The Pat McAfee Show - PMS 2.0 1316 - Feel Good Friday With Sweet 16 Preview, Tyler Hansbrough, Paul Skenes, Ted Karras In Studio, & AJ Hawk

Episode Date: March 28, 2025

On today’s show, Pat, AJ Hawk, and the boys chat about last night’s Sweet 16 games that saw Alabama set a tournament record for most amount of 3’s attempted and made, Florida outlasted Maryland, Cooper Flagg shined for Duke against Arizona, and Arkansas/Texas Tech going into overtime in one of the best games of the tournament so far. They also recap MLB’s opening day, and chat about the remaining news floating around the NFL world. Joining the show to chat about the Sweet 16, how basketball has changed since he was in college, his pro career and playing in China is College Basketball Hall of Famer, 3x unanimous All American, National Player of the Year, National Champion, and analyst for The Field of 68, Tyler Hansbrough. Next, the phenom, NL Rookie of the Year, All-Star, All-MLB 1st Team, pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Paul Skenes joins the show to chat about yesterday’s start, the expectations for this years Pirates team, adding new pitches to his arsenal, the differences between hunting for strikeouts and trying to pitch to contact more to go deeper into games, and much more. Later, 2x Super Bowl Champion, starting center for the Cincinnati Bengals, Ted Karras joins the show in studio to chat about the Bengals keeping some of their top tier talent, if he thinks they can still be successful paying all these guys top dollar, his thoughts on guardian caps and the tush push, being on the NFLPA Executive Committee, and much more. Make sure to subscribe to youtube.com/thepatmcafeeshow or watch on ESPN (12-2 EDT), ESPN’s Youtube (12-3 EDT), or ESPN+. We appreciate the hell out of all of you. We’ll see you on Monday. Cheers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hello beautiful people and welcome to our humble abode the Thunderdome on this feel-good Friday March 28th 2025 this program starts right now Spore are happening all around us last night was a sweet 16 and thank you to the college basketball guys for delivering us four Fantastic games being capped off which I fell asleep for, with an overtime thriller where both Arkansas and Texas Tech played their best basketball whenever overtime was wrapping up. You're talking about an electrifying finish to this game. I think a lot of us were asleep.

A lot of people thought Arkansas beat Texas Tech. A lot of people thought that Calipari would add another dub into his 14 and three sweet 16 record throughout his entire career at one point They were up 16. Holy hell Arkansas the Cinderella story lives on Ah, this Texas tech team included. Mr. Williams here who popped a three late to tie this thing really turned it on and Whenever you talk about great basketball games, I don't care if you're talking NBA I don't care if you're talking high school. I don't care if you're talking NBA. I don't care if you're talking high school. I don't care if you're talking And One.

Harlem Globetrotters. All you're hoping for is magic at the end and there was in this particular game. Texas Tech got hot. There was a jump ball controversy. The Gumpy certainly thought took place earlier in the game. But in the overtime period, neither team gave up. Neither team choked it away both teams showed up it just so happened to be that Texas Tech ends up with the dub congrats to Texas Tech winning in the nightcap and congrats Arkansas for covering and congrats to Seth Greenberg for basically going perfect last night in his bets he thought the BYU Bama game was gonna go over it was 175 points well there was a chance Alabama was gonna score that and going into go over. It was 175 points. Well, there was a chance Alabama was going to score that.

And going into the first half, there was like 91 points scored, I think. So I'm like, wait a minute, we were on track for 175 point over. When a lot of these games went under in the first round, we were seeing a lot of low scoring, good defense, bad shooting basketball out of college hoops this year. And then this Alabama team, they broke a record.

Old buddy had like 12 threes or something like that they had over a hundred points they won absolutely absurd and BYU did as well let's not get it twisted they had to help to hit the over but Alabama looks like the hottest team in ball right now and they weren't the only team that won over a hundred points that happened multiple times in all four games. We thought we're electrifying now, obviously Maryland's magical run ends I have Florida teams a real deal. Yeah, yeah, that floor teams a real deal. Certainly, you know else is a real deal. Who's that? I wonder who is gonna win this entire thing. It's crazy Legitimately like who's Florida gonna win this entire thing is Alabama gonna win this thing is the SEC gonna be the year?

Not only they have the most teams in a sweet 16 most teams in a tournament in history But are they gonna go ahead and win it or do we got an old-school story? That's gonna happen. Do we got a old-school? ACC representative in there doing their thing got some more magic happening tonight Obviously in the sweet 16 will actually be in attendance for a couple of the games. Cannot wait to get down to Indianapolis and shout out to college hoops for being electrifying and for us understanding that although there was no Cinderella stories,

maybe Arkansas was really the only one and maybe NIL and transfer portal have ruined it forever. Got a lot of good hoops happening. A lot of good hoops happening and it's a magical time. There's obviously some NFL news. There's some NBA news. We got a lot of things to chit chat about today. It should be a good one. Psycho T will be joining us. Hell yeah. Yeah, Tyler Hans, bro. Be joining us in about 17 minutes. That is what that man has accomplished. Obviously, whenever he was at UNC, he was must watch. You're talking about first one in, last one out. You're talking about

Coach's son. You're talking about Lunchpale guy. you're talking about first one in last one out. You're talking about coach his son You're talking about lunch pail guy. You're talking about high motor. You're talking about trying as hard as possible all the time You're talking about smacking the wood. You're basically saying Tyler Hansborough basketball Yeah, that is what you're saying as a whole he then would get drafted to the Pacers out here while I was playing for the Colts I got to know him. I got to witness the Tyler Hansborough experience on numerous occasions. What a weapon. Yeah. Okay, just what an absolute weapon and I believe he's covering college hoops currently for... The field of 68 I believe. Okay, so I can't wait to get his take on college ball. Also the NBA has had a couple magical evenings. Buzzer beaters happening all over the place and then the NFL obviously we're gonna have new rules and the league's meeting next week and there's still rumors going around so

we'll chitchat about it all. Paul Skeens will join us in the next hour fresh off a opening day loss okay opening day loss this was scheduled long beforehand yep you know he came out and he was doing some dealing wasn't he? He was. This guy's a professional dealer. Yeah. Let's get him in a blackjack table. Let's get him in a poker table. You're talking, now he gave up a run, had himself in a jam. Obviously a couple of at bats went a lot longer than anybody could have imagined.

Had more pitches I assume than we would come to expect from a Paul Skeens outing because normally it's one, two, three, one, two, three, one, two, three. That is kind of how the ball skeins seven strikeouts already Whenever he leaves the game, they're up four to one Then they get a relief it does great another relief does great and then they end the game and they shit all over themselves And he gets another loss to start the entire thing. Yes Well, he got a no decision. So he doesn't actually get lost but not a win, correct? We thought he's potentially gonna have 30 wins this year 29. We're down to 29

Another decision gives us no shot. Yep. Let's go over the talk table at Bruce Brown that Ty Schmidt opening day was yesterday for baseball We had it on here. Yeah multiple games. Yep. We had multiple games on those TVs right over there. It's kind of fun Mm-hmm. Obviously when skeins is on the bump, it's awesome when the Yankees are playing. That's great What were the big stories from yesterday, Ty Schmitz? So you hit the nail on the head because as a Pirates fans like that Tony knows this you're gonna come to find this out and you already know this but like that's that's kind of the MO and it even was last year like Skeens was super He was still winning a bunch of games and performing very well This is kind of always the MO is if you don't let him go deep deep deep into the game like there's a chance the bullpen is going to ruin it for him. They

did this several times last year but he'll bounce back. It's the you know first game of the year the the Marlins had their ace on the bump too so that was a good game. You mentioned the Yankees. Austin Wells is batting leadoff for the Yankees. He's their catcher the guy with the big mustache. Great Stash! Yeah you're saying who is this guy? He is the first catcher to hit a lead off home run on opening day since 1900. That's awesome.

Jason Kendall? Well, a little bit before Jason Kendall's time as well. The Yankees hit a couple of short porch homers yesterday, him and the quasi hometown kid, Anthony Volpe. And then the Yankees closer Devin Williams was actually on the Brewers last year So he closed down the Brewers Yankees get a win a couple other kind of big things yesterday Tyler O'Neill for the Baltimore Orioles

He hit his sixth consecutive opening day home run, which is just crazy The Orioles hit six homers in total and beat the shit out of the Toronto Blue Jays. And then in the night cap Shohei, he went yard again. Dodgers are three and Oh, a lot of people already saying, Hey, is this team going to go 162 and Oh, maybe it can't be done. Is it possible? And people are starting to say, is it possible that Shohei maybe has his eyes set on the single season home run record this year, which would be 74. That was Tom Hanks magic. Yeah. Can't believe it. City of stars. Yeah. That's Los Angeles baseball. Shohei is the biggest star. Yes. In all of baseball. Yes. Yes. Makes sense that everybody's there.

He obviously in Tokyo, they go 2-0, right? Because they started the season eight days ago in Tokyo and they're doing that because this guy. Right. Yes. Tens of millions of fans in Japan of the MLB all of a sudden. Not that they haven't always been fans of baseball and fans of the MLB. Obviously Ichiro who went out last night and threw an 84 mile an hour opening pitch. Japanese players have a lot of history, I mean this is gas, in full uniform.

Yeah, that's the idea baby. In full uniform and we're throwing heat, okay, that's a ball, okay, but at least you know you still got it. They have an Ichi meter that is out in the stands. It's at 84 Ichi speed meter, yeah, 84 miles an hour on the opening pitch. I don't know anybody else is bringing that. But with that being said, very, I think Japan has always loved baseball. Yeah. Japanese history in MLB is a deep one.

But I think Shohei has brought the eyes completely back, you know, like to the MLB. And them just selling, they're selling ads to these Japanese companies right behind, because the amount of Japanese people that are watching it it's like MLB has to be so incredibly pumped and thankful that Shohei Otani exists the Dodgers obviously played uh paid massive money for him to be over there but I bet you like uh everybody that's around him says he's the right one for it seems like he is just know, somehow was able to stay the course when he was getting frauded by his translator

who was supposed to be his best friend. I mean, best friend now. We've learned. Sure. It might not always be what it- Exactly, not always what it's cracked up. In the media sports world. Yeah, in the media sports world.

But this guy was his eyes and ears in America. And then he was doing something that could ruin his entire legacy and then also stealing millions of dollars from him at the same time. He still has just remained just like this. How old is Shohei? How many more years of Shohei do we have? And how many more years of Paul Skeens do we have do you think? Like Paul Skeens, this is 15 years potential, like that's what great pitchers do. If he stays healthy, yeah. I mean I mean Randy Johnson who we've had on the show a couple times He pitched until he was like 41 42

So it kind of it it's tough like when a guy throws that hard You just hope that he's not gonna have a couple elbow surgeries and that's kind of wouldn't when I go back to When you're asking about like Shohei and whether or not he's gonna pitch this year He's already had a couple elbow surgeries and like that really at this point is the only thing that could Like and skeins career short because he's gonna have good stuff like this for a long time So if he stays healthy, like yeah, he could be doing this for the next 15 to 20 years It also seems like with skeins that he's starting to chase movement more than just trying to go up in V lo to like 102 103

Dude he is moving that ball side to side like crazy more than just trying to go up in V lo to like 102, 103. He's such a good drop there V lo dude. He is moving that ball side to side like crazy. It's awesome to see show his 30. So luckily he won't be torturous for the next 15 years, maybe more like eight to 10, maybe 12 on the high side. We'll see what the pitching to if he, he needs to get into the pitching. Yeah, but it is there.

He's not going to do it. He started. No, no, I think I'll be going to have him do it. Just let him hit 80 home runs I agree. I agree you say cuz why would we even focus any time on pitch? Let's just keep seeing the they're just the beach balls that are coming down and there's already an injury history there If he had never gotten hurt before then it'd be like, yeah, of course I know this guy pitches elbow and shoulder sliding into second base during the World Series I'd be like, yeah, of course. I have this guy pitch.

He's on the lead. Elbow and shoulder sliding into second base during the World Series. Now it's two different parts of his arm as well. And the baseball pretty important part. Yep. Playoff, playoff closer would be. That'd be sweet. Biblical.

Yeah, that's what we're talking about. Yeah, that would be sick. Him coming out, him coming out some music. Yeah. Just like you did the international thing. Right. The world baseball. Or even just a closer like every handful of games.

He doesn't have to be the full-time closer But I know you know it's weird if you have two closers because the closer is such a like a mental thing and having the clothes The same clothes or every game is a thing But like it would be awesome to see him in a closer role, but I mean their arm gets worked a lot, too I mean it would be 10 12 pitches versus 100 pitches But I mean they're they're seeing, they're closing every one to two days or whatever it is. Just a spotlight.

You can have your closer, full-time closer. Sure. But you know, tonight, Shohei has actually hit two bombs. He stole three bases. And he also feels pretty good. Yeah. So we're gonna let him go ahead and finish this thing out. Let him get a close.

You know, like- I don't hate that. Those moments would be awesome. There are. But there's no way with how methodical baseball is they would be making that decision on the flop No, and again, it's like one of those things where like the dodgers bullpen is unbelievable So it's like are you going to kind of like rob peter to pay paul when you have a really good guy already? Probably not do you get a you don't get a save if you're up more than three runs, right?

Uh, there are certain situations because there are like multi inning saves like where if a team is blowing someone out but like a relief pitcher comes in and throws like two and a third or three innings sometimes those are save situations as well. There are situations though where the closer has gone back to back days and you're playing three games in three days and the closer like they'll they'll know before the game the manager will say our closer is not available today where he could go in a situation like that. And when Diaz is back in it. Well, I don't know. He didn't have an opportunity yesterday.

Yeah. He, he did not show up. It is. Is the closer for the Mets who we missed out on last year because he broke his ankle on the mound at the world baseball classic. Correct. Okay. We missed out on him.

The way we knew that he existed was most electrifying entrance in baseball Play the trumpets Timmy. He would come out from the alpha. This one we're talking about with Shohei Yes, when the closer comes out and everybody knows like alright Spotlight ball. Yep. Follow the guy. That's the one right there. Take us home, buddy Take us home is literally the expectation an entire baseball stadium is us home is literally the expectation. An entire baseball stadium is waiting on your arrival to kind of close this. It is a spectacle every single time it happens, especially whenever Timmy Trumpets is playing live and then he's coming out and he was having the playoffs in the postseason he was having where he was coming and cooking. And then he got paid and it was like we got this all year. I couldn't wait.

Yeah. Whole baseball season. Paul Skeens is coming in. We got Trumpets coming in. I'm a Mets guy. I'm a Skeens guy. Sure. He didn't even play all last year.

He's got her at the World Baseball Classic for his country. Okay, respected. Now he's back. That makes the Mets a problem, right? They pay all this money for Juan Soto. They get Edwin Diaz back. The Mets are a new star spreading the news. Not quite. So Soto's debut, he did have a nice single

in his first at bat, worked a couple of walks. Left stranded though, did not score a run because of what we may have been talking about in the think tank a little bit. you don't have Aaron Judge behind them you got Brandon Nimmo you got Pete Alonso he's gonna be left out there on second base more often than not this season and then his first his first opportunity to have his clutch signature welcome to the Mets moment down two runs in the bottom of the ninth runners on first and third.

Before it got to a full count here, it was actually a 3-0 count. And Soto, like we all know Soto, he's not taking that pitch. He's not looking for a walk in the ninth inning. No, he's mashing it. But no, he stares at a slider down the middle, 94 miles per hour, fouls off the next pitch, and then chases an outside slider in the dirt with an absolute sword

These people are calling it. It's your Yankees fish. We should everyone else. This is bias journal There's a lot of crazy. This man was on their team last year There's a lot of crashing out going on lately and if people are saying Oh my crashing out a bit over there in city field. You'd be a good person to ask You're a Mets fan now. A lot of Mets fans out there. They're saying buyer's remorse already. Yeah.

They're one day overpaid. I did get some, I am not a Mets fan. Yes, please do actually. Please call that. Oh yes. So we're going to call the Mets fan that I happen to sit next to every single Monday night and have a very lucky to have text conversations with throughout every sporting event of every one of his team's games.

He's very active. Yeah, I think a lot of Mets fans said, of course. That's why, I think that was kind of the takeaway. Well, of course we did. Yeah, paid the most money in the history of anybody. Get this guy here. First game, has a chance, could win it. It's a dinner there.

We win this game instead. He strikes out. Yeah, I think there was a lot of that, but a lot of season left. Oh yeah. You still getting used to the uniform. Sure. We don't know what the equipment managers did with his arms. We don't know if it was a little bit too tight. Maybe that chase normally he's able to stop it because the shirt's tighter, looser, you know, because he doesn't have his Jersey fitted yet and that's why it goes all the way down.

Do you call that a sword? Yeah, sword. It's's when you swing but it you don't really swing. Kind of looks like a yeah swing a sword like a medieval you know like a really heavy sword. Yeah I get what you're saying. Shout out to baseball. Shout out to Juan Soto. He'll be okay. Joining us now ladies and gentlemen with a Mets report Michael Cole. Hey Cole Juan Soto had an opportunity the Yankees fans here saying start spreading the news They're the same as yesterday The Mets are gonna

Screw it up Is that happening right now Juan Soto is this too much money The Yankees fans are dancing on your graves after one particular game. In the eighth inning yesterday, I text Jeff Passon and I said the Mets suck. And then he texted back and said, right on cue. Same as last year. Can't score runs. Juan Soto strikes out with a tying runs on base. There it is. He was, he was up, he was up three on the count by the way. And this Bozo here had walked like two straight guys and given up a single. So I, and Soto couldn't even hit him. I mean, it's the same,

it's the same shit every year. I mean, come on. I mean, it's ridiculous. So I don't know what, in the clay homes, the guy was a reliever for the Yankees. Now he's our number one starting pitcher and now McGill's going today. This season is gonna be a disaster We're gonna be lucky. We won 80 games. All right. Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, Michael Cole Thank you Cole. That was awesome. That's all hell. Yeah, that was the text I don't know if he uses like talk to techs or if he's actually typing this thing up, but these texts I'll get it'll sound

I mean that was exactly the promo you know someday though you guys will be the kings of that town keep spending we appreciate it joining us now ladies and gentlemen live from an attic in Ohio fresh out of I believe Mexico wow ladies and gentlemen college football national champion super bowl champion Ryder Cup winner AJ Hawk you missedkers! You missed a lot. You missed a lot. Yeah, you'd say. I'd say the news spread to Mexico very quickly about the LeBron situation. Stephen A going back and forth. So yeah, that was, that kind of took over everything going on down there. So yeah, I missed you guys. Good to be back. We missed you as well. And we're happy you and the family had a good time. We hope the weather was great and yeah,

it's been a wild week. Now with that being said, you know, because it is March Madness, it does feel like the sports calendar operates in a fashion where they are kind of cool with each other. Now I know the NFL just took Christmas from the NBA. Like that certainly happened, but it feels like it's like March Madness time.

NFL doesn't really have a lot of shit, you know? Like like there isn't a lot Aaron is the only outstanding conversation pretty much now obviously Russ Wilson goes to the Giants That's great Stefan digs goes up to the New England Patriots congratulations to both of them getting big-time deals But this like the fifth wave of free agency now, and then owners meetings next like okay We'll kind of give the tournament the time. So this week for us has been, AJ I don't know how much you got to catch up obviously you said the LeBron Versace made his way down there. Talking to these college players we had a college commitment this week. Yeah. We had a college, I mean it's been a basket it's been a fun time AJ. I will say we're enjoying the basketball season more

than we ever had in the past is what I'm telling you. Well yeah I mean they're scoring points at an unbelievable rate. It's fun to watch when guys are scoring, they're making buckets and they're playing hard. That's what college basketball is. I feel like you, you know, smacking the floor, playing defense guys that, you know, getting back to old school roots, obviously with some, some three balls mixed in that they may not have done 40, 50 years ago back when Koozie was playing. But yeah, it's been fun to watch. Koozie was a dog. Yeah, Kooz had game. He said it. Kooz did have game. We'll have Tyler Hansborough joining us here in a couple minutes. If you want to talk about everything you just said right there in it but

it's been cool to learn about these stories and the transfer portal NIL thing with College Hoops, fascinating. And I'm only saying that because, you know, West Virginia had been looking for a coach for a while, and I was watching what was happening with these other coaches that were going places. It's like, okay, these coaches from smaller schools get hired at the bigger schools, and now because of the transfer portal,

they're just bringing their guys with them. Like, hey boys, we made the tournament, we should be able to do better if we get better. It's like, you're almost like just paying for a group to come Like that is kind of like you're bringing your book You know like if a financial guy works for a firm and then he gets recruited away and gets a big like Bonus to bring his book over to another firm like that's what what's happening in college sports. I feel like yeah your network right there You're not just getting me you're getting this network is what you're talking about

Yeah, I I think and it happens in the nfl whenever coaches get hired. Normally you'll see coaches hire the same assistant coaching staff. Now in college ball, it's like same with the coaching staff, assistant staff, but it's also like if any players have any eligibility left, probably going to come help you with the culture, especially in basketball. You get two to three guys that know the culture and are good. College hoops, you got a team. You can bring other people in from the transfer portal you can bring in freshmen and then you're you're off and running fascinating what that'll be in the future because like Willard the story in Maryland was happening and he got booed while he's walking through the hotel I think I didn't get the chance to hear

the entire thing he walked through like the Maryland hotel to head to the buses and they said it was not like a welcomed response by the Maryland fans this guy's got Maryland in Sweet 16. This guy's got this team. And everybody's like, well, he's leaving, he's leaving. And afterwards he said he didn't know what he wanted to do. And Maryland people are saying that's bullshit. But you listen to Derek Queen, he's the best player on the court for them.

He's like, are you coming back next year? He's like, I got to talk to my agency, my family, and obviously Coach Willard as well. And it's like Derek Queen's probably going to the NBA because he's six foot 10, can move, shoot, and do everything, he's an NBA guy. But like, if he doesn't, he's probably going, he's probably going with Willard to Villanova, you know? And it's like, does Villanova know that whenever they're like hiring the coach?

Like, hey, also probably getting a pseudo-made team coming alongside of it, joining us now as a man who probably knows or has opinions That are definitely better than whatever we would say on the subject. He's a national champion His name is synonymous with college hoops He was an Indiana Pacer and we were proud as hell to have him represent Indianapolis for a while He played in China. They played in Puerto Rico now. He's covering the college hoops world ladies and gentlemen Tyler Hansbro Hey, thanks for having me all, glad to be on here. Tyler, it is our honor to have you on the

program. Just would like to let you know that massive respect for the way you went about doing your business and you never changed. You were you through every situation. North Carolina, every time I saw you, you were Tyler Hansborough. You came to Indiana, every time I saw you, you were Tyler Hansborough. Hard-working, let's go ahead do this shit, maximum effort, all-in guy. And in the community here in Indianapolis you were. I saw you at events you were crushing it at. I saw you for the Pacers do that and obviously North Carolina. So you want, I want to let you know we are fans of the way you operate Tom. You need to know that, okay? Well I appreciate that and that's Carolina. So I want to let you know, we are fans of the way you operate, Ty. You need to know that, okay?

Well, I appreciate that. And that's kind of all I know, but I really enjoyed my time in Indianapolis playing for the Pacers. I'm a blue collar guy. So worked for everything and kind of played an old school style compared to what's being played now. But I had fun at every place I was.

Yeah, we're lucky for you. And I think that's a good descriptor. It feels nailed who you are you know you are let's talk about Let's talk about the current college hoops I was just chit chatting about it there for a little bit where like if Willard gets the job at Villanova I think a good assumption is that some of the guys that he has on his team now are probably going to transfer with him to Villanova and a lot of people thought maybe the players wouldn't respond to or be distracted because the Maryland conversation and where they I think they're just committed to the coach now. Do you agree with that? Do you think that

is kind of what College Hoops is becoming? Absolutely. Go ahead. Yes, I think you've got to kind of do that and a big reason probably the only reason I chose North Carolina was to play for Coach Williams. And it wasn't just because I liked the program and the tradition, but you know, if you're choosing a school to play, you know, you like the coach's style and you like how you fit the offense and you guys have good chemistry. If he leaves for another place, of course, a lot of players didn't go with him and also you saw this at Arkansas Calipari took a lot of his players and McNeese you're probably gonna see a lot of Will Wade take a lot of his players from McNeese and bring them over to NC State and especially

with the way that college basketball the way the landscape is now you're supposed to have a quick turnaround programs aren't waiting for rebuilds they want to be good right now. Yeah and if you're good right now it can change everything. You have one magical run in March. The school tuition can go up, the enrollment's going up, the brand is going up. It's a great thing. Sports are great for the university. University is obviously great for the sport and then if you get to a bigger one you would assume more money available. So then you continue to grow.

Interesting, a lot of young coaches. Yes. Like I see that Florida coach on the side. I'm like, damn, I had no idea who that guy was. I didn't know. Texas Tex coach last night, I saw him. I'm like, I had no idea who that guy was. And then McCollum, you know, obviously a Drake.

I had no idea who that guy was. Feels like it's a younger coaches game. That's happening kind of in football where the modern world is something that these younger coaches are either more likely to want to do or also better at With the the business side of it the communication side of it the brand building side of it as opposed to older coaches Then you got the cow you got is oh you got Patino. What does it take you think to be a great college basketball coach? Well, it's kind of changing I'm old school I like a coach that comes in there gets after the kids you lose the game

You get back to the arena and they're gonna run you discipline you I think they're losing a little bit of that but also a lot of the older coaches, you know They weren't real receptive to change They didn't like how the landscape was kind of changing and they were kind of stuck in their routines and their styles. So they, you know, they just said, Hey, I can't take this new, uh, air basketball, but the young guys, they're hungry. Uh, they're more willing to adapt and to get ahead position at one of these

big time schools, of course they're of course are going to change and kind of make you know get with the times. But the one thing I will say I gained a lot of respect for Patino and how he handled things. He's won at multiple airs. He comes in there he still coaches he still gets after his kids and he's winning. So he's a coach who's you know coached pre NIL and after NIL and I think he's probably the coach of the year So I gained a lot of respect for him this year

He was great in Greece too as you know as an international player How easy or hard is that to get used to like a different countries league in basketball is basketball the same or is it different? Oh, it's different especially in China China is one of the most physical basketball leagues in the world So oh, yeah, they'll they'll bang it China you get fouls. It's basketball leagues in the world. So, oh yeah, they'll bang you in China, you'll get fouls. It's like NBA in the 80s. Really? You were there for what? Four years and COVID hit and you leave, right? I was, yeah, I played three seasons over there. COVID hit in the middle of the third. I took back off to North Carolina, got out of there. I had no idea that COVID would turn out to be what it was. And I was training

in North Carolina, messed up my knees. So I never played again after that. But playing overseas, there's a lot of different dynamics. I actually really enjoyed my time in China. It's probably some of the best and probably my favorite experience playing basketball, just from the fact that I couldn't hear the fans talking trash there was a language barrier right there it was just hooping I took my my best friend from my hometown he didn't have a lot going on so he went with me to China and he actually ended up staying over there got married had a kid and now they're back in the States but yeah it's a great story so he got more out of it than I did

It's a great story. So he got more out of it than I did Hey, you ain't got shit going on right now you wanna go China with me. Yeah, sounds good. Hey, I fell in love over here That's awesome. That is a wonderful story. I'm happy to hear that and you said was physical, huh? You're just there just not cold fouls It's physical. Well, you know, you can get some calls. This depends on how much the refs like the teams and you know what the situation is. You know, the refs, you know, in China and Beijing, of course, the government team, they're going to give a they're going to get a few more calls than what we got at Gongzhou. So that's just the way it goes. But I love the basketball there. It's physical. They went inside, they didn't hemorrhage threes And of course they didn't apply the analytics and ruin a lot of the aspects of the game that I love

average threes That's amazing never would have guessed some of the officials might be a little bit cooking the books Anyways, I assume you knew that going in though. Go ahead AJ Tyler what are some of those there's analytics that you feel like you may not be the biggest fan of that you think may be changing or slash ruining the game that we watch now? I think it's gotta be the three ball. And the reason I say that is because just because the NBA guys are making a high volume of threes and they think that they can apply a lot of the NBA analytics to college kids will college kids't shoot as well as NBA guys.

So a lot of what the analytics that they're applying at the college level isn't necessarily going to translate. And I think it's really hurt a lot of good big men. I think that they're not going inside. I think there's a lot of value in going inside trying to get easy buckets and try to, instead of passing it out and just shooting a ton of threes. I don't really think that translates all that well. I'm old school I think that you know getting open looks inside layups dogs free throws I think that's a huge difference maker and I don't really think the three ball analytics is really

All that successful as people believe. Now on that note, Alabama hits their threes, which might be why they are good. Like that is, if everybody's chucking up threes, if you hit your threes, you're going to be the team that is going to profit from it. I think 51 of Bama's 65 shots last night, I believe. Yeah, Alabama took 66 shots. 51 of themama's 65 shots last night, I believe. Yeah, Alabama took 66 shots. 51 of them were threes. So to your point, exactly.

The entire game plan is knocking down threes. And I think last night during the Arkansas game, Arkansas hit a bunch of threes early. And you heard the commentators say, if you're Texas Tech, at some point, these shots have to stop falling. Like at some point, these threes have to stop falling. That's inevitable.

And to your point about how your sport's probably gonna evolve and has evolved, football did too. It became a real showy, kind of a lighter, faster, quicker finesse game. And then it came back this year and over the past couple years into being a physical game because people are taking advantage of the humans that are on the field now or were on the field whenever it got fast and finessed. Do you think basketball will

have the same type of thing? Like how do you think it only continues to go more and more threes? Because like in the NBA, Wemby's seven foot nine and he's chucking up threes. He goes inside and he swats the shit out of things but he's shooting threes like everybody's hocking up threes. Do you think it's cyclical? Do you think that's how basketball will work like football? Yes, I absolutely think it's gonna come back around and I think a lot of teams that are applying these analytics now Alabama they're Kind of like the you know, they really embrace analytics and they've been on some pretty good runs They have some really good players as well. Nate Oates does a great job

And they've been on some pretty good runs. They have some really good players as well. Nate Oates does a great job But I'll just say Michigan State is a team that doesn't really shoot the outside ball all that well And they've had a lot of success and everyone, you know, they're not the most sexy style, but they play defense They rebound they dominate the paint and you know what they win a lot of games So I think teams that are applying these analytics and aren't really seeing the success or the wins translate. I think it's a matter of time before they revert back to going kind of the older style basketball that we're all kind of used to watching. I watched the highlights of the co-op Pete. There was a kid yesterday that committed to Arizona on our show and

watch his highlights. His older brother, offensive lineman for the Raiders right now three-time Pro Bowler His dad offensive lineman in the NFL. He's six foot eight and like he plays like obviously he's explosive But I think he takes a lot of pride in being like a like a physical like a physical player I think with the way the NBA in basketball kind of is right now if you do have somebody who can be a big-body Strong while also having to have the finesse game that feels like the winner that feels like the future on that note let's talk about the future of the NBA

in the current of the college hoop storylines tone has a question for you while he's wearing a brand new sweatshirt yeah I am I figured I'd represent this today for for Tyler basically you were the mayor of Cameron indoor I believe your for no at Cameron, and basically owned Duke your entire career. So I figured, how would you defend Cooper Flag, who is gonna be the overall number one pick in the NBA when he decides to come out and how would you go up

against this Duke team? Oh, Duke's a tough team, and Cooper Flag, to me, is the best player in college basketball, no question. I know Janiah Brooms had a really good year, but Cooper Flagg to me is the best player in college basketball. No question. I know Jani brooms had a really good year but Cooper Flagg and what he's doing and how he's stepping up in these big moments is incredible. I would be physical with them. I would bump them and make him defend. I put him in a lot of duck ins.

Obviously his length presents a lot of problems but his ability to do impact the game in so many different ways. But I would run him, I would try to wear him down, and I'd be very physical. And I would make sure that he's not getting any open or easy looks and try to limit a lot of his shots. I'd run him, okay? We're gonna test him a little bit.

Then we're gonna see if he can Can he handle these can he handle this elbow? Mm-hmm, because this elbows coming with a strong pivot foot because that is within the laws of the game Okay, Tyler Hansborough's elbows gonna be available too for your body. And if you want to punch me in the face do it I've shattered his nose before no problem at all. We were looking up some of your photos that the bloody nose shot the dive on the, like just the ruthlessness of just tenacity, seemingly, at all times on the court. Such a wonderful thing.

You're a dog. Psycho T, I don't think that was the proper name. I think you're just Relentless T. Like I think, High T. High T. High T, Rel T, relentless T. Tyler Hansborough, what a fun, you would have been able to play in any era, brother.

You would have been able to play in any era. On that note, this era, you see North Carolina, we were just talking about Duke, used to be a lot of those. Ty has a question for you. Yeah, Tyler, obviously when you played at North Carolina, the ACC was the belle of the ball and had been for a long

time. Only getting four teams into the tournament this year. What do you think the ACC needs to do to kind of get back to the top of the mountain where a lot of people think it should be? Obviously, you know, with with the SEC getting 14 teams in and the Big Ten doing what it's doing, why do you think the ACC is kind of taking a back seat? And what do you think they need to do to kind of reclaim their throne when it comes to college basketball? Right now I think we're making a lot of the right moves. I kind of like some of the hires. I really like to hire at Miami for you know hiring Lucas from Duke. I think that it's just a

matter of time and the one thing I will say about the SEC is they have the money. And that's what college basketball has turned into, kind of pay for play. So they have the ability to pay more than what the ACC has. And I know that's a little bit of an excuse, especially when you see teams, having these runs outside of the SEC. But I think that's why the SEC is dominating. But I think the ACC, I think this is just a bad year for us now let's not forget recently we've dominated a lot of these tournaments and so we'll be there you

know in the coming years this is just a bad year for us we're gonna figure it out we're hiring new coaches at these places that some of the coaches left or made some changes we're making the right moves We're gonna figure out the NIL and we'll be back in the tournament representing again. It feels like ten years ago the ACC matter. You remember that? Yeah. Yeah, feels like maybe 100 years ago.

It's crazy. It's an SEC sport now. Well. It's crazy. Southeast. Just this year. What's that? Just this year.

I would say, you know, one so long ago that we met Duke in the Final Four, right before Coach K retired. I would say that. North Carolina, we were one seed last year. Duke possibly could win it. I mean, it's not that bad of a year for ACC. I just would like to stand up a little bit for us. Yeah, absolutely.

That's why we're saying what we're saying. Yeah, because that has been the convo like the sec is just taking over It is the basketball school now and you got everybody talking about how ACC used to be the creme de la creme Now they're even saying and Seth Greenberg said this on our show and then said it on many others In the concept of it not bad. Maybe the acc links up with the big east for basketball. How would you feel about that? I wouldn't mind having yukon? I wouldn't mind having Yukon I wouldn't mind having a little St. John's action I think that's great we're both known for basketball so bring them on board then you know the Big East has a

ton of great programs there'd be some great rivalries in there and yeah I would love that. Okay I like to hear that. I like to hear that because I think a lot of people are like no can't do it and then you got like one of the main faces in the history of ACC basketball being like I think that'd be okay. Patino told us St. John's doesn't have a football team so whenever this revenue share thing happens there might be in like a great position for the revenue share than maybe other schools that have a football team. You know like the Big East right now I think are maybe Jordan primed for a little bit of a basketball run because the amount of money that they're going to be able to have versus some other schools that are going to be splitting it or divvying it

up with the football team. So uh ACC Big East back on top let's go good luck boys good luck. They need you to get back in there and coach go ahead AJ. Yeah Tyler as far as coaching like I'm curious with from college to pros whether it's the NBA or overseas are you like what how is the coaching different when you're in college like is it we think like college for for our era patent our era when we were in college football like he played for Rich Rodriguez like it's there's you're never late you're never you're never doing anything out of line like you are you're part of the program part of the system you're one little piece are they able to do that in the NBA and overseas can coaches still kind of hold guys accountable the way

they can in college I Think that's the one thing about the new era of college basketball. It's really hurt I think a lot of kids need to be coached like that. I played for coach Williams and you are never late You're late once and you're never late again. I can tell you that. I still have a little bit of anxiety about showing up late to anything. And the old school coaching that a lot of people associate

with college getting after guys, you still seem like Izzo gets after guys, Patino gets after guys. I think there's a lot of value in that discipline, but there's a big difference between you know, the NBA College and overseas I think in the NBA, you know It's really hard for a coach probably just like it is in any professional sport for you know Coach to get after really an all-star somebody of a high caliber name, but a lot of the younger kids

I actually think in the NBA are a little more receptive to coaching just because they're not dealing with so many outside voices Like a lot of the college kids are doing right now, and I think that they can make a big impact on young guys young rookies But overseas, you know, I saw some crazy thing, you know, you know China's a little different You know, they'll light up a cigarette right there in halftime, I've never seen that before. And so that was my jaw dropped when I saw that. But they will get after you in China too, yes. Coaches you were saying there were lighting up cigs or players were as well.

The players would light them up in the locker room. I will say that, but I wouldn't be surprised if they were, you know, they smoke over in China, a lot of cigarettes. So yeah, I mean, I saw that, that was a new experience for me but you know I got used to it didn't really necessarily like the smell but you know that was the coach did the coach speak English at all or you guys play charades not not many of there was a translator so they you know they spoke broken English

But it's funny after my first season I had a full-on conversation with my head coach in English And I had no idea that he even knew what I was saying or knew English Until after the season was over, so I think he kind of kept it from me just from just because he wanted to Know what I was saying and didn't think that I knew that he knew that was a setup brother. You had a hot mic. You had no idea. Yeah, no idea. He really caught me off guard. Hey, talking to the translator, let me think of what to say to this piece of shit. All right. I tell him that I'm thankful

for everything he's done for the translator. Alright, and then keep it moving. What a moment. That's awesome. How about day to day over there? How's the food? Food's amazing. Everyone always asks about that.

Nah, I didn't eat any of the crazy dishes that everyone's probably talking about. A lot of meat. You know, I'm a big, you know, I like some steak and stuff like that. So I had a ton of that and the food was amazing, yeah. So they took care of us. A lot of Western food too. You could always get that, but you know, the spicy hot pot, unbelievable. If you guys have ever had spicy hot pot, it's amazing. No, I've had I've had rice array Yeah, I've had a number three from

What's the name of this one down here China Express, I believe is what it is. I've had a General South. Yeah, you know South so good so good Oh Kung Pao chicken, You bet. Unbelievable. Orange chicken obviously. Yeah, I think of broccoli. Would rather General Tso's than orange chicken. Every day. Like when you walk up to the Chinese buffet and they're trying to sell you like it is General Tso's, but you know it's orange chicken.

Yes. It's like, hey, similar, but I know the difference. So that was your life every day over there? Not necessarily like that. I think you're thinking more of what we've made the Chinese food out to be here I mean, I never got a fortune cookie. Why a little disappointed? Yeah, never got a fortune cookie in China So I always kind of laugh at that when I come back But you know, there's a ton of pork ton of dumplings and stuff like that a lot of noodles

So yeah, I enjoyed that. We had a guy who ate four fortune cookies just on a Tuesday. Yeah. He was that was this Tuesday. He did that just the other day. He did that on Monday too. Oh yeah and Monday. He had eight this guy had eight fortune cookies Monday Tuesday that's beginning of the week that's more than you had in three and a half years in China that's wild. He swallowed all the fortunes too right Foxy because if you swallow the fortune. Only way they come true. Yeah that's not real. Okay, so Unless they told you that in China. I don't know. Is that real?

No, they would have laughed at me if they I'm not even sure anyone knew what a fortune cookie was when I was Over there talking about I've never seen any fortune cookies over here. But yeah, I mean I've never eaten I've never eaten the wrapping that's for sure. So thank you. Yeah. Yeah, that's cuz you're a smart man Okay last question before we let you go. How closely are you paying attention to the NBA? And can we ask you who's going to win the NCAA tournament and who's going to win the NBA championship? Yeah absolutely.

Right now I'm really locked in on the NCAA tournament. I'm going to go with Bama. I know they face with Bama. I know you know they they face up with You know Duke. I actually had Duke losing the first game to the 16th seed You know, so I'm a little biased And I picked Bama at the early part of the year. So I'm gonna stick with Bama and the NBA championship man, I Really want to pick Oklahoma just because they haven't gotten a lot of credit. I'll roll with Oklahoma, the Thunder.

Okay, they're a team that has obviously had a lot of wins. They go into Boston, they beat the Celtics. They're at the top of the leaderboard, but not at the top of the convo, is what you're saying. Small market team not getting a lot of love. SGA is electrifying. Yeah, you got it, Beast. Excited for playoff basketball.

We can't thank you enough for joining us. What's you what's like today look like for you? We assume you're squatting. You put a bar on your back every single day, maybe go till the land. What is today? What do we got today? You know I'm not in the weight room today. I know it's a big disappointment. I'm actually going to play a little pickleball action right now. So yeah I'm fully addicted to pickleball and everyone's gonna laugh at it because of the name but that's what I'm about to go through no we know pickleball yeah you're a professional pickleballer right? I would say I tried to play against some pros and realize that dream is gone gotcha

it's not a reality for me. Where do you lack at it in the kitchen the hands it's your hands you don't have good enough hands? What's your rating? It's not my hands I got the hands it's more of you know the hands? It's your hands? You don't have good enough hands? What's your rating? It's not my hands. I got the hands. It's more of the technique. I didn't play a racket sport. And also I'm on the back end of 30. So I'm not the young 20 year olds

that just finished college or D1 tennis players. I kind of struggle against those guys. They get you moving a little bit. Yeah, they get me moving. I'm moved like a school bus now. So I have my challenges. I will say like a school bus now so I have my challenges. I will say you always did though you know you always did and the things you were able to do nobody could have expected. Absolute weapon. What is

your rating? Isn't there a number rating thing in pickleball? About a 4 or 5. Not a 5.0. Yeah so 5.0 means you're pretty pretty good but 4 or 5 is alright. So how many games will you go play right now and this will be like against high level talent or are these motherfuckers have no idea what's showing up at the pickleball court that's coming? I used to go out there and get smacked by the retirement community. It was Martha and that's when I really started getting addicted. So I've kind of outgrown that, you know, little community.

But yeah, I'm playing against some high level guys. If I go out there and give them work today, I'm going to be really happy leaving that facility. Hell yeah. Hey, go give them that. You know what I mean? Old school, high T. Yep.

You know, boosted T, not psycho T, cerebral T, kitchen T. That's what we need today. Good luck out there. We appreciate you, man. Thanks, fellas. Ladies and gentlemen, college basketball and basketball icon, Tyler Hansborough. Yeah!

How are you? If I give these guys work, I'm going to be real happy. These guys should beat my ass today. But they have no idea I'm coming 110 miles an hour out there. No, they don't. Like, do you think they see, like like a schedule of who's playing who? And they see t dot hands, bro. They think themselves. Yeah, it's gonna be a long morning It's gonna be he's gonna be on the ground all the time. What's the highest rating you can have?

I think it is five. Yeah, I think five's pro I think you get to a five you're like a pro what a Q lie and say he was for three or something for two So we don't know what every tenth is no, I'm assuming it's pretty Pretty it has to be I assume a four or five is very good. Yeah. Yes. No offense a Q Hey Q has committed a lot of his life. He's good player when we were out in Arizona Yeah, but he I think that was at the beginning of his run. I think he has continued to play since then he's in tournaments now He's got his own gloves. Yeah other thing it goes up to five five plus whoa so five five plus is top caliber players okay five has you mastered the strategy four

five is high level of consistency use pace and depth to generate opponents errors or set up the next shot what's a four two four three four oh is consistently hits with depth and control still perfecting shot selection and timing else you're being judged for the score Yeah Coming in yeah, it's guy. Hey can't work the kitchen. What if you pay him off? What if you pay off the judger? Hey, then I'll be trying to find a guess then you run a five plus and get your ass good Yeah, I think you're probably trying to get his lower. I bet you're probably trying to get there Yeah, Sam Baggins

Well, you should but golf people should lie the right people lie the wrong way when it comes to golf handicap all the time We're going I'm a two and then they shoot 95. Yeah, but those people don't say that whenever they're about to compete against somebody Those people say hopefully not I'm a ten. Yeah, they're actually a five, you know much like Brandon Bean. Sure Dan or lofts. Yeah, I'd assume. Yeah. People are saying Aaron Rogers. Yeah. Josh Allen said this about Aaron Rogers because they played in was it Pebble Beach? I don't remember which was it Pebble Beach? I think so. Yeah. Yeah. Oh, Aaron's seven. Did you guys see Aaron Rogers is a seven handicap in golf is I

think is what Josh Allen was saying. Man, I just thought the guy was better. That's all Josh kept saying. Aaron won. I think Josh probably came in second or third. And all Josh could say was, man, Aaron, I thought Aaron, man, Aaron really outdid himself. He really outdid himself. But Aaron never plays, right?

That is like kind of the thing with Aaron Rodgers, which is so annoying. For what he shoots, yeah. He plays a tiny amount of golf for how good he is. That one that was on TV for the match or whatever. He had just landed from Hungary the day before that. It wasn't a golf trip. It was not a golf trip over there.

And then gets his clubs. I think they were just fitted. If the story is, it goes how I think. Just got his clubs and then he plays in this thing on television has not played these guys have been fucking playing obviously and then he buries the putt the winter thing you kind of carried Bryson the entire time what an asshole okay on that note how the conversation has been with him is he happy was he down in Mexico with the family what has he been cuz he did not make the trip he's been talked about. There's been a lot of reports about him.

That's really the only thing NFL media has right now. Aaron Rodgers though, huh? Uh huh. Huh? Where's he going? Then all of a sudden, Quacey, who looks wildly young. Yes. Quacey, general manager of the Minnesota Vikings

at his press conference, he didn't close the door on Aaron Rodgers. That's basically the only thing right now. Steph Diggs in New England, congratulations. That was about 20 minutes. Yep. Right? Yeah. It was that night.

Yeah, and it was 26 million. Congratulations, that's awesome. Russell Wilson goes to the Giants. Oh, okay, Russ, okay, Mr. Unlimited. 10 and a half million could go up to 21 million. He's got Malik neighbors, got James Winston over there. James Winston, Tommy Cutletts, Ross. Okay, mr. Unlimited 10 and a half million could go up to 21 million It's got my leak neighbors got James Winston over there. James Winston told me cut licks and Russell Wilson That's a reality show hard knocks should be doing offseason again there But obviously I don't think the Giants will allow that to happen after what happened last year and then inevitably it all roads go back

To what's Aaron Rodgers gonna do because that affects the draft So before we can really do a proper mock draft, We have to know what Aaron Rodgers is planning on doing so like basically he is still The only thing radiating at this time now next next week owners meetings. There's gonna be rule changes There's gonna be a lot of that but this week. It's just been potentially maybe we heard potential situation brewing not certain, but maybe Aaron Rogers waiting on the Vikings. We heard maybe Aaron Rogers thinking about retirement. We heard maybe the Steelers and

Aaron Rogers have had a contract in place for weeks, if not months at this point. They're just trying to figure it out after the meeting. What have you heard and how do you think people should be talking about this situation? because my entire take has been I don't think Aaron knows exactly what he wants and is the Are all the options already shown to him that it's gonna be you know throughout at all Is he waiting until the draft to see who does what with a quarterback like what are your thoughts on it? AJ is somebody who we all know is a close friend of Aaron Rodgers. Yeah, the waiting until the draft I haven't really thought about that I cannot imagine that would be the case like what what would that do for him

right now it looks like what Pittsburgh Pittsburgh is an option and the Vikings are possibly an option is that what's out there is that what it feels like? Yes that is kind of what the and retirement obviously so retirement Pittsburgh and then the Vikings haven't said no. That's right. That is the yeah they didn't close the door completely that's the thing yeah like you had the opportunity to close the door completely publicly at least if you were the Vikings and you did not so what does that tell you? I don't know if that means there's a possibility that the Vikings would want to bring him in or not but it means there's there's got to be some kind of chance of

that correct? Yeah I would say that's probably why people are saying it publicly. Yeah, I would say there's some chance. And what he visit pit, he visit Pittsburgh and probably loved it. Well, Pitt and Pittsburgh have the same facility. So we will see. He was probably he did probably see both sides of it. But yes, allegedly, and I think confirmed by multiple reports, Jerry Dulek says Aaron, I just came to UPMC practice facility to visit with I

believe Arthur Smith Mike Tomlin Omar Khan and Ownership, I don't know if you met with cafeteria equipment managers athletic trainers as well Probably though if he's in the building, did you hear that as well? Yeah, I do know that he actually really likes all the Pittsburgh staff. He loves the staff, the front office, everything about Pittsburgh. Yeah, the people there. That's what makes the Steelers the Steelers, don't you think? What they, from the top down. I think he definitely loves all that.

Well, great. Yeah, the program, the franchise, the city, the lore, the tradition. That is everything that does make the Pittsburgh Steelers the Pittsburgh Steelers. But you're saying he loves everybody in the building. Okay, so that is. Okay, put that on a seat key, ticker down there. AJ Hawke says he loves everybody in the building. So, so that is Okay, put that on a seat key ticker down here. AJ Hawk says loves everybody in the building So AP tone has a follow-up question. I assume for this. Yeah, what do you say like Wednesday decide? That's the question. I don't think he knows I don't know what he's waiting on

I really don't I don't have no clue what the timeline like maybe maybe maybe big night out Remember we called it a couple weeks ago. Maybe he's gonna pop in there and say hey, I'm going to the Vikings Okay, we should think about that What's that it's all everyone on the internet think that's what's happening He's he's deciding at that night on big night out. Yeah. Yeah, I know that's crazy. That is hilarious to think about I do appreciate that people think that is what is possible though for like big night. Yeah Guys gonna sign to the fucking Pittsburgh Steelers big night out. Yeah, we actually scheduled in advance. He's leaving everybody in the in the in the

Dark. Yep. Well until Big night out. Yeah, you caught us. Now granted, if we are still around and a decision is made, then I would like to let Aaron know that it's certainly an opportunity for you. What a great way to introduce yourself to the city. Yeah, and the people that we have coming, I think would be a good, that would be a good,

that'd be a great start to the entire thing. Also not a bad time or place to give a little speech about what we're looking to do. Yeah I mean it is an option for you Mr. Rogers if you would like to change your neighborhood to Mr. Rogers neighborhood which was filmed where? Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Okay so rest in peace Mr. Rogers. Rest in peace.

What a great guy. Cheers. Yeah. And the way he tied his shoes it all checked out too he always was a good guy right no matter what like he always behind the camera in front of the camera you're not getting Fred Rogers okay that's not happening a lot of people are getting got right now Fred's not wonderful he is a marine sniper full marine sniper about that was that him or Bob oh I know maybe

both think they both were in the same regiment Probably could be probably same platoon to potentially Good so much talent. I know I do imagine mr. Rogers waking everybody up and then tossing it over to Bob Rest in peace boys Google's saying that's a that's an urban legend. What's one boy that he was a marine sniper. Oh, no, mr. Rogers Well Bob Bob All right, come on second He was a sniper though, I mean he yeah for sure

Terry, I don't believe. He was a sniper though, I mean he. Yeah, for sure. Barker. Rest in peace to a lot of people. Barker. Everybody that has passed, another one. Yeah. Rest in peace.

We appreciate you all. listening to and hit play on your next adventure. Stay two nights and get a $50 Best Western gift card. Life's the trip. Make the most of it at Best Western. Visit bestwestern.com for complete terms and conditions. Are you crushing your bills? Defeating your monthly payments. Sounds like you're at the top of your financial game. I scored.

Rise to it with the BMO Eclipse Rise Visa Card. The credit card that rewards your good financial habits. Earn points for paying your credit card bill in full and on time every month. Level up from bill payer to reward slayer. Terms and conditions apply. Sports. Hi there, baby AJ. Welcome back from Mexico off of Spring Break. It's great to see you, that's AJ Hawke.

Good to be here. The Talks at the Table is here, Bruce Brown sitting in for boss of Connor. Send your love to he and talk. They'll be back next week. At Ty Schmidt sitting next to him, sweet hat. Hey thank you. You know, anytime you can put on for the Rose Bowl and you know those beautiful San Gabriel Mountains and the cotton candy sky, you kind of just have to do it.

How about just that B-52 bomber flight? Oh, so sick. That thing kicking off with the sun setting in the background as we're sitting on perfect grass somehow, able to call two of those from the sideline. What a place. Yeah, unbelievable. Getting in and out, that's gonna be tough.

A nightmare. But. That's gonna be tough getting in and out there. But what, anything worth getting to is probably not easy to get to. Well said. And I think that is probably the Rose Bowl in a nutshell. Cause if it was easy, everybody would be able to get there.

That's right. And if everybody was able to get there, it wouldn't be a Rose Bowl. Because you gotta really earn your way down into that beautiful valley. Oh my God. One lane in, one lane out. Just get all the way down in

there. Nestle down in there. Okay? But once you get down in there. Oh. Oh. It's beautiful. Paradise. Yeah. Para para paradise. For football. Yes. Yes. Let's go to one half of the hammer. Done! Cowboys AP Tone, saw you pandering to Tyler Hansborough with your sweatshirt. I was. I did have a change of clothes today's but soon as I heard psycho tee was on this sweater was High tea high tea Tanaka ST. You're right. Yeah as someone with low tea, I do respect the high tea nickname You can get that back. They say we're working on it. Um Got it. You got it. I'm not getting into it. I on it um got it you got it uh i i'm not getting into it i believe they're saying things boost your testosterone oh yeah and i'm like really sounds like you guys are making an excuse for your

potential nicotine habit they're like yeah but side effect of the nicotine actually boosts your testosterone you know way yeah allegedly let's say you'd have to do your own research you'd have to do your own research i don't think based on my anecdotal research I don't think so. I have done focus group of one is what yes Brown just said and doesn't feel like that whole low-t thing is real though and You know the science nowadays where they can actually get it down to an exact amount you're supposed to have That's a lifetime commitment though. I think once you started People need to know that once you pop it can No I don't know allegedly I think that's being alleged by companies are trying to profit off you know so you know you never know what's real but it is they they start putting that on stuff

you know like hey you can buy this like I think meat you eat red meat is just booster testosterone you eat this is top booster testosterone it's like that has become a conversation, I think, in the zeitgeist over the last three to five years, probably, when people have kind of understood it a little bit more. I've looked into it, obviously, and that's a lifelong commitment, if you really wanna die. I feel like Doug Plooter, the big hurt, would lead us down a road that they didn't wanna stick.

Come on. How about him in that commercial? Yeah. Yeah, he stole that lady's, that guy's wife, right on camera. Just do one of these two just With an actual bat was that a bat he threw on the shoulder. Yeah, he's a baseball player. Oh He's very sure Right on that commercial

Anyways baseball happened AJ. Do you know that? I do know that, yeah. Opening day, I know Shohei, obviously, he lives up to the moment always. Certainly, and has. I think them having an opening day eight days ago or nine days ago now, good for them to get the jitters out. You know, like first game jitters, I think, is also good. Not that Shohei didn't do great in his first game. I don't think he hit a home run in his first game.

Second game, he hit a home run in. Third game, he's now hit a home run in. But to get that opening day vibe kind of out, especially whenever he had to go back to Japan to inspirited what that was probably like for him. I think they're, I don't want to say mid season form, but I think they were in a better position yesterday than maybe any other team.

Cubs, you lose a couple games over there. Is that good or bad? I'm gonna start the season 0 and 2, okay. You could be behind the eight ball shot to Chicago doing that. Everybody else was kind of, you know, yeah, which by the way, got the Jitters out on opening day. Travel to Japan, okay, who knows what's gonna happen, but probably gonna win opening day because your team will already have it. Big storylines from opening day. Ty Schmidt, Shohei,

obviously going yard. Dodger starting 3-0 tyler o'neill for the baltimore orioles hitting his six consecutive opening day home run, which yeah, that is Ridiculous, you can almost set your watch to it at this point um, you know again not not to grovel but A lot of metz fans saying hey did we overpay for juan soto? Is this the guy we want carrying the torch for our franchise for the next 15 years as he strikes out to end the game with two runners on base down two in Houston Yankees get a big win at Yankee Stadium Austin Wells lead off hitter you don't have to do the Yankee stuff right next to the Mets stuff no it's just it's coincidental

really you know the New York teams kind of go hand-in-hand So it kind of just I mean the way it comes out is kind of That mustache is awesome It is and a lot of Yankees yesterday Carlos Rodin the starting pitcher. They looked great with a beard He looked so bad last year, Felene Chavon and now it's like, okay Thank God we we did we paid a lot of money for this guy and he looks like a Yankee with a beard He just looked weird last year with that one so Yankees get a big win with beards and all and Outside of that, you know, it's pretty pretty solid day baseball yesterday. All right. Well, I appreciate the fact

Paul skeins will be joining us here in about 25 minutes or so he was scheduled to join our program because you know, he's on the cover of the show This guy obviously last year wasn't even in the majors yet now He's opening day ace for the Pittsburgh Pirates and such a young career. He's already on the show 25 Okay, which is a great thing. I believe this is a good video game. This is yeah again Talk about being able to set your watch stuff like this is one of the few things you know Madden gets killed because It just it sucks every year kind of but people still buy it this game is incredible year after year like it's it's one of the the last really like elite sports franchise video games out there yeah speaking of elite

that's a PNC park right there you should have you in the back yeah you think yourself damn that looks like you see in real life especially whenever it's dark in the Zambelli fireworks are over top of it I mean you talk about beautiful ballpark Pittsburgh Pirates have it all including a fan base That's ready to go crazy a starting pitcher. That is the next one and Hopefully a team that doesn't just lose games for yeah, you know I think they need to get invested what jet passing said yesterday though was it's a travesty the ineptitude to Pittsburgh Pirates Yeah, they have the guy everybody knows they have the guy even people that aren't in baseball like us know that they have the guy

The guy knows he have the guy. Even people that aren't in baseball, like us, know that they have the guy. The guy knows he's a guy. Could you do something with it? AJ, all they care about is the bottom line. The bottom line could be a lot higher. Could be. Could be a lot higher. If you, like, have a winning team, AJ, you know? And from what Jet Passon said yesterday, the days of potential ownership being lazy and, like, not active owners,

I think are potentially gonna get voted out. Jet Passon had a little bit more fire yesterday than I had heard him talking about these ownership situations, he's basically saying other owners, I assume Cohen who's spending so much money. It's like, why am I the only one doing it? LA is probably thinking this. The places and the owners that are very active,

from what Jet Pass and said yesterday, fed up with the ownership that is not, they think it's bad for the league as a whole, seemingly is what Jet said. Definitely. I think Hal Steinbrenner would probably be a big piece of that too, cause he's one of those guys where obviously he inherited the team from George and he's like,

you want the Yankees to suck? We could just have them suck and I'll print money hand over fist too. Like we put some pressures on these guys to, you know, build and compete what else so what the other owners are saying what you're doing is easy Any of us can do yes, okay got it got it got it so I didn't even think about that angle Yeah, I thought about like hey our whole league like stinks because you guys Little teams right aren't in the rev share don't the big teams have to take care of the guys that aren't spending money Yeah, certainly and they have to take care of the guys that aren't spending money? Yeah, certainly.

And they have to share money with you, right? So I couldn't even imagine that aspect of money leaving our pocket. We're spending a bunch, trying to make this league, trying to make good teams, trying to get a winner. The ones that are going to be on whenever everybody's actually watching baseball, our teams are going to be, and we have to give money elsewhere.

I didn't even think about that. But also saying like, yeah, we could just sit here and collect the check to certainly like we all could do that's an easy thing You're not a genius. Yeah, I appreciate that aspect out of it as well from ownership Yeah, yeah It is also ridiculous on the one hand you're chasing Guggenheim and Steve Cohen like the biggest hedge fund billionaire in the world on the top end You know with the Dodgers in the Mets and then on the flip side of it, you have owners like even with the A's getting out of Oakland, like they're playing in a minor league ballpark this year. It's just,

it's all ridiculous. Um, but Hey, it's going to be, they got guys this year though. Show. Hey, yeah. Track back. Yes. Yeah. He is. He's the worst luck. Yeah. He got hit in the hand yesterday. Uh, it was either first or second at bat. I don't know if he left the game, but it's just like, what the hell is this guy got to do to stay on the baseball field? He just just fucking nailed right on the hand, shaking it out, going to going to first base. Are you first game? This is what? First at bat? Yeah, it's either first. Yeah. First at bat. Third pitch. Yeah.

This guy just can't believe. Hey, trial. We're sorry about it, dude We're sorry. We are sorry about it. We do love you Mike. I mean that guy. Yeah dog Oh, yeah long long time then he's run into a little bit of an injury bug unlucky bug and Shout to baseball. We'll cover it all 162 games. Oh, yeah Can't wait. They're not overreacting after one game at all with the the Mets and one so it only has 161 left Michael Cole is very casual Is that is that fun I don't know like when you see Cole's reaction is it fun to be a Mets fan when you're Cole

I think Cole does enjoy our reaction to his reaction I think Cole does enjoy our reaction to his reaction, but inside his body I think he's not happy like I think it's a miserable I think he is a miserable fan like that is kind of his MO I'm a Jets fan and a Mets fan so he was spot on with the Jets to everyone else was going crazy saying Super Bowl When we got Rogers said this is the Jets they're gonna screw it up. We talking about Yeah, and look what happened. It did get messed up. And it wasn't obviously anybody's fault, the first one. No.

But it does end up not going right. And then obviously the next year it doesn't go right. And it's like, yeah, everybody, I don't even get my heart rate up whenever these types of things happen. And that's just like, he expects that, I guess, forever. I guess he expects that forever with both teams. So the day that he dies,

which is hopefully another hundred years from now He's gonna be able to say I told you so. Mm-hmm my whole life. I knew they were gonna stink and then he goes to bed I think that is his angle. I think that is his style Yes of fan the Mets love to be miserable all season and then September rolls around and they you know Have a couple big walk-off wins and then all of a sudden it's the Miracle Mets are back. Look at all the magic at City Field. We're having so much fun. We got a guy, Iglesias, he's doing the OMG song. Look at us, it's awesome. And then you know it crash and burns and then go back at it again, be miserable all season and then they'll probably do the same deal in September. Two Yankees fans are sitting

next to each other there giving those takes and we need to remember that with everything that is said. Sidney Crosby in the NHL broke a record. Congrats to Sid. We appreciate Sid in Pittsburgh. Sidney Crosby has brought a lot of happiness alongside, you know, Gino and LeTang and Marc Andre Fleury who had that massive night last night and the boys and Solly who's been the coach for a long, long time. They brought a lot of happiness to Pittsburgh and a lot of great times.

Obviously we're on the tail end of that seemingly with this particular group but Sidney Crosby still playing at a level that nobody could have expected this late into his career. This man was hyped up to be the LeBron James of hockey coming out of Canada. He gets drafted to the Pittsburgh Penguins number one overall. He's been a dude and you don't know him because he's done absolutely nothing wrong. All he's done is committed fully to hockey, fully to the Pittsburgh Penguins. He rarely talks to anybody, doesn't do any interviews, never says anything wrong, never does anything wrong, just shows up in balls. 20 seasons now, he's averaged at least a point per game. Yes, that is absurd. They play 80 some games a year. How many games is it exactly, Nick? 82. 82 games a year, just like in the NBA. And he's averaging a point per game at this stage,

with the record that they have the team That they have he's still playing his best hockey and he this is the type of reason why that he'll be remembered as a great Of all time because he wasn't he's a lot and I don't want to make too much of a comparison here because I think Lebron's like the all-time leading point scorer in the history of the NBA as well But he was like a playmaker Lebron was much more of a playmaker and a sister than potentially Michael Jordan ever was. A facilitator, yeah. Different styles of basketball, different styles of people, I think.

And that's the way he played. But everybody wanted him to be like Michael Jordan. Like we want you to not pass the ball in that moment, even though the person's wide open. We want you to take it, be a dog, yada, yada. Sidney Crosby's always been a playmaker first not worrying about scoring always wanted to just make the play pretty much So him his assist is playmaking his goal scoring ability obviously all elite but just scoring points and showing up every single game is what he will be known for forever and Obviously Wayne Gretzky is unbelievable

And obviously Wayne Gretzky is unbelievable. Ovechkin's gonna go down as the greatest goal scorer of all time and all that. But concurrently with OV's career, Sidney Crosby's been there. And you're talking about two greats that are near end and near a lot of records being broken. So I think this is gonna become a very common thing for both of these guys.

Nick, what did I miss in that entire thing? Well, you made an excellent point with the LeBron MJ comparison in the sense that like Sid is a playmaker and you mentioned Ovi chasing down Gretzky's all-time goal record here. It's fascinating that two of these records could potentially be broken in the same season, two of Wayne's all-time great records because Sid being known as the playmaker, he captures this based on his assists, his playmaking ability, his point per game status.

20 straight seasons, unbelievable. Now, Ovi's got 11 games left to score six, sorry, 10 games now to score six goals to tie Gretzky's all-time goal-scoring record. Ovi, known much more as the pure goal scorer, the pure sniper. So these are two guys who came into the league after a lockout when the NHL was dead and buried, revived the league, saved the league, and now here they are both breaking or potentially breaking Wayne Gretzky, the All-Time Greats records, in the same time frame. It's kind of unbelievable when you look at it from that frame of view and lens. It's just awesome. Historical context. It's amazing. Good for hockey, baby. Good for hockey. You talk about that lockout. They were dead. Yeah. And I think the owners were willing to just sit for as long

as possible. I think they made some rule changes too. I think the owners were willing to just sit for as long as possible I think they made some rule changes to I think they changed some rules of hockey a lot of them during the lockout to change The style of hockey that people were watching and then obviously you get a couple superstars and get some teams and get some runs And it's like now hockey is strong as hell and they're looking for expansion teams I think and you got teams like Florida winning Lordo, which obviously only grows the game But it's like there's a lot of good shit happening on the ice right now for hockey and even though the Penguins Haven't been in like the Lordo combo for a couple years, you know, which has been difficult Especially with Boston Connors sitting over here. Yeah, you know and then Darius J Butler sitting over here

And then Foxy. Yeah hockey Beach exactly and then Foxrys J Butler sitting over here. And then Foxy, yeah Hockey Beach exactly. And then Foxy just talking about the 50s and the 30s. We suck. And things like that. Night Super fan. Yeah and then you got a Las Vegas Gold and Night Super fan and they've been very good. Obviously expansion draft helps with that. They get a lot of high profile guys that some reason weren't one on their team. Then they come together like Island and Misfit boys. Misfits baby. And then they absolutely absolutely crush it so it hasn't been the most fun time to be a penguins fan but i do appreciate the fact that cindy crosby is going to be getting a lot of flowers

you know over the next probably season or two for a lot of things same with ovechkin i'm happy ovi's getting all the flowers he's getting because anytime the capitals were playing for what the last 15 years probably must watch because OV's playing and Penguins same thing you might not even know hockey, but you'll see 87 flying around It's like hey that guy's fucking everywhere and OV and Sid both would fight you know not scared to actually scrap which I Absolutely love hockey's in a good spot AJ even though the Penguins are not

I mean just to play for 20 years in the NHL is is unbelievable and then the fact that he's averaging a point per game Over that whole time like yeah the guy what do we talk about like consistent success in professional sports is like the most difficult thing to To I think put together especially as a team as an individual and what sit is done Yeah, like they'll never be another like him like Like, how he carries himself, everything about him, it seems to be pretty special. Yeah, I got massive respect for the way he's operated. Fully committed to hockey. Fully, fully committed to hockey.

And any hockey dude you ever ask, they're starting to cut you off. Any, you know, I'm the hockey mark. If I meet a hockey guy, I'll ask him, like, is Sid really that good? And every one of them's like, he's probably better than what you think like he is That good AJ's brother-in-law Jack Johnson Stanley Cup champion. I think he's his hockey career NHL career. How long how many years?

He stays with the Columbus Blue Jackets still I think his 20th year. Yeah exactly So he went to he went to Shattuck with Sid and he's like no Sid from day one has always been the man Yeah, professional I remember he got drafted to the pens and then they had him walk around LA or whatever and he's like, no, Sid from day one has always been the man. Yeah, professional. I remember he got drafted to the Penns, and then they had him walk around LA or whatever. And he's 18 years old. And they're doing an interview, showing a picture of every other sports.

I think they showed LeBron James. I think they showed maybe A-Rod or something like that. I think they showed a couple other. And then Sid was standing there. And then he'd be like, you know, this is No Hi, I'm Sydney Crosby number one overall pick. I'm supposed to be the next LeBron James and then the mother he does you know, he actually lives up to it and What a good lad for Pittsburgh we appreciate you said good for hockey

Speaking of sports that we don't normally get the opportunity to cover as well You know, the NBA has been very good, you know the NBA has been very good to us AJ. The NBA has been very good to us. I think our friendship with Tyrese Halliburton has obviously escalated that because I felt very invested in the Pacers. I have enjoyed watching the Pacers have success because I would like to see Tyrese Halliburton, TJ McConnell, Pascal, Coach Carlisle, I'd like to see those guys have great success and the city loves, the city shows up for him

And they went to the Eastern Conference Finals So I'm like very invested in the Pacers having success which has brought us into the NBA I think a little bit and then obviously a little raw conversation happens Sure, okay, just so happens to be coming in town to play the Pacers. He comes in does his thing We appreciate the hell out of them. I am a Caucasian. I am a Caucasian male It was an honor to talk to him as Caucasian male. That was that was a very cool thing. Thankful He came on our show obviously the conversation has had a lot of reactions and

Everything like that and we're thankful for everybody chit-chatting about something we were a part of but mostly LeBron was the man. He was the absolute man. So nice to us. Blessed us. We're very very thankful for that. But he had to go play the Pacers then that night. You know and so now I'm an interesting predicament. I'm like wow probably a billion views if you're just to count everything that has been ripped clipped, seized, everyone just okay probably one of the biggest thing biggest thing we've probably been a part of, you know, in this whole thing happens. And that night playing against our friends, like our, our team, and he has two points

in the first half, and they're talking about worst game since 2010 for him. And I'm thinking to myself, oh no, we are going to be known as an NBA curse. He was coming up on 2000 straight 10 point game. So that was on the line as well. And Tyrese Halliburton earlier in the year comes in here, does a shooting thing, goes on like a month drop. So I'm sorry. Oh no, literally the guy who's called the king we just talked about for the first time, talk some of his shit. He's having the worst game he's ever had. This is not good. Then he gets the game winner against the Pacers. So I'm a little bit torn.

You know, I'm a little bit torn. I'm like, thank God, he got a double-double and a game winner. That's the only thing that needs to be said. Double-double, game winner, day his conversation. Then I felt bummed about that guy, because I saw that shot and he just hit a game winner. And it was a whole thing. So then the next night comes around, complete opposite takes place. You know, basically Pacers go crazy. They're playing in DC and the Lakers lose to the Chicago Bulls on a last-second shot from an Australian guy

But whenever you talk about bouncing back from a walk-off happening against you guys in your house and then having the greatest game That the franchise has ever seen most points in the history of the Pacers last night 162 points most assists in the history of the franchise last night And then obviously most points scored in this season of the NBA. That's an all-star game number They put up against Washington after the LeBron James walkoff So this morning I just asked Tyrese Halliburton if he could send a video about the last couple days from his perspective What's up y'all Pat asked me to send a video about the last couple days from his perspective. What's up y'all? Pat asked me to record a video. I don't know why I'm doing this at this point because I don't know if he's a Laker fan or

a Pacer fan, but I still love. Past couple days have been pretty crazy. Laker game was crazy. The crowd, the environment was awesome. Back and forth game, we came back from a big deficit. You probably blame me for the jinx a little bit. I've been saying all year that I have yet to be gamed in the NBA. Of course, LeBron's the guy to do it. And of course, it's the same day as

the LeBron Versation, which is good for the program. Congratulations to you, fellas. Thank you. And then the next day, had to go to Washington on a back-to-back. Set the franchise record for points, set the franchise record for three-pointers. The rim was just big, guys couldn't miss. First, second, third, you know, all played well. So it's pretty crazy. And that's just a great part about the NBA when you have a tough game and you have a back-to-back, you can kind of wash it off and get ready for the next one.

So we'll take it and now we got to get ready for OKC and those guys are really good team. So got to be ready to go. Hopefully, Pat and the boys still pace the fans. Appreciate you guys. Oh We are okay, and he said first time I've never been gamed before that's walk-off buzzer beater calling game You know, which is what Braun did to Tyrese never happened before he actually I said I think you said that in the press conference afterwards. What was going through your head? Well, that's the first time that's ever happened to me. And of course, it's this guy. And I, the reaction to the LeBronversation from the basketball world and from the media world and from the fans world was so cool. Watching the game winner happen, you know, literally that night was like, okay, we're not a jinx. Okay,

that's good news. We're not jinx. That's good news. But for the Pacers, but then for like Ty Reese and the rest of the NBA, I think everybody watched the convo. And I think everybody was like kind of pumped about it. Like, thank you for talking about the NBA in the way that you were talking about the NBA and let us do us. And then Ty Reese and the boys go bananas the next night. And thenBron James is on the complete opposite side of it where a couple of mistakes late and then half court shot goes in

there it's like wait a second maybe the NBA is awesome you know maybe the NBA isn't this shithole league that some people think it is you know maybe the the play on the court isn't a nightmare maybe the players aren't all prima donnas maybe maybe the guy who has been talked about that way after our, I mean, hour and 15 minutes is a long time. That is a long time to chit chat with people you don't know. Like he doesn't know us. And we're coming from a different angle.

A lot of people say we're not in the basketball world, yada yada yada. It's like, exactly. We're coming from a complete different angle of conversation. I'm sure he got to relive some stuff, but it's like, he was incredibly cool to us. Like very nice to us, chit chatted with us, open about us. I assume sure he got to relive some stuff, but it's like he was incredibly cool to us, like very nice to us, chit-chat with us, open about us. I assume there are situations out and about

where he's not necessarily as kind as like maybe in public, like things have happened where he hasn't been perfect in the last 27 years, but we talked to Tyrese, love Tyrese. Bron came in here, he was awesome. Maybe there's a lot of perceptions about the NBA that aren't necessarily true, maybe is what I'm saying. Maybe it just from my experience and are we living a different experience? Yeah Yeah, LeBron James water. Yeah, of course here for four hours. We're all very surprised Yeah, I think we're all very surprised about it was and I try to tell that to Tyrese every single time I'm like, well you're late you guys Soft as shit. Anyways, he's like, no, what do you know? We're not like, we are.

That is not true. I'm like, yeah, it is. I've been told it's true. That's what I've been told. You're soft. Oh, well, you got a pinky. And he was like, well, actually finger and hand injuries are a big deal.

Okay. For me, it's like, okay, all right. Okay, okay, okay, okay. You know, so it's like, I'm pretty excited that we're potentially a part of a time where we're learning like, maybe this league isn't just what we potentially thought it was or have heard it was. And if it wasn't, maybe they're trying to change into a being. I appreciate what they've done for us.

The NBA is awesome. The NHL is awesome. College basketball is awesome. Golf is awesome. All these things are awesome. It's just from August to February There's something more awesome. So during those times We we look at them differently But then when you get it into the scope of light when football is not being played and all we're watching is NBA and college Basketball and stuff like that. Like oh these things are awesome. It's just you know from August to February football is king, baby. And the numbers say that, the ratings say that. I think the sport itself is always going to have that because what the sport is.

You know, introducing our sport to new people, like Scottish people who have fallen in love with another sport, this is their second sport, like maybe it takes a little bit for everybody to fall in love with the sport, but I think they're seeing growth, especially after how much time has been in there, more exposure, learning the rules, learning the pace, learning what's possible in places like the sport, but I think they're seeing growth, especially after how much time has been in there, more exposure, learning the rules, learning the pace, learning what's possible in places like in America, that's already all built in. So it's like, I think, I think the sport is a great sport, first of all, for entertainment and to pay attention to. But it's like, you're right, NFL is king. And I think we always come from that perspective. And then we might say some things that aren't necessarily as good about these other leagues at times get caught up in a moment

Yeah, get caught up in a moment, but we're learning more we learn about something the more we like it. That's weird In that way, it's still like with the NFL like you guys you guys have connections with Damn near every team, you know, and we are an NFL show So like by this point like you wouldn't get a player that would be like, oh, I don't know what the Pat McAfee show is, you know, like everyone is aware of what we do and you guys know a lot of these guys. So like, that was always the big thing is like,

we need to hear from these players because anytime we get a hockey guy on the show, which is far and few between because they don't, they don't do a whole bunch of media. Those guys are always awesome. And you said the thing about the bubble where it was like they were deciding whether or not they were gonna play or what was going on and you know It was basically like hey is LeBron playing yeah, he is okay We're all playing so I wonder if a situation like that where LeBron comes on and he does an interview with us We're you know, like we don't know him at all

He doesn't know any of us like Like, and he was very comfortable. You wonder if it does kind of trigger something in a lot of these other guys be like, Hey, maybe I can do like I can sit down and do an interview with someone like, and I can let people know a little bit about more about me. So it's not just the only thing they're seeing is, you know, and again, I think the back to back stuff gets blown out of proportion, but like, Oh, this is a star in this game and he played tonight and he's not playing tomorrow night because the load management like hopefully that opens up a lot of guys eyes where it's like hey I can go sit down and do an interview and let people know a little bit more about myself

They're not what I've learned with our show. Hey Jane It's not great is you're gonna get killed if you come on our show there's gonna be people that are gonna kill you because you're gonna say stuff on our show that is probably There's gonna be people that are gonna kill you because you're gonna say stuff on our show that's probably Hasn't been said before you know because we're asking questions from an angle that probably haven't been asked before so there's gonna be some people that hear some things potentially in a manner or Context that they've never heard before so there's gonna be times to bash like there is that side of it But the reactions I saw a lot of people like yeah, you know, I didn't know LeBron I might I didn't like LeBron but knowing a little bit more about him I understand like that type of stuff he was super likeable I told you like he

was very likeable very comfortable and also felt like he's at the point his career where he's not worried about everything surrounding like Kobe got to that point where Kobe was just he was just, I felt like towards the end of his career where he was taught when he would talk. And I appreciate it. I loved it. I thought it was great. And some people might not like that,

but I think the majority of people that actually listen, they'll be like, yeah, I at least respect where this dude is coming from. And I respect what he's doing. Yeah, he's a human, I think, you know, I think that is- That's what you need to know. You need to know they're human and that they're relate. I think he was very relatable too.

Yeah. And obviously there's gonna be people who say nah I was it and I saw I think I'll get that I'll kick out a headline that said Some four swear words or something something in unfunny interview. It's like okay, so you put unfunny in a headline Okay, I'm sure we go back in there and find some things that are laughable. Definitely I'd like that but I appreciate that you have to put it's unfunny in there so we all understand your thoughts We get it. Okay, like so there's been a lot of people obviously in the media that didn't appreciate some of the things in a Hey as it was happening. Yeah, we kind of knew that might be the case We understand and if we're on now we understand that but it was like also we learned a lot about LeBron James

I think in the way LeBron James operates and I don't like to toot our horn much. Okay, I don't like to do that I think this show stinks But there's a lot of people like kind of upset at LeBron for doing it on our show if other shows could have done that Would have happened, right? So like maybe we are good at some things like maybe we do have an ability at some, not everything, obviously, obviously not every I, I completely understand that. But like, we're pretty good at talking to people. We enjoy talking to people like it is kind of, it's kind of the whole essence of the show is we enjoy

talking to people. So it's like, hopefully there'll be a chance for that to, to kind of be understood that LeBron walked in here with no teleprompter, no scripted questions, which is how we operate, always will be, always have. That's kind of, that's just how it goes. And we had no idea where that was going to go. No clue, but as one thing leads to no, it's like as we're in the middle of it, we're like,

it feels like LeBron just having a conversation with us here, like this just feels like he is very comfortable comfortable and in the middle of it. It was so cool It was just like a cool feeling to have and then he takes a picture with us and he's 14 feet. Yep So tall yeah, so Right. I saw a lot of people say they like LeBron now Yeah, there was quite a bit of that a lot of people saying they like LeBron now Mm-hmm, and I feel like we did like I think that's good for sports as a whole Because this guy's been famous for 30 years

And I feel like we learned a lot about him and I did see a lot of maybe not necessarily like oh I like this guy now But like I used to hate this guy and be a hater just to hate and like now I at least Respect him a little bit, you know Like I might still be a fan of another team But I respect him now and with that being, you're allowed to feel that way. Yeah. Like you're allowed to change the way you feel about something. If there's new evidence given, you're allowed to, oh, and evolve your opinion. Let's go society. Let's go society. Ain't that right AJ? Feels like we're there.

Yeah, I think truly smart people do. When they're presented with new information about certain things, they are able to change their opinion on things. Okay, good, good news. You wanna know my opinion on this guy that's joined us? Goat, already. It's gonna happen. It's only his second year in the majors, but he's already on the cover of the show.

One of the greatest video games in the history of video games. Yesterday, he struck out seven seven obviously had a no decision against Miami Marlins on opening day but he was the opening day ace for the Pittsburgh Pirates former national champion with LSU ladies and gentlemen stallion Paul Skeens hey do it man well what's up guys hey sorry about the loss the no decision legitimately I know there's a lot of games left, so you can't get caught up on one particular game.

But opening day is a big deal, especially for you. Sorry the game ended that way, but how did you feel? And is there a different feeling now as an opening day starter as opposed to coming out of college, doing AAA, then getting called up mid middle of season? How does the body feel? How's the arm feel? And where are we at as this season starts, brother?

Yeah, I mean, body feels good. Definitely good to get back out there, get in front of, you know, a full stadium again. At the end of the day, it's just baseball. So, you know, AAA, college, the big leagues, like it's kind of all the same. Hitters change a little bit, but execute your pitches and they're out. So it's kind of how I'm looking at it.

Okay, let's talk about your pitches. You added some pitches this off season. It was a big topic of conversation. Paul Skeens got better this off season. Oh yeah. Look out, okay. The big throw the ball hard guy has added some more shit to his arsenal how much of that did you get to use yesterday and

How confident are we with every single pitch and will we add pitches during the season? Yeah, I mean confident with everything we didn't really use any any of the new stuff yesterday But yeah feeling good with everything maybe maybe we'll add stuff, maybe we'll take some stuff away during the season. We'll see, it's kind of just, the game will tell us. Yesterday when you're down in Miami and you said full stadium and it's just baseball, it's just in there, that game ends. Are you thinking about that game at all? Do you watch film of that game?

What is the process whenever there's 162 of these things and you literally just wrap up number one of the season? Yeah, really got to figure out something that works over the full 162. Not just when it's going going good or bad. I haven't watched film yet. I'll do that today. But I got basically a day to I'll do that today. But I got basically a day to think about the game yesterday. And then the next few days I'm going to prepare for my next outing basically. Go ahead, AJ. Do you have a when it comes like scouting your future opponents,

do you have a book of all the hitters that you may be facing? Do you like how do you consume all this information? I would assume the coaches are giving you about each individual batter you'll be facing. Yeah I mean at this point it's kind of cool because I've faced a fair number of the you know the guys that I'm going to face before so there is a little bit of a book on what's what I've done in the past but also you know like I said there's a few day process to prepare for the next game. And kind of take it slow, do chunks, you know, each day,

look over the hitters, all that. But, and then go out there and pitch my game basically. Okay, so quarterbacks like recall blitz packages or disguises from earlier in their career. Obviously you're very early in your career right now. But as a hitters coming up or in the middle of an at bat, are you thinking about a previous time that you faced this guy or is that all pre pitch with that guy?

Is there anything happening in the middle of a at bat where you're audibling or changing or seeing something? Is that something that takes place in pitching? This is literally coming from somebody that has no idea about baseball Yeah, I mean all the time because you you can Look at getting guys out or I look at getting guys out, you know the first time through and

Trying to save pitches for the second and third time through a little bit. It doesn't always work out that way. So you don't want to show them all your stuff all the time. But you know, you're going to I faced I faced the Cubs four times last year, I'm going to have to figure out how to get those guys out, you know, three to four times a game, all four times I pitch pitch against them so there's definitely going to be some overlap there okay so let's talk about a thing that happened yesterday I think there was somebody on first and third one out I believe it was zero zero the one score ended up happening on this at bat I think you were throwing because

Ty sitting right next to me Ty loves baseball we're watching it and Ty thinks you're going high heat just to blow it right by the guy like he's gonna go high instead you were throwing some breaking shit I think to try to pull a double play there after he fouls off like four or five of them is there a thought like okay now we bring that like are you playing that with the catcher in the middle of that like to keep him guessing how are those decisions made is it you signaling to him him signaling to you what is the the kind of breakdown because that at bat was fascinating it was like a very it was a good joust it felt like between you the catcher and the batter at the time yeah i mean we both the catcher has a pitch calm and i have a pitch calm so i can basically tell him what i want. And he tells me what he wants.

And then we have a lot of conversations before the game. Joe was catching me yesterday. He knows me really well. I know how he thinks. And so we can kind of skip some of the intermediary steps of, OK, this is what we're thinking and we kind of just know what what each other's thinking a little bit a little bit more than uh you know probably you guys watching at home basically yeah i'd hope so that's good chemistry

i assume that's good chemistry because you're playing like poker you're playing poker with that batter right the batter is trying to guess what's coming that that is what's happening in there as i'm trying to learn about baseball i'm trying to figure out like the the batter is trying to figure out what pitch you're throwing right that is kind of the reason why i tell is that's happening in there. As I'm trying to learn about baseball, I'm trying to figure out like the batters trying to figure out what pitch you're throwing, right? That is kind of the reason why I tell is such a big deal. And the garbage cans are such a big deal. That's kind of the game.

You not giving it away and them trying to figure it the fuck out. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, yeah. That's a really good way of putting it. I'm gonna read on you by the end of this. I'm gonna read. I'm gonna try my best. Ty has a question for you, Paul. Paul, going into the season, a lot of analysts are picking you to win the Cy Young and bringing up the question of,

hey, could this guy set the single season strikeout record? Obviously, last year you had 170. 383 is a lot, and you know dealing with limited pitch counts in certain games last year is that something this year I'm not saying you go into the year thinking like hey I'm gonna set the single season strikeout record but as you kind of get into things more are you still hunting strikeouts are you trying like in that situation Pat's talking about right there like are you trying to maybe think about like limiting your pitch count

more and like inducing more ground balls and stuff like that As opposed in years past where it might just be like hey I'm gonna try to set this guy down so that you can go deeper into games Yeah, I mean the strikeouts will come I think Because you look at my game yesterday I think I was in two strike counts like 14 times, 14 or 15 times, maybe 13. And I had seven strikeouts.

So you get into two strike counts, you're going to get strikeouts. Those will come. We were, you know, that first and third situation with one out, a strikeout is great. A double play is even better because it saves you pitches. I think that's all, you's all the art of pitching. The single season strikeout record is great. Making the playoffs and winning a World Series is even better and that happens from throwing more pitches and being on the mountain for a longer period of time. Okay, so let's talk about that what you you just said there, because winning a World Series as a Pittsburgh Pirate

is a hilarious thing to hear if you're from Pittsburgh, but your entire preseason messaging here has been the complete opposite of that. AP Tone, Jens or Legend, has a question for you. Yeah, Paul, I appreciate, you kind of had some comments about the 2013 Wild Card game against Cincinnati. PNC only holds 40,000 people, but I think 500,000 people

were there that night according to stories that everyone says it. And you gave respect to the guys that were on that team and Koch, Koch is obviously still one of your teammates, was probably the only one still left on that team. But you said like that should not be the bar or the standard for this city. The standard should be World Series. Is that like, is that the messaging kind of going into the season or what is the message in the locker room to start the year? Yeah, I mean, that's obviously some we look at because that's, you know, what I basically,

what I meant when I said that was, you know, if this is, if this is what they're going to show up for a wild card game, like imagine how they'll show up for a World Series game in Pittsburgh. So that's kind of the mindset behind that. And you know, it's to win the division. That's been the messaging all spring and that's the messaging now. And you know, we have the opportunity to do that.

You know, got to win today, got to win tomorrow and you know we have the opportunity to do that you know got a win today got a win tomorrow and you know when we need to stay after that but it's a cool opportunity you guys gonna be 161-1 we get it yeah I understand my opening Miami got taken out there I guess let's win 161 straight as we head into the playoffs is the number one seed and I'm sure that matters in baseball I would would assume that. Home field of events. Okay good it does matter. I know a lot about baseball. I get it. I understand the ins and outs of it day to day. But what you just said there about the World Series, imagine the boats behind PNC Park there in that river just bopping over dead bodies to get back. I mean I think you wouldn't even, it would be, it would be packed up people on the bridge. I mean, the city would be upside down. And I think the city just appreciates the fact that you're like, Hey, this city like

deserves it. Like no pirates say that, you know, going into the year, the conversation around the Pittsburgh Pirates is always like, another year ownership's just going to try and make money. And our best players get traded away. You're the first person and you are the first person who's been there who's a guy. And I know you don't like to hear that and all that, but you are the guy. And for you to say like, let's go win this thing, that's a rally cry, brother.

You should be, Pittsburgh loves you. And for good reason. Bruce has a question for you. Yeah, Paul, I know there was a lot of off season talk about the addition of the Mariano Rivera cutter, and we didn't really see a ton of that on opening day but the two seam 98 17 inches of horizontal brake absolutely spicy have you made a conscious effort to focus on adding movement with the velocity instead of just you know

cranking that four seam up as fast as you can and you know what is going through your head while you're painting that thing fucking high outside corner like that? It's gotta be the best feeling in the world. Yeah, I mean, my four seam naturally runs, so some of the pitches you guys saw might have been four seams that got tagged as cutters. So, sorry to rain on the parade there.

Wow, what a question. Did throw a couple. Hey, that was a good question though. Good research. Good question. Did throw a couple. Hey, that was a good question though. Good research. Good question. Did throw a couple two seams and it has, I mean, it's been good. Sprinker was really good yesterday,

so I didn't have to throw a ton of two seams, but yeah, I mean, it's, you know, constantly just playing around with everything. And when it goes right, it definitely feels good. So when you're in warmups and you're doing that thing with the fucking, the thing, you know, and then you're doing the things with the thing. Huckin' football.

Yeah, and then you're throwing footballs, Quar-Mall, all that. And then you finally, cue country roads still? Are we still queuing country roads? Yep, yep, always. Hell yeah. Hell yeah. Banger. When you're going out there

and you're starting your first pitches, I assume you know what's good that day. Like is there, is there a reason like if there's more humidity in the air, like you might go to another pitch. Like when do you find out what is your shit? Like you said, the splinker was working pretty good right there. So we didn't need a lot of twos. When do you find that out in mid game or is it like warmups?

You kind of know what it's going to be and who's in who's going to show up in your pitch count. Yeah, a little bit of both, but funny thing about warmups, sometimes you gotta just get the bad ones out of the way early and then it ends up being really good. So can't put too much stock in warmup and warm up throws. But, uh, I mean, really the first inning of the first inning of the, uh, of the game, um, and the hitters will tell you what's working or not.

When you hit that little, because you're super humble, but you do have a little sauce whenever that thing hits the, whenever that thing hits the mitt and you're fun to watch brother. You're donating a hundred dollars for every strikeout yet again to the Gary Sinise Foundation like you did last year. Last year you had 170 strikeouts and ended up being 17,000 from you. Others joined along, myself included, raised over $100,000 I do believe. Doing it again this year, $100 per strikeout.

You can match Paul Skeens like we will be doing yet again. Why the Gary Sinise Foundation and why are you choosing to do this again, brother? Yeah, I mean, for one, it's a veteran and first responder charity, a charity that helps veterans and first responders, which is basically being an Air Force guy and seeing the impact that it's had on my life and my family's life. It's something that I feel I have to do. So that and it's a good foundation where, you know, the money that you donate to the

group is going to go toward toward helping people. So not a ton of fluff. Yeah, that's a, that's a, that's a big smile there. Huh? Yeah. But that fireman firefighter stash Oh my god, you look liberated. Yeah a little taller than I think most you know Okay, that's why you're heading up there at the roof. But boy you look you look right at home there in South Baldwin Yeah

Yeah, South Baldwin took a visit over there and got to toot the horn everything It was a good time. Did you get the hose out? You get to use the hose got to toot the horn, everything. It was a good time. Did you get the hose out? Did you get to use the hose? Did you get to use the hose? I didn't. No, you got to draw the line somewhere with that kind of stuff. You can't give a ball player a hose. Yeah, but what if you got those, remember those firefighter races? Those ladders?

Yep. Where they're sprinting through those ladders. They climbed it up, then they pulled it, did it again. We need to see you do that. I mean, you really want to commit to this. we need you on the speed ladders with the firefighters and We appreciate the hell out of what you're doing for the city and how you're giving back through success 170 strikeouts about half a season with a pitch count where he had a perfect game

I think going or was it no hitter a perfect you Okay, you do remember if it was No hitter. Okay, you do remember. If it was a game you'd be like, it's not. Nah, I'm going. Ball stays in my hand, but it's a ZMLB. We can't wait to play with you in the show as you're a cover guy now. And thank you for everything, Paul. We'll see you soon. Awesome. Yeah, I appreciate y'all.

Hey, tell the lady we said hello, tell the family we said hello, tell Pittsburgh we said hi, and let's go 161 straight here. Yes sir, love it. Love it. Ladies and gentlemen, Paul Skeen. Tell the family we said hello, tell Pittsburgh we said hi, and let's go 161 straight here. Okay? Yes sir, love it, love it. Ladies and gentlemen, Paul Skeen. Yeah, Paul! My parents have had a lot of time on their hands lately. At first, it was nice. Hey mom, can you drive me to soccer practice?

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So pissed they lost yesterday. I said that. Yeah. So mad that that was scheduled ahead of time. I bet. We did send over a, hey, so mad that that was scheduled ahead of time. I bet We did send over a hey don't have to he's like no. No, no, we're good We're good. It's been different if he would have got like shell but like he pitched good to win Yeah, he he's got a little sauce like when that thing hits that you see a little pot

There's like a little how you do it. There's a you know, hi. Hi, it feels good He's not a complete robot is what I'm saying He does have enough robotic qualities. Yes that are great to be Uh, you know frontman organization number one guy in the entire league. He has enough of those robotic qualities like hey What are your hobbies? uh napping I guess in between baseball stuff What do you uh? What do you think about baseball?

It's a great sport of all time. Okay. How do you feel about working? Love working. Yeah, I love working, getting better. I think I owe it to everybody to work my hardest and become the best I can possibly be. Can you sound like a robot that was kind of planted here

to be a baseball pitcher? That is what you're thinking. And then you see him do a little shit and it's like, hold the phone down in there There's a dog and there has to be and I think at the pitching position What a perfect guy to lead baseball kind of going forward time. Yeah, I mean same deal His his stuff is you know there I wouldn't say there's a whole bunch of guys who if you're not a fan of that team They're like must watch in terms of pitchers

He's definitely one of them and even you know Like digs has said like the Pirates and that's kind of that's that's what they do They did that a lot yesterday where he pitches great through You know six innings or seven innings and then somehow the bullpen comes in and blows it But when you have a guy that throws that hard and his stuff moves that much, like he's one of those guys where it genuinely does feel like if I watch him pitch today, like he might strike out 20 guys.

And there are just, there are very, very few, maybe like one or two guys who are like that in the majors. What an absolute dream for the Pittsburgh Pirates organization. Hopefully we take advantage of it. Ladies and gentlemen, joining us now is a friend of the program. He's from Indianapolis. He currently plays for the Bengals. He won two Super Bowls with the New England Patriots. Ladies and gentlemen, fresh off of the Cincinnati Reds opening day parade, Daddy Cash. Yeah, baby! Yeah!

Bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam Good Air Forces. Great Air Forces. Sick chest lettuce there. Oh, thank you. Yeah, I do like the gold in the hair. Yeah, that's a good idea. Let a little cheese out. Yeah, let them know you still got it. Mike Fenn's muted, I believe, I hope, unless you just can't speak. You look great.

Thank you. There we go. So do you. Is this plane in white? Is this plane in white right here? I'm like probably 304 right now, so probably about 10 more pounds. You look unbelievable.

Thank you. I mean, you look great. We're a little lighter in the off seasons, you know. Yeah, we remember the milk story. Oh yeah. Yeah, you gotta put on weight. I get a lot of questions about that. People think I can't actually do it, but I did do it.

Yeah, but that's kind of the thing we learned immediately afterwards. And for those that don't know, Teddy in high school, I think ninth grade, tenth grade. Yep. Ninth grade and tenth grade drank a gallon of milk every single day because he needed to get bigger. You need to get bigger. I was too slow. Your dad said this. My dad said this. Yeah. Yeah. Your dad, NFL guy. Yeah. Football guy. So dad in NFL looked at old Teddy, freshman, sophomore year of high school and said, but I don't know how to tell you this,

you're too slow. You're too small to play any other position other than offensive line. That's it. And to do that, you're gonna have to gain weight. So you chugged a gallon of milk every single day for two years straight, right? And then we asked we asked you if you think it worked and if you needed to do it And I think your immediate answer was probably not I think you were to purely what helped out Do you think it is a big piece of your story that entire thing? I'm like you still carry it into today I don't drink as much milk I do think it was fundamental in that crazy amount of weight game in that period, but I don't think you would need to do that to gain that much weight anymore.

Just protein shakes? Protein shakes, just a lot of calories. I mean that's when I turn it on, you know, we've got work in a month, you know, I up the calories, get up to 315 and then report to work. What do you do? We do a lot of protein there, we just eat a lot of protein, a lot of like, you know, late night snacks, try to get a thousand calories in before bed across the bulls yeah I got like a wish they got these beef patties at Costco frozen money what do you do you just you just microwave it up and then we're just housing those right there house knows right there we put cheese what about a sweet tooth you got sweet tooth I you know I don't you don't have a sweet not really I mean

maybe some candy every now and then but yeah that's probably would help me if I had more dessert. That's a dream. Yeah, but whenever you're done, not having a sweet tooth is good news, not bad news. That is. That is. I have a sweet tooth, so any time I try to lose weight, any diet I'm on, that is always the problem.

Because I'll get late night, 11 o'clock. Late night dessert. Maybe we're touching the clouds a little bit. Hold the phone. Are there any cookies here? No, but DoorDash actually can bring me McDonald's soft baked cookies. You can get three of them, six of them, maybe even a bucket of them.

That's 1130, this is seven minutes away express order. Do I want that? Yeah, I do. That's my issue. You don't have that issue. You're gonna be like Marshall Yonda when he retired. Hope so, or Joe Thomas. Beast. Beast.

Or Andrew Whitworth. Whit looks great. He does. Okay, so before we get into a full conversation with Teddy about Cincinnati Bengals, his life, and these hat sales to raise money and to make the world a better place, we have to send you off of ESPN.

We'll continue on ESPN+, Disney+, YouTube, and TikTok Live. TikTok's still going, did you know that, Teddy? I did not. They were gonna have to sell it, and they were gonna shut it down. That thing survived. It did. Thrived, some would say. A say some people making money off it good for them

Will you watch any of the college hoops tonight? I'm going to Tennessee, Kentucky tonight. Okay. Yeah, sir. We let's go We'll see you down there. See you down. Let's enjoy the hoops. Let's enjoy the NBA Let's enjoy the NHL and we'll see you back here for overreaction Monday. It's gonna be spectacular Have the greatest weekend of all time be Be a friend, tell a friend something nice and I might change their life. Okay, they're out of here. Let's talk about your team. Yeah. Everybody's getting money.

Yeah. How do you feel about it? You gotta be pumped about it. This is what since today, Bangles fans, I think have been hoping for forever. A team that spends, a team that's all in. Now we got T, Jamar, Joey, and then Trey Hendrickson. They're saying they're gonna try to keep him around there as well.

I hope so. You enjoy what's going on, I see. Heck yeah, I mean we're keeping our best players in house. I mean that's a big strategy for winning in the NFL is developing high picks into good players and then retaining them. And I'm really happy for those guys. Those guys work hard. Those top three, I mean that makes us a very serious offense. Okay, so let's talk about the amount of drama controversy potentially around these contracts Feels like Cincinnati has had in the past these types of situations and they've ended Differently, I mean you can go all the way back to Carson Palmer Carson Palmer said I'm gonna quit if you don't get me out Of here instead they keep the team how much of the chatter in the locker room is like

What does the future hold for us or do you guys just worry day to day? You can't really focus on like T's situation or Jamar's or Trey Hendrickson situation I think it's a gonna be a huge plus that we're not having like the hold in with Jamar and just you know So there's not that periphery distraction overall. It's not a big deal I would say in an NFL locker room, but it can when it when it builds up like that It can be a negative. It got real loud every offseason. Yeah, and yeah, this was the first time Joe I think was healthy during training camp. Yep. And you guys still started a little slow and then you obviously make your run, you're lurking.

How do you describe last season and like what is kind of the mentality going into next year? Well, I think not making the dance two years in a row. I mean the pressure's on us. I think everyone knows that and has taken it very serious. I was, you know, checked in with them yesterday yesterday a lot of guys in there grinding. Oh, yeah Yeah, cuz you were over there for the parade for the parade. Yeah, how was that? It was awesome since he's unbelievable was funny cuz we sell hats and you know started at one and everyone was together Really energetic and then just in since he just got progressively a little bit sloppier and sloppier throughout the day by 4 p.m It was it was a pretty funny crowd a little bit of a runaway a little bit of a runaway over there. Yeah. You guys had a little bit of

a you tied one on a little bit yesterday maybe. We had a night yeah we had a great night since he's fun man you know. Good people. Great people. Great fan base. Unbelievable. They're expecting you guys to win I think. Always. Everybody outside says can you build a roster with paying that much money to those amount of players do you think so? I think so I think if you look at the the Super Bowl champion Eagles have a have a lot of money out to a lot of different positions. So I think, you know, obviously, it's going to come down to managing cap, which I, you know, kind of confuses me

overall, I wouldn't say I'm a cap scientist. Because some of these teams, does it exist for them? So I'm not a them? So Yeah, you have to maneuver that with that but I think you know, we have we have a lot of good players in the building and hopefully we get some get some good rookies that Contribute and let's go. It's a big year big year AJ has a question for you. Yeah, Ted What do you think camps gonna look like this year? I know you guys have struggled getting off to a hot start and you always talk about what you can do to change up camp to try to, you know, switch things up in your favor.

Do you have any idea what that might look like? I don't yet. I think that obviously we have to change something though with, you know, these 0 and 2, 0 and 3 starts. So I think maybe spring might look a little different too. I don't know, you know, what that's gonna entail. But I know that probably some more playing time perhaps in the games, these preseason games

for the starters. Just to, I mean, that would be like probably the easiest thing to change and try to switch up that early season mojo. How do you feel about preseason activity? That's such a, every single, it's not a conversation in reality until we get to it. And then whenever we get to it

There's always the debate. Well, are they gonna start is it rust or is it rest with the players? And then there's different strategies. Obviously there's teams that are top-heavy with their money and they can't risk an injury which Could potentially be the situation you guys are in so they kind of and then there's teams like the Chiefs And Chiefs spend a lot of money on the high end and they play as well and then there's teams that opt none of it. What are your thoughts on it? You've been in the league a long time now. Yeah so I mean I have kind of interesting perspective because you know early on in my career first four or five years that preseason for PS4 was basically my last chance at a resume. I was a you know had to go make the team in this game so I would play you know 85

to 100% of the snaps. No tapping out. No tapping out. I mean, that was like, you know, the, obviously pre-season three was traditionally like the dress rehearsal and then every fringe guy, all the starters rested. And then that was our game. So, you know, I do appreciate what the pre-season means to a lot of guys going out there and fighting for a job. It's been nice to sit down for a few later in my career, but I'm a football player though. So if coach is telling me to go play, let's,

we're lacing them up. Is there something to the first time seeing full speed, even if it's not reality, I guess in joint practice, do you guys do joint practice? Who'd you do them with? We did them with the Colts this year. Okay. And the Bears. Have you done them in the past? Fight every time? You know, I think the second day. So I think a good rule would be one day of joint practices because I think it's good work that second day

There's there's it gets a little sloppy in my opinion You think it's because people watch film and think oh that was a little on buddy Or do you think it's they're sick of hitting the same person? I think it's a little bit of both. Obviously, you might have a vendetta from a one-on-one the day before it's a little bit of both. Obviously you might have a vendetta from a one-on-one the day before. You know, it's hard practices too. So guys are tired now and I mean, I think some guys probably start fights sometimes get kicked out. I've seen that happen a few times. You know what? What period are we in right now? We're in period four. This is a 20 period practice. It is a hundred degrees. 100 degrees. I'm on the team. I know I'm on the team. Yeah, why not a little?

Little one, two. Hey, bud. Little one, two, go to the showers. Hey, bud, we want to work here a little bit? Yeah, yeah, yeah. All right, I'll keep my helmet on. You too, bye. Boom, boom.

And then all of a sudden it comes in. Yeah. Yeah, you're right. I didn't even think about the gamesmanship happening. There's a ton of it. And you can handshake afterwards. Good work. Hey, nice job.

The worst is though, when you don't get kicked out and now I mean we're completely exhausted Oh, yeah fighting from fighting and we line it right back up. Yeah, that's oh you think you're good Zone that's awesome. If Zach does that this year Ted gets into a fight day two. It's 105 degrees. I heard you Logan Wilson last summer right then you two get into we did get into it and that's Yeah, I know what you're doing. Logan Wilson last summer, right? Then you two get into it. We did get into it. And that's, you know, I think there's a certain amount of healthiness to that on a team,

just some chippiness and edgy in camp, because camp is a pretty insane month of your life. I mean, you're either gonna have a job at the end of it or not. And everyone's fighting for, you know, 50 spots out of 90 guys. So I think it was good, but it was, yeah. I think I'm a little bit more worried

if nobody on my team fights. And we say that every year. AJ, isn't that kind of our big takeaway? Yeah, it's gotta be a couple of them at least. Because there is, and you can tell us if we're right or wrong, but there's a lot of media that cover the fights and they're like, we want Chargers Press.

There's people that are like, disgusting and yada, yada, yada. That's actual how some people feel about it. Really? Yes that is actually talked about. We then we come on these people are you know in the same world that we're in sports media and they're talking about all the things that could happen and obviously you can't be throwing helmets and yada yada yada and then our dumbasses come on and we're like this is gonna happen. These are actually kind of want it to happen. If nobody on your team does it,

then you almost have more fear about your team going into the season than if everybody was to fight. Wanna say, whoa, more so than go. And we talk about that and people think we're the dumbest people on earth, but I think that's real. I do too. I think if you believe that you're totally missing

a huge context and cultural part of football, I mean, this is a violent game and guys are out there. We're hitting each other It's four weeks straight of just us and yeah Like you said, it's better to want to hold your athletes back than to have to rally the troops every single day You think enough dogs coming through society for football to continue to be you've been in how many years you've been in league? 10 going on 10. Congratulations Thank you pretty crazy very good for a guy had on ten. Congratulations. Thank you. Thank you. Pretty crazy.

Very good. For a guy who had shot gallons of milk. Yeah. Big time dreams, obviously. It's in the family. But do you think there is a dog supply for the NFL to continue to go the way it is? I do.

I think a lot of kids are playing good. I think it's the seven on seven culture could get a little bit interesting. I think that youth football could use a refresh as far as maybe no pads or helmets till seventh grade. Let's let everyone touch the ball. Like you're a bigger kid in second, third grade, they just put you at right guard.

I mean, of course the kid doesn't love football so much. He's just grinding at right guard. Why wouldn't he wanna go play basketball or something else rugby to touch the ball, be part of the offense? Interesting, I didn't even think about scaring people away from being offense alignment.

Let maybe just let them happen to figure that out through a little bit of a development of the sport. Everyone, you know, like a rotating flag football type thing where you can, you know, you get a couple rips at QB in the game. You can spin it? Oh yeah. Yeah?

Oh yeah, I won Sam Hubbard's folding tournament two years ago. Oh really? Yes. When he's throwing a football at the pins. At the pins. How far of a throw is that? 10 yards? 15 yards?

Yeah. I think probably closer to 20. Did you roll it or is it a throwing? No, you throw it. Yeah. Are you trying to find a pocket or are you trying to, is it like standard bowling? Yeah, standard bowling.

Trying to go right down the middle really. Chain reaction. And the owner of the folding warehouse has a really interesting technique He he like launches it up like a pop shot and he's really hard to beat is very good player So he backs been yeah He like launches it up almost like a corn or really high corn hole toss and hits the front or the middle hits the middle And just like bounces around and knocks pins down

Yeah, you ever do a duck pin bowling we did down it pins indie pins mechanical. Yeah, have you ever done that? Oh, yeah, I've been depends many times this might might be my new favorite place to be clear It's a cool spot very cool. I mean when you have the whole place Mm-hmm, it's awesome. It is awesome all the pin. What is it pinball pinball? Yeah Yeah, pinball machines the Jenga every game little sit-down soccer thing that I busted gumpees beer You know like just so many of these little games It was a good time the duck pin bowling really had tie on the ropes big time Really? I was pretty boozed up trying to figure it out

Talk to figure out by the end, but you know, I mean it's all about the chain reaction You got to just throw it as hard as you fucking can and hope every pin force on the pins Yeah, yeah a couple of the employees we're asking for tips because they had more employees than we had people there, okay, because we ran the whole place out. Normally it's massive events and they didn't really have to do anything. We were like, we're just gonna sit right here. We got this whole place. So we started asking them, they're a friendly group of people and we said like what is the, what's the thing with the, and all the guys said was chain reaction. And that's all Ty needed to hear.

So Ty for the rest of the time was just fucking throwing this ball. Where's the chain reaction? For two hours, it was unfixable. Fowling or folding, I've never done before. It's really fun. I actually really like it because I think it's a good barometer

for some of your guys you know, like can you throw a football? Let's see you throw it in front of everyone. It's a good broad. Exactly. How should we be talking to you going forward? Can you throw a ball or not? You don't have to catch it all either, right?

Nope, but you have to play defensive. It bounces and you have to, other people's balls can also knock your pins down. If there's a wild game going on down there and it flies in, you gotta keep your board. Wow. Wait till you get introduced to Thunderbuckets out here, buddy.

All right. It's a pretty active, it's an active game. Gotta play defense. I like what you've done. A couple changes since I was here two years ago. Yeah, is there, has there? Your dad came up outside. He was like, what are you doing here?

I'm like, well. I'm just. I'm just. He's building a deck. Yeah, he's building a what, a gazebo out there? Yeah, on the top of the deck. Yeah. Obviously it's small enough

so you don't have to license it. He looks good, and then he's a he's a bloodhound Yeah, you know they said like those dogs those bloodhound dogs if you put them on a scent They'll go until they like die. Yes, like that is just like what they are That's Tim McAfee soon as we decided that we were gonna try to maybe put somewhere right outside that we could sit that isn't Just grass to kind of get some money money He's I do a deck two days What's that? I? Could pull a deck up in two days. He's driving out there. He is great. He's a bloodhound. Yes guy was died out there yesterday I think I had to take him on water. I'm like, why don't you sit down?

Sweat dripping all over him limping cuz he pulled his calf on st. Patrick's Day. He's like, nah, I'm good He's pouring concrete for ten hours. Yeah, or two days. Unbelievable. He's yeah he's a weapon. Absolute weapon. I do appreciate the fact he came up to your car and was like what's going on here? What are you guys doing here? Yeah like I'm on the show man but you must be Mr. McAfee I mean you guys are almost indistinguishable. Yeah he's he's uh he's awesome. Yeah. He is he's Jack too. He's in here working. He is. Oh yeah. He absolutely jacked. He's moving the water around out there, I'm impressed. Yeah, he's got three guns on him too, so. You got the answer right.

Yeah, I got you. You got the answer right. Tone has a question for you. Yeah, Ted, you guys have had some, you know, kind of movement on the old line with guys leaving and coming in the last few seasons, and now you have it again, Kappa's leaving, I mean, Trent Brown, I believe, has gone as well.

But at least all five projected are, were on the team last year. Does that make it a little bit better than a guy coming from the outside and trying to join you guys for this year? I think it's always, you know, O-line is such a continuity position. So whenever you can retain guys that have worked together and had a lot of reps together as a positive, you know, I'm excited for Lucas Patrick coming in. I think that's a great signing. He's another year 10 guy, been solid everywhere he's gone. And, you know, I think it's going great signing. He's another year 10 guy, been solid everywhere he's gone and you know, I think it's gonna be great healthy competition for a couple of guard spots.

I think there's a lot of guys who could take it. I think that's healthy for a team and I'm excited to work with, you know, the guys that are there. Yeah. Who's, so you lose Lou and Arumo. Any other members of the coachings? Obviously the entire defense. A lot of defense, yeah. Anybody on the offense? We got a new online coach, Scott Peters. Okay, how do you feel? Any other members of the coachings? Obviously the entire defense. A lot of defense, yeah. Anybody on the offense? We got a new line coach, Scott Peters.

OK, how do you feel? Feel great. I've talked to him. I haven't met him in person yet. Was going to call him and meet him up last night, but I was like, ah, we're just hanging. Yeah, yeah, a little bit. After opening day.

But no, sounds great, man. I think that'll be great for everyone to get a new voice, a new way of working. I think that's always a positive or can be. I had a lot of respect and love for Frank Pollock. And then Luz in town here. Yeah. Yeah.

Very pumped about that. Yeah. Very pumped. I was happy for him. Yeah, me too. I don't... Your guys is... That was an interesting storyline of last year because we all have respect for Louie

Anarumu. We all know that Louie Anarumo is good DC But it felt like the defense was potentially, you know, and now you have the sack king on that defense as well It's like how much better can the defense get? I guess that is the big question mark I guess that is the big deal over there. I think it'll be great I mean, you think it was it injuries we didn't pay attention on defense aside. Well, I think there's always an element of that I mean obviously You know, we were in some high scoring one score games.

I think the narrative is a little different if we pull out at least three of those. Yeah. So that's really what it comes down to is just wins and losses. So I mean, I think that the defense would have taken less heat had we've been able to pull out some of those ones we're getting. In season hard knocks. Not bad. Okay.

I mean, first time ever on it? Yeah. Not bad. Barely noticed. Well, I don't- time ever on it? Yeah. Not bad. Barely noticed. And we had the quarterback thing too and barely noticed that. I think those guys, they did a great job. I mean, it really was not infringed at all.

Congrats, NFL Films. I thought it sucked. I think it was good too, to show everyone. I think, yeah, I thought it was a good, well-produced show. I thought so too. Whenever they were showcasing Hal, I think you guys were playing Steelers. It was, the first episode. And they were literally going from

Tomlin's messaging on Wednesday morning to Zach's messaging on Wednesday morning And it was crazy how much they mirrored each other, but then also like oh, this is what they're thinking This is what they're thinking going in yeah and then the studying of the players and then Tomlin I think says the GP like what they're saying about you right now is this and then Hilton was like This is exactly what it is I think that was a view that nobody's really got to see before just like the office Did you watch the office? He's one of giants. I didn't poor poor giants for that one, but I don't think anyone no one wanted to do it this year. No, no one was everyone was like no

We can't have that. Yeah what you guys did Career assassinate. Yeah, what you guys did, career assassination. Yeah. Potentially for two guys. But that's also the first time we ever got to see it. Just like it was the first time we ever got to see two teams preparing for each other, watching Zach work was interesting.

Has he always been like that? Has Zach changed since you've got to know him? Because obviously, he was a young head coach when he gets the gig over there. But it was a showcase of the head coaches for a lot of that hard knocks. I don't think he's changed much. I mean, he's know, he's obviously I think he's delegating a little bit more now and being more of a head coach and involved with the you know in all facets.

But yeah, it was great to see. I love the division aspect of the show. Did you expect the Ravens have that castle that they had? I didn't know. That thing showed up on a drone. my so sick. That's really cool That's an underrated part of the NFL though is how cool the facilities are I would say okay? Let's talk about yours see I love our cozy facility. I love it. I think for me. It's been really cool in my career This is the first time that I've got to work downtown because New England was our south of Boston Miami was about 45 minutes north so I mean you're pulling up south of Boston Miami was about 45 minutes north so I mean you're pulling up downtown early morning people in their pea coats smoking smoking cigs and I

just love the coffee in hand yeah just driving downtown for work like everybody else okay do you like walking across the street to the practice field I don't mind it yeah did you say at one video was it a Hyundai yeah that came close yeah oh yeah I know I know watch it I know. You need to watch that. Especially we got a 40 million dollar wide receiver. Let's make sure we're... No, they got on the traffic detail pretty hard after that. Tighten it up. Tighten it up. AJ has a question for you, Ted. So Ted, I see that you are on the executive committee with the NFLPA. What's your expanded role?

Is there any kind of changes you're going to try to implement? Well, I was very grateful for my peers to elect me as executive committee. Thank you. For he's a jolly good fellow. For he's a jolly good fellow. For he's a jolly good fellow. That's what they said when they elected you. Where he's the jolly good fellow Which nobody can do

That's what they said when they elected you We didn't quite chant It was the fourth day of our Maui conference So I think everyone was getting a little Oh you guys were in the Four Seasons out there in Maui? We were at Grand Wailaya Really nice spot We're keeping it stateside from now on

I think so I didn't know if we were upping the fees and then maybe taking the trip to fucking Japan. It's been a standard fee and I've been, you know, I told the guys too, I've been really impressed since how, when I joined the union about year two where I really started getting involved, the player perception of the NFLPA is much more positive now.

Come on. I think Lloyd's done a great job. Obviously J.C. Treder has, you know, really fundamentally elevated our union and Jaylen Reeves-Mabin has done a great job. Obviously, J.C. Treder has really fundamentally elevated our union, and Jaylen Reeves-Mabin has done a great job as president now, too. OK, so we're saying that morale is high amongst the members. Felt high in Maui.

And I think, yeah. Wow. But I think we had a productive meeting, though. And to be fair, we are in the middle of a 10-year CBA. So it's not we don't have too many pressing issues. But to get to AJ's question, I think that they've been onboarding me. I've been in a few meetings with them.

I think what we're gonna do on the EC is kind of delegate roles that people are interested in and just kind of do a light investigation into things and kind of see if we can expand some of our processes How are the guys feeling my big thing is i'd like to educate? Uh our membership more on like just just just just the standard things so that you know big faq Pack it that you get in your locker like a little almost like a pocket constitution But for our cba and our rules and policies just so everyone can reference it. CE, Chief Executive Committee, and then FAQ frequently asked questions down there.

Get those out there. Guys will read those I'm sure. And I think that is, right AJ? The only thing that is exactly how a lot of- Every player. You'll never reach everybody which you very much understand. Make it like 10 pages. Make it 10 pages.

Yeah, that would be very small. But I think there's just, I get a lot of repeat questions just on a couple, you know Fundamental things of our union. So I think if we just you know, put it in there. Can I pitch some ideas? Yeah, let's see. So you guys need to have a public speaking like Instruction, okay, because everybody's story is worth money whenever they retire like no matter who they are They can make maybe a little bit of money speaking or Turn it into a full-time career where they make a bunch of money

I think like providing ideas that can profit like guys can profit off of is like Something that the NFL PA has an obligation to do Okay, you know because the lifetime insurance feels like that's gonna be difficult to figure out You know who's gonna do is the NFL gonna give that up ever in a CBA negotiation? Hopefully one day they figure out how to make that a marketing thing Will the NFL PA ever fight enough for that because of all the other shit that will potentially go against it you scrap You know, that's kind of how negotiation goes But I think the NFL PA should take time trying to figure out how guys when they retire

Can continue to profit and not just some guys like I know there's broadcast boot camp I was denied to it three times shout out to them really yeah I think I'm the first person what a mess yeah no shit why is that guy kind of contentious towards some fuck you okay the whole thing but nonetheless like I understand that's an avenue but like public speaking is an actual in my content creation like there's that works for every industry too If you can be a good communicator, I mean you can go into any industry and tell your story. Yes I think so. I think that's something that do you think this would be more like a rookie onboarding workshop or Anyone can do it at any time. I think it should be something like people sign up for it

Yeah, you can bring in different like public speakers Like I would probably go whether I'm a public speaker or not But you could probably pull anybody you wanted to if they were able to work with NFL players and then just set up like Seminars on how to set up a speech how to tell a story like when you should how you should approach these Speaking fees because you know, there's that old adage about the 80% broke, right? That was the 30 for 30. Broke is what it was called, I believe. 80% of professional athletes were broke. With the way the world is now,

and content being king and stories mattering more than ever, if somebody's able to make it to the NFL, their story somewhere is valuable, has some sort of value for it. So I think that'd be a cool thing. Even maybe like have like a standard studio that you could go and use it and- Record it, yeah, free time. Content creation area content creation area boom yes because I think that is money

like I think guys can make money I love that as opposed to like hey we want free insurance which is always the thing always the thing from like retired guys yeah we want money we want free insurance which by the way should get it we appreciate that but if you can figure out ways for them to make fucking money I think that'll that could be I think that is a, that's truly a responsibility. One thing I encourage guys to do, especially young guys, is take advantage of the tuition reimbursement program. Definitely.

I got my MBA while I was playing in the NFL through IU and through our tuition reimbursement program. To me, five off seasons. So these are FAQs. These are FAQs. These are... And then I want to, you know, I have like who you call for that and who will get information because we had great people at the PA you got to

Submit your forms. You got to get a C or above to get your class paid for I got one F Accounting it was yeah, man, and Kelly's hard Kelly school business is not balsam. It was not a slouch Yeah, I do believe the Accounting is effort to a lot of effort a lot of effort and really the thing that killed me was some of the accounting equations they have like the same value but on both sides of the equation so that didn't make any sense to me why wouldn't they just cancel out yeah I think I could actually teach you guys some things yeah there's there's some flaws in your system here better be good at Excel too oh yeah better be good at

Excel this guy put a spreadsheet Phil oh yeah you're a CFO Phil. He is a Excel spreadsheet fucking guru. It's a good, good trait to have. Hey what is a blah blah blah, a blah blah blah from blah blah blah, then bang bang, boom boom boom, right there. Just info. In college I took an Excel class, it was the best class I ever took. Really? You still, yeah, cause you utilize it a lot. It is a great app I guess. Yeah, it's the best class I've ever taken. Really? You still, yeah, cause you utilize it a lot. It is a great app, I guess. Yeah, it's a beast. It's a good program. It's a means, span the test of time. What's it been around?

25 years, 20 years? Yeah. Technology's changing. How do you feel about technology and sport right now? Did you wear a guardian cap? In practice. Smart. You know, I don't think I would wear it in a game.

I thought they didn't look horrible, but I mean. Some of them did. You're just kind of raising your hand like So but you know one thing that I'd like to Maybe test on the guardian cap would be you know, it does definitely take away a lot of the impact now does it? Affect your neck differently if two guardian caps hit and then it doesn't let the helmet slide off? Like does it catch it all?

Now it's longer. So now it's like a drag hit to where like, two helmets hit and usually just bounce off or ricochet. Do you, okay so you don't wanna say too much about yourself obviously in the world that we're in with concussion talk but let's say after a practice, would you normally have like a soreness or a buzzing or something in your head, and then with Guardian Cap on,

you feel less of that? Like how do you judge if the Guardian Cap is working? I think, you know, the early days at camp is when you really feel like, when you first start hitting in those long hitting days, when you come off, you know, your head could be ringing a little bit, or you're sore and you've taken some hits. I think the Guardian Cap did eliminate a lot of that, I would say.

Okay, so a benefit worth it. It is, no, I believe in the product. I think that we should, I'd like to see what the drag test or something, but I think overall it's been a net positive for our players. AJ, any questions? As far as the Guardian Cap situation, I think that's very It's true like all these new age helmets Ted, you know, they build them to look like horrendous, you know in my opinion I guess because they want ricochet shots, right? They want you to they don't want it to I guess have like sustained You know contact but when it comes to those Guardian caps, what if you ever strap two of them on and say hey

I'm wearing two Guardian caps. You're wearing one condoms. My head's much better. Yeah. Just like the two condom thing always works. Are you saying we're double wrapped guardian caps? Yeah. What if you, what if you don't really, and you're double wrapping, he is only a single wrap. Are you better? You're not going to get CT. No, that's 60%. Right. So what they were saying is 20%. Yeah. Yeah., they said so if it's three caps One collision this is 60% of the impact. Yeah Was it weird? It would bet I think it would look weird But if they had like a supplement for even more I guess I mean was it weird though coming out coming out of the Guardian

Cap when you got to the first preseason game or never when you actually had like oh, this is the the contact I am used to like like minus the guardian cap. Was that an adjustment? I just, I think, no, not really. The guardian cap is really light. Ours are black though. So they kind of gets kind of hot on your head. I just think, I think the film looks better without them.

Cause kind of like we look kind of goofy, like my head's so huge and I'm, you know, practice film looked, that was like the biggest adjustment I had to be. I was like, this kind of looks kind of goofy here, but works. Yeah, but you're saying it works. So that's the only thing I mean you can even feel though Like my helmet from 2016 and to now I mean it's a much different weight our helmets now are very like a lighter Yeah, heavier or lighter. Yeah heavier. You like it. It's heavier now heavier now. Why I like heavier I think heavier is better, but I thought they were going lighter for all these new age spaceship fucking things. When I hold my two,

I think it's a stark difference of just like, you know, those rubber square, not rubber square pads, whatever those faux leather pads in the helmet, you know, they weren't 2016. Now I have like the form fitted scanned mold of thick whatever material that is. I feel that it's much heavier. So you got a nice girthy material surrounding your head inside of the helmet. Mm-hmm, scan material that is. I feel that it's much heavier. So you got a nice girthy material surrounding your head

inside of the helmet. Scan to your head. You put a sock on your head and then they put you in a head scan. What? And then your helmet has like your signature on it. It's pretty cool. That is very cool.

Yeah. I think that's like racing helmet. It sounds like it is like a racing helmet almost because you get form fitting in there. Form fitting. So heavier, but it feels better, more comfortable than the 16 helmet I'd assume. Yeah definitely not you know sometimes you know when you get really hard you hear that

like sharp ring I don't know if it makes sense to anyone but yeah took that away really. I haven't knock on wood haven't felt that in a while. Haven't got a concussion in a while. Ty has a question for you. It hasn't happened yet, but there's been talks about them outlawing the tush push. Now, I'm not going to ask you whether or not you think they should.

But as a guy who's right in kind of the line of fire there, and granted, you guys don't do it a whole bunch with Joe, but what is just your opinion on that entire situation about whether or not, because a lot of teams are very successful at it. A lot of teams aren't. And I think that's one of the reasons they're trying to outlaw it. Well, I think that point with only one team really being elite at it

kind of validates the point why it would be a good strategy. I and I have a lot of respect for Jason Kelsey and now Cam Juergens that they do it so much. I mean, that is a brutal place to be. And they are very effective at it. The Eagles obviously train that a lot. I don't think that, I mean, I think that would be kind of weird to ban something like that.

No one's been hurt so far, I guess. I mean, knock on wood again, but. Not too hard, you don't have a guardian couple. Yeah. True. But, you know, they're so effective at it. I mean, other teams have tried it. I'm a big believer in just the traditional QB sneak I think that that you know is an effective play and obviously an important play to be able to execute

And they've taken it to a new level so I wouldn't I wouldn't want to see That band just draft that kid from Florida. That's coming out 370 or 380 or 4? I thought it was 460. He started at 370, 380, whenever he was a freshman. Now he's 460. I remember him coming to Florida. I did not know that he is already eligible for the draft. They've given him the ball. Oh, yeah.

They've given him the ball before. He's 400 pounds. Good luck. Yeah. Hopefully he's slow. Nah. He is. He ran up.

Yeah. He ran up real slow 40. Oh, yeah. Yeah, but if he's on your team, he's also running right over your back. That should be a good time. That'd be a good time for a nice center in the middle. Another thing like how Philly does it, too, is, I mean, obviously, they have a lot of great players.

But if you watch their tush push, like, my Alada is like coming a little bit behind and then adding his big self in there, too. It's a they've strategized it out and made it into, you know, something that has been kind of unstoppable. They're saying the momentum currently is that they're going to ban the tush push. That is as a report coming out of the NFL league meetings down there with the competition committee. And I think there's a chance that they banned it on the precedent of like former special teams field goals. You remember they used to push? Oh yeah. The linebackers go get the D tackle and then they banned that for that particular play and I think back in the day

They're used to be pulling and pushing a little bit more that they banned. I don't know. It feels like that plays I'm worried about that plays existence after next week's meetings like legitimately. I think it's probably okay Well, they can do whatever they want. Well, what they did with the extra point? Yeah, look what they did with the extra point Yeah, you can whenever that became like a night. I thought they did with the extra point. Yeah. Look what they did with the extra point. Yeah. Because whenever that became like a 90. I thought that's been kind of successful though to move it back. I think so too.

I think we probably hit a little bit of a kicking regression this past couple of years. As far as percentage wise, right? Yeah, I mean the kickers are doing just fine. I know they are, but I think we went on, we went on a run there for a while of like really expecting all kicks to go in. I think a lot of kickers took some heat,

really just regressing back to the mean of what a professional kicker does. I think that's good analysis. I think it's not easy to do. Not easy to do that. You're not on our field goal team anymore, right? No, always on field goal team. Is that the worst, that's the worst kick?

No, I did scoring points and it's another snap for player performance. Shot the NFL PA on the player performance negotiation. Way to go on that. Little bonus money at the end. Actually make up for how much you played versus how much your contract value is. Offense alignment, eat normally. Off of that, I believe Young DBs do a lot of

good on that. I think we have our first million dollar PP bonus coming out this year. Really? Yeah, so congrats. I don't know who it is, but congrats to that young gentleman. Congratulations. So if you're, how does that go against the salary cap? Does it? It does not. No, that's a bonus. That is out of a different pool. So explain what this is. For people that don't know what this is, there is a bonus fund that has been created. I don't know how long it's been around. It's been around since I've been

in the league where it matches up what your contract is versus how much you actually Contributed and then they try to make up the value for that in a bonus. Yes Yeah snaps, so it's all snaps based. It's How many snaps you played what your contract ranks amongst guys in your position like playing? And that's that's really just about it It's kind of it's a way to incentivize guys who aren't making on a rookie deal to you know that contributed 95% of snaps they get a nice bonus at the end where the guy making you know 25 million playing the same position same amount of snaps is way less his

whatever weight is in the equation is way less I made like an extra 80 grand my first couple seasons it's a big check to like right in the middle of the offseason March 15th. Oh like So save me a couple times. Yeah bingo. Yes Save me a couple times early on you don't have you know that much saved up and you know You don't get a check for four months now we get now we get paid on 34 weeks. Really? Yep I did not know that that's league-wide. I'm pretty sure yeah Pretty sure you're smart. Well, I know I boy I don't want to speak for every team on board I actually voted against it because just cuz you know, I just give it my it's my money and I want it now

Yeah, but then I forgot about it and we had passed it and it was like, you know mid, you know early April I was like, oh man, you know, you got a check. I'm like, oh nice. Yeah, this is not a bad Got some cash flows coming in. I thought I thought it was I was dying like budgeted out of what I had for the year No, we get another way another half coming. There's more on the way. Let's go. That's good news Yeah, a Q Shipley used to eat off this profile. Oh, yeah, like 200 300 thousand used to be so pumped as he should be Yeah, I mean that was it's life-changing money a million dollars going to somebody. Yeah, sure the Jets linebacker got 1.1. There you go. So you'd wonder like Purdy You know Definitely gonna how do you knock in a million bucks? Yeah, what are you guys doing? You don't like Purdy either

QB's must be a little bit. I don't know though. Yeah, I like pretty though. I'm rooting for him Okay, I didn't yeah, he sounds like a FLPA doesn't give me any bonuses That's what it sounds like to me. No, it doesn't. Yeah, it does. Yeah, it does. Sounds like you're getting downloaded the wrong information right now. Teddy, we appreciate you, man. We'll see you at the game tonight. Thank you so much. Always great coming in. This is a indie landmark, man. A lot of guys appreciate that you do the show here in Indianapolis. So thank you so much. Ten more pounds until when's everything get started back up? April 21st, day after Easter. Yeah, 420 is when the testing starts, right? No, no, that's changed now too.

That is the first week at camp is the only time you can be tested for marijuana. That's it? That's it. All year? That's it. Stop after July 4th and you're good. NFLPA, NFLPA coming through.

FAQ. Yes, that is. Yes, that is. Yeah, that's right there at the bottom. Nice little asterisk. By the way, celebrate America. Light a couple up. And then we are done until the end of the first week of training camp as a team.

Usually put the pads on and you can enjoy a chill evening fellas. Yeah because that becomes an intelligence and discipline test as opposed to anything else. Good work by you guys making that happen and good work with the Cincy Hat Company. Thank you so much. Yeah we still raising money. Big time. Big sales. You know, we've done stuff in Indianapolis right down the street in Lawrence is the village of Marici. And that's where most of the funds have gone and they built a brand new condo building for adults with disabilities. And then, you know, our big goal this year is we're going to bring infrastructure into Cincinnati. So you know, I can't wait to can't wait to announce some of the things we're doing. We're

developing right now. The dev team is rolling and can't thank the Cincy fans enough for all their generosity. Want to make sure there's things in the Cincy community for these people. FAQs for the dev team would be how long has this been the vision? You know, like you becoming a gap pretty much between two states doing something for a foundation

and a mission that you obviously care a lot about. Having one built over in Cincinnati is awesome. That has to be dream come true whenever it comes to this type of philanthropy for sure. Unbelievable how this has unfolded. I think one of the things that makes it so special is how organic it was. I didn't set out to sell any hats.

I made this hat and people loved it. And the volume of hats we've sold has been able to do real fundamental infrastructure change for these people. So we're gonna we're gonna go hard forever at it. I saw you had a news reporter asking you a question yesterday about your hat and then he said you get emotional about you know how much you have. Awesome. Yeah I get emotional for the Reds. Let's have them. I'm on a float in a parade and my emotions are flying high right now, brother. That was awesome. All right, well I'm sure the Bangles fans are pumped that they have you in the city. Congrats on all the success thus far. Thank you for making the world a better place.

Thank you for stopping by. Do you want to do a giveaway of some sort? I don't want to put you on a spot. You know, you said you could throw a football well though, because you're here. Yeah, let's go. I brought you guys a bunch of gear too. Got you some tanks. Got you a bunch of hats in the green room. Cinti hats? Oh yeah.

All right, well I mean, I'll wear them I guess. I'd like to see one on the desk maybe a couple times. I will for you. It doesn't have to be a mainstay, but throw it up there. You saw the Bangalore social media team dunk on me? You see that? I did. I did. That was good. That was good internet. That was good. We got there. They're pretty good. That was really good. Yeah. That was really good internet. Now I will say since I Bangles fans, yeah, they're passionate. They are. I

love them. And they love you. Mm-hmm. They'll love you more if you're able to win them some money. Is there footballs down here? Yes there are. All right. Teddy let's do this. We appreciate the swag that you're going to give us. Are you connected over there, your headphones? Yeah. No, no, no. You can get up and move? Yeah.

OK, why don't you grab one of these balls? OK, Teddy, where do you want to throw it into? Do you want to throw it into that hoop? Do you want to throw it in that hoop? Do you want to throw it in the net in front of the bear? Do you want to throw it into a trash can and thunder buckets? Where would you like to put that particular Duke that is in your hand right now? Let's drop it in the bear. Do you want to throw it into a trash can and thunder buckets? Where would you like to put that particular Duke that is in your hand right now? In one of these buckets? I think you should have to call a section

of at least is it like the back three the front three? Front middle one okay from us so if you're looking at it straight on, it would be the left one right behind the front cup, if you were looking at it from the front. I'm looking at it right in the middle here. The row of three, the middle one. Yeah, sorry, I got it, yeah. This one closest to us right in the middle.

If Teddy Karras is able to bury this ball into that particular bucket right over there, we'll give 30 people $500 to repost this, say something nice to somebody and put the easiest way to pay them. Teddy, in a Cincy hat, raising money for a good cause. Can he spin it? Too strong, way too strong.

Missed all the buckets. Missed all the buckets. He lifted today. Missed all the buckets. Recalibrate, recalibrate. Did you lift today? I did not. You look jacked, though.

Thank you. Yeah, are you working out all year round? Do you take downtime? No, I mean, I do, like, the start of the off season I'll do light lifts, You look jacked though. Yeah, are you working out all year round? Do you take downtime? What do you know? Hell yeah Hold on same bucket Recalibrated 30 people 500 dollars once again, he overshoots a recalibrated calibrate. Sorry guys. Sorry. Is there any more balls done or no? Yes, there are but several a billion do let's Yes, there are several. Let's do a different target.

Let's do a different target. Same one on the right side. All it has to do is hit the middle one closest to this stage. If he's able to do that, 30 people, $500. Take a little off or move back maybe. I'm done. I'm not playing your games I Do respect that

Good work, man. Thanks. Good luck with everything. We want to get the hell out of you Thank you for stopping by. We'll see you tonight. All right, have an incredible weekend. Everybody. We know you hold it We're gonna hold, just hold your horses. Hold. It's not embarrassing. I'm gonna put my throws. You play hoops? No, marginally.

Marginally. You think you can put a basketball into that hoop right over there? I bet he does. He does. From like three? From right here. Stay.

Let's try it. Yeah. All right, Teddy. If Teddy Karras is able to put this basketball into the hoop to his right. 40 people waiting $500. That's right. Oh my gosh. It's great because AQ did the same exact thing. We knew you were done and then we got you to do another one. Now we're just making fun of you. That's going to be a horrible clip.

You almost broke your ankle. It's even better you said shot of my life. You're a legend man. Appreciate you coming by. Thank you here. You're a ledger, man. Appreciate you coming by. Thank you guys. All right. Have an incredible weekend. Let's enjoy these sweet 16 games tonight.

Let's enjoy the weekend of sport. I believe golf is happening. Scotty Scheffler was like 700 through seven. Yep. I don't know where he's at right now. Houston open. Houston open. So Scotty's golfing that should be electrifying to check out as well.

We will see you on Monday. Be a friend, tell a friend something nice that might change their life. It was great to see you, AJ. We're gonna sing together, never forget it. Team on me. Team on three. You got anything to say, team?

Let's go, big year. One, two, three. Team. Goodbye. Hey, I'm Brad Milky. You may know me as the host of ABC Audio's daily news podcast, Start Here, but I'd like to add aspiring true crime expert to my resume, and here's how I'm going to make it happen. Every week, I'm going to unpack the biggest true crime story that everyone is talking

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