The Pat McAfee Show - PMS 2.0 1367 - 5 Star QB Ryder Lyons Makes His College Commitment, Aaron Rodgers, Parker McCollum, Darius Butler, & AJ Hawk

Episode Date: June 24, 2025

On today's show, Pat, Darius Butler, AJ Hawk, and the boys chat about everything happening around the world sports before being joined by several great guests. First, 5 star QB from Folsom High School in California, Ryder Lyons makes his college commitment on the show ultimately choosing the BYU Cougars. Next, 4x MVP, Super Bowl Champion/MVP, and new QB for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Aaron Rodgers joins the show to chat about his thoughts on being a Steeler thus far, how this is probably his last season, his advice for Tyrese Haliburton, the paparazzi’s coverage of his private life, and much more. Later, country music Superstar, Parker McCollum joins the show to chat about his life as of late ahead of his self titled album being released on Thursday, as well as his tour that kicks off this week as well. 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. Cheers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hello beautiful people and welcome to our humble abode the Thunderdome on this Aaron Rodgers Tuesday June 24 2025 this program begins right now Sports are fantastic and obviously we're incredibly lucky that we get a chance to chat about them every single day It's not just me obviously I'm surrounded by a great group of dudes the toxic tables here at Boston Connor and at Tyshmit Love the elephant love the memory in the brain of an elephant might be my favorite animal in the wild actually Yeah, yeah something thinking about too. Good luck If the trunks are up in your house, if you have any elephant little statues, you're talking about tusks up. That's right

Tell us so yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. I love it it great t-shirt used to be a t-shirt guy Yeah, and then it got too cold. No, it's still a t-shirt guy Just decided nah, I don't feel like being uncomfortable, you know, I put the temperature in here is obviously fantastic We are in the summer days Shout to the summer solstice. I believe it took place the other day. Yeah longest sunshiney day Absolutely, congrats us solstice I believe it took place the other day. Longest sunshiny day. Longest day of the year. Yeah absolutely. Congrats to us. And it delivered. Yes it did. You see the sun last night man. Oh it was so long. Holy hell. Such a long day. You know it isn't long

the process to get YouTube TV. YouTube TV obviously has every sports fan in mind when they make it as easy as possible to not only watch live sports but all the other channels that you rely on to get through your day to day. For live sports, but all the other channels that you rely on to get through your day to day. For right now, 59.99 for two months, you scan that QR code right there. Remember, Quad Box Livin'. That's right.

The best. The GOAT. Yeah, the GOAT. Others will do it. Others probably are already instituting it on their platforms. YouTube TV delivering us the Quad Box, and now we're at the point of being able to pick and choose

what goes into the quad box Yeah, it's quite an advancement in entertainment delivery and them doing it first. We appreciate them shout out to YouTube TV Love YouTube TV Red Zone three games Got Hanson on the mic got everything. I mean it was perfect. It's perfect for football That's nine-year NFL vet Darius J. Butler One half of the hammer Cowboys AP tone is here.

Boys big news out of the sports world is from friend of ours Tyree Salliburton confirms that he had his surgery, a successful surgery. I believe he got it done in New York. He gave a very transparent message to the world thanking everybody for their support, acknowledging his reality. I believe he quoted Kobe Bryant whenever he was going through a similar situation so you can see he's finding inspiration in goats Obviously and then he had a Bible verse in there and then let everybody know that this sucks. Hey, this absolutely sucks I'm gonna try to come back and be the best version of Tyrese Halliburton and his messages were absolutely beautiful We apologize to the indie fans and we'd like to let you know as indie fans all of us are here

No need for an apology brother. We appreciate you the indie fans and we'd like to let you know as indie fans all of us are here no need for an apology brother we appreciate you putting on for the city and risking everything for us in a massive game 7 and what you did during that playoff run and throughout the entirety of your time here in Indiana has been represent the Pacers in a wonderful way this city this state these people so no need to apologize but congrats on a successful surgery. Now there is still a thought in 2025 that a surgery could not go good. You know there has been some of those things that have happened so I think there is some worries, natural anxieties that take place before surgeries especially for an Achilles.

Feels like everything went well and I think that is natural expectation at this point. It's just now the recovery is forever. Yeah and getting that surgery as close to the injury as possible. You saw with Tatum and he just start that recovery process but you talk about all the time it's mental it's the it's the camp the group you have around you he seems to have great people around him and obviously we all have his support and have his back so like you said nothing to be sorry about thank you Tyrese. Thank you Tyrese. Godspeed on recovery brother Tyreese who is laid up in a bed for a while being forced to watch this show

shout out thank you Tyreese! Love you Tyreese! Alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright quarterback from Folsom, California. This man's got 33 offers and counting is an absolute threat, both in the air and on the ground. He's a beast with moxie. He can dance, he's got swagger, he can elude tackles, he can run by you and through you, and he can drop a dime through the sky. Ladies and gentlemen, I believe to make his official commitment to college as a stud quarterback in the NCAA. Ladies and gentlemen, joining us now, Ryder Lyon.

How you doing, man? Sir, I'm great. How are you guys? We're fantastic. Thank you for allowing us to be a part of this massive moment in your life and I want to let you know I've been watching your highlights over the last like 26 hours or so once we heard that this was going to be possible you're a beast you're an absolute monster it was it was fun to watch you you have a couple wide receivers I think that are absolute studs as well but the way you spin it the way you run and the way you lead your team I think is a beautiful thing and why every college in the country wants you to be their quarterback. Congrats on a great recruiting cycle. How has it all been for you as these colleges try to kind of win your services at the next

level? To be honest, I'm just so blessed. I don't know why I'm so blessed, but I'm just appreciative. But it's I mean it's been incredible. It's been a it's been a long journey. I mean I got my first scholarship in eighth grade so we've been at this for a while. Wait a minute eighth grade that's a lot of pressure. Did you feel that as a like how did how does that even happen? So your your what age is an eighth grader? I don't even know. 13? 14? I think I was 14. 14 years old you get your first offer to play quarterback at the next level so obviously very early you were great at the sport.

You have to remain humble especially in the modern age because of how many cameras on you. You said you were blessed multiple times. Sounds like you have your head on straight and it sounds like you are focused for the future. What does the future look like for you, Ryder? Where will you be playing football next? I mean, for the next three to four years, I'll be going to Brigham Young University. OK, go Cougs! Hey, Ryder! Congratulations, Ryder Lyons, heading over there

to beautiful Utah with BYU and the Cougars who were 11 and 2 last year. Coach Kalani Satake obviously been there a staple for BYU football for a long time. You are of the Mormon religion right of the Church of Latter-day Saints? Yes sir. How has it been getting to know the BYU school and kind of entire football operation through this recruiting process for you. Yeah, I mean it's been great to be honest we're just talking about that scholarship and they were the first ones who did in eighth grade so they pulled the trigger on me they believed in me early

and it's just crazy how it all comes full circle you know. Yeah congratulations to you, congratulations to your family, congratulations to BYU and I love that we got a Raisin Cane's deal in the back here I love hey, let's go Yeah, good business brother eighth grade we're getting offers as a high schooler we're negotiating deals the NIL Component of it all was it overwhelming to deal with do you have somebody else kind of handle that because as a teenager I don't think that is necessarily something that's normal to kind of be thrown at you. How has that whole thing been, Ryder?

Yeah, it's hard. It's hard for sure. I do have someone who handles it for me. I have an agent, I have a whole team, but it definitely makes it just just confusing. I mean, you've done a lot of money from a lot of different places. But I think it's just you gotta obviously stay humble. Money's not the biggest part.

I mean, the biggest part is making it to the NFL because that's what the serious money is. That's what long term money is. So yeah, yes, Ryder. Yes. I don't know who's the person telling you That's what long-term money is. So yeah. Yes rider. Yes I don't know who's the person telling you these things or why you feel this way if this is just my mom Yeah, your mom shout to your mom. Shout your mom your mom's your mom's Yeah Shout out to your mom shout to everybody in your world because it feels like you're going to a place

That you really want to go and it's not a bad decision I feel like whenever that happens we see it via the transfer portal or people with negative feelings. Let's talk about your future with BYU. It is from my understanding that maybe next year will not be your first year playing quarterback at BYU. Is that accurate? Yeah that is accurate. Yeah I'll be serving a LDS mission. Okay so every I don't know if it's every person, forgive me if I don't get all the facts right, Austin Colley was my teammate and he ran through the entire kind of Mormon religion with me on numerous bases,

right, because I think Mitt Romney was gonna be president at the time. So I was like, I would like to learn about this religion and me and Austin Colley were draft class together and he was the greatest. Let me know everything. Boom, boom, boom. The mission I believe is like a huge honor because it is a calling from God basically to go serve the Mormon religion, right? That is it. So this is considered a massive ordeal I believe for probably you, your family, and everybody in the Mormon, in the LDS religion, right? Yeah, it's for sure a big deal. Yeah. Do you know where you're going? I do not. So I actually put my papers in in August and

then I'll get a call to anywhere in the country in like two to three weeks after. All right, well good luck on your mission. In the world. Yeah, Austin went, I believe to Argentina, came back. Hola, he was speaking a lot of Spanish. So I think you're going to get a culture experience. You're going to learn a lot about the world. And then whenever we see you on the football field, we can't wait to see what you do with BYU. We appreciate you, Ryder, for letting us be a part of this. I appreciate you guys. What's your favorite thing of raising canes? I've never been. I've never been. Cane at combo. Substitute the coleslaw for extra bread.

Oh, this guy. Yeah, I'm all in. Oh, this guy. Yeah, I'm all in. I'm all in. He got those. Hell yeah. All right, we appreciate you ladies for driving the Rider Lions.

Feels like he had it figured out. Yeah, big pressure. Feels like Rider Lions had it figured out. He's like a 45 year old. I did appreciate him addressing money being tossed at you, how it's confusing. That's tough. I can see that'd be very difficult.

He gets his first scholarship offer when he's in eighth grade. So whenever you get a scholarship in eighth grade, anytime you play any sport, people say, hey, that's the kid that got scholarship offer at eighth grade. So the amount of attention that he's had in his hometown, obviously in the state, I would assume,

they made it to the state championship. In every sport, not just football, has been very loud. I think you've got to be a certain level of mature to be able to handle all of that. It feels like he's got that in spades. Especially in Cali too. It's not like he's a smart, that's a that's a big time state in all sports especially football he's got to figure it out and it's tough like he mentioned you know yeah I got

someone that handles it for me I got a team I couldn't imagine being you know 10th 11th 12th grader with a team around me actually handling business but he seems like a kid that's going to focus and keep the main thing the main thing and I mean at that meal order getting Rid of that slaw extra bread price some extra sauce It's little things rider hell of a name to very very marketable in those plays by those some big-time football plays Yeah, there was a juke on the outside where he throws and he's yeah seed basically Splitting the safety in the corner over the wide receiver shoulder. And it was like, yeah, this guy is a guy. A year off from football though.

A year off from football is a long time at that age. Young though. Yeah, exactly. I think he'll be able to bounce back into it. But that year, I think the amount of growth that he's going to have as human is insane. Maybe he comes back as an even better football player, or maybe takes him a little bit

to get back into the swing at this. Yeah, it'd be interesting to see how all those guys who have to go on missions view it. But I think it's better for him to go right now as opposed to like being the starting quarterback for two years and then you got to take a year off and go. So we'll see. Austin Colley, I think broke like every freshman wide receiver record that they had at BYU. And then he got called to do a mission the next year.

So he was in the middle of his career and then he came back to football afterwards. So it's not, you never know when you could call. I think it's like a calling happens, I know, which is why it's such a big deal. Yeah, so I believe from God. I believe from God. Nice. Are there a lot of Mormons out in California where he's from?

I believe Sac area, Sacramento area, I think there is. Vegas, obviously, big Mormon area as well. Utah, everybody knows. I had not met a Mormon or hung around a Mormon until I got out here with Austin. They all have this... Good vibes. Real bra brah. Vibe laid back great athletes, too Seemingly. All right. We also after we talked to Ryder Lyons this morning had a another conversation I think is gonna garner some conversation

ladies and gentlemen, it's Aaron Rodgers Tuesday Ladies and gentlemen joining us now is a four-time NFL MVP a Super Bowl Bowl champion, a Mount Rushmore football player in the history of football. And now, the quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Ladies and gentlemen, Aaron Rodgers. Yeah! Good to see you, buddy. Hey, great to see you guys. How are you, man? You're a Pittsburgh Steeler. Hey, okay. It's the first time talking since you've become a Pittsburgh Steeler How does it feel and what has it been like over the last few weeks getting to know the boys?

It's been great man. I really enjoyed it. I Great three days out there for mini camp with the boys did some individual work, but but mostly just kind of watched on the side and Talked to Arthur and Tom Arthur I had a good time and it's fun. I was doing a bunch of events out there. So I got out there Went to Tomlin's house for a barbecue went to cam Hayward's house for a barbecue did cams golf event On the Monday had a good time. So just to meet the guys, get to know the guys.

It's strange that there's no names on the back of the jerseys. So it's all facial recognition. And I'm pretty damn good with names, but it would help if there was like a name on the back that you could lock that in with some of the guys you haven't quite fully got to talk to yet. You got to get into the program, but for sometimes- I've been in the program though. I've been in the program.

No, but I'm saying spring ball. There's some guys that aren't in the program, you know, cause there's guys that are, yeah, yeah. That's where I was going to make an excuse because this has happened to me too. Special teams, guy on the punt team, 57 comes in. Hey, Bob, don't want to disrespect you right now. I have no idea what your name is.

Somebody should have a place where I can find out what the fuck your name is. But I do not know what your name is. Somebody should have a place where I can find out what the fuck your name is, but I do not know what your name is. That's on me. I can understand that trying to get in a building had to do with the Jets. Now you're doing the Pittsburgh Steelers and I want to let you know from outside looking in feels like it's going swimmingly. Feels like from all the things we're learning from Kaboli inside the locker room he says creeping around the corners watching. He said you're making to make a great headway with the relationships amongst your teammates in

a way it's all kind of responding. How important do you think that is to have a relationship with your teammates? And how important was it to be signed with the Steelers before mandatory minicamp to get some face time? Like was that a thought whenever it was coming into the timing of when you would join a team from the beginning or kind of how did we get to that point? A lot of conversations with Mike T. every single week and it was really through those conversations that this became a reality. So you know I think most people who come to the Steelers talk about one of the reasons

being Mike T. and I can say, you know, that was right at the top. Just the conversation that we had, felt like you're talking to an old friend, honestly. So I really appreciate those conversations throughout it. I really love Arthur. I want to send my love to him. I obviously did it personally, but the passing of his father the last couple of days was, you know, sudden and very sad. So Arthur's a great man and really enjoyed conversations with him during the process and out there at mini camp. But it's been really good. The guys are great.

They welcome me and great. It's fun in the quarterback room. We already got a great group chat that's going good and Mason, Skyler and Will have all been great. So it's been really fun. I had a really nice three days on the field and then four days before that with those guys. Will Howard talked about how you said, hey, I don't wanna overstep my boundaries here, okay,

with Will, I don't wanna do too much, but I'll be here however you need me. Obviously we all watched what he did in the college football playoff last year where he took that Ohio State team after the bummer loss to Michigan. The bummer loss to Michigan, which he was probably concussed in and multiple other people as well, but nonetheless bad loss to Michigan after an early fumble to Oregon. They kind of sneak in and are underdogs all of a sudden in the playoffs and they catch fire and Will

Howard plays ball right in front of these eyes, cause we're on a sideline that was better than anybody we had seen all year. I mean, you're talking about making every pass. He's a big son of a bitch and he was friends with his entire team. What have you learned about Will?

And whenever you go up to him and say, hey, I don't want to overstep my boundaries. Are you legitimately just trying not to like big bro him there? Like, is that what you're trying not to do? And do you feel that amongst the entire locker room now that you're like actual OG and entire NFL and have been for a couple of years now?

Well, I think even though I come in with 20 years of experience and 17 as a starter, like there's still a part of earning your stripes and paying your dues. And even though, you know know I come in with that You know that pass in that background. I think it's important to You know to come in with humility so That's what I've been trying to do with the guys and in the quarterback meetings and I told I told Tom Arthur quarterback

Coach this I'm not going to speak up. You know, I'm not going to slow things down I'm going to study back at the hotel room and and ask you questions on the side. I'm not going to speak up, I'm not going to slow things down. I'm going to study back in the hotel room and ask you questions on the side. I'm not going to interrupt the room. However, as we get into this, I want to help those guys out. Mason's played a lot of football, so has Sky, but Will's a rookie. So I pulled them aside during one of the days and I said, listen, I want to help you as much as possible, but I I'm not gonna overstep my bounds if you you know if you want assistance I'm here buddy I want to help

you from the playbook of my own mistakes and things that I needed to learn from that's where everything is gonna come from and if I can help you become a better player this year that would be an incredible achievement for me. Because number one, he's a real good kid. I mean, he's a sweet kid and he's had a lot of great success at the college level. But I was impressed by him. Obviously he worked, once the rookies came out in May,

I thought he looked really sharp. He made a bunch of great throws I think there's definitely some things I can help him with and some things that are different at the pro level and I'd love to Love to help will and and set him up to have a chance to be the guy for the next who knows how long I think That's part of part of the opportunity. It's not the job. You know, I've seen other veteran quarterbacks talk about It's you know, but but it's the opportunity the opportunity to to help help will out as one that I really looking forward to and excited about getting back there to Latrobe and you know, just a few weeks, I guess and and

Getting things going. Yeah, St. Vincent's good time the thought of you wanting to pass the torch to Will Howard and pass the game on to Will Howard is like such a perfect fit for the Pittsburgh Steelers because growing up in Pittsburgh I think I didn't realize that other places weren't like this but the Steelers are like a college you know especially because there's only been a couple coaches over like 40 year period so like everybody feels connected you know the OGs come back it's just like alumni is coming back. I think they still run some of the same calls that have been called since like steel curtain days so that whenever alumni come back,

they feel like they're a part of it. You obviously were part of the Green Bay Packers organization, which is obviously storied in very much a similar franchise in a football town like the Steelers. But have you in your research or your experiences thus far kind of felt that about the Pittsburgh Steelers, like the outside perception looking into the Steelers culture is what you thought it would be, or have you noticed anything about it? Well, I mean, you got to say,

there's a few cornerstone teams in the NFL, and I was fortunate enough to play for one of them for 18 years, and now I'm fortunate enough to be back on one of them. You know, there's only a few of them for 18 years and now I'm fortunate enough to be back on on one of them You know, there's only a few of them the kind of the core teams not that the other teams Not any, you know not dissing those other teams. It's just there's a history of excellence in Green Bay, you know going back starting in the 20s and the run in the 60s and The stuff that we accomplished there's a lot of

there's 13 NFL championships there. Pittsburgh had a run in the 70s with four championships and then Ben got two they got six Super Bowls. There's a history of excellence that comes with a team like this where when the alumni comes back you know know the names. I think there's something special about that. They can roll out a ton of Hall of Famers. And it's a pretty cool deal. And then you've got a Hall of Fame head coach in Mike T. Who's one of the coolest guys I've ever been around in the game. And I'm enjoying that friendship that's building.

I'm enjoying sitting in the meeting room and listening to them talk to the team. I love kind of, it was a weird experience in the best way for me to not take team reps in the mini camp because I just got to watch. So I just was watching and everything. I don't miss a whole lot. So I'm watching the dynamics between the offensive defense. I'm watching the dynamics as the offensive defense. I'm watching the dynamics As the as the leadership starts to show what it is and and I think that's the thing that's is really exciting about Pittsburgh is is the built-in leadership that already exists there and once we get

You know our Hall of Fame outside rushbacker signed Hall of Fame outside Rushbacker signed. You're talking about another guy who's a leader, not just by example, but by, you know, with his words. But Cam Hayward, you know, from the jump, you know, the conversations that we had before I was even signed. And then at the events that I went to at his house and then at the golf course, you know, I was being around him We're watching he's like the old G of the team and maybe he's happy to not be the oldest guy on the team anymore

but But I love watching his leadership and watching him go about his business and there's a lot of great leaders in the team Just talking to Minka. I mean what a High football IQ that guy has you know, it's been it's been really interesting just to watch him practice And then they have to pick his brain in the locker room This there's a lot of great lip at Queen, you know, you're gonna talk to Pat I played against him a few times He's a he's a dog, you know, he's but there's there's some guys you don't know about that I think you're gonna start hearing about us as we get

Past this lull in the sports world and get into training camp and football seasons around the corner. There's some real good young players that got a chance to make a name for themselves this year. Can't wait to watch all of it come together and you chit chatting about how it is in the building is a reason why Pittsburgh is a football town always has been always will be. And on on that note you have won over every Yinser that I know a AP tone has a question for you Aaron you you Aaron this is When they when they put out the tweet with the with the highlight like of you turning from Packers to Jets into the Steelers uniform

That was surreal. That was awesome You were asked about winning a a Super Bowl this next year, or whatever, and instead of saying what that would mean, and instead of saying like, oh, that would be my second Super Bowl, blah, blah, blah, you said it would be seventh for the team. So just want to let you know that the city really appreciated that. But those, all those leaders you just mentioned, a lot of them on the defensive side of the ball, it is a young offense with a young offensive line, young wide receivers. DK has obviously been in the league for a while, but he's new to

the team. So what do you think your role is going to be as far as helping the young offense? You're going to bring them out to Malibu. How do you think that's going to go? Well, I really want the man to have leadership on offense and I'm gonna earn it every single day in training camp But there's there's some stability I think that I can bring having played in a similar system for a long time and Haven't just played a ton of football. You know, I told the guys in the first meeting, you know I want to pass on my knowledge. I played 20 years and I want to share those experiences with you guys, with whoever wants

to learn, offense, defense, team, whatever it is, you know, about life, about football, about the mistakes I've made and how to learn from those on the field, off the field, professional, personal, business, whatever it is. I want to pass on everything that I've learned to these guys. But on offense, you know, offense, there is good leadership. DK is a lead by example guy. And he's a big reason that I'm in Pittsburgh as well. Conversations that we had, and just the kind of person that he is.

Yeah, and this just started here. I didn't really know DK at all. And he's like, I work out at 6 AM every day. I'm like, OK, already this guy has discipline, this guy has a drive. I said, how about eight o'clock? Because I have to drive from Malibu to UCLA. He said, yeah, that's fine.

So he's not just a specimen, but he's a really solid human being. Like he is a solid, solid dude. And he leads by example. The way he practices, and that's I think one of the most encouraging thing is the room goes how the top dog goes and when DK catches the ball finishes 60 yards to the end zone it makes everybody else want to do the same thing and you know you're talking about guys

like Calvin Austin and Roman Wilson young guys then you got some older guys who played some football the Robert Woods and the Scotty Millers of the world I really like the tight end room tone. I know you do too. Um, Pat Firemuth is, uh, my locker mate now, which is great. Cause he was the one that was DMing me the most on Instagram. Um, that's a recruiting hat on. I like that.

I respect that. That's a, he's a super talented guy. He can do a lot of different things. You know, he can block at the point of attack. You can split out on routes. You can run choice routes. He can do a lot of different things. He can block at the point of attack. He can split out and run routes. He can run choice routes. He can run seam routes. Then you got Big Darnell who's an on the ball tight end, like a true wide tight end.

He reminds me of Sadis. Size first and foremost because he's 6'8 and he's pushing the three bills. But you would think, oh, you know, he's that big You can't run it. No, man the last play of the entire Many camp he caught a seam down the middle and against cover to I think It was as well as Skyler through there's a great seed down the pipe and Darnell just hands catch, you know into the end zone and then Connor Heywood you know, into the end zone.

And then Connor Hayward, Cam's little brother. Connor is super talented guy who's a, you know, he's like a Swiss army knife. He can do it all. He can block, he can move. He can slide across the formation. He can catch the ball and move. He can run choice routes. So I really liked that room.

In the backfield, you got Jalen. Obviously I've been a fan of his. He was more of kind of a third down change up back with Najee, but he's gonna get a chance now. We got a young rookie from Iowa. Yeah Yeah, who's who's working out with us real good kid. We got Kenny Gamewell who played won championships and Championship in Philly, you know, it was a great change of back. So on the upfront, you know, the right side is all second year guys

starting with Zach at center, who they all love. And he's, you know, he looks the part for sure. We got a right tackle coming back from an injury last year. And then, you know, we got a vet, Isaac, at left guard. And we got a big broad rick at left tackle who we're expecting big things from so it's a you know it's exciting to watch the guys practice and to think about you know what I can throw in there my own energy enthusiasm and knowledge and but it's you know it was fun to be an out there

kind of got the juices going for sure even though I wasn't able to take any team reps and then as far as coming out, telling them to finish it, to finish it, yeah, we're going to, I know, you know, coming out to Malibu might not be a high on everybody's list, but we do have, we have some guys coming out next week, so we want to spend a little time with them. Oh yeah, they're staying in the highs, coming over, we're walking the beach, we've got Apollo coming around, we're doing the whole thing. Well you gotta got a you know some of these guys might want to get dressed up when they walk the beach because he didn't fucking pop rocks yeah there's

not a private beach for you sir especially with that dog hey Apollo star yeah I put him upstairs he's not gonna make it he's not gonna make it. He's not gonna make it Sorry, how is it? He's getting big. He's over 40 pounds now shout out to The Brandon and faith and everybody who was training him for a few months. He's he came home Really well trained and he's you know, he's a he's a husky so his little loop he likes to explore but He's a husky, so he's a little aloof. He likes to explore, but a lot of energy. He's a great dog. He makes my life better.

I mean, he's up and at him at 5.30 every morning. Like, come on, dad, what are we doing? I'm gonna shit right here. You're gonna let me outside. Okay, what are we gonna have a good time? I would like to use a little bit of energy. Dogs are the best. I, we had a golden retriever, I believe.

Clinically tested the dumbest dog of all time. Great pup. Great dog. Great animal. Sweet dog. Smart dog. Sweet dog. Then we got Valerie, you know, Valerie,

half pit, half Shar-Pei, she's the best. She's beat cancer four times. And then we got, Valerie's the greatest. And then we got Chuck, this fat corgi. This guy's a stubborn prick. This guy is stubborn. They all have their individual personalities. Apollo's personality.

Gonna be a good stealer? Like what do you think Apollo's gonna be a good stealer dog out there in Pittsburgh? He's a cold weather dog. You know, huskies are cold weather dogs. So I think he's, he's really looking forward to that snow. That's some great videos online of dog owners who got huskies in there husky doesn't want to come inside laying out in the snow covering snow just like

loving life yeah you know he enjoys going in the ocean and when I hose him off and jumping in the pool he likes he likes being cool you know a cold weather climate he's he's a cool weather climate. He's a cool weather dog for sure. That's great. I'm excited for you both to experience Pittsburgh for an entire football season. Obviously you've experienced Green Bay. Pittsburgh does get a little bit different, I will say.

Connor has a question for you, Aaron. Yeah, Aaron, great to see you. Great catching up. It feels as though since you signed with the Steelers, it's been, you know, I won't say more candid, but it does feel as though there's been a different, you know, vibe from you. Is it safe to say that this is your last year playing as someone who wants to savor everything? I would like to know when it is your last year, just because every time you're running through that tunnel, it'd be incredible just to say like hey, let's make sure we really appreciate what's going on here. Is that something you've thought about?

Is that something that you know for sure? Are you also just kind of taking it week by week seeing how your body's feeling and seeing how the mind feels as you go throughout the season? Yeah, I'm pretty sure this is it, you know, that's why we just did a one-year deal Steelers didn't need to you know, put any extra years on that or anything. This was really about finishing with a lot of love and fun and peace for the career that I've had. I've played 20 freaking years.

It's been a long run and I've enjoyed it. What better place to finish than in one of the cornerstone franchises of the NFL with Mike Tomlin and a great group of leadership and great guys in the city that expects you to win. Congratulations, man. Hell yeah. That's a tough decision to get to. That is a tough decision to get to.

I'm just going to state the facts of it all. Whenever you commit your entire life to something and you get to a level where you become, you know, remembered and considered a success story and everything like that, there is a part of you that thinks, okay, I can do this forever. I should do this forever, especially because I can do this seemingly forever Then there's a battle of like what is life though? Is this what my entire life is gonna be is this gonna be my identity is this gonna eat up all my time and my Energy and my thoughts I would like to focus my brain maybe on some other things other than just playing football every day

So like the combination of that how your body feels and then every it's a hard decision for anybody to make so the fact that you get to have one final year seemingly clear-minded and understanding that that's the situation like good for you man because we've been with you for like what the last five, six years. Yeah. There's been a lot of these conversations and they're tough and it's tough decisions that you have to make. I mean there's obviously I think every time it comes up people don't take it or consider it enough of a potential outcome with you. Like for when you went into the hole like I think retirement was a real thing there. I don't think a lot of people thought it was and I think it was

a real thing. Then the Jets the way the whole Jets thing happens. I think you do think to yourself like man was this about a mistake is seemingly didn't go how I thought it was going to go. I thought retirement was a real option this offseason. I don't think anybody else really thought for you. It seems like it was gonna go. I thought retirement was a real option this off season. I don't think anybody else really thought it. For you, it seems like it was. And then at what point do you switch the year and go, you know what, can't go out. Let's do one more run here and see if we got it. Is that kind of how the decision got made? And when did that kind of all happen? I mean, I think it's not really can't go out like this. I love the game and there's been a It's, I love the game and there's been a beautiful relationship. It was my first love when I was six years old dreaming about playing quarterback and

being in the Super Bowl and winning the Super Bowl. I think I just, I wanted to be all in and I had so many other things going on in my life that were taking my mind and my energy elsewhere. And that's why I appreciated how Mike was the entire time. Just being able to have those conversations, honest conversations every single week was really meaningful to me. And the way that I was welcomed in was really cool.

I wanted to be there for many camp once I decided I was going to be all in, but I didn't need this. I didn't need it at all. I don't feel the need to prove anything to anybody or don't have any chip on my shoulder that I need to hold on to. I don't want the attention. I know that's a narrative out there. When this is all done, it's Kaiser SoCET. You won't see me. out there. When this is all done, it's Kaiser SoC, you won't see me. I won't be in the public, I don't want to live a public life. That's why it's so strange what's going on right now with my private life because I don't want to live a life in the public eye. I'm not going to be in the public eye. When this is done, I'm done and you won't see me and I'm looking forward to that. But while I'm in it and for this year, I'm going to give the Steelers everything that

I got and empty the tank and be super comfortable and satisfied with whatever happens. Obviously, we dream about playing at the highest level in the biggest games. But the fact that I can come back to Pittsburgh play for Mike Get to know the organization Be a part of a special franchise. It's had such incredible success and be able to play and fall on the footsteps of the Terry Bradshaw's and Franco Harris and Lynn Swan and and Jack Lambert, you know mean Joe green and then all the guys that played in the 90s in the 2000s You know Jerome Bettis and Big Ben, you know all-time greats And just to be a guy that they can put on the same uniform is pretty special for me. And that's all I need

This year. It's just to go out there have a chance to compete That's why I'm working so hard because I want to put myself in a position to be able to play 20 games this year and and 20 great ones. Yeah, we scheduled this in between your two a day workout plan that you have, and we appreciate you taking the time to chit chat with us. And if my relationship with the media and the public was the same as yours for like 15, 20 years,

I think I'd want to disappear too. No doubt. I think I'd want to disappear too. No doubt. I think I'd be okay with just kind of not having to deal with that whenever it was all said and done. But I want to let you know, we're going to enjoy every moment of this season with you brother. Okay. We can't wait to watch what you do with that Pittsburgh

Steelers team. Now we would be remiss if we didn't bring up a moment that is happening with our close friend. Something that happened to you in recent years. Go ahead, Ty Schmidt. Yeah, Aaron, first and foremost, great to see you as always. Glad that you're, you're going to you in recent years. Go ahead, Ty Schmidt. Yeah, Aaron, first and foremost, great to see you as always. Glad that you're going to be playing this year. Really looking forward to it.

How does your Achilles feel? Like you obviously look like you're in incredible shape. Like, do you feel like you're kind of close to where you were before you tore it? And then like Pat mentioned, I mean, I'm sure you saw it. Friend of the program Tyrese Halberton tears his Achilles in game seven had a long post about it last night where I think he's still kind of just In shock, obviously, he's a lot younger than you were when you tore yours But what kind of advice would you give to him?

As he's gonna come back because obviously you you know You kind of defied all odds with getting back as soon as you did But it is looking like he's probably gonna miss all of the next NBA season First of all stack up all those things that he can't do that's good little fuel when you're in the Rehab room and you're picking up freaking marbles with your toes, and it's you know the most annoyingly painful experience. Give him all those things that he can't do. I don't know him personally.

I really enjoyed watching this postseason. He hit more big shots in one postseason than many guys hit in their careers. That's not hyperbole. That's fucking incredible. I was pulling for the Pacers not just because Obie's on the team and Obie Toppin and I have worked out together out here on the West Coast. And he's such a good dude. But you know, I followed TJ when he was coming up out of Arizona and was like, man, I hope this guy finds a niche in

the league because I just love the way he plays. And then I love the way they played and they beat our Bucks, you know, in the beginning. And they they did that to every team. They wore them down. They picked up full court. They had incredible defense. They moved the ball on offense. They had great role players.

I mean, their bench played great the entire series, but watching that game the other night, you know, after you have an injury like I had, you know what it feels like and you also know what it looks like. So when I've seen guys tear their Achilles whether it was Jermaine Johnson for us or Phillips for the Dolphins or Jason Tatum He like oh, that's an Achilles I knew it right away and your heart just goes out to him because I know that feeling would be on the ground and

your whole like Memories and goals and for him game seven to win a championship is flashing through his mind and then like you know the fact that he was out there dealing with what he was dealing with in game seven shows the type of player and person that he is advice short and sweet. Go to Dr. Elatrash, get the speed bridge if you if you want the best. I was 40, you know, trying to come back. He's 27. I believe that right 25. He's 25. He's 25. Yeah, I mean, I wouldn't count him out at all. I mean, he I felt, you know, I felt really good coming back from it.

I felt great last year. My left Achilles felt incredible. And it's still obviously thicker than the other one. And you deal with some atrophy in that calf. But it's all about, it's the rehab. If you want to come back quicker, you got to attack it. It's got to be your main focus. It's got to be your everyday is rehab and it sucks and

it's a long year but man I'd love to see him come back and at some point next year I think they're a good enough team they could you know get into the get into the playoffs and maybe he can come back you know next spring at some point but I think for him and I don't know him I would just guess based on the type of competitor that he looks like, that the higher you stack the odds against him, the more likely it is he's about to do something that defies what would seem to be common sense about timetables. Oh yeah, voted the most overrated player in the league this year. Think about that.

Yeah, and then he hits how many game-winning shots and how many big plays. And yeah, I mean that was incredible run for them with Coach Carlisle and Lloyd Pierce, who I've known forever way back going to the mid-2000s when he was coaching at Santa Clara. So shout out to Lloyd. He's one of their assistants awesome dude but yeah I love watching them play and just was pulling for him not that I have anything it's okay see I mean they had a great team of course but watching but watching Hallie when he comes in his show and and knowing OB you know I was pulling for Indiana so I hate to see that happen to him.

Hey, we appreciate that. It was great vibes in the city. Still proud of him. It was a hell of a run. And I think everything you just said to Tyreece, I think he's feeling and viewing it the same way, like from my conversations here in the first day with him. And I think Coach Carlisle said he called him this morning

and he answered on the first ring, what's up, Coach? I'm good, yep, we're going. Like I think he is pretty eager to get the first ring. What's up coach? I'm good. Yup, we're going. Like I think he is pretty eager to get the entire process and his lady, Jade, is obviously ready to get into it as well. She's posted about all hands on deck basically. Like everybody is, you know, moving forward in the same direction and we will support the shit out of Tyrese through it all. On that note, before we let you go, if we miss we missed a wedding if there's a reception we would like to be on the list please right please we would like to be on the if there is a reception if there is a celebration that happens or takes place

we would like to be on the list then also we'll contribute if there was any contributions needed in any particular fashion. Buy a vacuum. Exactly. Registry. I can hit it. Yeah, we can do whatever. We can do whatever. Cut and board. AJ Hawk will do a hot five. Do a stand up. We can negotiate that with AJ to get him to do that. That'd be good.

So if there's a person. It's a sick society, isn't it? It's a sick society. I lived in a public eye for 20 years. I had a public relationship. How did that work out? I had people relationship. How did that work out? You know, I had people leaking my home information and

Making up stories that we bought a house together. I had people calling the paparazzi. I had people you know posting personal life on the internet and now Didn't want any of that didn't like it and now I'm with somebody who's private Who doesn't want to be in the public eye? I didn't sign up to be you know, a celebrity doesn't want to of that, didn't like any of that. And now I'm with somebody who's private, who doesn't wanna be in the public eye, didn't sign up to be a celebrity, doesn't wanna be a part of it. And because I do things in private

because I want my personal life to be private, now I'm somehow, like now I'm weird and an al-aparazzi stalking me on the beach, trying to get a picture of her, stalking me in the workout. What is the entitlement to information a picture of her stalking me in the workout. What is the entitlement to information that we're living in society these days where that's like a norm? It's a norm to like be able to have athletes addresses. They posted something that I you know

about a house I bought in Pittsburgh and here's the inside of it and here's where it is. What happens a common decency about security and a personal life that we now have to dive into your details of where you live and what you're doing and who you're with and who your wife is and if you even have a wife and if you're doing some sort of attention grabbing thing because my wife is a private person, doesn't have social media, hasn't been a public person, doesn't want to be a public person. now that's somehow that's a weird thing and where we at in society where that's like the norm now that just because I'm not selling wedding photos to the magazines or leaking personal information or making

a loving post on Instagram and look you want to do that that's fine that's your own prerogative I don't care that's just not what I want to do I don't want to be a part of anything I told you when this is all done I'm out you won't see me and I know that I've chosen to be in the public eye for one more season so my private life is staying private and any other ridiculous story that's out there about my family that I don't talk to you know they wouldn't know any information about me like leave them alone like and you want to keep stalking me on the beach and getting photos of me and Apollo go for it I don't give a shit but stop making shit up and my private life is my private life and it's gonna stay that way And I'm with somebody who wants to be private and if and when she wants to be out

And there's a picture, she'll choose that and she deserves the right to that But the entitlement to information about my private life is so fucking ridiculous and embarrassing Like, hey, do what you gotta do but just, you but just try and leave me out of a conversation, sports world, for a month. Try and just leave me out, my personal life, my professional life, try not to talk about me. Try not to still be relevant for the next six weeks, five weeks, whatever it is.

Just see if you can do that. How'd that feel? That felt pretty good? Yeah. That's my quarterback. I mean, it's comedy. The best part is I was- We're a part of the problem though.

We are a part of the problem. We want to let you know. We are a part of the problem. I was walking on the beach. The problem is I was walking on the beach with Mike the other day and Apollo, of course. And I was like, yo bro, fucking paparazzi is probably up there

He's like, oh, yeah, I said, you know, yeah, look, there's a guy right there. We just we flipped them off That'd be a great photo. We saw we didn't see the photo of him flip you off But they did post the photo of you guys. Oh, yeah, it's literally Mike right there. Yeah. Yeah, literally we see it like It pops in the reason why they do it is obviously you you are a needle mover brother you are a and also yeah very Jack properly and Apollo dog dog you know he can tell by the photo so people are gonna enjoy all that stuff but your life is like this yes I walk my

dog on the beak I walk my dog on the beach I've been a public eye I've been in league for 20 years I've been public eyes for most of that time. I understand it, but I'm not doing anything I'm not out there and I'm out and about you know, I'm not doing any events like I go to a couple of Mike's concerts You know, I went to many camp. I'm going to Tahoe. You see me in Tahoe. That's the only place I'll be I heard you're not going the game is not great, but the course sets up perfect for me, so I'm going to make a run. You play great golf, first of all. I haven't played in three and a half months, show up, fucking 45 foot putt. Shout out 67 today. I'm actually in this thing. I'm actually

in this thing. Where are you? I'm third right now. Jesus Christ. You're golfing with the guys that golf every day of their lives and have become professional golfers in retirement And then you just kind of show up. Where were you? I was in Hungary yesterday What was last time you picked up the clubs last year this tournament? Yeah. All right, we're teeing off me and mr. Romo. Yeah, all right. We're going to get it's insane How good of a golfer you are legitimately and you're gonna show up and do well at that Tahoe event That's all events insane. You have to be a good golfer to are legitimately. And you're gonna show up and do well at that Tahoe event. That's all events insane. You have to be a good golfer to enjoy it.

Do you know that? But I have the edge on people. I played 20 years. So I've had crowds for 20 years. I've putted all the two footers for 20 years. That's what gets people is the putting and in the crowds. They're just not used to it. So I can, I'm like a four handicap,

but I can beat scratch golfers who grow out there because it's a tough thing to like wrap your head around he's a four he says he's not good that's what I'm saying at this tournament everybody sees Charles Barkley for those clips you know he wasn't good right a little bit he got he's good now again by the way he wasn't good for a while when everybody's like oh these guys stink at golfing that are out of town that is not the case at all these guys are very good you have to be a good golf. Oh, Miz was there What kind of club they were no they right at a rough year they write at a rough year Yeah, last year Don Cheadle WD

Yeah, but there's very good golfers, oh yeah. These guys retire and this becomes their thing. Steph had his coaches. Two of them. Yeah. Yeah. Some guys. Yeah. There's, there's a quarterback that plays in the Northeast that really wants to beat me badly that plays, that brings some swing coaches out, I think. I think as well. Is he, is he recently married? Yes. Yeah, he might, he might've been. Yeah been yeah I don't like talk about his private life, but He was ahead of me. He was ahead of me last year going into the final round And I pulled a 71 out of my ass and beat him. He wasn't too happy about it So I know he's been if he could beat anybody he didn't care about winning But if he could beat me this year, I know it'd be a big deal. I'm saying that's that's who's playing at this

Tahoe thing this American Century thing these people that are just pulling He's a four I could play scratch though. That's outrageous I still didn't know what type of sticks you swing Taylor made Taylor made DB Okay, and they sent me some sweet some sweet club head sue and a putter head. They're all alien, you know themed themed love that same stuff so I got a spider man I got a spider with it with a sweet UFO alien head cover we know that's conversation for another day hey we appreciate this closures coming disclosures coming slowly happening it feels like slowly happen all something something big some bigs come out. I'm sure real soon We'll get we'll get the Epstein list. We'll get disclosure. We're something. Yeah All right. I appreciate your man. Hey, I'm just kidding. We won't get any

They sold a line none of that's coming. Okay. All right. Well Uh, I appreciate that and uh, that'll be clipped. Yep, and that'll be the part everybody talks about They they will skip by the fact that this dude just asked for a little privacy, you know? And excited for privacy when you play one last year here in your NFL career with the Pittsburgh Steelers. I appreciate you so much for joining us, man. Enjoy the off season, enjoy the workouts.

We can't wait to see you up there at training camp. Hey, come on out to La Trobe, man. It's beautiful out there. That's what I hear. Yeah, maybe. It's beautiful out there. That's what I hear. Maybe I was there as a kid. I was there as a kid. Do a little live show at training camp with the Steelers, you know, with Glazer and Tomlin. It is time we go home. Brett Michaels, Arthur Smith already telling to bring his brother. Maybe we should go do a training camp. I don't know for a lot

We we'd have to get that would have to be approved by the Steelers. I think Steelers would approve Just asked Bert he approved. Yeah, call Burton Burton. Yeah, he's 100% in Yes, definitely, okay Hey, you know what? Let me just that's the one thing that I did They went to Kenny would the team had a team out at Kenny would I missed it? I feel real bad about that but shout out to shout out to Pittsburgh dad for for you know helping me understand all things Pittsburgh besides being with Mike McCarthy and Ben McAdoo and Alex Lampel and Frank Sinetti and Darren Perry and Kevin Green and Ben McAdoo and Alex Lampel and Frank Sinetti and Darren Perry and Kevin Green and

Luke Getzi and all the guys who've been in my life forever from Pittsburgh. Yeah we heard you rattle them off during the press conference when you were like, feels like I've been here basically, you know, been down here. I speak the language. I still get tickled when I hear like, up air. Oh, you're living up air? Hey, we were with Mike McCarthy at the draft His yinzer accent is thick the go He's the goat he's the goat think about him calling plays a hundred miles an hour with that accent That's why I always say I can speak Pittsburgh East because I could understand what he was saying He was 13 years as he was just rallying shit off so fast, you know, he me he said I'll sound like that. I'll talk like that. I'll sound like that. That's not how I talk.

I was like that is exactly how you sound like how my dad sounds and how like all my friends dad sound that's why the Pittsburgh dad character is so good because like literally everybody in Pittsburgh is like y'all heard that heard that heard that through it all. The people I met at the people I met the golf course those people I saw the hotel, they all sound like that. I was like, this is amazing. These are my people right here.

These are my people. I love it. You need to start picking it up. Like you know when Americans go over to London and they start. Sure. Yeah. I hate that. I hate that.

Don't do that. You need to do that in Pittsburgh. That's what I'm saying. Oh, that's okay. Yeah. Well, I didn't really do that in Green Bay. I didn't, you know, I got the lingo down, but it didn't enter into my own personal addiction or vocabulary So you drop a third dime boys with Mike up coming with the helmet on I mean that would be

Great clip great clip if you want to motivate the boys, especially Zack there at Center just say third dime There's not gonna be any third dance. Oh playing two down third down all season long. Money down. No, Canada. First and second. What about Danny Smith, though? Oh, big fan. So much gum. I don't know if you saw any performances at mandatory mini camp of him chewing gum. But I've seen him 3040 pieces of gum in his mouth at one time while doing stuff on a sideline legend. I think I think he's got a lower back tattoo too. I can't confirm it. The best thing was that

I saw him Friday at Tomlin's. I see him the next day at CAM's. He's wearing the same shirt. It's a shirt from like, he goes out to vacations in South Carolina. He's best friends with Versace who I love, Rich Versace who's in Green Bay. And I was like the vacations in South Carolina. He's best friends with Vasatia, who I love, Rich Vasatia, who's in Green Bay. And I was like, are you kidding me, Danny? We're in the same fucking shirt. He goes, no, no, this one has words in the back. He's the greatest. Special teams coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers

from Pittsburgh. We'll be a state- Coach Damarino. Did he really? I did not know that. Yeah, just ask him Gentlemen that's four-time NFL MVP Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Thank you, buddy Asked me felt good because it felt like it was a little bit of a therapeutic

Opportunity for him about how his life has been not only obviously this offseason But seemingly every offseason of his life even during season of his life fascinating point there Whenever he says I've had a lot of public relationships and it doesn't work. It hasn't worked out You guys have all literally seen it all happen now. I'm trying to have like a private relationship and everybody's bad about it So I can't can't wait caught a sick society. Yeah, and I let him know we're part of the problem We're part of the problem because we we see a ring on we immediately go What's that? Okay? Okay, and then you know we don't think about the other side where he's like yeah, okay

Can I just go about my life like a guy who's an accountant? You know anybody anybody else have to deal with this guy's do it's a public figure So, you know, you're gonna be talked about I think he is eager for the time of his life where he can just have some peace. And him getting to the point of staying one more year, it's not an easy decision, especially for Rockstar. Especially for the people at the top that the entire building is kind of building up for. Yeah, great question first and foremost, Kyle. Great journalism. But yeah, him confirming that it's his last ride. Hopefully, you know, he goes around and gets his flowers from the different people in the different places because you know to play at a high level for

As long as he did like that special you talked about Mount Rushmore quarterback North FC North and now he's going to one of the places they wanted a cornerstone franchises So all eyes gonna be on him and what the Steelers can do man But yeah, it takes a lot to get to that point you okay I'm gonna hang it up and it's been such a big part of who he is. So it's tough, but I'm excited for him. Quickly, Tone, Ed Steeler fan reaction. Oh, it's awesome.

He's dialed in. It's his final year. So he's going to, he said he's going to leave it all out there. He is going to be the leader of the offense already. So many leaders on the defense. If they hold up their bargain. Mantle leadership. Yeah, like the mantle, like earn the mantle.

Yep. Love that. Which he has. Superbowl incoming. He said, I gotta earn everything. Every day with this team. Probably learn some things when he was with the Jets. Now take that experience to the Steelers.

Is this gonna be the best Aaron Rodgers ever? Whoa. Whoa! In 1979, the first words spoken on ESPN weren't just an announcement. They were a sports prophecy. And right now you're standing on the edge of tomorrow This fall the next era of ESPN begins Sports Forever Sports are spectacular We had a active first hour Ryder Lyons officially committed to BYU

quarterback out of Folsom, California. First five-star quarterback to sign to BYU since like 2003 or something like that. I forget the numbers. But obviously a huge, huge announcement around the BYU Kugue faithful and also the high school recruiting world. I guess he was the biggest recruit to not announce where he was headed.

So I guess there was a lot of waiting happening for Ryder Lyons. We were very lucky there was a lot of waiting happening for Rider Lions. We were very lucky to be a part of it. When we were asked, we were thrilled. And watching highlights of this dude, he's a real deal. Now, it'll be delayed a year because he's gonna go serve his mission for the Latter-day Saints Church for the next year.

He said in August, he'll file his paperwork to do it. Then two to three weeks, they'll tell him a place in the world that he will head to. For one year, he will be serving his mission for the Mormon religion, then he will join BYU's football team after that, and he'll be a much more well-rounded, he'll be a little bit older, and when he takes the field, I think there's a chance this is a guy.

Just the way he handled himself in his interview with us, the way the highlights are, and where he's playing playing football. You know he's not playing against nobody's and he's got a couple wide receivers obviously that are great but he's gonna have that in college as well so we appreciate Ryder Lyons for letting us be a part of his story. Aaron Rodgers joined us to tell us that his stories got one more year left and obviously a lot of other things happened in the month of the 42 minutes in which we chatted. That's nine- NFL vet, Darius J. Butler is here. Yes sir.

He much Ryder Lyons looking to have an Aaron Rodgers like career. Aaron Rodgers addressing what life is like if you actually have one of those careers as well in the same interview. I thought that was a pretty pretty deep first hour from one end of the spectrum literally to the complete opposite side with one trying to chase the other and the other probably saying, hey, it's great, but there's a lot that comes alongside of it.

Definitely. I don't follow high school football that closely anymore, but doing some research on Ryder, and he's going to be a dog. Number one player in California. And I was literally just thinking, just listening to you open back up this hour, he should come back and kind of do, I where he's gonna go serve his mission Oh where you came over commit so like, you know, just open like I said, I still I'm still not Completely sure how the message gets delivered where his calling, you know when it comes how it comes how he hears it

But if he can come in, I'll let us know that'd be dope. Yeah, cuz I believe it's you get called Hello to serve to serve to go, to go. Hello. To serve. To serve. Austin Colley, I think you write, I don't know if it's still the same rules. You're like right home, like back home, like once a week, twice, maybe like. Probably is.

Twice a month. I think it's still the same thing. Like you're out there. Like you are out there doing it. And they're the ones on the bikes and the whole thing. But then they do that worldwide. And it's like a massive thing for the religion. Him doing it right now, wild time, good luck Roder,

we appreciate that. And then Aaron Rodgers, he's got one year left, let's go to one half of the hammer, Cowboys AP tone, a lot of information out of Aaron Rodgers. The big takeaway from what I've seen on X is the one more year. Now a lot of people have fired off their jokes, the internet's gonna get their jokes off,

especially with how the last couple years have gone. But with that being said, I think a lot of people have fired off their jokes. The internet's going to get their jokes off. You know, especially with how the last couple years have gone. But with that being said, I think a lot of people say, oh, we're going to get the best Aaron Rodgers we've seen of all time. Leave it all out there is what his exact words were. Do you think that was the messaging behind it? That was my first thought. Like when he said that was, holy shit, well, we didn't know, no one knew that yet. We all knew he signed a one year deal, but we didn't know what was going to happen after that one year. So him saying, you know, most likely this is his last year is huge news. He gets to play the NFC North in his last year, which is cool too. So he'll get to see a lot of his old friends up there. But no, immediately I thought, cause he looks jacked, one, he looks absolutely

jacked in the interview. And then also in the, in the beach photos, he looks jacked. So, you know, you're going to get his best. He's doing two days right now. He's working out with DK. The boys are gonna come out to Malibu and work out with him. He had a great time with everybody in his week that he was in Pittsburgh for mandatory mining camp. And he talked about how all the leadership on defense and that he's gonna be the leader on offense,

which is similar situation to other quarterbacks that have joined teams later in their career in one Super Bowl. So yeah, the arrow is definitely up in Pittsburgh right now. Okay, let's go to the toxic table because he said all those things. And then you know, he also said, you know, try not to talk about me for next six weeks. Sure. We're part of the problem. Yeah, 1000%. And we're talking about him right now talking about everything in the last hour at Ty Schmidt at, at Boston Conner, we'll start with you, Ty, obviously Green Bay Packers owner.

Felt like he had been thinking about that for a long time. The basic, enough. I'm just trying to be a human type convo. Knowing that he's not though, right? Yeah. No. He's not like a regular- I mean, he alluded to it.

He's like, listen, I understand the position I've been in. He's been in several very high profile relationships so like he kind of knows what comes with this but also I think it's been one of those things like he has been radio silent for the most part I mean he showed up in Pittsburgh to do minicamp but like before that like he wasn't saying anything it's kind of one of those things where it's just alright people are gonna say shit they're gonna say shit they're gonna say shit and then at a certain point, it's like, all right, I think I'll go somewhere where I'm comfortable

and I'll kind of unload the quiver a little bit and get all this off my chest before I take this little, yeah, exactly. Yeah, exactly, he had to do it. He had to do it. And then now he'll have this, you know, kind of six weeks where he's obviously gonna start to focus in and dial in on just football,

but I think that was a nice kind of Just a nice palate cleanser for him. Hey, I'm gonna reset this leave it in the past. I am married Let's leave it at that now. Let's go try to win number seven for Pittsburgh and he's doing two days three days right now Yeah Like he is fully locked in fully committed excited to see what that means for the Steelers and it feels like he's focused on ball And it didn't know what it feels like Connor Yeah, big time. I mean I got the Jets itch last year where I thought hey Rogers going back to the Jets Here we go. They might win this you did you you really bought it for Patriots fan. That's wild

Yeah, yeah for sure you and fireman Ed were on the same ball back to back years, too I mean the first year you you could argue, you know, hey, this is the Jets This is something bad's gonna go wrong. But last year especially I really did drink the Jets Kool-Aid and I'm back I'm drinking I'm drinking the Steelers Rogers Kool-Aid too You know, I was saying the Pats are gonna win 12 games with the Steelers week 3 being one of those layups Don't feel that way As much anymore now he did mention. Hey, we got to get that veteran outside line back pass rusher Back for the Steelers

But if I am a Steelers fan, especially after hearing that it's his last year you do got to feel like oh hold on Maybe this is the storybook the storybook ending for both Aaron Rodgers and for the Pittsburgh Steelers to get seven Look at this guy. Yeah, he's gettingdy. I had goosebumps during the during the interview I mean this is I miss he wants me to lead or one more year for the rest of our life He wants to set up Will Howard for hopefully long term joining us Joining us now is a man who's good friends with Aaron Rodgers. Obviously, I would assume The title best friends would be utilized sure how much has this man known for how long has this man? No, sir. It's always a question doing everything never sell it that face. Not only does it look

Like a block of rock. Mm-hmm. It fucking sells like a block of rock as well It will not It won't budge. No Good poker player I I'd assume. Cause if he plays poker like he plays euchre, he's probably cheating every hand. This man's a college football national champion, a Superbowl champion, a Ryder Cup winner.

Ladies and gentlemen, AJ Hawke. Yeah baby, Hawke. We assume you tried to cheat at every poker game that you played, try to give hand signals to people across the table, all that type of shit. Probably tried to deal from the bottom of the deck. We understand how you operate in euchre. We assume you carry that into the poker game as well.

Let's talk about Aaron. What did you hear from your friend there? And was that the proper follow-up after he said everything he said about his privacy with me saying, hey, did that feel good? Do you think that was the right way to kind of address the entire situation? Yeah, I felt like you handled that beautifully.

And you did like, okay, now that you purged all of that out and you got it out of your system, you let us know how you feel and you're like, okay, hey, I get it from your side. I understand, hey, if people don't wanna be public that are in your life, then yeah, it should be on their terms if they want to be. But in his brain though, he still knows the situation he is in, who he is. Because of what he has done on the football field, people will follow his private life.

Although it sucks, yeah, I get it. It does suck. I think he still understands what the intrigue is about, but yeah, it was a good, I thought it was great, man. I think he's definitely highly motivated to play football this year, that's for sure. I appreciated him acknowledging that he wants to disappear, you know?

Once this is all over, you're never gonna see me again, ever. Feels like he said to that, that to us numerous times, has that always been his plan? I was a person that plans on, and I am, I think, I believe at this point, even though everybody tells me it's not, it won't be possible. They say, you think you're just gonna be able to disappear and do nothing?

Like, what do you think is gonna happen? You don't think you're gonna get bored? You don't think, you think you're gonna be able to do that? How long would that be good for? A week, two weeks, three weeks? Feels like Aaron is a guy that has, on a regular basis, disappeared. Like put his phone down, detached from society.

I mean, he went into a hole. Yeah. Yeah. Went into a hole in the ground with no lights for 72 hours because he wanted to feel detached. It's like, he is a guy that could potentially just disappear in my eyes and it would make complete sense. Hey, Jay. Oh yeah, it definitely would would make sense. And he's been saying that forever. I think, I mean, I guess the different thing would be once you don't have that football to go

back to like, how is it that that is always different? We always know in the off season, whatever you can go disappear, whatever, but you know, you have that football looming, all this stuff you're going to go work for and go to training camp, all of that. I guess when that's not on the horizon, then what does everything else look like, I guess? Yeah, because, you know, whenever you're detaching from everything, you have at least something that is a northern star, you know, like a guiding feature. Like, hey, all this is for clarity so that I can be a better quarterback. All this is so I can be a better person, better human, better quarterback. Like, that always looming, you know? And then also having to worry about hurting yourself so that you can

continue to play football. I'm not saying you want to go swim with sharks or fucking learn how to be a pilot or any of that type of stuff. Maybe. But there's just a lot of things that like football is always a determiner for if you can do something or can't do something. And I'm only saying that strictly because I went through a lot of this at a much lesser level after my eighth year in the NFL. I'm like, is this what I want to spend my entire brain capacity thinking about?

Like, Hey, is this going to affect how I punt? Like, am I getting fulfillment out of focusing on being one of 32 in the world at a job that pays a lot of money with a lot of guys that would look at you as a doofus if you didn't do your job well? Or do I want to maybe focus on other things and like chase fulfillment and do like life? It's like those are real conversations that happen. And if you've been doing it for 20 years at the top of the world, every building has been built around you. Like, hey, if a quarterback likes something, probably gonna be in the building. You know, like, if quarterback doesn't like something,

probably not gonna be in the building. Quarterback likes where we're staying, we're probably gonna continue to stay there. Quarterback doesn't like where we're staying, we're probably gonna stay somewhere else. It's like, the amount of influence that he had in an organization as well. Like, there's so many things that just like,

as a human, you have to wonder if the reality of the situation is that he can disappear because I think it's gonna be hard I think it'll be very difficult I hope he does for the sake of his happiness and his goals yes and everything like that but I do I do wonder what's he's gonna have to do something like I think yeah people that need something that you're passionate about there's a reason that like Warren Buffett and all these guys they don't just quit you get billions and billions of dollars. They don't just It's tough. I think just stop especially when you're a highly motivated person Whatever that may be whatever you whatever you care about what if it is what if he becomes one of those guys that just starts?

All right, I'm becoming PGA golfer. He's got to be able to compete in some way, right? Like you can't just turn that off Like that's the only thing I think about is cuz he's told us like hey like this ain't ever going away I'm gonna be able to spin a football until I'm like 80 years old like let's just say The Steelers don't win the Super Bowl this year, but he throws 35 touchdowns and has six interceptions like do you think that would he would be like, okay. Yep. I'm done or it's like I Just I believe I played unbelievable this year. Like why wouldn't I go back and play again? But then and there's gonna be teams that are like exactly

Hey, I got it. I know you got to release here, right? We'll give you like 25 We got pretty good setup. Don't need you to move a lot. Don't need to move. Just need you to do your thing It's like that becomes quite a temptation, which is maybe why he's getting ahead of it saying hey, yeah, I'll need you Yeah, right. I'm pretty sure okay. I don't need you to be tempted a good problem to have though it's a great problem to have hey I played so well at 41 years old going on 42 that other other teams are trying to sign me again that's one organization yeah that's all you need is one organization to be like we're we're quarterback away well that's the beginning of the year like you run through the scenario all the time like if it's week

15 and Someone goes down and it's next year and Rogers is still in shape And he can still throw it and he did throw 30 touchdowns and six interceptions It's hypothetical in this hypothetical situation like yeah, he's gonna get called I saw Perry Collins get called out of a hunting stand. It ain't hell. What's the rivers? It's a it's a it's all respect to carry You know is there he that's what I'm saying I'm just saying but he I mean he has so many and I was AJ would notice better than all of us

Please has so many different interests outside of football. We have no idea where is gonna get into He's getting ahead of it Every country in the world A new marriage, you know, I'm sure he has places, probably ten places that he already knows, like he can legit go and disappear for sure. And he was at the mountaintop for so long, you know, he won a Super Bowl, but he was, you know, every year for 15 years he was an argument for being the best quarterback in the league. You know, he went through what he went through in New York and now coming in like, all right, this is gonna be my last dance with Pittsburgh I love the guys I love Mike I love all

these things you know let me get this kind of put a bow in this part of my life so I kind of do believe believe him when he says you know for sure like hey this is gonna be it and then uh who knows what the hell Aaron's gonna be doing that he we may never hear from him again we've never seen him again or you know it was be president of another country. In five years, we don't know. To your point, there is a chance that he is running another country at some point, which would make sense, like if it happened.

Like, yeah, he loved that place. He always talked about how much he enjoyed that culture and community. That Egyptian pyramid things underneath didn't come till after Aaron visited here, right? Yes, yes, long time after. You talked about people disappearing that might just be some remodeling that Aaron's haven't done. That's a good point. Because over there on June 12, 2024 says hey I want to disappear from society.

Put me under those things. So we're hearing some radio activity underneath. It's Aaron Rodgers down there remodeling. Filled in a house. Maybe he will disappear into some rainforest down in South America. Yeah, I mean there's a chance I'd be sure you might be living in Might be living in a tree house. So yeah, yeah You know and couldn't could he had that guy built them on TV. It's sweet. I see that those are insane Those are very those are houses that guy builds full mansions up and into trees that guy's in the tree house Yeah, tree. I think it's tree house. I think it's the name of the treehouse master treehouse master's great show yeah hgtv yeah they're building mansions on in

trees they're just elevating i gotta see i love i think some of them have bathrooms in them either even they need to take their talents down to where flooding happens and be like hey you guys just need to build your houses up here 40 feet in the air on these trees it's unbelievable how much science they use maybe erin does hire the tree the treehouse could be anything could be anything ladies and gentlemen big news coming out of ESPN on July 16th it'll be the ESP's a celebration of sport and everything that competition can bring the host Shane Gillis. This is a big win. This is a huge win. This is a big win. This is a big moment.

This is a, I will say a pivotal moment in the history of SBs. We all know what the SBs are. We respect the SBs and what they have become. We enjoy celebrating amazing stories. We enjoy getting emotional. We enjoy all those things. We also understand that sports bring people together to have a good fucking time.

Like, so if we're hiring Shane Gillis as the host, I think we're here to have a jovial evening. I believe that is the message that's being said. Hopefully positively, and I'm pumped for Shane. Thank you to Shane for being like, yeah, I'll host the SBs, because I assume his schedule is insane. Sports guy, gay, loves sports host the SBs. Because I assume his schedule is insane. Sports guy, gay love sports.

Very evident that he loves sports with the way he speaks about it. Doesn't sound like a doofus from the Hollywood world. Do you want a football player? That's right. Oh yeah. Hand in dirt, dude. Served our country, didn't he?

Couple weeks. I mean, you're talking. You're talking hand in dirt, brother. More than me. More than me. And me and tires season two Spectacular yeah, I've delivered delivers anyone have confidence. They're gonna let Shane be Shane Shake you got to yeah. What do you mean you think Shane's some puppet? Yeah, right, dude? Yeah, that's not gonna change that a level to say the things you can say on your spin. I

Think Shane will do whatever whatever the hell Shane will do I believe is what Shane will do. I think you know exactly what you're getting when you hire him to do this and it's gonna be like hey if people are gonna be pissed we'll kind of just we'll deal with that afterwards. I think he understands. Yeah the lines. I have confidence in Shane I don't have confidence in ESPN in the S-piece. Why not? What are you talking about? I mean Tony you're on ESPN right now! I forgot you're right. Yeah. It's like the people that say, you know, on X, they say you want to try and to silence people on right on X calling you on a bet. You're right. You're doing that right now. Yeah. You're right. Tony, to be clear, when I was the first host, first

announcer, first first mate, first announcer, first- First mate. First mate of the SBs, was a host, obviously, was doing a strike and the whole thing. I mean, I said whatever, you know? I think Shane would definitely do the- I mean, it's live. Exactly, yeah.

Mike's on. There's not a whole lot you have to go through, though. They try to give you some bar reals and stuff? Trust me, I know, that's why I'm saying it. Somebody did hand me a speech. Pat actually rehearsed the fake speech, David.. Yeah, trust me. I know that's why I'm saying it. Somebody did hand me a speech. Pat actually rehearsed the fake speech. Bingo. It's awesome.

It's a great move. Shane, not a bad idea. Fake speech it through all of it. Even type it up whenever they ask for it. Then whenever you get there, boom. You do whatever the hell you need to do to get through that night in that moment. Thank you.

Don't just suck off Notre Dame the whole night in the Eagles. OK? Celebration of all sports all sports no you can do whatever you want to do whatever you want especially because the Eagles won the Super Bowl I couldn't even fathom him sorry about that they're gonna win a lot of yes oh he's gonna take one jump over backwards play in the year yeah that's why oh Shane's gonna be so he needs to be wearing those sunglasses that he wore tires. He's do that Yeah, they might win best best team as well. There's a few different awards. He's gonna be celebrating up there Go birds. Let's go boys

male athlete of the year is probably say quiet Yeah, when is this July 16th, what's today today is June? On a Wednesday all eyes all eyes That's a good week. That's home run derby MLB all-star game Yeah, maybe we should go on a little run. Maybe we should do shows on a road. Why not? Is this last year MLB's on ESPN allegedly what was happening? Yeah, allegedly I still don't know if that's really been worked out

But cuz everybody told us that's not gonna happen like there might be a little different but ESPN base there's baseball lovers at very high levels of ESPN yeah everything like that but no yeah as far I don't know where it's where it is right now but as far as I know is they they paid a certain price and then basically came back to the MLB and like hey we need to change the terms of this little I feel like we have covered baseball pretty good oh yeah my wife actually brought up the fact that she didn't know that her nickname was Big Thumper. Yeah. Yeah. So I didn't know it was an actual real nickname either. That's been a fun little development of this particular MLB season. Now his mom does not like the nickname Big Thumper. She doesn't love

it. That's at least according to his Wikipedia, she is very thankful that the the fans love him enough to kind of bestow big dumper upon him big thumper It's pretty good though not at baseball. Yeah, he's I mean, we'll see this is gonna be very interesting I don't know why people continue to pitch to him the way they do like he's gonna start getting a Little bit different treatment. I would think I mean you just can't throw that, you know shot 87 mile an hour Yeah, exactly and he he has he just continues to hit homers I think he's hit five homers in six games against the twins this year who he he went yard against last night I believe he's got what homers in like five consecutive games like he is on a he is on an all-time heater right now Oh judge are you I hope they big fall. I hope so. They need big thugs.

I would imagine a guy like him probably will be in the Derby this year, but you never know. I mean, there's a lot of guys. They need that guy pitching to them in a Derby too. Yeah, not a bad idea. Obviously through 77 team games, the guy's on a historic pace right now. Cal Raleigh, new star, big dum show. Hey, Otani performing. Right? Yeah. Yeah, Aaron judge still performing

I saw somebody hit one out of the city or something the other night. It was that Aaron judge He's had a couple in recent. Yeah I mean that's that's the thing is guys like him and like Cal Raleigh even show hey like he's so big if he gets a hole to one like yeah, he's hitting it upper deck or he But as moonshot Jackie the last several days here We've guys have been going big fly hitting like 450 who else but homers who else so hot up say his name Oh, yes, Ellie Dela Cruz Juan Soto's back. Oh, yeah I mean, yeah He? Juan Soto's back playing baseball too. Oh yeah, I mean, yeah, he is. Juan Soto's back.

You said there was a chance that he was going to get hot. Juan Soto is back to being the baseball player that earned $750 million. Yeah, he's getting there. He's getting there. He's hitting. They can't beat the Braves, which is a little bit of a thorn in their side because they are in their division. But yeah, Soto's starting to hit.

So. I thought the baseballs were done. You can't hit them far This seems right seems are different. That's what they're saying But it feels like the big boppers the big dumpers and such are bombing these balls still big ways Yeah, without a doubt. I mean if you if you hit one square if you barrel one You're still gonna send that a long long way Here's your home run leaders of the 2025 MLB season thus far. Big dump up there at 32, then all rise for judge at 28,

and then Shohei at 26. I mean, if you were in then Schwabalm down there at 24, if you were to ask the MLB or baseball fans, hey, what would be the most desirable leader of, or leaders of the home run leaderboard this far into the season? It would be those names right there. I mean, Cal Raleigh out of nowhere,

love big dumpers and Aaron Judge, Shohei Otomi, Schwabalm at the top of that thing. When your stars are performing, it's much better for the sport as a whole. And they've continued to do that. Are we talking baseball during this summertime this year or not? Well, I mean, it's up to you.

If we don't talk about baseball, we really don't have fucking anything to talk about. Unfortunately, I mean, That's W. Well, yeah, sure. We can talk about the W, but you got baseball every single day, you know, and they'll be all Star games here. No, I don't know. Played a victory is a Atlanta. They should play to victory. Is, uh, is AAA feeling it? I heard, I saw Tim Kirch and he did a podcast with his kid, I think. Yeah. That was his kid. Tim Kirch.

Tim Kirch and has brought it every single day of his life. So yeah, Tim Kirch and is still bringing it. And now you could argue. Yeah. His son is bringing it as well. That was the first thing I saw when I walked in a Thunderdome today, walked in. Good morning, boys. Good morning, boys. How we doing? Good, good to see you. You need to see this. Yep. And it's Kirkchen and his boy. Right, on their podcast. And from what I've been told, the boy sounds exactly like dad whenever, like... No way. Yeah, I think a lot of people think my impression of Tim Kirkchen is very cartoonish and it's like, okay, that's not, but the way I do it that's

how Tim Kirkshin sounded 15 years ago like when I was watching baseball tonight growing up and everything like that and I had never heard his son great voice and personality for the game of baseball without a doubt he's the he's the man he's done a lot for baseball over the course of his career I'd never heard his son talk before and boom obviously I'm following Tim Kirkshin I got notifications for every time he tweets, as everyone should if you don't already. And he put out a tweet from a clip from his podcast

that he co-hosts with his son and holy shit, his son is a dead, he sounds exactly like Tim Kirkshian from 10, 15 years ago. It was great, I mean, it was like the best piece of nostalgia I've ever gotten in my life. Yeah, they need to know that if they have one podcast fan, it's Tosh Schmidt. Yeah, love it. If you got a million podcast fans, one of them is Tosh Schmidt. Without a doubt.

And he's putting that thing on multiple plays, I do believe. Oh yeah. Should retweet it immediately. So we're doing baseball. Yeah. I mean, again, like you said, if these guys continue to play the way they have been, like the biggest stars then We'll have stuff to talk about. Yeah, but what about these umpires? I mean, they're bad

Okay, there's a there's an over thousand number I seen for mistakes made Thus far in the season I mean obviously there's a lot of decisions being made by umpires on every single play strike ball foul everything tip You name it. There's a lot of things a thousand wrong. I guess just has 1040 last week Yeah, the week of June 16 If you watch this video that is playing right now is like these are the ten worst ones and it's like a lot of these It's like together umpire codify maybe your umpire auditor yeah umpire auditor say somebody's gonna see this an umpire auditor we did see

that's a great pitch those aren't bad if that's the fifth worst call of the week that's not bad like number strikeouts that's a strikeout like number one how many strikes are they calling balls though you don't care about, yeah, but that the box That's all the bad this one's bad, okay That's bad. You see the pitcher. Oh, he was excited to punch him out Yeah, the pitcher walked back to the rubber though. Like, okay, I gotta do another one and then he kind of skips That one's not great either, but that's a great. Oh, yes. That's a great friend full count full count right there I love it. I've seen the Coast Carolina catcher go ahead frame that He's a one-legged catcher. I see. Yep. He said his knees are much better now

He's a one-legged catcher and he's able to move a little bit more these I'm so always gonna get called into question because coming off of that college World Series Between Coast Carolina and LSU when that out made it all about himself They're terrible and kick the coach out in his first year there in the national championship in an elimination game for the title. First inning kicking somebody out, that was wild now. We were told by Carl Ravitch in a very interesting service conversation where we heard every other word or so. He said that there was some other stuff going on as well, maybe from the other side. It was very tense from the very beginning. So both parties are wrong, but obviously can't happen in this. MLB umpires, I thought better because we could do this.

Can we not do this? No, minor leagues was dealing with like the challenge stuff they don't. I think- Because you said a couple of those pitches that were outside the box for strikes. I'm not a baseball person. Can you inform me a little bit?

Like, if that's like the fourth inning, that guy is not just gonna call that out of nowhere. Like if that's a strike, he's probably been calling that all game. Like that's his zone for the game and the pitcher understands that. So if you're a pitcher and a catcher, you're trying to find like a secret spot.

Like for instance, when I go into a stadium, I'm trying to find their wind. You're trying to find where their wind's going. Okay, for a pitcher and a catcher, you're trying to find what their box is on that one part? What the zone is. So early on, you might throw one like low and away at a guy's knees And if you get a strike call, it's like, okay, let's hammer that like if he's calling that like that's a very advantageous thing for a pitcher

That's a tougher pitch to hit obviously and more times than not MLB guys that will be their zone the whole game there some guys are wildly inconsistent and it kind of just bounces around you'll get that But for the most part like if a guy's calling that in the first inning He's gonna probably call it the whole game both ways because that's why baseball pure Say you can't do out of the box because it's about the umpire in finding a special Yeah, that's the players need to learn that early to the players need to know it. Hey, he's calling this He's calling the third paint in the plate on the outside He's calling that a strike so you better swing at those things Moving forward after the first couple any and that's probably a convo and dugout, right? Yeah. Yeah. Or

just like the these guys play with these umpires enough that they kind of know like, well, you will see umpires like if if a guy's at the plate and it's like a questionable strike and he kind of shows up the umpire and like throws his head back or starts that umpire might be like, all right, fuck this guy, you know, I'm going to give the pitcher an extra two inches or three inches off the edge of the plate and maybe ring him up. But like when guys get ejected, when managers get ejected in the majors,

more often than not, I think that's like when their team is playing like shit and they just want to try to give them some extra juice. So they'll go out and it's like a decision. It's all right. I'm going to get ejected tonight with how many games there are. Like you really don't see that much back and forth because like guys would hate each other by You know the all-star break you'd have managers and umpires wanting to kill each other Like I think they understand that the umpires are like a necessary evil kind of a belly check ism

He's always say are going into a game with refs like, you know, do business as business has been done So if they let you get away with some right then be a physical game Like that's the kind of that's how we're gonna play and uh, I love that Yeah, I love little gamesmanship with it. You figure it out and I think skin with schemes was on he kind of talked about him Liking the you know, the human ups right conversation always comes in special based on replacing with AI Replacing with you know, whatever the tech is behind it So you don't have to deal with the human error aspect of it. But you know, I'm sure they get, it works both ways for batters and pitchers.

Every one of those top five that we saw was a pitcher getting a bigger strike zone. Yeah. Yeah, so I think the pitchers were probably like, we like the human back. We're taught with two strikes, protect the play. And that is what has changed a little bit is like these accounts that, you know,

didn't exist seven years ago or whatever. So like after every game It'll give the umpire like an overall grade of how he did and you'll see like if your team loses by two runs It's like oh well actually you know the Pirates today the umpire gave them You know they were plus point six three runs so you like you look at that and it's like well Yeah, we had it we you know we had an advantage all game that stuff never used to happen So I think that's why umpires get called into question a lot more now to 1040 a week. Yeah, you wonder if baseball has some sort of legacy score for some of these umpires to kind of

counteract what when they do have that many mistakes Yeah, you're saying what's the denominator exactly? Yeah, how many have they gotten right? Baseball has been good. Congrats to baseball Let's go back to basketball. Shall we Tyrese Halliburton confirms that he had surgery on his Achilles He's got a long road back in the Celtics who are gonna be a part of the most craziest offseason ever So as Sean Chiron, you do get started late last night con man Yeah, drew holiday traded 2d trailblazers for and for knee Simons in two second round picks kind of shocking At least for a Celtics fan getting this much in return

I think the two second round picks is probably what you would have thought with drew holiday But getting an for knee simons, I mean that is as a legitimate dude who can score the basketball I forget if someone said he averaged 19 Last year for the trailblazers now I'm sure a lot of those games were games where they're just kind of chucking threes, which doesn't matter whatsoever. But funny enough about Drew Holliday is this is we got him from Portland. Everyone remembers him from Milwaukee, but Milwaukee traded Drew to Portland for Damian Lillard.

Celtics get Drew all day from Portland So he's going back there probably expecting, you know, kind of some of those other guys Christophs Porzingis Maybe Derek White maybe Jalen Brown over these next few days But it does seem as though these next 24 hours before the NBA draft tomorrow some of these dudes who are kind of on the edge They're definitely gonna get moved. Draft is tomorrow. Yes it is. Let's go look forward to that. We've been knowing that for a while.

Kevin Durant's been traded, Drew Holliday's been traded, and Brad Stevens up there in Boston is active. Oh yeah, and he's gonna keep going. Danny Ange, who was known as one of those guys, and first of all, yeah, you can see all the trades that ended up getting the Boston Celtics both to the finals and to win the finals twice in three years but Danny Ains, who used to be the guy that no one even wanted to pick up the phone when he was calling he's now the GM of the Utah Jazz, he said when he stepped down and Brad Stevens took over his job like hey Brad

Stevens was born he's a great coach, okay? He took Butler to the Final Four a couple of times. He's turned this Boston Celtics team around, but he was born to be the president of basketball operations, GM in that role. So yeah, full faith in Brad Stevens getting the Celtics back on track even after the Tatum Achilles. Shout out to basketball.

We're thankful for basketball. This playoff series run was great for, obviously, Indianapolis and Indiana. Gumpy put out the amount of impressions we had in the month of June thus far just because the NBA. It was like 150 million or something like that. Obviously, thank you to Tyrese Halliburton, the Pacers, and the NBA for helping us out.

This was in a 23-day period in June, just basically mostly all basketball Oh, yeah, you know some Panthers conversation in there obviously with hockey doing its thing but basketball for us was huge now I think obviously it's in the city. We're getting to go to the games Obviously, we know the people in there. So it's big for us, but it was big for the country as well I don't know if you saw the numbers for the NBA Finals game 7 Most watch NBA Finals Game in six years. Wow. And obviously the last game 7 was in 2016. It was nine years ago. I think

anybody that was with the TV networks that everybody thought was colluding with the NBA to pick who wins and who loses and who makes and who doesn't make it and everybody that was thinking it'll be death for the NBA and for ESPN if two small markets get to the finals what a waste yada yada yada. It was like all And everybody that was thinking it'll be death for the NBA and for ESPN if two small Markets get to the finals. What a waste yada yada yada. It was like all anybody wants is seven game series That's all anybody was game seven is the most marketable word in NBA NHL WM you name it any of these series of sports game seven as soon as people hear it They know what the deal is up 10%% year over year in total viewership. That adds in obviously the game seven viewership.

And although some of the games, I think the first game and the second game might have been down from what it used to be, seven game series carries in the end. So if it's a bigger market and it goes to seven games, obviously I think that is most desirable situation. If you're looking strictly from a numbers number standpoint like New York Knicks going seven games with Oklahoma City you obviously have New York and the tri-state area up there following along but just going seven games in general good for sports good for the NBA good for ESPN so shout out to the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers giving us a show and

shout out to game sevens always being electrifying you and always having the buzz still in the sports world. I would love to see in Grinch, I don't know if we have the numbers, but whatever that LeBron James Game 7 versus the Warriors was, I bet that was huge because LeBron of course, but also the 3-1 comeback and everything. And if it was the biggest game in six years, that means it was, you know, also when KD during that warrior series where he tore his Achilles as well, which is wrong. It says the 2016 NBA finals game seven

between the Cavs and Golden State Warriors drew approximately 31 million viewers. Yes, that's 11 million more than the peak of this one. So yeah, I'd say LeBron is a needle mover. Yeah. Yeah. And obviously, you know, and Steph, but then that was a good run where, you know, pre streaming, you knew it was going to be either the Warriors or the Cavs for like a four or five year stretch with how they were. So with this one, you didn't know who it was going to be. You had no idea what you were getting from game to game with this series. And you knew obviously game seven is going to be a champion as crown and it's going to be a first time champion too. So you're going to see history either Pacers or the Thunder.

So it was dope man to deliver it with the MVP. So SGA capping off kind of a perfect season. Yeah, congratulations to the boys being needle movers and congrats the NBA having a great playoff run. It was an honor to follow along side of all of it and thanks to the NBA and Pacers for being so damn hospitable to us. Well on that note the Pittsburgh Steelers have texted and said no excuses you have to do a show from Latrobe so I guess it's been approved. We can figure out an excuse. Yep certainly. We put our nose to the

grindstone to find one of those. But that would be sweet if we are because I think they have a night practice up there. They do. A couple of them. So we go up there during the day and then obviously stay for the night do some sort of maybe special from the The nighttime over there. It's a cool setup man a lot of generations and history of fans in Steelers football going through st Vincent yeah They do one Friday night lights practice a year where the team takes buses over and they get off a bus It's like it's a high school football. You see that that's football I'm assuming yeah, I'm assuming there's a lot of Oh mama going on. I assume sticks people may be even plugged in out there. Oh With their sticks beer. Yeah, six bro. Oh mama beer. Yeah

Hey drinking that with trope more NFL news Anthony Richardson quarterback of the Indianapolis Colts who is in a quarterback competition with Daniel Jones formerly of the New York Giants in a quick stint with the Minnesota Vikings Said he'll be good to go for training camp with his shoulder injury that Knocked him out of mini camp in spring. He Seeked a second opinion from dr. Neil Eltrash who did the shoulder surgery. He said you're good just a little bit of rest. We have found out now he says his shoulder will be ready to go for training camp.

That's good news. Congrats, Anthony Richardson. No surgery was required. That was the latest piece of information. Now the competition rolls into training camp. AJ Hawk. Yeah, I wonder like is he going to be on some kind of plan going into camp to rest his arm or is he gonna have two days on one day off all of that stuff?

I guess they will figure out before they get there. But this is what you want. You want a true quarterback competition. You want both the guys as healthy as they possibly can be going into camp. I think it's good news that he's ready for camp. I hope he's able to withstand camp. He needs to play preseason games.

A guy like AR, he needs to be in full contact situations. In practice, you don't truly get to see what this guy can do because you don't tackle quarterbacks. But he is an absolute monster with the ball in his hands. You just watch these highlights. We all know the Rocket Army has, but he truly needs to be in a live setting to truly see how great he is.

Not a lot of real football. No. Yes. Not a lot of real football reps for him through any level. Yeah, exactly. On every level. So AJ just mentioned the reps count. I hope, I hope he's not. He needs all the reps obviously to compete and hopefully win this job. If you're, if you're a fan of him and his future, you want to get all these reps, the live reps, definitely count. At the same time, you know, you don't want them taking those extra hits when they don't count, but I hope five can figure it out. This is a big big big year for him and Daniel Jones

You know Daniel Jones he landed on his feet here in Indy So hopefully we see the best football from him if he wins the job as well. Yeah, Daniel Jones You know got more reps in spring because Anthony Richardson wasn't able to practice for like a week through the I Think the most important stuff like the mandatory stuff. They're doing a lot of leavens on stuff I think Daniel Jones getting very comfortable Shane Steichen's offense obviously AR has been in the offense for a few years So we shall see I think Colts are the good spot big year look out for the Colts Especially in the AFC South, you know, who knows top division what they got going on

Jacksonville. Liam Cohn comes on and Stoner down there with a big brain. Yeah, we like him, who knows. Tennessee, Cam Ward, yeah, he's a dog, okay. Sounds good. Seems great. And down in Houston? Mm-hmm.

Okay, so CJ Stroud now has so much more experience than he had last year going in. And D'Amico Ryan's his coach of the year candidate. And the Houston Texans fans They're pretty loud. Yeah They're down in dumps for a long time long time now. They're on top of the world Ladies and gentlemen joining us now is a Houston Texans fan a man who will be releasing his fifth studio album on Thursday night at midnight. We've got a sneak peek at it.

Hey, the ears lock with this man singing because this man's voice is glorious. The album is self-titled, his name, ladies and gentlemen, Parker McCallum. Yeah, Parker! Have a great time. Thank you. Let's go back to the Texans talk. I love that. In fact, I would love to replace a friendly wager on who's gonna win the AFC South.

Okay, I would like to do that as well. And it's been a long time since the Colts have won the AFC South. As you voyage back and forth to find center of camera, you had it there early, you moved, then you found it back. That's good, yep. That's good. Hey, way to deal with a little bit of adversity. I think you did a great job. It's been a good year.

We got a chair with wheels this year, so it's, you know, it's good right now. Rolling around. Well, I heard that we will do a friendly wager. Indianapolis Colts are gonna win the AFC South. Okay, no questions asked. We all understand that. We will figure out what will be on the line as the weeks move forward. Let's talk about this album. I think I talked to you relatively soon Okay, no questions asked. We all understand that. We will figure out what will be on the line as the weeks move forward Let's talk about this album. I think I talked to you relatively soon after you finished this album I think i'm not 100 sure but I believe it was shortly after you were so incredibly pumped about what you put together you were Very I think you said uh, it's your favorite album you've ever done. This was immediately afterwards

Do you still feel that way? How awesome has it been telling people about this album and how excited are you for people to hear this particular album on Thursday night at midnight? Several questions. Answer them all Parker. Yes, I am so excited still about this record and that's the first time that I've ever felt that way. Like every record I've ever made I've been like, I've immediately walked out of the studio and said, I know what I want to do next time. And yeah, so it's really crazy eight months

after we made this record to still, and honestly, I love it even more. And I've picked it apart and second guessed everything about it and I still in love with it. It was a super rare feeling for me. But I mean, I don't know, man. it's, I forget the second and third question, but you know, the thing I would like to say about it is that I'm so excited for it to come out. I think one of the other questions was, what has it been like telling people

about it? And that's been an absolute grind. I mean, I was in New York, Boston and LA, promoting this record in the last 72 hours. So I'm just very ready for it to be out. I've answered every question and said everything about it that I could ever think to say. Okay, well let's rehash all of those things in this particular conversation. Thursday night, midnight, Parker McCollum releases Parker McCollum, his fifth studio album. When you write something like this, what is the thought process? Are we listening to music?

Are we in complete silence? Are we elevated altitude wise? How do we get into creative mode to create an album, especially one that you said is your favorite? Yeah, you know, Adderall works great. Um. Shit. Um.

Good energy. Good energy, Yeah. Glocky. Yeah. I mean, your ability to focus and fall in love with a melody and be emotional about it is crazy on that stuff. And you know, there's some other things in there. I think you just kind of whatever the day is feeling, whatever you're trying, whatever you're feeling, whatever you're thinking about being creative that day you know um but it's i didn't really take any specific type or genre of music to listen to to inspire me to write this

record and you know one of these songs this record i wrote when i was 15 and then one of these songs on the record uh i wrote while i was in the studio, sitting on the floor the second day we were there in New York. So it's just kind of, it's just from all over the place. And a lot of it I wrote over the course of last year, but it's, I don't know, man. I'm so excited for it to be out so that I'll grade it and find out if it really is or not. It is it is we've enjoyed it We've listened to it a couple times. You got the link. Thank you big sky. I'm a lonely man You wrote that on a plane. I assume I did not I wrote that backstage Somewhere on tour last year really not on that. Do you write on your plane?

Sometimes year. Really? Not on the do you write on your plane? Sometimes. I don't know that sounds like I just spoke I don't know what just happened there you write backstage. Is it hard to write when you sit down with the this like hey I'm gonna write right now like I'm in the studio or like you said backstage right okay here we go I got a verse here there. I never really sit down to write I mean every day of my life, like I pick up a guitar at some point or another, and it might be for five seconds and it might be for three hours and everything in between. So like there's no formula for me.

There's nothing consistent about it. I'm always like, I'm never going to write another song. I don't know what I would write about. And then, you know, it may be in August of this year that I'll write, you know, two or three days in a row and just can't quit. And that may not show up till January. There's no, I've never forced it. I just, you know, when it shows up, it shows up

and let it ride when it does. Hey, it's been working. Obviously you are on tour there with George Strayed and Chris Stapleton. And there's some photos coming out of this tour That you look so cool I don't know you posted them and I don't know how long You stare at these photos before you put them up there that had to feel so cool that had to feel so cool

Incredibly jacked right now. Obviously you get a chance to tour around at big-ass stadiums Not to be confused with the Big Ass Stadium Tour, but you get it with George Strait. How was that experience? And you've been on the road for how long now? Like 10 years straight? 10 years straight, and I feel like we've never taken a week off. But the George Show has been dope, man.

We played, it's actually done. We're done on that tour now. We start our tour this Thursday night in Virginia. Um, and so, you know, I think we did Buffalo. We did the, the bill stadium, the Steelers stadium, the Patriots stadium and the Eagle stadium. And it was awesome, man. I mean, it's, it's George Strait and Chris Stapleton playing, you know, every night.

And I get to go first and then sit and watch the two of them every night in front of house for free all night. Actually getting paid to watch them, I guess you could look at it that way. But and so I just, when I think back to being a little kid and wanting to be a country singer and wanting to do cool stuff and win awards and be on a record label and play shows with George Strait. That's a cool thing to get to do all of the time. Yeah. It's been dope, but it's over, or Buffalo or

Foxboro this past weekend was our last one. It was a hell of a lot. It's actually been. Hell of a year. You know that. Got a new forehead. D-Bud has a question for you. Yeah, tell me about that fresh Western.

I'm a hat guy. That's a dope hat, dope brand. I know you can cowboy hat as well, but I see in this fitted snapback a lot, man. Tell me about this brand. Yeah, it used to be Lucchese across that forehead right there, D-Budge. Yeah, and I just launched a new collection with Lucchese actually. Okay.

Yeah, it'll be my last one with Lucchese, really excited about it. What? Wait, wait, wait, wait. It's a long time coming. Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. We only wear our Lucchese boots around here because it was on your hat. So this is the last collection. This is it? This is like Aaron Rodgers? We need to get these boots one last go around one last hey

you take the boots another round another round another round until the last time you take it around and that's this time we need to buy these we need to buy these boots okay we'll buy these These that we need to buy these but okay, we'll buy these Yes Lucasi boots because they are very comfortable. I love very and I've got it and I've got enough for a lifetime So, I mean, I'm always gonna be wearing them. Okay, so we don't hate Lucasi. Okay, we like Lucas No, man, that company changed my life And it probably changed the trajectory of my career if I'm being totally honest And probably change the trajectory of my career if I'm being totally honest. So.

We knew it, we knew it, we knew it. We knew that good big, all right, sweet, Lucas. Anyways, Fresh Western now. I'm wearing Fresh Western. Yeah, so I don't know how to really explain it because we haven't announced anything about Fresh Western, but essentially I've always wanted to own my own company. And it sounds so weird, Pat, but I love things that smell good.

I know that sounds unbelievably weird to say on the Pat McAfee Show. And I'd thought about Fresh Western being like an apparel brand or a hat brand and then me and my buddy Vic Keller, who owns Christian's and Firearmsarms and we built a really great friendship and he was the one who was like, hey man, what if we made Fresh Western a personal care product brand? So as far as I've gotten with that is I would like to make, and not that I would like to, we are making Fresh Western Body Wash and we're in the works of it right now. So, so I'm getting a phone call right there, but we're in the, we're

in the works of it right now. And my sideways are my horizontal. And I'm still, you're good. You're good. You don't freak out. You're great. And so right now, you know, these hats, I wanted to start wearing the hats because it's such a good opportunity to you know kind of begin the and build a foundation for for fresh Western and and

Allow me to take time like really build this thing in a super genuine authentic You know High executed well executed way Yeah, me and Vic could really you know, we've got a great team and we've been cranking out what fresh Westerns ultimately going to become and I think it's going to be a body wash. It's great name, great hat, great name, great hat. We assume body wash and a personal care brand will also be fantastic, but

the hat's a good one. Yeah, hats a good one. You know, it says a lot of it. Does it? Fresh Western, we're doing some ranch one. Oh, yeah, that's a good one. You know, it says a lot Does it mmm fresh Western we're doing some ranching What are we doing? Yeah, I mean it could be some light ranching in there. There could be It's so wide open right now Which is what makes it so exciting and so fun to start this company and and something I've always wanted to do so I'm a rancher myself as you know, I've always wanted to do. So. I'm a light rancher myself, as you know.

I've wrestled. I've read, you've seen it. I know you've seen it. Don't, don't. I've seen it. You don't need to theorize about what it could be like with saying, I could tell you've seen it. I don't know if you know South Dakota State Rodeo team.

They've been national champ seven times. Tackle steer inside of their barn. I do believe. You take that thing, you shove it down, then you go ahead and take that thing down. And once you get down, you put up a bang. Now we're ranching. Because you don't want that cattle to get out, you see.

So we've been building that damn fence for so goddamn long. We don't need that cattle to be running right through it. You didn't hurt it, did you? No, never. Is that South Dakota State, the same South Dakota State as the football team that wins the national championship every year? Bingo, they rodeo and they football.

What's the deal with that school? Why are they just cooking everybody else and everything? Light Ranch. Light Ranch. Fresh Western, brother. That's the idea. Thanks, Light Ranch. That's what they got going on. Alright, the boys have a couple more questions for you.

Parker McCollum's fifth studio album, Parker McCollum, available Thursday night at midnight. Connor has a question for you Parker. Yeah Parker, you know you mentioned it early on but what are your expectations here for the Texans season? The Patriots got Stefan Diggs thank you for letting him go really appreciate that but are we looking at a serious run to the Super Bowl or is this just gonna be another boring home playoff game then losing the second round again type season.

Well, I don't know if that was a question or a literal attack on on the entire Houston Texans football organization. But I mean, I have a feeling that the Houston Texans and the Houston Rockets and possibly The Houston Astros are all gonna have a ring with another ring for the Astros here very soon Wow now, I know if that's this season, but I know this football team has the makings of a good They're so close to being a really really really sound Competitive football team and they've been right there the last two years. Last year's struggle, I think, kind of expected with CJ coming off such

a high rookie year and just a record breaking rookie year. But I think once he settles in and I think he's gonna play like a veteran quarterback like he did with rookie season. And I don't know who in the world is going to play on the offensive line, but we may be so good that we don't even need more. So no offensive line needed. It seems like it's a good time in football to not have one of those. But with that being said, do you hear how Houstonians are talking down there?

Yeah, please train for KD. What do you think this is? We got CJ Stroud going into year three. What do you think this is? We got the Houston Astros. They don't just bang on trash cans. They win some games. You guys are excited. I wish they would bang on trash cans again.

Let's win. Yeah. Not to mention the Dynamo. Houston Dynamo struggling, I think, right now in the MLS. Yeah. I think it's Lou Messi and the boys over there at Inter-Miami. Fair. Kind of handling it.

Dynamo will get back on top. Yeah. I got faith. Good steak places down in Houston. Great steak. A lot of good food. A lot of good food. That's the second time I've ever thought about the Houston Dynamo in my entire life.

What was the first time you got to the MLS? The first time I got to the MLS was when I was in the MLS. I was in the MLS. I was in the MLS. I was in the MLS. I was in the MLS. I was in Houston great steak. A lot of good food. That's the second time I've ever thought about the Houston Dynamo in my entire life. What was the first? Me. When I very first heard about them. And then you said I don't need any more I'm not gonna that's unbelievable. I respect that. Soccer ain't it for me man soccer's not it for me. Oh we're coming back to win a World Cup. Light Ranching on a soccer pitch. It's coming to America two years next year. Yeah, next year. Next year. Next year. Next year. If the USAs are playing in

the World Cup, I will absolutely watch. But other than that, it's not a hockey game in the world that I think I would go see. AJ, a couple things we got to clarify. USA will qualify for the World Cup because we're hosting the event. We automatically qualify. But you have to, right? By default we're in, right? Yeah, and Parker, when America is playing, we're gonna wanna be there. Okay, it's gonna be a good time.

USA. I agree with that. USA, USA. And what I heard is these boys are gonna represent the country too. We're not flopping around. We're bringing Mike McCorris. I hope so. Double check that because they were pretty tired

the other night. Yeah they were a little windy but it was all humidity. Yeah and World Cup's not gonna have that. The Super Duper FIFA Club World Cup continues to roll on. Everybody's watching, it's a good time. This is Parker McCollum. His album Parker McCollum will be released midnight Thursday. Should be a good time. That's the name of it right? Parker McCollum? Well the Parker McCollum album comes out Thursday night the partner McCallum tour starts Thursday night Nobody heard the tour There's all I don't know if you saw the countdown on your screen or not because the way the phone was sideways or upside down We missed the countdown hundred percent my fault

No, yeah, we nobody knows your tour starts on Thursday in Virginia. I said it early. Yeah, Parker McCallum tour starts Thursday and Parker McCallum album comes out Thursday. So that's some fresh western right there, bro. Yeah, it is. I like that photo. You like that photo? I do like that photo. Very rare for me to like a photo. I think that one's a nice photograph. Oh, so you're very hard on yourself it sounds like cuz you heard him whenever he's talking about the album earlier is like never really got out of a Studio session and said yeah, that was good. Every time it's always should do something different They forced me to release these damn songs. Okay, I don't know what to tell you first time. I felt good about it

I don't like looking at photos of myself one of those handsome dudes. Yep of all time base guys unbelievable That's the first song that has sounded like one of those handsome dudes of all time. Big Sky is unbelievable. That's the first song that has sounded like one of those songs from Parker and it's a very good country. Big Sky is a great song. Yeah. Yes. Thank you. That's a banger brother. That's a banger. We listen to it every day. Thank you. It is an everyday rotation here at the Thunderdome before the show goes live. That's the second song of the show this coming weekend, so Makes it feel good now. I'm not even more excited to play it. Maybe you should play it twice once at the start Or it's and then once at the very end once at the end We used to do that back in the day when we only had like seven or eight songs that we knew we would we would

Just play them again. Yeah, because nobody's going by the end. It's like oh, yeah now I know the words a little better this time. Oh, yeah, yeah, playing it again. You got on that plane right there. I Don't know this plane that alone anything about that plane. Did you get on that plane? I've been on that plane before no way brother We're past the Wright brothers stage of flying Shout out to the Wright brothers though. Yeah, shout out a Oh trial and error there. How many times they were told? No way. I'm gonna take this thing in the sky, especially with the way it looked. They're just running down the standing I don't understand how somebody hasn't made a major motion picture

With with a list actors about the Wright brothers because they're actually 15 Wright brothers. What's that? Is that Ru? Only three left. Yeah, what? What? 12 and what? Trial and error? the hell Orville Wilbur, we know that from Ohio Donner and Kitty Hawk you're saying this it might have been the first flight. Yeah, we heard about it wasn't actually the first though There was there was others. Yeah, the three brothers who lived got a lot of love But if they were to make a movie about that it would just be plane crash after death after i'll tell you i don't know how the fuck they figured it out like flying as it's happening in

real time still to this day 38 year old yes feel like i have life pretty not figured out but a lot of shit figured out in this world flying makes no sense to me yeah still i was flying literally an hour ago i think about this every time i'm in the air and it's really just a math equation if you think about it, you know It's just a man in bigger planes just a bigger math equation and the numbers are bigger But like it blows my mind that you can get in a metal tube and fly literally around the globe and Be unbelievably comfortable and quiet and now a starlink the Wi-Fi is better than it is on earth in the plane. It's insane every time I mean there is a conversation with every plane we get on. Hey

need you here. Need you yeah. Do your job I'm gonna do my I'm gonna go get real comfortable in here probably eat some snacks. Extremely high rate of success which is the craziest part about it like it actually works 99.99 percent of the time. Let's keep talking about that let's not talk about anything else. We appreciate you Parker good math equation today hopefully we move some of those Parker McCallum albums and if you're in a town that Parker McCallum is coming to he's incredibly handsome and a great showman. Oh yeah he rocks. He's the rock. Gotta bring the rock. Don't forget to rock. Hey we appreciate the hell out of you you're the man good luck with this album good luck with everything and thank you for coming to big night in Pittsburgh

Thank you boys. Appreciate y'all. Ladies and gentlemen, that's Parker McCall Does he own this music probably not I don't know. I thought he did. That's so he wrote this 15. Yeah, but this you know, this is also like promotion so they can maybe just let it go and not give us a full strike, which is possible, but... Here's with the label. You hear this? My first time. Be a friend, bro. This song's been out.

Hey, it's a good song. It's a banger. It's a little, little rocker. He's got a couple songs on the album too that are very, um, stripped down. Yeah, no auto tune. Who was saying that? You know who was saying it. Strip time. Yeah, no auto tune. Who was saying that? You know who was saying it. T-Pain?

No, Olly Anthony. Oh. Yeah, there was a little, he was involved in a little bit of a dust up. There was a dust up. Somebody said that Parker did modular pedals for auto tune for his voice whenever he's performing. and Parker didn't take too kindly that he's like, hey, I Take a lot of pride in the way that I sing. It's like kind of his thing. Mm-hmm

Don't do that. I love the gamesmanship to starting the tour in Virginia right in fucking Holly Anthony's backyard Coming to your doorstep motherfucker. Come on out. Yeah Yeah, you'll hear me actually. We see me rocking cut. Well, not only the rock the rock is incredible Oh, yeah, but his voice he's a projector. Yeah, I mean he projects his voice. It is he's saying John Mayer Yeah, right here. It just no microphone just like scream. Oh, yeah, it was like perfect. He's unbelievable Yes, he's like a guitar picks flying. Yeah, he's a real. Oh, yeah He'll throw him out to the crowd. He's down so many show is worth going to was that a Raising canes in the bottom. Yeah sponsor. I thought that the tour looks like a sponsor, but I'm telling you that's what I'm saying

Like I respect how much money this guy's going. I wanted to hate it at the beginning But now I'm like this fucking guys giving back to every community that I know I've I appreciate all the athletes everybody big D Hmm. Yeah, you're right. Herbie's Herbie's boy D All the deal raising canes. Yeah, and I think Ben and Peter potentially got a little raising canes deal which we love I've never had it. It's good. I've been protesting wasn't Sam Reinhardt just working a shift there after winning the Stanley Cup I know that's what I'm saying. I love this guy and I hated it and now I see it I'm like I fucking kind of like the way this guy's operating raising canes. You have a good time fuck I got a store come have a good time with the fans. I appreciate it

They start popping up more in our South Florida like a lot of the Chick-fil-a locations boom raising canes right now. You see the line. Burger King. Exactly, you see the lines the next day, just back, raise the canes, boom. That was Burger King there for a while. They let McDonald's do all the market research.

Hey, here's a town that would love McDonald's. We need to be right here. And then Burger King allegedly, I think I've heard this story business-wise numerous times they would say we'll let McDonald's who does all the research has all the stats let them do that and then we'll just park right across the street but move burgers are wanted here got it we'll do that I've heard the same thing happens maybe in recruiting yeah you know if this person is good enough for this school he's certainly good enough for our school

right he said kind of like the waiver wire whenever the Patriots will cut somebody and Belichick was in charge it's like yup you're getting signed here if it's good enough for Bill it's good enough here. Not a bad play by raising kids. That's what I'm saying. At the beginning I wanted to hate the guy and I started watching on full I'm like I like the way this guy operates. It's kind of like Fanatics Fest to be clear. Wanted to hate Fanatics Fest just because like yeah this is ridiculous. Let's fix the jerseys. Okay, let's do this stuff before doing all this shit. Sure Then you see how everybody is there having a good time. It's like art. I actually respect it respect everything Go everybody was at that fucking fanatics everybody Everybody was over there respect it good gatherings. Yeah, a lot of clean damn Yeah, how many days was it feels like it was like a week long? Yeah, that's what I'm saying I took over. Like Thursday through Sunday, maybe. I think Tom Brady won that thing, the super duper gronky.

He won the contest. Yeah. Didn't know who gronky was, though, in the room full of 20 gronkies. That was tough. He couldn't find gronky? Couldn't find gronky. I don't believe this. There's a lot of fake gronkies in there, too, to be clear.

But he still couldn't find them. James Harden was there, too. Hulkster. That was awesome. Yup. Clown. Cena just- What was he doing?

What do you mean? How's a clown? He loves Hulkster. Hulk Harden. Entire WWE roster there? It did feel like WWE took over there for a bit. Cody Rhodes, wet ass jumper. Yeah, and then Cena right behind him,

just goofing off on the court. A bunch of people watching me. That was awesome all fucking hook shot Oh over the top of the back Doesn't move boom I didn't know if he was gonna say I punch you so hard a bounce back down I didn't know his angle. They just says yeah, I've been a bite 25 years leave Baseball thing how can I make this into something yeah all six yeah I mean it was awesome he was Cena was awesome he was that's a good spot

for seeing it be oh right now right in his house him him spring down the ramp diving on a Sam Roberts flipping the table down there at the bottom from Megan Sam and Kathy as they're doing the judging just like every event it felt like Cena made it his own. Yeah. And we respect that. Big time. Tom Brady was good at every event. I don't know how his entrance was. He ripped Eli Manning. Some people you can tell during the WWE entrances at Fanatics Fest they were shown the actual entrance like maybe right beforehand. Sure. Like hey this is what happens. Like god to god figure it out. Like Eli came out to Roman

Mm-hmm. And he just he walked up and down with his finger up, I think because they told him to do that. Yeah I don't think he fully understood that there should be a little bit of a, like hey, we should make this a thing. Yeah, this is a, we're not just walking out all fingers up. So, you know, you can tell a little bit, but I enjoyed everybody's spirit. Yeah, Paul dropped the title, which was his only mistake of the day. Yeah, he did. And title which was his only mistake of the day Yeah, I did And he didn't know Wendy. Oh Yeah, I come which is pretty big part of that whole thing Kevin Durant coming out to see on punk was sweet He hollered it's clobbering time. That was awesome. I didn't see it. I could've sworn

Sure it was out there. Oh you made this up. No, I thought make this up Oh, I didn't he came out and he did the my algorithm Ruben came out and gave him the little watch dude. I came in. Yeah, exactly What time is it? Yep right here. That's pretty good. Get some redemption Yeah, people went fucking ape shit Wendy came out to way That's pretty good. Get some redemption. Cobbory time. Boom. Yeah. People went fucking ape shit. Wendy came out to way. When did you go up the top rope?

Well, it's the big show. That would have been awesome. He comes out in a singlet. Yes. A one strap singlet. Next year. was good. A water trap singlet. Next year. We need that. Next year.

We need that. Jeez, Louise. Looked like a good time over there. Looked like a good time over there. Happy everybody seemingly had a blast. I enjoy anything that brings a little bit of a smile. Now let's get the fuck out of here. Okay?

Feels like we did it today. It was a good day. What are we shooting for here? Great day. What do we shoot for yesterday? This Parker McCallum store being the best stories ever. Oh, here we go. Yeah, I'm going well my For Parker that did you do a mid show? Shoot change what's that? Yeah. Yeah yeah I did. I got low socks on. Low cut socks on. The high tops were digging into my feet.

Yeah, I couldn't take it anymore. Middle of the Aaron Rodgers interview I was walking around here on the court and I'm like Jesus fucking Christ I don't have to live like this. I don't have to live like this. So I went and pulled low tops on. Lombo sent me those UNC Jordans. It's quite over there. Very quiet.

I like that. I think they probably feel the same way. I assume they're working. They're quiet over there. Very quiet. Yeah, I like that. I think they probably feel the same way. I assume they're working. They got a quarterback, I think, right? Didn't they get a? Yeah, from Georgia State, I believe. He was their starter last year. He's pretty good.

They're talking a lot about the 2026 class, though. Yeah, so one of the quarterbacks they signed is at Elite 11, and he wasn't the top guy there, but he is like, he's gonna end up probably being a a five-star recruit by the time like he does all this shit so they're looking at uh Billed him yes yeah it's hard to keep guys you gotta find the right guys

yes like Ryder Lyons I assume he's going to BYU regardless yes but like a Ryder Lyons type player that doesn't have the connection to BYU that he does through his religion like he goes to BYU now There's a chance Two weeks into that thing. Yeah, this ain't what I signed up for the the kid that landing jumped into the pool with And then he committed to Oregon and then decommitted. He just committed to Texas yesterday. So yeah, you got a

Full hands on deck clear day if you got a lot of moxie and pizzazz you can really Pull hands on deck. To be clear, if you got a lot of moxie and pizazz, you can really gas that entire situation up. Let's jump in a pool. Yeah, I'll go to your school. Next place. Just the best with every coach. Let's go to a concert together, front row, back stage.

I'll go to your school. Hey, let's go to a Lambo dealer. I'll go to your school. I mean, it'd be hard not to game the situation. Yeah. Yeah, that's probably a pretty easy thing to do with this thing. We've seen what college coaches have done in the past, whenever it wasn't as money driven in recruiting, singing. Yeah, yeah, Tom Herman.

Baby, baby, oh. You heard this? No, I haven't seen that. Guy asked him to sing baby. He did it. And he recorded himself singing it. And then himself singing it. He's not do anything It sounded good How do you coach that kid when he gets to campus well you saw my treat you like a baby baby baby

You're a man now, I guess true and they're just gonna put I would just play that is this you yep Shut up, let's go. Weeb. We like the song by the way. We're just saying like these college coaches willing to do whatever to recruit these kids is cool and it's full commitment. But it's also gonna be tough to your point, you know. They gotta figure it all out. They do.

They will. Is Beeb's all right? Yeah. I hope so. Beeb's gonna be all right. I'm a big fan of Beeb's. Oh, so too. Beeb's been around most of my life.

Bangers. Being famous. Bangers. Bangers. Me too. Worked his ass off I think. Back in the day I assume now he's a little bit quieter and then he gets real loud out of nowhere drops an album then he kind of disappears a little bit. Whatever makes Beibbs happy. Thanks for your contributions to society. Absolutely. Drummer, good drummer. I get the paparazzi stuff too. Like he's just fucking out there. Aaron hates it. That's what I mean. Like you could understand how like that would, it'd be hard not to just start swinging on those people. Like when they just won't leave you alone. Now granted, you're lucky to be in a position that that is the case. For sure. So that's always the hard balance. Like for Aaron, him being like stop talking about me, it's like you've gotten to a point where you are a notable individual in society. Like sucks what is also the drawbacks to that. Like, for instance, and once again, this is just me speaking from my own personal experiences. Like I just know everywhere I go, there's probably gonna be somebody that's looking at me. And I'm nowhere near as famous

as Justin Bieber or Aaron Rodgers. But whenever there's actual cameras pointed at you, everywhere you go, that's a whole different level of like, I know random people are looking at me when I walk into a place. I know they're watching every move. If I slip up, I know it's happening.

Having actual, you're in touch. When you walk like 10 feet from your door to your car, like every time you go outside, that would be, that would be. Actually being documented and like every single move, like Travis Kelsey and Taylor Swift, every move they make outside in public is hyperanalyzed. Yeah.

Hyperanalyzed. Is he, are they happy? Right. Are they happy? Can't ever have a bad day. Or not only can't have a bad day, can't have a bad moment. Yeah. What if you have a couple of drinks? Right. like this maybe eyes blinking like is are they okay?

Is he okay? Is he fit like it's crazy. That's a crazy level of people around you so you know kids friends Love ones like they're you know They're not signing up for because when you go on and you do great things you kind of know that kind of comes with it But then the people around you like I couldn't imagine that being your life for shit Bebe to my Bebs that's been what since he was 12 yeah he's been one of the most famous people in the world Aaron since he was in his early 20s like that yeah and once again for Bebs it was a good thing he was the most famous person in the world because he could sell out arenas whenever

he was a teenager and could still if he wanted to I assume I assume he releases an album or said he was gonna do arenas he would still be able to do arenas yeah like that's a good thing that that many people know you the drawback is obviously people are gonna want to know everything about you and it sucks we're not saying it's good then we're saying it's reality this is reality situation Sam hates it yeah my wife when we're at dinner boy people just walk up to us while we're eating. I'm always like, what's up, beast? Sam's just sitting there.

Can we have our fucking chicken parmesan or? You gotta wait for, I don't wanna interrupt, always people's first line. Sam's like. Oh, perfect. You don't wanna do it. See you later. Okay.

So she never says anything, but it's always like, you can see her like, okay. And then the selfie thing is cool. Like I don't mind that. I'm very appreciative when people do it to me. Once again, Bieber, Aaron, different level of everything. It is interesting when you know, like people unload a lot of information on people too, you know, whenever they're in public.

It's like the I learn a lot very quickly about a lot of people like a lot and it's a holy fuck. I'm so sorry. Okay. Yeah. And then we're back to chicken parmesan and it's like does that person have the worst life in the history how do all how does everybody in their family have some sort of disease that they're gonna die I am so sorry for that person and then Sam's like they didn't want to interrupt though it was like well geez I'm happy we learned that that was possible and it's a whole thing like every time it's like, they didn't want to interrupt though. And it was like, well, geez, I'm happy we learned that that was possible. And it's a whole thing. Every time it's like a whole thing.

I couldn't even imagine though, if every step you. Okay. Here we go. Okay. All right. Here we go. I didn't like that. Go ahead. Just go ahead and shoot the air ball. Air ball? No chance.

Bad vibes. What? It's for air. It's for air. He's so mad. They're up on that cliff. He's just trying to walk his dog. It's for you, Aaron.

Oh, fuck me. Oh, too terrible. Too terrible. Oh, fuck me. Oh, fuck me. Oh, fuck me. Oh, fuck me. Oh, fuck Aaron. Oh, mama. Oh, fuck me. Oh, too terrible. Too terrible. I'm so sorry, Aaron.

I think if you understand, Pop Rats is going to stop once he gets to Pittsburgh, then that, because they don't exist in Pittsburgh. That's true. They move, brother. They will. The answers will punch them in the mouth if they're bothering their quarterback. Hey, what the fuck is this? They say California.

You work for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette? Who do you work for? Who do you work for? TMZ. TMZ's been doing it a long time. Oh yeah. All right, this is for no paparazzi. Not in our town.

Okay. Not in any of our five towns. Do you have any predictions? Nope. It's going in. Flush. Bingo! It's for the entire world wish Okay, our world oh boy

We needed that right now, but United States well, I heard there was I don't know what the fuck they're doing All right, let's get out of here There was a time where everybody was getting along. There was a quick, second time. There was a time everybody was getting along. I heard, probably read. No, I didn't either. What the fuck's going on?

The world peace! Yeah! You did it. Be a friend, tell a friend something nice that might change their life. The universe ball just told us the world peace is about to happen. Happy we can contribute to society just a little bit. We'll be back tomorrow. We're gonna sing together.

Team on me, team on three. One, two, three. Team. Goodbye.