The Matt Thomas Show with Ross - Rockets Disappoint In Season Opener, Texans Return From Injury, Overcoming Fantasy Football Fatigue

Episode Date: October 24, 2024

Matt Thomas and Ross Villarreal of "The Matt Thomas Show with Ross" recap the Houston Rockets falling short in their home season opener with a 110-105 loss to the Charlotte Hornets. Matt and Ross also...:review Texans players practicing after returning from injurydiscuss the NFL's worst teams in "Ross' Rotten Five"talk with Willie Fritz, head coach of Houston Cougars footballallow Dr. Roto to cure their fantasy football blues and more.

Transcript
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Starting point is 00:00:01 Lunch timers. This is the Matt Thomas show. 12.02 at H-Town. What's happening in lunchtimers? Good afternoon to you. And welcome to a Thursday edition of the Matt Thomas show with Ross. This is Sports Talk 790. Reed left side, left elbow, behind inside to Thompson, brings it back out to Reed.
Starting point is 00:00:21 To his right for Shangoon, he'll launch a three-pooner. It is up and it's in. And there's your double-double with 8.52 remaining in the first half. 12 first half points for Alpi. Rockets up by 9. Bamblint ends it back to Alpa. He lost the basketball. Freight got it back again out right side. Jalen's going to try a three-point shot and hit it.
Starting point is 00:00:38 And it comes at just the right time. Fifth three-pointer for Jalen Green. Rockets up 86, 85. Baseline right, set three, open three, front iron, no. Weekside rebound to Richards, a new 14th. Mall, a long three. That's on the way and good. Lamello Ball has given the Hornets their largest lead in the game at five.
Starting point is 00:00:59 Seven consecutive points. Ball with 32. Ball, giving it back to Williams. Pump fakes the three. Tets to his left. Three-point shot. Got it. Grant Williams with his second three of the half.
Starting point is 00:01:12 Eight points for the game, 106, 103. Van Blee in back court. Two seconds. Mid-court. Heave is up. Off the backguard, no good. And the Hornets win the season opener tonight here in downtown. He's in the Toto Center.
Starting point is 00:01:26 The final will have the Hornets 110 and the Rockets 105. I don't even want to go. Rossi It was just one game But we should stress again It was just one game Just one game But it was a buzzkill
Starting point is 00:01:45 Not to be a play on words It's not fun Not a good time I enjoy myself in the first half Easy to say to yourself I've seen this before I'm not letting you do that just yet I'm just saying
Starting point is 00:01:59 I'm just saying I'm not saying, I'm just saying. I know. Good poll of the song, by the way, for Conardney McGovern. Fantastic job. Our Rockets Insider. Yes, he is. I heard him on the calling show last night.
Starting point is 00:02:11 Yes, giving us a locker room report telling us the mood of, well, the dower mood in the locker room last night. Yeah. It wasn't like the city Houston was losing its mind in terms of we're going to win 55 games. this is going to be a championship season. It was, hey, we're going to take the next step getting into the playoffs, which clearly can end. I mean, we're talking about one. It's not like we open the show where ain't no stopping us now or something like that.
Starting point is 00:02:40 And then you had the excitement, I mean, frankly, personal excitement for Alperin, Shangoonian, and Gieland Green to get their big contracts. I mean, it doesn't affect you and me. No, it doesn't. Good for them. Their families are taken care of. Yeah, but there are cornerstone pieces of the team that have been taken care of financially for the foreseeable future.
Starting point is 00:02:57 So you got that. You get the brand new scoreboard. you've got just a little bit of not there's Texans Malays they're 5 and 2 first place in division Let's go
Starting point is 00:03:06 But you're looking for something else to supplement your sports excitement You're really going to build off that momentum And then you have Charlotte And you're thinking Charlotte sucks They won 21 games last year You get up by as much as 18
Starting point is 00:03:18 Alperin Shingoon is dominating in the first half You got something called Vasa Mich Jacking up shots all over the place Yes And then the middle of the ball started to hit everything. Trey Man
Starting point is 00:03:33 started everything and hit everything. And that 16, 18 point leading the second quarter, Gonzo, and unfortunately, the local basketball team suffers lost number one of the season. Well, maybe it'll be like last year when we were talking about the magic. And then two months later, it's like, oh, you know what, they're pretty good. Yeah. Hopefully.
Starting point is 00:03:51 And Friday, we got a chance to rebound against Memphis. And then two games in San Antonio. It's a point total on that. 49 and a half. Stop. I'm just asking. You are.
Starting point is 00:04:03 Are you Rockets Twitter right now? Is that what you are? No. Okay. I'm not a 16-year-old that doesn't know ball and thinks it and falling in love with role players and thinking they're going to be all-stars. Yeah, I'll say this. I do follow quite a few people on Rockets Twitter. I didn't see, I saw a disappointment.
Starting point is 00:04:19 I saw, you know, how this is not a good trend, which again, one game is not a trend. Five games is a trend, not one. Yeah. It wasn't a state. They fell flat on their face. They did. You sign these big contracts. You get excited.
Starting point is 00:04:35 You unveil your hashtag lift off. And I mean, Raphael Stone was on the show. I'm ready to go. I got my rockets, red and white pom-poms. I know. And they lose to the freaking Charlotte Hornets. They fell flat on their face.
Starting point is 00:04:48 It was tough. It was supposed to be a coronation. It was supposed to be the ushering in of a new era. And it's one game, but they stumbled. Yeah, I would say it was a stumbling. That's a fair assessment to say a stumble. And you don't want to too many of these because at the end of the season,
Starting point is 00:05:04 the team with a few of stumbles in that 7-8, 9, 10 category will be in the 7-8 spot. And if you stumble a lot, you're 9 and 10. And if you stumble too much, you are, you know, headed for the lottery again. So I thought Alpi was on his way to a 2020 in the first half alone. He had a double-double in the first quarter. And it was close. 25 and 18. Yeah, 25 and 18 for him.
Starting point is 00:05:27 Jailin the last night had 28 points, did not shoot particularly well. Fred Van Bleet really struggled. Four of 18 from distance. I mean, the Rockets just, I mean, as a collective group, shot 37%, 30% from three. Yeah, and didn't get a whole lot of their offense outside of Alpi and Jail. And Fred helped out a little bit in the second half with a couple of threes, but Dylan Brooks did not do much, nor did Jabari Smith,
Starting point is 00:05:53 and really only player off the bench doing anything for the Rockets offensively was a mann-topson. Love him in Thompson. So. We're looking for positives. Yeah. Really liked his game. So, you know what? I'm not going to cry over spill milk on this.
Starting point is 00:06:06 You know, but yeah, just not the kind of energy you wanted to leave the Toyota Center with last night at about 10 o'clock. Somebody's texting you? No, sorry, I had to restart my computer. That's okay. All right. So we've got that to get to on the radio program today. You actually had calls last night on the... Oh my gosh.
Starting point is 00:06:27 I was very happy for you on that. People of Houston, I even ended the show with a plea. Please keep doing this. Yeah. Please keep calling me on the post game shows. Win or lose? I like, to me, it is very special. When I was a listener, Matt, I always love postgame calling shows.
Starting point is 00:06:42 That first visceral, rapid reaction, what happened in the game? Let's break it down. And to be able to host those shows from my favorite team, the Rockets, and one of my favorite teams, the Astros. I love being able to do it. But the show doesn't work if nobody calls. So I appreciate y'all calling in and let's keep it up. So yeah, and I think winning or more consistency will help with that. Yes, it will.
Starting point is 00:07:05 Hopefully on an 0 and 3 or 0 and 4 start, that will, unfortunately, what I don't want to happen, and I don't think you can even happen if they lose tomorrow would be, here we go, same old rockets. Because the rockets last year lost their first three games and then won six in a row. Yes. So it's not out of the complete ordinary if the rockets were to stumble out of the gate, again, I think with the buzz of the new contracts, the buzz of Reed Shepard, who made his NBA debut last night,
Starting point is 00:07:34 and you're just thinking, hey, somebody's going to regress, and one of the teams that might regress lost last night in their very first home game ever at the LA Clippers at the Intuit Dome. So, you know what? Things to happen. You talk about a huge buzz for that team. Clippers playing their brand new majestic palace, and the Phoenix Sun's going there,
Starting point is 00:07:54 Kevin Durant Company, beat them last night. Shout out Kevin Durant. One of the greatest of all time. Yeah, he's fine. Longhorn legend. It has, I believe, last time I checked six burner accounts. I think once he got caught on the burners, he's like, I'm just going to, he claps at people on his regular account now. That's true.
Starting point is 00:08:10 Good for him. That's true. I only have one burner account. It's wave busters, HOU. How's that going? It's good. We don't have a wave at the Rockets game, so that's good. No, nobody, NBA fan smarter than that.
Starting point is 00:08:20 Baseball fan, not so much. Although, you know, the last time I saw the wave at an NBA game, of all places, it was Madison Square Garden. Really? I was like distraught. I don't know. Was it a 40 point deficit? It was a blowout.
Starting point is 00:08:31 Were they upset? When Hardin was dropping 60 on them? I don't know what that was, but I was like, wait a minute. Of all of the buildings in professional sports to do the damn wave, it's New York City at Madison Square Garden, I mean, I didn't know any better. The next terrible at the time. All right. Hey, we want you to join us today.
Starting point is 00:08:46 We got a very busy show at 713-212-5-790. 7-1-3-2-7-90 at 1-30 today. We will get our fastest 30 minutes of major market radio out of the way with the one and only Dr. Roto. She's going to help us. Injuries are bad this year. Oh, my God. I've given up. Matt, come on.
Starting point is 00:09:06 Yeah, I'm done. I'm consistent. I'm not changing my mind. I was excited to pick up DeAndre Hopkins yesterday. That's how bad things are. Oh, my gosh. Two o'clock. When you're fist pumping DeAndre Hopkins in 2024, it's a slow year in fantasy.
Starting point is 00:09:19 Yeah. Willie Fritz is going to join us at 2 o'clock, and then we have the rotten five today at 2.30. It takes absolutely zero ability to give you the full. five best teams in the NFL. It takes something special to give you the five wars and we'll have it for you today at 230 as we normally as the case. And then believe it or not today, 250, which has been the case every day for about the last 14 years. Although my partner here in crime continues to ask what time we're doing that. I'm not judging him. 713-212-5-790. 7-1-3-2-1-2-790. If you're a rocket fan, I want to give us a thought or two about what you saw last night or heard, we want
Starting point is 00:09:53 to hear from you. Texans back on the practice field. We'll get to that. And we've got an interesting college football weekend to get to start discussing as well. 713-212-5-790. 7-1-3-21-5-7-90. It is the Matt Thomas Show with Ross, and we appreciate you listening to Sports Talk 7-90. Lunch-timers. This is the Matt Thomas Show. We appreciate you spending some time with us today.
Starting point is 00:10:22 We're going to entertain the hell out of you between now and 3 o'clock. On a Thursday edition of the Matt Thomas show with Ross, 7-13-2-1-2. 5-7-9. We'll talk to our buddy Derek Schultz tomorrow from Indianapolis. I was looking at some of the Colts numbers. Anthony Richardson sucks. Yeah, he's terrible. Throws less than 50% completion.
Starting point is 00:10:44 Gets hurt all the time. Yes. And I don't even think it's one of those situations where he just takes a seven-step drop and just throws a deep ball all the time and that's where the numbers in. I don't think the intermediate routes are a specialty of his. No, short to intermediate, not his game. He can, I mean, he can throw it a mile.
Starting point is 00:11:00 but yeah just overhiked but the Colts are going to keep going with him because the lack of quality national football league quarterbacks he's got to go out there we're looking at look at how many teams are in a terrible spot
Starting point is 00:11:17 Miami's going to get two aback but he's one concussion away from not knowing his name retirement yeah the Raiders I don't want to wear the guardian cap by the way which I don't know I guess maybe it doesn't help that much or what those the big extra cap The shell kind of thing, yeah. That's stupid on his part.
Starting point is 00:11:33 99% of players don't wear them, so I don't know if it feels like they feel like it weighs them down or what the deal is. Well, but he's a special situation. He needs to have as much protection around his head as possible because he's pretty much going to be scrambled eggs next time he gets hit. Yeah. But he knows that going in. I mean, he's not hiding that fact.
Starting point is 00:11:50 Raiders are in a terrible spot. The Rams might need a new quarterback because Matthew Stafford's getting up there in age. I mean, there are just loads and loads of teams, Rossi, that just cannot throw the football. Tennessee, I mean, Will Levis, Thomas Sports Enterprises was bullish. He's not been healthy, and when he's out there, he throws terrible interceptions. A lot of turnovers. There's a lot of messy teams in the NFL right now.
Starting point is 00:12:16 A lot of bad quarterbacks. A lot of great quarterbacks. A lot of good quarterbacks. A lot of good quarterbacks. A couple great ones. But you know what, if you're good to great, you're making 50 to 6.000. $60 million. Yeah. Dak Prescott, good, not great. He's making
Starting point is 00:12:31 50 mill or year, whatever it is. Jack Prescott is being paid like, I don't know, a Fortune 500 company CEO. And right now he's acting like an office manager. He's just okay. Mm-hmm.
Starting point is 00:12:48 And I think of the NFL at some point, I don't know how they're going to do it, Rossi, but they're going to have to start to regulate these salaries for the quarterbacks. Maybe create a quarterback scale where they can only pay so much. I like I make a max, like the NBA has max contracts. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:13:03 Even those max in the NBA, but you're not going to get players to necessarily agree to that. I mean, maybe, hmm, yeah, maybe linemen, linebackers and tight ends all want to have a mutiny against quarterbacks from making all the money, but the quarterback's also the most important position. But is that precluding teams from being as good as they want to be in other positions because of that? I don't think so. I mean, the good teams are able to have.
Starting point is 00:13:27 expensive quarterbacks and have others great skill position players, both offensively and defensively. Yeah, that's why to bring it back here in Houston, you need to seize the opportunity you have with a franchise quarterback on a rookie deal.
Starting point is 00:13:44 Because guess what we're going to talk about next off season? Trying to start extending the CJ. Guess what happens when the chiefs have to pay Pat Mahomes? You can't sign Tyreek Hill to a big deal. You can't sign Legerius Sneed to a big deal or whoever Tyron Matthew, whoever else is on that team that they've lost over the years.
Starting point is 00:14:01 They paid Chris Jones and they do have a good offense. And I paid Travis Kelsey. But look what they have as far as pass catcher right now. Even if they were healthy, they drafted Rashy Rice and Xavier Worthy. But it's like they're bringing in Juju Smith-Schuster and Mee Cole Hardman. And then they got to the Andrew Hopkins now. And they're missing on a draft park pick. So, yeah, it's going to hamstring you in a way.
Starting point is 00:14:25 But that's also the way the league is built. I like the hard cap league. And yeah, if you have to pay for a franchise quarterback, guess what? Your other positions are going to suffer. That's okay. Yeah. Well, that's the reality of it is you better get great value in your draft on the defensive linemen, the tackles, the linebackers, not spending a lot of extra money on, say,
Starting point is 00:14:42 the third or fourth wide receiver. That's why it's going to be hard, frankly, I think, for Stefan Diggs to stay in Houston this year, forgetting about whether or not he's worthy of being here, it's just hard to pay. And we've talked about there are some examples in the NFL that do pay for two high-priced receivers. but Stifai wants to be in rarefired air with Nico Collins, and I just don't think the Texans want to spend that kind of money on a second guy who is going to be towards,
Starting point is 00:15:06 not the twilight of his career, but I would say the 30 now. I would say the back half, for sure. And I don't think they're going to. Unless they want to do a one-year franchise deal, which I don't think they're going to do either. No, I don't think so. I don't think so.
Starting point is 00:15:21 I mean, Nick Casero's never even brought up really the term franchise tagg since he's been taking over this team as a general manager. He pushed a lot of chips in for this year. And they're five and two. All right. Got a question for you. I was listening to the Sean Salisbury show this morning. Wonderful.
Starting point is 00:15:33 Six of ten right here on sports talk. Live it. Love it. Breathe it. I don't know if I breathe it, but I listen to it. Okay. They were talking about whether or not the Texans' five and two record is soft. Okay.
Starting point is 00:15:51 Now, we know you like it hard. And a five and two record can be hard to achieve. but they've achieved it. Okay. So the Baltimore's 5 and 2 is rock hard and the Texans 5 and 2 is limp and soft.
Starting point is 00:16:07 Well, that's what I'm going to ask you. Is it a hard 5 and 2 or a soft 5 and 2? Can I say semi hard? You'll have to explain yourself. First of all, it's the NFL. You win five games out of your 7, you're doing good.
Starting point is 00:16:28 And the one game they lost was a complete blowout, but they also won. a complete blowout. The NFL, the nature of the league, is you are going to be in a lot of close games. They shot themselves in the foot a number of times against the
Starting point is 00:16:41 Buffalo bill. What was it? Did they have, I think it was two turnover to zero they lost the turnover battle, still beat the Buffalo Bills who are one of the best teams. They need to clean things up, but no, you get out of there with a win. That's all that matters. The Baltimore Ravens lost to the Las Vegas Raiders. And who's
Starting point is 00:16:59 their other loss? I can't even remember. Oh, Kansas City on opening night. Okay, that's right. Kansas City on opening night. That was a coin flip game too. Okay, well, there's no embarrassment in that. But the Raiders suck. The Raiders literally replaced the quarterback a couple of games later with Gardner Minchew.
Starting point is 00:17:11 Unfortunately, Aidan O'Connell got hurt. I think he's on iron now, and now Gardner Minchew is back. But, yeah, you take anything that you can get. Let me ask you this. So it's not soft, no. Who has a harder five and two? Buffalo or Houston. Okay, I'll go through their schedule.
Starting point is 00:17:29 Let's see. Let's see what the Buffalo Bills did. They got obliterated by the, Ravens, 35 to 10. Okay. They lost to the Texans on the road. That's similar to the Texans. They got obliterated by the Vikings on the road, and they lost to the Green Bay on the road.
Starting point is 00:17:42 Right. Let's see. They beat the Cardinals close. Dolphins. The two had died in that game, right? Well, not literally, but... They crushed the Jaguars, barely beat the Jets, and crushed the Titans. That's a pretty good five and two.
Starting point is 00:17:58 I don't think anybody's necessarily disappointed that. But who did they play head to head and lose to? The Houston, Texas. And that's where a Tyburger can. can come in. Let's go. So guess what? Texans better than the Bills. Do you really believe that? I think...
Starting point is 00:18:14 If you played the game in neutral sight, how much did the game being in Houston? Yeah. So I don't... Now they have Amari Cooper, maybe they're going to be a little bit better. Right. But Josh Allen he looked like a deer in headlights that whole game. He had maybe his worst performance, maybe since his rookie year. Mario Edwards would be back.
Starting point is 00:18:34 Oh, is that one of this? Chasing him down, baby. Aziz Al-Shahir was hopefully. be back in this in this scenario this as long as mario stays away from the recreational stuff he'll be fine i'm just throwing that out okay because i the morning show did it and they were figuring out you know what's hard and what's soft and i i didn't have an answer for you love talking about that and that's fine no it was brought up in the morning show yeah you brought it up on your show because you love hard and soft talk um well i mean it's better than flabby 1227 on sports talk 790 713 212 5 790 790 719 719 719 7000
Starting point is 00:19:10 113-212-5-7-90. We take this program today until... You like it hard, she likes it soft. There we go. You like it hard, she likes it soft. You done? You brought it up. You like it hard, she likes it soft.
Starting point is 00:19:24 Okay, I'm done. Two, you working together is a dangerous combination. Love it. 7-13-212. Five-7-7-0. Here, I got something for it. Let's make you feel better. I don't even know what this is.
Starting point is 00:19:34 They're probably getting after it pretty hard. No. There go. Thank God. Somebody is finally checking you and you're putting you in your place. 713-212-5-790. Happy birthday goes out to a special 7-90 listener. Well, honestly, I don't think he's ever listened to this show one time.
Starting point is 00:20:02 Go on. DeKal McNair. D. Calhoun? D. Calhoun McNair. What's his first name? I forgot. Duke, Declan. I believe it. Donoraki.
Starting point is 00:20:14 Dordie? daughter? I found it before. What do you get somebody that's worth billions of dollars? I mean, you don't gift card him. Daniel. Why does he go by Cal? Because it's probably what Bob and his wife named.
Starting point is 00:20:31 Why can they call him Daniel? Now, I say this as somebody who goes by their middle name as well. Yeah, so why are you barking up this tree? It wasn't my choice. My parents did it. Maybe it wasn't his choice either. I question their judgment a lot. A lot of drugs floating around the 80s.
Starting point is 00:20:45 Again, the same can be said. Maybe Janice and Bob were high as a kite through Cal's formative ears. Anyway, see, okay, Daniel Calhoun, McNeil. I want to, can I guess his age? Sure. I'm going to go 64. You haven't seen this anywhere? You 63.
Starting point is 00:21:07 Okay, so I was off at 1. That's not bad. Yeah. I think I'm pretty good with ages. Are you? I'm plus one or most times with people's age. I think you're way off normally. No, no.
Starting point is 00:21:15 There are some very specific cases where I know you've been way off. Really, remember, help me. You fall for the filter game too often. Oh, that was in the past, yeah. That's true. That's true. All right, 713-212-5-790. 7-1-3-2-5-7-90.
Starting point is 00:21:32 Well, happy birthday to Cal. Like, what do you give someone that's worth multiple billions of dollars? I don't know, barbecue, pit? Let me ask you this. When Hannah goes to buy the gift. With his black card. With his black card. So you're basically buying yourself a gift.
Starting point is 00:21:51 Yeah, but I mean, there are wives that do that. It was like my daughter, my wife's birthday was yesterday. Oh, really? Yeah. Happy birthday to Kim. Yeah. And my daughter, Carly, brought her some beautiful flowers. Yes.
Starting point is 00:22:04 And it was on my credit card. That's great. It's a thought that counts, man. Haven't you ever heard that? No, it's the, it's who pays for accounts? Well, did she shop around for him? Where did she get them from? Went to the Woodlands Mall and go get it.
Starting point is 00:22:14 The Woodlands Mall to get flowers? She's, she's, she, she, she, she, she, she, she, she, she, she, she, she, she, she, she, She was shopping. She's going to see Taylor Swift this weekend. You know she can go to the Rage Re Re Re. I know. But she was going to the Woodlands Mall to get some Raylor Rift outfit to wear for the concert. You got to get a Rayler Rift outfit?
Starting point is 00:22:28 I guess. I don't know. I'm not going. She's not going to see you. Yeah, but they have to dress like, you know. Skanks? I didn't say that. Okay.
Starting point is 00:22:40 But it will be something that I will not be comfortable with. I can tell you that for sure. Yeah. Yeah. Do you do a lot of policing as the father of a teenage? daughter? I just go away. I go in my room and I shut my door. You just did, don't ask, don't tell, bury your head in the sand.
Starting point is 00:22:55 That is exactly right. That's great. There's a lot of heathens out there. That's pretty funny. Yeah, I got to, yeah. There's a certain level I will let her have her independence and then after a while, it's like, put some clothes on. Okay. So, all the men and those in the show and have daughters know exactly what I'm talking about.
Starting point is 00:23:16 713-212-5-790 7-1-3-2-190. 7-1-3-2-5-7-90. We go to Mark in Umbal at 1237 on 7-90. Mark, thanks for holding. Yeah, I know exactly what you're talking about with the daughter. Let me ask you something. The biggest difference I see between Houston and Kansas City is the offensive line.
Starting point is 00:23:40 If we don't get C.J. Strout some protection. I mean, I've seen him hit the ground. And what's the deal with him staying in the pocket and not using his ability to move around? He stayed in the pocket so much this year and got sacked. I don't know. I feel like CJ does an incredible job of scrambling around. I mean, I don't think it's a controlled rollout,
Starting point is 00:24:02 but I think he's got escapeability. And sometimes those plays in the offensive line, he may want to get out of the pocket and move around, but it's too late. I mean, I thought Green Bay was tasting his breath for 80% of the game tonight. They just gave him. absolutely no time to move the football, to even look downfield to move around a little bit. I thought that was probably the worst case of the offensive line this year.
Starting point is 00:24:24 Okay, and another thing, can y'all go across the Ravens schedule the rest of the year? I don't know anybody can beat them unless it be Kansas City. Well, they've already played Kansas City and lost. Yes, that's one. Thanks for the phone call. That was all the road, though, sure, as well. Opening night. We'll see.
Starting point is 00:24:42 Well, I mean, the chiefs do have the tiebreaker, and they're up two games on them right now. or a game and a half, I guess, because Ravens haven't had their buy. But CJ Stroud ran five times on Sunday. You don't want him running a bunch. He's not really that kind of. He's not like the Lamar Jackson, I don't know, J. and Daniels, Josh Allen. And frankly, you don't want quarterbacks running much, period.
Starting point is 00:25:03 No, and he took a huge hit on one of those runs on the sideline. I don't want that happen to CJ Stroud. But he does use it. He uses his capability every single game. Yeah, I don't think he's, I would never consider him a guy that just stays in the pocket too long. I think he has really good intuition in when to take off and when to throw and when to keep the play alive with his legs. Yeah, he's not an electrifying running threat, but he's not a statue. No, what I think a statue is like of Peyton Manning and Tom Brady.
Starting point is 00:25:28 Or Joe Flacco. Yeah, I mean, he's just the opposite. Let's see, I don't know who else is. This is Matt Stafford, whoever else. Yeah. Usually the, I'm trying to think a common. The 35-year-old white guys. Current guys.
Starting point is 00:25:38 Kurt Cousins. James Winston's extremely slow. He'll be starting this weekend. Yeah. Oh, let me just say that's the state of the NFL. felt when James Winston is starting a game for you. How about Andy Dalton? He was, I watched a little bit of that game against the commanders on Sunday.
Starting point is 00:25:54 He threw a pass that was returned for a pick six early in that game. That his vision on the field must have been absolutely at a zero level because he threw the ball literally to the linebacker's hands. He's getting old. Maybe he hadn't passed his vision test recently. Well, I don't know, but I mean, ooh, the amount of money, he's money. made in his life for being just a pedestrian quarterback. That's what I'm saying. We will sit back and look at some of these quarterbacks that have been very average for a very long period of time and go, how in the hell did you make that kind of money?
Starting point is 00:26:29 The simple answer is unanimous because the position you play. It's pretty crazy that we have, I don't know, whatever, 400 million people in America and we can't find more than 10 good quarterbacks. Like Kurt Cousins, good quarterback, never elite. Hey, you threw for 500 yards early this year, Maddie. I'll stand by my statement. Never really. The amount of money, remember he going to get franchise tag
Starting point is 00:26:51 back-to-back years with Washington? Is he the highest earning quarterback ever? He might be. I mean, the amount of money he has made with all the teams he's played for is sickly for giving you nothing but,
Starting point is 00:27:04 I mean, good numbers, but he never made you great. He doesn't have any sort of distinguished playoff victory success. Career earnings all time. Aaron Rogers won Matt, Stafford 2. Kirk Cousins is 6th.
Starting point is 00:27:19 How much is Kirk Cousins made in his life? $281 million. Okay. $281 million to be what? Year and a year out, the 11th best quarterback in the NFL? Roger, Stafford, Brady, Matt Ryan, Russell Wilson. Why is Matt Ryan in the NFL today when you have all that money?
Starting point is 00:27:39 Kurt Cousins. Pretty wild. Yeah. Kids, stay away from being a wide. receiver or running back. Derek Carr's in the top 20. Jimmy Garoppolo's in the top like 25. Where is he? Is he done done? I don't know what is he
Starting point is 00:27:56 doing right now. Oh, it looks like, is he a backup with the Rams? He's with the Rams. Yeah. So you got one statue for another statue back there. Can't keep it consistent. That's true. 1242, Sports Talk, 790. 713-212-5-790. 7-13-212-5-7-9.
Starting point is 00:28:18 and we'll tell you who is at practice today and who is not when we return. We've got a lot of other things to get to, including at 1.30 this afternoon. Dr. Roto, and you're going to try to have him walk me off the ledge. Too late. I'm jumping. Matt, come on. Full throttle. Please. I'm done.
Starting point is 00:28:32 Come back. It's been a good 20 year. Nope. One more year. One more year. I've been beaten down so much. You've got to sometimes you've got to take the permanent L. 7.13.
Starting point is 00:28:42 Just take a hiatus. Just take one. Just take a timeout. Take one year off and come back. Okay. That's fine. What's that face you just made? That's the face of, do you believe that's going to happen?
Starting point is 00:28:52 713-212-5-790. It's 12.42. We are here till 3 o'clock. Rockets lost last night. If you were at the game, listen to the game, watch the game. What were your initial thoughts? Texans against the Colts? Is this a trap game?
Starting point is 00:29:06 What am I telling him, Randy McEvoy? I don't know why to do that. I don't even do a Randy McAvoy. That's Adam Clinton's job. By the way, Brian Leema did an impersonation yesterday on that Sean Salsbury show we have on. of Todd Callis that was better than Todd Callis during Todd Callis. Oh, was it? Yeah.
Starting point is 00:29:22 I didn't catch that. I was asleep. We should actually do Todd Callis on a mobile. We could. And Lillima could do it. We could do it. We have two people up here that do a Todd Callis. We do?
Starting point is 00:29:32 Oh, Client and two? Yes. We could have a callus off. That sounds a little weird. 713-212-5-790. Cougars coach Kelvin Sampson here. You're listening to the Matt Thomas show on Sports Talk. 790.
Starting point is 00:29:51 And I believe we're going to have Coach Samson on for a few minutes tomorrow. They've got a big exhibition game coming up against Texas A&M. It's a charity game for Hurricane Barrel Relief. And I'll be on the call with Reed Geddes on Sunday afternoon, 4 o'clock on the ESPN Plus. But we want to see you at Fortita Center for that. So if you are in the mood to watch that after watching the Texans Colts game at 12 noon, make a full day out of it. Okay. I don't think I will, but congratulations to you.
Starting point is 00:30:20 That's amazing. Amazing? Yeah. Well, thank you. I have nothing to do it. I'm just going to call the game on TV. That's it. Oh, it's great.
Starting point is 00:30:28 You're going to be, I mean, well, that's an exhibition, but it's a real big matchup. Yeah. I mean, it beats playing like Western Kansas. Yeah, you usually got to learn, like, all the transfers who transferred into the Stets and Hatters. Ooh. I have two more games with ESPN Plus this year. I'll be on that, and that's going to be two heavyweight matchups, one with Toledo.
Starting point is 00:30:49 Okay. The Rockets. You love calling Rockets games. I do. I do call Rockets games. And then I won against the, I believe, Troy is the other team. The Trojans, right? Troy Trojans? I think it is right. Yeah. 713-212-790. 7-1-3-1-2-1-2-5-790. If you want to go to the World Series game this weekend, which I would expect no one from Houston unless you're just a die-hard
Starting point is 00:31:14 Dodger fan that are doing that, or a die-hard Yankee fan. You can get face value tickets available. There are now, a few have come available. Really? $875 a pop. Face value? Right. They got to relax.
Starting point is 00:31:28 That's a lot of money. So let's do this really quick. Who's hosting game one? Dodgers. Okay. It's Friday, Saturday, in Los Angeles. The Sunday they travel, then Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday in... These $350 million payrolls don't pay themselves, Maddie.
Starting point is 00:31:43 Let me ask you this. Because as much as we want to say, oh, baseball is relevant, and baseball television ratings are good and all the different networks are going to start boasting about their numbers. World Series games are going to get dwarfed by regular NFL games, right? Yes. I think it's not an accident
Starting point is 00:32:02 that the World Series isn't going up against Sunday night football. Well, why are they going against Monday night? Because it's on cable? Yeah, Monday night's a little easier, I guess. You've got to pick one. Is it the lesser of the two evils? Like, for instance, what will have higher ratings? The big Saturday night game in college football is LSU A&M. What will have higher ratings? LSU A&M or Game 2 of the World Series.
Starting point is 00:32:26 LSU A&M. I mean, there's more of, one of the greatest things for television ratings is the element of a one-off. Of course, like a Game 7 of the World Series, I think would get pretty good ratings. But it's a seven game series. It's like, oh, if I miss the game today, It'll be one tomorrow. I don't know. Like Saturday night, this is during the same,
Starting point is 00:32:53 these are the top 25 games going up against World Series game two. Florida State Miami. Now, Florida State sucks. Oh, they're horrible. They should fold up the program. That in itself is a rivalry. I mean, Florida State Miami is giving some classic matchups.
Starting point is 00:33:07 You have Penn State, Wisconsin. Hmm. If you have the Big Ten mojo going. Yeah. You want to sit down, have a wheel of cheese, and watch some Big Ten football? LSU A&M. Kansas, Kansas State, which doesn't resonate, and then you have SMU Duke.
Starting point is 00:33:23 Those are the five top teams in five games of all the top 25 teams. Is it the Sunflower Bowl, or what do they call it? It's something like that. They play for something, do they? I think so. Yeah. They're the Sunflower State. Right. It was funny.
Starting point is 00:33:36 We played Kansas last week, and we were in Missouri to play the game. Yeah. You're close. 45 minutes. I put Sunflower Bowl on Google, and I'm getting... Yeah, I don't want a... I went about a cup full of sunflower seeds. Dang it.
Starting point is 00:33:54 So what is that going to... Sunflower Showdown. Do the Yankees and Dodgers have a chance to maybe be the highest rated world series games maybe in the last 30 years? That's true. I mean, you do have... I mean, it's the Yankees and the Dodgers. If Major League Baseball and these TV networks could pick a matchup, this is it. But let me ask you this. It's just... They're going to have to rely on just New York and Los Angeles. because we here in Houston,
Starting point is 00:34:17 I don't think are going to care. I don't think Dallas is going to care. I don't think Atlanta's going to care. Oh, there's a huge Yankee fan base in Dallas. Oh, the Cowboys and Lakers fans over there. Oh, that's true. I think it's too presumptive to think that this is going to be one of the highest rated World Series of that time.
Starting point is 00:34:36 I would say the Yankees have a national fan base. But people also hate the Yankees, too. But you can hate watch. Yeah, but see, that's... I hate listening to sports radio, so I'm... I'd be more apt to hate watch if they weren't playing another team. I hate. Let's go Yankees?
Starting point is 00:34:52 No. Let's go Dodgers. Did you hear what Brian Cashman said? You're going to root for Aaron Judge, closing up his jersey, mocking Jose Altuve, and Brian Cashman, we have it won since 2009 because we got cheated. You got cheated every year by the Astros, Brian Cashman? Or are you blaming another team for your own failures? I have never rooted so hard for the Los Angeles.
Starting point is 00:35:14 Dodgers like I will win this series. I know. It feels disgusting. It's slimy. It's not what you want. But you have a better chance of survival. But you got to pick aside. Well, we're talking about the election or we're talking about the fours series? Most people aren't picking aside. Most people are like Matt, like in my poll question, it's like, I'm not voting. Not doing it. Sorry. Okay.
Starting point is 00:35:36 It's just there's, there's an. Who ended up winning the vote? Dodgers were like 52, 48, something like that. It was a dirty vote. I'm go Dodgers. I can root for show you, O'Hotony. You root for mooky bets? Cheater. I'm going to yell cheater on my couch every time he comes up.
Starting point is 00:35:58 I don't know. It's just 17 and 18 cheating red socks. Nobody says a word about it. Nobody says a freaking word. No, they don't. It's conveniently forgotten about. I just don't get it. No, we don't have that today.
Starting point is 00:36:11 But I just don't get it. 713-212-5-7-90s. Nobody watched a Rockets game last night, except you and me? We got one call, I think, on it. I got a handful. You got some calls last night. I'm happy about that. Because we are an interactive show.
Starting point is 00:36:27 We want to hear what the people have to say. We don't have an agenda. We don't put together a five-page prep sheet. We go through every segment and rehearse it over and over again. You take this take, Matt. We're our organic improvisational radio show. And I'm very proud of that. Yes.
Starting point is 00:36:42 100% organic. So when we say we... Page free. We want to say we want to welcome the Rockets audience in this, looking for a little chatter on that. We're here for you. Yes, we are. But Roto is standing by at 130,
Starting point is 00:36:54 just in case we've got to get those fantasy football questions in. And he'll do that. 713-212-5-790. So we're not rooting for Garrett Cole, huh? No. Yeah, exactly. We're rooting against Garrett Cole, too. Sticky stuff merchant?
Starting point is 00:37:08 Mr. Scott Borrow's hat wearing and leaving the clubhouse dude. That's the hat he wore into the clubhouse. Doesn't matter. It was still distasteful. The optics were wretched. The optics were poor. And the fact that he's like, I'm a free agent.
Starting point is 00:37:22 I don't have to speak, do I? Miss Piggy needs me at home. To do what? Well, that's between us. So if he's Kerman, who's Fossey Bear and, uh, what's, uh, and Gonzo? Gonzo's Luis Garcia. By the way, favorite Muppet's character? Oscar the Grouch is Dusty Baker.
Starting point is 00:37:53 That's Sesame Street, and that's not too far off. Swedish chef. Who's the Swedish chef? You know who the Swedish chef is. Yeah, but I don't know if there's a parallel of the Astros. Dick Myers. Connor, find me a couple of clips of real quick of the Swedish chef on YouTube. It won't take you long.
Starting point is 00:38:12 Okay. because you couldn't understand a word he said, but yet he was funny and he always cooked and he made mistakes. He's not the... No. Alporting Sengu is not the Swedish chef. He's the Turkish chef. That's different.
Starting point is 00:38:28 713-212-5-790. 7-1-3-212-5-7-90. So Garrett calls Kermit. We have no Gonzo, no Fazi Bear. Who's Miss Piggy? Are you calling Kate Upton, Miss Piggy? I'm not. No.
Starting point is 00:38:47 What's Ben Verlander? Got to be some riffraff character. He's hoping to get on the stage at some point because the Muppet character in front of him is more famous. I know you are getting a mixed up. 713-212-5. They're all Jim Hinson, aren't they? I think so. There's been born to bird.
Starting point is 00:39:04 There's the board there. There's the horn spear and horned here. There's for the head to flip-flop and the jacket. There's for it. See, there's no other radio show in the marketplace can give you a little sweetish. Okay. You're going to be suspended without pay.
Starting point is 00:39:25 That's enough. 713-212-5-790. What is wrong with you? Seriously. 7-13-212-5-7-90 with a word for Berkeley Eye Center. 7-1-3-5-26-Eyes is a number you can call to get the best LASIC coverage. 30% off your LASIC right now by calling 7-1-3-5-2-6-2-6. 6 eyes are going to BEClasek.com.
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Starting point is 00:40:17 Launch timers. This is the Matt Thomas show. 102 on Sports Talk 790. We got Dr. Roto coming up at the bottom of the hour to get your fantasy football questions in. Willie Fritz at 2 o'clock. Cougar is taking on the Utah Utes Saturday night at 6 o'clock inside TDC Stadium. That's an ESPN plus game. What's that?
Starting point is 00:40:43 ESPN what? I think it's on the ESPN Awesome Channel. That doesn't exist. ESPN Plus? ESPN the goat. That's fine. ESPN OG. Mm-hmm.
Starting point is 00:40:54 Hey, let me tell you something. I work ESPN Plus games. I ain't dissatisfied. Yeah, you shouldn't be. There's nothing to be ashamed of, Matt. Cougars trying to... Longhorns are on the SEC Network. Ooh, against Vanderbilt.
Starting point is 00:41:06 Why is everybody worried about Vanderbilt? You guys are going to cream them. What are you all worried? Hey, don't act scared. 18 and a half. Pretty big spread. Makes you feel better, but... Now, what are they going to do with the goalpost?
Starting point is 00:41:17 If they sent the gold post after the Alabama game into the river, what are they going to do? I don't think they're going to do anything with them. They got fined heavily, and I think, like, they told their students, like, don't do that ever again. Can you, like, really, like, nail them down even more? I mean, how, are they easy to pick up and pull out? Apparently, they are. They snapped them.
Starting point is 00:41:39 They get on top of there. They get a bunch of kids on there, and I don't know, maybe the most heavy set of them. Not to be all rocking up and down. Not to be all sad and everything, but I'm stunned that no one's gotten seriously hurt. It looked dangerous when it snapped in the video. And then you carried it three miles. That can't be healthy for anybody either. I don't know if they get out of the state.
Starting point is 00:42:00 How do they even get it out of the stadium? But good for them. But no. I think Alabama's tormented them much more than Texas ever has. Right. And they've been reprimanded. And the longhorns are going to win. Comfortably.
Starting point is 00:42:15 They're going to win. Say it. They're going to win. Put your name on them. Put some respect on your longhorns. Quinn Ewers can't seaboard in five yards down the field where he's running for his life. Right this second before going to the phones.
Starting point is 00:42:27 Quinn yours. What round is he getting drafted in? I wouldn't take him in the first round for sure. I wouldn't either, but people talk about him that way. And I don't know. I guess the draft Knicks no more than I do. Quinn Ewers draft grade. I'll go look it up.
Starting point is 00:42:43 I mean, he has looked in, now again, granted, coming off of injury. but has looked very pedestrian, not pinpoint, just looked like just a quarterback out there the last couple weeks. Pro Football Network says day three, Bleacher Report, day two or three. So we're talking second or third round.
Starting point is 00:43:03 That sounds about right. So you're not building a NFL team around him. No. And the reality is, well, who needs quarterbacks? A lot of people. I mean, is Shradur Sanders going to be the guy? Is he the first one? It looks like he might be the number one overall pick.
Starting point is 00:43:23 Thank God the Texans. Texans don't have to worry about that. You're set. You have a franchise quarterback. But isn't playing like a franchise quarterback right now. I think he has in the balance of the season. He had a bad game, but he was running for his life the whole game. I think, in all honesty, the issues that CJ had with his numbers and they were not spectacular,
Starting point is 00:43:42 which because of, frankly, the fact the offensive line gave him zero protection. Did he piss them off or something? Does Kenyon Green hate him? Well, it's like this. It's like, you know, when good quarterbacks... Did he sleep with Kenyon Green's girlfriend? When good quarterbacks have good offensive lines, they buy them like watches and stuff. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:43:59 Take him out to his big state dinners. Segways. ATVs, as I suggested, and I believe it or not, question. What's the opposite? What does an offensive line do except send him a hallmark card say, I'm sorry? Hmm. Because the Texans offensive line owed C.J. Stroudan an apology after last week. They're all making pretty good money.
Starting point is 00:44:18 Oh, that's the problem. They're all young, with exception of Tunsel, but he's 30. He's not like he's aged. Tunsel's making more than C.J. Stroud, he should be buying him gifts. Yeah, no kidding. 713, 212-790. 7-1-3-212-5-7-90. Let's go to James and Klein.
Starting point is 00:44:34 Now, James, if he listened to my underdog fantasy selections the other night, he would have won because I did tell you, take the under and Fred Van Vleet and the over-on-Changoon and the over-on-Grain. I thought that's what I said. Well, I think we did it collectively. I'm just kidding. Go ahead. Did James do that? I don't know. I mean, James is a smart guy.
Starting point is 00:44:52 You should listen to my underdog fantasy advice. Let's go to line number one on 7. James, what's going on? Yeah, we did win. Thank you. Let's go. You're welcome. That's a three-teamer right there. Jabari Smith last night, what was that nonsense? He said at the three-point line, I think got one rebound.
Starting point is 00:45:11 He was just not participating at all. That was just crazy. Jabari last night, we had eight points. He had five rebounds. rebounds. So, yeah, it's five is greater than it. It's not zero, but that was a good guess on your part.
Starting point is 00:45:25 Okay, well, I mean, it just didn't seem like he's done much. He is not a focal point of their offense. And well, to tie that into underdog, that's why I think it's tough to put over-runners on Jabari Smith, Jr. Because some days he's going to make a shot, some days he's not, they're not going to run through him. If they find him on the low block with
Starting point is 00:45:42 the mismatch, then yeah, yeah, he's going to do his little couple of dribbles back in, turnaround fadeaway jumper. He's also a catch and shoot last one in the front court three point attempt. Right. And he shot 36% from three. That's pretty good for a big man. It's around league average.
Starting point is 00:45:57 Yeah. But they don't make it a point to get him the ball and I don't know that they should. I mean, what are his exact offensive skills that you think are not being tapped into? I just don't see it. In Jabari's case for me, there's only one basketball.
Starting point is 00:46:14 And you know that Jalen and Alper are going to get their shots in. you know that Fred Van Blitz's going to probably put up seven or eight three-point or attempts per game and last time you took up 11 and Dylan's going to do some catch and shooting as well. I just don't know, as you said, if he's the first or even second go-to threat offensively.
Starting point is 00:46:30 That means he can't score offensively. It doesn't mean that his numbers offensively can't improve because it did improve from season one to season two. But I don't ever anticipate Jabari Smith being a guy that would be on the cusp of scoring, say, 20 points per game. Yeah, it's not going to be at this point in this career. just haven't seen it to where like give jibari the ball and get out of the way everybody because he's about to cook and that's just not how it goes yeah good rebounder yes um solid one through five defender
Starting point is 00:46:58 switchable defender yeah can play multiple guys uh good stroke not amazing would like for him to get closer to that amazing part because again he's going to be given a lot of three point looks in the future it was that's what he was supposed to be coming out of auburn was dead eye shooter he shot only 30% from three his first season 36% his second season so hopefully Hopefully, hashtag natural progression. Yeah, well, it's probably not going to go to 42% this year, but a man can dream. Even if he hits 36%. That's good for a big man.
Starting point is 00:47:31 Alper and Shigoon, two for three last night. Right? Two for three? Alpi last night, three point range, two for three. Made his first two? He shot a contested three. The thing about last night is that the rockets got their shots up. It just wasn't very economical.
Starting point is 00:47:45 They put 103 shots up. pretty crazy had 16 offensive rebounds that are 43 but there were a lot I mean there were stretches in the first quarter in fact there were stretches
Starting point is 00:47:57 where both teams couldn't find the basket and the rocket settled down started making some Alpi attacked the basket and then Alpi just didn't it was out for pretty good chunks
Starting point is 00:48:07 of the second half I don't know if it was fatigue whether it was defensive matchups were not good it wasn't like necessarily Nick Richards was doing much in the low block to force up some more shots yeah I think it was
Starting point is 00:48:17 combination. He looked a little gas on the second half to me. Yeah. Without having the tracking data in front of me. It's funny. Jacques Landale, I think, had the first three-pointer of the game for the Rockets. Jack Landale, Beast. Also, not going to play much when Stephen Adams was right now. No, no. And by way, from what I got from the
Starting point is 00:48:37 Rockets yesterday is that Stephen Adams is going to be literally a game-time decision before every game. Every game? It's what it sounds like. It's like, how's he feeling? Yeah. Stephen Adams, how you feeling? all right go ahead I'm all right mate yeah all right
Starting point is 00:48:50 remember that an awkward question I asked him about him and Jonas Valentunus being the greatest wrestlers of all time he's like that's what you want to do you want to get into that's what you fantasize about that's fine yeah
Starting point is 00:49:00 yeah Stephen I mean I'm definitely afraid of you he's a teddy we're gonna bond we're gonna bond on the road this year what are you guys gonna do go out and have some pints
Starting point is 00:49:11 okay does he like to crush some I would think so of his physical statue into? I mean, me, Landell, and Stephen Adams. I mean, he's got a, I mean, he seems to have, although he's a big person, he's a slender physique.
Starting point is 00:49:24 Yeah, it doesn't have Chris Paul's suit in it, that Chris pawed him still, so. What? Remember we asked him? You asked him about his suit. He's like, what the, uh, yeah. It's like, I wore that thing one time. I think his head was spinning just from being a Houston rocket mat. I think he was mesmerized by my
Starting point is 00:49:41 presence. That's, he's like, I'm really nervous about this conversation. Yeah. The aura, as the kids say, Matt, it was overwhelming. He just couldn't even, his brain was scrambled. He was overwhelmed. Yep.
Starting point is 00:49:55 I couldn't have said it better myself. Thank you, Ross. 713, 212-5-790. 7-1-3-212-5-790. Did you see in the game between the Pistons and I forgot who they played last night? No. You just say the Pistons and I didn't watch it. Yeah, I was going to say it.
Starting point is 00:50:11 Nor did much of America. The Pistons got called for a technical foul, Rossi. Okay. and do you know different ways to get technical files? I mean, arguing with reps, cursing, taunting, all that good stuff. It was there playing the Pacers, by the way. I don't know, throwing the ball at somebody. Yeah, all the above.
Starting point is 00:50:31 The Pistons for a small stretch of the game last night had six players playing on the floor at one time. I was literally about to say that. Dang. I'm not even kidding. It was going to be the next thing I said it came to my mind. They had six people on the floor. I think I've seen that like one time before. And it was obvious.
Starting point is 00:50:45 they went into front court. Like, one, two, three. Oh, there's four, five, six. I think I remember that happening like a decade ago sometime. And I'm surprised, frankly, doesn't happen more because of all the substitutions that come in and out of a game. So there you have it.
Starting point is 00:51:01 And then I'll conclude Pistons talk for the rest of the day. Thank you, Matt. Did you see about this wall in Los Angeles of fans? Yes, it's like a student section. Yes. No visiting teams fans can be in this section. They're not allowed. How do they vet that?
Starting point is 00:51:15 They probably say, you're wearing that gear, get out. You're going to kick you out. Yeah. What if you're just wearing, what if I just go in there wearing a black shirt, but then I root for the other team? Well, then they're going to make fun of you. My guess is, as technical. Maybe there's a rule you have to wear the gear of the clippers to be in there.
Starting point is 00:51:30 Oh, that's on, yeah. I'll do some checking when I get out there. I'll talk to see ballroom. I'll talk to my people, yeah. 113-212-5-790. 7-1-3-1-2-1-2-5-790. Dr. Rodo, bottom of the hour, here on 790. Matt Thomas.
Starting point is 00:51:45 This continues on Sports Talk 790. We were just talking all fair about our favorite part of the latest Dudes on Dudes Podcast. You and I just got in an argument, Matt. We were trying to name our top five favorite moments of the podcast, and we just couldn't agree. Yeah, because there's so many great moments. I couldn't narrow down to every two minutes of the show was my favorite part of dudes on dudes.
Starting point is 00:52:19 Check it out for free on iHeartRadio.com. I mean, we should make you pay for it, but, you know, with a gift that keeps on giving here at IHeartRadio, dudes on dudes. I think the dudes on dudes is in concussion protocol. Oof. I'm surprised they even know how to work the microphones. Not a couple of roads.
Starting point is 00:52:39 What is that? I don't know what this is. What? This is toxin. Not by him. America's meathead, Rob Grancowski. Nice guy, though. Lovely, I'm sure.
Starting point is 00:52:50 It seems like he is. You know what? If Rob Grancowski want to come on this show to promote dudes on dudes. We'd talk to them. About what? NFL? Tequila? I mean, the guys probably lived a pretty good life.
Starting point is 00:53:01 I think he went on, I think he was interviewed on like 60 minutes or something, said he hadn't read a book since eighth grade. So I haven't either. Yes, you have. What? The last three books. Tori Spelling's autobiography. Jose Kinseko and Jerry Springer. Books.
Starting point is 00:53:17 That's the most Matt Thomas book club list I've ever heard. I mean, I read thousands of things every day. I am not interested in a book at all. Okay, good. Now, I'm in the minority because when I can get on these airplanes, I'm talking about the rockets, I'm talking about just in general airplanes, and people are reading. I'm like, you know, I have respect for you.
Starting point is 00:53:38 You want to learn. You want to build your vocabulary. You want to go in depth with certain things. Meanwhile, I'm on the Internet. I'm just texting people. Yeah, you're just checking see what Taylor's doing on Instagram. It's a different life. Now, I've not checked Taylor yet today.
Starting point is 00:53:52 She did not do on her NBA picks last night. Speaking of expansive vocabularies. Well, there's expensive other things. So what's going on in sports today, sports Harvey? You tell me. You want ESPN's number one sports headline of the day? Please. You probably don't want to get into this one.
Starting point is 00:54:14 James Franklin refuses to comment on rape charges against ex-Pen State football players. Skip? Basically, here's what happened. Two players at Penn State have been accused of rape. and it happened this past summer and he was asked on two different occasions in a press conference about it and he walked away from both questions.
Starting point is 00:54:32 Why can't he just say those are legal proceedings and I can't comment? That wasn't good enough. Okay. I don't know the details of it. And I think he probably, in not so many words, I think the PR to people at the school said our coach is not going to speak on this.
Starting point is 00:54:49 Well, here's one. Headline number three. Leonel Messi has raised MLS salaries for the entire league since, coming over to the MLS. That's good. That's good. Sorry to hear about the WMBA labor issues.
Starting point is 00:55:02 Did Dynamo make the playoffs? Yes. They did? Yeah, Cameron's a season ticket holder. He told them all the time. He's gives you Dynamo updates? Yeah. That's great.
Starting point is 00:55:10 He said, when he has some Dynamo players on? I said, I believe never 19th. We used to get them back on the day. Oh, that was called force programming. Kai Canara and Brian Ching and the boys. I can hear literally radio stations dials being turned at this exact moment it was happening. Man, the best was the PR department tried to act like they were the freaking Yankees.
Starting point is 00:55:29 Like, you guys aren't talking about us every day. Yeah, you're the Houston Dynamo. Yeah. Well, they've given up. Well, there's one guy that sends emails. What time are you guys coming over for our press conference? And I'm like, very busy.
Starting point is 00:55:45 They play three-game series in MLS playoffs now? You're asking the wrong person. You're asking the wrong person. No, I'm pulling it up. It's a three-game set in soccer? Do they aggregate it or no? I believe the MLS playoffs are as long as a regular season. What if you draw three?
Starting point is 00:56:01 We're not playing Uno. I didn't say draw four. No, okay. It's a wild card. Would rather play Uno for consecutive hours or watch a dynamo playoff game? A dynamo playoffs. I'm going to go to Uno. I love Uno as well, though.
Starting point is 00:56:13 Uno used to get violent back in the day. Yeah, really? Yeah, because if you forgot to say Uno when you're down to a card, you'd have people just stalking you, like, I'm going to catch you. And you drop a draw four on them or a wild card. I just a house rule. I don't think it's an official. Well, who would say Uno on zero cards? You say Uno when you have one card. Some people used to try to say you have to say Uno when you win as well.
Starting point is 00:56:34 That's ridiculous. I'm with you, Matt. I'm just saying the streets have said it before. That's like collecting $200 when you cross Electric Avenue. You only collect 200 when you go past Go. Or sometimes you do not collect $200 and you go straight to jail. Well, I've done that myself too. I don't think I've ever played a full game of Monopoly in my entire life. Once you started buying the houses and the condos, it just becomes so. No, thanks. It's too much.
Starting point is 00:56:58 Oh, I had before, actually, on a video game. Oh, okay. He's hanging around, drinking with the people. So you said to yourself, let's have some drinks. Let's play Monopoly in a video game. I think we had gotten home from drinking, and we wanted to have a couple more. And so you flip the game on and you play while you drink and drink. And like, yeah, if somebody lands on your property, they have to drink.
Starting point is 00:57:20 Oh, my gosh. The game goes a lot quicker that way. Yeah. And then everybody's passing out within six minutes. And then you're like one player. Look all those money I have. And everybody else has passed out. It was like 99 cents on my PlayStation.
Starting point is 00:57:30 And vomiting all over themselves. It cost you a dollar to play that? I think it's something like that. That's not bad. See, that's what I'm saying. That's good value. See, you're judging and hating and then I explained it to you. Not that bad.
Starting point is 00:57:40 Yeah. All right. So the Dynamo playoffs. No, skip. Three games set against the Seattle. No, nobody cares. Nobody kept moving on. They play once a week?
Starting point is 00:57:52 We're only talking about relevant things on the show. Hold on. They're playing up Monday and then a Sunday. And then another Monday, it looks like. Okay. Or Sunday. So they play three weeks in a row? That's insane.
Starting point is 00:58:09 How many teams make the playoffs? I don't know. Robert Woods is back in practice for the Texans. Stephen Sims is back in practice for the Texans. These playoffs are going to take six months. Henry Toa Toa is not there. He's not? He was there yesterday.
Starting point is 00:58:22 Jimmy Ward and Al-Ziz Al-Shire are not there. You know what? The Texans are a soft five and two. No, they're not. Because where is the hysteria? Where is the excitement level? Where is the, I can't wait to get into this Texans Colts deep dive? Answer my question.
Starting point is 00:58:46 Okay. I don't hear none of our shows in town. People are just talking to themselves. I think we get amped on Sunday at 1159 before kickoff. I'm amped right now, Matt. I don't believe that for a second. I'm beside myself with excitement. No, you're not.
Starting point is 00:59:01 Or I'm just really disappointed in the Rockets. I've got a little bit of a Rockets hangover. All right. Brian, apparently, I'm brutally honest. Brian, in 60 seconds or less? You get, Brian, you get literally 30 seconds. Which we appreciate you, Brian. Thank you.
Starting point is 00:59:16 Brian hooked me up with some club seats at a dash game. I appreciate Brian. 30 seconds, the floor is yours. After 31 seconds, I'm hanging up on you. Hello, Brian. Hey, Matt, no, real quick, Ross, it's a three-game series at the last game this time. they do go to PKs to settle it so they can tie the first two but it has to be settled. It's something I think they started last year and then it's one game from there on out.
Starting point is 00:59:41 So hopefully we'll see you out there. That was perfect. Thank you, Brian. My computer messed up. Yeah, we're used to that right. He did it. He did it. He did it.
Starting point is 00:59:50 He has like 10 seconds off on the clock. So if they tie and then they go to penalty kicks. All right. Interesting. Let's get some fancy football conversation going. Yes. And let's tell Roto that I'm done. Matt, come on.
Starting point is 01:00:02 It's over. We've got to resuscitate the Toros. It's an annual tradition. No, it's not. You know what? You are put, I am in the grave. Come on. Shut it.
Starting point is 01:00:12 Come on, man. 713, 212, 5, 790. If you got a question for Dr. Roto, we get to the fantasy football advice you need and deserve. Next on 790 after I tell you about big city wings. Delicious wings. Thursdays, it's buy one, get one free bonus wings, executive chicken nuggets. of the 13 big city wing locations,
Starting point is 01:00:33 including the new Katie location on Kingsland Boulevard. I'm telling you, enjoy fresh chicken, burgers, salads, sandwiches. There are amazing appetizers. The desserts are delectable. In fact, we are hosting a volleyball team party tonight at the Kingwood location of Big City Wings. So if you're looking for a place to party and watch your football games on Thursday night and watch your football on Saturdays and Sundays, they open the Saturday locations, all locations on Saturday,
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Starting point is 01:01:34 And I've got to turn out to be a news. It is the fastest 30 minutes in major market radio. We say hello to the one of the only Dr. Roto here on Sports Talk 790. Again, if you've got any questions for Dr. Roto, we'll take them the next segment at 713-212. 570. Dr. Rotto, I am raising the white flag. This is my final year of fantasy football.
Starting point is 01:02:29 It's over. I'm done with injuries. I'm done with Tyree Kills sucking. I'm done with Kyle Pitts sucking. He's getting two aback. Tell them to stop whining, Dr. Roto. I am over, Roto. It's done. Yeah, until next August, when they ask you to play and you'll be like, sure, I'm in. Come on, Maddie. Come on. We need them. Exactly. We need one more.
Starting point is 01:02:50 What is going on? You know what? Look, the Chris guy. one injury. Yeah, terrible. This has been brutal. These years have been brutal. Yeah. Yeah, I yoke bad.
Starting point is 01:02:59 I mean, look, Deshawn Watson, I know he was playing poorly, but you never want to see that either. It's just, you know, it's gruesome, right? So, and then some of them you'd say, well, they were down by 10 points, the Buccaneers, why is he been out there and these hip drop tackles? So it's just, it's a lot. But what I can say is this, every pick counts, right? So when you're at your draft and you're enjoying yourself with your friends, maybe you're not paying attention, maybe you're taking out that magazine that's too old
Starting point is 01:03:24 or maybe you're on your fifth drink of the night. Those are the winning rounds. You can't waste any picks. You can't waste any, you know, you never know when you're going to need a player. All right. Well, there are certainly many, many folks are still enjoying it. So let's get some relevant information to them first and foremost.
Starting point is 01:03:40 Let's go to, hmm, what did you take away from Minnesota, except for the fact that I've got a short week, long travel out to Los Angeles. Big scoring night, first loss the season. Is this a bounce back week for them against a subpar ram's defense? Maybe, but Cooper Cup is expected back, and there's
Starting point is 01:04:04 rumors that Pooker Nakua could be expected back. So you might see a different Rams team. You might see a wide open game here tonight. I like Sam Darnal a little bit. You always like Justin Jefferson against the Rams defense. I think Jordan Addison plays very well against zone coverage, and that's what the Rams
Starting point is 01:04:18 throughout there. So I think, look, this Vegas has his game at about close to a 50. I think you could see that. I think, you know, Cups should be great against that Vikings defense, but the Vikings put a lot of pressure. They blitz. And look, we know the Rams offensive line is not very good. So if Stafford can stay afloat, this game will be an interesting one to watch. And I think there's fantasy goodness. So I'm starting Kyron Williams. I'm starting Cup. If Puka's playing, I will start him on the other side. Certainly Aaron Jones, certainly Sam Darnold, Jefferson, and Atson.
Starting point is 01:04:49 have we dropped every New Orleans player from our starting lineup? I mean, the implosion that has happened with that football team is incredible right now. Yes and no. I think you start three guys. I think you start Alvin Camara. I think you start Chris Alave, and we don't even know if he's back yet, but if he's back this week, you start him. And I think there's a place for Taysam Hill in lineups. If he qualifies a tight end in leagues, which he should and most now, they're desperate.
Starting point is 01:05:14 They are desperate, and they are a better team when Taysam Hill is playing. So against the Chargers, do I think that? Tayson Hill could actually do something. It's one of those sneaky plays, but those are the only three guys right now. Can't trust anybody else. Maybe the sneaky good noon game, besides obviously the Texans and Colts coming up, is Philadelphia versus Cincinnati. Philadelphia did just enough to dispose of a very bad Giants team,
Starting point is 01:05:37 and the Bengals starting to play a little bit of a softer schedule with exception to this week. How do you see this playing out? Look, the Bengals should have beaten Kansas City. They should have had two more victims. They should have beaten the Baltimore, right? So right now the Bengals are the best team that people aren't talking about. Look, this plays right into what the Bengals want to do. The Eagles secondary is awful.
Starting point is 01:05:57 Joe Burrow thrown at Jamar Chase, T. Higgins against man coverage. You want to do man coverage on T. Higgins and Jamar Chase? Good luck on the other side. A.J. Brown, Devontas Smith, Sequin Barkley. This is a fantasy feast right here. This game is a 48. Give me the over in a large way. I'll take Chase Brown as well, almost all the pieces you start.
Starting point is 01:06:18 seen Chicago play a lot better, especially after the second week against the Texans. Are we noticing major fantasy impact as I go to Washington this week, take on the very hot commanders? Well, look, the commanders have an issue. Is Jaden Daniels going to play or not? Right now, I would guess, no, I'm not sure there's a reason to risk him. I think they go with Marriota. If Marioita's out there, now you've got this inconsistency. Maybe they'll be a good drive. Maybe they'll be a bad one. I like the Bears' defense a lot. I think they're a really good play for the Bears' offense. DeAndre Swift has been absolutely on fire. Caleb Williams has played well. The commander's defense, the secondary is kind of weak.
Starting point is 01:06:55 The question is, is it DJ Moore? Is it Keenan Allen? Is it Roma Dunsey? Is it Cole Comet? We don't know where the production is coming from, but there should be production in this game. And I think this game could be, it has a chance to be higher scoring.
Starting point is 01:07:08 If Mariotta plays well, if he implodes, then the bear's defense will take over. One of the many reasons why I hate fantasy football is Cortland Sutton with the Denver Broncos. a goose egg for me last week. Tyree Kiel at a 1.4. I can't find another wide receiver duo that gave less points
Starting point is 01:07:26 to the ones on my football team. So let's go to Denver first. What is going on? How are they winning games by not really doing much offensively? Well, they're playing really great defense and the kickers looking good. And Bo Nix has been good.
Starting point is 01:07:38 Bow Nix has been good. So this week, you know, don't laugh. Cortland Sutton's a really good play. Right? Cortland Sutton should have a good week. I know. you're the last thing you want to hear but tell me this panthers with with bryce young are you telling me that denver's not scoring three touchdowns and if they score three touchdowns javante williams should
Starting point is 01:07:58 have one and courtland sutton could easily have one tyree kill this look two is back tyler huntley's awful scyler thompson's awful if two is back tyree kill goes from you know mediocre to fantastic again so your team could be on the precipice of immortality oh you hear that on the precipice of immortality. Thanks, those two jabrones who got me nothing last week. That's high for you there. Yeah, I was going to say you were trying to sell this very hard. There's not a lot of sexy. A Buffalo, Seattle,
Starting point is 01:08:30 are we intrigued about this matchup this week? I think we are. I think the question is, is DK Metcalfe playing. And Kenneth Walker's also missed some time, too. So if Walker and D.K. are in there. It should be a great game. Seattle's throwing a ball a ton. Gino Smith is slinging it around, which is good thing. look tremendous. Metcalf,
Starting point is 01:08:49 Jackson Smith, the jigba is in play. Even Tyler Lockett isn't play on the other side. The Amari Cooper trade was fantastic for Buffalo. Need to play him. Shatir is certainly in play. And James Cook has been spectacular. I think the big loser in this whole thing is Dalton Kincaid because I just don't
Starting point is 01:09:05 see the targets now that Cooper's in town. All right. The loser of Dallas, San Francisco on Sunday is either going to be under 500 in the Cowboys or significantly under 500. So an important game with two mediocre football teams right now. How do you see it fantasy-wise between the Cowboys and the Niners?
Starting point is 01:09:23 This is like in wrestling, the loser leave town match. One of these two teams is going to be done, right? So, you know, I have a very close friend who said he thinks the Cowboys are going to come back. He's a big Cowboy fan. He said, look, they may win this week. They may lose the next month, but they were so embarrassed in that last game. And San Francisco's reeling. You have Noah Yucke as Debo playing.
Starting point is 01:09:43 You know, Purdy has been making mistakes. The defense has a lot of guys who are injured. Do I love Dallas this week? No, I really don't. Does Vegas love this game? No, it's a 46 spot. So I think, will I play Lamb, I will. Will I play Jalen Tolbert?
Starting point is 01:09:59 Probably. Will I play DAC? Yes. Will I play Ferguson? Yes. On the other side, I will play Purdy. I will play Jordan Mason for sure. I think Joanne Jennings isn't play, and I think George Kittles have played too.
Starting point is 01:10:12 All right. Before I start taking phone calls, How startled were you by the lack of Texans' offensive work last week in Green Bay, and will that translate to a second straight week against the Colts? I was shocked. I was shocked. I mean, I know they ran the ball well, but, man, without Nico Collins, don't they seem a little lost on offense?
Starting point is 01:10:31 A lot of penalties, a lot of poor time penalties. Stroud didn't look great. So what do I think happens this week? First of all, you know, I'm still thinking Joe Mixon is great. Secondly, Stefan Diggs against zone defenses. give me all the Stefan Diggs. And hasn't it seemed like every tight end has caught a touchdown against the Colts?
Starting point is 01:10:50 Dalton Schultz is due. I mean, he had one catch for 28 yards, like the third play of the game, and then they didn't go to him the rest of the game. They have to get him involved. So I think the big problem here is going to be is the Texans defense, can they stop Anthony Richardson?
Starting point is 01:11:04 Richardson's been a mess, but every week he can run, he can get a couple of rushing touchdowns. You know what he's going to do, and he's going to throw the ball deep. You've got to stop him running, and you get a stop the law passes. And as far as the cults are concerned,
Starting point is 01:11:17 Anthony Richardson is a starting quarterback in the NFL and he doesn't complete 48% of his passes. Not even close. I think 48 is being generous. But look at what he does. He runs and he's throwing it deep. And if he connects on two of those 10 completions, they get you to the one-yard line.
Starting point is 01:11:34 So it's kind of amazing what the Colts are doing with a pretty bad quarterback. All right. Now, if you've got questions about a particular player or team, 713-212-5-790 7-1-3-212-5-790. Dr. Roto with us until the top of the hour here on Sports Talk 790. I hope you're taking notes because the notes you take from Dr. Roto's great advice can help you win money if you are interested in doing so. And if you are, you got to choose underdog fantasy.
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Starting point is 01:12:28 We're talking about winning up to 1,000 times your money just by choosing higher or lower on the player's stats. And Underdog also is what they call a double flex option, which you can actually take two L's and take. still have your entry be a win. This is a great opportunity for you to enjoy the excitement that is Underdog Fantasy by taking the fantasy knowledge you learn from this radio show and your own knowledge and turn it into cash. This sees the Underdogs be running a special promo or a bonus almost every single day.
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Starting point is 01:13:49 Dr. Roto can have you with your football team 713-212-570 7-1-3-212-5-790 Let's start taking some phone calls for the good Dr. Mark is with his son 7-90 with Dr. Roto. Go ahead Mark Yeah, hey I'm hurting really bad at my RB2 spot
Starting point is 01:14:07 So I have four guys. I probably need to keep about two of them and maybe drop two of them. I have Chase Brown, Alexander Madison, Austin Echler, and Jonathan Brooks. Well, look, you can't drop Jonathan Brooks. At some point he's going to come back and he's going to be sensational. I think you play Chase Brown for sure. I don't trust Alexander Madison against Kansas City. I think that's a bad matchup, so probably take a shot on Echler.
Starting point is 01:14:35 All right. Don't call us. Go to Chris in downtown for Dr. Roto. Hi, Chris. Hey, there. Hey, I have two for you guys. Hold on one sec. So would you bench Ben Thomas or Chuba Hubbard if Puka plays? Also, I have the Jets defense or 49ers defense.
Starting point is 01:14:56 Thank you. All right. I would play the Jets. I don't know. I don't, would I sit Brian Thomas for Puka? Look, I don't think this is a Puka game. I'm glad he's back. I'm glad he's back on the field.
Starting point is 01:15:07 But do I trust them tonight? Not especially. All right. 713-212-5-790. You've got a question for the good doctor. 7-13-212-5-7-90. Johns and Conroe with Dr. Roto. Hi, John.
Starting point is 01:15:21 Hey, how's it going on, man? I have two questions for you, Dr. Roto. If D.K. Mechap don't play, we play D.Hop or Deante Johnson. And another one, my quarterback, Jordan Love or Joe Burroughs? I holl at you. Thank you. Yeah, both those quarterbacks are in great spots.
Starting point is 01:15:40 I'm going to go Joe Burrow, but you could start Jordan Love. They both have been really good. I think that the Bengals at home against the bad Eagles team should thrive. Look, I don't think D.K. plays. Hopkins, it's his first week with a new team. I know Deonté Johnson's been a train wreck, and it's not his fault. He's been good. It's just that now that Young is there, it could be messy.
Starting point is 01:16:00 I think I'm going to go Deonté over Hopkins, but look, if Metcalfe plays, obviously he played him first. What is your long-term forecast for Dandrie Hopkins as a chief? I love it, really. I mean, think about it. Rishie Rice runs similar routes to Hopkins. They're both zone kind of guys. He's put his own coverage out there. Hopkins just finds the holes.
Starting point is 01:16:20 And it doesn't matter that he's not the fastest guy. He's got great hands. He always finds a way to get open. And he's reliable. I think Patrick Moore. The chiefs always make great moves, MT. This is another great move by the chiefs. Yeah.
Starting point is 01:16:32 Let's go to Steve and Garden Oaks on 790 for Dr. Roto. Hi, Steve. Hey, Dr. Roto. I need two out of these four, please. David Montgomery, Chase Brown, Jalen Waddle, and Romeo Dobbs. Okay, so I'm going to start Montgomery for sure at home. I mean, Montgomery at home seems to be a lock for a touchdown. Chase Brown's an okay play.
Starting point is 01:16:56 He's not fantastic. He's an okay play. There's nothing wrong with it. It should be a high scoring game. Got a chance for a touchdown. I do like Waddle. I mean, if Tua is back, I think Waddle's back in business. Dobbs, look, has had two really good weeks.
Starting point is 01:17:08 Can we expect that again this week? You know, look, they have Wicks, they have Watson, they have Reed, they have Kraft, they have Josh Jacobs. So it's not that I don't like Dobbs, but, you know, it's hard to trust Dobbs. So I think I'm going to go Montgomery, one, Waddle, two, Dobbs three. All right, back on the phones in a minute. We'll run through a few tweets. Better tied in the rest of the year. Komet, Najoku, or Ferguson?
Starting point is 01:17:30 I think it's Najoku with James Winston. The guy had 10 receptions last week. I'll take that. All right. Caleb and DJ Moore or Kyler and Harrison Jr. for a half-PPR league? I think it's Caleb and DJ and DJ Moore in a game where the bear should win this game against a suspect commander second there. Judy DeMario Douglas, Deontay Johnson, worth keeping around on rosters. I mean, certainly Douglas is and certainly Deontay is. Who's the first guy again? Judy, Jerry Judy?
Starting point is 01:18:01 Yeah, I mean, that's a tough one. Look, I think Cleveland will be. better. Gary Judy has talent. We just haven't seen it with the Sean Watson there. So you can't cut any of these guys just yet. You've got to give one more week and see what's going on. Look, Baltimore's past defense is bad. And James, James will sling it. So let's see what happens with Joey. Shepard or lock it in the flex? You know, Sterling Shepard knows Baker Mayfield from his days at Oklahoma. I mean, against Atlanta, who I think you can throw on. Not the worst start ever. All right. Let's go to Matt in Katie on 790. Matt, what's your question?
Starting point is 01:18:36 for Dr. Roto. Hey, Dr. Roto, I got two. Nakua or McLaren, and then quarterback, either Cousins, Mahomes, or Mayfield. So I don't love Mahomes. I mean, he just hasn't been throwing a lot of touchdowns. I do like Kirk Cousins
Starting point is 01:18:53 this week. I think he's in a really good spot. You can throw on 10th, as we've seen all year. Do I love McLaren? No. I think I'd actually start Pucca over McLaurin. Think of it this way. I don't think Jayden Daniels going to play. If he's not playing, Do I want Mario Dota against the bears? I don't think so.
Starting point is 01:19:11 So I think I'll take a risk with Puka. All right. Let's go to Nick in River Oaks for Dr. Roto. Hi, Nick. Hey, there. I'm kind of on a desperate flex. McConkey, Sutton, or Jalen McNillard? Yeah.
Starting point is 01:19:28 They're all interesting plays, right? But the Saints run a lot of man coverage. Ladd McConkey is a beast against man coverage. I like him. And like I told MT earlier, I think Sutton didn't play this week. So I wouldn't start McMillan over the other two. I think I'd go, I'll go Sutton 1, Ladd 2, but it's really close. I like Laddicka a lot.
Starting point is 01:19:49 All right. Let's go to Koso. Richard Chiliken question for Dr. Roto. Koso. Hey, guys. Who to start at the virus ear position? Come, Metcats, Wilkins, for Mars and Harrison Harrison. But our basement, thanks.
Starting point is 01:20:05 man that was a rough phone that was a rough okay so try it again we can barely hear you try it one more time yeah that's not going to happen sorry case so we yeah how about how about this how about i like cooper cup tonight they are legitimately trying to trade him i thought it was a hoax at first that whole thing about matthew stafford to the vikings that was a hoax right right but the thing about cup being traded that's not a hoax when jordan rodrigue and diana russini are telling you that they're getting it from from the sources so i think this is a game
Starting point is 01:20:37 they pepper cup with targets. Matthew Stafford does whatever he can to get his guy who he really likes, you know, the receptions, and Cup is probably on his way next week. All right. Last one for Jeremiah in Magnolia on 790 for Dr. Roto. Hi, Jeremiah. Hi,
Starting point is 01:20:53 how you don't guys? Just one quick question for a receiver. I got to start one. Atwill tonight or Waddle or Devante Smith. DeVantza Smith, for sure. I mean, that's a really great game and I'm not to start. 2-2-at-Wil is cutable. When Puka and the cup are back, I mean, I went out if I caught him because the cup could get traded, but he's not playable.
Starting point is 01:21:12 All right. And lastly, if DK doesn't play tonight, do I start Dell or Lockett? Oh, I mean, we can wait on that, but I don't like Tank Dell this week. I don't. I think I'm starting Lockett if he's out. Are you off on the Tank Dell bandwagon, or is you just in a rut right now in your mind? I think it's a little bit of both. I think Tank Dell is better against man defenses, and the Colts run a lot of zone coverage.
Starting point is 01:21:36 And the Colts are really, really generous to running back. and generous to tight ends. So it just doesn't feel like a tanked all week. He dropped that touchdown in the end zone. I think he doesn't look confident this year. Are we playing any skill players from the Colts on Sunday? Only Jonathan Taylor if he's back. I don't like Michael Pittman.
Starting point is 01:21:55 That's it. By the way, Michael Pittman's one of my receivers, too. Just want to pass that along to you. You better call me before he'd be trapped. No, there'll be no more calling you. Go on. I'll be calling you to see how Fort Myers doing, how your kids doing it right, but I'm not calling
Starting point is 01:22:10 about fantasy football. We've got to stage an intervention to keep them in the league. Well, we'll maybe do that at the final week of the season. Ladies and gentlemen, we asked Dr. Roto once a week to give us an absolute knockdown, dragout superstar player. We present to you Dr. Roto's Lock of the week. What do you got? I really like that
Starting point is 01:22:26 Bengals Eagles game, and I know I've been talking Bengals, but let's not forget the Eagles. Let's not forget A.J. Brown, Cam Taylor Britt, really a bad cornerback. A.J. Brown should break at least one for a touchdown. Let's give him eight for a hundred. and a touchdown. All right. That, my friends, is Dr. Roto's. Lock of the week. What are we finding you between now and Sunday? Where are you going to be?
Starting point is 01:22:48 MT. Of course, you can find me at my website, Dr. Roto.com. I'm on Sirius X-N Fantasy Sports Radio, Saturday morning from 8 to 10 a.m. Eastern. And of course, it's on X at DRROT. Great stuff as always. Talk to you again next week. Thank you for the time, as always. Appreciate it. All right, Dr. Wago with us here on the radio program. By the way, I just want to look at your Twitter account, which I normally don't do. Mine? Your is usually muted. I appreciate that. And it says, are you experiencing fantasy football fatigue, or do you like it as much as ever?
Starting point is 01:23:17 Very small sample size, but 59% are finding themselves fatigued with it. Yeah, I thought it would be closer to 50-50, but there's a lot of people. I mean, it's been a brutal year for injuries and, I mean, draft pick misses. Unless you're scouring the waiver wire every single week, it's tough. Coral Sutton, Tyree Kill, Michael Pittman. I've got Jalen Wattle. He's been terrible all year. DeMante Adams, terrible. A-chan, terrible.
Starting point is 01:23:44 Yeah, but some of those guys are new teams now. You should feel better. I picked up Baker Mayfield. That's literally, he's been the best pickup of the year for me. I drafted Trevor Lawrence. You know how that went. We're battling out here. Cal's Rough riders are battling. By the way, happy birthday of Calhoun-McNair.
Starting point is 01:24:01 DeCalhoun McNair. Not today's believe it or not. What is today's, believe it or not? You tell me. It could be Willie Fritz. Oh, it could be Willie Fritz on the show next. 159 on Sports Talk 790. Lunch timers.
Starting point is 01:24:19 This is the Matt Thomas show. Time for us. Spend a few quality minutes with the head football coach of your Houston Cougars. Cougars against the Utah Uts this Saturday night. ESPN Plus the TV side of it radio over on 950 KPRC. and I'll have the pregame show, and right now we are joined by head coach Willie Fritz. Willie, good afternoon. How are things?
Starting point is 01:24:40 Good. How are you doing, Matt? I got no complaints, Coach. Thanks for taking some time with this. Look, there was times where penalties got to you, and then unfortunately the turnover bug got to you Saturday in Kansas City. As you look back at the film, look, obviously you want to correct all those types of things, but was it intense pressure or some mental mistakes by your squad
Starting point is 01:24:59 that turned into a high turnover count? You know both. It's hard to, like I've said, a few times. You know, we've got to play really well this season to be able to win in the Big 12. And, you know, the week before that, we played DCU, more plus four turnover, takeaway, and win. And then last week we were minus four. And it didn't win. So we've just got to clean it up and do a better job coaching and playing and understand how important, you know, possession of the ball is,
Starting point is 01:25:30 not giving them a free series of downs without anything. happening good for you. So that's big for us. We talk about the plan to win every week. And the first component of it is winning the turnover takeaway battle. And when you don't win it, you're going to have a tough time winning the ball game. So we've got to do a much better job in that area. How do you in game go to the, well, if a ball gets deflected or intercepted or a fumble?
Starting point is 01:25:55 And look, these kids are human. They don't want to be making these types of mistakes. But how do you try to as a coach reinforce the, let's not get into this, here we go again? mode when you're in the middle of coaching a football game? Well, you really do it throughout the course of the week. We try to, you know, it's the number one thing that's printed up all over our buildings, all that kind of stuff, and that's good, but we spend a lot of time with drill work, you know, an individual team, you know, working with proper ball security, and then, you know,
Starting point is 01:26:28 you've got to make sure that on pass routes or you're, you know, throwing balls that are, you got a great chance to complete. I know that sounds simple, but, you know, when you're, you know, putting together a game plan, you know, you got to make sure you got the correct Jimmy against the correct Joe, and hopefully there's some separation, and your guys able to compete and catch the football. And, you know, so all those things, just making sure every day in practice, you know, carrying the ball the right way. You know, it's, we tell them over and over again, it's not the guy you can see who's going to create the turnover. It's the guy you can't see. He's guys in your blind spot, the guy coming to the sides.
Starting point is 01:27:05 You've got to always be protecting the ball. And you basically got our program in your hands when you're carrying the ball. So some way emphasized in great detail, but we've got to go out and execute it. And we've got to coach it better because, you know, it's not sticking right now. We've got to do better job with it. You lost the on Chris early in the game to injury on Saturday. How has he been for you this week at practice? You know, better.
Starting point is 01:27:30 We're hoping he's going to be able to play on Saturday. Saturday, you know, but if he's not able to, you know, we've got to, Donovan and Huey have got to do a good job coming in and playing for us. And, you know, so we're going to find that out. You know, unfortunately, he's been banged up a little bit this season. And, you know, we're hoping he's going to be able to finish a home stretch where he's healthy and able to get out there and participate and play because he does some great things when he is able to play. So how do you, if we were to partake in watching some of your practice, are you splitting quarterback time up 33, 33, 33? I mean, is there a percentage you can put on the three guys you've had take snaps for you so far this year?
Starting point is 01:28:14 Well, you know, there was a couple days there where Zeon wasn't able to take any stamps at all. So you just split it with the other two guys. You know, it's hard to split evenly two guys, much less three. So you've got to really, you know, figure out each day. you know, who's healthy, who's able to go, and then you try to split it up amongst two guys at the very most. Willie, you have been a great motivator no matter where you have been. I've watched you from the distance motivate your guys just before we leave the hotel to go to the stadium.
Starting point is 01:28:46 And I don't, you call that something in particular, right? Or is that just something you just walk in and talk to the guys for you gun on the bus? Oh, we do. We call it a little hype session. You know, I don't know, I got somebody years and years ago. You kind of show a highlight tape from things during the course of the week. you know, sometimes show that hype video the night before the game. Yeah.
Starting point is 01:29:04 It didn't really help you out. I mean, if it's a good video and you get taught, they have a hard time sleeping, you know, want that. So we try to do it right before we get on the bus and head to the game and hopefully it generates some genuine enthusiasm. Well, I'm always fired up to have a better broadcast when you're doing that. So I tell you, it's great motivation. Who motivated you in your life? You have been around a lot of great college coaches.
Starting point is 01:29:29 You played, obviously, and worked. from the ground up to where you are now. Who is in your mind has been the greatest motivator when it comes to getting, you're talking about 90 young men basically on a week-to-week basis, ready to play a football game. Oh, you know, I've motivated myself, you know, basically, and that's kind of how I was raised with my mom and dad. But the coach that has motivated me the most,
Starting point is 01:29:50 the guy named Ron Rannelman. Ron was my college coach at small school called Pittsburgh State up in Kansas. And he took the reins at San Houston State University and really he was the first guy to win on a consistent level there. Sam Houston, and he and I talk every week. He'll beat the game this weekend, and he's my number one motivator. All right. As far as Utah's concerned, you're going to be going against a new offensive coordinator
Starting point is 01:30:15 as Kyle Winningham as they've decided to move on from Andy Ludwig. A thought or two about that football team, they're also going through quarterback issues of their own. They've got a young freshman that's getting snaps, and they really struggled offensively against TCU last Saturday. When you turned the tape on, what did you see? Well, exactly what you said. They had a very veteran quarterback.
Starting point is 01:30:35 I think he was in his seventh season here, Cam Rising, and unfortunately for the young man he got injured. You know, they're just trying to find their way. You know, when you have a quarterback in whatever position, what does he do well, get him to do that, what does he do not so well, stay away from that. You know, and you can't really find those things out until you play a few ball games.
Starting point is 01:30:55 And that's kind of what's happening to us right now. You go through spring ball and preseason camp, and, you know, the quarterback's not alive, and you really get to, you know, diagnose where they're at during the season. So they're a strong run team, you know, they've always done that, and then they're really, really good on defense. Poor man front, they're penetrating type front. They're jumping off the ball. They're not a reading react.
Starting point is 01:31:20 They're trying to make something happen with penetration, and they play a ton of man coverage. You're in your eye. They're one of the better defenses in the... the country. So we've got to make sure we get bodies on bodies. Not allowed to get back there quick and disrupt the quarterback and turn the ball over. We've been
Starting point is 01:31:38 working on all their different bliss combinations this week. So we want that to really play out on Saturday night 602. All right, very good. Coach, always great to have you on my show. We appreciate it and best luck this Saturday against the Utes. Thank you.
Starting point is 01:31:53 We'll see it. That's Willie Fritz with us here on Sports Talk 7 in. And Willie's visits every week are brought to you by the joint chiropractic, the official chiropractor of University of Houston Athletics. We are 20 minutes away from the Rotten Five, and I'm looking forward to finding out where Texans' opponents have been in that Rotten Five. I know there's got to be at least two of them. Could there be more?
Starting point is 01:32:15 We'll find out more on that coming up in a few minutes. We have, believe it or not, today at 250. What is today's category? It'll be one DeAndre Newk Hopkins. We're celebrating him, huh? He's a Kansas City Chief. We've never done DeAndre Hopkins in the history of, believe it or not? Maybe.
Starting point is 01:32:33 I believe this could be a best of, which I'm not judging. Well, you come up with something better, I'll do. I got zero. You've given me nothing. All right. We do Muppet characters' names. We were talking Muppets earlier in the show, that's for sure. All right, 212 on Sports Talk 790.
Starting point is 01:32:49 7.13, 212, 790 if you want to get in. If you would like to get in the little rockets, we had the Rockets opening night loss to the hated Charlotte Hornets. We'll run through a little bit of that coming up as well. 713212-5-790, 7-190.7-190 with a word for Uptown Appliance Repair, where I know that you don't want to spend thousands of dollars on refrigerators and ice makers and wine coolers. You want to save that money for other things for your home. That means if something's on the fritz, you want to have Uptown appliance repair, come fix it.
Starting point is 01:33:22 Bobby Farrow and his team will do an amazing job and giving you 100% customer satisfaction. the work will be done right the very first time. They've got a great reputation with over thousands and thousands of satisfied customers in the Houston area. So if anything in terms of appliances are not working, here's the number. Write it down. I'll give it to you two times. I'll give it to you slowly. 281-758-9978.
Starting point is 01:33:46 281-58-9978. They're triple A-rated by the BBB. Uptown appliance repair, 281-758-9978 and online. at Uptown Appliance Repair.com. The Matt Thomas show continues on Sports Talk 790. 218 on Sports Talk 790. Adam Clinton giving us a preview. He was at Texans practice today and had a chance to...
Starting point is 01:34:25 He was? He was. You get lost? He's our intrepid Texans reporter. Was he trying to get to the Timmy Chans over there? I'm sorry, the Mimmy Man's. Isn't it suck? There's no good place to eat over there and to hang out.
Starting point is 01:34:40 It's been, they've, that stadium opened up in 2002 and there's just some zilch. I mean, there's a muddimerger on Kirby in there. And there is a, I believe, well, you should be. A machos? Is the machos still there? There's a Rock O'Rell. And there's a Barbies. Yeah.
Starting point is 01:35:02 Yeah. One hotel has been changed 15 times. And then the other ones are where basically you have sexual intercourse with processes. But I mean, I guess the Toyota Center and the Minutemate don't really have any bustling restaurants and bars by them either. We're tired activists. We've gone over this over and over again. We are for as awesome as we are in so many things in this community, we just cannot vibe around sports stadiums. We don't go all in sports as a city, really.
Starting point is 01:35:27 Just saying, ticket in Dallas is like their number one rated station in the city, regardless of format. In Minneapolis, I went against a radio station. I used to get good numbers in the station. Yeah. But the other station I was going against beat me like three by three times. Because I just were just, I mean, when you have 12% of the radio listenership listening to one radio station, that's an FM sports talk station, you're in tough shape. All right. Let's go to a story before we get to the Rotten Five about what's going on at the beloved.
Starting point is 01:35:57 Would you say the Harvard of Mid-South, Tennessee University of Memphis? I don't think so. What's the accepted rate? My guess is open enrollment. I'm not saying it's overly difficult. Go look. All right. So the University of Memphis has Penny Hardaway.
Starting point is 01:36:11 And Penny has people with deep pockets. What? Is this real? What is it? Their acceptance rate is 95%. I find that to be completely accurate. Why do you even put applications in? You don't.
Starting point is 01:36:29 It says you always make the open enrollment joke. That's open enrollment. That is open enrollment. 95%. 95%? Yeah, that's insanely high. Wow, I've never seen that. What are most schools?
Starting point is 01:36:42 About 70%, give or takes? I mean, obviously, private schools and IVs are going to be a lot smaller, but I would think generally speaking, your normal run-of-the-mill state schools. You know, I'm going to say on average, man, it's 50? No. I'm just kidding. No, no, no. All right, so let's get to the University of Memphis.
Starting point is 01:36:57 Okay. So there are some promises, some NIL players, from what I understand, right? Yes. And they're not paying up at this point. apparently some of their players are holding out now. NIL causing major issues, the players over there for the Memphis Tigers getting frustrated. All-American Center, Jordan Brown,
Starting point is 01:37:21 stepping away from the program with an illness last year. It was out for about a month and a half. There's basically the rumor that he was getting unfulfilled financial agreements. in addition to the transfer plurril is going to leave the team because he was not getting paid according to his contract with the Bluff City Collective. Is that what Memphis City? Yeah, Bluff City is Memphis, yeah.
Starting point is 01:37:47 Okay. Apparently, the agent has given a bad review of the NIL operation as well. Oh, now there's people that are giving reviews of collectives? Yes. Like there's a Craigslist? list of, hey, you should go to this one, or there's a a, not a Craigslist, would be like a Rotten Tomatoes group running down?
Starting point is 01:38:11 Yeah, it's somebody who is the head of the Young Money APAA sports. That's the agency. Oh, my God. What a sinister group of people those people are. What do you mean? I'm sure they got a great operation over there. Zero ethics whatsoever. When
Starting point is 01:38:28 those Memphis players called the NCAA, I've got word. They said, deal with it. They said, shut your bum at. get up. We're not bothered. We're very busy. They actually said leave a voicemail. You know how people leave voicemails and you know they never get returned? Correct. That's what the NCAA is telling those Memphis players.
Starting point is 01:38:48 You sign up for this. You figured out. Yeah. Tyreek Smith is the player. He's apparently having issues, has not had promises fulfilled by the NIL collective in Memphis. Like, I want to ask Willie, and I don't want to put him in a tough spot here, but look, Ross, This is going to come as no surprise. We need serious influx of talent. They should have money. I'm also reading a story that FedEx pledged $25 million to Memphis, NIL.
Starting point is 01:39:18 That should be plenty for them. I wonder if most of that went to football. That was the football squad looking this year. No, I would say that most of it would go to basketball. That's how they make their money. Memphis football draws like 15,000 people a game. That's probably more than on average of the basketball or close. No, they put the FedEx form.
Starting point is 01:39:36 They sell out all their games. They sell out all the games. Absolutely. Yeah. Memphis Tigers basketball is huge. They even make the tournament. I'm just saying. They typically go to the tournament every year.
Starting point is 01:39:47 Okay. But I would think from a glamour standpoint, from a recognition standpoint, Memphis basketball is going to carry a lot more cashier than Memphis football. You don't have any idea with the Memphis football coaches, do you? No. But you know it was Penny Hardaway at Memphis? Well, I know who Penny Hardaway is. Point bank.
Starting point is 01:40:02 John Cali Perry before that. Yeah. Oh, guys are calling in sick on the NIL deals. But you know what's going to ultimately do for them? It's going to hurt their NBA draft status. Guys step away for basketball for a year and a half, two years? Where are they going to go? I don't know.
Starting point is 01:40:23 Yeah, Tyreek Smith transferred to Memphis in May. And apparently his agent has gotten very upset. He's only known as Boog. I don't know what his first name is. What is his name? Boog. Boog the agent. Boog the agent with Young Money
Starting point is 01:40:38 APAA Sports. That is that is flat out That is flat out sinister. There is nothing ethical. Why? What's your only name? Oh, please. What is your agent's name? Boogie.
Starting point is 01:40:51 Surprise Satchma wasn't available. Hey man. Boogie is moving and shaking apparently. Who's your agent? His name is Domino. Oh, okay. Boogie. What are you going with stripper names now?
Starting point is 01:41:05 Oh, my? My agent when I was in college? Yes. Desiree. That is a stripper name. Two places you can find them all stripper names. Was that a strip club, obviously. And number two would be at a place that I believe it's no longer in business.
Starting point is 01:41:23 Rantastic Rams? Fantastic Rams? Yeah. You get your haircut? And you put a little curling thing and get a balloon? No, you would go into, I can say it now. I think it's out of business, but you'd go into Fantastic Sam's and the girls' names would be on top of their mirrors. Yeah.
Starting point is 01:41:38 Yeah, hairdressers. They would say sunshine on there, and they would say Penelope. Hairdresses are a different breed. Desiree, Strawberry with a B-E-R-R-R-I. Diamond. Yeah. Diamond, D-Y-M-O-N-D, Diamond. Okay.
Starting point is 01:41:52 They always had funky spellings in our names. So, yeah, I wonder how much more this is going to be happening. The players are refusing to play because they're not getting their N-I-L commitments fulfilled. I mean, it happened in UNLV. What happened with that guy? Where is he now? I don't know. I don't even forgot his name.
Starting point is 01:42:08 It's not a sign out of mind. Oh, NIL. Please fix your... Matthew Sluka. Please fix yourself. What's the latest on Matthew Sluka? I bet you can Google and figure I've... Well, see, probably schools can't mention where he's potentially going.
Starting point is 01:42:22 He'd have to report of himself. Mm-hmm. I'm not heard anything about it. All right. He's still planning to leave the program. He doesn't left... I think he's in school? You think he's in class right now.
Starting point is 01:42:32 What's a percentage chance of that happening? Yeah. He's in the chemistry lab, mixing up solutions. He's in the library right now studying for a huge history exam. Yes. I believe it's post-construction. Reconstruction. Okay.
Starting point is 01:42:43 All right. Let's get the Rotten 5 in next. You want to? People have been waiting with bated breath. Have they been? This show has been nothing but bated breath. 227 on Sports Talk 790. 713-212-5-7-9.
Starting point is 01:42:56 If you want to join our conversation, 7-1-3-212-5-7-9-0. Game Day men's health wants you to get your testosterone in line so you have better libido, better strength, you have great energy. You're a monster in the bedroom, if you know what I'm saying. Game Day, men'shealth.com slash Houston. Game Day, men'shealth.com. Get your testosterone levels checked. Absolutely free.
Starting point is 01:43:22 It will not cost you dime. Then at their low, you can set up a treatment plane with a licensed provider on the premises, and they'll work with you around your schedule. You'll go in for a few minutes, get right back out, whether you're working on testosterone level building, whether you are working on erectile dysfunction, whether you're working on weight loss. They want to take a firm hand in helping you overall improve your
Starting point is 01:43:43 health. Game day men's health.com slash Houston. That's where you go to find the location near you to get that free disaster and level check. Game day, men's health.com slash Houston. Welcome, good afternoon. The best sports lunch in
Starting point is 01:43:59 H-town. Matt's really smart. He works hard. He has a good grasp of players. He's been around the game. You love him. We love them. So excited for the opportunity that Matt has in front of them for sure. This is the Matt Thomas show. I was looking at the 4 U-Tab because that's what I do when I'm not prepping for the show.
Starting point is 01:44:20 And the New Orleans Pelicans 21 hours ago so that Zion Williamson was out of last night's game against Chicago because of illness. So he can only miss 11 more games. He's going to miss more than that probably, but that's a different issue for a different time. What got me, what struck me funny was what one person thinks, The reason is. Uh-oh. It's a bad gumbo. E. coli outbreak linked to McDonald's quarter-pounders in multiple states.
Starting point is 01:44:47 Now, it hasn't been in Texas yet, but be careful out there, folks. Apparently McDonald's E. coli outbreak with quarter-pounders is in full effect. 49 people in 10 states have been sickened in the outbreak. One person has died. I think so. Yes, we died. Oh, that's terrible. It's not good.
Starting point is 01:45:02 But it was interesting that this was the sub-tweet off of the Zion Williamson. is out illness. He's not crushing quarter pounders. Come on. You don't know that. Isn't that? Didn't Stephen Adams say that to us? He understands why Zion has trouble sometimes losing weight,
Starting point is 01:45:21 but I think he's supposed to be in the best shape of his life. Now, we've heard that before coming into seasons, but, you know, it's fine. For real this time. But by the way, who got hurt last night? Would Giante Marie break his hand? Yeah, he fractured his hand, yeah. One game in. Jeez.
Starting point is 01:45:37 It's my understanding you need a hand to play basketball. Yeah, thank God I'm not doing fantasy basketball. I'd probably have Dejante Murray's my first round of selection. Yeah, let's start up a league actually. No, no. Matt, come on. We can do a fantasy draft of IG models. I'll be all for that.
Starting point is 01:45:54 Yeah, 61% of people experiencing fantasy football fatigue. Well, how are we going to fix that? I don't know. I'm in five leagues. I still like it. You're in five leagues? Yeah. That's nuts.
Starting point is 01:46:06 I mean, you have time for that. That's good. It's not going great. I'm four in three and four of them and two and five in the other. So you're probably in at least one or two playoffs. Hopefully. All right. Let's do this.
Starting point is 01:46:17 Let's give the audience some good old information while providing some entertainment as well. We present to you. Well, we can't do both those things. So instead we'll give you Ross's Rotten Five. They've gone bad. Hey, they draw flies. It's Ross's Rotten Five. This don't smell.
Starting point is 01:46:37 Well, quite right. All right, there's been a lot of injuries and a lot of bad football in the NFL. So let's go ahead and get it started with a congratulations. Jacksonville Jaguars, you won a game? But does it count when it's the New England Patriots and their young quarterback, Drake May? Yes, it does count. Truth be told, Trevor Lawrence has started to look a little bit better in the last few weeks for the Jaguars. Maybe they can eventually get on the right track.
Starting point is 01:47:03 They have won two of their last three games. They do get a real test coming up this week, though, against the Green Bay Packers. And from there, they do face the Eagles, Vikings, lions, and then the Texans. So we are about to find out who the real Jaguars are in the next few weeks. But as of right now, they are the fifth worst team in the NFL. Oh, we've been strong. We're just playing by the rules. Please keep losing so I can put Jaguar Lady on this thing.
Starting point is 01:47:29 All right, the Tennessee Titans continue to lose. Let's keep it with the AFC South. With or without Will Levis does not. matter. Mason Rudolph getting the start this past weekend due to injury. And well, things didn't go well. How bad did they go? Well, the bills throttled them 34 to 10 and the Titans immediately went into sell mode and traded away DeAndre Hopkins. Will Levis limited in practice yesterday. I don't think it matters much who starts at quarterback because upper management already deciding to dismantle the team and move on to next year. My crystal ball says they'll be in the market for a new
Starting point is 01:48:01 potential franchise quarterback because Will Levis is bad. Titans are horrible. They are the fourth worst team in the NFL. Guys, we got to go get Ben Shown. Bad news. Patriots lost six games in a row since winning the opener versus the Bengals. But the good news, Drake May is another solid start.
Starting point is 01:48:21 May has something with him in the future. The rest of the team is, well, complete trash juice around him. Defense, very bad. Drake May is offensive weapons. I mean, we're talking about Jalen Polk, DeMario Douglas, Ramandre Stevenson, Hunter, Henry. I mean, come on. We can't do any better than,
Starting point is 01:48:35 that. Gerard Mayo is already, there are rumors that he is getting fired, swirling as well. Doesn't matter. The Patriots could be in a good spot if he continues to play well, talking about Drake May, as well as racking up losses. So they could get a good draft pick, QB hungry teams trading up. They could get a lot of draft capital out of said draft pick. So future could be bright for the Patriots, but on the field, they are really bad. They are the third worst team in the NFL. We're getting ready for Cincinnati. No, no, you're not, Bill, and you're not the coach anymore. are you even here? All right. Carolina Panthers continue to put on a masterclass in losing week after week.
Starting point is 01:49:11 They did have the shocking win over the Raiders in week three, where they started off, of course, playing Bryce Young. That week three game, they turned to Andy Dalton. He was good in that game, but shockingly since then, hasn't been the answer. Now they're going back to Bryce Young. Okay, sure, why not? Bryce Young starting this week for the Panthers does not matter who the quarterback is because that defense is awful. The Panthers surrendering 34.7 points per game. Yes, in the NFL, almost 35 points per game, my goodness. They're also dead last in EPA,
Starting point is 01:49:44 32nd and D1, 31st and DVOA, whatever EPA, DVOA, points for game, whatever you want to put it. Panthers defense, terrible. Bryce Young also against one of the great defenses in the NFL with the Denver Broncos. Expect the loss, expect the Panthers to remain at minimum. The second worst team in the NFL.
Starting point is 01:50:02 They can't stop a nose, bleat. All right, I'm not even sure how things could get worse from week to week for the Cleveland Browns, but somehow it continues to happen. Starting off the season as a playoff hopeful, terrible all year. Deshaun Watson slapped with sexual harassment lawsuits. He's been one of the worst quarterbacks in the field, and now he ripped his Achilles. My goodness, what is going on in Cleveland? Watson injury could end up being a blessing in disguise for the Browns, though.
Starting point is 01:50:27 Now James Winston is their starter, and well, he's not any good, but he can't be any worse than what we were seeing from Deshawn Watson. The Browns have lost five games in a row. This week, they face arguably the hottest team in the NFL. Their interdivision rival, the Baltimore Ravens, or Intradivision, I should say. So I expect them to remain losers and remain the absolute worst team in the NFL, the Cleveland Browns. You are a factory of sadness. I'm not sure riding five.
Starting point is 01:50:55 Nicely done. Thank you, Matt. There's a lot of, I couldn't even, the Raiders are terrible. I couldn't even put them in there. There's a lot of bad football. being played that. But yet every time we hear about things, ratings are great. That's true. Adding more packages
Starting point is 01:51:09 to putting on streaming services. Mm-hmm. You know what I mean? I mean, there's... The revenues? Nothing is ever slowing down in the NFL. Yeah. I mean, I guess once you get out of like the bottom 10 teams, everybody's kind of mediocre-ish. Yeah. Like the Buccaneers, Saints type
Starting point is 01:51:25 of teams, bears. Well, the Saints are in full implosion mode. Okay, well, once Derek Carr gets back, maybe they'll be a little bit. The Buccaneers are fun. They just can't stop anybody, but they can score some points. Yeah, well, now their top two receivers went down. Mike Evans' hamstring imploded again, and Chris Godwin's ankle exploded as well. Exploded?
Starting point is 01:51:43 That seems kind of graphic. Okay, dislocated. All right, that sounds a little bit better. Not great. Not good. Texans are, well, they're getting a little bit healthier, I guess. Yes. I'm going to double-check the injury report from the tech.
Starting point is 01:51:58 They don't put the official one out until about 3.34 o'clock our time. the official, now this is extrapolated from Las Vegas betting lines where the Texans fit in the pecking order in the NFL according to Vegas betting lines out of 32 teams where would you... Real quick, I want to say this.
Starting point is 01:52:17 Stephen Sims is back. Camari Laster of practicing again. Henry Toa Toa is out. Out. Al-Zir Al-Shaier is out with an knee injury. I thought Toot-O is back. You lied to me. He's a concussion protocol. I didn't say he was there. You just weren't paying attention. No, I was. Check the tape.
Starting point is 01:52:32 All right. So what was your question again? I was looking at a, there is a account I follow that put out the Las Vegas betting market derived team power rankings. Go for it. Texans are sixth. Eighth. Okay. Chiefs, Ravens, Lions, Packers, Bills, Niners, Vikings, Texans. Seems about it.
Starting point is 01:52:56 All right. So let's fast forward 14 weeks. Okay. And the Texans don't make the playoffs. Hey. No, no, excuse me. Texas don't make the Super Bowl. Okay.
Starting point is 01:53:05 What's going to be our takeaway? They went all in on Stefan Diggs, and that was an L. You've got to come back and look at the cap space. You probably are going to need to address the offensive line. I think giving it another go with the defensive interiors, probably a good idea. Nico's locked up. Tankdale's stolen a rookie deal. That's good.
Starting point is 01:53:26 You're going to have Schultz here, but he's not been playing extremely well. You're going to have a new tight end, probably. Yeah, you might have to address tight end. And it wouldn't hurt to do it in the draft. I would say your draft priorities probably would be offensive line. Yes, number one. I don't think it's even any question at this point. Especially because of where the Texans will probably wind up drafted.
Starting point is 01:53:46 I would say running back. Joe Mixon's going to be another year older. It's not going to hurt to get somebody in the fold. Yeah. Help split duties. Shoulder some of the load. Because right now it's all, I mean, Joe Mixon is going to carry the ball 30, 35 times a game. I mean, he's going to break down by the end of the season.
Starting point is 01:54:00 And Damien Pierce probably, unless. something dramatically changes between 90 and the year is just not going to be your solid number two bank. Although he'd be really cheap. I mean, he busted a big run a couple of weeks ago. Against the Pats. We're terrible. Yep.
Starting point is 01:54:15 But I think obviously, offensive line has to be addressed first and foremost. Yeah. If you think Lasseter's okay as a second corner, you're okay there. I like Lasseter a lot. Pichol in the run game. Petrie is okay as one safety,
Starting point is 01:54:27 but who's your second safety long term? Well, they like Kaelin Bullock. They've been playing them a lot. Okay. Does it have some interceptions. Eric Murray's not good. Are you satisfied? Is more of like a, I mean, he's like a nickel blitzer slash run stopper.
Starting point is 01:54:41 He's not great in coverage. Yeah. So are you satisfied with your linebacking core? I would say no. How's Christian Harris doing? I haven't heard Word One from Still Out. What's that guy's name? Devin White.
Starting point is 01:54:51 What's Devin White up to? He looking okay? Well, he spoke to the media today. He did? Yeah, I'm sure Wex was there. He'll give us complete insights. Texans Wex will let us know. And again, those are expecting Devin White to be a huge difference.
Starting point is 01:55:02 The folks at Pro Football Focus, who again... They aren't in all B-all. No, but they spend more time looking at Limer because they've got no friends. Well, they have five years of grades of putting him as one of the five worst linebackers in football.
Starting point is 01:55:16 That doesn't sound very exciting. I mean, let's read the tea leaves. Buccaneers didn't re-up him. Eagles signed him and did not play him a snap. Not a snap. So for us to think that he's going to come in and be an instant pro bowler, whether he's an LSU, Tiger,
Starting point is 01:55:32 or not. It's just, I would say, lower your expectations. The LSU mafia around this marketplace is just absurd. All right. Let's play, believe or not. What is the category today? DeAndre Hopkins? Yes. Okay. Could there be some fresh material for DeAndre? There are. Okay, very good. If you'd like to play for, what are we playing for today, Connor and the old today's edition of believe or not? Which band from the 70s is available for? We still doing Toads. We got the Toadies and then we also got one final pair of tickets to go see the Cougars versus Utah this weekend. God, I feel like we should make that. You should get five questions right to go see Utah versus Houston.
Starting point is 01:56:07 Actually, we should be handing those out like candy. No. Like skittles. No chance. It's one of the hottest tickets in town. It's going to be half full in there. No. They're going to go watch your brains get beat in for another loss for the Cougars.
Starting point is 01:56:18 Not a chance. We should be giving those away for free. All right. Instead, we're going to make you earn it on, believe it or not. 713212-5-790. 7-1-3-2-790 if you want to play, believe it or not, it is coming up next. after I tell you about Two Creeks Crossing Resort. 20% off all vacation rentals, the glamping tents, the yurts, the treehouses, the cabins.
Starting point is 01:56:43 Get to Two Creeks Crossing Resort.com and find out how awesome it would be to spend some time out in nature. To be able to enjoy the experience of having all the modern amenities of Wi-Fi, Fitness Center, pool, hot tub, movie theater, bar on the weekends, live music, and then you get an also opportunity to go out and spend some time in nature and relax with your friends and your family. Whether you're doing a family getaway, a husband and wife weekend road trip or bring the boys out there to play some poker, watch some football, and enjoy the outdoors. It's Two Creeks Crossing Resort.com up near Livingston, and again, 20% please take advantage of this because time is running out. We're down to a week left in the month of October. 20% off all rentals at Two Creekscrossingresort.com. The Matt Thomas show continues on Sports Talk 790. Watching Minnesota Rams tonight?
Starting point is 01:57:47 Yes. I have no fancy players in that. I like sports, Matt. I'm watching sports. Let's go. You know what? Why don't you read a book tonight? I will once I go to bed. Once I lay down and lay myself to sleep. Wind down and try to read 20 to 30 pages. Wow. What do you read these days? The Spy and the Trader.
Starting point is 01:58:07 It's a book about, um, it's a book about, um, Oleg Gordievsky, he was a Russian spy in the 80s, working for M16 in the English. Okay. I'm hosting a girls volleyball dinner party at Big City Wings. Then going back to going home to pack and start working on Rockets versus Memphis Grizzlies tomorrow. Okay. And maybe we're going to some of your book.
Starting point is 01:58:35 I'm almost done. I'm in basically the epilogue. I can give it to you. we can't should we have like a sports empty sports rave book club no because you're going to pick tory spelling autobiography I'm going to pick really lighthearted stuff okay like wrestling books
Starting point is 01:58:50 I try reading the Hulk Hogan book I couldn't get into it oh really yeah but Terry Bolia Terry Bolia so you drop in bombs in there like he does in his real life that feels a little too abrupt I'm just asking I mean it's look it up Google it I didn't do it
Starting point is 01:59:05 all right five minutes left to go in the show what should we do? We should play America's fastest growing sports radio game show we simply call it Believe it or not and here's how it works. You'll call 713-212-5790 713-212-5-790.
Starting point is 01:59:26 Today's edition of Believe or not is brought to you by underdog fantasy.com. You want to take those player stats from today's Minnesota Rams game turning to cash, Underdog Fantasy and use the promo code SportsMT. Category today is all things about DeAndre Hopkins. Now a member of the Kansas City Chiefs. I'll read your statement about DeAndre. If the statement is completely utterly accurate, you'll say this.
Starting point is 01:59:47 Believe it. If the statement's erroneous, full of bunk and made up, you'll say this. Two believe we're not to a row in your prize. Again, what are we playing for today? Connor. Our final pair of tickets to see the Houston Cougars take on the Utah youths this Saturday, October 26th at TDECU Stadium. A pair of tickets to see Toadies live December 29th at House of Blues and some 790 T-T shirts. Kevin on 790, ready to play, believe it or not. Kevin? Believe it? DeAndre Hopkins major while at Clemson University was sports science.
Starting point is 02:00:17 Believe it or not? Not. Not. That is correct. It was community, recreation, sport, and camp management. Duh. Statement number two for the way, DeAndre Hopkins, sister Keisha plays wide receiver for the Houston Energy
Starting point is 02:00:31 Women's team. Believe it or not. Not. She does. I didn't even know they were so around or wrong. Are you sure they're around? I thought I said played. Yeah, played. It says played, and you read plays?
Starting point is 02:00:45 Oh, I did say plays. So you misread it. That's on you. I don't know if we should let him win. Let him win. It's my mistake. When Bob Barker used to make a mistake on the prices ready, you let him win no matter what it was.
Starting point is 02:00:57 So the previous caller calls and he wins. There you go. Brian on 790, what was your fair part of today's radio show? Ross is rotten five But the Raiders should have been in it Oh You're getting a little critique Then he wanted you to have the Raiders
Starting point is 02:01:12 In the Rotten Five DeAndre Hopkins is I considered it DeAndre Hopkins is at DeAndre Hopkins On Twitter and he has about 330,000 followers Believe it or not Believe it
Starting point is 02:01:26 No, he's got 720 But we do take your Raiders Consideration very seriously They are very bad But they did beat the The Ravens So Let me tell you something
Starting point is 02:01:35 You don't have to justify your right in five. You're right in five. Thank you. John on 790, ready to play, believe it or not? I'm always ready. DeAndre Hopkins is 23rd on the all-time receiving yards list, just behind Art Monk and just ahead of Brandon Marshall. Believe it or not? Believe it. That's right. Statement number two for the win, DeAndre Hopkins fired his agent and
Starting point is 02:01:56 negotiated his own contract extension in 2020. Believe it or not? Believe it. That's correct. Congratulations. Conrad on 790. Conrad. You ready to play Believe it. or not? Yes, I am. DeAndre Hopkins is a huge fashion enthusiast. It was named Sports Illustrated's best dressed athlete in 2020.
Starting point is 02:02:17 Believe it or not? Believe it. He's very dapper. Statement number two for the win. You only did seven questions this week, huh? What? Is that right? DeAndre Hopkins is an advocate for producing red meat and diets and has partnered with
Starting point is 02:02:30 Beyond Meat to raise awareness for meat alternatives. Believe it or not? Not. He has. Ironically, that's on me. I thought I did it. Ironically enough, Adam Clinton is also a meat alternative. All right.
Starting point is 02:02:45 I don't know. Just sounded good. Well, we're going to do an eighth question, but... Why don't you make it up? I don't know. I don't even know it. A clerical error. I'm sorry. I actually have one, but I can't substantiate the rumor, so I can't mention it.
Starting point is 02:03:00 But the rumor is so juicy about Neanderie Hopkins that he would never play for the Houston, Texas again. Is it about that IG post he had? No, not about that at all. All right, QualityTX.com is the website. QualityTX.com for quality of home products of Texas. Good luck, Matt. Deep breath, Thomas.
Starting point is 02:03:20 We're getting good past this here. If you're an electrician or a plumber and would like to get a career change or a new job, then the folks that quality home products want to visit with you. They're installing Generic standby generators, and they're going to do a great job. And they've done that for some of the Houstonians, and now they're looking for people to actually help them install. Competitive pay, benefits,
Starting point is 02:03:38 time off 401k and a chance to work with one of the best companies in Houston, Texas. That's Quality Home Products of Texas. If you want to apply, do so online at QualityTX.com. Installing will get you competitive paying again all the benefits to come working with quality home products. That's QualitytX.com, QualitytX.com. Tonight at six o'clock, it is the nightcap. Nightcap. And what do you have on the show tonight?
Starting point is 02:04:06 great topics and talk? Really? Okay. That's what we call it a forward tease right there. All right. Up next, a complete analytical breakdown of the Rockets game last night. A deep dive into Bobby Slowick's conversations at Texans practice today. Anything else you guys want to get into? Nope. All right. That's all up next with Wexler and Klan. They are the A team.
Starting point is 02:04:32 They're going to entertain you now on Sports Talk 790.

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