May 22, 2025 • 38 mins
Thursday on 2 Pros and a Cup of Joe, the Knicks choke bigtime vs the Pacers in Game 1. The big men get love with the new Protector of the Year Award and NFL Insider Albert Breer gives a behind the scenes look in to the Tush Push Ban vote and more from the NFL Owners Meetings.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
This is the best of two pros and a couple
Joe with Lamar Aarings and Rating Winn and Jonas Knox
on four Radio.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
I have a question to ask both of you, if
you don't mind, because you got to help me out
with this. Does the G in MSG stand for gag?
Because what a gag job that was by the Knicks
last night. Dynamite job, folks, Way to go, way to
celebrate and climb stuff in the streets of Manhattan after
(00:35):
advancing past the second round for the first time in.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
One hundred and eighty five years or whatever.
Speaker 4 (00:39):
It was.
Speaker 3 (00:40):
Way to go.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Way to follow that up with your home crowd last night?
What the hell was that the store?
Speaker 5 (00:47):
The storyline touched on Reggie Miller, you know, and he
is a part of the original gag job, so here
you go.
Speaker 6 (00:54):
You know, I do love the fact that.
Speaker 7 (00:56):
I do love the fact though that it felt like
you were watching that that I don't want to say rivalry,
but that game again, I mean Tyrese Haliburton knew exactly
what he was doing when he hit that shot that
seemed miraculous the way it bounced, the way he took
the shot, but unbelievable come back. I mean once they
once they tied it up. I mean, I don't know
(01:16):
how you guys felt, but I was like, this game's over.
Indian Appolis is going to win this in overtime if
this thing holds true. So it was unbelievable. But this
Pacers team, I think we've underestimated. At least I've underestimated
all throughout the playoffs. I did not think that they
were a team that was going to be able to
make it to the NB Finals, even could win it.
Speaker 6 (01:37):
Now I feel like they are a team you just
can't count them out.
Speaker 5 (01:41):
I mean, Ny Smith hit those eight, those eight threes,
I'm not going I think the Knicks underestimated some aspects of.
Speaker 4 (01:54):
The Pacers.
Speaker 5 (01:54):
And I don't know if the way the Pacers won
that game, I don't know how sustainable that is, but
it I mean it definitely is entertainment and made it
an entertaining game. I mean there was a lot of excitement.
You know, Madison Square Garden was rocking, and they ended
(02:20):
up letting it get away.
Speaker 4 (02:21):
Man.
Speaker 5 (02:21):
And I mean, I just don't know how feasible it
is if I'm the New York Knicks to look at
that loss as as a catalyst for the rest of
the series. But if I'm the Indiana Pacers, how are
they viewing the game?
Speaker 4 (02:39):
Like?
Speaker 5 (02:39):
I think this is one of those games where it's like, Okay,
you got out of the first game, and you won
that first game in a hostile environment, and you overcame
improbable type of odds. I mean, being down as far
as they were to be able to climb back into
the game, which now again goes back to the whole
conversation of living by the deep ball, died by the
(03:01):
deep ball. They were able to find the rim, they
kept leaving them open to shoot shoot the ball, and
and Naismith continue to make it. And and so that's
I'm certain that's an adjustment that the.
Speaker 4 (03:17):
Knicks can make. Yeah, you're not.
Speaker 5 (03:20):
I doubt we're going to see Natesmith hit thirty points
maybe ever again in this series. But Halliburton delivered. He
delivered what he has generally delivered and was able to
send the game into overtime, and they were able to
win the game. But I do not think they were
the better team in the game. And so it'll be
(03:45):
interesting to see how how the series continues to unfold,
because again that could be considered to be one of
those demoralizing victories or demoralizing losses to to the New
York Knicks. But in Game one, it shouldn't be a
demoralizing victory because if I'm if I'm the Knicks, if
(04:06):
I'm the coach, I'm walking away from it. I'm saying
we clearly were the better team, and some lapses in
judgment in terms of maybe how they played defense.
Speaker 4 (04:16):
You know, you know you could hear, you know, uh, Chuck.
Speaker 5 (04:21):
And Shaq and Draymond. Draymond was kind of throwing it like, hey, look,
you know that was an adjustment that they should have made.
They should have they shouldn't have sacrifice something to do something.
I forget how he explained it, but I guess it's,
you know, slipping and switching. They weren't switching or or
(04:43):
slipping the picks that were taking place to free Naysmith up.
So you know, I don't know. I think those are
adjustments that they can make and maybe make it a
better game, you better series moving forward.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
You're not alarmed by how they lost that game moving forward.
I mean, Shaq was making the point when Nie Smith
hit two and then three and then four, it was like, Okay, well,
at some point somebody's gonna have to address that. They
missed free throws down the stretch. Their defense completely fell
apart late, and Tibbs is a defensive guy. Like I
(05:19):
looked at last night's game and I'm like, that might
have been the series. I swear to God, that might
have been.
Speaker 4 (05:23):
They just lost.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
They just lost home court on an all time collapse,
on an all time collapse. And for the record, Indiana
has been better than many people have thought or realized
for a long time. You can go back to last
year when they were in the Eastern Conference Finals. They
were here last year and got swept by the Celtics,
(05:46):
and if you go back and watch that series, they
were in every one of those games like they were competitive.
They probably should have won the first game there. This
is a really good team. They're really deep. They're much
deeper than the Knicks are. They're the East in Conference
equivalent I think of the OKC Thunder. I don't think
there is good but last night was problematic for the Knicks.
Speaker 7 (06:07):
If it's me, I think the irony to this team
is they remind me a little bit of the twenty
and four team, which was the last time they won
an Eastern Conference Finals game, if you think about that.
But obviously Halliburton fits the bill of what Reggie Miller
was as a shooting guard. And then you kind of
look through some of the other pieces they had on
that team and Steven Jackson, I don't know who you
(06:27):
if you want to compare him, Denis Smith or someone else.
Speaker 6 (06:30):
Ermaine O'Neil, you could maybe compare to.
Speaker 7 (06:32):
Some of those, But it's like the pieces of this
team seem to match up somewhat similarly back to that
team twenty one years ago and the way they were
able to play. So I look at it and just say,
it's weird how history tends to repeat itself. But you
couldn't have found a better player, at least this early
in his career in Tyres Haliburton, who's kind of fit
(06:53):
that bill of what Reggie Miller was to Theanana Pacers.
Speaker 6 (06:56):
At least he's a three point shooter.
Speaker 7 (06:58):
By the way, when he made that shot and turn
around and did the choking gesture, he turned and pointed.
Speaker 6 (07:05):
Was was Spike Lee at the game last night?
Speaker 2 (07:07):
I think you think he was pointing at Reggie because
Reggie Miller was calling the game.
Speaker 7 (07:11):
Okay, because it looked like he pointed more not towards
the middle of the court where Reggie would have been,
but more like to another another spot on the court.
Speaker 6 (07:19):
It looked like he was pointing the more where Spike
Lee would have been.
Speaker 4 (07:22):
Yeah, he was.
Speaker 5 (07:23):
Uh, I guess like Lee definitely would have been there,
though That's what I'm saying is it didn't.
Speaker 7 (07:28):
Initially it looked like he kind of looked over at Reggie,
but then he pointed more like off the side and
where like a guy like Spike Lee would be sitting
on the on the you know, court side.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
So Halliburton actually spoke afterwards about the gesture. I was
not familiar with the term or of farming, but apparently
that's the thing. Let's take a listen.
Speaker 6 (07:44):
I wasn't like plotting out on or anything.
Speaker 8 (07:46):
I just everybody wanted me to do it, like last
year at some different point. But it's just gotta just
gotta feel right, and it felt right at the time.
Speaker 6 (07:53):
If I would have known it was a two, I
would not have done it.
Speaker 8 (07:57):
So I think I might have wasted it.
Speaker 6 (07:59):
If if I do it again, then.
Speaker 8 (08:00):
I might be people say I'm like or farming, So
I'm not a I don't plan on using it again.
Speaker 3 (08:05):
What a great moment, man, By the way, I Tracy.
Speaker 6 (08:08):
You or a farm by the way a little bit,
do you think so?
Speaker 7 (08:11):
You definitely tried to with some of the takes, which
which I don't know how the proclamation you just made
about the Indiana Pacers after that win, how that's not
a pick. You've basically already said what the rest of the
series is going to be.
Speaker 4 (08:23):
I mean, listen, I knew I knew it was coming,
didn't though? Better late than never?
Speaker 2 (08:31):
Hey, Pacers plus four and a half, never in doubt,
never in doubt. That was easy money all the way
through a full fledged bank heist there at Madison Square Garden.
And by the way, if Tracy Morgan is throwing up
on the floor on the floor during just a calm,
casual game, what was he doing last night?
Speaker 3 (08:49):
Like Lee?
Speaker 2 (08:50):
Do you have any updates on Tracy Morgan blowing chunks
on the court there at MSG based on what he
saw from his team.
Speaker 3 (08:58):
Working on it, but nothing yet. It's an all the time.
Speaker 6 (09:00):
Do we have any updates on Lee?
Speaker 7 (09:02):
By the way, and just how Lee is doing after
his wonder had a rough day yesterday.
Speaker 3 (09:07):
Spotted it a text. Yeah, yeah, I'm doing what you're
talking about.
Speaker 2 (09:14):
Okay, just fine, there's a little delivery wednesday, but uh.
Speaker 5 (09:19):
All is good to one, just fine. Just a little
laws Turner should be should be mentioned. Uh his name
hasn't been mentioned. He I think he is if they
are going to win, He's going to be just as
much a key part of this team winning as even
(09:39):
almost as Halliburton. I think that that is, he is
the player that makes the difference for Halliburton to be
who Halliburton is, which is the star of the team,
which is the the batman of the team. But I
tell you what, he is a super valuable player to
(10:00):
to the cause of the Indiana Pacers. And it'll be
interesting to see can he maintain because he shot really
well yesterday and he was knocking down some some pretty
you know, pretty important shots for them, and and it
keeps it keeps the the knicks honest, It kept their
(10:22):
defense honest. It kept them in in some cases, I mean,
it kept them in uh striking distance and gave them opportunities. So,
you know, Miles, he deserves some some credit and and
and some you know, obviously some some acknowledgment of what
(10:44):
his part in the game was. I think he's actually
the longest tenured Indiana Pacer in the history of the franchise.
I believe that that interesting. I guess like trivia for
for Miles Turner is.
Speaker 4 (11:01):
I believe so I believe he could be looked that up. Lee.
Speaker 5 (11:05):
I would have it could be the longest tenured Indiana Pacer.
Speaker 3 (11:09):
I would have said, Rick Smith's, uh maybe yeah.
Speaker 6 (11:13):
That Regie, you know, like the guys have been the longest.
Speaker 5 (11:17):
I would I think I'm right, But but I definitely
think that he deserves uh some you know, some credit.
Speaker 2 (11:28):
Reggie had eighteen seasons, Miles has a ten.
Speaker 5 (11:33):
There's something, there's something longest something, There's something there. He
he broke. He broke some type of record in terms
of longest something. But anyway, yeah, may I'm off, but
longest tenured player on the Indiana Pacers, having spent ten
seasons with the team, that was drafted in.
Speaker 4 (11:54):
Two round fifteen.
Speaker 6 (11:55):
Yea.
Speaker 4 (11:56):
Currently, yeah, there we go to that effect. We should.
Speaker 2 (11:59):
We should also mentioned the passing of Jim Mersay. Obviously,
speaking of Indianapolis, the Colts owner passing away, which I
think caught everybody by surprise, but it was appropriate. He
sent one final tweet before passing away, saying go Pacers,
good luck to her, the entire Pacers organization, and our city.
(12:20):
And then according to the Colts, he passed away peacefully
in his sleep. So kind of an emotional rollercoaster for
the city of Indianapolis, for the fan base of both
those teams. But you know, at least they got a
they got a happy ending at the end with the
win last night. But anything I've ever heard about Jim Mersey,
(12:41):
I've heard nothing but good things. And he's a little
bit of a little bit of a wild man, and
there was all sorts of stories about him that came
out through the media over the past several years. But
I can remember having a conversation with Jeffrey Gorman, who
worked here and did a show with Steve Gorman for years,
and Jeffrey was close to the Colts War Organization, did
stuff with the Colts organization, and he was close with
(13:03):
Jim Mersay and he always told me great dude, like
great guy. Anybody who ever came in contact with him
was a big fan of Jim Mersay. The way he operated,
so kind of sad to.
Speaker 7 (13:13):
See that this guy loved Indianapolis, you know, he really did.
He loved his organization, He loved the Colts and football,
he loved the Pacers though he was a sports fan.
And you know, talking to some of the people within
the organization this past year for that final game of
the season, you know, there's a lot of conversation about
what was going to happen to Chris Ballard, what could potentially
(13:34):
have to Shane Steiken based on how maybe the final
game went or how the season had gone. And just
talking with everyone there, you got a sense that, you
know a couple of things.
Speaker 6 (13:44):
Obviously the condition of Jim or.
Speaker 2 (13:51):
I've got some technical difficulties with Brady there, But yeah,
do you.
Speaker 5 (13:54):
Want to say this having gained a tree leaning country
wearing songbird yesterday, So there's that, yeah, you know, and
that's that's that should be noted that Jill Mersey, I'm
certain will be singing or is already singing some of
(14:16):
his songs.
Speaker 4 (14:16):
Hell yeah.
Speaker 1 (14:17):
Be sure to catch live editions of Two Pros and
a Cup of Joe with Brady Quinn, LeVar Errington, and
Jonas Knox weekdays at six am Eastern three am Pacific
on Fox Sports Radio and the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 2 (14:31):
So I can't believe this is actually a real thing
and it hasn't been done sooner. But the NFL announcer
going to hand out moving forward, something called the Protector
of the Year Award, and it's going to be handed
out to the best offensive lineman each year.
Speaker 3 (14:47):
The name is terrible nice, I mean the name.
Speaker 6 (14:49):
Yeah, they got to figure out something else there.
Speaker 3 (14:51):
But but how's this not happened before?
Speaker 6 (14:54):
I don't know.
Speaker 7 (14:55):
I mean, they've had in college football for a while
now that the Tom Moore Award, and I believe I'm
trying to recall who is behind it, but the reality
is it's an awesome honor, especially to a group that's
the most selfless group on the football field, and ultimately
(15:15):
he plays as big of a role as anyone and
winning or losing championships for that matter.
Speaker 6 (15:21):
So it's cool to see the NFL is taking this step.
Speaker 7 (15:24):
It feels like sometimes the NFL is so hesitant, or
even college football is hesitant to mimic what the other
is doing, like they don't want to do it sometimes
just for the sake of it, Like, well, that's what.
Speaker 6 (15:32):
College football does. We don't want to do that.
Speaker 7 (15:34):
Well, this is deservedly so, and I think most people
they'll look at a number of teams out there, and
they tend to be the teams that are playing late
in the season, and they will say, that's one of
the best, if not the best, offensive lines. So I'm
glad they're finally doing this, I.
Speaker 4 (15:51):
Don't know, Protector of the Year. Like it sucks.
Speaker 5 (15:54):
It sounds really cheesy to me, man, But I mean
I get the premise of it because it is a
very very very under undervalued position, you know, or role
that you play. It's like the only time offensive linemen
really get noticed is when they are doing something that
(16:18):
that leads to a major play by the defense. You know,
it's it's a it's a very thankless job. And so
while I like the premise of what it represents, like,
you know, give them some give them some credit. Because
again I always come back to this, we have now
(16:39):
settled in on thinking whoever wins the Heisman is the
best player in college football. We've settled in on that,
and I think it it's it's unfortunate because it's always
going to overlook guys that should be considered the best
(17:01):
player in the gang because you're focused in on quarterbacks,
Like that's kind of just the general idea of it is,
you know, more often than not, the quarterback is not
the best player in college football.
Speaker 4 (17:17):
It's just not. It's it's more often than not, so
I know, pushback.
Speaker 6 (17:24):
It's more offensive in nature nowadays.
Speaker 7 (17:26):
I mean we've had a number of wide receivers, I mean,
Travis Hunter is a you know, slash player wide receiver
cornerback this year, but even DeVante Smith going back, and
it just feels like it's it's just it's become more
of an offensive award. It's which, to your point, is unfortunate.
Speaker 5 (17:40):
It's again and the answer is, yes, it is offensively driven.
But even looking at it from it being offensively driven,
you never look at the offensive line. You just never
do it. Like Orlando Pace should have been the first
offensive lineman to when the heisman, I.
Speaker 6 (18:03):
Mean, wasist is incredible well.
Speaker 5 (18:06):
And he should have won and he and it shouldn't
even been a question and it shouldn't even been close.
Orlando Pays is one of those offensive linemen generational talent
that should have won the.
Speaker 6 (18:19):
Award, But did any George win it that year?
Speaker 4 (18:22):
Though maybe maybe so, maybe so.
Speaker 5 (18:25):
I just know when when you have these types of
things where they develop an award for a position on
the field, especially in particular like the offensive line, it's
it's like, you know, that's nice, it's a qualifier. But
let's be clear, like an offensive lineman is always going
(18:49):
to be an afterthought to pretty much everybody else unless
they are tremendous liability and and so to me, you know,
I feel I feel though it's nice that that they
come up with an award that, you know, acknowledges that.
I think it is a pretty corny award. I mean
in terms of name and title, I think it's pretty corny.
(19:12):
But in nature, I think it it makes perfect sense.
Speaker 2 (19:16):
I got a solution. Why did they change it to
the Larry Allen Award? He passed away last year. Some
have called him the greatest offensive lineman in the history
of the league.
Speaker 5 (19:27):
Why not that, Awa, He's not the greatest lineman in
the history of the league.
Speaker 3 (19:32):
For once, it's debatable.
Speaker 4 (19:34):
It's not debatable who's the.
Speaker 6 (19:36):
Best, by the way, by the way, I was way off.
Speaker 7 (19:39):
It was the following year after Eddie George won the
Heisman and Orlando Pace finished fourth that's amazing.
Speaker 5 (19:47):
That is amazing, which, by the way, that's amazing because
you're not going to get the love and respect that
you're deserving of being an offensive lineman.
Speaker 7 (19:58):
So, by the way, he was second to John Hicks,
who I believe was another offensive lineman for Ohio State
who finished rather high in the Heisman in nineteen seventy three.
But pretty crazy to think, like in today's terms, I
just I don't know of another offensive linman in college
football that has been so dominant that you could even
(20:21):
put into that conversation. Now, granted something, that's how the
game's changed. So you know they don't run as much,
so maybe that's part of it. But I mean, think
about how rare that is. I mean, two guys in
the history of the Heisman.
Speaker 5 (20:35):
Yeah, some people do have have Larry Island number one,
jonas I wouldn't have thought that you would have Orlando
Pace ranked fourth or Jonathan Ognen ranked third.
Speaker 4 (20:48):
I think, honestly speaking.
Speaker 5 (20:50):
If if I were to give my top top offensive lineman,
Larry Isllen would be in my top five one hundred
of need list that was ever created, no shade, no
doubt there. But I think you got to start with
Orlando Pace at number one on every list, and then
I think about Walter Jones and Jonathan Ogden as my
(21:14):
interchangeable two and three, and then maybe a Larry Allen
after that. I know people love throwing that love to
Anthony Munos. I know he did a fine job and
an amazing job in the time, in the era that
he played. I wouldn't put him as the top guy
of all time, but you know he had a brilliant career.
(21:38):
But I don't know, so to your point, I guess
you know some people do. Look got Larry Allen as
the greatest of all time.
Speaker 2 (21:46):
I think I was pushing for Olin Krutz to get
his name on the award I heard.
Speaker 6 (21:51):
Back of the day. But you're the Bears fan, buddy, Just.
Speaker 2 (21:56):
You know, try trying to give some love to the
great offensive lineman of the game who are finally getting
in the ward after on.
Speaker 6 (22:02):
What about Joe Thomas.
Speaker 4 (22:03):
For going that round? All right? That works?
Speaker 6 (22:06):
There you go?
Speaker 3 (22:06):
Yeah, makes sense to me.
Speaker 1 (22:08):
Be sure to catch live editions of Two Pros and
a Cup of Joe with Brady Quinn, LeVar Errington, and
Jonas Knox weekdays at six am Eastern three Am Pacific.
Speaker 2 (22:19):
We turn it over to Albert Breer, a senior NFL
reporter lead content strategist at the MMQB. You also see
his work during the season on Amazon Prime as our
NFL insider AB. Good morning, how are we feeling?
Speaker 9 (22:34):
Good morning, guys, how are we doing good?
Speaker 2 (22:37):
So, what can you tell us about this feisty conversation
that was had about the tush push in Minnesota? Jeffrey
Lourie reportedly comparing it to a teenage boy's wet dream.
YadA YadA, Yeah, like all the stuff that came out,
What can you tell us about what went into them
not approving the banning of the tush push?
Speaker 10 (23:00):
Well, the first thing I would tell you them sick
of talking about it. But I but just for you guys,
I'll go ahead and talk about it one more time.
Speaker 9 (23:08):
Yeah, you know, I think guys, like the this got
so complicated and so just wound up in different agendas
and everything else over the last four months. I think
that sort of became the problem, Like the discussion, the
issue itself became a problem onto itself, and that really started,
you know, I think going back to March, when you know,
(23:29):
the Eagles really felt like they had been targeted, and
they were hearing two different explanations on why this needed
to be taken out of the game. On one side,
you had the other teams and the other team saying
that this is a rugby play, it's not a football player.
And then you had the league saying it's a health
and safety matter. So which is it? And you know,
when the Eagles challenged the two those two groups, they
(23:53):
didn't get answers they thought were satisfactory, and some of
the teams, the other teams that were concerned, looked at
it and said, well, it's wait two narrow the way
the Packers initially wrote it, and it does look like
it's like it's targeting the Eagles. So they went back.
They rewrite it based on the two thousand and four rule,
which was no pushing or pulling of an offensive teammate period.
(24:14):
And in the end, that winds up including some other
plays that some other teams didn't want outlawed, like you know,
effort plays down the field. I think one team stay
to me, we don't want to legislate effort. So they
wound up being a no because they felt like alignment
coming downfield twenty yards and helping his teammate over a line.
It shouldn't be illegal. So it's just I think it
(24:37):
got so tied up and so complicated, and I think
too many people took their eyes off the ball on
this one. And I think to some degree you saw yesterday,
like in that meeting room, I can tell you it
sort of became personal. And I think that that's why
in the end it didn't wind up passing.
Speaker 7 (24:53):
I have so many questions in that regard, but it
didn't pass because those twenty two to ten, they need.
Speaker 6 (24:59):
Twenty four of them.
Speaker 7 (25:00):
It's do you foresee this like being tabled but potentially
change it in the future. Then there's all those kinds
of nuances and different conversations we could have about the rule,
for example, like alignment running downfield, Well, you don't have
to carry the guy across the line, you can go
block the guy that's trying to tackle.
Speaker 6 (25:18):
Him, right Like That's how it's always been back when
that rule is in place. But I digress.
Speaker 7 (25:24):
The point is, does like well just get enough momentum,
or is it's just kind of dead now where it's
just going to be the same, you know, and we're
gonna the touch push moving forward.
Speaker 9 (25:35):
Well, I mean I would I would tell you, Brady,
we have two hundred and seventy two games between now
and the next time, well, two hundred and eighty five,
I guess to be include playoffs. Two or eighty five
games between now and the next time they talk about this,
and none of us know what's going to happen, right, Like.
Speaker 7 (25:48):
So, right, so if an injury happens, do you think
that that's for all.
Speaker 6 (25:52):
The guys who voted against it, they're like, hey, here
it is. It's a safety issue.
Speaker 9 (25:57):
Yeah, yeah, I mean you have that. There's that part
of it, you know what I mean, Like, which is
like if there's an injury, that might change the dynamic
for some people, you know, if teams get more effective
at stopping it, and like the Eagles aren't running it
anymore in week six, week seven, week eate whatever it is,
because it become a non issue. That's possible too, you
know what I mean. Like, I just I think it's
(26:18):
hard to predict where we're going with this because we
do have again, like two hundred and eighty five football
games between now and the next time they'll talk about it,
and I think that'll kind of mark where the discussion goes.
I mean, I just again, like, I think this got
to the point where it really, it really did become
personal between the Eagles and some other teams. And I
(26:42):
think that's why you're sitting here like and more of
the news now is about what happened in that room
rather than the mechanics of play. And I think it's
sort of indicative of how this conversation in general has
gotten out of hand over the last three or four months.
Speaker 5 (26:57):
Aby, you've been in media for quite some time. How
long would you say you've you've been in media.
Speaker 9 (27:04):
For Well, it's maybe be my twenty first year covering
the NFL and the cool sports for that, So whatever
that number is, Hell, yeah, I'm a great.
Speaker 4 (27:17):
Exactly.
Speaker 5 (27:18):
And so you've seen a lot of things in the
industry kind of.
Speaker 6 (27:23):
Evolve and develop.
Speaker 5 (27:25):
And you know, just turning into what it is now,
what's your take on like where media personalities are right now?
I mean, it just seems like every time I turn around,
there's somebody in our.
Speaker 4 (27:39):
Media that has has beef.
Speaker 5 (27:41):
And then I guess the reason why I'm asking you
that right now, AB, is because the latest one being
RG three and Ryan Clark, which are two former guys
that you've covered, Like, do you ever, like, you know,
take inventory on where.
Speaker 4 (27:57):
The media game is right now?
Speaker 5 (27:59):
What's your like curious from you being a vet, what's
your take on it?
Speaker 9 (28:06):
It's kind of funny because, like one of the first
to teach you in journalism schools, don't make yourself a story,
you know, and that like the people that you cover
are the story. That's changed over the years is all
this stuff has become more personality driven and everything else.
But yeah, i'd also say, like, for you know, my job,
(28:26):
you know, it's interesting. My job is much different than
like like what a former professional athlete like Ryan Clark
or Robert Griffin's job is, Like my job is to
report on this stuff. My job is to take people
behind closed doors and tell them stuff they don't already know,
and and and and educate them and you know, like
for for former athletes to give opinions is to analyze
(28:47):
the game on a level that you know, like that
that that that the general public like wouldn't wouldn't that
a level knowledge they wouldn't have just by watching. Yeah,
I think the common app is like for all of us,
our our our jobs are to entertain and to and
to give people something that they can't get anywhere else.
(29:08):
And you know, I will say that it's like I mean,
for better or worse, like those sorts of beef, those
sorts of fights always have legs. I mean, it's not
just the ex athletes.
Speaker 10 (29:19):
You guys remember the showdown at Starbucks in Indianapolis and
those guys, those guys weren't asleeps competing there. So I
don't know the American public, Like the more I've done
this guy, the more it's like it's like a middle school,
like you know.
Speaker 9 (29:34):
Like cafeteria.
Speaker 10 (29:35):
Like you know, anytime anybody sniffs any sort of fight
or beef or whatever, it's like, ooh, did you hear what.
Speaker 9 (29:42):
He said about you? And off we go. So uh so, yeah,
I'd say, I'd say, like how it relates to the
way we do our jobs, Like I don't think anybody
was taught to do their job that way, you know
what I mean when it comes to being in the media,
whether it's as an ex athlete or a journalist. You know,
but on the other hand, and the general public sure
can't get enough of it.
Speaker 2 (30:03):
Albert Breer joining us here on Fox Sports Radio. Get
him on x at. Albert Breer, senior NFL reporter, lead
content strategist at the MMQB Amazon NFL on Prime Insider
got to ask you also, at these meetings, apparently the
Lions pulled back their idea that was kind of they
were coursed into putting together about reseting the playoffs. What
(30:26):
went behind that not getting anywhere? Because it feels like
a no brainer. We kind of had a debate about it.
I know some of us felt one way, some of
us felt the other. Why did that ultimately not even
make a conversation or two at the meetings this week?
Speaker 9 (30:43):
I mean the easy answer does just flat out wasn't
enough support for it?
Speaker 6 (30:46):
Right?
Speaker 9 (30:47):
Like, so there were only about a handful of teams
that were willing to vote for it in March. The
commissioner wants it, that League office wants it, so you know,
they table it to May hoping that they can jump
up some more support. But I don't think anybody was
under the illusion that it was going to pass at
this meeting. I think this is more about setting up
a discussion for twenty twenty six and maybe more poignantly,
(31:11):
whenever they go to eighteen games. You know, it was
interesting because I like, I think a big part of
this for the league has been how do we make
Week seventeen Week eighteen more compelling because you have more
teams now resting guys like the Rams were rewarded for
it last year, like they could have been the third
or the fourth seed. They had something to play for
in Week eighteen, and Sean McVay prioritized rest over getting
(31:35):
the third seed and then he wound up being rewarded
for it, right like because they came out with fresh
legs and beat the crap out of the Vikings the
first round of the playoffs. As we go to eighteen
games and stuff's going to probably become more and more
relevant team's prioritizing rests maybe a little bit like you
see in the NBA. And so you know, I noticed
a discussion that they really wanted to get going. And
Kevin demof the COO of the Rams, actually probably had
(31:58):
the most relevant question that he raised in the room yesterday,
which was, we need to decide what we're trying to
do here. Are we trying to be fair or are
we trying to have a more competitive Week eighteen? Having
a more compelling Week eighteen? What's the goal if you
are a more compelling Week eighteen, No question, the open
seating format would give you that. If you are trying
(32:21):
to be fair, I think the way they do it
now is probably more fair because the schedules. There's so
many inequities between the schedules. I mean, for example, like
the NFFS this year, go ahead, what do you go breaks?
Speaker 7 (32:34):
Well, just to that point, we had a conversation with
Pete Prisco and he was like a dog chasing his tail.
Speaker 6 (32:40):
I think by the end of it he was arguing
with himself. But I digress if you because this part was.
Speaker 7 (32:46):
Well why have divisions, which I think is actually like
a fair point because if the only thing you're saying
about divisions that they bring you is, oh, it gets
a chance to host a home playoff game, and there's
value in that, and the inequity in regards to scheduling
comes up because.
Speaker 6 (33:02):
My point back to him is, well, look, if you.
Speaker 7 (33:05):
Could theoretically you just have a format where you play
everyone in your own conference and you don't have to
worry about playing your division rival twice, and that's very
unnatural to the NFL schedule.
Speaker 6 (33:17):
Fans may even hate that, but like the rivalry.
Speaker 7 (33:19):
Still exists amongst some of those division rivals that you have.
That doesn't change. It's no different in college football, right.
The difference would be in this case, you actually get
to see who, in the regular season is the best
team of the entire conference. You can compare because there's
more common opponents, head to play, etc. And you could
end up doing your seating that way, which feels at
least more fair, even though there won't be as much
(33:41):
crossover to the NFC side, maybe besides a couple of
games in a seventeen game schedule.
Speaker 9 (33:46):
And I think Brady like that. It's interesting you say that,
because I think that was sort of the challenge that
the commissioner of the league off It's put in front
of everybody I'm coming out of this meeting, was to
think big picture and this end to not let close
the door on anything.
Speaker 6 (33:59):
You know.
Speaker 9 (34:00):
I like, I'm with you. I think that's the way
they're going to be thinking going forward. Is like, like,
do we need to rethink the way we do the
scheduling format formula? Do we need to rethink the way
we do divisions? Because I mean, and I was I
was gonna bring up this inequity. I think it's a
really it's a really relevant one, right, Like, it's the
NFC East this year plays the NFC North and the
(34:21):
and the AFC West, and those two divisions there are
six playoff teams. Right, So the NFC East teams, whoever
wins the NFC East, right, say they have eleven wins?
Is that more impressive than an NFC West team? And
the NFC West is playing the two South divisions, which
I think had like five teams that had twelve or
more losses, right, and only two playoff teams. Is it
(34:44):
more impressive than an NFC West team winning twelve or
thirteen games. You could argue that it is, right, and
they're but the bottom line is no, no matter how
you slice that up, they're competing in completely different environments.
They're not competing against the same team, you know, And
so I think that's the number one thing is like,
if you're going to look at open seatings, fine, but
(35:05):
you really do have to address the schedule inequities then,
and the scheduling inequities. I don't know any way you
can fix that because just the number of games you
play because of the scheduling inequities I think the only
way you do that is to repatch to the way
you do the conferences.
Speaker 6 (35:18):
Yeah, you just have the conferences. You want to have divisions.
I mean again, college football.
Speaker 7 (35:22):
Is battling this to some degree too, with how the
conferences are scheduling out their games amongst other opponents.
Speaker 9 (35:29):
Yeah, for sure. And I think you like and you know,
like the cool thing about that is like it may
diminish the ride the division rivalries you have a little bit,
but then it may create new rivalries too, you.
Speaker 6 (35:40):
Know, and like, yeah, but more teams.
Speaker 7 (35:43):
Could you make the case too though that like it
only increases them the one time you do play that
rival like you only get one shot at it.
Speaker 6 (35:48):
You don't get to.
Speaker 9 (35:50):
Well no, no, no, but I'm saying, like they're gonna
be now now there are gonna be some teams that
you're gonna be playing every year, you know what I.
Speaker 6 (35:55):
Mean, Yeah, I got you.
Speaker 7 (35:57):
I'm just saying, like the ones that used to play
twice a year, saying, you don't have that shot to
maybe split or sweeping, right, It's just that.
Speaker 9 (36:05):
And that's probably you know what, Like that's probably where
it's similar to college football too, in that, like you know,
the division format, right, if you put two rivals in
opposite divisions and they're not playing each other as much,
well then that's a real problem for some schools and
less of a problem for others. Like you know, for
some schools like that have two or three natural rivals,
(36:28):
like that'd be a big deal if you lost some
of those rivalries, where there might be another school that
doesn't have those same natural rivalries, where it's less of
a big deal, you know. I mean for the NFCS teams,
that will probably feel like a huge deal. For the
AFC South teams probably less of a big deal, if
that makes sense.
Speaker 5 (36:48):
Let me get you one lass, just switching gears on
on you for my last question. What's the update on
the Aaron Rodgers situation. I know Q said his inside
sources are saying he's going to sign. It's a it's
a foregone conclusion. He's going Pittsburgh. When when does this happen?
Speaker 9 (37:06):
They've given him, they've given him I mean, like look
like I like, I like my understanding that he's given
them every indication that that that that that he's likely coming,
and they feel comfortable that he is coming, but not
things one hundred percent, and I think really like this
is kind of kind of boiled down. Uh, you know,
Aaron getting all of his personal matters, taking care of
(37:28):
the level he wants to and he's earned the right
to to to to do that and wait it out.
And you know, again, like I said you guys last week,
like I I think part of this is, like you know,
once he signs, like he sort of has to start
showing up or else everybody's gonna be answering a lot
of questions. And so you know, I think that might
that's probably part of it too, where it's like when
I sell and I want to be all in, and
(37:50):
you know, like I know he's traveled a bunch recently,
and you know, whenever that winds down, my guess would
be that he is going to be all right. Whenever
I sign, I'm going to lock in and I'm going
to be a stealer all the way in. And by
the way, guys, I do think like the way the
mini camp thing caused a big issue for him last year,
(38:11):
I would not underrate that as a factor in this
whole thing, because he you know, going through that, the
way he went through that, and what a big deal
that became last June. Like I think that that's a
factor in the way he's handling on all this too.
Speaker 2 (38:24):
Get him on x at Albert Breer, Senior NFL reporter,
lead content strategist at the MMQB, Amazon Prime NFL Insider,
and a Thursday tradition with us here every single week. AB,
we appreciate it. We'll do it again next week.
Speaker 6 (38:37):
Thanks all, Thank you.
Speaker 2 (38:40):
There is the great Alberbreer with us here. There were
some rumblings that he wasn't so confident about the cell
reception he was going to have, but made it through clean,
made it through clean, sounded great, so good to hear from.
Speaker 4 (38:52):
Maybe
This is the best of two pros and a couple
Joe with Lamar Aarings and Rating Winn and Jonas Knox
on four Radio.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
I have a question to ask both of you, if
you don't mind, because you got to help me out
with this. Does the G in MSG stand for gag?
Because what a gag job that was by the Knicks
last night. Dynamite job, folks, Way to go, way to
celebrate and climb stuff in the streets of Manhattan after
(00:35):
advancing past the second round for the first time in.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
One hundred and eighty five years or whatever.
Speaker 4 (00:39):
It was.
Speaker 3 (00:40):
Way to go.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Way to follow that up with your home crowd last night?
What the hell was that the store?
Speaker 5 (00:47):
The storyline touched on Reggie Miller, you know, and he
is a part of the original gag job, so here
you go.
Speaker 6 (00:54):
You know, I do love the fact that.
Speaker 7 (00:56):
I do love the fact though that it felt like
you were watching that that I don't want to say rivalry,
but that game again, I mean Tyrese Haliburton knew exactly
what he was doing when he hit that shot that
seemed miraculous the way it bounced, the way he took
the shot, but unbelievable come back. I mean once they
once they tied it up. I mean, I don't know
(01:16):
how you guys felt, but I was like, this game's over.
Indian Appolis is going to win this in overtime if
this thing holds true. So it was unbelievable. But this
Pacers team, I think we've underestimated. At least I've underestimated
all throughout the playoffs. I did not think that they
were a team that was going to be able to
make it to the NB Finals, even could win it.
Speaker 6 (01:37):
Now I feel like they are a team you just
can't count them out.
Speaker 5 (01:41):
I mean, Ny Smith hit those eight, those eight threes,
I'm not going I think the Knicks underestimated some aspects of.
Speaker 4 (01:54):
The Pacers.
Speaker 5 (01:54):
And I don't know if the way the Pacers won
that game, I don't know how sustainable that is, but
it I mean it definitely is entertainment and made it
an entertaining game. I mean there was a lot of excitement.
You know, Madison Square Garden was rocking, and they ended
(02:20):
up letting it get away.
Speaker 4 (02:21):
Man.
Speaker 5 (02:21):
And I mean, I just don't know how feasible it
is if I'm the New York Knicks to look at
that loss as as a catalyst for the rest of
the series. But if I'm the Indiana Pacers, how are
they viewing the game?
Speaker 4 (02:39):
Like?
Speaker 5 (02:39):
I think this is one of those games where it's like, Okay,
you got out of the first game, and you won
that first game in a hostile environment, and you overcame
improbable type of odds. I mean, being down as far
as they were to be able to climb back into
the game, which now again goes back to the whole
conversation of living by the deep ball, died by the
(03:01):
deep ball. They were able to find the rim, they
kept leaving them open to shoot shoot the ball, and
and Naismith continue to make it. And and so that's
I'm certain that's an adjustment that the.
Speaker 4 (03:17):
Knicks can make. Yeah, you're not.
Speaker 5 (03:20):
I doubt we're going to see Natesmith hit thirty points
maybe ever again in this series. But Halliburton delivered. He
delivered what he has generally delivered and was able to
send the game into overtime, and they were able to
win the game. But I do not think they were
the better team in the game. And so it'll be
(03:45):
interesting to see how how the series continues to unfold,
because again that could be considered to be one of
those demoralizing victories or demoralizing losses to to the New
York Knicks. But in Game one, it shouldn't be a
demoralizing victory because if I'm if I'm the Knicks, if
(04:06):
I'm the coach, I'm walking away from it. I'm saying
we clearly were the better team, and some lapses in
judgment in terms of maybe how they played defense.
Speaker 4 (04:16):
You know, you know you could hear, you know, uh, Chuck.
Speaker 5 (04:21):
And Shaq and Draymond. Draymond was kind of throwing it like, hey, look,
you know that was an adjustment that they should have made.
They should have they shouldn't have sacrifice something to do something.
I forget how he explained it, but I guess it's,
you know, slipping and switching. They weren't switching or or
(04:43):
slipping the picks that were taking place to free Naysmith up.
So you know, I don't know. I think those are
adjustments that they can make and maybe make it a
better game, you better series moving forward.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
You're not alarmed by how they lost that game moving forward.
I mean, Shaq was making the point when Nie Smith
hit two and then three and then four, it was like, Okay, well,
at some point somebody's gonna have to address that. They
missed free throws down the stretch. Their defense completely fell
apart late, and Tibbs is a defensive guy. Like I
(05:19):
looked at last night's game and I'm like, that might
have been the series. I swear to God, that might
have been.
Speaker 4 (05:23):
They just lost.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
They just lost home court on an all time collapse,
on an all time collapse. And for the record, Indiana
has been better than many people have thought or realized
for a long time. You can go back to last
year when they were in the Eastern Conference Finals. They
were here last year and got swept by the Celtics,
(05:46):
and if you go back and watch that series, they
were in every one of those games like they were competitive.
They probably should have won the first game there. This
is a really good team. They're really deep. They're much
deeper than the Knicks are. They're the East in Conference
equivalent I think of the OKC Thunder. I don't think
there is good but last night was problematic for the Knicks.
Speaker 7 (06:07):
If it's me, I think the irony to this team
is they remind me a little bit of the twenty
and four team, which was the last time they won
an Eastern Conference Finals game, if you think about that.
But obviously Halliburton fits the bill of what Reggie Miller
was as a shooting guard. And then you kind of
look through some of the other pieces they had on
that team and Steven Jackson, I don't know who you
(06:27):
if you want to compare him, Denis Smith or someone else.
Speaker 6 (06:30):
Ermaine O'Neil, you could maybe compare to.
Speaker 7 (06:32):
Some of those, But it's like the pieces of this
team seem to match up somewhat similarly back to that
team twenty one years ago and the way they were
able to play. So I look at it and just say,
it's weird how history tends to repeat itself. But you
couldn't have found a better player, at least this early
in his career in Tyres Haliburton, who's kind of fit
(06:53):
that bill of what Reggie Miller was to Theanana Pacers.
Speaker 6 (06:56):
At least he's a three point shooter.
Speaker 7 (06:58):
By the way, when he made that shot and turn
around and did the choking gesture, he turned and pointed.
Speaker 6 (07:05):
Was was Spike Lee at the game last night?
Speaker 2 (07:07):
I think you think he was pointing at Reggie because
Reggie Miller was calling the game.
Speaker 7 (07:11):
Okay, because it looked like he pointed more not towards
the middle of the court where Reggie would have been,
but more like to another another spot on the court.
Speaker 6 (07:19):
It looked like he was pointing the more where Spike
Lee would have been.
Speaker 4 (07:22):
Yeah, he was.
Speaker 5 (07:23):
Uh, I guess like Lee definitely would have been there,
though That's what I'm saying is it didn't.
Speaker 7 (07:28):
Initially it looked like he kind of looked over at Reggie,
but then he pointed more like off the side and
where like a guy like Spike Lee would be sitting
on the on the you know, court side.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
So Halliburton actually spoke afterwards about the gesture. I was
not familiar with the term or of farming, but apparently
that's the thing. Let's take a listen.
Speaker 6 (07:44):
I wasn't like plotting out on or anything.
Speaker 8 (07:46):
I just everybody wanted me to do it, like last
year at some different point. But it's just gotta just
gotta feel right, and it felt right at the time.
Speaker 6 (07:53):
If I would have known it was a two, I
would not have done it.
Speaker 8 (07:57):
So I think I might have wasted it.
Speaker 6 (07:59):
If if I do it again, then.
Speaker 8 (08:00):
I might be people say I'm like or farming, So
I'm not a I don't plan on using it again.
Speaker 3 (08:05):
What a great moment, man, By the way, I Tracy.
Speaker 6 (08:08):
You or a farm by the way a little bit,
do you think so?
Speaker 7 (08:11):
You definitely tried to with some of the takes, which
which I don't know how the proclamation you just made
about the Indiana Pacers after that win, how that's not
a pick. You've basically already said what the rest of the
series is going to be.
Speaker 4 (08:23):
I mean, listen, I knew I knew it was coming,
didn't though? Better late than never?
Speaker 2 (08:31):
Hey, Pacers plus four and a half, never in doubt,
never in doubt. That was easy money all the way
through a full fledged bank heist there at Madison Square Garden.
And by the way, if Tracy Morgan is throwing up
on the floor on the floor during just a calm,
casual game, what was he doing last night?
Speaker 3 (08:49):
Like Lee?
Speaker 2 (08:50):
Do you have any updates on Tracy Morgan blowing chunks
on the court there at MSG based on what he
saw from his team.
Speaker 3 (08:58):
Working on it, but nothing yet. It's an all the time.
Speaker 6 (09:00):
Do we have any updates on Lee?
Speaker 7 (09:02):
By the way, and just how Lee is doing after
his wonder had a rough day yesterday.
Speaker 3 (09:07):
Spotted it a text. Yeah, yeah, I'm doing what you're
talking about.
Speaker 2 (09:14):
Okay, just fine, there's a little delivery wednesday, but uh.
Speaker 5 (09:19):
All is good to one, just fine. Just a little
laws Turner should be should be mentioned. Uh his name
hasn't been mentioned. He I think he is if they
are going to win, He's going to be just as
much a key part of this team winning as even
(09:39):
almost as Halliburton. I think that that is, he is
the player that makes the difference for Halliburton to be
who Halliburton is, which is the star of the team,
which is the the batman of the team. But I
tell you what, he is a super valuable player to
(10:00):
to the cause of the Indiana Pacers. And it'll be
interesting to see can he maintain because he shot really
well yesterday and he was knocking down some some pretty
you know, pretty important shots for them, and and it
keeps it keeps the the knicks honest, It kept their
(10:22):
defense honest. It kept them in in some cases, I mean,
it kept them in uh striking distance and gave them opportunities. So,
you know, Miles, he deserves some some credit and and
and some you know, obviously some some acknowledgment of what
(10:44):
his part in the game was. I think he's actually
the longest tenured Indiana Pacer in the history of the franchise.
I believe that that interesting. I guess like trivia for
for Miles Turner is.
Speaker 4 (11:01):
I believe so I believe he could be looked that up. Lee.
Speaker 5 (11:05):
I would have it could be the longest tenured Indiana Pacer.
Speaker 3 (11:09):
I would have said, Rick Smith's, uh maybe yeah.
Speaker 6 (11:13):
That Regie, you know, like the guys have been the longest.
Speaker 5 (11:17):
I would I think I'm right, But but I definitely
think that he deserves uh some you know, some credit.
Speaker 2 (11:28):
Reggie had eighteen seasons, Miles has a ten.
Speaker 5 (11:33):
There's something, there's something longest something, There's something there. He
he broke. He broke some type of record in terms
of longest something. But anyway, yeah, may I'm off, but
longest tenured player on the Indiana Pacers, having spent ten
seasons with the team, that was drafted in.
Speaker 4 (11:54):
Two round fifteen.
Speaker 6 (11:55):
Yea.
Speaker 4 (11:56):
Currently, yeah, there we go to that effect. We should.
Speaker 2 (11:59):
We should also mentioned the passing of Jim Mersay. Obviously,
speaking of Indianapolis, the Colts owner passing away, which I
think caught everybody by surprise, but it was appropriate. He
sent one final tweet before passing away, saying go Pacers,
good luck to her, the entire Pacers organization, and our city.
(12:20):
And then according to the Colts, he passed away peacefully
in his sleep. So kind of an emotional rollercoaster for
the city of Indianapolis, for the fan base of both
those teams. But you know, at least they got a
they got a happy ending at the end with the
win last night. But anything I've ever heard about Jim Mersey,
(12:41):
I've heard nothing but good things. And he's a little
bit of a little bit of a wild man, and
there was all sorts of stories about him that came
out through the media over the past several years. But
I can remember having a conversation with Jeffrey Gorman, who
worked here and did a show with Steve Gorman for years,
and Jeffrey was close to the Colts War Organization, did
stuff with the Colts organization, and he was close with
(13:03):
Jim Mersay and he always told me great dude, like
great guy. Anybody who ever came in contact with him
was a big fan of Jim Mersay. The way he operated,
so kind of sad to.
Speaker 7 (13:13):
See that this guy loved Indianapolis, you know, he really did.
He loved his organization, He loved the Colts and football,
he loved the Pacers though he was a sports fan.
And you know, talking to some of the people within
the organization this past year for that final game of
the season, you know, there's a lot of conversation about
what was going to happen to Chris Ballard, what could potentially
(13:34):
have to Shane Steiken based on how maybe the final
game went or how the season had gone. And just
talking with everyone there, you got a sense that, you
know a couple of things.
Speaker 6 (13:44):
Obviously the condition of Jim or.
Speaker 2 (13:51):
I've got some technical difficulties with Brady there, But yeah,
do you.
Speaker 5 (13:54):
Want to say this having gained a tree leaning country
wearing songbird yesterday, So there's that, yeah, you know, and
that's that's that should be noted that Jill Mersey, I'm
certain will be singing or is already singing some of
(14:16):
his songs.
Speaker 4 (14:16):
Hell yeah.
Speaker 1 (14:17):
Be sure to catch live editions of Two Pros and
a Cup of Joe with Brady Quinn, LeVar Errington, and
Jonas Knox weekdays at six am Eastern three am Pacific
on Fox Sports Radio and the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 2 (14:31):
So I can't believe this is actually a real thing
and it hasn't been done sooner. But the NFL announcer
going to hand out moving forward, something called the Protector
of the Year Award, and it's going to be handed
out to the best offensive lineman each year.
Speaker 3 (14:47):
The name is terrible nice, I mean the name.
Speaker 6 (14:49):
Yeah, they got to figure out something else there.
Speaker 3 (14:51):
But but how's this not happened before?
Speaker 6 (14:54):
I don't know.
Speaker 7 (14:55):
I mean, they've had in college football for a while
now that the Tom Moore Award, and I believe I'm
trying to recall who is behind it, but the reality
is it's an awesome honor, especially to a group that's
the most selfless group on the football field, and ultimately
(15:15):
he plays as big of a role as anyone and
winning or losing championships for that matter.
Speaker 6 (15:21):
So it's cool to see the NFL is taking this step.
Speaker 7 (15:24):
It feels like sometimes the NFL is so hesitant, or
even college football is hesitant to mimic what the other
is doing, like they don't want to do it sometimes
just for the sake of it, Like, well, that's what.
Speaker 6 (15:32):
College football does. We don't want to do that.
Speaker 7 (15:34):
Well, this is deservedly so, and I think most people
they'll look at a number of teams out there, and
they tend to be the teams that are playing late
in the season, and they will say, that's one of
the best, if not the best, offensive lines. So I'm
glad they're finally doing this, I.
Speaker 4 (15:51):
Don't know, Protector of the Year. Like it sucks.
Speaker 5 (15:54):
It sounds really cheesy to me, man, But I mean
I get the premise of it because it is a
very very very under undervalued position, you know, or role
that you play. It's like the only time offensive linemen
really get noticed is when they are doing something that
(16:18):
that leads to a major play by the defense. You know,
it's it's a it's a very thankless job. And so
while I like the premise of what it represents, like,
you know, give them some give them some credit. Because
again I always come back to this, we have now
(16:39):
settled in on thinking whoever wins the Heisman is the
best player in college football. We've settled in on that,
and I think it it's it's unfortunate because it's always
going to overlook guys that should be considered the best
(17:01):
player in the gang because you're focused in on quarterbacks,
Like that's kind of just the general idea of it is,
you know, more often than not, the quarterback is not
the best player in college football.
Speaker 4 (17:17):
It's just not. It's it's more often than not, so
I know, pushback.
Speaker 6 (17:24):
It's more offensive in nature nowadays.
Speaker 7 (17:26):
I mean we've had a number of wide receivers, I mean,
Travis Hunter is a you know, slash player wide receiver
cornerback this year, but even DeVante Smith going back, and
it just feels like it's it's just it's become more
of an offensive award. It's which, to your point, is unfortunate.
Speaker 5 (17:40):
It's again and the answer is, yes, it is offensively driven.
But even looking at it from it being offensively driven,
you never look at the offensive line. You just never
do it. Like Orlando Pace should have been the first
offensive lineman to when the heisman, I.
Speaker 6 (18:03):
Mean, wasist is incredible well.
Speaker 5 (18:06):
And he should have won and he and it shouldn't
even been a question and it shouldn't even been close.
Orlando Pays is one of those offensive linemen generational talent
that should have won the.
Speaker 6 (18:19):
Award, But did any George win it that year?
Speaker 4 (18:22):
Though maybe maybe so, maybe so.
Speaker 5 (18:25):
I just know when when you have these types of
things where they develop an award for a position on
the field, especially in particular like the offensive line, it's
it's like, you know, that's nice, it's a qualifier. But
let's be clear, like an offensive lineman is always going
(18:49):
to be an afterthought to pretty much everybody else unless
they are tremendous liability and and so to me, you know,
I feel I feel though it's nice that that they
come up with an award that, you know, acknowledges that.
I think it is a pretty corny award. I mean
in terms of name and title, I think it's pretty corny.
(19:12):
But in nature, I think it it makes perfect sense.
Speaker 2 (19:16):
I got a solution. Why did they change it to
the Larry Allen Award? He passed away last year. Some
have called him the greatest offensive lineman in the history
of the league.
Speaker 5 (19:27):
Why not that, Awa, He's not the greatest lineman in
the history of the league.
Speaker 3 (19:32):
For once, it's debatable.
Speaker 4 (19:34):
It's not debatable who's the.
Speaker 6 (19:36):
Best, by the way, by the way, I was way off.
Speaker 7 (19:39):
It was the following year after Eddie George won the
Heisman and Orlando Pace finished fourth that's amazing.
Speaker 5 (19:47):
That is amazing, which, by the way, that's amazing because
you're not going to get the love and respect that
you're deserving of being an offensive lineman.
Speaker 7 (19:58):
So, by the way, he was second to John Hicks,
who I believe was another offensive lineman for Ohio State
who finished rather high in the Heisman in nineteen seventy three.
But pretty crazy to think, like in today's terms, I
just I don't know of another offensive linman in college
football that has been so dominant that you could even
(20:21):
put into that conversation. Now, granted something, that's how the
game's changed. So you know they don't run as much,
so maybe that's part of it. But I mean, think
about how rare that is. I mean, two guys in
the history of the Heisman.
Speaker 5 (20:35):
Yeah, some people do have have Larry Island number one,
jonas I wouldn't have thought that you would have Orlando
Pace ranked fourth or Jonathan Ognen ranked third.
Speaker 4 (20:48):
I think, honestly speaking.
Speaker 5 (20:50):
If if I were to give my top top offensive lineman,
Larry Isllen would be in my top five one hundred
of need list that was ever created, no shade, no
doubt there. But I think you got to start with
Orlando Pace at number one on every list, and then
I think about Walter Jones and Jonathan Ogden as my
(21:14):
interchangeable two and three, and then maybe a Larry Allen
after that. I know people love throwing that love to
Anthony Munos. I know he did a fine job and
an amazing job in the time, in the era that
he played. I wouldn't put him as the top guy
of all time, but you know he had a brilliant career.
(21:38):
But I don't know, so to your point, I guess
you know some people do. Look got Larry Allen as
the greatest of all time.
Speaker 2 (21:46):
I think I was pushing for Olin Krutz to get
his name on the award I heard.
Speaker 6 (21:51):
Back of the day. But you're the Bears fan, buddy, Just.
Speaker 2 (21:56):
You know, try trying to give some love to the
great offensive lineman of the game who are finally getting
in the ward after on.
Speaker 6 (22:02):
What about Joe Thomas.
Speaker 4 (22:03):
For going that round? All right? That works?
Speaker 6 (22:06):
There you go?
Speaker 3 (22:06):
Yeah, makes sense to me.
Speaker 1 (22:08):
Be sure to catch live editions of Two Pros and
a Cup of Joe with Brady Quinn, LeVar Errington, and
Jonas Knox weekdays at six am Eastern three Am Pacific.
Speaker 2 (22:19):
We turn it over to Albert Breer, a senior NFL
reporter lead content strategist at the MMQB. You also see
his work during the season on Amazon Prime as our
NFL insider AB. Good morning, how are we feeling?
Speaker 9 (22:34):
Good morning, guys, how are we doing good?
Speaker 2 (22:37):
So, what can you tell us about this feisty conversation
that was had about the tush push in Minnesota? Jeffrey
Lourie reportedly comparing it to a teenage boy's wet dream.
YadA YadA, Yeah, like all the stuff that came out,
What can you tell us about what went into them
not approving the banning of the tush push?
Speaker 10 (23:00):
Well, the first thing I would tell you them sick
of talking about it. But I but just for you guys,
I'll go ahead and talk about it one more time.
Speaker 9 (23:08):
Yeah, you know, I think guys, like the this got
so complicated and so just wound up in different agendas
and everything else over the last four months. I think
that sort of became the problem, Like the discussion, the
issue itself became a problem onto itself, and that really started,
you know, I think going back to March, when you know,
(23:29):
the Eagles really felt like they had been targeted, and
they were hearing two different explanations on why this needed
to be taken out of the game. On one side,
you had the other teams and the other team saying
that this is a rugby play, it's not a football player.
And then you had the league saying it's a health
and safety matter. So which is it? And you know,
when the Eagles challenged the two those two groups, they
(23:53):
didn't get answers they thought were satisfactory, and some of
the teams, the other teams that were concerned, looked at
it and said, well, it's wait two narrow the way
the Packers initially wrote it, and it does look like
it's like it's targeting the Eagles. So they went back.
They rewrite it based on the two thousand and four rule,
which was no pushing or pulling of an offensive teammate period.
(24:14):
And in the end, that winds up including some other
plays that some other teams didn't want outlawed, like you know,
effort plays down the field. I think one team stay
to me, we don't want to legislate effort. So they
wound up being a no because they felt like alignment
coming downfield twenty yards and helping his teammate over a line.
It shouldn't be illegal. So it's just I think it
(24:37):
got so tied up and so complicated, and I think
too many people took their eyes off the ball on
this one. And I think to some degree you saw yesterday,
like in that meeting room, I can tell you it
sort of became personal. And I think that that's why
in the end it didn't wind up passing.
Speaker 7 (24:53):
I have so many questions in that regard, but it
didn't pass because those twenty two to ten, they need.
Speaker 6 (24:59):
Twenty four of them.
Speaker 7 (25:00):
It's do you foresee this like being tabled but potentially
change it in the future. Then there's all those kinds
of nuances and different conversations we could have about the rule,
for example, like alignment running downfield, Well, you don't have
to carry the guy across the line, you can go
block the guy that's trying to tackle.
Speaker 6 (25:18):
Him, right Like That's how it's always been back when
that rule is in place. But I digress.
Speaker 7 (25:24):
The point is, does like well just get enough momentum,
or is it's just kind of dead now where it's
just going to be the same, you know, and we're
gonna the touch push moving forward.
Speaker 9 (25:35):
Well, I mean I would I would tell you, Brady,
we have two hundred and seventy two games between now
and the next time, well, two hundred and eighty five,
I guess to be include playoffs. Two or eighty five
games between now and the next time they talk about this,
and none of us know what's going to happen, right, Like.
Speaker 7 (25:48):
So, right, so if an injury happens, do you think
that that's for all.
Speaker 6 (25:52):
The guys who voted against it, they're like, hey, here
it is. It's a safety issue.
Speaker 9 (25:57):
Yeah, yeah, I mean you have that. There's that part
of it, you know what I mean, Like, which is
like if there's an injury, that might change the dynamic
for some people, you know, if teams get more effective
at stopping it, and like the Eagles aren't running it
anymore in week six, week seven, week eate whatever it is,
because it become a non issue. That's possible too, you
know what I mean. Like, I just I think it's
(26:18):
hard to predict where we're going with this because we
do have again, like two hundred and eighty five football
games between now and the next time they'll talk about it,
and I think that'll kind of mark where the discussion goes.
I mean, I just again, like, I think this got
to the point where it really, it really did become
personal between the Eagles and some other teams. And I
(26:42):
think that's why you're sitting here like and more of
the news now is about what happened in that room
rather than the mechanics of play. And I think it's
sort of indicative of how this conversation in general has
gotten out of hand over the last three or four months.
Speaker 5 (26:57):
Aby, you've been in media for quite some time. How
long would you say you've you've been in media.
Speaker 9 (27:04):
For Well, it's maybe be my twenty first year covering
the NFL and the cool sports for that, So whatever
that number is, Hell, yeah, I'm a great.
Speaker 4 (27:17):
Exactly.
Speaker 5 (27:18):
And so you've seen a lot of things in the
industry kind of.
Speaker 6 (27:23):
Evolve and develop.
Speaker 5 (27:25):
And you know, just turning into what it is now,
what's your take on like where media personalities are right now?
I mean, it just seems like every time I turn around,
there's somebody in our.
Speaker 4 (27:39):
Media that has has beef.
Speaker 5 (27:41):
And then I guess the reason why I'm asking you
that right now, AB, is because the latest one being
RG three and Ryan Clark, which are two former guys
that you've covered, Like, do you ever, like, you know,
take inventory on where.
Speaker 4 (27:57):
The media game is right now?
Speaker 5 (27:59):
What's your like curious from you being a vet, what's
your take on it?
Speaker 9 (28:06):
It's kind of funny because, like one of the first
to teach you in journalism schools, don't make yourself a story,
you know, and that like the people that you cover
are the story. That's changed over the years is all
this stuff has become more personality driven and everything else.
But yeah, i'd also say, like, for you know, my job,
(28:26):
you know, it's interesting. My job is much different than
like like what a former professional athlete like Ryan Clark
or Robert Griffin's job is, Like my job is to
report on this stuff. My job is to take people
behind closed doors and tell them stuff they don't already know,
and and and and educate them and you know, like
for for former athletes to give opinions is to analyze
(28:47):
the game on a level that you know, like that
that that that the general public like wouldn't wouldn't that
a level knowledge they wouldn't have just by watching. Yeah,
I think the common app is like for all of us,
our our our jobs are to entertain and to and
to give people something that they can't get anywhere else.
(29:08):
And you know, I will say that it's like I mean,
for better or worse, like those sorts of beef, those
sorts of fights always have legs. I mean, it's not
just the ex athletes.
Speaker 10 (29:19):
You guys remember the showdown at Starbucks in Indianapolis and
those guys, those guys weren't asleeps competing there. So I
don't know the American public, Like the more I've done
this guy, the more it's like it's like a middle school,
like you know.
Speaker 9 (29:34):
Like cafeteria.
Speaker 10 (29:35):
Like you know, anytime anybody sniffs any sort of fight
or beef or whatever, it's like, ooh, did you hear what.
Speaker 9 (29:42):
He said about you? And off we go. So uh so, yeah,
I'd say, I'd say, like how it relates to the
way we do our jobs, Like I don't think anybody
was taught to do their job that way, you know
what I mean when it comes to being in the media,
whether it's as an ex athlete or a journalist. You know,
but on the other hand, and the general public sure
can't get enough of it.
Speaker 2 (30:03):
Albert Breer joining us here on Fox Sports Radio. Get
him on x at. Albert Breer, senior NFL reporter, lead
content strategist at the MMQB Amazon NFL on Prime Insider
got to ask you also, at these meetings, apparently the
Lions pulled back their idea that was kind of they
were coursed into putting together about reseting the playoffs. What
(30:26):
went behind that not getting anywhere? Because it feels like
a no brainer. We kind of had a debate about it.
I know some of us felt one way, some of
us felt the other. Why did that ultimately not even
make a conversation or two at the meetings this week?
Speaker 9 (30:43):
I mean the easy answer does just flat out wasn't
enough support for it?
Speaker 6 (30:46):
Right?
Speaker 9 (30:47):
Like, so there were only about a handful of teams
that were willing to vote for it in March. The
commissioner wants it, that League office wants it, so you know,
they table it to May hoping that they can jump
up some more support. But I don't think anybody was
under the illusion that it was going to pass at
this meeting. I think this is more about setting up
a discussion for twenty twenty six and maybe more poignantly,
(31:11):
whenever they go to eighteen games. You know, it was
interesting because I like, I think a big part of
this for the league has been how do we make
Week seventeen Week eighteen more compelling because you have more
teams now resting guys like the Rams were rewarded for
it last year, like they could have been the third
or the fourth seed. They had something to play for
in Week eighteen, and Sean McVay prioritized rest over getting
(31:35):
the third seed and then he wound up being rewarded
for it, right like because they came out with fresh
legs and beat the crap out of the Vikings the
first round of the playoffs. As we go to eighteen
games and stuff's going to probably become more and more
relevant team's prioritizing rests maybe a little bit like you
see in the NBA. And so you know, I noticed
a discussion that they really wanted to get going. And
Kevin demof the COO of the Rams, actually probably had
(31:58):
the most relevant question that he raised in the room yesterday,
which was, we need to decide what we're trying to
do here. Are we trying to be fair or are
we trying to have a more competitive Week eighteen? Having
a more compelling Week eighteen? What's the goal if you
are a more compelling Week eighteen, No question, the open
seating format would give you that. If you are trying
(32:21):
to be fair, I think the way they do it
now is probably more fair because the schedules. There's so
many inequities between the schedules. I mean, for example, like
the NFFS this year, go ahead, what do you go breaks?
Speaker 7 (32:34):
Well, just to that point, we had a conversation with
Pete Prisco and he was like a dog chasing his tail.
Speaker 6 (32:40):
I think by the end of it he was arguing
with himself. But I digress if you because this part was.
Speaker 7 (32:46):
Well why have divisions, which I think is actually like
a fair point because if the only thing you're saying
about divisions that they bring you is, oh, it gets
a chance to host a home playoff game, and there's
value in that, and the inequity in regards to scheduling
comes up because.
Speaker 6 (33:02):
My point back to him is, well, look, if you.
Speaker 7 (33:05):
Could theoretically you just have a format where you play
everyone in your own conference and you don't have to
worry about playing your division rival twice, and that's very
unnatural to the NFL schedule.
Speaker 6 (33:17):
Fans may even hate that, but like the rivalry.
Speaker 7 (33:19):
Still exists amongst some of those division rivals that you have.
That doesn't change. It's no different in college football, right.
The difference would be in this case, you actually get
to see who, in the regular season is the best
team of the entire conference. You can compare because there's
more common opponents, head to play, etc. And you could
end up doing your seating that way, which feels at
least more fair, even though there won't be as much
(33:41):
crossover to the NFC side, maybe besides a couple of
games in a seventeen game schedule.
Speaker 9 (33:46):
And I think Brady like that. It's interesting you say that,
because I think that was sort of the challenge that
the commissioner of the league off It's put in front
of everybody I'm coming out of this meeting, was to
think big picture and this end to not let close
the door on anything.
Speaker 6 (33:59):
You know.
Speaker 9 (34:00):
I like, I'm with you. I think that's the way
they're going to be thinking going forward. Is like, like,
do we need to rethink the way we do the
scheduling format formula? Do we need to rethink the way
we do divisions? Because I mean, and I was I
was gonna bring up this inequity. I think it's a
really it's a really relevant one, right, Like, it's the
NFC East this year plays the NFC North and the
(34:21):
and the AFC West, and those two divisions there are
six playoff teams. Right, So the NFC East teams, whoever
wins the NFC East, right, say they have eleven wins?
Is that more impressive than an NFC West team? And
the NFC West is playing the two South divisions, which
I think had like five teams that had twelve or
more losses, right, and only two playoff teams. Is it
(34:44):
more impressive than an NFC West team winning twelve or
thirteen games. You could argue that it is, right, and
they're but the bottom line is no, no matter how
you slice that up, they're competing in completely different environments.
They're not competing against the same team, you know, And
so I think that's the number one thing is like,
if you're going to look at open seatings, fine, but
(35:05):
you really do have to address the schedule inequities then,
and the scheduling inequities. I don't know any way you
can fix that because just the number of games you
play because of the scheduling inequities I think the only
way you do that is to repatch to the way
you do the conferences.
Speaker 6 (35:18):
Yeah, you just have the conferences. You want to have divisions.
I mean again, college football.
Speaker 7 (35:22):
Is battling this to some degree too, with how the
conferences are scheduling out their games amongst other opponents.
Speaker 9 (35:29):
Yeah, for sure. And I think you like and you know,
like the cool thing about that is like it may
diminish the ride the division rivalries you have a little bit,
but then it may create new rivalries too, you.
Speaker 6 (35:40):
Know, and like, yeah, but more teams.
Speaker 7 (35:43):
Could you make the case too though that like it
only increases them the one time you do play that
rival like you only get one shot at it.
Speaker 6 (35:48):
You don't get to.
Speaker 9 (35:50):
Well no, no, no, but I'm saying, like they're gonna
be now now there are gonna be some teams that
you're gonna be playing every year, you know what I.
Speaker 6 (35:55):
Mean, Yeah, I got you.
Speaker 7 (35:57):
I'm just saying, like the ones that used to play
twice a year, saying, you don't have that shot to
maybe split or sweeping, right, It's just that.
Speaker 9 (36:05):
And that's probably you know what, Like that's probably where
it's similar to college football too, in that, like you know,
the division format, right, if you put two rivals in
opposite divisions and they're not playing each other as much,
well then that's a real problem for some schools and
less of a problem for others. Like you know, for
some schools like that have two or three natural rivals,
(36:28):
like that'd be a big deal if you lost some
of those rivalries, where there might be another school that
doesn't have those same natural rivalries, where it's less of
a big deal, you know. I mean for the NFCS teams,
that will probably feel like a huge deal. For the
AFC South teams probably less of a big deal, if
that makes sense.
Speaker 5 (36:48):
Let me get you one lass, just switching gears on
on you for my last question. What's the update on
the Aaron Rodgers situation. I know Q said his inside
sources are saying he's going to sign. It's a it's
a foregone conclusion. He's going Pittsburgh. When when does this happen?
Speaker 9 (37:06):
They've given him, they've given him I mean, like look
like I like, I like my understanding that he's given
them every indication that that that that that he's likely coming,
and they feel comfortable that he is coming, but not
things one hundred percent, and I think really like this
is kind of kind of boiled down. Uh, you know,
Aaron getting all of his personal matters, taking care of
(37:28):
the level he wants to and he's earned the right
to to to to do that and wait it out.
And you know, again, like I said you guys last week,
like I I think part of this is, like you know,
once he signs, like he sort of has to start
showing up or else everybody's gonna be answering a lot
of questions. And so you know, I think that might
that's probably part of it too, where it's like when
I sell and I want to be all in, and
(37:50):
you know, like I know he's traveled a bunch recently,
and you know, whenever that winds down, my guess would
be that he is going to be all right. Whenever
I sign, I'm going to lock in and I'm going
to be a stealer all the way in. And by
the way, guys, I do think like the way the
mini camp thing caused a big issue for him last year,
(38:11):
I would not underrate that as a factor in this
whole thing, because he you know, going through that, the
way he went through that, and what a big deal
that became last June. Like I think that that's a
factor in the way he's handling on all this too.
Speaker 2 (38:24):
Get him on x at Albert Breer, Senior NFL reporter,
lead content strategist at the MMQB, Amazon Prime NFL Insider,
and a Thursday tradition with us here every single week. AB,
we appreciate it. We'll do it again next week.
Speaker 6 (38:37):
Thanks all, Thank you.
Speaker 2 (38:40):
There is the great Alberbreer with us here. There were
some rumblings that he wasn't so confident about the cell
reception he was going to have, but made it through clean,
made it through clean, sounded great, so good to hear from.
Speaker 4 (38:52):
Maybe
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Brady Quinn
LaVar Arrington
Jonas Knox
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