The Kevin Sheehan Show - Redskins, Spirit Airlines and Facebook

Episode Date: January 17, 2019

Kevin and Thom open the show talking about Greg Manusky's return to the Redskins as Defensive Coordinator. The Redskins were ranked 5th on a list that included among others, Spirit Airlines and Facebook. They talked about that list. They also discussed the Patriots, NFL Playoffs, James Harden, Bryce Harper, Manny Machado, and Thom's MLB Hall of Fame ballot. <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 SportsFix. All right, Tommy's here. Aaron's here. This show is presented by Window Nation. If you're in the market for Windows, call 86690 Nation or go to WindowNation.com and tell them we told you to call. No Scott today. He'll be in, I think, tomorrow. So it's just Tommy and yours truly for the next day. hour and a half or so. And we've got a whole bunch of things to talk about. We're not completely organized today, but we know what we want to start with. But it's one of those days where I think we're just going to wing it and see what happens. Yeah. Death and destruction keeps getting in the way of us. It really has this week. It really does. It really has this week. We won't get into the details on that. All right. Greg Minoski is back. Les Carpenter broke the news yesterday, Washington Post, that Les Carpenter, I'm sorry, Greg Minnowski is going to be retained as the Redskins defensive coordinator.

I'm kind of surprised that you would be so big as to give Les Carpenter credit for breaking the story. All right, enough of that. You know, I mean, you could have just said it's been reported or something like that. I think that's the way probably a lot of people do it. And I sometimes do it that way if I don't know. Right. But I know that now. Okay.

See, there's a big difference in knowing who broke the story and where it came from and not knowing. When you know, you should probably give credit. Anyway, Les Carpenter did break the news that Greg Minusky is being retained in the story. There were a couple of interesting things in the story. This paragraph, quote, A person with knowledge of Washington's off-season plans said coach Jay Gruden was looking for, quote, different perspectives, closed quote, in the conversations with outside coaches. The team is keeping Minusckey in part because Gruden wants to keep continuity with a young

defense that showed promise last year. So the reports of conversations or meetings, depending on which prospect or which, I'm sorry, perspective they were trying to get. Todd Bowles, Greg Williams, and Steve Wilkes. Apparently Gruden was just looking for outside perspectives. Tell me what you think about defense and our defense, because we're going to keep Greg. Of course we're keeping Greg. He's done a phenomenal job. I'm just looking to get some ideas and bounce some ideas off of you. That's what they were doing. Yeah, and Todd Bowles, being an NFL head coach as recently as a month ago, said, sure, I'll come to Redskins Park, and I'll tell you everything I know. You know, I'll share everything I know with you.

Just because I'm a nice guy. It's... I mean, you're not going to hire me? That's fine. That's okay. I'll come. I guess, you know... I guess I'll credit the effort to try to save face on the awkward position they've put Greg Minnowski in over the last couple of weeks.

And potentially they put him in this position of feeling like they're trying to replace him, not on their own doing. You know, these are reports that have come out about bold. being here, Wilkes being here, or conversations with, excuse me. Same with Greg Williams. The team hasn't announced any of that. No. They've been trying to do that in private, I'm sure, but there have been different reports about the conversations, et cetera. But, you know, Jay Gruden wasn't trying to get different perspectives. Nobody believes that. They were trying to hire Greg Minoski's replacement. That's what they were trying to do. And none of the three people, the big names that they've talk to. The names that we know based on reports, if we believe the reports that they've had

conversations with, none of them, we'll get to that. None of them wanted to coach here. They wanted to coach elsewhere. There were better opportunities for them. The better opportunities, just so everybody's clear on this, were Tampa, Cleveland, and the Jets. Yes. I just want to make that clear that Tampa, Cleveland, and the New York Jets were better opportunities for all three of these coaches than Washington was. We're not talking about the Patriots, the Steelers, and the Packers. Right. The Jets, Browns, and Bucks. Now, a lot of that was because of relationships. Clearly, Todd Bowles and his relationship with Broussarians. But anyway, you wanted to say what? I've got one other thing from Les Carpenter's story, but it's not necessarily related to this specific issue.

The whole Greg Williams thing is driving me crazy. Why? Because. I've looked everywhere online through various reports, and I can't see anyone who actually reported that the Redskins spoke to Greg Williams. Every report is either about the Redskins want to have a conversation with Greg Williams. The Redskins are pursuing Greg Williams. and I would say to that, I wanted to have a conversation with Greg Williams, and I was pursuing Greg Williams. And I may have had just as much luck as the Washington Redskins.

I have not seen anything to indicate that the Redskins actually talk. Did you JP report it? No, no, he didn't. He reported that the Redskins were pursuing him, that the Redskins wanted to talk to him. Did you listen to his podcast? I did not listen to his podcast, but I read the blog item he wrote, which laid out the case. Actually, so JP had some information.

This would have been on Friday or Monday. I think it's Friday. No, maybe it's Monday. I don't know when it was, whenever it was. The information was that Greg Williams did not have a done deal with the Jets, which I think was presumed. Yes. Right? Okay, so he didn't have the deal done with the Jets, and he did say his report, at least on Twitter,

is that the Redskins were trying to secure a meeting before anything with the Jets went final. Me too. I was trying to get a meeting, too. Okay. But with respect to the Redskins and Greg Williams, yeah, I don't think that anybody, Adam Schaefter was the one that also had something on that. But I don't think anybody reported that actually Greg Williams ever met with the Redskins. it was just the Redskins were interested in meeting and having a conversation. Right. So, I mean, I just think.

Yeah, even Schefter. Here's Shefter. Washington also pursued defensive coordinator Greg Williams per sources, but Adam Gase and the Jets wanted Williams more. Yeah. I wonder what that means. Do you think it's a money thing? I think Bruce got cheap again. Now Gase and Williams form a formidable tandem, writes Adam Schaefter.

Okay. So why is this a big deal? Well, because I think it's. I think it reeks of the Redskins trying to put a message out there that look at what we're trying to do. We're trying to bring Greg Williams here. We're trying to really pursue the hottest defensive coordinator out there. Even though, Kevin, in your wildest dreams, would Greg Williams ever want to play for the coach for the Washington Redskins for this owner? No, it's in my wild dreams.

Okay. Yeah. I mean, it doesn't make sense, despite the blog item on NBC Sports Washington that lays out the case on why Greg Williams should want to coach for the Washington Redskins. I don't know how anyone would buy into the notion that anyone, let alone Greg Williams, would want to take a job here since apparently nobody does. So it just bothers me that it reeks of the redskins creating a message that's not true. I guess that's, I mean, that seems totally reasonable. I mean, at the same time, you know, if they really had no intention of offering Greg Williams a deal or they knew Greg Williams wouldn't come here, then they put themselves into the position of having to put this out through Les Carpenter, which is, no, Gruden, we weren't looking to hire a deal.

defensive coordinator. We were just looking for people with different perspectives. So they had to circle back if that was, if the intention was to let their fan base know, hey, we're trying to get a top flight defensive coordinator in here. Yeah. But they knew that they couldn't either attract a top flight defensive coordinator, weren't willing to pay a defensive coordinator like Greg Williams, the going rate, or they really didn't want a top flight defensive coordinator, then they put themselves. into a position of having to circle back and say, no, we weren't actually looking for a new

defensive coordinator. We were just, Jay, Jay just wanted different perspectives from defensive people. Well, I would assume then, if they were just looking to pick the brains of these defensive geniuses, then I would assume Minoski would have been in on the meetings. Because what's the point of Jay sitting in on the meeting by himself and then having to turn around and tell Minoski everything that these guys told me. I know. Hey, Greg, look, we're not, we're not trying to replace you. Just wanted to get some different perspectives. Do you want, we've got a meeting at two o'clock today. Conference call with Steve. Take some notes. Bring your pad and pencil. Take some notes. I don't think he was involved, is my guess. No, but, but again, things get lost in a translation.

So look, Greg has to turn. Jay has to turn around now and pass on the information to Minnowski. Okay, well, which is it? Were they just trying to create the perception that they were interested in a top flight defensive coordinator, or were they really trying to hire Greg Minusky's replacement? I think it's a combination of both. I think the Greg Williams is the perception. I think I think the other guys, they were really trying to. And in part, they're doing this in part because they don't want to wind up in the same situation that landed Greg Minoski here. I mean, basically, they tried to pursue guys like Vic Fangio and others the last time, and nobody would take the job. So they had to

they looked around the room and they said, okay, who do we got in here? Can be the defensive coordinator? Greg Minnowski. That's what they did. So basically, they didn't want to have to do that again. So they didn't want to let Minnowski go and actually go through

a real legitimate job search. So, you know, they kept them dangling and they put their foot in the water, trying to look for a defensive guy because they didn't want to have the same process that got Greg Minusky to job. You know, this really, I know we've talked a lot about this, but it is now really evident.

You know, before at times it's always been just what we've assumed as fans, that the Redskins are toxic and that no one wants to come here and work here. And those that are here would prefer to be elsewhere. Now we're in this, you know, brief off season so far for them anyway. and there's evidence of this. They can't hire a defensive coordinator to replace Greg Minnowski because the top defensive coordinators do not want this job over, also what I would refer to as lesser job opportunities,

but this one's even less attractive than the Jets, Browns, and Bucks. And look, I get it. The Brown's situation's pretty good, and the Jets have some young defensive town. The Jets have a quarterback. But the Redskins actually have, you know, know, some young defensive talent. They have a defensive poor. If you were looking at a team that needed a defensive coordinator and you were looking

for a decent situation, you could do a lot worse than Washington right now as it relates to talent. As it relates to the roster. So, you know, it's all speaking to no one wants to come in work for Dan or Bruce. And, you know, the other part of it, too, to be fair, is that they probably look at Jay Gruden as, you know, in essence, a guy going into the final year and that there are going to be massive changes a year from now anyway, and that there would be great risk to come here versus go where there are brand new coaches in Cleveland, New York, and Tampa where those coaches

are going to get a few years to make it work. Jay is entering more likely than not. You know, he will be, he'll be in the top five of hot seat coaches when the season starts. So there's some of that involved as well. there is. But there's evidence here, Tommy. How about Grant's report that Olive Addi is looking to move? Pot Week is already moved. Take lateral moves. Here was another piece to

the Les Carpenter story, the second piece that I wanted to read. This is another paragraph. The Redskins are also working on a new contract for defensive line coach Jim Tom Sula, whose deal expired at season's end and who has been rumored to be looking

elsewhere. So, Tom Sulla, who I've heard over the last year, is by far and away, the most popular coach on the staff. Okay. The most beloved coach on the staff by his individual unit. You know, John Allen, Matt Ionitis, Duran Payne, etc. They love Tom Sula, love him. And apparently, according to everybody that knows, he's a very, very good position coach.

So this is the first, I had heard that there was the possibility that he, he's a very, you know, he's, would retire, but Carpenter writes, or he refers to rumors about him looking elsewhere, too. And I know Callahan would prefer to be elsewhere. Well, the latest reports are that they're working on a contract extension for Tom Supper. And as far as Callahan, who's the coach with Sean McVeigh, who's going to get hired as the head code? Zach Taylor? Yeah, Zach Taylor. Okay.

the reports are that he wants Callahan on his staff. Callahan was his coach when he played football at Nebraska. So Callahan's probably gone. And that, you know, there's a lot of people who say good riddens for a lot of different reasons. I don't know the situation well enough to say that. It's not been a great situation, apparently, with Callahan. You know, we'll leave it at that. I mean.

Now, but he was a J guy. I mean, not a J guy, but he was a Bruce guy. He was a Bruce guy. Almost everybody's a Bruce guy somehow. Are you a Bruce guy? I'm not a Bruce guy. And there are other coaches that are potentially looking to move on as well. I don't think that all of these situations have even been, I think there are other situations that are going to emerge here.

And if they don't, then they were close to people want to. People want to move on from the situation. I don't want to, I think that most of it is about just the organization, and people realize after being here, God, it's even worse than it's been discussed from the outside. You know, but another. Laverro rule. Yeah, it's always worse than it looks. If things look bad from the outside, they're much worse.

But I also think that, you know, from an employment standpoint and from an opportunity standpoint, if you're in Washington right now with Jay Gruden going into what for all intents and purposes could be called a lame duck year. You're looking for, and with all of these different changes and new opportunities, and we've had a lot of coaching changes, there may be just a better opportunity for a fresh start somewhere else rather than looking for it a year from now, which is more likely than not going to be the case. Yeah.

Now, what was interesting in the stories and various reports about how, you know, actually in the one particular story about how Greg Williams should take this job here in Washington. This shows you how warped the organization is. The biggest sales pitch would be this would be his best opportunity to be a head coach. Think about that. I know. And that's probably true, although I don't think he's ever going to be a head coach because of Bountygate. But, you know, if the organization is so messed up that you would take that to,

job figuring I'm going to be the head coach in a year. That just shows you how messed up the organization is. And let me just read, you know, on cigarettes, they have the Surgeon General's warning now and all that. Let me do the Laverro general warning about the Washington Redskins. It doesn't matter who the coaches are. It doesn't matter who the coaching staff is made up of. It doesn't matter. Yeah, I don't think anybody agrees.

It disagrees with you anymore. I don't think anybody... I mean, they may be a little bit better. They may be a little bit worse. But real change, real progress, doesn't matter. No. There's very... There aren't many directions to go other than the one that we've always advocated,

which is, you know, you fire Bruce Allen, you take the blame for the record on and off the field, and you pay somebody a fortune and give that person and contractual autonomy to come in and run the organization. That's about the only chance you have because he's not going to sell the team. Dan, you get on that new yacht that's coming to you. You got a big one, didn't he? And you sail the world for two years.

Come back and if you pick the right person, and that's a big if, it won't be any worse. No. It can't be worse. No. But it is, we have reached, I think, a point in which we haven't been before where it's not just discussion about, you know, what the rest of the leagues, owners and front office executives and coaches think of the Redskins. There's now just evidence everywhere you turn. No one wants to come here and the people that are here would prefer to move on. That's where you

are right now. Is there any flame to light under this fan base for next season? That's it, right? That's their only card. A quarterback in general at 15 or higher. But Kyler Murray in particular would be, it would make it worth paying attention to. Yes. But that's it. I mean, they have nothing else left right now. That's it.

There was a, I showed this to you before the show, Aaron and I did. There was this poll, I guess, or it was an article written on MSN. and it was ranking the top 20 most hated companies in America. Well, these are companies, right? Companies. So these are businesses? You know, I mean, there's no sports teams on there, aren't there? There is.

There's one sports team on the list of 20. Really? Like the Cowboys? No, that would be a good guess. The Yankees? No, it's not the Yankees either. So the number one most hated company in America is Facebook. All right. Number two, number two, where was this list here? Okay, number two is, I just went from one story to the next. Hold on here for a second. Number two. Eli Lilly's number two. What happened to my list here? I just completely lost the list.

Aaron, what's number three? Number three is Vice, Vice News. Yeah. Number four is Jewel. Right, the vape, the cigarette thing. Yeah. And number five is a company you might have heard of, the Washington Redskins. There you go. Number five, baby. In your dark hearts. All right, I found it. Here it is. Yeah, Aaron just gave you the top five. Facebook, Eli Lilly, Vice, Jewel, and the fifth most hated company in America.

Company and the only sports team in this countdown of the top 20 on MSN.com are your Washington Redskins. That's incredulous. And here's what's written about it. The Washington Redskins had a rough 2018 both on and off the field. The team continues to face criticism for the name Redskins, which, by the way, you know what? It does, but it's really been tamped down. Don't you think? It's been tamped up.

But you know what? This is so gratuitous. It's such a default for anybody that doesn't really have all of the details about what's made them so hated because it's always going to come back to the name. Yeah, I know that. But Kevin, I mean. I mean, it may have tamped, the movement may have tamped down a little bit. But I think we tend to underestimate how it's still underlying out there. Whether it's fair or not, I think we tend to underestimate it.

It's an interesting question. I'm going to stop right there. I'll read the rest of this in a moment. Okay. But among the consumers of the Redskins, all right, the fan base, present and used to be, are they, what are the, what are the, reasons that they are detested. Where it is the name for the fan base?

I think the name is low on that list. Oh, very low on that. But where is it? They're not polling the Washington Redskins fans here. I understand. Well, they are to a certain degree because it's the most hated companies. Hated by whom? Consumers. Yes. In this particular case, where are most of the Redskins customers?

Well, they're Redskinned fans to begin with, whether they live here or they live elsewhere. There's a lot of people. They were Redskinned fans at one point. I'm sure Vice News isn't on there just based on the viewers of Vice News. Okay, that's fair enough. But among the conventional list of Redskins customers, past and present, if you say, if you answer the question, do you like them or hate them and you say you hate them? What is the reason?

The name isn't even in the top, it's not in the top five of reasons, and it's barely in the top ten. I agree with that. Okay, good. I just wanted to make that point. But this is different. This is different. Well, it may or may not be. that among society, among a larger audience, this always simmers.

Okay. Well, it's, no, it simmers among a significant tiny minority of the larger audience that is loud and cause-based. Well, it put them on the top, it helped put them in the top five list of most hated companies. I guess it did. You know, and if maybe if MSN took this reason out, the Redskins wouldn't be in the top 20. Maybe. I'll read the rest of it. The Redskins had a rough 2018, both on and off the field.

The team continues to face criticism for the name Redskins, which many consider to be a racial slur. In May, several cheerleaders came forward and accused the franchise of degrading treatment, including being forced to pose partially nude for a photo shoot and act as personal escorts for male sponsors during a 2013 team-organized trip to Costa Rica. The team disputed these accounts. Washington took even more heat in November after acquiring linebacker Ruben Foster on waivers after he was arrested on domestic violence charges. His second arrest for a

violent incident, though both charges have been dropped. The team safety, Montaigne-Nickleson, was also arrested on assault charges in December. Boy, you know, the Monta-Nicholson thing doesn't get thrown into the top of the reasons anyway. What's missing from this little, this write-up on why they're hated is because they, among their consumers, is that they're mediocre to bad, year and in year out. And their organization is run based on the, on a lot of tangible evidence and and fan reaction and perception in a totally incompetent way. And tone death.

And tone death. And then there's the off-the-field tone deafness stuff. So, I mean, look, among Redskins fans, they would have a different set of criteria. Yeah. But the fact that they make a list, they're the only sports organization to make the list. to make the list. I mean, the Cowboys may be the most popular, but they're also among the most hated.

So are the Yankees. You know, I have one concern I'm going to share with you about the future of the team that at some point, something big's going to happen here, right, in the next few years. It's going to have to because if they, you know, if they have another tone-deaf seven and nine, six and ten, five and eleven type of season next year in the year after something big is coming in terms of change it has to because the you know the 15

tv ratings are soon going to be 11s and 12s and the you know the this 40 the 53 000 that show up is soon going to be 38,000 at the stadium and at some point Snyder is going to have to create big change what this is a true concern of mine and I just I fear that at some point down the road, he will have to cave to the name change. Not because there is a majority of people or a majority of Native Americans that are asking for this, because as we know, all of the polling suggests the opposite, but because it'll be part of a big move to shake up the whole, you know, sort of toxic personality of the organization.

And he may just say, eff it. let's just change the name to go along with this new GM that I've hired and this new coach and this new stadium that we just got a deal for. Let's go for it now. I don't personally, as a lifelong fan of the team, I don't think there's ever been a need for changing the name, and I don't ever want the name change unless, unless, of course, as you and I've had this conversation zillions of times over the years, unless the actual real facts indicated that it was really hurtful to an entire group of people, which none of the polling has ever suggested that that's the case.

I don't think that's going to happen because you and I have both said, and I agree with it. I mean, I don't care what the name is one way or the other. Well, you're not emotionally tied to it. But I do agree with what you've maintained all along that it would be far more damaging to his fan base business-wise to get rid of the name. But what I'm saying to you is if we get to... through the next couple of years, and there ain't much fan base left. And the TV numbers are now down to 11s and 12s for regular season games in September and October.

And you can't even draw 45,000 to FedEx Field. And you don't have a stadium deal. And the team is continuing to lose. Wait, stop, stop. You don't have a stadium deal. That's, I think, what they see as the tourniquet to cut off some of the bleeding, is hoping that they can announce some kind of stadium deal. Well, maybe to announce that they're going to have to change.

change the name. But, but, but, uh, my, my point is I, I think the stadium deal is like, and much more danger than it was a year ago. I know you do. I mean, I, I, I, I don't know what politician is going to want to stand up there right now on a podium and say that, uh, we're going to help, uh, whether it's infrastructure or giving him land. We're going to help this owner build a new stadium. I don't know any politician at this point who's going to be willing to do that. Not when they're the fifth most hated company in North America. I mean, you think this doesn't hurt? I know. I mean, people out there, they think this doesn't mean anything. They think, oh, this is just

media stuff. Well, you know what? If you're the mayor of Washington, D.C., and you're reading this and you're saying, this is who, this is who I'm going to give the most valuable land in the city to along the river, I'm going to give it to this guy. What are you crazy? So I think the stadium deal is really in danger right now. Well, more in danger. You and Liz said last week on this podcast, you don't believe that it'll ever get built. You said that here. You and Liz both said that no one is going to give him the land in Virginia, D.C. or Maryland to build a stadium.

And therefore, it's more likely than not going to get built, not without him basically writing the check for everything. buying the land, building the stadium, etc. I think, given the current atmosphere, I would stick with that. The atmosphere could change. Maybe he goes on... You were adamant last week. Well, but because, I mean, right now? And I said, I don't agree with either one of you.

And I'm not suggesting that it's going to be easy. I know it's not going to be easy. But I think eventually somebody, Maryland or D.C., one of the two, they're going to figure out a deal where they're contributing something to him you know, building a stadium, whether it's the land or whatever it is. They're going to, something's going to break on that where it's not him paying for every single cent. I think the atmosphere.

He's got more political friends than you think. The atmosphere had, yeah, but we're talking about a Democratic state with a Republican governor who acts like a Democrat. And you're talking about the district of Washington, one of the most liberal jurisdictions in the country. So I don't think he has friends. And his biggest friend? I wouldn't say Hogan acts like a Democrat.

Well, he sounds like a Democrat when he talks. Occasionally, but I wouldn't put him in the in the Connie Morella category. For those of us who have lived in Montgomery County, she was a longtime Republican congressman from our district. She was a Democrat for all intends and persons. He sounds a lot more like a Democrat than Bob Roick did when he was governor. I would agree with that. But anyway, I don't know about that. the stadium. All I'm saying is that... But I think that's the

tourniquet that they're hoping will stop the bleeding temporarily, at least. But again, I still don't know how... The district took a big blow when they failed to get the federal legislation through to change the designation of the land to allow for commercial development. Mel Kuiper put out his 1.0, his first version of the NFL mock draft. He did it earlier this morning. He's still the guy for me. I love Mel, too. He's still the guy. I do love Mel. And I like Todd McShay, and I read all of these, you know, mock draft stuff because I think you get all these different write-ups on different players, especially if you haven't seen them all or only seen limited, you know, games of these players.

And you're getting a lot of information. And what's really interesting about the history of these mock drafts is how much they change. It's such a dynamic document. You know, last year at this time, the early version doesn't look anything like the version today. And then after the Senior Bowl, you know, in Mobile next week, and then the Indy Combine, it's going to completely change again. I guarantee you right now, there is somebody that Mel, there are three guys minimum that Mel hasn't even considered for the first round or he's got him rated his third round or lower prospects. Probably. That'll work their way into the first round by the time we get to, you know, April.

But anyway, the Redskins are sitting there at 15 and we all know now that, or we all have this sense that they should be thinking quarterback anyway. Here's my position on this. And I've got to rely on Doug Williams and Kyle Smith because I'm certainly not relying on Bruce Allen. My fear here is that Bruce Allen will make this decision, that Bruce Allen and Dan Snyder are going to be intimately involved and really influential in this decision on what they do in free agency and in the draft. I hope that Doug Williams and Kyle Smith and true football people are evaluating these quarterbacks. So I say with that hope that if they really like

somebody, go for it this year. Like if they really like Kyler Murray or Drew Locke or Daniel Jones or Will Greer, they're not going to be able to get Haskins. I would be surprised if Haskins isn't in the top five in this draft. He just looks the part. I am not a massive Dwayne Haskins fan, just as a football fan. I don't see him being this lock NFL great or NFL starter. But, you know, time we'll tell on that. Kuyper's got him going number six to the Giants is the first quarterback taken. You know, I've seen other mock drafts that have him going higher and have Murray going number six to the Giants. Right. So he's got Haskins going six overall,

and then the next quarterback is Kyler Murray to Miami at 13. Really? And then the Redskins are 15 with Atlanta in between Miami and the Redskins, and Atlanta's not going to take the quarterback. So you, you know, the Redskins would be sitting there with the opportunity for Daniel Jones or Drew Locke or Will Greer. But Kuiper has them taking the outside linebacker from Florida, Jekai Polite, who is an absolute speed beast. All right. He is, I think he is the answer more than the answer to Preston Smith. And I'm not going to have a problem if the Redskins draft defensive playmakers. her defensive interior again.

I think you can't go wrong if you really like defensive players, you know, in this draft. There are some really good defensive players in this draft at 15. Back to my position on quarterback, though. I just want them to be totally sold on somebody as it's not a marketing play. It's not a we hope. It's not a we need. All right. It is, this is the guy.

Daniel Jones or Will Greer or Drew Locke or Kyler Murray that is going to be our starting quarterback for the next 10 years. You've got to, you have to love somebody. You know, Mike Shanahan did not take a quarterback in the 2010 or 11 draft because he didn't like any of them. And they had a major need. He didn't like any of the quarterbacks in those drafts. And they had a need for sure. This team can't reach for a quarterback if they don't love the quarterback. It is a need, but they've got other needs as well. What is their other major? You see, we've always disagreed on this, and you're in the majority of a lot of people.

I think you do draft according to need as opposed to best athlete available, best player available. Your guy Charlie Casserly will tell you that gets you in trouble. Well, I don't necessarily. I think most teams wind up do drafting need. I think they make this bogus claim that that's the best player on the board. I think most of the time they draft what they need. what is the other than quarterback, what would be the position would be the greatest Redskins need? I think this team seriously has needed and still needs a true outside pass rusher.

Really? Yes. What about wide receiver? This team needs a wide receiver too. It needs a guard too. It needs a tight end as well, although Cooley loves Matt Flanagan and thinks that he's going to be a player for this team moving forward. I mean, Jordan Reed, who knows what Jordan Reed is? think Vernon Davis is going to be on the roster next year.

That's my personal opinion. But I still think that what's missing from this defense and has been missing for years now is a legit edge fear-inducing pass rusher. And there are some of those in the draft this year. And there will be some of those at 15, potentially for the Redskins to take. People will tell you who follow the NFL that in today's NFL, the two most important positions are quarterback and a home wrecking pass rush. Yeah.

And the Redskins haven't had really a pass rusher since, I mean, we've had this conversation before and everybody will always say Dexter. I mean, they had some pass rushers after Dexter left here. Actually, Ken Harvey was a great pass rusher. Marcus Washington was a pretty good pass rusher. But, you know, just after Dexter left, you know, Fred Stokes and jumped Gathers and Charles Mann were pretty damn good pass rushers on the 91 team. But anyway, Wilbur Marshall was a pretty good pass rusher when they sent him. But I just want them if they

end up, and by the way, if they love a quarterback, I am not going to knock them if they trade up to a position to draft that quarterback. If they love Kyler Murray, if they really love them, and they're convinced that Miami's going to take them, and they decide to trade up to 12 or 11 or 10, you know, five spots, let's just say, to have the chance to draft Kyler Murray, I'm not going to have a problem with that. Now, if they have to draft up to one or two for Kyler Murray, I would have a problem with that because I don't think Kyler Murray's worth that. But I do think he's an intriguing player, and I'm not, as I used to be, hung up on the height thing anymore. I think Russell Wilson has proven, you know, and Baker Mayfield, to a lesser degree, is proving

you know, in this day and age of football, Tommy, where a lot of the college stuff has prevailed and is prominent in the game. And in this day and age where the pocket is moving so much. And the quarterbacks are, you know, consistently posed as dual threat. Yes. I don't, I mean, yeah, I wouldn't have a problem with Kyler Murray.

I mean, I don't know how high I'd trade up for him, five spots, six spots, something like that, where you potentially have to give up a second and a third to move up. If they really love them, I'm not going to have a problem with that. I don't know how you're going to be able to do this because those draft picks aren't going to be there. They're going to be in the deal to get Antonio Brown. They're going to trade those away to get Antonio Brown. What do you think the number one?

And then they're going to cut whatever they need to get under the salary cap to sign your guy, Joe Flacco, to be quarterback for the Redskins. Flacco's not coming here. Flacco and Antonio Brown, baby. No chance. Think about that. Flacco should go to Jacksonville. D. Filippo is the- Actually, Nick Folle should go to Jacksonville.

D. Filippo is the O.C. in Jacksonville, right? Is that where he ended up, Aaron? Didn't D. Filippo just take the Jacksonville job? Yes, Jacksonville. So that would potentially reunite him with Nick Foles. Yes. That makes a lot of sense. That team with a quarterback is ready to win and win big.

But they had a lot more problems besides quarterback. They did. They seemed like a motorcycle gang sometimes. They are, and they've got some divas, and they've got some problems on that team, but they also have a ton of talent. Yes, they do. A ton of talent. All right, real quickly on Window Nation. Have you ever watched HGTV for home remodeling inspiration, or maybe you've attended a home show or two to brainstorm with local contractors? Well, if you have no time for home shows this season, and who does?

When donation wants to bring the home show savings right to your door all this month. Call Wind donation today and mention Home Show promo. And you'll get two free windows for every two you buy, buy four, get four free, there is no limit. Plus a limited time only, zero percent financing opportunity for 18 months. Call today and get educated on the newest models and the latest innovations demonstrated right in the comfort of your own home. And it's absolutely free. about this before. If you're not sure about Wind Donation or any window company for that matter, just call Wind Donation. They're going to come out and give you a free estimate. By the way,

you'll get factory incentives plus a once a year home show discount from the company that is installed over 450,000 windows and more than 80,000 homes, including mine. Let's get the show on the road. Get two free windows for every two you buy. Plus 0% financing 18 months. Call Windonation at 86690 Nation or visit Windonation.com. That's 86690 Nation or windonation.com and tell them we told you to call. I did want to talk briefly about James Harden again. I know we opened up this conversation the other day. Last night he went for 58, Tommy.

In two games, James Hardin's gone for 57 and 58, 115 points. And here is the most incredible statistic associated with those 115 points. not one of those points has been assisted. It's all been him. All 115 points created by him. It's like watching a one-man show on Broadway. It's incredible, but Tommy, the one-man show ends up with 10 rebounds last night and six assists. You know, he's fourth in the league in assists, too.

He's leading the league in scoring at 35.4 now per game, and he's fourth in the league in assists. And last night, you know, he didn't have one of those incredible three-point percentage shooting nights. He was five for 19 from behind the arc, but he was 21 of 23 from the free throw line. He gets to the free throw line easier and more effectively than any player I can remember in a long, long time. I still would take Westbrook over Harden, but what he's in the midst of doing right now is incredible. Listen to this one. he is right now has the

the fifth longest streak in NBA history of averaging more than 40 a game, 40 or more a game. Chamberlain is, you know, off the charts. 515 games consecutively When you've averaged over 50 a game for a season. Right, well that's 80. 82 right there.

515 consecutive games Wilt had averaging more than 40 a game. All right, now into the world of mortals. Elgin Baylor, 33 consecutive games of averaging 40. Kobe Bryant. Remember,

Elgin Baylor, that's in the two-point error, totally. I know. Yes. Oh, only the two-point error. Kobe Bryant, 23 consecutive games of 40 or more average.

Rick Barry, 22 consecutive games of averaging. Again, two-point error. Only two-pointers. Unless they're factoring in his ABA, but this is an NBA. This is NBA. Yeah, it's NBA stat.

And then now Harden, 20 consecutive games of averaging 40 or more. Now, he would have to really, I would imagine, I don't know what the average is right now of the last 20 games. It's not said in this story with this statistic, which would be helpful because it may take, it would probably take three or four poor games for him, like under 30, to bring that average down under 40.

So he may be on the verge of very easily passing Rick Barry and Kobe Bryant. Yeah. For, you know, to put him in. You know what? He is a heck of a horse player. No, he's more than a horse player, Tommy. A horse player is not needing to create the opportunity to shoot the ball, to just shoot it, as you would say.

That is a terrible, terrible analogy you just made. Horse is by yourself with nobody defending. James Hardin has an entire defense geared to stop him, and he's not like floating around. coming off screens and having people dish him. No, he doesn't move around a lot. It's basically that step-back move. It is hit more getting to the, no, it's more than just the step-back.

Nobody gets to the rim like he gets to the rim. I'll get that, but when he's shooting from the outside, it's knocking a guy back on their heels. You're not appreciating this. No, I don't. So it's going to be hard to convince you. I am, I just find that watching the Warriors, and last night they did it again, They put on another show against New Orleans.

They scored a buck 47 last night. Curry went for 41 last night. He's on a pretty good role here recently, too. I think his average is up to 30 a game. And he may be averaging in recent weeks more than 40. I'm pulling up his game log here because he's had 40 plus a bunch recently. 41 last night, 31 the night before, 48 the night before that, 28, 14, 42. anyway, Hardin's last two games of 57 and 58 without having one point assisted is amazing.

Yes, it is. It's wonderful. Really amazing. How is that even possible? On a 58 point night, how don't you at least get out on the break where somebody from the back court throws you a pass into the front court for a breakaway layup? Like how isn't that two of your points? You have the ball all the time. You have the ball the whole time. Yeah. The whole time. Yeah. Wow. That should be a familiar concept for you. No, I look to pass every once in a while. Who do they have next? They've got the Lakers next. LeBron's not back yet, right? He's still out. I heard he's got a groin injury. Yeah, he does. Did you see that other story, too, that Kyrie.

Irving made the comment about the young players on the Boston team and learning how to win. I'm going to pull up the quote right now. I think he, I think he, I read somewhere that maybe he called LeBron or spoke to LeBron and apologize for being such a knucklehead. Exactly. Because now he knows what LeBron was trying to do. Exactly. He had said after a loss on Saturday that the reason is,

experience, we're lacking it, and because of that, we've got a lot of learning to do. Close quote. He took a shot at the young players on his team, and then after that, he called LeBron to basically apologize and say, sorry, I was such a difficult guy to get through to when I was younger. And it wasn't that long ago. No, it wasn't. And look, this guy's a lunatic. If I was one of the younger players on the Celtics, I'd say, you know, I'm afraid I'm going to wake up one day, step outside and fall off the end of the world. He did say that he thought it was flat, didn't he?

Yes. I, uh, the NBA right now, Tommy, it is a great watch. Oh, God. It's such a good watch. It's obscene. I know it's, I know it's, you know, people will say, this is just entertainment and it's all this other stuff. It's the video game come to life.

The basketball night in and night out to watch the skill level. All right, put aside the. the changes in the game and the three-point shot and all of that. The skill level, and look, I'm sure you could have said that in the 70s and 80s compared to the guys in the 40s and 50s. You know, there's an evolution of physical maturity, of all of these things that lead to bigger, faster, stronger, but it's the skill level of the players today. That is, to me, stands out.

Steph Curry's ball handling and shooting ability in one body. Same goes for James Harden. The skill level of bigger players. You know, you're right. I used to feel that way when I'd go watch the Globetrotters play. I felt the same way. You know what? There's a lot of Globetrotter skill in the game today.

Yes. There's your indictment. There's your indictment right there. It's not an indictment because it's not an exhibition. These games are not exhibitions. They're games. They're competitions. Oh, I'd say they're exhibitions.

No, they're competitions. Yeah. And a lot of what Metalwork Lemon and Curly Neal and help me out with some of the others, a lot of what they did, ball handling-wise, is now being put into the actual competitive part of basketball. It's really, it is... The game sucks. You know what? You can say the game sucks, and I'm going to, I can appreciate your perspective in those like you. What you can't debate is that we've never seen basketball skill at this level. And I will concede that perhaps this.

same comments been made at various points in time in the past. You know, look, if you look at highlights of the NBA in the 40s, 50s, and 60s, it doesn't look anything like Magic Johnson and Isaiah Thomas, you know, and Larry Bird. But these guys don't look anything like those guys. They're a couple of guys. A couple of guys. Like Carl Malone physically, I think you could take from his era and put into this era and he'd look like the other big strong power forwards.

The Isaiah Thomas, you could take and put into this era because he really was in a magical ball handler and scorer and shooter, not at the range. He did not have the skill level. And maybe you'll say it's because he never had the green light and for some of his career didn't even have the rules. But you didn't have guys who were pulling up from 40 feet. And by the way, a coach not even bat an eye. Like it's, Steph Curry will pull up in the, on a fast break, on a one-on-four fast break, he'll pull up from 35 feet and shoot a three.

I know. I don't. So what's the point of the other four guys? Well, on their team, there's a big point to the other four guys. I get that. They're actually a, that's a beautiful brand of basketball to watch. I understand. Sort of like San Antonio was for a stretch.

Yeah. Now, what Houston does, I'm not saying that the basketball is beautiful. I'm just saying that James Harden's skill level is otherworldly. It is. Right, and I guess I want something more out of basketball. I do too, but I can still appreciate the individual and the unbelievable jump and skill level of this generation of basketball. And I guess I get angry because it's destroyed the sport that I love the most. You do love basketball.

Well, you played for the next. I mean, this was your game. Anyway, I still believe, by the way, when it comes to the competitive portion of this, not the entertainment portion of it, the competitive portion of it, I just can't see anybody beating Golden State in a best of seven. Probably not. I don't think it can happen. They are so beyond every other team when they play at their best.

Listen, in the NBA, the best team usually winds up. winning. It does. I mean, over seven game series, over the different levels it takes to get there. Coaching matters, matchups matter, talent

matters. The chances for an upset are very rare. Here's a question for you. Right now, we are in the midst of three incredible dynasties, although one of them was just derailed a little bit in Alabama. But, but

But we've had three of the greatest team sport teams in history. Golden State, Alabama and college football, and the Patriots and what they've been doing in the NFL. I don't think we really have anything to compare that. Now, Golden State, it's got a big list ahead of them in basketball. In terms of what? In terms of dynasties. Oh, yeah. No, I'm just saying that right now comparing these three dynasties.

You would admit that this is a dynastic run. for Golden State. Okay. So which of the three is the best team? Like which is the most impressive? Personally, I think it's the Patriots. For what you just said, that basketball, the best team always wins. College football, what Bama's done under Sabin is probably, it may be the greatest run unless you want to go back to some Notre Dame team of the 40s or Army team of the 40s. Or Bud Wilkinson's Oklahoma teams in the 50s. But I think it's the Patriots. I think it's the Patriots. because of the way the sport that they play is designed. It's not designed for a dynasty. It's designed for the opposite of a dynasty.

It's supposed to prevent a dynasty. You know, what's complicated about the patriots, and I agree with you, and this isn't their fault. It's just the way it's happened. They have played in the lamest, they've had the easiest path to the postseason. That's fair. That's the criticism. team because they're playing any AFC East.

Yes. It's a doormat, you know, it's a dormant division. And the Patriots don't have, they can prepare for the playoffs from the first game of the year. I mean, they can, they can prepare for it throughout the whole season and game plan for it and be ready because they know they're going to be there. Now that said, once they get to the playoffs, they have unbelievable success. Yeah. I mean, this is their eighth straight? AFC championship game?

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. The streak started in 2011. They beat the Ravens. They shouldn't have won that game, if you recall.

What's his face? The kicker that kicked here for a brief moment. I'm forgetting. Cundiff? Yeah, Pilly Cundiff. Oh, Cundiff. He missed, you know, a point-blank field goal. Then it was the Ravens the following year, and they lost that one in the rematch of the

AFC title game. Then they lost a day. Denver. Then they beat the Colts. They lost to Denver again, the Peyton Manning, Denver that year, right? 2016 is the Peyton Manning, Denver. Yes. Am I right about that? Yes. Yeah. And then they beat the Steelers last year, two years ago and beat the Jags last year. So that is unbelievable. They're getting ready to play their eighth consecutive AFC championship game. So I guess when you say, and the criticism always about New England's run here, is going to be, They benefited from playing in a very weak division, which allowed them to cruise during the regular season and easily accumulate 11 to 12 to 13 wins and get a first round by in home field.

And in fact, they have played the Brady era. He's 28 and 10 in the postseason. And of those 38 games, only seven have been played on the road. Only seven. This will be his eighth road playoff game on Sunday. I think he's three and four in those games. in the playoffs, which makes him at home 25 and 6 at home. 25 and 6 at home, right?

If he's 28 and 10 overall. So he has, God, I mean, the six that he's lost at home are seemed to be sort of flukeish in some cases, except for Baltimore. Baltimore really laid it to him one year in a wild card round. But still, But still, Tommy, that doesn't explain their playoff success. I know, no.

I think of the three, the Patriots is the most impressive. Except for the home field piece of it. Right. Except for the home field piece of it. The Patriots are, you know, what, since we're talking about since 2001? Yeah, 2001. Okay. For teams to consistently maintain that level and not self-destruct on their own is remarkable.

It's incredible. Yes. I mean, not to have, again, And you don't hear people leave New England and rip the organization. James Harrison just did an interview where he said he went to New England hating Tom Brady. When he left, he said he was one of the best teammates he ever played with. So people don't leave the Patriots ripping them a new one. You know, what a, oh, you know, it was terrible to play here, terrible to play for the coach.

you don't hear any of the noise that you hear at a Redskins park any Tuesday. Well, no, I mean, let's not, I mean, let's compare the Patriots to other great organizations. But again, I just, you just, to maintain that excellence. Well, they don't, when's the last time they had an Antonio Brown situation in Pittsburgh or a Levion Bell situation? I mean, they've tried players like Josh Gordon that haven't worked out because of true personal struggles. Yes. But you don't hear players like Levyon Bell and Antonio Brown wanting out. Players of that quality.

Am I right? I mean, I might be missing somebody. The one bizarre, well, you know, look, let's not forget SpyGate for one thing. I mean, you know, I mean, that is a little bit of a blemish. Not for me. Okay. Go ahead. But it will be.

If somebody's making a legacy, SpyGate will come up. The Aaron Hernandez I know Stuff was pretty bizarre Pretty bizarre But again that's a That's a personal You know

I guess the fact that they drafted somebody With that kind of personal You know Characteristic Personality personality flaw That's a blip Are we at the point When this legacy is written

When all of the All of this Patriot winning is done Have we gotten to the point, hopefully, where we can just completely discount Deflate Gate as complete and utter bogus. Well, I would hope so. Yeah, I mean. I would hope so.

You know, you and I have a different opinion about Deflate Gate. I think it was just, it was all about getting the Patriots. And Brady was just collateral damage. But, no, I don't think. I never, I never disagreed with you. I just disagreed. I just thought the entire, the entire, it was a farce. A case was bogus in a house of cards that completely.

completely came tumbling down around that, around Goodell and why am I blanking on the name of the, the chief investigator. The Wells Report. Yeah, I know. Yeah. The Wells report. Wells. I mean, it was a joke.

Yeah. I mean, the guy basically put together a fifth grade science project. I grant you that. The, uh, anyway, oh, one quick note on the game Sunday, you know how people have been talking all week about this brutally cold, uh, arrowhead, zero degree temperatures. Now the forecasted temperature for kickoff is 21 degrees. So it's not going to be nearly as bad as they thought. Belichick yesterday was asked about the weather, and he said, we'll be there.

Basically, he said, you know, I'm playing in a championship game. I don't care where you play. Just tell me where to show up. We'll be there. Yeah. The worst weather games that they've played in were some of those Colts games they played in in Foxborough that had snow falling during the game, some cold temperatures. the cold has never been an issue, I don't think, for the Patriots.

I could be wrong. I didn't go look this up. They're 28 and 10 since 2001, and they've played, as I just mentioned, of those 38 games, 31 in Foxborough in January. So they played in some cold games before. But anyway, I'm looking forward to that game, I think, more than even the NFC championship game. I'm actually glad that that is the second game of the night, the 640 kick. The Rams Saints should be great. I think it will.

it'll be great, but seeing the Patriots on the road at Arrowhead against this quarterback, that fan base. They've been on the road, you know, as we've mentioned before in some of these games. Denver's not an easy place to play. Pittsburgh, I don't know that Pittsburgh and Hinesfield in recent years has been incredibly intimidating. It's not an easy place to play. Arrowhead may be, you may be able to make the case that this is the toughest road environment, that the Patriots have gone into in the postseason. Yeah, it may be the case. You know, Indy probably wasn't easy at Lucas Oil back in the day.

Look, I'm not going to be here tomorrow so I can't talk about the games. Well, I want you to make picks. Well, I am. I'm going to. And I still like the Patriots to win in Kansas City. I mean, I'm going with Tom Brady's experience over Patma Holmes in experience in a situation like this. I think they'll both manifest themselves into game-turning moments in the game. I'll save my picks for tomorrow, but I don't have a good feel for that game.

I still, I told you early in the season, I did not think Kansas City was good enough to make it to the Super Bowl. They're one game away, and they're playing that game at home, and they're favored to be in the Super Bowl. They're three-point favorite. The defensive effort they showed last week was pretty impressive. I think it was very impressive for them. I just pointed out, and I had Mike Shanahan on the show on Monday, and he agreed with this. I just thought Andrew Luck looked completely off.

Yeah, he did. We talked about this. I mean, Brady's not going to look off. You know, one thing I didn't point out about the game that they played against the Chargers. Just in general, when you think about the Patriots and the games they have lost in the postseason. And it's, I think, uniformly true. You think about the Ravens and the Giants in particular, the Giants beating them, you know, twice in Super Bowls,

and the Ravens beating them, I think more than any other teams beaten them in the postseason. I think that's true. I think that's true, at least in Foxborough. What do all of those teams have in common? They've been able to get interior pass rush. Brady has looked he's looked normal as a quarterback

when he gets pressure up the middle and he's forced off his spot that's what's always derailed the Patriots is defensive interior pressure regular season look at when the dolphins have beaten them they've gotten interior pressure playoffs Ravens Giants interior pressure

is what always seems to derail New England offensively. And I don't know that the Chiefs can get interior pressure in this game. They could get exterior pressure, they could get edge pressure, but the Patriots always they always scheme around that. They scheme for that and they're able to handle that. It's the detackle that disrupts the play right from the snap as close to the quarterback as you can be defensively that has always given Tom Brady trouble.

Point. Very good point. And the Chargers didn't come close to doing that last week. Didn't come close and he absolutely crushed them. Crush them. All right. So your picks are? Again, I like New England and I like the Saints at home. I just don't think Drew Breeze is going to lose at home. No matter how great a coach, Sean McVeigh is. He's not going to lose to Jared Gauphin in the Superdome. I, God, I think both road teams have a chance. I think both road teams have a chance. I'll have my official picks on the show tomorrow. You know, it's like last weekend and almost the weekend before Tommy about these NFL playoffs, very few results would be shocking. None of the results on Sunday would be shocking.

Any one of the four teams winning, no one's going to say, oh, I didn't see that coming. I mean, if New England wins, Kansas City wins, Saints or Rams, you know, the Super Bowl matchup I mean, I think it would be cool to see Breeze and Brady in a Super Bowl. Yeah. You know, that would, but at the same time, if it's golf and Mahomes. And to see a rematch of 54-51. Yeah. You know?

So anyway, real quickly on Ferrisch, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Fairfax. They should be on your list if you're considering something new. Go to Farish Cars.com right now to see their live inventory, live pricing, best deals. I've been friends with Ralph Perkins and Kevin Ferris for over a decade. They're smart guys. They really know what you want, and they're going to put their best sales effort out there. And they've got a great service team, too, if you end up buying from them. You're usually in and out very quickly.

Right now, they've got a ton of inventory on their lot from last year. They're trying to move it so that they can get new shipments in. Their best rebates of the year exist right now, specifically on four vehicles. The Jeep Cherokee, the Jeep Grand Cherokee, the Jeep Rangler, and the Ram pickup. If you like this show and you've been thinking about buying something new, especially a Chrysler, Dodge, or Jeep, or Subaru, they've got a Subaru dealership as well. I give you my word that you'll be taken care of if you head out to Farish and ask for Ralph Perkins. They're located right there in Fairfax Circle. Ask for Ralph when you get there.

Tell him, I sent you. You can find out everything you need to know about Ferris at ferrishcars.com. You'll see live inventory, live pricing, and their best deals right now at ferrishcars.com. All right. The last thing I wanted to get to you is your Hall of Fame ballot, which you're... It comes out next Tuesday, the announcement. But before we get to that, what's going on with Bryce Harper and Manny Machado? Is it my impression, and I'm not following day-to-day every single story, every single quote, but outside looking in as a sports fan, it just seems like the markets for both of these players are nowhere near where either player thought they would be.

Well, we don't know what the players thought. We know what the media thought. And media thought, including myself, both would be well over $300 million, like $300 million, 10-year deals. Bob Nightingale, USA Today and Buster Only, ESPN, reporting that Machado's deal right now, only deal that's been made to him. It's 175. From the Chicago White Sox.

And the agent went ballistic saying it's not true. It's a reckless report. Look, I know both of those guys. They're not reckless. Maybe somebody who is a credible source has given them bad information. But, I mean, those guys are as credible baseball writers as I know. Bryce Harper, Bob Nightingale, has Harper in a Philly's uniform come opening day. That's what he said. He said, the Phillies have the money. They'll pay

whatever they need to for Harper. Harper had a great meeting with the Phillies lunatic manager, Gabe Kapler. Why? Because he's a total analytics manager. Well, not just how he's a little bit. He's a bizarre guy. Okay. I want to interrupt you right there because I just, there are a couple of things that I want you to answer before you get into your prediction, which it sounds like you're heading towards. Are you surprised that Bryce Harper and Manny Machado, I'll throw him into the mix here, that they haven't signed with somebody yet? Yeah, I mean, we're three weeks from the opening of spring training. Yeah, I'm a little surprised that it's gone on this long. I mean, I would, I actually thought that Harper would, would sign at the winter meetings in Las Vegas

in December. And that's like six, seven weeks ago. So why haven't they signed? I don't know. I don't no, Kevin. I could speculate and say that, you know, the agents of the players don't want to be the first one to sign the contract because then the other one will make sure that they get more. There's a lot of intramural competition here between Boers. I thought it was assumed, though, that Harper was going to get a bigger deal than Machado to start with. It has been assumed that. It has been assumed that. But if you're Machado's and you have a team that wants him bad, and Harper's contract has already been signed,

you try to squeeze that out of the team that wants him bad. And apparently that's not the case, and which I don't, you know, may have heard himself with his, you know, lack of hustle antics and all that as well. On Harper, you predicted the Dodgers all along. And when they traded Kemp and Pueg, I was like, Tommy's right. They're clearing the space. And now it hasn't happened yet.

It hasn't happened yet. They're not being named in any reports. There's supposedly some kind of mystery teams, but it's a mystery as to who they are. I'm going to stick with the Dodgers. There was a story that came out by Bob Nightingale, of all people, talking about how the Dodgers are about to take a major step forward aggressively, business-wise,

in their marketing of their team because of the landscape in Los Angeles has changed so dramatically in the past 10 years. And the competition for the entertainment dollars now includes you have two basketball teams. Right. You have two hockey teams. You have two NFL teams.

You have two major college football teams. And this is one of the reasons why I thought, and you have LeBron. coming to L.A. Well, he's there. Right. So this is why I thought that the Dodgers in part would be more involved in the Bryce Harper sweepstakes. And until he signs, I'm not counting them out.

Now, Nightingale, who again, who I trust a lot, doesn't mean he's right. He says the Nats never made another counter offer to Harper as ESPN reported, and they're pretty much out of it. Okay, that's always going to ask you. Are the Nats still in it or not? I don't know. Nightingale's always had really good information as it relates to the nationals. It doesn't mean he's right. Doesn't mean he's right.

I just, that's the status of it right now. Are the Yankees? Typically in these situations, the Yankees are always a part of the conversation. Are they a part of this conversation or not? Or could they sneak into this conversation? They could always sneak in. Look, I'm sure. You mentioned a mystery team or two.

Yeah, I'm sure. You know, before the ink is signed on any contract, either agent is calling the Yankees and saying, hey, this is it. You want my guy. This is the deal. Of course, you make that call to the Yankees. Ultimately, give me, you think it's the Dodgers and give me the number for Harper. Is it Stanton territory, $325 million or whatever?

Wasn't that $325 million? Yeah, over 13 years. Yeah. Is it that, is it at that level or less than that? I think it's at that level, but over less years. Okay. Does it happen this week? Next week, when is it going to happen?

It's got to happen within, like I said, we're three weeks away from pitchers and catchers reporting. Right. I'll say this, Max Schurzer signed on conference championship day when he signed with the nationals. Okay. That's this Sunday. So I wouldn't be surprised if it happens real soon. And you got to think if it's, let's say, let's say Bryce Harper's offer is $320 million.

It would seem kind of foolish if the nationals were serious about their 10-year $300 million offer. That they wouldn't come up. That they wouldn't come up another $2 million a year, basically, is what we're talking about. Yeah. So. All right.

So tell me about the 2019 Hall of Fame ballot. Tommy is a Hall of Fame voter. You have been for how long now? I've been a Hall of Fame voter for 14 years now. 14 years. All right. So tell me who's on the ballot. You know, I think I read something about Halliday and Mariana Rivera.

He's got to be a lock. Yeah. Yeah. So tell me about what, you know. Okay. Well, here's my ballot. Okay. And I wrote a column about it in the Washington Times.

But I also wrote more about Harold Baines. who already was elected by the modern error committee, the old veterans committee. But here's my ballot. Roy Halliday, Jeff Kent, who is not going to get in, but it was one of the most prolific second baseman in terms of run production we've ever seen.

I think he had over 100 RBIs five times in his career. Edgar Martinez, probably the best designated hitter of baseball history. with Harold Baines right there with him. Fred McGriff, who is getting jobbed because of the inflated steroid numbers that make his less than 500 home runs look less impressive. Mike Messina, 270 career wins,

half of them with an Orioles franchise that half of those years had losing seasons in an American League with the designated hitter in the steroid era, the best pitcher I ever saw day in and day out. Mariano Rivera, Omar Viscale, the best shortstop I've ever seen play. And that includes Ozzie Smith. What are the rules? How many people can you vote for?

Up to 10. Okay. I voted for nine. Billy Wagner, a lights out reliever, and Larry Walker, great outfielder for the Montreal Expos and Colorado Rockies. No Barry Bonds. No Roger Clemens. No Manny Ramirez.

Andy Pettett. No, no, Andy Pettit. I don't vote. Did you have Roy Halliday on your list? Yeah, I had Halliday. Okay. Yeah, he was the first one I had. Those guys have circumstantial connections to performance enhancing substances.

I'm not voting those guys in the Hall of Fame. Barry Bonds admitted he used PEDs in grand jury testimony, but said he didn't know what they were. Clemens was named in the Mitchell report. and I believe what his accuser, Brian McNamee, said, Mani Ramirez is a two-time was suspended twice for PEDs. For violating baseball's drug policy. And the line I draw on the sand is somebody said to me, well, why did you vote for Mike Piazza or Ivan Rodriguez?

They're suspected of using steroids based on their size, based on their numbers, based on their performance. That's it. There's no document. There's no court document. There's no testimony. There's no investigation that links any of them to performance enhancing substances. So I voted for those guys.

Where are we? Where is the Hall of Fame voting group right now on Bonds and Clemens? They inch up every year. I think they got three years left after this year. I think they might both get in. Really? Yeah, it's getting close. Not this year, though.

No. Not this year. Right now they're pulling at about 73% with the known ballots and that'll go down with the unknown ballots. So they'll end up with the high 60s probably this year. Which is what I mean, kind of like a little bit edge up from what they were. But once you get past Derek Jeter next year, the classes that they'll have to compete with of newcomers. Yeah. They're not that impressive.

Oh, really? I mean, part of what happens is, you know, I don't. only compete with the guys who have been on the ballot, you have to compete with the newcomers for votes. It's hard to get 75%. A lot of people only vote for three or four guys. I usually vote for 10. I voted for 9 this time. So I think that there's a chance that those guys might get in in the next two years. And I think it'll cause irreparable harm to the Hall of Fame. I think you'll see Hall of Famers stay away from the induction ceremonies from now on because they won. And don't want to share a stage with the cheaters.

Joe Morgan made it clear last year that the membership does not want Barry Bonds or Clemens in the Hall of Fame. If they get in, and if that's what the voters decide, fine. That's, that's, that's, you know, I'm not going to turn it into a holy war. Right. Like the critics have, if you don't vote for these guys. But they may get in, which kind of surprises. What about Kurt Schilling?

He was a borderline guy. whose resume, whose ticket in is his 11 and 2 postseason record. But Kevin, we're not talking about robots. We're talking about writers who vote. And when you come out and align yourself with a social media, you know, notice that playfully advocates lynching of newspaper, of writers. Right.

He didn't help himself. You're going to hurt you. If you're a borderline guy, here's what I always said. Like Eddie Murray, look, Eddie Murray's not in the same category. Eddie Murray's a great guy,

but he and writers did not get along. Eddie Murray and Art Monk had some similarities, right? Yes, yes. But, but you have to, if you're going to play by your own rules, you have to be so good that they can't ignore you.

Just out of curiosity, is Miguel Tahada, He's on the ballot. He is? He's going to fall off already. Okay. I think this, he's going to fall off this year, I think.

All right, so you feel good about your ballot? Yeah, I do. I do feel good about my ballot. Have you ever voted for 10? And what's the least number you've ever voted for? Is there a minimum? No, there's no minimum.

So it's just up to 10? Yeah. I usually, I can't recall, I have to go back and look at them. I don't think I've ever voted for less than nine. I mean, I've always been pretty, like I voted for, for Davy Concepcion when he was on the ballot.

I thought he was the best shortstop of the 70s. I voted for Dale Murphy, two-time MVP. Neither of those guys got in. Murphy will probably get in at some point with the Veterans Committee. Mariano Rivera is the only lock. Am I right about that or not? I'm looking at the list right now. I'm thinking Halliday is because of his, you know,

because of the tragic circumstances surrounding his death. and he was a dominant, he was a dominant pitcher. I mean, his cumulative numbers, I think he has 208 career wins or something like that, 203. But one of the things I wrote about was, I mean,

how disgusted I am with this whole process because of the attacks by losers out there of people who make decisions on a player just based on the player. Like the Harold Baines decision by the Modern Era Committee, I'm sorry, but Harold Baines is worthy of being in the Hall of Fame. And people will say, well, what about Edgar Martinez? What about Richie Allen? What about Fred McGriff?

Yeah, you know, you want to make the case of that. But that's the what aboutism. That's what we suffer from. That has nothing to do with Harold Baines. In other words, like, you're going to keep a guy out because other guys aren't. getting in? Right. That's ridiculous. I'll be there when Harold Baines is inducted in Cooperstown, by the way. I'll be there for that. And I used to vote for him when he was on the ballot. But I was a small minority. Most writers did not vote for him. I remember him as being a clutch

postseason performer. Am I right? He didn't have that many postseason appearances. But in his, in the appearances he had, as a pinch hitter in particular, didn't he have some big hits, or am I thinking of somebody else? I can be thinking of somebody else. I think you're thinking of somebody else. All right. He was like, he was the, I tell you what, I know guys who played with him,

Hall of Fame guys, and each one of them would say that's the guy you want up going, going to the plate with the game on the line. This guy's going to put that bat on the ball. And, you know, that's what I'm talking. That's a difference between information and knowledge. Real quick.

Barry Larkin was a borderline guy. You had 299 career batting average, which was a National League MVP, but I wasn't sure if I was going to vote for him. And then I talked to a couple of his old Reds teammates who told me stories about what an impact in the clubhouse he was, what a leader he was, how important he was to them. That put me over to top.

Yeah. That was the difference maker. Information. Yeah, that's knowledge. No, that's knowledge. That's knowledge. That's knowledge. That's not information.

Information is all those numbers that get crunched. Yeah. And three of the six criteria for Hall fame have nothing to do with performance. Two things before we leave you today. Number one yesterday on the show, we had Jeff Herman on from Inside Maryland Sports. Yes, I'm familiar with Jeff. And we were talking Jalen Hertz, you know, about the possibility. And Vegas's odds had Maryland, Maryland is the leader to land Jalen Hertz.

This is the second time this week. We did the whole Greg Williams thing. and then right when we left the studio, the got announced Greg Williams had signed in yesterday. Within minutes after posting the podcast, Jalen Hertz committed to Oklahoma. Look, I mean, it's, come on.

I mean, that's what I said to Jeff yesterday. I'm like, it's Oklahoma. It's the last two quarterbacks were transfers and they won the Heisman trophy in Kyler Murray and Baker Mayfield. And they're almost guaranteed, it seems like, to be in the playoff. Although Texas is really good next year in the Big 12.

The other thing is, I don't know if you saw this story. Chris Thompson, the Redskins running back. Did you read this? About Adrian Peterson? He tweeted out the following. Funny story. When AP Adrian Peterson was on his visit here,

I introduced myself to him and assumed he knew who I was based on how well I played the previous season. As we were talking, he said, you play cornerback, right? That's funny. And Chris Thompson said, my heart dropped. He's a really good team.

He is a great guy. This team actually has some really good guys who should be the core, could be the core of a winning team. You know, Chris Thompson, John Allen. He deserves better. Yeah. He's a good guy. And when he's healthy, he deserves better. He deserves better.

He's a force of nature on offense. I think he, I mean, the season he was having in 2017 before the injury in New Orleans was really, you know, He was in that discussion of the top three to five guys is the third down, you know, pass receiving back out of the backfield. Oh, yeah. He was, when they lost him in that New Orleans game, you know, for all intents and purposes, their season ended on that day, you know, coupled with the fact that they blew the 15-point lead

in the final two minutes of the game, three minutes of the game. All right, so your picks are in. You've got the Saints and the Patriots. I will see you on Tuesday. Have a good weekend. Weather-wise, I think we're going to be all right. I think maybe a little snow tonight, nothing major. And then over the weekend, it's still up in the air,

but I think it's going to be more rain with maybe a little bit of snow on the back end. That could change, though. That could change, just like last week's forecast change. And right now the plans are not to have Sue Palka on the show tomorrow because I don't think we have a big storm to talk about for the weekend. But again, that could change between now and tomorrow. You've gotten soft in your old age when it comes to weather prediction. I don't ever remember you saying that could change so much.

Oh, I definitely have been on the waffling weather list, just like all the guys out there. Like, you know, one day they're, the best thing about these weather people is they'll tell you after the fact they got it right. Yeah, they got it right as the storm was in progress. They didn't get it right for the three or four days that preceded the storm. Anyway, thanks to Aaron. Scott, I think, will be on with us tomorrow. And yes, I did see his very moving tribute to his father. his father. And as one of his very close friends for a long time, I know how much his father meant to him.

And it was so well done. If you haven't seen it, it's all over the internet. But he took his one last thing, one big thing that he does on the show, on the Sports Center show. And he did a tribute to his father, who 31 years ago, January 15th, passed away at a very young age. Anyway, have a great day.