The Kevin Sheehan Show - A Banner Night In DC

Episode Date: October 4, 2018

It's a Sports Fix Thursday as Thom Loverro is in. Thom was at the Capitals game last night, and the two talk about the banner ceremony, something they both thought was done extremely well overall, and that doesn't even include the big win. However, was there one big oversight in it all? Plus, what does Thom think of Tom Wilson's 20 game suspension? After the Caps, they move on to the Redskins. Kevin thinks the Saints game is the biggest measuring stick game in years for the Redskins. Also, what's going on with Josh Doctson? Greg Wyshynski joins to give his thoughts on the Caps night, and on Tom Wilson's injury. Is the team poised to go "Back to back" as the fans were chanting last night? Before getting to Scott Van Pelt, Kevin and Thom talk about a column Thom wrote about the Lerners, particularly how it relates to Jayson Werth's ring of honor induction. Finally, Scott Van Pelt joins for a lot of gambling talk. All that and more on today's show. <p> </p><p>Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a></p> Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

You want it. You need it. It's what everyone's talking about. The Kevin Sheehan Show. Now here's Kevin. You're listening to The Sports Fix. Yeah, Tommy's here. Aaron's here. This show is presented by Window Nation. Call them 86690 Nation or Window Nation.com. Tell them I told you to call. Scott Van Pelt in a little bit. Greg Wyshinsky, the senior NHL writer at ESPN before that, he'll join us to talk about Tom Wilson's 20-game suspension and help preview the Caps 2018 season, which got off to a ridiculously dominant game one start last night. You were there, right? Yes, I was. I was there. Kevin, you know, the idea of a podcast is to have some flexibility, you know, and it's a beautiful day.

Why aren't we doing this outside? That's a really good question. You know? I would love to be outside right now. Yeah, be outside like this. Let's move it outside. Yeah, that'd be a good idea. How do we do that, Aaron?

I don't know. We can't do that is the answer. We could open up some windows. And when are we going to, when are we moving at it here, chatter, and move into the Washington Post studios? The Washington Post Studios won't have us because of you. I checked on that,

but we have found another studio that we'll be moving into. I wanted to say this, and then I wanted to get your impressions. First of all. I don't do impressions, by the way. You don't. Actually, you really don't do any. It was a, I thought the night as a whole was well done.

I thought it was a well-done, emotional night. The only thing missing was no reference anywhere at old Trotsey. Trotsie apparently had nothing to do with this. I thought John Walton, it's John Walton, right? The play-by-play guy. I thought he did an excellent job. Very good job. Really good job.

That's not an easy thing to do. No, it's not. I thought Ted's speech was thankfully short. You never know with him. Sometimes it's war in peace with Ted, but he did a great job. Again, other than, and some people had a problem with this, not recognizing at all, Barry Trots for his role. He was the coach of the franchise's first ever Stanley Cup team.

You wouldn't have known it last night. The game itself. Which was really petty. I mean, it was, look, people, most, I mean, it's not a big deal in the sense that it's something that didn't happen. And there were so many great things that happened, it's going to get overshadowed. But really, I mean, it still speaks to the pettiness of the organization. Now, you don't even mention Barry Trotz. So why didn't they?

Because they're probably mad at him because he made them look bad. Because he, you know, because he didn't take the pennies that they were given them. Oh, God. You know, and he wanted to get paid after winning the only Stanley Cup in the history of the franchise. Not only that, Reards didn't even mention them in his post-game press conference, even a little bone. Is it Reards? No, that's my own thing. That's my little thing.

But again, you're right about everything else. It was a first-class night. It really was. And Ted, you know, I remember sitting through Cal Ripkin post-game when he broke Luke Erick's record up in Camden Yards. And listening to Ted's Greek compadre, Peter Angelo's. drone on for about 20 to 25 minutes. And I know how sometimes owners can get caught up in that moment. Right.

Ted didn't. He did not. I was actually, that for me was a surprising thing because you and I both know that Ted can go on and on and on. Brevity is not his strength. Well, he had a deadline, though. I mean, it was pregame. He was pregame. If it was postgame, it might have gone longer.

The whole, look, you and I have talked about. him a lot over the years, especially when we had that opportunity to sit down with him for two hours in one of those lunch with a legend things that we did at Morton's years ago. There are a lot of things I think he's gotten a free pass on over the years in town. Right now, he's getting a free pass on sitting on his NBA team's bench, which nobody does in sports. No owner sits on their team's bench. Cuban sits a row or two behind the bench. Arthur Blank is on the sidelines, but not the entire game. Jerry Jones comes down, but that's beside the point. It has always been when you go to a Caps game, and I feel the same way about a Wizards game,

a first-rate consumer experience. He has known how to do that from the get-go, from the jump. It's one of the reasons that his businesses, the hockey business in particular, has done so well even before winning a Stanley Cup. And last night was another example. example of it, Tommy. The whole night, with the exception of, if you want to call it, pettiness, with respect to not mentioning trots, just was a first-rate night, and then it was topped off by a 7-0-0 win. It started off with two goals. 19 seconds. 19 seconds. First goals for the second one at like a minute 47. Yeah. It was really, and then the, did you stay till the end? Oh, yeah. So how about the

Marchand beat down of Lars Eller? It was, Kevin, it was unbelievable. I mean, if that happened while on the street, you'd be arrested. Not in the 1980s, it wouldn't. Still, you'd be arrested because one guy clearly did not want to fight. Right. And that was Lars Eller. I know. And that shouldn't happen.

Look, I think hockey fights are stupid to begin with. I think that the game could do well without it totally. But when one guy doesn't want to fight clearly? Yeah, why is that? I mean, he got hit twice hard. And that temple shot, that shot to the temple? I've seen guys in rings get knocked out. How many games will Marshan get for that?

I don't know. Look, I don't know how many times Marchan has been before the disciplinary committee with the NHL over the past two years like our boy Tom Wilson has. So I don't know how many games he's had. But Lars Eller had blood porn down the side of his head. I know. I felt badly for him. Really. But, you know, he did.

He did. I mean, look, I'm not convinced. donning it. You think he showboated? He showboated a little bit in front of a Bruins bench. I didn't think it was that bad. It didn't warrant that kind of beat down. That's for sure. So what do we think about Tom Wilson's 20-game suspension, which caught me off guard. Now, Joe B was on with us yesterday on the podcast, and he was expecting, he was the first that I heard say, this is going to be much more than just four to six games. I think, Joe B thought it would go till the end of the month. He thought it was going to be for the month of October. And what we got was until the end of November.

We get 20 games. Yes. That was more than anybody thought. It was much more. It was breathtaking. And I mean, when people heard about it, they said, oh, my God, they couldn't believe it. But, you know, to me, he earned it. I mean, he earned it. I mean, the people who did. Because of his past transgressions. I mean, imagine sitting in a room with this guy. A few months ago, and you've told him that next time you do it,

and that's the third time you've met with him in like 15 months. And you've probably told him, I said, you can't be in here again. And you come in a couple months later for a preseason game. You know what it was, Tommy? It's the parent that tries the timeout method. It's like putting you in time out, don't do that again. And then the parents are finally like, these timeouts don't work. You're grounded for a month.

And by the way, have you seen my belt? I can't talk about that in this day and age. And you are coming home. There's no TV. There's no friends. It's two weeks, nothing. And that's essentially because that hit was nowhere near what the Ashton Reese hit was. No, no, it wasn't.

I didn't even think it was that big of a deal. It was the idea that this guy is not listening to us. So we need to make him listen. Now, here's the dangerous part for the Capitals. Tom Wilson had already established his presence on the ice as a player to be feared. He was already in the heads of opponents. So, I mean, he didn't have to do anything else. And people would have their heads on a swivel when he's on the ice.

Now what he's done is he's taken that power away from himself. Because now if you're opposing coach, you're saying to a player, go get him. go get him because the next suspension is going to be for 30 games. Or more than that, isn't it? Or more than that. So he took away his own power by doing that. And now he's going to have to hold back. And teams aren't going to fear him as much because they're going to say,

look, this guy gets called again. We're not going to see him the rest of the season. So it was a stupid chain of events. And he's not a good. It was stupid for him to even put himself into that position in a damn preseason game. Now apparently... That was stupid.

I didn't see the game. That guy's knocked out for a while, right? He had everything but a concussion, by the way, I think. Because Aston Reese had the jaw broken and the concussion. That was a much more vicious hit, even though it was bang, bang, like this one was, they're almost all bang, bang, bang in hockey because of the speed of the game. But what happened was, apparently, and I was, I didn't see it, but I've been told a couple of minutes before in that game, he was involved in a little incident with some of the players that got him riled up.

So they got him riled up. So he was already all juiced up when this happened. Well, this is going to continue to happen to your point. Yes, he's got to control himself. There's going to have to be some self-control. He's not a goon. He's a valuable offensive player to that team. He's a huge contributor.

Yes. And was a big reason they ended up winning the Cup last year. Absolutely. He's great on. I mean, he potentially is a 20-gold season score. We'll get back to this with Greg Wyshinsky from ESPN in a few minutes. Window Nation is a believer in this podcast, and me and Tommy, we want you to believe in Window Nation as well.

If you need new windows, go to Window Nation. Harley and Aaron, Harley's been a friend of mine forever. Harley and Aaron were backers of our shows on 980. They were the first to reach out for this venture. If you like this show, you're thinking about buying new windows, I promise you that you'll be thrilled if you call Window Nation. They will take care of you. Fact, Halloween is this month. Fact, Thanksgiving's coming fast and we're not too far away from Christmas. What does this mean? Fact, winter is coming. Now's the time you have to start acting

when it comes to winterizing your home with brand new Window Nation windows. Call Window Nation today. You'll save 50% off all styles of windows. Plus, no down payment, no payments and no for one full year. There's more, though. If you purchase a house of windows this week, Window Nation will pay your utility bills until your new windows are installed. Call 86690 Nation. That's 86690 Nation or go to Window Nation.com by this Sunday. That's Windonation.com and tell them that Kevin told you to call. Do you have that Jay Gruden sound about Josh Dockson yesterday. Tommy, listen to this exchange with Jay Gruden's Wednesday press conference. First time we've heard from them all week at the beginning of the press conference yesterday.

Josh Doxon, we did not see him out there, so I'm just curious if there was something going on there. We'll give you an update tomorrow on the injuries, John. Saying it's injury related with him? I don't know. I can't remember. It doesn't sound like slap happy Jay to me. No, it sounds like frustrated Jay to me. could be reading it incorrectly. I just think that this Josh Doxon thing

better turn around quickly or he's going to be a guy that potentially, even though they are super thin at the position, could be a guy, this is a you heard it here first, that will be inactive at some point during this season. I think their frustration level with him has reached an all-time high. Apparently, he got hit on his heel. and we'll find out more about the injury today. And maybe it's a serious injury.

That's happened to you before. It hurts. It hurts. It does hurt. You know, it's hard to walk when you get hit on the heel. You know, I loved Josh Doxon. I know you did. You remember how much I wanted the Redskins to draft Josh Doxon in the 2016 draft.

I just think that all the things we've heard about Josh Doxon, starting with some homesickness, which, you know, is understandable for 20s, 122, 23-year-old. But the other thing is more of a serious thing, and that is just doesn't love football. Just doesn't love it. Going through the motions, doing what he can, and he's got talent and a lot of it.

And I would love to see him turn it around and see him start to sort of make good on that talent. But the time's running out for Josh Doxon. It's running out quickly. see if there's a serious injury here. Maybe it's a serious injury, and I'm not discounting the possibility that it is, but in Jay Gruden's voice, I thought you heard a guy that was like, yeah, here we go again with old Josh. Yeah. And something that didn't overly serious. Yeah, well, fortunately, he's been a zero contributor to the Redskins so far. It's not really going to

impact them moving forward, I don't think. It may not. Since we won't be back together again until Tuesday, which will be the day after the Redskins play the Saints on Monday night, I want to say to you and everybody else something that I've been thinking about as it relates to this game and advance of the game with you here. I think that Monday night is one of the biggest early season measuring stick games, signal games. It'll signal something about the rest of the season that they've had in years. There are a few reasons for it. Now, last year's game at Arrowhead and Week 4 was one of those games, and they, they actually passed the test.

They looked really good in that game. Yes, they did. Against an undefeated chief's team at one of the toughest venues in the league, Arrowhead, with a team that we felt like could be a playoff team if the defense were improved. And there were signs through the first three weeks that the defense was very much improved. Now, what happened was they played well against the Chiefs, but it was just the next few weeks they just lost too many players to be competitive. There have been other games like the Packers Sunday night game, Tommy, in 2016.

Some will say, well, what about that game when the Redskins destroyed the Packers? Well, the Packers were five and six, or four and five going into that game. They weren't even that good in the moment. This game Monday night would mean a three-and-one start for the first time in seven years. By the way, that's immaterial in a lot of cases because three-and-one doesn't tell the whole story a lot of the time. You could have a bad schedule. You could still be a bad team. 3-1 or an average team at 3-1. But a win over New Orleans on Monday night in the Superdome

would be a signal. It would be a signal that the Redskins are among the upper tier of the NFC pecking order. They would then have a win over the Packers and they would have a win over the Saints. Right now, the Saints, to me, are the second best team in the NFC behind the Rams. I'm not saying that the Redskins are going to be an NFC championship contender, but maybe if they beat the Saints, they will start to be perceived, and I think justifiably so, as a legitimate playoff team. Because a win over the Saints would give the skins wins over the Packers and the Saints in four games. You can say what you want about the Packers, but they're still, they've got one loss. That was to the Redskins only. The Packers and the Saints are two of the top three or

four playoff contenders in the NFC. The Redskins have had very few games like this, Tommy. I'm you where this will be a signal. And there are a few reasons for that. Number one, first of all, it won't be a predicter of health. You can't predict health in this league, which is what happened last year. And so the chief game ultimately was a predictor potentially, but it was derailed by injuries. The Redskins defense, you and I both think, is the reason to be optimistic. Yes, I agree. They are going to get the biggest test of the season on Monday night. The Saints right now are the number four offense in the league. They're the number three scoring offense in the league. They're third in yards per drive, third in points per drive. They have an elite quarterback, Hall of Fame quarterback, an elite weapon in Alvin Kamara.

They've got a very good receiver in Michael Thomas. They're getting Mark Ingram back for the Monday night game after his suspension. The biggest measuring stick defensive game for the Redskins in years, because this is the first time in years, although last year early, and that's why I put the Chief Games, sort of into that category, we feel like the defense actually may be decent, may be able to carry the team, maybe a playoff defense, a top five to top 10 defense. Well, if that, they don't show it Monday night against the best offense, then we're going to have to take a step back. But if they do show it, and they hold the Saints to say 20 points or 24 points, because 24, who was it we had on yesterday? I can't even remember who we had on yesterday, who said 24 points now is the new, Cooley said it. Cooley said, I didn't remember who I had on yesterday because I had Cooley on for the hour.

I thought you were making a joke there. No. Cooley said 24 is the new, hey, you can hold somebody to 24 or less. You're doing well as a defense. You know, in seasons, like 2016, you knew the only chance you had was an offense that would carry you because it was an epically bad defense with a terrible kicker who blew two games that year. This year, though, you. You could have a defense that could be a playoff defense to go with an offense that's continuing to come around, and we're going to find out about both on Monday night, because the Saints' offense is the best, and their defense isn't very good. So we're going to come away from that game Monday night, and we're going to have a really strong feeling about whether or not the Redskins are a playoff team in 2018. I really believe that Monday night's massive. Imagine they win that game, they're three-in-one, and they own wins in the NFC over the

the Saints and the Packers. It would be a signal. It would be a signal. I think holding the Saints to 24 points isn't going to cut it. Because I don't think the Redskins offense can score 24 points. I think, unlike you think their offense is coming around. No, I didn't say that. You said, I said, potentially if the offense comes around is what I think I said. If I said what you said, I take that back.

By the way, they could lose a 24-21 game where the defense really looks good. against one of the most explosive offense. Yes, they could be a signal. It could be a positive signal about what this season's going to be. That your offense is going to be limited most of the year, particularly if they fall behind early in a game. I think this is an offense. If they fall behind early in a game,

the only way they win is if the defense creates turnovers. Look, to your point about the offense and it being a signal for the offense, which I agree with also, which is why I say that this is sort of a signal game, and measuring stick game. The Saints right now defensively are 28th in the league on third down. All right. They are allowing 45.7% of third down conversions. The Redskins have a chance offensively. And by the way, Jay Gruden's had the Saints figured out for whatever reason the last few years. Yeah. All right? Because they moved the ball up and down the field last year in that game that they blew defensively at the end. And two years ago, it was a 47 to 14 blowout.

different quarterback. Of the Saints. No, Breeze. Different quarterback on the offense. Don't get me started on that. Well, I'm just pointing out. I know that. That's a big difference in the offense.

It is a big difference in the offense. Most people don't believe that. But I just think that we are on Tuesday morning going to have a real sense of what this season is. If they go in and beat the Saints and they are defensively strong against that great offense and they move the ball and we're sitting there Tuesday morning after a 31-21-1 win in the Superdome on Monday night, you're looking at a playoff team at that point, at 3-1, a playoff team, a division contender in the NFC East.

Yeah, I would say so because the NFC East seems to be so fractured right now. The only other factor, and you can't predict this one way or the other, is the way you can predict it is their inconsistency, is their track record. for whatever reasons Jay Gruden has been inconsistent and having his teams ready to play week in and week out. And again, I think he's the biggest X factor

with this team. I think that's a really good point and I think I agree with you. I mean, look at the chief game last year, the game that could have been the real signal of what the season was going to be. And in fact, I felt like coming off of that game, the Redskins were a good football team at two and two. But at the same time, Jay Gruden completely mismanaged

the clock and his timeout situation at the end of that game, and the worst that game should have done is gone to overtime. And they ended up losing it in regulation because of Jay Gruden's ineptitude when it came to clock management. Let's bring in Greg Wyshinsky, who is the senior NHL writer at ESPN. Tommy and I have loved having him on the various shows we've been involved in over the years. So we're glad to have you on the podcast. I want to start with this before we get to the whole Tom Wilson thing.

Tommy called it petty. Do you think it was petty that the caps didn't even acknowledge Barry Trots last night? You know, I don't know if it's petty or an oversight or what, but the bottom line is that he wasn't acknowledged, and the bottom line is that it was more conspicuous in its absence than it would have been had you thrown him into the highlight real video that they showed during the ceremony, or had it be if Ted Leonk had said mentioned the word,

coaches at any point during his speech, his unity and community speech, if it'll be known. You know, it just, it just comes, you know, listen, I understand that like Jay Beagle wasn't featured or mentioned, you know, there might have been a fleeting glimpse of Gru Bauer at one point during the video, but, you know, Barry Trott's is the first coach to figure this thing out in Washington in 44 years. And the idea that you're not going to acknowledge him in some way, shape or form, even in aside to the coaching staff during any of these speeches is kind of ridiculous, especially when the guy who's coached the team now was part of that staff. It's not as if, you know, you're besmirching the reputation of new daddy by simply

acknowledging that Barry Trots was the guy who was behind the bench for the Stanley Cup. So that's the point. I mean, and this goes to a deeper issue of everyone insulting my intelligence, tell me it's no big deal that they change coaches that they're not going to miss a beat. You know, I don't necessarily buy that per se. It doesn't mean they won't be successful. But you're right. He's the only one.

I mean, the only guy who has done it and he all of a sudden he's invisible? How can that possibly be? There should be a bust of Barry Trots when you walk into the lobby that people should rub before they get to their seats. Well, I pointed this out loud, you know, during the game. And there's been three different reactions from a lot of. a lot of capital fans. The first, of course, is the thing that we heard

all summer after Trots left, which is that they won despite him. He was just a passenger on his bus. He wasn't the driver, and they won despite his horrible decision making. Never mind that, like, you know, he

helped shepherd a team of young players knowing exactly how to utilize those young players, you know, did some pretty good things. I disagree with the Gruberauer thing. the beginning of the playoffs, but that's neither here nor there. The other thing you hear is that, you know, well, he left for the money.

Well, of course he left for the money because the capitals weren't going to pay him. You know, they had him over a barrel on this contract option that he agreed to, maybe never really believing that he ever went a cup, and then they were going to make him stick to that because there's one thing we know about the capitals, that they are quite frugal with the money they pay their coaches. And then the third thing is that, you know, maybe it's no big deal because when he comes,

comes back with the islanders, they'll do something special then. And that's all well and good, except for the fact that you had an entire Stanley Cup celebration without any reference to the coach of that team. And that's just very strange. And, you know, I want to give them all the benefits of the doubt. It was a lovely ceremony. I think it was a great celebration of that team. But it does kind of feel calculated at the end of the day. It was, I thought, a really, really impressive night the way it was handled. But, you know, what you both are speaking to is a level of bad blood. So why would you think they would do something when the Islanders come back to town? I don't know. That was just a thought from some fans. I don't know for sure. I mean, I remember back

in the day, and I think I mentioned this last night, when Jeff Halpern went to the Dallas stars and then was coming back for his first game in D.C. And Halpern at the time, one of the most popular players, you know, in recent franchise history when he left the caps. And I remember that the stars put him in the starting lineup, and I remember it being a thing that George McPhee, allegedly, instructed the Capitals not to announce the stars starting lineup, so Halpern didn't get a pop when his name was announced. You know, it's great, great moments in petty history, I suppose. but again, that's, that's, that's, that's, that's, that's, that's neither here or there with Trots.

I, I want to believe that they're going to do it by him right when he comes back. But who's to say, really, I mean, based on what we saw on opening night. Well, Ted was brief. Tommy and I talked about that. I mean, we both, we all know how long-winded he can be. I thought he actually did a great job with, with the exception of, of not mentioning old Trotzy. The unity and community thing. That was his little Jesse Jackson move there. What do you, so tell us.

your thoughts, was it a just penalty for Tom Wilson 20 games? Well, on the one hand, no, because, you know, the escalation of the punishments for Tom Wilson would not lead one to believe the next step would be 20 games. But in talking to some of the players' safety guys yesterday, there is something to be said for the fact that this was an unprecedented frequency of suspensions against one player in modern NHL history. There's not been a. guy who's been suspended four times in the span of like 105 games, let alone, you know, twice within the span of 16 games or whatever it was from the postseason through the preseason.

So, you know, from that aspect of it, you can argue that even though it doesn't necessarily follow the trend line you'd expect for the amount of games he should get for a hit like that, there's some justification for the suspension being what it was because we've just never had a guy that's been dinged that many times so quickly as Tom Wilson. You know, I mean, it seems to me that if you're a Capps fan moving forward, your concern should be now, I mean, I said this to Kevin before, it's like Tom Wilson has taken away his own power in the sense that before his presence on the ice was well known. He was feared on the ice.

He was in teams heads. You had to have your head on a swivel when Tom Wilson was on ice. established. He didn't have to do anything else. And he had that reputation. Now, if I'm an opposing team, knowing what's at stake to get rid of this guy, I'm goading him into his next fight. I'm pushing him into his next incident because that could be a season-long suspension. Well, you know, it's an interesting, it's an interesting point, but I don't think, you know, goading him into anything is going to replicate the kind of hit that we, we'd see that would necessitate a season-long suspension.

I mean, that's the open-ice hit that he thinks he's delivering and thinks he's delivering legally that ends up being a headshot or whatever. And, you know, I think the hit against Aston Reese of the Penguins and the hit against Sunquist were both hits that Wilson believed he was justified in delivering. Didn't you think that, didn't it? It wasn't the Aston-Risa just much worse, though? The Sunquist hit, I don't think, was comparable. You know, there are two different hits. And obviously the aftermath of the Asterisk one was pretty horrific.

But this hit, honestly, when I saw it made me cringe because it reminded me of the type of hits that instigated the necessity for Rule 48 when they enacted it. It reminded me of those kind of open-knife hits that ended up with guys on a stretcher, those blindside headshots that the league, that was sort of the impetus for Rule 48 and the Department of Player's Safety kind of getting into the game. So I didn't like to hit at all. But, you know, the thing about Wilson, like you said, is the key is going to be whether or not he can, it's two things. Can he still play on the edge and be a physically intimidating player,

or does he have to be overly cautious about crossing that line because it could cost him another million dollars, and then on top of that, a number of other games? And then the other thing is, you know, there was a series of hits that he delivered before, finally getting suspended, that were borderline hits. And, you know, the NHL, I think, gave him the benefit of the doubt to the point where, you know, when the Capitol say, well, you're just going after Tom Wilson based on his reputation, the NHL's like, what reputation? Like, we went over, you know, we bent over backwards not to suspend this guy for a number of years.

So the question is, is that benefit of the doubt still there for a borderline hit, or do they always err on the side of suspension now just because of the frequency with which he's been suspended? Is there any chance, because he's going to appeal this in the caps, were pretty stunned, I think, and upset about the length of the suspension. Is there any chance that it would be reduced? Absolutely. I mean, you know, the frequency of suspension argument is a new one. It's unprecedented. insofar as saying a guy who's been suspended four times and 105 games deserves 20 games. There's no real basis for it. It feels right in the eyes a lot of fans, and I think that the Department of Players' Safety overall was celebrated for it.

But you can't point to anything else that they've done as far as a ruling in the last several years and say, well, it's justified because of this. So, you know, there is a part of me that really believes the NHL through the book, them, to let everybody know they're serious, to let Tom Wilson know they're serious. But they may not necessarily believe that the 20 games will be upheld when it gets to a neutral arbitrator, which, you know, obviously will, because the first step is appealing to Batman, who's not going to go against the player safety department, and then the neutral arbitrator then rules on that. So I wouldn't be surprised if it gets knocked down to something,

you know, by a few games. But I don't, because I think the NHL just wanted to make a statement here and and then, you know, be whatever it's going to be with the appeals process. You know, the second part of last night, that was great for Calf's fans, was the 7-0-0-0-win over

a Boston team where they scored, I think, in the first 19 seconds of the game against the Boston team that was pretty good last year. That's supposed to be maybe a possible contender this year. Now, I may be drinking

some uninformed Kool-Aid here. And I know there's all this talk about the Stanley Cup hangover and all that. But what if the possibility is that these caps are even better? And even better than a team last year or even better than they've ever been. And I'll tell you why I think that is Kuznetsov, his emergence, as this superstar scorer on a team that didn't have any problem scoring goals in the first place. I think could be a game changer. Yeah, you know, we had a roundtable about the capitals and ESPN.com after the opening night game

about whether or not they can repeat. And, you know, my key player for the team was because that's off. I find him to be an extraordinarily talented guy. I could watch the guy skate like on a loop. He's one of the most electrifying skaters I've ever seen. But what really, I think, does it for me is, Two things. One, the fact that his chemistry, the Ovechkin allows them to drop back from to the second line, which is critical to spread out your offense like that. And, you know,

backs from an Oshie, Ovechkin, and Kuznetsov, once you have those two pairs established, you're doing pretty well for yourself in your top six. But more importantly, I think last postseason showed that when you're getting Kiznets off is dominant, the Capitals win Stanley Cups. You know, and so if it weren't for the exploits and, the timeliness and the narrative that accompanied Alex Webbertskin and his Kahn-Smith Quest. Obviously, I think his Nets-offs had a really good case for playoff MVP. Right.

And so I agree with you. I think, you know, his emergence has not only a guy who can maybe lead the team in points in the regular season, but then lead the team in points in the postseason as well makes this team all the more dangerous. Yet most people really haven't picked them, Greg, in terms of, you know, the preseason prognostications. A lot of people like Tampa or Toronto or Pittsburgh. What was your pick? I mean, it's still valid, even though they opened up with a beatdown, a 7-0

beat down. Well, I had Tampa coming out of the east. I actually had Pittsburgh winning the division. You know, it wouldn't shock me to see the capitals win the division, but it would shock me to see them come out of the east again, to be honest with because for me, the thing that happened last season, beyond the, you know, defeating the penguins after years of torment, which is something that a lot of us never thought we'd see, was another thing a lot of us thought we'd never see, which is all five of the Capitol's best players, all playing

their best hockey at the same time. Ovechkin, Kisnetsov, backs from Carlson and Holpey, were all at the peak of their powers during the playoffs last season, and the result was the first championship of the history of the franchise. To have that happen a second time, whether it's just guys going through a funk or maybe teams deeing up a number of those guys better than they had last season or even injuries is asking a lot. So, you know, there's a part of me that thinks that it's completely plausible. They could do it again. O'Shey basically last night said the way we played in, you know, on opening night was the way we played

in the playoffs. And it's like we haven't skipped a beat. But there's also a part of me that really believes a lot of conditions kind of came together at the right time for the Capitol last postseason and asking or assuming that that's going to happen again as a tall order. One thing's obvious again, Greg, and this was so apparent during the postseason last year, you're at a big disadvantage if they're on the power play.

I mean, it is really an exciting lethal power play. Where does it rank among power plays, extra man advantages in the entire league? I would say it's either first or second. I mean, Tampa's group is pretty darn good. I think I'd like to see a little bit more of what San Jose is going to do now if they can throw out Carlson, potentially with Burns on that power play. And L.A. is interesting, too, because, you know, say what you will about U.

Yulia Colvichuk's wheels at 35 or 36 years old, his hands are still there. And if they're going to use him as sort of a point man along with Drew Doughty, that could be absolutely devastating. So, you know, to me it's probably Tampa and the, capitol atop that ranking of power plays. But, you know, listen, every time the puck gets to the Ovechkin spot on that power play, you're praying for the goalie's well-being. He's just ripping and roaring that thing.

And, you know, it's amazing to think that, like, you know, like, it's like using the deke move in NHL 94 from EA Sports. It's like the unstoppable thing that no one can figure out. And after all these years, you know, Ovechkin in the circle, firing that. puck because of his shot, because of his accuracy, it's just money in the bank. Thanks, Greg. Really appreciate it. Talk soon. Thank you, Greg. Any time, boys. Thanks. I want to tell you real quickly about Ralph Perkins, Kevin Farish, and Ferris, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep in Fairfax. They've been friends forever. Ferris, Tommy. What did they do? They did Redskins at one for 10 years.

Yes. Or for seven and a half years and then Redskins at eight for another two and a half. they were a part of it. And like Windo Nation, Farish wanted to get involved in this new podcast venture. The numbers are great. We're doing very well, and so there's huge benefit

for advertisers to be involved, but they were going to have my back regardless. And that longstanding relationship with them is important to me, and I want it to be important to you if you like this show. If you're thinking about something new, consider Ferris, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Fairfax, Right now, you will get a great deal on any Jeep.

You're going to save big. They're located right there in Fairfax Circle. You can ask for Ralph when you get into the dealership. He is in the store every single day, seven days a week pretty much. You can also find their entire inventory with live pricing at ferrishcars.com. That's ferrishcars.com. But if you're thinking about something new, Ferris Chrysler Dodge Jeep in Fairfax. Tommy wrote a column the other day in the Washington Times, and I read it because you, you know, through all these years, you just email, you've got every, you've got a bunch of people on your email list and you email at your column when it's done every day. And I read it almost all the time because it takes about 45 seconds to read one of Tommy's columns, which is the best thing about his columns.

But when I got done reading this one where you rip the learners to shreds, and you said that Steinberg had this comment as well. I just thought to myself, there just isn't anybody in this town that writes the way you do where you are fearless. You will rip anybody at any time for any reason, and it's highly entertaining. But for those that didn't read the column, just give everybody a quick summary of it because I have a couple of thoughts on it. Well, I wrote about the arrogance of the Lerner family. You know, looking back on this season, it's hard. not to ignore the fact that they they were so arrogant in thinking that

that they knew this business of baseball that they refused that they refused to bring back a manager in Dusty Baker who had won two straight division titles and 192 games over two years a manager that the general manager Mike Rosso wanted to bring back for one more year because Mike knows the Mike knows the risk of change

You know, and that's what was at stake, the risk of change. And this is not an indictment of Dave Martinez, who I think is a good manager. They're like two separate issues, okay? It's letting Dusty Baker leave and bringing in a manager who had no experience, given all the things that happened this year, turned out to be a huge risk that backfired for them. And so the arrogance of ignoring the baseball guy who was telling you, this is not the move you should make.

Coupled with the news that Jason Worth had been arrested in April in Arizona when he was training to try to play for the Seattle Mariners on a DUI and had basically been belligerent and gave the police a hard time on the arrest, sort of like a do you know who I am situation. And then they induct him in the ring of honor. Now, this is a bit complicated, so people are going to have to follow along on this. one and pay attention. Put your crayons down and pay attention

for this one. I don't think Jason Worth should have been in the ring of honor, period. He was a mediocre to average player at best. He had the greatest home run in Washington baseball history. He was better than average

for this franchise. Now, you go back and look at Kevin, there wasn't one year where he was the best player on the team. And there were many years where he wasn't the second or the third best player on the team. on the team. Look, there are people that the Redskins have put into their Ring of Honor in recent years where I'm always like, really? Like, I don't even consider him to be a real Redskin. So I'm going to take your word on this. But to me, Jason Worth, first of all, was the first big, first time the

learner spent money on anything was Jason Worth. And Jason Worth is a player that was a big part of those teams that made the postseason. And then by the way, more times than not came up. up with a big moment in the postseason. Not just the Cardinals. Didn't have too many big. The Dodger game three or game four when they were down two, one trying to force the game five, he came up huge in also. Didn't have too many big moments chasing down fly balls in the out for the last year.

I know. I know. Okay. And again, had some of the best in backs. Not even the top three player on the team in some years. So you're going to induct him in the ring of honor for accepting $127 million. I'm not going to argue. I'm not going to argue with that.

I'm just going to say that to call him mediocre, his career to be mediocre with He said some years he was mediocre. Some years he was good. Okay. So I don't think he should have been in a ring of honor period. Again, even if you do think he should be in the ring of honor, you don't induct him five minutes after his career is over. In other words, you let these things wait. I mean, this is why there's a five-year waiting period to be inducted into halls of fame

because you don't know what's going to happen. This is Andy, Paul and our friend, and I don't necessarily agree with this, but he always says you should never build a statue for someone who's still alive, pointing to Joe Paterno as an example of that. I think that's too far. But again, you should let the passage of time happen before you make such a move because it devalues this whole ring of honor that they've got. Now they look foolish because the Nationals didn't know about the arrest.

And within days, within days of his Jason Worth Day and his induction, He was sentenced on the DUI charge, and the nationals claimed they had no idea. Tommy, just remember, teams that don't have much of a history of success are always in a rush to do something nice for a player they believe has risen to some level. Jason Worth would have never gotten that honor in a franchise that had won a lot that had a long history of winning with a lot of great players, but it's a very brief history that we're talking about. Right now, it's Walter Johnson, Frank Howard, and that's from a half century ago and a century ago. So it's worth, it's Zimmerman, and right now that's, well, Scherzer eventually.

But anyway, I wanted to say this out of your column, because what I didn't know, and I don't know why I didn't know this, I knew that they were cheap, the learners, when it came to managers. I understand the trend in major league baseball with low-salaried managers, all right? Including a lot of the managers who are in the playoffs right now are on that very low end of the salary. I mean, I think Alex Corr is below a million dollars. I think the Atlanta manager is below a million dollars.

I think Dave Roberts has a very insignificant salary compared to some of the big guys like Bochie and I wrote him down. There are a couple of guys. Joe Madden and Bruce Bochie, I think, are at $6 million a pop. I think Mike Soci's at $6 million a pop. And Mike just retired. But he makes $900,000 a year?

That's it? That's less than half of what Dusty Baker made. And Dusty wanted... Dusty was making... $2 million a year and wanted it upped. Yeah. Right? And they wouldn't do that. Well, I mean, you know, Dusty was making $4 million a year when he was with Cincinnati.

So he took a $2 million pay cut when he took the Nationals job. And let's remember how they lowball Bud Black, their first choice to manage the team who now has the Colorado Rockies in the postseason. So, yeah. Not anymore in the postseason. Okay, but the learners basically have done this all along. Yes. What am I talking about? Of course.

They're playing Milwaukee today in game one, right? Yeah. They beat the Dodgers. Yeah. I mean, they beat the, they beat the, who did Colorado beat the other day in the playoff game? They beat the Cubs. The Cubs.

Thank you. Joe Madden, six million. Bud Black, about a million. So those days are, like, you have Joe Girardi sitting out there who made five million a year with the Yankees. And his next job, he's not going to make, he might make half that or less if he's lucky, because now the front office are run by, you know, analytics geeks who think managers just do what they tell them to do.

Now, the difference is, you see, Mike Rizzow doesn't do that. Mike Rizzle does, I mean, I don't think, I know Mike didn't. Well, he believes in analytics. But he does not tell managers how to manage their teams. These other guys in Houston and the A's, they all do that. Mike does not do that. Here is what I found just incredibly, I knew, I knew that Major League Baseball managers at many levels were low paid.

But you take Dave Martinez and his salary. Tommy, he's the lowest paid, you know, person in town that's running a team. Jay Gruden makes $5 million a year. That extension got him up to $5 million. Scott Brooks makes $7 million a year. That's unbelievable. Dave Martinez makes $933,000 a year. His deal was a three-year deal for $2.8 million.

There is a fourth-year team option for $1.4.4. I bet you he never gets to that one point two. You know, the college guys, Patrick Ewing, you can't find, because they're a private university. You can't find his salary anywhere, but I've been told it's about $4 million a year as a college basketball coach. He's making four times what the manager of a team that went to the playoffs two out of the last three years makes. DJ Durkin, I don't know for how much longer, makes two and a half to two point, you know, somewhere in about, the neighborhood of 2.7. Turgeon, the same thing, 2.7 million a year.

Reards, old reards, I can't find what he was making, but... Well, he's not making much. He's not making much. I mean, the capitals, like the nationals. Trotsey was making a million and a half. Capitals don't pay... But Trotsie was making more than the baseball manager. Yes, he was, and that's the only time they've ever paid.

Isn't it surprising that the only time the capitals have actually paid a coach is when they want a Stanley Cup? because for years they told George McPhee, you can't go out and hire a Stanley Cup coach because we're not going to pay them. Nick Saban makes $8.6 million a year. And Dave Martinez is a manager of a major league baseball team that's been good recently. And he makes $933,000 a year. Hey, boys and girls, don't go into managing baseball. Can't make any money doing it.

Actually, it's pretty good money. Yeah. But coach something else. Yeah. So, I mean, my point was, the learner's arrogance you could make the case is what gets in the way of this franchise moving forward. Yes. You made that very clear in your column. Thank you. And, yeah, Steinberg said, I'm the only bomb thrower in town, and it's not on purpose.

Again, it's not calculated. You know, I don't sit there and say, who can I cut up today? No, I don't. Yeah, you, but it's something that really gets you excited. I have a sense of injustice. When you have an idea and you have this sense of somebody's really messed up. Yes. And by the way, those people usually having some sort of status economically, you go after them.

Well, because nobody else in this town does. It's true. I mean, everyone types with velvet gloves in this town. You know who doesn't? Sally. Sally Jenkins. But she doesn't live in town. She just writes in town for the paper in town.

Yeah. All right, let's get to Scott Van Pelt. Scott Van Pelt's with us as he is every Thursday. You know, I was thinking about things to talk to you about, and I just thought I'd start right with, you know, gambling talk. Who do you like this weekend? Seriously. Have you looked at it yet?

Because I wrote down about 17 games that I liked last night. Yeah, my man Stanford, Steve, who by the way is on fire in the picture. I saw that. even the bear podcast. He's an absolute monster. He came in and he just said, you will have the board on Saturday. And so I have,

we give out our picks on Thursday. I have a list of about that many. I'll try to put it down or something reasonable tonight. So, I mean, there's, you know, if people have listened, obviously, to you,

if they've watched our show, you don't have very similar philosophies. You know, teams like Florida getting a small number in LSU alone doesn't make sense. Syracuse is giving Pittsburgh, who isn't any good like five. Three and a half. It went to three.

Yeah, it's three and a half. I will have Pitt for the maximum allowed on Saturday. Right, you have to. And this is the part where if people don't understand the philosophy is, it makes no sense when you hear me say, I like it at six. I love it at three because it makes even less sense. And people would say, wouldn't you want more points? Well, not when I expect pitch just to win because the line's so bad.

So it's going to be a big, big card. And I haven't even looked at the NFL, and I know that your NFL picks have been, that's even been better. But for some reason, I can't even get past a Saturday card to even look at Sunday. I should be given out of NFL games. I'd be by record. I'm on fire in the NFL over the last three weeks. I think it's, I want to say it's like 9, 2, and 1 or something like that over the last

three weeks in the NFL. but just to elaborate a little bit on what you said, because our good friend, Tommy and I, our good friend Steve Zabin, who is brilliant at what he does, but he always just sort of struggled with this whole concept, and I can't tell you how many days I would have to sit there and he would get, well, wait a minute, hold on,

you like Pitt plus six, but you love him at plus three and a half, and he could never grasp the concept, even, you know, drawing it out in crayon, And for those that are struggling like Zayb would struggle with this topic, look, if the line appears to be wrong, that's what Scott and I love, because that means all of our dopey friends think that Vegas is aired somehow and they are jumping on Syracuse laying this perceived very short number. So if it even goes shorter, then more of our friends are going to bet Syracuse. and usually when that happens, they're on the wrong side of the game. And by the way, and I've explained this to people in the past, and I think you have as well, when you see a big jump in a number

like that, now there are injuries that can cause a big line movement, but when a line goes from six, Syracuse minus six to Syracuse minus three and a half, that is never, ever dumb money that moves that line, public money that moves that line. That is sharp money. Those are the two dozen sharp bettors that live on this planet, according to all of our friends who have been offshore and been involved in this stuff, there are no more than about two dozen guys that are feared on the entire planet.

They're the ones that move that line from six to three and a half, unless there's an injury on missing in the game. So anyway, I just wanted to explain that for those that don't understand it. Right. It's not complicated. you're very eloquently laid out what it is. And by the way, none of this means that this is some guarantee. No.

It's just, and I've explained it, Kevin, I've explained it, like, it's exactly to me, like playing Blackjack if you play that game by the rules. If you just do the same thing every time, and the board tells you what you're supposed to do, it doesn't mean you're going to get the right card. You could, you know, Syracuse could go out and beat hit by a lot. Syracuse is good. Hell, they could have beat Clemson. Right.

But these circumstances like this game are the most obvious games that you or I will ever have because they make the least sense on paper. I find it fascinating to somebody who's as smart as even couldn't finally just hit the loophole come on over his head. No, he's brilliant, he's brilliant, but he just has never, he's always sort of struggled with math. Very basic math. Well, that's okay. Let me ask you your best with the numbers. Let me ask you both a question.

As a guy who has spent years drinking in bars, I used to have this fantasy of owning a bar at one point, but I eventually got over that. But I used to for years. I mean, and there are two different things. Given the fact that sports betting is becoming legal everywhere and could be legal in D.C. soon, have you guys ever fantasized with the idea of owning a sports book as opposed to just betting? I have not. I have not. Listen, this is where I just made fun of Zabin for not getting it. This is where I should make fun of myself because... Well, I can do it for you.

That's the business to be in, you know, be in the side of being in the sports book business. You know, I happen to know a guy who was the book at Maryland who started one and so wouldn't got to think about about half a billion dollars. So I'd have been smart had I been in that in that rack. it long ago. I live a smart enough to be that smart. So, no, I don't want to do that. I've got a job, but it does okay. To me, it's just way more fun to talk about

on Thursdays during the football season. I'll add to that, because I'll completely make fun of myself, because I was in the same category, because I knew the same person, and I knew the people that did that. And there I was trying to sell internet groceries, while people I knew dearly were moving to warm, tropical locales,

making a half a billion dollars in the process. But yeah, you mentioned Florida. Florida was one of those teams, Scott, before the season started. There were two teams that I thought had a chance to be much better than people were talking about. Mississippi State was already thought of a sort of a sleeper pick, and I mentioned them, but I'm like, the gators are good. And by the way, I just like, I like Mullen. I think that he would, he'd figure it out offensively for them.

they may be one of the top three or four defenses in the country, and they are only getting two and a half in the swamp against Red Hot LSU. That to me looks like the lock of the weekend. I think the Gators win that outright. And by the way, when they do, they're going to be one of those teams to watch because now all of a sudden that Florida Georgia game in Jacksonville is going to be a huge game. Huge.

Yeah, it has that chance. When they lost at home to Kentucky, it was, you know, ha, ha, ha, look at them, and Kentucky hasn't lost the game. Since. So I've watched them play a bunch of Florida in Kentucky very similar in that they're both very good defensively. And the thing at the moment in college football is the very best teams, Ohio State, Alabama, Georgia. Their offenses are so good that they've got the ability to score 40 on you,

even when they don't play particularly well. Florida does not. and that's the part that's scary about them is their offense in much, but defensively they are nasty, and this is one of those games that, you know, LSU's, everything's gone right for them so far, and they've got two of the biggest wins in the year, but this, it stinks to high have this game. Speaking of Kentucky, who's been one of the surprise teams in the country,

they're playing Texas A&M, and they're a seven-point underdog to A&M. Now, A&M's good. Sure. But that line's big. I think Stanford. I think Stanford Steve gave out A&M in his podcast. He, like us, sees things in a similar way. Not exactly.

Not exactly. Same philosophy. I mean, he said, look, I'm looking at a team that's lost two or three games. He's giving a touchdown to an undefeated team. So it's the same idea of it makes no sense. But A&M, people know A&M is good. They've got a lot of talent. We'll find out a lot about Kentucky this weekend.

and LSU, you know, on the road, unbeaten, and, you know, in a spot where they can very easily take their first L of the year. All right. We could wrap it up there if you want, but I did, I guess, want to ask you about the Ryder Cup. God, Tommy was so off put by the shot of all of the players before the Ryder Cup started in their jackets. And he just thinks it's the most elitist thing he's ever seen in his life. And I've tried to explain to him that golf has long. now, not been in elitist game in the way you think of it. You know, Kevin, wait, you're right, because some guy on Twitter pointed out to me that, you know, it's really the global game.

And I said to him, yeah, you know, I see them playing it on those Save the Children commercials all the time. What about some of the controversy coming out of this thing? The Patrick Reed comments, the report of a fight between Dustin Johnson and Brooks Kepka. no idea. I have no idea if those guys had a, you know, had a fight. Aren't they best friends? Yeah, they are. But, I mean, you know, you get your butt kicked and then you have a party on Saturday and, you know, maybe there's a dust up.

I have no idea. The Patrick Greed thing is actually really interesting. He's, he doesn't, like, I don't think the guys dislike him, but he doesn't have, he, doesn't have friends because he doesn't covet them. He and his wife are sort of their own team. So it's kind of this fascinating dynamic with him because he's really good and has been good in the Ryder Cup, but then he wasn't good at this one and, you know, came out some guy, some name, how I say it? Anonymous. An unnamed source said that he, Reed was full of crap. He had asked to play with Woods.

Listen, anytime you lose in this event, the United States, there's always some scandal and always some in fighting and whatever. It just matters way more to Europe. Collectively, they live for this, and it was, you know, it was a great effort from them. They set the course up in a way that really favored them, and they took advantage. All right, that's it. We're done with you. Thank you very much. Thank you, Scott. Appreciate it. Scott Van Pell. Everybody.

Subscribe to this podcast. If you haven't, you're just listening to it on the website, or you just bring it up on iTunes. It helps us if you actually subscribe and rate the podcast. And we've mentioned this also. For people that are like, want to listen to Kevin and Tommy, but I don't know how to do iTunes or Stitcher or tune in or Google Play,

just tell them to go to the Kevin Sheehan Show.com. Also, you can now follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and the Twitter page. But you can follow me on Twitter too at Kevin Sheen, D.C. And at Tom Leverro on Twitter as well. Let's get to this week's NFL PowerPole. Rangham, 1 to 5. It's time for our weekly NFL PowerPole. All right, before we get to the PowerPole for the week,

top five and a couple of teams to keep an eye on. Tommy, the NFL offense in the first four weeks is at historic levels. the passing numbers are at an all-time high. Completions all-time high, 2,99 through the first four weeks. Completion percentage, passing yards, passing touchdowns. There have been 228 passing touchdowns through the first four weeks, and points score 3,030, are the highest in NFL history through the first four games of this season. I don't know if it's coincidental or not.

Most people would say it's not coincidental. I actually believe it is coincidental because I think people still love the NFL without all of this offense. But ratings are way up. I think it has more to do with there have been some really good compelling games. Last weekend you had three overtime games. You know, you've had great matchups in some of the prime time spots. I think it has more to do with that personally than just all of it. the offense, but a lot of people will say it has to do with all of the offense so far.

All right, here's my top five, because you're still working on it. I was hoping we'd just skip over this, but let's go ahead. We're not going to skip over it. My number five team are the Kansas City Chiefs. I've got them in the top five because they're one of two undefeated teams, but I'm going to tell you this Tommy right now, they're not winning the Super Bowl. The Chiefs are not going to be in the Super Bowl. I don't think the Chiefs will be in the AFC championship game by the time we get to

middle January, middle to late January. Their defense is just too bad. It's an awful defense and it's already been exposed. It hasn't hurt them in the win-loss column. Mahomes is great. I'm not putting him in the Hall of Fame. I'm going to give him a few years for that. He's very good and they've got ridiculous weapons offensively, which I'm sure Alex Smith is yearning for to a certain degree. Did you see the day after you declared that he's not a Hallfamer? His jersey got sent to the football Hall fame? You sent me that because of the number of touchdown passes he's thrown in the first four games. He, well, yeah, he's the only quarterback, the youngest quarterback in history with six touchdown passes in one particular game.

And we know that he's on pace for a ridiculous number this season. The Chiefs are my number five team. The Patriots destroyed Miami. They're going to get it together here. Plus, they're getting Edelman back. And I have a feeling the Patriots are due for a run here. I've got them as the fourth best team in the league. But Tommy, my number three team in the NFL is my pick right now to be in the Super Bowl out of the AFC.

The Baltimore Ravens. Oh, my gosh. The Ravens are, I felt this way before the season started, just had a hunch. I've had a hunch all along. And remember, I had Cincinnati as a smell test pick in that Thursday night game in week two. And they may lose this weekend and be really pushed this weekend at Cleveland. Baltimore is winning 11 games. They're winning the division, the AFC North,

and they're going to be at least in the AFC championship game against the Patriots. Or somebody else maybe, Jacksonville. I love this team right now. Again, I don't root for Baltimore things, but I've always respected this team. I've been a Flacco fan. He's having a career year already. They destroyed Pittsburgh the other night,

even though the score didn't indicate it throughout the game. They held the Steelers to 47 yards in the second half. It was amazing. The Ravens are my number three team. The number two team is the team the Redskins play on Monday night. The New Orleans Saints are my number two team in the NFL. Their defense is not as bad as the Chief's defense, and their offense is every bit as good.

They actually put up 33 on a team that I think has a very good defense. Now, a lot of that is because the giant offense is so bad, and they punted too many times. But I think the Saints are the number two team in the league, and at this point, there's no debate. The best all-around football team, defense, offense, special teams, and they're even missing their kicker right now, Zerline, and coaching staff with Wade Phillips and with Sean McVeigh.

The L.A. Rams right now are the best team in football. And that game last Thursday night was a terrific game. I think Minnesota's got some issues on defense. And running game-wise. But the Rams in a shootout beat them. They're my number one team. I'll give you a few teams to keep an eye on in a moment. But right now, get your top five, Tom.

You know, you talk about the Rams. Stan Cronky, the owner, really lucked into a situation here by making the move from St. Louis to L.A. and hiring the guys to turn around what had been a dismal losing franchise into now a marquee team on the eve of moving into a brand new stadium. Couldn't work out better. Really, that's when you want to be like the Rams are now, when you're moving into. a new stadium like that. That's why I think the Raiders better get good quick before they wind up moving to

Las Vegas. I'll give you my number five team. I'm surprised you put them in your top five and put them so high. But they're number five for me now and that's the Baltimore Ravens. I think you're right. They are moving in the right direction. I think they're well coached. I think Flacco

has, I agree with you. Flacco has always been an underrated quarterback. Never really been given the credit. We're in the minority on that. You know that. I know. I know. I know. But if you put weapons around him like they did this year and you put an offensive line in front of him and you give him time, he throws as good a deep ball, medium range to deep ball as anybody in the league. Number four. He's going to have a big year. Yes.

Number four, the New England Patriots. And they're going to move up at some point because Bill Belichick is the best coach to ever live. Number three, I don't get, I mean, did they drop out of the league, Kevin? I'm not quite sure why you didn't have them in your top five. the Jacksonville Jaguars. I didn't have them in my top five. I mean, that's the team. If I had to make a list of AFC teams, I didn't want to play.

The Jacksonville Jaguars would be one. And then the Kansas City Chiefs, my number two team, would be the other. Let me just, let me, I'm not going to amend my top five. I think Jacksonville's a better team than Kansas City. And we're going to find out this week. That's the game of the week. Jacksonville at Arrowhead to face the Chiefs. And so I'm looking forward to sort of watching that game Sunday.

Hopefully that's the game on CBS, the 1 o'clock game. I have a feeling we'll get Ravens Browns. But Tommy, the Chiefs are undefeated. And I guess I just felt like I should have put Jacksonville at 5. I should have. We are getting Ravens Browns, by the way. Yeah, of course we are. I should have put Jacksonville at that.

But then I would have had the undefeated Chiefs out of my top 5. Well, I think you're rating the Saints too high. Okay. That's the problem. And number one is the Rams. You're right. The consensus is the biggest consensus in America right now that the Los Angeles Rams are the best team in the NFL. So that's my five. A couple teams to watch. I've mentioned Detroit recently. They're right there with Dallas. I still think Detroit's like one of these very capable teams. And I'll give out right now an early smell test pick. I guarantee you I'm going to have the Lions. Plus, I think it's one at home against the Packers. on Sunday. They're going to win that game outright. I just don't think there is, I think they're better than their record says, and I think they're a very capable team week in and week out. They haven't been embarrassed. Well, they were in the Monday night opener against the Jets, but since then they could have won any of the games they played in. Look, you've got to look at the Cleveland Browns

and say, you know, at one, what are they? One, two and one could easily be four and oh. They were completely hosed at Oakland. on Sunday. That was a win. That was a terrible replay overturn of the Carlos Hyde run that should have been called a first down. Worst cases, it was called a first down, and there wasn't enough conclusive video evidence to overturn it. And yet they moved the ball, a half yard back, which made no sense to anybody that was watching it. Oakland gets the ball back. They score. They get the two-point conversion. They win in overtime. Cleveland should be two-one-and-one at worst. They've got defensive talent, even though they gave up all those points to Oakland.

They have offensive, you know, they've got some weapons offensively. Jarvis Landry looks great. Wish the Redskins had spent the money or made the trade to get Landry. What a difference maker. Imagine the Redskins right now with Jarvis Landry as the number one guy. Cleveland is a good football team. I don't know how many games they're going to win because it takes a while to learn how to win clearly because they could be 4-0, but they're not their 1-2-1.

But I will be surprised if they're not a 6 or 7 or 8. At this point, maybe not 8, but they're going to win 6 or 7 games this year. I also think that Atlanta is still very dangerous at 1 and 3. I don't know. That's another one this weekend. I like Atlanta plus 3 this weekend. I think that the Falcons clearly defensively, they are struggling. so are the Chiefs, so are some other teams.

But I like the Falcons offensively. Ridley's becoming a star. They've got two, apparently right now, the Falcons have two elite wide receivers on their team with a great running back situation with Freeman and Coleman and a terrific quarterback. But I like the Falcons. I think they are still and still will eventually be in the playoff hunt,

if not a playoff team in the NFC. You know, the team that I would watch, is the same team I said to watch last week, It's why Detroit is going to be home-come-to-playoffs, the Chicago Bears. Neither one of us had them in the top five, even though a lot of people really like the Bears right now. Right. I wouldn't put them in the top five, but like I said last week, that would be my team to watch moving forward. I mean, they've got the best defensive player in the league, and they have a young quarterback who's not getting any attention because of Mahomes, but Tripisky, I think, is going to be pretty good for it. He's not the best defensive player in the league.

He's the best pass rusher in the league. Kaleel Mack. That's the most important thing. Aaron Donald is the best defensive player in the league. The most important thing a defensive player can do is pass rush. He's great. It's the most distrary. You're right.

I'm not going to debate it. When you said it, I just, there are some very good defensive players. I'll tell you, J.J. Watt once again, healthy is having a really good start to this season right now. But Aaron Donald's unblocked. And he is, to me, a more all-around great defensive player. All right, go ahead. Did you see that you have a chance to maybe be right about something that you were wrong about? I shouldn't even bring this up.

What, the Adrian Peterson thing? No, no, no, no, no, no, no. You're never going to be right about the Snyder thing. But can I ship itself? Go ahead. You just remind me to tell you about what's Neil and Rockville texted me yesterday. Okay. The Redskins signed Mac Brown.

again. That was your long-shot guy. Yes, it was. No, no, it wasn't. Oh, yes, it was. I picked Matt Ionitis, and you picked Mack Brown, and Mac Brown was off the team before you knew it, and my guy was starring on a defensive line, but now Mac Brown is back, baby. I remember your pick. I don't remember my pick about Mac Brown, but I... Of course, you got it wrong. That's why you don't remember it. Maybe that's the reason. But the reason I think that you might be right is because I always talked about how Jay Gruden would go through all these running backs that weren't even on the roster talking about how great they are. And he does the same thing with guys like Byron Marshall and some of these other guys. So what I was going to say to you is you came in here on Tuesday and

you said, ah, after you went on and on about Snyder's lack of involvement, et cetera, et cetera, and then Doug Williams spouts off with Doc Walker about being reprimanded for bringing in Adrian Peterson for a workout. And we both missed on this. I think you're going to agree with me. Because Neil and Rockville, a good friend of both of ours, texted me and he said, look, the situation is different. Adrian Peterson, with his background,

and the recent issues with Adrian Peterson, that is a public relations issue that should be bounced off top management. What a bunch of crap all this is. Oh, I knew you take this. And I'll tell you why.

Because you want to know something? When he got signed, Kevin, and you weren't paying attention for this. The Washington Post, ESPN, NBC4 Washington, and the Washington Times, all wrote stories about the Redskins signing him. Not one of them. Not one single media outlet that covers his team on their knees, I might want to point out, mentioned that Adrian Peterson had been suspended for six games for beating his son. Not one of them. I bet you did. I wrote a column saying how embarrassed I was for my profession that it didn't even warn a sentence. Well, there you go.

Not even, not even, not even, I read about his MVP season. That's why, that's why. Well, they didn't have to, there was nothing to worry about. Well, there was. You, you recognized it. You wrote about it. Are you a nobody? But not any other people, I mean, not many people who cover the paper,

that many people read your paper, but we all read you. Oh, God. This is such baloney. This is such a pathetic way to explain a way that Snyder is never going to change. He's always going to be involved. Look, I think it's an absolutely, it is a great point that neither one of us even thought about. And that is, this was a player, and you should have thought about it because you wrote the column. You should have said, you know what, Kevin, you're wrong, but in this particular

situation, bringing in Adrian Peterson, there was a potential in most cities, PR risk that should have been bounced off the owner or the team president before doing it. Two guys who have the moral compass of a snake. It doesn't matter. Why would they care? It doesn't matter. You're using the judgment of normal people on Bruce Allen and Dan Snyder. please. What I'm saying is that was likely the reason that they, that Doug was

wasted my time now. Do you think it was the reason Doug was reprimanded? No. So what was the reason? I just think it was because they brought in a high profile guy like Adrian Peterson and Bruce and Dan didn't get to slap themselves on the back and say it was their idea. That's a good point too. That's a good point. That's a possibility too. All right. I'll see you on Tuesday. And when you're back on Tuesday, we will know what kind of season. The Redskins are going to go out. We'll know a lot more about this team. Thanks to Aaron.

Thanks to all of you. Tomorrow is a football Friday, and I swear to God I might have 18 or more smell test picks.