The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz - GBF- So Many Upsets

Episode Date: March 28, 2025

Billy, Mikey A and Fuentes run through the latest headlines including; Russell Wilson signing with the New York Giants and Stefon Diggs getting a three year contract with the New England Patriots. Bracket Bonanza is back and bigger than ever as the Selection Committee seeded all 32 NFL teams. More Mikely's hit on AFC East wide receivers, comeback players and huge 2025 seasons. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

God bless football, Mikey A? God bless football, Fuentes. God bless football, Billy. I think we all matched energy there. Yeah. I did the wrong cadence on that one, but we're working on it. We're working on it. We'll get this right before Stu gots comes back he'll

be back soon he's on assignment this week I'm sure he'll be back maybe next week probably not next week by the way today's episode of god bless football is presented by draft Kings draft Kings the crown is yours guys hello how was everybody's week last week it's been you know full seven days since we've spoken to each other lots of things have happened in the world of football we promised some segments we were gonna do this week so how's been, you know, full seven days since we've spoken to each other. Lots of things have happened in the world of football. We promised some segments we were gonna do this week. So how's your guys week? How's everybody doing before we just get down to the nitty-gritty and start talking some pigskin, some gridiron? It's good. And the fun thing is Billy and I, you and I talked

yesterday like early and we were like, wow, nothing's going on. And then all of a sudden the NFL as it always does gives us gifts Yeah, they gave us things. Yeah, it's one of those things that we We we met earlier in the week. We were doing some planning. What do we want to talk about? We planned some games around some contracts that had been signed and then boom all of a sudden new contracts are signed new deals are Announced we just had to kind of tear up our old script and start anew, but hey, good news is, this episode probably gonna be a better episode than the other episode that we had planned,

just because of the news that came out. You know, and speaking of news, guys, you wanna play our favorite segment? We do it every week, it's called Here's a Headline. Nice, let's do it. All right. Is Here's a Headline brought to us by anybody this week? No, not this week.

Not this week. No, not this week. But maybe next week. Maybe. We'll see what happens. So, hey, here's a headline. After signing Jameis Winston and leading the world to believe that he would be their starting quarterback, the New York Giants then decided to also sign Russell Wilson.

Now there had been rumors speculating that the Giants may at the number three spot take a quarterback or even trade up to the number one spot to take a quarterback if they liked one particular quarterback, probably Cam Ward, who would probably be the number one pick. But instead they said, you know what, we're going to sign Russell Wilson to a one year deal and broke the heart, even though he hasn't come out and said it, I will say it for him, broke the heart of Jameis Winston, who signed a two year deal just last week,

leading us to believe that he would be the starting quarterback of the New York Giants, because the New York Giants now have Jameis Winston, they now have Russell Wilson, and they have fan favorite Tommy DeVito, who they re-signed, who we thought would be the backup. So it would appear as though they are not going to be drafting a quarterback, but you never know.

So, Gang, what do we think of the New York Giants signing Russell Wilson? It certainly has a lot of implications. I don't necessarily believe that it takes them out of drafting a quarterback at number three. I do think it takes them out of trading up to number one. I think those deals pretty much preclude you from making that move. But I think if Shador Sanders is there at three and there's the guy they might, the other guy they might want was taken at two, I think they could

draft Sanders and put him on the bench for a year behind Russell Wilson. The interesting thing about the Wilson and the Winston contracts are if neither of them play they cost like 14 million total between two of them. So you could easily justify spending 14 million dollars on two very high-end backup quarterbacks. I get what you're saying about that, but actually it makes more sense now that I think about it, because if they do draft whoever at three, if they're able to get one of the top two guys, because I'm not, are we sure like the Titans

might take a quarterback and then the Browns would take a quarterback, right, those are the top two picks? So yeah, but we're not sure about anything at this point. I think the Titans are still leaning Ken Ward. Yeah, so if Ken Ward and Shador Sanders are both gone, We're not sure about anything at this point. I think the Titans are still leaning. Okay. Yeah. So if Kim Ward and Shador Sanders are both gone, then the next guy is Jackson Dart. So you might maybe they do trade back because now, like you said, the emphasis is not really

there to draft a quarterback. And I feel like any quarterback taking the top five, top 10, they have to play right away. That's like the how most NFL people feel about it. So I think it might just be more of an insurance policy. So I'm kind of with you there, Mike, because like you said, if Russell Wilson and James never see in the field,

they don't really cost you much. And especially for a quarterback, 14 million for two quarterbacks dropping the bucket the way that quarterbacks get paid these days. Dropping the bucket. Yeah. Here's the other incentive that makes me think they're still not out of the,

I'm gonna call it Chador Sanders at three. That's, let's just be on, like that's who I think it's going to be at three. If, if it's anybody, the reason I think that it's still very likely is drafting Chador Sanders at three might buy the GM Joe Shane and the head coach one more year, because if they're in this, they're dangling, but their jobs are dangling by a thread. And if they put all their faith in Russell Wilson after what we saw last year and Jamis Winston, what we saw the last decade, then they're pretty much resigned to the fact

that they're gone. But if they draft your door and they go, well, you got to give us a chance to develop them a little bit. Maybe, maybe they buy themselves one more year. Do you think that like, Dable and and Joe Shane is the other guy, right? Like, I understand Joe Shane inherited Daniel Jones. I guess Dable did too. But then, like, Joe Shane gave Daniel Jones the extension, didn't he? Well, yes. So that's kind of like the quarterback he was in on then, because he felt like, oh, this guy's enough. So I'm in on this guy. So maybe Dable has that leash. I don't know if Shane does I don't know that he thought that they were in on him

I mean he did by giving him the contract but that felt like just it was good enough. We want to lack of options Exactly. We need to lock our guy because I gotta go back and see what's available then because yeah Cuz I gotta lock up your guy But you're it also like Daniel Jones had his best year before I think he won the playoff game and he duped them into giving Them more money. Yeah, can we just take a moment to feel bad for Jamis Winston because poor Jamis I mean it seemed it seemed at the time Honestly like a steal of a signing to the point that I did not understand Why it is that Jamis signed a two-year eight million dollar deal?

guaranteed when you see someone like eight million dollar deal guaranteed when you see someone like Zach Wilson signing a one year eight million dollar contract in Miami to be their backup quarterback. So Jameis I thought sold himself short. I said you know what, this is gonna be the greatest contract for a starting quarterback that a team has signed in a long time, just short of the Russell Wilson one last year where this deal was only had to pay him

about a million dollars and I wonder if he knew. I wonder if he knew I'm coming in here to be the backup and this is why he agreed to it because you know the well was drying up everywhere else. Or if he actually thought that he had a shot because it's kind of kind of dirty to sign him there to such like a low contract which is a backup contract right and then a week later bring in Russell Wilson who honestly I mean is Russell Wilson a 20 million dollar quarterback in the world where Jamis Winston is a four million dollar quarterback So you think that Russell Wilson and Jamis will give you the same amount of wins next year more or less

I don't think that they are 16 million dollars a year apart Yeah, and I that is true But I think like some of's kind of like fan service. We have to look like because James Wintz is not a name you're going to take seriously as a starting quarterback. I want to have on a Steelers. Yes, but I'd take James Wintz in a second. James Wintz was Mike's target.

I like James. Yeah, I'm with you. I like him more than I like Russell. Yeah. Any other headlines this week? Yeah. Hey, here's a headline. The New England Patriots found their number one receiver. They signed Stephon Diggs to a three-year, 69 million dollar deal. I'm started to think of Stephon Diggs as

Rich Man's Brandon Cooks. Seems like he's kind of have that same career trajectory where everywhere he goes he tells everybody he's the one and gets paid like it but they just keep shipping him out and they just keep moving on from him. This is what his fourth team the Vikings, the Texans, the Bills and now the Patriots. I guess it helps them a little bit. I mean, it gives them at least somebody that's a little more dynamic than Matt Collins for Drake May, but I don't know. Stefan Diggs never scared me when he was in the division with the Bills, and he still doesn't with the Patriots.

The thing with Stefan Diggs is, as you mentioned, he's coming off of injury. And he, prior to injury, was kind of a disappointment last year in Houston. He did get injured fairly early on, so he didn't get a full season of Stefan Diggs by any means. He is coming in and he will obviously be better than Kendrick Bourne. He'll be better than Demario Douglas.

Mack Hollins they just signed. Again, weird thing. Kind of felt bad for Mack Hollins. Mack Hollins they just signed. Again, weird thing. Kind of felt bad for Mack Hollins. Mack Hollins signed a lesser deal there and then sure enough, thought like, oh you know maybe they don't have a lot of money. Boom. Stephon Diggs, crazy money and three years seems like a long time to give Stephon Diggs when it's really been a minute since he's been a proven number one and that's what they're

bringing him in to be is the number one for the Patriots. We keep saying that, that it's been a long time since he's been a proven number one. And that's what they're bringing him in to be, is the number one for the Patriots. We keep saying that, that it's been a long time since he's been a proven number one. He had the four years in Buffalo, he had 127 receptions, 103, 108, 107, four consecutive thousand yard seasons. Like he was really good still at the Vils. He's just 31 years old coming off the field. Yeah, but.

Yeah, but he was really good. They essentially changed offensive coordinators and said, Stefan Diggs, you're no longer the one. And then all of a sudden, Buffalo took off. They won like six games in a row that year. It was something ridiculous. Also, the numbers are there. As soon as they said, you know what,

Diggs isn't the focus, Josh Allen is the focus. Yeah, but like the numbers are also there because he was the option. Yeah, that's fine. In Buffalo. And while he was- He still has to catch it. Yeah, but while he was there, everyone was talking about, is he actually a number one quarterback?

And they kind of was like, not really. No, you mean number one receiver for Allen. No, on a team. Can he be a number one on a team, which is why he ended up. He had been a number one on a team. His worst years were actually in Minnesota. He took off, which of course is the Josh Allen effect. But I mean, he still caught the ball.

Over 1,000 yards, he can't be't receive it for more than 100 receptions. Like his touchdowns were kind of low the last year, he only had eight. And then he had almost 500 yards, he had 496 before he got hurt. Yeah, no, as a third option. He was a number one because they needed him to be the number one, right?

He was the only guy. It was just a question of, is he actually a number one? And now we're two years removed and an injury removed from that, and the Patriots are bringing him in to be the number one. Seems like a lot of excuse making for Josh Allen or for being pretty incorrect. Listen.

Yeah, seems like a lot of excuse making. Listen. That's Billy's buddy. Listen. He's going to the wedding. Well, no. It's Billy's buddy. Listen, here's the thing. You do wonder when that's gonna catch up, right? When it's gonna be like, Josh. And he has somewhat been billed out by the fact

that they don't actually get him very many weapons But at a certain point you're like he's the Kyle Shanahan a quarterback. There's a really want our first receiver. Oh Some are saying I'm Maury Cooper. Okay. Thanks. This is nice, but is this gonna be a difference maker? I don't know. Yeah, that's what I'm saying. I have Stefan Diggs and Amari Cooper Don't necessarily disagree with you entirely I Roll don't necessarily disagree with you entirely. I Roll the dice at the Andre Hopkins. I just love a name. I'm not gonna lie love a name Hey, they're proven commodity that by the way that that's why they got a Mario Cooper. Honestly, it's just because he was a name It's like well, nobody likes just having Shakira right? So as Mario Cooper available we can get it for cheap

Yeah, you want me in Cleveland anymore get him over here. Mm-hmm Anyways, when we come back, we teased this last week and we're bringing it back this week. God bless football's bracket bonanza. This is something we do every year during March Madness because of course, why wouldn't we? Everybody's talking about the brackets and we said, you know what, we can have our own brackets bonanza.

When we come back, God bless football's bracket bonanza. our own brackets bonanza. When we come back, God bless football's bracket bonanza. Ah boys, nothing like gathering around the TV. You got 17 games on in March. You got the tournament plan. You get the boys together. Maybe skip work a little bit or call off, tell the boss, oh my stomach hurts,

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People celebrate responsibly. Miller Brewing Company, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 96 calories and 3.2 carbs per 12 ounces. ["God Bless Football"] Guys, God Bless Football is presented by Smearnoff. We do game days, please drink responsibly. The Smearnoff Company, New York, New York. Last time we dilly-dallied a little bit

and then realized that our bracket bonanza took a lot longer than expected. And we did, you know, one through seven, we had buys and then we talked it out and we said, you know, what we really need to do if we're gonna be true to the bracket bonanza as we are every time this year. Let's do one through 16 in each

conference. Every team makes the playoffs. Everyone's on a bracket. Let's see how all of these teams getting in there might mix things up. So we've ranked the teams one through 16 in the AFC and in the NFC and it's time for a new edition of God bless football's bracket Bonanza presented byrnaf, the world's number one vodka. Please drink responsibly. OK, gang, so I have here one versus 16, eight versus nine, five versus 12, four versus 13, six versus 11, three, 14,

seven, 10, two, 15. Like every bracket that you have at this time of the year. Have one for the AFC, have one for the NFC. I think in the interest of saving time, we don't need to go through the one through 16s and reveal that, we just reveal the matchups so that we can kinda expedite this process a little bit. So would you like to start in the AFC or the NFC this week?

AFC. All right, we're gonna start in the AFC. Definitive. Now, do we wanna start one versus 16 or do we wanna build up to that? Go one 16. Okay, cool, so we're gonna start with the 1 versus 16 seed. Now, they have the number one pick in the draft.

At the moment, the Tennessee Titans, and they are not the number one seed, they will be the number 16 seed taking on last week's number one seed, the Buffalo Bills. We don't know what they're gonna do in the draft. We assume if they stay with that pick, they will take Cam Ward, but they also may trade that pick and get some assets

and then try to rebuild their team They still have full of us there. So do we believe that 16 seated Tennessee Titans will upset the number one seeded Buffalo Bills Neutral field No, it's gonna be it's gonna be like in a new Okay. All right, then. Yeah, give me a ball pool. All right, so the syrup not that it matter Yeah, pills will be moving on F ball pool. Alright, so the Syracuse not that it matter. Yeah, Pills will be moving on. Fuentes Do you agree with this? Yes, but mainly because I forgot Will Lefse is in the NFL until right now when you mentioned him

Okay, I was already thinking of Ken Ward was a quarterback Alright, well, so Pills are moving on we assume it might be one of those two quarterbacks then we go on to the eight versus nine This is where things get interesting the number eight seeded Texans take on the number nine seated dolphins Eight-seated Texans take on the number nine-seated Dolphins. Both teams missing your standard playoff, but because it's one through 16, they're both still alive in this one.

Who do we think is gonna win that one? Texans, Dolphins. Tua has gotten a lot of attention lately for going out and partying on boats. He was actually on a boat with his family and Baker Mayfield and Baker Mayfield's family, which is kind of interesting Who do we who do we like here? So I was gonna pick the Texans until you told me to was hanging out with Baker

He's learning how to win. Give me the Dolphins Wow I like that take I like that take That's right to is getting the killer CJ strab doesn't want us curse anymore Yeah, that's apparently his new thing and and to is learning how to hang with Baker. Yep Give me the doll to all right the Baker edge dolphins moving on we have the number five seated chargers against the new look number 12 seated Las Vegas Raiders Yeah, give me the chargers yeah like the okay like the Chargers. Okay, I was gonna say, could this be where we get our first upset?

I wanna pick an upset. I'm itching to pick an upset. Yeah, but Aiden O'Connell I'm not doing that. All right. But that's not it. Maybe this is the matchup where we see our first ups with the number four seated Bengals against the number three seated Jaguars. That's right, I forgot about Juno Smith, thank you.

The new look Jaguars also with their head coach. They still have Trevor Lawrence, but they have a new coach, new GM. That's the problem. I don't even know who you said. I think it was the Bengals. I'll take the Bengals because I don't trust Trevor Lawrence. Okay. Well, Bengals also just gave their receivers.

I told you. I told you. I'm itching to pick an upset, but it's not here. Yeah, I was going to take the Bengals too. Okay. Number six, Broncos against the number 11 Colts. I was going to say give me the horsies. They're both horsies. Yeah. Give me the Broncos against the number 11 Colts. I was gonna say give me the horsies, they're both horsies.

Give me the Broncos, I like bonics. All right, Mike, you agree? Oh man, yeah, give me the Broncos. All right, Broncos, the number three Ravens against the number 14 Jets. Oh, this. I'm just gonna write Ravens in there not even wait their turn. Come on, Justin Fields.

OK, come on, man. Now, now let's see what happens because I believe that they fell a little bit in this week's rankings from last week's rankings. The number seven Patriots were a playoff team last week. They're still in. They're staying strong at number seven. However, because of the fact that Russell Wilson signed with the New York Giants, he is no longer an option in Pittsburgh.

And it seems as though the only option left at the moment is Aaron Rodgers going to the Steelers, which he doesn't seem to want to do. So the number seven Patriots against the number 10 Steelers. Who do we like? I'm going to take the number seven Patriots because Aaron Rodgers still hasn't gone there. If Rodgers goes there, I might change my answer.

Wow. Can we take a second to, if Aaron Rodgers goes to the Steelers, the combination of George Pickens, DK Metcalf, Aaron Rodgers, and then Mike Tomlin trying to wrestle it all together? Yeah. That's gonna be amazing. I really hope it happens,

but since it has not happened yet, I'll stick with Mikey. Well, no, hold on. You could pick the Steelers hoping that it happens. it doesn't have to be if the season ended today That's a different segment Mikey. We've agreed on everything so far Yeah, so I'll take the Steelers just so Billy has to throw in his hat on us Mmm, you know what? I'll take the Steelers to there you go crazy. Wow yeah

Well because the next round is a chiefs against crazy wins out the next one is number two Chiefs against the number 15 Browns and the Browns are not gonna beat the Chiefs So we don't even need to bother with any picket. Come on. Yeah, Super Bowl champion Kenny picket I did you guys see the rumors that that the Browns are very interested in Kirk Cousins heading over there? Yeah, I don't know if that's gonna change anything But I'm I don't think they can make the trade because the Falcons have already paid like such a big sum. Like it doesn't help them to move him at this point. All right, let's head over the NFC for the first round. The number one eagles against the number 16. Forty Niners. What? Yeah, 1640. You know what? Give me the 49ers in the biggest upset.

Wow. Just because you put them at 16. That was a committee, not me. Number one, Eagles against the 1649ers. I think I'm gonna go with the Eagles. I can't stand with the... I mean... The Eagles are so good, but... Brock Purdy. I just... Disrespect. Yeah. Brock Purdy, Brandon Ayuk. Oh, George Kittle still there too. Never mind. It's not that bad. Christian McCaffrey. But rock pretty I just disrespect yeah, brock birdie Brandon Iuke George Kittle still there too. No, I guess not that bad Christian McCaffrey. No, no, I'm sticking with Eagles. All right. I I too I'm gonna pick the Eagles It would we had a chance at a 16 one there, but it didn't pan out. No, I'm picking an upset here We have a number eight Seahawks against the number nine Falcons

Falcons Falcons, there's your upset. Okay, there we go. That's not an upset. Yeah, that's an upset. That's upset. That's sad. Technically it is. Technically it is.

Well, friends, this one might get a little interesting. The number five Rams against the number 12 Panthers. Ooh. Is this the year? Is this the year? I had said. Is this the year is this the year I had said your price young I had said your price young I said I like I say it is yeah give me the panthers but hold on Fentus as we all know is also an LA guy yeah I know big LA guy I had said before this Billy Billy put me in a corner I knew it's gonna happen because I know I said so good he did you, I like the Panthers.

I know I like Bryce Young. I feel like they're rising. They can make a deep run. But then I'm a Rams guy. And I think Devontae Adams and Matt Stafford and the soon to be retired Puka Nakua are gonna do something there with Kyron Williams. Rams, give me the Rams.

Crazy story by the way. Puka just saying I'm gonna retire at 30. Also spoiler alert, he will not unless he's injured. Which we're hoping that's not the case I'm gonna go at the Rams too so the Rams are moving on I guess next year we're a year away from the Panthers the number four Lions against the number 13 Cardinals give me the Cardinals really yeah give me the Cardinals you know they lost all the coaches all the swag is gone the kneecap over. Kyler Murray rising. Let's go.

I'm sorry. The swag is gone. Last I checked Dan Campbell's still there. Give me the lions. You know what? I think in a close one, we go Cardinals here. Oh, you got upset. Yeah. Crazy. I pick it all the upsets and then you pick the one time I don't got number six Packers against number 11 Cowboys Wow, I like this one more than I thought I would I saw Dak at a NASCAR race this weekend I'll just tell you that he was in a walking boot still he was invited as a guest of one of the teams he was watching the race from the pit and

To watch the race from the pits if you're like an invited guest, you get to sit like in their setup. Now their setup requires you to climb a ladder to get up to the seat. I didn't see him climb the ladder, but I saw him up there sitting there. So he got up there somehow. Just gonna say that in terms of his health. I'm glad he got up there. Give me give me the Packers. Okay. Fuentes? I will also say the Packers. Yeah okay. Number three, the Bucks against the number 14 Saints. Baker. Yeah if I it'd be funny if I get the Dolphins and Edge because two of us next to Baker, but then I don't get Baker the same edge. Yeah, it's like, give me the bucks. All right, now we have the number seven Bears. Now, you've been high on the Bears, I will say, and you have sold us on the Bears the entire off season.

You think that the Bears are going to make a difference here and that the Bears are gonna have a big year, yet to be seen here with the Bears. Sure. But we have the number seven Bears, and this one is a bit of a surprise against the number 10 Vikings. Wow.

Wasn't ready for the Vikings to be that low. JJ McCarthy is a big question mark, but they've said they're sticking with him at the moment. So they fell a little bit in the rankings here. So the Bears against the Vikings. Everything that Kevin O'Connell does seems to work, at least in the regular season. This is the playoffs. The Bears added so much to their offensive line that they could win based on that.

Give me the Bears. Wow, Fuentes. I will also go with the Bears because of the offensive line additions. And Ben Johnson is now the quarterback, the head coach there. I was already a believer in Caleb Williams. And I do like the Vikings, I love Justin Jefferson,

but just the J.J. McCarthy question mark is too big right now. Shocking to see them at 10 when they're out in the first round. It's a big choice from the committee. I know, I mean, if they would have been a four, they probably would be. It's almost like the committee picked games

to make sure that we had to Or it's almost like the committee ranked the Panthers twice and had to find which team was yeah that happens But you know what it is is that in these one-off scenarios you never know yeah Just never know all right the number two commanders against the number 15 Cowboys Didn't we just do the Cowboys twice all right well twice to Hmm what's going on here? Whoever it is. I take the commander commanders. Yeah, it's a commander. You know what? It's the Giants Russell Wilson's not enough to get over the command. Yeah, it's the Giants the commanders again

Giants. All right, we'll stick with the commanders Unless James is playing then you never know. It's a small committee, it's hard sometimes keeping track of those things. The committee better get a list next time. Yeah, I mean the committee's actually looking at a list right here in front of him. It's weird and then still make the, you know, right. Committee's not gonna point any fingers. It's been a long day for the committee. Alright, the number one bills against the number nine dolphins.

This one just seems very obvious, I'm just gonna rate the bills. It's a grudge match, we've seen this game a lot. Is this the game that the Dolphins and to get over the home? This is the game where he had the Baker swag To a Baker you want to go? Okay, all right the number five chargers and the number four Bengals I Picked I picked the Chargers last time. I got some stuff for it on Twitter. I'm not going to change it now. Give me the Bengals. Wow. I mean, give me the Chargers. Give me the Chargers. I think that it's really great that they kept the offense together for Joe, but who's going

to... They didn't get any better anyway. Name a guy on defense. Wow. You brought back guys. They didn't get better. Exactly a guy on defense. Yeah, you brought it better exactly I mean like I like the Bengals like Joe burrow He just has to outscore everybody and I don't know if I can always do I was for the record I was gonna go Bengals there, but that's fine. All right the number six Broncos against the number three Ravens I Want to pick the upset I can't't. Give me the Ravens. You're gonna go Ravens? Okay. Fuentes? You're a big bow guy. I am, but I'm gonna go with the Ravens.

Alright. Marjax is too good. Okay, and then we have the number 10 stealers, one of the upsets in the first round against the number two Chiefs. Chiefs. Yeah. Alright, Chiefs. Not a lot of analysis on the Chiefs. Chiefs. Yeah. Alright, chiefs. Not a lot of analysis on the chiefs. So right now the AFC's Bills, Chargers, Ravens, Chiefs in the next round. Not exactly exciting. Okay, we have the number one Eagles against the number nine Falcons. Eagles. Eagles. Wow.

Yeah. Unless Michael Pennex takes a jump. Eagles almost lost in the first round to the number 16 seeded 49ers. It was a close one, but they survived. Survived in advance. All right, the number five Rams against the number 13 Cardinals. Give me the Cardinals. Wow. Give me a reason. Give me a reason, Michael.

Everybody on the Rams is going to retire. Yeah. I'm going to go Cardinals too. Wow, give me a reason. Give me a reason, Mike. Everybody on the Rams is going to retire. Yeah, I'm going to go Cardinals too. I think Kyler kind of finally takes that step. The defense steps up. Kyler takes the step, yeah. You know us, we're big fans of the Rawlis defense. Yeah, the Rawlis defense, that thing started really playing well towards the end of the year.

Mm-hmm. All right, I'm going to go number six packers against the number three Bucks. Give me the Bucks. Yeah, give me the Bucks. Give me the Bucks. Give me the Bucks. I actually like that they kept Chris Godwin. Yeah, I think it's big for them.

I think it's big for Baker too. You gotta keep him with guys that he knows and can move the ball. And they're gonna have a better running game this year, correct? Yeah. This one, I believe, would be our Sunday night matchup of the weekend. This would be the biggest game, the number seven Bears

against the number two Commanders. Matchup of the weekend. A matchup of one and two pick from 2024? The first two picks? Yep, number two pick wins it though. Ooh, you think so? Give me the commanders. With the Devo Samuel commanders? Uh I'm gonna say the Bears. Uh yeah. I mean I really believe in Ben Johnson. I believe in Ben

Johnson. I believe in the offensive line. Let's do it. I believe in Ben Johnson, the offensive coordinator, not necessarily Ben Johnson, the head coach. This is a tricky one because I am known around some parts as bear down Billy It's fighting against you you are yeah You were also a Cardinals guy. We were in yeah, it's part of the bird gang as we all know Wow, I'm waiting to see you tighten up. Oh, I'm gonna be tightening up That's so hard tight know whether you know whether they have the number one pick or not. We will be tightening up

We'll be tightened up now unfortunately We will be tightening up. We will be tightened up. Now, unfortunately, to my good friends in Chicago, I'm gonna go commanders on this one. The commanders. Yeah, commanders. The commies. Well, okay. All right, we're gonna head over. The number one bills against the number five chargers.

Upset. Really? Same. Upset. Wow! Oh boy. Upset. Chargers. Chargers.gers. Chargers. Man. Alright. I didn't even have a chance. Josh Allen can't find anybody and he can't do it all by himself. Eventually a Chargers win it. John Harbaugh. Is it John or Jim there? Jim. Jim Harbaugh. He finds a way to power his guys through the Chargers defense. Stop Josh Allen. Okay. Just banged

on the table. Alright. We're gonna go with the number three Ravens against the number two Chiefs Chiefs. We know how this goes. It's Chiefs. Really? We know how this goes. We've seen this We've seen this wow almost every year for for the last five or six years. I mean it's looked different last year though Yeah, yeah until it didn't until it didn't we're like in movie number. I was talking about the Ravens Yeah, we've seen it every year. That's true. Until they do it, no. All right, we have the number one eagles against the number 13 Cardinals.

You know I'm gonna say upset, right? No, give me the eagles. Give me the eagles. Want this? Damn it, damn eagles. All right, the eagles. You almost put me in a spot there. You shoulda had me. I'm feeling silly. You shoulda put the 49ers in. All right. You Eagles. You almost put me in a spot there because you should have had me.

I'm feeling silly. The 49ers in all right. The 49ers in the number three bucks against the number two commanders. I have such a special place. This is a really tough field. I have such a special place in my heart for Baker Mayfield. Give me the commanders. Yeah, that hurt. I'm sorry, Baker. I keep thinking about J a special place in my heart for Baker Mayfield. Give me the commanders. Yeah, that hurt. I'm sorry, Baker. I keep thinking about Jaden Daniels in the playoffs and how good

he was and yeah, just give me Jaden Daniels. What I don't understand is how you had the bears beating the commanders but not Baker and the Bucks. Because now I believe. Because you saw it happen. They're forging fire. Yeah. Okay, those commanders it is. Iron sharpens iron. Yeah. So just so that we're all on the same page We have a one seed a two seed a two seed and a five seed So really only one surprise now in the final four. It's the number five chargers against the number two Kansas City Chiefs Chiefs Kingdom Chiefs Kingdom, they have see continues. Unbelievable. You know what? No.

Give me the Chargers. Give me the Chargers. Jim Harbaugh has them going in year two. Billy, pick the Chiefs. I'm going with the Chiefs. Yeah, you go on. Yeah, well that's kind of what I wanted. That's kind of what I wanted.

I wanted Billy to pick. I mean, we don't need to break it down any further. The Chiefs it is. And then we have the number one Seated Eagles against the number two Commanders. Commanders. Yeah, Commanders. Oh, okay. I'm getting it is. And then we have the number one seeded Eagles against the number two commanders. Commanders. Yeah, commanders. Oh, okay. Oh, wow. They got they got seasoned. They got seasoned over the year. And they're over the little seasoning and boom, there you go. We now have a

situation. Oh, because the tish-push is banned. The number two Chiefs against the number two commanders in the championship game of God Bless Football's Bracket Bonanza. Reveal it on the other side of the break. Okay, when we come back, we reveal the champion of God Bless Football's Bracket Bonanza. This is a message from sponsor Intuit Turbo Tax. Guys, Taxis was waiting and wondering and worrying if you're going Bracket Bonanza. on your return while you get real-time updates on their progress so you can focus on your day. An expert will find your every deduction possible and file every form, every investment, every everything with 100% accuracy.

Also you can get the most money back guaranteed. No waiting, no wondering, no worries. Now this is Taxes Get, an expert now on TurboTax.com. Only available with TurboTax live, full service, real-time updates only on iOS mobile app. See guarantee details at TurboTax.com slash guarantees. I think that that is the first time that we've done that right just tease the end of one segment headed into did we do it last week no I split a segment in half because we ran out of time and then you guys dogged me mercilessly they're not

they're not like reach over yeah yeah yeah but we didn't tease it right is that the difference no no that was just like me breaking it up because I was scared about time because TV production stuff. You need to not worry so much about that, you know? I know. Don't stress yourself, don't kill yourself over it. It's fine. We'll get to it. We'll get to the winner of Bracket Bonanza when we get to it. We don't need to rush into it. I mean, we have more games to play. We have more mic-ly that we haven't done this week, so

I mean, we have time. Do you want to get to the winner of winner of bracket Bonanza here? Do you want to do more Mike Lee first? Let's get to the winner bracket Bonanza here. Yeah They want it they do want it So all we have left is number two in the AFC the Chiefs against number two in the NFC the commanders Which I believe and I'd have to check the tapes might have been the exact same championship that we ended up with last week. So really, when we added all of the teams in here, it ended up kind of with the same results. We just got more games for the sake of having games and fun, but hopefully no one was injured in our fictitious games and we're all good for next season. So with that all being said, number two chiefs against

the number two commanders, Who do we have winning? Bracket Bonanza. Mikey? After careful consideration, I've decided that I think it's time for some new blood in the winner's circle. It's time for a new Goliath to take over in the NFL. And I'm going to say that that is

going to be the Washington commanders they win the game. I also think it's new time for a new champion and after last season's disappointment the Kansas City Chiefs raised from the fire like a phoenix. Chiefs kingdom rises. They said we didn't get the three Pete but we're back and we're getting our third title in four years Patrick Mahomes once again Reign Supreme Wow so now I have to decide that was the whole point of my choice I was kind of that it would have been settled before me because now I'm also in a situation where you know we were part of Chief's Kingdom we were taken in

by the Chief's kingdom by Ed and his family. Lovely place. I would hate to pick against the Chiefs. The commanders though, I mean they were a force last season and they've been a force through this entire fictitious season and through this entire tournament. I mean look at the runs that the commanders went on.

Commanders had to get through the Giants, which at one time were the Cowboys. They had to get through the Bears. They had to get through the Bucks. And now, you know, they had to beat the Eagles. I mean, a murderer's row. This is probably the hardest. If you look at the brackets,

I think that the commanders might have had the hardest bracket getting through Bears, Bucks, Eagles, and then the Giants. that was an easy one. And Cowboys. Yeah, and Possibly. They had to beat the entire NFC East. Where the Chiefs got through the Browns, the Steelers team that were not sure really

who their quarterback is at the moment. The Ravens was a tough one. The Chargers, I mean, Herbert Herberted, and that was that in that game. Not a close fictitious game. So the Chiefs had a bit of an easier path. Now, because the commanders faced so much adversity, did that sharpen them?

Was that iron sharpening iron? Or did that wear them down? And the Chiefs came in rested and saw a team that now a bit depleted, because of all the adversity that they had to face throughout the brackets bonanza. Austin Echler is still also on the commanders. It's a question that we all had to wonder.

For a friend. Yeah, Austin's there, but. What you have to do is look inside yourself. Did someone blow us off at the end of that season? His was come back, never did. Look within ourselves, you're saying. Yeah is look inside yourself. Did someone blow us off at the end of that season? His was come back, never did. Look within ourselves, you're saying. Yeah, look within yourself. Look within yourself.

What would happen to you if you were a commander? If I was a commander, we would lose very quickly. If I was on the commander's team fielding in the brackets as a championship game, I was playing in that game, my team would lose. Honestly, if any of us were on the commanders, I'd have to question ownership. Why are we there? It's a great question.

There's no reason for us to be there. We're not athletic. You know what? At all. Wait a second, wait a second. So hold on. You're telling me they don't want a high school, all conference, all county player?

That was a long time ago, Mikey. And what's their problem? Who was an all county player and what sport? You were, Mikey? Really? What position? All of them. Wow.

I never came off the field. Well, ooh, okay. Well, so are you on the commanders or are you not on the commanders? Because this is gonna impact my answer here. I'm gonna say I'm not on the commanders because I'm also 40. Okay, well, I unfortunately for the commanders

am on the commanders in this scenario. And for that reason, I'm gonna be commanders am on the commanders in this scenario and for that reason I'm gonna be taking the Chiefs to win Bracket bonanza. Yeah it was just a situation where what it came down to was I was on one of the teams and I Did not have enough faith in leadership management that said I should be on the team and unfortunately You started a coup. It makes it makes your question the whole damn thing. Honestly, the commanders put me on their team and unfortunately. You started a coup. It makes your question the whole damn thing honestly. The commanders put me on their team and we had a glorious run. It was fine, it was fun. We beat the Giants slash Cowboys, the Bears, we beat the Bucks, we beat the Eagles, but

you know what? Clock struck midnight on that one. You can only win so many games when Billy Gill is on your team. So the Chiefs are the winners of our second weekly. Congratulations to them. Racket Spananza. Congratulations. One time for the chiefs are the Well, that's gonna wrap up Bracket's Bonanza there. I'm glad that we took two segments and we didn't waste too much time on it. We gave it the proper time needed. It's time for a new edition of More Mikely!

Na na na na na. All right, we'll start easy. Who is More Mikely to be Comeback Player of the Year? Aiden Hutchinson, Christian McCaffrey, or Dak Prescott? Ooh. I'm gonna go first. I'm gonna say Aiden Hutchinson, Christian McCaffrey, or Dak Prescott? Ooh, I'm gonna go first. I'm gonna say Aiden Hutchinson because I feel like Christian McCaffrey is going to get injured again

because Christian McCaffrey is always getting injured. Because he does that. And Dak Prescott, man, I think that people would wanna see Dak Prescott win it, but I'm gonna go with Aiden. I think I'm gonna go with Aiden on this one. He was on his way to defensive player of the year. Yeah, he was having a great year. Prior to, yeah.

His injury primed him for winning an award this season, which is gonna be comeback player of the year, I think. I'm gonna disqualify Christian McCaffrey right away. For the same reason? No, because he's a running back. Okay. And Saquon Barkley ran for 2,000 yards this year, and nobody even cared that he was not even

close in MVP voting. So we just don't really care what running backs do. And also he could very easily get injured. People are going to want to give it to Dak, because he's a quarterback. And a cowboy. And a cowboy. But that also means he has to have an exceptional year.

And I think it's just probably be easier for Aidan Hutcherson to have an exceptional year. And I think it's just probably be easier for Aiden Hutcherson to have an exceptional year as compared to Dak. So I'm gonna say. But they're also gonna then give it to a defensive player? No, no, no, what I'm saying is that they'll most likely give it to Aiden because Aiden can have an,

this is unfair comparison, but he would have a year that's probably easier to win comeback player of the year compared to Dak who has to have basically an MVP season to be considered? Can I throw in another factor here? A prediction. If DAC wins comeback player of the year, I think that Aiden Hutchinson will win

Walter Payton man of the year. Wow. Because I feel like we want to get him an award. So I think we may be in a scenario. He's gonna win something. Where, yeah, he's gonna win something. If it's not defensive player of the year. Hutchinson's not leaving that night without hardware.

That's my prediction right now. Okay. Is it dependent on the Lions being good though? What if they fall off a cliff? If they, I don't think that's, I don't think that matters that much. Especially not for Walter Payton. No, Walter Payne doesn't matter. Yeah, exactly. Any other award. Yeah. Okay. Sorry, Mikey. Go on. No, no problem. Uh, my next more Mikely

is aimed at Fuentes because I have a feeling this one's going to be a little harder for you to answer. More Mikely to have a better season in 2025 than they did in 2024. Saquon Barkley with his 2,000 rushing yards, or Sam Darnold with his 4,300 passing yards. Yikes. More likely to have a better year. Than they did last year. It's almost impossible for Saquon to have a better year. And you know, shout out to Saquon and the Eagles,

because we had said on this very program that he needed to win the Super Bowl Because if he didn't win the Super Bowl and they didn't let him break the record it would have been a big year of nothing Yeah, but they won the Super Bowl so that worked for them Um who has to be it has to be Sam Darnold but Sam Darnold going to the Seahawks where they have JSN and nobody else I am gonna say career year incoming for Jackson Smith and Jigba Wow Yeah, but at the same time It's almost impossible for Saquon to have a better year, so I'm gonna say more likely Sam Darnold

Even though I don't like I think Saquon ultimately has a better year I think Saquon has a better year in a weird comparison with Sam Darnold But it's just not as good as last year you think that Saquon has a better year than Sam Darnold But Sam Darnold has a better individual year than he did last year. You think that Saquon has a better year than Sam Darnold but Sam Darnold has a better individual year than he did last year? No, I'm saying it's more Mike Lee that he has a better year than last year. Yeah, I guess that's what you said. Yeah. Because yeah. Okay. Saquon has it like a statistic. Well, I guess it's because it's all likely. It's just really hard for Saquon to have a better year. It was a great question. Yeah, it was.

It was a great question. It's very confusing. I was happy with that one. I was happy with that one. Yeah, I mean Sam Darnold. I don't know why that's geared toward me. Sam Darnold also. Because you were so adamant that Saquon Barkley was going to have to have a step back year. So I wanted to force you to say that Sam Darnold going to the Seahawks, leaving Kevin O'Connell,

leaving Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison and TJ Hockinson was going to have a better year than the guy who literally ran for 2,000 yards. You trapped me, you son of a bitch. Exactly. That was the point. All right. You have another one? You want another one?

Yeah, yeah. I got a, this one, this one. She noticed I didn't answer that one. Yeah, this one, yes, I did. I'll go with Darnold. I'll go with Darnold. All right. Yeah, I got it. This one, you know, this one as that one. Yeah, this one. I guess I did. I'll go with Darnold's. I'll go with Darnold's. All right. So this one made me want to throw up in my mouth a little bit as a jet fan.

All right. Who is more Mike Lee after Tyreek Hill to lead the AFC East in receiving Josh Palmer with the Bills, Stefan Diggs with the Patriots, Jalen Waddle with the Dolphins, or Garrett Wilson with the Jets. Yeah, it's kind of gross. Well, here's the thing is I don't think Tyreek Hill is going to lead the AFC in receiving yards. He said the AFC. Yeah, but he's an easy. He's an easy answer. AFC. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I mean he's an easy answer

No, Jamar chase is gonna blow everybody away. I feel again. That's just yeah. Well, that's in the aps Yeah, yeah, it's in the East is different. I still don't I don't you like Joshua Palmer more than Keon Okay, you want here on call no, no, I'm just I mean you could be down on you want you want Khalil Shakir You can have him to a but what do you want? I'm going to go here. Wilson, which Buffalo Bills guy do you want? Thanks informing me that Joshua Palmer was a bill, by the way. I had no idea. So you were more than one.

I had to look that up. I had to look that up myself. Cool. I'm not going to say Garrett Wilson. I'm going Garrett Wilson. I don't think so. Yeah, I don't feel that. No, I don't think it's.

I guess they have like that connection, right? The Ohio State connection, but I Know I kind of like maybe Kalashakir. Maybe you're right with that Honestly, I mean I don't think Jalen wattle and who's the other guy you said the fond eggs with the Patriots Maybe it's fun digs. No, I don't know can the injury. I don't know No, Kalashakir is kind of gross. Off the board, Kalil Shakir pick for me. All right. You have one more. Come on. One more. One more. You want one more? Sure. One

more. Maybe five. This one. Okay. More Mike Lee to get signed next. Keenan Allen, Amari Cooper, or Tyler Lockett. Those are the top receivers still available in the agency. I feel like it's gonna be Keenan Allen. I don't know where. I think he's the biggest name. Yeah, that's why I think he's gonna get signed next. I think he's the biggest name, but honestly if you were to give me one of the three, I probably want Tyler Lockett. That guy just makes plays. But Keenan Allen had the best

numbers last year of the three, right? He came on late in the year. Yeah, he got hurt a lot. Yeah. Well, that's that's just the Kenan Allen experience He's always hurt. Yeah, but also the most decorated of the three I feel So I'll take Kenan Allen as a slot receiver on the Dolphins right now I'm trying to see what it is that his salary was last year Who it was high? Yeah Yeah, but how old is he too? He's like 33 right? Yeah and plagued with knee injuries He's 30. Yeah, he'll be 33 this football season because he's you know

32 and 10 and a half months at the moment 11 months. Oh I think I think it's a race between Keenan Allen and Tyler Lockett. Who was the third Amari Cooper? Amari Cooper? Amari Cooper was looking very washed at the end of the year Mari my very washed Mari might be the odd man out also Mari Well, so was locket, but a Mari's priming himself also to be the chiefs like random signing that then doesn't really do much The chiefs are two ways. It's always a random signing until you're like, wow There's still some gas left in this tank and it was like, okay, this person did absolutely nothing He's the next like-worthy decoy man. Let's go out there and run some routes

and let Xavier-worthy run by two guys. I'm gonna go with Keen and Alan. Okay. Two more, three more, one more, when we come back. Let me come back and give you one more. When we come back. Okay, let's go. One more, more Mikely.

back. Okay, one more more. Mike Lee. I've had fun this episode. You seem it. Yeah, that's all. I thought I thought you guys had more reaction. That's all right. Bragg it bonanza. Yeah, brak it bonanza really brak it bonanza. Did it. Yeah, that's all. I thought you guys had more reaction. That's all. Right. Bracket Bonanza. Yeah, Bracket Bonanza really is. Bracket Bonanza did it.

I wonder if the audience likes Bracket Bonanza as much as we do. It's a fun game to play, but it may be one of those things that is like it's fun for us to play, but not necessarily fun to listen to. I think that there are people that are listening to Bracket Bonanza just waiting to be angry. And then, yeah, once we don't pick their team and we give our ridiculous reasoning which isn't always ridiculous there's you know arguments behind it yeah yeah they get upset yeah but that's what they want you're saying had had we picked their team they would love it

yeah like right now cheese fans very happy all right and his fans happy Mikey we tease one more more Mike Lee do you have one more good one they can throw in here no I don't have another good one they can throw in here? No, I don't have another good one, but I have another one. Okay, what is the other one? More Mike Lee to get fired this season. Shane Steichen with the Colts

or Mike McDaniel with the Dolphins. Wow. This was really a question to ask a couple of Miami guys what they think is gonna happen with Mike I feel like the Dolphins still have a move getting rid of Chris Greer before Mike McDaniel But I don't know they came out so quickly to back both of them after last season Well, Mike McDaniel if Tua gets hurt again Mike McDaniel's like oh, well, oh well, I'm doing what I can. He wasn't there when they drafted Tua.

So he has that excuse. Shane Steichen, though, he chose Anthony Richardson. He decided we're gonna sign Daniel Jones. So he had to have some. Great signing, by the way. Great signing for them, by the way. To keep them away from the Jets. Is that why you're saying that? No, no, no, because they're Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones are so

similar in like what they can do versus like what they can't. And their their offense won't change no matter if Anthony Richardson has to pull himself out for a drink of water or a breath or something. But doesn't mean it's gonna be good I think it's Consistency is always better. I guess that's right hmm Alright, so Pooka says he's retiring, huh? He's gonna retire at 30

He said you didn't answer the question answer the question Billy. Oh, yes change. Thank you. I let you get away with one You're not change change. Thank you. Sorry. I thought I had told you stikin already I let you get away with one. You're not change. Sorry. I thought I had told you stiking already What's going on with the Rams where all of their players are just constantly threatening to retire? I mean, he's only 23 years old. So he has at least like Seven years left. I mean he's he's not like gonna walk out tomorrow I think it's just more of like a football thing where we saw him at at radio row He looked like a guy who was gonna fix your computer Well, he might just feel like yeah, he just doesn't now that he doesn't love football

But he might have other things he wants to do I think it's easy to say I'm gonna retire at 30 when you're 23 because it sounds like that's so old and then once you Get to 30 you're like I feel great like I have so many miles left in the tank just cuz you're like so competitive that once He gets to 30. He's not gonna feel the same way that he does now at 23 Let's let's see where they are when he's 30. Let's see what the contract offer is when he's like 28. Yeah. Let's see if like he gets a, hey, we'll give you a five-year deal. He's gonna be like, no, I don't want a five-year deal. Give me a two-year deal. Let's see what happens.

Yeah, he might settle into like a series of one years, you know, like 12 every year until he's like, oh, okay, now I feel bad, you know? Yeah. Yeah well so I guess it's not a problem it's just a puka thing even though their coach was always threatening to retire and the quarterback starting to retire from those threatening to retire by the way real quick here on the way out so DraftKings Network having a change coming next week and you know friends of ours the Golic's not gonna be here, just wanted to thank the Golic's. They've been a great part of God Bless Football over the years, members of the family.

So Golic's, we love you, and hopefully we'll all reunite soon, talk to you guys soon, and we'll see you guys next week. Just you guys, I don't know when we're gonna see you again. See you next week on God Bless Football. Ah boys, nothing like gathering around the TV. You got 17 games on in March, you got the tournament plan, you get the boys together. Maybe skip work a little bit or call off, tell the boss, oh my stomach hurts, oh my back hurts, something happened here in my house, my kayak, ah, ah, ah. You gotta figure out a way to get around the TV

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