The Pat McAfee Show - PMS 2.0 1404 - BA Day with Bruce Arians, Dan Orlovsky, Tyrese Haliburton, Triple H, Darius Butler, & AJ Hawk

Episode Date: September 9, 2025

On today's show, Pat, Darius Butler, AJ Hawk, and the boys recap last night's Monday Night Football game that saw JJ McCarthy and the Vikings have a dramatic comeback and spoil Ben Johnson's first game as Bears Head Coach. They are joined by 3x Super Bowl Champion, 2x AP Coach of the Year Bruce Arians for the whole show to wrap up everything that happened in week 1 of the NFL season. Joining the progrum to chat about Caleb Williams and JJ McCarthy's performances and week 1 in general is 12 year NFL veteran and ESPN NFL analyst/QB guru, Dan Orlovsky. Later, WWE Hall of Famer and current CCO, Triple H and 2x All-NBA, 2x All-Star, Olympic Gold Medalist, and PG for the Indiana Paces, Tyrese Haliburton to chat about WrestlePalooza coming to Indianapolis next weekend, the new deal with ESPN, Tyrese's rehab process, and more. Make sure to subscribe to youtube.com/thepatmcafeeshow or watch on ESPN (12-2 EDT), ESPN’s Youtube (12-3 EDT), or ESPN+. We appreciate the hell out of all of you, we’ll see 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 B.A. Day, September 9th, 2025. This program begins right now. Football! He's all the way back, and we're done with our first NFL weekend. I'll tell you what, it was thriller in every single primetime game, and last night was no exception. The J.J. McCarthy era alongside Kevin O'Connell kicked off in an electrifying fashion, where it kind of looked like ass. for the first three quarters, and then for the fourth quarter, J.J. McCarthy came alive. The Minnesota Vikings get a massive dub over the Chicago Bears in the NFC North. A lot of question marks around what's going to happen in Chicago, but we pick it up, 176.

J.J. McCarthy had thrown a pick six to this point. It was 176, two field goals for Will Reichardt, one of them being a 59-yarder. In the first three quarters, I got this stat from Hembo. J.J. McCarthy averaged six yards per the air per attempt. In the first three quarters, he was

33 percent of attempts to the sticks. In the first three quarters, he only had, he had 73% of his yardage came from yards after catch. In the fourth quarter, 11.9 air yards per attempt. Sixty-three percent of them went to the sticks. And only 32% of the yards came from yak. He was airing it out. 17-6. We just hit Justin Jefferson over the middle. What an incredible catch. Justin Jefferson does play for the Minnesota Vikings, which is basically what a lot of people were asking. Is J.J. McCarthy going to ruin the Justin Jefferson experience? Is this offense ever going to be able to be capable to be what they were last year with Sam Donald and everything that

Kevin O'Connell's a part of. Well, fourth quarter came around and J.J. McCarthy said everything they were saying about me at IMG and everything they were saying about me in Michigan is about to come fully to fruition. People say he's an absolute dog, a leader of men, a dude that whenever he gets into a room, he commands it. 1712, how you doing, keep it moving, Aaron Jones. B.A. A man who coached for 47 years. You love this play because the design was impeccable. Ain't that right, B.A. Unbelievable, yeah. You go. Kevin O'Connell, I think, is one the best coaches in the league, and they got, NFL's all about matchups, and they got

a great matchup. Aaron Jones on a linebacker, they've got the perfect coverage, JJ delivered right on the money. Love that. J.J. McCarthy seemed to be in his bag, I believe, is what people would say, and it seems like he came alive. Two-point conversion hits Adam Thielen. Adam Thieland, J.J. McCarthy, working

out in the off-season together. Adam Thelan from Minnesota, got to know J.J. McCarthy after getting drafted there, worked out in the summer. He gets traded from the Carolina Panthers to there. His family celebrates he's going back home, And I think J.J. says, I'm getting a guy I'm also very familiar with. He gets two-point conversion. Let's keep it rolling here. Now, 20 to 17, what are you going to do with it?

JJ says, let's want a little option. I'll keep it, put my head down. And in his hometown, he stands up, celebrates, has the moxie, and all the boys are jacked up for a massive fourth quarter. Kevin O'Connell's team looked like they were a little bit of a dud for three-quarters of this game. Look at the downfield blocking. Look at J.J. McCarthy lower in his head, Darius J. Butler, nine-year veteran. Great play design. You mentioned T. with the block. It was a great play call.

And then JJ, you know, just got it in the paint. But that's a big time playing a big time moment. It certainly is. Everything good for JJ came in the fourth quarter. Now they're up, obviously, 27-17. The Chicago Bears can still answer. We have enough time on a clock. Caleb Williams to Colcomet with a one-handed snag. Tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick,

has a chance to throw a touchdown to DJ Barr, puts it in the front row. A lot of people talking about this throw being a reason why they lost. Well, I don't know if that's not. necessarily 100% true. Now, if they score this early, obviously you add an extra timeout. They lost the timeout because of a punchout a little bit earlier with a challenge call. And now they don't score here, which would have left more time ahead of the two-point two-minute warning. Now they go drive down and score. And Caleb Williams throws a dot here. All right, and now he's potentially going to lead a comeback. Is there enough time?

Maybe. Could have been. Is there enough time? There could be. So they have one time out and they have the two-minute warning. Right now, though, no time can go off the clock. Cairo Santos, we need a touchback. We need no time off the clock. Instead, what happens? Cairo hits a pretty good ball, about five yards deep, I think. Six yards, seven yards deep.

Maybe you need that to go out the back of the end zone. Very big kick to pull that off, especially in the fourth quarter. They decide to return it. That eats the clock away, gets it under the two-minute warning. So now there's only one timeout used as opposed to two stoppages of the clock. And if you look at his eyes, he's looking at the sideline right there. And that is strictly because Kevin O'Connell, the head coach, is the one decided, bring it, we need to burn some time here.

All this needs to eat is three seconds. Even if we end up in our own 15, the stoppage of the clock can only happen one time. I love how in sync they are. I love that this is weak one in there doing this. And this is a situational football kind of master class out of Kevin O'Connell, who I got a stat for about his close game. Since 2002, under Kevin O'Connell, the Vikings led the NFL with 13. 14 field goal wins, which is three points or fewer, and 27-1 possession wins, which is 8 points or fewer. It's decisions like that, though, at the end of the game, I think that really, I don't want to say it can amplify that, but certainly multiply that type of shit.

They're making the right decisions in live, in real time that you try to work on and hope you can be good at B. Yeah, these are things, you know, as a head coach, you prepare your team before it happens. And he obviously does a great job of putting his team in practice and situational football. hey, if this happens, this is what we're going to do because these guys were ready. There was no question, hey, this is what we're going to do. And that to me is a sign of a hell of a coach. Yeah, I love everything about Kevin O'Connell the way he leads.

I like that he's a former player, but also he's a little bit of a hard ass. He's a little bit of a hard ass in there. We've heard the miced-up situation from outside the locker room after the boys didn't perform well, and he's getting after him. And like, he's yelling at them, he's in there. But his offense always going to be successful. For the first three quarters last night, we wondered.

We're like, wait a minute, they took a big jump with J.J. McCarthy here. Obviously, they draft him early. Could have got Aaron Rogers, though. We saw what Aaron Rogers just did with the Pittsburgh Steelers. We assume in a Kevin O'Connell offense, especially with how well Aaron knows all the defenses. That would be a very efficient thing. They go with the guy that they draft it.

They stay with JJ. First three quarters, I think everybody's wondering, wondering, wondering, wondering. And then the fourth quarter, J.J. McCarthy showed up. I think we're entering the J.J. McCarthy era. Can he carry that fourth quarter throughout the rest of the season? Do you think they took the lid off there for him, or what are your thought? I mean, it was a tough decision. First and foremost, going to it.

him, you know, after the year the Sam Darno had, but you invested the top 10 pick in the guy. You know, he's a winner. You know he can play ball. We kind of saw, we got a full J.J. McCarthy experience. I know I was definitely on a roller coaster. Y'all saw me in the group chat. I'm out on this guy. I'm back in.

I'm out. I'm back in. But it's just so many things. Like film is one thing. The talent is one thing. But the word you always heard about J.J. McCarthy was the intangibles, the leadership. And you saw it even when things weren't going great, halftime. He's still, you know, daffing every player, every player.

personnel having the conversation with Justice Jefferson. You could tell you saw the sideline interaction. Some things maybe I think Caleb should work on. I think he's great talent-wise. He has all the till, but I think you've got to be a teammate. You've got to be a leader, and you got to do it a certain way at that quarterback position. You saw it with JJ, even when things weren't going great. And then in that fourth quarter, he turned it on.

He got a rhythm. He made some plays with his legs, made some plays with his arm. So you saw the whole experience with J.J. McCarthy. Aaron Jones had had a clip a little sound bite on Speak Easy Pod. game he jumped on with the boys and talked about something that he said in the huddle which was huge me which would make me be in on this guy for good so i like what they did they pulled the lid and i think with the town around it with kOC calling plays i think uh the future is bright minnesota yeah j j mccarthy uh whenever you talk to the michigan coaches about hey what's so

impressive about j j mccarthy they're like well obviously the arm talent's insane uh we don't really have to use as much because we got to get a run game by the way we run the ball a lot he doesn't bitch at all he's a potential top 10 quarterback a top guy We run it 30 straight times. J.J. McCarthy does not care, as long as we win games. And also, whenever he was a freshman, he went into a huddle, middle of the game. And I guess the way he commanded the huddle, like senior offensive linemen who wanted to hate this little pretty boy, come in there, were like, damn, we like the way this guy operates.

I guess his intangibles of leadership and being a dude had been very evident since high school. And I think what Aaron Jones said to the speakeasy podcast is they were losing in the fourth quarter, and he looked into the huddle and he said... No, third. I think it was third. be so stuff wasn't it going great still yeah maybe whatever third or fourth quarter they were losing though whatever it was not a good time and he looked around and he said is there anywhere else you'd rather be to the huddle and then he gives a play call and then he gets right in there and erin jones was like damn and a i said that he had been speaking about his leadership and how he's a different mental

capacity than anybody's ever been around it's like that's what everybody has said about this guy yeah yeah so in the fourth quarter whenever it shows up the way that it shows up everybody that had been talking about him high school college herb street literally every that know him is like that's that's the most predictable j j mccarthy shit yeah that there is that's how they talk about yeah and in the draft process that's the thing you hardly ever get to see unless you really do your homework because what do you threw 35 passes in the whole fourth quarter is a senior year i mean that's hard to evaluate can this guy really take us back in the fourth quarter but when you're talking about the

grit all right that's what separates them the guys that really have it they got the grit and they can lead it's not necessarily armed talent speed they got grit yeah coach talked about it last week you know with how the college game is a lot of guys you know signaling not really having to go into the we all remember the famous sound bite with I think

Chris Sims and John Groot and him just trying to get a play call out that's a part of it Nick Saveman I think a couple years ago when he was still coaching I think at that point that was the first team that they had played against that had actually hudded and got out to the to the huddle did some shift did some motion so he's being used to that and that's something that is

a learning process so for him to be on the biggest stage because I know you guys heard even through the TV like it was loud out there in Chicago you throw that pick six you know shit can get real ugly you can start seeing ghosts especially against that type of defense so for him to bounce back like he did not only on the field between the white lines but to keep it all together on the sideline and everything the whole process it was great to see think about the boys okay hearing him come under the huddle and saying is there anywhere else you'd rather be right now and then leading what he did like and then coming back and winning Like all the boys in the locker, I'm like, hey, this is the realest.

This is the real deal. Everybody's got talent. Everybody's got arm talent. Everybody can run. But that's the stuff that you, like you said, you don't really, you can't measure that. So for him to show up and show out on primetime, Monday night football, you're the only showing time. Not only, like, this is the game where all your peers are watching. Hometown.

Home town. I mean, for him to bounce back and show that show me and I'm sure everyone else a lot. So I'm excited to watch his team go forward. Now, the Chicago Bears, will they be good at the end of the year? You know, Zito's not here. Zito was right in a wave last night. I saw him on X up and down. He's in the middle of it, too, right?

Yeah. He needed that last night. Yeah, celebration. The way that end, it was not good for Zito. Not at all. Zito, we, uh, did sleep a lick last night. Yeah, a lot of good things happening in Zito's like, but he's in the middle of it right now. That is certainly the case.

People are saying, like, is this, is the NFC North nowhere near as strong as we thought it was going to be? because of the Vikings trailing and struggling with the Chicago Bears. It's like, I feel like that game last night was just us, and I think the Vikings finding out who J.J. McCarthy is gonna be. And it's like, I think Kevin O'Connell in his post-game locker room speech said,

we all knew he was gonna figure it out. We all knew he was gonna figure it out, and here it is right here. This happens, this feeling that we have right now does not happen without one other guy, all right? Did not go the way any of us wanted. This guy, I can tell from the jump, he was poised. He was poised.

But this guy didn't quit me. And you always thought he would figure it out. Two passing touchdowns and a rushing touchdowns all in his second half. That's why you guys put a sea on his chest. That's why you guys put a sea on his chest. That's why he's going to break the stand right now. Hey, this is the beginning,

but I think we prove something to ourselves tonight. We know what we got in the tape, and let's let it out every week. On to the next one, boys. Family on me, Benio, one, two, three. I like the end a little delay on the two to the three there because of your own rhythm. I appreciate that, but I like that they all,

we knew he would figure it out. That's why we put the C on his chest. It's like everybody that's around this guy feels the aura. And I think this is just the beginning. I think the Vikings are going to be a problem this year. I think that is very much just like it was last year for the Minnesota Vikings. Yeah, absolutely.

And you could argue the Bears still got a lot of hope, too. But the biggest thing with JJ and you guys have said it is the end of the game. Like we're talking about the opposite of Caleb, essentially. Caleb started the game, unbelievable. It was great. They walked down the field. He scrambles for a 9, 12-yard touchdown, whatever the hell it was. This throw to a Dunez out on the sideline.

It's like, holy shit. This is Oklahoma, USC, Caleb. and that's where you are for, you know, a quarter, and then everything else continues to happen. And then JJ's the exact opposite. The whole game, you're like, oh, no, J.G. McCarthy, maybe he doesn't have it. Sam Darnold just won 14 games. They moved on for this kid.

They have six points, and we're halfway through the third quarter. He just threw a pick six, and then he just flips it on its head. And all of a sudden today, it's like, okay, the Vikings have their future. And the guy who started off great last night, it's more so like, is Caleb ever going to figure this out? Because there were times where you're watching it. It's like, oh, Caleb with Ben, Johnson, this is great. And then the way it

ended, it was more so like, oh, no, this still sucks, still not really sure. Everyone's talking about how they could have won the game down by 10, but he misses that throw. Who knows? A lot of things had to happen. A lot of things would have had to happen. A lot of drive. There was a lot of positive things, though.

For Chicago? For Chicago. A lot of positive things to build on, the defense, all right? Up until the late fourth quarter stuff where they start running the ball, which is typical Kevin O'Connell. He's going to find a way. He's going to find a right match. but I thought Ben Johnson did a great job getting this team ready. And I think the Chicago Bears are going to surprise them people this

year as they continue to grow. That first game for a head coach and a new offense and new defense coordinator, everything, it's hard. And you know, they had the crowd going. They had everything rolling for them. So there's a lot of good things to build off of. Ben Johnson, a super intense guy, right? That's kind of been

like the flip of the culture in Chicago. A lot of accountability. You heard all the players talk about it. And for Caleb, it felt like there was some good structure happening within the offense. There was a couple Caleb things like that run to the right side where he sidearms it to a Dunezay and it's a nasty play. It's like, I think

that was what excited Ben Johnson to work with Caleb. It's like, hey, I've never had a guy that's been able to be a magical threat outside of the pocket, but they're always going to need him to be in rhythm in that offense, right? Isn't that kind of the biggest part of it all? Totally. And then, you know, Brian Flores, who is one of the masterminds

of defense, started throwing blitzes at him that they hadn't seen in a while. And that's hard on a young kid in a young kid in a new offense and a new coach in a new offense trying to answer all the questions during the game that you see from from flow who's going to he's going to bring the house and he did a great job of it in the fourth quarter so the nfc was decided between the minnesota vikings and the detroit ian lincoln seemed very good brian flores is back with that defense brian flora is a very good defense coordinator so to just absolutely demolish the chicago bears

ben jonson and caleb will be a little bit early i think especially with the success that they had. But boy, if this does not work out between Caleb and Ben Johnson, Chicago Bears fans are going to be a bit bummed out about it. This was supposed to be the thing. I mean, you heard it last night. Caleb was the calling. This guy is from the football gods coming

to Chicago. Heisman. There's reports coming out. Yeah, Hysman, highest-paid guy in NIL. Yeah. Once in a generation type prospect, everything like that. There's reports now coming out from people that are no longer with the Chicago Bears who are certainly finding outlets to get their stories out and their sides out about the Chicago.

Jaguar is basically only worrying about Caleb, not even thinking about any of the other quarterbacks. That's how committed they were to Caleb. That's how much the world was committed to Caleb being. The number one overall pick is like, hey, this is the guy. Then he get Ben Johnson, the quarterback, or the head coach that has been wanted by every team. So you've got the quarterback that's once in a generation, and the head coach, you can say once in a generation.

You have them both in the same building. We should win. And it feels like we should win. So whenever last night happens, and they just get their hearts broke, late by the Minnesota Vikings and an NFC, North rivalry game on prime time. It's like I could assume that there's people that did not like that that's how this whole thing started.

But I think BA has been very constant here. Ben Johnson's a damn good coach. He will figure out how to win over there. And then it's all like, can Caleb get on board with everything and can they all buy in for a full four quarters? I mean, that is what it's going to be now until they prove that they can. But I have high hopes. Coach that is wanted by everybody in player that was allegedly causing a team not even

to look at anybody. This is definitely the guy. allegedly this is being reported what was the guy's name Chris White? Yeah, Chris White who was in a personal report. Yeah, he was personal scout, I believe. He said that they didn't even really look at tape of anybody else. I think Caleb

and the whole draft process. So now obviously Bears fans are like, well, what was Drake May, but is Jaden? I mean, there's a lot of, J.J. McCart I mean. Yeah, people are talking about the Drake thing. Like, he didn't want to watch Drake May film is a big thing. Like, who cares about that? If that's the case, and that was the thought around Jaden

Daniels is the real problem. Yeah, and we'll see with JJ here too. He was, to be fair, going into the draft process, he was, like you mentioned, pegged as that guy, like, all right, we can't pass on this guy. Like, we can't pass on this guy at one. You look back 10 years. Like Bryce Young. Chicago.

Not Bryce Young, because he had more of the measurables. Like Bryce Young, I felt like he was going to have to be an outlier. Just like Kyle Murray, as great as he is, you're going to have to be an outlier because we've never seen somebody do it at that size. You know, even Breeze was bigger than that. As far as Caleb Williams, he was the can't miss prospect. He was the, this is the next Patrick Mahomes. So if you pass on him, you go for Jayton Danes or Drake May or J.J. McCarthy, you

would definitely, you don't want to be that GM who passed on the next great one. So I get that. And then Ben Johnson, you mentioned it. He could have won an interviewer. He chose to go to Chicago after however many years of been at that belt of ball in the hiring cycle when he went there. So I'm a BA, though. I think it's still a lot there to be kind of unleashed with this offense and this

quarterback. You talk about Caleb being pegged as the guy, and Ben Johnson, allegedly going there because Caleb's there. So, like, the hype around Caleb is very real. I remember one particular authority of college football actually said... Yeah, I mean, do you want to be the franchise to passage on Caleb Williams? Because I know I don't. The last thing you do. I said, is Caleb Williams definitely the number one overall pick in this entire thing?

And that was Pete's answer. And everybody else was like, yeah, yeah, yeah, no questions asked. I'm like, all right, sweet. Like, will he be able to do all the stuff that he does in college in the NFL? because I'm like, I just, in my head, everybody's so fast in the NFL, and he is it. He has been able to. By the way, he has been able to. So what everybody's been saying is there, it's just, is Ben Johnson and him the right fit.

That's going to be like the entire. I mean, I think one of the biggest knocks on Caleb, too, going back to college is like, hey, this guy's kind of a front runner. When he's throwing a bunch of touchdowns and they're beating the shit out of teams, like he's great, you know, with his teammates and everything. And then we kind of saw it last year, too. Like, when he struggles a little bit, you know, the body landing. language isn't great. He kind of starts to pout a little bit. And that's kind of been the thing.

Like, hey, in Ben Johnson's offense, it's going to take time for them to gel. Like, so are things going to, like, is he going to be okay with that for six to seven weeks? Because on the flip side of that, you saw JJ last night. It's like, he had probably the worst three quarters of his football career. And then it was just like, all right, that doesn't matter. Like, let's go. Is there anywhere else you'd rather be? Exactly. That's the worst three quarters of all time. Because the bears, like, now they got the lions next week. You know, so like if this starts to steamroll a little bit will it be the same the same deal well and that's the thing like we're talking you just mentioned it

ben jonsons is a generational coach three years people were trying to poach him Caleb's a generational QB but ben jonsonson's you know generational offense if you will doesn't need or really have call for like a Caleb you know like the lions you know if if that was the case don't you think the lions would have gone and gotten a mobile quarterback like they were so good because the ball placement from golf they talked about on the broadcast like the most important thing in a ben Johnson offense is ball placement and timing and all those things. They had a third and one and Caleb threw a bubble screen

and it was fourth and five because the bubble screen was behind Roma Dunesay and low. So like Caleb obviously can have a ton of success and stuff, but like if your most important thing in your offense is ball placement is Caleb that guy or can Caleb develop into that? I think too, we're talking about the quarterbacks

but they didn't win the game. When bears were rolling, the Indway Swift was rolling. He was rolling. The running game was rolling. All of a sudden Jordan Mason starts taking it off, boom, boom, boom, all of a sudden, now JJ's a player. Let's say play action's easy, baby.

None of these guys as rookies and young quarterback are going to drop back 40 times and beat anybody. If you can't run the football and set them up with easy throws, all right? And both coaches did it for a while. Then Minnesota's defense said, enough of that shit. Running game goal.

All right, and here comes to Blitz. Chicago didn't. And then JJ got loose. Okay, so on that note, It's time for maybe our new favorite seg of the week. Ladies and gentlemen, BS or no BS with BA. We will read three statements that have been stated here over the last couple of days about the NFL. In BA, it'll be you, a man who coached football for 47 years, a man who was in the NFL for 27.

27 of those 47 years. Coach with Bear Bryant. That's right. And coach Tom Brady to a Super Bowl. It's pretty big. That's insane. It's pretty big jump of information. So is it BS or no BS?

Let's start with this first one here. Kevin O'Connell is a top three coach in the NFL already. We just rattled through his situational football and his winning of close games and his speeches that he gives to the team and how he's been able to win with a quarterback who maybe he doesn't even know or a quarterback that none of us know because his offense is so damn good. Obviously, Brian Flores is an incredible defensive coordinator. But in your eyes, as a man who's seen and known every single coach, basically, and coaching style, is Kevin O'Connell a top three NFL coach? Is that bullshit or no bullshit? That's no bullshit. I mean, he was coached in the year last year. And you know, and you're as good as your staff. He put together a hell of the staff.

The thing they're pressing me a lot about Kevin, when all that shit was going wrong in the first three quarters, you never saw him get upset. He had trust in his guys that we're going to pull this shit out. We're going to figure it out. And he did. He found the running game. He found the weakness in that defense. They started pounding that sea gap. And all of a sudden, boom, they get that matchup with Aaron Jones going down the sideline, which was one of the best design plays of the night. And, yes, being a former quarterback, I think he's got a feel for the game in the locker room.

He's got enough fire, but he's also got enough calm. Do you like this celebration? Because I know you try to start fights with people on the sideline, especially whenever you're a consultant. Do you like this type of fire from? Oh, I love it, man. I love it. That's what the players thrive on. Yeah, I think the players see you invest.

did they appreciate it. Josh McCown there. I forgot he was there. He also, former quarterback, obviously, and coach in the room for JJ. It feels like they're not only the staff, but who they're surrounding JJ with

is probably for them to succeed, I assume. Totally. You know, we've got a guy that's been there, what, how long long as Josh played? 12, 14 years? Long time. And I've seen it all. A bunch of different offenses, you know?

And you can see his hands-on approach with every time JJ came off, he's patting him on the bag. Hey, after the interception, it's good. We got it covered. Here's what we're going to do next. Yeah, like Danny Dimes. Danny Dimes yesterday, he mentioned by name, Josh McCown, how specifically he helped him, you know, grow as a quarterback while he was in Minnesota.

And speaking of. No, no. And Kevin O'Connell, Danny Dimes mentioned yesterday, saying how he had everybody prepare and the things he looked into all week made him a better quarterback. Like, hey, what did you pick up from KOC in Minnesota? He said the weekly preparation, what we were looking at, what I'm allowed to ask, I think he brought up what I should be looking into. He was like Kevin O'Connell's preparation helped him immensely coming here to Indianapolis. That obviously includes McCown, who he mentioned by name.

But it's like Kevin O'Connell has a system. The boys believe in it, and they have won. And they have ownership over there, ready to go. They have ownership over there, ready to go. They got a brand new stadium. Rookie QB contract. They got, yeah, they are. That's big.

Yes, it is. They are in a very good spot over there. Now, let's stay in the NFC North. Yeah, BA, let's keep in mind. of where you're currently sitting, Indianapolis, Indiana. Never mind, because we're going to do a different one. It's all good. The lines are going to be A-OK.

Is that BS or no BS, B.A? I think that's a little BS right now. Whoa. I love Dan Campbell. Don't get me wrong. But if you watched them in the pre-s, I didn't see any fire at anybody in the preseason. They look really bad in the pre-season.

And I don't see any fire on anybody in Green Bay. I mean, that's No fire That is not Dan Campbell That's not Dan Campbell You know And do I think he's going to straighten it out But he got all new coordinators

It's a whole new ball game up there And I think they got a ways to go Okay so he said That if he's running it right You should be able to eliminate him from the team And everything will just continue to roll on Without him That's the culture he's looking for

So when everybody's asking him About the new coordinators The new coordinators He's like we're all replaceable If this is being run properly Do you agree with that mindset And how long does it take to get that type of culture? A little bit.

But no, it's hard when you got all new guys. They're all hearing new voices. You know, they're used to certain voices. And once you get in those situational things, like what happened in the game last night, new situations happen. Well, Ben used to do this. I know, new guy does this.

Okay, that's different. It takes a little time. But they're a good football team. They're a good football team. I think they're going to straighten it up. But in that division, they better straighten out quick. I'm saying I take a little bit. Are they like levels below Green Bay

because Green Bay looked like exponentially better than them? I don't think talent-wise, I think that one game. Now, this don't measure everybody. And I'm a little pissed at the NFL for scheduling all these big-ass division games in week one. Well, because we need good games, right?

Yeah, we need big games. We don't need them all week. The fans are ready to anyway. Yeah, no, no, no. We had a dull start last year. We had a dull start. Like, it was like first seven, eight weeks if NFL football was not great.

The NFL clearly was like, oh yeah we're starting it with we need rivalry games early with this going on more people going to play in the preseason next year okay which is good for all parties right all parties okay so maybe that is the case maybe some slow starters there obviously george kittle announced that he's going uh it was announced that george kittle's going to the iro with a hamstring you know these first couple weeks you got to look for soft tissue type injuries and uh will that lead to more preseason stuff not that george kittle was in the best shape that i've ever seen him in so sometimes that shit just happened didn't miss a day yeah but it's

It's like, you know, I wonder how everything changes. It's part of the game. There's one thing. There's one thing to be in shape. And there's another thing to be in game shape. All right. If you watch Sunday, there are a lot of fourth quarter defenses collapsing. Because they hadn't played but a quarter.

Maybe you can run all the damn sprints you want. That ain't like blocking and tackling and chasing that damn quarterback around. It's a different thing to get in game shape. That's why you run sprints afterwards. That's right. Well, you do that or you practice them next morning at 5 o'clock. Yeah. Okay.

So, have you ever run the sprints in the stadium before? And what's the 5 a.m. thing? No, we actually lost to Delaware, and Richie Gannon got us. And so we didn't play on Saturday. So we scrimmage at 5 o'clock the next morning. Oh, you guys don't want to play against Rich Gannon, huh? Oh, you guys play against each other 5 a.m. tomorrow morning. You say Frayn Brown could have maybe done that as opposed to the public sprints

that were taking place after the game? Yeah, with the NIA, I don't know how this shit's going to work anymore. That's a hilarious thought. Fritzkin. 5 a.m. 5 a.m.? Yeah, I don't think so. They're paying me more money

than paying you coach. If you asked Todd Bowles, he was on that team. It was called Black Sunday. I could imagine. A lot of people in bad spot. You said you were, where was that at?

Temple? At Temple, yeah. And so we're in Philadelphia. 5 a.m. on a Sunday. What week is this? Early in the season? It's about week seven. Okay, we're in it.

We're in the season. 5 a.m. 2, that's late. Week 7, that's fall. Yeah, it's cold. It's dark. It's foggy. And I hear the guys coming up Street, he ain't even here. That's some bitch

got us up for nothing. I just waited for the last one to get through that gate, blew the whistle, we ain't stretching. Put the ball down with full speed tax. How long was the scrimmage? How long was the scrimm? Three hours. They put you in jail with your coach like that now. Now, how did it end up? How did end up? Did it work? We won the rest of our games.

All right. Did you have to do that? Frame Brown, trying to do the same thing. Speaking of winning a bunch of games and Connor got excited to talk about this, because how could you not? Here's another statement that you call BS or no BS. Danny Dimes is going to win the MVP. Is that BS or no BS? B.A? I think it's BS, baby, because I think Josh Allen already got it. Oh! No, no, no. He just had it last year. Josh Allen just had it last year. That fourth quarter he put on the other

night, I think he already won it. I know. Remember last year, whenever the snow sat. But man, I'm so happy for Danny. Okay. He won his first game against us in Tampa, and he was a talent. He's a talent, and I'm really happy to see him get a shot. I think he fits this offense really, really well because he's athletic. He can spin it and really happy for Dan. Let's talk about this. You say you're very happy for Danny Dimes. Down in Tampa right now,

which you are still part of the organization and obviously always will be Super Bowl champion down there. Baker Mayfield is utilized as an example for like a quarterback who maybe didn't have as good of a start bounced around a little bit. Danny Dimes, I think, was rushing to punt. Baker Mayfield was rushing to punt down in Carolina Panthers for the look team,

scout team, special teams, drills reading the card and everything like that. A little different. I mean, Baker was rookie of the year and beat the Steelers in a playoff. In a playoff game. That's a whole lot different now.

And played his ass off hurt and you cut him. He just played his ass off. They made him throw it six. He got against Pittsburgh. The last week he was there. Coach himself. Taking chub off the field.

It's different when an organization embraces you and gives you, and you give it back. And Baker's won it. He owns the city of Tampa right now. It's his team. owners came out he is the face of the franchise will be for a long time and rightfully so Danny dimes could be that yeah he could be sure he's only in his seventh year he can play another

10 years especially with how incredibly fit he is and everything like that what was always the knock on why he didn't have success was it just me i don't want to say it the giants fans was it just because he was in new york with the giants is it like and it's not just new york it's not just giants at this point it's giants and jets yeah maybe it's just impossible to win there yeah gino started in the jets like darnold with the jets like it is kind of just that it's just Jersey in New York for some I think the Giants had a rash of injuries for two years in the offensive line

and I mean he was running for his life I mean he could even he barely hit his fifth step and be running around chasing everybody and yeah I think his time goes on and you get to that right spot and I think he's very very comfortable and Shane done a very nice job with him he can be the mayor here

yeah it's kind of different he's out having beers too with the boys by the way that's a big part of I do I agree I agree actually Nobody will talk about it. I think it's a big deal. Baker's best friend, offensive line. They all meet at the same place. That's what I'm talking about.

See, that's a big deal. We saw the Florida Panthers, too, their entire team out there drinking. I think, I don't, I'm not saying everybody has the booze, okay? Especially in 2025, there's other alternatives. Or you can just go ahead and drink yourself a Sprite or whatever. But everybody gathering and having a good time is a massive piece of leadership, I think. Totally. Especially when you bring your wife and kids and you all sitting there having a just a great time together,

that's what team building is all about. And if you're, if you're, you don't have to like each other, but you've got to be accountable to each other. And that, that accountability is how you win games. I go back to Pittsburgh Steelers of, you know, Super Bowl 40. That's the closest team I've ever been a part of. There were no clicks, offense, defense, everybody, you know, the whole team stayed back and let Jerome run out on the field

at the Super Bowl in his hometown. You know, our team that won the Super Bowl, my wife always said, it looks just like the Steelers on the sideline. And it was different because Tom had just come in. Hell, nobody even knew him. Great leader. But great leader, and the guys absolutely loved each other. And he'd have a beer with the boys from what I've been told.

I mean, that's a big deal. Danny Diamond has done that here immediately upon getting here. I think he understood the assignment in it all. And if he would have been back up to AR, I think he would have been cool with it. But he also is getting an opportunity to be who he, I think he always thought he could be. And boy, it's a great place to have that happen. I think this city is ready to embrace Danny Dimes, especially after that week one. Without a doubt, and just his personality and everything, like it fits Indianapolis.

Like, you know, everyone always talks about how he was with the media and everything and just kind of dry. And when you're not Eli and when you're not winning Super Bowls, that rubs people the wrong way. It's like, well, this guy's not giving us anything and we're getting our asses beat on Sundays. But I think he fully understands, too, like, hey, another opportunity like this, if I don't seize it, it might not come around. Like, this might be my last shot to really be a guy. And what a hell of a way to start it on Sunday. Yeah, he's tough, too. Very tough.

He took helmet to helmet. Massive shot. To the head. That was right in front of us. I mean, and then the picture of just his head being snapped back. Here it is right here. Foxy, I think it spins into it. I mean, that is, that's right in front of us, that head.

And then the still shot, if we still have the photo, his head just turned completely sideways. And then he just pops right back up, tossing the ball of the ref, it just kind of goes away. It's like the whole team sees that shit. Oh, yeah. The only thing better have been on Andrew Luck. Nice hit, buddy. Joining us out, ladies and gentlemen, is a man who was a quarterback in the NFL for 12 years. 12 years, ladies and gentlemen, a friend of the program, a guy who just understands everything about ball, inside and that.

The man who will step into the batters box and swing that bat at everything. If there's a pitch being thrown, he wants to swing at it. If there's a take to be had, he's going to give one. Ladies and gentlemen, Emmy Award winning. Wow. ESPN, NFL pundit, Dan are lost. Yeah, that's a lot. No days off.

Hell no. No days off. ever. How are you, buddy? How's it going? I'm great. I'm fantastic. What's going on?

How are you? Pretty fascinating stuff. I do like that you're showcasing the Colts now that we've got a good team. Okay, I like that. It was the first time I saw it. Yeah, ever. Yeah, ever, thank you. Which leads right into what we were just talking about.

I don't think I've ever seen anything. You sack of bones. You see Peyton the other day in that commercial for NBC, Colts? That was cool. That was awesome. It was weird, honestly. No, it wasn't. It felt weird because I'm used to it in Denver.

He's got a statue. Was that the one with his son? Yeah, Marshall. Yeah, Marshall also? He's going to be a guy. Yeah, yeah, I'm already past Arch. I'm on to Marshall. Let's see what this is.

They were raving about him. They were raving about it. He is spinning it at all the camps he goes to. And he's got a chance to see a lot. Now, I see him wearing jerseys at every different stadium that he goes to, and it's like Marshall's about to be the one. This is about to be the one. Nonetheless, shout to you representing the Colts there.

Danny Dimes, we were just literally talking about him. finding the right spot. The statement was he's going to be an MVP. B.A. says, I don't know about that. Josh Allen just won't absolutely crazy in the fourth quarter on Sunday night. He's the reigning MVP. But Danny Dimes and Shane Steichen, why did it work so well, you think? And is this what the whole season's going to be like?

Because it was awesome on Sunday, Dano. Yeah, I would tell you, number one, I thought Shane was really good. And I think we got to see Steichen a little bit, like, kind of what his strengths are as a play caller. I thought they did a really nice job of protecting Daniel I think certain like chips with the tight ends or chips with the backs to make sure because Daniel's thing for me has always been like when he's pressured he just has at times panicked with the football

and that's minimized his play but they protected them pretty good with different ways I thought the way that they got Warren involved is really good they moved Warren around I think six different spots and so obviously a super talented dude so I think that helped the 12 personnel stuff putting two tight ends on the field was just a big deal. It just helped.

Now, like, he threw it well. There's no doubt about it. The dolphins had so many, what are we doing? We're not talking about that. The coach did that. The ball club. Coats said, dolphins really good. That's what happened.

The guy that should be covering the flat. So there was, like I said, really good protection. He threw it well. They got worn the ball well. I do think Miami helped a little bit in that regard. B.A. you agree with that? You think Miami

is shite out there because a lot of people are saying, okay. Yeah. I'm with Dan on that one now. They did not look great, but that's because the Colts made them look bad, coach. That's why, you know. But they did. Yeah, you're right. You got to make somebody look bad. If you're bad, somebody's got to make you look bad. Exactly. Agreed. It's a professional football.

They could be bad and you can look just as well. You know, agreed. You know what I think would be a good thing? Coach would know a lot more me, but I do think one of the things that they did was, like, specifically to Tyler Warren, it seemed like he was in Daniel's, like, vision of his read all the time. I think that that's the first play of the game, but even some of the, like, checkdowns over the ball or the shallow crosses, it just felt like, Daniel, we want you to start here, and then the second or third guy is always going to be Warren, and he's going to be coming into your picture. So it always

was like treating him as a like sometimes mcalfrey does that with san francisco where they automatically put him in the vision of the concept you know as like the second or third option b a would you agree with that oh totally yeah yeah i think that's exactly right and uh you know i go back to ben rothusberger he look around where's heath miller he where's my man all right it's the same thing you got a guy like warren who's going to be absolute stud just like brock bowers you know and put him in the checkdown area put him in the middle of the field I look outside out there he is all right and this kid knows how to get open yeah and Danny was very comfortable giving him the ball yeah and I feel like his catch rate

is probably yeah massive so he is he's he's gigantic he's he's a guy like like grump like he's always open like if a db's on him like you can't get he's going he's going basically rebound you Tony Gonzalez like he's going to rebound you a lineback's on him he's not going to be able to run with him so this is a guy who who is always open. So even if he's not in the vision or he is covered late, just throw it up to him.

Make something going to happen 84. And that move right there, like for a guy to be that big. We saw him run, whether it was Wildcat, whatever it was at Penn State. That move, that's usually made by like a good wide receiver,

like an AB type guy who just kind of has that feeling, no, okay, he's going here and put their foot in the ground, get up, feel. Like that was a big time move. I think he's going to be a big, big time player for.

And I think also, because Danny Dime's first year in the system, like he has no allegiances to any wide receiver there. So like Tyler Warren being a rookie and being brand new to the offense is like, so am I, brother. We're both, we're all hey, we're all brand new to this offense, brother.

Let's go ahead and do that. And what we spent on Tyler Warren was very much like a hey, he's going to be a guy. And all reports out of camp is that he is a guy. We needed that. We needed it bad. 39 or 36 total catches. I think 39 total catch from the tight-in position

last year. So you invest, obviously, in the first around picking him. So another great move I think by Chris Ballard this offseason. But Dano, Cam Ward, I just saw you tweet. I saw a couple other guys tweet as well. I didn't watch as much of that game. You look at the stats. You look at the box scores.

Doesn't look great. I saw a clip, I believe, of his father up in the stands, getting pissed off too. What is the number one pick? Cam Ward. What does his tape look like? I know he was facing a very talented defense. Yeah, what's his sub-tweet? So, yeah, he didn't even include a bra, bro.

Yeah, man, and a broad. What did it look like? dude, it's close to t-juring. Okay. Or being a con. I don't think you're a clown. Shut up, Connor. Easy.

Yeah, I was, like, blown away by his tape. I thought his tape looked awesome, dude. Like, he throws the, Tennessee's got a guy. Like, Tennessee's got a guy. This guy's talent of throwing a football is off the charts. They win the game if they don't have, like, eight drops. I counted for that plays awesome That that's like

That reminds me like Joe Burroughish type stuff I just The ability for him to thread the needle On some of the throws And just to cut the ball loose with what he's looking at I was wildly impressed with I mean that defense is awesome Awesome awesome

And he made some throws that were I mean dude I got drops on One two three four five six seven eight drops His dad has those three his dad was catching. He saw all of it. He was sick. Him getting up just going over.

It was so. They win the game. Wait for a strepro. The guy right at a 6-140. He caught the ball. Streepro, catch. Yeah. Yeah.

So he cuts it loose, man. He is crazy talented throwing the ball. Now, I'll give you two things. Like, yes, there are times when he's got to be like, him, you can't take that sack. Like, he takes back-to-back sacks that takes them out of field range. He did that in college. got to learn from that he will would be my expectation and there are also sometimes that he

fires the frigging ball in there and i'm like could you have taken a little bit off to help him um he's got the like the touch he does it's this isn't uh you know there's some guys who throw everything as a fastball that's not like that's not the case here i just i just did that throw sick i'm telling you i mean he's got i'm i wish i had b row for you guys he's got eight drops that you're like, yo, that throw is off the chart. So I think Tennessee's like got a guy. He was wildly impressive against a ridiculously good defense. Very good defense.

Very boring game because of that. But I'm happy to hear that Cam Ward is starting off in a great way in your eyes for the Titans. B.A., do you agree with that? You think Cam Ward's going to be a guy for that? Yeah, totally. I mean, do what he did against that defense. Number one. Why is that defense so good?

Because the dudes are because what they do? Both. They got players and they got good coaches, you know? And so it's like for him to sit in there and have, have the poise that he had. Like I said, young quarterback, he started dropping the ball on me,

dropping the ball on me. Like, the hell am I supposed to do? But he didn't even panic. He just kept shooting it to him. His dad. His dad also, keeping it cool for a long time. Yeah, he did.

I'm trying as a professional football. This is the highest level. I know people are watching me. And then after like the sixth or seven, I thought this was professional football. What are we doing here? He's got four drops in the fourth quarter. Like four drops in the fourth quarter of tight coverage, too.

These, I mean, two of them are 30-yard gains, maybe, and that they're just drops. And if they catch them, like, they're a storyline of the season because, or at least week one, excuse me, because obviously going there and winning would be a big deal. So I was as impressed with him as I was not on the level like Lamar and Josh, but when it comes to expectation and exceeding, absolutely. All right, so we're not panicking about the Tennessee Titans, even though Coach maybe doesn't know elbow good, you know? which is obviously a part of the entire growing process of being the head guy in charge and there's a lot of rules out there last night the punch of the ball learn that learn that no ball is man because man is touching ball so as soon as ball is touched by defender also man being touched at the same time because it looks like pretty clean punch it was like well it was the ball already moving though by the time his thumb hit his chest and then they challenge that they lose a time out obviously time out very vital at the end of the game they don't have it because of this and we all learned uh nope not all of us

I guess some people did know that. BA knew that. Rose expert on TV knew that. Of course. I certainly was in the camp of, that's clean. That's a fumble. That ball is already loose. Well, I'm not allowed to do that.

I didn't know that we weren't doing that. So we all kind of learned these things as we, that was a great punch there. And that's Seul's brother, right? That's the young ouse right there out of Oregon, had a big game. BA would say, can't have him one-on-one with Aaron Jones. Can't do that, right in that kind of your takeaway?

That was it, because he had a great game. He had a great game. He had a great game. Okay, let's talk about teams that maybe we aren't as high on, even though we all love them. A team that you have a lot of history with and your name's being referenced again. Ty has a question for you, Dan. Yeah, Dan, it's certainly not fair, but after the Packers Lions game on Sunday, a lot of people are saying Jared Gough, more like Jared Goughlofsky. And obviously, you know.

We don't like that. That's cool. They were saying he's about as good as you are without Ben Johnson. We don't like that either. We don't like that. And they cherry picked and grab this picture of you, which isn't great. Your hair doesn't look great there. That's not fair.

Also, you're passionate. You're bummed out. But overall, Dan, after watching that game and the Lions' offense and I want to know. How concerned are you that Jared Gough maybe is a little bit of Jared Guffleski without Ben Johnson? I don't know. I'm not going to let you talk about Jared like that. Thank you. I'm going to answer it honestly.

I mean, he's gone to two championship games, okay, and his Super Bowl with two different teams, so stop it. I would tell you this. Super Bowl with one team. Yeah, two championships. NFC championship games. Okay, just make sure. Yep, yep.

You lumped them in. That the lines are the most concerning team for me out of week one. Most the saints Dude, I'll tell you No Because the saints In expectations And what you were like

Kind of want them to be Dude, the lions Offensively Were as fun to watch You would look forward to Put in on their tape and watching it And you would just marvel at the ways That they would create advantages

For their players That the way that they would create Leverage advantage Or numbers advantage And chunk plays I didn't, I saw one and I think it was a busted coverage by Green Bay more than a advantage created by Detroit.

It was, I'm trying to be respectful here. It was a boring watch. It was a depressing watch. There's a lot of credit to Green Bay's defense, but man, what it was the past three years with Ben and then what it was this past weekend looked nothing like themselves. You think they're dead?

I'm not saying dead because there's still a lot of talent. The interior of their outline has to play better. But I am very concerned with kind of them replicating their past couple seasons success. Absolutely. It's not going to be the same offense. Dude, Jamar Gibbs had 10 catches for 31 yards. What are talking about? Yeah, B.A. said it's going to take a little bit.

Swarver right there. And Packers defense is very good. So it could be a Miami Dolphins Colts situation, you know, where. The other team's just unbelievable. Yeah, yeah. What do you mean? You hope not. Well, I mean, I believe the pastures are very good.

No, I understand that. But you guys beat a dog shite team. We're beating a team that won 15 games last year. So I'm hoping that it's more so. I don't want to see the Lions go 3 and 14. And then you look back and it's like, well, maybe that wasn't that impressive. Yeah, you're right. The Dolphins probably going to win the AFC East.

There's a chance. So we'll look back on this Colts win in a very different way. Yeah. You know, an answer. Or maybe they don't win a game. we'll get one we'll get one on the board that's guarantee you definitely don't want to be guaranteed one guarantee one i don't know about more than that but i guarantee we'll get one no michael get him fixed they'll get it we'll get it together

dan dan it'll get that okay not not hitting the button on miami i like that you like miami well i just no i mean i was the one the tape was a mess you don't even know you don't even know it it with tongues in a not the whole time there it was a mess the tape all across the board but i don't know i've had the experience of spending some time with them and mike and i'm i'm very impressed with mike i believe in him so i think he's a good coach it's a it's a big lift this week you know with what the football look like and then you know some of the news that has come out for sure so um i i i say give them a chance to to kind of rectify it and play better b a you said earlier it was bad

Am I in Dolphins? Do you think McDaniel has a chance to rectified or at this stage of a coaching stance? Now, I don't know if it's happened to you anywhere, but I don't think it has as a head coach. But at this stage of being the head coach of like, hey, make or break-type feel, whenever you have a performance like that on week one, does the heat start coming into the coach's offices? Oh, definitely. He starts feeling it. They all start feeling it.

It's totally different today than was last Monday. And so it's like, all right, there's got to be some internal problems there somewhere. Because they do have talent. And Mike is a damn good coach. He's very, very smart, very innovative, especially offensively. Defensively, they look poor. They look really poor. And Tua did not impress me at all.

Now, to be clear, they traded their only pro bowler and Johnny Smith. They got rid of their other all-pro Jalen Ramsey on the defensive side. Lenthal's gone. Yeah, left tackle, retires. I mean, going into the year, there's a lot of, like, pretty big X-factors just not going to be there for a team that wasn't really there last year either. So you wondered what was possible, but this is

Gumpy, you tell me, a lot of people viewing this as like a make-a-break year, right, for that entire operation down there? The concern is, last 15 games with Tua and McDaniel, six and nine, 14 picks, eight fumbles for Tua, so... But you guys scored 70, yes, but... Yeah, that was a long time ago. That was a good, good days, great days.

Still haven't won a playoff game in 25 years. It is, uh, it's dark days right now. Savi Hall, kind of put it out there to the team, too. Hey, boy. just muddy it up in the middle, make them throw out shot, take away that first three, and two is going to struggle.

And that's got two picks, one overthrow across the middle to combine them, and then the one with Lai, too, dropped in and kind of sunk back and gotten his window and picked one off. So that is kind of the recipe out there. But I was very, you know, coach just talked about it too.

It's going to take some time to build that continuity with new play call, this new offense. Very concerned when a quarterback head coach play call that have been together as long as they have come out week one

and let your egg like that. Yeah, Dee Butt, did you see that Tyreek stat that it's been a year since he had a catch go over 30? Yeah, we talked about that yesterday. I was why I was mind-blowing. I thought it was fake when I first saw it. That's unbelievable. And that's what he was saying right here.

It's about to be a year since I've had a 30-yard percent. That's what he was saying right here. I'm not the best lip reader. That's crazy. That could be what he was saying. And also there's people saying that this was a bad reaction from Tyreek. I would like to commend Tyreek for this only being what he did

in this situation. I would like that to be said because this could be much worse. He can be a McDaniel's ear. I'm trying to get traded right the fuck now. You know, that has happened. We've seen... He could, yeah, exactly. Taking pads off.

We see players retire in the middle of the game. You know... There's so many blown assignments on that tape, man, by everybody. And it's not a new coach. You know, it's... Yeah. Yeah, lose, lose for whoever's paying the dolphins this week.

Hey, and now, Conner has the last question. You legit? Yeah, it's New England. What that'd be? So. Connor has a question for your last one here. Dan, O. Yeah, I thought about actually just asking BAA a question, but I guess I'll ask you one,

Dan, screw it. What do you think about the Chiefs? Friday night was not good. That looked abysmal. Obviously, worthy, gets hurt on the third play in the broadcast, was talking about how much the offense was supposed to run through them this year. Should we be worried about Kansas City, especially because the Chargers in their division look like one of the

best teams in football? Yeah, I'm concerned about Kansas City. I still like my notes from watching the game are like it's still a very catch and throw offense. It feels like everything is still a very short throw offense. That's what Patrick Mahomes. And so, and I know that they have some speed, obviously Hollywood's there, Xavier going down, Thornton had some stuff. I mean, that's one of the throws of the game. Outside of Patrick making like three or four absolutely preposterous plays and or throws you're sitting there going everything's this this dink and dunk hatch and throw offense still and like as i still thinking in co-charians would know a lot better than me but like i still think like that the teams that are throwing the ball down the field and creating chunks

you're doing it off some form of a play action something you know like baltimore green bay buffalo and that's just not where the chiefs are again. And I do not believe that that is going to be good enough to win that division or make another run. I think you'll skate by a little bit here and there, but the offense to me just is still so short. So on that note, there was a stat that went out, yeah, from Seth Buske here. Since 2019, Patrick Brown has elite deep ball has clearly declined. Deepball accuracy fell from 51% to 21%. But then there's also a stat about the number of completions over 20 yards or 30 yards.

He's 32nd or 34th out of NFL quarterbacks over the last two years versus the first couple years. He was number one. Now that's the Tyree kill effect, I think, in that entire thing, which is why Tyreek just sitting on the sideline, just doing this as opposed to going and saying, get me out of here to go back to Kansas City that they need me. I think we should commend that. Who knows what the rest of the season looks like for Tyreek in the Miami Dolphins. But they literally no risk it.

And it seems like they still get the biscuit, though. They've won the AFC Championship. They have. I think they've hosted the AFC Championship the last seven years or something like that. They obviously won it last year, and they weren't throwing the deep ball at all. To Dan's point, is that sustainable for success in the NFL right now if you don't have any deep threat? Or I guess what his biggest concern was maybe not a good enough run game to maybe set that whole thing up. I think that's the key.

Andy's always run the ball well. And wherever Andy Reid's been, he's always run the ball well. and they had good play action. They've always had a great short passing game. I think they're missing the run-after-catch guy, all right? So if you're going to know all those dink and dunks, somebody's got to break when I get 15 or 20. You've got to get some play out of a short pass.

I don't see it happening. So Rice out, Xavier Worthy, out. Both those guys, probably yak guys, if I had to guess. And the way they were talking about how much Worthy was going to be part of the offense, feels like maybe they were going to get back on their Tyreek bullshit with Xavier Worthy, who can also run a 4-2 or whatever. it is. So him being knocked out early. I guess we all missed out on some electricity from that particular offense. And I can't wait to see how it goes going forward. We appreciate

you, Dano. What do you got today? I got to do NFL live in Sports Center this afternoon. We appreciate your commitment in your sports. How was yesterday? Yes, it was cool. Good busy day. Travel, Chicago there and back. Sat on the tarmac for 25 minutes like airlines like to do, but other than that, it was good. It's all good. How's your golf game? question um it's pretty good coach uh i played more this year than i have since my i've got triplet 13 year old boys so uh since they've been born played the most that i have this year but

that's because i started to play with them so i i could i can go i can go shoot an 82 like anybody okay what's your best though i still think my best is like a 74 or something like that maybe maybe 72 not bad par maybe too he's a liar don't forget oh yeah i forgot about that he's shot against He did the score thing against us. He erased the score. He read the score with the pencil, obviously. I literally pulled a lawyer. Our champion on the other side.

Be a friend to our friend, something nice. Cheers. As a B-Mall Eclipse Visa Infinite Cardholder, you don't just earn points. You earn five times the points. On the must-haves like groceries and gas and little extras like takeout and ride share. So you build your points faster.

And then you can redeem your points on things like travel. and more. And we could all use a vacation. Apply now and get up to 60,000 points. So many points. For more info, visit bemo.com slash Eclipse. Visit us today. Terms and conditions apply.

This episode is brought to you by Defender. With its 626 horsepower twin-turbo V8 engine, the Defender Octa is taking on the Dakar rally. The ultimate off-road challenge. Learn more at landrover.ca.

Football. It's magical. Joining us as a man who coached that particular sport for 47 years, 27 in the NFL, 20 in college, ladies and gentlemen, Bruce. Yeah, and you're awesome. We can't thank you enough for joining us. The toxic table is here at Boston Connor and at Ty Schmidt. We're in the bear on your chest.

Is that because we don't know how the bears season is going to go this year or why did you pick that particular? I'm not really sure. I think I picked it just because this is what I want to see out of Ben Johnson when he's talking to Caleb Williams on the sideline. I'm kind of watching the Chicago Bears strictly to see it implode respectfully. I want

them to be successful and do well, but if they start 0 and 3, I would love to see a nice little blow up on the sideline maybe. We haven't really gotten a good coach player, hey, I hate you. Only one week into this thing. Everybody thought they were going to win a Super Bowl.

five days ago. No, I know, but I'm even thinking about last year. Like, it feels like now a lot of the times it's a situation like Tyreek where they're yelling at themselves versus like, hey, let's get some real hate battle between these QBs and coaches when they're trying to figure it out. You want Tom Brady. Bill O'Brien. That's what you're looking for.

That's exactly. You're looking for Peyton Manning Jeff Saturday. I want, I want Drake May to squash Josh McDaniels on Sunday, respectfully. Like Rickett Ralph? I wanted to balk him right on the head. Garrett to Mason Rudolph without the helmet. Boom, coach throw deep ball. Let me spin this thing, please.

All right, I like that. B.A., you obviously known as a quarterback whisperer. It was a quarterback coach, offense coordinator, and head coach. How do you feel about quarterbacks and coaches getting into it on the sideline? And is there a lack of those these days, have you noticed? I don't think so. You never wanted to be the backup quarterback from me. I just ripped his ass the whole time.

As if it was. Can you get to some bitch right? Can you tell him to do this? Ben loves telling the story. I still have my hand on the button one time. Charlie, what the fuck is he doing? What the fuck is he looking at? All right, buddy, here's what we're going to do.

Andrew tells the same story. Burying Ben, talking to backup. Hey, listen, I'm about sick of this. You're doing great. Andrew says, God, is that a moron, son of a bitch, ever going to get this right? Andrew's looking over.

All right, buddy, here we go. We're going to run this. That's awesome. Yeah, there's competitive. Spirits. Yeah, respectfully, that's the coach point of view. Like, I'm just talking about a fan. Like, as a fan when you're looking at it, you just want to see that fire between your

players and your coach. The Caleb Williams situation is awesome because Ben Johnson chose the Chicago Bears, if you listen to all the intel about how many different jobs he could have had. Caleb being one of the main reasons why he did it. Now, granted, if it doesn't work between him and Caleb, not saying it won't. It looked great last night at times. Okay? I'm not saying it's not going to work.

Let's just live in hypotheticals, okay? It's week one of the NFL season. new head coach who is the bell of the ball during the coaching cycle everybody wanted them and now you got caleb same way if they end up not working out does he have the sean peaton pool that uh he had in denver when sean peyton definitely had to tell ownership the walmart family the walton and penner i believe greg penner and susan walton penner uh i just read it because they're announced a new stadium today yeah their stadium's going to be absolutely awesome but sean yeah richest owners in sports it's good thing to have them

Sean Payton had to have gone in there and said, hey, if it doesn't work with me and Russell Wilson, I have to be allowed to move on from Russell Wilson, even though it's going to be the biggest salary cap hit that the NFL has ever seen and still is a record to this day. I wonder if Ben Johnson has that with Caleb, or do you think he goes in there saying, I can make Caleb work?

Like, is that what you think the mindset is of the entire Chicago Bears? Well, I think the deal that Ben got, he's got the hammer. When you get first-time coaches getting that type of contract, I mean, young guys getting six years, 13 million. Come on, man. I mean, that's ridiculous. Yeah, he's got to hammer. He'll be able to do whatever he needs to do.

Like, for instance, they pay Tyson Badgett $10 million. Pretty big deal for a backup quarterback. You think that he has enough sway in the Chicago Bears organization as the head coach there, that if this doesn't work with Caleb, once again, we're living in hypotheticals. Not hypotheticals that we want. We would like Caleb and Ben to work. That would be very cool because Caleb would be an electrifying NFL superstar. Green Bay Packers fans are completely okay with that and not work.

Yeah, I'm okay with that. But let's just say it doesn't work. Do you think they, Ben does move on? Do you think that is something that he would be able to do? Because they spent a lot on this guy. I could probably get a lot for him too. Yeah, I think it's happening to a couple of teams right now. That it's not working out.

All right. But I hope it works out because I really want this kid to be successful because he is so talented. How hard is it for an organization to want to move on though from, like for instance, Anthony Richardson here, coach didn't want to do it. at all. I don't think. Danny Dimes comes in. If Danny Dimes is able to lead our team, we're going to do it. They're obviously giving a lot of opportunity. But they move on from the number four overall pick. Move on. He's still going to have to play. He's still on the team.

He hasn't been traded. He might still be the guy in the future. Who knows how the world ends up working out. How hard is it to move on from that, though? Because it's a big investment from an organization to spend the number one overall pick on 10ers. Number four overall pick. They bring Mack Jones back to the Niners after they move on from Lance. Tray Lance. They traded up to get Lance. And now they got Mack potentially playing for him. And they paid what's once again. They paid the last

pick. You're talking about that situation. Trading two first round picks to go get Trey Lance and then going with Mr. Irrelevant over him. Yeah, Brock Purdy being the guy. So whatever... Nice young, bench. Andy Dalton goes in. He came back, but that's a big decision. First year head coach too.

Yeah. First year. He'll go back to Gus Rotten and Heath Shuler. Of course. I mean, I always said if you pick one first, Do not pick one seventh. Yeah. All right, because he's going to win. He's going to win a damn job. And you're screwed.

Okay, so on that note, do you think you'll be able to move on from Caleb if it doesn't work out? I think so. I think he's got the hammer in Chicago, and they've given him the keys to run this whole thing. And I think Ben will fix him. I really do think Ben will fix him. Well, I hope they end up working it out. I know Packers fans know that. Nine-year NFL vet.

D. Bush, you look incredibly cool over there. Last night, your big takeaway from the game, J.J. McCarthy's dog. Vikings are still for real. Caleb still has a chance. What's a big takeaway for you? All of those things. And I am right with BA. I think I want him to be fixed and I think he will be fixed. And if you look at his rookie year and his numbers, they weren't terrible. Obviously, he got sacked. That's the number that stands out the most being sacked 68 times, but didn't turn the ball over a ton. He has the skill set and the fact that Ben Johnson is the head coach and he's also the play caller. If you look around the league, most of KOC being one of them, but most of these guys

that became head coaches and that were play calls beforehand, and they still hold on to that play calling. If you have a quarterback, it's more likely that you're going to be successful when you stay around. You won't have to deal with what Jalen Hertz has to deal with. Every year he's got a new coordinator because that guy called good plays, win a bunch of games, go gets another job. Justin Herbert, he's on like his fourth play caller.

So Caleb Williams having that same voice in his head, B.A. talked about the continuity that you have to build, which is real, because as a player, even as a defensive player, If we're going into a two-minute drill before, you know, at the end of half, and we know the situation, I kind of already know the menu of plays that my defensive coordinator is going to call and the plays is going to call. So when you have that, when you're that comfortable as a quarterback and the guys around you, I think that's going to help you be successful and it's going to kind of expedite that process. We all know he has the talent.

We all believe Ben Johnson is a talented play caller. We know that. But being the head coach, that's a little different. That's a much different job. But I think both of these guys will be successful. Going from play caller to head coach and play caller and then just head coach without being play caller, what goes into all those decisions that are kind of being made? Because head coach obviously got a lot of shit.

Got a lot of shit coming across your desk that you didn't have as a coordinator. But there are some buildings that are set up differently, right? Like some GMs handle some of the stuff that some other head coaches would handle so you can just focus on this. Some head coaches have it all. And the GM kind of works for the head coach. It depends on the setup. But what is it like becoming the head coach and play call? at the same damn time.

I think the hardest thing is when you hire a guy, he had done neither one. He never called plays, and now he's the head coach, and he's going to call plays, which has happened a number of times lately in a few years, which blows my mind. You're asking this guy to do three jobs he's done. All right, but I think the play calling thing and the head coach thing is easy. I mean, okay, Andy Reid, I did it for years and years, came back and didn't want to do it because I had Byron Lefich, who I trusted totally, trained him, was a quarterback for me in Pittsburgh, one of the smartest guys I've ever seen

and let him run the whole show. And it was much easier for me. I got a little involved in defense, which I never did. Which I never did. I learned all the cover zero calls. Because we're blitzing, baby. You got a little no risket, no biscuit on defense aside

when you're not fully focused on the offensive side. You know, Kevin O'Connell's been able to execute it very, very well and not get kind of lost in the situation because his situational management is still good. Sometimes play callers, I forget who told him. Yeah, Sean McVeigh, unbelievable, Colin plays and not getting lost in there. Sean Peyton.

Sean Peyton always has. Michael, Andy Reid, obviously. Michael Lombardi said, though, some of these play callers just get lost in the sheet, and they kind of forget that they're the head coach of the entire team. That's obviously on a leadership level. But the fact that you can pull up, Kevin O'Connell seemingly mastering it very quickly. Big time. Joining us now, ladies and gentlemen, the all-time leading tackler for the Green Bay Packers,

a college football national champion, Super Bowl champion, Riding Cup winner, A.J. Haw. AJ, you worried about the NFC North? Uh-oh, J.J. McCarthy's just getting started. I know he's not a rookie, but that was obviously his first start, and things looked damn good in that fourth quarter. They figured it out is what I'm thinking and what a lot of people are saying. And then the Chicago Bears feels like they had a great couple of cores.

Defense playing good. Stingy, obviously, JJ not able to get rolling until the fourth quarter for a while. Caleb made some big-time plays. NFC North all of a sudden is about to. be a dog fight for an next 20 years. AJ, how do you feel about last night's NFC North showcase? And how about the NFL having back-to-back-to-back

thrillers in prime time? Yeah, I thought this was awesome. Obviously, JJ McCarthy he steps up and plays well when it truly matters. Like when you need him the most, he steps up. And this play to Aaron Jones. I mean, poor Sewell, they put Sewell on an island. This is tough. It looked like they were playing man under two deep. I would have been peeking over my left shoulder,

telling my safety, hey, buddy, you stay outside. I'm going to be inside all day. This guy runs a seven. I need you to be over top because Aaron Jones has a 15 way go on you. You see the safety jumps in on the receiver and leaves you. Like that's just great, great play calling there by Kevin O'Connor. Good route, too, by Aaron Jones. But man, that's almost unstoppable. J.J. throws a nice ball. What a perfect time for that. But also, I get a little credit to Javon Hargrave. I don't know if we've talked about that dude enough. That big old dude in the middle, I believe he had two sacks as well, but he was

getting pushed over and over and over pushing the pocket, making Caleb uncomfortable. Like that guy is a, he is a weapon for this defense. Okay. Both defense has had. great moments at times. Brian Flores, if you listen to B.A., he said, hey, he decided in the second half, like, all right, Caleb, we're about to send a lot and see if you can handle it. Obviously, the second half, fourth quarter becomes a little bit of a crumble for Caleb as JJ continues to go. What did you see from the Vikings defense other than Hargrave? What did you see from Brian Flores? And do you have belief that Caleb and Ben Johnson will be able to get it done in Chicago? Well, on the Caleb and Ben Johnson situation, I think you guys have kind of talked about,

Are they the right fit for each other? I don't know because you say there's so much rhythm. It needs some rhythm passing. You need to get into like a consistent rhythm offensive. We know like Caleb works best when he's doing this. When he's making things happen that other people can't really do. Play breaks down. He's all over the place and he somehow finds a way to complete these balls

and obviously gets in here in the end zone there. I mean, I'm sure they can work out. I just don't like how much time do you give it? How much time does it take? I would love to be in the meeting rooms there and see like, here's the conversations, like what they're. asking Caleb to do compared to what he is most comfortable to do. It's going to be interesting, but Brian Flores, like, you never know.

I feel like you never really know what you're going to get. They have the ability to change it up, like, on a dime to where, okay, we may be dropping eight for a good amount of time. Nope, here we go. Now we're going to start coming after you, and we're going to keep you on your toes. And it just, it would be a nightmare to be an offensive coordinator facing the Flores defense because I think it's just unpredictable. And these guys goes back to the old school.

Like they play with great leverage, like fundamentals, everything they do. they seem to just be on point. Yeah, and Brian Flores has been around a long time. He's seen a lot of ball. So he's able to figure out what the hell you're doing that's beating him.

I think is something that he also did last night. I assume there were some adjustments made. I assume there's from a veteran defense that's very good. So I don't want to give up on Caleb and Ben Johnson yet. But, boy, if Ben Johnson was able to do what he was able to do with Jared Gough, Jared Gough, incredible arm talent, incredible arm talent. Number one for it.

Yeah. Can put that thing right here, whatever he has to. understands where you're supposed to go with the ball. So I'm just saying the intangibles that Caleb has, which is what we are sold and what we are selling. Ben Johnson is going to be able to do what he did with Jared Gough, and then we're able to add on this magic. So whenever maybe there was a little bit of a reroute

and the timing was off on the play, Jared Gough was never going to be the guy that was going to be able to extend the play and make some magic afterwards. He was going to go through the play. If the play needs a little bit more time, we're going to throw it away. Okay, that's what we're going to do.

or we're not going to take a hit or we're going to check it down somewhere. Caleb was going to be able to go through a play and then all of a sudden hit the reset button on a play. We've got a whole new play. Now we're Caleb Williamsing. Now we're doing our Caleb shit. And it was supposed to be this offensive juggernaut that we've never really seen before. What if Caleb just can't do that offense though?

Yes. Is that even, is that can any quarterback do that type of offense? Caleb very smart. We're not saying he's not very smart. Caleb very talented. But if your entire life, you're just like a baller. And then it's like, hey, we need you to fit into this robotic type thing. And then you can be baller.

Like his first instinct, which is probably why in the second half and in the fourth quarter became that way, his first instinct is, let me go ahead and dance a little bit here and extend. Will Ben be able to, can you get anybody to play a system style? I think so. He did it in the first half. He took his checkdowns. He was 10 for 10. You know, he wasn't forcing anything.

He wasn't running. He did a great job moving around in the pocket, protecting the football. Where he didn't last year, he had two hands on the ball. Boom. He takes off running. makes a big play. So you see it. Now, as the game got tighter and tighter, then your natural instincts come back. I'm going to make something happen. I'm going to make something happen. No, let the offense make something happen. Let the guys around you make something happen.

And I think he will grow into that with Ben. I hope so. Chicago being a good football town would be great for everyone. Well, and that's the big thing that I wonder about because like this isn't like a typical situation with a rookie head coach and a guy who went number one, you know, typically like those guys, you get a couple years. It's like, hey, let's say, let's let's build this thing. Like, we talked about the Bears. Like, they expect them to make the playoffs this year. Like, Bears fans have already outlined the parade route in Chicago.

Like, the expectation is, hey, we got the hottest coach in the coaching cycle. We have a number one pick who could be elite. Like, we need to go right now. So we talk about, hey, this kind of stuff takes time. But you just wonder, because I think the front office, everyone, the pieces they brought in, what they did to fortify the offensive line. Like, it almost seems like their expectation is, hey, let's go win this division this year. We believe we can.

Well, Chicago Bears hope to start winning on the field, and maybe Caleb and Ben take over the entire NFL. Certainly the NFC. Or they swap Gooflowski for Caleb. Oh, maybe a quick trade. Yeah. Goff and Decline. What?

I want Jared Goff as my quarterback. You don't have them anymore. He's Gooflofsky now. No. How about Dano going? That's very rude to Jericho. You put the two championships. It is a Super Bowl.

Bears made some news CEO Kevin Warren made an announcement that the team is setting its sights on Arlington Heights for their new stadium who have a retractable roof I think they were already in negotiations there something fell through I mean this has been a lot of drama yeah this has been a lot of drama in Chicago because there's a lot of politics involved

I believe there's a lot of different counties involved there's a lot of money involved there's a lot of everything involved so allegedly they are now going to head back to Arlington Heights and they're going to have a retractable roof and obviously a venue that they think Bears fans are going to love and want to travel to Congratulations to Chicago getting this done seemingly and Arlington Heights.

I know it's not easy to have that type of stuff. And on that note, the Denver Broncos, we just alluded to it, just kind of announced that they will be unveiling a new stadium here in a couple years, and it will be in the Burnham Yard, which is the railroad station, I do believe, or the old railroad station there in Denver. The history, I guess, that has run through that railroad station, I guess, is very deep. It's a part of the story in which they told and why they picked. it's near downtown no allington heights i think is away from it is chicago a good bit i think it's

pretty far out there when you have the richest owners in sports they can buy the real estate near the city he said it won't be surrounded by just massive parking lots either it'll feel alive and feel like a part of the city they want to host a lot of venues in or host a lot of events in there all year round and this just like when you have owners now i assume they're getting city money i assume there is tax money probably funded it's unbelievable yeah yeah isn't that unbelievable it is on blue But richest owners, 2013, I mean, can we expedite this one of you, six years? Yeah, what the hell? I still got supply chain issues.

Well, that's what the bear said that they plan to host the Super Bowl as early as 2031. So I wonder if they're thinking for the Arlington Heights one, like, hey, we've got to be working around the clock here and build this thing in the next two years. The Walton's, dude. I think both cities are looking for the Super Bowl. Yeah. Oh, yeah. And rightfully so. And that's why the retractable roof is on there.

That's like the fans in Cleveland all pissed off about the thought of a retractable roof. Offalo pissed off about a retractable roof. I think if you were to present Green Bay with a retractable roof, they'd be like absolutely not. That's what everybody, everybody saying that. But it also means you get a Super Bowl. Yeah. You get a Super Bowl.

You want a Super Bowl or do you not want a Super Bowl? But that's the other side now. There's the draft. Yeah. Like that is as a Patriots fan. The only thing I hope that the Patriots get when it comes to the events like that is the draft now. And like especially because, you know, the teams that you're listening, like the Packers,

they're never going to do it, the Steelers, the Patriots, It's like those fan bases will be great for, you know, the draft, especially, you know, having that be kind of the draw for it. I appreciate that the NFL has created an event. It's awesome. Smart for the cities that will never get the Super Bowl. Certain franchises, just Packers. I can't.

I could never do it. Oh, yes. Buffalo. Talking about the frozen dungeon. Curly lamp. Let's pull a little heat on that. Maybe 70 degrees in sunny and Green Bay. Browns.

Do whatever hell you want to do. I agree. I agree. Who gives the shit? Who cares? Right. Hey, if a tree falls in the woods, right? That's A.F.C. North football.

Amen. Amen. On the lake. And Cleveland is a bitch. He sat right around with your brother. Saw some pretty sweet things happening. Bruce was at Cleveland. We went over Bottlegate today.

Yeah, Bottlegate is an insane. Have you heard about this, AJ? No. What happened? I don't know. The way B.A. told he he had to be at least 50 bottles on that. $50,000.

50,000 bottles. What happened? What was the game? We were playing Jacksonville and a two-minute drill. We're going down. We complete a pass first down, spike it. And the referee, who's now famous, decided to go back and review the play before

after we spiked it and said it was incomplete. And all of a sudden there's 50,000 beer bottles coming out. But Mr. Lerner had the best of, they're plastic. That's crazy. Obviously, the Philadelphia Eagles fans are known for what they did to Santa. Cleveland is known for a lot of things. I didn't remember 50,000 Bottlegate. I do not know that.

How did that game continue? What happened there? I think it was like maybe 20 seconds left, and we all left the field. It was not safe, you know, because they were reaching the sideline with the things. Oh, yeah. Good arms in Cleveland. Oh, yeah, buddy. And so we went in, and all of a sudden, we got to go out and finish it.

So we had 11 guys go out in their shorts and finish the game. that's incredible Tim Couch Can you get plastic bottles anymore Can you get plastic bottles It's all draft beer now in a cup I think nothing is allowed to have a top I know that

No tops on anything They were glass bottles The owner said they were plastic I think I saw a video of a guy drinking 13 of them In one game He was maybe a Chicago guy last night He had a cup snake He had a beer snake or whatever

The cups to himself I think it was like 13 beer beer and you have photo, he looks very pretty probably got in a fight in the parking lot afterwards. Living a highlight there for this first no, without a doubt. We're back, we're all the way back. Exactly.

Yeah, I'll take two, three, four more. Yeah, we'll have a good Caleb's guy. Yeah, boom-bum. It's like the old dog pound in Cleveland. It had a little dog thing up there. It looked like they all peed in there. It's Cleveland. A lot of booze.

A lot of booze out there. Okay, there's a story coming out of Tampa Bay. that Ameca Buka, who is a rookie wide receiver out of Ohio State, who has been a number two wide receiver for the last few years at Ohio State, even though he's the all-time leading receiver for the Ohio State Buckeyes, basically calls his own shot for a second touchdown that ends up winning the game for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. And it's this type of, like, comfort, I think, that he is showing, that makes us all believe that maybe Ohio State is a little bit of an NFL factory over there.

Because this guy was number two for them for a long time. You're obviously close to the Tampa Bay organization. Mike Evans is going to be a Hall of Famer. Obviously, first ballot gold jacket guy. Feels like they got a guy down there in a mecca that they love. Is that accurate? Oh, they love. And Baker said, I think, OTA number five, he said, this guy's special.

Not only is he good. He's one of the smartest guys I've ever been around. And they were on the sideline. We run what they call PIN, Post, in and in. They're going to jump, Mike. I'll be wide open on the post. Boom, touchdown. Now, is that because he felt something in the game?

Or is that because he's been in number two for all the past few years? and it's like, hey, Marvin Harrison, Jr. runs the inn. I'm wide open on the other side of that. Jeremiah Smith runs the, I'm all wide open on the other side of that. He's like almost built to be in the role with Mike Evans being the perfect number one for him. Totally, yeah. I think this kid is really, really special. I mean, he's tough as nails.

He'll block like a tight end. I mean, anything you ask him, I mean, the organization is excited about this guy. AJ, he was perfect, right, for Ohio State in that situation? Oh, yeah. I mean, Brian Hartline, he's been here just churning out NFL receivers year after year after year. It's a whole true, like iron sharpens iron. Think of that receiver's room for the last 10 years, just the absolute studs, like the standard that those guys have every single day. It's a beautiful thing to see. It's cool to see it translates so quickly. Like, coach said, OTA number five, and Baker saying this guy's special. Like, that's a big deal for a guy like Baker to say that about a young kid early on in the spring.

So, yeah, it's good to see what a debut for this young guy. but I feel like he's got everything. N-I.L era, he's very good. Yeah. Could have transferred any time because he wasn't the superstar. Didn't care. You talk about blocking his ass off and everything. We watched him play back at their point.

He was everywhere. Boost on the ground, always open. Always had, you can tell an understanding of the coverage, the windows, going across the middle, was never scared. You can see how he's built that he's not going to be afraid to go across the middle to take a hit. But if you put that play up again on the All-22, right here, if you pause it, right on let's say the 12-yard line, Jesse Bates,

one of the more aggressive safeties in the league, A ballhawk, he will make plays on the ball. This is one minute left in the game, too. So if you run it here, Mike Evans, when he runs that pin route, there's actually coverage. It's a linebacker underneath in a pretty good position. So if you're that safety, you just kind of do your job and play this top down. But you let it run.

He jumps down on Mike Evans. And now that cornerback, Mike Hughes, I believe, is in a bad situation, outside leverage and just an unbelievable ball. This is why Baker was drafted. Number one, this is why people are so high. Pre-snap, B. But start to cut you off. You see, watch it pre-snap the corner. What do you think he's saying, hey, man, you get me high.

Like, I'm going to be outside. I need you here. Yeah, you got, because this is high red, you know, high, or kind of fringe. So right before you're getting that red area, and pin routes are big here, scissors routes, double posts. Hew's been in a league long enough to know. Buka kind of has that tight split on the top of the numbers, and he just stems them. He's patient with his route right until it clears.

And then you've got to throw that ball high into the back of the end zone where only your guy can get it. Just a great ball from Baker. Great understanding of the coverages from Baker and Ebuca here. But this is a big time playing, a big time. moment for a rookie wide receiver. Hey, Tampa's a real deal, huh? I think we got a great shot, especially we get Tristan back, Chris back,

Jalen, McMillan back, and both corners back. Yeah. We had five starters. Missed a lot. When's that? When are they back? Three weeks, maybe. Such a long season, you forget about that.

Yeah, how come the bucks are able to use Abuka the way they are, even though he's a rookie? Like the Patriots, there's a few other teams I know. Even Jacks fans wanted to see a little more of Travis Hunter. I saw even Chargers fans want Hampton to get the bus. ball more Patriots fans wanted Henderson to be involved more. Why is it that Buga can play every single snap as a rookie and be used and get the ball thrown to him when a lot of these other skill guys who come in aren't used fully right away? Yeah, I think he's a very special cat as far as his

football knowledge and the way he's played the game the whole time. And for me, it was always okay, if you're a rookie, I need you by Thanksgiving. If I can get you ready to help us by Thanksgiving, that's a damn good rookie year because we're going to need it. Somebody's going to go down and you're going to have to take their place. Very seldom do you see these guys come in and be a star in OTAs, not even the season. This guy came in. He knows ball.

He really knows ball. He's been super well coached by Brian Hartline up at Ohio State. And so, yeah, it's easy for him. Chip Kelly, too. Yeah. He's playing for a guy who's been into pros and they ran. We watched it, a pretty pro-style offense. You know, Will Howard obviously had a great run during the playoffs.

So coming in and being prepared because the biggest thing for making that training, I don't care where you play college ball, how fast shit moves. And then for these wide receivers, your concept changes a lot, VA, if it's middle clothes and split open. So defensive coordinators do a good job of changing that picture. We saw it with Maddie P. First game against Arch. Like that's something that not only the quarterback's got to deal with,

but the wide receivers do too. So if they got it between the years when the opportunity comes, which it is there with Chris got on bent down, you got to take advantage and not look back. Arch, not in pain. Go ahead. I'm sorry. I'm going to throw some love out to Jason Light.

he took a lot of shit for taking amica in the first round because he had just paid chris just paid mike and both those guys have missed a lot of time the last couple years and we didn't we lost so we got another big stud de receiver now while chris is down when when we get all four of them back what's out yeah and baker's dealing yeah and all in tight end's great oh yeah very good and he's around irving's unreal yeah they got a team down there and that city is awesome yes it is you will see It gets a little hot, but it is beautiful down there. Arch Manning, not in pain. Okay.

That was not. Because it looked bad. Yeah, he was wins and pretty good. What do you mean? I cleared that up. Somebody was about act like you're going to ask. I'm Coach Sarkisian. You act like you're going to ask about Archbany.

Well, we all saw your quarterback. Next question. That's not real. Thank you. Okay. Oh, so not in pain. That's how we know. Boom.

I think he's just pissed because you threw a bad ball. He thinks there's disgust. I don't know. That looked like there was... It looked like there was something. He threw it for... But the pain might have been the bad ball. Could have been.

That might be how much he loves throwing a good ball. You're right. He feels actual pain. He's got high expectations when he lets that ball go. His whole body feels pain. He gets a headache and everything. I mean, that wasn't just... People were saying it was a shoulder and an elbow.

He threw a bad ball. His left ankle hurt. It was his... His whole body was in pain because it was a bad ball. It's just... He's a manning. That's in his blood. Hey, you throw a bad ball, it all hurts.

And he knows that he punishes himself for a bad ball, you know, and that's going to be low in the way. It wasn't picked, though, so everything's okay. That would hurt. So he, yeah, he said even like his left eardrum burst. Yep. Because of how bad. He's a lot.

I hope he's a heart. Yeah, so we're talking whole body and pain when you throw a bad ball if you're a manning. That's just the way it is. That's bad. Appreciate it starting to clear. Well, he didn't say that. He didn't. He just said,

Shut up. Shut up. he's fine. Here it is. Arch Manning seemed to be having some throwing pains by the fourth quarter. According to who? Arch. Arch said that to you? No.

Oh, according to who? It just looked like he was. He doesn't have any. Okay. Is there an explanation to why he was, it looked like that? I don't know. I've never filmed any of you guys when you're using the bathroom, so I don't know what faces you make when you're doing that.

Maybe he farted, too. He might have pooped. He shit in his girdle, actually, when he threw that. Which might be part of his thing. We do not know, and we will not judge. That would be swine. But if Sark would have gave an entire answer about, he's a manning, he threw a bad ball, his entire body hurt. Okay, that is what he, that would have been incredible.

That would have been better than that. What do you mean? Ten times better than that. According to who? According to anybody who's got fucking eyes. Same thing with Callahan. Like, Callahan. I personally am not a huge.

who's Brian Callahan guy because Paul Kowarski asked him a question and he basically is just like well did you know the play Paul? It's like well no he didn't know the play Mr. Callahan, you prick. That's why he's asking you about it. We just finished week one.

We cannot have this much. Look, I didn't expect to stand on a soapbox for Paul Kuharski today. But now that we're here. We're here. And look, Coach Callahan, it has been great for you. You don't have to start to your point.

It is week one. the first question you get from the most senior reporting you got your response is well you got the playbook prick how you're supposed to know it's like no dude he doesn't that's why he's asking the question geez he has said it done hey you're right coach call he said i'm not with it this year just won't let you all know this ain't how it's going to be uh that's awesome coach you think uh sark was prepared for that course i think i took a little bit by surprise but I love his answer oh okay so you you thought he was prepared for that

According to who, he was about to get very pissed because people were going to believe internet tweets saying that Arch was in pain and that was him going to be who was it? Was it a meme? What did you see? That is, I think, to your point, I think he was ready for that. For sure. I think he was excited for him.

Arch told you that? Oh, he didn't. So who told you that? Oh, okay. Okay. Yeah, Garage knows. Ladies and gentlemen, it's time to pivot away from the NFL and talk about a historic partnership between the greatest sports entertainment company of all time and the biggest sports platform in the history of sports. Ladies and gentlemen, the chit-chat about the debut of WWE and ESPN's partnership

next weekend here in Indianapolis at Russell Palooza. Ladies and gentlemen, Chief Content Officer for the WWE, W.WE Hall of Famer, Living Legend, Triple H, and what the hally, Tyrese Halliburton. Wow, yeah, boys. Time to play the day. We're playing your music. I don't know you can hear it.

Tyree. What's the how are? Watch the hillies. Watch the killies. Watch the killings. I love you playing it's all about you two good

how are you I'm not ashamed it's crazy it's crazy we'll talk about that later it is crazy it's crazy it's crazy yeah it makes me look like a young lad now I know it's crazy

I think he's muted right now we'll turn him ladies and gentlemen the king of kings Triple H yeah that's good on guys good to see you

great to see you congratulations on the WWE and ESPN deal obviously that WWWWW network was ahead of its time, started with subscribers. Then we sell the WWE network, I believe, to Peacock first, and then the evolution of your guys' digital service

and subscription service and pay-per-view model has been trailblazing, I think, for the entire entertainment world. And now teaming up with ESPN, it feels like it makes sense. Whenever this was presented to you as an option or an idea, what were your immediate thoughts? The first time it was said to me like, hey, ESPN is in the mix here, and I was like, oh my God, that could be a game changer for us. Just the fact, like, who does promotion of big events better than ESPN, right?

Like college game, everything that surrounds big events for them, they do better than anybody. And then if you want to look at big events, who puts on better big events than us? So that mixed together of that level of mainstream PR, that level of coverage for us. You know, I know probably for you watching, when I was watching as a kid, it used to frustrate me. If you missed something, there was no place to really catch up on it afterwards, like nothing mainstream covered it. It was never in the news or sports or anything like that, you know? Yeah. This puts it in that and normalizes it for everybody.

There's still the Kearney mindset about how we'll always be outcasts in the wrestling world, how people will view it as not legit, obviously, because of that entirety. But whenever you look at it from an athletic standpoint, the performers are so incredibly athletic, insanely athletic, Olympic level athleticism happening. And then when you talk about the performance, I think people who like sports like to see people do their thing at a high level, which is what the WWE does.

And also, I think a lot of sports fans that maybe aren't into WWE, I think whenever they're exposed to it and they realize it, wait a minute, this is a men's soap opera on it. This is like a soap offer for dudes a little bit we can kind of buy into this. I think there's a lot of appeal to sports fans

that maybe haven't been in that ESPN will bring, I think, as well. I think so too. And I think the, look, the conversations are just different. It's like sometimes people say the soap opera stuff, but there's the behind the scenes. There's the things that are going on that you don't read about or or see necessarily on the show. No different than I just sat here and listened to you guys, talk about the NFL, the drama of it, the drama of the drafts, the drama of who's doing what, and are they good enough? Are they getting paid too much for what they contribute?

All that stuff's just drama. It's the same thing, and you can pick and choose. Do you want to just pay attention to the storylines? Do you want to see the backstage stuff? Do you want to, when you start digging into it from that, all that level of drama of any sport is there. And then you get your eyes on Penta one time, and you're like, wait a man, what is this?

What the hell is going on here? This is pretty electrifying. You start walking around your house. He's surfwalking a little bit. Rest of the Eastcott Hall, obviously living legend in it all. Last question from me for you, and then obviously got to turn our attention to the Indianapolis hero. Yeah.

What the halie? Did you see his ass walk up here? Oh yeah, we're good. Fresh new, brand new Achilles, bro. Yeah, shoes on. Coming out their entirety. WrestleMania, why is this the event to launch the WWE ESPN partnership? Thank you for having it in Indianapolis.

And Brock and John is gigantic. That's OVW class of, I don't remember the year. Is it not O2? Something like that, yeah. They made like a doc on it, I think. Yeah, Rip Rogers. I'm a Mark. We're definitely.

We're working. on a career retrospect between the two that it's just fascinating to see their rise and who comes up how and sort of they're doing this but at different wavelengths you know like brock comes in and just sort of takes over as this rookie sensation he's champ within like five months sena just can't get his feet under him then it slowly shifts then Brock leaves and Sina goes and you know it's it's wild to see yeah they're great with each other yeah But it's phenomenal. Yeah, I remember John Cena just potentially breaking every bone in his body against Brock Lesnar

with different times. I mean, they put on. Having faced Brock Lesner, yeah, it's common. Absolute beast back in there. And for you, Halley. Obviously, WWE in Indianapolis. This is great news. Russell Palooze is a big deal.

I assume you're going to be in there with that new Achilles. In the ring? Yeah, in the ring. Single leg drop kick. Yeah. I don't know about it. In the ring? No, not in the ring.

We won't have you in a ring. We'll have you doing your video game shit with W.W.E. DJ. Yeah, maybe new DJ. But you and the WWE have become very tight, which is great. Same with our city, which I think we all love. Yeah. Great host for these events.

Yeah, yeah, for sure. I'm excited. I think Indy does a great job of hosting events just in general. The Super Bowl was here a few years ago, and that was good. And every time we do something here in Indy, you know, I enjoy it. John Cena's back to being a guy that you love. Because I remember you're out a little bit. Oh, yeah.

Big time. You hated Sina for a while. Me? I've never hated Sina. Illinois, in Jersey, he stole my crutch, which is kind of... Crazy. Kind of messed up, and I never got the crutch back, which is unfortunate. Well, that sounds like a lawsuit.

We'll see if we can't get an autographed one for you. What was that all about last night? I think I saw Jay potentially doing a little... Sometimes if you want to be the tribal chief at some point, you've got to do things like the tribal chief way, maybe. Somebody texted me one time and said, every once in a while, the king has to roll a head down the hill to remind people that the king

still can swing a sword or something like that. Somebody texted me that. It's kind of with Jay Uso. That's right. Yeah, exactly. He's starting to experience as the trouble chief. Now and then you've got to lop off a head. Yeah, every once in a while. Every once in a while you've got to do that.

L.A. Night, I don't like what he did to him. But what else do we have, wrestle poloos? Is that much happening? The Eos guy, Stephanie Vecere, for the women's title? The contract didn't get signed last night or got signed? To be honest, I was not there last night. I haven't had a chance to watch a show yet

because I was at, I did kill Tony, last night so I was in oh shit I'm not supposed to say that I know no no I've seen you do a Phil Tony step before to wrap one up and it was great yeah you were like built for I forgot it's a secret that I'm on there until Monday okay nobody will hear that you're gonna be great on that yeah it was fun oh yes because I was part of one of those you know I was in I was in cloud seven yep if you do call. My wife looked at me. Pat was talking to us backstage. We just got there and you were talking to us and you walked away and she goes,

he's not in this show like that, is he? And I was like, no, I don't think he is. I think he's just here having a good time. And like your music started playing. You walked out. She was like, oh no. I said, he'll be fine when he gets out there, I think. Yeah, and you were. You were right. Thank you. I appreciate that. Yeah, I forgot that that was happening. That was right after night two at WrestleMania. We had done it. We had a long, great weekend. Might have overbooked you. Yeah. Yeah, I might have had a long great weekend, and I'm in my bus. I think I was in my bus with everybody, and Kiddle was in there, and all of a sudden I get a text from Tony.

He was like, hey, can't wait for tonight, buddy, and I go, oh, no, I completely forgot about that. I was in a different part of town, too. I was one of the last people arrived. You showed up right after me, and I didn't really know what was going on. I'm like, are we doing a kill Tony up there? No, it's going to be a celebration of wrestling. Then I get there, and everybody had their jokes written out, like, beforehand. I go up to, like, Nia Jackson.

I'm like, what are you, what are you saying? And she starts saying what she said, I'm like, oh. Yeah, people put effort into it, right? Yeah, like real rude. Like, they were saying it's a very rude. It's a neat stuff. Then I go to the next person. I'm like, what are you saying?

And they start saying, I'm like, oh, my God, I am not prepared for this. I don't think I'm supposed to be doing this. So I go over to Tony. I'm like, I don't think I'm as ready as everybody else. He goes, it'll be fine. Just be silly, you know, it'll be no problem. So I go up there and I immediately realize this is not going to be fine. And then I sit down, thank God there were some other targets.

but boy what a wild knock you came out at the end though and immediately as you started talking I'm like oh triple H is perfect for this this is literally like something you're perfect so I wasn't even planning to go out there like I had nothing I wasn't planning to go out there it just got to the end and Nick looked at me and he said you think he's trying to wrap this up he just doesn't know how to get out

because now he started to go into the hey here are the jokes that didn't make it to the cut list and I'm like that's not like if you're doing the jokes that are bad now like feels like we've passed the point to go home yeah and uh so nick looked at me and i was like i'm not going out there and then i meant another minute or two that started to get uncomfortable and i was like yeah i hit my music i'll let me just go see if i can get us out of this thing but it's fun man fun you know the the

those i love those shows it's entertaining and just being off the cuff like that which you're great at too it's you know i know you didn't have anything written but you were awesome yeah yeah we did okay yeah you were great yeah yeah you don't remember it but you were great no i remember yeah i I remember it all. And also I saw a couple of clips of it hit the internet afterwards. I was like, oh, everybody was told that this was not going to happen. Yeah. That was, that was like a number one thing that everybody, I didn't remember much from the pre-show stuff. I remember reading a couple people's jokes and then going, oh, no, oh, no, that's really mean.

I didn't know we're doing that. And then I remember everybody understanding, like, nobody's going to just, just go out and nobody's going to see you this. That was everybody's mindset going out there. So then I'm in my mind, no matter how high I potentially was at the time, which was very high. Vegas has great weed. Shout out the DJ Bonics. Dardine. It was his guy. It was an incredible time. We're celebrating it all.

And then I remember thinking, how are they going to be able to do that? Had the whole thing, had the whole system. Then whenever I see it on the internet, I'm like, oh, shit. I know everybody in there, no matter how they agreed, thought that wasn't going to happen. It ends up disappearing. I'm happy that thing still exists. And I'm very happy that you get a chance to go do it because I think your brain is good at that shit. And I'm pumped to see that.

That's on Monday? Yeah. Okay. Breaking. We'll be off. Sorry, Tony. How are you doing in your Achilles rehab? Oh, I'm good.

I'm good. I'm on two shoes now, so we're out of the boot, which is nice. I feel like I do a million calf raises a day, but we're getting there, bro. We were worried about your legs, right? Yeah, very time. You've always had those baby little calves and those little quads. Baby? Yeah, like baby.

Coming back with cows. Yeah. A couple little cows up there. Well, you keep saying new Achilles, it's the same Achilles. It's just new. It glued it together. Yeah, but they put Kevlar in there shit, dude. You ain't tearing that.

Yeah, okay. It's a stronger, better Achilles. I saw you walk up these steps. You look better than the last time you gave up these steps. In those cabs, aren't we seeing those calves? More definition. Popping. I think everybody at Iowa State's probably doing a lot more calves.

That's why they just stomp Iowa. You think that's what's happening in Tyres? I don't know. It's something, though. Well, you know, listen, I didn't want to have to do this. What are you going to say now? Well, I'm going to say what I said yesterday. And this rings true, and it doesn't really apply to you because you're an NBA superstar.

Okay, you went to an NBA Finals. Before the injury, you were going to score 40. You probably win finals MVP and win a title. Iowa State beats Iowa And it's the best day of your life It's all people that go to Iowa State Are going to talk about for the next year Had Iowa win that game, guess what?

You flush that fucker, we don't care And we're not talking about it Until we play you guys again next year But Iowa State people You know, hey, it's the Super Bowl every day Do you actually believe that? You believe it's our Super Bowl? You actually believe them

Yeah, and you believe that too And you know that too No, not a chance. We're going to win the Big 12 this year What are you guys going to do? What sport? Football. Okay.

West Virginia's in the Big 12th. Is Ohio? Because they're a problem. Ohio University's really good. Ohio's not in the Big 12. And West Virginia's good ball club. Don't even know if you're on our schedule this year. You guys, how many yards have you all thrown for this year?

Well, see, here's the thing, though, Tyrese, is I was going to have a terrible year, and they're going to go nine and three. You know, when you guys have a terrible year, you go one and eight, and that's then you fire coaches. See, Ty says he doesn't care. It's been a while since we've had a terrible year with Coach Campbell at the helm. Yeah, he's pretty good. Good. I mean, and I don't want to be that guy, but you know what the old time record in the series is. Okay, so you guys win a couple. You feel great about yourselves. That's awesome. You, I mean, hey, listen, the sun shines on the dog's ass every once in a while, you know, which is something I've come to realize.

It's okay. It's okay. Iowa State is the school of Iowa is what I'm hearing. It's not. Tyrese knows it's not. Why not? In football, basketball? I mean, what other sports? Volleyball, too? We didn't meet you guys in volleyball, too. In football, it's not. Relax a second. Oh, currently it is. Currently, the trophy. resides in Ames, so that would mean... Last two years, actually. Yeah. Treblades, do you know what this is about here?

I just know there's a lot of bitterness on this side of here. Yeah. Seems very bitter over here. Not so bitter over here. Pretty comfortable. Pretty comfortable. Bitter. Yeah. Well, that's Iowa. Iowa State played this past weekend in the SciHawk Bowl. Yeah. Iowa State has a guy who's a 45-year-old senior Rocco Beck quarterback, very good.

Iowa paid a good amount of money for the FCS Heisman, which is the D1 AA Granowski, a quarterback, both had high hopes. Iowa State knocks off Iowa yet again. Ty understands that this is probably not the year that Iowa maybe goes and wins the national championship because they can't even beat lowly. Iowa State is how they view it. That is how they kind of view the entirety. Is that right, Ty? Is that a good

descriptor? Yeah, this year I wouldn't say lowly, though. I mean, Iowa State was ranked 16th. Yeah, that's a good ball team, but you know, I mean, Iowa played, what, one of their worst games in the last five years, and Iowa State had to scrap and claw to beat them by a field goal. So, I mean, it's just, it's one of those things where it's okay. Okay, you know what? I saw, though, post game Sunday. Tyreece said, hey, you know what?

Packers are one of my teams for this year. So I said, you know what I agree with. Hey, there we go. Wow. Yeah, there we go. There we go. I'm from Wisconsin, so it's kind of like. They love you there too, right?

I'm not really welcome. So I probably won't be showing up at Lambo, but go pack. That's because the Milwaukee rivalry, obviously, with the Pacers. Let's talk about the Pacers next year. Have you been paying attention? You're in the building, right? A lot. Paying attention?

Yeah, I'm there every day. Yeah. It does feel like you're in there all the time. How do we feel? How are vibes going in the next season? Yeah, we're excited. We just had position workouts, so guys were in Charleston and on the beach and stuff and working out together going to Orlando for team workouts next week. So we're excited. We're a couple weeks out from season starting.

Are they riding the avatar ride? Do you have a tour ride? They should ride out. Too tall. I went to Disney last year one time, got on the Guardians of the Galaxy ride. Pretty sick. Great ride. Awesome ride.

Really? That's that one that I cut. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. Yeah, it looked like a massive assort. but what a ride. What unbelievable ride. Did you guys think about wrestle fest?

There was a lot of thought, but it was in a brief period of time. So we sort of were under the gun of, you know, you mentioned we come here, you know, coming here for Indies. As soon as we heard that Indy was on the table, like they got the date open, we were in. This place is phenomenal. So that was a no-brainer for us. But we moved quick on this whole thing. The whole thing came together very, very quickly.

ESPN asked for the date. They wanted a mega event. We said yes. We just had to pick a name and go, so, you know. Russell Palooza, shout out to ECW, I believe. Yeah, yeah, shout out to ECW. You know, Lala Palooza was a big thing, but now we're going to take that title. Oh, Russell Palooza is about to be a thing?

I think it will be, probably, depending on how this one goes. We'll see. Oh, I like a Russell Palooza shirt. And I like saying it, but Russell Fest also sounds awesome. Pretty sweet. Russell, though, if it becomes a thing as an awesome brand as a whole. difficult was that whole situation, though, because obviously in the business, you know, you guys do the long-form storytelling. Like, you have stuff planned out and you, you have a new

partner like this. You obviously want, you know, I mean, we remember the Netflix premiere. It was like a WrestleMania-esque card. How difficult is it to put something together that quickly when you know, like, hey, we might have storylines in place, but we kind of need to shift things to make sure that this goes off as well as possible. It takes some work, right? You know, you have a, the way the schedule is laid out, you have all your long-term stuff laid out in a certain manner and then all of a sudden you've got something in the middle there instead of six weeks to the next thing it's three weeks so you got to draw everything out and and and shift some stuff around but that's you know it's

funny when stuff like that happens people say oh man it's just another shift or something we do it every week somebody gets injured you know it uh and it could be as simple as someone's sick they've got the flu they we don't mess around with stuff now you know we don't want the whole locker room getting sick right so somebody's really sick they stay home we push stuff out a week so and we don't really report you know the injuries fully when when they're legit we don't make it a point to get out in front of them and tell everybody somebody's injured so sometimes you see things go away or there's moments where stuff people aren't sure what i got expected that to happen here but it didn't it got pushed to there there's usually reasons why so that that sort of turning on a dime

is just kind of what we do. You can't do this and not be that way because the injury card, everything else, it's too hard to stay a constant course, you know. Me being a lifelong wrestling fan, to Tyrese's point, I am a WWE fan. For sure. So you've been a professional wrestling fan for a long?

I'm going to stop you right there. I am a WWE fan. I was a WCW fan, though. Sure. Whenever the attitude era was running, you're too young, you have no idea. Terror Rising was a real deal, brother. I mean, that's no point.

That was pre, though, big run of WCW. That was, I left there to come here already. Yeah, oh, really? Yeah, Nitro started after I left. But you were terrorizing in WCW? I was terrorizing WCW, but Nitro started after I left. I was already up here as Hunter Hurstelms. I like that up here, which ends up being the story of that entire thing, and then forever it stays that way.

So I think for me, like I saw some new Japan stuff, like it would come across my, scroll because I have professional wrestling in my algorithm, but getting an opportunity to see how you guys do what you do and getting to witness the magic of what I've been a lifelong fan of and the moments that happen, that Netflix documentary, I know there's a lot of people, myself included, that were like, what are we doing here? Like, this feels like a bad idea. I think it ended up being great. Do you agree? And did you appreciate it after it was all said and done? Because I know you probably felt a lot of heat from a lot of people about doing it. Yeah, though, also, it's a funny thing in my career.

So, you know, if you go back to me getting in trouble for the curtain call, right, back then, that was... Madison Square Garden. Yeah, that was us sort of getting in trouble with the old generation because we sort of broke K-Fabe rules and went out there. But it was the biggest reaction of the night when we did it at the garden. For those that don't know, there was something called the clique. Sean Michaels, Triple H, Kevin Ash, Scott Hall. Kevin Ash, Hall, are about to leave to WCW. They just got done with a steel cage match, I do believe, in Madison Square Garden.

And at the very end of it, they all came together, hugged each other, gave a toast to the thing. It was like a send-off that we're all together, even though we're not. Vince and everybody backstage, very pissed. You actually got punished for that, I think, for a long time in the entirety. So you've been used to getting hit on the shins is what you're saying, it sounds like? Yeah, to a degree. But my point being that sometimes, you know, it's funny that, like, the Internet is all complaining that we're lifting the curtain and showing you stuff. Meanwhile, they're doing a podcast, that all it does is talk about the behind-the-scenes shit that's going on.

Like, I don't understand that. logic, right? Like, the world knows. An eight-year-old kid picks up his iPhone, Google stuff, and it tells them all the behind-the-scenes stuff right there. So being able to see it, we're still not showing you how the trick is done. We're still not showing you how the guy levitates. We're still not showing you any of that stuff, but we're showing you how the, all the, to me, what that show does is it shows you the heart, soul, and passion that everybody puts into that product to make it great for fans. It's not, it's not taking, as the most serious thing on the planet

it's supposed to be fun it's supposed to be entertainment it's supposed to be a good time but everybody puts their heart and soul into it and I think if you're not a fan if you're a fan you already know if you're not a fan watching that makes you think like man they put a lot into this respect maybe yeah respect to it

and man I'm interested in watching that now I learned something about these people as as human beings not just as characters and that interests me in watching it I've heard a lot of people say that Tyrese, how's it been getting into the WW a little bit more? We know you're a massive mark, but getting a chance to meet everybody. Like, literally, when I meet him the first time, it's like, holy fuck.

Yeah. It's Triple H here, dude. Be cool, be cool, be cool, be cool. And then your disappointment grew as the day. No, no, no, no. The way you lead is awesome. No, it is a fascinating thing, though, as lifelong fans getting involved in that Netflix thing, I think gave people a good look from if you're not able to be in the building, whenever it's all happening. You agree with them? Yeah, for sure. For sure. I think it was, it was, the relationship I have with WV has been amazing. And after I got hurt, H has probably checked on me more than maybe anybody

else texting me, checking on me, which is really cool. And when I tell my friends, like, I like have to announce it. Like, people don't, like, I'm like, oh, that's pretty cool you on me because, like, growing up, we watched it, you know. So it's always fun when I get to, you know, bring my friends around. And I was backstage at, what were we at the Royal Rumble not the pre-show, but the day before. You guys hit in Gainbridge. Yeah, yeah. In Gainbridge, and I took my little brother who had, you know, he has never,

and people were coming up to me backstage, the Mizz grabbed me aside. And my little brother was, like, shocked that, like, everybody knew who I was. And at one point, I'm sitting back there, and I'm turning, talking H, and Sampunk comes up behind me and just smacks me on the chest. He's like, you're lucky, you're down the rumble. I throw you over the rope, too. And my little brother, like, he was like, this is the coolest shit I've ever seen. So the relationship I have is really cool

And definitely love being able to You know, see the ends and outs for sure He's just like one of the crew now Right? He comes in, he hangs out for rehearsals Just sits at the table with coal Gets his own desk, yeah, the old thing Yeah, I was still with Michael Hayes At Somerslam for a while

It was a good time He's got a big brain We'll continue digitally on ESPN Plus Disney Plus, YouTube, TikTok live, you name it We wrap up here on ESPN We'll see you tomorrow NFL week one was spectacular More chatter tomorrow. Nailed it, I think.

I think that's the second off. I feel like I really fucking hit it. We are still alive. We're still live. Don't break K-Fa-Brah. Don't break K-Fa-Fa-Bruz. Ressal-Luza. Okay, next Saturday here in Indianapolis. I sure have done more research on tickets. I assume they're gone. Going well. Brock John Sina, main event.

CM Punk, A.J. Lee. His wife has returned. A.J. is back. 10 years. With Seth and Becky, right? With Seth and Becky in a mixed tag. Wow. Okay, so mixed tag, when was the last time? On a high level, like, there's been a while since, like, man, you know, there's been other ones, and I think they've been in the show and all that stuff, but there's a part of me that wants to say the biggest, and the last really big high profile mixed tag we did was myself and Steph. Yeah, yeah, we were there.

Yeah, which was a blast, you know. Awesome. When they're done well, you know, sometimes people complain about the physicality. You know, you can't have guys hitting the women and stuff, which is shocking that people complain about. Yeah. But definitely, yeah, not desirable, which is why the rules are when the dude takes on dude. Yeah, when the woman is in, it takes on the woman in the entire thing. But every once in a while, somebody will go barking up a Ronda Rossi tree.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, pop, pop, pop, pop, pop, pop, pop. Just get battered. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Get battered. But I should have kept my, I should have just let her hit Steph. I shouldn't have got in there. But yeah, this will be good.

When you have four performers that talented. And AJ just coming back, like, it's funny. He spent out 10 years and hasn't missed a beat, man. Just right in there as charismatic as ever. Fans are loving it. So it's going to be great. Yeah, and obviously, Seth and Becky. I'll give you a spoiler right now.

Cody will be back, Indianapolis. So we're, you know. Oh, my God. That's big time. Yeah. Bada be. Bada boo. Bada pooh.

Bada be da, ba, ba, ba, ba, ba, ba, ba, ba. Bada be, ba, ba, ba. We don't know what the words are. We've tried our best. We think those are the words. Yeah. That's what we hear. Every time we try to...

We have to load down. We know when it's coming. It's the most important part. You guys have... It's all that matters. That's going to be huge. Yeah. When he gets up on his rope.

Mm-hmm. What a moment for him. He came out the All-Star game, Herman Derby. Yeah, massive pop. Big pop. At the end, too. Yeah, everybody was tired. Everybody was exhausted.

Right before the final route. Yeah, he came out. Big pop for Cody. Okay, so Cody, Sina, Brock. Seth, Becky, C.M. Punk, A.J. Lee. E.O. Sky. Maybe. We don't know if the contract was signed.

Sounds like. I didn't. I don't know. You look pretty spry today. I'm not for sure. I don't know if it was signed last night. Okay, that's going to be a gigantic. I think it's already announced the work. The Brussels. Ploos is going to be massive. Congratulations.

Thank you very much. Yeah, it's exciting. ESPN's going to be a blast. We've got a lot of stuff going on right now, as you know. Coming up, Canello Crawford. Oh, yeah. T. I think we're going to have Turkey on Friday. I think he's on the show Friday.

Let's go. Turkey on our show is good, a couple different times. Got have a hookah in here. Okay. Fatal Fury City of Wolves, don't worry. We're going to have that and Fatal Fury City of Wolves going. Yeah, I love the video games over there. Saudi Arabia, I guess video games actually a big way to roll into, I don't want to say

the 21st century, but you get it. But also, WWE has been a massive piece of kind of transatlantic. transforming a country, I think, as a whole, your relationship with them has been cool to watch. Now, at the beginning of that, that's another thing, a lot of shots to the shins. Oh, you're going to work with, you know, and then obviously everything that's ever happened in Saudi Arabia gets listed off in the article. Like, this is the same country that ba, blah, blah, blah, but I think the WWE's mindset from the people that I talk to that were actually in the room, yourself included. It's like, well, how are they ever going to, if we don't, and it's like, WWE, the first time, I only think there was a lot of women on the card, then the next time that, I don't think women were the wrestle or anything like that in a way they had the dress.

Then you had a women's main event with a woman ref, I think, at one point over there. And it's like the way they've kind of evolved as a country through the relationship with WW. I'm not saying WW directly only involved because I think the crown prince, God bless him, has been a massive piece of that in Turkey as well. But it has been an evolution. But that's been their goal since the beginning, I think, is to change their perception, to change how they are to, you know, open up that umbrella for women and with the country. But it takes time.

You can't just do that stuff all at once, right? You alienate all the people that are in front of it that had an old, longstanding belief. So you've got to do it over time. And I truly believe that to initiate change, you've got to be a part of it. You can't just sit back on the sideline and say, we're not going to participate that. And these people don't do things right where you need to be. there and be part of that change and we've been part of that change um since the beginning proudly been a part of that change yeah i think you should take a lot of pride in that especially with what

it's becoming and on that note you're in the presidential uh fitness uh fitness fitness and nutrition vice chair that oh yeah just add another job dude right of america dischama who was on here a few weeks i think you own 50k or something like no no no no he missed yeah but we still donated though we still donated to the uh to the council uh to the fund i believe to make America a healthier place. I don't want to be a person that chimes in on politics. Yeah. Okay. You signing up to take this job on top of all the other shit that you have and saying feeling obligated to do as such and like would love to help is a cool thing. I was just in Australia. You've been there obviously a lot of time. Yeah. Their food is so good.

Yeah. It felt all fresh. It's everything felt really really good. Yeah, it's it's one of the things that you know, I truly believe in it. There's a lot of of things that have to change here, you know, and there's a lot of sickness, a lot of illness that comes out of what we eat and our lifestyle and everything else. I think all that stuff needs to change, but just when you go back to it from a kid's standpoint, I'm a big believer in kids and athletics and sport, whether that's just training on your own or whether that's being in a sport, but doing that stuff sets you up for success in your life, not just in that athletic moment you know so I'm a big believer in that I I hate seeing kids just on their phones all day or on

iPads all day or doing whatever and not being outside when we were kids we were all outside all the time right and I think what I'm really passionate about is with this council is getting in front of kids to me that's where you start the change getting in front of them and and showing them look you might not be able to do one push up right now but we're going to show you how you can get to where you can do one and then get you where you can do 10 and then get you where you're you know you're you know on your way and that that builds pride it instills work ethic in kids and what they get it in what they put into it is what they get out of it and I'm excited to see that grow and and and uh you know I think it's very very needed in this country I think so too I only saw like five to six

overweight people I was in Australia for 10 days yeah it's like everybody was seemingly in shape everybody was eat the food was unbelievable everybody kind of jack now I think they are all taller and more jacked humans as a whole. I'm not 100% sure. It just seemed like that was the case. But the habits form whenever kids, like I think that is, if you get them in the presidential fitness test,

used to be a big deal. Big deal. It's going to be again. Let's get rid of that fucking blue box. You know what I'm talking about? Yeah. The toe touch thing. Yeah.

That was a little prejudice, I think. I think that was a little prejudice because I have tight hamstrings. Yeah. So now. You and me both. I can't barely touch my knees. Me neither. Yeah.

And that thing used to bully me in front of my classmates. I'm climbing up the rope. I'm doing all the bullshit. I'm about to win the presidential fitness test. All right, let's do something that isn't athletic at all. Sit down. Touch your toes. It's like, I can't do that.

Yeah. So I would always win. What was the next one down? It's going to hammer. Don, ton, tone. What was the next one under presidential? It was national. It was national.

Yeah, it didn't win anything. I won a fucking little badge. You say, you're a national fitness champion. Got a certificate. Yeah. Maybe I think we got a free pan pizza. There's there with this thing where we're inspiring kids to do this, you know, yeah, making it competitive, but just getting kids to a place where they're wanting to improve. They don't have to get to that level, but they want to improve and want to get better. And then we'll have special stuff for the kids that do and hopefully can make it meaningful. I'd like to include things like scholarships for kids when they get to a certain place where it's not necessarily about going to college, play a sport or anything. But if you know you're going to have financial, issues going to college, you can work

your ass off for a year or two to get yourself in that place on that presidential fitness list and hopefully get some scholarship money. I like that a lot. That's awesome. Yeah, I like incentive-based stuff. Yeah, me too. I think that society as a whole. I think you need that. Yep. Tone has a question for you. Go ahead, tone. Yeah, I do, Mr. H.

And I apologize if this is, you know, not on topic. Oh, he doesn't have years. Oh, yeah, you're going to have to translate. Tony, I actually was going to ask this question. So this is working out perfectly. You've talked a lot about consistency. and our work and dedication and all very important things. But we've also seen that as very important for your wardrobe, those type of things.

Were you aware that you in a bathing suit being the same bathing suit from way back in the day? Okay, because people went nuts about that. Where do you get a bathing suit that last 25 years? Yeah, that's a good question. So your kids give it to you. And it is an important thing for them. so I only wear it on special occasions for them, right? Like, it's a bathing suit that they gave me when they were very little.

I don't even think they probably remember giving it to me, right? But it is something that they talk about on a regular basis. So I have it. So I brought it on vacation with us. Yeah, you don't, we were like a mile out in the ocean. That guy shooting that picture had a cannon, dude. It's also inspired me on the, President's Council of Physical Fitness to get my ass in the gym.

Oh, no, no, no, you look, Jack. I look like in all of it with four toothpicks. No, no, no. How are you? 56. 56. And how many heart surgeries have you got? Yeah, yeah, yeah.

I've got some excuses to make in there, but like, I'm not gonna. And, yeah, it's a funny thing that people, like, focused on the bathing suit things, like I read all these things like, you know he's got socks with holes in him, he just won't throw away and shit, right? Lucky underwear, yeah. Yeah, but also, a lot of the bathing suit. Also, when you're busy, I don't know, like, it's not something that goes through my mind. I'm not running around a bathing suit that often.

So I just like, whatever's in the draw, I'll grab. I saw that one, and I was like, oh, the kids will like it if I wear this. Yeah, and by the way, great dad always happened, which is an incredible thing. Look like a sick vacation, though. That boat looked. Not enough people talking about the sick yacht that you're wrong, let alone the fact you're a mile out there. That feels like the new thing. That had to be a great time out there.

Yeah, I don't know if you've ever been to Greece. Highly recommend it. The islands are phenomenal. It's just beautiful. Other than the wind is a little bit windy, but like everything else about it is top. When you were working at Gold's Gym. Yeah. Okay?

Trying to sign up. Greece wasn't in the option at the time. Yeah, that's what I'm saying. Do you think back? Do you have this? Because after the heart surgery where you almost die. Yeah. I don't think that's out of line to say.

No, yeah. But about as close as you can get, yeah. Perspective, whenever you're out there on the boat, like, holy, not only am I leading WWE right now creatively into this. massive multi-platform. We got shit on X. We got shit on Netflix. We got NBC deals.

We got ESPN deals. We got shit that needs to be made everywhere. But also, I'm on a yacht in Greece right now living. Do you look back on any of it? Yeah, look, I'll say this. So, you know, Steph and I were talking about it when we were there. You talk about going to Greece. It's the first time I can recall us going for a long period of time.

Like taking a week and taking the kids and going somewhere and just trying to shut off. So that's a newer thing for me. I'm trying to be more in that mindset. Look, this stuff, you and I have spoke about this, and I think this is a factor in your moment in time, right? Like, you want to be driven. You want to work. You want to grind.

You want to do all those things. It's who you are. It's not about, oh, I got to do this or that, right? You want to do all those things. But at the same point in time, your kids, it goes by fast. You want to be there present for them. You want to be in that moment for them. So trying to look at things differently.

I'm also trying to, if you're telling people within your company, cool, man, take a week off, recharge, come back fresh, you know, and be at another level. You can't tell them that, but then never take time yourself because that's just... Hypocritical. Yeah, it's hypocritical. So you sort of want to be that. And, you know, if my kids have things now, I'm not afraid to miss a show here or there because, you know, my daughter's got a football game or they've got something going on that I'll, I'll, it's important and it's important for me to be there. So I'm trying to prioritize things in my life, you know, more important.

Nobody's going to realize or no one's going to say two years from now. Remember that time he missed Monday Night Raw? You know what I mean? But they are going to say, oh, remember that time we had an opportunity to go on vacation, we didn't go. or, you know, those moments. My kids will remember that vacation forever. Highly recommend if you get a chance to go to Greece. Anywhere with your kids, you should do it.

My daughter has changed my perspective on everything. It's fucking crazy. And they will continue to as they get older. And, you know, you realize you start to see your traits in them that you want some that you want to see them have and then some that you're like, no, no, no, don't put everything in that. Or don't, you know, like live your life too. You've got to enjoy things.

Yeah, I agree. It's a hard balance, you know, the work-life balance. Always something that it doesn't exist. I say it all the time. When people ask me, hey, what's your secret to work-life balance? It's like bullshit. It doesn't exist. I'm here right now.

Yeah, be present with whatever you're doing. If you make a commitment to take a week off, take the week off, go do some shit with your family and enjoy that. If you make the commitment to be work, when you're at work, work, when you're at home, be home. That be-home thing. It's tough. I'm going to try to master it. Shout to my wife kicking a lot of ass and my daughter. I couldn't even imagine for you right now with rehab.

that is just you're doing gym recovery can i get out of this house so i'm not just bored and then you feel a little isolated too i assume right yeah the mental game but you're talking about the mental game right now dude and it's tough when when you're running when you're running full tilt right you you were in the middle of the ultimate run of championship run like it can't be any more intense and then all of a sudden it shuts off that's hard yeah man that's hard to deal with. Yeah, you've handled it really well, I think, mentally. Hell yeah. Yeah. I don't know if that's just who you are, I assume. Takes a village. Fam's

been a big part of it and friends and family checking in on me and just... I was impressed dude when I first the first couple of times I hit you on it and maybe you would just be in dismissive in a text, but you were very much like, yeah, this sucks, but hey, nothing I can do so here we go. I'm gonna, you know, I'm

train my ass off that the return's going to be epic. It's the only way you can look at it. You're allowed to be in your own head for like a day. Yeah. And then get out of it and you have the surgery done, that's done. Now you're on the road to recovery. And now everything you do is about coming back and you just got to change your mindset.

You're on the road of Russell, Belize. Yeah, I'm fired up. That return YouTube video is going to be epic. Yeah, it is. Yes, it is. I agree. All right, I appreciate your boys stopping by. Tyrese are the man.

Good to see you. Well, we started mentioning it, but who's going to, Canello or Crawford? I'll take Crop Who do you have? Canell. Come on. Crawford's American.

Crawford. Yeah, I like Crawford, too. There was just an interview to sit down, and Crawford said he had seven kids. And Conella said, you have seven kids. I think that's a little different motivation. Canello's a dog, obviously,

an absolute beast. I appreciate and respect everything he's been about. He sent a $500 million deal, I think, would deserve. who knows what this deal is worth. He is certainly must watch and everything in boxing. I appreciate that. But I like Crawford. I think he, yeah, American as well.

Let's go ahead and do that in Las Vegas. That's big. Are you going to be out there for that? Yeah. I heard everybody's going to be out there. That's Saturday. I know some people. I heard everybody's going out there. I got game day in Tennessee. It was supposed to be in West Virginia. West Virginia loses Ohio. Great football. Navarro is a first round.

Ohio University of Bobcats. You haven't heard of them? Great football team. Action. They might be in a college football playoff. If they lose Rutgers week one, which is quite a bummer. But that might be the only blemish on there. Rockers will be there too. Yeah, there's a chance.

There's a chance Gianna is there. But instead, it's at Tennessee now. And, I mean, I guess we could see how long that flight is to get over there. I've heard it's going to be electrifying over there. It's going to be awesome. It's your first big one right here now with this new boxing, but it's not necessarily the TKO boxing roster. Yeah, it's not necessarily us. We're promoting it.

We're running it, but it's not necessarily our event, turkeys. And, but it's the start of the process. Yeah, so this isn't the roster of TKO boxers, but this is a TKO boxing event happening, if that makes sense. Yeah. Is that accurate? It'll be epic, you know, 60,000 plus at the Legion Stadium. It's going to be on.

Let's go. We're going to have drones flying around that motherfucker. Yeah. You guys are going to have all the shits. It's going to be good. Yeah. So is Russell Palluzza. Yeah.

Everything you guys are doing is kicking ass. Congrats to you. Tyrese, we can't wait to see you get healthy. Watch your step on the way out of here. Careful. Okay, we're going to take a break. We'll be back with more BA, Darius Butler. AJ Hawk.

We'll wrap up all the storylines that we have not hit thus far. Like Glenn Pows, fake legs. Yeah, unbelievable. That looks good. Running, man. He's been running, man. Big quads.

Yeah. He's got calves like Tyrese Hallibur. He's on a cover of GQ. Might look like a body suit. Have you seen this? I have not. Can we put it up? What do you think?

That's some CGI, maybe. Oh, no. That's his quads. That's his actual legs, Mr. If it is good for him, man. That's some bodybuilder level, you know what I mean? Don't you think they should have blended in the shin? They should have tried.

Yeah, why'd they make it so gimmick? Yeah, I don't know. They went too far. Exactly. They could have maybe sold this office. Glenn Powell, maybe the most jack legs guy of history. They could have. Yeah, that makes, I get it now when you said Running Man.

And I didn't understand it before until right now. Now it makes sense. He's running. He's running. He's got strong. He's running for the movie running man. Exactly. But I don't think runners have that type of leg build, but if they're fast and running.

Cyclists have that kind of. You ever see like a speed cyclist? Crazy. You do the pellets on it all? I have before, yeah, yeah. Crazy leg workout, right? Crazy. Stand up and we're doing a whole thing.

Yeah. Yeah, it was hard for me. The seat, I can never get over the seat. That thing was uncomfortable. It was small. Super uncomfortable. You've tried? Yeah, super uncomfortable.

You seem way too tall. You just got to relax and breathe into it as well. Everybody told me my dad, told me just lean. in, dude, you know. I was like, I don't think so. Just push. I'll just stand the whole time and then I'm exhausted. Yep. All right, we'll be back on the other side. Good luck. Thank you. Thank you guys.

Ressalpa Luzza next Saturday on ESPN's app. Correct. Bang. Yes. Right? Yes. First one to launch this entire thing. I think they're doing with the right company. We're excited about it. Tyrese, can't wait to see you getting that ring next Saturday and say, my Achilles is good. Maybe do the Kevin Nash. Oh,

yes. Seth Rallens just just drop. I don't have crutches any. more though so I gotta figure something out we can get back on it you got a week and a half yeah maybe I just get back on before the day I get a motorized wheelchair if you want yeah we can there we go with chairs on a side of it

so we'll pull those out of that thing just use a cold side by side yeah then we got a we got a kendo stick right over there I think you have that on the other side of your thing maybe you roll out on a power cart that just is like bad bad bunnies grocery you guys are like two years away from this

place being like Sanford and sons like with junk collection. Yeah, there is a lot of shit. We're trying. We do a trash run once every like three weeks. It used to be much worse. Yeah, but you got to throw stuff out. Well, so that's kind of part of the problem.

So I don't do the trash stuff. I have everybody else do it. And that's so I don't feel bad because a lot of people send me a lot of things. And if I see them and I read the letter, all of a sudden, oh, we got to hang on it is because it's his face. And then all of a sudden we got shit everywhere. Yeah.

So the boys are very kind. They open boxes. read through the letters, fuck this guy, throw it away. So what you've got to do is, now all this stuff is a big deal stuff because it's been sent to you by meaningful people in a meaningful way. If you show it on your show, run an auction with it, let fans bid on it, and then you give it to charity. Now we're talking.

Maybe we autograph it too. That's what I'm saying. Yeah, maybe we autograph. Straight off the set of the Pat Mac if you show, you guys autograph that stuff, you auction it off, you send that stuff to charity. Boom. That's big brain. We're always working.

That's right. We need to start thinking like that. Any other ideas, too? We got nothing with time. No doubt. Throw away the popcorn bucket. I'm still telling you that NXT show in here with a ring in the center is killed. Okay, let's do that.

Big Tim, what up, dog? Suit, good to see you. Paizano, good to see you. A lot of WWE folks here. It's good to see everybody. I rolled deep. Yeah, they're the best. He's told me when I came in.

Well, you should. WWE's an important place. You're an important person. Yeah. Squad, good to see you guys. Tim has the hat there. Big Bulldogs fan. We're going down to see Georgia versus tennis.

He's Tennessee this weekend. He's go dogs. He's go dogs. Go dogs. Very much go dogs. Love Stets in that boy Stets. Oh, God. Who couldn't?

Raisin' Hill. Loved him down in Athens. How's the team this year? Good. We beaten Tennessee this weekend? You beat in Tennessee this weekend? Never heard him say no, by the way. What's that?

That's just lunch. I like that. That's a good one right there. I never heard that one before, but I like that. Wait, I didn't get charged for my donut. It was free with this Tim's Rewards points. I think I just stole it. I'm a donut stealer.

Oof. Earn points so fast, it'll seem too good to be true. Plus, join Tim's rewards today and get enough points for a free donut, drink, or timbits. With 800 points after registration, activation, and first purchase of a dollar or more. See the Tim's app for details at participating in restaurants in Canada for a limited time. hit pause on whatever you're listening to and hit play on your next adventure this fall get double points on every qualified stay life's the trip make the most of it at best western visit bestwestern.com for complete terms and conditions Football And I'm

And I 47 years as a football coach 27 in the NFL 20 in college BA is here We appreciate you Super Bowl champion A.J. Hawk Super Bowl champion He's here at Toxic Table Watchers of Super Bowls at Boston Connor

and at Ty Schmitter here nine-year NFL vet. Darius J. Butler is here. AFC Championship participant hang the banner. If you guys want to make us feel bad because we're non-players, that's fine. Well, we've been talking as non-coaches to this guy. Yeah, that's what I'm saying.

I don't love the position we've been in with this guy as non-coaches, all of us. Kind of has the upper hand. A little bit. Yeah, and I don't love it. Now, to back Ryan Clark here, there are things that debut, AJ, and maybe just debutting AJ will talk about that I don't even know, because of somebody that has been punter on a team. But there are things that we potentially have seen in locker room or people we know or things that we have heard throughout our time being

athletes. That is certainly a different perspective than you lame-ass, non-professional athletes could ever have. You guys also don't know what it's like to wake up on a Sunday and have to order five pizzas and 200 wings and leaders of pop. You guys don't know what it takes. And for the record, basically everything I've learned about the game has come from you guys. So essentially, anytime I say anything, it's either from you guys or Michael Lombardi or people that are much smarter than me when it comes to football. And if you think about it, that's kind of everything in life. But again, it's just nice to be. Now, to Schrager's point, very much allowed to have his own opinion. Without a doubt. In this entire thing.

Sure. So, you know, just kind of cross swords a little bit there. But the position, we're currently in, ain't none of us ever coached shit. I guess I saw AJ with a whistle. No, yeah. He's a coach, boy. AJ's out of the other day. So anytime we're asking any coaching thing, he's like, B.A. literally has a shut the fuck up. I was in any moment, if he wants, and he has it.

And that's why we think it's going to be a great year. Even got two fucks out of him during... Yeah, that was sweet. Yeah, we heard that. Today's been a good day. Coach, we asked you in the BS or no BS with B.A. segment Is Kevin O'Connell, one of the top coaches in the NFL already? And you said, yeah, he

is. You said it was not bullshit to say that he's one of a top three NFL coach. We didn't follow up on that, but I think we should. And we asked you whether or not we could do that if you have a top three. And you said, you could probably put together a top three right now if you had to, especially after a week one of an NFL season. Who are the top three coaches you think in the NFL? Kevin O'Connell is one of them. Kevin O'Connell. And I got to stay with my contemporary Andy Reid. He's been to so many championships of Super Bowls. I mean, unbelievable play caller, I'm going to put a young guy, Nick Seriani, who I've got a lot of respect for. Okay, so nobody with a microphone in front of them would have put Nick Siriani on any coaching list last year.

Okay, other than us, maybe. He gets murdered. This guy gets murdered a lot. He's in Philadelphia, so that's going to come with it, I think. That's how the Johns operate. They are going to be a hostile fan base, a passionate fan base. You're going to hear it. The way he went about doing things was not like cookie cutter as a coach.

He talked some shit. He did his thing. he wins a Super Bowl. You think everybody's on board with him? And why do you like him as a coach? Because he adjusted. He saw, I had to make some changes. And he revamped his staff, and they go win a Super Bowl. And Jalen Hertz is playing lights out. All right? He's got to be a big reason for it.

Okay, so let's talk about Andy Reid. You said you're contemporary. Obviously, OG in football. He was with Philadelphia for a long time. I think, well, I'm sorry, Green Bay, then obviously Philadelphia for a long time. Now with the Kansas City Chiefs. What do you said he's an innovator and everything? also being able to change with the players that you're coaching? Is that a massive piece of it all as well?

It's huge. I mean, guys are so different than they were 15 years ago, even five years ago. Everybody learned so different. And Andy's on top of the game. You know, he's always been on top. All the crazy stuff they do, especially in the red zone with the shifts and the motions and the formations. And he just, he's one of the best of the riffs. Go ahead, AJ.

Coach, when it comes to, like, offensive play car, and I've said on the show multiple times, I think the person who calls the plays for the offense has, like, the greatest, impact as a coach on the game like when you're calling plays like I don't know when the first when's the first time you actually started calling plays for a team and and I guess how comfortable can you get over the years in doing that yeah I was not a very good player in college so we had jv teams back then so I'm on I'm a red I'm a scout teamer and we coach asked me hey can you call the plays for the jv team as hell yeah because we're running the other team's offense that week anyway so I started doing it back then and uh I always

wanted to be a coach. Everybody I looked up to as a kid was named coach, and I thought they were rich. I thought school teachers were rich, and I wanted to be a coach. Can you be a top coach in the NFL without being a play caller? Oh, totally. Yeah. Siriani. Yeah. Sorry, without, like, ever play caller.

Like, as a Patriots fan, Mike Vrable, not a play caller. Like, you think of teams like MCDC the Lions who are now possibly on the precipice of having, like, an in-between year? Like, is it possible? Yeah. You know, John Harbaugh? What makes those guys top coaches, though, when they're not calling plays and, like, clearly affecting the game with, you know, dialing up a touchdown?

When you came back with Byron Lefich, what is the different? What is the life as a head coach, CEO, as opposed to play caller involved, right? Is what you're trying to? I think your overall daily operation with the team is a little bit different than when you're just with the offense. You know, I go back to my days at Temple and God bless Coach John Devlin. We're walking off the field one day. He said, hey, coach, can we ever end practice with the defense winning? I never thought about it.

I'd be pissed. Oh, yeah, I guess. I was like, because I'm pissed of dolphins getting their ass kicked. We're staying up for another hour. Yeah. You know? And so I think it's to learn to delegate and trust your staff. Trust your staff.

Give you guys, you know, I learned that when Chuck got sick. There was no time to do anything but just, hey, you guys just do your job. I'll give a shitty speech on Saturday night and see if we go for it on. No, not shitty speeches ever. Not shitty speeches ever. You choosing to go for it was always a good time, but I cut you off there. You're about to say something, I believe. I think that's what it is for the guys who are more managers.

Like culture, guys? Yeah, you're building the culture in your locker room, and you've got to have a great feeling for the heartbeat of your locker room. There's more fun and calling plays, because you're in it. You know, you're in it, and I did it forever, and, you know, once I retired, I didn't want to do that anymore, but I had somebody trained and was ready to roll, And so, yeah, I think you're a better overall head coach

when you're not specifically on one side of the ball. But if you are, you've got to have a great game manager in your ear. Guys, hey, it's time out time, it's this time, it's that time. Hey, coach, in this situation, this is what you want to do. Okay, because you've already prepared for all that. Yeah. You know, and I go back with Andrew as a rookie, and I think we're getting ready to play the Vikings

and the week before Jaguars and Vikings they score, there's 28 seconds left and Chuck says, what are we going to do in this situation? So we practiced it. We walked through it twice and lo and behold, they scored 30 seconds left. Andrew's running on the field. I know the play. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know the play. You know, 66. In, get alert down, timeout.

And boom, same thing. kills it. Adam comes out, kicks field goal, we win the game. Hell yeah. Love that. I was hoping that's how that ended. I didn't remember the exact. But I'm happy we did win that one. I mean, so you put them in those situations over and over, and you've got guys looking up these situations

that have them throughout the entire league that week. What's the craziest shit you saw? What are we going to do in that situation? So you prepare them for. I think you as a head coach was great, by the way. We had a chance to hear him head coach. I don't know if anybody else could have handled it. Your resume was respected. But the fact that you also were

a shit talker to the defense. You had a relationship with the defense already. He missed the black socks day, I think. You weren't there yet. Nope. That was early in the season, right? Right after maybe the first week of training camp. That's the greatest.

And Andrew lights up the defense. I wore all black. You know, defense is in, all the DBs are circling. And Gerard Pair says, Coach, what's up to black? I'm going to funeral. Who's? Y'all is Andrew killed you, motherfucker?

He kept walking in. Always. It looked like, I mean, it legitimately looked like he was wearing like a, like an Italian, I mean, just all black, sure. As you want, clearly different, you know, and just the, yeah, this is the motherfucking defense funeral day. I just was so, I thought it was so funny. I'd never really seen an offense coordinator like actually, like you and AB, I think, and Tuan Bethe had a good give and take. I think there was a lot of people, and I think the immediate respect came for you from not only the defense, but also the offense. and then your resume on top of that.

I don't want to speak out of pocket for the entire. No, for sure. Because obviously Andrew wasn't a shit-talker. You know, Andrew, you'll throw a play or I make a play and after, you know, ones are off, we'll be off on the sideline. He'll be asked me, hey, why did you jump down? You know, how come you didn't react to Reggie the same way you reacted to T.Y and we'll have that conversation.

So Tom was different. Tom, you make a play on Tom. Tom will be talking shit. All right, coming right back at you. So B.A. was kind of the shit-talker, and that kind of elevates, you know, the players, the coaches. Usually it's like DB coaches, wide receiver coaches, they always got some shit going on. D-line, O-line coaches, they kind of more so brother-in-law getting through practice.

But when you have an O.C. and a play caller and then head coach barking at you because it is true. If you have an offensive head coach, I play for mostly defensive head coach, B.A. was actually the only offensive head coach I played for. Like, it is based around how that offense is doing. Like, oh, we had a shitty practice today. We're looking at you. Like, you know, we were ex-cuitary. We had a lot around. And that's really the mind.

said so I'll be intriguing on how quarterbacks view that and how people like, I know you said Tom felt differently when you became his head coach, but that's a big deal, I think. What was the example you said about Tom is like maybe fourth and short you're going forward or at the end of you're doing something there was a little bit of defense It was like right in the end of the half

and it's like we got to lead, we're getting the ball. Let's run this out, right? Hell no, bro. We've got two timeouts and 58 seconds. We're getting points. Yeah, well, and that's not just that the only time you think about that end of half. Obviously, there's the legendary Arizona Cardinals, Chicago Bears game that we pulled up the footage from earlier. AJ, I don't know if you remember this or not.

42, 23. He was interviewed for the Chicago Bears job. Did not get the Chicago Bears job. Got the Arizona Cardinals job. They're up 19 with under three minutes left. We're taking shots. We're going for it. The commentator actually for that first play goes, go ahead, play it.

Oh, they're throwing. Oh, they're throwing. I can't believe that. And then we asked Bruce Ariens, actually, one of our first podcasts, you joined us, which we were so thankful for, obviously, one of the most entertaining people. And we Googled if you said what you said. And the Google AI said, yeah. Week two of the 2015 season, Ariens Cardinals faced the Bears in Chicago.

During an appearance on the Pat McAfee podcast, Ariens admitted that his intention was to bury the bears. I mean, that is an offensive coach, by the way. Yeah. That is an offensive coach. It's like, are we playing four quarters or not? We're up 19. And also, I wasn't the right guy for the job. Okay, that's a fun thing.

I appreciate that. I do appreciate that type of mindset and how the offense is different than defense. It ain't over until it's over, baby. There's a couple of times, punter, obviously, or a field goal. So we are dependent upon what decision he is making. There's a couple of times I'm watching his brain think out loud, like fourth and a half a yard, but we're backed up on our own 24.

And I'm standing right next to him. Like, what are we doing? And then the question is, like, we can get a half-fucking yard. And then I don't know who he's talking to. And then, yeah, we can get a fucking half-yard. Yeah, we're staying out there. And it's like, yeah, you can. All of a sudden, now, we don't pick that up.

There's a lot of people upset. But I think doing that, you build a lot of faith from the boys. It's like, hey, this guy believes in us. It always felt like the team thought you were in the game just as much as they were. And I think that was a huge piece of your leadership. I don't know if you've heard that before, but I think that is a very, as somebody that just observed a lot, I think the feeling that the team had about you almost being in the game with them was a massive part of it. So I don't know how often you've heard that, but I think that is a big deal.

Yeah, that shit talking has always been a part of me forever. But when I was with Pittsburgh, now we had some doozies. And training camp, me and Larry Foote, who's now a defensive coordinator for the Bucks. And Keith Butler was a defensive linebacker coach. Dick LeBow was obviously the coordinator. And I'm talking shit. And Butch tried to say something like he goes, but, shut up, man. You can't talk shit with B.A.

Yeah, those practices were live. Oh, baby. They were rough now. They were some good practice. They had a hell of football team, too. Yeah, you guys had a great team over there in Pittsburgh, and then you get your ass ran out of town. Let's go to Hammer. Don, Todd, Todd. AP Tone, we'll talk about getting run out of town. The sports books are running away with this entire thing. Did last night help the better's cause, or did it only pile on for the sports books, brother? It helped a little bit. Fifty-four percent were on the Vikings, so, you know, plus four percent of the country or whatever, got a little bit of boost. but no, overall on the week, the sports books kind of had their way.

12 and 4 to the unders is something we talked about yesterday. That game last night went over late in the fourth quarter. It looked like an under the whole way. Kind of like how the season started with the Eagles and Cowboys. It looked like a over the whole way finished under kind of the opposite last night with that fourth quarter comeback from J.J. McCarthy. But on the week, eight and eight were dogs and favorites against the spread. So pretty even in that way, but the unders kind of dominated the week.

AJ, that means defense is ahead? Is that what we think, AJ Hawke, if we hear that the under's dominated, or maybe the sports books were just predicting too much for these offenses? Yeah, I don't know. It's early in the year. That's the old cliche things. The defense is ahead because defense is true. Hey, even if I don't know what I'm doing, I go try to tackle the guy with the ball.

Offense has a lot more complex situations they're trying to work out. So maybe, but, you know, I don't know. It's the NFL. They're all good. Also, we're back to a much more style. I like that. I like that. Yeah, I do, too.

Coming back. Philadelphia Eagles win, so not everybody knows you can win a Super Bowl playing like that. Is that something that radiates through the rest of the league? Monkey see Monkey do out here? It's a copy cat league always has been. It's always been cyclical that way. But not everybody has Sequin and Jalen, you know, and that offensive line. Yeah, they all right.

O-line, D-line, Howie. Yeah. But you watched it last night. We talked about it. When the bears were running and hammering that ball, all of a sudden, they're running up and down the field scoring. All of a sudden, Minnesota starts running the ball. JJ's a player now.

You know, it's the biggest friend of young quarterback to have is a running game. Well, how about the wrist get in the biscuit, though, don't we need a little bit more? We've got to have that. Yeah, we got to have the biscuits. Got to have the biscuits. Got to. Something you got to have in this world. Always.

You can't live without chunk plays. You got to have chunk plays in the league right now. If you don't have four or five chunks in the game, it's going to be a low-scoring game. Okay, so we actually found the stat that Patrick Mahomes, when he was targeting receivers 20-yard down the field. In his first whatever year, six years in the league, he was number one. Yeah, let me see what this is here. Yeah. Yeah,

that's the stat right there. Passing the receiver's 20 plus yards downfield. Shout to YouTube having this graphic. 2018 to 2022, he led the NFL, and then 2023 and 24, the last two years, he's 33rd out of 34 quarterback, so worst in the league. Is that all just because he loses Tyreek, or what

do you think it is? More than that, all the speed guys have gotten hurt the last couple years, you know? And they They have become more of a ball control passing team. And that's what Andy does so good. He does whatever his players can do. He puts them in position to succeed. And if I can't protect you or if I don't have the guys to get down there, why try it?

Don't beat your head into the wall. With Spaggs' defense too, being smart, just not turn the ball over, no risky, risky in this entire thing. I think that was a part of the conversation two years ago for Patrick. I know for sure last year, two years ago probably so too, but last year, They didn't create a bunch of explosive plays, but they were very, I think, one of the best in the league on third down. So critical downs.

So, yeah, you're not getting those big chunk plays, but you're getting the third and fours, you're getting the third and threes, and he's making a right decision or making something happens with his legs. And he's going to run over you, D.Bs. I hate that. He's going to run over you.

You're a linebacker, so getting too. People got real mad about that. Yeah, this shit happens week four, and he gets smoked on the sideline. We don't want to see a flag coming out. And 15 is going to be doing that to defenders. But, yeah, he shows up in the critical, which Andy Reid is a big part of that, too. They show up in the critical situation.

Anybody can get it. That's what Patrick Mahom is saying. Anybody can get it. And they've always been great in the red zone. Always been great in the red zone. Third down in red area. Yeah, and the team you're talking about was when Spax came on two years ago, and he said this is the first time I've ever coached a unit where every single guy is one of the highest high-kew football, you know, players that I've ever coached. And that's when they were just kind of pounded in the rock with Pacheco early on.

And I think Patrick Mahomes had a press conference, too, where he had so much respect for the defense. He was like, I can't be turning a ball over, but we've got to be smart. Sometimes I need to realize that the punt is the best thing that we could possibly do because of how dominant our defense is, because of the 11 players all being on the same page. It's like they figured out different ways to win. But when you talk about there's chunk plays and being able to get a little bit of a head start down the field, maybe even flipping field positions. It's like the chiefs have not had a lot of it over the last couple years. Some coaches would always talk about the biggest indicator on who's going to win the game. obviously I have to score, field position,

turnover differential, and explosive plays. Who's giving up for creating the chunk plays? Yeah, that's shit always. Yeah, but I think last year it became like... Exposive plays became the stat of the year. Yeah, exactly. And even when they do, now it seems like it's off script and it's like Mahomes is slipping out of a couple sacks

and he has to do something miraculous. It's not just like a play action shot. Our guy beat the other guy. We're going to get it. It feels like every time they do get a chunk play, like Mahomes needs to pull a rabbit out of his hat. he needs to do something crazy. Like it just, it's very difficult for them to, you know,

if they're not just thinking and dunk and move the ball down the field. That's a crazy step. And they haven't had the offensive line they had a couple years ago. The injuries and a couple of guys not making it playing the way they should play. He hasn't had the time he's had when he had earlier. You guys had a pretty good plan. Yeah, I mean, we had a front forward. Todd Bowles had an unbelievable game plan for him.

And because they whipped the shit out of us earlier in that season. You know, we're playing a bunch of man-to-man. I think Tyreek had 200 out there. So, okay, we'll fix this, but, you know, we put Vita and Sue out wide, put JPP and Shaq inside, and they just crushed the pocket, and they go chase Patrick all over the damn field. Genius. Just do that every time.

And we're talking to all this stuff about the Chiefs. They were just in the Super Bowl. They won the Super Bowl a year before that, one a year before that. You said hosted seven straight AFC championship. Yeah. And, you know, they started off 1-1, and we're sitting here like, oh, man. Not me. This is you guys.

I think they'll be right. I think a majority of us realistically think the chiefs would be okay. But over that time, the Broncos, Chargers, and Raiders have gone exponentially better. Like the Chargers now with Harbaugh and I still don't think they're better. Brandon Staley ain't coaching the Chargers anymore. Exactly. Well, it's just a, it's just the truth. It's the truth.

What was that, Coach? The truth. They're not, when Brandon Staley, when we had Tom Toletco on one time, when Brandon Selly was the head coach. And he talked about how, hey, the Chargers style of football with Mike Williams and Keenan Allen is. It's high, it's high, you know, scoring. It's fun. It's, look at this.

This is cool. And that was actually their, you know, and I'm not saying the cool part was actually their mentality. But the style of explosive plays with those guys was real. And now with Harbaugh, it's more having a punch you in the fucking mouth with Joe Walt and Rishon Slater and Coleeel Mack. And Herbert's going to hand the ball off 30 times a game instead of him throwing it. 55 times a game like Anthony fucking Lynn was having them doing early on

before he ended up getting fire going to Detroit and then getting fire. But again, the Chargers are better and the Chief right running back. The Chiefs O-line, to B.A.'s point about their O-Line, their best player, their Hall of Famer, who got them to the Super Bowl. People were saying

was Joe Tuny and they traded him away after Joe Tunney went left guard to left tackle. But to the O-line point, Josh Schimmons also looked fucking awesome. I still believe the Chiefs is still the Chiefs. But we have seen that when the Chiefs don't too good is when they don't have a good offensive line.

Like that is what we said. Yeah, always. Like Patrick Mahomes can make his magic, but does it matter in the big games and playing against good teams? Like you're going to be able to win games. That's why all season... Super Bowl. Yeah, exactly. And all season, we're trying to figure out whether or not our team is real or not. Like, the reason why I'm so excited

about the Colts, playing against the Dolphins. Now, praying God, dolphins are to worst team in history of football. Sure. Okay, I'm praying to God that isn't the case. But I saw some traits that's like, hey, that could win against a good team. Like, that's a play that is going to be needed in a big game. Like, you can steal some wins during the season, but then all we're trying to judge is,

can this team win against another good team, which is all that's going to matter at the end of the season. When you're in a playoffs, you're going to be playing a good team. It's going to be an incredible environment, and you're going to have to do certain shit. You're going to have to be able to hit a third and 11 on the sideline. You're going to have to be able to stop a run. You're going to have to be able to run the ball. You're going to have to be able to do all these things that are so niche. But in the big games that matter, you have to execute them.

So all year we're trying to figure out whether or not our team could do it. I think the Chiefs last year during their season, everybody would say this team doesn't have the firepower. This team doesn't have the ability to go. And they get all the way of the Super Bowl. And then the Philadelphia Eagles exposed basically everything that was being talked about with the Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs, and Travis Kelsey last year. And it's like it doesn't show up until it shows up is kind of the thing.

Are the Chiefs going to be able to be a team that wins, again, I believe, because Travis Kelsey, but if that offensive line is going to be the same as it was last year, I think we all saw it being a problem at some point, and then in the biggest game it was. Well, and that's what's crazy is because that's still the watermark. It's like, you know, if everyone, everyone thinks that the bills are the cream of the crop in the AFC, like, for whatever reason, like the Chiefs are their kryptonite. They can't beat

them in the playoffs, and whatever you think about Baltimore, they've had problems with Buffalo. So it's like, let's check back in in week 14 because the Chiefs might, you know, have four or five losses by that point. But until someone beats them in the playoffs, like they're going to the Super Bowl. Yeah, Mahm's a gamer. Yeah. But the other thing, too, like, especially because the only comparison to Mahomes is Brady, right? Like at this point, people forget about that, or I guess they don't forget about.

It's what they talk about. There's that 12-year lull after the first three. And Brady got three, and then it took a long time to get four. And I'm not saying that's going to happen, but the talent in the AFC is as high as it's ever been, Like any year it feels like could be one of those teams years. Chiefs still the Chiefs, PA? If the offensive line state is healthy and their secondary scares me a little bit. They lost some really good corners the last couple of years.

And you've got to better play defense. They got a great kicker. We always forget about that part of the game. Bucker is a great kicker. Too many guys missed Bill goes yesterday. They're getting paid way too damn much money. Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Let's not be attacking kickers.

I didn't say punting now. Early. No, you're right, you're right. We'll attack the kickers. We need more money in the punting department. exactly yeah amen amen but yeah i think i think i think the chiefs will be there we all do always if we if it was like the old gun the head thing yeah who you picking it's like well i got a chance to pick batch bombs right now yeah all right i fucking guess i will i guess i will that's

i totally guess until we yeah and josh allen too i mean fourth quarter showed he's a fucking terminator as well and and lamar and we like to tie's point about how you know like those three teams with the Ravens, Bills, and Chiefs, like, and then you throw the Bengals and it's the only team that can actually beat the Chiefs. All of them. Yeah, yeah, all. Yeah, they make it to the day.

Yeah, and the Eagles obviously exist on the other side, waiting for them, and it's like, oh, San Francisco 49ers, we have some news out of San Francisco. George Kittle, officially on IR, so that's at least four weeks with a hamstring. That sucks. That that's how his season is starting. We love George Kittle. We are sending our positive vibes over to his.

healing process and his entire thing. And Brock Party quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers is questionable with a shoulder and a toe injury. He finished the first week, but obviously showing up on the scholarly report or the injury report. Very fascinating that this is how the Niners season starts yet again. Christian McCaffrey, obviously very involved. We don't think we have to worry about him right now.

But whenever you think about these two guys, these are two pivotal pieces, obviously, to San Francisco 49ers offense, including the quarterback. Questionable right now. we have no idea what that becomes throughout the week. But this is a tough start for any team. Health is always going to be a concern, though, for every NFL team. That's kind of how it goes. San Francisco has been hit

harder, I think, than most teams. Yeah, I think getting through training camp has always been like, we've got to get ready for the season. We've got to stay healthy. We've got to get ready for the season. We've got to stay healthy. Do I play them? Yeah, we've got to play them some, you know, just to get them ready for me, to get them in game shape. But you always just hold your fingers

that we don't get guys hurt. And I look at the number of guys, it seemed like this year in training camp, more guys got injured than ever. Not in preseason games. I think all the multiple practices against each other, that's when guys really get after it.

And some more injuries have happened this year than before. Yeah, it's fascinating whenever you have the joint practices, because they talk about those sessions being more important than the preseason game. Do you agree? Totally. Because you can get them in isolated situations and say, here we go. Yeah, we're getting into a two-minute drill. We're going to get in the red zone. We're going to have one-on-ones.

We're going to have all special specialized football, all right? And we have a team period of two. Nobody cares the shit about. But, you know, that two-minute drill, that two-minute drill, and it's huge in your nose practices. And, you know, personally, I'd rather have three weeks of practice against somebody

than a pre-season game. A guaranteed fight? No. But you don't mind it. You don't mind it. You won't be on my team very long. Really? How come? Because it's a penalty, bro. We don't practice penalties.

Oh, I love that. Is that your message? Oh, yeah. So, but if your guys don't fight, you think it's okay? Yeah. Yeah. I didn't expect that answer for me. There's other ways to do it. Be a pro.

You can, that punt coverage drill? That's good. That's gonna be. That's gonna be a fight. That's what it starts. Yeah. Okay. So you do acknowledge that there is something.

I better see their flyers ass on the ground. Yeah, okay, yeah, yeah, I got it. Yeah, I understand what you're coming from. Yeah, okay. Yeah, every time we see the joint practices, it's just at some point, inevitably, there's going to be something here. There's going to be something here. because of how exhausted it.

And AJ, I'll tell you, the backs on backers, past protection. And we're not going to bull rush. Bullshit. Exactly. No bulls. No bull rush coming, guys. Okay, first one, we're running our head directly through that running. And then it's a full fight between linebackers and the running backs.

Then the D-line sees it, O-line, sees it, and here we go. Who's saying no bulls? Is that you guys are the coaches agreeing to that? Coaches usually would try to say, hey, we're not going to, we're going to do it. We're going to blitz in the A-gap. They'll put some bags up, and you can blitz either. gap, hey, we're not going to bull, that we're going to work on our moves.

Okay, yeah, that sounds good. And then, like, say the running back stones our first guy in the hole, like, okay, guys, you know what we're doing. Like, here we go. And then they tell you, though, the running backs get mad. Hey, I'll just cut you in the game. Like, cool, I'll take my knee and directly through your forehead then if you're going to try to cut me here.

When I ran the drill, okay, you bullrushing, we're cutting. No, I had to worry about any bull rushing because there's nobody wanted to get. See, that's wrong, though. Jay's like, oh, Bull Rush, that's good news. I actually get to use a niche, right? There's knee pads right here. You see this?

I watched. Hey, Abdul Hodge, great linebacker from Iowa. I watched him almost, I think the guy might be dead still. This kid that he hit, I don't know who it was. I forget the guy's name in the A-Gap, in a one-on-one pass rush with our own team. It was not against another team. Abdul ran through this guy like he wasn't even there. And then jumped and teabagged the big old pop-up bag that's standing in the back as the quarterback and rode it to the ground.

and we all jumped on top of them and this poor kid's laying on the ground dead and I still don't know what happened to him. Hawkeye Ledge. It was an unbelievable hit. Like, Abdul was a monster. It was great. So that was when you learned violent knee strikes?

Look at those knee pads. He's ready for it. Jeez. Look at those knee pads. Those are covering the knee. That thing right there is right. No, Abdul went head to head. No one went low.

He tried to take Abdul up high and that was a mistake. You better take him low. Oh, he ran through. It wasn't a knee to the head. No, no. The guy was trying to try to. try to front him up and Stonewall,

right in the agap, and I have a duel was like, okay, I'm going to run through you like you don't even exist. It was wild. That's awesome. Some of those one-on-one reps are the greatest. Pittsburgh, James Harrison, give me a rookie. He'd call out a rookie running back, and it was scary, man.

So, that was a baptism? Is that kind of what that was going to quit right there? Give me that one right there. Just right through it. Give me that one right there. Can you imagine a rookie fucking deep-bo. You're standing in line. You're standing in line.

Man, I can't wait for my chance to go. And then Debo points as you. Yeah, you. My man Ron Haines would jump in. No, I got you. That's good. And that was like, like, Rams going. How about wide out?

Do you see any good one-on-ones? Those were always electrifying. Wide-out in corners. Yeah, I mean, that to me is always the most fun for an offensive coach. Go down and watch that, you know. But what's best back in the day when we had three-on-three. what was that three on three is like three offensive linemen three defensive linemen and running back and put the white house against the dbs and make them block

oh god remember five a m three hours yeah yeah just thinking of this shit just thinking up of this man every once in a while you just got to make and get a little bit more physical we need these guys be a little more physical in there Oklahoma drills those uh how long was that like a staple oh god that's how you started the train camp every year how long though how many years you think How many decades? Since I can remember. Because it stopped, right?

They ended it. Oh, yeah, they've ended it now. And three-on-three was kind of like the bigger Oklahoma drill. Yeah. You know what I mean? We had the West Virginia. We did the running back with the ball. Then he had the O-line.

Then you had tight-end linebacker. Then you had wide receiver. Yeah, like the gauntlet. Yeah, it's like the gauntlet. We see the Sequin clip from Penn State where he does the entire thing. Like, that's a form, I feel like, kind of. of like an extended Oklahoma drill? It feels like that is the basis of basically

what drills always were with the Oklahoma drills. Is that accurate? Yeah, it's all about toughness. There was no... Hinton there where to hide, baby. Fair dodging, you're not ducking any smoke in those drills. Was it bull in the ring? You used to get bullied at, AJ?

Don't bring that up. You just get bullied that. No, I did bowling the ring early on in my high school career, I believe. But, yeah, that's... Especially if you don't know where they're in the middle, you're chopping your feet. Okay, where the guy's coming from over here and you've got to turn and try not to...

get knocked out. Yeah, that was, that was a character builder, I would say. Here's the Sequin clip. I believe we found it here. Oh, this is amazing. Yeah, this is three on three, I guess, here. Yeah, that's three on three. Yep. Nope. Nope. See ya. See ya. That's crazy. What a moment. He was pretty good, say, yeah. Yeah. He was pretty good at football up there in happy value. He, oh, he, he, he, he, place goes crazy. Such good team building moments. All right. Coach B.A., we appreciate the hell out of you, man.

Oh, man. What a great day today. Awesome day. I know you had questions for Triple H. We'll get that for next time. For sure, boom. Get to the bottom. Did you hear that?

Sure, that was pretty quick. I can't wait to hear what he had for. He was talking about how excited he was for Russell Fest in the break. Russell Palooza. I got that part down, right. Yeah. Debo had questions as well. I did.

I got him in after the show. Just peppering him Huge AJ Lee guy. I had no idea. AJ Lee, CN Punk back. Let's go.

It's going to be great. Russell. Oh, oh, a lot. Hey, Tom, what are you betting on

the night? That's a great question. All right. Nothing, to be honest with you. The San Francisco Giants playing tonight? Yeah,

they are. I'm betting on them. Yeah, they'll beat the shit on the Dbacks night. Robbie Ray is on the bump. Who's that? They're hot right now?

He's got a leza left. He can deal. They're dugouts hot. Bobby. What do you mean? They're dugouts on. What is it? Drew, what's his name?

I don't know what his last name is. I think he's like a platoon guy, but he's an absolute psychopath coming. Just barking in guys face. What's happening? I don't know what you're referring to. This mad dog on the Giants right now. Pull it up, Bruce.

Who maybe is a big part of why they've been so hot lately. Barking at dogs. Barking a guy's like crazy in the dugout, having guys like grab his throat and stuff. He's a madman. We got a vibes guy? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, here we go.

This is awesome. We got face. We got eye black. Yeah. So hold on. Who is this guy? This guy's awesome. Is he play?

Yeah, Drew Gilbert. I think he plays a bit. I don't know if he's an everyday guy. What position would this guy be? What is the size, the trait, the build? What do we think? I need to be on his own. Yes.

Yeah. It's every day, bro. He's an outfit. He's a outfielder. He's a outf on that. He's a little bit of golf on that. that guy's a corner outfielder and it's a long season and they might not make the playoffs they need some juice

hey go fucking bark like a dog and let that guy grab his throat his heart is that the coach right there no just I mean no the guy that he was biting his shoulder right there is that the coach of the team not their it's not their manager it's probably but he's biting the guy will you pause he's biting his shoulder right there yeah pause that one

so he's biting the guy's shirt is that the coach No, that's not their manager. That's probably a coach, though. Bench coach of some sort. B.A., anybody ever come up and bite this shit out of you? No, hell no. And we need those dogs on the team, though. Yeah, that's unbelievable.

Yeah, Drew Gilbert maybe needs to come over football a little bit. He seems to be quite... His physicality levels are high. He might get signed after a World Series just to be a part of a team. He's getting choked out of the game. I don't think they have drug tested in Major League Baseball. He ain't passed, bro. That's who he naturally is.

Yeah. That's Drew. Gilbert football. I love that guy. I know who the Red Soxed. He did it in college? Yeah, not that much, but I remember him the epic bat flip for the volunteers. Really? Oh, yeah. This guy's a Tennessee volunteer?

Yeah. We need him on games. He needs to be barking on games. Doing more than flipping bats, I bet. Yeah, probably. What do you do with the bat? What do you do? He put it in the crowd? We probably got the clip. Bruce? Hey, Bruce, why don't you pod that up, Bruce? Bruce, a little bit of a search. This is him with the bat number one? Oh, my God.

Oh, yeah. I remember this guy. Yep. That bat's going to hit somebody. Jacked. Didn't they eject him after this? Probably. I think they ejecting him out.

No fun, yeah. Can't do that. All right, Drew Gilbert's one of my new favorite baseball players. Athletes, I think. When's he making, yeah, I agree. Put them in all a sport. I don't know why I'm just kind of locking them into baseball. One of my new favorite athletes,

Drew Gilbert. What, um... He needs to come over the ropes at Palozo. Boom, boom. Yeah. Proofs. You're not just coach your ball anymore, brother. No, he doesn't need to go over the ropes.

He needs the gnaw through the roads. He's a biter, it looks like. Yeah, you're right. Drew Gilbert needs to be in Palooza. Maybe call it Padruza now that I think of a lot. It's a good idea. This guy's the Mizz on San Francisco Giants. Yeah.

Like the Mizz was in the real world. The Mizz, but a good athlete. Yeah, don't do that to Drew. Jesus. A lot of heat dishes. He's a better golfer. Dan Rolovsky got killed today. I'd assume Drew Gilbert.

pretty good at golf. Ms. Guy had Drew's probably won a game in the last three years. All right. And Drew can hit a curveball.

Miz did not deserve any of this. He didn't shoot his age, though. Who? Drew. I don't think so. Have you? Yes, Sunday. And the member member.

What did you shoot? 72. Wow. My man, Nick the Fabio and I won the member by 10 strokes. Lost in the shootout. One by 10 strokes? In our flight, yeah.

And then you lose a shootout to who? Young kid, got a stroke, got a birdie. Damn. Got a stroke, got a birdie. I like that. Yeah, a young kid, younger than us, got a stroke. And another guy makes like a 40-footer, so we were out.

First time shooting your age? Fourth. Fourth, okay. Damn. Good shit. What ages did you shoot your age? 71 and 72. Nice.

This guy won member guest. Club championship. Down to club. Club championship, too. No big deal. Two time. Not. Guys on parking lot.

Not. Or parking spot. AJ, right up there in the front. AJ, how's your golf game? You still hustling everybody in Ohio? You know, I can play well and shoot 83, and I can shoot 105. Like, that's kind of my game. How were you at the American Century?

Pretty good? I never really put it together like I would like to, be honest with you. I was very positive. I felt like I needed, hey, next shot's going to be my best shot, and I said that for three straight days. Was this your worst year? No, no, not my worst year, but just, you know, I had pretty high hopes for myself.

I think I finished like 40-something. should have, you know, I should have played better. Of course, top 50. I think one of the most nervous I've ever been, the Phoenix Open, down in the driving range, Tiger's on my left and Gary Williams on my right. I'm like, whoa. What are you doing?

You're golfing? I'm playing in the pro-am. Okay. And it's like, at 16, there's 100,000 people in that thing, Wednesdays. And they're booing the shit out of you. I got booed like three times and cheered three times. How'd you hit it? Hit the green three times and then hit one straight in a cactus

the last time I ain't going back now. No, you got to go beat it. You got to go beat it. I showed up at that thing, had no idea what I signed up for. Bar 3 Challenge on the Pro Am Day. Oh, yeah. I know it.

We were at Radio Row down the road. Once again, utilizing the local vitamins. I'm rather great laws out there in Arizona. We all agree. And I said, yeah, sure, I'll do the thing, the bar three thing. And I didn't know what I was walking into.

Oh, the shot of glory. That's something. That's fun. I was way too high to be there, I think. And I walked in there. We all did. And we're like, holy shit. This is the greatest, is this the greatest

whole of all time? And then I was told I'm hitting in there. I'm like, oh, okay. I was the only one that didn't play the pro-am. So everybody had played all day. I'm straight out of Radio Row. Oh, tough spot. Oh, God, 50. 20 minutes from Radio Row to in the middle of that whole thing. So are from pickleball. And I'm just, yeah,

we played pickleball the entire night. Arizona's the greatest. The house we stayed at had a lit-up pickleball course in the back. It was awesome. Oh, we did. We did that the entire time. So I'm just sitting in there. Jay-J. Watts got hockey stick golf clubs. Remember these golf clubs are way too fucking big. I didn't have clubs.

Everybody else did. And, yeah, I duff it up close. Ms. Blades won off the green. Duffed it because the guy rapping. Kelly James music. Yeah, talking to your back swing. Yeah, talking about you about personal things. Yeah, but I didn't hit it into the cactus.

But I think you have to go back there and defeat that. Have to. Oh, I've got an epic, epic shot of Glory Day. Yeah? We need to get that video sometime. Did you hit all in one? I even got, no, I even got my man Kelly to, I got nothing, coach. Okay.

It was like, we teed off at 8. Ron Scherz, who runs a Nexus, owns a Nexus, he always puts on the pro amp. So I'm playing with Shertzzie, and we're done it like 12. A shot of glory is at 4 o'clock. I'm hammered. I have no, why I still have golf shoes on, but I still have my golf shoes on, no clubs. And my daughter-in-law and her friend. Jake, my son said, do not let him fall.

So they got me in both arms, two really good-looking girls. I said, baby, you play golf? She said, yeah. I said, tee it up about this high because I ain't been to know me. Please, please help. Reggie Bush, Michael Phelps, Hellway. About five, I was threw a hundred bucks down. All right.

I look in this bag, grab a seven iron, pull it out. And somebody will back up over there because I'm going to try to cut this bitch. Oh, we're shaping this. Yeah, of course. 12 feet. Legend. Did a shout of Casamego threw that bitch down.

Put my hands up, walked out. Got two people to walk me out there. So we get that money. Wait this in his video. Yeah, we didn't find that. That's amazing. That's a really good time over there. They do it well.

That is not Bob Parsons' course. No, it's not. But it is certainly an incredible, incredible tournament. Are you sure? The waist bench. No, it's not. Yeah. Are you sure, man?

TPC Scotts. Bob's is a little bit higher up Scottsdale and a little more expensive Connor asked him right to his face so what's it like hosting the waste management it's one of your courses and he goes What is this guy talking about? I mean context here

50 minutes into an interview with a guy I've never fucking heard of until 20 minutes before Legend absolute legend which I learned up throughout the first 50 minutes of the interview Finally, you know, Pat's like, Connor, fucking hit it. I'm like, okay, I don't know.

What's your favorite fucking color, Bob? I got nothing for the guy. So I ask him like, okay, Bob Parsons here. I put in my head, old golf guy, war vet, we're talking golf. It's a Super Bowl. We're in Arizona. We're going to golf. We're going to golf.

This guy's here because it's his fucking course. I asked him and, yeah, he looked at Pat and that's exactly. What is this guy talking? What? No. What is he talking about? Yeah, what he's saying? It's golf and Phoenix God. Oh, yeah. You think you might be able to host one. It's a beautiful thing. Great. But I love Bob Parsons.

Love ball. I mean, shit. Fucking turn around a jet so we could go get his clubs for it. The list of things that we like about Bob Parsons goes On and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on. and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and what is that he's a really good interview and on and on and on and what is that he's a really good interview he's a good conversation unbelievable story great golf out in Arizona that was a great place for you to be at here's some pictures I don't know if it's the actual video but I believe this is potentially is this the one this might be it is this video or just picture that is photo photo okay you're it looks like you're holding court there it appears as if this is potentially. I said, girls, get my money, please.

All right, let's get out of here. Tone, come join us, pal. B.A., anything you say to the team? All right, boys. Great day. Next time, better. Boom. Be a friend, tell our friends,

something nice of my change your life. We're in this thing together. Team on me. Team on three. Hey, let's have a great night. Hell yeah. One, two, three. Team.

Goodbye. Talk about stepping up. Bye! It's time to level up your game. Introducing the all-new ESPN app. All of ESPN, all in one place. Your home for the most live sports and the best championship moments. The electricity is palpable.

Step up your game with no annual contract required. It's the ultimate fan experience. Level up for more on the ESPN app or at stream.esPN.com. Sign up now. You've seen the headlines. Heard the debates. The three-point ball has created a monotonous rhythm to the game. Has the three-pointer ruined basketball?

And how did we get here? The rise of the three-point shot can be partially traced to an eccentric Kansas genius named Martin Manley, whose story didn't turn out quite the way he imagined. I decided I wanted to have one of the most organized goodbyes in history. 30 for 30 podcast presents. Chasing Basketball Heaven. Available now. wherever you get your podcasts.