The Pat McAfee Show - PMS 2.0 1477 - Merry Christmas Eve, NFL Christmas Day/Week 17 Preview, Mike McCarthy, JJ Watt, & AJ Hawk
Episode Date: December 24, 2025On today's show, Pat, AJ Hawk and the boys celebrate Christmas Eve and preview the NFL's Christmas weekend games. In the first hour, we are joined by Super Bowl Champion, former Head Coach of the Gree...n Bay Packers & Dallas Cowboys, Mike McCarthy joins the progrum to chat about playing on holidays, the state of the Philadelphia Eagles, building a team through the trenches, what makes Aaron Rodgers' so great presnap, Mike Tomlin winning 200 games in the NFL, and more. In the second hour, we are joined by Texans Ring of Honor member, future Hall of Famer, 3x DPOY, and color commentator for NFL on CBS, JJ Watt stops by to talk about roughing the passer, Myles Garrett's chase of NFL sack history, the Cleveland Browns future, and more. We wrap the show with all of our picks. Make sure to subscribe to youtube.com/thepatmcafeeshow or watch on ESPN (12-2 EDT), ESPN's YouTube 12-3pm EDT, or ESPN+. We appreciate the hell out of all of you. Merry Christmas everybody. Cheers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Transcript
Discussion (0)
Hello, beautiful people, and welcome to our holly jolly humble abode on this magical Christmas Eve edition of a sports show that shouldn't be on television, and it starts now.
Football!
It is magical, and obviously it'll be alongside of our Christmases tomorrow, two on Netflix, one on Prime.
To be honest, the game certainly looked a lot better in the preseason whenever we were forecasting.
What a great NFL season could look like, obviously, the Dallas Cowboys on Christmas.
We're certainly going to make that happen.
And listen, we can sell the hope of what the future can be.
And maybe when I traded macapas, macaussens, they said that it was going to be a bad situation.
But the Dallas Cowboys on Christmas, if you want this to have success, this is what you do.
They did.
Have us play the commanders.
Obviously, that'll be a good time.
Jaden Daniels.
He's coming into his own.
Dan Quinn, Cliff Kingsbury's still there.
They traded for Debo Samuel.
The Washington commanders on Christmas, on Netflix, a new partner that's spending billions.
Billions of dollars on sports and live sports content
and taking over Christmas from the NBA.
Let's go ahead and give them a big one to start today.
Hey, you know, they're just going to be coming fresh out of the unwrapping of the gifts from Santa Claus.
You know, everybody's going to be kind of settling in.
Boom!
Let's go ahead and hit them with the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Commanders.
And then right after that, guess who we got?
What's more holly jolly than Motor City, Dan Campbell, and the Detroit Lions?
A rugged, tough team.
The Detroit Lions, we've seen them on another holiday Thanksgiving for a long time, just getting smacked in a mouth.
Now they have a good team.
Let's go ahead and give them Christmas as well.
Let the world see this comeback tale for a city, for a team, for an organization in a beautiful way on a beautiful day in the middle of it.
While people are, you know, kind of settling in maybe for their dinner or maybe their second bite or, you know, celebrating their new toys or fixing the batteries or fixing something that potentially took place, let's give them the Detroit Lions in a Minnesota Vikings.
And you know where it's going to be?
It's going to be over there in beautiful Minneapolis, Minnesota.
And we're going to see a lot of cool traditions.
Like when things get going, we're going to see their entire fan base go.
Skull.
Skull.
Skull.
Skull.
Skull.
Skull.
Skull, Skull, Skull, Skull.
Whatever at the end of it is.
We don't know for sure.
But that's going to be a magical moment on Christmas.
state. Now, I'm not going to say it's only there. Also in Iceland, I believe Iceland gave that
to the Minnesota Vikings, now part of the San Antonio Spurs world. And we would like to say,
we that is a good thing, not a bad thing. You know, if only one stadium or arena was allowed to do
the White Stripe Seven Nation Army, that would certainly not be good for all of sports. So the
fact that it's something that is a sick community event like that is being added to an event
as opposed to being gate-kept away from an event, I think is good for sports. We want
more moments of high, high, hi. We want that. And anything Wembe wants to do, by the way,
I think we should follow suit. This guy seemingly hasn't figured out. Okay, he hangs out with the
monks. He hangs out with Kevin Garnett. That's both in a two-month period. He's with a monk
and he's with KG in a two-month period trying to learn about the universe. He's trying to make
sports in the Spurs atmosphere even more electrifying. We like that. We don't hate that. But
if I was a Minnesota of Vikings fans forever, you could say, hey, we're the first American ones who
really had this. And the Spurs fans would say that.
That's cool.
We got a guy who's seven foot nine.
So does this entire thing.
What are you guys doing?
Well, they're hosting a Christmas Day game against the Detroit Lions.
And the Detroit Lions, favorite by seven and a half, oh, no.
Oh, no, on Christmas.
Just maybe that's a vibes thing.
Maybe not.
But certainly in the preseason looking at what this game could have been,
as opposed to, you know, the Bears being the story.
The Bears and the Packers, obviously always going to be in the conversation of the NFC North.
Instead, it's the others in the NFC North.
Whenever the others are actually in the conversation for this.
Super Bowl couldn't have projected that.
And then the Denver Broncos coming into the year with their defense,
with another year with Sean Payton, with Bo Nix.
They were Lombardi darlings, still in the conversation for sure.
And then who are they playing?
Yeah.
Patrick and Treff.
Of course.
The NFL thought, okay, they had a Christmas Day home run.
Absolutely.
And how could you not?
I think when it came out, I think we're all like, okay.
And then the Kansas City Chiefs, that's going to become a new Christmas tradition.
They're red, Andy Reid, pretty holly,
Goli himself, you know, in the home of the cheese.
Can I only say that for five more years?
Uh-oh.
They're moving.
Yikes.
That's big news right now.
Arrow Dead Stadium.
Oh.
Whoa.
I didn't mean to do that.
Arrow almost.
Please.
We still have five more years.
Good point.
This isn't until 2031.
We're certainly going to piss everybody off now.
And we're going to have to live through it for the next five, six years.
But yeah, we're moving right across the road.
We're going in Kansas.
Kansas. Kansas City, one of those funny city names, that it's two of them in two different states.
One of them not be in Kansas.
And the other one, turns out in Kansas, they're moving over to Kansas.
That's right.
And Kansas said, you know what?
Welcome home, Kansas Chiefs.
That's what they said.
You know what we're going to give you?
Whatever you want?
Everything.
There's $3 billion.
You guys can keep tickets and merch just like you.
Yeah, it's a good little deal.
All we're going to do is we're going to pay for this in Starbonds.
I did a little research on this.
I'm not a big bond stock market guy.
would rather bet on something you're in control of as opposed to some
but it sounds like people do really well over there.
Star bonds, I guess, are a type of loan from the state,
okay, that'll be paid for by their saying the taxes on what is generated from.
So I believe what is happening over there with this $3 billion investment
and the Chiefs moving from Missouri over to Kansas,
is they're going to build one of those super-duper Kansas City Chiefs worlds.
Chief's time.
This can be Chief's time.
It's Kansas City Chief's time.
That is in Kansas now.
So we're going to have restaurants.
I assume there's going to be some sort of museum or Hall of Fame for the Kansas City Chiefs,
let alone with all the history with Clark Hunt.
And we saw in the Chiefs documentary, they're literally underground,
pulling shit out, his desk or something like that.
I feel like they're probably going to make this a attraction.
They're going to try their best to have their own version of a Lambo-type operation
that takes place over there in Green Bay.
So I think what the state of Kansas is betting is that all the business that's going to come through,
we're going to be able to get that money back without taking any of the revenue from the Kansas City Chiefs.
Now, immediately upon seeing that, you go, wow, the state of Kansas just got a hose.
This feels like taxpayers are, you know, really just kind of begging?
Like, what's going?
Life is okay whenever they were over there in Missouri, what's going on here?
So why would you make that deal?
But it feels like the state of Kansas is trying to make it better on the fact that they're going to be able to bring in enough to be able to pay us off.
Now, granted, those taxes, once they start, do you ever turn them off?
I don't think any government's ever done that, right?
So I think once you see a flow of income coming, you're probably going to keep that.
So does that end up affecting the rest of the state?
and the taxpayers, I don't know enough about the situation,
but I will say taxpayers will certainly feel it,
and if they don't win, and this doesn't, you know,
if they go back to being not good.
Oh, boy.
They're not, because they have Patrick Mahomes.
Yeah.
And it's indoors.
They do have a dome, so, you know,
they'll be able to have a lot of great events.
I mean,
Taylor Swift concert in Kansas.
That might have been what it really was.
That might have been the entire draws.
Taylor Swift needs to be coming to Kansas.
That's where we need her to be.
and that's a big deal i think if you talk business-wise especially when she's going to have a restaurant oh
there's a chance taylor i mean 1587 oh it's right yeah it's already there yeah Kelsey and my homeses
boom yeah we got a plate from their place uh downtown kansas city i believe Missouri okay so this
would be going into kansas city cheese ton i believe yeah i don't yeah kC mo right there
kc mo yeah good run five years they go hey they go wagoo in her yeah five years but all they're
thinking about is
can't wait to get to
Kansas.
It's going to be so much
better in Kansas.
In Kansas City,
Chiefs Town.
Nonetheless, we appreciate
a new stadium
coming in.
We hope that the fans
don't feel like
they got completely
screwed in this,
but there's going to be
people pissed.
And it's certainly
going to be a change
of things that
we're not going to be
in the home
of the
Chiefs that we've
come to know,
but it feels like
that's going to change.
Good for them.
But they are the
nightcap for our
Christmas NFL lineup.
And then the NBA,
they're throwing heat too.
You know, if there's commercial or something like that,
or you want to change the channel or a game becomes absolute shite.
You can go over to Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks.
That's a big one, because I think there's a Mickey Mouse game.
Yes, there's a Mickey Mouse watch along, yes.
There's a Mickey Mouse watch along.
We got an incredible gift on here.
This is a good part of being part of the ESPN relationship that we have.
It's like we get some of the Disney promotional stuff,
and I think we would get it anyways because we are a sports show at this point.
But nonetheless, we got this dunk the holes.
package?
Ken's going to go crazy.
Sick.
Ken is going to go up.
Yeah, they got them all in there.
They literally got them all in there.
I think Mickey Mouse is leading.
I believe the fun, the clubhouse is going
to be a part of it.
It's, yeah, I think they're doing
one of those things. That's, you know, the added
benefit, especially on Christmas Day.
Hey, who knows what type of Disney gifts
are coming with
Santa Claus, Don the Chimney.
Here's last year's, and I'll tell you,
Mickey gets loose.
Hey, people forget.
And I don't know who.
So those are.
actual humans that they make
animated, I believe.
Oh, they make them Disney characters? Yeah, of the players.
And then they track them. Yes.
With a GPS thing. Yeah, and I think they're
actually doing the...
Oh, whoa, whoa. Oh. Donald.
Goofy! All right. Yeah, so
they're going to have a good time. So that is
available. What's that on the Disney
Channel? Disney Network? Probably
on the Disney Channel. Yeah, the
Dano thing, the Monsters. Monsters Inc. was on the Disney app.
So I assume probably.
Okay, we can check that out.
And then, you know, obviously the day is filled with great sports.
We're so incredibly thankful and lucky that we're in the sports world.
And today should be a good one.
We've got Coach Mike McCarthy join us.
He had a picture of saying, what his dollars last year?
He said, you're in the season, we're doing this.
And I will say, we got a gift from Coach Mike McCarthy.
Now, there is a chance, and I'm not going to say it because I don't want to give him a heads up.
I don't want to tip them off.
There was a lot of gifts.
A lot of gifts.
Yeah.
He's a good gift.
He knows what was in there, what was it?
Yes, he does.
Yes, he does.
He can't pick.
He packaged it himself.
We don't need to, we just need to know that he, even that pie, those pies.
Oh, my God.
The cooks.
Oh, sharkery board.
Fresh moots.
Come on.
Foxy was back here with a knife this morning, cutting up coach Mike McCarthy and his wife's.
I don't want to say her name.
Jessica.
Yeah.
That was who it came from.
Has he said her name before?
Yes.
Last week.
Okay.
if no we should dump that
sure
you know that's what I was
but I do appreciate you both
in rhythm on time
I have football coach in the NFL
I think he's probably been on the field
with his with his wife before
probably
probably yeah
Super Bowl for sure
we know that for sure
yeah definitely
we all know Andy Reid's wife
you know certainly
yeah yeah
what's going on Andy Reid
so is he back for it
is he going to be there in Kansas
I doubt it what
2030 he's retired a long ways away
Yeah, I think he's calling it before that.
Talks the table at Boston Conner, at Ty Schmidt.
Merry Christmas Eve.
Merry Christmas Eve.
Boys, this is a great time of year.
The best time of the year.
One half of the hammer.
Cowboys AP tone.
What a time of the year.
Football matters.
Yes, it does.
Okay, now tomorrow or not really.
So that's going to be tough for us to really sell there.
Stranger Things is out, so.
What?
No big deal.
Stranger Things is a...
Yeah, big TV show on Netflix.
Huge day for Netflix.
They're really, you know, touching all the bases tomorrow.
respect. So this is kind of the streaming platforms goals, have big events, and then whenever
the big events happen on their platform, they're hoping they can hold you. Now, Netflix was able
to crack the code. Netflix and Chill became its own thing. It wasn't like they had to draw you
there. You were already going to Netflix just to check out what the hell they had. Everybody else
trying to do the same thing. So that's why they're all getting into the NFL business. That's why
they're getting into the live sports business, because they're hoping that they can get you on their
platform, and then all the ancillary shit, they're going to try to keep you there, okay, and say,
hey, you can just come hang out here.
You don't have to be drawn here because of a big event.
So Netflix's saying, all right, we've got some games.
They might be asked, though.
Let's go ahead and drop a little stranger things in here.
Let's go ahead and tell them right underneath, too, by the way.
You know what else is available?
That super dupler sequel to Tiger King that you watched five years ago,
we got the follow up on that.
Boom.
How about, you heard about what Pete did he?
Boom.
We got a whole thing for it still trending in there.
And oh, yeah, holiday movie here.
We want to get any spirit?
because this game is ass, we got you there.
Netflix is going to be pulling all the tricks.
Oh, yeah.
And Stranger Things is a good fastball.
That's the one about those little kids riding the bikes.
Yeah, exactly, with the Underworld.
To your point, upside down, whatever.
To your point, quietly Netflix dropped a Adam Sandman
George Clooney film on Netflix right now.
Yeah, I do not.
I haven't seen it yet.
I've only seen the trailer.
Well, we know, though.
But yeah, it's Clooney and Sandman,
so you can assume it's kind of like a Judge Shohey
home run derby of a movie.
Yes, exactly.
Exactly. The World Baseball Classic of a movie. Yeah, I can't believe that's available on Netflix.
Right now. It came out like two weeks ago. I was surfing last night, and I saw it. I didn't pull the trigger, but it looked amazing.
Did Bob Bunny get a recast? Travis Kelsey get a recast? Is it a Sandman Happy Madison production?
No, no, I believe it's more serious fare. I would say not of Clooney's.
Yeah, I believe Sandman is going, you know, he is a drama performance.
I heard Clooney was looking forward to working with the Happy Madison production. I'm sure.
I am sure.
And he asked for Spade, but I think Spade was busy.
You know, it was one of those types of situations, but it does look like a good film.
So another thing, I mean, Netflix might actually have a hundred million people just from the United States on their app to mark.
Good for them.
They certainly wish the games are a little bit bigger.
They are more meaningful.
Now we got big names, Cowboys, Chiefs, you got it all.
You can sell everything, every different angle.
You could possibly piece together.
But obviously, none of the games mean anywhere near what we thought they would mean at the beginning of the season.
but it's still NFL football.
We certainly will watch the incredible talent.
Now, joining us, ladies and gentlemen, is a man
who sent us a wonderful gift here.
All of us.
All wonderful gifts.
We can't thank him enough for that.
Ladies and gentlemen, he's a Super Bowl champ.
He's a man who is our coach.
He's been joining us every single week,
and I'll tell you what, this Jens or Legend
has become one of our favorite conversations we've ever had.
Ladies and gentlemen, Coach Mike McCarthy.
Yeah.
Oh, that's go far.
That's going far.
His moves.
Getting hot hair.
Whoa, yeah, it is.
Yeah, it's Merry Christmas, man.
It's here.
Merry Christmas Eve to you as well.
So mine, I actually, we had O's come by and tell it to pause.
Stop, yeah.
And it did.
So it's just kind of chilling.
It's got a perfect temperature, but it is that time of year, Coach Mike McCarthy.
Merry Christmas Eve.
Did you play it in Christmas games, Christmas Eve games?
What is kind of your MO?
How many Thanksgiving games?
What is your MO on playing?
on these big holidays and I don't want to say the honor it is but truly like you are
being tasked with entertaining the United States of America during their holiday so I think
it is a big honor to play on these you know monumental holidays coach is that how you view it as
well and have you ever talked about that with your team yeah definitely I mean it's it's
it's another national game opportunity you know everybody's watching you know and obviously
probably been you know part of a lot of Thanksgiving games and you know and players and coaches
you love playing on a national stage.
And I think really the real joy is after the victory,
you know, you get that extra time off with your family.
So you may, you know, your Christmas Day or the Thanksgiving Day may be adjusted some,
but there's definitely more, you know, more family time on the back end.
So I personally always enjoyed playing on the holidays.
I thought it was great for your team.
And really it was kind of nice to get a little by week right before the playoffs too.
So I think those guys will enjoy, you know,
playing tomorrow, frankly. Yeah, the football people calendar is always like, yeah, Thanksgiving's
Thursday, Friday, maybe, Saturday, maybe Tuesday. So we will kind of see how it all goes because
having to work, having to practice, even the teams that aren't playing on Christmas, obviously
have an appearance, they have a game. A lot of them very, very important. It's a lucky part of
our job to be able to be a part of the holiday season for everybody. Let's talk about some of the
teams that are currently dancing. We talked about the slate for Christmas, and it was like
projection of these teams and then what
actual reality of teams are by
this point, a little bit different than what
we expected in the preseason
when we heard about these. What do you think
about the slate and the storylines of these
teams? Obviously Denver, favored by
13 and a half against Kansas City, they
can still go win it all. But Detroit,
Dallas, Washington, Minnesota, Kansas
City, all teams, because they're
on the Christmas Day, we all thought this, not
just the fans, but also the league,
all teams that could be on a Super Bowl run
and only one of them are. What do you think
goes to say about these teams and maybe the NFL as a whole coach well i think it goes back to our
parity conversation from a few weeks back i mean it's here and it's and it's been here for the last
30 years and keeps getting stronger you know i think you know you look at all the things that
have happening just with scheduling uh the division games you know some early but most late
and and i i just think you know the health of your team you know that challenge of getting through
the injury you know part of this thing it shows up more and more every year because you know you look
you look at some of those teams
with Washington and Kansas City
and some of these teams have had
in Detroit, I was had to deal with
as far as injuries, it's
part of the challenge, you know, 17 games
and I don't know how many more teams
will be in the playoffs that this year
that morning last year. And I think it
bodes well for the NFL and I think it bodes well
for the fans. But yeah, it's
hard to project these games.
Definitely harder today
and it was probably 15, 20 years ago.
Parodies, what they're striving for, every league's
looking for it because every fan base says, holy shit, we can do it. This could be us next
year. We could kind of turn this entire thing around. 36th straight year with at least four new
teams. There's five right now from last year. If the Panthers go, that would make it six.
36 straight years? Yes. Okay, so you can go from actual outhouse to playoff Pennhouse,
and we have a lot of teams doing that this year. It was actually one of our main headlines
from Monday in our overreaction Monday. It's like, hey, there are some teams that are absolutely
shite and then had a quick culture change in a turnaround.
So if your fan base is going through it right now or your team is asked,
there should be a lot of hope with what the league has shown over the last 36 years now.
Now, let's talk about first time 21 years, something that you know a lot about.
NFC East had a back-to-back division champion in the Philadelphia Eagles.
What do you think that says about the Philadelphia Eagles?
And are they playing their best ball now whenever it comes time to be playing your best ball?
I think it says, you know, first says a lot about that division.
I think the fact that it's changed, you know, almost almost.
almost yearly says a lot about how competitive all four teams are and the, you know,
the rivalries, you know, within that division. So, but yeah, I, you know, I think for Philadelphia,
you know, they've had some ups and downs and you want to play your best football here down
to stretch. And, and I think they definitely have better football in front of them. Because, you know,
they win that division, like you've already stated, two years in a row, it's, it's tough duty
with, with no questions. So it's important for them to play well these next two weeks to get some
momentum and going into the playoffs.
Watching Sequan get into pain and then have some free running space was, it was a trip
down memory lane for John's, I assume.
It was like, oh, this is what it was every game last year, every single game.
He broke the record for most rush yards in a season.
Obviously, there's a bunch of different conversations there, 17 games, and it was all the way
through the Super Bowl.
It just says he was on a good team, but he had more rush yards than anybody ever.
The explosive play thing, stat was like most in the history of the game, most 20-plus
yard plays. And as yards before contact would have been a top five rusher in the NFL, just as
yards before contact. So it's like last year what we saw out of this Philadelphia Eagles team was
explosive run after explosive run. And then obviously when you have that, that opens up the
past game a lot more. And now granted, the past game wasn't exactly thrilled for a Super Bowl team
to outrush instead of outpass themselves throughout an entire season in a long time, basically a
changing of the guard becoming a rushing league almost with what the Philadelphia Eagles did. And then this
They were still winning games, but it didn't look the same.
It didn't look as great.
It didn't look as spectacular.
And it was against the commanders, felt like they kind of got their groove back a little bit.
And then more people get healthy, more people get on the field.
And then all of a sudden, Siriani's got a pissed off team going into playoffs
who just won a division back-to-back for the first time in 21 years in the NFC East.
And they're playing their best ball.
It's like, are the Eagles about to go back-to-back with the Super Bowl in a time where we don't really know who's the clear-cut best
outside of maybe the Patriots with how they've been playing against everybody?
Yeah, definitely. I think, you know, the big thing, you obviously talked about the rushing production, but I know my time in the NFC East, you know, that offensive line in Philadelphia, history is going to be very, very kind to that group. I think you're going to have a number of Hall of Famers come out of that.
I think the stretch that they've had as far as health in the offensive line and productivity, you know, the prior years has been, I've been very, very impressed with and obviously happen to compete with those guys.
a year directly. So, you know, I think really their play, and it's, you say it every year,
when this playoff slate is set, you know, it's the battle in the trenches is a thing I know
I've always looked at first, and I look at the years that we were productive in the playoffs
first of years that we were not, you know, those battles up front are critical to your success
in playoff football. Okay, so I don't want to start piecing things together, although it is
Christmas Eve and a lot of people are going to be doing all those things around the family
dinner table, but where are you from, Mike McCarthy? Where are you from? Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
1527. Okay. I'm from 15239. I believe Siriani, Western Pennsylvania as well. I believe
his dad had a time at Western Pennsylvania. Signetti, obviously, Western Pennsylvania.
We all, AQ, obviously, comes on the show every single week. We all kind of have a similar mindset
that the trenches are where it's at. Do you think it's because, like, Pittsburgh football? Like, do you
think that is like that is what western pennsylvania aFC north basically we've been accustomed
to just like obviously everyone talks about steel curtain but all let's not forget about jerome
betis in the entire like it's just a run all the way back to frank i mean where it's a run place so
do you think that is potentially from like birth you were going to be a big time trenches guy
do you think that is something that has happened or do you think just most football people are trenches
people no i'm buying it you know i'll buy anything from western pennsylvania for sure absolutely but
I think that's, you look at the history of the game.
You look at championship football.
I mean, you know, I don't know if you can go through all the Super Bowl champions
and look at their O and D line and it was not a strength of their football team
or definitely part of the strength of their football team because you have to have it.
You know, you can't, you know, defense, I will always look at the defense is the thermostat
of your football team.
You know, they regulate how the game is, you know, because the defense can always keep you
in the game.
And you watch these playoffs, every one of these games.
is going to come down to a two-minute drill, you know, it's going to come down to that last
series. So you've got that defense that keeps you in the game, and that's why, frankly, I think
you have to spend a tremendous amount of time on the game management and the two-minute
drills and so forth, because that's how you advance in playoffs, and that's how you eventually
probably have to win the Super Bowl. So it starts in day one. But the trenches are, you've got to
have it, and it's hard to win a championship if you don't have a defense, you know, regulating, you
you know, regulating those football games for you.
And I could just tell you of 18 years being a head coach,
I've had one top five defense that I've coached,
and that's the year we won a Super Bowl.
So there's definitely some statistical, you know, support that lays it out there for you.
Yeah, and it feels like this year there's a lot more elite defenses or great defense,
at least more than in past.
Like I think way back in the past from my perspective, one or two good returners in a league,
okay, one or two good returners in a league.
Then it became like, hey, everybody saw that,
that was an added benefit. We're going to try to get a good
returner. This year, I think it's the same
thing whenever it comes to this defensive
conversation. I think there has been in the past
like two, three defenses that maybe we
thought could win a Super Bowl. Now it feels
like it's more prevalent. Like, hey, do you think that's
because defenses are catching up to the modern offense?
Do you think that's why that is? Do you think defense are getting
better? Do you think defensive players are getting better?
Why do you think defenses are maybe getting
better across the board?
I think it definitely caught up
with our question. I think the biggest
thing that I've seen is, you know, these
role changes and who adapts to them, you know, the quickest. And, you know, I could remember,
you know, when they'd taken the helmet out of the game and, and just the way it was, you know,
officiated, you know, it was so hard to play safety in our game. I might, there's a point
to you're wondering if, you know, some of these guys were, we're really going to be able to
play. So, but, you know, the coaches and the players, they got it done, you know, focused on the
techniques and made it safer as far as taking the head out of the game in that particular, you know,
areas as far as, you know, crossing routes and those kind of collisions and so forth.
So I think the adjustments of these role changes, you know, is now we're into a full generation
of that. So we're, you know, it's definitely being coached and taught in the high school and
the college. And so I think our game as a whole is that you have more flow than where you
could make an argument through the early 2000s, you know, really from 2000, 2015, 18, that, you know,
there's so much change in the rules and, you know, and officiating,
and those guys even had a tougher job, you know, what was a file, what wasn't a file,
and, you know, those things can't affect outcome of game.
So I think that's what I see has been a big part of it.
But, you know, I think these D-lines in today's game are as dominant as I've ever seen.
If you don't have four number one picks on your defensive front, I mean, you're, you're behind the times,
you know, and I think if you're looking for value, value distribution, how you build a roster,
you know, if you just want to look for a blueprint, you know, four number one picks in that front is kind of the norm, you know, and that's why as an offensive line, you know, you probably ought to consider having three number one picks, you know, as far as the value distribution of how important it is to win up front.
So I think that's something that really has always been there, but I think everything's heightened because, you know, people like yourself and the conversations and the detail of the conversations that I see,
now that being able to sit out and watch
people talk about the game
the education and the expertise
is so much more
available for our fans. And I think
we've helped educate the fan base
better. And, you know, it's not, in gambling
probably has advanced that to
something. You know, not that I gamble.
No, no, if you did, though, if you did.
Hey, hey, it would be bad. You hit on so many things there.
The generational heads-up football shit,
I do think that was huge help. I think
that was huge. Because all the OG football
players. We're in a middle of like, hey, I've been taught this one way in my whole life. And now at the
highest level against the fastest people I'm having to think. And I think that's what you're
talking about with flow. Now everything's just natural. These guys have their heads up. They're
going to the side. Now, some people will still say it's a little bit softer, but we're still
huge hits now. And the hits aren't necessarily the crown. We're getting big time shots from
shoulder hitting strike zone. It's like these kids have been doing this since high school. So
like they have perfected. There's no dogs out there. They've just perfected where.
we're going with this thing and what they call.
I think you're 100% spot on that.
And then you're talking about the four ones up at the front.
Philadelphia Eagles, like, to your point,
like that's what the Philadelphia Eagles had.
They also had the trenches and the run game going.
It's like it feels like whenever things change,
it all comes back to the same.
And maybe we're playing the best version of this football right now
than we had been for the last few years.
It's a good time.
The games are great, you know?
And even 44-year-olds can get back in there and spin out.
I think, hey, huh?
Phil Rivers, not bad.
No, that was impressive.
Okay.
Were you at the game?
It looked like a great atmosphere.
I was doing everything I could for him.
I was doing everything I could for Phil.
Yeah, I was trying to be as quiet as possible when he was making the checks.
I guess watching the TV, everybody could hear everything he was saying.
Are we doing that to every quarterback?
Are we doing that to every quarterback?
Are we having the mics all the way up at 10 whenever he's speaking?
How come everybody at home knew Orlando was going to be the quick for Tyler Warren, pick six for D winners?
And then he even talks to him afterwards.
He goes, you heard me do that in the first.
in the first half earlier, and he goes, yeah, I heard that.
And then you did it again or whatever. He goes, that's all right.
Good play. Good play. And he jogs off.
And it's like, well, you know why he heard it?
And sure, maybe just his ears, although I'm not so sure if you're able to hear anything after
here at Lucasville Stadium one time.
But maybe it's because the TV had Phil Rivers on 10, and it was echoing through the
goddamn sidelines, maybe.
I mean, everything he said, we heard.
And obviously, he's making checks.
But they had this clip come out yesterday on Inside the NFL, which is now available on X from
NFL films.
and by the way, that's a right home for him.
It's a clip show.
They showcase Aaron Rogers, okay?
And he is talking to a guy that he's been putting over all year,
Kenny Gainwell publicly, he's been putting him over.
He's been saying, I can't believe we're only paying this guy this much.
This guy's so good at football, which once again goes back to leadership, okay?
Whenever you're publicly putting people over, they know that you're on their side,
so then they want to show up for you in an even bigger way.
Aaron knows that Kenny Gainwell is severely underpaid.
This guy is severely underpaid, which could be a little bit of a issue,
especially with how he's performing versus other people who are making a shit ton of money in the locker room.
So Aaron Rogers being like, I like this guy, this is my guy,
and going to bad for him publicly is a form of leadership that I don't think people are really talking about,
whatever you talk about rallying the troops and getting the best out of people,
no matter what position they are.
And then on the field against the Detroit Lions, have you seen a clip of him talking to Kenny Gainwell?
No, I didn't see it.
Boom, here it is.
Oh, are you talking when he changed it and told him to go to a go?
Yes.
Yes.
This side, I don't.
Run flat to the right.
Motion all the way out.
Run to go.
All the way out.
Rogers off his back foot, throws it down the way.
And look at Gainwell.
And he scores.
He thinks he has a touchdown.
He catch it.
He catch it.
Excellent.
Okay, so, Coach, that is a play that I think we don't really see much from quarterbacks anymore.
Phil was doing some of it.
Aaron obviously doing it.
And Bruce Ariens, who was in here, so he's like, that's a quarterback.
Like, that is what a quarterback is right there.
What is your take on that play?
And how normal or common was that back in a day versus maybe now, coach?
Oh, I think that's, you know, of all the quarterbacks that I've had the privilege to work with.
His at the line of scrimmage command and, you know, they all see it great at the line.
of scrimmage. I think just the way these young
quarterbacks coming in the league and the way they're
what they have available. But
there's one thing of understanding it
and seeing it, but to apply it
in real time, I always
felt Aaron had such a gift there.
And if anything, the challenge was
him playing so much faster
than his other 10 teammates.
But yeah, his ability to process
at the line of scrimmage
and get that done in real
time, I always thought
he was exceptional. He played a different
level in that area. And that's a great example of it right there.
How much does that happen? Because he's literally just drawing it up basically in the
dirt there. Okay, they're doing this. You definitely have a linebacker on you right now.
Instead of running a flat, Kenny, let's go. And Kenny, by the way, he's told to go to the
flat. Okay, still looking forward in his thing. He's told to go to the flat. So
Kenny said, all right, I'm going to fight. Who knows what the actual play call was.
And then two seconds later, go all the motion all the way out and run a go. Yep, you got it.
I'm out of here. Just not even questioning. Like that, I think that showcases a lot of
buy-in, too, that nobody really talks about
in what these Steelers have going on, Coach.
Yeah, and what I like about it, too, is, you know,
really the second part of the play, you know, that was the
pre-snap, but look, you know, you're watching
what he did in the post-snap, you know,
because he's obviously looking off
the safety, he's holding the safety on the backside
ash, so, I mean, he's clearly going there.
You know, once he, you know, he confirms
he has the one-on-one there with the
linebacker, so, you know, the ability to take
the safety out of the play, too, is
is a big part of that, too.
So not only to see the check,
to recognize that, you know, the man coverage,
but to also in real time,
you know, have the presence to hold off the safety,
hold off the safety,
and then to make the throw off his back foot.
So, I mean, that's, you know,
that's quarterback play.
And that's, you know,
it's a big part of his greatness.
Yeah, certainly.
And then also making a catch.
Yeah.
Getting up there and doing it.
That's like, that's awesome.
And now, granted, he's fun.
He deserves a lot of money.
So he's on contract here.
Sure.
So those types of catchers certainly help, but I think everybody around him is like he's already earned whatever contract is coming.
This guy is unbelievable.
Speaking of unbelievable, 19 straight years of a non-losing season.
Go ahead, Tone.
Yeah, coach, Mike Tom, 19 straight years of not losing 22 straight for the Pittsburgh Steelers as a whole.
He got his 200th win on Sunday.
Can you just talk as a head coach how hard this is and how impressive this run is?
And I think you're pretty close to 200 to yourself, aren't you?
185.
I looked it up.
185.
Hey, that's a lot of wins.
Hey, that's a lot of wins.
Okay, coach.
That's a lot of wings.
Hey, say, anything?
You don't do anything?
That's incredible.
Good for you.
Yeah, I mean, 200 wins.
Actually, I'm just, I'm so happy to see Mike, you know, get the recognition and love that he deserves.
You know, we talked about Mike a few weeks back here on the show.
And this, to me, is the reality of who he is as a coach.
I mean, to do that for 19 seasons.
is incredible. I mean, you
want that in your leader. You want
that in your leadership of how you train the team.
And to do that 19 years
in a row is, it's
an incredible. He's a Hall of Famer, in my
view, and I'm just
really happy for him to see him
recognized properly, and
this is what he deserves. All right, so who are
you olds that have been head
coaching around for a while? Andy,
McCarthy,
Sean Peyton will count.
Sean Payton would count, I believe. Mike Tomlin,
Um, who else?
John Harbaugh.
John Harbaugh, I guess.
And I guess Pete Carroll.
Big Carroll.
Which.
Hey.
The run.
The Jim.
Harbaugh?
Yeah.
Jim Harbaugh?
Yeah, I mean, he was with the Niners, though.
So, but it's like, it's obviously, if you're ass, you're not getting that, you know.
So it's like, uh, you don't survive that long for being an ass at your job at anything in the NFL.
True meritocracy, you know, that, you know, that.
will actually catch up with you if it's not going how it's supposed to go or how they're expecting
or how they are hoping it would go.
But Coach Tomlin always winning.
Tell me what that, because you know, you know Jensers.
Shit, you know Jensers.
So whenever you talk to them, they're like winning season, cool.
Yeah, this is fun.
All right, this is fun.
We'd like to win a Super Bowl.
Feels like after watching this team beat the lines the way they did,
the Steelers fans are starting to be like, wait a minute, maybe this team can win a Super Bowl.
It was just a few weeks ago when they were saying, we're done, this team is,
cook, they can't win a Super Bowl. Yeah, we'll win games, but there's no way when it matters
they'll win. Now they get a win over the lines. They play the way they do. It's a tough
win, obviously crazy ending there, but they think to themselves, actually our team can
win a Super Bowl. What are your thoughts on the Pittsburgh Steelers? And what are your
thoughts on what they would need to do to win a Super Bowl? And can they do it?
Yeah, well, I think I can. I mean, you know, Sunday I called home, you know, right during
the game there, you know, the Pittsburgh Detroit game.
It kind of reminded me of old times.
You know, my mom was cooking, everybody was there at the house, watching the game,
and everybody was in.
Everybody's so excited.
Now, just like you've said, and, you know, they're talking about winning Super Bowls again back here.
And that's an exciting time.
You know, just reminded me when I was a kid, you know, back in the 70s.
So, you know, that's what I'm rooting for.
You know, I think Green Bay still has enough to make a run here.
Let's, you know, get healthy and, you know, get this playoff birth here this week.
But, yeah, it's exciting times in Pittsburgh.
And that's the way it should be.
And it's great to see the fans just stay behind this team.
But I know just talking to family and friends, you know, this past week.
And everybody's fired up.
And it was cool to see that.
I love the nostalgia, good vibes.
Because Pittsburgh is obviously a place where when the Steelers are winning, the town is much happening.
They, whenever the Steelers are losing.
And we actually asked everybody that's going to be on a show lay in front of a microphone
what their Christmas wish would be in football.
What would their ball Christmas wish me?
What was yours, Coach McCarthy?
Well, I'm sorry, I jumped ahead.
No, perfect timing.
I'm wishing for a Pittsburgh Super Bowl.
I think it'd be great to get back to see the black and golden.
And really just when I was asked the question,
I was thinking about my conversation with my mother and my siblings this past Sunday.
So kind of had that vibe.
You know, I had that 70s vibe to it.
And I think it would be awesome to see these guys going to run here.
Could you imagine Aaron Rogers going into Pittsburgh after he was just booted out with Achilles
and a half out of New York, goes into darkness, booted out of Green Bay, and then he goes to Pittsburgh,
a town that in their team that was basically like, hey, figure it out here.
They go all in.
Shout to the con artist, if they were able to do this, spending $30 million on a wide receiver
that's never been in Pittsburgh before, okay?
Now, granted, he's going to miss a couple games, and that whole contract thing is certainly,
have a conversation and there's an investigation
going on and that whole thing. But
nonetheless, they make a lot of
plays that they don't normally do. Like, that is
not what the Pittsburgh Steelers normally do.
Go outside the building. Johnny Smith, Jalen Ramsey,
Darius, you start naming off
all these things. The amount of money they have invested on
the defensive side of the roster, it's
like everything that they've done
this past year has been a little bit
out of the normal because the normal for the
Pittsburgh Steelers is we're sustained
greatness. We don't need to do
all the weird, desperate moves.
and everybody else does to try to make their team good.
We don't fire our coaches.
We don't spend crazy.
We build from within.
This is what we are.
That is what Steelers have always been.
It's like we are who we are.
So this past off season, basically making a declaration of doing something vastly different.
I know it's a different GM as opposed to Kevin Colbert.
Kevin, yeah.
Good guy.
Could have drafted me.
Didn't so, okay, sick.
But he was a good guy to me.
He was a good guy to me.
Con obviously doing things very differently right now,
but they also made a statement like,
hey, we don't know how long this group has as Pittsburgh Steelers.
And a big part of, like, you listen to Joey Porter,
whenever he got announced he was going in the Steelers Hall.
He was like, we felt like we did our job because we brought a trophy into that building.
Like, that was kind of how they view it.
Like, Steelers alumni still hang out.
And what they're proud of is, like, the decoration,
which is the Lombardi that they added into the facility, into the stadium.
So it's like, I feel like this group that Steelers have all kind of acknowledge,
like, hey, we need to do something different.
and I appreciate that they did it
if it pays off
the insers are going to be pumped
and then next year
what are we doing now
okay we don't got a quarterback
we got to I mean
it's just immediately into that
eight's coming back next year
what's that
eight's coming back
not if you win the Super Bowl
he's not
eight for eight
seven
this one was for seven
this one was for seven
this one's for seven
he's going to say
this one's for seven
you know Ben
and then he's going to go
next year eight for eight
oh
eight for eight actually doesn't work
oh my god
that's
his wish list. That's his big Mike's
football Christmas wish. I'd love to hear
that about talking to your family back in Pittsburgh
and kind of feeling alive. It's special.
All right, let's talk about some other stuff. Go ahead, Ty.
Yeah, coach, the Pro Bowl rosters
were announced yesterday, and I think the
Pro Bowl has kind of just turned into a shit show
that nobody cares about. But for you,
I believe you had five of your former players
got selected yesterday.
What is your just opinion on the
Pro Bowl as a whole? And also,
is there a chance that maybe you're heading down to
Disney World in Orlando? It'd be head coached.
which of the Pro Bowl games.
No, I don't plan on going to Disney World.
It's a huge honor.
That would be a huge honor.
Huge honor to coach the Pro Bowl.
Could get 186.
Yeah, oh, maybe win 186.
Try to work that in that work.
And nonetheless, sorry, we apologize.
I don't think that counts.
But I love the Pro Bowl.
Great memories as a family coaching the Pro Bowl.
I can remember my daughter, Gabby, always wanting to go to the Pro Bowl and say, no, honey, we want to go to the Super Bowl.
We've been to too many Pro Bowls.
So I was very fortunate to coach it a number of times.
But it is.
It's a great honor.
I always enjoyed the moments of when you acknowledge the players in the team meetings and when you announce it.
But you also have the disappointment where just this voting process is sometimes seems where a young player gets voting.
voted in maybe the next year instead of the year that he actually has that great season.
So, yeah, the voting process, I mean, you could pick that apart if you like, but it's a big deal.
And because just like anything, when you do have acknowledgement from your peers, you know, when the coaches and the players, you know, do vote on it, I think that means the means the most.
I always felt respect is what we all want in this game.
And to be respected by your peers, it definitely carries a lot of weight.
But no, it's the game itself and what's happened to it.
Frankly, I think it's a shame.
I thought the Hawaii setup was outstanding.
But with player safety and everything that goes on, the risk is, you know, I do understand that and what they've done with it.
So I think the league has done a really good job, you know, trying to keep it intact.
And it just, you know, only watching it on TV, it looks like the guys do have fun with it.
But the reward was always the families, you know, see the players and their families.
and, you know, the time around the poll, you know, just the activities.
And, you know, that was always, you know, and my two sons still talk about it all the time.
Some of the best times that they had was back at the Pro Bowl.
So it is a big deal.
Congrats to all the guys who made it.
Yeah, it is a big deal.
Like Coach Mike McCarthy is talking about in the team meeting room,
when you find out that you made it, guys care.
Like, that is a moment where guys care.
At the Pro Bowl, it does appear as if it's not that big of a deal to some guys.
while it's happening. I do think the flag football trying to make it something is certainly an
effort. But with all the studies and research and money that is currently available, I think Miles
Garrett got hurt during the super duper. Broke his toe during the relay race. Off school course.
It's like, yeah, that's just going to be now what everybody says I'm not doing that for, okay?
Now I have a real reason not to do it. So I don't know how you save it unless you make it some contests.
I think they should make return to what they did in Hawaii. The quarterback contest was awesome.
that we're not expecting
Peyton Manning
against Brett Fav
I think I saw
Warren Moon in one
and Steve Garcia
and like I think Sims was in it
like Rich Marino
Dan Marino
like we watch those old
quarterback contests from the Pro Bowl
and it was like
holy shit in the content world
that we're in right now
this if you were to put up a prize
with a donation on the side of it
this would do
thousands this would do
massive numbers
this would do huge numbers
but then yeah to what
tone just alluded to
it would be asking people to go through an entire A,
because nowadays with how long warm-ups are
and how many throws and what your arm can handle.
It's like, we know too much to have what we used to have in the Pro Bowl.
I think we know too much.
We have too many terrible catastrophes that happen
that can happen any time a sporting event takes place
for anybody to really buy it.
But just like the dunk contest,
if you put a big enough prize up
and you find the right group of competitors,
You can make something good.
It's like, I hope we get creative in saving it
because the celebration of the elite in the NFL
is certainly something that we should save.
And it's held against people or for people
whenever there's Hall of Fame conversations later,
so it carries a lot of weight.
So, you know, but you talk about that Hawaii Pro Bowl,
what it used to be, I mean, there's legendary clips
that come out of that.
That's why as a lifelong NFL fan, okay,
I remember Cordell Stewart competing in his thing,
as a lifelong NFL fan,
and I got to end of the NFL,
I'm like, I can't wait to make the Pro Bowl in Hawaii.
Then I start hearing stories.
Turns out, and I think it's already been said publicly,
Peyton Manning was like the mayor of this thing.
He had this thing set up.
And I've been to some stuff.
Yes, he was.
Okay, so he was.
I've been to some stuff that Peyton Manning is set up.
Every attention to detail this guy, he sets up amazing things.
So I've heard the Pro Bowl around the pool.
It's all set up that we got this, that we got this.
Guys meeting with each other, talking with each other,
families meeting each other, setting up like,
I think there's multiple charities that have been put together.
businesses that have been together.
Like, I've heard the Pro Bowl back in a day,
let alone the party, the amount of booze
and it's taking place by everybody
celebrating life and ball.
It's like, I heard these magical stories
when I got in the league.
They're like, oh yeah,
Peyton kind of puts it all together.
It's like, I'm like, yes, I need to make.
So I can't wait to do this entire thing.
So I finally make it.
They moved to the fucking Arizona.
I like Arizona.
Yeah, I like Arizona.
Great place.
I love Arizona.
We didn't even have the whole,
we didn't even have the whole hotel.
Hotel was split with some other conventions.
That weekend.
So guys couldn't even drink in a lobby.
It was like the worst.
I'm like, I missed it by year.
I think I missed it.
I missed it by year.
But it's like, I think there is a way to save it.
And it all revolves around, I think, back in Hawaii, where it becomes like a celebration
of the greats kind of getting together.
And the amount of content behind the scenes shit we could get could make that a profitable
thing.
But I think it's going to be hard to bring it back to life, Coach.
But it matters.
It does matter, I think, you know.
It was incredible.
I mean, the Co-Ilanan resort out there, it was fabulous.
And my first year in the league was 1993.
and the hotel just opened up
and I can remember going downstairs
and having toast and coffee
and it was 18 bucks
and just watch that whole area
out there and then to go back
here as a head coach in 07
and you said it
I mean Peyton was the mayor
of that whole operation
he actually would give the
you know an address to the whole
you know both teams
of the AFC and NFC
and you know with his sense of humor
I mean it was awesome
I mean, he, he did such a great job of, you know, letting everybody know, you know, kind of the rules of, you know, around the pole and, you know, and I can remember him talking about, you know, autographs situation where, you know, I think it was Jerome Bettis or somebody came up to him, and it was his uncle, and he had to throw Jerome and his uncle into the pole.
You know, he had these funny stories to go with it.
But he did a great job of setting the tone the first night that we were in there, whether it was Sunday night or Monday night when it started.
And so I, you know, definitely as a coach, you always appreciate it.
But, yeah, the whole, the game was really secondary.
You know, the post-game party, I think people look forward to that more than the game.
But it was the interaction between players and coaches and the families, you know, like I said, great, great memories.
And, you know, I think that part's missed.
Now, I don't, I've never done the, you know, done the Pro Bowl and Disney.
But I would think they, you know, they do have that component in place down there.
because, I mean, who doesn't love going to Disney World?
Well, you just turned it back.
We asked you to coach, and he said, hell no.
I got plans, man.
I got busy.
I got things to do.
I got this dog wants to go hunt.
He missed the window there.
I got a, yeah, I got some, well, I didn't miss the window, but I mean, I'm not going to be able to take.
I'm, you know, calendar's starting to fill up here a little bit, Pat.
We got a big family trip coming up here for Christmas, so, you know, we got plans.
What says the first Christmas and how long?
Without, without...
19, I was, you know,
2019, but before that, it would have been 19,
or 1987 or 98.
Jesus Christ.
This guy has lived in a football building.
Yeah.
You see this me?
Yeah.
Yeah.
Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas.
Yeah, Merry Christmas.
Well, enjoy it all.
We would like that.
We appreciate you joining us.
Now, there are people, obviously,
that are still in the game at the head coaching role that have big decisions to make here going
into these last couple weeks.
Gar, last week, go ahead.
Yeah, Coach, how do you handle teams that have clinched?
You know, like looking at the Steelers, as we've talked about them, if the Packers beat
the Ravens on Saturday night, the Steelers are in.
You know, they don't even have to play Week 17, Week 18.
So how do you handle that with these 10 teams here that have already clinched going in to the last
two weeks?
No seeds have been clinched, so there is still some movement to be made.
And then how do you handle the other side of it, you know, with the teams that are completely done?
You know, we got the number one overall pick bowl this weekend between the Raiders and the Giants.
Raiders are already snipping guys.
They put Brock Bowers on the IR basically saying like, hey, last thing we need is for you to get her.
We'd rather have that number one overall pick for Mendoza.
How do you kind of handle that as a coach?
And how do you kind of have to respond to what the front office tells you what they want to see as well?
great question I think just through experience I've done it I've done it both ways as far as playing guys and not playing guys I think number one it's the health of the individual and I think you got to go through your roster on an individual basis because you know for the teams you know using Pittsburgh I mean you would hate to see someone get injured you know in the final game that you know does not mean anything to the playoff run so but you know healthy players you know in my experience won a place
So I think, you know, you go through it individually and see, you know, where they are, you know, like Aaron, what his wrist.
I mean, I'm sure that's something that will be talked about if they are in that situation.
So I think the preventative, you know, mindset is part of that, and it really comes down to those individuals.
You know, I've sat people in the past, you know, and then if you don't win that divisional round, then you think, oh, shoot, you know, should never send.
those guys. You know, we were 15 and 1 in 2011, and we sat guys there in the by week. And I think
mentally, that was not a great decision because the last game of the season was, you know,
against the Lions and, you know, both offenses threw for over 500 yards. So, I mean,
it wasn't, you know, what you wanted to do, put your defense in that situation in the last
game of the season and then go into a biweek and then go into a divisional round. So, I mean,
I've seen it on both sides of it. But I, I,
I would say it'll come down to the individual where he is, how healthy he is, will he benefit.
I'm talking more the veterans because, you know, I think a veteran, you get above five, six years.
A veteran, and, you know, and also part of it is how do you train your team?
You know, I think when you get into these end of the year practices, you know, definitely shorter.
You know, you've got to cut the reps back and you've got to be smart, but you do the intensity, particularly in the drills that require timing and, you know, the ball's being just.
distributed and so forth. So you've got to keep that intensity and you got to keep your practice
environment to, you know, to the level where if you do give a guy a playoff, you know, that week
off, he is still, you know, in the regimen of getting ready to play a game. So I think you've got to
look at all those things and just, you know, been fortunate to do over a long time. Those
are the kind of conversations I think definitely will be going on next week if those teams are in
that situation. Obviously. Oh, God. Okay, go ahead. No, I was going to say it's a good
situation to be in, obviously. It's a great situation. Yeah, it's a great situation to be in.
And I don't think there's a wrong decision. You know, I don't think there's a wrong decision
because, you know, you have all the facts. You know what's going on with every player on your
team. And also who's going to play and, you know, you've got a young guy that, you know,
he may be, you're projecting, he's going to start playing, maybe 25 to 30 percent reps in the
playoffs as opposed to, you know, being the guy that's right there at 49, 50. So, you know,
There's a lot of things to talk about, a lot of things to consider, you know, how that, how you anticipate that roster is going to look when you line up in that wildcard game.
So, I mean, that's, I mean, that's how we've always approached it in the past.
And I think the teams that are out, I mean, the question I would ask is, you know, particularly like a quarterback or, you know, someone, you know, you're early in your career, you're early in your program, you know, first year, second year, third year, you know, like a Jalen Daniels, you know.
It's important for Jalen to be healthy going into the off-season.
You know, because these players, particularly the quarterbacks,
there's so much more that they have to do away from the facility
because of the limitations of these off-season programs.
Now, I know I sound like an old coach bitching about it,
but you don't have the time at the facility that used to have.
So these quarterbacks, and I look at my last experience with Dak Prescott,
the amount of time that he spends with his perimeter teammates
and away from the facility is remarkable.
And that's, you know, that is now part of your off-season program,
and you have to approach that.
So, I mean, you know, if, you know, I'd want my quarterback healthy
coming out of that, you know, regular season,
especially if these games are not, you know, you're not fighting for the playoffs.
But, you know, also you've got don't cheat the game.
Like I understand that.
The fans are paying for and so forth and so forth.
But if you're early in your development of your football program,
And boy, I'll tell you what, I'd want my quarterback healthy for that, for that offseason program.
Selflessly, isn't it?
Yeah, and you're talking about four ones on the D-line as well.
You know, you've been saying a lot of things, but nonetheless,
that they're going to get people excited in New Jersey, New York.
We have been thankful to follow along this football season with you every single week.
In the gift that you sent to us, one of the kindest things we've ever received here, honestly.
I want you to know that.
Chef Foxy was chopping it up this morning.
We had a nice charcuttery board.
that waggo steak you guys sent
oh my god
so good so good
the apple pie
oh the apple pie
so all of it was great coach
we appreciate you for that
what else you get
because we gotta thank jessica
because I love to tell you
I picked all that for you
but Santa Claus's workshop
has nothing on her
so you're on her
you're on her
Christmas list so
she said she was going to take care of you
and I'm sure she did so
well I'm appreciative of you just being that open about it
There was not Waggoo steak in there, but it was not an apple pie.
We're just going to start rattling off things for you to go.
Yeah, I love that apple pie.
Yeah, I thought, you know, we're going to be able.
But instead, you've been what you've been all year is just your true authentic self.
And you've been amazing to us.
We're so incredibly grateful.
Have a great Christmas.
Merry Christmas Eve.
To you, Jessica and your entire family, have a good one for the first time since, second time since 1987.
All right.
Thank you, Pat.
Thank you, man.
Merry Christmas, happy holidays.
I've had a blast.
this has been awesome
all right
we'll never see you again
we'll never see you again
we love you man we're lucky
he's a good guy
yeah the best
and Jessica
his wife
the box
she knocked it out of the park
beautiful
a lot of boxes
huge box
right across stop
perishable
it's like so much pressure
so much pressure to open this
sitting outside for six hours
also we got a lot of box here
I'm kind of nervous to open
because who knows what's inside
yeah sure
there could be some story
about somebody going through something.
This might change my entire life.
I get a real anxiety with these boxes
and what's inside.
Every time I see Perishable, it's kind of forced me
to open this right now.
All right, I guess we've got to do it.
That meat.
Oh, my God.
That cheeses?
How about Foxy's display?
I don't know what that's called.
Artistry, I guess.
Unbelievable, Fox.
It would have went to waste
if we didn't cut it up today,
so I had to get it out there.
That's why they put Parishable on top.
And speaking of Perishable,
this hour's ending right now.
We'll see you on the other side.
Be a friend, tell her, something nice.
...phehr...
...their...
...their...
...their...
...and...
...the...
...and...
I'm going to be.
I'm going to be.
And
I'm going to
I'm going
P.
And...
...andah,
...and...
...and...
...and...
...the...
Wow.
Oh, my gosh.
Power tool begins, right?
Unbelievable.
No.
Hey, why?
Let's go.
This show stinks.
And the fact that you listen, we are very, very thankful for.
Maccabee on the line with a gorgeous assist.
The all-time leading tackler for the Green Bay Packers.
You pay!
Stutter!
Damn it!
You're friends, other friends, something nice to change their life.
We can't count!
We don't have!
Ford!
Sport!
Sport!
Football!
I say him exit stage level.
That man can play a fiddle, can't he?
Yeah.
On this glorious Christmas Eve, our two begins.
All right?
Now...
Football!
I'll tell you what.
Ding, fries are done.
Yeah.
Ding riser done.
What a wonderful rendition right there.
Unbelievable.
I mean, did that not get you fired up by Jesus Christ's birthday tomorrow?
Sure did.
Fat man coming down in chimney.
Kids everywhere are celebrating and families coming together to celebrate life and ball and not just basketball as it has been basically for the last 30 years.
Also a football slate on Netflix and Prime that sports are going to unify and make this holiday the greatest holiday it's ever been.
And I'll tell you what, there's nothing better than Sam.
No, there's not.
On the damn fiddle with a carol of the bells. He nailed that thing.
Sam or Santa?
it, he said.
Yeah.
No flubs.
How about him at the end?
Any part of that can be,
yeah.
A little bit softer now.
I'll tell you what,
he did kind of a little bit softer now
at the end of that.
You know, every once in a while
you go to a hall at the moon
and some fiddler will get up there
and play the devil went down in Georgia,
a little voice old steel.
And it's actually in my drunken state
a couple different times
have purchased violins or fiddles
to be delivered to my house
because of how cool it looks
whenever you're really getting after it.
I think it's pretty hard thing to do,
Without a doubt.
Yeah, I'm pretty sure
I'm saying small.
Yeah.
I've tried a couple times.
I haven't really been able to get there.
No, no.
Because, boy, it would be good to be Johnny
and send a devil packing down there.
But it turns out it's pretty difficult.
So shout out to Sam for that.
And shout out it's Christmas for happening.
Toxic tables here at Boston Connor and at Ty Schmidt.
Whenever the Hammer, Don.
Cowboys AP Town is here.
And joining us live from Anatican, Ohio, ladies and gentlemen,
is a college football national champion,
Super Bowl champion, a rider cup winner,
AJ Haw.
Hawker, did you,
Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas, Hawker.
Merry Christmas, absolutely.
Who's on your shirt?
Can't see because you're like.
I believe it's Clark Griswold, yeah.
Is that your favorite?
Christmas vacation is your favorite series or a movie as a whole Christmas?
Yeah, I'd say a Christmas movie, no question.
Christmas vacation.
That's the king.
Okay, shitter's full.
Grinch, you like Jim Carrey one?
Jim Carrey, absolutely.
What's the one I've been watching with McKenzie?
Benedict.
Yeah, Benedict Coverback.
I don't think I've seen that one.
It's good.
If you haven't seen it with your kids,
don't know if you'll get into it. Your kids might be past the age of it, but like Kenzie,
two and a half years old, three years old. I mean, it's right in her wheelhouse because of
the incredible animation and the songs, bangers. And, you know, obviously the animation is just
at such a level where it's like 8K. I mean, it is. Yeah, it's good movie. I like the Jim Carrey
version still. We watch that as well. She understands that this is also the Grinch. You know,
two different Grinches here. She likes that. How about the Santa Claus with Tim Allen? That's a
yearly tradition for my
household as well.
Yeah, that one, what is there, was there three of those?
They didn't, they didn't get better as they went,
but they still are all right. Yeah, they existed for
a while. Story's still good. Obviously, Santa Claus
Story's still good. Evil toys. Speaking of
story, Christmas story.
Yeah, I'm watching it. Classic. Miracle on 34th
or 32nd, whatever it is.
Miracle on 32nd. I don't think I've seen that one.
Yeah, it's wonderful life. I don't think you need to.
Classic. Wonderful life. Yeah, it's a wonderful
life. Yeah, it's a wonderful life. For my 50s, right?
That train movie sucks, like 40s.
I love Polar Express, you son of a bit.
Sucks.
So that one was the one with the bear?
Is there a bear in that one?
Tom Hanks.
Board Express, Tom Hanks, the animated thing, right?
Bear, yeah, Bear, I don't think so.
Yeah, it's Tom Hanks, and he plays like six different characters.
He's a freaking nut job, man.
Oh, okay, I don't think I've seen that one.
You brought up Elf.
People get real emotional about Elf.
I think people really love Elf.
I really like Elf.
That's kind of my generation.
That makes sense.
It's a real new school dude kind of thing.
It's an all-time class.
But it is, that new school, though, does love Elf.
You'll get into, like, Christmas movie discussion with that particular generation.
Yep.
And there's real emotion behind Elf.
Like, and I don't think I knew the first time the smoke that I was walking into, potentially,
because I had not seen Elf, I think my generation a little bit older than yours, I missed it.
I apologize for that.
So I am Will Ferrell fan.
Let's not get it twisted.
I am Will.
That one movie may be worse than a history, but all the other ones are bangers.
So I think that should be certainly talked about.
semi-pro brother got me through a lot of times
No doubt
What's the bad one?
That one where there are detectives
Yeah like the last five
Oh is it like he's trying to be serious
Like a dramatic or what?
No they're trying to be funny
It was very slapsticky
It was tough
Home alone
He may have come back afterwards though
But I didn't say elf as mine
Home Alone exactly
That's like goat
One and two
That's the goat
Yeah so like home alone
Santa Claus
Grinch
I'll toss in a Christmas story
Turbo Man
You're sure
Yep
with Arnold's. Jingle all the way.
Jingle all the way.
Four Christmases is great.
That one's not bad.
But I was rattling all these and I didn't say elf
and somebody got like actually emotional like
very mad at me for skipping over.
I watch it. It is good movie. I think that's a very
good Christmas movie. And it came out when
Will Farrell was on that generational run with all
those movies that came out that you guys mentioned.
So it just hits harder. And anything that
lasts every single Christmas, it still
plays on TV. That's a good movie.
Okay, let's do something that we
force Coach McCarthy to do in the first hour
because he brought up to Pittsburgh Steelers.
We asked him via text, just like we did to you,
hey, what's your football Christmas wish
if you could have one this year?
He saw one with Steelers, one and Super Bowl,
so my family can have fun again.
It felt like it was the 70s.
Yeah.
I mean, what a cool thing for him to have.
Hopefully that'll happen.
Conman, what was your football or football's Christmas wish?
Yeah, my Christmas football wish this year
was kind of concocted this offseason by someone,
and I thought it was genius.
Maybe it's every offseason, but whatever.
I want for Christmas
every single year
the off-season acquisitions,
whether it be free agents or trades,
to not be announced until week
one as teams are running out,
i.e. Pittsburgh Steelers.
Who's going to be their quarterback?
The season ends last year? No one knows.
Week one, 10 guys run out.
Who's going to be the 11th guy?
Who's going to be the quarterback of the Pittsburgh Steelers?
Boom.
Ben-da-da-da-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha.
Holy she injures beers.
Oh, my God, the celebration that the Pittsburgh did.
Because let on D.K. Metcalf comes running out of that tunnel.
We got D.K., how much we pay in him?
That would be the first question.
Oh, the quarterback's got to be some low-s salary-ass.
Better not still be rushed.
Yeah, James.
And then all of a sudden, head down, I think, hoodie up.
I think we got a Stevenson Ranch hoodie
on there. No helmet. No helmet. It's
overtaught and we walk out
and then all of a sudden
like AJ Stiles
double X and then
run out. Oh my God.
Name comes up. Fireworks
are going. And we'd like to showcase
how selfless we are because
boy, our jobs would suck
if we didn't know where any free agents were going
hurts us. It hurts us personally.
Yeah, but could you imagine the scene?
Think about Sunday night football.
Think about the first weekend
Sunday night football.
Now, granted.
It would be elimination.
Yeah, of course, there would be elimination.
But also, you might not know.
Like, who knows?
Maybe this guy got hurt in the offseason.
You're not sure.
Boom.
2026.
Who's running out of the tunnel for the, I don't know,
let's just say Indianapolis Colts who are on Sunday night football?
Lamar Jackson.
Oh, my God.
How did this happen?
You know, granted, you know?
You imagine the reaction to Dan Jones.
Run it out, though.
For the Colts?
Yeah.
I might get a negative reaction for some of those guys.
Yeah, but that might be even cooler.
I would have to be crazy, though.
I went on absolutely crazy.
And then after the first drive, they walked down the field.
Everyone's like, oh, of course, Danny Dimes is a quarterback.
But hold on, first drive.
Danny Dimes runs freaking wild brother.
Which he did.
Yeah, maybe throws a 30-yard touchdown.
Yeah, we didn't punt for six weeks.
That roller coaster?
The whole, the only issue is if you're in a way team,
which half the leagues would be, you would be jogging out to,
I guess some away team heat,
and it would just have to be there.
Or maybe all the starters have to wait
until the home game too day.
Or that's the cool pregame.
You know, hey, why are we watching
pregame shows on week one?
That's why the away team reveals their
on the pregame show.
They still jog out of the tunnel, empty tunnel.
Empty tunnel.
Pre-pre-workout.
Exactly.
Just coming on light show, the whole thing.
I'm a Pittsburgh Steeler and now, that whole thing.
Yeah.
Not a bad idea.
Okay, Ty, what was your football Christmas wish?
My football Christmas wish is pretty simple.
Pretty attainable, too.
I think it's something that could actually be done
probably fairly easily.
I simply want Micah Parsons to get a new knee
for the stretch run here, preferably his own.
So I don't know if there's a way if they could, you know.
Who is that?
I'm up to the task.
If I need to get cleats on.
Well, yeah, I mean, what are you talking about?
I'm performing knee surgery on the field
to make sure that this guy's ready to go for the playoffs.
So, you know, because Coach Mike said it.
Hey, I think the Packers have enough to, you know, still make a run.
boy I'll tell you what
if I could just somehow
get this guy a new knee
before what 8 o'clock on Saturday
I'd be feeling much better
going into the playoffs and I think it can be done
I would like it to be known that
the biggest response in pop
that I got from hearing the boys
responses whenever I pitched
idea of football Christmas
which Ty's response within
the words leaving
my mouth they just got out of
my lips so I goes I want a new
knee from Micah. Is that what we're talking about? I'm like, yes, that's exactly what we're talking
about. So this is something he has thought about before being asked today. So I appreciate the fact
that Ty that you have spent time away from show and away from Packers games where you have envisioned
yourself finding or robbing a good knee and then putting that thing on Micah so we can maybe
have a top five defense and going a Super Bowl run. Yeah, exactly. And that's where it gets a little
fishy because I can't, like, I can't give it my knee, you know, like good enough. You're not going to be
able to bend. Exactly. Exactly. So where, you know, that might be the only snag,
where are we going to find this knee? Can we just use his knee and maybe, you know,
put it through like a meat grinder and fix it a little bit? So that's, that's the only place
where I'm kind of getting hung up, but, but no, I mean, like 3D printing.
Whose knee are you trying to? It seems like you got an idea over there.
I mean, look, there's a guy who wanted to play for the package for $5 million he told this last
week. I don't remember him ever having a knee problem.
I don't even think about that. Or if a team's been eliminated from the playoffs,
you're allowed to take their best player's knee and give it to Mike.
Oh, like an organ donor, a joint donor.
Boom, Brian Burns.
Yeah, like your knees coming to the Green Bay.
Sorry, pal.
So you're taking Brian Burns' knee and putting it on Mike?
He'll get it back after the play.
Yeah, give it back.
What if they win a Super Bowl?
Does he get a Super Bowl?
No, that's Mike his knee.
No, it's Brian Burns's knee.
Not one.
Burns has got to get one.
You got to get a Super Bowl ring.
You know what?
Yeah, that's part of it.
If he wants a Super Bowl ring, we can get him a Super Bowl ring.
Because it's a knee.
You get to a pinky.
You get to a pinky.
toe ring. He gets Mike's knee back. He just has to go rehab now.
Sorry, you don't get it. We get a Super Bowl ring. But now, go rehab this ACL, dude.
For Mike, that's trying to win you a Super Bowl. Try and win you guys Super Bowl right now.
All right, interesting. I don't know if we're at the technological state of that.
I think we're closed. But I'm excited to see what it is. A.P. Tone, if you had one football
Christmas wish, what would it be? Yeah, so last year in the first year of the college football
playoff, we were at Notre Dame on Friday night in the Ohio State on Saturday. And then this past
weekend. We were at Oklahoma and then Texas A&M. And those home atmospheres are so incredible.
I believe just like a lot of other great prestigious coaches in the college football believe
that it should be home playoff games until the championship. Okay. And the coolest thing that
we've kind of seen in all of these that I think personally is all these entrances, all the
home atmospheres. This was the light show at Oklahoma. But Oklahoma, while this was going on,
also ran, they have the coolest voiceover videos with highlight packages.
that just, and the crowd goes nuts.
Everything about these home college football playoff games are unbelievable and we need more of them.
Yeah, I think so too.
Especially because other thing goes in there, massive comeback and wins.
People are saying like, does it even matter?
It's like, yeah, did you watch that?
It was fucking electrified.
I mean, it is, that is what college football has that no other sport in, maybe on earth.
Yeah.
Because of how big it is, how many people it is.
Now, I know the soccer teams obviously are very passionate and all in.
Just like these colleges, they feel as it's a sense of us, our town, fighting, us versus everybody.
So it has that same passion as the soccer hooligans over there.
Stadium's just so much bigger.
110,000 of them kind of packed in.
That's a lot of humans all in one particular place, also are sawing in the same exact direction, literally and figuratively here, for the Texas A&M team.
We should want to showcase that more.
And if you're a CFP for the good of ball, we should want to showcase a psycho right there.
Love that he's so locked in.
moment. But he even talked to his team about how, hey, this is Ottson, which is a legendary
college football place with a legendary fan base. This is the first ever college football
playoff game. Let's do that. There should be more of that, AJ. We should be celebrating the
home fields, which are a massive part of the entire story of college football more as opposed to
less, AJ. Absolutely. And it didn't, Dan Lanier basically said this, didn't he? Like, we should,
like, these should be home games until the finals. You should be rewarded for being a top seat.
I agree. Like, there is, there's nothing else on the planet. Like, when you get, we were just
in College Station, obviously, like the atmosphere surrounding a huge college football game.
I've never been into anything like that in any other sport.
That was 11 a.m. local, remember, they were all in that stadium at midnight, the night before
10 hours before that, still showed up for game day, still showed up for the tailgate,
obviously saw every inch and second of everything that happened in there.
Those fans were awesome, man.
Those fans are fully.
I mean, they are all in.
And they're not the only ones.
Obviously, there's a lot of places like that.
Needed more. I appreciate that being your Christmas wish, Tone, for the good of ball.
I agree. It'll be awesome. And also, I see what you did, Nick. You know it's an S.
You know it's not a Z. You know, it's forced to use a Z because of social media.
Okay, I don't like what you did. I just want to point that out.
Nick does the lower thirds, what Tone is talking about there is.
Even adding the S to the Z, I don't even think you have to do that.
Giggs Z? Yeah, so I think Nick was actually spotlighting that he knows what he did.
That an S could be here. You know, just let me go ahead and add that on there.
Massive respect out of Nick back there. He's done a couple
things, hasn't he? He added a half a point to Bruce's thing yesterday just because he liked it
and didn't really appreciate the way AQ was operating. So, you know, when you have access to that
down there, that's a lot of power, it turns out, especially if you want to promote some of social
media handles. Thank you for doing that. Nick. Merry Christmas. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And as far as the
BA thing goes, you know, I didn't want to abuse it. I just wanted to, you know, you talked about
maybe rewarding him for using it first. And I thought it was a clever move to beat AQ to the punch and
strategy paid off. Yeah, good for him. I mean, now he's winning by half a point.
Big one.
Big Christmas champion.
And then AQ with the games,
forget it, let's continue to kind of move along here.
AJ, what's your Christmas ball wish, brother?
Mine was a little bit more as far as rule changes and as far as physicality.
I felt like defenders, I get worried that when they are trying to,
what do they call it, unweight themselves as they are hitting a quarterback,
I think they're going to get hurt.
So I think we need to be able to land on the quarterbacks a little bit more.
We need to have a little leeway there.
and I think horse-collar tackle should come back
when a running back or receiver
is running east to west, not north to south.
I think those are dangerous.
The guy's trying to get outside, I'm chasing him
towards the sideline.
I should be able to yank the back of his shoulder pads
and tear him down.
Okay, this is his football Christmas wish.
I love that.
I want to be able to land on his quarterbacks.
I'm sick of these guys almost hurting their wrists.
They can land on me.
Say I'm a defender, and they're coming up to block me.
They're going to try to put all of their weight on top of me.
Offense alignment are doing that to everybody.
I mean, they're doing that at the end of the game.
So we got a whiplash ourselves because we had a successful play?
I got to dislocate my elbow because I'm trying to unweight myself, whatever that means.
Okay, that's a lot of pressure.
Now, if you listen to Coach McCarthy, he goes, yeah, that's what AJ, he's an old school guy.
New school, these guys have come up in this.
They kind of have good ways to kind of take the, take the, you can still, no,
if you're a high school player, you are landing full go on top of that quarterback.
They don't, they didn't change that.
Oh, with your Christmas wish?
Are you saying that is still happening in life right now, I don't think,
especially like high school, we have to think about there's no, there's no instant replay.
those guys got to be spot on that's ohio i saw him knock all a touchdown a high school game that was
that felt criminal win situational horse caller tackles i don't know if i've heard anybody wish you for this
i'm happy you call i like that east to west you get it east to west say i'm like you're a d-end
they're running like a a jet sweep or something old buddy's trying to get outside i'm chasing
him from behind he has not turned up the field yet because i think those are dangerous if a guy's going
full speed like down the sideline you get him if he's running towards the sideline has not turned up
If I can get my hand on them, I should be free to get them down however I can.
Okay. Now, on that note, we'd be asking a lot of the refs to decide what is east-west and what is northeast maybe, you know, or northwest.
That'll be certainly a decision that they would have to make it real time.
And I like, A.J. Hawk has an opportunity to do a football Christmas wish.
We got a new need for Micah.
What was yours again, Conrad?
We don't announce acquisitions, free agents, or trades until week one.
In tone, what was yours?
Home playoff games until the finals of the college football play.
AJ said, don't you think we need a little bit more on these?
Don't you say we need a little bit more?
You know, they're already taking the hip drop.
Crowled to the helmet too, I think he, I heard him saying.
That was the third one.
I was going to. I felt like that would be too, like, cliche to use that one,
to say you could hit people across the middle or something.
But you would like to add that on.
If we are making these wishes come true, let's go ahead and slide that one.
In a perfect world. In a perfect world, yes, especially like a bang, bang
play, you should not be penalized or fine if both the guy catching the ball
and the guy hitting them both put your heads down.
Like, then it should just be, hey, here we go.
His whole upper body, like that, whatever he goes.
Yeah, it's a special human we have here in AJ.
It's a special game.
I appreciate that your Christmas wish.
Joining us now might be a guy who has something similar.
My Christmas wish is I hope everybody comes true.
Joining us now, ladies and gentlemen,
is a man that I hope his Christmas wish comes true
because he is great for ball.
Not only on our particular program that he still joins us with
in talks every single week amongst him becoming an owner of multiple teams,
maybe a Champions League team.
This guy owns in a soccer.
soccer world and then obviously he's becoming one of the greatest color commentators in the
biggest league on earth he has so many other things the fact he still talks to us we're
very appreciative of ladies and gentlemen a member of the bull ring of honor down there for
the houston's future first ballot hall jay jay wahl jay james merry christmas eve to you
great christmas see you guys thank you we're giving up our football christmas wishes around
a j hawk would like to be able to land on quarterbacks in east the west horse collar tackling
And also, it's hard for you to sell that one.
Okay.
I'm with you on the northwest, northeast, east side.
Like, we got reps trying to figure out catches and not catches here.
Let's not go farming GPS on them.
Okay, on that note, what is your football Christmas wish, JJ what?
I'm actually, I'm on the same path as AJ because I would like there to be replay assist allowed on roughing the passer.
and I would like to be in charge of that replay assist,
only for roughing the passer.
They can do everything else.
I'll just handle ruffing the passer.
You're handling the whole league?
Yeah, whole league.
I just sit in a room and I just have a screen in front of me
and every roughing the passer flag comes to me
and I decide no rules or parameters just purely based on what I see.
If I think it was roughing the pastor, they leave the flag.
If I don't, they pick the flag out.
I like that.
Judge jury executioner for one particular.
particular play that is 15 yards, game changer.
Yeah, I mean, it is a game changer, a career changer.
Now, you feel as if you had a better feel on what the antenna is, if they could have let up,
if they're trying to hurt, if it was a cheap shot.
You think you naturally, because of who you are, what you've done, and how you view
the game, have a good grasp on what they're looking for and what they're not looking for.
That is why you should be the ipso facto god of roughing the passers?
Yes.
That's correct.
correct. Okay. That one
that we've been showing, the Ravens one,
not roughing and in the passage. There you
go. Shocker, I know.
I think the football people
would be happy with what football
dictator would be deciding
there, though. I would. I think that
would be something that people would be
pumped up about, why aren't you, maybe a
couple other flags, too?
You're not as comfortable with other rules
or other... I'm comfortable with everything.
I'm comfortable with everything, but
let's just start with one at a time. I want to
prove that I can do it and then they give me more responsibility um but just one like like
i just want to get this one right there's a lot of other stuff there are some that are extremely
difficult extremely i don't want to refs have an extremely hard job i don't want to take anything
away from refs roughing the passer not that i can handle that you can tell it's very kind of you
you're doing that for a free too for a prove it you hear what you're saying yeah i would just enjoy it
i would just enjoy it well i'll still call games from the booth just put it
on one of the monitors and you call into my game anytime there's a ruffing the passer flag,
I just pop over to your feed as it, nope, clean, there you are.
Because you think quick, too, this is not.
No problem.
No, I don't need 15 angles.
I don't need, I don't need more than two angles.
I might need two, just in case with some obstruction of some old alignment or something
in the way, two angles, all I need, I'll tell you right away, roughing the passer, not.
Man, this is crazy.
You're calling a game while doing?
I didn't even think that.
I thought you were fully committed in a room by.
yourself. No, it's not even
that difficult. Just
pipe it right into my monitor. I got
a separate monitor. It's called the RTP
monitor, Roughen the Passer Monitor.
And flag
goes up, New York sends that sucker
right into my feed.
I send back negative
and carry on with their games.
I think literally all you got to do is the thumbs up, thumbs down
because you might be in the middle of
one, you know, big time player.
Wow, what a fantastic
what a fantastic play
they're going down, it just, yeah, that's all
you got, oh, good, oh, no flag or no flag
button. Oh, you're talking about
right here and right here. And it's actually
it actually is like a slingshot
of a flag. Every stadium adds
a JJ watt flag
or a flag crane
okay, like in those arcades.
Yeah, those are great. Every stadium
has to add one, like the new one in
Kansas is already building this. It's the
JJ Watt
roughing the passer flag grabber
and it comes down and picks it up.
you just have to ignite it with the button that you're pushing while you're calling the game.
The JJ Bob.
And we're going to track.
Oh, my God, the JJ bought.
Jay, J.J.
Bought.
J.J. Bought.
J.J. Bought. J.J. Bought.
It comes out with a 99 jersey.
Yep.
From the middle.
And it picks up, it picks up the flag.
Yeah, just like that.
And then just kind of goes back up and at the top.
And there's somebody up there.
It's like, good job. J.J. Bought and picks up the flag.
Yeah.
Okay.
Yeah.
But if you throw too many.
on the year that got overturned, you're out.
JJ Bott picks you up.
Yeah.
You, you're gone.
Breaks your neck.
We've learned that you don't know.
You can't rest.
You weren't good.
Too many false alarms.
Gouges your eyes out.
A little on the mouth hook.
Oh, kind of gives you out there.
JJ Bought has his legs and arms, big ones.
Oh, you're strong ones.
We're going to see it on CBS before the end of the season.
Yeah, I think so.
Probably this weekend.
Angry face.
Red eyes, maybe bullhorns like the Texans.
Oh, JJ Bot, Jay, J.J. Bot.
Okay, let's talk about J.J. Bot. You almost had to call, or almost got to call,
sorry, Miles Garrett breaking the record for the amount of sacks in a season.
I believe you even publicly lobbying for him to get a half a sack when Josh Allen turned
in saying like, hey, Miles Garrett forced him to turn there, which forced him to slip.
So he should certainly get a full sack or maybe a half sack.
I want to let you know because T.J. Watt is a part of the record.
And obviously the Watt family and Garrett are massive in the tackling of quarterback's community.
And there could be maybe tension.
You on the call for the game and the way you were handling it and celebrating it, I thought was incredible.
Now, on that note, how big of a deal is Miles Garrett getting this?
And how special should this be looked at, especially because he is this absolute freak, an anomaly, an alien, so good at his job.
and it feels like Cleveland might waste it all,
which is like what happened to Joe Thomas,
which is what happened in the past.
Do you get that same sense,
or do you think there's a chance they turn it around
and maybe Miles is a pillar guy
that helps them going forward, Jage?
Well, let's tackle the first thing first from that game.
I mean, it's inevitable.
He's going to break it.
He's unbelievable, having an insane year.
He has a chance to do it early,
which is obviously great.
I mean, phenomenal player.
That specific play was a fascinating situation all around.
there was a whole lot going on from safety not safety who got the sack
Mason Graham touched him first so he got the full sack and then they came back a
couple quarters later and said you know we split it half and half and what I
said on the broadcast was Miles Garrett either gets all of that or none of that
because I mean I've you guys know me I've been studying sacks for 15 years I played in
the league and every single week after a game you're lobbying hey I got a half of that sack I
got my hand on him. I didn't, whatever. I have never seen a split sack between guys that didn't
touch him. So, like, you know, when you run a guy out of bounds, the guy closest to him who kind of
forced him out of bounds gets that full sack. Or the guy in a situation where the quarterback
falls down or something, the first guy that touches him gets that sack. That's why guys scrambled
to get there. So that's why I said what I said on the air is I've never seen a split sack where
you don't touch the guy that's what i that was my point in that and i think that Alex
right also has you 91 wants some piece of that he's like hang on i was here too
turning this guy in so it was it was a wild play and then just the fact that we came back a couple
quarters later and it was like all right just we had to explain it to people it was wild
but he's going to break it uh he's insane he's also close to the tackles for lost one which
is crazy like he plays the run he plays the past he's unbelievable
player. In terms of what Cleveland looks like going forward, they have a ton of rookies who are
playing well, Swessinger, defensive rookie of the year, unbelievable player, really smart, very good
athletic, like really enjoyed talking to him in our meetings. Harold Fanon, phenomenal player,
really, really good. They continue to add more to the offense for him. Shador went out there,
and he made some plays. They took away a lot of the deep stuff, which Shadour is really good at,
and they made him throw it underneath and he took the underneath throws he wasn't forcing the
ball deep he took the underneath throws he used his legs a lot in the game uh which was very good
and he got stepped on or whatever and his pinky was like you know tip of his pinky was hanging off
taped that thing back up came out so there's some good stuff there now there's certainly a lot to
work on there's there's no question that they need to work on a lot and we'll see what happens there
But in terms of some building blocks,
there's at least a couple things to get excited about.
Yeah, I, you know, I've been watching Browns games this year.
It's crazy.
It's like how Shador doing, okay, and his Miles Garrett going to get it.
And then you immediately go back, man, it sucks.
They're never going to win there.
That's just like the natural opinion.
I'm from Pittsburgh.
So obviously, growing up, I'm told Cleveland's never going to win a football.
That is kind of how it goes.
When I first went to Cleveland, I was surprised how nice of a city it was.
Honestly, with everything I was told as shout.
Jacks, I believe, was the casino.
Very nice.
very nice casino there's like five floors third floor was very giving to us yeah the mall
there's a mall that's like the oldest mall in the country that's still up there it's beautiful
like i was mind-blood when i got to cleveland it was a nice city i was like man there's water
i've been told my entire life this is a shittle you know the mistake a mistake by the lake and
everything like that and i get up there i'm like it's actually kind of charming and you got a good
some good history it appears i didn't know that people's kind of nice and then you watch the browns
it's like well everything they said though about the browns growing up though was pretty accurate
it feels also a cool stadium like i was looking like i mean obviously i played there a few times but like
the fact like the new stadium coming like if you're standing in that stadium it's a cool stadium
and from our booth you're looking out i mean it's tall it goes up like it's a it gets a lot of
hate but i mean i like that stadium now i get why people build new stadiums i understand
the luxury boxes, the cash, everything that comes with it.
But, like, in terms of a football stadium, that's a good stadium.
Like, we don't need to be tearing down stadiums of that caliber.
Yeah, agreed.
Let's keep it open for maybe other shit to happen if we have to.
Maybe we can profit off it as a business.
But since you let into it, I mean, that's a great storyline for today.
Go ahead, Con, man.
Yeah, Jage, earlier in the week, the Chicago Bears basically announced that they're going to Gary, Indiana.
That situation with Arlington Heights is up in the air, a lot of question marks.
but something that is kind of concrete now is Kansas City going to Kansas,
starting in the year 2031, hopefully.
What do you think about this?
Kansas City, Middle of the Dynasty, leaving their Arrowhead Stadium in Missouri to go to Kansas.
Feels like something the football gods might, you know, raise a brow to.
But this feels like a can say no deal for the Hunt family and the kind of organization as a whole.
How do you feel about them going to Kansas?
I mean, if everything that's been reported is accurate with what they got in terms of, you know, the tax money and also the perks that come with it from the rent situation to the reinvestment situation. I mean, like you said, man, I mean, if you're sitting there looking at that deal on the table, I don't know how they possibly couldn't have taken it. And if you're on the Kansas side of things, you're hoping that the economic impact and the amount of
people coming in potential Super Bowls and everything makes up for that but that again if all those
numbers are true that is the sweetest stadium deal for ownership that I have ever seen in my
entire life yeah in the star bonds that are allegedly paying for this we looked into this a little
bit it is a Kansas thing I assume others have it as well where the local area will be paying it back
basically is how they look into paying back to three billion dollars is everything that they're
building and hopefully chief's world will be able to pay for that
I just read this wrinkle for the first time being reported by Pompliano.
Kansas will own the stadium, right, which is cool.
Chiefs will pay up $7 million to rent annually,
but that money's not going back to the state.
No, it's actually going into their own pocket, into their own account, I guess,
for future repairs back into Chiefs world.
Okay, so we'd like that on my house.
I'd like to pay, I'd like my mortgage to go back into making my house nicer.
Now, can I sell that how the Hunts sold that to Kansas?
it's like we will commit to $7 million going back into our chief's world to keep it nice
and all that type of stuff.
I think that is how they sell that.
Now granted,
whatever you get that to be an agreement,
it's like,
okay,
so I'm just allotting $7 million of our budget every single year to an account
that is basically going in the future to keep this shit nice.
That's a fascinating, nice, sweet deal.
That's a very cushioned.
Yeah, but there's no rent then.
That is the rent.
That's what I'm saying.
You're just, that's like saying I'm going to put it in a pool and that's going to count as my rent.
Yep.
Yeah.
You just put in a different bank account basically for next year whenever we got to do renovations.
Yeah, you're just sliding it from one account to another saying we got to do renovations.
Now, who's getting hired to do the renovations too?
Is it hunt contract?
Yeah, exactly.
Who's getting the interest on that, too?
Who's getting the interest on that account as it grows?
Oh, you know, the renovations.
The stadium, yeah, more renovations.
The cell is, we're going to keep this nice so that Chief's world continues to be a draw.
you know that's the sell to the state is like hey everybody is going to come all the stores and restaurants
we're going to be able to make money back off of that kansas is going to become a draw there's
going to be more concerts there's going to be more people traveling to kansas like that's the cell
but boy i'm assuming kansas state or texas people are kansas taxpayers are not exactly thrilled
with everything they're reading today about this is that stadium picture uh that's going around
is that legit or is that just a a rendering to show new stadium because i do like we are getting
extremely cookie-cutter with stadiums now.
And Arrowhead is one of the – I've hated playing there because I've not had a lot of success there,
but Arrowhead is one of the best environments in sports.
And if we're losing Arrowheads left and right, we are in a bad way.
Even Soldier Field.
Like, it's got its quirks and everything, but I like Soldier Field.
It's unique.
It has its own.
You get snow.
We get the Packers, bears like we had the other night.
Like, we can't be losing these types of atmospheres in these games.
What's next?
Are we going to wipe Lambo out?
No.
No, well, that's the thing, though.
Lambo is actually a good, like, blueprint for everybody else to try.
Because Lambo has the Hall of Fame, the museum, the tours, the restaurants, the bars, the things to do,
and the hotels, people are traveling in.
Now, granted, they don't have an owner, but they're the ones that have to open their books.
And the real estate was like $170 million a year or whatever.
And that was from all the shit that was coming around it.
So whenever other teams are selling that, and then Jerry World,
Jerry Jones said I think it was reported like 70 million in revenue on game days
Jerry gets versus everybody else's home games because of all the other shit around it and what's all built into it
I think that's all anybody's looking at but to your point about designs and stuff it's like
there's only so many real groundbreaking changing stadium designs and everybody's trying to copy them now
like sofi they're like well we saw what they did was sofi and we thought wow that's a good idea
so we implement ourselves.
Allegiant Stadium over there in Vegas, like a spaceship,
so everybody's like,
we kind of want to make it look futuristic-y
because it is the future.
And then have you seen the photo of what buildings were like designed
back in the day versus what they're designed like now?
It is not just a stadium issue.
It's like everything has kind of just become like very kind of bland
as opposed to like, you know, character,
having character in their own different ways.
So I don't want to get into a deep like design,
infrastructure design conversation.
But everything is starting to look the same everywhere.
You know, and we appreciate that there's renovations and getting newer,
but it's like we somehow have to hold on to...
Like Buffalo.
Like Arizona's unique.
Minnesota's got a unique.
It's still indoor.
It still has the roof that shows light through,
but they have built in...
Like, Minnesota is a massively underrated stadium.
That place is incredible.
And it's still unique.
It's not the same as everywhere else.
I think that place is awesome.
I agree.
That's why the bills is really cool, though,
because everyone is now doing like the,
well, we got to build an indoor.
stadium so we can have a Super Bowl. And the bills
are saying, like, no, we're just going to put
a canopy over, still outdoors, still going to be
cold in Buffalo, but will be
new, even though, you know, I do
not love the bills. Yeah, and they
got those big bison out front.
Well, TBD, TBD,
okay? J.J. Bought is probably
going to be bigger than those bison.
Well, JJ Bot's going to have to be because it's going to pick up a
ref. That's true. Right. Right. But
if those bison, they've got the message
loud and clear, don't you think? I don't know.
I think they got the message loud and clear.
I don't know if they're going to abide by the loud and clear message because...
The bills abide.
Their stadium was just on fire.
The bill's abide.
The stadium was just on fire.
I don't know if they're worried about the bison.
Jage, I think I saw you already.
What happened?
I missed that.
I missed that.
He did see.
The stadium was on fire?
There's just a little tech fire.
There's just a little smoke.
There's fire.
These things, construction sites.
There's always going to be.
A lot of smoke there.
That felt like that was a lot of smoke.
Obviously not great.
But, you know, every once in a while...
Whip up somebody in the back.
Sorry, to whip up the Birmingham City new stadium proposal.
No clue if it's actually going to come through.
But if that does, that's unique.
Congratulations.
That is cool.
So you just mentioned an XFL team at U.S. XFL team.
Tom Brady's Soccer squad.
Oh, soccer.
No, soccer.
Come on, guys.
Who is this?
Who is this?
This is Birmingham City.
Let me look at that.
That's unique.
That's like the AI design.
Yeah, I like what we're doing here.
Need it.
Yeah, if that's.
Smokstacks.
It's a castle.
Don't know if it's actually going to happen.
If it does, phenomenal.
That was one of our Christmas wishes, actually, was make all the AI stadiums.
Real?
Yeah, real for everybody.
Yeah, and also make it.
You're welcome, Tom, for the free publicity.
I know you need it.
You're welcome.
Yeah, anytime we get the show, Farmingham's team, we're certainly going to give credit to who they are.
No doubt.
Okay.
The Farmingham squad is in the middle of the group.
They're in the big one.
Is that the right name?
Farmingham?
Where are they?
The Farmingham,
Ferris.
Birmingham, man.
We're picky blinders.
Come on.
Tom Brady.
Birmingham,
middle of England.
You know.
Birmingham.
They're right there
in the middle of the Premier League.
They're 14th in the championship.
No, they're in the championship.
Tom's got a championship.
His Raiders stink.
This team stinks.
This guy doesn't know what he's doing.
Oh, no, Tom.
Oh, I didn't know that.
Hold the phone.
So you're telling me, Birmingham is owned by Tom Brady.
That's what I'm just learning here.
And so he's got to pay for that.
And their shite.
I think he's got somebody to pay for it.
No, him and Thomas.
What's he going to do next?
Go buy the Marlins or the pirates?
What the hell is this guy?
Oh, oh, don't put that on the pirates.
We just spent money on Mr. Kern.
It'd be more like the Riverhound.
Ryan O'Kern coming to Pittsburgh.
O'Hern.
Coming to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
This guy bats 2-17.
No, no, no, that is not.
287.
He's a good player.
This guy's good player.
We added two all-s-offs.
You guys are putting in offers on people, though.
You're putting an offer on people.
They're not getting them, but you're potentially getting them.
We're potentially putting offers together, but you haven't followed.
Excuse me, we just saw him Mr. O'Hern.
And Brandon Lowe.
And Scoobble wants to play in Pittsburgh.
He said, I'll take an even bigger pay cut.
Detroit's offering me Scrubles.
I'll take Scoobles over in Pittsburgh, actually, to go play for the Buccos.
Paul Skeens and Scoobel.
There's a chance that people were following Jet Passens' X account,
and they're saying, you know what, maybe the pirates are up to something.
First baseman, obviously I knew he played first base.
This guy's got a good mitt.
You should see his flexibility, too.
I see him do a full split, like in those,
whenever he needs to get somebody out at first.
I saw he's been doing this a long time over there.
Whenever you talk about picking people off,
he's like the mayor.
He's got him so relaxed.
They even like, bang, you're out, and we're out of there.
We're stealing stuff.
Look for Paul Skeen's to work on his throwout, you know, over there at first.
He might actually do one of those because O'Hern,
does that, you're out.
So that's what the Pirates are doing.
So no, Tom Brady doesn't need to
come ruin what we got going on.
Right with the Barlands. You were right with the
Mars. Yeah, Marlins, probably, yeah.
I heard your team may be in the Champions League.
Is that real?
Spaniel's playing unbelievable.
Five wins in a row.
Fifth place right now.
And we have got a massive, massive
cross-town rivalry with Barcelona
a derby coming up.
Bartholona.
Bartholona. You're disrespecting them.
And this is, whenever you talk about motivation for Bartholona,
certainly calling him the wrong name.
Classic American.
Unbelievable.
I bet you go to a B-A-A idiot.
Yeah.
Have you been to a B-tha?
No, no, no.
I, uh, our last, my last game of the season is obviously on the fourth.
And so I was literally trying to find any way I could make it over to Spain for our match
and seeing if I could just pop over, pop back and make it back in time.
for our game on Sunday and there's just no way to do it. It's going to be an insane, insane
atmosphere in the cauldron of chaos.
In the morning we drink coffee in the afternoon it's wrong and then we play Bartholona
and we win everyone. It's Espanio, Espanio. Oh, lucky, lucky, lucky, another goal.
yeah that's pretty good just brilliant just brilliant
champions league so if you're top three at the end you go to the champions
league where the owners get paid a lot of top four
top four um something like there's certain situations where five actually makes it
it's it's all a little tricky but fifth is europea league um so we're in that slot right now
a lot of ball left but boys are playing incredible incredible ball a j the europea
League matters.
They're up in.
The age.
Yeah.
What's the pinnacle?
Where are we all trying to get to?
F1.
F1, yeah.
Thank you.
We're not trying to get that one.
Yes, we are.
It is.
In soccer.
Hop ball.
Hop in.
Okay.
I might see.
Champions League.
Champions League.
Champions League.
Top to top from every country around Europe.
And they put them all in one tournament.
And the MLS.
That's the biggest.
And it's on Wednesdays, right?
That's on Wednesday nights is one of the MLSs.
cup it's midweek yeah it's midweek yeah oh if you if you play in european competitions you are
playing in significantly more games per year which is obviously uh taxing on your squad but you're
also obviously making a lot more money but it's it becomes more of a challenge from a roster
management standpoint making sure you have the guys and managing that but yes is tiler from
dude perfect the part of espanuel too um they are they are part of the group
Wow.
What?
I didn't know Todd was about to have a damn champions.
I know.
He's like that.
Of course he is, dude.
How was your guys' time at A&M?
Was he there?
Did he get?
I went to midnight yell.
Did you hear about this?
I didn't, I did not hear about your experience at midnight yell.
I know what it is.
So we traveled down from Oklahoma.
We're down there.
Okay, we fly in.
We had had communication with yell leaders throughout the week about going to midnight yell.
We had full communication about it.
The plan was to do that.
out there. Look at that. Oh, hell yeah. Yeah, absolutely. I mean, I'm at Yale practice,
bro. Midnight Yale practice. So I, uh, we fly to Oklahoma. We're all tired or we fly down
to Texas A&M from Oklahoma. We're all pretty tired. Some kind of boost up. I mean,
there's a lot going on. So we decide we're not going to this midnight thing. That is still two
hours away, an hour away or whatever it is. So we're not going. We're all tired.
So I happened at this particular stay, stay in a bus. The bus was right outside the stadium.
So I was trying to go to sleep in the bus. And all I heard was cannons going.
off and people screaming, I couldn't sleep. And I thought to myself, I told these people I would go.
It's literally happening right there. I cannot sleep right now because of how loud it is.
I have to go. So after we all, as a group, decided we weren't going and everybody went to bed,
I'm in bus, okay, all by myself, and I'm like, fuck it, I'm going. I get up out of bed,
cowboy hat on, black jacket on. Let me do the cowboy shit here real quick. I'm out of bed in like
three minutes. I exit bus
and I just go, all right, I don't know where
I'm going, but I'm walking straight to the stadium.
We didn't get final details on where we're going to meet.
Somebody to get in there. I just assumed I get to the stadium
I'll be able to get in there. Cop, who is sitting
outside of bus for security
has no idea I'm getting up there. So he
scramble open door.
Where are you going? Where are you going? I'm like,
I'm going in there. He's like, oh, I'll come
with you. I'll come with. Shuts his door. Great guy.
Thank God he came, by the way. I mean, I would have
been walking in absolute circles.
He goes, we're going down and left here. We're going to hit the tunnel.
so I'm like sweet I'm walking fast though because I feel like I'm going to miss it because they had been doing a lot of yelling so I'm walking fast cop he comes from sitting in his car with nothing full sprint holy shit I'm fresh out of bed we're doing this entire thing yeah he's fully booted to I mean he's got his full shit on it I was like oh I'm so sorry I was playing on just walking in there alone I completely forgot and that is just that is that is that is a bad decision by me soon as I get in there full fucking chaos I mean full chaos in that place you got 30 40,000 people
people there, plus people on the field. I walk down there, I'm standing in the corner. I have no
idea where I'm supposed to go. I realize I do not have the direct connection to yell leader
that Bruce was talking to. And then I thought it would all just kind of be manageable on where
I'm supposed to go to. It was not. So all of a sudden, a buzz and a scene starts on a sideline.
All of a sudden, now the stands are starting to recognize me. I think at the beginning,
they said I wasn't going to make it. So I got hissed earlier. So whenever I walk in,
I think it was a full thing. I'm in my bed. Seven minutes before this, I walk in. I walk
down there. Get right to the middle. Holy shit. I know you got hissed. I know. Oh, yeah. At the beginning,
they hissed me, I guess, because they mentioned that we weren't coming. So there was like a hiss
at the beginning. So then I walk all the way to the middle, chaos, chaos, chaos. A lady,
lovely lady leads me there. Once again, no idea who this lady is. No, I have no clue, still to this
moment, have no idea who she was. Thank you to that lady. She guided me as there was a little
platoons kind of coming down and taking photos. I get to the middle. Chancellor's standing right
there. Hi, I'm Pat. Hi, I'm the Chancellor. Thank you so much for coming. Oh, shit. You're
like the one here. Okay, very nice to meet you. Kids are here, okay? And I'm standing there and the
yell leader's like, ladies gentlemen, I'm please here. Boom, walk up here. Here's a microphone.
Nine minutes from my bed, I think, in the indecision. I have a microphone in front of 30,000 people
at midnight. It's like, all right, here we go. Right before I get the microphone, I asked the
chancellor, I'm like, hey, quick reminder. I didn't, what's the shit? What's the shit that you guys,
what's the thing? He goes, you start with howdy, you end with Gigum. So I was like, sweet. So I
start that thing with howdy they all have a full howdy back but i didn't expect there's like a follow
up with a woo i almost stepped on top of their woo pig suey yeah no yeah but hey yeah that whole thing
it was it was electrifying but when you talk about just like sensory overload real quick i had no
idea and i would say if you're in the area and it's happening you need to go it is an insane amount
of commitment from people to ball but i dropped a huge eff huge
in there. I mean, just a gigantic one in the middle of this speech. No flubs, by the way.
But in the middle, I dropped a massive one. And I'm like, yeah, I feel like I nailed it.
Walk out, there's four-year-olds, five-year-olds. It's midnight. Why are these kids here?
I could not have expected these kids to be here. And they're like, oh, this is what we've done
since like they literally 80-year-olds there, five-year-olds there. And it's like just the thing.
We all do this the night before. So it was special. I thought it was very special.
Windy, though, James. Windy. 40-mile-on-hour.
our wins. Change the whole game. Change the whole game. Yeah. No question. Talk about
Windy. Cleveland. When I was flying into Cleveland, plane. Issues. Yeah. Issues. Landed.
Okay. Three tries. Very scary. Did you go back up?
Two tries at one airport said, this is not happening. Went to a different one.
So you want it was one on the lake. You were laying on the one on the lake and you guys.
Tried twice. Passed it. I don't think I'm ever going back there again in my life with the
experience that I had there this weekend.
never been more frightened in my life.
Yeah, that's a dangerous one, especially because it looks like the tip might hit the water,
and that's, you've seen every bad movie.
Oh, yeah.
Yeah.
No, and I was watching the pilot, and, uh, he handled it well.
We made it.
We might be going down.
But the flight attendant, uh, who was on the plane with me, she, after the first attempted
landing, uh, we went up and then we started a second one and it wasn't going well.
She moved seats to come by me, and she was like, it's safe for back.
Here, I'm going to sit by you if that's all right.
And I was like, I don't like where this is going because you're the one I'm looking to.
I'm telling you, dude, sketchiest, sketchiest 45 minutes to an hour I have had in my life, I think.
We're so happy we still got you.
You know what?
That's my ball Christmas wish.
I hope you all have your Christmas wishes come true.
Even your crazy medically advanced one that you forecast it and wish for for Mike and having a
certainly possible. I would like J.J. Watt to have a safe season.
Yes. That's what I would like. As somebody who gets all the same thoughts that you had,
every time we take off and every time I land, I couldn't even fathom.
AJ gets sick, sweats and pukes every time he flies, loves it.
I don't puke every time I fly, but I get very, yeah, I get sick, no question.
Sweating, full sweat every flight, and then immediately afterwards, like, I want to be a pilot.
It's like, that's crazy. That is absolutely crazy. That makes it kind of difficult. You're right.
That is crazy that that's how it is.
But I have the same, the thought you had in those 45 minutes, I have during like smooth landing.
And every once in a while, I'll get on there.
And once again, we're talking about something that nobody in life is supposed to experience.
Like, it's the greatest thing of all time being on smaller planes as opposed to commercial planes.
You have some pilots, though, that like want to impress us, I think, you know, like.
He goes, he goes, after the second way, he goes, are you all right?
I think we're going to try and land in a different.
I said, dude, you land this plane in whatever country.
you have to land a day to put it on the ground.
Why'd you ask me after the second one, brother?
I said, I don't care where we put this thing.
Just get it down.
Home alone.
He doesn't, he doesn't, the polka band.
Oh, yeah.
They don't fly, right?
They just ride in the back of a box truck or whatever.
And then John Madden, right?
John Madden, right?
John Madden, yeah.
He only drove bus.
He was only on a bus.
It's like, I feel like I know what happened.
I think I was potentially in one of those planes where you're like,
I am so lucky to be getting off of this plane right now.
I am never stepping foot back on one of these.
And John Madden, actually, there's some people that have been like, no, where's it at?
Arizona?
All right, I need six days.
I'm leaving now.
I've been close, man.
That's what I took.
That's what I take away from this.
I was like, okay, I should never have been scared at any point in my flying life.
Because if planes can do this and if pilots can do this, I am good.
Like, it was that, like, it was that level where we were doing stuff that I did not know was capable.
like we were fighting it and it was crazy and I was like okay any turbulence regular turbulence
no problem I have now been through the maximum did you touch and go was it an actual
touching go or did you go we almost touched the water and went brother we almost touched the water
what like I'm laughing I'm not I'm not joking that's crazy in my head whether rational or not
I was thinking how far can I swim did you text your wife how far can I swim yeah I told
Dude, I, like, did you say goodbye?
Did you do a video?
I've got a video.
I made a video.
Have you ever made a video?
No.
I made a video.
So I had a, I made a video to family and friends.
And I was like, I actually made a full video about what was about to happen.
We took off.
They couldn't get the landing gear up.
So we had to turn back around and land.
Not that big of a problem.
Is it?
What if when you hit the ground it comes up?
You know, because they've been hitting the button to lift it.
They've been hitting a button to lift it for the whole time,
and they're like, hey, we've got to go land this thing.
We can't fly, obviously, with the landing gear down.
We think it's going to be okay, but there is a chance that whenever we hit,
it kind of unlocks it.
So we are going to obviously try to do as smooth as possible.
That's what we've got to do or whatever.
I'm like, yep, let me go ahead and get this out.
And I go, uh...
No way.
Sam, it happened.
We knew it was coming.
This is it.
I did like a full thing.
Talking McKenzie was a little baby.
McKenzie was a little baby I talked about her
and her like because they were turning this thing around
yeah oh yeah I was I was there
I was there dude
and then I videoed it going down
I'm like here it is by the way just know
that whenever the worst was about to happen
your dad wasn't you know
like this is happening and you just got it's out of your control
sometimes like I'm like giving it like a life lesson
and then we hit the ground and we bounce
and I'm like oh uh
and then we hit it again and I'm like
all right this is getting deleted
and I just
shut it and put in my phone
and then immediately get off that plane
get on another plane
and now we take off to go where we were supposed to go
and it's like as soon as we get in the air I'm like
I just thought I was going to die
and then I just signed right back up for it it's like
what is my problem it's uh
me in Connecticut
me and Tony thought the same thing
we had a guy who was a couple sneezes
away from the grave and it was like okay
how do we have a guy
this age flying this point
and he couldn't even see what he was
When he was taken off, it looked like he was going to fly off the runway.
We almost ran off the runway on Dornatakoff.
There's not enough Zanax on this planet for that plane ride.
I think we have some film from that plane right.
Yes, we do.
We refused to get back on.
You had to make a couple calls to be in total like, nope, we're not getting on that plane.
So you either get a different one or we're living in Connecticut now.
Yeah, I don't think I was going to get on that plane either.
That was the worst experience we had had just by pilot ineptitude.
That certainly was scary.
I mean, it was like a 40-minute flight, too, and we're just doing it.
number and then while we're taking off he's driving side we can see the runway you know we can see
it at the front thing and this guy's getting closer to the side it's like this guy's driving cockide
actually and then we had pack plane that was the most pack plane we had oh yeah because it was a shorter
flights everybody jumped in i remember looking back and ton digs sitting sideways on the couch
just full body sprayed out sweating white as a as a ghost i think like an actual ghost and then just
right down the line everybody has the same look it's like all right
yep we're never getting on this plane again everybody's like we're not getting off of this
plane that that is the problem we're talking about yeah it was uh yeah you got it when you got to be the
tough one like when your family's on there it's a completely different sure like you're not
you're you're putting on the face i'm sure somebody on that plane with you guys had to put on
the face yeah pat when you're by yourself like i was this time it's a completely different
like you are no longer the macho man that you are in front of your family i love you girl
you're going to have a great life
okay you need to know that
and then we land
I'm trying to figure out how you were going to get
how that video was going to get
yeah when do you send it
the cloud was going to survive
when were you sending it
somebody has it somewhere
it's in the cloud
somebody needs to see that
okay somebody needs
it will be able to see that
okay don't you worry about it
and I don't need you talking about my flawed thoughts
before I'm about to die on a plane
as I'm spending them to my daughter
and my family okay
on that note
Merry Christmas everybody
I hope you guys have a great Christmas
We've got a lot of football coming up.
A lot of good balls.
We'll be back on Monday.
You're the greatest people of all time.
Be your friend.
Tell a friend, Merry Christmas.
Goodbye.
Hope it's the greatest of all time.
Added to baby, Jage.
Thanks for bringing it up, Jage.
Right before we send everybody off Christmas on TV.
Merry Christmas.
Hoping on a plane right after the show today.
So very excited that that's what we just talked about for the last, you know, 30 minutes.
No, we're all, we've all survived every plane ride we've ever taken.
I know.
And there's thousands and thousands and thousands and thousands of planes in the sky.
I know. I know. It's not like that.
Because we have had some, I remember specifically coming.
It was the Miles Garrett Mason Rudolph bonk game.
When we came back from Pittsburgh, we hit like a straight nose dive.
And I never sit facing the back of the plane because I just, I can't do that.
And I remember just like fucking levitating and like coming up.
And it was that I still think about that way too often.
Yeah, and now with that, I'm talking, Ty told me one time, it was after some plane flight that we had.
Yeah, bad flight.
We had a terrible.
I mean, Jay, there's a real part of it.
That is why, when you see what I'm on, it's what I'm on because of all these situations that have happened.
It's like, feels like if we get a bigger.
I was the own one.
I was on a big one, dude.
That's what I'm saying.
That's not good.
That's bad here.
New pilots.
But as we roll through our life, and once again, we're talking about something that we should not be able to experience.
It's the best part of life.
basically that you, when you have
money or somebody else is willing to pay
for it, it's like, this is
what you would like. It takes out all the bullshit.
So we don't want to complain ever
because there's no reason to.
This isn't relatable. We know. We are saying
this is just a couple people catching up here
who've been in some very scary situations
in this whole thing. Tie, though, after one
of these nightmares flights,
a couple days later, comes up to me.
Had a dream last night.
We went down on a plane. You and me.
Oh, yeah. Come on my, dude.
Dude, it was the worst flight ever.
And I wouldn't, normally I wouldn't say that,
but it was like we had just come off, like, the worst flight ever.
So, James, as you could probably assume,
me and Ty were not on the same plane for a long time.
We were not on the same plane for a long time.
That's fun on Southwest, brother.
As soon as I heard that, I'm like, all right,
we're getting a couple planes if Ty needs to fly.
He will be on the other one.
That'll certainly be the case.
We got to that.
And we talked about, which if you have, just let's keep.
it moving but i would like to throw some heat at somebody if we haven't talked about this yet
the article about you stopping the charitable kicks we don't need to get into that i mean i'll
flame throw that guy all flame throw that guy whoever the hell the anonymous quotes in that article were
yeah but this just like kind of goes to show everything that we've kind of been saying about how
everybody is kind of just like that's an absurd thing i mean big night out i gave away like three
four million bucks to people and uh you know potentially changes they're the same similar type of thing
It's like, yeah, it's just all very fascinating
how much hate, like, these people have for us, you know?
And it's like...
It's unbelievable.
It's awesome.
It's unbelievable.
Thank you.
It's very cool that we have it.
Yeah, you know, they say have a heat's good.
You know, we got a good heat out there.
But, like, these people are just so fucking blind by it.
It's a very absurd thing.
But on that note, we just had a $1.5 million kick in front of 110,000 people.
I don't know what else we get in it.
Who knows what college game day looks like next?
year. I mean, there's like so many different
variables to it, but I'm not
somebody, I think people know this. Jay J.J. Wap being
on a show on a regular basis is a segment.
We don't really stick with a lot of things, get bored
with things. It's not like, hey, we found something, let's do this
forever. So, you know, me hinting it, this
might be the end of the series. Like, it lives,
what if something else comes up? What if it doesn't happen?
Like, there's so many things to it. But also,
saying it's a bad business sense to do away
with it, it's like, okay.
This thing I've ever heard in my life. You want to know it's bad
business says, giving away millions of dollars that you
like this is the most heritable philanthropic thing you could possibly do oh dude i'm i want to lose
it on that guy i'm like are you kidding me like you're going to sit here and anonymously give quotes to
this little article and you're going to have an entire article written about a guy giving away millions
of dollars of charity like that's a problem that's a problem with our everything that's going on
right now is you want to attack something and you're going to attack somebody giving away money to
charity by a kid picking a ball through a poll like come on now what are we talking about
about there's so much negative shit in this world to attack and we're going to attack giving money to charity get the out of here man thank you for that jage hey jage i appreciate you doing that for me and for us as a whole but if you want to look around i mean you can go to that website there's a couple other ones anytime we have been talked about there's some sort of angle or just like i don't even know how you have that unless like you do your thing but once again we just hey sit in the pocket keep it going and try to make cool moments for people you know and uh there's a song coming out uh here in a little bit that i wrote about like i
treat finance like a maro'n hood, okay?
Try to find a Brink's truck and figure out how to give it back, basically.
You know, like, that has been a massive piece of us.
And we're not the only ones.
I mean, Mr. Beast gives away so much.
You talk about, like, the things that I think a generation has done with the access to
the amount of shit that we've got access because of how good our people have been to
us, it's like there's a natural reaction to want to give back and give away.
And it's like, I think some of the olds just like don't fully understand it.
You know, and I think there's a lot of people that don't really understand, like,
that is his money, it's coming from someone else.
It's like, well, all money is earned from somewhere else.
But yes, that is certainly coming out of our company's account to these people and to these charities.
So it's like, that's a fulfilling thing to do, though.
Like, it's a cool thing.
Now, do you find out new ways to do that?
And, like, do you do things like that?
I think so.
We've kind of proven to do that.
But a $1.5 million kick in front of 110,000 people at a college football playoff game.
I don't know what else, you know, I don't know what else we didn't.
But if there is something, let's go ahead and do that.
And what does Game Day look like next year, you know, as a whole?
So it's like, you know, I appreciate you going to bat for me, though.
But that's kind of been our business here since we started licensing our show onto ESPN
and taking two hours daily away from some producer who has a super genius idea that led ESPN to where it was before we got here.
You know, so that those people are always going to be, you know, power, attention, clout, money.
I didn't even think about them feeling disrespected or disrupted.
in that thing for what they've had for a long time
but there's certainly a class of those people
that don't appreciate us potentially
coming in here and saying like
yeah like we can tell them to give away
two million of their own money
you want to create your own show that gives
away two million dollars or five million dollars
or seven million dollars go ahead
see how that show does go ahead and they had them
they had the mount wrong too
they undersold the mount you know
and it's just everything you could do
to kind of diminish it
is a cool thing that they do so I appreciate
you going to bat from me judge we love you man
Thank you, Jay.
Love you, Jay.
So I'm here for pissing me off.
I know you probably won't go to bat for yourself on it,
so I will gladly call attention to it.
I got some songs coming.
I go to back for myself.
Yeah, yeah.
You get to hear inner thoughts from old Pat McAfee and a lot of these songs.
There's some kill shots.
There is some good bars, I believe, is what they would be described at.
And, you know, just when they come, how they come,
and everything kind of gets added into it.
So I appreciate you doing that for us, you know?
I do appreciate it.
that was something i don't think i or maybe you guys knew i didn't fully expect the full war
from the people that see us as a threat to their power you know i didn't see that i thought we were
like joining a team like joining a lineup whenever we start licensing our show through esbn i'm
not understanding the corporate world or the ineptitude of places or the lack of talent or creativity
from people uh who've been at a place for a long time i didn't expect the potential and it's not
everybody. I'm not saying it's everybody, but it is people
that are sitting in positions where if they were to give a
quote, it does seem as if it matters because they
have a title and have been a... I don't
think I expected the inner
anti-us thing
and the reason why it is
and how passionate those people could be.
You know what I mean? So like, I don't think I expect
from day one, the announcement of our show.
The way it was framed
was like an attempt to
kind of bury us. Hey, you know all these
people you like? We had to fire them because of this
company. It's like, I don't think that's
exactly how that whole thing went, you know, because they think they just put up another
billion for another thing that's being licensed, like our show is being licensed. We're not coming
from a talent budget. I think we're coming from a licensing budget. Where does that come from?
So I don't think that is actually how that works. So that's an interesting thing. But that was in
the announcement of it. So it was like immediately like, hey, everything you like, gone. Everything
you hate, here. And it's like, oh, that's a tough start. And then literally every leaked
anonymous quote to whoever it was. Wall Street Journal, legit places, New York Times,
Washington Post, whatever it is. These are real places. Anonymous quotes coming out.
You know, underperforming, not worth the problem. Like they're swearing. Are the advertisers
like, it's like everything was like boom, boom, boom. And it's like, geez, I didn't expect
the barrage. And it's now that I'm older and we're kind of in this, it's like, that was a
guarantee, brother. Those people are losing 10 hours a week on ESPN of what they have. It's like,
God, I should have known that, but now we're a little bit hardened.
We're a little bit more hardened.
And I believe there is potentially a track record of success, though, at this point.
I'd say that's fairly accurate.
I think there's a potential extinction coming, potentially.
Dinosaur since the history.
Meteor.
Have kind of disappeared.
So we'll see.
good luck to you all we appreciate you jage we appreciate the hell out of you man we appreciate
the hell out of you brother merry christmas guys i appreciate it have a great holiday send the best
to your family's always a joy see you next week we love you man merry christmas to you and yours
also tell tige that if he needs us to do though to pump that lung back up we will for the
christmas holidays i'll give him my lungs i don't want that we'll find good luck it's a little late
for that because tie tired already offered up some knees and he wished for knees you clearly didn't
wish for any long.
Wow.
Or J.H. I've said
for many, many, many, many years that I would take a bullet
for T.J. Yeah, but you wouldn't give up a lung.
You wouldn't even give a lung. Oh, I'm sorry. We're all
going to do the same thing. Oh, I'd like to
we're all going to do that. Okay.
Great Tiffany. You're saying, hey, listen.
Is it the thought of the show?
That's where we got to hit different angles here.
College football playoffs needs to be represented.
That was his second. Yours was great.
Yours was great. There's is 100%
accurate. Again, another money thing.
Why, we're not going to get it. We all know that.
But if you want to, that is what
it should be without question you're the man jage is he got he's going to play i mean
we'll see i mean he's still working through it man still still still day by day still day
can we give him uh if you need somebody talk to him yeah we can we can have a zoom call with
him we'll talk to him number yeah he may fall if you need yeah he's he's a big talker he's a
huge media he loves media he does no i didn't mean he does lots of press no he's a couple
He's a couple of buddies talking.
Hey, what's up, me?
I'll have some smoke.
You know, Tyne will come in with a whiskey.
We'll be on the same Zoom link.
We'll just be talking if he needs us.
And then we'll be motivating his lung to come back to full.
You know what I mean?
That'll be the goal of the whole thing.
They might not have you.
They're in a situation where if the Ravens lose it on Saturday,
they can red.
It's over.
How's it?
How do we feel?
We feel good.
I'll feel a lot better when I know who's playing quarterback on Saturday.
Because we got both current quarterbacks are banged up.
Love was limited, right?
Yeah, but he's in the king.
Malik Willis said he will be ready to go on Saturday.
Don't even think about calling Philip Revers.
They got Clayton Tune on the practice squad,
and if it comes down to it, you're going to be seeing him on Saturday.
Love that.
All right, James.
Merry Christmas, buddy.
Hey, guys.
Merry Christmas.
What game are you calling?
I am calling the Seahawks Panthers.
Awesome game.
I've got a great game.
One of the few.
Very awesome game.
It's kind of a shit of late.
Very excited.
Kind of a shitty slay.
Yeah, it's like it all got worked because of Sunday night football
flexed out the game that CBS was going to have,
and they put the Sunday night football game back into Fox,
so we got this game.
I don't know how it all worked out.
Very happy to have Seahawks Panthers.
Very excited.
We're happy you're on the call, too.
We can't wait to listen to you, brother.
You're the man.
Ladies and gentlemen,
and also, I believe he was a surprise friend of the program on Quismas yesterday
if he would have been needed.
No way.
Dude, I was waiting by my phone.
That's on VA.
waiting.
BA was just crushing questions.
I had to show one.
I had to turn it off because as you talked about earlier with your A&M yellow leaders with your F-bomb,
the show was not quite prepared for my three-year-old.
What?
Luck.
I'm saying luck.
So I was going blind on the questions.
I was trying to cheat.
I was trying to see the questions ahead of time and then Google it if you ever called me.
Didn't happen.
Sat by my phone for a half hour.
That's why you're the greatest, Judge.
You're the man.
Ladies of gentlemen, JJ.
Okay, let's take a break on the other side.
We're going to speed round the picks for the weekend for the entire slate
because we're off the next two days before a wonderful holiday weekend.
Christmas Day is going to deliver in a big way,
even though the slate is potentially shite whenever it comes to ripple effects of the outcomes of the games.
It's also a bunch of superstars playing football on Christmas.
Let's enjoy this.
Let's enjoy all of it.
Football.
He is awesome.
That's AJ Hawk.
He said, listen, we got holiday photos.
Just give me the haircut that I've always had.
Yeah, I tried to do the thing.
Just give me what I've always had.
Okay, I would like to look the exact same way that I've always looked
before I decided to try to kind of make a little bit of a change.
Everybody noticed, by the way.
I didn't think anybody was going to nose.
Everybody noticed.
Just give me what I always have had.
Age, you look fantastic on this Christmas Eve.
Merry Christmas to you and all.
the Hawkers.
Merry Christmas.
Oh, you guys.
You guys look great as well.
How about Sam?
So good.
I cannot imagine.
I've never tried playing the violin or fiddle.
I would imagine that's very difficult.
He got booked 20 minutes before you saw him.
He happens to live about 10 minutes away.
So you do the math.
As he was walking here, shout out Zito finding him.
As he was walking, we had a conversation before the show.
If we could find some sort of Carol or the Bell's performance, we would do that.
Zito found somebody.
he said, hey, God, God, I think he can come
do Carol the Bells on a violin. Would you be willing to pay
him this amount of money? We countered
with an amount of money. I guess the agreement
takes place. Then all of a sudden we see
him walking in here during the break. He has
no idea what's going on. Obviously,
I go to the bathroom, I come back out.
I go, hey, we're about to be live. You're standing in middle of the stage
here, bud. What's that? Yeah, 10
seconds. We're right here. Carrow of the Bells,
you got it? He goes, yeah, just which
camera's that way. Cameras that way. We're about
to be like, four, three, two. And for him just
the right into it.
I mean, no flubs fucking send it.
Allegedly, once Sam walked off stage here and we celebrated him an hour or two actually
began just as soon as he's done, we run the intro, we tell him, thank you so much.
Let's take a photo real quick.
Yeah, we're live again.
The fuck out of here.
We're alive.
Basically, that's kind of how it goes.
And then he walks off.
And then I guess right over there, he goes, were we live for that?
And Zito was like, yeah, he did great or whatever.
And then Zito obviously does the shuffle out.
So that guy was in here for, we paid him well, by the way.
Merry Christmas to him.
And thank you to him for being able to be that nimble or that quick.
At home of his family, potentially, sees a DM.
Do I want to go pick up a quick?
Yeah, I think I do, actually.
Let me go ahead and nail this.
He crushed it.
Yeah, he did.
Professional.
That's what's all about, isn't it?
That's the holiday season.
Magical moments.
It's all about it.
Toxic tables here at Boss Conner and at Ty Schmidt.
Ty, you can provide a magical moment for one half of the hammer.
Don!
Cowboys.
AP tone.
Dressed up in a full Grinch onesie today.
Yeah, it looks awesome.
Awesome.
Incredible.
I'll tell you what, wearing white sweats is an aggressive move.
I would never be able to.
The green was sold out.
But I'm just saying, like, I understand.
So you have the same thought I had as well.
Yeah, that's it.
I think you look good.
Thank you.
I walked in here this morning.
I saw you wearing the all white.
I was like, oh, he's wearing a costume.
I didn't know what it was.
And then I saw you kind of move a couple different times.
I'm like, oh, a Grinch fit here.
I like, you really, you outfitted everybody here.
Thank you.
I believe they say you threw a fit.
And now, granted, AJ shows up, you know, with Christmas vacation right there on his chest,
so we're very thankful.
I wore green today, as you see.
As did Ty, Ty, tried to mix in a little bit.
You, you want, what's throwback?
Christmas sweater.
Got it.
Yeah, I thought, I assumed we were doing Christmas sweaters.
Bad assumption.
I did have a difference one that might have, color might have worked a little better.
But I just figured, why would I abide by some stupid color?
Hey, big game last night for the bees.
I saw two massive scraps and tilts to start that entire thing with Montreal.
I love everything about that.
Yeah, the bad boy Bs are back.
Unfortunately, they lost six to two.
This is three seconds into the game.
Three seconds into the game.
I don't know what happened.
Who did what?
Are we trying to build the rivalry back?
Let's fight.
Yeah, Bruins Canadians is probably the oldest American Canadian team rivalry.
A lot of people obviously have the Battle of Alberta or whatever the fuck it's called up there in Canada.
But Bruins, Canadians, both original six teams.
huge rivalry, and it is back.
This Bruins team not supposed to be that good.
They've kind of become bullies again, which is incredible.
And then the Canadians, very good teams.
They threw down right away.
And these aren't the big boys.
The big boys came later.
The big boys put on their big boy pants.
This is seven minutes later.
The big boys said, you know what?
Center ice, I'll see you there.
Ding, ding, ding, and they get after it.
Yeah, Zadorov and X-E-A-H-U.
There it is.
Jay, not a you
Jay, they battled
Yeah, look at 6-4-2-40, 6-7-255
Just throwing Mitz, man
I mean, that's what it's all about
Just chucking knucks
If you ask me, hey, what do you want for Christmas?
It's me and my brother
Underneath the Tree doing that shit
Which is still the play for them all.
Okay, well, I hope you win.
I hope you're the...
I won't.
I don't know who won that
because obviously Zedorav ends up on top
but Ziz...
X-E-A-A-A-H-H-H-
He's called him Wi-Fi.
That's what the boys call him.
Okay, Wi-Fi got some in there.
I mean, he was Bluetooth-connected.
Oh, like Ashford.
Yeah, he certainly was.
So I'm proud of the boys getting after it.
I like good scrap.
This is something to hockey has that no other sport,
especially in 2025 has, where it's like, yeah,
fights are good for the game.
They're good for the environment.
They're good for momentum.
They're good for a team.
They're good to set a tone.
They're also good to send a message from one team to the other
what they're about.
Like, they respect fighting.
And also, the refs have fuel for game.
Like, the refs have fuel for game.
Like, the refs have fuel.
for game. There is makeup calls in hockey
and they just kind of like naturally understand
that. There's some things of the hockey
culture that are far superior than every other sport.
Yeah, I believe that's second one and
also the first one because right off the tip, it is
one of those things like, hey, give me
the honor of this fight. You know,
Rupper has been on here
front of the program, Mike Rupp, Stanley Cup champion
about how Zadano Chara, legend
for the Boston Bruins, 6-9,
Beast, basically would ask him like,
please give me this fight, like
do me the honor of this fight. And both of those
felt like that, you know, one to
start in the other, like, okay,
our smaller guys, one at the beginning.
We are the big and force
or no one wants to fight us on both teams.
Like, let's throw down and set it. Let's go ahead and let people know
that this is a robbery. Yes. Yeah, let's
go ahead and let people know what this is about. I
enjoy that from hockey. And hockey season's
going to be electrifying. Don't look
it now. Cindy Crosby's scoring more and everybody
else. Is that right? Yeah, it is. Pens are about to
win a fucking Stanley Cup. I know we lost yesterday,
but Penns are about to win the Stanley Cup.
Stu Skinner? Oh, yeah.
SS. There was like two, three
different times where our defense was seemingly non-existent
and they were just breakaway after breakaway after
breakaway in the middle of games, which shouldn't
be happening at the rate in which it was happening.
So I'm stacked pads a couple of times.
Oh, yeah, butterfly style. No, no.
Complete opposite. He was actually just laying on his side
like the fucking nutcracker.
Laying tall. Yeah, laying tall. Yeah, he was.
He was laying tall and playing big
out there. It was good to see Stu kind of get used to his
game a little bit. Similarly, every time he's in that,
there is a lot of goals, but I see him
make some safe. Oh, yeah. I see him make
saved so got to get that figured
how many more games in a hockey season
Nick how far into the hockey season are
we right now feels like we still got some good
time to go that's a good question
let's look right guys there's quite
a few to go so 38 39
maybe 35
at the season yeah we got it right
most I'm seeing right now games played is 38
so we got at least
44 more to go
perfect timing we got we got some time still
yeah we got some time so how's Detroit
you guys still a hockey team or no if you look at the
top of this list right here pat the red wings are in second they're in first in their division they're
on absolute fire right now and uh just the other day they sent me this cool jacket and a cool box
of all sorts of goodies because they're a first class organization i think the pen said yours is on
the way okay they're calling that cool in boston they're calling it something else fox
what are they calling it you don't want to know they're saying it's red i think is what they're saying
how red it is that is a great jacket though and i appreciate that they sent that alongside some
videos reliving the glory days of
Detroit, it was black and white.
100 years of hockey town.
Yeah, the box had its LED screen
on it with all these throwback videos
of them winning so many Stanley Cups
because it's hockey town there. And they're all the way
back. They won last night. They beat gumpy
stupid Dallas stars in overtime.
It was awesome. Glad glute.
Okay, so riddle me this, because I know
you were talking about Stevie Y, coming
back to Detroit and creating a winner. Is that
now coming to fruition in Detroit?
I sure hope so, because there are a lot
his team though? Yes, it's still his team
and there are a lot of fans in Detroit that are fed up
with it. I'm not because Stevie Y
could do no wrong. I'm not because they send
me this jacket in a box
two days ago. That certainly helps.
And growing up, hockey was like the coolest sport
of all time when he grew up in Michigan because
of Stevie Y and all the boys.
So, yeah, we're looking good.
Yeah, but you can't skate. That's the thing
about Foxy. No, he can't skate. He's a bender.
He actually one time did post his video.
Look at me skating guys. It's so cool.
I mean, his fucking ankles are
sideways. It is classic
like, oh, okay, that's a guy
who doesn't know fucking shit.
Yeah, this is all lies. You go
up in Michigan, where it actually
gets cold, not like Indiana, not like
Pittsburgh, where all the lakes and all
the ponds are frozen. Well, I was
skating on three rivers growing up, brother.
Okay, you don't know what it's like to
to work and
then hop over a dead body. You guys
could never do that. You know this
entire All-Star Skills Challenge
that they're doing for McJesus.
workouts. That's what we're doing off the bottom
of bodies whenever we're skating on the river
growing up. Just take a look at all the
NHLers from the state of Michigan
right now currently playing. Okay, that's
because we're playing on ponds, we're playing on lakes
all the time growing up.
Yeah, you got no dangles.
Yeah, yeah. Speed, dangles,
you name it. Physicality,
I'll admit, I might need a goon
on my side, so I'm not going to do a lot
of physicality. But I'll do everything else
for the team. Did you actually grow up playing
pond hockey?
Yeah, I played pond hockey.
I actually played hockey until I basically had to choose basketball or hockey, and I chose basketball.
So on that note, we play a lot of deck hockey, ball hockey in Pittsburgh.
We did roller hockey in the summers.
I can't skate for shit.
I can't skate for shit.
I had $5 Friday night free skates.
So awesome.
Gold Mall highway.
So good.
End up in a hospital a couple times.
Not because of me.
Chris Harmon got sliced up.
Sure.
It's expensive.
It's a very tough game to get into.
It's the best.
That is by far.
Growing up, like people would go sledding,
pawn hockey is the greatest.
It's awesome.
Leaving the morning, come back in night.
See, I've never, I've never experienced the pond hockey day.
Is it like an apprae skater?
Are we having beers up there?
The whole time.
Yeah, you're drinking the whole time?
Oh, yeah.
It's fantastic.
You go out like 10, and you're probably leaving out like four or five.
Oh, it's perfect time.
And you're new.
Oh, so it's a day drinking?
Yeah, and you're fucking nude.
You are fucking scent, my life.
Is there any frozen ice fishing?
happening around? Anybody get digging any holes in
this thing on the sides? Or is this just strictly
hockey operation? Probably in Michigan because that's some dumb
shit to do while everyone's playing pond hockey,
but I'm not sure.
We've been ice fishing in Minnesota.
Yeah, fun, right? Worst thing ever.
Oh, it is.
I grew up ice fishing. It sucks ass.
It's the worst.
Why can't you catch big fish? Why is it only
those tiny four-inch fish that fall about those baby holes?
How big of a hill? A hole are you going to
do? I guess it is
the size of the hole, depending upon
the size of the fish that you i don't know it's not though if you even if i say i drew a little
hole and i drop some bait down there if a big old monster comes in then i'm just like i need to
expand that hole to pull them out of there is there something about hibernation for the big ones
and then the little ones still swimming where it's frozen i always thought you could still
catch big ones and ice fish well i did certainly i just never see oh you did yeah i mean
you saw that thing i pulled out i did they're still talking about today oh yeah all the trophy
fishes are you know warm water yeah because soft fish they know marlins up in some
Blake. What did I pull out of her?
A tuna.
A what? Guppy. Yeah.
No. I think it was.
No. I think the fucking guy who ran the thing we were in went to Walmart
beforehand and just grabbed a bunch of them and dumped them down the hole and said,
these guys will catch it within the next two hours. We'll be good.
I almost didn't.
I know. I know. The shot clock was running very low.
It was the last cast. If you do recall, it was last cast. I'm getting out of here.
Fucking A. I don't think I'll do that everywhere again.
No. No. Never.
It sucks.
Yeah, it was not good.
I've never done the ski life, really.
Skiing is also in grass.
Those are the two things.
I feel like in the Northeast, it is very prevalent growing up, at least.
I heard it's good for families, too.
Like my daughter has something to do.
Like, it is a wintertime skiing thing.
Boyce Park, I guess there were people that snowboarded and skiing and stuff.
I didn't really get into it much.
I did the tubing.
Were you a snowboard god over there?
Yeah.
Is that what you, you were checking passes?
Totally boards.
It was the best gig.
You worked half hour at the,
the bottom of the slope, half hour at the top,
making sure people didn't fall off and get on, stuff like that.
And then you had an hour off where you could snowboard and ski.
So it was the best job for high school kids.
And then you're down there at the lodge, acting like you're running the show.
Yeah, free churros, yeah.
Hey, slow there.
Every time I went to everybody that worked there from Plum, Penn Hills, Minroville,
it was at East Hills of Pittsburgh, basically Haven,
which we all know more about that part of town now.
So we understand what that was like.
There's a lot of, you know, alterations that took place at this particular.
Everybody that had the badge that they worked there really felt like they were walking
around like snow gods and i assume you did utilize that position of power as well yeah good food
in the lodge yeah if i do recall something about eating and drinking while skiing like the food's better
the drinks better it is what about tomorrow what's the big one uh for christmas christmas eve or
christmas ham stuffing right that's the big is everybody doing that the seven fishes tonight
for the italians i believe you guys have going on seven fishes are tonight uh normally start off with a
with a shrimp scampy
stuff like that
and then move through the night
it's a delightful
scampy
shrimp scampy
that's like I guess
that is one of the fishes
huh
well that's how we counted
as one
are you guys gonna be
eating what I
what I pull out there
guppy
you guys gotta have any
fried guppy
probably not
that's probably the final one right
the seventh one
I don't know
I have to check
with coach
series too
what's what fishes are there
swordfish salmon
sword fish salmon
Nick what are the fish
tilapia
lobster mac
oh that
counts as well?
Calamari.
Yeah.
Oh my God.
Calamari.
He's our fishes, man.
Yeah, it sounds like you guys are eating American fish.
Standard fish universe.
Caesar dressing counts because it's got anchovies.
That's fucking Mickey Mouse.
No, I wouldn't count that, but...
I didn't know we're doing mac and cheese counts with the lobster mac in there.
I guess it makes sense because that is fish technically is in there.
Is it?
Any seven things you can pull out of water, basically.
Oh, I like that.
He eaten dead bodies?
Good.
seven fishies you know so that fucking rat
we got one of the art let's do some picks
shall we a j there was a mistake
on last week's scoring
you and I actually ended up tying
oh we end up tying
did we
yes hey whoa
I don't like the way
you talked about that
okay I don't like the way that
that kind of went down
and to be clear
I found it to be a little sketchy as well
to find that out a few days later
but on that note
New York ruled in, and we had a tie last week.
So 6-8-2 is my current record against you.
We got two weeks left.
So guess what, H?
This could be 8-8-2,
and we go into the off-season knowing that you and I saw it the same exact way.
And that's what good teammates were all about.
Let's get to the picks tomorrow.
Dallas at Washington.
Dallas favored by seven.
Who do you like?
How do you like it?
AJ was 66% of the bets on the Cowboys.
Man, this is tough.
I picked Dallas last week and got rocked on that.
picked, but you know what, I'm sticking with him.
Give me Dallas minus seven. I'll take the Dallas Cowboys
as well. Detroit Lions favored by
seven and a half traveling into
school country. Wemby
won't be there, but there'll be a great clap.
Just saw that the Vikings have shut down
Christian Darrisaw, starting left tackle,
who's paid a bunch of money. He's done for the year.
Okay, we don't want to hurt him going into the offseason.
We know what it is. And Max Brosmer.
Okay.
He's playing.
Take a look at his number. I thought they shut him down.
No, no, no, no. Save him for the office.
He has to be shut him.
His numbers were very good in their win last week.
What were they?
Against the Giants.
I think they're like seven of nine for 63, something like that.
Kevin O'Connell can do whatever he wants with the quarterback position.
AJ, seven and a half for Detroit.
I mean, Detroit needs to win this game, obviously.
Give me Detroit here, minus seven and a half.
Feels like a lot of points, but give him, give me Detroit.
I'll do the same.
In Denver, 13 and a half against Kansas City.
We all like Denver.
The team's leaving the state.
And Chris Albuquerque is the chief's quarterback.
Who?
Chris Aluton.
He was a Steeler's seventh round.
pick out of South Dakota State, two-time
Super Bowl champion.
A luacone?
A ludic, O-L-A-D-U-N, I believe?
O-S?
Not sure.
Oh, I don't know. I don't know. Not sure if he is an Oos,
but one of the things from this week
people were going nuts about with Kansas City was
they didn't do an injury report because they just didn't do
practice that day. They just skipped it.
Andy Reed. Thank God.
Nothing matters now, right? We just lost their Titans.
I'm meeting a family afterwards. I never met him.
Three of the teams playing on Christmas Day
we'd be down on a third string quarterback.
The commanders will play Josh Johnson.
The Vikings will play Brazmer,
and the Chiefs will play Chris Oloidocoon.
Okay, sounds good.
So Denver, minus 13 and a half age?
Yeah, give me Denver right there on that one.
Okay, we're all seeing it the same way.
Houston Chargers,
Chargers favored by two and a half at home,
over under 39 and a half.
Almost 60% of the bets are on Houston,
just at 57%.
Anything else we need to know about this game?
This feels big.
Yeah, very cool.
that was that C.J. Strouds only had, what,
a four-game win streak two or three
times in his life in both
times was ended by a Jim Harbaugh coach team.
And that was Ohio State heading to Michigan.
AJ, Houston, or the
Chargers, two and a half to spread?
I think this is the time that
C.J. Stroud breaks that whole curse
on that. So give me the Houston, Texans.
I'll ride with you. Baltimore.
Green Bay. Baltimore.
Getting three
against the Packers who were receiving
63% of the bets. 8 p.m.
Eastern on Peacock. Go ahead.
Lamar, no.
so he's probably not going to play that's his thing yeah but that's his thing when
they play on Sundays yeah Lamar Jackson back contusion was the only Ravens player
missing in Wednesday's practice Ravens have their field a final on field workout tomorrow
time is running out for a return says Jonas Schaefer he's
Jonas Schaefer's talking about the urgency here there's a lot of urgency here in this
game's on peacock people are going to be pumped about that Baltimore getting three
AJ who do you like how do you like it who's playing
quarterback for Green Bay? Do we know? They were both
limited in practice. Again,
like these, the concussion
things, guys haven't been able to come back
a week later, so I don't know if
Love's going to be able to, and then
Malik Willis was banged up, and
he basically said, like, hey, if it comes
down to it, I will be ready to play on Saturday night.
AJ? Okay, well,
maybe put a guardian cap on Jordan Love, but
give me Green Bay here, minus three. And he took a massive
shot. Yeah, big time. I mean, that was a
old school CTE era
of football shot, right to
face and then landed on him too
and I appreciate he
he's a dog it feels like
by all the sense so maybe he is able to get through the
protocol quicker than most in this particular year
I'll take the Packers as well we're seeing it the same age
maybe this is the one where we go absolutely
perfect let's go Seahawks Panthers
JJ Watt on the call
Seahawks favored by 7
in Carolina huge game for the playoffs
here yeah it is minus 7
does feel like a lot for the Seahawks on the road
give me the Carolina Panthers here
most games as an underdog this season the Titan
have had 15. The Giants have
had 14. The Jets have had 13.
The Panthers also 13.
Panthers plus 7 at Seahawks
here, says Hembo. Merry Christmas.
Happy holidays to Hembo. We appreciate everything he's done
for us this year and also the Quismus
questions yesterday. You like the Seahawks?
I like the Panthers here.
Plus seven.
Me too. Steelers, favored
by three against Cleveland Browns going into
Cleveland. Game obviously
might mean nothing.
depending upon what happens in the Ravens Packers game.
Steelers favored by three with 75% of the bets in Cleveland.
Steelers have voted well in Cleveland.
Miles Garrett could get the record, though, against Pittsburgh Steelers,
which would be obviously gigantic.
Anything else that we're missing?
No, nothing at all except for TJ Watt back at practice.
I assume he's still not going to play, but he is back in practice.
A certain outside linebacker has resumed practicing for the Steelers,
says Joe Roder from the Trib.
No, he's not paying your 11 bucks to get to play.
blue checkmark, okay, Elon?
I'm fucking journalist, I can't be bought.
So shout out to Joe Rudder doing that.
And for his dedication to city working for the Trib Dyer.
Oh, and D.K.'s out.
Mecca.
Yeah, not just this week, the next one.
Oh, yeah.
And out of guarantees as well.
Yeah.
But the Steelers have said they are going to honor that move forward.
Yeah, they said that.
We'll see how it all goes.
We hope the best for everybody.
He drops a pass round one.
He won't.
Age?
Give me Steelers on the road here.
Me as well. Cardinals taking on the Bengals.
Joey Burrow, fresh off an ass beating of the Miami Dolphins.
He looked very good, and he said, this is what it's about.
When I'm rehabbing and not playing football, I'm miserable.
Okay, when I'm playing football and it's going well, I'm happy.
He basically addressed the entire I'm happy.
I'm not happy situation about his future.
Bengals played their best ball last week.
Do you think that continues here with the Cardinals traveling in?
Yeah, I don't know who the ruler of the jungle is in Cincinnati,
but I'm going to take the Bengals either way.
Yeah, me as well.
And we're all, hey, this might be the week.
Here we go. Can't wait. Undefeated.
Patriots, Jets, Patriots getting 81% of the bets against the Jets.
What is the normal outcome between Patriots, Jets, late in the season?
We just piss on their face and kind of celebrate, except for last year.
I'll take the Patriots, AJ.
Patriots, Patriots for me as well.
Buccaneers, Dolphins, this one feels too easy.
Give me the dolphins plus five and a half down there in Miami.
Are you taking the dolphins or taking the bucks?
You said this one feels too easy.
I thought you were going bucks, so I'm taking bucks here.
That's what I did mean, which immediately made me go, all right, I guess I'll go the other way here.
Five and a half doesn't feel like enough for the bucks.
So this one feels to me.
This one smells to me. This one is a little bit stinky to me.
I did see a stat. I can't remember who it was from, but in situations like this where the one team has to win or whatever to improve their playoffs or get into playoffs,
there's a team that has nothing to play for, the team that has nothing to play for is actually covered 60% of the time.
I'll take the dolphins plus five and a half. Quine yours, hey, this guy can't.
and leave the train station later and get there
at the same time. I saw the tweet
last night. I saw the tweet last night.
Jacksonville Jaguars
traveling into a hostile.
Hall. Yeah.
Lucas Oil Stadium.
Fresh off, a master class by Phil Rivers.
Yeah.
Now, defense can't get a stop.
Plus 3,000 odds right now to make
the playoffs, Indianapolis Colts.
Pretty good. A lot of things have to happen. One of them is
beat the Jacksonville Jaguars who are hotter than they've
ever been coming in to Lucas Oil. And also motivated because I don't want to say that they're
saying that we are talking shit about them, but they're basically saying everybody seemingly
talking shit about him. And they can certainly utilize clips from our particular program to
signify that. So maybe we're not good that I am a Colts fan. And maybe these teams are using
a lot of motivation from what I'm saying. I haven't even really thought. They'd be very
narcissistic of me to think that I matter that much. But in the current world that we're in right now,
with bulletin board material
and us being considered national media
the things that I say
hyping up Colts teams
during weeks of games
I think if their coach
was to be somebody
that pulls clips
from national media
and shows teams
we could have potentially
been motivating some teams
I think there's a chance
that maybe we're part of the problem
so I'd like to say this
is Jacksonville Jaguar's team
God they're so good
Trevor Lawrence is flying around
looks like goddamn stallion out there
William Cohen's lost so much weight
Oh, my God.
He knows that it was always wrong.
It was always supposed to be do.
Oh.
Shod Khan, this guy, not only best mustache in history.
Guy created a bumper saves all our lives.
Thank you to him.
But also, he's a visionary.
I mean, he has been seeing this for a long time.
And they've been talking about it for a long time.
Yeah, exactly.
I mean, he looked at this, and this is what they envisioned in January.
Okay.
We're going to do it in September, in October, and November.
And now we're doing it in December.
we're going to do it in January
Probably even February
What?
February?
And then after February
You know what's after February?
What's that?
This is going to last forever!
There's a chance.
Yeah, yeah.
We were mocking a little bit there in September and October.
Had to.
But boy, with what they're playing and how they're playing right now,
this Jaguars team, Jaguars team is actually
unbelievable, a real buzzsaw.
I don't think a lot of people want to play them in playoffs.
but on that note I'll take the Colts plus six and a half of course
age who do you like how do you like it yeah I mean on that note especially hearing
you know reminiscing over what Sean Khan how he rallies the troops
I will take the Jacksonville Jaguars in the lot has
yeah I am sorry I think Phil you know what I think Phil continues
the role I love what he's doing but this Jaguars team is really putting together
what the fuck happened to our defense I mean we literally
scorners take you took a couple of wrists and
And all of them fucking ate shit is really what happened, unfortunately.
But hey, look, got good young pieces still.
Just need to figure out that quarterback position.
Maybe a couple other pieces on defense, maybe a couple other pieces on offense, and you're there.
Next year's your year.
We got some tradable parts.
Oh, yeah.
Okay?
We're out of picks for a long time.
We're out of picks for a long time.
We don't really have a lot of assets.
We've paid everybody, basically.
but we got opportunity for other teams
to potentially get really good players
in their prime to give us
an opportunity to potentially build for a future
if that's what we're trying to do or
we like our guys. There's a chance we try to get
healthy for next year. Yeah, I think you guys
like your guys. You've always
like your guys and I think that's
one of the things that a lot of Colts fans have
issues with. I'm sick and fucking
tired of hearing we like our guys
and then not making the playoffs.
Yeah, what about that guy? Plus 3,000
real quick. Still got a chip in a chair.
Phil Rivers knows that.
He's going to go get it.
I can't believe you're taking the Jags
minus six and a half in the Loudhouse.
I thought you knew a ball age.
Well, you do got to think they just went into Denver,
which is pretty hostile, and they won't 41-17.
He just kind of beat the shit out of one of the best teams in the NFL.
And Phil Rivers is like, hey, I'm throwing it here to the defense.
No, no, no.
D. Winters said he just knew what he was doing because he called Orlando earlier.
And we talked ad nauseum at the beginning of the show,
how it feels like they've turned Philip
Rivers microphone up louder than every other quarterback in the NFL, maybe in the history of
quarterbacks because they know how funny he is. It's like, well, actually, you're giving way our
entire fucking thing, that whole world. That's charming. AQ walks in a building and goes, I know
all of Phil Rivers checks. And it's like, okay, that's good. He's been in building 13 days.
Now he's got to redo all of his checks. Okay, I'm sure that'll help out. I'm sure everything's
good. Age, I don't like what they're doing to us. That's why back's against the wall,
chip in a chair. Still a chance to make the playoffs. See, here's me adding.
It's a board material.
Yeah, exactly.
A very good Jackson for Jaguar's team.
Loses to the Coltses.
What?
Wow.
Yeah.
Do I know really anybody on the roster?
No.
Phil Rivers.
I know him, yeah, I'm a fan of him.
Boom.
I don't know.
Do we know him really?
I mean, we know them all enough to.
I don't think we have a relationship with anybody on the team at this point.
Do he?
Tyree.
I know that's Pacers.
Yeah, exactly.
The Colts anymore.
Exactly.
Daniel Jones, we had a relationship with.
He's, like, reach out, fan of the program, which we're appreciative of.
Yeah, uh-oh, Chris Ballard.
He's the only one that we do, and it feels like maybe because of that, his days, might be.
No, no, it's not.
We are not the curse of the Colts.
Ah, maybe, I don't know.
I do see a lot of people potentially giving us credit for potentially forecasting everything that's kind of happening here.
But on that note, I would like it to be known, I'm still a believer.
Pitman.
Yeah, we kind of know people, I guess.
When you see him, you said what's up.
So, yeah.
That counts.
Super Bowl at one time.
Yeah, we know these guys.
Hey, Liam, we know more people on your team than we know on Colts team.
So we would like to not be used as motivation against Indianapolis Colts.
We would like this to not be run to the Jacksono Jaguars team.
They won't.
Kalin.
Ownership.
Bingo.
Pete.
Yes, Pete.
Frog tea.
Yep.
Training room.
Yeah.
We're still in there.
Yeah.
Conti.
Stinking.
Chris.
Sting.
We don't really know Shite.
His name's Shane.
Okay, you don't know shite.
Yeah, exactly.
Yeah, you don't know.
All right, let's get to the next one here.
Saints, Titans.
Shuck.
Give me Shuck.
I'll take the Saints.
Give me Cam Ward and the Titans on this one.
Wow.
I think they found something.
Think you may have found a little something.
I like the juice that they had.
I like the energy that they have.
I like the vibes.
that they have huge win over the Chiefs.
I think Saints might have found something, too.
Giants, Raiders, favored by one and a half?
I don't think so.
Give me the Giants.
It's good game.
Who's playing quarterback for the Giants?
Who cares?
Dard if they let him.
I want Russ.
I want Russ in there.
Maybe James L.
Or all three.
Yeah.
At the same time.
Heisman package.
Yeah, so who do you like?
I like the Giants.
This is for a number one pick?
Yeah, loser gets a number one pick.
No meaningless game could mean more.
than what we have this weekend.
It should be something out of football.
It should be something.
Bruce, how do you feel about the game?
Because I heard Coach McCarthy talking to the Giants.
If you've got four ones, you can win a Super Bowl.
And if you've got a young quarterback in the middle of his development,
we would like him to be healthy in the offseason.
Really felt like he was talking to the Giants there.
And obviously Giants fan, Bruce is like, hey,
McCarthy to the Giants really starting kind of scratch where I hitch right here in it all.
What are your thoughts on Dart playing or not playing as a Giants fan?
there was some chatter about shutting him down, but it was kind of alongside the Joe Burrow chatter where it's like, hey, he's better, he's got to go out there and play. So they are playing him, but in our play calling, being very protective. He had six pass attempts in the first three quarters of the game against the Vikings, and we ran the ball 35, 40 times. So while he is playing, it is clear, no design runs, and we're not dropping back to pass much, especially if they're coming zero blitz like Brian Flores was. With all that said, no Brock Bowers kind of handicaps them on,
on their side as well.
So it should be an absolute dog fight.
Both defense is trying and playing well
and both coaches offensively, probably, you know,
working with what they got
and maybe playing a little scared on the giant side.
AJ, who do you like?
I like the Giants here.
Me too.
Eagles, Beals, Beals favored by one and a half at home.
This is, we're talking home field advantage conversation
for Buffalo or either of these?
Yeah, Buffalo's still in it.
Buffalo, they're a game back,
but they could still win.
technically could be a home field advantage so they have a lot to play for
Philadelphia Eagles already win the division they have a home playoff game can they
move up the standings in the NFC much they could but no not a lot needs to happen but
it's it's not that and the bears have the head-to-head tiebreaker against them as they beat
them so so Eagles not much here no bills a lot yeah those a lot limited
participation for Josh Allen and Bill's walkthrough on Wednesday they knew a new
addition not participating is tight-end Dawson Knox with a knee walkthrough limited
What's that mean?
He didn't walk through all the place?
What's a walk through limited mean?
I think it means if they would have a normal practice,
he would have been limited in a normal.
Oh, yeah, we were told that they have to project
if it was a full day, what it would have been.
Is this G-day, Christmas Eve, late in the season?
Maybe, or is this actual issue we shall see?
At this moment, who are you taking?
How are you taking it, AJ?
I'm taking the Buffalo Beals at home and minus one to half.
Me as well, and then Bears, Niners, Sunday,
football, Niners, favored by
three, that's good football team.
Oh, yeah.
I just watched them live, that's good football
team. You're on the flip side, Chicago Bears?
That's good, tough football team.
This is a great Sunday night football game. We're
pumped and excited about it. AJ, who do you like?
How do you like it? Yeah, I mean, I don't know
if George Kiddle is going to play how he is doing,
but either way, I am taking
the 49ers on this one. Me as well,
I will take the Niners favored by three.
And remember, the Niners can still get the number one seat
in the NFC if they went out. So there's a lot
to play. Not that the Bears don't have a lot to play for it, but
The Niners can literally have a home game all the way to Super Bowl and through Super Bowl if they win out.
So a lot on the line for Brock Purdy, who was dealing on Monday night, fresh off of five touchdowns.
Man, Brock Purdy, well, I know Brut was B.A. saying, you're doing a little, like, how his ball kind of, you know,
if those are two or three ball, as you hear these guys talk about on TV.
But, yeah, his, like, anticipation is what sets him apart.
I think he's awesome.
Yeah, and that things, you know.
Deadly accurate.
He's playing battleship.
You know when you sit on, you know the game Battleship
where you're saying, like, C-7 or whatever?
That is literally what he's doing.
He's launching it over the thing.
You can't see where it is,
and it's just hitting exactly where he needs it to go.
It is, you're watching a master at work
whenever you're watching him live.
And now, granted, was that the Colts defense?
No, partially.
They didn't fucking punt Thomas Moorstead's last morning
in a football game.
Yeah.
potentially last Monday that football game
I messed up
zero punts
his whole family was in
everybody was in town
it was good game for
it's Brock a bad teammate
he held a lot of perfect
extra points
perfect
and that fucking guy
was hit from 64
yeah
Ed Pinnero
I didn't know he could do that
I saw Ed walk out on
he can actually
it was 64 yarder
and I was like
there's no way this fucking
let's get a returner back
yeah let's go ahead
and try to steal one here
Eddie Piniero is going to hit from 64
the record was
63 just like 10 years ago.
Eddie Peneiro, not known for a big leg, obviously
incredibly accurate. He lines up from 60
fucking 4. This guy almost makes it.
It's an inch away from going through it.
It's so close. We didn't have a returner back there.
Okay.
Let's not like there, guys. Let's get to a break.
Shut up.
It's not how we're going to Christmas.
Okay. They knew Eddie had it. They knew Eddie had it.
And I'm impressed by it. That was a great kick.
Just like groupie hitting from 60.
Incredible.
In Seattle, it's like, yo, I did not know that was possible.
I made eye contact with him.
I was like 60, and he gave me one of these.
This little guy's got Moxie.
Kickoff, he fucking full send body in air.
I saw that actually.
You see a little body floating through.
And he fucking got tossed around and then he fucking got up
and then jogged off to the side of like, this guy runs sprints to keep warm on his side.
And you just watch him, it's like, I fucking love this guy's Moxie.
I really do because he's doing more.
than most kickers, but also it is very obviously he's the smallest guy on the football,
maybe in the history of football. He might be the smallest guy to ever be on an NFL football
field, like for real. You see him out there, and it's like, holy fuck, this guy's small,
and he murders the ball. I have no idea how he's, he's a marvel.
Blake Groupie is a marvel in my eyes, and we're lucky we have him, and hopefully he'll be
around for long haul, but boy, what does the course look like for long haul? What does life look
like for long haul? We have no idea. All we have is this moment and today. We have no
idea what tomorrow's going to bring so let's try to enjoy it all it's the holidays obviously christmas
christmas eve let's go ahead and have great conversations let's go ahead and be thankful for what we
have let's go and bury some maybe to hatch it with some people yeah sure and on that note let's cut
off some anchors new year new you right around a corner somebody sucks go ahead and get them out of
your life don't feel bad you got to look at the mirror every single day and say is this life worth
living it should be because it's a beautiful thing to be alive in general merry christmas to you all
we can't thank you enough for allowing us to do this for a living.
AJ, great work.
Thank you, great work, boys.
Merry Christmas, everybody.
Merry Christmas, everybody.
Shout to Sam Fiddlepour.
Yeah, that's right.
Yeah, great job.
Great job.
All right, we love you all.
Thank you all.
Merry Christmas.
Enjoy your families.
Enjoy ball, and we'll see you on Monday.
Be a friend, tell you something nice.
You might change your life.
We're in this thing together.
Team on me, team on three.
One, two, three.
Team.
Goodbye.
30 for 30 presents boo-ya.
Can I get a witness from the congregation?
You can't stop authenticity.
Boo-ya.
Stuart was exactly like you saw him on-camera, off-camera.
He dialed it up 10%.
Can you imagine the impact of young black boys and girls looking at that going,
I feel seen.
He changed the culture.
He changed sports.
Stream boo-ya, presented by Modelo, right now on the ESPN app.
The NBA is happy.
happening Christmas Day.
Five games, one unforgettable lineup.
That's what Christmas is all about.
Buckets for breakfast, breakaways for dessert.
It's the holiday tradition.
Christmas is all day.
With star power from across the globe.
The stars, they are going to be out.
The best gift, you don't even have to unwrap it.
We want to say Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
NBA Christmas Day begins at noon Eastern on ABC and ESPN.
