The Kevin Sheehan Show - Where Does Skins' Roster Rank?

Episode Date: July 9, 2019

Kevin and Thom discussed a Pro Football Focus ranking of the Redskins' roster, the Home Run Derby, why Anthony Rendon may not want to play in the All-Star Game, and whether or not fans of the World Cup will watch non-World Cup soccer. They also discussed the latest on Russell Westbrook. <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. That's right. Tommy's here. Aaron's here. This show's presented by Window Nation. If you're in the market for Windows, call 86690 Nation or go to Windonation.com and tell them that we told you to call. Tommy's ripping up the studio here. Early. Studio is a term that I would use loosely. Yes. Well, it's a very small spot. It's cozy, but it does serve its purpose most of the time, as long as you don't rip the equipment off, you know, the tables, which you just did. And then when I said, will you please move so I can fix it? He goes, no, no.

That's why you answer me all the time. No. I mean, it was a flimsy piece of equipment. Even equipment is a stretch. It might not be actual equipment. It's an attachment of sorts. I think there's a lot of duct tape around here. You know what?

There is a lot of duct tape around here. Yeah, well, you know what? Why overspend when you don't have to? Because you don't have to put a podcast together. I'm not encouraging everybody to go out and do a podcast, but I'm just saying the expense structure of a podcast is a lot less than running a radio station. Oh, you know what? I'm familiar with that. Yes, you are. Yes, you are. All right. So there are, you know, it's July 8th. So we could sit here as I did yesterday and open up with the World Cup win. get to some of the ratings information. I know you have a column coming out on the World Cup. I have no idea what it's about, but I want to hear it. I'm sure it's... I would bet it's probably condescending in some way. I do want to get to the NBA and your thoughts about the last five days.

And there's a Redskin story that I haven't gotten to. It's not a story. It's one of those sort of evaluation pieces on ESPN.com that came out last week, I think, and I just haven't been able to get to it yet, which ranks the rosters in the NFL. So I wanted to get to that as well. But the Women's World Cup ratings, interestingly enough, because I would not have predicted this,

but the final was actually down from the 2015 final in which the U.S. women beat Japan. But wasn't the 2015 final a prime time event? I think it was. It was a prime time event. So much different than the Sunday morning event from yesterday. But overall, Fox announced that the overall World Cup television ratings were up 2%. And I'm talking about the whole games, the whole cup, all of the games, up 2% from where it was in 2015.

And here's another interesting thing. And this does not surprise me because Washington, D.C. typically is high-ranked when it comes to some of these soccer events when it comes to television ratings. market by market for the final. Austin, Texas was the number one market in the country. San Diego was two. D.C. was three. Really? Kansas City, another big soccer market was four.

Seattle and Portland came in five and six. They are big soccer cities. And then you got to San Francisco, Boston, Baltimore, and Los Angeles. And that was your top 10. But D.C. was the third highest. ranked television market for the women's World Cup final behind Austin, Texas, and San Diego. Yet, yet, here in D.C., where there's a women's professional soccer team called the Washington Spirit, they are ranked eighth in attendance in a nine-team league. They play at the

I guess Montgomery County Soccerplex or something like that. Oh, I know where that is. Yeah. They average about 2,900 fans a game. Well, it's not a big stadium. It's not like a stadium. Well, I think it seats 4,000. Oh, it does? Yeah. Well, again, we've talked about this before. There are two separate conversations. The World Cup is an event that people actually like, and professional soccer leagues in the U.S., people don't like or watch.

Right. This is, look, this is what I've written about in the Washington Times. It'll be online later today is this narrative that's taken place now within 24 hours after the World Cup, where basically we're being shamed and browbeat into now, if you watch the women in the World Cup, then you better watch them play professional soccer in this soccer league. Who says this? Budweiser took out, who just became a sponsor for the league.

Well, that's a good sponsor for the league. Took out a full page ad in New York Times that says, the world will watch them play today. Who will watch them play tomorrow? The headline said. tomorrow the women of the U.S. national team will return to their club teams in the National Women's Soccer League. And many don't realize they play these games in front of empty stadiums. It's the best women's soccer league.

It's in our backyard, yet we let it go unwatched. How can we support the U.S. women's national team if we don't support the women's game? Well, we can. We can watch what we just watched, and I did watch it. and I promise you I will not go to or watch one of these professional soccer leagues. But you just said something that I was unaware of. Is the U.S. Professional League the best in the world? That's up to debate.

What are the others? Well, you could make the case. Is there a Premier League version for women? I think women's soccer leagues in Europe are considered better quality. But I think they're making a case that since the women won the World Cup and these women play in this league that they're saying it is the best league. That's up to debate.

That's something I don't know a lot about except I do know that women's professional soccer in Europe is bigger than it is here. There's more interest than it is here. But the better players play here is what you're saying because the U.S. players stay home. They don't play in Europe.

I don't know. Professionally. Are you writing a column about this? But I'm not writing about the quality of the soccer what I'm writing about is this notion that if you watched the women's World Cup, you signed on to a duty to support women's soccer for the future. I didn't see the contract for that. It's like a shotgun wedding.

You know, you've been dragged to the altar. Right, in Vegas. And you're being shamed if you decide, well, you know, I had a lot of fun watching the Women's World Cup, but, I mean, I don't really like soccer that much. I don't really go to women's professional sports that much, but now I have to because I'm being shamed into it. Well, no one will get shamed into it. They can try to shame.

It's not going to work. This is what the message is. Well, maybe it's the only message they've got left to try. I don't know. I mean, because the message of, come see our game, it's fantastic. That didn't work. What's the name in the league again? The National Women's Soccer League.

I mean, but this is what we hear about women's sports all the time. the notion that there's some sort of moral obligation to support it. You know, they aren't covered enough. They're not featured enough. They're not supported enough. As if there is some kind of responsibility for you to use your limited leisure time and your limited money for entertainment on something that you really don't care about that much, but you have an obligation to support.

You don't have an obligation to support. What you're saying is that, Their new marketing campaign is to try to create this sense with the actual consumer of World Cup soccer that they have this obligation. But you don't have the obligation. It's a free country. Yes. We can make our own choices. And my choice, I can tell you right now, I will not watch the NWSL.

Is that what it is? Yes, very good. I will not watch one second of the NWSL and won't attend a game. I didn't even know that they had a team in Washington. I would watch the PBA, that's the Pro Bowlers Association. I would go to one of those events before I'd go to a women's soccer game. Again, now, for me... Bowling used to be great on television.

Yes, it was. What happened to bowling on television with Chris Shankle? I think it's still on TV. Is it? Yeah. Not with Chris Shankle anymore. No, it's not. He passed away, didn't he?

Still a Sunday staple on ESPN. Is it really? Yeah, during football season, I think, in particular. Because, I mean... You know something you didn't know about me? What? I was a good bowler. Really?

When I was young, I was a very good bowler. I bowled from, I don't know, age. My mother was into bowling. Somehow she got me at seven years old, eight years old, into a bowling league. And I bowled competitively until I was like 14. And then sort of basketball took over on weekends. But some of the guys that I bowled with, we had a team. There were four of us that had a team, the same team for about five years.

Yeah. We bowled all over the state. Really? Yeah. What was your average? Do you remember? I think the best average I ever had was about 170 somewhere around there. That's pretty good. My best game is a 278. I rolled a 278 once. But I'll tell you a quick funny story. About five years ago, I hadn't bowled in forever. The kids, when they were younger, we'd take them duck pin bowling. Yeah. So a friend of mine called me up and he said, hey, we're going to go up to these lanes up on West Bart Avenue, you know, the bowling alley up there in Betheson. to some of you know what it is.

By the way, outrageously overpriced. We walked in there and it picked up a ball off the rack. And I think it was like in the first game I rolled like a 122 or something. It had been forever. Second was like a 141. And then the third game I rolled a 207. And the buddy of mine was like he called.

And he had bowled too. And it was him and a couple of other guys. He was like, we'll do it. We'll drink beer. We'll go. hangout and he hadn't bowled in a long time either and he rolled like a 240. Wow. Yeah. But that's something you didn't know about me. I just wanted to share that with you. Maybe there should be a Kevin Sheen podcast bowling team. Tommy, I had when my, I don't know how many houses ago it was,

but I had a big box with a lot of stuff in it, you know, stuff from when I was a kid, trophies and different things. And I had the most trophies I had. By far. I had a lot of basketball related trophies. Right. But we're bowling trophies. Trophies were a big thing in bowling. Oh, yeah. Absolutely. But that was, I think I took everything and dumped it.

This may have been one house ago or two houses ago. I just took it all. There were lots of different things. And there were lots of things from when I worked in TV, when I was right out of Maryland, when I worked it for Buck and Ernie in that group at Channel 5. I had a lot of Super Bowl stuff because I went to a bunch of Super Bowls because the Redskins were in some of those Super Bowls

and I don't think I have any of that shit left. I think I threw it all out. All of it. The only thing I kept is I kept a lot of old newspapers which I collected for a period of time. Like famous newspaper. Yeah, I used to do that too. You know.

Man walks on moon. I had the front page of the Daily News. I didn't have that one. But I had like, you know, the day Reagan was shot and the Redskins Super Bowls and some of that stuff. Anyway, continue. I don't feel the obligation to attend or watch a women's soccer game.

I can't imagine a situation in which I would. I think it would be different if I had girls. I have three boys. Of course it would be different. If I had young girls, I would probably go out of my way to try to go to a game to take him to a game. Yes, of course it would be different. But for most people, there's got to be a reason other than simply the entertainment value.

Right. I mean, look, we don't even go. watch men's soccer in this country, really. I mean, look, I mean, the, the, uh, major, uh, the, the, uh, the MSL has been around for MLS, MLS, MLS, yeah. Has been around for 23 years. And they do okay, but me, most people, uh, internationally, it's considered a second rate league.

Right. You know, so, I mean, there's just, there's not that much interest in soccer, period, let alone women's soccer. And does this extend to all women's sports? Should we support the WNBA as well? Should we be going to Mystics games? Do we have an obligation to do that? No, we don't have.

By the way, I checked on this, the WNBA, which also started in 1996. Yeah. Attendance was down last year, and it's declined since 2010. This country, let's just say it, as we've said it for many, many years. It's never going to be a soccer viewing hotbed. Never. The sports we have are better viewing sports. The sports that we love, football, basketball, baseball, playoff hockey. It's better than watching a soccer game, especially the MLS. Now, I have been told by friends of mine, including my brother, who's been to a number of Premier League finals. He's like, you need to come over with me one of these years and go to this thing. It is an incredible event to go to. over there. When they have the friendlies that come over here and play.

I've never, I've never been to any of those. They draw, they sell out. But a lot of times it's the people from the other countries that are here. It's a very international crowd. But the, to your point,

the MLS is so behind the Premier League, the, the La Liga, the Champions League, all of the different leagues over in Europe. It's an, it's an inferior product. Yeah.

So, so, so, I mean, this is, this is such a ridiculous notion that they're trying to shame people who probably, you know, who watched a World Cup, women's World Cup, probably for a lot of them, I'll bet it's the last time they watch soccer since the men play.

Until the next World Cup. Right. That's what it is. That's all it is. And, you know, it's like to shame them that they've got some kind of moral responsibility is ridiculous. Your product is going to grow. or not grow based on interest. Listen, there's certain sports where you watch the main event.

Soccer, you watch the main event. And not everybody watches it. In fact, I mean, the ratings, it's not like they're comparable with the NFL. Right. But people will watch an event. Look, tennis is on right now at Wimbledon. I mean, tennis used to be super popular in this country, but even when it was, it wasn't because people were watching the event in Amsterdam

in the middle of March. They watch the majors. They watch Wimbledon and the U.S. Open and occasionally the French Open, and really the Australian Open is on too late at night and too early in the morning and doesn't really draw an audience. But Wimbledon, and I used to be a big tennis guy, not as much anymore, but I want to watch. I'll watch Serena play, but I'm not going to watch Serena play when she comes to, you know,

Richmond, if that's the closest, I don't even know where the – Do they have an event at 16th and Kennedy anymore? Well, yeah, they do. But they never draw the top players. No, but you got to remember there's a W-T-8. There's a World Team Tennis team in D.C. That draws pretty well. Right. They draw about

3,000 fans again. What's his face? owns it. Mark Eind. Mark Eind, the guy from BCC. Yeah. So, all right, whatever. Are we done with this subject? So you're going to write about how they're trying to shame you into watching women's soccer. Yes. And you know what people are going to say? They can try all

they want. I'm not biting. Because unless you have young girls that are really into soccer, you're probably not going to watch women's soccer until the next World Cup in 2023. You're probably not. Where is the next World Cup? I don't know. Is it for the women?

Yeah, I know the men's in Qatar. Cutter, I believe it's pronounced. And when is that? That's not next year, right? That's 2022. 2020. Women's World Cup future sites. I'm curious if it's coming to the U.S.

anytime soon because that would be huge for it. They haven't announced the location. They haven't announced. Yes, there are. Wow, don't they usually announce well before, you know, it's sort of an Olympics thing? I don't think all the bribes are in. All the bribes are in. I don't think all the bribes have been counted yet.

All right. One last note on this, 88% of the population in the Netherlands watched the Women's World Cup final. 88% of the available people to watch the finals. So, Aaron, was it the conversation that you and I had or to Tommy and I have this conversation about how popular or lack thereof of popularity in Europe in these other countries?

Is it as popular as men's soccer, 88% of the country watching the women's final in the Netherlands is a pretty hefty number. Oh, yeah, yes it is. So it was pretty popular there. There's some breaking news, not specifically. sports news, though. What?

But I figured we might want to chime in on it. Ross Perrault is dead. Wow. Passed away at the age of 89. I'm sure there's a generation that doesn't know who Ross Perot was. 1992, he really did. He cost George Bush. He got Bill Clinton elected.

Re-election and got Bill Clinton elected. Yeah, absolutely. 13% of the vote, I believe it was in 92. At least that much as an independent candidate who probably attracted much more Republican voters than Democratic voters. Oh, there's no doubt that he did. I'm pulling up the numbers just to see exactly what it was, what percentage Perrault got. He got 18.9% of the vote.

That's astronomical for an independent candidate. I mean, before that, the only one I can remember that even made any noise was John Anderson in 1980. I think he only got 6%. He lived right around the corner from me. Did he really? And during that 1980 election, there were Secret Service. all over the neighborhood. He lived right around the corner from me. And in the, he got very little of the vote. And then probably prior to that, the independent candidate that may have gotten some of the vote would have been the Alabama governor. George Wallace. Yes. In the 72, was it the 68 election or the 72 election? The 72 election. The McGovern Nixon election. Where he got shot. Oh, that's right here in Maryland. College Park.

That's right. That's right. So 68 election, he probably got more of it. Ross Pro got 18.9% of the vote in 92. Clinton won that election with 43% of the vote. I remember, I thought it was 42%. Yeah. George Wallace, I just want to see this.

The 1972 election was the Nixon landslide over McGovern. Right. Was McGovern North Dakota or South Dakota, Tommy, real quickly? wasn't Sergeant Shriver is running mate Yes It had been Thomas Eagleton

Yeah exactly But that didn't work out South Dakota And so He was not Wallace must have been In the 68 election Yeah

Well I bet you he ran in 72 too But then like I said He got shot by Who shot him? It's the guy that had the dark glasses on It was a rally in Columbia It wasn't college park. I think it was college park.

Wallace, by the way, got 13.5% of the vote in 68. Nixon got 43.4% of the vote. Humphrey got 42.7% of the vote. It was Arthur Bremer. Arthur Bremer. Yeah. But it was not College Park, I don't believe. I think it was Columbia.

No, he was prosecuted in PG County, Arthur Bremer was. So it couldn't be Columbia. Okay. I'm pretty sure I'm right about this Hold on Laurel Laurel It was Laurel

He shot five times by Arthur Bremer while campaigning At the Laurel shopping center In Laurel, Maryland At a time when his ratings in the polls Were as high as they had been In 72 Wow

Yeah Didn't he have dark glasses on when he shot him I don't know I don't remember Arthur Bremer? I don't remember. So I just wanted to mention that Ross Perrault, if you lived during that time, he was an interesting political figure, had an impact.

Yeah, he did. How old was he again? I'm sorry. 99. No, 89. No, 89. I was going to say, what a hell of a run. 89's a good run.

99 would have been a hell of a run. All right, I wanted to get to something that I've had here for a little while, but I took some days off last week, and I wanted to save it for when you were here. and that is this story that was on ESPN.com last week, ranking the 2019 rosters for all 32 NFL teams. And what they did in this particular exercise, it was a pro football focus exercise, which I'm not necessarily a huge fan of.

I think that there's a lot missing from a lot of these, you know, these independent, you know, evaluating services of NFL teams. I just think the NFL's hard. to evaluate when you have no idea what a player's responsibility is on a given team, among many other reasons. But anyway, it's the difference between information and knowledge. Right.

This is your line. But it's true. Yes, it's true. It's exactly what it is. You don't have that knowledge. So what they did is they ranked the rosters by evaluating all of the projected starters for the 32 NFL teams in 2019. And they gave, based on the pro football focus grade, they took the grade, which was either

in elite grade, which was 90 plus, a good to high quality grade, which was between 80 and 89.9. An average grade, which was between 70 and 79.9, or below average, which was essentially anything less than 70. And they assign the pro football focus grade to that player. And then, you know, they put it all together and ranked the teams based on the rosters. So anyway, the Patriots ended up being the number one ranked roster in the NFL. And I'll save you. the suspense, the Redskins roster was ranked 23rd overall among the 32 teams in the NFL, but there was something interesting about the Redskins roster. Their roster, based on Pro Football Focus's grades, was one of only two rosters in the entire league out of 32 teams that did not

have one elite player or one good to high quality player. Every single one of their players in their projected starting lineup was average to below average. Really? The only other team that had that in the entirety of the league, even the worst roster in the league, which was projected to be the Arizona Cardinals, Patrick Peterson was a good, you know, high-quality player. The Raiders, even with Antonio Brown,

because Antonio Brown's ranking last year, just missed the level of good to high-quality. They didn't have an elite player or a good high quality player either. Again, those first two categories are elite, and then the second category is good slash high quality. Then the third category is average, and then it's below average. Every single projected Redskins starter is average or below average, again, one of only two teams in the league without an elite player or without a good player. even players that I would have thought would have been good players there wasn't one player in their projected starting lineup that I would have thought would have gotten the elite designation but I would have thought a guy like Matt Ionitis would have gotten good Matt Ionitis is actually below average based on his pro football focus ranking you know or projected ranking I'm stunned by that John Allen was closer to below average than good he was in the average range Ryan Carrigan and Adrian Peterson are the two highest ranked Redskins starters, but they're dead set right in the

middle of the average category. If you're wondering about Trent Williams, let's hope he starts. For Redskins. Yeah, for the Redskins. He's considered, you know, based on 2018, and the evaluation of Pro Football Focus in 2018, he is an average player. Look, I don't agree with all these rankings. I'm just sharing this with you. This is one, you know, this is one evaluation of rosters. If you had told me without saying what each individual player was, the Redskins had the 23rd ranked roster out of the 32 teams. I would have said, yeah, that seems about right to me. It seems about right. It wouldn't, it wouldn't surprise me if it were lower in some evaluations. But the way they did it, taking each of the projected starters and

ranking them, Landon Collins is an average starter. This is, What did we, it was Pete Priscoe's list of the top 100 players, right, Aaron, that I went through. I think so. It wasn't one redskin and not even one redskin mentioned in the others receiving votes. And there were 10 safeties, wasn't it 10 or 11 safeties ranked ahead of Landon Collins? Landon Collins does not tend to evaluate well with the pro football focuses of the world for whatever reason. Dan Snyder really likes him. He really liked him and paid him a lot.

You know what, Tommy? I like Landing Collins. I think Landon Collins was a really good player. I think he's going to be a really good player. Brandon Sheriff obviously was injured last year. He's viewed as an average player. Is he still with the Redskins? He's still with the Redskins.

One more year anyway. Oh, okay. They could certainly franchise him next year. I just wondered if they had reached any kind of agreement. Have you heard anything? No, no. I haven't heard anything. I mean, since, you know, I guess they're probably consumed with trying to keep Trent

Williams happy, that they're not too concerned about branded sheriff. I've just heard that the initial offer was borderline insulting. Really? That it was low, you know, typical Bruce stuff. To the point where, I mean, Sheriff, I'm sure would invite a, you know, a franchise deal next year or unrestricted free agency. I hope they get him signed. It would be stupid not to.

He's actually a really good player. Yes, he is. And one of what could be this time next year, if the roster got a valid. He could be one of the two or three players that are good to potentially even elite. He has elite potential as a starting guard in the NFL. But the Redskins roster ranked 23rd overall. I mean, the teams ranked below them are San Francisco, Cincinnati, Tampa, the Giants roster is ranked below them, although Saquan Barkley is a high-rated player.

The Raiders, the Bills. By the way, I think the Bills could be decent this year, especially a day. defense. The dolphins, the Jets, and then the Cardinals bring up the rear with the 32nd ranked roster according to pro football focus. I mean, all this makes sense, doesn't it? Well, if I- Except for Landon Collins, not being elite? I mean, is that what you have a problem with? Without grading, you know, the way pro football focus grades, play-by-play and however it is, they grade each position. If you asked me, do the Redskins have any elite players, I would say, No, right now they do not have an elite player.

Trent Williams, Jordan Reed, John Allen are all potential elite players. You know, but they're not there. To me, Ryan Kerrigan's not an elite player. But if you said, how many good to high quality players do they have? I would say John Allen's a good to high quality player. Duran Payne's a good high, a good player. Matt Ionitis is a good player. I would certainly project that Montez Sweat is going to be a good player.

player, but you can't do that. Landon Collins would be a good to high quality player. Trent Williams, Brandon Sheriff. Yeah, you're right. And by the way, Adrian Peterson. I don't know if you can put Adrian Peterson. I guess based on 2018, you could. Yeah, you could.

I mean, Adrian Peterson was their best offensive player. Oh, I know. Last year. I know. You're right. And that would probably be the list. So I would have, you know, I'd have more players. But the 23rd overall ranking seems to make sense.

Yeah. Yeah. I'll tell you what. And some, I know that the Giants are being viewed. Look, the Giants have a game-breaking elite running back. I still think Eli can play. I know I'm in the minority there. But who knows?

It knows. It might be Daniel Jones because apparently he is impressed so far. They really helped their offensive line. in the off season. They still have a couple of weapons. First of all, they've got Seekwon Barkley as a weapon. They added Golden Tate as a weapon. I think Evan Engram is more of a wide receiver than he is a tight end,

Jordan Reed style, but he, I think, can play. I think Sterling Shepard can play. Defensively is where they got rid of a lot of their talent. I don't, they really cleared a lot of their talent defensively, but they added Gibral Peppers, who I think is going to be a good player. I still think Janoris Jenkins is a good player. You know, I don't know that the Giants roster personally is that much worse than the Redskins roster. Neither do I.

I think the Cowboy and Eagle rosters are better. Yeah, they are. Definitely better. I mean, right now, the Giants are seen by realistic Redskins fans as the cushion that will keep the Redskins from being at the bottom of the NFCE. Do you feel that way? I'd have to, you know, I think. I think it's a coin toss. I think the Giants roster is going to be,

I think the Giants are going to be better than what people give them credit for. I feel that way too, but I felt that way last year and I was dead wrong about them. I thought last year the Ravens and the Giants were my two teams before the season started that I said they're going to make big turnarounds. The Ravens did. The Giants didn't. I'm still not sure about Pat Schumer either. I don't know what to make of him in that staff.

But when you have Sequin Barclay on your team, and you've got a chance. Yeah, I mean, remember him running all over. Running all over FedEx Field last year in the second game that they played. 40 to nothing early in the third quarter. Yeah. But anyway, I just, it's, you know, it's that, it's the season of coming up with content. And one of the, and I read this piece, and I was surprised that the Redskins didn't have players, even with pro football focus, that,

weren't that they didn't have one player that evaluated out is better than an average player. I don't agree with it. I don't agree with the evaluation. I do think when Trent Williams is healthy in playing, he's not an average player. He's better than an average player. Yes, I agree. I think John Allen is better than an average player. I think Landon Collins is better than an average player.

I think Brandon Sheriff is better than an average player. Well, this is just, you know, that continuous national media bias against the Redskins because everyone's out to get the Redskins. You know, this is all part of a part of the plan. You know, trying to keep them back. This is what, you know, holding back the greatness of the Washington Redskins. So this conversation sort of coming to an end here leads to this because we're less than a month away from training camp. We're actually, I think, exactly a month away from the first preseason game.

I think that's right. The Redskins open up with Cleveland on the road on August 8th, so it was a month ago yesterday. So we're less than a month away from the first preseason game. It's going to be here before we know it. And this Trent Williams thing has to get resolved. He can't come. I mean, I'm sure most of you would say, you could come in, you know, for the fourth pre. Right before the third preseason game, play a couple series, be fine, and be ready to go for the opener against Philadelphia.

They have to know that that's going to happen. before because they will have potentially some leverage in dealing him at some point if a contender loses a starting tackle in preseason, which probably will happen. A perceived contender is going to lose a starting offensive lineman to injury, more likely than not during the preseason. And the Redskins might be able to really take advantage of that. That would be my preference versus giving him a long-term deal. My actual first preference would be come in and play out your contract, Trent. Just play out your contract. Although if they were able to get a haul, and I'm talking about a first round pick or say a package of a

second, third, and fifth, I would think about doing it. The problem is they don't have anybody that can play that position right now. They don't have anybody that can step in and play left tackle. No. Because it's not Eric Flowers. No. Here's the other thing about as a clock ticking situation. When do the Redskins, and I'm not saying Jay Gruden here, because I don't think it's Jay Gruden, when do the Redskins have to make their call on who's the starting quarterback? At what point? I would think that that call has to come prior to that third preseason game. I think so, too.

I mean, it doesn't always, though, in the NFL, they may walk it right up to the opener. But whoever starts... But when you're dealing with a rookie, it... in this competition, you know, like Dwayne Haskins, the earlier you make the decision, the more work he'll have as the number one. I mean, I mean, basically, as it stands now, unless they run in a different way,

you're going to have three quarterbacks probably taking equal, equal work with the first team in training camp. And that's not good. That's not good for a rookie. This is what Kooley was on with me on Friday. last Wednesday, I think it was. And he talked about the reps, which is what you're referring to. And I asked a question, I said, why can't you just add reps?

So everybody gets more reps. He said, we can't sit there for three and a half hours in practice. And I'm like, I'm not talking about three and a half hours. I'm talking about, you know, if you've seen some of these, you know, practices when they go 11 on 11, and that's considered, you know, a rep, a starting quarterback rep, sometimes they'll go 21 plays. why not go 31 plays and let Dwayne Haskins get 10 reps. If he wasn't going to get enough of the 21, why not just run 10 more plays? And he's like, well, I don't know what the answer is, but you know, you can't be a long practice

and there might be some collective bargaining agreement issues. There are with respect to the numbers of practices and maybe even the length of time. But how hard is it to add a couple of extra reps for the quarterback? I'll put that to the side for a moment. I know, but what you're doing there is then you're punishing the other teammates. No, you're not. You're making your team better. What you're doing, though, other teammates have to go out there and work.

Hey, Tommy, can you stay five minutes after we record the show here just to come up with some ideas for Thursday show? No. Is that a problem? No, that's a big problem for me. I'm not asking them to work another shift. You'll have to speak to my agent. I'm not asking him to work another shift. I'm saying give Haskins an extra five reps.

six, seven reps. It can't be that simple. I don't, they always talk about we don't have enough reps to go on, right? I mean, you can't have three quarterbacks. You don't have enough reps for your starter then. Well, just add some reps. Well, you know what? I'm sure there's a better answer than the one Cooley gave me or the one that you're trying to give me.

Let's go down, let's go down to training camp and ask Jay Gruden. But you know what? The next time I am with Jay Gruden, either on the air for whatever reason, which won't happen on the podcast, I don't think, or off the air. I'm going to ask him about that. I'm going to say, why is there a limit from the CBA or the players union about how many reps you can take in practice? Because all I hear about is the divvying up of reps becomes difficult when you have three quarterbacks. I understand that you don't want to be there for an extra hour. But you got a rookie quarterback and you have a first year quarterback.

You got two quarterbacks trying to learn the system for the first time. So why can't you just, and by the way, wouldn't it be better for the other players? you say it's punishing the other players. I would say it's going to give the other players more of an opportunity because they're going to have more practice time with the eventual starter. But anyway, back to your original thing. I think that you get to that third preseason game, which is always sort of the dress rehearsal,

and it's even become less so now. But whatever, let's just call the third preseason game, which, by the way, for the Redskins is at Atlanta on August 22nd. I would like to see the starter against Philadelphia go through a true dress rehearsal game, especially if it's Keenham or Haskins. If Colt emerges in the starter, I'd like him to get the reps too. But Colt really knows what's going on. These guys, this is the only opportunity in the preseason to play something that resembles a real game.

You don't get that in the first two or the last one, and you barely even get it in the third one. But it's possible that they'll, you know, here comes Keenham for the first two series. Then Haskins gets two. Then Keenham gets two. Then Haskins gets two. It's halftime and Colt finishes up. And we go right up until September 8th is it, I think, against Philadelphia. And even the week of, we don't know who the starter is.

What if Jay handled it that way? It's a game time decision. Well, again, if Jay's making the decision. I know. You know? I mean, let's get on the right page here. Okay. Talk about the group decision that they're going to make, like Doug Williams said.

By the way, one other quick thing before, well, we've already talked about the group decision. Yes. But I was just thinking that because they don't open up at home, and week two is a home game against the Cowboys, and I've talked about the benefit that the Redskins got from the league, the real favor they got from the league when it comes to their schedule. In terms of turnstiles. In terms of tickets sold for their first three-hkins. home games, Cowboys, Bears, Patriots. You're not going to have a Colts situation from a year ago. They're playing the Cowboys.

They're going to be a tremendous number of Dallas Cowboys in the crowd. It's not what I would want to see as a fan, but for Snyder, he does not want to see a half-empty stadium. And if it's filled because Dallas fans paid for the tickets and showed up, you know, he's probably not going to be that unhappy, as unhappy as unhappy as he was last year, because that was the beginning of the end for old Brian Laughanina. Yes, it was. but the

opening up on the road and having Dallas as the home opener, you really don't have to market for ticket sales early in the season. You can figure it out. When we've talked about, well, Snyder is going to make the call, and he's going to certainly be involved in the call, and might even make the call. But there's not going to be a desperation, a ticket-selling desperation early in the season.

See, I think you're overestimating the crowd that will show up. Oh, the cowboy game will be sold out. I don't think so. I guarantee it won't be. Gentlemen's bet right now. Lunch, lunch, right now. All right. You already owe me a bunch of lunches and dinners.

It won't be. But I bet you the Dallas game is sold out. No. And you can't believe the Redskins. I know you can't. You have to use your eyes. Yeah. Well, if you tell you.

Tell me on Monday, September 16th, I saw some empty seats. That may be true. I think the game's going to sell out. I think that there won't be tickets available when we get to, you know, the Saturday or Sunday of the game. I think there'll be tickets available. You know, today's NFL, they'll be tickets available. The cowboy fans are excited about this upcoming season. That's good.

And you know who's even more excited about the upcoming season? Bear fans. A lot of people like the Bears. to make a deep run. There won't be enough of them to pay. Just won't be. All right. And the Redskins are terrible.

No sellout. Are terrible at selling tickets. Sell out or not? You know, and I tell you what? What? We're not counting ex-redskins stand in at the Metro giving away free tickets either. I don't know if Chris will do that anymore. I think he had a bit of a problem with it last year.

I would think so. But that's how desperate they were. Yes. They were sending, you know, former Redskins out down on Capitol Hill. walking around on the mall handing out free tickets. It didn't get better in a year. Yeah, but the Dallas game this year is going to be. You know what?

The Dallas game last year was sold out. Or close to sold out, wasn't it? A lot of cowboy fans. That was the one game where there was a true, you know, crowd atmosphere. I'm not saying home fielded atmosphere. Look up what the cowboy game was last year. I don't think it sold out last year, but I think it was their biggest crowd last year. Anyway, my point, overall point is, is that there may be less desperation,

marketing desperation from, you know, the ticket office and the owner. I think there's more marketing desperation because they think they have something to market now. They think they've got a young star to market. Well, what I'm saying is it may make more sense to start marketing him when the 49ers come to town. Oh, I agree. I agree with that. Yeah. I mean, again, I'm the one who said right from the start, if you like, if you want, if you

like this kid you don't start them until after the patriots leave town what what do you got uh announced attendance of cowboys redskins was 66 000 okay so what is that now 7000 short of a sellout somewhere around there i don't even know what capacity about 9000 short is it 75 i think so okay yeah um god what a difference you know a couple decades make yeah in terms of the importance of a sports ticket in this town that was the one that was important yeah that was the difficult but again Like I keep preaching. That's an industry problem. I know.

I mean, it's worse for the Redskins because they're bad. But it's an NFL problem and it's an industry problem, period, with spectator sports. Right. You know, it still lists on the FedEx Field Wikipedia page capacity to be 82,000. But we know that's not true. Yeah, that's not true. By the way, talk about a hard ticket as I take a hard turn left here. Do you know what tickets we're going for?

last night in Cleveland for the home run derby? I don't. Over $400. Wow. On the street. So I watched the highlights. I did not watch it live. Oh, you missed it. I know. I saw the Vlad Junior. It was really good. Aaron, am I exaggerating? I'm someone who, as a four or five years ago, I was completely out on the home run derby, even as a baseball guy. But the past two years have been so compelling. Yeah.

Just really, really compelling television. You know, they made some changes in terms of, you know, a clock. instead of swings, which has made all the difference. And in fact, you know, it was interesting, you know, yesterday were all their young stars. Vlad Guerrero Jr. was just must watch. He was so fun.

He didn't even win. Pete Alonzo. I know. He had 91 home runs. I saw the swing-offs or whatever they call them that he had with Jack Peterson. Yeah. Yeah. That was amazing and compelling.

And it was a great night for baseball. because it featured their young stars. I mean, Pete Alonzo and Vlad Guerrero Jr. You know, Vlad Guerrero was the last-minute replacement for Christian Yellich, I think. Because he wasn't even supposed to compete in this. I mean, he only has eight home runs, major league home runs, period, because he's a rookie. You know, what would have been fun, Aaron? I wonder how many, it would have been fun to have seen Vlad Guerrero Jr.

And Vlad Sr. Oh, it would have been great. I mean, because I'm betting that Vlad Sr. Vlad Seniors tweeted out, OMG, about his son. I'm betting he can still drive him out there. I'm thinking about going up to Camden Yards next time Toronto's in town just to watch batting practice pretty much drink and watch batting practice. Yes.

So it was a great event. And you're right, for the second year in a row, last year we saw in Washington what a great event was for Bryce Harper. And I'm sure Bryce Harper last night and maybe tonight is probably watching video of that home run derby since he's not even at the All-Star game this year, wasn't even selected by the players or the fans, yet there's posters promoting the All-Star game with his picture in it all over Cleveland.

That's hysterical. Do you have a problem with Anthony Rendon not going? You know, yes and no. I mean, I think, again, this is very irresponsible of me, but that's never stopped me before. it's possible Anthony Rendon may have an anxiety problem. It's really possible.

And I'm not joking. I mean, you know, I mean, I know people who have serious anxiety problems being around crowds of people. It took him a long time to get comfortable here with the Washington media. And the All-Star game is, if you are anxious around people like that, is your worst nightmare in terms of the attention that you get.

I don't know if he has that. I have no information I would say he has that, but I'm reluctant to hammer him for not showing up because I think that may be a possibility. But it is a bad look for the Washington Nationals to have zero players on the field tonight when the game starts. I mean, Max Scherzer gets a pass. I agree.

He can do whatever he wants. And he's there. Yeah, and he is there. And he'll be introduced at the beginning of the game. But it's just a bad look. I mean, the players complain that baseball doesn't market them well enough. And then you have arguably one of the biggest marketing tools that baseball has, and then you don't show up.

That's not a good look. It is interesting about Rendon, what you said. I'm not going to discount it because I think that's an issue with a lot of people. sometimes that will bail on things. It's just interesting that, you know, when he is, the perception's been that he's been screwed by not being named an All-Star, that potentially he was happy with what that result was. Yeah.

In the moment that he wasn't named an All-Star in some of those years where it seemed obvious he should have been. I would just wonder whether or not, if you are right, and I know you're just throwing something out of it. And again, let me make it clear. You don't know anything. I don't know anything about this. I know lots of other stuff.

Let's make that clear, too. I want to hear you say that. You know a lot of other stuff. Okay. A lot of things that you say you are absolutely not only sure about, you're right about. And there are a lot of things that you're sure about that you're actually wrong about, too. There's not a lot. There's a few once in a while.

A couple or several. But I wonder if this is true about him, that he's very reluctant when it comes to being around people and being uncomfortable in different environments. I wonder if that plays into him more likely than not wanting to stay here where he is comfortable rather than starting in a new place. You would think so. I mean, you know, he is a guy who likes the comfort and routine. And we know that for a fact. He doesn't like change, but to the point where, you know, he would cost himself money, a lot of money, I don't know if it would go that far. You know, the Masson, Mark Zuckerman, reported that Scott Borers was in town right before the All-Star break and met with the Lerner family.

And the report was there were discussions about a contract extension. Now, at the All-Star game on Monday, at the All-Star workout, Borr spoke to Todd Byers from, Todd Dybis from NBC Sports, Washington, and sort of said that wasn't the case. he was just catching up with some of his clients. Well, he has people who work for him who take care of his clients in the different cities. So I'm not buying Boris's explanation. He's coming to Washington and hanging out with the learners. They're talking about Anthony Rendon.

I don't know how those talks went. Is Anthony Rendon better than Bryce Harper? You'd have to say, based on his numbers, overall, over the course of a career, especially the past couple years, I think you'd have to make that case and that a third basement is more valuable than a right fielder, a very good third baseman,

I think you could make that case. Now, again, Anthony Rendon is about four years older than Bryce Harper. Right. You know, we always need to keep that in mind. Anthony Randone came out of college. Bryce Harper basically came out of junior college and he skipped two years of high school before he did that. This is why I don't think the learners can afford to let Anthony Rendon walk,

because I think a lot of Nationals fans had come to live with the Bryce Harper departure based on the idea that they would re-sign. They'll resign Rendon. And I'll be okay if Bryce Harper leaves as long as they sign Anthony Rendon. They cannot let Rendon walk. I don't think they can. They can. It would be horrible business.

I think you could argue that it was horrible business to not figure out a way to keep Bryce Harper. But to lose your two best or perceived best players in back-to-back seasons would make the learners look cheap. Oh, and it would send a signal that you can't keep your star players. Right. You know, it would be, what I don't know is how much the learners are affected by public perception. You know, they're a strange group. It's a family unit that make the decisions within the family, and sometimes they've made decisions that seem tone deaf about public perception,

i.e. firing Dusty Baker. On the other hand, they had a chance to trade Bryce Harper at the trading deadline last year for a very good package of prospects from the use of Astros. Mike Rizzo had the deal done. All he needed was to pick up the phone to give the Astros the okay, and the learner said no. And the learners said no, because they didn't want the backlash from fans about trading Bryce Harper. They didn't want to be the owners to have done that.

So in some cases, they are very aware of how the public will react. In other cases, they just seem tone-deaf. So they're unpredictable. Half to sign Anthony Rendon. By the way, just it will, I want to get to Win Donation here in a moment and then to the NBA because you've not had a chance to weigh in. And there's been more that's happened even from yesterday's show. And if you missed Mike Wilbon on with me, I don't know how long it went,

but I enjoyed every minute of it. And many of you said the same. So if you missed it, you know, Wilbon had a lot of contact with a lot of the key people during the last four or five days and had a lot of really good information. But just the last thought on the nationals, once we get through this All-Star break, is, boy, did they take advantage of that schedule, Tommy, going into the All-Star break? Yes, they did. This is a team that is right back.

in it for everything. They're the number one wildcard team right now. There's six back of the Braves. They're going to have some big series here coming up in August and September more likely than not. And obviously getting healthy helped and, you know, from an offensive standpoint, but their starting

pitching has been incredible. Yeah, which is what you need when you're trying to catch up and Dave Martinez said this to me a couple weeks ago, you can't afford to have three or four game losing streets. You can't fall into that pattern. When you have three starters like Scherzorzstrassberg and Corbyn,

you should have a built-in protection that you won't fall into a three or four game losing streak. That at some point one of those starters is going to, one of those three starters is going to be the stopper to stop the fall, which is what you really need to play catch up. And I think they still have to play catch up with the Braves. And the key moment could be the trading deadline, the July 31st trading deadline. because not only what the nationals will do, and sources have told me that Mike Rizzle has had meetings with the learners

about a strategy for going out and getting players. Getting pitching, getting bullpen help. Yeah, or any kind of, yeah, priority bullpen help, obviously. But other teams are going to be doing that too. All the contenders need bullpen help. There's going to be a lot of competition. The Nats have a financial constraint of some sort. in that they're only $13 million away from the luxury tax threshold,

and the learners have made it clear they don't like paying a penalty for spending money. They're used to making other people pay penalties for spending money, and they don't like to do that, whereas the Phillies have a $40 million cushion, and the Braves have a $50 million cushion. Both of those teams are going to be very aggressive, I think, at the trading deadline. So it's still a tough road, I think, if you think that winning the division is probably the way to get to the playoffs, and I still think it is. I still think a wild card is clearly they're in the wild card chase as well. And that would be actually pretty cool to have a one-game wild card.

How about a one-game wild card? At home against the Phillies. Yes. Yeah, that'd be pretty good. Yes. Quick word about my friends at Window Nation. The intense summer heat is back, and it's causing your old leaky wind. to produce unnecessary high energy bills, allowing damaging UV rays to fade your valuables and

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trust, visit wind donation.com or call 86690 Nation. That's 8669Nation to get one free window for every window you buy, no limit, plus no down payment, no payments of any kind, and no interest for 24 months. Call soon. This sale ends on July 31st. So the NBA continues to be in the headlines. You know, and I know we had the Home Run Derby last night, but this Westbrook situation, is really interesting what OKC decides to do. They traded Jeremiah Grant yesterday. Now they're looking to

deal Westbrook, so they're looking to start all over. Sam Presti wants to clear the slate, start all over. I still am a little bit, and I didn't talk to Mike yesterday about this too much. Nothing indicates the players run this league

more than Paul George having years left on his deal, going to the general manager, and saying, I don't want to play here anymore. And the general manager is saying, okay, we'll trade you. Well, yeah. I mean, it makes contracts irrelevant. And the reason that, you know, they don't make these players, you know, play out their contracts

on huge commitments that these teams made, huge business commitments, huge amounts of trust that went into these relationships is because the players sour and they don't play to the level that they, that they've played at previously. No one wants an unhappy player on their roster, and these players get unhappy very easily and very quickly. So Sam Presti just, okay, we'll trade him. Now, he really made out. I mean, the package that they got back from the Clippers is an all-timer. I mean, I mentioned yesterday, Tommy, people will probably rank the Herschel Walker to Minnesota trade, the Jimmy Johnson trade, as one of the great NFL trades of all time. I think this Paul, George to the Clippers for two really good players, one budding star. Five picks and the ability to

swap two future picks is one of the all-time NBA trades. Now, I'm not saying that the Clippers were fleeced. Minnesota was fleeced in that deal many, many years ago. The Clippers are going for it. This is what you have to do in the NBA. You got to go for it. They essentially traded all of that for Paul George and Kauai Leonard. Because Kauai Leonard, because Kauai Leonard, because Kauai Leonard, doesn't come if Paul George doesn't come. So essentially they gave all of that up. I mean, if you want to view it in that context, and I heard somebody on ESPN saying this, it may have been Bobby Marks saying you really have to view it as they gave up two really good players, five first round picks and the future swapping of two additional first round picks for Paul

George and Kauai Leonard. Yes. Because you would not have gotten Kauai Leonard without making this trade for Paul George. But this is the NBA. If you're unhappy and you're a star, you are able, like Anthony Davis did, you're able to say to hell with the rest of my contract and the commitment I made, I want to go somewhere else. I want to go play with a better organization or with a better player and have a chance to win. In Paul George's case, all of those things with going home added into it. You know, this is a real bizarre situation for me because it's not my typical position, but I'm okay with the players calling all these shots. I'm kind of okay. with it because, I mean, this notion of

player loyalty to teams, that ship sailed a long time ago and to fan bases. That ship has sailed. That doesn't exist anymore. I mean, you know, I mean, you own a jersey by a guy and that guy is going to be gone in two or three years, sometimes by the team's decisions, somebody's by the player's decision.

So let's face this up front and realize that there is no more loyalty. on either side from the owners, from the governors, let me say, and the players. So if there isn't anymore, let's be honest about it and say, let people move when they want, where they want. And I don't have a problem with the players calling the shots as opposed to the governors. I mean, whose jerseys do you buy? Do you buy Ted Leones' jersey? Or you do buy Bradley Beals jersey?

I mean, you know, the... They're compensated pretty well. Yeah, I get that. And now, in addition to being compensated incredibly well, they also get to, you know, receive this compensation and dictate terms in which they'll play and how they'll play and for whom they'll play. It's different. I don't have a problem seeing the owners on their heels. I think it's a good place for them to be. Look, the league's healthy.

It's healthy. And going into next year, you, you know, the fact that Kauai didn't end up with the Lakers means you've actually got, you know, more of. a wide open field than you've had. No, the West is going to be tremendous. It's going to be tremendous. By the way, I did mention, I think, that they traded Grant. OKC traded Grant yesterday, picked up another first-round picks. So they've acquired six first-round picks in the last couple of days.

A couple of things. First of all, Westbrook to Miami, I don't know if it makes sense. I mean, Westbrook and Butler, Butler to me, Mike said that a lot of the people that he talks to thinks that Philadelphia has got a chance to get to the NBA finals next year. The two players that delivered, you know, at the end of games for Philadelphia in the postseason were Jimmy Butler and J.J. Reddick, and neither one of them is there anymore. Jimmy Butler's one of those badass, you know, I can handle this.

I'll take the big shots guys. I thought last year Russell Westbrook did a better job of deferring to not only Paul George, but some of the younger players as well. I actually don't think he will have a problem playing in. Miami with Jimmy Butler and I think it'll make Miami a very interesting team to watch. It'll be interesting to see what Miami gives up for them. But I wanted to just mention, because I said this to Mike yesterday that personally, if I were the Wizards, I'd be looking to try to take some of those picks that they got from the Clippers and now the one they got from the Nuggets back for Bradley

Beal. But apparently OKC doesn't, they want to move on. They want to start over so that they want to move Westbrook. But if there was even a thought for a moment, let's add a another star and keep Russ, I would have been on the phone calling OKC if I were Tommy Shepard or Ted Leontas, you know, Governor Ted, and seeing whether or not they were interested in Bradley Beal. The big thought is what O'KC, O'KC is thinking big, thinking big in terms of starting over. The Wizards aren't thinking big. They're thinking small. Oh, we're picking up second round picks over here, but we're keeping Beal. No, to get real assets, to get real future assets so you could actually build something.

You've got to start over. And starting over means dealing Beal, who is never going to be the lead dog on a contending team. What if, what if their strategy here is holding out, and I think this is possible, holding out if somebody wants Bradley Beale. At the trade deadline?

No, whatever it would happen, that they have to take John Wall with it. I just don't see anybody. I know that there was. this rumor or this report about Miami being interested in wall and Beal, obviously to get Beal and maybe to have a wall at some point down the road. I just... Look, I think it's always possible.

I mean, let's face it. Look, Ernie managed to find a dummy to take Gilbert Arenas. Oh, I know. Okay? And Richard Lewis. So... In that contract. So they could be saying, well, you know, the deal that we're going to make for Bradley

Beal to get fully clear. of what we want to do, we need to be added to John Wall business too. Yeah, I just don't see anybody wanting John Wall. I don't. Yeah. But what's interesting, so I brought up Beal for another reason, too. If they're waiting for that, you know what, then good for them for thinking that way. I think that that's nearly as delusional as thinking that Kevin Durant would sign here in 2016.

I just don't see somebody saying, you know, it would be one thing if you just had the injury, but it's the super max contract that kicks in that would absolutely make me as a general manager say, are you high? I know. First of all, I don't know that he'll ever be the same and then I'm going to pay him this. You're insane. I know. It doesn't make sense.

But one of the reasons I brought up the Beal O KC thing is because you really haven't heard Beale mentioned at all. It's because either it's one of two things. The Wizards have essentially told everybody he's not available. We're not dealing Bradley Beale in the same way that they say. that we weren't dealing Auto Porter, too. Remember that. Oh, yeah. But we're not dealing Bradley Beal or Tommy.

Just consider for a moment, and it wouldn't shock me. If there's not nearly the interest in Bradley Beal, as some people believe that there should be or that there even is from other teams. I personally like Bradley Beal. I think he's a really good NBA score. He's not an elite player. He's not a top 15 player in my view.

he has, there are portions of his game that are flawed, that get exposed at times in the playoffs. He's not nearly the defender. I've heard Scott Brooks say he is. I just disagree with him on that. I think he can be at times a good defender. I think John Wall at times, when he's really been into it, has been a decent defender, but he's not a consistent defender. He's not a consistent shotmaker. He is a, he's a scorer, though. He can figure out how to get you 23, 24 a game. But I think I would not be surprised that if the rest of the league or the really sharp GMs, look at Bradley Beal and say he's a number three guy. He would be the best of the thirds on your team.

He's not an elite star. But I don't know. I think Beal and I think Beal off of Westbrook would be interesting. I mean, Westbrook's staying now with Shea Gilgis, Alexander is not, they both essentially play the same position. But I don't know. I've been wrong about Westbrook over the years. I've definitely been wrong.

I've been a massive fan. I'm still a fan of watching him play. I've never been a fan. I've always thought you're not going to win with this guy. Although he did, you're right, he did temper his, I mean, he plays out of control. He's managed to temper that a little bit. Last year he did, played more in control when he wasn't threatening to you know, F up

fans in the stands. But, look, there's two things getting in the way of the Wizards, three things, if you conclude Bradley Beal, but really two things that are going to get in Tommy Shepard's way right now of really changing

the culture of this organization, which is what they're into right now. I mean, like I said, if the Boy Scouts had a team, they'd be on the wizard's draft board. John Wall, that massive contract, and Scott Brooks as a coach for two more years.

I mean, Scott Brooks is not the coach you want moving forward with this team, but they owe him two more years at a total one, I think, $14 million, and that's going to hold them back. By the way, I agree with you. This is a team that for the next two years will not sniff the eighth seed. they'll be in the general area of 25 to 30 wins max.

You know, what's interesting, by the way, Jabari Parker, if you miss this, if anybody cares, ended up signing a two-year deal with box. Did you like him? A lot of people who covered the team liked him. Well, I was blown away by how athletic and explosive he was as an offensive player around the rim. I did not realize that he had that kind of physical explosive.

athleticism. But sloppy ball handler couldn't guard anybody. Now, he would have played a lot and probably scored a lot on this team next year. But I have no problem with them letting him walk. I mean, he got a two-year, $13.5 million deal, something like that from the Hawks. The funny thing about the wizard's roster next year, there are a couple of players that I actually like. Like I thought Mo Wagner coming out of the draft in 2018 was going to be a really good NBA player somewhere down the road. They have him. I will be interested to see what Isaiah Thomas does back in a more likely than not a starting role. You know, Hachamura apparently has played really well in these summer league games. It means nothing to me. Yeah, but summer league is like exhibition baseball. And

the kid that they got from the spurs, David Burton's, I think he can really shoot it. Like he really can shoot the three as a big dude like six nine, six ten, you know, and stretch the floor. the guy that I actually didn't hate the pick last year, Troy Brown Jr., I thought he could play and thought he would, he clearly wasn't ready at 19 years old or whatever he was last year. You would hope that Troy Brown Jr. gets a really good opportunity this year in his second year to show something. But whatever. But look, you just mentioned Troy Brown.

I think they don't have Dwight Howard. And 19 years old, that goes with the character purge that they're doing. They didn't want him around contaminating. the other players. But that's the distinct, again, I've said that Tommy Shepard is basically approaching his personnel decisions as almost if,

what would Ernie Grunfeld do and do the opposite? I mean, like Troy Brown is a perfect example. Look who Tommy Shepard drafted. A four-year player in college and a three-year player. And no young kid, you know, I mean, they are into good guys right now, Kevin. Well, we'll see.

I mean, this is your take right now, which is fine until they trade for Westbrook. By the way, if they did trade for Westbrook, I would be excited about it. They would be a playoff team next year if they had Westbrook and Beale. They would finish in the top eight in the east and be a playoff team next year. It's not going to be a championship contending team. But if they had to give up a package of a couple of picks, and I don't know who else. Troy Brown Jr.

You know, something like that to get Westbrook, and you had Westbrook and Beal. Be a fun team to watch. Be a really fun team to watch. And I thought... I don't think it'd be very fun. But Westbrook's... I mean, again, the Wizards, I'd said this last week,

are totally, totally irrelevant, isn't it? They're barely an NBA franchise right now. Look, you said... Barely an NBA franchise. You somehow stumbled on to something that was really smart. Of course it was stumbling. Where basically you said in the NBA today

bold is the way to go. Slow and steady does not win the race anymore. You want to be the hair. You don't want to be the tortoise. Ted should own the Redskins and Dan should own the Wizards. It would be a much better situation. What else you got? I got

nothing else. I'm looking forward to the All-Star game tonight and seeing, oh, that's right. There's no Washington Nationals playing in the game. But I'm very excited about Max Scherzer being introduced. Okay. It would be nice to, he can do whatever he wants in this thing. Yes, he can.

I really wish Anthony Rendon were playing in the game tonight. Yeah, it'd be nice, but look, he's a good guy. So I think his first move generally on things is to do the right thing. You know, so that's why, and I think he's smart enough to recognize that the right thing would be to play. I think there's something really in the way of that. You might be right. I have no idea. You know that team much better than I. If you were right, I just think it would be a situation where he's comfortable here. He's comfortable playing here. Yeah, I know. You're right.

So maybe it will bode well for them. They've got to re-sign Anthony Rendon. I'll say it right now. I would be absolutely floored if Anthony Rendon isn't a national for the long term if they don't get a deal. done with them. It would make no sense. It's, it's Boris and it's the learners. They're going to figure it out. You would hope so. They didn't want Harper. They want Rendon. Unless I'm missing something.

And I agree with both of them. I agree with that strategy. I mean, Rendon is the guy. You didn't want to let leave. Right. If you're listening on iTunes, rate us and review us that helps us. Also, subscribe. That helps us. Also, if

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