The Pat McAfee Show - PMS 2.0 816 - Rick Tocchet, Cameron Dicker, Adam Thielen, Everything DB With Darius Butler LIVE From The ThunderDome, & AJ Hawk

Episode Date: December 21, 2022

On today's show, Pat, Darius Butler, AJ Hawk, and the boys chat about the all the major news stories floating around the NFL right now including Franco Harris passing away last night before he was to be honored for the Immaculate Reception in Pittsburgh, and they clean up some things from yesterday's show. Joining the progrum to chat about what's going on in the NHL right now as well as the Winter Classic is 3x Stanley Cup Champion, 4x NHL All-Star, member of the Philadelphia Flyers Hall of Fame, and analyst for the NHL on TNT, Rick Tocchet (19:22-54:00). Next, Kicker for the Los Angeles Chargers, Cameron Dicker joins the progrum to chat about how this season has gone so far, what his workouts were like before signing with the Chargers bouncing from team to team, what his pregame process is like, and more (1:11:51-1:23:29). Later, All-Pro, 2x Pro Bowler, WR for the Minnesota Vikings, Adam Thielen joins the show to chat about the improbable comeback on Saturday, his relationship with Kevin O'Connell, the outlook on the Vikings moving forward, how many hand signals the Vikings receivers are required to know, and more (2:09:06-2:36:10). Lastly, 9 year NFL veteran at Defensive Back, host of the Man-To-Man podcast, Darius Butler breaks down the best and worst Defensive Back play of the week in Everything DB (2:36:12-3:07:13). Make sure you subscribe to youtube.com/thepatmcafeeshow to watch the show. We appreciate the hell out of all of you. See you tomorrow, cheers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hello, beautiful people. It is winter Wednesday, December 21st, 2022, and this sports show on this holiday week shall start now. Football is doing its thing. Hell yeah. You know, and today the football community is mourning the loss of a man who has a statue at an airport in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, a man who has one of the most recognizable plays in the history of the NFL, a man who represented the city of Pittsburgh until the day that he passed away, the Immaculate Reception receiver, Franco Harris, who's passed away this morning. Now, everybody knows that the big celebration of the Immaculate Reception was literally supposed to happen this weekend, a 50-year anniversary. It's going to be a big deal.

So the timing of it is certainly a weird thing that the world has happened. But Franco Harris, and I do not know enough about his medical history and what was going on. I have no idea if this came out of nowhere or not. But what I do know is the NFL world and the Pittsburgh world will certainly miss him mightily. So we will have him out in silence for Franco Harris. Did he catch it? Yes, Pat.

I don't know. If the review system was in. Did he catch it? Yeah. Damn right. I'm not sure. Called it. I'm a D-butt. I'm a ton it? Yeah. Damn right. I'm not sure. Called it. I'm with D-Butt. I'm with Tony Diggs. Thank you.

I'm not with Conor because what Conor's doing is trying to ruin a moment that Pittsburgh has held in very high regards for a very long time because Pittsburgh is a city that is a gritty, tough city where not necessarily everything goes our way all the time.

So whenever something like that takes place, it is going to be something that's celebrated by all generations that come through the beautiful Yinzer area. So rest in peace to Franco Harris. Here's what Mike Tomlin, actually, before we get to that, let's do Tone Diggs, who is obviously diehard Pittsburgh Steeler fan. Hey, Tone, what are your thoughts on Franco Harris passing away, and what does this mean to you, your family, and future generations of DeJulios? Well, it means a lot to the family for Franco's Italian Army, obviously. I always respect Steelers, who obviously won four Super Bowls, Rookie of the Year, still has a record for most rushing yards in Super Bowls.

But then also when they stop playing, they just stay in Pittsburgh for the rest of their lives, even though they weren't from there. I think that means a lot to users, and it obviously means a lot to people. But Franco was everywhere, and now he was going to be the third person to have the number retired in the Steelers organization, so that means a lot. Not just throwing Harbaugh up there.

Now you need to take shots at Coltrane. Please go back to Franco Harris, who just passed away. The timing, absolutely wild, because of the 50th anniversary this weekend. I assume it's going to be a very emotional scene there, Saturday night, Christmas Eve. But, yeah, RIP to Franco. Obviously, if you fly into Pittsburgh, there's a statue right there, right next to Focus.

You're forced to go there. So whenever you land at the Pittsburgh airport, which is massive because they're supposed to be a U.S. Air hub. Actually, kind of a funny story. U.S. Air almost bullied Pittsburgh into creating this airport for them. Like, hey, if you're able to do this, we'll bring our hub here. We'll bring a bunch of flights here. We'll become our mainstay here. So Pittsburgh had to find a lot of money to build this airport because Pittsburgh wanted to be part of it.

And then, obviously, U.S. Airways filed bankruptcy. And now it's just the biggest fucking, one of the biggest airport, least used airport in the country. Beautiful airport. Huge, massive. Wings, like literally terminals, everything because it was supposed to be this. And then the company that kind of forced Pittsburgh into doing that can't keep their shit right. So they end up going bankrupt. But nonetheless, whenever that airport was designed, as you're all arriving flights to go get your baggage, you have to go down some escalators.

Everybody has to go to the same place, like literally no matter where you're coming from, you're funneling in there. everybody has to go to the same place like literally no matter where you're coming from you're funneling in there as soon as you get to the down one escalator before you get to the next one there's fucking george washington i believe two statues and then right next to george washington franco harris who's bigger than george washington with the immaculate reception and then you got to go down for so even if you're like half asleep or traveling or whatever you get that you have to be awake at the bottom of an escalator right right? And you're forced, basically, to see it. And Pittsburgh's like, welcome, okay? You are in America.

And that was a fucking catch. Check it out. That's basically what it was in Pittsburgh, and that's where Franco Harris has always been, to Pittsburgh. Here's what Mike Tomlin said while talking about the passing of Franco Harris. Just note, he didn't talk about the passing, but here's what Tomlin spoke about Franco Harris yesterday because of the 50th anniversary of the Immaculate Reception.

He's just a special man. Forget the player. Obviously, I never knew the player. I know the man. And just what an awesome representation of this organization, this community, a guy that embraces all the responsibility that comes with being him. I just admire his passion for Pittsburgh and young people. He served a long time on the board with my wife, Pittsburgh Promise,

and his passion for others in this place and the Steelers is unparalleled, and it's to be admired. Well, rest in peace, Franco. All right, Pete. You done good, pal. Made a big-time catch. There it is. Have to see it.

Right back there, Ray Air Road. That's probably coming and going every other year. I see Friday's right behind Franco's ass. You see their stretch. That place ain't going anywhere. No chance. Ten flights out of Pittsburgh, 2,000 flights out of Pittsburgh. That Friday's right there is going to be bumping.

There's a McDonald's also that has like a corner share. Good real estate. Corner office almost. That's never going anywhere in that airport. I have sprinted through this airport a lot back in my day. I enjoy it. You literally have to look at this. If you travel to Pittsburgh, you have to look at this. It was a decision that was made by people, obviously, from Pittsburgh. And never once in the world that we're in did you hear anybody say, why is Frank... What the hell is that doing there? Why is the Immaculate Reception fucking had to be the first thing everybody... Never said, and it never happens, especially with Pittsburgh people.

Pittsburgh people are not scared to say, like, that's bullshit. This was never even thought about, being removed from prime real estate in the airport. And there's a reason, because of this play, and because Pittsburgh is a football town. And I would say that this moment is obviously one that every Pittsburgher is taught. And Madden looks so young. Before he retired to take over the TV world. Bradshaw dancing, prancing, deflection. Scoop, we're scoring a touchdown.

Frank O'Harris is going to have a statue in the airport because of the play that he just made, I believe is what Myron Cote might have been saying at the exact time. The double yoy went to the immaculate reception. Ooh. Catch. Catch. That's catch. Clear catch.

And even if it did touch the ground, the ball didn't move. So depending upon which era of what is a catch, it's good in two out of the three of the eras i think regardless if no other errors uh but congratulations to franco for doing good representing pittsburgh and having a play that will be immortalized forever in the history of the sport and in the city he was a dog when he had the ball uh ran hard and he had a uh what was it an army franco's italian army yeah yeah a bunch hell yeah hell yeah his mother was italian that's awesome a lot of support from the pinky rings around yeah a lot of pinky ring support rest in peace uh darius obviously you've grown up in numerous places i think dad being in the military there for a bit most of it's south florida uh franco harris just

a name synonymous with the nfl I'd assume. Any thoughts on it? And also, great to see you here on this beautiful winter Wednesday, December 21st. Happy holidays. We'll be here winter Wednesday. A winter storm coming as well. Big one. Yeah. Big storm coming, but NFL films, obviously we all grew up

kind of just watching those clips, and that was one of those clips that stood out in your childhood. Not knowing him as a player, obviously too young to watch him play, but been to the Pittsburgh airport plenty of times, seeing his statue, just obviously a great, great player, and sounds like even a better man. There were some things

I think there were some things he might have said. There was some stuff around Paterno. Joe Paterno, that whole Penn State thing. But, to be clear, he had a platform. There was a lot of other Penn State people saying the same, if not a lot worse at the time when it was all going through because that particular cult, and I know there's a lot of those in college,

the Penn State one, and AQ is part of it. Of course. So I literally get to have this conversation with a Penn Stater who's very proud to be a Penn Stater. So any of you Penn Staters that want to joust, I'm cool. I'm ready. You know, like I, cause obviously, you know, we're from the area and everything like that, but the Penn State cult, the reason why it is Penn State and why it's held in such high regard and why everything, those motherfuckers will literally just walk right off of a cliff for Penn State. Not even a

question. Hey, if you need me to fall so that it can maybe soften the blow for somebody else that's coming behind, they would be able to buy in and find it. So in that whole Joe Paul situation, Sandusky thing was all happening, it was very, unless, which it has come out now, and I think all of them

have come around and been like, at the time we didn't know, which it was all being alluded to at the time. Then I think as we've grown older the penn state story has become much more known and like no this is facts this is not facts this is a kind of things like that but at the time yeah franco was not willing to you know turn turn in that and he wasn't the only penn state calder that was not many but he certainly was heard by more people than all the other Penn State coders. And that's a difficult situation for all the Penn State people with what happened with people they don't know.

But Franco has said some things that have certainly drawn some – what's going on? What's that? From us, from Steelers, from everybody. But that's just – it doesn't take away – A little too loyal to Jeff. It's almost like you can sell it as like, well, yeah, he was a loyal to, like there's a way you could say it because everybody that's ever met Franco

and has a relationship with Franco is like fucking love Franco. Franco would do whatever. Franco's superstar. Franco's a statue in the airport and he treats everybody the exact same. So, you know, rest in peace. Love you, Franco. Hell yeah. Hey, congrats.

You did good, Franco. Well done congrats. You did good, Franco. Well done, Franco. You done good, Franco. You got a statue in the fucking airport. Also, right below that statue is a T-Rex skeleton. So, you know, that's basically humanity and the earth in a nutshell. We have dinosaurs, America, and football. Okay, yeah, football, Franco, whatever.

Nick Marotto, obviously, members of his family were in the Franco's Italian Army. He's named after him. Which is basically, yeah, Frank is his dad's name and his name, so we don't know if both of you were named after Franco or not. No, thank you, Pat. Respect to my grandfather and dad. Shout out. Is your grandpa Frank as well?

Yes. So you're the third. Holy shit. Middle name is different, but. Oh, he still should have been calling you Frankie 3. But there is a bit of a legacy there, yeah. What's the point? What?

What's the point of the first name being saved? You're not going to do it for the middle. I want... You're the third. Yeah, he is. You're the third. Fucking Frankie the third. That's right.

F3. I'm okay with it. F3. You like F1? Wow. You think F2 is something? Uh-huh. Wait till you fucking see F3 in motion, man.

Hello, me, D-Buts. Oh, Frankie 3 figures. I don't love that your dad kind of snagged the Frank name from our universe, you know? I'm the only one that calls Nick Frank. I'm the only one allowed to. Well, yes, pretty much. There was no option there for Frank. This one, not his dad. As soon as I found out his name was actually Frank, I was like, I don't have to. Well, yes. There was no option there for Frank. This one, not his dad.

As soon as I found out his name was actually Frank, I was like, I don't have a Frank friend. I know a lot of Knicks. Do now. Do now. I don't know any Franks. Frank's a great name. Yes. So I start calling him Frank, and then I start saying it in the microphone, Frank back there,

and people are like, who the fuck is Frank? It's like, oh, yeah, I'm the only person. Frank's a great name. It is a great name. Unbelievable. Strong name. I didn't know for two, three years that that was his actual name. Frank? Yes.

I didn't know for a while your name was Boston either. Yeah. That was a mind blower. That's just something that I think everyone learns, but also I said Frank after I think you said it and Nick told me, yeah, you can't call me that. You don't say that. You don't say that. You don't say that.

Well, that's because he doesn't want you to disrespect his father or his father's father. Which I understand. In Italian blood, that can happen sometimes, especially coming from the Irish. But, I mean, it's a fantastic game. I don't know why you wouldn't want to go with that. That's Boston Connor at Boston Connor. Next to him at Ty Schmidt, obviously Green Bay Packer owner and super fan. Let's chit-chat about yesterday. Your thoughts on taking on Aaron Rodgers Tuesday.

A lot of blowback yesterday. Yeah, a lot of blowback. A lot of blowback yesterday. Not only from the Aaron Rodgers conversation, from the Chiefs-a-holic thing. Yeah. Got a couple stats wrong. So, like, the Chiefs-a-holic guy, the armed bank robber super fan from the Kansas City Chiefs, The armed bank robber super fan from the Kansas City Chiefs who also have Red Extreme, X Factor, and Helmet Man in their super fandom community over there.

Chiefs-a-holic, guy who dresses wolf, very passionate about the Chiefs. Yeah, he was robbing banks all over the place so he could fund going to these games and being the super fan. Career criminal, parents are criminals brothers criminal has been robbing from people since 2016 getting caught for it in jail in utah multiple times missouri now this one we thought was in texas bixby oklahoma that's right sent me a uh a tweet and they said he wasn't caught in Texas, you fucking asshole. He might have been able to do some shit in Missouri and Utah and everything like that.

He came through Oklahoma one time. We caught him within six minutes in Bixby, Oklahoma. Unbelievable. I love that their police department's flexing. Hey, shout out to Bixby. You're right. That's on us us i wish you guys would have like stamped the we got them the uh the water poster yeah the poster like the the

criminal record you know how people put things on the internet and they put like their name on it yep i wish the bixby police department would have done that with that so we would have been able to give proper credit i must not be able to read those things as well as everybody else i couldn't see where it was well when you got a rap sheet like that you know it's like okay this guy's been arrested here he's been arrested here there's a bunch of like redacted stuff in there too which was kind of weird it's like this guy is a career criminal so i mean very easy to slip up and not realize oh actually the bixby pd did apprehend this guy did you hear about this story i saw bits and pieces so this dude was going to games and robbing people with the same fit Very easy to slip up and not realize, oh, actually, the Bixby PD did apprehend this guy. Did you hear about this story? I saw bits and pieces.

So this dude was going to the games and robbing people with the same fit? So we don't know if the wolf picture from the banks that was being tied to the story is actually him. But wolf mask, pretty prevalent. So we would assume a lot of people have robbed banks in wolf masks. And if you are the wolf guy, why wouldn't you just wear your fit in there? 44 Cal. Gotcha. I need to buy nachos

and fucking 10 beers. 10 beers, front row tickets to watch Patrick Mahomes do his thing. Thank you for doing business. And then back in his car, he runs out like he did on his. He ran sideways. Did you see his run?

Okay, so his run, his arms go directly like this sideways, and then his feet face straight sideways. He's running sideways. Unbelievable. But he's moving pretty good clip. Yeah, ran like a 5'1". And he's tweeting all these. I caught him six minutes.

Well, I think he was caught like actual in the act. Holding the bank up. So as somebody who watches documentaries and has got a chance to chat with some detective from Indiana, which has a lot of small towns, so allegedly these career criminals target these small town banks because there's only like two or three cops. So if you go whenever there's something like busy happening or something's taking place over here you can get in and get the fuck out before anybody even has a clue like there's people that do that and i'm sure there's better security for some small banks uh small town banks than

others so i don't mean to be talking shit on small town banks i understand you are important but allegedly those ones are very gettable allegedly those ones are very easy ones are very gettable. Allegedly, those ones are very gettable for criminals who just have a sense of no conscience and an ability to just walk in with a gun pointed at somebody's face and take money, which allegedly this guy has been able to do, willing to do, and has been doing for years, everybody's assuming. So now they're going to go back and check all the Chiefs away games that he is flexing from and probably go from wherever he lives in Missouri to that game, any towns in between. Because this one's in Oklahoma, so he was driving to the Houston Texans game. Right. And then he just gets back on the road, fucking off to Houston.

And then a day and a half later, the bank teller's watching a Chiefs game. That was the wolf. The one that's sitting front row, yeah, we paid. Our bank paid for that. Same exact hat. Yeah, this is him. I mean, he's flexing.

The Camelot is on this fucking guy for going. Same mask is awesome. We don't know if he did, though. That has not been. The bank picture is. We don't know if he did, though. Yeah. That has not been. The bank picture is. We don't know if that's him. That's what we're saying. It's got to be.

Well, for the sake of the story, definitely him. Definitely is. Sake of the facts that we have right now, we do not know if that's him. We do not know if that. No, not even to offend this fucking guy, because it sounds like he has been a problem for a long time. That's right. Might have wanted to get

out of the life though. Yeah, the sub tweets were definitely something. He wanted to tell somebody the truth. I think personally. Is it the mouth and stuff that's saved?

No, that's a different mask. That's why, yeah. But if he did and just changed his jersey, you know, the Wolf had like a... Went in a Texan jersey.

Had like a Brody Croyle jersey on instead of a Patrick Mahomes one. Yeah, or maybe an Oklahoma had like a Kydy Croyle jersey on instead of a Patrick Mahomes one. Yeah, or maybe an Oklahoma had like a Kyler Murray jersey on. Something comes in there. He waited a long time for the Chiefs to be good. How long have you been on this crime spree? So 2016 was the first time he was arrested, but his parents have been,

I think his parents have been arrested before, his brother's been arrested before. They're heads of the KC mob. I think they're from Utah, too. I don't think they're from... Heads of the Mormon KC mob. I'm not sure if they're Mormon or just happen to live in Utah. Heads of the Utah, potentially Mormon KC mob. So we can say that's a matter of fact right there. Yes.

We can say that is a matter of fact. Sounded like the maybe voice. But we did want to... No, that was a factual voice right there, wasn't it? I don't think that was maybe voice. But anyways, we've got to correct that. It was not in Texas. It was in bixby oklahoma shout out shout out to that cracked steel police force he picked the wrong he picked the wrong small town didn't he that's right now everyone knows hey you go to bixby be careful um there will be other things that we will have to correct we will do that after this conversation and gentlemen, joining us now is a three-time Stanley Cup champion, one as a player,

two times as a coach, current Turner TNT analyst for the NHL, a man who can't wait to chit-chat, I assume, about the winter classic coming up, where the Pittsburgh Penguins, a team that he's multiple Stanley Cups with, is going into

Fenway Park in Boston to beat the hell out of the once good Boston Bruins. Ladies and gentlemen, a man who's hoisted Lordo numerous times. He's been a coach. He's been a player. Now he's an analyst. Rick Talkett. Yeah!

Thanks, Pat. They had actually three times with the Penguins. That's why I love the Pittsburgh city and the team. I got three cups from them. So I owe them a lot. Well, not from them. With a. You were with a.

Hey, you were a big part of that, Rick. Hey, listen. Congrats to you, and thank you for your service to the city of Pittsburgh. Yeah, boy, Rick. Not that I live there anymore, but as somebody that once lived there, especially in the 90s, that first one, that, oh, what a good time it was to be alive. Starter jackets were just coming into the thing the penguins were better than everybody we look so

cool had a blast i appreciate that how's it been like being an analyst you enjoy talking on tv about hockey it feels like with the turner relationship and with the espn relationship and with more games being seen it's continuing to evolve do you feel that do you guys feel like you're on the tip of the spear almost as we're growing the game of hockey on there? Yeah, I kind of like what we're trying to do. You know, hockey's always trying to catch the other major sports, and I think we're going to have a different flavor

on how to try to broadcast it for us, not that old, boring style in the past. I think a guy like Paul Bissonnette really helps our panel to get to the younger crowd and try to get that average viewer who doesn't know much about hockey interested. So I think that's what kind of the philosophy up to you. Listen, Barkley and the boys have kind of set the standard for that show that they do at NBA, so it's kind of a good step in what we're trying to do. Yeah, I think you guys are doing a great job.

Fucking love Biz. Oh, he's the man of the man. Loving him. Go ahead. No, I was just, me and Biz, we worked over taking a steamer, and I was telling him I was going on your show, and he goes, yeah, you know, I can't get to Pat's level on the podcast, but he goes, I can beat him in rough and rowdy,

and he goes, I'll take A.J. Hawk in a mud wrestle. That's what he said. He told me to tell you guys that. Tell him we appreciate that, and I'm spending my life in a steamer. I'm not fucking in rough and rowdy. Don't you worry about that, bitch. And I don't know if you want AJ, though, in a mud wrestle. I'll let him answer that, but

the crew you guys put together, I think has been fantastic. Obviously, bringing Liam over from NBC, right? And then you get Wayne on this fucking thing. And you've played against Wayne, and now you're working alongside Wayno. And I'm from hockey time, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, okay? Been a hockey fan. The Penguins were the only team that my family was able to go see live, right?

So I was a big Penguins fan. Legit. was able to go see live right so i was a big penguins fan i legit so i as a human that is just a shit talker and not really worried about much i've always said it's great that wayne gretzky the number three best player in the history of hockey is in the game getting to talk and everything like that and then everybody in the hockey world goes three and i go well obviously sydney crosby's the fucking best player of all time. Then you got Super Mario, right there under

who you coached, Sidney. And then Wayne, congrats, top three. That's an incredible thing. Then I just learned a stat. I just learned a stat last week or two weeks ago that I should have been informed much earlier. If you were to take away all of his goals scored, all of the goals, points are kept by

second assist, assist, and goals. If you were to get rid of one-third of the stat, he would still be number one all time. Just from the assist and everything like that. And you still got him number three. No, no, no. I want to let you know. You can tell Wayne this. For the last two weeks,

he certainly is the number one player in the world. But what is it about Wayne, you think, that made him? Obviously, the stats are the thing. But what made him so fucking good? And how is he enjoying doing television? Because I think it's big for the sport to have him on one of the main broadcasts all the time. Yeah, you guys will say the same thing.

You're going to score in football. The vision, you know, his ability to slow the game down, he was the master. You know, Puck was going to get to him. He knew where he was going to go with it next. So I guess his vision is just incredible. Yeah, he's just an incredible guy, you know, close friend of mine. And he enjoys doing the TV part. You know, he's a storyteller too, you know, close friend of mine. And he enjoys doing the TV part.

You know, he's a storyteller too, right? He likes telling stories, situational stuff, excuse me, pressure situations, what he did. That's what he really adds to our broadcast. I love asking him the stories. He's a good storyteller. Yeah, and he's the greatest of all time. I mean, in everybody's eyes now. Everybody's eyes now. So him being a part of the product, I think, is good for the greatest of all time, I mean, in everybody's eyes now. In everybody's eyes now.

So him being a part of the product, I think, is good for the league going forward. And the other guy that I said was the number one player you coached, obviously coached alongside Gretzky as well, played against him, and now you're working alongside him on TV. You coached Sidney Crosby, though. What do you see from Sid, and is he the best modern player of all time? Yeah, I mean, he's an incredible guy to coach. I've never seen a drive on a guy.

You know, the season's over. He takes two weeks off. He's in Germany learning new training techniques. Or, you know, he'll study the game at night. I remember as an assistant coach, I remember I was at the dinner with some friends, and I get the text, hey, Toc, did you see that face-off play the San Jose Sharks did tonight? I'm like, well, and I lied. Oh, yeah, I saw it.

We'll talk about it tomorrow. I'm sitting having a steak, right? But that's the sort of stuff. He wants to be coached. You know, great players, sometimes coaches are afraid to coach them. He wants to be coached, and you better know your stuff with Sid. He doesn't give his trust up very easy so you got to make sure you give him some good stuff so but a fabulous guy very superstitious guy too like one of the most superstitious guys I've ever seen in my life yeah yeah Rupert Rupert was pillow talking on that's

hockey talk and he said that if Sid goes into a house through one door, 100% chance he's going back out that same door. Even if you go through like the garage or something and then he goes into the house, you have a gathering, and then maybe he'll go out the front door. No, got to go back out the garage. Like there's a lot of things like that, I guess, that Ruppers said that I did not know, but it makes sense. If you're going to be great, why fuck with anything?

I assume that's not a bad thing. We had one of the two cups we made a run one time. I bought this brand new blue, it was like $1,800 suit, $2,000 suit. And I wore it, you know, and then I wore it again. So we were on the bus, we lost the game.

I was on the bus and he calls me off the bus, right? The guys were on the bus. He pulls me aside and he goes, hey Todd, you know, you can't wear that suit. I go, why? He goes, you're 0-2 with that suit on. I'm wearing the bust, and he calls me off the bust, right? The guys are on the bust. He pulls me aside, and he goes, hey, Todd, you know, you can't wear that suit. I go, why? He goes, you're 0-2 with that suit on. I'm like, okay, man, whatever you – so I never wore the suit for a year and a half. Like, I never wore it again. So finally, when I left Pittsburgh to take the job in Arizona, I started wearing that suit again.

Man, I had a $2,000 suit in the closet for a year and a half. Because Sidney Crosby said we lost with it. So that's the sort of stuff that you do. You'll do anything to win, right? Okay. Winter Classic coming up. The superstitious Sidney Crosby. Number two or three player of all time.

Definitely number one modern. Scored a game winner last night. Thank you, Sid. Thank you, Sidney. I appreciate it. Flat stick, too. We got the hand. We got no worries about that.

He is traveling up to Fenway with a crew that he's played alongside for a long time. A lot of people didn't know whenever this Pittsburgh Penguins team was put back together in the same exact way, basically. New ownership, same exact way. Do they have enough at last year's age, at this age, to go on a run? Now they've gotten hot. I believe we've become the hottest team in the NHL. We're going into the Winter Classic against the Boston Bruins,

who have the best record in the NHL, I believe. Is this a big-time test game for both teams? And what will we learn at this stage of the season that we can take forward when hockey becomes more prevalent in the conversation? Yeah, I had them as my final four at the start of the year. And then they went through that hiccup about, I guess, six weeks ago. They lost about six or seven. My cohorts were giving me crap on the air, and I said,

listen, when you're the Pittsburgh Penguins, you have structure to fall back on, and they have. I think they've won, what, 12 or less, 14. Sidney Crosby's top, what, top seven in the league in scoring, plays a two-way game. You know, I always say if Sid wanted to cheat the game a little bit, there you go, man. There you go.

I love that. Thank you. Thank you. Me too. You know, he just doesn't cheat the game. He could probably get another 15 points if he cheated the game. So it's a great test with Boston. I've been impressed with the way Boston.

It's a great, it's probably the best winner of a classic matchup they've ever had. Oh, yeah. At Fenway too. Fenway, too? Fenway, though, that's going to be a great. They're showing drawings of what it's going to look like. That's next weekend, I believe, right? Yeah, the 2nd, January 2nd. The 2nd.

Next Monday. Yes. Same day as. Rose Bowl. Yeah. What are we doing? Rose Bowl will be before, though, I assume. Right, yeah.

The game's at 2, 2.30, I believe. Oh, so Winter Classic before Rose Bowl, probably. Yeah, Rose Bowl at 5, right? Rose Bowl into the Winter Classic? Is that what we're doing? Or Winter Classic? Yeah, 2 o'clock, I think. 2 o'clock Eastern, right?

Is that the start? Is that you guys for Winter Classic? Yeah, that's at Fenway, yeah. So Winter Classic into Rose Bowl. Yes, there it is. That's a hell of a fucking January 2nd. If you're not a hockey fan, don't worry about it. Tune in.

The Pittsburgh Penguins are your new favorite team. They have all the best players in the NHL aside from Ovechkin, which we will certainly have to talk about. Get Ovechkin on the team. And give me McJesus, maybe. Help him learn how to win in the playoffs. Stoner can stay in Vegas for sure. Don't know that.

But that game is a battle of two elites, though. That is a primetime game that the world should watch, even if you don't know the NHL. And I think they will because how cool it is. Host of That's Hockey Talk, Nicky Nuzini. Frank Moraldo has a question for you. Hey, Toc. Appreciate you and everything you did for the city of Pittsburgh.

I want to ask, I know you were the all-time leader, and I believe you still are, of Gordie Howe Hattricks. That is a fight, an assist, and a goal in the same game. We know you were a tough son of a bitch. I want to know who was the toughest person you ever had to dance with on the ice? I've had a couple.

Bob Probert was a very, like, he was probably the heavyweight champ there for a while. Fought him a few times. He's a guy, and God rest his soul, when he was in a bad mood, and you could tell in warm-up, you kind of got a little nervous. He was one of those type of guys. Obviously, Ty Domi for his size, very, very tough guy.

And then the guys like Cam Neelys, the Wendell Clarks, the guys in my era that can beat you up but also score a goal, those guys are my favorite type of guys, guys that can score and fight. That's quite an honor, right? Isn't it? The Gordie Howe Hattrick all-time leader. That's an honor that I assume that you chat about with the boys. Yeah, that's a big thing that gets brought up in conversation? Yeah, it comes up every once in a while.

Listen, it's the only record I have, I'll take it, right? But it's, it's, it's, it's, it's something that,

you know, not too many guys do now, the fighting's not as much, so that's a, that's going to be a little harder to break because nobody fights as much as they used to,

which is good. I mean, the game's, you know, a lot more skilled, but you still have that element, you know,

somebody goes after Sid or, like you said, McJesus. You've got to come to their aid. You need that type of guy. But that can play the game. You can't have a guy that just fights and sits on the bench. That doesn't happen anymore. With the way the game is changing, it seems like you're going to have that record forever.

Congratulations. How are you doing, Rick? I don't know how many more people are going to be able to even catch up with what the game used to be. That was a part of the allure of hockey, I feel like, for Pittsburgh people and for a lot of people that are diehard hockey fans. It's like, hey, these dudes will fight, okay? They'll stick tap.

They'll skate away. Then they'll get back on. They'll play. It's a part of it, like being respectful. And then also, hey, we need this as a rally call. Like I think that is a massive part of the sport at the beginning, the fundamental basis of it like being respectful and then also hey we need this as a rally call like i think that is a massive part of the sport at the beginning the fundamental basis of it now that's changing you said it's good and everything like that i understand player safety is a big deal i don't agree i i think

them running fighting out of hockey is not a good play i think that's something that hockey had that no other sport had and i feel like if you grew up in the hockey culture and i might be wrong you grew up in more than i did i'd have to lace my boots and go blue on the blue line at 6 a.m. or whatever is it but that was something the hockey culture also appreciated I think more so than anybody else do you think it was inevitable that it was going to get pushed out or and what do you do you think there's ever a chance it comes back yeah I'm with you Pat I mean I like to see that element come not to the the stage fighting to that extent, but I remember those Philadelphia and Pittsburgh rivalries.

I mean, there was pure hate. You know, like, you know, Mario would come in and, you know, he'd be dancing everybody and then we'd run at him and then they'd send their guy. You just got that animosity going. I don't see it as much. It's more of a i don't want to say a friendlier game but it's more of a skill um not as much hate and i i you know i i'd like to

see those rivalries that's every sport rick that's every sport every sports like that i think it's just the the generation that we're in right now which is good everybody getting along is good but i think in hockey like just a chance of somebody actually like going to a game you might see a guy get his fucking head blasted by another there's a chance that's awesome there's a chance that that's going to happen you're going to see some of the most spectacular athleticism at a speed that is on ice obviously olympic skaters doing things competitive in and with hand-eye coordination you're going to see shit that's just going to be

like an Olympic sport is happening in front of you and then if somebody feels disrespected, everybody's going to stop, everybody's just going to be like, alright boys do what you got to do it was like hockey was, that's why I love hockey so much and I don't love the fact that

the fighting's out there. But once again, I'm happy. I'm not out there getting my face punched. So that is – so it's kind of a different game. You know what I mean, Tuck? Well, I get what you're saying, and I agree. But here's my big pet peeve, and I don't want to be that old school guy. You have to be new school to coach nowadays or to be involved with any sport.

I just can't – I can't talk to players on the team before the game or after the game. I mean, I'll meet my buddy in a bar later that night, but I just cannot. Like, you know, when you're competing against somebody, I can't be, hey, man, how you doing, bud? What's going on? Hey, where do you want to go to eat dinner tonight? And even after the game, it's a hard, you know, the game's just over. I see that a lot, and maybe I'm old school, but I'm just not a fan of that. Like, you know, I's just over um i see that a lot and maybe i'm old school but i i

just not a fan of that like you know i can't be talking to guys during the game it's just not me though talk it's you know like biz calls it the old tummy you know the tummy tucks you know like hey buddy how you doing off the draw i see a lot of that nowadays um that's the one thing i i wish i didn't see that that's my only only pet peeve for today's player. I love him. Today's new players are phenomenal. So good. But a little less of the tummy tucks, you know, before the game.

I think my favorite thing that you said is I guess I'm old school. This guy has the Gordie Howe record. Fighting, assists, and goals scored in hockey. I guess I'm old school. Yeah, I would say you're old school a little bit. That's a good thing, not a bad thing. And hockey is still one of the most dazzling sports to watch live, in person and on TV.

Playoff hockey, you need to be in a building for a playoff hockey game if you ever get a chance to do so. But I do wish there was more fights. I never thought it was going to stop, but it makes sense because now they don't want to dress a guy that's just going to fight, right? Because now you're wasting potential penalty killer and everything like that. It's kind of become more of stats and analytics type thing as opposed to thinking about human... Because I think Sidney, if he had a goon on his team, he'd be even better, right?

Wouldn't he? Well, last year there in the playoffs, you know, Trubis, it was a tough guy for the Rangers. He was running around a bit. He actually hurt Sid on a play. You wish you had a guy that, you know, I mean, I'll be honest with you, I wish they had a guy like me out there because the first game. Scared to death to touch Sid.

They'd be scared to death to touch Sid because they know. Well, it's not that he may be scared of me, but I'm going to set that and then I'd probably have to fight a guy like Reeves. That's what happens the first game of the playoffs because Sid's our meal ticket, right? They're running him and the only answer he has is you better have a good power play.

You better have the refs really call a close game. But sometimes there's a rough game out there and sometimes you need that. But you're right, Pat. Your hockey IQ is great. You can't have a guy sit on the bench because you need penalty killers.

You need specialty T guys on the bottom six. So you can't just have a guy that just fights. He has to play the game. I disagree. I think there's an argument to be made that you should have a guy that can just fight out there because I've watched Sid have to be the bully. Sid has to be the tough guy the shitster and the best player on the team sometimes and it's like

when wayne was playing he had a guy that traveled with him team to team right and you didn't see there was a fucking three foot radius around wayno and if it was a hit it's going to be a clean hit it's not going to be nothing cheap because Because if you did, literally within five seconds, there was consequences coming. And you're going to have to answer for it immediately. Now it's like, with Sid at least, it seems like he can get, somebody can blindside him, kill him. And then, oh, they go to a penalty. Our fucking, we have been terrible. Terrible.

When other people were in the penalty box as well it seems like over the last three years with how much talent we have it's like i wish there was a bully out there i'd be like don't fucking touch our guy okay and let's just see how hockey is as we get forward but now sid's a cry baby he's a bitch because he's the one that has to complain about it's like i don't think you should have to complain about it i think there should be a guy on the team that is just coming out and saying hey this is this is fun. Was that fun? You liked hitting them? Cool. Boom! CTE City never come back on the

ice. I just think that's... Well, I'll tell you what. My favorite guy, he coaches for St. Louis, Craig Ruby. He's probably one of the toughest guys I've ever played, too. What he would do, he would go... He's going to fight their tough guy, whoever the guy is on the other team, but he's going to go after their best player first.

I like that. That's a deterrent, right? That is a deterrent. Go after their best player and then fight the other guy later. I like to see that a little bit more too. That'll settle teams down, you know? The boys in the back just reminded me that you were tasked with protecting Mario. Was that something you took to heart or was that something I was ever chatting about?

Oh, yeah. I mean, I played on his line. I had 110 points, almost 50 goals. He was my meal ticket. Anybody touched him, it was like, it was full on. Yeah, on my watch, no way he's getting hit. I mean, like I said, this guy's giving me tap-ins, man. I'm going to the net.

I'm not the most skilled guy. He used to give me, like, empty net goals. And you talk about Wayne Gretzzky he's a 1b2 like he's right he's a number one for me too he is a phenomenal hockey player and a great guy a great guy so you you want to protect that guy for sure yeah people tell stories about and i don't know if it was mario i assume it was or maybe wayne or any of these other incredibly skilled and creative hockey players where their teammates say I was literally told just to skate towards the net with my stick on the ground and uh the pass is coming off of yours and they're going to throw it so hard off of your stick you won't just skate with your eyes closed basically with your stick on the ground and then these guys are going to find it and it's just going to be a wide open one time or whatever

it's just like uh it's unbelievable watching one time or whatever. It's just like, uh, it's unbelievable. Watch. Yeah. I actually got, I got traded Pittsburgh. I got three assists. I didn't even get up our own end. And I,

and you know, they announced it. Hey, it's just by Rick tie. I remember just throwing the puck in the middle of the ice. He knocks it down and, you know, these three guys in storage,

I got three assists at one game. I never even got outside our blue line. So that's when you play with those guys. They're special players, man. Special. Darius became a massive hockey fan two years ago. Has a question for you. Hey, I fell back.

I'm back to being the casual, but this winter class is coming up. Sounds like two, two really good teams. I'm a big players guy. Tell me the top four players in your opinion. I've seen, heard a bunch about, I see top four players on the ice and then the play styles of these two teams as well. Yeah, so on the top four of this team coming up, Boston and Pittsburgh, definitely

you got Kroos and Malkin. And then on the other side, they got some great this Marshawn Kidd and Pasternak. These guys are pressured players. Those are the four guys I would want to watch in this winter classic. Marshawn's a little bit of a shit disturber.

He's not afraid to hit a Sidney Crosby. And Pasternak's like a mini version of Ovechkin. He's just a pure goal scorer. Actually, he's going to be a free agent next year, so he's going to probably get a $10 million a year contract coming up himself. He's coming to Pittsburgh. He's coming to Pittsburgh. Pasta's coming to Pittsburgh to fucking drink

out a couple of these. Oh, man, if Pittsburgh got him, Sid could play to his 50. He's that good. They need a tough guy. We're getting Pasta. I don't know when he's available. He'll start licking faces for the pens, pal. We need a pest on that team.

We need him more than anything. Sid's got to be the pest, the enforcer, the fucking best playmaker, and the star of the team. Bummer. I don't know what's going on over there in Pittsburgh. Let's get it figured out. Mario's there. He'll certainly get it figured out.

Here's a Boston Bruins fan who doesn't know shit about fuck when it comes to hockey, Connor. Yeah, Rick, all I know is about original six teams and how many cups those guys have and how long they've been playing for, so you get it. But when you're talking about posse, you just mentioned the $10 million a year contract. Do you see guys getting higher contracts as we go on? Because obviously one of the conversations around hockey is how some of these best players like Sid, like McDavid, having gotten the massive contracts of the best players in the NFL

or maybe the NBA, obviously, that have. And also, will Posta sign during the season, or do contract extensions for NHL players usually not happen until after? Yeah, it's a dangerous one to leave Posta. I'm sure they're talking. It's no way they can get him to free agency. He's the type of guy that loves Boston. I think $10 million is a cheap deal for him because he could command $12 million.

McDavid's like $14 million, I think, and dry settle. That's the interesting one because you have a salary cap. Those two guys make, what, $28 million a year combined. What's your cap? About $86 million. So to construct a team, you know, you've got to be very careful because you can't top load the whole thing. But a guy like Pasternak, like he's a generational goal scorer,

they've got to get him signed up. But I can see him taking a Boston discount. He loves it there. Like I can see him signing for $10 million. Of course. We don't know how long your career is going to be, Paul. Get all the money you can get from Pittsburgh. You're going to love the city. Goon's in Boston, so he'll play forever.

He won't have to deal with it like Sidney has. Rick, I don't know how much you watch our show. Our hockey talk basically goes, we're going to do our hockey talk every time it comes on. Just give it your rating as we go. Pittsburgh Penguins still the fucking best team in all of hockey. That's great to hear.

That doesn't make sense because the Bruins just set the home record for most consecutive wins to start a season. Nah, the Bruins fucking stink, Bob. That is literally how the Bruins are. I mean, Golden Knights are the best team in the Western Conference. No, Boston's impressed me, but there's a long way to go. The thing with Pittsburgh, I know they've hit the road in the first round the last few years.

They've got a pretty good pedigree of getting through, you know, they've won the last three, four Stanley Cups in the last, what, 20 years? Oh, wow, two decades. Okay. Okay. Yeah, two decades. I mean, let's not even talk about it. Boston has won one cup in the last ten years as well.

Yeah, you guys stink, though, naturally. Oh, number one team in the last 10 years as well. Yeah, you guys stink, though. Natural. Number one team in the NHL, though. Yeah, but that's the thing. You guys suck, but not as bad as the fucking Golden Knights. Of course. Best team in the Western Conference right now. Do you have a question for Todd?

Redwings, I don't even want to hear it. You guys aren't even invited. You're not a real team. You weren't even invited. You're not a real team. You weren't even invited to the COVID Cup. Best young team in the league. Not a real team. You aren't even invited, dude. They. Best young team in the league. Not a real team.

You weren't even invited, dude. They said stay home. Don't come to camp. Oh, the Panthers. They don't even honor it. They don't play hockey in Florida, D-Bud. That's what our hockey talk is every time it comes up. Literally, that's what it is.

So we appreciate you adding some real information in there. The Las Vegas Golden Knights diehard fan has a question for you yeah thank you talk uh for whatever reason like it was tough being a golden knights fan last year because you know so much promise they get jackie aces and for whatever reason him and stoner couldn't both stay healthy they couldn't be on the ice at the same time and then they get you know boston bruce we we bring in you know butch cassidy and sund Kidd. How much does coaching matter in the NHL? Like, this looks like a completely different team with a new coach. Like, will they be able to sustain the success moving forward?

And, yeah, I mean, coming from a guy who actually did coach, like, how much can coaching change a team year over year in the NHL? Yeah, I think it's more of setting the standard of the culture but uh i think cash is a really good coach i know one thing i talked to this summer he really wanted to dedicate the neutral zone that was something that they weren't good at last year and if you watch this year that's one of their strengths is the neutral zone uh so good coaching yeah for sure regarding vegas they got away from who they were from the first year, and they chased the shiny new toy every year, you know, for free.

I love that. Fools. No, I just think that they got to stay with who they were, their identity. They got back to it this year. Can they keep it? You know, that's the thing. And the goaltending couldn't hang in there. You know, that was something that started the year that they were concerned about the summer.

But Logan Thompson's been good this year. But I judge goalies in March and April in the playoffs. That's when the pressure hits, and that's when you've got to make the saves. So that's something I'm going to see if Vegas can sustain that. Ty, since inception of the Knights, been a diehard. That's right. Literally, as soon as they, because he joined

the show, we all have a hockey team. Yep. Vegas Golden Knights come in, they're an expansion team. Oh my God, they're good. Ty Stunner's doing this.

He's starting to dress up like the guy. Remember, they used to do the full Vegas pre-show, too, on the ice with the lasers and the night and the DJ and music and everything. His life as a hockey fan there was fantastic.

I mean, he comes in, he's living the best life of all time. Expansion team somehow in the playoffs, most exciting team, best home game experience, it's seeming like. Yeah, Thomas Barnes in the NHL. Go to the Cup. Absolutely. Well, they got a nightclub up top. They got a nightclub up top you know they got a nightclub and now what tell them you guys fucking stink no no he said i'm getting back to the identity

which is fucking having stoner lace up the boots and just fucking speed around the ice out there and he's doing that we're not the best hockey show we we show definite bias like that is that is literally what happens when hockey comes in – when we cover any sport other than football. Yes. Because football, we feel an obligation to the league to at least cover it. I'm obviously a Colts fan, obviously a Patriots fan, obviously a Packers fan, obviously a Steelers fan, obviously a fan of like five or six teams in the NFL every year.

But we feel obligated to kind of talk from a standpoint. Like this year, the Vikings are literally like the team. Teams are coming out of nowhere because it's our world. When we talk about any other sport, though, we might be the worst coverage in that sport. First 20 minutes we had fucking talking on. I was forced to talk about

the Pittsburgh Penguins. Hey, this is what we need to do. Do you get stuck in that? Do you guys cover just a certain, because like in the NFL world for a long time, you put the Cowboys on TV. Hey, here we go. You put the Cowboys on TV, you talk about them in the A block, C block,

and then at the end of D, let's go ahead and bring them back in a little bit if we can. And then we're back to the A block, it's Cowboys. And that's kind of how sports media has been with the NFL for a long time. Us, not as much. This year, a lot more than had been, but it's cowboys and that's kind of how sports media has been with the nfl for a long time us not as much this year a lot more than had been but it's not really our thing for you guys is there certain teams you have to talk with the rangers new york huge historic the original six teams you

have to pay respect to that like is there teams that you guys focus on more or is it just basically who's playing how everybody's playing well it's definitely when we have you know our ratings go up when we have the rangers uh la you know chicago even chicago stinks oh good whoa you get it this guy's hey rick you're doing it chicago does stink don't they i mean but those are the types of teams that you know people want i you know the fan base, I guess. For me, McDavid is a guy that I would pay a lot of money to go watch play. Unfortunately,

Edmonton's a great city. Don't get me wrong, Canadian City, but he doesn't get the... I don't think people understand that or just average hockey people that how great a player to watch him, what he does on the ice. So he doesn't get... If he was in New York, one of those markets, he would probably – the ratings would go a lot higher for NHL.

Yeah, he's definitely not going to Vegas or Boston. Probably Boston, actually. He'll probably end up in Pittsburgh. He'll probably end up in Pittsburgh. Yeah, when Sid's done bringing in McJesus because it is the Panthers. They'll play together for a year or two. Might go to your cracking. Well, Imposta will be there as well.

Tony, your question for Rick Talkett. One thing that we don't talk about on this show is one of the most fascinating stories in the NHL, and that's an organization you're familiar with. How are the Yotes playing in the Mold Arena in a 5,000-seat stadium? How does that happen in the NHL? They've got to get the arena done within this year. They got to go somewhere else. I mean, I think everybody's tired of the whole Yotes thing.

My thing is, unreal place to play, I mean, to live. If they can get a new arena, you know, their ownership be strong. They got a ton of draft picks. Then you're going to get some free agents that want to go there like real legit

guys so I coach there and I know that market but they have to get a new arena

and it has to be somewhere around Scottsdale or that downtown Phoenix area and if they don't they're dead

it's no way they can survive I mean the guy the loaner's probably losing $20, $25 million a year, right? But they got a lot of draft picks. It's just a matter of thinking. Oh, perfect.

In your sport, does that matter? In our sport, it doesn't really. Yeah, I mean, you've got to hit on your top guys. You don't hit your first round. So it's the same as us. Same as us then. Same as us. There's teams that are like.

But the difference with you guys, Pat, is your third rounder, fourth rounder, the percentage of them playing the NHL is a lot higher than hockey. Like you're a third rounder in the NFL. I don't know what the percentage is. I mean, I assume it's over 50%, 60% they play in the NFL, correct? Probably like 30%, 50%. 30% to 60%. Hockey is probably 10%, 5%. playing the NFL, correct? Probably like 30-50. 30-60.

Hockey's probably 10%, 5%. So there's definitely a difference when it comes to hockey with the draft. You have to hit on your height. And then we're thinking like, okay, now we've got to break that down even more because it's a great comparison you're making there because those third round draft picks are somehow being traded for actual fucking players.

Like actual players are being traded in our sport for third rounders and fourth rounders. And we're like, how are being traded in our sport for third rounders and fourth rounders and we're like how are they getting it there are we talking about playing or making it you know that's the interesting thing like third round or fourth rounders like getting on the field and playing because they're third or fourth rounders or like becoming like actual assets for the team like you know what i mean yeah i, you get drafted third, even fourth round. You got some pretty decent expectations to get out there and play early. You're going to get opportunities to get at least a good year, two years, to show that you're worth that pick.

But I think most third-rounders, you're definitely expected to make it. Yeah, and O-linemen. It feels like there's a lot of O-linemen. Yeah, hockey's like, I'd say it's 5% a third rounder. Like, it's pretty low. So that's the separation between the great and the good in hockey? Yeah, yeah, I think so. Yeah, I mean, listen, there's some, like, I was a sixth rounder,

so you can find players. Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey. Put the stats on that. That's right, dude. No, but I just, you know, you've got to hit on your feet. Like, I'm sure, obviously, NFL, you've got to hit your first rounders, but there's also, you know, it seems like there's more trades in NFL where they'll, you know, you get

second and third or fourth rounders back, and those are, in hockey, you get a fifth rounder back, it's kind of a, you know, it's hitting a dartboard. Alright, Rick, before we let you go, we appreciate all your insight. The reason why you made it as a sixth rounder, because I don't think there's any first rounders second rounders third round fourth rounders or fifth rounders that are getting their fucking jaw broken and then coming right back saying put some

plastic on the helmet and let me get back on the ice you said i, I guess I'm old school as the Gordie Howe Hattrick record holder. That is for a fight in a game, a goal in the same game, and an assist in the same game. That's a Gordie Howe Hattrick. This guy has the record for it. Broken fucking jaw put me back out there. You are old school. You are. Same night,

the same game? That's what a Gordie Howe Hattrick is. No, no, no, no. I mean, it's broken jaw. I don't know. Did you get a Gordie Howe H trick is. No, no, no, no. I mean, it's a broken job. I don't know. Did you get a Gordie Howe hat trick with this game? Do you remember this? I broke my draw the first time. I went back the second.

I did score the game winning goal. I did. I don't want to talk to him. Legend. Wow. Talk. Oh, you're a legend, dude.

We appreciate you so much stopping by. We're happy you're a large part of the hockey media on TNT, and we can't wait for the Winter Classic on the 2nd at 2 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, live from Fenway. Yeah, I appreciate you getting on. I'm a big fan

of the show. Talk to you guys down the road, man. Rick Tauke, ladies and gentlemen. Yeah, Rick! Just tough hockey. Yeah, I mean, legend. Where's he from? Do we know where he's from? I'd guess where he's from?

I'd guess Ohio. It feels like this is an Ohio guy. Scarborough, Ontario. Yeah, Canada. By the way, there's a lot of Ohio's in Canada. Think about how cold it is up there. Saskatoon. It's minus 70 up there. Saskatchewan.

Dude, Missoula, Montana. Right now. You were there. I was not in Missoula, Montana. Okay? Right now. You were there. I was not in Missoula. I was in Bozeman. I was three hours away. Hour and a half in between it is Butte, Montana, which is where Evel Knievel, Colt Anderson,

and the guy that killed Bin Laden is from. Boom. Hour and a half in between Bozeman and Missoula or Bozeman and Missoula. I don't know which one is where between Bozeman and Missoula or Bozeman and Missoula. I don't know which one is where. Bozeman, Montana State. Missoula, I believe, is University of Montana. I think. Not 100% sure.

Heard a lot about Montana. Got a chance to experience it. It was cold as fuck. Okay? It was like a bitter cold, too. You're up there in the fucking Rockies or whatever it is. Way up in there. Today feels like negative 70, they say. Negative.

Please be careful out there. An automated weather station above Highway 2 near Essex, Montana, just reported a wind chill of negative 70. What the fuck does that even mean? Antarctica. Everybody in Montana, we'd like to let you know, we're pulling for you. We don't know how a human operates in that. Pulling for you.

Stay inside. Stay inside. Don't drop. Hopefully you don't lose power, because if you do, you're dead. Dumpy lost power last night. He's battling 25 centimeters of snow. Yeah, he couldn't drive because he has 22 centimeters of snow yesterday. 25 centimeters of snow. Yeah, he couldn't drive because he has 22 centimeters of snow yesterday.

Dumpy's in Victoria, Canada, which is left of Missoula, Montana, I believe, and everywhere Montana is. He did hover down in the dark yesterday because he couldn't battle the 22 centimeters of snow. I was told Canada was used to the snow. I was told that I paid for electricity. Yes, I was wrong. I was told. It's cold out there, though.

That's a different cold. It's supposed to get like that here in Indiana and all across the Midwest. We hope everybody's okay through the holiday weekend and while the holiday's happening currently for I don't know how many different religions, but certainly at least the Jewish community,

they have Hanukkah happening right now. I don't want to judge. Because I like to be a no-judgey-ludgy. We've never judged. I feel like I'm one of the most empathetic humans.

In a microphone. I will listen to other people's sides and always think like, well, there had to be a reason why this person did that. It's not always right. When you hear the reason, you're like, well, there had to be a reason why this person did that. And it's not always right. You know, it's not always right. And then when you hear the reason, you're like, well, that's certainly wrong, but at least there was an explanation to it.

I feel like our show has become like a, we could judge certainly if they do something despicable, but if it's not like, there's a reason why these people. Tough, but fair. Stern. But fair. But fair. But fair. But fair. I feel like that's what this program has been. Stern. But fair. But fair. But fair. I feel like that's what this program has been.

Always. And we have to make some corrections from yesterday's show, and we'll do that in the next hour with A.J. Hawk. A.J. will have to be here for that particular article reading we will be doing next hour just to make sure that everybody understands. It'll be a reading. Can't wait. Can't wait for it.

A Christmas reading. These meteorologists and weather people i can't thank you enough for looking at the doppler as everybody knows i have an affinity for weather people because i grew up in pittsburgh with the fucking doppler don joe dinardo that's right he might have actually designed the doppler that guy hit way more than him. Rest in peace. Love you, Joe. Love you, Joe. Love you, Joe. 97% for the line. Bingo. Bingo.

People are seeing something on Doppler. They're seeing a little twisty do-hoo here with a little red and a blue-hoo here. And Joe's like, I've seen this one before. Don't worry about it. That's going to settle out. Do not cancel your outdoor plans. You are going to be A-OK here in the fine city of Pittsburgh. So I was almost spoiled, I think, with Joe DiNardo's accuracy on the Doppler.

As I've grown older, and I don't know if this has become a thing everywhere, so please correct me if I'm wrong, they're almost cutting promos now for the weather that is potentially on the way. And I don't want to say I appreciate the fact that they're adding entertainment to it and they're adding a little bit of juice to it, but every storm is potentially the storm, right? It feels like nowadays that we're paying attention more to it. And we obviously have to deal with it with not only sports being affected by it and travel being affected, but just as humans out here in Indiana, it's much different weather than it was when I was in Pittsburgh. This storm is

being chatted about as if maybe cancel Christmas. What's going on here? How cold is it? Flash freeze, they're saying. A flash freeze is going to happen. 30 to 40 degrees are going to drop out of nowhere, and it had already been raining. And when that temperature drops like 40 degrees,

it's going to be a flash freeze, and everything's going to be ice, and it's going to be shut down. Wind is going to be 50 miles an hour. That's what they're saying right now. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. It's like, holy shit. You are saying cancel Christmas pretty much because one of the worst imaginable things on earth is coming to town.

The Grinch is coming in a form of flash freezing to every drop of moisture that is outside, which, by the way, it's been raining for the last 24 hours. That's what they say. For a while. So it's going to freeze. When that freezes, guess what? Oh, ice is slick. it's been raining for the last 24 hours. That's what they say. So it's going to freeze. When that freezes, guess what? Oh, ice is slick. What's that mean for the roads? Cars are going to be everywhere.

Whenever you're walking, watch the hips, older folks. Watch the falling. Keep your balance. If we were you, we'd stay inside. We'd not travel. If we had travel plans, we would move them 48 hours in advance because we don't know when the storm is going to come. It might come on Saturday.

It might come on Friday. Now it's coming on Thursday. Here's a window we'll know when it hits illinois indiana people are saying when it hits illinois uh border we'll know what's coming it's like but it also might change it's like what they're describing right now is one of the worst storms that you could imagine especially for a holiday travel weekend with everything just becoming an ice skating rink oh yeah that seems like a plan from uh mother nature like that's an actual like two-piece i think that's like all right i'm a rain it's like when you throw a snowball up in the air like hey dipshit you ever uh you grew up in a cold nope welcome to snow yeah let's have a snowball fight okay cool i'm gonna hit you oh okay florida

guy heads up right at you i mean that is that is kind of what Mother Nature is doing here. We're going to have a rain and then flash freeze. And that's what's being described by these. Are they right? Is this a real thing? Or are they cutting a promo right now? It feels like Santa might have left Mother Nature on read. And she's fucking getting them back over this holiday. The holiday of spite

from Mother Nature. Now, since Joe passed. Rest in peace, Joe. There's only one guy I go to, and that's Jim Cantor. Fellow pies on. Like Joe.

That's all the only people I trust. And potentially, not potentially, the greatest weatherman we have today. That's all the only people I trust. And potentially no, not potentially. The greatest weatherman we have today. He's out there tweeting like it's real, so I'm going to take that as gospel. Okay. And he's probably in it right now. He actually I saw that Missoula tweet because he quote tweeted it and said, fucking old.

So I was introduced to Jim Cantor because of Tone Diggs. He is known for his hurricane coverage where he will actually just go stand right in the middle of it and at his house obviously for the hurricane he has uh one of those rain umbrella hat things and a jacket a rain jacket and everything like that he also has ice skates yes he has the snowboard goggles right he has the 15 scarves he has the scuba kit fire suit and he's skating with this storm right now if they cut to him he is on 70 east skating right down the side with

this storm parachute where the wind's dragging him yeah that's probably what's happening if we had to guess so if jim cantor saying I guess we should respect it. Definitely respect it. But also, your travel, I think we should change. I think we should change your travel. Yeah, for sure. Definitely get that. I was clueless, too, obviously, this weather. Until last night, I'm at the bar having dinner, watch the game.

Older lady, you know, kind of just conversation. She's talking about travel. Yeah. Oh. You get back to your room. You turn on channel 14. You know, older lady. I'm like, yeah. All right, let me just check the you know these kind of it's called the phone lady yeah it's

kind of cute do you know what the name wthr got it yeah channel 14 channel 10 she gave me a couple channels to check but it sounds like the real i heard you you should get into that uh promo cutting weather report i heard you this morning tell us somebody about the weather you did well that's what i was literally reading what they wrote yes and what you just heard was pretty much what they wrote and i'm like damn like this is a promo that they're cutting for this storm and it's adjusting a lot of people's lives a lot because it's a holiday weekend canceled flights that's what i'm saying a lot of canceled christmas is happening right now you know what i mean and if this storm i hope it's not if it's a mist no i hope it's not

bad that's good for everybody it's not bad because any storm that comes especially one that has dangerous conditions oh yeah is not good for it for society yeah you mean but for the weather people community the way this one's being painted is like hey cancel christmas if you're in the middle of america don't even try to travel And it's like their message has been sent. Like people are very scared right now of the weather that's coming to do anything. And I just hope it's not as bad for the sake of everybody. But if it isn't as bad for the sake of the weather people, it's like, will we ever get some transparency like we expect from NFL officials?

It doesn't matter. Damage is done. Because if you were flying, you've definitely already changed your flight and stuff like that. So if you don't get it, you're just going to be more pissed that nothing happened. So at this point, it's kind of like, hey, it better come. It's not their fault. No, it's not. They're not the ones up there.

They don't have a choice. They're not the ones up there throwing together the weather. No. Because the alternative is you don't do anything. You show up at the airport. You wait around. And then your flight gets canceled anyway. And then you've got to drive back to wherever your house is in shitty conditions.

And, you know, it's kind of a double-edged sword. It's a no-win situation for the weather folks. But when it involves, like, holiday season, especially in this post-COVID era. Oh, yeah. Right, where some families were, like, scared. Haven't seen each other in years, probably. Yeah, and this, like like the first one's good. I mean, that looks real.

And I'm just, yes, this Doppler appears to be, this is something I've never seen before. And I think that's kind of how the weather people have been acting as well. Like, hey, I don't really know if we've ever seen this type of thing before. It's bad. Peace. Everybody be safe. Everybody please be safe.

Better be real. Nick, we don't want it to be real it's bad for future though share the weather community it's bad for the people next time I do this people won't listen and then it will be that bad and then they'll be fucked for two different weekends this one and that one

and also if it is a big storm like it appears to be here, we would like everybody to make sure they go out of their way to say, hey, weather folks, thank you for the heads up. So we thank you guys. We need to have that as well. And we will be loud about that because if what is coming is coming and it appears to be coming is coming, this is a fucking problem for a lot of places. I think they normally

they'll get snow wrong, but I don't think they get wind and temperature wrong a lot of times. That's what this one's bringing. Gonna find out. Also, the Saints and Browns game. Basically the same exact forecast as Patriots and Bills last year. That total's already 32.

Thank you, Tony. Fuck. We should have got that earlier. I don't think there was 32 points scored in the end. That was 14-11 in the Bills pass. Bro, that was the fucking... We should have been ahead of this. This is our thing. Now we know.

Better ways than never. Yeah, but they're going to move. They're going to move. They were giving away a free bet just a little bit ago. Fandle was. Anyway, we can do this during the break. Yeah. We should do it now

because we just said it. So they're going to try to get us before under 32 and a half. Is the meteorologist around though? Also, if you haven't bought ice melt or salt yet,

I'd suggest go out and get some of that like today. D-Bud, you should also get a Christmas gift for Sal Pal since you're staying at his house this weekend.

Yeah, because those flights are going to be canceled. NFL matchup's actually a 72- house this weekend. Yeah, because those flights are going to be canceled. NFL matchup is actually a 72-hour show now. The war stories that you are going to hear. You should think about getting a wetsuit, too. Oh, Sal's got one. You're a good Christmasser. All right, let's get to a break.

He still has all his seals. Real thing, though. This storm is a real thing, allegedly. Yeah, be careful for everybody. Like, it's from here all the way to New Hampshire. Bring your pets inside, too. It's like the whole fucking country. Yeah, legit. Hey, if you live... People don live leave that piss outside look at florida's about to get

real close yeah we got a little cold front too oh 44 boom 39 it's gonna rain so hard man they gotta deal with hurricane stuff though true exactly we don't have that conversation we have tornado and we have those same you know hurricane conversations you know everyone is the not everyone but that's what i'm referring to that's the one but you gotta you know, hurricane conversations. You know, everyone is the, not everyone, but. That's what I'm referring to. But you got to, you know, you got to take heat. You got to take a lot of old heads, though. You got 60 people that have been in Florida 40, 50, 60 years.

That's what's going on with this storm, though, with people that are used to the cold. They're like, can't be worse than a blazer in 94. And it's going to be. You're telling me a blazer in 94 is coming again here? I doubt it. They say this every year. That's everybody says there be Arctic wolves roaming around there might be well That's what happens to the hurricane right hurricane the ocean just gets picked up there sharks just living in the neighborhood Yeah, so now you have to worry about your couch Getting water damage you got worried about your ankles getting gnawed on by a great white shark. That's right

That's our hurricanes got deal with me Is that what this polar vortex is bringing? Arctic wolves from the Arctic. Happy holidays. Merry Christmas. The Talks table is here. At Boston Corner at Ty Schmidt. One half of the hammer. Don.

Cowboys. Terran Diggs is here. The host of Everything DB, which will happen today. And the Man to Man podcast. And NFL matchups with Sal Palantario. Darius Butler is here. And joining us live from Manatee, Ohio, is a man who's a college football national champion, a Super Bowl champion, Ryder Cup champion, video game shitster, NBA pundit, COVID survivor,

and jolly old St. Nick for the holidays. Ten kids, ladies and gentlemen, A.J. Hall. What's up, dude? What's up? I hear you guys, you're worrying, complaining about the upcoming possible weather. We aren't complaining. Congrats.

We aren't complaining. You're officially old people now, huh? Is that what we are? Shut up. What's your fucking problem? A lot of you guys. 17 days from now, you see the forecast. I better bundle up.

17 days is like tomorrow, dude. This is literally tomorrow. Let's just fuck off. Obviously we can handle it and have stuff ready, but come on now, let's just live. ZD baby, this light has become a strobe light yet again. We should probably just turn it off. And Connors as well. It's good. Sweet.

I don't know how much we paid for it. They work. Just like the Doppler does. We're not complaining about it. It is just a topic of conversation that should be had because the alarms and reports about this particular winter storm are as if the entire country, north of like North Carolina and maybe like New Mexico

and maybe Tennessee in the middle. North of there, every time, you're about to get a big fuck you from Mother Nature right before the holiday. And it's not just a standard weather winter fuck you. No, no, this is a two-piece combo from Mother Nature where it's rain, flash freezes, everything's an ice skating rink. And it's like this is the travel time. So what we're saying is it is our duty as a platform to allow people insight on situations that could affect their lives. And if you only watch sports, you need to know

there's a big fucking storm allegedly coming. You're saving lives, okay? Trying to, AJ. So this isn't complaining. No, this is a service to our society, pal. But we're also bringing up, if this doesn't, you know, what's being said. If it doesn't, it might be a tough day in the Doppler community. And I don't know if they got a DiNardo still that's going to be able to rally the troops.

That's all we're saying, AJ. We're not complaining. And is this not a football show? Exactly. Are they playing? There's Joe. Are they playing in the weather this weekend? Okay.

We're covering it. Yeah. What were you going to say, though? AJ is a man who grew up in Ohio, so obviously you've been around these types of things your entire life. This seems bigger than it's ever been before, this winter storm that's coming. Honestly, it sounds like it.

Well, this is the kind of storm that sucks the most, though, because if you say, hey, we're going to get dumped with 18 inches of snow, that's great, cool, let's go sledding, we can shovel it out. But when it's all ice, it just shuts everything down and it's not fun. So, yeah, this is the worst kind. And also, holiday, where everybody's traveling, snow, obviously not great for traveling, but at least plows can kind of get to red. Right, doable.

Ice, you can't do anything. Wind sucks. The wind is supposed to be soul-snatching. They're saying 50 mile-an-hour winds, negative 11 wind. What does that even mean? It feels like negative 70 in Montana, right? Did you see that?

Yeah, like you said, how do they gauge that? How do you exactly tell us? So there's a mathematic equation where they take the wind speed times 0.25 and then the temperature index, and then there's a full thing. It's like, well, to me, does it feel like negative? My wife feels colder than I feel. Does she feel the same thing?

Is it like maybe negative 50 for me and negative 70 for her? Or is it negative 70 baseline so she's going to feel negative 80, negative 90, and I'm going to feel negative 60? I just think for feels like that's a human. Once it's below. It's cold as fuck this weekend. Yes. It's supposed to be bad.

Let's make sure we stay safe. Joining us now is a man who does not have to worry about that. Nope. Until Monday. That's right. Safe travels, hopefully, honestly, genuinely. A man who went to the University of Texas. At Texas, he turned a lot of heads because he was punter and kicker,

had a massive leg, and his last name was awesome. I believe he hit a game winner, and the whole world trended Dicker the kicker. Then coming out of college, everybody at Texas that had watched his career thought and assumed that he would go to an NFL team automatically because of how talented he is. That was not the case. Goes to Philadelphia, hits a game winner for them in relief of Jake Elliott, who's a pro bowler, so Philadelphia decides not to keep him. Let's it go back on the streets. Then the Chargers, who have had a kicking problem for a long time, sign him.

His first game there, hits a game winner. People didn't even know his name. People didn't even know his name on the team. Kyle Van Noy is mic'd up going, was this guy's Dicker is his name? Didn't even know his first name. Now, no big deal. Ho-hum. 16 of 17 this year, which is a 94.1% make rate. If that was to hold up for the rest of the year,

that would be the highest in NFL history for a rookie, for an entire rookie season. Hell yeah. Ladies and gentlemen, great name, great leg, great kicker, Cameron Dicker. Yeah! What's up, dude? Hello, how are you? Hey, good. I thought that introduction was worthy

because I don't know how many people keep up to date with all their kicking stuff, but everybody knows you, dude. Because of your name, because of what you've done in the big moments, this season has been awesome to watch as a fan of yours. Was there ever a moment where you thought you weren't going to make it?

Whenever a team didn't pick you up, you go to Philly, you make a game winner, you do everything you're supposed to do. They drop you out there. Was there ever any doubt or did you kind of understand that an NFL ball was the same as a college ball? And if you're able to kick it, it's going through the fucking uprights 94.1% of the time, which is unreal Cameron. Yeah. I mean, uh, it was a little, little scary at first sitting at home for the first six, seven weeks of the season. But I think I watched you come down for WrestleMania or some WWE event. Went down there and you were over.

And so that was fun to go watch. But it was a little weird at first. Hey, you're a wrestling fan. Using the word over like that. Hey, for shoot, love that, pal. Absolutely love everything you just did. And thank you for watching. But yeah, for me, seeing you not get picked up for a while, I just assumed, because I understand the kicking world,

I'm like, oh, he must have some shit he's got to figure out. He's got a, there, there maybe is a consistency thing with the NFL ball or anything like that. Were you going to workouts? Were you just not having great days on those workouts? What do you think it was? We had workouts for, so I got dropped by the Rams. there's like four or five days before workouts happened and then it was a seven day period and after the first preseason game um where i had six workouts in seven days then got picked up by the ravens played in the final preseason game that last flew in friday played Saturday, flew home Sunday, and then didn't hear anything really until week six. That's bananas.

How were you kicking through that? Were you kicking good through all those? Kicking good through everything. So, yeah, it was good days. It was strange. It was teams that I didn't really think needed kickers, and I don't know why they were having workouts. And then one of them was the Colts as a punter workout but I mean just going wherever I got a call because that's what

you do yeah smart I think I think they missed a lot obviously a lot of teams did go ahead AJ so what do you do at all these workouts you said to what six and seven days I believe what like are they all taking you through the same kind of progression like what all they what do they want to see how do they know in a way um depending on coaches kind of changes how much you kick but some coaches like seven field goals so you'll go through and just hit seven field goals um if so one of our workouts there was six of us there so it was one person every single kick at every single yardage and so you just slowly went through and then just go have like five minutes and then start hitting kickoffs. And so you're done in like 25 minutes.

Hey, were you you were winning those contests or no? Most I'd say was up there. Yeah. Most of them. Yeah. Wait, because that's interesting. If there's six of them, did they rotate who went first on every single kick or was it same order? Same order.

We would just go through and just keep rolling. That's interesting. That's i'm happy i never i was a part of a um a kicking contest that was not public i don't think and i think we've talked about it before right benny adam venetieri my rookie year he's the kicker he's the kicker he's the kicker has hip injury so we bring in matt stover obviously matt stover like the number two kicker of that generation. Adam Vinatieri, number one kicker of that generation. Adam Vinatieri gets something. I don't know if he gets rehab or whatever.

A couple weeks, he's there. Stover's kicking for the team. We're about to go to the playoffs. This is when we're undefeated. Vinatieri is like, all right, I think I can kick. I don't know if I'm back or not. So the special teams coordinator comes in the team meeting and goes, today, during field goal period,

we're going to be kicking two balls from each spot. Matt Stover will kick first, and then Adam Vinatieri is going to kick second. This is not a competition. This is not a competition. This is just to see where Adam's at or whatever. And everybody in the room was like, oh, this is a competition. Oh, yeah. This is a competition.

So we're all thinking that. Justin Snow, the long snapper who you guys got a chance to meet last week, he comes up to me and he goes, bud, we're in the middle of a fucking kicking competition between Adam Vinatieri and Matt Stover today. And I was like, okay, don't need the added – I was like kind of pumped to be a part of it. I wasn't framing it in the way that you're framing it there.

It was like, oh, shit, I've got to be on my thing because two different leans, Dicker, two different leans, and I'm a rookie. This is my first year holding, so I'm in a part of it. The entire team stood in like a horseshoe, basically, basically around the field goal. And it was like eight spots, back to back to back to back to back. I gave a good hold. We gave a good snap, good hold for everybody.

Oh, yeah. Vinatieri did win that particular. I think he hit two more than Stover or maybe one more. And then something happened behind the scenes where we didn't have that happen anymore. And Vinatieri was not kicking the rest of the year. And everybody was very confused by it. But there was, because Vinny had been on the team for nine or ten years at that point. And he was their guy.

And he's Adam Vinatieri. And Stover had just been on the team for four years. And he's kicking, or four games. He's kicking, he's making it like 35-yarder, and then Vinny lines up, and you hear like, Reggie, all right, Vin, all right. Right? So, like, he lines up, he makes it through. There's an actual, okay!

And then the next one, I'm like, Stover is. Stover is one versus 52 right now. I don't even know if he knows that. How far did he get back? I think we went 52, 53. Every time Vinatieri practiced, we went to 60-plus. What do you do in practice? You go on long balls every time you kick or no?

No, when we go team, we go 55, probably 57, I think, was max we've gone so far with the team. Who picks that, you? No, I just go with whatever coach says. Oh, so I was the one actually spotting the ball in the field goal period, which was quite a thing. Like put it there, put it there, because I would read how Vinny was hitting it. Because you need to make a 60-plus yarder in practice for there to ever be a

thought of a 50-plus yarder. So if Vinny was hitting the ball well, it's like, yeah, let's go back to like 63, just so everybody knows that it's there. Something to do later in your career. Something to do later in your career when you get going. And I feel like you're earning the trust of everybody quickly. Has there been any moments that have been too big? Every time you've had to step in, it seemed like early in your career, it was for game winners and you hit those fuckers. Hey, there was no questions. Was there

ever any doubt? Have you always been like this? And what do you think about when you're going out there? No, I feel pretty calm. I mean, I think a lot of good kickers don't really think about when you're going out there no i feel pretty calm i mean i think a lot of good kickers don't really think about much i kind of just let the body take over and so running out on the field don't really think about anything just kind of line up pick a spot up behind the uprights and just try to hit it yeah you do great dude honestly you do fantastic it seems like everybody loves you over there too ty your question for dicker the kicker dicker was there any like was there a point this year where you know you mentioned getting all those tryouts in the preseason and then you don't get any calls for you know six weeks are there any points in there where you're

like oh shit i might have to actually consider doing something else or did you just assume hey if i wait long enough my opportunity is probably going to come and i kind of was thinking if i wait long enough talking my agent and and everything. He was just saying the guys he's represented, it's been that way. You just wait and let something happen. Somebody's going to get hurt somewhere. Somebody's going to miss kicks somewhere, and you just be ready for that opportunity. Darius, your question for Cam. Yeah, so you guys were actually my preseason Super Bowl picks,

and I'm sticking with it. What's the vibes like? You've been there, what, eight, nine, ten weeks now with the team. Now what's the vibes like in the locker room as y'all make this playoff push late in the season? It's awesome. I think everybody's excited. Tough, big win that we just had.

I think big game's coming up. And so hoping. Yeah, Monday's going to be tough, bro. Good luck. Hey, good luck Monday night, pal. Tom Telesco sent me a text and said, hey, let's not do anything, Dicker. Okay, please. He's the reason why I got drafted, so I have the utmost amount of respect.

You guys are coming into a tough Colts house. Hey, listen, it's going to be loud, Dicker. It's going to be loud, Dicker. It's going to be fun. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah, it's going to be fun. Not for you. No, yeah.

No, I don't think so. We're going to make it as hard as possible, aren't we so hey we're gonna make it as hard aren't we god damn hard as possible on you dicker no i'm excited to see you in warm-ups i'm excited i'll be out there early to watch you in warm-ups because how impressed i have been with you you got big ball you like big ball no uh i mean i usually go back i'll hit 50 i'll hit my 52 go to like a 57. And then if I hit that well, maybe go back. But I'll usually just be like, yep, felt good.

Because realistically, they're not putting me out there for anything 60 plus unless it's an emergency. Yeah, literally ever, let alone like rookie kicker. And I always – You've got Herbert on the right. Exactly. And they're going forward on fourth and whatever. There's an opportunity for it. So that's probably a smart play.

That's much more mature than I was. When I was young, I was like, I'm going to hit the long ball here. And I'm like, you should just hit that 70-yarder. And they're like, yeah, yeah, it's really – ever going to do that in a game? Never. Okay, why don't you go make like five 40-yarders? Well, that's no fun. That's no fun at all.

Tony, your question for Dicker the kicker. Yeah, we were talking about holding actually a lot this week. How nice has it been potentially for you who someone had to have bounced around now to finally get into a groove with your holder and them get to learn what you like? Yeah, no, it's awesome. I mean, I think Josh starts a long snapper. Nobody really talks about that too much. But if you have a bad snap, it makes the holder's life kind of a living hell because they're the one that needs to fix everything. But JK has been doing a great job. He's every day asking, hey, is this good? Is this good? And so I'm a pretty not picky guy, but a little bit of a lean right and we're good to go.

Oh, you like to front kneely like a little away from you too or straight up and down just a little bit towards the holder so a little bit away from me forward lean forward lean or no um if it's a windier game we'll do forward but most of the time just just normal just keeping neutral you're a good dude man i am so happy for what you've experienced which is nothing but success as a kicker seems like the chargers are an electrifying team to be a part of they all seem to like you as well i got a lot of messages excited that you were coming on the show we appreciate you so much man keep it going of course thank you hey hook them huh let's go oh yeah hook them, huh? Let's go. Oh, yeah. Hook them horns, baby. Oh, yeah.

Cameron Dicker, ladies and gentlemen. Yeah, Cam. He sounds like a bro, huh? Yeah. Oh, yeah. Going over? Very chill. Yeah, you were over.

That was sweet. That was good. Hey, you heard that, AJ. You love that type of talk. I knew it. Yeah, for shoot. I knew. Yeah.

That's exactly what he was saying. There it is. That's a shoot, brother. That is. That is a shoot. He's really good. And I enjoyed hearing him say like yeah i'm trying not to think about anything because those people yeah are the ones

to do as soon as you start realizing that was like when justin stowe told me hey we're in the middle of the thing i was like bro i don't need that don't tell me that shut up i just gotta hold double the holds today that's all i heard i didn't hear like yeah this is like one of the biggest kicking competitions in the history of the sport. Two of the greatest kickers of the generation are battling for a definite Super Bowl run in the middle. And we're in the middle. Like, I don't. Hey, whoa. Too much information.

Pipe down. Maybe in the middle of that I can start thinking about that. But let's not have me thinking about this for the next three hours before practice. But that is really what it was. Those kicking competitions. I never had to do one. I had to hold for one that we had in an offseason. But that has to be a good time.

Like, I kind of wish I was able to do a couple of those. Just because you can actually, you know, that's a little where you can. You can screw one guy and help the other is what you're saying? No, as a kicker, you can apply a little pressure to somebody else, though. Like, you know, they brought in a couple guys to compete with me a couple years. And I love – I really, really loved it, you know. It's like as soon as we get out there, I'd play. I would like this guy to hear and see what's coming off my foot before he –

you know what I mean? Before he even picks up a ball. He's going to be introduced real quick to something that people have referred to as the boomstick. And just to see how they respond to it you know like immediately how they responded like mcmanus came into camp with us i loved mcmanus coming to camp he had a massive leg so like whenever vinnie saw mcmanus hitting big balls it made vinnie better because vinnie also going back like in those warm-ups of games i enjoy getting there for the warm-ups that's when like there is a there's

a real there's a little bit of a something going on between the kickers and punters and if you're not a kicker and punter you can't respect it but if your kid's a kicker or punter you and you get a chance to go to an nfl game you should certainly try to get in there for warm-ups because there is some fucking applied pressure going on between there's's been times and i i think i told the story about cyphers cyphers was with the chargers and that was my oh i gotta get a lot better real quick he was standing right next to me and i was getting a snap and i was punting and then he was getting a snap and he was punting and he was the reason i was drafted to the colts because he was playing for the chargers he pinned peyton manning in the playoffs inside his own five, like seven straight times with like 66-yard balls and like 70-yard balls. And like that's why they lost the playoff game is because of field position.

So Hunter Smith, after being here and beloved by everybody for 12 years or 13 years, he gets released. Then a guy who's never punted before really in the NFL style gets drafted for it. It was certainly a change of events. So I was sitting on – and Justin Stone had told me about Cyphers being the reason why I was on the team right before we go out for warm-ups with Cyphers out there, by the way. Snow, just a reminder, like, hey, when you're watching this guy,

this is like the guy right now or whatever. I sat next to him. I punted a ball, and it was like barely. And then he took one. It was like boom, like a bomb right off. And it was going up into the Lucas Oil Stadium window, it was like, like barely. And then he took one. It was like, boom, like a bomb right off. And it was going up into the Lucas oil stadium window. It felt like it was just like that thing might hit the fucking roof of this place.

And then it came down. So then I'm like, all right, don't, Hey, this don't be a bitch. Let's go. Like,

you know, so I go to hit one. I try to swing so hard. I fucking shank it. Obviously it goes off to the side. He gets another one. Boom. It was just like a,

so high. And then he has like this little walk walk casual back as he's walking it. And I'm just watching this thing. I'm like, God, you are getting fucking. We're either stopping warm-ups right now or we're going to hit one. So I try my hardest. I hit like a bullshit one. You know, my form wasn't at the place to hit.

I could have never got to the ball that he was at with what my form was. And then he did another one and then another one. And then he backed up up behind me and then i don't know if he was doing it on purpose but a ball would get snapped to me and he would hit a ball before right before i would punt and then i would punt and his ball would hit after my ball and he's behind me and it's long and i'm like that was a real moment for me that was like uh in the offseason when I was trying to learn how to fucking punt. It was like, cannot get punked by ciphers in warm-ups ever again. So if you ever get into a game early and want to check some shit out, the kickers are doing it.

When I was a kicker, I used to tee up five yards behind the people and just let them hear it go over their head, you know, just a little. Because you can't really talk shit much to many other people when you're a kicker or punter. But other kickers and punters, you can have a little bit of. Oh, yeah, back and forth. Yeah, Cypher's fucking just absolutely punked the shit out of me. Made me better.

Hey, made me better. Cypher sent me a text when I was nominated for the Hall of Fame. He was like, congrats or whatever. And I was almost embarrassed, like, text him back. Like, you've been on the same field as me. And at that point, I was nowhere near what i ended up being but i want to let you know you humiliating me in front of my family and all of indianapolis made me a lot better like i i've tried to send that message to him a lot like like shane leckler as well that was another guy a couple warm-ups

early in my career he's just fucking murdering ball they are going so far so far these balls are going am I or not and then like later in my career when he was with the Texans it was cool to get like the uh you know because the warm-ups had flipped a little bit you know what I mean the warm-ups had flipped a little bit for me as I got older and I learned it and Shane like giving me like, all right, almost. You know, I'm like, my guy. Like, that was a big moment for me. So I appreciate all of them.

Shane needs to go into Hall of Fame, though, that guy. And then Cypher's ass should fucking be maybe next up there. I don't think I've ever – he's a country fuck, too. Like, he is a southern – I mean, we're talking – A whole nine. Just like Andy Lee, I think he's a big country boy that's just murdering footballs back in the days. It's an interesting –

Is your warm-ups like bowling where you kind of slow down and wait if the person right next to you is about to go? And you're like, okay, you go. So warm-ups have a purpose. You're trying to find the wind stream. You're trying to figure out where you go. Like there is a lot of things that have purpose, so you're trying to figure it out.

But, yeah, normally it is a one after another type thing. One at a time. Yeah, it's cool. You should try to boom it. I never knew you guys were out there trying to piss all over each other before the game and intimidate. That's news to me. I don't know if everybody else was.

Sounds like Cyphers was. I know Cyphers certainly was. And I assume they just say, no, we're just warming up. Just warming up. Did you ever? Yeah. Shane certainly was. And I assume they just say, no, we're just warming up. Just warming up. Did you ever? Yeah, just warming up. Just warming up. Ever try to directionally punt and hit people that you didn't like on the other sideline or something?

No, no. That's a big conversation piece because when we kick on the field, there's normally shit happening on the field too. Right? Like there's a check ceremony happening before the game. I mean, look it. You guys will come out when there's a halftime show still going on and start punting and kicking. So that's a whole – I was a part of quite a scene there for that whole thing.

Preseason game, couple kickers on the other team, couple punters on our team, couple punters on their team. Somebody on the other team was punting, and there was a high school band contest happening in Indianapolis. And the winner of the high school band contest got to perform at halftime of the preseason game. And I'm not going to say the name of the person. The other team had a backup punter that did not know where the ball was going,

apparently. I was watching said guy punt a lot. He did not know. And I thought it was dangerous. I thought he was. That is. If the tip of the ball comes down like a 60 yarder and hits you in the temple Good luck

And I try to put myself in his position Where he's getting an opportunity to maybe make an NFL team And get NFL film So he's not worried about anything else But that band was clearly One miss by him Like I would not have even been trying Were you surprised at the confidence that he showed

Or the delusion he showed in that moment All those things yeah those were the words that I was looking for. And he hit. I mean, he blasted a kid. Direct shot, like shoulder, face. And it became a big letter was written to the Colts. Oh, boy. Big, long one.

Taking a lot of shots at kickers and punters and how this band earned to be on the field. And that punter did not. Should cut him. Yeah, it was bad. So I had to answer questions about it. And they were like, was this us that did this? And I was like, it was not. I did see who it was.

I will not say who it was. But I thought it was a little bit aggressive as well, what they were doing. I could see how the parents would be very pissed off by this particular setup. But there's not a lot of space, you know, and you can miss one and hit somebody. I've missed the kicking that on the sideline. That's something that happened.

Oh, yeah, that happens all the time, I feel like. Does it? I only did it once. Into the stance? No, down the sideline. So I hit. Live action is more. Live.

Live action. Not pretty easy. Imagine the ball just. Oh, yeah. Late in the season, too. Dome was closed. I don't remember what game it was. Maybe week 13, week 14. Late'm pretty easy. Imagine the ball just. Oh, yeah. Late in the season, too. Dome was closed. I don't remember what game it was. Maybe week 13, week 14.

Late in the season at Lucas Oil. We're undefeated at that point. I'm punting into the net, you know, and I guess that was my first year, so I didn't really have it all figured out yet. I guess I must have pulled it a little early. That thing hits off the top of the fucking metal thing, and then perfect spiral. It didn't get affected enough.

Perfect spiral down the sideline. Lands in the defensive side of the thing in the white next to the field. So plays happening. Hit somebody in the back of the leg, I think. And I was like, hey, I need that ball. Sorry. Who did that? Did you just see where that came from?

Then there was a full, like, you know, there was a full, like, that would be a penalty, you know, you've got to be real. I'm like, okay, all right, I can't miss a net. It won't happen again. I'm trying my best not to, but I can see how it could happen more often. Anyways, I appreciate Dicker coming on. I also appreciate the fact that we do this show every single day. Don't you, D-Butt?

Damn right. How about you, Ty and Connor? Hell yeah. Lucky to do it. Ty and Diggs, we get to do this show every single day. That's a good thing because we get to cover every single story. Ain't that right, one half of the hammer? Dad!

Cowboys, Tundigs. An absolute blessing. And AJ, you've said it numerous times, love doing this for a living. We get to do this for a living. It's an honor to do this job every single day. It's a privilege. Isn't that right, AJ? Yes, it is.

Absolutely. You know, we get to follow the stories. It feels like we're a part of the NFL season for a lot of people. And for that, we are eternally grateful. We also get the opportunity to correct any wrongs that we had literally the day before. We don't have to wait an entire week. We don't have to wait until the next show. We can do it literally the next day.

Yesterday, we got a couple of things wrong. Chief Saholic was arrested in Bixby, Oklahoma, within six minutes of being there by the Bixby Police Department over there in Oklahoma. We said he was arrested in Texas. This interstate armed robber was caught in the great state of Oklahoma, not in Texas. We have to get that corrected. Shout out to Bixby. Shout out to Bixby PD.

Good work. The other thing we got wrong, and this is on me while we were talking to aaron rogers you brought up signals and you brought the article that was written in the athletic about former teammates talking about signals being used from previous seasons and expectations on signals and how aaron treats people and who gets signals and everything like that painting aaron rogers in a negative light with his signals and why there is not as much success on the field as, you know, there could have been or has been in the past with Devontae Adams

and everything like that. I followed up to your question and said, yeah, the article, which I did not read, and I think I said I did not read. I might have alluded to seeing some headlines, which I did see some headlines. I do not have an athletic subscription, so I was not able to read it. But I said anonymous sources, I believe, said blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.

The article's author, Kalen K-Kair. Kaler, I think. Kalen Kaler, who has worked in the sports media world for a long time, okay, formerly of Defector Media, Sports Illustrated, and the Monday Morning Quarterback,

now senior NFL journalist for The Athletic. Been around the game a long time. She quote tweeted the video of Aaron calling it exaggerated nothingness and a nothing burger, which surprised me as descriptors for an article. Actually made me laugh a little bit. Anytime Aaron Rodgers says something like exaggerated nothingness, like I find it hilarious because that is like the most Aaron Rodgers thing to say about an article about Aaron Rodgers.

Like exaggerated nothingness is a hysterical descriptor of anything, especially when it's coming from a person that has an article written about them that isn't in a glowing light or whatever. So I found that funny. Kaylin Kaler of The Athletic quote tweeted that video and says, all I have to say is all the sources were on the record. You could, you know, read it to find that out. She tweeted at me with that whole thing. So this obviously led to every one of her journalist friends and everybody that is a fan of Kaylin and her work because she has done great work for a long time. So obviously open season on my professionalism and everything like that. Steve Millar, who covers high school journalism, he's a high school sports journalist, obviously.

He says this is embarrassing. Pat McAfee show 30 seconds of research would show they weren't anonymous sources. You then could have asked questions about stuff his current teammates were quoted on. That would have been entertaining. Maybe he wouldn't come back on your show, though. Okay, Steve. And then another aspiring journalist from Canada had this to say. The guy who is afraid of vaccines is now talking shit about articles made about him.

Is he Donald Trump? Man, even your teammates don't like you. A clown trying to get applause from kids. Okay, this is aspiring media person. This is a two-time MVP, okay, of the biggest league on earth is how these people are talking about it. Because I think of how we've how we talked about his stance now i'm vaccinated obviously we've learned a lot about that but i am still i am vaccinated still got it aaron had his stance on it aaron mvp of the nfl aaron successful human

being who's going to be remembered as the greatest ball thrower of all time in the biggest league in the biggest sport in the world. Soccer, we, okay. It's not. Okay. We get it, dude. Nonetheless, so like hearing his thoughts on things, I feel like that is journalism. People do documentaries on people all the time. Are they journalists?

I don't know. So unless I'm going to be an opinion pundit journalist. In fact, people have questioned my journalism because when Aaron won against his vaccination, did his research and stated how he feels as a Mount Rushmore quarterback in the history of NFL, giving his thoughts so we can learn about who he is as a person in our world and in our game, people attack me for not pushing back

because, of course, I fucking know, right? Because I read all the vaccination books and i'm i'm the right one to tell aaron rogers who had a 500 page research thing done i'm the one to push back because that's what journalism is obviously that's what journalism is now i have had teachers of many journalism schools and professors tell me like journalism is getting stories from people and getting information and learning about people there's many different ways to do it what you were doing and providing is also a form of journalism i'm like thank you can you tell all these other people that this is

and i'm not trying to be a journalist but i do believe there is some sort of journalism being done whenever you're learning about one of the greatest of all time to do something neither here nor there. I wasn't doing the same thing as everybody else because I'm not as smart as everybody else. So I've been attacked. So Kaylin saying that, putting that out there, was like a bird call basically. You know, dunk on Aaron, dunk on me. But everything she said, very valid. I should have read the article before talking to Aaron.

I should have known who all spoke in there. So I think we should read it right now, live on air. And we will read through the whole thing. I do not have a subscription. When I got named their sports media person of the year by Richard Deitch, I felt incredibly honored. Couldn't read the article. I had for somebody to send it over to me. Should become a subscriber because I have a lot of respect for everybody does over there but with like Twitter and other things come on just providing everything it's tough to be a premium content service and you know I'm not your demo I'm not your demo but I will become a subscriber because how nice Richard Deitz was and how nice the athletic people have been to me nonetheless should have read this

article let's do it live let's go and then let's kind of go through it all as we aj is that cool with you yeah it sounds great let's do it signal meetings and aaron rogers little death stare what it's like for packers rookie receivers by kaylin kaylor here we go a couple good photos of them they're obviously setting the page this is a happy good story trying to make him look good obviously uh his best photo of all time uh let's go through here christian watson almost ruined this story okay so this story was already written christian watson almost ruined this after week nine when green bay lost at detroit after putting up only nine points a question began to take shape why is it so hard to be a rookie wide receiver in an Aaron Rodgers offense? Watson and fellow rookie Romeo Dobbs, second and fourth round picks respectively, had struggled to make consistent gains in seventh rounder Samori Torre was barely involved. Rookie receivers have never produced much during Rodgers' time in Green Bay,

but there's never been a consensus as to why. It's a real chicken or egg dilemma. Have rookies struggled because the Packers have rarely devoted the draft capital selecting the kind of receiver who is ready to play right away, or because Rodgers' personal standards are too high for any first-year player? Too high, these standards. NFL. Too high, NFL. From 2008 to 2021, Rodgers' era is the starter in Green Bay. The Packers drafted six receivers in the first rounds. Jordy Nelson, second round, 2008. Randall Cobb, second round, 2011.

Devontae Adams, second round, 2014. Ty Montgomery, third round, 2015. He ended up being a running back, I think. Jamal Moore, fourth round, 2018. And Amari Rodgers, third round, 2021. Those receivers finished their rookie years averaging 26.7 targets, 19.5 receptions, 230 half receiving yards, and

1.3 touchdown receptions. These are good stats. Yeah, very. A lot of information there. In the same time span, the 31 other teams in the NFL drafted 219 wide receivers in the first four rounds, who averaged nearly double the targets as Green Bay's rookies in their first season, as well as 30.1 receptions, 400

receiving yards, and two and a half touchdowns, 1.2 touchdowns more. It's a lot. Okay. 16 games, 1.2 touchdowns more. How many snaps? That is a lot. Then, in week 10, Watson broke out with four catches for 107 yards and three touchdowns

in an overtime win against Dallas. Against Tennessee, Philadelphia, and Chicago, Watson hauled in a combined 11 receptions on 19 targets, scoring eight touchdowns, two of them being rushing, in four weeks, which tied him with Randy Moss for the most for a rookie receiver in a four-game span. What are you hearing here, AJ? Anything yet? No, not much really. All right, but in all likelihood, Watson's emergence came too late to save the Packers' season. Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, still alive. Not dead yet. Not dead yet.

Whoa. Still in it. And when the chicken or egg puzzle was posed to Cobb, a 12-year veteran on a quiet Wednesday afternoon in Green Bay, his answer proved that Watson hadn't totally shredded the story. This story. At least not to the degree he's been shredding NFL defenses of late. During Aaron's career,

there's always been a constant couple of guys already here whenever they draft somebody, Cobb told The Athletic, which makes sense. There's veteran wide receivers. This is the first time in the course of Aaron's career that rookies have been thrust into a position where they have to play right away and play meaningful snaps. Go deeper!

This year, Rodgers has had to rely on rookies more than any other time in his career. From 2008 to 2021, Green Bay rookie receivers average a target on 13.4% of their routes. Currently, Dobbs and Watson average a target on 21.2% of their routes. Dobbs missed like five games, I think. Watson averages 32.1 snaps per game and dobbs averages 43.8 though he's missed the last four games with a high ankle sprain i've not read this is my first reading right yes this is my first reading i'm what's that connor well also like the percentage of targets that rookies are you know had for from 2008 to 2021 were two rookies on the field during those times or is this no actually r Randall Cobb just said that.

Not normal. Okay, so this is kind of a rare situation where two rookies have to play at the same time on the field at the same time for a green bag. Well, football in 2008 and 2021, a little bit different. And then also with the stats, how many of those other receivers who were rookies? There's more. There's more.

Please. Cobb averaged 6.7 snaps per game his rookie season in 2011 when Rodgers was in his fourth year as the starter, and according to Cobb, just as detailed and intricate as he is today. And that's why I didn't play much, Cobb said. I wasn't thrust into a position where I had to play 25-plus snaps. I was able to sit back and learn and watch and see the detail of what this offense does

and what is expected of a receiver. That's one thing that Green Bay has always prided themselves on, drafting guys and being able to develop them and not having to thrust guys into situations immediately in their career. It happened with Aaron. Aaron Rodgers, who's being talked about here, sat for three years. But when Green Bay traded Adams to Las Vegas in March, that tradition ended. You're expecting someone to fill that void, Cobb said.

The rookies were in over their heads for at least the first half of the season as games slipped away and losses and injuries mounted. Watson missed the first two weeks of training camp while recovering from minor knee surgery and then missed three full games with a hamstring injury and a concussion. According to veteran receiver Sammy Watkins, there are two offenses in one at play in Green Bay. Matt LaFleur's scheme and all the tiny details Rodgers wants to execute it to perfection,

whether it is angle, yardage, eye, head or tempo. Watkins, who signed with the Packers in April, said he finds himself confused sometimes despite eight plus years of NFL experience. Now, Matt Ryan has played for how long 14 yeah 14 16 14 years i think for like the first uh eight games of the season him and the offensive line were not speaking anywhere near the same language they have no clue what they were speaking but matt ryan's smart quarterback been around a long time right so his years in the nfl should definitely translate to him being able to understand the offense a little better. And we were all very confused that he wasn't able to pick it up as quickly.

But it turns out sometimes speaking a different language might be a little difficult. Yeah. You can say it. Tell them what you're going to say. Same as Russ Wilson, snap gun. Oh, yeah. Russ Wilson and Broncos. From Seattle this year in Denver.

Stafford last year had trouble learning. With the Rams at the beginning. AJ. But Sammy. Yeah. Sammy Watkins, paragraph right there. If you're not up to date 100% of the time, you pretty much can't go out there and make plays.

You can't play fast because you're worried about all of that. You're not worried about everything else. That's every position, though. Absolutely. But if you're just trying to do the right thing, you're not focused on getting open. You're not focusing on releases. Okay, so this is the NFL.

Remember, less thinky, more athlete takeover. Nick Sirianni, potential coach of the year this year, actually said that in his opening press conference the first time he became head coach. So I think Watkins has a point here. These are all definitely facts, but I don't think they're an anomaly just to Green Bay. I don't think.

Speaking after his first practice back from his ankle sprain in Week 13, Dobbs said he still wasn't sure if he'd earned Rodgers' trust. I don't know, he said. I know with this being my first year here, playing for a Hall of Fame quarterback obviously has been the biggest learning curve for me. And it's not just for myself. It's for Christian, for Samori. And so it's been a really tough transition.

I think on the Manning cast, I think there was like one time Peyton's, Peyton, I guess, pretty good quarterback. I think somebody dropped the ball and he's like, they're not going to get a lot of balls you do that, right? So like, I think this is something that, I don't know. Reggie Wayne, I had, pretty good quarterback. I think somebody dropped the ball, and he's like, they're not going to get a lot of balls if you do that, right? So, like, I think this is something that – I don't know. Reggie Wayne, I had him on the pod. I met him at a party. He talked about how it took a couple years for him to earn Peyton's trust,

had to do walk-throughs and shit after practice. You know, obviously he had Marv on the other side. Reggie Wayne? Reggie Wayne. He's a Hall of Fame nominee out of Miami. It's a big transition. Obviously, he was learning curve. Like AJ said, this is everybody on the field. So that happened in – that was with Peyton. That was a big transition. Obviously, a huge learning curve, like AJ said.

So that happened with Peyton. That was an indie. I saw that. Tom Brady all the time in New England. If there was a rookie wide receiver, rookie tight end, I can remember one specifically. First pass, one of five off his hands, interception. I believe he was waived

or released two weeks from that. So that was with Tom Brady. Tom Brady is okay. Chad Ochocinco went to New England. Couldn't pick it up. One of the best receivers of all time. We know Seven had no problem. So that's in New England, though.

New England, okay, so that's still in New England. So it happens in New England. Tom Brady, pretty good quarterback. Peyton Manning, pretty good quarterback. Seven had no problem telling rookie wide receivers, hey, you fucking stink off. Ben Rollins, he's a pretty good quarterback. Happens with him.

Eric Decker actually joined New England instead of playing. He just decided, I'm going to retire because of how complicated it was. So that's happening, so I guess in a couple different facilities, this is what they're. You know, usually, especially when you talk about the, they're in the upper echelon for a reason. In the NFL? Yeah, they do.

I mean, in the NFL, but then when you talk about, you know, Mount Rushmore type quarterbacks, like they're not doing everything that but these are all factual statements though these are so the nothing that kaylin has said is not factual right now so i should have read this beforehand but let's let's continue saturdays are typically the easiest day of the nf of the nfl week players come in watch film from practice and then go through a light walkthrough. There's no real physical exertion required. But for Packers rookie offensive skill players, Saturdays are the most mentally exhausting day of the week. So the walkthroughs,

the day before games, that's a big like, what are we going to go with? What are we not going to go with? And Darius, you can only speak on the defense side of the ball you have to think on saturdays sometimes um actually for us i'll speak for us uh it was like a mock game situation so you just go out do some drives you know hey these are the calls we're going to come out with it's pretty pretty scripted offense is different though because throughout every week as a defense i don't know if this is legal or not but we get the signals from the other team. So we watch film, you watch TV copy, you hear cold words. You're saying that happened in New England, right? No, anywhere.

No! Signals are learning signals? The defense has to learn the signals of the other teams? You don't learn them all, but there are certain signals where you say, okay, this is what they do, this is what they do. So you try to pick certain things up, and then, you know, you're going to take that out. Well, let's get right to it then. The signals meetings was by far the worst thing, said former Packers receiver Chris Blair.

Who? That's what I saw. Chris Blair, former Packers receiver. He did put his name on it, though, so this is not an anonymous source, although it is an anonymous human in the NFL conversation. No offense, Chris Blair. No offense. No, none whatsoever. I'm a big time Packers fan and again I'm not one of those guys who's looking at the full you know 140 guys that are coming to to training camp but I'd never heard of Chris Blair

okay so Chris Blair who spent the 2021 season as a rookie on the Green Bay's practice squad okay practice squad is somebody that is on the team, on the practice team, can get signed from any other team any moment. Any moment can literally get picked up off of that roster and then get guaranteed, I think, four active weeks with the new team. So, for instance, you're playing a team this weekend. They can pick up somebody off your practice squad, put them on your team. They're playing against your team, maybe. They're also talking about said team to the new team that you're playing. Pretty standard operating procedure here, right, A a team. They're playing against your team, maybe. They're also talking about said team to

the new team that you're playing. Pretty standard operating procedure here, right, A.J. Hawk? Yeah, pretty standard. Okay, so Chris Blair, who spent the 2021 season as a rookie on Green Bay's practice squad, had in his Twitter bio, Green Bay Packer, I used to hate

those signal meetings, he said. Rogers uses hand signals at the line of scrimmage to change a route or a concept. You're probably familiar with a few of his most common ones. The helmet tap, the one where he holds his left arm behind his back with his thumb pointed down. Another where he raises an index finger and quickly rotates it. And another that looks like the Hawaiian hang loose sign. That's a shocker. Shocker.

Okay, that's Hawaiian hang loose sign. That one's sick. Yeah's yeah hawaiian hang loose that one's sick yeah anytime he starts throwing shaka out there you know he's being like do something cool bro you know i mean goodbye do something cool bro and then this one also he throws this one out there all the time what's this one all about love you on saturdays rookie receivers running backs and tight ends get quizzed on them you don't want to get called on because you gotta do it in front of the whole team said former Packers receiver equanimity equanimity of St. Brown know his name know he's a player who now plays for the Bears it's probably the most nerve-wracking for a young player because we

don't get taught them said former Green Bay running back Kylan Hill, who was drafted in 2021 and released in November. Drafted. Anytime they just say who was drafted, we're leaving out the round. I don't know when Kylan Hill. He was like a sixth or seventh round pick. Kylan Hill was drafted in seventh round in 2021 and released in November. You have to learn them on the fly, says Kylan Hill.

That's definitely something wide receivers don't look forward to is the signal meeting because we have so many said backup quarterback jordan love you don't want any of that stuff getting out so we wait until the season starts to start going through signals aaron alluded to this yesterday where you're not just going to give people who're probably going to get cut from your team your signals people that are on your practice squad you're probably not going to give no your. Because if you give them your signals, guess where theirs are headed? Right to another team. And everybody uses similar signals, but they change week to week. Am I wrong in anything that I'm saying here, AJ?

If something gets caught on TV. You also have moles, too. In your building. This is like top flight security in the world, Craig. This is G14 classified type of shit. Aaron did this. You know what I mean? Jota Berg. J14, yeah.

Aaron did this on Monday night or whatever. Yep. And that was clearly he was supposed to turn and catch that and go. And make a parlay hit. This, and make Darius's. This is probably going to mean something vastly different this upcoming week. Right. This is probably going to mean four different things through a season.

It's not going to mean four different things through a season. It's not going to mean quick screen, right? As somebody who was lucky enough to maybe have a couple beers in the same room as signals were being created for Peyton Manning and the boys, like one signal

can have one meaning forever, but if one signal gets outed by TV or as soon as they do it in a game and the other team's like fade, fade, fade, fade or whatever the classic this, it in a game and the other team's like fade fade fade fade or whatever the classic this it'll get changed for the next week because if you do recall Cam Newton Clay

Matthews yes signal cadence whatever it is and Clay goes bob wheel wheel wheel wheel and Cam goes oh you did you studied huh watching film oh that's good watch this and boom it was a fucking iso right back the other way for a tut or whatever the case is. So signals are something that are a part of sports and certainly a part of the NFL. And they're very vital and important and also secretive because you don't need everybody on earth knowing. He just said we're going through the signals. That's the signals that they have figured out, found out, either through TV copy, moles potentially in the building, which are people on practice squads or not on the actual team.

So there's a reasoning for all these things. And then even during the game, you can go out like first quarter, you say, all right, they did it. It was, you know, it was what we thought it was going to be. So next time, you know, that's the next time. Trust your study. Yeah, trust it, yeah. Yeah, yeah, because they do that in baseball too, right?

Oh, yeah. Like trust the film, trust the film. That's what Harper told old buddy that hit the home run after him. Yeah, because they had to tell on where he was tipping his pitches. And they're like, hey, trust the intel, trust the intel. That's a big thing that happens in football when everybody's trying to outwit the next person in a massive game of chess. Once again, everything Kalen is writing here is true, and I was 100% wrong. Kylan Hill was quoted in this.

That is Chris Blair. Wait, was that the issue that you said anonymous sources? I'm sorry, I didn't hear you say anonymous sources yesterday. Well, I said anonymous sources, I believe, because I didn't read the whole thing. But that's the big issue? Is that the big issue here? That was her quote tweet. That was her big issue with it and then that was an alley-oop for a lot of people.

Sorry, I'll let you finish. No, no. Please. Anytime you'd like to pipe in. It's very interesting. Yeah. All I have to say is, this is all she had to say after now she has in her Twitter bio right now exaggerated nothingness which I tweeted her and said I did not expect that to be a description of somebody's work.

And Caitlin put in a lot of work here, right? She reached out to a lot of people. I respect her journalism. I respect her writing. I respect what she does. I respect media for the NFL. this it was like i said i believe i think i kind of i kind of alluded to me not reading the article but we had we had the opportunity to address it with the person that the article was written about i feel like that's a good thing to do journalism okay is it i think so also you're not disrespecting

the players who haven't made a team who were drafted late because you weren't a first round pick either it's not like yeah i was sort of picked 222. Yeah, so – And I had two singles. So you should have – so what we should have said – so what we should have just said, well, hey, there's – what about these guys that were on record saying this? So Cobb was on record. A lot of people were tweeting me. Cobb was quoted in there. Well, Cobb just talked about football in the NFL. Yes, he did.

How I had to earn trust in him. Right. I feel like that's what all this is, football in the NFL, basically. Yeah, but like Chris Blair saying something about, like, being nervous and that whole thing. That's normal. That's completely normal. Yeah, and that's probably part of the reason, probably not the only reason,

but that's a big reason players don't make it. Like, everybody's athletic. Everybody's fast. Everybody's quick. But this is the fucking hard part. Defense does that too, D-Butt. Didn't they call you guys up and have to do your hand signals and everything, and the coach would read them off, and you got to do them in real time,

and if people kill you, if you miss any of them, the whole room goes crazy? Absolutely. And Saturdays, actually Saturday nights, now that I think about it, we went over our signals, and our signals didn't change much, but we still would tweak things here and there. So, yeah, this is, I mean, this is all. And here's more from Chris Blair. Chris Blair. Chris Blair.

This is about a four-time MVP, okay? Mount Rushmore football player. Chris Blair on the record saying, what's so crazy is all coaches don't even know all of them. It's really a thing that you really have to learn from watching Rogers in practice or asking one of the vets, Blair said, that when watching film in Green Bay, coaches would sometimes think a receiver ran the wrong route, but we would be able to show them

like, no, Aaron showed us the signal. The signals are not written down anywhere. They are not searchable on team-issued iPads, and there's no handy film cut up to watch them all in one go. Team-issued iPads, I assume they could put them in just some people's iPads, and I guess that would be a lot of time to take to be like, Hey, this guy's now active. He's allowed to get it on his iPad while the video people are trying to do third and long cutups, first down cutups, second down cutups, fourth down cutups, uh, situational cutups also add in there. This guy's now allowed to get all the signals for this week and they might change next week. I, he said, it's all bullshit that they're not written down

somewhere. I assume there's somewhere, but also you would not want to just leave these laying around. Like this is not something that you would just want to leave laying around. I don't think this is out of the ordinary. Chris Blair, I don't think he ever played in the NFL. Definitely not for the Packers. So he's referencing college football, which is a vastly different sport compared to the NFL. And once again, Kalen is talking to people that played some downs in the NFL and practiced in the NFL, so she did nothing wrong here. Everything she's saying is true. But I think what we're trying to say is the tone of the article is as if Aaron

is doing something that literally nobody else does. That is not the case at all. And I think there should be a little bit more respect shown, even if the guy is an independent thinker, even if you disagree with some of his opinions as a human, I don't think we should just always be trying to paint this guy out. And we're friends with him, and he comes on the show, and a lot of people tweet in,

won't you ask more questions? He won't come on the show. It's like, what? Hard question. I feel like we cover everything. We cover everything. And just because we're, like, friends with the guy, just like we would. That's the problem.

That's the problem. You can't be a journalist and be friends with him. You're too close. Like that's what their whole. Yeah, but they're friends with everybody. They talk like. Yeah, I know, man. It's, you know, sometimes it can be hypocritical.

That's not the problem, AJ. Problem is that he didn't get vaccinated. That is part of it. Well, certainly a lot of people started painting their views on him because of that. And to those people that are just assuming that he's some right-wing lunatic, I think you should continue to look in. Yeah. You might have a lot more in common with him,

all you people that are just hating him for his anti-vaccine, than you could imagine. He's openly talking about plants and drugs, and I don't think that is – I don't know the party affiliations well enough, but I think he's probably a person that you would share some sort. So I think this open vitriol for a guy who is one of the greatest to ever play in the biggest league of all time, respected by literally – except for Chris Blair, I guess,

and Kylan Hill, of course of course kylan hill i mean great i respect him so much as a human and everything like that and chris blair that fucking guy he knows the nfl a lot more than aaron rogers does or anything so caitlin all we're saying is we read the headlines we read the quotes. We read the quotes before we read the article. I'm probably not going to finish the rest of this article. We will assume you always do great work. You've been in sports for a long time. But I think it was the tone in which it was being chatted about that we asked Aaron about, as opposed to the actual quotes from people we've never heard of before, talking about one of the

greatest of all time. So, like, that's where we're at i have nothing but respect for kaylin she wrote exact the truth and everything like that but we just think the tone of it was as if he was doing something abnormal to try to continue to make him look bad by people who might not necessarily know and that's that's why it happened yeah i mean yeah it's interesting to think about like reading through all but i guess jordan love is quoted in the next paragraph. I don't know if you read that or not. Saying they're passed down in the oral tradition. I don't know how that works or what that is.

I wonder who, how many are there? How often do you do it? Well, it says they're not taught, but they also said that every Saturday it's taught. It's nerve-wracking. They are taught. They are taught. They're definitely taught. Yes, they're definitely taught.

Didn't he say Jordan leads it too? He said it happens in practice, and it's a nerve-wracking event when we're going through it. You've got to take some initiative as a player and go seek it out and talk to the vet. This is something that I think happens in a lot of teams, but if you show up and you're like, hey, man, these signals, I've got to learn this.

That's something you're probably scrambling from day one. I need to talk to everybody, Randall Cobb, whoever, even Bug A-Rod and ask him, like, hey, I want to make sure I do right by you. Yeah, this isn't Little League football, okay? Not everybody just gets, hey, here is an equal opportunity, an equal treatment as everybody. This is professional football, okay?

You're expected to know something. It's your job to know something. And he holds them to unrealistic expectation this is the fucking nfl this is this is the best not everybody can make it in the nfl unrealistic expectations are the nfl there's a lot of shit football out there there's a lot of places that maybe don't have unrealistic expectations but there's a reason teams are good and there's a reason teams are bad and there's a reason why there's turnover on the teams that are bad because the unrealistic expectations are the standard and that's just kind of how it is so that's where we are coming from so thank you to every journalist

that buried me last night for being dumb and for everybody else that you know said that we are not upholding our duty of journalists and talking to Aaron and everything like that the attacks that I got from this whole thing I feel like we addressed it yesterday and what he was talking about the nothing burger with some tots on the side and the exaggerated nothingness

in my eyes as somebody that's been in a building and we get a chance to chat with a lot of other people I guess accurate descriptor but if it wasn't an accurate descriptor we would certainly say't an accurate descriptor we would certainly say it and that's why we're journalists yeah i mean i i did read the whole thing and i don't think it's like uh necessarily like a bad article like i think it's pretty well written actually like me and bruce were talking about like in terms of like you know you read the seth

wickersham thing about andrew luck like much more palatable to understand what she's saying but the thing that that i just like, because you're right. The tone is that the Packers haven't been any good this year because Rodgers demands too much of these rookie receivers and it's too complex. And I just don't – like, I understand that Cobb and Romeo Dobbs were interviewed for that. But, like –

They missed a bunch of games. You think – by the way, they're not giving – if Watson's not playing or Dobbs is not playing, they're not seeking them out to give them the signals for that week. No. You know what I mean? That's not something that's happening.

Now – Like, should coaches be talked about at all in this? Like, should we say, hey, if there really is an issue, wouldn't the floor step in? But, okay, everyone needs to know the signals. Well, I assume he does. But, like, to your point, the thing that drove me nuts is like it's it's kind of leading when like you're interviewing all these guys who aren't on the team anymore who maybe couldn't like one of the

reasons they got cut or aren't there anymore is because they couldn't retain these like like you mentioned like this isn't college football this isn't high school football this is the fucking nfl and you have a guy who's going to be a first ballot hall of famer like yeah he's probably going to be a little bit more demanding than a guy who has played quarterback in the nfl for two or three years like that's the way it goes you can say i'm an asshole but you ain't never win nothing michael jordan actually exactly yeah michael jordan he's like you can call me an asshole okay because what i demanded my teammates to run harder and faster and everything like that but But you've never won anything. And I think what Jordan was saying, like, okay, I'm an asshole.

You do without being demanding and having expectations. You figure out how to accomplish everything that we accomplish without having some sort of standard that some people aren't going to be able to handle just because a natural ego is taking place in everything. And there are, I mean, it's a hundred ways, thousand ways to skin a cat. So it's different ways to do it. Is there, I never understood that. I don't know.

Have you done that before? Yeah. Bill! Who skins cats? Yeah, and how many different ways is there? And when did that happen? I don't know where the saying came from, but there is a lot of different ways to do things.

Obviously, everybody doesn't do it like A-Rod, but to Ty's point, it's a complicated offense for a good reason. Some offenses you get in, and you heard, I think, A-Rod, when he talked about it a few weeks ago about the run game, how it's just so dumbed down. Some players in general, you hate that, and that happens, even as a defense. If we got a young safety or corner or linebacker that's got to call the plays now, that's going to be completely different than a seven-, year vet in the middle of defense calling play so you have

to dumb down your signals your game plan your call so it's it's almost pulling everybody back instead of you know forcing everybody to play to that standard so i mean didn't he also say multiple times that they were trying to do that simplify that we have to simplify it seems like they did they started performing a little bit. So you got to go with the flow as the season goes. Yeah, but Christian. He almost ruined it. He did.

I don't think he was looking at it. Was he looking at him or he does not know the situation? Oh, it's like side judge? It's like side judge? Yeah. With Terry McLaughlin. Yeah, could be. I thought maybe he didn't even look.

All right, let's get to a break. We have Adam Thielen on the other side. Can't wait to chat with him. But we would like to let Kalen know. Should I ask him about signals? Definitely. Yeah. Definitely.

With Kevin O'Connell coming in here, the new year, too. Yeah, your signals. Yes, your signals. That's like Tampa Bay. Tom Brady goes down there. They have to do hit. That was a whole conversation. What's funny about Tom, he's had the same signal for a route for 20 years.

Still got it. Literally. Corner. Corner sitting in there. All right. I know what's coming. Here we go. Fuck again.

Same shit. Or like Peyton. You think like when guys are coming in, they're like, all right, you know, we're going to like Peyton. You're going to have to, you know, kind of cut. It's like, no, no, no. It's fucking sink or swim. This is your job.

Yeah. i've been here for a long time like i'm not changing anything okay so either you get it or you're gonna be the fuck out of here that's the way it goes hey you're getting paid did you get a check this pro you got to check this for your pro oh that's cool yeah so like my dad he would have to go to like buildings and he would have to move all the shit out of it, put it in the back of an 18-wheeler, hop in the truck, drive across the country, unload it into the thing, then he would get a check. That was his job.

Your job, you get to do this. You have to fucking know what we're going to do when we're playing football on Sundays. And it might have a couple of different things. It might be a little tasking. You might have to study a couple of times. But these people who are not in the fucking NFL saying,

this guy's running a fucking terrible ship over here. It's like, this is the NFL, dude. What are we even talking about? Once again, Kalen, we have nothing bad to say against Kalen. And she's right. I should have read the whole story.

But the tone in which she was trying to set, I just don't think is the same way. And if I would have read it beforehand, I would have probably chimed in with the exaggerating enough thing. So I'm happy that I didn't, to be honest. I'm happy I didn't do that because I do have appreciation for her service to football and her service to the sports media, just like we do everybody else. for her service to football and her service to the sports media, just like we do everybody else.

Is a man who is an incredible entrepreneur. That's right. An incredible American dream story. Yeah, for sure. Had to pay for the opportunity to work out, to potentially one day work out for the people that he's supposed to work out for. To get into the NFL in his home state of Minnesota. He makes it to the Vikings.

Makes the Pro Bowl. Becomes a mainstay. Now he's a superstar. I believe he had four of the brand on his cleats this past weekend. As the Minnesota Vikings took on the Indianapolis Colts. And played about a quarter and a half of good football. Enough good football to mount the largest comeback in the history of the fucking NFL. Down 33-zip at halftime.

This man, friend of the program, incredible golfer, Pro Bowl wide receiver, Adam Thielen. Adam! What's up, guys? Adam? Yes, sir? Do you have anything to say to me or any other Colts fans? What happened? No.

Tell us. Did you see my video? I was wearing it. Yes, I did. It was unbelievable. But I was wearing the cleats, and I'm thinking, man, like I'm going to wear these cleats, and we're going to get rocked 33 to nothing. That's not good. But thankfully, we came back and got it done somehow.

Yeah, somehow. Seems like never been done before. That's right. Who knows? They'll never be touched again, I don't think. Probably not. With the way the NFL is, it feels like two-score leads are not safe anymore. Even 17 points, not really safe anymore.

That happens on a regular basis. 33 points no matter what chapter football is in. Game's over. So Pat Peterson gave you guys a motivational speech and said, all we need is five touchdowns, baby. That's all I've seen you guys do that all the time. All we need is five. Was there something in the locker room that Kevin O'Connell said,

Kirk Cousins said, maybe you said? Was there any adjustments? What was the flip of the switch in the second half after getting, you know, shut out in the first half? And now it's a historic memory that will probably be in the Hall of Fame forever. And thank you for wearing my cleats. Or thank you for wearing For the Planer and cleats. We're doing it to a team that I'm famous.

No, honestly, I think everybody kind of had the same message. Like, screw what the score is. You know, screw what the outcome of this game is going to be. Let's just go out there and show them who we really are. That's not us out there, obviously. So let's go show them who we really are. Let's get some momentum going into the next game. Again, no matter what actually happens,

and then Pat P with the, hey guys, you just need five touchdowns, that's all you need. The best part about that was every single time we scored and we came to the sideline, he would reiterate where we were at. So, guys, four more touchdowns, that's all you need the best part about that was every single time we scored we came to sideline he would he would reiterate where we were at so i got four more touchdowns that's all you got all right guys three more touchdowns that's all you got you know and then two more touchdowns that's all you got and and once we kind of got to that point it felt more real and uh and uh we felt like there was a real chance once we got some momentum you scored a touchdown to obviously make it 36 28 and uh that was when i started getting the text messages in the booth it was immediately after

your touchdown because i told the boys i say i think theeland's wearing for the brand let's keep an eye out for it and then the next text i got was uh we've kept an eye on theeland he actually just scored to make it 36 28 just a heads up i'm like oh what happened out of nowhere congrats on the win i'm obviously happy for you and all of our friends over there but once again this is a story that's going to be told probably forever aj your question for theelin yeah theelin did anything change from the first to second half like schematically anything that they did or you guys did or you guys just play much better you know i think it was like getting back to that, you know, this sounds like coach speak, but like getting back to that, like complementary football, right?

Defense gets a stop three and out. We get a punt return that, you know, sets us up with a good field position. And then for us to have a short field, you know, have a couple of explosive plays to just go down there and score. And then once you get that momentum on your side and you start kind of playing again, that complementary football, especially building with that place going nuts i mean could you feel it could you feel it gaining steam like could you feel everyone starting like as you scored every time did you feel like the momentum here we go like more and more people are getting into it yeah it's it's unbelievable um you know always talk about it each week there we go we that's we heard a lot of that probably the loudest pretty unbelievable but but yeah i mean honestly it was pretty crazy as as we We heard a lot of that, probably the loudest. Pretty unbelievable.

But, yeah, I mean, honestly, it was pretty crazy. As we, you know, got that momentum, it just was crazy, the intensity in that building. You could tell that, like, every play after, kind of we scored maybe the first touchdown, maybe going to score the second touchdown, you could feel the intensity was like, hey, every play is like the Super Bowl for us, and it's that intense in this building, which was actually a really cool feeling.

And, again, like probably the loudest I've ever heard that building when probably I would say maybe 5% of that building actually had left at halftime and couldn't get back in the building. So for it to be that loud with not at full after everyone leaving was interesting. Incredible stadium, incredible fan base. What a moment for all of you. I was told momentum wasn't a – We had a full conversation about momentum last week

and then literally this weekend. We were talking to Lou Anarumo about it and then what the Bengals defense did in the second half against Tom Brady to kind of turn that whole thing around, what you guys were able to do. I guess because there's no science behind it, people just refuse to believe that momentum is a thing. What do you think of momentum, and how would you describe it to somebody that maybe just got dropped on earth?

Well, first of all, momentum in football is an absolute real thing. No. No, you're wrong. No. It doesn't exist. Actually, how much it matters. And, again, I think that's why it's so important to have that intensity from the start of a game. You know, sometimes guys want to like feel out the game.

They want to kind of get into the game and go. But I think for young guys to realize like, man, like momentum's a real thing. So like if we get behind the eight ball here and they start gaining momentum, like watch out. It's going to be 33 to nothing. So, again, it just makes it more intense in beginning of games to say hey like guys we can't let this momentum go away from us because it is it is 100 a real thing and i will and i will argue to my death on that yeah we we all will and i'm happy you stepped away from giving a definition because ty did it the other day and it was maybe

one of the greatest definitions of momentum of all time things just are seemingly going your way that didn't go your way before and it's a series of events that lead you to believe that it'll continue or something i forget what it was yeah i don't i don't know if i could even define it you pulled it yeah you pulled it perfect straight out of your ass it was one of the best in luan rumo i think that's what inspired him in that second half actually the bangles fans should be thinking about maybe thanking you. I hope so. It is so real. It's so much fun to kind of watch a team get it,

and it's terrible to be on the other side of it. Darius has a question for you, Thielen. You two know each other. What's up, Adam? Hey, so obviously you've been around for a while, playing a bunch of different offenses, different quarterbacks. I just want to ask you, your experience as a wide receiver in the NFL, have you dealt a lot with

hand signals having to learn them and are there different systems different quarterbacks that it was more or less of that and then at what point in your career did you get comfortable you felt like hey you know what I'm not thinking I am just playing at this point yeah um I think there is um it's really probably a more of a system thing there probably is some quarterbacks that maybe um want to use this hand signals more but i think it's every system that i've been in and has had like different purposes for hand signals um and we we do use a lot of them now because we are a team that likes to get on the ball and use that momentum you know get a first first down get on the ball and go

quick so we do use hand signals but um there's been times in my career where it was like quick hand signals maybe just for one receiver so no one else is seeing it um and it's you know it's kind of like more of the rogers thing where he's just going to signal out quick to the one receiver and might be a quick screen or a quick bubble in a run play that he knows he's got safety pressure or something and he just wants to spit the ball out quick so there is a little bit of that but um but yeah i think as far as you know when did i feel comfortable i mean i think once you get experienced in this league you start to get more comfortable i mean i think you get it's not necessarily experience playing but experience making plays um you know experience

coming back um from you know two scores down and then you say okay next time i'm in that situation we've done this before. I have this experience. I think the more experience you have of actually going out there and doing it, making plays, that's when you really settle in and get confidence. For me, that was probably around year three, year four. Maybe year

three for me on special teams, just go out there and just go play free and not have to think about, oh man, if I make a mistake, I'm going to get cut. Because I know your first couple years, especially as an undrafted guy, you're thinking a little bit too much maybe about trying to be perfect. Why'd you do that? That's not normal.

Yeah, what? Only in Minnesota. Yeah, that must be right. Unfortunately, I've seen a lot of guys get cut for making a couple mistakes. That's in Minnesota. That's in Minnesota. It for making a couple mistakes. That's in Minnesota. That's in Minnesota. It's not in Green Bay. That's in Minnesota.

We've seen it in Indianapolis. New England it's been seen. Doesn't happen in Green Bay, though, huh? Well, it does. It does. Much to your surprise, it does. There are signals, and there are some younger players that don't necessarily are able to less thinky, more athlete-y take over when they're younger, which never would have guessed in the NFL,

but that was something that was written about Aaron Rodgers. This guy's a fucking asshole. Thielen, did you hear? He makes his receivers learn these hand signals, and he put – Jordan Love runs it, I guess. There's like a meeting where they have to go up and they have to show the hand signals to everybody else on the team. They kind of get put on a stage.

So Aaron's like hazing these kids. You know what I mean? Every single week. That's what I heard. Well, I will say this. If you do know the hand signals, you're probably getting the ball. So maybe figure out the hand signals and you might get more opportunities. Oh, you're saying you figure it out.

No, you're wrong aaron's supposed to gee sorry about it feeling stop talking that's nfc north of ron a.j your question for theelin hey when you you mentioned earlier that in that colts game in the second half it felt like every play was the super bowl at times like how valuable is that for your team to get a win in that situation like i would imagine that gives you a lot more to lean on than say you went out there and you beat them 40 to nothing. Like you guys had a situation in the second half where you knew every single play mattered. Don't you think you can take that and use that in the playoffs? Yeah, a hundred percent.

I think there's been a few of those situations for us this season that we can kind of look to, we can kind of lean on. I think that there was times in that game, in the Colts game that we can kind of look to, we can kind of lean on. I think that there was times in that game, in the Colts game, that we were kind of leaning on some of our experiences earlier in the season when we kind of were down two scores late in the fourth quarter against the Bills and come back and win. So I think it's every time you have those experiences, again, you have something to lean on to say, hey, guys,

like we really aren't out of this. You know, I know that this would be the NFL's largest comeback in the history of the NFL. I get that. But, hey, let's go out there and just put one place, keep stacking plays, let's gain some momentum and see what happens. And when you do that, like you said, when you do that, you definitely can use that moving forward and gain some confidence from that.

Yeah, but what everybody's saying is you guys can't put four quarters together, can you? Why is that? Why do you think the first half happened against the Vikings there? You just kind of overlooked the Colts? Things weren't clicking? What do you think it was? That's one thing about this team is we definitely don't overlook

anybody. We know how difficult it is to win in this league. There's a lot of experienced guys in our locker room that understand that this game is it'll test you mentally and physically every single time you're out there. It doesn't matter who your opponent is. But I think it's just, I don't know.

It's tough. We haven't figured that out because there's been pretty much every week for us, it's been one quarter or one side of the ball or kind of a collective effort of just not doing things the way that we normally do it to have success. So we've got to continue to go to work but the good thing is again we have that kind of resiliency to kind of lean on to say hey i don't care what happens in the first quarter or what happens in the second quarter or if we have a negative play

or a or a big a bad turnover or something like that we can we can come back from that and we can lean on that those uh those people are saying that that's a weakness for you guys i feel like that's a strength for you guys you guys have been able to win games whenever everybody hasn't played their best football yet and whenever you play in the playoffs like that's when everybody hopefully is playing their best football but there's been a lot of conversation about the vikings they they're not going to be able to play with the good teams not going to be able to go down 33 to the good teams when it matters and everything. And people are going to talk shit or whatever, but I think it's a

good thing to experience those and to get a win in those games to kind of just move to the next week and have that. I think you're building the team on marble. There's a chance you guys get to the fucking number one at eight. It's still all out there right now. Jalen Hurts with a sprained shoulder. The line move

from the Eagles being favored by one and a half to the Cowboys being favored by four and a half. So a lot of people are thinking Jalen's missing this week. How many weeks will he miss going forward? Although Sirianni said he's different than us. He's going to heal differently than us. You guys have a chance to get the number one seed in the NFC. Hey, number one seed in the NFC is potentially still out there right now

with how everything else goes. Could you imagine that stadium? That would be epic for the Vikings this season when nobody could have seen this coming, coming into the year? Oh, no doubt. Our fans are, our fans are hungry for it. They want as many home games as possible in the playoffs. And so do we, obviously we know how important it is to play at home, but we know that we know that this week is huge for us. We know that every week kind of coming down the stretch here is going to be huge because if it's not the one seed it's the two seeds like we need we need to get the best possible seed possible um and everyone's just saying that obviously but but we you're in it though you guys are in it though 11

and three you guys are in the meat of it right now 11 wins already dude congrats on a fucking yeah you guys have really been killing it. Tone has a question for you, Thielen. How come Wink Martindale called KOC Harry Styles? Yeah, what's that all about? And do you think he is Harry Styles? It's a compliment. Well, yeah, I didn't say it was a negative AJ.

He's a superstar. He said why. I said why. I think Wink said, like, if Kevin O'Connell was around Ted ted lasso's wife yeah like there's a chance i think that's who he was alluding to yeah i think so he called him handsome to aj's point he was calling him handsome is that what you took out of that aj yeah how about you ceilin what do you think you meant by that i would uh i would say that that coach should take that as a compliment but uh but don't tell him i said that because I definitely don't want to compliment

coach at all. Oh, he's got a little too much? Yeah, you got to be careful with him. You don't want to get him too high, you know. Former player, quarterback. For him, you got to break him down, build him back up, break him down, build him back up, you know. Hey, coach, great work.

Down 33 zip in the first half. Thanks. Good play call, Coach. He was fist pumping all over the sideline on Saturday. Oh, yeah. He's awesome. What is he like day to day? Now, obviously, we've chatted with you about him earlier.

We've talked to, like, Pat Peterson about him. We talked to Kirk Cousins about him. But now, from your standpoint, this deep into it, what have you learned about KOC as a head coach in the NFL? He's not getting anywhere near the amount of hype as other coaches are this is first this is his first year yeah being a head coach former player and you guys are 11 and 3 sitting in the middle of it potentially becoming the number one seed in the NFC seeing how things end up what are your thoughts on him and I loved what you just said they're like let's not get crazy that means you have a great relationship

with him is the whole team like that and and what have you seen from him this year well i'll say this i think uh i think you know he gets this reputation of like this player's coach like super friendly fun guy to be around all this stuff but he's a dog and you you can see that when you start seeing some of these like mic'd up things and oh yeah and he's out there he's competitive as as anybody on that field and um you know he's not afraid to get after you, to make it known that what you're doing isn't good enough and up to your standards. It's a great strength of his that he can just be that kind of player's coach, but also he's got that dog in him like a lot of us in this locker room do, and you need that in this league. You can't be weak and make it in this league.

So definitely thankful for that and it's definitely helped him in his first year to come out here and, you know, have a strong start to his head coaching career. Those mic'd ups, it appears as if you guys love them, and every single time I see a new one, I'm like, oh, I like this guy. You know what I mean? I like what he's saying to Kirk. I like what he's saying to Kirk. I like what he's saying to Kirk's ears because we know about Kirk.

Kirk is a super religious dude and everything like that, but he's also one of the most competitive humans of all time. Listening to their kind of back and forth between KOC and Kirk is awesome. I feel like that's how you learn a lot about people, too, is Mike Dupz. Even though they edit it, I like watching them because it it's like how are the teammates reacting to this person when he says something how somebody else and when I watch KOC watching how everybody responds to him it's like this dude seemingly great guy to play for they got something good brewing over there in cold ass Minnesota Ty has a question for you yeah Thielen at this point in your career I mean perennial pro bowler,

you've played with a lot of really good guys. But Justin Jefferson, I can't remember what it is specifically, but he's about to break one of Randy Moss' records. Is there anything he does at this point that, like, surprises you? Or is it just like, holy shit, this guy is unbelievable. I'm so lucky that I get to play on the same field as him. Yeah, I mean, I think it just comes down to his consistency for, you know, a lot of guys can make big plays in this league. A lot of guys can

do it for a couple of games or maybe for one year, but his ability to be so good and to dominate every single week, week in, week out, every single year that he's been in this league, he's been, you know, top five, top 10 in yards, catches, all that. I mean, it's truly unbelievable because you know that every week when they're sitting in their Wednesday install meeting, they're saying, what do we need to do to beat the Vikings? Well, number one thing I guarantee every single team is doing is saying, we've got to take away Justin Jefferson. 180 in the first half he'll have. Yeah, it's unbelievable.

220 yards a couple weeks ago. But record for most yards in a game. And it's like that's coming after everybody knows that he's going to get the ball. So his ability to take hits, hold on to the ball. You know, he knows now that there's not going to be any of his catches are going to be easy or not contested. So his ability to make those contested catches hold onto it. His ability to do kind of everything, to run kind of the entire route tree,

to be able to run deep, to be able to take the top off defenses, to be able to run choice routes and do the underneath stuff is really unbelievable. And I think it's gave Coach a flexibility to kind of move him around and to be able to really be able to, you know, not let teams take him away, which is tough to do in this league. Does he know hand signals and stuff or no? Well, we don't actually have a ton of hand signals, but yes, Justin's a smart kid, so he knows his hand signals.

And again, in this league, if you want to hit the ball, you better know that stuff because that's an opportunity to get the ball. If the quarterback's signaling to you, there's probably a good percentage chance that you're getting the football. So you better know those hand signals. That's weird. I don't know about anybody in the kitchen cooking bacon, but Connor has a question for you, Mr. Zeland.

Yeah, Adam, obviously you're a little more north than us, and there's a big old storm coming in. Can we trust what we're reading on these weather maps, one? And two, are you aware of any different travel plans for the Giants because of how terrible it is? And do you kind of wish you were playing outdoors to maybe have a little more home field advantage? That ain't home field.

I do not wish I was playing outdoors. That's a loss for everybody, outdoors in Minnesota. That's a lose-lose for everyone. Anybody who says that's a competitive advantage is they're just making up stuff to make themselves feel better because no one likes playing in the cold. It doesn't matter if you play every home game there or not. No one likes playing in the cold, in the snow, all that. Unless you're maybe a meathead defensive guy. I don't know any of those people on the show so

but i would choose to play in 70 degrees every day if i could adam for sure we could we put domes on everything but we'll move on but no uh you know honestly it is it is uh coming down pretty good out there it's i believe when was driving in, it was like negative 7 degrees, and my car feels like negative 30. So it's a beautiful day here in Minnesota. Just thankfully we're practicing. It's always cold over there. No, no, no.

We cannot say because it's happening in Minnesota. It's starting there. There's no way we're getting Minnesota to Indiana. It's coming this way. It's always over there. It's always there. It's always there. We saw a map earlier. It's always over there. It's always there. It's always there. We saw a map earlier.

It's coming down from Minnesota. They're saying we're getting Minnesota everywhere. That's basically what they're saying right now. Cancel Christmas. Minnesota is coming to the entire northern portion of the United States of America. It's going to drop 40 degrees. It's going to rain.

It's going to freeze. Any tips? It's like, oh, it's going to be Minnesota. What do we need to do here? Put chains on the tires? Chains on tires, yeah. I will say. Look at this.

It's purple, too. Fucking Vikings just everywhere. I know. But I will say, if there is a time to have that weather, it would be around Christmas where you can stay inside, hang by the fireplace, just enjoy some family time, maybe a card game or two. Throw some chestnuts yeah i mean it's perfect time for it to happen it's a traveling time listen we're football people

so like we haven't had like thanksgiving christmas new years for a large portion of our lives outside of the football world we have all been learning slowly with our dealings with either humans or significant others or anything like that. Like, hey, these things matter. This is a real thing. Like traveling and investment and everything. So this whole storm coming, shutting down a lot of people's Christmases right now. And this is coming fresh off of two COVID Christmases almost. We're not happy about this.

It's supposed to be big. Are you guys ever panicked? Like, are the meteorologists ever saying, it's going to get bad. It's going to get better. It's like, oh, it's Minnesota. Is thaticked? Like, are the meteorologists ever saying, it's going to get bad, it's going to get better? Is it like, oh, it's Minnesota? Does that happen? Have you guys seen the movie Four Christmases? Of course.

Classic. Great movie. Watched it two nights ago. That's what you just kind of reminded me of. Like, you know, maybe it's a good thing that maybe people can't go to their family Christmases. They can just hang out by themselves and they don't have to do the Four Christmases thing, you know? I don't know if you saw Aaron's book recommendation for the Christmas. Maybe.

Maybe it is good that that is happening. We hope everybody stays safe. Minnesota's coming to town. We're not talking about the Vikings. We're just talking about the weather. I would like to talk about this, what you're doing with Caribou Coffee. We got some sent to the office. We can't thank you enough.

It's so good. Caribou Coffee. Yeah, sorry. It's right here. This is some mud that has been left on. This is whole bean, medium roast smooth tastes delicious i'm not a coffee guy but everybody in the office has enjoyed the hell out of it caribou coffee and adam thielen also announced they're teaming up to fuel vikings fans for all remaining 2022 vikings home games caribou perks members which is the member rewards rewards program get a free small

brewed coffee thanks to adam thielen this offer will automatically show up in the guest caribou perks accounts sign up for caribou perks today by texting perks p-e-r-k-s to 762 762-C-A-R-I-B-O-U. See link to full offer details here. We assume that will be down in the comment section. And then there's an asterisk here. Free small brewed coffee reward is valid Saturday, December 17th. Pass that.

Or Saturday, December 24th. So this coffee will have to be had this upcoming Saturday on Christmas Eve while you're maybe making some last minute shopping. If the Minnesota Vikings weather doesn't come to everywhere, you're able to drift out to a Caribou Coffee, get a free one. Limit one offer per customer per day. Offer is not valid on orders from order.cariboucoffee.com or Uber Eats. Reward is available in Minnesota,

Wisconsin, South Dakota, North Dakota, Iowa, Caribou, Perks members. That's really cool. I appreciate everything you do business-wise. Thielen, you do it the right way, pal. I appreciate that. I'm a big coffee guy, by the way. So Caribou always hooks it up.

And, you know, Minnesota Company, which is huge. I got to be, as you're showing, I was a Beretta for a day, which I had no idea what was in some of these drinks. But I can see why people really like them i'm a i'm a i'm a straight black coffee guy uh no cream no sugar so um but it was uh interesting that the orders that were coming through there but it was fun how'd you do you think you did okay anybody boo you anybody send the drink back no one sent the drink back but uh and i got a lot of um you know i mean again if you put sugar in there and you put a little bit of whipped cream on top,

like, can you mess that up? Well, it's nothing for just black mud, yeah. I guess nobody's going in and ordering. Is Caribou Coffee, they are, and we apologize, they're like little lattes, Dad? Like there's a bunch of retail stores. They're seemingly Midwestern. Are they also down in Florida?

I don't see them much in Florida. New company? Is this a young company? What is Caribou Coffee? They actually just had their 30th birthday. That's why I was doing that. Happy birthday. Happy birthday.

They're a Minnesota-based company, and now they're starting to go around the U.S. So there will be a Caribou Coffee near you. Okay, we hope so, yeah. We got them in Pittsburgh. Almost 500 locations in 19 states and territories. Congratulations to the Caribou folks. Love you, Caribou. Mostly in that upper area.

Cold area. Yeah. Keeps you warm. Good mud. Lot in Mesa. Just like the Caribou Coffee shops are coming to a town near you, the Minnesota weather is as well. So let's hunker down.

Let's enjoy some conversation with our immediate families. Stay away from travel. And let's continue to watch the Minnesota Vikings do their thing. We can't thank you enough for joining us, buddy. Stay safe today on that trip home. I heard it's bad out there. Yeah, Coach said that uh you know make sure that we're safe traveling home he didn't cut practice back or didn't get us out

of the building any earlier but he wants us that we're safe getting home after our full days of work so don't forget that hey guys listen they're saying there's a massive storm coming this afternoon obviously we want you all to drive incredibly cautiously on the way home and everything like that. Should we move practice up? Can't really because we've got a full – A meeting, full day. Seems like the storm's coming right at the time. We'll be letting you guys out of the building.

So take your time. You don't have to be there yesterday. Just go ahead and stay safe on your trip out of there. Coach, we could maybe move – Nope. Can't. Five down. We're down 33-0 at halftime.

Okay? So we've got a lot of shit to do. We can't thankipe down. We're down 33-0 at halftime. We've got a lot of shit to do. We can't thank you enough. Ladies and gentlemen, Adam Thielen. Yeah! Ladies and gentlemen, it's for Everything DB with Darius Butler. Fourth quarter. Obviously, we all have seen the comeback. 33-point

comeback. This is a big play, a big part of it. Score is 36-28 at this point. A little over two minutes left. Now, two-minute drill. Two-minute warning on the plus side of the two-minute drill. With timeouts or without them, always,

always, always alert a play to the back. That's just one of the things that I learned coming up. I don't know how much they do in today's league, but always a play to the back. That's just one of the things that I learned coming up. I don't know how much they do it in today's league, but always a play to the back. Obviously, Dalvin is out of the backfield at this point. It's an empty set. It's going to be a screen. So that screen, draw, run.

So you got Dalvin. Now, this play, pause it right here. First mistake here, curl flat defender. We've been talking about flat defenders all year long. Flat defenders, oh, damn, what happened year long. Flat defenders always have the edge. What I mean by the edge is they have to force. Now as the receiver, he has to get outside of this box and force it to pursue. So force it to the end, force it to this linebacker, play pause.

So right now that's the first mistake. Not setting that edge, not setting it back, right? So now you've got the best ball carrier on their team, obviously, in open space. Let it play here. You're going to have a loaf backside. Oh, no. Just real quick. Big gaping hole.

Pause it. So you got him, you got him, and then you got the guy to fill the alley, right? So let it play a little bit. See how that booms. So now that's not. So he missed. You got to run it play a little bit. See how that – boom. So now that's not – so he missed. You got – run it back one more time. Oh, my God.

This is right after the fourth and one, Phil? This is – Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, this is the first play after the fourth and one. First play. So, once again, this is the start of the two-minute drive. Play to the back.

And then once the play is happening, it could be a 15-yard game. It could be a 20-yard game. If you're this corner, if you're this safety, at this point, sometimes a linebacker, it doesn't happen much as a linebacker, but as a DB, sometimes you got to play it slow. You got to die slow almost sometimes. Just don't dive in there and lose yourself. Here, he's going to overrun.

It's going to be bad leverage here. Dalvin's going to put his foot in the ground. You know what happens next. Lose yourself in the music. The moment's gone. That's a good point, DB. You're going to never let it go. Dalvin's going to put his foot in the ground. You know what happens next. Lose yourself in the music. That's a good point, DB. What's that, Jay? That's a good point, slow playing. You've got to buy time and wait for your buddies to get there.

You've got to sacrifice your body most likely, but you've got to hold that lineman and make the back kind of chop his feet, at least slow down. Yeah, exactly. You heard Pat P talk about kind of an open space with these screens with, like, offensive linemen, like, you know, foot faking them, beating them in space. This is a different situation. You almost got to back up, let them get to you.

Corner, that's tough right there. That's a tough tackle to make. It looks like an easy tackle almost. No, 20 miles an hour. He's running them down. He probably thinks like, he probably thinks he's going to chase them down, get a chase down tackle. Dalvin, obviously this is running backs.

You know, they get paid a ton of money to not get tackled. So smooth. By DBs. Yeah, just smooth. And then he squares O, this is running backs. You know, they get paid a ton of money to not get tackled by DBs. Yeah, just smooth. And then he squares O'Kerkey up and says, all right, now I'm going to end this with a fucking beast mode. Now, obviously, an unbelievable play by Dalvin, but just bad ball all around the defensive side of the ball,

especially at this point in the game. Like, this is the game. We've already been a 28-3 run at this point. Like, just get a stop. Get them on the ground, line up again. Just so we're clear, though, about the Colts. That's Ngakwe. He sees it early.

He's hauling in. He needed them to slow play it so he could get there. Agree. That's DeForest Buckner right there, right? Yep. Those are two, like, super vets, right? They're playing. A carry K draft pick. He's playing.

If he's outside there, it's a high chance that Ndakwe makes that tackle. If that flat defender stays outside. Now, the flat defender is Julian Blackman. Second year pro now, I think. So, Kenny Moore, he's playing. Kenny Moore is absent in that slot.

So, you know, not saying that, but he's young. He had a pick six, didn't he? Made a big play, pick six early in the game. 54 running down two. He had an unbelievable game on the D-line for them. Yeah, you got to get him down, man. Got to get him down. 33 zip.

Play to the bat. That doesn't happen. First player, two minute on a positive side of the two-minute mark. Does this team stink? What's that? Our football team? Yeah. Yeah, we're a bad football team the two-minute mark. Does this team stink? What's that? Our football team? Yeah. Yeah, we're a bad football team right now.

Right now? We got Nick Foles starting this Monday. I didn't ask you. Okay, nobody asked me. I'm just asking about the right now part. Me and Darius were just having a conversation. We took a pause from the show. This isn't a show.

We're just trying to fucking talk. Last time Nick Foles got thrown in the mix this time of year, he went on a Super Bowl run. Thank you. We got a chance. I saw Pete Schrager, he put out something. We still have a chance to make it to the playoffs. Yeah, we got to win them all. Titans got to lose them all.

Jags got to lose them all and then beat the Titans last game of the year. Not happening. You guys are dead. Telling me there's a chance. Once again, this is a million Darius conversation. I keep forgetting because I got the headphones in. And we're talking in the microphones? Yeah.

They fucking suck. Why? What is the – why? Worst team by far. They got guys. They got – Quentin Nelson playing. Ryan Kelly playing. Jonathan Taylor, he's out for the rest of the year, I guess.

He got hurt. He was playing MVP candidate. Michael Pittman was supposed to be an incredible player coming into the year on defense side of the bar. Buckner's playing. And Gakwe's playing. Franklin has been really good. Zaire, yeah.

Gilmore. Stephon Gilmore's a Hall of Famer. He's a fucking player. He's had a great year, too. He's had a really good year. It's just tough, man. It just has not come together to start. Why?

I don't know. Hey, you got to be in that building to see how shit's going. Answer the question. Outside of the building to make those assessments. And I got a lot of relationships in there, too. I need to know now. I got a lot of relationships in there, as well. It's just bad.

Oh, so you have an answer. You don't want to burn it down. I don't have an answer. I don't have an answer. I don't. AJ, have you ever seen anything like this? I've never been on a team with this much. And I've been very lucky with the coattails that i was able to ride but i feel like i've never been on a team that

had that much talent and sucked this fucking bad ever i don't know how that happens well i think consistent quarterback play is one issue that they have had for a couple years now yeah that guy is certainly not what's aj doing up there why't he come down and join you guys? I asked him. Did you hear? No. There I am. All right.

I'll come down. Okay. Next play. Just don't need your bias-y. It's not bias. We're trying to get insightful and informed. I am too. That's why I'm genuinely curious as to how it's happening.

Another shot in the alumni section. Play action. Trevor Lawrence had another good game. Another shot in the alumni section. Play action. Trevor Lawrence had another good game. Another shot in the alumni section. Young Corner getting some reps now on the opposite side of Diggs. They've been banged up in this secondary. The Cowboys have. There you go.

Dead spot. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Boom. So, run it back to the top, please. We do not know, actually. That might be the lights sending a different frequency. Zay Jones, three touchdowns out here once again between the 40s you see it every week play action it'll be a great shot from uh trevor lawson

first and ten oh not him bad eyes bad eyes dbs young dbs breathe the break because this isn't even i mean obviously you score a 60 yard touchdown so you can say it's a good route that's not a great route That's not a great route. That's not a great double move route. You got to make them earn it as a DB. You can't give up this chunk. So have your eyes on your luggage once again. Look at him through the break.

This is one of those, as a quarters defender, you got a quarter safety. You put your break, your eyes should be on the receiver at this point because if he's running to come back, this ball is going to be out. He's going to be running there. Two steps to your man, then you look back for the ball. What a throw. Right here, his eyes in the backfield, as Chuck would say, eye-fucking the quarterback.

And then, once again, like to your point, too, a big-time throw from Trevor Lawrence. Pretty clever. That's a lot of space. Pretty clever route there right at the marker. I assume they're taught that because you're going to try to jump that because you think they're trying to get a first down. Well, it's first to ten, I believe.

So, you know, alumni section, first down, like it's just something to always echo and alert in the huddle. Hey, alert a shot here, alert a shot here. It's not going to happen every time, but when it does, especially when you've got a young player out there, you know, and they'll run this player at digs too because, you know, he bites on these. But this is a good play, good throw. Double move for any aggressive corner right yeah absolutely even though they're uh six and eight do you think

doug peterson should be almost up for coach of the year because of how much better they are oh coach not this not this year because of what sirianni's doing in philly what kevin o'connell's doing in minnesota uh but they are they did make a great jump. For them to finish the way that they're finishing, too, because they started off shitty. Trevor Lawrence has looked light years better than he did last year. Emotional, too. We're talking celebrating and pissed off

and things like that. I thought he didn't have that. Love to see that from him. That is because we did hear that one pregame speech, and that's not our fault. That's a good throw. Not just that, but also every interview, he's like the same exact person, very quiet and chill. Deadpan.

After games, it seemed like his rookie year was just like the same. He was trying to do it. And I feared that because he was put in the spotlight at such a young age that he thought he wasn't allowed to have emotions or whatever. He just needed somebody to like – like Doug Peterson's like, hey, you're allowed to get like – Go, motherfucker. You're allowed to be excited. you're allowed to get, like, you're allowed to be excited. You're allowed to be happy with what you pulled off.

Him empowering that entire team, I think we see it, right? Yeah, absolutely. It's unreal. The guy's feet off of that, too, from that quarterback position. This is a game winner in New York. Fourth and an inch. Fourth and inches. So you saw the Penae Sewell play a couple weeks ago

and it had him to the flat. So this is actually really, really good communication from these DBs. Right now, Sauce and, damn, I know this kid's name, 1 and 30 right now communicating across the formation. And he's basically saying, because they know what's coming, 14 comes across, we're going to switch this off. So you see the community running back to the top. You see the communication there from the opposite sides of the field.

If he comes across, we're going to switch he comes across we're going to switch men all right so we're going to switch responsibilities now it's man-to-man coverage and aj obviously has a ton more experience than i doing this but this tight end is kind of going to sneak in here on like a down block and then sneak across the formation kind of like a almost like a whole shit play he didn't fall it wasn't like a houdini delay yeah a little delay he was patient with it and once again it's a fourth in a one play so these guys are geared up to stop the run these dudes obviously are always you know in pass coverage for the game but just yeah this is for the gusto less than two minutes this is for the gusto right here nice

switch oh boom yeah good play good play and you'll see it's tougher from you'll see it from the tight This is for the gusto right here. Nice switch. Oh. Boom, yeah. Good play. Good play. And you'll see it's tougher from the tight copy on how tough it is for CJ Mosley to actually play this. So right now, right now, am I good? Yes. All right. Yeah, you're good wherever. So these two linebackers have the tight end and the running back right now.

And obviously when you saw the corners, what they're doing. You see the communication right now across the formation. But these two guys, they're going to end up on these two guys. And watch how he slow plays this and goes across the formation. It's a lot of eye candy for that defense. It's tough. You got the play action right there. That's impossible. Goff looking right too.

You got a play action right there. That's impossible. Golf looking right, too. So at this point right now, this has become his man. And that back that's on the ground, that's one of these two guys. Fourth and one for the game. Tight end catches it. Those two backers have to be playing that play almost to pick that up.

Like, you got to be, hey, remember this tight end delay deal. We're going to switch this on if they go strong here, if 42 goes towards him or whatever. So it's an unstoppable play, you're thinking? No. You just got to be playing the play. Like, I think, I mean, yeah, you could pick it up if not, but, man, fourth and one, you're, yeah, it's just a good play by Detroit.

Yeah, because inches, especially with how they play, I mean, everybody's thinking this, right? Yeah, 1,000% out there running the ball. So do these dudes, right? Yeah, absolutely. So you're running back to the wide cover real quick, just like AJ said, because this is an unstoppable play too if you're not playing this play. Like if 30 just runs across and say, this is my guy, he's going to run across and get six inches on a catch if he wants to.

They switched it really nice. so they switched it nice like these two corners they picked that up because this is the play that they were playing right yeah so to aj's point unless they talk about this almost pre-snap like in this situation because you're so geared up to stop that short yardage play that is tough to have your eyes right and that's why offense is running sometimes they'll do this with like the tight end with like fall or fake fall and then get up late. It'll be like, you know, Houdini or. Hollywood they call it.

I think San Franco's at Hollywood. D-Bot, you think St. Brown in motion there is option one, or do you think they're going to the tight end that whole time? I think how they played this one, I think this was for the tight end. Yeah, for sure. Is this a play you save like you know you have it the entire game? They actually, I just saw it. I think this was for the tight end. Yeah, for sure. Yeah, is this a play you save? Like you know you have it the entire game? They actually, I just saw it. I didn't see it the first time.

They actually alerted to this play. They might have had it for weeks. So if you run it back, so. Goff goes, cans, cans, cans. Yeah, so they go to the second play right there. So, you know, he's making sure everybody's got it. He's making sure everybody's got it on that side. Yeah, this is a big-time play-doh in a big-time moment.

This is not the same old. No, it's not. No, no, no. This is the brand new Lions. Let's check that sideline. Let's check that sideline. They had to be so pumped. They had this play in practice, right?

They ran this in practice a couple times. Had to, yeah. And cooked the defense. The first time they cooked the defense. Check that sideline. They had to be so pumped. They had this play in practice, right? They ran this in practice a couple times. Had to, yeah. And cooked the defense. The first time they cooked the defense. Second time they cooked the backup defense. Starting defense probably saw this for the first time and said, Whoa.

That one's going to be tough. Good play, man. That was a good play, Ben Johnson. I bet the Sewell play is similar to that. Exact reaction. Like, oh, that one's going to work. Sewell's so athletic, too. So I can't imagine the type of shit Sewell does in practice. Run, Brock. Rock, run.

Yeah, this is a Friday short yardage play. Man, good for the line. Look at the tight end, too. Scooting. We weren't happy with the – A little wiggle. I like that. I enjoy – I really enjoy this Lions team. Yeah, they're awesome. Yeah, they're fun to tie it in, too. Scooting. We weren't happy with the – A little wiggle. I like that. I enjoy – I really enjoy this Lions team.

Yeah, they're awesome. Yeah, they're fun to watch. Easy to root for, too. Like MCDC being a football guy to the core, not one of the new analytics type of people, so it's awesome to have one of those. Hey, we were all rooting for MCDC. Maybe not we all.

Were you? That's true. I was rooting for MCDC just as the player. It's very fun to shit on the Lions because of what they have been in the past, but you had to kind of root for MCDC so we could have more football guys as head coaches. Vrabel had one of the greatest football guys of all time at a press conference. Another great job acting in patience by a tight end. This is a great. Hollywood, I think they call it this.

Yeah, great play design. When you see it's going to be a fake up top to a screen, a fake down bottom to a screen, and then a little tight end link out up the middle. Still hasn't left. Jeez. Todd. So if you run it back to the beginning, just let it.

Yep, this has made a hit. Huge. This is a big deal for the Super. This is the first drive. You're obviously up in the box for this, but just watch this whole thing play out. So, obviously, it's going to be communication any time. It's motion. Just let – just –

Boom. Boom. Party. Like, that's tough. That's going to be tough to stop. That's tough. That's a great play design. Obviously, great acting.

Pause it real quick. Last week, Chuck was talking about a child release. And I think AJ may have asked if he had one. And the picture that he had, I think C-Mac was directly behind the tackle. So this is that child alignment right here when you're splitting the crotch of that tackle. And this is obviously, you know, intentional. They don't care. And they want everyone on the defense to know, hey, C-Mac is getting out.

So he gets out, fakes that way, fakes this way. Bro. They pull that guard. Bro, yeah, they fucking pull it. Unbelievable play design. And it's Christian fucking McCaffrey. C-Mac, obviously. Right here.

Traded for a second and a fifth. Unbelievable. See ya. Eyes go that way. Have to. Get them out of there. Backer safety. Boom. Backer. I go that way Have to Get them out of there Backer safety Boom Backer

I go that way Nickel So much time There's so much time For those backers To have to sift through that Especially when Kittle Makes contact

And he like Grabs on to 10 for a second Before he goes Like So much time Big Gaping Hole

Jeez What a play What a play. What a play. They're so good, dude. They are so fun to watch live, D-Butt. Yeah. Their defense flies. I'm in the Eagles.

It's not similar to watching Colts live? Yeah, yeah, it was. So different? Felt like I was back. You're talking about now the Colts? Yeah. It's tough to watch now the Colts. It's like watching the team that those teams are playing though

halftime is sweet i think we have um another light show yep football we got a cheerleaders and drum line and a light show really light show yeah should be sweet i mean light show everybody downloads an app and then they put on their flashlight yeah and are you serious oh yeah it's a great time. There's a drum line. Did you know there was a drum line for the Colts? Absolutely not. Me neither. Historic presentation, though.

Zito knows what it's like. This is literally what it looks like. It just turns on and off. It's crazy. Monday Night Football. Then they're swearing in a bunch of kids again to the Boy Scouts. No, that was Military Appreciation Week when Jon Bon Jovi didn't want to stand up. No, that was Jon Cougar.

Jon Cougar. You want to come to the game Monday? You'll be able to see it. You might be stuck there anyways, but you might not be able to travel. That's true. So that's on you. You have to be sworn in to be a Boy Scout. I love to see quarterbacks. In sworn in, to be a Boy Scout. I love quarterbacking.

In Indiana you do. Cub, Boy Scout. Cub, Boy Scout honor. I know that because. What do you want to be? Eagle. Scouts honor. Eagle.

Bill Stewart used to say, we're going to run a raid at them. And that's Scouts honor. He used to say that. I'm like, all right. I don't know enough about the Scouts community. But Cub and Boy Scout honor. I think Eagle maybe just put your force up. Yeah, exactly. Are you guys going to Boy Scout?

Are you guys going to Boy Scout? No. Boy Scout? Never. How about you? Nah. Nah. I got a friend who's an Eagle Scout, though.

Ties the shit out of knots. Yeah, is that what that means? Who? Donald Thomas. Really? Hell yeah. We found out we fuck with him all the time. But, yeah, I guess that's hard. Dude, he could tie knots, yeah. Is that what that means? Who? Donald Thomas. Really? Oh, yeah. And we found out we fuck with him all the time. But, yeah, I guess that's all right.

Dude, he could tie knots, though. Yeah, sure. Eagle Scout, too. You can go a lot of places like college for free because you're an Eagle Scout. Oh, yeah. I think it's a big deal. What? Yeah.

Actually. College? Oh, yeah. You get scholarships for being an Eagle Scout. Yeah, it's like the, what are those, the military? Yeah, ROTC Yeah it's like the One of those military Yeah ROTC It's like the scouts And then the ROTC

They all have their own like plugs I actually can Yeah Not fucking around No I can start a fire I feel good about that Boom

With a magnifying glass Just in the fucking wilderness You can start a fire I mean I'm gonna have to have things That's what people have to have Flint Twindle Flint Striker You give me a little flint You give me a Flint, Twindle. You give me a little Flint.

You give me a couple rock thingies. And then you give me some sticks. I feel good. Lighter would certainly win. I'm normally going to have a lighter on me too. You might not need the Flint. I can tie a couple dots. I just got a flashlight that lights things on fire. It's like a laser beam almost.

I point at things and it'll start like leaves on fire. So that's not a flashlight. You have a laser beam almost. That's awesome. I point at things and it'll start like leaves on fire. It's sweet. What? So that's not a flashlight. You have a laser. Yeah. That's sweet.

That's awesome. I tell you what, that thing goes miles through the sky too. It's amazing. So you can fuck with planes? Yeah. You got to wear some goggles. Don't want to hit your eyeballs. Can you please send us the link to that?

We would like to get that next year or whatever. I thought about getting all of you guys one. We'll see. See if they have nothing to do with it merry christmas thanks dude apparently in wisconsin that was some light show that thing okay sure all right let's move on what's everybody so people are so dumb definitely aliens but uh if you want to be obedient and sucking people up you know what a Aaron said during the book club? Oh, yeah. Geez, I'm sorry.

That would be a sheep. Also, something to think about is how that was in Wisconsin. Isn't that the state that Gallagher, who is the alien expert in? Yeah. So maybe they were just visiting him. He got into something. Yeah, he said guys who go to service academies shouldn't be able to play in the NFL until after they fucking serve their time in the military. He was in a Marine, I think.

He was in the service. Did he get sucked up? By the aliens? I don't know. I think guys should be... If you make it in the NFL, I think guys should be allowed to go. I think it's good marketing for the... That quarterback.

Yeah, it's like 6-8 at the end. They got it fixed. Josh McGarry, we had a guy. Yep. He had to go serve a little bit, I think. Lions had a guy. Hadn't played football in a couple years. Cardano.

I was going to say Patriots usually. Still was tackle. Oh, Villanueva? He served first. He stood for the National Anthem, too, all by himself when the rest of the Steelers won. That's right. The rest of the Steelers were in the locker room, and Villanueva said, what are we doing? He ripped the Humvee door right off its fucking hinges.

And then went out there and listened to the national anthem. All right. True. True story. All right. Do you remember? That was big drama. Oh, yeah.

Big time. It was a vet with the NFL with a situation happening. I mean, that was just like all the ingredients. Perfect storm. Everything that you could potentially ask. Fun time to be a fan, then. Well, how about now? Frank O'Hara's just died.

Rest in peace, Frank. Rest in peace. Well, we're going to give an incredible fucking memorial on Saturday night, Christmas Eve, and it's going to be fantastic. To Frank O'? Yeah. I mean, Jersey was already getting retired. It's supposed to be a negative 10 or something like that.

Yeah, it's going to be chilly. Nuke the Steelers. Two by two. Yeah, this game is wild. But running back to the beginning, we'll see the communication

between not only these two down here, but all the way from DMACC up top. You see Devontae Adams off the ball. I don't know if they saw it

on film. I don't know what Duggar saw to give away this screen, but this is unbelievable anticipation and great play. Great job finishing this play, too. Backed up offenses. Try to be a little more safe, typically. They got a little space here, but watch the play from Duggar.

Oh, yeah. Yeah, he's on board. Give me that. Oh, yeah. So, I mean, you rarely, rarely get that opportunity to actually make that play. When did he know? You think when he started telling everybody? I think so when you get this alignment, it's called a flop alignment,

slot receivers on the ball, outside receivers off the ball. Like right now, as soon as he sees the alignment, they all start talking. Jones gives them a thumbs up after he talks to them. Yeah. So, as soon as that motion, they're letting them know, all right, because they're probably anticipating the stack, they all start talking. Jones gives them a thumbs up after he talks to them. Yeah, so as soon as they have motion, they let them know, alright, because they're probably anticipating the stack obviously, so they let them know once they get into the stack, this is the coverage we're playing.

But he knew the screen was coming. Now he knew it wouldn't make that play. That's an unbelievable play. Yeah, it was 17-3 at that point too. He just punted the ball back, so this actually did bring the Patriots back into the game. Does Derek Carr fucking stink? You know what? I can't necessarily put this one on Carr.

This is just great anticipation. Yeah, this is just a – Research. He was ready for it, and he made a fucking great play. I'm going to say Derek Carr stinks. He's an above-average quarterback. That's his second defensive touchdown of the year. Duggar?

Yep. Nice. This is – we had Tariq Woolen do this last week, cover three. You'll see, once again, splitting these two verticals. Denzel Ward. Denzel Ward had a really good game. This game had a pick down the red area on the pick route, and then this one he should have picked, but he ended up dropping it.

So he's got these two guys, right? Yep. And Denzel had a slow start to his season, but he's definitely picked it up. Look at that. Question is, did he have a good game? Two-part question. Did he have a good game

and can you win a game without any wide receivers? No. You cannot. But he did have a good game. How fucked are they that Devin Duvernay broke a bone in his foot?

I mean, I think they were kind of fucked before that. Exactly. You know, with the weapons. And Deshaun Jackson. You know, LeVar's banged up. He'll probably be back next week. And Dugan, he got pretty good tight ends, though.

Likely. He's awesome. What a play. Like an Andrews, but great play. They don't throw the ball to Andrews anymore. No. Yeah, that was any time Todd blocked. Deshaun Jackson out there?

Sure. So? Sammy can move. Oh, this one. What are you talking about? Lose defense. Hey, great play by Ward. We appreciate that, Ward.

AJ, do you have anything to say? No, that was a good play. Good anticipation. Four verts, right, against cover three there, D-Butt. Four verts, D-Butt, cover three. And then five? Five or four. Does Duvernay sit it down?

Oh, I don't know. I didn't see. At the bottom of the screen? Let's see what this guy does. Oh, five. Oh, Andrews and a hook. Four-verts and a hook, obviously. To get that guy out of the throwing lane there.

Denzel doesn't jump it. Open the window. That's go-get speed. So, I mean, this looks like, you know, that's wide open in the NFL there. Denzel doesn't jump it. Open the window. That's go get speed. So, I mean, this looks like, you know, that's wide opening in the NFL. Ball, ball, ball, ball. Let's shoot. Boop. Lose.

Lose defense. Third quarter. Third and eight. Momentum on the side. What coverage does this look like? Zero. Zero. Zero?

Y'all think zero? Cover two. Got a lot of guys up. We got all DBs on the same alignment. It's the third and eight. Money down. You'll see Tom checking to probably a zero beater. Jesse's rolled up, too, on the back.

Yeah. All right. We got zero, right? Got to cover zero. Check, check, check. Alert, alert. Oh, they're dropping. Oh.

Look at him flipping his hips. Tom was rolled. So once time gets to the top of his drop, now goes from a pre-snap zero look to you got eight in coverage. Now watch this curl flat defender do a great job. Holy shit. You're going to have two curl defenders. Two curl routes, I'm sorry.

He does a great job covering both of them. And picks that off, too. What a play by that team. Who was that? This was one of those big, big momentum shifting plays. That was Flowers. Flowers. Trey.

Look at that. Body position at the sticks. Body position takes away the route up top. And then he sees the quarterback. Man, what a play. Great play. Yeah, Tom wouldn't be able to get to that guy. Evans, I think.

Well, he could. but because of the route. Yeah, and if you look at the spacing between these two guys, right, this curl flat defender can sit because if he comes in anymore, he's right here. So he's in a great, like A.J. said, great job getting to his deck, getting right at the stakes, getting to his spot, seeing the quarterback, putting his foot in the ground and making that play. So this is cover three? Cover three.

Cover three, you got to see because usually it's four under three deep, but now this is five under one, two, three, four, five under three deep. So those windows now are much tighter because you got more defenders in them. Lou's just fucking with Tom here. It's a great job. Great pre-snap. Yeah, is it tough when Brady's a QB and he yells at the O-line, but no one can yell at him back as far as the team method togetherness goes?

Like, hey, Tom, good throw. How's that work dynamically with the locker room? As far as yelling at me? Yeah. People yell at each other. Yeah, people yell at each other. Does anyone yell at Tom is my question. Just because everyone said that Belichick was the reason, you know,

he had to leave. But it seems like Belichick's what kept the glue together. I think Jan Lane will yell at him. She will. Tom knew exactly where he was going the whole time. Such a fake look at Lenny Frenette here. Oh, but he's 280 now. Boom.

Yeah, that was not a great throw, but it wasn't great spacing. And I think all that started with that pre-snap disguise. And Rumo. And Rumo's a genius. Okay, I see you. Tom hasn't seen everything. I was told. Ladies and gentlemen, everything deep.

Oh, yeah. Oh, wait. That Tennessee play's not in there? Oh, yeah. Got to see that. No, I don't think so. Oh, no. That Tennessee play is not in there? Oh, yeah. Got to see that. No, I don't think so. Oh, no. We have it on.

I was going to say, don't we have that? We have it on all 22. Oh, yeah. I skipped it. That's unnerved. It was in the middle there. Two minutes. This is 12 seconds left in the first half.

So, you know, you're in a position right now if you're a quarterback. If it's not there, throw it away. Take the field goal. They end up winning by a field goal in this game right now if you're a quarterback. If it's not there, throw it away, take the field goal. They end up winning by a field goal in this game, but this is an unbelievable play. You can see that's why the DBs are playing like this. Oh, shit. He's trying to throw it away right now.

Like, all right, let me just throw this out of bounds. If Mike Williams catches it or nobody catches it, McCreary, the corner, does a great job. You'll see it better from the back copy. Going up, high-pointing it and tipping it. We always talk about tips and overthrows. Tipping it back to his comrades. So that's awesome.

Now, just for everybody to know, tips, ball getting tipped, but also we all played tips growing up. Oh, yeah. Jump, catch, throw. Are those both the same when they say tips and overthrows? You rarely see this. Yeah. Oklahoma State, I think I saw it like years ago.

In Stanford? Antoine Bethea told me. I think dansby may have had one at some point in the league but this is the first time i've ever seen this in the nfl for him intentionally going on point that and batting it right back to his guy and him getting his feet so that's that's you know all-time awareness dude yeah this guy had to feel like a fucking genius yeah that's big you run it back to the beginning of the play from this copy, you can see, you know, just being aware of the situation. You know, fucking Patriots. Be aware of the fucking situation, what's going on. Twelve seconds left.

So once they get in line, you'll see the signal. You'll see the quad signal. He's giving the quads right now. He's saying, hey, back up. Back the fuck up. Everybody back up. And then he ends up, you know, know obviously been the right position to make this play Is this guy who tips the ball does he also get an interception? Maybe on like the second assist? Yeah? Yeah?

Like if he's in if he's one in his deflection was the first one to touch the ball I think he may get a like a pass Or is that a pick with a fumble? Because what if he's one interception short of his incentives? There was almost a weird ruling they were talking about because he threw it forward. But was it ever possessed because he was never on the ground, so it doesn't matter what the throw was.

Definitely not. There was a lot of conversations had, and it felt like everybody had an answer for everything that was being talked about. The only real words that we should say is that's fucking brilliant brilliant football and you know i bet he probably had to learn some stuff probably to play in the nfl i mean they did give some signals there real quick did they you know that's weird before everybody had to know that's an unrealistic expectation from a coach That is reigning coach of the year

But it pays off big time Just like having everything DB Let's show a video real quick from that man's coach Just so we can really see What the Tennessee Titans building is like right now So when a play like that is made You can see some real relief off the shoulders Because of what has happened for the Titans. Here's Paul Kuharski of OutKick, who has covered the Tennessee Titans for a long time, and the reigning coach of the

year, Mike Vrabel, having an interaction at a press conference just yesterday. And this is what life is like whenever you lose games with the media and as reigning coach of the year. I've been having that conversation about not making the big mistakes and things like that for a couple weeks now. The offense goes out and you get a penalty from one of your key guys on the first series and end up in second and 22 or whatever. What's that say about kind of the message getting through and guys kind of not doing the things that you've been talking about for three weeks?

Yeah, that's going to be a quick answer to an incredibly terrible long question. Just continue to stay consistent and focus on improvement and making sure that they understand where some of these penalties occur. You know, pressure. You know, Nate kind of went back, and, you know, pressure. And, you know, Nate kind of went back and, you know, I think Ben saw the backer blitzing. So just understanding like in special teams where, you know, those guys, you know, you get blocks in the back out in space

is just trying to understand where those occur. You know, Hooper's penalties at the point of attack, you know, those are things that set you behind. Yeah, dude, I love love it as he's asking a question vrabel knows paul paul's been there since before vrabel has become the head coach the tone of the question you could see vrabel just being like what's this guy accusing me of right here in the middle of this thing i'll give you a quick answer it turns out to a long answer yeah turns out to be a great answer and i don't know if he meant to say terrible long question or terribly long question he says terrible long question so he dunks on him

at the moment i fucking love raves dude love paul sat in a pocket asked his question obviously the tone of the question is certainly fascinating with the reigning coach of the year acting as if he's lost the locker room kind of is what he was hinting at oh yeah and then variable fucking coming back i love i enjoy this type of stuff, AJ. Yeah, it's always the tone of the question, I think. It's not really what is asked. It's always kind of like you could tell the tone of it. And, yeah, everyone's getting paid a lot of money in the NFL,

coaches, players, all that. They can handle whatever. But, yeah, they're all sort of humans. They're allowed to get frustrated and pissed off at questions. Oh, yeah, we were talking about that yesterday with the Giovanni Bernard thing where it was like, what have you done,y one conversation with me that was the tone greg allman quotes we did and said that he wishes he would have handled that in a different fashion in the way it was and everything like that so we appreciate him geo's a great dude i play with you

sorry to cut you like you can hear him speaking in that turn like he like yeah geo's a team dude and he was genuinely like surprised like wow wow, what's happening here, man? I thought we were good. You suck at football. It was kind of what was – it was the tone in which he was being asked. Obviously, he knows that he was in the middle of a terrible play, and he fucked up, and he owned that. But, like, also he's been in the NFL more than 10 years, noted good guy.

Like, you're in his locker room too. We need the media. Media is needed. But also not objects, humans. And I think you can get much better answers out of people. If you treat them that way, this happened in Buffalo with Josh Allen at a press conference just yesterday.

This is seeming last week. This is seemingly all starting to happen now. Like, listen to the tone in the words that are said from a credentialed media person. And we, I don't know if we know the name or not. Don't want to out them.

They're like, whatever the case is. I'm sure this isn't like their finest moment. But listen to how somebody feels okay enough to talk to fucking Josh Allen as a media. Josh Allen, MVP candidate. Josh Allen, the prototype, what everybody's looking for. Here's a media member giving their opinion to Josh Allen in the middle of a press conference. It doesn't look like an offense that's good enough to win the Super Bowl right now. Okay.

Josh. Okay, shut the fuck up. I'm surprised Josh didn't say that. You know, like Josh. That was it? He asked a question about the offense. Josh gave an answer. Then the follow-up was, this doesn't look like an offense that can win a Super Bowl. And Josh was like, okay.

It's like Josh handling that. I think he took the high road, and I appreciate that. But just the thought that I should say this to Josh Allen, one of the best football players in the world. By far. Who is the captain of the offense. Like just that sort of entitlement to even think you should say that, I find amazing, and I appreciate it.

But with the Geo situation, with appreciate it but with the geo situation with this situation with the josh allen with the vrabel situation it's like hey we all gotta remember we're in this together and also not objects not on internet human in-person interaction let's have a little respect for each other you know what i mean like let's let's have a little bit of ways yeah exactly both ways you're right build up player. Talk about the good things. I'm just saying you don't think they can win an offense or a Super Bowl even if that's what your opinion is. And also I think we can all revel in the fact that Sal Capaccio,

that guy's tongue taken out of his body. So I don't think we'll hear from that guy anymore. I've never played football in my life. I have no idea. But you don't have an offense that can win a Super Bowl. Josh fucking Allen. Yes. Okay.

Okay. All right. Like, that is wild. That was crazy. It is, isn't it? I would like to hear the first part of that question, too. But for him to end it like that. Yeah, his offense can't win.

I don't see it. In Buffalo. Thanks, pal. Yeah. Thank you. Thank you so much. Do you want to drop some fucking plays for us, dude? Okay, what team in Buffalo over the last 30 years?

Or, excuse me 22 since in the 90s they had those teams no it's not just but i'm sure there's more sure yeah and we're getting to the time of the year everybody's tired right it's the end of the year we've been a part of the grind but let's just remember humans here okay both ways yep humans let's go ahead and try our best here we don't have to seek out quotes from people that never made it in the NFL to bury people. Josh Allen, you know, he heard his throwing elbow probably won't be completely healthy until the end of the season.

And with that elbow, you won't be able to win a Super Bowl. You stink. Okay. Thanks. That was a wild thing in a press conference. To the one-seat quarterback. It's not like they're a wild card team. They're the one-seat of the AFC.

He could just phrase it as a question. Why didn't he just ask the question instead of saying their offense stinks? Exactly. Do you think this offense can win a Super Bowl? That's all he had to say. And maybe that's what he meant to do. And, you know, maybe Vrabes meant to say terribly long question as opposed to terrible long question.

Let's remember. He was pretty clear. I think Vrabes was clear. His face as he's asking questions. You see his little Ohio fuckhead. Interesting tone you've chosen here, Paul. Do you think the reporter felt it as he was asking? Like, I can see Braves getting more and more heated by every word I say.

I know Paul. I know the guy that asked that question. Hilarious. He's been around a long, long time. Knows Vrabel. Smart guy. So I would assume Vrabel's face just like... Interesting tone you have right here, pal.

My life is not fun right now. You're looking at a miserable man. Vrabel's standing up there. I've not slept more than four hours. We fired our GM in the middle of the season just last week. OC got a DUI three weeks ago. Okay. We were losing.

This is not good. I'm sorry. He's got one leg. Yeah. Might be out. Actually, two. He is out, I think, actually. Tannehill, I think he's going to be.

Doubtful is what it seemed. That was the conversation. The report by Rapp today. And Bray was like. It's tough. Oh, is that right? Okay. Well, this is going to be a quick answer to a terrible, okay, long question.

What a moment. So remember, it's holiday season. We need each other. That's right. That's right. We're all on the same team. Stay warm. Before we get out of here, you know, we have a barber that comes in every single week.

It's one of the perks of working in this particular office. It's awesome. Yeah. Finding a man named JC, also known as the back porch barber, has changed our lives for the better since he came into it. He's also an incredible golfer, an incredible stick. And what we have heard from our conversations with the barber, which we chat about, is that this dude's a great athlete. Oh yeah. Just so happens to be an artist with the Clippers. he does great fades and

you know he has the ability to accomplish anything when it comes to a head of hair and not all of our styles of hairs are necessarily his vision but he executes it all and we said you know what back porch barber we want to make you a part of one of these giveaways the last week before the holiday season truly kicks off we want you to come out here, showcase your ability, showcase how cool you look to everybody. We have the coolest-looking barber in the world. By far. Very cool.

JC, why don't you come on out here, pal? Atta baby, JC, the backboard barber. JC! Atta baby, JC. Former quarterback. He is former quarterback. He is an incredible golfer. He has long hair because nobody around him can cut hair as cool as he can.

So that is why he lets it out. JC, you can grab that putter. Two out of five, you think? Yeah. Bob Tunyon. Okay, two out of five. He does have some Bob Tunyon in him, yeah. Dude, he's one of the coolest.

Every week, he's one of the coolest looking dudes of all time. Today, he let that mane all the way out. Wild. He looked like he was fucking an avatar. He looked unbelievable. was fucking in Avatar. He looked unbelievable. Two out of five. We'll give ten people $500 who retweet this video, say something nice to somebody

and put their cash tag in there. Also, I want to pull a little heat. You go two out of five, we'll give you an extra ten grand today for your barbering. A little bit of heat on the back. Let's go. AJ, what are your thoughts on it right now? What do you think, AJ?

What happens if he makes five out of five? Then he does it. Then he did it. Then he gets ten. Then he did it. Now you'll get fifteen, and we'll give twenty people five hundred dollars. If you go five out of five. Something you could never sneak.

You just gotta go two out of five. You go five out of five. Yeah. Something you could never sneak. He hurt. You just got to go two out of five. Okay. You go five out of five, it'll be 15 grand and 20 winners. You go two out of five, there'll be 10 winners of $500. You'll get 10 grand. Deal. So just make them all. He does get paid to cut our hair, believe it or not.

Don't be a fool. He does get paid. I know a lot of people are in a conversation of do people get paid or not. We do pay our barber to travel up here and cut our hair all day Yeah, Packers fans. You know confuses JC cool-looking motherfucker Oh smooth stroke Oh Goodbye 15 grand Who out of four he got this he was practicing earlier bro

Darius anything to say to old JC? Hey, just trust your stroke, man. Cool tattoos on his hands. Cool. Bang right. There it is. Man. Oh!

Silky smooth. That close to vacation in Hawaii. Can you say he's a scratch golfer? Very good golfer, yes. In the 70s. In 1970s? he's a scratch golfer? Very good golfer, yes. In the 70s. In 1970s, not old for that, but scoring. Scoring in the 70s. Oh, there it is. That's the one.

There it is. Good touch. Ladies and gentlemen, all Back Porch Barber has to do is go one of two here. Ten people will win $500. He'll win an extra $10,000 for the holiday season.

At Back Porch Barber, an artist with hair. Oh, the tension is palpable. Oh! Wow! Nice fucking throw, dude. Nice fucking throw. What a putt, dude. What a fucking cool. That's fucking cool. What a putt. Nice.

That is cool. Ten people in $500. Let's go. Extra ten grams for the whole thing. I appreciate the hell out of you, but you made our life a lot better. You're incredible at what you do. Great putts.

Thought there was no chance after those first two. Congratulations to you. Yeah. That was cool. Thank you. Yeah, but they almost rolled off the back. I thought this guy was not going to be able to handle our particular green. He's got to have a little touch. He found it.

His last part was his best stroke. It bounced a little bit. It was unbelievable. Congrats, J.C. Congrats, J.C. That was sweet. Alright, everybody. We went for four and a half hours today. It's a bit long on a Wednesday. We'll be back tomorrow as week 16 kicks off. We hope that the storm is not as big as they say it's going to be.

Although people have canceled plans, we hope everybody remains safe. If it does become a nightmare, we will adjust accordingly here, and we plan on being live all the time that we're normally live. If not, have an incredible holiday. Can't thank you all enough for allowing us to do this. From myself, A.J., Darius, Connor, Ty, Tone with Hammer. Done! In 15 minutes.

All the boys in the back, Foxy, Zito, Dirty, Nick. That's Hockey Talk tonight at 8 p.m. at youtube.com slash thatshockeytalk. Let's go. That's going to be a good show. We got a chance to talk it earlier. Cameron Dicker earlier. Adam Thielen earlier today. Mark Messier tonight. Mark's go. That's going to be a good show. We got a chance to talk it earlier. Cameron Dicker earlier. Adam Thielen earlier today. Mark Messier tonight.

Mark Messier. What? The captain? The boss? Absolute legend. On That's Hockey Talk? Yes. Holy shit.

Okay. Have a good Wednesday for the program. Have a good one. We thank you all so much. Say something nice to somebody. Try to win the JCPut. There was a throw earlier. Trying to give away as much as possible because we don't deserve as much as we get we are so thank you goodbye