The Pat McAfee Show - PMS 2.0 1326 - NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, Aaron Rodgers, & AJ Hawk

Episode Date: April 17, 2025

On today’s show, Pat, AJ Hawk, and the boys chat about last night’s Play-In games in the NBA, all the different happenings in MLB, and everything happening in the sports world as we are on the Road to Wrestlemania before heading to Las Vegas. Joining the show to chat about the NBA Playoffs, the future of NBA and their broadcasts and digital rights, changes to the playoff format, potential expansion, moving to Christmas Eve, and much more. Later, 4x MVP, Super Bowl Champion/MVP, and current free agent, Aaron Rodgers joins the show to clear the air on a lot of the stories floating around about him, and to chat about the ending of his time in New York, plus plans for his future. 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 tomorrow LIVE from Las Vegas on the Road to Wrestlemania, cheers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hello beautiful people and welcome to our humble abode the Thunderdome on this big program Thursday April 17th 2025 this sports program starts now Spores are happening all around us and yes your eyes were not deceiving you The toxic table is here at Boston Connor and at Taishman obviously we're juiced up to get to Las Vegas for WrestleMania weekend. We cannot wait to hit the road and hit the skies to get out to Sin City. And yes, one half of the hammer, Cowboys AP Tone is here with a ball cap on.

And yes, what you saw at the end of this desk right here is he who is a college football national champion, a Super Bowl champion, a Ryder Cup winner, a father of 10, a onesie wearer, ladies and gentlemen, A.J. Hawk. Holy shit, A.J. Hawk, A.J. Hawk, A.J. Hawk, A.J. Hawk. Great to see you, brother. It's great to be here in D-But's seat.

I feel like I had to wear a onesie to kind of represent. He told me yesterday, hey, make sure you represent and wear a onesie and look good, so I'm trying that for D-Bud. You do look super cool. How about at Big Night Out in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania? There was a lot of boos at the state of Ohio. You were former president of Ohio,

A.J. Hawk-Chan radiating through that entire building. Had to feel pretty good to get that love from the people of Pittsburgh. Yeah, the people were awesome. I met tons and tons of Pittsburgh people and people from all around the country, I would say. And they were all very nice, very good people Ty, Conman we saw a bunch of them in the tunnel when we were coming down from the suite actually going down to backstage

and they were honestly they were juiced. Yeah it was I feel like we've built a pretty cool little community. And we have you to thank for a lot of it. You've been a great partner of ours and this is one of the first times I get to be in a studio with you. Every time you're in studio I'm not here. The boys obviously share these wonderful fairy tales of getting to hang out with the legend that is AJ Hawk and I very rarely get to do that so it is awesome to be here. It's a big day for

the program today. Huge day. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver will join us in about 13 minutes or so. The second batch of playing games happened last night. 9 vs 10, 9 versus 10 on both sides. Winner gets an opportunity to play against the losers that happened the night before in the seven versus eight, seven versus eight. I'm going to tell Adam Silver that I think they should have been playing on the same night. Seven eight, seven eight, nine 10, nine 10 should have been playing on the same night. Because last night, a little bit of a waste of time gone bad.

Yeah, he was wasting time. He played the Bulls first and it was a blowout. I believe it was like 71 to 45 at halftime. Tyler Hero started the game eight to eight. He was absolutely blowout. I believe it was like 71 to 45 at halftime Tyler. Hero started the game eight to eight He was absolutely balling, but it was terrible. It was bad ball start to finish. There wasn't any cool Like Orlando Magic ask people in the crowd It was more so just just people there to watch the game Caleb Williams Signing football and threw it up into the stands, but that thing

Yeah watch the game Caleb Williams signed a football and threw it up into the stands but Hock that thing. He just looks so freaking pissed because we know how much he loves to win and the Bulls losing was clearly getting to him I felt bad for him in that time but no it was a blowout now the Heat will go and play the losing Hawks in Atlanta on Friday I believe. And now the second game needs to be talked about. Yeah. Okay. Cause on the same day that Nico Collins, and I don't know this Mr. McMahon, who works for ESPN, he wrote a book, I believe he covers the Mavericks

down there in Dallas for ESPN, Tim McMahon, I think is his name. He wrote a book on Luca's greatness. It's actually the header of this. Now he's covering the Mavericks. So he has a lot of questions for Nico about what Nico's doing. Sure. And all Nico said was,

I think defense wins championships. That's what I think, that's what I think. Then I turned on the game against Sacramento in Sacramento and there was like two consecutive possessions where Shot Clock just ran out and Sacramento didn't even get a shot off. And then there was time they couldn't get the ball in. And it was like, okay, this Dallas Mavericks team

is potentially gonna be like, hey, we're locking it down. Sacramento was never really in this game. It was a blowout basically since I turned it on like mid second quarter going forward there. And I'll tell you what, Dallas Mavericks going to run here. That would be quite a, how you doing? Keep it moving from Nico Collins into Dallas Mavericks. Rich Paul kind of alluded to it earlier because he reps Anthony Davis and obviously this trade Anthony Davis is just getting dunked on by everybody. Killed. Getting absolutely murdered and Rich Paul goes They're gonna have to figure out how to win down there. Obviously they gotta get healthy. They're not healthy when they get healthy They're this they're this they're this and it's like it feels like they are taking a lot of pride in being

Smacking a wood on the defensive side and that's from Nico and I assume it's radiating through the rest of the team I'm not saying they're gonna win this entire thing, but them getting a win last night, huge. I would assume for that Dallas Mavericks locker room, front office, coaching staff, you name it. Well, it kind of changes the entire thing too because then after last night you think about what this team would be with Nico Harrison. Nico Collins. Great player. One of the best players. This year for boss! Sorry, sorry. Sorry. Sorry. Sorry. Sorry. Sorry.

Sorry. Sorry. Sorry. Sorry. Sorry. Sorry. Sorry. Sorry.

Sorry. Sorry. Sorry. Sorry. Sorry. Sorry. Sorry. Sorry.

Sorry. Sorry. Sorry. Sorry. Sorry. Sorry. Sorry. I mean it was kind of like all right everyone settled down a little bit Anthony Davis is still Unbelievable at basketball. They do have some sorts of plan I know the closed door meeting Shams is reporting that everyone was pissed about that the Mavericks did with Nico was not what Nico wanted to do That was a ownership thing because like you think I want to talk to any of these people. Yeah, no I don't want it on the record off the record that Tim McMahon guy was really putting it to him and all Nico just kept saying is you don't think we're gonna be able to win like this? I think defense wins

championships and as somebody who said to hell with Nico, okay this guy somehow convinced people that he was more important than Luca, I said that. I'm actually pulling for Dallas not to do well because I want Nico to kind of have to sit in losses because once again Luca led this team to the finals a year ago and this guy is somehow convincing people alongside a nutritionist That they are more important to the Mavericks than Luca is to the Mavericks in the long run I don't like that. I don't I hate that but I also after watching them against Sacramento last night. I was like Okay, they have a plan. This is who they want to be. And they were.

I mean, they were. Yeah. We are. Yep. We are locking people down. And it's like, can that win in the NBA? Probably going to need another piece offensively. Are you going to be able to win in the Western Conference

this year? Probably not with how deep it is. But you could see like that's his plan. And he was very, very steadfast with it whenever he spoke with the press since then. And sweet for AD. Like I feel like after Kyrie Blew out he got that injury after his knee or Kelly. Yeah, yeah, yeah

It could have been that's when AD was already hurt. It could have been like, okay Anthony Davis He's just gonna shut it down. I don't need to play who cares Everyone's already killing me but for him to still kind of go out there and ball and then the Kings also fired their GM After the Kings who were terrible forever Finally got better and then they say you know what this guy sucks. Let's get the hell out of here I think it was they've won like three seasons in a row that they won 40 plus games or something along those lines Yeah, here it is and they hadn't done that since 2005 2006 pretty brutal Yeah, you can see which way Shams leading towards the news whenever he gets it because you go back to that first

Week that he put out at the very end He goes yes, Sacramento 148 34 and snapped a record 16 year drought to make the playoffs Let's get that guy out of here almost feels like what the Lions did with Jim Caldwell. You remember? Yes, but not enough we need more we need more we need more. I was in that Sacramento building beautiful arena beautiful town Wonderful people I'd assume that the Sacramento Kings fans would like to continue to have success Maybe they'll just do you a part of the turnover that's happening around the NBA, but congrats Dallas Yeah, congrats to heat good luck in it now. Everybody's fighting for the number eight overall seed on Friday

Heat Hawks Mavs Grizz will John Moran throw grenades all over the place will Trey young do his thing throw balls at refs yep mm-hmm that was that was funny it was sweet can't wait to talk to Adam Silver in about eight minutes and then in the next hour about an hour from right now we'll be talking to four time NFL MVP, man who's currently a free agent, a man who has been contemplating a lot, open to everything, attached to nothing. Aaron Rodgers will be joining us in one hour.

Wow. Can't wait to chitchat with him. AJ Hawk also here in studio in the Thunderdome for this particular conversation. There's a lot to kind of go over with Aaron. And also here in studio in the Thunderdome for this particular conversation, there's a lot to kind of go over with Aaron. There's a lot to kind of hopefully clarify with Aaron. AJ, I know you've been in constant contact

with Aaron Rodgers throughout this entire process while the world has kind of debated and contemplated and maybe made up storylines and things, maybe they're true, maybe they're not true. What do you think we're gonna hear from Aaron today? And how excited are you to see how he handles this? I'm pretty pumped up to see how he handles it. I'm very excited to see how this goes an hour from now.

I am pumped to see how, I guess just with everything that's been going on, like I've told you many times, like I've felt like something should have happened by now. I assumed he would be assigned with the team at this point. So yeah, I can't wait to hear what his perspective is, where he sees moving forward, I guess, where his health is. And I don't know, like we haven't heard anything.

When's the last public statements air in his head? We got a text, which was two months ago, like, hey, baby, I'll come on next week. Oh yeah, sure. In the near future, or shortly, I think you said. And then I don't think we've heard anything. We've seen him walk in the beach at sunset. Yep.

That's really, the flag football camp he had. Flag football, we've seen him flag football. Which he looked good by the way. Lovely, he's not taking drop backs either. Just, hey, I'm gonna stay at the Lions Criminals, short throws, whatever we need. Let's get this thing in there. Does it every single year to raise money.

He has won a philanthropist of the year in California since last time we've talked to him. And then obviously the throwing at DK at UCLA has taken place since then. He has visited with the Steelers, which has been reported by numerous people. So there's, was he the, was he with the, what, Vikings? Yeah.

Giants, Steelers, Saints conversation? Yeah, like how close was he to anything? That's what I'm saying. Like there's a lot to ask. Or is he? I don't know. What's that, Todd? What are you saying?

Well, he said was, like in the past tense. I mean, over these last like two months, was he ever close? Like were they ever even talking contract with any of these teams? Yeah, and to your point about you thought that something would have been decided by now, us too, I think. So like why, I'm excited to hear why have we not really gotten an answer? Florio reported that he was looking for $85 million a year, which you know was a lot we thought but you know That seems a lot

That's not what Floreo wrote I don't think it was that big That is not what pro football talks Mike Floreo, Pison legend who's been covering the NFL for a long time But there has been a lot of Hypothesizing about what Aaron Rodgers is thinking or doing for next season. Hopefully we'll get some clarity on it all today. What do you think we learned today, AJ? What was first, was, do people really think money

was an issue or like the money was a problem? Okay, they're not giving me any. No, I'm gonna hold out until I get, you know, two years, 105 million dollars or something. At one point that was a part of the conversation, like the money could potentially be scaring some people away And then then it was reported that there's already a contract in place at certain places And then there's you know the Giants offered 90 or 100 million dollars from Matthew Stafford did they offer something?

So there's just so many things that have been just said about Aaron as if it's been fact Yeah, and we have been very lucky to be alongside the Aaron Rodgers experience for the last few years There's a lot of things that are just said about Aaron that I think Aaron would disagree with wholeheartedly Even though it is very much about him. So I'll be pumped to hear how he comes in What's his angle at I Schmidt and also what his thoughts are on everything? Yeah, and you know, I'm most excited because like I'm not I don't think we're gonna necessarily get like a definitive answer today Like hey, I'm doing so-and-so next year But I think the longer this went on and we didn't hear anything like the and it's still

a possibility, I guess. But like the reality started setting in like maybe he is going to retire like and as like a massive Packers fan and Aaron Rodgers fan, like I still think he has more left in the tank, especially the way he played down the stretch last season. Like I want to see him play football again now. So maybe we're going to get at least a little inkling as to what he wants to do next year. Again, I don't think he's going to come out and definitively say, hey, I'm going to play in here or I'm going to retire. But maybe we will. Maybe.

Personally, I don't think we should bring up retirement at all on this program. I don't think we should try to talk it. I think we were the only ones that were bringing it up there for a while. Yeah, but I don't think he should do that. You think we might push him over the edge and push him into retirement? Yeah, well I'm just, maybe, and we don't, we want to see him play ball. He's six feet from retirement, he's thinking. That's what you're saying, we don't want to be the one? Six feet ain't so far done. That's what you're saying, we don't need to be the ones that are promoting the two yards. We want to see him play ball. The mother of ayahuasca pushes in brother.

Has there been any of those? Yeah chance. I mean there's a lot to catch up on but you know, I'm sure everybody will listen and Say yeah That's the truth. Cooler heads always prevail. I'm sure the people who have been pushing narratives or whatever will certainly say, yeah, maybe we weren't right. That happens. Has anything been going on around the world

that he's gonna, you know, sometimes he pops up with like random things that aren't really football answers. I wonder if he has anything on his mind. Yeah, I'm sure there'll be something he and Connor will share some laughs about. I'd have to. This hour is presented by Ram Trucks and powered by the new 2025 Ram 1500.

All the power you need, the luxury you want, and the capability you deserve. Shout out to Ram. Finally got the 2500 heavy duty Rebel Ram over to Weston Arthur from Mount Union. That was a wild experience. We won't be doing that again You're not doing that again. Just what I've learned from cars If you've ever purchased the car all the paperwork that you sign is Immense I assume there's a lot of lawsuits. There's a lot of things. There's a lot of I don't know why it is the way it is buying a car is a Terrible experience. It is a terrible terrible. Now whenever there's three different states involved

and a truck that's potentially not even, I guess classified to anybody because it came right off the thing, right to us as a showcase thing. So it has been a tough experience getting the Ram truck, but I will say the Ram people have been on top of it. We are very, very thankful for the Ram truck people. Just, I guess there's a lot of laws.

Like on Sundays, you're not allowed to do anything with cars in Indiana, you know that? It's like, you're not allowed to sell or buy a car on Sundays, so there's been some things that have happened on, there's been some, I mean, it has been a lot, dude. And shout out to the Ram Trucks people for being as helpful as they have. We hope Weston enjoys the truck.

Seems like they're very grateful for it over there And that has been really cool to kind of be a part of but yeah, we will not be We will not be doing all that again. So the last Ram truck giveaway that we did was last year. Congrats the Mount Boom We all be doing that again I It was fun until it wasn't so many a lot of red tape Mike Foss Has spent any document he went back and looked I guess a total of 26 hours on the phone With different DMVs in states and license like all the things that he has had to go through So shout out to FOSso getting this done. Once again

Thank you to the Arthur family for being very grateful for it all. And what an incredible play by Weston there at Mount Boom. And it was an honor to spotlight your play at Mount Union. And thankful that this thing is, we're about the, we're about two feet from the, you know, we're in a red zone in this, but the Ram trucks are a wonderful truck. And we're thankful that Ram is a part of our team. Speaking of a part of our team, AJ, Nico Iamaljava has joined a new team. He's going to be going back to Southern California and playing for UCLA. Congratulations.

You know, we didn't know how this was going to work because there was a lot of people saying that maybe the reputational damage or maybe the drama was gonna maybe hold him away from a lot of different schools. You know Tulane was being talked about at one point a lot of people were like Nikolai Amaliava is going to play for Tulane, no offense Tulane, but you understand how this whole thing goes. Then we were hypothesizing yesterday maybe he goes back to Tennessee, maybe they go shake hands, say hey we made a mistake here. We had a miscalculation, we had a misread, we're all very new to this situation. There's not a lot of rules, not a lot of guidelines. This was inevitable. We just happen to be the first big name doing

yada yada yada and they go back to Tennessee because Tennessee also doesn't have a quarterback. Instead what Colin Cowherd reported yesterday obviously based out of Los Angeles is that he's hearing that Nico's going back to UCLA and then other people confirm the report that he's going back to UCLA back home to Southern California for less money than what he would have made at Tennessee is what's being said but at least he's closer to home and he's in the Big Ten. That's right. And you know local kid maybe he's able to do with UCLA what should door Travis were able to do both at Jackson Jackson State and at Colorado maybe he's able to bring some buzz maybe he's able to bring a little bit of juice and maybe

he's able to continue his career in his growth so that we can See him in the football world for a long time at UCLA. We're happy you found a home. That's it That's all I would like to say now. Hi cool, West, Virginia got in. Yeah, maybe we got quarterbacks. We got guys I don't even tell you about Scotty Fox. Okay, get out of Ohio. You know this kid is I know of him Yeah, of course got long hair I guess they call him sunshine. Oh Might be the next dude. He's supposed he's supposed to be in high school He was at West Virginia's one of the first guys who would go to West Virginia like skip Springs class

They're not reclassified, but yeah graduate or graduate early go and they said the boys Gravitate to old Scotty Fox He's got we got Nico Pizano. The real Nico. A lot of Nico talked today. A lot of Nico. Nico Collins, Nico Harrison, Nico Iamaleava, Nico Paizano. There's a lot of Nico's out there. Great name, by the way.

Nico is a great name. And then obviously the transfer from Texas A&M quarterback. We got a lot of good quarterbacks in West Virginia. So whenever I said yesterday we'd love to have Nico there, that wasn't because I thought anybody was bad, but I like that Nico has a home. And he's in the Big Ten, so he's still going to be playing big-time football a lot of travel for him, but he's back in Southern, California What are your thoughts on how it all turned out? Yeah, I'm glad we watched him firsthand against Ohio State

The guy's tough as nails. So I have a ton of respect for how he plays and we know how good he is This guy can be an unbelievable quarterback I think he's just scratching the surface on what he's going to be but yeah going back home UCLA if he can bring them I don't I don't know you gonna say bring them back to the glory days, but bring them, back home, UCLA, if he can bring them, I don't know if you're gonna say bring them back to the glory days, but bring them, bring some juice to UCLA. Relevancy.

Yeah, some more relevancy and some more people. We know it's a big old stadium they play in and they're trying to fill up every single time they play, so I think it works out for him. I'm glad he got somewhere so quick. Was this all along? What's the whole no contact thing that these guys entered the portal?

I don't know, and who knows if that's real? Who knows what's real, guys enter the portal? I don't know. Yeah, and who knows if that's real Yeah, you know what is real. What is it real? We don't know But I like he's gonna have to go to Iowa at some point, you know over the next couple years And you know the Hawkeyes gonna be able to handle Nico Yamal. Ah, they're coming into the big ten I don't know we shall see yeah, you know, I mean it's interesting because UCLA, you know, they're not they're not exactly You know powerhouse when it comes to football everybody knows knows that. But the weird thing that I like girls soccer girls softball, they got a softball team. Their basketball team is solid.

Their women's basketball team. So they've been a great addition to the Big Ten. No question. But a lot of the talk around it was that money was part of it. But it was Tennessee's offense. Like, I don't know if that just got like squeezed in there. And UCLA has a first time OC. So like, I don't know if it kind of seems like, because I agree, like, I'm glad that this is over and done with and he found a spot and he doesn't have to go the next three weeks with like getting his name dragged through the mud. But it seems like they did kind

of just maybe realize like, oh, wow, like this is going to get very bad very quickly. Like, let's see if, if UCLA is interested and UCLA UCLA obviously like you get a guy like this I mean there's there's a chance that you know they could contend in the big I don't know if they're gonna win the Big Ten next year but this certainly doesn't hurt them I mean like I mentioned yesterday 99% of teams in college football I think would look at their current quarterback situation say we take Nikol Yamalyeva. Big 10 stuff Yes, you got a lot of big-time players in the Big 10

You know Oregon obviously on the West Coast in the Big 10 people forget about that I still think and they are the ones that windowed Penn State is Ohio State, Michigan Iowa SC is in UCLA's backyard. They're in the Big 10 like yeah, so it's gonna be tough to just win the Big Ten. Yeah. You know, it's gonna be tough to even be great in the Big Ten, but UCLA was a complete afterthought. And now, you know, I think Nico brings them some relevancy

and I'm happy all parties have kind of, yeah, to your point, we move on. Now, moving on, let's talk about the NBA. Ladies and gentlemen, the association is in the middle of its biggest time. The playing games have begun, the playoffs officially start on Saturday and all eyes are association is in the middle of its biggest time. The playing games have begun. The playoffs officially start on Saturday and all eyes are going to be on the NBA. Well, who would know the league better than the guy who's the commissioner of it?

Dukrad, ladies and gentlemen, friend of the program, commissioner of the NBA, Adam Silver. How you doing, commission? I'm doing well. Thanks for having me, dude. Thank you for joining us. We are obviously a massive fan of yours. The fact that you ever take time to chit chat with us makes us feel smarter and more prestigious,

I think. Without a doubt. More distinguished, I believe. Absolutely. There's a lot of words that we could say that you make us better, but we're very grateful that you take your time, Kamish. I wore my tie and jacket, so thank you. That's what I'm talking about. See, we need that. That's the type of shit we need, Kamish. Well, I wore my tie and jacket, so thank you. That's what I'm talking about.

See, we need that. That's the type of shit we need, Kamish. OK, let's talk about it. Playing games happen. The excitement's starting to build about playoff time. You guys as a league understand that the playoffs are the most important time for your league, and understand that this is where

the massive piece of your ratings and entrance and relevance is going to rely. What is the mindset of the league going into the playoffs? Basically all your stars still in play, Kamish. Well, mindset, as you said, is best time of the year for basketball. And I think it builds not just from our regular season, but I'm a big college basketball fan.

You mentioned I went to Duke. You know, builds into March Madness and then into the NBA playoffs. And I think that the play-in has worked well. We got two number 10 seeds playing tomorrow night. And I think that's kept a group of teams competitive that might otherwise have thrown in the towel earlier into the season, you know, and to see Dallas still competitive, to see Miami still competitive.

So, you know, we got those two playing games left tomorrow night and then the playoffs start Saturday. In fact, I'll be out in Indianapolis to see Milwaukee, Indiana Saturday afternoon. Okay, well, we can't wait to have you in our city. We will not be here. We'll be at WrestleMania in Las Vegas, but the city's pumped. You're coming. There's a parade.

I think there's a parade. If you want to talk to those refs, about the hands on Tyree Salliburton Let's talk about the season as a whole in the state of the NBA Obviously you sign a brand new broadcasting deal. Congratulations. Some people are calling it greatest deal That they've ever ever seen negotiated and get done So way to go ESPN obviously benefiting from it other partners as well Then the report comes out that the ratings were down 2% this year versus last year. I've always been a proponent of the fact that the NBA runs digital, runs social. Whenever the NBA is

happening it takes over X, it takes over everything and that's a massive piece of your younger demographic. But to the ratings component from this season only do you think there's been two different leagues or seasons for you guys? Pre-all-star game, post-all-star game. I think post-all-star game, everything up, right? Do you agree with that sentiment? Yeah, you know, Pat, it's a great way to put it

because you remember the narrative early in the season was that the ratings were down. In fact, they were down. There was a competitive world series of presidential elections. There were a bunch of factors, I think, that led to our ratings being down early on. But in order to end up down 2% or relatively flat for the season, which is a victory these

days especially with declining television viewership from traditional television, you know, that's a victory. And the reason that happened is just as you said, essentially post-All-Star, the ratings picked up a lot. In fact, to end up just down 2% for the season from where we came from, the ratings had to be up significantly. And I think you saw tremendous competition around the league, teams playing for playoff seedings, teams playing to get into the playoffs, healthy stars, a trade that attracted a lot

of attention. A bunch of things happened in the league that attracted a lot of attention, a bunch of things happened in the league that generated a lot of interest. But to your point about digital media, I've said this to you before, to take a page from you, people are either watching this right now on ESPN or on YouTube. And I think you have a bigger audience on YouTube than you do on ESPN. And again, in those new television deals we did, not only do we have a huge digital presence in terms of social media and highlights and everything else, but every game, every national

game will be streamed in our new television deal. So as fans, particularly young fans, migrate away from traditional television or legacy television and are increasingly just watching things on their phone, on their iPads, just you know consuming things from through streaming media, that's where we'll be next year. And so you know it also I think in the same way that you're sort of reinventing sports television in a way in the way you present yourself and your crew when you do games, it's going to open up all kinds of new opportunities. I mean, traditional television, it's been great for professional sports, really for all sports, but when you move to digital, it creates all kinds of new opportunities

to personalize the feeds, to add merchandising and gaming and new angles, new audio feeds, sort of that Manning cast idea, but sort of on steroids where you can have sort of unlimited ways to access games. So I think we're about, you know, you're at the beginning of what I think we're gonna see, a huge sea change in the way sports are presented through media.

I appreciate you saying that. That is very, very kind of you to kind of acknowledge, but we started digitally, then we add the linear component. So we've had to kind of watch others. You know, there's plenty of digital companies that have created avenues for content and ways to do things. But the fact that you, Su, literally, and Guy who's been around League long time, have the vision for what the next iteration of this whole thing is, is the reason why we have so much respect for you.

So you need to know that that's not easy too, because I know that you're dealing with a lot of people that I don't want to say have made a lot of money doing something one particular way, but that's, we've had to deal with that. A lot of people have done something the same way, same way, same way, and then we come in and say, we think if you do this,

at first it's not going to be good, but in the future it'll be better. Those are hard combos and you've had to have a lot of those, which is why I think a lot of people say the deal that you were able to get done, brilliant brother. You need to know that. Absolutely brilliant. And we're thankful as a sports media team that cover sports, that a league is doing it too.

And the NFL will try to follow suit obviously with what you're doing and the NFL's ratings are bananas and they always will be but other leagues are gonna try to do what you guys are doing with this deal and I think it'll be great for the game I think it'd be great for the sports going forward. Yeah again you know thank thank you Pat but I would just say we're following our fans and we have a particularly young fan base in the NBA and we have to make that transition to digital to streaming television because that's where they are I mean and again as I said to be down

2% this year relatively flat in the regular season is a huge victory because we're losing as an industry enormous amount of traditional television viewers whether young people never subscribe to cable in the first place or disconnect because they can get the Content they want to watch and your show is a perfect example. And ESPN I think is doing a really nice job straddling both worlds. You can get your telecast, your program through traditional television on ESPN or you can get it on YouTube and now ESPN has already announced they're going to take their service and go direct to consumer next year.

So if you're not a cable subscriber, you'll be able to get the full ESPN feed directly to your phone. And that again will be a huge turning point in traditional television because what's holding the cable bundle together in large part is professional or sports right now, major league sports, whether it's professional top notch college sports, that's a key part of why people get cable right now, major league sports, whether it's professional, top-notch college sports,

that's a key part of why people get cable right now. And again, the whole industry is really just following the consumer, following our fans. You have no choice. And it's really interesting also for sports, because in a way, I mean, I'm older than you guys, but you lived through the time where you had to get home to watch the game, and now you carry your television with you

And wherever you are, you know, as I said, it's I think the way people think of it now If you look what's happened, you have a lot of traditional telecasts have gone from you know Let's say ESPN to a streaming service or if you know from NBC to peacock and it's still by and large The same feed that you would be watching on television what we're about to see and I'm really excited about is all this new optionality. So you'll be watching sports in a different way and it'll create more engagement because one of the big things for us is it's not just the number of people watching your game but it's how long they watch and as you guys were talking earlier in the show about blowouts last night you know you

look for ways as a league all right you can't control the competition on the floor, but you can find other ways to keep people engaged. And really, just the way that you guys do, you know I'm a long time viewer of what you guys do. Which is wild. And you find ways to keep sports interesting, to have Aaron Rodgers on, to be talking about things that are happening around the game. And I think that now those things are very separate. You have sort of the pre-game, traditional pre-game shows, half times, you have, you know, format, formatted

shows like what you guys present. And I think what really smart people, producers are looking to integrate those different aspects, you know, so that when you tune into a game, if you want a traditional X's and O's presentation of the game, you can get that. If you want sort of the manning cast type presentation where they're not just talking about the games, but they're talking about other things that are happening, you can then expand that through streaming media where you don't have any limitation. Now, like you guys were talking about, why not have all the games on one night? Yes.

You know, part of it is just a limitation in terms of traditional television. Like, you think of it like shelf space. You know, we have two networks to work with. We're working with ESPN and TNT. So the only choice then is then you got to put games in the afternoon so you can get them all on as opposed to going two nights in a row. When you go to streaming media, it's unlimited. If you're on,

you know, use a platform like Netflix or whatever else, you don't think of it as in terms of what channel it's on. It's on Netflix and you have unlimited menu of options. You can do the same thing with sports. It really opens up tremendous opportunities for us in terms of the schedule that if ESPN, for example, has Friday night as opposed to only pick choosing one game to go with and that's the there's an 8 o'clock game or 1030 game and it might turn out there's an injury or there's a blow-up whatever else they can have the full menu of games and you can be presenting them all at once and from ESPN standpoint or from the league standpoint we just

want people to watch if they choose to watch Oklahoma City, you know, as opposed to, you know, Memphis, it really, we're indifferent to that. We just want people to present the best possible competition at any time. So, like, I think you're going to see in the next few years more change in sports television than you've seen in the last 40 years. Yeah, I think so too. And the NFL obviously is doing it. Thank you for that beautiful layout of what the future looks like for your league

and also every other league that is gonna have to. You're either gonna have to do it or you're gonna kind of die. It's a survive or die type. The marketplace is forcing us there. Again, I think that if you, particularly when you have a young league, and part of it I learned from our players

I mean even if you ask them how they consume games like very most guys they're watching on their iPads You know, they're watching on their phones, you know You know, we started with that league pass product that you can get, you know through cable, you know or satellite But it's just not how young people consume television anymore And part of it is because you're on the go. And you can take your tablet, you can take your phone. And that's how I watch so many of our games. I joke sometimes, I live in an apartment in New York City.

It's easier to navigate through my iPad to go from game to game than it necessarily is on a traditional television. Definitely. I mean, that's no question to ask, especially because you got to connect into the streaming service on your TV Then you got to log in you got to hope you're still logged in if you're not logged in Okay, let's remember our password. Do you want to log in with your phone? Yeah, take a little picture the QR code Let me do that. I hope my phone has the updated password It's like a whole it's all thing

But it's the world that we're in and to your point about you know There's gonna be more change in the next couple years than there's been in the last 50 years or 40 years or whatever in sports world. It's like, remember when they started streaming games, people were like, my dad doesn't know how to get on Amazon. It's like now they do. Now like society as a whole, both young and old,

I feel like understand what the modern technology is. I'm excited you're taking advantage of it. Now, with that being said, we talk about pre-all-star game, post-all-star game, two different seasons basically for you guys in my eyes personally watching from like 30,000 feet. I feel like your players are more liked now than maybe they have been over the last couple years. Do you agree with that and do you appreciate the fact that your players are speaking a little bit more whether it's telling their stories with Netflix documentaries, doing more

interviews. I mean, LeBron coming on our show was the most absurd thing of all time. So thankful that he did that. But I think we all learned a lot about LeBron that we haven't learned in like 20 years. And I think anytime you learn more things about people, you like them more. And we're in an era now where I think people have to like who they are a fan of if they're not just a blind fan of the team. I feel like your players have done better with that. Do you agree with that? And how do you feel about that? I definitely do. I mean,

it's in terms of them like more, I think it's hard for me to judge it on a relative basis now versus five years ago. But I know now that at the end of the day, I see large part of my job is putting our players forward as the multi-dimensional people they are. That sort of one end of the extreme is that shut up and dribble notion. Like we just want to see you play basketball. The other end of the spectrum is you see people for who they are. That basketball is one aspect of their lives. Now I get it as a fan, first and foremost, and I'm often pointing this out to players, that it has to begin with their play on the floor. That's why they're here. People want to see them give their all on the floor.

They want to see the passion. They want to see the effort. And so we can't ever take that for granted. But once you bring them, you know, to the big stage to play basketball, then to show that they're multidimensional people, that they're not just from Indiana. This is the city in Indiana they're from. This is where they played high school basketball. These are obstacles they've overcome in their lives.

This is whatever issues they've confronted. This is how they made themselves better as a player. This is what they're interested in off the floor. I think the more ways we can present these players, again, so much of what you do through your show, it makes them more likeable to your point. It makes people more interested in them. I used the word engagement before. I'll just give you a quick example.

When Victor Wembenyama was in New York for Christmas, he played the Knicks and then he stayed in town because I think he was playing the Nets two days later. He went to Washington Square Park downtown in New York City and he played chess. It was raining that day and he loves playing chess. He played chess down there for an hour and a bunch of cameras showed up, people with their, you know, smartphones, whatever. Something like a hundred million people watch that over the next week. Clips of him playing chess in Washington Square Park. And I think now number one is he's injured at the moment but he'll be back. He's a phenom,

number one pick in the draft, an incredible player. But when people see, oh what an interesting guy, he also plays chess, he speaks multiple languages. That draws people in and I think that's where this this Lee can use social media but it also it has to be authentic. He didn't pretend he played chess, he plays chess, he wanted to go out and play chess that day but then people find new connections to him. Yeah it's like humanized you know because we see them. That's the right word. I mean they're all special like you have to be a special see them. That's the right word. I mean they're all special. Like you have to be a special human type to make it into the NBA. They're all so tall. Steph Curry does not look that tall on the court. He walks by you, he's taller than you. Like

they all feel like superheroes almost whenever they're on TV and then whenever you don't know anything about the actual human that is underneath, I think some people feel like, ah I don't really know if I can relate to this person. And then Wemby sits down in the rain in New York and just cooks people a chess. It's like, I didn't know this guy could play chess. Exactly. You know, it's like, all these things are great things for the league. And I appreciate the fact that your players, you know, because I think there has been a lot of, and it's very well documented documented and I'm not saying anything It's out of pocket and it happens in every sport a lot of ex players a lot of media always want to Say what's wrong with the sport what's wrong with the game to make the game better?

I think is what they're trying to do by pointing that out But sometimes one of your super negative about certain things people can build that narrative about the entire league And I think a lot of the players kind of got a little bit like to hell with everybody everybody hates us everybody talking shit so the fact now that I think more of them are talking and showcasing who they are to the fans I think that's great news for your league I think that's great news for sports as a whole like once again LeBron walked in here yeah just walked right in and just started chatting and he's like the guy he's the face of your league and has been for like 20 years and I think him and everybody else that's doing it is good

for your sport now the boys will have a bunch of questions but I have to ask about something you alluded to that trade was certainly something that drew some interest you know and obviously Nico down there in Dallas is having to kind of answer the questions for the decision he made that that team might be they might be they might be I mean there is a chance that they end up having a lot of success in his vision but Luca superstar going to Los Angeles to team with LeBron James and I know people that don't follow basketball very closely say well didn't the NBA block a trade from New Orleans to LA in the past how is this even

possible I think the NBA was running the team at the time because they didn't have ownership what were your thoughts on this trade? When do you get a heads up that Luca is getting traded to the Los Angeles Lakers and AD is getting traded to Dallas? And what were your thoughts on it as a whole, Commish? Yeah, so first, just to clarify, the IDO and the Commissioner doesn't have the right to block a trade other than a trade not conforming to our rules. And you alluded to David Stern once blocked a trade, but I get how confusing it was to fans, but he was both the commissioner and the acting owner of the New Orleans franchise

at the time. And so a trade was recommended to him by the general manager, and he turned down that trade based on what he thought was in the best interest of that franchise. As an owner, not as the commissioner. He turned down the trade as the owner, not as the commissioner. Exactly. And by the way, I learned my lesson because in that interim period when we were running the Los Angeles Clippers, a guy named Dick Parsons came in and he was the interim governor

and I, of course, had been here when David turned down the trade and I said, Dick, you're the owner of that team. You will decide what trades to make or not make. Not me, so there's absolutely no confusion. But in this situation with with Luca, I learned the league office learns a little bit ahead of the public because to the point of leagues approving trades, it's kind of like a closing at a house. Both teams have to be on the phone. The lawyers and the basketball folks at the league office have to make sure that the contracts match, that the team indeed does have the cap room

to make the trade, that it complies with our rules. So I learned when they called the trade into the league office. And again, so I don't really have a role in that process other than if there's somehow a dispute as to the league office. And again, so I don't really have a role in that process other than if there's somehow a dispute as to the mechanism of the trade. In terms of the trade itself, look, it's obvious time. Time will tell. The only place where I feel defensive

on behalf of the Dallas Mavericks and new ownership there is there were some suggestions early on that the trade wasn't done for basketball reasons, that somehow new owner didn't want to pay a maximum salary or was focused on building a real estate development or something else. The only thing I can say, and I feel very confident in this, knowing Patrick Dumont, who's the governor of the team and the people involved, they believed that they were making

the best trade on behalf of the Dallas Mavericks. Whether that turns out to be true, again, only time will tell. I've known Nico for a long time, Nico Harrison. He was a long time executive at Nike before he was at Dallas Mavericks. Again, whether or not he made the right trade, he's a really decent person. I know he's trying to do the best he can to run that franchise. It's been a rough time since they made the trade. There's no question about it. A combination of Anthony Davis, my god, going down in the very first game. He was playing for the Mavericks.

Kyrie then with the season-ending injury. I'm still proud of that team. Obviously they're still playing hard. They still have a chance to play into the playoffs tomorrow night. I get the fans passion. I understand again Why Dallas Mavericks fans are so upset? I personally am a fan of Luca Doncic. I think he's a great young man, you know and You know, let's see how this turns out. I want him to be great I want the Dallas Mavericks to be great. But there's no doubt. I'd say, I've been in the league for a long time. It's been remarkable, I think, how much interest there's been in this trade, maybe because you have the Lakers on the other side of it. You have the

happenstance that Mark Cuban just recently stepped out as the owner of that team. So a lot of chatter around it. But, you know, we'll see when they play the games how this works out. Yeah. And LeBron being a part of it too, is just another, you know, elevated, let alone JJ Reddick in his first year. There's so many storylines there. And to your point about intrigue with the trade, I think a lot of people that weren't really paying attention to the NBA were like, hold the phone. Didn't that guy just go to the finals last year? Now he's teaming up with LeBron and I think it's good for the league as a whole.

I know that there's a lot of drama that comes alongside of it that you probably have to deal with. Speaking of dealing with things, it is your job to drive new initiatives to bring people more interest in the league. AJ has a question for you, Kamish. Yeah, Kamish, you mentioned engagement earlier. The in-season tournament, I feel like, has done a lot for people and brought people to more eyeballs, I guess, during the regular season. Is there anything you

guys are are spit-billing or you're kicking around the room trying to think you may try in the near future? Yeah, I mean, look, so yes, to your point that the in-season tournament has been successful from that standpoint. We knew we needed more, I think, games of consequence during the regular season. You know, we took a page from European leagues, a little bit from college basketball that's always had some of those tournaments, you know, around Thanksgiving or the holidays or whatever else. I think in terms of new initiatives, number one, we got to do a better job with All-Star. You know, I've said that before. We tried some new

things that frankly haven't worked. You know, we're moving the All-Star. You know, I've said that before. We tried some new things that frankly haven't worked. You know, we're moving the All-Star game moves to NBC next year. We're going to be smack in the middle of the Winter Olympics. I think that NBC has some ideas around, you know, international competition. You guys play basketball on skates? You guys wear ice skates? Not a bad idea. I'll watch. You know, and if you see the, you know, credit to the NHL for the four-nation face-off, obviously that was really successful. We know from the last Summer Olympics,

you know, that when USA played France, for example, or Serbia got tremendous interest, tremendous ratings around that. It's a little hard to figure out when you have, you know, 30% of your players are international, you are international from many different countries, exactly what format will work. But AJ, that's something we've got to get right. I think we're also looking at doing some additional things in Europe. We're the number two sport behind soccer globally in Europe, tremendous interest. Half of our international players come from Europe. Our last six MVPs have been in the league, have been international. Five of those six have been European players. So we see opportunity there. I think one thing that differentiates us is we're such a global game

and we continue to look for opportunities to just broaden the pool of people who follow this game. Africa, we're doing a lot there. In the middle of COVID, crazily, we started a league there. I always use this statistic, it amazes me. 10% of the players in the NBA were either born in Africa or one of their parents was born in Africa. Africa, it's 54 different countries, you know, huge continent, but well over a billion people. So that's something we're focused on. And I just say, last day, just go back to the earlier conversation about technology. Again, we're not even scratching the surface in terms of when you move to streaming and

digital media, how much more you can do around the game to create that additional engagement from your fans. Just some of it, sports betting obviously has become really prevalent now. Legalized, something like 35 states. And I get the other side of it. And one thing about digital media, for people who don't want to see ads for sports betting or don't want anything to do, have anything to do with it, click, click, that's off their screen. They won't have to deal with that.

But I think that and other forms of gaming becomes a point of engagement for a lot of fans merchandising collectibles Social media user generated content. I think you're gonna be able to have the immerse that into the game experience So there's a lot coming AJ Doing just sitting in New York not thinking of ideas I knew there was a bunch going on behind the scenes. I just wanted him to be able to tell us. AJ's in the studio today and I'm not. What's going on?

Yeah, agreed. You'll be in our city this weekend. We think everybody will treat you fantastically. You've done a great job as commission. You talk about, you know, having to change some things and dodge, dive and dodge your way through. AP Tone has a question for you. Yeah, commissioner, you and Pat were talking about digital and streaming and linear, and you used the word shelf space, which I found interesting because Christmas Day,

NBA used to have all the shelf space, the whole cabinet, the whole, all the snacks were NBA, okay? And now commissioner Roger Goodell comes in and he wants all the shelf space for Christmas Day. You talk to Roger Goodell comes in and he wants all the shelf space for Christmas Day. You talked to Commissioner Goodell about that and said, hey, what gives? And if you thought maybe Christmas Eve is NBA's new shelf space for that time of year. Well, I mean Roger and I talk all the time, but we're competitors and on one hand I think that to the extent that

the NFL does better, that college basketball does better It's good for everyone. It definitely is a rising tide. I think in the in the growing interest in top-notch sports I mean if you look at you know that the the most watched programs You know on television NFL dominates that list but the rest of the list much of it is, you know NFL I mean, I'm sorry, you know, NBA finals, Major League, baseball, World Series, etc., NHL. So we're seeing tremendous interest in sports. And I think that where they came on, you know, Christmas, they had the two games on Netflix,

which were competing against our games on ABC and ESPN. I get it. I would never even suggest, first of all, he wouldn't listen to me anyway, but I think the NFL should do what's in the best interest of the NFL. So I have no issue with that whatsoever. In terms of looking at, I'm not saying we're going to move away from Christmas because the NFL is also on, but I think our players recognize that we work on the holidays, and whether it's Christmas or Christmas Eve or there's other opportunities where people are

home and are more likely to have free time to watch our telecast, we should be looking at other dates as well. So that's something we're constantly exploring, but back to that shelf space issue. I mean, so there's, you know, there of course on, if you think it wasn't so many years ago when you didn't even have that optionality of live sports on streaming, or remember early on,

they couldn't get it right and everything now, it's just a given, you're gonna have live sports on streaming, but now if it's just the NBA and on Christmas Day It may create the opportunity for more teams to play I remember in the old days teams used to complain to us when they played on Christmas Day and now it's You know now teams coming to the league and say we want to be part of that showcase We recognize that that this is a day that people expect to see top-notch NBA competition. So I welcome the NFL, I welcome the competition, it makes us better too. We need you on Christmas Eve. We need you on Christmas Eve because

Christmas on Thursday obviously is upcoming year so now there's three games for the NFL and you talked to Raj so you know they ain't gonna give that up. No. You know they're not gonna give that. Oh it's Thursday. What do you want us to do? We always play on Thursday. And it's like, OK, well, that's just gonna be how it is. Christmas Eve, I found myself just kind of twiddling my thumbs. And it's like, wow, it would be nice if we had the NBA showcase that's normally on Christmas, on Christmas Eve.

But hey, that's your world. We're just football doofuses. Speaking of your world, your world's big right now. But there's one side that's seeming a little bit more heavy than the other side. Con man has a question For you to miss yeah commission feels like you guys are the most you know Proactive and changing the playoff format obviously with the playing games and everything and right now

There's a pretty big difference between the Western Conference and the Eastern Conference Especially when it just comes to seating and overall records So do you guys kind of see a chance where the seeding kind of changes after the playoffs are set where you kind of go back and reseed one to 16 instead of doing the East versus West or is that kind of a bad idea when it comes to the idea of you know Lakers versus Celtics in the second round versus kind of a finals matchup that you get versus Celtics in the second round versus kind of a finals matchup that you get with the East versus West conference. It's definitely not a bad idea and it's something we've come back to over the years.

We sort of looked at it, decided ultimately not to do it. Then depending on where the balance is of the competition, we'll come look at it again. I think part of it is when you rese-seed you have to then wait for that whole bracket to finish so it adds some delay in the playoffs. I think in terms of when you can start the next round, part of it is travel. That when you stick with your conferences up until you get the finals, it's not perfect but you reduce the criss-crossing the country to a certain extent rather than first round and going from coast to coast. So that's part of it as well.

Part of it is tradition. I don't think tradition ultimately should be controlling because you have to change with the times. So it's something we keep coming back around to. I think I'm fine with where it is right now, but we want to create the best competition at the end of the day. So we'll just keep looking at it.

Okay. You keep looking at everything while we will continue to watch. The league, you know, one of the narratives around the Dallas Mavericks, whenever you said new governor, new ownership, everything like that, they were trying to get a real estate deal done, a casino deal done. People are also thinking maybe they're trying to get the hell out of town. Now that's just things that were said. We're not saying that that is real.

We're just telling you this is the reality of things that were being said on the internet at a rapid rate about the situation down there in Dallas. With that being said, Ty has the last question for you here, Kamish. Yeah, Kamish, how often do you think of potential expansion? Because we've been hearing for years now about a team going to Vegas. Obviously the A's and the MLB are moving there. We've seen the success in the city that the Raiders have had. I know Des Moines, Iowa is just clamoring for a team as well.

So really? Yeah, big time Pittsburgh. Exactly. There's a bunch of other cities. How much on like a year to year basis are you thinking about expansion, especially when you take into consideration all the things you're talking about with the media rights exploding over the next five years or so? Just to go back to what Pat said a minute ago, and I was the one who raised it, so I'll

just finish the thought on Dallas. They're not going anywhere. There's no thought of that team going anywhere. It's true that the group that bought the team is out of Las Vegas, but they couldn't be clear. And I just want to make sure that, well, there's no doubt people have been talking about it, and it'll turn out over time to be a good or bad trade. But it had, there were no ulterior motives there. This team is staying in Dallas. In fact, they're looking at building a new arena in Dallas. So that's that. Journalism? Journalism shot at us? We asked for journalism out of us. In terms of expansion, we try not to look at it every year just because we don't want

to be too much of a distraction. What I've been saying for the last several years, we knew we needed to get a new collective bargaining agreement done. We did. We needed a new media deal to get done. And you know, Pat referenced that referenced that before we did that we've locked in our television Rights for 11 years and part of the reason you want to know what your television Deal is is because you now have new partners You're going from dividing up the money in terms of 30 teams and and those players to let's say if we expanded by two teams To 32 so you want to know what those economics are so now that those things are done, we're just beginning a process internally at the league of exploring the opportunity to expand. I will say sometimes on the outside it looks like a no-brainer because it seems like you're

printing money to expand. But again, as I said, you're really selling equity in the league. You have 30 teams that own the league and now you're saying we're going to have 32 teams that own the league. So you're diluting the economic interest of all the 30 teams that own the league and now you're saying we're gonna have 32 teams that own the league So you're diluting the economic interest of all the 30 teams and you're also potentially diluting the talent because you know Is with 450 players? Plus some in the NBA but roughly 450 players, you know, there's even among those the greatest in the world There's only so many difference makers and then how are those players going to be distributed around the league? That's a lot of what we spend time on in collective bargaining agreements, the right distribution

of players. And so we're looking hard at it. We're sort of modeling it for lack of better terms in the league office. Look, there's no doubt there's been interest in Las Vegas, Seattle, I've been very public about it, that it was a market that was fantastic for the league that we left at the time for understandable reasons but there's no doubt that there continues to be enormous passion in that market for the NBA. So we're looking at those markets and others. I think as we get into the summer we'll get into a more formal process of how we go about doing it.

I don't want to say it's a foregone conclusion that we're going to expand, but I also think over time organizations tend to grow and I look at the success of those markets for other, you know, major league teams now and you know, so it's easy to present a scenario where you can see it working successfully for the league. But I don't want wanna jump the gun here. We have the 30 existing teams who all need to weigh in on this process and also at some point need to have direct conversations with the people who are interested in those teams. It's premature to do that right now.

That's what we've been contacted by groups who are saying we have interest in potentially being part of expansion, not just in those cities, but others. And we sort of said, we're not quite ready yet, but again, we will go through a very methodical approach to it and do it very cautiously, but we'll continue to look at it. Yeah, it sounds like that's how you do everything. Kamish, we are nothing short of impressed with you.

Congrats on another NBA season being great, and congrats on the playoffs about to begin when all eyes are on your league. We can't thank you enough for joining us today. Safe travels out here to India and to all the other cities, and you're the man. We appreciate and love the hell out of you, man. Yeah, thank you.

Thanks, Pat, and everybody. Appreciate the time. You're the man. Ladies and gentlemen, the commissioner of the NBA, Adam Silver. Yeah, Kamish! So many things. Thanks Pat and everybody appreciate the time. You're the man ladies and gentlemen the commissioner of the NBA Adam Silver So many things give any other plans That was great follow-up that was great because he does have to continue to 82 games a lot of games Yeah, he kept saying engagement earlier engagement engagement. What do you do? Like it's tough these young kids. How do you get them engaged? That's they have the digital audience. They know never gets talked about what at the linear stuff

Small are fantastic. We're lucky to talk about him every single day and And today we've been blessed with the presence of greatness here in the Thunderdome. It's not just me and the Talks at the Table at Boston Conner and at Ty Schmidt's Sweet Shirt. Thank you very much. Is that a wolf howling at the United States of America? Yeah, howling at the United States of America and almost howling at Take.

Yeah, shout out Take. Shout out Take. One Dead Man show is happening on Saturday, I believe, at the Fountain Blue Theater, which is one of the many shows that will be taking place over WrestleMania weekend. We'd like to hear Take tell some stories. Oh, hell yeah. Because he was on our show and told us a couple stories about, you know, Cypress Heel and many others and things that he's done. I couldn't even fathom what it's like listening to him chit chat.

That's one half of the hammer. That. Cowboys ball cap tone. What's that? I was just pictured take, if take shows Saturday. I know David Guetta is performing at the pool fountain blue on Saturday too. I didn't know if they were doing it together. I don't, I think it's a theater and a pool,

two different vibes, but hey, both can be great. I mean, take is going to be choke slamming people into the pool as part of it. I mean, I wouldn't. And American Badass. He goes, brrrr. Yeah. They put up a bunch of like pool noodles. Yep.

And tight. And he, brrrr. Rides his little chopper over top of there. There's a chance. It's Vegas. Yeah. It's Vegas this weekend. Yeah, potentially.

I mean, this weekend in Vegas, maybe the greatest weekend in the history of Las Vegas. And that's saying something. This might be the greatest Thursday in the history of Thunderdome. Because we're joined by a man who has won titles at every level. High school he once had, twice actually, had 30-some tackles in one game while averaging 45 plus yards a punt and scoring multiple touchdowns on the offensive side. He's a Centerville Elk through and through. Former president of Ohio. Ladies and gentlemen, Ohio State Buckeye legend, A.J. Hawk. Yeah.

Hawker. Hawker. Didn't average 45 a punt. You know, every once in a while I'd boom one 60, but then I'd yank one left into the crowd. Yeah, but that's what average is for. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, you hit the 60 yarder

so that you can hit a 30 yarder on the other side. Now you hit a 60 yarder, and then you hit a six yarder into the crowd. That's what would happen. I'd be dead tired punting, yeah. Kicking off too. I kicked off a few of them into the crowd. A lot of people, I mean that's gonna happen.

A lot of people forget that you were a punter. I don't think that ever gets talked about enough. Most athletic guy on the team, usually the punter. That is kind of how it goes in high school for some places if you don't have a soccer player punting or whatever. And you, I assume, quickly learned the punter math Yeah, cuz all of us jogging off the field after the first punt. That was 49 yarder

All right, we need to remain that. Oh, that was a 32 yarder. Okay, so doing the math We want this thing to be a 45 you do 13 and then on the other side we need a 58 yarder next Okay, so we have 45 yard average, which is what you were able to do. Congrats you Greatest athletes of all time. Thank you. Now, I mean, the guy that sits here, what, LeBron was here, D-But was here, now I think I. Thank you, Shipley sits there. All these guys are super athletic. Yeah, Chuck, all famous. Chuck Borgano, obviously, he's a boxer, and a football player. Let's talk about Goat, Let's talk about Goat, announcing that he has one more show of electrifying college football fans around the entire globe. I've had the opportunity, obviously, to work alongside him the last few years, but obviously I've had the opportunity to watch him do his thing on television for the better part of the last 40 years or whatever the case is. However, I think it's 40 years is how long they're saying he's been with ESPN.

Lee Corso has announced he's retired after week one. He'll be turning 90 in August. And I've said this numerous times, whenever you watch him at either the production meetings on Friday or on these campuses moving about, he's still got, you know, still quick, refuses assistance whenever you're talking about steps and everything like that.

Obviously on camera, it's been a little bit different for Coach Corso than it was maybe 10 years ago, 20 years ago, 15 years ago, you name it. But he was an energy, just had an aura around him at all times that was just like, hey, how you doing? Keep it moving. And he was a big proponent of, it's just entertainment, sweetheart, you know?

And he very much understood that. And it's guys like him and Charles Barkley Who understand that you're allowed to be entertaining? You're allowed to be funny allowed for the people to enjoy the experience while they're watching and learning about sports trailblazer dog honored to call him a peer for a couple years here and The sports world will definitely miss him every single week, but he does have one show left Can't wait to see what he does not so fast My friend how many of those will we hear how many more? Ticonderoga's will we see doing their thing how many more gems will be dropped in that one episode will certainly hang on to all of them

And congrats Lee changing the game changing the game Changing college football forever. You know, he is credited by a lot of minds at ESPN who, I know a lot of people get mad at ESPN because of how involved in college football they are. And a lot of people say ESPN has more say than they actually do, but it's an easy thing to say because of how invested ESPN is in college football.

But the reason why ESPN is so invested in college football, from my understanding, this is just from being around it and meeting all the people that make all the decisions, they love college football. Like absolutely love, obsessively. I mean, we talked to Kirk Herbstrand, obviously he does a great job calling Thursday night games for Amazon and kicking off each, every NFL weekend, but you're talking about obsessed with college ball. Yeah.

Everything about Reese Davis, Chris Fowler, you know, the Nick Saban obviously is the greatest of all time. Desmond Howard, 20 plus years on college game day. The people behind scenes, breathe, sleep, eat college football. I mean, that is just what they are. That is why they're so at the highest of highs at ESPN and Disney love college football.

And Lee Corso is credited as building that sport and its popularity with his performances not only on game day but just throughout the college football season no matter what he's doing and his speaking engagements and everything so like you're talking about a guy who was viewed as a goat a guy who was talked about as a goat a guy who acted like a goat I think for a long time and a man that'll be missed on television so change the sport change the business change the trajectory uh change everybody's life that he's around so I think that'd be a job well done if you were to uh

Kind of kind of speak about a human and his existence and his profession on television speaking into a microphone think of all the people that Legit just waited around to see lee put the mascot head on. Like, hey, who is coach gonna pick this week? And yeah, I mean, as far as I can remember as a kid, I remember Lee Corso on TV and checking out Saturday, turned on game day, seeing whatever he is doing. And the dude is an absolute entertainer. That's what I love about him.

He came and spoke at my high school years ago with Kirk and Lee was off the charts. You talk about energy, man. He took the stage and just lit the whole room on fire. They wouldn't have him back every single year, but unfortunately he has those all around the country. He's doing it, but yeah, what an absolute legend, man. They put out a couple of graphics about Coach Corso.

Coach Corso by the numbers, 430 mascot headgear picks. Okay, which to your point became the show. Yeah. You know, that is what we're all, that's what the whole show is leading up to, is the headgear. 69 different teams have been picked. Most headgear selections by team.

Oregon's been picked 21 times. Shout out to the Duck. Loves the Duck. Florida's been picked 22 times. LSU. Hey! Oh! Great place down there in Bayou.

25 times. times Alabama roll tag 38 times. Hmm No way the Ohio State Buckeyes where it all started by the Brutus 45 times selected. So we're gonna hear AJ talk about I love this guy Ohio absolutely everybody does obviously but yeah, I mean, what a showman. An absolute showman through and through. And I think there's some people, you know, very young, that won't get the entire Lee Corso experience

over the last five years, I'd say, or whatever, three years, whatever the case be. But you're talking about one of the quickest guys on television in the history. So let alone coaching and how much his players love him. Let alone being an entertainer. But when you're talking about just brain, wit, quickness, you're talking about one of the best of all time time Yeah

I mean and now the cool part is like we're seeing all the clips like the best of it's like, you know And and like AJ said like it's very rare now when you get to be around our age Like he has been a part of game day for my entire life. Yeah when I started watching game day He was there the entire time. For what we do in sports media in general, that's just very rare. I don't think we're going to have very many instances where you look at a show that you watched your entire life up to now when you have kids and everything, and it's the same mainstays on there.

I don't know how often that'll happen again. It's a comforting feeling knowing that- Without a doubt. What's going to be there? League courses will be there Kirk Herbstreet? Obviously. Yeah as well and Coach Corso gave her be a nice shout out in his retirement letter last year watching them have a few moments to get that was Obviously very emotional for all parties the people behind the scenes at game day have been there a long long time to Long a lot of them now granted there's new people that come in to the crew But you're talking about like 30 some years some people working back there.

So whenever you talk about Lee Corso, they've seen Lee Corso be and do everything that he's done for a long time. Those people love ball, love College Game Day. I think some of them did not necessarily love the addition of old Pat McAfee. But I think obviously I have massive respect for them and I think I've maybe earned theirs as well over the years But it's like watching Lee kind of work a room to Just yeah You know just always always up sitting down and when he was losing his here and there obviously a little bit at the end And being we'd be in a production meeting and something good brought up

He wouldn't know what's going on then he'd be reminded and that you think the topic was over and then he would be informed on what's going on and then he would drop just a fucking nuke in the middle of it it's like oh yeah still got my man my man yeah absolutely so age obviously catches up with everybody but what he was able to do throughout the entirety of it he's gonna be 90 still on television crazy insane that's uh that's a wild thought congrats to Lee yeah and I feel like he even had a lot of great moments these over these last few years Like I forget what it was with Kirk, but if it was his 500 show

Or what exactly was what they had that moment to where you know, even Kirk talked about it 500 headgear Yeah, was it? 600 what was the number? I thought it was like 500 something. So maybe was the 400th 400th Yeah, I forget what it was but but it like I remember that scene You know of them two together and you know Lee was obviously very thankful and then you know Even him going back to certain places that he's been at like the return and him being honored at multiple I mean Indiana this year, you know that his entire team from that time when he was coaching those 79 I think yeah 79 then you know Belichick when Belichick was on last year at that

Army Navy and Bill was talking about you know, like I remember when you were coaching with you know his debt Bill's dad Yeah, and things like that I feel like are really cool to kind of relive over these last few years So hats off to is he still gonna be working at Ticonderoga, I wonder? I would assume. I don't know if that's a rib, the people tell me, like the game day people. But he had like full time job at Ticonderoga.

Really? I think. From what I've been told, like calling people, let me tell you about these Ticonderoga. Like a salesman? He's cold calling people? Leading salesman for 30 years. I don't know if he was a salesman

or if like Ticonderoga asked him to make calls or stuff because, you know, he always had the pets what he was talking about. Yeah, I think he had a very, like, an actual, like, work for Ty Kondoroga. I think he had a, I think he worked for Ty Kondoroga from what I've been told. Now they might be ribbing me though, so that's why I- I would assume they're going to retain, he'll stay with them. Has to. Has to.

They had number two pets, it won't be a number two without Sam Ross sure comment near Corso edition huge for college ball though and I think that is That is something That I don't think is said about Lee is like they give him credit for building the sport in being a part of the development of college football just Found date. He's a pillar of the sport is kind of how he's viewed by a lot.

People that are in the conferences, people that are at the schools, people that are at ESPN, college football playoff. I mean, like everybody's like, hey, this guy helped elevate this sport entirely over the last 40 years. So everybody is a massive fan of his. Well, there was a period of time where he,

I think he was the most popular person in sports media. I don't think that could be argued. There was that time period. And then you talked about it where he was like, it's all about the entertainment. He was one of those first people who weren't just taking, weren't just spitting out facts and just talking as serious as they possibly can.

It was making it fun and lively and actually entertaining. And yeah, Lee is like, like Ty said, that was all I thought when I first saw the clips coming out again, you know, the one where he throws a headgear and goes fuck it. Yeah, fuck it. Like there was no one else doing that on air and making people laugh. Like you actually, he actually got like pops from people on TV, which was awesome. But yeah, Lee's a goat. And I would like to finish up with saying Lee could have very easily been mean to me, you because what I am, who I am, how I operate you know I pull a lot of inspo

from guys like Lee and Charles Barkley and a lot of professional wrestlers and everything like that the way I speak and my energy and the way I talk it's like I'm not a news journalist like a lot of people are in sports world I'm trying to like let's have a good time here he, you look at the South Dakota State, the first time I did it, Lee sitting right next to me and you see him go like, oh I did not. Like and then after that show, very kind to me, very nice to be, very complimentary and throughout the entirety he's been very cool to me. So I'm very thankful for Lee and good luck in retirement man. I hope you enjoy fall. I hope you get a chance to go see some games. I hope you get a chance to go do whatever the hell you want to do and

happy early 90th birthday and happy retirement from all of us you're the man Lee joining us now ladies and gentlemen he's a four-time NFL MVP he is a host of one of the top sports podcasts in the history of sports podcasts that drop every single Tuesday during NFL seasons for the last four or five years, five years, I think. Ladies and gentlemen, a first ballot Hall of Famer and a free agent quarterback, Aaron Rodgers. Yeah!

Hello, Mr. Handsome. How's my internet? Okay, alright. Your internet's great. I know you're probably, where are you right now? Are you at that same place we saw you walking on the beach with the towel and the blanket and open to everything attached to nothing? I'm hanging out with this guy.

What up Apollo? What? And I'm looking out at, you know what what there's actually a couple dolphins out there might need to get out there And get some of that good healing energy Yeah, but there actually are two dolphins. Just just raised up. It's very Serendipitous well don't get out there because we know they like to You know what we know. I'll get you. You know, we. They are a horny bunch from what we've been told. We don't know that in particular,

but we've just read that around places. Shout out to the dog. That's Apollo, right? I think I learned the name. Yes, it is, yeah. How old? He's born on Christmas. He's, so he's not quite four months.

Way to go, Apollo. Welcome to the world, buddy. He's a handful. He's a handful. Hey, you have a puppy. That's a wild thing to have. Your first time free agent quarterback and you have a puppy. Let's dive in. Yeah.

Okay. So being a dog dad has been a massive piece of your life, I assume, over the last few months. As of April 17th, where do we kind of sit in your world right now? How is everything kind of gone? Because there has been a lot of things projected and said about what you're doing, what you're thinking, where you're at. Where are you at right now on April 17th as a human, we shall say?

I'm in Malibu looking at the dolphins. Yeah, you get it. Mindset. You understand what I'm saying. You understand what I'm saying. Listen, you know, I live a, you know, I live kind of a quiet life. If it weren't for my buddy Tim and my sister Mia, I wouldn't hear about a lot of the bullshit

that's out there. Nice. But Mia finally said, listen, you gotta go on the show and to set some of these ridiculous rumors and all these People who said they're close to me sources Just set them straight because there's been a lot of bullshit out there and again 90% of it I wouldn't hear about if it wasn't for Mia or Or Tim so shout out to to both of them because I'm sure they're watching but

Yeah, you know, it's been It's been an interesting break for me but yeah it's been hanging out working out hanging out with Apollo and enjoying enjoying my time. Okay so I'm assuming that Tim and Mia shout out and thank you for watching if they are watching and thank you for joining us to clarify some things I assume what they're alluding to is all the different reports about what your football future Kind of is going to look like over the last two months. We'll say since free agency kind of started

It's been a lot of buzz. You know, there's you're holding teams hostage With not giving them an answer you're waiting out For another place. Oh, you might end up back staying at home in New Jersey for the Giants. Is there anything you kind of want to set straight here off the top as we dive into a lot of these conversations that have been happening about you that maybe you haven't been participating in at all over the last couple months? Yeah, I've set it all straight. I've set it all straight. I have no problem. Listen, you know, from the jump,

it's, you know, I'm in a different phase of my life. I'm 41 years old. I'm in a serious relationship. I have off the field, off the field stuff going on that requires my attention. I have personal commitments I made, not knowing what my future is going to look like after last year that are important to me and I have you know a couple

people in my inner inner circle who are really battling some difficult stuff. So I have a lot of things that are that are taking my attention and have beginning in really January away from football. And that's been where I've been focusing most of my attention on. To make a commitment to a team is a big thing, whether you're a first-year player or a 20-year vet. 20-year vet and I had a lot of great conversations with a lot of teams. Not one of those was the Jets because that wasn't a great conversation. We heard, we heard. So that was an accurate report.

Okay, got it, got it, got it. Okay. That was not an accurate report. We can get into that in a second. Okay. But I had some good conversations. But I've been up front with all of them. I don't have anybody working on my PR staff. Like Mia is the head of my PR. She tells me what the hell is going on if I need to know anything. I don't have

any leaks. I have a very tight circle. I'm not out there putting shit out just to put shit out. That's just not how I operate. There's been a lot of people assuming they have information about me. That's just not true. I've been straight up with these teams from the start about where I was at, you know, starting with the money thing. You know, I told every single one of the teams I talked to, you know, they ain't about the money.

I'll play for 10 Ms. You know, I don't care. I never once said I need a multi-year deal 30 40 million dollars is absolute bullshit I said I play for 10 whatever selfish prick that's what it was I thought I just saw guys signed for 60 million or 55 million or whatever you said you'd pay for 10 million okay so you saying you would play, that means you are thinking, is retirement still on the field? Where are you whenever it comes to playing or not playing?

Playing for 10 million, by the way, makes it very easy for a lot of teams to be able to accommodate you. Is that mean? That's what I told them in March, you know, in the beginning, the very beginning, you can ask me any one of the teams I talked to. That was that was the conversation. But but also the conversation about where I was at, in my personal life, the stuff I'm dealing with off the field, in my inner

circle, that that has to take my attention right now. And so I wasn't, you know, stringing anybody along. I wasn't holding anybody hostage. I was honest from the jump about where I was at mentally and some of the constraints that I have in my life right now that have to warrant my attention. So yeah, you know, I'm open to anything and attached to nothing.

So, so yeah, retirement still could be, You know, I'm open to anything and attached to nothing. So yeah, retirement still could be a possibility. But right now, my focus has been and will continue to be in my personal life. And that's what I've told the coaches, there's still conversations that are being had. So it's all been very honest, lines of communication. I've really appreciated the time I talked to

to the various teams, but there's been a lot of narratives that have not been anywhere near accurate. Starting with the Jets, continue with something I just read about, you know, me pitching something to the Vikings. I know Ben, I only know this again, because of me, Ben was on the show talking about me waiting around for the Vikings

That's not accurate either, you know, I Know there's I'm sure some lot of sentiment from Both Packer fans fit even maybe Vikings fans about certain things, but but no I've known Kevin forever. I've known Kevin O'Connell since we used to work out at fitness Quest 10, I think it was called, in San Diego County in North County. I've known him for 17, 18 years and we got a good friendship. So we talk outside of just you know this offseason. We keep in touch during the season. So we've had good communication and

The government just shut down your internet right there we heard it We the NFL just shut down your internet there for a second. Well, let's talk now. We're back. We're back Okay so Ben Ralthersberger Hypothesized which is what a lot of people have been doing because a lot of people assumed that a decision would have already been made In your whether you're gonna play football who you're gonna play football with Especially with the draft looming and free agency coming and going I think you saying That there's a lot going on your personal life that needs your attention

And I think you've told me a little bit more about that I think if everybody kind of understood what was going on not saying you need to tell anybody's story But it's like they don't yeah they don't need they don't need to you know they don't need to I don't need my personal life is my personal life and I don't need to dive into the you know there's a sensitivity around some of the stuff that's going on for sure and it's very important to me but yeah I mean there's a lot of silly narratives out there you know like I'm sure people are assuming I've been sitting in a hole in the ground contemplating or maybe down doing ayahuasca somewhere actually haven't done any

nothing's on the horizon Good thing I think don't need the mess, but if you were doing it, we would let you know we probably would say Good for you. Yeah, we'd be we'd be happy for you Regardless there, but yeah, I think my next my next time I do that I'm gonna have to take aj down there because he needs some serious serious help mother ayahuasca He actually has a question for you. Yeah, you mentioned the jets earlier We can get back to the ayahuasca situation later, but you mentioned the Jets What was that meeting like we heard didn't is that in that word?

They said hey, you can't come on Pat Mackey now, but that was debunked later Oh, of course, but I'm saying how was that meeting you mentioned? Oh, we'll get back to this Sounds like you want to talk about it. What was it? Well, maybe that was hypothesized as something that was gonna be a part of a conversation Is the internet good? Are we good here? Yeah, you're good. You're good. I'm sure they're trying to shut this part down. But, you know, listen, that was an interesting two years, to say the least. But, you know, I figured that when I flew across country on my own dime, that there was going to be a conversation and

the confusing thing to me and the strange thing was You know when I went out there I meet with the coach We start talking See they don't want this They don't want this out They don't want this. They don't want this. You're back. So where do I leave you there? You're me with the coach. You're me with the coach. We start talking. He runs out of the room.

I'm like, that's kind of strange. I was like, then he comes back with the GM. And I'm like, all right. So we sit down in the office. And I'm like, all right. So we sit down in the office and I think we're going to have this long conversation. I've flown across the country and 20 seconds in he goes, I mean, literally I'm talking to the GM about something and he leans to the edge of his seat and goes, should you want to play football? I was like, yeah, I'm interested.

And he said, we're going in a different direction of quarterback. And I said, and I was kind of shocked. Now not shocked because I didn't think that was a possibility. Listen, of course they want to move on. That's totally fine. But shocked because I just flew across country. You could have told me this on the phone.

If we weren't even gonna have a conversation and this is verbatim exactly how it happened. So I said, huh? And he goes, we just want to know how you want it released. The messaging. And I said, verbatim, I don't give a shit about the message. And I said, why? And then he said, I don't wanna be up in front of the room saying something and have guys looking back at you. Interesting. And I said, what does that even mean? Are you assuming that I would be in the back of the room

during a team meeting, undermining what you're saying? I said, you don't know me. And he said, you don't know me and he said you don't know me and then I said exactly which is why I flew across the country to have a face-to-face meeting with you to talk about my experience with the Jets and to hear your vision for the team 20 seconds in what I thought was gonna be a couple hour meeting turned into like a 15 minute meeting and I walked out of there. But so at that moment strange, strange meeting.

There was no me pleading like, please help me on the team. No, I don't know. I don't want any part of that. It was already a debacle in some cases. Listen, that whole situation was crazy. And I think even that was a little rogue by the head coach because I talked to the GM later about it. Christopher Johnson called me.

Chris is a fantastic guy. Anybody who's ever met Christopher Johnson says the same thing. He's a phenomenal dude. He's about the right stuff. He's a sweet human being. And I'm thankful that I got to meet him and Doris because their friendship was a big bright spot in the organization. And there's a lot of great dudes there.

There's great players there, great humans. There's great guys in the equipment room, training room, Carmen and Maddie in the nutrition department, all the strength staff. There's a lot of great news there. But there's, you know, there's, there's obviously some things that need to get fixed over there. Yeah, it didn't go well, obviously.

There was high hopes and dreams by Jets fans, Jets organization, and you, which I think gets forgotten about. You had great visions of going over to New York and with the Jets and leading them to victory for the first time, long time that ends up not happening. Then the exit obviously with new GM, new coach, as you said, seemingly a possibility regardless the way it went about it didn't expect it.

So when you leave that meeting. And that's what I'm saying. Like I wasn't surprised that they want to move on. But like, would you, why would you not pick my brain? I'm there to like talk to you about the team and about things that I think can get better and things that are good and and players that have leadership possibilities and and anything I mean I've been in league 20 years in any type of conversation there was none there was none okay so that was strange okay so

you get uh you leave the building probably in uh I would assume a little bit of a mood you get, you leave the building, probably in a, I would assume a little bit of a mood. You get on a plane to fly back across the country. During that flight, are you now contemplating future of ball there or when is that kind of set in? Is there a conversation about like, don't want to go out like this? Or is this a sign from universe God that maybe my football life is out? Like does that expedite the conversation of what your future looks like in football? Does it slow it down?

How does that kind of affect what would then happen after that meeting takes place and you become a free agent for the first time? basically in your career Well, first of all, I told my pilots say have a good night have some beers This is gonna be a long meeting soon. We might even have dinner. I don't know what's gonna happen It's gonna be a good, you know, I'm excited about this meeting. So walking out of there, you know, 25 minutes. This is like 40 minutes because I saw Vito and Gus in the training room. I saw Dave Zuffalato, you know, awesome trainer there. Got to talk to him. So I was there maybe about 40 minutes at one Jet's Drive. You know, I drove home, you

know, had some conversations with some people there, including Christopher. But the next day when I left I was just thinking, hey that's the closing of that chapter. There's so many beautiful things about the two years that I had there. Obviously most of them off the field, but no, I wasn't upset about it. I was surprised. I wasn't I wasn't upset about it I was surprised I felt like there wasn't an ample amount of respect in that meeting but you know I guess I shouldn't have been surprised based on some of things I saw over the two years but but I am thankful for my time with the Jets I'm disappointed didn't work out better on the field, but it didn't

damp or anything. I just thought, okay, well now I have a chance to talk to other teams and see what's out there and then also time to contemplate my own future. Okay, so let's talk about the other teams that were potentially available. I rattled them off earlier, but we didn't really dive into them. You've been linked to a lot of teams, a lot of conversations. Now I don't think anybody has said that you have told all these teams like, hey right now there's a lot going on in my personal life. A lot going on. Very serious things with people that I care a lot about. So I am not in a position to make a decision. I assume because you didn't want to go to a team as a quarterback and everything and then have to miss

some time which is what ended up happening last year with the Jets when you wanted 98% of the OTAs and then you missed a Weekend and everybody made a big deal out of it So I appreciate us learning that you were upfront with all of these teams But these teams became very pronounced seemingly unless there was a wild card team behind the scenes We don't know about Giants you and the Giants went down the road and chit-chat a little bit. And did you contemplate playing for the New York football Giants?

And then Vikings, Steelers, I don't know how many other, the Saints? The Saints kind of just got in there. You don't have to lay out all of them, but have you talked to all of those teams? And what was it like being a free agent for the first time while chatting with these squads?

Yeah, it was interesting for sure. I'd never had that experience before. I'm not going to get into specifics about every team that I talked to, but it was a few teams. There were a lot of teams I saw mentioned that I had no absolutely zero contact with. I would say I did talk to Brian Dayball and had great conversation with him, really enjoyed him a lot. I think he's a lot of fun to talk to and has a beautiful football mind. Him and Josh, he had Josh in Buffalo. Josh is one of my closest friends

in the league. I just enjoyed the the conversation she's a you know really bright football mind but yeah there were some there's some other teams that I talked to like I already mentioned you know KOC is a buddy of mine and we talk during the season so it was a it was a cool experience obviously I went out to Pittsburgh and tried to do that as quietly as possible. You know a lot of people think that I'm desperate for attention even though I haven't talked to you or anybody else in three months but I did fly into a different airport not the downtown. I'll tell you what I did secretly. I flew into a different

airport. I got a Malibu rental car drove the Malibu rental car to the facility to the backside practice field. Got let in the practice field and then somebody in the building must have said something. And when I came out there was like some cameras that were pointed, but there ain't no way they thought, this dude is not going to be in a Malibu right now. He's not going to be in a Malibu rental car, is he? So I kind of drove by and they had like a really long lens I was seeing. And I'm, you know, Mamie did a deep dive to see if anybody got a picture and there was one person who had a picture and it didn't go anywhere of me in the Malibu

But but that was fun to kind of sneak in sneak out but But yeah, I mean listen, I've talked to Mike Tomlin He's more than I even thought From afar as far as the type of person that he is Have a lot of respect for what he's accomplished in the league. Arthur Smith, you guys have had Art on the show many times. Love him.

I mean, talk about a guy that doesn't need to work. Doesn't need to work, but he's a grinder. We've had a friendship for a couple of years now and I just like what he's all about. I like when he's on your show. And the quarterback coach is actually a guy named Tom Arth. Tom Arth was in the quarterback room with me in 2006 in Green Bay in the offseason. The first offseason I ever did went through the Mike McCarthy quarterback school. It was me and Tom Arth and Tom Clements. And thankfully I had

Tom Arth because those were crazy ass workouts that were really hard and Tom, you know We gave each other some breathers here and there but yeah great dude. So it was nice to go into the city I never really spent any time In Pittsburgh other than the few times we've played there, but Yeah, I've enjoyed talking to to Mike So what are you doing there? You're doing due diligence on the people and just trying to, do they invite you obviously to come maybe learn a little bit more about you? How does that kind of come about you flying to probably the Beaver County Airport or Butler County Airport,

hopping into Malibu, pulling in the back? I'm not going to tell you what airport we flew into because it was great in and out man. It was like no even, it wasn't even, it's always like that. It was, it to because it was great in and out man it was like no even it wasn't even it's always like that it was good but how did that come about you guys just kind of wanted to see each other kind of meet each other because if you were up front with them was saying hey right now offseason a lot going on lot that is kind of taking my attention and I assume they understand especially if they learned what it was there was just like we should at least do some due diligence for each other is that kind of how that comes about with you traveling to

Pittsburgh? It's different when you're talking on the phone you know luckily with my lack of service here it's a lot of facetimes but but it's different in person. I just, you know, personally I wanted to see what it was like there, see the facility, get to meet Omar in person, you know, see just just get a glimpse, a snippet of what what life would be like in Pittsburgh. So I thought it was important to go see it in person. And I also want to do it as quietly as possible. So there were very few people that even knew I was heading out that way besides Mike and Omar and Arthur.

Like even Tom Art didn't find out until that morning. And again, I've known Tom forever. I got the reconnect of them last year on the field. I hadn't seen him like in person in probably like 19 years, you know, this guy was in my quarterback room. I was, I guess it was 18 years ago. It was 2006, but he didn't even know until the morning. So it was nice to be able to, to, to get in early and get out.

We found a picture of you in the Malibu. We found the Malibu. Hey, there it is. That's that was me. You look like you got a hoodie, sunglasses, hat on Malibu. That is awesome. You're an attention whore there. Remember you're an attention. That was the exact picture that I saw. So I saw these people. I said, damn, they're gonna get a good pick here. At least I got my SR hat on. Shout out to but um, but yeah that pick never went anywhere

So now obviously now well, yeah, there it is. I mean I knew I was there at that point But yeah, that's me driving the Malibu. I want to let you know the people Pittsburgh will respect fact You're driving around a boo brother Now let's stay in Pittsburgh AP tone has a question for you Yeah not me necessarily, Aaron, but there's gonna be a lot of Steelers fans who want to know if you are still in contact with the team and if they gave you a deadline because there's a lot of people in Pittsburgh

talking about deadline. They need to have you before the draft. They need to have you before mini camp, whatever, OTAs. Are you still in contact with them? Did they give you a deadline or did they say, hey, you know what, take take your time deal with what you have to do personally and then just let us know? Listen this entire time I haven't felt like I owed anybody some sort of decision at any point. This is my life like I said things are different now my life is different my personal life is different. I have stuff in the inner circle that you know I'm intimately close to that it's really important to me and I've been upfront with them about that and said listen if you need to move on if

you need to do something by all means, by all means like nothing but love and respect if that's a decision that needs to be made but there's been no deadline and yeah I've talked to Mike T many times. Okay so you're still in contact with the Pittsburgh Steelers. It feels like the trip went well. You're dealing with stuff in your life right now. Steelers seemingly understand that. Didn't want to out you because I assume there's a lot of times where Steelers because they're getting questioned a lot by. Steelers seemingly understand that. Didn't want to out you because I assume there's a lot of times where Steelers because they're getting questioned a lot by the Steelers fans. Hey, hey what are we doing? What are we doing? What are we doing? They have tried to completely kind of, I want to say dumb

it down, but basically not say anything. So it feels like there is a trust between you two which is great. And we saw some photos from UCLA, Nico Iamalyava's school. AJ has a question for you. Yeah Aaron, we saw you throw into a DK Metcalf. First off, did you hire the videographer, photographer for that? What was this? What was this all about? How to go? I mean, you were pumped about this completion. You had a nice little dig across the middle, it looks like. But how did this come about? And who is this? Where is this footage from? Who took it? Uh, it was the other guy. Uh, what's his name? I think his name was Alex was there.

I don't know if he's a full-time guy for DK, but yeah, he was taking some video and some pictures and I said, you know, it was fine if DK released it. I don't think DK did. I think actually the kid did. So I'm not sure if everybody was super excited about that. Maybe they were. I don't care either way. But yeah, you know, again, I wanted to do due diligence

with this whole process. And part of it is talking to a guy like DK. And let me just say this, what a great dude. What a great dude who loves football. And I mean, what a specimen this guy is. I was laughing with him because you know I said where do you work out because I've been working out a proactive here for a long time even rocking the proactive gear in that shirt. He goes oh UCLA. I said what time you work out? He said 6 a.m. I said you got anybody else working out with you? He said no they last a

few weeks at most but then they taper off because nobody wants to work out that early. And then when we were throwing I said, hey can it not be 6 a.m. You know I got to drive, PCH is closed. So we threw it, we met at eight in the morning which is much nicer than six but yet I've had a few conversations with DK and yeah I just think he's a super guy. Part of the process is just you know with this whole thing is seeing how my body is, how I respond, how I feel. You know I'm 41 years old. I take pretty damn good care of myself but you know I wanted to see how I felt to throw with DK and how the juices felt now that the ball came out and just all those little things and also just get to know DK. And like I said, that's a really good human being.

Like from the first conversation I had with him, he was saying like, yes sir, no sir. And I said, you old ass. Just because I'm old? No, that's just how we talk. He's just a really respectful dude and an absolute specimen. He's accomplished a lot in the league.

And I've enjoyed getting to know him a little bit enjoy throwing to him I mean what a what a talented guy he is. Okay so I'm gonna get right to the point here you love DK love Tomlin. Wait till you meet GP and Pat. Yeah George Pickens Friar Moose absolute beast the city of Pittsburgh is I mean wait till you try Rudy's subs everybody knows Bermane's sandwiches Dallas Salas pizza holy I mean, there's so much to love about the city that I assume you didn't get to experience in your one day in your Malibu, easy in, easy out. But it sounds like what you're saying, and we talked, you like Dayball, obviously the Vikings, you and KOC have a relationship.

That was the thing. They got JJ McCarthy over there. But there's been a lot of chatter about you going to the Steelers. And nothing that you have said here has made me believe that you're ruling out going to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Is that an accurate assessment? And if you were to play again, does it feel like it would probably be for the Pittsburgh Steelers? Well, again, I'm going back to it, but I am trying to be open to everything and not specifically attached to anything when it comes to this decision. I'm not holding anybody hostage.

I really want to emphasize that nothing about what I'm saying. I've been upfront from the beginning. I don't mean any disrespect to any player on their team, veteran or young guy that comes in. I'm just going through a lot in my personal life that has to take precedent at this point. Because that's a big commitment and when the commitment is made, it has to be an all in type commitment. And I know people say, oh, well, you missed mini camp last year. It's like, we can go down that story at some point for a different time, but, um, but, but not now.

Uh, I've talked about it at length, but, um, I don't think it was fair to the Steelers or anyone, um, you know, to make a decision while I'm dealing with, uh, a lot off the field. So at the same time, I want wanna keep the lines of communication open. That's why I've talked to all the important people and the people that need to know, know what's going on. And the people that don't make up shit about me. And that really hasn't changed since COVID.

Well, I think even before COVID, which is why Aaron Rodgers Tuesday even started, then I think COVID probably expedited the- Well, COVID, yeah, put it on steroids for sure. Yeah. Yeah. We're not gonna get- Still, I haven't, you know, not that I need one.

I haven't got an apology. I haven't got an apology yet about anything COVID related. Haven't actually heard- I don't need that. I'm just like maybe some of the, you know, the same crew one time and maybe admit especially after everything has been released You were wrong. Maybe that hippie out there maybe that football doofus Who had a 500 page report that that kind of gets lost in the entire thing had a little bit of peace of information ahead of time and Maybe that type of mentality and uh stick to it is a reason why he's a goat whenever it comes to football.

Now, you said you're trying to keep the lines of communication open. I would assume that there's a reality about what is next week. Connor has a question for you. Yeah, Aaron, great to see you. Always a pleasure. Next week, the draft, and I'm not saying, you know, what prospects do you love? Because I assume, like you said, you've been dealing with a lot of stuff. You're not really locked in on that specifically But have you kind of thought about the idea of certain teams making certain moves and does that change anything?

You know, you said you're attached to nothing But if there was one team that maybe went a certain direction with that change of thought on Maybe possibly playing for them opening the door to go to that team and then also, you know You brought up last year's mini camp. We now all know over the last three months, you went to Egypt to explore the tunnels beneath the pyramids and go. I wish I had. I mean, I've read a lot of stuff about even before the,

you know, the what is it, LIDAR, what they're using to expose it yeah bare minimum you know those weren't tombs so okay bare minimum boom this is at the bare minimum conversation okay well happy you want to we didn't know if you had a shovel when you went over there you were digging down and see what was there but anyways go ahead i wish yeah, but I haven't seen one draft prospect film or nothing I mean, I watched some college football for sure. I did see the running back from Boise State He was at UCLA the day that DK and I worked out and he is a specimen now. He's He is put together. He's put together. Well, yeah, he is well put together. And I think, I don't know, maybe Bijan Robinson, who's the last

running back to go in the top ten? Bijan, yeah. Was it Bijan? Yeah. I think it's probably going to be him probably going to go in the top ten. And, I mean, just the eye test, he passes the eye test for sure. Look at this! We got a monk drafter, Aaron Rodgers, while doing

this, but does the draft affect anything that you were going through? Oh, no, I don't know. You just kinda, you'll watch it, see what it is, and then we'll catch up and see what happened on the other side? I mean, listen, I'm not gonna say I won't watch it, cause I know you guys are doing a,

if I watch anything at all, I'll be watching you guys. That's kinda you, thank you. I'll say that. And you're going back to Mold Stomping Grounds. If I watch anything at all, I'll be watching you guys. That's kind of you. Thank you. I'll say that. And you're going back to Mold Stomping Grounds. That's right, AJ, the hero of his son at Green Bay, he's coming back to Green Bay. It'll be great to see him out there.

What type of reception are you thinking he's gonna get? Cause he did it in a plane for a couple other teams. You know, is he gonna get cheers? All time leading tackler for the Green Bay Packers, they gotta go bananas for AJ Hawk we would assume They're waiting on you to come back here and just like we were at the big night out. Yeah, what's that all about? I thought you were making your decision a big sorry. I couldn't make it. Yeah, sorry. I couldn't make it Yeah, really wanted to be there yeah, I

Know you're a guy that loves all the attention and the spotlight and everything like that. He told me, he was like, could you imagine if I go in, I'd be the biggest asshole of all time. The amount of time that you put into this and all the people that you have. And then I show up and it's just like... Hey, that was a private conversation. Okay. All right. I'm just telling you. I'm still not sure. I'm telling you. Yeah. Aaron, I'm telling yeah. Aaron was like, the fact that I was, he like almost apologetic that it was even like a part of the company. You need to know if you would have been there, definitely trot your ass right out that middle. You're getting a football nose hit. Right hand and left hand. I want to see both out there. We would have loved having you. But I do respect and appreciate you being like, you didn't like that that was a big part of the narrative which I respect out of you and I think a lot of people kind of misunderstand who you are as a human as a whole and

I can't wait to see what you do next legitimately. How often are you thinking about it? Like whenever we saw that picture of you on the beach Like there's a thousand things going on your personal life So I guess you can contemplating anything But how often is football on the mind? I assume it has to be a lot. Legit. I assume it has to be. And are you listening to, Oh mama, I'm in fear for my life from the long, long, love the law. Boom, boom. Or Tone Diggs wondered if you actually had wave crashing sound in your headphones because the ocean wasn't making good enough

wave crashing sounds. So you just kind of amplified it in there. How much are you contemplating football? Is it in every day, every hour? What is the, if you had to just put like kind of a timeframe on it? I mean, it's a small percentage because the conversations have been had, you know, there's no more contemplation. I'm taking

care of my people right now and I'm taking care of my personal life responsibilities and I'm keeping the conversation open as well. What I listen to on the beach I listen to mostly Alan Watts speeches. Oh really he's good one that guy's an orator. That was our second guest. That's guys yeah we did throw that. That was our second guest. Oh TJ Watts speeches. Yeah I'm sure it was. Yeah JJ's dad. Oh Watts. Yeah it's all the Watts. Okay yeah we're tying it together. TJ gonna be there. He started the peace sign last question for me Your helmet being banned your helmet being banned

Is this something that's crossed your mind on you know what the helmet goes I go. Oh Again I didn't hear about that until I don't I don't know if it was me or Tim but one of them Let me know that that was out there. Listen, I know it's been on the edge. I mean, I've worn multiple shut helmets that have all been on the edge. And at some point, I think this is at least the second, if not the third helmet I've worn that it's like got cycled out because it doesn't pass the concussion test good enough. Don't look. Absolutely. I don't know.

Listen, I don't know the inner workings of shut. But if I were to play, I'm gonna wear a shut if they're still going. If they still got a good helmet that passes some sort of test, that's what I wear. I'm a Shutt guy. I've been for 20 years. I've tried other helmets at other times in college, but that was my favorite helmet. So it's too bad that they banned it because I haven't had a concussion in a number of years. But they make damn good helmets.

I'll tell you what, if Shutt can pass a protocol, can pass a protocol I'm aware now it's on the edge How about I'm saying on the edge? Yeah, every time it needs a score of at least six point four or higher This thing's six point four. I mean, it's been it's been on the bottom of the yellow for sure At least the last three or four years, you know goes green It's all the vices and different ones are best Riddell ones and it'd be like the shut XP whatever throw down at the bottom that I wear Like just two notches above, you know that no one else in the league is wearing They put that up on the jumbo like on the screen at training camp because they'll come out and do an entire presentation

About the new models the new studies the new research the new everything It's part of the equipment room and they do have like a scale studies, the new research, the new everything. It's part of the equipment room. And they do have like a scale. Here's the safest in our eyes helmet. And then they do say like, these ones have been banned. These ones are close. That's a lair's thing to describe it as on the edge.

Cause everybody's like looking, oh, nice new model. And then Aaron, every time like still good. All right. I don't know how they're rolling that one out there again. I swear to God, that's, it's one of the first things I look at is there was, there was always like a player in a helmet and it had like green, yellow, and red, you know, and I'd always look for that little shirt. I'm like,

oh, am I still good? Still good. Well, I'm happy to hear that you are still open to things. I'm happy to hear that it seems like your football conversations and life are going in a positive fashion. I'm happy to hear that you're driving in a Malibu in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on a Friday out of nowhere. I'm sorry to hear about you going through a lot of things in your personal life with your inner circle. And we all are excited to hear about what you're gonna do with your future whenever you figure out the time is right

to make that decision. We appreciate the hell out of you, man. Yeah, listen, I don't have sources. I don't have people that are out there pushing narratives I speak for myself and it's been nice to be quiet for the last few months it's funny in that time period how the shit narrative goes fucking crazy right when I haven't said a fucking word so there's nothing to say I just laid out where I'm at there's nothing to say. I just laid out where I'm at. There's nothing else to report. There's no other reason to be continuing

to talk about me at this point. So it's time to turn the page. All those people that have made a lot of money slandering my name, you know, apologize for COVID. Say your back status. Okay, all right, okay, all right. Happy to hear you, couple months off, still got the fast blood. Hey, and fucking keep it moving.

Yeah, you're right, how you doing, keep it moving. Tell Apollo we said hello, can't wait to meet him. Yeah, I don't know where he's at right now. He must be laying down on the ground here somewhere. Pissing on something, He's pissing on something. He's chewing. Yeah, chewing something up for sure. He's chewing something up. Huskies are very not active either.

Yeah, yeah. And Apollo... No, not at all. Apollo is a... No! I can tell just by looking at four legs and everything. Two different eyes, right? Huskies? Sometimes. Sometimes.

Oh yeah. No, he's got... They're baby blue. They're both blue. They're both blue. Like dad. For Apollo. That's what you're saying. Oh Australian shepherds. Yeah.

They have the different eyes a lot. Have you ever seen a half wolf, half husky? You ever seen that one? Those are big. Those are big dogs. Dire wolves are back. Connor, are you thinking about going to space anytime soon or not?

I mean, I don't know. It depends if we got any green screens around here. I can Okay. Aaron, we appreciate your brother. Hope you stay on land. Hope you make whatever decision makes you the happiest. I might go in the ocean later, but other than that, yeah, I will. I'll be good right here. Watch those dolphins. Watch those dolphins. I don't see any right now. There's a guy down there fishing though. Good luck out there. What are you fishing for? Well, thanks. You guys be safe out there and if you go to Green Bay man, and you want dinner Go to Chives We stay at your house

Yes, yeah Go to Chives stay at Aaron's wife is good. We appreciate you ladies and gentlemen Aaron Rodgers gentlemen Aaron Rodgers. Okay so as a Steelers fan what did you hear? Because I'll tell you what I heard. Go ahead. What I heard was... sounds like... If he's playing he's playing. That sounds like... That is what I heard. Do diligence. Not only is due diligence, and he wouldn't say they're obviously very personal, it's very serious things that are happening to people very close to him. And I think he is a big part of helping his,

like I think he's a big part. So I think he probably didn't wanna make a decision to do it all knowing that he was gonna be absent, not only physically, but like mentally as well. He's very serious things. He won't say it. And I don't want to, I almost feel like it. I'm not going to say it. There's very, very, very serious, not for him, but people very close to him. And he feels, I think, compelled or responsible. Yeah, he's helping. He's helping people. People that have been around him a long time

that have had a lot of things happen to them They're very very serious So he feels so I think he doesn't want to I think he was very upfront with people like I don't want to do This and then because I don't think he liked how big that story got last year about the OTAs No, he was like I was here every if he's gonna be in he's gonna be there fully I think that's what he wants to do Yeah, cuz I think he wants it to very much work like if he's gonna continue to play which he said he's still open to retirement Which potentially is something he doesn't want to go like what the jet like he's gonna want it to have success

so I think I It sounded like he is a fan of the Steelers is what it sounded like it sounds like he's not in time to make a decision Or in a time to commit to a football team right now and be their quarterback at the age of 41 with everything going on around him, but it sounds like let's see what takes place and then you know it sounds like he likes Mike Taumann what's going on in UPMC down there. Yeah obviously he loves coach T. He said coach T exceeded his expectations. Loves Artie Smith as we've said many many times Artie Smith didn't need to be sleeping on a couch. He could be an exec at FedEx if he really wanted to. Got to meet Omar. I know everyone in the facility from what I, loved Aaron and everything went great inside of there.

I mean him renting a Malibu and cruising through the streets of the Pittsburgh is awesome. Doing his due diligence with DK and everything like that and he spoke so glowingly of DK which we gave him $30 million. No, it sounds like if he's gonna be playing football, it's gonna be for the Steel, which I am so happy. It's in the Vikings. He was like, me and KOC know each other very well. Didn't really dive into that much. Gave him a couple opportunities to dive

into the Vikings. Didn't. So it sounds like in his eyes, maybe not as big of a story as maybe we or anybody else is kind of making it. Yeah. And it's crazy because when you think about it, he was already in the league when KOC got drafted to New England. So you assume they probably had a relationship a long long time ago before KOC was even a coach It feels like a lot's going on in his personal life, but he feels like he's a piece too. Yeah, I think doing great I think he's doing well like off the field, but the one thing I didn't ask it. We didn't mention the Saints did we? Yeah, so yeah, I guess that's a non-store

Yeah, so if he's a non-story. So if he's going to play, he's going to play for the Steelers. Was there any other options out there that we mentioned that he said? Talk to Dayball, say you like Dayball. You like Dayball. I mean, that doesn't have a quarterback right now though. They didn't though for the longest time. I don't think the Jets were an option.

Yeah, it sounded like that did not go well there. You could have just texted me and said, we're moving on. Like that's not normal, that felt right. I don't know, but maybe AG was looking for his response there, you know? Maybe like he was hoping Aaron would be like, no, I want to be here, you know?

Like there's always a reason, I'd assume. Now, Aaron Rogers, for instance, I would certainly expect a heads up that 20 seconds into this thing, you're just going to tell me you don't want me to be here whenever. I mean, I would assume. That's a long way, brother. Yeah.

Yeah, but maybe from the jet side, they're thinking, hey, we wanted to do the courtesy of talking to you in person about this. But then if you actually thought of it, you're like, well, I live in California, it's kind of far. If you're gonna let me go, just let's do a phone call. Yeah, I mean, there's obviously two,

there's a reason that AG did that. Yeah. I would assume. Because you could easily say, oh, they just, they sent me a text and cut me. You know, you hear people like break up, they break up with their wife over text or something. Learn via tweet or something. Yeah, so they may, they probably thought, hey, I'm being respectful by doing this in person, but just not. But Aaron on the other side, what are we?

Yeah. You didn't even ask me like who or what I like. Yeah, what needs to be changed. 21 years, I've been okay at this thing. I know you are also a very good coach, but you I've been around a long time had a lot of success Not even a you know, I used me as a sounding board before telling me okay Thank you for all that information now with that being said we'd like to move on So I think he probably assumed that conversation was gonna go a lot of different directions

Even if it was a conversation about him not being there anymore, which I think we all knew was a very real possibility Especially with the way the NFL works new coach new GM They have a team in their eyes how they want it to be is veteran quarterback Which I think we all knew was a very real possibility. Especially with the way the NFL works. New coach, new GM. They have a team in their eyes, how they want it to be. Is veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers the one that they're looking for? Maybe not. So I think he understands the reality of the business

that they could move on. I think he's just like, a lot with the Jets that I don't. I couldn't have expected. I think that's probably how he is viewing it all. We didn't get to your question, which I apologize for no good I think the biggest takeaway at least for me was that like there is no, you know Cuz we kind of talked about this out there like before the show a couple days ago like what if you know, he he just waits around kind of until there's like a

Injury to some other team and then he decides hey, I'll you know week eight or week nine I'll go sign with one of these contenders who gets put into a spot. But it sounds like he's not waiting around for the Vikings. Like once he kind of puts everything to bed in his personal life with that situation, then it seems like he's going to come to a decision. And that decision ultimately feels like it is going to be the Steelers. Like it doesn't seem like we're going to get get four weeks from now, you know, the Vikings, actually, you know, like maybe I will come in and then we'll figure out, you know, the situation there. Like it does seem like he knows it's Steelers or nobody.

At this point. That's what it feels like. Is that what we all heard? That's what it feels like. But if they, he said the draft doesn't change anything. If they go, like say Shadr falls and they draft him. I don't think that matters. It doesn't change things, does it?

He's not starting year one yeah so yeah yeah cuz then you still have the yeah cuz Aaron with the Jets I think he has said that he would be open to yeah yeah a younger quarterback never needed multi-year he said 10 million bucks mm-hmm ten amps ten amps ten amps dude it's a great amount of money bucks just out nowhere is great yeah but in comparison to what he would be the 28th, I don't know, how many rookie quarterbacks I guess was four or five. So he'd be like the 26th, 23rd, 22nd highest, whatever it was. You can guarantee me 10 M's but I want to put a bunch of incentives in there if we, if I take you

to great heights I want some, I want some more. Yeah we need at least a division title, playoff win, conference championship, Super Bowl. Yeah, the only way he's playing is if he feels like he can win. Yeah, money is not the thing. Which he said, yeah, with the Jets, but I mean, to the point of the money, yeah, Fields, Justin Fields got two years,

40 million from the Jets. So I'd be way under that. That's also why the Giants and the Saints never seemed like viable options. Cause like, he's not gonna Go just play just to play and collect a paycheck Like if the Giants or the Saints get Rogers do they immediately become like Super Bowl contenders? I don't think so like if he goes in place for the Steelers like here we go

Yeah, yes, they're always gonna win tough exactly have TJ's there He'll be oh they're gonna give him 40 million. They have to he's chucking deuces though. You can't let TJ It's only 30% you can't even let TJ play on the last year of his deal. He's he's chucking deuces, bro He is he's going like a foundational piece Big night out Wednesday was maybe you say what does that mean? Do we know do we know it? Did any context to that? Yeah, I'm gone right out cuz I'm out bitch. No, maybe he said Maybe he had four, one. He did.

And that was two. You know, maybe he was like. Oh yeah, could be. Maybe he was representing four, one, two. Where's the one? Yeah, well, could have been his thumb. It could have been his thumb, because he, four fingers, and then one, and then he was doing.

That's how we do it. The two, yeah. That's what people do. He's trying to induce his breath. Nah. You see that, dude? Yeah, but he doesn't have his pinky up in that so no but i'm saying he did He tried to change it. He tried to do it this way. He tried to do it with five two four fingers one thumb And then two over here. See four one. You wouldn't get your dog from me I am saying you fuck bro. You're saying fuck piss bro, bro. I'm out of you. No, he's not saying that Yeah, he is. He's a help deuces, bro What's jade saying his brother can say what he what he can't say Jade said you get a deal done early

It's cheaper. Yeah, and should done that basically. That's what he said last time. I was on the show. J. J said oh Yeah, go ahead talk shit about your fucking superstars brother, bro God you're right. That was a bad idea. This is why this is why TJ's leaving. He's sick of it, man. Just like all the scene of marks, they're sick of the disrespect and TJ should be too. I think the TJ deal will get done. That feels like it always does.

It got done during training camp last time for the good of the NFL feels like he's going to hold in or is he going to is he going to go to OTAs? He no, he held. No, I can held in last training camp. I can't remember what he did for OTAs. He might get traded on draft night. Yeah. Next Thursday night.

Google and paste your start up. So the NFL is obviously very alive. The NBA is very alive. Hockey, the Canadians secure a playoff spot. Congratulations to the La Habataans getting into the playoff picture for the NHL, which has been set. The Columbus Blue Jackets do not make it in. Hell of a run there at the end though.

Hell of a run there at the end. And the boys will be back stronger and sharper than ever next year. Obviously we're pulling for the Capitals, strictly because we met every single one on a member of the team. We did meet the whole team. Every single member of the team.

And OV is a beast. What a year it's been for them. Good luck the Golden Knights also Yeah, we'll see you in the finals They're hot. I mean they are blazing hot right now. Really? Yeah Stoner? Stoner obviously doing what Stoner does per usual Jackie Ace is coming off the best, you know season of his career I mean Noah Hanifin doing what he does I mean just all the boys are buzzing on all cylinders right now Do you still have your pods and your kit?

Without a doubt. Hanging in my locker right now whenever called upon. How come uh... Oh yeah, that's a great question. Sorry Gumpy. Tone just wanted me to ask you how Texas Hockey is doing. We've lost seven straight. We're just fucking cruising going into the playoffs. Gobbs who just came off LTI our brother Tyler Sagan

Yeah, we scored 15 seconds into the game Then we let in six straight last night against the Predators are tough. You guys are the worst teams in hockey I don't know what happened. We got ranted in one of the best goal scorers in hockey. We need Miro high skin and back I don't know if he's gonna be ready. We got the avalanche Robo he got hurt last night playing when he didn't need to either so Yeah, he was in a knee brace leaving the stadium. So it's great I'm glue with paths the OVs the favorites to win the Stanley Cup on ESPN bet Florida Panthers with Marshawn down there They getting Kichuck back. I heard he's on the ice coach spoke today. It said everyone's available for game one

I heard he's on the ice coach spoke today and said everyone's available for game one Them to go want that first round pick canes go tonight's oilers and You know, I'll be excited to see if the Devils can get it done at plus 5,000 sure, you know and Congrats to the Canadians making their way into the playoff picture last night earning at least one point is all they had to do now Let's talk about another sport that's taking place NFL NBA NHL and the MLB is happening It was a night of big bombs big hits and even a concussion or two Yeah, we've been talking about this time and time again You know the MLB is at its best when superstars are performing only had a couple games last night But what happened show hey, oh, Tony hits another ding-dong

Aaron judge hits another ding-dong. Aaron Judge hits another blast. Shohei's was an absolute moonshot and he's hitting that 450 feet. Just a no doubter, no doubter. Thought the Dodgers would go ahead and just beat the shit out of the Rockies because the Rockies are another team who kind of, they skim by but they're very similar to like the Pirates. They just absolutely suck. 85 miles an hour right in the middle of the spot. Yeah, exactly. I mean, yeah, I could have done that. But the Rockies are another one of those teams who are okay with kind of just winning 60

games every year, getting their ass kicked. And they also have a beautiful ballpark. But they're very pesky. They came back, almost beat the Dodgers. They didn't. So, you know, it doesn't really matter. And then Judgy here. I mean, listen, I know we talk about Shohei and he is, you know, like one of the

the biggest star in the MLB. Aaron Judge is the best player in baseball and I'm not just saying that as a homer. You look at his numbers, absolutely ridiculous. He was three for three in this game. He got intentionally walked earlier and then tie game in the seventh. This guy gets like one pitch to hit every single night and that's why they don't pitch to him because when he gets a pitch to hit he hits a fucking shot. I think he was 2-2 with an intentional walk before this at bat. Correct so he ended the night 3 for 3 he's batting over 400 he leads the MLB in batting average in slugging in on

base plus slugging in RBIs he's he has seven homers I think the league leader has eight and then yes scary situation here. You forget this kind of stuff can happen in baseball Hunter Wendell stat first base umpire just eats one eats a line dry side of the head right right off the side of the head And you can see I mean he drops like a fucking bad habit obviously first base coaches have to wear helmets now Yeah, I'm gonna start wearing helmets there on the side Well, you can't obstruct their vision because they got to be able to Yeah, oh yeah, and luckily he was fine nothing nothing ended up happening dog yeah, he left the game and and he was good, but Every once in a while like, you know

I mean this is this is kind of the why the majors can never have metal bats This is because of shit like show. Hey almost got donged in the dugout You did yeah He almost took one right to the head Mookie Betts hit a foul ball into the dugout and like they have those concrete barriers So like those balls are going super fast and then it hits that concrete skips like crazy Like it's also coming back off the backside of it when we were at that Pirates game. There's we were in a foul ball Yeah to the face

There was a couple that get over the net and they're going so fast because the pitchers are throwing harder Probably than I don't know than ever before they are yeah, okay So they're throwing hard and ever the batters are stronger than ever so anytime And I don't know equals MC square to whatever it is But anytime something's moving fast and then something very hard that shit's going very fit tough to react I'm talking with a puck You know the way hockey's had to protect the fans because of the pucks going in there,

baseball's obviously had to do the same thing. But if you're on the field, it's going to be difficult. You're right in the way. AJ, big head on that guy. I think probably protected and saved him. I hope so. I mean, I hope thick skull. This is real. Like if you're watching a baseball game

or even a hockey game, we would do that pens game. I was sitting up a little ways. Like we were right over the glass, like we were right in the area where you could take one right to the face. So I told him, I told him, I'm like, hey, don't protect you guys, I got you. I'm keeping my eyes on, I'm not looking down at my phone.

Like you look down at your phone in one of these games, you're dead. There's nothing you can do there either. Like it doesn't matter how, like you can't react that quick to a ball coming off a bat, like 115 miles an hour is just, there's no way, but he's good. Way to get back up. Yep, absolutely. Way to get back up.

100% And then, you know, people making a bigger deal about this, 115 miles an hour is just there's no way but he's way to get back up. Yep And then You know people making a bigger deal about this this fight was we had a bench is clearing brawl in the Nationals Pirates game Absolutely chicken shit though Pablo Lopez throws high at kutch right after he hit Brian Reynolds before that and then you know quote unquote the You know, obviously they're they're wondering hey skeins gonna go out there and beat the shit out of this guy the bench is clear the bullpen is clear but this is what we can't have happen then these guys just kind of sit around play play grab ass play patty cake one person did end up getting ejected but if the benches are gonna clear like we need

people to we need fights throw hey you know that's that's kind of cold looking the guys are coming all the way that's what I'm saying you clear the the bullpens to like that means actual bad blood. That means hey, we need guys throwing punches We need guys, you know getting ejected. We can't just do this kind of BS It ended up being you know, nothing really happened and and that was kind of the end of it coach We hope you're okay. Yeah, he was happy to see the boys stand up and yell at the other side for him Yeah, exactly. That was good to see a little bit of uh, know, a little bit of energy there AJ the Pittsburgh Pirates are in a bad spot Okay, they got Paul skeens the next one Koch obviously has been Very successful baseball player started with Pirates once month came back to Pittsburgh. The ballpark is glorious

But the numbers are not good down there. Yeah, it's a joke It really is. You guys talk about it and I think people who maybe aren't from there don't follow baseball. Like, don't understand. There should never be 8,000 people at a Major League Baseball game. Ever. Like, understand it's cold, so you can maybe say that for a couple.

But we've seen a couple of these instances where the weather's great. That stadium is immaculate It's beautiful. The tickets are fucking cheap the food good Yeah, like everything about that experience is is great a and it's still like you're still watching Major League players and I think that's kind of partially why people are fed up and they like the Pirates have five guys Batting below 200 in their lineup right now Like they just don't they don't try to compete So even when skeins is pitching the night we went and saw there were probably what I mean

I don't know what they said for attendance, but Way less that you know 8,000 might have been what they said there were probably like 3,000 people there like it's just it's a fucking Joke man and like something does need to change yeah, and people I think people not showing up is Becoming a message from the city yeah to the ownership and to the team not to the players does need to change. Yeah and people I think people not showing up is becoming a message from the city. Yeah. To the ownership and to the team not to the players. I tried to tell that to Paul at Big Night Out because numerous times throughout Big Night Out it has gotten to a pitch with Pittsburgh fans you remember fire Canada you remember that that was everywhere we went yeah and

then they Tomlin was forced the Steelers are forced to do something that they have never really done which is make a coaching change at a coordinator position in the middle of the season literally it's not something to Pittsburgh Steelers ever do but it got so loud Pittsburgh fans will let you know and this one feels like they are finally fed up with the ownership because I think it's because Paul Skeens I think the Pittsburgh people are at the point of being Disgusted with the owner used to be mad at the owner hate the owner is bullshit This is buckos, but we'll go have a nice family night out at BNC Park. You know occur everything

We just said maybe we'll get some Zambelli fireworks We're gonna expect the Pirates to lose but hopefully somebody on the other team is good enough that we can say we were there for a Moment now it's at the point where it's like the Pittsburgh people are like we're done with this. This is from big night out last week on Wednesday Oh shit two hours later Yeah, Paul is in a tough spot there and I did not expect that to be clear I did not expect that reaction I had no idea but it does feel like the entire city of Pittsburgh is at the point where they're like This guy deserves better Paul skeins We got a guy and we've seen this. A lot of Pittsburgh Pirates pitchers

have started in Pittsburgh and then they go on to win awards in World Series at other places. And then with Paul, it's like, I think all of Pittsburgh is like, this guy loves our city, this guy is perfect for our city, and he's the next one, and this ownership group is still just not doing something or anything about it. That's why I think they're so loud,

and that's why I think they're not showing up. I think they've decided as a group, like, nah, we're not giving this guy anything. Is that how you anything about it. That's why I think they're so loud and that's why I think they're not showing up. I think they've decided as a group like, nah, we're not giving this guy anything. Is that how you think about it? Yeah, it's definitely a decision because the tweet that was just up there, I think it's four or five times this year already under 9,000 tickets sold. It happened only once last year. They weren't good last year either. They weren't good the year before. When was the last time they were 2004 2014 was the last time they made the playoffs So that I would the ten years it's a decade and so they haven't been good since then but this is the first time that

It's this is the first time that no one's showing up and it's a coordinated decision by the city because they are so fed up With everything and because of Paul I just definitely I mean there's there's definitely a correlation to Paul starting second half of last year coming into this season with all the expectations with Paul and the rest of the pitching staff And then you know it just they did nothing this offseason for the lineup to help the the pitching or Paul and the like It was loud coming into the season, and then they didn't have a good start And it's just kind of they reached a fever pitch would like to let Paul know this is a compliment They love this is because they love Paul skeins big old pop like yeah Yeah, yeah exactly. He is the one that they are mad

Finally fed up with ownership because of like here we go again another one for him. Yeah, and you're Everything that Paul is about Pittsburgh people are like we like this guy. Yeah, what are your hobbies nap and then baseball baseball uh nap and then baseball baseball really how do you feel about the city of Pittsburgh love the people here love the city love this love everything about Pittsburgh it's like nobody's saying that in baseball in it for the Pirates in history let alone the guy who's supposed to be a Hall of Famer now obviously a lot of career left but he's doing things that nobody's ever done before I think he is the reason why the Pittsburgh people are done with it just

like this guy does not deserve this, basically. This guy's representing our city in a poor fashion. And I think it's only gonna continue. Yeah, and I assume like digs would know and like pirates fans would know, but like now it's just like the expectation. Like we joke about it where it's like, oh, you know, he'll be a Yankee in five years,

but it's like a lot of these guys, like, you know, it's gonna happen. Like these guys don't want us, and it has nothing to do with Pittsburgh. It has nothing to do with the city, but it's like he lot of these guys like you know it's gonna happen like these guys don't want us and it has nothing to do With Pittsburgh it has nothing to do with the city But it's like he had more people were showing up to his games at LSU to watch him play like you don't get you're not The number one pick a guy who could win a Cy Young you go to the big leagues You've dreamed about this your entire life, and then it's your day to go out there and pitch and nobody's in the fucking stands It's like you're playing in a high school game like people can can blame the weather or whatever. Like it's cold as shit.

New York, there are forty three thousand people at the Yankees game the other night, like because guess what? They have a three hundred million dollar payroll. Like they put money into it. They want people to come to the stadium and enjoy the like the the pirate. The Pirates payroll is eighty eight million dollars. Like they just they don't try to feel the competitive winning team. And eventually people will.

They'll just be like, you know what? Fuck this, I'm done. Why am I going to spend my money if this rich prick's not going to spend any of his money? Yeah, and I saw a video from Jet Pass and talking about that. How like going into this year, like you have Paul Skeens, you have the pitching staff, you have a bunch of guys. And then they put like 19 and a half million dollars in free agency this year. And like we're talking about $300 million dollars for one team and then you know

You were talking about Pittsburgh here where their best player isn't one of their highest paid guys. He's on a rookie You know, that's a rookie quarterback rookie quarterback deal Yeah, and they're only putting 19 and a half million dollars in that offseason too That is 100% the issue because you know skeins at our average 25,000 people at his games last year Which is which is a pretty good number this year We saw the game there was nobody there and it's exactly because of that. They said oh we have the guy We have the pitching let's put money into this team this offseason and we'll be fucking great this next year And they did jack shit. So that's why everyone's super fit

Yeah, and everybody in Pittsburgh said they did jack shit and then they said no we like our team and then they started out terrible And they're like you did jack shit. Yeah, they don't play in a good division so like if they would have done a little bit like they could go with like Walskeen's is like in his prime here and he's not making you know 40 million dollars a year which he will be eventually like they could have been one of those teams where it's like hey the Pirates could win this division every single year. That Park AJ deserves you to feel. It's the best. From where we sat if you stand at home plate you look through like the outfield into the with the Clemente

Bridge right don't and everything about it. It's awesome. Everything's awesome. Everything about it. What great logo? Yeah, no quick fix Oh, right. What can the owner do? Well, I bring it So we're looking into this Baltimore sold I guess a few years back 1.3 1.3 billion So we would assume that the Pirates would be in that ballpark, you know, maybe 1.3. 1.3 billion. So we would assume that the Pirates would be in that ballpark, you know, maybe 1.5, maybe 1.75, whatever the case is. The guy bought the team for how much money? It was like it was 90.

Congrats dude, you did it. 90 mil. 90 million. What year? Orioles was 1.725. Okay, so probably like 2 billion just because as things go, professional sports are only going to go up. So somebody could buy the Pirates potentially

for $2 billion. You're also buying that P. Every hat has. I don't think you're buying a stadium. I think the city runs the stadium and all that. But it's like, you got Paul Skeens there. If you were able to buy that team, that guy goes from 90 million to 2 billion.

You should be pumped about that guy. Passion fans. Get out. Take it and leave. It can't be fun to be the owner and the owner has to, this has to come across their desk. He has heard. From what I've been told, he has heard. And also opening day, he was walking around the stadium, wanted to be a part of the people and one person recognized him. It was like, yo, it wasn't

a thanks for everything. It was a sell the team. And they just, everywhere he walked, it was just literally like a hive of people. And they passed, it was like a wave. They passed the chant to the next group of people that where he was walking by, because he was walking down like a walkway or whatever now. So like there's a group of people here. They recognize him. Sell the team. Oh buddy, he goes, okay. He gets in the next group. They go, hey, and they sell the team. And then he gets in the next group they go hey and they sell the team and then he gets in the next group Sell the team he had people from every part of the city every part of the stadium Telling him to sell the team in person on opening day. That should be like as an owner as an owner like opening day should be like a

Celebration like hey, there's there's hope there should always be hope on opening day We're back instead every single human that's on except for the security guy that was walking with him I guess because he probably felt obligated not to say it was telling him to sell a damn team. That's uh basically there he is he's walking through sell a team you saw the business caught him this fucking guy there he is that's him that's him then people are turning around continuing to sell the team and you know from what I've been told obviously he has heard the stuff that's been said on shows Sure I've been told obviously he has heard this stuff that's been said on shows sure Our shows other shows and everything like that and mark Cuban always said cuz mark Cubans from Pittsburgh once Indiana Obviously ends up in Dallas buying the Mavericks Allegedly he got turned down buying the Pirates a couple years ago

He's trying to make a couple runs at it Who knows if that's still the case, but he he says if you were getting paid 40 million a year Would you wake up every day, go stand in the middle of downtown for five hours and have everybody come tell you you suck and then you just go home? But you're getting paid 40 million a year. Would you take that job? I don't want that.

Me personally, no. But there's a lot of people that say, yeah. In a heartbeat. Everybody's getting 40 million dollars. If you're living that for years. That's tough at some point You gotta lay your head down You would think that there would be some sort of pillow thoughts, but what I've realized with this guy You don't have him care. He is not I mean he's just walking around the profitable business. Yeah, it's always do

It's not the same thing because there's not as many of like the issues and like the oh this guy's a real piece of shit I don't know, you know like his backstory really or anything like that. But it's almost like a Dan Snyder situation where it's like everyone says for the longest time, like this guy fucking sucks. He needs to sell the team. We're never going to be any good while he's the owner. And they get off on that. It's like, oh, well, guess what?

I do own the team and I'm making a shitload of money. And there's nothing any of you fucking people can do about it until people are like, OK, well, then we just won't come anymore. Yeah and that's what's happening right now. Yeah and like the direction of baseball like it feels like baseball does have steam. A lot of stars. A lot of stars the games we were talking about earlier. Trouts playing well right? Yeah he's hitting homers. Yeah but like the games are going quicker the pitch clocks helping all this stuff like sure he could sell the team now or he could wait 10 years and baseball might be in a much different place where he's

selling it for you know two and a half billion like look what happened with the Timberwolves Timberwolves sell for what was it one one and one point five or whatever it was but now the team the Celtics just sold for six oh one four years later like that guy tried to get out of selling the team because the NBA Stars a lot more people got more steam like the MLB might be in that same position now Yeah, so maybe he's just holding on for a couple more years. Yeah. Yeah, we got Paul You're right other people gonna be buying pirate stuff this valuations gonna gonna go up and everybody in Pittsburgh is like

Please try to feel the team. Please try to be squad. We got to your stadium. We got the atmosphere We got the people we got an ace That's like they could spend like if they spent 70 million more dollars Like we're still talking about having half a payroll that like the Yankees and the Mets do but like at the very least like at least you're trying a little bit like 88 million dollars for your and like your entire team's payroll like it just it says to everyone like hey we're not trying to win so you know and I assume other owners don't love it either cuz they had to share money. They had rev shares so they're taking these teams the Yankees are taking care of the Pirates aren't they

how they have to take care of these teams that don't spend and it's not good for the league to have a team that is just like clearly not attempting to win you know I'd assume the MLB doesn't love it. They have to hate it I would love to see here what like the other owners say about them more people are showing up to these triple-a stadiums Than they are to the Pirates games more people shut up a big night out exactly. Yes a lot more Yeah, go to a Columbus Clippers game triple-a team in Columbus, Ohio. There's it's a clips jammed You tried Pat you tried to make it entertaining you tried to put on a good night Yeah, it's weird how that works

Yeah invested heavily and it's weird how that works. You sell out of place It's not like a great time talks pirates do on their entire roster for the whole season in one night Yeah, you know, I mean that kind of that kind of says it right there Let's get out of here we we gotta hit the road, Jack. Oh yeah. We're gonna come back, but it's in a long time. The road to mania. The road to mania is hitting the sky for us

here in a matter of a few moments. Next stop will be Las Vegas. For the greatest spectacle in all sports entertainment, WrestleMania. Tomorrow will be absurd. Las Vegas for the greatest spectacle in all sports entertainment Wrestlemania Tomorrow will be absurd I have got confirmation that there will be another guest Oh here we go Shut up, who?

No I don't want to say it Word? No Word? No way Word? Word? Word? Word?

Word? Word? Word? Give me a hell yeah. Hell yeah! I didn't believe you. Whoa. What a day.

Let's go. God. Doors open at 8 a.m. local at WWE World. We will start at 9 a.m. local, obviously. We're gonna start at 9 a.m. local. We're gonna start at 9 a.m. local. We're gonna start at 9 a.m. local. We're gonna start at 9 a.m. local.

We're gonna start at 9 a.m. local. We're gonna start at 9 a.m. local. We're gonna start at 9 a.m. local. We're gonna start at 9 a.m. local. We're gonna start at 9 a.m. local. We're gonna start at 9 a.m. local. We're gonna start at 9 a.m. local.. Doors open at 8 a.m. local at WWE World. We will start at 9 a.m. local, obviously noon Eastern. 9 15 will be our tribal chief. Rhea Ripley will stop by. Triple H will stop by.

And I do believe Stone Cold Steve Austin will be stopping by. Cannot wait to kick off WrestleMania weekend tomorrow morning. Cannot wait to be a part of the Hall of Fame and the kickoff to WrestleMania in the afternoon, then Hall of Fame late night, East time, 10 p.m. local. And then obviously WrestleMania Saturday and Sunday is going to be absolutely glorious. The things that come out of WrestleMania are talked about forever every

single year. Even if you're not a massive wrestling fan, you turn on this weekend you're gonna find yourself entertained, wowed, and potentially yourself a wrestling fan for the rest of your life. Just disappear for a little bit. Just disappear. Just go into the world and enjoy the hell out of yourself because what the WWE puts together is second to none. We're very lucky to get a chance to work intimately with it for Big Night out and the people that have Been around WWE on the production side have been putting on the greatest spectacles around the world

For decades and decades and in Vegas with all the opportunity in the stars in the investment this weekend is gonna be second to none I cannot wait for an iconic weekend, and we hope you'll join us tomorrow And then we'll be live on Monday wrapping up WrestleMania and also potentially chit chatting with Max Crosby. Oh! Live in person in his home of Las Vegas. So we appreciate you all so much. AJ, thank you for coming out to Thunderdome.

Great being here. It's awesome. You did look cool today. Great fit. With AJ here, I think we need to do a giveaway. I don't. Actually, you're right, we've done a lot. Alright, never mind.

We'll do one maybe tomorrow at WrestleMania. Be a friend, tell a friend something nice. It might change their life. We're in this thing together. Hey, chat. We appreciate you getting out of the chat. Shout out to the chat. AJ, anything you say to the chat? Shout out chat. Nice. I already to chat shout out chat nice boom I said that

yeah I know so I reiterate it so they got it double down boom you under reach like Bruce dancing on Pete I said Bruce what about to do doubling down and he went and grinded on Pete back in the day when he did the Pete family obviously everybody understands what you're talking about here of course inside jokes and inside stories are obviously amazing, especially when outside people are listening. That's very inside too. Yeah, it was very, very, very, very, very inside.

Bruce is a Michigan fan, so whenever Pete Tamil was doing the news that he was doing about Harbaugh and others, Bruce was offended by it, like I believe a lot of Wolverines fans were. And then Bruce was a little boozed up in a hotel at the National Championship. And Pete Tamil happened to be hanging out because Pete Tamil is friends with us. Love Pete. And Bruce just going to help himself and Bruce stumbles basically knocks over Pete. Pretty much headbutts him. And says something to him and it's almost a scene and Bruce I hope you felt good over there. Go Blue! Go Blue baby that was a deep cut then it's a

deep cut now. Well a shot to AJ. Yeah. I know you didn't know your name at first that's why we call you Bruce. Yep. Now he's referencing a drunk night in Houston, Texas at about 2 30 a.m. in a hotel lobby. Yeah. Multiple years ago. That's good brain on you. Two years ago. Yep. That's it. Zero concussions unlike a multiple. Multiple, yeah. Could also use the word couple in that particular instance. Multiple would also work because it's more than one. But I appreciate where you were coming from and thank you for coming out here It's great to be here. Are you getting in the ring this weekend? Looks like you're in shape. Yeah I don't believe so, but there's a couple people that that I'm looking for some surprises. I think I'm might get in there Are you looking forward to I mean we all know we all know our one guy

We like it Tommy invincible. We hope he gets his shot. Maybe Sam Roberts I hope Sam Roberts gets a try to get in there I'll let Tommy invincible now because he heard DButch shout out yesterday and we talked about him. AJ was... I've been pushing him for a while. AJ found you early. Yeah, AJ found you. AJ's been funneling your reels to me for a long time.

And I would like to say AJ, you got an eye for talent, brother. You got an eye for talent. You got an eye for talent. An eye for moxie. Absolutely, how could you not? I mean, the first video I saw, I think there were seven people there. He high-fived them all, though.

All of them. And the yell and the intensity, it was like, that's how you, like a professional. Like, hey, how's it going? Yeah, he's a pro. That's what I think of, this guy's a pro. Doesn't matter how many people are out there, who's out there, we're going to entertain.

Are you in good shape? Looks like you're in great shape right now. Why, what does that mean? Hey, Dunny, Dunny, you look so young. I haven't seen you. I haven't seen you in person in a long time. Yeah, I'm about the same as I've always been. You look jock, dude. Not really.

Man, I'd love to see Punk kick your ass this weekend. I'm not taking it. I would never take one of those. CM Punk. CM Punk. You seen the bombs he throws? Yeah, I'm there every Monday. No, I don't want any part of that. What about Seth Freakin' Rollins maybe Yeah, I'm there every Monday. Yeah, I know. No, I don't want any part of you. Do you? I don't want any part of you. Do you know?

What? What about Seth Freakin' Rollins maybe stomping your head through the fucking desert? I don't want any part of anybody in the WWE. They all scare me. What about Michael Cole? Michael Cole, now if he came out of the old Coltrane and put his single back on, maybe I'd get in there. You'd knock him out?

Maybe I'd carry him. Maybe I'll carry him like a backpack into the ring. I'll be his manager. I like Johnny Bananas. Yeah. Or maybe, yeah, you know, the Baby Bjornorn he's on the front, you know facing you well facing out with his Either way, I'm not doing it, but you know, I don't know if he was facing you like that lady did whenever they wanted big Night out. That's right. You know No, I'm not now. Maybe Michael Cole straddling. Maybe that'd be pretty cool. I don't think so

What tell get out of here? I'll be a friend tough for something Maybe Michael Cole straddling you. Maybe. That'd be pretty cool. I don't think so. What, Tom? Let's get out of here. Be a friend, tell a friend something nice that might change your life. Tomorrow, even if you're not a wrestling fan, just know it's going to be absurd. Tomorrow's going to be a spectacular end of itself on our show. And then the greatest weekend in wrestling happens. And we're lucky as hell to be a part of it all. Be a friend, tell a friend something nice that might change your life.

We're in this thing together. Team on me. Happy Mania Weekend. Hell yeah, boys. Here we go. Team on three. One, it might change your life. We're in this thing together. Team on me. Happy Maynard Weekend. Hell yeah, boys. Here we go. Team on three. One, two, three. Team.

Goodbye. Rapper Sean Diddy Combs was a kingmaker. He had wealth, fame, and power. What's up? Welcome to New York. Until it all came crashing down. Federal investigators raiding two homes owned by hip hop mogul Sean Diddy Combs.

I'm Brian Buckmeyer, an ABC News legal contributor. As Diddy heads to trial, we trace his remarkable rise and fall and what could be next. Listen to Bad Rap, The Case Against Diddy, a new series from ABC Audio. Listen now wherever you get your podcasts. ABC Audio. Listen now wherever you get your podcasts.

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 about. ABC's got some unique access here, so I'll talk to the reporters and producers who have followed these cases for months, sometimes years. We're bringing the latest developments and the larger context on the true crime stories you've been hearing about. Follow the crime scene for special access to the people who know these stories best.