The Pat McAfee Show - PMS 2.0 1414 - BA Day with Bruce Arians, MNF Recap, Vikings Head Coach Kevin O'Connell, Keenan Allen, Lavonte David, Darius Butler, & AJ Hawk

Episode Date: September 23, 2025

On today's show, Pat, Darius Butler, AJ Hawk, and the boys are joined by 3x Super Bowl Champion, and former Head Coach of the Arizona Cardinals and Tampa Bay Bucs, Bruce Arians to recap last night’s... Monday Night Football game between the Lions and Ravens as the Lions punched the Ravens in the mouth in Baltimore for a 38-30 victory. Joining the progrum to recap their absolute shellacking of the Bengals is the Head Coach of the Minnesota Vikings to chat about Carson Wentz stepping in for JJ McCarthy, his team as a whole this year, playing two games internationally these next weeks, and more. Next, 6x Pro Bowler, 2017 Comeback Player of the Year, in his 13th year in the NFL, WR for the Los Angeles Chargers, Keenan Allen joins the show to chat about Jim Harbaugh, being back in LA, his relationship with Justin Herbert, the Chargers potential this year, and much more. Later, Super Bowl Champion, 3x All-Pro, Pro Bowler, in his 14th season at LB with the Buccaneers, Lavonte David joins the show to chat about his career as a whole, starting 3-0, Baker Mayfield, his relationship with BA, and much much more. Make sure to subscribe to youtube.com/thepatmcafeeshow or watch on ESPN (12-2 EDT), ESPN’s Youtube (12-3 EDT), or ESPN+. We appreciate the hell out of all of you, we’ll see you tomorrow. Cheers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript
Discussion (0)
Starting point is 00:00:00 Hello, beautiful people, and welcome to our Huggle Abode, the Thunderdome. On this BA day, September 23rd, 2025, this program begins right now. Football! Ladies and gentlemen, that's man to coach football for 47 years. Bruce Ariens is here. College, BA, good to see you. Can't wait for another edition of BS or no BS with BA about the NFL's headlines. Another headline was added last night.
Starting point is 00:00:28 as we saw a team be the brand new version of itself yet again. We thought this Lions team after losing Ben Johnson, who was the bell of the ball, this super genius on the offense. And Aaron Glenn, the absolute dog that was running the Detroit Lions defense as they had this resurgence back to irrelevancy and being a good football team
Starting point is 00:00:44 for the first time, maybe in forever. They looked like ass at the beginning of this entire thing. Jared Doff looked like the guy at Rams whenever he was getting bench, maybe even third stringer at the end of it, lost all his confidence. Is this guy going to suck again? And then what we've seen here, the last two games out of this Lions team is, oh, no, no, no.
Starting point is 00:01:01 They are still the brand new Lions. Huge win last night. And in the biggest moments, they do what the brand new Lions do, which is go for it on fourth down. We're getting some stats about them going for it on a fourth down. 32% of the time they go for it. Okay, that's obviously the highest in the NFL. 91 conversions, that's the most in the NFL. Lions were three for three and scored 21 points last night after converting on fourth downs.
Starting point is 00:01:25 Now, those stats are from Hembo, but if you saw the game, there was late in the game, there was a fourth down that they went for it, that you think to yourself, okay, now, this is first quarter, fourth and three, you know, Monroe St. Brown does the, how you doing? Let me go ahead and check each quad dance, and he obviously understands you're going to go for it then. I think MCDC was trying to set a point, and also there was going to be a high scoring game, everybody thought we can go for it. That's normal. Less than two minutes left, though, okay? Whenever you, 156, You're up one score at the 50 down there. Okay, fourth and two, 156.
Starting point is 00:02:01 This is one of those ones that Dan Campbell calls that nobody else really does. People that love going for it on fourth down, even in this situation, would be like, Lamar Jackson, 49 going in, we're up touchdown right now. No thanks. This feels like we should maybe just go ahead and try to get a stop. But on that same note, Lamar Jackson, are we going to be able to get a stop, minute 46 left anyways? And MCDC says, let's go for it. Not only do they run it with Sonic and Knuckles guys are incredible.
Starting point is 00:02:27 Okay, there you got a great run game. They throw this thing, and it's not an easy throw. This is Jared Goff dropping it in a bucket with under two minutes to Amon Ross St. Brown. Their star wide receiver who, if you listen to Troy talk about him last night, he does everything right, everything. He's not a diva at all. He works hard. He blocks. He does everything you ask him.
Starting point is 00:02:45 And it's like the Detroit Lions win because this is how the Detroit Lions play football. It is quite a no-risk-it, no-biscuit operation up there. feels like Lions fans woke up this morning a lot more confident than they had for the rest of the NFL season. Is that accurate, Foxy? Spot on, Pat. I'll tell you what, in the MCDC era, that was the best regular season when we have had by far and away. We were able to run the ball. All right, Monty and Gibbs, both two touchdowns each, over 200 yards rushing. And then on defense, we were somehow able to stop Lamar. Seven sacks before this game. When I said we had a game between Jared Goff and Lamar Jackson and one of them is going to get sacked seven times
Starting point is 00:03:27 and the other is going to get sacked zero times. I would have bet $10 billion that it was Jared Goff getting sacked seven times. Instead, this defense stepped up. Calvin Shepard stepped up. It was amazing. And last but not least, we stopped Eric Kennery. Hunch, punch out of there. Huge game changer right there. I love everything about it. It was amazing. And the lines are all the way back. I love to hear that passion and excitement, Foxy. Good for you. Lions fans because obviously this has been a good time with MCDC and him coming to town and Michigan man the Michigan face aidan Hutchinson having a huge punch out to you know win that thing and Derek Henry now we're starting to talk about what's going on
Starting point is 00:04:04 hey once a fumbler always a fumbled but he was never a fumbled now he's a fumbler are we worried three for three here now Derek Henry very inopportune timing of it all and obviously Derek Henry's a stunt I mean Derek Henry is a massive piece of their offense but you lose the ball late like this and continue to do it you set your defense up for absolute failure and you games. The Baltimore Ravens are now one and two. Okay, and they're staring down a potential one and three, or is it going to be the chief's toxic tables here at Boston Connor
Starting point is 00:04:30 and at Ty Schmidt. Tai Schmidt, the NFC North, Green Bay Packers were the Kings for a long time. I see you've got the Coach's hat on your head right now with the G there, representing the Packers. This Lions team doesn't seem like it's going anywhere. I think the Packers had to recognize the Lions as an actual opponent
Starting point is 00:04:47 in the division. Okay, that was the first stage. Yeah, without a doubt. From being the same old Lions to the brand new Lions. Going to beat these guys by four touchdowns every single time. That's not the case. Oh, Thanksgiving's cute, guys. You get to watch Detroit Lions. You know what happens every other time? They're not a part of the conversation here in the NFC
Starting point is 00:05:02 North. So the first stage was recognizing that they are a part of the NFC North. I think we've witnessed that happen with you over its entirety. Then whenever they got really good, there was still a lot of denial out of you. There was, uh, nope, this is still the Lions and they forever will be. You view the Bears the same exact way. It feels
Starting point is 00:05:18 like that is how Packers fans feel, especially Packers' ownership like you. Then last year, whenever their number one seed in the NFC, there was a recognition I think by Packers fans like, okay, this team is a team. Then Ben Johnson leaves, Aaron Glenn leaves, a lot of holes first week, they look like ass. I think
Starting point is 00:05:34 there's been some confliction on whether or not everybody legitimizes the Lions. There's no questions asked now after, right? They are the brand new Lions and we'll be going forward for as long as MCDC is there? Yeah, without a doubt. I mean, I don't think there's, they punched the Ravens in the mouth last night.
Starting point is 00:05:50 Like that's the Lions who we've come to know like and as a packers fan like you expect to see that every single time you know the lines play the packers like hey they're going to out physical them they're going to go forward a bunch and that's kind of that was mcdc's whole point when everyone was making a big deal when both of the coordinators left he's like hey theoretically the way we've built things here if if i take a step back like this thing should be able to kind of hum on its own like they have unbelievable players on both sides of the ball they're super physical and then we probably overreacted way too much, A, on both sides of the spectrum, like, hey, the Packers
Starting point is 00:06:25 looked really good, week one against the Lions, and wow, the Lions are a completely different team without Ben Johnson, and the defense doesn't look the same. Like, it obviously is going to take a little bit of time, and now we see last night. Like, I don't think that's crazy for Foxy to say that. I mean, we've been watching the Lions a lot. Like, this probably was the most convincing and, you know, like impressive win that they've had in the Dan Campbell era, because this silence is everything. Like, these guys are legitimate contenders to go to the Super Bowl. I love the fact that Marlon Humphrey was running a 4-2 at this stage of his career. Love everything about it. Absolutely catching up there as Sonic and Knuckles were
Starting point is 00:07:00 just that last night, weren't they? That's right. A lot of people week one were calling them ass and cheeks. I didn't like it one big. But now we're Sonic and Nuckold. I didn't like that one bit either. I thought that was a little premature. DeBut, what is your takeaway from last night from last night? First of all, defense coordinator Kelvin Shepard. Man. Hell yeah, dude. Hell yeah. Former teammate of ours. What is your takeaway from last night's Monday football game. It was over. The over definitely did hit. For sure, but exactly what Todd said, it's one thing to go on the road and I was
Starting point is 00:07:26 with B.A. and just that environment coming out, B.A. asked me as soon as the intro started, National Anthemps, like, have you ever played a big time night game or big time game in this stadium? So, energy is different at that stadium. So to go in a row early in the season, against the team that beat your ass last year, great
Starting point is 00:07:41 quarterback, great whatever, and just punch them in the mouth. Like, to get out physical like that, 2.95 yard plus TD drives. Like you rarely ever see that. You rarely see one. Was it 16 plays? I think 18. One of them was 18 or 19. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:07:57 And that's when you really feel like the Sonic and Nocle. It's one thing to be on the side of a team throwing for 500 yards, so you're a bunch of, but when the team can just run the ball down your throat on your home field, the defense, that just takes all the pride out of you as a defense. So the Detroit Lions, huge, huge
Starting point is 00:08:13 win. And Dan Campbell, look, he is the fourth down, go-for-it type guy. And that the team knows what you're getting that the offense knows what you're getting to be a, you know, first year coordinated with this team and be put in that moment on that stage and then to get it and executed. He had the flag that would have got it anyway with the penalty, but to make that throw on a dot, like under pressure.
Starting point is 00:08:32 They were called him Gooflowski, too. I know ass and cheeks, goofloaf. People are lied about this life. That one was valid. Yeah, this is a big time moment for this team, for this quarterback, this coach, these coordinators. Shout out Shep Dogg, his defense. Seven sacks against Lamar Jackson.
Starting point is 00:08:48 It was some, obviously, you know, he put himself in those bad situations, but that's why he is who he is because he can make those special plays and then keep Derek Henry 50 yards and a huge fourth. That wasn't just a fumble. That was a great punch out by Aiden, man. So just a big time, big time win. Early in the season for him, obviously a lot of ball left, but they really went and punched AA.
Starting point is 00:09:07 What we see is a physical team. I don't know. The numbers are saying something else about this Baltimore Ravens team, especially the defense, but that's the aesthetic we always think with the Baltimore Ravens, but it just got punching them off by more physical team with the Detroit lines. seasons, I think through the first three quarters, they're like number three or four in the league and giving up points per game. And then in the fourth quarter, they're at like 9.3 points per game. They're giving up and it's 31st in the league or something like that.
Starting point is 00:09:32 Not good. Not good, especially for a team that we think of being tough with what you're saying. Now, on the flip side of that, coach, whenever you took over down in Tampa, I think they had a 5 and 11 season going into that season. You obviously become Super Bowl champion down there. And there's a lot of moving pieces to that. But with what MCDC has been able to do with this Detroit Lions thing. What is the most impressive part as like another coach? Like what do you guys see him doing at Detroit that maybe nobody ever thought could happen there?
Starting point is 00:09:57 And what have you seen the way, how have you seen him operate that most coaches like kind of look and I don't want to say give a shout out to it, but like respect the way he's doing. Yeah, I think it started with his first press conference when he got bite their kneecaps off. And he set the tone that this is how Detroit Lions are going to play. And that's how he lives
Starting point is 00:10:13 and the team embraced it. And I never thought I'd see anybody going to Baltimore. on a big night and beat them up and they beat them up and that's dan campbell i mean his personality personifies everything about this whole organization now and the team the guys rally around him jared golf's playing fantastic um yeah that was a very impressive win you talk about baltimore obviously you're in the afc north for a long time uh you're in a pittsburgh steeler's baltimore raven's rivalry for a long time a lot of respect on both sides of the ball there uh for like how they play football
Starting point is 00:10:47 in what they can do and their environments, especially home game at night, which is what you referenced to him as the game was starting. We were there for Ray's last game. We were there for Ray's last game. How'd that go? Well, he actually was in the backfield for the kneel down that they had after they were winning.
Starting point is 00:11:03 And yeah, he was the last line, and he just stood in the middle of the field, basically, as the kneel down was happening. And it was another full-on embrace of him. But that place, the Seven Nation Army gets real loud. They come from a similar, city as, you know, the likes of Pittsburgh and Philadelphia in Boston and other places that love to talk shit, okay, like Baltimore loves to talk shit. So you get that combined with our
Starting point is 00:11:28 team plays a physical style, which is representative of the city. You would think, you know, that would have an effect on the Detroit Lions, maybe if they were a little bit soft. But this Baltimore Ravens team, the numbers are not. Not good. Why? What is, what the hell is going on? What is going on with the Baltimore Ravens? Do we need to ask that question? I mean, they're missing two of their best defensive linemen. I mean, Madabouquet is the highest paid player on the defense, I think, before Kyle Hamilton signed his extension.
Starting point is 00:11:59 Like, without him in the middle, they ran all over him, and that's why. And then you think about Van Nuoy, like, where were they gashing them up to middle and on the outside? And that's where Matabuque and Kyle Van Noi are supposed to be. And then when you talk about the tough teams, like, what are the tough teams do? They pound the football, and, you know, Derek Henry can do that. You know, it helps Patrick Ricard. Like, the Ravens might never be healthy completely as an offense or a defense this whole year.
Starting point is 00:12:23 It sucks, but, you know. It happens every year for them, doesn't it? It happens every year. And that's the thing about the Lions. Like, right now we're seeing the Lions healthy. Hopefully they stay healthy. They're unbelievable. And then think about the offense for the Ravens, they scored 40 and 42 in their first two weeks.
Starting point is 00:12:36 Like, that 30 points against Ravens is going to be a massive win for defenses this year. Yeah, they're giving out the most points this year. How about Lamar Jackson, though? Mm-hmm. There was a roll left. He's ridiculous. He's so good at throwing. Mark Andrews being back, like once likely gets back, how much better, you know, they're going to be on it?
Starting point is 00:12:55 But will they get back at the right time where they have enough time to continue to go? Yeah, there's crazy stats about how many points they've scored and how they're the only team in the history of one and two or whatever. And you watch Lamar the highest passer rating, and that whole conversation just doesn't really still happen with Lamar. And some of the throws he makes are just absurd. And then when he starts running like this one right here, I'm not going to take a big hit. and I'm going to pull away. There's multiple times. He is dynamic.
Starting point is 00:13:18 Always will be. But you got to finish. Fourth quarter, you got to finish whether that's, you know, him making plays in a past game. And sometimes best play is to throw it away. And it's hard to do. We play with Andrew Luck, which he never wanted to give up on a play. Big Ben was that type of quarterback. But sometimes it is best.
Starting point is 00:13:36 You can't be in second, 18, or third, and 21. You just can't put yourself in those situations. And defense, give it up 97 points through three games. But defensively facing this Lions team, And all the betters know, anybody watches, like, when you have Montgomery getting four or five hard-nosed carries and do you see them jogging off to the sideline unsnapping, and you see fuck zero, jogging on the field, snapping this shit. That's tough. That's tough. Dude, that first drive when they showed the O line on the bench, you know, just gutted sweating, getting their gatorade, get their lights in.
Starting point is 00:14:04 Like, as a defense, that is just, I mean, that takes it out of you, having those fresh backs who are always going to, and they, they, because every carry means and matters a little bit more to them because they know that next guy is going to be in. they're getting it, but that is, man, $2.95, like, I can't say that enough, man. That's how they won the game, just imposing their will on another team. And they were talking a lot about how they get along, you know, and they enjoy each other's success and everything like that. They definitely know how much everybody has, though. Sonic and Knuckles definitely know who's doing what out there, you know? They don't want to let each other down, first of all, but also they don't want to give an inch, and that is a good thing to have, especially if they get along. Like, if the guys get along. If you got two dogs that get along, they're also trying to do the same thing.
Starting point is 00:14:47 And then offensive line-wise, I think there was a couple where Gibbs maybe got stopped for like a couple losses in a row. And he like got upset. I'm like, there's so much to what he could be mad about there. Is it like he didn't see something. He didn't like it. There wasn't a whole maybe offensive line or oh, Montgomery's been rolling all over the place right now. And like there's just an added dynamic whenever you have two ones at any position, I think. And the fact that they're kind of going in the same direction, great for Dan Campbell and the Lions. Jamir Gibbs got lit up I mean I thought he was going to get hurt
Starting point is 00:15:15 because he got like right in the middle catch right onto the goal line and I honestly thought he's hurt but then he comes off and here comes Montgomery in and that was Montgomery's first touchdown and like you talk about having an ego or anything like that like the guy that gets you all the way down there literally to the one yard
Starting point is 00:15:32 line while taking a vicious hit I mean I truly was worried about him when it happened I'm very glad he was okay tough son of a bitch and then you know Montgomery comes in and scores. I was thinking about this last night. What draft pick do you think Jamir Gibbs is if you were to go back? Because remember when
Starting point is 00:15:47 Jamir Gibbs got drafted 12? It was like, what are the lines doing? Drafting a running back is high. And then they traded back up to get Jack Campbell. It was like, what the hell is going on? They got buried for the Jack. They got to kill. That's the worst first round of all time. Yes. And so like now you look back on it's like, Jamir Gibbs probably the
Starting point is 00:16:03 freaking first pick of that draft. If you were to read, I mean, quarterbacks and all that shit. But seriously, the way that has panned out for Brad Holmes. MCDC too like talking about just knowing exactly what you're doing when you are nine and eight and teams don't respect you as much but you still know like you give us a couple years we're going to be that team it's it's sweet the Ravens obviously have been perennial good and great at times their fans are starting to get antsy it sounds like uh who's going to win the afc north you think
Starting point is 00:16:31 baltimore all right hands down hands down why is that I think the best team in the NFC north I mean, ASC North, they got a good coaching staff. They got Lamar. They're scoring points out the butt. And that defense is going to come back. Sooner they're going to get those guys back. They're not going anywhere. And I think a game like this sometimes can galvanize a team like, hey, they embarrass the shit of us at our place, playing our style ball.
Starting point is 00:16:59 This ain't happening again. Yeah, it could be a lot to pull from, I think, if you're a coach, right? I would assume. There's a lot of questions about John Harbaugh. I mean, anytime they lose a game, obviously, there's a lot of conversation about. everything around there and John Harbaugh's name gets mentioned a lot in it you know because of the amount of double-digit leads and then losses and yada yeah but they're in it every single year is this the year that they can figure out how to rally from this point and maybe a one-and-three start
Starting point is 00:17:25 you know like there there's a chance that is that is around the corner here I mean this game on Sunday like you know it's obviously still very early but this could be the kind of game where it's like the trajectory of both teams changes completely based on who wins and who loses that game. Chiefs Ravens. Yeah. Both one and two. Right. What are you going to do? I don't know what the stats are exactly. We're trying to pull them. One in three teams, I have no idea what the stories are. I assume it's pretty similar to the other shitty. That is such a first quarter. You talk about the season in
Starting point is 00:17:54 four quarters. Now it's 17 games, so it's four quarters, obviously, and a bonus in there. But it's starting out that big of a deficit. Depending on what division you're in, because there's a couple divisions that are shite, but there's a couple other that are very good. that's a long way back like Cincinnati Bengals last year they put themselves in such a hole then they got hot late remember and it was just like a never-ending supply
Starting point is 00:18:13 so even if you have a very good team which all these teams on rosters in theory should be good teams that we talk about in the championship thing but it's still sometimes too much sometimes early you kind of find yourself in a hole too much in the AFC North though I don't know what those holes
Starting point is 00:18:29 are going to look like I don't know what the rest that's going to look Cleveland okay what happens there their defense football team phenomenal unbelievable. They're a great football team. They are a great football team. Who did they beat this past week? They beat the Packers, which a lot of people were saying was the best team in the NFL. And I'll tell you what, what I saw for 60 minutes on Sunday, that, I mean, that's a great football team. Obviously, great football team. Pittsburgh Steelers going all in.
Starting point is 00:18:54 Aaron's going in incognito mode. Yeah. You see that? Yeah, totally. Hoady up. Mike Tomlin's going to get the defense good. We're going to be good. He better. Whoa. They force five colonel. B.A. It's one of the best defenses in the freaking league. Right. Right.
Starting point is 00:19:12 Turnovers are the big. They are huge. And Mike preaches the turnovers. And when they win the turnover better, they normally win the game. But it hasn't happened a lot. Let's go to Hammer. Die. Time. AP Tone. You took
Starting point is 00:19:25 an alternate spread last night for the Baltimore Ravens, I think minus nine and a half. I think that only comes from your respect for the Ravens because of AFC North football. What are your thoughts on the AFC North as a whole? The Pittsburgh Steelers in the situation they're in, and the Baltimore Ravens losing a huge one here early.
Starting point is 00:19:43 Yeah, I was shocked. I did take minus nine and a half on the Ravens. And for all the reasons you guys said, like going into Baltimore, the Lions doing that was an incredible win. I do still think the Ravens win the AFC North. I don't think they have anything to worry about there. I still think they win the Super Bowl as well.
Starting point is 00:20:01 The Ravens are my Super Bowl pick. Listen, they've had some ups and downs to start. at the year. But the offense, the defense is going to figure it out. They're going to get those guys back Zach or the D.C. They kind of started slow last year, too, and figured it out. So I'm not worried about the Ravens yet. I think they still definitely win the division
Starting point is 00:20:17 and I still think they win the AFC too. Hey, Tone. What's... What the hell? Dude. Super Bowl pig. You got a quarterback, D.K. McCaff, Jalen Ramsey.
Starting point is 00:20:32 I can sit here and Lottie if you want. John O'Smith. He's an AP voter. He's an AP voter. He said, I'm all the liar. I'm a journalist now. I'm part of the Associated Press. Sometimes you're going to separate your fan from your life and your job.
Starting point is 00:20:44 No, sometimes you've got to lie. Well, Debutt is not lying. I think he just actually just kind of picks everybody. But you thought the Steelers are going to win in Super Bowl whenever Aaron Rogers signed with team. Did he not? He said that in the microphone. I didn't say division, though. Ooh.
Starting point is 00:21:01 You just said the Ravens are going to win division and the Super Bowl. Oh, yeah, yeah, but back then, back then It was Raven's going to win the vision, Steelers win the Super Bowl. They do better as a six, seven-seater. Okay, so what is this year for the Steelers? We got Aaron for one year, right? Two years. What is this for the rest of the way? It feels like the last five years, ish.
Starting point is 00:21:21 What about they just won? I mean, we're winning games. Yeah, you've been a damn good Patriots team, brother. I'm just telling you what I see after three games, and it's the defense can't get off the field. They can't really stop the run. The offensive line isn't really blocking anybody. So when you can't do those things, it makes winning football games hard.
Starting point is 00:21:37 But, you know, that's what the Steelers do is win football games. So they're still going to win, you know, just not win enough to win the big one. Well, I'll tell you what, they look better in Cincinnati. They do look better in Cincinnati. Cincinnati, that was a tough one. That was a tough one. So back to your point. Baltimore Raven is going to win the ABC North?
Starting point is 00:21:52 Totally. Good luck, Lamar. They better. Just keep scoring points. Some point they'll get a stop. Lamar being so nasty through the sky. Just does not get enough praise because the entire conversation is how good of a runner is. Remember running back.
Starting point is 00:22:09 He's a running back playing quarterback. Coming through the combine in the draft process, hey, you ever think about maybe running some rounds for sports? Just want to kind of see a thing, no, I'm a quarterback. You know, the only guy that really believed in himself alongside his mom who was acting as his agent and manager, I think still it. The only one's publicly basically saying, now he's a quarterback, his quarterback, his quarterback. Everybody else was like, he should be open to baby trying to get on the field, too, at some places. He's like, that was a real convo because of how insanely fast, athletic, quick, and elusive he is as a runner with the ball.
Starting point is 00:22:40 He's just a different level of athlete. And then now that he's become the best passer, is what the passer rating judgment says. You can obviously put a bunch of arms up there and say, hey, who's the best arm user? Who's the best passer? Oh, that shit. Who has the strongest arm? I don't know if he wins every single one. But pass-a-riding, some of these throws he was making last night, which is filthy.
Starting point is 00:23:00 And then he makes the next one. and then the next one, and then the next one. I think that's a difference between good and great, right? Totally. Making the throws on a consistent level. He's always been able to spin it. Even back in Louisville, he could spin it now. You know, and I compared him a lot to Michael Vick coming out.
Starting point is 00:23:15 Mike could spin it too, but Lamar was more accurate when Mike coming out. Now, they're both running, what, 4-2, and the legs were obviously their go-to. But Lamar can spin it as good as anybody in the league right now. Yeah, right now, he was, I mean, fade-away shots. Big shots, deep shots, cross shot. I mean, every throw is just looking natural. And it's, I think, whenever you have good arm talent, you can probably make that like one.
Starting point is 00:23:40 And then the next one's going to be a miss. And then there's going to be a little inconsistency. There's going to be like a behind. It was like every throw was right where it was supposed to be. And it's like, I feel like that's what, like, Peyton, Tom, I assume Aaron. All the, like, high-level throwers are like every throw needs to be in the perfect spot. is at that point. The fact that he has held himself to that standard to work to become to that level of
Starting point is 00:24:06 thrower, when he could just rely, he would be a fucking Hall of Fame quarterback just with his legs and what he was able to do with his arm. The fact that he put in the work clearly throwing the ball to become this passer, it's like so much respect for everything going on over there. Well, and that's what's weird when you bring up like the fourth quarter, you know, stats for the Ravens with them blowing leads and everything. Like, Lamar almost seems like if you create someone to kind of salt a game away in the fourth quarter, it'd be a guy like Lamar.
Starting point is 00:24:35 He can make every single throw. Like, if there's ever a third and long, it's like, hey, there's a good chance if he needs to. Like, he can get us 17 yards. He can pick up a long first down. And then not to mention Derek Henry, too. Like, you would think that that two-headed attack right there, like, that's what salts away games. And for whatever reason, it's just not, it hasn't been working. What the hell is going on with Derek Henry?
Starting point is 00:24:56 Yeah. We know how strong he is. I'm one of Derek Henry's actual biggest fans, just because, just like Cam Newton, when you see somebody that is just not supposed to, like, clearly their body type is not supposed to be able to do the job that it's doing. You can't help but just marvel like, holy shit. This is, he is so big, so strong, so fast, so durable. Like just so, all the so many's that you want to have that as good. This is not who he is.
Starting point is 00:25:24 No. They say once a fumbler, always always. of fumble. That's what football people say. Now, I got, I had a run that was rule of fumble. I'd like to say I was down. Sure. You know, because the wrist bone and the hip, that's dying. Today's kind of. Yeah, and Hockey League didn't let it. And so I have a documented fumbler and I think I do have good balls to do you. But that ref, one of the greats, certainly fucked that one up. But he is one of the greats. We would like him to potentially be in New York running a lot of things, which we can potentially talk about later.
Starting point is 00:25:50 But why is it started? Does it just have, what do you think it is? And now guys know, though, right? Yeah. It's become something you guys put a bullseye on on defense. Yeah, so all the good things, the one, I mean, bad, it's how big he is. It does give a bigger surface, and it is easier to kind of hit that ball. And this was just a great play, too, by Aden coming from behind because Derek never sees him, so he's not tucking it. You know, we saw Tiki Barber switch it up, kind of have whatever point through his career, going super high and tight. Some runners, I think I heard either Shannon Sharp or I think it was Shannon Sharp talking about Emmett, he was a left-handed ball-carried type of guy. So no matter where he was going, he was always going to have the ball in his left-hand.
Starting point is 00:26:26 So maybe it's some of those things. Some people are talking about. Maybe it's the sleeves. But I sent in something, I think Yahoo or somebody put in, his fumbles by quarter. Because, like, fumbles, we've seen running back get bench, not to see the field anymore. Obviously, that's not going to happen with Derek. But when you're in the fourth quarter of a game, we all saw the prime time against the bills. It had the game in hand, fumbled it.
Starting point is 00:26:45 And then last night again, like, I don't know. It's definitely in his head. You saw him on his sideline, you know, absolutely beside himself. You rarely see him show that type of emotion. So it's in his head now. and it's definitely a red dot for defense now. You're going to be targeting. We know how prevalent the punchout is league-wise,
Starting point is 00:27:02 so everybody's going to be targeting the ball right now. But that number right there is staggering. First quarter, four fumbles, second quarter three, third quarter two, and then fourth quarter to a tie's point, when you are trying to run the clock out, they always have these two-score leads. Ten fumbles in the fourth quarter that you can't have that. Coach, B.A., what are you saying to him?
Starting point is 00:27:21 Because obviously your offense depends on him having success as well, So it's not like you can just say, hey, you fumble it again. I'm going to take you out completely. Or is that something you have to say. I don't think you can say that to Derek Henry, though, especially on that. No, not at all. I think it's something that, hey, let's look at how it happened. It's a backside punch out.
Starting point is 00:27:37 But he had it high and tight, all right? When he actually had it up here when it got punched out, I don't want him running with two hands on it. That's for damn sure. You know, just keep doing what you're doing. And let's protect it. Better keep working at it. And I'm not going to, not.
Starting point is 00:27:54 I'm not harping on it because I don't want it to happen again. I don't want you thinking about it. Let's not focus on this thing. Yeah, a lot of good runs, too. Yeah, we need to certainly, the ball's program now. We need certainly take care of that. But it does, maybe there's some misfortune, too, to it. Three for three.
Starting point is 00:28:08 Yeah. That's tough. Three for three is tough. But there's got to be a little, I mean, there's so misfortune to it. Of course. Yeah, like even that. Because if that punch hits his arm, which Aton Hutch has been trained. And hey, he has been trained.
Starting point is 00:28:20 He's been dancing, too. He's been doing a lot of things. Oh, yeah. I've seen him. dancing. He was dancing. All over the place. Hutch? Hodge was dancing. Basically naked. I didn't see that.
Starting point is 00:28:31 He was. Okay. And that's why he can punch the ball out. No, yeah, yeah. Shave the arms, the whole thing. I get what you're saying. But no, like, I think he has been working possibly, and that's a good thing to get good at. Darius Leonard was here when he was playing great football. That guy was all over
Starting point is 00:28:50 to place. I think he talked about taking actual boxing classes and, like, working on his punch and that became a real weapon for him he was punching one out every game basically the peanut punch yeah the peanut punch yeah the peanut punch well then chuck Pagano made a video on we got to deliver this punch we want guys to come from here you know you can't be doing this and all of a sudden peanut got a little bit offended is this guy saying he fucking created yeah i got a check on Chuck Pagano's in a basketball right now a couple tough tough tough tough work figure it out Chuck yeah but you saw his guy we talked about last night
Starting point is 00:29:24 sending in the group text. One of his safety sacrifice his body, saw in an outside shoulder. You're right. So that his brother could make a tackle. That is Chuck Pagano, the losing his mind rate. Love everything about a sacrifice you here, proper shoulder, proper, everything you're doing this. That is a full sellout right. Brian Branch
Starting point is 00:29:40 had one too, which was a great play. Through a penalty on it, bullshit, but great, great play. That's an unbelievable play right there. Marlon Humphrey who chased down Dave Montgomery, doing doing bold things. What a run by him. I also like, I don't know, If Debutt would like talk about, oh, there's Baltimore Raveners.
Starting point is 00:29:56 There's a blackout. Why they got white gloves on? Yeah, I don't know. What's that all about? What is that about? Yeah, I don't know. Why have they got the white glove? It's kind of swaggy.
Starting point is 00:30:05 You know, we always talk about where the gloves the color of the other team. Yes. They can't see, especially all fans flying in that and you can't see your hold. So, normally, you wear the gloves of the color of the other team. Yeah, that's what I was implying. It looks like there's some cheating going on from Chuck Bogota. Yeah. They're getting real handsy, huh?
Starting point is 00:30:23 Getting real handsy. Yeah, right there on, right there on the jerse. As soon as they jump, yeah, you just grab them. Raven fans are not too happy with old Marlitt right now. We got Kevin O'Coh. Throw away the podcasting equipment. Thanks a lot. There is a time in a place for all things, we believe.
Starting point is 00:30:44 Yeah, true. You know, and as somebody that was lucky enough to kind of work on second career while first career was happening, there was quite a balance of, like, Like, hey, now he's much different than me. Obviously, vastly, all these guys that have actual podcasts in play now are vastly different than who. I was a fucking punter. Okay, so I'm three shanks away from getting cut regardless, let alone having a personality.
Starting point is 00:31:08 So I very much knew, like, hey, we can't be, like, Lamar on every throw. The reason why I noticed, because I would hit three good punts, fourth one would be bad. Okay? Three good puns, maybe four good puns, fifth one would be bad. There was like always a shank coming or a miss coming. once you start getting a little bit louder, you know, a little bit of a platform and drawing some, let's say, attention to yourself.
Starting point is 00:31:29 Yeah, we can't be having the three out of four. Got to eliminate that one. We got to, you cannot be the liability ever. This can never come. So for me, that changed how I actually had to operate completely. And if I had a terrible game or if we lost for something, you've got to read that balance too. We talked about Micah with this.
Starting point is 00:31:46 Whenever he's with the Cowboys, it's like, I respect and appreciate that Micah wants to build something. But also, there's a time and a place, you know, to do it. You've got to kind of feel that out. But in the modern world, a lot of these guys potentially leaving a lot of money on the table. If they don't kind of activate their own NIL while all these college kids are doing it as well, it's just you've got to find a balance, you know, because people don't want to hear shit. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:32:06 Okay? We don't want to hear shit from you, okay, unless we're winning games. You've got to remember why they're there, too. People are listening to you right now because you are a member of the team that you are a part of. So if a member, if team's not doing good, they don't care. And that's just a fact of the matter. without doubt that is that is now some guys i think have built their own brand outside of their team pretty good uh Travis Kelsey obviously uh and by building brand I mean just notable and he had so many shows
Starting point is 00:32:33 Mahomes I think there's a couple guys Lamar I think obviously like actual influencers yeah Josh Josh Allen a lot of the quarterbacks yeah but not all the quarterbacks not all of them no yeah but a lot of the quarterbacks are bigger or can sustain their brand without a team correct but everybody else, basically, and I am definitely the most part of this, that people are listening to you because of the team that you're on. So you just got to remember that whenever you're kind of balancing, talking to them, and your team
Starting point is 00:32:59 stinks. Yeah, without a doubt. And then the flip side of that is if he picks off Patrick Mahomes two times, people are going to be like, we did an episode right now tonight, let us know what you saw. You know what I mean? Then go, just ride it. Yeah, exactly. If I was a player nowadays with how
Starting point is 00:33:13 many deals you guys are offered and shit like that, I would say, don't agree to like a guaranteed release date for each show. Need X amount every week or whatever. Yeah, don't do that. Just give them a 10 of them. We'll do 10 of them and then you hope you get 10 wins. Or maybe you drop two in one week after a week.
Starting point is 00:33:32 Then you can just do it in a positive way. As opposed to these agents who are super geniuses, I got you some real comfortable options here. You're going to need to make one every Monday and Wednesday. They're going to pick the best of that. That's every game. And they're going to want you to be authentic whenever you lose. You know, that's part of the podcast.
Starting point is 00:33:47 It's raw, it's genuine. You know, people don't get to see that. So we want two of those, each one every single week. It's like, in theory, sounds good because it's a guarantee and it's comfortable. But in the reality is whenever you lose and you've got to do that, it's going to fucking suck. And everybody is going to tell you that you suck because of what you're doing. So, hey, we're in transition era. Exactly.
Starting point is 00:34:05 We're in a transition area. We're figuring it all out right now. We're figuring it all out. As a coach, I couldn't even imagine trying to balance it all. Honestly, the things that Chuck told me and Chuck was dealing with me, I mean, I mean, I mean, I couldn't even imagine. You think you'd be a little bit better at punting bullshit? You didn't tweet so much?
Starting point is 00:34:21 One of the first things he said to me. I was like, man, I tweet while I'm hanging out of my house. I don't play video games. I don't watch movies, really. I mean, I used to go out. I guess I could start doing that again. But I just kind of, I'm just sitting at my house whenever I do that. And if I suck, I will stop for sure.
Starting point is 00:34:36 Okay, deal. That's the thing, too, because it doesn't really impact your performance. Like, whatever you're doing your off time, you're doing it, your off time. But even like as a teammate, like we just went out there and gave up, you know, 200 yards rushing or a big fourth. We just lost a big game. Any game is a big, every game is a big game. We just lost a game and I got to see my teammate, you know, pot in the next day or right after the game or something like that. I'm going to feel some type of way.
Starting point is 00:35:01 I know it's not impacting your performance too. I see you work every day. I see you work every day. I see your meetings. Hopefully. It's just a bad. Look, we all, we just have, you know, we just have this a radio show every week or something. When you lose, it's like, man, it's Tuesday.
Starting point is 00:35:12 I don't know. It's a show up at Hardee's and sign out. And, you know, that's just what it is. So, but it's, like you said, it's a part of it. There's a lot of money on the table. I get that part of it. Everybody understands that as a professional, but it is just a bad look overall. From our generation.
Starting point is 00:35:26 I don't know what the younger generation thinks. That's just coming from us. Yeah, yeah, true, true. For you, for dealing with it, like, how is it? What is the conversation? Because that had to evolve since you were coached with Bear Bryant to now. You know, because that Tuesday show, that Tuesday radio show thing became a very just synonymous with football. Like on Tuesday, the coach has a local show, a player mate, do a little.
Starting point is 00:35:45 show, a radio show, radio hit. That just became like normal operating business, I think, for teams. Was that a big transition when that happens? And then nowadays, how do you, because you've been alive through all of it, it coached through all of this stuff, the transition of it all. Yeah, it used to be just the coaches show, players went ever on that, you know. And you watch it just see if he's going to rip your ass on TV. Or is he going, they always say, his mom and dad, and, you know,
Starting point is 00:36:06 Coach Bryant, his show was the best. But then it just kept evolving and players gotten more involved. And now the players are on, the coaches aren't. you know, it's like, oh, that's a little different. And for me, it was just respectful of your teammates. Whatever you say, tell the truth. Wait, just be respectful of your teammates. I don't want you coming in here, somebody kicking your ass.
Starting point is 00:36:27 True. There's no need for any drama to be in this locker. We don't need drama in the locker room. And also, you can be respectful of your teammates on the field, too, like if it's a field goal and you're the holder, for instance. Okay. and there's a D-Linman that is very large
Starting point is 00:36:45 and he says something to like maybe the greatest of all-time kicker and then don't feel obligated as the punter to say something back to that guy that is very very high-level shit talk do not feel obligated to do that because you're not the person that has to actually do that
Starting point is 00:37:00 an offensive alignment now has to block said person and offensive alignment says I just got done with an 85-yard drive why are you starting any shit it for me to have to deal with right now, and that's disrespectful of me. So in the moment, I apologize. It's learning. To both parties. Okay, let's move on. And can't do it on the show, can't do it on the field. You've got to respect your teammates, build a winning culture.
Starting point is 00:37:25 And it's still possible, I think, even with the way the world is. I think for sure, I mean, that's the world today. So as a coach, you've got to adapt to it. And hopefully the right guys have the shows. Yeah, I'll tell you what. I don't know if I was the right guy for it, but I think you go back and check. one photo that photo he was in the back it was a good photo
Starting point is 00:37:46 he was in the bag there yeah that was problematic other than that pretty clean everything's up everything's still up not deleted uh joining us now ladies and gentlemen is the embodiment of the next
Starting point is 00:37:58 generation of coaching I think he's already a guy that's been put on to coach Bruce Ariens top three coaches in the entire NFL he's one to coach of the year he's turned around an operation in a program to make us all believe that anybody can play quarterback for his team and
Starting point is 00:38:14 they'd win. Ladies and gentlemen, the living legend, I'd say. Former quarterback got cut before he could sit down in a Jets building. Ladies and gentlemen, Coach Kevin O'Connell. Yeah, Coim. How you doing, dude? I'm doing well. You're about six feet away from a living legend there right to your right. Coach BA, absolutely. You're 100% right. And on that note, is right there. He thinks you're on your way, brother. He's a very big fan of yours. I don't know if you've got a chance to hear that.
Starting point is 00:38:44 Do you know Coach Bea at all, K.O.? I got a chance to shake his hand, you know, when I was a younger coach, and he was rolling there in Tampa. Always been a huge fan, obviously, going back a long time watching his offenses play, but the side of it that he's talking about, I got a chance to hear some of what you guys were just talking about. but he's a standard setter for winning culture, whether it's now 2025 or going back a long way.
Starting point is 00:39:14 Got nothing but respect for coach. Well, that's the same here, brother. I love what you're doing. And I think you could coach anybody to play quarterback except me. I went two games without completing a pass. Okay. I think that would not happen with K.O. He'd by him to fix me.
Starting point is 00:39:30 Yeah, exactly. Or if you're calling your own plays, you might have been a little bit better. But, Keo, let's talk about that. That whole narrative about you being able to coach or, you know, drop a play literally in the dirt for any quarterback. I think you have tried to humble that, humble that, humble that. We heard stories last year of you literally telling the quarterback in his headphones
Starting point is 00:39:46 until 15 seconds on the play clock, like what everybody's route was and what everything was, and he were having success. So that obviously leads to Carson Wentz here being the most recent quarterback for you to have success with. That was by far the best football that I've seen him play. That was the most in structure I've ever seen him play. What did you see from Carson Wentz that got you excited for him to come to the Vikings? and then now that you've had a chance to play a game with him or coach a game with him,
Starting point is 00:40:08 what are your thoughts about him and the Vikings offense as a whole if he has to continue to play? Yeah, well, I've always been, you know, a fan of Carson's going back a long way. I mean, I was in the division coaching in Washington as a quarterback coach and coordinator when he was playing at an unbelievable level for the Eagles. And then, you know, people forget how good of a year he had in Indianapolis. You know, there and whenever that was, 2021, I think it was. So I've always just known about the player going back to evaluating him coming out of North Dakota State. Big, strong, smart.
Starting point is 00:40:47 You know, I think the game makes sense to him in a lot of ways, both pre and post-snap. So I thought it would be a big thing for our team to add that kind of experience, you know, former second pick in the draft, a guy that's been on this quarterback journey and at different stop. and different capacities and it has a unique perspective, I think, now that not only can help our young quarterback but can really help our whole team. So that was really the hope of bringing Carson to Minnesota.
Starting point is 00:41:18 And then on top of that, once he arrived here, you start seeing a guy that this guy can do a lot of things at a really high level at the quarterback position still. He's only 32 years old, which is turning into a young, a young quarterback nowadays with the way Tom kind of reset the number at the position age-wise and what Aaron's doing now at his age, obviously. But here's what I know. I think Carson Wentz, when I think about him playing at his best,
Starting point is 00:41:51 I mentioned it to Carson this past week, and I mentioned it to our team and in the post-game press conference. I really see him as a point guard, a guy that can see the whole field. He can put the ball on play. I thought he played with great fundamentals from the pocket, a base that allowed him to be grounded and kind of make quick decisions that played right alongside his fast eyes to be able to diagnose where to find the voids and vacancies to attack the defense. And really, that's what our offense is all about. And we're trying to build plays that allow him to throw the ball in open areas to some really good players as we see right here with Justin Jefferson, unbelievable pitch and catch, you know, run after catch right there to start a two-minute drive. allow us to score on three plays. I mean, there was just a lot of Carson just kind of letting the
Starting point is 00:42:39 game come to him, being really disciplined with his feet and his eyes and trusting in the system that we have here. But at the same time, we wanted to put together a plan that he was really comfortable with, which is always the starting point to allow quarterback to go into Sunday with a bunch of confidence. And I was really happy with the way he played. Yeah, I'd say. That touchdown we just showed was to go up 48 to 3. in the third quarter week three that's a nice little start to a game you know that's an anxiety reliever we're going to 483 okay now i know what the vikings did to the colts okay i understand that there was a whole whole conversation about 33 zip earlier today with cam binem but like whenever your
Starting point is 00:43:19 team's rolling like that and you see how special it is do you get excited about that like do you know your team is the same team or better than the team that was last year like when do you think you'll get a feel of that because last year you're fighting obviously for the number one seed in the NFC with the Detroit lines last week of the season. This year, J.J. McCarthy gets hurt. Carson Wentz steps in. He has success. Feels like you're going to be able to have success offensively this season, which might have been the only question mark at quarterback. Feels like you're going to figure that out. Do you feel like the same feelings as you had last year? What did you learn from last year maybe that kind of continues this trend that you're on?
Starting point is 00:43:55 I think it's a really good question. But for us, it was more about from one Sunday to the next at U.S. Bank Stadium, and I challenged our team after our Atlanta game of really we don't even know what we don't. Yeah, no, we don't know. And now we never will. Yeah. With anger. Oh, you got frozen there. You're, hold on. I think you're muted now. And you're back. You got me? Yeah, you said, I told the team after Atlanta game that we don't even know, and then it stopped. So we thought we'd never find out, to be clear, but your team did find out. now and you don't even know yeah you know pat we didn't know really what we are we did so many things in that game um that you know didn't give us a chance to win the game by some of the things we were
Starting point is 00:44:43 doing to ourselves and uh what i asked for was to uh allow our our philosophy on winning games to come to life and and that was uh forcing some turnovers on defense protecting the ball on offense you know having some physicality at the line of scrimmage to be able to run the football and then generate a completion mindset in the past game to allow our playmakers to make plays. I thought our kicking game, both our punter and our kicker were phenomenal. The coverage units with a bunch of young players on it were phenomenal. And I thought the way Flo called the defense from an attacking mentality from the jump, just kind of allowed the energy and the momentum of the game to just play off of all three phases for 60 minutes. And I told our
Starting point is 00:45:28 team afterwards. We now have the answer of what it can look like. But we've got to understand that it was about the preparation for the week, the mindset coming off of the fact that we had to deal with a little adversity head on. And in this day and age, if you allow things to outside your building from the noise and hey, this is what they are, this is what they aren't. And I understand all that. That's what makes our game so great and popular is people want to talk about our game 24-7. and they want to watch our game 24-7. Hell, yeah. But it still is old-school principles of figuring out what it's going to take to win a game.
Starting point is 00:46:04 What is your identity of your team look like? And that may be different from last year to answer your original question. And it's about the identity of this team and then putting that together and making it come to life against NFL teams and game plans where things are going to be hard at times. And that's one of the best parts of this team, our leadership and our coaching staff need to band together. to find a way to win a game a week. And I know that's a cliche, but you get too far away from that. You can find yourself searching for answers
Starting point is 00:46:35 that don't need to be too far away. They're right in front of you sometimes. You just got to go to work and fix some of the things that will give you a great chance to win a game. Hey, the process, the process, the process, the process, the process. We're trying to win right now, right now, right now. This meeting, right now. Let's win this meal right now.
Starting point is 00:46:52 Let's win this conversation right now. And then the game, guess what? Yeah. When itself, everything else has to happen. The more you can get the team focused on that, the better, but boy, after beating the shit out of a team, it is tough to do that. That's why I would not be a good head coach, because I'd be with the boys. Hey.
Starting point is 00:47:09 Yeah. Carson, this backup quarterback, boy, we smoked the Bengals. They were talking about the bankers, maybe winning the Super Bowl, these motherfuckers. It'd be hard not to do that, yeah. So we know we're a part of the problem. So just know that we are a part of the problem, but good on you being the one that has the handle of that. It's not just you, though. There's another legend on that coaching staff that you just referenced. Go ahead, Dee Bud. Yeah, coach, I know you go way back with
Starting point is 00:47:30 Brian Flores and Bruce, you can run the video while I'm asking this question. Like, what is it like preparing, you know, against this guy, sharpening, I guess, iron versus iron, preparing going into the game because his defense, you talked about the attacking style, but even before the snap he's even had, if you're looking at the screen, all these different things that the quarterback has to deal with. So I want to know what it's like going in to a game or even to a season with him and then the performance of Isaiah Rogers. I want you to talk about that a little bit as well. Yeah, well, I can tell you, Dee, but that I'm always probably the happiest guy when
Starting point is 00:48:03 training camp's over because we no longer have to, you know, really prepare on a daily basis for just about anything because the way Flo and his staff operate, they're trying to give those players and it helps a lot having a guy like Harrison Smith back on the field, Andrew Van Ginkle back on the field to truly unleash kind of that think tank of flow and his staff of disguise and applying, you know, mental pressure to go along with the physical pressure that they can bring every single snap. And then what are the counterpunches off of that? How are they protecting some of those looks? Making, you know, a lot of things start out looking the same, but they're different. Just really good principles of football. And the best thing about flow is
Starting point is 00:48:46 his ability to teach it, his ability to give the players ownership of each and every plan each week to allow them to just go out there and play fast and make it all come to life. You know, he allows me to go in there and talk to the defense on Saturdays, you know, the day before the game, the plans in. I kind of have a good feel for that plan. And it's one of the most fun times I have all week because these guys are absolutely ready to, you know, get to the stadium the next day and go play and go do their thing. But it's all the work that goes in that leads into that moment and then ultimately into these games that I think Flo and his staff do a tremendous job. And I'm so fortunate to have him here commanding that defense. And
Starting point is 00:49:29 what it brings to the mentality of our whole team week in and week out has been a winning edge for us. There's no question about that. I love it you going and talk to the defense. I also appreciate every time we have a miced up video of you talking to the team. You're a great communicator bro you're uh you're a you're a great i don't know b a phenomenal communicator had his own way of doing things the way b a talked obviously chuck bagano i heard him he was uh more of a storyteller okay he was telling stories out there and he would act that shit out every once in one as well rich rodriguez this guy hilariously intense human being okay like that is had a great message was all of them come in different ways your delivery and your messaging and your communication with
Starting point is 00:50:09 uh the team obviously because you're an ex player you probably maybe saw a coach that acted similar to how you act now, maybe got some influence from, or how do you find who you are? And then how much are you thinking about the messages that you're sending? Are you reading books, watching movies, looking things up?
Starting point is 00:50:25 Chat GPT, GROC, maybe. How are you figuring out, oh, AI's got a big fucking brain. Gross. Whoa. GROC has gotten a few things wrong. Chat GPT. All right, GROC.
Starting point is 00:50:37 What was he saying? What was GROC saying out there? We can talk about aftercoach. You know, I don't want to make this coach. Grox's been wrong a little bit. Grox put on a little bit of a terror. But on that note, how do you come up with the messages and why do you think you communicate the way you do?
Starting point is 00:50:50 Is it kind of following somebody else that you've seen or played for? Yeah, I think the one thing I learned after all these years and whether it was being a rookie around, you know, Coach Belichick, you know, getting to win a Super Bowl with Sean McVeigh, there was a lot of great coaches in between along that journey of being a player and a coach. I could not do this job unless I was me. Just authentically me every single day,
Starting point is 00:51:17 I think it would be awfully hard to try to be somebody else and then try to handle the moments of adversity while you're playing the part of somebody else. That just seems like an impossible task. So what I've tried to do is just figure out the principles of who, you know, I want our organization to be. And then I want to consistently be the version of that for our guys, so that they never have to wonder who they're going to get in front of them.
Starting point is 00:51:45 They never have to question the authenticity of the message. They know it comes from a place that is in the best interest of them, both as players and as people and ultimately about growth and development of everybody, me included. That's probably the best way to answer it. I would say that the messaging postgame is authentic and as real as it gets because I really do not think about any of those things before I go in there. And it's more about making sure I acknowledge the people that had performances that day that led us to winning football games.
Starting point is 00:52:19 Many times it goes back to conversations one-on-one with the player, like a Christian Darrasaw throughout the week of, hey, I envision handing you a football after this game and saying how proud I am of you and what you mean to me and what you mean to this organization, the journey you've been on post-injury. That's where we're going. let's figure out how we're going to get there throughout the week is what I believe the formula to doing that is. You can't be one without the other. That wouldn't be coaching. That would just be motivational speaking at that point. You've got to be able to fulfill your obligation as a coach to then back it up with the messaging that you have. And I do it all through the lens of as a former player who don't, I never really thought I reached my truest potential.
Starting point is 00:53:03 And it wasn't a coach's fault, but it was more of a mindset of me. you know, allowing my mind to worry and focus on things that were outside of my control. So I'm constantly trying to be that voice for our guys to allow them to focus on the present, focus on what actually matters to help them win football games. And through that process, you build unbelievable relationships. I'm sure coach can attest to this is that what he probably looks back on the fondest is just the relationships on an individual level with players. even in this day and age
Starting point is 00:53:35 with the dynamic of the college level that these players come from guys, you can still form relationships that matter, you can still form things that will glue together your team in a way that allows you to handle the ups and downs of an NFL season
Starting point is 00:53:52 and it's my favorite part of the job if I'm being honest with you. That's awesome to hear you just gave like a full synopsis on coaching and relationships and wisdom and passing things on to other people. That was wonderful listen, thank you for that. And Coach B.A., you coach with Bear Bryant, okay, all the way through, you know, coaching Tom Brady here in the boys down in Tampa Bay. How did you find who you were?
Starting point is 00:54:14 And is it all just about finding the best version of the players? That's all you're trying to do? Yeah, I think players, they see through bullshit. First thing, you cannot bullshit players, man. You've got to be honest with them. And the truth hurts sometimes. I say, my door is always open. You might not get the answer you want to hear, but you don't get the truth. all right and why you're not playing you guys you suck right now now you can get better but you ain't trying to get better all right now they'll look at you like i thought you'd hand me the job no you got to earn this shit and uh but you got you got to be real with them all the time and i think they really really respect that yeah i think so and kOC not every ex player is a good
Starting point is 00:54:51 coach either man so that's a trait that i think you know only very few have congrats on having that and the game is lucky that you're deciding to give back now on that note game giving You've got a couple international games here. Go in Germany? No, Ireland. Yeah, the McQaid Bowl. Yeah, I forgot. You got Pittsburgh in Ireland.
Starting point is 00:55:09 Yeah. There's a chance. McCarthy or Carson. I don't know if the decision's been made, whatever the case. I'm going to put you in a shit right now. Carson Wentz run around there in Ireland, though. You could pick up an entire country of fans. First one off the bus, no matter what.
Starting point is 00:55:23 Yeah, yeah, definitely. And potentially make sure everybody sees that red shit. Yeah, maybe have them play with a leather helmet. Yeah, and wear shit. Yeah. Do the whole thing. Do the whole thing, okay? Have them do that.
Starting point is 00:55:33 You might pick up the entire country. Pittsburgh Steelers have a deep history with Ireland, you know, ambassador over there and everything like that. Going to be electrifying. Their fans are awesome from what our experience was with college ball. What is your thoughts quickly, when I have like 30 seconds or so, on the back-to-back international games and what you're saying to the boys about making history here in Ireland? Yeah, I think it's, you know, from the jump, it's always been about a great opportunity
Starting point is 00:55:56 for us. I mean, to get to play in Ireland first and foremost is going to be an unbelievable. experience. We've had success doing the kind of the one game trip before. That's how we'll handle this first game. And then we'll make our way over to London and we'll have a full week of preparation there before going into the buy. But I can tell you this much to get to play these games at these unbelievable venues that we're technically the road team at both these games. But I know what it's like to have to go to Pittsburgh or have to go to Cleveland in those atmospheres and environments. You know, I know it's going to be electric, but
Starting point is 00:56:31 it beats being the road team, the true road team on the, you know, going to some of these places to play, these hostile environments. And we've got to go there and try to, you know, it's a great opportunity to build new Vikings fans, you know, make people learn about our team, how we roll, how we operate, and go compete and try to win a couple of games against two really good teams. Yeah, we got Kevin O'Connell, JJ McCarthy, and Justin McGefferson coming off the bus. All right, good luck out there, man.
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Starting point is 00:57:54 I jumped off sound yeah That's a hard count. That's a 47-year football coach. BA there, obviously, an incredible amount of wisdom, and also stories and enlightenment on ball that have certainly changed the vibes in the Thunderdome every time he's in here.
Starting point is 00:58:13 We appreciate the hell out of you. The toxic tables here at Boston Connor and at Ty Schmidt. Nine-year NFL vet, host of Everything, DB, good, bad, D, the man-to-man podcast and NFL matchup show. Ladies and gentlemen, Darius Jay Butler. Is that back? He's not back yet, Mr. Kim. We're working.
Starting point is 00:58:28 He's on the board as well. Yeah, he's busy right now, man. I mean, we've been working on the pod season two for months, brother. It's going to take some time. When's that coming back? Let's go to Detroit Lions super fan, Evan Foxy. The pod not coming back is heartbreaking news on this glorious Tuesday for you. Listen, I'm so jacked up.
Starting point is 00:58:47 There's not many things that can make me more happy after that Detroit Lionsman, but if the pod came back, I'd be the happiest person on Earth. Truly. Oh, yeah, well, guess what? Not everybody has a cool team that doesn't. fun shit on offense and he's in a cabood all time okay so let's you shut up well then why don't you give me a cool podcast that I can listen to okay I was just gonna say you are in luck because it is in production right now we've actually just
Starting point is 00:59:11 been given the heads up we're looking at a 2028 season so I didn't know we're allowed to say that well yeah I was selling it I know I didn't want to just spit it out but I figured you know what they're asking for it let's just all right Let's get a count that Teaser, eight teaser drops next week, too. Don't forget. Let's get a count down. This is like Avatar, the movies.
Starting point is 00:59:34 Yeah. Exactly. That big of a production. It's going to be. Just don't do anything to the whales. Okay. Yeah. Do whatever you got to do, just don't do anything to the whales.
Starting point is 00:59:41 We will say the villains will be similar. Okay. Live from Hammer. Dod. It's one half of the hammer. D. Cowboys AP Tone. Tone.
Starting point is 00:59:54 In the first hour, we didn't chat much about college ball. Huge weekend this weekend for college. Obviously, we're heading up to Happy Valley for college game day for Oregon versus Penn State, which is a real, okay, here we go. Now we're playing football for both those teams, which we have for the rest of the year. What are some other games that we should be looking at? College ball is about to throw, I think, 105 maybe on the tape, right on the tape, right on the black. Yeah, I didn't remember it was paint or tape. You can say it both work. Okay, well, that's MLB talk. It's been to one league you're playing in. And also, I wanted to pump a couple, Dean.
Starting point is 01:00:27 Shout out Kershaw. Yeah, shout out, Kershaw. We're a run. But anyways, 1005, right there on a paint. Says college football, basically weekend, week in, week out. Certainly this upcoming weekend. Yeah, week one was incredible with those three top ten matchups. This is the best weekend since then.
Starting point is 01:00:45 Obviously, you talked about Oregon at Penn State. It'll most likely be a whiteout Oregon going in there. It is a whiteout. There you go. Neither of these teams have played anybody. yet. So it's going to be really exciting to see that one. But there are a ton, Pat. Alabama is at Georgia. So, I mean, that one could decide the SEC. Alabama has played much better since losing to Florida State. Obviously, Georgia had that big win against Tennessee. USC goes into
Starting point is 01:01:09 Illinois. Now, USC has been the talk of the Big Ten as far as teams that aren't getting talked about enough. You know, Stanford Steve and all those saying USC should be ranked higher. They go into Illinois who came off a huge loss to Indiana. But it's a, it's a chance for both. of those teams to make a statement there. Ohio State goes to Washington. It's kind of really their first test since Texas this season, so that's an interesting one. LSU and Ole Miss. LSU ranked number four, but their wins now are against Florida
Starting point is 01:01:38 and Clemson. So do we have a good view on LSU or not? And then going to L's OMS. They've got a 6'5 safety. They got a 6'3 corner, I think. I believe in them. Do I believe in Brian Kelly? He might not make it through the rest of the season. Two big hits already. Two MRIs on Brian Kelly due to sideline shots. One from a ref, one from two gigantic SEC linemen,
Starting point is 01:02:03 just taking him out while he's trying to call a timeout. Well, Brian Kelly make it through this season. And is LSU for real this season? Obviously, huge tests this weekend, we shall see tone. Yep, and Auburn and A. Whoa, Tony, Tony, whoa. Are we going to skip over the one storyline of Ole Miss LSU that hit the wire yesterday? I didn't want to bring that up.
Starting point is 01:02:22 I mean, if I feel like I should. Well, maybe, maybe not. Okay, fine. Then we won't. What do you think? I mean, I think. There's a relationship that hit the internet? I don't even think we have to bet.
Starting point is 01:02:32 We don't have to talk about the relationship, but the head coach didn't tweet something. So what did head coach say? The head coach said take the over. So I'm just saying that. And if the head coach says something like that, honestly, really, if anybody, if anybody says something to me, like, take the over, I'm going to do it. If the head coach says it, I mean, there's a chance I owe somebody my skin. by Monday if they don't get
Starting point is 01:02:54 oldness is a great over team great especially motivated and I appreciate Lane Kiffin the way he operates to just everything that he does he's been there done that with everything did you cross
Starting point is 01:03:06 with Coach Kiffin Coach Lane Kiffin at all I coach with his dad Monty who's one of the best ever no lane and really respect him he runs a hell of an offense so what is it about his offense do you like how aggressive it is how wide open
Starting point is 01:03:19 yeah I think he's kind of like Kevin O'Connell whoever's playing quarterback for him, plays great. And Lane does a great job, but putting him in great positions, throws the ball down the field. It's going to score a lot of points, and it's going to always, when Ole Miss is playing, it's going to be entertaining. Yeah, certainly, and he is a lightning
Starting point is 01:03:34 rod as well. I mean, he'll throw the clipby. I mean, he'll do he was throwing oops last week. Yeah, it was crazy. Absolutely crazy. Empty stadium, do you see that? Yes. In the background while he's throwing an hoop. Was that 1,000 to nothing? Yeah. It was at Memphis, so. Okay. They left out of it. Yeah. Memphis.
Starting point is 01:03:50 Sorry, Tulane. Okay, sorry. They left out of there. I confused. Arkansas was at Memphis. Arkansas lost Memphis last week. Arkansas thought they were all the way back to it. Texas Tech fans pissed that none of us picked them.
Starting point is 01:04:03 They were certainly got some of that. Tech's tech for real. Yeah, don't worry. They're going to get picked. Hey, going to be picking Texas Tech. Going forward. Yeah, message delivered. All right, shout to college ball for always delivering.
Starting point is 01:04:14 How's Ohio State? Not really talked about. They haven't played anybody since Texas. And, you know, Texas hasn't looked great on office. So Washington's okay. It's a tough travel for them. So we'll get some answers there this weekend. Joining us now, ladies and gentlemen,
Starting point is 01:04:28 is in Ohio State Hall of Famer, a man who has a tree on campus named after him. And also a bird, a hawk in the said tree that lives there. Has a hawk keeper that comes and make sure it lives in that tree and not any of the other trees that all the alumni that are prestigious get on campus. And that hawk has created a family, much like his family, where there's 10 children out there. That particular hawk can say it's a college football national champion,
Starting point is 01:04:53 a Super Bowl champion, and a rider cup winner. Ladies and gentlemen, A.J. Hawk. How is that hawk that lives on the tree on Ohio State's campus that they do for you? Yeah, I think he's doing great. I think they put a little collar on them. They chain them to the tree and give them like a hundred foot line, so he can't really go too far. 100 foot is what, three or four of these for hawks?
Starting point is 01:05:11 Nothing. It's not that far, yeah. You think you could do that? Could you chain a hawk to a tree? No. The hawks chain and you to a tree, brother. You ever seen those things? Yeah, I mean, you've got to have your respects.
Starting point is 01:05:24 How about last night? It feels like the brand new lions are for real. Feels like that win is huge. And then for the Ravens, there's a lot of questions being asked about, you know, maybe the cut of the jib over there for what's been happening late in games to the Ravens. What are your thoughts, AJ, on an electrifying over thriller last night between two of the games best? Yeah, this is an awesome game to watch. I mean, Detroit, what they had 11 play drive, 18 play drive, those things like,
Starting point is 01:05:47 that's a special thing to do. that offense has to gain so much confidence, I feel like, moving forward from that. But I didn't take it like, oh, the Ravens are garbage. The Ravens can't figure it out. I think the Ravens is going to be fine. I took it more as, hey, these Detroit Lions, they are, we slept on them. I picked against them, so that's all me. The Lions let me know, hey, we are still here, and we're not taking a step back.
Starting point is 01:06:07 I think this was a huge deal for them. Getting a win like. Coach Bea said the Ravens still, yeah, great hit. Coach Bea said the Ravens still going to win the AFC North, so they'll be in the playoffs. And to your point there, AJ, look. Good. Okay, it looked good. And I think Ravens fans probably, you know, not exactly thrilled about what's been happening, maybe late here early in the season. But this line seems going to be around in the end, we all assume, right? And this is how the game went. I think both sides take a lot from this and move forward better from this particular game.
Starting point is 01:06:36 And then if you think about this Baltimore Ravens team, they got the chiefs this weekend. One of these teams is going to end up one in three. We got some stats from Hembo actually texted over. What's the stat? Yeah, it's about the NFL playoffs average one team basically over the last. last like eight, nine years that goes one and three, starts one and three and ends up going to the playoffs. Last year, it was the Rams. The Rams ended up one and three and they lost in the division. And I think there was a couple year gap. And then there was one year, I think it was 2021 where three teams actually made it after starting one and three. So it should actually not be kind of a complete detriment if you start one and three in your season is not over. New England
Starting point is 01:07:13 Patriots actually started one and three and then won a Super Bowl. So that has happened in the And then since 1990, 34 of 235 teams that started 1 in 3 May the postseason. Okay, so it's not like a, it's not an it's over sentence, Coach B.A. How do you feel about all the stats on how you perform early on what teams have done in the past? Obviously, you've got to keep it out, but there's stats for a reason. And whenever your team's struggling early, what is the messaging? Is it always long term still everything in front of us? Do you think everybody's saying?
Starting point is 01:07:38 Yeah, I think it's the same thing that Kevin said earlier. It's week to week. You know, it's week to week. and a lot of injuries from training camp. I think some teams not playing guys in the preseason start off slow, but then they start picking it up and the real football starts at Thanksgiving. When Thanksgiving's rolling, you want to be in the hunt
Starting point is 01:07:57 from Thanksgiving to Christmas and then you finish it to New Year's and roll on. So you can't get yourself too far out before Thanksgiving. Right. The O and three is you're out. The one in fours, you're out. But the one and threes, sometimes you're missing a key ingredient. might be a quarterback.
Starting point is 01:08:13 And all of a sudden you get him back or it might be your left tackle. You get guys back and you get it going. Then you get that stuff and that ingredient for Thanksgiving. And that's when your rookie should kick in. All your draft picks should be ready to play
Starting point is 01:08:26 by Thanksgiving if they're not the highest pick playing already. On that note, ladies and gentlemen, there has been a breaking of news for the New York Football Giants. Jackson Dart will be starting for the New York Football Giants going forward.
Starting point is 01:08:40 Dayball was non-committal at first to who's going to be a starter. Now Jackson Dart, the future of the New York Giants, we'll be wearing the starter helmet. Congratulations to Jackson Dart. Congratulations to the Giants fans who I think were wanting this. Not just because of a fourth down in the fourth quarter, whenever you need it in the red zone, throwing the ball off the bottom of the upright and throwing it away, but also because if we're 0 and 3, why the hell would we not want to see what the future looks like? Well, the immediate comment is the schedule is not great. to have him start. They don't have a buy until
Starting point is 01:09:14 like week 14 or something like that. Then you look at the schedule and it's like, well, their division's tough, so they're going to have to play tough teams regardless. But boy, some of these are tough. You obviously have to take on an incredible Chargers team. Who's the D.C.? Jesse Mentor. Then you
Starting point is 01:09:30 get a chance to go down to the Saints in your second start, which is good. Dona's Super Dome, but this might be positive with the D.C. It's Brandon Staley. Okay, so we got one game before we head down to the Saints. And then immediately afterwards, Eagles, Denver, Eagles, San Francisco, Chicago. There it is.
Starting point is 01:09:45 Who knows what they are. Green Bay, Detroit, New England, buy. So that run is not going to be easy for any quarterback, but now for a rookie quarterback getting his first start with this particular New York Giants team. Coach Bea, what are your thoughts on dropping him in there? Is there ever a right time to put a rookie quarterback in? Is that a real thing?
Starting point is 01:10:04 And how do you think this kind of fares and how do you think they got to this decision? Yeah, I definitely think it was time to drop the clipboard. All right, start getting the reps in practice, start playing. I think his legs can add so much to that offense. Now, be smart and slide. You don't have to show how tough you are, all right?
Starting point is 01:10:20 Get your ass hurt. But his legs will help get some first downs, I think, that they haven't had. And the energy that he brings, and he can throw the damn football really, really well. Making this decision, how hard? Very hard? Not hard?
Starting point is 01:10:32 No, for me, I'd have made it three weeks ago. You told us actually more than three weeks ago. It would have been a few months ago. There would never been a decision made at the beginning. to a decision to have to make. But getting reps, regardless of what they look like, even if you're going against a terrible defense, is good for a quarterback's development in your eyes?
Starting point is 01:10:49 You've got to get reps, man. You've got to see things. And, you know, your scout team does a great job of posing the other team's defense and reading it. You can't learn anything just watching. You know, you've got to physically do it. Your brain has to work so fast.
Starting point is 01:11:05 And the only way you get that going is to get out there and play. Tebow, your thoughts on the move to Jackson Dart? I mean, I agree with him. Even with everything else they did this offseason, bringing in Russ, bringing in James. But once you draft the guy in the first round, what we saw in the preseason, which are glorified practices, but they're full speed, you got to do protections,
Starting point is 01:11:24 you got to come out of the huddle, you've got to take hits. We saw them performing a high level. So most people didn't have high expectations for Russ in there or James. So you drafted this kid to play high. He played in the SEC where there are big time, it's big time ball being played. And you talk about, hey, when is the perfect? time to drive like it's the national football league every week you know packers went and lost to the
Starting point is 01:11:45 browns like nobody had that on their on their menu but every week you got to go out and win either at home or in the tough environment so you got to throw in that fire you got to throw them in that fire let them learn b a said it can't learn holding the clipboard i think prime said the same thing on with the kelsey uh bros on the podcast so yeah get him in that fire let him make some plays and bring some juice we hurt the crowd every time he came in the game and then we heard the crowd every time he left. So starting 0 and 3, starting his hole. Let's see what you got with the rookie early. Is he going to where to change? He has to.
Starting point is 01:12:14 Oh, it has to. Yeah, I've got to keep the moxie. AJ, what do you think defenses are thinking taking on Jackson, Dartford's maybe a Russell Wilson? Well, you know, it's the old cliche coaches, hey, we're going to heat him up. We want this rookie to not feel comfortable. We want to get him off the spot, blitz him, all that. Sometimes you might be giving him some quick options if the quarterback is pretty good, and he can identify the blitzes and get the protection
Starting point is 01:12:34 set. But, yeah, you've got to find a way to make him uncomfortable. I think I think you got to hit him early like if he tries to run if he wants to run a little zone read or whatever we might take a 15 yarder bud landing on top of you at you know four or five yards down the field
Starting point is 01:12:47 not in any way dirty way but the way that we would tackle a running back I think and you just got to let him know early on and Jackson Dart he'll probably pop up and it'll get him be more juice though sometimes you wake a guy up like that yeah sometimes guys are looking for that
Starting point is 01:13:00 remember Joe Burrow that was one of his things oh look take a massive shot so I could just feel alive out there Danny Dimes got to hit Yeah, sometimes that'll wake you up. Yeah, I'll go through the... Tennessee, you got jacked up too on the goal.
Starting point is 01:13:13 Yes, exactly, trying to go. Yeah, he is one of those guys. We don't like that he likes it, but maybe DART is one of those guys. Is that still exist, coach? You heard AJ right there. That's an old school mindset. You also old school coach. D. Butt also, we're old at this stage of the game.
Starting point is 01:13:29 Him saying, yeah, first, we're definitely going to get an extra. Sorry about that, buddy. That's still happening in the NFL always going to happen in a physical contact game? I'll be shocked if it ever stops. Okay. Football. That's a divisional game we won against Broncos in Denver to go to the FC championship. First drive, third in like five, six maybe.
Starting point is 01:13:50 Payton, he was kind of banged up that year. Late cold, boom, throws it. Misses Art Jones. Late, a little low, maybe around the knees. Rest of the game, Peyt wasn't the same. Rest of the, like, so took the penalty. At that point, we're pissed off. He just got to stop.
Starting point is 01:14:04 Come on, Art. Come on, Art. Come on, Art, I see what you're doing. Art, I had a water soup bowl at that point coming over from Baltimore. You know, that's just football. Obviously, your player safety, we're not trying to hurt anybody out there,
Starting point is 01:14:16 but you're trying to win their game. Yeah, that's a little thought. Yeah, he's a rookie, you know. So, like, in the MLB, in MLB, you know, we've heard stories about umpires with rookie pitchers, you know, and what that strike zone looks like. Like, no, we're throwing hitable balls up here, but.
Starting point is 01:14:34 Fuck this guy. Go right down the middle. Like the way they're doing, it's like rookies in the NFL also have those moments as well, especially quarterbacks. Now, Jackson's got a lot of moxie. That's what I was going to say. He might be one of those guys where if you do hit him late, like that flips a switch and he just goes, yeah. Starts jaw. Yeah, exactly, and throws five touchdowns or you never know.
Starting point is 01:14:55 Might be Dayball's guy. Do you know Dayball well? And as you do know him? So what does Jackson Dart you think like just from outside looking in? I don't know if you got a chance to meet him during the whole Combine draft. process down there in Tampa Bay. Him and Dayball good for each other, you think? And does Dayball feel the heat, obviously?
Starting point is 01:15:12 He knows that there's a little bit of heat over there. I think Brian, we all know what's going on. But I think starting Jackson Dart, getting him started, if he starts playing well, Brian saves his job. I don't think they have to win a lot of games, but if Jackson Dart starts playing well and he's coached well, which he will be, because Brian, damn good coach, and he'll save his job that way. interesting didn't even think about that because in my eyes if this is last year he's not going to think about the future but instead maybe it's not last year show some development huh get these giants fans to believe this is what the future looks like let's go to the giant's fan bruce you're excited about this looks like that's first smile you've had since the game yeah i'm fired up hope springs eternal i feel bad for all you guys you guys only got one week one i got two now week four is now week one again i love it um jackson dart has the operative
Starting point is 01:16:04 to be the first rookie quarterback to beat a 3-0 team since Jerry Garcia, or Jeff Garcia, sorry. Jerry Garcia was great. He won a bunch. Yeah, Jeff Garcia, though, remember his days. What a weapon. Yeah, Jeff Garcia was awesome. He was absolute
Starting point is 01:16:22 weapon. Such an athlete. I remember him just bouncing around. So I'm a ball head. Yep. He was in the quarterback challenges, those old ones. And winning at the Pro Bowl. If I had to guess, if he was doing that. First time since Jeff Garcia's on the here, Darry Street. Wow, now, I mean, it's week four.
Starting point is 01:16:37 So at this point in the season, you know, teams, B.A. talked about not playing the preseason. But at this point, we always talk about the quartermark, you just mentioned earlier. This point in season, these defenses, these are, they know who we are. We know who we are, right? We know who the charges.
Starting point is 01:16:49 We know who we're good at. We know what we're good at. We know what players are playing well in position. So putting Jackson Dart in is the right time, but you're hitting it while these teams are in their, hitting their form. And now he's, you know, the guys, the offense, the play call is, everybody's going to have to
Starting point is 01:17:04 get used to Jackson Dart while he's getting used to real NFL live action, too. So maybe rough at first, but he's a rookie and you got the talent. So I'm excited for it. I know Giants fans are excited. I love the. Love the face, man. Love the marks. Eighthaw, last night it delivered quite a punch, you know, maybe it carries over to Jackson
Starting point is 01:17:22 Dart. Other breaking news that happened, AJ, while we've been live, Mike Gundy, fired from Oklahoma State football. We'll say, Mike, hell overrun. Yeah, love Mike. I don't know if that's how you're supposed to immediately respond to somebody being announced to be firing, say, hey, it was a hell of a run. This one seemed like it was on the horizon for a little bit.
Starting point is 01:17:40 Let's go to Hammer. Dodd-ton. Felt like this was being talked about a little bit. I didn't know if it was actually going to happen anytime a coach is at a place for so long and becomes the institution. Obviously, making this type of move requires a lot of people saying yes to, and then also how you handle it, how the rollout is, is obviously a big part of the deal. Don, did we expect this out of Oklahoma State?
Starting point is 01:18:00 I don't think so. I don't know. Because like what you said, he's been there for 21 years. And before last season, he only had one losing season in those 20 years, and that was his first season. And then his second losing season was obviously last year when they were disappointing. They brought back 20 starters. They brought back Ollie Gordon. Like they were supposed to potentially win the Big 12 last season.
Starting point is 01:18:21 Things have not gone well the last two years, obviously the disappointment of last year. And then this year losing by 70 or whatever to Oregon and then losing to Tulsa last week. It was going to happen at some point. I didn't know if they'd let them maybe walk away, keep a position at the university because of how long he's been there or whatever, but it just got to a point where it seemed like it had to happen. But being there for 21 years and two losing season,
Starting point is 01:18:46 21 years, incredible run at Oklahoma State, and it's tough to see him go out like that. What have you done for me today is what the world is? But that is a hell of a run. I'll be excited to see what they do next. He becomes the third college football coach that he's been fired. UCLA fires coach Foster. that was bad from the beginning.
Starting point is 01:19:03 I don't know if UCLA, we love Coach Foster, but that one didn't go well literally from Big Ten Media Day all the way through the entirety. Got Nico Iomaleava, then it goes worse somehow. I don't know how football-related UCLA wants to be,
Starting point is 01:19:20 but maybe they'll be able to get in. I don't know. I hope they do, though. I hope UCLA, the Bruins, are a great football brand. I hope everybody's a great football brand. And then Virginia Tech also fired Coach Pride now. Joining us live in the Thunderdome is a man that was just reported as of yesterday being a part of the consulting group, basically, for Virginia Tech. He is Virginia Tech Hokie alumni. Virginia Tech Hokey beloved.
Starting point is 01:19:44 I mean, this guy loves Virginia Tech. And also, I think he's, you have a, I don't know how many records you have Virginia Tech at the quarterback position, but I know there's a lot of them that are very impactful to society as a whole. Virginia Tech looking for a coach. So now Oklahoma State's in the game, UCLA's in the game, and now you guys are Virginia Tech. in the game. How does that process go and what are you looking for at this point? It has to be business, almost like business angle of it as well? Or how do you kind of view the entire process? Yeah, the whole thing changes all business now. And you've got to find a businessman. I think first thing for Virginia Tech, we're going to hire a general manager and get him in charge of
Starting point is 01:20:19 football. Then we'll get into the coaching search. And we're just in the ground stages now, but the university is making a huge financial commitment so that we could compete in the ACC like we should be. And, you know, I want to see, I want to see, I want to see, I want to see, I I want to see Virginia Tech back when Sandman's blasting and we're winning games. outrageous. I mean, it was great time. And then the walk to the stadium is even its own little adventure. It's like that place was built to be a college football place, it feels like. The vibes are that. Will the team ever get there? You said Virginia Tech is offering up a huge financial boost for the football team. That's seemingly happening in a lot of different places. I saw
Starting point is 01:21:21 West Virginia making an announcement that we will be a part of the top funded tier, whatever that. What does that mean? What does that mean? It's probably about $50 million into the athletic Department and for all sports, but that's what you're going to have to have in the NAL business now. And, you know, you've recruited a guy this year. You've got to recruit him back next year. And, you know, all they want to do is how much money am I going to make? But it's changed. And you've got to get people now that they're in tune with the new business. Pete Thamel reported what you were talking about here with Virginia Tech. Board of Visitors officially proposes athletics budget increase. It's set to begin pending the current fiscal year.
Starting point is 01:21:57 From the current $144 million is set to jump to $190 million. $204 million in the fiscal year in 2027 and 207 in 2028, which is when the pod will be coming out, and $212 million in the fiscal year of 2029. So an increased budget for athletics as a whole at Virginia Tech, hopefully it'll pay off. But remember, as you and Coach Saban have said in the past, you pay the wrong guy, you're shit out of luck. Making this decision is a big deal, especially because I think universities feel obligated to have patience with people. Like, hey, we hired this person to run this job because this was their plan. Whenever they suck early, sticking with them, or if they suck early,
Starting point is 01:22:36 believing in the vision is obviously a big piece of it. But what if the vision never, you know, then what if you're just like this? That can happen. That's why I'm happy you're over there helping Virginia Tech, legitimately. I'm really looking forward to it. I'm very honored to be part of it. What are you looking for? You're looking for somebody who loves ball.
Starting point is 01:22:51 Exactly. I'm going to see a guy that not only can coach and make adjustments, but also. So get out there and get the folks excited and raise money, too, because that's a big part of it now. And we've got to have a charismatic guy that actually can coach ball. I think you're talking about it. Here we go. I'm too old for that, brother.
Starting point is 01:23:11 I thought that fiscal year bump was for you, brother. They're building a golf course out there as well. Let's go to one of our favorite segments that has been added to this program. And, AJ, it is great to see you alive. But I think you even would say it was, wasn't it? Yeah. I didn't like that photo Me neither
Starting point is 01:23:28 That was sad It was sad It's upsetting Why I wasn't I'm still here I'm doing well But still you look at it For a second
Starting point is 01:23:34 You're like wait Wait Yeah Did he die And does he look like that So I just died on camera I guess Is that what you would look like
Starting point is 01:23:40 I think so too Because if they I think your head Because you're trapped Tilt it a little bit I think it would hold it up Try it played it I think that is what it would look
Starting point is 01:23:48 I don't like it either He is not That is not real That is not real That is not real people that don't know what an absolute honor. But even you would say, AJ, or dead you would say, that BS or no BS with BA has become must watch and must do for us.
Starting point is 01:24:06 Yeah, without a doubt. Ladies and gentlemen, it's another round of BS or no BS with BA where we will state headlines or statements of fact, and BA will tell us if it is bullshit or not bullshit. And this has become good because these are some headlines that could potentially run a little bit. Ty has the first one for your coach. Yeah, in the first hour we talked about John Harbaugh.
Starting point is 01:24:25 And, you know, Pat laid out the stats, how many blown fourth quarter leads they have. For whatever reason, you know, they just can't seem to close it out. We always expect them to be one of those teams to win a Super Bowl. But now a lot of people are saying, John Harbaugh has become a liability for the Baltimore Ray. Yeah, I know. John? So I'm asking you, B.A., is that BS or no BS? No, that's total BS.
Starting point is 01:24:49 John Harbaugh is a hell of a coach. And there are a lot of things that go into it. that fourth quarter defense got to get fixed, that's for sure. And I'm sure Chuck and the guys over there on defense are going to get it fixed, get those guys back healthy, and they're going to be there in November, December. Baltimore Ravens, they got Lamar. They got everything it takes. They're scoring points, and that defense is going to catch back up for sure.
Starting point is 01:25:12 John Harbaugh is one hell of a coach. Do you think just like Coach Tomlin, whenever you're around a place for a long time, and I guess Mike Gundy, we could say when you're around a place for a long time, you set your own standard and expectation, and if you're not consistently exceeding that, the fans naturally going to say, are we getting better or we just, like, do you think that just comes with consistency at a position? Hardball's been there forever. He is the Baltimore Ravens. Yeah, totally. And like you say, you raise that level of expectation every year, and then there might be a year or two, things happen. Guys get hurt, you don't get there.
Starting point is 01:25:41 Oh, it's the coach. Nobody wants to make excuses, all right? But it's not the coach. He's the same damn good coach. He's always been. And, no, I think Baltimore Ravens are fine. They'll be there in December, January. Let's go to the next one, D. Butch. Yeah, we've had a lot of dynasties, Steelers, Cowboys, Patriots, Packers, Chiefs, been the most recent ones. Are we witnessing the end of a dynasty in Kansas City?
Starting point is 01:26:04 Well, the Chiefs make the playoffs this year. BS or no BS? I think the Chiefs make the playoffs. They're probably in the wild car race right now until they catch the Chargers because 3 and 0, they might be one in three. So it's going to be a chase, but they're going to get there.
Starting point is 01:26:21 and I'm never betting against Patrick Mahomes in the playoffs. Okay, so the Chiefs will not make the playoffs this year. You're saying that's BS. That's BS. Yeah, they're going to make the playoffs. Okay, last one here. This one, we've seen people say it. Kevin Petullo? More like Kevin Paul, you blow
Starting point is 01:26:39 at call in place. That's the Eagles offensive coordinator. Is that BS or no BS that he blows at call in place? I think that's BS too. Whoa. Kevin, Patola, more like Kevin
Starting point is 01:26:52 Pa, you blow at calling plays. You can't blow when you got Jalen, Hurst, Sequin, Barclay, AJ. You call it ain't damn play you want. It should work. Well, that's what people were saying. Kevin Batolo.
Starting point is 01:27:05 People are, you saw it on Twitter? A lot. It was everywhere. I mean, people get Drew Brie said it today. They're boring offense. Yeah, running it down somebody's throat is boring. All right, but Jaylen is throwing a ball better and he's ever thrown it.
Starting point is 01:27:20 Did Drew Brice say this? Yes. Really? Really? Okay. But, I mean, I think they have a hell of an offense. How come it looks like shit for half a game and then the other half? It is, you know, what we expect from the Eagles, just pure dominance.
Starting point is 01:27:38 Yeah, I mean, Rams defense, damn good defense now. They went to the playoff last year. Those young kids can really play. So it takes time to figure it out as the game is going to. What adjustments did they make for you this week? and do you adjust and he adjusts very well he said in the post game jalen hurts that they were playing not to lose or calling the game not to lose on offense versus the second half where they were just calling it to win what does he mean by that like calling a game not to
Starting point is 01:28:06 lose it yeah in the first half i think sometimes a lot of guys are very conservative you know we're not going to put ourselves in harm's way now let's get in the halftime what do we got to do to win let's do that all right so i'm not going to put us in a position to lose the game early, throwing it all over the place and making mistakes. And he's keeping it very close to the vest. And then when crunch time comes, they roll, they score points and they win games. Oh, we're going to see more of what we saw in late third and fourth quarter from Jalen Hertz in this offense.
Starting point is 01:28:35 You think if your offense coordinator, does something like this empower you to call it a little bit more than maybe you would have before this performance? Probably not with that offensive line in Seekwon. I mean, they're going to start there every time until you shut it down. If you don't shut it down, you'll run it down your throat. Once they shut it down The thing I think they have to do better is handle the blitz
Starting point is 01:28:53 The one thing that's been there Boogaboo for a little bit Last couple years is the blitz And being able to handle the blitz All right, so maybe people will start bringing pressure But he's saying it's not Kevin Putt, you blow it calling place
Starting point is 01:29:04 It's Kevin Patullo still And they're winning games, let's remember that Just like last year when everybody was coming for Coach Siriani, they were winning still at that point They'd go on to win Super Bowl AJ, what are your thoughts on a three BS, no BS is pal? I love it. I'm just thinking of, like, Kevin Petuo sitting down, having a nice little lunch and looking up at the screen and seeing that graphic.
Starting point is 01:29:24 Oh, man. What the fuck? Hey, guys, let's come on TV. Wait, what? No, but it's BS, though. Yeah, exactly. I hope the volume's up. I hope the volumes up.
Starting point is 01:29:32 He knows B.A. It's on his side. It's not. That's why you said we need the. The circle. We need the circle. This one's circle. Circle.
Starting point is 01:29:40 Okay, there it is. Okay, it's BS. That's BS. All right, join us now. No BS. He's a guy who's damn go football player. Right now. he's back with the Los Angeles Chargers and boy it's been great to watch
Starting point is 01:29:52 used to wear a hoodie I think one of the coolest dudes to ever play football wide receiver for Justin Herbert in the Los Angeles Chargers ladies and gentlemen Keenan Allen yeah how you doing man that was BS that wasn't that wasn't an actual that was that was that quote was BS I hope you saw that we're a positive place over here Kenan nah it's all good what's going on what's going on how are you how's it feel to be back over there how's it feel to be a part of the hardball culture fully How is life for you right now? Being back home?
Starting point is 01:30:21 Is that kind of how you feel? Yeah, absolutely, man. Great. Happy to be back in the building. The hardball, you know, effect is live and in effect. And, you know, I'm just happy to be a part of it. Okay. Tell me about the hardball effect a little bit.
Starting point is 01:30:35 Obviously, we've heard stories. Everybody has shared stories in it. But is it every single day, every single meeting, every single encounter? Is that why every player that plays for him respects him? Inevitably, I don't think I've ever heard anybody that doesn't play for him, that has played for him doesn't respect him. Is that why? Because it's all the time? Yeah, yeah, 100%. There's no light switch. You know, there's on and off. There is none of that. It's always on. He's always on goal mode. And, you know, he's always, you know, trying to find ways to, you know, win the game.
Starting point is 01:31:04 And that's what it's about. What do you see out of Herbert this year, maybe that hasn't been seen in the past? He looks special, special right now. Obviously, everybody's had these high hopes for him. I think Darius Butler actually became a Chargers fan because of Joe. Justin Herbert in the possibilities. What have you seen, Adam, since coming back to the Chargers that makes you feel like, oh, we got a special guy here? Yeah, I think he's always been special. I think just being able to bring it to life and win the games.
Starting point is 01:31:31 You know, early on when I was here, you know, it was kind of hard for us to win those tough games at the end of the game. But now you see us, you know, making the plays, making the game winning drives and, you know, giving our shots a shot to win the game. And that's all hats off to Herbo. You know, doing what he does, being great. You know, he's unbelievable back there.
Starting point is 01:31:52 He's fun to watch, man. Go ahead, AJ. What's Herbert like, I guess, when cameras are. We see how he handles the media. Like, he's, I think it's very funny. I love how he handles himself. What's he like, I guess, in the huddle, day in, day out of practice? We've seen a little bit of miced up with him, but not too much.
Starting point is 01:32:06 Is he, he seems like a guy that kind of, the gel that holds everybody together, it feels like. Yeah, 100%. He's a people's guy. You know, he's one of the guys in the locker room. You know, we can talk to him. You know, he's always there with us, there for us, joking around, stuff like that. In the huddle, you know, he's herbal.
Starting point is 01:32:25 You know, he's running the show. You know, everybody kind of, he has that aura where you shut up and listen when he walks in there. So, you know, that's always good from a quarterback. Yeah, I like that. We like that a lot. DeBund has a question for you. Love that.
Starting point is 01:32:37 You all have been cooking with him. Seems like you guys are always on the same page with those second reaction plays, breaking the pocket, scramble drills. I want to talk about that a little bit. And then starting off three. know in a division. I know looking at the scale, you've been around the league for a long, long time. You know how important these divisional games are. Thoughts coming into the season, starting off with three divisional games and just how you and Herbert are always on the same
Starting point is 01:32:59 page when he's breaking their pocket. Yeah, being able to get those three wins in the division, huge. You know, I can't even stress how big that is. That's going to show up for us, you know, late in the season, you know, when things get the crunch time and, you know, we already have those three wins and under our belt up, so that's going to be huge. And then, you know, the all-scheduled play is just trying to get open, just trying to find the green grass, knowing which way he's going. And, you know, he can make any throw on the field. So if I can get to the spots, then, you know, it's a good chance he's going to put it there.
Starting point is 01:33:32 Not bad, dance, yeah, feel pretty good in there. Feel like you're vibing. I felt like you really hit all the marks. Do we have a plan whenever we're getting in there? Do we have a same out? Yeah, yeah, I just came from the Chris Brown concert, you know, two days before that. So I'm like, I'm going to hit me a little Chris Brown. Did you pay for that VIP picture beforehand?
Starting point is 01:33:48 No, no, no, no. Oh, yeah, I didn't know. I didn't know how big a fan we were. Coach has a question for you, Keenan. Yeah, Kenan, just watching those young ride receivers playing right now, they're playing at such a high level. It's got to be your leadership coming back. Talk to me how you're handling your room a little bit.
Starting point is 01:34:04 Yeah, man, I think we do a good job of just open discussion, especially with Ladd. You know, Ladd is one of the guys who put it on tape last year, and, you know, he knows the offense more than I did I got here. So just learning from him knowing what he sees, then I kind of give my, you know, two sense of how I would do it or how I, you know, see it. And, you know, the coach, you know, says what he says. So he's just having an open discussion and everybody be on the same page. And then once we get in there and somebody else is doing the job, they know exactly what they're doing
Starting point is 01:34:33 what we're expecting. Everybody all in in that building, we were in there this offseason from the pizza maker, got a great pizza oven. Yeah, sweet oven. How is that? Are we eating that? Is everybody housed in that pizza? It's delicious. or are you guys all so healthy nowadays you don't even eat the pizza? I am. I can't eat the pizza. If I eat a slice of pizza, I'm going to be a tight end. Because if it's one slice and...
Starting point is 01:34:57 It's going to be two. You're going to eat the crush, so it's bad. You can't do it. All right, let's talk about one of the wide receivers in your room. It would certainly come on this year in a massive way. Go ahead, Conman. Yeah, Keating, Quentin Johnson this year has been unbelievable so far. And it felt like when he came in, when he was drafted in the first.
Starting point is 01:35:14 first round. The expectations might have been a little ridiculous for first round receivers at the time kind of your fault as well because of how good you were early on. But what have you seen out of him since, you know, coming back to L.A. since you were gone last year. What has his process been like that's different? And do you see this kind of turning into basically you and Prime Mike Williams? Because that's essentially what it's become. And Ladd McConkey's like the missing piece in the slot now. Yeah, absolutely, man. I think it's confidence. You know, he's walking around with that swagger, you know, the coaches have trust in him, you know, so he's always able to play his game.
Starting point is 01:35:50 He's not worried about, you know, messing up and things like that. So once you can get a guy out there, he knows what he's doing, and he has the athletic ability the Q has, then, you know, he's going to make plays, you know. Yeah, so soon as soon as, you know, he starts getting into a groove and getting into the zone, things are going to start happening. Go ahead, AJ. Yeah, obviously you spent last season with the Bears. I'm just wondering, like, perspective-wise, does it give you some kind of perspective of what,
Starting point is 01:36:14 I don't, just a different look at the NFL. You spent, what, 10, 11 years with the Chargers, and then you're there for a year and now you're back. I guess I think sometimes it's good to see how other teams run their program and what they do. Like, did that give you any kind of perspective and make you even more thankful to be back? Yeah, yeah, I did.
Starting point is 01:36:29 But like you said, wanting to see, you know, how other teams and organizations do stuff. I thought they had a, you know, a well-ran organization over there in Chicago. You know, I loved it to build them. The building was fun, the people, you know, amazing. And, you know, the teammates, the guys were great, too. So, you know, just being around, being around that process and seeing how it was. It was different.
Starting point is 01:36:47 Obviously, the weather is cold, you know, a lot more trees than L.A., but, you know, the people made it, made it work worthwhile. So I'm definitely happy to be back out here in California for sure. So whenever you make the decision to go back, what is the convo? Like, is there any awkwardness? Not at all. Everything's just copacetic as soon as you decide to go back? not really awkward i mean maybe a little bit for joe ortees and those guys upstairs but
Starting point is 01:37:15 you know the locker room was uh i'll always love and um i've always talked to those guys anyway even last year watching the games talking to derwin herbo you know keeping in touch with the guy tell me about the hortez conversation though i would like to hear that that would be interesting because obviously we know him good dude he was on the show with uh coach harbaugh and that was before calil mac was signed and harball was literally hitting him go ahead and pay him Go ahead and pay him. And Ortiz, we're gonna try to take care of everybody. Obviously, it's an interesting run over there.
Starting point is 01:37:44 We love everything that they're about, seemingly all ball. When you come back, big hug from Coach Hardball, and then your conversation with Ortiz, you guys have a shake hand, move on quickly? Yeah, I mean, yeah, it was no beef. It was no beef. Definitely a shake hand, you know, get on. Let's just get to the locker room with my guys
Starting point is 01:38:02 and, you know, get this party started. But yeah, you know, you know those upstairs guys. They like to do it their way. exactly yeah that's why i was so excited to see you back because very rarely do you see that especially with the bullshit that comes with everything so you going back and obviously it working as quickly as it did it's beautiful like we're uh we're big fans of that situation go ahead tie yeah keenan one of the knocks i think people that aren't in l a have had on both the chargers and the rams is like you know there's really no home field advantage uh there's so much stuff to do
Starting point is 01:38:34 in la people don't really give a shit about going to those games regardless of how good the are. But then watching that game on Sunday, like, it was, it came through on the TV copy, how loud and how deafening it was. Does it feel like you guys actually have a home field advantage this year in SoFi? And that kind of everyone understands the moment at hand. And it's like, hey, if you're a Chargers fan, like now's the time to go. We actually do have something special this year. Yeah, absolutely. Like I said, it was a, it was loud. It was rocking in there. But that was one of the, one of the things we talked about, you know, before the game, the defense. Just, just, you know, getting the crowd on our side, you know, coming through clutch when we need them.
Starting point is 01:39:13 And, you know, that right there alone will make, you know, the fans stand up and scream and do what they're supposed to do on third and fourth down, stuff like that. All right, Keenan, we appreciate the hell out of you. Have an incredible season. Tell Dicker the kicker, we are big fans of his operation. What age? He is. He's an absolute animal, dude. Maybe the greatest kicker of all time when it's all said and done.
Starting point is 01:39:33 Can you talk about him a little bit? Hey, hey, that's what he does, man. He shows up the practice. he doesn't miss and you know he's uh he's doing his thing he's getting his FIFA in you know in a short time and uh you know just keeping the keeping the leg clean we're gonna keep him clean and uh you know it's time for him to win the game that's what he gonna do oh that's awesome the kickers the greatest game are on the team yeah yeah ping pong FIFA yeah he's running the show right now that's what the fuck I'm talking about that is what I'm talking about love everything
Starting point is 01:40:03 about that who's all playing ping pong how many ping pong players we got in the locker room Tooley, K-Mack, a lot of the guys, man, Troy, Cam. It's a good, good little amount. And Cam's running it like that. Do we got Cornhole over there, too, or no? Not no cornhole. Okay, Cammer will win that one. Cornhole is outside of the hotel.
Starting point is 01:40:24 When we go to the hotel on Saturday, it's Cornhole. Dicker's going to win that one, too. From what I am gathering, I think Dicker's going to win that one, too. I love everything I'm hearing right here. Yeah, Dicker also was the one that completed all the most difficult workouts at the Chargers facility when we went where they had that whiteboard and it was like all those very weird meticulous yeah yes bingo he's one of the only ones to complete every single one tell us about coach urban that that weight room i know we know the silver bells club hilarious and awesome over there
Starting point is 01:40:51 but then there's this balancing shit that we're on a foam pad trying to pick up something small feels like the weight room is a massive piece of the culture over there not that oh yeah absolutely you know her herb is a beast man um he's he don't play no mess you know everything's intact in order he's got it lined up and when you come in there, it's all work. I like that. We're staying away from pizza. What about the ice cream? I was about to say that ice cream.
Starting point is 01:41:14 Coffee, ice cream. It's new flavor every day. Yeah, it's right over there. It's very accessible. Did you do any ice cream? They do got the soft serve up there, but I haven't touched you yet, though, but very tempted, very tempted.
Starting point is 01:41:26 Canaan, they're trying you everywhere you walk there. You got to touch out and everything. This guy's discipline. Yeah, I like that. Hey, stay focus. Stay focused. Stay focused. You could be a special year out there.
Starting point is 01:41:36 Yeah, got to be. man me too i tell you what though punner walking into that room pizzas right over here yeah you soft serves right over here fucking we hit the lot of here boys yeah it went inside the 10 on sundown oh my gosh excuse me
Starting point is 01:41:50 fruit soft serves yeah two pizzas unbelievable can't it's too nice the facility's too nice you're the man ladies gentlemen keenan Allen thank you yeah chargers facility is incredible yeah awesome immaculate
Starting point is 01:42:05 they're right in the locker room yeah right around the Hey, is he still on Keenan? Keenan? Yeah. Hey, Dicker's running the golf sim, too, or no? No, I'm the golf sim champ. Oh, wow. Does Dicker play in there?
Starting point is 01:42:19 He does play a little bit. Oh, and you are beating Cameron Dicker at golf? We actually haven't had the duel yet. We haven't had the one on the game. Okay, we need to know. But he's in there, though. He's in there. How's your game? Good? It's decent.
Starting point is 01:42:34 Not good, but it's decent. What is your, do you play? On the simulator, I'm going to shoot a good little 76, though. On the simulator. It's pretty good. What's about gimmies? We don't put. We got time, time.
Starting point is 01:42:47 You land on the green. It's auto, so it might be two putt, three putt. It depends on your distance, how far you hit it from. I'm usually a one-putt part. You know, I ain't. I'm dialed in. Of course. That sounds like great rules.
Starting point is 01:43:00 Great rules. Yeah, we love those rules. Great rule. You know, we're on a time crunch. So once you land on the green, we ain't got time to go get the putter and you all that. We ain't got time. The sim needs to figure out the putting aspect of it anyways. This is the right idea.
Starting point is 01:43:11 This is the right. All right. Ladies of gentlemen. That's golf we need to start playing. That's genius. No pudding? Yeah, just eliminate putting. The hard of the part.
Starting point is 01:43:19 No, it isn't. None of the game is what I just learned. I'm not fucking doing it anymore. Nope. As soon as I get on the green, I'm done, brother. That shit sucks, though. Sometimes you're like 15 feet away. It gives you a three putt.
Starting point is 01:43:33 It's like a hour out of two putt in that one. Oh, you're saying the sim is like, yeah, it's auto. depending on like your settings because if you put it like super tough you know pro settings tour pro whatever you could be 17 feet away three putt and like oh what would you rather be 15 feet away and hit it actually 15 feet and probably make it and instead you hit it 45 yards off the green and then because you're reading a golf sim where is that flag i don't know what should be perfect do you golf sim much b a very very little you're always out on the actual course i'm staying in warm weather where we're outside do you do driving range much or you're on a course uh i usually
Starting point is 01:44:06 to hit a bunch of balls but now my back so bad it's like hit 15 or 20 let's go play what's your last round what you score uh shot 76 yes yesterday morning that's pretty good you fall so you never three put you must never three put right uh yeah i probably did twice uh yesterday morning hold on real quick though that was a good question from connor did you hurt yourself because i know that is a question that's every every time i play my buddy says not getting hurt today. It's just golfing. And we're not talking about
Starting point is 01:44:37 from the action of golf. We're talking about the action of liquor. Yeah, that's the problem. Yeah, the liquor is the problem. But it is also, it is a solution. Yeah, exactly. It's a golf course. Big solution to that butter.
Starting point is 01:44:50 I mean, I'm not, I'm doing the course. We've got a Rider Cup week. It's Rider Cup week. Oh, yes. Yes, it is. Hey, look what BA got on right now. Yeah.
Starting point is 01:44:58 Oh, there we go. USA. Hey, we're going to win this, right? We're going to win this? Hell yeah. Crowd is going to be great. Are you going? No, I can't walk that much.
Starting point is 01:45:08 Yeah, but we can set you up for sure. We've got to be able to set you up somehow. Coach Bea, get you out there, need you. What is this every two years? Three years? Two. Every two years. It alternates from Europe back to America.
Starting point is 01:45:18 Now it's in New York. It's a death page black, which is fantastic. And we are assuming that it is going to be a rompish environment for these Europeans. I would think so. Keegan Bradley was talking once again about, you know, not picking himself. I saw. I saw Scotty Schaeffler was answering some questions. Anything else that we missed?
Starting point is 01:45:35 Let's go to Hammer. Don, time. What do we need to know about the Rotter Cup? Whose favorites? What should we be betting on? What should we be thinking as we view the Rotter Cup? Other than America good, everybody else, bad whenever it comes to this week. Also, just for the people who definitely know and who love golf, like, how does it work?
Starting point is 01:45:53 Yeah, and also, Ramon, who's on the team for other people? For other people, I know. USA is minus 150 to lift the cup. That's what I'm talking about. Now, is that home field advantage? Yes, Europe is plus 124. It is typically very, very hard to win on the other team's turf. It is a Bethpage Black, which is one of the hardest golf courses in the U.S.
Starting point is 01:46:16 It's a U.S. open course. The rough is always a bitch. How it works, Connor, Friday and Saturday is a morning session and an afternoon session. The morning and afternoon is split between best ball, which is. There's four guys go out, two guys from each team. They each play their own balls. Say someone on U.S. shoots a four, someone else shoots a five on the U.S. and then you get two fives on Europe.
Starting point is 01:46:39 The four from the U.S. will get a point for that hole. And then there's alternating shot is the other competition. So you and your partner, alternating shot versus the other team, two on two there as well. So that's Friday and Saturday. And then Sunday, it's one-on-one. 14 groups, I believe every player goes. Everyone plays against each other with someone from the other squad. and there's a point up for each one of those matches as well
Starting point is 01:47:00 I believe and someone correct me if I'm wrong I think you need 14 and a half points I think to retain the cup I could be wrong there but somewhere along those lines is kind of how it works okay and Dbutter has a follow-up question on yeah just some outside of the lines a little bumping the gums in the media coming up leading to which probably always is but Rory talks some shit about Bryson like oh you know the only way this guy gets attention is mentioning someone else's name mentioned it me name up and then I believe Scottie kind of came to Bryce's
Starting point is 01:47:29 defense like hey Bryce is a great teammate great friend brings a lot of juice lot of energy entire locker room so just something to keep an eye on. I'll be chirping in his ear this, oh that's Bryson sorry I'll be chirping in his ear this time now if we go up against each other I mean you can be sure of it says
Starting point is 01:47:44 Bryce and Disha love that Roy says I think the only way Ty what does Roy say there what does Roy say there you know but I think the only way he gets attention is by you know mentioning other people this is you know basically what I think of that, I mean, to get attention, you know, but he will mention me or Scotty or others. Are you happy about this, Roy?
Starting point is 01:48:05 You know, but, you know, I say, but, you know, basically before every thought I have. You know, but we'll see. You know, Bryson's kind of a sack of bones, and I can see myself, you know, fencing a pine of Guinness after I take him down if we're matched up. Well, you know, the big thing this weekend is we've got 9.30 a.m. football. Hell, yeah. On Sunday. I know. In Ireland.
Starting point is 01:48:32 You know, we got Minnesota and Pittsburgh. And we're going to have Ryder Cup happening at the same time. I'm a little bit worried about how we're going to watch all this shit. Saturday college football slate, incredible. Yeah. I didn't even thought of it. Yeah, we got football all damn day. It's a multi-view day.
Starting point is 01:48:48 Yeah, quad-box. Yeah, this is one of the best. What is it going to replace? I would like to know. It's not multi-view. Add a TV day. Yeah, yeah. That Debutt nailed it. If you don't have three TVs in this day and age, I mean, you might as well just be recruiting with the NIL of God, like Doblo Sweeney, because you need cash. You need more TVs these days in order to watch all these sports, especially if it's Rock. I understand what you're saying. Rocker Cup weekend certainly need to add another TV, but can we not do this before? It needs to be right after the Tour championship, right? Mid-August is when Ryder Cup should be. It's when everyone cares about golf anyway.
Starting point is 01:49:24 I have no idea why it's during football season. I do like that it's a little bit colder, though, even though it's warm right now. No, just I think it brings out a little bit of the ficiness because they're playing so early. AJ, you're a Ryder Cup winner. Go to your thoughts on how the team looks this year. I like the time of year.
Starting point is 01:49:43 I think it's a great change. When all of a sudden we forgot golf was a thing and then bam, it's right? It is hard to watch it at times, but I love it. I think it's great. I hope the crowd is crazy. I was just listening or watching the video of Keegan rallying the troops and talking
Starting point is 01:49:56 to the boys and seeing the videos and them walking through the tunnel out to the first tee like it's going to be it's going to be awesome I think it's bullshit the other teams are pumped I think it's bullshit the NFL scheduled game the Sunday this early okay who's called any kid this goes in America win oh shit it's a big put
Starting point is 01:50:12 yeah you got this one of four no yeah turn around just knock it right in that one no turn around Oh, no. It's all right. Good aggressive. We all know that's not my putter.
Starting point is 01:50:28 I was going to say. Get the real one. Yeah, that one's super cool. You know on that. For Adam's school. That's not the putter. All right, grab your actual putter. Come on, quick jacking around.
Starting point is 01:50:45 Yeah, I'm saying the sake of these. Oh, get into this other butter. There it is. There's the actual one. This is the actual butter for America. see you at the podium bitch boom there it is there it is we fucking won we did it USA USA now this from what I've heard is like a Bruce Aryan's golf round here
Starting point is 01:51:09 clubs just kind of scattered everywhere balls all over there's not enough water it might be in the bottom of lake all right what are some things we haven't chatted about CD Lamb could miss three to four weeks with a high left ankle sprain yeah that's the injuries right now crazy Tyler Booker for them as well they're starting guard four to six weeks they're saying for him I mean injuries in abundance very early here in the NFL season coach BA actually sent me a text and was like hey can you ask stack guys uh if there's more people on I are now than normal in regular season stuff I don't think there's a change in number
Starting point is 01:51:45 or anything too wonky is the way I was told from Hembo but it does feel like big names there's a lot more big names hurt earlier than thought that's what you were kind of leading yeah when mcd was down mike evans went down with a hamstring hopefully not too serious but too many really stars we're missing too many stars and uh i hate to see it because these these guys are the game yeah i agree also yeah bosa yeah bosa's out for the year james connor's done for the year he said that was nasty yeah i'm happy they didn't re-air that on tv they re-ran it in the stadium they said and you heard that's a tough call yeah normalized doing that i really appreciate when they don't replay gross injury.
Starting point is 01:52:21 They ran it on Red Zone. They didn't run the replay. Yeah, so they didn't have it. And then later, what's his name? Scott Hans. Thank you, Scott Hanson came back and said, oh, we do have the replay if you don't want to watch it. Here it is.
Starting point is 01:52:34 Come on, Scott. Well, Scott's trying to keep all the internet's got it. Yeah. Pretty important play. People are probably saying, show me. We just hope everybody stays healthy. If this goes in, last pint. This goes in, no more injury.
Starting point is 01:52:49 Holy shit. I know what you here is too. Oh, yeah, knowledge. You're good of the boys. Oh, shit. Hit the other ball. Hit the other ball. It's going to be no more injuries.
Starting point is 01:53:02 That's it. Football gods. I don't know. No. I don't know. You burnt the edge on that one. I don't want to see it. Yeah, I know.
Starting point is 01:53:11 There was so I should have made that punt. It wasn't really me. It was a football god's putting there. Throw a football for the football. That's why. Yeah. Golf for a football? No. Duh.
Starting point is 01:53:20 Don't ask New York for a replay. You did set your feet there. Yeah, Bruce was talking. 10 seconds. You got it. You got it. Oh. We'll see you tomorrow.
Starting point is 01:53:37 Fuck, man. That's how the show ended. Pretty good ending. That's a tough show. Very dramatic. That was a very dramatic. People were wondering. I know.
Starting point is 01:53:50 That's good. Tees Bob Dod. That's really good. I was bummed out. That's just tough shots. All right, let's get through a break. We got to wrap everything up at the end. And when we come back on the other side,
Starting point is 01:54:02 it's going to be the greatest conversation about the greatest things we've ever had. Isn't that right? Yeah, absolutely, especially because our... Lavante, David, will be joining here. Okay, awesome, awesome. Hell yeah. Hey, he's number eight ranked,
Starting point is 01:54:16 linebacker, tackler in the history of the NFL. Eighth, overall. Unbelievable. Ray Lewis, I think, has the most at 2059 tackles. And is it London Fletcher has like 2039 tackles? Yeah, and I forget how the stats work with the playoffs and excluding playoffs because it's so annoying how they do that official. Whatever the case.
Starting point is 01:54:35 He's top eight. He's got 1,600 some or 1700 something. He's still flying. It's a lot of tackles. Still flying around. So one of the greatest football players of all time will join us here in a matter of moments. And also, obviously, a man the BA knows very well. We cannot wait to chat with Avanti.
Starting point is 01:54:49 and also put a bigger spotlight on his Tampa Buccaneers team. They got a lot of grit. Yeah, they do. And John. A lot of John. A lot of sandpaper. Feels like they're a team that we want to root for. And if we can get a boat parade out there?
Starting point is 01:55:00 Oh, hell, yeah. Come on, boys. We're throwing Lombardis from boat to boat. Is there any sharks out there with you guys? There are a few bull sharks in that one are yet. Okay. I'm happy they got to celebrate a Lombardi as well. Amen.
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Starting point is 01:56:27 That's 47-year football coach, Bruce Ariens, right there. Nine-year NFL vet, Darius J. Butler is there. The Toxic Table at Boston Connor and at Ty Schmidt, live from Hammer. Don, Tang, is one-half of the Hammer, Don, Cowboys, A.P. Tone. And joining us live from beautiful, Sunny, Tampa Bay, Florida. He's a man is a 14-year NFL vet. He's currently the eighth leading linebacker tackler in the history of the NFL.
Starting point is 01:56:56 Currently on the season has 22 tackles, one-and-a-half sacks, and he's all over the place. Ladies and gentlemen, an absolute stallion linebacker for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Levante David. How you doing, man? I'm good, man. How y'all doing? Appreciate for having me. Hey, no problem.
Starting point is 01:57:12 Thank you for joining us. We're not undefeating, you know. We get some washes. you guys undefeated down there. How does it feel down in Tampa Bay? B.A. tells us it's a magical feeling down there. Feels like all the pieces are back in the right place. Are you feeling that as well with this Tampa Bay Buccaneers team?
Starting point is 01:57:28 Yeah, man, it is definitely feeling good. My guy B.A., I'm sure he giving y'all all the details about Tampa. But definitely feeling good, man. We all took a good hot start. You know what I'm saying? A lot of resiliency been shown these past couple of weeks. But hopefully, you know, we can make those these next couple of wins be more easier.
Starting point is 01:57:46 Yeah, a lot of cardiac situations, four straight, fourth quarter comebacks for the Tampa Buccaneers. Obviously, Baker Mayfield getting hailed on the defensive side of the ball, making stops in critical moments as well. At your six year, I do believe, if we did our math right,
Starting point is 01:57:57 in a bowl's defense. What is it like at this stage of being in the same defense or understanding the same language for you? And how do you think the defense as a whole is doing? I think we're doing better, man. I think we came a long way
Starting point is 01:58:10 from when we first came about, especially starting from training camp, now. Like you said, man, this being my, I believe it's seven, honestly, I think it's my seven in his defense. And I'm kind of like that, that guy, you know, when a coach you need to be asking, guys
Starting point is 01:58:26 scared to ask coaches, they come to meet. You know, so, it's definitely, I'm comfortable in it. You know, I know what Coach Bowers expects from everybody that's out there. And when I'm out there, man, I just try to figure out what he's thinking about. So, you know, I kind of like try to beat him to the
Starting point is 01:58:41 punch when you want to make a call and stuff like that. Yeah, you're triple OG out there, bro. Ace leading a linebacker tackler in NFL history. 14 years. You've been around a long time. Love that you're taking on that leadership, bro, and have for a long time.
Starting point is 01:58:52 Go ahead, AJ. Yeah, I want to talk about the quarterback a little bit, Baker Mayfield. Obviously, everyone loves the guy and loves how he competes. What was it like competing against him and training camp? And what's it like being around him
Starting point is 01:59:01 every single day and seeing how he leads this team kind of offensively? It's always fun to go against Baker, man. You know what? He's somebody who, when you trip out of him, he's going to trip back, and it's amazing. You know what I'm saying?
Starting point is 01:59:11 You don't want to go out there and be talking, talking to try to somebody. and you feel like you just talking to yourself. No, he's going to give it back to you, and then he's going to try to compete with you and stuff like that. So it's definitely fun, you know, seeing him taking that same edge that we have and practiced on to the field.
Starting point is 01:59:25 And you see it, you've seen it for the past couple of weeks, man. You know, they could have that fiery ass. One thing about him, once you talk trash to him, that gets him going. And for the most part, that's like when people talk trash, the thieves of the players, we can get us going. You know, we want to, you have that killer instinct. And the same thing with him. When you're talking trash to him, he clicked to a different,
Starting point is 01:59:44 and that's what I love about them. You don't want to wake them up, you know, and I like that about people. On that note, CJGJ has been released from the Houston, Texas. That is actual news. That's breaking news. CJGJ has been released from the Texans. The reason why that comes up here is because, obviously,
Starting point is 02:00:00 Baker Mayfield down, we think maybe bruised Patella, maybe. And then CJGJ says something, and he kips up, like he's Sean Michaels, what was that, and then obviously does what he do. It feels like it's a special place down there for Baker. And it's obviously a special place for you down there as well. Connor has a question for you. Yeah, Levant, the last three years you've been doing one-year contracts.
Starting point is 02:00:22 And, you know, you're 35. I'm sure that was more so just, you know, based on how the body feels and everything. But what is it like now towards the end of your career, kind of with the process of everything? Are there things you've picked up over these last few years that you kind of didn't maybe realize early on in your career now that you are later in your career? And are there some days you go in there and just appreciate the entire process? process a little more since it is you know you're 15 14 yeah i think that's the main thing man just appreciating the whole thing anymore you know me coming in as a young guy you know all i just worried about with just you know football football football sticking into that and then you know now
Starting point is 02:00:58 as i get older i just kind of understand the dynamics of the whole game and uh the poor in the relationships and you know against no people around you and um i think um jason and the guy's been doing a great job with just you know being transparent with guys being transparent with me and particular about, you know, what they expect for me and how they view me when I come into the building and stuff like that. And then, you know, it's just been real good, you know, a dialogue going back and forth from how we going to treat these years or whatever, whatever those years is, you know, year in and year out and how we're going to move forward from that. But, you know, I think it just what keeps me coming back, man, it's just, you know, just the transparency
Starting point is 02:01:36 from those guys. And then, obviously, man, the relationship that you build in the building, you know, me being there for 14 years, you know, I'm the longest tenure. got there so it's definitely been you know kind of like fun just again to know everybody even more a lot of different eras at tampa bay buccaneers football yeah that you've been through let me read this list of the top eight total tacklers because i got sent this stat about you this morning and i'm like damn i don't think anybody knows that more people should ray lewis london fletcher bobby wagner junior sale jesse tuggles zach thomas derrick brooks levante david okay that's the that's the that's the
Starting point is 02:02:13 all the favors yeah that's yeah hey man it all worked out bro it all worked out now I know you're still in the middle of it so we can't just do as much reflecting and we got to worry about the day to day but on that note debut has a question for you yeah you talked about
Starting point is 02:02:28 14 years a lot of that I mean we always talk about your best ability being availability 14 years what have you been doing to take care of your body not only during the season during the off season and Are there any other goals out there? You've obviously won a Super Bowl.
Starting point is 02:02:43 Any other goals career goals that you have that you maybe want to meet before you hang it up? Yeah, man. The first part of the question is, man, what I try to do is get my body a little rest as far as like physical activity. You know what I'm saying? So the most thing I do is probably do a little cardio and things like that. You've got to keep your winning up when you're playing this game. Kind of keep my endurance going. And then as the all season to progress, you know, I kind of like figure out what I need to work on more, like what's hurting me more and things like that.
Starting point is 02:03:10 And I kind of work on that throughout the process. And then by the time, you know, spring or summer come around, I can get into, you know, the hard weights and the explosive lifting and then in the full sprints and stuff like that. And then, you know, just throughout the season, man, I just been trying to, I don't just be transparent with the training staff and the people who I work with about just, you know, my, you know, lowering my workload and stuff like that.
Starting point is 02:03:33 But I'm a guy who, you know, B.A. could tell you this, man. I'm a guy who, like, I need practice, you know what I said? I don't feel right if I don't have a practice. you know what i'm saying like something they had to sometimes they have to tell me like nah man you can't practice today things like that but that just that just me you know what i'm saying so
Starting point is 02:03:48 uh i just i just that's just how much i love the game and like i like i just try to be overly prepared as much as i can as much as possible and then um you know just it just just just goals and stuff like that man like really no goals in particular man like i always say man once i stop loving the game of football i'll be done playing the game of football
Starting point is 02:04:09 and right now i'm still in love with it. I'm still having fun with it. You know, as you can see, we all took a three and no start, so that's extremely fun for me. I've never been in this situation before, so I'm taking advantage of it, for show. But definitely loving what we're doing, and I think we can be a championship team
Starting point is 02:04:24 this year. Yeah, it's extremely rare to be 3 and O, and that's strictly good times down there in Tampa, I would assume, at this point. You know, I don't know about goals and scats. I don't know if that's how you say stats or not with that type of lingo, but there was one
Starting point is 02:04:40 might have been left on the board. Coach B.A. actually has a question. Bro, how long you've been on the jugs machine the last two weeks? You stole Vita's interception and you dropped it. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know he's wearing you out about it, too. Yeah, since that day, since that day,
Starting point is 02:04:58 I haven't heard about it from, you know, him just trash talking about. Then he recovered the phone with his past week and we go on the sideline and talk about something. I could have had two turnover so far. The one thing I want people to know The thing I love about you most is I did have to make you take a day off
Starting point is 02:05:16 Because he would never take a day off And that's what the great ones do And one of the greatest to ever play the game B.A. When you get to that building, obviously we see the success That you guys end up having. Having him in the building, though, is a massive piece of that entire building up of the foundation of the entire franchise again Oh, totally. He'll know. I mean, he'll tell you that
Starting point is 02:05:32 I rely a lot of my veterans And this guy was in my office because I brought him up there, what do we got to do? You know, I want to hear it from the vets, and no one ever bullshitted me or anything. Levante was the best one. Oh, that's awesome. Hey, I don't know if you ever got to hear that, Levanti.
Starting point is 02:05:50 A lot of Levanti David's celebration happening here. Take these flowers, brother. You deserve it. You've obviously worked your ass off for him all. He was very pumped. You were coming on the show, as were we. And what is it like, B.A., Bowles? Who else were some coaches that you've had?
Starting point is 02:06:04 What has it been like through all the eras of the Tampa Bay? I know. You had Chiano already on, didn't she? Yeah, yeah. I mean, obviously, you know, me coming out, my first couple years, I had Grish, you know, so I was, that whole situation, I felt like I was in college still. So, you know, I didn't really feel like, understand what it was like to be in the league, you would say. And then, going on.
Starting point is 02:06:23 Yes, we would say. Everybody was saying, yeah, yeah. Are we taking a knee or no, we're not? Yeah, and then, yeah, then going to Lovey Smith, you know, a lot of ups and downs, those two years. And then going on to dirt cutter, you know, it was pretty smooth, but we didn't have, you know, identity as a football team. We didn't have no real culture. And then, you know, when a coach BA got hired, you know, he could probably tell you this too. You know, I thought about leaving. I reached out to Jason, man, saying, like, you know, I know you guys bringing in a new head coach
Starting point is 02:06:51 and maybe time for me to leave and try something different. And I mean, like a couple hours later, a few moments later, I got on the phone, B.A. and changed my mind ASAP. And when he got there, I definitely, you know, I figured out what it was like to be an NFL football player. You know, with him coming in, changing the culture, and just reestablishing a foundation as a football team. And me falling in love with the game all over again, I can definitely tell the, to say that Coach Bea, like, helped me with that. And then me, all my first seven, eight years, I played in a four- or three defense. And then when Coach Bowles came, I was a little, you know, wasn't too sure about. about that and then got a chance to sit down with Coach Bowles and kind of like
Starting point is 02:07:34 pick his brain about certain things and then I got a chance to get into it and I've been having fun ever since so I definitely you know thank uh BA and Bowles man those guys definitely you know help me fall in low the game again that's a cool football life right yeah yeah that is a very cool football yeah that's got to feel good to hear from one of your players I mean we're having good moments right out yeah it's awesome you know and I had the great honor being there this weekend and the guys from 76 and I sat in the room with hardy Nickerson and Derek Brooks and now you I mean, that's the chain of command.
Starting point is 02:08:03 Harding Nickerson handed it to Derek Brooks, Derek Brooks, hand it to Levanti. I'm worried who you're going to hand it to. You've got to stay for a couple more years, man. We've got to find somebody for you to hand it to it. Yeah, but let's keep running up those one-year deals. Yeah, fully guarantees. That's good business.
Starting point is 02:08:17 We like that. Let's talk about the team you guys have right now. There's a young guy from Ohio State that's seemingly very captivating. Go ahead, Con, man. Yeah, Levante, one of the stories of the season so far has been Emeka, Buka, and, you know, he's made already highlight catches. Should have had another one that they didn't call a catch, which is
Starting point is 02:08:35 ridiculous. That one was filthy. The other one on the sideline was ridiculous. Coming from you, I mean, everything that's happened during this conversation has been amazing, let alone you tied about falling back in love with the game, but as one of those guys, Triple OG Hallfamer, top
Starting point is 02:08:51 10 in tackles in NFL history, have you ever seen a rookie pick up the game like a Mecca-A-Buka? It feels like what he's done in college has translated to the NFL seamlessly, and he is unbelievable. Once Godwin gets back, I assume he's going to be even better. Yeah, yeah.
Starting point is 02:09:08 I mean, I got asked the question before, and I always say, man, when I first saw Chris, he was in a similar aspect, but Chris didn't get the opportunity right away because we had Deshaun Jackson and things like that. And then, like, just saying the Mecca come in and just drill guys with questions and just how the way he'd go about his business, the way he handles everything. You know, I used to watch the film, you know, though I watched a rookie minicamp. Then I watched, you know, OTAs and all that stuff when I wasn't around.
Starting point is 02:09:36 So I just got a chance to see like, okay, you know, this kid like he's getting like they, everybody's gravitating to him, Baker is feeding in the ball. So he must be doing something right. Then I got a chance to see in the training camp. He's a kid. We won't even call him a rookie, man. He's definitely, you know. Oh, no.
Starting point is 02:09:52 Too much compliments. Too many compliments. Who came in. Yeah. We lost you there for a second. You were complimenting him mightily and then it cut off. because you're too nice to a rookie, even though you don't consider him a rookie is what you were saying.
Starting point is 02:10:04 It got cut off. But you were saying all good things about him, literally since the day he got to Tampa. Yeah, since the day he got to Tampa, man. He carried itself like a vet. And like I said, man, we won't even look at him as a rookie no more. He's helping us big time. And the way he do things, the way he carries itself on and off the field.
Starting point is 02:10:19 He's a man of God. He's always working on himself. Just trying to be better and better and trying to help us win. And it shows, man. You know, Baker's found him. You know, that means, you know, he's doing something right when your veteran quarterback have a lot of confidence here.
Starting point is 02:10:33 What did Baker say about the one-handed catcher? He disrespected his ball. Yeah, disrespect my ball, man. Disrespecting my ball, man. Catching my ball, man. Catch with two-hand next time, rookie. Then he went around and said, I told the rookie and he's catch that with two hands, you know.
Starting point is 02:10:47 Because people were going to think that was a bad ball because he won't one hand. That was a good ball. It's like, as long as he's catching and who cares. And if he's that confident, he'd say, hey, let me go ahead and snag that thing. He's special, man. He was number two at Ohio State.
Starting point is 02:10:59 number two at Ohio State every year that he was there had to block, had to do the shitty routes like had to do the tough jobs and now he's spectacular for Tampa Bay. AJ has a question for you. Yeah, Monta, being in the league 14 years, you've kind of seen different eras of offenses and how they try to
Starting point is 02:11:15 attack defenses, you know, there's spread them out. We always seen that. Sometimes I think now it's starting to get a little bit more downhill trying to be able to pound the ball with what the Eagles were able to do last year. Do you take pride and being able to last that long and be so durable and play and start every single game? Like, able to obviously play in the box, go downhill
Starting point is 02:11:31 with the best of them, but also spread you out and you can play it in space. Is that something that you've actually thought about as you've gotten older because you continue to play at such a high level in all different aspects? Yeah, I mean, honestly, man, that's something that I always think about. You know what I want to prove that, you know, if you guys keep signing me to these contracts,
Starting point is 02:11:47 I want y'all, I want to prove the y'all like I can still play the game at a high level. You know, no matter how younger the talent gets to just know that I'm still going to come out there and do my best and do my part. And like you said, man, nowadays the offense is try to do things to kind of like get you, you know, try to out leverage you and stuff like that defensively. And so, you know, for me, you know, it's all a mind game for me. So I love those
Starting point is 02:12:08 mind games. I love facing challenging offenses. So they help me, you know, kind of like help my game as much as I can. And when they try to get you in space and things like that, you know, I just want to show that I still can make those tackle just like the younger guys and stuff like that. So even when they get to a physical football game, I still want to let you want to let you know that I still, I can still bring it. You know, I still remember last year was playing the Chargers. You know, Chargers was down here around the football team, and I made a couple of plays, and Coach Larry Foote, he had to put it to the side to say, hey, man, you mean, you ain't young no more, you got to chill out with all that. So, you know, that right there kind of like,
Starting point is 02:12:42 you know, kind of like, you know, kind of like, you know, I still got it, you know what I'm saying? So just because the game kind of did go away from that a little bit, and now you're getting back to the physical football, so that's what I love to see. Yeah, you got former teammates coaching and people he played against now, and I assume there's going to come a time soon where you're going to be playing with somebody's kid that you you play the long side. And every play, just I'm not old, I'm not old, I'm not old, I'm not old, eat it, eat it, eat it. I love everything.
Starting point is 02:13:06 Whatever motivates you to be great, obviously it's working. Coach has a question for you. Yeah, I know you were surprised, but I thought Tyrod Taylor played his tail off in that game, man. And I know you guys were, you do not sleep on him, and you chased him around all day and gone day, and he played really good for him. But I just want to give him some props. But for you, chasing him all. day it's still amazing to watch you play man oh look at this you're not old yeah you're not old
Starting point is 02:13:34 yeah i don't know i might be man i missed them three times i probably bring that i didn't say that you said yeah all right let's talk about you go ahead he slipped right on my hands three times so yeah he still doing he still got it hey there's a lot of guys that still got it in the league right now motherfuckers will jump over you backwards go ahead tie yeah levanti uh this week you guys got the eagles on Sunday. Now, I mean, obviously, you've played for as long as you have. I don't think you're really losing sleep over any team that you're going to play. But with the challenges
Starting point is 02:14:06 they present with Saquan and Jalen Hertz and that offensive line, what does that prep look like? I don't know if anyone's told you this, but when it comes to the tush push, like, you can start moving early too, because they're going to do it several times, and they're probably not going to call it. So, you know, you can kind of shoot your gun whenever you want to on that.
Starting point is 02:14:22 Yeah. I'm up the day that was going on with the tush push, man. We was one of the teams that stopped it, so I ain't chirping about. Vita Bayer, baby! Yeah, but, you know, those guys present a different challenge, man, all over the field. You know, like you said, man, they got Seacron, they got A.J. Brown, they got Duvante Smith. They got Goddard. You know, they got a lot of playmakers, man.
Starting point is 02:14:43 Obviously, starting with Jalen Hurts. It's going to be a fun football game. You know, we've been seeing these guys a lot, and they've been seeing us a lot. So I spent nothing less than a four-quarter battle. Like I said, man, like these type of games, you know, bring the best out of you. And I'm definitely looking forward to it. You went through the CTE era, then to the spread-em-out era. Now we're in the Guardian Cap era.
Starting point is 02:15:06 AJ started this entire thing. AJ, anything to say about the ability to evolve throughout the different eras? Because we know you were the first one to put that guardian cap on your helmet, AJ. So we appreciate you doing that. No, I wasn't. But LeBotte can play in any era. I think that's the greatest thing. You could throw him back in the 50s, and he would still be bashing dude's skulls in.
Starting point is 02:15:26 Are you wearing a guardian cap on game day or just at practice? practice, Levanti? Only at practice. And if the guardian cap true because of you, AJ, come on, man. Come on, man. It is true, Levant. Do not let Pat, tries to tell people I drink my piss and all this stuff.
Starting point is 02:15:40 Go! So, no, you know, whatever. To each his own, whatever you want to do. But how does it feel, for real? What's it feel like hitting somebody with that on? Yeah, I mean, we have to wear in training camp. And then, you know, in training camp, you know, you got the 9-on-7 drills and you want to hear,
Starting point is 02:15:55 when you get a 9-0-7, you want to hit a pass clapping, clapping, but you can't hear it with a guardian cap, and it sounds so soft, so you can't really gauge and tail and nothing like that. But it definitely protects you, though. I would say that.
Starting point is 02:16:07 I mean, nobody really has an issue with it. We have a player who wears it, but they're doing a better job with the hamlets and things like that, hamlets that get improved by the league. So some people who have more up-to-date, hamlets don't have to wear their practice and things like that.
Starting point is 02:16:20 But for the most part, it's doing what's supposed to do, I would say. We need you to put a couple guardian caps on, remember? It's two helmet condoms better than one. Exactly. That's what they say. Their linemen might have two on.
Starting point is 02:16:34 He's got the biggest. At Tampa? Yeah, the biggest head of all the time. The Guardian Cap had to put three Guardian Caps together for that guy. Yeah. Unbelievable. All right, man. Well, good luck on your next 14 years of your NFL career, I guess.
Starting point is 02:16:47 Seems like that. It's just going forever. And we appreciate your time. Yeah, I appreciate y'all, man. We'll see how what next year it brings, but we're going to rub by this year right now, man. Appreciate y'all. Hey, man, that's Super Bowl champion and future All of Famer, Levanti, David. Yeah, Levanti!
Starting point is 02:17:02 Hey, that ought to be pretty cool. That was sick. That was awesome. Anytime one of your players says, like, hey, everything you were doing worked, that has to be pretty fulfilling. Legit. Said he found his love for football. What they leave? Yeah.
Starting point is 02:17:13 Give me out of here. Maybe the game. Yeah. We played 10 years of college. I feel bad for the guy. I don't know what they're talking about, about being in the league. I mean, this is the same as college, you know? We're not a lot of smile walking off the field, and we're diving to people's knees.
Starting point is 02:17:26 while they're kneeling it down in the NFL. Start practice with... We got $200 million right there, and we're just diving at the knees of it. We got some maniacs back in the Big East days, because Seattle, Ruckers, Big East, Brian Kelly, Cincinnati, Levitt, South Florida, Rich Roy, West Virginia.
Starting point is 02:17:44 Geez. Wanstash. Wonstat. Obviously, a weapon. If we could have got Maryland in the Big East, kept them in the Big East, with Big Fritz. Yeah, Big Fritz.
Starting point is 02:17:54 Yeah, Big Fritch. and Rich almost got into it one time. I'm thinking there's a chance that I'm not bringing up to my house. Did him and Mangino ever get into it? That would have looked like Andy Reid, but instead of Travis Kelsey, it would have been Andy Reed against Andy Reed.
Starting point is 02:18:11 Yeah. Doing the seismic activity. How'd you feel about that, Andy Reed and Travis Kelsey having a little bit of a bump on the sideline? Hey, it's ball, man. Shit happens on the sideline. Neither one of them have any animosity towards the other one. They love each other.
Starting point is 02:18:24 it says, and you know that that only happens out of love. Yes, can only have good relationship and have that happen. Yes, because if it's a bare relationship, they're throwing blows. What do you think he's saying? You think you still in him, wake up, if you had to just guess. Now, obviously, he won't tell us, we will never know. I'm sure NFL films has it, and Andy Reid, maybe you said, don't let it out, or maybe at some point we'll see it in a documentary in the future, whatever it is.
Starting point is 02:18:45 What do you think he's saying to him there? Is there a moment to say, like, hey, wake the fuck up or something like that on a sideline? Oh, yeah, definitely. I mean, you've got to go, you get your stars. You got to get on your stars. ass that she can get on everybody else's ass you know if i'm jumping his ass all the mother cats go oh shit he's getting traves he gonna get me too and uh but yeah it was it was uh it was a good moment i thought chiefs dynasty is not dead no no no and that's bs no that's no bs no he said
Starting point is 02:19:12 that's no bs no he's just disagreeing oh you're saying i did not is you're disagreeing with b a on bs or no b i don't think that i don't think the dynasty's dead i agree with him But I think they, this year, they're fucked. I think they're shit out of luck. We had an incredible opportunity to catch up with a new Indianapolis Colt because I think the Colts are definitely a story I'd like to hear you chichat about, especially with what's going on. Nice little rhinos kind of rebirth of the Indianapolis Colts.
Starting point is 02:19:41 And we got a chance to catch up with Cam Bonham early. We're going to run the entire thing or release the entire thing tomorrow. It was a great combo. This is what he basically had to said about the leadership in the building. And then obviously, I can't wait to hear everybody's response. There's so many vets on the team, so everybody's comfortable talking, but nobody talks too much to where it's like, okay, you're doing too much, you're trying too hard to be a leader. Everybody has their natural leadership role. For me, it's the lead by example, lead with energy.
Starting point is 02:20:08 For Zaire Franklin, it's the, I'm turned up, I'm a run through your face type of leadership. Kenny, you know what you're going to get. He has his finesse and his swag, and he's still going to be like a leader. So, like, just those three pieces on defense with Mooney just being locked in knowing he's going to lock up. lock things up on the outside. Everybody has their certain type of leadership. Then on the offense, obviously quarterback, Danny Dimes, he's a little more quiet, but he's still making sure everything is operating well. But Q, he's a vocal leader. He's running to everything. That's awesome. Incredible. Like, just everything. So you get a little bit of everything from everybody
Starting point is 02:20:43 to the point where everybody is like locked in on their certain role where nobody's overstepping their boundaries of, okay, this guy needs to calm down. He's trying too hard. So it's a natural leadership in this locker room. Anybody missing team meetings or treatments or anything like that? No. There you go. Never. That's an expectation just around the league.
Starting point is 02:21:02 Like, you don't do that. I agree. You're not late. Yeah. You're good. Find one. The money's one thing, but the embarrassment, if you miss it and coach puts you on the spot, it's like nobody wants to be that guy that's late and has to talk in front of the
Starting point is 02:21:15 team and give your excuse. Amen. Do you hear what our culture is being described as in Indianapolis? It was not like that just a year ago. Coach, I'll ask you, with all these pieces, is it just adding the right couple guys to a locker room that can kind of change everything? Maybe you're not as far away as you think sometimes because this coach team, I think from a culture standpoint, a lot of question marks last year. The stories we were hearing, like, that is not what winning football is at all. Then we bring a couple pieces in, different quarterback, Cam Bynum comes in.
Starting point is 02:21:44 We get Mooney comes in, I mean, we get some guys that come in there. Ryan Kelly leaves. Quentin Nelson feels like he can maybe be empowered to be a leadership. show. Is it that easy to like kind of fix some things, bring in some new pieces, or what are your thoughts on the culture changing as drastically as it seemingly has within the way? Yeah, I think it really is. I mean, it's bringing the right people. And it's not always the best player. It's the right person.
Starting point is 02:22:06 And obviously with Cam and the guys that love football, love practicing, love preparing, those are the guys you want in your building. And they're natural leaders. And it permeates through everybody. And then Danny Dimes, being as smart as he is, being accountability is the key word. And as long as guys are accountable, they don't like each other. You've got to be accountable to each other. And I think these guys are holding each other to a standard.
Starting point is 02:22:29 It's wonderful. And obviously when you win, it very much justifies all of it. It's like, hey, everything we're doing is for the right reasons. We're winning games. We look very good. And obviously, we are going to talk about the Colts here in Indianapolis and we're at the games and everything like that. But this year, I said it early. We're going to win a Super Bowl. And then I watch them again, I'm like, we're going to win a Super Bowl because all the things you need, you need an offensive line.
Starting point is 02:22:52 You need to be able to stop the run. You need to be able to make some throws and make some decisions on the offense side. You need to have somebody that can get open. and we got two, three guys, then get open it. On the defensive side, you need to create turnovers. The boys are creating turnovers. They're not giving up much. It's like everything you need in the big games.
Starting point is 02:23:06 We have shown early. We have. Rosters always had talent. Feels like they have a real team this year, Conman. Well, and just like the decision-making. You mentioned, like, this hasn't happened, and they haven't started like this and things of that nature. And I forget if Michael Pittman Jr. said this is a really smart team.
Starting point is 02:23:22 Everyone kind of gets it. But just even stiking. Like, we talked about this when they beat the Broncos, 28, 23. It's fourth and two, fourth and three, and they decided to kick a field goal to go down by two instead of go for it. It feels like in the past maybe, Steichen was kind of, hey, fourth and two, you know, no risk, no biscuit, no biscuit. We need to score a touchdown either way to get the lead. Like, let's do that. Instead, hey, we can kick a field goal rely on our defense, get the ball back, and then go kick another field goal to win the game. Like, it doesn't feel
Starting point is 02:23:52 like the team of the Indiana passed, perhaps, didn't have that type of respect or faith in either side of the ball. And now there's faith in the defense, there's faith in the offense to have a drive and come through. And like, I'm sure Stiking also for himself maybe, like, okay, thank God. I can't catch a team. I'm not a dips. I almost got Carter mentioned a pro bowl. And we almost won a NC South Deepa. What did you hear from Cambon and both in that and the entire conversation? It was kind of similar to what KOC said about leadership and accountability. You got to be yourself first and foremost being yourself and then talking to levanti david hearing what b a says about him here i asked aq about him as well knowing he was going to come on the show when those guys
Starting point is 02:24:31 are there every day and you hear those voices whoever comes into the building you just kind of get on the train you get in line with those guys so the leadership it stops down uh it starts from the top down so big three big three new ownership carly caylan casey and they've been around the game their entire lives they've been prepared for this moment so then you get the front office they got to be on the same page bringing in the right guys paying the right guys you know how that impacts and affects the locker room as well and then it trickles down into the locker room with all the pieces coming together Danny dimes being in the organization that is you know supporting him he's obviously confident you know more confident than I've ever seen him on the NFL field weekend and week out
Starting point is 02:25:08 and then you got to show up on game days you got to show up and make big plays so that's what guys are doing it is early in the season where the you know first kind of quarter of the season it's a long season. We know that. But as long as you can keep riding these waves, keep winning. You mentioned the phases straighter, too. We know how important having a good kicker is in today's NFL. He's been nails from wider wire so far. So I'm excited what we got. We got all the pieces. We're in the driver's seat in our division. So I'm excited about the coach's future and the direction that they're not only this year, but it seems like for the future. AJ, it seems like you even become a believer because normally he would laugh at the, remember? Oh yeah. Every time we make our picks,
Starting point is 02:25:44 he would laugh at it. It feels like you're even a believer. How could you not be at this? point. I'm definitely a believer. Here in Cam Bynum to speak, right, like, that was awesome when he says, we don't have guys overstepping and trying too hard. We have talked about on this program many times. People that, oh, they feel like, hey, a coach wants to see me be a leader. I'm going to break it down every day. I'm going to try to get voted captain. And every player, like, every NFL guy sees right through that. And it's just, it's not a great setting. I think, too, when you have these guys that are great leaders making plays, it also, like, sometimes I think bad teams,
Starting point is 02:26:15 they hope somebody else is going to make the play. Okay, here, big third down. We got, this guy's a stud, he's a vet, he's going to make a play. I think when you have like this and you empower everybody, each guy wants to, they're saying, no, I'm going to make that play. I'm going to go make that big third down stuff. I'm going to get that pick. I'm going to do whatever it takes.
Starting point is 02:26:30 And it's like it's a trickle-down effect. Like Debut said, it's from the top down, man. They have it rolling. We talked about that with Sonic and Knuckles, you know, with Montgomery and Gibbs with the Detroit Lions. They both want to make big plays, and they both are pulling for each other, which is a good thing. The way he talked about the defense with Lou Anne Rumo running this entire ship, I mean, it is a different vibe watching them play on Sundays.
Starting point is 02:26:52 Lou didn't come alone to this defense, though. You mentioned a name that I don't think I've said yet, and I should have. Yeah, James Betcher, I think, you know, when Betcher was the defensive coordinator at the Giants, Lou was with him. Now, Lou went to Cincinnati, took Betch. That's a great tandem. I mean, you talk about two guys that know each other, work together. Their personalities are different.
Starting point is 02:27:10 You know, Betch is going to be, he's going to bring the heat a lot. Lou knows his stuff. I think it's a great combination on defense for the Colts. We signed them, and we were all pumped up. Then we started looking into the Cincinnati Bengals defensive rankings. And it's like, not good, not good, not good. Then we started thinking, like, well, they didn't really pay anybody on the defensive side or have any players. He's got weapons on defensive side here in Indianapolis.
Starting point is 02:27:30 We got players, which is why I always had hope. Always had hope that this team was going to be good because we've paid so many people. Legitimately, we have made so many people on this team. We got talent. Lou seeming to be calling it right. He seems to be calling it right, and he's enjoying it, too, I think. Because he just kind of got Yeah, unceremoniously, they
Starting point is 02:27:47 shoved his ass out the door, you know? And it's just, I think the big thing, too, is, like, this isn't like the Chiefs last year where they go 15 and 2, and it's kind of like every week, like, Jesus Christ, like, they're beating the hell out of everybody. And, like, it's a very entertaining brand of football. So, like, that's why when you talk
Starting point is 02:28:04 about, hey, like, they might be the best team in the NFL right now, like, they might go to the Super Bowl. Like, their play dictates that. It's not just like, oh, hey, we're three and oh, we've squeaked by. Like, they've, they've dominated all three teams. I mean, I guess maybe not the Broncos, but like, the Broncos are a good team. A lot of people picking them to win the
Starting point is 02:28:20 Super Bowl and they went, it's just... Long season. Yeah. That's the only worry, AJ. Long season. We started really hot, which is good because history tells us the teams start hot are good teams. They'll end up being good too, but it's like we're clicking full cylinders right now. Good test on Sunday.
Starting point is 02:28:36 They go to L.A. to play the Rams. So it's like, you know, if they win that one, that's a massive jump up and it's like, okay, yeah. everything we've been saying is true. Rams, Raiders, Arizona. How you doing West Coast into Los Angeles Chargers? I can't wait to see who this team really is as the season goes on. They've been fun to watch.
Starting point is 02:28:55 Danny Dimes putting up historic numbers. Obviously, the punt conversation has happened, and the amount of successful drives percentage has been talked about. Now we're comparing them to the MVP. Daniel Jones, quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts, is now being compared to Josh Allen and Gray Show on turf in offense, the Buffalo Bill's MVP office. Or Josh Allen, congratulations.
Starting point is 02:29:15 You're being prepared to Daniel Jones. I mean, certainly would not have expected that before the season, but now we're at a point where it's like maybe Danny Dimes is the new standard. No doubt? Maybe Danny Dimes is the new bar. Smart, physical, fast can throw it. Josh Allen obviously has all the same attributes and has the Buffalo Bills in a great position
Starting point is 02:29:34 every single week, and he won the MVP for a reason. But Danny Dimes being a quarterback of the Colts was not a guarantee whenever he signed here. There was a competition between him and Anthony Richardson. Think about the conversations. Think about the optimism, pessimism meter that came out from the athletic after Danny Dimes was named the starting quarterback over Anthony Richardson.
Starting point is 02:29:50 We had seen Anthony Richardson as a quarterback. We had heard and hoped that maybe he had evolved his professional quarterbackism, I guess would be the way to describe that and everything. And we'd seen some things that did that. But nobody gave the Colts outside of us, I would say. Hope with Danny Dimes, the quarterback. Why is that? Why do you think everybody thought he had no shot, B.A.?
Starting point is 02:30:12 And how hard is that of a decision whenever you, like, how early into the process do you think Shane knew Danny Dimes was going to be the starting quarterback? Do you think that's real? Probably by a third OTA. You think he already had it mastered? You think he probably knew very early. He said, if we can protect him, if we give him running game, this guy's a weapon. Now, he's a hell of an athlete. He's accurate. He's smart. You're not going to fool him. His stats against the blitz against the Broncos were just unbelievable.
Starting point is 02:30:38 So I think that conversation then goes back. I wish I would have asked Kevin O'Connell this. Does COC think he could have been one of those guys? Learns, journey, travel, gets to the next place, already experienced. I mean, at his offense over there, Sam Darnold's experience it, Kirk Cousins has experienced it. I guess you could give Danny Dimes credit because he was there. Dobbs. I don't think he got a second resurgence, though.
Starting point is 02:31:03 Oh, yeah, true. But like, KOC has seen the second career resurgence kind of happened. here. And Danny Dimes is the most recent one. He might be the fucking best. Baker, obviously is what you're shooting for and striving for whenever you're doing this. Well, and I don't know if people would have expected this from Danny Dimes, but Shepty has said this a bunch that the feeling around Danny Dimes and the NFL was much different than how the media was talking about him. You know, he said there were a handful of teams before he signed with the Colts where it was like, hey, they've given the opportunity, like, you know, and you've got
Starting point is 02:31:36 all these guys who are available, who'd you take? And he was saying, you know, know, Danny Dimes, multiple teams were saying, like, there's something there. So, I mean, obviously, he's probably outperformed what everyone's expectations for him were. But that just goes to show you, too, that, like, around the league, people still knew, like, this guy's, this guy's a talent. You put him in the right situation, and something like this could happen. So what? I'm sorry, go ahead. So shout out the front office. Once again, being, I guess, the most aggressive in getting him.
Starting point is 02:32:04 And then obviously, Danny Dimes, looking at the situation and saying, hey, this is a great situation. for me. And, like, you mentioned the coaches around the league, guys like VA. Okay, here we go right here for the Ross Tucker. This is from the Red Soccerr podcast. Tom Pelliserra reported that Danny Dimes took a little bit less money to come to the Colts, I think, because of the situation because he wanted to be a starter again. And that's amazing to hear because there was conversations about how much Minnesota offered. They're like, a Minnesota made a real offer. Polts spent him 10 million a year, I think. I think that's the number.
Starting point is 02:32:32 Yeah, like up to, up to like 14 or something. Something like that for a starter. So he took less money to come to Indianapolis because he had a lot. understood the situation was going to be in a competition. He certainly made the most of it. I'm sorry, go ahead. Yeah, so seeing that as a landing spot, and to Ty's point, like, NBA, can see it because these guys are coaches, and coaches got egos, too. And it's a reason that they have those jobs in the NFL because they can see a player
Starting point is 02:32:52 and say, okay, I can get more talent out of them. Now, for the rest of us, the reason that pessimism meter or whatever was so high is because we saw Danny Dimes in a New York Giants jersey, getting obliterated every week, turning the ball over, doing those things. So it's like, oh, man, this is the guy we got Danny Dimes in AR. We draft the AAR, top five. Let's at least get a kid the chance and see him develop. But once he was named the starter, and once again, just like you, made some calls and people in the building, no one was surprised.
Starting point is 02:33:20 And that's the thing we said. If somebody wins a quarterback job, nobody in the building should be surprised. Offense, defense, coaches, trainers, everybody knows what NFL quarterback can look like. So that was a very positive sign. So I love what I'm seeing from Daniel Jones this far on. Play callers, head coaches have egos? I didn't hear it. A little bit.
Starting point is 02:33:38 gotta have it gotta have it Shane Steichen whole entire game week I'm sure is just so much different this year than it has been in years for sure especially because third OTA you mentioned I think that probably was accurate
Starting point is 02:33:51 when Danny Diamond's picked up Shane's offense I don't know how similar it was the things he had in the past I don't know how easy it was from the transition into the lingo but just like him commanding that offense we haven't seen that in years here in Indianapolis that was week one he called out a blitz
Starting point is 02:34:03 shifted the offensive line one way then he pointed out something else and goes there Shane Stuyken has to be like, yes, fucking, man, yes, thank you. So much, right? That helps out. Totally, bro, totally. I mean, when you got a guy that sees it, gets it, and does it. Now, some can see it, they get it, they can't do it.
Starting point is 02:34:24 He does it. And like you said, a couple of those players changing the line. We're going to be hot right here. This guy's coming free. The ball's coming up. All right. Touchdown. Then him also in the pocket, navigating the pocket.
Starting point is 02:34:37 being able to run much faster than anybody gives them credit for it. It's like, Shane Steichen's sleeping much easier and a much better spot this year than not just what they are. This is, we are recycling quarterbacks. Hey, come in, welcome. Here's a whole new offense. Master it, please, and let's move on. There were stories of Matt Ryan
Starting point is 02:34:53 in the offensive line not having a clue what the fuck each other were saying for like eight weeks or something like that. So Danny Dimes coming in and understanding. Shane's like, that's crazy. There was some crazy times here in Indianapolis over the last few years so we apologize for being overly enthusiastic. enthusiastic about what is happening right now.
Starting point is 02:35:09 But this looks like a professional team. And he looks like a professional quarterback. And it looks like Stuyken's offense. He's the perfect one for him. Yeah, he's a great fit. I mean, I think he fits in any offense. We loved him in Tampa. We talked about him a bunch because his first win was against us.
Starting point is 02:35:23 And he played lights out in that ball game. Throwing and running. And so, yeah, I think Shane is, he's real, real happy right now. He was great on the Manningcast last night. Obviously, he watched Super Handsome. Did you catch the Manning Cast last night, AJ? I just saw a little bit. I go back and forth usually with main broadcasts and main and cast.
Starting point is 02:35:42 I like what Peyton, Eli, I do. You know me, I love when we just get to watch Peyton and Eli, like, digest the game in real time and see Peyton freak out about Blitz is coming, that quarterbacks don't pick up, and refs missing calls all that. Yeah, his football IQ on display is always good. He made a bunch of new rules. Do you see that? No, I did.
Starting point is 02:36:00 I missed. Hey, he made a bunch of new rules. They're good. Which ones? Okay. There's something about a public apology or something. for drops or something. I mean,
Starting point is 02:36:08 like, there was, first one was Hail Mary Interceptions Don't count on the quarterback. Yeah, don't count on quarterback. And then he pointed out that the NBA no longer
Starting point is 02:36:17 puts it on the shooter. They put it on the team as a miss. I'm okay with that. He said, Hill Mary should not count against quarterback. That sounds like a little bit of bullshit, which I respect. I'm off for that too.
Starting point is 02:36:26 I mean, I've seen a quarter guys not throw it just for anyone to intercept. And then drops not considered, yeah, here we go. Intercepted Hail Mary shouldn't count. False start, off sides, equity within a 10-yard.
Starting point is 02:36:37 Okay, I don't know what that means. Target should not be an official statistic. He hates that. He says that basically every single game. This guy got six targets last week. Okay. All right, what does that mean? Batting balls should be illegal.
Starting point is 02:36:48 Should not be able to put your hand above and then cash payments on field for late hits. Was something he said. That was the public apology. That's awesome. Which I respect, you got to actually pay the money for late hits right there. That'll probably slow people down a little bit. Carried in your football pants. And literally, did you hear what Darius told the story about us playing the Broncos?
Starting point is 02:37:04 Yeah. You talk about late hits. The reason why Peyton's thinking about. that. Art Jones just happens in the first series just crawl a little bit later on the Peyton and in his mind it's like, dash, I want $10,000 cash right now. I don't want it to
Starting point is 02:37:17 remove from your check. I would like you to see that. My money. I'm surprised he didn't say drops don't count as incompletions. Like I'm surprised he didn't add that because anytime a wide receiver drops a ball Peyton just me, this m-catch the fucking ball. Get off.
Starting point is 02:37:33 That is your job out there. So I'm surprised that was probably right on their fringe if I had What does the guy against the target's been a stat? I think he thinks it's a bullshit stat that's just kind of created to keep people happy, basically. It seems like. A new school dude thing. Yeah, it's a big for betters.
Starting point is 02:37:49 I think it's one of those, he had eight targets of two catches. Like, I can't bitch you through it till you eight times. I think that's what Peyton has a problem is like, it is like, I don't know. I've not asked them, but the targeting targets number, he has brought up on numerous man and guess. he's brought it up like a lot of times so I'd always know that there's certainly something he doesn't like I think it's because he thinks it's all bullshit
Starting point is 02:38:13 just to keep people happy well they gave him four targets last and it's like well you didn't give him the fucking ball to it like so I think he doesn't love that it's just kind of been created out nowhere you're saying for gamblers though it's nice to know how many times the ball's going in the direction
Starting point is 02:38:28 yeah I don't play fantasy but I would assume fantasy too like knowing hey I got a guy starting I got targeted 12 times last week and he called eight of them. He's probably going to get Targeted again a bunch this week. So it's definitely good for, you know, the people that have other interests going into the game for sure. Yeah, targets definitely matter for fantasy.
Starting point is 02:38:46 I wonder if Peyton is more so thinking from the angle of like, you know, if quarterback's target, Jamar Chase or one guy, 20 times they're going to get killed. Everybody else. Back in the day, I was throwing a Marvin Harrison 28 times a game. We don't need to let everybody else know how many times I'm throwing to them. Exactly. We don't need this to be a publicly stated number.
Starting point is 02:39:05 Sure. I fucking threw to Austin Colley one time. Okay, I don't need that to be known by Austin. It was a big catch. It's moved forward. That was a big day. That was a great ball. There you go.
Starting point is 02:39:18 But Marver got 30 targets, and we don't want to talk about that on Monday, so it's not a real thing. That would have been a sick line of him. We had had Marv, Reggie, and Austin, and N-T-Y. Holy fuck. Stokes wasn't met. And Edge. So I wasn't there for Stokely. I was not there for Stokely.
Starting point is 02:39:33 He was unbelievable. They followed with Peyton over to Denver. He was so good. Yeah, that was a good position. Austin Colley, though, was a... I mean, that... He was not a West... The offense in Denver is damn near as good as it gets
Starting point is 02:39:46 when it comes to, you know, Peyton's offenses when it came... Because Welker went with him. How many touchdowns? DT? 55. Yeah, 55, something. He had seven... He had seven in the first game.
Starting point is 02:39:57 Julius Thomas, the nobody's at the end. Comes out of nowhere. He's a basketball player. He was unbelievable in his first. He had, like, 18 touchdowns that year. Yeah, it was fun to watch. And we got rid of them. Well, he came back here.
Starting point is 02:40:10 We handled him. Took care of his looks like. He had a war of 1812. That was pretty loud Sunday on football. Oh, yeah. That was pretty good little place. Made a tackle. A couple good plays that game.
Starting point is 02:40:22 A lot inside 20. Nobody remembers that. Shout out. Before we get out of here, we did have somebody pass away that we care about mightily. Sportsbook Kinser Legend in the gombling world. We had a chance to meet him multiple times, hang out with him multiple
Starting point is 02:40:39 times. And then obviously we followed along on the internet as everybody else who gambled ever followed along with Sherapan, who's an absolute dog. Had the greatest hat collection I've ever seen. I think Gumpie is trying to keep up with him. We'll always be chasing his greatness. His vibes and his spirit were always immaculate with us. And the guy gave out all winners. Let's go over to Hammer. Don, Don, Don. Tone, obviously, Kinsig is a guy. We love. over here and we're all going to certainly miss like hell yeah could say it was the best he um was just always happy like and always wanted would talk wanted to talk and just always be around everyone especially at super bowl radio row um he was he came on hammered down a lot he was just like
Starting point is 02:41:23 the nicest dude you could call him and he always like he just always wanted to talk and be friendly with whoever he came in touch with he was awesome to us he was a yinzer legend i know Connor and Gumpy facetined them almost every weekend just to just to talk ball he was just one of the best dudes a great dad great husband and just gone too soon yeah amen rest in peace brother we appreciate the hell out of you and uh I believe there was a some sort of sickness inside that I don't know what it was but we were following it online I don't think any of us knew how serious it was from afar and then there was a couple updates like hey this is getting pretty serious and then all of a sudden we hear he passed away.
Starting point is 02:42:05 We obviously don't see him on a day-to-day basis, so I don't think it hits him as much. Radio Rowley to 1,000. Oh, yeah, without a doubt. He is an ever-present person. A staple. When we're at the Super Bowl. And he's always, for us,
Starting point is 02:42:17 he's always been so complimentary and uplifting and motivating. Like, always like telling us to, not even to get on the show, did not care to get on the show. Ask him come on show, would definitely do it. Did not have any personal agendas
Starting point is 02:42:30 whenever he was talking to us. No. felt like he genuinely wished for our success so we will miss the shit out of him rest in peace consig you've done good bub you've done good gone way too soon yeah gone way too soon all right we'll get out of here we'll be back tomorrow now i sent off on ESPN in the most glorious fashion i was awesome fantastic i don't know if they'll turn that one in for an award they should think about it tone why don't you head out here buddy but this one's going to be sent off in a beautiful fashion because we've got a super bowl champion b a another incredible week we appreciate the hell
Starting point is 02:42:59 out of you, man. That's what I. We appreciate the hell out of you. And on that note, be a friend, tell a friend something nice that might change their life we're in this thing together.
Starting point is 02:43:07 Team on me, B.A., anything you say? Better one next week? Hell yeah. Next week, I want fucking speakers and I want a goddamn highlight. That's it.
Starting point is 02:43:18 One of the greatest Saturday night speeches of all time. What are you going to say to the boys tonight? Well, I'm going to tell them we got no fucking highlight reel and we got no music.
Starting point is 02:43:25 And I want that next week. Anything else? No, that'll do it. Get your asses out of here, go to bed. Next week, I'm on fucking speakers and a highlight video. Get your ass out of here, go to fucking bed. Guess what we had the next week? Highlight video and speakers.
Starting point is 02:43:40 I don't know if that's true or not, but I assume it was. Oh, yes, we do. Okay, okay, okay, obviously it worked. What the hell am I talking about? AJ, great work. Boys in the back, way to pull it off. Team on me, team on three. We'll see you tomorrow.
Starting point is 02:43:50 One, two, three, team. Goodbye. This isn't just another ESPN fantasy football season. It's your shot at greatness. With a refreshed design, the ESPN Fantasy app is sharper than ever, so you can draft like a pro and dominate your league. And introducing Gridiron Gauntlet, a new game mode where the best compete to be crowned
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