The Kevin Sheehan Show - Steph, Schefter, SVP

Episode Date: October 25, 2018

It's a Sports Fix Thursday and Thom is in. Kevin and Thom open the show by talking about the Wizards loss to Steph Curry and the Warriors, as well as the World Series. Adam Schefter then joins to talk about the state of the Redskins and the rest of the NFL. After Schefter, Scott Van Pelt calls in to talk about his segment on SportsCenter Wednesday night, the Redskins, college football and more. They wrap it up with a look at the potential ramifications of Redskins/Giants and NFL Power Polls. <p> </p><p>Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a></p> Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

You want it. You need it. It's what everyone's talking about. The Kevin Sheehan Show. Now here's Kevin. You're listening to The Sports Fix. All right, I'm here. Tom's here.

Aaron is here. The show's presented by Window Nation. If you're in the market for new Windows, please call 86690 Nation or go to Window Nation.com. World Series Game 2, Wizards Warriors, some Redskins stuff, then Adam Schefter, then Scott Van Pelt, then your favorite segment of the week,

NFL weekly power poll, and maybe, maybe an early smell test pick for tonight. Listen, I want to... A little bit later on in the program here. My new favorite segment of the podcast is how long did it take Tommy to get here today? And it took me two hours and ten minutes to get here today. And I figured out something that you could do until we figured this out. Okay. When I'm on the podcast and Tuesday doesn't count because it's election day, so traffic will

be light. From, from eight o'clock on, I want you to listen to WTOP for the entire time. Every time they do a traffic thing, I want you to listen to it. Can I just tune in for traffic and weather on the nine? I want you to hear the words, 270 is a wall over and over again. You know, I came down here and did not put one tire on 270 the entire time from Frederick. I took ways and it made me, it had me make 30 turns. What was the time today?

Two hours and 10 minutes. Kevin, it's so bad that look what you reduced me to. I went out and I bought my, the thing that stresses me out the most, my comfort food of all time, Entemans coffee cake. Boy, Entenman's had some good stuff back in the day. I haven't had any Entom's stuff in a long time.

There's one for you if you want one. I don't think I've ever had the mini crumb cake. They're new. The donuts and the chocolate chip cookies from way back, the donuts where you had the mixed pack, where you had the all-choclet, where you had sort of a sugar donut and a powdered sugar donut. And then I think there was a cinnamon donut in there as well. These crumb cakes, coffee cakes, look good. I think I will have one.

Thanks for bringing that in. Well, that's how stressed out I am. I stopped it safe way. Now, there aren't many left. This looks like a new box, maybe two hours ago. two hours and what 10 minutes ago and now there are only a couple of them left so i'm glad that they were a big stress reliever isn't that interesting that you just said that because i think that's one of my bigger problems with food is when there's any sort of stress and i don't have major major

stresses in my life just the normal run-of-the-mill you know father with three you know boys who you worry about now this whole new venture yes but it's always comfort food of course that makes it better. Absolutely. Always comfort food. All right. I don't know what we're going to do about it. I mean,

maybe you, I mean, God, you used to love the snowstorms at 980 where they would put you up in a hotel overnight in Rockville. Maybe we have you come down here on Monday and Wednesday nights

and we put you up in a hotel. Yeah, that's a rich. I tell you why, Kevin. You would do it. Oh, of course I would do it. Let's just say there better be a pot of gold at the end of this rainbow.

Oh, God. I don't know if I mean Look there are a lot of good things happening But there's a whole lot that we still got to figure out here Okay Let's get moving Let's get moving because I want to get to get to move in Let's get moving because I want to get to some things here

And then I want to bring in Adam Schepter But just let me just say Because it's now two days this week Of a two hour plus commute This is going to be hanging over my head During the entire show Thinking of ways Because I'm able to sort of multitask

Most of the time Thinking of ways that we can make this better for you. I think the easiest answer is we've got to figure out how to get Tommy set up at home in a little mini studio with some equipment. And, you know, we just do it on Skype. We're, you know, that's what Kooley and I did for two and a half years, your favorite person. We just, we were on Skype most of the time. Well, I'm banned from Skype. I don't know if you know that. What were you doing on Skype?

Well, I didn't know you were supposed to have your clothes on when you Skype. First time I used it. All right. I thought it was a different kind of service. Get to Wizards Warriors. Let's touch on the World Series last night. I'm sure you watched it. I watched a lot of it.

David Price, who coming into this postseason couldn't win a postseason game, has now won two in a row, and he was great last night, six innings of three hit, two earned run pitching. And that was off the series clinching win that he pitched over Houston in the ALCS.

I thought one of the more interesting moments for Nat's fans was when Ryan Mads. came into the game for that big spot and promptly walked in the tying run and then gave up a two-run RBI single to J.D. Martinez. Yes, yes. I don't know if Nats fans feel good or bad about that. I imagine there's someone going to feel, okay, now do you guys know how we felt with that bullpen this year. And there were others that were probably rooting for Ryan Mattson.

You know, Sandy Leone, the catcher for the Red Sox is a former national who once had. I think fans tend to do that sometimes. They tend to latch on to a former player and root for them. But the three hits that the Dodgers got for a road game, the last time the Dodgers got three hits on a road game and a postseason game was Don Larson's perfect game. Really? No, it couldn't be Don Larson's perfect game.

No, come on. They've played in so many postseason games. You're going to tell me that they haven't had a three-hit or less game? It was in that series. It was in the 56 series. Really? Road post game. Road World Series game.

Well, that's it. Here's the thing, and it always makes you angry, which is why I bring it up. You know, the ratings already are way down. They were for game one. I haven't seen them for game two. But, you know, did I mention this to you on Tuesday that on Sunday morning after the National League Championship Series 7th and deciding game on Saturday night on SportsCenter? And this isn't your call.

And I, you know, I'm not putting this on you. but it was a B-block story. It was in the second after they had gone to a commercial block. None of the games were on ESPN. Why would they put it on the first block? Come on. It's the National League Championship Series 7th and deciding games. ESPN does that all the time.

I guess that's true. And the two things they led with were an ABC college football game, which was the Purdue upset of Ohio State, and the LeBron James home opener where there was a big fight with Chris Paul and Rajan Rondo. And I forgot to mention this yesterday. I don't think I mentioned it. Rondo's comments, and I'm digressing here for a moment,

Rondo came out very strongly and said what I really felt intuitively, which is that he didn't spit on purpose. I'm not saying that he was going to come out and admit it. I don't think he did spit on purpose. But anyway, back to the World Series. It just, I'm watching it, but I'm watching it, Tommy, out of tradition, because it's October. It's the World Series.

And last night's a night, where it's not in competition with anything sports-wise. I get that. I get that. And again, I was in a bar Wednesday night. Every TV anecdotally is on the World Series. Okay. In a bar.

What was the average age of the people in the bar? In the average age of the people were in the bar? Ten. Was it the early bird special night? This was a pre-kindergarten bar. It was? They were 10 years old. What were you doing in there?

I was wooing new baseball fans. Okay, good. How's that? Again, you know, it is a measure, but less and less television ratings are an accurate measure of interest because they can't. Again, I'm looking at my phone here and they have no idea. I haven't seen the stream numbers. They have no, this is not even streaming. I haven't seen the video stream.

They can't. If you're watching it on a device, they can't tell. No, they can. No, they can. Some of it they can. Unless they put a device on your phone or your iPad, they can't tell what you're watching. All right. I don't know how that works right now.

I thought streaming video could be measured now. No, that won't stop you. Okay. Streaming video on TVs, yes. On devices like this, no. Okay. Can we get to the Wizards Warriors? By the way, do you think any chance that the Dodgers go back and make it a series at home?

Yeah, I do. I think it's possible. I mean, look, my favorite World Series of all time, the 86 series, the Mets and the Red Sox, the Mets lost the first two games at Shea Stadium. Then they won the next two games at two out of the next three of Fenway Park. So it happens. Brought it back and won the famous game six, which got him to a seventh and deciding it. So it happens.

All right. Before you just tell me all Steph Curry does is just shoot it, which was always your favorite line. All he's doing, Kevin is just shooting it. No, he does more than shoot it, Tommy. What is it that he does? Well, he's the greatest combination of ball handling and shooting in one play. ever. And in fact, if you want to put Isaiah or Pistol Pete, which is where I think you might go with that, in his category, they're not, because neither one of them could shoot it like him.

No one's ever shot it better from long range. I'm not talking about from three point range. I'm talking from well beyond three point range than Curry. Four of his 11 made threes last night. If you missed it, he had 51 points last night. And they beat the Wizards. Yeah, they beat the Wizards, 144 to 122. In three quarters, he didn't play at all in the fourth quarter. He was 11 for 16, 69% from behind the ark. 15 of 24 overall, 62%. Also, oh, by the way, 10 for 10 from the free throw line for 51 points.

I haven't seen all of his great shooting performances, but as I was making notes last night, one of the notes I wrote down was, I bet in terms of aggregate length of shots, made shots on threes, this had to be one of the all-time greats because they were all from, I mean, half of them, it seemed to me, were from 30 feet and beyond. They weren't near the three-point line. And as it turned out, ESPN had the number this morning.

Four of his three-pointers were from beyond 30 feet, which was the most ever for him. the aggregate length, and they went and did this, of his three-point shots, 337 feet, which for him was the second best of his career, I would assume that his first best is the best of all time. No one's ever shot it from this range consistently. Not Reggie Miller, not Ray Allen, not anybody. Okay, here's what's fair, Kevin. It's different errors. And I'll tell you why.

There's the pre-3-point error and there's the post-3-point error. Steph Curry. We've been in the post three-point era now for decades. I know that. But Steph Curry looked over at the guy who was a pretty good shooter at some point. Steve Kerr. And other guys as well. I mean, what would Rick Barry do if there was a three-point shot when Rick Barry played?

What would he have done? Not this. How do you know? Because I remember Rick Barry playing. Rick Barry was a really good shooter. It was a really good offensive player. I think the better comparison, is what Reggie Miller, somebody with the quick release, with the deep range,

would have done in an era where shooting 35-foot-3s was acceptable to a coach, where you actually, in transition, it was okay to pull up from 38 feet in fire a three. Reggie Miller played in an era where they were, he shot, they were starting to shoot more threes, not like now, but not from this range. not from this range. Kevin, you are dismissing the guy who beat your team in five games, average 40 points a game when it was a two-point shot in the NBA finals. He didn't average 40 in those NBA finals in 1970.

No, he didn't. I don't think he averaged 40. You know what's interesting, though? That was on, have you watched any of the NBA love story thing on ESPN? I have not watched any of it yet. And they did a whole thing on the Warriors' Bullets 75 series. And they call it, they call it. They call it the great.

greatest upset in the NBA finals history. Because it was five games. Well, it was four games. They won in four straight. Four straight. That's right. Yeah, they won a four straight.

When the bullets were prohibitive favorites and most thought they would take Golden State out in four games. So I just don't see how you could just dismiss Rick Barry. Look, I'm sure that some of these players had they played today. I said Rick Barry. I know. I know you're talking about one player. I know you're talking about one player.

And I think he could do what Curry does. One of the reasons Curry is able to do what he does. does, though, Tommy, is because he's one of the greatest ball handlers of all time, too. He's just got a great, I mean, I get that. But, you know, back then, as long as you have the release, you can make that shot with. Okay, look, comparing of what somebody would do in an arrow without a three-point shot, when the goal was to get as close to the rim as possible on every possession. Except not when Rick Barron had the ball. I understand there were some really good

years. Larry Bird was a phenomenal long-range shooter. But back to Curry for a moment, because last night, Steve Kerr, who you mentioned, his coach, and Steve Kerr was a hell of a shooter and a hell of a long-range shooter. And would have been one of those guys, because he had a super quick release, even at his size, that if shooting 30-foot-3s was acceptable back then, would have been a really good long, long-range three-point shooter. But he said after the game, he said, look, this is now a situation where when he comes down and he pulls up from 40 feet, which he did late, as a coach, you're sitting there and you're thinking, that's not a bad shot attempt from 38 to 40 feet. It is unbelievable. His quick release has always been what I thought would be the separator

with him coming out of Davidson. When you and I were doing a show and I said, I love Curry because he's got one of those super quick releases. Never, I would have never guessed this. But his combination of ball handling and shooting in one body is the best that I've ever seen. I've always said that Isaiah might have been close, but Isaiah is not the shooter. No one near the shooter. Korea's, I mean, good God, this guy last night had two 20 plus point quarters. I know. Actually, in the fourth quarter, in the third quarter, 23 in the first, it was an unbelievable display, one of the best ever for him. It really was. I'll tell you why. I will admit that he's changed the game more than anybody in the last few decades.

Anybody. Yeah, he has changed the game. And the problem is not everybody can shoot like Curry, but now everybody tries. Everybody tries. And look, I see it, I've seen it at the youth level for the last several years. I mean, I had teams, you know, young AAU travel teams where we weren't very athletic and we didn't have a lot of size. And there were games where we had, you know, 25, you know, three point attempts in a game

with a running clock, you know, which was a lot. And you see it everywhere where kids do try to do this. And they, and there are great shooters out there, great young shooters out there. I know that. But again, the problem is they don't know what to do when their shots not come flowing. I want to just say this before we get to Adam Schaefter about the Wizards, because, you know, all of the box score readers, I like to call them, would look at the final score of 144, 122 and say, oh, defense was terrible. And it wasn't terrible. It wasn't great.

It wasn't terrible. But that's what box score readers do. They don't know the game. They can't tell you what's going on in a game. But what hurts the Wizards more times than not defensively is their offense. It's so aggravating to watch four players stand and not move on offense. They're all finding their three-point shot on the court. watching one player go ISO.

Occasionally another gets involved with a ball screen. Nothing's organized offensively. They're standing around, Tommy, what it does, and this is the biggest thing that box score readers don't understand, is when you don't run good offense, then defensively you can rest, and it gives you your fresher offensively. That's what makes Golden State's numbers defensively

has made them look so good over the years. Now, they have some good defenders like Draymond Green and Clay Thompson, but Steph Curry's not a good defender. But what's made their numbers look so good is that offensively they make you work so hard that you now are worn out and you don't run nearly as good offense on the other end. The Wizards far too much.

And they're not the only team in the league that does this. There are a lot of teams that do this. It drives coaches nuts when they watch the NBA. and they see four players on offense standing and not moving. And the Wizards are just too many nights way too easy to guard. And you know, here's another problem. Here's another problem with their offense. And they've got a guy in John Wall who if he gets the ball quick and run the court,

they don't box out. Nobody boxes out. They don't get the ball quick enough off the board. They can't run the court like they, like they've had to go small. here early because they don't have a big book. But he means no, he can't box anybody out. No, but I want to make, I want to emphasize your point. Being undersized is not necessarily an excuse for not rebounding.

Right, because that's timing. That's a timing thing. Well, it's fundamental boxouts and keeping people away from the offensive glass. And a lot of Curry's three-pointers last night came off of second chance offensive rebounds. They're terrible boxing out. There were some embarrassing moments for John Wall last night, trying to go one-on-one against a set defense after Curry had done something special on the other end. And he's like,

well, maybe I'm, maybe I can do it too. And just bad shots, bad turnovers. Look, it was Golden State's night. It was Steph Curry's night. The Wizards, though, there's got to be a little bit more organization offensively. You've got to make a team actually move a little bit on defense. And it'll help your defense. But it was 85% ISO ball last night. And they shot it, okay, which is why they ended up with 122 points. They didn't run good offense. They just made some shots. And I think Golden State at some point said,

well, they're not going to score more than we're going to score. They go to Sacramento Friday night. And if you're a basketball fan, I want to see Marvin Bagley on Friday night for Sacramento because he looks good. I had a chance to see him the other night, number two picking the draft out of Duke. They're pretty good.

I want to point out, Kevin, 49 more wins until they get to 50. Yes. Still. I got it. I got you. Harley and Aaron from Window Nation are fans and believers in this podcast, and me and Tom, we want you to trust in them if you're thinking about new windows. They're my favorite window company. I've used Window Nation multiple times. It should be your favorite window company as well. Temperatures are falling fast. Great reminder that your window, pun intended, for getting new windows installed before the holidays and snow hits is closing.

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right now you'll get two windows for every two windows you buy and zero percent interest for five years visit windowination.com save this winter and forever on your energy bills eliminate eliminate those nasty drafts and start enjoying all the benefits of new windows window nation dot com or call eight six six ninety nation today it's been a long time for tom and i together to have adam schepter on the show but we're thrilled to have them back it's been a while for both of us together with you. How you doing? Hello there gentlemen. Kevin, Tom, nice to do with you guys. Same here. I know. You know, we were talking about this. I think we did that thing with you once a week for seven years when we did the sports fix on 980. Is that how long it was?

It was like six or seven years. Yeah, a long time. Yeah, it was crazy. I think it's the only radio job. I feel like I got fired for it. No, you didn't get fired. Adam, Adam, obviously the one who got fired. Yeah. There were considerations made that were outside of our decision-making ability, and you know we would have kept you on. We loved having you.

All right, let's get to see. And I will just say before we move on there, you know, you do a lot of radio work, and every time I did radio with you guys, I truly loved doing it, and we always had fun. Always did. All right, so let's try to have some fun now. What do you think of the Redskins so far? And from the people around the league that you talk to, do you think that they are taking Washington seriously

as a legitimate threat to win their division? Well, there's nobody that's jumping out in that division. And so with every team just floundering along the way, yeah, the Redskins are going to have a chance to win that division. The Giants have already basically bagged it on the season. the cowboys have not looked overly impressive, though they made a move to try to strengthen themselves by acquiring Murray Cooper.

The Eagles just seem like they're struggling to recapture the magic from last year for a multitude of reasons. And the Redskins are just going about taking care of the business. It's not been overly impressive so far. What are they? Four and two, I believe, right? Yes, they are. Four and two.

I mean, I think a lot of that is probably just the professional. of Alex Smith and stepping in. I don't think it's been an overly impressive form, too, but they have looked up on defense. They've been relatively smart on offense, despite all the injuries that they've incurred there, and they're a bit of time of them. So I think you're a red-skinned thing.

You've got to be pretty pleased right now. All right. Sort of a bigger picture question on them. Do you believe that this year is make or break for both or at least one of the following? Jay Gruden, Bruce Allen. I don't know how to find that. And I just say that every year's make or break in this league for every coaching GM.

And so I know that some guys are getting more of a leash and more of the benefit of a doubt than others. And, you know, those men have done it for a long time in Washington. You know, I don't know what happened if the season all of a sudden went the other way. But, you know, what I know now is that they're four and two. And so I know that's the popular idea and questioning to go to areas that, You know, people love firing off people, but I, you know, but that's not, yeah, that's not what I just thought, you, you know, you know people in the organization. And coming into this year, you know, with the, you know, the last couple of years of quarterback drama, et cetera, I think a lot of people in the fan base, I think Tommy and I feel the same way, that this was for Gruden and Allen, who were pretty much tied to the hip, this was a put up or shut up season. This needed to be a playoff season. I just, I was curious as to whether or not, you know, you, you know, going into the season felt the same way? Look, I think that they've had a lot of the same people in place for a while.

So I think when they don't win, I think there's always people that are all of a sudden, you know, going to be questioned, going to be, I think that when you don't win, people are going to come under fire. And it's been the same people in place for a while. So if they don't win again, yes, there's going to be questions. or asked. I mean, that's about the best thing I could say on it. I wish you'd give you more. Adam, they're four and two, and they wouldn't be four and two, and they're not going to win if they don't have a 33-year-old running back that wasn't even on the roster until the third week in August. And that's Adrian Peterson. He has been their salvation offensively as they've struggled.

When he was on the street, was there any buzz for him at all? And is this performance surprising? There was not much interested in him. Okay. And there are not many teams interested in 33-old running backs who basically at one point in time made a lot of money and we used to things being done a certain way and being the focus of attention.

And people saw that it didn't work out in New Orleans and it flashed in Arizona. And look, if Darius guys had not been injured, Adrian Peterson would not be there today. Right. So it took an injury to give him that opportunity, an injury and a desperate team to give him that opportunity. And I guess I would say that we should never be surprised by Adrian Peterson

because he's such a physical marvel and such a physical freak. But I think any time that a guy is 33 plays the way that he does, as physically as he does, and looks the way he has the seat. Yeah, I think that would be a mild surprise. Mild surprise. We shouldn't be, but yes, I would say it's a mild surprise. Yeah. And come December,

if he's still doing it, then it would be an even greater surprise. You know, absolutely. You know, we talk. You don't believe that you're going to do it all year long. Well, look, logic tells me he won't, but he's a freak. Like you said, he's a different kind of guy. He may be the one guy who in December can still force his body to get on that field and carry the ball 20 games to game.

So I'm not ruling. I'm not counting him out at this point. Among the other competitors in the division, You know, we just went through, and we talked about the Eagles. Everyone expects the Eagles to make some kind of move before the trade deadline, because it's what they did last year. What's your expectation? I believe that they'll make a move, too.

I just think that that's who the Philadelphia Eagles are. That's what they do. And as soon as they lost last week, when they played the Carolina Panthers and blew that lead on the defense, went into a prevent defense and got soft within the game, I just have to myself, they're not going to hold back because they already are an ultra-aggressive football team. And so when you mix in another bad loss like that, I just think that they won't be able to help themselves, and I expect that they make a move by the tread deadline. What move do you think they'll make? I mean, you know, we've read about, you know, some of the

cornerback options, and even yesterday I saw something potentially about Deshawn Jackson. What kind of move do you think they'll make? I think that they want to add a playmaker, whether that's a wide receiver or running back or a cornerback or it just depends on who's available, what they decide to do, teams that lose this weekend. Like, you know, I mean, I wouldn't be surprised if they called the Giants and say, you know, can we get Janoris Jenkins from you? And, you know, an idea like that would be unthinkable, but the way the Giants are

shedding players, I mean, anything is possible, I guess. So we'll see. but I don't know who they're going to go to get, but I can be comfortable and confident in saying that they're definitely going to be active in trying to get somebody, if not somebody's, in there. We've had you on the show enough over the years to know that I'm now very much expecting Philadelphia

to make a move before the trade deadline, which is interesting to watch that. By the way, why do you think that the trade deadline here in the last couple of years has now become like this exciting trade deadline. You know, it never used to be this way, but last year I think we had Garoppolo at the trade deadline this year, you know, the two giants that have already been dealt, Cooper, Carlos Hyde, et cetera. Why has that changed? Well, last year you had Kelvin Benjamin traded from Carolina or Buffalo. Marcel Darius traded from Buffalo to Jacksonville. Jay J. J. J.

traded from Miami to Philadelphia. Jimmy Garoppolo traded from New England to Houston. Dwayne Brown traded from Houston to Seattle. Those are five trades I can think about the top of my head that came down in the last week. And you almost have, by the way, the A.J. McCarran trade of him going to Cleveland. Right. So that's five and a half trades. And this year, we've already seen Carlos Hodge from Cleveland to Jacksonville,

Mari Cooper from Oakland to Dallas, Eli Apple from Giants to Saints, and Damon Harrison from Giants to Lions. So that's four trades already, and the trade deadline is Tuesday at 4 o'clock. I think that we've got this new breed of young, aggressive general managers and front office executives in the NFL that isn't afraid to be bold and take dramatic steps,

unlike some front offices of, say, 10, 20 years ago. And I think that they've seen the success that Patriots have had doing it, the Eagles have had doing it, some of the most successful teams in the league have been very active in trading. The Rams were active trading during the all season. Look where they are. The Chiefs were active in trading. Look where they are.

So you can't say that it doesn't work when it seems like some of the best teams are the most aggressive teams. And so the stigma that was attached to making moves, the fear, of making trades. It's keen to sort of evaporate, and it's created a little bit of a fancy football world where trades are more regular than ever before. God, you know, you just made such an interesting point, because as you're sitting there talking about, you know, the Rams and the Chiefs and the teams that have been active, you know, trying to acquire players and make trades. And now it's working when, for all of those years, when the Redskins were out there trying to outspend everybody and acquire everybody

and make late trades for guys like Jason Taylor, et cetera. It just never worked for them, ever. In fact, it completely backfired and almost became sort of this running warning to other teams. Don't do what they do. It doesn't work. Well, maybe back in the day it didn't work, but back today, it does work. And the Redskins, you know, I think back in the George Allen days had success doing it. That's true.

But they did not have as much success doing it. So it just depends, but I think today the league is in a state where most front offices are not afraid of making bold dramatic steps. Adam, you mentioned the Jaguars briefly in the Carlos High Trade, and we've talked about the Giants a little bit and what they're doing. Which are those two teams, Jacksonville or the Giants, should or does you think have more quarterback regret at this point in the season? I don't think there's a tremendous amount of regret on either team. And I know there is regret amongst the fan bases, but that doesn't mean that that exists within the organization of themselves. The Jaguars, you know, listen, as much as the quarterback plays struggle,

they believe it's about the injuries that they've had this year, the lack of a running game or you know, the running game that doesn't support the quarterback. And even though they can't be pleased with the quarterback, I don't think that they're blaming everything on the quarterback in Jacksonville. The Giants, yeah, it has not worked out anywhere close to where they had, wanted or hoped or liked, but in the fact that matters, they feel like they landed a transcendent talent in Saquan Barclay.

You can't say that any of these rookie quarterbacks so far has been so unbelievable that you would regret passing on this incredible running back. And so, you know, both teams are going to have to address that position in the short-term future sooner or later. But I don't think they live with the regrets that some of their fans have today. Okay. Do you think Eli could be moved? No.

First of all, Jacksonville is not interested in trading for him. That's number one. Number two, give me a team short of a team suffering and injury on Sunday. They would have an interest in trading for Eli Manning. No, Jacksonville would have been the one, and you've already expressed what Jacksonville thinks of Bordals and what they think he'll do when, say, Leonard Fournett gets back, you know, that he'll be good enough.

I don't think unless Eli wanted to be moved, I don't think the Giants would do that to him in the middle of the season. And I don't think he wants to be moved. I think his family settled into New York, his kids are in the schools. You know, he's not looking to move on. You're not looking to go to Arizona or Jacksonville or Chicago. I mean, you come up with Oakland. You're not looking to move.

Yeah, the only thing about Jacksonville that would have made sense if they were really frustrated with Bortles is Tom Coughlin's there. And it would have been sort of, you know, for a run here this year and next with a good team where they thought they were just a quarterback away. Thank you for doing this. appreciate it. Great to catch up. And we'll talk to you soon.

We'd love to do this again somewhere down the road. My pleasure. Enjoyed it. Oprah needs well. Good looking podcast. And we'll be in touch. Thank you, Adam. That was Adam Schaefter.

We used to, God, we had them on, I think it was six years in a row. Five or six years in a row we had them on once a week. Year round, too, remember? And remember, it couldn't have come at a better time. It was most of the time was during the Shanahan era. There was always some drama. It couldn't have come at a better time. You're right about that.

He really had. you know, a close relationship with Mike during that period of time. You know, he said something, you know, about this trade deadline. And I followed up on it with him. But it really is new. You know, the baseball trade deadline's always been a big deal. The NBA trade deadline is a big deal. I guess the hockey trade deadline is a big deal.

And the NFL now is becoming a big deal here at the trade deadline. And, you know, the Redskins weren't a trade deadline team, but they were just, you know, it was a fantasy football kind of a thing. as we know throughout, you know, for the first real decade of Dan Snyder's ownership, the difference is, is that they always picked the wrong players, paid them too much, and when they made trades, more times than not were on the wrong side of sort of the value chart of a trade. You can acquire players in a smart way. You can trade for players in a smart way.

And I actually think, and I know, I've said this a lot over the last, you know, seven or eight years now, and you haven't always agreed with me, but I do think that there was a discipline, a financial discipline that was brought to the organization by Bruce Allen. I do believe that. Now, that may have hurt him in various spots, i.e. the last quarterback

and the opportunity to sign him early, but didn't want to pay. But they also really haven't done what they used. The first decade of Snyder's ownership was fantasy football. That's not what the last seven to eight years of it. I know that. I think Adam's right about the nature of general managers these days. You've got this new class of more aggressive GMs, less conservative. And there's only two words that you need to use to describe the difference between them

and when the Redskins used to do this. And that's Vinnie Serrata. Yes. Okay? It's a guy making the trades. That was my point, is that the Redskins overpaid and, you know, for free agency and got the wrong guys and the wrong lines. and the wrong locker room fits,

and they were usually exiting their prime, not entering their prime. And then with virtually every trade they made, they were completely fleeced in every deal. Like it was almost as if it was your lucky day if Vinnie Serrato called you to try to make a trade. Yes, it was. And as bad as that was,

Vinic Serrato never had a day where he got a call from the league that said we're taking $36 million in salary cap away from it. No, he didn't. Never did. No. and that was a bad day for the organization. And, ironically enough, perfect timing,

was instigated and pulled off by the owner of the New York Giants, John Mara. Yes, which again, I had this argument with somebody the other day because somebody brought up the idea about Mara, how he was probably the lead dog going after. If you're a fan of the Giants, you want your owner doing that against the division rival, don't you? If you're the Redskins and you have to be. have a chance to do that against the giants.

You want your own. Yeah, but Tommy, the circumstances were that these teams were in collusion together during that uncapped. But they're all your business partners. And they 30 of them got it right. Well, no, they all decided, they all decided together they were not going to spend wildly in free agency, which is what none of them did. And the Redskins, what they did is simply take advantage of selling off some of their.

But they were told not to. I don't think that that's true. No, teens were told not to. My understanding from back then is that there was this, we're not going to overly spend, but nobody talked about getting rid of a couple of bad contracts. They were told not to dump salaries either. Well, the Redskins certainly did take advantage of that opportunity for some of their bad contracts. Real quickly on Ferris, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Fairfax,

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And if you want to see everything they've gotten stock right now, including live inventory and live pricing, just go to Farish Cars.com. time to bring in Scott Van Pelt for his weekly visit with us. And I want to start with, I got a bunch of text messages the last 24 hours about the thing that you did on your SportsCenter show with the young man from Purdue who has cancer. And for those that missed it, just tell us about it. Tell us about him. I mean, I obviously saw some of the game day stuff last week as Purdue got ready for their game. Saturday night against Ohio State, but just update all of us that don't have all of the information

on him and what happened with you and him on SportsCenter? Well, his name's Tyler Trent, and he's a young man that's battling bone cancer for the third time, and unfortunately at this stage is an hospice care, and Tom Rinaldi did a spectacular piece on the young man, and in the piece, Tom asked him about the future, how do you see the future? and Tyler said, well, in the short term, I see, I'm paraphrasing, Purdue's going to beat Ohio State. Then, of course, they do, and Tyler was able to make it to the game, and then after the game, he was in the locker room with the team.

He and the team had really bonded. And Ryan Kerrigan, following his performance on Sunday, where he obviously had that huge strip sack, he said that he started his press conference. talking about Tyler, said he was going to send him his jersey, which he's already done, and said that he was thinking about him out there during the game. And Tyler and I were connected, interestingly enough, Adrian Orgenowski, our basketball insider, he and I were both tweeting to the young man one night, and Adrian sent me a note and said,

hey, I've got his number, which makes me laugh, because Adrian's got everyone's number, right? You know, he's got more sources than anybody. Anyway, I sent the young man a text and just told him I was moved by a story. And this was, you know, months ago. And then after they won on Saturday, I got a text from Tyler saying, you know, how about my guys? And I said, it was incredible and your story is incredible, this and that. And he said, if you need anything from me, it would be an honor to work with you. And something about him saying that was just like this light in my head.

I sent him a text back and I said, well, so let's work together. You know, that's not hard. And it happened incredibly quickly. We got a crew together. I texted with Tyler. I said, I don't want to overstate this and I want to burden you with anything, but I'd be thrilled to do it if you want. And then I asked my man, Stanford Steve's behind the scene,

setting this up. I asked if I could get in touch with his dad and I wanted to speak with his father. And I said, listen, please, please, please tell me if any of the, this is overstepping and we don't want to intrude or anything. And I had a wonderful conversation with his father about how much his son was looking forward to doing this. And then Tom and I had an interview last night. And Kevin, I had been here for a long time and I'm grateful for that.

And I've done a lot of things. I've had a lot of interviews with famous people and all the rest. And I can say with absolute certainty that nothing that we've ever done on the show has ever had this sort of reaction. It was emotional. I was terrified. You know, I'm a sap. I'm emotional.

And I was convinced that I was going to not be able to do it because I knew I was going to tell him a story about Stuart Scott. And I made, you know, you get emotional. And but from the minute that I started talking to Tyler, he just had this huge smile on his face. And we laughed and we made a bet about the Maryland-Purdue game. If Purdue wins, I got a pain of pee on the side of my head. And I told, well, because he, you know, he carved a pee into the head.

on the side of his head for their game, I said, I said, look, if you can make it a P, you can make it at M. If Maryland wins, that's what you got to do. And he said, oh, well, you've got to paint a P in the side of your head if Purdue beats Maryland. And so we laughed. And when we got that, I just told him how much, you know, it meant to me.

And just, again, the reaction from people has been remarkable, because I think there's just a, you know, you connect with the courage and the spirit that this young man displays. And so I'm just thrilled we did it. I'm thrilled that he mentioned to me that that very specific idea, like that it would be a, it would be a dream coming through to work with me. So was that just, so did he, that's easy? So did he just, did he come on for SportsCenter for the entire show and help you with the show?

No, no, no, no, no, no. No, no, no. No, we just, no, because, again, I didn't want to, in a million years, you know, I, I didn't want to over-extend or ask too much of, of a young man who's, who's at this. stage of his fight. But we sent a camera crew to his home, and we taped an interview. We probably talked for about 10 minutes, and we ran the majority of it on the show, because as I told my producer, and keep in mind, like, last night there was a huge night in the NBA, like, insane, the stuff that's going on. And it's World Series Game One. And as I said to my producer, when we were

doing this, I said, all right, look, we're doing this interview with Tyler, and we're going to put it in the show. And everything else fits around that. We're not going to do two minutes. You know what I'm saying? We're not going to do. Yonis has got a triple double. Steph Curry goes crazy. The LeBron and the leg is get their first win.

Oh, by the way, it's game one in the World Series. And then we're going to try to squeeze it. No, no, no, no. We're putting his interview in. And then whatever else doesn't make it with respect and appreciation for those guys and their talents. We'll get you another day. This spot and this space belongs to him. So that's what we did.

Scott, maybe I'm opening up my own. insecurities with this if I if I ask this but you got a lot of them but part of the attraction part of the connection that we're talking about and the interest and the emotion uh isn't isn't there a voice in our heads that says would how would we react in this situation if we were faced with this kind of crisis would we be as strong as this kid well I mean I I'm I'm afraid I know my answer And I think that's why people are so moved by him, is that you, you, I think how could you, how could you, how could you, how could you, and how could you, and, and I think he's been open as, as anyone would, that there have been bad days. And in fact, amazingly, he said Friday was a terrible day. He was sick the entire day, was spent the entire day being sick, didn't think there was any way he'd make the game. And then he woke up Saturday and, and said, remarkably felt like he was ready to go.

and I was in contact with my colleague Tom and Aldi about this, who kind of gave me the, you know, gave me the, and I feel embarrassed, but I'm admitting this, Tom. Like, I didn't know if I had the strength to do it without crumbling. And here's this kid that's got this strength to stand up in the face of it, right? But Tom told me, like, his warmth and his wit, you'll be, you'll see, and he was right. And part of the reason why I made this, you know, that wanted to make this bet is I think, I think it's important in life for anybody to have things to look forward to, but it certainly

seems that the game and game day, and I hope in some small way, our appearance on the show of them are small little things to look forward to and to, you know, to continue the fight. And so that's why I mentioned the Maryland game because it seemed like a natural something that he and I could look forward to. But no, I mean, there's lots of things that make cowards of us. but I would think osteosarcomal for the third time at the age of 20 would make carriages of anybody, but not him. It's amazing.

Well, they play Purdue. It really is. They play Purdue early at Purdue. Yeah, December 6th. December 6th. And they'll be an underdog because Purdue's ranked. So a big P on the side of your bald head is going to look pretty weird. But you made that, you made the bet.

It's coming. I mean, we'll be an underdog. That's okay. Listen, man. Well, I mean, it was. You know what? It was. Wait a minute, Scott.

I think Kevin, in support of you, should volunteer to do the same thing. I'm not doing that. I think Kevin should put a pee on the side of his head. That would be the world's biggest pee, Tommy. That would be a peat. Like a billboard on the beltway that's headings. Yeah, it takes one to no one. All right.

Let's talk some sports. I want to actually start with college football, because Purdue, you know, smoked Ohio State. I mean, that wasn't just a beating. It was a beat down of 49 to 20. And Ohio State took the same beating, remember last year at Iowa, and they were still right there on sort of the precipice of being in the playoff. Right now, who are your four playoff teams right now?

Who do you project will be in the playoff? Alabama and Clemson feel like the biggest locks. and I think probably Notre Dame because I don't know who can beat them. I don't feel like there's anybody in front of them that beats him, so that really leaves one spot. And who do I project? I mean, the path for either Ohio State or Michigan is in front of them. But I don't think, I think Ohio State will end up beating Michigan.

They'll figure it out. But then I don't know if they can get in with that kind of loss again. I don't know. And I don't think that the big 12 can get in. It feels like it'll be a second SEC team. But for it to be a second SEC team, it might need to be LSU beating Alabama. Right. And then Alabama makes it in just because everyone knows that they're that good.

But I mean, I don't know how to protect right now. All of these conversations we always have this time of year since the playoffs started. But I think this year's another one of these interesting things, because Alabama's schedule is awful. And if they were to lose in Baton Rouge next weekend and not make the SEC title game, you know, the numbers would say if you end up with an undefeated Clemson,

an undefeated Notre Dame, a one-loss LSU and say a one-loss Michigan, the numbers would say that Alabama shouldn't be in the playoff with one loss. Now, there's a subjective, you know, a part of the evaluation, but their schedules terrible. They haven't played anybody, and they'll play one team.

I mean, Auburn doesn't even look that daunting. Mississippi State can't score as good as they are defensively. So if they go to Baton Rouge and they lose, they're not going to be more likely than not even in the SEC title game. No, probably not. But I also think that if you have either a dish or an elaborate cable package, You've seen their five minutes of the play. I mean, they don't play the fourth quarter.

I know. I said this on the show the last week several times. Like, I don't even watch them play. I really don't. It's boring. I know they're good, but you know what? I don't watch them play because it's 28-0 at the end of every first quarter, and there's other games that are close.

And, you know, and frankly, I need to keep tabs on the games I picked in winters to see if I'm handed out, you know, candy or rocks. But Alabama's, it's a joke, how good they are. So if they were to stumble, I think the committee would have a hard time just exercising comment sets saying, are we talking about the four best teams? Because there can be no doubt they're one of the four best teams. But there also is no doubt that on their schedule right now, they don't have one win that you can. That's a pretty good one. They don't have one.

Not one. Not one. Okay. And the only chance for one is next weekend in Death Valley. I will say this. I think Michigan looks like the real deal. deal. And they lost a Notre Dame in the opener, but to me, they look like the real deal defensively, and they've got a playmaker at quarterback. And I think I told you this after

Ohio State beat Penn State that I was not a believer in Haskins, that he didn't look to me like what everybody was describing and I thought they would lose. I think Michigan, if they go to Columbus, they can win, they can win the Big Ten title, and they would be difficult in a playoff as a four-seed with one loss? Well, they'd be, I'd love to see them play Alabama just because Alabama's offense has been, uh, been such a juggernaut, the best that Nick Sabins had in Alabama by miles. So it'd be fun to see them against, uh, against the defense like that. It'd be fun to see them against Clemson's defense. He's got four defensive linemen that

are going to be. Well, LSU's defense too. I mean, no doubt. And, and no question. Look, that game, as, as we know, as we've been there, I've been there for this game. It's something, man. It's a special sort of a scene down there, and it'll be great. I mean, it'll be great, but it's the only test that they really face before they get to Atlanta, presuming they survive Baton Rouge. You know, the defenses in the SEC are in Michigan, and then you take Bama, LSU, Mississippi, State, Georgia and Florida.

Those defensive teams are entertaining to watch just play that side of the ball. And so Bama will play LSU on the road and then get more likely than not, Georgia or Florida, two phenomenal defensive teams in the SEC title game. So we'll get to see them even before a playoff game against, you know, a Clemson or a Michigan play two really good defenses more likely than not. You have four undefeated teams in the top 20. The fourth is number 10 University of Central Florida, who last year declared themselves national champions after going on, what, 12 and 0?

Is there any chance, any chance at all, that they managed to embarrass their way into the tournament? I don't see how. They don't have, they don't play anybody. I mean, and this is, this is a sort of a, I mean, a circular argument where they'll point to this, that, or the other. But they're just, when first comes to show, you're like, what are you going to be able to tell me? Like, you beat Memphis, you know, by one, and then they went to Missouri and got beat by 100. And granted, there's a lot involved there.

Memphis is better at home. They lost their best player in the game at Missouri, blah, blah, blah, blah. Like, here's a thing. Mackenzie Milton, they're quarterback, and that team, I know they're good. Yeah, they're good. I know they're good. but I also I also know how this works and and it's going to come down to like if you're going to tell the PAC 12 champ say Washington you're going to tell the big 12 champ oh you or Texas whomever it turns out to be like we don't have room for you but we're going to let UCF in then you got a power five conference that's mad well you know listen look look you should have every right to look Texas in the eye and say you've lost the Maryland and you're not not getting in. No matter what else you've done.

Texas wouldn't be the problem. I agree. Texas wouldn't be the issue as much as like a one-loss Michigan team if it's Alabama, Clemson, and Notre Dame. You know, that's just the, but what Scott said is true. Like if you, if you've watched them play going back to last year when they beat Alabama and when they beat Auburn, excuse me, in the bowl game, they are good. I know. They're really good, which is why. But you still have to, Tom, your argument, and your argument, like in Texas's case, they lost Maryland, and I get it. But at some point, you have to be able to tell me what you did. You're like, well, who'd you beat?

Well, we beat Pitt, and did you see when they played Notre Dame, it was a close game? Like, that's what the conversation turns into. Well, we crushed Pitt, and Pitt gave Notre Dame a good game. Oh, cool. So we're doing this? Well, then I'll do the Memphis thing. You beat them by one in the Missouri, you beat them by 28, and they're four and three. So just they don't have anything.

They got not, I mean, they got a winning streak, and that's amazing. And you and I and Kevin, we all agree they're good. But are they, their argument is less about their schedule and more about the system to which they could rightly say, then tell us what the hell we are supposed to do and how we get in, because we've done our part and we're apparently not even close. So tell us what we need to do. Well, this is the Boise State argument all over again, when Boise State would go 12. It's the exact same thing. Actually, it's the exact same thing.

And nobody wants to play them, and there's no upside. It's also very similar because if you watched Boise, you knew they were good, too. Like, it wasn't, you know, like USF, like I've watched South Florida. They're undefeated. They're nowhere near as good as UCF. And they'll end up playing them maybe, well, they'll only play them once, right, because they're in the same division of that league. Correct.

All right, real quickly, give me some teams you're thinking about this weekend for winners. I mentioned one of them. It's a rare favorite. So let me get this straight. Kentucky's ranked 12th in the country, and they're catching seven from four and three Missouri. Seven point favorite, Missouri. Missouri's good, too.

I think Missouri's a billion. I'll be on Missouri. Oklahoma State. Stanford, Stanford, Steve, who is, as you know, my partner, crime, and who is the hottest game picker in the media at the moment, came in on Monday and said, you'll have Oklahoma State for your lungs.

And I said, you know, there's probably a good chance that that could happen. And they are on the card I will be reading off of today. They're playing Texas and getting a short number at home. Stanford, Steve, he's not just the hottest handicapper in media. He may be the hottest handicapper and better in the country. What is his number right now? Is it 29-9-1 or something like that? It's something ridiculous.

29 and 10. I think he lost a total. So we went four-in-one again. for like the fifth week in a row. So that he's, and it's funny now because just, you know, it's all giggles and laughs and whatever, but now he's gripping.

Like he's sitting down there at the, we shouldn't see conference room at work, and he's grinding, and he's got a list, and then he pairs the list down. And, you know, the thing about this is, and Kevin,

you live it. When you give out picks in media, you know, you just want to be right, because you could go four in one, and this happens last week. He goes four and one, and then you got jokes telling him,

oh, you know, good, on the UCF total. It's like, hey, hey, you idiot. He just went four and one again. If you want to, if you're mad about the 80% free weeks, just do me a favor and never talk to, never speak my name again. Take my, take my name out your mouth. Do you know right now? And I texted a mutual acquaintance of ours late last night. The number one public side right now, or the Washington Redskins is a pick against the Giants. Pick. Yeah, I remember you and I many, many, many years ago had the giant.

92, 91. And I believe Tipalow Miller kicked a late field goal that made that a loser, which was not good for a guy that didn't have any money, but that's a lot of money on the rest. Tommy, during the Redskins' 91 brilliant Super Bowl season, they played the defending champion Giants as an undefeated team in the Meadowlands on one of those Sunday night, you know, ESPN games. It was, I think ESPN back then.

And the Giants were favored by, like, like four points against an undefeated Redskins team. And this is when we were first starting to grab a hold of the idea that if our man needs one side, we need to be on the side that he has. And, yeah, big money bet against the Redskins. Now, they could still, you know, I mean, I was still hopeful that if I'd lost the bet, they would win the game, which turned out well. It was the happiness hedge, as we dubbed it back then.

but the Giants were up 13-0-0 at halftime. It looked like they were cruising, and then Rippin hit Gary Clark twice, and Lowe Miller kicked a late field goal. Yeah, no, you're right. It was the Redskins were, the Redskins, I think, were two-point favorites, exactly. So that field goal killed us.

And they were leading 14, 13, and Lowe Miller kicked the field goal late. Not that I remember the specific. Well, I forgot the point. I forgot the point spread, but you're right, because we were right there in the middle with the Redskins winning but not covering, which was perfect for us. Yep.

Okay. Yeah, the Giants are the right side. I think we know that. It certainly would appear that way. All right, thanks. Talk to you later. Thank you, Scott. Yep.

All right. I'm a good day, boy. Scott Van Pelt, everybody. Let's turn this into real quickly a Redskins conversation. First of all, your question to me when you walked in here today is, what happens if they lose to the Giants? Like, is that a soul-crushing loss? Well, yesterday, you know, with Cooley, I sort of said, the line reeks. This is the kind of game.

They lose. I'm a bit concerned about the game. But at the same time, I do think there's this mix with the Giants sort of packing it in. But also at the same time, Tommy, because this game actually has me, I'm a little bit confused because Vegas is saying giants are right. My mind, though, is saying the Giants have packed it in. the Redskins can go up there and run the football and they can control the football and win this football game. Like it may be sort of an anti-trap game.

But you asked a question to me coming in. You said what would happen if they lost? Would it be a soul-crushing loss? The answer to that is no. It wouldn't be. I think it would be, and here's why. And again, souls can be revived in one week. So they could turn around.

Loose to the Giants, be four and three. turn around and beat the Falcons at home and be five and three after eight games. Right. You'll take that every time. So in that sense, it isn't in the sense that it would have been the third straight loss to a Giants team that didn't even belong on the field with you for one reason or another. Stop counting that came at the end of last year. Well, no, I am counting because they played a Giants team that had won two games. And they got hammered.

But you like to think that the Redskins were so motivated to go right, Nate. No, I said that's what, they sold it as an important game. Of course. They always sell. Really? Yeah. I don't think they do. That was not a game where the Redskins were motivated. No, I don't hear Jay Gruden selling games like he sold that Giants game last year.

They did sell it. And I'll grant you that. But the Redskins really over, I mean, over that final month. When they were playing a Giants team, that already made the playoffs. That was a bad loss. Okay, so when I'm pointing, this will be the third time you have lost to a Giants team that had no business being on the field with you in that game competitively.

That would be soul-crushing. That would force everybody back into their cave. So I just said to you that I'm actually sort of confused about this particular game because I think there's a lot to it. All of my common sense over the years tells me this is the wrong week, wrong side. The Giants are going to somehow rise up and win this game, and the Redskins will be sort of in letdown mode, whatever it might be. It also could be very wet in the Meadowlands with this Nor' Easter this weekend on Sunday.

More on the forecast for the game tomorrow, on tomorrow's show. I'll have more date on that. But at the same time, I think the Redskins can win this game. if the Giants have sort of thrown in the towel. But then on the flip side of that, I don't think the Giants are that bad. Look, if they played the Falcons tough on Monday night football. I know.

I've watched them enough. You know, the Philadelphia game got away from them early because of the turnovers. The Carolina game, it took a 63-yard field goal to beat them. The Atlanta game, the Giants don't suck. The issue is whether or not they have packed it in for the year at 1 and 6. I would think they would look at Sunday's game and say,

this is a division game that can get us to two and six. We've got a buy week. And then we come back with like, I think they came, I was looking at this the other day. It's like the 49ers and the Buccaneers. And they've got some games in the second half of the schedule included in that group are a lot of division games

where they could feel, you know, at least in their mind right now, glass half full, they could make some sort of run. They don't stink. They have talent. I know. All that said, let me answer your question. It's not soul-crushing because of what happened last week. What happened last week was really a get-out-of-jail-free card to go with a win.

That was a massive win for this organization to beat that arch-rival that had beaten them four straight times. They hadn't beaten them at home in years since 2012. The exciting finish to it, I think most fans now recognize that follow the NFL, recognize that this is sort of a trap situation for them on Sunday, but I think they could bounce back the following week against a tough offensive opponent and get to five and three. I get that, but if you beat the Giants, then you'll have this whole group of fans that have been hiding in their cave

with a team that's five and two now come out and say, oh, wow, the sun's out. Let's stay outside for a while. if they lose to a team that, again, the third straight, embarrassing loss to this team. Two out of three. Third straight, embarrassing loss. No. It was an embarrassing.

That wasn't an embarrassing loss? No, it wasn't. They had no business losing to that giant team. That's a definition of it. It's a season-ending game where both teams are out of it. Nobody gives a crap. And they lost an ugly game. Yeah, they did.

They lost. That's an embarrassing loss. They were counting down the minutes to get the hell out of it. of the metal and. And so were the giants. Okay, fine. And the Redskins couldn't compete with them. You made my point. Both teams couldn't care less about the game. And when you lose an game like that, it's embarrassing. 2016, the season finale on January 1, 2017 was a horrible loss.

That was a firing offense loss. That was a firing offense loss. Yeah. Last year was an embarrassing loss. This would be the third straight and embarrassing loss. Redskins fans would turn around, go back in their caves, and they wouldn't particularly care if you beat Atlanta the next week because they figure you're going to lose the week after that. So it would be a soul-crushing loss. The giant game that they won on Thanksgiving night was not a pretty win. Remember, that was the first game without Chris Thompson.

And it really, the Norlands game last year, Tommy, ended the competitive portion of their 2017 season. They had too many players lost and then their best player offensively, the guy that was really, their MVP goes out, he's with a season-ending injury, and the rest of the way, the only games they won were an ugly one over the Giants, and then they beat Brock Osweiler and who was the other quarterback they faced? Osweiler, Denver, and Arizona, and they beat Arizona when they had, what's his face at quarterback, who was terrible? Who was Arizona's quarterback? And I, Blaine Gabbard. They beat Blaine Gabbard and Brock Osweiler and

back-to-back weeks. They gave up on the season last year. It's not as it's not it's a soul-crushing loss however. It's it's a it's a tough loss because of the missed opportunity to win be five and two and have everybody come out of their homes and say look

it's sunny. Yes well I'm telling you you better get the sunglasses because they're going to win this game. They're going to win this game. I understand look I've seen teams after they've had this after they've traded a couple players all for one game that following those deals are energized.

It's a strange phenomenon. So just because the Giants have made these trades, I wouldn't count out their motivation. Because that could be, they could all of a sudden look at the enemy and say the enemy's the front office. We're going to show them. We're going to show them that we're better than what they think we are. They're going to stop trading us then maybe. So I think that's possible.

On the other hand, I think the Redskins will win because the Reds can stop Christian McCaffrey one week. They stopped at Ziegio Elliott one week. They're going to stop Saquan Barkley this week, and then the Giants have nothing. I'll tell you what, if you're, if you're the Giants, I agree with you that more likely than not, you're going to get the Giants best, not necessarily because of the reasons that you said. I just think that they played well Monday night and they haven't played poorly recently. The Philadelphia game just got away from them early, but they played well against Carolina on the road. They played well against Atlanta on the road, and I think that they look at Sunday as it.

Like if somehow they can pull off a win over the Redskins, they're looking at a second half of the schedule where they have the Redskins again, they've got the Cowboys again, they've got the Eagles again, they have teams like San Francisco, Indianapolis, and Tennessee on the schedule, Tampa at home, and they're probably looking at a division where they have all these division games left saying, you know what, maybe if we had a six and two second and a half of the season and won all those division games and finished eight and eight we might win the division this year so i think that there's never i think players look at the standings and look at the math i do i coolies told me that they Gibbs used to roll it out for them oh i know they do

and so sundays their season like i think you'll get their best shot at the flip side i think you're dismissing the the front office effect teams do it all the time they look at the front office and they say okay, screw you guys. You guys don't think we're good enough. You're going to start dumping us. We'll show you. Whatever it is, all the time. They were motivated Monday night.

They actually played at times a good game. The problem is no matter their motivation, even if they come out and they really play this game to win it, their offensive line, their offensive line. Their offensive line is the worst in the NFL by Miles, and the Redskins strength right now on their team is their defensive line. I mean, they're going to win that battle. So one last thought on this game and a lot more. tomorrow, obviously, but it would be an impressive win for the Redskins because of everything we've talked about. It's proving or disproving the let-down trap game theory, which good teams do. Good teams go in when short people understand that this is a trap setup for the Redskins,

and they go in and they knock out the opponent anyway. It would be a great sign to win this game to be five and two. They don't have a knockout punch in them offensively. Okay, the Redskins don't have that kind of knockout punch. They're going to win. They're going to beat the Giants because they'll stop. The only thing the Giants can pretty much do. And that's their running back and added a short pass game and a running game. And they might win maybe 23 to 13 or something like that.

I don't care how they win Sunday. A win in the Meadowland Sunday, again, in the situation, it would be a very good win. I think they'll win, but it's not going to be a knockout win. All right, let's get to the NFL Power Poll for the week. Oh, my favorite part. Welcome, one to five. It's time for our weekly NFL PowerPole. All right, I'm going to go first because you're in your phone,

trying to figure out what your power pole is going to be for the week. I'm trying to figure out how to get out of doing this. I've got a fifth place tie. And I'll bet you I know one of the teams. Go ahead. The Chargers. Yes. Number five is a tie for me between the Ravens and the Chargers.

I'm still a believer in the Ravens. They lost to the Saints, but I've got the Saints. high up in this power pole. They actually were handling them through three quarters. Drew Brees got hot. They stayed aggressive. There's a really good story. I'm going to try to find it maybe for tomorrow's show that I read about Sean Payton's

mindset going into this game. They faked a punt early. They used Taysam Hill in a couple of fourth down spots. He just thought the way to beat the Ravens on the road was just to err on the side of being crazy aggressive and that you had to be crazy aggressive offensively because if not you'd be sitting there punning and stuck on seven points. And he was aggressive. They took the lead 24-17 and amazingly Justin Tucker after Flacco drove him down the field 81 yards and five plays missed an extra point for the first time in his career. My wife even asked me about that. She doesn't

pay attention to football. She said, who was the guy from Baltimore who missed the kick? And I explained to her that he did something that he's never done. I mean, that's what made it big. There's a really good shot of him. Fox had just his eyes are glazed over on the field after it goes past the upright. And one of the outside blockers is a tight end. He's walking off the field and he's like, he can't, like it's so incredible. Yes.

Like they're preparing on the sidelines for overtime. Yeah. I still like the Ravens a lot. I like the Chargers. even though, boy, it just wouldn't be nice to see the Chargers healthy. Somebody tweeted me yesterday and they said, your consistent love for Philip Rivers and the Chargers and Matt Stafford and the Lions is just out of control.

It's never worked for you. And I go, nope, it hasn't. But I can promise you this. If it's not the Redskins in the Super Bowl this year, I'd love to see a Chargers Lions Super Bowl. Look, I'm with you on the Chargers in Phillip Rivers. I mean, he could be a quarterback of mine quarterback. Hall of Fame quarterback.

My number four, Are the Chiefs three, the Saints? I do think the Saints would beat the Chiefs head to head. But man, the Chiefs are so good offensively. And what they did to Cincinnati Sunday night, a pretty decent defensive team was really impressive. I've got the Patriots 2 and the Rams one. Well, you know, I should go back and check my contract with you

because I didn't know we could have ties. Oh, it's in the contract. It must be really small print. Small print. And maybe you can't read that. small print. With my new laser eyes, I certainly can read the small print, but it's probably better than you. Can't wait until you get your ear tubes cleaned out. I got that cleaned out yesterday. Oh, no wonder you're talking so loud now. Because you can hear

curious. Yes, I got those cleaned out yesterday. And I can hear the ocean everywhere I go. It's great. It's a nice calming noise. Okay, so I'm going to go for the tie at number five between the Chargers, the team that you love and the Vikings, the quarterback that you love. That's a lot. That's we both love. I love Kirk Cousins, too. I mean, I'm not out there as much as you are, but, I mean, I think he's a terrific quarterback, and it's going to leave that team to the NFC title game again. I'm going to put the Saints at number four, the Patriots at number three, the Chiefs at number two, but this is from ESPN, and this will make Redskins fans feel better. Quarterback Kendall Fuller, according to NFL next-gen stats, Fuller is allowing nine yards per target

when he is the nearest defender, 10th amongst most cornerbacks who have been targeted at least 30 times. So Kendall Fuller is stinking up the joint. I know. Let me just say this about DBs in a new defensive system, especially when they're young. It's going to take time, all right? He's not, you know, he's a guy that can play both positions. He's in a new defensive system. Kendall Fuller's got a lot of talent.

He'll end up being a good player in Kansas City. Okay, so let's remember. He's having not, he's having a bad start. So let's remember that, Red Kid's fans. I'm the one who tried to make you feel better about the trade, and Kevin just pulled the rug out from the year. What I'm saying to you is I think if Kendall Fuller were here this year, playing here this year, he'd be having a very good season.

Okay, but he's not, is he? Because he's in a new place and a new system. So I guess that's what's wrong with Alex Smith, huh? New place, new system. I think there's some truth to that. I think there's some truth to that. I think it'll get better with Alex Smith. I've said that.

So you think his footwork would be, better. I think he's going to get more comfortable. He's not comfortable yet. Coolie said it yesterday. He's just not comfortable with pressure in particular. I know that, but I don't think that's that's something that all of a sudden descends on you in your 13th year of the NFL, unless all of a sudden you've decided your mortality counts for something. So you've got the Rams at one. Chiefs, two, Rams won. The Rams at one. You know, the Chiefs and the Rams play on Monday night, November 19th. I mean, there's some incredible chief games the second half of the season. They have the Rams on a Monday night on November 19th. They've got the Ravens

in December. They have another game with the Chargers. The chiefs have all of a sudden this year become like one of these wildly popular teams. That game Sunday night got flexed into the Sunday night spot. They also had a game against the Cardinals, I think. I think flexed or to the other network because the other network wanted a shot at having the chiefs on their air. Again, it shows you the remarkable economic nature of the NFL that's sometimes so bizarre. Kansas City doesn't have an NBA team. They don't have an NHL team. But yet, among the NFL, the chiefs are a premier franchise of the league.

Yeah, and they always have with a very league-renowned, you know, U.S. sports. renowned fan base. The other teams, just to keep an eye on, I mentioned this on yesterday's show. I think Houston's a dangerous team. I think they're going to win that division and be a very difficult team when we get to January. I think the Lions are good. Watson's not going to last the quarterback. He's getting hit too much.

I know. I always say this about the Lions. I like the Lions, the fact that they just traded for Damon Harrison. They're making a run for it. And I also think that the Jets, and I know they got completely pounded by Minnesota, it's because they turned it over a bunch. They actually probably played Kirk, and Buffalo did,

Kirk and the Minnesota offense better than anybody. I think the Jets are a good team. I wouldn't want to have to have a game against the Jets in late November or December with sort of my playoff future on the line. I think they're good and I think they're well-coached. I know they turned it over with a young quarterback, but they're getting better.

They're really good on defense. All right. I want to finish up with a couple of things. Number one, I don't have a smell test for tonight, but there is a college game that I would give a lean to. I would definitely lean Georgia Tech tonight in Blacksburg against Virginia Tech catching three, three and a half. I think Georgia Tech can win that game. And there is some sharp action, very sharp money on Georgia Tech. And the public money is primarily on Virginia Tech. It was close to a smell test pick, but didn't qualify. completely with some of the things that I consider. I also like Houston tonight, but that's not a smell test pack. It's a terrible Thursday night game. Except you get a chance to see one of the best defensive teams in the NFL right now. I get that. But the Texas. Sean Watson's taking a beating. He's not going to make it to December if he keeps getting

hit like this. Well, it'd be great if he didn't make it to the game here in Washington, which is next month. Yeah. Because they come in, you know, the Redskins have this stretch after the giant game on Sunday. Falcons at home, very good offensively, really good on offense, maybe getting healthier on defense too. I wouldn't count them out of a playoff run. The Buccaneers on the road, they can really move the football.

And then the Texans come in with that defense and Deshawn Watson. They have weapons, too. I mentioned this about Houston. I mean, I've always liked Lamar Miller, and DeAndre Hopkins is one of the best three receivers in the game. And then you get the Cowboys on Thanksgiving. And then the Eagles. The Cowboys on Thanksgiving.

And then the Eagles on a Monday night after a long. The Eagles, they have twice within a couple of weeks. Yeah, you almost get that second by week to a certain extent playing the Thanksgiving Day game against Cowboys. I mean, this clearly for the Redskins, although in this division, right now at 4 and 2, it's almost impossible now for them to get to the month of December and not be in it. Well, yeah. They're going to be in it. It has to be a collapse.

I don't expect that. And here's the great thing about if you're limited to just a good defense, you're always going to probably be close. And you're going to, and you'll play well on the road with better defense. I'm still not sold that the Redskins are matched, that the Redskins defense sort of matches their statistical number of number five, I think overall in yards allowed, average per game, or even, you know, some yards per play numbers.

I don't think it's that high, but it's so much improved. and they are a good run-stopping team. And what's helping them is they're winning the field position in battle. So the defense is playing against teams pinned in their own territory. You're learning. Don't do that to me. Don't do that to me. I just seeing the look I just got.

You're learning. Look, this podcast is presented by Window Nation. Tell people about the podcast. Go to Window Nation 2, 86690 Nation and Windonation.com. Tell people about the podcast. and if they don't do podcasts, just tell them the Kevin Sheehan Show.com on the internet. All right? And rate us if you don't mind on iTunes and other places that you can rate us and review us.

It helps a lot. Yeah, give the reviews. It does help a lot. It's very important. And I can't fathom how it wouldn't be a great review. I just want to remind everybody, you could hear me on 106, 7 fans Saturday mornings when Andy Paulin and with Chad Dukes, typically Wednesday afternoons. I was on Tuesday afternoon this week.

And you could read my columns in Washington Times, Washington Times.com. All right. Thanks to Aaron. Thanks to all of you. Thanks, Tommy. You don't have to drive back now. You get Georgetown tonight. No, no, no, no.

We're not, there's no class tonight. I'm going to. Give the kids a night off? Yes. I'm going to a dinner, a cigar dinner by the University Club of D.C. Oh, you club. All right. Enjoy that.

Yes. So I'll be doing that. That's your kind of crowd. Absolutely. Yes. Me and the U Club people. All right. Have a great day, everybody.