The Kevin Sheehan Show - Can Mariota Beat The Bears?

Episode Date: October 24, 2024

Kevin and Thom today with a menu of fall, festivals, and football. What if Mariota starts? Will Washington beat Chicago? Lots on Kingsbury's impact as well. Thom has his Bears-Commanders pick. The boys discussed World Series, NFL Hall of Fame '25 candidates, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

You don't want it. You don't need it. But you're going to get it anyway. The Kevin Cheon Show. Here's Kevin. Tommy's here. I am here. The show's presenting sponsor, as always, is Windon Nation.

Give him a call, 86690 Nation. Or head to WindowNation.com if you need new windows. Several emails slash tweets to read here to open up our Thursday show, a show that will include Tom's Washington, Chicago prediction may be hard to make the prediction today because we don't know who's starting a quarterback on Sunday, but you're good enough to do it. This from Jehila. Jehila writes, love the show, just wondering if you guys could do a weekend fall festival area update. Tom seems to know where all of the good ones are. It's not a service we

typically provide, but Tom, didn't you go to a fall festival? Was it last weekend or the weekend before? There was some sort of Frederick Fall Festival or something where you were talking about cows and other things? Last weekend I was at a family function. You're thinking of the Frederick Fair, and that was in September. Oh, is that what you heels? When I was hanging out with cows and goats and stuff like that.

And the Frederick Fair is always like the last of the big fairs in the area. They usually have there's like the third week in September. So I'm not sure that qualifies as a fall festival. You know, I mean, I don't think I've been to any other fall festival. I do know there's one this Saturday in Blainsburg, Maryland, the Blainsburg Waterfront Festival. I'd highly recommend everybody. I'm not going to be there. Why would you highly recommend it then?

What do you know about it? Well, because have you been to the Bladenburg Waterfront? It's nice. I don't think I have, actually. I mean, they do boat rides down the Anacosta. Anacostia? Yeah. And it's pretty nice.

Okay. It's an underrated area. So I've been to Bladenburg a couple of times. So I'm assuming it would be a pretty nice festival, but I will not be there for that. What do festivals? And this is, you know, basically. probably the last of the fall festes. They don't have any fall festivals in November, I think.

I mean, October is the month for the fall festivals, because that's generally the month of the fall foliage. Right, but there was, there was kind of two things that I wanted to mention. One is, we don't have great fall foliage right now. Not in my area, we don't. Do you have it out in Frederick? Not particularly, no. I think part of it is the fact that we have been very, very dry.

recently. I don't know if that's what is impacting fall foliage. The other thing is it just comes later and later, it seems like, every year. Maybe fall festivals should be held in November. I know that it can be cold in November, but more chilly than cold in November. Right. I would agree.

Fall festivals... Go ahead. Maybe we should have a Kevin Sheehan show fall festival. that's what I was going to ask you is if we were to put on a festival what I don't I've been to fall festivals but typically fall festivals are on weekends in the fall so for me that's never been a priority in my life because the other F during fall weekends football tends to be more important than festivals

but what do you what do you get in a festival if There's nice fall foliage and their pumpkins all around and their cider. But what else? Hay rides? Is that a fall festival or is that a pumpkin patch thing? I've been to pumpkin patches. I think that's more of a pumpkin patch thing. I don't think there's many hayrides at fall festival.

You know, they have vendors. They have artists usually set up their wares. Right. To sell their wares. They usually have a band maybe or some kind of music. Actually, there was a fall festival. This past weekend in Frederick that I did not go to, there's an old German house. I think it's the first house ever built in Frederick, and they had an October fest.

Now, that's a whole other level of fall festival, October fest. Well, because... Yeah, go ahead. Because that involves drinking. Of course. You know? Yeah. And there's a lot of October fest around the area.

Especially if it's German. Yes. Mount Airy had one of recently. So I think a lot of places have an October fest. And I would love to go to the October fest over in Germany at some point in my life. I'm betting that's one hell of a party. I think a little Munich this time of year would be kind of fun. Yeah, that's where we should take the show.

That would be a better trip than putting on our own fall festival, which I'm sure we would screw up. You know, there is something pleasant about this time of year. being outside on a fallish-feeling day, although it's been very warm and very dry. And like I said, I don't see much foliage at this point. I don't see a lot of leaves falling with beautiful colors yet. I love that when we get that. But yeah, I know what you're talking about.

You know, there's vendors set up and, hey, we've got a little jam and jelly and thing here. And then we got some meats over here. And look at the fresh fruit over here. Yeah. And then the little paintings here and the artists, sure. I tend to leave my Saturday open more than you. Yes, you do. No doubt.

I mean, because I don't watch college football much. And if I do, it's usually Saturday night. Right. So, I mean, Saturdays I leave open for normal human functions. You know? More human functions, yes. Look, when the kids were young and it wasn't just, you know, a fall Saturday to go to the pumpkin patch.

Butler's Orchard is where we always went, you know, out at the, basically, is Butler's Orchard, Montgomery County or Frederick County? It's right on the line of Frederick County and Montgomery County. Anyway, because, you know, we would do things on weekends. I would do the thing, Tommy, where I would get up early with the kids and I would, you know, get in a whole morning of activities. You know, we would go to the park. We would play, you know, hoops at the park. We would go to museums. Mike, my boys still talk about how I, when they were young, I would always take them down to museums.

The Natural Museum of Natural History, which they always referred to as the Dinosaur Museum, was always a fan favorite, as was Aaron Space and others. but we would also just walk around on the mall and they would get a sense that they live in Washington, D.C. I think a lot of people just never take advantage of that. And I'm not saying that I have taken the most advantage of it because there's a lot that I've missed. But I would try to pack in a whole morning and then get home by the time the first game was kicking off to say,

man, I'm exhausted. Here's what we did. And I would tick down the list of we were at the park, we went to the museum, we went and got pizza, we're all good, you know. But the pumpkin... I give you credit. I give you credit for that kind of move. That was smart management, time management.

It was very good clock management. It was. Yes, yes. It would be a little bit more problematic. Saturdays were easier. I love college football. Don't get me wrong. But unless Maryland was playing at noon, I could get back for, you know,

know, the second half of the noon games. NFL Sundays, I wanted to be either in the stadium if there was a home game when I used to go to games all the time, or I would want to be, you know, front and center by about 1245 so I could have plenty of time to start firing in on the games that I was going to have that day. Pumpkin Patch Day was always fun, though. Those days were always fun, but I do remember there were plenty of times all I was kind of. concerned with was getting scores of games. That wasn't easy, as easy as it is now back then. No, but I do think that, I mean, I've had a cell phone for a long period of time,

so there was at least the opportunity to call some sort of 800 number, or the George Michael machine, which was, by the way, 202, oh my God, 202-362-44-4-4, something like that. Somebody. Something with fours in it. Somebody, please tweet at Kevin Sheand, D.C., what the George Michael Sports Machine scoreline phone number was. 202-362-44-4-4, I think. It may have been 8484.

Something like that. This from Marcus. Marcus wrote, perhaps the hardest I've ever laughed, listening to. the show. Tom, quote, what's so interesting about your soliloquy is that you pictured yourself in the press conference. Kevin, laughing. Kevin, yes, and not as a reporter, but as the coach. The magic in your show is the willingness both of you have to be the object of the joke. Yeah, that was funny the other day. You were spot on. I was picturing myself

as Todd Bowles in a press conference dealing with a reporter. I definitely fell into that one. This from Rich, Kevin, more geek football talk,

please. By the way, this is perfectly dovetails with me playing coach in the press conference. More geek football talk, please. Tell Tom to sit it out at Shelly's watching the suckers of the world go to work while he giggles away with a cigar in his mouth and a beer in his hand. Yeah. I think that actually does put a big smile and laugh on Tommy's face. Tommy laughs quite hard at the suckers that have normal jobs and walk right by him as he's

sitting outside at Shelly's. He was referring to the geek situation. with Tampa the other night, with the reporter questioning Todd Bowles about being down 10 and having Godwin in the game, which was embarrassing from the reporter's standpoint. And then this from Kevin. Kevin writes, if Marcus Marriota starts and plays well in a win over the Bears, Cliff Kingsbury is, we have a Shely's theme this morning. If Marcus Mariotta starts and plays well in a win over the Bears, Cliff Kingsbury is going to be at Shelly's looking to smoke a big one. Tom, make sure it's on the house. Yeah, that's a good point about you making sure that it's on the house. But if Marcus Marietta starts Sunday and goes out

and plays really well and Washington's offense doesn't miss a beat, you know, they put up 30 plus points and they win the game, Kingsbury is going to really look good. No doubt. Yes. Yes, he will. And you know the funny thing? One of the amusing things, at least, is no matter how good Marriota plays, there won't be a quarterback controversy.

Good point. You know, almost every other time. It's not even a good point. It's obvious. You know, that there would wind up being a quarterback controversy. You know, if the backup quarterback plays good. And you don't miss a beat. No one would ever suggest that Jaden Daniels should sit down and watch Marcus Marieto play quarterback,

although he may have to, at least for this Sunday. That's true, but people would say Jaden Daniels has been a bit of a product of a very good offensive coordinator. and I don't know if that would be accurate either. But if Marcus Marriota goes out and kills it, there will be people. I agree with you. No one's going to say, oh, we got a QB controversy. No one's going to say that, obviously, no matter what Mario da does. But people will suggest, has this been more about Kingsbury or Daniels?

I mean, I can see that, but, you know, Cliff Kingsbury is the one. putting the ball in Terry McClurend's hands in the only place he could possibly catch it. Okay, that's Daniels. That's a quarterback. Say that again? Cliff Kingsbury wouldn't be the one putting the ball in Terry McClurend's hands in the only place that he could possibly catch it. That's true, and what you just described is actually the one thing more than anything else. I mean, there are other differences between the two quarterbacks,

but that's what Jaden can do that Marcus Mariotta's really never proven in, what, nine years, ten years of a career that he can do, which is sit back in the pocket and throw accurately over and over again. And, you know, James is a quality passing quarterback. He's not a running quarterback who can throw. Right. Well, anyway, I think there is a chance that Marcus Marieto will play well.

And I would ask you, and I'll answer the question definitively after you answer it, if he does play on Sunday and Jaden Daniels is out on Sunday, which I don't know, we'll find out later today. If he doesn't practice today, I think that's probably a pretty good indication that he's not going to play on Sunday. But if Marcus Marietta does play on Sunday, do you feel confident? confident in Washington's ability to win the game? I feel confident in Washington's ability to compete. I don't know if I feel good about their chances to win.

You know, what's interesting about this, if Jayden does not play, and I think you're right, if he doesn't practice today, you know, coaches will always say, you know, you've got to practice to play, unless it's a desperate situation. And I don't think they feel desperate, you know, to put Jaden Daniels in there at quarterback this Sunday.

But my guess, I don't know Jane Daniels at all, but I know quarterbacks a little bit, and I would think that Jaden Daniels would be very upset and frustrated about not playing Sunday. Because Jane Daniels wants to go up against Caleb Williams. Yeah, that should not be a part of the equation at all for the decision-makers. That's not part of the team's equation. I understand what you're saying. But him personally, it's a very unique thing.

Quarterbacks are like baseball pitchers. You know, baseball pitchers don't, like the pitcher doesn't pitch against the other pitcher. Okay, they don't actually face each other. Right. Okay, quarterbacks don't actually face each other. But they both, their egos, both look at it as a match up against each other. You know, and like I know pitchers, certain pitchers that I've covered, would get up based on who the opposing picture was, you know, in terms of their performance.

I think quarterbacks are the same way. And the storyline is going to be Caleb Williams coming home. You know, this was one of his competing peers in college football last year. And, I mean, I just think it's got to bug Jane Daniels a little bit more than normal not to be out there in the game where one of the big storylines would be these two young quarterbacks going against each other. So Dan Quinn was asked about that yesterday. I think Sam Fortier asked him if the opportunity to, you know, play Caleb Williams in the matchup with Caleb Williams would motivate Daniels even more to play on Sunday.

And Quinn said, quote, no. I think you guys have all been around Jaden and anybody anywhere, anytime is really the mindset for him. Anybody anywhere anytime is really the mindset for him. think at his core, that's one of the things I really admire about him is just his readiness is wanting to go prove it. So no, much like we talked about Lamar a few weeks ago, they're not playing against one another. So it's about him and the readiness to get ready and help our team ultimately. That's why so many of his teammates really gravitate towards him. They know how much he puts it in and goes for it, and that's why he's seen as one of the great teammates around here,

a closed quote. You know, you can be both. You can be both. You can be. Be selfish. You could be a great teammate, and then you could get extra pumped up for a particular matchup. I just think that's the nature of the position. You know, and I think most quarterbacks are like that. What do we argue? Do we argue the Patriots and the Colts?

No, we argue Peyton and Brady. Okay? That was always the argument. It's always, it usually comes down to quarterbacks, and quarterbacks know that. Yeah. Yeah, I guess. The bottom line is, you might be right, but it doesn't matter. There's no chance that that's going to seep into. This would have been something that Dan Snyder would have said, hey, they move this game to 425. If there's any chance, you get them in the game. This is a big matchup. We're going to sell a hell of a lot of merchandise. And by the way, if he can't play, don't tell anybody until game time.

because I want everybody to show up and buy, you know, and buy as much product as possible before the game starts. No, I have a feeling he's not going to play. I would not suggest that anybody in the organization feels compelled to play Jayden Daniels because of the match-ups. I'm just talking about. I know. I know what you're talking about. I know what you're talking about. I know.

personal competitive heads. So I actually would feel fairly confident that they could beat Chicago on Sunday with Marcus Mariota. I think a lot of it has to do with what I saw on Sunday

and I am taking into consideration how bad the Carolina defense is. I still think the key to Sunday's game will be more about what Washington does defensively against Chicago's offense, which has really come around here in recent weeks. They've got a ton of weapons. They've got a quarterback who's gaining in confidence. And Washington defensively against any of the

good offensive teams they face, Tampa, Cincinnati, Baltimore has not done a good job. They've been exposed. And so the bears are playing better offensively. They've got three good receivers. They've got a good tight end. They've got a running back that's capable and a quarterback who's gained a lot of confidence. And so to me, that's the game Sunday. Can you get, can you get stops, you know, occasionally? I'm not asking for a complete shutdown because I don't think that's possible, but can you get enough stops that you're, you know, you're not at a disadvantage when it comes to offensively having to score on every possession to keep up, which they've done in these games when their defense hasn't gotten stops. But to me, that's more important than anything else. And then offensively, I think a big part of

what the game plan will be with or without Jaden Daniels will be to run the football. Chicago's given up some big games to running backs. They gave up a bunch of yards to Tony Pollard in the opener. They gave up a hundred-plus yard a day to Jonathan Taylor. They gave up 100-plus yards, or around 100 yards to Kyron Williams. They have been run on. Chuba Hubbard, who we just saw with the Panthers, average 7.5 yards per carry against the bears. 13 carries 97 yards.

The reason the bears have won three in a row and decisively, the last two have been decisively, not the first one against the Rams, is that they have gotten turnovers. They have taken the ball away. They're plus six in the last. three games, and that's why the last two games got sideways. But Carolina and Jacksonville, or Carolina and the Rams for sure, were able to move the ball, and they were able to move the ball

by running the football. And Mario'don needs more so than Jaden, a lot more so than Jaden. He needs support. He needs everything. He needs a game that's closely contested, a game that doesn't require the quarterback to go back into dropback mode because they're down two scores in the second half or fourth quarter. That's not typically a good situation for Mario da. Him being a part of the running game has always been a good situation for him, like it was at times in Atlanta with Arthur Smith. So we're already built. Washington's already built for the quarterback to be a part of the run game. And we saw him be a part of that on Sunday. So if, the defense gets stops, I feel confident in Mario's ability to be a part of the run game and for the run game to thrive with him at quarterback, that I think they absolutely can win the game. And I think he can be impressive in helping them win the game. So I'm not picking it yet, but I certainly don't think that it's significantly more difficult for them to win without Jaden Daniels on Sunday.

against Baltimore, I would have felt that way. I would have felt like this is now in the no-chance category or in the long-shot category because you had to throw the ball to beat Baltimore. And you had to do it almost as a one-dimensional team to be in that game. That's not what Mario da dais does well. Jaden does everything well. We've already seen that. He can beat you and be a part of beating you in so many different ways.

It's got to be almost one way, I think, for Marioada. But I think that way can happen Sunday against the Bears. So we'll see. Yeah, I mean, I think that if you really have to rely on that defense on Sunday, you're going to be disappointed, even occasionally. I'm with you. It's my biggest concern. It's why, you know, I had been on the show yesterday.

Ben's been a big, staunch believer prior to the season, early in the season, and here as we approach the midpoint of the season, that this franchise is not going to change its mindset about this being more of a, you know, recalibrating building block developmental year. And I don't agree with him. Ben has a better sense because he's much closer, you know, on a day-to-day basis. So I do think ultimately he could be right about them not making any trades. But I'll tell you, Tommy, I would be surprised and I would be disappointed if Adam Peters and his staff haven't, you know, readjusted at this point at 5 and 2 with a division lead, now the favorite to win the division, with the favorite and the conference. before the season started at 3 and 4, the 49ers, if they haven't thought about the opportunity that exists this year, and if they aren't looking at possibilities or what's out there to improve their chances

of taking advantage of the situation they find themselves in this year, I would be disappointed in that. I think it's possible nobody's available, or it's too costly to get somebody that they want. that's fine. Benefit of the doubt here on whatever they choose to do. But I'd be surprised if they haven't been looking and even calling around at this point with less than two weeks to go before the trade deadline. I'd be surprised too. You're right. In this league, if you have the opportunity, you need to take advantage of it. I mean, sometimes, you know, your plans get changed because you've been more successful than you thought you would be.

You need to be able to respond to that. Yeah. John Kime wrote this in a story on ESPN.com this morning about just kind of trade deadline situations. And he wrote, and it's kind of Ben's position too. And these guys are out there covering the team every day. So I am not going to sit here and say that they're dead wrong about this. but John wrote, it would be hard to see the commanders making a move unless it's also smart for the long term or for a very low immediate cost.

They have multiple seventh round picks. They're already a threat to win the NFC East. So the last part of that is true. I think it's also true that the move that they should make shouldn't be a rental. They're not the Rams from a couple of years looking to add Von Miller because they've got a chance to win the Super Bowl and they're one player. away. They're not the 49ers when they traded a boatload for Christian McCaffrey. You can be smart in adding a player that is a long-term player. You know, a Denzel Ward at 26 years old, if Cleveland ends up being sellers, is one of the better corners in the league. He's 26. He's under contract.

and we've already seen that even the best receivers aren't going for any more than a third round pick. That kind of move versus a rental move, I think is smart. You get the benefit of a guy that you may have chased in free agency anyway, or via a trade in the offseason anyway. And you're getting them for the final, you know, eight, nine, ten games of the season, a season where, yeah, they're a threat to win the NFC East, but they could be a threat to do a lot more than just win 10 games and host one playoff game with a little bit of help. So I –

You know, you mentioned the McCaffrey trade. I mean, I would think that that's an outlier. I would think that, you know, let's say McCaffrey – you know, take McCaffrey's health out of it. If you had a chance to trade for McCaffrey, no matter what your situation, I think you make that trade. Yeah, look, Adam Peters has been a part of an organization that has been aggressive. You know, that's probably the biggest trade we've seen at the trade deadline in the last five, six, seven years and the most impactful. They sent a boatload of picks to Carolina for Christian McCaffrey, and he was the difference maker. Now, they ultimately did not win, get to the Super Bowl because they had multiple quarterbacks to go down in the NFC championship game.

but we know what kind of impact player he's been for them. Look at them without him this year. Without him, they're three and four right now. Does their position change with a win or a loss on Sunday? At five and three, no, but if they were to lose, say, two in a row, because you have the Giants before the trade deadline, two days before the trade deadline, and you're five and four,

then I think you recalibular. the recalibration on the recalibration. You're recalibrating the recalibration right now. You should be. And then if you fall to five and four, you're recalibrating that recalibration. How about that? That sounded like word salad. But what about if you're seven and two?

I mean, I'm sitting here telling you that at five and two, I would certainly be looking to improve my defense because this opportunity is newfound money. We weren't expecting this. And the NFL is so fleeting. These opportunities you just expect to be there. And look, the idea of building something that is sustainable is the approach they should be taking. But I don't think you ruin sustainable by adding a player that can help you now, and also help you later.

And I would not get personally hung up on the cost if it's the right player for beyond this year. I think that's where teams actually make a mistake sometimes. You know, Bruce Allen spent eight, nine years getting the best effing bargains you've ever seen for players who could not play. I want the right player. I want the player that can actually really help me

incrementally as far as wins go this year and beyond. And if that costs me a third round pick, a night two pick, I mean, what are the chances that third round picks can end up looking like Denzel Ward? You know, I've seen a lot of Harold Landry out there. I loved Harold Landry coming out of college. I've liked him a lot at times in Tennessee. You know, he is an impactful pass rusher, can be, and wouldn't be very costly right now.

I don't want a rental. That's what I don't want just the, unless you're just giving a seventh round pickup for, you know, a rental player that can help you. Right. It depends on the cost. In that situation, in the rental situation it does. If you've got a player that's going to help you now and then for the next three years, because he's going to be a part of your program and he's entering his prime years, then I'm not getting hung up on the difference between a fourth rounder and a third rounder. I'm not. Because this opportunity is, it's, no one expected it.

And again, like this is not crazy talk. The NFC, in the north, the north is very difficult. There are three good, really, there are two really good teams. In fact, I think Detroit and Green Bay are the two best teams in the conference right now. There's an unbelievable defensive team in Minnesota, and there's a team that's getting better, week by week in Chicago. I mean, that division's sick. The south, whether it's Atlanta or Tampa, you're not necessarily fearful of that matchup. In the West right now, the 49ers, you know, I wouldn't count them out. They've got to get healthy, though. And you certainly wouldn't want

to see them in January home or away if they're a healthy football team playing well at that point, because that's really, I think they're right there, if not a notch above Detroit and Green Bay fully healthy. But you've got a chance to be a one or a two seed in the NFC. You have that opportunity right now. That means at least two home games. And maybe only two games away, two home games away from the Super Bowl. So if you don't take that opportunity seriously and you say, nope, we didn't expect this. We'll just let it ride out. You know what? Ten and seven and a division win and a loss in the first round at home would be a really solid first year, I'd be disappointed in that mindset.

I would too. I mean, that would be foolish. That would be intractable. And you've got to adjust to the situation in front of you, which is, I mean, since the NFL is a week-to-weekly, you really have to be able to adjust. I think you do. I think you really do. I mean, you know, I'm not so sure the Rams a few years ago really thought right from the jump that they were going to be a Super Bowl contender.

I mean, they were hopeful with Matt Stafford in that first year. Maybe I'm mischaracterizing that season. There certainly were high expectations, but I'm trying to think of how they started the year. Let me just go look, because I could be definitely wrong about this one. They were pretty high. Yeah, no, I was wrong. They started the season seven and one. So they made that trade for Von Miller when they were a seven and one football team or a six and one football team.

Yeah. Oh, seven and one, seven and two? Yeah. What's the difference? Yeah. And look, the Rams have had the go-for it mentality from the jump. You know, they haven't had many draft picks, period, you know, since McVeigh and Les Need and all those guys got together. But they were in a situation where, in some ways, it's the same.

in other ways it's not. I mean, they were a new franchise for all intents and purposes in L.A. You know? And moving into a brand new stadium, they were smart enough to know that they needed to make an immediate impact. You know, here's the one that's interesting from recent years. I think I talked about it yesterday or the day before. The Cowboys were three and four on their buy week in 2018 when they traded for Amari Cooper.

And Amari Cooper ended up making an amazing difference. He was excellent, and they ended up winning five, seven of their last eight games. They made the playoffs, and they won a game, and they were in a divisional round game against the Rams and the Coliseum, and they lost a tight, close game. but they, you know, when they made the trade for Cooper, they had a sense that they were going to be able to sign him to a long-term deal, which they ended up doing. Remember Washington was a suitor as well,

and Cooper took less money to stay with the Cowboys than to come here. But the Cowboys, the Cowboys had some pressure on them. You know, they had that 2016 season with Dak as a rookie where they won a bunch of games. and then 2017, they didn't make the postseason, and then 2018, they were kind of floundering. They had to make a move, and they did, but they had higher expectations entering that season. So it's not apples to apples on that one either. But that's, you know, I just gave you three examples in the last several seasons that trade deadline moves really did ultimately work out. I mean, Von Miller was the difference in them winning the Super Bowl versus maybe just winning a playoff game or two, the Rams.

Christian McCaffrey has been a difference. They haven't won the Super Bowl. But, I mean, I think you'd have to be an idiot not to realize how much better the Niners have been with McCaffrey. And then Amari Cooper profound impact after the trade deadline in 2018. That team took off because it had a number one wide receiver. at that point. And they ended up winning a playoff game. So I don't know.

I did this with Ben yesterday. It's probably just droning on too long about this. So apologies. But I just think that they are certainly considering being more aggressive than they would have ever thought six weeks ago prior to the trade deadline. It doesn't guarantee anything because players have to be available for the right price, etc. But if they end up making a move, I certainly won't be surprised. And if they don't, I won't be surprised either because I think John and Ben have a real good sense of it. I just

would be disappointed if it's not a move because they decided, nope, we're not doing anything in this first year. We're keeping all of our dry powder. You know, we're keeping that fourth round pick or that third round pick. And we are going to, you know, we're going to build this thing for the long term and we'll be happy with just winning the division at 9 and 8 or 10 and 7. All right, you've got a prediction to make on the game. We've got a couple of other things to get to, and we'll do that, starting next after these words from a few of our sponsors. Hey, everybody, this episode is brought to you by Manscaped, the global leader in men's lifestyle

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Go to MyBooky.ag. Use my promo code, Kevin, D.C. I do have, at the end of the show, a smell test pick for tonight. So stay tuned for that. interested. Right now, by the way, the Rams are three-point underdogs in their game against Minnesota tonight on Thursday night football. At my bookie right now, just as an FYI, they've taken the Washington Chicago game off the board. So the line's been fluctuating all week. It went from Washington minus one and a half to Chicago minus three, back to Chicago minus one and a half. I'm looking

at it right now. It is currently off. the board. So we'll see what happens if they put it back up. Look, if he doesn't practice today, the bears are going to be three-point favorites minimum. If he does practice today, the game's probably going to go to like pick them, maybe even Washington minus one. So anyway, mybooky.orgie.org promo code Kevin, D.C. Before we get to Tommy's pick on Sunday's game, what was your, you know, description of the Warriors and Curry and Clay Thompson and what were they doing for all those years? Shooting the ball. Just shooting the ball. Just shooting it. Like the Celtics, you mean?

Yeah. So, okay. Good, good for you. Yeah. So Tuesday night, the NBA season opened up. There were a lot of games last night. The Wizards open up their season tonight, Tommy. Are you excited? They play the Celtics tonight. You know, I'm excited because they're in a phase I've never seen before for an NBA franchise. You know, they used to hate to use the word rebuilding. And when the new management took over, they tried to avoid it. But the general manager this off season came up with a new fate for the team. Michael Winger? No, no, no, no. So they will, what's his name?

Will Dawkins. Yeah. He came out and said they're in the deconstruction phase. I've never quite seen. Really? Deconstruction phase? I've never heard that one. I've seen a lot of MTV, a lot of HGTV deconstruction shows,

but I've never seen an NBA team. So I'm curious as to how deconstruction is going to work, because I didn't think it took that long to destroy. and N-B-18 before you had to build it back up. But apparently, deconstruction is a process. That is amazing. I miss that one. Deconstruction.

We are in the... Well, look, you do basically have to raise the building before you build a new one, usually. Is that the verb? Is raise means basically demolish, right? I think it does. Yes. Yeah, R-A-Z-E. Yes.

Yeah, that's what I intended to say. That's crazy. But by the way, that's what they are doing. They're just in this phase of trying to accumulate as many draft choices, as many high draft choices, signing players to contracts that are totally tradable for draft choices, and they're hoping that they end up hitting on something big. Tommy, I don't know if you know this or not.

I think many listeners do, but perhaps many don't. The 2025 NBA draft does include what many people believe to be a transcendent player, a player that will totally transform a franchise. And that is Cooper Flagg, who will play for Duke this year. And he actually comes out of the great state of Maine. And the funny thing is, is there's actually two or three other players that are considered to be better, than anything that was in the draft last year.

Two of them, Tommy, are playing for Rutgers this year, if you can believe that. But Cooper Flagg, you got to finish in the bottom three. Bottom three records, everybody goes in at the same percentage chance in the draft lottery to get number one overall. It's not, you know, worst record has the best chance, second worst record, second best chance. The bottom three records, they changed that a few years ago to try to prevent, you know, major tanking at the end of the year.

you've got to finish with one of the three worst records. That has to be something that ultimately they are hoping to see. And at the same time, during this deconstruction phase, they're probably hoping to see a couple of the players that they've already drafted show signs that they can be significant contributors to a contending team down the road. Look, I can't sit there and say, I mean, because all I know about this franchise and their young players that they drafted is what I've read.

There seems to be some promise beyond Alex Tsar, their top pick, as to some of the other, like some of the other young players. Like what is the name? Bub Carrington and some people actually like Kaishon George, their other first round pick. I've read very positive things about both those guys. You know, so maybe they'll be of interest to watch this year. you know, Kulibali has to take a big step forward for them. I really like, I like his potential.

I really, yeah, I like it too. Yeah, I think that they may have gotten that one right. You know, in terms of... But the worst thing they can do is play themselves out of a high draft pick. Right. Yeah, well, I don't think they're going to have to try to, you know, to try to prevent that from happening. It's going to happen.

They're just not very good. Valanchunis is... Because they're deconstructing. They're deconstructing. I mean, they're going to play, you know, Alex Saar and Bob Carrington and probably Kaishan George a ton. Ballal Khulibali is 20 years old. I mean, the kid just turned 20. You know, if you see a lot of pool in Kuzma, which you will, you're going to see,

I think with, I think Kuzma is actually a guy that they like a lot, that people there, including his teammates, like a lot. And I think it's really interesting. And Chase Hughes told me this on radio yesterday that he really wants to remain here. He told them that last year before the trade deadline. They went to him and said, we can trade you to, I think it was Dallas and get a first round pick. And he said, no, I'd like to stay here. He thinks at 29 years old, he can be a part.

Of course. Of course he wants to stay here. Nobody's watching. Nobody's asking him to do much. And he's getting paid a ton of money. Well, that's your move. Of course he wants to be here. That's just so funny.

God forbid that somebody actually wants to go somewhere where they can win and compete for something significant and be in the limelight. Not you. You're on Laverro Island. Just pay me and I'm over here and just don't expect much. No, I don't want to be in the NBA finals. That's okay. You know, people will expect too much of me if I'm there.

You know, over here at Washington, I can score my 20 plus points a game because somebody's got to score the points on a team, and everybody will be impressed. I don't know if that's him. You're saying that. I don't think you know that to be true. I think he sees some sort of future here. Maybe he just likes living here. I don't know. But projecting yourself into a highly competitive athlete, of course. He's on Kuzma Island. No. Nobody's noticing and they're paying him. It's perfect. It really is. So let me get back. He's an NBA player.

They love him. Yeah. You know, his teammates love him. The 10 fans that come to the games love them. Yeah. So it's a great situation. So let me get to what I was going to say to you. On opening night, Tuesday night, in the two games that were played, the Knicks played the Celtics,

the Timberwolves played the Lakers. The Celtics game, by the way, the Celtics ended up. up tying the NBA mark for most threes made in the game. They made 29. They actually made their 29th three early in the fourth quarter and then had a whole quarter basically to break the record, which was Milwaukee's record in 2020 that they had tied. And they went 0 for 13 on their final 13 attempts. They attempted 61 threes in the game. That's not a record. And they paid 29. but here's what I want to do. You know, that's just a Tuesday night.

It's a Y for you, isn't it? It would have been, I would have loved this kind of game. Don't try to get me to project myself into a three-point shooter in the NBA situation. In the two games on Tuesday night, the first two games, which included Nick Celtics and then, just the incredible drama of Brony and LeBron. God, I'm glad that's over. In those two games, 162 attempted three-pointers in two basketball games. Yay, it's fantastic.

So I'm just going to say to you, and I don't know if I'll say this ever again, but on that particular night, they were just shooting it. They were just shooting it. I mean, honestly, that's insane. And not only that, basically the Celtics, two-thirds of their shot attempts, nearly two-thirds, were threes of their overall shot attempts. And I went and did the math on just the four teams, the two games. 46% of the shot attempts were three-point shots for the two games.

162 three-pointers. That's what got fired up in two games. I have not looked at what the numbers were last night. I'm sure they were super high as well. I did watch a little bit of the Sun's Clippers game. And Bradley Beale looked really good. Played really well. I know that he had a crucial turnover,

which is just part of what Beale is in overtime. But he hit some big shots, you know, hit big free throws for Phoenix. And the Clippers were open in their new arena, right? a new arena, which has this wall. It's similar to the Comcast Center, which has, you know, that wall behind the bucket where the opposing team shoots in the second half. It was pretty impressive. Anyway, all right, let's get to your prediction.

What do you got for Sunday? You know, this is really unfair and hard, but that's what you pay me for, to be unfair and hard. Yeah. Because we don't know if Jaden's going to play. I'm going to assume he's not, particularly if he doesn't practice today, but by then it will be too late. I'm going to say Chicago wins a close game, 32 to 30. 32 to 30.

32 to 30. I think there will be a lot of turnovers in the game on both sides. I think Chicago will win a turnover battle. There will be two by Washington. No, there'll be three by Washington and only two by Chicago. but it will be a mistake-prone game. But I think Chicago will have the offensive pressure to respond to those mistakes, and I'm not sure Washington will.

You've had some weird scores. Not that weird scores don't happen, but 32 to 30. I'm sure it's happened. That's one of my favorite things to look up in pro football references, you know, the final scores and how many times they've happened. You know, when Dallas got beat by Detroit, 47 to 9, two weeks ago, that was the first time an NFL game had ever ended 47 to 9. 32 to 30, I'm sure. What are you going to do?

You got to ridicule me because I'm different? No, it's what makes you Tommy. I mean, your complexity is what makes you so simple, or it's your simplicity that makes you so complex, I think is the way you say. There you go. All right. We'll get Tommy's thoughts on the World Series, Yankees Dodgers, which starts tomorrow night. And the Hall of Fame has been narrowed down for the 2025 class to the final 31 in seniors and the final 50 in eligibles right now. We'll get to that more after these words from a few of our sponsors.

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Listen, it's another Shelly Sunday, if you're a commander's fan. It's a 425 start over at Northwest Stadium. okay, the perfect day to stop at Shelly's for an early smoke, you know, maybe some lunch if you're not planning on tailgating at the stadium and you don't have a big like barbecue set up there,

you know, you stop at Shelly's and not only is it a short drive, but one of our listeners pointed out to me, it's an easy, it's an easy metro ride as well. Now, I know that, the metro is not popular for people who go to Northwest Stadium. It's like a mile away, but there are people that do it. I see people

walk into the metro from the stadium all the time and back and forth. You just got to be willing to make the track. And actually, part of the hope, if they put the new stadium out where the old one is, is that the new stadium will be closer to the metro stop. But you can even hop on the metro. The metro is just a block away right outside of Shelly's back room and take the metro over to the stadium, so you don't have to worry about driving as well. You know, it's a great place to watch the pregame shows at Shelley's with their eight high-definition TV all around.

It may be supposed to be a nice Sunday. I think you can sit outside and have a smoke and watch the Sacks who are going to the Smithsonian that day, knowing that you're going to see the Bears and the commanders play, watch them walk by and then head to the game. Shelley's Backroom, it's at 1331 S Street Northwest. You can find out more at shelley's backroom.com. I found it three times in NFL history,

a score has been 32 to 30, a final score. The Eagles twice have been involved in 32 to 30 games, both as the winning team in 1991 against Cleveland and in 2018 against Houston. And in 2020, it was actually, I remember this game, Kyler Murray threw a Hail Mary to D'Andre Hopkins on the final play of the game. And they did not attempt the extra point. So it ended 32 to 30. So there you go.

It won't be totally unique, but it will be pretty rare if we get a 32 to 30 final. God, I am praying for 32 to 30. Just not the way you picked it. So, World Series, game one tomorrow night, Yankees and Dodgers. Who do you like and why? Well, I'm very psyched up for the World Series. I would think everybody would be. You know, this is baseball's King Kong versus Godzilla matchup.

And, you know, I think that Dodgers, this is a hard pick for me. I want the Dodgers to win, and I'll tell you why. When I always say, you know, I root from me. in situations like this, often I wind up rooting for people who I've met along the way in the business to do well. And, you know, I knew Stancast is pretty well when he's here in Washington. And he's one of the owners in L.A. And I would like, because of that, I'd like to see the Dodgers win, you know.

But I also have an anti-Dodger kind of thing going on because they abandoned my city. in 1957, left Brooklyn to move to L.A. And that's a lifetime, that's a lifetime hatred. Now, on the Yankees, I grew up in a household where we were taught to hate the Atee.

It was a National League household. Hating the Yankees was part of living in Brooklyn for the most part. But I love Juan Soto. I mean, Soto, he's the real deal. I mean, he's not only is a clutch player, but just a great human being as well to deal with.

So I'm kind of conflicted. I'm going with the Yankees and Soto, because I'm not picking against that kid. I think in the big moment he's going to deliver for them. I think the Yankees might have a little bit better pitching. I don't like the Dodgers' bullpen games that they throw. I don't like their front office, which basically dictates to the manager, how to manage the games, you know, through analytics. I'm not sure Cashman does that as much with Aaron Boone or not,

but I think the Yankees win in seven games. Who's the second best player in this series? You would agree, Shohay, that Otani's the best player in this year. Who's the second best? Is it Judge or Soto? Yeah. It's Judge. 58 whole runs.

You've got to say he's the second best player in baseball. Absolutely. In this series, in particular. You know, and I argue with a third best, people might say Mookie Betts. For the Dodgers and not Soto. He's still one of the best in the game, no doubt. Yes. And we'll be a very rich man.

He's already a rich man, but he'll be super rich. Well, Soto's going to be the most rich. Yes, that's what I meant. Oh, yeah, I thought you were talking about Mookie Betts there. So, Yankees in seven. Reagan and Zagin, you've got to keep up with me here. Yankees in seven, that would be thrilling. Are you expecting this to be watched by,

more than anybody in years? Like the ticket prices are outrageous. I'm sure you've seen some of those stories. Like you can't get in to Dodger Stadium or Yankee Stadium for the first games in the respective cities for less than like $1,500. Yeah. I've seen $1,000 for standing room only.

Yeah. Look, I am expecting it to be the most watched in quite a while. And, you know, I mean, you have to take into the whole component of the numbers they're going to have in Japan. I mean, you know, they had 12 million people in Japan watching the NLCS for crying out loud. So it will have a worldwide flavor to it, that's for sure. All right.

I'm looking forward to watching it for sure. And, you know, you get game one and two on Friday and Saturday, and then I think games three, four, and five are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and then you'd get a Friday, Saturday back at Dodger Stadium for games 6 and 7 if necessary. It's nice to have a matchup of marquee teams for this sport right now. I know that you will make the case that these local TV deals and the number of people going to games, I get all that. I think everything gets pushed to the side during football season.

And when you got Rangers Diamondbacks last year, I just don't think there was much interest. But I think the Dodgers Yankees will certainly draw a lot of interest. I think most people can't remember the Rangers won the World Series last year. I know. Yeah, exactly. Yeah. So real quickly before we leave for the day. So the modern era candidate list for the Pro Football Hall of Fame,

got trimmed down to 50. And on the list, still, Brian Mitchell and also London Fletcher. I know that a lot of you listening, because I've seen some of you, and I've talked to some of you about this, just don't see any way for Brian Mitchell to get into the Hall of Fame. I understand where that comes from prior to last this past year, and Devin Hester going into the Hall of Fame and mentioning Brian Mitchell's name in his acceptance speech, that he hopes this will open the door for other returners.

I've already gone through the case you can make and the case that you could make against, Brian. Brian's longevity produced unbelievable career numbers. Brian in any given year during his career was probably not the number one returner in the game. I mean, may have been for a one year or a two year period, but not consistently, where Devin Hester was clearly the best returner in the game when he was playing. But I think Brian's got a chance because of Hester. I do. And I think that, you know, the number that people will keep.

coming back to is that he and Jerry Rice are completely separated in terms of all-purpose yardage all time. I mean, he's actually much closer to Rice for the top spot than he is to number three. London Fletcher is a more complex case. Like I've said many times before, you actually can compare his resume to linebackers, including Ray Lewis, who are already in the Hall of Fame. But again, unlike Ray Lewis, you would have never said at any point during London Fletcher's career, he's the best linebacker in the NFL. You said that about Ray Lewis basically every year of his career. And I think that...

Yeah, I get that. I'm not going to comment about London Fletcher because I haven't done as much research. Brian, when people point to his longevity at a detriment, I say you're crazy. That's fair. because he played the most vulnerable position on the field, special teams. I mean, special teams players don't last long in this game. And for him to last as long as he did, it's a testament to him, not a detriment. Right.

Yeah. The senior class got whittled down to 31 players, and Jake is on that list. So Joe Jacoby, a part of that list, you know, we can just, you know, cross her fingers, say a prayer for Jake to finally make it in. I think that there is a lot of recognition among Hall of Fame voters that Joe Jacoby has a case and isn't in. But, you know, you look at the list, and I went through it this morning. And I think I say this every year, so I shouldn't be surprised. but Ken Anderson is on this list, a quarterback. I think Ken Anderson had a Hall of Fame career.

I always felt that in watching him as a young person. You go back and you look at his numbers. He was a league MVP. Jim Plunkett's on that list. A friend of mine said there's a lot of push for Plunkett to get in. Ken Anderson was a better quarterback than Jim Plunkett, period. Plunkett may have. He does. He does.

But those for two teams, that didn't rely on Plunkett to win the two Super Bowls. And then the rest of the list didn't include, for me, like any obvious, you know, omissions from the Hall of Fame already other than Jacoby. There is one guy on here, and I know we've talked about him before. I know you think Otis Taylor should be in the Hall of Fame. Yes. He's on the senior list. Yeah.

But I think they need to take care of business with Jake this year. Let's hope. Long overdue. All right, before we close down shop for the day, the Rams plus three tonight as an early smell test pick. The Rams plus three at home against the Vikings, just a lot of public action on Minnesota. I know the public's been winning the last two weeks in record numbers for sure.

Hopefully that starts to turn around tonight. will be on the Rams plus the three. All right, Tommy, anything else? Nothing else for you, boss. All right. Have a good weekend. Have a good weekend. Enjoy the Bladensburg Waterfront Festival if you're heading there. And I will talk to you on Tuesday. Okay. All right, that is it for the day. Jay Gruden with me tomorrow on a football Friday. I'll obviously preview and pick Washington, Chicago. Back tomorrow.