel and talking about the nickel, the nickel traveling, the nickel stain and and how the nickel position is so hard because

of the different stresses of different formation types. And if it's into the boundary of a weight from the boundary and tells of these pressuring things like that. And all these different things that you guys know and never knows about, because you aren't looking at that big. But it's like these one tendencies for one position. And he can go on about every single position. And it's truly incredible what this guy knows. And then how can you can manage a game and talk about certain situations.

And like if it's the end of the game, like, hey, we can't be playing soft. If there's too much time, we can't give up a few like, like these different things that all matter. He's thinking, boom, boom, boom, boom. And I'm like, if I had a head coach, yeah, this is exactly what I want them to be talking about too. And know this type of this game plan and know to this level. And so he's at the highest level of coaching that I've seen as far as his knowledge of the game. Talking promotes some of the things you have going on off the field. Yeah, right now, I guess we're just focusing on the foundation. Like with love to get everyone involved in the pledge, even if it's $1 per touchdown,

you can find it at austinecler.com if you would like to join the pledge. Like I said, we're continuing to build, renovate weight rooms across the nation really for high schools. And just one reason that we're doing that is because it really helped me when I was younger. It was my place where I could get away. It's my place where I learned mental toughness, physical toughness, how to, you know, work, you know, how to push myself or because a team or because an individual and so many other things that are transferable into your adulthood and adult version of yourself.

And so I want to continue to make sure that those resources are up to date and actually functional for for these young kids coming out of high school going into their career. So I would appreciate any donation there at austinecler.com, especially with the pledge. So it's a little bit more of an entertaining way to get involved. So you would awesome wants to tell you, but he can't is because of the fact that you can donate per touch some of the tickets. Every touch on the Josh Kelly steals from him is really stealing the charity. He was taking it away.

Oh man, thank you, thank you. I'm money for my charity here, man. What's up, boys? Hello. Who's that guy in the bottom? Is that the guy in the bottom who's supposed to call me? Hey, how you doing? And help me with my team.

Is that that guy? The bearded one? I got receipts. I told my guy to get me in touch with you. And then they came back the Thursday morning. They're like, we can get you in touch now. This doesn't help me. I was trying to help him on Wednesday.

Well, there guy, you know, you should live in Hollywood. They're a mic, right? I told my guy to get hold of your guy. There guy. They're first in your guy. Yeah, they're not there for a mic right here. Deal, man. He's got the number one fantasy football podcast in America. I guess he's too big for me out here in Hollywood. Yeah, I was I was I was I was left on my own.

It was one of those Hollywood things that your guys gonna call my guy and your gal was calling their gal and well, we can't get his phone number for you. We can't get his email because he is a number one. Yeah. Guy say a nitro. Mike writes for it. Say it. Tell him to his face.

I'll know. And look, I've been in Hollywood for 30 years. And it feels like I was all over again. Yeah. We'll call you. We love you, kid. The perfect. You know, the one thing you can die of in Hollywood is encouragement because

nobody wants to say no to you Because you may come up and up being the big star, you know, and then they said, oh God I said no to him. So they're always nice. They don't call you back and say no very often They just do that time pass which I think in the dating world now is called ghosting. They just ghost you and soon as you have success You know, they're like, oh, we knew it. We believed in you But I want to tell you, Mike, right? I've had success without you Hold on let's update the audience here because Mike right was on with us and Nitro was on with us as well Mike right was supposed to help on Nitro with his fantasy football draft But he big time

And Mike we want to spend some time with the after because I have some questions for you, some serious questions for you. Thank you for doing this again. I cannot believe you big time Nitro. Seriously, I can't, so Nitro, you did this draft on your own. No help, you did it by yourself. I did it on my own and as it was going through, I was reading the chat boards with my friends, you know, on the chat boards in this league. And they're like, oh, Nitro makes some interesting choices. Oh, he's going there. Like when I picked up Calvin Ridley kind of early, but I also picked up the receiver from Tampa Bay.

Evans or am I getting? Yes. Yeah, my Kevin. I picked him up a little early because I figured Baker's, you know, gonna need someone to throw to a trusted target Right. I not trust him right and then I also felt that Evans hadn't got his contract negotiated and he was angry But being a being an all pro guy being around the league. He wasn't gonna pow He was gonna go out there and show him the team what he was worth and he's really done that so far All right, so what can Mike write do for you now?

He wasn't there for you, you know, on draft night. What can he do for you? He's a big email, so I'm sending you my receipts. Nitro, what do you want him to do? Evaluate your team, tell him some moves you should make. Like, what are you looking for here? Maybe give Mike some advice, Nitro. It seems like you're killing it right now.

Trim the beard. Trim the beard. Oh. All right. Fix up your beard game. Man, man, man,pe. No, so seriously my one main problem Mike. I One last week is well pretty handedly To an L look good. I have to have the second most points in the league Wow, but again, I know it can change any given Sunday and that's here

That's why I'm here Mike with my hat in hand Wait, I have before, now before you get, before you get to your questions for Mike, I do, I have some questions for you because I want Mike to evaluate your team. What number were you selecting in your draft? I was a sixth pick. Okay, and who'd you take with that sixth pick?

I wanna say I took the running back from Atlanta, Robin C. B. John? B. John. Okay, that's working out so far. So Mike, you would have told them that was a good pick at the time. Had you been on the call, but you were big timing him, right? Yeah.

No. No, no. Tell Billy to check the emails. I said, my speech shot. Yeah. B. John was a great pick at six, even though he'd never taken a snap in the NFL. Doesn't matter. We knew what he was going to be.

And there it is. I told you. He does have receiptsipts Nitro. I mean Yeah, you get on Pete about that. I think you or your publicist your publicist got a note with the email on Thursday And I needed it by Wednesday. Oh, you know she blamed your guys. She blamed your guys She blamed your guys. Yeah, I've been trying to reach out. I've been trying to reach them She blend your guys. Yeah, I've been trying to reach out. I've been trying to reach them. But his guys. Yeah, like I bet. Well, no, it's your, it's your guys girl. Why don't you get rid of the guys and the girls that just connect it. Hold on a second. Hold on a second,

though, because this brings me up to something else that I've been thinking every time you come on, Nitro, you've been telling us to get in contact with your people. So you can start on HGH and steroids. And he's steroid that. Yeah, he's still not in steroids. The way you look, I thought you're already on your first cycle. Oh, wow. You got to look like you've been bringing it. You know, sometimes when you wear like a darker gray or a color like you're wearing today, it's to cover up the fat. I throw, yes. It hides it. I thought you're already on the sauce getting ready for the season. Get ready to tackle. I need your steroids in HGH. I thought you're already on the sauce getting ready for the season, getting ready to tackle this. Why need your steroids in HGH? I want to look better. Let's go.

Lay, wait, it's still got it's, it's, they're not steroids. It's testosterone replacement therapy. That's what we say now. That's what we say now. That's what we say now. That's what it's more professional. Well, that way anybody can take it. How do you own steroids? No, it's a toss room. It's a testosterone replacement. It's not steroids. Oh, they know it helps. So who'd you take with your second pick in your draft? I try.

Let me just tell you my team. Can I do that? Yeah. Go ahead and let Mike. I never know what you're doing. So Mike, this is the guy that's killing me. Joe Burrow, the highest paid guy in the NFL. He was until what last week.

And the first week, he gets three points. Totally crushed, but I'm crushed to me. This week he's questionable. I don't know whether to start him. We can come back to that. I also have Devonte Adams, who's been so, so I have C Ridley, who was a champ the first game last week, not so much. I got Robinson at running back. And here's another guy, which I don't know to do it because he has Jesus. Yeah, I got Evans as well. Oh, here's the guy who's been killing it for me. The tight end for the Vikings. Hawkinson. Yeah. Number one tight end. Who knew? Love it. Mike Mike right. No. Did you know that, Mike? I knew that he would have big games, but he will also, I mean, like week one wasn't great for Hawkinson, but any of the double touchdowns week two.

So he'll be hot and cold, but he's a guy that there's not many tight ends that you can just put into the lineup and then you don't ever have to think about it. I mean, very, very few in Hawkinson's one of the guys you can leave in. The runny back, Mike Sanders. Miles? Mike Sanders for Carolina. Miles Sanders, yeah. Miles Sanders. Yeah. Miles Sanders. Yeah. I you know, yeah, who gives you an M. I've just.

Yeah, it's all about. I'm saying. All of them, you know, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. M. Sam. M. Sam. He's the one that's been a little confounding. I don't know quite what to do with him. On my bench, uh, Prescott G Pickens from pit. I just picked him up. Uh, we had a big game. Born from New England. And, uh, I wouldn't grab down waivers quickly, uh, Ford from Cleveland. Now that, uh, he's, look at you. Nitro, I mean, RB1 goes down, job. You grab RB2. You're great. I'm like, how would you about his team there? How

would you evaluate his draft i mean that so far that's i mean that's just non-stop hits calvin ridley you probably took him in the like fourth if you took him early took him in the third but he was going in the fourth because he up we had seen him in two years and the guy week one was incredible week two don't even like don't worry about the box score nightro he was one foot away from having another great game Trevor Lawrence

actually had I think four separate throws where wide receivers came down with just one foot in bounds and that's like that's not stuff you see in a box score it just shows up as an incompletion so I would not be concerned in the slightest with Calvin he's to be great. So keep my receivers, right? So Devonte, Evans and Calvin, keep those, keep those cats in here. Would you switch out Sanders who's been just so average and who's also questionable miles, Carolina? Would you switch him out for J for this Sunday? It's a tough call. So the Browns, they did bring cream hunt back in.

We don't know what that split is going to look like. The Fanski, the head coach did come out and say that drum Ford is going to be his guy like the main guy, but cream hunt, I mean, yeah, there's no way he signed this contract without knowing that he's going to play. It could take him a little bit to get into football shape. But Miles Sanders, the production hasn't been fantastic because the just the Carolina Panthers haven't been great, but I mean last week, 88% of the running back carries a 16% target share. Those are studly workhorse numbers.

And the Seattle Seahawks, it's a, that's a much better matchup for the Carolina Panthers. So I would probably stick it out one more game with Miles. Let your own Ford prove that he can be a true number one running back for you, but getting him on your bench, that's, I mean, that's pro stuff right there getting him right away. Question, burrow at quarterback. I know he's questionable this week. I have DAC on my bench, which I don't love. And in my league, the quarterbacks that are available, which I can get now, our cousins, who's been solid. Full stop. I think that DAC is a good play this week, but Kurt Cousins gets to play the chargers. And is just that's about as juicy as a matchup can get for quarterbacks and wide receivers. So if I were you, I'd be finding a way to get Kirk Cousins into my

starting lineup. All right, Nitro. Do you have any further questions for Mike right here? Are you a you know when you get a stack team, Nitro? I mean, I do. Yeah. Yeah. It's a really good. I'm serious. Oh, good. I look. I don't I don't know. I've fallen. I know, like I mean, I do. Yeah, yeah, it's a really serious. Oh, good. I look, I don't, I've, I've, all I know is, like I said, on any given Sunday, anything can change. I'm playing against one of the look like the eight position, the league, and I'm, I'm not taking anything for granted. I projected 122 points to 116, which is only a 6% margin, which isn't, which isn't great. So strategy. I had a friend of mine who plays a lot of Ace of Football. And he says he, I guess the term is floats his defense.

So he picks up the defense every week, depending upon who they're playing. This week, my defense is Cleveland. So here's your rule of thumb Nitro for your defense is Number one is it a good defense? That's kind of a given. Do you believe that's a good defense? But to look for someone who is playing at home and Number three look for someone who has a low Over under in the game and they're favored because you just you basically don't want the other team doing much. And those are kind of like the markers, the where, where I will, our start to look at. Then I'll start factoring.

And you know, like, is the quarterback they're playing against bad is the offensive line they're playing against bad. So thing, but, but those first three are like kind of the, they, they shouldn't lead you astray. They won't lead you into a bad defensive play. So stick with the browns. Yeah. Okay. Good. I'm good. I'm ready to go. Let me go and put the herd on these guys. Dan Nitro Clark. We love him. Former Prof. Football player, American Gladiator, number one best selling off their TVOs, entrepreneur, speaker and fantasy football entrepreneur, speaker and fantasy football expert.

Let's go gladiators. Thank you, Nitro. Mike, we, Billy and I were talking about this before you came on. Is it just annoying sometimes to, to, to, for lack of a better term to be you? Like just everybody just wants to ask you fantasy advice and then blame you if it's wrong and take all the credit if it's right. It's, well, it's number one. No of like I just, I like I legit love fantasy football. I mean, like we're all we're all best friends here on the show and everybody in the office and we when the show's, we're talking fantasy, when lunch is going, we're talking fantasy, like we really just love it so so much.

And I've done okay on like social media and things of, I don't know, maybe it's just how I present the information of, I don't get too much of the, you told me to do this and you ruined my life. Like, of course that stuff happens because it happens to anyone in media, on social media. But, you know, just be quick with the mute button

of like I don't need that. If you're that person, you're not gonna be involved in my conversation online. So I do my best to try and keep it just to positive people online. Mike Wright is with us the fantasy footballers It's the number one fantasy podcast in America. It's fantastic along with CBS sports. They do it And he's been great to us and our show but to Mikey A's point do you get that like if you're walking through an airport

Well, the guy just walked past you and say to re kill or jail in Waddle like that I just walk past you and say to re kill or jail and waddle like that. That has happened. I go, I'll have people there because it's the, I think it's their code. Because I think I recognize Mike, but I'm just going to throw, I'm just going to talk real loud about fantasy and see if he turns around because I will. Like as soon as I hear people talking, any line up, I'm like, would, let's talk. But usually people are cool. He's want to, you know, get a high fiber of picture or something.

I have a philosophical fantasy question for you. I'm in a league where a lot of guys are being dropped that could potentially be juggernauts later. What is your philosophy with sort of how you hold on to players that might not be giving you anything now, but a couple of weeks from now, they could be, they could be juggernauts. Sure. The, the starting point for me is what is my starting roster look like? And then I'm going to, I'm going to flash forward through the schedule. I'm going to find when the by weeks start to really hit and hurt me. But like, if I'm looking at my starting roster going,

I feel pretty confident that this can take on the majority of teams in the league that I am stashing those high upside players. You know, like some of the rookies who have, like Jonathan Mingo for the Carolina Panthers, he has done absolutely nothing, but to be fair, the Bryce Jung has, he's not caught up to the NFL yet, but over the course of time, you know, it could happen.

Rookie's usually, especially wide receivers, it's usually the second half that they break out. We've been pretty spoiled recently with, you know, Jamar, Justin Jefferson or this, hey, hey, my boys, they flowers, I told you guys the drafts, they flowers, that things looking pretty nice right now. Yes, it is. Uh, so we're pretty spoiled when, when the rookies actually break out right now.

So as long as you are cruising and you don't need an immediate guy off your bench to go into your starting lineup, have those, have the rookies, have the young guys, have a, uh, an insurance running back or two from other squads, not your guys. That's, cause it's like, if you had Nick Chubb and you also had Jerome Ford on your bench, I mean, you're feeling okay about it, but Jerome Ford is not replacing Nick Chubb. You're in a massive disadvantage now, no matter what. You'll just have some points, but if you have two rock solid running backs and then you were stashing Jerome Ford,

holy crap man, you go to who had Nick Chubb, I got Jerome Ford, let's make a trade. And then you go, that's when you can really start to extract value. I've been in the league for four two decades. It's with you know the same people in and out and nothing changes. The scoring everything has been the same. But I started a new league this year where the whole purpose of it is to try new things. So we've never done an auction league this year was an auction league. year is going to be two quarterback super flex. But we're also in the weeds with some of these outlandish sort of fantasy formats. I was wondering if you've heard of any good ones that you were like, man, that would be

interesting to try. So like brand new formats that I haven't tried. I have seen guillotine leagues starting to rise in popularity. And guillotine league is essentially Whoever has the lowest points of the week Goodbye you're wow you are done and then on on top of that now all your players go to the waiver wire Oh wow all of the remaining teams get to bid on all of the remaining teams get to bid on acquiring their fantasy services. So like, yeah, week one, you had Jamar Chase and Joe Burrell. You're probably lost and you probably had really low points and all the sudden, Jamar Chase is a free agent. And so thinking about the strategy of if my team is going along, I'm doing okay.

When do you really go after a player? Because there's gonna be superstars almost every single week. But don't be more superstars available if your team is still going, but you're gonna run out of, you're gonna run out of a budget. So it's like it's interesting to me to see or to think about when do you go in on a player, like in a league format like that. Again, I haven't tried it,

but I've got some industry friends who are doing some really innovative things. Mike, right. Thank you so much for doing this. And good luck with Nitro. All right, man. Yeah, we'll see how that goes. you